bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance evaluation of Abbott real-time PCR in the diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional descriptive study
Authors: Tesema Million Hailu , Berta Kibebu Kinfu , Bitew Adane , Zealiyas Kidist , Bogale Agajie Likie , Yenew Bazezew , Deriba Getu , Gessew Gebreab Teklebirhan , Adane Sisay , Yizengaw Ajanew , Tesfaye Ephrem , Getaneh Yimam , Olu Olushayo Oluseun , Kebede Abebaw
Published: September 2023

Background
In 2018, an estimated 10 million people developed tuberculosis, of whom more than 1.45 million died. The microscopy method used in most tuberculosis high burden and resource-limited countries is less accurate for diagnosing the disease. Thus, evaluation of the available diagnostic modalities in the country is crucial, and this study aimed to evaluate the performance of Abbott real-time PCR as a diagnostic technique for tuberculosis in Ethiopia.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey was conducted using sputum specimens collected from 150 presumptive tuberculosis patients from both public and private health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from May to June 2019. The laboratory investigation was conducted at the National Reference Laboratories of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI).
Results
This finding indicated that 84.7% (127/150) and 61.3% (92/150) were smear and culture-negative, respectively. The overall diagnostic sensitivity of the Abbott real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique for the diagnosis of tuberculosis was 89.7% (52/58), that for smear-negative was 80.6% (29/36), and that for specificity was 92.4% (85/92). Drug resistance testing demonstrated diagnostic specificities of 87.5% and 100% for isoniazid and rifampicin, respectively, and a sensitivity of 92.3% for both.
Conclusions
This study demonstrated an outstanding performance of the Abbott real-time PCR technique for diagnosing tuberculosis using sputum specimens using culture as a reference standard. Thus, we recommend that Ethiopia's ministry and tuberculosis program implementers consider the Abbott real-time PCR technique for diagnosing tuberculosis and drug resistance testing, which is likely to be included in the national guidelines.
The Impact of Repeated Preheating of Matrix Modifying Bulk Fill Resin Composite on Post-gel Polymerization Shrinkage Strain (in Vitro Study)
Authors: fathy Heba , Gamal Wael , Riad Mona
Published: September 2023

Background: This study evaluated the effect of repeated preheating cycles of matrix-modifying bulk fill resin composites on the postgel polymerization shrinkage strain.
Methods: Forty resin composite specimens were prepared using a Teflon mold (7 mm length x 4 mm width x 2 mm height). Each specimen was linked to a strain gauge and strain monitoring equipment (Strain-Meter PCD-300A Kyowa-Electronic Instruments Co, LTD, Tokyo, Japan) for measuring the postgel polymerizationshrinkage strain (um/m) of the resin composite. Preheating of the resin composite syringe was accomplished using Active Resin Heat (temperature of 68°C). According to the number of preheating cycles of the resin composite syringes, the specimens were divided into four equal groups: P0 (control), resin composite packed and cured at room temperature [23 ± 1°C], P1: preheated once, P2: preheated twice and P3: preheated three times prior to packing and curing for 30 seconds according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Statistical analysis was performed using Shapiro‒Wilk test for normality. ANOVA single factor was used as the test of significance followed by Tukey Hsd/Kramer with the level of significance set at 0.05.
Results: Data analysis revealed insignificant differences in the postgel polymerization shrinkage strain among all tested groups (p≥0.05).
Conclusions: The repeated preheating cycles of matrix-modifying bulk-fill resin composites prior to curing had no adverse effect on the induced postgel polymerization shrinkage strain.
Clinical Relevance: The results of this study confirmed that clinicians can consider repeatedly preheating resin composites in dental practices. The information of comparable performance regarding postgel polymerization shrinkage when applying preheated composites as room temperature cured resin composites could be of utmost significance as the same resin composite syringe can clinically undergo numerous preheating cycles before it is completely consumed with the advantage of a transient reduction in viscosity, improving restoration adaptability to the cavity. Its use in routine care can be considered a good practice.
Medium-term results of laparoscopic lateral duodenojejunostomy for pediatric superior mesenteric artery compression syndrome
Authors: Tang Jingfeng , Zhang Mengxin , Zhou Ying , Cao Guoqing , Li Shuai , Zhang Xi , Tang Shaotao
Published: September 2023

Purpose: Laparoscopic lateral duodenojejunostomy (LLD) has been shown to be feasible in some reported cases for pediatric Wilkie’s syndrome, also known as superior mesenteric artery compression syndrome (SMAS), but its medium-term outcomes are lacking. We summarized the experience of LLD for SMAS in children, aiming to confirm its effectiveness.
Methods: From January 2013 to May 2021, SMAS children who received LLDwere included in this retrospective study. The procedure was carried out utilizing the four-trocar technique. The elevation of the transverse colon allows good exposure of the dilated and bulging second and third sections of the duodenum. Using a linear stapler, we established a lateral anastomosis connecting the proximal jejunum with the third part of duodenum. Following that, a running suture was used to intracorporeally close the common enterotomy. Clinical data on patients was collected for analysis.
Results: We retrospectively analyzed 9 SMAS patients (6 females and 3 males) who underwent LLD, aged between 7 and 17 years old. The mean operative time was 118.4±16.5 min and mean estimated blood loss was 5.6±1.4 ml. There was no conversion, intraoperative complications or immediate postoperative complications. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 6.8 days. During follow-up (20 months), seven patients experienced complete recovery of symptoms prior to surgery. One patient still had mild vomiting, which resolved with medication. Another patient developed psychological nausea, which significantly improved after treatment with education and diet management.
Conclusions: LLD represents a feasible and effective treatment option for SMAS in well-selected children, providing favorable medium-term outcomes.
The Efficacy and Safety of Perioperative Therapy for Resectable Locally Gastric Cancer: A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials
Authors: Kuang Ziyu , Sun Qianhui , Cao Luchang , Ma Xinyi , Wang Jiaxi , Liu Kexin , Li Jie
Published: September 2023

Objective
This study aimed to determine the optimal perioperative treatment regimen for locally resectable gastric cancer (GC).
Methods
A comprehensive literature search was conducted focusing on phase II/III randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing perioperative chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy in locally resectable GC. The R0 resection rate, overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and incidence of grade 3 or higher non-surgical adverse events (SAEs) associated with various perioperative regimens were analyzed. Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed to compare the treatment regimens and rank their efficacy.
Results
A total of 30 RCTs involving 8346 patients were included in this study. Neoadjuvant XELOX plus neoadjuvant radiotherapy and neoadjuvant CF were found to significantly improve the R0 resection rate compared to surgery alone, and the former had the highest probability of being the most effective option in this context. Neoadjuvant plus adjuvant FLOT was associated with the highest probability of being the best regimen for OS. Due to limited data, no definitive ranking could be determined for DFS. Considering non-surgical SAEs, FLO emerged as the safest regimen.
Conclusions
This study provides valuable insights for clinicians in selecting perioperative treatment regimens for locally resectable GC. However, further studies are needed to validate these findings.
Impact of Atrial Septal Defect Closure on Mortality in Older Patients
Authors: Khamplod Sipawath , Kaolawanich Yodying , Karaketklang Khemajira , Ratanasit Nithima
Published: September 2023

Background: Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a common form of adult congenital heart disease that can lead to long-term adverse outcomes if left untreated. Early closure of ASD has been associated with excellent outcomes and lower complication rates. However, there is limited evidence regarding the prognosis of ASD closure in older adults. This study aims to evaluate the mortality rates in older ASD patients with and without closure.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients aged over 40 years with ASD between 2001 and 2017. Patients were followed up to assess all-cause mortality. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to identify the predictors of mortality. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The cohort consisted of 450 patients (mean age 56.6±10.4 years, 77.3% female), with 66% aged between 40 and 60 years, and 34% over 60 years. Within the cohort, 299 underwent ASD closure (201 with transcatheter and 98 with surgical closure). During the median follow-up duration of 7.9 years, 51 patients died. The unadjusted cumulative 10-year rate of mortality was 3% in patients with ASD closure, and 34% in patients without ASD closure (log-rank p<0.001). Multivariable analysis revealed that age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.03, 95% confident interval [CI] 1.007-1.06, p=0.001), NYHA class (HR 2.58, 95% CI 1.61-4.12, p<0.001), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (HR 1.08, 95% CI 1.03-1.10, p<0.001), right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) (HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.007-1.04, p=0.004), and ASD closure (HR 0.07, 95% CI 0.03-0.17, p<0.001) were independently associated with mortality.
Conclusion: ASD closure demonstrated favorable outcomes in older patients. Age, NYHA class, BUN, RVSP, and ASD closure were identified as independent factors linked to mortality in this population.
Primary nonadherence to oral cancer chemotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma: Prevalence and predictive factors in Vietnam
Authors: Ky Thai Doan , Loan Nguyen Thi , Thinh Nguyen Tien , Binh Mai Thanh
Published: September 2023

Purpose
Standard oral cancer chemotherapy (OCT) or targeted therapy (OTT) has expanded the treatment methods for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its primary nonadherence causes a reduction in efficacy. We aimed to evaluate the status of nonadherence and influencing factors among outpatient patients with HCC.
Patients and methods:
In 2021, 384 Vietnamese HCC patients were included. Nonadherence to OCT was determined using the eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale. Five factors—condition-related, patient-related, socioeconomic-related, treatment-related, and healthcare-system/provider-related—were measured in a correlated manner with noncompliant treatment.
Results
A total of 54,8% of HCC outpatients were nonadherent to OCT, with a mean Morisky score of 5.19. They dropped out of the treatment mainly because of drug side effects, such as fatigue (72.4%), hand-foot syndrome (42.7%), diarrhea (38.3%), nausea (25%), insomnia (24.7%), abdominal pain (12%), and anxiety about these adverse events (65.9%) (P < 0.05). Additionally, financial difficulties and low relative copayments were significantly correlated with the noncompliant treatment of patients (OR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.32–3.98, P = 0.003; OR = 4.36, 95% CI = 0.95–19.93, P = 0.039, respectively). Moreover, inadequate individual information about the clinical course, the art of treatment, and medication usage instructions were suggestive barriers to adherence to treatment (OR = 1.96, 95% CI = 1.08–3.55, P = 0.024; OR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.1–3.14, P = 0.02; OR = 2.34, 95% CI = 1.29–4.26, P = 0.004, respectively). Finally, a low level of trust in doctors was an important factor in nonadherence (P = 0.00001).
Conclusions
This study suggests a high rate of primary nonadherence to standard oral targeted therapy among HCC outpatient patients because of drug side effects, patient awareness of treatment, and lack of confidence in healthcare providers. Close supervision, proper medication instructions, appropriate dosage reductions, and comprehensive patient counseling might be necessary to control nonadherence.
Comparison of the gut microbiome composition between Lawsonia intracellularis vaccinated and non-vaccinated pigs in a sub-clinically infected pig herd
Authors: Oh Yusik , Ha Donguk , Jang Hada , Park Chanyeong , Seo Hyunhee , Yu Hyunah , Moon Duwhan , Kim San , Lee Sungseok
Published: September 2023

Lawsonia intracellularis (LI) infection in pigs can cause several clinical manifestations such as retarded growth, hemorrhagic diarrhea and mortality. Despite decades since the first isolation of the causative agent, still the underlying pathogenesis and virulence of LI is not fully understood yet. For the control of LI infection in the field, the use of antibiotics and vaccination with live-attenuated strain of LI has been implemented. Several studies have been done to determine the effect of vaccination on the prevention of clinical onset and improvement of productivity and impact on microbiome composition under experimental challenge conditions. However, little is known about the impact of natural subclinical LI infection, the most common form of this disease, on the gut microbiome of pigs compared to the vaccinated pigs. In the current study, the composition of the gut microbiome between LI vaccinated and non-vaccinated pigs was investigated to determine the efficacy of the vaccine on the host and the gut microbiome in the pig herd with LI sub-clinical infection. The increased productivity of vaccinated pigs was observed, and taxa related with the digestion showed higher relative abundance in the vaccinated pigs significantly. The results of this study suggest that vaccination with an oral live LI vaccine successfully increased the productivity of pigs by leading to a gut microbiome enriched with digestion-related taxa.
Euboeus mimonti Boieldieu, 1865, the oldest record of an extant species of Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera) and notes on other species identified as darkling beetles from the Late Pliocene of Willershausen (Germany)
Authors: Nabozhenko Maxim V. , Shaw Josh Jenkins , Gehler Alexander , Kaulfuss Uwe
Published: September 2023

Several fossil beetles from the Late Pliocene (Piacenzian) of Willershausen (Lower Saxony, Germany) previously identified as Tenebrionidae and Staphylinidae are reviewed. One species, formerly determined as “Staphylinoidea” is identified as Euboeus mimonti Boieldieu, 1865 (Tenebrionidae: Helopini). This species is the oldest record of an extant species of darkling beetles, which occurs now in the Balkans and Anatolia. The discovery of Euboeus mimonti in the Late Pliocene of Germany indicates that the range of this species was much wider, and the climate in the Late Pliocene in the modern territory of Lower Saxony was much milder. One species formerly determined as “Alleculidae gen. sp.” belongs to the subfamily Alleculinae (Tenebrionidae) and it is identified here as Pseudocistela aff. cerambioides. Two species, misidentified by a previous author as Tenebrionidae belong to Elateridae and Cerambycidae respectively. Generic and species composition, as well as the ratio of extinct and extant beetle taxa in the Willershausen Fossil Lagerstätte are discussed.
Unravel the landscape of antibiotic resistance determinants in the nasopharynx and the impact of antibiotics: a longitudinal study of preterm infants
Authors: Petersen Fernanda Cristina , Dhariwal Achal , Rajar Polona , Salvadori Gabriela , Heidi  , Berild Dag , Saugstad Ola , Fugelseth Drude , Greisen Gorm , Dahle Ulf , Haaland Kirsti
Published: September 2023

Respiratory pathogens, commonly colonizing nasopharynx, are among the leading causes of death due to antimicrobial resistance. Yet, antibiotic resistance determinants within nasopharyngeal microbial communities remain poorly understood. Utilizing shotgun metagenomics, we investigated the nasopharynx resistome development in preterm infants, assessed early antibiotic impact on its trajectory, and explored its association with clinical covariates. Our findings revealed widespread nasopharyngeal carriage of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) with resistomes undergoing transient changes, including increased ARG diversity, abundance, and composition alterations due to early antibiotic exposure. ARGs associated with the critical nosocomial pathogen Serratia marcescens persisted (at 8-10 months of age) for months following discharge, signifying hospitalization signature. The nasopharyngeal resistome strongly correlated with microbiome composition, with inter-individual differences and postnatal age explaining most of the variation. The collateral effects of antibiotics and hospitalization reported here highlights the importance of future studies focusing on this yet rather unexplored reservoir of pathogens and ARGs.
Spatial Functional Mapping of Hypoxia Inducible Factor Heterodimerisation and Immune checkpoint regulators in clear cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Safrygina Elena , Applebee Christopher , McIntyre Alan , Padget Julian , Larijani Banafshé
Published: September 2023

Background:
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a highly malignant subtype of kidney cancer. 90% of ccRCC have inactivating mutations of VHL that stablise transcription factors, HIF1α and HIF2α, only stabilised in hypoxia. The varied response to HIF2 inhibition, in the preclinical and clinical settings, suggests that assessment of HIF2αactivation state, not just expression levels is required as a biomarker of sensitivity to enable optimal clinical use.
Methods:
Two-site amplified time-resolved Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (aiFRET), with FRET-Efficiency, Ef, as its read out, provides functional proteomics quantification, a precise step forward from protein expression as a tool for patient stratification.
To enhance the clinical accessibility of Ef, we have devised a new computational approach, Functional Oncology map(FuncOmap).
Results:
FuncOmap directly maps functional states of oncoproteins and allows functional states quantification at an enhanced spatial resolution. The innovative contributions in FuncOmap are the means to co-analyse and map expressional and functional state images and the enhancement of spatial resolution to facilitate clinical application. We show the spatial interactive states HIF2α and HIF1b in ccRCC patient samples.
Conclusion:
FuncOmap can be used to quantify heterogeneity in patient response and improve accurate patient stratification, thus enhancing the power of precision.
Pharmacokinetic Parameters and Tissular Biodistribution of 1,3 β-glucans From Maitake Pro4x in Balbc Mice.
Authors: Aguilera-Braico Diego Maximo , Balogh Gabriela
Published: September 2023

The objective of this study was to examine the pharmacokinetic parameters of 1,3-beta-glucans from Maitake Pro4X in BALBc mice through oral and intravenous (IV) administration. The parameters of interest included Tmax (time to reach maximum concentration), Cmax (maximum concentration), t1/2 (half-life), ta1/2 (mean residence time), Ke (elimination rate constant), Ka (absorption rate constant), clearance, Vd (volume of distribution), Cp0 (initial plasma concentration), and AUC (area under the concentration-time curve). Additionally, the study aimed to investigate the tissular biodistribution of the 1,3-beta-glucans following both administration routes and identify the organs involved in absorption, elimination, and distribution. The comparison of the results revealed that some elimination constants (ke3 IV and ke2 oral) were similar for both routes. Additionally, Tmax was found to be approximately 10 hours for both routes, and the elimination t1/2 showed similarity between oral (12.93 h) and IV (12.81 h) administration. Similarities were also observed in total systemic clearance values. However, the IV route exhibited a higher volume of distribution while having a lower AUC Cp vs. time. The results indicated that the gastrointestinal tract (stomach, duodenum, and colon) exhibited the highest levels of uptake for both routes of administration. Conversely, the liver and kidney showed the lowest uptake for both routes. Comparatively, oral administration resulted in greater gastrointestinal accumulation. However, cerebral, pulmonary, renal, and hepatic uptake was higher following intravenous administration. Based on the in vivo pharmacokinetic studies in murine models, it can be concluded that oral and intravenous administration of Maitake Pro4X presented similar values for elimination speed, Tmax, t1/2, total systemic clearance, and bioavailability.
Development and validation of a model for predicting refracture in elderly patients with hip fracture
Authors: Zhang Linlin , Zhou Yanling , Gu Yanlin , Lin Shuqiu , Wang Wei , Xue Wenping
Published: September 2023

Purpose
The goal of our study was to determine the incidence of refractures within two years after hip fracture surgery in elderly patients. LASSO Cox was used to gather independent indicators. The nomogram model was developed to predict refractures.
Methods
In this retrospective analysis, 1254 participants were recruited between 2019 and 2021 at two general hospitals in China. Baseline variables were collected, including demographics, comorbidities, and living conditions. The primary outcome was refractures within two years. This model was developed using LASSO Cox and validated using bootstrapping methods. The calibration and discriminative ability were evaluated using C-index values, AUC values, calibration plots, and decision curves.
Results
A total of 119 patients with refractures were identified via telephone interview. Seven independent indicators were predictors for refractures, including age, Harris, anemia, neurologic disease, visual impairment, anti-osteoporosis, and exercise. Based on bootstrap resampling, the calibration curve value was 0.869 (95% CI: 0.795–0.987), and the AUC was 0.793 (95% CI 0.751–0.834).
Conclusion
This model shows potential as a prediction instrument that permits clinicians to precisely detect the high risk of refractures and further help patients make decisions.
Real-World Experience with Ruxolitinib Therapy for Steroid Refractory Acute Graft Versus Host Disease
Authors: Kim Dennis , Murray Alistair , Linn Swe Mar , Yu Benoit , Novitzky-Basso Igor , Mattsson Jonas , Elemary Mohamed , White Jennifer , Lemieux Christopher , Jamani Kareem , Kennah Michael
Published: September 2023

Acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) is a complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Steroid refractory aGVHD (SR-aGVHD) carries a particularly grim prognosis. Ruxolitinib has shown promise for treatment of SR-aGVHD in a phase 3 trial; however, safety and efficacy data outside of the clinical trial setting is lacking. We performed a multicenter retrospective study to examine the response to ruxolitinib and its efficacy in patients with SR-aGVHD. We included 59 patients treated with ruxolitinib for SR-aGVHD between 2015 and 2022. Of these 59 patients, 36 patients (61.0%) achieved a complete (CR) or partial response (PR) at 28 days, while 31 patients (52.5%) obtained a CR/PR at day 56. Patients that achieved a CR or PR at day 28 had a higher rate of overall survival (OS; 69.2%), compared with patients that did not (31.6%; p=0.037). OS at 12 months was 41.5%, with a median OS duration of 5.3 months. Failure free survival (FFS) at 12 months was 29.1%, with a median FFS of 2.6 months. Overall, this real-world experience data support ruxolitinib as the standard of care for SR-aGVHD in a non-controlled trial population.
Molecular epidemiological investigation and genetic variation analysis of PPV5 in Mianyang, Sichuan Province from 2021 to 2022
Authors: Yin Miao , Chen Xi-wen , Xie Zuo-Jie , Deng YongTao
Published: September 2023

Background
Porcine Parvovirus type 5 (PPV5) is a novel porcine parvovirus first identified in the United States in 2013. Relevant studies found that PPV5 was co-infected with POS-PCV2 and NEG-PCV2, and the infection rate in serum samples was 13.5%[1]. PPV5, PPV4, and porcine circovirus are co-infected and can cause multiple system failure syndrome (PMWS) in weaned pigs after infection [2].
Objective
To investigate the prevalence and genetic variation of porcine parvovirus type 5 (PPV5) in Mianyang.
Results
296 whole blood samples were collected from large-scale pig farms in the Mianyang area of Sichuan Province for PCR detection and whole genome sequencing analysis. The results showed that the positive rate of PPV5 was 0.33% (1/296). A strain named MYSC-PPV5 was obtained by sequencing. The genetic variation results showed that the nucleotide homology of the whole gene of MYSC-PPV5 was 98.9%-99.6%, and the nucleotide homology of ORF1 and ORF2 genes was 98.9%-99.9% and 99.4%-99.7%, respectively. The results showed that PPV5 had high genetic stability. In addition, no amino acid mutation was found in ORF1, a total of 40 amino acid sites were replaced in ORF2, and one site had amino acid addition, indicating that the strain ORF1 in this study was more conserved than ORF2.
Conclusion
The epidemiological investigation and genetic variation analysis of PPV5 in Mianyang, Sichuan Province, not only enrich the epidemiological data of PPV5 but also provide a theoretical basis for subsequent vaccine research. At the same time, it also provides the basis for further research on the pathogenesis and virulence of PPV5 and provides certain theoretical support for reducing the loss of pig industry and disease prevention and control.
Regression modeling of subjective probability of river inundation with epistemic uncertainty: a short-term panel data analysis
Authors: Hidaka Ken , Ikegai Mirai , Masuda Satoki
Published: September 2023

Lack of sufficient knowledge about flood risk can lead to ''don't know'' responses or non-response in risk perception surveys, and incorrect treatment of these responses can bias results. In this study, we focus on the possibility that the ''50\%'' response option actually means ''fifty-fifty'' and thus reflects epistemic uncertainty in the subjective probability of river flooding; we conduct an analysis that introduces a concomitant-variable latent class model as a method to adjust for this. The results of the analysis accounting for epistemic uncertainty suggest that risk communication, such as simulated evacuation experiences and flood-related information distribution, has the effect of increasing subjective probability. Moreover, the proportion of latent classes with epistemic uncertainty decreased with each successive wave of the survey, thereby suggesting that knowledge acquisition and learning through the demonstration experiment led to a reduction in epistemic uncertainty. The analysis using the evacuation decision-making model also suggested that the introduction of subjective probability contributed to the improved likelihood of the model. These results suggest that knowledge acquisition through risk communication and short-term panel survey can lead to correct risk perception estimations and influence evacuation decisions.
Joint Loading and Muscle Activation of Upper-body in Different Incline/Decline Push-Up Variants by AnyBody Musculoskeletal Modeling
Authors: Zhang Jing , Dong Xianpeng , Zhao Shuaiyin , Hou Guohao , Chen Yixuan , Nie Jiachen , Ding Li
Published: September 2023

Background
Push-up exercises are known to effectively activate the upper body muscles, thereby enhancing core strength and endurance. The adaptability of push-ups, with different body inclinations, allows for easy implementation in various daily environments, offering a wide range of intensity options. This study aimed to investigate the muscle activation and joint loading effects resulting from different body inclination angles during push-ups.
Methods
Six distinct push-up movement models were established using AnyBody software, with body-to-ground angles set at -15°, 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, and 60°. Eleven healthy adult males, who had undergone systematic training and mastered the push-up positions, performed the six push-up movements in a random order, and surface electromyography (sEMG) data was collected to validate the accuracy of the AnyBody push-up model. Based on the validated model, the muscle activity of six upper body muscles (pectoralis major, biceps, triceps, anterior deltoid, middle deltoid, and inferior trapezius) was analyzed, along with the joint forces in the three degrees of freedom at the shoulder and elbow joints. Additionally, the exercise effect assessment parameter RFM/JF was introduced.
Results
The results revealed greater muscle activation at body-to-ground angles of -15° and 0°, while less joint force was observed at 45° and 60°. Furthermore, push-ups performed at 0° and 30° demonstrated significant exercise effects, with reduced risk of joint strain for the six targeted muscles.
Conclusion
By approaching push-up exercises from a biomechanical standpoint and validating the AnyBody model, this study provided valuable insights for exercisers seeking a deeper understanding of the exercise and its potential to help them achieve diverse fitness goals.
Unveiling the Oral-Gut Connection: Chronic Periodontal Infection Accelerates Atherosclerosis via Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis and Altered Metabolites in apoE-/- Mice on a High-Fat Diet
Authors: Huang Xiaojing , Gan Guowu , Lin Shihan , Luo Yufang , Zeng Yu , Lu Beibei , Zhang Ren , Chen Shuai , Lei Huaxiang , Cai Zhiyu
Published: September 2023

This study aimed to explore the impact of chronic apical periodontitis (CAP) on atherosclerosis in apoE−/− mice subjected to a high-fat diet (HFD). The investigation focused on gut microbiota, metabolites, and intestinal barrier function to uncover potential links between oral health and cardiovascular disease. In this research, CAP was found to exacerbate atherosclerosis in HFD-fed apoE−/− mice, as evident from increased plaque size and volume in arterial walls by Oil Red-O staning. 16S rRNA sequence uncovered significant alterations in gut microbiota, with harmful bacterial species thriving while beneficial ones declined. Metabolomic profiling indicated disruptions in lipid metabolism and primary bile acid synthesis, leading to elevated levels of taurochenodeoxycholic acid (TCDCA), taurocholic acid (TCA), and tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TDCA). These metabolic shifts may contribute to atherosclerosis development. Furthermore, the study observed impairment in intestinal barrier function, characterized by reduced mucin expression and disrupted tight junction proteins. The increased intestinal permeability observed positively correlated with the extent of atherosclerotic lesions, emphasizing the significance of the intestinal barrier in cardiovascular health. In conclusion, this research underscores the intricate interplay between oral health, gut microbiota composition, metabolite profiles, and cardiovascular disease. It highlights the exacerbating effect of CAP on atherosclerosis in the context of a high-fat diet. These findings emphasize the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene as a potential preventive measure against cardiovascular issues, as well as the need for further investigations into the intricate mechanisms linking oral health, gut microbiota, and metabolic pathways in cardiovascular disease development.
A Revisit to Political Institutions and Inequality
Authors: DENIZ PINAR , Stengos Thanasis
Published: September 2023

This study revisits the drivers of income inequality with political institutions at the core. We take a multidimensional institutional approach by defining political institutions in terms of governance, political freedom, political fragmentation and political scale. The main contributions of our study are (i) presenting the most extensive analysis up-to-date of the role of political institutions by decomposing it into distinct elements and (ii) considering the difficulty and the lack of consensus and clarity regarding the choice of instruments in the literature we define an alternative methodology to deal with the potential endogeneity of political institutions. We combine an analysis of club convergence, a clustering mechanism according to the long term income trajectories of the countries under investigation with Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) within each cluster to determine the most important variables that affect inequality out of a large set of potentially important variables. Our results show that the effectiveness of political institutions differ among country groups and that there is no "one size fits all" policy prescription that links institutional quality and income inequality.
Associations between deep venous thrombosis and thyroid diseases: A two-sample bidirectional Mendelian Randomization study
Authors: Zhang Lifeng , Li Kaibei , Yang Qifan , Lin Yao , Geng Caijuan , Huang Wei , Zeng Wei
Published: September 2023

Backgrounds:
In some previous observational studies, deep venous thrombosis (DVT) has been linked to thyroid diseases, but the findings are debatable. This study aimed to reveal whether some common thyroid diseases can causally result in DVT using the two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) approach.
Methods
We did a two-sample MR study that chose single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) which are highly associated with some common thyroid diseases from the FinnGen datasets as our instruments, including autoimmune hyperthyroidism (962 cases and 172,976 controls), subacute thyroiditis (418 cases and 187,684 controls), hypothyroidism (26,342 cases and 59,827 controls) and malignant neoplasm of thyroid gland (989 cases and 217,803 controls). Outcomes datasets about deep venous thrombosis (6,767 cases and 330,392 controls) were obtained from the IEU open GWAS project. Inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger and weighted median were used to estimate the causal association between DVT and thyroid diseases. Cochran’s Q test was used to quantify the heterogeneity of instrumental variables. We also detected horizontal pleiotropy using MR-PRESSO. When the causal relationship was significant, a bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis was performed to determine if there were reverse causal relationships between exposures and outcomes.
Results
The Mendelian Randomization analysis illustrated that autoimmune hyperthyroidism slightly raised the risk of DVT in IVW method[odds ratio (OR) = 1.000891; 95% confidence interval (CI):1.0001156–1.001667; p = 0.0243]. Weighted median showed a similar association[OR = 1.000984; 95%CI: 1.0000806–1.001888; p = 0.03278]. There was no evidence of heterogeneity in instrumental variables which Cochran’s Q test showed and MR-PRESSO didn’t assumed the presence of horizontal pleiotropy (p = 0.972). However, no evidence can point out that other thyroid diseases had relationship with DVT using the IVW method, weighted median method and MR-Egger regression.
Conclusion
Our research found that autoimmune hyperthyroidism may cause DVT. More evidences and lager samples are needed to draw more precise conclusions.
Anti-chondrogenic role of nerve growth factor in osteoarthritis and human induced pluripotent stem cells-derived chondrogenesis model
Authors: Jung Se In , Rim Yeri Alice , Choi Si Hwa , Kim Jang-Woon , Ju Ji Hyeon
Published: September 2023

Background
Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a neurotrophic factor involved in the survival, differentiation, and growth of sensory neurons and nociceptive function. Additionally, it has been suggested to play a role in osteoarthritis (OA). Previous studies have reported a relationship between NGF and OA; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between cartilage characteristics and NGF expression in the pathology of OA using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs)-derived chondrogenic pellets.
Methods
Synovial fluid was collected from patients (n = 3) with OA. NGF expression was confirmed in human OA cartilage tissue and synovial fluid. To confirm the role of NGF in chondrocalcinosis during OA development, hiPSCs-derived chondrogenic pellets were treated with NGF during differentiation. The expression of chondrogenic and hypertrophic (osteogenic) markers was confirmed using polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Additionally, the expression of inflammatory cytokines and matrix metallopeptidase (MMP) was confirmed.
Results
NGF treatment decreased the expression of chondrogenic markers (SOX9, aggrecan, and collagen type II, alpha 1) in chondrogenic pellets, whereas the expression of hypertrophy markers (collagen type X, alpha 1 and vascular endothelial growth factor A) was increased. The expression of inflammatory cytokines and MMPs also increased in NGF-treated chondrogenic pellets.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that increased NGF levels may induce chondrocalcinosis and osteophyte formation during OA progression and may represent a potential target for OA treatment.
New Ranking Approach of Intuitionistic Fuzzy Sets and its Application in Cognitive Transportation Problem
Authors: Saikia Bornali , Dutta Palash
Published: September 2023

In real-life problems, we frequently face uncertain situations because of human cognitive behaviour. Researchers have suggested meticulous mathematical notions to tackle such situations since its initiation. An intuitionistic fuzzy set is one of the effective extensions of a fuzzy set. Intuitionistic fuzzy sets have been applied in various real-life cognitive decision-making problems, for instance, engineering, medicine, pattern recognition, transportation, criminal investigation, etc. Numerous research works can be found in the literature, and most had several restrictions or were performed as unfit for providing human satisfaction outcomes. This work proposes a way to rank intuitionistic fuzzy sets using membership and non-membership functions. We discuss the benefits and provide examples to illustrate the approach. Then, we use our proposed ranking approach to deal with cognitive transportation problems, as it is well known that the core objective of transportation problems is to find optimal solutions. The literature contains various research studies on intuitionistic fuzzy problems with transportation. However, most of them have drawbacks.. Some methods are impractical, and others can't meet supply and demand limitations.. As a result, a method has been developed to lessen restrictions on solving methods of the intuitionistic fuzzy transportation problem. Although, some existing transportation problems are depicted in this work for a comparative study to elaborate on the significance of the present work. Our work deals with solving transportation problems in different uncertain situations using intuitionistic fuzzy environments like normal mixed type triangular, fully triangular and generalized trapezoidal intuitionistic fuzzy.. At the end of the study, hesitancy, cost effectiveness, statistical significant, sensitivity, result analysis, computational complexity and advantages are discussed to establish the effectiveness of the proposed work.
Protective effects of IL18-105G>A and IL18-137C>G genetic variants on severity of COVID-19
Authors: Mori Mayara Tiemi Enokida , Simão Andrea Name Colado , Danelli Tiago , Oliveira Sayonara Rangel , Cassela Pedro Luis Candido Souza , Trigo Guilherme Lerner , Cardoso Kauê , Tejo Alexandre Mestre , Tano Zuleica Naomi , de Almeida Elaine Regina , Reiche Edna Maria Vissoci , Maes Michael , Lozovoy Marcell Alysson Batisti
Published: September 2023

Objective and Design:
A cross-sectional study evaluated the IL18-105G > A (rs360717) and IL18-137C > G (rs187238) variants on Coronavírus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity.
Subjects and Methods:
528 patients with COVID-19 classifed with mild (n = 157), moderate (n = 63) and critical (n = 308) disease were genotpyed for the IL18-105G > A and IL18-137C > G variants.
Results
The IL18-105G > A was associated with severe disease (moderate + critical), with effects of the GA genotype in the codominant [Odds ratio (OR), (95% confidence interval) 0.55, 0.34–0.89, p = 0.015], overdominant (0.56, 0.35–0.89, p = 0.014) and the AA + GA genotypes in the dominant (0.60, 0.38–0.96, p = 0.031) models. The IL18-137GC was also associated with severe disease with effects in the codominant (0.55, 0.34–0.89, p = 0.015), and overdominant models (0.57, 0.36–0.91, p = 0.018), and the GG + CG genotypes in the dominant model (0.59, 0.37–0.93, p = 0.025). IL18-105 GA coupled with age, chest computed tomograhy scan anormalities, body mass index, heart diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and inflammation may be used to predict the patients who develop severe disease with an accuracy of 84.3% (sensitivity: 83.3% and specificity: 86.5%).
Conclusion
The IL18-105G > A and IL18-137C > G variants contribute to COVID-19 severity and the effects of IL18-137C > G may be modulating IL-18 production and Th1-mediated immune responses.
Facile synthesis and multiple application of ultralong-afterglow room temperature phosphorescence aggregate carbon dots from simple raw materials
Authors: Zhu Wenping , Wang Like , Yang Weijie , Chen Yahong , Liu Zengchen , Li Yanxia , Xue Yingying
Published: September 2023

Owing to the ultralong afterglow, room temperature decay phosphorescence nanomaterials have aroused enough attention. In the work, by simple one-pot solid-state thermal decomposition reaction, aggregate carbon dots (CDs) was prepared from trimesic and boric acid. Based on the intermolecular hydrogen bonds and intramolecular π-π stacking weak interaction from precursors, CDs was encapsulated in boron oxide matrix and formed aggregation. The aggregate state of CDs facilitated the triplet excited states (Tn), which could induce the room temperature decay phosphorescence properties. By careful investigation, under different excitation wavelengths at 254 nm and 365 nm, the aggregate CDs showed > 15 s and > 3 s room temperature phosphorescence emission in the naked eye, which was associated with 1516.12 ms and 718.62 ms lifetime respectively. And the aggregate CDs exhibited widespread application in encoding encryption, optical anti-counterfeiting and fingerprint identification etc. The interesting aggregate CDs revealed unexpected ultralong-afterglow room temperature decay phosphorescence properties and the work opened a window for constructing ultralong-afterglow room temperature decay phosphorescence aggregate CDs nanomaterials.
Transition of Care: Lessons from the Standardizing Care to Improve Outcomes in Pediatric End Stage Renal Disease (SCOPE) Dialysis Collaborative
Authors: Munshi Raj , Torres Alison Hewitt , Ramirez-Preciado Bertha , Reyes Laura J Castellanos , Richardson Troy , Pruette Cozumel S
Published: September 2023

Acknowledging the importance of preparing the pediatric dialysis patient for successful transfer to an adult provider, centers from the Standardizing Care to Improve Outcomes in Pediatric End Stage Renal Disease (SCOPE) Dialysis Collaborative developed transition tools and performed iterative implementation of a transition of care program to gain real life insight into the drivers and barriers towards implementation of a transition program for patients receiving dialysis. 9 educational modules, along with introductory letter and assessment tool were created. A 4-month pilot implementation study among 6 centers of varying patient population (age ≥ 11 years) was performed. TOC tools were further refined and broader implementation within the collaborative was performed. Interim assessment of TOC tool utilization and implementation success was performed among 11 centers, forming the foundation towards a broader discussion regarding process, barriers and success towards TOC implementation among 26 centers. Transition champion was a key driver of successful implementation. Lack of institutional support and collaboration with adult dialysis centers were important barriers towards sustainability. COVID pandemic and increased staff turnover affected longer term implementation of TOC program. Successful transition and transfer of AYA with ESKD on dialysis remains a challenge. This study represents the experience of the largest cohort of pediatric dialysis centers, with diversity in population size and geography, towards development and implementation of a TOC program. The collaborative adds to the resources available to assist a center towards transition and transfer, with particular focus on transitioning patients on dialysis.
Bilingual Hate Speech Detection on Social Media : Amharic and Afaan Oromo
Authors: Ababu Teshome Mulugeta , Woldeyohannis Michael Melese , Getaneh Emuye Bawok
Published: September 2023

Due to significant increases in internet penetration and the development of smartphone technology during the preceding couple of decades, many people have started using social media as a communication platform. Social media has grown to be one of the most significant components, with several benefits. However, technology also poses a number of threats, challenges, and barriers, such as hate speech, disinformation, and fake news. Hate speech detection is one of the many ways social media platforms can be accused of not doing enough to thwart hate speech on their platform. People in Bilingual and multinational societies commonly employ a code mix in both spoken and written communication. Among these, Amharic and Afaan Oromo language speakers frequently mix the two languages when conversing and posting on social media. The majority of previous study concentrated on identifying either technological favoured language or monolingual hate speech in Ethiopian languages; however, the availability of Bilingual communication in social media hampers the propagation of hate speech via social media. In this work, a Bilingual hate speech detection for Amharic and Afaan Oromo languages were conducted using four different deep learning classifiers (CNN, BiLSTM, CNN-BiLSTM, and BiGRU) and three feature extraction (Keras word embedding, word2vec, and FastText) techniques. According to the experiment, BiLSTM with FastText feature extraction is an outperforming the other algorithm by achieving a 78.05\% percent of accuracy for Bilingual Amharic Afaan Oromo hate speech detection. The FastText feature extraction overcomes the problem of out of vocabulary (OOV). Furthermore, we are working towards including others linguistic features of the languages to detect hate speech and make the resource available to facilitate further research in the area of Bilingual hate speech detection for other under-resourced Ethiopian languages.