bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of LncRNAs and CircRNAs in osteoporosis: a focus on osteogenesis and osteoclastogenesis signaling pathways
Authors: Ismail Suzan M. , Abd-Elmawla Mai A. , Shabayek Marwa I. , Darwish Hebatallah A. , El-Sawalhi Maha M.
Published: April 2024

Background

Osteoporosis is a crucial health concern interconnected with physical disabilities as well as financial burdens. It arises from an imbalance between osteoblasts and osteoclasts, provoking the reduction of bone mass and the disturbances in bone structure with high fracture risk. Considerable efforts were done to prevent and mitigate this public health issue. Nonetheless, further understanding of the etiopathology of osteoporosis and the underlying genetic and epigenetic pathways is required.

Main body

Emerging evidence indicates that noncoding RNAs, including long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), play crucial roles as epigenetic regulators in various pathological processes, including osteoporosis. LncRNAs are RNA transcripts with higher structural complexity that are developed owing to their secondary and tertiary structures, which allow them to create different binding sites for other biomolecules, such as DNA, RNA, and proteins. Another class of noncoding RNAs is circRNAs, which have a covalently closed loop structure without the 5′ cap and 3′ polyA tail and are formed by back-splicing of pre-mRNAs. Because of their closed structure, circRNAs are largely stable, resistant to RNA-degrading nucleases, and possess substantially longer circulatory half-lives than linear RNAs. Interestingly, both lncRNAs and circRNAs serve as competing endogenous RNAs by sponging multiple miRNA binding sites as well as interact with RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), thereby controlling the expression of their target genes. Several studies indicated that altered expression of these regulators could influence many biological processes in bone cells.

Conclusion

The current review provides current opinions on the role and the underlying mechanisms by which lncRNAs and circRNAs affect osteoblastic and osteoclastic activities. The deep understanding of these noncoding RNAs in osteoporosis offers distinctive avenues for innovative treatment strategies.
Comparison of Comorbidity Models Within a Population-Based Cohort of Older Adults With Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Authors: Gordon Max J. , Duan Zhigang , Zhao Hui , Nastoupil Loretta , Iyer Swaminathan , Ferrajoli Alessandra , Danilov Alexey V. , Giordano Sharon H.
Published: April 2024

PURPOSE

Compare the association of individual comorbidities, comorbidity indices, and survival in older adults with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), including in specific NHL subtypes.

METHODS

Data source was SEER-Medicare, a population-based registry of adults age 65 years and older with cancer. We included all incident cases of NHL diagnosed during 2008-2017 who met study inclusion criteria. Comorbidities were classified using the three-factor risk estimate scale (TRES), Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), and National Cancer Institute (NCI) comorbidity index categories and weights. Overall survival (OS) and lymphoma-specific survival, with death from other causes treated as a competing risk, were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method from time of diagnosis. Multivariable Cox models were constructed, and Harrel C-statistics were used to compare comorbidity models. A two-sided P value of <.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

A total of 40,486 patients with newly diagnosed NHL were included. Patients with aggressive NHL had higher rates of baseline comorbidity. Despite differences in baseline comorbidity between NHL subtypes, cardiovascular, pulmonary, diabetes, and renal comorbidities were frequent and consistently associated with OS in most NHL subtypes. These categories were used to construct a candidate comorbidity score, the non-Hodgkin lymphoma 5 (NHL-5). Comparing three validated comorbidity scores, TRES, CCI, NCI, and the novel NHL-5 score, we found similar associations with OS and lymphoma-specific survival, which was confirmed in sensitivity analyses by NHL subtypes.

CONCLUSION

The optimal measure of comorbidity in NHL is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the three-category TRES and five-category NHL-5 scores perform as well as the 14-16 category CCI and NCI scores in terms of association with OS and lymphoma-specific survival. These simple scores could be more easily used in clinical practice without prognostic loss.
Phase Ib Study of Unesbulin (PTC596) Plus Dacarbazine for the Treatment of Locally Recurrent, Unresectable or Metastatic, Relapsed or Refractory Leiomyosarcoma
Authors: Van Tine Brian A. , Ingham Matthew A. , Attia Steven , Meyer Christian F. , Baird John D. , Brooks-Asplund Esther , D'Silva Dhiren , Kong Ronald , Mwatha Anthony , O'Keefe Kylie , Weetall Marla , Spiegel Robert , Schwartz Gary K.
Published: April 2024

PURPOSE

This multicenter, single-arm, open-label, phase Ib study was designed to determine the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) and to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of unesbulin plus dacarbazine (DTIC) in patients with advanced leiomyosarcoma (LMS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Adult subjects with locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic, relapsed or refractory LMS were treated with escalating doses of unesbulin orally twice per week in combination with DTIC 1,000 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) once every 21 days. The time-to-event continual reassessment method was used to determine the RP2D on the basis of dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) assessed during the first two 21-day treatment cycles. All explored doses of unesbulin (200 mg up to 400 mg) were in combination with DTIC. An expansion cohort was enrolled to evaluate the safety and efficacy of unesbulin at the RP2D.

RESULTS

Unesbulin 300 mg administered orally twice per week in combination with DTIC 1,000 mg/m2 IV once every 21 days was identified as the RP2D. On the basis of data from 27 subjects who were deemed DLT-evaluable, toxicity was higher in the unesbulin 400 mg group, with three of four subjects (75%) experiencing DLTs versus one of four subjects (25%) in the 200 mg group and three of 19 subjects (15.8%) in the 300 mg group. The most commonly reported DLTs and treatment-related grade 3 and 4 adverse events were thrombocytopenia and neutropenia. At the RP2D, seven subjects who were efficacy evaluable achieved partial response for an objective response rate of 24.1%.

CONCLUSION

Unesbulin 300 mg twice per week plus DTIC 1,000 mg/m2 once every 21 days was identified as the RP2D, demonstrating a favorable benefit-risk profile in a heavily pretreated population of adults with advanced LMS.
When Is Telemedicine Appropriate in the Management of Head and Neck Cancer? A Mixed-Methods Assessment Among Patients and Physicians
Authors: Hung Tony K.W. , Verdini Nicholas P. , Gilliland Jaime L. , Chimonas Susan , Cracchiolo Jennifer R. , Li Yuelin , Pfister David G. , Gillespie Erin F.
Published: April 2024

PURPOSE

Evidence suggests that oncology patients are satisfied with and sometimes prefer telemedicine compared with in-person visits; however, data are scarce on when telemedicine is appropriate for specific cancer populations. In this study, we aim to identify factors that influence patient experience and appropriateness of telemedicine use among a head and neck cancer (HNC) population.

METHODS

We performed a mixed-methods study at a multisite cancer center. First, we surveyed patients with HNC and analyzed factors that may influence their telemedicine experience using multivariate regression. We then conducted focus groups among HNC oncologists (n = 15) to evaluate their perception on appropriate use of telemedicine.

RESULTS

From January to December 2020, we collected 1,071 completed surveys (response rate 24%), of which 551 first unique surveys were analyzed. About half of all patients (56%) reported telemedicine as “same or better” compared with in-person visits, whereas the other half (44%) reported “not as good or unsure.” In multivariate analyses, patients with thyroid cancer were more likely to find telemedicine “same or better” (adjusted odds ratio, 2.08 [95% CI, 1.35 to 3.25]) compared with other HNC populations (mucosal/salivary HNC). Consistently, physician focus group noted that patients with thyroid cancer were particularly suited for telemedicine because of less emphasis on in-person examinations. Physicians also underscored factors that influence telemedicine use, including clinical suitability (treatment status, visit purpose, examination necessity), patient benefits (travel time, access), and barriers (technology, rapport-building).

CONCLUSION

Patient experience with telemedicine is diverse among the HNC population. Notably, patients with thyroid cancer had overall better experience and were identified to be more appropriate for telemedicine compared with other patients with HNC. Future research that optimizes patient experience and selection is needed to ensure successful integration of telemedicine into routine oncology practice.
Survivorship Care for People Affected by Advanced or Metastatic Cancer: MASCC-ASCO Standards and Practice Recommendations
Authors: Hart Nicolas H. , Nekhlyudov Larissa , Smith Thomas J. , Yee Jasmine , Fitch Margaret I. , Crawford Gregory B. , Koczwara Bogda , Ashbury Fredrick D. , Lustberg Maryam B. , Mollica Michelle , Smith Andrea L. , Jefford Michael , Chino Fumiko , Zon Robin , Agar Meera R. , Chan Raymond J.
Published: April 2024

PURPOSE

People with advanced or metastatic cancer and their caregivers may have different care goals and face unique challenges compared with those with early-stage disease or those nearing the end of life. These Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC)-ASCO standards and practice recommendations seek to establish consistent provision of quality survivorship care for people affected by advanced or metastatic cancer.

METHODS

A MASCC-ASCO expert panel was formed. Standards and recommendations relevant to the provision of quality survivorship care for people affected by advanced or metastatic cancer were developed through conducting (1) a systematic review of unmet supportive care needs; (2) a scoping review of cancer survivorship, supportive care, and palliative care frameworks and guidelines; and (3) an international modified Delphi consensus process.

RESULTS

A systematic review involving 81 studies and a scoping review of 17 guidelines and frameworks informed the initial standards and recommendations. Subsequently, 77 experts (including eight people with lived experience) across 33 countries (33% were low- to middle-resource countries) participated in the Delphi study and achieved ≥94.8% agreement for seven standards, (1) Person-Centered Care; (2) Coordinated and Integrated Care; (3) Evidence-Based and Comprehensive Care; (4) Evaluated and Communicated Care; (5) Accessible and Equitable Care; (6) Sustainable and Resourced Care; and (7) Research and Data-Driven Care, and ≥84.2% agreement across 45 practice recommendations.

CONCLUSION

Standards of survivorship care for people affected by advanced or metastatic cancer are provided. These MASCC-ASCO standards support optimization of health outcomes and care experiences by providing guidance to stakeholders (health care professionals, leaders, and administrators; governments and health ministries; policymakers; advocacy agencies; cancer survivors and caregivers). Practice recommendations may be used to facilitate future research, practice, policy, and advocacy efforts. Additional information is available at www.mascc.org , www.asco.org/standards and www.asco.org/survivorship-guidelines .
New Fascisms and the Crises of Empire: Lessons from the Americas
Authors: Toscano Alberto
Published: April 2024

The 1970s witnessed debates about new fascistic forms of capitalist counterrevolution among militant intellectuals across the world. This article briefly maps some of the Latin American debates over the analytical and political pertinence of the category of fascism as applied to the military dictatorships of that time. It explores competing ideas of dependent fascism, fascism as project, and the counterinsurgent state, while homing in on two crucial lessons of the debate: (1) the centrality accorded to fascism as a historically and geographically specific product of imperialist crises, and (2) the notion that the fascization of the state may serve a transitional function in accelerating and consolidating processes of capitalist restructuring.
Eighteenth-Century Review Culture and the “Enormous Crimes” of Antislavery Verse
Authors: Chan Christopher
Published: April 2024

This essay charts the reception of five widely read antislavery poems—Hannah More's Slavery (1788); Edward Rushton's West-Indian Eclogues (1787); William Roscoe's The Wrongs of Africa (1787 – 88); John Jamieson's The Sorrows of Slavery (1789); and James Field Stanfield's The Guinea Voyage (1789)—in contemporary review journals. It argues that these poets’ commitment to depicting the “enormous crimes” of British slavery in poetic form clashed with reviewers’ expectations of poetic diction, imagination, and representation, a conflict that arose from what I term “literary review culture” in the period. Understanding these responses can help us reassess the history of literary criticism as it was shaped by these poems’ efforts to delineate the inhumanities of the slave trade.
“You're in the Middle of the World”
Authors: Kumar Rebecca
Published: April 2024

Despite Barry Jenkins's pronounced and intentional allusions to the work of Hong Kong auteur Wong Kar Wai, film scholars have generally made little of the pervasive Asian elements in Moonlight (2016). This essay, however, offers a sustained study of the film's aesthetic and political engagement with Wong's cinema. It highlights how the distinct Asian femininity, or ornamentalism, of Days of Being Wild (1990) and In the Mood for Love (2001) are translated into Moonlight and reinforce the film's key themes on Black queerness, especially its ontological implications for Black (non)being and its material implications for Black embodiment. Furthermore, this essay claims that by borrowing from films in which Wong visually explores postcolonial loss—especially Happy Together (1997), about a pair of queer male Hong Kong migrants who work and live in Buenos Aires—Jenkins emphasizes the historic and global magnitude of queer Black diasporic dislocation and humanlessness. Ultimately, this essay outlines how the convergence of Black and Asian forms in Moonlight disrupts white, liberal, humanist scripts on racial, gendered, and sexual formation.
Reformulating Black Cinematic Labor
Authors: Baker Courtney R.
Published: April 2024

Considering the 2022 film Nope, this essay pushes beyond indexical and ontological readings of blackness in film in order to consider how invisible forms of blackness—in particular, the labor of black film workers—are inscribed in the film text. It argues that the inscription of black labor and a reading of film as an effect of labor supply a reformulation of a deracinated film formalism. Mining Nope's self-reflexive gestures, the essay explores the film's reformulation of American film history and its navigation of the invisible and the spectacular as the limited forms of manifesting blackness in cinema.
“If Today Never Gives Up In Me”
Authors: Chung Kelly I.
Published: April 2024

Featuring a conversation with the artist, this essay offers a reading of Amina Ross's aesthetic practice across a selection of their work. Alongside Fred Moten's own critique of the overrepresentation of blackness as death-driven, it highlights their ongoing contributions to what they refer to as “black work,” or aesthetic experimentations in making multiple forms of blackness appear and emerge in the present moment. For Ross, the present is not merely a death-driven end but, at once, a rigid structure and a “space of unlimited potential” wherein blackness and black life may be experienced in their multiplicity. Placing objects in unexpected positions and built structures, Ross seeks to widen spectators' sense of their own present and immediate environment. As such, the present is, for them, a space to be, not escaped from, but worked on and reenvisioned in an effort to make a black present possible, livable, and replenishable.
SARS-CoV-2 NSP5 antagonizes MHC II expression by subverting histone deacetylase 2
Authors: Taefehshokr Nima , Lac Alex , Vrieze Angela M. , Dickson Brandon H. , Guo Peter N. , Jung Catherine , Blythe Eoin N. , Fink Corby , Aktar Amena , Dikeakos Jimmy D. , Dekaban Gregory A. , Heit Bryan
Published: April 2024

SARS-CoV-2 interferes with antigen presentation by downregulating major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II on antigen-presenting cells, but the mechanism mediating this process is unelucidated. Herein, analysis of protein and gene expression in human antigen-presenting cells reveals that MHC II is downregulated by the SARS-CoV-2 main protease, NSP5. This suppression of MHC II expression occurs via decreased expression of the MHC II regulatory protein CIITA. CIITA downregulation is independent of the proteolytic activity of NSP5, and rather, NSP5 delivers HDAC2 to the transcription factor IRF3 at an IRF-binding site within the CIITA promoter. Here, HDAC2 deacetylates and inactivates the CIITA promoter. This loss of CIITA expression prevents further expression of MHC II, with this suppression alleviated by ectopic expression of CIITA or knockdown of HDAC2. These results identify a mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 limits MHC II expression, thereby delaying or weakening the subsequent adaptive immune response.
Contingent Reasoning and Dynamic Public Goods Provision
Authors: Calford Evan M. , Cason Timothy N.
Published: April 2024

Contributions toward public goods often reveal information that is useful to others considering their own contributions. This experiment compares static and dynamic contribution decisions to determine how contingent reasoning differs in dynamic decisions where equilibrium requires understanding how future information can inform about prior events. This identifies partially cursed individuals who can only extract partial information from contingent events, others who are better at extracting information from past rather than future or concurrent events, and Nash players who effectively perform contingent thinking. Contrary to equilibrium, the dynamic provision mechanism does not lead to lower contributions than the static mechanism. (JEL C92, D71, D82, D91, H41)
Metodologia badań w refleksji nad tłumaczeniem marketingowym
Authors: Błaszkowska Hanka
Published: April 2024

Artykuł przedstawia metody badań przekładoznawczych w zakresie tłumaczenia marketingowego, stanowiącego dynamicznie rozwijający się segment rynku usług tłumaczeniowych. Punktem wyjścia do rozważań jest charakterystyka genologiczna tekstów marketingowych oraz omówienie specyfiki tłumaczenia marketingowego zarówno w perspektywie przekładoznawczej, z przeglądem dotychczasowych badań, jak i w perspektywie praktycznej i zawodowej branży tłumaczeniowej. Obszar tłumaczenia marketingowego jest analizowany w szerszym ujęciu jako glokalizacja i transkreacja multimodalnych materiałów promocyjnych i reklamowych, a także w relacji z międzynarodowym copywritingiem. Problematyka rozważana jest z punktu widzenia paradygmatu funkcjonalnego, stanowiącego dotychczasowe ramy teoretyczne badań nad tłumaczeniem reklamowym, uwzględnia jednak też badania kontekstowe, pozwalające na całościowe ujęcie analizowanej problematyki. Uwagi końcowe skupiają się na nowych trendach w sektorze tłumaczeń marketingowych oraz związanych z nimi wyzwaniach i perspektywach rozwoju badań.
Tłumacz prawniczy czy prawnik tłumacz? Rozważania na temat relacji pojęć tłumacz prawniczy i prawnik w kontekście tzw. myślenia prawniczego
Authors: Kusik Przemysław
Published: April 2024

Badanie miało na celu określenie relacji pojęć tłumacz prawniczy i prawnik, a także wskazanie cech specyficznych dla prawników, które mogą być zarazem istotne w pracy tłumaczy prawniczych. Postawiwszy hipotezę, że taką cechą może być myślenie prawnicze, autor najpierw analizuje wypowiedzi na temat tożsamości zawodowej tłumaczy i znaczenie słowa prawnik, a następnie przedstawia podstawową charakterystykę myślenia prawniczego i myślenia tłumacza oraz stara się zweryfikować, czy myślenie prawnicze jest istotne w świetle kompetencji, których oczekuje się od tłumaczy prawniczych. W podsumowaniu artykułu zwrócono uwagę na trudności w określeniu relacji pojęć tłumacz prawniczy i prawnik, a także wskazano na myślenie prawnicze jako potencjalny atut w pracy tłumacza prawniczego.
Spacerem po Petersburgu w poszukiwaniu ekwiwalentów przekładowych - propozycja dydaktyczna
Authors: Krajewska Monika
Published: April 2024

Niniejszy artykuł dotyczy zagadnienia jakości przekładu związanego nie tylko ze znajomością pary języków, w obrębie których porusza się tłumacz, ale i realiów kraju, w którym przekładany tekst powstał. Mowa jest o korzyściach, jakie płyną z posługiwania się fotografiami i mapą, stanowiącymi pomoc w odpowiednim doborze ekwiwalentów. Przykłady podane w tekście pochodzą z dwóch utworów petersburskich pisarzy. Akcja tych utworów rozgrywa się w Petersburgu i to możliwości przekładowe realiów związanych z tym miastem zasadniczo poddawane są pod dyskusję. Obok wskazywania różnych wariantów docelowych dodano też historyczne dygresje na temat omawianych obiektów, co ma na celu wzbudzenie u uczestników naszych zajęć chęci bliższego poznania opisywanych w utworach miejsc.
Sprawozdanie z realizacji projektu Erasmus+ EFFORT na Wydziale Filologicznym Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego
Authors: Kuznik Anna , Solová Regina , Paprocka Natalia , Gostkowska Kaja , Walczyński Marcin
Published: April 2024

Niniejsze sprawozdanie ma na celu przybliżyć polskiemu czytelnikowi interesującemu się kształceniem tłumaczy główne założenia projektu Erasmus+ EFFORT, etapy i sposób ich realizacji na Wydziale Filologicznym Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego (UWr) oraz wytworzone w projekcie rezultaty pracy intelektualnej (intellectual outputs) wraz z ich tłumaczeniami na język polski.
Juan Noyola Vázquez (1922-1962)
Authors: Meireles Monika , Correa Prado Fernando
Published: April 2024

Dicho lo anterior, el objetivo del presente capítulo es analizar de manera articulada el contexto de la vida de Noyola con su obra. Sin embargo, para facilitar la presentación, hemos dividido el texto en tres grandes apartados, cada uno de ellos subdivididos libremente en beneficio de organización de la exposición. En la primera parte nos detendremos en examinar las principales etapas de su biografía profesional —sin dejar de mencionar el impacto de cada uno de esos entornos en su reflexión sobre el desarrollo—, con énfasis en su formación académica y su inserción profesional en el servicio público nacional e internacional. En la segunda parte, nos dedicamos a analizar con un poco más de detalle las principales aportaciones teóricas de Noyola —su contribución en los estudios de la inflación estructural, del des-equilibrio externo y de la transformación económico-social radical en América Latina—, valiéndonos tanto de la reseña crítica de textos originales del autor como de literatura secundaria de especialistas en su obra. Finalmente, en la tercera parte, tejemos algunas conclusiones que revisitan los elementos más importantes del trabajo, con especial mención a la coherencia entre el arsenal interpretativo creado por Noyola para entender la complejidad del desarrollo y su práctica profesional (o militancia) para consolidar el cambio estructural que llevaría a América Latina a ser una región con mayor justicia social.
AS MÚLTIPLAS IRENES E AS PERFORMANCES DE UM NOME EM QUATRO NARRATIVAS HISPANO-AMERICANAS
Authors: Brandão Araújo Moreno Amanda
Published: April 2024

RESUMO: Partindo da ideia de intertextualidade e dialogismo em literatura, este trabalho observa e analisa a repetição de um nome próprio, Irene, em quatro contos da tradição literária argentina-uruguaia vinculados à estética do fantástico e do insólito, a saber: do uruguaio Felisberto Hernández, “La casa de Irene” (1929); dos argentinos Silvina Ocampo e Julio Cortázar, respectivamente, “Autobiografía de Irene” (1948), da primeira, e “Casa Tomada” (1951) e “Todos los fuegos el fuego” (1966), do segundo. A partir de articulações teóricas com Bakhtin(2018) e Candido (2008), entendemos que a personagem é um dos eixos fundamentais para a construção da narrativa e buscamos analisar como essas “Irenes” foram construídas textualmente, sua relevância para cada conto e, por fim, os possíveis vínculos e dissonâncias entra todas elas, demonstrando possíveis vínculos de leitura entre seus autores.
PALAVRAS-CHAVE: narrativa hispano-americana; contos; intertextualidade; reescritura; Cortázar; Hérnandez; Ocampo; Irene.
Enhancing men's health: promoting screening programmes
Authors: Peate Ian
Published: April 2024

Ian Peate looks at how screening programmes can improve diagnosis rates for men
Assessing antibacterial efficacy of a polyhexanide hydrogel versus alginate-based wound dressing in burns
Authors: De Decker Ignace , Janssens Dries , De Mey Kimberly , Hoeksema Henk , Simaey Marie , De Coninck Petra , Verbelen Jozef , De Pessemier Alina , Blondeel Phillip , Monstrey Stan , Claes Karel EY
Published: April 2024

Objective:

Burn injuries pose a heightened risk of infection, which is primarily responsible for increased morbidity and mortality. Factors such as extensive skin damage and compromised immunity exacerbate this vulnerability. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus are frequently identified in burns, with Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa often resistant to antibacterial agents. While Flaminal, an alginate-based wound dressing (Flen Health, Belgium), aids wound healing, its antibacterial effects are limited compared with 1% silver sulfadiazine (1% SSD). In contrast, Prontosan Wound Gel X, a betaine and polyhexanide-based hydrogel (B. Braun Medical AG, Switzerland), has been shown to effectively combat various microbes and promotes wound healing.

Method:

In this study, two research cohorts were retrospectively established (control group: patients receiving standard of care with the alginate-based wound dressing; intervention group: patients receiving the polyhexanide hydrogel wound dressing), comprising patients admitted to a burn centre between 2019 and 2022. Patients were eligible when continuous wound treatment with either of the two wound dressings was performed. Laser Doppler imaging (LDI) scans were conducted. Regions of interest (ROIs) were selected based on LDI scans and divided into healing time categories. Wound swabs were collected and the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus was documented. Bacterial load was evaluated using a semiquantitative scale. Wound healing was recorded.

Results:

The control group consisted of 31 patients with 93 ROIs, while the intervention group had 67 ROIs involving 29 patients. Both groups exhibited similar proportions of healing time categories (p>0.05). The polyhexanide hydrogel dressing outperformed the alginate-based dressing in antiseptic efficacy by significantly reducing the incidence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa- and Staphylococcus aureus-positive cultures in patients' wounds. Wound healing time for conservative treatment was comparable between groups.

Conclusion:

In this study, the polyhexanide hydrogel dressing minimised Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus colonisation in burn wounds, demonstrating strong antibacterial properties, emphasising its potential to minimise infections in burn injuries.
Genetically predicted fatty liver disease and risk of psychiatric disorders: A mendelian randomization study
Authors: Xu Wei-Ming , Zhang Hai-Fu , Feng Yong-Hang , Li Shuo-Jun , Xie Bi-Yun
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcohol-related liver disease (ArLD) constitute the primary forms of chronic liver disease, and their incidence is progressively increasing with changes in lifestyle habits. Earlier studies have documented a correlation between the occurrence and development of prevalent mental disorders and fatty liver.

AIM

To investigate the correlation between fatty liver and mental disorders, thus necessitating the implementation of a mendelian randomization (MR) study to elucidate this association.

METHODS

Data on NAFLD and ArLD were retrieved from the genome-wide association studies catalog, while information on mental disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, anxiety disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, multiple personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and schizophrenia was acquired from the psychiatric genomics consortium. A two-sample MR method was applied to investigate mediators in significant associations.

RESULTS

After excluding weak instrumental variables, a causal relationship was identified between fatty liver disease and the occurrence and development of some psychiatric disorders. Specifically, the findings indicated that ArLD was associated with a significantly elevated risk of developing ADHD (OR: 5.81, 95%CI: 5.59-6.03, P < 0.01), bipolar disorder (OR: 5.73, 95%CI: 5.42-6.05, P = 0.03), OCD (OR: 6.42, 95%CI: 5.60-7.36, P < 0.01), and PTSD (OR: 5.66, 95%CI: 5.33-6.01, P < 0.01). Meanwhile, NAFLD significantly increased the risk of developing bipolar disorder (OR: 55.08, 95%CI: 3.59-845.51, P < 0.01), OCD (OR: 61.50, 95%CI: 6.69-565.45, P < 0.01), and PTSD (OR: 52.09, 95%CI: 4.24-639.32, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Associations were found between genetic predisposition to fatty liver disease and an increased risk of a broad range of psychiatric disorders, namely bipolar disorder, OCD, and PTSD, highlighting the significance of preventive measures against psychiatric disorders in patients with fatty liver disease.
Waist subcutaneous soft tissue metastasis of rectal mucinous adenocarcinoma: A case report
Authors: Gong Zi-Xing , Li Guo-Lei , Dong Wen-Min , Xu Zhao , Li Rui , Lv Wen-Xia , Yang Jing , Li Zhong-Xin , Xing Wei
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND

Rectal mucinous adenocarcinoma (MAC) is a rare pathological type of rectal cancer with unique pathological features and a poor prognosis. It is difficult to diagnose and treat early because of the lack of specific manifestations in some aspects of the disease. The common metastatic organs of rectal cancer are the liver and lung; however, rectal carcinoma with metastasis to subcutaneous soft tissue is a rare finding.

CASE SUMMARY

In this report, the clinical data, diagnosis and treatment process, and postoperative pathological features of a patient with left waist subcutaneous soft tissue masses were retrospectively analyzed. The patient underwent surgical treatment after admission and recovered well after surgery. The final pathological diagnosis was rectal MAC with left waist subcutaneous soft tissue metastasis.

CONCLUSION

Subcutaneous soft tissue metastasis of rectal MAC is rare, and it can suggest that the tumor is disseminated, and it can appear even earlier than the primary malignant tumor, which is occult and leads to a missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis clinically. When a subcutaneous soft tissue mass of unknown origin appears in a patient with rectal cancer, a malignant tumor should be considered.
Immediate secondary rhinoplasty using a folded dermofat graft for resolving complications related to silicone implants: A case report
Authors: Kim Hoon , Kim Jong Hyup , Koh In Chang , Lim Soo Yeon
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND

Various surgical techniques have been developed to enhance the nose shapes of Asian patients. Silicone implant augmentation rhinoplasty is widely used because it is relatively easy to perform and often yields satisfactory outcomes. However, this technique may lead to complications, including ischemia, necrosis, and over-augmentation. The most appropriate management of these complications, including infection, is immediate implant removal and revision surgery once the accompanying inflammation has healed. Occasionally, the patient may experience distress from nasal deformities during the intervention period.

CASE SUMMARY

Herein, we describe the case of a patient who underwent a secondary dorsal augmentation, with a folded dermofat graft harvested from the inguinal area and simultaneous implant removal, successfully preventing dimpling of the nasal deformity.

CONCLUSION

This surgical method can effectively manage implant-related complications following augmentation rhinoplasty using a silicone implant and provide satisfactory patient outcomes.
Sustained remission of Cronkhite-Canada syndrome after corticosteroid and mesalazine treatment: A case report
Authors: Chen Ya-Lan , Wang Rui-Yao , Mei Ling , Duan Ran
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND

Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) is a rare disease of unknown etiology. The optimal treatment for CCS remains unknown. Treatment with corticosteroids is considered the mainstay treatment because of its high efficacy, but the therapeutic strategy for steroid-resistant CCS is not yet established.

CASE SUMMARY

This is the case of an 81-year-old woman who was diagnosed with CCS. Given her severe diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and hypoproteinemia, hormone therapy (40 mg/d) was administered, and the symptoms improved within 1 wk. After 3 mo, the patient had no obvious symptoms. The polyps were significantly reduced on review gastroscopy and colonoscopy, thus hormone reduction gradually began. The hormone level was maintained at 10 mg/d after 6 mo. Despite the age of the patient and the side effects of hormones, the patient had no obvious discomfort. However, hormone drugs were discontinued, and mesalazine was administered orally at 3 g/d. The patient's symptoms continued to improve after a follow-up of 5 years.

CONCLUSION

Corticosteroids and mesalazine are potential treatment options for CCS.
Detection of LAMA2 c.715C>G:p.R239G mutation in a newborn with raised creatine kinase: A case report
Authors: Yuan Jing , Yan Xiang-Ming
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND

We report a rare case of primary clinical presentation featuring elevated creatine kinase (CK) levels in a neonate, which is associated with the LAMA2 gene. In this case, a heterozygous mutation in exon5 of the LAMA2 gene, c.715C>G (resulting in a change of nucleotide number 715 in the coding region from cytosine to guanine), induced an amino acid alteration p.R239G (No. 239) in the patient, representing a missense mutation. This observation may be elucidated by the neonatal creatine monitoring mechanism, a phenomenon not previously reported.

CASE SUMMARY

We analysed the case of a neonate presenting solely with elevated CK levels who was eventually discharged after supportive treatment. The chief complaint was identification of increased CK levels for 15 d and higher CK values for 1 d. Admission occurred at 18 d of age, and despite prolonged treatment with creatine and vitamin C, the elevated CK levels showed limited improvement. Whole exome sequencing revealed the presence of a c.715C>G mutation in LAMA2 in the newborn, correlating with a clinical phenotype. However, the available information offers insufficient evidence for clinical pathogenicity.

CONCLUSION

Mutations in LAMA2 are associated with the clinical phenotype of increased neonatal CK levels, for which no specific treatment exists. Whole genome sequencing facilitates early diagnosis.
Early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer: Shedding light on an unresolved challenge
Authors: Lindner Cristian
Published: April 2024

Diagnosing early-stage pancreatic cancer (PC) remains a clinical challenge. Hence, studying novel imaging aspects that could enhance the diagnostic accuracy of malignant pancreatic precursor lesions is imperative. This article aims to underscore the promising role of emerging imaging aspects that may facilitate the earlier diagnosis of PC, thereby improving its management and prognosis.
Roads to nowhere but the belt is Gucci: has China’s Belt and Road Initiative been successful so far and why?
Authors: Becker Philipp
Published: April 2024

This article assesses the success of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with respect to three objectives: strengthening China’s geopolitical stance, spurring geo-economic development in the Western regions and instilling a spatial fix to overaccumulation and thirdly, providing profit opportunities to troubled state-owned enterprises. I find that the BRI has only delivered on the third aspect, with even the BRI’s signature white elephant projects providing windfall incomes to the state-owned enterprises (SOEs) constructing and operating them.

My explanation of this phenomenon is two-fold. Firstly, I argue that tense, coercive competition (Crotty, 1993) has spurred Chinese SOEs to revert to rent-seeking activity in order to stay afloat and realise managers’ cadre ambitions. As the state-owned Asset Supervision and Administrative Council (SASAC) evaluates manager performance based largely on company performance, demanding numbers that cannot be achieved under coercive competition in an environment of overcapacity, managers reverted to guanxi practices and corruption to secure under-the-counter deals, relying on soft budgets and beneficial lending practices. Amid tightening domestic regulation and Xi’s anti-corruption campaign, these strategies are becoming less viable and sustainable to pursue at home. As managers’ incentive structure has not evolved, pressure to seek rents persists, pushing SOEs to pursue their strategies abroad via the BRI. Secondly, the export of the strategies to persist amid coercive competition is enabled by a fragmented institutional environment, allowing SOEs to abuse asymmetries in information and outmanoeuvre stringent evaluation of their proposed BRI projects by mobilising political support through networks.
Deep autoencoder as an interpretable tool for Raman spectroscopy investigation of chemical and extracellular vesicle mixtures
Authors: Kazemzadeh Mohammadrahim , Martinez-Calderon Miguel , Otupiri Robert , Artuyants Anastasiia , Lowe MoiMoi , Ning Xia , Reategui Eduardo , Schultz Zachary D. , Xu Weiliang , Blenkiron Cherie , Chamley Lawrence W. , Broderick Neil G. R. , Hisey Colin L.
Published: April 2024

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a powerful tool that provides valuable insight into the molecular contents of chemical and biological samples. However, interpreting Raman spectra from complex or dynamic datasets remains challenging, particularly for highly heterogeneous biological samples like extracellular vesicles (EVs). To overcome this, we developed a tunable and interpretable deep autoencoder for the analysis of several challenging Raman spectroscopy applications, including synthetic datasets, chemical mixtures, a chemical milling reaction, and mixtures of EVs. We compared the results with classical methods (PCA and UMAP) to demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed technique. Our method can handle small datasets, provide a high degree of generalization such that it can fill unknown gaps within spectral datasets, and even quantify relative ratios of cell line-derived EVs to fetal bovine serum-derived EVs within mixtures. This simple yet robust approach will greatly improve the analysis capabilities for many other Raman spectroscopy applications.
Evaluating the beam shape coefficients of Bessel–Gauss beams with radial quadrature: a comparison with angular spectrum decomposition and finite series methods
Authors: Tang Siqi , Wang Mengyang , Shen Jianqi
Published: April 2024

The Bessel–Gauss beam (BGB) stands as a physically realizable beam extensively employed in applications such as micromanipulation and optical trapping. In these contexts, the assessment of beam shape coefficients (BSCs) becomes imperative. Previous research reveals that the BSCs of the BGBs obtained with different methods deviate from each other under certain circumstances. In this paper, the formulation of BSCs employs the radial quadrature method, and a comparative analysis is conducted with counterparts formulated using the angular spectrum decomposition and the finite series technique. Contributions stemming from evanescent waves and the situation of the BSC blowing-ups are discussed, offering a deep insight of pertinent BSC evaluation methods. The paper provides an alternative approach for calculating the BSCs of the BGBs.
Preliminary analysis of global column-averaged CO2 concentration data from the spaceborne aerosol and carbon dioxide detection lidar onboard AEMS
Authors: Fan Chuncan , Chen Cheng , Liu Jiqiao , Xie Yuan , Li Ke , Zhu Xiaopeng , Zhang Lu , Cao Xifeng , Han Ge , Huang Yongjian , Gu Qianrong , Chen Weibiao
Published: April 2024

In contrast to the passive remote sensing of global CO2 column concentrations (XCO2), active remote sensing with a lidar enables continuous XCO2 measurements throughout the entire atmosphere in daytime and nighttime. The lidar could penetrate most cirrus and is almost unaffected by aerosols. Atmospheric environment monitoring satellite (AEMS, also named DQ-1) aerosol and carbon dioxide detection Lidar (ACDL) is a novel spaceborne lidar that implements a 1572 nm integrated path differential absorption (IPDA) method to measure the global XCO2 for the first time. In this study, special methods have been developed for ACDL data processing and XCO2 retrieval. The CO2 measurement data products of ACDL, including the differential absorption optical depth between the online and offline wavelengths, the integral weighting function, and XCO2, are presented. The results of XCO2 measurements over the period from 1st June 2022 to 30th June 2022 (first month data of ACDL) are analyzed to demonstrate the measurement capabilities of the spaceborne ACDL system.
Miniaturized high signal-to-noise ratio optical air data system using a compact multi-axis parallel transceiver for airborne application
Authors: Li Bin , Lei Hongjie , Yue Yazhou , ZHou Yuan , Liu Fang , Qiao Jinliang , Jin Wenhua , ZHang Yixin , Tian Zheming , Ren Xiaojing
Published: April 2024

We have developed a miniaturized multi-channel parallel optical air data system with high signal-to-noise ratio for airborne application. In the system, we designed a fiber amplifier with multi-channel high-energy output that was respectively used as the transmitting signals and a compact multi-axis transceiver with an entrance pupil diameter of 70 mm that was used to receive multi-channel signals simultaneously. We demonstrated the performance of our system both on ground and on board. On ground, the measured line-of-sight speed had an average error of 0.02 m/s and a standard deviation of 0.15 m/s. On board, the standard deviation between the true air speed, angle of attack, and angle of sideslip measured by our system and a commercial Swiss air data system was 1 kt, 0.68°, and 0.54°, respectively, and those standard deviation between our system and a system with the same design but employing multiple single-axis telescopes with entrance pupil diameter of 30 mm was 0.34 kt, 0.36°, and 0.28°, respectively. The signal-to-noise ratio of our system was 4.5 times higher than that of the system with small single-axis telescopes. Our system is very promising for airborne applications because of its small volume, high signal-to-noise ratio, and high data rate.
Phase Retrieval by Designed Hadamard Complementary Coded Apertures.
Authors: Romero Bastian , Cofré Aarón , Diaz Nelson , Scherz Pablo , Tapia Jorge , Peters Eduardo , Perez Dario , Vera Esteban
Published: April 2024

Phase retrieval (PR) is a challenging problem with applications in various fields, ranging from microscopy to astronomy. Currently, novel computational imaging systems for PR exploit the modulation of the optical field through \acrfull{rcca} to recover the amplitude and phase from a distorted beam without prior knowledge, solving an ill-posed optimization problem using the conventional phaseLift algorithm. However, these conventional approaches recover the phase and amplitude by using at least 20 coded apertures, which poses a great challenge for performing real-time acquisition and estimation of varying optical fields. To overcome this issue, in this work, we design eight binary Hadamard complementary coded apertures that reduce the acquisition time and enhance the amplitude and phase recovery quality. Through simulations, we compare our approach against traditional random complementary coded aperture using peak-signal-to-noise ratio as spatial fidelity metrics; we use 23 images from the Kodak dataset, PhaseLift as the phase retrieval reconstruction algorithm, and Fresnel as a light propagator in the near field. Extensive simulations using different noise levels prove that our approach Hadamard complementary coded aperture, outperforms conventional methods random complementary coded aperture in reducing the number of masks. Moreover, experimental results using our optical test bed demonstrate that our approach recovers the phase with a significantly improved visual quality.
Stigma experiences, effects and coping among individuals affected by Buruli ulcer and yaws in Ghana
Authors: Tuwor Ruth Dede , Mtuy Tara B. , Amoako Yaw Ampem , Owusu Lucy , Oppong Michael Ntiamoah , Agbanyo Abigail , Agbavor Bernadette , Marks Michael , Walker Stephen L. , Yeboah-Manu Dorothy , Pullan Rachel L. , Dapaah Jonathan Mensah , Phillips Richard Odame , Palmer Jennifer ,   for the SHARP collaboration
Published: April 2024

Background

Stigma related to skin neglected tropical diseases like Buruli ulcer (BU) and yaws has remained underexplored and existing studies are limited to individual diseases despite the WHO call for integration in disease management. Within two districts in central Ghana, we explored stigma associated with BU and yaws to understand overlaps and disease-specific nuances to help guide integrated interventions.

Methodology/Principal findings

In-depth interviews were conducted with 31 current or formerly affected individuals to assess the experiences, effects and coping strategies adopted to manage disease related stigma. Data were analysed along broad themes based on the sociological construct of macro and micro interaction and Goffman’s treatise on stigma.

Disapproving community labels fueled by misconceptions were noted among BU participants which contributed to macro stigma experiences, including exclusion, discrimination and avoidance. In contrast, a high level of social acceptance was reported among yaws participants although some micro-level stigma (anticipated, felt and self-stigma) were noted by individuals with both diseases. While younger participants experienced name-calling and use of derogatory words to address affected body parts, older participants and caregivers discussed the pain of public staring. Stigma experiences had negative consequences on psychosocial well-being, schooling, and social relations, particularly for BU affected people. Problem-focused strategies including confrontation, selective disclosure and concealment as well as emotion-focused strategies (religious coping and self-isolation) were noted.

Conclusions and significance

The types and levels of stigma varied for BU and yaws. Stigma experiences also differed for adults and children in this setting and these differences should be accounted for in integrated interventions for these skin NTDs. School health programs need to prioritize educating school teachers about skin NTDs and the negative impact of stigma on the wellbeing of children.