bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incidence and mortality of community-acquired and nosocomial infections in Japan: a nationwide medical claims database study
Authors: Takahashi Nozomi , Imaeda Taro , Oami Takehiko , Abe Toshikazu , Shime Nobuaki , Komiya Kosaku , Kawamura Hideki , Yamao Yasuo , Fushimi Kiyohide , Nakada Taka‑aki
Published: May 2024

Background

It is important to determine the prevalence and prognosis of community-acquired infection (CAI) and nosocomial infection (NI) to develop treatment strategies and appropriate medical policies in aging society.

Methods

Patients hospitalized between January 2010 and December 2019, for whom culture tests were performed and antibiotics were administered, were selected using a national claims-based database. The annual trends in incidence and in-hospital mortality were calculated and evaluated by dividing the patients into four age groups.

Results

Of the 73,962,409 inpatients registered in the database, 9.7% and 4.7% had CAI and NI, respectively. These incidences tended to increase across the years in both the groups. Among the patients hospitalized with infectious diseases, there was a significant increase in patients aged ≥ 85 years (CAI: + 1.04%/year and NI: + 0.94%/year, P < 0.001), while there was a significant decrease in hospitalization of patients aged ≤ 64 years (CAI: -1.63%/year and NI: -0.94%/year, P < 0.001). In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in the NI than in the CAI group (CAI: 8.3%; NI: 14.5%, adjusted mean difference 4.7%). The NI group had higher organ support, medical cost per patient, and longer duration of hospital stay. A decreasing trend in mortality was observed in both the groups (CAI: -0.53%/year and NI: -0.72%/year, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The present analysis of a large Japanese claims database showed that NI is a significant burden on hospitalized patients in aging societies, emphasizing the need to address particularly on NI.
Ectopic cervical thymoma in myasthenia gravis: a case report
Authors: Zargar Shima , Hosseini Farahabadi Maryam , Reynolds Samuel J.
Published: May 2024

Background

Ectopic cervical thymoma (ECT) is an extremely rare tumor, especially in association with myasthenia gravis (MG).

Case presentation

We report a case of myasthenia gravis with an ectopic thymoma in the neck, whose myasthenic symptoms significantly improved after complete removal of the mass. A 55-year-old woman with generalized myasthenia gravis (MG) experienced worsening neuromuscular weakness after abruptly discontinuing pyridostigmine. Testing revealed acetylcholine receptor-antibody (AChR-Ab) positivity and a cervical mass initially thought to be thyroid or parathyroid was identified as a thymoma, type A. Post-surgery and radiation therapy, her myasthenic symptoms improved significantly with less prednisone and pyridostigmine requirements over time and no need for additional immunotherapies.

Conclusions

Diagnosing ECTs is challenging due to rarity, atypical locations, and inconclusive fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) results, often misinterpreted as thyroid or parathyroid lesions. As proper management of patients with MG, including thymectomy, offers favorable clinical outcomes such as significant improvement in myasthenic complaints and reduced immunosuppressive medication requirements, clinicians should be vigilant of the ectopic locations of thymomas to ensure timely diagnosis and intervention.
PD-L1 knockdown suppresses vasculogenic mimicry of non-small cell lung cancer by modulating ZEB1-triggered EMT
Authors: Li Wenjuan , Wu Jiatao , Jia Qianhao , Shi Yuqi , Li Fan , Zhang Linxiang , Shi Fan , Wang Xiaojing , Wu Shiwu
Published: May 2024

Background

PD-L1 overexpression is commonly observed in various malignancies and is strongly correlated with poor prognoses for cancer patients. Moreover, PD-L1 has been shown to play a significant role in promoting angiogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) processes across different cancer types.

Methods

The relationship between PD-L1 and vasculogenic mimicry as well as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was explored by bioinformatics approach and immunohistochemistry. The functions of PD-L1 in regulating the expression of ZEB1 and the EMT process were assessed by Western blotting and q-PCR assays. The impact of PD-L1 on the migratory and proliferative capabilities of A549 and H1299 cells was evaluated through wound healing, cell invasion, and CCK8 assays following siRNA-mediated PD-L1 knockdown. Tube formation assay was utilized to evaluate the presence of VM structures.

Results

In this study, increased PD-L1 expression was observed in A549 and H1299 cells compared to normal lung epithelial cells. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a higher prevalence of VM structures in the PD-L1-positive group compared to the PD-L1-negative group. Additionally, high PD-L1 expression was also found to be significantly associated with advanced TNM stage and increased metastasis. Following PD-L1 knockdown, NSCLC cells exhibited a notable reduction in their ability to form tube-like structures. Moreover, the levels of key EMT and VM-related markers, including N-cadherin, MMP9, VE-cadherin, and VEGFA, were significantly decreased, while E-cadherin expression was upregulated. In addition, the migration and proliferation capacities of both cell lines were significantly inhibited after PD-L1 or ZEB1 knockdown.

Conclusions

Knockdown PD-L1 can inhibit ZEB1-mediated EMT, thereby hindering the formation of VM in NSCLC.
Prevalence of insulin resistance and its associated factors in drug-naïve patients with bipolar disorder among Han Chinese population
Authors: Li Kanglai , Li Tong , Yang Ting , Lin Youzhen , Liao Yingtao , Gan Zhaoyu
Published: May 2024

Background

Metabolic syndrome (Mets) is commonly seen in bipolar disorder (BD). As the key component and early biological index of Mets, insulin resistance (IR) among BD has received more and more attention. However, little is known about the prevalence of IR and its associated factors in drug-naïve patients with (BD), especially among Han Chinese population.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 125 drug-naïve patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and 85 healthy controls (HC). The Homeostatic Model Assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated, and IR was defined as HOMA-IR greater than the 75th percentile value for health controls (2.35). Clinical characteristics of BD were collected through semi-structural interview performed by a trained interviewer with background of psychiatric education.

Results

Among the measured anthropocentric variables including BMI, waist circumference, abdomen circumference, hipline, and hip-waist ratio, waist circumference was found to be the most closely related to IR (0R = 1.070, 95%CI = 1.031–1.110, P < 0.001). Male was another factor that was associated with IR (OR = 2.281, 95%CI = 1.107–4.702, P = 0.025). After adjusted for gender and waist circumference, the risk of IR was significantly higher in bipolar disorder than in healthy controls (OR = 2.66, 95%CI = 1.364–5.214, P = 0.004). No significant association was found between IR and any of the observed physical and mental comorbidities, any characteristic of illness course including age onset, number of mixed episodes, types of current state, duration of current episode, duration of illness course, rapid cycling, number of mood episodes, and subgroup of BD. Hypersomnia was the only symptomatic feature that was significantly associated with IR (OR = 0.316, 95%CI = 0.124–0.803, P = 0.016).

Conclusions

Bipolar disorder increases two-to-three-fold risk of IR, both circumference and male are the risk factors of IR but hypersomnia act as a protective factor.
Multi-level analysis of intimate partner violence and its determinants among reproductive age group women in Ethiopia: evidence from Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey, 2016
Authors: Mulatu Teshale , Dessie Yadeta , Abera Muluemebet
Published: May 2024

Background

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is recognized as a main public health challenge, with serious consequences for women’s physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health. Despite its public health importance, most studies of IPV in Ethiopia mainly focused on individual characteristics and didn’t identify how factors operating at different levels affect IPV. Thus, there is limited evidence regarding the hierarchical-level factors of IPV and the effect of individual and community-level determinants of IPV. The aim of this study is to assess the individual and community-level factors associated with violence against women among ever-married reproductive-age women in Ethiopia.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of secondary data retrieved from the Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey was conducted among reproductive age group women (15–49 years of age) who reported ever being married within the available data set for the domestic violence module. STATA 14 was used to conduct the analysis. A two-level mixed-effects logistic regression analysis was used to determine associations between IPV and individual- and community-level factors. IPV variability across the community was assessed using ICC and PCV. The model’s fitness was assessed using the Akaike information criterion (AIC), the Bayesian information criterion (BIC), and the likelihood ratio test.

Result

The life time prevalence of IPV in this study was 33% [95% CI: 30.74, 34.25]. Women’s age 20–24 (AOR = 5.85, 95% CI: 201 3.10, 11.04), 25–29 age group (AOR = 6.41, 95% CI; 3.34, 12.32), 30–34 age group (AOR = 9.48, 95% CI: 4.71, 19.06), 35–39 age group (AOR = 9.88, 95% CI: 4.79, 20.39), 40–44 age group (AOR = 11.10, 95% CI: 5.16, 23.89), and 45–49, (AOR = 14.15, 95% CI: 6.01, 32.80), early marriage (AOR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.08, 1.47), witnessing inter-parental violence during childhood (AOR = 2.80, 95% CI: 2.16, 3.96), having a lot of living children (AOR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.26, 0.74), having a partner who drank alcohol (AOR = 3.00, 95% CI: 2.42–3.67), decision-making autonomy of the women (AOR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.62, 0.97), Poor wealth index (AOR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.23, 2.18), middle wealth index (AOR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.36, 2.54) and exposure to media (AOR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.06, 2.00) were all significantly associated with IPV.

Conclusion and recommendation

This study showed that one-third of the women experienced IPV in their lifetime. The finding suggested that community based interventions and multi-sectorial collaborations are needed to reduce the IPV and its adverse consequences.
Evaluation of a digitally enhanced cardiac auscultation learning method in Cameroon: results of a controlled study
Authors: Bediang Georges , Baran à Zock Agnès , Doualla Fred-Cyrille Goethe , Nganou-Gnindjio Chris
Published: May 2024

Background

Cardiac auscultation is an efficient and effective diagnostic tool, especially in low-income countries where access to modern diagnostic methods remains difficult. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a digitally enhanced cardiac auscultation learning method on medical students’ performance and satisfaction.

Methods

We conducted a double-arm parallel controlled trial, including newly admitted 4th -year medical students enrolled in two medical schools in Yaoundé, Cameroon and allocated into two groups: the intervention group (benefiting from theoretical lessons, clinical internship and the listening sessions of audio recordings of heart sounds) and the control group (benefiting from theoretical lessons and clinical internship). All the participants were subjected to a pretest before the beginning of the training, evaluating theoretical knowledge and recognition of cardiac sounds, and a post-test at the eighth week of clinical training associated with the evaluation of satisfaction. The endpoints were the progression of knowledge score, skills score, total (knowledge and skills) score and participant satisfaction.

Results

Forty-nine participants (27 in the intervention group and 22 in the control group) completed the study. The knowledge progression (+ 26.7 versus + 7.5; p ˂0.01) and the total progression (+ 22.5 versus + 14.6; p ˂ 0.01) were higher in the intervention group with a statistically significant difference compared to the control group. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding skills progression (+ 25 versus + 17.5; p = 0.27). Satisfaction was higher in general in the intervention group (p ˂ 0.01), which recommended this method compared to the control group.

Conclusion

The learning method of cardiac auscultation reinforced by the listening sessions of audio recordings of heart sounds improves medical students’ performances (knowledge and global – knowledge and skills) who find it satisfactory and recommendable.

Trial Registration

This trial has been registered the 29/11/2019 in the Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (http://www.pactr.org) under unique identification number PACTR202001504666847 and the protocol has been published in BMC Medical Education.
Clinicians’ perceptions of “enhanced recovery after surgery” (ERAS) protocols to improve patient safety in surgery: a national survey from Australia
Authors: Lovegrove Josephine , Tobiano Georgia , Chaboyer Wendy , Carlini Joan , Liang Rhea , Addy Keith , Gillespie Brigid M.
Published: May 2024

Background

Surgical patients are at risk of postoperative complications, which may lead to increased morbidity, mortality, hospital length-of-stay and healthcare costs. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS®) protocols are evidence-based and have demonstrated effectiveness in decreasing complications and associated consequences. However, their adoption in Australia has been limited and the reason for this is unclear. This study aimed to describe clinicians’ perceptions of ERAS protocols in Australia.

Methods

A national online survey of anaesthetists, surgeons and nurses was undertaken. Invitations to participate were distributed via emails from professional colleges. The 30-item survey captured respondent characteristics, ERAS perceptions, beliefs, education and learning preferences and future planning considerations. The final question was open-ended for elaboration of perceptions of ERAS. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to describe and compare group differences across disciplines relative to perceptions of ERAS.

Results

The sample included 178 responses (116 nurses, 65.2%; 36 surgeons, 20.2%; 26 anaesthetists, 14.6%) across six states and two territories. More than half (n = 104; 58.8%) had used ERAS protocols in patient care, and most perceived they were ‘very knowledgeable’ (n = 24; 13.6%) or ‘knowledgeable’ (n = 71; 40.3%) of ERAS. However, fewer nurses had cared for a patient using ERAS (p <.01) and nurses reported lower levels of knowledge (p <.001) than their medical counterparts. Most respondents agreed ERAS protocols improved patient care and financial efficiency and were a reasonable time investment (overall Md 3–5), but nurses generally recorded lower levels of agreement (p.013 to < 0.001). Lack of information was the greatest barrier to ERAS knowledge (n = 97; 62.6%), while seminars/lectures from international and national leaders were the preferred learning method (n = 59; 41.3%). Most supported broad implementation of ERAS (n = 130; 87.8%).

Conclusion

There is a need to promote ERAS and provide education, which may be nuanced based on the results, to improve implementation in Australia. Nurses particularly need to be engaged in ERAS protocols given their significant presence throughout the surgical journey. There is also a need to co-design implementation strategies with stakeholders that target identified facilitators and barriers, including lack of support from senior administration, managers and clinicians and resource constraints.
Cytogenomic characterization of pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia reveals TCR rearrangements as predictive factors for exceptional prognosis
Authors: Lizcova Libuse , Prihodova Eva , Pavlistova Lenka , Svobodova Karla , Mejstrikova Ester , Hrusak Ondrej , Luknarova Pavla , Janotova Iveta , Sramkova Lucie , Stary Jan , Zemanova Zuzana
Published: May 2024

Background

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) represents a rare and clinically and genetically heterogeneous disease that constitutes 10–15% of newly diagnosed pediatric ALL cases. Despite improved outcomes of these children, the survival rate after relapse is extremely poor. Moreover, the survivors must also endure the acute and long-term effects of intensive therapy. Although recent studies have identified a number of recurrent genomic aberrations in pediatric T-ALL, none of the changes is known to have prognostic significance. The aim of our study was to analyze the cytogenomic changes and their various combinations in bone marrow cells of children with T-ALL and to correlate our findings with the clinical features of the subjects and their treatment responses.

Results

We performed a retrospective and prospective comprehensive cytogenomic analysis of consecutive cohort of 66 children (46 boys and 20 girls) with T-ALL treated according to BFM-based protocols and centrally investigated cytogenetics and immunophenotypes. Using combinations of cytogenomic methods (conventional cytogenetics, FISH, mFISH/mBAND, arrayCGH/SNP and MLPA), we identified chromosomal aberrations in vast majority of patients (91%). The most frequent findings involved the deletion of CDKN2A/CDKN2B genes (71%), T-cell receptor (TCR) loci translocations (27%), and TLX3 gene rearrangements (23%). All chromosomal changes occurred in various combinations and were rarely found as a single abnormality. Children with aberrations of TCR loci had a significantly better event free (p = 0.0034) and overall survival (p = 0.0074), all these patients are living in the first complete remission. None of the abnormalities was an independent predictor of an increased risk of relapse.

Conclusions

We identified a subgroup of patients with TCR aberrations (both TRA/TRD and TRB), who had an excellent prognosis in our cohort with 5-year EFS and OS of 100%, regardless of the presence of other abnormality or the translocation partner. Our data suggest that escalation of treatment intensity, which may be considered in subsets of T-ALL is not needed for nonHR (non-high risk) patients with TCR aberrations.
A robust acid-resistant chelating polymer for enhanced stabilization of lead ions in fly ash
Authors: Wang Qi , Yan Huiyu , Yao Linyan , Guo Ying , Xiao Jianxi
Published: May 2024

Fly ash derived from municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs) harbors significant quantities of heavy metals with high leaching toxicity, resulting in detrimental environmental effects. Pb2+ in fly ash is the ion most likely to exceed permissible levels. However, chemical stabilization methods demonstrate poor efficacy in stabilizing Pb2+ under acidic conditions. Herein, we have developed a robust acid-resistant chelating polymer (25DTF) for enhanced stabilization of Pb2+ in fly ash. 25DTF was synthesized through the reaction of formaldehyde with 2,5-dithiourea. 25DTF exhibited remarkable chelation efficiency, nearing 100%, for Pb2+ in fly ash. 25DTF demonstrated exceptional chelation efficiency, surpassing 99.9%, when interacting with Pb2+ in fly ash at pH ≤ 7. Even under acidic conditions, 25DTF effectively prevented the secondary dissolution of Pb2+. Additionally, it indicated outstanding Pb2+ chelation efficiency across diverse regions of China. The 25DTF chelating agent shows considerable potential in alleviating metal ion contamination in soil, wastewater, and urban environmental management, thereby fostering advancements in environmental stewardship.
Causal relationship between rheumatoid arthritis and bronchiectasis: a bidirectional mendelian randomization study
Authors: Chen Zehu , Li Xuegang , Shi Honglei , Huang Yiying , Liu Jing
Published: May 2024

Background

Epidemiological observational studies have elucidated a correlation between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and bronchiectasis. However, the causal nature of this association remains ambiguous. To clarify this potential causal linkage, we conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to explore the bidirectional causality between RA and bronchiectasis.

Methods

Summary statistics for RA and bronchiectasis were obtained from the IEU OpenGWAS database We employed various methods, including inverse variance weighting (IVW), MR-Egger, weighted median, weighted mode, and simple mode, to explore potential causal links between RA and bronchiectasis. Additionally, a series of sensitivity studies, such as Cochran’s Q test, MR Egger intercept test, and leave-one-out analysis, were conducted to assess the MR analysis’s accuracy further.

Results

In the forward MR analysis, the primary analysis indicated that a genetic predisposition to RA correlated with an increased risk of bronchiectasis in European populations (IVW odds ratio (OR): 1.28, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.20–1.37, p = 1.18E-13). Comparable results were noted in the East Asian subjects (IVW OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.30–1.34, p = 8.33E-07). The OR estimates from the other four methods were consistent with those obtained from the IVW method. Sensitivity analysis detected no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy or heterogeneity. Conversely, in the reverse MR analysis, we found no evidence to support a genetic causality between bronchiectasis and RA in either European or East Asian populations.

Conclusion

This study indicates that genetic predisposition to RA correlates with a heightened risk of bronchiectasis in both European and East Asian populations. These results imply that routine screening for bronchiectasis in RA patients could be beneficial, and effective management of RA may contribute to a reduced risk of bronchiectasis. Future research should aim to clarify the underlying mechanisms linking these two conditions.
Negative correlation between metabolic score for insulin resistance index and testosterone in male adults
Authors: Li ChunMei , Xu Jing
Published: May 2024

Background

Insulin resistance (IR) is strongly correlated with the decreased deficiency of testosterone levels in males. The metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR) index is regarded as an innovative measure for the assessment on IR. The research aims to explore the correlation between the METS-IR index and the testosterone levels in males.

Methods

In this study, a cross-sectional design was made through the data obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2013 to 2020. Besides, the METS-IR index was derived from serum triglyceride levels, fasting plasma glucose, HDL-C and BMI.

Results

A total of 2082 participants were included in the final analysis. After controlling for confounding variables, it was found that METS-IR was independently and negatively correlated with testosterone levels (β = −3.88, 95% CI = −4.49, −3.27, P < 0.001). As shown by the generalized smooth curve fitting, METS-IR had a linear correlation with testosterone levels without threshold or saturation effects, which was consistently observed across all subgroups through stratified analysis (all P > 0.05). As revealed by the analysis on the ROC curve, the area under the curve (AUC) for the METS-IR index (0.732, 95% CI = 0.705, 0.760) was significantly larger than that of homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), TG/HDL ratio, triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) and body mass index (BMI).

Conclusion

The findings suggest a negative relationship between the METS-IR index and the testosterone levels in male adults. Furthermore, the METS-IR index demonstrates superior predictive ability for testosterone deficiency in comparison to HOMA-IR, TG/HDL ratio, TyG and BMI.
External transmitter attachment in snakes: a systematic review of methods, efficacy, and impacts
Authors: Christensen Tyler , Fantuzzi Jason
Published: May 2024

Background

The advent of telemetry has revolutionized wildlife research in recent decades. For telemetry to be effective, transmitting devices must remain attached to study animals throughout a period of interest and without impacting pertinent behaviors. Surgical implantation remains the most common method used to attach transmitters to snakes, but concerns about the effects of transmitter implantation on snake health and behavior have motivated many researchers to opt for external transmitter attachments. Despite the increasing use and diversification of external transmitter attachment techniques in snake research, to date there have been no comprehensive reviews examining the methods, efficacies, and adverse impacts reported in the literature. We therefore conducted a systematic review of past research involving external attachment of transmitters on wild snakes. We extracted data from relevant studies to determine whether and how snake traits and transmitter attachment details correlated with efficacy and likelihood of adverse effects.

Results

The 54 cases that met inclusion criteria covered 33 species and 3 families. External attachment was biased toward smaller-bodied snakes (median = 186 g), although larger snakes had longer retention durations. Adverse impacts were reported in 37% of studies (n = 20), and included altered behavior and movement, skin wounds at the attachment site, and death. Smaller snakes were more likely to exhibit adverse impacts from attached transmitters. Except for caudal attachments in rattlesnakes, attachment method did not have a significant effect on attachment duration. However, attachment method did influence the probability of causing adverse effects, with glue being the most likely to cause negative impacts.

Conclusions

Externally attaching transmitters to snakes is an increasingly popular alternative to surgical implantation. To provide guidance to researchers considering this approach, we conclude our systematic review with recommendations for attaching external transmitters to snakes. Actions such as minimizing transmitter weight and protrusion, using shorter and stiffer antennas, and using flexible adhesives may help to avoid commonly reported problems. We encourage more consistency in reporting methodological details and results pertaining to efficacy and animal welfare.
Illness cognition and associated socio-demographic and clinical factors in parents of children with leukemia
Authors: Han Jing , Zhang Li , Yang Feng , Wang Linlin
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Illness cognition is an important mediator between psychological and behavioral adjustment and the quality of life for patients and their caregivers. Evidence related to illness cognition among parents of children with leukemia is limited. The purpose of this study is to explore the illness cognition status and associated factors in parents of children with leukemia.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with the parents of 335 children with leukemia from three general children’s hospitals in China from January to December 2022. A parents’ version of the illness cognition questionnaire was used to collect data. This included three subscales: helplessness, acceptance, and perceived benefits.

Results

The mean scores of helplessness, acceptance and perceived benefits of parents regarding their children’s disease were 15.56 (4.60), 16.25 (4.41), and 19.96 (3.69) respectively. The multiple regression model indicated seven factors associated with the parents’ illness cognition (adjusted R [2] ranged from 0.182 to 0.134): four socio-demographic factors (parent’s age, role, education level, and family income) and three clinical factors (length of time spent each day caring for the child, the child’s age at diagnosis, and the duration of the disease).

Conclusion

This study reports on different levels of illness cognition and associated factors among parents of children with leukemia. The results may help pediatric oncology medical staff identify risk factors for poor psychological adjustment to children’s diseases. Parents may benefit from psychological support aimed at improving positive illness cognition.
Effect of carbon reduction policies on economic growth from a dual carbon perspective
Authors: Wang Xiaowen
Published: May 2024

The study focuses on the energy consumption (EC) and environmental pollution caused by carbon consumption in China’s development. The Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region is selected as the primary focus of investigation. To gain insight into the relationship between China’s economic growth (EG) and carbon reduction (CR), two major research elements, the impact of each on the other is examined. The study mainly uses decoupling models and influence models to analyze the decoupling relationship and effectiveness between CR and EG. The research results showed that there was a difference between long-term and short-term effects. The short-term effect in the YRD region was manifested as a continuously improving decoupling state, while the long-term effect was manifested as the significant impact of population and per capita Gross Domestic Product on CR. The effect value of EC factor was 0.43, while the effect value of CR factor was 0.07. In functional comparison, the role of EC factors was more significant.
Internationalisation of non-financial social and solidarity economy cooperatives: case study in Ecuador
Authors: Moreira-Menéndez Mercedes , Pico-Saltos Roberto , Zambrano Carlos Edison
Published: May 2024

Internationalisation is a way for companies' growth and economic development in transition economies with the potential to contribute to a more sustainable world. Social and solidarity economy cooperatives (SSECs) have a lower internationalisation trend than developed economy companies due to their aversion to possible economic losses and lack of knowledge of the global market. This study aims to propose an internationalisation model for non-financial SSECs through factor analysis and evolutionary genetic computing to improve structural competitiveness within the framework of sustainable development in an emerging country. The study methodology includes: (1) information analysis related to internationalisation indicators; (2) statistical analysis of variables from the national survey of popular and solidarity economy organisations; (3) internationalisation model through a genetic algorithm; and (4) strategies related to sustainability. The results show internationalisation models with significant indicators such as number of partners, social capital, social benefit, access to international markets and employment. These models have goodness of fit with a high degree of precision (> 80%) and are a novel proposal to estimate the internationalisation of social capital cooperatives.
Beyond Chemoimmunotherapy in Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer: New Frontiers, New Challenges
Authors: Mountzios Giannis , Naidoo Jarushka , Wang Chao , Creelan Benjamin C. , Trotier Daniel C. , Campbell Toby C. , Peters Solange
Published: May 2024

Chemoimmunotherapy is currently the preferred first-line treatment option for the majority of patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer without driver genetic alterations. Most of these patients, however, will experience disease progression within the first year after treatment initiation and both patients and their physicians will be confronted with the dilemma of the optimal second-line treatment. Identification of molecular targets, such as KRASG12C, BRAFV600X, METexon14, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 mutations, and RET rearrangements offer therapeutic opportunities in pretreated patients with corresponding alterations. For those tumors that do not harbor oncogenic drivers, second-line treatment with docetaxel remains the current standard of care despite modest efficacy. Strategies to challenge docetaxel include the combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) with tyrosine inhibitors of multiple kinases or with DNA damage response inhibitors, antibody-drug conjugates, and locoregional treatments for oligoprogressive disease. Next-generation immunotherapy strategies, such as T-cell engagers, immune-mobilizing monoclonal T-cell receptors, chimeric antigen receptor cell therapy, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, and T-cell receptor cell therapy are being currently investigated in the quest to reverse resistance to ICIs. Importantly, the advent of these new agents heralds a novel spectrum of toxicities that require both the physician's and the patient's education. Herein, we review current and future strategies aiming to outperform docetaxel after chemoimmunotherapy failure, and we provide practical information on how to best communicate to our patients the unique toxicity aspects associated with immunotherapy.
Advancing Prostate Cancer Care: Treatment Approaches to Precision Medicine, Biomarker Innovations, and Equitable Access
Authors: Fenton Sarah E. , VanderWeeler David J. , Rebbeck Timothy R. , Chen Delphine L.
Published: May 2024

Genetic testing and molecular imaging have great promise in the accurate diagnosis and treatment of #prostate #cancer, but only if they can be developed and implemented to achieve equitable benefit for all men.
Using Federal, State, and Grassroots Advocacy to Effect Change in Cancer Care Delivery and Patient Outcomes in the United States
Authors: Persing Brian , Kamboj Jasmine , Sumrall Ashley , Hoxie Gina
Published: May 2024

Health policy influences health and well-being for patients with cancer. Advocating for evidence-based health policies that aim to prevent cancer, promote health, and improve efficiencies in the health care system is crucial to improving care delivery and cancer outcomes nationwide. The role of the ASCO's Government Relations Committee (GRC) is to advocate for policies at a federal and state level that promote high-quality and equitable cancer care, and ASCO volunteer engagement is critical for the success of creating, changing, and adopting policies that support patients with cancer and their care team. Cancer care professionals are uniquely positioned to advocate at all levels of government, local, state, and federal and to serve as invaluable resources for lawmakers as they work to implement policy changes. Lawmakers are highly responsive to cancer care providers as most lawmakers have family or friends who have been diagnosed with cancer. Multiple advocacy strategies that are effective and efficient in their approach have been used, making advocating feasible for cancer care professionals’ busy schedule. To improve patient care, ASCO’s GRC and ASCO volunteers advocate for increased federal funding for research, greater health care access, value in cancer care, and payment reform. ASCO’s GRC has many programs in place to support ASCO members interested in engaging in advocacy to improve the quality of care for their patients and the support for cancer care professionals to thrive in the field.
Multidisciplinary Standards and Evolving Therapies for Patients With Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Safyan Rachael A. , Kim Eejung , Dekker Emmelie , Homs Marjolein , Aguirre Andrew J. , Koerkamp Bas Groot , Chiorean E. Gabriela
Published: May 2024

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is a challenging disease that presents at an advanced stage and results in many symptoms that negatively influence patients' quality of life and reduce their ability to receive effective treatment. Early implementation of expert multidisciplinary care with nutritional support, exercise, and palliative care for both early-stage and advanced disease promises to maintain or improve the patients' physical, social, and psychological well-being, decrease aggressive interventions at the end of life, and ultimately improve survival. Moreover, advances in treatment strategies in the neoadjuvant and metastatic setting combined with novel therapeutic agents targeting the key drivers of the disease are leading to improvements in the care of patients with pancreatic cancer. Here, we emphasize the multidisciplinary supportive and therapeutic care of patients with PDA, review current guidelines and new developments of neoadjuvant and perioperative treatments for localized disease, as well as the treatment standards and the evolving field of precision oncology and immunotherapies for advanced PDA.
Effect of Corticosteroid on Immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines in Patients With Solid Cancer
Authors: Samdaengpan Chayanee , Sungkasubun Prakongboon , Chaiwiriyawong Worawit , Supavavej Archara , Siripaibun Jomtana , Phanthunane Chumut , Tantiyavarong Walaipan , Lamlertthon Wisut , Ungtrakul Teerapat , Tawinprai Kriangkrai , Soonklang Kamonwan , Thongchai Thitapha , Limpawittayakul Piyarat
Published: May 2024

PURPOSE

Corticosteroids are known to diminish immune response ability, which is generally used in routine premedication for chemotherapy. The intersecting of timeframe between the corticosteroid's duration of action and peak COVID-19 vaccine efficacy could impair vaccine immunogenicity. Thus, inquiring about corticosteroids affecting the efficacy of vaccines to promote effective immunity in this population is needed.

METHODS

This was a prospective longitudinal observational cohort study that enrolled patients with solid cancer classified into dexamethasone- and nondexamethasone-receiving groups. All participants were immunized with two doses of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 or CoronaVac vaccines. This study's purpose was to compare corticosteroid's effect on immunogenicity responses to the SARS-CoV-2 S protein in patients with cancer after two doses of COVID-19 vaccine in the dexamethasone and nondexamethasone group. Secondary outcomes included the postimmunization anti–spike (S) immunoglobin G (IgG) seroconversion rate, the association of corticosteroid dosage, time duration, and immunogenicity level.

RESULTS

Among the 161 enrolled patients with solid cancer, 71 and 90 were in the dexamethasone and nondexamethasone groups, respectively. The median anti–S IgG titer after COVID-19 vaccination in the dexamethasone group was lower than that in the nondexamethasone group with a statistically significant difference (47.22 v 141.09 U/mL, P = .035). The anti–S IgG seroconversion rate was also significantly lower in the dexamethasone group than in the nondexamethasone group (93.83% v 80.95%, P = .023). The lowest median anti–SARS-CoV-2 IgG titer level at 7.89 AU/mL was observed in patients with the highest dose of steroid group (≥37 mg of dexamethasone cumulative dose throughout the course of chemotherapy [per course]) and patients who were injected with COVID-19 vaccines on the same day of receiving dexamethasone, 25.41 AU/mL.

CONCLUSION

Patients with solid cancer vaccinated against COVID-19 disease while receiving dexamethasone had lower immunogenicity responses than those who got vaccines without dexamethasone. The direct association between the immunogenicity level and steroid dosage, as well as length of duration from vaccination to dexamethasone, was observed.
Prisons, Immigration, and the Right to a Livable Life in the Anthropocene: Reading Garrett Hardin and Michel Foucault
Authors: Marzec Robert P.
Published: May 2024

Critical work theorizing the nature of immigration imprisonment in relation to anthropogenically influenced ecological phenomena is in its infancy. Scholars have productively made sense of the modern carceral state's expansion by locating it within the framework of race and neoliberalism, registering the collateral damage essential to Western European whiteness and a neoliberal problematic. These framings of migrant incarceration continue to effectively serve a critical function. However, this essay argues that the historical character of immigration incarceration is in the process of changing in the face of real and imagined Anthropocene impacts. Increasingly, immigration is the result of ecological collapse, and taking race and neoliberalism as primary frameworks for understanding forces subtending the carceral system has become critically restrictive. This essay develops an environmental genealogy from historical references within Michel Foucault's work on the relationship between land enclosures and rise of the prison, in order to establish a larger constellation in which to think the event of immigration incarceration today. The essay places Foucault's work in conversation with the work of prominent ecologist and white nationalist Garrett Hardin, whose concurrent pro-enclosure work on immigration and the environment inaugurated a coercive truth discourse that has come to impact not only ecological disciplines in the natural sciences, the social sciences, and the environmental humanities but also current US immigration policy.
Empson Here and Now?
Authors: Arac Jonathan
Published: May 2024

In light of Oxford University Press issuing two volumes in The Critical Works of William Empson (Some Versions of Pastoral [1935] and The Structure of Complex Words [1951]), this essay thinks over Empson's career and major works to consider what his value may be nearly a century after his first book, with special attention to problems that Empson's Englishness may pose to readers in the United States.
Black Transfeminist Anarchism
Authors: betts edxi , Suékama NZ , g  , Hwang Ren-yo
Published: May 2024

This roundtable is a place-based conversation on Black anarchism, transfeminism, and transmisogynoir with edxi betts, NZ Suékama, and g, three Black trans femme activists, organizers, and independent scholars. Moving deftly between topics like Marxism, Afro-pessimism, and abolition, this roundtable outlines problems of co-optation within radical-movement work and critiques Eurocentric modes of knowledge production. Through organic relations built within organizing spaces, special issue editor Ren-yo Hwang reached out to edxi betts to be part of this featured roundtable, and edxi, in turn, contacted NZ Suékama, who connected us with her frequent interlocutor, g. Edxi first encountered NZ's intellectual writings online, in 2020, offering that “it was refreshing and affirming seeing another Black trans femme go through such similar issues of having to navigate liberal, statist, respectable, and even white anarchist politics.” Likewise, NZ recounts first meeting “both g and edxi on social media, connecting individually around theories of transmisogynoir as well as critiques of abuse in leftist organizations.” NZ and g describe themselves as “theoretical co-conspirators, both publishing our ideas with Red Voice,” an online publication. NZ, edxi, and g had an opportunity to review and edit their contributions, and this issue's guest editors sought to honor the flow of their conversation as much as possible by retaining its conversational syntax, which purposefully rejects traditional academic forms.
On “Deadnaming” the “Vanishing Indian”
Authors: Pehl Emerson Parker
Published: May 2024

Recently, deadnaming has been the predominant terminology invoked to describe the act of referring to a trans* person by a former, but no longer used, name. While it is perceived as a formidable language to condemn this type of anti-transgender harm and violence, the necropolitical implications of referring to this act as “deadnaming” necessitates a trans* Indigenous critique of the manifestation of settler coloniality within transnormativity and its rhetoric. By analyzing the polarizing tension between birth name and deadname, this article turns to US legal documents, specifically the language within states’ legal birth certificates, for the better-for-now language of the “given name,” which might provide the destabilization needed to disrupt the temporal specificity implied within the “birth name” and “deadname” binary to imagine and embody an otherwise of the trans* imaginary. In thinking with Billy-Ray Belcourt's (Driftpile Cree) feral queer Indigeneity, this article concludes by surveying the possibilities of anti-colonial trans* experiences beyond the US settler nation-state's socio-legal surveillance, with its insistence on (trans*-/settler-) normative legibility (for “citizenship” within its biopolitical sphere).
Do Earmarks Target Low-Income and Minority Communities? Evidence from US Drinking Water
Authors: Keiser David A. , Mazumder Bhashkar , Molitor David , Shapiro Joseph S. , Walker Brant J.
Published: May 2024

The quality and inequality of US drinking water investments have gained attention after recent environmental disasters in Flint, Michigan, and elsewhere. We compare the targeting of subsidized loans provided through the Safe Drinking Water Act with the targeting of congressional drinking water earmarks (“pork barrel” spending). Earmarks are critiqued for potentially privileging wealthier and politically connected communities. We find that earmarks target Black, Hispanic, and low-income communities, partly due to targeting water systems serving large populations. Earmark and loan targeting differ across all demographics we analyze. Compared to loans, earmarks disproportionately target Hispanic but not Black or low-income communities.
The Changing Nature of Pollution, Income, and Environmental Inequality in the United States
Authors: Colmer Jonathan , Qin Suvy , Voorheis John , Walker Reed
Published: May 2024

This paper uses tax records linked to administrative Census data and high-resolution measures of air pollution exposure (PM2.5) to study the evolution of the Black-White pollution exposure gap since 1984. We decompose changes in the racial exposure gap into (i) rank-preserving compression of the pollution distribution and (ii) changes stemming from a reordering of Black and White households within the pollution distribution. We find a narrowing of the racial exposure gap that is overwhelmingly driven by rank-preserving changes rather than positional changes. Recently, however, the relative positions of Black and White households in the upper tail of the pollution distribution have converged.
Who Uses Childcare Centers? Evidence from Burkina Faso
Authors: Ajayi Kehinde F. , Dao Aziz , Koussoubé Estelle , Nikiema P. Rita
Published: May 2024

What determines childcare center use for low-income urban households? And how does subsidizing provision change access to childcare services? We study these questions using data from a randomized evaluation that subsidized childcare center use for women participating in a public works program in Burkina Faso. One quarter of eligible women use these childcare services, tripling childcare center use for zero-to six-year-olds in our sample. Household wealth significantly predicts childcare center use. However, the public works childcare centers increased access for disadvantaged households and young children. Women employed as childcare providers were also more likely to use the childcare centers.
Vertical Spillovers in Global Value Chains
Authors: Rachapalli Swapnika
Published: May 2024

This paper uses input-output relationships across highly disaggregated products to establish two empirical regularities with bilateral trade data. First, countries are likely to have revealed comparative advantage (RCA) in a product if they also have RCA in products that are upstream or downstream to that product. Second, the RCA of a product improves over time if the country experiences export demand shocks to its inputs or outputs. This suggests that being integrated as suppliers into the global production network can benefit countries by improving their capabilities across different stages of production.
Using Multiple Data Sources to Learn about the Race and Ethnicity of Taxpayers
Authors: Heller Rebecca , Mok Shannon , Pearce James , Rothbaum Jonathan
Published: May 2024

Recently, studying income by race and ethnicity has gained interest among policymakers. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) regularly reports on the distribution of household income, using a statistically matched dataset with survey and administrative tax data to account for the household resources for both tax filers and nonfilers. CBO has not evaluated whether the statistical match preserves the distribution of income by race and ethnicity reported in the survey. This preliminary analysis of CBO's statistically matched data by race and ethnicity uses information from survey data linked to administrative tax data at the individual level from the US Census Bureau.