bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ideational Power and Institutional Change
Authors: Şeyşane Volkan
Published: October 2023

Over the past three decades, truth commissions (tc s) have proliferated globally as an institutional practice for addressing past human rights violations in transitional and post-conflict societies. In light of discursive institutionalism, which emphasises the significance of ideas and discourse in institutional formation, continuity, and change, this study aims to offer an alternative explanation for the international proliferation of tc s by examining the role of ideational power and the dynamics of continuity and change in their institutional construction from the mid-1980s to the early 2000s. It analyses how particular agents, such as human rights movements, political leaders, and transnational discursive coalitions, construct, disseminate, and transform the idea of tc s in a historically and socially given context. Using process tracing to shed light on the institutional development of tc s, it identifies four phases in their discursive construction: i) discursive invention; ii) transnational recognition; iii) technical fine-tuning and intellectual consensus building, and iv) incorporation into new fields.
Theoretical Study of Spontaneous Emission Spectra in GaAsBi/GaAs Quantum Wells
Authors: Nie Rong , Liu DongFeng
Published: October 2023

GaAsBi/GaAs heterojunctions have a type II band arrangement, and the band structure energy of GaAs alloys with diluted Bi content provides a wide range for designing effective band gaps. In this paper, we calculate the electronic energy band structure of GaAsBi/GaAs quantum wells (QWs)
with different Bi concentrations under the 8-band K · P model. The calculated results show that the Bi concentration has a great influence on the band gap, valence band, conduction band, and other structures of GaAsBi/GaAs QWs. Based on the band structure, we make systematical
simulations on the effects of different quantum well widths, different Bi concentrations, different carrier densities, and different temperatures on the spontaneous emission spectra (SES) of GaAsBi/GaAs QWs. We find that the peaks of SES reduce with the increase of temperature and well width
of the quantum well structure. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of SES at 300 K is 0.1 eV, which is much broader than that at 100 K. The increasing Bi concentration is found to give rise to the blue shift of SES. Finally, the carrier concentration in the quantum well is found to be an
important factor that can enhance the SES peak values. The findings in this work are helpful in the design of GaAsBi/GaAs-based optoelectronic devices.
A Novel Radio on Fiber System for Frequency 32-Tupling Millimeter-Wave Generation and Transmission Using Polarization Modulators
Authors: Chen Xin-Qiao , Ba Wen-Yao , Liu Xiao-Rui , Liu Kai-Xian , Dai Si-Yuan , Chen Xu
Published: October 2023

A new radio on fiber (ROF) scheme for generation and transmission frequency 32-tupling millimeter-wave (MMW) is proposed. At the central station (CS), six PoIMs are used to construct the ±16 order sidebands generator which can generate ±16 order sidebands. The sideband
of +16th order is separate out by an optical interleaver from the output of ±16 order sidebands generator first, then the data of down-link signal is modulated on it. At the base station (BS), a portion sideband of −16th order from the down-link optical signal is separted out
with a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) first, then the up-link data is modulated on it for carrier reuse. The remaining ±16th order sidebands from the FBG are beat in a photodetector (PD), then the frequency 32-tupling MMW signal with the down-link data is generated. The key part of this
system is the ±16th order sideband generator, in which the ±16th order sidebands with the carrier component can be generated by adjusting the amplitudes and initial phases of the radio frequency (RF) signals loaded on the PoIMs, and the carrier can be cancelled by two 1×2
optical coupler with adjustable splitting ratio and 180° optical phase shifter (OPS). The principle of operation to generate frequency 32-tupling is theoretically analyzed and verified by simulation experiments. The optic sideband suppression ratio (OSSR) of the generated sidebands of
±16th order from the theoretical derivation and experiments are 29.974 dB and 29.793 dB, respectively, the RF spurious suppression ratio (RFSSR) of the obtained frequency 32-tupling MMW from theoretical derivation and experiment are 23.960 dB and 23.814 dB, respectively, which verifies
the feasibility of our method. The transmission experiments are carried out. For 30 km fiber with 2.5 Gbps data rate, the Q value and power penalty for up-link and down-link are greater than 6 and less than 0.4 dB, respectively.
Ultraviolet Detection Based on AlGaN/GaN Heterojunction Under Low-Temperature
Authors: Yang Lechen , Xiong Min , Shi Wenhua , Zhang Baoshun
Published: October 2023

We fabricated and tested an ultraviolet metal-semiconductor-metal photodetector based on dual-color AlGaN/GaN heterostructure. The photodetector’s optical responsivity and current-voltage characteristics were investigated. The annealing process significantly improved their optical
responsivity and reduced their dark current by two orders of magnitude. The peak responses were 4.255 A/W at 288 nm and 2.929 A/W at 366 nm under a bias of 5 V. We also studied the bias voltage-dependent photoelectricity behaviors of the photodetector at a temperature of 77 K. The rise time
and fall time of the photodetector both decrease with the increase of the bias voltage at 77 K.
Respiratory immunity responses and nocturnal sleeping quality alterations under thermoneutral environments: Does the siesta matter?
Authors: Liang Shimin , Chen Liping , Zhu Hui , Tian Xiaohui , Yu Huili
Published: October 2023

In order to explore the potential contributions of the siesta on nocturnal sleeping quality and respiratory immunity under thermoneutral environments, an experimental study was conducted under the thermoneutral environment. In this experiment, 20 subjects were recruited and divided into two groups, one of which had siesta while the other did not but acted as a control group. During the experiment at 25°C, the sleeping patterns, including the slow wave sleeping (SWS) duration, light sleeping (N1, N2 periods) duration, as well as the rapid eye movement (REM) duration, were recorded continuously. Meanwhile, the concentration of the salivary secretory immunoglobulin E (S-IgE), which acted as a biomarker of respiratory immunity, was also measured. Results showed that the mean skin temperature (MST) of the siesta group was 0.37°C lower than that of the control group. In addition, a slight increase (0.1°C) in core temperature was detected in the siesta group. Furthermore, results indicated that both the SWS and REM sleeping durations of the siesta group were reduced, while elevations were observed during the light sleeping duration. However, the subjective evaluation of the nocturnal sleeping quality of the siesta group was improved by 2.9 points. Finally, a higher S-IgE concentration was detected in the siesta group. This study revealed that the siesta might affect the nocturnal sleeping patterns; meanwhile, the changes in S-IgE might correspond to an improvement in respiratory immunity.
Rethinking headache as a global public health case model for reaching the SDG 3 HEALTH by 2030
Authors: Martelletti Paolo , Leonardi Matilde , Ashina Messoud , Burstein Rami , Cho Soo-Jin , Charway-Felli Augustina , Dodick David W. , Gil-Gouveia Raquel , Grazzi Licia , Lampl Christian , MaassenVanDenBrink Antoinette , Minen Mia T. , Mitsikostas Dimos Dimitrios , Olesen Jes , Owolabi Mayowa Ojo , Reuter Uwe , Ruiz de la Torre Elena , Sacco Simona , Schwedt Todd J , Serafini Gianluca , Surya Nirmal , Tassorelli Cristina , Wang Shuu-Jiun , Wang Yonggang , Wijeratne Tissa , Raggi Alberto
Published: October 2023

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development sets out, through 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a path for the prosperity of people and the planet. SDG 3 in particular aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages and includes several targets to enhance health. This review presents a “headache-tailored” perspective on how to achieve SDG 3 by focusing on six specific actions: targeting chronic headaches; reducing the overuse of acute pain-relieving medications; promoting the education of healthcare professionals; granting access to medication in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC); implementing training and educational opportunities for healthcare professionals in low and middle income countries; building a global alliance against headache disorders. Addressing the burden of headache disorders directly impacts on populations’ health, as well as on the possibility to improve the productivity of people aged below 50, women in particular. Our analysis pointed out several elements, and included: moving forward from frequency-based parameters to define headache severity; recognizing and managing comorbid diseases and risk factors; implementing a disease management multi-modal management model that incorporates pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments; early recognizing and managing the overuse of acute pain-relieving medications; promoting undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing medical education of healthcare professionals with specific training on headache; and promoting a culture that favors the recognition of headaches as diseases with a neurobiological basis, where this is not yet recognized. Making headache care more sustainable is an achievable objective, which will require multi-stakeholder collaborations across all sectors of society, both health-related and not health-related. Robust investments will be needed; however, considering the high prevalence of headache disorders and the associated disability, these investments will surely improve multiple health outcomes and lift development and well-being globally.
Antimicrobial peptidase lysostaphin at subinhibitory concentrations modulates staphylococcal adherence, biofilm formation, and toxin production
Authors: Yue Yuan , Chen Ke , Sun Changfeng , Ahmed Sarfraz , Ojha Suvash Chandra
Published: October 2023

Background

The ability of antimicrobial agents to affect microbial adherence to eukaryotic cell surfaces is a promising antivirulence strategy for combating the global threat of antimicrobial resistance. Inadequate use of antimicrobials has led to widespread instances of suboptimal antibiotic concentrations around infection sites. Therefore, we aimed to examine the varying effect of an antimicrobial peptidase lysostaphin (APLss) on staphylococcal adherence to host cells, biofilm biomass formation, and toxin production as a probable method for mitigating staphylococcal virulence.

Results

Initially, soluble expression in E. coli and subsequent purification by immobilized-Ni2+ affinity chromatography (IMAC) enabled us to successfully produce a large quantity of highly pure ~ 28-kDa His-tagged mature APLss. The purified protein exhibited potent inhibitory effects against both methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant staphylococcal strains, with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 1 to 2 µg/mL, and ultrastructural analysis revealed that APLss-induced concentration-specific changes in the morphological architecture of staphylococcal surface membranes. Furthermore, spectrophotometric and fluorescence microscopy revealed that incubating staphylococcal strains with sub-MIC and MIC of APLss significantly inhibited staphylococcal adherence to human vaginal epithelial cells and biofilm biomass formation. Ultimately, transcriptional investigations revealed that APLss inhibited the expression of agrA (quorum sensing effector) and other virulence genes related to toxin synthesis.

Conclusions

Overall, APLss dose-dependently inhibited adhesion to host cell surfaces and staphylococcal-associated virulence factors, warranting further investigation as a potential anti-staphylococcal agent with an antiadhesive mechanism of action using in vivo models of staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome.
A novel imaging index for predicting adverse progression in acute-on-chronic liver failure related to hepatitis B virus: the low erector spine index
Authors: Zhou Chao , Liu Yuan , Liang Xiaoxiao , Zhang Ning , He Tingting , Zhang Jingjing , Zhang Jin , Fu Shuangnan , Li Xin , Liu Pengcheng , Zhang Tianyi , Gong Man
Published: October 2023

Background

It is widely known that muscle mass influences the outcomes of many chronic diseases. Erector spine mass is a convenient parameter obtained from routine abdominal computed tomography (CT). The clinical application value of erector spine mass, and whether erector spine mass could predict the outcome of disease has not been studied.

Aim

To evaluate the role of the erector spine index (ESI) calculated based on abdominal CT imaging in the progression of acute-on-chronic liver failure related to the hepatitis B virus (HBV-ACLF).

Methods

We performed a retrospective study of 118 HBV-ACLF patients and calculated the ESI (the total erector spine area normalized for height2 in meters) for each patient through abdominal CT. The findings were analyzed regarding the progression of HBV-ACLF and the ESI at baseline, including mortality and the development of complications.

Results

The ESI level was associated with mortality and the development of complications. During the 90-day follow-up period, patients with a low ESI (<12.05 cm2/m2) had higher mortality than those with a high ESI (≥ 12.05 cm2/m2) (51.7% vs. 26.7%), and the cumulative survival rates were 71.0%±4.6 and 85.8%±3.9, respectively (log-rank P = 0.003). The hazard ratios (HRs) calculated using univariable and multivariable analyses were 2.23(95% confidence interval (CI): 1.25–4.21, P = 0.005) and 2.52 (95% CI: 1.34–9.24, P = 0.011), respectively. Patients with a low ESI (<12.05 cm2/m2) had higher incidences of kidney dysfunction (43.5% vs. 23.2%, P = 0.029; log-rank P = 0.017) and hepatic encephalopathy (39.6% vs. 14.0%, P = 0.003; log-rank P = 0.010) than those with a high ESI. A low ESI was an independent risk factor for kidney dysfunction (adjusted HR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.05–2.93, P = 0.043) and the development of hepatic encephalopathy (adjusted HR = 2.26; 95% CI: 2.05–3.13, P = 0.036). In addition, the presence of hepatic encephalopathy (the odds ratio (OR) = 2.26, 95% CI: 2.05–3.18, P = 0.006), spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (OR = 3.95, 95% CI: 1.01–5.46, P = 0.037), and kidney dysfunction (OR = 4.47, 95% CI: 1.02–9.64, P = 0.032) was independently associated with a low ESI in patients.

Conclusion

A low ESI is an independent risk factor for mortality in patients with HBV-ACLF, as well as the development of kidney dysfunction and hepatic encephalopathy.
Impact of initial dialysis modality on the survival of patients with ESRD: a propensity-score-matched study
Authors: Liu Li , Pang Jie , Xu Juan , Liu Lin-na , Liao Man-yu , Huang Qing-xiu , Li Yan-lin
Published: October 2023

Background

Studies comparing the survival of hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients are controversial. This study evaluated the impact of initial dialysis modality on the survival of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in a matched-pair cohort.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was performed on ESRD patients who initiated renal replacement treatment between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2018. Propensity score matching was applied to balance the baseline conditions, and multivariate Cox regression analysis was applied to compare mortality between HD and PD patients and evaluate correlations between mortality and various baseline characteristics. Subgroup analysis was performed with respect to diabetes status.

Results

There were 739 patients in our center in the Chinese National Renal Data System (CNRDS) between 2010 and 2018. Of these, 125 PD patients were matched with 125 HD patients. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 96.5%, 90.7%, and 82.5%, respectively, in the HD group and 99.5%, 97.8%, and 92.5%, respectively, in the PD group (log-rank P < 0.001). Among the propensity score-matched cohorts, no significant differences in Kaplan–Meier curves were observed between the two groups (log-rank P = 0.514). Age at dialysis initiation, CCI, congestive heart failure and cerebrovascular disease were risk factors in the multivariable-adjusted model. In subgroups defined by diabetes status, the Kaplan‒Meier survival curve showed that PD survival was significantly higher than that of HD (log-rank P = 0.022).

Conclusions

HD and PD were not significantly different regarding the survival of patients with ESRD. PD was associated with better survival in diabetic ESRD patients.
Incompetent lip seal and nail biting as risk factors for malocclusion in Japanese preschool children aged 3–6 years
Authors: Otsugu Masatoshi , Sasaki Yumi , Mikasa Yusuke , Kadono Maika , Sasaki Hidekazu , Kato Takafumi , Nakano Kazuhiko
Published: October 2023

Background

Malocclusion is a multifactorial condition associated with genetic and environmental factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of occlusal traits, oral habits, and nose and throat conditions by age and to assess the association between malocclusion and its environmental factors in Japanese preschool children.

Methods

A total of 503 Japanese children (258 boys and 245 girls aged 3–6 years) were recruited. Occlusal traits were assessed visually to record sagittal, vertical, and transverse malocclusion, and space discrepancies. Lip seal was recorded by an examiner, and oral habits (finger sucking, lip sucking or lip biting, nail biting, chin resting on a hand) and nose and throat conditions (tendency for nasal obstruction, allergic rhinitis, palatine tonsil hypertrophy) were assessed by a questionnaire completed by the parents. The prevalence of each item was calculated, and binary logistic regression was used to examine the factors related to malocclusion.

Results

62.0% of preschool children in the present study exhibited malocclusion, and 27.8% exhibited incompetent lip seal. Nail biting was the most frequent oral habit with a prevalence of 18.9%. Nasal obstruction was recorded in 30.4% of children. The results of binary logistic regression showed that incompetent lip seal was significantly related to malocclusion, and that nail biting was significantly negatively related.

Conclusions

Incompetent lip seal is significantly associated with malocclusion, but nail biting may not necessarily be a deleterious habit for the occlusion in Japanese preschool children.
Central precocious puberty secondary to peripheral precocious puberty due to a pineal germ cell tumor: a case and review of literature
Authors: Chen Han , Mo Cai-Yan , Zhong Li-yong
Published: October 2023

Background

The pineal lesion affecting melatonin is a rare cause of central precocious puberty by decreasing the inhibition of hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. Germ cell tumor secreting human chorionic gonadotropin is a rare cause of peripheral puberty.

Case presentation

A 5.8-year-old male presented facial hair and phallic growth, deepened voice, and accelerated growth velocity for 6 months. The elevated human chorionic gonadotropin level with undetectable gonadotropin levels indicated peripheral precocious puberty. Brain imaging revealed a pineal mass and further pathology indicated the diagnosis of teratoma. During chemoradiotherapy with operation, the elevated human chorionic gonadotropin level reduced to normal range, while the levels of gonadotropins and testosterone increased. Subsequently, progressing precocious puberty was arrested with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analog therapy. Previous cases of transition from peripheral precocious puberty to central precocious puberty were reviewed. The transitions were caused by the suddenly reduced feedback inhibition of sex steroid hormones on gonadotropin releasing hormone and gonadotropins.

Conclusions

For patients with human chorionic gonadotropin-secreting tumors, gonadotropin levels increase prior to sex steroid decrease, seems a sign of melatonin-related central PP related to melatonin.
Efficacy of photodynamic therapy in the treatment of oral candidiasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Hu Qiaoyu , Li Ting , Yang Jiadi , Peng Yanhui , Liu Qing , Liu Na
Published: October 2023

Objective

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) as an adjunct or alternative to traditional antifungal drugs in the treatment of oral candidiasis, and to provide evidence-based medical evidence for its use in the treatment of oral candidiasis.

Methods

Computer combined with manual retrieval of China Academic Journals Full-text Database (CNKI), China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), Wanfang Database, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus retrieval for articles published before January 2023, basic information and required data were extracted according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the Revman V5.4 software was used to conduct Meta-analysis of the included literature.

Results

A total of 11 articles were included, 7 of which used nystatin as an antifungal drug, 2 of which were combined treatment of PDT and nystatin, 2 of the remaining 4 articles were treated with fluconazole, and 2 were treated with miconazole. Meta results showed that PDT was superior to nystatin in reducing the number of oral candida colonies in the palate of patients MD = -0.87, 95%CI = (-1.52,-0.23), P = 0.008, the difference was statistically significant, and the denture site MD = -1.03, 95%CI = (-2.21, -0.15), P = 0.09, the difference was not statistically significant; compared with the efficacy of fluconazole, RR = 1.01, 95%CI = (0.56,1.83), P = 0.96; compared with miconazole RR = 0.55, 95%CI = (0.38, 0.81), P = 0.002; PDT combined with nystatin RR = 1.27, 95%CI = (1.06, 1.52), P = 0.01; recurrence rate RR = 0.28, 95%CI = (0.09, 0.88), P = 0.03.

Conclusions

PDT was effective in the treatment of oral candidiasis; PDT was more effective than nystatin for the treatment of denture stomatitis in the palate, while there was no significant difference between the two for the denture site; The efficacy of PDT for oral candidiasis was similar to that of fluconazole; PDT was less effective than miconazole for oral candidiasis; Compared with nystatin alone, the combination of PDT and nystatin is more effective in treating oral candidiasis with less risk of recurrence.
Metabolism-associated molecular classification of cervical cancer
Authors: Zhao Min , Zhang Xue , Huan Qing , Dong Meng
Published: October 2023

Objective

This study aimed to explore metabolic abnormalities in cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC) for metabolism-related genes.

Methods

We downloaded expression data for metabolism-related genes, performed differential expression analysis, and applied weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify metabolism-related functional modules. We obtained normalised miRNA expression data and identified master methylation regulators for metabolism-related genes. Cox regression of data on metabolism-related genes was performed to screen for genes that affect the prognosis of patients with CESC. Furthermore, we selected key genes for validation.

Results

Our results identified 3620 metabolism-related genes in CESC, 2493 of which contained related mutations. The co-occurrence of CUBN, KALRN, and HERC1 was related to the prognosis of CESC. The fraction of genome altered (FGA) closely correlated with overall survival. In expression analysis, 374 genes were related to the occurrence and prognosis of CESC. We then identified four metabolic pathway modules in WGCNA. Further analysis revealed that glycolysis/gluconeogenesis was related to endothelial cells and that arachidonic acid metabolism was related to cell proliferation. These four modules were also related to the prognosis of CESC. Among CESC-related metabolic genes, two genes were found to be regulated by microRNAs (miRNAs) and methylation, whereas another two genes were coregulated by miRNAs and mutations.

Conclusions

Among metabolism-related genes, 15 genes were related to the prognosis of CESC. The co-occurrence of CUBN/KALRN/HERC1 was associated with CESC prognosis. Glycolysis/gluconeogenesis was related to endothelial cells, and arachidonic acid metabolism was related to cell proliferation.
Knowledge, perception, and willingness to provide telepharmacy services among pharmacy students: a multicenter cross-sectional study in Indonesia
Authors: Alfian Sofa D. , Khoiry Qisty A. , Andhika A. Pratama Mochammad , Pradipta Ivan S. , Kristina Susi A. , Zairina Elida , Hak Eelko , Abdulah Rizky
Published: October 2023

Introduction

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic accelerated the provision of telepharmacy services. However, little is known about the knowledge, perception, and willingness of pharmacy students as future key players in telepharmacy adoption to provide such a service, particularly in a setting without well-established telepharmacy services before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective

With this survey we aimed to assess the level of knowledge, perception, and willingness to provide telepharmacy services and to identify associated factors among pharmacy students in Indonesia.

Methods

We applied a multicenter cross-sectional study design with convenience sampling technique among pharmacy students in three public universities in Bandung City, Surabaya City, and Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The knowledge, perception, and willingness to provide telepharmacy services were assessed using an online questionnaire. Ordinal regression analysis was performed to determine factors associated with a high knowledge level, whereas binary logistic regression analyses were performed to determine factors associated with a positive perception of telepharmacy services. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported.

Results

Among 313 respondents, 83.4% were female, and the mean age was 20 years. Although only 13.2% showed a high knowledge level, 66.5% showed a positive perception of telepharmacy services and 97.4% were willing to provide telepharmacy services in the future. An increase in age (OR 1.33; 95% CI 1.14–1.54) and being advance in smartphone usage (OR 5.21; 95% CI 2.03–13.42) are associated with an increased likelihood of having a high knowledge level about telepharmacy services. Male students had a lower likelihood of having a positive perception of telepharmacy services than females (OR 0.46; 95% CI 0.24–0.85).

Conclusion

Despite limited knowledge of telepharmacy, the majority of pharmacy students reported a positive perception and willingness to provide telepharmacy services in their future careers. Therefore, telepharmacy practice models must be included as a subject course in the curriculum, better preparing future pharmacists to perform their roles effectively. Furthermore, student-specific factors such as age and expertise in smartphone usage that associated with knowledge and gender that associated with perception should be considered to facilitate telepharmacy adoption in Indonesia.
Validation of the Swedish Quality Register for Ear Surgery – SwedEar
Authors: Berglund Malin , Olaison Sara , Westman Eva , Eriksson P. O. , Steger Lena , Bonnard Åsa
Published: October 2023

Background

The Swedish Quality Register for Ear Surgery (SwedEar) is a national register monitoring surgical procedures and outcomes of ear surgery to facilitate quality improvement. The value of the register is dependent on the quality of its data. SwedEar has never been validated regarding data quality or missing entries. Therefor, the purpose of this study was to assess coverage, completeness and response rate in the register and validate the physicians’ reported data accuracy.

Methods

In this validation study, the completeness, response rate and missing registrations were analysed. Data in SwedEar were compared with the yearly collected statistics of otosurgical procedures in The Swedish Otosurgical Society and the comparison of rates between groups was calculated with Fisher’s exact test. Validation of registered data accuracy was performed on every 20th registered case during a five-year period. Data were reabstracted from medical records and compared with the original registration. Interrater agreement, reliability measures, Cohen’s kappa, Gwet’s AC1 and positive predictive value were calculated.

Results

SwedEar has a coverage of 100%. The completeness of registered cases was 84% and the response rate was 74%. The validation of data accuracy assessed 13 530 variables, including audiograms. Less than 3% of incorrect or missing variables were identified. For most of the pre- and postoperative variables the Kappa and Gwet´s AC1 results show an almost perfect agreement (> 0.80). For audiogram data the ICC shows an excellent reliability (> 0.9) for all but one value.

Conclusion

This validation shows that SwedEar has excellent coverage, high completeness, and that the data in the register have almost perfect reliability. The data are suitable for both clinical and research purposes. Further efforts to improve completeness are warranted.
Integrating COM-B and the person-based approach to develop an ACT based therapy programme to raise self-determination in adolescents with obesity
Authors: Cox Jennifer S. , Searle Aidan , Thornton Gail , Hamilton-Shield Julian P. , Hinton Elanor C.
Published: October 2023

Background

This paper details the development of the Adolescent Intrinsic Motivation ‘AIM2Change’ intervention to support weight-management in young people previously unable to make changes whilst attending a tier 3 weight management service for children and young people. AIM2Change is an acceptance and commitment therapy based intervention that will be delivered one-to-one online over a seven-week period.

Methods

To develop this intervention, we have triangulated results from a qualitative research study, patient and public involvement groups (PPI) and a COM-B (capability, opportunity, motivation, behaviour) analysis, in a method informed by the person-based approach.

Results

The integrated development approach yielded a broad range of perspectives and facilitated the creation of a tailored intervention to meet the needs of the patient group whist remaining pragmatic and deliverable.

Conclusions

The next steps for this intervention will be in-depth co-development of the therapy sessions with service users, before implementing a proof of concept trial.
Development and validation of primary health care quality assessment tool
Authors: Farrokhi Pouria , Zarei Ehsan , Bagherzadeh Rafat , Irannejad Behrooz , Hashjin Asgar Aghaei
Published: October 2023

Background

Assessing the quality of health services gives insights to managers about the status of services delivered by them, especially from the client’s perspective. Although various tools have been developed to measure the quality of primary health care (PHC), no specific tool was found in this field in Iran. Therefore, the present study was conducted to develop and validate the quality assessment tool of PHC in Iran.

Methods

This methodological study was conducted in 2021. In the first step, based on a literature review, an initial questionnaire was designed, and its face validity, content validity, construct validity, and reliability were evaluated. Descriptive tests, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, exploratory factor analysis, Kaiser-Myer-Olkin (KMO), and Cronbach’s alpha were performed by using SPSS 22.

Results

The initial questionnaire included 33 items, of which three items were removed due to inconsistency with factorization. The final questionnaire consisted of 30 items and nine dimensions: interaction, efficiency, timeliness, accuracy, consultation, tangibility, safety, accessibility, and environment. The KMO and Cronbach’s alpha index values were 0.734 and 0.82, respectively, indicating acceptable reliability and validity. The developed dimensions represented about 73% of the total variance.

Conclusion

The designed questionnaire has relatively good validity and reliability and can be used to measure the quality of PHC and to identify weaknesses in service delivery. However, researchers should carefully examine it to enhance its applicability as a standard tool for measuring PHC quality.
Canine diffuse large B-cell lymphoma downregulates the activity of CD8 + T-cells through tumor-derived extracellular vesicles
Authors: Weng Hsin-Pei , Ke Chiao-Hsu , Tung Chun-Wei , Tani Akiyoshi , Wang Chia-Chi , Yang Wen-Yuan , Wang Yu-Shan , Han Winston , Liao Chi-Hsun , Tomiyasu Hirotaka , Lin Chen-Si
Published: October 2023

Background

Tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been proposed as the essential mediator between host immunity and cancer development. These EVs conduct cellular communication to facilitate tumor growth, enable invasion and metastasis, and shape the favorable tumor microenvironment. Lymphoma is one of the most common hematological malignancies in humans and dogs. Effective T-cell responses are required for the control of these malignancies. However, the immune crosstalk between CD8 + T-cells, which dominates anti-tumor responses, and canine lymphoma has rarely been described.

Methods

This study investigates the immune manipulating effects of EVs, produced from the clinical cases and cell line of canine B cell lymphoma, on CD8 + T-cells isolated from canine donors.

Results

Lymphoma-derived EVs lead to the apoptosis of CD8 + T-cells. Furthermore, EVs trigger the overexpression of CTLA-4 on CD8 + T-cells, which indicates that EV blockade could serve as a potential therapeutic strategy for lymphoma patients. Notably, EVs transform the CD8 + T-cells into regulatory phenotypes by upregulating their PD-1, PD-L1, and FoxP3 mRNA expression. The regulatory CD8 + T-cells secret the panel of inhibitory cytokines and angiogenic factors and thus create a pro-tumorigenic microenvironment.

Conclusion

In summary, the current study demonstrated that the EVs derived from canine B cell lymphoma impaired the anti-tumor activity of CD8 + T-cells and manipulated the possible induction of regulatory CD8 + T-cells to fail the activation of host cellular immunity.
Immunological role and clinical prognostic significance of P2RY6 in lung adenocarcinoma: a multi-omics studies and single-cell sequencing analysis
Authors: Wu Hong , Dong Xuhui
Published: October 2023

Background

There is increasing evidence that recombinant human P2Y purinoceptor 6 (P2RY6) may be involved in inflammatory responses. However, the role of P2RY6 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unknown.

Methods

We used transcriptomic, genomic, single-cell transcriptomic, and methylation sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas database to analyze the aberrant status and prognostic value of P2RY6 in a variety of tumors. The LUAD single-cell sequencing dataset was used to explore the effect of P2RY6 on the tumor microenvironment. Cell-type identification by estimating relative subsets of RNA transcripts (CIBERSORT) was used to quantify immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. We also analyzed the correlation of P2RY6 with immune checkpoints and immune regulation-related genes. The correlation of between tumor mutation burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), and P2RY6 expression was also analyzed simultaneously. Tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry were employed to assess the expression of P2RY6 in internal tumor samples.

Results

Our findings indicate that P2RY6 exhibits significantly higher expression levels in various cancer tissues, particularly in LUAD. High expression of P2RY6 was closely associated with a poor prognosis for patients, and it plays a role in regulating immune-related pathways, such as cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. Notably, P2RY6 expression is closely linked to the abundance of CD8 + T cells. Furthermore, we have developed a P2RY6-related inflammation prediction model that demonstrates promising results in predicting the prognosis of LUAD patients, with an AUC (area under the curve) value of 0.83. This performance is significantly better than the traditional TNM staging system. Through single-cell transcriptome sequencing analysis, we observed that high P2RY6 expression is associated with increased intercellular communication. Additionally, pathway enrichment analysis revealed that P2RY6 influences antigen presentation and processing pathways within the LUAD microenvironment.

Conclusions

This study suggests that P2RY6 would be a new target for immunotherapy in LUAD.
Prognostic value of the systemic immune-inflammation index in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma after radical nephroureterectomy
Authors: Luo Zhenkai , Yan Yangxuanyu , Jiao Binbin , Huang Tao , Liu Yuhao , Chen Haijie , Guan Yunfan , Ding Zhenshan , Zhang Guan
Published: October 2023

Background

To investigate the prognostic significance of the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) for patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) and develop nomogram models for predicting overall survival (OS), intravesical recurrence (IVR), and extra-urothelial recurrence (EUR).

Methods

We retrospectively studied the clinical and pathological features of 195 patients who underwent RNU for UTUC. All patients were randomly divided into a training cohort (99 cases) and a validation cohort (96 cases). The training cohort was used to develop nomogram models, and the models were validated by the validation cohort. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and Cox regression were performed to identify independent predictors. The concordance index (C-index), receiver operator characteristics (ROC) analysis, and calibration plot were used to evaluate the reliability of the models. The clinical utility compared with the pathological T stage was assessed using the net reclassification index (NRI), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

SII was an independent risk factor in predicting OS and EUR. The C-index values of the nomogram predicting OS, IVR, and EUR were 0.675, 0.702, and 0.756 in the training cohort and 0.715, 0.756, and 0.713 in the validation cohort. A high level of SII was correlated with the invasion of the mucosa, muscle layer of the ureter, nerves, vessels, and fat tissues.

Conclusion

We developed nomogram models to predict the OS, IVR, and EUR of UTUC patients. The efficacy of these models was substantiated through internal validation, demonstrating favorable discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility. A high level of SII was associated with both worse OS and shorter EUR-free survival.
Clinicopathologic and mutational profiles of primary breast diffuse large B cell lymphoma in a male patient: case report and literature review
Authors: Huang Fengbo , Ruan Yachao , He Xiaojuan , Lian Hui , Yang Jinhua
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Primary breast lymphoma (PBL) is rare, and most cases occur in female patients, with few reported cases in male patients. The clinical presentation is similar to that of breast cancer, but the condition needs to be well understood, as treatment options and clinical course vary. Hence, we provide a relatively rare case of primary breast diffuse large B cell lymphoma (PB-DLBCL) in a male, including its complete clinicopathological features, radiological findings, genomic mutational profiles, and clinical course.

Case presentation

A 45-year-old male presented with a lump in his right breast for 1 week and was pathologically diagnosed with breast malignancy after a breast puncture biopsy at the local hospital. He came to our hospital for further treatment and underwent breast ultrasound and systemic positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging, followed by right mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy. Histomorphology showed diffuse hyperplasia of tumor cells with clear boundaries and surrounding normal breast ducts. The adhesion of tumor cells was poor with obvious atypia. Immunohistochemical results showed that the tumor cells were positive for CD20, Bcl6, and MUM-1 but negative for CK (AE1/AE3), ER, PR, CD3, and CD10. Forty percent of the tumor cells were positive for c-Myc, and 80% of tumor cells were positive for Bcl2. The Ki-67 proliferation index was up to 80%. The tumor cells were negative for MYC and BCL2 rearrangements but positive for BCL6 rearrangement by fluorescent in situ hybridization. No abnormality was found in the pathological examination of bone marrow aspiration. Therefore, the male was diagnosed with PB-DLBCL, nongerminal center (non-GCB) phenotype, dual-expression type. The sample were sequenced by a target panel of 121 genes related to lymphoma. Next-generation sequencing revealed six tumor-specific mutated genes (IGH/BCL6, TNFAIP3, PRDM1, CREBBP, DTX1, and FOXO1). The patient was given six cycles of orelabrutinib plus R-CHOP chemotherapy and two cycles of intrathecal injection of cytarabine. The last follow-up was on April 13, 2023 (17 months). No recurrence or metastasis was found in laboratory and imaging examinations.

Conclusion

We reported a relatively rare PB-DLBCL in a male, non-GBC phenotype, dual-expression type. It is worth mentioning that this case had IgH/BCL6 fusion, nonsense mutations in TNFAIP3, frameshift mutations in PRDM1, and missense mutations in CREBBP, DTX1, and FOXO1. To the best of our knowledge, this case is the first report of genomic mutational profiles of PB-DLBCL in males.
PREB inhibits the replication of prototype foamy virus by affecting its transcription
Authors: Zhang Junshi , Xu Yali , Wang Chenchen , Tuo Xiaopeng , Zhao Xingli , Qiao Wentao , Tan Juan
Published: October 2023

Background

Foamy viruses (FVs) are unique nonpathogenic retroviruses, which remain latent in the host for a long time. Therefore, they may be safe, effective gene transfer vectors. In this study, were assessed FV–host cell interactions and the molecular mechanisms underlying FV latent infection.

Methods

We used the prototype FV (PFV) to infect HT1080 cells and a PFV indicator cell line (PFVL) to measure virus titers. After 48 h of infection, the culture supernatant (i.e., cell-free PFV particles) and transfected cells (i.e., cell-associated PFV particles) were harvested and incubated with PFVL. After another 48 h, the luciferase activity was used to measure virus titers.

Results

Through transcriptomics sequencing, we found that PREB mRNA expression was significantly upregulated. Moreover, PREB overexpression reduced PFV replication, whereas endogenous PREB knockdown increased PFV replication. PREB interacted with the Tas DNA-binding and transcriptional activation domains and interfered with its binding to the PFV long terminal repeat and internal promoter, preventing the recruitment of transcription factors and thereby inhibiting the transactivation function of Tas. PREB C-terminal 329–418 aa played a major role in inhibiting PFV replication; PREB also inhibited bovine FV replication. Therefore, PREB has a broad-spectrum inhibitory effect on FV replication.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrated that PREB inhibits PFV replication by impeding its transcription.
Intersectionality, vulnerability and foot health inequity
Authors: Almeida Joana , Brocklehurst Jonathan , Sharples Adrienne
Published: October 2023

Foot health and wellbeing in the UK are often overlooked in healthcare. Foot health outcomes are strongly interlinked to the social determinants of health, in that the way these determinants intersect can impact an individual's vulnerability to foot pain and disorders. In this commentary we explore some social determinants that hinder individuals from improving their foot health behaviour and ultimately reducing foot pain and foot disorder vulnerability. We focus on socioeconomic status, gender, disability, age, culture and ethnicity, and footwear quality; we also highlight the potential impact of the Covid‐19 pandemic and the cost‐of‐living crisis on foot health inequities; rises in inflation have resulted in footcare becoming less affordable among vulnerable groups, like those with intellectual disabilities and chronic illness, older people, those living in rural and inner‐city communities, and the ethnically and linguistically diverse population living in the UK. There is an urgent need to raise awareness of the social determinants of foot health, their intersectionality, and their impact on foot pain and disorder vulnerability. Despite the Black Report and both Marmot Reviews, little progress has been made in raising this awareness. It is recommended to widen the range of foot health interventions, by including it in GP consultations, developing cultural sensitivity within foot health services, creating more comprehensive educational foot health programmes, and developing a more sustainable footwear industry.
Ecology, behavior and bionomics: functional response of Heterotermes tenuis Hagen (Insecta: Blattaria: Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in forests of the Colombian Orinoquía
Authors: Salazar-Salazar Luis Ricardo , Pinzón-Florian Olga Patricia
Published: October 2023

Background

Land use intensification may affect diversity, abundance, and functional morphological traits (FMT) related to dispersal, food acquisition, digestion, and nesting in some insects, possibly impacting their ecological role. Most studies of termites on the effects of afforestation focus on diversity and abundance, but changes in FMT have yet to be studied.

Aim

To better understand the response mechanisms to land use intensification, we compared the FMT of the worker and soldier caste of Heterotermes tenuis among Pinus caribaea plantations of four different ages and gallery forests of the Colombian Orinoquía.

Methodology

We measured thirty-eight FMTs in the worker and soldier castes of H. tenuis from gallery forests and pine plantations. Then, we used a Community-Weighted Mean (CWM), a PERMANOVA, and a nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) to estimate the possible effect of land use type on the FMT of both castes. We selected the FMTs with the lowest intraspecific coefficient of variation (CV) from each caste to compare their size among the land use types and pine plantation ages.

Results

Land use type had a more significant impact on the FMT size of pine plantation workers than the age of the afforestation. FMT of the worker caste tends to be larger in gallery forests than in pine plantations, while the results were inconclusive for soldiers.

Conclusion

The results suggested a homogenization mainly of the feeding FMT of the worker caste of H. tenuis in pine plantations associated with the increase in the softwood food resource of P. caribaea.
Towards a systematic and knowledge-based requirements and conceptual engineering for modular electrolysis plants
Authors: Markaj Artan , Lorenz Julius , Scholz Lena , Henkel Vincent , Fay Alexander
Published: October 2023

The production of green hydrogen and its scale-up require the enginering and installation of new electrolysis plants. Modular electrolysis plants ease the scale-up as they allow to add further modules with growing demand. While many engineering methods focus on the detailed planning of the plants and their automation systems, the early engineering phases are scarcely considered, supported or formalized. However, especially these phases are crucial in the current scale-up of modular electrolysis plants. In this paper, an intention-based engineering approach for the early engineering phases Requirements Engineering and Conceptual Engineering for modular electrolysis plants is presented and evaluated based on three different use cases. The approach is based on Goal-oriented Requirements Engineering from Software Engineering and relies on an early, systematic as well as formalized description and analysis of intentions of different engineering disciplines.