bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sex-related differences for uric acid in the prediction of cardiovascular events in essential hypertension. A population prospective study
Authors: Perticone Maria , Maio Raffaele , Shehaj Ermal , Gigliotti Simona , Caroleo Benedetto , Suraci Edoardo , Sciacqua Angela , Andreozzi Francesco , Perticone Francesco
Published: November 2023

Background

Uric acid (UA) is an independent prognostic factor for cardiovascular events, but there are no data demonstrating a different risk profile between women and men. Thus, we tested whether UA is associated with a possible sex-related difference in fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events.

Methods

In this prospective population-based study we enrolled 1,650 never-treated Caucasian hypertensive outpatients referred to Catanzaro University Hospital (Italy). Inclusion criteria were newly diagnosed hypertensive patients, aged 20 years or more. Exclusion criteria were secondary form of hypertension, previous cardiovascular events, rheumatic and non-rheumatic valvular heart disease, prosthetic valves, cardiomyopathies, type-2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, malignant diseases, gout arthritis and secondary forms of hyperuricemia, liver diseases, peripheral vascular diseases, and heart failure. Anthropometric, clinical, and biochemical parameters were measured. UA prognostic role was investigated by Cox regression analyses. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analyses and area under the curve were used to determine the predictive validity and the optimal cut-off point of UA. We investigated following endpoints: coronary events (fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction, unstable angina, coronary revascularization procedures, coronary death); fatal and nonfatal stroke; all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

Results

We enrolled 830 males and 820 females aged 52.2 ± 11.3 years. During 9.5 ± 3.1 years follow-up, there were 424 new clinical events (2.71%): 250 coronary (1.59%), 118 (0.75%) cerebrovascular, and 56 (0.40%) deaths. Comparison between groups demonstrated a higher and significant difference in incidence rate in females for MACE (3.08 vs 2.33%, P = 0.001), coronary (1.82 vs 1.36%, P = 0.014) and cerebrovascular events (0.93 vs 0.57%, P = 0.006). UA at multiple Cox regression analysis resulted a strong and significant predictor of coronary events (HR = 1.493;95% CI 1.375–1.621), cerebrovascular events (HR = 1.256;95% CI 1.109–1.423), MACE (HR = 1.415;95% CI 1.328- 53 1.508), and all-cause mortality (HR = 1.469;95% CI 1.237–1.745) in the whole population and in both groups with a HR higher in females. The best estimated cut-off values of uric acid for males and females predicted these endpoints equally well, but it was always lower in females than males.

Conclusions

We demonstrate, that UA operates with a sex-related impact and best cut-off value in predicting cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality, reflecting a possible sex difference in disease pathophysiology.
Understanding stroke survivors’ preferences regarding wearable sensor feedback on functional movement: a mixed-methods study
Authors: Demers Marika , Cain Amelia , Bishop Lauri , Gunby Tanisha , Rowe Justin B. , Zondervan Daniel K. , Winstein Carolee J.
Published: November 2023

Background

In stroke rehabilitation, wearable technology can be used as an intervention modality by providing timely, meaningful feedback on motor performance. Stroke survivors’ preferences may offer a unique perspective on what metrics are intuitive, actionable, and meaningful to change behavior. However, few studies have identified feedback preferences from stroke survivors. This project aims to determine the ease of understanding and movement encouragement of feedback based on wearable sensor data (both arm/hand use and mobility) for stroke survivors and to identify preferences for feedback metrics (mode, content, frequency, and timing).

Methods

A sample of 30 chronic stroke survivors wore a multi-sensor system in the natural environment over a 1-week monitoring period. The sensor system captured time in active movement of each arm, arm use ratio, step counts and stance time symmetry. Using the data from the monitoring period, participants were presented with a movement report with visual displays of feedback about arm/hand use, step counts and gait symmetry. A survey and qualitative interview were used to assess ease of understanding, actionability and components of feedback that users found most meaningful to drive lasting behavior change.

Results

Arm/hand use and mobility sensor-derived feedback metrics were easy to understand and actionable. The preferred metric to encourage arm/hand use was the hourly arm use bar plot, and similarly the preferred metric to encourage mobility was the hourly steps bar plot, which were each ranked as top choice by 40% of participants. Participants perceived that quantitative (i.e., step counts) and qualitative (i.e., stance time symmetry) mobility metrics provided complementary information. Three main themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: (1) Motivation for behavior change, (2) Real-time feedback based on individual goals, and (3) Value of experienced clinicians for prescription and accountability. Participants stressed the importance of having feedback tailored to their own personalized goals and receiving guidance from clinicians on strategies to progress and increase functional movement behavior in the unsupervised home and community setting.

Conclusion

The resulting technology has the potential to integrate engineering and personalized rehabilitation to maximize participation in meaningful life activities outside clinical settings in a less structured environment.
Healthy lifestyle scores associate with incidence of type 2 diabetes mediated by uric acid
Authors: He Xinyue , Shao Wei , Yu Senhai , Yu Jiazhou , Huang Changzhen , Ren Haiqing , Liu Chengguo , Xu Yuying , Zhu Yimin
Published: November 2023

Background

Whether and to what extent serum uric acid (SUA) mediates the association between combined lifestyle behaviors and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of SUA in the relationship between healthy lifestyle scores (HLS) and the incidence of T2DM.

Methods

This prospective study used data from Zhejiang Metabolic Syndrome cohort. A HLS (5-point scale including healthy waist circumference (WC), never smoking, high physical activity, healthy diet and moderate alcohol intake) was estimated in 13,919 participants, who had SUA at baseline examination in 2009–2014, and were followed-up to 2021–2022 to ascertain incident of T2DM. Cox proportional hazards models and mediation analysis were used to examine the associations between HLS, SUA and T2DM.

Results

We included 13,919 participants aged 18 years or older without diabetes at baseline (mean age 54.6 [SD 13.9] years, 58.7% female). During a median follow-up of 9.94 years, 645 cases of T2DM occurred. Compared with participants with a poor HLS, those with 4–5 low-risk lifestyle factors showed a 60% reduction in the risk of developing T2DM (adjusted HR, 0.40; 95% CI: 0.28–0.57). Further, the population-attributable risk percent (95% CI) of T2DM for poor adherence to the overall healthy lifestyle (< 4 low-risk factors) was 43.24% (30.02%, 56.46%). The HLS was inversely associated with SUA level. With per score increased in HLS, the beta (95% CI) of SUA (log transformed) was − 0.03 (− 0.03, − 0.02), and the odds ratio (95% CI) of hyperuricemia was 0.82 (0.77, 0.86). The relationship between the HLS and risk of T2DM was mediated by SUA with a 13.06% mediation effect. There was no significant combined effect of HLS and SUA on risk of T2DM (P = 0.097).

Conclusions

The relationship between overall healthy lifestyle behaviors and T2DM was reconfirmed and the association appeared to be mediated by SUA. The mediation effect of baseline SUA was more pronounced among women who were below 60 years old.
A randomized controlled study on systematic nursing care based on health empowerment theory and its effect on the self-care and functional abilities of patients with spinal fractures
Authors: Li Hui , Gan Lin , Sun Yue , Yu Hui-Ting
Published: November 2023

Objective

In this study, we aimed to explore the effectiveness of systematic nursing care based on health empowerment theory on the self-care and functional abilities of patients with spinal fractures.

Methods

We selected a total of 50 patients with spinal fractures from our hospital and randomly divided them into the control group and the observation group, with 25 patients in each group. Patients in the control group received conventional nursing care, while those in the observation group received systematic nursing care grounded in the health empowerment theory. We recorded and compared the self-care ability, functional ability, knowledge about the condition, and pain scores of patients in the two groups before and after the nursing intervention.

Results

There was no significant difference in the baseline characteristics between the two groups (P > 0.05), and there was no significant difference in self-care ability, functional ability, knowledge about the condition, or the visual analog scale (VAS) score between the two groups before treatment (P > 0.05). After treatment, outcomes in the observation group in terms of self-care ability, functional ability, and knowledge about the condition were significantly better than those in the control group (P < 0.05), while the VAS score in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Compared with conventional nursing care, patients with spinal fractures who received systematic nursing inputs based on health empowerment theory reported significant improvements in pain, self-care, functional ability, and knowledge of the condition, and this is an approach that is worthy of promotion in clinical use.
Engineered small extracellular vesicles as a novel platform to suppress human oncovirus-associated cancers
Authors: Owliaee Iman , khaledian Mehran , Boroujeni Armin Khaghani , Shojaeian Ali
Published: November 2023

Background

Cancer, as a complex, heterogeneous disease, is currently affecting millions of people worldwide. Even if the most common traditional treatments, namely, chemotherapy (CTx) and radiotherapy (RTx), have been so far effective in some conditions, there is still a dire need for novel, innovative approaches to treat types of cancer. In this context, oncoviruses are responsible for 12% of all malignancies, such as human papillomavirus (HPV), Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), as well as hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), and the poorest in the world also account for 80% of all human cancer cases. Against this background, nanomedicine has developed nano-based drug delivery systems (DDS) to meet the demand for drug delivery vectors, e.g., extracellular vesicles (EVs). This review article aimed to explore the potential of engineered small EVs (sEVs) in suppressing human oncovirus-associated cancers.

Methods

Our search was conducted for published research between 2000 and 2022 using several international databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. We also reviewed additional evidence from relevant published articles.

Results

In this line, the findings revealed that EV engineering as a new field is witnessing the development of novel sEV-based structures, and it is expected to be advanced in the future. EVs may be further exploited in specialized applications as therapeutic or diagnostic tools. The techniques of biotechnology have been additionally utilized to create synthetic bilayers based on the physical and chemical properties of parent molecules via a top-down strategy for downsizing complicated, big particles into nano-sized sEVs.

Conclusion

As the final point, EV-mediated treatments are less toxic to the body than the most conventional ones, making them a safer and even more effective option. Although many in vitro studies have so far tested the efficacy of sEVs, further research is still needed to develop their potential in animal and clinical trials to reap the therapeutic benefits of this promising platform.
Cefoxitin versus carbapenems as definitive treatment for extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia in intensive care unit: a propensity-matched retrospective analysis
Authors: Dequidt Tanguy , Bastian Sylvaine , Nacher Mathieu , Breurec Sébastien , Carles Michel , Thiery Guillaume , Camous Laurent , Tressieres Benoit , Valette Marc , Pommier Jean-David
Published: November 2023

Background

Despite cefoxitin's in vitro resistance to hydrolysis by extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL), treatment of ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) infections with cefoxitin remains controversial. The aim of our study was to compare the clinical efficacy of cefoxitin as definitive antibiotic therapy for patients with ESBL-KP bacteremia in intensive care unit, versus carbapenem therapy.

Methods

This retrospective study included all patients with monomicrobial bacteremia hospitalized in intensive care unit between January 2013 and January 2023 at the University Hospital of Guadeloupe. The primary outcome was the 30-day clinical success defined as a composite endpoint: 30-day survival, absence of relapse and no change of antibiotic therapy. Cox regression including a propensity score (PS) and PS-based matched analysis were performed for endpoint analysis.

Results

A total of 110 patients with bloodstream infections were enrolled. Sixty-three patients (57%) received definitive antibiotic therapy with cefoxitin, while forty-seven (43%) were treated with carbapenems. 30-day clinical success was not significantly different between patients treated with cefoxitin (57%) and carbapenems (53%, p = 0.823). PS-adjusted and PS-matched analysis confirmed these findings. Change of definitive antibiotic therapy was more frequent in the cefoxitin group (17% vs. 0%, p = 0.002). No significant differences were observed for the other secondary endpoints. The acquisition of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa was significantly higher in patients receiving carbapenem therapy (5% vs. 23%, p = 0.007).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that cefoxitin as definitive antibiotic therapy could be a therapeutic option for some ESBL-KP bacteremia, sparing carbapenems and reducing the selection of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains.
EasyDock: customizable and scalable docking tool
Authors: Minibaeva Guzel , Ivanova Aleksandra , Polishchuk Pavel
Published: November 2023

Docking of large compound collections becomes an important procedure to discover new chemical entities. Screening of large sets of compounds may also occur in de novo design projects guided by molecular docking. To facilitate these processes, there is a need for automated tools capable of efficiently docking a large number of molecules using multiple computational nodes within a reasonable timeframe. These tools should also allow for easy integration of new docking programs and provide a user-friendly program interface to support the development of further approaches utilizing docking as a foundation. Currently available tools have certain limitations, such as lacking a convenient program interface or lacking support for distributed computations. In response to these limitations, we have developed a module called EasyDock. It can be deployed over a network of computational nodes using the Dask library, without requiring a specific cluster scheduler. Furthermore, we have proposed and implemented a simple model that predicts the runtime of docking experiments and applied it to minimize overall docking time. The current version of EasyDock supports popular docking programs, namely Autodock Vina, gnina, and smina. Additionally, we implemented a supplementary feature to enable docking of boron-containing compounds, which are not inherently supported by Vina and smina, and demonstrated its applicability on a set of 55 PDB protein-ligand complexes.
Remote learning during COVID-19 and transformative learning theory: tendency towards Quadruple Helix model for future post-secondary education in Indigenous contexts
Authors: Hossain Amzad , Kong Ying , Malik Amjad
Published: November 2023

This paper aims to examine UCN (University College of the North) students’ remote learning experience during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide a reference for future remote education in Indigenous contexts. Survey data are used for empirical analysis of the five themes: socio-demographic contexts; social activities, stress, and well-being; academic performance; course delivery; and student support services. Transformative learning theory and Quadruple Helix Model are used as a framework to explore the breadth and depth of such five themes. As the descriptive study shows, the majority of UCN students are over 25 years old and study in their first and second year with major challenges such as Internet connectivity, private space, and interruption. Mean values reveal that the remote learning performance is determined by concerns about COVID-19 infection, mental and physical health, isolation and lack of socio-cultural activities, students’ self-preparedness and motivation, and support services. The regression analysis shows that students’ concerns about COVID-19 infection interference with course completion are directly affected by their worries about themselves or someone in their families who could be exposed to COVID-19, their mental health, and blended course delivery. Therefore, students’ remote learning performance and their well-being will be enhanced if we take into consideration improving social distancing, educational technology, and course delivery with community–university culturally responsive collaboration. The research findings and the reviewed literature attest that transformative learning theory fits UCN’s remote learning practices to meet educational goals through the university–community collaboration, which is supported by the Quadruple Helix model. As a result, such remote learning practices engage students, particularly Indigenous students, and the practices will help upgrade universities with similar attributes globally into Mode 3 universities, contributing to community economic development.
How effective are interventions to reduce damage to agricultural crops from herbivorous wild birds and mammals? A systematic review protocol
Authors: Eklund Ann , Månsson Johan , Frank Jens
Published: November 2023

Background

An important conservation challenge is to mitigate negative impacts that wild birds and mammals can have on human practices and livelihoods, and not least on agricultural crops. Technical interventions to limit the number and severity of damages are available, but evaluations of intervention effectiveness are usually limited in scope, and meta-analyses are rare. This protocol describes a systematic review that seeks to answer the following question: How effective are evaluated interventions in reducing damage from herbivorous wild birds and mammals on agricultural crops?

Methods

The literature searches are made in the databases Scopus and Zoological Record. The search string is based on a Population-Intervention-Comparator-Outcome (PICO) formatted research question, and search terms fall within five categories: Wildlife type (Population), Damage object (Population), Counteraction (Intervention), Evaluation (Comparator), and Damage (Outcome). Initial scoping searches informed amendment of the search string. A set of 19 benchmark articles were used to estimate the ability of the scoping search to capture relevant literature. To be eligible for inclusion in the review, original articles should study cases where settings of exposure to interventions (measures implemented to reduce damages on agricultural crops caused by terrestrial birds and mammals) are compared to a control setting without exposure to interventions. Eligible studies will be subject to data extraction, systematically documented in an Excel spreadsheet. Associated risk of bias will be critically appraised for the included articles according to seven criteria: 1. risk of confounding biases, 2. risk of post-intervention selection biases, 3. risk of misclassified comparison biases (observational studies only), 4. risk of performance biases (experimental studies only), 5. risk of detection biases, 6. risk of outcome reporting biases, and 7. risk of outcome assessment biases. The results will be reported in narrative and, if possible, quantitative syntheses. The quantitative synthesis will include a summary statistic calculated based on the data of each study and illustrated graphically in a forest plot. If possible, meta-regression analyses will be conducted.
Weight stigma is associated with body mass index among college students in Taiwan: the mediated role of internalized weight stigma
Authors: Lin Yi-Ching , Lin Chung-Ying , Saffari Mohsen , Tsai Meng-Che , Chang Yun-Hsuan , Strong Carol , Chen Ji-Kang , Hsieh Yi-Ping , Yang Yung-Ning , Latner Janet D.
Published: November 2023

Background

Weight stigma is an issue often studied in Western countries; however, such information is scarce in Asian studies.

Methods

This study aimed to examine the role of internalized weight stigma as a mediator in the relationship between perceived weight stigma and changes in body mass index (BMI). The data were collected through a longitudinal online survey with two phases (n = 974; Phase 1: August and September 2021; Phase 2: November and December 2021). The Perceived Weight Stigma Scale (PWSS), Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ), and Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale − 21 (DASS-21) were administered to assess perceived weight stigma, internalized weight stigma, and psychological distress. Hierarchical regressions were used to examine the proposed model, and Hayes’ Process Macro was used to test a mediation model.

Results

The changes in perceived weight stigma and internalized weight stigma were significantly and positively associated with changes in BMI. There were significant and positive associations between perceived weight stigma, internalized weight stigma and psychological distress over time. Change in internalized weight stigma was found to be a significant mediator in the association of change in perceived weight stigma with change in BMI for the entire sample (unstandardized coefficient = 0.04; 95% CI = 0.02, 0.06), female subgroup (unstandardized coefficient = 0.05; 95% CI = 0.02, 0.08), and male subgroup (unstandardized coefficient = 0.03; 95% CI = 0.01, 0.06). Change in perceived weight stigma also had significant effects on change in BMI for the entire sample and the female subgroup, but not for the male subgroup.

Conclusion

Because perceived weight stigma may significantly impact changes in BMI through internalized weight stigma, treatment strategies to ameliorate self-stigma may enhance the results of weight-reduction programs. Such treatment strategies should be considered for inclusion in weight-loss interventions.
In vitro antiviral effect of cinnamon oil, Moringa oleifera extract, Manuka honey, and Nigella sativa oil against SARS-CoV-2 compared to remdesivir
Authors: El-Meidany Walaa M. R. , Abdel-Gawad Fagr K. , Mahmoud Sara H. , Ali Mohamed A. A.
Published: November 2023

Background

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is of a public health importance as it is continually evolving due to random mutations. New mutations can potentially affect the degree of infectiousness, virulence, and can increase the virus’ capability to evade adaptive immune responses of the body. Immunity is one of the key factors determining the extent of severity of SARS-CoV-2 patients. Therefore, thinking about natural remedies is the way to boost immunity, keep the body protected, and able to fight the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We aimed to make progress in the field of anti-SARS-CoV-2 nutraceuticals, thus providing a safe and natural alternative to traditional chemically manufactured medications.

Methods

The cytotoxic activity (CC50) of the natural products was tested experimentally in vitro on the VERO-E6 cells using a crystal violet assay. The cells were then treated with different concentrations of the natural products of Moringa oleifera leaves extract, cinnamon bark oil extract, Manuka honey, and Nigella sativa oil. The inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50) value and the CC50 value were calculated in order to measure the antiviral effect of on SARS-CoV-2 virus compared to antiviral Remdesivir drug.

Results

The tested natural products of honey and extracts exhibited pronounced virucidal effect against one of the most challenging viruses worldwide which is the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The results showed that the highest selectivity index was the Manuka honey + 20 UMF with SI of 10.23. The second sample following Manuka honey regarding its efficiency was the mixture of the three extracts with the honey (SI = 7.12), then followed by Remdesivir antiviral drug (SI = 3.3), then Moringa oleifera leaves extract (SI = 2.1). The last two products showing the least SI were Nigella sativa oil (SI = 1.6) and cinnamon bark oil (SI = 1.08), respectively.

Conclusions

Manuka honey + 20 UMF alone or combined with other three extracts of Moringa oleifera, Nigella sativa, and cinnamon bark oil have a much stronger in vitro antiviral effect on SARS-CoV-2 virus than the traditional antiviral drug Remdesivir. Further research will be needed to test the effectiveness of these natural products in vivo as an antiviral remedy against SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Beef as intangible cultural heritage in Botswana: a documentary review
Authors: Chatibura Delly M.
Published: November 2023

This article reviews the critical role of cattle and beef production, consumption practices, and symbolic values, among other elements, in instituting Botswana’s beef heritage. The rise of gastronomic tourism and the dearth of literature on Africa’s intangible food heritage has necessitated such a review. Using a document analysis methodology with Google, Google Scholar, and Web of Science Core Collection, the article narrates how the historical, economic, and sociocultural reliance on cattle led to a distinctive intangible beef heritage in Botswana. In conclusion, the article motivates the recognition ofseswaa,a beef-related cuisine, as worthy of inscription under UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage and for the continued documentation of food heritage amidst the limited regional studies of such in Africa.
Appraisal of some ethnic milk products from minor milch animal species around the world: a review
Authors: Kanetkar Prajasattak , Paswan Vinod Kumar , Rose Hency , Shehata Abdelrazeq M. , Felix Jude , Bunkar Durga Shankar , Rathaur Aman , Yamini S. , Bhinchhar Basant Kumar
Published: November 2023

Cattle and buffalo are the main species producing milk for human consumption. Minor milch species such as goat, sheep, camel, horse, yak, donkey, and reindeer make up a less significant portion of the total milk supply in the dairy sector as their production share is relatively small. However, in recent years, people have started to recognize the numerous health and nutritional benefits of milk from these minor milch species. There is a rich diversity of traditional dairy products in the world, among which the ethnic products made from the milk of minor dairy species have a solicitous place in their region of origin. The ingredients and composition of these products and the preparation methods impart their characteristic taste and flavour along with their typical nutritional and functional health benefits. Anti-microbial, probiotic, antioxidant, nutraceutical, and other health-promoting qualities are the few benefits of these products. However, lack of research and developmental activities, promotions and advertisements of ethnic milk products of minor milch species have led to their limited awareness among the consumers. In view of the above, the present review attempts to discuss some of the important ethnic milk products around the world from the milk of minor milch species.
Bridge vibration measurements using different camera placements and techniques of computer vision and deep learning
Authors: Bai Yongsheng , Sezen Halil , Yilmaz Alper , Qin Rongjun
Published: November 2023

In this paper, a new framework is proposed for monitoring the dynamic performance of bridges using three different camera placements and a few visual data processing techniques at low cost and high efficiency. A deep learning method validated by an optical flow approach for motion tracking is included in the framework. To verify it, videos taken by stationary cameras of two shaking table tests were processed at first. Then, the vibrations of six pedestrian bridges were measured using structure-mounted, remote, and drone-mounted cameras, respectively. Two techniques, displacement and frequency subtractions, are applied to remove systematic motions of cameras and to capture the natural frequencies of the tested structures. Measurements on these bridges were compared with the data from wireless accelerometers and structural analysis. Influences of critical parameters for camera setting and data processing, such as video frame rates, data window size, and data sampling rates, were also studied carefully. The research results show that the vibrations and frequencies of structures on the shaking tables and existing bridges can be captured accurately with the proposed framework. These camera placements and data processing techniques can be successfully used for monitoring their dynamic performance.
Prevalence of subclinical pulmonary tuberculosis and its association with HIV in household contacts of index tuberculosis patients in two South African provinces: a secondary, cross-sectional analysis of a cluster-randomised trial
Authors: Carter Naomi , Webb Emily L. , Lebina Limakatso , Motsomi Kegaugetswe , Bosch Zama , Martinson Neil A. , MacPherson Peter
Published: November 2023

Background

People with subclinical tuberculosis (TB) have microbiological evidence of disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but either do not have or do not report TB symptoms. The relationship between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and subclinical TB is not yet well understood. We estimated the prevalence of subclinical pulmonary TB in household contacts of index TB patients in two South African provinces, and how this differed by HIV status.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional, secondary analysis of baseline data from the intervention arm of a household cluster randomised trial. Prevalence of subclinical TB was measured as the number of household contacts aged ≥ 5 years who had positive sputum TB microscopy, culture or nucleic acid amplification test (Xpert MTB/Rif or Xpert Ultra) results on a single sputum specimen and who did not report current cough, fever, weight loss or night sweats on direct questioning. Regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between HIV status and subclinical TB; adjusting for province, sex and age in household contacts; and HIV status in index patients.

Results

Amongst household contacts, microbiologically confirmed prevalent subclinical TB was over twice as common as symptomatic TB disease (48/2077, 2.3%, 95% CI 1.7–3.1% compared to 20/2077, 1.0%, 95% CI 0.6–1.5%). Subclinical TB prevalence was higher in people living with HIV (15/377, 4.0%, 95% CI 2.2–6.5%) compared to those who were HIV-negative (33/1696, 1.9%, 95% CI 1.3–2.7%; p = 0.018). In regression analysis, living with HIV (377/2077, 18.2%) was associated with a two-fold increase in prevalent subclinical TB with 95% confidence intervals consistent with no association through to a four-fold increase (adjusted OR 2.00, 95% CI 0.99–4.01, p = 0.052). Living with HIV was associated with a five-fold increase in prevalent symptomatic TB (adjusted OR 5.05, 95% CI 2.22–11.59, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Most (70.6%) pulmonary TB diagnosed in household contacts in this setting was subclinical. Living with HIV was likely associated with prevalent subclinical TB and was associated with prevalent symptomatic TB. Universal sputum testing with sensitive assays improves early TB diagnosis in subclinical household contacts.
President's Page: Digital twins in the era of generative AI
Authors: Herrmann Felix J.
Published: November 2023

The industry is experiencing significant changes due to artificial intelligence (AI) and the challenges of the energy transition. While some view these changes as threats, recent advances in AI offer unique opportunities, especially in the context of “digital twins” for subsurface monitoring and control.
Development of an Electronic Health Record–Based Algorithm for Predicting Lung Cancer Screening Eligibility in the Population-Based Research to Optimize the Screening Process Lung Research Consortium
Authors: Burnett-Hartman Andrea N. , Powers J. David , Hixon Brian P. , Carroll Nikki M. , Frankland Timothy B. , Honda Stacey A. , Saia Chelsea , Rendle Katharine A. , Greenlee Robert T. , Neslund-Dudas Christine , Zheng Yingye , Vachani Anil , Ritzwoller Debra P.
Published: November 2023

PURPOSE

Lung cancer screening (LCS) guidelines in the United States recommend LCS for those age 50-80 years with at least 20 pack-years smoking history who currently smoke or quit within the last 15 years. We tested the performance of simple smoking-related criteria derived from electronic health record (EHR) data and developed and tested the performance of a multivariable model in predicting LCS eligibility.

METHODS

Analyses were completed within the Population-based Research to Optimize the Screening Process Lung Consortium (PROSPR-Lung). In our primary validity analyses, the reference standard LCS eligibility was based on self-reported smoking data collected via survey. Within one PROSPR-Lung health system, we used a training data set and penalized multivariable logistic regression using the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator to select EHR-based variables into the prediction model including demographics, smoking history, diagnoses, and prescription medications. A separate test data set assessed model performance. We also conducted external validation analysis in a separate health system and reported AUC, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy metrics associated with the Youden Index.

RESULTS

There were 14,214 individuals with survey data to assess LCS eligibility in primary analyses. The overall performance for assigning LCS eligibility status as measured by the AUC values at the two health systems was 0.940 and 0.938. At the Youden Index cutoff value, performance metrics were as follows: accuracy, 0.855 and 0.895; sensitivity, 0.886 and 0.920; specificity, 0.896 and 0.850; PPV, 0.357 and 0.444; and NPV, 0.988 and 0.992.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that health systems can use an EHR-derived multivariable prediction model to aid in the identification of those who may be eligible for LCS.
Protecting cultural heritage by protecting conservators’ title
Authors: Bollard Clémentine
Published: November 2023

« Art. L. 117-2. - The implementation of conservation-restoration measures and actions, as well as the performance of project management, consulting, and expertise missions in the Þeld of conservation-restoration, fall within the competencies of professionals, known as conservators-restorers, qualiÞed in the Þelds of preventive conservation, curative conservation, and restoration. 

“Only persons holding a Master’s degree, issued by an approved training institution under conditions laid down by regulation, certifying speciÞc cultural, scientiÞc and technical training in conservation-restoration may use the title of “conservator-restorer” in their professional practice."

These two paragraphs, constituting the article L. 117-2 of the bill [1] tabled by MP Raphaël Gérard1 on the 25th of January 2022, give substance to the long-standing demand by the profession, in France and in other European Union countries, that a name has to be given to conservator-restorers. It speciÞes that only natural persons with a Master’s degree in conservation-restoration of tangible cultural heritage could use this protected title.

The explanatory memorandum of this bill summarises the indisputable reasons why cultural heritage must be taken care of by professionals recognised as having the necessary qualiÞcations, recalling the content of the report “Our Creative Diversity”, published in 1996 by the World Commission on Culture and Development, under the aegis of UNESCO, which states that “cultural property is a resource that constitutes a fragile, non-replaceable asset, the risk of loss of which necessitates the implementation of measures commensurate with the stakes involved in safeguarding it for society as a whole”.

The creation of a protected title for conservator-restorers, therefore, represents a major step in the reinforcement of policies for the protection and conservation of cultural heritage since, at present, anyone can call themselves a conservator-restorer, without necessarily having the qualiÞcations or skills. The protection of this title also brings expectations of a social nature since it will undeniably favour the structuring of a profession, 76% of which is currently practiced by self-employed people in France, and which is, after all, a recent profession in the history of cultural heritage conservation.
On the regulation of the Conservation-Restoration profession in Germany
Authors: Taubert Sven
Published: November 2023

The VDR was founded in 2001. The main concerns of the VDR are the protection and proper preservation of art and cultural assets while respecting their material, art-historical and aesthetic signiÞcance. The restorer`s association is both a trade association and a professional association as well. It thus stands for the professional interests of its members in all disciplines throughout Germany. As a professional association, we are concerned with raising awareness of the profession of “restorer” in politics and the public, drawing a clear picture of the profession and informing the public about the need for responsible cultural property protection.

We are committed to the recognition of the achievements of restorers with scientiÞc training – nationally and internationally through our membership in E.C.C.O.

The VDR Presidium and the Executive Board endeavour to protect the professional title „Restaurator“ and „Restauratorin“ in Germany.

We Þght for better pay for salaried and self-employed freelancers, who were and still are, Þxed on 50-year-old remuneration models for far too long and in some cases still are. Successes in the struggle for higher groupings in the last three years give reason to hope that steady improvements will be achieved for the employed restorers.
Automated news in practice: a cross-national exploratory study
Authors: Danzon-Chambaud Samuel
Published: November 2023

Background This article provides a comprehensive picture of the current state of automated news—understood here as the auto-generation of journalistic text through software and algorithms—as well as to where it is headed. For this, I look at 18 news organisations in Europe, North America and Australia, following a strategic sample inspired by Hallin and Mancini’s (2004) media system typology. Methods To conduct this cross-national exploratory study, I made use of semi-structured interviews with editorial staff, executives and technologists. I also rely on Actor-network theory (ANT) to tell when an interference is made to an otherwise linear situation, thus endowing automated news with a sense of agency. Results Overall, my findings show that the main interferences concern alternate data sources (e.g., news organisations’ internal feeds, crowdsourced material), in-house interfaces that allow for more journalistic participation (e.g., internal self-editing tools, notification streams) and output other than text (e.g., automated audio summaries for voice assistants). Conclusions Although these changes lead to greater journalistic professionalisation, they could also make news organisations become too dependent on Big Tech companies for data acquisition and dissemination of automated news products. That said, mutual negotiations and a re-alignment of interests may occur as platforms increasingly face journalistic challenges.
Melatonin induces RAW264.7 cell apoptosis via the BMAL1/ROS/MAPK-p38 pathway to improve postmenopausal osteoporosis
Authors: Wang Xiaochuan , Jiang Wen , Pan Kexin , Tao Lin , Zhu Yue
Published: November 2023

Aims

Currently, the effect of drug treatment for osteoporosis is relatively poor, and the side effects are numerous and serious. Melatonin is a potential drug to improve bone mass in postmenopausal women. Unfortunately, the mechanism by which melatonin improves bone metabolism remains unclear. The aim of this study was to further investigate the potential mechanism of melatonin in the treatment of osteoporosis.

Methods

The effects of melatonin on mitochondrial apoptosis protein, bmal1 gene, and related pathway proteins of RAW264.7 (mouse mononuclear macrophage leukaemia cells) were analyzed by western blot. Cell Counting Kit-8 was used to evaluate the effect of melatonin on cell viability. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the effect of melatonin on the apoptosis of RAW264.7 cells and mitochondrial membrane potential. A reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection kit was used to evaluate the level of ROS in osteoclast precursors. We used bmal1-small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to downregulate the Bmal1 gene. We established a postmenopausal mouse model and verified the effect of melatonin on the bone mass of postmenopausal osteoporosis in mice via micro-CT. Bmal1 lentiviral activation particles were used to establish an in vitro model of overexpression of the bmal1 gene.

Results

Melatonin promoted apoptosis of RAW264.7 cells and increased the expression of BMAL1 to inhibit the activation of ROS and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-p38. Silencing the bmal1 gene weakened the above effects of melatonin. After that, we used dehydrocorydaline (DHC) to enhance the activation of MAPK-p38, and the effects of melatonin on reducing ROS levels and promoting apoptosis of RAW264.7 cells were also blocked. Then, we constructed a mouse model of postmenopausal osteoporosis and administered melatonin. The results showed that melatonin improves bone loss in ovariectomized mice. Finally, we established a model of overexpression of the bmal1 gene, and these results suggest that the bmal1 gene can regulate ROS activity and change the level of the MAPK-p38 signalling pathway.

Conclusion

Our study confirmed that melatonin promotes the apoptosis of RAW264.7 cells through BMAL1/ROS/MAPK-p38, and revealed the therapeutic effect and mechanism of melatonin in postmenopausal osteoporosis. This finding enriches BMAL1 as a potential target for the treatment of osteoporosis and the pathogenesis of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2023;12(11):677–690.
Functionality of Soft Wheat Flour Treated by Radiofrequency Assisted Thermal Processing
Authors: Boreddy Sreenivasula , Subbiah Jeyamkondan
Published: November 2023

Highlights

Functionality of RF processed soft wheat flour (SWF) in the sugar-snap cookies was evaluated.

Functionality of the SWFs at RF processing conditions of 80°C for 7 h and 90°C for 2 h is acceptable.

Study demonstrated the feasibility of RF-assisted thermal processing of SWF.

ABSTRACT. Wheat flours are thermally processed to ensure microbiological safety for use in food products such as cakes, cookies, baby foods, etc. Traditional thermal processing of wheat flour takes a long time because of its poor thermal conductivity. Novel thermal processing methods, such as radiofrequency assisted processing, are poised to replace the traditional methods. However, to ensure the final acceptance and adaptability of novel methods, the performance of RF-processed flours in prepared products such as cookies and noodles is important. The objective of this study is to evaluate the functionality of radiofrequency (RF)-assisted thermally processed soft wheat flour (SWF) in the end products, namely sugar-snap cookies. Sugar-snap cookies were prepared from RF-processed, unpasteurized, and commercially processed SWFs following a standard method. The qualities of the prepared cookies, such as width, thickness, etc., were evaluated and compared. The width of the sugar-snap cookies of the RF-assisted thermal process conditions of 80°C for 7 h and 90°C for 2 h was not significantly (P > 0.05) different from that of the unpasteurized SWF. The cookie thickness for all the RF-assisted thermally processed conditions was significantly higher than that of the unpasteurized condition. However, the color, hardness, and fracturability values of sugar-snap cookies were not significantly different at all the RF-assisted thermal processing conditions when compared with those of the unpasteurized condition. The functionality of the flours in sugar-snap cookies indicates that the selected RF-assisted thermal processing temperatures and time combinations of 80°C for 7 h and 90°C for 2 h did not influence the functionality of the SWF significantly. Thus, this study demonstrates the feasibility of novel RF-assisted thermal processing of SWF without compromising the flour's functionality in the end products. Keywords: Click here to enter keywords and key phrases, separated by commas, with a period at the end
Sostenibilidad ambiental y calidad institucional: interacciones
Authors: Reyes Pontet Mauro David , Ibáñez Martín María María , London Silvia
Published: November 2023

Mientras que el objetivo del desarrollo sostenible es común a todas las economías, la performance ambiental difiere entre regiones. Los motivos de esta divergencia son variados, en particular en el presente trabajo se analiza la posible existencia de una relación causal entre la calidad de las instituciones y la sostenibilidad ambiental. Una revisión de la literatura identifica autores que proponen una relación positiva; un enfoque más actual postula a los marcos institucionales débiles como causa de la degradación ambiental, relacionada con la idea de “maldición de los recursos naturales”. Para realizar el análisis se aplican estimaciones de causalidad de largo plazo y de correlación para 180 países, utilizando un indicador de calidad institucional de elaboración propia y datos del Environmental Performance Index (EPI). Los resultados evidencian una alta correlación entre las variables y permiten sostener una relación causal de largo plazo.
November 2023 Imaging Case of the Month: A Crazy Association
Authors:   Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ USA, Brown Parker , Panse Prasad , Gotway Michael
Published: November 2023

No abstract available. Manuscript truncated after 150 words. HPI: A 55-year-old man presents with a history of cough, poor appetite, low energy, and weight loss over the previous 6-10 months following COVID-19 infection 2 months earlier. PMH, SH, FH: The patient’s past medical history was positive for CVOID-19 infection 2 months earlier as well as pneumonia, not specified, in the previous year. The patient’s past medical history was also remarkable for a 7-unit gastrointestinal hemorrhage approximately one year earlier following polypectomy for benign lesions in the transverse colon. During that hospital admission a complete blood count showed 1% blasts which prompted hematology consultation. The consulting oncologist felt the peripheral blasts were the result of a leukemoid reaction secondary to increased bone marrow stimulation owing to the patient’s acute anemia caused by the gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Macrocytosis and reticulocytosis was also noted and attributed to the same. Repeat complete blood count showed no blasts although some myelocytes, metamyelocytes, and polychromasia …