bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Internet use and difficulties in acquiring health resources among older adults with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Yang Eunjin , Kim Min Jung , Lee Kyung Hee
Published: February 2024

Background

The various restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may have worsened the digital divide and health inequality. However, research to ascertain the association between Internet use and difficulties in acquiring health resources among older adults with disabilities is scarce. This study aimed to explore the relationship between Internet use and difficulties in acquiring health resources among older adults with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic and explore the associated factors by disability severity.

Methods

Data from the 2020 survey of people with disabilities in South Korea were used. This secondary analysis study included 4,871 older adults aged 55 and above among 7,025 total responders. Complex sample logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the association between Internet use and difficulties in acquiring health resources during the pandemic.

Results

Only 23.66% of older adults with disabilities used the Internet. Internet non-users were more likely to experience difficulties in obtaining health resources than Internet users. The relationship between Internet non-use and difficulties in acquiring COVID-19-related information (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.28–1.92) and buying and using personal protective equipment (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.11–1.65) were statistically significant in the overall sample. Whereas, difficulties with using medical services were not statistically significantly associated with Internet use. Additionally, factors associated with difficulties in acquiring health resources differed by disability severity.

Conclusions

Considering that older adults with disabilities experience triple the burden amid COVID-19 due to old age, disabilities, and the digital divide, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and engineers should aim to narrow the gaps between Internet users and Internet non-users among this population. Narrowing the gaps will make decreasing health gaps and increasing well-being among older adults with disabilities more attainable.
Prenatal phthalate exposure and neurodevelopmental differences in twins at 2 years of age
Authors: Xiao Han , Hu Liqin , Tang Tingting , Zhong Jufang , Xu Qiao , Cai Xiaonan , Xiang Feiyan , Yang Pan , Mei Hong , Zhou Aifen
Published: February 2024

Background

Previous studies of singletons evaluating prenatal phthalate exposure and early neurodevelopment reported mixed results and the associations could be biased by parental, obstetrical, and genetic factors.

Methods

A co-twin control design was employed to test whether prenatal phthalate exposure was associated with children’s neurocognitive development. We collected information from 97 mother-twin pairs enrolled in the Wuhan Twin Birth Cohort between March 2016 and October 2018. Fourteen phthalate metabolites were measured in maternal urine collected at each trimester. Neurodevelopmental differences in twins at the age of two were examined as the outcome of interest. Multiple informant model was used to examine the covariate-adjusted associations of prenatal phthalate exposure with mental development index (MDI) and psychomotor development index (PDI) scores assessed at 2 years of age based on Bayley Scales of Infant Development (Second Edition). This model also helps to identify the exposure window of susceptibility.

Results

Maternal urinary levels of mono-2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl phthalate (MEOHP) (β = 1.91, 95% CI: 0.43, 3.39), mono (2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP) (β = 1.56, 95% CI: 0.33, 2.79), and the sum of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate metabolites (∑DEHP) (β = 1.85, 95% CI: 0.39, 3.31) during the first trimester showed the strongest and significant positive associations with intra-twin MDI difference. When stratified with twin chorionicity, the positive associations of monoethyl phthalate (MEP), monoisobutyl phthalate (MiBP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), individual DEHP metabolites, and ∑DEHP exposure during pregnancy with intra-twin neurodevelopmental differences were more significant in monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twins than those in dichorionic diamniotic (DCDA) twins.

Conclusions

Neurodevelopmental differences in MCDA twins were strongly associated with prenatal phthalate exposure. Our findings warrant further confirmation in longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes.
Efficacy and safety of two-stage revision for patients with culture-negative versus culture-positive periprosthetic joint infection: a single-center retrospective study
Authors: Lu Hanpeng , Wang Wenqi , Xu Hong , Zhou Kai , Zhou Zongke
Published: February 2024

Background

The safety and efficacy of two-stage revision for culture-negative PJI remain controversial. This study analyzed outcomes after two-stage revision in patients with culture-negative and culture-positive periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) during follow-up lasting at least two years.

Methods

Data were retrospectively analysed patients who underwent hip or knee revision arthroplasty from January 2008 to October 2020 at our medical center. The primary outcome was the re-revision rate, while secondary outcomes were the rates of reinfection, readmission, and mortality. Patients with culture-negative or culture-positive PJI were compared in terms of these outcomes, as well as survival time without reinfection or revision surgery, based on Kaplan‒Meier analysis.

Results

The final analysis included 87 patients who were followed up for a mean of 72.3 months (range, 24–123 months). The mean age was 58.1 years in the culture-negative group (n = 24) and 59.1 years in the culture-positive group (n = 63). The two groups (culture-negative versus culture-positive) did not differ significantly in rates of re-revision (0.0% vs. 3.2%, p > 0.05), reinfection (4.2% vs. 3.2%, p > 0.05), readmission (8.4% vs. 8.0%, p > 0.05), or mortality (8.3% vs. 7.9%, p > 0.05). They were also similar in survival rates without infection-related complications or revision surgery at 100 months (91.5% in the culture-negative group vs. 87.9% in the culture-positive group; Mantel‒Cox log-rank χ2 = 0.251, p = 0.616).

Conclusion

The two-stage revision proves to be a well-tolerated and effective procedure in both culture-negative and culture-positive PJI during mid to long-term follow-up.
A controlled randomized trial with a 12-week follow-up investigating the effects of medium-frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation on pain, VMO thickness, and functionality in patients with knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Moezy Azar , Masoudi Soheila , Nazari Ahmad , Abasi Arezoo
Published: February 2024

Background

One of the major contributors to disability in Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients is weakness in the Quadriceps Femoris muscle. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has been used in rehabilitation for patients suffering from muscle weakness. Thus, the purpose of the study was to assess the effectiveness of NMES and exercise therapy, for improving pain, muscle weakness and function among patients with KOA.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 75 female patients diagnosed with KOA. Participants were divided into three intervention groups: NMES-only, exercise therapy (Exs) alone, and a combination of NMES and exercise (NMES + Exs). All patients underwent 12 supervised treatment sessions, three times a week. Outcome measures included pain intensity measured by visual analog scale (VAS), knee flexion range of motion (FROM), thigh muscle girth (TG), thickness of the Vastus Medialis Oblique (VMO), timed up and go test (TUG), six-minute walk test (6MWT), and WOMAC scores. Statistical analyses (ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis) methods were done to compare the amounts at the baseline, immediately after treatment and after 12 weeks.

Results

The NMES group exhibited a significant reduction in pain at the 12-week follow-up compared to the other groups(p = 0.022). The NMES + Exs group showed better outcomes in terms of FROM, TG, and VMO thickness post-intervention (p < 0.0001, p < 0.004, p = 0.003, respectively) and at the 12-week follow-up (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, respectively). Additionally, NMES was superior in improving TUG and 6MWT post-intervention (p < 0.0001, p = 0.038, respectively) and during the follow-up assessments (p < 0.0001, p = 0.029, respectively). The NMES + Exs group achieved better WOMAC stiffness scores at both post-intervention and follow-up evaluations (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, respectively). Furthermore, at the 12-week follow-up, NMES + Exs group outperformed the others in WOMAC pain and function subscales (p = 0.003, p = 0.017, respectively), while the NMES group demonstrated better WOMAC total scores compared to the other groups (p = 0.007).

Conclusion

The combination of NMES and exercise seems to be an efficient approach for managing KOA, as it enhances knee flexion range and TG, increases VMO thickness, and improves WOMAC scores. On the other hand, NMES alone was found to be effective in improving the physical function of KOA patients.

Trial registration

IRCT20101228005486N7 (06–02-2020).
Cost-effectiveness and budget impact analysis of enzalutamide in comparison to abiraterone in treatment of metastatic prostate cancer resistant to castration in Iran
Authors: Goudarzi Zahra , Lotfi Farhad , Najafpour Zhila , Hafezi AliAkbar , Zakaria Marzieh Alizadeh , Keshavarz Khosro
Published: February 2024

Introduction

In recent years, enzalutamide and abiraterone have been widely used as treatments for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). However, the cost-effectiveness of these drugs in Iran is unknown. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of enzalutamide for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer resistant to castration in Iran.

Methods

A 3-state Markov model was developed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of enzalutamide and abiraterone from a social perspective over 10 years. The clinical inputs were obtained from the meta-analysis studies. The direct medical costs were obtained from the tariffs of the healthcare system, while the direct non-medical and indirect costs were collected from the patients. The data of utilities were derived from the literature. In addition, sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the uncertainties.

Results

Compared with Abiraterone, enzalutamide was associated with a high incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $6,260 per QALY gained. According to the one-way sensitivity analysis, ICER was most heavily influenced by the prices of enzalutamide and Abiraterone, non-medical costs, and indirect costs. Regardless of the variation, enzalutamide remained cost-effective. The budget impact analysis of enzalutamide in the health system during 5 years was estimated at $6,362,127.

Conclusions

At current prices, adding enzalutamide to pharmaceutical lists represents the cost-effective use of the healthcare resources in Iran for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.
Effect of tobacco use on cadmium accumulation in the oral keratinized mucosa
Authors: Satir Samed , Kaya Dogan Ilgaz , Ozsoy Sumeyye Celik
Published: February 2024

Background

This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the effect of tobacco use on the accumulation of cadmium (Cd), a carcinogenic element, in the oral keratinized mucosa (OKM).

Methods

OKM samples were obtained by standard punch biopsy from nonsmokers (n = 19) and smokers (n = 21). Cd analysis was performed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The calibration curve R2 values for three wavelengths (214,439, 226,502, and 228,802 nm) were at the level of 0.9999. The frequency of consumption of foods that are Cd sources, such as seafood, rice, and vegetables, was assessed in all patients. The age, sex, and nutritional habits of all patients and the frequency of tobacco consumption by smokers were recorded. The independent t-test, Mann–Whitney U test, Fisher’s exact test, and Spearman correlation test were used for the statistical analyses, and p < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Although the Cd levels in nonsmokers were higher than those in smokers, no statistically significant difference was found (p > 0.05). In smokers, a positive correlation was found between age and Cd level (r = 0.574, p = 0.006). No significant relationship was found between the groups in terms of nutrition or between the frequency of tobacco consumption and Cd accumulation.

Conclusion

The OKM may not have the characteristic cumulative accumulation in terms of toxic elements. Changes in the turnover rate, keratinization, and apoptotic mechanisms in the OKM with the thermal/chemical effects of tobacco may be responsible for the difference in Cd accumulation.

Trial registration number

TCTR20230206001/06 Feb 2023 (TCTR: Thai Clinical Trials Registry).
Development and validation of a self-management self-efficacy scale for premature birth prevention (SMSE-PBP) for women of childbearing age
Authors: Kim Sun-Hee , Lee Yu-Jin
Published: February 2024

Background

This study aimed to develop and evaluate the validity and reliability of a self-management self-efficacy for premature birth prevention (SMSE-PBP) in women of childbearing age (WCA).

Methods

Instrument development and validation were undertaken in three phases: conceptualization, item generation and evaluation of content validity, and evaluation of construct and concurrent validity and reliability. Data were analyzed using exploratory and second-order confirmatory factor analyses, and concurrent validity was examined using Pearson’s correlation coefficients. The reliability was analyzed using omega hierarchical and Cronbach’s ⍺.

Results

Content validity was assessed by experts and cognitive interviews of WCA. The SMSE-PBP consists of a second-order 3-dimension and 10-factor scale with 60 items; therefore, the construct and concurrent validity of the SMSE-PBP were supported. The omega values were 0.93 for pre-pregnancy SMSE-PBP, 0.92 for pregnancy SMSE-PBP, and 0.94 for hospital SMSE-PBP. Cronbach’s ⍺ was 0.88 for pre-pregnancy SMSE-PBP, 0.96 for pregnancy SMSE-PBP, and 0.96 for hospital SMSE-PBP.

Conclusions

The SMSE-PBP scale is valid and reliable for WCA; it is helpful for WCA and health professionals to assess women’s SMSE-PBP and pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, or hospital SMSE-PBP. The next steps should include assessing the relationship with pregnancy health behaviors.
Population genomics of Agrotis segetum provide insights into the local adaptive evolution of agricultural pests
Authors: Wang Ping , Jin Minghui , Wu Chao , Peng Yan , He Yanjin , Wang Hanyue , Xiao Yutao
Published: February 2024

Background

The adaptive mechanisms of agricultural pests are the key to understanding the evolution of the pests and to developing new control strategies. However, there are few studies on the genetic basis of adaptations of agricultural pests. The turnip moth, Agrotis segetum (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is an important underground pest that affects a wide range of host plants and has a strong capacity to adapt to new environments. It is thus a good model for studying the adaptive evolution of pest species.

Results

We assembled a high-quality reference genome of A. segetum using PacBio reads. Then, we constructed a variation map of A. segetum by resequencing 98 individuals collected from six natural populations in China. The analysis of the population structure showed that all individuals were divided into four well-differentiated populations, corresponding to their geographical distribution. Selective sweep analysis and environmental association studies showed that candidate genes associated with local adaptation were functionally correlated with detoxification metabolism and glucose metabolism.

Conclusions

Our study of A. segetum has provided insights into the genetic mechanisms of local adaptation and evolution; it has also produced genetic resources for developing new pest management strategies.
Mechanisms of endothelial activation, hypercoagulation and thrombosis in COVID-19: a link with diabetes mellitus
Authors: Valencia Inés , Lumpuy-Castillo Jairo , Magalhaes Giselle , Sánchez-Ferrer Carlos F. , Lorenzo Óscar , Peiró Concepción
Published: February 2024

Early since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the medical and scientific community were aware of extra respiratory actions of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Endothelitis, hypercoagulation, and hypofibrinolysis were identified in COVID-19 patients as subsequent responses of endothelial dysfunction. Activation of the endothelial barrier may increase the severity of the disease and contribute to long-COVID syndrome and post-COVID sequelae. Besides, it may cause alterations in primary, secondary, and tertiary hemostasis. Importantly, these responses have been highly decisive in the evolution of infected patients also diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM), who showed previous endothelial dysfunction. In this review, we provide an overview of the potential triggers of endothelial activation related to COVID-19 and COVID-19 under diabetic milieu. Several mechanisms are induced by both the viral particle itself and by the subsequent immune-defensive response (i.e., NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, vasoactive peptides, cytokine storm, NETosis, activation of the complement system). Alterations in coagulation mediators such as factor VIII, fibrin, tissue factor, the von Willebrand factor: ADAMST-13 ratio, and the kallikrein-kinin or plasminogen-plasmin systems have been reported. Moreover, an imbalance of thrombotic and thrombolytic (tPA, PAI-I, fibrinogen) factors favors hypercoagulation and hypofibrinolysis. In the context of DM, these mechanisms can be exacerbated leading to higher loss of hemostasis. However, a series of therapeutic strategies targeting the activated endothelium such as specific antibodies or inhibitors against thrombin, key cytokines, factor X, complement system, the kallikrein-kinin system or NETosis, might represent new opportunities to address this hypercoagulable state present in COVID-19 and DM. Antidiabetics may also ameliorate endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and platelet aggregation. By improving the microvascular pathology in COVID-19 and post-COVID subjects, the associated comorbidities and the risk of mortality could be reduced.
Policy implementation and outcome evaluation: establishing a framework and expanding capacity for advocacy organizations to assess the impact of their work in public policy
Authors: Whitsel Laurie P. , Honeycutt Sally , Radcliffe Reyna , Johnson Janay , Chase Paul J. , Noyes Philip
Published: February 2024

Advocacy organizations can play a crucial role in evaluating whether legislation or regulation has had its intended effect by supporting robust public policy implementation and outcome evaluation. The American Heart Association, working with expert advisors, has developed a framework for effective evaluation that can be used by advocacy organizations, in partnership with researchers, public health agencies, funders, and policy makers to assess the health and equity impact of legislation and regulation over time. Advocacy organizations can use parts of this framework to evaluate the impact of policies relevant to their own advocacy and public policy efforts and inform policy development and guide their organizational resource allocation. Ultimately, working in partnership, advocacy organizations can help bring capacity, commitment and funding to this important implementation and outcome evaluation work that informs impactful public policy for equitable population health and well-being.
Factors associated with knowledge of mother-to-child transmission of HIV among reproductive-age women in Indonesia: a multilevel analysis
Authors: Afaya Agani , Ispriantari Aloysia
Published: February 2024

Background

Maternal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) commonly occurs from mother to child during pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding which accounts for almost all the new HIV infections among children aged 0–14 years. Despite major efforts and progress in controlling and preventing HIV, it continues to pose a great public health threat, especially in Indonesia. This study assessed the factors associated with the knowledge of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV among reproductive-age women in Indonesia.

Methods

This study used data from the 2017 Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey (IDHS). We sampled 39,735 reproductive-age women (15–49 years) for analysis. Using Stata version 16.0, multilevel logistic regression models were fitted, and the results were presented as adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with their confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

The study found that 72% of women had knowledge of MTCT of HIV. Women who were aged between 45 and 49 years (aOR = 1.65, 95%CI = 1.46–1.88) had higher odds of knowledge of MTCT of HIV than those aged 15–19 years. Women who attained higher education (aOR = 2.92, 95%CI = 2.06–4.15) had increased odds of knowledge of MTCT of HIV than those with no formal education. Women who had four children (aOR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.05–1.35) had higher odds of knowledge of MTCT of HIV than nulliparous women. Women who frequently read newspapers/magazines (aOR = 1.14, 95%CI = 1.06–1.25) and frequently used the internet almost every day (aOR = 1.28, 95%CI = 1.19–1.38) had higher odds of knowledge of MTCT of HIV than those who did not read newspapers/magazines and non-users of internet, respectively. Women within the richer (aOR = 1.11, 95%CI = 1.02–1.20) and the richest (aOR = 1.14, 95%CI = 1.04–1.25) wealth quintile higher odds of knowledge of MTCT of HIV than those in the poorest wealth quantile. Women who resided in rural areas were less likely to have knowledge of MTCT of HIV (aOR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.74–0.86) than those in urban settlements.

Conclusions

Knowledge of MTCT of HIV was slightly above average. The study findings on the factors associated with knowledge of MTCT of HIV provide evidence for policymakers and clinicians to utilize in the quest to eliminate MTCT of HIV among children. We recommend that awareness programs should consider the key findings from this study when delivering public education or when developing interventions to improve women’s knowledge on MTCT of HIV.
Comparison of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (Mis-TLIF) with bilateral decompression via unilateral approach and open-TLIF with bilateral decompression for degenerative lumbar diseases: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Zhu Fengzhao , Jia Dongqing , Zhang Yaqing , Feng Chencheng , Ning Ya , Leng Xue , Zhou Yue , Li Changqing , Huang Bo
Published: February 2024

Objective

Presently, no study has compared the clinical outcomes of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (Mis-TLIF) with bilateral decompression via the unilateral approach (BDUA) and Open-TLIF with bilateral decompression for degenerative lumbar diseases (DLD). We aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of through Mis-TLIF combined with BDUA and Open-TLIF with bilateral decompression for the treatment of DLD, and reported the learning curve of the procedure of MIS-TLIF with BDUA.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the prospectively collected data of consecutive DLD patients in the two groups from January 2016 to January 2020.

Results

The operative time (OT) was significantly longer in the Mis-TLIF group (n = 113) than in the Open-TLIF group (n = 135). The postoperative drainage volume (PDV) and length of stay (LOS) were significantly higher in the Open-TLIF group than in the Mis-TLIF group. Additionally, the complication rate was significantly higher in the Open-TLIF group than in the Mis-TLIF group (14.8% vs. 6.2%, P = 0.030), while there was no significant difference in the reoperation and adjacent segment disease rates between the two groups. There were no significant differences in back pain and leg pain Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) between the two groups preoperatively, at discharge, and 2 years postoperatively. Patients in both groups showed significant improvements in NRS scores and ODI scores after surgery. OT was negatively correlated with the number of surgeries performed (P < 0.001, r =  −0.43). The learning curve of Mis-TLIF with BDUA was steep, with OT tapered to steady state in 43 cases.

Conclusion

Compared with Open-TLIF with bilateral decompression, Mis-TLIF with BDUA can achieve equivalent clinical outcomes, lower PDV and LOS, and lower complication rates. Although this procedure took longer, it could be a viable alternative for the treatment of DLD after a steep learning curve.
The spectrum of neurological presentation in individuals affected by TBL1XR1 gene defects
Authors: Nagy Amanda , Molay Francine , Hargadon Sarah , Brito Pires Claudia , Grant Natalie , De La Rosa Abreu Lizbeth , Chen Jin Yun , D’Souza Precilla , Macnamara Ellen , Tifft Cynthia , Becker Catherine , Melo De Gusmao Claudio , Khurana Vikram , Neumeyer Ann M. , Eichler Florian S.
Published: February 2024

Background

TBL1XR1 encodes a F-box-like/WD40 repeat-containing protein that plays a role in transcription mediated by nuclear receptors and is a known genetic cause of neurodevelopmental disease of childhood (OMIM# 608628). Yet the developmental trajectory and progression of neurologic symptoms over time remains poorly understood.

Methods

We developed and distributed a survey to two closed Facebook groups devoted to families of patients with TBL1XR1-related disorder. The survey consisted of 14 subsections focused upon the developmental trajectories of cognitive, behavioral, motor, and other neurological abnormalities. Data were collected and managed using REDCap electronic data capture tools.

Results

Caregivers of 41 patients with a TBL1XR1-related disorder completed the cross-sectional survey. All reported variants affecting a single amino acid, including missense mutations and in-frame deletions, were found in the WD40 repeat regions of Tbl1xr1. These are domains considered important for protein–protein interactions that may plausibly underlie disease pathology. The majority of patients were diagnosed with a neurologic condition before they received their genetic diagnosis. Language appeared most significantly affected with only a minority of the cohort achieving more advanced milestones in this domain.

Conclusion

TBL1XR1-related disorder encompasses a spectrum of clinical presentations, marked by early developmental delay ranging in severity, with a subset of patients experiencing developmental regression in later childhood.
Trends in gynaecologic cancer mortality and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
Authors: Xi Yuyan , Guo Yuxin , Qiu Sikai , Lv Fan , Deng Yujiao , Xie Jingyi , Xing Zixuan , Bo Yajing , Chang Chenyu , Zhang Fan , Ji Fanpu , Li Mu
Published: February 2024

Objectives

Our aim was to assess the trend in gynaecologic cancer (GC) mortality in the period from 2010 to 2022 in the United States, with focus on the impact of the pandemic on increased deaths.

Methods

GC mortality data were extracted from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) platform. We analysed mortality trends and evaluated observed vs. predicted mortality for the period from 2020 to 2022 with joinpoint regression and prediction modelling analyses.

Results

A total of 334,382 deaths among adults aged 25 years and older with gynaecologic cancer were documented from 2010 to 2022. The overall age-standardised mortality rate (ASMR, per 100,000 persons) for ovarian cancer-related death decreased gradually from 7.189 in 2010 to 5.517 in 2019, yielding an APC (annual percentage change) of -2.8%. However, the decrease in ovarian cancer-related mortality slowed down by more than 4-fold during the pandemic. Cervical cancer -related mortality decreased slightly prior to the pandemic and increased during the pandemic with an APC of 0.6%, resulting in excess mortality of 4.92%, 9.73% and 2.03% in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. For uterine corpus cancer, the ASMR increased from 1.905 in 2010 to 2.787 in 2019, and increased sharply to 3.079 in 2021 and 3.211 in 2022. The ASMR rose steadily between 2013 and 2022, yielding an APC of 6.9%.

Conclusions

Overall, we found that GC-related mortality increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and this increase was not specific to age, race, or ethnicity.
An integrated machine learning-based model for joint diagnosis of ovarian cancer with multiple test indicators
Authors: Feng Yiwen
Published: February 2024

Objective

To construct a machine learning diagnostic model integrating feature dimensionality reduction techniques and artificial neural network classifiers to develop the value of clinical routine blood indexes for the auxiliary diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Methods

Patients with ovarian cancer clearly diagnosed in our hospital were collected as a case group (n = 185), and three groups of patients with other malignant otolaryngology tumors (n = 138), patients with benign otolaryngology diseases (n = 339) and those with normal physical examination (n = 92) were used as an overall control group. In this paper, a fully automated segmentation network for magnetic resonance images of ovarian cancer is proposed to improve the reproducibility of tumor segmentation results while effectively reducing the burden on radiologists. A pre-trained Res Net50 is used to the three edge output modules are fused to obtain the final segmentation results. The segmentation results of the proposed network architecture are compared with the segmentation results of the U-net based network architecture and the effect of different loss functions and region of interest sizes on the segmentation performance of the proposed network is analyzed.

Results

The average Dice similarity coefficient, average sensitivity, average specificity (specificity) and average hausdorff distance of the proposed network segmentation results reached 83.62%, 89.11%, 96.37% and 8.50, respectively, which were better than the U-net based segmentation method. For ROIs containing tumor tissue, the smaller the size, the better the segmentation effect. Several loss functions do not differ much. The area under the ROC curve of the machine learning diagnostic model reached 0.948, with a sensitivity of 91.9% and a specificity of 86.9%, and its diagnostic efficacy was significantly better than that of the traditional way of detecting CA125 alone. The model was able to accurately diagnose ovarian cancer of different disease stages and showed certain discriminative ability for ovarian cancer in all three control subgroups.

Conclusion

Using machine learning to integrate multiple conventional test indicators can effectively improve the diagnostic efficacy of ovarian cancer, which provides a new idea for the intelligent auxiliary diagnosis of ovarian cancer.
Mitochondrial and ribosomal markers in the identification of nematodes of clinical and veterinary importance
Authors: Mejías-Alpízar María José , Porras-Silesky Catalina , Rodríguez Esteban José , Quesada Joban , Alfaro-Segura María Paula , Robleto-Quesada Joby , Gutiérrez Ricardo , Rojas Alicia
Published: February 2024

Background

Nematodes of the Ascarididae, Ancylostomatidae and Onchocercidae families are parasites of human and veterinary importance causing infections with high prevalence worldwide. Molecular tools have significantly improved the diagnosis of these helminthiases, but the selection of genetic markers for PCR or metabarcoding purposes is often challenging because of the resolution these may show.

Methods

Nuclear 18S rRNA, internal transcribed spacers 1 (ITS-1) and 2 (ITS-2), mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase 1 (cox1) and mitochondrial rRNA genes 12S and 16S loci were studied for 30 species of the mentioned families. Accordingly, their phylogenetic interspecies resolution, pairwise nucleotide p-distances and sequence availability in GenBank were analyzed.

Results

The 18S rRNA showed the least interspecies resolution since separate species of the Ascaris, Mansonella, Toxocara or Ancylostoma genus were intermixed in phylogenetic trees as opposed to the ITS-1, ITS-2, cox1, 12S and 16S loci. Moreover, pairwise nucleotide p-distances were significantly different in the 18S compared to the other loci, with an average of 99.1 ± 0.1%, 99.8 ± 0.1% and 98.8 ± 0.9% for the Ascarididae, Ancylostomatidae and Onchocercidae families, respectively. However, ITS-1 and ITS-2 average pairwise nucleotide p-distances in the three families ranged from 72.7% to 87.3%, and the cox1, 12S and 16S ranged from 86.4% to 90.4%. Additionally, 2491 cox1 sequences were retrieved from the 30 analyzed species in GenBank, whereas 212, 1082, 994, 428 and 143 sequences could be obtained from the 18S, ITS-1, ITS-2, 12S and 16S markers, respectively.

Conclusions

The use of the cox1 gene is recommended because of the high interspecies resolution and the large number of sequences available in databases. Importantly, confirmation of the identity of an unknown specimen should always be complemented with the careful morphological examination of worms and the analysis of other markers used for specific parasitic groups.

Graphical Abstract
Sound field reconstruction using neural processes with dynamic kernels
Authors: Liang Zining , Zhang Wen , Abhayapala Thushara D.
Published: February 2024

Accurately representing the sound field with high spatial resolution is crucial for immersive and interactive sound field reproduction technology. In recent studies, there has been a notable emphasis on efficiently estimating sound fields from a limited number of discrete observations. In particular, kernel-based methods using Gaussian processes (GPs) with a covariance function to model spatial correlations have been proposed. However, the current methods rely on pre-defined kernels for modeling, requiring the manual identification of optimal kernels and their parameters for different sound fields. In this work, we propose a novel approach that parameterizes GPs using a deep neural network based on neural processes (NPs) to reconstruct the magnitude of the sound field. This method has the advantage of dynamically learning kernels from data using an attention mechanism, allowing for greater flexibility and adaptability to the acoustic properties of the sound field. Numerical experiments demonstrate that our proposed approach outperforms current methods in reconstructing accuracy, providing a promising alternative for sound field reconstruction.
Investigations of the degree of asymmetry across the dayside magnetopause under southward interplanetary magnetic field using GEOTAIL observations
Authors: Kondoh Koji , Nitta Shin-ya
Published: February 2024

The magnetic reconnection environment around the dayside geomagnetopause under long-lasting southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) conditions is investigated using the in-situ observation by GEOTAIL satellite from 1994 to 2019. We focus on the degrees of asymmetry in the plasma density, ion temperature and the magnetic field strength between both sides of the magnetopause, that is, the ratio of the value in the magnetosphere to that in the magnetosheath in order to compute the much more realistic current sheet systems in numerical simulations. To exclude all of the interplanetary disturbance events such as Corotating Interaction Regions (CIRs) and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), we investigate magnetopause crossings under long-lasting southward IMF conditions. GEOTAIL satellite sometimes repeatedly across the magnetopause during each pass due to the oscillating of the magnetopause. The degrees of asymmetry vary even during a single pass. This variation depends on the locus of the observation point, particularly the GSM Y-position, not on the time. The degrees of asymmetry in the plasma density, ion temperature and the magnetic field strength have significant variation in the data. The data points of the degree of asymmetry in the plasma density significantly spread in the duskside, while that in the magnetic field strength further widely spread in the dawnside. The degree of asymmetry in the plasma density and that in the magnetic field strength have fixed negative correlation on a log–log scale.

Graphical Abstract
Conversation for change: engaging older adults as partners in research on gerotechnology
Authors: Bytautas Jessica , Grigorovich Alisa , Carson Judith , Fowler Janet , Goldman Ian , Harris Bessie , Kerr Anne , Marcotte Ashley-Ann , O’Doherty Kieran , Jenkins Amanda , Kirkland Susan , Kontos Pia
Published: February 2024

There is increasing research and public policy investment in the development of technologies to support healthy aging and age-friendly services in Canada. Yet adoption and use of technologies by older adults is limited and rates of abandonment remain high. In response to this, there is growing interest within the field of gerotechnology in fostering greater participation of older adults in research and design. The nature of participation ranges from passive information gathering to more active involvement in research activities, such as those informed by participatory design or participatory action research (PAR). However, participatory approaches are rare with identified barriers including ageism and ableism. This stigma contributes to the limited involvement of older adults in gerotechnology research and design, which in turn reinforces negative stereotypes, such as lack of ability and interest in technology. While the full involvement of older adults in gerotechnology remains rare, the Older Adults’ Active Involvement in Ageing & Technology Research and Development (OA-INVOLVE) project aims to develop models of best practice for engaging older adults in these research projects. In this comment paper, we employ an unconventional, conversational-style format between academic researchers and older adult research contributors to provide new perspectives, understandings, and insights into: (i) motivations to engage in participatory research; (ii) understandings of roles and expectations as research contributors; (iii) challenges encountered in contributing to gerotechnology research; (iv) perceived benefits of participation; and (v) advice for academic researchers.
Exploring stakeholders’ perceived problems associated with the care and support of children and youth with mental ill health in Sweden: a qualitative study
Authors: Helander Malin , Fredriksson Mio , Lohela-Karlsson Malin
Published: February 2024

Background

Care and support for children and youth with mental ill health have become more specialized and are provided by an increasing number of stakeholders. As a result, services are often fragmented, inefficient and unco-ordinated, with negative consequences for the service user and their family. Enhanced collaboration could lead to improved care and support but requires a shared understanding and a joint problem formulation between involved stakeholders to commence. The aim of this study was to explore different stakeholders’ perceived problems associated with delivering care and support to children and youth with mental ill health and to discuss how the perceived problems relate to collaboration.

Methods

A qualitative descriptive study was conducted, using short statements of perceived problems written by stakeholders involved in the care and support of children and youth with mental ill health during an inter-organizational workshop. The 26 stakeholders represented school and student health, primary health care, specialist care, social services, and different service user organizations. Data were collected during February 2020. Inductive content analysis with a summative approach was used when analysing the data.

Results

The perceived problems were summarized in a model consisting of four main categories: Resources and governance; Collaboration and co-ordination; Knowledge and competence; and Stigma and confidence, containing 24 subcategories. These categories and subcategories were distributed over three levels: Societal level, Organizational level and Individual level. The perceived problems were shared on the category level but to some extent varied between stakeholder groups on the subcategory level. The perceived problems were either directly or indirectly related to collaboration.

Conclusions

The perceived problems often acted as barriers to achieving successful collaboration. The problems were distributed on all three levels in the developed model, indicating a complex problem. Even though the perceived problems were shared by stakeholders on an overall level, the findings indicate that the stakeholders did not have a completely shared understanding of the perceived problems, as they tended to focus on aspects most relevant to their own organization or perceptions. The challenge is to find which perceived problems are appropriate for inter-organization problem-solving and which can be solved within individual organizations.
Note on an extended chiral bosons system contextualized in a modified gauge-unfixing formalism
Authors: Ambrósio Gabriella V. , Costa Cleber N. , Alves Paulo R. F. , Neto Jorge Ananias , Thibes Ronaldo
Published: February 2024

We analyze the Hamiltonian structure of an extended chiral bosons theory in which the self-dual constraint is introduced via a control α-parameter. The system has two second-class constraints in the non-critical regime and an additional one in the critical regime. We use a modified gauge-unfixing (GU) formalism to derive a first-class system, disclosing hidden symmetries. To this end, we choose one of the second-class constraints to build a corresponding gauge symmetry generator. The worked out procedure converts second-class variables into first-class ones allowing the lifting of gauge symmetry. Any function of these GU variables will also be invariant. We obtain the GU Hamiltonian and Lagrangian densities in a generalized context containing the Srivastava and Floreanini-Jackiw models as particular cases. Additionally, we observe that the resulting GU Lagrangian presents similarities to the Siegel invariant Lagrangian which is known to be suitable for describing chiral bosons theory with classical gauge invariance, however broken at quantum level. The final results signal a possible equivalence between our invariant Lagrangian obtained from the modified GU formalism and the Siegel invariant Lagrangian, with a distinct gauge symmetry.
Associations Between Paternal Obesity and Cardiometabolic Alterations in Offspring via Assisted Reproductive Technology
Authors: Zhang Bingqian , Ban Miaomiao , Chen Xiaojing , Zhang Yiyuan , Wang Zijing , Feng Wanbing , Zhao Han , Li Jingyu , Zhang Tao , Hu Jingmei , Hu Kuona , Cui Linlin , Chen Zi-Jiang
Published: February 2024

Context

Both assisted reproductive technology (ART) and obesity are associated with adverse cardiometabolic alterations in offspring. However, the combined effects of paternal obesity and ART on offspring cardiometabolic health are still unclear.

Objective

To clarify cardiometabolic changes in offspring of obese fathers conceived using ART. This was a retrospective cohort study conducted between June 2014 and October 2019 at a center for reproductive medicine. A total of 2890 singleton visits aged 4-10 years were followed. Age-and sex-specific z-score of body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, insulin resistance, and lipid profile were examined.

Results

We observed a strong association between paternal BMI categories and offspring BMI, blood pressure, and insulin resistance. Compared with offspring of fathers with normal weight, multivariable-adjusted mean differences for BMI z-score were 0.53 (95% CI 0.37-0.68) for obese fathers, 0.17 (95% CI 0.05-0.30) for overweight fathers, and −0.55 (95% CI −0.95–0.15) for underweight fathers; corresponding values for systolic blood pressure z-score were 0.21(95% CI 0.07-0.35), 0.10 (95% CI −0.01-0.21), and −0.24 (95% CI −0.59-0.11), and corresponding values for homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance z-score were 0.31 (95% CI 0.16-0.46), 0.09 (95% CI −0.02-0.21), and −0.11 (95% CI −0.48-0.28), respectively. The mediation analyses suggested that 57.48% to 94.75% of the associations among paternal obesity and offspring cardiometabolic alterations might be mediated by offspring BMI.

Conclusion

Paternal obesity was associated with an unfavorable cardiometabolic profile in ART-conceived offspring. Mediation analyses indicated that offspring BMI was a possible mediator of the association between paternal obesity and the offspring impaired metabolic changes.
Η ΣΥΜΒΟΛΗ ΤΟΥ ΑΡΗ ΣΤΟ ΜΕΛΛΟΝ ΤΗΣ ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΤΗΤΑΣ
Authors: Μπίνης Δημήτρης , Μιχαηλίδης Θάνος , Ναούμ Αλέξανδρος , Παπαηλιού Σταύρος
Published: February 2024

Είναι αλήθεια πως τον τελευταίο καιρό όλο και περισσότεροι ερευνητές ασχολούνται με την πιθανή μεγάλη έξοδο της ανθρωπότητας από τη γη και τις πιθανότητες μελλοντικής κατοίκισης του Άρη. Είναι όμως εφικτή αυτή η μετακίνηση; Και αν ναι, πώς? Πολλοί ερευνητές και μελετητές έχουν αφιερώσει μεγάλο κομμάτι της ζωής τους στο πώς θα επιτευχθεί αυτή η μεγάλη έξοδος. Εμείς λοιπόν έχοντας συγκεντρώσει όλες αυτές τις αναρίθμητες αλλά παράλληλα έγκυρες πληροφορίες, θα τοποθετηθούμε πάνω στο θέμα. Θα παρουσιάσουμε τα χαρακτηριστικά του πλανήτη Άρη, στοιχεία σχετικά με την προετοιμασία για την αποστολή κατοίκησης και τους τρόπους με τους οποίους θα γίνει εφικτή η κατοίκηση του πλανήτη.
ΕΚΠΑΙΔΕΥΣΗ ΜΕ ΗΛΕΚΤΡΟΝΙΚΕΣ ΣΥΣΚΕΥΕΣ ΣΤΑ ΣΧΟΛΕΙΑ
Authors: Χριστοπούλου Ραφαέλα , Χατζηχρήστου Γιώργος , Στυλιανίδη Τζωρτζίνα , Συριόπουλος Γιάννης , Τσιλιμίγκρας Γιάννης
Published: February 2024

Στη σύγχρονη εποχή οι ηλεκτρονικές συσκευές είναι ένα μεγάλο μέρος της ζωής κάθε ανθρώπου. Στην εργασία ασχολούμαστε με τη γνώμη των μαθητών για την αξιοποίηση της τεχνολογίας στην εκπαίδευση. Δημιουργήσαμε ένα ερωτηματολόγιο το οποίο συμπληρώθηκε από 53 μαθητές/τριες Α’ Λυκείου. Τα αποτελέσματα δείχνουν ότι οι μαθητές/τριες χειρίζονται με ευκολία και άνεση της ηλεκτρονικές συσκευές και είναι θετικοί στην χρήση ηλεκτρονικών συσκευών στο μάθημα. Η χρήση ηλεκτρονικών μέσων μπορεί να διευκολύνει τη συμμετοχή και το ενδιαφέρον των μαθητών στο μάθημα, αφού έτσι το μάθημα θα γινόταν πιο διαδραστικό.
ΜΑΥΡΕΣ ΤΡΥΠΕΣ
Authors: Τσαϊλά Κλαίρη , Φίλια Εβελίνα , Τσέλιου Φωτεινή , Φιλιππούση Αγλαια
Published: February 2024

Στην εργασία που ακολουθεί αποφασίσαμε να επικεντρωθούμε σε ένα επιστημονικό ζήτημα με το οποίο έχουμε ασχοληθεί στα μαθητικά μας χρόνια και θα θέλαμε να μελετήσουμε και στο μέλλον. Οι “μαύρες τρύπες” του διαστήματος αποτελούν για εμάς ένα πολύ γοητευτικό και δύσκολο εγχείρημα προκειμένου να τις προσεγγίσουμε και εντοπίσουμε ορισμένα από τα χαρακτηριστικά τους.
Στάθμιση και ψυχομετρική αξιολόγηση της αναθεωρημένης κλίμακας Μεταγνωσιακής Ενημερότητας Στρατηγικών Ανάγνωσης MARSI-2fR
Authors: Μαυρογιάννη Αριστέα , Βασιλάκη Ελένη , Σπαντιδάκης Ιωάννης , Γιαχνάκης Εμμανουήλ
Published: February 2024

Η παρούσα εργασία έχει ως στόχο την προσαρμογή, τη στάθμιση και τον ψυχομετρικό έλεγχο της αυτo-αναφορικής κλίμακας Μεταγνωσιακής Ενημερότητας Στρατηγικών Ανάγνωσης (MARSI) προκειμένου στην αναθεωρημένη σύντομη εκδοχή της (MARSI-2fR) να αποδώσει μια ευέλικτη και εύχρηστη δομή. Το ψυχομετρικό αυτό εργαλείο έχει σκοπό την εκτίμηση της μεταγνωσιακής ενημερότητας των στρατηγικών ανάγνωσης από Έλληνες/ίδες και ελληνόφωνους/ες μαθητές/τριες δευτεροβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης. Η προσαρμογή και στάθμιση της κλίμακας περιέλαβε διερεύνηση μεταφραστικής εγκυρότητας περιεχομένου, διερευνητικές και επιβεβαιωτικές παραγοντικές αναλύσεις, καθώς και ψυχομετρικό έλεγχο με αξιολόγηση αξιοπιστίας και εγκυρότητας. Η στάθμιση της κλίμακας απέδωσε μια συντομευμένη έγκυρη, αξιόπιστη και αξιολογήσιμη δομή δύο παραγόντων, των κειμενοκεντρικών στρατηγικών ανάγνωσης (TEXTOR) και των εξωκειμενικών στρατηγικών ανάγνωσης (TEXTOUT). Οι παράγοντες αυτοί ερμηνεύονται σε συσχέτιση με το ελληνικό εκπαιδευτικό σύστημα και παρέχονται οδηγίες για τη βαθμολόγηση της κλίμακας.