bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The presence of circulating human apolipoprotein J reduces the occurrence of cerebral microbleeds in a transgenic mouse model with cerebral amyloid angiopathy
Authors: Bonaterra-Pastra Anna , Solé Montse , Lope-Piedrafita Silvia , Lucas-Parra Maria , Castellote Laura , Marazuela Paula , Pancorbo Olalla , Rodríguez-Luna David , Hernández-Guillamon Mar
Published: July 2024

Background

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is characterized by amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition in cerebral vessels, leading to lobar cerebral microbleeds (CMB) and intracerebral hemorrhages (ICH). Apolipoprotein J (ApoJ) is a multifunctional chaperone related to Aβ aggregation and clearance. Our study investigated the vascular impact of chronic recombinant human Apolipoprotein J (rhApoJ) treatment in a transgenic mouse model of β-amyloidosis with prominent CAA.

Methods

Twenty-month-old APP23 C57BL/6 mice received 25 doses of rhApoJ (1 mg/kg) (n = 9) or saline (n = 8) intraperitoneally for 13 weeks, while Wild-type (WT) mice received saline (n = 13). Postmortem brains underwent T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect hemorrhagic lesions. Aβ levels and distribution, cerebral fibrinogen leakage, brain smooth muscle actin (sma), and plasma matrix metalloproteinases and inflammatory markers were analyzed after treatments. Additionally, plasma samples from 22 patients with lobar ICH were examined to determine the clinical relevance of the preclinical findings.

Results

rhApoJ-treated APP23 presented fewer cortical CMBs (50–300 μm diameter) (p = 0.012) and cortical larger hemorrhages (> 300 μm) (p = 0.002) than saline-treated mice, independently of Aβ brain levels. MRI-detected hemorrhagic lesions correlated with fibrinogen cerebral extravasation (p = 0.011). Additionally, rhApoJ-treated mice presented higher number of sma-positive vessels than saline-treated mice (p = 0.038). In rhApoJ-treated mice, human ApoJ was detected in plasma and in occasional leptomeningeal vessels, but not in the parenchyma, suggesting that its mechanism of action operates through the periphery. The administration of rhApoJ induced an increase in plasma Groα (p = 0.035) and MIP-1α (p = 0.035) levels, while lower MMP-12 (p = 0.046) levels, compared to the saline-treated group. In acute lobar ICH patients, MMP-12 plasma levels correlated with larger hemorrhage volume (p = 0.040) and irregular ICH shape (p = 0.036).

Conclusions

Chronic rhApoJ treatment in aged APP23 mice ameliorated CAA-related neurovascular damage by reducing the occurrence of CMB. We propose that rhApoJ may prevent blood-brain barrier (BBB) leakage and CMB appearance partly through circulating MMP-12 modulation.
Preserved walking function without postoperative reconstruction for pelvic Ewing’s sarcoma: a case report
Authors: Nakayama Kazunori , Shimomura Seiji , Shirai Toshiharu , Terauchi Ryu , Mizoshiri Naoki , Mori Yuki , Saito Tomoki , Katsuyama Yusei , Tsuchida Shinji , Takahashi Kenji
Published: July 2024

Background

Ewing’s sarcoma is a primary bone tumor predominantly observed in children and adolescents, necessitating a multidisciplinary treatment approach. While localized cases have a 5-year survival rate of 60–70%, the prognosis is significantly worse in pelvic advanced cases with metastasis. Moreover, pelvic Ewing’s sarcoma has the unique problem of leading to high rates of postoperative infection.

Case presentation

We present the case of a Japanese 14-year-old boy with left iliac Ewing’s sarcoma and multiple metastases. At the initial visit, imaging revealed a large tumor in the left iliac bone with extraosseous extension and metastasis to multiple sites. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy resulted in significant tumor reduction. Surgical resection was performed without pelvic ring reconstruction to enable early postoperative chemotherapy and minimize postoperative infection risk. Despite complete abductor muscle removal, the patient achieved a stable gait postoperatively by centering the load axis.

Conclusion

Our case highlights the successful management of a left iliac Ewing’s sarcoma with multiple metastases, with a focus on functional preservation and infection risk reduction. Pelvic ring reconstruction was not performed to avoid postoperative complications, emphasizing the importance of early postoperative chemotherapy. The patient achieved a stable gait postoperatively, demonstrating the potential benefits of this approach in similar cases.
BCL6B-dependent suppression of ETV2 hampers endothelial cell differentiation
Authors: Li Zhonghao , Wu Wei , Li Qiushi , Heng Xin , Zhang Wei , Zhu Yinghong , Chen Lin , Chen Ziqi , Shen Mengcheng , Ma Ning , Xiao Qingzhong , Yan Yi
Published: July 2024

Background

B-cell CLL/lymphoma 6 member B (BCL6B) operates as a sequence-specific transcriptional repressor within the nucleus, playing crucial roles in various biological functions, including tumor suppression, immune response, stem cell self-renew, and vascular angiogenesis. However, whether BCL6B is involved in endothelial cell (EC) development has remained largely unknown. ETS variant transcription factor 2 (ETV2) is well known to facilitate EC differentiation. This study aims to determine the important role of BCL6B in EC differentiation and its potential mechanisms.

Methods

Doxycycline-inducible human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) lines with BCL6B overexpression or BCL6B knockdown were established and subjected to differentiate into ECs and vessel organoids (VOs). RNA sequencing analysis was performed to identify potential signal pathways regulated by BCL6B during EC differentiation from hiPSCs. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of pluripotency and vascular-specific marker genes expression. EC differentiation efficiency was determined by Flow cytometry analysis. The performance of EC was evaluated by in vitro Tube formation assay. The protein expression and the vessel-like structures were assessed using immunofluorescence analysis or western blot. Luciferase reporter gene assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-PCR analysis were used to determine the regulatory relationship between BCL6B and ETV2.

Results

Functional ECs and VOs were successfully generated from hiPSCs. Notably, overexpression of BCL6B suppressed while knockdown of BCL6B improved EC differentiation from hiPSCs. Additionally, the overexpression of BCL6B attenuated the capacity of derived hiPSC-ECs to form a tubular structure. Furthermore, compared to the control VOs, BCL6B overexpression repressed the growth of VOs, whereas BCL6B knockdown had little effect on the size of VOs. RNA sequencing analysis confirmed that our differentiation protocol induced landscape changes for cell/tissue/system developmental process, particularly vascular development and tube morphogenesis, which were significantly modulated by BCL6B. Subsequent experiments confirmed the inhibitory effect of BCL6B is facilitated by the binding of BCL6B to the promoter region of ETV2, led to the suppression of ETV2's transcriptional activity. Importantly, the inhibitory effect of BCL6B overexpression on EC differentiation from hiPSCs could be rescued by ETV2 overexpression.

Conclusions

BCL6B inhibits EC differentiation and hinders VO development by repressing the transcriptional activity of ETV2.
HES1 is required for mouse fetal hematopoiesis
Authors: Zhu Anthony Z. , Ma Zhilin , Wolff Emily V. , Lin Zichen , Gao Zhenxia J. , Li Xue , Du Wei
Published: July 2024

Background

Hematopoiesis in mammal is a complex and highly regulated process in which hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) give rise to all types of differentiated blood cells. Previous studies have shown that hairy and enhancer of split (HES) repressors are essential regulators of adult HSC development downstream of Notch signaling.

Methods

In this study, we investigated the role of HES1, a member of HES family, in fetal hematopoiesis using an embryonic hematopoietic specific Hes1 conditional knockout mouse model by using phenotypic flow cytometry, histopathology analysis, and functional in vitro colony forming unit (CFU) assay and in vivo bone marrow transplant (BMT) assay.

Results

We found that loss of Hes1 in early embryonic stage leads to smaller embryos and fetal livers, decreases hematopoietic stem progenitor cell (HSPC) pool, results in defective multi-lineage differentiation. Functionally, fetal hematopoietic cells deficient for Hes1 exhibit reduced in vitro progenitor activity and compromised in vivo repopulation capacity in the transplanted recipients. Further analysis shows that fetal hematopoiesis defects in Hes1fl/flFlt3Cre embryos are resulted from decreased proliferation and elevated apoptosis, associated with de-repressed HES1 targets, p27 and PTEN in Hes1-KO fetal HSPCs. Finally, pharmacological inhibition of p27 or PTEN improves fetal HSPCs function both in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion

Together, our findings reveal a previously unappreciated role for HES1 in regulating fetal hematopoiesis, and provide new insight into the differences between fetal and adult HSC maintenance.
Exploring non-viral methods for the delivery of CRISPR-Cas ribonucleoprotein to hematopoietic stem cells
Authors: Molaei Zahra , Jabbarpour Zahra , Omidkhoda Azadeh , Ahmadbeigi Naser
Published: July 2024

Gene manipulation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) using the CRISPR/Cas system as a potent genome editing tool holds immense promise for addressing hematologic disorders. An essential hurdle in advancing this treatment lies in effectively delivering CRISPR/Cas to HSCs. While various delivery formats exist, Ribonucleoprotein complex (RNP) emerges as a particularly efficient option. RNP complexes offer enhanced gene editing capabilities, devoid of viral vectors, with rapid activity and minimized off-target effects. Nevertheless, novel delivery methods such as microfluidic-based techniques, filtroporation, nanoparticles, and cell-penetrating peptides are continually evolving. This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of these methods and the recent research on delivery approaches of RNP complexes to HSCs.
Fasudil and viscosity of gelatin promote hepatic differentiation by regulating organelles in human umbilical cord matrix-mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Choi Jiwan , Kang Seoon , An Hye-In , Kim Chae-Eun , Lee Sanghwa , Pack Chan-Gi , Yoon Young-In , Jin Hana , Cho Yong-Pil , Kim Chong Jai , Namgoong Jung-Man , Kim Jun Ki , Tak Eunyoung
Published: July 2024

Background

Human mesenchymal stem cells originating from umbilical cord matrix are a promising therapeutic resource, and their differentiated cells are spotlighted as a tissue regeneration treatment. However, there are limitations to the medical use of differentiated cells from human umbilical cord matrix-mesenchymal stem cells (hUCM-MSCs), such as efficient differentiation methods.

Methods

To effectively differentiate hUCM-MSCs into hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs), we used the ROCK inhibitor, fasudil, which is known to induce endoderm formation, and gelatin, which provides extracellular matrix to the differentiated cells. To estimate a differentiation efficiency of early stage according to combination of gelatin and fasudil, transcription analysis was conducted. Moreover, to demonstrate that organelle states affect differentiation, we performed transcription, tomographic, and mitochondrial function analysis at each stage of hepatic differentiation. Finally, we evaluated hepatocyte function based on the expression of mRNA and protein, secretion of albumin, and activity of CYP3A4 in mature HLCs.

Results

Fasudil induced endoderm-related genes (GATA4, SOX17, and FOXA2) in hUCM-MSCs, and it also induced lipid droplets (LDs) inside the differentiated cells. However, the excessive induction of LDs caused by fasudil inhibited mitochondrial function and prevented differentiation into hepatoblasts. To prevent the excessive LDs formation, we used gelatin as a coating material. When hUCM-MSCs were induced into hepatoblasts with fasudil on high-viscosity (1%) gelatin-coated dishes, hepatoblast-related genes (AFP and HNF4A) showed significant upregulation on high-viscosity gelatin-coated dishes compared to those treated with low-viscosity (0.1%) gelatin. Moreover, other germline cell fates, such as ectoderm and mesoderm, were repressed under these conditions. In addition, LDs abundance was also reduced, whereas mitochondrial function was increased. On the other hand, unlike early stage of the differentiation, low viscosity gelatin was more effective in generating mature HLCs. In this condition, the accumulation of LDs was inhibited in the cells, and mitochondria were activated. Consequently, HLCs originated from hUCM-MSCs were genetically and functionally more matured in low-viscosity gelatin.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated an effective method for differentiating hUCM-MSCs into hepatic cells using fasudil and gelatin of varying viscosities. Moreover, we suggest that efficient hepatic differentiation and the function of hepatic cells differentiated from hUCM-MSCs depend not only on genetic changes but also on the regulation of organelle states.
Donor and recipient hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells mobilization in liver transplantation patients
Authors: Zhi Yao , Qiu Wei , Tian Guangyao , Song Shifei , Zhao Wenchao , Du Xiaodong , Sun Xiaodong , Chen Yuguo , Huang Heyu , Li Jing , Yu Ying , Li Mingqian , Lv Guoyue
Published: July 2024

Background

Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) mobilize from bone marrow to peripheral blood in response to stress. The impact of alloresponse-induced stress on HSPCs mobilization in human liver transplantation (LTx) recipients remains under-investigated.

Methods

Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples were longitudinally collected from pre- to post-LTx for one year from 36 recipients with acute rejection (AR), 74 recipients without rejection (NR), and 5 recipients with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). 28 PBMC samples from age-matched healthy donors were collected as healthy control (HC). Multi-color flow cytometry (MCFC) was used to immunophenotype HSPCs and their subpopulations. Donor recipient-distinguishable major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antibodies determined cell origin.

Results

Before LTx, patients who developed AR after transplant contained more HSPCs in PBMC samples than HC, while the NR group patients contained fewer HSPCs than HC. After LTx, the HSPC ratio in the AR group sharply decreased and became less than HC within six months, and dropped to a comparable NR level afterward. During the one-year follow-up period, myeloid progenitors (MPs) biased differentiation was observed in all LTx recipients who were under tacrolimus-based immunosuppressive treatment. During both AR and GVHD episodes, the recipient-derived and donor-derived HSPCs mobilized into the recipient’s blood-circulation and migrated to the target tissue, respectively. The HSPCs percentage in blood reduced after the disease was cured.

Conclusions

A preoperative high HSPC ratio in blood characterizes recipients who developed AR after LTx. Recipients exhibited a decline in blood-circulating HSPCs after transplant, the cells mobilized into the blood and migrated to target tissue during alloresponse.
Reproducible MS/MS library cleaning pipeline in matchms
Authors: de Jonge Niek F. , Hecht Helge , Strobel Michael , Wang Mingxun , van der Hooft Justin J. J. , Huber Florian
Published: July 2024

Mass spectral libraries have proven to be essential for mass spectrum annotation, both for library matching and training new machine learning algorithms. A key step in training machine learning models is the availability of high-quality training data. Public libraries of mass spectrometry data that are open to user submission often suffer from limited metadata curation and harmonization. The resulting variability in data quality makes training of machine learning models challenging. Here we present a library cleaning pipeline designed for cleaning tandem mass spectrometry library data. The pipeline is designed with ease of use, flexibility, and reproducibility as leading principles.

Scientific contribution

This pipeline will result in cleaner public mass spectral libraries that will improve library searching and the quality of machine-learning training datasets in mass spectrometry. This pipeline builds on previous work by adding new functionality for curating and correcting annotated libraries, by validating structure annotations. Due to the high quality of our software, the reproducibility, and improved logging, we think our new pipeline has the potential to become the standard in the field for cleaning tandem mass spectrometry libraries.

Graphical Abstract
The effect of remote ischemic conditioning on mortality after kidney transplantation: the systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Ko Eunji , Park Ha Yeon , Lim Choon Hak , Kim Hyun Jung , Jang Yookyung , Seong Hyunyoung , Kim Yun Hee , Shin Hyeon Ju
Published: July 2024

Background

Ischemic-reperfusion injury resulting from kidney transplantation declines the post-transplant graft function. Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) is known to be able to reduce the criticality of ischemic reperfusion injury. This study aimed to meta-analyze whether the application of remote ischemic conditioning to kidney transplantation patients improves clinical outcomes.

Methods

Researchers included randomized controlled studies of the application of RIC to either kidney donors or recipients. Articles were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. The risk of bias was evaluated using RoB 2.0. The primary outcome was mortality after transplantation. Secondary outcomes were the incidence of delayed graft function, graft rejection, and post-transplant laboratory results. All outcomes were integrated by RevMan 5.4.1.

Results

Out of 90 papers, 10 articles (8 studies, 1977 patients) were suitable for inclusion criteria. Mortality collected at all time points did not show a significant difference between the groups. Three-month mortality (RR, 3.11; 95% CI, 0.13–75.51, P = 0.49) tended to increase in the RIC group, but 12-month (RR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.14–3.45, P = 0.67) or final-reported mortality (RR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.23–1.06, P = 0.07) was higher in the sham group than the RIC group. There was no significant difference between the RIC and sham group in delayed graft function (RR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.30–1.35, P = 0.24), graft rejection (RR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.73–1.73, P = 0.59), and the rate of time required for a 50% reduction in baseline serum creatinine concentration of less than 24 h (RR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.61–1.56, P = 0.93).

Conclusions

It could not be concluded that the application of RIC is beneficial to kidney transplantation patients. However, it is noteworthy that long-term mortality tended to decrease in the RIC group. Since there were many limitations due to the small number of included articles, researchers hope that large-scale randomized controlled trials will be included in the future.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO CRD42022336565.
Oral health-related quality of life and loneliness: results based on a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Abdullah Ammar , König Hans-Helmut , Hajek André
Published: July 2024

Background

The aim of this study was to clarify the link between oral health-related quality of life (independent variable) and loneliness (outcome) among the general adult population (also stratified by sex).

Methods

Data were taken from a quota-based survey of the German general adult population (representative in terms of state, sex and age group), with n = 5,000 individuals (mean age was 46.9 years, SD: 15.3 years, ranging from 18 to 74 years). Oral health-related quality of life was quantified using the OHIP-G5. Loneliness was quantified using the De Jong Gierveld tool. Multiple linear regressions were conducted.

Results

After adjusting for several covariates, multiple linear regressions revealed that poor oral health-related quality of life is associated with higher loneliness levels in the total sample (β = 0.12, p < 0.001). Such associations were also found in both sexes (men: β = 0.12, p < 0.001, women: β = 0.12, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Study findings showed an association between oral health-related quality of life and loneliness. Such knowledge is important for addressing individuals at risk for higher loneliness levels. Future research is required to clarify the underlying mechanisms.
Carbapenemase-producing enterobacterales colonisation status does not lead to more frequent admissions: a linked patient study
Authors: Lydeamore Michael J. , Donker Tjibbe , Wu David , Gorrie Claire , Turner Annabelle , Easton Marion , Hennessy Daneeta , Geard Nicholas , Howden Benjamin P. , Cooper Ben S. , Wilson Andrew , Peleg Anton Y. , Stewardson Andrew J.
Published: July 2024

Background

Hospitals in any given region can be considered as part of a network, where facilities are connected to one another – and hospital pathogens potentially spread – through the movement of patients between them. We sought to describe the hospital admission patterns of patients known to be colonised with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), and compare them with CPE-negative patient cohorts, matched on comorbidity information.

Methods

We performed a linkage study in Victoria, Australia, including datasets with notifiable diseases (CPE notifications) and hospital admissions (admission dates and diagnostic codes) for the period 2011 to 2020. Where the CPE notification date occurred during a hospital admission for the same patient, we identified this as the ‘index admission’. We determined the number of distinct health services each patient was admitted to, and time to first admission to a different health service. We compared CPE-positive patients with four cohorts of CPE-negative patients, sampled based on different matching criteria.

Results

Of 528 unique patients who had CPE detected during a hospital admission, 222 (42%) were subsequently admitted to a different health service during the study period. Among these patients, CPE diagnosis tended to occur during admission to a metropolitan public hospital (86%, 190/222), whereas there was a greater number of metropolitan private (23%, 52/222) and rural public (18%, 39/222) hospitals for the subsequent admission. Median time to next admission was 4 days (IQR, 0–75 days). Admission patterns for CPE-positive patients was similar to the cohort of CPE-negative patients matched on index admission, time period, and age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index.

Conclusions

Movement of CPE-positive patients between health services is not a rare event. While the most common movement is from one public metropolitan health service to another, there is also a trend for movement from metropolitan public hospitals into private and rural hospitals. After accounting for clinical comorbidities, CPE colonisation status does not appear to impact on hospital admission frequency or timing. These findings support the potential utility of a centralised notification and outbreak management system for CPE positive patients.
High-tannin food enhances spatial memory and scatter-hoarding in rodents via the microbiota-gut-brain axis
Authors: Zhao Xiangyu , Guo Jiawei , Wang Yiming , Yi Xianfeng
Published: July 2024

Background

The mutually beneficial coevolutionary relationships between rodents and plant seeds have been a theme of research in plant-animal relationships. Seed tannins are important secondary metabolites of plants that regulate the food-hoarding behavior of rodents; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not yet clear. In this study, we investigated whether and how seed tannins improve spatial memory and regulate the hoarding behavior of Tamias sibiricus by altering their gut microbiota.

Results

We showed that acorn tannins not only improved spatial memory but also enhanced scatter-hoarding in T. sibiricus. Changes in the composition and function of the gut microbiota in response to tannins from acorns are closely related to these improvements. Metabonomic analyses revealed the role of gut isovaleric acid and isobutyric acid as well as serum L-tryptophan in mediating the spatial memory of T. sibiricus via the gut microbiota. The hippocampal proteome provides further evidence that the microbiota-gut-brain axis regulates spatial memory and scatter-hoarding in animals. Our study is likely the first to report that plant secondary metabolites improve hippocampal function and spatial memory and ultimately modulate food-hoarding behavior via the microbiota-gut-brain axis.

Conclusion

Our findings may have resolved the long-standing puzzle about the hidden role of plant secondary metabolites in manipulating food-hoarding behavior in rodents via the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Our study is important for better understanding the mutualistic coevolution between plants and animals.
Exploring the relationships between ASS indices and CAF and the impact on Chinese college students’ oral English performance
Authors: Shi Xiaoqin , Wang Xiaoqing , Zhang Wei
Published: July 2024

Automatic Speech Scoring (ASS) has increasingly become a useful tool in oral proficiency testing for Second Language (L2) learners. However, limited studies investigate the alignment of ASS indices with the Complexity, Accuracy, and Fluency (CAF)—the three dimensions in evaluating L2 speakers’ oral proficiency, and the subsequent impact indices on the oral performance of Chinese college students. To bridge this gap, this study used comparative analysis, Pearson analysis, and linear regression analysis to delve into the relationship and correlations between paired ASS indicators of “pronunciation”, “fluency”, “integrity”, “speed”, “duration”, and “overall”, while also analyzing the relationships between “overall” and other variables. These analyses were conducted using 956 audio clips of freshmen who took the College English Test-Spoken English Test Band 4 (CET-SET-4) in May 2022 in China. The findings reveal that (1) the ASS indicators and evaluation methods are similar but not identical to those employed in prior studies; (2) “pronunciation” encapsulates both the accuracy and fluency dimensions of CAF; (3) “pronunciation” and “integrity” have significant impacts on Chinese college students’ oral English performance in read-aloud tasks. The study suggests that future research should further investigate the specific pronunciation challenges faced by Chinese college students, such as phonetics, stress, and intonation. Additionally, it highlights the need to comprehend teachers’ attitudes and preferences towards ASS to enhance its effectiveness in assessing second language (L2) learners’ oral proficiency. The study would provide some references to teachers for oral English teaching design and students for their self-assessment of oral English proficiencies.
Nutritional therapy for the prevention of post-intensive care syndrome
Authors: Oshima Taku , Hatakeyama Junji
Published: July 2024

Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) is a triad of physical, cognitive, and mental impairments that occur during or following the intensive care unit (ICU) stay, affecting the long-term prognosis of the patient and also the mental health of the patient’s family. While the severity and duration of the systemic inflammation are associated with the occurrence of ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW), malnutrition and immobility during the treatment can exacerbate the symptoms. The goal of nutrition therapy in critically ill patients is to provide an adequate amount of energy and protein while addressing specific nutrient deficiencies to survive the inflammatory response and promote recovery from organ dysfunctions. Feeding strategy to prevent ICU-AW and PICS as nutrition therapy involves administering sufficient amounts of amino acids or proteins later in the acute phase after the hyperacute phase has passed, with specific attention to avoid energy overfeeding. Physiotherapy can also help mitigate muscle loss and subsequent physical impairment. However, many questions remain to be answered regarding the potential role and methods of nutrition therapy in association with ICU-AW and PICS, and further research is warranted.
Authentic fault models and dispersive tsunami simulations for outer-rise normal earthquakes in the southern Kuril Trench
Authors: Baba Toshitaka , No Tetsuo , Obana Koichiro , Imai Kentaro , Chikasada Naotaka , Tanioka Yuichiro , Kodaira Shuichi
Published: July 2024

The southern Kuril Trench is one of the most seismically active regions in the world. In this study, marine surveys and observations were performed to construct fault models for possible outer-rise earthquakes. Seismic and seafloor bathymetric surveys indicated that the dip angle of the outer-rise fault was approximately 50°–80°, with a strike that was slightly oblique to the axis of the Kuril Trench. The maximum fault length was estimated to be ~ 260 km. Based on these findings, we proposed 17 fault models, with moment magnitudes ranging from 7.2 to 8.4. To numerically simulate tsunami, we solved two-dimensional dispersive wave and three-dimensional Euler equations using the outer-rise fault models. The results of both simulations yielded identical predictions for tsunami with short-wavelength components, resulting in significant dispersive deformations in the open ocean. We also found that tsunami generated by outer-rise earthquakes were affected by refraction and diffraction because of the source location beyond the trench axis. These findings can improve future predictions of tsunami hazards.

Graphical Abstract
Long-term follow-up of a patient with Parkinson’s disease under nursing care after replacement of fixed implant-supported prostheses with an implant overdenture: a case report
Authors: Tokumoto Kana , Mino Takuya , Tosa Ikue , Omori Ko , Yamamoto Michiyo , Takaoka Kazuki , Maekawa Kenji , Kuboki Takuo , Kishimoto Hiromitsu
Published: July 2024

Background

In older patients with progressive neurodegeneration, replacing fixed implant-supported prostheses (FIP) with implant overdentures (IOD) has been proposed to prevent future mucosal injury and create an oral environment that is easier for caregivers to clean. However, there have been no reports on the progress after replacing FIP with IOD. In this report, we present the progress of an older patient with Parkinson’s disease in whom FIP was replaced with IOD.

Case presentation

An 81-year-old male patient with Parkinson’s disease presented to our outpatient clinic with bruxism and crossbites. FIPs, with five Brånemark system implants, were placed in the bilateral lower molars. The FIP was replaced with an IOD with two locator attachments to create an oral environment that was easier for caregivers to clean and allow easy recovery of masticatory function if residual teeth were fractured in the care environment. As his systemic condition deteriorated, treatment was changed from outpatient to in-home visits. During dental care visits, professional oral cleaning and denture repair were continued, and good nutritional status was maintained. However, the patient developed cholecystitis and was hospitalized. During hospitalization, gastrostomy was performed because he developed aspiration pneumonia. After discharge from the hospital, the patient remained in bed all day and could not wear an IOD, resulting in buccal mucosa ulceration due to abrasion of the locator abutment. We decided to replace the abutment with cover screws; however, not all the implants could sleep submucosally. Although regular oral cleaning was resumed, new ulcers developed even when cover screws were installed. Additionally, swelling and drainage were observed at the peri-implant mucosal site where peri-implantitis had once occurred during an outpatient visit. The patient was readmitted to the hospital for a urinary tract infection, and subsequent visits were abandoned.

Conclusions

By replacing FIP with IOD in an older patient with Parkinson’s disease, we addressed a barrier to caregiver-provided oral management. The removable prosthesis facilitated smooth oral care by caregivers and functional recovery in the event of trouble with residual teeth. However, it could not completely avoid the recurrence of buccal mucosal ulcers or peri-implantitis.
Bio-inspired algorithm integrated with sequential quadratic programming to analyze the dynamics of hepatitis B virus
Authors: Shoaib Muhammad , Tabassum Rafia , Raja Muhammad Asif Zahoor , Nisar Kottakkaran Sooppy
Published: July 2024

Background

There are a variety of lethal infectious diseases that are seriously affecting people's lives worldwide, particularly in developing countries. Hepatitis B, a fatal liver disease, is a contagious disease spreading globally. In this paper, a new hybrid approach of feed forward neural networks is considered to investigate aspects of the SEACTR (susceptible, exposed, acutely infected, chronically infected, treated, and recovered) transmission model of hepatitis B virus disease (HBVD). The combination of genetic algorithms and sequential quadratic programming, namely CGASQP, is applied, where genetic algorithm (GA) is used as the main optimization algorithm and sequential quadratic programming (SQP) is used as a fast-searching algorithm to fine-tune the outcomes obtained by GA. Considering the nature of HBVD, the whole population is divided into six compartments. An activation function based on mean square errors (MSEs) is constructed for the best performance of CGASQP using proposed model.

Results

The solution's confidence is boosted through comparative analysis with reference to the Adam numerical approach. The results revealed that approximated results of CGASQP overlapped the reference approach up to 3–9 decimal places. The convergence, resilience, and stability characteristics are explored through mean absolute deviation (MAD), Theil’s coefficient (TIC), and root mean square error (RMSE), as well as minimum, semi-interquartile range, and median values with respect to time for the nonlinear proposed model. Most of these values lie around 10−10–10−4 for all classes of the model.

Conclusion

The results are extremely encouraging and indicate that the CGASQP framework is very effective and highly feasible for implementation. In addition to excellent reliability and level of precision, the developed CGASQP technique also stands out for its simplicity, wider applicability, and flexibility.
Detection and genomic characterization of coronaviruses among migratory birds in Guangdong Province, China
Authors: Lian Yingjie , Huang Ying , Xie Lixia , Liu Quan , Wei Zhengkai , Shi Runfeng , Pan Xinhong , Zhang Wenfen , Ma Jun , Li Juntao
Published: July 2024

The recent Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic highlights the significant threat coronaviruses (CoVs) pose to public health. With their extensive cross-continental movements, migratory birds have the potential to serve as reservoirs and vectors for CoVs. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of CoVs in birds in densely populated areas of Guangdong Province, China. Of the 128 samples collected from birds, six tested positive for CoVs (4.7%, 95% CI: 1.7–9.9%), and three complete viral genomes were obtained through viral metagenomics and PCR. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that two CoVs (MD_XN18 and SG_DWY40) belonged to the Gammacoronavirus genus, while one (CP_XN11) belonged to the Deltacoronavirus genus. Homology analysis revealed that the MD_XN18 strain discovered in mallards shares 95.6–97.4% sequence similarity with chicken infectious bronchitis viruses (IBVs), providing direct evidence that migratory mallards can transmit avian IBVs. Recombination analysis suggested that two genomic regions of SG_DWY40 could originate from unknown sources through recombination, potentially leading to the expression of a novel viral protein, provisionally named NS3.5. These findings underscore the ongoing transmission and evolution of CoVs among birds in cities near Guangdong Province, emphasizing the need for continued monitoring and research.
“They Are Free with Me”
Authors: Lyons Deirdre
Published: July 2024

Abolitionist lawmakers promulgated policies during the July Monarchy designed to ameliorate the conditions of enslaved people in France's colonies. These reforms focused on family life and curtailing abusive corporal punishment. Scholars have argued these policies were weak and ineffective. However, a series of lawsuits, filed by both enslaved and freed women, reveals how reform engendered conflicts before emancipation in 1848. These lawsuits reveal three important dynamics about the final years of French slavery: how abolitionists drew on these cases to advance reform priorities, how colonial elites reinforced slavery in response, and the critical role enslaved and freed women played as Antillean abolitionists.
Selling Dreams: Endogenous Optimism in Lending Markets
Authors: Bridet Luc , Schwardmann Peter
Published: July 2024

We propose a model of borrower optimism in competitive lending markets with asymmetric information. Borrowers engage in self-deception to arrive at beliefs that optimally trade off the anticipatory utility benefits and material costs of optimism. Lenders’ contract design shapes these benefits and costs. The model yields three key results. First, the borrower’s motivated cognition increases her material welfare, which explains why it is not driven out of markets. Second, in line with empirical evidence, a low cost of lending and a booming economy lead to optimism and the widespread collateralization of loans. Third, equilibrium collateral requirements may be inefficiently high. (JEL D82, D86, D91, G21, G31, G51, L26)
Monopolization with Must-Haves
Authors: Ide Enrique , Montero Juan-Pablo
Published: July 2024

An increasing number of monopolization cases have been constructed around the notion of “must-have” items: products that distributors must carry to “compete effectively.” Motivated by these cases, we consider a multiproduct setting where upstream suppliers sell their products through competing distributors offering one-stop-shopping convenience to consumers. We show the emergence of products that distributors cannot afford not to carry if their rivals do. A supplier of such products can exploit this must-have property, along with tying and exclusivity provisions, to monopolize adjacent, otherwise-competitive markets. Policy interventions that ban tying or exclusivity provisions may prove ineffective or even backfire. (JEL D43, K21, L13, L14, L42, L81)
Clinical Efficacy and Safety of transarterial chemoembolization Combined with Targeted Therapy for primary hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Wang Xiao , Zhang Dan , Li Kang , Guo Peng , Lei Zhi-xiong
Published: July 2024

Objective: To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with targeted therapy for primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC).
Methods: This was a retrospective study. Retrospective selection of 150 PHC patients admitted to the Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine January 2019 and June 2021 were included. The patients were divided into the control group and the experimental group according to their treatment regimens. The control group received TACE treatment, while the experimental group received TACE combined with targeted therapy. We analyze the relevant data of two groups of patients and evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of TACE combined with targeted therapy.
Results: The tumor remission rate and control rate in the control group were 41.89% and 75.68%, respectively, while those in the experimental group were 77.63% and 90.79%, with statistically significant differences (p<0.05). The 1-year and 3-year recurrence rates in the control group were 52.71% and 98.65%, respectively, while those in the experimental group were 39.47% and 61.84%, with statistically significant differences (p<0.05). After treatment, the AFP, VEGF, ALT, and AST in the experimental group were significantly reduced compared to the control group (p<0.05). During the treatment period, the incidence and severity of nausea, vomiting, and fever in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The clinical efficacy of TACE combined with targeted therapy for PHC is superior to that of TACE alone, with improved disease control rate, improved long-term survival rate, and good safety.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.8.8982
How to cite this: Wang X, Zhang D, Li K, Guo P, Lei Z. Clinical Efficacy and Safety of transarterial chemoembolization Combined with Targeted Therapy for primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(8):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.8.8982
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Νέοι αγρότες
Authors: Καβαζίδου Τριανταφυλλιά
Published: July 2024

Η παρούσα διατριβή αναδεικνύει τον ρόλο των θεσμών άτυπης εκπαίδευσης στην αγροτικότητα και πώς αυτοί οι θεσμοί υλοποιούν υπερτοπικές, ευρωπαϊκές, αγροτικές πολιτικές σε μια προσπάθεια διαμόρφωσης της αγροτικότητας. Ταυτόχρονα, τονίζεται ο ενεργητικός ρόλος διαπραγμάτευσης στο τοπικό επίπεδο αυτών των εκπαιδευτικών πρακτικών. Η βασική έρευνα πραγματοποιήθηκε στον Κερασιά (ψευδώνυμο), Πιερίας και διήρκησε από τον Φεβρουάριο έως τον Δεκέμβριο του 2017. Η Κερασιά είναι ένα ημιορεινό χωριό στη βόρεια Πιερία. Βρίσκεται σε μικρή απόσταση από την Θεσσαλονίκη και την Κατερίνη. Ο πληθυσμός του είναι περίπου 2.500 κάτοικοι. Οι περισσότεροι ντόπιοι. Κύρια απασχόληση των κατοίκων είναι η γεωργία και συγκεκριμένα τα κεράσια και τα καπνά. Η μέθοδος που χρησιμοποιήθηκε ήταν η επιτόπια έρευνα με συστηματική και σε βάθος αυτοπρόσωπη, συμμετοχική παρατήρηση. Η παρούσα διατριβή αν και ξεκίνησε ως μια εθνογραφία για την ενασχόληση των νέων με τον πρωτογενή τομέα παραγωγής ως διέξοδο στην κρίση, η έρευνα πεδίου ανέδειξε κι άλλα ζητήματα εξίσου σημαντικά με αποτέλεσμα το αρχικό ερώτημα να αναθεωρηθεί και να αναδιατυπωθεί πολλές φορές. Ο νεανικός πληθυσμός της χώρας είδε στον αγροτικό χώρο μια διέξοδο από την κρίση; Μήπως η επανεργοποίηση της υπαίθρου μπορεί να ήταν το αποτέλεσμα μιας μακρόσυρτης διαδικασίας που εμείς τώρα αντιληφθήκαμε; Πώς τα Ευρωπαϊκά Προγράμματα Στήριξης και Κατάρτισης Νέων Αγροτών διαμορφώνουν την αντίληψη περί αγροτικόητας; Ειδικότερα, η διατριβή εκκινώντας από την παραδοχή ότι η αγροτικότητα είναι μια διαδικασία που δεν αφορά μόνο της γεωργικές εργασίας, αλλά όλο το βίο του ατόμου, μελετά πρώτον, πώς τα δρώντα υποκείμενα εμπλέκονται σ’ αυτήν καθ’ όλη τη διάρκεια της ζωής τους και δεύτερον, πώς οι σύγχρονοι αγρότες και αγρότισσες ακόμη και σε περιπτώσεις κρίσεων ή διαρθρωτικών αλλαγών, συγκροτούν στρατηγικές όχι μόνο «όπλων των αδυνάτων», αλλά καθορισμού των δομών. Οι στρατηγικές αυτές είναι ορατές στη συνολική αναθεώρηση του τρόπου ζωής τους, αλλά και μέσα από μικρές καθημερινές πράξεις που αν και φαίνονται ασήμαντες όταν τις εντάξει κανείς στο πολιτισμικό και κοινωνικό συγκείμενο αποκτούν πολιτικές διαστάσεις. Ιδιαίτερο ενδιαφέρον παρουσιάζουν, επίσης, οι ρωγμές στην κυρίαρχη εικόνα για τον αγροτικό χώρο που δημιούργησαν οι αφηγήσεις και η δράση των πληροφορητών. Τέλος, ένα ακόμη στοιχείο που αναδείχθηκε μέσα από την επιτόπια έρευνα ήταν ότι οι αγροτικές πολιτικές με τον τρόπο που εφαρμόζονται, κυρίως μέσα από το πρόγραμμα των «Νέων Αγροτών», μετασχηματίζουν τις υπάρχουσες κοινωνικές δομές δημιουργώντας νέα δίκτυα μεταξύ των ωφελούμενων και των φορέων που εμπλέκονται στην υλοποίηση αυτών των προγραμμάτων.
Mapping the Nordic Research Landscape for the period 2016-2020: a comprehensive study of research outcomes, collaborations, and impact
Authors: Narayan Aparna , Chogtu Bharti , Janodia Manthan , Radhakrishnan Raghu , Venkata Santhosh K.
Published: July 2024

Background This article aims to study the research outcomes of five Nordic countries in terms of research publications, spend on R&D, outcomes and collaborations as these are important parameters to understand research thrust of the countries/regions, in addition to their innovation capability. Methods The research outcomes of the Nordic countries in terms of the total number of publications, coauthored publications, publications with corporate collaborators, citations, the Field Weighted Citation Index (FWCI) and publications in different subject areas were retrieved using Scopus and its associate SciVal. The research outcomes were extracted for five years from 2016-2020. In addition, total population, researcher population and research spend of these countries have been obtained from World Bank data available for the year 2021. Results The analysis showed that Sweden has the highest population and the highest number of researchers in this region. All countries have the highest number of coauthored publications with the United States, followed by the United Kingdom, except Iceland, which has the second highest number of coauthored publications with Sweden. Denmark, followed by Iceland, stands prominent with reference to having publications with corporate collaborations. Denmark and Sweden have a high percentage of articles in first quartile journals, which is above the average for Nordic countries. Iceland stands at the top with the highest citations, which is depicted by high FWCI. Across subject areas, the Nordic countries have maximum publications in life sciences. Other prominent subject areas include technology and natural sciences. Conclusion On analysing the research landscape of Nordic countries, maximum research output is in the field of life sciences and medicine, and most of the coauthored publications of these countries are with the United States. Denmark, with its exemplary research output, excels with maximum papers in top quartile journals and with maximum corporate collaborations and the highest FWCI.
Prevalence, Characteristics and Risk Factors Analysis of Prediabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Amelia Rina , Harahap Juliandi , Wijaya Hendri , Pase M. Aron , Suryani Widjaja Sry , Saktioto Saktioto
Published: July 2024

Background Prediabetes, a reversible condition before the onset of diabetes, is a significant concern in healthcare globally. The global prediabetes epidemic has emerged and has considerably impacted health expenditures. Various risk factors play important roles in the progression of prediabetes to diabetes. Intensive lifestyle and pharmacological interventions can significantly reduce the risk of diabetes progression. Objective This study aimed to determine the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of prediabetes state of Medan in August 2023. Methods The sample consisted of 89 participants. This was an analytical cross-sectional study in the community that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The determination of prediabetes is based on the results of blood tests, namely, the examination of fasting blood sugar levels (FBGL), 2-hour postprandial oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C). Other examinations included lipid profiling (total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, and triglycerides). Data processing was performed using SPSS via univariate and bivariate analyses (chi-square test). Results Of the 89 participants, the prevalence of prediabetes based on HbA1c, FBGL and 2-hours OGTT levels was 28.1%, 50.6%, and 28.1%, respectively. 82% of the participants were female, and 53.9% were overweight or obese based on body mass index (BMI). The risk factors related to the prevalence of prediabetes were HbA1c level, impaired FBGL, and impaired 2-hours OGTT. Other risk factors such as age, sex, daily exercise, diet, BMI, waist-hip ratio, acanthosis nigricans, lipid profile, and blood pressure did not correlate significantly with the risk factors (p>0.05). Conclusion This study found that the prevalence of prediabetes was 67.4% in Medan, 82% of the participants were female, and more than 50% of participants were overweight or obese. HbA1c, FBGL, and 2-hour postprandial OGTT were the most important risk factors for prediabetes.