bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heat-killed Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Shinshu N-07 exerts antiobesity effects in western diet-induced obese mice
Authors: Tanaka Yuna , Inaba Chihiro , Sawa Toko , Endo Katsunori , Saiki Takeru , Haga Hazuki , Niitsuma Fumie , Kawahara Takeshi , Watanabe Jun , Tanaka Sachi
Published: May 2024

Aims

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiobesity effects of heat-killed Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Shinshu N-07 (N-07) isolated from fermented Brassica rapa L.

Methods and results

Male mice were divided into three groups (n = 10/group); normal diet, western diet (WD), or WD + N-07 (N-07) group and administered each diet for 56 days. The N-07 group showed significant suppression of body weight gain and epididymal fat, perirenal fat, and liver weights compared with the WD group. Higher levels of fecal total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), and free fatty acid (FFA) were observed in the N-07 group than in the WD group. The mRNA expression of the cholesterol transporter ATP-binding cassette transporter G5 (ABCG5) was significantly increased in the small intestine of N-07-fed mice compared with WD-fed mice. Moreover, N-07 supplementation significantly increased the mRNA expression of ABCG5 and ABCG8 in Caco-2 cells. Furthermore, the TG- and FFA-removal ability of N-07 was confirmed to evaluate its soybean oil- and oleic acid-binding capacities in in vitro experiments.

Conclusions

The antiobesity effects of N-07 might be due to its ability to promote lipid excretion by regulating cholesterol transporter expression and lipid-binding ability.
Design and implementation of electronic health record-based tools to support a weight management program in primary care
Authors: Kukhareva Polina V , Weir Charlene R , Cedillo Maribel , Taft Teresa , Butler Jorie M , Rudd Elizabeth A , Zepeda Jesell , Zheutlin Emily , Kiraly Bernadette , Flynn Michael , Conroy Molly B , Kawamoto Kensaku
Published: May 2024

Objectives

This paper reports on a mixed methods formative evaluation to support the design and implementation of information technology (IT) tools for a primary care weight management intervention delivered through the patient portal using primary care staff as coaches.

Methods

We performed a qualitative needs assessment, designed the IT tools to support the weight management program, and developed implementation tracking metrics. Implementation tracking metrics were designed to use real world electronic health record (EHR) data.

Results

The needs assessment revealed IT requirements as well as barriers and facilitators to implementation of EHR-based weight management interventions in primary care. We developed implementation metrics for the IT tools. These metrics were used in weekly project team calls to make sure that project resources were allocated to areas of need.

Conclusion

This study identifies the important role of IT in supporting weight management through patient identification, weight and activity tracking in the patient portal, and the use of the EHR as a population management tool. An intensive multi-level implementation approach is required for successful primary care-based weight management interventions including well-designed IT tools, comprehensive involvement of clinic leadership, and implementation tracking metrics to guide the process of workflow integration. This study helps to bridge the gap between informatics and implementation by using socio-technical formative evaluation methods early in order to support the implementation of IT tools.

Trial registration

clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04420936. Registered June 9, 2020.
Mobilization With Femoral Catheters in the Burn ICU: A Retrospective Review Following Change in Practice Guidelines
Authors: O’Neil Audrey M , Boyd Allison , Rush Cassandra , Roggy David , Walroth Todd , Hartman Brett
Published: May 2024

Femoral catheters are commonly viewed as a barrier to Burn ICU mobility progression due to anatomical location and potential risk of complications. The purpose of this review was to examine outcomes and complication rates following implementation of femoral catheter mobilization guidelines, as well as determine safety and feasibility of mobilization with femoral catheters in place within the burn population. A retrospective review was completed on 17 patients prior to and following the implementation of new femoral catheter mobility guidelines, 34 patients total. Burn therapy notes were reviewed for burn admissions with at least 1 femoral catheter in place, including arterial, central, and dialysis catheters. Demographic data, admission statistics, line placement timelines, and active mobility achieved during therapy sessions were recorded for both the nonmobilization group (NMG) and mobilization group (MG). The 34 patients reviewed had 99 total lines placed (30 NMG, 69 MG). Change in mobility protocols for the MG resulted in more therapy sessions (n = 516 vs 281) and a significant increase in active mobility sessions (n = 83 vs 5, P < .001), including 146 total mobility activities such as transitions to chairs, tilt table, sitting edge of bed, standing, active chair transfers, ambulation, and cycle ergometry. No catheter-associated adverse events occurred during active mobility sessions and no complications were associated with participation in mobility. This review supports that the presence of femoral catheters alone should not limit the progression of mobility interventions with the use of clinical judgment in specialty-trained burn therapists.
Using eDNA to play whack-a-mole with invasive species in green yard waste
Authors: Neven Lisa G , Walker William B , Gowton Chelsea , Carrillo Juli
Published: May 2024

As large cities begin to overrun their landfill capacities, they begin to look for alternative locations to handle the waste stream. Seeing an opportunity to bring in revenue, rural communities offer to handle municipal waste in their landfills. However, many rural communities are also places of agricultural production, which are vulnerable to attacks by invasive insect species, which could be present in green yard waste, the component of municipal waste most likely to contain agriculturally harmful insect species. We used environmental DNA (eDNA) to determine whether green yard waste could be a pathway for invasive insect species to enter and establish in the landfill-receiving agricultural community. We identified several target species that could be in green yard waste coming from Vancouver, BC, Canada, to Central Washington State, USA. We sampled green yard waste from 3 sites every 2 weeks from June to October in 2019 and 2020. DNA was extracted from the nearly 400 samples and subjected to amplification with COI barcoding primers followed by sequencing to identify target insects in the samples. Sequence analyses identified 3 species from the target list: 2 species that are pests of deciduous tree fruits and a generalist root-feeding crop pest. This eDNA technique was useful in identifying potential invasive species in green yard waste and may prove to be an important tool informing policy on the movement of biological material across borders and stemming the spread of invasive species.
The evolution of supermassive black hole mass–bulge mass relation by a semi-analytical model, ν2GC
Authors: Shimizu Tatsuki , Oogi Taira , Okamoto Takashi , Nagashima Masahiro , Enoki Motohiro
Published: May 2024

We have investigated the redshift evolution of the relationship between supermassive black hole (SMBH) mass and host bulge mass using a semi-analytical galaxy formation model ν2GC. Our model reproduces the relation in the local universe well. We find that, at high redshift (z ≳ 3), two sequences appear in the SMBH mass–bulge mass plane. The emergence of these two sequences can be attributed to the primary triggers of the growth of the SMBHs and bulges: galaxy mergers and disc instabilities. The growth of SMBHs and bulges as a result of galaxy mergers is responsible for giving rise to the high-mass sequence, in which SMBHs are more massive for a given host bulge mass than in the low-mas sequence. Conversely, disc instabilities are accountable for the emergence of the low-mass sequence. At lower redshifts, galaxy mergers tend to become increasingly deficient in gas, resulting in a preferential increase of bulge mass without a corresponding growth in SMBH mass. This has the effect of causing galaxies in the upper sequence to shift towards the lower one on the SMBH mass–bulge mass plane. The galaxies that undergo dry mergers serve to bridge the gap between the two sequences, eventually leading to convergence into a single relation known in the local universe. Our results suggest that the observations of the SMBH mass–bulge mass relation in high redshifts can provide insight into their growth mechanisms.
redback: a Bayesian inference software package for electromagnetic transients
Authors: Sarin Nikhil , Hübner Moritz , Omand Conor M B , Setzer Christian N , Schulze Steve , Adhikari Naresh , Sagués-Carracedo Ana , Galaudage Shanika , Wallace Wendy F , Lamb Gavin P , Lin En-Tzu
Published: May 2024

Fulfilling the rich promise of rapid advances in time-domain astronomy is only possible through confronting our observations with physical models and extracting the parameters that best describe what we see. Here, we introduce redback; a Bayesian inference software package for electromagnetic transients. redback provides an object-orientated python interface to over 12 different samplers and over 100 different models for kilonovae, supernovae, gamma-ray burst afterglows, tidal disruption events, engine-driven transients among other explosive transients. The models range in complexity from simple analytical and semi-analytical models to surrogates built upon numerical simulations accelerated via machine learning. redback also provides a simple interface for downloading and processing data from various catalogues such as Swift and FINK. The software can also serve as an engine to simulate transients for telescopes such as the Zwicky Transient Facility and Vera Rubin with realistic cadences, limiting magnitudes, and sky coverage or a hypothetical user-constructed survey or a generic transient for target-of-opportunity observations with different telescopes. As a demonstration of its capabilities, we show how redback can be used to jointly fit the spectrum and photometry of a kilonova, enabling a more powerful, holistic probe into the properties of a transient. We also showcase general examples of how redback can be used as a tool to simulate transients for realistic surveys, fit models to real, simulated, or private data, multimessenger inference with gravitational waves, and serve as an end-to-end software toolkit for parameter estimation and interpreting the nature of electromagnetic transients.
Detecting rare neutral atomic-carbon absorbers with a deep neural network
Authors: Ge Jian , Willis Kevin , Chao Kaixuan , Jan Albert , Zhao Yinan , Fang Hannah
Published: May 2024

C i absorbers play an important role as indicators for exploring the presence of cold gas in the interstellar medium of galaxies. However, the current data base of C i absorbers is very limited due to their weak absorption feature and rarity. Here, we report results from a search of C i λλ1560, 1656 absorption lines using Mg ii absorbers as signposts with modified deep learning algorithms, which provides a very quick way to search for weak C i absorber candidates. A total of 107 C i absorbers were detected, which nearly doubles the size of previously known samples. In addition, we found 17 C i absorbers to be associated with 2175 Å dust absorbers (2DAs), i.e. about 16 per cent C i absorbers are associated with 2DAs. Comparing the average dust depletion patterns of C i absorbers with those of damped Lyman α absorbers (DLAs), Mg ii absorbers, Ca ii absorbers, and 2175 Å dust absorbers (2DAs) shows that C i absorbers generally have environments with more dust than DLAs, Mg ii, and Ca ii absorbers, but similar to dust in 2DAs. Similarity between the dust depletion pattern of C i absorbers to that of the warm disc in the Milky Way indicates that C i absorption clouds are possibly associated with disc components in distant galaxies. Therefore, C i absorbers are confirmed to be excellent probes to trace cold gas and dust in the Universe.
Boundary Effects Cause False Signals of Range Expansions in Population Genomic Data
Authors: Kemppainen Petri , Schembri Rhiannon , Momigliano Paolo
Published: May 2024

Studying range expansions is central for understanding genetic variation through space and time as well as for identifying refugia and biological invasions. Range expansions are characterized by serial founder events causing clines of decreasing genetic diversity away from the center of origin and asymmetries in the two-dimensional allele frequency spectra. These asymmetries, summarized by the directionality index (ψ), are sensitive to range expansions and persist for longer than clines in genetic diversity. In continuous and finite meta-populations, genetic drift tends to be stronger at the edges of the species distribution in equilibrium populations and populations undergoing range expansions alike. Such boundary effects are expected to affect geographic patterns in genetic diversity and ψ. Here we demonstrate that boundary effects cause high false positive rates in equilibrium meta-populations when testing for range expansions. In the simulations, the absolute value of ψ (|ψ|) in equilibrium data sets was proportional to the fixation index (FST). By fitting signatures of range expansions as a function of ɛ |ψ|/FST and geographic clines in ψ, strong evidence for range expansions could be detected in data from a recent rapid invasion of the cane toad, Rhinella marina, in Australia, but not in 28 previously published empirical data sets from Australian scincid lizards that were significant for the standard range expansion tests. Thus, while clinal variation in ψ is still the most sensitive statistic to range expansions, to detect true signatures of range expansions in natural populations, its magnitude needs to be considered in relation to the overall levels of genetic structuring in the data.
DORA: an interactive map for the visualization and analysis of ancient human DNA and associated data
Authors: Harris Keith D , Greenbaum Gili
Published: May 2024

The ability to sequence ancient genomes has revolutionized the way we study evolutionary history by providing access to the most important aspect of evolution—time. Until recently, studying human demography, ecology, biology, and history using population genomic inference relied on contemporary genomic datasets. Over the past decade, the availability of human ancient DNA (aDNA) has increased rapidly, almost doubling every year, opening the way for spatiotemporal studies of ancient human populations. However, the multidimensionality of aDNA, with genotypes having temporal, spatial and genomic coordinates, and integrating multiple sources of data, poses a challenge for developing meta-analyses pipelines. To address this challenge, we developed a publicly-available interactive tool, DORA, which integrates multiple data types, genomic and non-genomic, in a unified interface. This web-based tool enables browsing sample metadata alongside additional layers of information, such as population structure, climatic data, and unpublished samples. Users can perform analyses on genotypes of these samples, or export sample subsets for external analyses. DORA integrates analyses and visualizations in a single intuitive interface, resolving the technical issues of combining datasets from different sources and formats, and allowing researchers to focus on the scientific questions that can be addressed through analysis of aDNA datasets.
Single-molecule imaging reveals a direct role of CTCF’s zinc fingers in SA interaction and cluster-dependent RNA recruitment
Authors: Huber Jonas , Tanasie Nicoleta-Loredana , Zernia Sarah , Stigler Johannes
Published: May 2024

CTCF is a zinc finger protein associated with transcription regulation that also acts as a barrier factor for topologically associated domains (TADs) generated by cohesin via loop extrusion. These processes require different properties of CTCF-DNA interaction, and it is still unclear how CTCF’s structural features may modulate its diverse roles. Here, we employ single-molecule imaging to study both full-length CTCF and truncation mutants. We show that CTCF enriches at CTCF binding sites (CBSs), displaying a longer lifetime than observed previously. We demonstrate that the zinc finger domains mediate CTCF clustering and that clustering enables RNA recruitment, possibly creating a scaffold for interaction with RNA-binding proteins like cohesin's subunit SA. We further reveal a direct recruitment and an increase of SA residence time by CTCF bound at CBSs, suggesting that CTCF-SA interactions are crucial for cohesin stability on chromatin at TAD borders. Furthermore, we establish a single-molecule T7 transcription assay and show that although a transcribing polymerase can remove CTCF from CBSs, transcription is impaired. Our study shows that context-dependent nucleic acid binding determines the multifaceted CTCF roles in genome organization and transcription regulation.
ATM-mediated co-chaperone DNAJB11 phosphorylation facilitates α-synuclein folding upon DNA double-stranded breaks
Authors: Chen Huan-Yun , Liao Chia-Yu , Li Hsun , Ke Yi-Ci , Lin Chin-Hsien , Teng Shu-Chun
Published: May 2024

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder marked by the pathological accumulation of α-synuclein aggregates in dopaminergic neurons. This α-synuclein dyshomeostasis is caused by an interplay between aging, genetic and environmental factors. Aging process-related DNA damage and impaired DNA repair have recently been observed in the PD process. However, the precise neuronal response to DNA damage in PD remains largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that double-strand breaks (DSBs) induce α-synuclein aggregation. Analysis of a large-scale proteomic analysis of ATM and ATR substrates identified a potential candidate in the HSP70 folding system responding to DNA damage. ATM phosphorylates co-chaperone DNAJB11 at threonine 188 which specifically facilitates the delivery of misfolded α-synuclein, but not tau or transthyretin protein, to the HSP70 folding system upon DSBs. Alteration of this response impairs the neurite outgrowth. Remarkably, DNAJB11 threonine 188 phosphorylation correlates with disease severity in transgenic SNCA mutant PD mice and PD patients. These findings reveal a DNA damage-responded HSP70 folding mechanism through a J-domain co-chaperone, offering a potential therapeutic target for PD.
Resistance, rebound, and recurrence regrowth patterns in pediatric low-grade glioma treated by MAPK inhibition: A modified Delphi approach to build international consensus-based definitions—International Pediatric Low-Grade Glioma Coalition
Authors: O’Hare Patricia , Cooney Tabitha , de Blank Peter , Gutmann David H , Kieran Mark , Milde Till , Fangusaro Jason , Fisher Michael , Avula Shivaram , Packer Roger , Fukuoka Kohei , Mankad Kshitij , Mueller Sabine , Waanders Angela J , Opocher Enrico , Bouffet Eric , Raabe Eric , Werle Natacha Entz , Azizi Amedeo A , Robison Nathan J , Hernáiz Driever Pablo , Russo Mark , Schouten Netteke , van Tilburg Cornelis M , Sehested Astrid , Grill Jacques , Bandopadhayay Pratiti , Kilday John-Paul , Witt Olaf , Ashley David M , Ertl-Wagner Birgit Betina , Tabori Uri , Hargrave Darren R
Published: May 2024

Pediatric low-grade glioma (pLGG) is the most common childhood brain tumor group. The natural history, when curative resection is not possible, is one of a chronic disease with periods of tumor stability and episodes of tumor progression. While there is a high overall survival rate, many patients experience significant and potentially lifelong morbidities. The majority of pLGGs have an underlying activation of the RAS/MAPK pathway due to mutational events, leading to the use of molecularly targeted therapies in clinical trials, with recent regulatory approval for the combination of BRAF and MEK inhibition for BRAFV600E mutated pLGG. Despite encouraging activity, tumor regrowth can occur during therapy due to drug resistance, off treatment as tumor recurrence, or as reported in some patients as a rapid rebound growth within 3 months of discontinuing targeted therapy. Definitions of these patterns of regrowth have not been well described in pLGG. For this reason, the International Pediatric Low-Grade Glioma Coalition, a global group of physicians and scientists, formed the Resistance, Rebound, and Recurrence (R3) working group to study resistance, rebound, and recurrence. A modified Delphi approach was undertaken to produce consensus-based definitions and recommendations for regrowth patterns in pLGG with specific reference to targeted therapies.
Efficient identification of broad absorption line quasars using dimensionality reduction and machine learning
Authors: Kao Wei-Bo , Zhang Yanxia , Wu Xue-Bing
Published: May 2024

Broad Absorption Line Quasars (BALQSOs) represent a significant phenomenon in the realm of quasar astronomy, displaying distinct blueshifted broad absorption lines. These enigmatic objects serve as invaluable probes for unraveling the intricate structure and evolution of quasars, shedding light on the profound influence exerted by supermassive black holes on galaxy formation. The proliferation of large-scale spectroscopic surveys such as LAMOST (the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope), SDSS (the Sloan Digital Sky Survey), and DESI (the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument) has exponentially expanded the repository of quasar spectra at our disposal. In this study, we present an innovative approach to streamline the identification of BALQSOs, leveraging the power of dimensionality reduction and machine-learning algorithms. Our dataset is meticulously curated from the SDSS Data Release 16 (DR16), amalgamating quasar spectra with classification labels sourced from the DR16Q quasar catalog. We employ a diverse array of dimensionality-reduction techniques, including principal component analysis (PCA), t-Distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE), locally linear embedding (LLE), and isometric mapping (ISOMAP), to distill the essence of the original spectral data. The resultant low-dimensional representations serve as inputs for a suite of machine-learning classifiers, including the robust XGBoost and Random Forest models. Through rigorous experimentation, we unveil PCA as the most effective dimensionality-reduction methodology, adeptly navigating the intricate balance between dimensionality reduction and preservation of vital spectral information. Notably, the synergistic fusion of PCA with the XGBoost classifier emerges as the pinnacle of efficacy in the BALQSO classification endeavor, boasting impressive accuracy rates of $97.60\%$ by 10-cross validation and $96.92\%$ on the outer test sample. This study not only introduces a novel machine-learning-based paradigm for quasar classification but also offers invaluable insights transferrable to a myriad of spectral classification challenges pervasive in the realm of astronomy.
Association of back pain with all-cause and cause-specific mortality among older men: a cohort study
Authors: Roseen Eric J , McNaughton David T , Harrison Stephanie , Downie Aron S , Øverås Cecilie K , Nim Casper G , Jenkins Hazel J , Young James J , Hartvigsen Jan , Stone Katie L , Ensrud Kristine E , Lee Soomi , Cawthon Peggy M , Fink Howard A
Published: May 2024

Objective

We evaluated whether more severe back pain phenotypes—persistent, frequent, or disabling back pain—are associated with higher mortality rate among older men.

Methods

In this secondary analysis of a prospective cohort, the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) study, we evaluated mortality rates by back pain phenotype among 5215 older community-dwelling men (mean age, 73 years, SD = 5.6) from 6 sites in the United States. The primary back pain measure used baseline and Year 5 back pain questionnaire data to characterize participants as having no back pain, nonpersistent back pain, infrequent persistent back pain, or frequent persistent back pain. Secondary measures of back pain from the Year 5 questionnaire included disabling back pain phenotypes. The main outcomes measured were all-cause and cause-specific death.

Results

After the Year 5 exam, during up to 18 years of follow-up (mean follow-up = 10.3 years), there were 3513 deaths (1218 cardiovascular, 764 cancer, 1531 other). A higher proportion of men with frequent persistent back pain versus no back pain died (78% versus 69%; sociodemographic-adjusted HR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.11–1.45). No association was evident after further adjustment for health-related factors, such as self-reported general health and comorbid chronic health conditions (fully adjusted HR = 1.00; 95% CI = 0.86–1.15). Results were similar for cardiovascular deaths and other deaths, but we observed no association of back pain with cancer deaths. Secondary back pain measures, including back-related disability, were associated with increased mortality risk that remained statistically significant in fully adjusted models.

Conclusion

Although frequent persistent back pain was not independently associated with risk of death in older men, additional secondary disabling back pain phenotypes were independently associated with increased mortality rate. Future investigations should evaluate whether improvements in disabling back pain affect general health and well-being or risk of death.
Marital violence affects reproductive health and pregnancy outcomes in Northeast India
Authors: Haobijam Sharatchandra , Singh Kshetrimayum Anand
Published: May 2024

Background

As per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4, 2015–16) report, 40% of women aged 15–49 in India experienced intimate partner violence (IPV), with emotional abuse significantly associated with negative reproductive health (RH) outcomes.

Methods

The study uses secondary data from the NFHS-4 and conducts statistical analysis based on information gathered from 8766 married women aged 15–49 years in Northeast India. Bivariate analysis followed by multiple logistic regression analysis is performed to understand the relationship between IPV and its effects on women’s RH.

Results

The findings indicate that ever-married women in Northeast India have faced physical violence (25.1%), sexual violence (11.8%), emotional abuse (6.4%) and severe violence (5.3%). Among all women who participated in the study, 6.9% had experienced non-live births, 4.2% miscarriages, 2.4% abortions, 0.3% stillbirths, 16.9% terminated pregnancies and 2.1% sexually transmitted infections (STI). Sexually abused women (SAW) showed higher likelihoods of non-live births, STIs, miscarriages, abortions and pregnancy terminations. SAW had a 65% higher risk of miscarriages, while those experiencing physical violence had a 64% increased risk of abortions.

Conclusion

IPV significantly impacts women’s RH in Northeast India. This study presents evidence from surveys on sexual and RH among married women affected by IPV in Northeast India.
Efficient and Convergent Sequential Pseudo-Likelihood Estimation of Dynamic Discrete Games
Authors: Dearing Adam , Blevins Jason R
Published: May 2024

We propose a new sequential Efficient Pseudo-Likelihood (k-EPL) estimator for dynamic discrete choice games of incomplete information. k-EPL considers the joint behaviour of multiple players simultaneously, as opposed to individual responses to other agents’ equilibrium play. This, in addition to reframing the problem from conditional choice probability (CCP) space to value function space, yields a computationally tractable, stable, and efficient estimator. We show that each iteration in the k-EPL sequence is consistent and asymptotically efficient, so the first-order asymptotic properties do not vary across iterations. Furthermore, we show the sequence achieves higher-order equivalence to the finite-sample maximum-likelihood estimator with iteration and that the sequence of estimators converges almost surely to the maximum-likelihood estimator at a nearly superlinear rate when the data are generated by any regular Markov perfect equilibrium, including equilibria that lead to inconsistency of other sequential estimators. When utility is linear in parameters, k-EPL iterations are computationally simple, only requiring that the researcher solve linear systems of equations to generate pseudo-regressors which are used in a static logit/probit regression. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate the theoretical results and show k-EPL’s good performance in finite samples in both small- and large-scale games, even when the game admits spurious equilibria in addition to one that generated the data. We apply the estimator to analyse competition in the U.S. wholesale club industry.
Psychological distress over 12 months post-diagnosis in an early inflammatory arthritis cohort
Authors: Zhao Lucy , Galloway James , Ledingham Jo , Gallagher Sarah , Garnavos Gerasimina , Amlani-Hatcher Paul , Wilson Nicky , Carpenter Lewis , Bannister Kirsty , Norton Sam
Published: May 2024

Objectives

People with inflammatory arthritis (IA) experience worsened mental wellbeing alongside disease progression. Using the National Early Inflammatory Arthritis Audit (NEIAA), we assessed trends in psychological distress during the 12 months following IA diagnosis, mapping these against clinical outcomes to identify associations.

Methods

This is a prospective study of people recruited to NEIAA receiving an IA diagnosis and completing the baseline patient survey. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) at baseline, 3 months and 12 months were collected, including psychological distress [assessed using Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety and Depression Screener (PHQ4ADS)]. Mixed effects linear regression models estimated associations between predictor variables with psychological distress at baseline and over time.

Results

Of 6873 eligible patients, 3451 (50.2%) showed psychological distress at baseline. Of those completing follow-ups, 30.0% and 24.1% were distressed at 3 months and 12 months, respectively. Higher psychological distress at diagnosis was more commonly reported by younger, female and non-White patients. Clinical factors, including higher counts of comorbidities, prior depression and higher disease activity at diagnosis were associated with higher distress. Higher distress at baseline was associated with poorer outcomes over time in quality of life, disability, work performance, disease activity, as well as reduced likelihood of achieving good treatment response by EULAR criteria.

Conclusion

Half of patients with IA show significant mental health comorbidity at presentation, which associated with worse disease outcomes and quality of life. Screening for anxiety and depression should be a universal standard, and access to effective mood therapies alongside arthritis treatments is essential. Strategies should be culturally valid and consider multi-morbidities.
Whole transcriptome sequencing reveals the activity of the PLA2 family members in Androctonus crassicauda (Scorpionida: Buthidae) venom gland
Authors: Salabi Fatemeh , Jafari Hedieh
Published: May 2024

Phospholipase A2 is the most abundant venom gland enzyme, whose activity leads to the activation of the inflammatory response by accumulating lipid mediators. This study aimed to identify, classify, and investigate the properties of venom PLA2 isoforms. Then, the present findings were confirmed by chemically measuring the activity of PLA2. The sequences representing PLA2 annotation were extracted from the Androctonus crassicauda transcriptome dataset using BLAS searches against the local PLA2 database. We found several cDNA sequences of PLA2 classified and named by conducting multiple searches as platelet‐activating factor acetylhydrolases, calcium‐dependent PLA2s, calcium‐independent PLA2s, and secreted PLA2s. The largest and smallest isoforms of these proteins range between approximately 70.34 kDa (iPLA2) and 17.75 kDa (cPLA2). Among sPLA2 isoforms, sPLA2GXIIA and sPLA2G3 with ORF encoding 169 and 299 amino acids are the smallest and largest secreted PLA2, respectively. These results collectively suggested that A. crassicauda venom has PLA2 activity, and the members of this protein family may have important biological roles in lipid metabolism. This study also revealed the interaction between members of PLA2s in the PPI network. The results of this study would greatly help with the classification, evolutionary relationships, and interactions between PLA2 family proteins in the gene network.
Perioperative anaphylaxis: updates on pathophysiology
Authors: Jordan Justin , Levy Jerrold H. , Gonzalez-Estrada Alexei
Published: May 2024

Purpose of review

Perioperative anaphylaxis has historically been attributed to IgE/FcεRI-mediated reactions; there is now recognition of allergic and nonallergic triggers encompassing various reactions beyond IgE-mediated responses. This review aims to present recent advancements in knowledge regarding the mechanisms and pathophysiology of perioperative anaphylaxis.

Recent findings

Emerging evidence highlights the role of the mast-cell related G-coupled protein receptor X2 pathway in direct mast cell degranulation, shedding light on previously unknown mechanisms. This pathway, alongside traditional IgE/FcεRI-mediated reactions, contributes to the complex nature of anaphylactic reactions. Investigations into the microbiota-anaphylaxis connection are ongoing, with potential implications for future treatment strategies. While serum tryptase levels serve as mast cell activation indicators, identifying triggers remains challenging. A range of mediators have been associated with anaphylaxis, including vasoactive peptides, proteases, lipid molecules, cytokines, chemokines, interleukins, complement components, and coagulation factors.

Further understanding of clinical endotypes and the microenvironment where anaphylactic reactions unfold is essential for standardizing mediator testing and characterization in perioperative anaphylaxis. Ongoing research aims to elucidate the mechanisms, pathways, and mediators involved across multiple organ systems, including the cardiovascular, respiratory, and integumentary systems, which will be crucial for improving patient outcomes.
Where Do We Go From Here? An Inventory of Publicly Available Data About Educator Academies, Medical Education Departments, and Offices of Medical Education
Authors: Kerns Stephanie C. , Beck Dallaghan Gary L. , Borges Nicole J. , Huggett Kathryn N.
Published: May 2024

With the recent widespread growth and interest among medical educators, analysis of how departments of medical education are structured and their intersection with existing structures within the same institution, such as an office of medical education and/or academy of educators, is warranted. Based on a review of the literature, the authors determined there was a need for an inventory of what medical schools have to offer their faculty, whether it be an office, an academy, or a department. This project sought to inventory the current structures of medical education departments, offices, and academies at U.S. medical schools to explore reporting structure, functions, and characteristics of these entities. Data were extracted from A Snapshot of Medical Student Education in the United States and Canada: Reports From 145 Schools, published in 2020 in the journal Academic Medicine, for each reporting institution. This led to exploration of medical school websites to catalogue institutional structures. Data collected in this inventory demonstrate the range of structures used by medical schools to offer faculty support for their work as teachers and educational researchers. The hypothesis was that departments of medical education would be the least prevalent structures identified in U.S. medical schools, which was indeed a finding. Although the search yielded considerable data for the inventory, there is a dearth of published literature describing current models and characteristics of these different entities. Significant difficulties were encountered locating information clearly delineating roles and responsibilities of each entity on many medical schools’ public-facing web pages. Findings are significant because they underscore the challenges medical education leaders have in obtaining information to research, compare, select, and design the administrative model(s) best suited to support faculty educators at their institution. Future work should include creating a detailed catalogue with descriptive information supplied by schools.
Interventions aiming to improve advance care planning uptake in oncology: a scoping review of recent randomized controlled trials
Authors: Libert Yves , Langhendries Caroline , Choucroun Lisa , Merckaert Isabelle
Published: May 2024

Purpose of review

The evidence regarding the effectiveness of interventions aiming to improve ACP uptake appears mixed. The purpose of this scoping review is to summarize findings from recent RCTs assessing the efficacy of interventions designed to increase ACP uptake in cancer care.

Recent findings

The PubMed database was searched for studies published between 2021 and 2023. Ten RCTs were identified that evaluated a wide range of interventions aimed at encouraging or facilitating ACP communication among patients with advanced cancer, caregivers, and HCPs. Three RCTs developed ACP facilitation tools for patients and sometimes caregivers. Six RCTs involved integrating trained ACP facilitators into patient care, and one RCT used nudges to encourage oncologists trained in ACP discussions to initiate discussions with patients at highest risk of short-term mortality. Most of the reviewed interventions were based on previously tested intervention approaches or tools.

The key effects identified in this review are the facilitation of ACP discussions among patients, caregivers, and HCPs, and the documentation of patient preferences in the medical record. The direct involvement of facilitators in ACP document drafting and inclusion in patient files, as well as interventions prompting end-of-life discussions, contributed to this effect.
Project ECHO Brain Health: Assessing the Impact of a Pilot Program to Promote Self-Efficacy Among Community Health Workers
Authors: Masoud Sara S. , Escareño Juana T. , Flores Belinda , Lesser Janna , Choi Byeong Yeob , White Carole L.
Published: May 2024

This mixed-methods study sought to examine the impact of the Project ECHO Brain Health program on participating community health workers’ (CHWs’) self-efficacy to address dementia, promote brain health, and advocate for research among Latinx South Texas communities. Using an explanatory sequential design, quantitative data collected from pre- and post-program surveys were analyzed to inform the collection of qualitative data, followed by an interpretation of all findings to better understand the impact of the program on self-efficacy. Pre- and post-surveys were collected from 25 CHWs, 13 of whom later participated in individual interviews. There was a statistically significant increase in mean self-efficacy scores between the pre- and post-surveys among participants. Three categories reflecting the experiences of participants were identified from the qualitative data: addressing training needs; impact on CHWs and their practice; and community of learning. The findings suggest that Project ECHO Brain Health program is a timely intervention that may facilitate increased self-efficacy among CHWs as they navigate the impacts of dementia in their communities.
Low Expression of Vitamin D Receptor in Patients With Dry Eye Disease
Authors: Vieira Antonia , Meza Javiera , Garreton Rodolfo , Grau Arturo E. , Zoroquiain Pablo
Published: May 2024

Purpose:

This study aimed to compare the expression of vitamin D receptor (VDR) on the ocular surface of patients with dry eye disease (DED) and controls without ophthalmological pathologies.

Methods:

Patients with DED without previous treatment were studied and compared with healthy subjects. Ocular Surface Disease Index assessement and ocular surface cytology were performed in all patients. The immunohistochemical expression of VDR was evaluated using fully automated immunohistochemistry. The evaluation involved multiplying the percentage of nuclear-labeled cells (0–100) by their intensity (0–3), resulting in a score ranging from 0 to 300 (VDR H-score). Squamous metaplasia was morphologically evaluated using liquid-phase cytology with Papanicolaou/periodic acid–Schiff staining using Nelson's grade (scale 0–3, higher grade to higher metaplastic change).

Results:

Eighteen patients with DED without previous treatment and 10 healthy subjects were studied. Squamous metaplasia was observed in 74% of patients with DED, in contrast to 0% in the control group. In patients with DED, there was a lower expression of VDR than in the control group (VDR H-score: 11.2 ± 13.9 vs. 80.9 ± 56; P = 0.0001). Furthermore, an inverse correlation was observed between Nelson grade and VDR H-score (P = 0.0001, rs = −0.71). No correlation was observed between Ocular Surface Disease Index and VDR H-score.

Conclusions:

This is the first study to evaluate the VDR in patients with DED. These patients presented with a lower expression of VDR than healthy subjects. No correlation was found with more severe symptoms. Patients with DED also had a higher frequency of squamous metaplasia.
Federally Qualified Health Centers’ Screening for Social Risk Factors and Health Outcomes
Authors: Davlyatov Ganisher , Choi Seongwon , Borkowski Nancy M. , Hearld Kristine R. , Aswani Monica
Published: May 2024

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are ideally positioned to identify and address health-related social needs, but little is understood about the relationship between social risk factor (SRF) screening and health outcomes. We studied 1352 FQHCs from the 2019 Uniform Data System. Ordinary least squares regression was used to estimate the relationship between SRF screening and the percentage of patients with adequately controlled diabetes and hypertension. Results show 71% of the FQHCs in the sample collected SRFs. FQHCs’ screened for SRFs had higher percentages of patients with adequately controlled diabetes (69.5% vs 67.0%, P < .001) and hypertension (63.8% vs 59.4%, P < .001) relative to FQHCs not collecting SRFs.
Continuous renal surface cooling technique (CSCT) in robotic-assisted kidney transplantation: technique and outcomes from a high-volume center: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Zhang Haohan , Zeng Jun , Fan Yu , Ma Ming , Lin Tao , Song Turun
Published: May 2024

Background:

Robot-assisted kidney transplantation (RAKT) surgery is an advanced minimally invasive technique, albeit with extended surgical and kidney ischemia time. To safeguard kidney function, the authors have devised a continuous surface cooling method (CSCT) for intraoperative kidney cooling.

Materials and methods:

Patients receiving RAKT were divided into CSCT group and conventional group. The CSCT is a custom-designed apparatus composed of a single-layer plastic bag, featuring an inflow and an outflow that create a closed circuit for the continuous flow of cooling saline. The conventional group utilized ice slush for kidney graft cooling (Vattikuti Urology Institute-Medanta Technique, VUIMT). Patients who underwent open renal transplantation during the same period were also included in the study. All patients were subject to a minimum 2-month follow-up. And 1:3 propensity score matching was used to minimize selection bias.

Results:

A total of 144 patients underwent CSCT, 47 underwent VUIMT, and 196 underwent open surgery were included in the study, while after matching, 129, 43, 129 patients were included in the three groups, respectively. The median follow-up time was 19 months. None of the patients experienced delayed graft function, patient mortality, or graft loss. After introducing the kidney into the abdominal cavity for 20 minutes, the surface temperature of the kidney in the CSCT group was notably lower compared to the VUIMT group (15.42±0.88 vs. 21.74±2.53°C, P=0.001). This temperature disparity became more pronounced at 65 min (19.74±1.61 vs. 29.82±1.63°C, P<0.001). At both 3 and 7 days post-transplantation, creatinine levels in the VUIMT group were significantly higher than those in the CSCT and open surgery groups (at 3 days, 244.13±45.61 vs. 182.51±55.47 in CSCT group, P<0.001, or vs. 182.77±61.32 in the open surgery group, P<0.001; at 7 days, 162.42±54.86 vs. 143.11±44.32 in the CSCT group, P<0.001, or vs. 135.23±45.27 in the open surgery group, P<0.001). No differences were observed in blood creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and perioperative complications between the CSCT and open surgery groups.

Conclusion:

The CSCT presents a significant advantage over the traditional VUIMT method in terms of kidney cooling and early postoperative kidney function preservation. Additional research is required to ascertain whether the CSCT can enhance the long-term prognosis of kidney transplant recipients.
The EUropean PErioperative MEdical Networking (EUPEMEN) project and recommendations for perioperative care in colorectal surgery: a quality improvement study
Authors: Pesce Antonio , Ramírez Jose Manuel , Fabbri Nicolò , Martínez Ubieto Javier , Pascual Bellosta Ana , Arroyo Antonio , Sánchez-Guillén Luis , Whitley Adam , Kocián Petr , Rosetzka Kristyna , Bona Enguita Alejandro , Ioannidis Orestis , Bitsianis Stefanos , Symeonidis Savvas , Anestiadou Elissavet , Teresa-Fernandéz Marta , Carlo Vittorio Feo
Published: May 2024

Background:

Despite consensus supporting enhanced recovery programs, their full implementation in such a context is difficult due to conventional practices within various groups of professionals. The goal of the EUropean PErioperative MEdical Networking (EUPEMEN) project was to bring together the expertise and experience of national clinical professionals who have previously helped deliver major change programs in their countries and to use them to spread enhanced recovery after surgery protocols (ERAS) in Europe. The specific aim of this study is to present and discuss the key points of the proposed recommendations for colorectal surgery.

Materials and methods:

Five partners from university hospitals in four European countries developed the project as partners. Following a non-systematic review of the literature, the European consensus panel generated a list of recommendations for perioperative care in colorectal surgery. A list of recommendations was formulated and distributed to collaborators at each center to allow modifications or additional statements. These recommendations were then discussed in three consecutive meetings to share uniform ERAS protocols to be disseminated.

Result:

The working group developed (1) the EUPEMEN online platform to offer, free of charge, evidence-based standardized perioperative care protocols, learning activities, and assistance to health professionals interested in enhancing the recovery of their patients; (2) the preparation of the EUPEMEN Multimodal Rehabilitation manuals; (3) the training of the trainers to teach future teachers; and (4) the dissemination of the results in five multiplier events, one for each partner, to promote and disseminate the protocols.

Conclusion:

The EUPEMEN project allowed the sharing of the expertise of many professionals from four different European countries with the objective of training the new generations in the dissemination of ERAS protocols in daily clinical practice through a new learning system. This project was proposed as an additional training tool for all the enhanced recovery program teams.