bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Resistant Hypertension in Dialysis: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Management
Authors: Georgianos Panagiotis I. , Agarwal Rajiv
Published: January 2024

Apparent treatment-resistant hypertension is defined as an elevated BP despite the use of ≥3 antihypertensive medications from different classes or the use of ≥4 antihypertensives regardless of BP levels. Among patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, using this definition, the prevalence of apparent treatment-resistant hypertension is estimated to be between 18% and 42%. Owing to the lack of a rigorous assessment of some common causes of pseudoresistance, the burden of true resistant hypertension in the dialysis population remains unknown. What distinguishes apparent treatment-resistance from true resistance is white-coat hypertension and adherence to medications. Accordingly, the diagnostic workup of a dialysis patient with apparent treatment-resistant hypertension on dialysis includes the accurate determination of BP control status with the use of home or ambulatory BP monitoring and exclusion of nonadherence to the prescribed antihypertensive regimen. In a patient on dialysis with inadequately controlled BP, despite adherence to therapy with maximally tolerated doses of a β-blocker, a long-acting dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, and a renin-angiotensin system inhibitor, volume-mediated hypertension is the most important treatable cause of resistance. In daily clinical practice, such patients are often managed with intensification of antihypertensive therapy. However, this therapeutic strategy is likely to fail if volume overload is not adequately recognized or treated. Instead of increasing the number of prescribed BP-lowering medications, we recommend diet and dialysate restricted in sodium to facilitate achievement of dry weight. The achievement of dry weight is facilitated by an adequate time on dialysis of at least 4 hours for delivering an adequate dialysis dose. In this article, we review the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of resistant hypertension among patients on dialysis.
Analysis of Growth Factors of the Four Asian Dragons Following the Asian Financial Crisis
Authors:   The Korea International Trade Research Institute, Joo Yejin , Seo Hye-Seong , Nam Hoseok
Published: January 2024

Purpose - This study aims to identify implications from a factor decomposition analysis of the growth structure of four Asian dragons, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, which have re-emerged as key regions in the fourth industrial revolution and the global value chain.
Design/Methodology/Approach - With the Translog Production Function employed as the analysis model, the Stochastic Frontier Analysis model was used to derive total factor productivity (TFP), which was decomposed into four factors including returns to scale, technological changes, technical efficiency, and others.
Findings - The results of the analysis conducted over different periods indicate that during periods of high growth, the economy’s scale effect largely contributed to total factor productivity. However, it became evident that the effect of technological changes had become increasingly important after going through the foreign exchange and financial crises.
Research Implications - The new growth momentum in these four regions suggests a need to invest in human capital, research and development, and other areas to cope with the low-growth era. Although past high-growth was attributed to the returns to scale effect, the economic structures shifted in the direction of enhancing efficiency, and the effect of technological changes became a driving force while going through the crises. These results show a need to focus on technological advancement through active research and development investment to increase total factor productivity.
Question design and the gender gap in financial literacy
Authors: Tranfaglia Anna , Lloro Alicia , Merry Ellen
Published: January 2024

Many surveys have measured people's financial literacy with a standard set of questions covering interest, inflation, and investment diversification. Results from these surveys have consistently shown that women are less likely than men to answer the financial literacy questions correctly – the so-called financial literacy gender gap.
Single-limb fast FR4 operant task(Mendonça et al 2024) v1
Authors: D Mendonça Marcelo
Published: January 2024

Single-limb fast FR4 operant task methods from Mendonça et al 2024.
GCaMP6f imaging using a mini-epifluorescence microscope(Mendonça et al 2024) v1
Authors: D Mendonça Marcelo
Published: January 2024

GCaMP6f imaging using a mini-epifluorescence microscope methods from Mendonça et al 2024.
Practical Guide to Live Sampling of Livestock and Wildlife for Infectious Disease Surveillance v1
Authors: Catalano Stefano
Published: January 2024

Under- or misdiagnosed cases of disease caused by especially dangerous pathogens present public health and proliferation risks. Numerous studies have demonstrated that in low-resource settings, and particularly where malaria is endemic, patients presenting to healthcare facilities with febrile illness may not receive an accurate diagnosis due to, among other reasons, shortcomings in differential protocols and lack of available diagnostic tests. In Guinea, when patients present at the community or prefectural level with febrile illness, weaknesses in clinical differential protocols usually result in the patient being diagnosed with a common infection, notably malaria and occasionally typhoid, with no further testing performed. As such, acute febrile illness presents an unquantified and undifferentiated burden to the Guinean healthcare system. The specific challenge for public health authorities is that pathogens causing febrile episodes in the population, and the zoonotic transmission pathways that may drive them, have not been systematically nor comprehensively identified. Fever Project is a three-year research project with the objective to build capacity for threat reduction in Guinea and improve health security through an integrated approach to human and animal health for the identification of high-consequence aetiologies of acute febrile illness in humans. The project’s goals are to: I) identify the causative agents of acute febrile illness in humans in Guinea; II) uncover evidence for transmission of high-consequence zoonotic pathogens associated with acute febrile illness; III) investigate risk factors for acute febrile illness in humans, including exposure to domestic and peri-domestic animals; and IV) improve capacities for the detection of high-consequence pathogens associated with acute febrile illness.
Las conductas procesales de las partes a las cuales se asignan consecuencias probatorias en el código de procedimiento civil y en el código general del proceso
Authors: Posada Botero Jose David
Published: January 2024

En virtud del principio de moralidad o lealtad procesal las partes tienen el deber de colaborar con la producción de la prueba, el legislador puede optar por establecer consecuencias de carácter probatorio ante el incumplimiento de este, en el proceso civil en Colombia serán la presunción de ocurrencia del hecho o un indicio, el objetivo del presente artículo será identificar los diferentes supuestos normativos que en los ordenamientos procesales civiles, anterior C. de P. C y el vigente C. G. del P., asignan consecuencias probatorias a las conductas de las partes en el ámbito del proceso. Al realizar el inventario de los eventos se identifican las que corresponden al incumplimiento de los deberes de las partes y sus apoderados, las que se generan como consecuencia de no contestar la demanda o no hacerlo en debida forma, las originadas en la inasistencia a las audiencias del artículo 101 (C. de P.C.) o a las audiencias de los procesos verbales (C. G. del P.), las derivadas de la no devolución del expediente, y las que se dan con ocasión o durante la práctica de algunos de los medios de prueba.
Analysis of the endocardial stage of treatment of tachyarhythmias after open interventions for atrial fibrillation. Experience of one center
Authors: Postol Anzhelika S. , Antipov Georgy N. , Ivanchenko Andrey V. , Lyashenko Vitaliy V. , Kalinin Dmitry A. , Kotov Sergey N. , Vygovsky Alexander B. , Shneider Yuriy A.
Published: January 2024

AIM: To study EFI parameters and features of recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmias in patients who underwent surgical correction of AF.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: from January 2013 to December 2021, 447 combined interventions were performed to eliminate AF using the labyrinth-3 and left atrial labyrinth techniques with correction of CHD (congenital heart disease) and/or coronary artery disease.
Rhythm disturbances were detected in 57 (12.7%) patients at various follow-up periods. Endovascular interventions were performed in 39 patients. The average follow-up period after the endocardial stage was 34.37 (standard deviation 24.32) months. The median age of patients was 64 (58–67) years, 21 (54%) were men. The patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 — after the classic biatrial (BA) labyrinth-3 — 23 (59%) patients, group 2 — after the left-atrial variant (LA) labyrinth-3 — 16 (41%) patients.
At the endocardial stage, electrophysiological studies (EFI) were performed to clarify the mechanism of arrhythmia, and ablation eliminated tachyarrhythmia. EFI protocol: revision of the pulmonary veins, determination of the isolation of the posterior wall of the LA assessment of atrial arrhythmia, elimination of arrhythmia, control induction of arrhythmia after ablation. After repeated intervention, patients were observed in the operating clinic every 3 months.
RESULTS: After the endocardial stage, a regular rhythm was determined in 19 (82.6%) patients of the BA group, 13 (92.9%) patients of the LA group (p = 0.914). Relapses in the form of AF were noted in 5 patients (4 — group 1 and 1 — group 2) group (p = 0.306) All relapses of tachyarrhythmia with an irregular cycle (AF) were detected in patients with AF before the endovascular stage In both groups, there were cases of restoration of conduction in the pulmonary veins — 10 (43.5%) patients after BA ablation and 1 (5.3%) patient after LA ablation. There are no recurrences of atrial arrhythmia after ablation of atrial flutter (arrhythmia with a stable cycle).
CONCLUSION: The endocardial stage is highly effective and demonstrates subsequent freedom from atrial arrhythmia in patients who have tachycardia with a regular cycle after both methods of surgical ablation of AF. Recurrent tachyarrhythmia in the form of AF (irregular cycle) is associated with a low probability of maintaining a regular atrial rhythm after a repeated endocardial procedure, due to the presence of structural and electrophysiological changes in the atrial myocardium.
Atrial fibrillation in a patient with diffuse myocardial fibrosis and mitral annular disjunction
Authors: Evdokimova Larisa S. , Itskovich Irina E. , Novikova Tatiana N. , Garpinchenko Tatiana V.
Published: January 2024

A case of atrial fibrillation and premature ventricular complexes (PVC) in a patient with mitral valve prolapse and mitral annular disjunction is described. Rhythm disturbances occurred after a new coronavirus infection. Also, the patient has a history of combined treatment of left breast cancer, which contributed to the appearance of myocardial fibrosis as an arrhythmogenic substrate. Due to the ineffectiveness of conservative antiarrhythmic therapy, a radiofrequency catheter procedure was performed, which proved unsuccessful. The purpose of the article is to present the possible causes of cardiac arrhythmias and the role of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of arrhythmogenic myocardial fibrosis and mitral annular disjunction.
TERRITORY, NETWORKING AND REGIONAL POLICIES: REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES OF THE POST-TRANSITION EU MEMBER STATES
Authors:   J. J. Strossmayer University in Osijek, Faculty of Economics in Osijek, Croatia, Drvenkar Nataša , Cota Ilija , Unukić Ivana
Published: January 2024

RDAs - regional development agencies have a long development path in Europe since the early 1960s until today. RDAs are directed to the regions of the countries that implement it, but it also applies to the national level as well as to the level of the EU (which comes to the fore with the country's accession to full membership). In addition to the significant differences in the level of development of the regions of the EU Member States, there are also significant differences in the development of the regions of 11 post-transition EU Member States (Bulgaria, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Croatia). Because they all belonged to the former "socialist bloc of countries" and broke their state alliances with the former states in the early 1990s, as well as because they did not have the same historical circumstances or the same timing for joining the EU, all this had and still has an important role on the uneven development of their regions. But, RDAs do not play the same role and importance in all post-transition countries, which reflects the specificity of their regional development management systems and makes it necessary to examine the role and importance of RDAs' work. This paper will analyze: 1) the role and development of RDAs in post-transition EU member states, and 2) the institutional framework of RDAs with an attempt to find innovative transformations of the role of RDAs that respect the framework of EU regional policies.
An Empirical Study on the 3PL Service Quality of Food Cold Chain and Supply Chain Performance in the 4IR Era: Focusing on 3D Service Quality
Authors:   The Korean Logistics Research Association, Kim Chang-Bong , Lee Hee-Bin , Lee Sung-Hyun
Published: January 2024

Recently, the cold chain market in the food industry has been rapidly advancing with the application of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as Big Data, IoT, RFID, enhancing both information technology and logistics systems. Consequently, in the support of food cold chain systems, physical quality and logistics information quality have improved during the distribution and logistics processes. Therefore, there is a need for distribution and logistics companies to derive and examine service quality factors that impact relationship maintenance and performance in the supply chain management process with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the food industry during the Fourth Industrial Revolution era. This study aims to identify the cold chain service quality factors of third-party logistics (3PL) companies based on expert in-depth interviews and a three-dimensional service quality model. Additionally, it seeks to understand the influence of relationship orientation in Korean food SMEs on supply chain performance. To achieve this, a systematic survey was conducted through preliminary investigations, distributing structured questionnaires, and collecting a total of 240 responses, excluding 9 unreliable responses, for empirical analysis. The collected survey data were analyzed using SPSS version 28.0 for frequency analysis to understand the general characteristics of respondents. Furthermore, Smart PLS version 4.0 was employed to test the internal consistency reliability, concentration, and discriminant validity of the measurement model. After evaluating the structural model, hypotheses were verified. The results of the analysis indicate that all three-dimensional service quality factors of cold chain services provided by 3PL companies (data processing expertise, digital-based customer responsiveness, and smart logistics information accuracy) positively influence relationship orientation. Additionally, the relationship orientation of food SMEs toward 3PL companies was confirmed to have a positive impact on supply chain performance. Therefore, the significance of this study lies in providing service quality factors for distribution and logistics companies to maintain relationships with food SMEs in South Korea and confirming the causal relationships affecting supply chain performance.
The Impact of Business Analytics in Supply Chain Network: Conceptualization for Business Analytics Capability and Supply Chain Performance Implications
Authors:   The Korean Logistics Research Association, Ryu Choonho , Lee Joungho
Published: January 2024

The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate the relationship between organizational business analytics capability and supply chain performance in order to identify the impact of business analytics in supply chain network. Specifically, drawing on literature streams in Supply Chain Operations Reference Model and Information Processing Theory, this study conceptualizes the notion of business analytics capability in supply chain network, develops its structure as a reflective model, and tests the constructs and operational measures in the model. And then this study investigates the relationship between analytics capabilities in the plan, source, make and deliver area of the supply chain network and its performance using business process orientation and information system support as moderators that form the basis of our theory. Conducting an empirical study of 170 Korean manufacturing firms, this study, through the successive stages of measurement model analysis, provides empirical evidence for modeling reflective indicator and construct of business analytics capability in supply chain network. As a result, the construct of business analytics capability is posited to reflect a combination through analytics capabilities in the plan, source, make and deliver area of the supply chain network. And the findings suggest the existence of a statistically significant relationship between business analytics capabilities and supply chain performance. The moderation effect of information systems support is considerably stronger than the effect of business process orientation. These findings provide a better understanding of the areas in supply chain network where the impact of business analytics may be the strongest.
The M. Jebsen Shipping Company in Apenrade, Schleswig-Holstein: Coastal Shipping in Europe, 1878–1885
Authors: Becker Bert
Published: January 2024

Artykuł analizuje rewolucję transportową XIX wieku, koncentrując się na żegludze przy- brzeżnej i morskiej bliskiego zasięgu. Wskazuje, że pomimo kluczowej roli, jaką odegrały w rewolucji przemysłowej w Europie i Stanach Zjednoczonych, statki żeglugi przybrzeżnej napędzane parą były albo ignorowane, albo bagatelizowane przez historyków. Może to wynikać z niedostatku zachowanych zapisów. Szczęśliwym wyjątkiem jest archiwum M. Jebsen Shipping Company w Aabenraa w Danii. Zachowane kopie listów pozwalają prześledzić wczesną historię firmy w europejskiej żegludze przybrzeżnej i bliskiego zasięgu, a także pracę jej założyciela Michaela Jebsena i jego sieci. Artykuł analizuje ogólną pozycję bałtyckiego portu Aabenraa (lub Apenrade), bastionu żaglowców w Szlezwiku-Holsztynie w Danii (później w Prusach w Niemczech) oraz postawy lokalnej sieci inwestorów, którzy z racjonalnych i emocjonalnych powodów okazali się niechętni przejściu z żagli na parę. Jedynym wyjściem dla Jebsena było założenie spółki armatorskiej, w której większość udziałów przejął on sam, członek rodziny i kilku przyjaciół biznesowych spoza jego rodzinnego miasta, w tym bracia Diederichsen z Hamburga. Bracia byli w stanie przekształcić firmę stoczniową swoich krewnych, Georga, Bernharda i Hermanna Howaldtów w Kilonii, w stocznię domową Jebsena, która do 1930 r. budowała większość statków jego firmy. Ta trójstronna sieć finansowania i budowy statków zapewniła sukces działalności Jebsena na wodach europejskich w latach 1878–1885, a nawet w Azji Wschodniej. Kolejnym kluczowym czynnikiem była sieć kapitanów żeglujących w regionie morskim między północną Rosją a południową Hiszpanią. Ze swojego biura w Aabenraa Jebsen stale i intensywnie informował swoich kapitanów listownie i telegramami o sprawach technicznych i personalnych, a także o lukratywnych kontraktach frachtowych. Ta korespondencja, zachowana w archiwach firmy, pokazuje również system zasad, które Jebsen ściśle monitorował i sankcjonował. Prowadzenie statku w sposób jak najbardziej ekonomiczny było stałym tematem jego listów do kapitanów. W artykule podjęto próbę połączenia perspektywy makro i mikro w opisie i analizie tła i wczesnej historii europejskiego przedsiębiorstwa żeglugi parowej obsługującego małe i średnie statki handlowe na przełomie lat siedemdziesiątych i osiemdziesiątych XIX wieku.
Are Coastal Cities Senior-Friendly?
Authors: Pytel Sławomir , Piechota Agnieszka
Published: January 2024

Przeprowadzona analiza struktury demograficznej dużych miast nadmorskich pokazuje, że proces starzenia się ich społeczeństwa jest mocno zaawansowany. W związku z tym fak- tem najważniejszym zadaniem samorządów miejskich powinno stać się przeciwdziałanie wykluczeniu społecznemu osób starszych. Autorzy postanowili zweryfikować tą sytuację wśród seniorów napływających do największych miast nadmorskich. Jako cel badań przyjęli przeanalizowanie dostępności, do sklepów i aptek jako podstawowych, codziennych usług dla tej grupy społeczeństwa. Uzyskane wyniki są bardzo optymistyczne i zadowalające. Stwierdzono, iż tylko nieliczna część osób starszych, która napłynęła do miast nadmorskich nie ma w odległości 15 minut pieszo sklepu lub apteki. Znacząca większość zakupy spożywcze i medyczne może zrobić w najbliższej okolicy.
Air Pollution and Influenza: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Sun Rui , Tao Juan , Tang Na , Chen Zhijun , Guo Xiaowei , Zou Lianhong , Zhou Junhua
Published: January 2024

Background: Influenza is the first infectious disease that implements global monitoring and is one of the major public health issues in the world. Air pollutants have become an important global public health issue, in recent years, and much epidemiological and clinical evidence has shown that air pollutants are associated with respiratory diseases.
Methods: We comprehensively searched articles published up to 15 November 2022 in PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Database of Chinese sci-tech periodicals, and Wanfang Database. The search strategies were based on keyword combinations related to influenza and air pollutants. The air pollutants included particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O3). Meta-analysis was performed using the R programming language (R4.2.1).
Results: A total of 2926 records were identified and 1220 duplicates were excluded. Finally, 19 studies were included in the meta-analysis according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. We observed a significant association between partial air pollutants (PM2.5, NO2, PM10 and SO2) and the incidence risk of influenza. The RRs were 1.0221 (95% CI: 1.0093~1.0352), 1.0395 (95% CI: 1.0131~1.0666), 1.007 (95% CI: 1.0009~1.0132), and 1.0352 (95% CI. 1.0076~1.0635), respectively. However, there was no significant relationship between CO and O3 exposure and influenza, and the RRs were 1.2272 (95% CI: 0.9253~1.6275) and 1.0045 (95% CI: 0.9930~1.0160), respectively.
Conclusion: Exposure to PM2.5, NO2, PM10, and SO2 was significantly associated with influenza, which may be risk factors for influenza. The association of CO and O3 with influenza needs further investigation.
Effectiveness of Faster Aspart versus Insulin Aspart in Children with Type 1 Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wei Jie , Wang Yueer
Published: January 2024

Background: Intensive insulin regimens are recommended to achieve glycemic goals in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Fast-acting insulin aspart (faster aspart) is a new formulation of insulin aspart (IAsp) in which L-arginine and niacinamide are added to assure formulation stability, early absorption, and ultra-fast action. This meta-analysis compares faster aspart with IAsp for blood sugar control in children with type 1 diabetes. This study suggested treating diabetes with insulin, especially in children with type 1 diabetes.
Methods: PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched from 2000 to 2023 without language restrictions. Blood glucose monitoring, HbA1c, care model, insulin aspart, IAsp, faster aspart, type 1 diabetes, and pediatrics are Mesh keywords. Cochrane Q statistics and index tested heterogeneity. To account for heterogeneity, Q=145.99 (P-value < 0.001) and =97.26%, and the random-effect model was used to aggregate primary study results. The meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials was conducted in accordance with PRISMA standards.
Results: The overall estimate measure i.e. mean difference was found to be 5.44 [0.45, 10.44] and 7.71 [7.16, 8.26] which indicate significant reduction in the HbA1C level in the fast acting insulin aspart group as compared to the IAsp in T1D. However, the mean difference with respect to BMI was found to be -0.06 [-0.60, 0.48] which indicate non-significant reduction.
Conclusion: Faster aspart had faster onset and more early exposure than IAsp in children and adolescents with greater and more variable anti-insulin antibody levels than adults did. Hence fast-acting insulin aspart may provide better glucose control than IAsp in T1D.
The Effectiveness of Universal Educational Interventions for Prevention of Illicit Drug Use among University Students: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ghani Kamyar , Gholami Jaleh , Mousavian Ghazal , Amin-Esmaeili Masoumeh , Rafiey Hassan , Vousooghi Nasim , Shadloo Behrang , Rahimi-Movaghar Afarin
Published: January 2024

Background: The extent of illicit drug use among university students necessitates effective preventive programs. To identify and assess the effectiveness of university-based interventions in preventing or reducing illicit drug use.
Methods: The MEDLINE (PubMed), SCOPUS, ISI (Web of Science), and other sources were searched according to the Cochrane Collaboration method. RCTs, CRTs and non- RCTs evaluating university-based interventions designed to prevent illicit drug use were reviewed. Data were extracted independently by two reviewers. The quality of the publications was assessed. Interventions were classified by type, provider, duration, and theoretical background.
Results: Of 6652 papers, 11 studies met the eligibility criteria that were conducted between 1987 and 2020. The effectiveness of interventions was different. Substantial heterogeneity among the studies prevented the integration of results for estimating summaries.
Conclusion: Despite the importance of the subject, there is a paucity of studies about specific educational programs for illicit drug use, indicating the necessity of further research in other countries.
The Prerequisites of Executing the Accreditation Program for Primary Healthcare: A Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis
Authors: Etemadi Sina , Dehnavieh Reza , Hedayati Pour Marjan , Mehri Milad , Behzadi Anahita
Published: January 2024

Background: In Iran, the primary healthcare system is the front-line for society's encounter with healthcare. Health planners aim to enhance quality and administer an accreditation program. This study examined program administration prerequisites through systematic review and meta-synthesis.
Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative literature using Thomas and Hudson's framework. Peer-reviewed papers were searched in Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Google, and Google Scholar up to 2023.
Results: The search found 1308 articles, with 37 relevant ones selected for review. Data extraction included setting, participants, study design, data collection, analysis, and themes. Thirteen qualitative subthemes were identified and were categorized under three elements of the Donabedian model.
Conclusion: Before implementing a plan, it is crucial to consider its executive prerequisites. Revision and trial-and-error approaches can be costly and time-consuming, potentially hindering the plan's effectiveness and diverting organizations from their primary goal, leading to failure.
Osteoporosis and Leptin: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mohammadi Seyed Mohammad , Saniee Nadia , Borzoo Tara , Radmanesh Esmat
Published: January 2024

Background: Leptin has a great effect on bone through direct or indirect involvement in bone remodeling. Considering the ambiguities that exist regarding the effect of leptin on bone and bone-related diseases including osteoporosis, in this study, we aimed to conduct a systematic review of various studies on the effect of leptin on osteoporosis, which may find an answer to the existing ambiguities.
Methods: The search was performed to review studies on the effects of leptin on osteoporosis by using several databases including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Electronic searches were conducted on 5 Jan 2023. There was no limit on the publication date of the articles. The risk of bias for the animal study was assessed with the CAMARADES checklist, and the study quality assessment was also assessed based on the guidelines for in vivo experiments (ARRIVE). In this study, the risk of bias (quality) of human studies was assessed using the quality assessment checklists by NHLBI.
Results: Overall, 34 articles were included for data extraction and quality assessment. Overall, 27 human studies and seven animal studies were included in the article. The results of most of the studies conducted in this study showed that leptin has a physiological role in maintaining bone mass and better bone quality and reduces bone marrow adipogenesis and increases bone mineral density (BMD). As plasma leptin levels increased, BMD values or bone formation biomarkers increased.
Conclusion: Leptin has an inhibitory role against bone resorption and increasing osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels, which, as a result, maintains bone density and reduces osteoclast activity, and has a positive relationship with increasing osteocalcin.
Direct and Indirect Effects of Stress and Self-Esteem on Primary Dysmenorrhea in Korean Adolescent Girls: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study
Authors: Lee Heakyong , Kim Jaehee
Published: January 2024

Background: Positive and negative emotions have recently revealed a link with primary dysmenorrhea in adults. Among them, roles of stress and self-esteem have been less studied specially in adolescents and the direction of causality has not been clearly established. Therefore, this study investigated whether stress and self-esteem independently affect primary dysmenorrhea after adjustment for the known risk factors in adolescents. Additionally, indirect effects of stress and self-esteem were determined using mediation analyses.
Methods: This survey was conducted in adolescent girls aged 15-18 yr in metropolitan regions in South Korea in 2021. The survey included general, menstrual, and lifestyle characteristics, menstrual pain and symptom, perceived stress, self-esteem, depression, and state-trait anxiety.
Results: Stress, depression, and anxiety were associated positively with menstrual pain and symptom (all P<0.001) in adolescent girls (n=519). Self-esteem was also associated inversely with negative emotions and dysmenorrhea (all P<0.001). Additionally, stress independently affected frequency and severity of menstrual symptom (both P<0.05), but not pain intensity after adjustment for covariates. Stress also had indirect effect through depression and anxiety on menstrual pain and symptom. Effect of self-esteem vanished after adjustment for covariates, but indirectly reduced menstrual pain and symptom through mediations of stress, depression, and anxiety.
Conclusion: Mental health such as stress and self-esteem are important for managing menstrual pain and symptom in adolescents. It should be considered in managing dysmenorrhea.
Korean Adolescents Before and After COVID-19: Changes in Physical Activity, Mental Health, and Hygiene Management
Authors: Kwon Jeonga , Kim Young-Vin
Published: January 2024

Background: Adolescence is when health behaviors, namely, physical activity (PA), mental health, and hygiene management, are established. As the young represent our future societal welfare, their health requires attention, particularly in the face of a pandemic. We explored changes in Korean adolescent PA, mental health, and hygiene management before and after the COVID-19 pandemic to identify recommendations for improving adolescent health.
Methods: We collected 2019–2021 data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Surveys from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency for 166,590 middle and high school students (2019: 57,069; 2020: 54,809; 2021: 54,712). We analyzed seven variables (regular PA, high-intensity PA, and strength exercise participation, stress recognition, sleep-time satisfaction, brushing practice, and handwashing practice) to examine changes in adolescent behavior during these years.
Results: The findings indicated statistically significant differences in all seven variables over the three years (P<0.05). Specifically, regular PA was higher in 2019 and 2021 than in 2020; high-intensity PAs were highest in 2019, followed by 2021 and 2020; strength exercises were the highest in 2020, followed by 2021 and 2019; stress recognition was higher in 2019 and 2021 than in 2020; sleep-time satisfaction was the highest in 2020, followed by 2021 and 2019; brushing practice was the highest in 2019, followed by 2020 and 2021; and handwashing practice was the highest in 2020, followed by 2021 and 2019.
Conclusion: The results recommend the need to encourage structured moderate-to-vigorous adolescent PA and systematic health education to improve Korean adolescent health behavior after COVID-19.
The Correlation between Economic Convergence and Health Indices in Developed Countries
Authors: Mutlu Hatice , Bozkurt Gözde , Türkoğlu Mesut Can
Published: January 2024

Background: Economic convergence signifies diminishing income disparities among global or regional economies and their eventual disappearance. It is also linked to economic growth and key health indicators. We aimed to assess the association between economic convergence and key health indicators in developed countries called G7 (USA, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, and Canada).
Methods: We examined G7 health and economic indicators from 2000 to 2021 using panel data analysis. We compared balanced and unbalanced panel datasets to address missing data and applied suitable methods to handle missing health indicators.
Results: Little's MCAR test confirmed random missing data in the unbalanced panel, enabling us to impute missing values as missing observations were below 5%. Unit root tests on balanced and unbalanced panel data validated the health convergence hypothesis, showing no unit roots in economic growth rate, current health expenditure, and female and male population indicators (P<0.05). Interestingly, the hypothesis for hospital bed counts in the unbalanced panel, differing from the balanced panel, offers new insights into addressing incomplete health data.
Conclusion: While G7 have economic similarities, their health indicators diverge (excluding hospital bed counts). Variations in health indicators stem from healthcare system structures, funding mechanisms, resource allocation, and health investments, even among economies of similar size. Therefore, G7 member states should develop tailored national health policies based on their specific circumstances and priorities, utilizing economic convergence data for effective health resource planning.
Burnout Mediates the Association between Workplace Bullying and Mental Health Problems of Health Practitioners in Cancer Units
Authors: Ashraf Farzana , Tariq Shahnila , Farooqi Rabia , Asad Khan Masha , Griffiths Mark D. , Asanjarani Faramarz
Published: January 2024

Background: Medical health practitioners, particularly those working in cancer units, are vulnerable to poor psychological outcomes. The present study was designed to examine the influence of workplace bullying on the mental health of medical and paramedical staff by testing workplace burnout as a mediating factor.
Methods: Utilizing a cross-sectional survey, 220 Muslim medical staff officers from the cancer units of three hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan, were assessed for workplace bullying, mental health, and workplace burnout using the standardized psychometric measures (i.e., Negative Act Questionnaire; Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale; and Maslach Burnout Inventory). Data were collected from 2019-2020.
Results: Workplace bullying and workplace burnout were directly related to mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms. Moreover, workplace burnout significantly mediated the paths between workplace bullying and mental health (i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms), suggesting that workplace burnout increases vulnerability to other mental health issues.
Conclusion: A need for counseling and suitable management strategies to support medical staff working in cancer units is required.
Trends in Aflatoxin M1 Global Research: A Bibliometric Analysis Study
Authors: Altun Serap Kılıç , Aydemir Mehmet Emin , Alkan Sevil
Published: January 2024

Background: Fungal metabolites known as aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) are linked to contaminated milk and milk products. Consuming food contaminated with AFM1 poses major health risks and may even be fatal.
Methods: The retrieved publications were categorized in this bibliometric study using the Web of Science (WoS) database Jan 1, 1970 to Nov 30, 2022 based on a variety of factors, including the time of publication of articles, citation totals, languages, research areas, countries, affiliations, funding agencies, journals, and keywords analysis to identify any hot and developing subjects. Additionally, VOSviewer software version 1.6.18 provided the bibliometric analysis of the global collaboration network and hot research themes.
Results: Overall, 679 published documents were detected. Food Control was the top-line journal in publications on AFM1 research with 540 published articles, while the USA was the best productive country in AFM1 publications as well as the major country with the maximum co-authorship collaboration. This study ensures quantitative and qualitative analyses of the top 25 journals, most cited published articles, most relevant authors and title word occurrences in published documents on AFM1 publications. Over the past two decades, there has been an enormous rise for research conducted on global AFM1.
Conclusion: The assessment of the historical state and development trend in AFM1 scientific research can serve as a roadmap for future research and eventually, serve as a foundation for bettering management practices for territorial decisions, healthcare, and dairy industries.
Investigating the Relationship between Birthweight and Breast Cancer from A Non-Linear and Mediation Perspective
Authors: Zhang Meng , Qiao Jiahao , Zeng Ping , Liu Zhuanzhuan
Published: January 2024

Background: Epidemiological studies have shown a positive relationship between birthweight and breast cancer; however, inconsistent, sometimes even controversial, observations emerged. We re-explored the association between them in the UK Biobank cohort.
Methods: Relying on the UK Biobank cohort data of white British volunteers recruited between 2006 and 2010 (5,760 cases and 162,778 controls), we evaluated the causal mediation between birthweight and breast cancer, with age of menarche and age at menopause as two potential mediators under the traditional mediation analysis framework. The non-linear relationship between birthweight and breast cancer was also investigated by including the square of birthweight or discretized birthweight categories (<2.5, 2.5~4.0, or >4.0). Furthermore, we performed a stratification analysis in terms of the menopause status.
Results: Birthweight can indirectly influence breast cancer risk in adulthood via the path of age of menarche or age at menopause, and found statistical evidence supporting the existence of suggestive non-linear association between birthweight and breast cancer (β=0.062 and P=0.004 for the square of birthweight) although failing to discover a linear relationship (P=0.230). We also demonstrated such non-linear association seemed more pronounced and robust for premenopausal women compared with postmenopausal ones (27.5% vs. 19.5% increase in breast cancer risk).
Conclusion: This study provided an in-depth insight into the observed relationship between birthweight and breast cancer and revealed that non-linear impact and causal mediation commonly drive the connection between the two traits.
Assessment of Sexual Health and Use of Cervical Cancer Screening among the Female Working Population
Authors: Vukomanovic Ivana Simic , Kocic Sanja , Vukomanovic Vladimir , Janicijevic Katarina , Šorak Marija , Simic Vera , Djukic Svetlana , Djordjevic Slavica , Radevic Svetlana
Published: January 2024

Background: Cervical cancer occupies a significant place in the overall structure of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. We focused on the sexual health and use of cervical cancer screening among the female working population of reproductive age in Central Serbia.
Methods: The research was conducted as a cross-sectional study, according to the methodology Stepwise approach to noncommunicable disease risk factor surveillance WHO. The study population consisted of 1182 female working population aged 18-49 years, living on the territory of Central Serbia. The method of simple random sampling was utilized in the research itself. An anonymous standardized questionnaire was used as a research tool.
Results: During the first sexual intercourse, 38.9% of the participants reported not having used any of the contraceptives, whereas 74.5% of the participants reported not having used them during their last sexual intercourse and 26.1% of the respondents reported not having had a single Pap smear in their lifetime. The multivariate logistic regression analysis singled out the following factors in women who reported not having done a Pap smear in their lifetime as the most significant ones: age – the youngest age group (OR = 3.30, CI = 1.80-6.04), unemployment (OR = 2.87, CI = 0.07-3.40), women who had never been married or had never been in a common-law marriage (OR = 2.55, CI = 1.40-4.66) and individuals with a medium education level (OR = 2.63, CI = 1.67-4.14).
Conclusion: In Serbia, all the activities should be directed towards increasing the levels of awareness and knowledge on sexual health and cervical cancer screening services.
MiR-103a-3p Promotes Tumorigenesis of Breast Cancer by Targeting ETNK1
Authors: Li Lei , Qiu Aifeng , Shi Yuhua
Published: January 2024

Background: We aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism of miR-103a-3p regulating breast cancer progression.
Methods: Firstly, clinical tissues was obtained from 2019-2023 at Yancheng Third People's Hospital, Yancheng, China. miR-103a-3p or ETNK1 expression in clinical tissues or breast cancer cell lines was analyzed with qRT-PCR. MDA-MB-231 cells were performed with miR-103a-3p inhibitor or mimic, and OE-ETNK1. The proliferation and apoptosis ability were detected by CCK-8 and TUNEL assay. The xenograft models were established by inoculating transfected MDA-MB-231 cells to BALB/c mice.
Results: miR-103a-3p showed an overexpression and was related to poor prognosis in breast cancer. miR-103a-3p-deprived MDA-MB-231 cells displayed weaker levels of cell proliferation and higher rates of apoptosis. In contrast, ETNK1 was downregulated in breast cancer and proved to be a downstream target of miR-103a-3p. Xenograft models subjected to either miR-103a-3p antagomir treatment or ETNK1-knockdown resulted in tumor growth suppression.
Conclusion: miR-103a-3p might promote breast cancer progression by inhibiting ETNK1.
Telehealth and Biological Rhythm: Deficits and Benefits for Orthopedic Postoperative Consultations
Authors: Anastasio Albert Thomas , Shariat Ardalan , Bethell Mikhail , Hassanzadeh Gholamreza
Published: January 2024

The Article Abstract is not available.
Doctoral Writing Groups for the Advancement of Dissertation and Publication Writing
Authors:   CONICET –Instituto de Lingüística de la Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina, Colombo Laura , Rodas Elisabeth ,   Universidad de Cuenca, Ecuador
Published: January 2024

In writing groups (WGs), participants exchange drafts so that their partners’ feedback can be used to improve writing. These groups accompany participants while they face authentic dissertation or publication writing projects, are linked to situated and real demands, and promote participants’ engagement. Nevertheless, this type of pedagogical initiative continues to be uncommon, especially in Latin America. This qualitative exploratory study analyses participants’ perspectives about the benefits and drawbacks found in joining doctoral WGs in the Humanities and Social Sciences. It focuses on three separate sets of doctoral writing groups implemented and facilitated within the last eight years in Argentina. Despite some drawbacks, participants considered these groups as valuable not only for the advancement of dissertation and publication writing, but also as horizontal spaces to develop as scholarly writers. Higher education institutions worldwide could benefit from similar pedagogical initiatives to enhance and promote research writing at the graduate level.
Vpliv etike na področje uporabe gensko spremenjenih organizmov
Authors: Meško Kuralt Katja
Published: January 2024

Z namenom uporabe novih tehnologij, ki jih znanost razvija, se pojavljajo tudi etične dileme, predvsem z vidika daljnosežnih učinkov na človeka, živali, rastline in okolje. Še posebej velja izpostaviti učinke, ki jih ni mogoče opredeliti oz. so nedoločljivi do te mere, da se tveganj za človeka, živali, rastline in okolje ne da (povsem) izključiti. Kljub temu menim, da je tovrstne učinke mogoče upravljati s tem, da se jih nenehno analizira in do njih opredeljuje, in sicer tako znanstveno kot neznanstveno oz. poljudno. Namen članka je vzpodbuditi argumentirano razpravo o etičnih in družbenih posledicah urejanja človekovega genoma, upoštevaje zanesljive in z dokazi podprte informacije glede uporabe novih tehnologij v daljšem časovnem obdobju.
Položaj delavcev migrantov iz tretjih držav v primerjavi z delavci migranti, ki so državljani EU
Authors: Weingerl Petra , Tratnik Matjaž
Published: January 2024

Medtem ko države članice ne smejo diskriminirati državljanov drugih držav članic v primerjavi z lastnimi državljani, jim je razlikovanje v veliki meri dovoljeno glede državljanov tretjih držav. Prispevek se osredotoča na možnosti za izboljšanje položaja delavcev, ki so državljani tretjih držav, na podlagi obstoječih pravnih in političnih okvirov glede njihovega mesta na trgu dela v EU, predvsem glede migracijskih pravic (v prvi vrsti pravica do prostega gibanja in prebivanja na ozemlju druge države članice). Glede tega se v kratkem obetajo spremembe, saj Evropski parlament in Svet EU obravnavata sveženj predlogov sprememb sekundarne zakonodaje EU v okviru »Novega pakta o migracijah in azilu«.
Odpravnina trgovskega zastopnika
Authors: Kerčmar Sebastjan
Published: January 2024

Prispevek prikaže ureditev odpravnine trgovskega zastopnika v slovenskem pravnem redu in opozori na nekatere dileme, ki se pojavljajo v zvezi z njo. Ena izmed ključnih dilem je med drugim tudi vprašanje skladnosti določil OZ, ki urejajo odpravnino trgovskega zastopnika, z Agentsko direktivo. Slovenski zakonodajalec je v OZ poleg odpravnine, ki jo ureja Agentska direktiva, hote ali nehote vpeljal še dve dodatni pravici do odpravnine, ki odpirata številna dodatna vprašanja. Zaradi na videz malenkostnih, vendar vsekakor pomembnih razlik, pa se pojavljajo tudi vprašanja v zvezi z odpravnino, kot jo določa Agentska direktiva. Ta sicer že sama po sebi odpira mnogo vprašanj in je predmet številnih odprtih primerov pred Sodiščem EU.