bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Corporate QE on Liquidity: Evidence from the UK
Authors: Boneva Lena , Elliott David , Kaminska Iryna , Linton Oliver , McLaren Nick , Morley Ben
Published: September 2022

There is substantial uncertainty about the impact of quantitative easing on market liquidity. Identifying the impact is particularly challenging due to the potential for reverse causality, because liquidity considerations might affect quantitative easing purchases. We address this challenge by studying the Bank of England’s 2016–7 Corporate Bond Purchase Scheme. In particular, we use granular offer-level data from the Corporate Bond Purchase Scheme auctions to construct proxy measures for the Bank of England's demand for bonds and auction participants’ supply of bonds, allowing us to control for any reverse causality from liquidity to purchases. We find that Corporate Bond Purchase Scheme purchases improved the liquidity of purchased bonds.
Cardiovascular prevention: sometimes dreams can come true
Authors: Ferrari Roberto , Cimaglia Paolo , Rapezzi Claudio , Tavazzi Luigi , Guardigli Gabriele
Published: September 2022

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a chronic condition driven by the complex interaction of different risk factors including genetics, lifestyle, environment, etc. which, differently from other pathologies, can be prevented. Treatment of CVD has been inconceivably successful but now it seems that it has reached a plateau suggesting that prevention is the way forward. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has spotted all the limits of the actual health system regarding territorial and, particularly, of preventive medicine. To this end, recently, the SCORE2 risk prediction algorithms, a contemporary model to estimate 10-years risk of CVD in Europe and the new guidelines on prevention have been released. The present review article describes a dream: how prevention of CVD should be addressed in the future. New concepts and paradigms like early genetically personalized and imaging driven risk factors, cardiac risk cartography, measurements of the exposome, estimation of costs of a delayed outcome vs. healthy lifespan, are all addressed. We highlight the importance of technologies and the concept of being engaged in a ‘healthy’ and not just ‘sick’ system as it is today. The concept of ‘clearing house’ with a ‘healthcare team’ instead of a ‘heart team’ is described. Finally, we articulate the four points necessary for the dream to come true.
New antiretroviral inhibitors and HIV-1 drug resistance: more focus on 90% HIV-1 isolates?
Authors: Ndashimye Emmanuel , Reyes Paul S , Arts Eric J
Published: September 2022

Combined HIV antiretroviral therapy (cART) has been effective except if drug resistance emerges. As cART has been rolled out in low-income countries, drug resistance has emerged at higher rates than observed in high income countries due to factors including initial use of these less tolerated cART regimens, intermittent disruptions in drug supply, and insufficient treatment monitoring. These socioeconomic factors impacting drug resistance are compounded by viral mechanistic differences by divergent HIV-1 non-B subtypes compared to HIV-1 subtype B that largely infects the high-income countries (just 10% of 37 million infected). This review compares the inhibition and resistance of diverse HIV-1 subtypes and strains to the various approved drugs as well as novel inhibitors in clinical trials. Initial sequence variations and differences in replicative fitness between HIV-1 subtypes pushes strains through different fitness landscapes to escape from drug selective pressure. The discussions here provide insight to patient care givers and policy makers on how best to use currently approved ART options and reduce the emergence of drug resistance in ∼33 million individuals infected with HIV-1 subtype A, C, D, G, and recombinants forms. Unfortunately, over 98% of the literature on cART resistance relates to HIV-1 subtype B.
Camellia oil trait and DIA quantitative proteomics analyses reveal the impact of harvesting time on the oil content and quality of the late-maturing cultivar C. oleifera ‘Huaxin’
Authors: Wang Jugang , Gao Xiaomin , Liu Min , Li Jianxin , Yang Hong , Wang Zuhua , Yang Lilin
Published: September 2022

Objectives

Harvesting fruits prematurely is a serious problem in many Camellia oleifera ‘Huaxin’ orchards. Systematic views of dynamic alterations in central metabolism associated with the oil content and oil quality of this cultivar at different harvesting dates were investigated.

Materials and Methods

Oil trait analysis was performed in conjunction with data-independent acquisition proteomics analysis using kernels harvested at three time points. Samples were taken from different years and locations to verify oil trait changes, and parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) was performed for some pivotal proteins to validate changes in their abundance.

Results

Samples harvested at 6 d after the recommended harvesting date had the highest contents and best fatty acid composition of Camellia oil. A total of 614 differentially accumulated proteins were detected in three pairwise comparisons. Six days prior to the recommended harvesting date, the maximum expression of ribonucloprotein, helicase ATP-binding domain-containing protein, and glycerol kinase and the highest seed moisture content were observed. The highest mitogen-activated protein kinase 6, very-long-chain 3-oxoacyl-CoA reductase and stearoyl-CoA desaturase expression appeared on the recommended harvesting date. A delayed effect was observed for proteomic and oil trait data. Oil trait and PRM validations indicated that the results were highly reliable.

Conclusions

The current data strongly suggest that in Guizhou Province, ‘Huaxin’ cannot be harvested earlier than the recommended harvesting date; appropriately delaying the harvesting time can improve the ultimate production and quality of Camellia oil.
Draft genome of the lowland anoa (Bubalus depressicornis) and comparison with buffalo genome assemblies (Bovidae, Bubalina)
Authors: Porrelli Stefano , Gerbault-Seureau Michèle , Rozzi Roberto , Chikhi Rayan , Curaudeau Manon , Ropiquet Anne , Hassanin Alexandre
Published: September 2022

Genomic data for wild species of the genus Bubalus (Asian buffaloes) are still lacking while several whole genomes are currently available for domestic water buffaloes. To address this, we sequenced the genome of a wild endangered dwarf buffalo, the lowland anoa (Bubalus depressicornis), produced a draft genome assembly and made comparison to published buffalo genomes. The lowland anoa genome assembly was 2.56 Gbp long and contained 103,135 contigs, the longest contig being 337.39 kbp long. N50 and L50 values were 38.73 and 19.83 kbp, respectively, mean coverage was 44× and GC content was 41.74%. Two strategies were adopted to evaluate genome completeness: (1) determination of genomic features with de novo and homology-based predictions using annotations of chromosome-level genome assembly of the river buffalo and (2) employment of benchmarking against universal single-copy orthologs (BUSCO). Homology-based predictions identified 94.51% complete and 3.65% partial genomic features. De novo gene predictions identified 32,393 genes, representing 97.14% of the reference’s annotated genes, whilst BUSCO search against the mammalian orthologs database identified 71.1% complete, 11.7% fragmented, and 17.2% missing orthologs, indicating a good level of completeness for downstream analyses. Repeat analyses indicated that the lowland anoa genome contains 42.12% of repetitive regions. The genome assembly of the lowland anoa is expected to contribute to comparative genome analyses among bovid species.
Genetic and Environmental Influences on Longitudinal Frailty Trajectories From Adulthood into Old Age
Authors: Mak Jonathan K L , Kuja-Halkola Ralf , Bai Ge , Hassing Linda B , Pedersen Nancy L , Hägg Sara , Jylhävä Juulia , Reynolds Chandra A
Published: September 2022

Background

Frailty is a complex, dynamic geriatric condition, but limited evidence has shown how genes and environment may contribute to its longitudinal changes. We sought to investigate sources of individual differences in the longitudinal trajectories of frailty, considering potential selection bias when including a sample of oldest-old twins.

Methods

Data were from 2 Swedish twin cohort studies: a younger cohort comprising 1 842 adults aged 29–96 years followed up to 15 waves, and an older cohort comprising 654 adults aged ≥79 years followed up to 5 waves. Frailty was measured using the frailty index (FI). Age-based latent growth curve models were used to examine longitudinal trajectories, and extended to a biometric analysis to decompose variability into genetic and environmental etiologies.

Results

A bilinear model with an inflection point at age 75 best described the data, indicating a fourfold to fivefold faster FI increase after 75 years. Twins from the older cohort had significantly higher mean FI at baseline but slower rate of increase afterward. FI level at age 75 was moderately heritable in both men (42%) and women (55%). Genetic influences were relatively stable across age for men and increasing for women, although the most salient amplification in FI variability after age 75 was due to individual-specific environmental influences for both men and women; conclusions were largely consistent when excluding the older cohort.

Conclusion

Increased heterogeneity of frailty in late life is mainly attributable to environmental influences, highlighting the importance of targeting environmental risk factors to mitigate frailty in older adults.
Better Together: Social Contact and Loneliness Among U.S. Older Adults During COVID-19
Authors: Dhakal Usha , Koumoutzis Athena , Vivoda Jonathon M
Published: September 2022

Objectives

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resulted in older adults’ greater reliance on technology to contact friends and families. However, less is known regarding the association between frequency of varying modes of communication and loneliness among older adults during COVID-19, and current findings are mixed. Therefore, this study aimed to advance this understanding.

Methods

Using the National Health and Aging Trends Study COVID-19 supplement data, multinomial regression analyses assessed how the frequency of four modes of contact (i.e., phone calls; electronic and social messaging such as e-mails/texts/social media messages; video calls; and in-person visits) during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with feelings of loneliness among older adults compared to prepandemic (n = 2,564).

Results

Compared to never/less than once a week in-person visits, daily in-person visits were associated with lower odds of reporting more frequent loneliness during COVID-19 versus “about the same” as pre-COVID-19 while controlling for demographics, access to information and communication technologies (ICTs), digital literacy, and health covariates. Compared to those who reported never/less than once a week contact by electronic and social messaging, more frequent contact was associated with higher odds of reporting more frequent loneliness during COVID-19 versus “about the same” as pre-COVID-19 while controlling for other variables in the model. Phone calls and video calls were not significantly related to loneliness.

Discussion

Results suggest that ICTs may not decrease loneliness among older adults. This article discusses potential reasons and barriers, including digital exclusion, and provides recommendations to mitigate the negative effects of social isolation through technology for older adults.
The New Croatian Copyright Act – A Mixed Bag of Novelties and Quandaries
Authors: Marusic Branka
Published: September 2022

Croatia’s accession to the EU in 2013 left a mark on the Croatian Copyright Act. This mark was in the form of several amendments which aimed to implement the EU copyright harmonising measures. This implementation led to an uneven approach to copyright and related rights protection by prioritising implementation of the acquis communautaire over internal coherence and balance of rights. The new Croatian Copyright Act, adopted in October 2021, restores the internal coherence by substantially improving the layout of the act. Nevertheless, the formulation of some of the provisions it contains are inconsistent with international law, EU law and the Croatian Constitution. This paper focuses on three problematic legislative choices in the new Croatian Copyright Act – the gold-plating provision of the press publishers’ right, the automatic transfer of copyright made within public or state-owned institutions, and the nationalisation of audio-visual works.
On approximation classes for adaptive time-stepping finite element methods
Authors: Actis Marcelo , Morin Pedro , Schneider Cornelia
Published: September 2022

We study approximation classes for adaptive time-stepping finite element methods for time-dependent partial differential equations. We measure the approximation error in $L_2([0,T)\times \varOmega )$ and consider the approximation with discontinuous finite elements in time and continuous finite elements in space, of any degree. As a by-product we define anisotropic Besov spaces for Banach-space-valued functions on an interval and derive some embeddings, as well as Jackson- and Whitney-type estimates.
Viral Becomings: From Mechanical Viruses to Viral (Dis)Entanglements in Preventing Global Disease
Authors: Voelkner Nadine
Published: September 2022

This paper explores the contribution of an ethos of (dis)entanglement arising from quantum thought to interpreting and (re)acting on the current global pandemic of Covid-19. The Covid-19 pandemic is giving rise to a world of pandemic separation, in which infection barriers such as masks, disinfection, social distancing, and isolation may be necessary in the immediate moment of avoiding sickness and death. However, these exclusionary and short-term response mechanisms do not address the larger question relating to global interspecies living, which in its current dynamic is increasingly giving rise to newly emerging infectious diseases such as Covid-19. The Covid-19 pandemic is showing that the health of human beings is deeply entangled with that of other species and places. However, it is also showing the limits to the mechanistic ontology driving modern public health thinking. I build on the work by political ecologists of health and biosocial scholars, especially Frost's concept of biocultural emergence and her engagement with ontological plurality in the human subject, to make the case for a different global politics of disease in preventing the emergence of infectious disease.
Differential evolutionary cuckoo-search-integrated tabu-adaptive pattern search (DECS-TAPS): a novel multihybrid variant of swarm intelligence and evolutionary algorithm in architectural design optimization and automation
Authors: Yi Hwang , Kim Inhan
Published: September 2022

One of the critical limitations in architectural design optimization (ADO) is slow convergence due to high-dimensional and multiscale variables. For the rapid and optimal digital prototyping of architectural forms, this paper proposes a novel metaheuristic optimization technique that hybridizes standard low-level algorithms: the differential evolutionary cuckoo-search-integrated tabu-adaptive pattern search (DECS-TAPS). We compared DECS-TAPS to 10 major standard algorithms and 31 hybrids through 14 benchmark tests and investigated multi-objective ADO problems to prove the computational effectiveness of multiple algorithm hybridization. Our findings show that DECS-TAPS is vastly efficient and superior to the covariance matrix adaptation evolution strategy algorithm in multifunnel and weak structural functions. The global sensitivity analysis demonstrated that integrating multiple algorithms is likely conducive to lowering parameter dependence and increasing robustness. For the practical application of DECS-TAPS in building simulation and design automation, Zebroid—a Rhino Grasshopper (GH) add-on—was developed using IronPython and the GH visual scripting language.
Digital History and the Politics of Digitization
Authors: Zaagsma Gerben
Published: September 2022

Much has been made in recent years of the transformative potential of digital resources and historical data for historical research. Historians seem to be flooded with retro-digitized and born-digital materials and tend to take these for granted, grateful for the opportunities they afford. In a research environment that increasingly privileges what is available online, the questions of why, where, and how we can access what we can access, and how it affects historical research have become ever more urgent. This article proposes a framework through which to contextualize the politics of (digital) heritage preservation, and a model to analyse its most important political dimensions, drawing upon literature from the digital humanities and history as well as archival, library, and information science. The first part will outline the global dimensions of the politics of digital cultural heritage, focusing on developments between and within the Global North and South, framed within the broader context of the politics of heritage and its preservation. The second part surveys the history and current state of digitization and offers a structured analysis of the process of digitization and its political dimensions. Choices and decisions about selection for digitization, how to catalogue, classify, and what metadata to add are all political in nature and have political consequences, and the same is true for access. The article concludes with several recommendations and a plea to acknowledge the importance of digital cataloguing in enabling access to the global human record.
Re-examining the Bayesian colour excess estimation for the local star-forming galaxies observed in the HETDEX pilot survey
Authors: Shinn Jong-Ho
Published: September 2022

In my previous reanalysis of the local star-forming galaxies observed in the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment (HETDEX) pilot survey, I reported that the overestimation of E(B − V), hence the star formation rate (SFR), undermined the claim of new galaxy population discovery in the original study. Herein, I re-examine whether the E(B − V) overestimation problem can be alleviated in the Bayesian parameter estimation framework by adopting scientifically motivated new priors. I modelled the emission-line fluxes of galaxies using the strong-line method and four model parameters – metallicity $12 + \text{log {}(O/H)}$, nebula emission-line colour excess E(B − V), intrinsic [O iii] λ5007 line flux, and intrinsic [N ii] λ6584 line flux. Based on mock data tests, I found that all input values can be recovered within and around the 1σ credible interval by adopting suitable priors for the intrinsic [O iii] λ5007 and [N ii] λ6584 line fluxes: the inverse gamma distribution reflecting the logical constraint that an intrinsic emission-line flux must exceed the observed (reddened) emission-line flux. The mock data tests were performed for two metallicity calibrations, three colour excess input values [E(B − V) = 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5] and two metallicity input values [$12 + \text{log {}(O/H)}$ = 8.0 and 8.5]. I also found that the new prior can diminish the SFR overestimation eightfold. This study demonstrates how the Bayesian parameter estimation can achieve more accurate estimates with no further observations when the likelihood does not constrain the model parameters correctly.
Systematic review and meta-analysis for 2023 clinical practice guidelines of the Japan Research Committee of the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare for Intractable Vasculitis for the management of ANCA-associated vasculitis
Authors: Watanabe Ryu , Oshima Megumi , Nishioka Norihiro , Sada Ken-Ei , Nagasaka Kenji , Akiyama Mitsuhiro , Ando Taiki , Higuchi Tomoaki , Inoue Yoshino , Kida Takashi , Mutoh Tomoyuki , Nakabayashi Akihiko , Onishi Akira , Sakai Ryota , Waki Daisuke , Yamada Yosuke , Yajima Nobuyuki , Tamura Naoto , Kaname Shinya , Harigai Masayoshi
Published: September 2022

Objectives

The objective of this study is to provide evidence for the revision of clinical practice guidelines for the management of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis by the Japan Research Committee for Intractable Vasculitis.

Methods

PubMed, CENTRAL, and the Japan Medical Abstracts Society databases were searched for articles published between 2015 and 2020 to update the systematic review for existing clinical questions, while PubMed, CENTRAL, EMBASE, and the Japan Medical Abstracts Society were searched for articles published between 2000 and 2020 to conduct a systematic review for newly developed clinical questions. The certainty of evidence was assessed with the GRADE approach.

Results

For remission induction, when used in conjunction with cyclophosphamide or rituximab, reduced-dose glucocorticoid lowered the risk of serious adverse events compared to standard-dose glucocorticoid. Avacopan improved sustained remission at 12 months compared to high-dose glucocorticoid. Addition of plasma exchange to remission induction therapy did not reduce the risk of death, end-stage kidney disease, or relapse. For remission maintenance, rituximab reduced the risk of relapse compared to azathioprine. Long-term rituximab or azathioprine reduced the risk of relapse compared to short-term rituximab or azathioprine, respectively.

Conclusions

This systematic review provided evidence required to develop the 2023 clinical practice guideline for the management of ANCA-associated vasculitis.
Prognostic factors affecting respiratory-related death in patients with rheumatoid arthritis complicated by interstitial lung disease: An ANSWER cohort study
Authors: Makino Hidehiko , Kotani Takuya , Hata Kenichiro , Nishioka Daisuke , Yamamoto Wataru , Yoshikawa Ayaka , Wada Yumiko , Hiramatsu Yuri , Shiba Hideyuki , Nagai Koji , Katayama Masaki , Son Yonsu , Amuro Hideki , Onishi Akira , Akashi Kengo , Hara Ryota , Hirano Toru , Hashimoto Motomu , Takeuchi Tohru
Published: September 2022

The aim of this multi-centre retrospective study was to clarify the prognostic factors for respiratory-related death in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) complicated rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patient background data, treatment regimen, and disease activity indicators of RA and ILD at baseline, 6 months after the diagnosis of ILD, and at the last follow-up visit were extracted. A total of 312 patients with RA-ILD (17 patients who died from respiratory-related causes and 295 survivors) were included. Patients who died from respiratory-related causes had an older median age, a higher proportion of being male, and a higher anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody positivity rate than survivors (p = .0001, .038, and .016, respectively); they also had significantly higher baseline serum levels of Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) than survivors (p = .013). Patients who died from respiratory-related causes showed significantly greater changes in serum KL-6 levels between the 6-month time point and the last visit [ΔKL-6 (6 months − last)] than survivors (p = .011). Multivariate analysis showed that the ΔKL-6 (6 months − last) corrected by disease duration was a predictor of respiratory-disease-related death in patients with RA-ILD (p < .0001). Long-term increase in serum KL-6 levels is associated with respiratory-disease related death in patients with RA-ILD.
Deblurring galaxy images with Tikhonov regularization on magnitude domain
Authors: Murata Kazumi , Takeuchi Tsutomu T
Published: September 2022

We propose a regularization-based deblurring method that works efficiently for galaxy images. The spatial resolution of a ground-based telescope is generally limited by seeing conditions and is much worse than space-based telescopes. This circumstance has generated considerable research interest in the restoration of spatial resolution. Since image deblurring is a typical inverse problem and often ill-posed, solutions tend to be unstable. To obtain a stable solution, much research has adopted regularization-based methods for image deblurring, but the regularization term is not necessarily appropriate for galaxy images. Although galaxies have an exponential or Sérsic profile, the conventional regularization assumes the image profiles to behave linearly in space. The significant deviation between the assumption and real situations leads to blurring of the images and smoothing out the detailed structures. Clearly, regularization on logarithmic domain, i.e., magnitude domain, should provide a more appropriate assumption, which we explore in this study. We formulate a problem of deblurring galaxy images by an objective function with a Tikhonov regularization term on a magnitude domain. We introduce an iterative algorithm minimizing the objective function with a primal–dual splitting method. We investigate the feasibility of the proposed method using simulation and observation images. In the simulation, we blur galaxy images with a realistic point spread function and add both Gaussian and Poisson noise. For the evaluation with the observed images, we use galaxy images taken by the Subaru HSC-SSP. Both of these evaluations show that our method successfully recovers the spatial resolution of the deblurred images and significantly outperforms the conventional methods. The code is publicly available from the GitHub 〈https://github.com/kzmurata-astro/PSFdeconv_amag〉.
Subsidy policies of a fresh supply chain considering the inputs of blockchain traceability service system
Authors: Liu Pan , Cui Xiaoyan , Li Ye
Published: September 2022

To stimulate the development and application of blockchain technology, Chinese government put forward subsidy strategy. To explore the subsidy policies under the new background, we chose a fresh supply chain with one producer, one blockchain-based traceability service provider, and one retailer as the research object, and government subsidy strategies were divided into a fixed strategy and a varying strategy. Afterward, considering the trust level of blockchain-based traceability information and consumers’ preference to the blockchain-based traceability information, we revised the demand function, and three subsidy models were proposed and analyzed. Findings: (1) the varying subsidy will help the retailer, the producer, and the traceability service provider set lower prices. (2) Meanwhile, the varying subsidies offered to the blockchain-based traceability service provider and the producer will help the whole supply chain members obtain more revenues.
Good perceived sleep quality protects against the raised risk of respiratory infection during sleep restriction in young adults
Authors: Walsh Neil P , Kashi Daniel S , Edwards Jason P , Richmond Claudia , Oliver Samuel J , Roberts Ross , Izard Rachel M , Jackson Sarah , Greeves Julie P
Published: September 2022

Study Objectives

Prospectively examine the association between sleep restriction, perceived sleep quality (PSQ) and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI).

Methods

In 1318 military recruits (68% males) self-reported sleep was assessed at the beginning and end of a 12-week training course. Sleep restriction was defined as an individualized reduction in sleep duration of ≥2 hours/night compared with civilian life. URTIs were retrieved from medical records.

Results

On commencing training, approximately half of recruits were sleep restricted (52%; 2.1 ± 1.6 h); despite the sleep debt, 58% of recruits with sleep restriction reported good PSQ. Regression adjusted for covariates showed that recruits commencing training with sleep restriction were more likely to suffer URTI during the course (OR = 2.93, 95% CI 1.29–6.69, p = .011). Moderation analysis showed this finding was driven by poor PSQ (B = −1.12, SE 0.50, p = .023), as no significant association between sleep restriction and URTI was observed in recruits reporting good PSQ, despite a similar magnitude of sleep restriction during training. Associations remained in the population completing training, accounting for loss to follow-up. Recruits reporting poor PSQ when healthy at the start and end of training were more susceptible to URTI (OR = 3.16, 95% CI 1.31–7.61, p = .010, vs good PSQ).

Conclusion

Good perceived sleep quality was associated with protection against the raised risk of respiratory infection during sleep restriction. Studies should determine whether improvements in sleep quality arising from behavioral sleep interventions translate to reduced respiratory infection during sleep restriction.
Practical MRI of Endometrial Neoplasms, Part 1: Background and Imaging Protocols
Authors: Piccolo Luciana Maksoud , Uski Ana Claudia Vincenzi Raduan , de Ávila Fernandes Jose , Abud Carolina Pereira , Leite Marcela Cavichioli , de Andrade Larre Ailma Fabiane , Naves Inácio Pedroso Maria Helena
Published: September 2022

MRI is the method of choice for the evaluation of endometrial carcinomas (ECs), from detection to evaluation of recurrent disease. Although the staging of ECs is done surgically using the system of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), preoperative assessment based on imaging findings helps in risk stratification and decision-making. The main parameters evaluated include the degree and depth of myometrial invasion, parametrial extent, and cervical stromal infiltration. The combination of T2-weighted imaging, dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, and diffusion-weighted imaging increases the accuracy of EC diagnosis and staging.
What Happens Next? Traumatic Brain Injury in the Community
Authors: Bragge Peter , Wright Breanna , Grundy Emily , Goodwin Denise , Gozt Aleksandra , Clynes Lucy , Callabritto Mia , Fitzgerald Melinda
Published: September 2022

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) continues to substantially impact the lives of millions of people around the world annually. Community-based prevention and support of TBI are particularly challenging and underresearched aspects of TBI management. Ongoing cognitive, emotional, and other effects of TBI are not immediately obvious in community settings such as schools, workplaces, sporting clubs, aged care facilities, and support agencies providing homelessness or domestic violence support. This is compounded by a lack of guidance and support materials designed for nonmedical settings. Connectivity Australia, a not-for-profit organization promoting TBI awareness, research, and support, responded to this need by conducting a national survey and series of roundtables to deepen understanding of TBI awareness, challenges, and support needs across the community. The 48 survey respondents and 22 roundtable participants represented Australian departments of health; correctional services; homelessness and housing; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health; community, school, and professional sports; allied healthcare and rehabilitation providers; insurance; and work health and safety. Three key themes were identified: Accessible, nationally consistent plain-language guidelines; Building research literacy; and Knowing your role in TBI identification and management. This commentary briefly describes these themes and their implications based on a publicly available full report detailing the study findings (www.connectivity.org.au/resources-for-researchers/connectivity-research).
Reduction of pre-procedural anxiety for repeat sessions in extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) reduces pain intensity: A prospective observational study
Authors: Tamalvanan Vethunan , Rajandram Retnagowri , Kuppusamy Shanggar
Published: September 2022

Pain control is a major determinant for successful stone clearance in extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) for urolithiasis. Pain perception during ESWL may be influenced by patient factors like gender, age, body habitus and anxiety level, and stone related factors like size, laterality and location of stone. We investigated in general, the confounding patient and stone factors influencing pain perception during ESWL with importance given to procedural anxiety in first and the subsequent session of ESWL. This was a prospective observational study of all new consecutive patients who underwent ESWL for a period of 1 year at a tertiary Urological Centre. Demographic and stone anthropometry were analyzed. Pre-procedural anxiety was assessed prior to procedure using hospital anxiety and depression score (HADS) and pain was scored using numerical rating scale-11 at baseline, 30-minutes (i.e., during) and 24 hours after ESWL. Univariate and multivariate analysis for confounding factors included HADs were performed for pain perception. A P value < .05 was considered to be statistically significant. For the study duration, 119 patients were recruited and 72 of them returned for a second session. Procedural anxiety was the only independent factor affecting pain score in ESWL for the first session in multivariate analysis. A statistically significant reduction of mean procedural anxiety score from 6.7 ± 4.5 to 3.2 ± 2.7 (P < .05) for the second ESWL session was observed (n = 72). This was in conjunction with statistical reduction of mean pain score 30 minutes after ESWL from 5.2 ± 2.1 to 4.2 ± 2.1 (P < .05). Patients with HADS ≥ 8 had statistically significant higher mean pain score at all 3 intervals in the first ESWL session. This study has shown that pre-procedural anxiety mainly anticipatory, reduces and shows reduction in pain intensity among patients undergoing repeat ESWL. Hence, anxiety reducing methods should be explored in patients undergoing ESWL to avoid unnecessary analgesic use.
A novel therapeutic approach for reducing postoperative inflammatory complications after impacted mandibular third molar removal
Authors: Altaweel Alaa Abdelqader , El-Hamid Gaber Abd , Alnaffar Mahmoud Z. , Almowallad Abdulrahman S. , Almech Mohamad H. , Almuwallad Abeer S. , Alharbi Rawan K. , Arab Wasan A.
Published: September 2022

Background:

This study was designed to compare effect of combined use of dexamethasone and honey versus each agent alone in controlling complications associated with removal of impacted mandibular third molar.

Methods:

This randomized clinical study included patients suffering from impacted mandibular wisdom teeth. Patients were divided randomly into 4 groups. Group I, control, group II, received dexamethasone injection preoperatively, group III, received honey locally in the wound after extraction, and group IV, received dexamethasone injection preoperatively and topical honey application. All patients were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively to assess facial edema, interincisal distance, pain, and total analgesic dose used.

Results:

Significant edema developed in group I than other groups and improved significantly in group II and III on seventh postoperative day, and tenth postoperative day in group I. Insignificant edema developed in group IV. Significant decrease in interincisal distance occurred in all groups on third postoperative day that improved significantly on seventh postoperative days in all groups except group I, it improved on tenth postoperative day. Pain was significantly minimum in group IV than other groups and its maximum degree was in group I.

Conclusion:

Both dexamethasone and honey are an effective way of minimizing swelling, pain, and trismus after removal of impacted lower third molars. Both agents either alone or in combination provide simple, safe, painless, and cost-effective method to eliminate postoperative discomfort. However, dexamethasone or honey can decrease complications related to surgical extraction of mandibular third molar, the simultaneous application of both agents is more effective method in this regard.
Clinical significance of securin expression in solid cancers: A PRISMA-compliant meta-analysis of published studies and bioinformatics analysis based on TCGA dataset
Authors: Liu Xiang , Zeng Wei , Zheng Dayang , Tang Min , Zhou Wangyan
Published: September 2022

Background:

Numerous studies have investigated the clinical significance of securin expression in solid cancers; however, the results have been inconsistent. Hence, we performed a meta-analysis of published studies to assess the clinical value of securin expression in patients with solid cancers.

Methods:

The Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Web of Science, PubMed, and EMDASE databases were searched for eligible studies (from inception up to April 2021). Bioinformatics analysis based on The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset was also performed to evaluate the prognostic value of securin expression.

Results:

A total of 25 articles with 26 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The results of the meta-analysis implied that high securin expression was positively correlated with unfavorable overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio = 1.52, 95% CI, 1.33–1.73; P < .001) and lymph node metastasis (odd ratio = 2.96, 95% CI, 2.26–3.86; P < .001). Consistently, our bioinformatics analysis showed that increased securin expression was associated with worse OS and shorter disease-free survival in cancer patients.

Conclusion:

Our study indicated that securin overexpression was positively associated with metastasis and inversely related to the prognosis of patients with solid cancers. However, additional high-quality studies should be conducted to validate these findings.
Short-term anatomic response of the choroid to tropicamide in myopic patients
Authors: Lin Chih-Ying , Wang I. , Lin Chun-Ju , Lai Chun-Ting , Bair Henry , Chen Wen-Lu , Lin Jane-Ming , Tien Peng-Tai , Hsia Ning-Yi , Tsai Yi-Yu
Published: September 2022

We aimed to investigate how tropicamide alters subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFChT) and choriocapillaris flow density (CD) and determine the predictive factors of choroid thickness and vascular density in myopic eyes. This retrospective study was conducted from September 2018 to March 2019. SFChT was measured with enhanced depth spectrum-domain optical coherence tomography. The choriocapillaris was imaged using optical coherence tomography angiograms. Ocular parameters were measured thirty minutes before and after 1% tropicamide instillation. Twenty-five eyes of 15 patients (mean age 38.12 ± 6.35 years old and refractive error-8.57 ± 3.37 D) met the study criteria. The baseline linear regression model showed an association of thinner choroid with older age (P = .027) and high myopic patients (P = .001). Tropicamide substantially increased SFChT (P = .001), but had no significant influence on CD (P = .526). Moreover, SFChT variation after tropicamide instillation positively correlated with diopter changes in spherical equivalent (P = .005) and percentage changes in CD (P = .046). In myopic eyes, choroidal layer thickened substantially in response to tropicamide. The increase of SFChT only correlates with variations in spherical equivalent and CD. Short-term tropicamide installation altered both choroid thickness and choroid microvasculature, which implies an interplay among choroidal volume, perfusion, and ciliary muscle tone.
Potential molecular mechanisms of Ermiao san in the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout based on network pharmacology with molecular docking
Authors: Geng Yin-Hong , Yan Jia-Hui , Han Liang , Chen Zhe , Tu Sheng-Hao , Zhang Lin-Qi , Song Chun-Dong , Duan Feng-Yang , Liu Ya-Fei
Published: September 2022

A network pharmacology integrated molecular docking strategy was used to predict the underlying molecular mechanism of Ermiao san in the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout. Traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology (TCMSP) database and analysis platform were used to screen out the active compounds and their targets of Ermiao san. The disease target genes related to hyperuricemia (HUA) and gout were obtained by searching CTD, DisGeNET, DrugBank, GeneCards, OMIM, TTD, and PharmGKB databases with “Hyperuricemia” and “Gout” as keywords, respectively. The potential targets of Ermiao san in the treatment of HUA and gout were screened through a Venn diagram. The protein–protein interaction network was constructed using Cytoscape software. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses were then conducted. Finally, some compounds and core targets were selected for molecular docking verification by Autodock Vina and Pymol software. Forty-six active compounds, such as quercetin, wogonin and beta-sitosterol, etc were identified. Ermiao san plays a therapeutic role in HUA and gout regulating various biological processes, cellular compounds, and molecular functions. The core targets of Ermiao san for treating HUA and gout are AT1 (namely Protein Kinase Bα), interleukin-1 beta, prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2, JUN, etc. And the key pathways are nuclear factor-κB, interleukin-17 and tumor necrosis factor. The results of molecular docking analyses suggested that active compounds of Ermiao san could bind well to the core protein receptors. Ermiao san has a synergistic mechanism of multiple compounds, multiple targets, and multiple pathways in the treatment of HUA and gout, which provides a good theoretical basis for the clinical application.
Apatinib and temozolomide in children with recurrent ependymoma: A case report
Authors: Zhao Shuangshuang , Shen Zhipeng , Li Juan , Shi Lei , Zhang Ni
Published: September 2022

Rationale:

Outcomes remain poor in children with recurrent ependyomams (rEPNs), despite advances in surgery and radiotherapy. Systemic therapeutic options are limited, given the low response to chemotherapy and targeted drugs. There is an urgent need for efective pharmacotherapy. Apatinib is a multitarget tyrosine kinase inhibitor, which has been reported to exhibit broad antitumor profiles. However, its effects on rEPNs have not been reported thus far.

Patient concerns:

We present a 5-year-old recurrent ependyomam patient benefting from apatinib and temozolomide. The patient was diagnosed with ependyomam in January 2016 and treated with surgery and radiotherapy. After surgery, the patient walked with an mild unsteady gait. He was diagnosed with recurrence in November 2018 following which he was treated with reoperation, reirradiation and chemotherapy (etopside, cisplatin, and temozolomide [TMZ]). The patients increased gait instability in April 2019.

Diagnoses:

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed progression of the disease. The lession at the left edge of the fourth ventricle and cerebellar peduncles was significantly increased.

Interventions:

The patient was administer TMZ (200 mg/m2/d, d1-5, 28 days as a cycle) + apatinib (250 mg, every other day). Twelve cycle of TMZ and apatinib were given.

Outcomes:

The tumor significantly shrank during the patient received TMZ and apatinib. After 9 months of medication, MRI revealed a nearly complete response However, the tumor progressed on May 5, 2020. From the beginning of the application of TMZ and apatinib, the progression-free survival was 1 year and the survival time was 19 months. Grade 1 leukocytopenia was observed without other adverse effects.

Conclusion:

Apatinib and temozolomide treatment with mild side effects may be a new option for children with recurrent ependyomams.
Endoscopic evaluation during the COVID-19 pandemic: Observational study of the experience in community practices
Authors: Trinh Lindsey L. , Vinh Minh-Khang B. , Choudhary Abhishek , Levitt Brian S. , Kutty Geeta R. , Shieh Eugenie C. , Nguyen Khanh K. , Trinh Huy N. , Nguyen Huy A. , Purohit Treta G.
Published: September 2022

Endoscopic screening is used widely to minimize the rates of colorectal cancer cases and deaths. During highly virulent infectious disease pandemics such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it is essential to weigh the risks and benefits of receiving endoscopy, especially in regions with moderately high viral infection rates. An observational study was conducted to assess the number of patients seen for endoscopic procedure at 2 of our surgery centers. Reasons for their procedure were collected in addition to information regarding any positive COVID-19 cases. This study considers the rate of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection along with the number of colorectal cancer cases encountered at a community endoscopy center to suggest that the benefits of undergoing endoscopic evaluation may outweigh the risks of attending an endoscopy procedure during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the main reasons patients underwent endoscopic procedure was for colon cancer screenings (41.9%), and 5 of 1020 patients seen during the observation period were diagnosed with cancer. Of these 1020 patients, 8 were found to have positive tests for COVID-19 within 2 to 4 weeks after their procedure.
Precautions against COVID-19 reduce respiratory virus infections among children in Southwest China
Authors: Lai Shu-Yu , Liu Yan-Ling , Jiang Yong-Mei , Liu Ting
Published: September 2022

Acute respiratory tract infections pose a serious threat to the health of children worldwide, with viral infections representing a major etiology of this type of disease. Protective measures such as mask-wearing, social distancing, and hand hygiene can be effective in curbing the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. These precautions may also have an impact on the spread of other respiratory viruses. In this study, we retrospectively compared the respiratory virus infections of children in Southwest China before and after the outbreak of COVID-19. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 1578 patients under 14 years old with acute respiratory tract infection symptoms before and after COVID-19 pandemic. Nine common respiratory viruses including human bocavirus, human rhinoviruses, human coronaviruses, human adenoviruses, human metapneumovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza A virus, influenza B virus, and parainfluenza virus were measured by advanced fragment analysis. The respiratory virus infection rates among children of all ages and genders in Southwest China under the precautions against COVID-19 pandemic were significantly lower than that of the same period before the pandemic. Our findings indicate that public health measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, including strict mask-wearing, social distancing, and hand hygiene, may be effective in preventing the transmission of other respiratory viruses in children, thereby controlling the spread of infections.
Prognostic value of m6A regulators and the nomogram construction in glioma patients
Authors: Liu Pengdi , Yan Xianxia , Ma Chengwen , Gu Junxiang , Tian Fuyu , Qu Jianqiang
Published: September 2022

Although N6-methyladenosine (m6A) has been implicated in various biological functions in human cancers, its role in predicting the prognosis of glioma remains unclear. In this study, the transcriptome expression profiles and the clinical data of 961 patients were derived from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA). We comprehensively evaluated the association between the expression of m6A regulators and the prognosis of glioma and established a 3-gene (YTHDF2, FTO, and ALKBH5) risk signature using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis. Patients with a high-risk signature had significantly adverse prognoses. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) analysis revealed that the G2M checkpoint, MTORC1 signaling, epithelial mesenchymal transition, and PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling were significantly enriched in the high-risk group. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses confirmed the independent prognostic value of this risk signature. We then constructed a nomogram for individualized prediction of overall survival (OS) by integrating clinicopathological features (age, World Health Organization [WHO] grade), treatment information (radiotherapy, temozolomide therapy), and m6A risk signature. The calibration curves showed excellent agreement between the predicted and actual probabilities for the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS, with a C-index of 0.780 in the training cohort and 0.717 in the validation cohort. Altogether, our study elucidated the important role of m6A regulators in glioma prognosis, which is valuable for the selection of therapeutic methods and clinical management of patients with glioma.