bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in treating sudden sensorineural hearing loss: an umbrella review
Authors: Liu Xinghong , Xu Xianpeng , Lei Qiulian , Jin Xiaohua , Deng Xinxing , Xie Hui
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Our objective was to explore the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen in the treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss by conducting an umbrella review of all existing evidence.

Methods

We conducted an umbrella review, searching for related articles in the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus databases. The search period covered from the inception of each database until April 2024. We extracted authors, country of publication, time of publication, number of included studies and participants, interventions, summary of results, P-values, I2, relative risk (95% CI), and outcome measures. The methodological quality, evidence quality, and overlap rate of the included articles were assessed using AMSTAR 2, GRADE, and OVErviews (GROOVE).

Results

Methodological quality was assessed using AMSTAR 2. Of the nine included articles, two were assessed as “high,” three as “moderate,” two as “low,” and the remaining two as “very low.” The quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE system. It was found that the quality of evidence in most of the studies was unsatisfactory. It was found that there was a slight overlap among the included articles. Six studies reported positive results (OR 1.37; 95% CI, 1.17–1.61; P = 0.04), with high heterogeneity observed (I2 = 63%). Egger's test indicated bias (P = 0.000101). Three studies reported negative results (MD 1.49; 95% CI, −0.32 to 3.29; P = 0.43; I2 = 0%), with no significant bias detected (P = 0.106) according to Egger's test.

Conclusion

HBO therapy is shown to be an effective treatment for SSNHL with fewer side effects. However, the methodological quality and evidence of the systematic reviews and meta-analysis included in this study were generally low. Therefore, more high-quality, large-scale, multi-center randomized controlled trials are needed in the future to verify the efficacy of HBO therapy for SSNHL.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier [CRD42024523651].
Effect of robotic exoskeleton training on lower limb function, activity and participation in stroke patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Yang Juncong , Zhu Yongxin , Li Haojie , Wang Kun , Li Dan , Qi Qi
Published: August 2024

Background

The current lower limb robotic exoskeleton training (LRET) for treating and managing stroke patients remains a huge challenge. Comprehensive ICF analysis and informative treatment options are needed. This review aims to analyze LRET’ s efficacy for stroke patients, based on ICF, and explore the impact of intervention intensities, devices, and stroke phases.

Methods

We searched Web of Science, PubMed, and The Cochrane Library for RCTs on LRET for stroke patients. Two authors reviewed studies, extracted data, and assessed quality and bias. Standardized protocols were used. PEDro and ROB2 were employed for quality assessment. All analyses were done with RevMan 5.4.

Results

Thirty-four randomized controlled trials (1,166 participants) were included. For function, LRET significantly improved motor control (MD = 1.15, 95%CI = 0.29–2.01, p = 0.009, FMA-LE), and gait parameters (MD = 0.09, 95%CI = 0.03–0.16, p = 0.004, Instrumented Gait Velocity; MD = 0.06, 95%CI = 0.02–0.09, p = 0.002, Step length; MD = 4.48, 95%CI = 0.32–8.65, p = 0.04, Cadence) compared with conventional rehabilitation. For activity, LRET significantly improved walking independence (MD = 0.25, 95%CI = 0.02–0.48, p = 0.03, FAC), Gait Velocity (MD = 0.07, 95%CI = 0.03–0.11, p = 0.001) and balance (MD = 2.34, 95%CI = 0.21–4.47, p = 0.03, BBS). For participation, social participation (MD = 0.12, 95%CI = 0.03–0.21, p = 0.01, EQ-5D) was superior to conventional rehabilitation. Based on subgroup analyses, LRET improved motor control (MD = 1.37, 95%CI = 0.47–2.27, p = 0.003, FMA-LE), gait parameters (MD = 0.08, 95%CI = 0.02–0.14, p = 0.006, Step length), Gait Velocity (MD = 0.11, 95%CI = 0.03–0.19, p = 0.005) and activities of daily living (MD = 2.77, 95%CI = 1.37–4.16, p = 0.0001, BI) for the subacute patients, while no significant improvement for the chronic patients. For exoskeleton devices, treadmill-based exoskeletons showed significant superiority for balance (MD = 4.81, 95%CI = 3.10–6.52, p < 0.00001, BBS) and activities of daily living (MD = 2.67, 95%CI = 1.25–4.09, p = 0.00002, BI), while Over-ground exoskeletons was more effective for gait parameters (MD = 0.05, 95%CI = 0.02–0.08, p = 0.0009, Step length; MD = 6.60, 95%CI = 2.06–11.15, p = 0.004, Cadence) and walking independence (MD = 0.29, 95%CI = 0.14–0.44, p = 0.0002, FAC). Depending on the training regimen, better results may be achieved with daily training intensities of 45–60 min and weekly training intensities of 3 h or more.

Conclusion

These findings offer insights for healthcare professionals to make effective LRET choices based on stroke patient needs though uncertainties remain. Particularly, the assessment of ICF participation levels and the design of time-intensive training deserve further study.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO, Unique Identifier: CRD42024501750.
Investigating cortical complexity and connectivity in rats with schizophrenia
Authors: Zhao Zongya , Feng Yifan , Wang Menghan , Wei Jiarong , Tan Tao , Li Ruijiao , Hu Heshun , Wang Mengke , Chen Peiqi , Gao Xudong , Wei Yinping , Wang Chang , Gao Zhixian , Jiang Wenshuai , Zhou Xuezhi , Li Mingcai , Wang Chong , Pang Ting , Yu Yi
Published: August 2024

Background

The above studies indicate that the SCZ animal model has abnormal gamma oscillations and abnormal functional coupling ability of brain regions at the cortical level. However, few researchers have focused on the correlation between brain complexity and connectivity at the cortical level. In order to provide a more accurate representation of brain activity, we studied the complexity of electrocorticogram (ECoG) signals and the information interaction between brain regions in schizophrenic rats, and explored the correlation between brain complexity and connectivity.

Methods

We collected ECoG signal from SCZ rats. The frequency domain and time domain functional connectivity of SCZ rats were evaluated by magnitude square coherence and mutual information (MI). Permutation entropy (PE) and permutation Lempel-Ziv complexity (PLZC) were used to analyze the complexity of ECoG, and the relationship between them was evaluated. In addition, in order to further understand the causal structure of directional information flow among brain regions, we used phase transfer entropy (PTE) to analyze the effective connectivity of the brain.

Results

Firstly, in the high gamma band, the complexity of brain regions in SCZ rats is higher than that in normal rats, and the neuronal activity is irregularity. Secondly, the information integration ability of SCZ rats decreased and the communication of brain network information was hindered at the cortical level. Finally, compared with normal rats, the causal relationship between brain regions of SCZ rats was closer, but the information interaction center was not clear.

Conclusion

The above findings suggest that at the cortical level, complexity and connectivity are valid biomarkers for identifying SCZ. This bridges the gap between peak potentials and EEG. This may help to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms at the cortical level in schizophrenics.
Metabolite profile in hereditary spastic paraplegia analyzed using magnetic resonance spectroscopy: a cross-sectional analysis in a longitudinal study
Authors: Montanaro Domenico , Vavla Marinela , Frijia Francesca , Coi Alessio , Baratto Alessandra , Pasquariello Rosa , Stefan Cristina , Martinuzzi Andrea
Published: August 2024

Background

Hereditary Spastic Paraplegias (HSP) are genetic neurodegenerative disorders affecting the corticospinal tract. No established neuroimaging biomarker is associated with this condition.

Methods

A total of 46 patients affected by HSP, genetically and clinically evaluated and tested with SPRS scores, and 46 healthy controls (HC) matched by age and gender underwent a single-voxel Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy sampling (MRS) of bilateral pre-central and pre-frontal regions. MRS data were analyzed cross-sectionally (at T0 and T1) and longitudinally (T0 vs. T1).

Results

Statistically significant data showed that T0 mI/Cr in the pre-central areas of HSP patients was higher than in HC. In the left (L) pre-central area, NAA/Cr was significantly lower in HSP than in HC. In the right (R) pre-frontal area, NAA/Cr was significantly lower in HSP patients than in HC. HSP SPG4 subjects had significantly lower Cho/Cr concentrations in the L pre-central area compared to HC. Among the HSP subjects, non-SPG4 patients had significantly higher mI/Cr in the L pre-central area compared to SPG4 patients. In the R pre-frontal area, NAA/Cr was reduced, and ml/Cr was higher in non-SPG4 patients compared to SPG4 patients. Comparing “pure” and “complex” forms, NAA/Cr was higher in pHSP than in cHSP in the R pre-central and R pre-frontal areas. The longitudinal analysis, which involved fewer patients (n = 30), showed an increase in mI/Cr concentration in the L pre-frontal area among HSP subjects with respect to baseline. The patients had significantly higher SPRS scores at follow-up, with a significant positive correlation between SPRS scores and mI/Cr in the L pre-central area, while in bilateral pre-frontal areas, lower SPRS scores corresponded to higher NAA/Cr concentrations. To explore the discriminating power of MRS in correctly identifying HSP and controls, an inference tree methodology classified HSP subjects and controls with an overall accuracy of 73.9%, a sensitivity of 87.0%, and a specificity of 60.9%.

Conclusion

This pilot study indicates that brain MRS is a valuable approach that could potentially serve as an objective biomarker in HSP.
The causal relationship between sleep characteristics and multi-site pain perception: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Yin Yulai , Zhang Xiaoyu
Published: August 2024

Objective

This Mendelian Randomization (MR) study aims to explore the potential causal relationships between four sleep traits and pain in 10 different body sites.

Materials and methods

The study utilizes exposure and outcome data from the GWAS database, employing the Inverse Variance Weighting Method (IVW) for primary causal estimates. Cochran Q and Rücker Q heterogeneity tests are conducted using IVW and MR-Egger methods, with the Egger-intercept method for pleiotropy testing, leave-one-out sensitivity analysis, and calculation of F-statistics to assess the presence of weak instrument bias.

Results

The study reveals that genetically predicted insomnia significantly increases the risk of unspecified pain, chest pain, gum pain, upper abdominal pain, and lower abdominal pain occurrence. Daytime napping is associated with a moderate reduction in the likelihood of joint pain but may concomitantly elevate the risk of chest pain, upper abdominal pain, and generalized abdominal pain. Neither sleep chronotype nor sleep duration demonstrated a definitive causal relationship with pain perception.

Conclusion

This study elucidates the causal relationships between four sleep characteristics and pain across 10 different body regions. Overall, the contribution of insomnia and sleep deficiency to pain in multiple body regions is more pronounced. Conversely, the association between adequate sleep and the likelihood of somatic pain is relatively lower and less significant.
Lutein inhibits glutamate-induced apoptosis in HT22 cells via the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway
Authors: Li Zhenhua , Cao Zhuohua , Chen Fangmei , Li Bin , Jin Hanyong
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Excessive glutamate levels induce oxidative stress, resulting in neuronal damage, and cell death. While natural antioxidants show promise for neuroprotection, their effectiveness in the central nervous system (CNS) is limited by the blood -brain barrier. Lutein, a neuroprotective carotenoid, has gained attention for its ability to traverse this barrier and accumulate in various brain regions. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of lutein against glutamateinduced cell death in HT22 cells.

Methods

HT22 cells were treated with lutein (1.25-20 μM) for 24 hours. Cell viability, ROS levels, apoptosis, and mitochondrial membrane potential were assessed following lutein pretreatment and glutamate exposure. Protein expression of apoptotic markers was analyzed using Western blotting.

Results

Lutein effectively attenuated glutamate-induced apoptosis due to its antioxidant properties. Additionally, lutein inhibited glutamate-induced mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis. We observed that lutein modulated the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor erythroid 2 -related factor 2 (Nrf2) and upregulated the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Inhibition of HO-1 by tin protoporphyrin (SnPP), a synthetic inhibitor, weakened the protective effect of lutein. Furthermore, we demonstrated that lutein prevented the aberrant activation of MAPKs induced by glutamate, including ERK1/2, p38, and JNK, thereby conferring oxidative protection.

Discussion

Our study highlights the potent antioxidant properties of lutein, which effectively safeguards against glutamate-induced mitochondrial apoptotic cell death through the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway and inhibition of MAPK activation. These findings demonstrate that lutein exerts a neuroprotective effect against glutamate-induced neuronal cell damage.
Cardiometabolic traits mediating the effect of education on the risk of DKD and CKD: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Wang Yukai , Chen Mengmeng , Wang Lin , Wu Yonggui
Published: August 2024

Background

Both diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are more prevalent among individuals with lower levels of education in observational studies. To quantify the mediation effect of recognized cardiometabolic traits, we obtain causal estimates between education and DKD as well as CKD.

Materials and methods

We assessed the causal effect of education on DKD and CKD, separately estimated the causal effect of 26 cardiometabolic traits on DKD and CKD, and finally calculated the mediating effects and mediating proportions of each using two-step, two-sample multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR). Furthermore, the genetic association between exposure, mediators, and outcomes was investigated using linkage disequilibrium score (LDSC) regression analysis. Expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) were retrieved from the Genotype-Tissue Expression Project (GTEx) v8 to serve as genetic instrumental variables. Transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS), Bayesian colocalization analysis, and Summary-data-based Mendelian Randomization (SMR) analysis were performed to explore underlying susceptibility genes between education, mediators, and kidney diseases.

Results

Higher education with a genetically predicted 1-SD (4.2 years) was linked to a 48.64% decreased risk of DKD and a 29.08% decreased risk of CKD. After extensive evaluation of 26 cardiometabolic traits, 7 and 6 causal mediators were identified as mediating the effects of education on DKD and CKD, respectively. The largest mediating factor between education and DKD was BMI, which was followed by WHR, T2D, fasting insulin, SBP, fasting glucose, and DBP. In contrast, candidate mediators in the education-to-CKD pathway included BMI, followed by cigarettes smoked per day, WHR, SBP, T2D, and DBP. MR analysis revealed that TP53INP1 was found to be a shared susceptibility gene for cardiometabolic traits and DKD, while L3MBTL3 was found to be a shared susceptibility gene for cardiometabolic traits and CKD.

Conclusion

Our findings provide solid evidence that education has a causally protective effect on the development of DKD and CKD. We additionally reveal significant directions for intervention on cardiometabolic traits that mitigate the negative effects of educational inequities on the onset of DKD and CKD. Our work demonstrates a shared genetic basis between education, cardiometabolic traits, and kidney diseases. Future research aiming at lowering kidney risk may benefit from these findings.
Photobiomodulation use in ophthalmology – an overview of translational research from bench to bedside
Authors: Valter Krisztina , Tedford Stephanie E. , Eells Janis T. , Tedford Clark E.
Published: August 2024

Photobiomodulation (PBM) refers to the process in which wavelengths of light are absorbed by intracellular photoacceptors, resulting in the activation of signaling pathways that culminate in biological changes within the cell. PBM is the result of low-intensity light-induced reactions in the cell in contrast to thermal photoablation produced by high-intensity lasers. PBM has been effectively used in the clinic to enhance wound healing and mitigate pain and inflammation in musculoskeletal conditions, sports injury, and dental applications for many decades. In the past 20 years, experimental evidence has shown the benefit of PBM in increasing numbers of retinal and ophthalmic conditions. More recently, preclinical findings in ocular models have been translated to the clinic with promising results. This review discusses the preclinical and clinical evidence of the effects of PBM in ophthalmology and provides recommendations of the clinical use of PBM in the management of ocular conditions.
Time of day differences in the regulation of glutathione levels in the rat lens
Authors: Li Bo , Suzuki-Kerr Haruna , Martis Renita M. , Lim Christopher J. J. , Wang Zhou-ai , Nguyen Tai X. , Donaldson Paul J. , Poulsen Raewyn C. , Lim Julie C.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Evidence in non-ocular tissues indicate that the antioxidant glutathione (GSH) may be regulated in a circadian manner leading to the idea that GSH levels in the lens may also be controlled in a circadian manner to anticipate periods of oxidative stress.

Methods

Male rat Wistar lenses (6 weeks) were collected every 4 hours over a 24-hour period at 6am, 10am, 2pm, 6pm, 10pm and 2am and quantitative-PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry performed to examine the expression of core clock genes and proteins (BMAL1, CLOCK, CRY1-2, PER 1-3) and their subcellular localisation over a 24-hour period. Western blotting of lenses was also performed to examine the expression of NRF2, a transcription factor involved in regulating genes involved in GSH homeostasis and GSH related enzymes (GCLC, GS and GR) over the 24-hour period. Finally, HLPC was used to measure GSH levels in the aqueous humour and lenses every 4 hours over a 24-hour period.

Results

The rat lens contains the core molecular components of a circadian clock with the expression of core clock proteins, NRF2 and GSH related enzymes fluctuating over a 24-hour period. BMAL1 expression was highest during the day, with BMAL1 localised to the nuclei at 10am. NRF2 expression remained constant over the 24-hour period, although appeared to move in and out of the nuclei every 4 hours. GSH related enzyme expression tended to peak at the start of night which correlated with high levels of GSH in the lens and lower levels of GSH in the aqueous humour.

Conclusion

The lens contains the key components of a circadian clock, and time-of-day differences exist in the expression of GSH and GSH related enzymes involved in maintaining GSH homeostasis. GSH levels in the rat lens were highest at the start of night which represents the active phase of the rat when high GSH levels may be required to counteract oxidative stress induced by cellular metabolism. Future work to directly link the clock to regulation of GSH levels in the lens will be important in determining whether the clock can be used to help restore GSH levels in the lens.
CPS1 augments hepatic glucagon response through CaMKII/FOXO1 pathway
Authors: Sun Xiao-Meng , Wu Xin , Wei Meng-Guang , Zhu Li-Zeng , Wu Wen-hui , Zhou Xin-Yue , Qi Lian-Wen , Liu Qun
Published: August 2024

Introduction: Elevated glucagon levels are a characteristic feature of type 2 diabetes. This abnormal increase in glucagon can lead to an accelerated rate of gluconeogenesis. Glucagon also stimulates hepatic metabolism of amino acids, particularly promoting the formation of urea. The specific role of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1), a rate-limiting enzyme in the urea cycle, in the development versus the persistence of glucagon-induced hyperglycemia has not been previously established.

Methods: The study employed both in vivo and in vitro approaches to assess the impact of CPS1 modulation on glucagon response. CPS1 was knockdown or overexpression to evaluate its influence on hepatic gluconeogenesis. In addition, an in-silico strategy was employed to identify a potential CPS1 inhibitor.

Results: Knockdown of CPS1 significantly reduced the glucagon response both in vivo and in vitro. Conversely, overexpression of CPS1 resulted in an overactive hepatic gluconeogenic response. Mechanistically, CPS1 induced the release of calcium ions from the endoplasmic reticulum, which in turn triggered the phosphorylation of CaMKII. The activation of CaMKII then facilitated the dephosphorylation and nuclear translocation of FOXO1, culminating in the enhancement of hepatic gluconeogenesis. Furthermore, cynarin, a natural CPS1 inhibitor derived from the artichoke plant, had the capacity to attenuate the hepatic glucagon response in a CPS1-dependent manner.

Discussion: CPS1 played a pivotal role in mediating glucagon-induced hepatic gluconeogenesis. The discovery of cynarin as a natural inhibitor of CPS1 suggested its potential as a therapeutic agent for diabetes treatment.
Preparation strategies of mussel-inspired chitosan-based biomaterials for hemostasis
Authors: Cui Guihua , Guo Xiaoyu , Deng Li
Published: August 2024

Chitosan (CS) has been extensively studied in wound care for its intrinsic hemostatic and antibacterial properties. However, CS has limiting hemostasis applications on account of its drawbacks such as poor adhesion in humid environments and water solubility at neutral pH. CS-based biomaterials, inspired by mussel-adhesive proteins, serve as a suggested platform by biomedical science. The reports show that the mussel-inspired CS-based hemostatic structure has negligible toxicity and excellent adhesiveness. Biomedicine has witnessed significant progress in the development of these hemostatic materials. This review summarizes the methods for the modification of CS by mussel-inspired chemistry. Moreover, the general method for preparation of mussel-inspired CS-based biomaterials is briefly discussed in this review. This work is expected to give a better understanding of opportunities and challenges of the mussel-inspired strategy for the functionalization of CS-based biomaterials in hemostasis and wound healing. This review is hoped to provide an important perspective on the preparation of mussel-inspired CS-based hemostatic materials.
Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines: the hidden keys to autoimmune gastritis therapy
Authors: Cascetta Greta , Colombo Giorgia , Eremita Gianmarco , Garcia Joe G. N. , Lenti Marco Vincenzo , Di Sabatino Antonio , Travelli Cristina
Published: August 2024

Autoimmune gastritis (AIG) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the destruction of gastric parietal cells and atrophy of the oxyntic mucosa which induces intrinsic factor deficiency and hypo-achlorhydria. AIG predominantly affects the antral mucosa with AIG patients experiencing increased inflammation and a predisposition toward the development of gastric adenocarcinoma and type I neuroendocrine tumors. The exact pathogenesis of this autoimmune disorder is incompletely understood although dysregulated immunological mechanisms appear to major contributors. This review of autoimmune gastritis, an unmet medical need, summarizes current knowledge on pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and strategies for the discovery of novel biomarkers and potential pharmacological targets.
High-efficiency and wide-angle metasurface electromagnetic energy harvester
Authors: Cao Anjie , Xu Shuyin , Huang Yeping , Zhang Leiting , Liu Cuijun , Chen Zhansheng
Published: August 2024

In today’s era of increasing energy constraints, harnessing the power of electromagnetic waves and converting them into directly usable energy has great potential in the field of renewable energy. This paper presents a highly efficient electromagnetic energy harvester with wide operation angles based on metasurface. The metasurface unit comprises four rotated copper rings plated on a Rogers RT5880 substrate. This unique design incorporates a 3.6 kΩ resistor within each of the four-cornered rotating metal rings, effectively emulating the input impedance circuit of a rectifier. Simulation results reveal that the metasurface achieves a remarkable electromagnetic wave harvesting efficiency of up to 92.3% at a frequency of 5.85 GHz. Additionally, it exhibits polarization insensitivity, enhancing its versatility and suitability for wide incident angles, which augments its practicality in various environments. The proposed metasurface energy harvester represents a significant advancement in electromagnetic energy collection technology, offering an efficient and reliable energy harvesting solution that contributes to addressing energy shortages and is applicable across multiple scenarios.
Electrophysiological and sick sinus syndrome effects of Remdesivir challenge in guinea-pig hearts
Authors: Li Shuang , Yue Liang , Xie Yulong , Zhang Henggui
Published: August 2024

Remdesivir (RDV) is the first drug approved by the FDA for clinical treatment of hospitalized patients infected with COVID-19 because it has been shown to have good antiviral activity against a variety of viruses, including Arenaviridae and Coronaviridae viral families. However, it has been reported that its clinical treatment leads to the symptoms of sick sinus syndrome such as sinus bradycardia, conduction block, and sinus arrest, but the electrophysiological mechanism of its specific cardiac adverse events is still unclear. We report complementary, experimental, studies of its electrophysiological effects. In wireless cardiac telemetry experiments in vivo and electrocardiographic studies in ex vivo cardiac preparations, RDV significantly caused sinus bradycardia, sinus atrial block, and prolongation of the QT interval in guinea pigs. Dose-dependent effects of RDV on the electrical activities of sinoatrial node (SA node) preparations of guinea pigs were characterised by multielectrode, optical RH237 voltage mapping. These revealed reversibly reduced sinoatrial conduction time (SACT), increased AP durations (APDs), and decreased the pacemaking rate of the SA node. Patch-clamp experiments showed that RDV significantly inhibited the If current of HCN4 channels, resulting in a significant decrease in the spontaneous firing rate of SA node cells, which may underlie the development of sick sinus node syndrome. In addition, RDV significantly inhibits IKr currents in hERG channels, leading to prolongation of the QT interval and playing a role in bradycardia. Therefore, these findings provide insights into the understanding the bradycardia effect of RDV, which may be used as basic theoretical guidance for the intervention of its adverse events, and prompt safety investigations of RDV’s cardiac safety in the future.
Analysis on morphological characteristics and identification of candidate genes during the flowering development of alfalfa
Authors: Chen Fenqi , Niu Kuiju , Ma Huiling
Published: August 2024

Flower development is a crucial and complex process in the reproductive stage of plants, which involves the interaction of multiple endogenous signals and environmental factors. However, regulatory mechanism of flower development was unknown in alfalfa (Medicago sativa). In this study, the three stages of flower development of ‘M. sativa cv. Gannong No. 5’ (G5) and its early flowering and multi flowering mutant (MG5) were comparatively analyzed by transcriptomics. The results showed that compared with late bud stage (S1), 14287 and 8351 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified at early flower stage (S2) in G5 and MG5, and 19941 and 19469 DEGs were identified at late flower stage (S3). Compared with S2, 9574 and 10870 DEGs were identified at S3 in G5 and MG5, respectively. Venn analysis revealed that 547 DEGs were identified among the three comparison groups. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that these genes were involved in the development of alfalfa flowers through redox pathways and plant hormone signaling pathways. Key candidate genes including SnRK2, BSK, GID1, DELLA and CRE1, for regulating the development from buds to mature flowers in alfalfa were screened. In addition, differential expression of transcription factors such as MYB, AP2, bHLH, C2C2, MADS-box, NAC, bZIP, B3 and AUX/IAA also played an important role in this process. The results laid a theoretical foundation for studying the molecular mechanisms of the development process from buds to mature flowers in alfalfa.
Interpersonal curiosity as a tool to foster safe relational spaces: a narrative literature review
Authors: Letendre Jauniaux Mélanie , Lawford Heather L.
Published: August 2024

Interpersonal curiosity (IPC), or the desire for information about others, is a core component of human connection, belonging, security, survival, and flourishing. Current research on leveraging IPC is scarce, making it an overlooked mechanism for building safer relational spaces. This narrative literature review attempts to answer the following questions: how can IPC facilitate safe relational spaces? How can this knowledge be made accessible and actionable for readers working in relational fields or public health? Results from the analysis of 23 articles indicate that IPC can manifest as either a trait or a state. At best, IPC can be a powerful tool for connection. At worst, IPC can lead to non-prosocial behaviors and relational disruptions. Suggestions are provided to harness the potential of IPC to foster quality connection and safer relational spaces.
The mediating effect of life satisfaction between daily living abilities and depressive symptoms in the Chinese older people: evidence from CHARLS 2020
Authors: Liao Mingsheng , Zhang Xuesi , Xie Zhiquan , Li Limei , Zou Liqin
Published: August 2024

Background

Depressive symptoms represent a significant public health challenge, impacting the mental well-being of older adults. Despite this, the understanding of how activities of daily living (ADL) abilities correlate with life satisfaction and depressive symptoms among older Chinese adults remains limited.

Aims

This study aims to investigate the relationship between ADL and depressive symptoms in older people Chinese individuals, with a specific focus on examining the mediating role of life satisfaction within this context.

Methods

The study utilized data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) collected in 2020. A cohort of 8,343 individuals aged 60 years and above was included. The analysis was conducted using STATA 17.0 and SPSS 26.0, employing descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Pearson correlations, and mediation analysis using the percentile Bootstrap method with 5,000 resamples to explore the interrelations among ADL, life satisfaction, and depressive symptoms.

Results

ADL is positively correlated with life satisfaction (r = 0.129, p < 0.01) and negatively correlated with depressive symptoms (r = −0.313, p < 0.01). Additionally, life satisfaction and depressive symptoms are negatively correlated with each other (r = −0.360, p < 0.01). In the model of the mediating effect, ADL directly, significantly and negatively predicts depressive symptoms in the Chinese older people (β = −0.193, t = −17.827, p < 0.001). After incorporating life satisfaction into the regression equation, the direct predictive effect of ADL on depressive symptoms remains significant (β = −0.177, t = −17.099, p < 0.001); furthermore, ADL has a significant positive predictive effect on life satisfaction (β = 0.007, t = 4.959, p < 0.001) and life satisfaction significantly negatively predicts depressive symptoms (β = −2.235, t = −27.799, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the direct effect of ADL on depressive symptoms (−0.177) and its mediating effect (−0.016) account for 91.71% and 8.29% of the total effect (−0.193), respectively.

Conclusion

ADL is inversely associated with the risk of depressive symptoms among older people Chinese individuals, with life satisfaction serving as a significant mediator in this relationship. Interventions aimed at improving life satisfaction in older people individuals with ADL impairments may effectively reduce or prevent the onset of depressive symptoms.
Analyzing activity and injury risk in elite curling athletes: seven workload monitoring metrics from session-RPE
Authors: Wu Junqi , Zhao Fan , Li Chunlei
Published: August 2024

Objective

The study aimed to compare the differences in the performance of seven session-rating of perceived exertion (RPE)-derived metrics (coupled and uncoupled acute: chronic workload ratio (ACWR), weekly ratio of workload change, monotony, standard deviation of weekly workload change, exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA), and robust exponential decreasing index (REDI)) in classifying the performance of an injury prediction model after taking into account the time series (no latency, 5-day latency, and 10-day latency).

Design

The study documented the RPE of eight curlers in their daily training routine for 211 days prior to the Olympic Games.

Methods

Seven Session-RPE (sRPE)-derived metrics were used to build models at three time series nodes using logistic regression and multilayer perceptron. Receiver operating characteristic plots were plotted to evaluate the model’s performance.

Results

Among the seven sRPE-derived metrics multilayer perceptron models, the model without time delay (same-day load corresponding to same-day injury) exhibited the highest average classification performance (86.5%, AUC = 0.773). EMWA and REDI demonstrated the best classification performance (84.4%, p < 0.001). Notably, EMWA achieved the highest classifying accuracy in the no-delay time series (90.0%, AUC = 0.899), followed by the weekly load change rate under the 5-day delay time series (88.9%, AUC = 0.841).

Conclusion

EWMA without delay is a more sensitive indicator for detecting injury risk.
Drivers, adaptations, and public impacts of hospital closures: implications for policy
Authors: Saghafian Soroush
Published: August 2024

A concerning number of hospitals have closed in the US in recent years and there are many other hospitals that are at significant risk of closure in the coming years. The COVID-19 pandemic magnified the trend of hospital closures, raising further concerns about the potential impacts of hospital closures and the important need for devising policies that can mitigate them. To devise such policies, however, we first need to better understand the main drivers, potential adaptations by providers, and the widespread public impacts of hospital closures. We also need to recognize various changes in care delivery modes and related practices. Understanding these complex issues can allow policymakers to shift their focus from the narrow scope of “access to care,” and instead take into account various other consequences of hospital closures that are currently largely overlooked but need to be part of policy discussions.
Radiographers’ workload and burnout on performance: an empirical study
Authors: Arif Wejdan M.
Published: August 2024

Study purpose

To assess the prevalence of burnout among radiographers, and whether demographic variables and work-related factors had any influence on burnout and perceived stress among them.

Methods

A cross-sectional quantitative survey design is adopted in this study. The participants included radiographers from Saudi Arabia. Both Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) were used for data collection. Participation was voluntary, and the survey was conducted online, resulting in 322 final responses considered for the data analysis.

Results

The mean emotional exhaustion (EE) score achieved was 26.01, representing medium burnout risk. However, the mean depersonalization (DP: μ = 25.25) and personal accomplishment (PA: μ = 23.65) represented high burnout risk among radiographers. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed among the participants grouped by genders, age groups, nature of work type, and work experience. The mean perceived stress score for radiographers was identified to be 27.8, indicating high.

Conclusion

The findings underscore the critical need for targeted interventions and support mechanisms within the radiology profession, particularly focusing on younger radiographers and those with extensive work experience.
A study on the effect of school and family environments and self-efficacy on health literacy of college students
Authors: Wang Yan , Zhang Jiayu , Huang Kai
Published: August 2024

Background

Health literacy is an important means to improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities. It plays an important role in promoting multiple health-related behaviors of individuals. Numerous studies have demonstrated a number of sociodemographic and school characteristics, and family related factors were related to health literacy among college students. However, these characteristics and factors were relatively unchangeable. Research on the relationship between factors, that can be intervened, and health literacy remains scarce. This study aims to explore the association between personal and changeable environmental factors, and the level of health literacy in college students.

Methods

A cross-sectional study, which used a stratified random sampling method, was conducted at a university in Wuhan (N = 447). The survey questionnaire included sociodemographic characteristics, the School Environment Questionnaire, the Family Environment Questionnaire, the General Self-Efficacy Scale Questionnaire, and the Health Literacy Questionnaire. We used Spearman correlation tests, and Student’s tests or analyses of variance to describe the relationship among continuous variables. In addition, we employed linear regression analysis to test the mediating effect based on the bias-corrected nonparametric percentile Bootstrap method.

Results

Factors related to socioeconomic status, such as living costs (p = 0.011), residential area (p = 0.003), annual household income (p = 0.001), and parents’ education level (fathers: p = 0.001; mothers: p = 0.01) and occupation type (fathers: p < 0.001; mothers: p = 0.044), had close correlations with health literacy. School and family environments and self-efficacy had a positive impact on college students’ health literacy (β = 0.235, p < 0.001; β = 0.323, p < 0.001; β = 0.489, p < 0.001). Self-efficacy had a mediating effect on the relationship between school and family environments, as well as health literacy. The total, direct, and indirect effects of the school environment on health literacy were 0.235, 0.157, and 0.078, respectively. The total, direct, and indirect effects of the family environment on health literacy were 0.323, 0.189, and 0.134, respectively.

Conclusion

This study confirms that improving school and family environments could directly or indirectly increase college students’ health literacy through promoting their self-efficacy. Socioeconomic status has a significant impact on their health literacy. Moreover, other factors that affect students’ health literacy and relationships among self-efficacy, surrounding environments, and health literacy may need to be explored in the future.
Efficacy of outdoor interventions for myopia in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Mei Zhengyang , Zhang Yuanzhuo , Jiang Wenfeng , Lam Chifong , Luo Shulai , Cai Chenyi , Luo Shi
Published: August 2024

Objectives

The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the overall efficacy of outdoor interventions for myopia in children and adolescents, and to provide evidence for the prevention and control of myopia.

Methods

Randomized controlled trials of outdoor interventions for myopia in children and adolescents were identified using electronic databases and manual searches. The Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2) was used to assess risk of bias in randomized controlled trials. A mean difference (MD) and a risk ratio (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to combine effect sizes. A sensitivity analysis was performed for each outcome using a stepwise elimination method to assess whether the pooled results were significantly affected by individual studies.

Results

The analysis included seven randomized controlled trials involving a total of 9,437 subjects. The meta-analysis showed marked and statistically significant improvements in spherical equivalent refraction (MD = 0.19; 95% CI 0.14 to 0.25; p < 0.01), axial length (MD = −0.09; 95% CI −0.13 to −0.05; p < 0.01), and myopia incidence (RR = 0.84; 95% CI 0.78 to 0.91; p < 0.01) following outdoor interventions.

Conclusion

Outdoor interventions effectively contributed to the prevention and control of myopia in children and adolescents, positively impacting spherical equivalent refraction, axial length, and myopia incidence. Outdoor interventions were characterized by low risk and high therapeutic benefits and could serve as alternative or adjuvant approaches to medication for the treatment of myopia. Considering the advantages in terms of safety and efficacy, outdoor interventions may be considered as a preferred intervention for the treatment of myopia in children and adolescents, while susceptibility to diseases associated with sunlight, particularly UV exposure, must be taken into account.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, Identifier CRD42024538695.
Automated information extraction model enhancing traditional Chinese medicine RCT evidence extraction (Evi-BERT): algorithm development and validation
Authors: Li Yizhen , Luan Zhongzhi , Liu Yixing , Liu Heyuan , Qi Jiaxing , Han Dongran
Published: August 2024

Background

In the field of evidence-based medicine, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are of critical importance for writing clinical guidelines and providing guidance to practicing physicians. Currently, RCTs rely heavily on manual extraction, but this method has data breadth limitations and is less efficient.

Objectives

To expand the breadth of data and improve the efficiency of obtaining clinical evidence, here, we introduce an automated information extraction model for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) RCT evidence extraction.

Methods

We adopt the Evidence-Bidirectional Encoder Representation from Transformers (Evi-BERT) for automated information extraction, which is combined with rule extraction. Eleven disease types and 48,523 research articles from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang Data, and VIP databases were selected as the data source for extraction. We then constructed a manually annotated dataset of TCM clinical literature to train the model, including ten evidence elements and 24,244 datapoints. We chose two models, BERT-CRF and BiLSTM-CRF, as the baseline, and compared the training effects with Evi-BERT and Evi-BERT combined with rule expression (RE).

Results

We found that Evi-BERT combined with RE achieved the best performance (precision score = 0.926, Recall = 0.952, F1 score = 0.938) and had the best robustness. We totally summarized 113 pieces of rule datasets in the regulation extraction procedure. Our model dramatically expands the amount of data that can be searched and greatly improves efficiency without losing accuracy.

Conclusion

Our work provided an intelligent approach to extracting clinical evidence for TCM RCT data. Our model can help physicians reduce the time spent reading journals and rapidly speed up the screening of clinical trial evidence to help generate accurate clinical reference guidelines. Additionally, we hope the structured clinical evidence and structured knowledge extracted from this study will help other researchers build large language models in TCM.
Accelerate demand forecasting by hybridizing CatBoost with the dingo optimization algorithm to support supply chain conceptual framework precisely
Authors: Abed Ahmed M.
Published: August 2024

Supply chains (SCs) serve many sectors that are, in turn, affected by e-commerce which rely on the make-to-order (MTO) system to avoid a risk in following the make-to-stoke (MTS) policy due to poor forecasting demand, which will be difficult if the products have short shelf life (e.g., refrigeration foodstuffs). The weak forecasting negatively impacts SC sectors such as production, inventory tracking, circular economy, market demands, transportation and distribution, and procurement. The forecasting obstacles are in e-commerce data types that are massive, imbalanced, and chaotic. Using machine learning (ML) algorithms to solve the problem works well because they quickly classify things, which makes accurate forecasting possible. However, it was found that the accuracy of ML algorithms varies depending on the SC data sectors. Therefore, the presented conceptual framework discusses the relations among ML algorithms, the most related sectors, and the effective scope of tackling their data, which enables the companies to guarantee continuity and competitiveness by reducing shortages and return costs. The data supplied show the e-commerce sales that were made at 47 different online stores in Egypt and the KSA during 413 days. The article proposes a novel mechanism that hybridizes the CatBoost algorithm with Dingo Optimization (Cat-DO), to obtain precise forecasting. The Cat-DO has been compared with other six ML algorithms to check its superiority over autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), long short-term memory (LSTM), deep neural network (DNN), categorical data boost (CatBoost), support vector machine (SVM), and LSTM-CatBoost by 0.52, 0.73, 1.43, 8.27, 15.94, and 13.12%, respectively. Transportation costs were reduced by 6.67%.
Object center of mass predicts pointing endpoints in virtual reality
Authors: Schuetz Immo , Fiehler Katja
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Humans point using their index finger to intuitively communicate distant locations to others. This requires the human sensorimotor system to select an appropriate target location to guide the hand movement. Mid-air pointing gestures have been well studied using small and well defined targets, e.g., numbers on a wall, but how we select a specific location on a more extended 3D object is currently less well understood.

Methods

In this study, participants pointed at custom 3D objects (“vases”) from different vantage points in virtual reality, allowing to estimate 3D pointing and gaze endpoints.

Results

Endpoints were best predicted by an object’s center of mass (CoM). Manipulating object meshes to shift the CoM induced corresponding shifts in pointing as well as gaze endpoints.

Discussion:

Our results suggest that the object CoM plays a major role in guiding eye-hand alignment, at least when pointing to 3D objects in a virtual environment.