bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diurnal control of iron responsive element containing mRNAs through iron regulatory proteins IRP1 and IRP2 is mediated by feeding rhythms
Authors: Nadimpalli Hima Priyanka , Katsioudi Georgia , Arpa Enes Salih , Chikhaoui Lies , Arpat Alaaddin Bulak , Liechti Angelica , Palais Gaël , Tessmer Claudia , Hofmann Ilse , Galy Bruno , Gatfield David
Published: October 2023

Background

Cellular iron homeostasis is regulated by iron regulatory proteins (IRP1 and IRP2) that sense iron levels (and other metabolic cues) and modulate mRNA translation or stability via interaction with iron regulatory elements (IREs). IRP2 is viewed as the primary regulator in liver, yet our previous datasets showing diurnal rhythms for certain IRE-containing mRNAs suggest a nuanced temporal control mechanism. The purpose of this study is to gain insights into the daily regulatory dynamics across IRE-bearing mRNAs, specific IRP involvement, and underlying systemic and cellular rhythmicity cues in mouse liver.

Results

We uncover high-amplitude diurnal oscillations in the regulation of key IRE containing transcripts in liver, compatible with maximal IRP activity at the onset of the dark phase. Although IRP2 protein levels also exhibit some diurnal variations and peak at the light-dark transition, ribosome profiling in IRP2-deficient mice reveals that maximal repression of target mRNAs at this time-point still occurs. We further find that diurnal regulation of IRE-containing mRNAs can continue in the absence of a functional circadian clock as long as feeding is rhythmic.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest temporally controlled redundancy in IRP activities, with IRP2 mediating regulation of IRE-containing transcripts in the light phase and redundancy, conceivably with IRP1, at dark onset. Moreover, we highlight the significance of feeding-associated signals in driving rhythmicity. Our work highlights the dynamic nature and regulatory complexity in a metabolic pathway that had previously been considered well-understood.
Host tracheal and intestinal microbiomes inhibitCoccidioidesgrowthin vitro
Authors: Tejeda-Garibay Susana , Zhao Lihong , Hum Nicholas R. , Pimentel Maria , Diep Anh L. , Amiri Beheshta , Sindi Suzanne S. , Weilhammer Dina R. , Loots Gabriela G. , Hoyer Katrina K.
Published: October 2023

Coccidioidomycosis, also known as Valley fever, is a disease caused by the fungal pathogenCoccidioides. Unfortunately, patients are often misdiagnosed with bacterial pneumonia leading to inappropriate antibiotic treatment. Soil bacteriaB. subtilis-like species exhibits antagonistic properties againstCoccidioides in vitro; however, the antagonistic capabilities of host microbiota againstCoccidioidesare unexplored. We sought to examine the potential of the tracheal and intestinal microbiomes to inhibit the growth ofCoccidioides in vitro. We hypothesized that an uninterrupted lawn of microbiota obtained from antibiotic-free mice would inhibit the growth ofCoccidioideswhile partialin vitrodepletion through antibiotic disk diffusion assays would allow a niche for fungal growth. We observed that the microbiota grown on 2xGYE (GYE) and CNA w/ 5% sheep’s blood agar (5%SB-CNA) inhibited the growth ofCoccidioides, but that grown on chocolate agar does not. Partial depletion of the microbiota through antibiotic disk diffusion revealed that microbiota depletion leads to diminished inhibition and comparable growth ofCoccidioidesgrowth to controls. To characterize the bacteria grown and narrow down potential candidates contributing to the inhibition ofCoccidioides, 16s rRNA sequencing of tracheal and intestinal agar cultures and murine lung extracts was performed. The identity of host bacteria that may be responsible for this inhibition was revealed. The results of this study demonstrate the potential of the host microbiota to inhibit the growth ofCoccidioides in vitroand suggest that an altered microbiome through antibiotic treatment could negatively impact effective fungal clearance and allow a niche for fungal growthin vivo.

Importance

Coccidioidomycosis is caused by a fungal pathogen that invades host lungs, causing respiratory distress. In 2019, 20,003 cases of Valley fever were reported to the CDC. However, this number likely vastly underrepresents the true number of Valley fever cases as many go undetected due to poor testing strategies and lack of diagnostic models. Valley fever is also often misdiagnosed as bacterial pneumonia, resulting in 60-80% of patients being treated with antibiotics prior to accurate diagnosis. Misdiagnosis contributes to a growing problem of antibiotic resistance and antibiotic induced microbiome dysbiosis, and the implications on disease outcome are currently unknown. 5%-10% of symptomatic Valley fever patients develop disseminated and/or chronic disease. Valley fever causes a significant financial burden and reduced quality of life. Little is known regarding what factors contribute to the development of chronic infection and treatments for disease are limited.
Wearable real-time multi-health parameter monitoring system
Authors: Qin WenFeng , Xue Yunsheng , Peng Hao , Li Gang , Chen Wang , Zhao Xin , Pang Jie , Zhou Bin
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to design a wearable medical device as a human care platform and to introduce the design details, key technologies and practical implementation methods of the system.

Design/methodology/approach

A multi-channel data acquisition scheme based on PCI-E (rapid interconnection of peripheral components) was proposed. The flexible biosensor is integrated with the flexible data acquisition card with monitoring capability, and the embedded (device that can operate independently) chip STM32F103VET6 is used to realize the simultaneous processing of multi-channel human health parameters. The human health parameters were transferred to the upper computer LabVIEW by intelligent clothing through USB or wireless Bluetooth to complete the transmission and processing of clinical data, which facilitates the analysis of medical data.

Findings

The smart clothing provides a mobile medical cloud platform for wearable medical through cloud computing, which can continuously monitor the body's wrist movement, body temperature and perspiration for 24 h. The result shows that each channel is completely accurate to the top computer display, which can meet the expected requirements, and the wearable instant care system can be applied to healthcare.

Originality/value

The smart clothing in this study is based on the monitoring and diagnosis of textiles, and the electronic communication devices can cooperate and interact to form a wearable textile system that provides medical monitoring and prevention services to individuals in the fastest and most accurate way. Each channel of the system is precisely matched to the display screen of the host computer and meets the expected requirements. As a real-time human health protection platform technology, continuous monitoring of human vital signs can complete the application of human motion detection, medical health monitoring and human–computer interaction. Ultimately, such an intelligent garment will become an integral part of our everyday clothing.
Do retail and institutional investors react differently to earnings management? Evidence from Indian IPOs
Authors: Priyesh V.P. , Jijo Lukose P.J.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study investigates the impact of pre-IPO earnings management on investor demand in the Indian IPO market. It also examines whether earnings management by issuer firms affects IPO valuation, a topic that is underexplored in accounting research.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses the data of 310 IPOs from India during the period 2000–2021. The association between pre-IPO earnings management with investor demand and valuation is tested using cross-sectional ordinary least squares regression models with heteroscedasticity-robust standard errors.

Findings

The study finds that the degree of pre-IPO earnings management impacts retail investor demand, measured as their over-subscription multiple. Pre-IPO earnings management is unrelated to institutional investor bidding. Further, this paper suggests no relation between pre-IPO earnings management and IPO valuation.

Research limitations/implications

Future studies could explore various other forms of earnings management and their impact on investor demand and valuation.

Practical implications

The findings of this study will help the investors and regulators to understand the practice of earnings management among IPO firms and how it is related to IPO demand and valuation.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the existing literature on IPO-earnings management and investor demand by documenting that issuer firms engage in earnings management to influence investor demand, particularly retail investor demand. Analysis of IPO valuation reveals that earnings management is mostly unrelated to IPO valuation, contrary to the general perception in the literature.
What sorts of public value are Thai public business schools aiming to realise?
Authors: Koowattanatianchai Nattawoot , Charles Michael B. , Kortt Michael A.
Published: October 2023

This study examines the types of public value that Thai public business schools aim to realise. The study draws on publicly available data relating to the mission statements of these schools and follows a recognised research approach for analysing data from mission statements. It also compared these results to those found in Thai private universities, as well as in Australian universities, where a similar study has recently been undertaken. Our results indicate that there are currently four distinct types of public business schools in Thailand based on their public value propositions: Society‐oriented Schools, Graduate‐producing Schools, Socially‐responsible Leadership Schools, and Internationally‐oriented Schools. While the first two concentrate on creating value for Thai society and businesses, the latter two concentrate on more holistic outcomes, have less of a Thailand‐centric focus, and are more likely to be members of international accreditation bodies. An analysis of the private schools provided broadly similar outcomes, likely because both public and private universities are subjected to the same political and cultural expectations. In an increasingly competitive business education market, some Thai public business schools may shift from simply supplying graduates to Thai businesses to embracing more globally relevant public value propositions, especially if they wish to pursue international accreditation. A greater emphasis on engagement and working with professional bodies will also likely be essential.
Emergency department presentations for chest complaints after mRNA COVID‐19 vaccinations in children and adolescents
Authors: Parr Mandy , Wilson Catherine L , Jones Bryn , Crawford Nigel W , Ferguson Steven , Ramesh Sailavan , Eapen Nitaa , Craig Simon , Hearps Stephen , Babl Franz E ,   Paediatric Research in Emergency Departments International Collaborative (PREDICT) Research Network
Published: October 2023

Objective

To investigate characteristics and management of children presenting with chest complaints to a tertiary paediatric ED post‐mRNA COVID‐19 vaccine.

Methods

This was a retrospective medical record review with data linkage to the Australian Immunisation Register. The study setting was the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. Children <18 years who had a troponin blood test performed in hospital within 14 days of receiving mRNA COVID‐19 vaccination were included. Elevated troponin and myocarditis or pericarditis as per Brighton criteria was the primary outcome. Vaccination status, length of stay, investigations and clinical management were secondary outcomes.

Results

Six hundred and ten patients had a troponin test in 13 months. After exclusion of trauma‐related tests (n = 31), known cardiac patients (n = 75) and others (n = 145), 359 troponins were obtained due to chest complaints and related symptoms, with 283 troponins assessed to be mRNA vaccination‐related. There was a temporal peak in presentations with a 30‐fold monthly increase in troponin post‐commencement of mRNA COVID‐19 vaccines. In those with chest complaints following mRNA vaccination, mean age was 14 years and 50.4% were female. Fourteen out of 283 (5%) vaccine‐related troponins were abnormal with 14 patients assessed to have vaccine‐associated myocarditis. No patients had pericarditis.

Conclusions

There was a large number of possible mRNA COVID‐19 vaccine‐related chest complaints presenting to the ED. Few patients had abnormal troponins or myocarditis.
Impact of COVID‐19 on sperm quality and the prostaglandin and polyamine systems in the seminal fluid
Authors: Matzkin María Eugenia , Beguerie Celina , De Zuñiga Ignacio , Martinez Gustavo , Frungieri Mónica Beatriz
Published: October 2023

Background

The implications of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection on male fertility remain largely unknown. Besides their well‐known pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory actions, prostaglandins and polyamines are present in semen, where they play key roles in sperm quality.

Objectives

To analyze semen parameters, oxidative profile and the seminal fluid prostaglandin and polyamine systems in samples collected from individuals without coronavirus disease 2019 diagnosis and men who recovered from coronavirus disease 2019.

Materials and methods

This study compared semen collected from men without positive coronavirus disease 2019 diagnosis with samples obtained from individuals 1–6 months and 7–30 months post SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Semen parameters, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, cyclooxygenase 2 expression by fluorescence immunocytochemistry and immunoblotting, prostaglandin levels by enzyme immunoassay, ornithine decarboxylase activity by a radioactive assay, and polyamine and acetylated polyamine levels by thin‐layer chromatography were assessed.

Results

In both groups of semen samples from coronavirus disease 2019 recovered men, sperm vitality, total and progressive sperm motility, and putrescine levels were significantly decreased when compared with samples from the uninfected group. In contrast, lipid peroxidation, leukocyte‐associated cyclooxygenase 2 expression, and prostaglandin D2 levels were higher in semen from coronavirus disease 2019 recovered men than in samples from uninfected individuals. While sperm concentration and morphology, ornithine decarboxylase activity, and N‐acetylputrescine levels were statistically diminished in semen obtained up to 6 months after coronavirus disease 2019 recovery, these parameters remained unchanged when samples were collected 7–30 months after coronavirus disease 2019 recovery. Coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination did not show negative effects on any of the parameters evaluated.

Discussion and conclusion

Our work provides insights into the detrimental impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on several sperm parameters, in some cases, even more than a year after SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, which would be accompanied by alterations in the seminal fluid prostaglandin and polyamine profiles. Therefore, future treatments targeting the prostaglandin and polyamine pathways in coronavirus disease 2019 recovered men could lead to a successful reinstatement of semen parameters.
Composition and affinities of glass from the Ma'agan Mikhael B shipwreck, Israel
Authors: Benzonelli Agnese , Natan Eyal , Gorin‐Rosen Yael , Freestone Ian C.
Published: October 2023

Material recovered from the Ma'agan Mikhael B shipwreck, off the coast of northern Israel, includes a significant assemblage of glass, which appears to represent waste workshop material (cullet) collected for recycling. Twenty‐three samples were selected for analysis for major and minor elements using SEM‐EDS, to provide insight into the activities and dating of the ship. The glass corresponds to known primary glass types, comprising a high‐ and a low‐lime subgroup of Levantine 1 (Apollonia type), and Egypt 1b. The assemblage is likely to date to the early part of the eighth century CE and, in conjunction with the radiocarbon dating of the ship, gives a possible date range for the wreck of 710–740 C.E. All groups contain glass‐working waste, glass chunks, and vessel fragments, and the majority are likely to have been collected from one or more workshops. It is unclear whether this cargo represents the byproducts of several campaigns of a single workshop which used different consignments of raw glass, or material from different workshops, collected at different ports of call.
Love thy (Ukrainian) neighbour: Willingness to help refugees depends on their origin and is mediated by perceptions of similarity and threat
Authors: Sinclair Samantha , Granberg Mark , Nilsson Towe
Published: October 2023

Prejudice and discrimination against minorities can be a powerful tool for populistic and reactionary political movements, and it is therefore crucial to study its determinants. The aim of this research is to develop the understanding of a possible mechanism of such discrimination: cultural distance. In a pre‐registered survey experiment with a between‐subjects design, we draw on the large increase in intra‐European refugee migration from Ukraine, to test whether refugees from another ongoing conflict in (culturally distant) Yemen are treated differently than (culturally similar) Ukrainian refugees by British participants (N = 1545). We measured stated willingness to help and to hire refugees. Moreover, the participants were offered the chance to donate their own earnings from survey participation to real charity drives aimed at the respective refugee groups. Thus, we are able to examine both stated and actual helping behaviours that captured both autonomy‐ and dependency‐oriented forms of helping. As expected, participants were more willing to help, hire and donate money to Ukrainian refugees, and these effects were mediated by higher perceived similarity and lower perceived threat from Ukrainians compared with Yemenis.
Quantitative prediction of CYP3A‐mediated drug–drug interactions by correctly estimating fraction metabolized using human liver chimeric mice
Authors: Miyake Taiji , Mochizuki Tatsuki , Nakagawa Toshito , Nakamura Mikiko , Emoto Chie , Komiyama Natsuko , Hirabayashi Manabu , Tsuruta Satoshi , Shimojo Tomofumi , Terao Kimio , Tachibana Tatsuhiko
Published: October 2023

Background and Purpose

Fraction metabolized (fm) and fraction transported (ft) are important for understanding drug–drug interactions (DDIs) in drug discovery and development. However, current in vitro systems cannot accurately estimate in vivo fm due to inability to reflect the ft by efflux transporters (ft,efflux). This study demonstrates how CYP3A‐mediated DDI for CYP3A/P‐gp substrates can be predicted using Hu‐PXB mice as human liver chimeric mice.

Experimental Approach

For estimating human in vitro fm by CYP3A enzyme (fm,CYP3A,in vitro), six drugs, including CYP3A/P‐gp substrates (alprazolam, cyclosporine, docetaxel, midazolam, prednisolone, and theophylline) and human hepatocytes were incubated with or without ketoconazole as a CYP3A inhibitor. We calculated fm,CYP3A,in vitro based on hepatic intrinsic clearance. To estimate human in vivo fm,CYP3A (fm,CYP3A,in vivo), we collected information on clinical DDI caused by ketoconazole for these six drugs. We calculated fm,CYP3A,in vivo using the change of total clearance (CLtotal). For evaluating the human DDI predictability, the six drugs were administered intravenously to Hu‐PXB and SCID mice with or without ketoconazole. We calculated the change of CLtotal caused by ketoconazole. We compared the CLtotal change in humans with that in Hu‐PXB and SCID mice.

Key Results

The fm,CYP3A,in vitro was overestimated compared to the fm,CYP3A,in vivo. Hu‐PXB mice showed much better correlation in the change of CLtotal with humans (R2 = 0.95) compared to SCID mice (R2 = 0.0058).

Conclusions and Implications

CYP3A‐mediated DDI can be predicted by correctly estimating human fm,CYP3A,in vivo using Hu‐PXB mice. These mice could be useful predicting hepatic fm and ft,efflux.
Supersulfide biology and translational medicine for disease control
Authors: Barayeu Uladzimir , Sawa Tomohiro , Nishida Motohiro , Wei Fan‐Yan , Motohashi Hozumi , Akaike Takaaki
Published: October 2023

For decades, the major focus of redox biology has been oxygen, the most abundant element on Earth. Molecular oxygen functions as the final electron acceptor in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, contributing to energy production in aerobic organisms. In addition, oxygen‐derived reactive oxygen species including hydrogen peroxide and nitrogen free radicals, such as superoxide, hydroxyl radical and nitric oxide radical, undergo a complicated sequence of electron transfer reactions with other biomolecules, which lead to their modified physiological functions and diverse biological and pathophysiological consequences (e.g. oxidative stress). What is now evident is that oxygen accounts for only a small number of redox reactions in organisms and knowledge of biological redox reactions is still quite limited. This article reviews a new aspects of redox biology which is governed by redox‐active sulfur‐containing molecules—supersulfides. We define the term ‘supersulfides’ as sulfur species with catenated sulfur atoms. Supersulfides were determined to be abundant in all organisms, but their redox biological properties have remained largely unexplored. In fact, the unique chemical properties of supersulfides permit them to be readily ionized or radicalized, thereby allowing supersulfides to actively participate in redox reactions and antioxidant responses in cells. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that supersulfides are indispensable for fundamental biological processes such as energy production, nucleic acid metabolism, protein translation and others. Moreover, manipulation of supersulfide levels was beneficial for pathogenesis of various diseases. Thus, supersulfide biology has opened a new era of disease control that includes potential applications to clinical diagnosis, prevention and therapeutics of diseases.
Exploring antiproliferative activities and kinase profile of ortho‐substituted N‐(4‐(2‐(benzylamino)‐2‐oxoethyl)phenyl)benzamides
Authors: Muhammad Yosra A. , Omar Abdelsattar M. , Ahmed Farid , Khayat Maan T. , Malebari Azizah M. , Ibrahim Sara M. , Mass Shaza A. , Elfaky Mahmoud A. , El‐Araby Moustafa E.
Published: October 2023

Designing kinase inhibitors that bind to the substrate site of oncogenic kinases in a promising, albeit less explored, approach to kinase inhibition as it was sought to avoid the issue of untoward off‐target modulations. Our previously identified compound KAC‐12 with a meta‐chlorophenyl substitution was an example of this approach. While it showed confirmed inhibitory activity against cancer cells, this substitution shifted the profile of affected targets away from Src/tubulin which were seen with the parent KX‐01. In this paper, we synthesized compounds with ortho‐substitutions, and we investigated the effect of such substitutions on their cellular and subcellular activities. The compound N‐(4‐(2‐(benzylamino)‐2‐oxoethyl)phenyl)‐2‐(morpholine‐4‐carbonyl)benzamide (4) exhibited substantial activities against cell lines such HCT116 (IC50 of 0.97 μM) and IC50 HL60 (2.84 μM). Kinase profiling showed that compound 4 trended consistently with KAC‐12 as it did not affect Src, but it had more impact on members of the Src family of kinases (SFK) such as Yes, Hck, Fyn, Lck, and Lyn. Both compounds exhibited profound downregulation effects on Erk1/2 but differed on others such as GSK3α/β and C‐Jun. Collectively, this study further support to the hypothesis that small structural changes might bring higher changes in their kinome profile.
Effect of physical exercise in real‐world settings on executive function of atypical children: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Shi Peng , Zhang Ziyun , Feng Xiaosu , Li Chenyang , Tang Yan
Published: October 2023

Background

Impaired executive function is a core symptom of cognitive impairment in atypical children. The purpose of this systematic review and meta‐analysis is to explore the effectiveness of interventions for exercise in real‐life settings on executive function in atypical children.

Methods

This study searched the CNKI, Wan‐Fang, VIP, WOS, PubMed, Scopus and EBSCO databases. Two researchers independently selected articles, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias for the included studies. Exercise activities were categorized into open and closed skills based on the unpredictability of the environmental context and into sequential and continuous skills based on the complexity of the movement structure. Based on these two classifications, motor skills were categorized into open‐sequential (e.g. basketball), open‐continuous (e.g. obstacle running), closed‐sequential (e.g. martial arts) and closed‐continuous (e.g. swimming) skills. The SPSS 25.0 and Stata 16.0 software were used for statistical analysis.

Results

A total of 19 articles (23 studies) were included in the systematic review and meta‐analysis. The participants were 990 atypical children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Physical exercise in real‐world settings had significant intervention effects on inhibitory control (SMD = −0.592, P = 0.033), working memory (SMD = −0.473, P = 0.034) and cognitive flexibility (SMD = −0.793, P = 0.014) in atypical children. Quantitative intervention characteristics and motor skill types moderated the effect of exercise on promoting executive function in atypical children. Overall, exercise for 30–50 min, three to seven times a week for less than 10 weeks is effective in improving executive function in atypical children. Open skills and sequential skills have a positive intervention effect on more dimensions of executive function in atypical children.

Conclusions

Physical exercise in real‐world settings has a positive intervention effect on executive function in atypical children. We should design interventions based on the personality traits of the subject and the type of exercise they are interested in to better promote improved executive function in atypical children.
Cultural heterogeneity, family dysfunction and inadequate school support: Ethnic disparities in bullying victimization within China's multiethnic regions
Authors: Wan Guowei , Zhang Linxiao , Deng Chen
Published: October 2023

Few studies have discussed ethnic disparities in school bullying victimization within developing countries. Based on an empirical survey of 1763 children in the Tibetan, Hui and Miao regions in China, this study reached two findings: First, there are significant ethnic disparities in bullying victimization within China's multiethnic regions, where a balanced representation of different cultures can contribute to reducing the risk of victimization. Second, the bullying victimization of different ethnicities is associated with microsystem factors, including the ethnic composition of a school, family dysfunction and children's aggressive behaviour, which displays more homogeneity than heterogeneity.
A systematic review of female sexual function after surgery for locally advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer – first step to filling the knowledge gap
Authors: Platteau Elke , Denys Andreas , Buncamper Marlon , van Ramshorst Gabrielle H.
Published: October 2023

Aim

Locally advanced and recurrent colorectal cancer can require extended surgery, including reconstruction of the vagina. This complex surgery carries high morbidity. The aim of this study was to analyse the impact on female sexual functioning of pelvic exenteration (PE), with or without vaginal flap reconstruction, for locally advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer.

Method

The protocol with search strategies for PubMed (Medline), EMBASE and the Cochrane Library was registered in PROSPERO. Studies published from 2000 onwards meeting the inclusion criteria were considered. Study selection (Rayyan), data extraction, rating of evidence (GRADE) and risk of bias (ROBINS‐I) were conducted independently by two reviewers.

Results

Six of 2479 identified records were included: four retrospective and two cross‐sectional studies. Of all 860 patients included, PE was performed in 314 patients. Seven hundred and thirty‐two had rectal cancer (85.1%), 80 nonadvanced rectal cancer (10.9%), 393 locally advanced rectal cancer (53.7%) and 217 locally recurrent rectal cancer (29.6%); for 45 patients the type of rectal cancer remained unspecified (6.1%). Three studies reported on both preoperative and postoperative female sexual activity. Of the 153 women who were sexually active preoperatively, 64 (41.8%) reported postoperative sexual activity. The VRAM flap was used the most frequently and resulted in a sexual activity ratio of 18% postoperatively. Four studies, using six different validated questionnaires, reported mostly lowered sexual functioning postoperatively.

Conclusion

Most studies showed that PE can result in severe sexual dysfunction despite reconstruction. Future prospective studies can fill the current knowledge gap by assessing long‐term sexual outcomes in women.
Potential biomarkers for fatal outcome prognosis in a cohort of hospitalized COVID‐19 patients with pre‐existing comorbidities
Authors: Madera‐Sandoval Ruth Lizzeth , Cérbulo‐Vázquez Arturo , Arriaga‐Pizano Lourdes Andrea , Cabrera‐Rivera Graciela Libier , Basilio‐Gálvez Edna , Miranda‐Cruz Patricia Esther , García de la Rosa María Teresa , Prieto‐Chávez Jessica Lashkmin , Rivero‐Arredondo Silvia Vanessa , Cruz‐Cruz Alonso , Rodríguez‐Hernández Daniela , Salazar‐Ríos María Eugenia , Salazar‐Ríos Enrique , Serrano‐Molina Esli David , De Lira‐Barraza Roberto Carlos , Villanueva‐Compean Abel Humberto , Esquivel‐Pineda Alejandra , Ramírez‐Montes de Oca Rubén , Unzueta‐Marta Omar , Flores‐Padilla Guillermo , Anda‐Garay Juan Carlos , Sánchez‐Hurtado Luis Alejandro , Calleja‐Alarcón Salvador , Romero‐Gutiérrez Laura , Torres‐Rosas Rafael , Bonifaz Laura C. , Pelayo Rosana , Márquez‐Márquez Edna , López‐Macías Constantino I. I. I. Roberto , Ferat‐Osorio Eduardo
Published: October 2023

The difficulty in predicting fatal outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) impacts the general morbidity and mortality due to severe acute respiratory syndrome‐coronavirus 2 infection, as it wears out the hospital services that care for these patients. Unfortunately, in several of the candidates for prognostic biomarkers proposed, the predictive power is compromised when patients have pre‐existing comorbidities. A cohort of 147 patients hospitalized for severe COVID‐19 was included in a descriptive, observational, single‐center, and prospective study. Patients were recruited during the first COVID‐19 pandemic wave (April–November 2020). Data were collected from the clinical history whereas immunophenotyping by multiparameter flow cytometry analysis allowed us to assess the expression of surface markers on peripheral leucocyte. Patients were grouped according to the outcome in survivors or non‐survivors. The prognostic value of leucocyte, cytokines or HLA‐DR, CD39, and CD73 was calculated. Hypertension and chronic renal failure but not obesity and diabetes were conditions more frequent among the deceased patient group. Mixed hypercytokinemia, including inflammatory (IL‐6) and anti‐inflammatory (IL‐10) cytokines, was more evident in deceased patients. In the deceased patient group, lymphopenia with a higher neutrophil‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) value was present. HLA‐DR expression and the percentage of CD39+ cells were higher than non‐COVID‐19 patients but remained similar despite the outcome. Receiver operating characteristic analysis and cutoff value of NLR (69.6%, 9.4), percentage NLR (pNLR; 71.1%, 13.6), and IL‐6 (79.7%, 135.2 pg/mL). The expression of HLA‐DR, CD39, and CD73, as many serum cytokines (other than IL‐6) and chemokines levels do not show prognostic potential, were compared to NLR and pNLR values.
Combined fine needle aspiration cytology and core needle biopsy in the same setting: A two‐years’ experience
Authors: Ciliberti Valeria , Maffei Elisabetta , D'Ardia Angela , Sabbatino Francesco , Serio Bianca , D'Antonio Antonio , Zeppa Pio , Caputo Alessandro
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) combined with rapid on‐site evaluation (ROSE) and ancillary techniques is an accurate diagnostic tool for many pathologies. However, in some cases, it may not be sufficient for actionable diagnoses or molecular testing, especially for cases that require large immunohistochemical panels or cases in which histological features are mandatory for the diagnosis. Core needle biopsy (CNB), on the contrary, provides samples that are suitable for histological features and sufficient for all ancillary studies. However, CNB is often performed by radiologists or clinicians without the direct participation of cytopathologists, which can lead to missed or delayed diagnoses. This study reports on the experience of combining FNAC and CNB performed in one setting by cytopathologists. The aim was to evaluate the impact of CNB on FNAC and the diagnostic efficiency of the combined procedures.

Materials and Methods

One hundred forty‐two FNAC and CNB procedures performed in the same setting over a period of 2 years were analysed. The FNAC diagnoses were compared and integrated with the subsequent CNB diagnoses. The impact of CNB was categorized as follows: non‐contributory, in cases of inadequate samples; confirmed, when the CNB and FNAC diagnoses were the same; improved, when the CNB diagnosis was consistent with the FNAC diagnosis and further specified the corresponding entity; allowed, when CNB produced a diagnosis that could not be reached by FNAC; changed, when the CNB changed the previous FNAC diagnosis.

Results

CNB confirmed the FNAC diagnosis in 40.1% of cases (n = 57/142). CNB improved the FNAC diagnosis in 47.2% of cases (n = 67/142). CNB allowed a diagnosis that could not be performed on FNAC in 2.1% of cases (n = 3/142). CNB changed a previous FNAC diagnosis in 2.1% of cases (n = 3/142). CNB was non‐contributory in 8.4% of cases (n = 12/142). CNB produced a positive impact on the whole diagnostic procedure in 51.4% of total cases (n = 73/142). The combined FNAC and CNB resulted in actionable diagnoses in 91.5% of all cases (n = 130/142). A complete molecular assessment was successfully performed in 14.7% of cases (n = 21/142) utilizing either FNAC or CNB material.

Conclusions

The combined use of FNAC and CNB in one setting improves the diagnostic accuracy of both procedures. This approach exploits the advantages of each procedure, enhancing the accuracy of the final diagnosis.
Medicolegal aspects of domestic violence against children
Authors: Maimon‐Blau Inbal
Published: October 2023

The routine of the dental profession exposes dentists not only to medical challenges but also to ethical and legal ones. Compared to other physicians, dentists are more likely to encounter children who are victims of domestic violence. This reality exposes them to legal liability due to the reporting obligations and the risk of misdiagnosing injuries. This paper aims to examine the importance of dentists in diagnosing injuries to children caused by domestic violence and the inherent dangers of failing to make such a diagnosis.
Climate dependence of the macrofaunal effect on litter decomposition—A global meta‐regression analysis
Authors: Sagi Nevo , Hawlena Dror
Published: October 2023

Litter decomposition by microorganisms and animals is influenced by climate and has been found to be higher in warm and wet than in cold and dry biomes. We, however, hypothesized that the macrofaunal effect on decomposition should increase with temperature and aridity since larger animals are more tolerant to aridity than smaller organisms. This hypothesis was supported by our global analysis of macrofauna exclusion studies. Macrofauna increased litter mass loss on average by 40%, twofold higher than the highest previous estimation of macrofaunal effect on decomposition. The strongest effect was found in subtropical deserts where faunal decomposition had not been considered important. Our results highlight the need to consider animal size when exploring climate dependence of faunal decomposition, and the disproportionately large role of macrofauna in regulating litter decomposition in warm drylands. This new realization is critical for understanding element cycling in the face of global warming and aridification.
Nature and nurture: Comparing mouse behavior in classic versus revised anxiety‐like and social behavioral assays in genetically or environmentally defined groups
Authors: Ronquillo Janet , Nguyen Michael T. , Rothi Linnea Y. , Bui‐Tu Trung‐Dan , Yang Jocelyn , Halladay Lindsay R.
Published: October 2023

Widely used rodent anxiety assays like the elevated plus maze (EPM) and the open field test (OFT) are conflated with rodents' natural preference for dark over light environments or protected over open spaces. The EPM and OFT have been used for decades but are often criticized by behavioral scientists. Years ago, two revised anxiety assays were designed to improve upon the “classic” tests by excluding the possibility to avoid or escape aversion. The 3‐D radial arm maze (3DR) and the 3‐D open field test (3Doft) utilize continual motivational conflict to better model anxiety; each consist of an open space connected to ambiguous paths toward uncertain escape. Despite their utility, the revised assays have not caught on. This could be because no study yet has directly compared classic and revised assays in the same animals. To remedy this, we contrasted behavior from a battery of assays (EPM, OFT, 3DR, 3Doft and a sociability test) in mice defined genetically by isogenic strain, or environmentally by postnatal experience. One major motivation for this work is to inform future studies by offering a transparent look at individual outcomes on these assays, as there is no one‐size‐fits‐all test to assess rodent anxiety‐like behavior. Findings suggest that classic assays may sufficiently characterize differences across genetically defined groups, but the revised 3DR may be advantageous for investigating more nuanced behavioral differences such as those stemming from environmental factors. Finally, exposure to multiple assays significantly affected sociability, highlighting concerns for designing and interpreting batteries of rodent behavioral tests.
Pharmcokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations for the anticholinergic burden scale of drugs
Authors: Yamada Shizuo , Mochizuki Masae , Atobe Kazutaka , Kato Yoshihisa
Published: October 2023

Older adults frequently have many systemic diseases that require treatment with multiple drugs, and thus anticholinergic adverse effect by polypharmacy is a significant concern in the management of older adults. The accuracy of the anticholinergic burden rating may be increased by considering pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic factors such as biophase drug concentrations, the pharmacologically active metabolites formed after drug administration, and muscarinic receptor‐mediated effects. Therefore, a pharmacological evidence‐based burden scale that considers pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic factors is expected to be a more optimal tool for precisely assessing the anticholinergic burden, specifically risk reductions in anticholinergic adverse events in the poly‐medicated elderly. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 81–87.
“When money is more valuable than people…”: The pandemic as a call for business to care
Authors: Reed Heidi
Published: October 2023

The COVID‐19 pandemic created extreme conditions in which the need for care was overwhelming and led to competing stakeholder demands. What are society's expectations of business in such conditions, and how might these expectations challenge traditional understandings of the business in society relationship? Using a qualitative survey during the initial stages of the pandemic, the study draws on participants from the US public to identify what they viewed as responsible and irresponsible business behavior in response to the COVID‐19 crisis. Analysis reveals that participants' perceptions are strongly rooted in ethics of care reasoning. This reasoning exposes gaps in CSR and stakeholder theories around “who and what really counts”, while offering a different conception of balancing business self‐interest with external demands. Drawing on this finding, the study joins scholarship highlighting the need for a political care movement and argues that untangling care from neoliberal capitalist logics would resolve many of the competing stakeholder demands and paradoxes that characterize grand challenges such as the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Elevated intraneural vascularization of the median nerve proximal to the arteriovenous fistula in hemodialysis patients suspected of carpal tunnel syndrome: A case series
Authors: Bagge Carina N. , Lindhard Kristine , Liem Ylian S. , Lindquist Janus Kaufmann , Balazs‐Becsi Eszter , Wolfram Nils
Published: October 2023

Patients with end‐stage kidney disease may require creation of an arteriovenous fistula in order to receive hemodialysis treatment. The creation may result in several complications, including carpal tunnel syndrome. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to relieve symptoms, prevent permanent nerve damage, and improve quality of life. However, the sensory and motor disturbances resembling carpal tunnel syndrome could be related to other etiologies than external compression of the median nerve underneath the transverse ligament. This case report presents eight patients with a radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula, who all had symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Ultrasonographic examination showed a segmental intraneural hypervascularization of a large vessel inside the median nerve proximal to the wrist and arteriovenous fistula anastomosis with garland‐like course as well as multiple flow velocities. The neurophysiological findings showed a significant decreased velocity in the ipsilateral forearm to the arteriovenous fistula.
Mandatory disclosure of auditor contracting and financial reporting quality: Initial evidence
Authors: Bowler Blake D. , Carnes Robert R. , Park Hyun Jong
Published: October 2023

Regulation requires US public companies to disclose the pre‐approval status of their year‐end auditors in their annual proxy statements. Although auditor–client relationships remain at will, the disclosure mandate requires companies to publicly announce their intentions to retain their current auditors. In this paper, we provide initial evidence of the potential implications that these disclosures may have on financial reporting quality. We find that when the disclosures occur later relative to the release of interim reports, interim filings exhibit lower reporting quality. After performing robustness tests, we explore two possible mechanisms that could explain our findings. First, we consider the possibility that audit committee members compromise their independence. Second, we investigate whether auditors delay the performance of certain interim procedures while the disclosures are pending. With the use of audit committee equity compensation to measure audit committee independence impairment and audit fees to measure auditor effort, we find evidence consistent with both explanations.
Changes in leukocyte telomere length among children with obesity participating in a behavioural weight control program
Authors: Rehkopf David H. , Wojcicki Janet M. , Haydel K. Farish , Lin Jue , Smith Dana L. , Kapphahn Kristopher I. , Robinson Thomas N.
Published: October 2023

Objective

To examine changes in leukocyte telomere length (LTL) during and after a behavioural weight control program for children with obesity.

Methods

We measured LTL among a cohort of 158 children 8–12 years of age with a body mass index greater than or equal to the 95th percentile for age and sex. Children were 55% female, 29% white, 52% Latinx, 8% Asian and 11% Pacific Islander, other or multiethnic. All children participated in a 6‐month, family‐based, group behavioural weight control program and were assessed before treatment, after treatment and 1 year after the end of treatment. To test the sample population slope of LTL over the intervention and maintenance time periods, we fit spline mixed‐effect regression models.

Results

LTL increased an average of 0.09 T/S units per year (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.04 to 0.13; p = 0.0001) during the weight control program intervention period, followed by an average decline of −0.05 T/S units per year (95% CI −0.08 to −0.03; p < 0.0001) during the 1 year of follow‐up after the completion of the intervention. Among 26 social, psychological, behavioural and physiological factors we examined, we did not find any predictors of these changes.

Conclusions

LTL increased in response to a behavioural weight control program among children with obesity, suggesting an impact on biological health and cellular aging from participation in a behavioural weight control intervention. LTL may be a useful biomarker for assessing changes in response to behavioural interventions.
Papain digestion of crude Trichoderma reesei cellulase: purification and properties of cellobiohydrolase I and II core proteins
Authors: Woodward J. , JP Brown , BR Evans , KA Affholter
Published: October 2023

The major cellulase components produced by Trichoderma reesei are composed of distinct catalytic and cellulose‐binding domains. A simple two‐step procedure is described for the purification of the catalytic domains, also termed core proteins (cp), of the major components, cellobiohydrolase (CBH) I and II. The novel aspect of this procedure is that native CBH I and II do not have to be purified initially. Papain digestion of a commercial T. reesei cellulase preparation followed by gel filtration on a Superdex 75 column resulted in the separation of fractions containing CBH I cp and CBH II cp; chromatofocusing purified the latter to homogeneity. N‐terminal protein sequencing of CBH II cp provided good evidence for its identity. A comparison of the catalytic activity and cellulose‐binding ability of these cp was made. A major difference between them was that CBH II cp bound to microcrystalline cellulose, unlike CBH I cp. CBH I cp readily hydrolysed the bond between the aglycone and cellobiose in p‐nitrophenyl cellobioside unlike the CBH II cp preparation. Neither CBH I cp nor CBH II cp had activity toward carboxymethylcellulose, but both were able to hydrolyse barley beta‐glucan. It was also shown that incubation of cellulose fibres with native CBH I, CBH I cp or CBH II cp resulted in a smoothing of the fibre surface.
Purification and characterization of an aminopeptidase from Lactobacillus casei subsp. rhamnosus S93
Authors: Arora G. , BH Lee
Published: October 2023

An aminopeptidase of broad specificity was extracted by cell lysis of a selected strain of Lactobacillus casei subsp. rhamnosus during the late exponential phase. The enzyme was purified 195‐fold from crude extract by using an f.p.l.c. system. Native and SDS/PAGE of the purified enzyme showed a single protein band of 89 kDa. The maximum aminopeptidase activity was observed at pH 7.0 and 39 degrees C. The enzyme hydrolysed a range of nitroanilide‐substituted amino acids, as well as dipeptides, and accounted for most of the aminopeptidase activity found in cell‐free extracts. The enzyme activity was inhibited by metal chelators such as EDTA and 1,10‐phenanthroline. Cobalt ions only stimulated aminopeptidase activity and were also able to re‐activate the enzyme previously inhibited by metal chelators. The Km and Vmax. values of the aminopeptidase for leucine p‐nitroanilide were 0.06 mM and 12.6 mmol/min per mg of protein respectively. This enzyme was stable over the pH range of 5‐9 and below 45 degrees C.