bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal ECG changes in tetralogy of Fallot and association with surgical repair
Authors: Bhat Misha , Malm Torsten , Sjöberg Gunnar , Nordenstam Felicia , Hanséus Katarina , Rosenkvist Carl-Johan , Liuba Petru
Published: March 2024

Background

ECG abnormalities have been linked to adverse changes in right ventricular (RV) morphology and poor clinical outcomes in repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF). Our aim was to describe how ECG changes progress in early and intermediate follow-up and whether types of surgical strategy at the time of primary repair affected these changes.

Methods

We studied patients with rTOF born 2000–2018 operated at our institution. Seven time points in relation to primary repair, follow-up, and pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) were identified. Patients correct with valve sparing repair (VSR), trans-annular patch (TAP) including with a monocusp valve (TAP + M) and with at least 3 ECGs were included. PQ interval, QRS duration, dispersion, and fragmentation, QTc duration and dispersion, JTc as well as presence of a right bundle branch block (RBBB) were analyzed. Medical records were reviewed for demographic and surgical data.

Results

Two hundred nineteen patients with 882 ECGs were analyzed with a median follow-up time of 12.3 years (8.4, 17) with 41 (19%) needing PVR during the study period. QRS duration increased at time of primary repair to discharge from 66 msec (IQR 12) to 129 msec (IQR 27) (p < 0.0001) and at 1- and 6- year follow-up but showed only a modest and temporary decrease after PVR. QTc increased at the time of primary repair as well as prior to PVR. PQ interval showed a small increase at the time of primary repair, was at its highest prior to PVR and decreased with PVR. Type of surgical repair affected mainly QTc and JTc and was consistently longer in the TAP + M group until PVR. In VSR, QTc and JTc were prolonged initially compared to TAP but were similar after 1 year. After PVR, there were no differences in adverse ECG changes between surgical groups.

Conclusions

PQ interval and QRS duration best correspond to the assumed volume load whereas the relationship with QTc and JTc is more complex, suggesting that these represent more complex remodeling of the myocardium. Before PVR, QTc and JTc are longer in the TAP + M group which may be due to a longer surgical incision.
The landscape of flipped classroom research: a bibliometrics analysis
Authors: Zhang Fan , Wang Hui , Zhang Huachun , Sun Qiuzi
Published: March 2024

Objective

The purpose of this study was to conduct a comprehensive review of existing research related to the flipped classroom and analyze it using bibliometrics.

Methods

The search strategy of Topic = (“flipped classroom” or “invert classroom”) was used to construct a representative dataset of flipped classrooms in the Web of Science Core Collection (Science Citation Index Expanded) database up to November 2022. Author and country collaboration networks, hotspot distribution clustering, and historical citation networks associated with flipped classrooms were visualized by VOSviewer (Version 1.6.18) and R-Studio (Version 1.4).

Results

A total of 937 literature (868 articles and 69 reviews) were eventually included. The number of flipped classroom studies has increased dramatically since 2012. Europe, North America, China, and Australia have more research on flipped classrooms and have significant collaborations with other countries. Since flipped classrooms involve different subject areas and collaboration among authors is relatively fragmented. Numerous flipped classroom studies have been published in high-impact journals. The thematic trend suggests that the pros and cons of flipped classrooms and their application in medical education are possible research directions for some time to come.

Conclusion

Although the flipped classroom has a relatively short history, it has received a lot of attention and is currently enjoying a high level of overall acceptance. The flipped classroom has been further practiced in medical education, and we look forward to seeing its application in more subject areas (e.g., linguistics, mathematics, and computer science).
Emotional fatigue, academic engagement, and satisfaction with studies during the return to post-pandemic university attendance
Authors: Mamani-Benito Oscar , Esteban Renzo Felipe Carranza , Huayta-Meza Madeleine Victoria , Castillo-Blanco Ronald , Chaparro Josué E. Turpo , Morales Garcia Wilter C.
Published: March 2024

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly transformed various sectors, including higher education, exposing structural weaknesses and fostering the adoption of innovative teaching methods. This situation has created the need to understand how these changes have affected the academic satisfaction, academic engagement, and mental well-being of university students during the return to in-person education at universities.

Methods

In this explanatory study, 1,321 Peruvian university students (52.1% women) aged between 18 and 35 years old (M = 20.16, SD = 3.04) participated. Participants were selected through a non-probabilistic convenience sampling method, recruited from the 3 regions of Peru (88.7% from the highlands, 76.2% from private universities), from faculties such as business sciences, humanities and education, engineering, and health sciences. Data were collected using the Emotional Exhaustion Scale (EES), the Brief Scale of Satisfaction with Studies (BSSS), and the Academic Engagement Scale (UWES S9).

Results

The model relating the study variables showed an adequate fit: χ2(4) = 31.5, p < 0.001, CFI = 0.986, RMSEA = 0.072, SRMR = 0.017. The hypotheses were supported, showing the effect on satisfaction with studies both from emotional exhaustion, β = −0.11, p < 0.001, and from academic engagement, β = 0.61, p < 0.001. Additionally, a 43% variance was explained in satisfaction with studies.

Conclusion

This study evidence that, in the post-pandemic context, emotional exhaustion is a negative predictor of academic satisfaction, while academic engagement is positively associated with it. These findings suggest the need for educational strategies that mitigate emotional exhaustion and promote academic engagement to improve student satisfaction and well-being in the new educational normality.
Total muscle-to-fat ratio influences urinary incontinence in United States adult women: a population-based study
Authors: Hong Dongmei , Zhang Hui , Yu Yong , Qian Huijie , Yu Xiya , Xiong Lize
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between the total muscle-to-fat ratio (tMFR) and female urinary incontinence (UI), determine whether tMFR can serve as a useful index for predicting UI, and identify factors that may influence this relationship.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed data from 4391 adult women participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2011 and 2018. The correlation between tMFR and UI was examined using a dose-response curve generated through a restricted cubic spline (RCS) function, LASSO and multivariate logistic regression. Furthermore, predictive models were constructed incorporating factors such as age, race, hypertension, diabetes, cotinine levels, and tMFR. The performance of these predictive models was evaluated using training and test datasets, employing calibration curves, receiver operating characteristic curves, and clinical decision curves. Mediation effects were also analyzed to explore potential relationships between tMFR and female UI.

Results

In a sample of 4391 adult women, 1073 (24.4%) self-reported experiencing UI, while 3318 (75.6%) reported not having UI. Based on the analyses involving LASSO regression and multivariate logistic regression, it was found that tMFR exhibited a negative association with UI (OR = 0.599, 95% CI: 0.497-0.719, P < 0.001). The results from the restricted cubic spline chart indicated a decreasing risk of UI in women as tMFR increased. Furthermore, the model constructed based on logistic regression analysis demonstrated a certain level of accuracy (in the training dataset: area under the curve (AUC) = 0.663; in the test dataset: AUC = 0.662) and clinical applicability. The mediation analysis revealed that the influence of tMFR on the occurrence of UI in women might potentially occur through the blood index lymphocyte count (P = 0.040).

Conclusion

A high tMFR serves as a protective factor against UI in women. Furthermore, lymphocyte might be involved in the relationship between tMFR and female UI.
Brain magnetic resonance imaging review suggests unrecognised hypoglycaemia in childhood
Authors: Worth Chris , Gokul Pon Ramya , Ramsden Katie , Worthington Sarah , Salomon-Estebanez Maria , Maniyar Amit , Banerjee Indraneel
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Neonatal and early-life hypoglycaemia, is a frequent finding but is often non-specific and asymptomatic, making detection and diagnosis challenging. Hypoglycaemia-induced cerebral injury can be identified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes in cerebral white matter, occipital lobes, and posterior parietotemporal regions. It is unknown if children may have hypoglycaemic brain injury secondary to unrecognised hypoglycaemia in early life. We have examined retrospective radiological findings of likely brain injury by neuroimaging to investigate the existence of previous missed hypoglycaemic events.

Methods

Retrospective MRI data in children in a single tertiary centre, over a ten-year period was reviewed to identify potential cases of unrecognised early-life hypoglycaemia. A detailed search from an electronic radiology repository involved the term “hypoglycaemia’’ from text-based reports. The initial report was used for those who required serial scanning. Images specific to relevant reports were further reviewed by a designated paediatric neuroradiologist to confirm likely hypoglycaemia induced brain injury. Medical records of those children were subsequently reviewed to assess if the hypoglycaemia had been diagnosed prior to imaging.

Results

A total of 107 MR imaging reports were identified for review, and 52 (48.5%) showed typical features strongly suggestive of hypoglycaemic brain injury. Medical note review confirmed no documented clinical information of hypoglycaemia prior to imaging in 22 (42%) patients, raising the likelihood of missed hypoglycaemic events resulting in brain injury.

Conclusions

We have identified the existence of unrecognised childhood hypoglycaemia through neuroimaging review. This study highlights the need for heightened awareness of early life hypoglycaemia to prevent adverse neurological outcomes later in childhood.
Sequential villages and settling down on the southeast U.S. coast
Authors: Cajigas Rachel , Sanger Matthew C. , Semon Anna M. , Thompson Victor D. , Garland Carey J. , Blair Elliot H. , Thomas David Hurst
Published: March 2024

The adoption of more sedentary residential practices is a long process in which groups shift in size, permanence, makeup, and even location in response to the social, demographic, ecological, and subsistence pressures associated with settling down. Coastal peoples living in the Southeast U.S. are among the first to adopt more sedentary lifeways in North America as evidenced by their creation of dozens of large circular or arcing shell middens during the end of the Middle Holocene and start of the Late Holocene. Relying on material culture studies and AMS radiocarbon data refined using Bayesian statistical modeling, we investigate the sequential establishment and abandonment of three village sites built over more than 300 years and located only a few kilometers apart. These studies reveal important insights into the process of adopting more sedentary practices in the region and how local communities adapted to associated pressures.
Exploring the regulatory mechanism of intestinal flora based on PD-1 receptor/ligand targeted cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Gao Xinran , Jiang Jingting
Published: March 2024

Serving as a pivotal immunotherapeutic approach against tumors, anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy amplifies the immune cells’ capability to eliminate tumors by obstructing the interaction between PD-1 and PD-L1. Research indicates that immune checkpoint inhibitors are effective when a patient’s gut harbors unique beneficial bacteria. As such, it has further been revealed that the gut microbiome influences tumor development and the efficacy of cancer treatments, with metabolites produced by the microbiome playing a regulatory role in the antitumor efficacy of Immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICBs). This article discusses the mechanism of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy and the role of intestinal flora in immune regulation. This review focuses on the modulation of intestinal flora in the context of PD-1 immunotherapy, which may offer a new avenue for combination therapy in tumor immunotherapy.
Diversity and distribution of coral gall crabs associated with Red Sea mesophotic corals
Authors: Vimercati Silvia , Terraneo Tullia I. , Marchese Fabio , Eweida Ameer A. , Rodrigue Mattie , Pieribone Vincent , Qurban Mohammed , Duarte Carlos M. , Benzoni Francesca
Published: March 2024

Coral-dwelling gall crabs (Cryptochiridae) live in an obligate symbiosis with reef-building corals from shallow to deep waters. In particular, crabs of the genus Opecarcinus are known to occur across the tropical belt in association with the scleractinian family Agariciidae, down to a depth of 89 m. The Red Sea is a semi-enclosed basin that has long been recognized as a region of high marine biodiversity and endemism, with more than 230 decapod species recorded so far. There, nine Opecarcinus species are recorded from shallow and mesophotic corals. However, the occurrence of Opecarcinus below 30 m depth is documented only in the Saudi Arabian coast of the Northern Red Sea, and the rest of the Saudi Arabian Red Sea has remained unstudied. In this work, we assess the diversity and distribution of Opecarcinus from the mesophotic waters of the Saudi Arabian Red Sea. Through Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) and Submarines explorations, we collected 10 gall crab specimens associated with Agariciidae corals at mesophotic depths between 47 and 89 m. Two mitochondrial and one nuclear markers were used to obtain crab phylogenetic tree showing that three of the Opecarcinus species known from Red Sea shallow-water corals can also live at mesophotic depths. This is the first assessment of the depth distribution of the genus Opecarcinus in the Red Sea. It provides further evidence of the depth range adaptability of the Opecarcinus-Agariciidae association and highlights the need for a more in-depth investigation of the largely overlooked mesophotic coral-associated fauna.
COVID-19 trends at the University of Tennessee: predictive insights from raw sewage SARS-CoV-2 detection and evaluation and PMMoV as an indicator for human waste
Authors: Li Ye , Ash Kurt , Alamilla Isablla , Joyner Dominique , Williams Daniel Edward , McKay Peter J. , Green Brianna , DeBlander Sydney , North Carman , Kara-Murdoch Fadime , Swift Cynthia , Hazen Terry C.
Published: March 2024

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has become a valuable tool for monitoring the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 on university campuses. However, concerns about effectiveness of raw sewage as a COVID-19 early warning system still exist, and it’s not clear how useful normalization by simultaneous comparison of Pepper Mild Mottle Virus (PMMoV) is in addressing variations resulting from fecal discharge dilution. This study aims to contribute insights into these aspects by conducting an academic-year field trial at the student residences on the University of Tennessee, Knoxville campus, raw sewage. This was done to investigate the correlations between SARS-CoV-2 RNA load, both with and without PMMoV normalization, and various parameters, including active COVID-19 cases, self-isolations, and their combination among all student residents. Significant positive correlations between SARS-CoV-2 RNA load a week prior, during the monitoring week, and the subsequent week with active cases. Despite these correlations, normalization by PMMoV does not enhance these associations. These findings suggest the potential utility of SARS-CoV-2 RNA load as an early warning indicator and provide valuable insights into the application and limitations of WBE for COVID-19 surveillance specifically within the context of raw sewage on university campuses.
Diverse animal models for Chlamydia infections: unraveling pathogenesis through the genital and gastrointestinal tracts
Authors: Tian Qi , Zhang Tianyuan , Shu Chuqiang , Han Zixuan , Huang Youyou , Wan Jiao , Wang Luying , Sun Xin
Published: March 2024

Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for infections in various mucosal tissues, including the eyes, urogenital, respiratory, and gastrointestinal tracts. Chronic infections can result in severe consequences such as blindness, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility. The underlying mechanisms leading to these diseases involve sustained inflammatory responses, yet thorough comprehension of the underlying mechanisms remains elusive. Chlamydial biologists employ in multiple methods, integrating biochemistry, cell biology, and genetic tools to identify bacterial factors crucial for host cell interactions. While numerous animal models exist to study chlamydial pathogenesis and assess vaccine efficacy, selecting appropriate models for biologically and clinically relevant insights remains a challenge. Genital infection models in animals have been pivotal in unraveling host-microbe dynamics, identifying potential chlamydial virulence factors influencing genital pathogenicity. However, the transferability of this knowledge to human pathogenic mechanisms remains uncertain. Many putative virulence factors lack assessment in optimal animal tissue microenvironments, despite the diverse chlamydial infection models available. Given the propensity of genital Chlamydia to spread to the gastrointestinal tract, investigations into the pathogenicity and immunological impact of gut Chlamydia become imperative. Notably, the gut emerges as a promising site for both chlamydial infection vaccination and pathogenesis. This review elucidates the pathogenesis of Chlamydia infections and delineates unique features of prevalent animal model systems. The primary focus of this review is to consolidate and summarize current animal models utilized in Chlamydia researches, presenting findings, discussions on their contributions, and suggesting potential directions for further studies.
DNA damage response and cell cycle regulation in bacteria: a twist around the paradigm
Authors: Misra Hari Sharan , Rajpurohit Yogendra Singh
Published: March 2024

The co-protease activity in the RecA-ssDNA complex cleaves the autorepressor LexA, resulting in the derepression of a large number of genes under LexA control. This process is called the SOS response, and genes that are expressed in response to DNA damage are called SOS genes. The proteins encoded by the SOS genes are involved in both DNA repair and maintaining the functions of crucial cell division proteins (e.g., FtsZ) under check until the damaged DNA is presumably repaired. This mechanism of SOS response is the only known mechanism of DNA damage response and cell cycle regulation in bacteria. However, there are bacteria that do not obey this rule of DNA damage response and cell cycle regulation, yet they respond to DNA damage, repair it, and survive. That means such bacteria would have some alternate mechanism(s) of DNA damage response and cell cycle regulation beyond the canonical pathway of the SOS response. In this study, we present the perspectives that bacteria may have other mechanisms of DNA damage response and cell cycle regulation mediated by bacterial eukaryotic type Ser/Thr protein kinases as an alternate to the canonical SOS response and herewith elaborate on them with a well-studied example in the radioresistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans.
Safety and efficacy of magnesium-rich artificial cerebrospinal fluid for subarachnoid hemorrhage
Authors: Cheng Yawen , Han Xiangning , Xie Wanfu , Xu Gaofeng , Bai Xiaobin , Qi Lei , Zhang Linjuan , Liu Rui , Dong Weihua , Feng Weiyi , Pang Chengsen , Zhang Wei , Liu Fude , Cao Xiangqi , Xu Yue , Luo Guogang
Published: March 2024

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of using a newly formulated magnesium-rich artificial cerebrospinal fluid (MACSF) as an alternative to normal saline (NS) for intraoperative irrigation during aneurysm clipping in improving the prognosis of patients with Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH).

Methods

Patients with aSAH who underwent intraoperative irrigation with MACSF or NS during the clipping in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi ‘an Jiaotong University from March 2019 to March 2022 were selected as MACSF group and NS group, respectively. The primary prognostic indicators were the incidence of favorable outcomes (mRS 0–2). The secondary outcome measures included cerebral vasospasm (CVS), mortality, total hospital stay, and intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Safety was evaluated based on the occurrence rates of hypermagnesemia, meningitis, and hydrocephalus.

Results

Overall, 34 and 37 patients were enrolled in the MACSF and NS groups, respectively. At 90 days after aSAH onset, the proportion of favorable prognosis in the MACSF group was significantly higher than that in the NS group (p = 0.035). The incidence of CVS within 14 days after surgery was significantly lower in the MACSF group than that in the NS group (p = 0.026). The mortality rate in the MACSF group was significantly lower than in the NS group (p = 0.048). The median lengths of hospital stay (p = 0.008) and ICU stay (p = 0.018) were significantly shorter in the MACSF group than in the NS group. No significant differences were observed in safety measures.

Conclusion

Using MACSF as an irrigation fluid for aneurysm clipping can significantly improve the 90-day prognosis of patients with aSAH, which may be related to the reduced incidence of CVS.

Clinical trial registration

https://www.clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT04358445.
Predictive model of positive surgical margins after radical prostatectomy based on Bayesian network analysis
Authors: Wang Guipeng , Du Haotian , Meng Fanshuo , Jia Yuefeng , Wang Xinning , Yang Xuecheng
Published: March 2024

Objective

This study aimed to analyze the independent risk factors for marginal positivity after radical prostatectomy and to evaluate the clinical value of the predictive model based on Bayesian network analysis.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data from 238 patients who had undergone radical prostatectomy, between June 2018 and May 2022. The general clinical data, prostate specific antigen (PSA)–derived indicators, puncture factors, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics were included as predictive variables, and univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. We established a nomogram model based on the independent predictors and adopted BayesiaLab software to generate tree-augmented naive (TAN) and naive Bayesian models based on 15 predictor variables.

Results

Of the 238 patients included in the study, 103 exhibited positive surgical margins. Univariate analysis revealed that PSA density (PSAD) (P = 0.02), Gleason scores for biopsied tissue (P = 0.002) and the ratio of positive biopsy cores (P < 0.001), preoperative T staging (P < 0.001), and location of abnormal signals (P = 0.002) and the side of the abnormal signal (P = 0.009) were all statistically significant. The area under curve (AUC) of the established nomogram model based on independent predictors was 73.80%, the AUC of the naive Bayesian model based on 15 predictors was 82.71%, and the AUC of the TAN Bayesian model was 80.80%.

Conclusion

The predictive model of positive resection margin after radical prostatectomy based on Bayesian network demonstrated high accuracy and usefulness.
Optimal response to tislelizumab plus chemotherapy in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer: a case report and literature review
Authors: Ma Yuxin , Shi Xinhong , Zhao Kun , Hu Shuyi , Shi Yue , Jiang Yingying , Liu Yiling , Lu Lin , Chang Yuting , Zhou Fei , Dai Yingying , Wu Zipeng , Li Shiyi , Qian Zhiying , Xu Xia , Li Chenchen , Shen Bo , Zhou Guoren , Chen Cheng , Wang Xiaohua , Feng Jifeng
Published: March 2024

Metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) has the worst prognosis among breast cancer subtypes. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) plus chemotherapy have promising survival benefits. Herein, we report a 51-year-old woman whose metastatic lesions were diagnosed as triple-negative subtype and who received tislelizumab plus eribulin treatment and achieved excellent efficacy. To our knowledge, this study is the first attempt to present tislelizumab in combination with eribulin for mTNBC treatment. New treatments resulting in prolonged survival and durable clinical responses would benefit mTNBC patients. Then, we summarize the possible influencing factors of the interaction between tislelizumab and eribulin.
FusionVAC22_01: a phase I clinical trial evaluating a DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion transcript-based peptide vaccine combined with immune checkpoint inhibition for fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma and other tumor entities carrying the oncogenic driver fusion
Authors: Hackenbruch Christopher , Bauer Jens , Heitmann Jonas S. , Maringer Yacine , Nelde Annika , Denk Monika , Zieschang Lisa , Kammer Christine , Federmann Birgit , Jung Susanne , Martus Peter , Malek Nisar P. , Nikolaou Konstantin , Salih Helmut R. , Bitzer Michael , Walz Juliane S.
Published: March 2024

The DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion transcript was identified as the oncogenic driver of tumor pathogenesis in fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FL-HCC), also known as fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC), as well as in other tumor entities, thus representing a broad target for novel treatment in multiple cancer entities. FL-HCC is a rare primary liver tumor with a 5-year survival rate of only 45%, which typically affects young patients with no underlying primary liver disease. Surgical resection is the only curative treatment option if no metastases are present at diagnosis. There is no standard of care for systemic therapy. Peptide-based vaccines represent a low side-effect approach relying on specific immune recognition of tumor-associated human leucocyte antigen (HLA) presented peptides. The induction (priming) of tumor-specific T-cell responses against neoepitopes derived from gene fusion transcripts by peptide-vaccination combined with expansion of the immune response and optimization of immune function within the tumor microenvironment achieved by immune-checkpoint-inhibition (ICI) has the potential to improve response rates and durability of responses in malignant diseases. The phase I clinical trial FusionVAC22_01 will enroll patients with FL-HCC or other cancer entities carrying the DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion transcript that are locally advanced or metastatic. Two doses of the DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion-based neoepitope vaccine Fusion-VAC-XS15 will be applied subcutaneously (s.c.) with a 4-week interval in combination with the anti-programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody atezolizumab starting at day 15 after the first vaccination. Anti-PD-L1 will be applied every 4 weeks until end of the 54-week treatment phase or until disease progression or other reason for study termination. Thereafter, patients will enter a 6 months follow-up period. The clinical trial reported here was approved by the Ethics Committee II of the University of Heidelberg (Medical faculty of Mannheim) and the Paul-Ehrlich-Institute (P-00540). Clinical trial results will be published in peer-reviewed journals.

Trial registration numbers

EU CT Number: 2022-502869-17-01 and ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT05937295).
Pediatric COVID-19 in Argentina: a comprehensive analysis of disease and economic burden through official data and a systematic literature review
Authors: Bardach Ariel , Ruvinsky Silvina , Moreno Carolina , Perelli Lucas , Kyaw Moe H. , Spinardi Julia , Mendoza Carlos Fernando , Carballo Carolina M. , Roel Macarena , Espinola Natalia
Published: March 2024

Background

Limited data are available on the clinical impact and economic burden of COVID-19 in the pediatric population in Argentina. We aimed to estimate the disease and economic burden of COVID-19 on children and adolescents.

Methods

We analyzed official national databases and conducted a supplemental systematic review of the published literature with meta-analysis in children aged 0–18. The period of interest was from March 2020 to August 2021, before the introduction of vaccination in this age group as a national strategic plan. In addition, we used a cost of illness analysis to estimate the direct medical costs associated with COVID-19. All costs are reported in US dollars 2023.

Results

A total of 450,503 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 180 multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) were reported in Argentina in the study period. Fourteen observational clinical studies were identified. The meta-analyses of severity level from hospital patients showed that according to different studies 15%–28% of cases were asymptomatic, 68%–88% were mild or moderate, and 3%–10% were severe or critical. About 28% of children had an underlying disease. In addition, the estimated economic burden associated with COVID-19 was 80 million dollars and 4 million dollars corresponded to MISC.

Conclusion

Significant impact of COVID-19 on the healthcare system and substantial economic implications for the pediatric population in Argentina were identified. The findings should help policymakers to make informed decisions and allocate resources effectively.
Insights into the structure–function relationship of missense mutations in the human TOP2A protein in ovarian cancer
Authors: Kavitha Kannan , Mohanapriya Arumugam
Published: March 2024

Topoisomerase 2-alpha (TOP2A) is a nuclear protein that is responsible for the maintenance of the topological state of DNA. TOP2A is highly upregulated in ovarian cancer, and its copy number is an important prognosis factor. A large number of single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), insertion, and deletion mutations have been reported in TOP2A. Thus, a structural and functional study of missense SNPs was carried out to screen potentially damaging mutations. The 193 non-synonymous SNPs in the coding region of TOP2A in the dbSNP database were selected for in silico analysis. The deleterious SNPs were screened using sorting intolerant from tolerant (SIFT), PolyPhen-2, SNAP2, and SNPs&Go, and we obtained four possibly damaging SNPs at the end (Y481C, N7741, E922K, and R1514W). Mutants Y481C and E922K were predicted to be highly deleterious and showed decreased protein stability compared with native proteins, as predicted by I-Mutant 3. We used the SWISS-MODEL to model the structure of these two mutants, and the structural attributes of modeled mutants were studied using Hope Project, solvent accessibility-based protein–protein interface identification and recognition (SPPIDER), SRide, and HBAT, which predicted small variations from the native protein. Molecular dynamics simulation demonstrated a decrease in root mean square deviation (RMSD) and the radius of gyration of two mutants, which is relative to the native protein. The molecular docking of TOP2A with etoposide suggests that mutations may lead to resistance to TOP2A-targeted chemotherapy. In addition, the relative expression analysis performed by qRT-PCR also reveals that there is a three-fold increase in the expression levels of the TOP2A protein in ovarian adenoma cancer cell lines. Our analysis reveals that Y481C and E922K are highly damaging variants of TOP2A, which alter the protein dynamics and may be implicated in causing ovarian cancer.
Exploring the causal relationship between female reproductive traits and frailty: a two-sample mendelian randomization study
Authors: Fan Maoxia , Wang Dandan , Wu Xiaoqi , Gao Wulin
Published: March 2024

Background: The impact of female reproductive factors, including age at menarche (AAM), age at first birth (AFB), age at first sexual intercourse (AFS), age at natural menopause (ANM), and pregnancy abortion (PA), on the risk of developing frailty remains uncertain. Our objective is to examine the potential causal relationship between female reproductive traits and frailty through the utilization of two-sample univariable Mendelian Randomization (UVMR) and multivariable Mendelian Randomization (MVMR) analyses.

Methods: Leveraging large-scale Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) data from individuals of European ancestry, we performed two-sample UVMR and MVMR analyses to examine the causal relationship between female reproductive traits and frailty. The primary analysis employed inverse-variance-weighted (IVW) estimation, and sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the robustness of the findings.

Results: The UVMR analysis revealed a significant causal relationship between female reproductive traits (AFS, AFB, AAM) and frailty [IVW: OR = 0.74, 95%CI(0.70–0.79), p = 0.000; OR = 0.93, 95%CI(0.92–0.95), p = 0.000; OR = 0.96, 95%CI(0.95–0.98), p = 0.000]. However, there was no significant effect of ANM and PA on frailty (p > 0.05). The sensitivity analysis results were robust, supporting the findings. Furthermore, this association remained significant even after adjusting for body mass index (BMI) and educational attainment (EA) in the MVMR analysis [IVW: OR = 0.94, 95%Cl (0.91–0.97), p = 0.000; OR = 0.77, 95%Cl (0.70–0.86), p = 0.000; OR = 0.95, 95%Cl (0.94–0.97), p = 0.000]. BMI and EA serve as mediators in this process.

Conclusion: Our research has established a significant causal relationship between female reproductive traits (AFS, AFB, AAM) and frailty, with BMI and EA acting as mediating factors in this process. However, further research is warranted to validate our findings and elucidate the underlying biological mechanisms.
Pathotype characterization of Aphanomyces euteiches isolates collected from pea breeding nurseries
Authors: Moussart Anne , Lavaud Clément , Onfroy Caroline , Leprévost Théo , Pilet-Nayel Marie-Laure , Le May Christophe
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Aphanomyces euteiches Drechsler is an oomycete pathogen that affects legume crops, causing root rot, a severe disease of peas (Pisum sativum L.) worldwide. While significant research progress has been made in breeding pea-resistant varieties, there is still a need for a deeper understanding of the diversity of pathogen populations present in breeding nurseries located in various legume-growing regions around the world.

Methods

We analysed the diversity of 51 pea-infecting isolates of A. euteiches, which were recovered from four American (Athena, OR; Le Sueur, MN; Mount Vernon, WA; Pullman, WA) and three French (Riec-sur-Belon, Templeux-le-Guérard, Dijon) resistance screening nurseries. Our study focused on evaluating their aggressiveness on two sets of differential hosts, comprising six pea lines and five Medicago truncatula accessions.

Results

The isolates clustered into three groups based on their aggressiveness on the whole pea set, confirming the presence of pathotypes I and III. Pathotype I was exclusive to French isolates and American isolates from Athena and Pullman, while all isolates from Le Sueur belonged to pathotype III. Isolates from both pathotypes were found in Mount Vernon. The M. truncatula set clustered the isolates into three groups based on their aggressiveness on different genotypes within the set, revealing the presence of five pathotypes. All the isolates from the French nurseries shared the same Fr pathotype, showing higher aggressiveness on one particular genotype. In contrast, nearly all-American isolates were assigned to four other pathotypes (Us1, Us2, Us3, Us4), differing in their higher aggressiveness on two to five genotypes. Most of American isolates exhibited higher aggressiveness than French isolates within the M. truncatula set, but showed lower aggressiveness than French isolates within the P. sativum set.

Discussion

These results provide valuable insights into A. euteiches pathotypes, against which the QTL and sources of resistance identified in these nurseries displayed effectiveness. They also suggest a greater adaptation of American isolates to alfalfa, a more widely cultivated host in the United States.
Forage plants in grasslands with different topographies affect yak foraging preferences on the eastern Tibetan plateau
Authors: Wang Jinlan , Cao Wenxia , Shi Hongmei , Li Wen
Published: March 2024

Diet selection, a core problem of foraging behavior, is a nutritional adaptation strategy formed in the long-term natural selection process by grazing herbivores and is significant for the sustainable management of grassland. Studies have mainly focused on the impacts of the individual and whole community spatial characteristics and herbivore body status on herbivore foraging behavior; thus, the response and mechanism of forage plants in different terrains to the diet selection of grazing herbivores remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, forage plants (gramineae, cyperaceae, legume, forbs, edible shrubs, and community) in different topographies (terrace, riparian zones, shady slope, half shady slope, half sunny slope, sunny slope) on the eastern Tibetan plateau were selected to study changes in nutrient and mineral content characteristics of forage plants, as well as the difference in feeding bias of yaks for forage plants in different terrains by using an indoor cafeteria trial. A structural equation model was used to illustrate the impact of the forage plants in different terrains on the feeding bias of yak. The multi-criterion decision model TOPSIS showed that the nutritional value of gramineae was highest for the shaded slope, and that of cyperaceae and leguminosae was the highest for the terraces. The nutrient value of forbs and the whole community was highest for the sunny slope. Dry matter intake by yaks of leguminosae, forbs, and the whole plant community was significantly higher for terraces than for grasslands with other topographies, and all were significantly lower in riparian zones. Yak forage preference of leguminosae, forbs, and the whole community was the highest for the terrace and the lowest for the riparian zones. Structural equation modeling showed that for functional groups, the interactions between topography and functional groups were the drivers influencing yak forage preferences. Our study highlights the propensity of yaks to forage for plants in areas with different topographies. These results have provided a scientific basis for understanding the relationship between herbivores and plants in grasslands and for formulating scientific grazing management strategies, which are of considerable importance for sustainable grassland livestock husbandry.
Contradistinctive floral attributes, pollination guilds and their consequence on the outcrossing rate in two elevational morphs of Rhododendron arboreum Sm.
Authors: Sorokhaibam Sachin Singh , Chandra Atika , Baishya Ratul , Barik Saroj Kanta , Goel Shailendra , Tandon Rajesh
Published: March 2024

Infraspecific floral trait variations may appear in response to elevational differences in alpine plant species. There is enormous information on the selection of such morphs mediated by biotic and/or abiotic variables. Whether such differences contribute to differences in reproductive strategy and mating outcomes is rarely investigated. We investigated these aspects in two distinct elevational floral morphs (Red and Pink) of Rhododendron arboreum Sm. in Western Himalaya. The red morphs occupy the lower elevations while pink morphs the higher elevations. The two morphs differ in floral traits like phenology, dimension, display, quality of floral rewards, and pollinators that happen to influence interaction with available pollinator pool at each elevation. The pink morph exhibits entomophily, while the red ones show ornithophily. Although experimental pollinations established that both the morphs are self-compatible, selfing results in significantly lower fruit-set than either cross- or open-pollinations. The outcrossing rate in the red morph, as determined by using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, was higher (tm=0.82) than that in the pink morph (tm=0.76), with a tendency of the latter to be shifting towards mixed-mating strategy. However, the extent of biparental inbreeding was comparable among the two morphs. It is inferred that the differences in the mating outcomes among the morphs in the tree species are linked to those emerging from floral traits and the pollination by different functional groups of floral visitors.
Intelligent diagnosis of the severity of disease conditions in COVID-19 patients based on the LASSO method
Authors: Jiang Zhuo , Yang Aixiang , Chen Hao , Shi Yiqiu , Li Xiaojing
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop an intelligent diagnosis model based on the LASSO method to predict the severity of COVID-19 patients.

Methods

The study uses the clinical data of 500 COVID-19 patients from a designated hospital in Suzhou, China, and selects eight features, including age, sex, dyspnea, comorbidity, complication, lymphocytes (LYM), CRP, and lung injury score, as the most important predictors of COVID-19 severity. The study applies the LASSO method to perform feature selection and regularization, and compares the LASSO method with other machine learning methods, such as ridge regression, support vector machine, and random forest.

Results

The study finds that the ridge regression model has the best performance among the four models, with an AUROC of 0.92 in the internal validation and 0.91 in the external validation.

Conclusion

The study provides a simple, robust, and interpretable model for the intelligent diagnosis of COVID-19 severity, and a convenient and practical tool for the public and the health care workers to assess COVID-19 severity. However, the study also has some limitations and directions for future research, such as the need for more data from different sources and settings, and from prospective, longitudinal, multi-class classification models. The study hopes to contribute to the prevention and control of COVID-19, and to the improvement of the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 patients.
Research on smart city public health detection system and improvement technology based on intelligent multi-objective
Authors: Liu Bo , Gu Jie , Wang Chao
Published: March 2024

Introduction

With the increase of urban population density, urban sanitation becomes more severe; urban sanitation has important influence on public health. Therefore, in order to realize the detection of public health in smart cities, the research will use cutting-edge scientific and technological methods to improve urban environmental health, so as to promote the realization of public health achievements. This study introduces public health detection and optimizationtechnologies for smart cities.

Methods

Firstly, a data detection system for urban public health environment was established using sensors and intelligent multi-objective technology to evaluate the water quality, air quality, and noise level of the city. Then, an intelligent garbage management system based on Tensor-flow was constructed to achieve efficient garbage collection and treatment. Finally, an intelligent traffic management system was developed to monitor and regulate urban traffic flow.

Results

The results of the simulation experiment demonstrated that the life data detection system was operationally stable, with a high success rate of 98%. Furthermore, its accuracy in detecting residents’ living environment data was above 95%, the maximum relative error was only 0.0465, making it a reliable and efficient tool. The waste recycling system achieved a minimum accuracy of 83.6%, the highest accuracy rate was 95.3%, making it capable of sorting and recycling urban waste effectively. Additionally, the smart traffic management system led to a 20% reduction in traffic congestion rates, 20 tonnes less tailpipe emissions and an improvement in public health and well-being.

Discussion

In summary, the plan proposed in this study aims to create a more comfortable, safe, and healthy urban public health environment, while providing theoretical support for environmental health management in smart cities.
What is hindering Chinese women from participating in combat sports?
Authors: Li Yike , Li Hansen , Li Dongchen , Zhang Xing , Wang Zhenhuan , Green Thomas , Zhang Guodong
Published: March 2024

With the awakening of female consciousness, women's participation in sports has gradually gained autonomy and agency. However, Chinese women still face numerous restrictions in combat sports, hindering the development of this industry. Based on years of practice and research experience in the field, we summarize some general and specific issues, such as stigmatization and the constraints of traditional Chinese thinking. These issues need attention and consideration in the pursuit of gender equality in sports in the future.
Hematological parameters of sheep and goats fed diets containing various amounts of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
Authors: Fanta Yared , Kechero Yisehak , Yemane Nebiyu
Published: March 2024

A major global barrier to increased animal output is nutrition. The use of aquatic plants, which were previously considered to be waste and needed a lot of labor to eliminate, has recently come to light due to the lack of feed during the dry season in the majority of tropical regions of Africa. The objectives of this study were therefore to see how different dietary Eichhornia crassipise inclusion rates affect the hematological indicators of Ethiopian Doyogena sheep and Woyto-Guji goats. Blood samples were taken from the jugular veins of 12 Doyogena sheep and 12 Woyto-Guji goats in a 2 × 4 randomized crossover design with two animal species, four diets, and four random periods (15 - day adaption period followed by a 7- day experimental diet in each period). The dietary inclusion rates E. crassipise were 0, 25, 50, and 75% that was used as a replacement for commercial concentrate mix diet in the treatment groups. The data was analyzed using the SAS software programme PROC GLM, and Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated between hematological markers. The hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell count (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCHC) results revealed substantial, RDW-SD, and WBC differences between animal species (P < 0.001). Sheep had greater WBC, Hb, RBC, PCV, RDW-SD, and RDW-CV levels, while goats had higher MCH and MCHC values (P < 0.001). For the analyzed hematological measures, the Pearson's correlation coefficient ranged from low to strong in terms of positive and negative associations (P < 0.05). Since all hematological indicators were closer to those of clinically healthy native Ethiopian sheep and goat breeds, feeding water hyacinth to sheep and goats up to a 75% inclusion level in diets without producing sickness may provide a remedy for adverse feed shortages.
Lived Experience of Parastomal Bulging: A Mixed Methods Study
Authors: Munro Julie , Hubbard Gill , Goodman Will , Beeken Rebecca , Oliphant Raymond
Published: March 2024

Aim:

This United Kingdom study aimed to explore people’s experiences of living with, and self-managing parastomal bulging.

Methods:

Seventeen people were interviewed and 61 people completed an online survey.

Results:

Parastomal bulging has a detrimental impact on quality of life including a negative impact on stoma function, daily activities, body image, physical intimacy, and socialising; access to specialist information and support for addressing the problem of bulging was inequitable; support garments were the most common self-management intervention; there was confusion about what exercise would be beneficial or how being active would help in terms of parastomal bulging self-management; peer support is no substitute for high quality specialist support.

Conclusion:

People need equitable access to information and support to self-manage and treat parastomal bulging. Research about other types of self-management interventions, for example, exercise is required so that people do not have to rely solely on support garments to self-manage parastomal bulging.