bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Affective Facilitation: A Framework for Surfacing Lived Experiences and Harnessing Creativity in Focus Group Research
Authors: Dimitrakopoulou Dimitra , Theodorou Petros
Published: November 2022

In this article, we introduce the framework of Affective Facilitation to the practice of focus group research. In this context, Affective Facilitation is defined as a framework that helps researchers (1) surface and deeply understand participants’ lived experiences, bearing in mind their individual differences, (2) make space for exploring common ground across their diverse backgrounds, and (3) connect with participants through empathy and compassion using active and reflective listening skills. Conceptually, the framework draws on the theoretical and philosophical strands of phenomenology, existential dialogue, holism, and Gestalt therapy. In practice, it employs graphic facilitation as a technique for fostering group learning and connection while creating a visual memory of the dialogue. We explain the implementation of this actionable framework through a case study of facilitated conversations with parents who share their lived experiences, providing insight into their perceptions, beliefs, and concerns regarding childhood vaccination. This study contributes to a growing body of work on creative, participatory, and arts-based research methods.
Dynamic stability analyzes for a parallel–serial legged quadruped robot
Authors: Fu Jianxun , Gao Feng
Published: November 2022

One of the basic characteristics of the walking robots is the maintenance of their dynamic balance during the walk, and the stability of legged robots in locomotion is necessary. In the past few years, the dynamics of legged robots was studied based on very simple or simplified leg structures. A more complete dynamic model is essential for the further research of a practical legged robot. As an important enrichment in stability study for a walking robot, a stability measure named as moment ratio stability margin is introduced, which takes all stability factors into formulation. The mechanical structure of a novel parallel–serial legged mechanism is introduced. Based on this structure, the performance of the proposed method is demonstrated. The advantages and practical significance of the proposed technique are illustrated by comparing it with conventional methods. The experimental study is carried out to evaluate and characterize the performances of this method.
The smoking gun: How gun policies influence types of firearms involved in violent crimes in the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom
Authors: Zouhar Ladislav , Bartoszewicz Monika Gabriela
Published: November 2022

The article contributes to the discussion about gun control by examining whether restrictions on certain types of firearms influence the number of crimes committed with these types of guns. The aim is to determine whether there is any causal nexus between the stringency of gun policy and the number of violent crimes committed with firearms. A comparative analysis is conducted in the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom. Our research shows that the strictness of gun policy and legal availability have a very small influence on crime; hence, further restrictions will not help to reduce the number of violent crimes committed with firearms. More useful approaches seem to deal with the black market, arms trafficking and related societal problems.
Aortic aneurysm: An uncommon cause of dysphagia
Authors: Suleman Mujaheed , Pyuza Jeremia , Sadiq Adnan , Lodhia Jay
Published: November 2022

Dysphagia is a serious symptom and requires urgent investigations and prompt diagnosis to initiate appropriate therapy. Dysphagia aortica is a rare entity described as difficulty in swallowing due to external compression by the aorta. The incidence of this entity is unknown. Herein we present a 90-year-old woman who presented with a progressive 3-month history of dysphagia, diagnosed with aortic aneurysm who then developed related complications and succumbed. Dysphagia aortica should be considered in the list of differential diagnoses in a patient with dysphagia although rare. Early diagnosis and management are vital to avoid poor outcomes.
The changing UK prime ministership from an institutional perspective
Authors: Takayasu Kensuke
Published: November 2022

This article explores the scope and limitation of the power of the UK prime minister from an institutional perspective. It begins by exploring and confirming the widely recognised tendency towards a more centralised core executive at the heart of the UK government, which dovetails with recent developments in Japan as discussed by Tomohito Shinoda in this special issue. However, the article thereafter argues that this tendency has been constrained once a wider institutional perspective beyond the core executive is adopted. This perspective emphasises the impact of recent constitutional reforms relating to the House of Lords, devolution and the judiciary. These reforms resonate with the idea of a ‘Madisonian turn’ towards greater separation of powers, albeit unintended. Rather than the UK and Japan converging, these institutional changes in the UK narrow the sphere of, and impose constraints on, the authority of the UK parliament and government, which naturally restrict the power of the prime minister.
In situ- preparation and estimation of the physical characterization of Nanofluidic solution and its application
Authors: Abdelrahman Ameen , Erchiqui Fouad , Nedil Mourd , Mohamed Siaj
Published: November 2022

In this work, the preparation and the physical evaluation of a series of miscible 0.2 M solutions in 50/50 volume ratios were addressed. A total of five solutions comprised of plain electrolyte/graphene, plain electrolyte/graphene-ethylene Glycol, plain electrolyte/graphene-poly-ethylene glycol, plain electrolyte/graphene-glycerol, and plain electrolyte/Graphene–Polyethylenimine. were assembled with Ag, and copper nanoparticles. The physical properties were studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, solution conductivity calculations, and viscosity and flexibility measurements, particle size distribution analyses. Surface morphology characterizations were done by transmission electron microscopy. A comparative approach of the physical properties between the five solutions serves as a guide to select the most appropriate fluid applicable to the upcoming device.
Contributions of early-life cognitive reserve and late-life leisure activity to successful and pathological cognitive aging
Authors: Yang Yiru , Chen Yaojing , Yang Caishui , Chen Kewei , Li Xin , Zhang Zhanjun
Published: November 2022

Background

The identification of factors that specifically influence pathological and successful cognitive aging is a prerequisite for implementing disease prevention and promoting successful aging. However, multi-domain behavioral factors that characterize the difference between successful and pathological cognitive aging are not clear yet.

Methods

A group of community-dwelling older adults (N = 1347, aged 70-88 years) in Beijing was recruited in this cross-sectional study, and a sub-cohort was further divided into successful cognitive aging (SCA, N = 154), mild cognitive impairment (MCI, N = 256), and cognitively normal control (CNC, N = 173) groups. Analyses of variance, regression models with the Shapley value algorithm, and structural equation model (SEM) analyses were conducted to determine specific influencing factors and to evaluate their relative importance and interacting relationships in altering cognitive performance.

Results

We found that abundant early-life cognitive reserve (ECR, including the level of education and occupational attainment) and reduced late-life leisure activity (LLA, including mental, physical, and social activities) were distinct characteristics of SCA and MCI, respectively. The level of education, age, mental activity, and occupational attainment were the top four important factors that explained 31.6% of cognitive variability. By SEM analyses, we firstly found that LLA partially mediated the relationship between ECR and cognition; and further multi-group SEM analyses showed ECR played a more direct role in the SCA group than in the MCI group: in the SCA group, only the direct effect of ECR on cognition was significant, and in the MCI group, direct effects between ECR, LLA and cognition were all significant.

Conclusions

Results of this large-sample community-based study suggest it is important for older adults to have an abundant ECR for SCA, and to keep a high level of LLA to prevent cognitive impairment. This study clarifies the important rankings of behavioral characteristics of cognitive aging, and the relationship that ECR has a long-lasting effect on LLA and finally on cognition, providing efficient guidance for older adults to improve their cognitive function and new evidence to explain the heterogeneity of cognitive aging.
A nomogram to predict hyperkalemia in patients with hemodialysis: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Mei Ziwei , Chen Jun , Chen Peipei , Luo Songmei , Jin Lie , Zhou Limei
Published: November 2022

Background

Hyperkalemia increases the risk of mortality and cardiovascular-related hospitalizations in patients with hemodialysis. Predictors of hyperkalemia are yet to be identified. We aimed at developing a nomogram able to predict hyperkalemia in patients with hemodialysis.

Methods

We retrospectively screened patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who had regularly received hemodialysis between Jan 1, 2017, and Aug 31, 2021, at Lishui municipal central hospital in China. The outcome for the nomogram was hyperkalemia, defined as serum potassium [K+] ≥ 5.5 mmol/L. Data were collected from hemodialysis management system. Least Absolute Shrinkage Selection Operator (LASSO) analysis selected predictors preliminarily. A prediction model was constructed by multivariate logistic regression and presented as a nomogram. The performance of nomogram was measured by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration diagram, and decision curve analysis (DCA). This model was validated internally by calculating the performance on a validation cohort.

Results

A total of 401 patients were enrolled in this study. 159 (39.65%) patients were hyperkalemia. All participants were divided into development (n = 256) and validation (n = 145) cohorts randomly. Predictors in this nomogram were the number of hemodialysis session, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum sodium, serum calcium, serum phosphorus, and diabetes. The ROC curve of the training set was 0.82 (95%CI 0.77, 0.88). Similar ROC curve was achieved at validation set 0.81 (0.74, 0.88). The calibration curve demonstrated that the prediction outcome was correlated with the observed outcome.

Conclusion

This nomogram helps clinicians in predicting the risk of PEW and managing serum potassium in the patients with hemodialysis.
Waist–hip ratio measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis as a valuable predictor of chronic kidney disease development
Authors: Song Younghoon , Hwang Jeong Ah , Shin Jaeun , Cho Eunjung , Ahn Shin Young , Ko Gang Jee , Kwon Young Joo , Kim Ji Eun
Published: November 2022

Obesity is a major health problem worldwide and is associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Body mass index (BMI) is a common method of diagnosing obesity, but there are concerns about its accuracy and ability to measure body composition. This study evaluated the risk of CKD development in a middle-aged population in association with various body composition metrics. From a prospective cohort of 10,030 middle-aged adults, we enrolled 6727 for whom baseline and follow-up data were available. We collected data pertaining to participants' BMI, manually measured waist–hip ratio (WHR), and various measurements of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), including total body fat content, muscle content, and calculated WHR, and classified the participants into quintiles accordingly. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 in follow-up laboratory tests. While an increase in BMI, WHR, and total body fat were associated with an elevated risk of CKD, an increase in total body muscle decreased the risk. Among the body composition metrics, WHR measured by BIA had the highest predictive value for CKD (C-statistics: 0.615). In addition, participants who were “healthy overweight, (defined as low WHR but high BMI), exhibited a 62% lower risk of developing CKD compared to those with “normal-weight obesity,” (defined as high WHR despite a normal BMI). In conclusion, we suggest that central obesity measured by BIA is a more accurate indicator than BMI for predicting the development of CKD.
The clinical, myopathological, and molecular characteristics of 26 Chinese patients with dysferlinopathy: a high proportion of misdiagnosis and novel variants
Authors: Wang Ning , Han Xu , Hao Shengpu , Han Jingzhe , Zhou Xiaomeng , Sun Shuyan , Tang Jin , Lu Yanpeng , Wu Hongran , Ma Shaojuan , Song Xueqin , Ji Guang
Published: November 2022

Background

Dysferlinopathy is an autosomal recessive muscular dystrophy caused by pathogenic variants in the dysferlin (DYSF) gene. This disease shows heterogeneous clinical phenotypes and genetic characteristics.

Methods

We reviewed the clinical and pathological data as well as the molecular characteristics of 26 Chinese patients with dysferlinopathy screened by immunohistochemistry staining and pathogenic variants in DYSF genes.

Results

Among 26 patients with dysferlinopathy, 18 patients (69.2%) presented as Limb-girdle Muscular Dystrophy Type R2 (LGMD R2), 4 (15.4%) had a phenotype of Miyoshi myopathy (MM), and 4 (15.4%) presented as asymptomatic hyperCKemia. Fifteen patients (57.7%) were originally misdiagnosed as inflammatory myopathy or other diseases. Fifteen novel variants were identified among the 40 variant sites identified in this cohort.

Conclusion

Dysferlinopathy is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of disorders with various phenotypes, a high proportion of novel variants, and a high rate of misdiagnosis before immunohistochemistry staining and genetic analysis.
Magnitude of common mental disorders and associated factors among patients with Epilepsy in Amhara regional state, Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Bantie Getasew Mulat , Woya Ashenafi Abate , Ayenew Girum Meseret , Ayalew Agumas Fentahun , Berneh Abraham Amsalu
Published: November 2022

Background

Common mental disorders are severe and frequent co-morbid psychiatric illnesses with epilepsy. Different study findings across the world showed that patients with epilepsy have a higher burden of mental disorders than the general population. However, these issues in patients with epilepsy have been consistently undiagnosed.

Objectives

The study aimed to screen common mental disorders and the determinants among patients with epilepsy attending at Fenote Selam hospital.

Methods

An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with Epilepsy from March 10 to May 15, 2019. Patients were assessed for the risk of common mental disorders using a pretested, structured, self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ-20). The collected data were entered into Epi-data version 3.1 software and analyzed using R version 4.0 software. Descriptive statistics were computed using frequency, percent, mean, and standard deviations. A simple logistic regression model was fit to identify the association and strength of exploratory variables and common mental disorders at a 95% confidence interval and p-value < 0.05.

Results

The study included 202 patients diagnosed with epilepsy and yielded a response of 91.4%. About 53% of the patients were males. The magnitude of common mental disorders among patients with epilepsy was 57.9% (95% CI: 44.56, 71.24). Being more than one substance user (AOR = 5.7; 95%CI: 1.6, 20.7) and Not having social support (AOR = 4.3; 95%CI: 1.5, 11.9) were the identified determinants of common mental disorders.

Conclusion

The magnitude of common mental disorders among patients with epilepsy were high. Not having social support and khat chewing were the identified risk factors significantly associated with common mental disorders. Early screening and treatments are the key interventions to prevent complications and deaths from common mental disorders.
The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on anxiety and depression among physical therapists in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Abdulghani Abeer Hamza , Ahmad Tauseef , Abdulghani Hamza Mohammad
Published: November 2022

Backgrounds

A physical therapist may become infected while treating a patient since they are in direct contact with them or within a two-meter radius. In addition, physical therapists may feel that they are more susceptible to COVID-19 infection when applying rehabilitation practices, which often involve direct contact with patients. The physical therapist were surveyed on their level of anxiety and depression due to the Coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19).

Methods

The physical therapists were asked to complete two reliable and validated scales, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), to identify the presence of anxiety and depression in the participants. In addition, logistic regression models were used to determine the general characteristics of anxiety or depression.

Results

Among the 117 physical therapists who completed and participated in the study, 74 (63%) and 65 (55.5%) physical therapists reported having symptoms of anxiety and depression, respectively. The prevalence of overall anxiety levels was higher; mild (OR = 2.09; P = 0.08), moderate (OR = 2.26; P = 0.15), and severe levels six times as high (OR = 6.28; P = 0.1) in females compared to male physical therapists. Females, younger age, unmarried individuals, not having children, and not living with family showed a higher prevalence of anxiety and depression. Binary logistic regression analysis also revealed that the female gender, a single individual, and having no children were associated with anxiety and depression.

Conclusions

A significant percentage of physical therapists reported symptoms of anxiety and depression, especially among females, younger age, single individuals, not having children, and not living with family. Thus, the mental health of physical therapists is suggested to be constantly and cautiously monitored, especially for those at high risk of developing psychological symptoms.
Nursing experience during COVID-19 pandemic in Korea: a qualitative analysis based on critical components of the professional practice models
Authors: Kim Hye-Ryoung , Yang Hwa-Mi
Published: November 2022

Background

Nurses have an essential role and responsibility to work at the forefront of patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the press and public have praised the dedication of nurses in the COVID-19 pandemic, there are several points to consider for nursing professional development. The purpose of this study is to collect the experiences of the nursing profession in the COVID-19 pandemic through interviews, seek improvements for the development of the nursing profession, and suggest directions for the future.

Method

This qualitative study adopts semi-structured interviews analyzing the nursing experience of the COVID-19 pandemic based on the professional practice models (PPMs). Ten nurses with at least two years of working experience and thorough work changes in the COVID-19 pandemic from various settings have participated in the study.

Results

We identified thirty-nine problematic codes and nineteen improvement codes which mapped to 12 key concepts and corresponded to 6 constructs of the PPM model.

Conclusion

Nurses had to take on tasks beyond their duties in urgent situations, which restrained nurses from concentrating on their work. Clarifying working boundaries is fundamental for collaborative care and independent nursing practice. Collaboration and communication among healthcare workers based on mutual understanding can create a respectful working environment. Although there were many difficulties due to the uncertain situation, we can find that the nursing profession can make achievements through systematic and organizational support for sticking to the basics of nursing, securing technical expertise, cultivating critical thinking, and developing various professional attributes. In this way, the establishment of roles based on professional values and duties and the ascertainment of clear boundaries for nursing will ultimately help to improve the quality of patient care.
Clinical evaluation for the pharyngeal oxygen saturation measurements in shocked patients
Authors: Hassan Eman Arafa , Mohamed Sherouk Nasser , Hamouda Emad Hamdy , Ahmed Nadia Taha
Published: November 2022

Background

Monitoring oxygen saturation in shocked patients is a challenging nursing procedure. Shock syndrome alters peripheral tissue perfusion and hinders peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2) measurements. Our study aimed to find a solution to this problem. The pharynx is expected to be an accurate SpO2 measurement site in shocked patients. We clinically evaluated the pharyngeal SpO2 measurements against the arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) measurements.

Methods

A prospective cohort research design was used. This study included 168 adult shocked patients. They were admitted to five intensive care units from March to December 2020 in an Egyptian hospital. A wrap oximeter sensor was attached to the posterior surface of an oropharyngeal airway (OPA) by adhesive tape. The optical component of the sensor adhered to the pharyngeal surface after the OPA insertion. Simultaneous pharyngeal peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2) and arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) measurements were recorded. The pharyngeal SpO2 was clinically evaluated. Also, variables associated with the SpO2 bias were evaluated for their association with the pharyngeal SpO2 bias.

Results

The pharyngeal SpO2 bias was − 0.44% with − 1.65 to 0.78% limits of agreement. The precision was 0.62, and the accuracy was 0.05. The sensitivity to detect mild and severe hypoxemia was 100%, while specificity to minimize false alarm of hypoxemia was 100% for mild hypoxemia and 99.4% for severe hypoxemia. None of the studied variables were significantly associated with the pharyngeal SpO2 bias.

Conclusion

The pharyngeal SpO2 has a clinically acceptable bias, which is less than 0.5% with high precision, which is less than 2%.
Personality characteristics associated with satisfaction with healthcare and the wish to complain
Authors: Birkeland Søren , Bismark Marie , Barry Michael J. , Möller Sören
Published: November 2022

Background

There is increasing evidence that satisfaction with healthcare and complaint rates vary with patients’ socio-demographic characteristics. Likewise, patient personality might influence the perception of health care; however, empirical research has been scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between health care user personality and satisfaction with care and urge to complain.

Methods

This study is a randomized survey among Danish men aged 45 to 70 years (N = 6,756; 30% response rate) with hypothetical vignettes illustrating different courses of healthcare. Assuming they received the care described in vignettes, participants rated their satisfaction and wish to complain on a five-point Likert scale. Information on personality characteristics was obtained through self-reports using the standardized Big Five Inventory-10 (BFI-10).

Results

In multivariate analyses, we found respondents with higher scores on the agreeableness dimension expressing greater satisfaction with care (Likert difference 0.06, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.07; p < 0.001) and decreased wish to complain (-0.07, 95% CI -0.08 to -0.05; p < 0.001) while high neuroticism scores were associated with less satisfaction (-0.02, 95% CI -0.03 to -0.00, p = 0.012) and an increased wish to complain about healthcare (0.04, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.06, p < 0.001). Interaction analyses could demonstrate no statistically significant interaction between the level of patient involvement in decision making in the scenarios and the effect of personality on respondents' satisfaction and wish to complain. Generally, however, when adjusting for personality, respondents’ satisfaction increased (P < 0.001) with greater patient involvement illustrated in case scenarios while the wish to complain decreased (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest low agreeableness and high neuroticism scores are associated with lower patient satisfaction with healthcare and increased wish to complain. Irrespective of personality, however, the wish to complain seems responsive to changes in patient involvement, underscoring the importance of inclusive healthcare communication.
A cross-sectional study evidences regulations of leukocytes in the colostrum of mothers with obesity
Authors: Piñeiro-Salvador Raúl , Vazquez-Garza Eduardo , Cruz-Cardenas José Antonio , Licona-Cassani Cuauhtémoc , García-Rivas Gerardo , Moreno-Vásquez Jorge , Alcorta-García Mario René , Lara-Diaz Victor Javier , Brunck Marion E. G.
Published: November 2022

Background

Breastmilk is a dynamic fluid whose initial function is to provide the most adapted nutrition to the neonate. Additional attributes have been recently ascribed to breastmilk, with the evidence of a specific microbiota and the presence of various components of the immune system, such as cytokines and leukocytes. The composition of breastmilk varies through time, according to the health status of mother and child, and altogether contributes to the future health of the infant. Obesity is a rising condition worldwide that creates a state of systemic, chronic inflammation including leukocytosis. Here, we asked whether colostrum, the milk produced within the first 48 h post-partum, would contain a distinct leukocyte composition depending on the body mass index (BMI) of the mother.

Methods

We collected peripheral blood and colostrum paired samples from obese (BMI > 30) and lean (BMI < 25) mothers within 48 h post-partum and applied a panel of 6 antibodies plus a viability marker to characterize 10 major leukocyte subpopulations using flow cytometry.

Results

The size, internal complexity, and surface expression of CD45 and CD16 of multiple leukocyte subpopulations were selectively regulated between blood and colostrum irrespective of the study groups, suggesting a generalized cell-specific phenotype alteration. In obesity, the colostrum B lymphocyte compartment was significantly reduced, and CD16+blood monocytes had an increased CD16 expression compared to the lean group.

Conclusions

This is the first characterization of major leukocyte subsets in colostrum of mothers suffering from obesity and the first report of colostrum leukocyte subpopulations in Latin America. We evidence various significant alterations of most leukocyte populations between blood and colostrum and demonstrate a decreased colostrum B lymphocyte fraction in obesity. This pioneering study is a stepping stone to further investigate active immunity in human breastmilk.
The combined impact of persistent infections and human genetic variation on C-reactive protein levels
Authors: Hodel Flavia , Naret Olivier , Bonnet Clara , Brenner Nicole , Bender Noemi , Waterboer Tim , Marques-Vidal Pedro , Vollenweider Peter , Fellay Jacques
Published: November 2022

Multiple human pathogens establish chronic, sometimes life-long infections. Even if they are often latent, these infections can trigger some degree of local or systemic immune response, resulting in chronic low-grade inflammation. There remains an incomplete understanding of the potential contribution of both persistent infections and human genetic variation on chronic low-grade inflammation. We searched for potential associations between seropositivity for 13 persistent pathogens and the plasma levels of the inflammatory biomarker C-reactive protein (CRP), using data collected in the context of the UK Biobank and the CoLaus|PsyCoLaus Study, two large population-based cohorts. We performed backward stepwise regression starting with the following potential predictors: serostatus for each pathogen, polygenic risk score for CRP, and demographic and clinical factors known to be associated with CRP. We found evidence for an association between Chlamydia trachomatis (P-value = 5.04e − 3) and Helicobacter pylori (P-value = 8.63e − 4) seropositivity and higher plasma levels of CRP. We also found an association between pathogen burden and CRP levels (P-value = 4.12e − 4). These results improve our understanding of the relationship between persistent infections and chronic inflammation, an important determinant of long-term morbidity in humans.
Excessive IL-15 promotes cytotoxic CD4 + CD28− T cell-mediated renal injury in lupus nephritis
Authors: Zhang Ti , Liu Xin , Zhao Yue , Xu Xiaodong , Liu Yaoyang , Wu Xin
Published: November 2022

Background

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are highly susceptible to infection and cardiovascular events, suggesting that chronic antigenic stimulation may accelerate premature aging in SLE patients. Premature aging in SLE is often accompanied with the expansion of cytotoxic CD4 + CD28−T cells. Damage caused by CD4 + CD28− T cells enhances the progressive aging of the tissue function and loss of organism’s fitness. The high serum level of IL-15 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of SLE, but its role in CD4 + CD28−T cell-mediated cytotoxicity in nephritic SLE remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of IL-15 on functional properties and associated renal damage of cytotoxic CD4 + CD28− T cell in lupus nephritis (LN).

Results

Flow cytometry showed that the number of circulating innate-like CD4 + CD28− T cells was increased in patients with nephritic SLE. Immunofluorescence showed CD4 + CD28− T cell infiltration in the kidney of LN patients, which was correlated with multiple clinicopathological features including estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), proteinuria, the proportion of glomerulosclerosis and the degree of renal chronicity. In addition, a high level of IL-15 and IL15-expressing macrophage infiltration was detected in the periglomerular and intraglomerular tissues of LN patients, which enhanced the innate features, cytokine secretion and migratory capability of CD4 + CD28− T cells, and finally exerted direct TCR-independent cytotoxicity on glomerular endothelial cells in an IL-15-dependent manner in vitro.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated that excessive IL-15 potentially promoted cytotoxic CD4 + CD28− T cell-mediated renal damage in LN. This finding may provide new insights into the potential association of premature aging and tissue damage in LN.
A Δ42PD1 fusion-expressing DNA vaccine elicits enhanced adaptive immune response to HIV-1: the key role of TLR4
Authors: Cheng Lin , Tang Xian , He Yun , Ju Bin , Wang Hui
Published: November 2022

Since its discovery in the 1990s, the DNA vaccine has been of great interest because of its ability to elicit both humoral and cellular immune responses while showing relative advantages regarding producibility, stability and storage. However, when applied to human subjects, inadequate immunogenicity remains as the greatest challenge for the practical use of DNA vaccines. In this study, we generated a DNA vaccine Δ42PD1-P24 encoding a fusion protein comprised of the HIV-1 Gag p24 antigen and the extracellular domain of murine Δ42PD1, a novel endogenous Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) agonist. Using a mouse model, we found that Δ42PD1-P24 DNA vaccine elicited a higher antibody response and an increased number of IFN-γ-producing CD4 and CD8 T cells. Moreover, mice with Δ42PD1-P24 DNA vaccination were protected from a subcutaneous challenge with murine mesothelioma cells expressing the HIV-1 p24 antigen. Importantly, the Δ42PD1-mediated enhancement of immune responses was not observed in TLR4 knockout mice. Collectively, these data demonstrate that the immunogenicity and efficacy of DNA vaccines could be improved by the fusion of the extracellular domain of Δ42PD1 to target the immunogen to dendritic cells.
Prognostic value of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I early after coronary artery bypass graft surgery
Authors: Nanni Samuele , Garofalo Mattia , Schinzari Matteo , Nardi Elena , Semprini Franco , Battistini Paola , Barberini Francesco , Foà Alberto , Baiocchi Massimo , Castelli Andrea , Folesani Gianluca , Pacini Davide , Galiè Nazzareno , Corsini Anna
Published: November 2022

Background

The diagnosis of periprocedural myocardial infarction (PMI) after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is based on biochemical markers along with clinical and instrumental findings. However, there is not a clear cutoff value of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) to identify PMI. We hypothesized that isolated hs-cTn concentrations in the first 24 h following CABG could predict cardiac adverse events (in-hospital death and PMI) and/or left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) decrease.

Methods

We retrospectively enrolled all consecutive adult patients undergoing CABG, alone or in association with other cardiac surgery procedures, over 1 year. Hs-cTn I concentrations (Access, Beckman Coulter) were serially measured in the post-operative period and analyzed according to post-operative outcomes.

Results

300 patients were enrolled; 71.3% underwent CABG alone, 33.7% for acute coronary syndrome. Most patients showed hs-cTn I values superior to the limit required by the latest guidelines for the diagnosis of PMI. Five patients (1.7%) died, 8% developed a PMI, 10.6% showed a LVEF decrease ≥ 10%. Hs-cTn I concentrations did not significantly differ with respect to death and/or PMI whereas they were associated with LVEF decrease ≥ 10% (p value < 0.005 at any time interval), in particular hs-cTn I values at 9–12 h post-operatively. A hs-cTn I cutoff of 5556 ng/L, a value 281 (for males) and 479 (for females) times higher than the URL, at 9–12 h post-operatively was identified, representing the best balance between sensitivity (55%) and specificity (79%) in predicting LVEF decrease ≥ 10%.

Conclusions

Hs-cTn I at 9–12 h post-CABG may be useful to early identify patients at risk for LVEF decrease and to guide early investigation and management of possible post-operative complications.
Design and synthesis of novel ureido and thioureido conjugated hydrazone derivatives with potent anticancer activity
Authors: Koopaei Nasrin Nassiri , Shademani Mehrasa , Yazdi Nasrin Shirzad , Tahmasvand Raheleh , Dehbid Mina , Koopaei Mansur Nassiri , Azizian Homa , Mousavi Zahra , Almasirad Ali , Salimi Mona
Published: November 2022

Background

Compounds possessing urea/thiourea moiety have a wide range of biological properties including anticancer activity. On the other hand, taking advantage of the low toxicity and structural diversity of hydrazone derivatives, they are presently being considered for designing chemical compounds with hydrazone moiety in the field of cancer treatment. With this in mind, a series of novel ureido/thioureido derivatives possessing a hydrazone moiety bearing nitro and chloro substituents (4a–4i) have been designed, synthesized, characterized and evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic effect on HT-29 human colon carcinoma and HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cell lines.

Results

Two compounds (4c and 4e) having the chloro phenylurea group hybridized with phenyl hydrazone bearing nitro or chloro moieties demonstrated potent anticancer effect with the IC50 values between 2.2 and 4.8 µM at 72 h. The mechanism of action of compound 4c was revealed in hepatocellular carcinoma cells as an inducer of apoptosis in a caspase-independent pathway.

Conclusion

Taken together, the current work presented compound 4c as a potential lead compound in developing future hepatocellular carcinoma chemotherapy drugs.

Methods

The compounds were synthesized and then characterized by physical and spectral data (FT-IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, Mass). The anticancer activity was assessed using MTT assay, flowcytometry, annexin-V, DAPI staining and Western blot analysis.

Graphical Abstract
Endoscopic esophageal stenting for advanced esophageal cancer in Lubaga Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
Authors: Okello Michael , Darshit Dave , Nabwire Esther Patience , Tinka Anna Ainembabazi , Bakeera-Kitaka Sabrina , Ocama Ponsiano
Published: November 2022

Objective

Esophageal cancer is a common malignancy globally. Most patients in sub-Saharan Africa present at advanced stage not amenable to curative therapy. Stenting provides palliation for these patients. In Uganda, many endoscopy units can perform diagnostic endoscopy but only a handful routinely perform endoscopic interventions like stenting. We describe esophageal cancer patients who underwent esophageal stenting intending to highlight its importance in a resource-limited setting.

Endoscopy reports were reviewed for patients who underwent evaluation for esophageal cancer at Lubaga Hospital from December 2014 to March 2022.

Results

315 records of patients with esophageal cancer were reviewed. Male to female ratio was 2:1. 188(60%) patients were 60 years and above. 268 (85%) esophageal lesions were described as fungating, friable or polypoid. 249 (79%) tumors were in mid or distal esophagus. 66% esophageal lesions caused severe luminal obstruction not traversable by the scope. 164 (52%) patients did not opt for stenting due to personal and other reasons. Stenting wasn’t successful in 7 out of the 148 patients who underwent either primary or tandem stenting. Despite 207 (66%) of patients with advanced esophageal cancer presenting with endoscopically non-traversable tumors, endoscopic stenting was still possible with a technical success rate of 95.3%.
VGSC-DB: an online database of voltage-gated sodium channels
Authors: Wang Gaoang , Yu Jiahui , Du Hongyan , Shen Chao , Zhang Xujun , Liu Yifei , Zhang Yangyang , Cao Dongsheng , Pan Peichen , Hou Tingjun
Published: November 2022

As an important member of ion channels family, the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC/Nav) is associated with a variety of diseases, including epilepsy, migraine, ataxia, etc., and has always been a hot target for drug design and discovery. Many subtype-selective modulators targeting VGSCs have been reported, and some of them have been approved for clinical applications. However, the drug design resources related to VGSCs are insufficient, especially the lack of accurate and extensive compound data toward VGSCs. To fulfill this demand, we develop the Voltage-gated Sodium Channels Database (VGSC-DB). VGSC-DB is the first open-source database for VGSCs, which provides open access to 6055 data records, including 3396 compounds from 173 references toward nine subtypes of Navs (Nav1.1 ~ Nav1.9). A total of 28 items of information is included in each data record, including the chemical structure, biological activity (IC50/EC50), target, binding site, organism, chemical and physical properties, etc. VGSC-DB collects the data from small-molecule compounds, toxins and various derivatives. Users can search the information of compounds by text or structure, and the advanced search function is also supported to realize batch query. VGSC-DB is freely accessible at http://cadd.zju.edu.cn/vgsc/, and all the data can be downloaded in XLSX/SDF file formats.

Graphical Abstract
An economic evaluation of intensive hypertension control in CKD patients: a cost-effectiveness study
Authors: Lee Ye Seol , Lee Hae-Young , Kim Tae Hyun
Published: November 2022

Background

Studies have suggested that intensive hypertension control in patients with a high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is both effective and economically feasible. The purpose of this study is to conduct an economic evaluation of intensive hypertension control targeting chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients using the representative data in Korea.

Methods

We used a Markov decision model to compare both cost and effectiveness of intensive hypertension control versus standard hypertension control in hypertensive CKD patients. Model parameters were estimated with the data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS)-National Sample Cohort, as well as latest literature. One-way sensitivity analysis was conducted to test the effect of variation in key parameters on the model outcome.

Results

For CKD patients with hypertension, intensive hypertension control would cost more but increase utilities, compared to standard hypertension control. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for intensive hypertension control in CKD patients was projected at 18,126 USDs per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) compared to standard hypertension control. The results of sensitivity analysis suggest that the results are overall robust.

Conclusions

This study finds that intensive hypertension control in CKD patients in Korea is economically sound. This information is expected to be useful for clinicians in managing hypertension of CKD patients and policymakers when making decisions.
President's Page: The transformation of SEG
Authors: Cramer Pete
Published: November 2022

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. This Chinese proverb is more than 2000 years old, but it faithfully describes the journey SEG has begun.
Implications of slow fault slip for hydraulic-fracturing-induced seismicity
Authors: Eaton David W. , Eyre Thomas S.
Published: November 2022

Since the discovery of slow-slip phenomena, scientific understanding of the behavior of active fault systems has been transformed significantly. It is now recognized that tectonic fault systems are characterized by a spectrum of slip behavior, from “regular” (stick-slip) earthquakes that radiate elastic wave energy and occur on a timescale of seconds, to slow-slip events with durations ranging from minutes to years. More recently, slow-slip phenomena have been observed and modeled in association with injection-induced seismicity. This includes evidence for predominantly slow fault slip during injection that triggered dynamic rupture elsewhere on a fault. In the case of hydraulic fracturing, slow-slip behavior is consistent with the frictional characteristics of faults in clay-rich rocks. A change in pore pressure or slip rate can cause a fault to transition from slow to unstable slip. Through real-time monitoring of slip-slip processes and, potentially, the development of operational adjustments to reduce the hazard of damaging ground motions, a better understanding of slow-slip processes could contribute to improved risk mitigation for induced earthquakes. Effective tools for direct observation of slow-slip processes include tiltmeters, strainmeters, global navigation satellite systems, interferometric synthetic aperture radar, and distributed fiber-optic sensing.
Recognizing societal influences in earthquake geohazard risk perception with explainable AI while mitigating risks through improved seismic interpretation
Authors: Bedle Heather , Salazar-Florez Diana , Garneau Christopher R. H.
Published: November 2022

As public awareness of climate-change-related weather events and temperature anomalies increases in the United States, citizens’ attitudes toward climate change should be studied, including the effects of climate mitigation strategies and their associated risks such as induced seismicity. Using social survey data and earthquake records, an explainable artificial intelligence method (SHAP) is employed to investigate factors that are important in explaining individual perceptions and assessments of future induced seismicity. Focusing on Oklahoma, where the majority (greater than 75%) of earthquakes are induced, SHAP reveals that personally experiencing earthquakes is a significant factor in the respondents’ past and future perception of earthquake frequency. Realizing that induced seismicity plays a strong role in individual perceptions of earthquake frequency, it is increasingly important to mitigate this geohazard, which is expected to increase with climate mitigation strategies, whether they are carbon capture and sequestration or geothermal in nature. To this end, seismic attribute methods to improve subsurface characterization, particularly for fluid migration pathway identification, are examined using data from a carbon sequestration project in northwest Montana in the Kevin Dome area. While broadband and multispectral coherence do not improve the identification of faults and fractures, in this case, aberrancy (the third derivative of structure) successfully highlights lineations because it is more susceptible to detecting flexures in seismic data. Based on this result, we strongly encourage interpreters to include aberrancy in their reservoir analysis to identify and mitigate fluid migration that may result in induced seismicity.
Perturbation theory without power series: Iterative construction of non-analytic operator spectra
Authors: Smerlak Matteo
Published: November 2022

It is well known that quantum-mechanical perturbation theory often gives rise to divergent series that require proper resummation. Here I discuss simple ways in which these divergences can be avoided in the first place. Using the elementary technique of relaxed fixed-point iteration, I obtain convergent expressions for various challenging ground-states wave functions, including quartic, sextic and octic anharmonic oscillators, the hydrogenic Zeeman problem, and the Herbst-Simon Hamiltonian (with finite energy but vanishing Rayleigh-Schrödinger coefficients), all at arbitarily strong coupling. These results challenge the notion that non-analytic functions of coupling constants are intrinsically “non-perturbative”. A possible application to exact diagonalization is briefly discussed.