bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Online peer support for families taking care of patients with an eating disorder: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Hotta Mari Suzuki , Nishizono Aya Maher , Ohara Chisato , Sekiguchi Atsushi , Morino Yuriko , Sugawara Ayako , Kawakami Junko , Miyajima Eri
Published: October 2024

Background: Family caregivers of patients with eating disorders experience high levels of caregiving difficulties accompanied by poor mental health and have a strong need for peer support. This study aimed to devise a training program of peer supporter and assess the effects of subsequent consultation meetings on mental status and perceived care burden among family caregivers of patients with eating disorders.
Methods: We devised a training program and trained family peer supporters. We then performed a randomized controlled trial comparing consultations with family peer supporters (intervention group) with waiting before a meeting (control group). Outcome measures were negative mood as evaluated by Total Mood Disturbance (TMD) on the Profile of Mood States 2nd Edition (POMS 2), and perceived care burden assessed by the short version of the Japanese version of the Zarit Burden Interview (J-ZBI_8). We sent questionnaires to consultees three times (on entry and before and after consultation) for the control group and twice (before and after the consultation) for the intervention group. We were able to analyze 36 members of the intervention group and 32 members of the control group.
Results: One-time, one-on-one, online, and 40-minute consultations with peer supporters went smoothly without any adverse events. We found no significant difference in changes in POMS2 TMD scores or J-ZBI_8 between the intervention and control groups. Multiple regression analysis using data from before and after the consultations from both groups showed that the changes in consultees’ POMS2 TMD scores as an improvement in negative mood were predicted by the high POMS2 TMD score before the consultation, the severity of the current body mass index of the patient, and the high score of the General Self-Efficacy Scale. Most consultees reported being relieved and obtaining knowledge from peer supporters about how to manage problems associated with eating disorders.
Conclusions: Peer supporters trained by our program had consultation meetings with consultees without any adverse events. We found no significant effect of peer support interventions on negative mood or caregiver burden. We instead identified factors predicting the effectiveness of peer support. These findings suggest the need for some improvements before reexamining this theme.
Genetic assessment of subspecies composition in bean goose (Anser fabalis) harvest in Sweden, Finland and Estonia
Authors: Honka Johanna , de Jong Adriaan , Jumppanen Erika , Alhainen Mikko , Piironen Antti
Published: October 2024

Bean goose (Anser fabalis) harvest in Europe consists of two subspecies, whose conservation statuses are different. However, the proportions of each subspecies in hunting bags are unknown. We studied the subspecies composition among harvested bean geese in Sweden, Finland and Estonia as a case study by sequencing a short mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) region (210 bp) for subspecies identification. The proportion of taiga bean geese (A. f. fabalis) over two hunting seasons was 94% in Sweden, but only 5.8% and 11% in Estonia and southeastern Finland, respectively. Majority of harvested bean geese in Estonia and southeastern Finland were tundra bean geese (A. f. rossicus), and hence the results show that the Finnish spatio-temporal harvest regulations have successfully managed to focus the harvest mostly to the abundant tundra bean goose. We also detected mitochondrial heteroplasmy, i.e. multiple mtDNA variants within some of the individuals. In addition, we discovered a few exceptional individuals with an mtDNA haplotype belonging to eastern taiga bean goose (A. f. middendorffii) or greater white-fronted goose (A. albifrons), which could be hybrids between bean goose subspecies or interspecific hybrids due to untypical morphology. Our method is more cost-efficient than previously used molecular methods, and could be used to monitor bean goose hunting bag in the future.
Determinants of Puerperal Sepsis Among Postpartum Women at Public Hospital in Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia, 2023: Unmatched Case-Control Study
Authors: Shate Mulugeta Edao , Sinba Edao , Lencha Bikila , Teshome Birhanu
Published: October 2024

Introduction: The World Health Organization records 295,000 maternal deaths during childbirth each year, of which 15% are due to postpartum sepsis. In Ethiopia, it is the third cause of maternal death after hemorrhage and hypertension. However, data on the determinants of puerperal sepsis in the study area is scarce.
Objective: This study aimed to identify determinants of puerperal sepsis among postpartum women at a public hospital in Gedeo Zone, southern Ethiopia, in 2023.
Methods: A hospital-based, unmatched case-control study was conducted among 475 postpartum women (119 cases and 356 controls with a ratio of 1:3) at public hospitals in the Gedeo Zone from July 1 to September 20, 2023. All cases were included, and Systematic random sampling was employed to select controls. A pretested and structured face-to-face interview questionnaire was conducted. Data were entered cleared and edited using EPI-data software 4.6and then exported to Statistical Package for Social Science version 26 for analysis. Binary logistic analysis was executed, and all variables with a p-value of <0.25 were entered into multivariable logistic regression. Finally, multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to identify independent determinants of puerperal sepsis. A P-value of >0.05 at the 95% CI was considered the cut-off point to declare a statistically significant association.
Result: Four hundred seventy-five (119 cases and 356 controls) were included in this study with a 98.96% response rate.Variables identified as significantly associated with puerperal sepsis were no ANC follow-up (AOR = 4.19, 95% CI (2.32, 7.58), cesarean section (AOR = 2.74, 95% CI (1.19, 6.31), postpartum hemorrhage (AOR=2.57, 95% CI (1.39, 4.74), duration of rupture of membrane  ≥ 24 hours (AOR=3.31, 95% CI(1.89, 5.83), duration labor  ≥ 24 hours (AOR=3.15 95% CI(1.09, 8.43), and anemia (AOR=2.46, 95% CI (1.39, 4.32).
Conclusion: In this study, variables significantly associated with puerperal sepsis were the absence of antenatal care, cesarean section, postpartum hemorrhage, prolonged PROM, duration of labor ≥ 24 hours, and anemia. Puerperal sepsis caused by these factors should be minimized by following labor management protocol and emphasizing information on dietary diversification.
Novel Surveillance Protocol for Gastric Cancer Based on CEA: A high-volume multi-center study
Authors: Zhang Ruopeng , Chen Xiaojiang , Chen Guoming , Zhao Zhoukai , Zhang Feiyang , Chen Zewei , Wei Chengzhi , Lin Jun , Liu Zhimin , Liang Yao , Liang Chengcai , Feng chenyang , Chen Shi , Nie Runcong , Chen Yingbo
Published: October 2024

Tumor markers are commonly used in gastric cancer patients, but their effectiveness in monitoring recurrences is not optimal. This study aims to evaluate the recurrence predictive performance of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) across different baseline groups and establish a new surveillance protocol. We analyzed data from 1708 patients at Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center with stage I-III gastric adenocarcinoma. The research findings were subjected to longitudinal validation (expanded dataset comprising 6422 follow-up records of patients) and external validation (109 patients from the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University)
The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 61.1% (95% CI: 57.4%-65.0%) for the normal baseline group and 42.1% (95% CI: 36.4%-48.6%) for the elevated baseline group. Notably, the normalization group showed a remarkably favorable DFS similar to the persistently normal group (p=0.117). Regarding the efficacy of predicting recurrence, the elevated baseline group demonstrated significantly higher sensitivity than the normal baseline group (0.73 versus 0.32, p=0.001), while the normal baseline group exhibited superior specificity (0.87 versus 0.59, p=0.031). These consistent results were further confirmed through longitudinal validation and external validation cohorts.
Different monitoring strategy should be used for different CEA baseline patients. Incorporating CEA monitoring into gastric cancer surveillance protocols with the above method may be included in the surveillance protocols of NCCN gastric cancer guideline.
Exploring the Role of Inflammatory Cytokines in Cervical cancer Pathogenesis: Evidence from Mendelian Randomization Analysis
Authors: Zhang Yuqiang , luo Danfen , Chen Juan , Zheng Chaoqun , Sun Xiaohai , Zhong Zhaomei
Published: October 2024

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) is a prevalent malignancy worldwide, which seriously threatens women's quality of life and health. Although CC etiology remains uncertain, mounting evidence suggests that inflammatory cytokines (CKs) contribute to CC pathogenesis. Nonetheless, more research is required to determine if there is a causal connection between them. Therefore, our study performed a Mendelian randomized (MR) study to investigate the causal link between inflammatory CKs and CC. Methods: The inflammatory CK data are derived from two European population databases: one containing 41 inflammatory CKs and the other containing 91 inflammatory CKs. The CC data came from the UK Biobank (n ≤ 408961), including 1659 cases of CC and 381902 controls of European ancestry. Our study employed the inverse variance weighted, MR-Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode to analyze the causal relation between inflammatory CKs and CC. Additionally, multiple sensitivity analyses, including MRE intercept test, MR-PRESSO and Leave One Out, were deployed to further validate the robustness of the results. Eventually, a reverse MR analysis was carried out. RESULTS: The MR results showed that the increase of the Monokine triggered by gamma interferon )INF-γ( level was negatively correlated with CC (odds ratio (OR) = 0.84, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.72–0.99, P = 0.044). Elevated cystatin D (CysD), Interleukin-8 (IL-8), Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF), and Monocyte chemoattractant protein 2 (MCP-2) levels were positively correlated with CC occurrence (OR = 1.18, 95% CI:1.02–1.36, P = 0.025; OR = 1.41, 95% CI:1.02–1.95, P = 0.035; OR = 1.39, 95% CI:1.00–1.94, P = 0.044; OR = 1.76, 95% CI:1.25–2.47, P = 9×10–4), which aligned with sensitivity analyses results. Reverse MR Results showed that CC had no effect on 132 inflammatory CKs. Conclusion: Herein, the MR analysis demonstrated a potential causal connection between INF-γ, CysD, IL-8, LIF, and MCP-2 levels and CC risk. The role of inflammatory CKs in CC occurrence and development needs further investigation.
FDG-PET/CT and multimodal machine learning model prediction of pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Groheux David , Ferrer Loïc , Vargas Jennifer , Martineau Antoine , Borgel Adrien , Teixeira Luis , Menu Philippe , Bertheau Philippe , Gallinato Olivier , Colin Thierry , Lehmann-Che Jacqueline
Published: October 2024

Background:
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a biologically and clinically heterogeneous disease, associated with poorer outcomes when compared with other subtypes of breast cancer. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is often given before surgery and achieving pathological complete response (pCR) has been associated with patient outcomes. There is thus high clinical interest in the ability to predict pCR status using baseline data accurately.
Methods:
A cohort of 57 TNBC patients who had FDG-PET/CT before NAC was analyzed to develop a machine learning (ML) algorithm predictive of pCR. A total of 241 predictors were collected for each patient: 11 clinical features, 11 histo-pathological features, 13 genomic features, and 206 PET features, including 195 radiomics features. The optimization criterion was the Area Under the ROC Curve (AUC). Event-free survival (EFS) was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.
Results:
The best ML algorithm reaching an AUC of 0.82. The features with the highest weight in the algorithm were a mix of PET (including radiomics), histo-pathological, genomics, and clinical features, highlighting the importance of truly multimodal analysis. Patients with predicted pCR tended to have better EFS than patients with predicted non-pCR, even though this difference was not significant probably due to small sample size and few events observed (P=0.09).
Conclusion:
The study suggests that ML applied to baseline multimodal data can help predict pCR status after NAC for TNBC patients and seem correlated to long-term outcomes. Patients that would be predicted as non-pCR could benefit from concomitant treatment with immunotherapy or dose intensification.
Concurrent-validity of Treadmill 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test and Treadmill Continuous 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test to assess the cardiorespiratory fitness
Authors: Ghazzagh Abdolrahman , Agha-Alinejad Hamid , Shahrbanian Shahnaz , Clemente Fillip Manuel
Published: October 2024

Purpose
The 30 − 15 intermittent fitness test (30-15IFT) is a valid test to evaluate cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). Liner and continuous form of 30-15IFT were developed previously. The aim of this study is to assess the concurrent-validity of novel versions of the 30-15IFT on a treadmill: the treadmill 30 − 15 Intermittent Fitness Test (30-15IFT-T) and the treadmill continuous 30 − 15 Intermittent Fitness Test (30-15IFT-TC).
Methods
Fifteen recreationally endurance-trained males (age = 32 ± 5 y, height = 1.79 ± 0.06 m, weight = 71 ± 8 kg) performed the 30-15IFT, 30-15IFT-T, and 30-15IFT-TC in different sessions. The VIFT, blood lactate concentration difference (ΔBLC), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were assessed. Furthermore, heart rate was obtained during test and recovery period.
Results
we found significant validity between VIFT in both 30-15IFT-T (r = 0.81, ICC = 0.73, P < 0.05) and 30-15IFT-TC (r = 0.85, ICC = 0.74, P < 0.05) with 30-15IFT, respectively. The VIFT of 30-15IFT (18.90 ± 1.13 km.h− 1) was significantly lower than 30-15IFT-T (19.96 ± 1.82 km.h− 1) and higher than 30-15IFT-TC (17.93 ± 1.96 km.h− 1) (P < 0.05). Moreover, ΔBLC was lower in 30-15IFT (6.69 ± 1.27 mmol.L− 1) than 30-15IFT-T (7.92 ± 1.02 mmol.L− 1) and 30-15IFT-TC (8.17 ± 1.18 mmol.L− 1) (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
Both the 30-15IFT-T and the 30-15IFT-TC are valid comparisons to the 30-15IFT when assessing the CRF. However, the participants achieved higher and lower VIFT in the 30-15IFT-T and 30-15IFT-TC, respectively, in comparison to the 30-15IFT. Additionally, the ΔBLC was higher in the 30-15IFT-T and 30-15IFT-TC, respectively, in comparison to the 30-15IFT.
Unveiling Biomarkers: A Study on Mitocytosis-Related Genes Across Multiple Cancers
Authors: Xiang Jiayu , Liu Chang , yang pei , Wen Minni , Yu Tingjie , Xiao Ningping , Zhou Yonghong , Jin Yi
Published: October 2024

Mitochondria are crucial organelles in eukaryotic cells that maintain cellular homeostasis through various quality control mechanisms. One such mechanism, mitocytosis, is newly identified, yet its biological significance in cancer remains unclear. This study investigates the role of mitocytosis-related genes (MYO19, KIF5B, DNM1L, DYNLL2, TSPAN4, TSPAN9) in pan-cancer. We performed an extensive analysis of expression profiles and clinical data derived from samples in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. This study entailed a comparison of gene expression between malignant and normal tissues, an investigation into the correlation between gene expression and clinical prognosis through Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses, and a functional enrichment analysis to elucidate the potential signaling pathways involved. We employed TIMER2.0 to assess the correlations between gene expression and immune infiltration levels in various cancers.Additionally, a nomogram predicted three- and five-year overall survival rates. The study also examined the influence of CTLA-4 and PD-1 statuses on Immunoscore (IPS) in KIRC patients, revealing that these genes are overexpressed in renal clear cell carcinoma and significantly associated with Clinical prognosis and drug response.
A Phase 2 study of Savolitinib in Patients with MET Amplified Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Jia Jingquan , Moyer Ashley , Lowe Melissa , Bolch Emily , Kortmansky Jeremy , Cho May , Lenz Heinz-Josef , Kalyan Aparna , Niedzwiecki Donna , Strickler John
Published: October 2024

Purpose: MET amplification (amp) is a driver of acquired resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibodies in patients with RAS wild-type (WT) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Savolitinib is an oral small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor that has demonstrated anti-tumor activity in MET-driven advanced solid tumors. We report the results of a phase 2 study of savolitinib in patients with mCRC with MET amp detected by circulating cell free (cf)DNA.
Methods: Patients with chemotherapy refractory mCRC and MET amp detected by cfDNA were treated with savolitinib until unacceptable toxicity or disease progression. The primary endpoint was objective response rate. Secondary endpoints were clinical activity and safety.
Results: Five patients were enrolled and treated. Best overall response was stable disease (SD) in two patients, progressive disease (PD) in two patients, and one patient unevaluable for response. The majority of treatment-related AEs were grade 1 or 2. The only grade ³3 treatment related AEs were increased ALT and AST.
Conclusion: Savolitinib was well tolerated, however in this small group of biomarker-selected patients we observed no evidence of anti-tumor activity.
Trial Registration: www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT03592641. Registered on July 17th, 2018
Refined Causal Association Between Physical Activity Intensity and Depression: A Comprehensive Two-sample Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Pang Jinyong , Wei Xilin
Published: October 2024

Depression remains a significant public health issue with high morbidity and mortality worldwide, making it crucial to investigate the role and causality of different types of physical activities in relieving depression. This study utilized a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to evaluate the causal relationship between various physical activities, strenuous sports and walking for pleasure, and both general and major depression. We used summary statistics from large-scale genome-wide association studies involving European ancestry participants. Causal associations were estimated using the inverse-variance weighted model, with additional validation through extensive sensitivity analyses. Meta-analysis was conducted to comprehensively estimate the effects of multiple MR analyses. Results from single MR analyses and meta-analyses showed no significant causal effect of strenuous sports on depression (general depression: logOR=-0.1405, p = 0.2984; major depression: logOR = 0.0453, p = 0.9293). In contrast, walking for pleasure demonstrated a significant causal effect in reducing general depression (logOR=-0.5398, p = 0.0069) and major depression (logOR=-1.9786, p = 0.0103). Reverse MR analyses found no causal association between genetic liability to depression and the physical activities tested. Our findings underscore the significant role of walking for pleasure in alleviating and preventing both general and major depression. However, strenuous sports do not show a statistically significant causal effect. Further research is warranted to explore physical activities with intensities similar to walking for pleasure as potential preventive or rehabilitative measures in depression therapy, either alone or alongside psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy.
CAESAR: a cross-technology and cross-resolution framework for spatial omics annotation
Authors: Liu Jin , Liu Wei , Chai Xiaoran , Zhang Xiao , Lin Zhixiang
Published: October 2024

The biotechnology of spatial omics has advanced rapidly over the past few years, with enhancements in both throughput and resolution. However, existing annotation pipelines in spatial omics predominantly rely on clustering methods and lack the flexibility to integrate extensive annotated information from single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) due to discrepancies in spatial resolutions, species, or modalities. Here we introduce the CAESAR suite, an open-source software package that provides image-based spatial co-embedding of locations and genomic features. It uniquely transfers labels from scRNA-seq reference data, enabling the annotation of spatial omics datasets across different technologies, resolutions, species, and modalities, based on the conserved relationship between signature genes and cells/locations at an appropriate level of granularity. Notably, CAESAR enriches for location-level pathways, allowing for the detection of gradual biological pathway activation within spatially defined domain types. We demonstrate the advantages of CAESAR through a comprehensive analysis of five spatial omics datasets encompassing diverse technologies, resolutions, and modalities. Across these applications, CAESAR achieved substantial improvements in annotation accuracy (45.45%-4333.33%) by transferring cell-type labels from either multiple reference data, or across different species and modalities. As a result, CAESAR effectively recovers intricate structures in mouse olfactory bulb and embryo, and unveils tumor microenvironment heterogeneity, with exceptional efficiency and flexibility.
Diets influence dependency on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers
Authors: Simon Wolfram , Zanten Hannah Van , Hijbeek Renske
Published: October 2024

Europe’s nitrogen (N) crisis demands innovative food systems solutions to improve N cycling. This study modelled the potential of different diets and circular fertilization strategies to enhance food system N use efficiency (NUE), reduce N surplus, and minimize reliance on synthetic N fertilizers. Results show that circularity helps to improve NUE and total N losses but does not consistently improve N surplus per ha. Synthetic N fertilizer could be reduced by 95% if healthy diets were consumed in circular food systems, increasing NUE from the current 0.17 to 0.53. The reduction of synthetic N fertilizer led to increased use of manure and showed considerable trade-offs with land use and greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe). In contrast, circular systems in which vegan diets were consumed showed the lowest land use and GHGe and a relatively high NUE (~ 0.3). This emphasizes the importance of considering trade-offs and synergies between different environmental impacts when redesigning food systems.
Risk factors, prognostic factors, and nomograms for liver metastasis in patients with stage T is -T 2 colorectal cancer: a population-based study
Authors: Lin Zejin , Yi Taijun , Zhong Chengrui , Liang Yongling , Mai Ziyan , Li Xingyu , Wan Yunle , Li Guolin
Published: October 2024

Background: Liver metastasis(LM) is the primary cause of mortality in patients with colorectal cancer. The incidence of liver metastasis in patients with stage Tis-T2 colorectal cancer is uncommon, and there is limited research available. While nomograms have been increasingly utilized in oncology, there is a lack of studies focusing on the diagnosis and prognostic assessment of liver metastasis in patients with stage Tis-T2 colorectal cancer.
Methods: The data of patients with stage Tis-T2 colorectal cancer diagnosed between 2010 and 2015 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the independent risk factors for liver metastasis in patients with stage Tis-T2 colorectal cancer. Additionally, both univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were performed to determine the independent prognostic factors in patients with stage Tis-T2 colorectal cancer who had liver metastasis. Subsequently, two nomograms were developed and the results were assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA).
Results: A total of 1,1116 patients diagnosed with stage Tis-T2 colorectal cancer were studied, among whom 190 (1.71%) developed liver metastasis. The identified independent risk factors for liver metastasis in these patients included age, sex, primary tumor size, serum CEA levels, N stage, and histological type. Furthermore, sex, race, primary tumor size, serum CEA levels, and chemotherapy were found to be independent factors influencing the prognosis of patients with stage Tis-T2 colorectal cancer who developed liver metastasis. The accuracy of predicting the risk and prognosis of liver metastasis in these patients was confirmed through various analyses such as ROC curves, calibration curves, DCA curves, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves on both training and validation sets using two nomograms.
Conclusions: The two nomograms are considered effective tools for predicting the risk of liver metastasis in patients with stage Tis-T2 colorectal cancer, as well as predicting the prognosis of patients with liver metastasis.These tools can aid in clinical decision-making.
Prediction of précised biomarkers by expression-network-survival-based approach for breast cancer bone metastasis
Authors: Bhardwaj Mahima , Peele K. Abraham , Singh Sachidanand
Published: October 2024

Background: About 70% of Breast Cancer (BCa) patients have Bone Metastasis (BM), the prediction of précised biomarkers for BM from BCa would guide focused treatment by early interventions to prevent or delay BM.
Method: In this study, the datasets (GSE103357, GSE55715, GSE2034, GSE14776 and GSE137842) were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). These datasets comprise of gene expression patterns of 232 samples of tumor cells from BCa and 84 samples of metastatic tumor cells from BM to understand molecular mechanism underlying in development of BCa-BM. Common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by performing meta-analysis implying ImaGEO. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed from high throughput experiments using STRING (Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes). Analysis of the PPI-Interactome and their sorted hub genes was performed using centrality parameters viz., degree, clustering coefficient, closeness, and betweenness centrality which are statistically and biologically significant plug-ins added in Cytoscape 3.9.1. To understand the likely course of the progression of BCa to BM survival analysis was performed using GEPIA2 and validation was done by TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas). To characterize the précised potential biomarkers the functional enrichment analysis, Pathway analysis and Gene Ontology (GO) studies was performed by Funrich 3.1.3.
Result: 90 common DEGs were acquired from our study among all 5 datasets, out of which 28 and 62 constitute down- and up-regulated genes respectively. Where among these 90 DEGs, 18 genes were showing unambiguous connections with each other. 12 genes were identified significant through the topological analysis performed by the above said centrality parameters of interactome and were also showing worse survival outcome in disease free survival analysis. Five genes (RACGAP1, PPP1CC, RAD23A, PSMD1 and RPL26L1) among the 12 genes were identified as hub genes and were validated by TCGA, 3 genes (RPL26L1, PSMD1, and RAD23A) were identified to show poorer disease-free survival, also RPL26L1 was identified to show worst overall survival across all samples. 3 genes (RACGAP1, PPP1CC, and RAD23A) were literature reviewed potential diagnostic biomarkers in cancer progression, including breast cancer bone metastasis. RPL26L1 is significant potential biomarker identified with upregulation in BCa-BM samples with worse overall survival. These reported and significantly identified genes intersect notably cell growth, skeletal muscle development, and cell communication
Conclusion: Our expression-based network-based approach successfully prioritized précised biomarkers for breast cancer bone metastasis.
Functional validation of somatic variability in TP53 and KRAS for prediction of platinum sensitivity and prognosis in epithelial ovarian carcinoma patients
Authors: Allah Mohammad Al Obeed , Ali Esraa , Krus Ivona , Holý Petr , Haničinec Vojtěch , Ambrozkiewicz Filip , Rob Lukáš , Hruda Martin , Mrhalová Marcela , Kopečková Kateřina , Bartáková Alena , Bouda Jiří , Souček Pavel , Václavíková Radka
Published: October 2024

Background: Concerning the dismal prognosis of chemoresistant patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC), we aimed to validate the findings of a previous whole exome sequencing study on 50 patients using an orthogonal Sanger sequencing method on the same patients and a separate set of 127 EOC patients (N=177).
Methods: We focused on TP53 as a frequently mutated gene relevant for chemosensitivity, included KRAS as an additional therapeutically relevant target, complemented study with transcript levels of both genes, and compared results with clinical parameters.
Results: All variants in TP53 and KRAS detected by exome sequencing were confirmed. KRAS mutated patients had significantly more frequently FIGO stages I or II (p=0.007) and other than high-grade serous tumor subtypes (nonHGSCs) (p<0.001), which was connected with lower KRAS transcript levels (p=0.004). Patients with nonHGSCs harboring TP53 missense variants disrupting the DNA binding loop had significantly poorer platinum-free interval than the rest (p=0.008). Tumors bearing nonsense, frameshift, or splice site TP53 variants had a significantly lower TP53 transcript level, while those with missense variants had significantly higher levels than wild-types (p<0.001). The normalized intratumoral TP53 and KRAS transcript levels were correlated, and three patients with both genes co-mutated had extremely poor survival.
Conclusions: Our study points to KRAS as a target for future therapy of nonHGSCs and reveals the prognostic value of TP53variants in the DNA binding loop.
Construction and verification of nomogram prediction model for non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents with depression
Authors: Gao Yuehong , Wang Yanchi , Chen Yun , Shi Jiajia , Mao Xiaoli , Wang Jinhong , He Jialu , Huang Hongmei , xu Xujuan Xu
Published: October 2024

Background
Accurate identification of adolescents with depression at high risk of non-suicidal self-harm and implementation of appropriate interventions are critical to reducing the risk of self-harm. This study used the nomogram technique to develop a predictive model for predicting non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behavior in adolescents with depression.
Methods
Convenience sampling was used to examine 596 adolescents with depression. Data from one hospital were used as training and internal validation sets (n = 455) and data from two other hospitals as external validation sets (n = 144). In the former, nine optimal predictors were identified by combining the results of one-way analysis, LASSO regression, and binary logistic regression. These predictors were used to construct a graphical column-line model of the NSSI. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve, the area under the curve (AUC), the Hosmer-Lemeshow test, and calibration curves were used to test the discrimination and calibration of the training and internal and external validation sets of the predictive model, and decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to measure clinical applicability.
Results
Predictors included in the delivery model, history of peer NSSI, parental psychiatric history, sleep duration, social life events, self-esteem, psychological resilience, social support, and degree of depression (P < 0.05). The area under the ROC curve of the model was 0.880 (P < 0.001), and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test (χ2 = 7.19, P = 0.516), showed a maximum Jordan index of 0.668, a specificity of 0.765 and a sensitivity of 0.933. For clinical applicability analyses, the nomogram prediction model had a significant net gain for almost all risk threshold probabilities. In particular, there was a significant net gain for threshold probabilities of 0.1-1.0. Both internal and external validation of the model showed good discrimination, calibration, and clinical applicability.
Conclusion
The constructed nomogram risk prediction model performs well and can effectively predict the occurrence of NSSI in adolescents with depression, which is scientifically instructive and worthy of further promotion.
Effectiveness of tranexamic acid in reducing hidden blood loss during laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Bieniaszewski Ksawery , Szymański Michał , Nowicki Piotr , Wilczyński Maciej , Bigda Justyna , Proczko-Stepaniak Monika
Published: October 2024

Introduction:
Obesity and its related metabolic complications are an increasing challenge for healthcare systems. Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment, but it is associated with potential adverse events, including postoperative bleeding. Enhanced Recovery After Bariatric Surgery (ERABS) protocols aim to reduce length of hospital stay, but they also reduce time for patients monitoring. Tranexamic acid (TXA), an antifibrinolytic agent, has shown promise in reducing bleeding in various surgeries, but its use in bariatric procedures remains under-researched. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of TXA in reducing postoperative bleeding following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG).
Material and methods:
A single-center, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted at the University Clinical Center, Medical University of Gdańsk, Poland, between July 2022 and June 2023. A total of 238 patients undergoing SG were randomized to receive either TXA or no pharmacological intervention. The primary outcome was the haemoglobin concentration in abdominal drainage post-surgery. Secondary outcomes included total blood loss, drainage volume, need for blood transfusion, and postoperative complications. Statistical analysis was performed using intention-to-treat and per-protocol strategies.
Results:
A significant reduction in haemoglobin concentration in the drainage samples was observed in the TXA group (p=0.003). However, no significant differences were found in overall blood loss, drainage volume, necessity for blood transfusions or extended hospital stay between groups.
Conclusion:
TXA administration during SG reduces postoperative, abdominal bleeding as measured by haemoglobin concentration in abdominal drainage without affecting overall blood loss. These findings support further research into the routine use of TXA as part of the ERABS protocol in bariatric surgery. Further multicenter trials are needed to confirm the broader applicability and safety of TXA in this setting.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (blinded).
Quantifying Uncertainty in Economics Policy Predictions: A Bayesian & Monte Carlo based Data-Driven Approach
Authors: Rahaman Shafeeq Ur , Abdul Mahe Jabeen
Published: October 2024

Economic policy uncertainty relates to the unpredictability in government policies that can impact economic decision-making. High policy uncertainty can lead to less investment, slower economic growth, and increased volatility in financial markets. This study aims to quantify the uncertainty by employing a data-driven approach based on Bayesian Hierarchical Modeling (BHM) and Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulations. This research focuses essentially on key policy domains such as monetary policy, fiscal policy, and trade policy where uncertainty underlies crucial influences upon economic decisions. The methodology integrates data collection, feature scaling, normalization, Bayesian inference using MCMC simulations, uncertainty quantification and policy prediction to produce predictive insights under various economic scenarios. The Bayesian Hierarchical Model was employed to estimate the relationships between macroeconomic variables and policy outcomes. The posterior distribution results revealed significant predictors, with certain factors like monetary policy uncertainty exerting a substantial negative impact, while others such as equity market-related uncertainty showed positive influence. A rigorous uncertainty quantification step provided credible intervals for predicted outcomes with a 95% credible interval ranging between 0.276 - 0.359. This enabled an assessment of the potential variability in predictions based on differing levels of economic uncertainty. The study concluded with policy predictions generated under two distinct economic scenarios. Under conditions of high uncertainty, the predicted policy outcome was -0.2346, while a moderate uncertainty scenario resulted in a less negative outcome of -0.2060. These results demonstrate the sensitivity of economic policy predictions to varying levels of uncertainty. The findings provide a robust framework for understanding and quantifying uncertainty in economic policy-making. By applying BHM and Monte Carlo methods, this study contributes to the development of more resilient and adaptive economic strategies in the face of uncertainty.
Bovine Mastitis: Safety and Quality Issues in Cheese Production
Authors: Sviridenko Galina , Mordvinova Valentina , Vakhrusheva Dar'ya , Ostroukhova Irina
Published: October 2024

Bovine mastitis is a common hygiene-related issue in milk production. It increases the somatic cell count in milk. Somatic cell count is an important indirect indicator of milk quality. Somatic cells include those of udder and blood. Normally, one healthy udder lobe secretes ≤ 500,000 somatic cells per 1 cm3 milk. In the presence of pathogenic bacteria, the same amount indicates a latent infection. Inflammatory processes in the udder include impaired secretion and mastitis. They increase the number of leukocytes and other blood cells in the total somatic cell count, which means that the milk came from sick cows. Raw milk for cheese production must contain ≤ 4×105 cells per 1 cm3. Mastitis, or garget milk is not suitable for cheese production. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common causative agent of staphylococcal mastitis in cows. Coagulase-positive staphylococci are responsible for 30-50% cases of infectious mastitis. They pose great risks for bulk-formed cheeses. Mastitis affects milk processing, taste, and storage capacity. It is high in chlorides and low in lactose, which gives it a flat and salty-bitter taste. If somatic cell count exceeds 5×105 cells per 1 cm3, the resulting milk has poor thermal stability. As the content of somatic cells in milk increases, so does the rennet coagulation time: fat goes into whey and moisture in curd increases, which eventually reduces cheese yield.
Influence of the physiochemical parameters on the occurrence of E. coli bacteria in a small and shallow reservoir
Authors: Volf Goran , Sušanj Čule Ivana , Zorko Sonja
Published: October 2024

The microbiological quality of water plays a crucial role in the relationship among human, animal, and environmental health. This research gives insight into the relationship between concentrations of Escherichia coli bacteria and physiochemical parameters in water, which is captured from the Butoniga reservoir and then used for treatment in the drinking water treatment plant Butoniga. Analysis was carried out using statistical analysis through the Pearson correlation coefficient and supported with PCA. The conducted analysis revealed that turbidity and Fe have the highest correlation coefficients with E. coli bacteria. Turbidity was also identified as a potential indicator for E. coli bacteria. Additionally, parameters such as Mn and UV 254 were also found to be closely related to E. coli bacteria, alongside turbidity and Fe. Furthermore, a relationship between E. coli bacteria and different water intakes was conducted. This shows that higher concentrations of E. coli bacteria were present when water was captured from lower water intakes, characterized by increased water turbidity. Thus, the research results provide important information on influential water quality parameters related to E. coli bacteria, especially in the Butoniga reservoir and related drinking water treatment plant, creating a foundation for future water quality management.
Modifiable Risk Factors Related to Oral Diseases in Youth Cuban Baseball Sportsmen
Authors: Méndez-Romero Jailín , Ríos-Garit Jesús
Published: October 2024

Background

Oral health care closes the cycle of medical assistance integrated with sports, becoming a specialized service of great value in Cuba; however, oral diseases in young athletes are very frequent. For effective prevention, it is necessary to know the modifiable risk factors related to these diseases.

Objective

This study aimed to determine the relationship between risk factors and oral diseases in baseball sportsmen from the sports initiation school of Villa Clara, Cuba.

Material and Methods

A descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional study was carried out in the young baseball athletes (N=60) of the 15U (n=30) and 18U (n=30) divisions (M=15.33; SD=1.49). Data were analyzed using empirical frequency distribution and descriptive statistics. Data normality was tested using asymmetry, kurtosis, and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine differences in the risk factors and oral diseases between divisions, and the Tau_b Kendall correlation coefficient was used to determine relationships between both groups of variables.

Results

Improper tooth brushing, cariogenic diet, and inefficient oral hygiene were the main risk factors, while dental caries, gingivitis, and malocclusions were the oral diseases most notable. Athletes of higher division have greater toxic habits and a cariogenic diet; however, they brush more frequently and have more efficient oral hygiene. Except for the presence of malocclusions, the rest of the conditions are related to the determined risk factors.

Conclusion

The knowledge about the relationship between risk factors and oral conditions allows to base the design of educational intervention actions focused on the promotion of adequate oral health behaviors in the athletes, which shows the relevance of odontology in sports.
Effect of concentration of sugar and dried Dayak onion (Eleutherine palmifolia) on the quality of Dayak onion kombucha
Authors: Rizky Permatasari Vitta , Tri Widayanti Vindhya , Falasifah Ratu , Sabrina Sunyoto Nimas Mayang , Suhartini Sri
Published: October 2024

Kombucha is one example of a health drink product that falls under the category of functional drinks. Dayak onions are one of the ingredients with many bioactive components. This study aimed to determine the optimal combination of treatments to yield the highest quality Dayak onion kombucha by assessing the effects of variations in sugar concentration and dried Dayak onion concentration on the quality of Dayak onion kombucha (i.e., pH, total acid, and organoleptic). The study employed a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications to produce 27 experimental units. The two factors were dried Dayak onion concentrations of 2%, 4%, and 6% (w/v) and sugar concentrations of 5%, 7.5%, and 10% (w/v). The data was then subjected to a two-way ANOVA using IBM SPSS Statistics 26 software, and the Multiple Attribute method was used to determine the best treatment. The results demonstrated that the concentration of sugar and dried Dayak onions had a significant effect (α<0.05) on the pH value, total acid. the higher the concentration of sugar, the higher the total acid content with a lower pH, and the higher the concentration of dried Dayak onions, the lower the total pH. The best treatment combination was using dried Dayak onion concentration of 6% (w/v) and sugar concentration of 7.5% (w/v). The test results obtained were pH 3.173, total acid 0.105%, organoleptic color 3.867, and organoleptic aroma 2.867.
An Analysis of the Inconsistency of Political Party Vote Outcomes in the 2024 General Election: A Case Study in Semarang City
Authors: Wasisto Aryo Wasisto
Published: October 2024

Electoral inconsistencies in open-list proportional systems and model elections challenge discussion of factor complexity. This research investigates the factors influencing political party votes in the 2024 general election, with a focus on five polling stations in Semarang City. The purpose of this study is to determine the factors that drive the consistency and inconsistency of political party vote results in Semarang City. It is known that there are variations in vote acquisition among political parties in the DPR, provincial DPRD, and city DPRD elections, reflecting inconsistencies in voting behavior. This research highlights key factors such as the electoral system, local issues, negative or positive evaluations of party elites, and the practice of clientelism as the basis for why votes shift from one party to another. Finally, it provides insights into the researcher's overview at the polling station level, particularly in Semarang City in the context of the 2024 general election, and suggests the need for further combined research, such as expanding the scope of respondents and increasing the number of respondents.
IDENTIFICATION AND RECOGNITION OF LEAF DISEASE USING ENHANCED SEGMENTATION TECHNIQUES
Authors:   Siddhant College of Engineering, India, Gupta Brijendra , V Elanangai ,   St. Peter’s Institute of Higher Education and Research, India, Kumar G.N. Naveen ,   CMR Institute of Technology, India, P.T. Kalaivaani ,   Vivekanandha College of Engineering for Women, India
Published: October 2024

Segmenting refers to the technique of breaking up an image into its component parts one by one. When it comes to the process of segmenting photos, there is a plethora of choice available at current point in time. These options range from the easy thresholding approach to the complicated color image segmentation techniques. The bulk of the time, the parts that go into making up these sub-assemblies are items that individuals are able to easily identify and categorize as being distinct from one another. As a result of the limitation of computer lack of intelligence to differentiate between distinct items, a wide variety of techniques have been devised and utilized in the process of segmenting photographs. In order to complete its tasks, the image segmentation algorithm requires a wide range of image characteristics to be provided as input. This could be referring to the colors that are contained within an image, the borders that are included within the image, or a particular region that is contained within the image. In order to break down color images into their component elements, we make use of an algorithm that is inspired by natural selection. The research uses enhanced segmentation techniques to identify and recognize the leaf disease in plants. The study conducts extensive simulation to test the efficacy of the model. The results show that the proposed method achieves higher segmentation accuracy than other methods.