bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Schwannoma of the nasal cavity: A case report and review of the literature
Authors: Hachicha Amani , Chouchane Hamdi , Turki Senda
Published: August 2024

Sinonasal schwannoma (SNS) is a rare entity with 4% occurring at this location and only 36 cases described in the literature. A 22-year-old woman presented recurrent unilateral epistaxis, hyposmia, unilateral nasal obstruction, and hemicranial headache for a year. The endoscopic examination showed a tissue mass filling the left nasal cavity and nasopharynx. Imaging showed a mass that occupied the left posterior ethmoid cells in the hyposignal T1, hyposignal T2, and gadolinium enhancing. A preoperative biopsy was made and the diagnosis was a schwannoma. The tumor mass was completely removed under general anesthesia. The final histopathological study reconfirmed the diagnosis of schwannoma. Six months after surgery, control endoscopic and imaging showed the absence of tumor recurrence. SNS is a rare entity and its diagnosis is generally based on a histological examination. Therefore, the possibility of schwannoma must be considered in front of a mass of the nasal fossa.
Sustaining telehealth in pediatric diabetology beyond COVID-19: How to set the tone
Authors: Franceschi Roberto , Tornese Gianluca
Published: August 2024

In the post-COVID-19 era, telehealth experience and knowledge must be structured to deliver high-quality care. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease that lends itself to being a model for telehealth diffusion, especially in the pediatric setting where the use of cloud-connected technologies is widespread. Here, we present “how to set the tone” and manage a telemedicine session according to our experiences and those reported in the literature, according to the health professional perspective. A practical workflow on how healthcare professionals can structure a virtual diabetes clinic is reported, as well as critical issues related to limits in physical examination, communication registers, relationships, and visit settings. A proactive virtual visit model could be feasible, stratifying patients according to continuous glucose monitoring metrics, and personalized interventions can be provided to each patient. Analysis of benefits and hassles due to telehealth for each patient has to be considered, as well as their personal perspective, expectations, and reported barriers, mainly related to connection issues and digital literacy.
Trends and patterns of the healthy life expectancy of the elderly in China
Authors: Dong Junhan , Li Qiang
Published: August 2024

This study analyzes the healthy life expectancy (HLE) of older adults in China since the 1990s, utilizing data from China's sixth (2010) and seventh (2020) National Population Censuses and the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), conducted from 1998 to 2018. By applying the Sullivan method for estimating HLE, the study examines trends in HLE and assesses the impacts of mortality and morbidity rates on HLE through counterfactual analysis. It differentiates measurements of health status: the census uses self-reported ability of living independently, while CLHLS uses the activities of daily living (ADL) scale. The results from both data sources indicate an increase in HLE as a proportion of overall life expectancy for the elderly in China since the 1990s, which suggests a “compression of morbidity”. The CLHLS findings align with those based on the census data. Monitoring HLE is crucial for tracking the health status of the elderly in China and can offer valuable insights for policymakers and healthcare providers in enacting strategies that enhance the health and overall well-being of the senior population.
Can Internet Development Mitigate the Problem of Resource Misallocation? Evidence from China
Authors: Zhang Weiwei , Bo Lan , Liu Zhizhong , Wang Manqing
Published: August 2024

The long-standing sloppy economic growth model that has led to resource misallocation between regions and industries has caused China’s economic development to enter a period of decelerated growth even though it has soared to the top class of the global economy. The issue of resource misallocation in China has been examined in previous studies, but less focus has been placed on whether resource misallocation has spatial spillover effect and the internet’s involvement in it. To fill in the gaps in the literature, this study uses data from China’s inter-provincial panel from 2010 to 2019 to measure four aspects of internet development: software and information technology services, key internet indicators, service capacity of the telecommunication industry, and the communication capacity of the telecommunication industry. This is done by using a multi-factor estimation method to approximate the actual real-world situation. With an appropriate selection of spatial matrix and threshold variables, a non-dynamic panel threshold model is built to empirically investigate the impact of internet development on resource mismatch. There are several significant findings in this study. First, internet development in China differs and correlates spatially. Second, as internet development advances, there is a significant negative impact on resource misallocation within the region itself and spillover effect to other regions. Third, there is regional variation in how resource misallocation is affected by internet development. Fourth, the connection between internet development and resource misallocation is threshold-dependent on the level of governmental support. To overcome the resource bottleneck and achieve coordinated development, we suggest that local governments should step up their support for the development of internet infrastructure, and underdeveloped regions should fully utilize the spillover effect of internet resources from developed regions.

Jel Classification: R11; R15; C31
Teachers’ and Students’ Beliefs Towards Universal Design for Learning Framework: A Scoping Review
Authors: Han Chen , Lei Jianghua
Published: August 2024

Recently, promoting inclusive education has become the central initiative for governments worldwide. The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework has been developed to address students’ differences and meet their learning needs. Although some literature has examined the effectiveness of the UDL framework in teaching practices, little research has explored teachers’ and students’ beliefs toward the UDL framework. This study used a scoping review methodology to locate previous studies about teachers’ and students’ beliefs regarding the UDL framework published in peer-reviewed journals in the past 10 years (2014–2023). The data analysis conceptualized three themes and indicated that most teachers and students held positive beliefs toward the UDL framework and thought that the UDL framework could support inclusive practices. However, some barriers, such as teachers’ misconceptions, inflexible curriculum, and inadequate professionals, influenced teachers’ implementation of the UDL framework. The implications for future research and the recommendations for teachers’ practices and professional development are also provided.
Effect of Different Screw Materials on ACL Reconstruction With the Tape Locking Screw Technique: A Retrospective Study From the FAST Cohort
Authors: Sezer Hasan Basri , Bohu Yoann , Hardy Alexandre , Coughlan Adam , Lefevre Nicolas
Published: August 2024

Background:

Screws for graft fixation are available in 3 different materials for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) with the Tape Locking Screw (TLS) technique: titanium, poly-l-lactic acid bioabsorbable, and polyetheretherketone (PEEK).

Purpose:

To compare the effect of the 3 different fixation materials on graft and implant survival after ACLR with the TLS technique.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Included were 521 patients from the French Prospective ACL Study (FAST) cohort who underwent primary surgical ACLR with the TLS technique. Patients were divided into 3 groups depending on the type of screw material used: titanium (TLS-T group), poly-l-lactic acid bioabsorbable (TLS-B group), or PEEK (TLS-P group). The primary endpoint was a retear within 2 years after ACLR. The secondary endpoints were complication rate, return to sports rate, and functional scores. Objective and subjective functional scores—including the International Knee Documentation Committee, the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and the Lysholm score—were evaluated preoperatively and at the 2-year follow-up. Pain was assessed with the KOOS-Pain subscore recorded pre- and postoperatively every 6 months up to 2 years. Patient satisfaction was recorded at the 2-year follow-up.

Results:

No significant differences between the study groups were found in retear rates (4.4%, 4.5%, and 4.3% in the TLS-T, TLS-P, and TLS-B groups 2 years after surgery) or subjective and objective outcomes. The TLS-T group had the lowest rate of intraoperative implant-related complications (0.9%) compared with the TLS-P (4.3%) and TLS-B (7.7%) groups. Young age was a significant risk factor for retear in the TLS-T ( P = .03) and TLS-B ( P = .0001) groups, while a high level of sports was found to be a significant risk factor in the TLS-P ( P = .04) group. All functional scores improved significantly at the 2-year follow-up ( P < .0001), with no significant group difference. The KOOS-Pain subscore improved continuously with no significant group difference. The rate of return to preinjury sports was between 43.4% and 58.6%. The rate of highly satisfied patients at the final follow-up was between 86.2% and 91.8%.

Conclusion:

There was no difference in retear rate or objective and subjective functional scores between implant materials for TLS ACLR in this study.
Translation and Validation of a Vietnamese Version of the Colorectal Cancer Subscale for the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Colorectal Questionnaire
Authors: Tran Thi Hong Hanh , Thanasilp Sureeporn , Pudtong Noppamat
Published: August 2024

Introduction

There is a need for a validated Vietnamese translation of the colorectal cancer subscale (CCS) of the functional assessment of cancer therapy–colorectal (FACT-C) questionnaire to assess colorectal cancer-specific concerns of Vietnamese persons with colorectal cancer post-surgery.

Objectives

This study aims to translate and validate the CCS of FACT-C questionnaire in Vietnamese persons with colorectal cancer post-surgery.

Methods

The nine-item CCS was translated following the functional assessment of chronic illness therapy (FACIT) translation methodology guidelines. Psychometric properties of a Vietnamese version of the CCS were evaluated with a sample of 135 participants who were randomly selected from three hospitals in Vietnam, utilizing a multistage sampling method. Construct validity was examined through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and reliability was assessed using Cronbach's α coefficients. These measures aimed to validate the psychometric properties of the Vietnamese nine-item CCS version. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze participant demographics with SPSS.

Results

The translated version demonstrated equivalence to the original English version. CFA results for the CCS Vietnamese version indicated that all 9 items were consistent with a unidimensional questionnaire (χ2 = 69.669, p > .05, df = 27, χ2/df = 2.58, RMSEA = .074, CFI = .917, TLI = .901, SRMR = .057). The Cronbach's α coefficient was .86, indicating high reliability. The Correlated Item-Total Correlation for the 9 items ranged from .39 to .76.

Conclusion

The nine-item CCS Vietnamese version demonstrated appropriate translation, establishing its validity and reliability in measuring colorectal cancer-related concerns within the health-related quality of life among Vietnamese persons post-surgery.
Gene Therapies for Sickle Cell Disease
Authors: Weaver Salome Bwayo , Singh Divita , Wilson Kierra M.
Published: August 2024

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a prevalent autosomal recessive hemoglobinopathy affecting millions worldwide, particularly individuals of African ancestry. Sickle cell disease is a lifelong condition associated with a negative impact on quality of life and mortality, causing complications such as painful vaso-occlusive episodes, acute chest syndrome, stroke, long-term anemia, and end-organ damage. Currently, there are 4 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs, including hydroxyurea, l-glutamine, voxelotor, and crizanlizumab, which work to alleviate symptoms and prevent complications associated with SCD, albeit without addressing the underlying cause of SCD. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) has shown promise as a curative approach to SCD but is limited by donor availability and associated complications. This paper aims to review the efficacy and safety of exagamglogene autotemcel and lovotibeglogene autotemcel for managing patients with SCD, including their place in therapy, cost, and accessibility in clinical care. Data Sources: The authors searched PubMed and Medline from 2017 to 2024, for primary literature on both exagamglogene autotemcel and lovotibeglogene autotemcel. Results: The authors identified relevant studies and summarized the data on the two gene therapies. Conclusion: Exagamglogene autotemcel and lovotibeglogene autotemcel are two management strategies that address the underlying cause of SCD and provide curative potential for patients with SCD.
Aspirin attenuates the detrimental effects of TNF-α on BMMSC stemness by modulating the YAP-SMAD7 axis
Authors: Wang Xudong , Liu Yong , Zhang Shiyong , Zheng Linli , Kang Yunze , Sheng Puyi , Zhang Ziji
Published: August 2024

Background

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) are commonly used for cell transplantation to treat refractory diseases. However, the presence of inflammatory factors, such as tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), at the transplantation site severely compromises the stemness of BMMSCs, thereby reducing the therapeutic effect of cell transplantation. Aspirin (AS) is a drug that has been in use for over a century and has a wide range of effects, including the regulation of cell proliferation, multidirectional differentiation, and immunomodulatory properties of stem cells. However, it is still unclear whether AS can delay the damaging effects of TNF-α on BMMSC stemness.

Methods

This study investigated the effects of AS and TNF-α on BMMSC stemness and the molecular mechanisms using colony formation assay, western blot, qRT-PCR, and overexpression or knockdown of YAP and SMAD7.

Results

The results demonstrated that TNF-α inhibited cell proliferation, the expression of stemness, osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation markers of BMMSCs. Treatment with AS was shown to mitigate the TNF-α-induced damage to BMMSC stemness. Mechanistic studies revealed that AS may reverse the damage caused by TNF-α on BMMSC stemness by upregulating YAP and inhibiting the expression of SMAD7.

Conclusion

AS can attenuate the damaging effects of TNF-α on BMMSC stemness by regulating the YAP-SMAD7 axis. These findings are expected to promote the application of AS to improve the efficacy of stem cell therapy.
Epimedin A inhibits the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signalling axis and osteoclast differentiation by negatively regulating TRAF6 expression
Authors: Li Jun , Wei Jia J. , Wu Cen H. , Zou Tao , Zhao Hong , Huo Tian Q. , Wei Cheng J. , Yang Ting
Published: August 2024

Background

Epimedin A (EA) has been shown to suppress extensive osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption, but the effects of EA remain incompletely understood. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of EA on osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption to explore the corresponding signalling pathways.

Methods

Rats were randomly assigned to the sham operation or ovariectomy group, and alendronate was used for the positive control group. The therapeutic effect of EA on osteoporosis was systematically analysed by measuring bone mineral density and bone biomechanical properties. In vitro, RAW264.7 cells were treated with receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) to induce osteoclast differentiation. Cell viability assays, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining, and immunofluorescence were used to elucidate the effects of EA on osteoclastogenesis. In addition, the expression of bone differentiation-related proteins or genes was evaluated using Western blot analysis or quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), respectively.

Results

After 3 months of oral EA intervention, ovariectomized rats exhibited increased bone density, relative bone volume, trabecular thickness, and trabecular number, as well as reduced trabecular separation. EA dose-dependently normalized bone density and trabecular microarchitecture in the ovariectomized rats. Additionally, EA inhibited the expression of TRAP and NFATc1 in the ovariectomized rats. Moreover, the in vitro results indicated that EA inhibits osteoclast differentiation by suppressing the TRAF6/PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway. Further studies revealed that the effect on osteoclast differentiation, which was originally inhibited by EA, was reversed when the TRAF6 gene was overexpressed.

Conclusions

The findings indicated that EA can negatively regulate osteoclastogenesis by inhibiting the TRAF6/PI3K/AKT/NF-κB axis and that ameliorating ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in rats with EA may be a promising potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of osteoporosis.
Monitoring response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in triple negative breast cancer using circulating tumor DNA
Authors: Chen Jennifer H. , Addanki Sridevi , Roy Dhruvajyoti , Bassett Roland , Kalashnikova Ekaterina , Spickard Erik , Kuerer Henry M. , Meas Salyna , Sarli Vanessa N. , Korkut Anil , White Jason B. , Rauch Gaiane M. , Tripathy Debu , Arun Banu K. , Barcenas Carlos H. , Yam Clinton , Sethi Himanshu , Rodriguez Angel A. , Liu Minetta C. , Moulder Stacy L. , Lucci Anthony
Published: August 2024

Background

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype with poor prognosis. We aimed to determine whether circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and circulating tumor cell (CTC) could predict response and long-term outcomes to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

Methods

Patients with TNBC were enrolled between 2017–2021 at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX). Serial plasma samples were collected at four timepoints: pre-NAC (baseline), 12-weeks after NAC (mid-NAC), after NAC/prior to surgery (post-NAC), and one-year after surgery. ctDNA was quantified using a tumor-informed ctDNA assay (SignateraTM, Natera, Inc.) and CTC enumeration using CellSearch. Wilcoxon and Fisher’s exact tests were used for comparisons between groups and Kaplan–Meier analysis used for survival outcomes.

Results

In total, 37 patients were enrolled. The mean age was 50 and majority of patients had invasive ductal carcinoma (34, 91.9%) with clinical T2, (25, 67.6%) node-negative disease (21, 56.8%). Baseline ctDNA was detected in 90% (27/30) of patients, of whom 70.4% (19/27) achieved ctDNA clearance by mid-NAC. ctDNA clearance at mid-NAC was significantly associated with pathologic complete response (p = 0.02), whereas CTC clearance was not (p = 0.52). There were no differences in overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) with positive baseline ctDNA and CTC. However, positive ctDNA at mid-NAC was significantly associated with worse OS and RFS (p = 0.0002 and p = 0.0034, respectively).

Conclusions

Early clearance of ctDNA served as a predictive and prognostic marker in TNBC. Personalized ctDNA monitoring during NAC may help predict response and guide treatment.
Concurrent de novo MACF1 mutation and inherited 16p13.11 microduplication in a preterm newborn with hypotonia, joint hyperlaxity and multiple congenital malformations: a case report
Authors: Mi Lanlan , Yao Ruen , Guo Weiwei , Wang Jian , Zhang Guoqing , Ye Xiuxia
Published: August 2024

Background

The MACF1 gene, found on chromosome 1p34.3, is vital for controlling cytoskeleton dynamics, cell movement, growth, and differentiation. It consists of 101 exons, spanning over 270 kb. The 16p13.11 microduplication syndrome results from the duplication of 16p13.11 chromosome copies and is associated with various neurodevelopmental and physiological abnormalities. Both MACF1 and 16p13.11 microduplication have significant impacts on neural development, potentially leading to nerve damage or neurological diseases. This study presents a unique case of a patient simultaneously experiencing a de novo MACF1 mutation and a hereditary 16p13.11 microduplication, which has not been reported previously.

Case presentation

In this report, we describe a Chinese preterm newborn girl exhibiting the typical characteristics of 16.13.11 microduplication syndrome. These features include developmental delay, respiratory issues, feeding problems, muscle weakness, excessive joint movement, and multiple congenital abnormalities. Through whole-exome sequencing, we identified a disease-causing mutation in the MACF1 gene (c.15266T > C / p. Met5089Thr). Additionally, after microarray analysis, we confirmed the presence of a 16p13.11 microduplication (chr16:14,916,289 − 16,315,688), which was inherited from the mother.

Conclusions

The patient’s clinical presentation, marked by muscle weakness and multiple birth defects, may be attributed to both the de novo MACF1 mutation and the 16p13.11 duplication, which could have further amplified her severe symptoms. Genetic testing for individuals with complex clinical manifestations can offer valuable insights for diagnosis and serve as a reference for genetic counseling for both patients and their families.
Measuring spatial inequalities in maternal and child mortalities in Pakistan: evidence from geographically weighted regression
Authors: Muhammad Farzana Sher , Shahabudin Sharifah Muhairah , Talib Muzalwana Binti Abdul
Published: August 2024

Background

In developing countries, the death probability of a child and mother is more significant than in developed countries; these inequalities in health outcomes are unfair. The present study encompasses a spatial analysis of maternal and child mortalities in Pakistan. The study aims to estimate the District Mortality Index (DMI), measure the inequality ratio and slope, and ascertain the spatial impact of numerous factors on DMI scores across Pakistani districts.

Method

This study used micro-level household datasets from multiple indicator cluster surveys (MICS) to estimate the DMI. To find out how different the DMI scores were, the inequality ratio and slope were used. This study further utilized spatial autocorrelation tests to determine the magnitude and location of the spatial dependence of the clusters with high and low mortality rates. The Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) model was also applied to examine the spatial impact of socioeconomic, environmental, health, and housing attributes on DMI.

Results

The inequality ratio for DMI showed that the upper decile districts are 16 times more prone to mortalities than districts in the lower decile, and the districts of Baluchistan depicted extreme spatial heterogeneity in terms of DMI. The findings of the Local Indicator of Spatial Association (LISA) and Moran's test confirmed spatial homogeneity in all mortalities among the districts in Pakistan. The H–H clusters of maternal mortality and DMI were in Baluchistan, and the H–H clusters of child mortality were seen in Punjab. The results of GWR showed that the wealth index quintile has a significant spatial impact on DMI; however, improved sanitation, handwashing practices, and antenatal care adversely influenced DMI scores.

Conclusion

The findings reveal a significant disparity in DMI and spatial relationships among all mortalities in Pakistan's districts. Additionally, socioeconomic, environmental, health, and housing variables have an impact on DMI. Notably, spatial proximity among individuals who are at risk of death occurs in areas with elevated mortality rates. Policymakers may mitigate these mortalities by focusing on vulnerable zones and implementing measures such as raising public awareness, enhancing healthcare services, and improving access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities.
Deficits and opportunities, pivots and shifts for scaling-up voluntary medical male circumcision in Uganda: a qualitative reflexive thematic analysis study
Authors: Byabagambi John Bekiita , Hollingsworth Bruce , Limmer Mark
Published: August 2024

Despite voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) being a cost-effective intervention for preventing HIV transmission, its scale-up has faced challenges. Several interventions to address these challenges in priority countries, including Uganda, have not yielded the desired results. This cross-sectional qualitative study aimed to explore the factors that affect the demand for VMMC and identify possible solutions. Semi-structured phone interviews were conducted with 29 males aged at least 18 and not more than 65 drawn randomly from a database representative of the general population maintained by an independent research organisation. Reflexive thematic analysis was conducted, and data analysis was done using NVivo version 12. The results were presented in narrative format with supporting quotes. The study received ethical and regulatory clearance to be conducted in Uganda. The average age of the respondents was 28 years. Almost all respondents had some education, and most lived in rural areas. Two themes were generated, namely, 1) deficits and opportunities for VMMC, which are issues that currently hinder the uptake of VMMC but, if addressed, would lead to better demand, and 2) pivots and shifts for VMMC, which are changes that need to be made to improve the uptake of VMMC. We found that several challenges, including myths, misconceptions, health system gaps, and uncertainties about the postoperative period, hindered the uptake of VMMC. Pivots and shifts for improving the uptake of VMMC include intensifying VMMC campaigns, addressing inequities, and addressing access barriers. We concluded that several challenges, including myths and misconceptions, health system-related gaps, and uncertainties in the post-circumcision period, persist and negatively impact the scale-up of VMMC in Uganda. VMMC beneficiaries have plausible proposals for addressing challenges. The Uganda Ministry of Health should address the myths, misconceptions, health system-related gaps, and uncertainties about the postoperative period and should involve VMMC beneficiaries in reviewing interventions to address gaps.
Effects of dietary supplementation with Bacillus velezensis on the growth performance, body composition, antioxidant, immune-related gene expression, and histology of Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei
Authors: Abdelsamad Arwa E. M. , Said Rashad E. M. , Assas Mona , Gaafar Alkhateib Y. , Hamouda Awatef H. , Mahdy Aldoushy
Published: August 2024

In recent decades, probiotics have become an acceptable aquaculture strategy for shrimp growth promotion and immune modulation. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Bacillus velezensis on Litopenaeus vannamei following a 60-day trial. L. vannamei (3 ± 0.4 g) were distributed into four groups with three replicates per group and fed an isonitrogenous diet supplemented with B. velezensis at 0, 1 × 107, 1 × 108, and 1 × 109 CFU/g, which were defined as the control, G1, G2, and G3 groups, respectively. B. velezensis significantly improved the growth, survival rate, and proximate body composition of L. vannamei (P < 0.05). All groups fed the B. velezensis diet showed significant increases in digestive enzymes (lipase, amylase, and protease), superoxide dismutase (SOD; G3), catalase (CAT; G3, G2, and G1), lysozyme activity (G3 and G2), immunoglobulin M (IgM), bactericidal activity BA%, alkaline phosphatase (AKP), and acid phosphatase (ACP) compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Malondialdehyde (MDA), triglycerides, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were significantly decreased in all groups fed B. velezensis diet compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The expression levels of SOD (G3), LZM, and serine proteinase genes were significantly higher in L. vannamei fed diets containing B. velezensis than in the control group (P < 0.05). This is the first study to address the effects of B. velezensis on the expression of the LZM and serine proteinase genes in L. vannamei. L. vannamei fed diet containing B. velezensis had more B and R cells in its hepatopancreas than did the control group. In conclusion, B. velezensis is a promising probiotic that can be safely added to the diet of L. vannamei with 1 × 109 CFU/g. Its application had a positive influence on the health status, survival rate, nutritional value, and immunity of L. vannamei.
Benchmarking computational methods for single-cell chromatin data analysis
Authors: Luo Siyuan , Germain Pierre-Luc , Robinson Mark D. , von Meyenn Ferdinand
Published: August 2024

Background

Single-cell chromatin accessibility assays, such as scATAC-seq, are increasingly employed in individual and joint multi-omic profiling of single cells. As the accumulation of scATAC-seq and multi-omics datasets continue, challenges in analyzing such sparse, noisy, and high-dimensional data become pressing. Specifically, one challenge relates to optimizing the processing of chromatin-level measurements and efficiently extracting information to discern cellular heterogeneity. This is of critical importance, since the identification of cell types is a fundamental step in current single-cell data analysis practices.

Results

We benchmark 8 feature engineering pipelines derived from 5 recent methods to assess their ability to discover and discriminate cell types. By using 10 metrics calculated at the cell embedding, shared nearest neighbor graph, or partition levels, we evaluate the performance of each method at different data processing stages. This comprehensive approach allows us to thoroughly understand the strengths and weaknesses of each method and the influence of parameter selection.

Conclusions

Our analysis provides guidelines for choosing analysis methods for different datasets. Overall, feature aggregation, SnapATAC, and SnapATAC2 outperform latent semantic indexing-based methods. For datasets with complex cell-type structures, SnapATAC and SnapATAC2 are preferred. With large datasets, SnapATAC2 and ArchR are most scalable.
Towards an understanding of the ethics of electronic consent in clinical trials
Authors: Sahan Katherine , Wijesurendra Rohan , Preiss David , Mafham Marion , Sheehan Mark
Published: August 2024

There are good practical reasons to use electronic consent (e-consent) in randomised trials, especially when conducting large-scale clinical trials to answer population-level health research questions. However, determining ethical reasons for e-consent is not so clear and depends on a proper understanding of what e-consent means when used in clinical trials and its ethical significance. Here we focus on four features of ethical significance which give rise to a range of ethical considerations relating to e-consent and merit further focused ethics research.
Comparisons of magnetic resonance imaging, histopathological and Ki-67 labeling index findings in a single myxofibrosarcoma: a case report
Authors: Tsujimura Ryusuke , Uto Kenta , Nakano Noriyuki , Sato Yusuke , Kobashi Yuko , Kojima Toshio , Hao Hiroyuki
Published: August 2024

Background

Myxofibrosarcoma is a myxoid soft tissue sarcoma showing T2 high intensity on magnetic resonance imaging. However, myxofibrosarcoma is a heterogeneous sarcoma with both myxoid and cellular portions. Magnetic resonance imaging findings were obtained MRI findings for comparison with histological and Ki-67 immunohistochemical features, in different portions of one myxofibrosarcoma.

Case presentation

Magnetic resonance imaging observations were compared with gross pathological and microscopic findings of a myxofibrosarcoma from a 50-year-old Japanese female. The Ki-67 labeling indices of different portions of the tumor, that is, the myxoid, cellular, and histologically confirmed infiltrative margin portions (pathological tail sign), were compared. The T2 low intensity area was more cellular than the T2 high intensity area, while the cellular portion had a significantly higher Ki-67 index than the myxoid portion (p = 0.0313). The portions with the pathological tail sign had a significantly higher Ki-67 labeling index than those without this sign (p = 0.0313).

Conclusions

More cellular portions of a myxofibrosarcoma correspond to more areas of the tumor showing aggressive features. Furthermore, our data also support the hypothesis of high aggressiveness being associated with the pathological tail sign in myxofibrosarcoma. To our knowledge, this is the first case report to describe comparisons among the imaging findings, histological features, and Ki-67 immunohistochemistry results for different portions of one myxofibrosarcoma.
IQOS point-of-sale marketing: a comparison between Arab and Jewish neighborhoods in Israel
Authors: Khayat Amal , Levine Hagai , Berg Carla J. , Abroms Lorien C. , Duan Zongshuan , Wang Yan , LoParco Cassidy R. , Elbaz Daniel , Cui Yuxian , Bar-Zeev Yael
Published: August 2024

Background

Philip Morris International’s IQOS, with its heatsticks (HEETS), is the heated tobacco product with the largest global market share. IQOS and/or electronic cigarettes use rate is higher among Arabs vs. Jews in Israel. This paper aims to compare IQOS point-of-sale marketing strategies, and regulatory compliance in Arab vs. Jewish neighborhoods in Israel.

Methods

We integrated data from two separate studies including a cross-sectional survey with IQOS retailers (December 2020–April 2021) and audits of points-of-sale that sold IQOS/HEETS (April 2021–July 2021) in 5 large cities in Israel, after marketing restrictions including a points-of-sale display ban and plain packaging became effective in Israel (January 2020). The survey included 69 points-of-sale (21 Arab, 48 Jewish neighborhoods) and the audits included 129 points-of-sale (48 Arab, 81 Jewish neighborhoods). Comparisons of IQOS marketing strategies between points-of-sale in Arab and Jewish neighborhoods were conducted using Chi-Square test, Fisher’s exact test or Mann–Whitney test, as appropriate. Thematic analysis was used to analyze open-ended questions.

Results

The survey showed that most marketing strategies, such as promotions to customers, were uniform across points-of-sale in Arab and Jewish neighborhoods. The most noteworthy differences were that a higher proportion of retailers from Arab neighborhoods were invited to IQOS parties (47.6% vs. 21.7%, p < 0.05) and reported personal communication with a Philip Morris International’s representative (80.0% vs. 51.2%, p < 0.05). Additionally, Philip Morris International’s representatives assisted points-of-sale in both Arab and Jewish neighborhoods in implementing the display ban by providing free compliant cabinets and product placement instructions, and directly interacted with customers. The audits showed that points-of-sale in Arab neighborhoods were more compliant with the display ban (25.5% vs. 8.8%, p < 0.05), but less compliant with plain packaging (62.5% vs. 79.3%, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

There were not many notable differences in IQOS marketing across points-of-sale in Arab vs. Jewish neighborhoods, but Philip Morris International utilized marketing elements of cultural significance, especially for points-of-sale in Arab neighborhoods, such as more personal communication and invitation to social events. Continuous surveillance of tobacco points-of-sale marketing and legislation compliance is needed, with a special focus on demographic/location-based differences.
Mental health apps within the healthcare system: associations with stigma and mental health literacy
Authors: Fürtjes Sophia , Al-Assad Mariam , Kische Hanna , Beesdo-Baum Katja
Published: August 2024

Background

Mental health apps (MHA) as a new form of self-help have gained popularity over the last years. Tentative evidence has suggested that MHA might also present a first step into the help-seeking process, because their anonymity circumvents stigma. Using MHA might also increase mental health literacy and reduce stigma through psychoeducation, which could encourage formal help-seeking. To date, it remains unclear how MHA usage relates to stigma, mental health literacy, and utilization of professional help within the public healthcare system.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey withN = 1,263 individuals from the general population (mean age 32.56 ± 11.51, 58.2% female) and employed structural equation modeling to investigate associations between stigma (against individuals with psychological disorders and against help-seeking), mental health literacy, MHA usage, and service utilization within the public healthcare system for mental health problems.

Results

MHA usage is high within the general population (40.5% of participants). Results indicate that higher stigma against help-seeking is associated with and increased likelihood of MHA usage, which in turn is positively associated with increased likelihood of service utilization. Symptoms of psychological disorder were associated with higher likelihood of service utilization, but not MHA usage.

Conclusions

It can be concluded that MHA appeal especially to individuals with higher stigma against help-seeking and therefore might provide an opportunity to reach underserviced individuals. At the current time, MHA usage appears to take place mostly in a preventative manner or as a supplement to treatment. Better integration into the public healthcare system might help to exploit both preventative and interventional benefits of MHA.
Transcriptomic changes reveal hypoxic stress response in submerged seeds of maize (Zea mays L.)
Authors: Kim Ji Won , Hong Seongmin , Go Jiyun , Park Jin Seong , Yi Gibum
Published: August 2024

Maize is highly sensitive to waterlogging stress, and seeds fail to germinate under hypoxic conditions induced by submergence, leading to severe yield losses. We conducted a comparative transcriptome analysis during the initial stages of seed germination, exploring aerobic and hypoxic conditions in two inbred lines, B73 and Okcheon Chal-1. Notably, significant differences emerged between aerobic and hypoxic conditions on the first day of germination, particularly in genes associated with fermentation and phytohormone regulation. However, consistent transcriptomic changes were observed in primary metabolic pathways such as glycolysis, the TCA cycle, and the pentose phosphate pathway. These differences strongly correlate with each other, illustrating the efficacy of the hypoxic response for survival in water. Furthermore, this suggests that germinating seeds serve as a promising model for studying plant hypoxia responses with controlled environmental conditions. Insights from this study contribute to understanding the fundamental mechanisms of hypoxia response and hold promise for developing strategies to cultivate waterlogging-tolerant maize cultivars.
Microbial assimilatory sulfate reduction-mediated H2S: an overlooked role in Crohn’s disease development
Authors: Luo Wanrong , Zhao Min , Dwidar Mohammed , Gao Yang , Xiang Liyuan , Wu Xueting , Medema Marnix H. , Xu Shu , Li Xiaozhi , Schäfer Hendrik , Chen Minhu , Feng Rui , Zhu Yijun
Published: August 2024

Background

H2S imbalances in the intestinal tract trigger Crohn's disease (CD), a chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal disorder characterized by microbiota dysbiosis and barrier dysfunction. However, a comprehensive understanding of H2S generation in the gut, and the contributions of both microbiota and host to systemic H2S levels in CD, remain to be elucidated. This investigation aimed to enhance comprehension regarding the sulfidogenic potential of both the human host and the gut microbiota.

Results

Our analysis of a treatment-naive CD cohorts' fecal metagenomic and biopsy metatranscriptomic data revealed reduced expression of host endogenous H2S generation genes alongside increased abundance of microbial exogenous H2S production genes in correlation with CD. While prior studies focused on microbial H2S production via dissimilatory sulfite reductases, our metagenomic analysis suggests the assimilatory sulfate reduction (ASR) pathway is a more significant contributor in the human gut, given its high prevalence and abundance. Subsequently, we validated our hypothesis experimentally by generating ASR-deficient E. coli mutants ∆cysJ and ∆cysM through the deletion of sulfite reductase and L-cysteine synthase genes. This alteration significantly affected bacterial sulfidogenic capacity, colon epithelial cell viability, and colonic mucin sulfation, ultimately leading to colitis in murine model. Further study revealed that gut microbiota degrade sulfopolysaccharides and assimilate sulfate to produce H2S via the ASR pathway, highlighting the role of sulfopolysaccharides in colitis and cautioning against their use as food additives.

Conclusions

Our study significantly advances understanding of microbial sulfur metabolism in the human gut, elucidating the complex interplay between diet, gut microbiota, and host sulfur metabolism. We highlight the microbial ASR pathway as an overlooked endogenous H2S producer and a potential therapeutic target for managing CD.
B cell academy of the gut: an update on gut associated germinal centre B cell dynamics
Authors: Wichmann Christopher , Wirthgen Elisa , Nowosad Carla R. , Däbritz Jan
Published: August 2024

Background

The gut is an environment in which the immune system closely interacts with a vast number of foreign antigens, both inert such as food and alive, from the viral, bacterial, fungal and protozoal microbiota. Within this environment, germinal centres, which are microanatomical structures where B cells affinity-mature, are chronically present and active.

Main Body

The functional mechanism by which gut-associated germinal centres contribute to gut homeostasis is not well understood. Additionally, the role of T cells in class switching to immunoglobulin A and the importance of B cell affinity maturation in homeostasis remains elusive. Here, we provide a brief overview of the dynamics of gut-associated germinal centres, T cell dependency in Immunoglobulin A class switching, and the current state of research regarding the role of B cell selection in germinal centres in the gut under steady-state conditions in gnotobiotic mouse models and complex microbiota, as well as in response to immunization and microbial colonization. Furthermore, we briefly link those processes to immune system maturation and relevant diseases.

Conclusion

B cell response at mucosal surfaces consists of a delicate interplay of many dynamic factors, including the microbiota and continuous B cell influx. The rapid turnover within gut-associated germinal centres and potential influences of an early-life window of immune system imprinting complicate B cell dynamics in the gut.
Internet of things and ensemble learning-based mental and physical fatigue monitoring for smart construction sites
Authors: Kim Bubryur , Sri Preethaa K. R. , Song Sujeen , Lukacs R. R. , An Jinwoo , Chen Zengshun , An Euijung , Kim Sungho
Published: August 2024

The construction industry substantially contributes to the economic growth of a country. However, it records a large number of workplace injuries and fatalities annually due to its hesitant adoption of automated safety monitoring systems. To address this critical concern, this study presents a real-time monitoring approach that uses the Internet of Things and ensemble learning. This study leverages wearable sensor technology, such as photoplethysmography and electroencephalography sensors, to continuously track the physiological parameters of construction workers. The sensor data is processed using an ensemble learning approach called the ChronoEnsemble Fatigue Analysis System (CEFAS), comprising deep autoregressive and temporal fusion transformer models, to accurately predict potential physical and mental fatigue. Comprehensive evaluation metrics, including mean square error, mean absolute scaled error, and symmetric mean absolute percentage error, demonstrated the superior prediction accuracy and reliability of the proposed model compared to standalone models. The ensemble learning model exhibited remarkable precision in predicting physical and mental fatigue, as evidenced by the mean square errors of 0.0008 and 0.0033, respectively. The proposed model promptly recognizes potential hazards and irregularities, considerably enhancing worker safety and reducing on-site risks.
A pilot feasibility study comparing large language models in extracting key information from ICU patient text records from an Irish population
Authors: Urquhart Emma , Ryan John , Hartigan Sean , Nita Ciprian , Hanley Ciara , Moran Peter , Bates John , Jooste Rachel , Judge Conor , Laffey John G. , Madden Michael G. , McNicholas Bairbre A.
Published: August 2024

Background

Artificial intelligence, through improved data management and automated summarisation, has the potential to enhance intensive care unit (ICU) care. Large language models (LLMs) can interrogate and summarise large volumes of medical notes to create succinct discharge summaries. In this study, we aim to investigate the potential of LLMs to accurately and concisely synthesise ICU discharge summaries.

Methods

Anonymised clinical notes from ICU admissions were used to train and validate a prompting structure in three separate LLMs (ChatGPT, GPT-4 API and Llama 2) to generate concise clinical summaries. Summaries were adjudicated by staff intensivists on ability to identify and appropriately order a pre-defined list of important clinical events as well as readability, organisation, succinctness, and overall rank.

Results

In the development phase, text from five ICU episodes was used to develop a series of prompts to best capture clinical summaries. In the testing phase, a summary produced by each LLM from an additional six ICU episodes was utilised for evaluation. Overall ability to identify a pre-defined list of important clinical events in the summary was 41.5 ± 15.2% for GPT-4 API, 19.2 ± 20.9% for ChatGPT and 16.5 ± 14.1% for Llama2 (p = 0.002). GPT-4 API followed by ChatGPT had the highest score to appropriately order a pre-defined list of important clinical events in the summary as well as readability, organisation, succinctness, and overall rank, whilst Llama2 scored lowest for all. GPT-4 API produced minor hallucinations, which were not present in the other models.

Conclusion

Differences exist in large language model performance in readability, organisation, succinctness, and sequencing of clinical events compared to others. All encountered issues with narrative coherence and omitted key clinical data and only moderately captured all clinically meaningful data in the correct order. However, these technologies suggest future potential for creating succinct discharge summaries.