bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rettigheter og tvang i kommunale hjelpetilbud til personer med alvorlige samtidige rus- og psykiske lidelser: erfaringer med regelverket, i lys av menneskerettigheter
Authors: Bendixen Ane , Sagvaag Hildegunn , Østenstad Bjørn Henning , Grønnestad Trond
Published: June 2023

Rights and coercion in municipal services for persons with co-occurring severe mental illness and substance use disorders – experiences with legal framework, in light of human rights. Aims: Persons with co-occurring severe mental illness and substance use disorders can have a considerable need for municipal health and care services but can be difficult to reach with such services. In Norway, there are known perceived ambiguities and obscurities in the legal framework for such services. This study aims to further examine these legal issues in a Norwegian context, by examining what challenges service providers experience in the practice of the current legal framework in this field. Design: The data consists of 13 qualitative interviews with strategically selected service providers from Norwegian municipalities and county governors’ offices. The interviews were analyzed through systematic text condensation. Results: The participants reflections resulted in three especially salient perceived challenges in the practice of the current legal framework in this field: ‘being dependent upon extra efforts that exceed the legal minimum requirements’, ‘lacking a legal basis and tools’ and ‘a complex and composite legal framework’. Conclusions: When seen in light of human rights, the three identified challenges in legal framework should be considered more closely both from a research perspective and from a policy making perspective. It should be investigated further whether human rights oblige the state beyond setting forth minimum requirements, how different human rights impact one another, especially with a view to service providers’ rights v. service recipients’ rights, and lastly if it is feasible to simplify or clarify the current legal framework to ensure adherence to the law and to promote equal practice among service providers.
Empathy, geography and immigration: Political framing of sea migrant arrivals in European media
Authors: Genovese Federica
Published: June 2023

How is European media framing sensitive to events such as refugee border crossing and irregular migrants’ arrivals? While news outlets adjust the tone around immigration following ideology, do the contextual characteristics of these incidents matter? This article explores two factors that could explain the varying framing of these highly political events in European mainstream media. One explanation focuses on the role of migrants’ conditions, such as migrants’ way of transit and subsequent human sufferance (or lack thereof). Another emphasizes the role of geography, in particular the location of migrants’ territorial identification relative to the receiving communities. Focusing on the case of sea migration and small boat arrivals in Southern Europe, I argue that the emotional triggers determined by migrants’ transit and their geographical point of detection systematically moderate each other, and jointly affect how the media describe these cross-border immigration events. Empirically, the article presents original newspaper data from Greece, Italy and Spain that collates geospatial information on immigrants’ sea transit and the related number of injuries and deaths during transit. Statistical results indicate that media framing is more sympathetic to events involving suffering migrants, but that this positive framing diminishes if migrants are located only at the border of the national territory and disappears if the migrants are identified in more distant, foreign waters. The results suggest nuanced conditions in which migration can be presented by the media aside from their ideological lenses.
Long-Term Outcomes of Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation for Patients With Atherosclerotic Erectile Dysfunction not Responding to PDE-5-Inhibitors
Authors: Mohan Vignes , Schönhofen Jan , Hoppe Hanno , Schumacher Martin , Keo Hak-Hong , Bechir Markus , Kalka Christoph , Burkhard RN Madlen , Diehm Nicolas
Published: June 2023

Purpose:

Endovascular therapy of erection-related arteries was shown to be a promising treatment option for patients with severe erectile dysfunction. Purpose of this study was to assess the longer-term safety and clinical success rate of endovascular revascularization of erection-related arteries with the Angiolite BTK stent in patients with arteriogenic erectile dysfunction.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 147 consecutive men (63.5±9.3 years) with erectile dysfunction due to 345 atherosclerotic lesions underwent endovascular revascularization. Patients received an International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-15 questionnaire at 30.3±7.2 months (follow-up [FU] period no less than 18 months) after stenting. An improvement by 4 points in the erectile function domain consisting of 6 questions (IIEF-6) was defined as minimal clinically important difference (MCID).

Results:

Technical success was achieved in 99% of lesions. One major adverse event occurred after endovascular revascularization. Sixty-eight (46%) patients completed their latest FU at least 18 months following the last intervention. Minimal clinically important difference was achieved in 54% (37/68) of patients.

Conclusions:

In patients with arteriogenic erectile dysfunction not responding to phosphodiesterase-5-inhibitors (PDE-5-Is), endovascular therapy with a novel thin-strut sirolimus-eluting stent is a safe and effective treatment option during short- and longer-term FU.

Clinical Impact

Patients with severe erectile dysfunction profit greatly from endovascular therapy of erection-related arteries. Stable clinical outcomes are seen beyond a 1-year timeframe. It is proven that, the drug-eluting stent therapy for atherosclerotic ED in patients who have not responded to PDE-5-I therapy is safe and effective during longer-term follow-up.
Using Classification of Instructional Program Codes in Human Resource Development
Authors: Rose Kevin J.
Published: June 2023

The U.S. Department of Education utilizes a standard classification system for all post-secondary degree programs. This system, the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), is utilized in a multitude of ways to gather and report academic program data. These data can include degree completions, career prospects for graduates, and instructional salaries. Understanding what a program’s CIP code is and how to obtain program data based on CIP code can help HRD faculty build and maintain quality academic programs as well as conduct research related to HRD education. In this article, I provide some background on CIP codes and several use cases that might be helpful for faculty and program leaders.
Articulating Postcolonial Memory Through the Negotiation of Legalities: The Case of Jan Pieterszoon Coen’s Statue in Hoorn
Authors: van Engelenhoven Gerlov
Published: June 2023

Dutch colonizer Jan Pieterszoon Coen is remembered as a hero for establishing the spice monopoly and as a perpetrator who mass-killed the Bandanese population in 1621 in pursuit of that monopoly. After his statue in Hoorn fell off its pedestal in 2011, the municipality decided to restore it in disregard of protesters requesting the statue’s relocation to Westfries Museum. As a compromise, the municipality granted the protest a voice by providing the statue with an updated inscription that acknowledges Coen’s controversial legacy and an accompanying exhibition in Westfries Museum. In this essay, I will analyze these events as a conflict about the articulation of postcolonial memory: how should the colonial past be remembered? Through Olson’s theory of legality and affect and Marcuse’s theory of repressive tolerance, I will interpret this conflict as the negotiation of different legalities.
Religion/Spirituality, Stress, and Resilience Among Sexual and Gender Minorities: The Religious/Spiritual Stress and Resilience Model
Authors: Lefevor G. Tyler , Etengoff Chana , Davis Edward B. , Skidmore Samuel J. , Rodriguez Eric M. , McGraw James S. , Rostosky Sharon S.
Published: June 2023

Although many sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) consider themselves religious or spiritual, the impact of this religiousness or spirituality (RS) on their health is poorly understood. We introduce the religious/spiritual stress and resilience model (RSSR) to provide a robust framework for understanding the variegated ways that RS influences the health of SGMs. The RSSR bridges existing theorizing on minority stress, structural stigma, and RS-health pathways to articulate the circumstances under which SGMs likely experience RS as health promoting or health damaging. The RSSR makes five key propositions: (a) Minority stress and resilience processes influence health; (b) RS influences general resilience processes; (c) RS influences minority-specific stress and resilience processes; (d) these relationships are moderated by a number of variables uniquely relevant to RS among SGMs, such as congregational stances on same-sex sexual behavior and gender expression or an individual’s degree of SGM and RS identity integration; and (e) relationships between minority stress and resilience, RS, and health are bidirectional. In this manuscript, we describe the empirical basis for each of the five propositions focusing on research examining the relationship between RS and health among SGMs. We conclude by describing how the RSSR may inform future research on RS and health among SGMs.
Predictive prognostic factors in patients with proximal humeral fracture treated with reverse shoulder arthroplasty
Authors: Canbolat Nur , Bayram Serkan , Gökçeoğlu Yaşar Samet , Tezgel Okan , Kapicioğlu Mehmet , Erşen Ali , Bilsel Kerem , Büget Mehmet İlke
Published: June 2023

Background

We aimed to evaluate the predictive determitants in patients with PHF who were treated with reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) by evaluating the patient characteristics and comorbidities and extensive preoperative laboratory parameters.

Methods

With examining the records of elderly patients (over 65 years old) with PHF, who were admitted to our emergency department between 2009 and 2020. For evaluation of the survival, we performed Kaplan-Meirer statistical anaylses. A Cox algorithms (uni and multivariate) were applied to recognize factors (including clinical and laboratory parameters) which are associated with survival.

Results

Sixty-three females and 17 males were included with a mean of 73.5 ± 7.4 years of age. Nineteen (23.83%) patients had decreased after the surgery, with a mean survival of 47.5 ± 32.7 months. There were 61 (76.3%) surviving patients with a mean survival of 67.4 ± 35.4 months. Survival rates in the first 6 months (n: 2 patients), first year (n: 3 patients), and second year (n: 6 patients) after surgery were 97.5%, 96.3%, and 92.3%, respectively.

Conclusion

The age and preoperative hemoglobin level were independently related with poor survival in patients with PHF.

Level of Evidence

Level III Retrospective Cohort, Prognosis Study
Effect and Mechanism of Harmine on Echinococcosis Based on Network Pharmacology
Authors: Chen Bei , Zhao Jun , Teng Liang , Buhuliqianmu Yimaierjiang , Xu Zhaohui , Gong Yuehong , Gao Huijing
Published: June 2023

Objective

The aim of this research was to explore the effects on echinococcosis of harmine, an active ingredient of Peganum harmala.

Methods

The gene targets were screened out by use of an online database. STRING was exploited to build a protein interaction network model, DAVID to carry out gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses, and AutoDockTools for molecular docking. All mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: a model group, a normal group, and a harmine group. Blood indicators were detected and histological analysis was carried out. NCTC-1469 was treated with either harmine or control. Gene expression was evaluated by Western blot.

Results

Network pharmacological analysis concluded that 6 gene targets (HLA-B, HLA-DQB1, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor [TNF], HLA-A, and F3) might act as the major targets in the treatment of echinococcosis with harmine. GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses showed that harmine might treat echinococcosis mainly by regulating the immune response. Molecular docking confirmed that harmine docked well to the targets and that the interactions were reliable. Harmine could regulate the content of inflammatory factors to modulate the immune response of mice, but caused liver damage. Pathological histology analysis confirmed that harmine had great suppressive efficacy against echinococcosis infection. However, the use of harmine would have a certain negative effect on the spleen of mice. The contents of HLA-B, HLA-DQB1, TNF, HLA-A, and F3 were observably enhanced, while Interleukin-6 was reduced in mouse liver tissue and cells after harmine treatment. As forecast by network pharmacology, harmine exerted antiechinococcosis effects by multiple targets and pathways. Finally, harmine treatment might regulate the Th17/Treg balance in mice with echinococcosis infection.

Conclusions

Harmine displayed great suppressive efficacy against echinococcosis infection by regulating the immune response. These findings suggest that harmine could be a potential therapeutic agent for echinococcosis management by targeting specific gene targets.
Apprentices or outsiders? Age-driven heterogeneities in access to political capital and reelection
Authors: Grahn Michal
Published: June 2023

Norms about what constitutes an ideal politician are shown to negatively affect the demand for young political candidates within political parties because they favor qualities that young people have yet to acquire. We ask whether this “youth bias” continues to shape the political opportunities of those young persons who get elected. Drawing on comprehensive, original data encompassing all Czech MPs elected between 1996 and 2021, we analyze potential age-driven heterogeneities in access to valuable political resources and reelection, both of which are subject to party gatekeeping. We find that young MPs are given a privileged access to assignments that facilitate learning about the legislative business and reelection, despite being more likely to cast a dissenting vote at roll call. These results suggest that young MPs, unlike some other political outgroups, are not marginalized by their superiors despite exhibiting certain traits typically associated with political outgroups.
Pain symptoms, sexual and mental health at the time of endometriosis diagnosis
Authors: Netzl Johanna , Gusy Burkhard , Voigt Barbara , Sehouli Jalid , Mechsner Sylvia
Published: June 2023

Introduction:

We aimed at examining the physical symptoms, sexual and mental health of individuals at the time of receiving the diagnosis of endometriosis. Our goal was to gain a better understanding of their needs at this specific time.

Methods:

Fifty cis women who had received the diagnosis of endometriosis within the last 4 weeks were examined in this cross-sectional study. Participants completed a comprehensive questionnaire and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). The Diagnostic Interview for Mental Disorders (DIPS) was performed for each subject for the assessment of mental disorders according to DSM-5 criteria and to screen for sexual dysfunctions.

Results:

Participants were M = 27.02 ± 5.72 years old. More than 90% reported dysmenorrhea (93.9%), one fifth chronic pelvic pain (22.0%) and more than three quarters painful sexual intercourse (84.0%). More than 40% met the criteria of a current mental disorder. 21 participants reported a sexual dysfunction (42.0%) and 21 reported childhood maltreatment (42.9%). A current mental disorder was associated with impaired sexual functioning: Participants with a current mental disorder reported higher pain intensity scores during sexual intercourse and were more likely to report a current sexual dysfunction.

Conclusion:

Our results highlight the need for earlier diagnoses of endometriosis to prevent the progression of pelvic pain and for integrating mental and sexual health support in endometriosis care from the beginning. A biopsychosocial model of mental health in endometriosis is proposed.
Risk Factors for Rotator Cuff Repair Failure and Reliability of the Rotator Cuff Healing Index (RoHI) in Thai Patients: Comparison of the RoHI With a Modified Scoring System
Authors: Manop Pratchaya , Apivatgaroon Adinun , Puntu Warunyoo , Chernchujit Bancha
Published: June 2023

Background:

The success rate of surgical treatment for rotator cuff (RC) tear ranges from 16% to 94%. The Rotator Cuff Healing Index (RoHI) is a system for predicting failure after RC repair and is based on a combined score of factors, including age, anteroposterior (AP) tear size, tendon retraction, fatty infiltration of the infraspinatus muscle, bone mineral density (BMD), and level of work activity.

Purpose:

To determine the factors leading to RC repair failure in a Thai population, to test the reliability of the RoHI in this population, and to compare the RoHI with a modified RoHI (m-RoHI) based on the factors for repair failure as determined.

Study Design:

Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

This study included 133 Thai patients who underwent arthroscopic RC repair between February 2012 and February 2021. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging was performed at 6 to 24 months to evaluate RC healing. Variables that might affect failure rates were evaluated, including demographic characteristics, AP tear size and retraction, radiographic measurements, and magnetic resonance imaging findings. The m-RoHI was created using factors that significantly predicted repair failure on multivariate analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was calculated to determine the reliability of the RoHI and to compare the reliability of the RoHI and m-RoHI to predict failure rates.

Results:

Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that body mass index ≥23 (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 9.02; P = .034), high work activity (adjusted OR, 19.53; P = .008), AP tear size ≥2.5 cm (adjusted OR, 19.04; P = .001), and a retraction size of 2 to <3 cm (adjusted OR, 20.36; P = .013) were the independent factors that predicted repair failure in our population. BMD was not independently predictive of repair failure. We used these 4 significant independent factors to generate the m-RoHI. The area under the curve of the final adjusted m-RoHI was slightly improved as compared with the original RoHI, but this difference was not significant (0.827 [95% CI, 0.741-0.913] vs 0.780 [95% CI, 0.686-0.875], respectively; P = .447).

Conclusion:

The m-RoHI had a similar predictive value for repair failure to the original RoHI in our study population, but it did not require obtaining BMD. The m-RoHI may be useful in populations where BMD is not routinely obtained.
Visually biased Perception in Cochlear Implant Users: A Study of the McGurk and Sound-Induced Flash Illusions
Authors: Butera Iliza M. , Stevenson Ryan A. , Gifford René H. , Wallace Mark T.
Published: June 2023

The reduction in spectral resolution by cochlear implants oftentimes requires complementary visual speech cues to facilitate understanding. Despite substantial clinical characterization of auditory-only speech measures, relatively little is known about the audiovisual (AV) integrative abilities that most cochlear implant (CI) users rely on for daily speech comprehension. In this study, we tested AV integration in 63 CI users and 69 normal-hearing (NH) controls using the McGurk and sound-induced flash illusions. To our knowledge, this study is the largest to-date measuring the McGurk effect in this population and the first that tests the sound-induced flash illusion (SIFI). When presented with conflicting AV speech stimuli (i.e., the phoneme “ba” dubbed onto the viseme “ga”), we found that 55 CI users (87%) reported a fused percept of “da” or “tha” on at least one trial. After applying an error correction based on unisensory responses, we found that among those susceptible to the illusion, CI users experienced lower fusion than controls—a result that was concordant with results from the SIFI where the pairing of a single circle flashing on the screen with multiple beeps resulted in fewer illusory flashes for CI users. While illusion perception in these two tasks appears to be uncorrelated among CI users, we identified a negative correlation in the NH group. Because neither illusion appears to provide further explanation of variability in CI outcome measures, further research is needed to determine how these findings relate to CI users’ speech understanding, particularly in ecological listening conditions that are naturally multisensory.
Look to the Side: Peer Partnerships in Preservice Literacy Teacher Education
Authors: Ries Elizabeth , Dunham Heather , Corriston Kelsie , Alexander Kerry , Taylor Valerie , Wetzel Melissa Mosley
Published: June 2023

Most often teacher education has attended to the expertise of university instructors and cooperating teachers in preservice teachers’ (PTs) learning in and from practice; rarely has the field addressed leveraging horizontal expertise within this learning-to-teach process. In this multiple case study, we examined what happens when teacher educators incorporate peer partnerships (Assaf & Lopez, 2015; Hoffman et al., 2018), where PTs coach and mentor each other around literacy teaching practices, within literacy field-based courses. Through our cross-case analysis, we found that peer partnerships scaffolded PTs’ learning by expanding their views of teaching practices, provided space to utilize their literacy content knowledge and literacy pedagogical content knowledge, and facilitated PTs’ development of equity-focused teaching stances. By establishing collaborative approaches to literacy instruction through peer partnerships, PTs served as sources of expertise and knowledge, thus disrupting the expert–novice divide in teacher education courses.
Inclusive Recruitment Strategies to Maximize Sociodemographic Diversity among Participants: A St. Louis Case Study
Authors: Carter Chelsey R. , Maki Julia , Ackermann Nicole , Waters Erika A.
Published: June 2023

Background. Sociodemographically diverse study samples are critical for research related to health decision making. However, not all researchers have the training, capacity, and funding to engage research methods that recruit the most diverse populations. Objective and Methods. We used participant-generated data, staff salary data, and participant observation to examine the effectiveness and cost of strategies that we used for screening, enrolling, and retaining a sociodemographically diverse sample for a risk communication and behavior change randomized controlled trial. Results. It took approximately 646 hours to contact 1,626 individuals and enroll 554 participants (505 of whom completed the baseline survey; 45.2% were members of a underrepresented racial/ethnic group, 19.4% had no college education, 49.5% were age 30–49 y). Retention at 90-d follow-up was 93%. The total cost was USD$19,898.50. The average cost was $35.92 per participant enrolled. In-person recruitment was most successful in identifying the largest proportion of screened and eligible participants who were members of underrepresented racial/ethnic populations (32.8% and 27.8%, respectively) and with no college experience (39.7% and 33.5%, respectively); it also had the highest total cost ($8,079.17). Existing research pools identified the largest proportion of younger participants (ages 30–49 y; 39.3% and 43.4% for screened and eligible, respectively). Existing listservs yielded the smallest proportion of individuals with no college experience and the fewest members of underrepresented racial/ethnic populations but had the lowest total cost ($290.33). Newspaper ads identified the fewest younger individuals and also had the highest cost per participant enrolled ($166.21). Word of mouth had the lowest cost per participant enrolled ($10.47). Conclusion. Results help medical decision-making researchers formulate recruitment plans that increase sociodemographic diversity in study samples. We also ask funders to accommodate increased costs required to maximize sociodemographic diversity in medical decision-making research.

Highlights

We provide concrete strategies for recruiting, enrolling, and retaining a sociodemographically diverse study sample. We offer cost estimates for all stages of study recruitment and found that in-person recruitment was the most effective, but also the most expensive, way to identify Black participants and participants with no college experience. It is critical for investigators to have access to institutional infrastructure and resources to support conducting research that is inclusive of diverse sociodemographic groups. An intentionally diverse recruitment staff supports a diverse study sample.
Housing publics: Situated resistance to public housing redevelopment in New York City under racial capitalism
Authors: Stahl Valerie E
Published: June 2023

In this paper, I describe resistance to a public housing redevelopment process in New York City. I describe the story within a theoretical approach of pragmatism, as I focus on both means and ends in planning while considering the experience and contestations of the various “publics” involved in deliberations surrounding a pilot site for mixed-income infill development. While pragmatism is helpful in reflecting on planning processes, I also simultaneously acknowledge the context of how racial capitalism has shaped and continues to impact the geography of the city, including public housing communities. As such, I propose that residents engaged in “situated resistance” as plans to radically transform the largest housing authority in the United States unfolded around them. I find that while the housing authority and residents had the same objective of preserving existing public housing, their desired paths to achieving that goal dramatically differed. I conclude by proposing that robust democratic engagement requires reparative approaches rooted in racial and economic justice that substantively and procedurally center African American communities such as those living in public housing. By introducing pragmatism alongside racial capitalism through the case of public housing redevelopment, I ultimately highlight the importance of fusing theories of democratic and structural change in urban redevelopment.
Prognostic Impact of Tumor Budding on Moroccan Gastric Cancer Patients
Authors: El Yaagoubi Souhaila , Zaryouhi Meryem , Benmaamar Soumaya , El Agy Fatima , Tahiri El Ousrouti Layla , Hammas Nawal , El Bouhaddouti Hicham , Benbrahim Zineb , Lahmidani Nada , Chbani Laila
Published: June 2023

Background:

Tumor budding (TB) has been defined as an independent prognostic factor in many carcinomas like colon adenocarcinoma, but its prognostic impact on gastric cancer patients remains not well established. In the present study, we aimed to highlight the correlation of tumor budding with clinicopathological features and predict its survival outcomes in gastric cancer patients for the first time in the Moroccan population.

Methods:

This study was conducted on 83 patients who underwent surgery for gastric adenocarcinoma from 2014 to 2020. The patient’s clinico-pathological characteristics were obtained from the pathological and clinical records of each patient. Tumor budding was assessed on HES slides, according to the 2016 International Tumor Budding Consensus Conference criteria. The association of tumor budding grades with categorical and continuous variables were respectively assessed by the χ2-test and the unpaired t-test. Survival analysis was performed by the Kaplan-Meier method, the log-rank test.

Results:

Patients consisted of 65.1% of men and 34.9% of women with a median age of 61.2 years. Histologically, the majority of the tumors were adenocarcinoma (65.1%). Among all cases, 18.1% were classified as Bud1 (15/83), (27/83) 32.5% as Bud 2, and 49.4% (41/83) as Bud 3 grades. High-grade tumor budding (BUD 3) was found to be significantly associated with special clinicopathological features including older age ( P = .02), unradical resection (R1/R2) ( P = .03), and the presence of vascular invasion ( P = .05), and perineural invasion ( P = .04). Furthermore, tumors with high-grade tumor budding were significantly associated with a low rate of resected lymph nodes ( P = .04) and advanced TNM stage ( P = .02). Among all stages, high-grade tumor budding was correlated with shorter overall survival in univariate and multivariate analysis ( P = .04). Patients with high-tumor budding had worse relapse-free survival compared with patients with low-tumor budding grade ( P = .01).

Conclusion:

According to our study, the high-tumor budding grade was correlated with unfavorable clinicopathological features and poorer survival. The present study findings suggest that tumor budding should be considered in the treatment and prognosis of gastric cancer patients.
Construction and validation of a prognostic model based on autophagy-related genes for hepatocellular carcinoma in the Asian population
Authors: Wang Yanjie , Huang Sijia , Zhang Yingtian , Cheng Yaping , Dai Liya , Gao Wenwen , Feng Zhengyang , Tao Jialong , Zhang Yusong
Published: June 2023

Background and objective

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which has a complex pathogenesis and poor prognosis, is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Hepatitis virus B infection is the most common cause of HCC in Asian patients. Autophagy is the process of digestion and degradation, and studies have shown that autophagy-associated effects are closely related to the development of HCC. In this study, we aimed to construct a prognostic model based on autophagy-related genes (ARGs) for the Asian HCC population to provide new ideas for the clinical management of HCC in the Asian population.

Methods

The clinical information and transcriptome data of Asian patients with HCC were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and 206 ARGs were downloaded from the human autophagy database (HADB). We performed differential and Cox regression analyses to construct a risk score model. The accuracy of the model was validated by using the Kaplan–Meier (K–M) survival curve, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and univariate and multivariate Cox independent prognostic analyses. The results Thirteen ARGs that were significantly associated with prognosis were finally identified by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. The K–M survival curves showed that the survival rate of the low-risk group was significantly higher than that of the high-risk group (p < 0.001), and the multi-indicator ROC curves further demonstrated the predictive ability of the model (AUC = 0.877).

Conclusion

The risk score model based on ARGs was effective in predicting the prognosis of Asian patients with HCC.
Recovery journey of people with a lived experience of schizophrenia: a qualitative study of experiences
Authors: Ma Min , Shi Zhidao , Chen Yanhong , Ma Xiquan
Published: June 2023

Background

Mental health recovery involves an integration of clinical and psychosocial frameworks. The recovery journey of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia and the factors that influence it have been extensively studied. Because the recovery journey is culturally influenced, we examined the recovery process expriences of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia in China, focusing on the influence of a Confucian-dominated collectivist and family-centred culture.

Methods

An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) study was conducted; data were gathered through in-depth interviews with 11 individuals with lived experience of schizophrenia.

Results

Four themes were identified in this study: traumatic illness experiences, influence of the family, motives for recovery, and posttraumatic growth, comprising ten subthemes. “For the family” and “relying on oneself” are the main drivers of recovery for individuals with a Chinese cultural background. Some people believe that taking care of themselves is an important way to ease the burden on their families and treat them well. There is a link between ‘for the family’ and ‘relying on oneself.

Conclusions

Individuals living with schizophrenia in China have undergone significant traumatic experiences and have profound interactions with their families. Post-traumatic growth reflects an increase in the individual’s connection to others and individual agency. It also suggests that the individual is not receiving enough support outside of the family. The impact of individual agency and family relationships should be considered in services that promote recovery, and clinic staff should enhance support outside the home to the individuals.
Health-related quality of life and radiological and functional lung changes of patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia 3 and 10 months after discharge
Authors: De Juana Cristina , Herrera Susana , Ponce Silvia , Calvache Sergio , Dahmazi Loubna , Vitale Raffaele , Ferrer Alberto José , Valentín Verónica , Acosta Marta , López Irene , Martínez-Moragón Eva ,   Respiratory medicine Unit of Universitary Hospital Doctor Peset of Valencia (Spain)
Published: June 2023

Background

Few studies have evaluated the long-term impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients who have been hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia. Specific follow-up should be carried out to detect and treat possible pulmonary abnormalities, and the worsening of HRQoL should be estimated to target necessary resources for care of these patients after acute phase. The objective was to know the impact on HRQoL of patients who have been admitted for COVID-19 pneumonia, and to evaluate the clinical-radiological and functional changes of patients who have overcome COVID-19 pneumonia at 3 and 10 months of follow-up.

Methods

Prospective observational study of patients who required hospitalization for COVID-19 pneumonia between April and December 2020. All patients filled out the EuroQol five-dimension (EQ-5D) questionnaire with the EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale (E-VAS) for self-assessment of health status. Respiratory function tests and chest X-ray were carried out at 3 and 10 months of follow-up.

Results

61 patients were included in the study. The need for ventilatory support was associated with anxiety/depression on the EQ-5D scale, as well as patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). The mean EQ-5D and E-VAS index scores decreased with hospitalization time, the number of days spent in intermediate respiratory care unit (IRCU) and the level of dyspnoea at the beginning of the hospitalization period. Pulmonary sequelae were observed in 25 patients (41%) at 3 months and 17 (27.9%) at 10 months. Patients improve their forced vital capacity (FVC) by 196 ml (p = 0.001) at 10 months as well as 9% in diffusing capacity of lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) (p = 0.001) at 10 months. DLCO was found to be correlated to lymphopenia and time spent in IRCU. Low FVC values were detected 10 months after discharge for subjects exhibiting high levels of dyspnoea at 3 months after discharge.

Conclusions

Hospitalization for COVID-19 pneumonia affects the HRQoL of patients, with greater anxiety/depression in those who were more serious affected and are younger. A significant percentage of patients present fibrotic abnormalities and lung function impairment at the first and second follow-up after discharge.
Liver functional assessment using time-associated change in the liver-to-spleen signal intensity ratio on enhanced magnetic resonance imaging: a retrospective study
Authors: Kudo Masashi , Gotohda Naoto , Sugimoto Motokazu , Kobayashi Shin , Konishi Masaru , Kobayashi Tatsushi
Published: June 2023

Background

Liver-to-spleen signal intensity ratio (LSR) is evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the hepatobiliary phase and has been reported as a useful radiological assessment of regional liver function. However, LSR is a passive (non-time-associated) assessment of liver function, not a dynamic (time-associated) assessment. Moreover, LSR shows limitations such as a dose bias of contrast medium and a timing bias of imaging. Previous studies have reported the advantages of time-associated liver functional assessment as a precise assessment of liver function. For instance, the indocyanine green (ICG) disappearance rate, which is calculated from serum ICG concentrations at multiple time points, reflects a precise preoperative liver function for predicting post-hepatectomy liver failure without the dose bias of ICG or the timing bias of blood sampling. The aim of this study was to develop a novel time-associated radiological liver functional assessment and verify its correlation with traditional liver functional parameters.

Methods

A total of 279 pancreatic cancer patients were evaluated to clarify fundamental time-associated changes to LSR in normal liver. We defined the time-associated radiological assessment of liver function, calculated using information on LSR from four time points, as the “LSR increasing rate” (LSRi). We then investigated correlations between LSRi and previous liver functional parameters. Furthermore, we evaluated how timing bias and protocol bias affect LSRi.

Results

Significant correlations were observed between LSRi and previous liver functional parameters such as total bilirubin, Child-Pugh grade, and albumin-bilirubin grade (P < 0.001 each). Moreover, considerably high correlations were observed between LSRi calculated using four time points and that calculated using three time points (r > 0.973 each), indicating that the timing bias of imaging was minimal.

Conclusions

This study propose a novel time-associated radiological assessment, and revealed that the LSRi correlated significantly with traditional liver functional parameters. Changes in LSR over time may provide a superior preoperative assessment of regional liver function that is better for predicting post-hepatectomy liver failure than LSR using the hepatobiliary phase alone.
Anti-Her2 affibody-decorated arsenene nanosheets induce ferroptosis through depleting intracellular GSH to overcome cisplatin resistance
Authors: He Peng , Xu Shenglin , Miao Zhaohua , Que Yukang , Chen Yu , Li Sheng , Ma Qiming , Yang Rui , Wei Wei , Zha Zhengbao , Hu Yong
Published: June 2023

Ferroptosis, a form of regulated cell death induced by excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, has recently attracted extensive attention due to its ability to effectively suppress tumors and overcome drug resistance. Unlike previously reported metal nanomaterials that induce ferroptosis via the Fenton reaction, arsenene nanosheets can effectively deplete intracellular glutathione and then induce ferroptosis by inhibiting glutathione peroxidase 4. In this study, we designed target-modified arsenene nanosheets loaded with cisplatin (Her2-ANs@CDDP), which are capable of selective uptake by tumor cells. Her2-ANs@CDDP promotes both apoptosis and ferroptosis through a reciprocal cascade reaction between cisplatin and the carrier, respectively, and we demonstrate that it can significantly inhibit the activity of drug-resistant cells. Arsenene nanosheets kill drug-resistant tumor cells by inducing ferroptosis and restoring the sensitivity of drug-resistant cells to cisplatin. Cisplatin-loaded arsenene nanosheets can be prepared simply, and exert synergistic effects that overcome drug resistance. They show great potential for applications in the clinical treatment of chemotherapy-insensitive osteosarcoma, expanding the uses of arsenic in the treatment of solid tumors.

Graphical abstract
Polyphyllin I suppressed the apoptosis of intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus cells induced by IL-1β by miR-503-5p/Bcl-2 axis
Authors: Yuan Lei , Miao Hui , Ding Heng , Zhang Fan , Lou Zhen-kai , Li Xing-Guo
Published: June 2023

Background

There are no studies that have shown the role and underlying mechanism of Polyphyllin I (PPI)-mediated anti-apoptosis activity in nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs). The research aimed to evaluate the effects of PPI in interleukin (IL)-1β-induced NPCs apoptosis in vitro.

Methods

Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to detect cell viability, and cell apoptosis was evaluated by double-stained flow cytometry (FITC Annexin V/PI). The expression of miR-503-5p was quantified by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR), and the expression of Bcl-2, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3 was quantified by Western blot. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was used to detect the targeting relationship between miR-503-5p and Bcl-2.

Results

PPI at 40 μg·mL−1markedly promoted the viability of NPCs (P < 0.01). Also, PPI inhibited apoptosis and reduction in proliferative activity induced by IL-1β in the NPCs (P < 0.001, 0.01). PPI treatment significantly inhibited the expression of apoptosis-related protein Bax, cleaved caspase-3 (P < 0.05, 0.01), and enhanced the level of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 (P < 0.01). The proliferative activity of NPCs was significantly decreased and the apoptosis rate of NPCs was increased under IL-1β treatment (P < 0.01, 0.001). Moreover, miR-503-5p was highly expressed in IL-1β-induced NPCs (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the effect of PPI on NPCs viability and apoptosis in IL-1β treatment was dramatically reversed by the overexpression of miR-503-5p (P < 0.01, 0.01). The targeted binding of miR-503-5p to the 3'UTR of Bcl-2 mRNA was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter gene assays (P < 0.05). In further experiments, compared with miR-503-5p mimics, the effects of PPI on IL-1β-induced NPCs viability and apoptosis were greatly reversed by the co-overexpression of miR-503-5p and Bcl-2 (P < 0.05, 0.05).

Conclusion

PPI suppressed the apoptosis of intervertebral disk (IVD) NPCs induced by IL-1β via miR-503-5p/Bcl-2 molecular axis.
Pure tubular carcinoma of the breast: a case series
Authors: Sakhri S. , Aloui M. , Zemni I. , Kamoun S. , Slimene M. , Rahal K.
Published: June 2023

Background

Pure tubular breast carcinoma is a rare and well-differentiated tumor with high survival and low local recurrence rate. Our study aims to determine the clinical, radiological, appropriate management, and prognosis of this carcinoma.

Materials and methods

A review of Salah Azaiez institute registry from 2004 to 2019 was performed including seven cases of PTC of the breast.

Results

Clinical-pathologic features and outcomes were analyzed. The median follow-up was 3 years. In our study, we found that the cohort presented more frequently with pT1 disease and pN0 disease. Conservative surgery was more frequently indicated (five cases). All patients had hormone-receptor positivity and Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2 (HER2) negativity. The majority of tumors had a molecular profile luminal A and a low-grade SBR. In one case we found axillary lymph node metastasis. Adjuvant radiotherapy was indicated in all cases of breast conservation and in only one case of radical surgery. One patient received chemotherapy. The mean follow-up was 4 years. We did not find any local or distant recurrence in our study.

Conclusion

PTC showed an excellent prognosis with a low SBR grade, a molecular profile luminal A, and a low incidence of recurrence.
Umbelliferone and eriodictyol suppress the cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Cheng Fang-Ju , Ho Chien-Yi , Li Tzong-Shiun , Chen Yeh , Yeh Yi-Lun , Wei Ya-Ling , Huynh Thanh Kieu , Chen Bo-Rong , Ko Hung-Yu , Hsueh Chen-Si , Tan Ming , Wu Yang-Chang , Huang Hui-Chi , Tang Chih-Hsin , Chen Chia-Hung , Tu Chih-Yen , Huang Wei-Chien
Published: June 2023

Background

Artemisia argyi (A. argyi), also called Chinese mugwort, has been widely used to control pandemic diseases for thousands of years since ancient China due to its anti-microbial infection, anti-allergy, and anti-inflammation activities. Therefore, the potential of A. argyi and its constituents in reducing the infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was investigated in this study.

Results

Among the phytochemicals in A. argyi, eriodictyol and umbelliferone were identified to target transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) proteins, the essential factors for the cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2, in both FRET-based enzymatic assays and molecular docking analyses. These two ingredients of A. argyi suppressed the infection of ACE2-expressed HEK-293 T cells with lentiviral-based pseudo-particles (Vpp) expressing wild-type and variants of SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein (SARS-CoV-2 S-Vpp) via interrupting the interaction between S protein and cellular receptor ACE2 and reducing the expressions of ACE2 and TMPRSS2. Oral administration with umbelliferone efficiently prevented the SARS-CoV-2 S-Vpp-induced inflammation in the lung tissues of BALB/c mice.

Conclusions

Eriodictyol and umbelliferone, the phytochemicals of Artemisia argyi, potentially suppress the cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2 by preventing the protein binding activity of the S protein to ACE2.
Modified rank sum nonparametric CFAR to combat clutter edge
Authors: Xiangwei Meng , Yuan Meng
Published: June 2023

The classical rank sum (RS) nonparametric constant false alarm rate (CFAR) detector plays an important role in the theoretical study and practical application of radar target detection. In order to improve the ability of the classical RS nonparametric detector to control the false alarm rate at clutter edges, a modified rank sum (MRS) nonparametric CFAR based on the mean ratio of the samples in the leading and lagging windows is proposed. The analytical expressions of the detection probability and false alarm rate of the MRS nonparametric CFAR in homogeneous background and at clutter edges are derived, and a comparison to the performance of the classical RS nonparametric detector along with some conventional parametric CFAR schemes in homogeneous background, multiple targets situation and clutter edges is made. The numerical results show that the detection performance of the MRS nonparametric CFAR in homogeneous background and in a moderate number of interfering targets situation is close to that of the classical RS nonparametric detector, and its ability to control the rise of the false alarm rate at clutter edges is evidently improved.
Asymptomatic hepatic pseudoaneurysm identified 25 days after knife injury: a case report
Authors: Sugi Tomoyuki , Maruyama Tsunehiko , Nozaki Reiji , Kawahara Masato , Kamoshida Megumi , Narita Sakura , Takaku Hideya , Azuma Kazuaki , Chiba Yoshiro , Oda Tatsuya
Published: June 2023

Background

Hepatic pseudoaneurysm (HPA) is a rare complication that can occur after liver trauma and carries a high risk of rupture. HPA is usually asymptomatic until rupture, so performing routine surveillance of liver trauma patients is important. Most posttraumatic HPA occurs within the first week after injury, so surveillance imaging ~ 7 days postinjury is suggested.

Case presentation

We herein report a 47-year-old man who was diagnosed with asymptomatic HPA 25 days after a knife injury. The patient was transferred to the emergency room after attempting suicide by stabbing himself in his abdomen with a knife. The knife was surgically removed, and the postoperative course was uneventful. Computed tomography (CT) on postoperative day (POD) 12 showed no HPA. However, follow-up CT on POD 25 revealed HPA. The HPA was treated with coil embolization. The patient was discharged with no complications. One year after the injury, the patient had no recurrence or medical problems.

Conclusion

When managing patients with penetrating liver trauma, it is important to note that HPA may not be identifiable on CT early after injury but may still develop later.