bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of coronary revascularization timing on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with ischemic heart disease
Authors: Hardiman Sean , Fradet Guy , Kuramoto Lisa , Law Michael , Robinson Simon , Sobolev Boris
Published: June 2024

Background

There is little evidence on whether the timing of revascularization affects cardiovascular disease progression in patients with stable ischemic heart disease. We aimed to determine if disease progression differed between patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery after the time recommended by physicians compared to timely percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

We identified 25,469 British Columbia, Canada residents ages 60 years or older who underwent their first non-emergency revascularization for angiographically proven, stable left main or multi-vessel ischemic heart disease. We estimated the cumulative incidence of a composite cardiovascular outcome (CVO) and death as a competing risk for patients undergoing delayed CABG versus timely PCI.

Results

After adjustment, patients who underwent delayed CABG had a statistically significantly lower cumulative CVO incidence at three years compared with those who received timely PCI (9.6% delayed CABG, 23.2% timely PCI; subdistribution hazard ratio for CVO at three years 0.50, 95% CI 0.26–0.99).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that for patients who wish to wait for CABG, doing so may lead to slower disease progression compared with receiving PCI.
Investigating different factors on the outcome of severe Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis in 110 women from 2017 to 2021: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Zarpoosh Mahsa , Asgari Zahra , Amirian Parsa , Mousavi Tahereh Sadat , Golpazir Arash , Pournazari Mehran
Published: June 2024

Aim

Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis is a distressing chronic disease without precise etiology and cure. While this disease is rare worldwide, it has been recorded as a prevalent one in Middle Eastern countries; therefore, our aim to investigate the role of different factors on the outcome of the severe form of the disease can shed light on various aspects of the disease.

Methods

We retrospectively identified 110 Iranian women, from 2017 to 2021, with severe Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis who met the required histological criteria of this benign disease. All patients had developed severe mastitis according to their signs and required treatment. After gathering the information retrospectively, we analyzed them by using statistical tests.

Results

In our study, most patients were overweight or obese in their reproductive age with a positive history of pregnancy and breastfeeding. It typically appeared as a painful erythematous mass-like lesion in the upper-outer of the left breast (mean size: 26.75 ± 20.08 mm). Approximately half of the participants experienced extra-mammary manifestations such as arthritis, hair loss, or erythema nodosum. Even though all patients were treated with corticosteroids and Methotrexate or Azathioprine, 32.33% were not completely remitted. Lastly, we realized that there are statistical associations between three variables (family history of Granulomatous Mastitis, the size of the lesions, and the number of recurrences) and the final outcome; all P-values were less than 0.05.

Conclusion

The remission rate may decrease when the lesion size exceeds 5 cm, and some hereditary factors may play a role in the response to treatment.
Multispectral live-cell imaging with uncompromised spatiotemporal resolution
Authors: Kumar Akaash , McNally Kerrie E. , Zhang Yuexuan , Haslett-Saunders Alex , Wang Xinru , Guillem-Marti Jordi , Lee David , Huang Buwei , Stallinga Sjoerd , Kay Robert R. , Baker David , Derivery Emmanuel , Manton James D.
Published: June 2024

Multispectral imaging is an established method to extend the number of colours usable in fluorescence imaging beyond the typical limit of three or four, but standard approaches are poorly suited to live-cell imaging. We introduce an approach for multispectral imaging in live cells, comprising an iterative spectral unmixing algorithm and eight channel camera-based image acquisition hardware. This enables the accurate unmixing of low signal-to-noise ratio datasets, typical of live-cell imaging, captured at video rates. We use this approach on a commercial spinning disk confocal microscope and a home-built oblique plane light sheet microscope to image 1–7 spectrally distinct fluorophore species simultaneously, using both fluorescent protein fusions and small-molecule dyes. We further use de novo designed protein-binding proteins (minibinders), labelled with organic fluorophores, and use these in combination with our multispectral imaging approach to study the endosomal trafficking of cell-surface receptors at endogenous levels.
TMX5/TXNDC15, a natural trapping mutant of the PDI family is a client of the proteostatic factor ERp44
Authors: Soldà Tatiana , Galli Carmela , Guerra Concetta , Hoefner Carolin , Molinari Maurizio
Published: June 2024

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the organelle of nucleated cells that produces lipids, sugars and proteins. More than 20 ER-resident members of the Protein Disulfide Isomerase (PDI) family regulate formation, isomerization and disassembly of covalent bonds in newly synthesized polypeptides. The PDI family includes few membrane-bound members. Among these, TMX1, TMX2, TMX3, TMX4 and TMX5 belong to the thioredoxin-related transmembrane (TMX) protein family. TMX5 is the least known member of the family. Here, we establish that TMX5 covalently engages via its active site cysteine residue at position 220 a subset of secretory proteins, mainly single- and multi-pass Golgi-resident polypeptides. TMX5 also interacts non-covalently, and covalently, via non-catalytic cysteine residues, with the PDI family members PDI, ERp57 and ERp44. The association of TMX5 and ERp44 requires formation of a mixed disulfide between the catalytic cysteine residue 29 of ERp44 and the non-catalytic cysteine residues 114 and/or 124 of TMX5 and controls the ER retention of TMX5. Thus, TMX5 belongs to the family of proteins including Ero1α, Ero1β, Prx4, ERAP1, SUMF1 that do not display ER retention sequences and rely on ERp44 engagement for proper inter-compartmental distribution.
Prevalent chromosome fusion inVibrio choleraeO1
Authors: Cuénod Aline , Chac Denise , Khan Ashraful I. , Chowdhury Fahima , Hyppa Randy W. , Markiewicz Susan M. , Calderwood Stephen B. , Ryan Edward T. , Harris Jason B. , LaRocque Regina C. , Bhuiyan Taufiqur R. , Smith Gerald R. , Qadri Firdausi , Lypaczewski Patrick , Weil Ana A. , Shapiro B. Jesse
Published: June 2024

Two circular chromosomes are a defining feature of the familyVibrionaceae, including the pathogenVibrio cholerae, with rare reports of isolates with a single, fused chromosome. Here we report chromosome fusions in clinicalV. choleraeO1 isolates, including several independent fusion events stable enough to be transmitted between patients within a household. Fusion occurs in a 12 kilobase-pair homologous sequence shared between the two chromosomes, which may lead to reversible chromosomal fusion.
PTBP1 mediates Sertoli cell actin cytoskeleton organization by regulating alternative splicing of actin regulators
Authors: Wang Yuexi , Chembazhi Ullas Valiya , Yee Danielle , Chen Sijie , Ji Jie , Wang Yujie , Nguyen Ka Lam , Lin PoChing , Ratti Antonia , Hess Rex , Qiao Huanyu , Ko CheMyong , Yang Jing , Kalsotra Auinash , Mei Wenyan
Published: June 2024

Spermatogenesis is a biological process within the testis that produces haploid spermatozoa for the continuity of species. Sertoli cells are somatic cells in the seminiferous epithelium that orchestrate spermatogenesis. Cyclic reorganization of Sertoli cell actin cytoskeleton is vital for spermatogenesis, but the underlying mechanism remains largely unclear. Here, we report that RNA-binding protein PTBP1 controls Sertoli cell actin cytoskeleton reorganization by programming alternative splicing of actin cytoskeleton regulators. This splicing control enables ectoplasmic specializations, the actin-based adhesion junctions, to maintain the blood-testis barrier and support spermatid transport and transformation. Particularly, we show that PTBP1 promotes actin bundle formation by repressing the inclusion of exon 14 ofTnik, a kinase present at the ectoplasmic specialization. Our results thus reveal a novel mechanism wherein Sertoli cell actin cytoskeleton dynamics is controlled post-transcriptionally by utilizing functionally distinct isoforms of actin regulatory proteins, and PTBP1 is a critical regulatory factor in generating such isoforms.
Balancing Equity and HLA Matching in Deceased-Donor Kidney Allocation with Eplet Mismatch
Authors: Mankowski Michal A. , Gragert Loren , Segev Dorry L. , Montgomery Robert , Gentry Sommer E. , Mangiola Massimo
Published: June 2024

Background

Prioritization of HLA antigen-level matching in the US kidney allocation system intends to improve post-transplant survival but causes racial disparities and thus has been substantially de-emphasized. Recently, molecular matching based on eplets has been found to improve risk stratification compared to antigen matching.

Methods

To assign eplets unambiguously, we utilized a cohort of 5193 individuals with high resolution allele-level HLA genotypes from the National Kidney Registry. Using repeated random sampling to simulate donor-recipient genotype pairings based on the ethnic composition of the historical US deceased donor pool, we profiled the percentage of well-matched donors for candidates by ethnicity.

Results

The percentage of well-matched donors with zero-DR/DQ eplet mismatch was 3-fold less racially disparate for Black and Asian candidates than percentage of donors with zero-ABDR antigen mismatches, and 2-fold less racially disparate for Latino candidates. For other HLA antigen and eplet mismatch thresholds, the percentage of well-matched donors was more similar across candidate ethnic groups.

Conclusions

Compared to the current zero-ABDR antigen mismatch, prioritizing a zero-DR/DQ eplet mismatch in allocation would decrease racial disparities and increase the percentage of well-matched donors. High resolution HLA deceased donor genotyping would enable unambiguous assignment of eplets to operationalize molecular mismatch metrics in allocation.

Key Points

Question

What is the impact of prioritizing low molecular mismatch transplants on racial and ethnic disparities in US deceased-donor kidney allocation, compared to the current prioritization of antigen-level matching?

Findings

The lowest-risk eplet mismatch approach decreases racial disparities up to 3-fold compared to lowest-risk antigen mismatch and identifies a larger number of the lowest allo-immune risk donors.

Meaning

Prioritizing eplet matching in kidney transplant allocation could both improve outcomes and reduce racial disparities compared to the current antigen matching.
Simple and Versatile Pharmacokinetic Model for Radioligand Therapy
Authors: Zounek Adrian Jun , Zounek Alexis Nikolai
Published: June 2024

In recent years radioligand therapy has emerged as an effective treatment modality for various solid malignancies, with pharmacokinetic modeling being routinely used for absorbed dose calculation and patient-specific therapy planning. Exemplary time-activity curves of FAP-targeted radioligands in a mouse model are accurately fitted by a sum of right skew biexponential distributions with four adjustable parameters in total. This type of modeling function is versatile and also suitable for conventional drugs. For further insight, an auxiliary equation is derived that relates tumor clearance to FAP expression and the radioligand dissociation constant.
Elevated meningioma risk among individuals who are Non-Hispanic Black is strongest for grade 2-3 tumors and synergistically modified by male sex
Authors: Walsh Kyle M. , Price Mackenzie , Raleigh David R. , Calabrese Evan , Kruchko Carol , Barnholtz-Sloan Jill S. , Ostrom Quinn T.
Published: June 2024

Background

Meningioma risk factors include older age, female sex, and African-American race. There are limited data exploring how meningioma risk in African-Americans varies across the lifespan, interacts with sex, and differs by tumor grade.

Methods

The Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS) is a population-based registry covering the entire U.S. population. Meningioma diagnoses from 2004-2019 were used to calculate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for non-Hispanic Black individuals (NHB) compared to non-Hispanic white individuals (NHW) across 10-year age intervals, and stratified by sex and by WHO tumor grade.

Results

53,890 NHB individuals and 322,373 NHW individuals with an intracranial meningioma diagnosis were included in analyses. Beginning in young adulthood, the NHB-to-NHW IRR was elevated for both grade 1 and grade 2/3 tumors. The IRR peaked in the seventh decade of life regardless of grade, and was higher for grade 2/3 tumors (IRR=1.57; 95% CI: 1.46-1.69) than grade 1 tumors (IRR=1.27; 95% CI: 1.25-1.30) in this age group. The NHB-to-NHW IRR was elevated in females (IRR=1.17; 95% CI: 1.16-1.18) and further elevated in males (IRR=1.28; 95% CI: 1.26-1.30), revealing synergistic interaction between NHB race/ethnicity and male sex (PInteraction=0.001).

Conclusions

Relative to NHW individuals, NHB individuals are at elevated risk of meningioma from young adulthood through old age. NHB race/ethnicity conferred higher risk of meningioma among men than women, and higher risk of developing WHO grade 2/3 tumors. Results identify meningioma as a significant source of racial disparities in neuro-oncology and may help to improve preoperative predictions of meningioma grade.
Three-dimensional institutional equivalence: how industry, community, and network peers influence corporate innovation quality in China
Authors: Gao Jiaxin , Gu Xin , Yang Xue
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Innovation quality is a critical component of enterprise innovation. Prior research primarily focuses on company-level and external policy-level factors that affect innovation quality, while ignoring social-level factors. Based on institutional isomorphism theory, this study examines how the innovation quality of three-dimensional institutional equivalence, which is an important and unique reference group for firms to follow the “law of imitation of close preference”, affects the likelihood of firms' innovation quality.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducts firm random effects and industry/year fixed effects models using China's listed companies from 2002 to 2021.

Findings

This study finds that compared with the innovation quality of its other industry, community, or network peers, the innovation quality of three-dimensional institutional equivalence has a greater impact on firm innovation quality. Furthermore, technological intensity significantly increases the effect of three-dimensional institutional equivalence on focal company innovation quality, while financing constraints significantly attenuate this effect. Additionally, when there is no institutional equivalent, the innovation quality of network, industry, and community peers has significant positive effects on enterprise innovation quality. Heterogeneity analysis also indicates that, under the conditions of non-state-owned enterprises, a low regional legal environment, or low regional factor market development, three-dimensional institutional equivalence contributes significantly to firm innovation quality.

Research limitations/implications

This study focuses on the effect of three-dimensional institutional equivalence on Chinese enterprises' innovation quality. Nonetheless, research samples from other countries are not considered in this study.

Originality/value

This study explores the impact of three-dimensional institutional equivalence on firm innovation quality within a systematic theoretical framework and incorporates firm attributes into this framework.
Is eating meat the new smoking? Exploring the dynamics between meat consumption and education in Switzerland
Authors: Loginova Daria , Mann Stefan
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study aims to test Singer’s suggestion that ‘over the next 20 years meat could follow smoking into disrepute” using the findings of the recent literature on meat consumption, education and smoking and data from consumers in Switzerland in 1990–2017.

Design/methodology/approach

We hypothesise that meat consumption in developed countries has increasingly shifted to people with less education, as has been observed for smoking in previous studies. Using trend analysis by regressions, we describe the consumption dynamics of nine sorts of meat in Switzerland and estimate meat consumption trends for populations with and without university education separately.

Findings

Our results partly confirm the hypothesis. Less educated households consume more non-fish meat per person than households with at least one member educating or having finished education at university. For most categories of meat, the relative decline in consumption has been significantly higher for households in which at least one person holds a university education.

Originality/value

Our study contributes to the studies on sociology of meat eating and suggests paying more attention to risks related to meat consumption and to awareness of the population about these risks.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-05-2023-0335
ESG and financial performance via uncertain mining technology: do Multilatinas contribute to the sustainability of the region?
Authors: Grajales Carlos Alexander , Albanés Uribe Katherine
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This paper proposes a methodology based on an uncertain mining technology that identifies the linguistic relationships of ESG and its components with a financial performance metric to help the sustainability diagnosis of a region, specifically Latin America.

Design/methodology/approach

First, based on a relevant dataset of companies in a region, a procedure is formulated whereby an uncertain mining technology extracts the mathematically significant linguistic relationships of ESG and its components with a financial performance metric. Second, a knowledge management process is designed based on the linguistic summaries obtained from the mining process. As a final step and drawing upon the two preceding processes, a diagrammatic system of signals is proposed for diagnosing the sustainability of the region as contributed by its companies.

Findings

After this methodology is instantiated on a group of Multilatinas, it is observed that their sustainability contributions to the region are limited and that none of the identified linguistic relationships between ESG and the financial performance metric are favorable for the region.

Originality/value

This is the first proposal of its kind and it can be applied to any region of the world to assess the financial performance of its companies regarding their ESG commitments. In addition, it enables the region to comprehensively monitor compliance with the 2030 SDG agenda.
When resilience is not enough: 2022 extreme marine heatwave threatens climatic refugia for a habitat‐forming Mediterranean octocoral
Authors: Rovira Graciel·la , Capdevila Pol , Zentner Yanis , Margarit Núria , Ortega Julia , Casals David , Figuerola‐Ferrando Laura , Aspillaga Eneko , Medrano Alba , Pagès‐Escolà Marta , Hereu Bernat , Garrabou Joaquim , Linares Cristina
Published: June 2024

Climate change is impacting ecosystems worldwide, and the Mediterranean Sea is no exception. Extreme climatic events, such as marine heat waves (MHWs), are increasing in frequency, extent and intensity during the last decades, which has been associated with an increase in mass mortality events for multiple species.

Coralligenous assemblages, where the octocoral Paramuricea clavata lives, are strongly affected by MHWs. The Medes Islands Marine Reserve (NW Mediterranean) was considered a climate refugia for P. clavata, as their populations were showing some resilience to these changing conditions.

In this study, we assessed the impacts of the MHWs that occurred between 2016 and 2022 in seven shallow populations of the octocoral P. clavata from a Mediterranean Marine Protected Area.

The years that the mortality rates increased significantly were associated with the ones with strong MHWs, 2022 being the one with higher mortalities. In 2022, with 50 MHW days, the proportion of total affected colonies was almost 70%, with a proportion of the injured surface of almost 40%, reaching levels never attained in our study site since the monitoring was started.

We also found spatial variability between the monitored populations. Whereas few of them showed low levels of mortality, others lost around 75% of their biomass.

The significant impacts documented here raise concerns about the future of shallow P. clavata populations across the Mediterranean, suggesting that the resilience of this species may not be maintained to sustain these populations face the ongoing warming trends.
Assessing income redistribution: what are the key analytic choices?
Authors: Carranza Rafael , Nolan Brian
Published: June 2024

We present the extent of divergence in the literature on the stylised facts about income redistribution in rich countries. Analytical choices that underpin this divergence are then identified and investigated empirically using microdata for 30 European countries. In terms of direct redistribution via cash transfers and direct taxes, whether social insurance pensions are treated as redistribution – the conventional approach – or as market income – as in some recent studies – is seen to be critical. When the analysis is extended to include indirect taxes and non‐cash benefits from state spending, they work in opposite directions and generally have only a limited net redistributive impact. Being able to attribute the benefits of such spending to households in more satisfactory ways is a priority. Whether household survey data are ‘corrected’ to include missing incomes at the top as well as imputed rent of owner‐occupiers and undistributed profits of companies is also seen to have a substantial impact on the scale of measured redistribution. Finally, extending the scope of redistributive analysis to include all of national income, as in recent studies from a Distributional National Accounts perspective, is investigated. This underlines the implications of including state spending on collective goods such as security and infrastructure, without a clear rationale for how it is meaningfully allocated across households.
Comprehensive analysis of resilience of human airway epithelial barrier against short‐term PM2.5 inorganic dust exposure using in vitro microfluidic chip and ex vivo human airway models
Authors: Goksel Ozlem , Sipahi Meryem Irem , Yanasik Sena , Saglam‐Metiner Pelin , Benzer Sema , Sabour‐Takanlou Leila , Sabour‐Takanlou Maryam , Biray‐Avci Cigir , Yesil‐Celiktas Ozlem
Published: June 2024

Background and Objective

The updated World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guideline recommends an annual mean concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) not exceeding 5 or 15 μg/m3 in the short‐term (24 h) for no more than 3–4 days annually. However, more than 90% of the global population is currently exposed to daily concentrations surpassing these limits, especially during extreme weather conditions and due to transboundary dust transport influenced by climate change. Herein, the effect of respirable <PM2.5 inorganic silica particle exposures on epithelial barrier integrity was simultaneously evaluated within the biomimetic microfluidic platform‐based airway epithelial barrier (AEB)‐on‐a‐chip and human bronchoscopic ex vivo airway tissue models, comparatively.

Methods

Silica particles at an average size of 1 μm, referred to as <PM2.5, dose‐dependently tested by MTT and LDH analyses. The elicited dose of 800 μg/mL was applied to human airway epithelial cells (Calu‐3) seeded to the membrane at air–liquid interface in the AEB‐on‐a‐chip platform, which is operated under static and dynamic conditions and to ex vivo human bronchoscopy bronchial tissue slices for 72 h. For both models, healthy and exposed groups were comparatively investigated. Computational fluid dynamics simulations were performed to assess shear stress profiles under different flow conditions. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were carried out to evaluate the resilience of the epithelial barrier via cell survivability, morphology, barrier integrity, permeability, and inflammation.

Results

In the AEB‐on‐a‐chip platform, short‐term exposure to 800 μg/mL PM2.5 disrupted AEB integrity via increasing barrier permeability, decreasing cell adhesion‐barrier markers such as ZO‐1, Vinculin, ACE2, and CD31, impaired cell viability and increased the expression levels of proinflammatory markers; IFNs, IL‐6, IL‐1s, TNF‐α, CD68, CD80, and Inos, mostly under dynamic conditions. Besides, decreased tissue viability, impaired tissue integrity via decreasing of Vinculin, ACE2, β‐catenin, and E‐cadherin, and also proinflammatory response with elevated CD68, IL‐1α, IL‐6, IFN‐Ɣ, Inos, and CD80 markers, were observed after PM2.5 exposure in ex vivo tissue.

Conclusion

The duration and concentration of PM2.5 that can be exposed during extreme weather conditions and natural events aligns with our exposure model (0–800 μg/mL 72 h). At this level of exposure, the resilience of the epithelial barrier is demonstrated by both AEB‐on‐a‐chip platform emulating dynamic forces in the body and ex vivo bronchial biopsy slices. Lung‐on‐a‐chip models will serve as reliable exposure models in this context.
The natural evolution of untreated deep endometriosis and the effect of hormonal suppression: A systematic literature review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Bandini Veronica , Giola Francesca , Ambruoso Deborah , Cipriani Sonia , Chiaffarino Francesca , Vercellini Paolo
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Peritoneal infiltrating and fibrotic endometriosis, also known as deep endometriosis, is the most severe manifestation of the disease that can cause severe complications including bowel and ureteral stenosis. The natural history of these lesions and the possible effect of hormonal treatments on their progression are undefined. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis to investigate whether and how frequently deep endometriosis progresses over time without or with ovarian suppression. This could inform management decisions in asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients.

Material and Methods

For this pre‐registered systematic review (CRD42023463518), the PubMed and Embase databases were screened, and studies published between 2000 and 2023 that serially evaluated the size of deep endometriotic lesions without or with hormonal treatment were selected. Data on the progression, stability, or regression of deep endometriotic lesions were recorded as absolute frequencies or mean volume variations. Estimates of the overall percentage of progression and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were calculated using a random‐effect model. When studies reported lesion progression as pre‐ and post‐treatment volume means, the delta of the two‐volume means was calculated and analyzed using the inverse variance method.

Results

A total of 29 studies were identified, of which 19 studies with 285 untreated and 730 treated patients were ultimately selected for meta‐analysis. The overall estimate of the percentage of lesion progression in untreated individuals was 21.4% (95% CI, 6.8–40.8%; I2 = 90.5%), whereas it was 12.4% during various hormonal treatments (95% CI, 9.0–16.1%; I2 = 0%). Based on the overall meta‐analysis estimates, the odds ratio of progression in treated vs untreated patients was 0.52 (95% CI, 0.41–0.66). During hormonal suppression, the mean volume of deep endometriotic lesions decreased significantly by 0.87 cm3 (95% CI, 0.19–1.56 cm3; I2 = 0%), representing −28.5% of the baseline volume.

Conclusions

Untreated deep endometriotic lesions progressed in about one in five patients. Medical therapy reduced but did not eliminate this risk. Given the organ function failure potentially caused by these lesions, the decision whether to use hormonal treatments in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic women should always be shared, carefully weighing the potential benefits and harms of the two alternatives after extensive counseling.
Long‐term sexual function after mid‐urethral slings for stress urinary incontinence in women
Authors: Solhaug Berit Rein , Svenningsen Rune , Nyhus Maria Øyasæter , Volløyhaug Ingrid
Published: June 2024

Introduction

There has been increasing concern about potential negative impact of mid‐urethral slings (MUS) on sexual life. Our aim was to study sexual activity 10–20 years after MUS surgery and changes in impact of incontinence on sexual life over time and to compare subjective cure, pain, satisfaction, and incontinence between sexually active and inactive women 10–20 years after MUS.

Material and Methods

Historical cohort study using the Norwegian Female Incontinence Registry to identify women who underwent MUS between 2001–2006 and 2011–2012. They answered validated questionnaires about sexual activity, incontinence, pain, and satisfaction with MUS. We assessed changes in urinary incontinence during intercourse and compared symptoms and satisfaction between sexually active and inactive women. The study was registered in Clinical Trials (NCT04912830).

Results

In total, 1210/1903 (64%) responded. Of women responding to questions about sexual activity, 63% (735/1166) were sexually active. 31.3% experienced negative impact of incontinence on sexual life preoperatively, decreasing to 5.9% at 10–20 years follow‐up. A higher proportion of sexually inactive vs sexually active women had urinary incontinence (63.5% vs. 47.5%, aOR 1.60 [1.18–2.17]). In a subanalysis, only urgency and mixed urinary incontinence remained significant. A higher proportion of sexually inactive were dissatisfied with MUS (30.1% vs. 12.9%, aOR 2.53 [1.82–3.51]). Persistent pain after MUS was similar for sexually inactive and active women (4.0% vs. 3.2%, aOR 1.10 [0.55–2.19]). Furthermore, 3.4% of sexually inactive had persistent pain after MUS and stated pain as a reason for not being sexually active, whereas 1.7% of sexually active women had persistent pain after MUS and pain during intercourse.

Conclusions

Negative impact of incontinence on sexual life was less prevalent at 10–20 years follow‐up after sling surgery compared to preoperative assessment. A higher proportion of sexually inactive had urgency and mixed urinary incontinence and were dissatisfied with MUS. Only 3%–4% of sexually active and inactive women had persistent pain after MUS and this was not associated with sexual activity. This indicates that incontinence has a greater negative impact on sexual activity than persisting pain after MUS at long‐term follow‐up.
The role of feared possible selves in the relationship between inferential confusion and obsessive‐compulsive symptoms: A replication and extension in a clinical sample
Authors: Aminaee Mohammad , Khosravani Vahid , Moulding Richard , Aardema Frederick , Wong Shiu Fung , Samimi Ardestani Seyed Mehdi
Published: June 2024

Objectives

The feared possible self refers to an imagined version of self that one is afraid of being or becoming. Previous evidence has shown that dysfunctional reasoning (i.e., inferential confusion) is associated with obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms, which is partially mediated by a feared self. However, the evidence is reliant on non‐clinical samples and a general measure of the feared self.

Methods

Using a cross‐sectional design, the current study attempted to replicate and extend this literature in a sample clinically diagnosed with OCD (n = 350) to assess the pathway from inferential confusion to OCD symptoms when feared self is accounted for as a mediator, particularly the individual dimensions of feared self (i.e., corrupted, culpable, and malformed feared selves). Participants completed a structured clinical interview for DSM‐5, as well as measures of inferential confusion (Dysfunctional Reasoning Processes Task), obsessive beliefs, feared self, OCD symptoms, and psychological distress.

Results

Inferential confusion directly, and indirectly through the feared corrupted self, affected OCD symptoms, even after adjusting for obsessive beliefs, psychological distress, and comorbidity. However, the feared culpable and malformed selves did not play a role in this pathway.

Conclusions

The study underscores that the feared corrupted self links inferential confusion to OCD symptoms, translating to the need to consider both dysfunctional reasoning processes and this specific feared self in clinical settings when treating OCD. Furthermore, the study provides more support for the inference‐based approach (IBA) to OCD.
Upregulation of HOXA3 by isoform‐specific Wilms tumour 1 drives chemotherapy resistance in acute myeloid leukaemia
Authors: Allen Basil , Savoy Lindsey , Ryabinin Peter , Bottomly Daniel , Chen Reid , Goff Bonnie , Wang Anthony , McWeeney Shannon K. , Zhang Haijiao
Published: June 2024

Upregulation of the Wilms' tumour 1 (WT1) gene is common in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and is associated with poor prognosis. WT1 generates 12 primary transcripts through different translation initiation sites and alternative splicing. The short WT1 transcripts express abundantly in primary leukaemia samples. We observed that overexpression of short WT1 transcripts lacking exon 5 with and without the KTS motif (sWT1+/− and sWT1−/−) led to reduced cell growth. However, only sWT1+/− overexpression resulted in decreased CD71 expression, G1 arrest, and cytarabine resistance. Primary AML patient cells with low CD71 expression exhibit resistance to cytarabine, suggesting that CD71 may serve as a potential biomarker for chemotherapy. RNAseq differential expressed gene analysis identified two transcription factors, HOXA3 and GATA2, that are specifically upregulated in sWT1+/− cells, whereas CDKN1A is upregulated in sWT1−/− cells. Overexpression of either HOXA3 or GATA2 reproduced the effects of sWT1+/−, including decreased cell growth, G1 arrest, reduced CD71 expression and cytarabine resistance. HOXA3 expression correlates with chemotherapy response and overall survival in NPM1 mutation‐negative leukaemia specimens. Overexpression of HOXA3 leads to drug resistance against a broad spectrum of chemotherapeutic agents. Our results suggest that WT1 regulates cell proliferation and drug sensitivity in an isoform‐specific manner.
Factors influencing speech improvement following maxillary complete‐arch implant‐supported restorations: A retrospective study
Authors: Zhang Yun , Ding Hongwei , Gao Hanqi , Liu Jie , Wang Feng , Wu Yiqun
Published: June 2024

Objective

This study explored factors affecting speech improvement in patients with an edentulous maxilla after the delivery of a complete‐arch implant‐supported fixed dental prosthesis (IFDP).

Materials and Methods

Patients who had received IFDP for edentulous maxilla were enrolled, and various potential speech improvement‐related factors were considered, including patient demographics, anterior residual bone volume, preoperative facial features, preoperative acoustic parameters, and adaptation time. Acoustic analysis and perceptual ratings were used to assess three fricatives [s], [f], and [ɕ]. Correlation and regression analyses were conducted to assess the association between changes in fricatives and potential factors (α = .05).

Results

The study included 50 patients (18 females and 32 males, aged 50.62 ± 15.71 years, range 19–76). Significant correlations were found among the change in the center of gravity (ΔCoG) of [s] and anterior residual bone volume, zygomatic implants number and proportion (p < .05). These correlations were largely mirrored in the perceptual score (ΔPS) changes. After controlling for age, sex, preoperative acoustic parameters, and adaptation time, the ΔCoG and ΔPS of fricatives were mainly correlated with the anterior residual bone volume, preoperative acoustic parameters, and adaptation time.

Conclusion

Speech improvements post‐IFDP delivery are mainly related to preoperative speech characteristics, anterior residual bone volume, and adaptation time. The residual bone volume's impact on consonants varies with specific articulatory gestures. This study provides insights into forecasting speech outcomes following IFDP restoration and provides recommendations and methods for data collection in developing future prediction models.
Distinct mechanisms for online and offline motor skill learning across human development
Authors: Beck Mikkel Malling , Kristensen Frederikke Toft , Abrahamsen Gitte , Spedden Meaghan Elizabeth , Christensen Mark Schram , Lundbye‐Jensen Jesper
Published: June 2024

The human central nervous system (CNS) undergoes tremendous changes from childhood to adulthood and this may affect how individuals at different stages of development learn new skills. Here, we studied motor skill learning in children, adolescents, and young adults to test the prediction that differences in the maturation of different learning mechanisms lead to distinct temporal patterns of motor learning during practice and overnight. We found that overall learning did not differ between children, adolescents, and young adults. However, we demonstrate that adult‐like skill learning is characterized by rapid and large improvements in motor performance during practice (i.e., online) that are susceptible to forgetting and decay over time (i.e., offline). On the other hand, child‐like learning exhibits slower and less pronounced improvements in performance during practice, but these improvements are robust against forgetting and lead to gains in performance overnight without further practice. The different temporal dynamics of motor skill learning suggest an engagement of distinct learning mechanisms in the human CNS during development. In conclusion, adult‐like skill learning mechanisms favor online improvements in motor performance whereas child‐like learning mechanisms favors offline behavioral gains.

Research Highlights

Many essential motor skills, like walking, talking, and writing, are acquired during childhood, and it is colloquially thought that children learn better than adults.

We investigated dynamics of motor skill learning in children, adolescents, and young adults.

Adults displayed substantial improvements during practice that was susceptible to forgetting over time. Children displayed smaller improvements during practice that were resilient against forgetting.

The distinct age‐related characteristics of these processes of acquisition and consolidation suggest that skill learning relies on different mechanisms in the immature and mature central nervous system.
Automatic cross‐ and multi‐lingual recognition of dysphonia by ensemble classification using deep speaker embedding models
Authors: Aziz Dosti , Sztahó Dávid
Published: June 2024

Machine Learning (ML) algorithms have demonstrated remarkable performance in dysphonia detection using speech samples. However, their efficacy often diminishes when tested on languages different from the training data, raising questions about their suitability in clinical settings. This study aims to develop a robust method for cross‐ and multi‐lingual dysphonia detection that overcomes the limitation of language dependency in existing ML methods. We propose an innovative approach that leverages speech embeddings from speaker verification models, especially ECAPA and x‐vector and employs a majority voting ensemble classifier. We utilize speech features extracted from ECAPA and x‐vector embeddings to train three distinct classifiers. The significant advantage of these embedding models lies in their capability to capture speaker characteristics in a language‐independent manner, forming fixed‐dimensional feature spaces. Additionally, we investigate the impact of generating synthetic data within the embedding feature space using the Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE). Our experimental results unveil the effectiveness of the proposed method for dysphonia detection. Compared to results obtained from x‐vector embeddings, ECAPA consistently demonstrates superior performance in distinguishing between healthy and dysphonic speech, achieving accuracy values of 93.33% and 96.55% in both cross‐lingual and multi‐lingual scenarios, respectively. This highlights the remarkable capabilities of speaker verification models, especially ECAPA, in capturing language‐independent features that enhance overall detection performance. The proposed method effectively addresses the challenges of language dependency in dysphonia detection. ECAPA embeddings, combined with majority voting ensemble classifiers, show significant potential for improving the accuracy and reliability of dysphonia detection in cross‐ and multi‐lingual scenarios.
Prevalence and risk factors of parental mental health problems: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Grant Anne , McCartan Claire , Davidson Gavin , Bunting Lisa , Cameron Julie , McBride Orla , Mulholland Ciaran , Murphy Jamie , Nolan Emma , Schubotz Dirk , Shevlin Mark
Published: June 2024

An understanding of the prevalence and risk factors of parental mental health problems is important for early intervention and prevention measures and shaping services for parents and their children. However, large representative surveys of parental mental health problems and associated risk factors are lacking. The aim of this study was to estimate prevalence rates of parental mental health problems using a standardised measure of psychiatric morbidity (General Health Questionnaire; GHQ‐12), in a representative sample of parents and caregivers of children and young people (2–19 years) in Northern Ireland. Further, this study explored associated risk factors of parental mental health problems. A random household survey of parents and children was conducted between June 2019 and March 2020. Parental responses on demographic, economic, familial and psychological measures were collected (N = 2815) and 22% of parents and caregivers screened positive for mental health problems. The STROBE checklist for observational research was adhered to. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that being in receipt of benefits, having poor family support, a history of adverse childhood experiences, a history of exposure to politically motivated violence (the Troubles), and a child with conduct problems and poor health were all independent risk factors of increased parental mental health problems. Findings will help to inform future commissioning and development of services and broaden understanding of the correlates of parental mental health problems.
A multilevel analysis of changing telehealth availability in opioid use disorder treatment settings: Conditional effects of rurality, the number and types of medication for opioid use disorder available, and time, US, 2016–2023
Authors: Pro George , Cantor Jonathan , Willis Don , Gu Mofan , Fairman Brian , Baloh Jure , Montgomery Brooke EE
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The opioid overdose crisis requires strengthening treatment systems with innovative technologies. How people use telehealth for opioid use disorder (OUD) is evolving and differs in rural versus urban areas, as telehealth is emerging as a local resource and complementary option to in‐person treatment. We assessed changing trends in telehealth and medication for OUD (MOUD) and pinpoint locations of low telehealth and MOUD access.

Methods

We used national data from the Mental health and Addiction Treatment Tracking Repository (2016‐2023) to identify specialty outpatient SUD treatment facilities in the United States (N = 83,988). We modeled the availability of telehealth using multilevel multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for covariates. We included a 3‐way interaction to test for conditional effects of rurality, the number of MOUD medication types dispensed, and year. We included two random effects to account for clustering within counties and states.

Findings

We identified 495 facilities that offered both telehealth and all three MOUD medication types (methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone) in 2023, clustered in the eastern United States. We identified a statistically significant 3‐way interaction (p < 0.0001), indicating that telehealth in facilities that did not offer MOUD shifted from more telehealth in rural facilities in earlier years to more telehealth in urban facilities in later years.

Conclusions

Treatment facilities that offer both telehealth and all three MOUD medication types may improve access for hard‐to‐reach populations. We stress the importance of continued health system strengthening and technological resources in vulnerable rural communities, while acknowledging a changing landscape of increased OUD incidence and MOUD demand in urban communities.
W chromosome sequences of two bombycid moths provide an insight into the origin of Fem
Authors: Lee Jung , Fujimoto Toshiaki , Yamaguchi Katsushi , Shigenobu Shuji , Sahara Ken , Toyoda Atsushi , Shimada Toru
Published: June 2024

Fem is a W‐linked gene that encodes a piRNA precursor, and its product, Fem piRNA, is a master factor of female determination in Bombyx mori. Fem has low similarity to any known sequences, and the origin of Fem remains unclear. So far, two hypotheses have been proposed for the origin of Fem: The first hypothesis is that Fem is an allele of Masc, which assumes that the W chromosome was originally a homologous chromosome of the Z chromosome. The second hypothesis is that Fem arose by the transposition of Masc to the W chromosome. To explore the origin of Fem, we determined the W chromosome sequences of B. mori and, as a comparison, a closely relative bombycid species of Trilocha varians with a Fem‐independent sex determination system. To our surprise, although the sequences of W and Z chromosomes show no homology to each other, a few pairs of homologues are shared by W and Z chromosomes, indicating the W chromosome of both species originated from Z chromosome. In addition, the W chromosome of T. varians lacks Fem, while the W chromosome of B. mori has over 100 copies of Fem. The high‐quality assembly of the W chromosome of B. mori arose the third hypothesis about the origin of Fem: Fem is a chimeric sequence of multiple transposons. More than half of one transcriptional unit of Fem shows a significant homology to RTE‐BovB. Moreover, the Fem piRNA‐producing region could correspond to the boundary of the two transposons, gypsy and satellite DNA.
Importance Sampling Combined With Separable Monte Carlo for Efficient Reliability Analysis of Linear Dynamic Structures
Authors: Norouzi Mahdi , Thapa Badal
Published: June 2024

The reliability of a structure under random dynamic load could be measured by estimating the probability of its response, e.g., a stress element or a node displacement, passing a threshold. Such analyses often require time domain simulation, especially for nonlinear systems. For systems with high reliability with a probability of failure less than 10−4, if Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) is used, an enormous number of replications must be completed which becomes impractical for real-life structures. Variance reduction techniques such as Importance Sampling (IS) or other methods such as Separable Monte Carlo (SMC), and Markov Chain Monte-Carlo (MCMC) could be employed to improve the efficiency. In this study, we investigate the utility of combining Important Sampling (IS) and SMC for improving the efficiency of time-domain reliability analysis of a structural system. The proposed method, called IS-SMCM in this paper, is a simulation-based method that applies to large structures with many degrees of freedom with proportional or nonproportional damping, excited by a single or numerous time-varying forces. However, since this method is based on superposition, it is suitable for linear structures. The technique will be investigated using an example involving a 10-bar truss excited by two random dynamic loads. The accuracy of the reliability estimates from the proposed method is comparable with those from standard MCS at a fraction of the cost of it.