bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Isaac Casaubon
Authors: Vince Máté
Published: March 2023

Isaac Casaubon (1559, Geneva–1614, London) has been widely regarded as the most significant classical scholar of his generation. More recently, his equally important contribution to the history of the early church and to theological controversy has received recognition. The son of Calvinist minister Arnaud Casaubon, he held university positions in Geneva (1582–1596) and Montpellier (1596–1599), was summoned to Paris (1599–1610) to subsequently serve as royal librarian to King Henri IV of France and, after his patron’s assassination, died in London as an advisor to King James I of England (1610–1614). His second wife Florence was the daughter of the influential printer-publisher Henri Estienne II. They lived happily and had at least seventeen children, including the Anglican minister and classical scholar Meric Casaubon. Isaac Casaubon is best known for his editions of classical Greek and Roman authors, his groundbreaking treatises on satire and other forms of classical literature, his biblical scholarship, his polemical writings against Ultramontane Catholics and especially the Jesuits, and his unusually well-preserved correspondence and private diary. Beyond his universally acknowledged Greek and Latin scholarship, he also studied Hebrew and Arabic, and knew modern languages to varying extents, including Italian and perhaps even some English. Casaubon knew and corresponded with scholars, printers, theologians, and statesmen throughout Europe, from Dublin and Bath in the west to Gdańsk and Kaliningrad in the east. After the monumental volume of Casaubon’s correspondence published in 1709, general interest in Casaubon waned, even as classical scholarship continued to build on Casaubon’s textual criticism and scholarship, until the publication of the Ephemerides in 1850, which prompted Mark Pattison to write his ever since unrivaled biography. According to Pattison, Casaubon was first and foremost a historian of ancient times and an editor of Greek and Roman authors, who was later in life lured into the murky waters of religious controversy and politics, where he was out of his depth. More recently, there has been a revival of interest in Casaubon’s work as a major figure of intellectual history and the history of scholarship, including conferences, edited volumes, and journal special issues (Erudition and the Republic of Letters 4.3), as well as monographs and editions. Recent scholarship has increasingly shown that Casaubon always had a strong interest in religion, to the extent that even pagan authors often gave him an opportunity to contemplate Biblical interpretation. He has always tried to play an active part in giving credibility as a scholar to what he believed to be the true religion, but was often reined in by Henri IV and his circle—until in England he had the opportunity to engage openly in debates with Catholics, especially Jesuits.
Poulain de la Barre, Francois
Authors: Reuter Martina , Parsio Tuomas
Published: March 2023

François Poulain (or Poullain) de la Barre (b. 1648–d. 1723) was born in Paris to wealthy Catholic parents. He earned his bachelor’s degree in theology at Sorbonne in 1666, but left university to explore a secular career as a writer. He returned to theology and was ordained a Catholic priest in 1679, after which he served as a curate in Picardy, an area with a large Protestant population. Poulain underwent two major conversions during his lifetime: from the Scholasticism of Sorbonne to Cartesian philosophy in the 1660s and from Catholicism to Protestantism in the 1680s. The latter conversion made him resettle in Geneva, where he had a family and a teaching career. Poulain is best known for his three treatises on women and equality, On the Equality of the Two Sexes (1673), On the Education of Ladies (1674), and On the Excellence of Men (1675), but it is fair to say that all his writings were guided by some practical aim. He wanted to bring about equality between the sexes, but also to advocate a new Cartesian approach to philosophy, to give advice on language use, and to defend rational theology in the tense times of religious persecution and upheaval created by rivalling denominations of Christianity. Poulain’s thought was deeply influenced by Descartes’ methods of doubt and scientific reasoning, by his criticism of prejudice and Scholastic science, and by his distinction between mind and body and his mechanistic concept of body. Still, like many Cartesians, Poulain was an undogmatic follower of Descartes, and he considerably extended the realm of Cartesian philosophy by applying Descartes’ methodological insights to social and political issues such as the subjugation of women. Poulain also revised Descartes’ philosophical method by advocating a turn from solitary meditation toward joint conversations. Scholarship on Poulain has focused on him as a Cartesian philosopher and early defender of the equality of the sexes. Many studies combine these topics and examine his writings as articulations of early modern Cartesian feminism. There is also a small but vital number of scholars publishing mostly in French on Poulain’s writings about language and theology. Though writing before the times of explicit demands for women’s political rights and well before the coinage of the term feminism, Poulain deserves the title of feminist in the sense that he developed a detailed analysis of many different aspects of the subjugation of women by male power.
Battle of Plassey, 1757
Authors: Roy Kaushik
Published: March 2023

The battle of Plassey was fought in a mango orchard on the bank of the Hugli River on 23 June 1757, between the British East India Company’s force led by Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Clive against the Bengal Nawabi (Muslim regional polity) Army commanded by the Bengal Nawab (Muslim ruler) Siraj-ud-daulah. This battle is considered to be a turning point in the history of the modern world. The battle was brief but the consequences proved to be far reaching. Despite the volume of ink that has flowed as regards Plassey, historians are still debating over various issues concerning the battle. Was the armed clash between the Company and the Bengal Nawabi inevitable? And who was responsible for this encounter: the “debauch” Siraj or the greedy Company traders? Was the defeat of Siraj foreordained? Did Plassey result in Bengal’s economic decline? Did Plassey signify the foundation stone of British rule in India which gave rise to the largest empire in the nineteenth century? We are clear on one ground. In terms of battle casualties, Plassey was a marginal affair. Only five hundred soldiers on the nawab’s side and fifty in Clive’s army were casualties. However, this armed confrontation’s effect on the social, political, and economic spheres of both Britain and India were enormous. In fact, one British official, just after this battle, coined the term that a “revolution” had indeed occurred in Bengal. The Urdu and Persian speaking Indians used the term “inqilab” (an upsurge that resulted in complete break with the past). Again, it would be simplistic to accept that Plassey was a binary struggle between the British and the Indians. Another European power, the French, were also involved. Plassey also had immense consequences on the trading activities and political interests of the Dutch and French in South Asia. The different dimensions regarding the cause, course, and consequences of the “decisive” battle of Plassey are discussed in the following sections.
Allen Tate
Authors: Kreyling Michael
Published: March 2023

John Orley Allen Tate was born in Winchester, Kentucky, in 1899. He died in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1979. He devoted his three-quarters of the twentieth century, with nearly single-minded passion, to becoming a man of letters. There have been few figures in the history of American letters who have striven so fiercely for that title and left both wreckage and achievement along the way; Edgar Allan Poe is another, and Tate wrote about him as “our cousin.” Tate’s undergraduate education at Vanderbilt University in Nashville (1918–1923) is usually considered the initial stage of his quest. There he met Robert Penn Warren, with whom he started a modernist literary crusade, as well as Donald Davidson and the more senior John Crowe Ransom, against whose traditionalist bulwark Tate mounted an assault. Edgy and argumentative criticism became thereafter a constant in Tate’s literary career. That career is reflected in four major divisions or stages. First, an early engagement (not quite a full embrace) of his regional identity as a “son of the South.” Early poems such as “Ode to the Confederate Dead” and his essay in I’ll Take My Stand (1930), “Some Remarks on the Southern Religion,” position Tate as a critic of the South but still in the South. His only fiction, the novel The Fathers (1938; rev. 1960) deploys his ideological outlook as an array of characters swept up in the Civil War—a conflict Tate saw as ongoing in US social and political history. When the political and social agenda at the heart of the reactionary project of Southern Agrarianism failed to gain traction in the mid-1930s, Tate moved to poetry and literary criticism. This phase can be said to encircle the most significant achievements of Tate’s striving to become a modern man of letters. His critical essays, frequent reviews, and assessments of the contemporary status of poetry in the United States established him as a major player. He taught creative writing at Princeton University from 1939 to 1942; was appointed the first Chair of Poetry at the Library of Congress in 1943; edited the Sewanee Review from 1944 to 1946. In 1949 he was elected to the National Institute of Arts and Letters, and to the more selective American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1964. He won the Bollingen Prize in Poetry in 1956. He taught at the University of Minnesota from 1951 until his retirement in 1968. A third aspect of Tate’s importance to modern letters may be pinned to his conversion to Catholicism in 1950. He subsequently became a beacon in the “Catholic Revival.” He was awarded the Christian Culture Gold Medal in 1958. Jacques Maritain, recipient of the Gold Medal in 1942 and French ambassador to the Vatican 1945–1948, had been Tate’s sponsor at his baptism. A fourth aspect developed after Tate’s death from roots in his conservative political thought; he became a focal point in academic “culture wars.”
Ming Poetry 1368–1521: Era of Archaism
Authors: Lin Tsung-Cheng
Published: March 2023

Ming poetry not merely outnumbers the amount of Tang and Song poetry but also represents an important transition in Chinese poetics. Yuan Xingpei 袁行霈 divides Ming poetry into two major periods. The first period (1368–1521) was the age of archaism, during which the archaist poetic movement, led by Qian qizi 前七子 (the Earlier Seven Masters), became the predominant mode of literary thought. The second period (1522–1644) was the age of new poetic trends, which saw the interweaving of archaist and xingling性灵 (native sensibility) poetics and the poetic incorporation of literary devices and subject matter from popular literature such as drama and fiction. The first period can be further divided into three stages in accordance with the archaist movement. During the first stage (1368–1420), learning from pre-Yuan poetry was highly valued. Additionally, the poetry of this stage placed a special emphasis on the moral didactics advocated by Zhu Xi’s 朱熹 (b. 1130–d. 1200) Neo-Confucianism. The second stage spans the sixty years following the relocation of the imperial capital to Beijing in 1421. The taige ti台阁体 (secretariat style) dominated the first half of this stage, while Li Dongyang 李东阳 (b. 1447–d. 1516) and the Chaling 茶陵school dominated the second half. During this stage, archaism was further promoted among official-literati circles. The third stage, the age of the Earlier Seven Masters, lasted from 1481 to 1521, during which archaism reached the summit of its development. During this time, archaism also prevailed in regional literati circles. Minzhong shizi 闽中十子 (The Ten Talents of Min), archaist poets from the Fujian area, were the most important advocates of Yan Yu’s 严羽 (fl. 1191–1241) poetics and exercised great influence over the Earlier Seven Masters’ literary movement. The first period was the pinnacle of archaist thought; however, this period was equally important for the development of xingling性灵 literary thought. Wuzhong sicaizi 吳中四才子 (The Four Talents of Wu) were major advocates of xingling poetics during this period. Xingling poetics gradually increased in popularity among the regional literati circles that would ultimately lay the foundations for the full development of xingling thought in the second period of the Ming.
The transcription factor CmERFI-2 represses CmMYB44 expression to increase sucrose levels in oriental melon fruit
Authors: Gao Ge , Yang Fan , Wang Cheng , Duan Xiaoyu , Li Meng , Ma Yue , Wang Feng , Qi Hongyan
Published: March 2023

Soluble sugar accumulation in fruit ripening determines fleshy fruit quality. However, the molecular mechanism for this process is not yet understood. Here, we showed a transcriptional repressor, CmMYB44 regulates sucrose accumulation and ethylene synthesis in oriental melon (Cucumis. melo var. makuwa Makino) fruit. Overexpressing CmMYB44 suppressed sucrose accumulation and ethylene production. Furthermore, CmMYB44 repressed the transcriptional activation of CmSPS1 (sucrose phosphate synthase 1) and CmACO1 (ACC oxidase 1), two key genes in sucrose and ethylene accumulation, respectively. During the later stages of fruit ripening, the repressive effect of CmMYB44 on CmSPS1 and CmACO1 could be released by overexpressing CmERFI-2 (ethylene response factor I-2) and exogenous ethylene in “HS” fruit (high sucrose accumulation fruit). CmERFI-2 acted upstream of CmMYB44 as a repressor by directly binding the CmMYB44 promoter region, indirectly stimulating the expression level of CmSPS1 and CmACO1. Taken together, we provided a molecular regulatory pathway mediated by CmMYB44, which determines the degree of sucrose and ethylene accumulation in oriental melon fruit and sheds light on transcriptional responses triggered by ethylene sensing that enable the process of fruit ripening.
Construct validity of movement-evoked pain operational definitions in older adults with chronic low back pain
Authors: Knox Patrick J , Simon Corey B , Pohlig Ryan T , Pugliese Jenifer M , Coyle Peter C , Sions Jaclyn M , Hicks Gregory E
Published: March 2023

Objective

Movement-evoked pain (MeP) may predispose the geriatric chronic low back pain (LBP) population to health decline. As there are differing operational definitions for MeP, the question remains as to whether these different definitions have similar associations with health outcomes in older adults with chronic LBP.

Design

Cross-sectional analysis of an observational study.

Setting

Clinical research laboratory.

Subjects

226 older adults with chronic LBP.

Methods

This secondary analysis used baseline data from a prospective cohort study (n = 250). LBP intensity was collected before and after the repeated chair rise test, stair climbing test, and 6-minute walk test; MeP change scores (ie, sum of pretest pain subtracted from posttest pain) and aggregated posttest pain (ie, sum of posttest pain) variables were calculated. LBP-related disability and self-efficacy were measured by the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (QBPDS) and Low Back Activity Confidence Scale (LOBACS), respectively. Physical function was measured with the Health ABC Performance Battery. Robust regression with HC3 standard errors was used to evaluate adjusted associations between both MeP variables and disability, self-efficacy, and physical function.

Results

Greater aggregated posttest MeP was independently associated with worse disability (b = 0.593, t = 2.913, P = .004), self-efficacy (b = –0.870, t = –3.110, P = .002), and physical function (b = –0.017, t = –2.007, P = .039). MeP change scores were not associated with any outcome (all P > .050).

Conclusions

Aggregate posttest MeP was linked to poorer health outcomes in older adults with chronic LBP, but MeP change scores were not. Future studies should consider that the construct validity of MeP paradigms partially depends on the chosen operational definition.
Implementation in action: developing implementation strategies for an evidence-based prevention program
Authors: Chippendale Tracy
Published: March 2023

In this commentary, I introduce existing literature on implementation mapping and the development of implementation strategies. I argue that educational materials describing essential features of a prevention program are needed regardless of the program site and therefore may be a good starting point in the implementation process. I use the development of educational materials and resources for the Stroll Safe outdoor falls prevention program as an example to illustrate the process used.
A Multidisciplinary Team Approach for Diabetic Foot Ulcer: A Case Study
Authors: Xu Beihua , Song Xia , Weng Yajuan
Published: March 2023

A multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach is the most efficient way to treat many chronic and serious diseases. In this case report, providers sought to implement an MDT approach to treat a patient with diabetes and foot ulcers, actively involving the patient’s caregiving family members. Comprehensive evaluation, blood sugar control, and timely referral were established as the primary treatment course. Negative-pressure wound therapy was applied to completely remove necrotic tissue debris and seropurulent discharge from the foot ulcers under the consultation of the MDT team. Local wound management, protection of the periwound skin, and health education for the patient’s wound care nurse specialists were integral to the treatment outcome. After 3 months of treatment, the patient’s right foot wound bed was improved, and further skin-grafting surgery was performed to accelerate the healing process during follow-up treatments.
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms and Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Authors: AlMekkawi Ahmad K. , Caruso James P. , El Ahmadieh Tarek Y. , Palmisciano Paolo , Aljardali Marwa W. , Derian Armen G. , Al Tamimi Mazin , Bagley Carlos A. , Aoun Salah G.
Published: March 2023

Study Design.

Meta-analysis.

Objective.

To determine the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are related to adult idiopathic scoliosis.

Summary and Background Data.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is considered one of the most prevalent spinal diseases. Even though the cause of AIS is yet to be determined, family history and sex have shown conclusive associations. Multiple studies have indicated that AIS is more prevalent in families where at least one other first-degree relative is similarly affected, indicating a possible genetic etiology to AIS.

Materials and Methods.

Articles were collected from 3 different search engines and then processed in 2 stages for final article selection for quantitative analysis. Five different genetic models were represented to show the association between the different SNPs and AIS. The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was examined using Fisher exact test, with significance set at P <0.05. The final analysis paper’s quality was evaluated using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. Kappa interrater agreement was calculated to evaluate the agreement between authors.

Results.

The final analysis comprised 43 publications, 19412 cases, 22005 controls, and 25 distinct genes. LBX1 rs11190870 T>C and MATN-1 SNPs were associated with an increased risk of AIS in one or all of the 5 genetic models. IGF-1, estrogen receptor alfa, and MTNR1B, SNPs were not associated with AIS in all 5 genetic models. Newcastle Ottawa Scale showed good quality for the selected articles. Cohen k = 0.741 and Kappa interrater agreement of 84% showed that the writers were in strong agreement.

Conclusions.

There seem to be associations between AIS and genetic SNP. Further larger studies should be conducted to validate the results.
Variation in Lumbar Shape and Lordosis in a Large Asymptomatic Population
Authors: Shen Yong , Sardar Zeeshan M. , Le Huec Jean-Charles , Bourret Stéphane , Hasegawa Kazuhiro , Wong Hee Kit , Liu Gabriel , Hey Hwee Weng Dennis , Riahi Hend , Kelly Michael , Lombardi Joseph M. , Lenke Lawrence G.
Published: March 2023

Study Design.

Prospective, cross-sectional cohort study.

Objective.

To determine the relationship between lumbar shape and sagittal parameters.

Summary of Background Data.

Understanding the lumbar shape is vital for deformity surgery. Normative sagittal parameters and spine shape remain unstudied in large, multiethnic, asymptomatic cohorts.

Materials and Methods.

A prospective, cross-sectional cohort of 468 asymptomatic volunteers between 18 and 80 years was enrolled across 5 countries. Demographic data and radiographic parameters such as pelvic incidence (PI) were collected. Pearson correlation test and linear regression were used to find the relationship between lumbar lordosis (LL) and other parameters. One-way analysis of variance and Welch 2-sample t test were performed to compare lumbar shape across such categories as PI and lumbar apex followed by post hoc Bonferroni correction if needed.

Results.

PI was moderately correlated with proximal lumbar lordosis (pLL) (r = −0.54) and weakly correlated with distal lumbar lordosis (dLL) (r = −0.16). Thoracic kyphosis (T1–T12) was moderately correlated with pLL (r = −0.35) and dLL (r = −0.29). dLL was moderately correlated with LL (r = 0.64). 2.6% (12/468) of subjects had lumbar apex at L2, 40.2% (188/468) at L3, 56.6% at L4 (265/468), and 0.6% (3/468) at other levels. Mean PI was different between volunteers with the apex at L3 and L4. A lower mean PI was associated with the apex at L4 (49.0°), whereas a higher mean PI was associated with the apex at L3 (55.8°). The mean PI−LL mismatch for volunteers was −5.4° with a range from −35° to 39.7°. PI−LL mismatch increased from a mean of −10.1° in volunteers with low PI to a mean of 2.2° in volunteers with high PI. Age was not correlated with LL (P = 0.84).

Conclusions.

In asymptomatic adult volunteers, pLL showed a moderate correlation with PI and increased with PI, whereas dLL showed a weak correlation. The lumbar apex migrated proximally with increasing PI. Segmental lordosis and apex position instead of solely global lordosis should be emphasized.

Level of Evidence.

Level III.
Perinatal Disorders and Small Birthweight Are Significantly Associated With Small Vertebral Neural Canal Size in a Contemporary Pediatric Autopsy Sample
Authors: O’Donnell Lexi , Corron Louise K. , Hill Ethan C.
Published: March 2023

Study design.

A retrospective, nonblinded, single-center observational study.

Objective.

The purpose of this study is to examine associations between small vertebral neural canal (VNC) measurements with verified experiences of early-life stress (ELS) (premature birth, disorders or conditions arising in the perinatal period, and congenital disorders) in a pediatric autopsy sample, paired with other skeletal indicators of stress, and known demographic/health information.

Summary of Background Data.

Most studies linking small VNC size to ELS are for human remains from archeological sites without known demographic information or health history, making it difficult to assess what kind of stress might affect VNC growth.

Methods.

This is a single-center retrospective study in a pediatric autopsy sample of 623 individuals (aged 0.5 to 20.9 yr) with known sex, age, and manner of death (MOD), who died between 2011 and 2019. Data were collected from postmortem computed tomography scans, autopsy, and field investigator reports. Data include VNC anteroposterior and transverse (TR) diameters of the 12th thoracic (T12) and fifth lumbar (L5) vertebrae, bone mineral density, and Harris lines.

Results.

Small birthweight males have significantly smaller VNC than those with an average birthweight. The natural MOD is associated with smaller VNC. Perinatal disorders and growth stunting are associated with smaller T12 anteroposterior, T12-TR, and L5-TR diameters. Congenital disorders and Harris lines are not associated with small VNC.

Conclusions.

Reduced VNC size is a reliable indicator of severe ELS, but not all ELS leads to reduced VNC. Females appear less susceptible to perinatal environmental stress than males. Reduced VNC may also be indicative of heightened risk of disease and death in those who died of natural MOD.

Level of evidence.

Level 2
Intraoperative Spinal Cord Stimulation Mitigates Central Sensitization After Spine Surgery in Mice
Authors: Yamamoto Satoshi , Duong Alexander , Kim Alex , Hu Chengrui , Wiemers Blaine , Wang Jigong , Chung Jin Mo , La Jun-Ho
Published: March 2023

Study Design.

Double-blinded, prospective laboratory animal study.

Objective.

To examine whether intraoperative spinal cord stimulation (SCS) inhibits the development of spine surgery–induced hypersensitivity.

Summary of Background Data.

Managing postoperative pain after spine surgery is challenging, and as many as 40% of patients may develop failed back surgery syndrome. Although SCS has been shown to effectively reduce chronic pain symptoms, it is unknown whether intraoperative SCS can mitigate the development of central sensitization that causes postoperative pain hypersensitivity and potentially leads to failed back surgery syndrome after spine surgery.

Materials and Methods.

Mice were randomly stratified into three experimental groups: (1) sham surgery, (2) laminectomy alone, and (3) laminectomy plus SCS. Secondary mechanical hypersensitivity was measured in hind paws using von Frey assay one day before and at predetermined times after surgery. In addition, we also performed a conflict avoidance test to capture the affective-motivational domain of pain at selected time points postlaminectomy.

Results.

Mice that underwent unilateral T13 laminectomy developed mechanical hypersensitivity in both hind paws. Intraoperative SCS applied to the exposed side of the dorsal spinal cord significantly inhibited the development of hind paw mechanical hypersensitivity on the SCS-applied side. Sham surgery did not produce any obvious secondary mechanical hypersensitivity in the hind paws.

Conclusions.

These results demonstrate that spine surgery for unilateral laminectomy induces central sensitization that results in postoperative pain hypersensitivity. Intraoperative SCS after laminectomy may be able to mitigate the development of this hypersensitivity in appropriately selected cases.
Gastric Cross-Sectional Area to Predict Gastric Intolerance in Critically Ill Patients: The Sono-ICU Prospective Observational Bicenter Study
Authors: El Khoury Daniel , Pardo Emmanuel , Cambriel Amelie , Bonnet Francis , Pham Tai , Cholley Bernard , Quesnel Christophe , Verdonk Franck
Published: March 2023

OBJECTIVES:

To evaluate the correlation between gastric cross-sectional area (GCSA) and the occurrence of gastric intolerance in critically ill patients within 24 hours of the measurement.

DESIGN:

Two-center prospective observational study.

SETTING:

Two academic ICUs in France between June 2020 and August 2021.

PATIENTS:

All surgical intubated ICU patients greater than or equal to 18 years old receiving enteral feeding for greater than 12 hours.

INTERVENTIONS:

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

Forty-four patients were included, 11 (25%) of whom presented digestive intolerance. Primary outcome was assessment of the association between GCSA and the occurrence of gastric intolerance within 24 hours of the measurement. GCSA value was significantly higher in patients with upper digestive intolerance compared to those without (553 mm2 [interquartile range (IQR), 500–649 mm2] vs 970 mm2 [IQR, 777–1,047]; p < 0.001, respectively). The optimal threshold for predicting upper digestive intolerance was 720 mm2 (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.86; positive predictive value 62.5%; negative predictive value 96.4%; sensibility 0.91; and specificity 0.81). Multivariate analysis (weighted by propensity score), including known risk factors, showed that GCSA above the 720 mm2 threshold was independently associated with the occurrence of upper digestive intolerance (odds ratio, 1.85; 1.37–2.49; p < 0.0002). Measurement quality was “good” (i.e., liver, aorta, superior mesenteric vein, and pancreas were all visualized) in 81% of cases.

CONCLUSIONS:

Measurement of GCSA by ultrasound would allow prediction of gastric intolerance in critically ill patients. This should be confirmed by a prospective score validation and interventional trials.
lncRNA AC005224.4/miR-140-3p/SNAI2 regulating axis facilitates the invasion and metastasis of ovarian cancer through epithelial-mesenchymal transition
Authors: Xiong Tingchuan , Wang Yinghong , Zhang Yuan , Yuan Jianlin , Zhu Changjun , Jiang Wei
Published: March 2023

Background:

Ovarian cancer is one of the most widespread malignant diseases of the female reproductive system worldwide. The plurality of ovarian cancer is diagnosed with metastasis in the abdominal cavity. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) exerts a vital role in tumor cell metastasis. However, it remains unclear whether long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) are implicated in EMT and influence ovarian cancer cell invasion and metastasis. This study was designed to investigate the impacts of lncRNA AC005224.4 on ovarian cancer.

Methods:

LncRNA AC005224.4, miR-140-3p, and snail family transcriptional repressor 2 (SNAI2) expression levels in ovarian cancer and normal ovarian tissues were determined using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and Transwell (migration and invasion) assays were conducted to measure SKOV3 and CAOV-3 cell proliferation and metastasis. E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Snail, and Vimentin contents were detected using Western blot. Nude mouse xenograft assay was utilized to validate AC005224.4 effects in vivo. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed the targeted relationship between miR-140-3p and AC005224.4 or SNAI2.

Results:

AC005224.4 and SNAI2 upregulation and miR-140-3p downregulation were observed in ovarian cancer tissues and cells. Silencing of AC005224.4 observably moderated SKOV3 and CAOV-3 cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT process in vitro and impaired the tumorigenesis in vivo. miR-140-3p was a target of AC005224.4 and its reduced expression level was mediated by AC005224.4. miR-140-3p mimics decreased the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ovarian cancer cells. SNAI2 was identified as a novel target of miR-140-3p and its expression level was promoted by either AC005224.4 overexpression or miR-140-3p knockdown. Overexpression of SNAI2 also facilitated ovarian cancer cell viability and metastasis.

Conclusion:

AC005224.4 was confirmed as an oncogene via sponging miR-140-3p and promoted SNAI2 expression, contributing to better understanding of ovarian cancer pathogenesis and shedding light on exploiting the novel lncRNA-directed therapy against ovarian cancer.
Exogenous CD5L inhibits liver hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and role of CD5L as prognostic marker
Authors: Gao Zhaowei , Wu Xianan , Yang Lan , Liu Chong , Wang Xi , Wang Huiping , Dong Ke
Published: March 2023

Background:

CD5 molecular-like (CD5L) plays an important role in lipid metabolism and immune regulation. This study aimed to investigate the roles of CD5L on liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC).

Methods:

We analyzed the CD5L mRNA expression and its potential prognostic value based on The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to investigate the CD5L levels in LIHC tissues. Serum CD5L levels in LIHC were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to investigate the effect of CD5L treatment on HepG2 and QSG-7701 cell proliferation. CD5L expression correlated genes were exhumed based on the LinkedOmics. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses for CD5L associated genes were performed. The correlation between CD5L and tumor immune infiltration was analyzed by using Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) 2.0.

Results:

CD5L mRNA and protein levels were significantly decreased in LIHC tumor tissue compared with non-tumor control tissues. Moreover, serum CD5L levels were significantly lower in LIHC patients than that in healthy subjects. Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 and Kaplan-Meier plotter analysis showed that a high-CD5L expression was correlated with favorable overall survival in LIHC patients, except the LIHC patients with hepatitis virus. CCK-8 results showed that CD5L treatment significantly decreased HepG2 cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner, and CD5L treatment had no effect on the proliferation of non-tumor hepatocyte line QSG-7701. CD5L associated genes were enriched in the immune response biological process, and CD5L expression levels were positively correlated with the immune infiltrates of CD8+ T cell and M1 macrophage cells but negatively correlated with CD4+ T cells and M0 macrophage cell infiltration.

Conclusions:

Exogenous CD5L inhibits liver hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation. CD5L may act as a role of prognostic marker.
Research progress in the application of time in range: more than a percentage
Authors: Wan Jintao , Lu Jingyi , Li Cheng , Ma Xiaojing , Zhou Jian
Published: March 2023

Glucose monitoring is an important part of medical care in diabetes mellitus, which not only helps assess glycemic control and treatment safety, but also assists with treatment adjustment. With the development of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), the use of CGM has increased rapidly. With the wealth of glucose data produced by CGM, new metrics are greatly needed to optimally evaluate glucose status and guide the treatment. One of the parameters that CGM provides, time in range (TIR), has been recognized as a key metric by the international consensus. Before the adoption of TIR in clinical practice, several issues including the minimum length of CGM use, the setting of the target range, and individualized TIR goals are summarized. Additionally, we discussed the mounting evidence supporting the association between TIR and diabetes-related outcomes. As a novel glucose metric, it is of interest to compare TIR with other conventional glucose markers such as glycated hemoglobin A1c. It is anticipated that the use of TIR may provide further information on the quality of glucose control and lead to improved diabetes management.
Skin Barrier Function and Its Relationship With IL-17, IL-33, and Filaggrin in Malar Melasma
Authors: Castanedo-Cázares Juan Pablo , Cortés-García Juan Diego , Pérez-Coronado Gabriela , Hernández-Blanco Diana , Torres-Alvarez Bertha
Published: March 2023

Background:

The pathogenesis of melasma remains unclear. Interleukin (IL)-17, a proinflammatory mediator, disturbs barrier function. Filaggrin (FLG) is a protein involved in epidermal barrier homeostasis and may be affected by IL-17 and IL-33.

Objective:

To evaluate epidermal barrier function in malar melasma and its association with the expression of FLG, IL-17, and IL-33.

Methods:

Twenty patients with malar melasma were included in this study. Colorimetric and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was measured in lesional and adjacent unaffected skin at baseline and 30 minutes after barrier disruption using the tape-stripping test. Biopsies from melasma and perilesional skin were performed to evaluate the presence of FLG by immunohistochemistry, and profilaggrin, IL-17, and IL-33 expression were analyzed by reverse transcription–qualitative polymerase chain reaction.

Results:

After the stripping test, the erythema and TEWL values were higher in the melasma than in the unaffected skin (P= 0.01). Thirty minutes later, TEWL diminished, but it remained higher than in the perilesional skin. Profilaggrin increased as TEWL gradually decreased (R = −0.68,P= 0.04). FLG and IL-17 were higher in the melasma than in the perilesional skin (P= 0.003). IL-17 and profilaggrin expression were positively associated (R = 0.60,P= 0.04). IL-33 expression was higher in the adjacent normal skin than in the melasma (P= 0.01).

Conclusion:

This study found subclinical inflammation in the skin adjacent to the melasma, dysfunction of the epidermal barrier in lesions associated with chronic inflammation, and an abnormal differentiation process promoting an increase in FLG. These findings highlight the need to preserve the integrity of the facial stratum corneum in these patients.
Gain of CCND1 May Occur Too Infrequently in Cutaneous Melanoma, and Too Late in Melanomagenesis, to Be Diagnostically Useful: Genomic Analysis of 88 Cases
Authors: McFadden Jason R. , Chaudhari Advaita S. , Stevanovic Mirjana , Tsongalis Gregory J. , Hughes Edward G. , Sriharan Aravindhan
Published: March 2023

Genomic analysis is an important tool in the diagnosis of histologically ambiguous melanocytic neoplasms. Melanomas, in contrast to nevi, are characterized by the presence of multiple copy number alterations. One such alteration is gain of the proto-oncogene CCND1 at 11q13. In melanoma, gain of CCND1 has been reported in approximately one-fifth of cases. Exact frequencies of CCND1 gain vary by melanoma subtype, ranging from 15.8% for lentigo maligna to 25.1% for acral melanoma. We present a cohort of 72 cutaneous melanomas from 2017–2022 in which only 6 (8.3%) showed evidence of CCND1 gain by chromosomal microarray. This CCND1 upregulation frequency falls well below those previously published and is significantly lower than estimated in the literature (P < 0.05). In addition, all 6 melanomas with CCND1 gain had copy number alterations at other loci (most commonly CDKN2A loss, followed by RREB1 gain), and 5 were either thick or metastatic lesions. This suggests that CCND1 gene amplification may be a later event in melanomagenesis, long after a lesion would be borderline or equivocal by histology. Data from fluorescence in situ hybridization, performed on 16 additional cutaneous melanomas, further corroborate our findings. CCND1 gain may not be a common alteration in melanoma and likely occurs too late in melanomagenesis to be diagnostically useful. We present the largest chromosomal microarray analysis of CCND1 upregulation frequencies in cutaneous melanoma, conjecture 3 hypotheses to explain our novel observation, and discuss implications for the inclusion or exclusion of CCND1 probes in future melanoma gene panels.
Routine Rehabilitation as a Treatment Component for Patients With Pulmonary Arterial or Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertensions
Authors: Barret Thomas , Degano Bruno , Bouvaist Hélène , Pison Christophe , Noirclerc Marianne , Vanzetto Gérald , Rocca Cécile
Published: March 2023

Purpose:

Patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) have long been advised to avoid exercise in fear of deterioration in right-sided heart function. Since the 2009 European Society of Cardiology guidelines, rehabilitation in expert centers is considered to have a specific role in care of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). We report routine rehabilitation effects in patients with PH as a component of real-life multimodal treatment.

Methods:

Patients with PAH or CTEPH were recommended for either in- or outpatient rehabilitation in addition to their usual care, unless there were practical problems or the patient declined. Assessment was conducted according to New York Heart Association classes, adverse events, 6 min-walk test, hemodynamics, and risk stratification after rehabilitation.

Results:

Forty-one patients, 61% female, age 60 ±18 yr were included between March 2010 and May 2019. No major adverse events or deaths related to progression of right-sided heart failure were reported. Nevertheless, 22% of participants suffered adverse events in most cases not linked with physical activity. Rehabilitation as add-on to medical therapy and/or arterial deobstruction improved New York Heart Association class: mean difference, −0.39 (95% CI, −0.68 to −0.10), 6-min walk test: mean difference, 80 m (95% CI, 46-114), and was associated with improved right-sided heart hemodynamics. The risk assessment grade improved by −0.25 points (95% CI, −0.44 to −0.06) after rehabilitation.

Conclusions:

For patients with PAH or CTEPH, supervised rehabilitation as add-on to medical therapy and/or arterial deobstruction is safe and effective in improving patient and clinically related outcomes.
Community Health Workers During COVID-19
Authors: Rodriguez Betsy , Saunders Magon , Octavia-Smith Denise , Moeti Refilwe , Ballard Anjulyn , Pellechia Kathleen , Fragueiro Dianne , Salinger Sarah
Published: March 2023

Community health workers advance health equity and foster community-clinical linkages. By promoting culturally relevant care, sharing their own stories, and bridging gaps, they can reach populations burdened with higher rates of chronic diseases due to adverse social determinants of health and structural racism. Given the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19, lessons learned from a forum, an expert group, and a survey showed a need by community health workers for (1) training, (2) health and safety practices, (3) workplace guidance, and (4) mental health resources. Community health workers are integral to expanding access to services and require a robust infrastructure for their growth.
Nurse Staffing Level, Length of Work Experience, and Risk of Health Care–Associated Infections Among Hospital Patients
Authors: Peutere Laura , Terho Kirsi , Pentti Jaana , Ropponen Annina , Kivimäki Mika , Härmä Mikko , Krutova Oxana , Ervasti Jenni , Koskinen Aki , Virtanen Marianna
Published: March 2023

Background:

Nurse understaffing may have several adverse consequences for patients in hospitals, such as health care–associated infections (HAIs), but there is little longitudinal evidence available on staffing levels and HAIs with consideration of incubation times to confirm this. Using daily longitudinal data, we analyzed temporal associations between nurse understaffing and limited work experience, and the risk of HAIs.

Methods:

The study was based on administrative data of 40 units and 261,067 inpatient periods for a hospital district in Finland in 2013–2019. Survival analyses with moving time windows were used to examine the association of nurse understaffing and limited work experience with the risk of an HAI 2 days after exposure, adjusting for individual risk factors. We reported hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs.

Results:

Neither nurse understaffing nor limited work experience were associated with the overall risk of HAIs. The results were inconsistent across staffing measures and types of HAIs, and many of the associations were weak. Regarding specific HAI types, 1-day exposure to low proportion of nurses with >3 years of in-hospital experience and low proportion of nurses more than 25 years old were associated with increased risk of bloodstream infections (HR=1.30; 95% CI: 1.04–1.62 and HR=1.40; 95% CI: 1.07–1.83). Two-day exposure to low nursing hours relative to target hours was associated with an increased risk of surgical-site infections (HR=2.64, 95% CI: 1.66–4.20).

Conclusions:

Data from time-varying analyses suggest that nursing staff shortages and limited work experience do not always increase the risk of HAI among patients.
Multidrug-Resistant Trichomoniasis: Successful Treatment With 3 Months of Twice-Daily Intravaginal Boric Acid
Authors: Seyedroudbari Sara , McCloskey Kyle , Muzny Christina A. , Graziani Amy , Momplaisir Florence
Published: March 2023

Trichomoniasis is the most common nonviral sexually transmitted infection.
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For patients with resistance to standard treatment with 5-nitroimidazoles, alternative therapies are limited. We present a case of a 34-year-old woman with multidrug-resistant trichomoniasis who was successfully treated with 600 mg intravaginal boric acid twice daily for 3 months.
β-catenin, Pax2, and Pten Panel Identifies Precancers Among Histologically Subdiagnostic Endometrial Lesions
Authors: Aguilar Mitzi , Chen Hao , Sahoo Subhransu S. , Zheng Wenxin , Grubman Jessica , SoRelle Jeffrey A. , Lucas Elena , Castrillon Diego H.
Published: March 2023

Despite refinements in histologic criteria for the diagnosis of endometrioid precancers, many challenging cases are encountered in daily practice, creating diagnostic uncertainty and suboptimal patient management. Recently, an immunohistochemical 3-marker panel consisting of β-catenin, Pax2, and Pten was identified as a useful diagnostic adjunct. However, previous studies focused either on cancers or diagnostically unambiguous precancers, leaving questions about the applicability and utility of the panel in endometria with architectural features near or below the threshold of accepted histologic criteria for endometrioid precancers. Here, in a retrospective study of 90 patients, we evaluated the performance of the 3-marker panel. Notably, the panel detected a subset of disordered proliferative endometria (8/44, 18%), nonatypical hyperplasias (19/40, 48%), and cases with ambiguous features (3/6, 50%) with aberrancy for ≥1 markers. Marker-aberrant cases were more likely to progress to endometrioid precancer or cancer (P=0.0002). Patterns of marker aberrancy in the index and progressor cases from individual patients provided evidence for origin in a common precursor, and next-generation sequencing of the progressor cases rationalized marker aberrancy for β-catenin and Pten. The results unequivocally demonstrate that some lesions that do not approach current histologic thresholds are bona fide neoplastic precursors with clinically-relevant driver events that can be detected by the 3-marker panel. The findings provide further validation for the diagnostic utility of the panel in clinical practice and its application in difficult or ambiguous cases.
Isolated Light Chain–restricted Germinal Centers are Common in Follicular Hyperplasia by Ultrasensitive In Situ Hybridization
Authors: Obiorah Ifeyinwa E. , Aguilera Nadine S. , Gru Alejandro , Courville Elizabeth L.
Published: March 2023

Ultrasensitive bright-field RNA in situ hybridization (BRISH) can be used to detect lower levels of light chain expression than immunohistochemical stains or conventional colorimetric RNA in situ hybridization. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed 77 lymph node specimens with follicular hyperplasia and kappa/lambda BRISH performed as part of the diagnostic evaluation. Thirty-two of the specimens had ≥1 germinal center(s) (GC) showing light chain restriction (14 specimens with lambda-restricted GC, 9 with kappa-restricted GC, and 9 with separate kappa-restricted or lambda-restricted GC). In all but 1 specimen, the light chain–restricted GC represented a minority of the total GC (average: 10%, range: 0.2% to 60%). There was no significant difference in age, sex, type of biopsy (core vs. excision), number of GCs, proportion of cases with a light chain–restricted B-cell population by flow cytometry, or proportion of cases with a positive IgH gene rearrangement study between the specimens with and without restricted GCs. In our cohort of follicular hyperplasia cases, BRISH identified light chain–restricted GC more frequently than flow cytometry identified a monotypic B-cell population. Our findings highlight the potential for overinterpretation of light chain restriction in limited samplings such as fine needle aspiration cell blocks or core needle sampling and reinforce that interpretation of BRISH staining needs to occur in the context of the morphologic features including tissue architecture and results of additional immunohistochemical stains.