bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhanced recovery after liver surgery in cirrhotic patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Delabays Constant , Demartines Nicolas , Joliat Gaëtan-Romain , Melloul Emmanuel
Published: April 2024

Background

Few studies have assessed enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in liver surgery for cirrhotic patients. The present meta-analysis assessed the impact of ERAS pathways on outcomes after liver surgery in cirrhotic patients compared to standard care.

Methods

A literature search was performed on PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Studies comparing ERAS protocols versus standard care in cirrhotic patients undergoing liver surgery were included. The primary outcome was post-operative complications, while secondary outcomes were mortality rates, length of stay (LoS), readmissions, reoperations, and liver failure rates.

Results

After evaluating 41 full-text manuscripts, 5 articles totaling 646 patients were included (327 patients in the ERAS group and 319 in the non-ERAS group). Compared to non-ERAS care, ERAS patients had less risk of developing overall complications (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.31–0.61, p < 0.001). Hospitalization was on average 2 days shorter for the ERAS group (mean difference − 2.04, 95% CI − 3.19 to − 0.89, p < 0.001). Finally, no difference was found between both groups concerning 90-day post-operative mortality and rates of reoperations, readmissions, and liver failure.

Conclusion

In cirrhotic patients, ERAS protocol for liver surgery is safe and decreases post-operative complications and LoS. More randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the results of the present analysis.
Assessing the impact of a personalised application-based nutrition intervention on carbohydrate intake in rural Benin
Authors: Behrendt Lena , Kolossa Silvia , Vrachioli Maria , Abate Kassa Getachew , Ayenew Habtamu , Gedrich Kurt , Crinot Geraud Fabrice , Houssou Paul , Sauer Johannes
Published: April 2024

Background

This study aims to assess the effect of a personalised nutrition intervention on nutrient intake in rural Benin as a tool to tackle the double burden of malnutrition. The personalised recommender system uses information from the eating behaviour of all household members combined to provide tailored advice on adjusting the consumption of up to three food items to tackle malnutrition and obesity in the household. Many developing countries nowadays experience the double burden of malnutrition, the coexistence of undernutrition alongside overweight and obesity, as well as other related non-communicable diseases. Personalised nutrition was very effective in European studies in improving nutrition and tackling obesity, which is why this study aims to translate personalised nutrition to a developing country context.

Results

A study was conducted in rural areas of Benin where 720 households were randomly selected. Due to high attrition, we used propensity score matching and looked into average treatment effects. We found that the recommendation to eat less carbohydrates resulted in a reduction in carbohydrate consumption with a significant effect for both the average treatment effect (ATE) of the whole population as well as the average treatment effect of the treated (ATET). We found that households that received the treatment to consume less food items with a high carbohydrate intake have followed this advice and have consumed on average lower levels of carbohydrates than their control counterparts.

Conclusions

Rising obesity is a worldwide problem that poses a severe challenge for policymakers. Especially in developing countries the change from too little, to too much is seamless. For the increasing obese population, the recommender system could be a useful tool. The idea of personalised nutrition has the potential to be one of the necessary steps in the ongoing battle against obesity and unhealthy diets. The personalised application-based recommender system used in this study has the ability to be a strong and effective tool for policymakers in the ongoing battle of food security vs. obesity in Benin and other countries. We propose that future research focuses more on personalised nutrition in the context of a developing country.
Significant genomic introgression from grey junglefowl (Gallus sonneratii) to domestic chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus)
Authors: Zhao Xiurong , Wen Junhui , Zhang Xinye , Zhang Jinxin , Zhu Tao , Wang Huie , Yang Weifang , Cao Guomin , Xiong Wenjie , Liu Yong , Qu Changqing , Ning Zhonghua , Qu Lujiang
Published: April 2024

Background

Chicken is one of the most numerous and widely distributed species around the world, and many studies support the multiple ancestral origins of domestic chickens. The research regarding the yellow skin phenotype in domestic chickens (regulated by BCO2) likely originating from the grey junglefowl serves as crucial evidence for demonstrating the multiple origins of chickens. However, beyond the BCO2 gene region, much remains unknown about the introgression from the grey junglefowl into domestic chickens. Therefore, in this study, based on whole-genome data of 149 samples including 4 species of wild junglefowls and 13 local domestic chicken breeds, we explored the introgression events from the grey junglefowl to domestic chickens.

Results

We successfully detected introgression regions besides BCO2, including two associated with growth trait (IGFBP2 and TKT), one associated with angiogenesis (TIMP3) and two members of the heat shock protein family (HSPB2 and CRYAB). Our findings suggest that the introgression from the grey junglefowl may impact the growth performance of chickens. Furthermore, we revealed introgression events from grey junglefowl at the BCO2 region in multiple domestic chicken breeds, indicating a phenomenon where the yellow skin phenotype likely underwent strong selection and was retained. Additionally, our haplotype analysis shed light on BCO2 introgression event from different sources of grey junglefowl into domestic chickens, possibly suggesting multiple genetic flows between the grey junglefowl and domestic chickens.

Conclusions

In summary, our findings provide evidences of the grey junglefowl contributing to the genetic diversity of domestic chickens, laying the foundation for a deeper understanding of the genetic composition within domestic chickens, and offering new perspectives on the impact of introgression on domestic chickens.
A brief version of the Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire for older Chinese adults: development and psychometric evaluation
Authors: Gao Lin , Laidlaw Ken , Wang Dahua
Published: April 2024

Background

Positive attitudes toward aging are considered essential for achieving psychological well-being in later life. However, there is currently a lack of a concise and comprehensive measurement tool specifically designed to assess attitudes toward aging among the elderly population in China. To address this gap, the present study aimed to develop a brief version of the Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire tailored to older Chinese individuals and evaluate its psychometric properties.

Methods

Initially, a sample of community-dwelling older adults (Sample 1: n = 442, aged 60–88) was utilized to establish a new scale format. Subsequently, two convenience samples (Sample 2: n = 311, aged 60–90; Sample 3: n = 164, aged 60–89) were employed to evaluate the psychometric properties of this scale, including factor structure, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity.

Results

We selected 12 items from the original questionnaire to create the brief scale. The brief scale maintained the three-factor structure of the full-format version, encompassing psychosocial loss, physical change, and psychological growth, and demonstrated adequate psychometric properties.

Conclusions

This development process shortens the administration time of the questionnaire while avoiding excessive loss of information. The newly developed scale serves as a reliable and valid assessment tool for measuring attitudes toward aging among older Chinese individuals and is well-suited for implementation in large-scale surveys that utilize an extensive array of questionnaires. This tool can be applied to assessing the effectiveness of interventions aimed at eliminating ageism.
Factors associated with electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy among patients with hypertension in Thailand
Authors: Sakboonyarat Boonsub , Poovieng Jaturon , Rangsin Ram
Published: April 2024

Background

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) strongly predicts cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and death. One-fourth of Thai adults suffer from hypertension. Nevertheless, the information on LVH among Thai patients with hypertension is not well characterized. We aimed to identify the prevalence and factors associated with electrocardiographic LVH (ECG-LVH) among patients with hypertension in Thailand.

Methods

The present study obtained the dataset from the Thailand Diabetes Mellitus/Hypertension study, which included hypertension patients aged 20 years and older receiving continuous care at outpatient clinics in hospitals nationwide in 2011–2015 and 2018. Meanwhile, those without a record of 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG) were excluded from the analysis. ECG-LVH was defined as the LVH noted regarding ECG interpretation in the medical records. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was utilized for determining factors associated with ECG-LVH and presented as the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

From 226,420 hypertensive patients in the Thailand Diabetes Mellitus/Hypertension study, 38,807 individuals (17.1%) with ECG data recorded were included in the analysis. The mean age was 64.8 ± 11.5 years, and 62.2% were women. Overall, 1,557 study participants had ECG-LVH, with an estimated prevalence of 4.0% (95% CI, 3.8–4.2%). Age-adjusted ECG-LVH prevalence among women and men was 3.4 and 5.1%, respectively (P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis determined factors associated with ECG-LVH, including being men (AOR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.31–1.69), individuals aged 70 to 79 years (AOR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.20–2.02) and ≥ 80 years (AOR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.58–2.78) compared to individuals aged less than 50 years, current smokers (AOR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.09–1.46) compared to those who never smoked, systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg (AOR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.30–1.92) compared to systolic blood pressure < 140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg.

Conclusions

The current study illustrated the prevalence of ECG-LVH among Thai patients with hypertension who had ECG recorded and identified high-risk groups who tended to have ECG-LVH. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions, particularly among high-risk groups such as older individuals, men, and current smokers, to address modifiable factors associated with ECG-LVH.
Immune response to hepatitis B vaccine among children under 5 years in Africa: a meta-analysis
Authors: Olakunde Babayemi O. , Ifeorah Ijeoma M. , Adeyinka Daniel A. , Olakunde Olubunmi A. , Ogundipe Temitayo , Olawepo John O. , Ezeanolue Echezona E.
Published: April 2024

Background

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Africa is mostly acquired before the age of 5 years through vertical or horizontal routes. While all the countries in the World Health Organization African region have introduced HBV vaccination into their national immunization programs, the rate of protective immune response to HBV vaccine among children in Africa has not been systematically synthesized. In this study, we estimated the HBV vaccine seroprotection rate (defined as anti-HBs titer ≥ 10 IU/L) and the associated factors among under-five children who completed a primary series of HBV vaccination in Africa.

Methods

We systematically searched PubMed, Web Science, and Scopus databases from inception to May 2022 for potentially eligible studies. The pooled seroprotection rate was estimated using a random-effects model with Freeman–Tukey double arcsine transformation and the associated factors were examined using odds ratio estimated by the DerSimonian and Laird method.

Results

From the 1063 records identified, 29 studies with a total sample size of 9167 under-five children were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled seroprotection rate was 89.23% (95% CI   85.68–92.33%, I2 = 95.96%, p < 0.001). In the subgroup analyses, there was a significant difference in the rate by the assay method, vaccine dose, and vaccine combination. HIV-positive children had lower odds of achieving seroprotection when compared with HIV-negative children (OR = 0.22, 95%CI   0.12–0.40).

Conclusions

The majority of under-five children in Africa achieved seroprotection after completing three or four doses of HBV vaccine. However, the rate was lower among children living with HIV. This calls for interventions to timely identify and address nonresponse to HBV vaccine, particularly among immunosuppressed children.
Eating habits, sleep quality, and lifestyle changes during the COVID-19 crisis: a national survey from Palestine
Authors: Koni Amer A. , Hasan Israa , Nazzal Maisa A. , Haj Siwar , Joma Hamza K. , Abushanab Amani S. , Zyoud Sa’ed H.
Published: April 2024

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic and the consequences of safety measures, such as lockdowns, have impacted not only the physical health of individuals but also their lifestyle, psychosocial health, and mental health. In this analysis, we aimed to explore the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on lifestyle, eating habits, and sleep quality in the Palestinian population. Furthermore, the current study aimed to determine the factors associated with poor sleep.

Methods

The study was carried out between November 2021 and February 2022 after a long lockdown. We adopted a cross-sectional design to achieve the objectives of this study. The questionnaire included information on sociodemographic characteristics and other characteristics. In addition, questions related to lifestyle changes and items related to changes in the consumption of certain types of food were included. Furthermore, in the present study, two scales were used to assess sleep quality: the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

Results

A total of 978 participants were included in this study; 508 (51.9%) were women, and 465 (47.5%) were aged between 17 and 30 years. 41% of the participants added one meal or more, and almost 43% skipped one meal or more. A total of 39.2% believed that their habits worsened as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A significant portion of the population increased their vitamin intake by 62.5%. In general, nuts, fast food, fried food, coffee, snacks, cans, and homemade baked foods were consumed at higher rates overall. The median ESS score, which measures general levels of daytime drowsiness, was 20.00 (18.00–22.00). Residency (p = 0.008), living status (p < 0.001), salary (p < 0.001), education level (p = 0.002), job status (p = 0.015), and vitamin intake (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with the ESS score. The PSQI score, which evaluates adult sleep patterns and quality, has a median value of 5.00. (4.00–7.00). Living status (p < 0.001), salary (p = 0.006), job status (p = 0.002), smoking status (p = 0.030), chronic diseases (p = 0.002), and vitamin use (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with the PSQI score. Only taking multivitamins was a predictor of having a lower score on both the ESS (p = 0.001) and PSQI (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our findings clearly showed that the COVID-19 pandemic has substantially affected the Palestinian population in different aspects of life. We recommend that health authorities and healthcare providers continually share knowledge and awareness about good eating habits, sleep quality, and other aspects of lifestyles.
Examining situational interest and its relationship with self-efficacy in asynchronous and synchronous video lectures
Authors: Lange Christopher
Published: April 2024

Recently, the number of online courses provided for university students around the world has increased substantially. Instruction is delivered most commonly through either asynchronous video lectures (pre-recorded videos with no real-time communication) or synchronous video lectures (live-streamed videos with real-time communication). From a learning perspective, it is important to capture the interest of learners based on specific situational aspects of both asynchronous and synchronous video lectures, and situational interest of learners may vary depending on the overall intrinsic qualities of each modality. Additionally, there may be variations in regards to the way in which self-efficacy interacts with situational interest depending on which modality is used. This study examines survey responses of university students (n = 93) in South Korea to determine if students perceive differences in situational interest between two different conditions: asynchronous video lectures and synchronous video lectures. Additionally, the difference between situational interest levels of learners with low self-efficacy and learners with high self-efficacy within each condition was examined. The main results showed no overall difference in situational interest between the two conditions and no difference in situational interest between learners with low self-efficacy and learners with high self-efficacy in the synchronous video lecture condition. However, there was a significant difference in situational interest found between learners with low self-efficacy and learners with high self-efficacy in the asynchronous video lecture condition. Results are explained through the differing effects of self-efficacy on situational interest based on the amount of autonomy provided in online learning environments.
CEM immediately after contrast-enhanced CT: a one-step staging of breast cancer
Authors: Ancona Antonietta , Telegrafo Michele , Fella Rita Roberta , Iamele Donato , Cantore Sebastiano , Moschetta Marco
Published: April 2024

Background

Contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) is a promising technique. We evaluated the diagnostic potential of CEM performed immediately after contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT).

Methods

Fifty patients with breast cancer underwent first CE-CT and then CEM without additional contrast material injection. Two independent radiologists evaluated CEM images. The sensitivity of CEM for detecting index and additional malignant lesions was compared with that of mammography/ultrasonography by the McNemar test, using histopathology as a reference standard. Interobserver agreement for detection of malignant lesions, for classifying index tumors, and for evaluating index tumor size and extent was assessed using Cohen κ. Pearson correlation was used for correlating index tumor size/extent at CEM or mammography/ultrasonography with histopathology.

Results

Of the 50 patients, 30 (60%) had unifocal disease while 20 (40%) had multicentric or multifocal disease; 5 of 20 patients with multicentric disease (25%) had bilateral involvement, for a total of 78 malignant lesions, including 72 (92%) invasive ductal and 6 (8%) invasive lobular carcinomas. Sensitivity was 63/78 (81%, 95% confidence interval 70.27–88.82) for unenhanced breast imaging and 78/78 (100%, 95.38–100) for CEM (p < 0.001). The interobserver agreement for overall detection of malignant lesions, for classifying index tumor, and for evaluating index tumor size/extent were 0.94, 0.95, and 0.86 κ, respectively. For index tumor size/extent, correlation coefficients as compared with histological specimens were 0.50 for mammography/ultrasonography and 0.75 for CEM (p ≤ 0.010).

Conclusions

CEM acquired immediately after CE-CT without injection of additional contrast material showed a good performance for local staging of breast cancer.

Relevance statement

When the CEM suite is near to the CE-CT acquisition room, CEM acquired immediately after, without injection of additional contrast material, could represent a way for local staging of breast cancer to be explored in larger prospective studies.

Key points

• CEM represents a new accurate tool in the field of breast imaging.

• An intravenous injection of iodine-based contrast material is required for breast gland evaluation.

• CEM after CE-CT could provide a one-stop tool for breast cancer staging.

Graphical Abstract
The potential of microRNAs in cancer diagnostic and therapeutic strategies: a narrative review
Authors: Quang Minh Trong , Nguyen Minh Nam
Published: April 2024

Background

microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are endogenous non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression. Altered miRNA expression promotes oncogenesis by changing the expression of genes involved in key biological pathways in many human cancers. Accumulating evidence reveals that miRNAs have immense potential as diagnostic and prognostic cancer biomarkers based on their capacity to function as oncogenes or tumor suppressors. In addition, translating miRNA-directed therapies from the bench to bedside holds great promise as an innovative therapeutic strategy, contributing to advanced personalized cancer treatment.

Main body

This narrative review synthesizes current knowledge on (1) miRNA intracellular and extracellular dynamics enabling gene regulation; (2) technologies for miRNA quantification; (3) validation of miRNA diagnostic/prognostic panels; (4) progress and challenges in developing miRNA-directed cancer therapies, and updates on miRNA clinical trials for cancer monitoring and treatment. Key discoveries and research gaps across these areas are discussed.

Conclusions

Cumulative research has established a fundamental understanding of miRNA biology and its correlations with cancer diagnostics and therapy strategies, supporting clinical translational potential. However, complexities within miRNA regulatory networks and methodological inconsistencies necessitate ongoing investigations. Achieving breakthroughs in measurement standardization, biomarker validation, and the development of targeted therapeutic interventions harnessing these post-transcriptional regulators remains crucial for improving cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Enhancing electrical characteristics and electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness in thermoplastic elastomeric polymer blends by utilizing the selective distribution of conductive black
Authors: Choudhury Sreeja Nath , Nayak Jasomati , Das Palash , Pal Aparajita , Katheria Ankur , Banerji Pallab , Das Narayan Ch.
Published: April 2024

The selective distribution of filler within polymer blends presents a compelling advantage, notably manifesting as a reduced percolation threshold when compared to an individual polymer matrix with a random filler dispersion. In this context, a thermoplastic elastomeric (TPE) blend comprising ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), denoted as EL, has been meticulously formulated. The incorporation of varying amounts of conductive carbon black (Vulcan XC 72; VCB) into this TPE matrix has been achieved through conventional melt blending, yielding a composite material with exceptional electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness of -27.80 dB at 50 phr (parts per hundred rubber). This success is credited to the creation of a linked structure resulting from a dual-step percolation process. The selective distribution of carbon black (CB) throughout the TPE mixture results in a decreased critical concentration for connectivity and enhanced electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance. This advancement underscores the potential of EPDM-LLDPE-VCB (ELV) composites to safeguard against electromagnetic radiation. It paves the way for their utilization in various techno-commercial applications, where a balance of mechanical strength, thermal stability, and flexibility is crucial.

Graphical Abstract
A novel hybrid model for bridge dynamic early warning using LSTM-EM-GMM
Authors: Li Shuangjiang , Xin Jingzhou , Jiang Yan , Yang Changxi , Wang Xiaochen , Ran Bingchuan
Published: April 2024

Early warning of existing bridges is now predominated by deterministic methods. However, these methods face challenges in expressing uncertain factors (such as wind load, temperature load, and other variables, etc.). These problems directly impact the timeliness and accuracy of bridge early warning. This study develops an innovative method for bridge dynamic early warning with high versatility and accuracy. Long short-term memory network model (LSTM), expectation maximization (EM) and Gaussian mixture model (GMM) were employed in the proposed method. Firstly, the LSTM model is used to predict the measured monitoring data (such as deflection, strain, cable force, etc.) in real time to obtain the predicted results. Next, the number of clusters for the EM-GMM model is determined using the Calinski-Harabasz (CH) index. The method aims to comprehensively consider the internal cohesion of the clustering, ensuring accurate and reliable clustering results. Then, the EM-GMM model is used to cluster the random influence error and the predicted value, which can get the probabilistic prediction result of each corresponding random influence error. On this basis, the dynamic early warning interval under 95% confidence level is constructed. This facilitates early warning and decision-making for potential structural abnormalities. Finally, the accuracy and practicability of the method are verified by the comparison of engineering applications and existing specifications. The results demonstrate that the probabilistic early warning method considering the uncertain factors in the complex service environment can accurately achieve the dynamic early warning of bridges.
Enhancing unconfined compressive strength of stabilized soil with lime and cement prediction through a robust hybrid machine learning approach utilizing Naive Bayes Algorithm
Authors: Wan Weiqing
Published: April 2024

The unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of stabilized soil with lime and cement is a crucial mechanical factor in developing accurate geomechanical models. In the past, determining UCS required laborious laboratory testing of core samples or complex well-log analysis, both of which consumed many resources. This study introduces a novel method for real-time UCS prediction while acknowledging the need for efficiency. This method makes use of Specific Naive Bayes (NB) predictive models that are strengthened by the smell agent optimization (SAO) and the Dynamic Arithmetic Optimization Algorithm (DAOA), two reliable meta-heuristic algorithms. Combining these algorithms improves prediction precision while streamlining the process. By examining UCS samples from various soil types obtained from earlier stabilization tests, these models are validated. This study identifies three different models: NBDA, NBSA, and a single NB. The individual insights each model provides work in concert to increase the overall UCS prediction accuracy. This approach represents a significant advancement in UCS prediction methodologies, revealing a quick and effective method with wide-ranging implications for various geomechanical applications. Meta-heuristic algorithms combined with particular NB models produce promising results, opening up new possibilities for real-time UCS estimation across various geological scenarios. Especially noteworthy are the NBDA model’s impressive performance metrics. The entire dataset achieves an R2 value of 0.992 during testing. The RMSE of 108.69 for the NBDA model during the training phase also shows that it has the best performance overall. It consistently exhibits commendable generalization and predictive abilities that outperform those of the developed NB and NBSA models, highlighting its usefulness and effectiveness in practical applications.
Exploring Two-Year College Biology Instructors’ Preferences around Teaching Strategies and Professional Development
Authors: Wise Sarah B. , Archie Tim , Laursen Sandra
Published: April 2024

Professional development preferences of ten 2-year college biology instructors are reported. Their teaching styles, including teaching and inclusion strategies, a summary of interviewee experiences, preferences, and recommendations for professional development, and implications for inclusive design of professional development are presented.
Joint inversion of direct waves, primaries, and multiples for vertical cable seismic data
Authors: Lin Yuzhao , Liu Huaishan , Xing Lei , Wang Linfei , Zhang Jin , Yin Yanxin , Sun Jian
Published: April 2024

By anchoring vertical cable in seawater and receiving the data excited by the towing cable seismic source, the reflection data from subsurface structures with a high signal-to-noise ratio, wide frequency band, and wide azimuth angle can be obtained, thereby achieving high-quality imaging of the target area. However, due to drifting receivers driven by ocean currents and the nonuniform coverage caused by the vertical orientation of the receivers, the traditional imaging method cannot be directly used in the vertical cable seismic data. Furthermore, crosstalk between the primaries and multiples commonly contaminates the final imaging. A new inversion method, based on the Bayesian inference and the assumption that all errors are Gaussian distributed, is presented to address these problems. The direct waves are used to invert the source/receiver locations. The primary and multiple wavefields are accurately reconstructed based on the reconstructed direct wavefield, and the corresponding reflectivity updates are obtained. The model-domain Hessian matrices consisting of different data are approximated by their diagonal elements to mitigate the nonuniform coverage issue, and the related covariance matrices and data-domain Hessian matrices are defined and approximated, respectively, to alleviate the calculation problem. In addition, the zero-lag correlated wavefields in the gradient are consistent with the actual wavefield propagation process, e.g., a primary wave is generated when the direct wavefield encounters reflectivity, avoiding the crosstalk. Numerical examples for synthetic models and field data illustrate that our method can accurately recover the source/receiver locations and provide high-resolution balanced-amplitude imaging results without evident crosstalk.
Breast Adiposity: Menopausal Status Impact and its Influence on Glycemic and Anthropometric Metabolic Parameters
Authors: Limberger Nedel Barbara , Garcia Madure Michelle , Guaresi Silvia , Soares Machado Maria Elisa , Madrid de Bittencourt Marcelo , Nobrega Chagas Nathalia , Gerchman Fernando
Published: April 2024

Context

Ectopic fat depots are related to the deregulation of energy homeostasis, leading to diseases related to obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS). Despite significant changes in body composition over women's lifespans, little is known about the role of breast adipose tissue (BrAT) and its possible utilization as an ectopic fat depot in women of different menopausal statuses.

Objective

We aimed to assess the relationship between BrAT and metabolic glycemic and lipid profiles and body composition parameters in adult women.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled adult women undergoing routine mammograms and performed history and physical examination, body composition assessment, semi-automated assessment of breast adiposity (BA) from mammograms, and fasting blood collection for biochemical analysis. Correlations and multivariate regression analysis were used to examine associations of BA with metabolic and body composition parameters.

Results

Of the 101 participants included in the final analysis, 76.2% were in menopause, and 23.8% were in premenopause. The BA was positively related with fasting plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, body mass index, waist circumference, body fat percentage, and abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat when adjusted for age among women in postmenopause. Also, the BA was an independent predictor of hyperglycemia and MetS. These associations were not present among women in premenopause.

Conclusion

The BA was related to different adverse body composition and metabolic factors in women in postmenopause. The results suggest that there might be a relevant BrAT endocrine role during menopause, with mechanisms yet to be clarified, thus opening up research perspectives on the subject and potential clinical implications.
Surgical Anatomy of the Retrosigmoid Approach With Transtentorial Extension: Protecting the 4th Cranial Nerve
Authors: Nizzola Mariagrazia , Pompeo Edoardo , Torregrossa Fabio , Leonel Luciano César P. C. , Mortini Pietro , Link Michael J. , Peris-Celda Maria
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

The retrosigmoid approach with transtentorial extension (RTA) allows us to address posterior cranial fossa pathologies that extend through the tentorium into the supratentorial space. Incision of the tentorium cerebelli is challenging, especially for the risk of injury of the cranial nerve (CN) IV. We describe a tentorial incision technique and relevant anatomic landmarks.

METHODS:

The RTA was performed stepwise on 5 formalin-fixed (10 sides), latex-injected cadaver heads. The porus trigeminus's midpoint, the lateral border of the suprameatal tubercle (SMT)'s base, and cerebellopontine fissure were assessed as anatomic landmarks for the CN IV tentorial entry point, and relative measurements were collected. A clinical case was presented.

RESULTS:

The tentorial opening was described in 4 different incisions. The first is curved and starts in the posterior aspect of the tentorium. It has 2 limbs: a medial one directed toward the tentorium's free edge and a lateral one that extends toward the superior petrosal sinus (SPS). The second incision turns inferiorly, medially, and parallel to the SPS down to the SMT. At that level, the second incision turns perpendicular toward the tentorium's free edge and ends 1 cm from it. The third incision proceeds posteriorly, parallel to the free edge. At the cerebellopontine fissure, the incision can turn toward and cut the tentorium-free edge (fourth incision). On average, the CN IV tentorial entry point was 12.7 mm anterior to the SMT base's lateral border and 20.2 mm anterior to the cerebellopontine fissure. It was located approximately in the same coronal plane as the porus trigeminus's midpoint, on average 1.9 mm anterior.

CONCLUSION:

The SMT and the cerebellopontine fissure are consistently located posterior to the CN IV tentorial entry point. They can be used as surgical landmarks for RTA, reducing the risk of injury to the CN IV.
2′-O-methylation (Nm) in RNA: progress, challenges, and future directions
Authors: Zhou Katherine I. , Pecot Chad V. , Holley Christopher L.
Published: April 2024

RNA 2′-O-methylation (Nm) is highly abundant in noncoding RNAs including ribosomal RNA (rRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and small nuclear RNA (snRNA), and occurs in the 5′ cap of virtually all messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in higher eukaryotes. More recently, Nm has also been reported to occur at internal sites in mRNA. High-throughput methods have been developed for the transcriptome-wide detection of Nm. However, these methods have mostly been applied to abundant RNAs such as rRNA, and the validity of the internal mRNA Nm sites detected with these approaches remains controversial. Nonetheless, Nm in both coding and noncoding RNAs has been demonstrated to impact cellular processes, including translation and splicing. In addition, Nm modifications at the 5′ cap and possibly at internal sites in mRNA serve to prevent the binding of nucleic acid sensors, thus preventing the activation of the innate immune response by self-mRNAs. Finally, Nm has been implicated in a variety of diseases including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurologic syndromes. In this review, we discuss current challenges in determining the distribution, regulation, function, and disease relevance of Nm, as well as potential future directions for the field.
Επίδραση της νεφρικής συμπαθητικής απονεύρωσης στο μεταβολισμό της γλυκόζης σε υπερτασικούς ασθενείς με μεταβολικό σύνδρομο
Authors: Κούτρα Ευαγγελία
Published: April 2024

Σκοπός: Σε αυτή τη μελέτη διερευνήθηκε η επίδραση της νεφρικής απονεύρωσης (RDN) στο μεταβολισμό της γλυκόζης σε υπερτασικούς ασθενείς με μεταβολικό σύνδρομο σε διάστημα 3 και 12 μηνών. Μέθοδοι: 30 ασθενείς υποβλήθησαν σε RDN(και 10 αποτέλεσαν την ομάδα ελέγχου). Η μέση ηλικία αυτών ήταν τα 56.87±7.12 έτη, 25% γυναίκες.Η μέση τιμή του δείκτη μάζας σώματος ήταν 31.23±4.37 κιλά/ύψος2,της περιμέτρου μέσης 108.62±10.82cm,της περιφέρειας 110.47±8.45cm και του βάρους σώματος 94.50±14.97 κιλά. Η μέση τιμή της ΣΑΠ ήταν 165.15±17.33mmHg,της ΔΑΠ 96.47±9.91mmHg και της ΚΣ 75.22±10.86 σφύξεις/λεπτό. Στην 24ωρη καταγραφή της ΑΠ είχαμε μέσες τιμές 24ωρης ΣΑΠ,ΔΑΠ και ΚΣ 144.67±12.25mmHg,96.47±9.91mmHg και 75.22±10.86 σφύξεις/λεπτό αντίστοιχα.Τo 47.5% ελάμβανε 2 κατηγορίες αντιυπερτασικών,το 40% 3 και το 12.5% 4.Το 100% ήταν υπό ΑΜΕΑ/ΑΥΑ ΙΙ, το 30% υπό β αποκλειστές,60% διουρητικά και 6.7% ανταγωνιστές αλδοστερόνης. Η μέση τιμή γλυκόζης νηστείας ήταν 122.35±21.79mg/dl,της γλυκοζυλιωμένης αιμοσφαιρίνης 6.17±0.84%,της ινσουλίνης 11.83±4.98μ IU/ml,του δείκτη HOMA-IR 3.66±2.19 και του ISQuicki 0.31±0.01.Από τον εργαστηριακό έλεγχο είχαμε μέση τιμή GFR 93.79±21.33 ml/min.1.73m2, ΑC 32.84±78.18mg/g και CHOL, HDL, LDL, TG και VLDL ήταν 196.87±40.53mg/dl, 45.32±10.04mg/dl, 121.37±35.55mg/dl, 168.30±120.46mg/dl και 32.85±23.75mg/dl αντίστοιχα. Αποτελέσματα: Η RDN συνέβαλε στη μείωση των τιμών της ΣΑΠ ιατρείου(-11.13±16.30mmHg,p=0.001),της ΔΑΠ(-7.66±8.44, p=0.004) στους 3 μήνες και στο ένα έτος (-19.23/-10.53 ± 14.31/8.08, p=0.003/0.004 αντίστοιχα). Στην 24ωρη καταγραφή είχαμε μείωση της 24ωρης ΣΑΠ και ΔΑΠ στους 3 μήνες(-7.40±14.20mmHg,p=0.008 και -3.06±3.71mmHg,p=0.029 αντίστοιχα) και 12 μήνες(-11.66±11.88,p=0.003 και -7.70±6.56, p=0.004 αντίστοιχα). Στους 3 και 12 μήνες μετά τη RDN η μέση τιμή γλυκόζης νηστείας σε σχέση με τη αρχική επίσκεψη ήταν -7.20±12.13mg/dl(p=0.003) και στο έτος -13.60±20.38mg/dl(p=0.001). Η τιμή της ινσουλίνης αυξήθηκε στους 3 μήνες 0.87±4.57IU/μL(p=0.302) ενώ στους 12 είχαμε μείωση κατά -0.70±3.98 (p=0.344). Η ομάδα της RDN είχε αύξηση του δείκτη αντίστασης HOMA-IR στους 3 μήνες κατά 0.04±1.65(p=0.895) ενώ στους 12 σημειώθηκε μείωση -0.62±1.78(p=0.066). O δείκτης ευαισθησίας ISQuicki σημείωσε μικρή αύξηση στους 3 και 12 μήνες κατά 0.0006±0.02(p=0.855) και 0.006±0.02(p=0.095) αντίστοιχα. Δε σημειώθηκε στατιστικώς σημαντική διαφορά στις τιμές γλυκόζης και ινσουλίνης κατά την πραγματοποίηση της OGTT στους 3 και 12 μήνες. Στην ομάδα ελέγχου δεν είχαμε μεταβολή στο μεταβολισμό της γλυκόζης στους 3 και 12 μήνες.Υπήρχε σε όλες τις μετρήσεις μείωση των ΑΠ χωρίς όμως εμφάνιση στατιστικής σημαντικότητας. Συμπέρασμα: Η RDN δεν οδήγησε σε βελτίωση του γλυκαιμικού προφίλ των ασθενών. Συνέβαλε όπως έχουν καταδείξει και άλλες μελέτες στη μείωση των τιμών της ΑΠ.
Μοριακή και ανοσογενετική ανάλυση με μεθοδολογία αλληλούχησης μεγάλης κλίμακας σε λεμφοϋπερπλασίες και προλευχαιμικές οντότητες
Authors: Γαλιγαλίδου Χρυσή
Published: April 2024

Η μονοκλωνική B λεμφοκυττάρωση (ΜΒΛ) θεωρείται ως πρόδρομο στάδιο της χρόνιας λεμφοκυτταρικής λευχαιμίας (ΧΛΛ), με τη μελέτη της να έχει αποκαλύψει μια σειρά βιολογικών ομοιοτήτων αλλά και διαφορών με τη ΧΛΛ. Ειδικότερα, οι HC-MBΛ και ΧΛΛ εμφανίζουν παρόμοια ανοσογενετικά ρεπερτόρια, ενώ η LC-MBΛ φαίνεται να έχει ένα εξαιρετικά διακριτό άνοσο ρεπερτόριο με ελάχιστες, «ειδικές για τη ΧΛΛ» αλληλουχίες Β κυτταρικού υποδοχέα (ΒκΥ). Ωστόσο, οι περισσότερες σχετικές μελέτες βασίστηκαν σε μεθοδολογίες μικρής κλίμακας, καθιστώντας δύσκολη την εξαγωγή συμπαγών συμπερασμάτων. Στην παρούσα διατριβή, μελετήθηκε για πρώτη φορά το ανοσογενετικό ρεπερτόριο του ΒκΥ και του υποδοχέα των Τ λεμφοκυττάρων (ΤκΥ) στη LC-MBΛ χρησιμοποιώντας σύγχρονες μεθοδολογίες υψηλής απόδοσης. Επιπλέον, πραγματοποιήθηκαν συγκρίσεις με υγιείς δότες και ασθενείς με ΧΛΛ προκειμένου να διασαφηνιστούν τα όρια μεταξύ των διαφορετικών οντοτήτων και να διευκρινιστεί ο ρόλος του μικροπεριβάλλοντος στην οντογένεση της ΧΛΛ. Το πρώτο μέρος αυτής της διατριβής αφορούσε στη συστηματική μελέτη του ΒκΥ σε δείγματα από υγιείς δότες με ή χωρίς LC-MBL. Η κλωνικότητα των δειγμάτων LC-MBΛ ήταν σημαντικά αυξημένη σε σύγκριση με τα αντίστοιχα δείγματα των φυσιολογικών Β λεμφοκυττάρων, εμφάνισε, ωστόσο, μεγάλη ετερογένεια. Τα συνολικά ευρήματα υπογραμμίζουν τα ξεχωριστά χαρακτηριστικά του ΒκΥ μεταξύ ΜΒΛ και ΧΛΛ όσον αφορά στην ακριβή φύση των σχετικών μικροπεριβαλλοντικών αλληλεπιδράσεων. Στο επόμενο μέρος της διατριβής μελετήθηκε με τεχνικές μεγάλης κλίμακας το ρεπερτόριο του ΤκΥ, όπου παρατηρήθηκε και πάλι ολιγοκλωνικότητα στο ρεπερτόριο της LC-MBΛ, η οποία ήταν μικρότερης έκτασης σε σύγκριση με τη ΧΛΛ αλλά μεγαλύτερης σε σχέση με τους υγιείς δότες χωρίς MBΛ. Συνολικά, οι δύο μελέτες καταδεικνύουν ότι τα άνοσα ρεπερτόρια των LC-MBΛ και ΧΛΛ επηρεάζονται από αντιγονικές επιδράσεις. Ωστόσο, η LC-MBΛ παρουσιάζει διακριτά χαρακτηριστικά, υποδεικνύοντας διαφορετική φύση για τα αντιγόνα που εμπλέκονται σε αυτήν την οντότητα σε σύγκριση με τη ΧΛΛ. Επομένως, η πρόοδος της ΜΒΛ σε ΧΛΛ μπορεί να ξεκινήσει με την επιλογή ενός κλώνου Β λεμφοκυττάρων με το χαρακτηριστικό φαινότυπο της ΧΛΛ αλλά χωρίς ισχυρό λευχαιμικό δυναμικό. Στη συνέχεια, γενετικές βλάβες ή πρόσθετα σήματα από το μικροπεριβάλλον, συμπεριλαμβανομένων των ερεθισμάτων που προέρχονται από τα Τ λεμφοκύτταρα μπορεί να καθοδηγήσουν την οντογένεση της ΧΛΛ. Η παρούσα διατριβή συμβάλλει στην καλύτερη κατανόηση της ανάπτυξης της ΧΛΛ και υπογραμμίζει τη σημασία των αντιγονικών αλληλεπιδράσεων στη διαμόρφωση των άνοσων ρεπερτορίων. Η διατριβή περιλάμβανε την ανάπτυξη βιοπληροφορικών εργαλείων ανοσογενετικής ανάλυσης. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, η τρίτη ερευνητική μελέτη αναφέρεται σε μια νέα μέθοδο ανάλυσης της Σωματικής Υπερμεταλλαξιγένεσης (ΣΥΜ) σε δεδομένα μεγάλης κλίμακας από περιπτώσεις σύνθετων άνοσων ρεπερτορίων, κάτι που ως τώρα δεν ήταν εφικτό.
Σύνθεση φαρμακευτικών δραστικών ενώσεων με χρήση της χημείας συνεχούς ροής (flow chemistry)
Authors: Ιορδανίδης Νικόλαος
Published: April 2024

Σκοπός της Διδακτορικής Διατριβής ήταν η ανάπτυξη μεθόδων συνεχούς ροής για την επίλυση πρακτικών δυσκολιών των συμβατικών μεθόδων που αφορούσαν στην βελτιστοποίηση των αποδόσεών τους, την αποτελεσματικότερη και πρακτικότερη σύνθεση μεγάλων ποσοτήτων και στην ασφαλέστερη διεξαγωγή τους. Στο πρώτο μέρος επιχειρήθηκε η ανάπτυξη μιας νέας μεθόδου χλωρίωσης ακόρεστων υποστρωμάτων με τη χρήση του συστήματος TMSCl-PhSOMe, χρησιμοποιώντας τόσο στοιχειομετρικές όσο και καταλυτικές ποσότητες PhSOMe. Η μεθοδολογία αναπτύχθηκε με δυνατότητα επέκτασής της σε συνθήκες συνεχούς ροής προκειμένου να ξεπεραστούν τα συνήθη βιομηχανικά προβλήματα χρήσης τοξικών αντιδραστηρίων χλωρίου για την επίτευξη των εν λόγω αντιδράσεων. Στο δεύτερο μέρος ακολουθεί η μελέτη ανάπτυξης μεθόδων συνεχούς ροής με τη χρήση αερίου οξυγόνου για την επίτευξη αντιδράσεων οξείδωσης, ένα ιδιαίτερα απαιτητικό πεδίο που απαντά σε μεγάλο εύρος στη χημική βιομηχανία. Βασιζόμενοι σε γνωστές αντιδράσεις (οξειδώσεις ακόρεστων ενώσεων σε εποξείδια και βορονικών οξέων σε φαινόλες) που αναπτύχθηκαν από την ομάδα μας σε συμβατικές συνθήκες αναπτύχθηκαν πρωτόκολλα συνεχούς ροής και έγινε σύγκριση των μεθόδων, με κύριο στόχο τη βελτιστοποίηση των αποδόσεων τους και των χρόνων αντίδρασης. Στο τρίτο μέρος και στο πλαίσιο του προγράμματος ΕΡΕΥΝΩ-ΚΑΙΝΟΤΟΜΩ, σε συνεργασία με τη φαρμακοβιομηχανία Pharmathen S.A. δοκιμάστηκε η χρήση συνεχούς ροής για τη σύνθεση φαρμακευτικών ενδιαμέσων και τελικών δραστικών ουσιών έχοντας ως στόχο την εκμετάλλευση τους από τη βιομηχανία. Τέλος το τέταρτο και τελευταίο μέρος της Διδακτορικής Διατριβής πραγματεύεται τη δυνατότητα των μεθόδων συνεχούς ροής να εφαρμοστούν σε πολλαπλά στάδια (ή συνεχόμενα) κατά τη σύνθεση φυσικών προϊόντων. Ως μελέτη τέθηκε η παρασκευή ενδιαμέσων για τη συλλογική σύνθεση σεσκιτερπενοειδών η οποία έχει αναπτυχθεί από την ομάδα μας.
Ανάπτυξη οργανοειδών για τη μοντελοποίηση ανθρώπινων ασθενειών και τη μελέτη της επίδρασης καινοτόμων θεραπευτικών προσεγγίσεων
Authors: Τζεκάκη Ελένη
Published: April 2024

Η νόσος Αλζχάιμερ (ΝΑ) αποτελεί μια προοδευτική και μη αναστρέψιμη νευροεκφυλιστική διαταραχή του Κεντρικού Νευρικού Συστήματος. Παρά την πληθώρα των ερευνών, των πειραματικών μοντέλων και των φαρμάκων που έχουν προταθεί δεν έχει βρεθεί ακόμη αποτελεσματική θεραπεία. Πρόσφατα αναπτύχτηκαν νέες τεχνολογίες με βάση τα οργανοειδή οι οποίες θεωρείται πως έχουν την δυνατότητα να αλλάξουν σημαντικά την κατανόηση του οργάνου που μιμούνται και ως εκ τούτου την θεραπεία ασθενειών, όπως αυτές του εγκεφάλου. Τα οργανοειδή αποτελούν αυτοσυναρμολογούμενες τρισδιάστατες δομές που παράγονται από πολυδύναμα βλαστικά κύτταρα είτε από καρκινικά κύτταρα τα οποία διαφοροποιούνται σε κατάλληλες συνθήκες ανακεφαλαιώνοντας βασικές πτυχές της δομής και της λειτουργίας των οργάνων. Στην παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή πραγματοποιήθηκαν δομές οργανοειδούς εγκεφάλου από εγκέφαλο νεογέννητων επίμυων. Τα οργανοειδή εγκεφάλου καλλιέργήθηκαν για 32 ημέρες. Στην 28η ημέρα της καλλιέργειας κάποιες δομές μονιμοποιήθηκαν και εγκλείστηκαν σε παραφίνη προκειμένου να χαρακτηριστικούν με ανοσϊστοχημικές μεθόδους ενώ οι υπόλοιπες δομές καλλιεργήθηκαν παρουσία λιποπολισακχαρητών προκειμένου να επάγουν φαινότυπο φλεγμονής. Οι λιποποίσακχαρίτες (LPSs) θεωρούνται μέσω για την επαγωγή της ΝΑ. Στα πλαίσια των νέων θεραπειών χρησιμοποιήθηκε η επίδραση του έξτρα παρθένου ελαιόλαδου (EVOO) στα οργανοειδή εγκεφάλου. Ενδοκυτταρικές και εκκρινόμενες πρωτεΐνες που σχετίζονται με το μονοπάτι της αντιοξειδωτικής ικανότητας των κυττάρων, της φλεγμονής και της απόπτωσης μελετήθηκαν παρουσία ή και απουσία λιποπολισακχαριτών και θεραπευτικού. Τα αποτελέσματα συγκρίθηκαν με αυτά μικτής καλλιέργειας νευροβλαστώματος και γλοιβλαστώματος μυός όπου έγινε επίδραση με λιποπολισακχαριτες και έξτρα παρθένο ελαιόλαδο στις ίδιες συνθήκες με τα οργανοειδή. Τέλος, οι θεραπευτικές ιδιότητες του έξτρα παρθένου ελαιολάδου επιβεβαιώθηκαν από τα αποτελέσματα της κλινικής έρευνας σε ασθενείς με Ήπια Νοητική Διαταραχή οι οποίοι μετά από ένα έτος καθημερινής κατανάλωσης ελαιολάδου βρέθηκε μείωση δεικτών οξειδωτικής καταπόνησης, φλεγμονής, απόπτωσης καθώς και των καθιερωμένων δεικτών της ΝΑ στον ορό αίματός.
Case Article—Prescriptive Analytics for Entrepreneurial Growth: Data-Driven Strategic Decision Making at iParty Bangkok Co., Ltd.
Authors: Li Dong (Michelle) , Pachamanova Dessislava , Siricharoensang Phattharanan
Published: April 2024

This case centers around the dilemma faced by the female owner of a balloon decoration business: whether to outsource transportation of balloon arrangements to third-party providers or handle the transportation of some orders in house. The case illustrates a path to answering the strategic business question through solving a sequence of vehicle routing problems (VRPs) of increasing complexity. The focus of the case is not only on solving VRPs, but also on teaching a practical framework for (1) framing a business problem as a prescriptive analytics problem; (2) researching appropriate concepts, prior publications, and tools; (3) setting up an optimization problem formulation, estimating the necessary inputs, and obtaining a solution; (4) deciding on the appropriate level of formulation complexity needed; and (5) mapping the results from the models to a response to the original business question. Realistic data and Excel models and are provided. The case is appropriate for use in courses in optimization, operations research, and business analytics at either the advanced undergraduate or master’s/MBA level.

Supplemental Material: The Teaching Note and supplemental data are available at https://www.informs.org/Publications/Subscribe/Access-Restricted-Materials .