bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synchronous clonally related anaplastic large cell lymphoma and malignant histiocytosis
Authors: Harb Mirvate , Abrassart Tom , Dewispeleare Laurent , Sidon Pierre , Dirckx Natacha , Trepant Anne-laure , Castiaux Julie , Heimann Pierre , Emile Jean-Francois , Farhat Hussein
Published: January 2025

Background

Synchronous malignant histiocytoses are rare conditions that occur concurrently with another hematologic neoplasm. Most reported cases are associated with B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders, while associations with T-cell hemopathies are less common. These two diseases may share mutations and/or cytogenetic anomalies, which can lead to malignant proliferations. In such cases, the term “secondary malignant histiocytosis” can be applied.

Case description

A 26-year-old patient was diagnosed with anaplastic lymphoma kinase negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma [ALK-ALCL] associated with synchronous malignant histiocytosis. Neoplastic cells were distinguished by the exclusivity of the rearrangement of TCR genes within the lymphoma cells, whereas mutations in the KRAS and TP53 genes affected mono-histiocytic cells. However, these two cells populations shared common chromosomal abnormalities. First line treatment protocol included Brentuximab vedotin, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and methylprednisolone. Despite a partial clinical and biological response after cycle 1 of treatment, the patient was refractory at the end of cycle 2. Patient died in the intensive care unit from a multiple-organ failure related to lymphohistiocytic hemophagocytosis.

Conclusion

This case represents the first documented instance of synchronous malignant histiocytosis associated with anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Notably, the uniqueness of this case lies in the absence of TCR rearrangement in the histiocytic cells, despite the presence of shared chromosomal abnormalities with the lymphomatous cells indicating a common origin for both neoplastic proliferations. Considering the rarity of such occurrences, the use of histiocytosis targeted therapy alongside conventional lymphoma treatment warrants consideration in such a context.
AGD1/USP10/METTL13 complexes enhance cancer stem cells proliferation and diminish the therapeutic effect of docetaxel via CD44 m6A modification in castration resistant prostate cancer
Authors: Wang Hong , Cui Chunli , Li Weiyi , Wu Hui , Sha Jianjun , Pan Jiahua , Xue Wei
Published: January 2025

Background

Most patients with prostate cancer inevitably progress to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), at which stage chemotherapeutics like docetaxel become the first-line treatment. However, chemotherapy resistance typically develops after an initial period of therapeutic efficacy. Increasing evidence indicates that cancer stem cells confer chemotherapy resistance via exosomes. This study demonstrated that AGD1, derived from prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs), enhanced the stemness of prostate cancer cells and reduced the therapeutic effect of docetaxel in CRPC.

Methods

Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was employed to determine the expression levels of AGD1 and METTL13 mRNAs in PCSCs and exosomes. Protein expression levels were examined using western blots and dot blots. The potential functions of AGD1 and METTL13 in CRPC were investigated through cell proliferation assay, Transwell assay, EdU incorporation assays, Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, and sphere formation assays. To uncover the underlying mechanisms of AGD1, RNA pull-down assay, RIP, co-Immunoprecipitation (co-IP), mass spectrometry (MS), Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP) and single-base elongation and ligation-based qPCR amplification method (SELECT) were performed. The effects of AGD1 and METTL13 on CRPC development and metastasis under docetaxel treatment were analyzed using a xenograft mouse model and an organoid model. Additionally, liposomal-chitosan nanocomplex drug delivery systems were designed to explore AGD1’s role in regulating docetaxel treatment resistance in CRPC.

Results

AGD1 expression was upregulated in PCSCs and exosomes. Downregulating AGD1 enhanced the sensitivity of CRPC to docetaxel treatment by inhibiting their stemness, with the reverse also being true. RNA pull-down, combined with MS, co-IP and RIP assays, demonstrated that AGD1 binds to METTL13 and USP10, forming a complex that facilitates METTL13 protein accumulation through USP10-induced deubiquitination. MeRIP assay and SELECT assay revealed that METTL13 transcriptionally controls the mRNA decay of CD44 via m6A methylation. Additionally, this process activates the pSTAT3/PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. Organoid models and liposomal-chitosan nanocomplex drug delivery systems showed that reducing AGD1 expression enhanced the therapeutic effect of docetaxel in CRPC.

Conclusions

AGD1 mediates the stemness and apoptosis of PCSCs and promotes docetaxel treatment resistance by enhancing tumor growth and metastasis through USP10/METTL13-mediated CD44 mRNA decay in CRPC.
The prognostic value of systemic immune-inflammation index in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated with immune-based therapy
Authors: He Tian , Xu Bin , Wang Lu-Na , Wang Zi-Yi , Shi Huan-Chen , Zhong Cheng-Jie , Zhu Xiao-Dong , Shen Ying-Hao , Zhou Jian , Fan Jia , Sun Hui-Chuan , Hu Bo , Huang Cheng
Published: January 2025

Background

Predicting the efficacy of immune-based therapy in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a clinical challenge. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) in forecasting treatment response and survival outcomes for HCC patients undergoing immune-based therapy.

Methods

We analyzed a cohort of 268 HCC patients treated with immune-based therapy from January 2019 to March 2023. A training cohort of 93 patients received atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (T + A), while a validation cohort of 175 patients underwent treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) combined with anti-PD-(L)1 therapy. The SII cutoff value, determined using X-tile analysis based on overall survival (OS) in the training cohort, divided patients into high (> 752*109) and low (≤ 752*109) SII groups. Prognostic factors were identified through univariate and multivariate logistic and Cox regression analyses, and survival outcomes were assessed using Kaplan–Meier methods. The predictive accuracy of SII was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

Results

An optimal SII cutoff of 752*109 stratified patients into high and low SII groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression indicated that SII was a significant predictor of the objective response rate (ORR), which was markedly different between the low and high SII subgroups (34.72% vs. 9.52%, P = 0.019). This finding was consistent in the validation cohort (34.09% vs. 16.28%, P = 0.026). SII also demonstrated prognostic value in Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier analyses. ROC curves confirmed that SII had superior predictive accuracy compared to common clinical indicators, with predictive relevance even in AFP-negative patients. Furthermore, a lower SII was associated with a higher T cell ratio and an increased number of CD8+ T cells and Granzyme B+ CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood.

Conclusion

SII is a promising predictor of both therapeutic efficacy and prognosis in HCC patients undergoing immune-based treatments. Its application may enhance clinical decision-making, thereby improving patient outcomes from immune-based therapy.
Effects on impulsivity and delay discounting of intermittent theta burst stimulation add-on to dialectical behavioral therapy in borderline personality disorder: a randomized, sham-controlled pilot trial
Authors: Kujovic Milenko , Bahr Christian , Riesbeck Mathias , Benz Daniel , Deiß Martina , Margittai Zsofia , Henges Sebastian , Reinermann Dirk , Plewnia Christian , Meisenzahl Eva
Published: January 2025

Background

Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) are both effective in treating borderline personality disorder (BPD). Impulsivity and impaired decision-making are prominent features of BPD, and therapeutic interventions targeting these symptoms could lead to significant improvements.

Objective/Hypothesis

We hypothesized that intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), a modified rTMS protocol that targets the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, would enhance the therapeutic effects of DBT, leading to greater improvements in impulsivity and decision-making compared with sham stimulation.

Methods

We performed a single-blind, randomized, sham-controlled pilot study to evaluate the efficacy of iTBS as an add-on to an 8-week DBT program for BPD in a routine inpatient setting. A total of 53 BPD patients were randomly assigned to receive either iTBS (n = 25) or sham stimulation (n = 28) during weeks 4 to 8 of DBT, and 36 patients met the inclusion criteria for the present analysis (≥ 16 of 20 iTBS/sham sessions and assessment of delay discounting). The study endpoints were the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-15 for impulsivity and the Monetary Choice Questionnaire for decision-making/delay discounting.

Results

A mixed model repeated measures analysis with a 2 × 2 factorial between-subjects design showed a significant overall improvement over time in impulsivity but not in decision-making/delay discounting. No significant differences were found between iTBS and sham, although post hoc tests revealed significant changes in impulsivity in the iTBS group (meandiff = -4.7, p = .001, Cohen’s d = 0.68) but not in the sham group (meandiff = -2.1, p = .077, d = 0.31).

Conclusions

iTBS may offer long-term benefits as an add-on treatment to DBT for impulsivity in BPD, suggesting the need for further investigation in larger-scale studies.

Trial registration

Registered at drks.de (no. DRKS00020413) on January 13, 2020.
A systematic review of AI-enhanced techniques in credit card fraud detection
Authors: Hafez Ibrahim Y. , Hafez Ahmed Y. , Saleh Ahmed , Abd El-Mageed Amr A. , Abohany Amr A.
Published: January 2025

The rapid increase of fraud attacks on banking systems, financial institutions, and even credit card holders demonstrate the high demand for enhanced fraud detection (FD) systems for these attacks. This paper provides a systematic review of enhanced techniques using Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), and meta-heuristic optimization (MHO) algorithms for credit card fraud detection (CCFD). Carefully selected recent research papers have been investigated to examine the effectiveness of these AI-integrated approaches in recognizing a wide range of fraud attacks. These AI techniques were evaluated and compared to discover the advantages and disadvantages of each one, leading to the exploration of existing limitations of ML or DL-enhanced models. Discovering the limitation is crucial for future work and research to increase the effectiveness and robustness of various AI models. The key finding from this study demonstrates the need for continuous development of AI models that could be alert to the latest fraudulent activities.
Transformer enabled multi-modal medical diagnosis for tuberculosis classification
Authors: Kumar Sachin , Sharma Shivani , Megra Kassahun Tadesse
Published: January 2025

Recently, multimodal data analysis in medical domain has started receiving a great attention. Researchers from both computer science, and medicine are trying to develop models to handle multimodal medical data. However, most of the published work have targeted the homogeneous multimodal data. The collection and preparation of heterogeneous multimodal data is a complex and time-consuming task. Further, development of models to handle such heterogeneous multimodal data is another challenge. This study presents a cross modal transformer-based fusion approach for multimodal clinical data analysis using medical images and clinical data. The proposed approach leverages the image embedding layer to convert image into visual tokens, and another clinical embedding layer to convert clinical data into text tokens. Further, a cross-modal transformer module is employed to learn a holistic representation of imaging and clinical modalities. The proposed approach was tested for a multi-modal lung disease tuberculosis data set. Further, the results are compared with recent approaches proposed in the field of multimodal medical data analysis. The comparison shows that the proposed approach outperformed the other approaches considered in the study. Another advantage of this approach is that it is faster to analyze heterogeneous multimodal medical data in comparison to existing methods used in the study, which is very important if we do not have powerful machines for computation.
How urban welfare affects the hukou selection of rural migrants that belong to dual-hukou families in china
Authors: Lu Chen , Chen Jian , Li Jiewei , Wang Xuetong
Published: January 2025

Despite the Chinese government’s implementation of numerous policies aimed at promoting urbanization, the actual urbanization rate has not met expectations. Even when some rural migrants are presented with opportunities to convert to urban-hukou status, an increasing number of families opt to maintain a dual-hukou arrangement (where one spouse holds rural-hukou and the other holds urban-hukou). This phenomenon has garnered significant attention; however, the impact of diverse access to urban welfare on migrants’ hukou selection has been underexplored in existing research on hukou conversion. Access to urban welfare emerges as a critical factor influencing hukou selection decisions. This study constructs an analytical framework to examine the hukou arrangements of dual-hukou families, exploring the effects of various factors related to urban welfare acquisition on the hukou selection of rural migrants. Empirical results indicate that within dual-hukou families, migrants with rural-hukou status can obtain urban welfare through family support or market purchases. Consequently, to maximize family benefits, they prefer to retain their rural-hukou status rather than convert to urban-hukou. Conversely, possession of a qualification certificate from the host city negatively impacts rural-hukou retention. Additionally, rural migrants in dual-hukou families tend to favor cities with high-value hukou and express a desire to convert to local hukou status. These findings offer robust insights for policymaking, demonstrating resilience against sample self-selection bias and reverse causality.
The relationship between gallstone disease and the genetic variants of the sterol transporter adenosine triphosphate–binding cassette G8 and G5 in Egyptians
Authors: Hassan Menna A. , El-Khair Salwa M. Abo , Mesbah Noha M. , Abo-Elmatty Dina M. , Abdel-Hamed Asmaa R.
Published: January 2025

Background

Gallstones are abnormal lumps in the gallbladder or biliary tract due impaired cholesterol, bilirubin, or bile salt metabolism. The Adenosine triphosphate binding cassette transporter genes G5 and G8 (ABCG5, ABCG8) are two half transporters which work together as a heterodimer to regulate cholesterol levels in bile, and any alterations in their function can contribute to gallstone formation. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the association between three specific polymorphisms—ABCG5 i7892T > C, ABCG5 Q604E, and ABCG8 D19H—and the risk of gallstone disease (GSD) in Egyptian females. These polymorphisms result from nucleotide substitutions in the gene sequences, which affect the transporter’s ability to efficiently regulate cholesterol secretion into the bile. This alteration can lead to cholesterol supersaturation in the bile, a key factor in the development of cholesterol gallstones. Additionally, the study aimed to examine the impact of these genetic variations on serum lipid profile to understand their role in modulating biochemical markers associated with GSD. Furthermore, the study sought to investigate haplotype patterns and explore their combined effects on disease susceptibility, providing deeper insight into the genetic factors that contribute to the development of GSD.

Methods

The study included 100 female patients diagnosed with gallstones and 100 healthy controls. Genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was performed using allelic discrimination pre-designed TaqMan polymerase chain reaction method. Various laboratory investigations were measured using enzymatic colorimetric methods, and hematology analyzer was used for the whole blood count test.

Results

Between patients with gallstone disease and healthy controls, there were statistically significant differences in the distribution of these genes polymorphisms. Q604E CC genotype (OR = 15.2; P = 0.004) and C allele (OR = 2; P = 0.007) in ABCG5 (rs6720173) as well as D19H GC genotype (OR = 2.9; P = 0.002) and C allele (OR = 2; P = 0.004) in ABCG8 (rs11887534) were significantly more frequent in gallstone patients. The CCC haplotype is a statistically significant predictor of GSD.

Conclusions

This study suggests that ABCG8 D19H (G/C) and ABCG5 Q604E (C/C) genotypes may play a significant role in GSD susceptibility among Egyptian females.

Graphical abstract
Identifying genetic differences between bipolar disorder and major depression through multiple genome-wide association analyses
Authors: Panagiotaropoulou Georgia , Hellberg Kajsa-Lotta Georgii , Coleman Jonathan R. I. , Seok Darsol , Kalman Janos ,   the Bipolar Disorder Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium,   the Major Depressive Disorder Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium,   the iPSYCH Study Consortium, Mitchell Philip B. , Schofield Peter R. , Forstner Andreas J. , Bauer Michael , Scott Laura J. , Pato Carlos N. , Pato Michele T. , Li Qingqin S. , Kirov George , Landén Mikael , Jonsson Lina , Müller-Myhsok Bertram , Smoller Jordan W. , Binder Elisabeth B. , Brückl Tanja M. , Czamara Darina , Van der Auwera Sandra , Grabe Hans J. , Homuth Georg , Schmidt Carsten O. , Potash James B. , DePaulo J. Raymond , Goes Fernando S. , MacKinnon Dean F. , Mondimore Francis M. , Weissman Myrna M. , Shi Jianxin , Frye Mark A. , Biernacka Joanna M. , Reif Andreas , Witt Stephanie H. , Kahn René R. , Boks Marco M. , Owen Michael J. , Gordon-Smith Katherine , Mitchell Brittany L. , Martin Nicholas G. , Medland Sarah E. , Jones Lisa , Knowles James A. , Levinson Douglas F. , O'Donovan Michael C. , Lewis Cathryn M. , Breen Gerome , Werge Thomas , Schork Andrew J. , Ophoff Roel A. , Ripke Stephan , Olde Loohuis Loes
Published: January 2025

Background

Accurate diagnosis of bipolar disorder (BPD) is difficult in clinical practice, with an average delay between symptom onset and diagnosis of about 7 years. A depressive episode often precedes the first manic episode, making it difficult to distinguish BPD from unipolar major depressive disorder (MDD).

Aims

We use genome-wide association analyses (GWAS) to identify differential genetic factors and to develop predictors based on polygenic risk scores (PRS) that may aid early differential diagnosis.

Method

Based on individual genotypes from case–control cohorts of BPD and MDD shared through the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, we compile case–case–control cohorts, applying a careful quality control procedure. In a resulting cohort of 51 149 individuals (15 532 BPD patients, 12 920 MDD patients and 22 697 controls), we perform a variety of GWAS and PRS analyses.

Results

Although our GWAS is not well powered to identify genome-wide significant loci, we find significant chip heritability and demonstrate the ability of the resulting PRS to distinguish BPD from MDD, including BPD cases with depressive onset (BPD-D). We replicate our PRS findings in an independent Danish cohort (iPSYCH 2015, N = 25 966). We observe strong genetic correlation between our case–case GWAS and that of case–control BPD.

Conclusions

We find that MDD and BPD, including BPD-D are genetically distinct. Our findings support that controls, MDD and BPD patients primarily lie on a continuum of genetic risk. Future studies with larger and richer samples will likely yield a better understanding of these findings and enable the development of better genetic predictors distinguishing BPD and, importantly, BPD-D from MDD.
Call to Improve Coding of Cancer-Associated Cachexia
Authors: Goncalves Marcus D. , Dunne Richard F. , Moore Amy C. , Phillips Wendy , Heymsfield Steven B. , Brown Justin C. , Talbert Erin E. , Janowitz Tobias
Published: January 2025

Cachexia is a systemic wasting syndrome prevalent in patients with cancer that significantly affects quality of life, health care costs, and therapeutic outcomes. Despite its clinical importance, cachexia is rarely formally diagnosed. This deficiency presents a challenge for effective patient management and care, health care resource allocation, and the advancement of therapeutic approaches. Here, we highlight impedances to the diagnosis and coding of cachexia, including the absence of standardized therapy, a lack of incentives for accurate coding, and overlapping clinical features with other conditions. We differentiate cachexia from related conditions like unintentional weight loss, sarcopenia, frailty, and protein-calorie malnutrition, outlining their distinct clinical features and inter-relations. We propose an approach to enhance diagnostic accuracy and coding for cachexia. This effort will enable better prevalence data, translation of mechanism-based therapy development, patient identification and stratification, and ultimately advanced diagnostics and US Food and Drug Administration–approved treatments for cachexia.
eIF4F-mediated dysregulation of mRNA translation in cancer
Authors: Amiri Mehdi , Mahmood Niaz , Tahmasebi Soroush , Sonenberg Nahum
Published: January 2025

Messenger RNA (mRNA) translational control plays a pivotal role in regulating cellular proteostasis under physiological and pathological conditions. Dysregulated mRNA translation is pervasive in cancer, in which protein synthesis is elevated to support accelerated cell growth and proliferation. Consequently, targeting the mRNA translation machinery has emerged as a therapeutic strategy to treat cancer. In this Perspective, we summarize the current knowledge of translation dysregulation in cancer, with emphasis on the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4F complex. We outline recent endeavors to apply this knowledge to develop novel treatment strategies to combat cancer.
Αξιολόγηση δεξιοτήτων επιστημονικού συλλογισμού
Authors: Χιονάς Γεώργιος
Published: January 2025

Οι δεξιότητες επιστημονικού συλλογισμού αποτελούν έναν από τους βασικούς πυλώνες των δεξιοτήτων του 21ου αιώνα και έχουν αναγνωριστεί ως κρίσιμες για την ακαδημαϊκή επιτυχία, την επίλυση προβλημάτων και την προετοιμασία των μαθητών/τριών για τις απαιτήσεις του σύγχρονου κόσμου. Ωστόσο, τα υπάρχοντα εργαλεία αξιολόγησης συχνά περιορίζονται σε επιμέρους δεξιότητες και εμφανίζουν αμφισβητούμενη εγκυρότητα και αξιοπιστία. Η παρούσα διατριβή στοχεύει στην εννοιολόγηση του επιστημονικού συλλογισμού και την ανάπτυξη ενός εργαλείου αξιολόγησής του (Elementary Scientific Reasoning Questionnaire, ESRQ), βασισμένου σε σύγχρονα θεωρητικά μοντέλα και προηγμένες ψυχομετρικές μεθόδους. Η ανάπτυξη του εργαλείου πραγματοποιείται αξιοποιώντας μία τριβηματική μεθοδολογική προσέγγιση: Διερευνητική Παραγοντική Ανάλυση (ΔΠΑ), Επιβεβαιωτική Παραγοντική Ανάλυση (ΕΠΑ) και Θεωρία Απόκρισης Στοιχείου (ΘΑΣ) σε 829 μαθητές/τριες δημοτικών σχολείων. Η ΔΠΑ αποκάλυψε μια πολυδιάστατη δομή του επιστημονικού συλλογισμού, η οποία περιλαμβάνει δεξιότητες όπως η Διατύπωση Ερευνητικού Ερωτήματος, η Διατύπωση Υποθέσεων, η Παραγωγή Εμπειρικών Δεδομένων και η Αξιολόγηση Εμπειρικών Δεδομένων. Οι παράγοντες που εντοπίστηκαν εξηγούν ένα σημαντικό ποσοστό της διακύμανσης των δεδομένων, επιβεβαιώνοντας την πολυδιάστατη φύση του επιστημονικού συλλογισμού. Η ΕΠΑ επιβεβαίωσε τη δομή που προέκυψε από τη ΔΠΑ, υποδεικνύοντας καλή προσαρμογή του μοντέλου στα δεδομένα. Οι δείκτες προσαρμογής κυμάνθηκαν σε αποδεκτά επίπεδα, επιβεβαιώνοντας την εγκυρότητα του εργαλείου. Η εγκυρότητα του εργαλείου τεκμηριώθηκε μέσω της συγκλίνουσας εγκυρότητας (AVE>0.50 για τους περισσότερους παράγοντες) και της διακριτικής εγκυρότητας (HTMT<0.85). Η αξιοπιστία επιβεβαιώθηκε από υψηλούς δείκτες εσωτερικής συνέπειας (ωt>0.70) για τους περισσότερους παράγοντες, καθώς και από τους δείκτες αξιοπιστίας της ΘΑΣ. Τα αποτελέσματα υποστήριξαν τις ψυχομετρικές ιδιότητες του ESRQ ως εργαλείου αξιολόγησης του επιστημονικού συλλογισμού στην πρωτοβάθμια εκπαίδευση, αναδεικνύοντας παράλληλα την πολυδιάστατη φύση του και παρέχοντας κατευθύνσεις για μελλοντική βελτίωση συγκεκριμένων υποκλιμάκων. Η ανάλυση μέσω ΘΑΣ έδειξε πολύ καλή προσαρμογή για την πλειονότητα των προτάσεων (RMSEA<0.05). Οι Συνολικές Καμπύλες Πληροφορίας έδειξαν ότι το εργαλείο είναι καταλληλότερο για την αξιολόγηση μέτριων επιπέδων επιστημονικού συλλογισμού, με την ακρίβεια μέτρησης να μειώνεται για ακραίες τιμές. Παρατηρήθηκε σημαντική διακύμανση στους δείκτες δυσκολίας και διάκρισης μεταξύ των στοιχείων, με κάποιες υποκλίμακες να παρουσιάζουν ευρύτερο Λειτουργικό Εύρος Μέτρησης και υψηλότερα ποσοστά κάλυψης του δείγματος. Η παρούσα διατριβή προσφέρει μια ολιστική και καινοτόμο προσέγγιση στην αξιολόγηση του επιστημονικού συλλογισμού, παρέχοντας στους εκπαιδευτικούς και ερευνητές ένα αξιόπιστο και έγκυρο εργαλείο για τη μέτρηση και ανάπτυξη αυτών των δεξιοτήτων. Τα ευρήματα συμβάλλουν στη βελτίωση των μεθόδων αξιολόγησης και προτείνουν νέες κατευθύνσεις για αποτελεσματικές διδακτικές παρεμβάσεις και μελλοντική έρευνα.
Melatonin: The potential avenues in dentistry
Authors: S Dr. SANIDHYA , Kamath Deepa , SINHA ARADHYA , KAMATH DIYA
Published: January 2025

Melatonin, the “sleep hormone,” shows significant promise in dentistry owing to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. It is beneficial for treating periodontal disorders and aiding osseointegration of dental implants. Additionally, melatonin helps to manage dental anxiety, offering an alternative to traditional sedatives. Periodontal disease is orchestrated by bacterial plaques along with an exaggerated immune-inflammatory host response. Treatment of periodontitis not only involves the removal of plaque, but also aims to minimize the cytokine load and control the reactive oxygen species burden in the tissues, which would re-establish a healthy periodontium and a balanced bone metabolism. Melatonin is known to exert beneficial effects, such as regulation of circadian rhythm, bone remodeling, and antimicrobial effects. Recent studies have demonstrated the successful use of melatonin as an adjunct to mechanical debridement for the treatment of periodontal disease. Its various uses include systemic administration of melatonin after one-stage full-mouth Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy in healthy subjects as well as patients. This article provides a summary of the various clinical applications of melatonin, describing its mechanism of action, uses, and potential avenues for future research in dentistry.
On the need to better integrate the social environment in research on climate change and health: recommendations and thinking tools
Authors: Mabile Laurence , Neufcourt Lola , Chersich Matthew , Leroy Valériane , Delpierre Cyrille , Kelly-Irving Michelle
Published: January 2025

Social inequality impacts health, is aggravated by the consequences of climate change, and may be influenced by inappropriate policy responses. These interdependent effects create a self-perpetuating loop exacerbating the impact of climate dysregulation on health in an uncontrolled and poorly understood way. Holistic approaches to public health such as One Health, EcoHealth or Planetary Health are well suited to tackling the considerable and complex environmental and social issues underlying climate dysregulation. However, the extent to which research using such frameworks investigates social determinants of health is not clear. In this paper we discuss the ways in which the social environment has so far been considered in the literature to problematize and analyze the relationship between climate dysregulation and health within holistic frameworks and provide tools and recommendations to facilitate their apprehension. Social factors are investigated empirically only in a minor fraction of studies addressing the relation between climate and health in holistic frameworks, and not systematically. Barriers to such approaches are discussed. This work also provides two analytical tools (a process diagram and a knowledge framework) and a set of recommendations to help include the social environment more meaningfully in such frameworks. They are meant to facilitate our understanding of the current status of this type of research and to encourage trans-disciplinary and trans-sectorial endeavors towards directions which need to be taken to ensure societal factors and inequalities are placed at the center of research on climate and health and the ensuing policy response.
The genome sequence of 18-spot Ladybird, Myrrha octodecimguttata (Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Barclay Maxwell V.L. , Namintraporn Talay , Geiser Michael F. ,   Natural History Museum Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: January 2025

We present a genome assembly from an individual male specimen of Myrrha octodecimguttata (18-spot Ladybird; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Coccinellidae). The genome sequence has a total length of 769.90 megabases. Most of the assembly (84.54%) is scaffolded into 10 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 20.61 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 22,423 protein-coding genes.
The genome sequence of the common adder, Vipera berus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Owens John Benjamin (Ben) , Wüster Wolfgang , Mulley John , Graham Stuart , Morgan Rhys , Barlow Axel ,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: January 2025

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Vipera berus (common adder; Chordata; Lepidosauria; Squamata; Viperidae). The haplotype-resolved assembly contains two haplotypes with total lengths of 1,695.0 megabases and 1,476.7 megabases, respectively. Most of haplotype 1 (98.45%) is scaffolded into 19 chromosomal pseudomolecules, while haplotype 2 is assembled to scaffold level. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 17.35 kilobases in length.
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF FEAR OF A POLICE OFFICER IN WAR AND MILITARY CONFLICT
Authors: Chimarov Sergey , Lebedeva Maria
Published: January 2025

The article considers issues related to: firstly, the analysis of understanding the emotional phenomenon of «fear» and other states of mental tension directly related to it; secondly, the clarification of the influence of fear on personality behavior patterns; thirdly, the presentation of modern techniques to identify the level of fear of various social strata of the population before the eventual scenarios of armed conflict and war, including nuclear war. According to the authors, this type of fear is acceptable for police personnel, the specifics of the service of whose employees, despite the high risk of their law enforcement mission, does not imply the unconditional direct participation of each policeman in the conduct of hostilities in war or in the format of a military conflict. The practical and scientific importance of studying current methods designed for a more in-depth study of fear is noted. Attention is focused on the correlation of fear and the role of socialization of the police in the general system of perception of the threat of war and military conflict by the population of the country. The absence of an array of modern ideas on this issue is stated. The purpose of the study is to substantiate the problem of fear of modern war and the possibility of using existing techniques to diagnose the specified emotional state of police personnel. The above is the novelty of the completed research. The methodological basis of the study was a systematic approach. Theoretical information is presented regarding the typology of personality behavior patterns, the formation of which is caused by a state of fear, and their psychological basis is fully acceptable for the personality of a police officer. The scope of the results is to minimize the level of mental tension of police personnel.
Integration of Multi-Criteria Decision Model, Analytic Hierarchy Process and Geographic Information System for Landfill Site Selection: An Overview of Varanasi City
Authors: Kumar Awadhesh , Rana Narendra Kumar , Kumar Anand
Published: January 2025

Effective solid waste management is essential in urban areas. Despite efforts by local authorities in Indian cities to handle waste through various methods, landfilling remains the most convenient disposal method. This study aims to identify the optimal site for scientific landfilling in Varanasi City using a multi-criteria decision-making model, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), and Geographic Information System (GIS). Initially, a comprehensive literature review, the Municipal Solid Waste Management Rule of 2016, and expert opinions were used to determine site selection criteria. Eleven criteria, including proximity to rivers or lakes, groundwater table, settlement proximity, and slope etc., were identified as crucial for landfill suitability. Experts assigned an appropriateness score to each criterion, ranging from 1 to 5, where 5 represented the best rating and 1 the lowest. As the criteria are not equally significant, weights were assigned based on their importance in decision-making using AHP. Criteria maps were prepared using ArcGIS 10.6.1, and a final map was generated through weighted overlay assessments. The investigation identified Khutahna (0.43 km2), Chhitauni (0.22 km2), Kakarhia (0.09 km2), and Kadi Chak (0.06 km2) as high-suitability zones for landfilling; Mustafabad (0.21 km2), Chandpur (0.15 km2), and Jalhupur (0.13 km2) as moderate-suitability zones; and the remaining section of the region as unsuitable. A site walkover is recommended to confirm the accuracy and suitability of the candidate locations.
Design and Fabrication of an Automatic Waste Segregation and Monitoring System
Authors: Sharma Kapil Dev , Prajapati Rishi Kumar , Srivastava Shobhit , Fore Vivudh , Amrish Amrish
Published: January 2025

The quantity and composition of solid waste are increasing rapidly due to continuous economic development in many countries. Variation in quantity and composition of waste has become a serious problem for the waste management system in ensuring effectual and eco-friendly management of solid waste. The world generated approximately 2.01 billion tonnes (BT) of solid waste in 2016, which is anticipated to increase to 2.58 BT by 2030 and 3.40 BT by 2050. Currently, only one-fifth of the waste generated is being processed and the rest is dumped in landfills without any treatment. The optimal economic benefit derived from solid waste is attained when all its components are thoroughly segregated. Waste segregation at source helps significantly in reducing complexity in waste treatment plants. There is no system for segregating dry, wet, organic, plastic, and metallic waste at household, office, college, and industrial levels. So, the goal of this paper is to design, fabricate, and testing of an easy-to-use and cost-effective automatic waste separation system for homes and small local societies so that waste can be directly sent to the waste management plants. This system minimizes human interference and shortens the time and cost of segregation. Powered by Arduino UNO and various sensors, this system easily separates solid waste into three main categories namely metal, dry, and wet. During the performance testing of the system, the accuracy of the system was noted at 98% for 100 samples and also the time taken by the system to separate metal waste, wet waste, and dry waste respectively was 2.5, 3.5, and 5.6 seconds.
Sustainable Landfill Site Selection in Urban Areas: Case Study of Millenium City in India
Authors: Khanna Sandeep , Chauhan Suman
Published: January 2025

Landfills remain the predominant approach to managing solid waste in urban settings due to their cost-effectiveness, particularly in developing nations. In this regard, landfill site selection is a serious issue in the urban planning process because of its implications for the economy, environment, ecology, and public health. Municipal Corporation Gurugram records indicate that the city alone generates solid waste of about 1100 metric tons per day. The city's growing urban population and rapid expansion as a commercial and financial center presented numerous waste management difficulties. Existing studies lack comprehensive integration of multi-criteria decision analysis and GIS technologies for landfill site selection in rapidly urbanizing cities like Gurugram. In the present study, multi-criteria decision analysis and GIS technologies are used to identify suitable sites for landfills, considering most environmental factors. With the rate of population and settlements increasing, it is suggested that the landfill site serve for at least 20 years. In accordance with the regulations outlined in the Solid Waste Management Rules of 2016, a meticulous process was undertaken to identify and prioritize the ten most crucial criteria for evaluation in prescribed methodologies. The study's conclusions could help municipal planners and waste management authorities create an effective solid waste management system that takes into account all possible advantages and disadvantages.
Statistical classification of the state of newborns in Burundi
Authors: Niyonsaba Therence , Remesha Guy Darcy , Blaise Mwetaminwa Muyengo , Nizigiyimana Dionis , Nkurunziza Jean de Dieu
Published: January 2025

This work aims to identify the various health districts in Burundi requiring more than others specific support for improving child health while applying the exploratory method. The latter consists in calculating, for the districts surveyed as part of the development of the statistical yearbook, indicators assessing the state of health of the newborns. For this end, a statistical classification was performed. These statistical analyzes use a set of data totaling 14 variables relating to the state of health of newborns.
Age and season dynamic dependence of Eimeria infection of calves in Azerbaijan
Authors: Nasibov Mahir N.
Published: January 2025

The article talks about the conducted research on the infection of calves with eimeriosis depending on the age and seasons of the year in livestock farms located in Khachmaz and Shabran regions of Guba-Khachmaz economic region, also Bilasuvar and Hajigabul regions of Shirvan-Salyan economic regions. During the researches were studied spread of eimeria parasitizing on calves in farms depending on the seasons and the age of the animals.
Depending on the age eymeriosis infection were determined 33.3% in Khachmaz region, 25.0% in Shabran region, 15.2% in Bilasuvar region, and 21.2% in Hajigabul region.
As a result of examinations carried out in calves according to the seasons of the year was found infection eimeria: 38.1% in spring, 9.5% in summer, 28.6% in autumn, 14.3% in winter in Khachmaz region; 27.8% in spring, 5.6% in summer, 16.7% in autumn, 11.1% in winter in Shabran region; 30.4% in spring, 4.3% in summer, 17.4% in autumn, 8.7% in winter in Bilasuvar region; 21.1% in spring, no infection in summer, 15.8% in autumn, 5.3% in winter in Hajigabul region. The presence of factors (temperature, moisture, oxygen) necessary to the development of Eimeria oocysts in spring and autumn has a positive, and the decrease in air temperaturse in winter has a negative effect on the development of Eimeria oocysts.
Dual benefits of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in metabolic diseases: Diabetes control and gout management
Authors: Fu Xiao-Peng
Published: January 2025

The study by Lin et al delves into the clinical impact of dapagliflozin, a representative sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, on chronic heart failure complicated by hyperuricemia. This investigation highlights dapagliflozin’s efficacy in lowering serum uric acid levels, enhancing cardiac function, and reducing cardiovascular events. This work not only provides a comprehensive analysis of dapagliflozin’s sustained benefits in these patients but also introduces novel insights for managing chronic heart failure exacerbated by elevated uric acid. Furthermore, this review examines the potential role of SGLT2 inhibitor in the context of gout, evaluating its mechanisms and clinical application prospects in the management of hyperuricemia, thereby further enriching the medical community’s understanding of SGLT2 inhibitor.
Vitiligo-like rash in a patient with lung cancer caused by sintilimab: A case report
Authors: Mao Xiao-Ming , Wang Wei-Hua
Published: January 2025

BACKGROUND

This article discusses a case involving a 63-year-old man with non-small cell lung cancer, who was treated with a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The patient was treated with five cycles of chemotherapy (pemetrexed and carboplatin) combined with sintilimab, a programmed death 1 inhibitor.

CASE SUMMARY

After the fifth cycle of treatment, the patient developed skin itching and a vitiligo-like rash, which are known side effects of immunotherapy. Despite dermatological consultation and treatment with topical corticosteroids, the rash worsened while the itching subsided. The patient continued with the treatment, and after 15 cycles, the tumor showed a response with a reduction in size. The vitiligo-like rash increased, but the antitumor treatment remained effective.

CONCLUSION

The case highlights the use of immunotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and the potential side effect of vitiligo-like rash. The patient’s tumor responded well to the treatment, and despite the skin reaction, the treatment was not discontinued due to its effectiveness. The article suggests that further studies are needed to understand the mechanism behind vitiligo in patients with lung cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors and whether the development of vitiligo-like rash after immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy is associated with improved prognosis. The case also underscores the importance of managing immune-related adverse events in the context of effective antitumor treatment.
Severe upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage due to milk protein allergy: A case report
Authors: Jiang Huan-Huan , Tang Qing , Huang Li , Yun Xiang , Shan Qing-Wen , Chen Xiu-Qi
Published: January 2025

BACKGROUND

Upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage is a life-threatening manifestation of cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA). We analyze the clinical characteristics of a case of milk protein allergy manifested as severe upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

CASE SUMMARY

The hospital admitted a 2-month-old male infant due to “melena for 6 days, hematemesis twice”. The main symptom was melena, initially occurring once or twice per day, then gradually increasing to five or six times per day at their peak. During the course of the illness, the infant vomited blood, but there were no reports of vomiting, fever, pale complexion, dyspnea, wheezing, or difficulty breathing. Laboratory tests showed hemoglobin level of 87 g/L, platelet count of 349 × 109/L, and eosinophil percentage of 0.031. Coagulation studies were normal. After avoiding certain foods and feeding with an amino acid formula for 2 weeks, a repeat gastroscopy revealed less bleeding. After six weeks, a positive oral food challenge test confirmed a severe CMPA. At the 4-month follow-up, there was no gastrointestinal bleeding, and the infant was growing and developing well.

CONCLUSION

The manifestations of milk protein allergy are diverse and nonspecific, with gastrointestinal bleeding being less common, especially in infants. When infants present with unexplained massive hematemesis, it’s critical to investigate the possibility of CMPA.
Insight into the efficacy and safety of pirfenidone: The treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Xu Li-Ying , Yu Yi , Cen Lu-Sha
Published: January 2025

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has a poor prognosis if left untreated; therefore, early treatment with pirfenidone is crucial. Lei et al conducted a retrospective analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of early pirfenidone treatment on lung function in 113 patients with IPF. In addition to other research, pirfenidone has demonstrated efficacy in patients at all stages of IPF once correct diagnosis has been made. In advanced IPF, we include the requirement for pirfenidone. Therefore, it is essential to choose an appropriate method of administration method, such as inhalation. This may circumvent the drawbacks of the high cost and possible adverse effects of this drug.
Linking high-frequency lacustrine sequences to orbitally-induced cyclicity (Lower Cretaceous, Iberian Basin)
Authors: Illueca Natalia , Liesa Carlos L. , Soria Ana R.
Published: January 2025

The lacustrine El Castellar Formation in the Castillo de Aliaga section (Early Cretaceous Galve sub-basin, eastern Spain) features two carbonate successions of marl and limestone, separated by a mudstone and marl interval. Sequence analysis revealed small-scale (44 elementary sequences), medium-scale (ten complete and two incomplete parasequences), and large-scale (three sets of parasequences, one incomplete), high-frequency lacustrine sequences, with an average thickness of 2.9, 12.4 and 54m, respectively. These sequences start with a sudden facies change (deepening) and exhibit a shallowing-upward trend with features of subaerial exposure (bioturbation, oxidation, or brecciation) at the top, indicating phases of climate-modulated lake expansion and retraction. The temporal framework of the lacustrine sequences is further characterized by the correlation of these sequences with sedimentary-cycle periodicities of 3.3, 13.2 and 57.3m, attributed, respectively, to the long precession cycle (22.4kyr) and the short (95kyr) and long (405kyr) eccentricity cycles of the Earth’s orbit. The hierarchical stacking of sequences aligns with orbitally driven cyclicity, with thickness variations interpreted as tectonic subsidence effects (accommodation) resulting from normal fault slip in a rift system. The three sets of parasequences (SPS-1 to SPS-3) align with stages of lake system evolution. SPS-1 represents deposition in a lowenergy shallow carbonate lake. SPS-2 indicates a significant lake expansion and deepening, linked with clastic input and a mixed lake system, and correlates with a major increase in accommodation, over ~200kyr, involving fault-induced local tilting. SPS-3 represents deposition in a high-energy carbonate lake. The parasequences identified show variations in cyclic thickness tied to a >700kyr tectonic cycle. The elementary sequences, mainly corresponding to marl-limestone bundles, exhibit thickness changes probably due to shorter-term tectonic pulses. Accelerated tectonic activity resulted in increased accommodation in shorter (40-50kyr) periods, followed by longer (>100kyr) periods of progressive deceleration.
Entrevista a Josep Maria Miró
Authors: Reguant Fosas Gemma
Published: January 2025

Entrevista a l'autor i director teatral Josep Maria Miró, a càrrec de la professora Gemma Reguant Fosas.
L'entrevista es pot visualitzar en aquest enllaç: https://youtu.be/obffc4rvH5Q