bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hundred Years of Sociology in India: Mapping the Trajectory
Authors: Chauhan Abha
Published: July 2023

Hundred years is not a very long time in the journey of any discipline. Yet, sociology in India seems to have covered a considerable distance in a comparatively short time as the country witnessed unprecedented incidents in the 19th and 20th centuries of colonial rule, the rise of nationalism leading to India’s independence and subsequent efforts at development and nation-building. The works of the British administrators, orientalists, missionaries, and Western scholars earlier, and of the Indian pioneers and other sociologists soon after provided fertile ground for the establishment of sociology in India. The first department of sociology and civics was started in 1919 at Bombay University and since then there has been no looking back as the subject has been established well in the country, academically, and professionally. Besides the role of educational institutions and government bodies, the Indian Sociological Society (ISS) set up in 1951 provided a platform for scholars from across the country and outside to discuss, debate, share and write about contemporary issues. As the context of Indian society changed, the subject matter, methods, theoretical perspectives and debates around the discipline also went through a transformation. This article is an attempt at mapping the trajectory of 100 years of sociology in India and discerning its status as an academic discipline, as well as its relevance for policy-making, and for society at large.
“A Hidden Community”: The Experiences of Help-Seeking and Receiving Mental Health Treatment in U.K. Women Veterans. A Qualitative Study
Authors: Campbell Gavin M. , Williamson Victoria , Murphy Dominic
Published: July 2023

Women veterans are often underserved in both the research into and provision of mental health treatment. This study explored women veterans’ experiences of mental health difficulties, help-seeking, and treatment provision. Semistructured telephone interviews with 19 U.K. women veterans who met criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder were conducted and Reflexive Thematic Analysis was used in analysis. Three superordinate themes encompassing participants’ experiences were developed: (a) attitudes toward mental health and help-seeking; (b) the need to acknowledge the uniqueness of women veterans; and (c) the structural elements of care provision. The findings indicate that women veterans have additional gender-specific challenges and needs concerning tailored pathways into help and support, as well as the environment and modality of treatment delivery, as distinct from veteran men.
Development of an Evidence-based Violence Rehabilitation Program for Offenders With Intellectual Disability
Authors: Sakdalan Joseph , Mitchell Bianca
Published: July 2023

A review of the current literature on evidence-based violence prevention programs developed for individuals with an intellectual disability (ID) reveals a paucity of direct evidence for this population. In addition, the existing offence-specific programs are primarily grounded in adapted cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) programs designed for the mainstream offender population, which may not be suitable for offenders with co-morbid mental health and personality disorders. The current paper discusses the development of a violence rehabilitation program for offenders with an ID. The focus of the article is on the exploration of the empirically supported risk factors associated with violent offending and the incorporation of these dynamic risk factors into the program modules. A case study example was utilized to examine the process of VRP-ID and how the modules targeted the offenders’ treatment needs. Responsivity issues are addressed by identifying cognitive difficulties experienced by this cohort and the implications for treatment. The Risk/Need/Responsivity (RNR) model and the good lives Model (GLM) are widely used offender rehabilitation models that can be considered the guiding principles in developing this program. Furthermore, it utilizes contemporary therapeutic frameworks such as motivational interviewing (MI), cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and GLM reconceptualization and skills. The program is grounded in trauma-informed principles, which acknowledge this client group’s high prevalence of victimization.
A retrospective observational study of real-time ultrasound-guided peripheral arterial cannulation in infants
Authors: Corder William , Stoller Jason Z , Fraga María V
Published: July 2023

Objective:

To examine first attempt success and overall success of real-time ultrasound guided peripheral arterial cannulation in infants.

Study design:

Retrospective review of 477 ultrasound guided peripheral arterial cannulations in infants less than 1 year of age. Procedural and patient characteristics were evaluated to better understand factors related to procedural success.

Results:

Ultrasound guided peripheral arterial cannulation had a first attempt success rate of 65% and an overall success rate of 86%. Success rates significantly differed by arterial location ( p < 0.001). First attempt success and overall success were highest in the radial artery (72%, 91%) and lowest in the posterior tibial artery (44%, 71%). Success was more likely with greater age and greater weight ( p = 0.006, p = 0.002).

Conclusion:

Success rates are high when using a real-time ultrasound-guided technique for peripheral arterial cannulation in infants. An infant’s weight and selected artery are strong predictors of success when performing peripheral arterial cannulation. The use of procedural ultrasound may reduce unnecessary attempts and minimize procedure-related harm.
A basic income for a complex society: Introduction
Authors: Cannizzo Fabian , Spies-Butcher Ben
Published: July 2023

Proposals for a Universal Basic Income (UBI) have a long history, but a surge of interest since the global financial crisis suggests a connection to growing inequality and insecurity. The pandemic intensified interest through the global explosion in the use of cash transfers. This special issue arose from pre-pandemic debates among Australian sociologists connecting global interest around UBI to emerging patterns of inequality and insecurity stemming from Australia's precarious labour market and expensive housing market. Those discussions broadened to reflect on Australia's colonial history and patriarchal economy, and the potential to recognise more diverse contributions and values. Evolving through the Covid crisis, the issue now incorporates the remarkable alternatives that were, briefly, made possible. The articles reflect both scepticism and optimism towards UBI, but all reveal how basic income can provide a useful lens for Australian sociology – a simple tool responding to an increasingly complex society.
Multimodal language in child-directed versus adult-directed speech
Authors: Kandemir Songül , Özer Demet , Aktan-Erciyes Aslı
Published: July 2023

Speakers design their multimodal communication according to the needs and knowledge of their interlocutors, phenomenon known as audience design. We use more sophisticated language (e.g., longer sentences with complex grammatical forms) when communicating with adults compared with children. This study investigates how speech and co-speech gestures change in adult-directed speech (ADS) versus child-directed speech (CDS) for three different tasks. Overall, 66 adult participants ( Mage = 21.05, 60 female) completed three different tasks ( story-reading, storytelling and address description) and they were instructed to pretend to communicate with a child (CDS) or an adult (ADS). We hypothesised that participants would use more complex language, more beat gestures, and less iconic gestures in the ADS compared with the CDS. Results showed that, for CDS, participants used more iconic gestures in the story-reading task and storytelling task compared with ADS. However, participants used more beat gestures in the storytelling task for ADS than CDS. In addition, language complexity did not differ across conditions. Our findings indicate that how speakers employ different types of gestures (iconic vs beat) according to the addressee’s needs and across different tasks. Speakers might prefer to use more iconic gestures with children than adults. Results are discussed according to audience design theory.
Enforcing Law Through Authoritarian Environmentalism? State and Non-State Actors in China's Environmental Public Interest Litigation
Authors: Ma Yi , Xiang Wen
Published: July 2023

Numerous studies have examined China's authoritarian environmentalism, with a focus on policy-making and implementation. We argue that law enforcement should also be investigated as a crucial stage. Specifically, we examine environmental public interest litigation (EPIL) and analyse a novel dataset of 7010 EPIL court judgements from 2015 to 2020. We find that state prosecutors dominate EPIL activities, while the role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is strictly limited. We also show great variations in EPIL lawsuits filed by state prosecutors across provinces, indicating high local discretion over environmental law enforcement. Lastly, we doubt whether the great number of EPIL outputs from state prosecutors will produce significant environmental outcomes, because they tend to target low-hanging fruit, in contrast to the more challenging and environmentally profound EPIL cases initiated by NGOs. We highlight the value of using the authoritarian environmentalism framework to contextualise debates surrounding the development of EPIL in China.
Bone marrow sinusoidal endothelial cells are a site of Fgf23 upregulation in a mouse model of iron deficiency anemia
Authors: Li Xiuqi , Lozovatsky Larisa , Tommasini Steven M. , Fretz Jackie , Finberg Karin E.
Published: July 2023

Iron deficiency is a potent stimulator of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), a hormonal regulator of phosphate and vitamin D metabolism, that is classically thought to be produced by bone-embedded osteocytes. Here, we show that iron-deficient transmembrane serine protease 6 knockout (Tmprss6–/–) mice exhibit elevated circulating FGF23 and Fgf23 messenger RNA (mRNA) upregulation in the bone marrow (BM) but not the cortical bone. To clarify sites of Fgf23 promoter activity in Tmprss6–/– mice, we introduced a heterozygous enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) reporter allele at the endogenous Fgf23 locus. Heterozygous Fgf23 disruption did not alter the severity of systemic iron deficiency or anemia in the Tmprss6–/– mice. Tmprss6–/–Fgf23+/eGFP mice showed green fluorescence in the vascular regions of BM sections and showed a subset of BM endothelial cells that were GFPbright by flow cytometry. Mining of transcriptomic data sets from mice with normal iron balance revealed higher Fgf23 mRNA in BM sinusoidal endothelial cells (BM-SECs) than that in other BM endothelial cell populations. Anti-GFP immunohistochemistry of fixed BM sections from Tmprss6–/–Fgf23+/eGFP mice revealed GFP expression in BM-SECs, which was more intense than in nonanemic controls. In addition, in mice with intact Tmprss6 alleles, Fgf23-eGFP reporter expression increased in BM-SECs following large-volume phlebotomy and also following erythropoietin treatment both ex vivo and in vivo. Collectively, our results identified BM-SECs as a novel site for Fgf23 upregulation in both acute and chronic anemia. Given the elevated serum erythropoietin in both anemic models, our findings raise the possibility that erythropoietin may act directly on BM-SECs to promote FGF23 production during anemia.
Epstein–Barr virus-associated B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder meeting the definition of CAEBV B cell disease: a case report
Authors: Ma Yaxian , Bao Yuhan , Zheng Miao
Published: July 2023

Background

Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection (CAEBV) is a systemic EBV-positive lymphoproliferative disorder (EBV-LPD) considered to be associated with a genetic immunological abnormality, although its cause is still unclear. EBV is usually detected in T cells or NK cells in CAEBV patients with only a few cases involving B cells described in East Asia, which may be due to differences in genetic and environmental factors.

Case description

A 16-year-old boy who seemed to be diagnosed as CAEBV of B cell type was studied. The patient had IM-like symptoms persisting for more than 3 months, high levels of EBV DNA in the PB, and positive EBER in situ hybridization in B cells. In addition, to exclude underlying genetic disorders, we performed next-generation sequencing (NGS) and whole-exome sequencing (WES), which identified the missense mutation in PIK3CD (E1021K), ADA (S85L) and CD3D (Q140K) in the patient while no same genetic mutation was detected in his parents and sister. However, there is no diagnosis of CAEBV of B cell type in the most recent World Health Organization classification of tumors of hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues, therefore we finally diagnosed this patient as EBV-B-LPD.

Conclusions

This study shows a rare case of a patient meeting the definition of CAEBV B-cell disease in East Asia. Meanwhile, the case indicates that the missense mutation and the disease are related.
Gut microbiome and psychiatric disorders
Authors: Afroz Kazi Farhana , Manchia Mirko
Published: July 2023

Several pieces of evidence show that gut microbiota can impact psychiatric disorders. However, no mechanism behind the relationship has been identified. Host genetics and their diets have a significant impact on the gut microbiota. More advanced studies are needed to find the mechanism and develop new therapeutic strategies.
The use of mass media by mothers and its association with their children’s early development: comparison between urban and rural areas
Authors: Islam M Mofizul
Published: July 2023

Background

Mass media can play critical roles in influencing parents’ attitudes and practice toward the healthy upbringing of children. 

Objective

This study examined the association between the use of five types of mass media among mothers living in rural and urban areas and the early childhood development (ECD) of their children.

Methods

We analysed nationally representative and internationally standardized Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey data collected in 2013 and 2019 in Bangladesh. The ECD was calculated using four domains of development: physical health, literacy-numeracy, learning and social-emotional. Mothers’ use of newspapers/magazines, radio, television, internet and mobile phones was the study factor. We used Poisson regression with robust variance. The dataset included 27,091 children aged three or four years.

Results

Almost 21% of the children were living in urban and 78% in rural areas. Mothers/caretakers of 30% of the children used none, 39% used one, 25% used two, and approximately 6% used three or more of the five types of media. Mobile phones and television were the dominant types of media, both in terms of the number of users and the frequency of use. Overall, 68.87% of the children were on track in terms of their ECD and 31.13% were not. A significantly larger proportion of urban children (74.23%) than rural children (67.47%) were on track in their ECD. The prevalence of children being on track of ECD increases by 4% (aPR 1.04; 95%CI: 1.01–1.06) for each additional media use among women who lived in urban areas and increases by 7% if women live in rural areas. In terms of the individual formats of media, using newspapers, television and internet was found to be significantly associated with the children in rural areas being on track in terms of their ECD. In the urban sample, only radio use was found to be significant.

Conclusions

Targeted and well-designed child development campaigns that are delivered through popular media types are likely to help mothers to take better care of their children.
Cleaner outdoor air diminishes the overall risk of intracerebral hemorrhage but brings differential benefits to subpopulations: a time-stratified case-crossover study
Authors: Wang Peng , Feng Wentao , Luo Shuang , Cheng Shuwen , Gong Min , Li Yaxin , Liu Yanhui
Published: July 2023

Background

Short-term air pollution exposure and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) risk are related. However, the impact of the pollutant levels decline on this relationship, which attributes to clean air policy implementation and the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, is unclear. In the present research, we explored the influence of different pollutant levels on ICH risk during eight years in a southwestern China megacity.

Methods

Our research used a time-stratified case-crossover design. We retrospectively analyzed ICH patients in a teaching hospital from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2021, and divided 1571 eligible cases into two groups (1st group: 2014–2017; 2nd group: 2018–2021). We observed the trend of every pollutant in the entire study period and compared the pollution levels in each group, using air pollutants data (PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, CO, and O3) documented by the local government. We further established a single pollutant model via conditional logistic regression to analyze the association between short-term air pollutants exposure and ICH risk. We also discussed the association of pollution levels and ICH risk in subpopulations according to individual factors and monthly mean temperature.

Results

We found that five air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, CO) exhibited a continuous downward trend for the whole duration, and the daily concentration of all six pollutants decreased significantly in 2018–2021 compared with 2014–2017. Overall, the elevation of daily PM2.5, SO2, and CO was associated with increased ICH risk in the first group and was not positively associated with risk escalation in the second group. For patients in subgroups, the changes in the influence of lower pollutant levels on ICH risk were diverse. In the second group, for instance, PM2.5 and PM10 were associated with lower ICH risk in non-hypertension, smoking, and alcohol-drinking participants; however, SO2 had associations with increased ICH risk for smokers, and O3 had associations with raised risk in men, non-drinking, warm month population.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that decreased pollution levels diminish the adverse effects of short-term air pollutants exposure and ICH risk in general. Nevertheless, the influence of lower air pollutants on ICH risk in subgroups is heterogeneous, indicating unequal benefits among subpopulations.
Acupuncture on GB34 for immediate analgesia and regulating pain-related anxiety for patients with biliary colic: a protocol of randomized controlled trial
Authors: Zhou YuanFang , Shen YuQuan , Ye XiangYin , He DongMei , Sun Ning , Zhang Yong , Zhang YaFei , Long Chao , Ding ShanBin , Deng LiPing , Deng Yi , Liang FanRong , Gong XianTian , Sun RuiRui
Published: July 2023

Background

Biliary colic (BC) is a frequent hepatobiliary disorder encountered in emergency departments. Acupuncture may be effective as an alternative and complementary medicine for BC. Nonetheless, rigorous trials investigating its efficacy are lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study protocol is to determine whether acupuncture provides immediate relief of pain and associated symptoms in BC patients.

Method

Eighty-six participants who aged from 18 to 60 years with BC will be recruited in the First People's Hospital of Longquanyi District, Chengdu (West China Longquan Hospital Sichuan University). All participants will be allocated into two treatment groups including acupuncture group and sham acupuncture group using a 1:1 ratio. Each group will only receive a single 30-min needle treatment while waiting for their test results after completing the routine examination for BC. The primary outcome of the study is to assess the change in pain intensity after the 30-min acupuncture treatment. The secondary outcomes of the study include the change in pain intensity at various time points, the degree of gastrointestinal symptoms at different time points, the level of anxiety experienced during pain episodes at different time points, the score of Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale-20 (PASS-20), the score of Fear of Pain Questionnaire-III (FPQ-III), and the score of Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), among others.

Discussion

The results of this research will provide substantial evidence regarding the efficacy of acupuncture in alleviating symptoms associated with BC.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, ChiCTR2300070661. Registered on 19 April 2023.
Persistent descending mesocolon as a vital risk factor for anastomotic failure and prolonged operative time for sigmoid colon and rectal cancers
Authors: Mei Shiwen , Zhang Mingguang , Ye Feng , Qiu Wenlong , Quan Jichuan , Zhuang Meng , Wang Xishan , Tang Jianqiang
Published: July 2023

Background

The diagnostic criteria and effect of persistent descending mesocolon (PDM) on sigmoid and rectal cancers (SRCs) remain controversial. This study aims to clarify PDM patients' radiological features and short-term surgical results.

Method

From January 2020 to December 2021, radiological imaging data from 845 consecutive patients were retrospectively analyzed using multiplanar reconstruction (MRP) and maximum intensity projection (MIP). PDM is defined as the condition wherein the right margin of the descending colon is located medially to the left renal hilum. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to minimize database bias. The anatomical features and surgical results of PDM patients were compared with those of non-PDM patients.

Results

Thirty-two patients with PDM and 813 patients with non-PDM were enrolled into the study who underwent laparoscopic resection. After 1:4 matching, patients were stratified into PDM (n = 27) and non-PDM (n = 105) groups. The lengths from the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) to the inferior mesenteric vein (1.6 cm vs. 2.5 cm, p = 0.001), IMA to marginal artery arch (2.7 cm vs. 8.4 cm, p = 0.001), and IMA to the colon (3.3 cm vs. 10.2 cm, p = 0.001) were significantly shorter in the PDM group than those in the non-PDM group. The conversion to open surgery (11.1% vs. 0.9%, p = 0.008), operative time (210 min vs. 163 min, p = 0.001), intraoperative blood loss (50 ml vs. 30 ml, p = 0.002), marginal arch injury (14.8% vs. 0.9%, p = 0.006), splenic flexure free (22.2% vs. 3.8%, p = 0.005), Hartmann procedure (18.5% vs. 0.0%, p < 0.001) and anastomosis failure (18.5% vs. 0.9%, p = 0.001) were significantly higher in the PDM group. Moreover, PDM was an independent risk factor for prolonged operative time (OR = 3.205, p = 0.004) and anastomotic failure (OR = 7.601, p = 0.003).

Conclusion

PDM was an independent risk factor for prolonged operative time and anastomotic failure in SRCs surgery. Preoperative radiological evaluation using MRP and MIP can help surgeons better handle this rare congenital variant.
Investigating force-time characteristics of prone thoracic SMT and self-reported patient outcome measures: a feasibility study
Authors: Choi Grand , Giuliano Dominic , Tibbles Anthony , Howarth Samuel J. , Tran Steve , Lee Joyce , Funabashi Martha
Published: July 2023

Background

Spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) is commonly used to treat musculoskeletal conditions, including thoracic spine pain. Applying patient-specific force-time characteristics are believed to be important to improve SMT’s effectiveness. Investigating SMT as part of a multimodal approach is fundamental to account for the complexity of chiropractic clinical practice. Therefore, pragmatic investigations balancing minimal disruptions to the clinical encounter at the same time as ensuring a robust data quality with rigorous protocols are needed. Consequently, preliminary studies are required to assess the study protocol, quality of data recorded and the sustainability of such investigation. Therefore, this study examined the feasibility of investigating SMT force-time characteristics and clinical outcome measures in a clinical setting.

Methods

In this mixed-methods study, providers recorded thoracic SMT force-time characteristics delivered to patients with thoracic spinal pain during regular clinical encounters. Self-reported clinical outcomes of pain, stiffness, comfort during the SMT (using an electronic visual analogue scale), and global rating of change scale were measured before and after each SMT application. Feasibility was quantitatively assessed for participant recruitment, data collection and data quality. Qualitative data assessed participants’ perceptions on the impact of data collection on patient management and clinical flow.

Results

Twelve providers (58% female, 27.3 ± 5.0 years old) and twelve patients (58% female, 37.2 ± 14.0 years old) participated in the study. Enrolment rate was greater than 40%, data collection rate was 49% and erroneous data was less than 5%. Participant acceptance was good with both providers and patients reporting positive experience with the study.

Conclusions

Recording SMT force-time characteristics and self-reported clinical outcome measures during a clinical encounter may be feasible with specific modification to the current protocol. The study protocol did not negatively impact patient management. Specific strategies to optimize the data collection protocol for the development of a large clinical database are being developed.
Association between toxic drug events and encephalopathy in British Columbia, Canada: a cross-sectional analysis
Authors: Xavier Chloé G. , Kuo Margot , Desai Roshni , Palis Heather , Regan Gemma , Zhao Bin , Moe Jessica , Scheuermeyer Frank X. , Gan Wen Qi , Sabeti Soha , Meilleur Louise , Buxton Jane A. , Slaunwhite Amanda K.
Published: July 2023

Background

Encephalopathy can occur from a non-fatal toxic drug event (overdose) which results in a partial or complete loss of oxygen to the brain, or due to long-term substance use issues. It can be categorized as a non-traumatic acquired brain injury or toxic encephalopathy. In the context of the drug toxicity crisis in British Columbia (BC), Canada, measuring the co-occurrence of encephalopathy and drug toxicity is challenging due to lack of standardized screening. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of encephalopathy among people who experienced a toxic drug event and examine the association between toxic drug events and encephalopathy.

Methods

Using a 20% random sample of BC residents from administrative health data, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis. Toxic drug events were identified using the BC Provincial Overdose Cohort definition and encephalopathy was identified using ICD codes from hospitalization, emergency department, and primary care records between January 1st 2015 and December 31st 2019. Unadjusted and adjusted log-binomial regression models were employed to estimate the risk of encephalopathy among people who had a toxic drug event compared to people who did not experience a toxic drug event.

Results

Among people with encephalopathy, 14.6% (n = 54) had one or more drug toxicity events between 2015 and 2019. After adjusting for sex, age, and mental illness, people who experienced drug toxicity were 15.3 times (95% CI = 11.3, 20.7) more likely to have encephalopathy compared to people who did not experience a drug toxicity event. People who were 40 years and older, male, and had a mental illness were at increased risk of encephalopathy.

Conclusions

There is a need for collaboration between community members, health care providers, and key stakeholders to develop a standardized approach to define, screen, and detect neurocognitive injury related to drug toxicity.
Predictive factors for recurrence after lower limb deformity correction in hypophosphatemic rickets
Authors: Suparatchatadej Chayut , Adulkasem Nath , Ariyawatkul Thanase , Eamsobhana Perajit , Chotigavanichaya Chatupon , Wongcharoenwatana Jidapa
Published: July 2023

Background

Surgical treatment for severe lower limb deformities in patients with hypophosphatemic rickets has shown satisfactory outcomes. However, the rates of recurrence of deformities after surgical correction were high, and studies on predictive factors of recurrence were limited. This study aimed to determine the predictive factors for the recurrence of lower limb deformities after surgical correction in patients with hypophosphatemic rickets, and the effects of each predictor on the recurrence of deformities.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 16 patients with hypophosphatemic rickets aged 5–20 years and who had undergone corrective osteotomies between January 2005 and March 2019. Demographic data from the patients, biochemical profiles, and radiographic parameters were collected. Univariable Cox proportional hazard analyses of recurrence were performed. Kaplan–Meier failure estimation curves for deformity recurrences of potential predictors were created.

Results

A total of 38 bone segments were divided into 2 groups: 8 segments with recurrent deformities and 30 segments without recurrent. The average follow-up time was 5.5 ± 4.6 years. Univariable Cox proportional hazard analyses of recurrence found that an age < 10 years (hazard ratio [HR], 5.5; 95% CI, 1.1–27.1; p = 0.04), and gradual correction by hemiepiphysiodesis (HR, 7.0; 95% CI, 1.2–42.7; p = 0.03) were associated with recurrence after surgery. The Kaplan–Meier failure estimation for deformity recurrences by age at the time of surgery also achieved a statistically significant difference between ages < 10 years and those > 10 years (p = 0.02).

Conclusions

Identifying predictive factors for the recurrence of lower limb deformities after surgical correction in hypophosphatemic rickets can assist in early recognition, proper intervention, and prevention. We found that an age < 10 years at the time of surgery was associated with recurrence after deformity correction and gradual correction with hemiepiphysiodesis may also be a potential factor affecting the recurrence.
The leprosy reaction is associated with salivary anti-Porphyromonas gingivalis IgA antibodies
Authors: Falcão Michelle Miranda Lopes , Passos-Soares Johelle Santana , Machado Paulo Roberto Lima , Gomes-Filho Isaac Suzart , de Carvalho Lucas Pedreira , de Campos Elisangela Jesus , Calheira Mariana Costa , de Miranda Patrícia Mares , Santos Rebeca Pereira Bulhosa , Rocha Filho José Tadeu Raynal , de Farias Antonio Pedro Froes , Peixoto Taiana , Nascimento Roberto Meyer , Seymour Gregory John , Trindade Soraya Castro
Published: July 2023

The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between salivary anti-Porphyromonas gingivalis IgA antibodies and the leprosy reaction. The levels of salivary anti - P. gingivalis IgA antibodies, together with salivary flow and pH were measured in individuals diagnosed with leprosy and associated with the development of the leprosy reaction. Saliva was collected from 202 individuals diagnosed with leprosy at a reference leprosy treatment center, 106 cases with the leprosy reaction and 96 controls without the leprosy reaction. Anti - P. gingivalis IgA was evaluated by indirect immunoenzyme assay. Non-conditional logistic regression analysis was employed to estimate the association between antibody levels and the leprosy reaction. There was a positive statistically significant association between the levels of anti - P. gingivalis IgA and the presence of the leprosy reaction, controlling for confounders: age, sex, level of education and alcoholic beverage consumption: ORajusted: 2.55; IC 95%: 1.34–4.87. Individuals with leprosy who had high levels of salivary anti - P. gingivalis IgA had approximately twice as many chances of developing the leprosy reaction. The findings suggest a possible relationship between salivary anti - P. gingivalis IgA antibodies and the leprosy reaction.
RNA methylations in hepatic fibrosis, a gradually emerging new treatment strategy
Authors: Cheng Chenglong , Wu Yajie , Wang Xin , Xue Qiuyun , Huang Yurong , Liao Faxue , Wang Xiao , Duan Qiangjun , Miao Chenggui
Published: July 2023

Background

Hepatic fibrosis (HF) is a pathological process caused by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix caused by a series of causes, leading to the formation of fiber scar. RNA methylation is a newly discovered epigenetic modification that exists widely in eukaryotes and prokaryotes and plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of many diseases.

Results

The occurrence and development of HF are regulated by many factors, including excessive deposition of extracellular matrix, activation of hepatic stellate cells, inflammation, and oxidative stress. RNA methylations of different species have become a crucial regulatory mode of transcript expression, And participate in the pathogenesis of tumors, nervous system diseases, autoimmune diseases, and other diseases. In addition, there are five common types of RNA methylation, but only m6A plays a crucial regulatory role in HF. The pathophysiological regulation of m6A on HF is achieved by the combination of the methylated transferase, demethylated enzyme, and methylated reading protein.

Conclusions

RNA methylated methyltransferase, demethylase, and reading protein extensively affect the pathological mechanism of HF, which may be a new therapeutic and diagnostic target, representing a new class of therapeutic strategies.
Non-response bias in the analysis of the association between mental health and the urban environment: a cross-sectional study in Brussels, Belgium
Authors: Guyot Madeleine , Pelgrims Ingrid , Aerts Raf , Keune Hans , Remmen Roy , De Clercq Eva M. , Thomas Isabelle , Vanwambeke Sophie O.
Published: July 2023

Background

This paper aims at analysing the impact of partial non-response in the association between urban environment and mental health in Brussels. The potential threats of the partial non-response are biases in survey estimates and statistics. The effect of non-response on statistical associations is often overlooked and evidence in the research literature is lacking.

Methods

Data from the Belgian Health Interview Survey 2008 and 2013 were used. The association between non-response and potential determinants was explored through logistic regressions.

Results

Participants with low income, low educational levels, lower or higher age or in households with children were less likely to respond. When adjusting for socio-economic variables, non-response was higher in areas which are less vegetated, more polluted or more urbanised. Because the determinants of non-response and depressive disorders were similar, it is reasonable to assume that there will be more people with mental health problems among the non-respondents. And because more non-responses were found in low vegetation areas, the protective association between green spaces and mental health may be underestimated.

Conclusion

Our capacity to measure the association between the urban environment and health is affected by non-response in surveys. The non-random spatial and socio-economic distribution of this bias affects the research findings.
Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 variants in wastewater of Dhaka City, Bangladesh: approach to complement public health surveillance systems
Authors: Haque Rehnuma , Hossain Mohammad Enayet , Miah Mojnu , Rahman Mahbubur , Amin Nuhu , Rahman Ziaur , Islam Md. Shariful , Rahman Mohammed Ziaur
Published: July 2023

Background

Wastewater-based epidemiological surveillance has been considered a powerful tool for early detection and monitoring of the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 and its lineages circulating in a community. This study is aimed to investigate the complexity of SARS-CoV-2 infection dynamics in Dhaka city by examining its genetic variants in wastewater. Also, the study seeks to determine a connection between the SARS-CoV-2 variations detected in clinical testing and those found in wastewater samples.

Results

Out of 504 samples tested in RT-qPCR, 185 (36.7%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA. The median log10 concentration of SARS-CoV-2 N gene copies/Liter of wastewater (gc/L) was 5.2, and the median log10 concentration of ORF1ab was 4.9. To further reveal the genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2, ten samples with ORF1ab real-time RT-PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values ranging from 28.78 to 32.13 were subjected to whole genome sequencing using nanopore technology. According to clade classification, sequences from wastewater samples were grouped into 4 clades: 20A, 20B, 21A, 21J, and the Pango lineage, B.1, B.1.1, B.1.1.25, and B.1.617.2, with coverage ranging from 94.2 to 99.8%. Of them, 70% belonged to clade 20B, followed by 10% to clade 20A, 21A, and 21J. Lineage B.1.1.25 was predominant in Bangladesh and phylogenetically related to the sequences from India, the USA, Canada, the UK, and Italy. The Delta variant (B.1.617.2) was first identified in clinical samples at the beginning of May 2021. In contrast, we found that it was circulating in the community and was detected in wastewater in September 2020.

Conclusion

Environmental surveillance is useful for monitoring temporal and spatial trends of existing and emerging infectious diseases and supports evidence-based public health measures. The findings of this study supported the use of wastewater-based epidemiology and provided the baseline data for the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 variants in the wastewater environment in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Effects of spatial configuration on the patient’s journey to the Emergency Department
Authors: Meka Bardha , Navakazi Vlora , Xërxa Beqiri Flaka
Published: July 2023

Reaching the destination, users often encounter complex interfaces created between hospital spaces and the urban tissue. The literature highlights the influence of spatial configuration on the performance of external and internal spaces of healthcare settings. In this regard, studies related to Emergency Department (ED), mostly focus on internal spaces, without specific research on the accessibility of the structures themselves. By extending the research area to the entire system of territory-hospital-ED relations, the study conducted at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo (UCCK) in the city of Prishtina aims to investigate the effects of spatial configuration on the performance of spaces in the patient's journey to ED. The paper attempts to understand the causes that have shaped the spatial configuration of the city and the hospital over the years and their impact on ED accessibility. Through configurational theory of architecture, the paper quantitatively examines the interactions between the levels of this relational system at various spatial scales and time intervals. A methodological framework of spatial requirements and corresponding indicators was developed. It was observed that the declined syntactic values of the city affected the degree of the hospital accessibility, deteriorating the continuity of movement from the city to the hospital, followed by a subsequent disruption due to the change in the spatial configuration of the hospital and the relative position of ED. The outcome shows that configurational changes affect the continuity of movement sequentially in each segment of the patient’s journey towards ED, with interrelated consequences at all levels.
Compensatory cross-talk between autophagy and glycolysis regulates senescence and stemness in heterogeneous glioblastoma tumor subpopulations
Authors: Martell Emma , Kuzmychova Helgi , Senthil Harshal , Kaul Esha , Chokshi Chirayu R. , Venugopal Chitra , Anderson Christopher M. , Singh Sheila K. , Sharif Tanveer
Published: July 2023

Despite tremendous research efforts, successful targeting of aberrant tumor metabolism in clinical practice has remained elusive. Tumor heterogeneity and plasticity may play a role in the clinical failure of metabolism-targeting interventions for treating cancer patients. Moreover, compensatory growth-related processes and adaptive responses exhibited by heterogeneous tumor subpopulations to metabolic inhibitors are poorly understood. Here, by using clinically-relevant patient-derived glioblastoma (GBM) cell models, we explore the cross-talk between glycolysis, autophagy, and senescence in maintaining tumor stemness. We found that stem cell-like GBM tumor subpopulations possessed higher basal levels of glycolytic activity and increased expression of several glycolysis-related enzymes including, GLUT1/SLC2A1, PFKP, ALDOA, GAPDH, ENO1, PKM2, and LDH, compared to their non-stem-like counterparts. Importantly, bioinformatics analysis also revealed that the mRNA expression of glycolytic enzymes positively correlates with stemness markers (CD133/PROM1 and SOX2) in patient GBM tumors. While treatment with glycolysis inhibitors induced senescence in stem cell-like GBM tumor subpopulations, as evidenced by increased β-galactosidase staining and upregulation of the cell cycle regulators p21Waf1/Cip1/CDKN1A and p16INK4A/CDKN2A, these cells maintained their aggressive stemness features and failed to undergo apoptotic cell death. Using various techniques including autophagy flux and EGFP-MAP1LC3B+ puncta formation analysis, we determined that inhibition of glycolysis led to the induction of autophagy in stem cell-like GBM tumor subpopulations, but not in their non-stem-like counterparts. Similarly, blocking autophagy in stem cell-like GBM tumor subpopulations induced senescence-associated growth arrest without hampering stemness capacity or inducing apoptosis while reciprocally upregulating glycolytic activity. Combinatorial treatment of stem cell-like GBM tumor subpopulations with autophagy and glycolysis inhibitors blocked the induction of senescence while drastically impairing their stemness capacity which drove cells towards apoptotic cell death. These findings identify a novel and complex compensatory interplay between glycolysis, autophagy, and senescence that helps maintain stemness in heterogeneous GBM tumor subpopulations and provides a survival advantage during metabolic stress.
Multilevel multivariate modeling on the association between undernutrition indices of under-five children in East Africa countries: evidence from recent demographic health survey (DHS) data
Authors: Asmare Abebew Aklog , Agmas Yitateku Adugna
Published: July 2023

Background

Malnutrition is the main cause of illness and death in children under the age of five. It affects millions of children worldwide, putting their health and future in jeopardy. Therefore, this study aimed to identify and estimate the effects of important determinants of anthropometric indicators by taking into account their association and cluster effects.

Method

The study was carried out in 10 countries in East Africa: Burundi, Ethiopia, Comoros, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Zambia, and Malawi. A weighted total sample of 53,322 children under the age of five was included. Given the impact of other predictors such as maternal, child, and socioeconomic variables, a multilevel multivariate binary logistic regression model was employed to analyze the relationship between stunting, wasting, and underweight.

Result

The study included 53,322 children, and 34.7%, 14.8%, and 5.1% were stunted, underweight, and wasted, respectively. Almost half of the children (49.8%) were female, and 22.0% lived in urban areas. The estimated odds of children from secondary and higher education mothers being stunted and wasted were 0.987; 95% CI: 0.979 – 0.994 and 0.999; 95% CI: 0.995 – 0.999, respectively, times the estimated odds of children from no education mothers. Children from middle-class families were less likely to be underweight than children from poorer families.

Conclusion

The prevalence of stunting was higher than in the sub-Saharan Africa region, but the prevalence of wasting and underweight was lower. According to the study's findings, undernourishment among young children under the age of five continues to be a significant public health issue in the East African region. Governmental and non-governmental organizations should therefore plan public health participation focusing on paternal education and the poorest households in order to improve the undernutrition status of children under five. Additionally, improving the delivery of healthcare at health facilities, places of residence, children's health education, and drinking water sources are essential for lowering child undernutrition indicators.
The mysterious case of the disappearing pilot study: a review of publication bias in preliminary behavioral interventions presented at health behavior conferences
Authors: von Klinggraeff Lauren , Ramey Kaitlyn , Pfledderer Christopher D. , Burkart Sarah , Armstrong Bridget , Weaver R. Glenn , Beets Michael W.
Published: July 2023

Background

The number of preliminary studies conducted and published has increased in recent years. However, there are likely many preliminary studies that go unpublished because preliminary studies are typically small and may not be perceived as methodologically rigorous. The extent of publication bias within preliminary studies is unknown but can prove useful to determine whether preliminary studies appearing in peer-reviewed journals are fundamentally different than those that are unpublished. The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics associated with publication in a sample of abstracts of preliminary studies of behavioral interventions presented at conferences.

Methods

Abstract supplements from two primary outlets for behavioral intervention research (Society of Behavioral Medicine and International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity) were searched to identify all abstracts reporting findings of behavioral interventions from preliminary studies. Study characteristics were extracted from the abstracts including year presented, sample size, design, and statistical significance. To determine if abstracts had a matching peer-reviewed publication, a search of authors’ curriculum vitae and research databases was conducted. Iterative logistic regression models were used to estimate odds of abstract publication. Authors with unpublished preliminary studies were surveyed to identify reasons for nonpublication.

Results

Across conferences, a total of 18,961 abstracts were presented. Of these, 791 were preliminary behavioral interventions, of which 49% (388) were published in a peer-reviewed journal. For models with main effects only, preliminary studies with sample sizes greater than n = 24 were more likely to be published (range of odds ratios, 1.82 to 2.01). For models including interactions among study characteristics, no significant associations were found. Authors of unpublished preliminary studies indicated small sample sizes and being underpowered to detect effects as barriers to attempting publication.

Conclusions

Half of preliminary studies presented at conferences go unpublished, but published preliminary studies appearing in peer-reviewed literature are not systematically different from those that remain unpublished. Without publication, it is difficult to assess the quality of information regarding the early-stage development of interventions. This inaccessibility inhibits our ability to learn from the progression of preliminary studies.