bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Amber
Authors: Causey Faya
Published: November 2024

This chapter covers the complexity of the human relationship with amber. Regardless of the notions of being a gemstone or fossil, amber is best understood as a transformed organic material of great age, which is largely similar to coal. The fascination with amber and the disenchantment with it can be at least largely understood as a function of its perceived relationship to human flourishing. The chapter looks into the numerous functions of amber due to its properties, such as attracting other light materials and being used as medicine. It provides an overview of an empirical study of the happiness of people who own or use amber.
A Frame for Human Flourishing
Authors: Yantrasast Kulapat
Published: November 2024

This chapter tackles architecture as a frame for human flourishing. It explains that the spaces people live in play a role in developing the psychological state while shaping people’s identity and their stand concerning the world. Architecture is a pluralistic art form, but in the modern era, architecture gradually morphed into a distinct discourse and self-referential practice, isolated in its processes and independent in its products. The chapter highlights architecture’s ability to encapsulate various physical and cultural aspects of humans and human experiences. It highlights the importance of diversity in architecture that could potentially help people coexist effectively by developing empathy and mutual understanding.
A Meditation
Authors: Holo Selma
Published: November 2024

This chapter reviews the notion of a deeper flourishing for the art museum as an institution. It discusses the rapidly gaining strength, vitality, and influence of the art museum movement deeply related to happiness, well-being, and flourishing. The value of an art museum differs with each community and each person, but, at the very least, the art museum is a place where most people go to view and experience the visual arts for their beauty, meaning, challenge, and opportunity for transcendence. This chapter explains the happiness, well-being, or flourishing that a museum activates by the presentation of real objects, as well as the programs and programming around them. It examines some areas of concern that are most pressing concerning art museums, such as museum collections.
Introducing GWAStic: a user-friendly, cross-platform solution for genome-wide association studies and genomic prediction
Authors: Lück Stefanie , Scholz Uwe , Douchkov Dimitar
Published: November 2024

Motivation

Advances in genomics have created an insistent need for accessible tools that simplify complex genetic data analysis, enabling researchers across fields to harness the power of genome-wide association studies and genomic prediction. GWAStic was developed to bridge this gap, providing an intuitive platform that combines artificial intelligence with traditional statistical methods, making sophisticated genomic analysis accessible without requiring deep expertise in statistical software.

Results

We present GWAStic, an intuitive, cross-platform desktop application designed to streamline genome-wide association studies and genomic prediction for biological and medical researchers. With a user-friendly graphical interface, GWAStic integrates machine learning and traditional statistical approaches to support genetic analysis. The application accepts inputs from standard text-based Variant Call Formats and PLINK binary files, generating clear graphical outputs, including Manhattan plots, quantile–quantile plots, and genomic prediction correlation plots to enhance data visualization and analysis.

Availability and implementation

Project page: https://github.com/snowformatics/gwastic_desktop; GWAStic documentation: https://snowformatics.gitbook.io/product-docs; PyPI: https://pypi.org/project/gwastic-desktop/
The Fork sign: a new cortical landmark in the human brain
Authors: Kiss-Bodolay Daniel , Al Awadhi Abdullah , Lövblad Karl-Olof , Momjian Shahan , Kiss Jozsef Zoltan , Schaller Karl
Published: November 2024

In the cerebral cortex, establishing the precise relationship between functional areas and the macroscopic anatomy of gyri and sulci has a paramount importance for the field of neuroimaging and neurosurgical interventions. The anatomical orientation should start with the identification of anatomical landmarks to set the anatomo-functional boundaries. The human central sulcus region stands out as a well-defined structural and functional unit housing the primary motor and sensory cortices and is considered as key region to be identified during brain surgery. While useful anatomical landmarks have been discovered, especially in the axial plane, the identification of this region in the sagittal plane remains sometimes difficult. Using cadaveric whole brains and multi-modal analysis of MRI brain scans, we systematically observed a tuning fork–shaped sulco-gyral configuration centred around the gyral continuum bridging the pre-central gyrus with the middle frontal gyrus. We provide evidence that this ‘Fork sign’ is a consistent morphological feature visible on the lateral surface of the brain and a reliable radioanatomical landmark for identifying central sulcus region structures on sagittal MRI images, including the motor hand area.
When Play Gets Serious: The Study of Religion Beyond the Limits of Critique
Authors: Dunn Mary
Published: November 2024

This article takes as its starting point the deep and enduring attachments between scholars of religion and their religious subjects to which the secular study of religion sometimes gives rise—attachments that can have profoundly transformative intellectual and existential consequences for the scholar. The methodological posture of critique, however, forecloses the possibility of such attachments. As an alternative to critique, the postcritical both renders these attachments legible and plumbs their epistemological potential to generate new insights into religion, religions, and religious phenomena. A promising methodological horizon for the future of religious studies, the postcritical makes room for the kinds of attachments that follow from taking religion seriously, making room for the possibility that close engagements of the religious kind might not inhibit but, to the contrary, advance scholarship on religion.
Planetary response-inability: Gaia, the Anthropocene, and the world without us
Authors: Folkers Andreas , Marquardt Nadine
Published: November 2024

This article traces the emergence of ‘the planetary’ and ‘responsibility’ and argues that different ways in which the planet presents itself as a problem also change the meaning of responsibility. The article looks at three (dis)articulations of planetary responsibility: 1. In the debates on the current geological age, the naming of this age—as Anthropo-, Capitalo-, or Plantationocene—is also blaming the culprit for ecological destruction. 2. Invocations of a ‘world without us’ in speculative realism retrieve the early modern worldview of an ‘infinite universe’ in which the planet is devoid of any moral significance. 3. The conceptualisation of Gaia in speculative feminism goes along with an ethics of ‘response-ability’ that is about responding to the call of a wounded Earth made up of symbiotic relations. Departing but also diverging from this debate, Isabelle Stengers’s conceptualisation of Gaia maintains that humans are unilaterally dependent on Gaia, which implies an asymmetrical ethics of ‘response-inability’. The article closes by arguing that ‘the planet’ has become an impossible but inevitable ethical object. While deterritorialising the ethical terrain, the planetary becomes a critical horizon in a time in which the landscape of both ethics and living become increasingly uninhabitable.
Elite sense-making in the core executive: the case of Denmark’s 2020 Minkgate Scandal
Authors: Pedersen Lene Holm , Askim Jostein
Published: November 2024

This article analyzes the Danish Mink Scandal of 2020 using Karl Weick’s sense-making theory. It zooms in on the 72-hour decision-making process that led to the culling of Denmark’s entire 17 million farmed-for-fur mink population in response to the perceived threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) forming a new mutation. Since there was insufficient legal justification for the culling, the prime minister was forced to call a snap general election, leading to a change of government. We exploit detailed data material containing text messages, e-mail correspondence, documentary material, and specific inquiries. The article demonstrates the strength of Weick’s social–psychological perspective on sense-making for public management research. It shows how time pressure can cut across heavily institutionalized standard operating procedures. It can increase the centralization of the decision-making power at the apex and decouple the formal legal responsibilities, which remain institutionalized with the line ministries. The study argues that sense-making offers learning points that cannot be obtained from formal legal perspectives, which are used to assign responsibilities. Indeed, ex-post thinking may be too convenient—traditional solutions like punishing leaders or agencies may obscure the discovery of more systemic vulnerabilities when crises unfold.
Top 50 Most Cited Articles in Transplant Dermatology: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Aizman Leora , Pakhchanian Haig , Barata Herrera Daniela , Bibee Kristin , Loss Manisha
Published: November 2024

BACKGROUND

Solid organ transplant recipients are at high risk for developing skin malignancies due to prolonged immunosuppression. The field of transplant dermatology (TD) has experienced a surge in research and clinical advancements, yet there is no quantitative evaluation estimating the impact of TD literature.

OBJECTIVE

Identify and characterize the most frequently cited TD articles.

METHODS

Institute For Scientific Information Web of Science was used to identify the 50 most cited research articles in TD. Results were reviewed by 3 independent authors. A network analysis was performed to assess collaboration patterns among coauthors.

RESULTS

Top articles held a combined total of 12,114 citations. The top-cited article was “Cancer incidence before and after kidney transplantation,” by Vajdic and colleagues in the Journal of the American Medical Association (2006) with 872 citations. A total of 22 countries and 221 institutions were represented.

CONCLUSION

This bibliometric analysis offers a detailed overview of the most cited manuscripts in TD and illustrates the discoveries steering TD research and practice.
Melatonin Attenuates Cardiac Dysfunction and Inflammation in Dilated Cardiomyopathy via M2 Macrophage Polarization
Authors: Qi Bin , Wu Qing-Feng , Yang Zhi-Jie , Huang Nan , Miao Liu
Published: November 2024

Melatonin is a neuroendocrine hormone that exerts protective effects on the heart. Increasing evidence suggests that macrophage M2-type polarization improves myocardial regeneration and repair. Therefore, this study investigated whether melatonin ameliorates dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) by modulating M2-type polarization. DCM mice were established by induction with doxorubicin and then treated with melatonin. Cardiac dysfunction was determined by measuring left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular internal dimensions at end-diastole and end-systole. Heart injury and fibrosis were determined by hematoxylin and eosin staining and Sirius Red staining, respectively. Serum concentrations of melatonin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. M2-type macrophages were analyzed by flow cytometry. Relative mRNA and protein levels were determined by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. Circulating melatonin levels were significantly decreased in DCM mice and were associated with left ventricular ejection fraction. Treatment with melatonin markedly ameliorated cardiac dysfunction, improved survival, and alleviated pathologic changes and collagen deposition in DCM mice. Furthermore, melatonin-treated DCM mice displayed lower serum and cardiac levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, as well as higher number of M2-type macrophages in cardiac tissue, indicating that melatonin treatment could decrease inflammatory responses and facilitate M2 macrophage polarization in DCM mice. Thus, melatonin treatment alleviated cardiac dysfunction and inflammatory responses by promoting M2 macrophage polarization in the DCM mouse model.
Publishing during a Pandemic: Analyzing Recent Publication Times in Hand Surgery
Authors: Braswell Ann Carol , Wilson Anthony , Willhelm Gabrielle , Morsy Mohamed , Aliotta Rachel E.
Published: November 2024

Background:

Timely distribution of research is crucial for improving treatments and patient care; however, the publication process is historically unhurried. The primary goal of this study was to analyze the time to publication in hand surgery for 5 years and to examine potential factors affecting publication speed.

Methods:

A 5-year review (2017–2021) was performed on 4 major hand surgery journals. The Journal of Hand Surgery American Volume, Journal of Hand Surgery European Volume, Journal of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery were included in the review. Differences were assessed using analysis of variance or 2-sided independent t tests for continuous variables.

Results:

There was a significant difference in submission-to-publication time between journals (P < 0.001). This differed by year (P < 0.001), with a significant increase in time from submission to publication after 2019, during the COVID-19 pandemic (447 ± 198 versus 406 ± 169 d, P < 0.001). Geographic region of the primary institution did affect submission-to-publication time (P < 0.001). No significant difference was seen in submission-to-publication time based on the number of institutions contributing, article type, or first author or corresponding author surgical specialty (P > 0.05).

Conclusions:

Time to publication in hand surgery varies by hand surgery journal and significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. New research reflects work done over a year ago at least. Participation in the peer-review process should be encouraged and bolstered within the hand surgery community to improve research dissemination times within the field.
Nerve Transfer to Restore Genital Sensation in Women with Low Spinal Lesion: The Female TOMAX Procedure
Authors: van Lierop Evelien T. , Werkman Jorien M. , Overgoor Max L.E.
Published: November 2024

Background:

Women with spinal cord lesions have loss of sensation in the lower body, negatively affecting sexuality in many ways: decreased, lost, or changed genital sensation and difficulties with orgasm. Restoring genital sensation in men with low spinal lesions using a nerve transfer (to maximize sensation, sexuality, and quality of life [TOMAX] procedure) has shown the potential to enhance sexual functioning and satisfaction. This procedure was adapted to a female version, in which the dorsal clitoral nerve was transferred to the ilioinguinal nerve to restore genital sensation. We report the results of the first female TOMAX patients.

Methods:

Four patients with spinal lesions below L1 with unilaterally or bilaterally absent genital sensations and normal sensation in the groin were included. All patients underwent both neurological and psychological assessments preoperatively and at 6, 12, and 18 months postoperatively.

Results:

The mean patient age was 53.3 years. Three patients experienced sensations in the clitoris and labia minora at 18 months postoperatively, which led to orgasms in 1 patient. One patient gained no sensation in her genitals but had a surprising side effect: she did not have to catheterize herself anymore.

Conclusion:

The female TOMAX procedure is a new promising technique for restoring sensation of the genitals in women with low spinal cord lesions.
Dorsal Cortical Screw Penetration in Volar Distal Radius Plating: Comparison of 3 Fluoroscopic Views
Authors: Guidi Marco , Previ Leonardo , Mazza Daniele , Lucchina Stefano , Fusetti Cesare , Goldshmidt Shahar Beni , Di Maro Agostino , Uccheddu Graziano , Mantini Vito , Bruno Jolie , Riegger Martin
Published: November 2024

Background:

The skyline or dorsal tangential view (DTV) and the carpal shoot-through (CST) have been developed to enhance the intraoperative examination of the distal radius’s dorsal cortex during open reduction and internal fixation with volar plates. This study aimed to assess the lateral view (LV), DTV, and CST’s effectiveness in showcasing screws that penetrate the dorsal cortex.

Methods:

Eighty patients, comprised of 42 women and 38 men with an average age of 53 years, underwent volar locking plate fixation for displaced distal radius fractures. The procedures incorporated the use of intraoperative LV, DTV, and CST views. Every view was meticulously examined to record the presence of screws that breached the dorsal cortex of the fractured region.

Results:

Only 2 screws were found to protrude the dorsal cortex in the LV, demonstrating 100% specificity and 18.8% sensitivity. On the DTV, 9 screws were detected with the same specificity but increased sensitivity (75%). On the CST, all 12 screws were identified, making for 100% specificity and sensitivity. Of 501 distal screws, 13 (2.54%) penetrated the dorsal cortex, with an average length of 1.34 mm (range, 0.5–2 mm). These screws were subsequently replaced with shorter screws in 12 of 80 patients.

Conclusions:

The findings show that the CST and DTV are more precise and accurate than LV in identifying dorsal screw protrusion during distal radius volar plating. To minimize the likelihood of subsequent complications, it is highly advisable to implement these views in all procedures.
DGKH-mediated phosphatidic acid oncometabolism as a driver of self-renewal and therapy resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Loh Jia Jian , Ng Kai Yu , Huang Ianto Bosheng , Deng Mingdan , Wang Yanyan , Man Ki Fong , Lam Ka Hei , Lee Terence Kin-Wah , Tan Jia Yan , Cui Yalu , Yu Huajian , Wong Tin Lok , Gao Yuan , Yun Jing-Ping , Ma Stephanie
Published: November 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by metabolic pathway aberrations, which enable cancer cells to meet their energy demands and accelerate malignant progression. Identifying novel metabolic players governing therapy resistance and self-renewal in HCC is crucial, as these properties are likely responsible for tumor recurrence. Clinical traits and RNA-seq of HCC patients in TCGA were used for weighted gene co-expression network analysis, where one module was significantly correlated with advanced pathological stage and stem cell population maintenance. Further analysis of this module by integrating data obtained from HCC patient nonresponders to tyrosine kinase inhibitors identified 361 commonly deregulated genes significantly enriched in the intracellular signal transduction pathway, with diacylglycerol kinase eta (DGKH) ranked as the most enriched gene in poorly differentiated HCC tumors. Clinically, DGKH was elevated in tumor tissues compared to non-tumor tissues. Patients with higher DGKH expression exhibited a more undifferentiated state and were less responsive to TKIs. Functional assays using DGKH-manipulated HCC cell lines demonstrated that DGKH augmented aggressive features, including cancer stemness, therapy resistance, and metastasis. Upstream of DGKH, we discovered that the E1A-associated protein p300 (EP300) binds to DGKH’s promoter region, thereby increasing its transcriptomic expression. Mechanistically, DGKH promotes mTOR signaling by producing phosphatidic acid (PA). In an immunocompetent mouse model, co-treatment with sorafenib and liver-directed AAV8-mediated Dgkh depletion significantly reduced tumor burden, self-renewal, PA production and mTOR signaling. Our research demonstrated that DGKH is a crucial oncometabolic regulator of cancer stemness and therapy resistance, inhibition of which may lead to more effective hepatocellular carcinoma treatment.
Home- and Community-Based Services: A Comparison of Brain Injury Waivers Across the United States
Authors: Bates Erica D. , Redmond Elena M.
Published: November 2024

Objective:

Adults and children who experience brain injury may need services and support when they return to the community. Home- and community-based services waivers are one way to access those supports. Brain injury waivers do not exist in every state, and variations exist in current waivers. This article describes existing brain injury waivers and how they vary by state.

Design:

States were included if their most recent waiver application was approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. States were excluded if waivers were terminated or expired. Data were collected by analyzing each state’s waiver across the areas of diagnosis definition, ages served, self-direction, service setting, persons served, services offered, budget, and assistive technology. Statistical analysis included frequency and descriptive statistics due to the limited number of participants.

Results:

Each state designs its own waivers. Differences exist in eligibility criteria, services provided, settings, and the rights of participants.

Conclusions:

Analysis of the waivers showcased differences in all areas. These factors determine which brain injury survivors can receive services from specialized waivers, what services are available to them, where they can receive services, and what rights they can exercise.
Bilateral multifocal inner retinitis following a viral illness, likely Covid-19
Authors: Chidgey Aaron James , Pavesio Carlos
Published: November 2024

Purpose:

To describe a young female patient who presented with unilateral vision loss with multiple bilateral inner retinal lesions after a non-specific viral illness, likely Covid -19.

Methods:

Case Report: We reviewed the medical record, examined the retina, OCT images and fundus fluorescein angiogram of the patient along with the relevant medical literature.

Results:

The patient presented to our Emergency Department at Moorfields Eye Hospital with a two-week history of new onset floaters and blurred vision in her right eye. On examination she was found to have a low grade bilateral vitritis, mild right optic nerve head swelling and multiple white inner retinal lesions in both eyes.

Conclusion:

Retinitis can be due to multiple infectious and non-infectious aetiologies. In this case report we discuss a case of rare multifocal inner retinitis from a non-specific viral illness - likely COVID -19.
Incidence and Outcomes of Infectious Keratitis After Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking Over 10 years From a Tertiary Care Center in South India
Authors: Lakshmipathy Meena , Deepak Matai Hiren , Agarwal Shweta , Narayanan Niveditha , Rajagopal Rama , Sudhir Rachapalle Reddi , Anand Appakkudal R.
Published: November 2024

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to report the incidence and outcomes of infectious keratitis after corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) over 10 years in South India.

Methods:

Patients who underwent CXL for progressive keratoconus between January 2011 and December 2020 and those with infectious keratitis were identified from an electronic database system. The clinical and microbiological profiles of those affected were extracted from the case files and included in the analysis, whereas viral keratitis was excluded.

Results:

Eleven eyes with post-CXL infectious keratitis were identified, with 3842 CXL procedures (0.21%) occurring in-house, while 3 were referred from outside. The mean age of the patients was 21.8 ± 7.8 years, and 7 (64%) were male. Six eyes (54%) had conventional isotonic CXL, whereas 5 had hypotonic CXL when pachymetry was <400 μm. Six eyes (54%) presented with hypopyon at a median of 3 days after CXL. Culture of the corneal scrapings grew methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus in 4 patients, methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus epidermidis in 2, Aspergillus fumigatus in 1, Aspergillus flavus in 1, Haemophilus parainfluenzae in 1, and no organisms in 2 patients. Almost all the isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin and other fluoroquinolones. The majority of eyes responded well to intensive topical antibiotics guided by antibiograms and regained 6/18 vision (median). Therapeutic keratoplasty was needed in 2 eyes while cyanoacrylate glue was needed in another 2 eyes.

Conclusions:

Post-CXL infections are rare, most frequently caused by antibiotic-resistant commensals, and resemble the clinical spectrum and outcomes of non–CXL-related infectious keratitis in most cases.
18F-FDG and 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT Findings in Patient With Multicenter Castleman Disease
Authors: Chen Xi , Zhang Feiyu , Yuan Ziyang , Liu Ya , Huang Zhanwen
Published: November 2024

Castleman disease is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder primarily affecting lymph nodes, including unicentric and multicentric types. The multicentric form is rarer and can often be misdiagnosed as lymphoma. Here, we report 18F-FDG and 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT findings in a case of Castleman disease involving the nasopharynx and multiple lymph nodes.
Proximal Intact Spreader Graft in Let-Down Dorsal Preservation Rhinoplasty
Authors: Öztürk Güncel
Published: November 2024

Grafts and flaps play significant roles in rhinoplasty procedures, while spreader grafts are commonly used. Spreader grafts are placed into submucosal pockets between the upper lateral cartilage and nasal septum. Occurrence of deviation can be seen on nondeviated noses after let-down or push-down methods are performed as the part of the upper septum that has been let-down may cause pressure on the lower septum and that results in deviation. In the present study, the author aimed to demonstrate the benefits of using a proximal intact spreader graft to support the nondeviated nasal septum or to correct the deviated septum in patients undergoing dorsal preservation rhinoplasty. In deviated noses, the upper septum is brought down to the opposite side of the deviation, and a proximal intact spreader graft is placed between the upper and lower septum to correct the deviation and make the dorsum nondeviated. This technique is suitable for patients with a slight to moderately deviated caudal part of the septum. It is unsuitable for patients with severe, cross, or S-shaped deviation. This technique aims to preserve the condition of the nondeviated nose and convert it into a nondeviated state in the let-down technique. The combination of proximal intact spreader graft and dorsal preservation rhinoplasty techniques effectively addresses dorsal hump and dorsal deviation deformities, enhances upper lateral cartilage concavity, prevents W-ASA segment collapse, and both prevents and improves internal nasal valve collapse. The data of patients who underwent dorsal hump reduction with the let-down technique were screened. According to inclusion and exclusion criteria, 95 patients were included in the study (68 females and 27 males). The ROE score before the operation was 51.5. After 12 months, it was found to be 91.5 points, and the change in the ROE median score was significant (P < 0.001). This new proximal intact spreader graft method presents a suitable approach for surgeons to prevent any let-down–induced deviation problems that may occur after the procedure and to correct the present deviation. It will also lead to better cosmetic and functional outcomes for patients who have hump deformity.
Comparative Outcome Analysis of Lenvatinib Versus Sorafenib for Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Liver Transplantation
Authors: Magyar Christian T. J. , Perera Sheron , Rajendran Luckshi , Li Zhihao , Almugbel Fahad A. , Feng Sophie , Choi Woo Jin , Aceituno Laia , Vogel Arndt , Grant Robert C. , Selzner Nazia , Jaeckel Elmar , Falla-Rad Nazanin , Knox Jennifer J. , Chen Eric X. , Sapisochin Gonzalo , O’Kane Grainne M.
Published: November 2024

Background.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurs after liver transplantation (LT) in ~17% of patients. We aimed to retrospectively compare the outcomes of patients treated with different tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for recurrent HCC post-LT.

Methods.

Patients with recurrent HCC post-LT between 2006 and 2019 were included. The impact of sorafenib and lenvatinib treatment for recurrent disease was assessed using survival analysis with an a priori multivariable Cox regression (alpha-fetoprotein [AFP] at recurrence, recurrence lesion diameter, single-site versus multisite metastases).

Results.

Seven hundred fifty-four patients underwent LT for HCC, of whom 120 (15.9%) developed recurrence. Of these patients, 56 received TKIs: sorafenib (n = 42) or lenvatinib (n = 14). The median age at LT was 60.8 y (interquartile range, 54.0–66.2); 52 (93%) were men and 26 (46%) were within Milan criteria at listing. Baseline characteristics at recurrence were comparable between the 2 groups, including largest tumor diameter (P = 0.15), receipt of local therapies before TKI (P = 0.33), and single-site recurrence (P = 0.75), and time from interventional treatment to start of TKI (P = 0.44). The AFP at recurrence was higher in the sorafenib group (95.0 versus 3.0 µg/L, P < 0.001). The median overall survival (OS) after initiation of TKI treatment was longer in the lenvatinib group (15.0 mo [95% confidence interval [CI], 11.5-31.5] versus 7.8 mo [95% CI, 4.0-15.4]; P = 0.02) with a 2.3-fold a priori adjusted effect on OS (adjusted hazard ratio 2.32 [95% CI, 1.03-5.20], P = 0.04).

Conclusions.

Our findings suggest lenvatinib is a valuable treatment option for patients with HCC recurrence after LT.
The outcome of nontransecting anastomotic urethroplasty in recurrent bulbar urethral stricture and its impact on sexual functions: A prospective observational study
Authors: Rammah Ahmed M. , Ghoneima Waleed , Sabry Ahmed Elsayed , Zamel Samih , Torad Hesham , Elzoheiry Mohamed , Sharawy Ahmed , Elkady Amr
Published: November 2024

Purpose:

The management of recurrent bulbar urethral stricture had no consensus and faced many challenges such as the risk of failure, ischemia, and sexual dysfunction. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the outcome of nontransecting anastomotic urethroplasty in recurrent bulbar urethral stricture disease (USD) less than 3 cm and its impact on sexual functions.

Material and methods:

This is a prospective descriptive study that included patients with recurrent bulbar USD ≤ 3 cm. Full history taking and clinical examination, including International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS) and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), were documented. Moreover, retrograde urethrogram, uroflowmetry, and penile Doppler were undergone. The nontransecting urethroplasty techniques were performed: Heineke-Mikulicz principle stricturoplasty for stricture ≤1 cm without excision of the stricture and nontransecting excision and primary anastomosis without transecting the corpus spongiosum for stricture 1 to 3 cm. Each patient was routinely evaluated through a 12-month follow-up using IPSS and IIEF, uroflowmetry, and postvoiding residual urine.

Results:

Thirty-three patients were included in the study with a mean stricture length of 1.45 ± 0.7 cm. Twelve patients had failed previous urethroplasty, while 21 patients had previous visual internal urethrotomy. Nontransecting excision and primary anastomosis in 14 patients and Heineke-Mikulicz principle stricturoplasty in 19 patients were performed. There was no recurrence of stricture urethra, except for one patient, who required visual internal urethrotomy at a 3-month follow-up, with mean postoperative IPSS of 3.04 ± 2.745, Qmax 23.89 ± 2.714 mL/s, and postvoiding residual urine 26 ± 33 cc. No significant differences were reported between pre- and postoperative IIEF (18.61 ± 5.448 versus 19.33 ± 5.599, respectively, P = 0.236).

Conclusion:

Nontransecting urethroplasty can achieve a high success rate in short recurrent bulbar USD without the potential sexual morbidity.
The Role of High-Resolution Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Nerve Trauma New Perspective: A Preliminary Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Recent Evidence
Authors: Aboutaleb Aya Moustafa , Abouelatta Ezzeldin , Salem Talal , Ibrahim Abdelbaki Idriss , Serour Aya Sayed , Abbas Nagham Bushara , Youssef Rana Ahmed , Ballut Osama Omar , Shehta Reda Ibrahim , Awad Merna Wagih , Hassan Khaled Walid , Abdelrhem Hasnaa Ali Hassan , Ali Mona , Badr Mostafa , Aref Shady Sherif Mohamed , Bedewi Mohamed Abdelmohsen , Mohamed Khaled Ashraf , Axer Hubertus , Abdelnaby Ramy
Published: November 2024

Precise localization of peripheral nerve injuries and evaluation of their prognosis based on clinical and electrodiagnostic examinations are particularly challenging in the acute phase. High-resolution ultrasound (HRUS) may offer a viable and cost-effective imaging option for assessing the morphology of nerve injuries. Consequently, a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on the use of ultrasound for diagnosing traumatic nerve injuries were conducted. A total of 15 studies were included, reporting the most recent findings on using HRUS in the diagnosis of traumatic nerve injury. These studies assessed the diagnostic test accuracy of ultrasound for the detection of traumatic nerve injury in 272 participants, with the cross-sectional area at the site of traumatic nerve injury also reported in 1,249 participants. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of the included studies were 92% confidence interval (CI) (0.89–0.95) and 86% CI (0.82–0.89), respectively. The positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and diagnostic odds ratio were 13.76 CI (1.41–134.34), 0.08 CI (0.03–0.18), and 286.23 CI (21.22–3,860.40), respectively. In the summary of the receiver operating characteristic curve, the area under the curve was 0.986, and the Q* index was 0.949. Based on the current literature, HRUS has shown promising results in addition to its availability and feasibility. HRUS can serve as a valuable complement to clinical and electrodiagnostic examinations for diagnosing traumatic peripheral nerve injuries. Further research is recommended to better understand the ultrasound characteristics of these injuries.
Nutrition as therapy – the role of dietitian counseling: a best practice implementation project
Authors: Weglarz Paulina , Skop-Lewandowska Agata , Prill Robert , Peričić Tina Poklepović , Vrbová Tereza , Klugarová Jitka , Leśniak Wiktoria , Bala Małgorzata M.
Published: November 2024

Objectives:

The objective of this best practice implementation project was to improve dieticians’ professional practice and dietary care through the use of counseling strategies.

Introduction:

Improving the design and implementation of evidence-based practice depends on successful behavior change interventions. This requires an appropriate method for designing the interventions and then analyzing the targeted behavior. Behavior change techniques (BCTs) have been demonstrated to improve the patient–dietitian relationship and patient treatment outcomes.

Methods:

This evidence-based quality improvement project used the JBI Evidence Implementation Framework to identify gaps in clinical practice and barriers to changing practice. We recruited 20 dietitians and conducted a baseline audit to determine their level of knowledge of BCTs, the extent to which they applied BCTs in their practice, and barriers to using BCTs. To address the identified barriers, a 5-hour training session was conducted by a dietitian with psychological training. A follow-up audit was then conducted to measure improvements in compliance with best practice.

Results:

The baseline audit revealed that 80% of participants used some of the targeted counseling strategies. The most common barriers were lack of guidance on the use of BCTs or insufficient knowledge of BCTs. The follow-up audit revealed that 93% of participants used some counseling strategies, representing a 13% improvement from baseline.

Conclusions:

Applying BCTs is a challenge in dietary practice. The results indicate that education about these techniques is needed. As the next step, we suggest disseminating the relevant recommendations among dietitians in Poland and providing education about the use of these methods.

Spanish abstract:

http://links.lww.com/IJEBH/A289
Pain assessment and management in patients with dementia in Taiwan: a best practice implementation project
Authors: Tsay Shwu-Feng , Chang Cheng-Yu , Su Jui-Yuan , Hung Sing Shueh , Mu Pei-Fan
Published: November 2024

Introduction:

The lack of a consistent and effective assessment tool for older adults with dementia in home care in Taiwan, and the inability of home care nurses to provide pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain management, may affect the quality of life of patients with dementia.

Objectives:

The aim of this project was to promote evidence-based practices for pain assessment and management of patients with dementia living in the community.

Methods:

The project followed the JBI Evidence-based Healthcare Model and the seven-phase JBI Evidence Implementation Framework. Eight audit criteria were used, representing best practice recommendations. Through a Getting Research into Practice (GRiP) analysis, we identified three barriers to changing practice and implemented improvement strategies. A follow-up audit was conducted to measure changes in compliance.

Results:

This project was conducted in five home care institutions. Fourteen home care nurses and 109 patients with dementia participated in the project. The follow-up audit showed that compliance rates had improved significantly. Specifically, the compliance rate increased from 14.29%, 1.83%, 1.83% to 100% for Criteria 1–3, respectively. For Criteria 4–8, compliance increased from 0% to 100%. In addition, the average score of the home care nurses’ perceptions of pain care for patients with dementia increased from 44.29 points before the intervention to 82.86 points, and all 14 home care nurses achieved a score of 100 points in the Objective Structured Clinical Examination scenario-based exercises, which was a good learning outcome.

Conclusions:

Leadership, knowledge-sharing, learning-by-doing teaching strategies, and open communication were key factors in the successful implementation of this study.

Spanish abstract:

http://links.lww.com/IJEBH/A294
Comparative genomic insight into the myxobacterial carbohydrate-degrading potential and their ecological impact
Authors: Saraf Niharika , Sharma Gaurav
Published: November 2024

Myxobacteria are an intriguing group of social-behavior-depicting microbes with unique physiological characteristics such as fruiting body formation, gliding motility, and predation, encompassing the largest genomes (>9 Mb) within the Eubacteria kingdom. These soil-dwelling organisms are crucial for lignocellulosic biomass degradation, which has both ecological and industrial significance. While previous studies have demonstrated polysaccharide deconstruction abilities in a few myxobacterial species, we aim to elucidate the distribution of their Carbohydrate Active Enzymes (CAZymes) domains per organism, with a focus on proteins involved in the catabolism of critical polysaccharides such as cellulose, lignin, xylan, starch, pectin, fructan, chitin, and dextran, across 61 high-quality sequenced myxobacterial genomes. Our findings reveal that 3.5% of the total genes at the median level have domains related to CAZyme functions across different myxobacterial families. Notably, family Archangiaceae (4.4%) and Myxococcaceae (3.7%) members exhibit the most significant genomic diversity and potential for degrading multiple substrates within lignocellulosic biomass. These plentiful CAZymes probably enable these majorly soil-harboring myxobacteria to break down various carbohydrate substrates into simpler biological molecules, which not only allow these organisms to sustain in poor-nutrient environments but also enable them to be critical players in carbon cycling and organic matter decomposition. We conclude that myxobacteria have an unexplored genomic potential that may play an integral role in the degradation of recalcitrant plant biomass, potentially influencing soil health and composition. This study further suggests the critical ecological importance of these CAZymes in sustaining the balance of terrestrial ecosystems and diverse industrial applications.

Importance

Polysaccharides are the most abundant polymers making up the Earth’s biomass. Polysaccharide degradation is well-known to be carried out by diverse microorganisms; however, there is more to be explored concerning the novel organisms that can degrade these biomolecules efficiently along with understanding the newer mechanisms and reactions carried out in this process. Soil-dwelling myxobacteria, model organisms for our study, are unique and under-studied social-behavior-depicting microbes. In this research, we investigated their genetic potential to encode carbohydrate-active enzymes involved in breaking down various substrates, including lignocellulosic biomass which is predominantly present in their habitat. We further emphasized their potential to be utilized in industrial applications amongst the paper-pulp, food-beverage, textile, and biofuel industries.
Extended amygdala corticotropin-releasing hormone neurons regulate sexually dimorphic changes in pair bond formation following social defeat in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster)
Authors: Tickerhoof Maria C. , Nerio Morales Lina K. , Goff Jeff , Vitale Erika M. , Smith Adam S.
Published: November 2024

The neurobiological mechanisms underlying the connection between anxiety brought on by social stressors and the negative impact on relationship formation have remained elusive. In order to address this question, we used the social defeat model in the socially monogamous prairie vole to investigate the impact of this stress on pair bond formation. Social defeat experience inhibited partner preference formation in males but promoted preference in females. Furthermore, pair bonding increased corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) expression in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) in male prairie voles, while defeat experience increased BNST CRH expression in females. Chemogenetic excitation of BNST CRH neurons during a short cohabitation with a new partner promoted a partner preference in stress-naïve prairie voles. Interestingly, chemogenetic inhibition of BNST CRH neurons during cohabitation with a new partner blocked partner preference in stress-naïve males but promoted preference in defeated males. Inhibition of BNST CRH neurons also blocked partner preference in stress-naïve females but did not alter preference behavior in defeated females. This study revealed sexual dimorphism in not only the impact of social defeat on pair bond formation, but also in the role BNST CRHergic neurons play in regulating changes in pair bonding following social conflict.
Unraveling Keystone Taxa: Interactions Within Microbial Networks and Environmental Dynamics in Lake Mendota
Authors: Yang Qiyao , Aghdam Rosa , Tran Patricia Q. , Anantharaman Karthik , Solís-Lemus Claudia
Published: November 2024

Microbial communities in freshwater ecosystems drive critical biogeochemical cycles, nutrient transformations, and energy flows essential for ecosystem stability. Yet, in the face of accelerating environmental changes, the responses of these microbial networks to spatial and temporal shifts remain underexplored, particularly with rising anoxia. We investigated the microbial ecosystems of Lake Mendota, Wisconsin, USA, through comprehensive metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses to elucidate their adaptations to environmental fluctuations across temporal and spatial dimensions. Employing tools like Sparse Inverse Covariance Estimation for Ecological Association Inference (SPIEC-EASI) and Conditional Auto-Regressive Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (CARlasso), we identified key microbial taxa and their interactions with environmental parameters such as depth, temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen. Our findings reveal that biological interactions more than environmental variables shape microbial community assembly and function. Specifically, keystone taxa from the phylumBacteroidotaemerged as pivotal in nutrient cycling and organic matter decomposition, processes crucial for sustaining water quality. Notably, these keystone taxa demonstrate dynamic adaptability, suggesting that microbial networks can rapidly adjust to changes in composition, a trait essential for resilience in the face of warming temperatures and altered precipitation patterns. This study provides critical insights into the resilience and adaptability of freshwater microbiomes, highlighting the role of microbial interactions in maintaining ecosystem health. By understanding how these microbial networks respond to environmental pressures, we can better predict shifts in microbial dynamics and anticipate the broader ecological impacts of climate change on freshwater systems.

Importance

This research underscores the critical role of keystone taxa in freshwater ecosystems, highlighting how these organisms maintain water quality and contribute to the stability of aquatic environments. Understanding the ecological roles of these taxa is essential for developing strategies to manage ecosystems and conserve freshwater resources, particularly in the face of ongoing environmental challenges like climate change. The insights provided by this study not only enhance our comprehension of microbial interactions but also support effective ecosystem management and conservation efforts.
Elevated type I interferon signaling defines the proliferative advantage of ARF and p53 mutant tumor cells
Authors: Mabry Alex , Kuzmicki Catherine E. , O’Brien Angelina , Maggi Leonard B. , Weber Jason D.
Published: November 2024

The tumor suppressors p53 and ARF collaborate to prevent unwarranted cell proliferation and as such are two of the most frequently mutated genes in human cancer. Concomitant loss of functional p53 and ARF leads to massive gains in cell proliferation and transformation and is often observed in some of the most aggressive human cancer subtypes. These phenotypic gains are preceded by increased type I interferon (IFN) signaling that involves canonical STAT1 activation and a subsequent IFN-stimulated gene (ISG) signature. Here, we show that cells lacking p53 and ARF require active JAK1 to phosphorylate STAT1 on Y701 to maintain their high rate of proliferation. In fact, the use of selective JAK1 inhibitors ruxolitinib or baricitinib inhibited the induction of ISG’s and the proliferation of p53 and ARF deleted cells. We identify a group of solid human tumors that lack functional p53 and ARF, show an expression signature of the upregulated type I IFN response genes, and are sensitive to selective JAK1 inhibitors. These data suggest that the type I IFN response acts as a positive driver of proliferation in the absence of p53 and ARF and, as such, presents itself as a potential therapeutic target in aggressive solid tumors.
Topological Floquet engineering of a three-band optical lattice with dual-mode resonant driving
Authors: Bae Dalmin , Park Junyoung , Kim Myeonghyeon , Kwak Haneul , Kwon Junhwan , Shin Y.
Published: November 2024

We present a Floquet framework for controlling topological features of a one-dimensional optical lattice system with dual-mode resonant driving, in which both the amplitude and phase of the lattice potential are modulated simultaneously. We investigate a three-band model consisting of the three lowest orbitals and elucidate the formation of a crosslinked two-leg ladder through an indirect interband coupling via an off-resonant band. We numerically demonstrate the emergence of topologically nontrivial bands within the driven system, and a topological charge pumping phenomenon with cyclic parameter changes in the dual-mode resonant driving. Finally, we show that the band topology in the driven three-band system is protected by parity-time reversal symmetry.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024