bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advances in lymphatic metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Zhang Xiaofei , Ma Li , Xue Man , Sun Yanning , Wang Zhaoxia
Published: April 2024

Lung cancer is a deeply malignant tumor with high incidence and mortality. Despite the rapid development of diagnosis and treatment technology, abundant patients with lung cancer are still inevitably faced with recurrence and metastasis, contributing to death. Lymphatic metastasis is the first step of distant metastasis and an important prognostic indicator of non-small cell lung cancer. Tumor-induced lymphangiogenesis is involved in the construction of the tumor microenvironment, except promoting malignant proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells, it also plays a crucial role in individual response to treatment, especially immunotherapy. Thus, this article reviews the current research status of lymphatic metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer, in order to provide some insights for the basic research and clinical and translational application in this field.
Role of STING in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Tang Wenhua , Zhou Wenjie , Ji Mei , Yang Xin
Published: April 2024

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a prevalent form of lung cancer. Patients with advanced NSCLC are currently being treated with various therapies, including traditional radiotherapy, chemotherapy, molecular targeted therapies and immunotherapy. However, a considerable proportion of advance patients who cannot benefit from them. Consequently, it is essential to identify a novel research target that offers an encouraging perspective. The stimulator of interferon genes (STING) has emerged as such a target. At present, it is confirmed that activating STING in NSCLC tumor cells can impede the proliferation and metastasis of dormant tumor cells. This review focuses on the role of STING in NSCLC treatment and the factors influencing its activation. Additionally, it explores the correlation between STING activation and diverse therapy modalities for NSCLC, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, molecular targeted therapies and immunotherapy. Furthermore, it proposes the prospect of innovative therapy methods involving nanoparticles, with the aim of using the features of STING to develop more strategies for NSCLC therapy.
Complement networks in gene-edited pig xenotransplantation: enhancing transplant success and addressing organ shortage
Authors: Yuan Yinglin , Cui Yuanyuan , Zhao Dayue , Yuan Yuan , Zhao Yanshuang , Li Danni , Jiang Xiaomei , Zhao Gaoping
Published: April 2024

The shortage of organs for transplantation emphasizes the urgent need for alternative solutions. Xenotransplantation has emerged as a promising option due to the greater availability of donor organs. However, significant hurdles such as hyperacute rejection and organ ischemia–reperfusion injury pose major challenges, largely orchestrated by the complement system, and activated immune responses. The complement system, a pivotal component of innate immunity, acts as a natural barrier for xenotransplantation. To address the challenges of immune rejection, gene-edited pigs have become a focal point, aiming to shield donor organs from human immune responses and enhance the overall success of xenotransplantation. This comprehensive review aims to illuminate strategies for regulating complement networks to optimize the efficacy of gene-edited pig xenotransplantation. We begin by exploring the impact of the complement system on the effectiveness of xenotransplantation. Subsequently, we delve into the evaluation of key complement regulators specific to gene-edited pigs. To further understand the status of xenotransplantation, we discuss preclinical studies that utilize gene-edited pigs as a viable source of organs. These investigations provide valuable insights into the feasibility and potential success of xenotransplantation, offering a bridge between scientific advancements and clinical application.
Metformin normalizes mitochondrial function to delay astrocyte senescence in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease through Mfn2-cGAS signaling
Authors: Wang Min , Tian Tian , Zhou Hong , Jiang Si-Yuan , Jiao Ying-Ying , Zhu Zhu , Xia Jiang , Ma Jian-Hua , Du Ren-Hong
Published: April 2024

Background

Senescent astrocytes play crucial roles in age-associated neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease (PD). Metformin, a drug widely used for treating diabetes, exerts longevity effects and neuroprotective activities. However, its effect on astrocyte senescence in PD remains to be defined.

Methods

Long culture-induced replicative senescence model and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium/α-synuclein aggregate-induced premature senescence model, and a mouse model of PD were used to investigate the effect of metformin on astrocyte senescence in vivo and in vitro. Immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometric analyses were performed to evaluate the mitochondrial function. We stereotactically injected AAV carrying GFAP-promoter-cGAS-shRNA to mouse substantia nigra pars compacta regions to specifically reduce astrocytic cGAS expression to clarify the potential molecular mechanism by which metformin inhibited the astrocyte senescence in PD.

Results

We showed that metformin inhibited the astrocyte senescence in vitro and in PD mice. Mechanistically, metformin normalized mitochondrial function to reduce mitochondrial DNA release through mitofusin 2 (Mfn2), leading to inactivation of cGAS-STING, which delayed astrocyte senescence and prevented neurodegeneration. Mfn2 overexpression in astrocytes reversed the inhibitory role of metformin in cGAS-STING activation and astrocyte senescence. More importantly, metformin ameliorated dopamine neuron injury and behavioral deficits in mice by reducing the accumulation of senescent astrocytes via inhibition of astrocytic cGAS activation. Deletion of astrocytic cGAS abolished the suppressive effects of metformin on astrocyte senescence and neurodegeneration.

Conclusions

This work reveals that metformin delays astrocyte senescence via inhibiting astrocytic Mfn2-cGAS activation and suggest that metformin is a promising therapeutic agent for age-associated neurodegenerative diseases.
Minimal detectable change of gait and balance measures in older neurological patients: estimating the standard error of the measurement from before-after rehabilitation data thanks to the linear mixed-effects models
Authors: Caronni Antonio , Picardi Michela , Scarano Stefano , Rota Viviana , Guidali Giacomo , Bolognini Nadia , Corbo Massimo
Published: April 2024

Background

Tracking gait and balance impairment in time is paramount in the care of older neurological patients. The Minimal Detectable Change (MDC), built upon the Standard Error of the Measurement (SEM), is the smallest modification of a measure exceeding the measurement error. Here, a novel method based on linear mixed-effects models (LMMs) is applied to estimate the standard error of the measurement from data collected before and after rehabilitation and calculate the MDC of gait and balance measures.

Methods

One hundred nine older adults with a gait impairment due to neurological disease (66 stroke patients) completed two assessment sessions before and after inpatient rehabilitation. In each session, two trials of the 10-meter walking test and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, instrumented with inertial sensors, have been collected. The 95% MDC was calculated for the gait speed, TUG test duration (TTD) and other measures from the TUG test, including the angular velocity peak (ωpeak) in the TUG test’s turning phase. Random intercepts and slopes LMMs with sessions as fixed effects were used to estimate SEM. LMMs assumptions (residuals normality and homoscedasticity) were checked, and the predictor variable ln-transformed if needed.

Results

The MDC of gait speed was 0.13 m/s. The TTD MDC, ln-transformed and then expressed as a percentage of the baseline value to meet LMMs’ assumptions, was 15%, i.e. TTD should be < 85% of the baseline value to conclude the patient’s improvement. ωpeak MDC, also ln-transformed and expressed as the baseline percentage change, was 25%.

Conclusions

LMMs allowed calculating the MDC of gait and balance measures even if the test-retest steady-state assumption did not hold. The MDC of gait speed, TTD and ωpeak from the TUG test with an inertial sensor have been provided. These indices allow monitoring of the gait and balance impairment, which is central for patients with an increased falling risk, such as neurological old persons.

Trial registration

NA.
Exploration of vitamin D metabolic activity-related biological effects and corresponding therapeutic targets in prostate cancer
Authors: Ding Lei , Wang Yong , Tang Zhentao , Ni Chenbo , Zhang Qian , Zhai Qidi , Liang Chao , Li Jie
Published: April 2024

Background

Previous studies have unequivocally demonstrated that the vitamin D (VD) metabolism pathway significantly influences prognosis and sensitivity to hormone therapy in prostate cancer (PCa). However, the precise underlying mechanism remains unclear.

Methods

We performed molecular profiling of 1045 PCa patients, leveraging genes linked to VD synthesis and VD receptors. We then identified highly variable gene modules with substantial associations with patient stratification. Subsequently, we intersected these modules with differentially expressed genes between PCa and adjacent paracancerous tissues. Following a meticulous process involving single-factor regression and LASSO regression to eliminate extraneous variables and construct a prognostic model. Within the high-risk subgroup defined by the calculated risk score, we analyzed their differences in cell infiltration, immune status, mutation landscape, and drug sensitivity. Finally, we selected Apolipoprotein E (APOE), which featured prominently in this model for further experimental exploration to evaluate its potential as a therapeutic target.

Results

The prognostic model established in this study had commendable predictive efficacy. We observed diminished infiltration of various T-cell subtypes and reduced expression of co-stimulatory signals from antigen-presenting cells. Mutation analysis revealed that the high-risk cohort harbored a higher frequency of mutations in the TP53 and FOXA genes. Notably, drug sensitivity analysis suggested the heightened responsiveness of high-risk patients to molecular inhibitors targeting the Bcl-2 and MAPK pathways. Finally, our investigation also confirmed that APOE upregulates the proliferative and invasive capacity of PCa cells and concurrently enhances resistance to androgen receptor antagonist therapy.

Conclusion

This comprehensive study elucidated the potential mechanisms through which this metabolic pathway orchestrates the biological behavior of PCa and findings hold promise in advancing the development of combination therapies in PCa.
Combination of electrophysiological mapping, radiofrequency catheter ablation, and atrial appendectomy in a 5-year-old girl with tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy: a case report
Authors: Zhang Min , Cao Xiaoxiao , Zhang Yong
Published: April 2024

Background

Atrial tachycardia (AT) originating from the left atrial appendage (LAA) is uncommon and the most difficult arrhythmia to eliminate. Therefore, we present the case of a 5-year-old girl with tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy (TIC) caused by AT originating from the LAA and successfully treated with RFCA associated to left atrial appendectomy. With resolution of AT, we observed a progressive improvement of LV function. The effectiveness and safety of this combination therapy were evaluated over a one-month follow-up period.

Case presentation

A 5 -year-old female was evaluated for three days of incessant cough and a syncopal episode. Surface echocardiography and 24-hour monitoring showed that the infant had persistent atrial tachycardia. Echocardiography revealed an enlarged tele diastolic diameter (46.1 mm) and malfunctioning (EF 28.53%) left ventricle. The location of the lesion at the apex of the LAA was further confirmed by electrophysiological study and RFCA. After RFCA, the infant’s ECG monitor showed that sinus rhythm was maintained for up to 22 h. Subsequently, atrial tachycardia recurred and sinus rhythm disappeared. Finally, atrial appendectomy was performed and sinus rhythm returned to normal.

Conclusions

The heart function of the infant improved and sinus rhythm was maintained, further demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of combined treatment with RFCA and atrial appendectomy after electrophysiological localization of AT from LAA to TIC.
DNA methylation remodeling and the functional implication during male gametogenesis in rice
Authors: Li Xue , Zhu Bo , Lu Yue , Zhao Feng , Liu Qian , Wang Jiahao , Ye Miaomiao , Chen Siyuan , Nie Junwei , Xiong Lizhong , Zhao Yu , Wu Changyin , Zhou Dao-Xiu
Published: April 2024

Background

Epigenetic marks are reprogrammed during sexual reproduction. In flowering plants, DNA methylation is only partially remodeled in the gametes and the zygote. However, the timing and functional significance of the remodeling during plant gametogenesis remain obscure.

Results

Here we show that DNA methylation remodeling starts after male meiosis in rice, with non-CG methylation, particularly at CHG sites, being first enhanced in the microspore and subsequently decreased in sperm. Functional analysis of rice CHG methyltransferase genes CMT3a and CMT3b indicates that CMT3a functions as the major CHG methyltransferase in rice meiocyte, while CMT3b is responsible for the increase of CHG methylation in microspore. The function of the two histone demethylases JMJ706 and JMJ707 that remove H3K9me2 may contribute to the decreased CHG methylation in sperm. During male gametogenesis CMT3a mainly silences TE and TE-related genes while CMT3b is required for repression of genes encoding factors involved in transcriptional and translational activities. In addition, CMT3b functions to repress zygotic gene expression in egg and participates in establishing the zygotic epigenome upon fertilization.

Conclusion

Collectively, the results indicate that DNA methylation is dynamically remodeled during male gametogenesis, distinguish the function of CMT3a and CMT3b in sex cells, and underpin the functional significance of DNA methylation remodeling during rice reproduction.
Some m-fold symmetric bi-univalent function classes and their associated Taylor-Maclaurin coefficient bounds
Authors: Srivastava Hari Mohan , Sabir Pishtiwan Othman , Eker Sevtap Sümer , Wanas Abbas Kareem , Mohammed Pshtiwan Othman , Chorfi Nejmeddine , Baleanu Dumitru
Published: April 2024

The Ruscheweyh derivative operator is used in this paper to introduce and investigate interesting general subclasses of the function class$\Sigma_{m}$Σmofm-fold symmetric bi-univalent analytic functions. Estimates of the initial Taylor-Maclaurin coefficients$\vert a_{m+1} \vert $|am+1|and$\vert a_{2 m+1} \vert $|a2m+1|are obtained for functions of the subclasses introduced in this study, and the consequences of the results are discussed. Additionally, the Fekete-Szegö inequalities for these classes are investigated. The results presented could generalize and improve some recent and earlier works. In some cases, our estimates are better than the existing coefficient bounds. Furthermore, within the engineering domain, the utilization of the Ruscheweyh derivative operator can encompass a broad spectrum of engineering applications, including the robotic manipulation control, optimizing optical systems, antenna array signal processing, image compression, and control system filter design. It emphasizes the potential for innovative solutions that can significantly enhance the reliability and effectiveness of engineering applications.
A surface area formula for compact hypersurfaces in $\mathbb{R}^{n}$
Authors: Huang Yen-Chang
Published: April 2024

The classical Cauchy surface area formula states that the surface area of the boundary $\partial K=\Sigma $
∂
K
=
Σ
of any n-dimensional convex body in the n-dimensional Euclidean space $\mathbb{R}^{n}$

R
n

can be obtained by the average of the projected areas of Σ along all directions in $\mathbb{S}^{n-1}$

S

n
−
1

. In this note, we generalize the formula to the boundary of arbitrary n-dimensional submanifold in $\mathbb{R}^{n}$

R
n

by introducing a natural notion of projected areas along any direction in $\mathbb{S}^{n-1}$

S

n
−
1

. This surface area formula derived from the new notion coincides with not only the result of the Crofton formula but also with that of De Jong (Math. Semesterber. 60(1):81–83, 2013) by using a tubular neighborhood. We also define the projected r-volumes of Σ onto any r-dimensional subspaces and obtain a recursive formula for mean projected r-volumes of Σ.
Asymptotic behaviour and boundedness of solutions for third-order stochastic differential equation with multi-delay
Authors: Mahmoud A. M. , Eisa D. A. , Taie R. O. A. , Bakhit D. A. M.
Published: April 2024

In the present paper, we study stochastic stability and stochastic boundedness for the stochastic differential equation (SDE) with multi-delay of third order. The derived results extend and improve some earlier results in the relevant literature, which are related to the qualitative properties of solutions to third-order delay differential equations (DDEs) and SDEs with multi-delay. Two examples are given to illustrate the results.
IoT workload offloading efficient intelligent transport system in federated ACNN integrated cooperated edge-cloud networks
Authors: Lakhan Abdullah , Grønli Tor-Morten , Bellavista Paolo , Memon Sajida , Alharby Maher , Thinnukool Orawit
Published: April 2024

Intelligent transport systems (ITS) provide various cooperative edge cloud services for roadside vehicular applications. These applications offer additional diversity, including ticket validation across transport modes and vehicle and object detection to prevent road collisions. Offloading among cooperative edge and cloud networks plays a key role when these resources constrain devices (e.g., vehicles and mobile) to offload their workloads for execution. ITS used different machine learning and deep learning methods for decision automation. However, the self-autonomous decision-making processes of these techniques require significantly more time and higher accuracy for the aforementioned applications on the road-unit side. Thus, this paper presents the new offloading ITS for IoT vehicles in cooperative edge cloud networks. We present the augmented convolutional neural network (ACNN) that trains the workloads on different edge nodes. The ACNN allows users and machine learning methods to work together, making decisions for offloading and scheduling workload execution. This paper presents an augmented federated learning scheduling scheme (AFLSS). An algorithmic method called AFLSS comprises different sub-schemes that work together in the ITS paradigm for IoT applications in transportation. These sub-schemes include ACNN, offloading, scheduling, and security. Simulation results demonstrate that, in terms of accuracy and total time for the considered problem, the AFLSS outperforms all existing methods.
Spatial and temporal patterns of fuelwood consumption and its associated CO2 emissions in Muzaffarabad division, a western Himalayan region
Authors: Khan Raja Waqar Ahmed , Nazir Nimra , Mehmood Ansar , Qayyum Seema , Shaheen Hamayun
Published: April 2024

Background

In the Himalayan region, fuelwood serves as a critical energy source for rural communities. Being vital for meeting energy needs, fuelwood combustion is a source of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission and, consequently, global warming, as well as deforestation and public health damage. Therefore, quantifying fuelwood consumption patterns and its associated CO2 emissions is essential to understand the environmental impact and promote sustainable resource management.

Methods

This research conducts an evaluation of fuelwood burning patterns and the associated CO2 emissions in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), situated within the western Himalayan region. The study entails an extensive survey of 24 villages representing 240 households, equally distributed between the subtropical and temperate regions, each comprising 120 households. Data collection was executed through a combination of direct queries and the weight survey method, following standard protocols.

Results

In the study area, the mean annual fuelwood comsumption per household amounts to 24.28 ± 3.1 Mg (or 3.195 ± 1 Mg capita−1). A variance was observed between subtropical and temperate zones, with the latter exhibiting higher consumption rates. The consequential CO2 emissions were assessed as 41.88 ± 4.5 Mg per household (5.51 ± 0.6 Mg capita−1). On a daily basis, households consumed an average of 66.52 ± 6.4 kg of fuelwood (8.75 ± 1.5 kg capita−1), resulting in a daily CO2 release rate of 114.745 ± 8.6 kg (15.095 ± 2 kg capita−1). The findings unveiled seasonal variations, indicating increased fuelwood consumption and emissions during the winter season. Statistical analysis shed light on the significance of altitude and family size in shaping the patterns of fuelwood use.

Conclusions

The results revealed the importance of prioritizing forest conservation and strategically implementing sustainable practices, including reforestation, afforestation, responsible harvesting, and actively promoting sustainable fuel sources. This research highlights the vital role of well-designed policies focused on preserving ecosystems and improving energy management. Policy intervention can ensure the sustainable stewardship of local and regional forest resources.
Tumor associated microglia/macrophages utilize GPNMB to promote tumor growth and alter immune cell infiltration in glioma
Authors: Yalcin Fatih , Haneke Hannah , Efe Ibrahim E. , Kuhrt Leonard D. , Motta Edyta , Nickl Bernadette , Flüh Charlotte , Synowitz Michael , Dzaye Omar , Bader Michael , Kettenmann Helmut
Published: April 2024

Tumor-associated microglia and blood-derived macrophages (TAMs) play a central role in modulating the immune suppressive microenvironment in glioma. Here, we show that GPNMB is predominantly expressed by TAMs in human glioblastoma multiforme and the murine RCAS-PDGFb high grade glioma model. Loss of GPNMB in the in vivo tumor microenvironment results in significantly smaller tumor volumes and generates a pro-inflammatory innate and adaptive immune cell microenvironment. The impact of host-derived GPNMB on tumor growth was confirmed in two distinct murine glioma cell lines in organotypic brain slices from GPNMB-KO and control mice. Using published data bases of human glioma, the elevated levels in TAMs could be confirmed and the GPNMB expression correlated with a poorer survival.
Bubble-like lucency in pulmonary ground glass nodules on computed tomography: a specific pattern of air-containing space for diagnosing neoplastic lesions
Authors: Liu Si-zhu , Yang Shi-hai , Ye Min , Fu Bin-jie , Lv Fa-jin , Chu Zhi-gang
Published: April 2024

Purpose

To investigate the computed tomography (CT) characteristics of air-containing space and its specific patterns in neoplastic and non-neoplastic ground glass nodules (GGNs) for clarifying their significance in differential diagnosis.

Materials and methods

From January 2015 to October 2022, 1328 patients with 1,350 neoplastic GGNs and 462 patients with 465 non-neoplastic GGNs were retrospectively enrolled. Their clinical and CT data were analyzed and compared with emphasis on revealing the differences of air-containing space and its specific patterns (air bronchogram and bubble-like lucency [BLL]) between neoplastic and non-neoplastic GGNs and their significance in differentiating them.

Results

Compared with patients with non-neoplastic GGNs, female was more common (P < 0.001) and lesions were larger (P < 0.001) in those with neoplastic ones. Air bronchogram (30.1% vs. 17.2%), and BLL (13.0% vs. 2.6%) were all more frequent in neoplastic GGNs than in non-neoplastic ones (each P < 0.001), and the BLL had the highest specificity (93.6%) in differentiation. Among neoplastic GGNs, the BLL was more frequently detected in the larger (14.9 ± 6.0 mm vs. 11.4 ± 4.9 mm, P < 0.001) and part-solid (15.3% vs. 10.7%, P = 0.011) ones, and its incidence significantly increased along with the invasiveness (9.5–18.0%, P = 0.001), whereas no significant correlation was observed between the occurrence of BLL and lesion size, attenuation, or invasiveness.

Conclusion

The air containing space and its specific patterns are of great value in differentiating GGNs, while BLL is a more specific and independent sign of neoplasms.
Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by optimizing the textile dyeing process using digital twin technology
Authors: Kim Minsuk , Shim Jae Yun , Lim Seungju , Lee Heedong , Kwon Soon Chul , Hong Seokil , Ryu Sujin
Published: April 2024

Owing to global warming and pollution concerns, reducing the environmental footprint of the textile and fashion industry has received considerable attention. Within this industry, the dyeing and finishing processes contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution. This study introduces an innovative approach to address these challenges by leveraging digital twin technology to optimize the textile dyeing process. A smart analysis module was developed to continuously monitor and analyze the dyeing parameters in real time to implement control actions to automatically reduce the process duration. Integrated with this module, a digital twin of the dyeing machine enabled the real-time monitoring of energy consumption and process parameters. A case study comparing the traditional dyeing process with the optimized process was conducted. The results showed that dyeing time was reduced by ~ 17.5% without compromising dyeing quality. Energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions were also reduced by ~ 12.1% when using the optimized process. This study offers a practical and sustainable option for textile dyeing, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Baby-friendly workplace initiatives in child feeding practice as predictors of infant and young child anthropometric indices in public health facilities of Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Hasen Habtamu , Kusheta Samuel , Abuhay Efrata , Tumiso Hamdela , Leuel Yenatfanta , Daniel Dinku , Amare Mesganew , Samuel Abraham , Habtu Yitagesu
Published: April 2024

Background

Baby-friendly workplace is an effective evidence based initiative developed by the World Health Organization to protect and support maternal knowledge, beliefs, and confidence in infant and young child feeding practices. However, studies that show the effect of the baby-friendly workplace initiative on the nutritional status of infant and young children are not available in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the nutritional status among baby friendly initiatives service utlizers and non utlizers children age 6–24 months in public health facilities of Southern Ethiopia.

Methods

We conducted a comparative cross-sectional study from 1 to 30 June 2022 among 220 mothers with children aged 6–24 months. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Data were entered into Epidata Software version 4.2 and then exported to IBM SPSS version 26 software for analysis. Chi-square and Fisher exact test were used to assess the differences between users and non-users of the baby friendly workplace initiative. Logistic regression model was used to determine the association between dependent and independent variables. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval was computed. P-values < 0.05 at a 95% confidence level were considered statistically significant.

Result

The mean (SD) scores of weight for age (WAZ), height for age (HAZ), and weight for height (WHZ) were − 0.38 (1.34),-0.17(2.62) and-0.35 (1.84) respectively. After adjusting for covariates, children aged 6–24 months who did not use baby friendly workplace initiatives were 2.26 times more likely to have stunting compared to the users of baby friendly workplace initiative (AOR 2.26, 95% CI: 1.05, 4.88). However, both wasting (AOR: 0.42; 95% CI:0.13, 1.37) and underweight (AOR: 1.09; 95% CI: 0.45, 2.60) were not significantly associated with the use of baby friendly workplace initiatives.

Conclusion

The use of baby friendly work place initiatives was successful in improving nutritional status, specifically chronic malnutrition in children. Strengthening and scaling up the baby friendly work place initiative program has the potential to reduce chronic malnutrition in Ethiopia and other similar settings with high burden of malnutrition areas, by implementing it in public facilities.
Association of healthy eating index (2015) with depression and anxiety symptoms among Iranian adolescent girls
Authors: Ghanbarzadeh Elham , Dorosty Motlagh Ahmad Reza , Abbasi Behnood
Published: April 2024

Adolescence is a period of rapid growth, with changes in body composition and cognitive and psychosocial development. Teenagers who eat properly and participate in daily physical activities have a healthy lifestyle. Healthy living promotes optimal growth and performance at school and in the workplace and minimizes the risk of chronic nutrient-related diseases. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the relationship between the healthy eating index (2015) (HEI-2015) and depression and anxiety among Iranian adolescent girls. This cross-sectional study was designed based on the updated version of HEI-2015. The study population consisted of 412 high school girls aged 12–17 years old. Data were collected about the diet, sociodemographic, and anthropometric characteristics of the participants. HEI and anthropometric characteristics of the participants were measured. The depression, anxiety, and stress scale 42 (DASS-42) questionnaire was used to detect adolescents suffering from depression and anxiety. The relationships of the HEI and anthropometric measures with depression and anxiety were also assessed. The results showed that the HEI is inversely correlated with depression and anxiety in Iranian adolescent girls. HEI was greater in the healthy participants than in those suffering from depression and anxiety (P < 0.0001).
Human biodistribution and radiation dosimetry for the tau tracer [18F]Florzolotau in healthy subjects
Authors: Lin Kun-Ju , Huang Shao-Yi , Huang Kuo-Lun , Huang Chin-Chang , Hsiao Ing-Tsung
Published: April 2024

Background

Tau pathology plays a crucial role in neurodegeneration diseases including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and non-AD diseases such as progressive supranuclear palsy. Tau positron emission tomography (PET) is an in-vivo and non-invasive medical imaging technique for detecting and visualizing tau deposition within a human brain. In this work, we aim to investigate the biodistribution of the dosimetry in the whole body and various organs for the [18F]Florzolotau tau-PET tracer. A total of 12 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. All subjects were injected with approximately 379.03 ± 7.03 MBq of [18F]Florzolotau intravenously, and a whole-body PET/CT scan was performed for each subject. For image processing, the VOI for each organ was delineated manually by using the PMOD 3.7 software. Then, the time-activity curve of each organ was acquired by optimally fitting an exponential uptake and clearance model using the least squares method implemented in OLINDA/EXM 2.1 software. The absorbed dose for each target organ and the effective dose were finally calculated.

Results

From the biodistribution results, the elimination of [18F]Florzolotau is observed mainly from the liver to the intestine and partially through the kidneys. The highest organ-absorbed dose occurred in the right colon wall (255.83 μSv/MBq), and then in the small intestine (218.67 μSv/MBq), gallbladder wall (151.42 μSv/MBq), left colon wall (93.31 μSv/MBq), and liver (84.15 μSv/MBq). Based on the ICRP103, the final computed effective dose was 34.9 μSv/MBq with CV of 10.07%.

Conclusions

The biodistribution study of [18F]Florzolotau demonstrated that the excretion of [18F]Florzolotau are mainly through the hepatobiliary and gastrointestinal pathways. Therefore, a routine injection of 370 MBq or 185 MBq of [18F]Florzolotau leads to an estimated effective dose of 12.92 or 6.46 mSv, and as a result, the radiation exposure to the whole-body and each organ remains within acceptable limits and adheres to established constraints.

Trial registration

Retrospectively Registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03625128) on 12 July, 2018, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03625128.
DTA: distribution transform-based attack for query-limited scenario
Authors: Liu Renyang , Zhou Wei , Jin Xin , Gao Song , Wang Yuanyu , Wang Ruxin
Published: April 2024

In generating adversarial examples, the conventional black-box attack methods rely on sufficient feedback from the to-be-attacked models by repeatedly querying until the attack is successful, which usually results in thousands of trials during an attack. This may be unacceptable in real applications since Machine Learning as a Service Platform (MLaaS) usually only returns the final result (i.e., hard-label) to the client and a system equipped with certain defense mechanisms could easily detect malicious queries. By contrast, a feasible way is a hard-label attack that simulates an attacked action being permitted to conduct a limited number of queries. To implement this idea, in this paper, we bypass the dependency on the to-be-attacked model and benefit from the characteristics of the distributions of adversarial examples to reformulate the attack problem in a distribution transform manner and propose a distribution transform-based attack (DTA). DTA builds a statistical mapping from the benign example to its adversarial counterparts by tackling the conditional likelihood under the hard-label black-box settings. In this way, it is no longer necessary to query the target model frequently. A well-trained DTA model can directly and efficiently generate a batch of adversarial examples for a certain input, which can be used to attack un-seen models based on the assumed transferability. Furthermore, we surprisingly find that the well-trained DTA model is not sensitive to the semantic spaces of the training dataset, meaning that the model yields acceptable attack performance on other datasets. Extensive experiments validate the effectiveness of the proposed idea and the superiority of DTA over the state-of-the-art.
Falciparum malaria case acquired by wound exposed to the blood of infected malaria patient
Authors: Ibrahim Hamdy , Maksod Safwat Abdel , Khorshed Magdy , Rady Hanan , Mohamed Aadel , Alkassas Omar , Haron Marwa , Saeed Suzan , Mahmod Mohamed , Ismail Khaled
Published: April 2024

Malaria is a serious Anopheles mosquito-borne disease. It is not endemic in Egypt but continues to be imported by travelers returning from endemic areas. The transmission of malaria in non-endemic areas is an extremely unusual event, but it is possible under certain conditions.

Herein, we report a case of prolonged fever in a patient living in the countryside of Egypt with no reported travel history following accidental blood exposure to a malaria patient. The purpose is to shed light on this rare mode of malaria transmission and also to alert physicians and infectious disease specialists to consider malaria in the differential diagnosis in case of contact history to the blood of a malaria patient.
Long non-coding RNA (H19) in patients with spondyloarthritis: association with disease parameters and ultrasonographic findings
Authors: EL-Zwawy A. I. , Soliman Eiman , Elsayed Eman T. , Morsy Mai M.
Published: April 2024

Background

Spondyloarthritis is a well-known chronic inflammatory disorder; despite recent advances, its genetic basis remains poorly understood. Recently, long non-coding RNA (H19) was identified to be associated with various human cancers and studied in some autoimmune diseases. Musculoskeletal ultrasound has been shown to have good sensitivity and specificity in detecting enthesitis. The Belgrade Ultrasound Enthesitis Score (BUSES) has recently been proposed as a comprehensive ultrasound enthesitis scoring system for differentiating between individuals with enthesitis associated with spondyloarthritis and those without spondyloarthritis.

Aim

The current work aimed to study the role of long non-coding RNA (H19) as a potential biomarker in axial spondyloarthritis and its relationship with the different disease parameters (clinical and laboratory), disease activity, and functional status as well as the relation between long non-coding RNA (H19) and articular manifestations using ultrasonographic assessment of enthesitis.

Results

Long non-coding RNA (H19) expression was statistically higher in axial spondyloarthritis patients than controls; there are no statistically significant correlations between long non-coding RNA (H19) relative expression and any of the listed parameters (ESR, CRP, ASDAS-CRP, BASDAI, BASFI, BASMI, BUSES, SPARCC index, mSASSS). As regards the Spearman correlation of Belgrade Ultrasound Enthesitis Score, it showed a statistically significant positive correlation with ASDAS-CRP, BASDAI, and BASMI (p value: 0.002, 0.02, and 0.046, respectively).

Conclusion

Both long non-coding RNA (H19) and Belgrade Ultrasound Enthesitis Score have good discriminative ability between patients with axial spondyloarthritis and normal population; this suggests a possible role in early diagnosis for patients with axial spondyloarthritis who do not fulfill ASAS classification criteria. Their role to monitor the disease activity still needs further studies to be established. Musculoskeletal ultrasound is much more accurate in the assessment of enthesis than clinical examination. Further studies are needed to study the correlation between ultrasonographic entheseal scores and activity markers either clinically or laboratory.
The treating psychiatrist as expert witness
Authors: Broughton Trevor , Thomas Toral
Published: April 2024

Many authors have considered the ethical dilemmas of a doctor being both the treating physician and expert witness in litigation. The debate has often focused on the potential for bias and the adverse impact being an expert witness can have on the therapeutic alliance. Much of this debate seems rooted in the ethic of non-maleficence. In this article we attempt to examine the other end of this ethical quandary. Using a pragmatic approach, we explore these conflicts and consider biases from other sources. Ultimately, taking on the mantle of both roles is becoming increasingly unavoidable. Hence we argue that, although there are challenges, embracing this dual role can be an important part of holistic treatment, risk management and the pursuit of the ethical principle of justice.
Conceptual competence in psychiatric training: building a culture of conceptual inquiry
Authors: Aftab Awais , Sadler John Z. , Kious Brent M. , Waterman G. Scott
Published: April 2024

Building a culture of conceptual inquiry in psychiatric training requires the development of conceptual competence: the ability to identify and examine assumptions that constitute the philosophical foundations of clinical care and scientific investigation in psychiatry. In this article, we argue for the importance of such competence and illustrate approaches to instilling it through examples drawn from our collective experiences as psychiatric educators.
Development and Evaluation of a Multisource Approach to Extend Mortality Follow-Up for Older Adults With Advanced Cancer Enrolled in Randomized Trials
Authors: Lund Jennifer L. , Cacciatore Jenna , Tylock Rachael , Su I-Hsuan , Sharma Saloni , Hinton Sharon Peacock , Smith Sabirah , Nowels Molly A. , Chen Xiaomeng , Duberstein Paul R. , Hanson Laura C. , Mohile Supriya G.
Published: April 2024

PURPOSE

Mortality data can complement primary end points from cancer clinical trials. Yet, identifying deaths after trial completion is challenging, as timely and comprehensive vital status data are unavailable in the United States. We developed and evaluated a multisource approach to capture death data after clinical trial completion.

METHODS

Individuals age 70 years and older with incurable solid tumors or lymphoma and ≥1 aging-related condition were enrolled from October 2014 to March 2019 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02107443 and NCT02054741 ). Participants provided consent to link trial information to external sources. We developed a stepped approach for extended death capture using (1) active trial follow-up up to 1 year, (2) linkage to the National Death Index (NDI), and (3) obituary searches, thus generating a 5-year survival curve. In a random sample of 50 participants who died during trial follow-up, we estimated sensitivity of death data using NDI and obituary sources and computed survival times by data source.

RESULTS

The two trials enrolled 1,169 participants; mean age was 76 years; 46% were female; and gastrointestinal cancer (30%) and lung cancer (26%) were the most common cancer types. Across data sources, maximum follow-up was >7 years; 5-year survival was 18%. In total, there were 841 deaths: 603 identified during trial follow-up; 199 from the NDI; and 39 from obituary searches. The sensitivity for death capture was 92% for the NDI and 94% for the obituary searches compared with the trial data, and computed survival times were similar across data sources.

CONCLUSION

Extending clinical trial mortality follow-up through linkage with external data sources was feasible and accurate. Future cancer clinical trials should collect necessary consent and patient identifiers for vital status linkages that can enhance understanding of longer-term outcomes.
National Estimates of the Participation of Patients With Cancer in Clinical Research Studies Based on Commission on Cancer Accreditation Data
Authors: Unger Joseph M. , Shulman Lawrence N. , Facktor Matthew A. , Nelson Heidi , Fleury Mark E.
Published: April 2024

PURPOSE

National estimates of cancer clinical trial participation are nearly two decades old and have focused solely on enrollment to treatment trials, which does not reflect the willingness of patients to contribute to other elements of clinical research. We determined inclusive, contemporary estimates of clinical trial participation for adults with cancer using a national sample of data from the Commission on Cancer (CoC).

METHODS

The data were obtained from accreditation information submitted by the 1,200 CoC programs, which represent more than 70% of all cancer cases diagnosed in the United States each year. Deidentified, institution-level aggregate counts of annual enrollment to treatment, biorepository, diagnostic, economic, genetic, prevention, quality-of-life (QOL), and registry studies were examined. Overall, study-type estimates for the period 2013-2017 were estimated. Multiple imputation by chained equations was used to account for missing data, with summary estimates calculated separately by type of program (eg, National Cancer Institute [NCI]–designated cancer centers) and pooled.

RESULTS

The overall estimated patient participation rate to cancer treatment trials was 7.1%. Patients with cancer participated in a wide variety of other studies, including biorepository (12.9%), registry (7.3%), genetic (3.6%), QOL (2.8%), diagnostic (2.5%), and economic (2.4%) studies. Treatment trial enrollment was 21.6% at NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers, 5.4% at academic (non–NCI-designated) comprehensive cancer programs, 5.7% at integrated network cancer programs, and 4.1% at community programs. One in five patients (21.9%) participated in one or more cancer clinical research studies.

CONCLUSION

In a first-time use of national accreditation information from the CoC, enrollment to cancer treatment trials was 7.1%, higher than historical estimates of <5%. Patients participated in a diverse set of other study types. Contributions of adult patients with cancer to clinical research is more common than previously understood.
HD-Zip II transcription factors control distal stem cell fate in Arabidopsis roots by linking auxin signaling to the FEZ/SOMBRERO pathway
Authors: Possenti Marco , Sessa Giovanna , Alfè Altea , Turchi Luana , Ruzza Valentino , Sassi Massimiliano , Morelli Giorgio , Ruberti Ida
Published: April 2024

In multicellular organisms, specialized tissues are generated by specific populations of stem cells through cycles of asymmetric cell divisions, where one daughter undergoes differentiation and the other maintains proliferative properties. In Arabidopsis thaliana roots, the columella – a gravity-sensing tissue that protects and defines the position of the stem cell niche – represents a typical example of a tissue whose organization is exclusively determined by the balance between proliferation and differentiation. The columella derives from a single layer of stem cells through a binary cell fate switch that is precisely controlled by multiple, independent regulatory inputs. Here, we show that the HD-Zip II transcription factors (TFs) HAT3, ATHB4 and AHTB2 redundantly regulate columella stem cell fate and patterning in the Arabidopsis root. The HD-Zip II TFs promote columella stem cell proliferation by acting as effectors of the FEZ/SMB circuit and, at the same time, by interfering with auxin signaling to counteract hormone-induced differentiation. Overall, our work shows that HD-Zip II TFs connect two opposing parallel inputs to fine-tune the balance between proliferation and differentiation in columella stem cells.
Male and female syringeal muscles exhibit superfast shortening velocities in zebra finches
Authors: Gladman Nicholas W. , Elemans Coen P. H.
Published: April 2024

Vocalisations play a key role in the communication behaviour of many vertebrates. Vocal production requires extremely precise motor control, which is executed by superfast vocal muscles that can operate at cycle frequencies over 100 Hz and up to 250 Hz. The mechanical performance of these muscles has been quantified with isometric performance and the workloop technique, but owing to methodological limitations we lack a key muscle property characterising muscle performance, the force–velocity relationship. Here, we quantified the force–velocity relationship in zebra finch superfast syringeal muscles using the isovelocity technique and tested whether the maximal shortening velocity is different between males and females. We show that syringeal muscles exhibit high maximal shortening velocities of 25L0 s−1 at 30°C. Using Q10-based extrapolation, we estimate they can reach 37–42L0 s−1 on average at body temperature, exceeding other vocal and non-avian skeletal muscles. The increased speed does not adequately compensate for reduced force, which results in low power output. This further highlights the importance of high-frequency operation in these muscles. Furthermore, we show that isometric properties positively correlate with maximal shortening velocities. Although male and female muscles differ in isometric force development rates, maximal shortening velocity is not sex dependent. We also show that cyclical methods to measure force–length properties used in laryngeal studies give the same result as conventional stepwise methodologies, suggesting either approach is appropriate. We argue that vocal behaviour may be affected by the high thermal dependence of superfast vocal muscle performance.