bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploration of Metabolite Biomarkers to Predict the Efficacy of Dupilumab Treatment for Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Miyamoto Shoko , Imai Yasutomo , Matsutani Masako , Nagai Makoto , Yamanishi Kiyofumi , Kanazawa Nobuo , Nishiumi Shin
Published: November 2023

Dupilumab (DUP) is the first biological agent used treating atopic dermatitis (AD). Notwithstanding its high cost, the type of patient group for which the drug is effective remains unclear. In this retrospective study, we aimed to identify novel and reliable biomarkers which can be measured before DUP administration and to predict the efficacy of DUP. Serum samples from 19 patients with AD treated with DUP were analysed by metabolome analysis using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Total 148 metabolites were detected, and the relative values of the metabolites were compared between the patient group that achieved 75% improvement in Eczema Area and Severity Index 16 weeks after administration of DUP (high responders: HR; n = 11) and that did not (low responders: LR; n = 8). The HR and LR groups had significant differences in the relative values of the eight metabolites (lactic acid, alanine, glyceric acid, fumaric acid, nonanoic acid, ribose, sorbitol, and ornithine), with ribose emerging as the best. Furthermore, we evaluated the serum concentrations of ribose and found that ribose may be a useful metabolite biomarker for predicting the efficacy of DUP in AD.
A Case of NCAM1-Positive Lupus Nephritis with NCAM1 Antibody Titers Responsive to Rituximab
Authors: Wang Yifeng , Chen Ruiying , Han Min , Liu Shaojun , Xie Qionghong , Hao ChuanMing
Published: November 2023

Neural cell adhesion molecule 1 (NCAM1) is a recently identified new antigen of membranous nephropathy (MN) mostly secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus with a low positive rate of 6.6%, and its corresponding antibody was detected in patients’ sera. Here, we reported a case of NCAM1-positive lupus nephritis (class V+III) developed from MN. The patient was refractory to multiple immunosuppressive regimens but achieved remission after the application of rituximab as an add-on therapy and showed a reduction of anti-NCAM1 antibody and proteinuria.
The Question of Adolescent and Postadolescent Acne: The Nigerian Experience
Authors: Anaba Ehiaghe Lonia , Sani Hadiza , Arabambi Babawale
Published: November 2023

Introduction: Differences between adolescent and postadolescent acne are increasingly being recognized. This study aimed to document the clinical profile of facial acne vulgaris and, additionally, to compare adolescent to postadolescent acne and any gender-based differences. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study of 261 facial acne vulgaris patients was conducted from February 2021 to March 2022 at three dermatology clinics. Patients had their anthropometric measurements, type of acne lesions, and severity and scarring assessed. Results: A total of 261 patients (75.5% females) with a mean age of 24.5 (±7.4) years were diagnosed to have facial acne vulgaris. The severity of acne was mild in 44.8%, moderate in 48.3%, and severe in 6.9%. Acne was noninflammatory in 69.7%, inflammatory in 13.0%, and mixed in 17.2%. Adolescent and postadolescent acne significantly differed in the type of acne, BMI, type of acne lesions, and acne scarring. Gender-based differences included BMI, lesions of acne, and severity. Conclusion: There is an increasing prevalence of postadolescent acne with persistent being the most common category. There are significant differences between adolescent and postadolescent acne: type of acne, BMI, type of acne lesions, and acne scarring. Gender-based differences exist in both adolescent and postadolescent acne.
Role of Angiotensin II Type 1a Receptor (AT1aR) of Renal Tubules in Regulating Inwardly Rectifying Potassium Channels 4.2 (Kir4.2), Kir4.1, and Epithelial Na
+
Channel (ENaC)
Authors: Duan Xin-Peng , Xiao Yu , Su Xiao-Tong , Zheng Jun-Ya , Gurley Susan , Emathinger Jacqueline , Yang Chao-Ling , McCormick James , Ellison David H. , Lin Dao-Hong , Wang Wen-Hui
Published: November 2023

BACKGROUND:

Kir4.2 and Kir4.1 play a role in regulating membrane transport in the proximal tubule (PT) and in the distal-convoluted-tubule (DCT), respectively.

METHODS:

We generated kidney-tubule-specific-AT1aR-knockout (Ks-AT1aR-KO) mice to examine whether renal AT1aR regulates Kir4.2 and Kir4.1.

RESULTS:

Ks-AT1aR-KO mice had a lower systolic blood pressure than

Agtr1a
flox/flox

(control) mice. Ks-AT1aR-KO mice had a lower expression of NHE
3
(Na
+
/H
+
-exchanger 3) and Kir4.2, a major Kir-channel in PT, than

Agtr1a
flox/flox

mice. Whole-cell recording also demonstrated that the membrane potential in PT of Ks-AT1aR-KO mice was lesser negative than

Agtr1a
flox/flox

mice. The expression of Kir4.1 and Kir5.1, Kir4.1/Kir5.1-mediated K
+
currents of DCT and DCT membrane potential in Ks-AT1aR-KO mice, were similar to

Agtr1a
flox/flox

mice. However, angiotensin II perfusion for 7 days hyperpolarized the membrane potential in PT and DCT of the control mice but not in Ks-AT1aR-KO mice, while angiotensin II perfusion did not change the expression of Kir4.1, Kir4.2, and Kir5.1. Deletion of AT1aR did not significantly affect the expression of αENaC (epithelial Na
+
channel) and βENaC but increased cleaved γENaC expression. Patch-clamp experiments demonstrated that deletion of AT1aR increased amiloride-sensitive Na
+
-currents in the cortical-collecting duct but not in late-DCT. However, tertiapin-Q sensitive renal outer medullary potassium channel currents were similar in both genotypes.

CONCLUSIONS:

AT1aR determines the baseline membrane potential of PT by controlling Kir4.2 expression/activity but AT1aR is not required for determining the baseline membrane potential of the DCT and Kir4.1/Kir5.1 activity/expression. However, AT1aR is required for angiotensin II–induced hyperpolarization of basolateral membrane of PT and DCT. Deletion of AT1aR had no effect on baseline renal outer medullary potassium channel activity but increased ENaC activity in the CCD.
The unique neural signature of your trip: Functional connectome fingerprints of subjective psilocybin experience
Authors: Tolle Hanna M. , Farah Juan Carlos , Mallaroni Pablo , Mason Natasha L. , Ramaekers Johannes G. , Amico Enrico
Published: November 2023

The emerging neuroscientific frontier of brain fingerprinting has recently established that human functional connectomes (FCs) exhibit fingerprint-like idiosyncratic features, which map onto heterogeneously distributed behavioral traits. Here, we harness brain-fingerprinting tools to extract FC features that predict subjective drug experience induced by the psychedelic psilocybin. Specifically, in neuroimaging data of healthy volunteers under the acute influence of psilocybin or a placebo, we show that, post psilocybin administration, FCs become more idiosyncratic owing to greater intersubject dissimilarity. Moreover, whereas in placebo subjects idiosyncratic features are primarily found in the frontoparietal network, in psilocybin subjects they concentrate in the default mode network (DMN). Crucially, isolating the latter revealed an FC pattern that predicts subjective psilocybin experience and is characterized by reduced within-DMN and DMN-limbic connectivity, as well as increased connectivity between the DMN and attentional systems. Overall, these results contribute to bridging the gap between psilocybin-mediated effects on brain and behavior, while demonstrating the value of a brain-fingerprinting approach to pharmacological neuroimaging.
Ritual Chairs of Circumcision Ceremonies: Reassessing Meaning through Materiality
Authors: Shacham-Rosby Chana
Published: November 2023

This essay will showcase a process of contextualizing a Jewish ritual object through synthesizing a range of sources. The object at the center of this research is the chair in the context of the circumcision ceremony in medieval Ashkenaz and the early modern Ashkenazi diaspora. The two ceremonial chairs are designated, respectively, for the ba′al brit, who holds the infant, and Elijah the Prophet, whose association with circumcision will be explored. The essay will present the central themes that medieval Ashkenazi Jews wished to highlight during the ceremony and suggest how these themes were reflected and communicated in the affordances of the chair.
Two-Step Hyperparameter Optimization Method: Accelerating Hyperparameter Search by Using a Fraction of a Training Dataset
Authors: Yu Sungduk , Ma Po-Lun , Singh Balwinder , Silva Sam , Pritchard Mike
Published: November 2023

Hyperparameter optimization (HPO) is an important step in machine learning (ML) model development, but common practices are archaic—primarily relying on manual or grid searches. This is partly because adopting advanced HPO algorithms introduces added complexity to the workflow, leading to longer computation times. This poses a notable challenge to ML applications, as suboptimal hyperparameter selections curtail the potential of ML model performance, ultimately obstructing the full exploitation of ML techniques. In this article, we present a two-step HPO method as a strategic solution to curbing computational demands and wait times, gleaned from practical experiences in applied ML parameterization work. The initial phase involves a preliminary evaluation of hyperparameters on a small subset of the training dataset, followed by a reevaluation of the top-performing candidate models postretraining with the entire training dataset. This two-step HPO method is universally applicable across HPO search algorithms, and we argue it has attractive efficiency gains. As a case study, we present our recent application of the two-step HPO method to the development of neural network emulators for aerosol activation. Although our primary use case is a data-rich limit with many millions of samples, we also find that using up to 0.0025% of the data—a few thousand samples—in the initial step is sufficient to find optimal hyperparameter configurations from much more extensive sampling, achieving up to 135× speedup. The benefits of this method materialize through an assessment of hyperparameters and model performance, revealing the minimal model complexity required to achieve the best performance. The assortment of top-performing models harvested from the HPO process allows us to choose a high-performing model with a low inference cost for efficient use in global climate models (GCMs).
Inventories of Human Lateral Preference: A Systematic Review
Authors: Bazo Norberto S. , Marcori Alexandre J. , Guimarães Anderson N. , Teixeira Luis A. , Okazaki Victor H. A.
Published: November 2023

There are a variety of inventories available to evaluate human lateral preference, but no previous review has systematically analyzed and compared them. We conducted a systematic literature review to identify these inventories and describe their characteristics (e.g., dimensions, scales, tasks, psychometric properties). We included 26 articles, each presenting a different inventory to assess lateral preference, published between 1900 and 2022, selected from the following databases: PubMed, SportDiscus, APA PsycNET, and Web of Science. These inventories analyzed tasks performed in everyday life (domestic, work-related, sports, and leisure/recreation activities), covering hand, foot, hearing, visual and other non-usual lateral preference dimensions, such as trunk and head. Most inventories classified individuals based on the direction (left, indifferent or right preference) and degree (consistent or moderate) of laterality. However, many of the reviewed inventories lack established psychometric verification in their original publication, such as validity, reliability, responsiveness, and practical applicability. Inventories also presented tasks that may be specific to a given cultural setting, limiting their application across different countries. Based on these findings, we provide a comprehensive guide for researchers to select a lateral preference assessment tool, but also advocate for a new inventory with a broader approach, containing more than one dimension of lateral preference (i.e., not only handedness) and tasks that are common to different cultures to enhance practical applicability worldwide.
COVID-19 Vaccine Accessibility, Perceptions, and Attitudes in the LGBTQ+ Community
Authors: Traister Tyler
Published: November 2023

Background:

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer populations have historically experienced challenges accessing, trusting, and receiving health care services, which can negatively impact successful uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine series among this population.

Objective:

This research aimed to examine the perceptions and attitudes regarding the acceptability, accessibility, and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine among persons who self-identify within this community

Methods:

A multidisciplinary, community-focused mixed-methods study was conducted. The quantitative portion of the study was conducted via an online survey throughout the United States for 2 months. The quantitative portion of the study consisted of multiple online focus group sessions after the completion of the survey.

Results:

The online survey had an sample of 3868 participants, with 31 participants in the focus groups. High levels of acceptability toward COVID-19 vaccines were found within this community. Concerns highlighted included the need for culturally competent care, side effects of the vaccine, and unknown effects of the vaccine with hormone replacement therapy. Racial and ethnic minority, transgender, and nonbinary participants reported higher levels of uncertainty about vaccination.

Conclusion:

Findings demonstrate that most lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals felt comfortable with the COVID-19 vaccine, had a positive experience with the vaccination process, and believe that the vaccine can protect them and others from COVID-19. When developing future COVID-19 vaccination strategies and rollouts, public health officials should consider prioritizing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals and other marginalized populations by partnering with local organizations to identify trusted organizations.
Home market power and host market protection of foreign investment
Authors: Simonelli Corina , Osgood Iain
Published: November 2023

How do multinational firms trapped in host markets suffering from political violence find security? Terrorism and conflict repel foreign investment and recent research has sought to understand heterogeneity across firms in their response to violence. When multinational firms are unable to move their investments in the face of violence, we argue that their home governments use diplomatic capacity and security and economic resources to secure protection from host governments. Multinational corporations from home markets with significant leverage over host markets are therefore less likely to curtail their operations or investments in the wake of violence. Examining dyadic data on foreign direct investment (FDI), we show that home market diplomatic missions, aid, and alliances substantially abate the negative effects of violence on FDI. Consistent with our argument, this effect is observed after violence begins and is not an artifact of host markets garnering security aid from great powers other than the home market. A strong diplomatic presence matched to both hard and soft power resources positively contributes to the defense of core foreign policy interests.
A Practitioner’s Guide to Evaluating Social Change Initiatives for Adults Using Quantitative Methodologies in Excel
Authors: Galliart Julie M. , Roessger Kevin M.
Published: November 2023

Practitioners of adult education have a long history of teaching for social change. They may, however, be uncomfortable using quantitative methods to assess the impact of their learning activities, or they might lack access to statistical analysis software. Quantitative methods help the practitioner determine whether behavioral or attitudinal change among participants is more likely linked to their learning intervention than to chance. This is crucial information for practitioners to secure support or funding for their learning programs. We, therefore, created this guide to try and make quantitative methodologies for measuring social change accessible to practitioners through provision of instruction and resources and by using Microsoft Excel to conduct the analyses.
Price Increases and Their Financial Consequences in International Business-to-Business Selling
Authors: Friess Maximilian , Kassemeier Roland
Published: November 2023

Although price increases are common in business-to-consumer and business-to-business (B2B) markets, research examining the consequences of price increases on financial performance outcomes in B2B contexts is scarce. This study takes a relationship perspective on price increases and examines how a portfolio price increase affects the financial performance of the customer relationship and whether and how this effect varies between international business customers from different cultures. Based on objective data from 966 international B2B customers of a chemical goods company, this study examines a large-scale field intervention. Results show that higher portfolio price increases, although rooted in an increase of upstream costs, bring more severe harm to B2B customers’ sales revenue than lower portfolio price increases. These consequences vary with customers’ cultures as B2B customers with culture-specific communal norms are more susceptible to the magnitude of portfolio price increases than customers without such norms. International B2B companies, therefore, need to refrain from implementing uniform price increases and should consider their business customers’ cultural origin when designing and implementing price increases.
Autobiographical Cerebral Network Activation in Older Adults Before and After Reminiscence Therapy: A Preliminary Report
Authors: Viard Armelle , Allen Andrew P. , Doyle Caoilainn M. , Naveau Mikaël , Bokde Arun L. W. , Platel Hervé , Eustache Francis , Commins Sean , Roche Richard A. P.
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Reminiscence therapy (RT), which engages individuals to evoke positive memories, has been shown to be effective in improving psychological well-being in older adults suffering from PTSD, depression, and anxiety. However, its impact on brain function has yet to be determined. This paper presents functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data to describe changes in autobiographical memory networks (AMN) in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods

This pilot study used a within-subject design to measure changes in AMN activation in 11 older adults who underwent 6 weeks of RT. In the scanner, participants retrieved autobiographical memories which were either recent or remote, rehearsed or unrehearsed. Participants also underwent a clinical interview to assess changes in memory, quality of life, mental health, and affect.

Findings

Compared to pretreatment, anxiety decreased (z = −2.014, p = .040) and activated significant areas within the AMN, including bilateral medial prefrontal cortex, left precuneus, right occipital cortex, and left anterior hippocampus.

Conclusion

Although RT had subtle effects on psychological function in this sample with no evidence of impairments, including depression at baseline, the fMRI data support current thinking of the effect RT has on the AMN. Increased activation of right posterior hippocampus following RT is compatible with the Multiple Trace Theory Theory (Nadel & Moscovitch, 1997).
Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of Diabetic Foot Self-Care Questionnaire of the University of Malaga (DFSQUMA)
Authors: Bahar Arzu , Atalay Bahar , Yarkiner Zalihe
Published: November 2023

This study was conducted in a methodological design with the aim of adapting the “Diabetic Foot Self-Care Questionnaire of the University of Malaga, Spain (DFSQ)” to Turkish, and examining its validity and reliability. The study population of the methodological research consisted of a total of 161 patients diagnosed with diabetes who presented to the Diabetes Clinic Unit. The translation-back translation technique was employed for the linguistic equivalence of the questionnaire. To test the validity of the scale, linguistic and content validity were examined, and exploratory factor analysis was conducted. Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient, item-total score correlations test, and test–retest technique were used to assess the reliability of the scale. The scope validity index values of the Turkish version of DFSQ ranged between 0.85 and 1.00, and there was no difference in scores given by the consulted experts (Kendall's W  =  0.720; p  =  .707). Exploratory factor analysis conducted to examine the factor structure of the scale revealed that the scale consisted of 16 items and three subscales, explaining a total variance of 84.09%. The factor loadings of the scale ranged from 0.90 to 0.97. The calculated Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the Turkish version of the scale was 0.66.: It was found that the Turkish version of DFSQ is valid and reliable for the Turkish population. The research identified that DFSQ is a valid and reliable tool for determining diabetic patients’ knowledge and attitudes toward foot self-care in cross-cultural studies.
Exploring the role of community health organizations in promoting public health during a health crisis: a qualitative study of COVID-19 responses in South Africa and Zambia
Authors: Johnston Jamie Sewan , Zhang Aluri Kelly , Job Nophiwe , Kuhnert Kira-Leigh , Prober Charles , Ward Victoria , Skinner Nadine Ann
Published: November 2023

While the COVID-19 pandemic amplified the need for accurate and actionable health information, uncertainty and the proliferation of misinformation have contributed to significant mistrust in public health messages, especially among marginalized communities. Community health organizations can play an important role in creating trust and providing targeted health information to vulnerable groups. This qualitative study, which is focused on community health organizations supporting vulnerable populations in South Africa and Zambia, finds that during the pandemic, community health organizations expanded their roles and leveraged their established access and trust to support the communities they serve with health education and services. However, the reliance on external support limits the organizations’ ability to respond in an effective and efficient manner during health crises.
Welding-based additive manufacturing processes for fabrication of metallic parts
Authors: Rathinasuriyan C , Elumalai PV , Bharani Chandar J , Karthik K , Medapati Sreenivasa Reddy , Alahmadi Ahmad Aziz , Alwetaishi Mamdooh , Alzaed Ali Nasser , Kalam MA , Shahapurkar Kiran
Published: November 2023

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is modernizing the manufacturing industry by enabling the layer-by-layer deposition process to manufacture objects in nearly any form with minimum material waste. However, components developed utilizing the AM process have dimensional constraints. To address this issue, AM-produced metal materials can be coupled with various welding processes. This article focuses on the foundations, highlighting the distinguishing features, capabilities, and challenges of welding-based AM processes by categorizing them into two major groups; arc welding-based AM like Cold Metal Transfer (CMT), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), Plasma Arc Welding (PAW), and high-energy density welding based AM like Laser Beam Welding (LBW) and Electron Beam Welding (EBW). The prior study findings of welding-based AM metal components on mechanical characteristics and microstructural characterization have been addressed. This work will aid researchers, academicians, and professional welders since it gathers vital information on welding-based AM processes. Furthermore, current research in the arena of welding-based AM and its future opportunities has been discussed.
A self-made Zimbabwean musician: A case study of DIY culture in the global south
Authors: Butete Victoria Blessing
Published: November 2023

This article contributes to defining global south DIY music culture by evaluating the career of a Zimbabwean self-made musician, Clive Mono Mukundu. Therefore, it assesses how his career exhibits extant DIY culture traits and strategies while exploring challenges specific to the Zimbabwe music scene. I reviewed the musician's autobiography and conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews to collect the data I analyse using the DIY culture traits and strategies, presenting it as thick descriptions. The findings help to illustrate some of the distinctive qualities of southern DIY culture coupled with northern traits and strategies. Hence, there is a need for specific global south DIY culture definitions inclusive of traits and strategies. The article recommends inclusivity through promoting global south participation in creative economy debates and argues for replication of this research to avoid overgeneralising its findings and help to establish a broader picture of southern DIY culture and music scenes.
The re-emerging role of linoleic acid in paediatric asthma
Authors: Naughten Sarah , Ecklu-Mensah Gertrude , Constantino Gailan , Quaranta Alessandro , Schulkers Escalante Keriann , Bai-Tong Shiyu , Gilbert Jack , Leibel Sandra , Wheelock Craig E. , Leibel Sydney
Published: November 2023

Asthma is the most common chronic disease within the paediatric population. Although it is multifactorial, its onset may be linked to early-life exposures with subsequent impact on immune system development. Microbial and dietary metabolic products have been implicated in the development and exacerbation of paediatric asthma. Linoleic acid is the most common omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid in the Western diet. In this review, we summarise the literature regarding the involvement of linoleic acid in the development of and its impact on existing paediatric asthma. First, we summarise the existing knowledge surrounding the relationship between human microbial metabolism and allergic diseases in children. Next, we examine cellular or animal model-based mechanistic studies that investigated the impact of dietary- and microbial-derived linoleic acid metabolites on asthma. Finally, we review the literature investigating the impact of linoleic acid metabolites on the development and exacerbation of childhood asthma. While there is conflicting evidence, there is growing support for a role of linoleic acid in the onset and pathophysiology of asthma. We recommend that additional cellular, animal, and longitudinal studies are performed that target linoleic acid and its metabolites.
Application of tumor microparticles in tumor prevention and treatment
Authors: Sun Weiwei , Xu Pingwei , Pan Pengtao , Guo Sheng , Liu Rui , Ji Guojie , Hu Huanhuan , Li Weidong , Dai Lili
Published: November 2023

Tumor microparticles (T-MPs) are vesicles released from tumor cells when they receive apoptotic or stimuli signals. T-MPs, which contain some proteins, lipids and nucleic acids from tumor cells, contribute to the exchange of material, energy and information between cells. T-MPs contain both tumor antigens and innate immunostimulatory signals, making T-MPs as a new form of tumor vaccine. Meanwhile, T-MPs can be used as natural carriers to transport ‘‘cargoes’’, such as chemotherapy drugs, oncolytic viruses, nucleic acids, and metal nanoparticles to treat tumors. In addition, T-MPs enhance the effect of chemotherapy. This review introduces the application of T-MPs as vaccines, delivery systems and chemosensitizers in tumor prevention and treatment, with a focus on the mechanisms, clinical applications, and influencing factors of drug-loaded T-MPs in tumor treatment.
Evaluation of clinical efficacy, adverse reactions, and safety of PD-1 inhibitors combined with chemotherapy when treating advanced gastric cancer
Authors: Huang Xue , He Du , Lai Lin , Chen Jun , Zhang Yukun , Mao Huilin
Published: November 2023

Objective

This paper aimed to assess the clinical efficacy, adverse reactions, and safety of employing PD-1 inhibitors in conjunction with chemotherapy as a treatment strategy for advanced gastric cancer (GC).

Methods

Ninety patients with advanced GC from January 2020 to December 2021 were divided into the research group (n = 45) and the control group (n = 45). The control group was treated with apatinib and tigio. The study group was treated with PD-1 inhibitor combined with apatinib and tigio. The remission rate (RR), disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS), Eastern Oncology Collaborative Group Physical Status Assessment (ECOG-PS) score, EORTCQLQ-C30 (v3.0) score, and incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.

Results

The research group exhibited improved outcomes in several key metrics relative to the control group. Specifically, the RR, DCR, and OS were notably higher in the research group. Additionally, the ECOG-PS score was significantly reduced, indicating better performance. At a median follow-up of 8.7 months, the research group’s functional and total health scores on the EORTC QLQ-C30 (v3.0) scale had seen significant improvement compared to their initial scores and were also superior to the control group’s scores. Importantly, both groups demonstrated comparable incidence rates for adverse reactions, with no significant difference observed (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

PD-1 inhibitor combined with chemotherapy was more effective when treating patients with advanced GC. It was more beneficial to enhance the patient’s condition, promote survival time, and improve physical status and life quality. In addition, the adverse reactions could be controlled.
Prenatal diagnosis and perinatal outcomes of twin pregnancies disharmonious for one fetus with nuchal translucency above the 95th percentile
Authors: Wang You , Zhou Hang , Fu Fang , Cheng Ken , Huang Ruibin , Li Ru , Li Dongzhi , Liao Can
Published: November 2023

Objective

To assess prenatal diagnosis and pregnancy outcomes in twin pregnancies where one fetus has nuchal translucency (NT) above the 95th percentile.

Method

In this retrospective analysis, 130 twin pregnancies (260 fetuses) in which one twin had an NT measurement above the 95th percentile while that of the other twin was normal were analyzed. Prenatal diagnostic results such as G bands, chromosomal microarray analysis, ultrasound findings, and pregnancy outcomes were reviewed.

Results

Karyotype analysis and CMA results revealed that 15 (15.6 percent, 15/96) fetuses exhibited chromosomal abnormalities and that 13 fetuses were Variant of Uncertain Significance. Chromosome abnormalities were detected at a rate of 8.9% (5/56) in the DCT group and 25.0% (10/40) in the MCT group (p = 0.033, X2 = 4.571). 2 fetuses in DCT (3.9 percent, 2/51) and 4 fetuses in MCT (13.3 percent, 4/30) (p = 0.187) revealed structural abnormalities among the cases with normal prenatal diagnosis. Fetuses in the DCT group had an overall survival rate of 75.4 percent (95/126), whereas those in the MCT group had a survival rate of 60.4 percent (81/134) (p = 0.01, X2 = 6.636). According to the findings of Logistics regression analysis, NT thickening, maternal age and method of conception were all significant risk factors for chromosome abnormalities.

Conclusion

In twin pregnancies with one fetus with NT above the 95th percentile, the prevalence of fetal structural abnormalities of the MCT group and the DCT group were comparable. Pregnant women’s age and mode of pregnancy are risk factors for chromosomal abnormalities.
Effective biosynthesis of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural via a bi-enzymatic cascade system using bacterial laccase and fungal alcohol oxidase
Authors: Yang Fan , Liu Jiashu , Li Bianxia , Li Huanan , Jiang Zhengbing
Published: November 2023

Background

As a cost-effective and eco-friendly approach, biocatalysis has great potential for the transformation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) into 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). However, the compatibility of each enzyme in the cascade reaction limits the transformation efficiency of HMF to FDCA.

Results

Coupled with an alcohol oxidase from Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (CglAlcOx), this study aims to study the potential of bacterial laccase from Bacillus pumilus (BpLac) in an enzymatic cascade for 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) biosynthesis from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). BpLac showed 100% selectivity for HMF oxidation and generated 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxylic acid (HMFCA). CglAlcOx was capable of oxidizing HMFCA to 2-formyl-5-furancarboxylic acid (FFCA). Both BpLac and CglAlcOx could oxidize FFCA to FDCA. At the 5 mM scale, a complete transformation of HMF with a 97.5% yield of FDCA was achieved by coupling BpLac with CglAlcOx in the cascade reaction. The FDCA productivity in the reaction was 5.3 mg/L/h. Notably, BpLac could alleviate the inhibitory effect of FFCA on CglAlcOx activity and boost the transformation efficiency of HMF to FDCA. Moreover, the reaction was scaled up to 40 times the volume, and FDCA titer reached 2.6 mM with a yield of 58.77% at 168 h.

Conclusions

This work provides a candidate and novel insight for better design of an enzymatic cascade in FDCA production.
Damage mechanism and therapy progress of the blood-brain barrier after ischemic stroke
Authors: Gao Hui-min , Chen Hao , Cui Gui-Yun , Hu Jin-Xia
Published: November 2023

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) serves as a defensive line protecting the central nervous system, while also maintaining micro-environment homeostasis and inhibiting harmful materials from the peripheral blood. However, the BBB’s unique physiological functions and properties make drug delivery challenging for patients with central nervous system diseases. In this article, we briefly describe the cell structure basis and mechanism of action of the BBB, as well as related functional proteins involved. Additionally, we discuss the various mechanisms of BBB damage following the onset of an ischemic stroke, and lastly, we mention several therapeutic strategies accounting for impairment mechanisms. We hope to provide innovative ideas for drug delivery research via the BBB.
Trends in teicoplanin loading dose implementation from 2010 to 2019 and evaluation of safety and efficacy factors: a retrospective cohort study based on a Japanese administrative claims database
Authors: Goto Ryota , Muraki Yuichi , Inose Ryo , Ichii Moeno , Sawada Keisuke , Mizuno Kanako , Koizumi Ryuji , Tsuzuki Shinya , Ishikane Masahiro , Ohmagari Norio
Published: November 2023

Background

The loading dose of teicoplanin (TEIC) is recommended for implementation. However, there is significant discrepancy between the dose settings in the package insert and, in the guidelines, and the actual status of loading doses in Japan is unclear. Furthermore, TEIC causes liver injury as side effect. Although the risk of developing liver injury has not been reported to be increased following a loading dose based on the guidelines, there is a lack of reports in large populations. Therefore, we evaluated the trend in the loading dose and factors affecting the efficacy and safety of TEIC administration.

Methods

A Japanese administrative claims database was used in this study. Trends in loading doses were evaluated in target populations administered TEIC between 2010 and 2019. Patient characteristics were adjusted by propensity score matching based on the guideline group (total dose of 3 days > 1,600 mg) and non-guideline group (≤ 1,600 mg) of the loading dose. Finally, univariable and multivariable conditional logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate factors affecting 30-day mortality and liver injury.

Results

A total of 10,030 patients were selected based on these criteria. The proportion of loading doses based on the recommended guidelines showed an increase over time, regardless of the implementation of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), but especially so in cases where TDM was implemented, the loading doses were administered in accordance with the recommendations of the guidelines. Conditional logistic regression analysis showed a relationship between drug management and guidance fees (odds ratio [OR]: 0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.36‒0.55), a reimbursement indicating pharmacist intervention, and a reduction in 30-day mortality. In addition, loading doses based on the recommended guidelines had no influence on liver injury, and other factors were not significantly associated with increased incidence of liver injury.

Conclusion

Thus, this study implies the benefits of pharmacological management as indicated by drug management and guidance fee and supports the implementation of loading doses based on the guideline on TEIC administration.
Postpartum family planning uptake and its associated factors among postpartum women in Asosa zone, Benishangul Gumuz regional state, Ethiopia: a facility-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Oljira Rut , Tilahun Temesgen , Tiruneh Gashaw , Bekuma Tariku Tesfaye , Getachew Motuma , Seme Assefa , Getahun Ayantu , Dereje Lemane , Mosisa Alemnesh , Turi Ebisa
Published: November 2023

Background

The first twelve months after a woman has given birth is crucial for the use of contraceptives to prevent unintended pregnancy. Most women, especially in developing countries, do not realize that they are at risk for pregnancy during this period. Due to this, contraceptive use by women is ignored at this time.

Objective

This study assessed the associated factors of postpartum family planning (PPFP) service uptake in the Asosa zone.

Methods

A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 396 postpartum women in the Asosa zone. An interviewer-administered, structured, and pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect data. Data entry and cleaning were done using Epi Info version 7.0 and analyzed using SPSS version 25 software. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors associated with postpartum family planning uptake.

Results

The majority of the study participants, 384 (97.2%), had heard about at least one method of family planning. Nearly two-thirds of the study participants (64.1%) had resumed sexual intercourse. Only 53.5% of the participants started using PPFP. Injectable forms (54.7%) and implants (26.4%) were the most commonly used methods. More than one-fourth (27.4%) did not use their preferred methods. Family planning use before index pregnancy (AOR = 4.8, 95% CI: 2.65, 8.82), previous use of PPFP (AOR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.33, 4.38)] and health facility delivery (AOR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.46, 5.49)] were significantly associated with uptake of postpartum family planning.

Conclusion and recommendation

: Postpartum family planning uptake in the study area was low. Uptake of PPFP was correlated with prior family planning usage and delivery at a healthcare facility. Given these factors, we recommend all study area stakeholders to promote family planning use among women of reproductive age and to encourage deliveries at healthcare facilities. Designing a method to reach women who give birth at home for a variety of reasons is also advisable. Unavailability of different forms of FP also made the participants not use the preferred option. Therefore, we recommend the stakeholders in the study area to avail variety of FP methods.
Prevalence of hypertension among antiretroviral therapy naïve patients in Lagos, Nigeria
Authors: Odubela Oluwatosin , Odunukwe Nkiruka , Peer Nasheeta , Musa Adesola Zaidat , Salako Babatunde Lawal , Kengne Andre Pascal
Published: November 2023

Background

The gains from successful antiretroviral therapy (ART) roll-out could be compromised by the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases among people living with HIV (PLWH). Hypertension remains a significant contributor to cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to determine the prevalence and determinants of hypertension among ART-naïve PLWH in a large ART clinic in Lagos, Nigeria.

Materials and methods

This study uses data collected from adult ART-naïve PLWH enrolled at an ART clinic over ten years. Participants aged 18 years and older, not pregnant, and not accessing care for post-exposure prophylaxis were included in the study. Hypertension was defined as systolic and diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mmHg and 90 mmHg, respectively. Logistic regressions were used to investigate the factors associated with hypertension.

Results

Among the 10 426 participants included in the study, the majority were females (66%) and aged 25—49 years (84%). The crude prevalence of hypertension was 16.8% (95%CI 16.4 – 17.2) while the age and sex standardised prevalence rate was 21.9% (95%CI 20.7 – 23.2), with males (25.8%, 95%CI 23.5 – 28.0) having a higher burden compared with females (18.3%, 95%CI 17.0 – 19.6). Increasing age, male gender, overweight or obesity, co-morbid diabetes mellitus or renal disease, and CD4 count ≥ 201 cells/μL were significantly associated with prevalent hypertension.

Conclusion

There was a substantial burden of hypertension among ART-naïve PLWH, which was associated with the traditional risk factors of the condition. This highlights the need to integrate screening and care of hypertension into routine HIV management for optimal care of PLWH.

Graphical Abstract
COVID-19 vaccination of patients with chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease
Authors: Yanfang Wen , Jianfeng Chen , Changlian Liu , Yan Wang
Published: November 2023

Objective

This study aimed to analyze the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines among patients with chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease (IMID) in China.

Methods

Participants who were diagnosed with a chronic IMID were eligible for inclusion in this study. Age- and sex-matched healthy vaccinated individuals were set as the control group. All participants received two doses of the inactivated CoronaVac vaccine or three doses of the recombinant protein subunit vaccine ZF2001. Adverse events, IMID activity after vaccination, and the rate of COVID-19 in the two groups were compared.

Results

There were 158 patients in the IMID group, with an average age of 40 ± 14 years old, and 98 female subjects. In the IMID group, 123 patients received the inactivated CoronaVac vaccine, and 35 patients received the recombinant protein subunit vaccine ZF2001. There were 153 individuals in the control group, including 122 who received the CoronaVac vaccine and 31 who received the recombinant protein subunit vaccine ZF2001. The frequency of vaccine-related adverse events in the IMID group was less than that in the control group, all of which were mild local effects, and no serious events occurred. Of note, no disease flares occurred in the IMID group. No participants in either group subsequently got COVID-19, so the incidence rate was 0% in both groups.

Conclusion

COVID-19 vaccination was found to be safe for IMID subjects, any adverse events were mild, and vaccination did not increase the risk of disease activity. Meanwhile, vaccination could effectively reduce the incidence of COVID-19 in IMID patients. In the future, studies with a larger sample size and a longer duration are needed.
EPASAD: ellipsoid decision boundary based Process-Aware Stealthy Attack Detector
Authors: Maurya Vikas , Agarwal Rachit , Kumar Saurabh , Shukla Sandeep
Published: November 2023

Due to the importance of Critical Infrastructure (CI) in a nation’s economy, they have been lucrative targets for cyber attackers. These critical infrastructures are usually Cyber-Physical Systems such as power grids, water, and sewage treatment facilities, oil and gas pipelines, etc. In recent times, these systems have suffered from cyber attacks numerous times. Researchers have been developing cyber security solutions for CIs to avoid lasting damages. According to standard frameworks, cyber security based on identification, protection, detection, response, and recovery are at the core of these research. Detection of an ongoing attack that escapes standard protection such as firewall, anti-virus, and host/network intrusion detection has gained importance as such attacks eventually affect the physical dynamics of the system. Therefore, anomaly detection in physical dynamics proves an effective means to implement defense-in-depth. PASAD is one example of anomaly detection in the sensor/actuator data, representing such systems’ physical dynamics. We present EPASAD, which improves the detection technique used in PASAD to detect these micro-stealthy attacks, as our experiments show that PASAD’s spherical boundary-based detection fails to detect. Our method EPASAD overcomes this by using Ellipsoid boundaries, thereby tightening the boundaries in various dimensions, whereas a spherical boundary treats all dimensions equally. We validate EPASAD using the dataset produced by the TE-process simulator and the C-town datasets. The results show that EPASAD improves PASAD’s average recall by 5.8% and 9.5% for the two datasets, respectively.
Identification of a common brain network associated with lesional epilepsy
Authors: Wu Di , Liu Jinghui , Ren Liankun
Published: November 2023

Stroke is the leading cause of neurological diseases globally. Remarkably, epilepsy is a common complication of stroke, which greatly impairs the quality of life of patients and poses a significant clinical challenge. Therefore, a better understanding of the risk factors for poststroke epilepsy is crucial. A recent study published in JAMA Neurology studied the brain network associated with poststroke epilepsy in a group of 76 patients compared to a cohort of 625 control patients using lesion mapping techniques. The results showed that negative functional connectivity between lesion locations and regions in the basal ganglia and cerebellum confers a higher risk of developing epilepsy after stroke. The lesion network nodes associated with epilepsy were identical across different lesion types including hematomas, traumas, tumors, and tubers. Furthermore, the poststroke epilepsy brain network has potential therapeutic relevance to deep brain stimulation (DBS). In a cohort of 30 patients, the functional connectivity between anterior thalamic DBS sites and the lesion network nodes was found to correlate with seizure control after DBS. In summary, the finding provides a novel method for predicting the risk of poststroke epilepsy in patients and may guide brain stimulation treatments for epilepsy.
Bitter gourd flavored Non-Alcoholic Wheat Beer (NAWB) exhibited antidiabetic properties by modulating carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes and upregulates insulin and GLUT-2 mRNA expressions in High Fat Diet/Streptozotocin (HFD/STZ) induced diabetic rats
Authors: Akerele Gbenga P. , Adedayo Bukola C. , Oboh Ganiyu. , Ogunsuyi Opeyemi B. , Oyeleye Idowu S.
Published: November 2023

To improve the control of Type 2 diabetes (T2D), this study investigated the potential benefits of an alcohol-free beer flavored with bitter gourd leaves, a plant with proven hypoglycemic properties. The high fat/streptozotocin (HFD/STZ) model was used to induce diabetes in Wistar rats as test subjects. The rats were divided into eight groups (n = 5) as follows: HP (STZ + 100% Hops); BG (STZ + 100% Bitter Gourd); 75:25BG (STZ + 75% Hops; 25%BG); 50:50BG (STZ + 50%Hops50%Bitter Gourd); 25:75BG (STZ + 25%Hops75%Bitter Gourd); Acarbose (STZ + Acarbose); DC (STZ-diabetic control group); NC (Normal Control group). Following a 14-day treatment, there was a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in blood sugar, serum glucose, α-amylase activity, α-glucosidase activity, and lipase activity. As the percentage of bitter gourd inclusion increased, the expression of GLUT-2 and insulin genes was upregulated. The beer sample with the lowest percentage inclusion of Hops (25:75BG) had the lowest glycemic index (GI). The study suggested that bitter gourd-flavored alcohol-free beer reduces blood glucose through muptiple pathways and could be a useful dietary intervention in the management of type 2 diabetes.

Graphical Abstract