bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dental caries and developmental defects of enamel in cerebral palsy: A meta‐analysis
Authors: de Oliveira Thaynara Nascimento , Drumond Victor Zanetti , de Arruda José Alcides Almeida , Pani Sharat Chandra , Vargas‐Ferreira Fabiana , Eustachio Ricardo Rabelo , Mesquita Ricardo Alves , Abreu Lucas Guimarães
Published: April 2024

Objective

This systematic review and meta‐analysis aimed to compare the occurrence of dental caries and developmental defects of enamel (DDE) in individuals with and without cerebral palsy (CP).

Materials and Methods

We conducted searches across five databases and the grey literature. Data were organized using EndNote 20. Reporting followed the MOOSE checklist. A random‐effects model meta‐analyses were conducted using RStudio, presenting results as mean difference (MD), odds ratio (OR), and 95% confidence interval (CI). The risk of bias of studies was analyzed using the Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale, and the certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE.

Results

Among 1336 identified records, 25 studies involving 59,997 participants (mean age: 11.1 years) were included. Data of 12 were pooled into meta‐analyses. No significant differences were found between CP and non‐CP individuals across indices: DMFT (k = 7) (MD = 0.31; 95% CI [−0.42–1.05]), dmft (k = 4) (MD = 0.31; 95% CI [−0.50–1.14]), DMFS (k = 2) (MD = −0.61; 95% CI [−20.56–19.33]), dmfs (k = 3) (MD = 0.54; 95% CI [−1.09–2.17]), and DDE (k = 3) (OR = 0.80, 95% CI [0.09–7.31]). The certainty of evidence was very low.

Conclusion

Individuals with CP do not appear to differ significantly from those without CP in terms of dental caries experience and DDE.
Metronidazole may display anti‐inflammatory features in periodontitis treatment: A scoping review
Authors: Suárez Lina J , Arce Roger M , Gonçalves Cristiane , Furquim Camila Pinheiro , Santos Nidia Castro Dos , Retamal‐Valdes Belén , Feres Magda
Published: April 2024

Aim

Metronidazole (MTZ) is an antimicrobial agent used to treat anaerobic infections. It has been hypothesized that MTZ may also have anti‐inflammatory properties, but the evidence is limited and has not been previously reviewed. Thus, this scoping review aimed to answer the following question: “What is the evidence supporting anti‐inflammatory properties of metronidazole that are not mediated by its antimicrobial effects?”

Methods

A scoping review was conducted according to the PRISMA‐ScR statement. Five databases were searched up to January 2023 for studies evaluating the anti‐inflammatory properties of MTZ used as monotherapy for treating infectious and inflammatory diseases.

Results

A total of 719 records were identified, and 27 studies (21 in vivo and 6 in vitro) were included. The studies reported experimental evidence of MTZ anti‐inflammatory effects on (1) innate immunity (barrier permeability, leukocyte adhesion, immune cell populations), (2) acquired immunity (lymphocyte proliferation, T‐cell function, cytokine profile), and (3) wound healing/resolution of inflammation.

Conclusion

Taken together, this scoping review supported a potential anti‐inflammatory effect of MTZ in periodontitis treatment. We recommend that future clinical studies should be conducted to evaluate specific MTZ anti‐inflammatory pathways in the treatment of periodontitis.
Brain drain in pediatric anesthesiology: The geographic and demographic distribution of national origin among pediatric anesthesiologists in the United States
Authors: Sullivan Liam K. , Saldaña Guillermo , Williams Cody W. , Lim Yuli , Hubbard Richard M.
Published: April 2024

Background

American pediatric anesthesiologists have a long history of international volunteerism. However, the US healthcare system also benefits from the contributions of a large number of physicians who come from other nations to work within its borders. Despite this fact, little is known about the contribution of international medical graduates (IMG) to the pediatric anesthesiology subspecialty.

Aims

To characterize the contribution of IMG to the field of pediatric anesthesiology in the United States, and to elucidate the geographic and demographic distribution of their national origins so as to understand the movement of skilled personnel between countries.

Methods

Online physician directories of American children's hospitals were searched, and anesthesiologists were recorded for their national origin of medical education. International graduates were reported as a percentage of the pediatric anesthesiology workforce. Those attending medical colleges catering to American students (“offshore” medical schools) were analyzed separately from other IMGs. The cohort of non‐offshore IMGs were analyzed for national and continental origins, and by national level of economic development.

Results

Of 1979 anesthesiologists analyzed, 397 attended medical school outside the United States, with 58 being from offshore schools. The remaining 338 represented 17.1% of the total pediatric anesthesiology workforce. They came from 58 countries on six continents. Of those, 65.1% attended medical school in low‐ and middle‐income countries.

Conclusions

International medical graduates, disproportionately from low‐ and middle‐income countries, compose a large proportion of the US Pediatric Anesthesiology workforce. While these clinicians play a vital role in providing care for American children, the potential impacts of skilled physician loss on their nations of origin must also be considered.
Molecular heterogeneity of quiescent melanocyte stem cells revealed by single‐cell RNA‐sequencing
Authors: Palmer Joseph W. , Kumar Nilesh , An Luye , White Andrew C. , Mukhtar M. Shahid , Harris Melissa L.
Published: April 2024

Melanocyte stem cells (McSCs) of the hair follicle are a rare cell population within the skin and are notably underrepresented in whole‐skin, single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) datasets. Using a cell enrichment strategy to isolate KIT+/CD45− cells from the telogen skin of adult female C57BL/6J mice, we evaluated the transcriptional landscape of quiescent McSCs (qMcSCs) at high resolution. Through this evaluation, we confirmed existing molecular signatures for qMcCS subpopulations (e.g., Kit+, Cd34+/−, Plp1+, Cd274+/−, Thy1+, Cdh3+/−) and identified novel qMcSC subpopulations, including two that differentially regulate their immune privilege status. Within qMcSC subpopulations, we also predicted melanocyte differentiation potential, neural crest potential, and quiescence depth. Taken together, the results demonstrate that the qMcSC population is heterogeneous and future studies focused on investigating changes in qMcSCs should consider changes in subpopulation composition.
Pediatric donor heart utilization variability among organ procurement organizations
Authors: Haregu Firezer , Dixon R. Jerome , Porter Michael , McCulloch Michael
Published: April 2024

Background

Organ procurement organizations (OPOs) are responsible for the medical management of organ donors. Given the variability in pediatric donor heart utilization among OPOs, we examined factors that may explain this variability, including differences in donor medical management, organ quality, and candidate factors.

Methods

The Organ Procurement and Transplant Network database was queried for pediatric (<18 years) heart donors and candidates receiving pediatric donor heart offers from 2010 to 2019. OPOs were stratified by pediatric donor heart utilization rate, and the top and bottom quintiles were compared based on donor management strategies and outcomes. A machine learning algorithm, combining 11 OPO, donor, candidate, and offer variables, was used to determine factors most predictive of whether a heart offer is accepted.

Results

There was no clinically significant difference between the top and bottom quintile OPOs in baseline donor characteristics, distance between donor and listing center, management strategies, or organ quality. Machine learning modeling suggested neither OPO donor management nor cardiac function is the primary driver of whether an organ is accepted. Instead, number of prior donor offer refusals and individual listing center receiving the offer were two of the most predictive variables of organ acceptance.

Conclusions

OPO clinical practice variation does not seem to account for the discrepancy in pediatric donor heart utilization rates among OPOs. Listing center acceptance practice and prior number of donor refusals seem to be the important drivers of heart utilization and may at least partially account for the variation in OPO heart utilization rates given the regional association between OPOs and listing centers.
Understanding democracy in Africa: Concept and praxis
Authors: Majeed Hasskei M.
Published: April 2024

Democracy is a political system that has some universal appeal, and, this seems to invest it with some kind of legitimacy over other systems of government. But this in no way suggests that it is homogenously conceived or practiced across the world—particularly in Western and African countries. Yet there is some supposition that some cultures have (almost) perfected their practice of democracy while others are learning its rudiments. This tends to arouse the philosopher's interest in the conceptual and practical bases for the supposition. In African philosophy, the notion of consensus has often been touted as a kernel and mēnsūra for evidence of democracy in traditional African thought. This paper examines the propriety of this move, taking into account the specific positions of the Ghanaian philosophers, Kwasi Wiredu and Kwame Gyekye. It explores the political dynamics of contemporary Africa and brings out the challenges and prospects for the sort of democracy that is being practiced—or, at least, is said to be practiced—in Africa. It is often debated in African political thought whether consensus or majoritarian rule (characterized by such activities as voting and multipartism) defines democracy, but the paper argues that neither of them really brings about democracy. It then highlights the humanistic end of democracy. Using the Ghanaian experience especially, the paper proposes ways of improving the understanding and practice of democracy in Africa.
Policies and cultural beliefs: Community perceptions about COVID‐19 vaccine hesitancy in Indonesia
Authors: Efendi Ferry , Dewi Yulis Setiya , Arifin Hidayat , Hargono Arief , Apriyanto Yogo , Adnani Qorinah Estiningtyas Sakilah , Gouda Amel Dawod Kamel , Susanti Ika Adelia
Published: April 2024

Objective

Vaccine hesitancy is a global concern and a significant threat to COVID‐19 vaccination programs. This study aimed to explore vaccine hesitancy from the perspective of the Indonesian community related to policies and cultural beliefs.

Design

A descriptive qualitative approach was utilized in this study.

Sample

Twenty participants were recruited from various settings to ensure the representation of experiences in different contexts in Indonesia.

Measurement

Audio‐recorded, semi‐structured, individual, in‐depth interviews were carried out. Content analysis was performed to identify the main key themes.

Results

Twenty participants were recruited from various regions of Java Island, Indonesia. The participants revealed hesitancy about the COVID‐19 vaccine, including the themes of mistrust, controversy, and the culture and beliefs of the community.

Conclusions

This study highlights COVID‐19 vaccine hesitancy in Indonesia, which may have implications for the community's perceptions and beliefs regarding the uptake of the COVID‐19 vaccine. The trust issue remains a major challenge to convincing the community to accept the vaccine at the grassroots level. Targeted education and communication strategies are essential in addressing trust issues surrounding COVID‐19 vaccines among critical stakeholders and religious leaders in Indonesia. Public health nursing plays a crucial role in fostering community acceptance and ensuring the success of vaccination programs.
Medicaid's role in alleviating some of the financial burden of abortion: Findings from the 2021–2022 Abortion Patient Survey
Authors: Jones Rachel K.
Published: April 2024

Background

Medicaid is the most common type of health insurance held by abortion patients, but the Hyde amendment prohibits the use of Medicaid to pay for this care. Seventeen states allow state Medicaid funds to cover abortion.

Methods

We used data from a national sample of 6698 people accessing abortions at 56 facilities across the United States between June 2021 and July 2022. We compare patient characteristics and issues related to payment for the abortion across patients residing in states where state Medicaid funds covered abortion (Medicaid states) and those where it did not (Hyde states). We also examine which abortion patient populations were most likely to use Medicaid in states where it covers abortion care.

Results

In Medicaid states, 62% of respondents used this method to pay for care while a majority of individuals in Hyde states, 82%, paid out of pocket. Some 71% of respondents in Medicaid states paid USD0 and this was substantially lower, 10%, in Hyde states. In Hyde states, two‐thirds of respondents had to raise money for the abortion (e.g., by delaying bills) compared to 28% in Medicaid states. Within Medicaid states, groups most likely to rely on this method of payment included respondents who identified as Black (70%) or Latinx (66%), those in the lowest income group (78%) and those having second‐trimester abortions (75%).

Discussion

When state Medicaid funds cover abortion, it substantially reduces the financial burden of care. Moreover, it may increase access for groups historically marginalized within the health care system.
“I wouldn't have felt so alone”: The sexual health education experiences of transgender and gender diverse youth living in the southeastern United States
Authors: Jayne Paula E. , Szucs Leigh E. , Lesesne Catherine A. , Grose Rose Grace , Johns Michelle M.
Published: April 2024

Background

Transgender and gender diverse youth experience multiple disproportionate adverse sexual health outcomes. Sexual health education teaches knowledge, attitudes, and skills for promoting sexual health, including reducing risk for sexually transmitted infection, HIV acquisition, and unintended pregnancy. Provision of sexual health education may be protective, but research remains scarce.

Methods

We conducted a multi‐stage thematic analysis of 33 in‐depth interviews among transgender and gender diverse youth (ages 15–24) living in the southeastern United States on their sexual health education experiences.

Results

Our study participants described school‐based sexual health education as unhelpful due to a lack of relevant information, inadequately prepared teachers, and a perceived negative tone toward sexuality. They reported relying on online sources of sexual health information, finding relevant content and community despite some limitations. Participants desired content and pedagogy that expands beyond binary and white‐centric presentations of sexuality and gender and sought resources that provide relevant, accurate, and judgment‐free information while holding positive framing around sexuality and gender.

Conclusion

There is much work needed to improve the breadth, quality, and relevance of school‐based sexual health education. Sexual health education can improve by strengthening critical media literacy skills of youth; raising staff cultural competency on gender, race, and sexual identity through training and supports; using culturally relevant and inclusive curricula; and partnering with community‐based organizations. Transgender and gender diverse youth would benefit from sexual health education from multiple sources which is queer‐friendly, affirms their existence, and provides information on gender, race, and sexuality in positive and expansive ways.
Interaction of blood calcium with milk yield, energy metabolites, subclinical mastitis, and reproductive performance in crossbred dairy cows
Authors: Khan Shah Murad , Khan Rifat Ullah , Naz Shabana , Alrefaei Abdulwahed Fahad , Tufarelli Vincenzo
Published: April 2024

Limited literature is available on the consequences of postpartum low blood calcium (Ca) concentration in crossbred cows. The research aimed to investigate the correlation between postpartum serum Ca levels and various parameters, including milk yield, serum energy metabolites, milk somatic cell count, and reproductive factors in crossbred cows. Following parturition, a total of 45 potential high‐yielding F2 (HF × Sahiwal; Genotype: 75:25) dairy cows were enrolled . These cows were categorized based on plasma calcium concentrations into three groups: a low calcium group (Ca‐L) with a calcium concentration of <5 mg/dL, a medium calcium group (Ca‐M) with a calcium concentration ranging from 5 to 8.5 mg/dL, and a high calcium group (Ca‐H) with a calcium concentration exceeding 8.5 mg/dL. The study parameters were measured over an 8‐week period. The results indicated that overall milk yield and blood glucose were significantly higher in the Ca‐H group compared to Ca‐M and Ca‐L (p < .01). Blood cholesterol was significantly higher in Ca‐M (p < .01), while blood triglyceride was significantly lower in both Ca‐M and Ca‐H. Overall, blood cortisol did not show a significant change between these groups (p < .01); however, progesterone levels were higher (p < .01) in Ca‐M and Ca‐H cows. Furthermore, somatic cell count (SCC) significantly (p < .01) decreased in cows with Ca‐H compared to Ca‐L. Additionally, postpartum oestrous interval and interestrus interval decreased significantly (p < .01) in Ca‐M and Ca‐H compared to Ca‐L. These findings suggest that cows with blood calcium levels exceeding 8.5 mg/dL exhibited significantly higher milk yield, blood metabolite levels, a lower likelihood of subclinical mastitis, and earlier reproductive activity after calving.
In the footstep of the old patient from hospital to home: A qualitative field observation study
Authors: Beck Sanne Have , Eilertsen Grethe , Andersen‐Ranberg Karen , Janssens Astrid , Nielsen Dorthe Susanne
Published: April 2024

Background

Older people often have multiple health conditions and therefore extended care needs. The transition from the hospital back to their home requires careful planning. The fragmented healthcare system and rapid discharge from the hospital can result in limited involvement of the older patient in the discharge planning process. We aimed to explore how older hospitalised patients experienced the transition from hospital to home and how possibilities and constraints in interactions with relevant parties in the transition affected their everyday lives.

Method

An ethnographic participant observation study including interviews was conducted with 10 older hospitalised patients. The theoretical perspective in the study is critical psychology and data were analysed using the condition‐, meaning‐ and reasoning analysis.

Results

Three themes were identified: (1) Lost in transition – the person's ability to act is limited, (2) In transition – the relatives become important, (3) At home – the home transforms into a workplace.

Conclusion

Lack of involvement becomes a condition for older patients as some struggle to create meaning in their transition, affecting their everyday lives. The patients experienced their relatives as important as they ensured that the HCPs got to know their values and wishes. This knowledge is important for HCPs working closely with older people both at the hospital and at home ensuring active involvement of the older person with respect and acknowledgement of the older person's wishes, needs, resources and vulnerability.
The effect of repeated concussions on clinical and neurocognitive symptom severity in different contact sports
Authors: Glaser Jennifer , Jaeckle Sarah , Beblo Thomas , Mueller Gerhard , Eidenmueller Andreas M. , Schulz Philipp , Schmehl Ingo , Rogge Witold , Hollander Karsten , Toepper Max , Gonschorek Andreas S.
Published: April 2024

Introduction

The potential consequences of repeated concussions in sport are well documented. However, it remains unclear whether the cumulative impact of sports‐related concussions differs between different contact sports. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate the cumulative effects of sports‐related concussions on clinical and neurocognitive health in different contact sports.

Materials and Methods

In a prospective multicenter study, we examined 507 (74 females) active professional athletes between 18 and 40 years of age from five different contact sports (soccer, handball, American football, basketball, and ice hockey). Data collection involved concussion history, clinical symptom evaluation, neurocognitive assessment, and the collection of other sports‐related information. Composite scores were built for clinical symptoms (such as neck pain and balance disturbances) and for neurocognitive symptoms (such as memory and attention impairments).

Results

Athletes having suffered 3+ concussions in the past showed disproportionally higher clinical symptom severity than athletes with less than three concussions across all sports. The level of clinical symptom burden in athletes with 3+ concussions indicated mild impairment. The number of past concussions did not affect neurocognitive performance.

Discussion

Repeated sports‐related concussions appear to have a cumulative impact on clinical—but not cognitive—symptom severity. Although clinical symptom burden in athletes with 3+ concussions in the past was not alarmingly high yet in our sample, increased caution should be advised at this point. Despite few exceptions, results are similar for different contact sports, suggesting a similar multidisciplinary concussion management across all types of sport.
Indentured: Benefit deductions, debt recovery and welfare disciplining
Authors: Edmiston Daniel
Published: April 2024

The UK social security system performs an important role as a creditor and debt collector for many benefit claimants, with more affected by deductions than formal welfare conditionality or sanctions. Deductions, then, are central to understanding low‐income life in the UK. With that in mind, this paper draws on a mixed‐methods project to explore the policy rationale, administration and effects of benefit deductions at a particular moment of crisis. Through new analysis of statistical releases, I evidence increasing indebtedness and an Inverse Care Law, whereby UK social security performs worst for those who need it most. Drawing on qualitative longitudinal ethnographic fieldwork conducted at the height of the cost‐of‐living crisis, I also evidence how deductions affect the lives and trajectories of low‐income claimants over time. The analysis offered details how deductions weaponize debt, often in ways that financialise benefit claimants and their entitlements that prove counter‐productive to the stated policy objectives of deductions: worsening the poverty‐debt trap and pushing people (further) away from the labour market.
Multi‐scale analysis of heat stress acclimation in Arabidopsis seedlings highlights the primordial contribution of energy‐transducing organelles
Authors: Réthoré Elise , Pelletier Sandra , Balliau Thierry , Zivy Michel , Avelange‐Macherel Marie‐Hélène , Macherel David
Published: April 2024

Much progress has been made in understanding the molecular mechanisms of plant adaptation to heat stress. However, the great diversity of models and stress conditions, and the fact that analyses are often limited to a small number of approaches, complicate the picture. We took advantage of a liquid culture system in which Arabidopsis seedlings are arrested in their development, thus avoiding interference with development and drought stress responses, to investigate through an integrative approach seedlings' global response to heat stress and acclimation. Seedlings perfectly tolerate a noxious heat shock (43°C) when subjected to a heat priming treatment at a lower temperature (38°C) the day before, displaying a thermotolerance comparable to that previously observed for Arabidopsis. A major effect of the pre‐treatment was to partially protect energy metabolism under heat shock and favor its subsequent rapid recovery, which was correlated with the survival of seedlings. Rapid recovery of actin cytoskeleton and mitochondrial dynamics were another landmark of heat shock tolerance. The omics confirmed the role of the ubiquitous heat shock response actors but also revealed specific or overlapping responses to priming, heat shock, and their combination. Since only a few components or functions of chloroplast and mitochondria were highlighted in these analyses, the preservation and rapid recovery of their bioenergetic roles upon acute heat stress do not require extensive remodeling of the organelles. Protection of these organelles is rather integrated into the overall heat shock response, thus allowing them to provide the energy required to elaborate other cellular responses toward acclimation.
Inhibition of Autophagy Alters Intracellular Transport of APP Resulting in Increased APP Processing
Authors: Mayer Johanna , Boeck Dominik , Werner Michelle , Frankenhauser Daniela , Geley Stephan , Farhan Hesso , Shimozawa Makoto , Nilsson Per
Published: April 2024

Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology is characterized by amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and dysfunctional autophagy. Aβ is generated by sequential proteolytic cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP), and the site of intracellular APP processing is highly debated, which may include autophagosomes. Here, we investigated the involvement of autophagy, including the role of ATG9 in APP intracellular trafficking and processing by applying the RUSH system, which allows studying the transport of fluorescently labeled mCherry‐APP‐EGFP in a systematic way, starting from the endoplasmic reticulum. HeLa cells, expressing the RUSH mCherry‐APP‐EGFP system, were investigated by live cell imaging, immunofluorescence, and Western blot. We found that mCherry‐APP‐EGFP passed through the Golgi faster in ATG9 knockout cells. Furthermore, ATG9 deletion shifted mCherry‐APP‐EGFP from early endosomes and lysosomes toward the plasma membrane concomitant with reduced endocytosis. Importantly, this alteration in mCherry‐APP‐EGFP transport resulted in increased secreted mCherry‐soluble APP and C‐terminal fragment‐EGFP. These effects were also phenocopied by pharmacological inhibition of ULK1, indicating that autophagy is regulating the intracellular trafficking and processing of APP. These findings contribute to the understanding of the role of autophagy in APP metabolism and could potentially have implications for new therapeutic approaches for AD.
Ultrasonographic measurements of the normal adrenal glands in guinea pigs (Cavia Porcellus)
Authors: Sainato Domenico , Pelligra Tina , Puccinelli Caterina , Petrini Daniele , Citi Simonetta
Published: April 2024

Hyperadrenocorticism is an uncommon but important endocrine disease in guinea pigs, but due to its subtle clinical signs and the limited information in veterinary literature, it can be underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Ultrasound of the adrenal glands in patients with suspected hyperadrenocorticism can help in identifying adrenomegaly. The purpose of this prospective study was to identify ultrasonographic adrenal gland dimensions in presumed healthy guinea pigs using the same standardized method described for dogs and cats. A conscious ultrasound scan was conducted on twenty client‐owned, presumed healthy guinea pigs, and their adrenal glands were measured. A possible correlation between adrenal dimensions with age, sex, and body weight was investigated. The mean length, cranial and caudal pole thickness for the left and right adrenal glands were, respectively, 12.64 ± 2.11 mm and 11.55 ± 1.52 mm; 4.83 mm ± 1.03 mm and 4.69 ± 1.34 mm; 4.8 ± 1.23 mm and 4.04 ± 0.75 mm. The thickness of the left caudal pole was significantly higher than the right (P = 0.02). A significant positive correlation was found between the length of the left adrenal gland and both age (r = 0.46; P = .03) and weight (r = 0.59; P = .01). Statistical correlation between the thickness of each cranial and caudal pole, with age, sex, or weight, was not found. The dimensions provided could prove a useful tool in the clinical evaluation of guinea pigs with suspected hyperadrenocorticism.
School shootings, the media, and the spatialities of dark belonging
Authors: Ridanpää Juha
Published: April 2024

This article discusses how news reports attendant to crisis events are used by the media to construct the logic of inclusion and exclusion. The focus of the paper is on rampage school shootings, which represent an illustrative example of how emotions and socio-politics become entwined in a spatial manner. The article also discusses how parties involved in the shooting event – the perpetrator, victims and the bereaved – are profiled in news reports as narrative characters through which the logic of inclusion and exclusion is constructed and conveyed, in different ways, and various spatial scales. This article illustrates how the media narratives of school shootings engage readers with the logic of belonging, offering normative understandings of how belonging and non-belonging should be comprehended. This paper contributes to both the geographical studies of belonging and media research.
Psychosis with use of amphetamine drugs, methylphenidate and atomoxetine in adolescent and adults
Authors: Hamard Jacques , Rousseau Vanessa , Durrieu Geneviève , Garcia Philippe , Yrondi Antoine , Sommet Agnès , Revet Alexis , Montastruc François
Published: April 2024

Background

Use of psychostimulants and relative drugs has increased worldwide in treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adolescents and adults. Recent studies suggest a potential association between use of psychostimulants and psychotic symptoms. The risk may not be the same between different psychostimulants.

Objective

To assess whether amphetamine or atomoxetine use is associated with a higher risk of reporting symptoms of psychosis than methylphenidate use in adolescents and adults, particularly in patients with ADHD.

Methods

Using VigiBase, the WHO’s pharmacovigilance database, disproportionality of psychotic symptoms reporting was assessed among adverse drug reactions related to methylphenidate, atomoxetine and amphetamines, from January 2004 to December 2018, in patients aged 13–25 years. The association between psychotic symptoms and psychostimulants was estimated through the calculation of reporting OR (ROR).

Findings

Among 13 863 reports with at least one drug of interest, we found 221 cases of psychosis with methylphenidate use, 115 with atomoxetine use and 169 with a prescription of an amphetamine drug. Compared with methylphenidate use, amphetamine use was associated with an increased risk of reporting psychotic symptoms (ROR 1.61 (95% CI 1.26 to 2.06)]. When we restricted the analysis to ADHD indication, we found a close estimate (ROR 1.94 (95% CI 1.43 to 2.64)). No association was found for atomoxetine.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that amphetamine use is associated with a higher reporting of psychotic symptoms, compared with methylphenidate use.

Clinical implications

The prescription of psychostimulants should consider this potential adverse effect when assessing the benefit–risk balance.
Association of blood eosinophils with corticosteroid treatment failure stratified by smoking status among inpatients with AECOPD
Authors: Li Jiachen , Zuo Yingting , Feng Lin , Cai Yutong Samuel , Su Jian , Tong Zhaohui , Liang Lirong
Published: April 2024

Background

Recent studies have suggested elevated blood eosinophils are independent predictors of response to corticosteroid therapy in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Smoking status has been shown to affect corticosteroid response. Whether the association between high blood eosinophils and corticosteroid treatment failure is modified by smoking has not been fully investigated so far.

Objectives

This study aimed to assess whether the association between high blood eosinophils and corticosteroid treatment failure is modified by smoking.

Methods

We included 3402 inpatients with AECOPD treated with corticosteroids at Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital from July 2013 to June 2021. Blood eosinophil counts were measured within 24 hours of admission. An eosinophil percentage ≥2% was considered as high eosinophilic. Smokers in this study were defined as current or former smokers. Treatment failure was defined as a worsening of AECOPD that led to adverse clinical outcomes or required further treatment or an extended hospital stay or hospitalisation following the exacerbation. Multivariate-adjusted logistic models were used to estimate the OR and 95% CI associated with treatment failure.

Results

There were 958 (28.2%) treatment failure events occurring. Patients with high eosinophils had a lower risk of treatment failure (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.87) than patients with low eosinophils. Compared with never smoking and low eosinophilic group, the ORs for treatment failure were 0.70 (95% CI 0.52 to 0.96) for never smoking and high eosinophilic group, 0.82 (95% CI 0.64 to 1.05) for smoking and low eosinophilic group and 0.62 (95% CI 0.47 to 0.81) for smoking and high eosinophilic group. Furthermore, there was no significant interaction between eosinophils and smoking status in relation to treatment failure (p for interaction=0.73). Similar results were obtained from multiple secondary outcomes and subgroup analyses.

Conclusion

Elevated blood eosinophils are associated with a lower rate of corticosteroid treatment failure, regardless of smoking status. Smoking does not modify the association between blood eosinophil level and corticosteroid treatment failure among inpatients with AECOPD.
Thoracic versus coronary calcification for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events prediction
Authors: Ichikawa Keishi , Wang Rui , McClelland Robyn L , Manubolu Venkat S , Susarla Shriraj , Lee Duo , Pourafkari Leili , Fazlalizadeh Hooman , Bitar Jairo Aldana , Robin Rick , Kinninger April , Roy Sion , Post Wendy S , Budoff Matthew
Published: April 2024

This study compared the prognostic value of quantified thoracic artery calcium (TAC) including aortic arch on chest CT and coronary artery calcium (CAC) score on ECG-gated cardiac CT.

Methods

A total of 2412 participants who underwent both chest CT and ECG-gated cardiac CT at the same period were included in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis Exam 5. All participants were monitored for incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events. TAC is defined as calcification in the ascending aorta, aortic arch and descending aorta on chest CT. The quantification of TAC was measured using the Agatston method. Time-dependent receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to compare the prognostic value of TAC and CAC scores.

Results

Participants were 69±9 years of age and 47% were male. The Spearman correlation between TAC and CAC scores was 0.46 (p<0.001). During the median follow-up period of 8.8 years, 234 participants (9.7%) experienced ASCVD events. In multivariable Cox regression analysis, TAC score was independently associated with increased risk of ASCVD events (HR 1.31, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.58) as well as CAC score (HR 1.82, 95% CI 1.53 to 2.17). However, the area under the time-dependent ROC curve for CAC score was greater than that for TAC score in all participants (0.698 and 0.641, p=0.031). This was particularly pronounced in participants with borderline/intermediate and high 10-year ASCVD risk scores.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated a significant association between TAC and CAC scores but a superior prognostic value of CAC score for ASCVD events. These findings suggest TAC on chest CT provides supplementary data to estimate ASCVD risk but does not replace CAC on ECG-gated cardiac CT.
Phase 1 study combining elotuzumab with autologous stem cell transplant and lenalidomide for multiple myeloma
Authors: Coffey David G , Osman Keren , Aleman Adolfo , Bekri Selma , Kats Simone , Dhadwal Amishi , Catamero Donna , Kim-Schulze Seunghee , Gnjatic Sacha , Chari Ajai , Parekh Samir , Jagannath Sundar , Cho Hearn Jay
Published: April 2024

Background

Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) after induction therapy improves disease-free survival for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). While the goal of ASCT is to render a minimal disease state, it is also associated with eradication of immunosuppressive cells, and we hypothesize that early introduction of immunotherapy post-ASCT may provide a window of opportunity to boost treatment efficacy.

Methods

We conducted a phase 1 clinical trial to investigate the application of autologous lymphocyte infusion and anti-SLAMF7 monoclonal antibody, elotuzumab, after ASCT in patients with newly diagnosed MM previously treated with induction therapy. In addition to CD34+ stem cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells were harvested prior to transplant and infused on day 3 after stem cell infusion to accelerate immune reconstitution and provide autologous natural killer (NK) cells that are essential to the mechanism of elotuzumab. Elotuzumab was administered starting on day 4 and then every 28 days after until 1 year post-ASCT. Cycles 4–12 were administered with standard-of-care lenalidomide maintenance.

Results

All subjects were evaluated for safety, and 13 of 15 subjects completed the treatment protocol. At 1 year post-ASCT, the disease status of enrolled subjects was as follows: five stringent complete responses, one complete response, six very good partial responses, one partial response, and two progressive diseases. The treatment plan was well tolerated, with most grade 3 and 4 AEs being expected hematologic toxicities associated with ASCT. Correlative analysis of the immune microenvironment demonstrated a trend toward reduced regulatory T cells during the first 3 months post-transplant followed by an increase in NK cells and monocytes in patients achieving a complete remission.

Conclusions

This phase 1 clinical trial demonstrates that early introduction of immunotherapy after ASCT is well tolerated and shows promising disease control in patients with MM, accompanied by favorable changes in the immune microenvironment.

Trial registration number

NCT02655458.
Analysis of the hidden-charm pentaquark states based on magnetic moment and transition magnetic moment
Authors: Guo Fei , Li Hao-Song
Published: April 2024

In this work, we calculate the magnetic moments of the $$P^{N^{0}}_{\psi }$$

P
ψ

N
0

states and $$P^{\Delta ^{0}}_{\psi }$$

P
ψ

Δ
0

states with valence quark content $${\bar{c}}cudd $$

c

¯

c
u
d
d

in molecular model, diquark–diquark–antiquark model and diquark–triquark model, as well as the transition magnetic moments in the molecular model. At the same time, we also calculate magnetic moments and transition magnetic moments of $$P^{\Delta ^{++}}_{\psi }$$

P
ψ

Δ

+
+

states and $$P^{\Delta ^{-}}_{\psi }$$

P
ψ

Δ
-

states in the molecular model as additional products. Our results show that in the diquark–diquark–antiquark model, the magnetic moments of $$ \lambda $$
λ
excitation state are usually larger than the magnetic moments of $$ \rho $$
ρ
excitation state. We find some interesting proportional relationships between the expressions of transition magnetic moments. The results provide important insights for future experimental observation of hidden-charm pentaquark states and help to distinguish their inner structures. With these efforts, our understanding of the properties for the hidden-charm pentaquark states will become more abundant.
Secure Aggregation for Privacy-preserving Federated Learning in Vehicular Networks
Authors: Byun Sanghyun , Sarker Arijet , Chang Sang-Yoon , Kalita Jugal
Published: April 2024

The automotive industry has been enhancing autonomous driving systems utilizing the computation and communication networks embedded in vehicles (e.g., cellular networks and sensors) and roadside units (e.g., radar and cameras). Robust security and privacy requirements are essential in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSs). To satisfy these requirements, most developed autonomous driving systems (e.g., Waymo and Tesla) use machine learning. Machine learning models trained on sensitive raw data promise improvements in performance; however, they cannot provide privacy for sensitive raw data and users. Federated learning advances privacy-preserving distributed machine learning by aggregating the model parameter updates from individual devices in a secure manner. Security Credential Management System (SCMS) for Vehicle to Everything (V2X) communication provides a guarantee for authentication in a privacy-preserving manner and punishes misbehaving vehicles through misbehavior reporting. In this article, we design a secure aggregation protocol for privacy-preserving federated learning for vehicular networks. Our protocol allows a server to verify vehicles in a secure manner and is used to aggregate each vehicle-provided global model update for federated learning. We prove our protocol for security in the honest but curious framework and detect active adversary attacks, as well as show that it provides trust in different domains (e.g., SCMS and outside the domain of SCMS) and in a privacy-preserving manner for vehicles using SCMS. We analyze the process of federated learning in each vehicle and server while communicating during driving on several types of roads (e.g., local, urban, and rural) using cellular networks (LTE and 5G).
Maintenance Operations on Cloud, Edge, and IoT Environments: Taxonomy, Survey, and Research Challenges
Authors: Souza Paulo , Ferreto Tiago , Calheiros Rodrigo
Published: April 2024

The emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) introduced new classes of applications whose latency and bandwidth requirements could not be satisfied by the traditional Cloud Computing model. Consequently, the Internet Technology community promoted the cooperation of two paradigms, Cloud Computing and Edge Computing, combining large-scale computing power and real-time processing capabilities. A significant management challenge in such complex infrastructure concerns the development of efficient maintenance strategies to preserve the environment’s performance and security. While the abundant resources from the academic literature could support the design of novel maintenance solutions, extracting actionable insights from the existing approaches is challenging, given the massive number of published papers. Furthermore, existing review papers, which could help summarize the state-of-the-art, scope their investigations to the maintenance of certain components in particular scenarios. This work fills this gap with a broader literature analysis that covers maintenance strategies targeting physical and logical components in cloud, edge, and IoT environments. First, we introduce a taxonomy that organizes existing solutions according to several characteristics. Then, we review the literature following the taxonomy structure to facilitate the understanding of the research landscape and the comparison between existing works. Finally, we shed light on open challenges that represent promising research directions.
A Systematic Survey of Deep Learning-Based Single-Image Super-Resolution
Authors: Li Juncheng , Pei Zehua , Li Wenjie , Gao Guangwei , Wang Longguang , Wang Yingqian , Zeng Tieyong
Published: April 2024

Single-image super-resolution (SISR) is an important task in image processing, which aims to enhance the resolution of imaging systems. Recently, SISR has made a huge leap and has achieved promising results with the help of deep learning (DL). In this survey, we give an overview of DL-based SISR methods and group them according to their design targets. Specifically, we first introduce the problem definition, research background, and the significance of SISR. Secondly, we introduce some related works, including benchmark datasets, upsampling methods, optimization objectives, and image quality assessment methods. Thirdly, we provide a detailed investigation of SISR and give some domain-specific applications of it. Fourthly, we present the reconstruction results of some classic SISR methods to intuitively know their performance. Finally, we discuss some issues that still exist in SISR and summarize some new trends and future directions. This is an exhaustive survey of SISR, which can help researchers better understand SISR and inspire more exciting research in this field. An investigation project for SISR is provided at https://github.com/CV-JunchengLi/SISR-Survey.
Plant Community Composition and Structural Pattern Dynamics in Robe-Raya Natural Forest, Southeast Ethiopia
Authors: Masresha Getinet , Abdulahi Yasin , Chekole Getnet , Bitew Amare
Published: April 2024

Due to its fortuitous mix of geography, terrain, and geology, Ethiopia is the home of unique assemblages of rich biodiversity. However, this impressive biological diversity is increasingly threatened by the combined effects of different drivers before they are sufficiently investigated. The present work was carried out in Robe-Raya Natural Forest, located in Southeast Ethiopia, with the intention of examining plant community formation and structural dynamics of the forest species. Sixty (20 m × 20 m) quadrats were placed at 100 m distance along eleven east-west directed transect lines systematically. In order to gather juvenile’s data, five subquadrats (2 m × 2 m) were established within the main quadrat, distributed at each corner and middle. In each quadrat, all woody species were recorded and counted; diameter (DBH) and height were measured using tape meter and a hypsometer, respectively, and cover abundance was recorded (in %). Cluster analysis was computed using R-Package to map-out the community types. Species diversity and composition among community types were computed using the Shannon-Wiener index and Sorenson’s coefficient, respectively. Frequency, density, height, DBH, basal area, and IVI were used to analyze structural dynamics. Age-class density ratios were used to examine the regeneration status. Ninety-four woody plant species belonging to 39 families were documented. Asteraceae was the most species-rich family (10 species). The common growth form was shrubs (44.7%) followed by trees (41.5%). Cluster analysis produced four community types. In total, the species diversity and evenness were 3.75 and 0.88, respectively. The forest density and basal area were 1183.3 stems/ha and 57.52 m2·ha−1, respectively. Structural dynamics analyses demonstrated that the forest was composed of, largely, young trees and shrubs and under fair regeneration status. Certain species that have been identified to have low IVI and poor regeneration status should be prioritized for conservation.
Temporal Dynamics and Trend Analysis of Areal Rainfall in Muger Subwatershed, Upper Blue Nile, Ethiopia
Authors: Moshe Alene , Beza Manamno
Published: April 2024

This study was employed to investigate the temporal variability and trend analysis of areal rainfall in the Muger subwatershed, Upper Blue Nile, Ethiopia. The study was run over the following procedures to handle the main objective: (1) determining the areal rainfall from gauged point rainfall using the Thiessen polygon method, (2) grouping the months in the season according to the study area, (3) evaluating the temporal dynamics of annual and seasonal areal rainfall using the coefficient of variation (CV), standard anomaly index (SAI), and precipitation concentration index (PCI), and (4) analyzing the trend of annual and seasonal areal rainfall using modified Mann–Kendall’s (modifiedmk) test in RStudio. Based on the temporal variability analysis, CV results depict that annual and summer areal rainfall had low variability with values of 13.43% and 13.7%, respectively. Winter and spring areal rainfall shows high variation with a CV value of 50.5% and 36%, respectively. According to the SAI output, around 70% of the considered year was in the normal condition of wetness. On the other hand, the seasonal (winter, spring, and summer) rainfall distribution of the study area shows strong irregularity distribution throughout the considered years as a result of PCI with a value of 57.5%. The trend of the areal rainfall was shown to be both increasing and decreasing. However, the trend was insignificant with a 10% confidence level.