bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Abstract IA20: Checkpoint blockade–induced dermatitis and colitis are dominated by tissue-resident memory T cells and Th1/Tc1 cytokines
Authors: Reschke Robin , Shapiro Jason W , Yu Jovian , Rouhani Sherin J , Olson Daniel J , Zha Yuanyuan , Gajewski Thomas F
Published: December 2022

Immune checkpoint blockade is therapeutically successful for many patients across multiple cancer types. However, immune-related adverse events (irAE) frequently occur and can sometimes be life threatening. It is critical to understand the immunologic mechanisms of irAEs with the goal of finding novel treatment targets. Herein, we report our analysis of tissues from patients with irAE dermatitis using multiparameter immunofluorescence (IF), spatial transcriptomics, and RNA in situ hybridization (RISH). Skin psoriasis cases were studied as a comparison, as a known Th17-driven disease, and colitis was investigated as a comparison. IF analysis revealed that CD4+ and CD8+ tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells were preferentially expanded in the inflamed portion of skin in cutaneous irAEs compared with healthy skin controls. Spatial transcriptomics allowed us to focus on areas containing TRM cells to discern functional phenotype and revealed expression of Th1-associated genes in irAEs, compared with Th17-asociated genes in psoriasis. Expression of PD-1, CTLA-4, LAG-3, and other inhibitory receptors was observed in irAE cases. RISH technology combined with IF confirmed expression of IFNγ, CXCL9, CXCL10, and TNFα in irAE dermatitis, as well as IFNγ within TRM cells specifically. The Th1-skewed phenotype was confirmed in irAE colitis cases compared with healthy colon.

Citation Format: Robin Reschke, Jason W Shapiro, Jovian Yu, Sherin J Rouhani, Daniel J Olson, Yuanyuan Zha, Thomas F Gajewski. Checkpoint blockade–induced dermatitis and colitis are dominated by tissue-resident memory T cells and Th1/Tc1 cytokines [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2022 Oct 21-24; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2022;10(12 Suppl):Abstract nr IA20.
Tracking Chromosomal Origins in the Northern Italy System of Metacentric Races of the House Mouse
Authors: Giménez Mabel D. , Hughes Jonathan J. , Scascitelli Moira , Gabriel Sofia I. , Förster Daniel W. , Panithanarak Thadsin , Hauffe Heidi C. , Searle Jeremy B.
Published: December 2022

The Western European house mouse is chromosomally diverse, with diploid karyotypes ranging from the standard 40 telocentric chromosomes down to 22 chromosomes. Karyotypes are modified through Robertsonian (Rb) fusion of 2 telocentrics into a single metacentric, occurring repeatedly with fixation, and whole-arm reciprocal translocations (WARTs) generating additional novel karyotypes. Over 100 metacentric populations (chromosomal races) have been identified, geographically clustered into “systems.” Chromosomal races within systems often hybridise, and new races may emerge through this hybridisation (“zonal raciation”). We wished to determine the degree to which chromosomal races in a system have evolved independently or share common ancestry. Recombination between chromosomes from hybridising chromosomal races can erase the signals associated with a particular metacentric of interest, making inferences challenging. However, reduced recombination near the centromeres of chromosomal race-specific metacentrics makes centromere-adjacent markers ideal for solving this problem. For the Northern Italy System (NIS), we used microsatellite markers near the centromere to test previous hypotheses about evolutionary relationships of 5 chromosomal races. We chose markers from chromosomes 1, 3, 4, and 6, all of which comprise one arm of a metacentric in at least 2 of these NIS metacentric populations. We used estimates of FST and RST, as well as principal components analyses and neighbour-joining phylogenetic analyses, to infer evolutionary relationships between these 5 chromosomal races and neighbouring mice with the standard karyotype. We showed that the metacentric populations form a single grouping distinct from the standard populations, consistent with their common origin and consistent with a parsimonious sequence of chromosomal rearrangements to explain the relationship of the chromosomal races. That origin and evolution of the chromosomal races in the system would have involved Rb fusions, explaining the occurrence of chromosomal races with diploid numbers as low as 22. However, WARTs and zonal raciation have also been inferred, and the rare occurrence of chromosome 1 in different metacentrics in closely related chromosomal races is almost certainly explained by a WART. Our results with centromeric microsatellites are consistent with the above scenarios, illustrating, once again, the value of markers in the centromeric region to test evolutionary hypotheses in house mouse chromosomal systems.
Treatment Outcomes of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy in Patients with Synchronous and Metachronous Oligometastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Guler Ozan Cem , Oymak Ezgi , Hurmuz Pervin , Yavas Guler , Tilki Burak , Yavas Cagdas , Ozyigit Gokhan , Onal Cem
Published: December 2022

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical outcomes of metastasis-directed therapy (MDT) using stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in patients with synchronous or metachronous oligometastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Methods: The clinical data of 87 patients with 138 lesions who received MDT between February 2008 and January 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients had ≤5 metastasis at diagnosis (synchronous) or during progression (metachronous) and were treated with SBRT for their metastasis. The primary endpoints were local control (LC) and progression-free survival (PFS). The secondary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Results: Median follow-up was 20.4 months for entire cohort and 27.2 months for survivors. Synchronous oligometastatic disease was observed in 35 patients (40.2%), and 52 patients (59.8%) had metachronous disease. Seventy-two patients (82.8%) received systemic treatment synchronously or after MDT, while 15 patients (17.2%) did not receive any systemic treatment. The 1- and 2-year OS rates were 79.4% and 58.1%, respectively, and the 1- and 2-year PFS rates were 58.6% and 15.1%, respectively. The 1- and 2-year LC rates per lesion were 96.6% and 91.4%, respectively. There were no significant differences in survival between patients with synchronous oligometastasis and those with metachronous oligometastasis. All disease progressions were observed at a median time of 31.6 months (range: 1.9–196.9 months) after the completion of SBRT. Patients with solitary oligometastasis had significantly better OS compared to patients with >1 metastasis (p = 0.04). No patients experienced grade 3 or higher acute or late toxicities. Conclusion: SBRT is a successful treatment for oligometastatic RCC patients due to its excellent LC and minimal toxicity profile. There were no statistically significant survival differences between patients with synchronous and metachronous oligometastasis. Patients with solitary oligometastasis outlived their counterparts.
Visualizing Contralateral Suppression of Hearing Sensitivity via Acoustic and Electric Brainstem Audiometry in Bimodal Cochlear Implant Patients: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Holtmann Laura Christine , Strahlenbach Amadea , Hans Stefan , Lang Stephan , Arweiler-Harbeck Diana
Published: December 2022

Introduction: The medial olivocochlear reflex (MOCR) is a part of the binaural processing strategies and influences the efferent auditory pathway in normal-hearing individuals. Patients with asymmetric hearing loss often benefit from a bimodal hearing solution with a cochlear implant (CI) and a hearing aid (HA). However, hearing performances may vary with some surprisingly high- or low-performing CI/HA users. A potential role of the MOCR among these patients warrants further investigation. Otoacustics emissions are an established method to visualize the reflex; however, this technique implies some disadvantages. To visualize the MOCR via auditory brainstem response (ABR) could be a promising alternative. Methods: Twenty-three bimodal CI/HA users were enrolled. Experimental setup was as follows: I. electrical ABR on the CI side was recorded with and without simultaneous contralateral noise signal at the HA side, II. acoustic ABR was recorded on the HA side with and without simultaneous contralateral noise at the CI side. Brainstem thresholds and amplitudes of waveforms I–V with and without contralateral noise were compared. Potential correlations of patient-related factors and hearing performances were analysed. Results: In four individuals, a reduction of brainstem audiometry thresholds could be observed at the acoustic brainstem audiometry. In these cases, results could be reproduced. Summarizing ABR measurements at the HA side of all individuals, no relevant changes of ABR thresholds (dB nHL) or waveform amplitude reductions (nV) could be observed irrespective of the presence or absence of a contralateral suppression signal. Conclusion: Threshold changes of acoustic ABR upon presentation of a contralateral suppression signal could not generally be measured in bimodal CI users. However, in a subgroup, a highly reproducible effect was demonstrated if a contralateral suppression signal was applied. A reactivated rather than rehabilitated MOCR may have accounted for this effect in this subgroup. One could speculate that in these patients, bimodal fitting could be affected by the MOCR efferents.
Frühes Auftreten von Krebs bei Erwachsenen: Ein Überblick über Epidemiologie, Unterstützungsbedarf und zukünftige Forschungsprioritäten
Authors: Hamilton Ashleigh C. , Donnelly David W. , Fitzpatrick Deirdre , Coleman Helen G.
Published: December 2022

Früh auftretende Krebserkrankungen, definiert als Krebserkrankungen bei Erwachsenen im Alter von 18 bis 49 Jahren, nehmen bei einer Reihe von Krebsarten in den Industrieländern zu. Krebsarten, die üblicherweise bei älteren Menschen auftreten, werden jetzt auch bei jüngeren Erwachsenen diagnostiziert, z.B. Darm-, Brust-, Magen- und Bauchspeicheldrüsenkrebs. In dieser Übersichtsarbeit berichten wir über Statistiken zum frühen Auftreten von Krebserkrankungen anhand von Beispieldaten aus einer Region in Großbritannien und erörtern Fragen, die für diese Altersgruppe spezifisch sind. Zu den behandelten Themen gehören die langfristigen Folgen einer Krebsbehandlung, die Auswirkungen einer Krebsbehandlung auf die Fruchtbarkeit und die Nutzung von Social Media durch Patienten, medizinisches Fachpersonal und Forscher. Wir skizzieren auch wichtige zukünftige Forschungsprioritäten zu früh auftretenden Krebserkrankungen. Zusammenfassung: In Ländern mit hohem Einkommen wurde über eine steigende Inzidenz bestimmter Krebsarten berichtet, die bei Erwachsenen im Alter von 18 bis 49 Jahren früh auftreten. In dieser Übersicht fassen wir die Epidemiologie von früh auftretenden Krebserkrankungen anhand von Beispieldaten aus einer einkommensstarken Region in Großbritannien zusammen, erörtern den Bedarf an unterstützender Pflege für junge Patienten und skizzieren zukünftige Forschungsrichtungen. Die Inzidenzrate von früh auftretenden Krebserkrankungen ist von 1993 bis 2019 in Nordirland um 20,5% gestiegen. Es wurden Unterschiede bei den Krebsarten zwischen den Geschlechtern und zwischen den Altersgruppen 18–29, 30–39 und 40–49 Jahre beobachtet. Die 1- und 5-Jahres-Nettoüberlebensrate war bei den 18- bis 29-Jährigen bei allen Krebsarten zusammengenommen meist besser als bei den älteren Altersgruppen beider Geschlechter, doch bei bestimmten Krebsarten gab es Unterschiede. Ein schlechteres Überleben wurde bei Patienten mit Krebserkrankungen des Gehirns/Zentralnervensystems, des Binde- und Weichgewebes oder der Lunge beobachtet. Patienten mit früh auftretenden Krebserkrankungen haben besondere Anforderungen an die unterstützende Pflege und benötigen eine ganzheitliche Betreuung. Die Auswirkungen der Krebsbehandlung auf die Fruchtbarkeit und die Behandlungen zum Erhalt der Fruchtbarkeit sind ein wichtiger Aspekt. Social Media können zur Unterstützung von Patienten, zur Information, zur Mittelbeschaffung, zur Lobbyarbeit und zur Rekrutierung für Forschungsstudien eingesetzt werden. Wir skizzieren auch Vorschläge für zukünftige Forschungsprioritäten zu früh auftretenden Krebserkrankungen, die Prävention, Diagnose, Behandlung und unterstützende Betreuung umfassen.
Immunbedingte Pankreatitis aufgrund einer Anti-PD-L1-Therapie bei einem Patienten mit nicht-kleinzelligem Lungenkrebs: Ein Fallbericht
Authors: Malet Julie , Melki Boutheina , Chouabe Stéphane , Deslée Gaëtan
Published: December 2022

Rationale: Trotz klinisch nachgewiesener Vorteile von Immun-Checkpoint-Inhibitoren (ICI) bei fortgeschrittenem Lungenkrebs wurden seltene, aber lebensbedrohliche immunbedingte unerwünschte Ereignisse (ibUE) berichtet. Pankreatitis ist ein seltenes ibUE, das bei jedem ICI auftreten kann. Überblick zum Patienten: Ein 53-jähriger Mann mit einem lokal fortgeschrittenen nicht-kleinzelligen Lungenkarzinom wurde mit einer Radiochemotherapie und anschließend mit Durvalumab behandelt. Zwölf Wochen nach Beginn der Therapie mit dem ICI berichtete der Patient über Bauchschmerzen und Anorexie. Blutuntersuchungen zeigten einen hohen Lipasegehalt. Eine abdominale Computertomographie zeigte eine geschwollene Bauchspeicheldrüse. Diese Befunde wurden durch eine Magnetresonanz-Cholangiopankreatikographie und eine biliopankreatische endoskopische Ultraschalluntersuchung bestätigt. Diagnosen: Immunbedingte Pankreatitis Grad IV. Behandlungen: Der Patient wurde mit einer Kortikosteroidtherapie behandelt, die zu einer klinischen, radiologischen und biologischen Verbesserung führte. Ergebnisse: Während des ersten Monats konnte die Kortikosteroidtherapie nicht unter 1mg/kg/d gesenkt werden, da die Symptome wieder auftraten und die Lipasämie wieder zunahm. Vier Monate nach dieser Episode starb der Patient an einer akuten Ischämie der unteren Gliedmaßen bei Einnahme von <20mg/d Kortikosteroid. Erkenntnisse: Soweit wir wissen, wurde über immunbedingte Pankreatitis nur im Zusammenhang mit Therapien gegen den programmierten Zelltod 1 oder gegen das zytotoxische T-Lymphozyten-Antigen 4 berichtet, aber nie mit einer Therapie gegen den programmierten Zelltod-Liganden 1. Es ist wichtig, solche seltenen Fälle zu melden, um die Diagnose und das Management von ibUE zu verbessern
Covid-19: evolução temporal e imunização nas três ondas epidemiológicas, Brasil, 2020–2022
Authors: Moura Erly Catarina , Cortez-Escalante Juan , Cavalcante Fabrício Vieira , Barreto Ivana Cristina de Holanda Cunha , Sanchez Mauro Niskier , Santos Leonor Maria Pacheco
Published: December 2022

RESUMO OBJETIVO: Descrever a evolução temporal da morbimortalidade por covid-19 e da cobertura vacinal no período da emergência sanitária no Brasil. MÉTODOS: Número de casos e óbitos por covid-19 foram extraídos do painel público do Ministério da Saúde, conforme semana epidemiológica (SE) e região geográfica. Dados sobre vacinas e variantes foram obtidos, respectivamente, do Sistema de Informação do Programa Nacional de Imunizações e do Sistema de Vigilância Genômica do SARS-CoV-2. RESULTADOS: A evolução da pandemia de covid-19 caracterizou-se por três picos de óbitos: na 30ª semana epidemiológica de 2020, na 14ª de 2021 e na sexta de 2022; três ondas de casos, iniciando-se nas regiões Norte e Nordeste, com maiores taxas na terceira onda, principalmente na região Sul. A vacinação teve início na terceira semana epidemiológica de 2021, atingindo rapidamente a maior parte da população, particularmente nas regiões Sudeste e Sul, coincidindo com redução da taxa de mortalidade, mas não de morbidade na terceira onda. No total, 146.718 genomas foram sequenciados, mas somente a partir do início da segunda onda, na qual a variante dominante foi a Gama. A partir da última SE de 2021, quando a cobertura vacinal já se aproximava de 70%, a variante Ômicron causou uma avalanche de casos, porém com menos óbitos. CONCLUSÕES: É nítida a presença de três ondas de covid-19, bem como o efeito da imunização na redução da mortalidade na segunda e na terceira ondas, atribuídas às variantes Delta e Ômicron, respectivamente. Contudo não houve efeito na redução da morbidade, que atingiu o pico na terceira onda, na qual dominou a variante Ômicron. O comando nacional e centralizado do enfrentamento à pandemia não ocorreu; assim, os gestores locais assumiram a liderança em seus territórios. O efeito avassalador da pandemia poderia ter sido minimizado, caso houvesse a participação coordenada das três esferas de governo no SUS.
Safety and Efficacy of Sacubitril/Valsartan in Patients With a Failing Systemic Right Ventricle: A Prospective Single-Center Study
Authors: Fusco Flavia , Scognamiglio Giancarlo , Merola Assunta , Iannuzzi Angela , Palma Michela , Grimaldi Nicola , Sarubbi Berardo
Published: December 2022

Background:

Sacubitril/valsartan was demonstrated to reduce hospitalization rate and mortality in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Data on the effects of sacubitril/valsartan in patients with a systemic right ventricle are still lacking.

Methods:

Patients with transposition of the great arteries following Senning/Mustard procedure or congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries with impaired systemic right ventricle systolic function were prospectively included. Primary end points included sacubitril/valsartan safety and efficacy. Primary efficacy end points were NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) and systolic function improvement. Secondary end points included New York Heart Association class, 6-minute walking distance, and quality of life change.

Results:

Fifty patients (38±12 years, 60% male, 35% congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries) were included and followed for 1 year. No major adverse events occurred. Two (4%) patients ceased treatment due to hypotension and 1 (2%) developed a nephrotic syndrome. The target dose was reached in 20 (42%) patients. NT-proBNP values decreased significantly immediately after treatment initiation, while returned to baseline at 1 year. Echocardiography showed progressive fractional area change increase (29.2±5.8 versus 34.9±5.1%;
P
<0.001), and right ventricle global longitudinal strain (−13.9 [−15.1, −11.8] versus −15.3 [−17.2, −13.4]%;
P
<0.001) and free-wall global longitudinal strain (−14.3 [−17.3, −12.3] versus −17.2 [−19.3, −15.8]%;
P
<0.001) raise, whereas tricuspid regurgitation severity improved only in transposition of the great arteries patients (
P
=0.006). Moreover, 3-dimensional echocardiography demonstrated right ventricle volumes reduction (end-diastolic volume: 181±63 versus 156±50 mL;
P
=0.002; end-systolic volume: 117±48 versus 89±33 mL;
P
<0.001), and significantly increased systemic right ventricle ejection fraction (35.6±8.1 versus 41.5±7.5%;
P
<0.001). Clinical improvement was suggested by New York Heart Association class change (
P
<0.001), increased 6-minute walking distance (425 [333, 480] versus 500 [443, 560] m;
P
<0.001) as well as improved quality of life at 1-year follow-up. Beneficial effects were observed irrespective of the underlying anatomy and were more pronounced in those on target dose.

Conclusions:

Our data showed that sacubitril/valsartan is well tolerated and is associated with systemic right ventricle remodeling and improved systolic function as well as improved clinical status, supporting its use in this complex population.
Sex Disparities in Failure to Rescue After Cardiac Surgery in California and New York
Authors: Alabbadi Sundos , Rowe Georgina , Gill George , Vouyouka Ageliki , Chikwe Joanna , Egorova Natalia
Published: December 2022

Background:

Women have a higher risk of mortality than men after cardiac surgery independent of other risk factors. The reason for this may not be limited to patient-specific variables. Failure to rescue (FTR) patients from death after a postoperative complication is a nationally endorsed quality care metric. We aimed to identify whether sex disparities exist in the quality of care after cardiac surgery using FTR rates.

Methods:

A retrospective analysis of 30 973 men (70.4%) and 13 033 women (29.6%) aged over 18 years undergoing coronary artery bypass graft or valve surgery in New York (2016–2019) and California (2016–2018) who experienced at least one serious postoperative complication. The primary outcome was the FTR. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of death after complication. Propensity matching was used to adjust for baseline differences between sexes and yielded 12 657 pairs.

Results:

Female patients that experienced complications were older (mean age 67.8 versus 66.7,
P
<0.001), more frail (median frailty score 0.1 versus 0.07,
P
<0.001), and had more comorbidities (median Charlson score 2.5 versus 2.3,
P
<0.001) than male patients. The overall FTR rate was 5.7% (2524), men were less likely to die after a complication than women (4.8% versus 8%,
P
<0.001). Independent predictors of FTR included female sex (relative risk [RR]: 1.46 [CI, 1.30–1.62]), area-level poverty rate >20% (RR, 1.21 [CI, 1.01–1.59]), higher frailty (RR, 2.83 [CI, 1.35–5.93]), undergoing concomitant coronary artery bypass graft and valve surgeries (RR, 1.69 [CI, 1.49–1.9]), and higher number of postoperative complications (RR, 16.28 [CI, 14–18.89]). In the propensity-matched cohorts, the FTR rate remained significantly lower among men than women (6.0% versus 8.0%,
P
<0.001).

Conclusions:

Women are less likely to be rescued from death following postoperative complications, independent of socioeconomic and clinical characteristics. Further research is warranted to investigate the clinical practices contributing to this disparity in quality of care following cardiac surgery.
Information Theory–based Compositional Distributional Semantics
Authors: Amigo Enrique , Ariza-Casabona Alejandro , Fresno Victor , Marti M. Antonia
Published: December 2022

In the context of text representation, Compositional Distributional Semantics models aim to fuse the Distributional Hypothesis and the Principle of Compositionality. Text embedding is based on co-ocurrence distributions and the representations are in turn combined by compositional functions taking into account the text structure. However, the theoretical basis of compositional functions is still an open issue. In this article we define and study the notion of Information Theory–based Compositional Distributional Semantics (ICDS): (i) We first establish formal properties for embedding, composition, and similarity functions based on Shannon’s Information Theory; (ii) we analyze the existing approaches under this prism, checking whether or not they comply with the established desirable properties; (iii) we propose two parameterizable composition and similarity functions that generalize traditional approaches while fulfilling the formal properties; and finally (iv) we perform an empirical study on several textual similarity datasets that include sentences with a high and low lexical overlap, and on the similarity between words and their description. Our theoretical analysis and empirical results show that fulfilling formal properties affects positively the accuracy of text representation models in terms of correspondence (isometry) between the embedding and meaning spaces.
Anton van den Wyngaerde’s threefold project of the Panorama of Walcheren (c. 1547-1570)
Authors: Gregg Ryan E.
Published: December 2022

Anton van den Wyngaerde’s (c. 1490-1571) Panorama of Walcheren in the Plantin-Moretus Museum in Antwerp depicts the mid-sixteenth-century island of Walcheren and the North Sea across ten meters of paper. Its length and extensive geographic coverage make it unique amongst the artist’s extant oeuvre. Primarily known for his depictions of Spanish and Netherlandish cities drawn for King Philip II, Van den Wyngaerde did paint a similar prospect in 1564 for the king’s El Pardo palace. The present panorama (also known as Zeelandia descriptio) owes its origins in part to that project.

Though often mined for illustrations of a c. 1550 Walcheren, the drawings themselves have not been studied since 1956, when Jules van Beylen proposed a series of unspecified dates for the entirety’s manufacture. The present study clarifies the timeline for the current Panorama’s generation over several decades. Through examination of the object, its depicted environments, and archival material, at least three discrete working periods and three distinct panoramic sections are proposed.

The artist initially travelled across the island sketching its locations sometime between 1547 and 1552. After arriving in Spain in 1562 at Philip II’s request, Van den Wyngaerde compiled his earlier sketches into an overall draft. The first third of the present Panorama belongs to this preparatory stage for a second project. He then produced a more finished, colored drawing from the draft, in which he updated and corrected visual information. The middle section remains from this second stage. The c. 1564 El Pardo painting likely replicated the colored presentation drawing. The third project, undertaken between c. 1567 and c. 1570, copied at least a portion of the painting if not the entire prospect, and remains extant in the right section. The remainders from these projects were then combined at an indeterminate time to form the Panorama as it exists today.
Some notes by Ernst Brinck (1582-1649) on painters, collectors and exceptional art
Authors: Abbing Michiel Roscam
Published: December 2022

This article focuses on the Harderwijk regent Ernst Brinck (1582-1649) who owned an extensive cabinet of curiosities and a library full of valuable books. His exceptionally wide range of interests is also evident from surviving notebooks of his in the Harderwijk archives. The entries they contain show that Brinck visited other collectors and viewed their cabinets. It goes without saying that interesting information was exchanged during these encounters, which Brinck noted in his booklets. It can be found scattered there among all kinds of other topics.

Around 1645, Brinck classified some of these notes under the heading ‘De picturis eximiis, et [rebus] quae concernunt picturas’ (Of exceptional paintings and [all manner of things] that concern the art of painting) and ‘Van eenige treflicke Conststucken’ (Of several excellent works of art). Twenty-two previously unpublished anecdotal statements can be found in these categories. Examples include the average cost of the civic guard portraits in the Great Hall of the Arquebusiers Company (Doelenzaal) in Amsterdam (no. 6); the wealthy collector Pieter Spiering and his art books (no. 12): the obscene paintings of Torrentius (no. 7); Rubens’ earnings for the cycle of paintings on the life of Marie de’ Medici, queen of France, in Paris (no. 8); the Brazilian paintings commissioned by John Maurice of Nassau and painted by Jacob van Campen, which Brinck saw at the artist’s estate near Amersfoort (no. 5); and the wooden prayer nut, now in the Abegg-Stiftung, Switzerland (no. 19).

In one of the booklets, hidden among other notes, Brinck penned an entry on Rembrandt’s Hundred guilder print that would have fitted very well in his list on exceptional art, but is absent there. Brinck wrote that Rembrandt had sold a print with the subject ‘Let the children come to me’ (Matthew 19: 13-15) for a hundred guilders. The note establishes that Rembrandt himself sold the print for that amount, in 1648 or 1649.
Pieter de Hooch’s window shutter with the Habsburg Emperor Charles V (1661)
Authors: den Hartog Elizabeth
Published: December 2022

This article deals with Pieter de Hooch’s enigmatic painting Woman holding a basket with beans in a garden of 1661 (Kunstmuseum, Basel), and, more specifically, with the identity of the man depicted on the window shutter of the building in the foreground of the painting. The author argues that this portrait, which was hidden behind a layer of paint for a long time and only uncovered sometime between 1913-1927, represents the Emperor Charles V, whose portrait still decorates many buildings in the Netherlands. It is also argued that the building in the background of the painting can be typified as a ‘hofje’ or almshouse, and that its architecture resembles that of the Leiden Eva van Hoogeveenshofje, built by the architect Arent van ‘s-Gravesande in the 1650s. This suggests that De Hooch did not only paint locations in Delft and Amsterdam, but also in Leiden.

The Dutch Republic’s seventeenth-century ‘hofjes’ were renowned, eliciting praise from foreign visitors, not only because of the way the Dutch Calvinist elite took care of the needy but also because of their superb architecture that enhanced the beauty of the Republic’s cities. Interestingly, De Hooch painted a servant girl in the garden of the almshouse, which at first may seem incongruous with an institution intended for the poor. However, as will be shown, residents of almshouses in the seventeenth-century Dutch Republic were not as poor as is generally thought. Some were even quite well-off and did indeed keep servants. In fact, some contemporaries even likened the Dutch almshouses to palaces. The portrait of the emperor on the window shutter may thus have criticised this type of ‘poor relief’ and could well have been intended to bring out the resemblance between the ‘hofje’ and an emperor’s palace. The word ‘hofje ‘ after all means ‘small court’.

As such an overt criticism is unique in De Hooch’s oeuvre, it may have been the artist himself who blotted the emperor’s portrait out, thus changing the image into a straightforward genre scene. It was precisely this type of scene that was to bring De Hooch some success following his move to Amsterdam in 1660.
‘Popish Pelagianism’ or the Work of Divine Providence?
Authors: Wood Joseph
Published: December 2022

Responding to John Piper’s book, Providence (2020), and building on the work of Howard Snyder, this article articulates a Wesleyan-Arminian theology of ‘prevenient grace’. Highlighting Philippians 2:12–13, prevenient grace is articulated as a theological concept, rooted in the Bible, clearly expressed in the writings of James Arminius and made more widely accessible by the teaching of John Wesley. The theology of prevenient grace has been debated through the centuries and continues to be a primary point of distinction between those who would align their thinking to John Calvin (and Calvinism), in opposition to those who align with the teachings of John Wesley (and Wesleyan/Arminianism). From the perspective of God’s providence, the article identifies the slight, yet profound, difference between irresistible and prevenient grace. It argues that the caricature of Arminius’s, and therefore, Wesley’s teaching as Pelagian is unfounded. It concludes with suggestions of how the theology of prevenient grace offers a helpful framework for pastoral care.
Novelties in Compositae from Vellozo’s Florae Fluminensis
Authors: SITOWSKI ALINE , TELES ARISTÔNIO MAGALHÃES , ANTAR GUILHERME MEDEIROS , BARÊA PASTORE JOSÉ FLORIANO
Published: December 2022

The identity of one Compositae name from Vellozo’s Florae Fluminensis, Chrysocoma adpressa, is revised with taxonomic notes, leading to one new combination, Lucilia adpressa, and a new synonym, L. lycopodioides under L. adpressa. We provided typifications for all not yet typified names involved, with the designation of five lectotypes and one epitype. Additionally, we included a nomenclatural and taxonomic discussion, illustrations and a distribution map for the studied species.
Gastrochilus pseudocalceolaris, a new species of epiphytic orchid from India
Authors: DEY SANTANU , PHOM LIMAMANEN , BHATTACHARJEE AVISHEK , MOAAKUM  , ESHUO KAZHUHRII
Published: December 2022

The article deals with description of a new species of epiphytic orchid, viz. Gastrochilus pseudocalceolaris S. Dey, L. Phom, Av. Bhattacharjee, Moaakum & K. Eshuo, along with detailed description, photographs, photo-plates, and taxonomic note. The new species, collected from Mt. Yingyushang, Longleng district, Nagaland in India, is morphologically most similar to Gastrochilus calceolaris (Buch.-Ham. ex Sm.) D. Don, but differs in having much shorter stem and features of labellum. The types have been stored to CAL for future reference.
Redescription of Bathymodiolus septemdierum Hashimoto and Okutani, 1994 (Bivalvia, Mytilida, Mytilidae), a mussel broadly distributed across hydrothermal vent locations in the western Pacific and Indian Oceans
Authors: TUNNICLIFFE VERENA , BREUSING CORINNA
Published: December 2022

Mussels of the genus Bathymodiolus Kenk & Wilson belong to the foundation fauna at hydrothermal vents in the global deep sea. In the western Pacific and Indian oceans, the three nominal taxa B. septemdierum Hashimoto and Okutani, B. brevior Cosel, Métivier & Okutani and B. marisindicus Hashimoto are currently recognized as separate species despite morphological and genetic evidence for their conspecificity. All three are listed with the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List based on highly restricted ranges. We compile and supplement existing morphometric and molecular data to revise the Bathymodiolus septemdierum species group. We redescribe B. septemdierum as a single species with B. brevior and B. marisindicus recognized as junior synonyms. Given the exceptionally broad range of B. septemdierum, we propose removal of these three taxa from the IUCN Red List.
First record of the boneti-group of Coecobrya Yosii, 1956 (Collembola: Entomobryidae) from Thailand, with the description of three new cave species of the genus
Authors: NILSAI AREERUK , ZEPPELINI DOUGLAS , BELLINI BRUNO C. , LIMA ESTEVAM C. A. , JANTARIT SOPARK
Published: December 2022

Thailand holds one of the most diverse faunas of the genus Coecobrya Yosii, 1956, with 22 species reported from the country so far. In this study three new species of Coecobrya are described from subterranean environments: C. satasookae sp. nov. from Chaiyaphum province, C. cavicola sp. nov. from Phrae province and C. chompon sp. nov. from Ratchaburi province. The first two species belong to the tenebricosa-group, as they lack eyes, while C. chompon sp. nov. has 1+1 eyes and fits the boneti-group. Coecobrya satasookae sp. nov. and C. cavicola sp. nov. can be distinguished from each other and its congeners by the combination of antennal length, clypeal, dorsal head and thoracic chaetotaxy, whereas C. chompon sp. nov. is most similar to C. boneti (Denis, 1948) from Vietnam. However, it differs from the latter taxa mostly by the proportion of the antennae, ventral and dorsal head, thoracic, fourth abdominal chaetotaxy, plus the shape of the tenent hairs. C. chompon sp. nov. is the first record and description of a Coecobrya species from the boneti-group in Thailand. We also discuss the ecological niches of troglomorphic Coecobrya species in Thailand and the status of the boneti-group.
Evolutionary genetics of flipper forelimb and hindlimb loss from limb development-related genes in cetaceans
Authors: Sun Linxia , Rong Xinghua , Liu Xing , Yu Zhenpeng , Zhang Qian , Ren Wenhua , Yang Guang , Xu Shixia
Published: December 2022

Background

Cetacean hindlimbs were lost and their forelimb changed into flippers characterized by webbed digits and hyperphalangy, thus allowing them to adapt to a completely aquatic environment. However, the underlying molecular mechanism behind cetacean limb development remains poorly understood.

Results

In the present study, we explored the evolution of 16 limb-related genes and their cis-regulatory elements in cetaceans and compared them with that of other mammals. TBX5, a forelimb specific expression gene, was identified to have been under accelerated evolution in the ancestral branches of cetaceans. In addition, 32 cetacean-specific changes were examined in the SHH signaling network (SHH, PTCH1, TBX5, BMPs and SMO), within which mutations could yield webbed digits or an additional phalange. These findings thus suggest that the SHH signaling network regulates cetacean flipper formation. By contrast, the regulatory activity of the SHH gene enhancer—ZRS in cetaceans—was significantly lower than in mice, which is consistent with the cessation of SHH gene expression in the hindlimb bud during cetacean embryonic development. It was suggested that the decreased SHH activity regulated by enhancer ZRS might be one of the reasons for hindlimb degeneration in cetaceans. Interestingly, a parallel / convergent site (D42G) and a rapidly evolving CNE were identified in marine mammals in FGF10 and GREM1, respectively, and shown to be essential to restrict limb bud size; this is molecular evidence explaining the convergence of flipper-forelimb and shortening or degeneration of hindlimbs in marine mammals.

Conclusions

We did evolutionary analyses of 16 limb-related genes and their cis-regulatory elements in cetaceans and compared them with those of other mammals to provide novel insights into the molecular basis of flipper forelimb and hindlimb loss in cetaceans.
Epicardial adipose tissue thickness is related to early subclinical myocardial dysfunction, particularly in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a case control study
Authors: Prestegui-Muñóz David Eduardo , Benítez-Maldonado Daniel Rabindranath , Rodríguez-Álvarez Karen , de Jesús Prestegui-Muñoz José Ángel , Melchor-López Alberto , Suárez-Cuenca Juan Antonio
Published: December 2022

Background

Cardiac myofibrillary dysfunction, which can be measure by echocardiographical strain value, represents an early subclinical manifestation of heart failure. Epicardial Adipose tissue (EAT) is related to low degree inflammation and oxidative damage in the adjacent tissue.

Aim

To explore whether EAT affects early myocardial dysfunction, as assessed strain values.

Methods

Case–Control design. Patients lacking clinical significant heart failure, thyroid or renal disease or malignant abnormalities were included. Clinical-demographic and biochemical data were collected. EAT and myofibril deformation were measured by echocardiography.

Results

A total of 71 patients were analyzed, and further subdivided according to type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (t2DM). Higher strain value (higher than -22.4%cut-off value) was associated with male sex and higher anthropometric and metabolic risk measures; particularly those with t2DM. Higher EAT was also associated higher strain value (AUC = 0.92 ± 0.06, p = 0.004), and further correlation was evidenced (rho = 0.488, p < 0.001), with significant influence of t2DM.

Conclusion

EAT was related to strain value, suggesting the influence of cardiac adipose tissue on the deformability of cardiac myofibril, with a more significant effect in the population with t2DM.
A multisource approach to health care use: concordance between register and self-reported physician visits in the foreign-born population in Finland
Authors: García-Velázquez Regina , Kieseppä Valentina , Lilja Eero , Koponen Päivikki , Skogberg Natalia , Kuusio Hannamaria
Published: December 2022

Background

Reliable information on the use of health services is important for health care planning, monitoring and policy. It is critical to assess the validity of the sources used for this purpose, including register and survey-based data. Studies on foreign-born populations’ health care use have usually implemented either survey or register data. The concordance of such data among groups of different cultural background remains largely unknown. In this study, we presented an approach to examine routinely how survey and register-related characteristics may explain disagreement found between the two information sources.

Methods

We linked register- and survey-based data pertaining to the Finnish Register of Primary Health Care general physician visits and the Survey on Well-Being among Foreign Born Population (FinMonik, 2018–2019), a nationally representative survey. The sample comprisedn = 5,800 informants for whom registered general physician visits were tracked in the 12-month period preceding their participation in the survey. Cohen’s kappa was used as measure of multisource concordance, hierarchical loglinear models for the association between single predictors and multisource discrepancy, and a logistic regression model for examining source-related predictors of source discrepancy. Survey weights were used in all sample analyses.

Results

Source concordance was poor. When dichotomizing general physician visits (zero vs one or more), 35% of informants had reported one or more visits while none were found from register. Both register- and informant-related predictors were associated to this discrepancy (i.e. catchment area, private health care use, inability to work, region of origin and reason for migration).

Conclusions

We found high discrepancy between the reported and the registered physician visits among the foreign-born population in Finland, with a particularly high number of reported physician visits when none were found in the register. There was a strong association between the specific catchment area and mismatch, indicating that both register under-coverage and survey over-report are plausible and may coexist behind the discrepancy. However, associations of informant’s characteristics and mismatch were less pronounced. Implications on the validity of medical information sources are discussed.
Elder abuse and life-course victimization in hospitalized older adults in Sweden: prevalence and associations with mental ill-health
Authors: Wiklund Nicolina , Ludvigsson Mikael , Nägga Katarina , Simmons Johanna
Published: December 2022

Background

The prevalence of elder abuse has only rarely been investigated in Sweden and never in a hospital setting. Therefore, the aims of this study were to: 1) Estimate the prevalence of elder abuse and life-course victimization among hospitalized older adults in Sweden, 2) Explore factors associated with elder abuse in the same sample, and 3) Explore the associations between life-course victimization and mental ill-health.

Methods

The study was conducted at a university hospital in Sweden. Adults over the age of 65 years admitted to a medical or geriatric acute care ward during spring 2018 were consecutively recruited. The participant rate was 44% (n = 135/306). Participants were assessed via a face-to-face interview about their experiences of elder abuse and abuse earlier in life. Mental ill-health was measured using a self-administered depression assessment (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), along with information about medications and diagnoses retrieved from medical records.

Results

Altogether, 40.7% (n = 55) of the participants reported some form of abusive experience during their life course. The prevalence of elder abuse was 17.8% (n = 24), and 58% (n = 14) of elder abuse victims also reported victimization earlier in life. Being abused before the age of 65 was the only background factor associated with elder abuse (OR = 5.4; 95% CI 1.9–15.7). Reporting abusive experiences both before and after the age of 65 was associated with current anti-depressant medication (OR = 6.6; 95% CI 1.1–39.2), a PHQ-9 result of 10 or more (OR = 10.4; 95% CI 2.1–51.0), and nine or more symptom diagnoses (OR = 4.0, 95% CI 1.0–16.1). Being abused only before or after the age of 65 was not significantly associated with any mental ill-health outcome measure.

Conclusions

Elder abuse and victimization earlier in life are highly prevalent among hospitalized older patients, and our findings underline the importance of a life-course perspective both in research on elder abuse and in clinical practice. Identifying and caring for older adults who have been subjected to abuse should be a priority in health care.
Association between low back pain and functional disability in the elderly people: a 4-year longitudinal study after the great East Japan earthquake
Authors: Yabe Yutaka , Hagiwara Yoshihiro , Sugawara Yumi , Tsuji Ichiro
Published: December 2022

Background

Functional disability is a major health issue in an aging population. Low back pain (LBP) is a common health concern that can lead to functional disability in the elderly; nonetheless, their association has not yet been clarified. This study aimed to examine the association between LBP and functional disability in the elderly, with a focus on its dose-dependent effects.

Methods

This study used the 4-year longitudinal data of people living in disaster-affected areas after the Great East Japan Earthquake (aged ≥65, n = 914). LBP and physical function were assessed at 2, 4, and 6 years after the disaster. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between LBP and low physical function, as well as the effect of preceding LBP on the onset of low physical function.

Results

LBP was significantly associated with low physical function, and the association became stronger as the duration of LBP increased. Adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 1.27 (0.79–2.06) in “< 2 years,” 1.95 (1.01–3.77) in “≥2 years and <4 years,” and 2.34 (1.35–4.06) in “≥4 years” (p for trend = 0.009). Additionally, preceding LBP was significantly associated with the onset of low physical function, and the effect became prominent as the duration of LBP increased. Adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 2.28 (1.19–4.37) in “< 2 years” and 2.82 (1.35–5.90) in “≥2 years” (p for trend = 0.003).

Conclusions

LBP is associated with physical disability among the elderly in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, prevention and treatment of LBP are important for preventing functional disability.
Non-falciparum species and submicroscopic infections in three epidemiological malaria facets in Cameroon
Authors: Kojom Foko Loick Pradel , Hawadak Joseph , Kouemo Motse Francine Dorgelesse , Eboumbou Moukoko Carole Else , Kamgain Mawabo Lugarde , Pande Veena , Singh Vineeta
Published: December 2022

Background

There are growing reports on the prevalence of non-falciparum species and submicroscopic infections in sub-Saharan African countries but little information is available from Cameroon.

Methods

A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out in four towns (Douala, Maroua, Mayo-Oulo, and Pette) from three malaria epidemiological strata (Forest, Sahelian, and Soudanian) of Cameroon. Malaria parasites were detected by Giemsa light microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Non-falciparum isolates were characterized and their 18S gene sequences were BLASTed for confirmatory diagnosis.

Results

PCR assay detected malaria parasites in 82.4% (98/119) patients, among them 12.2% (12/98) were asymptomatic cases. Three Plasmodium species viz. P.falciparum, P.ovalecurtisi and P.vivax, and two co-infection types (P.falciparum + P.vivax and P.falciparum + P.ovalecurtisi) were found. The remaining infections were mono–infections with either P.falciparum or P.ovalecurtisi. All non–falciparum infections were symptomatic and microscopic. The overall proportion of submicroscopic infections was 11.8% (14/119). Most asymptomatic and submicroscopic infection cases were self-medicated with antimalarial drugs and/or medicinal plants. On analysis, P.ovalecurtisi sequences were found to be phylogenetically closer to sequences from India while P.vivax isolates appeared closer to those from Nigeria, India, and Cameroon. No G6PD-d case was found among non-falciparum infections.

Conclusions

This study confirms our previous work on circulation of P.vivax and P.ovalecurtisi and the absence of P.knowlesi in Cameroon. More studies are needed to address non-falciparum malaria along with submicroscopic infections for effective malaria management and control in Cameroon.