bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Roll-Your-Own Tobacco Use Among People Smoking Menthol Cigarettes in Great Britain, 2020-2023: A Population-Based Survey
Authors: Buss Vera H , Brown Jamie , Tattan-Birch Harry , Jackson Sarah E , Shahab Lion
Published: September 2024

Introduction

The sale of factory-made cigarettes with menthol as a characterizing flavor has been prohibited in Great Britain since May 2020. However, menthol accessories like flavored filters for roll-your-own (RYO) tobacco can be sold legally, possibly undermining the policy. This study aimed to explore the association between RYO and menthol cigarette smoking.

Aims and Methods

Data were collected between October 2020 and October 2023 from a monthly population-based cross-sectional survey, with 82 120 adults (≥18) living in Great Britain providing complete data. Logistic regression models assessed the association between predominant RYO tobacco use and menthol cigarette smoking, and whether it differed by sociodemographic characteristics, unadjusted and adjusted for age, gender, ethnicity, nation, and socioeconomic position. Time trends in RYO tobacco use among people smoking menthol cigarettes were modeled over the study period.

Results

There has been no clear decrease in menthol cigarette smoking prevalence among people who smoke (~14%) following the ban. Predominant RYO use increased among people smoking menthol cigarettes from 49.6% (95% CI: 42.2 to 57.0) in October 2020 to 61.9% (95% CI: 57.5 to 66.0) in June 2022, after which it remained stable. Predominant RYO use was more common among people smoking menthol than non-flavored cigarettes overall (adjusted odds ratio (ORadj) = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.14 to 1.49) and across demographic subgroups. This association was most pronounced in middle-aged compared with older people (35 vs. 65 years ORadj = 1.18, 95%CI: 1.01 to 1.35), and in ethnic minorities compared with White people (ORadj = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.03 to 2.36).

Conclusions

There was a substantial increase in RYO use among people smoking menthol cigarettes in the first two years after the ban, from approximately 50% to 60%.

Implications

The availability of menthol accessories may have undermined the ban on factory-made mentholated cigarettes in Great Britain. Roughly one in seven people who smoke cigarettes still report smoking menthol cigarettes and among these, about two-thirds predominantly use RYO tobacco. Since there has been no noteworthy change in the prevalence of menthol cigarette smoking since October 2020, new measures will likely be necessary to achieve a further reduction. For example, menthol accessories could be banned or their advertising and availability heavily restricted.
Jihadism
Authors: Anzalone Christopher
Published: September 2024

Militant Islamism, which is often referred to as “jihadism” (though there is arguably not a single “jihadism” but rather multiple types), continues to be a key international security issue across multiple regions and continents. The term “jihadi” (or “jihadist”) refers to individuals and organizations adhering to a set of religio-political ideologies that share much in common, including a hyper-focus on theological and creedal (ʿaqida) “purity,” an insular and exclusivist worldview hostile to both other/non-jihadi Muslims and non-Muslims, opposition to democracy because it supposedly enables human beings to overrule God’s commands and law, and an emphasis on armed struggle (al-jihad al-askari) as the primary means through which to bring about social, political, and economic change. The scholarly and policy literatures on jihadism dramatically expanded in the aftermath of al-Qaeda Central’s hijackings and suicide plane attacks in the United States on 11 September 2001 (9/11). Research published since 9/11 has also expanded our knowledge about the earliest jihadi, or mujahideen, groups, such as Egyptian militant Islamist organizations in the 1960s to the 1980s, as well as Afghan and “Afghan Arab” (Arab foreign fighter) mujahidin in Afghanistan during the 1970s and 1980s. Today, the study of jihadism and jihadi organizations continues to grow and cover a wider geographical area of study, branching out from the Middle East and South Asia, the two areas that have dominated the literature for much of the past two decades since 9/11. More recently, research on African, Caucasus and Central Asian, and Southeast Asian jihadi organizations, as well as on Western jihadi foreign fighters from Europe, the Americas, and Australia, continues to grow. The study of jihadism has also expanded to include organizational cultures, the contours and formation of jihadi theologies and ideologies, the role played by women in jihadi groups and jihadi views on gender roles, and how social movement, political economy, and critical terrorism studies can help explain the continuing appeal, to some people, of jihadisms and jihadi groups. This article seeks to provide an overview of some of the best literature available on the historical development and evolution of Sunni and Shiʿite jihadi thought and organizations as well as on specific jihadi organizations, including al-Qaeda Central and its regional affiliates, Islamic State and its regional branches and affiliates, the Taliban movement in South Asia, Palestinian jihadi groups, jihadi ideology and theology, women and jihadism, jihadi culture, Western jihadism, and African, Caucasus, and Central and Southeast Asian jihadi groups.
Ratification of the Constitution
Authors: Gibson Alan , Liu Novia
Published: September 2024

The ratification of the Constitution remains one of the most important events in the American Founding. This boisterous, dramatic, and dynamic political contest gave legitimacy and legality to the new plan and prompted the first expositions of its meaning. Marked by shrewd maneuvers by both Federalists and Anti-Federalists, these debates featured a substantive and, for its day, inclusive “great national discussion” (see The Federalist No. 1, 5, in Cooke 1961, cited under Printed Primary Sources). Ordinary Americans and elite statesmen alike debated the proposed government in diverse private and public venues, most notably newspapers and the state ratifying conventions. Participants employed every form of communication then available, including editorials, broadsides, pamphlets, sermons, doggerels, and public speeches. Exchanges between Federalists and Anti-Federalists ranged from the lowest assaults on character to discussions of the most speculative political theories. They not only debated the meaning and likely effect of specific clauses, but what a constitution was in the first place. Essential for understanding this important historical event, the study of ratification likewise casts light on the origins of the Bill of Rights, the original understanding of the Constitution, and the beginnings of national politics. Until the late 20th century, however, this study was hindered by the paucity of published primary sources. Scholars had to scour the archives of numerous libraries to access the voluminous material on this subject. Today, with a comprehensive record of ratification available in print and online in The Documentary History of the Ratification of the Constitution, the issue of access is less pressing. The study of ratification remains difficult, however, because of the complexity of the task at hand. Article VII of the proposed constitution stipulated that upon its affirmation by nine states, the plan would go into effect among them. Ratification was thus staged as a series of unique state contests. Understanding each contest requires a tactile knowledge of the state’s history, political culture, economic conditions, factional alignments, and political leaders. Ratification was also, however, a national event. The context of ratification shifted with each state’s approval. Federalists and Anti-Federalists alike traded information across state lines. Scholars hoping to understand ratification must therefore also account for its continental character. Increasingly, they have confronted this challenge. Their studies are the product of extensive research. They highlight the economic, demographic, and ideological differences between Federalists and Anti-Federalists, the peculiarity of each state contest, the unfolding dynamics of the national contest, and the consequences and legacies of ratification.
Legitimacy in International Law
Authors: Magomedova Olga
Published: September 2024

The notion of legitimacy has neither acknowledged definition nor commonly shared understanding in the discipline of international law, only an established associative array, including the terms “fairness,” “rightness,” and “appropriateness.” Therefore, its meaning varies depending on the context of its invocation. The very idea of legitimacy was conceptualized in the field of social science in the early twentieth century. As the concept of legitimacy was designed to explain phenomena of authority of powers and compliance with established social order, it was promptly adopted in political science. Although the normative framework of international law also embraces the terms connected to the idea of legitimacy, like legitimate interests or legitimate expectations, international legal scholars used to doubt applicability of legitimacy to international law in principle. Nevertheless, since the pioneering work of Thomas M. Franck, The Power of Legitimacy among Nations revealed how much legitimacy can mean to the power of international law, the concept of legitimacy secured a footing in the discipline of international law. Insofar as the idea of legitimacy has gained widespread use, one can distinguish three main tracks in the development of legitimacy-based legal theories. The first track is centered on the legitimacy of international institutions. The issue has acquired a new importance stemming from the proliferation of international authorities and the transfer of competences, which earlier appertained only to sovereign states. The second track of legitimacy talk concerns the conduct of states. Here the notion of legitimacy serves as a lead for puzzling out inconsistent and controversial states’ actions. The third track proceeds from concerns about the current state of the international legal order and the impact of the rise of the legitimacy issue as it pertains to the authority of existing international law. Therefore, this article is structured in four parts. The first part reviews the basic theses on the legitimacy in international law. The three following sections review three corresponding tracks for development of the issue of legitimacy.
Civil Society in China
Authors: Li Hui , Teets Jessica
Published: September 2024

Civil society is often defined as citizen organizations that are non-state in origin and voluntary in nature. Although organizations like kinship/lineage and informal business associations existed throughout Chinese history, modern civil society in China began developing rapidly in the early 1990s, from only four hundred registered groups in 1986 to over 901,870 by the end of 2021. These groups consist of social associations (shehui tuanti社会团体), philanthropic foundations (jijinhui基金会), and social service organizations (shehui fuwu jigou社会服务机构) mostly engaged in service delivery and community development. These civil society organizations (CSOs) are active in diverse fields, such as education, social services, culture, business services, agriculture and rural development, and environmental protection. There are also Chinese branches of international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), known in China as overseas NGOs (ONGOs境外非政府组织), which consist of faith-based, humanitarian relief and development, private foundations, policy research think tanks, and professional associations working in diverse policy areas, such as environmental protection, poverty alleviation, and education, and with different stakeholders, including the government, businesses, and domestic NGOs. In the 1990s and early 2000s, these ONGOs, especially the grant-making foundations, played a vital role in developing local civil society in China. However, the implementation of the Overseas NGO Management Law may have significantly altered the dynamics between ONGOs and local civil society. The number of studies on civil society in China has been consistently increasing, with a notable acceleration in the 2010s. A large proportion of scholarly works on China’s civil society has focused on environmental NGOs (ENGOs). These studies primarily focused on civil society’s autonomy from the state, their governance, advocacy, and engagement in the authoritarian state. Another strand of literature focused on the management, strategies, survival, participation, and activism of NGOs. Scholars have also examined the development and adaptation of ONGOs and how they work with Chinese civil society organizations to promote domestic and global development. In addition to these focal themes, scholars have used different theoretical frameworks borrowed from the social movements and institutionalist literatures, such as political opportunity structures (POS), resource dependency theory, and institutional theories; and used mostly case-study research methodology, although large-N quantitative analysis and mixed-methods approaches are gaining in popularity. In the following, the literature on each topic will be summarized. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive summary of the relevant literature on civil society in China.
Characterization of driver mutations identifies gene signatures predictive of prognosis and treatment sensitivity in multiple myeloma
Authors: Li Jian-Rong , Parthasarathy Abinand Krishna , Kannappan Aravind Singaram , Arsang-Jang Shahram , Dong Jing , Cheng Chao
Published: September 2024

In multiple myeloma (MM), while frequent mutations in driver genes are crucial for disease progression, they traditionally offer limited insights into patient prognosis. This study aims to enhance prognostic understanding in MM by analyzing pathway dysregulations in key cancer driver genes, thereby identifying actionable gene signatures. We conducted a detailed quantification of mutations and pathway dysregulations in 10 frequently mutated cancer driver genes in MM to characterize their comprehensive mutational impacts on the whole transcriptome. This was followed by a systematic survival analysis to identify significant gene signatures with enhanced prognostic value. Our systematic analysis highlighted 2 significant signatures, TP53 and LRP1B, which notably outperformed mere mutation status in prognostic predictions. These gene signatures remained prognostically valuable even when accounting for clinical factors, including cytogenetic abnormalities, the International Staging System (ISS), and its revised version (R-ISS). The LRP1B signature effectively distinguished high-risk patients within low/intermediate-risk categories and correlated with significant changes in the tumor immune microenvironment. Additionally, the LRP1B signature showed a strong association with proteasome inhibitor pathways, notably predicting patient responses to bortezomib and the progression from monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance to MM. Through a rigorous analysis, this study underscores the potential of specific gene signatures in revolutionizing the prognostic landscape of MM, providing novel clinical insights that could influence future translational oncology research.
Spring migration strategies of Anas platyrhynchos (Mallard) necessitate individual time-energy trade-offs despite wintering origins or migratory destinations
Authors: Masto Nicholas M , Blake-Bradshaw Abigail G , Highway Cory J , Keever Allison C , Feddersen Jamie C , Link Paul T , Hagy Heath M , Osborne Douglas C , Cohen Bradley S
Published: September 2024

Spring migration is hypothesized to be time-constrained because of competition for optimal nesting and brood-rearing sites. Therefore, individuals are predicted to minimize migration time to breeding destinations; however, migration strategies likely lie on a continuum based on wintering and stopover habitat quality, environmental conditions, or individual-level factors. In other words, individuals and wintering subpopulations may differentially prioritize time-energy trade-offs during migration depending on where they are from, when they leave, and where they are going. We tested these hypotheses by characterizing spatial and temporal variation in spring migration strategies in female Anas platyrhynchos (Mallards), using global positioning system (GPS) data from ~150 individuals captured across the Mississippi Alluvial Valley and Gulf Coast Chenier Plain, USA. We used principal components analysis to classify a series of migratory behaviors into distinct time- and energy-minimization migration strategies, and tested whether migration strategies were related to wintering origins (habitat quality or latitudinal differences influencing migration initiation), migratory destinations (resource predictability), and individual-level factors (age and body condition). Additionally, we estimated individual and wintering subpopulation space-use to identify geographic regions of high and overlapping use that may facilitate time- or energy-minimizing migration strategies. Our results indicated a gradient of time-minimization migration strategies but migration strategy was not influenced by wintering origins nor migratory destination. Instead, time-energy trade-offs manifested at the individual level with time-minimization depending on experience and body condition. We also revealed stopovers and migration corridors of continental importance for spring-migrating A. platyrhynchos and space-use therein suggested migration strategies varied spatially with increasing time-minimization behavior as A. platyrhynchos neared their breeding grounds. Future research should link migration strategies and settling patterns to demographic rates.
What Moves Public Support for Aid to Ukraine? Issue Attention, Partisanship, and Normative Appeals
Authors: Frye Timothy
Published: September 2024

Since 2022, the United States has provided more aid to Ukraine than to any other country, but this policy has become increasingly contentious. Identifying the nature of public support for this aid is critical for public policy, but it also raises central issues for scholars studying foreign policy preferences. I conducted a preregistered survey experiment that varies partisan cues and the content of appeals to support aid to Ukraine. I find that these appeals are strongly conditioned by partisanship and attention to the issue. Among Democrats, normative appeals increase support. Among Republicans, and to a lesser extent, independents, a partisan appeal by Donald Trump reduces support. However, these findings only hold among respondents not following the issue closely. On this high-profile issue in a polarized setting, other appeals largely fail to move attitudes. These results point to a paradox. Those respondents most likely to be moved by appeals for or against aid to Ukraine are also those paying the least attention to the issue, which suggests it will be difficult to move public attitudes on support for aid to Ukraine.
The Causes of Ukrainian Famine Mortality, 1932–33
Authors: Markevich Andrei , Naumenko Natalya , Qian Nancy
Published: September 2024

We construct a novel panel dataset for interwar Soviet Union to study the causes of Ukrainian famine mortality (Holodomor) during 1932–3 and document several facts: (1) Ukraine produced enough food in 1932 to avoid famine in Ukraine; (2) 1933 mortality in the Soviet Union was increasing in the pre-famine ethnic Ukrainian population share and (3) was unrelated to food productivity across regions; (4) this pattern exists even outside of Ukraine; (5) migration restrictions exacerbated mortality; (6) actual and planned grain procurement were increasing and actual and planned grain retention (production minus procurement) were decreasing in the ethnic Ukrainian population share across regions. The results imply that anti-Ukrainian bias in Soviet policy contributed to high Ukrainian famine mortality, and that this bias systematically targeted ethnic Ukrainians across the Soviet Union.
The Technical Default Spread
Authors: Bisetti Emilio , Li Kai , Yu Jun
Published: September 2024

We study the quantitative impact of lender control rights on corporate investment, asset prices, and the aggregate economy. We build a general equilibrium model in which the breaching of a loan covenant (technical default) entails a switch in investment control rights from borrowers to lenders. Lenders optimally choose low-risk projects, thus mitigating borrowers’ risk-taking incentives and lowering the cost of equity. This mechanism generates strong macroeconomic effects and mitigates the financial accelerator. Consistent with our model, proximity to technical default in the data is associated with 4.12% lower returns and lower exposure to systematic risk.
Student Loans, Access to Credit, and Consumer Credit Demand
Authors: Mezza Alvaro , Ringo Daniel , Sommer Kamila
Published: September 2024

This paper provides novel evidence that increased student loan debts, caused by rising tuitions, increase borrowers’ demand for additional consumer debt, while simultaneously restricting their ability to access it. The net effect of student loan debt on consumer borrowing varies by market, depending on whether the supply or demand channel dominates. In loosely underwritten credit markets, increased student loan debt causes borrowing to increase, while in tightly underwritten markets, increased student loan debt reduces credit use. These findings match predictions of a standard life cycle model of household consumption and borrowing, augmented by a realistic student loan repayment contract. (JEL G51, D15, I22, D14)
Syndicated Lending, Competition, and Relative Performance Evaluation
Authors: Schneider Thomas , Strahan Philip E , Yang Jun
Published: September 2024

Relative performance evaluation (RPE) intensifies competitive pressure by tying executive compensation to the profits of rivals. We show that these contracts make loan syndication harder by reducing banks’ willingness to participate in loans underwritten by banks named in their RPE contracts. Lead arranger banks, which are more frequently named in RPE, hold larger shares of the loans they syndicate, and their borrowers receive smaller and fewer loans and face higher spreads. Our results highlight the tension between the normal benefits of competition versus the need for cooperation in loan syndication.
Gastrointestinal dysmotility is associated with proton pump inhibitor refractory oesophagitis in patients with systemic sclerosis
Authors: Alcala-Gonzalez Luis G , Guillen-del-Castillo Alfredo , Aguilar Cayuelas Ariadna , Barber Caselles Claudia , Codina-Clavaguera Claudia , Marin García Antonio , Serra Jordi , Malagelada Carolina , Simeón-Aznar Carmen P
Published: September 2024

Objectives

Patients with systemic sclerosis present with severe gastroesophageal reflux disease, often refractory to proton-pump inhibitors (PPI) treatment. The aim of the present study was to identify factors associated with PPI-refractory oesophagitis.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional study in a single-centre cohort of patients diagnosed with systemic sclerosis. We included patients who underwent an oesophagogastroduodenoscopy while on PPI treatment. Patients with PPI-refractory erosive oesophagitis were compared with those with endoscopically normal oesophageal mucosa.

Results

A total of 69 patients were included. From these, 23 patients (33%) had PPI-refractory oesophagitis (Grade A, n = 11; Grade B, n = 7; Grade C, n = 2; Grade D, n = 3) and 46 (67%) had an endoscopically normal oesophageal mucosa. On univariate analysis, patients with PPI-refractory oesophagitis were more frequently diffuse SSc subset (43% vs 17%; P = 0.041). Evaluating gastrointestinal motility tests, neither absent oesophageal contractility (39% vs 25%, P = 0.292) nor hypotensive lower oesophageal sphincter (47% vs 44%, P = 0.980) were significantly associated with PPI-refractory oesophagitis. Gastrointestinal dysmotility, defined as abnormal gastric emptying and/or small bowel dilated loops, was significantly associated with PPI-refractory oesophagitis (66 vs 8%, P =<0.001). On a multivariate regression model to evaluate the association between motility test results adjusted for the diffuse subset, gastrointestinal dysmotility (β = 0.751, P = 0.010) was independently associated with PPI-refractory oesophagitis, while absent oesophageal contractility (β = 0.044, P = 0.886) or a hypotensive LES were not (β = −0.131, P = 0.663).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that gastric and small intestinal motor dysfunction may be an important contributor to the development of PPI-refractory oesophagitis in patients with systemic sclerosis.
Normative data on lower extremity entheseal tendon thicknesses in healthy children: an ultrasound study correlating age, sex, and anthropometry
Authors: Türkmen Şeyma , Ata Serap , Ulu Kadir , Sözeri Betül
Published: September 2024

Objectives

This study aims to establish normative data on lower extremity entheseal tendon thicknesses in healthy children and examine correlations with age, gender, and anthropometric measures using musculoskeletal ultrasound. The secondary objective of the study is to investigate the power Doppler properties of entheseal tendons.

Methods

A total of 192 healthy children, aged 5–18 years, participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants underwent detailed physical and ultrasonographic examinations. Entheseal tendon thickness measurements were taken from five specific regions: distal quadriceps tendon (DQT), proximal patellar ligament (PPL), distal patellar ligament (DPL), Achilles tendon (AT), and plantar fascia (PF). Correlations between thicknesses and age, weight, height, and BMI were analysed. Intra-tendinous vascularity was evaluated using power Doppler. Interobserver and intraobserver agreements were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC).

Results

Normative data on lower extremity entheseal tendon thicknesses according to age, weight, height, and BMI have been established. Significant positive correlations were found between thicknesses and age, weight, height, and BMI. Weight was identified as the most influential factor, particularly for the DPL and AT. Right side tendons (AT and PF) are statistically thicker. Minimal Doppler activity was detected in 10.6% of the entheseal DQTs in the group of children aged 5–9 years. The study achieved high to excellent interobserver and intraobserver agreement.

Conclusion

This study examined the ultrasonographic characteristics of lower extremity entheseal tendons in healthy children using B-mode and power Doppler, provided normative data on their thicknesses, and demonstrated significant correlations between tendon thicknesses and both age and anthropometric measures.
EEG-based Signatures of Schizophrenia, Depression, and Aberrant Aging: A Supervised Machine Learning Investigation
Authors: Sarisik Elif , Popovic David , Keeser Daniel , Khuntia Adyasha , Schiltz Kolja , Falkai Peter , Pogarell Oliver , Koutsouleris Nikolaos
Published: September 2024

Background

Electroencephalography (EEG) is a noninvasive, cost-effective, and robust tool, which directly measures in vivo neuronal mass activity with high temporal resolution. Combined with state-of-the-art machine learning (ML) techniques, EEG recordings could potentially yield in silico biomarkers of severe mental disorders.

Hypothesis

Pathological and physiological aging processes influence the electrophysiological signatures of schizophrenia (SCZ) and major depressive disorder (MDD).

Study Design

From a single-center cohort (N = 735, 51.6% male) comprising healthy control individuals (HC, N = 245) and inpatients suffering from SCZ (N = 250) or MDD (N = 240), we acquired resting-state 19 channel-EEG recordings. Using repeated nested cross-validation, support vector machine models were trained to (1) classify patients with SCZ or MDD and HC individuals and (2) predict age in HC individuals. The age model was applied to patient groups to calculate Electrophysiological Age Gap Estimation (EphysAGE) as the difference between predicted and chronological age. The links between EphysAGE, diagnosis, and medication were then further explored.

Study Results

The classification models robustly discriminated SCZ from HC (balanced accuracy, BAC = 72.7%, P < .001), MDD from HC (BAC = 67.0%, P < .001), and SCZ from MDD individuals (BAC = 63.2%, P < .001). Notably, central alpha (8–11 Hz) power decrease was the most consistently predictive feature for SCZ and MDD. Higher EphysAGE was associated with an increased likelihood of being misclassified as SCZ in HC and MDD (ρHC = 0.23, P < .001; ρMDD = 0.17, P = .01).

Conclusions

ML models can extract electrophysiological signatures of MDD and SCZ for potential clinical use. However, the impact of aging processes on diagnostic separability calls for timely application of such models, possibly in early recognition settings.
Exploring the interplay between cannabinoids and thymic functions
Authors: Lins Marvin Paulo , de Melo Igor Santana
Published: September 2024

Cannabinoids, derived from the Cannabis sativa plant, have garnered increasing attention for their potential therapeutic applications in various diseases. The pharmacologically active compounds in Cannabis, such as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol, exhibit diverse immunomodulatory properties. Although studies have explored the effects of cannabinoids on immune function, their specific interactions with the thymus, a primary immune organ critical for T-cell development and maturation, remain an intriguing area of investigation. As the thymus plays a fundamental role in shaping the immune repertoire, understanding the interplay between cannabinoids and thymic function may shed light on potential benefits or concerns associated with Cannabis-based therapies. This article aims to provide an overview of the current scientific knowledge regarding the impact of medicinal Cannabis on the thymus and its implications for disease treatment and immune health.
Diversity and Risk Assessment of Phytophthora spp. Found on Plant Roots in Native Plant Nurseries and Interstate Shipping Nurseries in California
Authors: Harkness Rebecca , Suslow Karen , Sharma Supriya , Sakalidis Monique L. , Miles Timothy , Schweigkofler Wolfgang
Published: September 2024

For many nurseries, it is difficult to diagnose Phytophthora-infected plants in time to prevent disease incursion and spread, especially if the infection occurs on roots and causes no or limited symptoms on aerial plant parts. Rapid, accurate, and specific diagnostic methods can facilitate the identification and removal of infected plants. This study was conducted to investigate whether specific nursery types within California are more likely to have different Phytophthora species and which hosts are more likely to test positive for a Phytophthora species using immunological and molecular diagnostic tools. From fall 2016 to spring 2019, we collected 1,180 root samples from 15 nurseries, each in California, that fell into one of three distinct plant-sourcing categories. Plant roots were tested with Phytophthora-specific Agdia ImmunoStrips, and positives samples were identified to the species-level by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and sequencing. Of the 1,180 samples collected, 262 (22%) were found positive for infection by a Phytophthora sp., and 152 of these samples (58%) could be diagnosed to the species level. Hosts in the genera Ceanothus (Rhamnaceae), Arctostaphylos (Ericaceae), and Salvia (Lamiaceae) tested positive for Phytophthora spp. most often. A total of 18 Phytophthora species were detected from the root samples over the course of this study. Despite its high rate of false positives (30%), the ImmunoStrip Phytophthora assay is useful as a preliminary screening tool for in-field diagnosis of root infection. qPCR testing of positive ImmunoStrip tests allows for more accurate detection and facilitates species assignment.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license .
Mitochondrial functional impairment in ARL3‐mutation related rod‐cone dystrophy
Authors: Zhang Xiaoli , Yao Shun , Zhang Lujia , Zhang Beisi , Yang Mingzhu , Guo Qingge , Xu Jin , Wang Zhongfeng , Lei Bo , Jin Xiuxiu
Published: September 2024

Mitochondria are vital for retinal cell function and survival, and there is growing evidence linking mitochondrial dysfunction to retinal degenerations. Although ARL3 mutations have been linked to multiple forms of retinal degeneration, the relationship between ARL3 and mitochondria remains unexplored. Herein, we investigated the effects of ARL3T31A, ARL3C118F, and ARL3T31A/C118F mutations on mitochondrial function in fibroblasts obtained from patients with ARL3‐related rod‐cone dystrophy. Our findings revealed that these mutations led to a decrease in mitochondrial respiration, an increase in the accumulation mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), and induction of apoptosis in fibroblasts. Additionally, we conducted a comparative analysis of the effects of ARL3T31A, ARL3C118F, and ARL3T31A/C118F proteins on mitochondria in ARPE‐19 cells. Results showed that ARL3T31A and ARL3T31A/C118F not only affected mitochondrial function but also induced apoptosis in ARPE‐19 cells. Conversely, ARL3C118F primarily influenced cell apoptosis with minimal effects on mitochondrial function in ARPE‐19 cells. Transcriptome analysis further suggested the involvement of respiratory electron transport, response to ROS, and apoptotic signaling pathways in ARL3T31A/C118F cells. Our study demonstrated that ARL3‐related mutations play a significant role in the diversity of mitochondrial function, providing novel insights into the functional analysis of ARL3‐related mutations.
Ankle Fractures Treated With Locked Fibular Intramedullary Nailing: Description and Outcomes of a Minimally Invasive Open Technique
Authors: Ricketts Cassandra , Sajid Mir Ibrahim , McCaskey Meghan , Andrews Reed , Mir Hassan R.
Published: September 2024

OBJECTIVES:

To describe and report outcomes of a minimally invasive open fibular intramedullary (IM) nailing technique for fixation of ankle fractures.

METHODS:

Design:

Case Series.

Setting:

Urban Level 1 trauma center.

Patient Selection Criteria:

Adult patients with ankle fractures (OTA 44A-C) treated with locked fibular IM nailing through a minimally invasive open technique for fracture and syndesmotic reduction between 2021 and 2024.

Outcome Measures and Comparisons:

Quality of reduction, complications, and patient-reported outcomes.

RESULTS:

A total of 150 consecutive patients operated by a single surgeon were included. Mean age was 53.3 (17–97) years, and mean body mass index was 30.6 ± 7.4 kg/m2. Ninety-three (62%) patients were female, and 78 (52%) patients were White. Seventy-two (48%) patients were obese, 40 (27.7%) patients were current/former smokers, 39 (26%) patients had diabetes, and 23 (15.3%) patients had open fractures. Thirty-seven (24.7%) patients had isolated lateral malleolus fractures, 48 (32%) had bimalleolar fractures, and 65 (43.3%) had trimalleolar fractures. One hundred and twenty-three (82%) patients had 2 syndesmotic screws placed, 26 patients (17.3%) had 1 screw, and 1 patient (0.7%) had none. Quality of reduction was good for 98%, fair for 2%, and poor for none per McLennan criteria. One hundred thirteen patients (75.3%) were followed until clinical and radiographic union for a mean of 7.6 months (range 3–22) months. One hundred and ten patients (97.3%) went on to successful clinical and radiographic union after the index procedure. No patient had a superficial surgical-site infection, and 3 (2.6%) had deep surgical-site infections. Three patients had a loss of reduction, and 6 patients had implant failure (5 broken syndesmotic screws, and 1 medial malleolus screw). Nine (8%) patients had unplanned reoperations (3 for debridement, 2 for loss of reduction, and 4 for removal of symptomatic implants). Mean ankle range of motion at final follow-up visit was 12.9 degrees (0–40) of dorsiflexion, 39.6 degrees (10–70) of plantar flexion, 23.5 degrees (5–40) of inversion, and 18.2 degrees (5–50) of eversion. Mean PROs at final follow-up visit were Global Physical Health: 42.4 (23.5–67.6), Global Mental Health: 47.5 (21–67.6), Physical Function: 37.5 (14.7–57.8), Pain: 54.9 (22–72), and Mobility: 36.9 (16–65.3).

CONCLUSIONS:

Minimally invasive open fibular IM nailing allowed for excellent reduction and results in union with low rates of complications and good patient-reported outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Genomic tests for risk stratification in patients with early human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer
Authors: Berton Giachetti Pier Paolo M. , Giordano Elisa , Taurelli Salimbeni Beatrice , Trapani Dario , Curigliano Giuseppe
Published: September 2024

Purpose of review

The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) genomic tests, particularly focusing on the most recent developments and looking at the future prospects of this field, yet to be thoroughly explored.

Recent findings

HER2DX is a multifeatured assay, retrospectively proved to add prognostic information and to predict pathological complete response (pCR) in patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer (EBC) undergoing neoadjuvant treatment containing HER2-directed agents. Preliminary data have shown that the assay maintains its predictive capabilities even in the context of chemotherapy-free, anti-HER2 neoadjuvant regimens, potentially selecting patients suitable for treatment de-escalation, having highly HER2-driven malignancies.

Multigene prognostic assays have become essential tools in the management of EBC, providing crucial information for risk stratification.
Pediatric Desmoid Tumor of the Head and Neck: A Systematic Review and Modified Framework for Management by Age Group
Authors: Torres Bryan S. , Brown Hannah G. , Nuñez Julisa , Abongwa Chenue , Hajjar Fouad M. , Sawh-Martinez Rajendra F. , Lopez Joseph
Published: September 2024

Background:

Unlike in adults, pediatric head and neck desmoid tumors (DTs) have greater capacity to interfere with normal anatomical development. Therefore, adequate interventions and management must be defined. We aimed to provide the most comprehensive systematic review on pediatric head and neck DTs to date, including assessment of lesion location predominance, intervention, and management, and examination of any associations between age and outcomes like surgical margin status, recurrence, and complications.

Methods:

A systematic literature review was conducted between January 1990 and December 2023 using PubMed, Scopus, and MEDLINE databases following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines. We aimed to elucidate intervention and management strategies by studying various outcomes in 0–11 and 12–21 year olds.

Results:

The literature search yielded 44 studies, totaling 121 patients. Most head and neck DTs localized to the mandible, cranium, and neck; occurred early (P = 4.18 years); and underwent local resection with positive margins. Older and younger patients shared no difference in complication or recurrence rates.

Conclusions:

We found recurrence is likely to occur with positive margins. Because standard treatment of DTs is surgical resection with negative margins, if technically feasible with reasonable associated morbidity, we suggest additional resection of the tumor to achieve negative margins. We also recommend more robust follow-up data collection, not only due to desmoid’s high recurrence and data paucity in patients older than 12 years, but also, to better establish best management practices.
Central role for cholangiocyte pathobiology in cholestatic liver diseases
Authors: Jalan-Sakrikar Nidhi , Guicciardi Maria Eugenia , O’Hara Steven P. , Azad Adiba , LaRusso Nicholas F. , Gores Gregory J. , Huebert Robert C.
Published: September 2024

Cholangiopathies comprise a spectrum of chronic intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary tract disorders culminating in progressive cholestatic liver injury, fibrosis, and often cirrhosis and its sequela. Treatment for these diseases is limited, and collectively, they are one of the therapeutic “black boxes” in clinical hepatology. The etiopathogenesis of the cholangiopathies likely includes disease-specific mediators but also common cellular and molecular events driving disease progression (eg, cholestatic fibrogenesis, inflammation, and duct damage). The common pathways involve cholangiocytes, the epithelial cells lining the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts, which are central to the pathogenesis of these disorders. Current information suggests that cholangiocytes function as a signaling “hub” in biliary tract-associated injury. Herein, we review the pivotal role of cholangiocytes in cholestatic fibrogenesis, focusing on the crosstalk between cholangiocytes and portal fibroblasts and HSCs. The proclivity of these cells to undergo a senescence-associated secretory phenotype, which is proinflammatory and profibrogenic, and the intrinsic intracellular activation pathways resulting in the secretion of cytokines and chemokines are reviewed. The crosstalk between cholangiocytes and cells of the innate (neutrophils and macrophages) and adaptive (T cells and B cells) immune systems is also examined in detail. The information will help consolidate information on this topic and guide further research and potential therapeutic strategies for these diseases.
Insulin resistance is associated to future hypertension in normotensive salt-sensitive individuals: a 10-year follow-up study
Authors: Sanchez Ramiro A. , Sanchez María J. , Pessana Franco , Ramirez Agustin J.
Published: September 2024

Background:

Salt-sensitive hypertension is associated with insulin resistance in nonobese individuals. However, no data have been reported for normotensive offspring of hypertensive salt-sensitive parents.

Aims:

To evaluate in normotensive salt-sensitive or salt-resistant offspring of hypertensive parents (offSS-HT and offSR-HT, respectively): the possible association between insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction, and the risk of developing hypertension in a 10-year follow-up.

Design and methods:

Forty-one offSS-HT (29 ± 2 years; 20 female) and 36 offSR-HT (25 ± 3 years; 16 female) were followed up for 10 years. Both groups were considered lean. At baseline, creatinine clearance (CrCl), 24 h urinary albumin excretion (UAE), glycemia, and insulinemia were measured before and after 60 and 120 min of glucose overload (75 g). HOMA Index and the area under the curve (AUC) were calculated. Blood pressure (BP) and 24 h urine sodium excretion was measured annually. Postischemic minimum vascular resistance (forearm plethysmography) was assessed at baseline.

Results:

In offSS-HT, UAE (53 ± 3 mg/min) and CrCl (136 ± 8 ml/min) were higher in offSS-HT than in offSR-HT. (UAE: 12 ± 4 mg.min; p,0.01 and CrCl 107 ± 6 ml.min; P < 0.01). An impaired vasodilatory postischemic response was observed in offSS-HT compared with offSR-HT (P < 0.01). In offSS-HT glycemia, insulin, AUC at 69 and 120 min post OTG were greater than in offSR-HT, p < 0.02. In offSS-HT, blood pressure rose (P < 0.01) the 10 years follow-up compared with offSR-HT.

Conclusion:

Salt sensitivity in the offspring of hypertensive salt-sensitive individuals is associated with insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction and is prone to hypertension over a short period of time.
Associations of ultra long-term visit-to-visit blood pressure variability, since childhood with vascular aging in midlife: a 30-year prospective cohort study
Authors: Wu Guan-Ji , Si Ai-Ma , Wang Yang , Chu Chao , Du Ming-Fei , Wang Dan , Jia Hao , Hu Gui-Lin , Niu Ze-Jiaxin , Zhang Xi , Sun Yue , Chang Ming-Ke , Zhang Teng , Man Zi-Yue , Wang Xia , Ren Jie , Chen Fang-Yao , Mu Jian-Jun
Published: September 2024

Objective:

Vascular aging, as assessed by structural and functional arterial properties, is an independent predictor of cardiovascular outcomes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the associations of ultra long-term blood pressure (BP) variability from childhood to midlife with vascular aging in midlife.

Methods:

Using data from the longitudinal cohort of Hanzhong Adolescent Hypertension Study, 2065 participants aged 6–18 years were enrolled and followed up with seven visits over 30 years. Ultra long-term BP variability (BPV) was defined as the standard deviation (SD) and average real variability (ARV) of BP over 30 years (seven visits). Vascular aging included arterial stiffness, carotid hypertrophy, and carotid plaque.

Results:

After adjusting for demographic variables, clinical characteristics and mean BP over 30 years, higher SDSBP, ARVSBP, SDDBP and ARVDBP since childhood were significantly associated with arterial stiffness in midlife. Additionally, higher SDDBP and ARVDBP were significantly associated with carotid hypertrophy and the presence of carotid plaque in midlife. When we used cumulative exposure to BP from childhood to midlife instead of mean BP as adjustment factors, results were similar. Furthermore, we found a significant association between long-term BPV from childhood to adolescence and the presence of carotid plaque, whereas long-term BPV from youth to adulthood is associated with arterial stiffness.

Conclusion:

Higher BPV from childhood to adulthood was associated with vascular aging in midlife independently of mean BP or cumulative BP exposure. Therefore, long-term BPV from an early age may serve as a predictor of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in later life.
Innovations in blood pressure measurement and reporting technology: International Society of Hypertension position paper endorsed by the World Hypertension League, European Society of Hypertension, Asian Pacific Society of Hypertension, and Latin American Society of Hypertension
Authors: Kario Kazuomi , Williams Bryan , Tomitani Naoko , McManus Richard J. , Schutte Aletta E. , Avolio Alberto , Shimbo Daichi , Wang Ji-Guang , Khan Nadia A. , Picone Dean S. , Tan Isabella , Charlton Peter H. , Satoh Michihiro , Mmopi Keneilwe Nkgola , Lopez-Lopez Jose P. , Bothe Tomas L. , Bianchini Elisabetta , Bhandari Buna , Lopez-Rivera Jesús , Charchar Fadi J. , Tomaszewski Maciej , Stergiou George
Published: September 2024

Blood pressure (BP) is a key contributor to the lifetime risk of preclinical organ damage and cardiovascular disease. Traditional clinic-based BP readings are typically measured infrequently and under standardized/resting conditions and therefore do not capture BP values during normal everyday activity. Therefore, current hypertension guidelines emphasize the importance of incorporating out-of-office BP measurement into strategies for hypertension diagnosis and management. However, conventional home and ambulatory BP monitoring devices use the upper-arm cuff oscillometric method and only provide intermittent BP readings under static conditions or in a limited number of situations. New innovations include technologies for BP estimation based on processing of sensor signals supported by artificial intelligence tools, technologies for remote monitoring, reporting and storage of BP data, and technologies for BP data interpretation and patient interaction designed to improve hypertension management (“digital therapeutics”). The number and volume of data relating to new devices/technologies is increasing rapidly and will continue to grow. This International Society of Hypertension position paper describes the new devices/technologies, presents evidence relating to new BP measurement techniques and related indices, highlights standard for the validation of new devices/technologies, discusses the reliability and utility of novel BP monitoring devices, the association of these metrics with clinical outcomes, and the use of digital therapeutics. It also highlights the challenges and evidence gaps that need to be overcome before these new technologies can be considered as a user-friendly and accurate source of novel BP data to inform clinical hypertension management strategies.