bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using meta-analysis and CNN-NLP to review and classify the medical literature for normal tissue complication probability in head and neck cancer
Authors: Lee Tsair-Fwu , Hsieh Yang-Wei , Yang Pei-Ying , Tseng Chi-Hung , Lee Shen-Hao , Yang Jack , Chang Liyun , Wu Jia-Ming , Tseng Chin-Dar , Chao Pei-Ju
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The study aims to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of literature reviews on normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) in head and neck cancer patients using radiation therapy. It employs meta-analysis (MA) and natural language processing (NLP).

Material and methods

The study consists of two parts. First, it employs MA to assess NTCP models for xerostomia, dysphagia, and mucositis after radiation therapy, using Python 3.10.5 for statistical analysis. Second, it integrates NLP with convolutional neural networks (CNN) to optimize literature search, reducing 3256 articles to 12. CNN settings include a batch size of 50, 50–200 epoch range and a 0.001 learning rate.

Results

The study's CNN-NLP model achieved a notable accuracy of 0.94 after 200 epochs with Adamax optimization. MA showed an AUC of 0.67 for early-effect xerostomia and 0.74 for late-effect, indicating moderate to high predictive accuracy but with high variability across studies. Initial CNN accuracy of 66.70% improved to 94.87% post-tuning by optimizer and hyperparameters.

Conclusion

The study successfully merges MA and NLP, confirming high predictive accuracy for specific model-feature combinations. It introduces a time-based metric, words per minute (WPM), for efficiency and highlights the utility of MA and NLP in clinical research.
Variety of femoral anteversion and its measurement in cementless total hip arthroplasty: Does robotic technology improve accuracy?
Authors: Shao Hongyi , Huang Yong , Yang Dejin , Deng Wang , Wu Xiang-Dong , Zhou Yixin
Published: January 2024

Background

High-performance total hip arthroplasty (THA) depends on the accurate position of components. However, femoral anteversion is variable, and current studies only used traditional instruments to evaluate it, such as protractor and spirit level with limited cases. This study aimed to identify the variability in the measured femoral native anteversion and intraoperative stem anteversion under different measurement methods, including intraoperative robotic method. We hypothesized that robotic technology was more accurate than traditional instruments for femoral anteversion evaluation.

Methods

This study included 117 hips of patients who underwent robotic-assisted THA between November 2019 and March 2021. Preoperative native femoral anteversion was measured using a robotic system. Intraoperative femoral stem anteversion was evaluated visually, and then measured with a goniometer and a robotic system, respectively. Variability in the measured femoral native anteversion and intraoperative femoral stem anteversion was calculated and compared. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Pearson correlation analysis were used to assess the consistency and correlation of anteversion of different measurements and postoperative CT-measured stem anteversion, respectively.

Results

The result of measurement for preoperative native femoral anteversion was more variable than the intraoperative robotic-measured stem anteversion. Intraoperative robotic-measured stem version showed the highest correlation with postoperative CT measurement of stem version (r = 0.806, P < 0.001), while intraoperative surgeon estimation had the lowest correlation coefficient (r = 0.281, P = 0.025). As for the consistency with postoperative CT measurement of femoral stem anteversion, the intraoperative robotic-measured femoral stem version also had the highest value (ICC = 0.892, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Native femoral anteversion was variable preoperatively. Using cementless stems, anteversion was also highly variable. Robotic assessment for stem anteversion during surgery was more consistent with the final position than the preoperative assessment and conventional intraoperative estimation.
Premature ovarian insufficiency: a review on the role of tobacco smoke, its clinical harm, and treatment
Authors: Cui Jinghan , Wang Ying
Published: January 2024

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a condition in which the quantity of follicles and the quality of oocytes gradually decrease. This results in an estrogen secretion disorder and abnormal follicle development, which can lead to related diseases, early onset of menopause, sexual dysfunction, and an increased risk of cardiovascular issues, osteoporosis, and depression, among others. This disease significantly impacts the physical and mental health and overall quality of life of affected women. Factors such as genetic abnormalities, oophorectomy, radiotherapy for malignancy, idiopathic conditions, and an unhealthy lifestyle, including smoking, can accelerate the depletion of the follicular pool and the onset of menopause. Extensive research has been conducted on the detrimental effects of tobacco smoke on the ovaries. This article aims to review the advancements in understanding the impact of tobacco smoke on POI, both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, we explore the potential adverse effects of common toxicants found in tobacco smoke, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heavy metals like cadmium, alkaloids like nicotine and its major metabolite cotinine, benzo[a]pyrene, and aromatic amines. In addition to discussing the toxicants, this article also reviews the complications associated with POI and the current state of research and application of treatment methods. These findings will contribute to the development of more precise treatments for POI, offering theoretical support for enhancing the long-term quality of life for women affected by this condition.
Multi-UAV-assisted Internet of Remote Things communication within satellite–aerial–terrestrial integrated network
Authors: Yao Yuanyuan , Dong Dengyang , Cai Changjun , Huang Sai , Yuan Xin , Gong Xiaocong
Published: January 2024

Due to the limited transmission capabilities of terrestrial intelligent devices within the Internet of Remote Things (IoRT), this paper proposes an optimization scheme aimed at enhancing data transmission rate while ensuring communication reliability. This scheme focuses on multi-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-assisted IoRT data communication within the satellite–aerial–terrestrial integrated network (SATIN), which is one of the key technologies for the sixth generation (6G) networks. To optimize the system’s data transmission rate, we introduce a multi-dimensional coverage and power optimization (CPO) algorithm, rooted in the block coordinate descent (BCD) method. This algorithm concurrently optimizes various parameters, including the number and deployment of UAVs, the correlation between IoRT devices and UAVs, and the transmission power of both devices and UAVs. To ensure comprehensive coverage of a large-scale randomly distributed array of terrestrial devices, combined with machine learning algorithm, we present the Dynamic Deployment based on K-means (DDK) algorithm. Additionally, we address the non-convexity challenge in resource allocation for transmission power through variable substitution and the successive convex approximation technique (SCA). Simulation results substantiate the remarkable efficacy of our CPO algorithm, showcasing a maximum 240% improvement in the uplink transmission rate of IoRT data compared to conventional methods.
Decidual stromal cells-derived exosomes incurred insufficient migration and invasion of trophoblast by disturbing of β-TrCP-mediated snail ubiquitination and degradation in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion
Authors: Xiong Miao , Wang Qiaohong , Zhang Xiaoxin , Wen Liping , Zhao Aimin
Published: January 2024

Background

Exosomes released from decidual stromal cells (DSC-exos) play a crucial role in facilitating the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of trophoblasts and insufficient trophoblasts EMT are associated with URSA (unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion). However, the mechanisms underlying DSC-exos inducing EMT is not completely understood.

Methods

DSC-exos of normal pregnant women (N-DSC-exos) and URSA patients (URSA-DSC-exos) were extracted and characterized. Characterization of the isolated DSC-exos was performed using with TEM (transmission electron microscopy), NTA (nanoparticle tracking analysis), and WB (western blot) techniques. Subsequently, these DSC-exos were co-cultured with trophoblasts cell lines (HTR-8/SVneo). The influence of both N-DSC-exos and URSA-DSC-exos on trophoblasts proliferation, invasion and migration, as well as on the expression of EMT-related proteins, was evaluated through a series of assays including CCK8 assays, wound healing assays, transwell assays, and western blot, respectively. Then rescue experiments were performed by β-TrCP knockdown or β-TrCP overexpressing trophoblasts with snail-siRNA transfection or β-TrCP overexpressing Lentivirus infection, respectively. Finally, animal experiments were employed to explore the effect of N-DSC-exos on embryo absorption in mice.

Results

We found increased β-TrCP expression in the villus of URSA patients when compared to the normal pregnant women, alongside reduction in the levels of both snail and N-cadherin within URSA patients. N-DSC-exos can promote the EMT of the trophoblast by inhibiting β-TrCP-mediated ubiquitination and degradation of transcription factor snail. Moreover the capacity to promote EMT was found to be more potent in N-DSC-exos than URSA-DSC-exos. Down-regulation of snail or overexpression of β-TrCP can reverse the effects of N-DSC-exos on trophoblast. Finally, in vivo experiment suggested that N-DSC-exos significantly reduced the embryo resorption rate of spontaneous abortion mouse model.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that URSA-DSC-exos caused insufficient migration and invasion of trophoblast because of disturbing of β-TrCP-mediated ubiquitination and degradation of EMT transcription factor snail. Elucidating the underlying mechanism of this dysregulation may shed light on the novel pathways through which DSC-exos influence trophoblast function, thereby contributing to our understanding of their role in URSA.
Death-associated protein kinase 1 as a therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Zhang Tao , Kim Byeong Mo , Lee Tae Ho
Published: January 2024

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia in the elderly and represents a major clinical challenge in the ageing society. Neuropathological hallmarks of AD include neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau, senile plaques derived from the deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides, brain atrophy induced by neuronal loss, and synaptic dysfunctions. Death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) is ubiquitously expressed in the central nervous system. Dysregulation of DAPK1 has been shown to contribute to various neurological diseases including AD, ischemic stroke and Parkinson’s disease (PD). We have established an upstream effect of DAPK1 on Aβ and tau pathologies and neuronal apoptosis through kinase-mediated protein phosphorylation, supporting a causal role of DAPK1 in the pathophysiology of AD. In this review, we summarize current knowledge about how DAPK1 is involved in various AD pathological changes including tau hyperphosphorylation, Aβ deposition, neuronal cell death and synaptic degeneration. The underlying molecular mechanisms of DAPK1 dysregulation in AD are discussed. We also review the recent progress regarding the development of novel DAPK1 modulators and their potential applications in AD intervention. These findings substantiate DAPK1 as a novel therapeutic target for the development of multifunctional disease-modifying treatments for AD and other neurological disorders.
Revealing the true potential and prospects of augmented reality in education
Authors: Koumpouros Yiannis
Published: January 2024

Augmented Reality (AR) technology is one of the latest developments and is receiving ever-increasing attention. Many researches are conducted on an international scale in order to study the effectiveness of its use in education. The purpose of this work was to record the characteristics of AR applications, in order to determine the extent to which they can be used effectively for educational purposes and reveal valuable insights. A Systematic Bibliographic Review was carried out on 73 articles. The structure of the paper followed the PRISMA review protocol. Eight questions were formulated and examined in order to gather information about the characteristics of the applications. From 2016 to 2020 the publications studying AR applications were doubled. The majority of them targeted university students, while a very limited number included special education. Physics class and foreign language learning were the ones most often chosen as the field to develop an app. Most of the applications (68.49%) were designed using marker detection technology for the Android operating system (45.21%) and were created with Unity (47.95%) and Vuforia (42.47%) tools. The majority of researches evaluated the effectiveness of the application in a subjective way, using custom-made not valid and reliable tools making the results not comparable. The limited number of participants and the short duration of pilot testing inhibit the generalization of their results. Technical problems and limitations of the equipment used are mentioned as the most frequent obstacles. Not all key-actors were involved in the design and development process of the applications. This suggests that further research is needed to fully understand the potential of AR applications in education and to develop effective evaluation methods. Key aspects for future research studies are proposed.
Alpha-synuclein dynamics bridge Type-I Interferon response and SARS-CoV-2 replication in peripheral cells
Authors: Limanaqi Fiona , Zecchini Silvia , Saulle Irma , Strizzi Sergio , Vanetti Claudia , Garziano Micaela , Cappelletti Gioia , Parolin Debora , Caccia Sonia , Trabattoni Daria , Fenizia Claudio , Clerici Mario , Biasin Mara
Published: January 2024

Background

Increasing evidence suggests a double-faceted role of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) following infection by a variety of viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. Although α-syn accumulation is known to contribute to cell toxicity and the development and/or exacerbation of neuropathological manifestations, it is also a key to sustaining anti-viral innate immunity. Consistently with α-syn aggregation as a hallmark of Parkinson's disease, most studies investigating the biological function of α-syn focused on neural cells, while reports on the role of α-syn in periphery are limited, especially in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Results

Results herein obtained by real time qPCR, immunofluorescence and western blot indicate that α-syn upregulation in peripheral cells occurs as a Type-I Interferon (IFN)-related response against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Noteworthy, this effect mostly involves α-syn multimers, and the dynamic α-syn multimer:monomer ratio. Administration of excess α-syn monomers promoted SARS-CoV-2 replication along with downregulation of IFN-Stimulated Genes (ISGs) in epithelial lung cells, which was associated with reduced α-syn multimers and α-syn multimer:monomer ratio. These effects were prevented by combined administration of IFN-β, which hindered virus replication and upregulated ISGs, meanwhile increasing both α-syn multimers and α-syn multimer:monomer ratio in the absence of cell toxicity. Finally, in endothelial cells displaying abortive SARS-CoV-2 replication, α-syn multimers, and multimer:monomer ratio were not reduced following exposure to the virus and exogenous α-syn, suggesting that only productive viral infection impairs α-syn multimerization and multimer:monomer equilibrium.

Conclusions

Our study provides novel insights into the biology of α-syn, showing that its dynamic conformations are implicated in the innate immune response against SARS-CoV-2 infection in peripheral cells. In particular, our results suggest that promotion of non-toxic α-syn multimers likely occurs as a Type-I IFN-related biological response which partakes in the suppression of viral replication. Further studies are needed to replicate our findings in neuronal cells as well as animal models, and to ascertain the nature of such α-syn conformations.
De-bordering policies at the city scale: strategies for building resilience in Barcelona's migration governance
Authors: Zapata-Barrero Ricard
Published: January 2024

This article bridges the fields of urban politics, migration governance and border studies by exploring Barcelona as a case study. It raises a first critical question about what happens to so-called borderlands when "borders" move to other scales, such as cities that are not usually categorized as "border cities". Within this framing debate, this study explores two fundamental questions: (1) how border practices at the state level shape constrained relations between cities and migrants, and (2) how cities map de-bordering policies to resolve such constraints, which we conceptualise as an example of 'urban resilience'. The aim is to provide a focus that brings the analytical category of "urban resilience", recently proposed within the emerging debate on the "local turn" in migration studies, to bear on issues directly related to the social impacts of state bordering processes on urban systems. The article then argues that urban justice principles drive most cities to initiate resilient de-bordering policies, and can be seen as a distinctive normative factor underpinning urban resilience when applied to migration governance. After laying the groundwork for this theoretical framework and its application to the city of Barcelona, the final section briefly outlines the potential of this new and crucial critical area of migration research. This will provide yet another opportunity to highlight that we are likely to enter an era in which cities will increasingly become sovereign geopolitical entities within and beyond the traditional hierarchical reach of their own states.
Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula: a comprehensive review of the history, classification systems, management, and prognosis
Authors: Alkhaibary Ali , Alharbi Ahoud , Alnefaie Nada , Alammar Hajar , Arishy Alshaymaa M. , Alghanim Noor , Aldhfyan Yazeed M. , Albaiahy Arwa , Khormi Yahya H. , Alshaya Wael , AlQahatani Saad , Aloraidi Ahmed , Alkhani Ahmed , Khairy Sami
Published: January 2024

Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas account for the majority of spinal vascular malformations. They are typically located in the thoracolumbar region and are diagnosed in the middle-aged and elderly populations. Although spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas have been postulated to be acquired, their exact development remains uncertain. Typically, the arteriovenous shunt is situated close to the spinal nerve root, inside the dura mater, where the blood from the radiculomeningeal artery and radicular vein intermix. Throughout history, there have been multiple classification systems of spinal arteriovenous shunts since 1967. Those were mainly based on the evolution of diagnostic studies as well as the treatment of these lesions. Such classification systems have undergone significant changes over the years. Unlike intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula, spinal dural arteriovenous fistula is progressive in nature. The neurological manifestations, due to venous congestion, tend to be insidious as well as non-specific. These include sensory deficits, such as paresthesia, bilateral and/or unilateral radicular pain affecting the lower limbs, and gait disturbances. Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas can be suspected on magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance angiography and confirmed by digital subtraction angiography (DSA). The management includes surgery, endovascular therapy, and in selected cases, radiotherapy. The treatment goal of spinal dural arteriovenous fistula is to halt the progression of the disease. The prognosis depends on both the duration of symptoms as well as the clinical condition prior to therapy. The present article comprehensively reviews the pathophysiology, changes in classification systems, natural history, clinical manifestations, radiological features, management, and prognosis.
Preclinical evaluation of the theranostic potential of 89Zr/177Lu-labeled anti-TROP-2 antibody in triple-negative breast cancer model
Authors: Wu Yitian , li Tuo , Zhang Xianzhong , Jing Hongli , Li Fang , Huo Li
Published: January 2024

Background

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most lethal malignant tumors among women, characterized by high invasiveness, high heterogeneity, and lack of specific therapeutic targets such as estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. Trophoblast cell-surface antigen-2 (TROP-2) is a transmembrane glycoprotein over-expressed in 80% of TNBC patients and is associated with the occurrence, progress, and poor prognosis of TNBC. The TROP-2 targeted immunoPET imaging allows non-invasive quantification of the TROP-2 expression levels of tumors, which could help to screen beneficiaries most likely to respond to SG and predict the response. This study aimed to develop a 89Zr/177Lu-radiolabeled anti-TROP-2 antibody (NY003) for immunoPET and SPECT imaging, as well as radioimmunotherapy (RIT) in TROP-2 (+)TNBC tumor-bearing model. Based on the camelid antibody, we developed a TROP-2 targeted recombinant antibody NY003. NY003 was conjugated with DFO and DTPA for 89Zr and 177Lu radiolabelling, respectively. The theranostic potential of [89Zr]Zr-DFO-NY003/[177Lu]Lu-DTPA-NY003 was evaluated through immunoPET, SPECT imaging, and RIT studies in the subcutaneous TROP-2 positive TNBC xenograft mice model.

Results

The high binding affinity of NY003 to TROP-2 was verified through ELISA. The radiochemical purity of [89Zr]Zr-DFO-NY003/[177Lu]Lu-DTPA-NY003 exceeded 95% and remained stable within 144h p.i. in vitro. ImmunoPET and SPECT imaging showed the specific accumulation of [89Zr]Zr-DFO-NY003/[177Lu]Lu-DTPA-NY003 in MDA-MB-231 tumors and gradually increased with the time tested, significantly higher than that in control groups (P < 0.05). The strongest anti-tumor efficacy was observed in the high-dose of [177Lu]Lu-DTPA-NY003 group, followed by the low-dose group, the tumor growth was significantly suppressed by [177Lu]Lu-DTPA-NY003, the tumor volumes of both high- and low-dose groups were smaller than the control groups (P < 0.05). Ex vivo biodistribution and histological staining verified the results of in vivo imaging and RIT studies.

Conclusion

As a drug platform for radiotheranostics, 89Zr/177Lu-radiolabeled anti-TROP-2 antibody NY003 could not only non-invasively screen the potential beneficiaries for optimizing SG ADC treatment but also suppressed the growth of TROP-2 positive TNBC tumors, strongly supporting the theranostic potential of [89Zr]Zr-DFO-NY003/[177Lu]Lu-DTPA-NY003.
Uncovering the mechanisms underlying pear leaf apoplast protein-mediated resistance against Colletotrichum fructicola through transcriptome and proteome profiling
Authors: Han Chenyang , Su Zhiyuan , Zhao Yancun , Li Chaohui , Guo Baodian , Wang Qi , Liu Fengquan , Zhang Shaoling
Published: January 2024

Pear anthracnose, caused by the fungus Colletotrichum fructicola, is a devastating disease for the pear industry. The apoplast, an extracellular compartment outside the plasma membrane, plays a crucial role in water and nutrient transport, as well as plant-microbe interactions. This study aimed to uncover the molecular mechanism of pear leaf apoplastic protein-mediated resistance to C. fructicola. Apoplast fluid was isolated using the vacuum infiltration method, and defence-related apoplastic proteins were identified through protein mass spectrometry and transcriptome sequencing. We found 213 apoplastic proteins in the leaf apoplast fluid during early C. fructicola infection, with the majority (74.64%) being enzymes, including glycosidases, proteases, and oxidoreductases. Gene Ontology analysis revealed their involvement in defence response, enzyme inhibition, carbohydrate metabolism, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. Transcriptome analysis showed the infection induced expression of certain apoplast proteins, potentially contributing to pear leaf resistance. Notably, the expression of PbrGlu1, an endo-β-1,3-glucanase from the glycoside hydrolase 17 family, was significantly higher in infected leaves. Silencing of the PbrGlu1 gene increased pear leaf susceptibility to C. fructicola, leading to more severe symptoms and higher reactive oxygen species content. Overall, our study provides insights into the apoplast space interaction between pear leaves and C. fructicola, identifies a key gene in infected pears, and offers a foundation and new strategy for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying pear anthracnose and breeding disease-resistant pears.
Deconstructive endovascular technique for dissecting posterior cerebral artery aneurysms: a single-center case series study
Authors: Hassan Farouk , Osman Ashraf Abdel Latif , Issa Ahmed S.
Published: January 2024

Background

This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the endovascular deconstructive artery technique in the treatment of dissecting posterior cerebral artery (PCA) aneurysms (P1 and P2 segments). We retrospectively analyzed the angiographic characteristics, technical data, and clinical outcomes of nine consecutive patients with dissecting PCA aneurysms treated by our team using the endovascular deconstructive technique between January 2019 and December 2022. The patients consisted of six males and three females ranging in age from 36 to 63 years (mean: 48.1 ± 9). Four patients had a P1 segment dissecting aneurysm, and five patients had a P2 segment dissecting aneurysm. Five patients presented with a headache, one patient presented with epilepsy and headache, and three patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Results

A balloon occlusion test (BOT) was performed for one patient. Eight patients were treated by parent artery occlusion (PAO) using micro-coils, whereas one patient was treated by occluding the P2 segment dissecting aneurysm using NBCA glue. There were no cortical infarctions following the occlusion of the parent artery. Two patients with P1 occlusion experienced post-procedural small thalamic infarctions that resolved to mRs:1 at three months of follow-up. P2 segment occlusion was asymptomatic in all patients. One patient showed partial aneurysmal recurrence.

Conclusions

Endovascular parent artery occlusion is an effective and safe treatment approach for the dissecting aneurysms of PCA, even without an occlusion test. In addition, the risk of perforator infarction must be considered in P1 occlusion.

Level of evidence

Level 4, Case Series.
Seismic data reconstruction based on a multicascade self-guided network
Authors: Dong Xintong , Wei Changxin , Zhong Tie , Cheng Ming , Dong Shiqi , Li Feng
Published: January 2024

Due to inherent limitations in data acquisition, seismic data reconstruction is an important procedure to recover missing data or improve observation density. Many conventional methods exist to solve the reconstruction task. Reconstruction is challenging, especially in the case of complex seismic data. Recently, convolutional neural networks (CNN) have been applied in seismic data processing. In most cases, the architectures of these CNN-based methods are relatively simple, without sufficient feature interaction, limiting their performance. To improve reconstruction results, a multicascade self-guided network (MSG-Net) is presented. In general, MSG-Net is inspired by the self-guided scheme, and a multicascade architecture is designed to extract informative features within the analyzed seismic data at different resolutions. Following this, a parallel spatial attention module is used to further refine and enhance the primary features, thereby improving reconstruction accuracy. To test and verify the new approach, a training data set is generated, based on the synthetic records obtained by forward modeling methods. Experimental results demonstrate that MSG-Net is a promising approach for performing seismic data interpolation.
Importance of Patient Health Insurance Coverage and Out-of-Pocket Costs for Genomic Testing in Oncologists' Treatment Decisions
Authors: Yabroff K. Robin , Sylvia Shi Kewei , Zhao Jingxuan , Freedman Andrew N. , Zheng Zhiyuan , Nogueira Leticia , Han Xuesong , Klabunde Carrie N. , de Moor Janet S.
Published: January 2024

PURPOSE

Use of genomic testing, especially multimarker panels, is increasing in the United States. Not all tests and related treatments are covered by health insurance, which can result in substantial patient out-of-pocket (OOP) costs. Little is known about oncologists' treatment decisions with respect to patient insurance coverage and OOP costs for genomic testing.

METHODS

We identified 1,049 oncologists who used multimarker tumor panels from the 2017 National Survey of Precision Medicine in Cancer Treatment. Separate multivariable ordinal logistic regressions examined associations of oncologist-, practice-, and area-level characteristics and oncologists' ratings of importance (very, somewhat, or a little/not important) of insurance coverage and OOP costs for genomic testing in treatment decisions, adjusting for oncologist years of experience, sex, race and ethnicity, specialty, use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) tests, region, tumor boards, patient insurance mix, and area-level socioeconomic characteristics.

RESULTS

Among oncologists, 47.3%, 32.7%, and 20.0% reported that patient insurance coverage for genomic testing was very, somewhat, or a little/not important, respectively, in treatment decisions. In addition, 56.9%, 28.0%, and 15.2% reported that OOP costs for testing were very, somewhat, or a little/not important, respectively. In adjusted analyses, oncologists who used NGS tests were more likely to report patient insurance and OOP costs as important (odds ratio [OR], 2.00 [95% CI, 1.16 to 3.45] and OR, 2.12 [95% CI, 1.22 to 3.68], respectively) in treatment decisions compared with oncologists who did not use these tests, as were oncologists who treated solid tumors, rather than only hematological cancers. More years of experience and higher percentages of Medicaid or self-paid/uninsured patients in the practice were associated with reporting insurance coverage (OR, 1.43 [95% CI, 1.09 to 1.89]) and OOP costs (OR, 1.51 [95% CI, 1.13 to 2.01]) as important. Oncologists in practices with molecular tumor boards for genomic tests were less likely to report coverage (OR, 0.63 [95% CI, 0.47 to 0.85]) and OOP costs (OR, 0.72 [95% CI, 0.53 to 0.97]) as important than their counterparts in practices without these tumor boards.

CONCLUSION

Most oncologists rate patient health insurance and OOP costs for genomic tests as important considerations in subsequent treatment recommendations. Modifiable factors associated with these ratings can inform interventions to support patient-physician decision making about care.
A History of Argentina
Authors: Adamovsky Ezequiel
Published: January 2024

In A History of Argentina, originally published in Spanish in 2020, Ezequiel Adamovsky presents over five hundred years of Argentine economic, political, social, and cultural history. Adamovsky highlights the experiences of women, Indigenous communities, and other groups that have traditionally been left out of the historical archive. He focuses on harmful aspects of Spanish colonization such as gender subjugation, the violence enacted in the name of the Catholic Church, the role of the economy as it shifted from the encomienda system into modern industrialization, and the devastating effects of slavery, violence, and disease brought to the region by Spanish colonizers. Adamovsky also discusses Argentina’s independence and territorial consolidation, the first democratic elections in 1916, military coups, Peronism, democratization and the neoliberal reforms of the 1980s, and many other facets of Argentine life up to the 2019 presidential election. Concise, accessible, and comprehensive, A History of Argentina is an essential guide to this nation.
Analysis of the metabolic profile and comorbidities in women with endometriosis before and after surgical treatment
Authors: Lavor Claruza Braga Holanda , Viana Júnior Antonio Brazil , Medeiros Francisco das Chagas
Published: January 2024

Aim: this study aimed to evaluate the effects of surgical treatment for endometriosis on the metabolic profile of women diagnosed with deep endometriosis. Methods: we conducted a prospective observational study with a sample of 30 women in the menacme diagnosed with deep endometriosis who underwent videolaparoscopic surgery in a reference center in Brazil between October 2020 and December 2021. A total of 30 women performed clinical and laboratory tests regarding their metabolic profile on two occasions, during preoperative tests and six months after video-laparoscopy. Results: patients had lower average levels of Total Cholesterol (TC), Low-Density Cholesterol (LDL-c), Triglycerides (TGC), and Fasting Glycemia (FG) after the surgical procedure. The average TC level was 8.2% lower after surgery, LDL-c was 12.8% lower, TGC was 10.9% lower, and FG was 7.3% lower. The results showed a statistically significant difference for all these parameters (p < 0.001). Conclusions: video-laparoscopy was associated with a favorable lipid profile compared to the preoperative lipid profile, with a significant improvement in the average levels of LDL-c, HDL-c, TC, TGC, and FG. Long-term follow-up studies are needed to determine whether surgical treatment for endometriosis can improve the metabolic parameters of women with endometriosis and favor a lower predisposition to atherogenesis.
Αντιλήψεις Εκπαιδευτικών για την Αυτοαποτελεσματικότητά τους και την Ποιότητα Επαγγελματικής Ζωής
Authors: Λαμπροπούλου Αικατερίνη , Κουτρουμπή Μαριλένα
Published: January 2024

Σκοπός της έρευνας ήταν η διερεύνηση των αντιλήψεων των εκπαιδευτικών για την αυτοαποτελεσματικότητα και την ποιότητα της επαγγελματικής τους ζωής. Επιπλέον, μελετήθηκε η σχέση μεταξύ των δύο εννοιών και η ύπαρξη διαφορών μεταξύ των αντιλήψεων των εκπαιδευτικών ως προς το φύλο, την ηλικία, την βαθμίδα εκπαίδευσης και τα έτη προϋπηρεσίας. Τέλος, μελετήθηκε ο προβλεπτικός ρόλος της αυτοαποτελεσματικότητας στην ποιότητα της επαγγελματικής ζωής των εκπαιδευτικών. Στην έρευνα συμμετείχαν 332 εκπαιδευτικοί πρωτοβάθμιας και δευτεροβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης από σχολεία της ευρύτερης περιοχής της Αττικής, οι οποίοι συμπλήρωσαν διαδικτυακά την Κλίμακα της Αίσθησης Αποτελεσματικότητας των Εκπαιδευτικών (Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale), την Κλίμακα Ποιότητας Επαγγελματικής Ζωής (Professional Quality of Life Scale) και ένα ερωτηματολόγιο δημογραφικών χαρακτηριστικών. Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν ότι οι εκπαιδευτικοί έχουν θετικές αντιλήψεις για την αυτοαποτελεσματικότητά τους και για την ποιότητα της επαγγελματικής τους ζωής. Βρέθηκε στατιστικώς σημαντική, αλλά χαμηλή, αρνητική συσχέτιση μεταξύ της αυτοαποτελεσματικότητας και της επαγγελματικής εξουθένωσης και στατιστικώς σημαντική, μέτρια, θετική συσχέτιση μεταξύ της αυτοαποτελεσματικότητας και της ικανοποίησης συμπόνιας. Επίσης, παρατηρήθηκαν στατιστικώς σημαντικές διαφορές ανάμεσα σε άνδρες και γυναίκες όσον αφορά το δευτερογενές τραυματικό στρες και την ικανοποίηση συμπόνιας και στατιστικώς σημαντικές διαφορές ως προς την αυτοαποτελεσματικότητα των εκπαιδευτικών, ανάλογα με τα έτη προϋπηρεσίας τους. Τέλος, βρέθηκε ότι η αυτοαποτελεσματικότητα αποτελεί προβλεπτικό παράγοντα της ικανοποίησης συμπόνιας και της επαγγελματικής εξουθένωσης. Τα ευρήματα αναλύονται σε σχέση με τη σύγχρονη βιβλιογραφία.
An alternative focus on data in the neurorights discussion – Lessons from Brazil
Authors: Rainey Stephen , Dalese Pedro
Published: January 2024

Developments in neurotechnology are prompting concerns about the concepts of mental privacy, mental integrity, and cognitive liberty, among others. Many researchers and some policymakers have begun to propose that novel human rights are required to meet the challenges emerging neurotechnology poses. These proposals have seen high-profile discussion, gaining already state-level recognition in Chile. Others advocate a different approach by concentrating on data protection. This policy brief recommends this kind of focus in order to (i) help researchers to regulate the pace of development and (ii) respect the potential for risks to individuals by permitting them greater control over how their neurodata is used. A data-centred approach is an agile means of providing legal and ethical protection and permitting the direction of neurotechnology development toward producing positive impacts. This brief also refers to legislative change in Brazil, contrasted with Chile, where data law is to be revised to pre-empt neurotechnological issues. The Brazilian model emerges as an alternative that ought to be replicated by other lawmakers globally.
Long-term effect of non-severe COVID-19 on pulmonary function, exercise capacities and physical activities: a cross-section study in Sakaka Aljouf
Authors: Alshammari Maha , SHANB ALSAYED , Alsubaiei Mohammed , youssef Enas
Published: January 2024

Background COVID-19 has serious consequences on different body systems particularly the respiratory system with its impact on pulmonary function, exercise capacities, and physical activities. This study aimed to investigate the long-term effect of COVID-19 on pulmonary function, exercise capacities, and physical activities in patients with non-severe COVID-19. Methods 160 individuals were selected to participate in a cross-section study. Group-I: 80 male and female patients with non-severe COVID-19 at least 3 months after the recovery time. Group-II: 80 male and female matched (non-infected with COVID-19) participants. The spirometer, six-minute walk test (6MWT), and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) were used to assess pulmonary function, exercise capacities, and physical activities respectively. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to test normality of data. The Mann–Whitney and independent t-tests were used to compare the significant differences between both groups. Results The results show significant differences in FVC & FEV1 of the pulmonary function, exercise capacities, and physical activities of the work & transportations between both COVID-19 and matched groups p-value = (0.001 & 0.001, 0.001 and 0.005 & 0.012) respectively. Conclusion Pulmonary function, exercise capacities, and physical activities are negatively influenced by COVID-19 as long-term consequences indicating the need for extended health care, and prescription of proper rehabilitative training programs for non- severe COVID-19 patients whatever their severity degree of infection or history of hospitalization. Outcome reflections of the current results raise awareness of physical therapists to the importance of the proper rehabilitative training programs for non-severe COVID-19 patients.
Effects of steeping duration and concentration of metabolites from rhizosphere bacteria on the germinability of cowpea, soybean, sesame, and okra seeds
Authors: Akpor Oghenerobor , Ajinde Ayotunde , Ogunnusi Tolulope
Published: January 2024

Seed priming enhances germination and growth, which are important determinants of crop yield. This study was carried out to assess the effect of steeping duration and metabolite concentration on the priming of five (5) different crops, using the metabolites of five (5) bacterial isolates. The crop seeds were treated in the cold-extracted metabolites of the five isolates at five (5) different steeping durations (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 h) and then in five metabolite concentrations (200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 mg/L) of the five extracted metabolites at the optimal steeping duration determined in the first experiment. Characterization of the cold-extracted metabolites was also carried out using gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results revealed that steeping cowpea and soybean for longer durations (< 3 h) could hinder their growth and development. Lower concentrations were observed to be optimal for cowpea and soybean, but for sesame and okra, there was no detectable pattern with metabolite concentration. The GC-MS revealed the presence of some molecules (e.g. hexadecanoic acid) that have shown plant growth promotion potential in other studies. This study showed that seeds with large endosperm, such as, cowpea and soybean, are more prone to the deleterious effects of treatment for longer durations. Further experiments should be carried out to isolate and purify the bioactive moieties for further studies and onward application.
Hybrid AC/DC architecture in the CE.D.E.R.-CIEMAT microgrid: demonstration of the TIGON project
Authors: Peña-Carro Paula , Izquierdo-Monge Oscar
Published: January 2024

This article presents the demonstrative development of the Towards Intelligent DC-based hybrid Grids Optimizing the Network performance (TIGON) project at the Centre for the Development of Renewable Energy - Centre for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research (CE.D.E.R.-CIEMAT), as well as the established objectives to be achieved with the implementation of a microgrid with smart grid architecture based on direct current (DC) and integrated into the current energy system. This type of architecture is proposed as a future solution to reduce energy losses caused by DC-alternating current (AC) conversions, increasing the overall performance and profitability of hybrid grids. All this without forgetting to ensure the supply, stability and reliability of the system with the development of all the necessary equipment and protections to make this approach a reality. The microgrid design and process of implementation start from a transformation centre, from which the medium voltage direct current (MVDC) grid will be created by the Solid State Transformer (SST). In the MVDC grid, we will find a bank of lead-acid batteries and other essential equipment in the microgrid, a DC/DC converter that will create the low voltage direct current (LVDC) grid. On the LVDC side, several branches have been designed to connect the rest of the systems; generation (mini-wind and photovoltaic), storage (LFP batteries) and loads (AC and DC loads). Each of the equipment will have a connection to the DC grid through converters made exclusively for this equipment and connexion to the AC grid, which will allow us to obtain all the necessary data to carry out the required studies to achieve the established objectives of the project.
Reference spectrophotometric values for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in two-to six-month-old infants on the Thailand-Myanmar border
Authors: Bancone Germana , Poe Day Day , Gornsawun Gornpan , Htway Phyu Phyu , Gilder Mary Ellen , Archasuksan Laypaw , Chotivanich Kesinee , McGready Rose , Nosten Francois
Published: January 2024

Background Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency represents a barrier to the full deployment of anti-malarial drugs for vivax malaria elimination and of first-line antibiotics. Lack of established reference ranges for G6PD activity in breast-fed infants puts them at risk of drug-induced haemolysis and restricts access to safe treatment of their mothers. Methods The present work was undertaken to establish age-specific G6PD normal values using the gold standard spectrophotometric assay to support the future clinical use of tafenoquine in lactating women and safer antibiotic treatment in infants. Results Spectrophotometric results collected at the Thai-Myanmar border from 78 healthy infants between the ages of 2 and 6 months showed a trend of decreased enzymatic activity with increasing age (which did not reach statistical significance when comparing 2–3 months old against 4–6 months old infants) and provided a reference normal value of 100% activity for infants 2–6 months old of 10.18IU/gHb. Conclusions Normal reference G6PD activity in 2–6-month-old infants was approximately 140% of that observed in G6PD normal adults from the same population. Age specific G6PD activity thresholds should be used in paediatric populations to avoid drug-induced haemolysis.
Rheumatoid arthritis and pericardial effusion – a unique major manifestation
Authors: Cruz Isabel , Bragança Bruno , Lopes Rafaela , Santos Rui , Andrade Aurora
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Pericardial effusion is common in the setting of rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, it is rarely its first manifestation. Case description: An 82-year-old male presented with abdominal pain, vomiting and fever. Blood analysis revealed elevated systemic inflammatory markers, and an abdominal computed tomography scan revealed non-specific alveolar condensation of the right pulmonary base and pericardial effusion subsequently quantified as medium size by transthoracic echocardiography. A large aetiological panel was requested, with the autoimmunity study revealing high levels of rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated cyclic peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies. Since the patient did not present articular involvement, the initial hypothesis was pericardial effusion due to pneumonia and no specific treatment for RA was started. At follow-up, the pericardial effusion recurred and a pericardiocentesis was performed. The pericardial fluid analysis was sterile, and no malignant cells were identified. A new serological study confirmed high levels of RF and anti-CCP antibodies, and immunomodulatory treatment was initiated. After one year, the pericardial effusion recurred due to non-compliance with immunomodulatory therapy. A surgical pleuro-pericardial window was performed, and the cytological study of the pericardial patch revealed submesothelial thickening and foci of perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate. The patient remained asymptomatic. Discussion: After exclusion of a large spectrum of infectious and non-infectious causes and the relapse after suspension of immunomodulatory treatment, the most probable aetiology for the pericardial effusion remains RA. Conclusion: Pericardial syndromes can be the first manifestation of AR even in the absence of articular symptoms and this disease must be considered in the aetiological investigation.
Effect of An Additional Amount of Fish and Fermentation Time on The Sensory Properties of The Lemea
Authors: Aziz Abdul , Aji Oktira Roka
Published: January 2024

Lemea, a traditional fermented food of the Rejang people in Bengkulu, is made from young bamboo and fish. The fish commonly used in the making Lemea is Mozambique tilapia or Mujair (Oreochromis mossambicus). The fermentation process typically lasts between 3 to 7 days. This study aimed to assess the sensory characteristics, including taste, color, texture, and aroma, of Lemea, based on the preferences of panelists. The variations examined were fermentation duration, and the amount of Mujair fish added. The research followed a completely randomized design, incorporating three fermentation durations (24, 96, and 144 hours) and three fish quantities (250 grams, 500 grams, and 750 grams). Sensory evaluations were conducted on the fermented samples, encompassing taste, aroma, texture, and color. The data revealed that the most favored taste and texture of Lemea were achieved with 500 grams of fish and a fermentation duration of 144 hours (J2W3). Likewise, the preferred aroma and color were observed in the sample with 750 grams of fish and 24 hours of fermentation (J3W1). The data analysis indicated that the sample with 500 grams of fish and a fermentation duration of 144 hours (J2W3) exhibited the most favorable sensory characteristics (taste, aroma, texture, and color). Thus, the quantity of fish added and the duration of fermentation influenced the sensory attributes of Lemea.