bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical efficacy and safety of interferon (Type I and Type III) therapy in patients with COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Ryoo Seungeun , Koh Dae-Hyup , Yu Su-Yeon , Choi Miyoung , Huh Kyungmin , Yeom Joon-Sup , Heo Jung Yeon
Published: March 2023

Interferon (IFN) has been highlighted in several randomized controlled trials as an attractive therapeutic candidate based plausible mode of action, suppressed response in severe COVID-19, and inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 replication. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of IFN in patients with COVID-19 according to clinical severity. Randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of IFN (systemic or inhaled IFN-α, -β, and -λ) treatment in adult patients with COVID-19 were identified by systematically searching electronic databases until January 2023. Risk of bias were assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool, meta-analysis, and certainty of evidence grading were followed for the systematic review. We included 11 trials comprising 6,124 patients. Compared with exclusive standard care or placebo, IFN therapy did not provide significant clinical benefits for mortality at day 28 (pooled risk ratio [RR] = 0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.62–1.18, 9 studies, low-certainty evidence) and progression to mechanical ventilation (pooled RR = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.81–1.43, 6 studies, low-certainty evidence) in patients with COVID-19. IFN therapy resulted in significantly increased hospital discharge on day 14 relative to the control arm (pooled RR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.04–1.59). These results were inconsistent compared to other comparable outcomes such as recovery at day 14 and time to clinical improvement. The IFN-treated arm was as safe as the control arm, regardless of clinical severity (pooled RR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.64–1.19, 9 studies, low-certainty evidence). In conclusion, IFN therapy was safe but did not demonstrate favorable outcomes for major clinical indices in patients with COVID-19, particularly those with higher than moderate severity. IFN therapy was not associated with worsening outcomes in patients with severe COVID-19. Future clinical trials should evaluate the clinical efficacy of IFN therapy in patients with mild COVID-19 or at an earlier stage.

Trial registration: The protocol for this review was prospectively registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under the registration number CRD42022301413.
Nurses’ knowledge, perceived challenges, and recommended solutions regarding premature infant care: A mixed method study in the referral and tertiary hospitals in Dar es salaam, Tanzania
Authors: Mwikali Mwajuma , Salim Nahya , Sylvester Isabella , Munubhi Emmanuel
Published: March 2023

Background

There has been an increase in preterm birth of about 2% in a span of 14 years (2000–2014) mainly from Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Nursing care is very crucial and a lack of knowledge of health care providers is a contributing factor to morbidity and mortality. With the increasing number and investment of preterm infants towards attaining sustainable development goals (SDG) 3.2, nurses’ knowledge adequacy, challenges and solutions on their care needs to be affirmed.

Methods

A mixed method study was conducted between September 2020 to January 2021 in the neonatal units of four hospitals in Dar es Salaam. Self-administered structured questionnaire was used to assess adequacy of knowledge set at 50% or more for the three main domains 1) Essential newborn Care 2) Infection prevention and management 3) Special care and monitoring. A phenomenological design using a structured interview guide focused on challenges and recommended solutions in acquiring on-the- job training on the care of preterm infants. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 23 and qualitative data were thematically categorized.

Results

Out of 52 of nurses who participated and providing care to preterm infants; 48.1% came from a tertiary hospital, (84.6%) were females, only 28.8% aged more than 40 years and 23.1% had less than one year of experience. Overall, 55.8% of the nurses had never received on job training. Adequate knowledge among nurses was 94% on essential newborn care, 80.8% on infection prevention and management and 36.5% on special care and monitoring of preterm infants. Generally, immediate actions of helping baby breath (HBB) and cord care scored poorest. Components on special care and monitoring which had lowest scores included blood glucose monitoring, temperature monitoring and acceptable daily weight gain. Being more than 41 years old, a female nurse and working in the neonatal unit for at least 1–3 years were more likely to determine adequacy of knowledge on infection prevention and management. Lack of schedule and ways to identify those who require training were among the challenges mentioned in the focus group discussion.

Conclusion

The findings demonstrate an urgent need of instilling knowledge, skills and competences among nurses providing preterm care in our hospitals. Most nurses had not attended training on the care of premature infant. Special care and monitoring were most poorly performed. The recommended solutions included continuous medical education (CME) for all nurses through hospital and government commitment and encourage mentorship within and between hospitals. Nurses who are female, older than 41 years and those with 1 to 3 years of experience should be considered when planning for CME and mentorship program on infection prevention and management.
Lens-specific βA3/A1-conditional knockout mice: Phenotypic characteristics and calpain activation causing protein degradation and insolubilization
Authors: Joseph Roy , Robinson Michael L. , Lambert Laura , Srivastava Om P.
Published: March 2023

βA3/A1-crystallin is a lens structural protein that plays an important role in maintaining lens transparency via interactions with other crystallins. While the function of βA3/A1-crystallin in the retina is well studied, its functions in the lens, other than as a structural protein, remain unclear. In the current study, we generated the lens-specific βA3/A1-crystallin conditional knockout mouse (named βA3/A1ckO) and explored phenotypic changes and the function of the crystallin in the lens. The βA3/A1ckO mice showed congenital cataract at birth and exhibited truncation of lens proteins. Several truncated protein fragments were recovered as a pellet during a low-speed centrifugation (800 rpm, 70 x g) followed by a relatively higher speed centrifugation (5000 rpm, 2744 x g). Mass spectrometric analysis of pellets recovered following the two centrifugations showed that among the fragments with Mr < 20 kDa, the majority of these were from β-tubulin, and some from phakinin, αA-crystallin, and calpain-3. Further, we observed that in vitro activation of calpain-3 by calcium treatment of the wild-type-lens homogenate resulted in the degradation of calpain-3, αA-crystallin and β-tubulin and insolubilization of these proteins. Based on these results, it was concluded that the activation of calpain 3 resulted in proteolysis of β-tubulin, which disrupted cellular microtubular structure, and caused proteolysis of other lens proteins (αA-crystallin and phakinin). These proteolyzed protein fragments become insoluble, and together with the disruption of microtubular structure, and could be the causative factors in the development of congenital nuclear cataract in βA3/A1cKO mice.
Marvellous moths! pollen deposition rate of bramble (Rubus futicosus L. agg.) is greater at night than day
Authors: Anderson Max , Rotheray Ellen L. , Mathews Fiona
Published: March 2023

Widespread concerns about declines of wild pollinating insects has attracted considerable research interest, largely directed towards identifying key nectar sources and assessing the contribution of pollinators towards ecosystem services. However, previous work has almost exclusively focussed on bees and other diurnal invertebrate taxa. This study aimed to assess the relative contribution of diurnal and nocturnal insects to the pollination of bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.), a common and widespread species aggregate across Europe, which has been identified as a key source of pollen and nectar for diurnal pollinators. Bramble flower visitation rates by diurnal and nocturnal insects were quantified by analysing over 380,000 interval photographs taken over a 3-day period across 10 sites. A pollinator exclusion experiment was also undertaken to assess the importance of diurnal and nocturnal insects for pollination by analysing pollen deposition on 480 bramble stigmas of nocturnally exposed, diurnally exposed and unvisited control flowers across all sites. Flower visitation was significantly higher during the day, comprising 83% of all visits made by a range of taxa. Nocturnal visitation was almost exclusively by moths. Crucially, pollen deposition rates of bramble were significantly higher during the night compared with the day. No relationship was detected between pollen counts and flower visitation rates, suggesting that moths are more efficient pollinators of bramble compared with diurnal insects. Overall, this work provides further evidence of the value of bramble as a resource for pollinators and demonstrates that moths likely play an important role in bramble pollination.
Pedestrian street behavior mapping using unmanned aerial vehicles. A case study in Santiago de Chile
Authors: Parra-Ovalle Daniel , Miralles-Guasch Carme , Marquet Oriol
Published: March 2023

Objective observation of pedestrian behavior on the street has traditionally been difficult due to intensive commitment of time and resources with spatial analysis of pedestrian locations encountering additional problems. Recently, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have gained popularity due to the significant improvements they offer over other conventional observation systems, such as their ability to cover larger surface areas in less time. This study tests the performance of UAV-based observation techniques in measuring pedestrian activity in two comparative settings in Santiago de Chile. The study develops an alternative technique adapting the behavioral mapping methodology that allows acquiring information about the people’s activities and the places where they are carried out. In this study a set of streets in the city of Santiago de Chile was selected as a case study, and the reliability of those observations was tested among raters in a population sample. Further, the use of a Geographic Information System (GIS) in the data coding process is detailed and exemplified using some of its spatial analysis tools. The results show high levels of inter-rater reliability in the different categories of recorded data. Finally, we discuss the advantages and limitations in observing pedestrian behavior using this technology and observation technique.
Digger wasps Microbembex monodonta SAY (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae) rely exclusively on visual cues when pinpointing their nest entrances
Authors: Cormons Matthew J. , Zeil Jochen
Published: March 2023

The ability of insects to navigate and home is crucial to fundamental tasks, such as pollination, parental care, procuring food, and finding mates. Despite recent advances in our understanding of visual homing in insects, it remains unclear exactly how ground-nesting Hymenoptera are able to precisely locate their often inconspicuous or hidden reproductive burrow entrances. Here we show that the ground-nesting waspMicrobembex monodontalocates her hidden burrow entrance with the help of local landmarks, but only if their view of the wider panorama is not blocked. Moreover, the wasps are able to pinpoint the burrow location to within a few centimeters when potential olfactory, tactile and auditory cues are locally masked. We conclude thatM.monodontalocate their hidden burrows relying exclusively on local visual cues in the context of the wider panorama. We discuss these results in the light of the older and more recent literature on nest recognition and homing in insects.
Prediction of cost and schedule performance in post-hurricane reconstruction of transportation infrastructure
Authors: Safapour Elnaz , Kermanshachi Sharareh , Rouhanizadeh Behzad
Published: March 2023

This study aimed to develop predictive models that could be used to estimate the cost and schedule performance of reconstruction of transportation infrastructure damaged by hurricanes and to determine the predictors that are robustly connected to the developed models. Stepwise multiple linear regression and extreme bound analysis (EBA) were used to develop the models and determine the robust and fragile predictors, respectively. The results demonstrated that seven cost performance predictors and nine schedule performance predictors accounted for AdjustedR-Squared of 92.4% and 99.2%, respectively. The results of the EBA revealed that four cost and seven performance predictors were robustly connected to the developed cost and schedule performance predictive models. It was concluded that increases in laborers’ wages, the number of inspections, information and data management, and addressing safety and environmental issues prior to a project’s execution were predictors of both the cost and schedule performance of reconstruction projects. The outcomes of this study provide knowledge and information that will be helpful to decision-makers who are responsible for mitigating delays and cost overruns, and effectively allocating their limited resources available following a disaster.
Metabolomic analysis of human plasma sample after exposed to high altitude and return to sea level
Authors: Gao Jiayue , Zhao Ming , Cheng Xiang , Yue Xiangpei , Hao Fangbin , Wang Hui , Duan Lian , Han Cong , Zhu Lingling
Published: March 2023

When ascending to high altitude, it is a rigorous challenge to people who living in the low altitude area to acclimatize to hypoxic environment. Hypoxia exposure can cause dramatic disturbances of metabolism. This longitudinal cohort study was conducted to delineate the plasma metabolomics profile following exposure to altitude environments and explore potential metabolic changes after return to low altitude area. 25 healthy volunteers living in the low altitude area (Nor; 40m) were transported to high altitude (HA; 3,650m) for a 7-day sojourn before transported back to the low altitude area (HAP; 40m). Plasma samples were collected on the day before ascending to HA, the third day on HA(day 3) and the fourteenth day after returning to low altitude(14 day) and analyzed using UHPLC-MS/MS tools and then the data were subjected to multivariate statistical analyses. There were 737 metabolites were obtained in plasma samples with 133 significantly changed metabolites. We screened 13 differential metabolites that were significantly changed under hypoxia exposure; enriched metabolic pathways under hypoxia exposure including tryptophan metabolism, purine metabolism, regulation of lipolysis in adipocytes; We verified and relatively quantified eight targeted candidate metabolites including adenosine, guanosine, inosine, xanthurenic acid, 5-oxo-ETE, raffinose, indole-3-acetic acid and biotin for the Nor and HA group. Most of the metabolites recovered when returning to the low altitude area, however, there were still 6 metabolites that were affected by hypoxia exposure. It is apparent that high-altitude exposure alters the metabolic characteristics and two weeks after returning to the low altitude area a small portion of metabolites was still affected by high-altitude exposure, which indicated that high-altitude exposure had a long-term impact on metabolism. This present longitudinal cohort study demonstrated that metabolomics can be a useful tool to monitor metabolic changes exposed to high altitude, providing new insight in the attendant health problem that occur in response to high altitude.
Unique trackway on Permian Karoo shoreline provides evidence of temnospondyl locomotory behaviour
Authors: Groenewald David P. , Krüger Ashley , Day Michael O. , Penn-Clarke Cameron R. , Hancox P. John , Rubidge Bruce S.
Published: March 2023

Large-bodied temnospondyl amphibians were the dominant predators in non-marine aquatic ecosystems from the Carboniferous to the Middle Triassic. In the Permian-aged lower Beaufort Group of the main Karoo Basin, South Africa, temnospondyls are represented exclusively by the family Rhinesuchidae and are well represented by body fossils, whereas trace fossils are scarce. Accordingly, most interpretations of the behaviour of this family are based on skeletal morphology and histological data. Here we document the sedimentology and palaeontology of a late Permian palaeosurface situated immediately below the palaeoshoreline of the Ecca Sea (transition from the Ecca Group to the Beaufort Group) near the town of Estcourt in KwaZulu-Natal Province. The surface preserves numerous ichnofossils, including tetrapod footprints and fish swim-trails, but most striking are seven body impressions and associated swim trails that we attribute to a medium-sized (~1.9 m long) rhinesuchid temnospondyl. These provide valuable insight into the behaviour of these animals. The sinuous shape of some of the traces suggest that the tracemaker swam with continuous sub-undulatory propulsion of the tail.
Associations between fetal or infancy pet exposure and food allergies: The Japan Environment and Children’s Study
Authors: Okabe Hisao , Hashimoto Koichi , Yamada Mika , Ono Takashi , Yaginuma Kazufumi , Kume Yohei , Chishiki Mina , Sato Akiko , Ogata Yuka , Imaizumi Karin , Murata Tsuyoshi , Kyozuka Hyo , Shinoki Kosei , Yasumura Seiji , Nishigori Hidekazu , Fujimori Keiya , Hosoya Mitsuaki ,   the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS)
Published: March 2023

The hygiene hypothesis suggests that pet exposure is effective in preventing allergic disease, and some studies have reported the beneficial effects of dog exposure during fetal development or early infancy on food allergy. However, the effects of exposure to pets other than dogs on the kinds of food allergies remains unaddressed. This study aimed to explore the effect of exposure to various species of pets on the risk of food allergies. We obtained information on pet exposure and food allergy from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, a nationwide, prospective birth cohort study that included 97,413 mothers and their children. We examined the associations between exposure to various species of pets during fetal development or early infancy and the incidence risk of food allergies. We conducted logistic regression analysis for each pet species, causative food, and timing of exposure. Exposure to dogs or cats during fetal development or early infancy was estimated to reduce the incidence risk of food allergies until the age of 3 years. Dog exposure was estimated to reduce the incidence risk of egg, milk, and nut allergies, and cat exposure was estimated to reduce the incidence risk of egg, wheat, and soybean allergies. However, hamster exposure was estimated to increase the incidence risk of nut allergy. In conclusion, the association between pet exposure and food allergies might differ depending on the pet species and causative food. Continued dog and cat exposure from fetal development to infancy was estimated to reduce the incidence risk of food allergies. The findings of this study shall aid in the design of future studies.
The Covid-19 pandemic and the expansion of the mortality gap between the United States and its European peers
Authors: Heuveline Patrick
Published: March 2023

The mortality gap between the United States and other high-income nations substantially expanded during the first two decades of the 21st century. International comparisons of Covid-19 mortality suggest this gap might have grown during the Covid-19 pandemic. Applying population-weighted average mortality rates of the five largest West European countries to the US population reveals that this mortality gap increased the number of US deaths by 34.8% in 2021, causing 892,491 “excess deaths” that year. Controlling for population size, the annual number of excess deaths has nearly doubled between 2019 and 2021 (+84.9%). Diverging trends in Covid-19 mortality contributed to this increase in excess deaths, especially towards the end of 2021 as US vaccination rates plateaued at lower levels than in European countries. In 2021, the number of excess deaths involving Covid-19 in the United States reached 223,266 deaths, representing 25.0% of all excess deaths that year. However, 45.5% of the population-standardized increase in excess deaths between 2019 and 2021 is due to other causes of deaths. While the contribution of Covid-19 to excess mortality might be transient, divergent trends in mortality from other causes persistently separates the United States from West European countries. Excess mortality is particularly high between ages 15 and 64. In 2021, nearly half of all US deaths in this age range are excess deaths (48.0%).
Mining actionable combined high utility incremental and associated sequential patterns
Authors: Shi Min , Gong Yongshun , Xu Tiantian , Zhao Long
Published: March 2023

High utility sequential pattern (HUSP) mining aims to mine actionable patterns with high utilities, widely applied in real-world learning scenarios such as market basket analysis, scenic route planning and click-stream analysis. The existing HUSP mining algorithms mainly attempt to improve computation efficiency while maintaining the algorithm stability in the setting of large-scale data. Although these methods have made some progress, they ignore the relationship between additional items and underlying sequences, which directly leads to the generation of redundant sequential patterns sharing the same underlying sequence. Hence, the mined patterns’ actionability is limited, which significantly compromises the performance of patterns in real-world applications. To address this problem, we present a new method named Combined Utility-Association Sequential Pattern Mining (CUASPM) by incorporating item/sequence relations, which can effectively remove redundant patterns and extract high discriminative and strongly associated sequential pattern combinations with high utilities. Specifically, we introduce the concept of actionable combined mining into HUSP mining for the first time and develop a novel tree structure to select discriminative high utility sequential patterns (HUSPs) for downstream tasks. Furthermore, two efficient strategies (i.e., global and local strategies) are presented to facilitate mining HUSPs while guaranteeing utility growth and high levels of association. Last, two parameters are introduced to evaluate the interestingness of patterns to choose the most useful actionable combined HUSPs (ACHUSPs). Extensive experimental results demonstrate that the proposed CUASPM outperforms the baselines in terms of execution time, memory usage, mining high discriminative and strongly associated HUSPs.
The role of lactate dehydrogenase in hospitalized patients, comparing those with pulmonary versus non-pulmonary infections: A nationwide study
Authors: Frenkel Amit , Shiloh Adi , Azulay Beatrice , Novack Victor , Klein Moti , Dreiher Jacob
Published: March 2023

Background

Lactic dehydrogenase reflects target organ damage, and is associated with mortality in patients with infectious diseases.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to examine associations of serum lactic dehydrogenase levels with mortality, target organ damage and length of hospital stay in adults with pulmonary and non-pulmonary infections.

Methods

This nationwide retrospective cohort study comprised patients admitted with infections, to medical and surgical departments in eight tertiary hospitals during 2001–2020. Patients with available serum lactic dehydrogenase levels on admission and one week after were included, and stratified by the source of their infection: pulmonary vs. non-pulmonary. Associations of lactic dehydrogenase levels with mortality and target organ damage were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression models. Quantile regression was used for multivariable analysis of the median length of stay.

Results

The study included 103,050 patients (45.4% male, median age: 69 years); 44,491 (43.1%) had pulmonary infections. The median serum lactic dehydrogenase levels on admission were higher in patients with pulmonary than non-pulmonary infections (418 vs. 385 units per liter (U/L), p<0.001). In a multivariable logistic regression model, elevated serum lactic dehydrogenase levels (480–700 U/L, 700–900 U/L and >900 U/L), compared with <480 U/L, were associated with in-hospital mortality (OR = 1.81, 2.85 and 3.69, respectively) and target organ damage (OR = 1.19, 1.51 and 1.80, respectively). The median stay increased with increasing elevated lactic dehydrogenase levels (+0.3, +0.5 and +0.4 days, respectively). Among patients with lactic dehydrogenase levels >900 U/L, mortality, but none of the other examined outcomes, was greater among those with pulmonary than non-pulmonary infections.

Conclusions

Among hospitalized patients with infectious diseases, lactic dehydrogenase levels were associated with mortality and target organ damage, and were similar in patients with pulmonary and non-pulmonary infections. Among patients with lactic dehydrogenase levels >900 U/L, mortality was prominently higher among those with pulmonary than non-pulmonary infections.
Consistently low levels of histidine-rich glycoprotein as a new prognostic biomarker for sepsis: A multicenter prospective observational study
Authors: Kawanoue Naoya , Kuroda Kosuke , Yasuda Hiroko , Oiwa Masahiko , Suzuki Satoshi , Wake Hidenori , Hosoi Hiroki , Nishibori Masahiro , Morimatsu Hiroshi ,   on behalf of the Okayama Research Investigation Organizing Network (ORION)
Published: March 2023

Background

Few sepsis biomarkers accurately predict severity and mortality. Previously, we had reported that first-day histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) levels were significantly lower in patients with sepsis and were associated with mortality. Since the time trends of HRG are unknown, this study focused on the time course of HRG in patients with sepsis and evaluated the differences between survivors and non-survivors.

Methods

A multicenter prospective observational study was conducted involving 200 patients with sepsis in 16 Japanese hospitals. Blood samples were collected on days 1, 3, 5, and 7, and 28-day mortality was used for survival analysis. Plasma HRG levels were determined using a modified quantitative sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

First-day HRG levels in non-survivors were significantly lower than those in survivors (mean, 15.7 [95% confidence interval (CI), 13.4–18.1] vs 20.7 [19.5–21.9] μg/mL; P = 0.006). Although there was no time × survivors/non-survivors interaction in the time courses of HRG (P = 0.34), the main effect of generalized linear mixed models was significant (P < 0.001). In a univariate Cox proportional hazards model with each variable as a time-dependent covariate, higher HRG levels were significantly associated with a lower risk of mortality (hazard ratio, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.78–0.92]; P < 0.001). Furthermore, presepsin levels (P = 0.02) and Sequential Organ Function Assessment scores (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with mortality. Harrell’s C-index values for the 28-day mortality effect of HRG, presepsin, procalcitonin, and C-reactive protein were 0.72, 0.70, 0.63, and 0.59, respectively.

Conclusions

HRG levels in non-survivors were consistently lower than those in survivors during the first seven days of sepsis. Repeatedly measured HRG levels were significantly associated with mortality. Furthermore, the predictive power of HRG for mortality may be superior to that of other singular biomarkers, including presepsin, procalcitonin, and C-reactive protein.
Astrocytes derived from neural progenitor cells are susceptible to Zika virus infection
Authors: Rubio-Hernández Edson Iván , Comas-García Mauricio , Coronado-Ipiña Miguel Angel , Colunga-Saucedo Mayra , González Sánchez Hilda Minerva , Castillo Claudia G.
Published: March 2023

Zika virus (ZIKV) was first isolated in 1947. From its isolation until 2007, symptoms of ZIKV-caused disease were limited (e.g., fever, hives, and headache); however, during the epidemic in Brazil in 2014, ZIKV infection caused Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults and microcephaly in fetuses and infants of women infected during pregnancy. The neurovirulence of ZIKV has been studied using neural progenitor cells (NPCs), brain organoids, neurons, and astrocytes. NPCs and astrocytes appear to be the most susceptible cells of the Central Nervous System to ZIKV infection. In this work, we aimed to develop a culture of astrocytes derived from a human NPC cell line. We analyze how ZIKV affects human astrocytes and demonstrate that 1) ZIKV infection reduces cell viability, increases the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), and results in high viral titers; 2) there are changes in the expression of genes that facilitate the entry of the virus into the cells; 3) there are changes in the expression of genes involved in the homeostasis of the glutamatergic system; and 4) there are ultrastructural changes in mitochondria and lipid droplets associated with production of virions. Our findings reveal new evidence of how ZIKV compromises astrocytic functionality, which may help understand the pathophysiology of ZIKV-associated congenital disease.
Association of cognitive function very early after stroke with subjective cognitive complaints after 3 months, a register-based study
Authors: Zanin Alice , Reinholdsson Malin , Abzhandadze Tamar
Published: March 2023

Objective

Cognitive deficits are commonly observed after stroke and have been associated with the cognitive decline and development of dementia in later stages. This study aimed to investigate whether cognition screened at acute stroke units could explain subjective cognitive complaints 3 months after stroke and evaluate how the severity of stroke and age could influence this association.

Methods

In this register-based longitudinal study, data were retrieved from three Swedish registers between November 2014 and June 2019. Information on subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) was collected from the Riksstroke 3-month follow-up form, which were used to analyze the primary outcomes. Cognitive function screened using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) at acute stroke units was expressed as the primary independent variable.

Results

Of the 1977 patients included in the study, 58% were males, the median age was 73 years, and 63% had a minor stroke. A total of 60% of patients had impaired cognition at acute stroke units (MoCA score, <26), of whom 40.3% reported at least 1 cognitive problem after 3 months. In adjusted binary regression analysis models, patients with normal cognitive function had lower odds for SCCs. This pattern was observed regardless of age and in patients with a minor stroke.

Conclusions

Intact cognition early after stroke was related to decreased odds of subjective cognitive complaints at the 3-month follow-up. This study highlights the importance of both early cognitive screening after stroke and subjective cognitive complaints, which have been shown to be associated with cognitive decline. Furthermore, we suggest the importance of discussing cognitive function with patients during regular follow-up in primary care, usually 3 months after stroke.
Distinctive serum lipidomic profile of IVIG-resistant Kawasaki disease children before and after treatment
Authors: Chen Zhen , Sai Shuji , Nagumo Kiyoshi , Wu Yue , Chiba Hitoshi , Hui Shu-Ping
Published: March 2023

Kawasaki Disease (KD) is an acute inflammatory disorder associated with systemic vasculitis. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is an effective therapy for KD, yet, about 20% of cases show IVIG resistance with persistent inflammation. The lipid profile in IVIG-resistant KD patients and the relationship between lipid characteristics and IVIG resistance remain unknown. In this study, serum samples from twenty KD patients with different IVIG responses (sensitive, intermediate, or resistant) were collected both before and after treatment, and lipidomic analysis was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. As a result, before treatment, six lipid species were found as the most variant features, in which all the top decreased lipids in the IVIG-resistant group were lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE), suggesting the potential to be IVIG-resistant markers in pretreatment diagnosis. During treatment, lipidomic changes showed a weaker response in the IVIG-resistant group. After treatment, LPC and LPE species exhibited lower in the IVIG-resistant group and negative correlation with the inflammatory markers, indicating that the unique metabolism may occur among IVIG-responsiveness. These results might contribute to diagnosing IVIG-resistant patients more accurately for alternative therapy and to a better understanding of how lipid metabolism is associated with IVIG sensitiveness/resistance in KD.
Axl contributes to efficient migration and invasion of melanoma cells
Authors: Shao Hanshuang , Teramae Diana , Wells Alan
Published: March 2023

Axl, a member of the TAM receptor family has been broadly suggested to play a key role in tumor metastasis. However, the function of Axl in the invasion and metastasis of melanoma, the most lethal skin cancer, remains largely unknown. In the present study, we found that melanoma cell lines present variable protein levels of Axl and Tyro3; interestingly, MerTK is not noted at detectable levels in any of tested MGP (metastatic growth phase) cell lines. Treatment with recombinant human Gas6 significantly activates Akt in the Axl-expressing WM852 and IgR3 lines but just slightly in WM1158. IgR3, WM852 and WM1158 demonstrate different autocrine signaling. Knockdown of Axl by siRNA or the treatment with Axl-specific inhibitor R428 dramatically inhibits the migration and invasion of both IgR3 and WM852 in vitro. These findings suggest that Axl enhances the invasion of melanoma cells.
Securing the Future? IDentity and Security among Migrants, Policymakers, and Tech Developers
Authors: Grünenberg Kristina , Simonsen Anja
Published: March 2023

As an attempt to ensure national security, there has been an increased use of biometric technologies in recent years. These involve a wide range of technologically mediated practices which format and digitalize bodily attributes such as fingerprints, iris and face, for the registration and verification of the identity of individuals. While biometrics are used in a wide range of settings and assume an increasingly important regulating role in society, their use is particularly salient in the tracking of movements and identification of migrants. Building on multi-sited ethnographic fieldwork, this article seeks to explore the importance of- and desire for security and its entanglement with the production of identities among Somali migrants, European Union policy makers and tech developers. We are particularly interested in the various ways in which what we call biometric “IDentities” are negotiated, as borders have become ubiquitous and extend into the far corners of society. In the article, we argue that the relationship between security and biometric technologies is important for both Somali migrants, tech developers and policy makers albeit in very different ways. The practices emerging from such entanglements are all informed by contextual and sociocultural understandings and negotiations of security and identity along multiple lines. Additionally, we argue that security plays a prominent role despite these actors’ very different positions in the biometric border world.
Modifying the American Dream: An Ethnography of Foreclosure Prevention in the Great Recession
Authors: Jefferson Anna , Perez Charlotte
Published: March 2023

The United States’ housing crisis and Great Recession of 2007-2009 ignited personal, political, and cultural reckoning with central facets of American identity, namely what it means to be middle class. Homeownership is historically a key symbol of having achieved the “American Dream” and entering an idealized middle class. As a cultural phenomenon, foreclosure is therefore a loaded symbol both of individual downward mobility and threats to a national myth of the American Dream. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Michigan in 2009-2011, this paper argues that the housing crisis created a liminal class status of “facing foreclosure”. From that vantage point, homeowners facing foreclosure and housing counselors assisting them critically re-examined the meanings of middle classness. The fieldwork reveals that they relied on material, moral, and political demands to obtain mortgage modifications to reassert their status as middle-class subjects. When these efforts failed, they turned to systemic critiques rather than the individualized blame the American Dream would predict.
De la disciplina al éxtasis: la evolución de la identidad corporativa en el discurso gerencial
Authors: Alonso Luis Enrique , Fernández Rodríguez Carlos Jesús
Published: March 2023

En las últimas décadas, se ha generado un importante debate sobre la fragmentación de las identidades en la sociedad contemporánea, con discusiones intensas sobre cuestiones como el individualismo, los roles de género o el regreso del nacionalismo. Sin embargo, en general se ha prestado menos atención a un espacio como es el de las organizaciones económicas y en particular la empresa, donde sin lugar a dudas también la cuestión de la identidad puede estar jugando un papel relevante. En este trabajo, nuestro objetivo va a ser el de discutir el fenómeno de la identidad corporativa, tomando cuenta su evolución histórica a lo largo de los últimos cien años (en los que se ha experimentado una creciente fragmentación de las identidades corporativas ante los relevantes cambios de las políticas gerenciales) y los análisis críticos que se han generado en torno a la misma, añadiendo unas conclusiones en las que se discute el impacto sociológico de estos cambios.
Obras de Ernesto da Silva, o apóstolo do socialismo - Tomo I: Textos literários. Páginas de crítica teatral e teoria estética (1893-1903)
Authors: García Beatriz Peralta
Published: March 2023

A obra de Ernesto da Silva está organizada em três volumes.&lt;br&gt;Tomo I. Textos literários. Páginas de crítica teatral e teoria estética (1893-1903). Contém a produção literária do autor: contos, textos dramáticos e peças de teatro que foram encenadas nos teatros de Lisboa nos fins do século XIX, junto com os artigos de crítica teatral e literária, e a tradução de um conto. O volume é complerado com os poemas escritos em honra do autor.&lt;br&gt;Tomo II. Artigos jornalísticos (1893-1903). Contém a produção jornalística do autor na imprensa socialista e republicana coeva. Oferece uma visão das preocupações e interesses dos socialistas nos fins do século XIX.&lt;br&gt;Tomo III. Escritos políticos, conferências e discursos (1893-1903). Contém a produção doutrinária de Ernesto da Silva, publicada na imprensa da época ou de forma avulsa em forma de opúsculos e panfletos. Completa-se com os discursos e as diversas intervenções nos órgãos partidários e nas associações de classe.
Obras de Ernesto da Silva, o apóstolo do socialismo - Tomo II: Artigos jornalísticos (1893-1903)
Authors: García Beatriz Peralta
Published: March 2023

A obra de Ernesto da Silva está organizada em três volumes.
Tomo I. Textos literários. Páginas de crítica teatral e teoria estética (1893-1903). Contém a produção literária do autor: contos, textos dramáticos e peças de teatro que foram encenadas nos teatros de Lisboa nos fins do século XIX, junto com os artigos de crítica teatral e literária, e a tradução de um conto. O volume é complerado com os poemas escritos em honra do autor.&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;Tomo II. Artigos jornalísticos (1893-1903). Contém a produção jornalística do autor na imprensa socialista e republicana coeva. Oferece uma visão das preocupações e interesses dos socialistas nos fins do século XIX.&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;Tomo III. Escritos políticos, conferências e discursos (1893-1903). Contém a produção doutrinária de Ernesto da Silva, publicada na imprensa da época ou de forma avulsa em forma de opúsculos e panfletos. Completa-se com os discursos e as diversas intervenções nos órgãos partidários e nas associações de classe.
Crohn's Disease–Associated Anorectal Cancer Has a Poor Prognosis With High Local Recurrence: A Subanalysis of the Nationwide Japanese Study
Authors: Ogino Takayuki , Mizushima Tsunekazu , Fujii Makoto , Sekido Yuki , Eguchi Hidetoshi , Nezu Riichiro , Ikeuchi Hiroki , Motoi Uchino , Futami Kitaro , Okamoto Kinya , Nagahara Hisashi , Watanabe Kazuhiro , Okabayashi Koji , Yamada Kazutaka , Ohge Hiroki , Tanaka Shinji , Mizuuchi Yusuke , Ohkita Yoshiki , Sato Yu , Ueno Hideki , Kono Toru , Itabashi Michio , Kimura Hideaki , Hida Koya , Kinugasa Yusuke , Takahashi Kenichi , Koyama Fumikazu , Hanai Tsunekazu , Maeda Kiyoshi , Noake Toshihiro , Shimada Yoshifumi , Yamamoto Takayuki , Arakaki Junya , Mastuda Keiji , Okuda Junji , Sunami Eiji , Akagi Yoshito , Kastumata Kenji , Uehara Kay , Yamada Takeshi , Sasaki Shin , Ishihara Soichiro , Ajioka Yoichi , Sugihara Kenichi ,   on behalf of the Study Group for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Associated Intestinal Cancers by the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum
Published: March 2023

INTRODUCTION:

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the major life-threatening complications in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Previous studies of CD-associated CRC (CD-CRC) have involved only small numbers of patients, and no large series have been reported from Asia. The aim of this study was to clarify the prognosis and clinicopathological features of CD-CRC compared with sporadic CRC.

METHODS:

A large nationwide database was used to identify patients with CD-CRC (n = 233) and sporadic CRC (n = 129,783) over a 40-year period, from 1980 to 2020. Five-year overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and clinicopathological characteristics were investigated. The prognosis of CD-CRC was further evaluated in groups divided by colon cancer and anorectal cancer (RC). Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to adjust for confounding by unbalanced covariables.

RESULTS:

Compared with sporadic cases, patients with CD-CRC were younger; more often had RC, multiple lesions, and mucinous adenocarcinoma; and had lower R0 resection rates. Five-year OS was worse for CD-CRC than for sporadic CRC (53.99% vs 71.17%, P < 0.001). Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that CD was associated with significantly poorer survival (hazard ratio 2.36, 95% confidence interval: 1.54–3.62, P < 0.0001). Evaluation by tumor location showed significantly worse 5-year OS and RFS of CD-RC compared with sporadic RC. Recurrence was identified in 39.57% of CD-RC cases and was mostly local.

DISCUSSION:

Poor prognosis of CD-CRC is attributable primarily to RC and high local recurrence. Local control is indispensable to improving prognosis.
Large Left Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm Presenting as an Embolic Stroke After a “Silent” Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Incognito Cameron , Parker Joshua , Arustamyan Michael , Matta Milad , Posadas Kristine , Lee Ran
Published: March 2023

A 72-year-old woman with no history of coronary artery disease presented with an acute left middle cerebral artery stroke and was found to have a large left ventricular pseudoaneurysm measuring 8.7 × 7.6 cm and 2 large left ventricular thrombi, the source of her systemic embolization. Despite initial medical management, she developed refractory New York Heart Association functional class III heart failure, uncontrolled atrial fibrillation, and further enlargement of her pseudoaneurysm to 5.5 × 10.6 × 9.2 cm. She underwent urgent aneurysmectomy. Left ventricular pseudoaneurysms are rare and most commonly occur following an acute myocardial infarction when a ventricular free-wall rupture is contained by pericardium or thrombi. Historically, left ventricular angiography displaying a lack of an overlying coronary artery was the gold standard for diagnosis. Now, noninvasive imaging such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and echocardiogram with ultrasound-enhancing agent, are reliable diagnostic tools. They can distinguish a pseudoaneurysm from a true left ventricular aneurysm using characteristic findings such as a narrow aneurysm neck, bidirectional doppler flow between the pseudoaneurysm and the left ventricle, and abrupt changes in the cardiac wall structures. Progressive dilation, wall thinning, and dyskinesis can result in refractory heart failure, arrhythmias, and thrombi formation from venous stasis. Pseudoaneurysms have a 30% to 45% risk of rupture and can be treated with left ventricular aneurysmectomy.
Effects of magnesium deficiency on stress manifestations in women of reproductive age with nonspecific vaginitis
Authors: Riazanova O. D. , Reznichenko Н. I.
Published: March 2023

Nonspecific vaginitis is one of the most common problems in women of reproductive age, which ranks first in the structure of gynecological diseases and tends to increase. It is known that one of the causes of nonspecific vaginitis is the chronic stress influence on a woman’s body. At the same time, not only the hormonal system changes, but there is also a deficiency of trace elements, especially magnesium.
Aim. To study the effect of magnesium preparations on the clinical manifestations of stress in the complex treatment of nonspecific vaginitis in women of reproductive age.
Materials and methods. 160 women were examined, who were divided into 2 clinical groups with subgroups: the main group – 94 (58.8 %) patients with nonspecific vaginitis, who received treatment according to developed clinical diagnostic algorithms and schemes. The comparison group included 66 (41.2 %) patients with nonspecific vaginitis, who received treatment according to known protocols. In the process of examining groups, the following methods of examination were used: general (collection of complaints and anamnesis, gynecological examination, assessment of microscopy of vaginal smears according to the Amsel, Nugent and Donders criteria), laboratory (serum levels of adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol, magnesium), questioning, statistical.
Results. The use of magnesium preparation according to the scheme in the main group significantly reduced the symptoms of anxiety and depression, normalized the blood magnesium level in contrast to the comparison group (Р < 0.05).
Conclusions. In women of reproductive age, suffering from nonspecific vaginitis, who are constantly under the influence of stress factors, a deterioration in the psycho-emotional state is determined in the form of anxiety and depression of varying severity, as evidenced by the results of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). In addition, in such women, there is an increase in the levels of stress hormones (adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol), a decrease in the blood magnesium level in contrast to the indicators in healthy individuals. The use of magnesium preparation according to the scheme in the complex treatment of nonspecific vaginitis in women of reproductive age with chronic stress normalizes the blood magnesium levels, significantly improves the psycho-emotional state, reduces the symptoms of anxiety and depression and significantly improves the direct results of treatment.