bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Training clinical professionals to deliver a patient centered intervention in healthcare settings
Authors: Matthieu Monica M. , Oliver Ciara M. , McCullough Jane Ann , Mallory Mary J. , Taylor Laura D. , Koget Jennifer A. , Jensen Jamie , Adkins David A. , Smith Robin M. , Garner Kimberly K.
Published: October 2024

Within the healthcare settings of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), one patient-centered intervention, Advance Care Planning via Group Visits (ACP-GV), engages veterans and those they trust in advance care planning (ACP) by facilitating a discussion that encourages participants to plan for future healthcare needs. ACP-GV is a one-hour, single session group intervention facilitated by a trained clinical professional (e.g., physician, nurse, social worker, psychologist, chaplain) and delivered in a healthcare or community-based setting. Using reporting guidelines for group-based and educational interventions, this paper aims to describe the ACP-GV Facilitator Training used to prepare clinical professionals to offer the ACP-GV intervention to participants. We provide health professional students and early career health professionals with an overview of the training and key tips for using group modalities in the clinical setting. Although the training is initially directed towards health professionals who are learning to offer ACP-GV for the first time, our tips for teaching also focus on and extend to facilitating ACP-GV directly with veterans, caregivers, and those they trust. The ACP-GV Facilitator Training is sequential in that it expects clinicians to first learn the required educational content and how to plan a group, then it engages clinicians in practicing group facilitation skills. At the conclusion of the training, clinicians are then instructed to use the training materials to transfer the information and skills they learned about ACP-GV to patients they encounter in their respective work settings. The culmination of the ACP-GV Facilitator Training is, therefore, when the clinician is able to facilitate their own group, guide discussions and activities, actively use training materials, and encourage veterans and those they trust to participate in a discussion regarding ACP in a group setting. Finally, we share key resources for publicly available and accessible online trainings to promote spread outside of VA. ACP-GV’s Facilitator Training can assist healthcare professionals in implementing ACP-GV in a variety of care settings.
Organizational health literacy in German hospitals: a cross-sectional survey among hospital managers
Authors: Häberle Nicola , Lander Jonas , Dierks Marie-Luise , Bitzer Eva Maria
Published: October 2024

Background

Organizational health literacy (OHL) describes conditions and measures in healthcare institutions to enable patients to make good health-related decisions. By providing easy access to and appropriate communication of understandable information to use and navigate the facility, healthcare organizations can contribute to strengthening patients’ health literacy and self-management. The extent of OHL implementation in German hospitals remains largely unknown. This study aims to fill this gap in our knowledge by investigating OHL-related activities reported by hospital managers.

Methods

Between November and December 2022, we conducted a national online survey among medical, nursing and administrative hospital managers with hospitals that operate more than 50 beds. The data were collected via the health literate health care organization ten item questionnaire (HLHO-10) and supplemented by sociodemographic questions and an open-ended question. We applied variance and correlation analyses to investigate the data.

Results

Of 3,301 invited hospital managers, 371 participated in the survey (response rate 11%). The overall mean score for HLHO-10 was 4.6 (SD = 1.1) on a 7-point Likert scale, indicating a moderate level of OHL implementation. Hospital managers stated that hospitals concentrate on helping patients find their way around and communicating the costs of treatment transparently and clearly; conversely, that active patient participation in the design and evaluation of health information is rare in care settings, and that health information is seldom provided to patients through a range of media. For the practical implementation of the OHL, most hospital managers mentioned activities regarding communication standards, such as providing information materials.

Conclusions

Given their unique position as hubs of human interaction, hospitals provide an ideal opportunity to promote the adoption of OHL. By actively involving patients, hospitals can better tailor their approaches to meet patient needs and preferences. Compared to studies from oncology centres in Germany and 20 Italian hospitals, the average HLHO-10 score of this study is lower. While some aspects of OHL are already embedded in inpatient care, it is imperative that OHL is thoroughly embedded in the hospitals’ organizational culture and plays a fundamental role in the daily operations of the institution. This could be done, for instance, by more explicitly addressing the topic of health literacy in staff communication training.
A machine learning algorithm for the detection of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) in UK primary care electronic health records
Authors: Worker Amanda , Mahon Hadley , Sams Jack , Boardman-Pretty Freya , Marchini Elena , Dubis Rand , Warren Alan , Stockdale Jez , Kumar Jyothika , Varones Elizabeth , Ollerenshaw Daniel , Grant Calum , Fish Peter , Kelly Richard J.
Published: October 2024

Background

Paroxysmal Nocturnal Haemoglobinuria (PNH) is an ultra-rare, acquired disorder that is challenging to diagnose due to varied symptoms, heterogeneous patient presentations, and lack of awareness among healthcare professionals. This leads to frequent misdiagnosis and delays in diagnosis. This study evaluated the feasibility of a machine learning model to identify undiagnosed PNH patients using structured electronic health records.

Methods

The study used data from the Optimum Patient Care Research Database, which contains electronic health records from general practitioner (GP) practices across the United Kingdom. PNH patients were identified by the presence, and control patients by the absence of a PNH diagnosis code in their records. Clinical features (symptoms, diagnoses, healthcare utilisation) from 131 patients in the PNH group and 593,838 patients in the control group, were inputted to a tree-based XGBoost machine learning model to classify patients as either “positive” or “negative” for PNH suspicion. The algorithm was finalised after additional exclusions and inclusions applied. Performance was assessed using positive predictive value (PPV), recall and specificity. As the sample used to develop the algorithm was not representative of the true population prevalence, PPV was additionally adjusted to reflect performance in the wider population.

Results

Of all the patients in the PNH group, 27% were classified as positive (recall). 99.99% of the control group were classified as negative (specificity). Of all the patients classified as positive, 60.4% had a diagnosis of PNH in their record (PPV). The PPV adjusted for the population prevalence of PNH was 19.59 suggesting nearly 1 in 5 patients flagged may warrant further PNH investigation. The key clinical features in the model were aplastic anaemia, pancytopenia, haemolytic anaemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, and Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Conclusion

This is the first study to combine clinical understanding of PNH with machine learning, demonstrating the ability to discriminate between PNH and control patients in retrospective electronic health records. With further investigation and validation, this algorithm could be deployed on live health data, potentially leading to earlier diagnosis for patients who currently experience long diagnostic delays or remain undiagnosed.
Organellar genome dynamics of exogenous stages of Eimeria tenella
Authors: Kruth Perryn S. , Lane Taylor , Barta John R.
Published: October 2024

Background

Coccidia are a group of intracellular protozoal parasites within the phylum Apicomplexa. Eimeria tenella, one of the species that cause intestinal coccidiosis in poultry, can cause significant mortality and morbidity. Diploid oocysts of Eimeria species are shed in the feces of an infected host and must sporulate to achieve infectivity. This process results in eight haploid infectious units, called sporozoites, held within a single oocyst. Each Eimeria spp. parasite possesses a single apicoplast and a single mitochondrion, both of which carry multiple copies of their respective organellar genomes. Reports of copy numbers of organellar genomes have varied widely.

Methods

We report the application of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), supported by next-generation sequencing, for the quantification of the extranuclear genomes relative to the nuclear genome over the course of sporulation and following its completion.

Results

At 64 elapsed hours, 93.0% of oocysts were fully sporulated; no increase in percent sporulation was observed after this time. Apicoplast relative genome copy number showed several significant shifts up to 72 elapsed hours, after which no significant shifts were observed. Oocysts were shed with approximately 60% the amount of apicoplast DNA present at 72 h, after which point no significant shifts in apicoplast genome relative abundance occurred. Mitogenome relative copy number showed only two significant shifts, from 16 to 24 elapsed hours and from 24 to 32 elapsed hours. Oocysts were shed with approximately 28% the amount of mitochondrial DNA that was present at the time sporulation was deemed morphologically complete, at 64 elapsed hours.

Conclusions

The characterization of the dynamics of genome abundance in exogenous stages sheds new light on the basic biology of Eimeria spp. and supports the use of extranuclear targets for molecular modes of parasite quantification and identification with improved sensitivity and accuracy.

Graphical Abstract
Analysis of the results of the study of sound pronunciation in patients with prosthetics with complete removable dentures
Authors: Nidzelskyi Mykhailo
Published: October 2024

Introduction. One of the most important social tasks is protection and strengthening people's health. In the modern world, there is a trend towards aging of the population, which causes a general increase in morbidity. This provision fully refers to the deterioration of the dental status of the population, which leads to an increase in the number of patients who have defects of the dentition.
The complete loss of teeth causes particularly significant morphological, functional and aesthetic changes in the maxillofacial area. In dental practice, the prosthetics of fixed prosthetics is widely used. Restoration of speech is one of the main tasks when using removable dentures.
            The aim of the study: to research the peculiarities of the development of speech adaptation when using removable dentures of a long length.
Materials and methods. For research, 2 groups of patients were formed: the first group of patients without dental defects rows, the second group - with defects of tooth rows. The research was conducted using the sound computer spectography method before prosthetics, immediately after fixation of orthopedic structures, after 3, 7, 30 days.
Results. The application of the sound computer spectrography method made it possible to carry out a graphic registration of the pronunciation of the sounds of the Ukrainian language by patients before prosthetics and during adaptation to orthopedic structures. The obtained results demonstrate qualitative differences between sound pronunciation in pathients without dentition defects (control) and patients with partial loss of teeth. They also reveal the existence of certain dynamics of acoustic processes during the first 30 days of using fixed structures.
Conclusion. Thus, with excessive occlusal contacts of the teeth, the power and frequency of loudest sounds is significantly reduced. When manufacturing non-removable structures using the digital method, adaptation is faster compared to the analog method. At the beginning of using non-removable structures, after 3 days the power of sounds [o], [u] and the frequency of sounds [a], [o] are restored. After a temporary new deviation from the norm after 7 days, the frequency and power of loud sounds are fully restored after 30 days.
The Role of Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy in Treating Sports Injuries
Authors: Machaj Damian , Mazurek Aleksandra , Machaj Dominik , Józefowicz Wiktoria
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Sports injuries are a significant health problem for both professional and recreational athletes. Standard treatment methods, including physiotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and surgical interventions, often fall short in cases of severe soft tissue damage. This has led to a growing interest in alternative therapies, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP). In recent years, there has been growing interest in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy due to its potential regenerative properties. PRP is increasingly used in the treatment of sports injuries, with the aim of accelerating tissue regeneration and facilitating a return to full physical fitness. This paper attempts to analyze available scientific studies to assess the effectiveness of PRP in the treatment of sports injuries.
 
Purpose of the work: The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness and safety of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy in treating sports-related muscle, tendon, ligament, and joint injuries, and to compare its efficacy with other established treatment modalities, such as physiotherapy and pharmacotherapy.
Results: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy has been shown to be highly effective in treating sports injuries, particularly muscle and tendon injuries. PRP accelerates tissue regeneration and shortens the time to return to physical activity, but the effectiveness of the therapy depends on the proper preparation protocol and individual patient characteristics. Compared to other treatment methods, PRP has a favorable safety profile and a lower risk of complications. Despite promising results, further studies are needed to better determine the long-term effectiveness and optimal conditions for using this therapy.
Potential of GLP-1 Analogs in Managing Hyperphagia and Obesity in Prader-Willi Syndrome: A Review of Efficacy and Safety
Authors: Grelewicz Olga , Juśkiewicz Adam , Servaas Elwira , Haber Mateusz , Kula Paula , Kotula Alicja , Czachor Adrianna , Kucy Natalia
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a genetic disorder marked by hyperphagia, obesity, developmental delays, and behavioral challenges. Traditional treatments like dietary control and growth hormone therapy often fail to effectively manage these symptoms. Recently, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogs have shown potential in treating PWS. This review assesses the efficacy, safety and mechanisms of GLP-1 analogs in PWS treatment. They improve glycemic control, cardiovascular health, and appetite regulation, contributing to better weight management and overall health in PWS patients. These analogs enhance insulin secretion, inhibit glucagon release, and slow gastric emptying, helping to reduce postprandial glucose spikes and caloric intake. Results: Several small-scale studies and case reports have shown mixed results regarding the effectiveness of GLP-1 analogs in reducing BMI and hyperphagia in PWS patients. Although the studies demonstrated varied outcomes in terms of BMI reduction, all of them reported improvement in satiety or appetite levels.Conclusions: Overall, GLP-1 analogs hold promise for addressing hyperphagia, obesity, and glycemic control in PWS patients, improving their overall health and quality of life. Continued research and long-term studies are essential to establish these benefits and optimize treatment strategies.
Unveiling the Potential of Gut Microbiota: Promising Approaches to Treat Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
Authors: Domańska Natalia , Bojarska Małgorzata , Bogucka Julia , Brzyska Anna , Kosowska Michalina , Piecewicz-Szczęsna Halina
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Epilepsy is a chronic, non-infectious disease of the brain. Data shows that even 70 million people worldwide suffer from it and one-third of them fail to control it with anti-epileptic drugs. The gut microbiota has an impact on the course of the disease. The microbiota mediates between the gastrointestinal system and the central nervous system.Purpose: The aim of the work is to analyse how modification of the gut microbiota affects patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.Material and method: In December 2023, an extensive search was conducted and articles found in the Medline (PubMed) databases were selected by using the following keywords: drug-resistant epilepsy, gut microbiota, gut-brain axis, ketogenic diet, probiotics, faecal microbiota transplantation, to focus on recent developments and advancements in the field, the search was limited to articles published between 2017 and 2023.Conclusions: The intestinal microbiota in drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) patients differs from that of healthy individuals or drug-sensitive epilepsy patients. Acknowledging the presence of the gut-brain axis and its impact on the central nervous system, we can view altering the flora as a potential therapeutic approach for DRE patients. The ways in which microbiota changes have been confirmed by research include: ketogenic diet, antibiotics, probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Modifying the microbiota through these mentioned methods is all promising for treating DRE.
Innovations in Sports: A Key to Enhancing Rehabilitation Outcomes
Authors: Osuch Dobromiła , Anderska Agnieszka , Błachnio Klaudia , Opala Dominika , Szczotka Dominika , Drabik Aleksandra , Staszczyk Izabela , Szemplińska Antonina , Chernysh Anna Maria
Published: October 2024

Introduction and purpose: Traditional rehabilitation methods often have limitations in improving motor function and cognitive abilities. This review aims to provide an updated overview of innovative methods in rehabilitation, focusing on the role of immersive and interactive technologies in enhancing rehabilitation outcomes. The literature suggests that these technologies can improve upper limb mobility, grip strength, and manual dexterity, as well as cognitive function, attention, and spatial awareness. Additionally, innovative balance and gait rehabilitation programs have been shown to improve functional mobility and reduce the risk of falls. The use of these technologies in combination with other rehabilitation modalities, such as electrostimulation and robotic assistance, may lead to even greater improvements in motor function and cognitive abilities. While more research is needed to fully understand the benefits and limitations of these innovative approaches, the existing evidence suggests that they have the potential to revolutionize rehabilitation and improve quality of life for patients.
Materials and Methods: A literature review was conducted using PubMed with search phrases immersive and interactive technologies and  rehabilitation.
Description of the state of knowledge: Traditional rehabilitation methods often have limitations in improving motor function and cognitive abilities.Upper extremity impairment is a common and debilitating consequence of stroke.
Summary:  imersive and interactive technologies have the potential to improve upper limb mobility, grip strength, and manual dexterity, as well as cognitive function, attention, and spatial awareness. Innovative balance and gait rehabilitation programs have been shown to improve functional mobility and reduce the risk of falls. The use of these technologies in combination with other rehabilitation modalities may lead to even greater improvements in motor function and cognitive abilities.
Desafíos en la enseñanza del periodismo: autopercepción de competencias mediáticas en profesores de universidades chilenas
Authors: Sibrian Díaz Nairbis , Maureira González Paulina Loreto , Reyes Betanzo Claudia Ximena , Lazcano-Peña Daniela , Alfaro Amaranta , Zúñiga Vanessa
Published: October 2024

Las transformaciones tecnológicas repercuten en el ejercicio del periodismo, haciendo necesaria la incorporación de nuevas competencias que, posteriormente, las universidades integran, sin hacerse cargo de las desigualdades que impactan a estudiantes y docentes. Por lo tanto, ¿cómo autoperciben sus competencias mediáticas los profesores de periodismo en Chile? El objetivo es analizar la autopercepción de estas habilidades en el profesorado chileno de periodismo, sus desafíos más urgentes y diferencias sociodemográficas. Se recurre a un enfoque cuantitativo, a través de un instrumento validado que se aplica a una muestra de 213 docentes de periodismo de 26 universidades chilenas, 16 ubicadas en la Región Metropolitana y otras en Antofagasta, Bernardo O’Higgins, Coquimbo, Concepción, Los Ríos, Valparaíso y Viña del Mar. Se advierte que, aunque el puntaje promedio de las competencias mediáticas se ubicó en un 3,8, no todas las dimensiones del constructo están desarrolladas satisfactoriamente. Existen desafíos importantes en la dimensión asociada al manejo de la tecnología, así como en la producción y difusión de contenidos en entornos mediáticos. También existen diferencias de género significativas en la autopercepción del profesorado. Se concluye que urge incidir en la formación docente tanto en el dominio tecnológico como en la producción de contenidos en igualdad de género.
A Relação de Causa e Efeito na Influência do Desempenho sobre o Turismo no Nordeste Brasileiro: uma análise multidimensional dos hotéis da “Rota das Emoções”
Authors: Ribeiro Rogeane Morais , Marinho Sidnei Vieira
Published: October 2024

O objetivo deste estudo é analisar os efeitos das capacidades turísticas no desempenho dos hotéis na Rota das Emoções, que interliga três estados brasileiros e busca expandir o turismo no Nordeste. As Unidades de Tomada de Decisão (DMUs), conhecidas como Rota das Emoções, abrangem 14 cidades nos estados do Ceará, Piauí e Maranhão, com 310 estabelecimentos de hospedagem. Os dados foram coletados utilizando os softwares SPSS e The Qualitative Data Analysis and Research Software. Os resultados indicam que as capacidades do turismo têm implicações positivas e significativas para o desempenho dos hotéis, mostrando uma diferença de desempenho, de acordo com o tamanho do hotel. A correlação entre a capacidade e o desempenho do turismo é significativa, independentemente do tamanho do hotel. O número adotado de respondentes foi pequeno com relação à complexidade dos construtos estudados e contribuição que esses resultados têm para a literatura. A implantação de ações estratégicas eleva os efeitos organizacionais, mas exige dos tomadores de decisão a capacidade de enxergar amplamente os ambientes onde estão inseridos, incorporando nas decisões estratégicas a multidimensionalidade. Esta pesquisa contribui para a literatura de desempenho multidimensional e capacidades turísticas, por sua explícita e relevante colaboração para estudiosos em analisar os efeitos das capacidades turísticas no desempenho multidimensional dos hotéis.
Desafios da Governança no Turismo Gastronômico: o caso Pomerode, cidade de Santa Catarina
Authors: Boldo Flavia Beatriz Sada , Sohn Ana Paula , Ferasso Marcos , Arnhold Junior Marcos
Published: October 2024

A governança no turismo gastronômico é um tema de crescente interesse para gestores e pesquisadores. No entanto, existem lacunas de conhecimento em relação aos desafios da cooperação. Diante disso, este estudo teve como objetivo analisar a governança no turismo gastronômico em Pomerode, uma cidade localizada na região Sul do Brasil. A pesquisa adotou uma abordagem qualitativa, utilizando entrevistas semiestruturadas e análise documental como métodos de coleta de dados. As entrevistas foram realizadas com representantes de atores relevantes na governança do turismo gastronômico, incluindo empresários, associações do trade turístico e órgãos públicos. Os dados foram submetidos a uma análise de conteúdo, identificando categorias, padrões e temas emergentes relacionados à governança. Os resultados revelaram que há existência de um planejamento conjunto entre os atores da governança, bem como há consciência da importância da união para alcançar objetivos comuns. Apesar disso, a cidade enfrenta desafios para cooperação no setor do turismo. Dentre as objeções, estão interesses particulares, falta de diálogo e sobreposição de egos. O relacionamento entre os atores da governança é marcado por divergências políticas.
The Influence of Religion on Economic Development
Authors: Ahmed Jabar Q.
Published: October 2024

Religion is one of the most important institutions in the process of socialization. Which has a profound effect on a thinking and behavior of individuals and groups. As well Religion affects economic system and is an important part of regulating economic life of individuals, however, nation building and national consciousness are based on the national economy. An important part of the preservation and development of nations is through the economy.   Culture, religion and social traditions play an important role in shaping the economic status of nations. This is an important part of sanctified the work, work ethic, and love of work. Some opinion believe that religions have a profound effect on the way of life of individuals and groups. So that the basis of work, production and trade is sanctify mundane efforts. At the same time, it distorts the topics related to squandering and social virtues. This study is qualitative research, the aim of the study is to present the relationship between religion and the economy. As a result of this study, we found that religion and economics are two socio-cultural phenomena, and there is a strong influence and interaction between them. The level of influence and the relationship between them varies from one society to another. Religion also has strong influences on national economic development; therefore, religious discourse can play a powerful role in the process of encouraging the development of work culture and work ethics in societies. Reflecting economic growth in societies.
Turkish Adaptation of the Psychological Strain Scale in a Non-Clinical Sample of Emerging Adults
Authors: Demir Berkan , Hatipoğlu Sümer Zeynep
Published: October 2024

Suicidal behavior is a severe global health problem. For the period of emerging adulthood in particular, it represents the second-leading cause of death, followed by unintentional injuries. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop/diversify the methods and tools that can detect the factors that make individuals vulnerable to experiencing suicidal thoughts. Strain Theory of Suicide (STS), which aims to explain socio-psychological agencies preceding suicidal behavior, hypothesizes that opposing and rivaling pressures coming from four sources (i.e., value, aspiration, deprivation, and coping) lead to suicidal behavior. In light of the premises offered by the STS, the present study aimed to adapt the Psychological Strain Scale (PSS) in Turkish and test its validity and reliability in a non-clinical sample of emerging adults. Participants were emerging adults whose ages ranged between 18 and 29. Three-hundred-ninety-eight individuals (60.05% of women) filled out the survey package consisting of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale, Psychological Strain Scale, Suicide Probability Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. Construct and concurrent validity evidence was ensured by exploring the factor structure of the instrument through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and by investigating the relationship between the scores obtained from PSS and other criterion measures. Reliability evidence was ensured through the internal consistency method. Multigroup analysis indicated that the factor structure of the PSS was invariant across gender. The results of the psychometric testing offered tangible evidence for the usefulness of the PSS as a measure of vulnerability to suicidal thoughts among emerging adults.
Characterization of Human Gene Expression Changes after Olive Oil Ingestion: an Exploratory Approach
Authors: Konstantinidou V. , Khymenets O. , Fito M. , De La Torre R. , Anglada R. , Dopazo A. , Covas María-Isabel
Published: October 2024

Olive oil consumption is protective against risk factors for cardiovascular and cancer diseases. A nutrigenomic approach was performed to assess whether changes in gene expression could occur in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells after oli ve oil ingestion at postprandial state. Six healthy male volunteers ingested, at fasting state, 50 ml of olive oil. Prior to intervention a 1-week washout period with a controlled diet and sunflower oil as the only source of fat was followed. During the 3 days before and on the intervention day, a very low-phenolic compound diet was followed. At baseline (0 h) and at post-ingestion (6 h), total RNA was isolated and gene expression (29,082 genes) was evaluated by microarray. From microarray data, nutrient-gene interactions were observed in genes related to metabolism, cellular processes, cancer, and atherosclerosis (e.g. USP48 by 2.16; OGT by 1.68-fold change) and associated processes such as inflammation (e.g. AKAP13 by 2.30; IL–10 by 1.66-fold change) and DNA damage (e.g. DCLRE1C by 1.47; POLK by 1.44fold change). When results obtained by microarray were verified by qRT-PCR in nine genes, full concordance was achieved only in the case of up-regulated genes. Changes were observed at a real-life dose of olive oil, as it is daily consumed in some Mediterranean areas. Our results support the hypothesis that postprandial protective changes related to olive oil consumption could be mediated through gene expression changes.
Gene Expression Responses in Larvae of the Fleshfly Sarcophaga bullata after Immune Stimulation
Authors: Mášová A. , Šindelka R. , Kubista M. , Kindl J. , Jiráček Jiří
Published: October 2024

Insect larvae develop in decaying organic matter and their defence against various microorganisms must therefore be highly efficient. In the present study, we explored the transcriptional kinetics and induction levels of eight genes in Sarcophaga bullata larvae after infection or aseptic injury. Using real-time PCR, we studied the time-dependent immune response of larvae of the fleshfly S. bullata. We compared the mRNA levels of eight selected genes in induced and non-induced larvae. The third-instar larvae of S. bullata were induced by injecting a bacterial suspension of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or by simple aseptic injury with an entomological pin. We used intact larvae as a control for basal mRNA expression. Total RNA was isolated from the whole body, fat body and haemocytes. We determined the mRNA levels of genes encoding sapecin, transferrin, prophenoloxidase 1 and 2, storage-binding protein, cathe psin L, sarcocystatin, and 26/29 kDa protease. We found that there was massive up-regulation of genes encoding the fleshfly peptide sapecin, as well as the protein transferrin. We also detected down-regulation of, or no change in, the expression of genes that encode prophenoloxidase 1 and 2, storage-binding protein, cathepsin L, sarcocystatin, and 26/29 kDa protease.
Apolipoprotein E Arg136 → Cys in Individuals with Premature Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Hubáček Jaroslav A. , Poledne R. , Piťha J. , Aschermann M. , Skalická H. , Staněk V.
Published: October 2024

Coronary artery disease is a serious health problem worldwide caused by interactions between genetic and environmental risk factors. One of the candidate genes is the gene for apolipoprotein E. We present a case report of two young smoking and obese carriers (man 45 years and woman 32 years old) of the apolipoprotein E (p.Arg136Cys) mutation, but with no severe dyslipidaemias detected among 1,671 survivors (1,483 men, 188 women, aged 21–75 years) of acute coronary syndrome screened for genetic and traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Between acute coronary syndrome survivors, the mutation has not yet been described. Even though this mutation raises suspicion to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (based on previous publications), its frequency was very low and similar to the control population (12 detected carriers of the mutation within the 9,386 screened individuals). Therefore, whether this rare mutation is causal for the development of myocardial infarction needs to be further evaluated.
Inducible overexpression of MYB118-like gene improves anthocyanin production in Populus × canescens
Authors: Zhou Wei , He Zhengquan , Li Yuhong , Yao Yuneng , Han Xiaojiao , Qiao Guirong , Xu Jing , Zhuo Renying , Qiu Wenmin
Published: October 2024

Anthocyanins are secondary metabolites which contribute different colors to the leaves. Anthocyanin biosynthesis is regulated by MYB transcription factors, which have been extensively studied and characterized in a diversity of plants. In this study, we identified a novel MYB transcription factor MYB118L, from Populus 'Zhonghua Hongye', which showed an elevated accumulation of anthocyanin than Populus clone ZL-2025. Subcellular localization analyses revealed that MYB118L-GFP fusion protein was specifically located in the nucleus. Transgenic plants overexpressing MYB118L driven by the stress-inducible Rd29A promoter showed a significant increase in anthocyanin production, resulting in a red coloration of the leaves under drought stress conditions. These plants also exhibited higher expression levels of genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis compared to the wild type, suggesting that MYB118L positively regulates the expression of these genes. Y1H and dual-luciferase assays confirmed that MYB118L can directly activate the promoters of LAR1 gene. Our findings suggest that MYB118L is an essential transcription factor involved in the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis in poplar and could be utilized for genetic engineering of colorful tree species.
Applications of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Brain MRI Image Analysis for Brain Disease Diagnosis
Authors: Yao Zhaomin , Wang Zhen , Xie Weiming , Zhan Ying , Wu Xiaodan , Dai Yingxin , Pei Yusong , Wang Zhiguo , Zhang Guoxu
Published: October 2024

The brain is vulnerable to diseases, including infections, injuries, and tumors, that can substantially influence daily life and health; therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are necessary. MRI, because of its ability to detect early abnormalities without interference, is crucial for evaluating brain structure and function. Generative artificial intelligence (GAI) can model disease characteristics in brain MRI images, thereby increasing diagnostic accuracy by comparing healthy and diseased brains. This review examines the transformative role of GAI in analyzing brain MRI images for diagnosing brain diseases. The study explores five foundational GAI models—generative adversarial networks, diffusion models, transformers, variational autoencoders, and the autoregressive model—and their applications in MRI imaging. These models enhance data preprocessing, image segmentation, and feature extraction, thereby increasing diagnostic accuracy and supporting early disease detection. This review highlights GAI’s superiority in addressing data scarcity issues, enhancing image quality, and providing comprehensive insights into brain disease pathology; it additionally discusses promising directions for future research.
The welfare effects of digital infrastructure: Micro-level evidence from China
Authors: Xie Yuan-Qi , Liu Hui
Published: October 2024

Over the past 40 years of reform and opening-up, China has achieved remarkable progress in rural infrastructure development. Although some empirical studies have demonstrated a positive relationship between the provision of digital infrastructure and increases in agricultural output and farmer income in various developing countries, research exploring the impact of digital infrastructure on rural households’ welfare is rare. This gap represents a significant issue for policymakers and academic researchers in developing countries today. By matching micro-survey data with county-level digital infrastructure investment data, this paper empirically examines the effects and mechanisms of digital infrastructure on the welfare of rural households using ordered probit and mediation models. We found that digital infrastructure has a significant impact on rural households’ overall welfare levels. Mechanism testing revealed that digital infrastructure operates through at least three distinct pathways, positively affecting both the economic and non-economic welfare of rural households. Additionally, the level of human capital and regional economic development exhibit notable heterogeneous effects on the impact of digital infrastructure. The validity of the results was demonstrated through instrumental variable regression and a series of robustness tests. The reason behind this result lies in the fact that the improvement of digital infrastructure in rural areas enhances households’ ability to access resources, develop skills, and engage in decision-making processes. This objectively improves their living standards and meets their needs. The empirical findings of this study have important policy implications for strengthening rural digital infrastructure, further enhancing rural households’ digital skills, and ultimately improving their overall welfare.
ONCOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF HUMAN RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS
Authors: DAHRIZAL D. , AZIZ IBRAHIM M. , DUDIN GANI ASA , BHAT R.
Published: October 2024

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are emerging as novel tools in cancer therapy. Oncolytic virotherapy offers an attractive therapeutic combination of tumor-specific killing and immune co-stimulation, therefore amplifying the host immune response against tumors. Moreover, OVs can be engineered for the expression of different immunostimulatory molecules to optimize and enhance the efficacy of oncolytic virotherapy. The effectiveness of OVs has been demonstrated in many preclinical studies for different types of cancers to achieve the aim of personalized cancer therapy. Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), an RNA virus of the Pneumoviridae family causes severe lower respiratory tract infections in infants and immunocompromised individuals. Interestingly, the oncolytic activity of RSV demonstrated in human prostate, hepatocellular, and dermal cancer cells is mostly mediated via apoptotic cell death associated with the impaired NF-κB activation or with the defect of the IFNα/β-induced STAT-1 activation. At the same time, the studies on cervical cancer revealed that RSV infection resulted in autophagy activation and apoptosis through the ROS-BAX and TNF- α-mediated pathways. The rational combinations of OVs, including RSV, with other approaches may benefit patients whose response to conventional therapies is limited. Here, we discuss the oncolytic activity of RSV and its potential use against different types of cancer.
IN VITRO ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF HISTATIN-1 COMBINATION WITH CISPLATIN IN HEAD AND NECK CANCER CELL LINES
Authors: JENWANICHKUL P. , AMORNPHIMOLTHAM P.
Published: October 2024

Background. Chemotherapy of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is associated with significant side effects. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are naturally occurring defense molecules like defensin-1 and LL-37 found in human secretions, have demonstrated potential in prompting tumor cell apoptosis and enhancing the effect of chemotherapeutic agents. However, the anticancer potential of histatin has not yet been thoroughly examined. The aim of the study was to explore the anticancer activity of histatin, an AMP present in human saliva and used alone or in combination with cisplatin in HNSCC cell lines. Materials and Methods. The gene expression of histatin was evaluated in the HSC4 and SCC25 cell lines by qRT-PCR. Cell proliferation was investigated at different concentrations of histatin peptide (His-1), cisplatin, and their combination using an MTT assay. Results. SCC25 cells expressed both HTN1 (histatin-1) and HTN3 (histatin-3), whereas the HSC4 cell line expressed only HTN1. The combination of exogenous His-1 and cisplatin demonstrated a synergistic anti-proliferative effect against the HNSCC cell lines in a dosedependent manner. Conclusions. The combination of low-dose cisplatin and histatin inhibits HNSCC cell proliferation. His-1 sensitizes tumor cells to the cytotoxic effects of cisplatin potentially allowing for a reduction in its effective concentration.
DETECTION OF ORAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA USING PRE-TRAINED DEEP LEARNING MODELS
Authors: DHANYA K. , PRASAD D. VENKATA VARA , LOKESWARI Y. VENKATARAMANA
Published: October 2024

Background. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), the 13th most common type of cancer, claimed 364,339 lives in 2020. Researchers have established a strong correlation between early detection and better prognosis for this type of cancer. Tissue biopsy, the most common diagnostic method used by doctors, is both expensive and time-consuming. The recent growth in using transfer learning methodologies to aid in medical diagnosis, along with the improved 5-year survival rate from early diagnosis serve as motivation for this study. The aim of the study was to evaluate an innovative approach using transfer learning of pre-trained classification models and convolutional neural networks (CNN) for the binary classification of OSCC from histopathological images. Materials and Methods. The dataset used for the experiments consisted of 5192 histopathological images in total. The following pre-trained deep learning models were used for feature extraction: ResNet-50, VGG16, and InceptionV3 along with a tuned CNN for classification. Results. The proposed methodologies were evaluated against the current state of the art. A high sensitivity and its importance in the medical field were highlighted. All three models were used in experiments with different hyperparameters and tested on a set of 126 histopathological images. The highest-performance developed model achieved an accuracy of 0.90, a sensitivity of 0.97, and an AUC of 0.94. The visualization of the results was done using ROC curves and confusion matrices. The study further interprets the results obtained and concludes with suggestions for future research. Conclusion. The study successfully demonstrated the potential of using transfer learning-based methodologies in the medical field. The interpretation of the results suggests their practical viability and offers directions for future research aimed at improving diagnostic precision and serving as a reliable tool to physicians in the early diagnosis of cancer.
DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT EFFECTS OF STANDARD AND HYPOFRACTIONATED RADIATION REGIMENS IN GLIOBLASTOMA PATIENTS
Authors: GLAVATSKYI O. , GRYAZOV A. , STULEY V. , LOESER A. , RADES D. , ZEMSKOVA O.
Published: October 2024

Background. The identification of the subgroups with differential treatment effects (DTE) is important for decisionmaking in personalized treatment. The DTE analysis assists in identifying patients who are more likely to benefit from a particular treatment regimen. The aim of the study was to analyze DTE in terms of the survival of glioblastoma (GBM) patients in the groups of standard radiotherapy (SRT) and hypofractionated radiotherapy (HRT) by the multicluster modeling of homogenous groups while retaining the statistical characteristics of the overall primary study cohort. Patients and Methods. The cohort of 159 patients with newly diagnosed GBM stratified according to the radiotherapy regimen (HRT group (n = 110/69.2%); SRT group (n = 49/30.8%)) was evaluated retrospectively. Forty-eight subgroups (multiclusters) were created by enumerating all possible combinations of 5 significant covariates (age, sex, the radicality of the surgical resection, chemotherapy, and Karnofsky performance status) of the Cox model. The DTE for the cancerspecific survival (CSS) within 48 modeled multiclusters were studied by comparing the interpolated Weibull CSS curves according to the Kolmogorov — Smirnov test. Results. The findings showed that the SRT group was superior to the HRT group by CSS only in 3 of the modeled clusters presenting clinical scenarios with a non-radical tumor resection, no chemotherapy, and low Karnofsky functional status (≤ 70 scores) (Cluster 10: male aged < 60; Cluster 21: female aged ≥ 60; Cluster 22: male aged ≥ 60). Most of the studied clinical variants (45 of 48 multiclusters) did not demonstrate a significant difference when comparing the interpolated Weibull curves of the CSS for the SRT and HRT groups according to the Kolmogorov — Smirnov test (p ≥ 0.05). Conclusions. We propose a novel multicluster modeling approach that addresses DTE in relatively small samples of GBM patients receiving SRT or HRT. This original analytical method can be taken into consideration while designing new well-powered prospective trials aimed at the subgroup analysis in GBM patients who will be most beneficial from personalized treatment strategies.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF SALIVARY MIR-21, -155, AND -375 IN PATIENTS WITH SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA OF ORAL CAVITY
Authors: BURTYN O. , BORIKUN T. , ROSSYLNA O. , KOPCHAK A. , KRAVETS О.
Published: October 2024

Background. The current prognostic markers in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) have limited accuracy sometimes leading to inappropriate treatment decisions. Identifying new markers would help clinicians tailor treatment plans based on the individual patient risk factors leading to improved survival rates and quality of life. Aim. To estimate the value of the miRNA expression indicators in saliva as prognostic and predictive markers of the effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Materials and Methods. The work is based on the results of the examination and treatment of 61 patients with stage II—IV OSCC. The miR-21, miR-155, and miR-375 expression levels in the saliva samples were analyzed by the real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results. The salivary miR-21 and -155 expression levels in healthy volunteers were 2.49 and 2.84 times lower than in OSCС patients (p < 0.05). The positive association of miR-21 and miR-155 expression levels and the negative correlation of miR-375 expression level with T index by TNM (r = 0.68, r = 0.75, and r = –0.67, respectively) (p < 0.05) and the presence of lymph node metastasis (r = 0.78, r = 0.71, and r = ‒0.59, respectively) (p < 0.05) were found. Patients with good response to NACT had lower miR-21 and -155, and higher miR-375 levels in saliva compared to those with resistant tumors. Conclusions. Our study suggests that salivary miR-21, miR-155, and miR-375 may be potential biomarkers for the prognosis of cancer course and the response to NACT in OSCC patients.