bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Temporal relationship between symptom cluster and quality of life in rectal cancer survivor
Authors: You Chaoxiang , Xie Guiqiong , Jia Mengying , Li Shuang , Zhou Yi , Zhang Xiaoxuan , Wu Xiufei , Kou Hongyan
Published: March 2024

Symptom cluster and quality of life are negatively associated, but the prospective inter-relationship between them were unknown,which may provide a mechanism insight for symptom cluster management. A longitudinal study was conducted among 140 patients who undergoing laparoscopic-assisted sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer between 2021 to 2022. We investigated the longitudinal associations of the change of symptom cluster with the trajectories of quality of life. These patients were assessed for symptom clusters and quality of life at specific time points: 2 weeks (T1), 1 month (T2), 3 months (T3) ,and 6 months (T4) after their surgeries. In our Pearson correlation analysis, the quality of life within 6 months after surgery showed a moderate-to-strong strength correlation (r=0.27-0.66) between the quality of life within the first 6 months post-surgery. There was also a significantly negative correlation between each symptom cluster and the quality of life at all four time points. Our cross-lagged model revealed a unidirectional temporal relationship between quality of life and symptom cluster. the quality of life level at these four time points could significantly and negatively predict the severity of each symptom cluster, with no observed reverse path. Importantly, the cross-lagged path coefficient from quality of life to symptom cluster was notably greater than the coefficient from symptom cluster to quality of life. These findings provide evidence that lower quality of life precede higher symptom cluster severity in rectal cancer survivor. This temporal relationship begins early in the post-surgery period, highlighting the importance of early quality of life intervention to help patients improve their symptom clusters. Keywords:rectal neoplasm;symptom cluster;quality of life;bidirectional relationship
Cannabidiol or ketamine for preventing the impact of adolescent early drug initiation on voluntary ethanol consumption in adulthood
Authors: Garcia-Fuster M. Julia , Colom-Rocha Carles , Bis-Humbert Cristian
Published: March 2024

Few studies have previously evaluated the long-term impact of initiating the combined use of alcohol and cocaine early-in-life during adolescence. Our preclinical study characterized changes in affective-like behavior and/or voluntary ethanol consumption emerging later on in adulthood during withdrawal and induced by adolescent drug exposure, as well as tested therapeutical interventions (i.e., cannabidiol or ketamine) to prevent the observed effects. We performed 3 independent studies with male and female Sprague-Dawley rats, treated in adolescence (postnatal days, PND 29–38) with ethanol, cocaine, their combination or vehicle. Following prolonged forced-withdrawal, adult rats were (1) scored for their affective-like state (forced-swim, elevated-plus maze, novelty-suppressed feeding, sucrose preference), (2) allowed to freely drink ethanol for 6 weeks (two-bottle choice), or (3) treated with cannabidiol or ketamine before given access to ethanol in adulthood. The results proved no signs of increased negative affect during withdrawal in adulthood following the adolescent treatments. However, adolescent ethanol exposure was a risk-factor for later developing an increased voluntary ethanol consumption in adulthood, both for male and female rats. This risk was similar when ethanol was combined with adolescent cocaine exposure, since cocaine alone showed no effects on later ethanol intake. Finally, rats exposed to adolescent ethanol and pretreated during forced-withdrawal with cannabidiol (and/or ketamine, but just for females) reduced ethanol voluntary consumption in adulthood. Our data provided two therapeutical options capable of preventing the impact of an early drug initiation during adolescence by decreasing voluntary ethanol consumption in adult rats.
Refining Environmental Behavior: The Impact of Framing Effects in News Propaganda on Chinese Farmers' Inclination to Engage in Waste Classification
Authors: Tian Qian , Zheng Nana , Ye Shuqi , Wang Shengcong
Published: March 2024

With 491 million farmers in China playing a crucial role in ecological governance, it is imperative for public institutions to guide them towards waste classification and foster a green lifestyle through policy interventions. This study conducted 300 questionnaire experiments across three counties in Shanxi and employed the Mann-Whitney U test to uncover the framing effect in news propaganda. Additionally, a moderated matching model was constructed to analyze the specific mechanisms at play. The findings indicate that the framing of news propaganda significantly impacts farmers' inclination to engage in waste classification, with a notable moderating effect between farmers' orientations and message framing. The study concludes by highlighting the potential of behavioral public policy in managing social risks, strengthening social cohesion, and fostering innovation in the social governance system.
Nutritional quality and functional properties of finger millet, sweet potato, and soybean composite flour as affected by blending ratios
Authors: Mohammed Ibrahim , Forsido Sirawdink Fikreyesus , Kuyu Chala G.
Published: March 2024

Despite their low nutritional values, cereals are the main raw materials that are used for the development of different food products. This study aimed to develop nutrient-rich flour blended from orange-fleshed sweet potato, finger millet, and soybean. The experiment was conducted to optimize the blending ratio of composite flours. Thirteen formulations of composite flours were generated using a mixture design with varying ratios of finger millet (45–55%), OFSP (30–40%), and soybean (10–20%). The composite flours' physical, functional, and nutritional properties were evaluated. The data were analyzed using Design Expert software version 13. The statistical analysis showed significant (P < 0.05) variations in protein, ash, carbohydrate, beta-carotene, bulk density, water absorption index, and water solubility index of the composite flours. Graphical optimization was used to determine the optimum values for each variable, resulting in 16% protein, 3.31% ash, 64.27% carbohydrate, 7.908mg/100g beta-carotene, 0.7g/ml bulk density, 2.78g/g WAI, and 15.95% WSI, in a blend of 47.46% finger millet, 34.54% orange-fleshed sweet potato, and 17.99% soybean flours. This study demonstrated that incorporating orange-fleshed sweet potato and soybean flour into composite flours significantly increased their nutritional value. These findings suggest that optimizing the blending ratio of composite flours can lead to nutrient-rich flour development with desirable nutritional and functional properties.
Time to Blindness and its associated risk factors of glaucoma patients Using Bayesian Survival Model: A data from Felege Hiwot Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia
Authors: YISMAW MINILIK DERSEH
Published: March 2024

Background: Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative condition that affects the eye and is associated with increased intraocular pressure. Intraocular pressure is carefully regulated and disturbance is often involved in the development of pathologies such as glaucoma, uveitis, and retinal detachment. The study identified factors that have an association with longitudinal IOP and time in glaucoma patients attending an ophthalmology clinic at the Felege Hiwot Comprehensive Specialised Hospital, Ethiopia using Bayesian survival model analysis.
Methods: A time-to-event study with data obtained from Felege Hiwot Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, glaucoma patients enrolled in an ophthalmology clinic, the measurement of IOP change approximately every six months and the time of an event occurring were taken. Study subjects were enrolled between the 1 January 2016 and 1st January 2020 period. A total of 328 patients were selected for this study. The Bayesian Weibull proportional hazard model for the survival data analysis was used.
Results: 328 patients were included in the analysis, with 2 being the minimum and 9 being the maximum for repeated measurements of IOP change, including the baseline. The hazard function of the Bayesian Weibull PH model is significantly determined by covariates such as age, blood pressure, diabetes, Pilocarpin, Timolol with Pilocarpin, Timolol with Diamox, Timolol with Diamox with Pilocarpin, medium treatment duration, long treatment duration, and advanced stage of glaucoma in patients.
Conclusion: Based on the Bayesian Weibull PH model, the predictors of age CI (0.2691, 0.4919), blood pressure (0.9148, 0.8017), diabetic disease (0.1015, 0.1943), long treatment duration (0.2326, 0.4437), advanced stages of glaucoma (0.1099, 1.328), and cup-disk ratio>0.7 (-0.159, -0.015) were significantly affect the average intraocular pressure (IOP). Also, the predictor type of medication was statistically significant and negatively associated with the responses to IOP.
Recommendation: Health professionals give more attention to the type of medication especially (Timolol with Pilocarpin, Timolol with Diamox, and Timolol with Diamox with Pilocarpin), to minimize intraocular pressure when the patients are back again in the hospital.
Experimental Study on Formability in Electrohydraulic Forming with and without Bridging Wire
Authors: Jang Yoonho , Kim Minseok , Kim Jeong
Published: March 2024

Electrohydraulic forming (EHF) can overcome the shortcomings of deep drawing and electromagnetic forming, demonstrating a reduced bouncing effect, formation in narrow areas, and no effect on the electrical conductivity of the blank. In existing EHF experiments, wires are fastened to provide a forming force at variable positions. Therefore, production of uniform products is difficult, and the experimentation is time-consuming and difficult to apply in industrial processes.
In this study, wireless and wire-cross EHF were presented to reduce the time required for EHF experiments and produce a uniform forming force. The maximum forming height and formability were evaluated using a 0.5 t SUS430 specimen and free-bulging die. The required experimentation time was measured by comparing each EHF with a conventional EHF.
The wireless EHF experiments required the least time and produced a constant forming force. A wire-cross EHF was proposed to compensate for the time required to connect the fully connected wires in a conventional EHF. However, this did not substantially reduce the experiment time. Although wire-cross EHF has a higher energy efficiency than wireless EHF because wires are incorporated, it cannot completely overcome the fundamental problems of EHF.
In wireless EHF, two consecutive experiments were performed to produce the same height under an applied voltage of 6 kV. When conducting consecutive experiments, if the experiment is ready for the first time, only the capacitor must be repeatedly charged and discharged while maintaining a constant electrode spacing, so the experiment can be completed faster.
Dielectrophoretic characterization of peroxidized retinal pigment epithelial cells as a model of age-related macular degeneration
Authors: Yadav Dharm Singh , Tivig Ioan , Savopol Tudor , Moisescu Mihaela G.
Published: March 2024

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a prevalent ocular pathology affecting mostly the elderly population. AMD is characterized by a progressive retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell degeneration, mainly caused by an impaired antioxidative defense. One of the AMD therapeutic procedures is injecting healthy RPE cells into the subretinal space. For this purpose, there is a need for pure, healthy RPE cell suspensions. In this article, we present an experimental approach to electrically characterize RPE cells, aiming to demonstrate the possibility of separating healthy RPE cells from a mixture of healthy/oxidized cells by dielectrophoresis. In order to find out the relevant conditions to create an in-vitro AMD cellular model, BPEI-1 rat RPE cells were exposed to hydrogen peroxide and evaluated in terms of cell viability by various methods (microscopic imaging, impedance-based real-time cell analysis, MTS assay). Then, healthy and oxidized cells were characterized by recording their dielectrophoretic spectra, based on which electric cell parameters (crossover frequency, membrane conductivity and permittivity, and cytoplasm conductivity) were computed. A COMSOL simulation was performed on a theoretical microfluidic-based dielectrophoretic separation chip using these parameters. By increasing the hydrogen peroxide concentration, we found that the first crossover frequency was shifted toward lower values, and the cell membrane permittivity progressively increased. These changes were attributed to progressive membrane peroxidation since they were diminished when measured on cells treated with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine. Moreover, the changes in the crossover frequency showed to be enough for the healthy cells to be efficiently separated, as demonstrated by simulations.
Examining patient choice and provider competition under the National Health Insurance Fund outpatient cover in Kenya: Does it enhance access and quality of care?
Authors: Kazungu Jacob , Barasa Edwine , Quaife Matthew , Nonvignon Justice
Published: March 2024

Background
While patient choice and provider competition are predicted to influence provider behaviour for enhancing access and quality of care, evidence on provider perceptions and response to patient choice and provider competition is largely missing in low-resource settings such as Kenya. We examined provider and purchaser perceptions about whether patient choice and provider competition influenced provider behaviour and enhanced access and quality of outpatient care in Kenya.
Methods
We conducted a qualitative study to explore this across two purposefully selected counties in Kenya. We conducted 15 in-depth interviews (IDIs) with health facility managers and National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) staff across the two counties. We examined these across five areas summarised as either local market conditions or patient feedback following the Vengberg framework.
Results
We found that NHIF members’ choice of outpatient facilities compelled private and faith-based providers to compete for members while public providers did not view choice as a way of spurring competition. Besides, all providers did not receive any information regarding the exit of NHIF members from their facilities. Providers felt that that information would be crucial for their planning, especially in enhancing service accessibility and quality of care. Most providers ensured the availability of drugs, provided a wider range of services and leveraged on marketing to attract and retain NHIF members. Finally, providers highlighted their redesign of service delivery to meet NHIF members’ needs (access) whilst enhancing the quality-of-care aspects such as waiting time and having qualified health workers.
Conclusion
There is a need for NHIF to share NHIF members’ exit information with providers to support their service delivery arrangements in response to NHIF members’ needs. Besides, this study contributes evidence on patient choice and provider competition and their influence on access and quality of care from a low-resource setting country.
Transcriptomic analysis of TGFβ-mediated fibrosis in primary human Tenon’s fibroblasts
Authors: Pasvanis Zoe , Boynes Antony , Kong Roy C.K. , Chan Elsa C. , Wong Raymond C.B. , Gaskin Jennifer Fan
Published: March 2024

Glaucoma filtration surgery (GFS) is performed to slow down disease progression in glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Following surgery, pathological wound healing may lead to conjunctival fibrosis and filtering failure. Myofibroblasts are the key cells responsible for postoperative conjunctival scarring. This study aims to further understand the molecular mechanisms of conjunctival fibrosis following GFS. We utilised RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) to delineate the TGFβ1 induced changes in the transcriptome of human Tenon’s fibroblasts (HTFs). RNA sequencing was performed on HTFs after 5 days of TGFβ1 treatment. Following quality control, 3,362 differentially expressed genes were identified, of which 1,532 were upregulated and 1,820 were downregulated. We identified signaling pathways associated with the pathogenesis of conjunctival fibrosis. The DEGs (differentially expressed genes) were enriched in pathways including myofibroblast differentiation, TGFβ-signaling, collagen and extracellular matrix organization, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and cell cycle regulation. The results of this study identified the transition from HTF to myofibroblast is characterised by the upregulation of key genes including LDLRAD4, CDKN2B, FZD8, MYOZ1, and the downregulation of SOD3, LTBP4 and RCAN2. This insight into the transcriptional landscape of HTFs and myofibroblast differentiation is essential to understand the pathophysiology of conjunctival scarring and develop new therapeutic agents.
Study on the motion characteristics of a single droplet impacting stationary wall based on the pseudopotential MRT-LBM model
Authors: Wang weishu , Li chuan , Wang jie
Published: March 2024

The MRT-LBM pseudopotential model with large density ratio with adjustable surface tension was used to simulate the motion process of single droplet hitting the stationary wall, and the influence of Reynolds number, Weber number and Bond number on the motion characteristics of the droplet was analyzed. The accuracy of the model is verified from multiple angles. The results show that the increase of Reynolds number and Weber number is conducive to the increase of droplet spreading diameter, maximum spreading factor and dimensionless height in the droplet spreading stage, the difference is that the increase of Reynolds number and Weber number leads to the increase of droplet spreading time, while the increase of Bond number cannot change the droplet spreading time. During the movement of the droplet, Webb counts too little, and "ring-shaped" droplets appear in the droplet retraction stage, and Webb counts too little, and the droplets cannot be retracted after spreading, but directly fragment into small droplets.
Estimation of periodontal inflamed surface area by salivary lactate dehydrogenase level using a test kit
Authors: Irie Koichiro , Sato Satsuki , Kamata Yohei , Mochida Yuki , Hirata Takahisa , Komaki Motohiro , Yamamoto Tatsuo
Published: March 2024

Salivary lactate dehydrogenase (LD) level is a feasible and useful parameter for screening periodontal diseases. The periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) is a useful index for clinical and epidemiological assessments. However, PISA is extremely difficult to calculate and PISA-compatible screening kits are required. We aimed to investigate the association between salivary LD level, using a test kit, and the PISA and PISA-Japanese, and determine the feasibility and reliability of the salivary LD test kit for evaluation of periodontal status. The study included 110 patients (66.4% female, median and 25–75 percentiles of age were 66.5 and 53.0–75.0 years, respectively) who visited the Dental University Clinic in Japan. Resting saliva samples were collected from each participant, and LD levels were evaluated in real-time using a kit featuring an integer scale ranging from 1 to 10. PISA and PISA-Japanese were calculated using periodontal parameters. The median of salivary LD level was 4.0. The medians of PISA and PISA-Japanese were 46.9 and 61.0, respectively. Salivary LD level was positively correlated with bleeding on probing rate (r = 0.626, p < 0.001), PISA (r = 0.560, p < 0.001), and PISA-Japanese (r = 0.581, p < 0.001). Our results suggest that salivary LD levels assessed using the salivary LD kit showed a significantly positive correlation with PISA and PISA-Japanese. In addition, we developed the PISA estimation formula using salivary LD level with a test kit, sex, and age.
Mass spectrometry-based metabolomics study of nicotine exposure in THP-1 monocytes
Authors: Uhlig Silvio , Olderbø Bergitte Pearl , Samuelsen Jan Tore , Uvsløkk Solveig , Ivanova Lada , Vanderstraeten Camille , Grutle Lene Aiko , Rangel-Huerta Oscar Daniel
Published: March 2024

The tobacco alkaloid nicotine is known for its activation of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Nicotine is consumed in different ways such as through conventional smoking, e-cigarettes, snuff or nicotine pouches. The use of snuff has been associated with several adverse health effects, such as inflammatory reactions of the oral mucosa and oral cavity cancer. We performed a metabolomic analysis of nicotine-exposed THP-1 human monocytes. Cells were exposed to 5 mM of the alkaloid for up to four hours, and cell extracts and medium subjected to untargeted liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry. Raw data processing revealed 17 nicotine biotransformation products. Among these, cotinine and nornicotine were identified as the two major cellular biotransformation products. The application of multi- and univariate statistical analyses resulted in the annotation, up to a certain level of identification, of 12 compounds in the cell extracts and 13 compounds in the medium that were altered by nicotine exposure. Of these, four were verified as methylthioadenosine, cytosine, uric acid, and L-glutamate. The effects of smoking on the pathways involving these metabolites have been previously demonstrated in humans. Most of the other discriminating compounds, which were merely tentatively or not fully identified, were amino acids or amino acid derivatives.
Development and Testing of a Novel Large Language Model-Based Clinical Decision Support Systems for Medication Safety in 12 Clinical Specialties
Authors: Ting Daniel Shu Wei , Ong Jasmine Chiat Ling , Jin Liyuan , Kabilan Elangovan , Lim Gilbert Yong San , Lim Daniel Yan Zheng , Sng Gerald Gui Ren , Ke Yuhe , Tung Joshua Yi Min , Zhong Ryan Jian , Koh Christopher Ming Yao , Lee Keane Zhi Hao , Chen Xiang , Ch'ng Jack Kian , Aung Than , Goh Ken Junyang
Published: March 2024

Importance: We introduce a novel Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG)-Large Language Model (LLM) framework as a Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) to support safe medication prescription, a critical aspect of patient safety. This overcomes existing challenges of irrelevancy of alerts in rules-based CDSS in provision of prescribing error alerts that is relevant to the patient’s context and institutional medication use guides.
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of LLM-based CDSS in correctly identifying medication errors in different patient case vignettes from diverse medical and surgical sub-disciplines, against a human expert panel derived ground truth. We compared performance for under 2 different CDSS practical healthcare integration modalities: LLM-based CDSS alone (fully autonomous mode) vs junior pharmacist + LLM-based CDSS (co-pilot, assistive mode).
Design, Setting, and Participants: Utilizing a RAG model with state-of-the-art medically-related LLMs (GPT-4, Gemini Pro 1.0 and Med-PaLM 2), this study used 61 prescribing error scenarios embedded into 23 complex clinical vignettes across 12 different medical and surgical specialties. A multidisciplinary expert panel assessed these cases for Drug-Related Problems (DRPs) using the PCNE classification and graded severity / potential for harm using revised NCC MERP medication error index. We compared.
Main Outcomes and Measures: This study compares the performance of an LLM-based CDSS in identifying DRPs. Key metrics include accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 scores. We also compare the performance of LLM-CDSS alone and junior hospital pharmacists (less than 2 years post licensure) + LLM-CDSS (co-pilot, assistive mode) in the provision of recommendations to clinicians. In addition, we present comparative results from different LLMs: GPT-4, Gemini Pro 1.0 and Med-PaLM 2.
Results
RAG-LLM performed better compared to LLM alone. When employed in a co-pilot mode, accuracy, recall, and F1 scores were optimized, indicating effectiveness in identifying moderate to severe DRPs. The accuracy of DRP detection with RAG-LLM improved in several categories but at the expense of lower precision.
Conclusions
This study established that a RAG-LLM based CDSS significantly boosts the accuracy of medication error identification when used alongside junior pharmacists (co-pilot), with notable improvements in detecting severe DRPs. This study also illuminates the comparative performance of current state-of-the-art LLMs in RAG-based CDSS systems.
High-brightness betatron emission from the interaction of a sub picosecond laser pulse with pre-ionized low-density polymer foam for ICF research
Authors: Gyrdymov Mikhail , Cikhardt Jakub , Tavana Parysatis , Borisenko Nataliya G. , Gus´kov Sergey Yu. , Yakhin Raphael A. , Vegunova Galina A. , Wie Wenqing , Ren Jieru , Zhao Yongtao , Hoffmann Dieter H. H. , Deng Zhigang , Zhou Weimin , Cheng Rui , Yang Jie , Novotny Jan , Shen Xiaofei , Pukhov Alexander , Jacoby Joachim , Spielmann Christian , Popov Vyacheslav S. , Veysman Mikhail E. , Andreev Nikolay E. , Rosmej Olga N.
Published: March 2024

Direct laser acceleration (DLA) of electrons in plasmas of near-critical density (NCD) is a very advancing platform for high-energy PW-class lasers of moderate relativistic intensity supporting Inertial Confinement Fusion research. Experiments conducted at the PHELIX sub-PW Nd:glass laser demonstrated application-promising characteristics of DLA-based radiation and particle sources, such as ultra-high number, high directionality and high conversion efficiency.
In this context, the bright synchrotron-like (betatron) radiation of DLA electrons, which arises from the interaction of a sub-ps PHELIX laser pulse with an intensity of 1019 W/cm2 with pre-ionized low-density polymer foam, was studied. The experimental results show that the betatron radiation produced by DLA electrons in NCD plasma is well directed with a half-angle of 100-200 mrad, yielding (3.4 ± 0.4)·1010 photons/keV/sr at 10 keV photon energy. The photon fluence in the energy range of 10–30 keV reaches (2.2 ± 0.3)·1011 photons/sr and the brilliance at 10 keV approaches ~2·1020 photons/s/mm2/mrad2/(0.1% BW), which agrees well with the particle-in-cell simulations. These results pave the way for innovative applications of the DLA regime using low-density pre-ionized foams in high-energy density research.
The role of emotions in academic performance of undergraduate medical students: a systematic review
Authors: Alshareef Nora , Fletcher Ian , Giga Sabir
Published: March 2024

Background
This paper is devoted to a systematic review of the literature on emotions' role in academic performance in medicine. The review aims to examine the role emotions play in the academic performance of undergraduate medical students.
Methods
Eight electronic databases were used to search the literature from 2013 to 2023, including Academic Search Ultimate, British Education Index, CINAHL, Education Abstract, ERIC, Medline, APA Psych Articles and APA Psych Info. Using specific keywords and terms in the databases, 3,285,208 articles were found. After applying the predefined exclusion and inclusion criteria to include only medical students and academic performance as an outcome, 45 articles remained, and the quality of the retrieved literature was assessed by three reviewers, then Seventeen articles were selected for the narrative synthesis.
Result
The findings indicate that depression and anxiety are the most frequently reported variables in the reviewed literature, and they have negative and positive impacts on the academic performance of medical students. The included literature also reported that a high number of medical students experienced test anxiety during their study which affected their academic performance. Positive emotions lead to positive academic outcomes and vice versa. However, Feelings of shame did not have any effect on the academic performance of medical students.
Discussion
The review suggests a significant relationship between emotions and academic performance among undergraduate medical students. While the evidence may not establish causation, it underscores the importance of considering emotional factors in understanding student performance. However, reliance on cross-sectional studies and self-reported data may introduce recall bias. Future research should concentrate on developing anxiety reduction strategies and enhance mental wellbeing to improve academic performance
Association of novel inflammatory markers with gestational diabetes mellitus in a representative U.S. sample: evidence from NHANES 2007-2018
Authors: Chen Yanfen , Zeng Genping , Lu Xijing , Zeng Tan , Miao Yuxi , Li Peiyin , Luo Songping , Zeng Lei , Lu Ruling
Published: March 2024

Background
Early detection of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) can lower the chance of occurrence. Recent years have seen a surge in research on novel inflammatory indicators, such as systemic immune inflammatory index (SII), lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR). Inflammation is linked to the pathophysiology of GDM and can be targeted for treatment. However, the relationship between GDM and these novel inflammatory markers is unclear.
Methods
We included participants with a diagnosis of GDM who were between the ages of 20 and 44, as well as complete blood counts from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination conducted between 2007 and 2018. SII, LMR, NLR, and PLR were among the novel inflammatory markers. First, we logarithmically transformed the exposure components to account for skewed distribution. We tested the relationship between GDM and novel inflammatory markers using a multiple logistic regression model and subgroup analyses to analyze the stability. And RCS curves were created to evaluate the non-linear connection.
Results
Following the inclusion of 3,722 women aged 20–44 years with GDM, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a positive correlation between log2-LMR and GDM (OR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.20–2.01, p = 0.001), while negative correlations were observed between log2-SII, log2-PLR, and log2-NLR with GDM (OR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.71–0.99, p = 0.04; OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.56–0.94, p = 0.01; OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.47–0.97, p = 0.03), and the correlation remained significant even after controlling for all confounders. Correlations were consistently shown by subgroup analyses. When the log2-LMR value was less than 1.79, the risk of GDM reduced with rising log2-LMR, and this tendency was reversed when larger than 1.79.
Conclusions
Elevated levels of new inflammatory markers are correlated with an increased risk of GDM and may offer clinicians with information to screen for GDM and identify GDM therapeutic targets. Further studies are required to investigate the causal relationship between the new inflammatory markers and GDM.
The value of STE-LDDSE to detect viable myocardium
Authors: Qian Wei , Zhou Ran , Chen Tao , Zhang Xueshan , Ma Yanfeng
Published: March 2024

To explore the value of speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) with low dose dobutamine stress echocardiography (LDDSE) for evaluation of viable myocardium (VM) in the acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Here, we show that a total of 183 regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA) were detected in the DM group, of which 117 (63.93%) segments were viable myocardium; 357 RWMA were detected in non DM patients, of which 248 (69.47%) segments of viable myocardium were detected by echocardiography. The sensitivity, accuracy, and specificity of STE-LDDSE in detecting viable myocardium in DM group were 70.94%、77.45%、87.88% ; 92.31%、72.73% and 85.25% for LS and LSr. In the non DM group, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of LS and LSr were 68.95%、92.66%、76.19% ; 77.42%、88.07% and 80.67%, respectively. Further parallel diagnostic tests were conducted on LS and LSr parameters. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of detecting viable myocardium in the DM and non DM groups were 84.62%、45.45%、70.49%, 66.53%、63.30% and 65.55%, respectively, at rest; They were 84.62%、45.45%、70.49%, 66.53%、63.30% and 65.55%, respectively, during low dose dobutamine stress. In summary, Parallel diagnostic test for LS and LSr is the best choice in detecting VM in the patients with STEMI and is more sensitive for the patients with type 2 DM.
Multi-institutional evaluation of guidance from International Ki67 Working Group vs National Health Commission of China on Immunohistochemistry-based Ki67 assessment
Authors: Wang Yin , Zou Jiarui , Cao Qinghua , Dai Guihong , Fan Panhong , Gong Xue , Jiang JinYan , Kong Yanqing , Liu Chao , Liu Chunhui , Lu Chenjia , Li Meiren , Lang Zhiqiang , Lin Yang , Peng Yan , Shi Haiyan , Wang Yuhuan , Wang Jiu , Xie Bichen , Yang Bing , Yu Guohua , Zhang Cuiping , Zhang Hengming , Zhou Luting , Zhang Zilan , Zhu Zhenli , Hao Junmei
Published: March 2024

Purpose: Recommendations from National Health Commission of China (NHCC) and International Ki67 Working Group (IKWG) were issued respectively to guide immunohistochemistry (IHC)-based Ki67 scoring for breast cancer patients in daily clinical practice. They were evaluated in this multi-institutional study alongside with results from Quantitative Dot Blot (QDB) method.
Method: Three sections each from 40 primary ER+ breast cancer resection blocks were randomly assigned a number from 1 to 120 for Ki67 staining and reviewed by 21 pathologists while the other three alternative sections were sent for QDB analysis of Ki67 protein levels. Ki67 scores were grouped by 5/30% (IKWG), 10/30% (NHCC) and 20/30% (NHCC appendix 9, NHCCa9) respectively while QDB results were grouped by C5-C95 of 2.31 nmole/g defined in previous study as low, intermediate and high risk groups.
Results: The overall Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) was 0.785 for IHC evaluations from 21 pathologists, with the Fleiss Kappa at 0.555, 0.628 and 0.480 when Ki67 scores were grouped by the guidance from IKWG, NHCC and NHCCa9 respectively. In comparison, the ICC and Fleiss kappa for QDB analysis were at 0.939 and 0.831. When IHC and QDB results were cross-referenced, more specimens were grouped as high risk by QDB than IHC, and NHCCa9 led to highest percentage of disagreement between two methods.
Conclusion: The IKWG recommendation was harder to achieve categorized agreement among pathologists than that of NHCC, yet it led to best agreement with QDB to define low-risk group. QDB method offered significantly improved consistency over current IHC-based Ki67 assessment.
Preparation and property of PVA-based colorful coating composite reinforced with silica aerogel particles filled by high-loaded flame retardant
Authors: Feng Yilin , Ran Xu , Li Ying , Zhang Beibo , Wang Jiali , Chen Zhi , Wang Luoxin , Wang Hua
Published: March 2024

Hydrophilic mesoporous silica aerogel particles were synthesized via self-assembly of amphiphilic polymer (Ph8-PEG6-PEOS) and its instantaneous hydrolysis and condensation in the alkaline environment. Meanwhile, the capture and encapsulation of flame retardant (IPPP) and oil soluble dyes were successively completed during the two processes above. Observed by thermal field scanning electron microscopy (TFESEM), the average diameter of aerogel particles reached about 10 µm. BET surface area analysis displayed that the existence of oil-phase component (IPPP) can result in the expansion of pore diameter, and promote the evolution of mesopores into macropores. Then, IPPP@SiO2 aerogel particles were utilized to improve the flame retardancy of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) coatings implemented onto cotton yarns, by employing developed knife coating procedure in an aqueous suspension. The thermal stabilities and flammability behaviors of the samples were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), limiting oxygen index (LOI), and vertical burning test, respectively. Both thermal decomposition temperature and LOI value of coating composites gradually increased with the increment of IPPP@SiO2-n (n = 10, 30, 50, 70), attaching to the synchronous advancement in stretching property. Furthermore, coatings were thickened by degrees from 0.4 mm to 4 mm, based on knife coating in multi-stage layer-by-layer mode, to build an ordered porous structure with the assisted adhesion of PVA. The following sintering preserved the close packing of silica aerogel particles and facilitate the formation of a coherent porous monolithic material with excellent thermal insulation performance.
A study on various types of immobilization of enzyme kinetic mechanisms by comparing with the solutions obtained from AGM and MADM
Authors: Saravanakumar K. , Veeramuni M. , Veeramani S. , Thomas Praveen , Ahmed L. Niyaz
Published: March 2024

In this article, the kinetic mechanisms are based on Michaelis-Menten reaction in presence of substrate inhibition have been solved by techniques ‘Akbari-Ganji’s Method’ (AGM) and ‘Modified Adomian decomposition method’ (MADM). Comparisons of solution of dimensionless substrate and product concentrations for various kinetic mechanisms have been carried out using AGM, MADM and numerical simulation. We assessed the impact of Thiele modulus, dimensionless inhibition degree, and concentration of substances outside the support on changing nature of substrate and product concentrations within the boundary layer in this study. The obtained results depict that the used methods have good accuracy for different values of kinetic parameters. Furthermore, the mean integrated effectiveness factor has been derived for all the mechanisms employing AGM solutions. This paper clearly illustrates the distinctions between MADM and AGM.
Optimal development of apoptotic cells-mimicking Liposomes Targeting Macrophages
Authors: Zhang Li , Li Yujiao , Liu Xing , He Xiaolu , Zhang Jieyu , Zhou Jun , Qiao Youbei , Wu Hong , Sun Fangfang , Zhou Qing
Published: March 2024

Macrophages are multifunctional innate immune cells that play indispensable roles in homeostasis, tissue repair, and immune regulation. However, dysregulated activation of macrophages is implicated in the pathogenesis of various human disorders, making them a potential target for treatment. Through the expression of pattern recognition and scavenger receptors, macrophages exhibit selective uptake of pathogens and apoptotic cells. Consequently, the utilization of drug carriers that mimic pathogenic or apoptotic signals shows potential for targeted delivery to macrophages. In this study, a series of mannosylated or/and phosphatidylserine (PS) -presenting liposomes were developed to target macrophages via the design of experiment (DoE) strategy and the trial-and-error (TaE) approach. The optimal molar ratio for the liposome formulation was DOPC:DSPS:Chol:PEG-PE = 20:60:20:2 based on the results of cellular uptake and cytotoxicity evaluation on RAW 264.7 and THP-1 in vitro. Results from in vivo distribution showed that, in the DSS-induced colitis model and collagen II-induced rheumatoid arthritis model, PS-presenting liposomes (PS-Lipo) showed the highest accumulation in intestine and paws respectively, which holds promising potential for macrophage target therapy since macrophages are abundant at inflammatory sites and contribute to the progression of corresponding diseases. Organs such as the heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney did not exhibit histological alterations such as inflammation or necrosis when exposed to PC-presenting liposomes (PC-Lipo) or PS-Lipo. In addition, liposomes demonstrated hemobiocompatibility and no toxicity to liver or kidney for circulation and did not induce metabolic injury in the animals. Thus, the well-designed PS-Lipo demonstrated the most potential for macrophage target therapy.
A qualitative study exploring adolescents’ perspectives of resilience trainings for chronic medical conditions
Authors: Sieper Larissa , Kerth Janna-Lina , Schneble Dominik , Tomoiaga Cristina , David Oana , Mayatepek Ertan , Meissner Thomas , Bischops Anne Christine
Published: March 2024

Background
Adolescents with a chronic medical condition (CMC) are often affected by mental health disorders coexisting with their physical conditions. Resilience-strengthening interventions can be beneficial for the adolescents’ mental health. However, evidence-based programs among this target group remain scarce. Here, we evaluated the wishes and needs of adolescents with CMC for resilience trainings to improve adherence.
Methods
This qualitative study analyzed the experience of 46 adolescents aged 12–16 years receiving resilience training at a German University Hospital. They were randomly assigned to a combined app and cognitive-behavioral coaching intervention (CBT) or stand-alone resilience app game (REThink). Postintervention semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted and analyzed by the standards of qualitative content analysis.
Results
Both the REThink game app and coaching were considered helpful by the participants. Adolescents’ preferable resilience strengthening methods were coping skills training, mental health education, building of self-esteem and mindfulness exercises. Adolescents emphasized the importance of age-adapted difficulty levels, graphical design and native language content. Appointment scheduling was identified as a major barrier leading to a preference for online coachings.
Conclusions
This study highlighted key preferences of adolescents with CMC for resilience trainings. Adolescents acknowledged the value of both the app game and coaching format. Insights on coaching and app design preferences emphasize the importance of age-adapted and customizable interventions. The identified resilience training criteria provide a solid foundation for the development of forthcoming interventions.
Trial registration number:
DRKS00027870, registered 24.01.2022.
The first case of a peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis caused by Gordonia sputi in a child
Authors: Takagi Yuhi , Kano Yuji , Tarukawa Tomomi , Yoshihara Shigemi
Published: March 2024

A 1-year-and-3-month-old girl was admitted to our hospital after an initial episode of peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis (PDRP) following a broken Tenckhoff catheter. On the 10th day of treatment, 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the patient’s isolates and comparative sequence identity analyses revealed the bacterium responsible for peritonitis as Gordonia sputi. An antimicrobial agent (ampicillin) was selected based on the minimum inhibitory concentration, and after a treatment course spanning 3 weeks, no recurrence was observed. PDRP caused by Gordonia species manifests sporadically after Tenckhoff catheter breakage. Further, PDRP caused by Gordonia species often recur, and the Tenckhoff catheter is removed. However, in many cases, the recurrence is due to a short duration of antimicrobial therapy. As already known, 16S rRNA gene sequencing is useful for diagnosing Gordonia species. Further studies are needed regarding the choice of antimicrobial agents and the duration of administration.
The enhancement effect of social interaction on emotional contagion: an EEG-based hyperscanning study
Authors: Wang Hui , Gao Xiaolan , Xu Chuyan , Chen Wenfeng
Published: March 2024

Emotional contagion refers to the tendency for individuals to replicate the emotional states of others primarily within the context of social interactions. Prior research has focused on real-time emotional contagion during interpersonal communication. However, this study proposed that social interaction experiences might also play a role in promoting emotional contagion. To investigate this issue, the present study divided participants into the interactive group and the control group and conducted EEG-based hyperscanning to investigate the impact of interpersonal interaction experience on emotional contagion. Behavioral results indicated that individuals reported a greater psychological closeness to their partners after experiencing interaction. Additionally, the interactive group showed stronger emotional congruence between observers and senders. EEG results further demonstrated that inter-brain synchrony in the emotional contagion phase among the observer and sender of the interactive group was significantly higher than that of the control group, particularly in the negative emotions. This research suggests that social interaction experience may affect emotional contagion by altering the interpersonal states. It also adds to our understanding of how social interactions can shape our emotional experiences and emphasizes that interpersonal experiences might be a key factor in promoting emotional contagion.
Lived Caregiving Experience of Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) for those with Terminal Illness in Singapore: A Secondary Qualitative Data Analysis
Authors: Lee Jing Yi , Liaw Karen , Lee Angel , Oh Hong Choon , Ng Foong Ling , Nurjono Milawaty
Published: March 2024

Background
Due to societal changes associated with evolving family structures in Singapore, the reliance on foreign domestic workers (FDWs) for elderly caregiving is increasing. While involving FDWs in caregiving has proven effective in moderating family caregivers' burden and benefiting patients' health outcomes, their caregiving experiences of FDWs are not always ideal. Existing studies on FDWs' caregiving experiences have mainly focused on elder care. However, palliative care, being more specialised and intense, poses unique challenges. Given high caregiver burden experienced in caring for non-cancer patients with terminal illnesses, this study aims to explore FDWs' experiences in caring for non-cancer patients at their end of lives in Singapore.
Method
A qualitative secondary analysis was conducted on 15 transcripts from a study related to a non-cancer palliative care program. The analysis used an adapted model combining the Informal Caregiving Integrative Model (ICIM), Inherent Tension of Caregiving Model, and Risk and Resistance Model (RRM) of Adjustment model. FDWs' experiences were categorized into five caregiving profiles based on perceived burden and benefits characterised by Pristavec.
Results
Based on caregiver experience profiling characteristics by Pristavec, one was classified under “intensive domestic helper”, while two others were classified as “relationship”. Nine had a “balanced” profile and three others were classified as “satisfied” FDWs. Common caregiver outcomes like psychological stress and physical fatigue were observed across different profiles. Each profile highlighted unique caregiving experiences, emphasizing the significance of individual coping strategies, clear personal boundaries, and positive mindsets in mitigating the impact of caregiving demands on FDWs' wellbeing.
Conclusion
This study provides valuable insights into FDWs' caregiving experiences of non-cancer patients with terminal illnesses. The findings suggest the need for tailored services or interventions to enhance FDWs' coping abilities. Future research could focus on developing caregiver support programs specifically designed for FDWs caring for individuals with terminal illnesses.