bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Total flavonoids of Astragalus protects glomerular filtration barrier in diabetic kidney disease
Authors: Liu Pei-Yu , Hong Kin-Fong , Liu Ya-Di , Sun Zhong-Yan , Zhao Ting-Ting , Li Xu-Ling , Lao Chi-Chou , Tan Shu-Feng , Zhang Hai-Ying , Zhao Yong-Hua , Xie Ying , Xu You-Hua
Published: February 2024

Background

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a prevalent complication of diabetes and the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Recent evidence suggests that total flavonoids of Astragalus (TFA) has promising effects on diabetes; however, its influence on DKD and the underlying mechanism remains unclear.

Methods

In this study, we induced the DKD model using streptozotocin (STZ) in male C57BL/6J mice and utilized glomerular endothelial cell (GEC) lines for in vitro investigations. We constructed a network pharmacology analysis to understand the mechanism of TFA in DKD. The mechanism of TFA action on DKD was investigated through Western blot analysis and multi-immunological methods.

Results

Our findings revealed that TFA significantly reduced levels of urinary albumin (ALB). Network pharmacology and intracellular pathway experiments indicated the crucial involvement of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in mediating these effects. In vitro experiments showed that TFA can preserve the integrity of the glomerular filtration barrier by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory factors TNF-alpha and IL-8, reducing oxidative stress.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrated that TFA can ameliorates the progression of DKD by ameliorating renal fibrosis and preserving the integrity of the kidney filtration barrier. These results provide pharmacological evidence supporting the use of TFA in the treatment of kidney diseases.
The male-to-female ratio in late-onset multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ma Jing , Zhang Huiqiu , Liang Feng , Li Guanxi , Pang Xiaomin , Zhao Rongjuan , Wang Juan , Chang Xueli , Guo Junhong , Zhang Wei
Published: February 2024

Background

Late-onset multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD) is the most common lipid storage myopathy. There are sex differences in fat metabolism and it is not known whether late-onset MADD affects men and women equally.

Methods

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, CBM, and Wanfang databases were searched until 01/08/2023. Studies reporting sex distribution in patients with late-onset MADD were included. Two authors independently screened studies for eligibility, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. Pre-specified outcomes of interest were the male-to-female ratio (MFR) of patients with late-onset MADD, the differences of clinical characteristics between the sexes, and factors influencing the MFR.

Results

Of 3379 identified studies, 34 met inclusion criteria, yielding a total of 609 late-onset MADD patients. The overall pooled percentage of males was 58% (95% CI, 54-63%) with low heterogeneity across studies (I2 = 2.99%; P = 0.42). The mean onset ages, diagnostic delay, serum creatine kinase (CK), and allelic frequencies of 3 hotspot variants in ETFDH gene were similar between male and female patients (P > 0.05). Meta-regressions revealed that ethnic group was associated with the MFR in late-onset MADD, and subgroup meta-analyses demonstrated that East-Asian patients had a higher percentage of male, lower CK, and higher proportion of hotspot variants in ETFDH gene than non-East-Asian patients (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Male patients with late-onset MADD were more common than female patients. Ethnicity was proved to be a factor influencing the MFR in late-onset MADD. These findings suggest that male sex may be a risk factor for the disease.
Administration of methylene blue in septic shock: pros and cons
Authors: Arias-Ortiz Julian , Vincent Jean-Louis
Published: February 2024

Septic shock typically requires the administration of vasopressors. Adrenergic agents remain the first choice, namely norepinephrine. However, their use to counteract life-threatening hypotension comes with potential adverse effects, so that non-adrenergic vasopressors may also be considered. The use of agents that act through different mechanisms may also provide an advantage. Nitric oxide (NO) is the main driver of the vasodilation that leads to hypotension in septic shock, so several agents have been tested to counteract its effects. The use of non-selective NO synthase inhibitors has been of questionable benefit. Methylene blue, an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase, an important enzyme involved in the NO signaling pathway in the vascular smooth muscle cell, has also been proposed. However, more than 25 years since the first clinical evaluation of MB administration in septic shock, the safety and benefits of its use are still not fully established, and it should not be used routinely in clinical practice until further evidence of its efficacy is available.
RUBICON: a framework for designing efficient deep learning-based genomic basecallers
Authors: Singh Gagandeep , Alser Mohammed , Denolf Kristof , Firtina Can , Khodamoradi Alireza , Cavlak Meryem Banu , Corporaal Henk , Mutlu Onur
Published: February 2024

Nanopore sequencing generates noisy electrical signals that need to be converted into a standard string of DNA nucleotide bases using a computational step called basecalling. The performance of basecalling has critical implications for all later steps in genome analysis. Therefore, there is a need to reduce the computation and memory cost of basecalling while maintaining accuracy. We present , a framework to develop efficient hardware-optimized basecallers. We demonstrate the effectiveness of by developing , the first hardware-optimized mixed-precision basecaller that performs efficient basecalling, outperforming the state-of-the-art basecallers. We believe offers a promising path to develop future hardware-optimized basecallers.
Effectiveness of IT-supported patient recruitment: study protocol for an interrupted time series study at ten German university hospitals
Authors: Boeker Martin , Zöller Daniela , Blasini Romina , Macho Philipp , Helfer Sven , Behrens Max , Prokosch Hans-Ulrich , Gulden Christian
Published: February 2024

Background

As part of the German Medical Informatics Initiative, the MIRACUM project establishes data integration centers across ten German university hospitals. The embedded MIRACUM Use Case “Alerting in Care - IT Support for Patient Recruitment”, aims to support the recruitment into clinical trials by automatically querying the repositories for patients satisfying eligibility criteria and presenting them as screening candidates. The objective of this study is to investigate whether the developed recruitment tool has a positive effect on study recruitment within a multi-center environment by increasing the number of participants. Its secondary objective is the measurement of organizational burden and user satisfaction of the provided IT solution.

Methods

The study uses an Interrupted Time Series Design with a duration of 15 months. All trials start in the control phase of randomized length with regular recruitment and change to the intervention phase with additional IT support. The intervention consists of the application of a recruitment-support system which uses patient data collected in general care for screening according to specific criteria. The inclusion and exclusion criteria of all selected trials are translated into a machine-readable format using the OHDSI ATLAS tool. All patient data from the data integration centers is regularly checked against these criteria. The primary outcome is the number of participants recruited per trial and week standardized by the targeted number of participants per week and the expected recruitment duration of the specific trial. Secondary outcomes are usability, usefulness, and efficacy of the recruitment support. Sample size calculation based on simple parallel group assumption can demonstrate an effect size of d=0.57 on a significance level of 5% and a power of 80% with a total number of 100 trials (10 per site). Data describing the included trials and the recruitment process is collected at each site. The primary analysis will be conducted using linear mixed models with the actual recruitment number per week and trial standardized by the expected recruitment number per week and trial as the dependent variable.

Discussion

The application of an IT-supported recruitment solution developed in the MIRACUM consortium leads to an increased number of recruited participants in studies at German university hospitals. It supports employees engaged in the recruitment of trial participants and is easy to integrate in their daily work.
Novel tetrahydroisoquinolines as DHFR and CDK2 inhibitors: synthesis, characterization, anticancer activity and antioxidant properties
Authors: Sayed Eman M. , Bakhite Etify A. , Hassanien Reda , Farhan Nasser , Aly Hanan F. , Morsy Salma G. , Hassan Nivin A.
Published: February 2024

In this study, we synthesized new 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroisoquinolines and 6,7,8,9-tetrahydrothieno[2,3-c]isoquinolines based on 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)phenyl moiety as expected anticancer and/or antioxidant agents. The structure of all synthesized compounds were confirmed by spectral date (FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR) and elemental analysis. We evaluated the anticancer activity of these compounds toward two cell lines: A459 cell line (lung cancer cells) and MCF7 cell line (breast cancer cells). All tested compounds showed moderate to strong anti-cancer activity towards the two cell lines. Compound 7e exhibited the most potent cytotoxic activity against A549 cell line (IC50: 0.155 µM) while compound 8d showed the most potent one against MCF7 cell line (IC50: 0.170 µM) in comparison with doxorubicin. In addition, we examined the effect of compounds 7e and 8d regarding the growth of A549 and MCF7 cell lines, employing flow cytometry and Annexin V-FITC apoptotic assay. Our results showed that compound 7e caused cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase with a 79-fold increase in apoptosis of A459 cell line. Moreover, compound 8d caused cell cycle arrest at the S phase with a 69-fold increase in apoptosis of MCF7 cell line. Furthermore, we studied the activity of these compounds as enzyme inhibitors against several enzymes. Our findings by docking and experimental studies that compound 7e is a potent CDK2 inhibitor with IC50 of 0.149 µM, compared to the Roscovitine control drug with IC50 of 0.380 µM. We also found that compound 8d is a significant DHFR inhibitor with an IC50 of 0.199 µM, compared to Methotrexate control drug with IC50 of 0.131 µM. Evaluation of the antioxidant properties of ten compounds was also studied in comparison with Vitamin C. Compounds 1, 3, 6, 7c and 8e have higher antioxidant activity than Vitamin C which mean that these compounds can used as potent antioxidant drugs.

Graphical Abstract
Pembrolizumab-induced secondary adrenal insufficiency due to adrenocorticotrophic hormone deficiency in a patient with non-small-cell lung carcinoma: a case report
Authors: Fujimiya Tatsuhiro , Azuma Kanako , Togashi Yuki , Kuwata Koji , Unezaki Sakae , Takeuchi Hironori
Published: February 2024

Background

Pembrolizumab can cause immune-related adverse events such as adrenal insufficiency (AI). However, there is no consensus regarding appropriate monitoring of adrenal function during subsequent chemotherapy in patients who have received immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) such as pembrolizumab.

Case presentation

In this report, we discuss the case of a 60s-year-old male patient with non-small cell lung cancer receiving chemotherapy who developed secondary AI due to adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) deficiency 8 months after the discontinuation of pembrolizumab, which was 17 months after the initiation of pembrolizumab immunotherapy. After 5 months of chemotherapy, he developed fever and diarrhoea, after which chemotherapy was discontinued. Thereafter, he was hospitalised owing to the development of general fatigue and anorexia. Although cortisol and ACTH levels were not measured during chemotherapy, they were measured before hospitalisation, and secondary AI was suspected. After admission, a detailed endocrine workup was performed, and the patient was diagnosed with secondary AI due to ACTH deficiency. Treatment with hydrocortisone was initiated, which markedly improved his general fatigue and anorexia. The patient showed no evidence of progressive disease 9 months after the discontinuation of pembrolizumab.

Conclusions

Although rare, the possibility of AI should be considered in patients who have received ICIs when nonspecific symptoms develop during or after subsequent chemotherapy, and measurements of endocrine function (including cortisol and ACTH levels) should be performed.
A guide for social science journal editors on easing into open science
Authors: Silverstein Priya , Elman Colin , Montoya Amanda , McGillivray Barbara , Pennington Charlotte R. , Harrison Chase H. , Steltenpohl Crystal N. , Röer Jan Philipp , Corker Katherine S. , Charron Lisa M. , Elsherif Mahmoud , Malicki Mario , Hayes-Harb Rachel , Grinschgl Sandra , Neal Tess , Evans Thomas Rhys , Karhulahti Veli-Matti , Krenzer William L. D. , Belaus Anabel , Moreau David , Burin Debora I. , Chin Elizabeth , Plomp Esther , Mayo-Wilson Evan , Lyle Jared , Adler Jonathan M. , Bottesini Julia G. , Lawson Katherine M. , Schmidt Kathleen , Reneau Kyrani , Vilhuber Lars , Waltman Ludo , Gernsbacher Morton Ann , Plonski Paul E. , Ghai Sakshi , Grant Sean , Christian Thu-Mai , Ngiam William , Syed Moin
Published: February 2024

Journal editors have a large amount of power to advance open science in their respective fields by incentivising and mandating open policies and practices at their journals. The Data PASS Journal Editors Discussion Interface (JEDI, an online community for social science journal editors:www.dpjedi.org) has collated several resources on embedding open science in journal editing (www.dpjedi.org/resources). However, it can be overwhelming as an editor new to open science practices to know where to start. For this reason, we created a guide for journal editors on how to get started with open science. The guide outlines steps that editors can take to implement open policies and practices within their journal, and goes through the what, why, how, and worries of each policy and practice. This manuscript introduces and summarizes the guide (full guide:https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/hstcx).
How do humans learn about the reliability of automation?
Authors: Strickland Luke , Farrell Simon , Wilson Micah K. , Hutchinson Jack , Loft Shayne
Published: February 2024

In a range of settings, human operators make decisions with the assistance of automation, the reliability of which can vary depending upon context. Currently, the processes by which humans track the level of reliability of automation are unclear. In the current study, we test cognitive models of learning that could potentially explain how humans track automation reliability. We fitted several alternative cognitive models to a series of participants’ judgements of automation reliability observed in a maritime classification task in which participants were provided with automated advice. We examined three experiments including eight between-subjects conditions and 240 participants in total. Our results favoured a two-kernel delta-rule model of learning, which specifies that humans learn by prediction error, and respond according to a learning rate that is sensitive to environmental volatility. However, we found substantial heterogeneity in learning processes across participants. These outcomes speak to the learning processes underlying how humans estimate automation reliability and thus have implications for practice.
Machine translation: Turkish–English bilingual speakers’ accuracy detection of evidentiality and preference of MT
Authors: Tosun Sümeyra
Published: February 2024

Machine translation (MT) is the automated process of translating text between different languages, encompassing a wide range of language pairs. This study focuses on non-professional bilingual speakers of Turkish and English, aiming to assess their ability to discern accuracy in machine translations and their preferences regarding MT. A particular emphasis is placed on the linguistically subtle yet semantically meaningful concept of evidentiality. In this experimental investigation, 36 Turkish–English bilinguals, comprising both early and late bilinguals, were presented with simple declarative sentences. These sentences varied in their evidential meaning, distinguishing between firsthand and non-firsthand evidence. The participants were then provided with MT of these sentences in both translation directions (Turkish to English and English to Turkish) and asked to identify the accuracy of these translations. Additionally, participants were queried about their preference for MT in four crucial domains: medical, legal, academic, and daily contexts. The findings of this study indicated that late bilinguals exhibited a superior ability to detect translation accuracy, particularly in the case of firsthand evidence translations, compared to their early bilingual counterparts. Concerning the preference for MT, age of acquisition and the accuracy detection of non-firsthand sentence translations emerged as significant predictors.
Cannabis use, decision making, and perceptions of risk among breastfeeding individuals: the Lactation and Cannabis (LAC) Study
Authors: Smith Caroline B. , Schmidt Jenna , Holdsworth Elizabeth A. , Caffé Beatrice , Brooks Olivia , Williams Janet E. , Gang David R. , McGuire Mark A. , McGuire Michelle K. , Barbosa-Leiker Celestina , Meehan Courtney L.
Published: February 2024

Objective

Our primary objective was to understand breastfeeding individuals’ decisions to use cannabis. Specifically, we investigated reasons for cannabis use, experiences with healthcare providers regarding use, and potential concerns about cannabis use.

Methods

We collected survey data from twenty breastfeeding participants from Washington and Oregon who used cannabis at least once weekly. We documented individuals’ cannabis use and analyzed factors associated with their decisions to use cannabis during lactation. Qualitative description was used to assess responses to an open-ended question about potential concerns.

Results

Fifty-five percent of participants (n = 11) reported using cannabis to treat or manage health conditions, mostly related to mental health. Eighty percent of participants (n = 16) reported very few or no concerns about using cannabis while breastfeeding, although participants who used cannabis for medical purposes had significantly more concerns. Most participants (n = 18, 90%) reported receiving either no or unhelpful advice from healthcare providers. Four themes arose through qualitative analysis, indicating that breastfeeding individuals are: 1) identifying research gaps and collecting evidence; 2) monitoring their child’s health and development; 3) monitoring and titrating their cannabis use; and 4) comparing risks between cannabis and other controlled substances.

Conclusions

Breastfeeding individuals reported cannabis for medical and non-medical reasons and few had concerns about cannabis use during breastfeeding. Breastfeeding individuals reported using a variety of strategies and resources in their assessment of risk or lack thereof when deciding to use cannabis. Most participants reported receiving no helpful guidance from healthcare providers.
Qualitative assessment of the flowering buds of Mesua ferrea Linn with special emphasize on HPTLC and universal DNA bar-coding technique and evaluation of its antimicrobial potential
Authors: Sutradhar Jugal , Sarkar Bapi Ray
Published: February 2024

Background

The study has been scientifically exploring the powder sample and extracts of flowering buds ofMesua ferreaLinn (FBMF) based on pharmacognostic and phytochemical parameters. The medicinal plantMesua ferreaLinn was identified by Botanical verification and the universal DNA bar-coding technique. The FBMF powder’s quality was performed by the micromeritics properties like bulk density, tapped density, angle of repose, Hausner ratio, Carr’s index, and optical microscopy method, and physicochemical evaluations were performed by the swelling index, foaming index, loss on drying, extractive values, and ash values. The extract’s preliminary phytochemical screening was accomplished by the alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, carbohydrates, and glycoside tests. To ensure the presence of a bioactive compound of each FBMF extract by qualitative HPTLC study against the reference β-sitosterol Rf value of 0.83 was revealed at 254 nm with a developed solvent system toluene, ethyl acetate, and acetic acid (6:2:0.1) v/v. Many pharmacological benefits, including those related to wound healing, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, analgesic, sedative effects, immunomodulatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, and atopic dermatitis, have been demonstrated by this phytosterol. An antimicrobial study was carried out by a well diffusion method and, lastly, measured minimum inhibitory concentration and compared to the marketed active pharmaceutical component. Numerous skin infections of more invasive, serious illnesses are caused by potential antimicrobial activity.

Results

The universal DNA bar-coding of plantMesua ferreaLinn has shown a high percentage of identity. The micrometrics properties and physicochemical evaluation of the powder sample of FBMF were in an acceptable range. The preliminary phytochemical screening shows that all extracts contain steroids and carbohydrates. Moreover, flavonoids were found in ethyl acetate and ethanol, and a qualitative HPTLC study confirmed that every extract contains β-sitosterol. N-hexane extract of FBMF shows the potential antimicrobial activity withStaphylococcus aureus,and the MIC value was observed at 0.062 mg/ml.

Conclusion

Our research demonstrated that the plantMesua ferreaLinn has been successfully authenticated by a DNA bar-coding technique, and all extracts of FBMF contain β-sitosterol. The n-hexane solvent extracts have shown the potential highest antimicrobial effects compared to other extracts. These results support using n-hexane extracts as a traditional medicine for treating several diseases.

Graphical Abstract
Synergistic potential of α-Phellandrene combined with conventional antifungal agents and its mechanism against antibiotic resistant
Candida albicans
Authors: Bhattacharya Riya , Sharma Prashant , Bose Debajyoti , Singh Manish
Published: February 2024

Candida albicans
is resistant to various antifungal drugs, this presents a significant problem on a global scale. This study investigates a novel approach on the potential fungicidal effects of α-Phellandrene combinations with fluconazole and amphotericin B against antibiotic resistant
C. albicans
. The agar well diffusion experiment was used to measure the anti-candida activity of α-Phellandrene which exhibited a zone of inhibition of 24 ± 0.5 mm and 22 ± 0.5 mm against the
C. albicans
cells (MTCC277 and ATCC90028), respectively. Additionally, the fungicidal minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranged 0.0312–0.0156 mg/ml (w/v) against
C. albicans
strains. It was determined to have powerful and efficient antifungal action against Candida cells. Further, the synergistic potential was evaluated by employing a time kill assay and a checkerboard technique, respectively, which revealed after 16 h, the colony count of
C. albicans
cells ATCC90028 (2.56 ± 0.33) and MTCC277 (2.53 ± 0.33) dropped by a log10 when treated with a combination of α-Phellandrene and Fluconazole and α-Phellandrene and amphotericin B exhibited synergy against both
C. albicans
strains ATCC90028 and MTCC277 (2.42 ± 0.28 and 2.00 ± 0.21) log
10
reduction in colony count, respectively, Additionally, 16–624-fold increase in the antifungal efficacy of clinical medicines, with total cell death occurring after 16 h. α-Phellandrene and antifungal drugs were tested in combination with the osmoprotectant test, ergosterol test and FESEM observations to determine their modes of action. In the era of multidrug-resistant diseases antibiotic resistance can be curtailed in its tracks with the help of combination treatments that allow for lower drug doses.
Strain field reconstruction from helical-winding fiber distributed acoustic sensing and its application in anisotropic elastic reverse time migration
Authors: Zhang Lele , Zhao Yang , Liu Lu , Niu Fenglin , Wu Wei , Wang Chuangyang , Tang Hengyu , Li Jingming , Zuo Jiahui , Yao Yi , Wang Yixin
Published: February 2024

Optical fiber-based distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technology has been a popular seismic acquisition tool due to its easy deployment, wide bandwidth, and dense sampling. However, the sensitivity of straight optical fiber to only single-axis strain presents challenges in fully characterizing multicomponent seismic wavefields, making it difficult to use these data in elastic reverse time migration (ERTM). The helical-winding fiber receives projecting signals projected onto the fiber from all seismic strain field components and has the potential to reconstruct those strain components for ERTM imaging. Here, we give detailed mathematical principles of helical fiber-based DAS with crucial parameters such as pitch angle, gauge length, and rotating angle. At least six points of DAS responses are required in one or several winding periods to rebuild the strain fields within the seismic wavelength. The projecting matrix of conventional regular helical-winding fiber is singular and ill conditioned, which results in computation challenges for the inverse of the Hessian matrix for strain component reconstruction. To tackle this problem, we develop a nonregular variant pitch-angle winding configuration for helical fiber. Our winding design is validated using the rank and condition number of the projecting matrix, which is proven to be an important tool in the reconstruction of the original seismic strains. The recovered strain components from the DAS response are then used to backward propagate the receiver wavefields in ERTM with an efficient P/S decoupled approach. To summarize, we develop a novel winding design of helical fiber to recover the strain fields and then develop an efficient 3D anisotropic P/S wave-mode decomposition method for generating vector P and S wavefields during their propagation. Both methods are applied to build an anisotropic DAS-ERTM workflow for producing PP and PS images. Two synthetic examples demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach.
Emotions and behaviours of child and adolescent psychiatric patients during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Laurent-Levinson Claudine , Pellen Anne-Sophie , Pellerin Hugues , Hanin Cyril , Bouzy Juliette , Devernay Marie , Milhiet Vanessa , Benarous Xavier , Consoli Angèle , Shi Jianxin , Levinson Douglas F. , Cohen David
Published: February 2024

Background

Previous pandemics have had negative effects on mental health, but there are few data on children and adolescents who were receiving ongoing psychiatric treatment.

Aims

To study changes in emotions and clinical state, and their predictors, during the COVID-19 pandemic in France.

Method

We administered (by interview) the baseline Youth Self-Report version of the CoRonavIruS Health Impact Survey v0.3 (CRISIS, French translation) to 123 adolescent patients and the Parent/Caregiver version to evaluate 99 child patients before and during the first ‘lockdown’. For 139 of these patients who received ongoing treatment in our centre, treating physicians retrospectively completed longitudinal global ratings for five time periods, masked to CRISIS ratings.

Results

The main outcome measure was the sum of eight mood state items, which formed a single factor in each age group. Overall, this score improved for each age group during the first lockdown. Clinician ratings modestly supported this result in patients without intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder. Improvement of mood states was significantly associated with perceived improvement in family relationships in both age groups.

Conclusions

Consistent with previous studies of clinical cohorts, our patients had diverse responses during the pandemic. Several factors may have contributed to the finding of improvement in some individuals during the first lockdown, including the degree of family support or conflict, stress reduction owing to isolation, limitations of the outcome measures and/or possible selection bias. Ongoing treatment may have had a protective effect. Clinically, during crises additional support may be needed by families who experience increased conflict or who care for children with intellectual disability.
Prognostic Value of the Modeled Prostate-Specific Antigen KELIM Confirmation in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Treated With Taxanes in FIRSTANA
Authors: Carrot Aurore , Oudard Stéphane , Colomban Olivier , Fizazi Karim , Maillet Denis , Sartor Oliver , Freyer Gilles , You Benoit
Published: February 2024

PURPOSE

In a previous exploratory study, modeled early longitudinal prostate-specific antigen (PSA) kinetics observed within the 100-first treatment days with androgen deprivation therapy with or without docetaxel was associated with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with prostate cancer with rising PSA levels after primary local therapy. This prognostic value had to be confirmed in different settings. The objectives were to assess PSA kinetics modeling in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) treated with chemotherapy in FIRSTANA trial and to investigate modeled PSA kinetic parameters prognostic/predictive value.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

FIRSTANA phase III trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01308567 ) assessed whether cabazitaxel is superior to docetaxel in terms of PFS/OS in patients with chemotherapy-naïve mCRPC. PSA longitudinal kinetics was assessed using the previous kinetic-pharmacodynamics model. Patient modeled ELIMination rate constant K (PSA.KELIM) was used to categorize favorable/unfavorable PSA declines (standardized PSA.KELIM < or ≥ 1.0 days–1) and further correlated with PFS/OS.

RESULTS

In total, 1,050 of 1,168 enrolled patients were assessable for PSA.KELIM estimation. The median PSA.KELIM was 0.02 days–1. In univariate analyses, PSA.KELIM exhibited a significant prognostic value regarding survival: unfavorable versus favorable PSA.KELIM; median PFS, 3.6 months (95% CI, 3.0 to 4.2) versus 4.7 months (95% CI, 3.9 to 5.2), P = .002; median OS, 17.4 months (95% CI, 14.8 to 19.3) versus 28.4 months (95% CI, 26.7 to 31.6), P < .001. In multivariate analyses, PSA.KELIM was significant for PFS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.79 [95% CI, 0.67 to 0.93], P = .005) and OS (HR, 0.51 [95% CI, 0.44 to 0.60], P < .001), together with baseline radiological tumor progression and PSA doubling time. PSA.KELIM predictive value was not significant across treatment arms.

CONCLUSION

This external validation study confirmed previous results about modeled PSA longitudinal kinetics prognostic value regarding PFS/OS in patients with mCRPC treated with taxanes. PSA.KELIM could be used to identify a subpopulation with poor prognosis, who may benefit from treatment intensification.
Potential Predictors for Deterioration of Renal Function After Transfusion
Authors: Tschoellitsch Thomas , Moser Philipp , Maletzky Alexander , Seidl Philipp , Böck Carl , Roland Theresa , Ludwig Helga , Süssner Susanne , Hochreiter Sepp , Meier Jens
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND:

Transfusion of packed red blood cells (pRBCs) is still associated with risks. This study aims to determine whether renal function deterioration in the context of individual transfusions in individual patients can be predicted using machine learning. Recipient and donor characteristics linked to increased risk are identified.

METHODS:

This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05466370) and was conducted after local ethics committee approval. We evaluated 3366 transfusion episodes from a university hospital between October 31, 2016, and August 31, 2020. Random forest models were tuned and trained via Python auto-sklearn package to predict acute kidney injury (AKI). The models included recipients’ and donors’ demographic parameters and laboratory values, donor questionnaire results, and the age of the pRBCs. Bootstrapping on the test dataset was used to calculate the means and standard deviations of various performance metrics.

RESULTS:

AKI as defined by a modified Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criterion developed after 17.4% transfusion episodes (base rate). AKI could be predicted with an area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic (AUC-ROC) of 0.73 ± 0.02. The negative (NPV) and positive (PPV) predictive values were 0.90 ± 0.02 and 0.32 ± 0.03, respectively. Feature importance and relative risk analyses revealed that donor features were far less important than recipient features for predicting posttransfusion AKI.

CONCLUSIONS:

Surprisingly, only the recipients’ characteristics played a decisive role in AKI prediction. Based on this result, we speculate that the selection of a specific pRBC may have less influence than recipient characteristics.
On Thon; or, Thinking Gender in the Interstice
Authors: Snorton C. Riley
Published: February 2024

This essay takes “Interstices: A Small Drama of Words” as an opening for thinking about the impact of Hortense Spillers's thought on Black feminist, queer, and transgender studies. In a reflection on the interstitial, the essay engages Spillers's approaches to the discursive, historiographic, and iconographic dimensions of racialized gender and sexuality in a reading of the failed philological proposal of thon and the life and public memory of the military figure Private William Cathay.
Interior Intersubjectivity: Hortense Spillers's Theory of “the One”
Authors: Warren Calvin
Published: February 2024

There is much in Hortense Spillers's work to celebrate—from black feminism to literary criticism. One of her crucial contributions, however, has received little, if any, scholarly attention. Calvin Warren calls this a black discourse theory. Although we've focused on “the American Grammar Book” and its discursive violence, her proposed “solution” to this violence is virtually neglected. These remarks are intended to foreground this intervention by reconstructing her discourse theory of “the One” and “Interior Intersubjectivity.” In particular Warren notes the influence of Jürgen Habermas on her discourse theory, and how both find psychoanalysis beneficial in the task of restoring speech and addressing muteness. In short, this reconstruction provides a brief overview of the theoretical infrastructure rather than an exhaustive exposition and assessment.
Braised Cucumbers, Maps, and Surprises: Materialist Narratology and Political Theology in the Work of Hortense J. Spillers
Authors: Glick Jeremy Matthew
Published: February 2024

This essay is an impressionistic account of Hortense J. Spillers's materialist synthesis of narrative theory, political theology, and expository logic that foregrounds people-centered histories and surprise in a proliferation of critical and theoretical paradigms and problematics. Focusing primarily on Spillers's mapping of novels by Paule Marshall, Ralph Ellison, and William Faulkner, the essay examines how her work consistently brings history into play alongside mobilizations of myth-criticism, narratology, and religious thought—fields that have notoriously evaded such historical groundings.
“You Said Independence?” The Case of Scotland's and Catalonia's Nationalisms: A Discussion of J. H. Elliott's Scots and Catalans: Union and Disunion
Authors: Vialette Aurélie
Published: February 2024

This review essay addresses one of the most complex contemporary political issues: secessionism. The review essay discusses J. H. Elliott's 2018 book, Scots and Catalans: Union and Disunion, to raise questions regarding the processes of independence in the European Union. Particularly, it focuses on the problematic conceptualization of the debates about Catalan independence in twenty-first-century Europe, explaining why concepts such as nation and nationalism should be rethought, which also implies the need to rethink the use of symbols such as national flags. It also insists that one cannot write on such an urgent political topic without addressing at length the role of culture in political thought and national sentiment. The author theorizes the role of the emotions in the creation of political subjectivities, concentrating especially on the central role that the web and the media are given in the fight for independence.
Nelson Lichtenstein's Essential Contributions to Understanding Class, Labor, Capitalism, and Democracy in the United States
Authors: Brick Howard
Published: February 2024

In a prolific career more than five decades long, Nelson Lichtenstein has devised a kind of labor history that was always implicitly, and by now obviously, a broad “history of capitalism” founded on a radical critique of capital's reign. His meticulous research and sharp-focused analyses provide keys to reveal the main currents and the meaning of US history over the twentieth century and now into the twenty-first. And in interpreting the ebbs and flows of labor struggle, he sets the highest standard of what it means to be an engaged scholar.
Biotic and abiotic factors influencing macrofungal diversity and biomass in Mediterranean forests with a focus on the Porcini group
Authors: Ambrosio Elia , Pietras Marcin , Feest Alan
Published: February 2024

Macrofungi are among the most crucial ecological forest resources and essential components of terrestrial ecosystems. Despite growing socio-economic interest, knowledge of their production is not understood because of many factors that can affect their natural growth. The aim of this study is to analyze which biotic and abiotic factors can influence the diversity and biomass of macrofungal fruiting bodies, at small and large scales. We worked in broadleaf Mediterranean forests, with a special focus on wild edible species (Porcini). The mycological observations were focused on epigeous macrofungi. To investigate con­nections between the occurrence of Boletus edulis species distribution modeling was used. Contrary to previ­ous studies, the results reveal that, at a small (local) scale, the soil properties and the geochemical content (traces and minor elements) are more strongly correlated with macrofungal communities than vegetation (tree richness, dead wood, and litter volume) and climatic parameters (air temperatures and rainfall). At large scale, both edaphic and climatic factors, are considered essential for fungal fruiting and distribution across landscapes. The quantity of precipitation of the driest month is the crucial climatic factor influenc­ing the occurrence of Porcini. The different results highlight a high variability and site dependence of both biotic and abiotic factors. Further studies appear to be necessary to increase knowledge on which factors have the most influence on edible and non-edible mushroom yield in various habitats.
Συγκριτική μελέτη καταγραφής στερεοτύπων κατά την άσκηση της ιατρικής πράξης από τους ιατρούς και τους φοιτητές ιατρικής
Authors: Σπατούλα Βασιλική
Published: February 2024

Η συγκεκριμένη διατριβή πραγματεύεται το θέμα των στερεοτύπων σε σχέση με το φύλο, την ηλικία και τον σεξουαλικό προσανατολισμό των ασθενών σε επαγγελματίες υγείας σε διάφορα στάδια της εκπαιδευσής τους. Συγκεκριμένα, η παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή διερεύνησε τον ρόλο των στερεοτύπων σε φοιτητές του τμήματος Ιατρικής Α.Π.Θ. και σε ιατρούς που ασκούν ήδη την ιατρική επιστήμη. Τα ερευνητικά ερωτήματα ήταν: Πως αντιλαμβάνονται οι ίδιοι οι ιατροί τον ρόλο των στερεοτύπων στον χώρο της υγείας. Πώς διαφέρουν κατά την διάρκεια της ιατρικής εκπαίδευσης τα στερεότυπα των φοιτητών. Πως εξελίσσεται η ενσυναίσθηση κατά την διάρκεια της ιατρικής εκπαίδευσης. Για την απάντηση τους χρησιμοποιήθηκε η μέθοδος της τριγωνοποίησης. Τα αποτελέσματα μας έδειξαν την ύπαρξη στερεοτύπων σε σχέση με το φύλο, την ηλικία και τον σεξουαλικό προσανατολισμό. Με βάση τα αποτελέσματα της διδακτορικής διατριβής συζητούνται προεκτάσεις για την εκπαιδευτική διαδικασία και την εξάλειψη των στερεοτύπων στον χώρο της υγείας.
Ecocriminological analysis of brine in aquatic ecosystems: impacts on Posidonia oceanica and the search for restorative justice solutions
Authors: Morelle-Hungría Esteban , Serra-Palao Pablo
Published: February 2024

The consumption of fresh water has generated additional problems in certain territories, along with the consequences of global warming. This has meant that in the most vulnerable areas, such as the Balearic archipelago in the Mediterranean, alternative water supply systems have been established: desalination plants. However, the ecological impact of these infrastructures is great, mainly affecting aquatic ecosystems. In light of the above, this paper addresses the ecological harm caused by desalination and brine discharges on a protected and priority species,P. Oceanica. Taking as ethico-legal foundation the theory of ecological justice, a multilevel analysis was carried out from an ecocriminology perspective on the impacts of this authorized practice onP. Oceanicaand other species. Finally, a restorative justice view will allow us to understand and envision possible solutions to this ecological harm.
Instrumental and anthropometric studies in physical rehabilitation of patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Nogas A.
Published: February 2024

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology, characterised by pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints of the hands and feet, but the disease can also affect other joints. The disease is quite common among rheumatological pathologies and is observed in an average of 1% of the population. A thorough examination of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis, early detection of the main radiological signs of the disease, the level of functional and organic disorders, and the establishment of a rehabilitation diagnosis are essential, which is the basis for building a further personalised physical rehabilitation programme. The purpose of the paper is to determine the severity of the disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis using instrumental and anthropometric methods of research to form an individual approach to rehabilitation. Materials and methods: the study was conducted on the basis of the Rheumatology Department and the Department of Rehabilitation Treatment with Traditional and Alternative Methods of the Rivne Regional Clinical Hospital named after Yuriy Semenyuk. The study involved 216 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, including 178 women (82%) and 38 men (18%). The patients were aged 25 to 59 years (mean age – 46±0.24). The following research methods were used: questionnaire, history taking, objective examination, instrumental methods of research (radiography), anthropometric methods (Ketle index), statistical methods. Results. Clinical and radiological stage I was diagnosed in 50 (23 %) patients, stage II – in 102 (47 %) patients, and stage III – in 64 patients (30 %). It was found that most patients had radiological stage II with characteristic radiological symptoms (periarticular osteoporosis with minor destruction of the subchondral bone; slight narrowing of the joint gaps, single usurps). Average body mass index values indicate that patients are generally overweight, which is a negative factor in the onset and progression of rheumatoid arthritis. Body mass index is an important indicator in determining the indications for treatment and rehabilitation. Conclusion. As a result of the examination, we found that most patients with rheumatoid arthritis were diagnosed with clinical and radiological stage II. The average BMI values indicate that, in general, patients are overweight, which is a negative factor in the progression of rheumatoid arthritis. The above data give grounds for the development and implementation of the concept of physical rehabilitation of patients with rheumatoid arthritis aimed at reducing clinical symptoms of the disease, reducing body mass index and improving the quality of life of patients.
Thyroid Response to Mercury: Varied Effects on Function and Structure - A Review of the Latest Research
Authors: Kubicka-Figiel Martyna , Martyka Anna , Taborska Nina
Published: February 2024

Introduction

In the current era of burgeoning industry, our exposure to various detrimental environmental factors, including mercury, has become increasingly prevalent. Recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the most significant threats to public health, mercury induces a multitude of harmful effects on the entire body. Our focus in this article will be directed towards examining the specific impact of mercury on the thyroid.

Purpose of the study

The purpose of the study was to review the latest literature on the effects of mercury on the thyroid gland.

Materials and Methodology

Literature selections of medical databases PubMed and Google Scholar from the last six years (2017-2023) were performed. Articles were searched in English using the following key words: mercury, thyroid.

Results

Research consistently confirms mercury accumulation in thyroid cells, increasing with age. Mercury exposure influences thyroid function, raising the risk of hormonal issues and potential thyroid cancer. It also interacts with other elements, compounding adverse effects on the thyroid.

Conclusion

Presently, there is a limited number of studies specifically addressing the effects of mercury on the human thyroid gland. Consequently, it is probable that the full spectrum of its impacts on the thyroid has not yet been thoroughly investigated. Further research is imperative to delve into this subject comprehensively. Additionally, there is an urgent call for initiatives aimed at enhancing public awareness regarding the sources of mercury in the environment and food, along with strategies to mitigate exposure to this harmful substance.
W którym pułku służył Piotr Niewiadomski – bohater Soli ziemi Józefa Wittlina?
Authors: Kułacz Sławomir
Published: February 2024

A COMMENT ON THE ATTEMPTS TO IDENTIFY PIOTR NIEWIADOMSKI’S REGIMENTThe 2022 Polish critical edition of Józef Wittlin’s World War One novel, Salt of the Earth, features a footnote where the editor unequivocally identifies the main protagonist’s military unit as the Austro-Hungarian 55th Infantry Regiment, based on the initial letter of the unit’s Colonel-in-chief ’s name mentioned by the author. This aligns with the 1991 edition, which previously identified him as Nicholas I of Montenegro. With publications on the Austro- -Hungarian army now more widely accessible, the new editor enumerates the regiment’s characteristics and briefly outlines its history. However, other pertinent details scattered throughout the novel, such as the unit’s recruiting district (Śniatyn in Eastern Galicia), its garrison town (Stanisławów), and facing colour (orange), are completely disregarded. This article aims to demonstrate that, when considered collectively, these clues lead to the conclusion that Wittlin’s portrayal of the unit is entirely fictitious. The writer not only fails to mention the regiment’s number (replacing it with “X”) but also presents its mutually exclusive formal characteristics. It can be inferred that the author either could not present the unit consistently or, more likely, intentionally did so to prevent readers from associating it with any actual place and people. This conclusion is drawn from scrutiny of official printed sources in German, along with fundamental Austrian and Polish publications.