bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of endometrial receptivity testing for recurrent implantation failure in patients with euploid embryo transfers: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Lu Yao , Mao Xinyi , He Yaqiong , Wang Yuan , Sun Yun
Published: May 2024

Background

Embryo implantation remains a critical barrier in assisted reproductive technologies. One of the main causes of unsuccessful embryo implantation is window of implantation (WOI) displacement, particularly in patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF). Therefore, a reliable diagnostic tool for identifying the optimal WOI is essential. Previous data has suggested that a novel RNA-Seq-based endometrial receptivity testing (ERT) can diagnose WOI, guide personalized embryo transfer (pET), and improve pregnancy outcomes in patients with RIF compared to standard embryo transfer (sET). However, there is still a lack of evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCT) with sufficient power to determine whether pET based on ERT can increase the rate of live births as the primary outcome.

Methods

This trial is a prospective, single-blind, parallel-group RCT (1:1 ratio of pET versus sET). Infertile women with RIF who intend to undergo frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) after preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) with the availability of at least one euploid blastocyst for transfer will be enrolled and assigned into two parallel groups randomly. Participants in the intervention group will undergo ERT and then pET based on the results of ERT, while those in the control group will undergo sET. The primary outcome is live birth rate.

Discussion

The findings of this study will provide evidence for the effect of pET guided by ERT on pregnancy outcomes in patients with RIF.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2100049041. Registered on 20 July 2021.
Metabolome-wide Mendelian randomization for age at menarche and age at natural menopause
Authors: Yazdanpanah Mojgan , Yazdanpanah Nahid , Gamache Isabel , Ong Ken , Perry John R. B. , Manousaki Despoina
Published: May 2024

Background

The role of metabolism in the variation of age at menarche (AAM) and age at natural menopause (ANM) in the female population is not entirely known. We aimed to investigate the causal role of circulating metabolites in AAM and ANM using Mendelian randomization (MR).

Methods

We combined MR with genetic colocalization to investigate potential causal associations between 658 metabolites and AAM and between 684 metabolites and ANM. We extracted genetic instruments for our exposures from four genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on circulating metabolites and queried the effects of these variants on the outcomes in two large GWAS from the ReproGen consortium. Additionally, we assessed the mediating role of the body mass index (BMI) in these associations, identified metabolic pathways implicated in AAM and ANM, and sought validation for selected metabolites in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC).

Results

Our analysis identified 10 candidate metabolites for AAM, but none of them colocalized with AAM. For ANM, 76 metabolites were prioritized (FDR-adjusted MR P-value ≤ 0.05), with 17 colocalizing, primarily in the glycerophosphocholines class, including the omega-3 fatty acid and phosphatidylcholine (PC) categories. Pathway analyses and validation in ALSPAC mothers also highlighted the role of omega and polyunsaturated fatty acids levels in delaying age at menopause.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that metabolites from the glycerophosphocholine and fatty acid families play a causal role in the timing of both menarche and menopause. This underscores the significance of specific metabolic pathways in the biology of female reproductive longevity.
Microstructural changes of the white matter in systemic lupus erythematosus patients without neuropsychiatric symptoms: a multi-shell diffusion imaging study
Authors: Hu Wenjun , Qiu Ziru , Huang Qin , Lin Yuhao , Mo Jiaying , Wang Linhui , Wang Jingyi , Deng Kan , Feng Yanqiu , Zhang Xinyuan , Tan Xiangliang
Published: May 2024

Background

Diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) provide more comprehensive and informative perspective on microstructural alterations of cerebral white matter (WM) than single-shell diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), especially in the detection of crossing fiber. However, studies on systemic lupus erythematosus patients without neuropsychiatric symptoms (non-NPSLE patients) using multi-shell diffusion imaging remain scarce.

Methods

Totally 49 non-NPSLE patients and 41 age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy controls underwent multi-shell diffusion magnetic resonance imaging. Totally 10 diffusion metrics based on DKI (fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, radial diffusivity, mean kurtosis, axial kurtosis and radial kurtosis) and NODDI (neurite density index, orientation dispersion index and volume fraction of the isotropic diffusion compartment) were evaluated. Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) and atlas-based region-of-interest (ROI) analyses were performed to determine group differences in brain WM microstructure. The associations of multi-shell diffusion metrics with clinical indicators were determined for further investigation.

Results

TBSS analysis revealed reduced FA, AD and RK and increased ODI in the WM of non-NPSLE patients (P < 0.05, family-wise error corrected), and ODI showed the best discriminative ability. Atlas-based ROI analysis found increased ODI values in anterior thalamic radiation (ATR), inferior frontal-occipital fasciculus (IFOF), forceps major (F_major), forceps minor (F_minor) and uncinate fasciculus (UF) in non-NPSLE patients, and the right ATR showed the best discriminative ability. ODI in the F_major was positively correlated to C3.

Conclusion

This study suggested that DKI and NODDI metrics can complementarily detect WM abnormalities in non-NPSLE patients and revealed ODI as a more sensitive and specific biomarker than DKI, guiding further understanding of the pathophysiological mechanism of normal-appearing WM injury in SLE.
Association of triglyceride glucose index with the risk of acute kidney injury in patients with coronary revascularization: a cohort study
Authors: Shi Yue , Duan Hangyu , Liu Jing , Shi Xiujie , Zhao Mingming , Zhang Yu
Published: May 2024

Background

The triglyceride glucose (TyG) index is a novel and reliable alternative marker for insulin resistance. Previous studies have shown that TyG index is closely associated with cardiovascular outcomes in cardiovascular diseases and coronary revascularization. However, the relationship between TyG index and renal outcomes of coronary revascularization is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between TyG index and the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with coronary revascularization.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted to select eligible patients with coronary revascularization admitted to ICU in the medical information mart for intensive care IV (MIMIC-IV). According to the TyG index quartile, these patients were divided into four groups (Q1-Q4). The primary endpoint was the incidence of AKI, and secondary endpoints included 28-day mortality and the rate of renal replacement therapy (RRT) use in the AKI population. Multivariate Cox regression analysis and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were used to analyze TyG index association with AKI risk. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to assess the incidence of endpoints in the four groups.

Results

In this study, 790 patients who underwent coronary revascularization surgery were included, and the incidence of AKI was 30.13%. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with a high TyG index had a significantly increased incidence of AKI (Log-rank P = 0.0045). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that whether TyG index was a continuous variable (HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.06–1.92, P = 0.018) or a categorical variable (Q4: HR 1.89, 95% CI 1.12–3.17, P = 0.017), and there was an independent association between TyG index and AKI in patients with coronary revascularization. The RCS curve showed a linear relationship between higher TyG index and AKI in this particular population (P = 0.078). In addition, Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a significantly increased risk of RRT application in a subset of AKI patients based on quartiles of TyG index (P = 0.029).

Conclusion

TyG index was significantly associated with increased risk of AKI and adverse renal outcomes in patients with coronary revascularization. This finding suggests that the TyG index may be useful in identifying people at high risk for AKI and poor renal outcomes in patients with coronary revascularization.
Solvent flashcards: a visualisation tool for sustainable chemistry
Authors: Heeley Joseph , Boobier Samuel , Hirst Jonathan D.
Published: May 2024

Selecting greener solvents during experiment design is imperative for greener chemistry. While many solvent selection guides are currently used in the pharmaceutical industry, these are often paper-based guides which can make it difficult to identify and compare specific solvents. This work presents a stand-alone version of the solvent flashcards that were developed as part of the AI4Green electronic laboratory notebook. The functionality is an intuitive and interactive interface for the visualisation of data from CHEM21, a pharmaceutical solvent selection guide that categorises solvents according to “greenness”. This open-source software is written in Python, JavaScript, HTML and CSS and allows users to directly contrast and compare specific solvents by generating colour-coded flashcards. It can be installed locally using pip, or alternatively the source code is available on GitHub: https://github.com/AI4Green/solvent_flashcards. The documentation can also be found on GitHub or on the corresponding Python Package Index webpage: https://pypi.org/project/solvent-guide/.

Scientific Contribution

This simple and easy-to-use digital tool provides a visualisation of solvent greenness data through a novel intuitive interface and encourages green chemistry. It offers numerous advantages over traditional solvent selection guides, allowing users to directly customise the solvent list and generate side-by-side comparisons of only the most important solvents. The release as a standalone package will maximise the benefit of this software.

Graphical Abstract
Deterioration-associated microbiome of a modern photographic artwork: the case of Skull and Crossbones by Robert Mapplethorpe
Authors: Petraretti Mariagioia , De Natale Antonino , Del Mondo Angelo , Troisi Romualdo , De Castro Olga , Mormile Nicolina , Avino Mariano , Tortino Gennaro , Graziano Giuseppe Oreste , Vergara Alessandro , Pollio Antonino
Published: May 2024

The preservation of cultural heritage, including ancient photographic materials, is of paramount importance in the field of conservation science. In this context, the microbial diversity of ‘Skull and Crossbones’, a 1983 photograph by Robert Mapplethorpe printed on silver gelatine, was assessed. We employed both culture-dependent and culture-independent methods to characterize microbial communities inhabiting this artwork. Vibrational Raman micro spectroscopy and FT-IR spectroscopy were utilized to assess the chemical degradation condition and characterize the chemical components of the silver gelatin print. The combination of molecular sequencing methods (Sanger and HTS approach) and non-invasive vibrational spectroscopy yielded valuable insights into the microbial communities thriving on photographic material and the chemical degradation of the print. Isolated fungal strains were added to the Fungal Collection at the University of Naples Federico II, and their deteriorative potential was investigated by adding substrates, commonly used in canvas photographs to the culture media. These results establish a link between microbial communities colonizing ancient photographic materials, paper decomposition, and the enzymatic patterns of the retrieved microorganisms. This information is invaluable for understanding and addressing biodeterioration progression on valuable works of art, such as historical photographs, which remain understudied.
Extracellular vesicles from dental pulp mesenchymal stem cells modulate macrophage phenotype during acute and chronic cardiac inflammation in athymic nude rats with myocardial infarction
Authors: Amaro-Prellezo Elena , Gómez-Ferrer Marta , Hakobyan Lusine , Ontoria-Oviedo Imelda , Peiró-Molina Esteban , Tarazona Sonia , Salguero Pedro , Ruiz-Saurí Amparo , Selva-Roldán Marta , Vives-Sanchez Rosa , Sepúlveda Pilar
Published: May 2024

Background/aims

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from dental pulp mesenchymal stem cells (DP-MSCs) are a promising therapeutic option for the treatment of myocardial ischemia. The aim of this study is to determine whether MSC-EVs could promote a pro-resolving environment in the heart by modulating macrophage populations.

Methods

EVs derived from three independent biopsies of DP-MSCs (MSC-EVs) were isolated by tangential flow-filtration and size exclusion chromatography and were characterized by omics analyses. Biological processes associated with these molecules were analyzed using String and GeneCodis platforms. The immunomodulatory capacity of MSC-EVs to polarize macrophages towards a pro-resolving or M2-like phenotype was assessed by evaluating surface markers, cytokine production, and efferocytosis. The therapeutic potential of MSC-EVs was evaluated in an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) model in nude rats. Infarct size and the distribution of macrophage populations in the infarct area were evaluated 7 and 21 days after intramyocardial injection of MSC-EVs.

Results

Lipidomic, proteomic, and miRNA-seq analysis of MSC-EVs revealed their association with biological processes involved in tissue regeneration and regulation of the immune system, among others. MSC-EVs promoted the differentiation of pro-inflammatory macrophages towards a pro-resolving phenotype, as evidenced by increased expression of M2 markers and decreased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Administration of MSC-EVs in rats with AMI limited the extent of the infarcted area at 7 and 21 days post-infarction. MSC-EV treatment also reduced the number of pro-inflammatory macrophages within the infarct area, promoting the resolution of inflammation.

Conclusion

EVs derived from DP-MSCs exhibited similar characteristics at the omics level irrespective of the biopsy from which they were derived. All MSC-EVs exerted effective pro-resolving responses in a rat model of AMI, indicating their potential as therapeutic agents for the treatment of inflammation associated with AMI.
Cannabidiol impairs sperm quality and function in adult mice
Authors: Govahi Azam , Eghbali Sahar , Ajdary Marziyeh , Amjadi Fatemehsadat , Nazari Mahsa , Kazorgah Farzaneh Mohammadzadeh , Mehdizadeh Mehdi
Published: May 2024

Background

Considering the growing therapeutic use of cannabidiol as well as the presence of cannabinoid receptors in sperm and its possible genotoxic activity, the effect of cannabidiol on sperm quality and function was examined.

Methods

Thirty male NMRI mice were randomly divided into three groups: control (no injection), sham (intraperitoneal (IP) injection of DMSO daily for 34 days), and cannabidiol (IP injection of cannabidiol 30 mg/ml daily for 34 days). Following 35 days after the last injection, sperm parameters, chromatin integrity (CMA3 staining), acrosome reaction (FITC-PNA method), fertility-related genes (IZUMO1, PLCζ), and blastulation rate of the embryos obtained from the oocytes fertilized with the mentioned sperms was investigated.

Results

Count, motility, and morphology of sperm were not significantly affected by cannabidiol. CMA3+ sperms (protamine deficiency) were significantly higher in the cannabidiol group compared to the control group (P = 0.03). The acrosomal reaction and fertility-related genes (IZUMO1, PLCζ) in the cannabidiol group did not differ significantly compared to the control group. Also, there was no significant difference between the cannabidiol group and the control group in the two-cell and the eight-cell stages but the rate of blastocyst formation was significantly lower in the cannabidiol group compared to other groups (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Our results showed that cannabidiol leads to negative effects on the male reproductive system through an effect on sperm chromatin and the rate of reaching the blastocyst stage of the embryo.

Graphical Abstract
Atherogenic index of plasma as a predictor of coronary artery disease: a cohort study in south of Iran
Authors: Mirzadeh Mahdieh , Nikparvar Marzieh , Rafati Shideh , Kheirandish Masoumeh , Azarbad Abnoos , Sheybani-Arani MohammadHosein , Khajavi-Mayvan Fatemeh , Morovatshoar Reza
Published: May 2024

Background

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is an atherosclerotic disease of an inflammatory nature. Previous studies examining the relationship between triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol have highlighted the importance of plasma atherogenic index (AIP) as an important predictor of coronary heart disease. However, due to the lack of adequate information on this topic, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between AIP and coronary heart disease risk.

Results

This study included 2,226 women and 1,690 men aged 35–70 years who participated in the Bandar Kong Cohort study and met the eligibility criteria. The data was collected using a checklist and questionnaires, which were designed by experienced individuals. After participants completed a registration form and gave informed consent, face-to-face interviews were conducted by trained experts. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire had been verified by the national cohort team prior to its use. The Ethics Committee of Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences (IR.HUMS.REC.1400.171) approved the study. Data from the initial cohort survey using SPSS software version 25, were analyzed to include several factors, including age, sex, smoking status, body mass index (BMI), physical activity level, socioeconomic status, AIP, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. The prevalence of coronary heart disease was found to be 7.5% higher in people with a BMI of 25 or higher. Also, Individuals with low physical activity had a higher prevalence. Individuals with CAD had significantly higher mean values for the AIP, age, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure (0.46, 57.50, 128.43, and 81.10, respectively) compared to those without CAD. Furthermore, patients with CAD had lower years of education (2649.45 and 3.59) than individuals without CAD (P < 0.05). Importantly, our findings showed that AIP increased the odds ratio of coronary heart disease by 1.86 as an independent risk factor.

Conclusions

Based on our investigation, the AIP is a valuable and independent predictive risk factor for coronary artery disease. This index can be utilized effectively due to its accessibility and affordability, making it a promising tool for risk assessment in clinical settings.
Patient-Reported Outcomes From the Phase III HIMALAYA Study of Tremelimumab Plus Durvalumab in Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Sangro Bruno , Galle Peter R. , Kelley Robin Kate , Charoentum Chaiyut , De Toni Enrico N. , Ostapenko Yurii , Heo Jeong , Cheng Ann-Lii , Wilson Woods Andrea , Gupta Charu , Abraham Jayne , McCoy Carrie L. , Patel Nikunj , Negro Alejandra , Vogel Arndt , Abou-Alfa Ghassan K.
Published: May 2024

PURPOSE

In the phase III HIMALAYA study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03298451 ) in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC), the Single Tremelimumab Regular Interval Durvalumab (STRIDE) regimen significantly improved overall survival versus sorafenib, and durvalumab monotherapy was noninferior to sorafenib. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs), a secondary outcome from HIMALAYA, are reported here.

METHODS

Participants were randomly assigned to receive STRIDE, durvalumab, or sorafenib. PROs were assessed (preplanned secondary outcome) using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer 30-item Quality of Life Questionnaire and the 18-item HCC module. Time to deterioration (TTD), change from baseline and improvement rate in global health status/quality of life (GHS/QoL), functioning, and disease-related symptoms were analyzed.

RESULTS

In total, 1,171 participants were randomly assigned to STRIDE (n = 393), durvalumab (n = 389), or sorafenib (n = 389) and were evaluable for PRO assessments. Across treatment arms, compliance rates for PROs were >77% at baseline and >70% overall. Baseline scores were comparable across treatment arms. TTD in GHS/QoL, physical functioning, fatigue, appetite loss, and abdominal pain was numerically longer for both STRIDE and durvalumab versus sorafenib. Clinically meaningful deterioration in PROs was not observed in any treatment arm. However, TTD in nausea and abdominal swelling was numerically longer for STRIDE versus sorafenib, and the likelihood of clinically meaningful improvement in GHS/QoL, role, emotional and social functioning, and disease-related symptoms was greater with STRIDE and durvalumab versus sorafenib. PROs with STRIDE and durvalumab were generally similar.

CONCLUSION

Compared with sorafenib, STRIDE and durvalumab were associated with clinically meaningful, patient-centered GHS/QoL, functioning, and symptom benefits in people with uHCC. These findings support the benefits of the STRIDE regimen compared with sorafenib for a diverse population reflective of the global uHCC population.
Effect of constraint relaxation on dynamic critical phenomena in minimum vertex cover problem
Authors: Dote A. , Hukushima K.
Published: May 2024

The effects of constraint relaxation on dynamic critical phenomena in the Minimum Vertex Cover (MVC) problem on Erdős-Rényi random graphs are investigated using Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations. Following our previous work that revealed the reduction of the critical temperature by constraint relaxation based on the penalty function method, this study focuses on investigating the critical properties of the relaxation time along its phase boundary. It is found that the dynamical correlation function of MVC with respect to the problem size and the constraint strength follows a universal scaling function. The analysis shows that the relaxation time decreases as the constraints are relaxed. This decrease is more pronounced for the critical amplitude than for the critical exponent, and this result is interpreted in terms of the system's microscopic energy barriers due to the constraint relaxation.
Complex phases in quantum mechanics
Authors: Bender Carl M. , Hook Daniel W.
Published: May 2024

Schrödinger's equation is a local differential equation and boundary conditions are required to determine the solution uniquely. Depending on the choice of boundary conditions, a given Hamiltonian may describe several different physically observable phases, each exhibiting its own characteristic global symmetry.
The Socioeconomic Image of China in the Early Modern Age and the Debate on the Decline of Castile
Authors: Perdices de Blas Luis , Ramos-Gorostiza José Luis
Published: May 2024

This article analyzes the socioeconomic image of China developed in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries by Spanish travelers and historians, differentiating between the idealized “Iberian view” and the more nuanced and critical Jesuit perspective. What were thought to be the main reasons behind China's wealth that impressed Europeans so much is relevant for a better understanding of the seventeenth-century debate on the causes of the decline of Castile, the heart of the Spanish Empire. On the one hand, the contrast between the increasingly battered Hispanic monarchy and the image of prosperity—more or less nuanced—conveyed by both visions of China made clearer the situation of socioeconomic decline of the Spanish Empire. In fact, from both visions could be implicitly derived diverse criticisms of the Spain of the last Habsburgs. On the other hand, it is paradoxical and surprising that the protagonists of the debate on the Castilian decline, the arbitristas, were not aware of the writings on China of their contemporaries, which reduced the potential of their analysis.
High sugar diet alters immune function and the gut microbiome in juvenile green iguanas (Iguana iguana)
Authors: Ki Kwanho C. , Lewis Erin L. , Wu Elizabeth , Oliaro Francis J. , Aubry Lise M. , Knapp Charles R. , Kapheim Karen M. , DeNardo Dale , French Susannah S.
Published: May 2024

The present work aimed to study whether a high sugar diet can alter immune responses and the gut microbiome in green iguanas. Thirty-six iguanas were split into four treatment groups using a 2×2 design. Iguanas received either a sugar-supplemented diet or a control diet, and either a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection or a phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) injection. Iguanas were given their respective diet treatment through the entire study (∼3 months) and received a primary immune challenge 1 and 2 months into the experiment. Blood samples and cloacal swabs were taken at various points in the experiment and used to measure changes in the immune system (bacterial killing ability, lysis and agglutination scores, LPS-specific IgY concentrations), and alterations in the gut microbiome. We found that a sugar diet reduces bacterial killing ability following an LPS challenge, and sugar and the immune challenge temporarily alters gut microbiome composition while reducing alpha diversity. Although sugar did not directly reduce lysis and agglutination following the immune challenge, the change in these scores over a 24-h period following an immune challenge was more drastic (it decreased) relative to the control diet group. Moreover, sugar increased constitutive agglutination outside of the immune challenges (i.e. pre-challenge levels). In this study, we provide evidence that a high sugar diet affects the immune system of green iguanas (in a disruptive manner) and alters the gut microbiome.
Analytical observational study of salmonella PCR and its comparison with routine laboratory parameters in cases of enteric fever in tertiary care hospital in central India
Authors: Hamdulay Dr.Khadija , Ravekar Rajendra , Tayade Ashwini
Published: May 2024

Background Enteric fever, predominantly caused by Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi, remains a significant global health concern, particularly in resource-limited settings. The diagnostic landscape for enteric fever relies on traditional methods such as the Widal test and blood culture, each with inherent limitations regarding sensitivity and turnaround time. Methods The study will employ an Analytical Observational Study design conducted at Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital in central India over a two-year period. Participants will include adults above 18 years admitted to the ward or Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with acute febrile illnesses. Inclusion criteria encompass a wide age range, ensuring a diverse study population. Peripheral blood samples will be collected for Salmonella PCR, Widal testing, and blood culture. Dot-PCR for Typhi will be employed, and DNA extraction will follow strict protocols. Data will be systematically recorded, and statistical analyses, including sensitivity, specificity, and comparative assessments, will be conducted to evaluate diagnostic performance. Expected Outcome It is anticipated that Salmonella PCR will exhibit superior sensitivity and specificity compared to traditional diagnostic methods, offering a more rapid and accurate identification of enteric fever cases. The study aims to contribute valuable evidence supporting the incorporation of Salmonella PCR into routine diagnostic algorithms, potentially revolutionizing the approach to enteric fever diagnosis. Moreover, insights gained from the study are expected to inform clinical practices, enhance patient management, and potentially reduce the economic burden associated with misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of enteric fever. The outcomes of this research are poised to impact public health strategies, providing a foundation for more effective and efficient diagnostic protocols in the context of enteric fever.
A prospective observational role of magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy in evaluation of choline levels in gall bladder carcinoma in tertiary care hospital in central India
Authors: Kumari Anjali , Mishra Gaurav V , Parihar P.H. , Dudhe Sakshi
Published: May 2024

Background Gall bladder carcinoma (GBC) is a challenging malignancy characterized by late-stage diagnosis and poor prognosis. Early detection and accurate staging are crucial for improving patient outcomes. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) offer non-invasive imaging modalities that may aid in the evaluation of GBC. Choline, a metabolite detected by MRS, has been implicated in tumor growth and may serve as a potential biomarker for GBC. This study aims to investigate the role of MRI and MRS in evaluating choline levels as biomarkers for GBC. Method A prospective observational study will be conducted involving patients with suspected or confirmed GBC referred to the Department of Radiology, AVBRH, Sawangi. Patients meeting inclusion criteria will undergo MRI scans and MRS examinations to assess tumor characteristics and choline levels. Data collected will include MRI images, MRS spectra, histopathological results, and clinical outcomes. Statistical analysis will be performed to examine correlations between MRI findings, choline levels, and histopathological characteristics. Expected Outcome It is anticipated that MRI and MRS will demonstrate utility in evaluating choline levels as imaging biomarkers for GBC. Correlations between choline levels, tumor characteristics, and clinical outcomes are expected to provide valuable insights into the role of choline in GBC pathogenesis and prognosis. If successful, MRI and MRS could serve as non-invasive tools for early detection, staging, and treatment response monitoring in GBC, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes and management strategies.
Clinical efficacy of intradermal type I collagen injections in treating skin photoaging in patients from high-altitude areas
Authors: Yang Bin , He Ao , Bu Bin-Bin , Zhuo Gong , Zhou Qing-Zhu , He Jia-Hang , Liu Liu , Huang Wen-Li , Zhao Xian
Published: May 2024

BACKGROUND

Photoaging, a result of chronic sun exposure, leads to skin damage and pigmentation changes. Traditional treatments may have limitations in high-altitude areas like Yunnan Province. Intradermal Col Ι injections stimulate collagen production, potentially improving skin quality. This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of this treatment for photoaging.

AIM

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intradermal type Ι collagen (Col Ι) injection for treating photoaging.

METHODS

This prospective, self-controlled study investigated the impact of intradermal injections of Col Ι on skin photodamage in 20 patients from the Yunnan Province. Total six treatment sessions were conducted every 4 wk ± 3 d. Before and after each treatment, facial skin characteristics were quantified using a VISIA skin detector. Skin thickness data were assessed using the ultrasound probes of the Dermalab skin detector. The Face-Q scale was used for subjective evaluation of the treatment effect by the patients.

RESULTS

The skin thickness of the right cheek consistently increased after each treatment session compared with baseline. The skin thickness of the left cheek significantly increased after the third through sixth treatment sessions compared with baseline. The skin thickness of the right zygomatic region increased after the second to sixth treatment sessions, whereas that of the left zygomatic region showed a significant increase after the fourth through sixth treatment sessions. The skin thickness of both temporal regions significantly increased after the fifth and sixth treatment sessions compared with baseline (P < 0.05). These findings were also supported by skin ultrasound images. The feature count for the red areas and wrinkle feature count decreased following the treatment (P < 0.05). VISIA assessments also revealed a decrease in the red areas after treatment. The Face-Q-Satisfaction with Facial Appearance Overall and Face-Q-Satisfaction with Skin scores significantly increased after each treatment session. The overall appearance of the patients improved after treatment.

CONCLUSION

Intradermal Col Ι injection improves photoaging, with higher patient satisfaction and fewer adverse reactions, and could be an effective treatment method for populations residing in high-altitude areas.
Liver abscess and tracheal fistula induced by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: A case report
Authors: Zhang Fu-Long , Xu Jing , Jiang Yu-Hong , Zhu Yuan-Dong , Wu Qian-Neng , Shi Yan , Zhu Fang-Yuan , Chen Jing-Wen , Wu Liang-Xiao
Published: May 2024

BACKGROUND

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a standard treatment for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The complications of TACE include biliary tract infection, liver dysfunction, tumor lysis syndrome, biloma, partial intestinal obstruction, cerebral lipiodol embolism, etc . There are few reports about tracheal fistula induced by TACE.

CASE SUMMARY

A 42-year-old man came to our hospital with cough and expectoration for 1 mo after TACE for HCC. Laboratory test results showed abnormalities of albumin, hemoglobin, prothrombin time, C-reactive protein, D-dimer, and prothrombin. Culture of both phlegm and liver pus revealed growth of Citrobacter flavescens . Computed tomography showed infection in the inferior lobe of the right lung and a low-density lesion with gas in the right liver. Liver ultrasound showed that there was a big hypoechoic liquid lesion without blood flow signal. Drainage for liver abscess by needle puncture under ultrasonic guidance was performed. After 1 mo of drainage and anti-infection therapy, the abscess in the liver and the infection in the lung were reduced obviously, and the symptom of expectoration was relieved.

CONCLUSION

Clinicians should be alert to the possibility of complications of liver abscess and tracheal fistula after TACE for HCC. Drainage for liver abscess by needle puncture under ultrasonic guidance could relieve the liver abscess and tracheal fistula.
Policy context: the hidden gendered impacts of conditional welfare reforms
Authors: Wright Sharon
Published: May 2024

This chapter charts the turnaround in expectations about women’s work enshrined in social-security legislation over the course of the last century. It shows how legal requirements about paid employment and unpaid domestic obligations have structured women’s lives in changing ways. It identifies enduring gender inequalities in the paid labour market and unpaid care. Ongoing vertical and horizontal occupational segregation reinforce low pay. Women continue to need part-time work during care-dominated phases of the life course like childrearing and elder care. Early interventions and the post-war development of social security were based on gender differences. However, women’s employment patterns and welfare rights have changed in phases. New Labour (1997–2010) began the process of redefining lone parents as workers but also introduced measures to address low pay, child poverty and childcare shortages. Devolved forms of social security took shape in Scotland. Post-2010 Conservative-led cuts and reforms within an ‘austerity’ narrative took a more punitive turn. Welfare conditionality and benefit sanctions became ubiquitous within Universal Credit. These shifts have major consequences for older women workers subject to changes in the state retirement age. Many women are compelled to work in circumstances constrained by care. The rise of punitive welfare conditionality has created a new sanctionable worker-mother subject to degendered work obligations.
White trauma
Authors: Kinouani Guilaine
Published: May 2024

Although trauma tends to be considered as the consequence of overwhelming experience for ‘victims’, in our context, subjects racialised as black or brown, in this chapter I posit the existence of trauma expressions or ‘symptomatology’ in white groups which are the sequelae of colonial violence. The chapter looks at paranoia, fragility and other possible manifestations of white traumatisation to sustain this case.
White shame
Authors: Kinouani Guilaine
Published: May 2024

This chapter explores shame. In it, I posit that passive or active engagement in racialised systems leads white groups to experience high, albeit repressed, levels of shame. This shame renders the contemplation of race phenomena virtually impossible, which in turn reproduces apathy, silence and denial.
White ambivalence
Authors: Kinouani Guilaine
Published: May 2024

In this chapter I delve into the psychic defence of ambivalence and its relationship with both social and psychic structures. I consider ways white ambivalence manifests in the domain of the quotidian, including through friendships and in close relationships. Finally, we suggest ways this ambivalence may be resisted, paradoxically by accepting its existence.
New trajectories in private rental housing
Authors: Kemp Peter A.
Published: May 2024

This chapter explores developments in private renting in the advanced economies since the turn of the century. In many advanced economies, the private rental housing sector has either grown, changed in fundamental respects or both. The timing, pace and extent of these developments have varied between countries, but most have experienced some or all of the following: increasing financialisation of rental housing; decline in homeownership and rise in private renting; an increase in landlordism among better-off households and growth in ‘portfolio landlords’; an influx of international property investors; growth of large-scale corporate landlords, including pension funds and residential property companies; emergence of purpose-built student accommodation blocks as a new international investment asset class; the rise of PropTech online letting and management firms; loss of rental homes to the short-stay accommodation market in city centres and tourist localities via online platforms such as Airbnb; and a rental affordability crisis among low and moderate income households. In some jurisdictions, reforms have been implemented to introduce or tighten rent regulation. Taken together, these and related developments reflect profound changes in the ways in which private rental housing is financed, produced, owned, consumed, and perceived in the early 21st century.
Private renting in England: growth, change and contestation
Authors: Crook Tony , Kemp Peter A.
Published: May 2024

Private rental housing in England has undergone significant transformation since the turn of the century. The number of households living in the sector has doubled, and the tenant mix has changed. The proportions of households that are middle-aged and/or have children has substantially increased, while the share that is young adults has fallen. On average, tenants are staying at their current address, and living in the private rental sector, for longer than in the recent past. While small-scale buy-to-let landlords still dominate the ownership of private rental housing, increasing numbers of company landlords have entered the market. There is also an emerging build-to-rent subsector, funded by institutional investors, as well as substantial growth in the number of privately owned, purpose-built student accommodation blocks. Rental affordability is an increasing public concern, especially in London and the South-East of England. These changes have led to a more contested policy debate and the introduction to tax increases to reduce landlord returns and thereby stem the loss of owner-occupied homes to the private rental market. The changing nature of private renting (and the COVID-19 experience) has increased the pressure on the government to improve security of tenure and improve standards of provision.
The ‘journey’ to incarcerated motherhood
Authors: Baldwin Lucy , Abbott Laura
Published: May 2024

This chapter brings the previous chapters into context and discusses the women in our research and their pre-prison experiences with reference to current policy, guidelines and practice in relation to pregnancy and criminalised women. The chapter, reflecting on the experiences of mothers in our research, will outline the context and processes mothers go through in terms of their arrest, sentencing and imprisonment, and will contrast the ideals of good practice and effective policy with the reality of what mothers in our studies described.
The (housing) numbers game
Authors: Dunning Richard J. , Moore Tom
Published: May 2024

It is widely reported that since the latter decades of the 20th century, there has been an annual shortfall in the number of new homes constructed relative to housing demand. The planning system has often been accused of being the primary cause of this shortage by governments of different political complexions. It is blamed for restricting housing supply and increasing house prices, and for acting as a drag on the free market delivering housing. Yet, it is not clear that planning is the root cause of these problems, and planning is rarely celebrated for its achievements in enabling the nation’s housing. We frame changes in planning policy that have occurred since 2010 in light of longer-term housing trends in England to ask whether state planning for housing has failed.
Planning at the ‘larger than local’ scale: where next?
Authors: Nurse Alexander
Published: May 2024

Since 2010 and the abolition of the regional scale of planning in England, there have been different initiatives that have sought to address the ‘larger than local’ scale. Initially, under the 2010–15 Coalition government, an economically focused and partnership governance model was privileged through the establishment of local enterprise partnerships with an economic development remit and weak ties to statutory planning (arrangements in other parts of the present UK remained largely the same). In England, however, the 2010s saw a gradual ‘hardening’ of sub-regional governance arrangements in some places, with the emergence of combined authorities that initially focused on city-regional areas. In some instances, these have embarked on strategic planning processes under different powers and models, seen by some commentators as heralding a return to strategic planning reflection and capacity. However, more recent reforms have little further to say on the strategic scale of planning. This chapter explores some of these issues based on the experience of the past decade and the current prospects for planning at the ‘larger than local’ scale.
Zoning in or zoning out? Lessons from Europe
Authors: Dembski Sebastian , O’Brien Phil
Published: May 2024

The critique of planning and new proposals to reform the planning system and ‘rethink planning from first principles’ have led to the proposal for a regulatory zonal planning system, which it is claimed will create a faster and better planning system than the existing discretionary approach. But are these proposals based on an oversimplified understanding of the differences between discretionary and regulatory models, neglecting, for example, the negotiation between stakeholders and the flexibility that also exists in regulatory planning systems? This chapter will review the operation of the planning systems of Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland to reflect on the current debate on the reform of the planning system in England.
Stuck on infrastructure? Planning for the transformative effects of transport infrastructure
Authors: Chen Chia-Lin
Published: May 2024

The chapter focuses on the planning challenges associated with High Speed Two, the future high-speed rail in England, which was expected to facilitate ‘Rebalancing Britain’ but has been through a decade of debates and ongoing controversies. Planning policy reforms and changes occurring over the decade from 2010 to the latest development in 2022 are examined. Three major difficulties are highlighted: wavering national commitments; neglected spatial equity in places with weak economic performance; and fragmented and counterproductive institutional capacity for spatial governance and capacity building. These difficulties have resulted in changing plans during the implementation process, especially under enormous pressures to balance a number of conflicting circumstances, such as addressing regional inequality through new investment in rail capacity as a major sustainable transport mode against the broader trend of climate change while the costs escalate in an era of austerity measures. This chapter argues that to achieve the ambitious High Speed Two policy goals, inadequately addressed intra-regional inequality should be rectified through new and continual reforms in institutional capacity (power and funding), appraisal criteria beyond cost–benefit analyses, and a long-term commitment that could overcome obstacles regardless of this approach of muddling through, that is, an incremental and pragmatic approach to strategic planning and its effects.
Conclusion
Authors: Sturzaker John , Sykes Olivier
Published: May 2024

The conclusion reviews the findings of the other chapters and returns to a question set up in the introduction, asking whether the issues in planning in England reflect: failings of the planning system, profession and ‘discipline’; failings of the state within which planning has to operate (which then uses planning as a scapegoat for its own failure to deliver); or a combination of both state and planning failure. The conclusion then identifies four cross-cutting themes that recur in the preceding chapters, those of rhetoric, rapidity (of reform), resourcing (or the lack of) and regressive outcomes. Across these four themes, the conclusion summarises how UK government (in)action has caused or exacerbated problems with the operation of the English planning system, and represents an unprecedented failure of that government to design and implement a functioning planning system.
Becoming and being a Polish mother: narratives on the motherhood experience
Authors: Gajek Katarzyna
Published: May 2024

This chapter reconstructs the process of becoming and being a Polish mother. Analysis of the narratives of women/mothers made it possible to grasp biographical experiences of motherhood and the processes that shape a mother’s identity. The theoretical basis for this study is symbolic interactionism, and data were collected using the technique of narrative interviewing. The research conducted within the Inclusive Education and Social Support to Tackle Inequalities in Society (ISOTIS) project involved 16 women, differentiated by age, education, number of children, legal marital status and place of residence. The analytical procedure of the narrative-interview method made it possible to distinguish process structures (biographical action schemes, institutional expectation patterns, trajectories of suffering and biographical metamorphoses) through which women’s biographies and motherhood experiences were reconstructed, and presented in the form of five patterns.