bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perbedaan Usia Pernikahan Anak pada Perempuan Pernah Kawin Usia 15 – 24 Tahun di Perdesaan dan Perkotaan Indonesia
Authors: Fatiah Mona Safitri , Tambing Yane , Irjayanti Apriyana
Published: June 2023

Introduction: early marriage in young women will have long-term impacts both in terms of health, social, and psychological children. The aim this study is to see the age difference in child marriage in women who have married aged 15-24 years in rural and urban Indonesia. Method: This study has a cross sectional design conducted for (3 months, with the location of the study being Indonesia. The population of this study was WUS aged 15-24 years who were not married amounting to 38,936 people while the sample in this study was women aged 15-24 years who amounted to 10,691 people. The dependent variable in this study is child marriage with the independent variable is where to live while the confonding variables are age: education, economic status, knowledge of the fertile period, attitudes towards virginity, exposure to information, marriage decision making, dating behavior and first age of dating. The data in this study were analyzed up to a multivariate analysis in the form of logistic regression risk factor model using STATA 14.  Results: The study found women living in rural areas were more likely to marry before age 21 compared to women living in urban areas.  Conclusion: child marriage if not immediately addressed will have an impact on the quality of Human Resources (HR), so a multifactor approach is needed in overcoming the problem.
Hubungan Pendapatan dan Sikap terhadap Keberhasilan Menyusui Eksklusif
Authors: Ruspita Rika , Rahmi Rifa , Susanti Komaria
Published: June 2023

Introduction: The success rate of Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) in Indonesia is recorded at 66.1%. The province of Riau has achieved a success rate of 78% for EBF, indicating that both nationally and in the province of Riau, the target of EBF has been exceeded by 40%. Income and attitude influence the provision of exclusive breastfeeding. Objective: To determine the relationship between income and attitude towards the success of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers of infants aged 7-12 months. Methods: This study employed a quantitative approach with a descriptive analytic design. The research was conducted in the Rejosari Pekanbaru Primary Health Care Working Area for four months in June 2022. The sample consisted of 38 mothers with infants aged 7-12 months. The independent variables were income and attitude, while the dependent variable was the success of exclusive breastfeeding. Results: The analysis revealed that there was a relationship between family income and the success of exclusive breastfeeding, with 77.3% of mothers with low income successfully practicing EBF. Similarly, a relationship was found between attitude and the success of exclusive breastfeeding, with 77.3% of mothers having a positive attitude towards EBF. The statistical analysis showed a significant relationship between income (p=0.032), attitude (p=0.032), and the success of exclusive breastfeeding. Conclusion: There is a relationship between income, attitude, and the success of exclusive breastfeeding. This study suggests that healthcare professionals should provide education and counseling on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding to breastfeeding mothers to achieve EBF.
Pengetahuan dan Minat berhubungan dengan Keikutsertaan Ibu Hamil dalam Program Vaksinasi Covid-19
Authors: Sumiaty Sumiaty , Usman Hastuti , Entoh Christina , Hendriani Ni Ketut , Sarliana Sarliana , Admasari Yuli
Published: June 2023

Introduction: Pregnant women infected with Covid-19 are at risk of experiencing miscarriage and preterm birth. From a total of 232 pregnant women, 8 individuals (3.4%) have been vaccinated against Covid-19 at Kinovaro Primary Health Center. Objective: To identify factors associated with the participation of pregnant women in the Covid-19 vaccination program. Method: This study employed an analytical research design with a Cross-Sectional approach. The population consisted of all pregnant women in the working area of Kinovaro Primary Health Center. The sample size was 43 respondents, selected using consecutive sampling technique. The research instrument was a questionnaire, and data analysis included univariate and bivariate analyses using the chi-square test. Results: There is a significant association between knowledge and interest with the participation of pregnant women in the Covid-19 vaccination program (p value 0.000). There is no association between residential distance and the participation of pregnant women in the Covid-19 vaccination program (p value 0.56). Conclusion: There are two factors (knowledge and interest) that are associated with the participation of pregnant women in the Covid-19 vaccination program, and one factor (distance) that is not associated. Recommendations: Healthcare professionals are encouraged to enhance their efforts in providing effective education to individuals and families, especially pregnant women, to maintain a positive mindset and seek information about health, particularly regarding Covid-19 vaccination.
Determinan Stunting Balita di Wilayah Kerja Puskesmas Moutong, Kabupaten Parigi Moutong, Sulawesi Tengah
Authors: Taqwin Taqwin , Pont Anna Veronica , Iskandar Yuyun
Published: June 2023

Introduction: The causes of stunting are maternal nutritional status, non-exclusive breastfeeding, low birth weight, and family income. This study aims to analyze the determinants of stunting among toddlers at Moutong Health Center in 2020. The research method used was cross-sectional. The study was conducted from March 3 to March 21, 2020, at Moutong Health Center, Parigi Moutong, Central Sulawesi. The data used in this study were secondary data from 2020. The sample size consisted of 222 toddler respondents. Simple random sampling technique was employed. Data analysis was performed using chi-square test and odds ratio. The results of the study showed that the highest prevalence of stunting was found among pregnant women with low nutritional status (61.1%), non-exclusive breastfeeding (59.6%), low birth weight (55.9%), and low family income (68.2%). Chi-square test indicated that all variables had significant values (<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed an odds ratio of 4.5 for low birth weight and stunting. In conclusion, this study found that low birth weight had a 4.5 times higher risk of stunting. It is recommended that healthcare professionals conduct education, prevention, and early detection of stunting, monitor the provision of maternal and child nutrition programs to pregnant women and toddlers, and provide assistance to low-income families or those who are unable to afford proper nutrition.
Edukasi Mengenai Pentingnya ASI Eksklusif melalui Metode Ular Tangga
Authors: Nurlaili Resifa , Nurfatimah Nurfatimah , Entoh Christina , Desi R Desi R
Published: June 2023

The exclusive breastfeeding coverage in Panca Makmur Village has not met the target. Based on a situation analysis from collected data, it was found that the coverage of exclusive breastfeeding in Panca Makmur Village was only 50.7%, while the coverage of exclusive breastfeeding in Dusun 3 was only 38.9%. The aim of this study was to educate pregnant women on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding. The intervention involved a pre-test followed by a snakes and ladders game and a post-test. The evaluation of the post-test questionnaire revealed an increase in pregnant women's knowledge. After the counseling activities, the proportion of participants with good knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding increased from 20% to 80%. These findings suggest that periodic counseling by the village midwife can improve awareness of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers who may not know its importance and may neglect their child's needs.
Role of Long Non-coding RNAs on Bladder Cancer
Authors: Li Hui-Jin , Gong Xue , Li Zheng-Kun , Qin Wei , He Chun-Xia , Xing Lu , Zhou Xin , Zhao Dong , Cao Hui-Ling
Published: June 2023

Graphical Abstract

LncRNAs interacted with proteins in BC. (A) UCA1 interacts with C/EBPα. (B) Lnc-LBCS directly binds to hnRNPK and EZH2, and inhibits SOX2 transcription. (C) XIST-TET1-p53 pathway in BC. (D) DGCR5 promotes P21 transcription via interacting with ARID1A. (E) LSINCT5 promotes tumor progression by interacting with NCYM, and inhibiting GSK3β activity and promoting Wnt/β-catenin signaling activation. (F) GAS5 inhibits EZH2 transcription by interacting with E2F4. (G) AWPPH promotes cell proliferation, autophagy, and migration through binding to SMAD4 via EZH2. P indicates promoter. (H) LNMAT1 regulates CCL2 expression through interaction with hnRNPL. Protein-RNA interactions are important aspects of many cellular functions, and lncRNAs are involved in modulating BC through different molecular mechanisms, including binding to one or more protein partners.
Transcriptome-wide association study reveals novel susceptibility genes for coronary atherosclerosis
Authors: Zhao Qiuping , Liu Rongmei , Chen Hui , Yang Xiaomo , Dong Jiajia , Bai Minfu , Lu Yao , Leng Yiming
Published: June 2023

Background

Genetic risk factors substantially contributed to the development of coronary atherosclerosis. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) has identified many risk loci for coronary atherosclerosis, but the translation of these loci into therapeutic targets is limited for their location in non-coding regions. Here, we aimed to screen the potential coronary atherosclerosis pathogenic genes expressed though TWAS (transcriptome wide association study) and explore the underlying mechanism association.

Methods

Four TWAS approaches (PrediXcan, JTI, UTMOST, and FUSION) were used to screen genes associated with coronary atherosclerosis. Enrichment analysis of TWAS-identified genes was applied through the Metascape website. The summary-data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) analysis was conducted to provide the evidence of causal relationship between the candidate genes and coronary atherosclerosis. At last, the cell type-specific expression of the intersection genes was examined by using human coronary artery single-cell RNA-seq, interrogating the immune microenvironment of human coronary atherosclerotic plaque at different stages of maturity.

Results

We identified 19 genes by at least three approaches and 1 gene (NBEAL1) by four approaches. Enrichment analysis enriching the genes identified at least by two TWAS approaches, suggesting that these genes were markedly enriched in asthma and leukocyte mediated immunity reaction. Further, the summary-data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) analysis provided the evidence of causal relationship between NBEAL1 gene and coronary atherosclerosis, confirming the protecting effects of NBEAL1 gene and coronary atherosclerosis. At last, the single cell cluster analysis demonstrated that NBEAL1 gene has differential expressions in macrophages, plasma cells and endothelial cells.

Conclusion

Our study identified the novel genes associated with coronary atherosclerosis and suggested the potential biological function for these genes, providing insightful guidance for further biological investigation and therapeutic approaches development in atherosclerosis-related diseases.
Resolution enhancement of 2D controlled-source electromagnetic images by use of point-spread function inversion
Authors: Thorkildsen Vemund S. , Gelius Leiv-J.
Published: June 2023

The marine controlled-source electromagnetic technique is employed both in large-scale geophysical applications as well as within the exploration of hydrocarbons and gas hydrates. Because of the diffusive character of the EM field, only very low frequencies are used, leading to inversion results with low resolution. In this paper, we calculated the resolution matrix associated with the inversion and derived the corresponding point-spread functions. The PSFs provided information about how much the actual inversion was blurred. Using a space-varying deconvolution can thus further improve the inversion result. The actual deblurring was carried out using the nonnegative flexible conjugate gradient least-squares (NN-FCGLS) algorithm, which is a fast iterative restoration technique. To attain completeness, we also introduced the results obtained using a blind deconvolution algorithm based on the maximum likelihood estimation with unknown PSFs. The potential of the proposed approach has been demonstrated using both complex synthetic data and field data acquired at the Wisting oil field in the Barents Sea. In both cases, the resolution of the final inversion result was improved and showed greater agreement with the known target area.
Pharmacogenomics Guided Prescription Changes Improved Medication Effectiveness in Patients With Mental Health-Related Disability: A Retrospective Cohort Analyses
Authors: Ahmed Sanjida , Tahir Ramzan , Akhtar Umbreen , Faiz Mark
Published: June 2023

Mental health problems are the leading cause of disability in Canadian workers. Medication ineffectiveness is hypothesized to increase the time to return-to-work in these workers. We assessed whether prescription changes based on pharmacogenomics profiling (Rx Report®) improved medication effectiveness in patients on mental health-related disability. In this retrospective cohort analyses, we assessed the impact of pharmacogenomic profiling on patient outcomes in 84 Canadian workers who were on a mental health-related disability between May 2018 and May 2019. All patients completed an informed consent form and a standard questionnaire including medical history, medications, disease symptoms, and medication side effects. Licensed pharmacists made recommendations for prescription changes in 83 patients. The main study outcome was medication effectiveness defined on a scale of 0 to 10 (0 being most effective and 10 being most ineffective) based on reported mood toward regular work tasks and medication side effects. We compared the medication effectiveness at baseline and at 3 months after the pharmacogenomics-based prescription changes. This retrospective cohort analyses included 46 patients who completed the follow-up questionnaires. Of them, 54% (n = 25) were females, 67% (n = 31) were Caucasians, and the mean age was 38 years (standard deviation [SD] = 11). The average baseline effectiveness score was 8.39 (SD =1.22). Following the prescription changes, the medication effectiveness scores significantly improved to an average of 2.30 (SD = 1.01) at 3 months of follow-up (effect size r = 0.62, p = <0.001). Pharmacogenomics could help in improving treatment outcomes in patients on mental health-related disability.
A multiethnic genome-wide analysis of 19,420 individuals identifies novel loci associated with axial length and shared genetic influences with refractive error and myopia
Authors: Jiang Chen , Melles Ronald B. , Yin Jie , Fan Qiao , Guo Xiaobo , Cheng Ching-Yu , He Mingguang , Mackey David A. , Guggenheim Jeremy A. , Klaver Caroline ,   Consortium for Refractive Error and Myopia (CREAM), Nair K. Saidas , Jorgenson Eric , Choquet Hélène
Published: June 2023

Introduction: Long axial length (AL) is a risk factor for myopia. Although family studies indicate that AL has an important genetic component with heritability estimates up to 0.94, there have been few reports of AL-associated loci.

Methods: Here, we conducted a multiethnic genome-wide association study (GWAS) of AL in 19,420 adults of European, Latino, Asian, and African ancestry from the Genetic Epidemiology Research on Adult Health and Aging (GERA) cohort, with replication in a subset of the Consortium for Refractive Error and Myopia (CREAM) cohorts of European or Asian ancestry. We further examined the effect of the identified loci on the mean spherical equivalent (MSE) within the GERA cohort. We also performed genome-wide genetic correlation analyses to quantify the genetic overlap between AL and MSE or myopia risk in the GERA European ancestry sample.

Results: Our multiethnic GWA analysis of AL identified a total of 16 genomic loci, of which 5 are novel. We found that all AL-associated loci were significantly associated with MSE after Bonferroni correction. We also found that AL was genetically correlated with MSE (rg = −0.83; SE, 0.04; p = 1.95 × 10−89) and myopia (rg = 0.80; SE, 0.05; p = 2.84 × 10−55). Finally, we estimated the array heritability for AL in the GERA European ancestry sample using LD score regression, and found an overall heritability estimate of 0.37 (s.e. = 0.04).

Discussion: In this large and multiethnic study, we identified novel loci, associated with AL at a genome-wide significance level, increasing substantially our understanding of the etiology of AL variation. Our results also demonstrate an association between AL-associated loci and MSE and a shared genetic basis between AL and myopia risk.
Icariin reduces cognitive dysfunction induced by surgical trauma in aged rats by inhibiting hippocampal neuroinflammation
Authors: Wang Lifeng , Peng Guanfa , Chen Li , Guo Mingling , Wang Bingyu , Zhang Yunmeng , Zhou Jianshun , Zhong Maolin , Ye Junming
Published: June 2023

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common postsurgical complication in elderly individuals, significantly impacting the quality of life of patients; however, there is currently no effective clinical treatment for POCD. Recent studies have shown that Icariin (ICA) has antiaging effects and improves cognitive function, but its effect in POCD has not been studied. In this study, we investigated the influence of ICA on cognitive function and the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in a POCD rat model. We found that ICA reduced surgery-induced memory impairment, decreased hippocampal inflammatory responses, ameliorated neuronal injury in the hippocampus and inhibited microglial activation. In addition, we also observed that ICA inhibited activation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. In summary, our research suggest that ICA can ameliorate surgery-induced memory impairment and that the improvements resulting from administration of ICA may be associated with inhibition of hippocampal neuroinflammation. Our research findings also provide insight into potential therapeutic targets and methods for POCD.
Novel EAAT2 activators improve motor and cognitive impairment in a transgenic model of Huntington’s disease
Authors: Bhatnagar Akanksha , Parmar Visha , Barbieri Nicholas , Bearoff Frank , Elefant Felice , Kortagere Sandhya
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Glutamate excitotoxicity is causal in striatal neurodegeneration underlying motor dysfunction and cognitive deficits in Huntington’s disease (HD). Excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2), the predominant glutamate transporter accounting for >90% of glutamate transport, plays a key role in preventing excitotoxicity by clearing excess glutamate from the intrasynaptic cleft. Accordingly, EAAT2 has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for prevention of neuronal excitotoxicity underlying HD and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Methods

We have previously designed novel EAAT2 positive allosteric modulator GT951, GTS467, and GTS551, with low nanomolar efficacy in glutamate uptake and favorable pharmacokinetic properties. In this study, we test the neuroprotective abilities of these novel EAAT2 activatorsin vivousing the robustDrosophilaHD transgenic model expressing human huntingtin gene with expanded repeats (Htt128Q).

Results

All three compounds significantly restored motor function impaired under HD pathology over a wide dose range. Additionally, treatment with all three compounds significantly improved HD-associated olfactory associative learning and short-term memory defects, while GT951 and GTS551 also improved middle-term memory in low-performing group. Similarly, treatment with GT951 and GTS551 partially protected against early mortality observed in our HD model. Further, treatment with all three EAAT2 activators induced epigenetic expression of EAAT2Drosophilahomolog and several cognition-associated genes.

Conclusion

Together, these results highlight the efficacy of GT951, GTS467 and GTS551 in treating motor and cognitive impairments under HD pathology and support their development for treatment of HD.
Anesthesia, the developing brain, and dexmedetomidine for neuroprotection
Authors: Tsivitis Alexandra , Wang Ashley , Murphy Jasper , Khan Ayesha , Jin Zhaosheng , Moore Robert , Tateosian Vahe , Bergese Sergio
Published: June 2023

Anesthesia-induced neurotoxicity is a set of unfavorable adverse effects on central or peripheral nervous systems associated with administration of anesthesia. Several animal model studies from the early 2000’s, from rodents to non-human primates, have shown that general anesthetics cause neuroapoptosis and impairment in neurodevelopment. It has been difficult to translate this evidence to clinical practice. However, some studies suggest lasting behavioral effects in humans due to early anesthesia exposure. Dexmedetomidine is a sedative and analgesic with agonist activities on the alpha-2 (ɑ2) adrenoceptors as well as imidazoline type 2 (I2) receptors, allowing it to affect intracellular signaling and modulate cellular processes. In addition to being easily delivered, distributed, and eliminated from the body, dexmedetomidine stands out for its ability to offer neuroprotection against apoptosis, ischemia, and inflammation while preserving neuroplasticity, as demonstrated through many animal studies. This property puts dexmedetomidine in the unique position as an anesthetic that may circumvent the neurotoxicity potentially associated with anesthesia.
Enhanced acupuncture therapy for radiotherapy-related neuropathic pain in patients with gynecologic cancer: a report of two cases and brief review
Authors: Dan-feng Zhou , Jian-cheng Rong , Shu-zhen Zheng , Kun Zhang , Hong-zhi Yang , Lian-sheng Yang , Chun-zhi Tang
Published: June 2023

As radiation therapy is increasingly utilized in the treatment of cancer, neuropathic pain (NP) is a common radiotherapy-related adverse effect and has a significant impact on clinical outcomes negatively. However, despite an improved understanding of neuropathic pain management, pain is often undertreated in patients with cancer. Herein, we reported two cases with radiotherapy-related neuropathic pain (RRNP) who presented a positive reaction to acupuncture. Patient 1 (a 73-year-old woman) with gynecologic cancer complained of burning and electric shock-like pain in the lower limb after radiotherapy. With the accepted combination of acupuncture and drugs, the pain was alleviated completely in 8 weeks. Patient 2 (a 64-year-old woman) accepted acupuncture in the absence of medication because of her inability to tolerate the adverse events of anticonvulsant drugs. She achieved remission of pain 4 weeks later. The results of this study showed that acupuncture might be promising for controlling the RRNP in patients with cancer, especially who were intolerant or unresponsive to medications.
Segmentation of multi-regional skeletal muscle in abdominal CT image for cirrhotic sarcopenia diagnosis
Authors: Song Genshen , Zhou Ji , Wang Kang , Yao Demin , Chen Shiyao , Shi Yonghong
Published: June 2023

Background

Sarcopenia is generally diagnosed by the total area of skeletal muscle in the CT axial slice located in the third lumbar (L3) vertebra. However, patients with severe liver cirrhosis cannot accurately obtain the corresponding total skeletal muscle because their abdominal muscles are squeezed, which affects the diagnosis of sarcopenia.

Purpose

This study proposes a novel lumbar skeletal muscle network to automatically segment multi-regional skeletal muscle from CT images, and explores the relationship between cirrhotic sarcopenia and each skeletal muscle region.

Methods

This study utilizes the skeletal muscle characteristics of different spatial regions to improve the 2.5D U-Net enhanced by residual structure. Specifically, a 3D texture attention enhancement block is proposed to tackle the issue of blurred edges with similar intensities and poor segmentation between different skeletal muscle regions, which contains skeletal muscle shape and muscle fibre texture to spatially constrain the integrity of skeletal muscle region and alleviate the difficulty of identifying muscle boundaries in axial slices. Subsequentially, a 3D encoding branch is constructed in conjunction with a 2.5D U-Net, which segments the lumbar skeletal muscle in multiple L3-related axial CT slices into four regions. Furthermore, the diagnostic cut-off values of the L3 skeletal muscle index (L3SMI) are investigated for identifying cirrhotic sarcopenia in four muscle regions segmented from CT images of 98 patients with liver cirrhosis.

Results

Our method is evaluated on 317 CT images using the five-fold cross-validation method. For the four skeletal muscle regions segmented in the images from the independent test set, the avg. DSC is 0.937 and the avg. surface distance is 0.558 mm. For sarcopenia diagnosis in 98 patients with liver cirrhosis, the cut-off values of Rectus Abdominis, Right Psoas, Left Psoas, and Paravertebral are 16.67, 4.14, 3.76, and 13.20 cm2/m2 in females, and 22.51, 5.84, 6.10, and 17.28 cm2/m2 in males, respectively.

Conclusion

The proposed method can segment four skeletal muscle regions related to the L3 vertebra with high accuracy. Furthermore, the analysis shows that the Rectus Abdominis region can be used to assist in the diagnosis of sarcopenia when the total muscle is not available.
A comparative study of gastric adenocarcinoma HER2 IHC phenotype and mass spectrometry-based quantification
Authors: Xu Bin , Chen Hui , Zhang Jingjing , Cong Yanghai , Ning Li , Chen Limin , Zhang Yushi , Zhang Yong , Song Zhanchun , Meng Yuan , He Lianqi , Liao Wei-li , Lu Ying , Zhao Fengyi
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Gastric cancer is a highly heterogeneous malignant tumor of the digestive system. Anti-HER2 treatment can inhibit downstream signaling pathways and improve clinical treatment and outcomes in patients with HER2 protein overexpression. Currently, two standard methods for evaluating HER2 expression status are immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). However, these low-throughput assays often produce discordant or equivocal results.

Methods

In this study, we presented a new HER2 protein detection method based on mass spectrometry selected reaction monitoring (MS-SRM) and validated the method. We conducted a retrospective study on 118 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues from patients with advanced gastric adenocarcinoma in northern China, and we compared the MS-SRM results with those from IHC and correlated them with FISH.

Results

We established and validated the upper and lower detection limits (300-700 amol/μg) for abnormal HER2 protein expression in advanced gastric cancer. We also found that, among samples with mixed Lauren subtypes, those with a high level of HER2 expression had typical intestinal type features in pathology.

Discussion

This study demonstrated that the MS-SRM method can overcome the limitations and deficiencies of IHC, directly quantify the expression of HER2 protein in tumor cells and be used as a supplement to IHC. It has the potential to be used as a companion diagnosis for new drugs used to treat advanced gastric cancer. Large-scale clinical validation is required.
The role of particle radiotherapy in the treatment of skull base tumors
Authors: Iannalfi Alberto , Riva Giulia , Ciccone Lucia , Orlandi Ester
Published: June 2023

The skull base is an anatomically and functionally critical area surrounded by vital structures such as the brainstem, the spinal cord, blood vessels, and cranial nerves. Due to this complexity, management of skull base tumors requires a multidisciplinary approach involving a team of specialists such as neurosurgeons, otorhinolaryngologists, radiation oncologists, endocrinologists, and medical oncologists. In the case of pediatric patients, cancer management should be performed by a team of pediatric-trained specialists. Radiation therapy may be used alone or in combination with surgery to treat skull base tumors. There are two main types of radiation therapy: photon therapy and particle therapy. Particle radiotherapy uses charged particles (protons or carbon ions) that, due to their peculiar physical properties, permit precise targeting of the tumor with minimal healthy tissue exposure. These characteristics allow for minimizing the potential long-term effects of radiation exposure in terms of neurocognitive impairments, preserving quality of life, and reducing the risk of radio-induced cancer. For these reasons, in children, adolescents, and young adults, proton therapy should be an elective option when available. In radioresistant tumors such as chordomas and sarcomas and previously irradiated recurrent tumors, particle therapy permits the delivery of high biologically effective doses with low, or however acceptable, toxicity. Carbon ion therapy has peculiar and favorable radiobiological characteristics to overcome radioresistance features. In low-grade tumors, proton therapy should be considered in challenging cases due to tumor volume and involvement of critical neural structures. However, particle radiotherapy is still relatively new, and more research is needed to fully understand its effects. Additionally, the availability of particle therapy is limited as it requires specialized equipment and expertise. The purpose of this manuscript is to review the available literature regarding the role of particle radiotherapy in the treatment of skull base tumors.
Oncolytic virotherapy for metastatic breast cancer – a case report
Authors: Gesundheit Benjamin , Muckenhuber Alexander , Posen Yehudit , Ellis Ronald , Zisman Philip David , Schmoll Harald , Weisslein Christine , Srinivas Raju Jayadeepa
Published: June 2023

Background

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies worldwide and remains incurable after metastasis, with a 3-year overall survival rate of <40%.

Case presentation

A 40-year-old, Caucasian patient with a grade-3 estrogen receptor-, progesterone receptor-, Her2-positive breast tumor and two lung nodules was treated with intramuscular targeted immunotherapy with trastuzumab and oral tamoxifen hormone therapy, together with customized intra-tumoral oncolytic virotherapy (IT-OV) over a 17-month period. PET/CT imaging at 3 and 6 months showed increased primary tumor size and metabolic glucose uptake in the primary tumor, axillary lymph nodes and lung nodules, which were paralleled by a hyperimmune reaction in the bones, liver, and spleen. Thereafter, there was a steady decline in both tumor size and metabolic activity until no radiographic evidence of disease was observed. The treatment regimen was well tolerated and good quality of life was maintained throughout.

Conclusion

Integration of IT-OV immunotherapy in standard treatment protocols presents an attractive modality for late-stage primary tumors with an abscopal effect on metastases.
Prenatal diagnosis and postnatal verification in fetuses with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection
Authors: Xue Xiaoying , Wu Qiumei , Xiong Mingtao , Ling Wen , Guo Shan , Ma Hong , Huang Biying , Liu Min , Qiu Xiuqing , Weng Zongjie
Published: June 2023

Objective

To systematically verify the accuracy of a four-step prenatal ultrasonography in diagnosing fetal total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC).

Methods

A total of 62 TAPVC fetuses received prenatal ultrasonography and were confirmed by postnatal echocardiography, surgery, or postabortion autopsy. The suspected TAPVC fetuses were further screened by a four-step prenatal ultrasonography for TAPVC classification, pulmonary venous obstruction, and the associated malformations, and followed postpartum. The sonographic features, clinical data, and prognosis of the TAPVC fetuses were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

Of the 62 TAPVC fetuses, supracardiac TAPVC was found in 20 cases, intracardiac TAPVC in 12, infracardiac TAPVC in 21, and mixed TAPVC in 9. A total of 30 cases with right atrium isomerism were correctly diagnosed. Of the 11 cases with other intracardiac and extracardiac malformations, 1 case was missed to be diagnosed. Of the 21 isolated TAPVC cases, 6 were missed prenatally and 1 case was prenatally diagnosed as intracardiac and postnatally proved to be mixed (intracardiac type + supracardiac type) by echocardiography. Of the 13 TAPVC live births, 4 infants died in the neonatal period without operation. Of the nine infants undergoing the operation, five recuperated and survived; one survived but had complications with superior vena cava obstruction and collateral circulation formation, and three died postoperatively.

Conclusion

The four-step prenatal ultrasound procedure can comprehensively and systematically evaluate fetal TAPVC, detailing the classification, potential obstruction, and associated malformations. It provides substantial support for subsequent prenatal counseling and neonatal assessment. The retrospective analysis also reveals that isolated TAPVC is more prone to be missed in diagnosis.
You don’t know a person(’s taste) when you only know which genre they like: taste differences within five popular music genres based on sub-genres and sub-styles
Authors: Siebrasse Anne , Wald-Fuhrmann Melanie
Published: June 2023

A representative German sample (N = 2,086) was surveyed on their musical taste with a questionnaire that asked about their liking not only of a number of genres, but also of relevant sub-genres and -styles. Using Latent Profile Analysis to analyze sub-genre liking patterns, four to six distinct taste classes were found within groups of those n = 1,749 people who liked either European classical music, electronic dance music, metal, pop or rock based on their sub-genre ratings. Across genres, two types of taste classes emerged: one with three classes that differed in the degree of liking all sub-genres, another with one to three classes that were biased in their liking or disliking of easier and more mainstream variants of a genre as compared to harder and sophisticated ones. Logistic regression models revealed meaningful relationships of genre fan groups and within-genre taste classes with sociodemographic variables and BIG-5 personality traits. In sum, our results demonstrate meaningful taste differences within genres and show that these translate to differences in person-related variables as well. These findings challenge earlier genre-based conceptualizations of music tastes, since we find similar structures already on the sub-genres level. It also suggests that different reasons and factors underlie tastes for genres and sub-genres. Future studies should therefore ask about taste in a more nuanced way.
Politicization of psychiatry and the improvement of ethical standards in the 1970s
Authors: Kosenko Oxana , Steger Florian
Published: June 2023

Background

The Code of Ethics for Psychiatry adopted by the World Psychiatric Association in 1977, also known as the Declaration of Hawaii, was a milestone in the development of ethical standards in psychiatry. The impetus for the development of the code came primarily from the politicization of psychiatry, first discovered in the USSR, and later in other countries of the socialist camp, such as Romania, Yugoslavia, and the People’s Republic of China. The purpose of this article is to trace reasons for the lack of consolidation among Western psychiatrists against the politicization of psychiatry and their efforts to improve the ethical standards in this medical field.

Methods

We analyzed unpublished documents from the Archive of the German Association for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, the private archives of the West German psychiatrists Gerd Huber and Walter von Baeyer as well as research works. To examine these sources, we implemented the historical-critical method.

Results

The World Psychiatric Association made efforts to collect, analyze and discuss materials concerning psychiatric ethics in order to create the Code of Ethics for Psychiatry and establish an Ethical Committee. In general, the reaction of Western psychiatrists to the information about the internment of dissidents in psychiatric hospitals was restrained and focused on attempts to solve the issue together with the Soviet colleagues.

Conclusion

The international policy of détente of the time as well as collisions between different medical concepts and ethical dimensions did not allow Western psychiatrists to condemn cases of politicization of psychiatry without proir clarification of the situation. The efforts of the World Psychiatric Association in the ethical field improved the ethical standards for psychiatry.
The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prescribing of opioid and opioid use disorder medications within an academic medical center in California
Authors: Fstkchian Armen K. , Koch Jessa , Bahjri Khaled , Hong Lisa T.
Published: June 2023

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted healthcare operations affecting many patients with chronic pain and substance use disorder. Our study aimed to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on opioid and opioid use disorder (OUD) medication prescribing practices within a large academic health system in southern California.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included patients who received a prescription for chronic opioids or therapy for OUD between November 1, 2019 and September 1, 2020. The date range was divided into five specific time periods during the pandemic: November through December 2019 (pre-COVID and reference period), January through February 2020 (early COVID), March through April 2020 (policy/guidance change period), May through June 2020 (early post-guidance period), and July through August 2020 (late post-guidance period). The primary outcome was change in morphine milligram equivalents (MME) prescribed. Secondary outcomes included encounter type, mode of prescription ordering, naloxone prescriptions, and urine drug screen obtainment.

Results

The cohort included 100 patients divided among the designated time periods. Seventy-percent of patients received opioids for chronic non-malignant pain and 10% received therapy for OUD. Although there were numerical increases in MMEs prescribed, no significant changes were seen in the MMEs prescribed at any timepoint relative to the pre-COVID timeframe despite reduced in-person visits, increased video and telephone encounters and increased electronic prescription utilization. Subgroup analyses of those with chronic pain only or OUD had similar findings.

Conclusion

It appears that, generally, prescribing practices were sustained despite the various phases of the pandemic including transitions to and from telemedicine.
Is knowledge about COVID-19 associated with willingness to receive vaccine, vaccine uptake, and vaccine booster uptake in rural Malang, Indonesia?
Authors: Sujarwoto Sujarwoto , Maharani Asri
Published: June 2023

Background

Lack of knowledge regarding the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and COVID-19 vaccines is a key barrier to COVID-19 vaccine uptake in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Aims

To examine factors associated with knowledge about COVID-19 and the association between knowledge of COVID-19, willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, and vaccine uptake in Malang, East Java, Indonesia.

Method

A cross-sectional study among individuals aged 15–99 years was conducted in Malang, Java Timur, Indonesia between November 2022 and January 2023. Of 10,050 potential respondents, 10,007 were able to complete the survey. The main independent variable was knowledge about COVID-19, which was assessed using a six-item questionnaire. The dependent variables were COVID-19 vaccine uptake and COVID-19 booster vaccine uptake. The mediating variable was respondent’s willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Linear regression was used to examine factors associated with knowledge about COVID-19. Logistic regression was employed to examine the association of knowledge about COVID-19 with vaccine uptake. Generalized structural equation modeling (GSEM) was performed to examine whether willingness to receive a vaccine mediated the association between knowledge about COVID-19 and vaccination uptake.

Findings

The percentage of respondents who reported having received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine was 94.8%, while the percentage of those who reported having received at least three doses was 88.5%. These numbers are higher than the national average for COVID-19 vaccine and booster vaccine uptake. Most respondents answered about four of six knowledge items correctly (M = 4.60, SD = 1.1). Among respondents who had not received a vaccine, 83.1% expressed willingness to receive a vaccine when it became available to them. Older, more educated, employed respondents, and those with higher economic status, demonstrated more accurate knowledge about COVID-19 than younger, less educated, unemployed respondents and those with lower economic status. Respondents who demonstrated more accurate knowledge about COVID-19 were more likely to have received a vaccine (OR = 1.528, 95% CI = 1.428–1.634) and a booster vaccine (OR = 1.260, 95% CI = 1.196–1.328). Willingness to receive a vaccine mediated the association between knowledge about COVID-19 and vaccine uptake (coef. = 0.426, 95% CI = 0.379–0.473).

Implications

Interventions and public health programs aiming to improve knowledge about COVID-19 can be implemented to improve individual willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination and to improve COVID-19 vaccine uptake among the general population.
Case report: Basivertebral nerve block during vertebral augmentation: an alternative approach to intraprocedural pain management
Authors: Santoro Giovanni C. , Kulkarni Siddhant , Dhillon Diljot , Lien Kenny
Published: June 2023

Osteoporotic compression fractures can be treated with vertebral augmentation. Since intraprocedural pain is common during vertebral body endplate manipulation, these procedures are often performed with conscious sedation or general anesthesia. Research has shown that vertebral endplates are innervated by the basivertebral nerve (BVN), which has been successfully targeted via radiofrequency ablation to treat chronic vertebrogenic lower back pain. With this physiology in mind, we evaluated if temporary BVN block would provide sufficient analgesia so that patients could forego sedation during percutaneous vertebral augmentation. Ten patients with single-level vertebral compression fractures were selected. Prior to balloon augmentation, temporary intraosseous BVN block was achieved using 2% lidocaine injection. All ten patients successfully completed their procedure without intraprocedural sedative or narcotic medications, and without significant deviation from baseline vital signs. Temporary BVN block can be used as intraprocedural anesthesia in select patients who may be poor candidates for general anesthesia or conscious sedation.
A retrospective analysis of climate adaptation strategies and implications for food and nutrition security among small-scale farmers in South Africa
Authors: Kori D. S. , Zhou L. , Sibanda M.
Published: June 2023

With the ever-increasing climate change, actions to reduce its negative impact while improving food and nutrition security are critical. This review is a retrospective analysis of climate adaptation strategies and implications for food and nutrition security among small-scale farmers in South Africa. The review used bibliometric analysis and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis to track research on implications of adaptation on food and nutrition security, identify adaptation strategies with implications on food and nutrition security and discuss the implications. The analysis shows a steady growth in the research field; however, whether the pace will accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 2 by 2030 is unknown. Institutional research collaboration is notable, although weak. The co-occurrence of keywords reflects Climate-Smart Agriculture and food and nutrition linkages, emphasizes the importance of farmers’ perceptions on adopting measures to enhance food and nutrition security and illustrates the risk-vulnerability-resilience nexus. Adaptation measures with implications on food and nutrition security are varied, ranging from individual efforts to government-led initiatives. We recommend strengthening institutional research collaboration to accelerate the pace towards achieving zero hunger, food security and nutrition by 2030. It is also important to have an inclusive policy framework that addresses farmers’ adaptation needs.
Appendiceal collision tumors: case reports, management and literature review
Authors: Viel Giovanni , Ciarleglio Francesco A. , Frisini Marco , Marcucci Stefano , Valcanover Stefano , Bragantini Emma , Barbareschi Mattia , Mereu Liliana , Tateo Saverio , Merola Elettra , Armelao Franco , De Pretis Giovanni , Brolese Marco , Decarli Nicola L. , Brolese Alberto
Published: June 2023

Appendiceal tumors are incidentally detected in 0.5% cases of appendectomy for acute appendicitis and occur in approximately 1% of all appendectomies. Here, we report two cases of appendiceal collision tumors in two asymptomatic women. In both cases, imaging revealed right-lower-quadrant abdominal masses, which were laparoscopically resected. In both cases, histological examinations revealed an appendiceal collision tumor comprising a low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm and well-differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN). For complete oncological control, right hemicolectomy was performed in one patient for the aggressive behavior of NEN; however, histology revealed no metastasis. The other patient only underwent appendectomy. No further treatment was recommended. According to the latest guidelines, exact pathology needs to be defined. Proper management indicated by a multidisciplinary team is fundamental.
Determining the Efficiency of Small-Scale Propellers via Slipstream Monitoring
Authors: Susi Jaan , Unt Karl-Eerik , Heering Siim
Published: June 2023

A large part of small-sized UAVs that are used for surface scanning, video- and photography, or other similar applications are of the multirotor type. These small aircraft perform mainly in hovering or nearly hovering flight mode, and the endurance of these vehicles depends greatly on the efficiency of their motors and the aerodynamic efficiency of their thrust-generating systems, including propellers, ducted fans, etc. Propellers may therefore work in different regimes: in a regime where the propeller performs work to move the vehicle through the air, and the static or hovering regime, in which standing air is accelerated. In both cases, the concept of efficiency can be used to describe the propeller’s performance. There have been several previous studies on static and advancing propellers’ performances. In these studies, when determining the efficiency of a static propeller, the thrust and power coefficients are most commonly compared to evaluate the propeller’s performance. Sometimes, the inducted velocities are calculated via the momentum theory. As small-scale propellers work on very low Reynolds (Re) numbers below 500,000, the flow type transition and boundary layer separation make it very hard to predict the actual efficiency of the propellers in static mode. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to introduce a method to determine the static efficiency of small-scale propellers directly and empirically via a comparison between the output and input power, wherein the output power is determined via the measured thrust and mean induced velocity. The used method combines thrust, torque, and angular velocity measurements with slipstream monitoring. The performed tests showed a decrease in efficiency, with the Re number rising in spite of the rising values of the thrust coefficient. This study led to two main conclusions: thrust and power coefficients are not always the key parameters to determine the efficiency of a propeller; the role of the Re number in the propeller’s efficiency is not yet clear and requires further investigation. The presence of Re number effects has been proven in numerous works, but the impact of those effects seems to not be as trivial as the claim that the lower the Re number, the weaker the propeller’s performance.