bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hepatobiliary-Phase Hypointense Nodules Without Arterial-Phase Hyperenhancement: Developing a Risk Stratification for Hypervascular Transformation Based on a Real-World Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Li Na , Wang Yi , Yang Li , Yang Chun , Zeng Mengsu
Published: November 2024

Purpose

To develop a risk stratification based on MRI features to predict hypervascular transformation for hepatobiliary-phase (HBP) hypointense nodules without arterial-phase hyperenhancement (APHE).

Materials and methods

This retrospective observational cohort study included 55 HBP hypointense nodules without APHE in 35 patients with chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, or current hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI. The hypervascular transformation during the follow-up MRI(s) was the primary endpoint analyzed for the nodules. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were performed to identify risk features predicting transformation and assess their predictive value.

Results

Among the 55 nodules, 27 developed hypervascular transformation, while 28 did not. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) hyperintensity (hazard ratio [HR], 4.98; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.60, 15.54; p = 0.006) and portal venous phase (PVP) hypointensity (HR, 4.08; 95% CI: 1.43, 11.64; p = 0.009) were associated with hypervascular transformation. DWI hyperintensity and PVP hypointensity had 44.4% (95% CI: 26.0%, 64.4%) and 81.9% (95% CI: 61.3%, 93.0%) sensitivity, while their specificity was 78.2% (95% CI: 64.6%, 87.8%) and 67.9 (95% CI: 47.6%, 83.4%), respectively. The specificity of the combination of two features was 100% (95% CI: 85.0%, 100%). The hypervascular transformation rates for nodules with both, either and neither of the risk MRI findings were 100% (10/10), 60.9% (14/23), and 13.6% (3/22), respectively; the median intervals for transformation were 312 (range: 73–838), 409 (range: 50–1643) and 555 (range: 423–968) days, respectively.

Conclusion

The combination of DWI hyperintensity and PVP hypointensity may be used as a high-risk indicator for the hypervascular transformation of HBP hypointense nodules without APHE; nodules without either feature may be treated as low-risk nodules and could adopt an extended interval follow-up schedule.
Voice, Protest, and Democracy
Authors: Mcgarry Aidan
Published: November 2024

To be visible and recognized in public life, marginalized gropus must speak up and speak out. As they articulate a collective voice through protest, these groups lay claim to belonging and enrich democracy, an institution that frequently excluses them. The case of LGBTIQ activism in India demonstrates that protest is the realization of political agency.
Complicating Clery
Authors: Rondini Ashley C.
Published: November 2024

Ashley C. Rondini on the complexities of campus sexual assault data.
Balloon angioplasty for cerebral vasospasm in preschool children
Authors: Demartini Zeferino , Requejo Flavio , Beraldo Renato Fedato , Maeda Adriano Keijiro , Savoldi Alexandre Mello , Cardoso-Demartini Adriane
Published: November 2024

Background

Subarachnoid hemorrhage evolving with cerebral vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemia may increase morbidity and mortality. Treating vasospasm with balloon percutaneous angioplasty (PTA) in adults is well known, but data in preschool children are scarce. In addition, the smaller diameters and fragility of the vessels in childhood might lead to serious complications. This study presents two cases of cerebral vasospasm in preschool children treated with balloon PTA. Therefore, it may contribute to a better understanding of the role of that technique as an effective treatment modality in this population.

Methods

Balloon PTA was performed in two children (3 and 4 year-old) with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and delayed cerebral ischemia.

Results

The procedures were uneventful, and both patients survived without complications or new infarction.

Conclusions

Balloon PTA for proximal vasospasm may improve clinical outcomes in selected pediatric patients. Further studies are needed to clarify the best candidates, materials, and techniques.
To Member Check or not to Member Check? An Evaluation of Member Checking in an Interpretive Descriptive Study
Authors: Lloyd Nicola , Hyett Nerida , Kenny Amanda
Published: November 2024

Member checking is an established technique in qualitative research that is intended to improve the quality and rigour of studies. However, recent debate about whether member checking achieves its intended purposes and the potential risk for unintended consequences creates uncertainty about its use. This generates confusion, particularly for those new to qualitative research. In 2021, Motulsky proposed five evaluation questions to guide researchers in decision-making about member checking. There have been no reports of the application of these questions in qualitative studies. By retrospectively applying these questions to a recently completed doctoral interpretive descriptive study on public involvement in health service design, we critically evaluate the usefulness of these questions in member checking decision-making. An important gap in understanding is addressed in how the evaluative questions might aid novice researchers in member checking decision-making by highlighting the critical importance of member checking considerations in the study planning phase. Decisions about study design and whether to use member checking require careful consideration of risks and benefits. Novice researchers, in particular, should not rely on checklists and short textbook explanations to drive member checking decision-making. They should read widely and critically, use reflective praxis, and report and justify their member checking decision-making process.
Cross-species Perception and Ecological Disposition in Animation
Authors: Bissonnette Sylvie
Published: November 2024

Studies on environmental animations have explored the politics of world-making and the interdependence of humans and animals. Taking as a case study the short Hungarian animation A Légy (Ferenc Rófusz, 1980), this article explores ways that animation can foster an ecological disposition in the viewer by presenting the worldview of a housefly from a first-person perspective. A Légy focuses on altersubjectivity, a term that Vinciane Despret (‘Ethology between empathy, standpoint and perspectivism’, 2010) uses to describe Jakob von Uexküll’s practice of adopting the animals’ perspectives. Because each species is attuned to its particular dwelling-world, Von Uexküll ( A Foray into the Worlds of Animals and Humans with a Theory of Meaning, 2010) suggests, we must study animals by examining the features available to them by erecting ‘a bubble’ around them. A Légy gestures toward this idea by facilitating a becoming-animal that highlights perceptual similarities and differences between the viewer and the animated insect. The animation machine enables a ‘cross-species perception’, a form of perception that extends the spectator’s perceptual awareness of the nonhuman worldview.
Enhancing systematic review efficiency in hand surgery using artificial intelligence (natural language processing) for abstract screening
Authors: Wong Gordon C. , Kane Robert L. , Chu Cheng-C.J. , Lin Ching-Heng , Kuo Chang-Fu , Chung Kevin C.
Published: November 2024

The aim of the present study was to train a natural language processing model to recognize key text elements from research abstracts related to hand surgery, enhancing the efficiency of systematic review screening. A sample of 1600 abstracts from a systematic review of distal radial fracture treatment outcomes was annotated to train the natural language processing model. To assess time-saving potential, 200 abstracts were processed by the trained models in two experiments, where reviewers accessed natural language processing predictions to include or exclude articles. The natural language processing model achieved an overall accuracy of 0.91 in recognizing key text elements, excelling in identifying study interventions. Use of the natural language processing reduced mean screening time by 31% without compromising accuracy. Precision varied, improving in the second experiment, indicating context-dependent performance. These findings suggest that natural language processing models can streamline abstract screening in systematic reviews by effectively identifying original research and extracting relevant text elements.

Level of evidence: IV
Artificial intelligence in rheumatology: status quo and quo vadis—results of a national survey among German rheumatologists
Authors: Holzer Marie-Therese , Meinecke Anna , Müller Felix , Haase Isabell , Morf Harriet , Witte Thorben , Labinsky Hannah , Klemm Philipp , Knitza Johannes , Krusche Martin
Published: November 2024

Background:

The development and potential of artificial intelligence (AI) is remarkable. Its application in all medical disciplines, including rheumatology, is attracting attention. To what extent AI is already used in clinical routine in rheumatology is unknown. In addition, the perceived barriers, potentials, and expectations regarding AI by rheumatologists have not yet been studied.

Objectives:

To examine the current usage and perceived barriers and facilitators of AI, including large language models (LLMs), among rheumatologists.

Design:

National, observational, non-interventional, and cross-sectional web-based study.

Methods:

A web-based survey was developed by the Working Group Young Rheumatology (AGJR) of the German Society for Rheumatology. The survey was distributed at the Congress of the German Society for Rheumatology and via social media, QR code, and email from August 30 until November 4, 2023.

Results:

Responses from 172 rheumatologists (55% female; mean age 43 years) were analyzed. The majority stated that they did not previously use AI (73%) in their daily practice. Eighty-eight percent of rheumatologists rated their AI knowledge as low to intermediate and 84% would welcome dedicated training on LLMs. The majority of rheumatologists anticipated AI implementation to improve patient care (60%) and reduce daily workload (62%). Especially for diagnosis (73%), writing medical reports (70%), and data analysis (70%), rheumatologists reported a potential positive benefit of AI. Main AI concerns addressed the responsibility for medical decisions (64%) and data security (58%).

Conclusion:

Overall, the results indicate that rheumatologists currently have little AI knowledge and make very little use of AI in clinical routine. However, the majority of rheumatologists anticipate positive AI effects and would welcome increased AI implementation and dedicated training programs.
Elite Perceptions of a China-Led Regional Order in Southeast Asia
Authors: Ho Selina , Lee Terence
Published: November 2024

How do Southeast Asian states perceive a China-led regional order? To answer this question, we conducted a survey of elites from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, countries that are “least likely” to acquiesce to a China-led regional order. Our survey indicates that although most elites view China as influential and have a cultural affinity with it, they do not perceive China as having the authority to preside over the regional order. They do not identify with China's political values and the normative order it propounds. Our survey also reveals the salience of ASEAN as the region navigates great power rivalry. We explain these views by drawing from the concept of legitimate authority. Our findings are significant; if China cannot persuade its Southeast Asian neighbours of its right to lead, it will be even harder for China to exercise global leadership.
Picturing Peace Journalists: An Examination of Social Profiles and Professional Model Diffusion
Authors: Doll Meagan E.
Published: November 2024

Changes in global journalism are reflected in myriad cross-national professionalization efforts, including the development and exportation of models for journalism practice. Literature on peace journalism, for instance, suggests that its adaptation across contexts is shaped by forces on several levels, including the influence of individual media practitioners. However, little research examines those likely to practice peace journalism nor the implications of these social profiles on the diffusion of the model more broadly. Drawing on field theory and 20 in-depth interviews with East African journalists conducted between 2020 and 2021, this study explores such questions by identifying shared dimensions of position and habitus across those who attend peace journalism trainings. Findings suggest that these individuals tend to be well educated, share common experiences with conflict, and hold similar interventionist role conceptions. Such findings illuminate the types of social transformations peace journalism may undergo as it is adapted across contexts, with implications for journalism theory and practice.
Investigating the impact of a pharmacist intervention on inappropriate prescribing practices at hospital admission and discharge in older patients: a secondary outcome analysis from a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Garcia Beate Hennie , Omma Katharina Kaino , Småbrekke Lars , Johansen Jeanette Schultz , Skjold Frode , Halvorsen Kjell Hermann
Published: November 2024

Background:

Inappropriate medication prescribing in older patients increases the risk of poorer health outcomes and increased costs. The IMMENSE trial, integrated a clinical pharmacist into the health care team, to improve medication therapy among older patients, and to investigate the impact on acute revisits to hospital.

Objectives:

This study investigated the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and prescribing omissions (PPOs) at hospital admission and discharge. It also explored the impact of the pharmacist intervention on PIMs and PPOs, and other factors associated with PIMs and PPOs at discharge.

Design:

The STOPP/START criteria version 2 were retrospectively applied at admission and discharge. PIM and PPO changes were compared, and Poisson regression was used to assess factors influencing prevalence at discharge.

Results:

At hospital admission, PIM prevalence was 58.6% among intervention patients and 64.8% among control patients. PPO prevalence was 55.3% and 55.5%, respectively. A larger proportion of PIMs identified at admission were resolved by discharge in the intervention group (42.9%) compared to the control group (27.4%). No difference was seen for PPOs. Poisson regression identified a significantly higher risk for PIMs at discharge in the control group compared to the intervention group (IRR 1.255; 95% CI 1.063–1.480, p = 0.007), but no effect for PPOs. Patients living in a nursing home, a home care facility, or an institution showed a higher risk of PPOs at discharge compared to patients living at home (IRR 1.378; 95% CI 1.156–1.644, p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

The IMMENSE intervention significantly reduced the risk of PIMs at discharge, with no effect on PPOs. Living in nursing homes, home care facilities, or institutions prior to hospitalization increased the risk of PPOs at discharge. Pharmacists may contribute to improved medication appropriateness in older hospitalized patients.
Evaluation of Post-Operative Outcomes of Femoral Neck Fracture Interventions: A Systematic Review
Authors: Sheffels Erin , Khalil Mariam , Hutchison Kristen , Hardy Nicole J. , Tarchand Ranita , Pederson John M. , Parikh Anjani , Blauth Michael
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Femoral neck fractures (FNF) represent a significant challenge in orthopedic practice, demanding prompt intervention to restore function and mobility in affected individuals. Numerous surgical interventions have been developed to address these fractures, including internal fixation with devices such as the Femoral Neck System (FNS, DePuy Synthes, Inc., West Chester, PA, USA). However, the optimal fixation system remains unclear. Understanding the postoperative outcomes associated with these interventions is crucial for optimizing patient care and informing treatment decisions.

Significance

This PRISMA-compliant systematic literature review evaluates the efficacy and safety of the Femoral Neck System relative to other operative treatment options. Clinical and safety outcomes included mortality, perioperative complications, postoperative complications at 1 year, and reoperation.

Results

A total of 117 studies with 68,567 patients with FNF treated with internal fixation were identified. Of these, thirteen included FNS as a treatment arm (1078 patients). Due to heterogeneity in study designs and populations, only the eleven studies that directly compared FNS to other operative treatments, and 2 non-comparative studies that treated with FNS were included in the systematic review. Seven of the eleven included studies had high risk of bias, 2 had moderate risk of bias, and 2 had low risk of bias. FNS groups had similar or significantly lower incidences of postoperative complications, reoperations, and mortality compared to cannulated screw, cancellous screw, or dynamic or sliding hip screw groups in all studies.

Conclusion

FNS can be a safe and effective operative treatment option for FNF. Safety outcomes and reoperation rates are comparable between patients treated with FNS and patients treated with cannulated screws, cancellous screws, and dynamic or sliding hips screws. Future prospective, controlled studies are needed to confirm the safety and efficacy of FNS relative to other operative treatment options.
Hospital Nurses’ Job Stressors and Social Support Behaviors During the COVID-19 Era: An Online Cross-Sectional Predictive Study
Authors: Mrayyan Majd T. , Algunmeeyn Abdullah , Al-Rjoub Saleem
Published: November 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic changed our lives and psychological health; thus, job stressors are escalating, and they warrant immediate interventions, especially providing social supportive behaviors. This study investigated predictors of job stressors and social supportive behaviors in various Jordanian hospitals during the COVID-19 era. Data were collected utilizing a descriptive cross-sectional study and a convenience snowball sample of 392 nurses from different hospitals in Jordan using an online survey in 2022. This study was consistent with Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. Nurses’ job stressors occur “occasionally,” and social support behaviors occur “once or twice a month.” The highest and lowest nurses’ job stressors and social support behaviors were ranked were reported. The GLM yielded that the predictors of nurses’ job stressors were social support behaviors and work area; these variables explained 19% of nurses’ job stressors variance. The GLM yielded that the predictors of social support behaviors were nurses’ job stressors, time commitment, nursing care delivery model, and marital status; these variables explained 20% of social support behaviors variance. There are many novel findings in the current study, as time commitment is a significant correlate of social support behaviors and marital status is a predictor of social support behaviors. Assessing and managing nurses’ job stressors, including controlling nurses’ workload, are urgently mandated. A staffing policy is needed to promote safe practices and positive patient, nurse, and organizational outcomes.
Exploring Service Innovation in Cultural and Creative Blocks from the Perspective of Value Resonance
Authors: Kuo Shih-Ling , Chen Chun-Liang
Published: November 2024

The revitalization of cultural and creative blocks is seen as an important economic strategy for stimulating local industries; driving local economic development; creating employment opportunities; attracting entrepreneurs, tourists and residents; and developing the city as a whole in city marketing cases. This study uses exploratory research as a research strategy to examine how actors in cultural and creative blocks achieve service innovation in those blocks through value co-creation based on value resonance. Through the integration of resources, actors propose shared values and exchange services through service systems. In the process of exchanging services, the actors integrate their values, co-establish institutional arrangements, and create value resonance. Under the premise of value resonance, they then co-create value and achieve service innovation in cultural and creative blocks. This study explores the original functions of cultural and creative blocks, such as cultural preservation, enhancing a city’s image and serving as a tourist attraction, and analyses the value-enhancing and innovative services of these places, which will help to examine the effectiveness of the revitalization of cultural and creative blocks and the operations of innovation activities. Furthermore, this study put forward suggestions for the development of the cultural and creative block industry from the aspects of policy, economy, and society to provides innovative ways of thinking about the sustainable development of cultural and creative blocks and the invigoration of local economies.
Capturing the Asymmetrical Effect of Macroeconomic Factors on Public-Sector Innovation in Chinese Local Government: A Dynamic Technology Forecasting Approach
Authors: You Chengde , Khattak Shoukat Iqbal , Ahmad Manzoor
Published: November 2024

Despite the considerable investments in Chinese public sector innovation in China and its social impact, there is insufficient information on how asymmetries in macroeconomic factors and business cycles affect public sector innovation. Based on provincial data from thirty regions (2000–2016), the study proposes a dynamic model to capture the asymmetrical impact of macroeconomic factors on local government innovation. The innovation-based predictive model indicated that a positive shock to macro-economic factors (i.e., gross domestic product, government administration expenditures, provincial degree of openness in economies, provincial degree of openness in society, higher education research and development expenditures, local revenue, and local expenditure) upsurge government innovation. In contrast, a negative shock to these factors disrupts local government innovation. Third, the model indicated a pro-cyclical relationship between positive and negative shocks to government administration expenditures and provincial government innovation during the boom and recession periods. The study offers an essential policy tool and some important implications for local government officials, future researchers, and policymakers to understand how cyclic and asymmetric behavior in local government innovation shapes the innovation efficiency of the public sector in China.

Subject Classification Codes: O30, O31, O32, 01, O38, O36, O35, O38, P25, Q01, H72.
Physiological Synchrony Evoked by Attentional Engagement: A Systematic Review Based on CiteSpace
Authors: Liu Qing , Yang Xueyao , Zhang Wenjuan
Published: November 2024

This study uses CiteSpace, a bibliometric and visualization-analysis tool, to present a systematic analysis of literature in the Web of Science database on physiological-synchrony evoked by attentional engagement. It reviews the publication timeframe, authorship, keywords, and leading institutions and regions, along with burst terms and highly cited papers that represent key research trends and hotspots. The key findings are discussed below. While there is a general rising trend in the number of publications on this subject, the distribution of authors is fragmented. The University of California and City University of New York in the U.S. are the two most productive institutional systems. The United States, Germany, and China are the three most productive countries. In research hotspots, investigators tend to focus on brain-to-brain synchrony, eye-movement synchrony, heart-rate synchronization, and other physiological indicators. Future research may continue to investigate fields related to the synchronization of brain and eye movements.
Short-Term Student Exchange in Nursing Education: A Descriptive Pilot Study
Authors: Bjørnnes Ann Kristin , Skaufel Hennie , Holmström Rising Malin , Gädda Marlene , Nieminen Anna-Lena , Misvær Nina , Bender Monggaard Maria-Louise , Greve Sørensen Katrine , Alondere Linda , Butkuviene Asta , Torbjørnsen Astrid
Published: November 2024

This descriptive pilot study investigates and evaluates nursing students’ perceptions of their learning gains and the factors contributing to academic integration within a one-week Intensive Programme (IP) course, part of the Nordplus Programme. Nordplus encourages mobility and curriculum development across Nordic and Baltic higher education. The study used a short-term mobility program involving eight nursing education institutions as its setting. Students’ experiences were captured using an evaluation form inspired by the Student Assessment of Learning Gains (SALGs) questionnaires. The results reveal positive student responses to the IP course, particularly regarding interactions with peers and teachers. The study underscores the potential of short-term IP courses in providing concentrated learning experiences, broadening nursing topics, and fostering active engagement. The implications suggest that nursing education institutions should consider incorporating more short-term mobility programs to enhance student learning and intercultural experiences. By investing in such initiatives, institutions can cultivate an enriching and supportive learning environment.
Transitioning to Adult Life for Students With Intellectual Disability in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Alshuayl Mohammed S. , Alkhattabi Shoroq O. , Ryndak Diane L.
Published: November 2024

Although transition services for individuals with intellectual disability (ID) in Saudi Arabia are required by special education law and regulations, no literature synthesizes peer-reviewed studies focused on transition services for individuals with ID in Saudi Arabia. The purpose of this systematic literature review was to describe the peer-reviewed studies that have been published in English and Arabic over the past 15 years (2008–2023) related to transition services for individuals with ID in Saudi Arabia, the period in which the Saudi Arabian government has provided a new focus on the needs of individuals with disabilities. Our search yielded 22 studies that met the inclusion criteria for this systematic review. Results were discussed in terms of the lack of research focused on transition services and the lack of transition services available for individuals with ID in Saudi Arabia. A discussion of the limitations of this study, as well as the implications for future research, are provided.
Peri-urban Land Use Patterns in the Argentine Agro-industrial Model: A Focus on Dominant Genetically Modified Crops and Pesticide Use
Authors: Agost Lisandro , Filippini Edith Raquel , Salinero María Celeste , Aiassa Delia
Published: November 2024

This research aims to determine and quantify peri-urban land-use patterns for genetically modified crops, woody and nonwoody vegetation, and noncrop areas around Argentine cities where the agro-industrial model is implemented. Through a selection process, a database of urban areas for 715 cities was obtained. Perimeter rings of 100, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 m were used to calculate the areas occupied by the different peri-urban land covers, total crops, no crops, and tree cover. As a general pattern, it is observed that as larger peripheral areas are included, the predominance of the total crop class increases, while that of no crops and tree cover decreases. In addition, it was estimated that an average of 9.7 million kilograms of pesticides are being used per crop season on the 1.8 million hectares analysed, that is, on the 2,000 peripheral meters of the 715 cities under study.
Educating for Social Justice Lawyering and Community Legal Empowerment: Learnings from India and Bangladesh
Authors: Pandey Ajay , Moti Shireen , Naomi Sharin Shajahan
Published: November 2024

The access to justice crisis is severe in India and Bangladesh. Both of these countries have enormous unmet legal needs. To ensure access to justice, three components need to be fulfilled: The existence of a legal institutional framework, awareness among citizens regarding this framework and its processes and citizens’ effective access to them. The state is obligated to ensure that there is access to justice, especially for the poor sections of society. Law schools have an important role to play in providing solutions to this crisis. Clinical legal education (CLE) programmes in law schools, with their mission of providing skill-based training to law students, and legal services to underserved communities are well positioned to respond to the needs of access to justice. This article examines the challenges to social justice lawyering and community empowerment in India and Bangladesh and compares the status of CLE’s response to them in both countries. It recommends three solutions for ‘socially relevant legal education’ and to resolve the access to justice crisis. First, the institutional support for CLE programmes needs to be improved. Second, sustained sources of funding are imperative for the development of such programmes. Third, the regulators of legal education should take serious measures to bridge the gap between academia and practice in the legal profession.
Racial Category Usage in Education Research: Examining the Publications from AERA Journals
Authors: Baker Dominique J. , Ford Karly S. , Viano Samantha , Johnston-Guerrero Marc P.
Published: November 2024

How scholars name different racial groups has powerful salience for understanding what researchers study. We explored how education researchers used racial terminology in recently published high-profile peer-reviewed studies. Our sample included 1,427 original empirical studies published in the nonreview AERA journals from 2009 to 2019. We found that two thirds of articles used at least one racial category term, with an increase from about half to almost three quarters of published studies between 2009 and 2019. Other trends include the increasing popularity of the term Black, the emergence of gender-expansive terms such as Latinx, the popularity of the term Hispanic in quantitative studies, and the paucity of studies with terms connoting missing race data or including terms describing Indigenous and multiracial peoples.
Does an “EZ” Survey Improve the Data Quality of the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) Clinician and Group Survey 3.1?
Authors: Hays Ron D. , Brown Julie A. , Mikail Charleen , Quigley Denise D.
Published: November 2024

Completing self-administered patient experience surveys is challenging for many patients. We randomized adult patients receiving care from an urban safety net provider to complete the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) Clinician and Group Survey 3.1 (CG-CAHPS 3.1), or an “EZ” survey created using plain language principles. We compared response rates, item missingness, item-scale correlations, and reliability of patient experience scores based on 264 completed surveys (64% female, 66% Hispanic, 33% high school education or less). The CG-CAHPS 3.1 survey response rate was higher (20% vs 16%), and failure to follow skip instructions was more common for the EZ survey. Internal consistency reliability for multi-item scales was similar, but provider-level reliability was higher for the EZ than for the CG-CAHPS 3.1 survey measures. Cognitive interviews with patients are needed to assess whether the wording of the EZ survey is responsible for the lower response rates and more skip pattern errors. Future studies are also required to provide additional information about the psychometric properties of the CG-CAHPS 3.1 and EZ surveys.
Dermal Exposure to Alkylphenol Ethoxylates in As-Purchased Garments: Human Health Risk Assessment
Authors: Guo Zhaoxia , Cheng Yeju , Zhu Lisha , Li Feng , Liang Huifang , Huang Qianwen , Wang Laili
Published: November 2024

Textile production involves using various chemicals that may remain in clothing and pose health risks. Alkylphenol ethoxylates are non-ionic surfactants which may be involved in various textile printing and dyeing auxiliaries due to their excellent emulsification, wetting and decontamination abilities. This study aimed to determine the dermal exposure doses and health risks of alkylphenol ethoxylates in 10 unwashed textile samples for infants, toddlers and pregnant women. The concentrations of alkylphenol ethoxylates and alkylphenols (APs) were determined by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The total concentrations of alkylphenol ethoxylates (nonylphenol ethoxylates and octylphenol ethoxylates) in 10 textile samples were 113.21–1431.18 mg/kg, among which nonylphenol ethoxylates with ethoxy groups of 2–10 were the dominant chemicals. The highest dermal exposure dose was found in the toddler group, which was 1.27 and 4.14 times higher than those in the infant and pregnant women groups. When the maximum concentration was used for risk assessment based on tolerable daily intake, the hazard indices ( HI) for toddlers and infants were estimated to be 10.62 and 8.37, which may pose a higher risk to human health. Our assessment was specifically focused on new garments before washing. The garments containing alkylphenol ethoxylates can be washed to significantly reduce the exposure risk. The results of our study offer important information on human exposure to alkylphenol ethoxylates in textiles and clothing and provide a scientific basis for planning risk management measures for alkylphenol ethoxylates.
Cerebellar Diameter as A Predictor of Gestational Age of Fetus: Comparison With Other Biometry Parameters
Authors: Uzair Muhammad , Farooq Syed Muhammad Yousaf , Faisal Nazir Muhammad , Fatima Mehreen , Gilani Syed Amir , Hameed Sajid , Bibi Khalida , Fatima Tehreem , Shafiq Zohaib , Shoaib Rafia , Saeed Tayyaba , Bibi Kainat
Published: November 2024

Objective:

The aim of this study was to determine if the fetal cerebellum can be used as a predictor of gestational age (GA), in comparison with other biometric parameters, such as fetal head circumference (HC), biparietal diameter (BPD), abdominal circumference (AC), and femur length (FL).

Materials and Methods:

A grayscale sonographic examination was completed on a cohort of 200 pregnant participants, during their second and third trimester. A descriptive analysis was used to determine the fetal GA, utilizing the transcerebellar diameter (TCD), while comparing it with other biometry metrics. The mean and standard deviation were provided for quantitative variables, while frequencies were determined for categorical variables. A multivariate regression was used to construct models for determining the fetal GA by using the fetal TCD.

Results:

Paired sample statistics of this fetal data showed that the mean GA (i.e., fetal GA based on BPD, FL, HC, and AC) and TCD-GA have approximately the same mean values of 27.59. Moreover, the strength of correlation was 0.941 and a significance of P < .001, respectively. Based on the paired sampling, the analysis indicated that there was a very strong significant positive linear relationship between mean fetal GA and TCD-GA and strong reliability.

Conclusion:

This cohort study demonstrated a very strong significant positive linear relationship between mean fetal GA and TCD-GA, with strong reliability. This may suggest that it is possible to determine fetal GA by measuring TCD.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: CKS2 induces autophagy-mediated glutathione metabolic reprogramming to facilitate ferroptosis resistance in colon cancer
Authors: Yang Leilei , Fang Chengfeng , Han Jiaju , Ren Yufeng , Yang Zaiping , Shen Lingyan , Luo Dinghai , Zhang Ruili , Chen Yan , Zhou Shenkang
Published: November 2024

Background

Ferroptosis, a form of cell death characterized by lipid peroxidation, plays a crucial role in tumor suppression, offering novel avenues for cancer therapy. Previous studies have indicated that high levels of cyclin-dependent kinase subunit 2 (CKS2) promote the progression of various cancers. However, the potential interplay between CKS2 and ferroptosis in colon cancer (CC) remains unclear.

Methods

Bioinformatics and RNA-seq analyses were employed to study genes associated with the ferroptosis signaling pathway. CKS2 expression was evaluated using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot (WB). The in vitro and in vivo effects of CKS2 on CC cells were assessed through the CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, propidium iodide (PI) staining, BODIPY staining, DCFH-DA staining, and animal experiments. Additionally, the impact of CKS2 on autophagy and glutathione (GSH) metabolism was investigated using a transmission electron microscope (TEM), immunofluorescence (IF) assays, WB experiments, and relevant assay kits.

Results

CKS2 expression was elevated in CC, indicating a poor clinical outcome. Knockdown of CKS2 significantly enhanced Erastin-induced ferroptosis in CC cells, leading to reduced GSH metabolism. Conversely, CKS2 overexpression produced opposite effects. Mechanistically, CKS2-induced autophagy reinforced GSH metabolism, thereby increasing resistance to ferroptosis in CC cells. Furthermore, inhibiting CKS2 promoted tumor ferroptosis by downregulating GPX4 expression. Additionally, CKS2 knockdown effectively increased sorafenib-induced ferroptosis both in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion

CKS2 suppresses ferroptosis in CC by modulating GSH metabolism in both in vitro and in vivo settings. These findings offer new insights into targeting CKS2 for CC treatment and shed light on the mechanism of ferroptosis in CC.
Empirical versus estimated accuracy of imputation: optimising filtering thresholds for sequence imputation
Authors: Nguyen Tuan V. , Bolormaa Sunduimijid , Reich Coralie M. , Chamberlain Amanda J. , Vander Jagt Christy J. , Daetwyler Hans D. , MacLeod Iona M.
Published: November 2024

Background

Genotype imputation is a cost-effective method for obtaining sequence genotypes for downstream analyses such as genome-wide association studies (GWAS). However, low imputation accuracy can increase the risk of false positives, so it is important to pre-filter data or at least assess the potential limitations due to imputation accuracy. In this study, we benchmarked three different imputation programs (Beagle 5.2, Minimac4 and IMPUTE5) and compared the empirical accuracy of imputation with the software estimated accuracy of imputation (Rsqsoft). We also tested the accuracy of imputation in cattle for autosomal and X chromosomes, SNP and INDEL, when imputing from either low-density or high-density genotypes.

Results

The accuracy of imputing sequence variants from real high-density genotypes was higher than from low-density genotypes. In our software benchmark, all programs performed well with only minor differences in accuracy. While there was a close relationship between empirical imputation accuracy and the imputation Rsqsoft, this differed considerably for Minimac4 compared to Beagle 5.2 and IMPUTE5. We found that the Rsqsoft threshold for removing poorly imputed variants must be customised according to the software and this should be accounted for when merging data from multiple studies, such as in meta-GWAS studies. We also found that imposing an Rsqsoft filter has a positive impact on genomic regions with poor imputation accuracy due to large segmental duplications that are susceptible to error-prone alignment. Overall, our results showed that on average the imputation accuracy for INDEL was approximately 6% lower than SNP for all software programs. Importantly, the imputation accuracy for the non-PAR (non-Pseudo-Autosomal Region) of the X chromosome was comparable to autosomal imputation accuracy, while for the PAR it was substantially lower, particularly when starting from low-density genotypes.

Conclusions

This study provides an empirically derived approach to apply customised software-specific Rsqsoft thresholds for downstream analyses of imputed variants, such as needed for a meta-GWAS. The very poor empirical imputation accuracy for variants on the PAR when starting from low density genotypes demonstrates that this region should be imputed starting from a higher density of real genotypes.
Rare copy number variant analysis in case–control studies using snp array data: a scalable and automated data analysis pipeline
Authors: Artaza Haydee , Lavrichenko Ksenia , Wolff Anette S. B. , Røyrvik Ellen C. , Vaudel Marc , Johansson Stefan
Published: November 2024

Background

Rare copy number variants (CNVs) significantly influence the human genome and may contribute to disease susceptibility. High-throughput SNP genotyping platforms provide data that can be used for CNV detection, but it requires the complex pipelining of bioinformatic tools. Here, we propose a flexible bioinformatic pipeline for rare CNV analysis from human SNP array data.

Results

The pipeline consists of two major sub-pipelines: (1) Calling and quality control (QC) analysis, and (2) Rare CNV analysis. It is implemented in Snakemake following a rule-based structure that enables automation and scalability while maintaining flexibility.

Conclusions

Our pipeline automates the detection and analysis of rare CNVs. It implements a rigorous CNV quality control, assesses the frequencies of these rare CNVs in patients versus controls, and evaluates the impact of CNVs on specific genes or pathways. We hence aim to provide an efficient yet flexible bioinformatic framework to investigate rare CNVs in biomedical research.
Transcriptional profiling of the M. complexus in naked neck chickens suggest a direct pleiotropic effect of GDF7 on feathering and reduced hatchability
Authors: Mott Alexander Charles , Blaschka Carina , Mott Andrea , Falker-Gieske Clemens
Published: November 2024

Background

The locus for naked neck (Na) in chickens reduces feather coverage and leads to increased heat dissipation from the body surface resulting in better adaptability to hot conditions. However, the Na gene is linked to significantly lower hatchability due to an increased late embryonic mortality. It has been argued that the causative gene GDF7 may have a direct pleiotropic effect on hatchability via its effect on muscle development. Thus, the study presented here analyses the transcriptome of the hatching muscle (M. complexus) and shows how GDF7 impacts development leading to reduced hatching rates in Na chickens.

Results

Using 12 chicken embryos (6 x wildtype (Wt) and 6 x Na) RNA was extracted from the M. complexus of each embryo and sequenced. The resulting differential expression analyses led to the discovery of 461 differentially expressed (DE) genes in the M. complexus of the experimental group. Among those, 77 genes were of uncertain function (LOC symbols), with 31 were classified as uncharacterised. The regulation of a number of pathways involved in normal embryonic development, were found to be negatively influenced by the Na genotype. Further pathways involved in cell-cell adhesion, cell signalling pathways, and amino acid (AA) metabolism/transport were also observed. GDF7 (alias BMP12), whose localised overexpression in the neck skin causes the Na/Na phenotype, was significantly overexpressed in the M. complexus of Na/Na embryos, and shows a significant increase in the number of binding sites for the transcription factor PITX2 was also observed.

Conclusion

In Na chickens, GDF7 is under the control of a mutated cis-regulatory element, whose actions are known to suppress the development and distribution of feathers through the sensitizing action of retinoic acid. In this study, a number of DE genes with over 10 retinoic acid response elements (RAREs) in close proximity were observed, indicating changes to the retinol metabolism. With the understanding that the Na/Na mutation leads to increased retinoic acid activity, this indicates a high likelihood of GDF7 excerpting a direct pleiotropic effect, not just in the observed reduction in feather patterning, but also impacting the development of the M.complexus, and consequently leading to the reduced hatchability observed in birds with the Na/Na genotype.

Furthermore, the enrichment of PITX2 binding sites in proximity to DE genes in the M. complexus, also indicates that muscle development is still ongoing in Na embryos. This suggests that the M. complexus is not yet fully developed, further increasing the potential for late embryonic mortality in Na chicks at hatching.
Association of frailty with functional difficulty in older Ghanaians: stability between women and men in two samples with different income levels
Authors: Asiamah Nestor , Danquah Emelia , Vieira Edgar Ramos , Hjorth Peter , Jnr Reginald Arthur-Mensah , Agyemang Simon Mawulorm , Khan Hafiz T. A. , Yarfi Cosmos , Muhonja Faith
Published: November 2024

Background

Research to date suggests that frailty is higher in women and is associated with functional difficulty. This study builds on the evidence by examining the association between frailty and functional difficulty between low- and higher-income groups and between older men and women in these income groups.

Methods

This study adopted a cross-sectional design that complied with the STROBE checklist and included steps against confounding and common methods bias. The population was community-dwelling older adults aged 50 years or older in two urban neighbourhoods in Accra, Ghana. Participants were either in the low-income group in a low socioeconomic neighbourhood (n = 704) or the higher-income group in a high socioeconomic neighbourhood (n = 510). The minimum sample necessary was calculated, and the hierarchical linear regression analysis was utilised to analyse the data.

Results

Frailty was positively associated with functional difficulty in the low- and higher-income samples, but this association was stronger in the higher-income sample. Frailty was positively associated with frailty in men and women within the low- and higher-income samples.

Conclusion

The association of frailty with functional difficulty was consistent between low- and higher-income samples, although the strength of the relationship differed between these samples. In both income samples, the foregoing relationship was consistent between men and women, although the strength of the relationship differed between men and women.