bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kasper König (1943-2024)
Authors: Buchloh Benjamin H. D.
Published: January 2025

The article examines the influential legacy of curator and editor Kasper König (1943–2024), focusing particularly on his groundbreaking editorial work at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in the early 1970s. Buchloh traces König's evolution from co-founding the publishing house Gebrüder König with his brother in 1967 to his pivotal role in developing the Nova Scotia Series. The article highlights König's commitment to interdisciplinary approaches, particularly through publishing projects that bridged visual art, performance, architecture, dance, and music. Key publications discussed include documentation of Wittgenstein's architecture, Claes Oldenburg's theatrical works, and volumes dedicated to artists like Steve Reich, Simone Forti, and Yvonne Rainer. Buchloh emphasizes König's democratic-anarchist aesthetic philosophy, which privileged artists’ direct communication through primary documents while avoiding interpretive commentary. The piece concludes by examining König's role in documenting institutional critique through Hans Haacke's censored works and his final project with Michael Snow, suggesting how König's editorial practice consistently sought to transform cultural production into moments of potential social change.
Tacita Dean and the Air Outside
Authors: Hornby Louise
Published: January 2025

This is an essay about finding space to breathe in the clouds. It begins with Tacita Dean's chalk drawings of clouds in Los Angeles—themselves large billowing forms of white dust on slate—that reveal the irreducible thereness of clouds, unconnected to anything but themselves and the movement of air. Dean renders clouds as impermanent, arial residue—chalk dust and reflected light—whose exchange of fungibility and form is constituted by acts of erasure and amassing. Dean's clouds appear in Ali Smith's novel Spring, where their permanent changeability provides a space to breathe in the midst of catastrophic loss, solacing the mourner with the continued presence of the world after death. The breathing space of the clouds, the possibility of difference forged through loss, is the starting point for the leap of faith that acknowledges the existence of a world that is not ours to have, not ours to occupy; a world that came before and whose exteriority makes breath and its absence possible, producing the twinned conditions of love and mourning.
Astonishment, Outrage, Despair
Authors: Scott Joan
Published: January 2025

The language my friends and I are using to describe the outcome of Tuesday's elections combines astonishment, outrage, and a large dose of despair. Astonishment that a convicted felon, a twice impeached politician, a vicious misogynist, a racist, homophobe, liar, and cheat, who is a stated enemy of democracy, managed to secure the popular vote for a Republican presidential candidate for the first time since 2004 and—against so many predictions—win all of the states required to carry the electoral college by a significant margin. Along with his victory came control of the Senate and also—at this moment—likely the House of Representatives. The Supreme Court is already stacked with his allies, having ruled in his favor in many of the legal cases brought against his last acts as president. All branches of the government, in other words, are now in the hands of the neo-fascists who have extensive plans to dismantle what remains of American democracy. And make no mistake, they will implement their Project 2025. Even those of us in relatively comfortable positions, who live in “blue” states, will feel the impact of the abolition of the Department of Education; the assignment of health services to the vaccine-denying Robert Kennedy Jr.; the cost-cutting mania of Elon Musk; and the deregulation of what climate controls have managed to be implemented during the Biden administration.
Liberty, the People, and Republican Constitutionalism in Cicero’s Pro Rabirio perduellionis reo
Authors: Clarke Michelle T.
Published: January 2025

This article examines Cicero’s treatment of libertas and its constitutional underpinnings in Pro Rabirio perduellionis reo. In Pro Rabirio, Cicero offers a concentrated discussion of libertas in which he downplays its relationship with popular institutions and procedures and emphasizes instead its strong correlation with social and political consensus. Indeed, for Cicero, libertas is more closely associated with the qualitative characteristics of peaceable association than any particular constitutional order. By characterizing libertas as an experience of calm security that goods citizens enjoy when they are consistently and effectively protected against by injury at the hands of moral degenerates, Cicero makes it possible to distance libertas from provocatio and auxilium, the two major legal and institutional mechanisms associated with libertas in the Roman context, and forge a much stronger connection with the self-regulating activity of the Roman ruling elite.
History as Political Philosophy: Republican Rome as the Best Form of Government in Livy’s Third Decade
Authors: West David T.
Published: January 2025

While scholarship on Livy’s political thought has concentrated on the 1st decade, this article takes up the 3rd decade to argue that Livy makes the case for Republican Rome at the time of the 2nd Punic War as the best form of government. The excellence of Republican Rome is seen in its superiority to the imaginary cities of Greek political theory, and in its mixed constitution, which provides remedies for the pitfalls of the simple forms of democracy and aristocracy. Livy makes the latter case through allusions to Thucydides, whose implications I draw forth to show that Livy is contrasting Republican Rome with Athens and Sparta, and comparing Scipio Africanus with Alcibiades. Livy’s claim that wisdom is to be found in the study of the past, and his preference for the concrete as a means of investigating politics, suggest that his history is a form of political philosophy.
Helping Cato? How to Improve the Roman Case against Greek Culture
Authors: Ambler Wayne
Published: January 2025

The Romans’ conquest of Syracuse and other Greek cities led to a fascinating encounter between two of the sources most at the heart of what we often call ‘Western Civilization’. Notwithstanding the Greeks’ achievements, several thoughtful Romans were fearful that an influx of Greek sophistication would weaken the Roman Republic. Cato the Elder was the most prominent of this group, and we begin here with a review of the limited remaining evidence of his thinking. We then look further afield for allies who might develop his case further. We find them, ironically enough, among the Greeks themselves.
A cross-sectional survey of psychiatrists’ experiences of using telepsychiatry during the COVID-19 pandemic and the relationship with burnout in selected high, middle, and low-income countries
Authors: Tawfik Fairouz , Ryland Howard , Yosef Mostafa , Morsy Mahmoud , Kaligis Fransiska , Noël Camille , Abdulhakim Mohamed , Mazereel Victor , Palavra Irena Rojnić , Prošev Andrej , Fiorillo Andrea , Sampogna Gaia , Durán Xenia Margarita , Jurado Jesús David Martínez , Ibrahim Islam
Published: January 2025

Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated substantial modifications in the delivery of patient care on a global scale. Telemedicine-based care services were implemented worldwide to maximize access to healthcare systems.

Aims:

This study aimed to investigate the use of and satisfaction with telepsychiatry services implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic by psychiatrists across low, middle, and high income countries, and to assess levels of burnout among psychiatrists providing telepsychiatry services in different settings and countries. We hypothesized that use of telepsychiatry will have increased during the pandemic and is associated with increased risk of burnout.

Methods:

A cross-sectional survey was conducted from October 2020 to June 2021 on psychiatrists practicing in Egypt, United Kingdom, Croatia, Belgium, Indonesia, Italy, and El Salvador. Participants were asked to provide sociodemographic data and to complete a questionnaire developed ad-hoc by the authors on telepsychiatry use, the Modified Arizona Telemedicine Program Satisfaction (MATPS) survey and the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory questionnaire.

Results:

A total of 347 participants completed the survey. Sixty three percent indicated that they had not utilized teleservices for clinical consultation or academic purposes prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. A substantial shift was observed during the pandemic, with this percentage increasing to 98%. Over two-thirds of psychiatrists expressed satisfaction with the visual (76%) and audio (77%) aspects of teleconsultation. No significant correlation was found between burnout and satisfaction. While older age was negatively correlated with burnout levels, years of experience showed a positive correlation with levels of burnout.

Conclusion:

While there was an increased acceptance and satisfaction with teleconsultation, a persistent preference for in-person consultations remained. The study did not find a correlation between satisfaction in telepsychiatry and levels of burnout. Moreover, increasing age was correlated with lower burn out rate, whereas a correlation between years of experience and heightened levels of burnout was evident.
Experimental investigations on the productivity increase of solar stills utilising hybrid nanomaterials and water-cooling techniques
Authors: Parikh Ruchir , Parikh Shaival , Sharma Kamal , Sohani Ali , Katekar Vikrant P , Ansari Mushtaq Ahmad , Natrayan L , Shah Mohd Asif
Published: January 2025

Solar stills are simple devices that can be used to remove salts from water. However, it has a lower distillate yield; hence, it is not popular. Increasing the solar energy collection at the absorber may help to address these issues. This is feasible by adopting highly absorbent energy storage substances. Hybrid nanomaterials have significant potential for this purpose, and they can boost the absorptivity of the absorber plate of solar stills. Taking this into account, a hybrid nanomaterial was synthesized in a laboratory and applied to the surface of a solar still absorber to achieve higher performance. Iron oxide (Fe2O3) and copper oxide (Cu2O) nanoparticles were used in a 50:50 ratio. In addition, the current research employed a water sprinkler to enhance the condensation rate in the condensing region and consequently increase the distillation output of the solar still. A cooling water flow rate of 10 kg/h was used to sprinkle the condensing surface. According to the results, combining Fe2O3 and Cu2O with epoxy resin increased the efficiency of the solar still by 34% when using a glass cooling approach and by 28% when operating without a glass cover cooling technique.
Political Theology: Origins, Concepts, and Contradictions
Authors: Flohr Mikkel
Published: January 2025

Political theology is a flourishing field of research, examining the various ways in which modern political ideas, institutions, and practices have been and continue to be shaped by theology. However, conceptualizations of political theology are often implicit and diverge widely. This article traces the origins and development of the multiple meanings of the concept to reorient contemporary research and debates on the topic. It argues that Carl Schmitt’s Political Theology provided the first modern determination of political theology and shaped the field fundamentally. It also shows that this central work actually contained three discrete conceptions of political theology, which it reconstructs alongside their complex and contradictory interrelations and implications for subsequent research on political theology. The article differentiates these three conceptions of political theology and develops an analysis of their interrelations that can and should be used to reorient and advance contemporary research on political theology.
Mobility Practice of Slum Households in Siliguri City: Analyzing the Nexus between Mobility, Poverty, and Human Adaptations in Urban India
Authors: Banerjee Iman , Bajaj Amrita , Saha Apala
Published: January 2025

The present research steams from the question that how the urban poor, inhabiting slums and surviving on narrow, close-knit networks of economic opportunities, tend to negotiate their mobility practices in a city where the existing transport infrastructure is highly biased toward motorization. The study accordingly navigates through the mobility patterns of slum households in Siliguri, a medium-sized Indian city, within the context that the city’s urban transport scenario is visibly biased toward automobile-centrism. By analyzing factors such as access to transport modes, travel preferences and needs, frequency of travel, and accessibility constraints, the study endeavors to shed light on the ways the urban poor of Siliguri negotiate space in the city through their daily mobility practices. The findings from the data, collected through door-to-door household surveys in 400 slum households, pertaining to the travel behavior of slum residences of Siliguri, highly corroborate with the findings of the existing body of scholarly evidence in the field, arguing that the poor of a city are not “motorized” so far and they depend much on shared or nonmotorized modes for their day-to-day commutes. This adaptation reflects their resilience in optimizing available resources, further highlighting the intricate relationship between socio-economic circumstances and mobility practices.
American and Canadian professional accounting traditions
Authors: Collier Deirdre M , Spraakman Gary
Published: January 2025

This article compares the development of the American and Canadian accounting professions from the last quarter of the nineteenth century to 2023 and the role of national traditions in shaping these developments. Larson's and Abbott's sociological theories of professions were used to understand the evolutions of each country's professional accounting. The USA stayed with the CPA designation for the entire study; Canada had three major professional accounting programmes that merged in 2012 into the CPA. The USA and Canada had some common traditions: a public accounting base that emphasised preparing quality candidates through formal education, experience, credentialism and continuing education. They have also followed differing paths as the profession has been defined, some of which reflected their differing national traditions. Our contribution is to show how these national traditions led to the actual evolution of the accounting professions in each country and the similarities and differences between them.
Impact of surgical specialization on long-term survival after emergent colon cancer resections
Authors: Engdahl Jenny , Öberg Astrid , Bech-Larsen Sandra , Öberg Stefan
Published: January 2025

Background:

The impact of surgical specialization on long-term survival in patients undergoing emergent colon cancer resections remains unclear.

Method:

A retrospective analysis was conducted on all patients who underwent emergent colon cancer resections at a secondary care hospital between 2010 and 2020. The most senior surgeon performing the procedures was classified as colorectal surgeon (CS) or non-colorectal surgeon (NCS). NCS was further divided into acute care surgeons (ACSs) or general surgeons (GSs). Overall survival (OS) and cancer-free survival (CFS) were compared in patients operated by surgeons with different specializations.

Results:

A total of 235 emergent resections were performed during the study period, of which 99 (42%) were performed by CS and 136 (58%) by NCS. In adjusted Cox regression analyses, OS and CFS were similar in patients operated on by CS and NCS (hazard ratio (HR) for OS: 1.02 (0.72–1.496), p = 0.899 and HR for CFS: 0.91 (0.61–1.397), p = 0.660). Similarly, OS and CFS were equivalent in patients operated by ACS and CS (HR for OS: 1.10 (0.75–1.62), p = 0.629 and HR for CFS: 1.24 (0.80–1.92), p = 0.343). However, patients operated by GS had significantly shorter OS and CFS (HR for OS: 1.78 (1.05–3.00), p = 0.031 and HR for CFS: 1.83 (1.02–3.26), p = 0.041) compared with those operated by ACS and CS.

Conclusion:

Long-term survival after emergent colon cancer resections was similar in patients operated on by CS and NCS, and the subgroup of ACS, indicating equivalent comparable surgical quality. The less favorable poorer survival observed for patients operated on by GS may possibly be due to less frequent exposure to colorectal and emergent surgery.
Audiovisual Self-Confrontation: Psychiatric and Psychotherapeutic Uses of Television and Video in (West) Germany 1970s–1990s
Authors: Winter Renée
Published: January 2025

The history of television and video therapy in the Federal Republic of Germany is strongly linked to the working group IAAPP (Internationaler Arbeitskreis für Audiovision in Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie/International Working Group for Audiovision in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy), which was founded 1977 in West Berlin. Although a mainly German-speaking group, the IAAPP also regularly referred to studies from the U.S., but only selectively adopted their approaches concerning audiovisual practices in psychiatry. Technological and legal conditions for the implementation of television systems in psychiatric clinics were debated and elaborated by the working group and formed the basis for the development of various methods of television and video therapy. The members of the IAAPP were particularly interested in approaches to self-confrontation through video recordings which should induce self-reflection, compliance with therapeutic measures, or a coherent self-image.
Dry eyes
Authors: Raja Shumma R , Mohammad Robina
Published: January 2025

Dry eye disease (DED), also known as dry eye syndrome (DES) or keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) is one of the most common problems affecting the general population. It is a self-perpetuating cycle of inflammation and damage to the ocular surface. DES affects 15–33% of those aged over 65 years and prevalence increases with age. It is 50% more common in women than in men. There are many other risk factors for dry eyes. It is characterised by ocular irritation and visual disturbance. Dry eye can be classified into two main types. Hypo secretive (aqueous-deficient or tear deficient) causes and evaporative causes. Current treatment is heavily weighted toward supplementation, stimulation, preservation of aqueous tears or treatment of ocular surface inflammation. DED involves multiple deficiency states and can result in treatment failure and frustration. Furthermore, long-term use of some medication can cause harm to the ocular surface. It is estimated that the NHS spends annually over £27,000,000 pounds on over 6,400,000 prescriptions for artificial tears, ocular lubricants and astringents (figures from 2014). Over the last decade, considerable research has been carried out on the pathophysiological mechanisms involved. This article will explore the different ways in which DES presents and how to diagnose it as well as the main management options.
The utilization of microbial cell-free DNA next-generation sequencing for the detection of human herpesvirus-8 in a quaternary care center
Authors: Berger Rebecca , Jacobe Jennifer , Centeno Fernando H. , Lasco Todd , Al Mohajer Mayar
Published: January 2025

Background:

Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV8) can present with cutaneous or extracutaneous manifestations. While violaceous skin lesions characterize cutaneous Kaposi sarcoma, extracutaneous HHV8 is challenging to diagnose due to nonspecific symptoms.

Objectives:

We evaluated the role of microbial cell-free DNA next-generation sequencing (mcfDNA NGS) in diagnosing HHV8-related illness.

Design:

Retrospective analysis.

Methods:

Between 2017 and 2024, we reviewed the medical charts of 10 immunosuppressed patients at a quaternary care center who had positive HHV8 mcfDNA NGS results.

Results:

The clinical and laboratory turnaround times of mcfDNA NGS were 3 and 1 days, respectively (8.5 and 7 days for immunohistochemistry vs 5.5 and 2 days for serum HHV8 polymerase chain reaction). Eight patients received HHV8-related diagnoses, while two had unrelated conditions. Management changed in six patients post-testing due to outpatient specialist referral or adjusting antimicrobials.

Conclusion:

mcfDNA NGS can aid clinicians in identifying HHV8-related diseases before tissue sampling and adjusting treatment plans in patients with nonspecific disease manifestations.
Toxic Communication on TikTok: Sigma Masculinities and Gendered Disinformation
Authors: Tanner Samuel , Gillardin François
Published: January 2025

A growing body of research highlights digital platforms like TikTok’s pivotal role in shaping meaning for their users, particularly regarding gender perceptions. With TikTok increasingly serving as a search engine for teens, understanding how opinions are formed necessitates examining online content and interactions. Our article focuses on the construction of masculinity and gender dynamics with sigma videos on TikTok, emphasizing the digital practices that foster toxic communication. We define toxic communication as the deliberate framing and intensification of gender relations through the lens of male control and domination, alongside the denigration, devaluation, or defamation of feminine and non-binary identities associated with hegemonic masculinity. Adopting a socio-technical approach, we utilize a digital qualitative method of immersive observation to collect and analyze videos, posts, hashtags, and gender-related content. Our findings reveal that sigma toxic communication manifests in a spectrum ranging from subtle humor to explicit violence. This diversity of content functions as a “ready-to-think” framework, potentially appealing to a wide range of men across varying tastes, ages, and attitudes toward gender while perpetuating narratives that reflect and reinforce entrenched patterns of male dominance.
Association of Preoperative Cartilage T1ρ Values With Progression of Knee Osteoarthritis 10 Years After Anatomical Double-Bundle ACL Reconstruction: Follow-up of a Previous Prospective Study
Authors: Watanabe Shotaro , Sakamoto Takuya , Horii Manato , Kimura Seiji , Yamaguchi Satoshi , Ohtori Seiji , Sasho Takahisa
Published: January 2025

Background:

The factors contributing to osteoarthritis progression after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and reconstruction (ACLR) are not fully understood. Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a noninvasive way to evaluate cartilage biochemical composition using T1ρ mapping, thereby detecting early cartilage degeneration. The specific impact of preoperative quantitative MRI on long-term outcomes after ACLR remains underreported.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of various factors, including preoperative cartilage T1ρ values, on the 10-year outcomes after ACLR. It was hypothesized that individual differences in baseline cartilage degeneration would influence osteoarthritis progression at 10 years postoperatively.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

This case series involved 13 patients with primary ACL injury who underwent anatomical double-bundle ACLR using hamstring tendon autograft between April 2012 and August 2013. All patients underwent preoperative quantitative MRI using a 3.0-T scanner with an 8-channel knee coil. Cartilage was divided into 18 compartments for compositional analysis, and average T1ρ values were calculated for each compartment. At the 10-year follow-up, 9 of the patients were available for patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures and radiographs.

Results:

The 9 patients (6 female, 3 male) had a mean age of 26.4 years and a mean body mass index of 23.3 at surgery. All patients exhibited favorable PRO scores at the 10-year follow-up, but 5 patients showed osteoarthritis progression according to Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade. Although preoperative T1ρ values did not significantly correlate with PRO scores, patients with KL grade progression had significantly higher preoperative T1ρ values in the posterolateral tibial cartilage than those without progression ( P = .04).

Conclusion:

Ten years after anatomical double-bundle ACLR, most patients reported favorable outcomes. Preoperative T1ρ values were not directly correlated with PROs, although the presence of a patient subset with progressive KL grades suggests that preoperative posterolateral tibial cartilage condition may influence long-term osteoarthritis progression.
AdipoR1 enhances the radiation resistance via ESR1/CCNB1IP1/cyclin B1 pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Authors: Gan Yuhan , Zhu Linhui , Li Yimo , Ge Ruoting , Tian Jiahe , Chen Yuxin , He Xiang , Ma Shumei , Liu Xiaodong
Published: January 2025

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common malignant tumors, and radiotherapy plays a pivotal role in its therapeutic regimen. However, radiotherapy resistance is the main cause of therapeutic failure in patients. Our previous study revealed that Adiponectin Receptor 1 (AdipoR1) is involved in regulating radiation resistance in liver cancer patients treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy. To explore the mechanism, we performed high-throughput transcriptome sequencing of hepatocellular carcinoma cells with stable knockdown of AdipoR1. KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that the cell cycle and ubiquitination degradation pathways may be involved in the regulation of radiation resistance by AdipoR1.The knockdown of AdipoR1 can attenuate the radiation-induced G2/M phase arrest through cyclin B1.By the ubiquitination IP assay and a rescue experiment, we confirmed that CCNB1IP1 regulated the ubiquitination and degradation of cyclin B1. Combined with information from transcription factor database and AdipoR1 transcriptome sequencing, these results showed that estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) may be a transcription factor of CCNB1IP1. We found that AdipoR1 promoted the translocation of ESR1 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, and ESR1 inhibited the transcription of CCNB1IP1.Therefore, we propose that AdipoR1 regulates the ubiquitination level, cell cycle progression, and radiation resistance of HCC cells through the “AdipoR1 /ESR1/CCNB1IP1/cyclin B1” axis. This study will promote the development of novel targeted radiosensitizing drugs.
FPR1 affects acute rejection in kidney transplantation by regulating iron metabolism in neutrophils
Authors: Li Peiyuan , Ji Wenbin , Zhang Baotong , Jia Haowen , Wang Jinmiao , Sun Zhaonan , Wang Yifan , Wang Weiwei , Qi Feng
Published: January 2025

Background

Acute rejection (AR) is one of the significant factors contributing to poor prognosis in patients following kidney transplantation. Neutrophils are the main cause of early host-induced tissue injury. This paper intends to investigate the possible mechanisms of neutrophil involvement in acute rejection in renal transplantation.

Methods

Samples were analyzed for their relationship with immune cells using CIBERSORT. WGCNA was used to identify modules with high relevance to neutrophils and hub genes in the modules were extracted. The effect on neutrophil function after blocking formyl peptide receptor 1 (FPR1) was tested in vitro experiments. The effects of blocking FPR1 on neutrophil function as well as acute rejection were tested in vivo after constructing a mouse kidney transplant model.

Results

The proportion of neutrophils was higher in the AR group than in the non-rejection group, and FPR1 was identified as an important gene in the regulation of acute rejection in kidney transplantation by neutrophils. At the cellular level, blocking FPR1 inhibited the activation of the ERK1/2 pathway, decreased ferrous ion content, affected the expression of iron metabolism-related proteins, and suppressed the formation of NETs. In the acute rejection model of renal transplantation, blockade of FPR1 decreased graft neutrophil infiltration and NETs content. Meanwhile, blocking FPR1 attenuated graft injury during acute rejection.

Conclusion

This study found that FPR1 might be an important molecule involved in neutrophils during acute rejection of kidney transplantation, explored the relationship between kidney transplantation and neutrophils, and provided potential treatment methods for clinical practice.
Increased PD-1 expression in livers associated with PD-1-antibody-induced hepatotoxicity
Authors: Saarela Miro , Parviainen Essi , Lleo Ana , di Tommaso Luca , Raunio Hanna , Kankaanranta Krista , Vuopala Katri , Rönkä Aino , Nurmenniemi Sini , Kallio Raija , Jukkola Arja , Selander Katri S.
Published: January 2025

Vanishing bile duct syndrome (VBDS) is a serious drug induced liver injury characterized by chronic cholestasis and loss of intrahepatic bile ducts. VBDS has been reported also following checkpoint inhibitor treatment. We compared CD3 + , CD4 + , CD8 + , CD20 + , CD57 + , PD-1 + and PD-L1 + lymphocyte infiltrates in liver biopsies of patients that encountered VBDS (n = 2) or hepatotoxicity (n = 3) after pembrolizumab (n = 4) or nivolumab (n = 1) treatment with samples from normal liver (n = 10), non-alcohol steatohepatitis (NASH, n = 10), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC, n = 10) or pembrolizumab-treated patients without adverse events (n = 2). Notably, none of the cancer patients had primary nor metastatic liver tumors. We also studied direct growth effects of pembrolizumab on primary human intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells (HIBEpiC) in vitro. Liver sections of all checkpoint inhibitor- treated patients exhibited significantly higher CD3 + infiltration than normal livers, and significantly higher PD-L1 + , CD4 + and CD8 + infiltration, than other groups. PD-1 + infiltration was significantly increased in livers of patients with severe hepatic adverse event. CD57 + infiltration was similar in normal livers, NASH- and PBC groups, but highly increased in the checkpoint inhibitor-treated patients. Immune cell infiltrates were similar between NASH and normal livers. PBC samples had significantly higher CD3 + , CD4 + , CD8 + and CD20 + infiltrates than normal livers. HIBEpiC express PD-L1 but pembrolizumab did not affect their viability in vitro. Our findings suggest that VBDS is not due to direct cytotoxicity of checkpoint inhibitors and that the immunological attack against livers induced by these drugs is different from other cholestatic liver conditions.

Biological insight: Checkpoint inhibitors upregulate PD-1 and PD-L1, as well as cytotoxic CD57 + cells in the non-cancerous liver tissues and this may be associated with checkpoint inhibitor-induced hepatotoxicity.
Predictors of specialist care referrals (SCR) following emergency department review or hospital admission in adults with previous acute COVID-19: a prospective UK cohort study
Authors: Saigal Anita , Xiao Songyuan , Siddique Owais , Naran Prasheena , Bintalib Heba M , Niklewicz Camila Nagoda , Seligmann George , Naidu Sindhu Bhaarrati , Shah Amar J , Ogbonnaya Chibueze , Hurst John R , Lipman Marc Ci , Mandal Swapna
Published: January 2025

Background

Long-COVID research to date focuses on outcomes in non-hospitalised vs. hospitalised survivors. However Emergency Department attendees (post-ED) presenting with acute COVID-19 may experience less supported recovery compared to people admitted and discharged from hospital (post-hospitalised group, PH).

Objective

We evaluated outcomes and predictors of specialty care referrals (SCR) in those with ongoing symptomatic Long-COVID, comparing post-ED and PH adults.

Methods

This prospective observational cohort study evaluates 800 PH and 484 post-ED adults from a single hospital in London, United Kingdom. Participants had either confirmed laboratory-positive SARS-CoV-2 infection or clinically suspected acute COVID-19 and were offered post-COVID clinical follow-up at approximately six weeks after their ED attendance or inpatient discharge, to assess ongoing symptoms and support recovery. Multiple logistic regression determined associations with specialist care referrals (SCR) to respiratory, cardiology, physiotherapy (including chest physiotherapy), and mental health services.

Results

Presence of at least one Long-COVID symptom was lower in adults attending ED services with acute COVID-19 compared to those hospitalised (70.1% post-ED vs. 79.5% PH adults, p < 0.001). Total number of Long-COVID symptoms was associated with increased SCR in all patients (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.26, 95%CI:1.16, 1.36, p < 0.001), with post-ED adults more likely to need a SCR overall (aOR = 1.82, 95%CI:1.19, 2.79, p = 0.006). Post-ED adults had higher SCR to both physiotherapy (aOR = 2.59, 95%CI:1.35, 4.96, p = 0.004) and mental health services (aOR = 3.84, 95%CI:2.00, 7.37, p < 0.001), with pre-existing mental illness linked to the latter (aOR = 4.08, 95%CI:1.07, 15.6, p = 0.04).

Conclusions

We demonstrate greater specialist care referrals to mental health and physiotherapy services in patients attending the ED and discharged with acute COVID-19, compared to those admitted, despite lower ongoing COVID-19 symptom burden. Total number of symptoms, pre-existing co-morbidity such as smoking status, cardiac co-morbidities, and mental health illnesses may predict those requiring healthcare input. This information may enable better post-COVID support for ED attendees, a distinct group who should not be neglected when preparing for future pandemics.

Trial registration

This study had HRA approval (20/HRA/4928).
Intraocular inflammation after intravitreal injection of aflibercept 8 mg for treatment-refractory neovascular age-related macular degeneration: a case report
Authors: Hashiya Nozomu , Maruko Ichiro , Miyaguchi Yuri , Maruko Ruka , Hasegawa Taiji , Iida Tomohiro
Published: January 2025

Background

To report a case of intraocular inflammation (IOI) after intravitreal injection of aflibercept 8 mg for treatment-refractory neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Case presentation

An 80-year-old man with diabetes mellitus had neovascular age-related macular degeneration refractory to treatment with aflibercept 2 mg. Despite ten injections of faricimab, the exudation remained, and we switched to brolucizumab, which resulted in a mild IOI. The IOI improved with only topical steroids, and we switched back to aflibercept 2 mg for the exudation. However, the exudation remained, and we decided to switch to aflibercept 8 mg after careful discussion with the patient. Two weeks later, he experienced minor ocular pain and photophobia. One month later, although a dry macula was achieved, severe visual impairment occurred due to anterior chamber inflammation, retinal vasculitis, and retinal vascular occlusion. We diagnosed the severe IOI following aflibercept 8 mg and immediately started steroid eye drops and a sub-Tenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide. Although the inflammation resolved, his visual acuity did not improve.

Conclusions

This case demonstrated a potential dose-dependent inflammatory response following aflibercept 8 mg, which did not occur with aflibercept 2 mg in patients with a history of intraocular inflammation.
A web-based pilot randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of education and contact-based interventions in reducing public suicide stigma
Authors: Oexle Nathalie , Lühr Matthias , Valacchi Daniele , Rüsch Nicolas
Published: January 2025

Background

Interventions to reduce public suicide stigma (i.e. negative attitudes towards persons affected by suicide/suicidality) could contribute to suicide prevention. However, such interventions could unintentionally increase suicide normalization (i.e. liberal attitudes towards suicide) and therefore increase suicide risk. We aimed to test the efficacy of education- and contact-based interventions delivered online via video or text on both public suicide stigma and suicide normalization.

Methods

We conducted a web-based randomized controlled trial among N = 2,043 participants recruited from an established online research panel. Participants were randomized into six groups, receiving either one of four contact- or education-based interventions that were transferred via text or video (contact text, contact video, education text, education video) or control group content (contact control, education control). Information about suicide stigma and suicide normalization were collected directly before (t0) and after intervention participation (t1) as well as about two weeks later (t2). To explore the attractiveness of the provided intervention material, we used Brown-Mood’s median test to compare the times participants spent with the provided intervention material in each group. We then used linear mixed models to compare effects on suicide stigma and suicide normalization between intervention groups and control groups.

Results

Median times spent with provided material were generally longer among participants exposed to video material than among participants exposed to text material, and among participants in contact-based interventions than among participants in education-based interventions. We did not observe stronger effects in intervention groups compared to control groups on suicide stigma or suicide normalization. Surprisingly, suicide stigma and suicide normalization appeared to decrease from t0 to t1 in both intervention and control groups.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest a higher attractiveness of video- and contact-based material compared to text- and education-based material. However, none of the interventions had a significant effect on public suicide stigma or suicide normalization. Future research should explore innovative and safe approaches to reduce public suicide stigma. Experimental studies may focus on interventions with higher attractiveness (i.e. video and contact-based interventions), use interventions with higher intensity (i.e. longer interventions, more repetitions), and assess suicide stigma with implicit measures to avoid response bias.

Trial registration

The RCT was registered at clinicaltrials.gov on February 11th, 2021 (NCT04756219).
“We’re all in the same storm, but not all of us are in the same boat”: qualitative exploration of UK response-focused civil servants experiences of working from home during COVID-19
Authors: Hall Charlotte E. , Brooks Samantha K. , Greenberg Neil , Weston Dale
Published: January 2025

Introduction

The experiences of UK Government response-focused employees, who were considered frontline workers during the coronavirus response, are missing from current literature. Meeting the demands of being on the frontline, whilst also adjusting from a normal and practiced way of working to having to work from within one’s home, may bring a plethora of new barriers and facilitators associated with providing an effective pandemic response.

Method

This interview study collected and analysed data from 30 UK Civil servants who worked on the COVID-19 pandemic response from their own homes. Interviews aimed to: (1) explore UK Government employee’s experiences of working from home whilst contributing to the pandemic response; and, (2) establish what support and guidance employees were offered, and what they would recommend for future public health emergencies requiring homeworking.

Results

Seven themes were extracted from the data: overall experience of working from home; preparedness for working from home; experience of contributing to the response effort; work life balance; relationships with colleagues; space and equipment; and, inclusivity. Findings suggested that during the pandemic, participants reported feeling a strong sense of purpose and achievement for contributing to the response. But, the work was demanding, particularly for those who had to rapidly, and unexpectedly, transition from office or lab work to home working. More generally, the nature of their homeworking experience depended on a range of practical (e.g., space in the home), organisational (e.g., relationships with managers) and personal factors (e.g., caring responsibilities). Many participants were underprepared to work from home, but participants provided a plethora of information relating to what support offers they would find useful during future work on the frontline from their own homes.

Conclusion

The results of this study demonstrate that frontline UK Civil servants may need more tailored and flexible multilevel support (i.e., from peers, managers, organisations) during future public health emergencies when they are required to work from home. A series of data-informed recommendations are created and discussed.
Temporal and spatial pattern of DNA damage in neurons following spinal cord Injury in mice
Authors: Scheijen Elle EM , Veeningen Naomi , Duwé Sam , Ivanova Anna , Van Broeckhoven Jana , Hendrix Sven , Wilson David M
Published: January 2025

Background

Deficient DNA repair and excessive DNA damage contribute to neurodegenerative disease. However, the role of DNA damage and repair in spinal cord injury (SCI) is unclear. SCI, a debilitating disruption of the structural and biological network of the spinal cord, is characterized by oxidative stress. Nevertheless, the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to neuronal loss following SCI remain incompletely defined. Methods: Using a contusion model, a severe SCI was induced at the L1 spinal level in C57Bl/6J mice. The temporal and spatial presence of DNA damage was then determined via immunolabeling for the DNA damage marker, γH2AX, from 1 h post-injury (hpi) to 28 days post-injury (dpi). Results: Our analysis revealed that increased DNA damage foci were present from 1 hpi to 3 dpi in SCI mice relative to controls (sham surgery and naive), with the damage signal spreading over time longitudinally from the affected area to more rostral and caudal regions. Co-labeling of γH2AX with NeuN revealed neuronal specificity of DNA damage, with increased early cell death (pan-nuclear γH2AX) peaking at 1 dpi and apoptosis (cleaved Caspase-3) arising later at 3 dpi. Conclusion: Our study indicates a possible role of DNA damage in neuronal loss following SCI and highlights the need for early interventions targeting DNA repair to preserve neuronal tissue.
Demographic disparities in access to COVID-19 clinical trial sites across the United States: a geospatial analysis
Authors: Cuomo Raphael , McMann Tiana , Xu Qing , Li Zhuoran , Yang Joshua , Hsieh Julie , Lee Christine , Lolic Milena , Araojo Richardae , Mackey Tim
Published: January 2025

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, underserved populations, such as racial and ethnic minority communities, were disproportionately impacted by illness and death. Ensuring people from diverse backgrounds have the ability to participate in clinical trials is key to advancing health equity. We sought to analyze the spatial variability in locations of COVID-19 trials sites and to test associations with demographic correlates. All available and searchable COVID-19 studies listed on ClinicalTrials.gov until 04/04/2022 and conducted in the United States were extracted at the trial-level, and locations were geocoded using the Microsoft Bing API. Publicly available demographic data were available at the county level for national analysis and the census tract level for local analysis. Independent variables included eight racial and ethnic covariates, both sexes, and twelve age categories, all of which were population-normalized. The county-level, population-normalized count of study site locations, by type, was used as the outcome for national analysis, thereby enabling the determination of demographic associations with geospatial availability to enroll as a participant in a COVID-19 study. Z-scores of the Getis-Ord Gi statistic were used as the outcome for local analysis in order to account for areas close to those with clinical study sites. For both national (p < 0.001) and local analysis (p = 0.006 for Los Angeles, p = 0.030 for New York), areas with greater proportions of men had significantly fewer studies. Sites were more likely to be found in counties with higher proportions of Asian (p < 0.001) and American Indian or Alaska Native residents (p < 0.001). Areas with greater concentrations of Black or African American residents had significantly lower concentrations of observational (p < 0.001) and government-sponsored COVID-19 studies (p = 0.003) in national analysis and significantly fewer concentrations of study sites in both Los Angeles (p < 0.001) and New York (p = 0.007). Though there appear to be a large number of COVID-19 studies that commenced in the US, they are distributed unevenly, both nationally and locally.
Developing a comprehensive inventory to define harm reduction housing
Authors: Zaragoza Sofia , Silcox Joseph , Rapisarda Sabrina , Summers Charlie , Case Patricia , To Clara , Chatterjee Avik , Walley Alexander Y. , Komaromy Miriam , Green Traci C
Published: January 2025

Background

The City of Boston has faced unprecedented challenges with substance use amidst changes to the illicit drug supply and increased visibility of homelessness. Among its responses, Boston developed six low threshold harm reduction housing (HRH) sites geared towards supporting the housing needs of people who use drugs (PWUD) and addressing health and safety concerns around geographically concentrated tent encampments. HRH sites are transitional supportive housing that adhere to a “housing first” approach where abstinence is not required and harm reduction services and supports are co-located. Despite the importance of HRH, the specific characteristics and operations of these sites are not well understood. This study sought to address this gap by cataloging the common features of Boston’s HRH sites to generate a comprehensive inventory tool for evaluating implementation of harm reduction strategies at transitional housing locations.

Methods

We collected data between June and September 2023 and included semi-structured qualitative interviews with HRH staff (n = 19), ethnographic observations and photos at six HRH sites. Candidate inventory components were derived through triangulation of the data. Two expert medical staff unaffiliated with data collection reviewed a draft inventory measuring awareness and utility of HRH inventory components. We then pilot tested the inventory with three HRH residents across two sites for readability and reliability. Awareness, frequency of use, and perceived helpfulness of key inventory items were further tested in a survey to 106 residents.

Results

HRH staff identified best practices, resources, and policies in HRH sites that were further contextualized with ethnographic field notes. Common to all were overdose prevention protocols, behavioral policies, security measures, and distribution of harm reduction supplies. The initial 44-item inventory of services, policies and site best practices was further refined with expert and participant feedback and application, then finalized to generate a 32-item inventory. Residents identified and valued harm reduction services; medical supports were highly valued but less utilized.

Conclusion

The HRH inventory comprehensively assesses harm reduction provision and residents’ awareness and perceived helpfulness of HRH operational components in staying safe from drug-related harms. Characterizing the critical components of HRH through this tool will aid in standardizing the concept and practice of HRH for PWUD and may assist other cities in planning and implementing HRH.