bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recognition and Evaluation of Data as Intangible Assets
Authors: Xiong Feng , Xie Maoyue , Zhao Lingjuan , Li Cheng , Fan Xuan
Published: April 2022

Internet-based companies such as Amazon, Facebook, and Tencent hold an enormous amount of consumer data that are utilized to create business value via big data analytics. Although some companies use big data to provide professional services, such as targeted advertising and product recommendations, according to the current CAS, IFRS, and U.S. GAAP accounting standards, these assets are not recognized as assets since they are generated internally. This paper starts with a discussion of how Amazon, Facebook, Tencent, and Walmart use big data to create value for their businesses and then argues why it makes sense to recognize big data as intangible assets. Possible methods of data asset evaluation and their implications for business managers are also explored.
Exploring Romantic Relationship Patterns among Turkish Emerging Adults: A Grounded Theory Study
Authors: Uçar Semra , Demir İlkay
Published: April 2022

For the current study, a grounded theory methodology was utilized to generate a substantive theory that illustrates Turkish emerging adults’ different romantic experiences. The study participants were 25 emerging adults (12 female, 13 male), ages ranging from 19 to 26 years. The data analysis revealed four romantic patterns namely, balanced intimacy, learning intimacy, high-dependent intimacy, and lack of intimacy. The findings of the current study contribute to research on romantic relationship models by suggesting that the romantic self-descriptions, connection with the family and the culture, and meaning of past romantic experiences conjointly generate the four different romantic patterns among emerging adults. Furthermore, results suggest that Turkish emerging adults’ romantic experiences show many developmental similarities with their western counterparts while maintaining unique cultural characteristics.
Two Children with Early-Onset Strokes and Intractable Epilepsy, Both with CACNA1A Mutations
Authors: Bolte Kristen N. , Assaf Melissa , Zach Tamara , Peche Shubhangi
Published: April 2022

Background: Mutations in the CACNA1A gene have been associated phenotypically with Familial Hemiplegic Migraine Type 1, Episodic Ataxia Type 2, Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy, and Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy 42. Only six cases have linked ischemic strokes to mutations in the CACNA1A gene. Summary of Cases: We describe two unrelated patients who were found to have different mutations of the CACNA1A gene, one being a novel mutation, as shown by whole exome sequencing. One presented with seizures at birth and the other with seizures at 17 months old, both eventually exhibiting intractable epilepsy, ischemic stroke, and developmental delays. Results: Whole exome sequencing demonstrated de novo pathogenic mutations in the CACNA1A gene, which both caused similar phenotypes in unrelated patients. Conclusion: Pediatric patients who present with ischemic stroke and a history of seizures should be evaluated for CACNA1A mutations, as prompt recognition can help providers facilitate appropriate medical management.
Leadership competencies for digital transformation: An exploratory content analysis of job advertisements
Authors: Gilli Katharina , Nippa Michael , Knappstein Michael
Published: April 2022

Harnessing the opportunities of emerging information technologies is one of the great challenges companies are facing today. To successfully master digital transformation, organizations need leaders who can grasp the opportunities of digitalization for their business and transform them into new business models. Aiming at providing empirical evidence regarding competencies sought by practitioners for managing digital transformation, we analyze 239 job advertisements targeting digital transformation experts and examine the skills and traits explicitly called for. Our results reveal that technical skills and in-depth expertise in information technologies play only a secondary role in job requirement profiles. Like in earlier strategic change processes, digital transformation experts should primarily possess collaboration, strategic thinking, leadership, customer orientation, and communication skills. Moreover, in contrast to purely conceptual studies limited to skills and abilities, our analyses emphasize the importance of specific personality traits, such as proactivity and creativity, since these are often explicitly mentioned in corresponding job advertisements.
Breathing in and out: Domestic workers high exposure to air pollution in Bogota’s public transportation system
Authors: Montoya-Robledo Valentina , Iguavita Laura , López Segundo
Published: April 2022

More than 150,000 low-income women perform domestic work in Bogotá, Colombia. They are captive public transit commuters, traveling from low-income to high and middle-income residential sites for work. However, the transport system between these neighborhoods suffers from missing links. Hence, domestic workers spend more time commuting to work relative to any other urban worker in Bogotá. Moreover, the system affects domestic workers’ overall health conditions, where they inhale high doses of air contaminants. In the face of laws and policies in place perpetuating patriarchy, violence, and segregation, these poor and often-racialized women face a conundrum: they must ensure their livelihood facing pervasive health hazards. This paper analyzes the lived realities of domestic workers in terms of their commutes and the environmental hazards they face, depicting grounded legal geography. Fundamentally, it examines how legally constituted housing markets and related transportation infrastructure contribute to highly gendered and class-based geographical divides, placing domestic workers into the spatial and policy periphery and making their bodies disposable, but obliging them to negotiate these divides using inadequate and death-delivering transportation infrastructure. Finally, it reflects on the city’s planning methods that often ignore important gender, social, and economic considerations. Based on a mixed-methods approach, the paper brings material that is not often placed together, including a study of exposure to particulate matter, transportation, and legal analysis, decentering current ontologies by connecting law, environment, public health, gender, and class divides, and grounding legal geography on the daily commuting experiences of domestic workers.
Oculomotor nerve palsy and retinal artery occlusion after an orbital blow out fracture
Authors: Gómez Vicenç J , Reche-Sainz Jose Alberto , Mejía-Nieto María , Olavarria-Montes Eduardo , Sanchez-Aniceto Gregorio
Published: April 2022

A 38 year-old female suffered an orbital blow out fracture and oculomotor palsy due to blunt orbital trauma. After surgical treatment she developed an occlusion of the superior temporal branch of the central retinal artery. At 6 month follow-up, the oculomotor palsy was resolved and visual acuity improved, but with a residual left inferior scotoma.
Reactivation of juvenile idiopathic arthritis associated uveitis with posterior segment manifestations following anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination
Authors: Mahendradas Padmamalini , Mishra Sai Bhakti , Mangla Rubble , Sanjay Srinivasan , Kawali Ankush , Shetty Rohit , Dharmanand Balebail
Published: April 2022

Background/purpose

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatic disease in the pediatric population and anterior uveitis is its commonest extra-articular manifestation. Typically the uveitis presents as chronic anterior uveitis and there is limited literature of the posterior segment manifestations of the disease. Similar to other vaccines, anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination that began as an urgent measure to control the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has not been without adverse events. We are reporting a 19-year-old Asian Indian female who was diagnosed and treated for JIA associated anterior uveitis that was unilateral and was under anti-inflammatory control but showed worsening of uveitis with posterior segment inflammation in both eyes following anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

Case report

A 19-year-old Asian Indian female with a history of juvenile idiopathic arthritis on treatment with methotrexate, presented with right eye chronic anterior uveitis with peripheral subclinical retinal vasculitis and macular edema which was brought under control following administration of adalimumab. She was inflammation free for 6 months until she received anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and developed new onset floaters in both eyes that were initially noted after the first dose and increased after the second dose. Clinical examination revealed presence of keratic precipitates and grade 1+ anterior chamber inflammation along with vitiritis in both eyes. Fundus fluorescein angiography revealed angiographically active retinal vasculitis without the presence of macular edema in both eyes. This was managed with a short course of topical difluprednate and continuation of systemic immunosuppressive therapy with adalimumab and methotrexate.

Conclusion

JIA associated uveitis results from an autoimmune process which can be controlled with timely immunosuppressive treatment. It is important to be aware of the potential risk of flare up of uveitis with posterior segment manifestations following anti- SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.
Prevalence and characterization of Ice Nucleation Active (INA) bacteria from rainwater in Indonesia
Authors: Khosasih Vivia , Prasetyo Niko , Sudianto Edi , Waturangi Diana Elizabeth
Published: April 2022

Background

Ice nucleation active (INA) bacteria are a group of microorganisms that can act as biological nucleator due to their ice nucleation protein property. Unfortunately, little is known about their prevalence and characteristics in tropical areas including Indonesia. Here, we monitor the presence of INA bacteria in rainwater and air samples collected from Jakarta, Tangerang and several areas in Western Java, Indonesia for one year. We further identify and characterize selected Class A of INA bacteria isolated from these areas.

Results

Most of the INA bacteria were isolated from rainwater samples collected during March–August 2010, particularly from Jakarta, Bandung, and Tangerang. A total of 1,902 bacterial isolates were recovered from these area. We found a limited number of bacterial isolates from air sampling. From ice nucleation activity assays, 101 INA isolates were found active as ice nucleator at a temperature above -10 °C. A large majority (73 isolates) of them are classified as Class C (active below -8 °C), followed by Class A (26 isolates; active at -2 to -5 °C) and Class B (two isolates; active at -5 to -8 °C). We sequenced the 16S rRNA gene of 18 Class A INA isolates and identified 15 isolates as Enterobacteriaceae, while the remaining three as Pseudomonadaceae. The vast majority of our Class A INA isolates were likely Pantoea spp. with several isolates were deduced as either Pseudomonas, Cronobacter, and Klebsiella. We found that these 18 Class A INA isolates had acquired resistance to antibiotics erythromycin and ampicillin, which are considered two critically important antibiotics.

Conclusions

Our results showed that the prevalence of INA bacterial population varies across locations and seasons. Furthermore, our isolates were dominated by Class A and C INA bacteria. This study also cautions regarding the spread of antibiotic resistance among INA bacteria.
Determinants and disparities in access to paediatricians in Poland
Authors: Zienkiewicz Tadeusz , Klatka Maria , Zienkiewicz Ewa , Klatka Janusz
Published: April 2022

Background

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that determine the differences in the distribution and workload of paediatricians in Poland. This research, specific to conditions found within Poland, will help further advance knowledge in this area. Data were derived from the database of Statistics Poland. The level of convergence of the phenomenon studied was analysed. The paediatricians' accessibility index was ascertained and its spatial diversity examined. The level of correlation of patients treated per paediatrician was analysed in relation to indices of urbanisation, availability of paediatricians and disposable income.

Results

A moderate variation of patients treated per paediatrician was found and the conditional convergence of the investigated phenomenon observed. A close negative association between the number of patients treated and access to paediatricians (-0.686, p = 0.005) was revealed.

Conclusions

The research suggests that socioeconomic factors may affect the uneven spatial distribution of the workload of paediatricians in Poland and cause differences between the provinces in the equal access to paediatricians. This research may thus provide implications for policy and practice as well as lead to a better understanding of the problem.
HIP Fracture REhabilitation Program for older adults with hip fracture (HIP-REP) based on activity of daily living: a feasibility study
Authors: Røpke Alice , Morville Anne-Le , Møller Trine Elleby , Delkus Emma Cæcilie Guttzeit , Juhl Carsten Bogh
Published: April 2022

Background

A Rehabilitation Program for older adults with hip fracture (HIP-REP) based on Activity of Daily Living has been developed. The objectives of this study were to assess the feasibility and safety of the HIP-REP program to inform a future randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Methods

A feasibility study Inspired by the Complex-intervention development (Medical Research Council framework phase II) design using quantitative and qualitative research methods were conducted. Eighteen participants (above 65 years) with hip fracture were recruited from the orthopedic wards. The setting was cross sectoral including Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev and Gentofte and rehabilitation centers in Herlev, Gentofte and Lyngby-Taarbæk municipalities. A cross-sectoral rehabilitation intervention tailored to the needs of older adults with hip fracture highlighting systematic goal setting and strategies focused on activities of daily living was conducted. Pre-defined feasibility criteria: participants recruitment and retention, duration of measuring the outcome, adherence to intervention, and adverse events, along with self-reported outcomes and an objective measurement of performance in activity of daily living. Focus groups were analyzed using a deductive manifest content analysis approach. Descriptive statistical analysis and paired t-tests were performed for assessing change in outcome measures.

Results

Recruitment rate was 4.5/month. Outcome measures were performed but length and number of questionnaires were a burden. Thirteen out of eighteen participants completed the study three dropped out and two died. Adherence among the 13 was 100%. Focus group revealed issues regarding coordinating the intervention, ensuring procedural processes across sectors regarding recruitment of participants, and documentation in the database. Participants expressed satisfaction with the intervention and felt safe during intervention. Assessment of Motor and Process Skills showed better increase between (range 0.4 to 1.6) in ADL motor ability measures and better increase between (range 0.4 to 0.7) for process ability. No clear association between outcome improvements and intervention adherence.

Conclusions

The cross-sectoral intervention based on daily activities was feasible and safe for older adults with hip fracture. A future RCT, with an improved recruitment strategy and reduced number of outcome measures will evaluate the effectiveness in improving independence and safety performance of activity of daily living.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03828240. Registered on January 29, 2019.
Prognosis of lung cancer with simple brain metastasis patients and establishment of survival prediction models: a study based on real events
Authors: Yuan Jiaying , Cheng Zhiyuan , Feng Jian , Xu Chang , Wang Yi , Zou Zixiu , Li Qiang , Guo Shicheng , Jin Li , Jiang Gengxi , Shang Yan , Wu Junjie
Published: April 2022

Objectives

The aim of this study was to explore risk factors for the prognosis of lung cancer with simple brain metastasis (LCSBM) patients and to establish a prognostic predictive nomogram for LCSBM patients.

Materials and methods

Three thousand eight hundred and six cases of LCSBM were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database from 2010 to 2015 using SEER Stat 8.3.5. Lung cancer patients only had brain metastasis with no other organ metastasis were defined as LCSBM patients. Prognostic factors of LCSBM were analyzed with log-rank method and Cox proportional hazards model. Independent risk and protective prognostic factors were used to construct nomogram with accelerated failure time model. C-index was used to evaluate the prediction effect of nomogram.

Results and conclusion

The younger patients (18–65 years old) accounted for 54.41%, while patients aged over 65 accounted for 45.59%.The ratio of male: female was 1:1. Lung cancer in the main bronchus, upper lobe, middle lobe and lower lobe were accounted for 4.91%, 62.80%, 4.47% and 27.82% respectively; and adenocarcinoma accounted for 57.83% of all lung cancer types. The overall median survival time was 12.2 months. Survival rates for 1-, 3- and 5-years were 28.2%, 8.7% and 4.7% respectively. We found female (HR = 0.81, 95% CI 0.75–0.87), the married (HR = 0.80; 95% CI 0.75–0.86), the White (HR = 0.90, 95% CI 0.84–0.95) and primary site (HR = 0.45, 95% CI 0.39–0.52) were independent protective factors while higher age (HR = 1.51, 95% CI 1.40–1.62), advanced grade (HR = 1.19, 95% CI 1.12–1.25) and advanced T stage (HR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.05–1.13) were independent risk prognostic factors affecting the survival of LCSBM patients. We constructed the nomogram with above independent factors, and the C-index value was 0.634 (95% CI 0.622–0.646). We developed a nomogram with seven significant LCSBM independent prognostic factors to provide prognosis prediction.
Quantitative imaging analysis detects subtle airway abnormalities in symptomatic military deployers
Authors: Zell-Baran Lauren M. , Humphries Stephen M. , Moore Camille M. , Lynch David A. , Charbonnier Jean-Paul , Oh Andrea S. , Rose Cecile S.
Published: April 2022

Background

Exposure to inhalational hazards during post-9/11 deployment to Southwest Asia and Afghanistan puts military personnel at risk for respiratory symptoms and disease. Pulmonary function and qualitative chest high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) are often normal in “deployers” with persistent respiratory symptoms. We explored the utility of quantitative HRCT imaging markers of large and small airways abnormalities, including airway wall thickness, emphysema, and air trapping, in symptomatic deployers with clinically-confirmed lung disease compared to controls.

Methods

Chest HRCT images from 45 healthy controls and 82 symptomatic deployers with asthma, distal lung disease or both were analyzed using Thirona Lung quantification software to calculate airway wall thickness (by Pi10), emphysema (by percentage of lung volume with attenuation < -950 Hounsfield units [LAA%-950]), and three parameters of air trapping (expiratory/inspiratory total lung volume and mean lung density ratios, and LAA%-856). SAS v.9.4 was used to compare demographic and clinical characteristics between deployers and controls using Chi-Square, Fisher Exact or t-tests. Linear regression was used to assess relationships between pulmonary function and quantitative imaging findings.

Results

Gender and smoking status were not statistically significantly different between groups, but deployers were significantly younger than controls (42 vs 58 years, p < 0.0001), had higher body mass index (31 vs 28 kg/m2, p = 0.01), and had fewer total smoking pack-years (8 vs. 26, p = 0.007). Spirometric measures were not statistically significantly different between groups. Pi10 and LAA%-950 were significantly elevated in deployers compared to controls in unadjusted analyses, with the emphysema measure remaining significantly higher in deployers after adjustment for age, sex, smoking, BMI, and expiratory total lung volume. Air trapping parameters were more common in control images, likely due to differences in age and smoking between groups. Among deployers, LAA%-950 and Pi10 were significantly correlated with spirometric markers of obstruction based on ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) and/or percent predicted FEV1.

Conclusions

Quantitative chest HRCT imaging analysis identifies emphysema in deployers with asthma and distal lung disease, and may be useful in detecting and monitoring deployment-related lung disease in a population where spirometry is typically normal.
Influence of probiotics on the periodontium, the oral microbiota and the immune response during orthodontic treatment in adolescent and adult patients (ProMB Trial): study protocol for a prospective, double-blind, controlled, randomized clinical trial
Authors: Seidel Corinna L. , Gerlach Roman G. , Weider Matthias , Wölfel Theresa , Schwarz Vincent , Ströbel Armin , Schmetzer Helga , Bogdan Christian , Gölz Lina
Published: April 2022

Background

Orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances is often necessary to correct malocclusions in adolescence or adulthood. However, oral hygiene is complicated by appliances, and prior studies indicate that they may trigger oral inflammation and dysbiosis of the oral microbiota, especially during the first 3 months after insertion, and, thus, may present a risk for inflammatory oral diseases. In recent periodontal therapeutic studies, probiotics have been applied to improve clinical parameters and reduce local inflammation. However, limited knowledge exists concerning the effects of probiotics in orthodontics. Therefore, the aim of our study is to evaluate the impact of probiotics during orthodontic treatment.

Methods

This study is a monocentric, randomized, double blind, controlled clinical study to investigate the effectiveness of daily adjuvant use ofLimosilactobacillus reuteri(Prodentis®-lozenges, DSM 17938, ATCC PTA 5289) versus control lozenges during the first three months of orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances. Following power analysis, a total of 34 adolescent patients (age 12–17) and 34 adult patients (18 years and older) undergoing orthodontic treatment at the University Hospital Erlangen will be assigned into 2 parallel groups using a randomization plan for each age group. The primary outcome measure is the change of the gingival index after 4 weeks. Secondary outcomes include the probing pocket depth, the modified plaque index, the composition of the oral microbiota, the local cytokine expression and—only for adults—serum cytokine levels and the frequencies of cells of the innate and adaptive immune system in peripheral blood.

Discussion

Preventive strategies in everyday orthodontic practice include oral hygiene instructions and regular dental cleaning. Innovative methods, like adjuvant use of oral probiotics, are missing. The aim of this study is to analyse, whether probiotics can improve clinical parameters, reduce inflammation and prevent dysbiosis of the oral microbiota during orthodontic treatment. If successful, this study will provide the basis for a new strategy of prophylaxis of oral dysbiosis-related diseases during treatment with fixed appliances.

Trial registration

This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov in two parts under the number NCT04598633 (Adolescents, registration date 10/22/2020), and NCT04606186 (Adults, registration date 10/28/2020).
Unmet need for family planning among married women in Zambia: lessons from the 2018 Demographic and Health Survey
Authors: Namukoko Harriet , Likwa Rosemary Ndonyo , Hamoonga Twaambo E. , Phiri Million
Published: April 2022

Background

Unmet need for family planning among married women is still a public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa. In Zambia, one in every five married women had an unmet need for family planning in 2018. Unmet need for family planning has the potential to increase the number of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions. These factors can increase the proportion of women of child bearing age, who are at high risk of birth complications. This study was therefore conducted to understand the determinants of unmet need for family planning among married women in Zambia based on recent cross-sectional data.

Methods

The study analysed data extracted from the Zambia Demographic and Health Survey, which was a representative cross-sectional survey conducted in 2018. The analysis was done on a sample of 7598 currently married women aged 15–49 years. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine determinants of unmet need for family planning in Zambia. The analyses was weighted to account for complex sample design.

Results

Prevalence of unmet need for family planning is still high in Zambia at 20%. Women in the age groups 25–34 and 35–49 were less likely to have total unmet need for family planning (AOR = 0.61; 95% CI 0.47, 0.78) and (AOR = 0.63; 95% CI 0.45, 0.86) respectively, compared with those aged 15–24 years. Age of a woman, parity, household wealth and exposure to media-based family planning messages were found to be significantly associated with unmet need for family planning among married women.

Conclusion

There were significant differences in unmet need for family planning based on a woman's age, number of children ever born, wealth level, and exposure to media-based family planning messaging. Improving access to family planning messages and addressing underlying structural factors that improve the wealth status, particularly among young women, may help to reduce unmet need for family planning in Zambia.
The value of p16INK4a immunostaining for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions in human papillomavirus-negative patients
Authors: Zhang Dai , Song Jie , Zhang Xiaosong , Bi Hui
Published: April 2022

Background

This study aims to evaluate the value of p16INK4a immunostaining for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions in human papillomavirus-negative patients in Beijing, China.

Methods

In this study, we evaluated the value of p16INK4a immunostaining, as well as cytology and colposcopy, for predicting high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) in human papillomavirus (HPV)-negative patients by comparing the methods with the haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining pathological diagnosis of HPV-negative patients.

Results

Of 122 patients negative for the high-risk HPV (hrHPV) subtype, 26 (21.3%) underwent colposcopically directed multiple punch cervical biopsies with H&E pathological diagnoses of HSIL and above (HSIL+), 11 patients (9.0%) had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)2, nine patients (7.4%) had CIN3 and six patients (4.9%) had infiltrating carcinomas. Cytology, colposcopy and p16INK4a immunostaining had 52.4%, 38.5% and 92.3% sensitivity, respectively, and 76.2%, 94.8% and 99% specificity, respectively. The positive predictive value of the cytology, colposcopy and p16INK4a immunostaining was 31.4%, 66.7% and 96%, respectively, and the negative predictive value was 88.5%, 85.1% and 97.9%, respectively. Compared with H&E staining, the kappa of the cytology, colposcopy and p16INK4a immunostaining was 0.327, 0.323 and 0.926, respectively.

Conclusion

Positive p16INK4a immunostaining is very strongly consistent with an H&E diagnosis of CIN2+, and it can be used as an objective detection index for HSIL+ diagnoses of HPV-negative patients with CIN2+.
Discovery of genes positively modulating treatment effect using potential outcome framework and Bayesian update
Authors: Lee Young Keun , Kim Jisoo , Seo Sung Wook
Published: April 2022

Background

The recent explosion of cancer genomics provides extensive information about mutations and gene expression changes in cancer. However, most of the identified gene mutations are not clinically utilized. It remains uncertain whether the presence of a certain genetic alteration will affect treatment response. Conventional statistics have limitations for causal inferences and are hard to gain sufficient power in genomic datasets. Here, we developed and evaluated a C-search algorithm for searching the causal genes that maximize the effect of the treatment.

Methods

The algorithm was developed based on the potential outcome framework and Bayesian posterior update. The precision of the algorithm was validated using a simulation dataset. The algorithm was implemented to a cBioPortal dataset. The genes discovered by the algorithm were externally validated within CancerSCAN screening data from Samsung Medical Center.

Results

Simulation data analysis showed that the C-search algorithm was able to identify nine causal genes out of ten. The C-search algorithm shows the discovery rate rapidly increasing until the 1500 data instances. Meanwhile, the log-rank test shows a slower increase in performance. The C-search algorithm was able to suggest nine causal genes from the cBioPortal Metabric dataset. Treating the patients with the causal genes is associated with better survival outcome in both the cBioPortal dataset and the CancerSCAN dataset which is used for external validation.

Conclusions

Our C-search algorithm demonstrated better performance to identify causal effects of the genes than multiple log-rank test analysis especially within a limited number of data. The result suggests that the C-search can discover the causal genes from various genetic datasets, where the number of samples is limited compared to the number of variables.
Human placental proteomics and exon variant studies link AAT/SERPINA1 with spontaneous preterm birth
Authors: Tiensuu Heli , Haapalainen Antti M. , Tissarinen Pinja , Pasanen Anu , Määttä Tomi A. , Huusko Johanna M. , Ohlmeier Steffen , Bergmann Ulrich , Ojaniemi Marja , Muglia Louis J. , Hallman Mikko , Rämet Mika
Published: April 2022

Background

Preterm birth is defined as live birth before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy, and it is a major problem worldwide. The molecular mechanisms that lead to onset of spontaneous preterm birth are incompletely understood. Prediction and evaluation of the risk of preterm birth is challenging as there is a lack of accurate biomarkers. In this study, our aim was to identify placental proteins that associate with spontaneous preterm birth.

Methods

We analyzed the proteomes from placentas to identify proteins that associate with both gestational age and spontaneous labor. Next, rare and potentially damaging gene variants of the identified protein candidates were sought for from our whole exome sequencing data. Further experiments we performed on placental samples and placenta-associated cells to explore the location and function of the spontaneous preterm labor-associated proteins in placentas.

Results

Exome sequencing data revealed rare damaging variants inSERPINA1in families with recurrent spontaneous preterm deliveries. Protein and mRNA levels of alpha-1 antitrypsin/SERPINA1from the maternal side of the placenta were downregulated in spontaneous preterm births. Alpha-1 antitrypsin was expressed by villous trophoblasts in the placenta, and immunoelectron microscopy showed localization in decidual fibrinoid deposits in association with specific extracellular proteins. siRNA knockdown in trophoblast-derived HTR8/SVneo cells revealed thatSERPINA1had a marked effect on regulation of the actin cytoskeleton pathway, Slit–Robo signaling, and extracellular matrix organization.

Conclusions

Alpha-1 antitrypsin is a protease inhibitor. We propose that loss of the protease inhibition effects of alpha-1 antitrypsin renders structures critical to maintaining pregnancy susceptible to proteases and inflammatory activation. This may lead to spontaneous premature birth.
YouTube-videos for patient education in lymphangioleiomyomatosis?
Authors: Wilkens Finn M. , Ganter Claudia , Kriegsmann Katharina , Wilkens Heinrike , Kahn Nicolas , Goobie Gillian C. , Ryerson Christopher J. , Kreuter Michael
Published: April 2022

Background

The Internet is commonly used by patients to acquire health information. To date, no studies have evaluated the quality of information available on YouTube regarding lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). Our aim was to determine the quality and content of YouTube videos regarding LAM and to compare the information provided with current knowledge and guidelines about the disease.

Methods

The first 200 video hits on YouTube in English for the search term “lymphangioleiomyomatosis” were recorded. All videos suitable for patient education on LAM were included. Video quality was analyzed independently by two investigators utilizing the Health on the Net (HONcode) score, which assesses whether websites provide understandable, accessible, and trustworthy health information; the DISCERN score, which evaluates the quality of information about treatment decisions; and a newly developed LAM-related content score (LRCS) with 31 guideline elements.

Results

The search identified 64 eligible videos. The “engagement rate” of 0.3 was low, with a median number of views of 408 (range 42–73,943), a median of 4 likes (range 0–2082), and the majority (53%) receiving a low HONcode score (≤ 2) and only 10% of videos achieving a high score (> 5). The median DISCERN score was 28 (range 15–61, maximum possible score 80), indicating poor video quality and reliability. The median LRCS was 8 (range 0–29, maximum possible score 31) and videos frequently failed to provide sources of information.

Conclusions

Online resources could contribute to the limited and often inaccurate information available to patients with LAM, with only a few YouTube videos providing high-quality patient-relevant information.
Sleep duration predicts subsequent long-term mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes: a large single-center cohort study
Authors: Li Chia-Ing , Lin Cheng-Chieh , Liu Chiu-Shong , Lin Chih-Hsueh , Yang Shing-Yu , Li Tsai-Chung
Published: April 2022

Background

Sleep duration is associated with mortality. However, prior studies exploring whether sleep duration predicts subsequent long-term mortality in patients with diabetes are limited. This study aims to examine whether metabolic factors affect the associations between baseline sleep duration and subsequent risks of all-cause, expanded, and non-expanded cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortalities among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods

A total of 12,526 T2D patients aged 30 years and older, with a follow-up period ≥ 3 years, were identified from the Diabetes Case Management Program of a medical center in Taiwan. Sleep duration was measured using computerized questionnaires by case managers, and the time frame for this question was 1 month prior to the interview date. Sleep duration in relation to subsequent mortality from all causes, expanded CVD, and non-expanded CVD was examined using Cox proportional hazard models.

Results

Within 10 years of follow-up, 2918 deaths (1328 CVD deaths and 1590 non-CVD deaths) were recorded. A J-shaped association was observed for all-cause, expanded CVD, and non-expanded CVD mortalities, and the lowest risks were observed for patients with 5–7 h of sleep. The significant joint effects included sleep duration of more or less than 7 h with age ≥ 65 years [adjusted HRs: 4.00 (3.49–4.60)], diabetes duration ≥ 5 years [1.60 (1.40–1.84)], age at diabetes diagnosis ≤ 45 years [1.69 (1.38–2.07)], insulin use [1.76 (1.54–2.03)], systolic blood pressure/diastolic blood pressure > 130/85 mmHg [1.24 (1.07–1.43)], triglyceride ≥ 150 mg/dL [1.38 (1.22–1.56)], HbA1c ≥ 7% [1.31 (1.13–1.52)], and body mass index < 27 kg/m2 [1.31 (1.17–1.45)] for all-cause mortality.

Conclusion

A J-shaped association was observed between sleep duration and all-cause and expanded CVD mortality, and a sleep duration of 5–7 h had the lowest mortality risk. Sleep duration also showed significant synergistic interactions with diabetes duration but shared an antagonistic interaction with age and obesity.
Cooking outdoors or with cleaner fuels does not increase malarial risk in children under 5 years: a cross-sectional study of 17 sub-Saharan African countries
Authors: Woolley Katherine E. , Bartington Suzanne E. , Pope Francis D. , Greenfield Sheila M. , Tusting Lucy S. , Price Malcolm J. , Thomas G. Neil
Published: April 2022

Background

Smoke from solid biomass cooking is often stated to reduce household mosquito levels and, therefore, malarial transmission. However, household air pollution (HAP) from solid biomass cooking is estimated to be responsible for 1.67 times more deaths in children aged under 5 years compared to malaria globally. This cross-sectional study investigates the association between malaria and (i) cleaner fuel usage; (ii) wood compared to charcoal fuel; and, (iii) household cooking location, among children aged under 5 years in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Methods

Population-based data was obtained from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) for 85,263 children within 17 malaria-endemic sub-Saharan countries who were who were tested for malaria with a malarial rapid diagnostic test (RDT) or microscopy. To assess the independent association between malarial diagnosis (positive, negative), fuel type and cooking location (outdoor, indoor, attached to house), multivariable logistic regression was used, controlling for individual, household and contextual confounding factors.

Results

Household use of solid biomass fuels and kerosene cooking fuels was associated with a 57% increase in the odds ratio of malarial infection after adjusting for confounding factors (RDT adjusted odds ratio (AOR):1.57 [1.30–1.91]; Microscopy AOR: 1.58 [1.23–2.04]) compared to cooking with cleaner fuels. A similar effect was observed when comparing wood to charcoal among solid biomass fuel users (RDT AOR: 1.77 [1.54–2.04]; Microscopy AOR: 1.21 [1.08–1.37]). Cooking in a separate building was associated with a 26% reduction in the odds of malarial infection (RDT AOR: 0.74 [0.66–0.83]; Microscopy AOR: 0.75 [0.67–0.84]) compared to indoor cooking; however no association was observed with outdoor cooking. Similar effects were observed within a sub-analysis of malarial mesoendemic areas only.

Conclusion

Cleaner fuels and outdoor cooking practices associated with reduced smoke exposure were not observed to have an adverse effect upon malarial infection among children under 5 years in SSA. Further mixed-methods research will be required to further strengthen the evidence base concerning this risk paradigm and to support appropriate public health messaging in this context.
Recurrent implantation failure and sexual function in infertile Iranian women: a comparative cross sectional study
Authors: Ghorbani Samira , Abedi Parvin , Hekmat Khadije , Ghanbari Saeed , Dibavand Narjes
Published: April 2022

Background

Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) which means failing to implant after two or more high-quality embryo transfer cycles, affects 3% to 5% of women worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between recurrent implantation failure and sexual function in infertile Iranian women.

Methods

This was a comparative cross-sectional study on 180 infertile Iranian women (90 infertile women with recurrent implantation failure and 90 infertile women who did not start infertility treatment). A demographic questionnaire and the Female Sexual Function Index were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using Chi-square, independent t-test, and multiple linear regression.

Results

The mean scores of different domains of sexual function (desire, lubrication, arousal, orgasm, pain, and satisfaction) were significantly lower in the group with RIF compared to the group without RIF. The total score of sexual function was significantly lower in the RIF group compared with the group without RIF (23.11 ± 2.24, vs. 25.99 ± 2.35, p < 0.001). The overall sexual function scores in women with RIF were 2.65 units lower than women without RIF (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The results of this study showed that women with RIF had significantly lower sexual function than that in women without RIF. Therefore, sexual function issues should be treated as an important component of comprehensive care. This study did not measure the impact of economic factors on sexual function, however, the majority of the sample were classified as having weak or moderate economic status and this, along with the high cost of infertility treatments, could potentially have played a role in the participants' experience. This relationship will need to be investigated in future research.
Cross-sectional geometry predicts failure location in maize stalks
Authors: Stubbs Christopher J. , McMahan Christopher S. , Tabaracci Kaitlin , Kunduru Bharath , Sekhon Rajandeep S. , Robertson Daniel J.
Published: April 2022

Background

Stalk lodging (breaking of agricultural plant stalks prior to harvest) is a multi-billion dollar a year problem. Stalk lodging occurs when high winds induce bending moments in the stalk which exceed the bending strength of the plant. Previous biomechanical models of plant stalks have investigated the effect of cross-sectional morphology on stalk lodging resistance (e.g., diameter and rind thickness). However, it is unclear if the location of stalk failure along the length of stem is determined by morphological or compositional factors. It is also unclear if the crops are structurally optimized, i.e., if the plants allocate structural biomass to create uniform and minimal bending stresses in the plant tissues. The purpose of this paper is twofold: (1) to investigate the relationship between bending stress and failure location of maize stalks, and (2) to investigate the potential of phenotyping for internode-level bending stresses to assess lodging resistance.

Results

868 maize specimens representing 16 maize hybrids were successfully tested in bending to failure. Internode morphology was measured, and bending stresses were calculated. It was found that bending stress is highly and positively associated with failure location. A user-friendly computational tool is presented to help plant breeders in phenotyping for internode-level bending stress. Phenotyping for internode-level bending stresses could potentially be used to breed for more biomechanically optimal stalks that are resistant to stalk lodging.

Conclusions

Internode-level bending stress plays a potentially critical role in the structural integrity of plant stems. Equations and tools provided herein enable researchers to account for this phenotype, which has the potential to increase the bending strength of plants without increasing overall structural biomass.
Late endovascular coil migration following traumatic pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm embolization: case report
Authors: Budacan Alina-Maria , Patel Akshay J. , Foss Helen , Abiuso Valeria , Ganeshan Arul , Kalkat Maninder
Published: April 2022

Background

Percutaneous vascular interventions are performed for the treatment of haemoptysis and involve embolization of bronchial arteries, pulmonary arteries and pulmonary arteriovenous malformations. There are isolated reports of embolization of pseudoaneurysms forming in the pulmonary vasculature. The migration of components of the coils used in the embolization of vascular pulmonary pathologies is rare.

Case presentation

A 46-year-old man presented to the emergency department with cough, haemoptysis, and expectoration of lengths of metal wire. He had an episode of coughing out a wire about a year prior to his admission to our hospital, which he attributed to be present in the can of coke he had consumed at that time and did not report it to the doctors. His past medical history was significant for stab injury to the right chest 17 years ago, for which he underwent right thoracotomy and exploration for bleeding. Injury to the lung parenchyma was noted and repair was performed by suturing the defect. Post operatively the CT scan demonstrated development of pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm. We report a case of a patient expectorating coils 17 years after embolization of this traumatic pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm. Radiological imaging demonstrated coils in the perihilar area of the lung parenchyma and in the tracheobronchial lumen. Operative intervention was used to remove the coils.

Conclusions

Although percutaneous catheter based vascular interventions have emerged as safe and effective procedures, the long-term complications such as coil migration, recanalization and need for further embolization ought to be considered and patients need to be counselled and followed-up accordingly. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of migrated coil post embolization of post-traumatic pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm. Ultimately, the management of endobronchial coil migration post embolization, be it surgical or bronchoscopic, should be decided on a case-by-case basis, considering the patient’s symptoms and the risk fatal complications.
HIF1α-SP1 interaction disrupts the circ-0001875/miR-31-5p/SP1 regulatory loop under a hypoxic microenvironment and promotes non-small cell lung cancer progression
Authors: Wu Dong , Chen Tingting , Zhao Xuanna , Huang Dan , Huang Jiawei , Huang Yujie , Huang Qiu , Liang Zhu , Chen Chunyuan , Chen Min , Li Dongming , Wu Bin , Li Lixia
Published: April 2022

Background

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play an important role in the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), especially under tumor hypoxia. However, the precise functions and underlying mechanisms of dysregulated circRNAs in NSCLC are largely unknown.

Methods

High-throughput RNA sequencing was performed to identify significantly expressed circRNAs in NSCLC tissues. The functions of circ-0001875 in NSCLC cells were investigated in vitro and in vivo. The regulatory relationships of circ-0001875, miR-31-5p and SP1 were examined by dual luciferase reporter assays and rescue experiments. The signal pathway of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and the formation of filopodia were analyzed by western blot and immunofluorescence staining. The binding of SP1 to Alu elements was evaluated by RNA immunoprecipitation, and the HIF1α and SP1 interaction was detected by co-immunoprecipitation.

Results

We identified the novel Has_circ_0001875 as a significantly upregulated circRNA in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. circ-0001875 promoted the proliferation and metastasis of NSCLC both in vitro and in vivo, and induced NSCLC cells to extend filopodia. Mechanistically, circ-0001875 sponged miR-31-5p to regulate SP1, influencing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition via the TGFβ/Smad2 signal pathway. SP1 negatively regulated circ-0001875 formation through an AluSq-dependent feedback loop, which was disrupted by competitive binding of HIF1α to SP1 under hypoxia condition. The circ-0001875/miR-31-5p/SP1 axis was associated with the clinical features and prognosis of NSCLC patients.

Conclusions

Our results revealed that the circ-0001875/miR-31-5p/SP1 axis and the complex regulatory loops influence NSCLC progression. These findings provide new insights into the regulation of circRNA formation under tumor hypoxia.