bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Follicular Cell Hyperplasia (Goitre), Adenoma and Adenocarcinoma of the Thyroid Gland in Fourlined Terapon (Pelates quadrilineatus): Clinical and Histopathological Study: 2022–2023
Authors: Rahmati‐Holasoo Hooman , Shokrpoor Sara , Marandi Amin
Published: November 2024

Thyroid disorders can manifest in several forms, including follicular cell hyperplasia (goitre), follicular cell adenoma and follicular cell carcinoma. Following the detection of large and gradually increasing tumour‐like masses in the gular region of wild fourlined terapons (Pelates quadrilineatus) housed in various tanks in a public aquarium in June 2022, September 2022 and October 2023, several fish displaying clinical signs were transported to the Ornamental Fish Clinic at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran. Upon clinical inspection, the fish had prominent tumour‐like masses in the gular area, located beneath the operculum. Upon histological examination of the first series, the masses revealed thyroid well‐differentiated hyperplastic follicles that contained colloid and were lined by cuboidal epithelial cells. There were no signs of cellular atypia or mitotic figures. The study of the second series also revealed the existence of cellular atypia, but still no mitotic figures. In the examination of the third series, apart from the earlier lesions, there was evidence of neoplastic cell invasion into adjacent structures such as the adipose tissue and subepithelial layer. In addition, there was moderate cellular pleomorphism and a limited number of mitotic figures. Although the termination of water ozonation and the addition of potassium iodide to the feed were effective in treating thyroid hyperplasia, the treatment for thyroid neoplasia was not successful. The present study provides the evidence of clinical and histopathological findings of follicular cell hyperplasia, adenoma and adenocarcinoma of the thyroid gland in fourlined terapon.
Monitoring Fish Bacterial Pathogens of Wild Fish Species From the South China Sea by Applying Next‐Generation Sequencing on Gill Tissue
Authors: Zrihan Shlomi , Itay Peleg , Kroin Yael , Davidovich Nadav , Wosnick Natascha , Tchernov Dan , Koh Xiu Pei , Lau Stanley C. K. , Morick Danny
Published: November 2024

The classic epidemiological triangle model of host—environment—pathogen is recently being reshaped into a tetrahedron, with the growing understanding of the importance of the microbiome in this array. The gills, being a gateway into the fish body, bearing an important role in fish homeostasis, host a complex microbiome that reflects the ambient water, while also showing resemblance to gut microbiome. Next‐generation sequencing (NGS) and improvements in data analysis tools enable researchers to gather and analyse a lot more data than ever before, take a closer, more detailed look at microbiota, and gain a much better understanding of the biological processes at work in these complex relations. Here, 16S rRNA amplicons of bacterial DNA extracted from the gills of 36 asymptomatic specimens of three wild fish species from the South China Sea (Nemipterus japonicus, Alepes djebaba, and Saurida tumbil) were sequenced using NGS. Data analyses revealed the presence of 20 potentially pathogenic species, including several zoonotic agents. Gill microbiota exhibited host species‐specificity, and expressed a significant difference between demersal and pelagic‐amphidromous fish. It is suggested that this method be more widely implemented, in order to gain more insight on ocean ecosystems’ health status, as well as fish stocks of commercial importance.
The role of combined FDG and SST PET/CT in neuroendocrine tumors
Authors: Di Franco Martina , Fortunati Emilia , Zanoni Lucia , Fanti Stefano , Ambrosini Valentina
Published: November 2024

Somatostatin receptor (SST) positron emission tomography with computed tomography (PET/CT) is the gold standard for functional imaging of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), but FDG PET/CT is increasingly recognized for its prognostic value, particularly for higher‐grade NETs and to detect disease heterogeneity. Despite the established role of pathological grading, clinical heterogeneity within the tumor burden often complicates accurate prognostication. Evidence suggests FDG PET/CT can outperform WHO grading in predicting outcomes by identifying aggressive, undifferentiated tumor clones that influence long‐term prognosis and treatment decisions. Several grading systems integrating both SST and FDG PET/CT have been proposed to better capture tumor heterogeneity and guide clinical management. Studies demonstrate that FDG PET/CT can influence management in a significant subset of patients, although variably reported. Its use remains variable across centers, also affected by different reimbursement policies and local clinical practices. This review explores the indications to FDG PET/CT in NET and the clinical impact of combined SST and FDG PET/CT imaging.
Exploring potential pathways from oxidative stress to ovarian aging
Authors: Kobayashi Hiroshi , Imanaka Shogo
Published: November 2024

Aim

In developed nations, women have increasingly deferred childbearing, leading to a rise in demand for infertility treatments and the widespread use of assisted reproductive technologies. However, despite advancements in in vitro fertilization (IVF), live birth rates among women over 40 remain suboptimal. Mitochondrial dysfunction is widely recognized as a key factor in the processes driving the age‐related deterioration in both the quantity and quality of oocytes. We aim to summarize current insights into ovarian aging, with a particular focus on pathways that impair mitochondrial function, and explore directions for future research.

Methods

Electronic databases were searched for articles published up to June 30, 2024.

Results

Ongoing ovulation, luteolysis, and menstruation trigger exogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐mediated oxidative stress that damages mitochondrial DNA. This, in turn, reduces nuclear gene expression, compromises mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, and diminishes adenosine 5′ triphosphate production. Persistent endogenous ROS further exacerbate mitochondrial DNA damage and aneuploidy, ultimately causing irreversible chromosomal abnormalities, leading to oocyte aging.

Conclusions

We have delineated the pathway from oxidative stress to ovarian aging. Early detection and management of ovarian aging present challenges and opportunities to enhance IVF treatment strategies.
What Would Have Helped People With Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities in the UK During COVID‐19?
Authors: Bradshaw Jill , Maguire Roseann , Gillooly Amanda , Hatton Christopher , Caton Sue , Jahoda Andrew , Oloidi Edward , Taggart Laurence , Todd Stuart , Hastings Richard
Published: November 2024

People with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities can be excluded from research and relatively little is known about the experiences of people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities and their carers during COVID‐19. This paper aims to further explore the impact on this group via information provided by paid and family carers. It focuses on key areas such as access to social and health services in addition to questions about health and well‐being. In contextualising these results, some comparisons are made to impacts on other groups. This paper also explores what we might do better in future to support this population. Carers were invited to complete an online survey about their experiences and the experiences of people they supported during COVID‐19 and to suggest what might have made life better. They were invited to complete this survey at four time points (waves) between December 2020 and December 2022. This paper reports on Waves 1–3, that is to August 2022. Services for people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities reduced during COVID‐19 and have yet to return to pre‐pandemic levels. People with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities were reported to experience increased social isolation, deteriorating mental and physical health, increased behavioural signs of distress and reduced life skills. Three areas were identified regarding what would have made life better: opportunities for social contact and activities; improved access to health and social care services, and; consistent and responsive staff. Results are explored in the context of current challenges in service provision, including staff retention and shifts in staff culture during the pandemic.
BookTok: A Narrative Review of Current Literature and Directions for Future Research
Authors: Dera Jeroen
Published: November 2024

Harvesting hundreds of billions of views, the hashtag #BookTok on TikTok is currently having a global impact on the production, distribution and reception of literature. This article assesses the academic research conducted thus far on this online literary phenomenon. It differentiates among three directions in the research: (1) BookTok as a specific form of book reviewing; (2) BookTok as a literary community‐builder; and (3) BookTok as an agent in reading promotion. Based on this narrative review, directions for future research are explored, with particular attention to the use of empirical methodologies to further investigate user experiences, the application of a celebrity studies lens, and a focus on BookTok accounts that combine affective and critical approaches to literature, exploring discussions on political, social, and environmental issues within the platform.
The Taliban‐TTP Nexus And Pakistan's Rising Security Challenges
Authors: Ali Shahid , Verma Raj
Published: November 2024

Why has the militant group Tehrik‐i‐Taliban Pakistan (TTP) become a bigger threat to Pakistan since the Taliban's return to rule in Afghanistan? This article contends that the Taliban's determination to provide the TTP with sanctuary and support—including operational freedom and mobility, arms and ammunition, recruitment and military training, and financial and logistical assistance—has been the central factor behind the TTP's resurgence. The evidence demonstrates that the Taliban's unwillingness to disarm, demobilize, or evict the TTP from Afghanistan, even in the face of intensified pressure from Islamabad, has enhanced the TTP's material strength and resolve to overturn the Pakistani state. The group has therefore made uncompromising demands to establish an Islamic emirate or Sharia‐compliant political order in Pakistan and reverse the merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The analysis indicates that gains by the TTP, and the group's allegiance to the Afghan Taliban, could undermine Pakistan's territorial integrity.
Natural variation in GhROPGEF5 contributes to longer and stronger cotton fibers
Authors: Wang Wenwen , Liu Dexin , Zhang Tingfu , Guo Kai , Liu Xueying , Liu Dajun , Chen Lei , Yang Jinming , Teng Zhonghua , Zou Ying , Ma Junrui , Wang Yi , Yang Xinrui , Guo Xin , Sun Xiaoting , Zhang Jian , Xiao Yuehua , Paterson Andrew H. , Zhang Zhengsheng
Published: November 2024

Length and strength are key parameters impacting the quality of textiles that can be produced from cotton fibers, and therefore are important considerations in cotton breeding.

Through map‐based cloning and function analysis, we demonstrated that GhROPGEF5, encoding a ROP guanine nucleotide exchange factor, was the gene controlling fiber length and strength at qFSA10.1. Evolutionary analysis revealed that a base deletion in the third exon of GhROPGEF5 resulting in superior fiber length and strength was a rare mutation occurring in a tiny percentage of Upland cottons, with reduced fiber yield hindering its spread.

GhROPGEF5 interacted with and activated GhROP10. Knockout or mutation of GhROPGEF5 resulted a loss of the ability to activate GhROP10. Knockout of GhROPGEF5 or GhROP10 affected the expression of many downstream genes associated with fiber elongation and secondary wall deposition, prolonged fiber elongation and delayed secondary wall deposition, producing denser fiber helices and increasing fiber length and strength.

These results revealed new molecular aspects of fiber development and revealed a rare favorable allele for improving fiber quality in cotton breeding.
Promoting a Culture of Community in Lebanese Care Homes Through Forging Partnerships: A Constructivist Case Study Approach
Authors: Adra Marina Gharibian , Abdallah Nour
Published: November 2024

Background

Care homes can create a culture of community where residents, their families and staff are supported to develop positive relationships with one another, to interact and explore ideas together in an informal way. This concept is reported in the literature as a Westernised construct and so far, little is known about its meanings from a Middle Eastern cultural perspective and context.

Aim

The aim of this study is to contribute to the understanding of how partnership between the three stakeholders may contribute to changing the organisation and focus of care homes, supporting a transition to the development of a community culture.

Method

A constructivist case study method is employed following Stake's collective case study model. Two care homes were chosen purposively to capture the experience of residents, families and staff working in different types of care homes. Data collection methods include interviews, focus groups and field observations with triangulation of methods and data. Data collection and data analysis occurred simultaneously.

Results

Analysis of data resulted in the emergence of four themes: organisational flexibility, a vision of care incorporating fundamental elements such as caring and dignity, connectedness/reciprocity, enhancing job satisfaction and morale of staff. These findings indicate that residents, staff and families are interdependent, and this needs to be considered when fostering a culture of community in care homes as an important value. Findings prove that organisational flexibility and individualised care should be set as priorities over care only directed towards disease and illness.

Implications

The findings will have implications for developing policy and practice in care homes to improve experience of older residents thus enhancing quality of life in care homes in Lebanon.
Association of social relationships and hearing impairments with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia in a Japanese memory clinic
Authors: Tanaka Saki , Katayose Ryo , Shimamura Sora , Fukui Kayoko , Ono Michio , Shirakashi Yoshitomo , Kawasaki Teruaki , Akiguchi Ichiro , Ogita Mihoko
Published: November 2024

Background

Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) negatively impact the quality of life of patients with dementia and their surrounding caregivers. Therefore, identifying modifiable factors to prevent BPSD is crucial. This cross‐sectional study investigated the association between hearing impairment (HI), social relationships, and BPSD.

Methods

A survey involving 179 patients who attended a memory clinic was conducted between July 2023 and March 2024. Pure‐tone audiometry and questionnaire interviews were conducted, while medical records were reviewed. HI was defined as an average hearing level ≥ 40 dB, measured by pure‐tone audiometry using the better‐hearing ear. BPSD presence and severity were assessed using the BPSD25Q‐based questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis was used for calculating partial regression coefficients to assess the association between HI, social relationship indicators, and BPSD presence and severity, adjusting for confounders.

Results

Among the 144 participants included in the analysis, the mean age was 82.7 years, and 96 (66.7%) were female individuals. Using multiple regression analysis, individuals with HI, whether living with others (β = 1.49, P = 0.038) or living alone (β = 2.23, P = 0.044) had a higher presence of BPSD, compared with those without HI who live with others. Additionally, those with HI who regularly engaged in conversations (β = 1.51, P = 0.027) or did not participate in social interactions (β = 2.02, P = 0.020) also had a higher presence of BPSD, compared with individuals without HI in similar circumstances. Similarly, those with HI and living alone (β = 4.54, P = 0.033) and lacking social interaction (β = 3.89, P = 0.020) experienced increased BPSD severity.

Conclusion

Our findings indicated that living alone and lacking social interaction with having HI were linked to both the presence and severity of BPSD. Additionally, increased verbal communication through conversations with cohabiting family members and others in patients with HI was associated with a higher presence of BPSD. Reducing communication stress and maintaining social connections are essential for managing these challenges.
Managing medication in very old age: A qualitative study among Faroese nonagenarians
Authors: Skorini Maria í , Petersen Maria Skaalum , Róin Ása
Published: November 2024

Background

Currently, people generally live longer, and consequently, the number of older people experiencing periods of multimorbidity and the need for medication will increase. Managing multiple medications can be a complex and challenging task, especially for older people who may experience a decline in their cognitive and physical abilities. The aim of this study was to gather knowledge on how home‐dwelling people who are 90 years or older manage their daily medication, what strategies they use, and what challenges they experience regarding medication. This knowledge is necessary for providing support and care for the oldest old regarding their medication management in daily living.

Method

Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 10 men and women aged 91–97 years who were part of the Faroese Nonagenarian Study conducted in 2021. The analysis was conducted by using thematic analysis as suggested by Braun and Clarke.

Results

We identified three important themes for understanding how the oldest‐old citizens manage medication and the challenges and worries that they sometimes experience. These themes were managing medication in daily living, challenges regarding medication management, and worries among the participating older people and their relatives. The majority of the participants received automated dose dispensing (ADD) services, which they considered a great help. In addition, they developed personal strategies to manage their medication. However, the changing colour and shape of tablets caused concern among the participants, and concern about side effects were not always taken seriously by their general practitioners.

Conclusion

In addition to personal strategies, ADD services helped the participants manage medications in daily living. However, user involvement and regular counselling with their doctors appeared to be insufficient and, in some cases, absent. This study points to the necessity of strengthening user involvement by providing sufficient and regular counselling about medication between healthcare providers and people of very old age.
Investigating cultural appropriation: An introduction, policy implications, and legal recommendations
Authors: Mosley Ariel J.
Published: November 2024

In this paper, I propose a multidimensional model of cultural appropriation, including psychological antecedents of appropriation, policy‐level moderators, and implications for racial oppression. In terms of antecedents, I discuss how colorblind racism, aversive racism, and system justification contribute to two dimensions of cultural appropriation: cultural exploitation (high‐status actors extracting from minoritized communities) and cultural dominance (low‐status actors engaging in dominant cultural practices). Next, I discuss policy‐level moderators to counteract these antecedents to reduce acts of cultural appropriation such as placing importance on the role of education and research, introducing legislation that focuses on minoritized groups’ heritage preservation and human rights, and changing institutional norms and organizational climates. This multidimensional framework proposes practical solutions for policy and practice to mitigate implications of racial oppression, including preventing manifestations of intergroup harm, improving hostile intragroup relations, and reducing appropriated racial oppression and stigma internalization.
Infants follow the gaze of same‐age peers, young children, and adults
Authors: Eiteljoerge Sarah , Matzerath Alina , Gweon Hyowon , Mani Nivedita
Published: November 2024

Gaze following – infants’ orienting towards an object attended to by their social partner – has been linked to a range of socio‐cognitive skills. Despite considerable research on when infants follow the gaze of their social partners, studies have typically examined infants’ following of adults’ gaze. Therefore, little is known about whether or how gaze following is modulated by the characteristics of the model, such as their age. The current study examined infants’ following of the gaze of an actor that varied in age: an adult, a young child, and an infant. In an eyetracking study, 49 infants, aged 6–14 months, were presented with videos in which the actor (either an adult, a child or an infant) first looked down towards a neutral point on the table, then to the participant with a friendly facial expression, and then to one of two novel objects to the left and right of the table. The age of the actor did not predict participants’ gaze following behaviour, with participants following the gaze of the adult, child and same‐aged peer. Thus, gaze following is not constrained to interactions with an adult. Furthermore, participants showed high interest in the actors’ faces which was the strongest for the infant actor followed by the child actor, and the adult actor. These results shed insight into the interaction between infants’ gaze following behaviour and their attentional preferences for different social partners. We discuss the implications of these findings for theories of development: Beyond adults, other infants and children are also perceived as interesting social partners and, potentially, valuable sources of information.
Rural being: Merleau‐Ponty, embodied perception and intersectionality
Authors: Kerrigan Nathan Aaron
Published: November 2024

Discussions of space, place and intersectionality have been present in rural studies since the early 2010s. Drawing upon the ‘relational turn’ in rural sociology and geography, this research has tended to focus on the ways in which the materiality of rural space interlocks with the connective lines of the various identity markers (e.g., ‘race’, gender, classed, able‐bodied, sexuality and so on) of the body to produce criss‐crossing and rhizomic assemblages and networks of rurality that has ability to produce inclusionary and/or exclusionary experiences of the rural based on the social locatedness of the individual. This article argues such theorising of rural intersectionality does not foreground rurality enough. Instead, it has the tendency to reproduce intersectional thinking in ‘additive’ ways within the rural literature. The purpose of this article is to provide a philosophical intervention to the debates in rural sociology and geography on intersectionality. Merleau‐Ponty's concept of embodied perception will be deployed to theorise rural as an identity category, which is always already inscribed with ‘raced’, gendered, heteronormative, abled‐bodied and classed configurations because of the historicity of the motor intentionality of the body. Here, I argue that the rural is an extension of the body in which it gets to know itself as an included (being‐towards‐the‐rural) or excluded (being‐away‐from‐the‐rural) being due to its pre‐reflexive bodily habituation and orientation. Such theorising sees rural as an impregnated reversibility with the identification demarcations of the body—opposed to being ontologically criss‐cross and rhizomatic as understood in the current relational literature on rural and rural intersectionality—and thus repositioning rurality as an inherently intersectional category/concept.
Prevalence and determinants of scabies: A global systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Gupta Saptorshi , Thornley Simon , Morris Arthur , Sundborn Gerhard , Grant Cameron
Published: November 2024

Objectives

Scabies is a neglected skin disease that disproportionately affects people from resource poor and overcrowded countries. Global data on prevalence and risk factors are limited. This article aims to estimate the global burden of scabies and identifies the risks associated with it.

Methods

Databases (PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane Reviews) were accessed to identify studies of scabies prevalence published between 2000 and 2024. Results were pooled to estimate prevalence and identify factors, which explained between‐study heterogeneity. Odds ratios (ORs), risk of bias, subgroup analyses and meta‐regression were used to describe variation in effect size and heterogeneity based on country‐level demographic and economic variables.

Results

Seventy studies yielded a pooled prevalence of 11.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.60–14.7) with substantial heterogeneity . Prevalence was highest in Oceania (17.9%; 95% CI: 13.9–22.8) compared to other regions. Pooled risk factors for scabies showed significant associations for demographic and behavioural factors including contact history with household members with itch (OR 11.3; 95% CI 4.82–26.51; ; n = 7), lack of soap use (OR 3.41; 95% CI: 2.56–4.54; ; n = 7), bed‐sharing (OR 2.64; 95% CI: 1.50–4.63; ; n = 7), sharing of clothes (OR 2.52; 95% CI: 1.58–4.03; ; n = 7), infrequent bathing (OR 2.13; 95% CI: 1.41–3.22; ; n = 6), presence of pets (OR 1.76; 95% CI: 1.08–2.87; ; n = 4) and being a male (OR = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.04–1.37; ; n = 22). Socioeconomic factors were not convincingly associated with scabies prevalence.

Conclusion

Prevalence of scabies is associated with geographic location and behavioural factors, but not between‐country socioeconomic status. In addition to mass drug administration, risk factors are identified which may be included in health promotion programmes to reduce scabies prevalence and its sequelae in the long term.
Navigating transition shock: The role of system thinking in enhancing nursing process competency among early career nurses
Authors: Atta Mohamed Hussein Ramadan , El‐Sayed Ahmed Abdelwahab Ibrahim , Alsenany Samira Ahmed , Hammad Heba Abdel‐Hamid , Elzohairy Nadia Waheed , Asal Maha Gamal Ramadan
Published: November 2024

Background

Building nursing process competency among beginner nurses is a pivotal need in contemporary, complex, fast‐paced nursing practice. However, transitioning from the educational phase to practicing as a nurse can be a significant adjustment. New practitioners often experience a period of shock, which may present challenges in developing nurse competency. Fostering system thinking among those nurses could buffer the negative signs of transition shock and cultivate nursing process competencies at earlier times.

Aim

This study explores the relationship between transition shock and nursing process competency among early career nurses and investigates the moderating effect of system thinking on this relationship.

Method

This cross‐sectional correlational exploratory study was conducted at four large hospitals in Egypt. Data were collected from 393 nurses from the first of February 2024 to the end of April 2024 using the transition shock scale, the competency of nursing process questionnaire, and the system thinking scale. Correlational and hierarchical regression analyses were used to test the study variables.

Results

A statistically significant negative correlation exists between transition shock, nursing process competency, and system thinking among early‐career nurses. System thinking is positively associated with nursing process competency. System thinking positively moderates the relationship between transition shock and nursing process competency among early‐career nurses. Transition shock and system thinking account for 23.9% of the variance in nursing process competency among early‐career nurses.

Linking Evidence to Action

Transition shock is an inevitable phenomenon among early‐career nurses, negatively affecting their competency in the nursing process. System thinking buffers this adverse effect and significantly augments nursing process competency among this set of nurses. Predicting and mitigating transition shock among early‐career nurses is pivotal in building nursing process competency. Nurse educators must develop curricula that cultivate system thinking skills among nursing students, which enables them to buffer transition shock after graduation.
Historical Summary of Tick and Animal Surveillance Studies for Lyme Disease in Canada, 1975–2023: A Scoping Review
Authors: Davidson Alexander , Kelly Patrick H. , Davis Julie , Major Maria , Moïsi Jennifer C. , Stark James H.
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Lyme disease (LD) is caused by infection with the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bb) through the bite of an infected Ixodes spp. tick. LD has emerged as a public and animal health issue in Canada, with human incidence increasing in part due to the expansion of Ixodes scapularis ticks and their vertebrate hosts. We sought to provide the first comprehensive summary of published tick and animal surveillance literature regarding LD in Canada to describe changes in LD over time.

Methods

We conducted a review to identify peer‐reviewed LD‐focused tick, mammal, and bird surveillance articles in three online databases between 1975 and 2023. Data on study characteristics, data collection years, and surveillance methods and findings were extracted. Descriptive statistics were reported.

Results

In total, 115 studies were included for review. Results showed an increase in published surveillance literature and changes in study approaches and their provincial distribution over time, coinciding with increased LD cases in Canada. Seventy‐four studies were published after 2014 when Canada's Federal Framework on Lyme Disease Act was introduced, and two‐thirds of these studies focused on tick surveillance only. Overall, 58% of studies involved surveillance in Ontario but increases in all other provinces were observed after 2009.

Conclusions

Observed changes in five decades of LD‐related tick and animal surveillance literature helps document the historical rapid spread of Ixodes and Bb across provinces. This can provide lessons for other regions that may transition from emerging to endemic status for LD in the coming years.
Economic burden and economic impact associated with non-communicable diseases among countries of the World Health Organization South-East Asia Region: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Menon Geetha R. , Misra Sheuli , Deo Vishal , Yadav Jeetendra , Joshi Pradeep , Varghese Cherian , John Denny
Published: November 2024

Objective:

The objective of this systematic review is to synthesize studies on the economic burden and economic impact of non-communicable diseases in the World Health Organization South-East Asia Region (WHO SEAR) countries.

Introduction:

WHO SEAR countries represent 8.6% of the world’s population, and 75% of all deaths in this region are attributable to non-communicable diseases. In addition, there is a pattern of low government spending on health in SEAR countries, leading to a high proportion of health financing by patients, risking impoverishment for households.

Inclusion criteria:

We will consider observational (cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control) and interventional (either single arm or comparative) studies that report the economic burden (direct and indirect costs, out-of-pocket expenditure) and economic impact (catastrophic health expenditure, hardship financing, impoverishment, and gross domestic product impact) at the individual, household, and/or country levels. This includes government surveys, surveillance, and secondary data analyses for one or more non-communicable diseases prevalent in the WHO SEAR.

Methods:

We will conduct a comprehensive search for relevant studies in databases, including MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase (Ovid), Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and gray literature, with no date limits. Two reviewers will independently screen titles and abstracts, followed by full-text screening. Included studies will be critically appraised for quality. Data will be extracted accordingly and, if possible, random effects meta-analyses will be conducted on the pooled data for resource utilization and costs (including burden and impact), presenting the degree of variation between studies. The characteristics and results of the included studies will be narratively summarized with accompanying tables.

Review registration:

PROSPERO CRD42023421302
Respiratory system responses to a maximal apnoea
Authors: Hubbard Colin D. , Cross Troy J. , Merdich Garrett Z. , Vrdoljak Dario , Foretic Nikola , Dujić Željko , Duke Joseph W.
Published: November 2024

A maximal apnoea provides significant challenges to one's physiological systems, including significantly altered arterial blood gases, and requires a highly integrative response from multiple systems, that is, changes in blood pressure, maintenance of cerebral blood flow, etc. Previous work and reviews have focused on the cardiovascular responses to a maximal apnoea, but very little work has focused upon the responses of the respiratory muscles and respiratory mechanics. This is important because of the changes to arterial blood gases leading to an increased drive to breath and the appearance of involuntary respiratory muscle contractions. This review outlines what is known about how the respiratory system responds to a maximal apnoea. We put forth the hypothesis that the respiratory muscles may become fatigued following a maximal apnoea and that the respiratory muscles of elite divers may be more fatigue‐resistant, which could be an important feature of these individuals which allows them to be successful in this sport. Finally, we provide direction for future work to explore the long‐term health of apnoea diving.
Imaging the large‐scale and cellular response to focal traumatic brain injury in mouse neocortex
Authors: Bibineyshvili Yelena , Vajtay Thomas J. , Salsabilian Shiva , Fliss Nicholas , Suvarnakar Aastha , Fang Jennifer , Teng Shavonne , Alder Janet , Najafizadeh Laleh , Margolis David J.
Published: November 2024

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects neural function at the local injury site and also at distant, connected brain areas. However, the real‐time neural dynamics in response to injury and subsequent effects on sensory processing and behaviour are not fully resolved, especially across a range of spatial scales. We used in vivo calcium imaging in awake, head‐restrained male and female mice to measure large‐scale and cellular resolution neuronal activation, respectively, in response to a mild/moderate TBI induced by focal controlled cortical impact (CCI) injury of the motor cortex (M1). Widefield imaging revealed an immediate CCI‐induced activation at the injury site, followed by a massive slow wave of calcium signal activation that travelled across the majority of the dorsal cortex within approximately 30 s. Correspondingly, two‐photon calcium imaging in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) found strong activation of neuropil and neuronal populations during the CCI‐induced travelling wave. A depression of calcium signals followed the wave, during which we observed the atypical activity of a sparse population of S1 neurons. Longitudinal imaging in the hours and days after CCI revealed increases in the area of whisker‐evoked sensory maps at early time points, in parallel to decreases in cortical functional connectivity and behavioural measures. Neural and behavioural changes mostly recovered over hours to days in our M1‐TBI model, with a more lasting decrease in the number of active S1 neurons. Our results in unanaesthetized mice describe novel spatial and temporal neural adaptations that occur at cortical sites remote to a focal brain injury.
Calmodulin regulates TRPV5 intracellular trafficking and plasma membrane abundance
Authors: Zuidscherwoude Malou , Grigore Teodora , van de Langenberg Brenda , Witte Guusje , van der Wijst Jenny , Hoenderop Joost G.
Published: November 2024

As a member of the transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily of ion channels, TRPV5 is a unique Ca2+‐selective channel important for active reabsorption of Ca2+ in the kidney. TRPV5‐mediated Ca2+ entry into the cell is controlled by a negative feedback mechanism, in which calmodulin (CaM) blocks the TRPV5 pore upon Ca2+ binding. Combining microscopy techniques and biochemical assays, the present study uncovered an auxiliary role for CaM in the regulation of human (h)TRPV5 intracellular trafficking. Overexpressed hTRPV5 was mainly localised to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and associated with peripheral ER tubules. Limiting expression using the HEK293 TET‐off system revealed that hTRPV5 trafficked through the endocytic recycling pathway. CaM co‐localised with hTRPV5 at intracellular sites and overexpression of CaM slowed hTRPV5 exit from the ER. In accordance, CaM binding‐disrupting truncations of the TRPV5 C‐terminus (698X) or knockdown of endogenous CaM by small interfering RNA resulted in an increased fraction of TRPV5 that localised to the plasma membrane. hTRPV5 expressing cells had an increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration upon knockdown of CaM. The protein abundance of the Ca2+ impermeable hTRPV5‐D542 mutant is also regulated by CaM, which suggests that the mode of action is independent of disrupted intracellular calcium concentrations. In conclusion, our study reveals a novel role for CaM in Ca2+‐dependent TRPV5 regulation, modulating TRPV5 intracellular trafficking.

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Key points

The renal Ca2+ channel TRPV5 is a crucial player in maintenance of the body's Ca2+ homeostasis.

Ca2+ transport through TRPV5 is controlled by single channel activity, as well as TRPV5 plasma membrane abundance.

Calmodulin (CaM) co‐localised with TRPV5 at intracellular sites and retained TRPV5 in the endoplasmic reticulum.

Disrupted CaM–TRPV5 binding or knockdown of endogenous CaM by small interfering RNA (siRNA) resulted in an increased TRPV5 plasma membrane abundance.

Knockdown of endogenous CaM by siRNA resulted in increased intracellular Ca2+ concentrations. The regulation of TRPV5 trafficking by CaM is independent of the effect of CaM on intracellular Ca2+ concentrations.

This study reveals a novel role for CaM in Ca2+‐dependent TRPV5 regulation, next to its ability to directly block the TRPV5 channel pore, by modulating TRPV5 trafficking in the secretory pathway.
Generalized rate theory for void and bubble swelling and its application to δ-plutonium
Authors: Allen P. G. , Wolfer W. G. , Wall M. A.
Published: November 2024

A rate theory for void and bubble swelling is derived that allows both vacancies and self-interstitial atoms to be generated by thermal activation at all sinks. In addition, they can also be produced by displacement damage from external and internal radiation. This generalized rate theory (GRT) is applied to swelling of gallium-stabilized δ-plutonium in which α-decay causes the displacement damage. Since the helium atoms produced also become trapped in vacancies, a distinction is made between empty and occupied vacancies. The growth of helium bubbles observed by transmission electron microscopy in weapons-grade and in material enriched with Pu238 is analyzed, using different values for the formation energy of self-interstitial atoms (SIA) and two different sets of relaxation volumes for the vacancy and for the SIA. One set allows preferential capture of SIA at dislocations, while the other set gives equal preference to both vacancy and SIA. It is found that the helium bubble diameters observed are in better agreement with GRT predictions if no preferential capture occurs at dislocations. Therefore, helium bubbles in δ-plutonium will not evolve into voids. The helium density within the bubbles remains sufficiently high to cause thermal emission of SIA. Based on a helium density between two to three helium atoms per vacant site, the sum of formation and migration energies must be around 2.0 eV for SIA in δ-plutonium.
Influence of Sport Specialization on Quality of Life, Physical Literacy, and Injury History in Hockey Players
Authors: Marshall Kendall , Chimera Nicole J. , Valovich McLeod Tamara
Published: November 2024

Sport specialization and its effect on health-related quality of life, physical literacy, and injury among ice hockey players is poorly understood. We examined specialization patterns, quality of life, physical literacy, and injury history in a sample of 63 high school-aged hockey players. Thirty-eight percent of participants reported moderate specialization; over half of the sample reported high specialization. Highly specialized players spent a greater amount of weekly time per week in hockey activities (21.14 hr, 95% confidence interval [17.4, 24.88]) and reported a greater number of injuries when compared with moderate and low specializers (χ2 = 0.026). Acute injuries were more prevalent than chronic or overuse injuries across all groups. No differences were observed on physical literacy or quality of life scores. Despite their increased participation and greater frequency of injuries, specialization did not significantly impact health-related quality of life.
The Magnitude of the Blood Acid–Base Response, but Not Time to Peak, Is Reliable Following the Ingestion of Acute, Individualized Sodium Citrate
Authors: Tinnion Daniel J. , Dobson Ben , Hilton Nathan , McNaughton Lars R. , Sparks S. Andy
Published: November 2024

Enhanced buffering capacity following sodium citrate (SC) ingestion may be optimized when subsequent exercise commences at individual time-to-peak (TTP) alkalosis (blood pH or bicarbonate concentration [HCO3−]). While accounting for considerable interindividual variation in TTP (188–300 min), a reliable blood alkalotic response is required for practical use. This study evaluated the reliability of blood pH, HCO3−, and sodium (Na+) following acute SC ingestion. Fourteen recreationally active males ingested 0.4 or 0.5 g/kg body mass (BM) of SC on two occasions each and 0.07 g/kg BM of sodium chloride (control) once. Blood pH and HCO3− were measured for 4 hr postingestion. Blood pH and HCO3− displayed good reliability following 0.5 g/kg BM SC (r = .819, p = .002, standardized technical error [sTE] = 0.67 and r = .840, p < .001, sTE = 0.63, respectively). Following 0.4 g/kg BM SC, blood HCO3− retained good reliability (r = .771, p = .006, sTE = 0.78) versus moderate for blood pH (r = .520, p = .099, sTE = 1.36). TTP pH was moderately reliable following 0.5 (r = .676, p = .026, sTE = 1.05) and 0.4 g/kg BM SC (r = .679, p = .025, sTE = 0.91) versus poor for HCO3− following 0.5 (r = .183, p = .361, sTE = 5.38) and 0.4 g/kg BM SC (r = .290, p = .273, sTE = 2.50). Although the magnitude of (and displacement in) blood alkalosis, particularly HCO3−, appears reliable following potentially ergogenic doses of SC, strategies based on individual TTP cannot be recommended.
Movement Mediates the Relationship Between Socioeconomic Position and Socioemotional Outcomes in Youth
Authors: Wilhite Katrina , Noetel Michael , del Pozo Cruz Borja , Lonsdale Chris , Sanders Taren
Published: November 2024

Background: Youth from lower socioeconomic positions tend to have poorer socioemotional outcomes, be less physically active, have poorer sleep, and engage in more screen time than their peers from higher socioeconomic positions. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that movement behaviors (ie, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep) and changes in combinations of movement behaviors over time (movement trajectories) mediate the relationship between socioeconomic position and socioemotional outcomes in youth. Methods: This study used socioeconomic position data, scores from Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires, and time-use diaries from 980 females and 1014 males (2% Australian Indigenous) aged 10–14 from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children from 2014 to 2018. Results: Movement trajectories did not mediate the relationship between socioeconomic position and socioemotional outcomes. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator-based mediation analyses found males from lower socioeconomic positions participated in less moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity than their peers from high socioeconomic positions, partially explaining (7%) more peer problems. Youth from lower socioeconomic positions participated in more recreational screen activities than their peers from higher socioeconomic positions, partially explaining (1%–3%) worse total socioemotional outcomes and conduct (females) and emotional problems (males). Conclusions: Future qualitative research should be considered to identify the best ways for youth from lower socioeconomic positions to decrease screen time and increase opportunities to participate in moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity in the community, at school, and at home. Other mediators explaining differences in socioemotional outcomes should be explored.
Multiplex digital profiling of DNA methylation heterogeneity for sensitive and cost-effective cancer detection in low-volume liquid biopsies
Authors: Zhao Yang , O’Keefe Christine M. , Hu Jiumei , Allan Conor M. , Cui Weiwen , Lei Hanran , Chiu Allyson , Hsieh Kuangwen , Joyce Sonali C. , Herman James G. , Pisanic Thomas R. , Wang Tza-Huei
Published: November 2024

Molecular alterations in cancerous tissues exhibit intercellular genetic and epigenetic heterogeneity, complicating the performance of diagnostic assays, particularly for early cancer detection. Conventional liquid biopsy methods have limited sensitivity and/or ability to assess epigenetic heterogeneity of rare epiallelic variants cost-effectively. We report an approach, named REM-DREAMing (Ratiometric-Encoded Multiplex Discrimination of Rare EpiAlleles by Melt), which leverages a digital microfluidic platform that incorporates a ratiometric fluorescence multiplex detection scheme and precise digital high-resolution melt analysis to enable low-cost, parallelized analysis of heterogeneous methylation patterns on a molecule-by-molecule basis for the detection of cancer in liquid biopsies. We applied the platform to simultaneously assess intermolecular epigenetic heterogeneity in five methylation biomarkers for improved, blood-based screening for early-stage non–small cell lung cancer. In a cohort of 48 low-volume liquid biopsy specimens from patients with indeterminant pulmonary nodules, we show that assessment of intermolecular methylation density distributions can notably improve the performance of multigene methylation biomarker panels for the early detection of cancer.
mRNA compartmentalization via multimodule DNA nanostructure assembly augments the immunogenicity and efficacy of cancer mRNA vaccine
Authors: Guo Xiaocui , Guo Mengyu , Cai Rong , Hu Mingdi , Rao Le , Su Wen , Liu He , Gao Fene , Zhang Xiaoyu , Liu Jing , Chen Chunying
Published: November 2024

Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine has fueled a great hope for cancer immunotherapy. However, low immunogenicity, caused by inefficient mRNA expression and weak immune stimulation, hampers the efficacy of mRNA vaccines. Here, we present an mRNA compartmentalization–based cancer vaccine, comprising a multimodule DNA nanostructure (MMDNS)–assembled compartment for efficient mRNA translation via in situ localizing mRNA concentration and relevant reaction molecules. The MMDNS is constructed via programmable DNA hybridization chain reaction (HCR)–based strategy, with integrating antigen-coded mRNA, CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs), acidic-responsive DNA sequence, and dendritic cells targeting aptamer. MMDNS undergoes in situ assembly in acidic lysosomes to form a micro-sized aggregate, inducing an enhanced CpG ODN adjuvant efficacy. Subsequently, the aggregates escape into cytoplasm, providing a moderate compartment which supports the efficient translation of spatially proximal mRNA transcripts via localizing relevant reaction molecules. The mRNA compartmentalization–based vaccine boosts a strong immune response and effectively inhibits tumor growth and metastasis, offering a robust strategy for cancer immunotherapy.