bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Certifying complexity? The case of a European gender equality certification scheme for research-performing organizations
Authors: Cacace Marina , Pugliese Francesca , Tzanakou Charikleia , Müller Jörg , Denis Alain , Sangiuliano Maria
Published: November 2023

By deciding to condition the access of research organizations to its €95.5 billion Horizon Europe funding programme (2021–7) on providing evidence of a gender equality plan, the European Commission has made the challenge of certifying the gender equality performance of research organizations extremely urgent, not least to avoid the risk that such plans become a mere formality (‘box-ticking’). This challenge should not be underestimated, considering the extremely complex nature of the dynamics surrounding gender equality. In this article, we analyse the feasibility of establishing a European certification scheme that would assess gender equality policies and outcomes of research organizations, and present four alternative scenarios for its set-up, co-created with a wide range of stakeholders in a participatory step-by-step process. The results of the two-stage validation process of the four scenarios are also presented, providing policy implications and recommendations to support the effective roll-out of the certification schemes.
Biometrics, presents, futures: the imaginative politics of science–society orderings
Authors: Lawless Christopher
Published: November 2023

Biometric technology encompasses a proliferating array of data forms, applications, and stakeholders but has raised numerous social and ethical concerns. This article examines contending perceptions of biometrics by developing a three-way framework of science–society orderings, drawn from social studies of biometrics and wider science studies literature. By analysing documentary sources and participant observation data through this framework, the article identifies a series of distinct normative interpretations or imaginaries of biometrics. It is argued that these imaginaries, described, respectively, as ‘public good’, ‘collective control’, and ‘societal risks’, project contending normative framings of science–society relations. These imaginaries were also however found to reflexively encompass perceived challenges, giving rise to practices that I term imaginative politics. These findings raise the need for science policy studies to consider the distinction between imagining and realizing in greater depth and to consider more profoundly the politics of science–society co-production.
Severe atopic dermatitis, sleep disturbance, and low light exposure
Authors: Arif Mariam K , Zee Phyllis C , Paller Amy S , Crowley Stephanie J , Roenneberg Till , Fishbein Anna B
Published: November 2023

Study Objectives

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder in children. AD worsens at night, particularly in severe disease. Low light exposure contributes to inflammation, poor sleep, and misalignment between circadian (24-hour) rhythms (biological clocks) and social clocks (weekday vs. weekend sleep timing), but has not been evaluated in AD. Our objective was to perform a cross-sectional study to determine whether there is an association between AD severity, recorded light exposure (RLE), and sleep measures in participants with AD and healthy controls.

Methods

Secondary data analysis from two prospective observational studies of 74 participants ages 5–17 years old with severe AD compared to others (healthy controls and mild/moderate AD). Participants wore actigraphy watches for at least 1 weekday and one weekend. Rest/activity and RLE (lux) were obtained from the watches and were analyzed to estimate duration and quality of sleep/light exposure.

Results

Participants (n = 74) were on average 10.9 ± 3.6 years old, with 45% female, 17% no AD, 27% mild, 32% moderate, and 24% severe AD. On weekends, severe AD participants versus others fell asleep at a similar time (23:52 ± 1:08 vs. 23:40 ± 1:29 mean clock-time hours ± SD; p = 0.23), had similar sleep-onset latency (8.2 ± 8.7 vs. 12.7 ± 16.9 minutes; p = 0.28), but woke later (09:12 ± 1:04 vs. 08:13 ± 1:14 minutes; p < 0.01) resulting in a later sleep-midpoint (04:32 ± 0:53 vs. 03:49 ± 1:08 minutes; p = 0.02). Severe AD participants had lower levels of daytime RLE than others (mean-over-all-days: 1948.4 ± 2130.0 vs. 10341.3 ± 13453.8 lux; p = 0.01) and throughout seasons, weekdays, or weekend, yet had similar nighttime RLE.

Conclusion

Severe AD is characterized by low RLE and sleep disturbance. Low RLE could potentially induce circadian misalignment, contributing to inflammation and worse disease in severe AD. Low RLE can also reflect altered lifestyle and behavior due to atopic disease impacts. Prospective studies are needed to test causality and the potential of bright light as an adjuvant therapy for severe AD.
A conserved role for frizzled in sleep architecture
Authors: Gessner Nicholas R , Peiravi Morteza , Zhang Fan , Yimam Shemsiya , Springer Danielle , Harbison Susan T
Published: November 2023

Previous studies of natural variants in Drosophila melanogaster implicated the Wnt signaling receptor frizzled in sleep. Given that the Wnt signaling pathway is highly conserved across species, we hypothesized that frizzled class receptor 1 (Fzd1), the murine homolog of frizzled, would also have a role in sleep. Using a CRISPR transgenic approach, we removed most of the Fzd1 coding region from C57BL/6N mice. We used a video assay to measure sleep characteristics in Fzd1-deficient mice. As Wnt signaling is known to affect visuospatial memory, we also examined the impact of the deletion on learning and memory using the novel object recognition (NOR) paradigm. Fzd1-deficient mice had altered sleep compared to littermate controls. The mice did not respond differently to the NOR paradigm compared to controls but did display anxiety-like behavior. Our strategy demonstrates that the study of natural variation in Drosophila sleep translates into candidate genes for sleep in vertebrate species such as the mouse.
Using A Google Web Search Analysis to Assess the Utility of ChatGPT in Stem Cell Therapy
Authors: Chen Long , Li Hui , Su Yiqi , Yang Zhen , He Zihao , Wang Du , Li Jiao Jiao , Xing Dan
Published: November 2023

Objective

Since its introduction, the use of ChatGPT has increased significantly for medically related purposes. However, current research has not captured its applications in providing information on stem cell therapy. To address this gap, the present study compared the effectiveness of ChatGPT to Google in answering medical questions related to stem cell therapy.

Methods

The search term “stem cell therapy” was used to perform a Google web search, and the top 20 frequently asked questions along with answers were recorded together with relevant website sources. Of these questions, the top 10 questions were separately entered into ChatGPT, and the answers and the sources were recorded. Then, the following statement was entered into ChatGPT: “Do a Google search with the search term ‘stem cell therapy’ and record 20 common questions related to the search term.” After obtaining these questions, each question was separately entered into ChatGPT for an answer and source.

Results

A majority of the top 20 questions provided by Google were related to fact, whereas a majority of the questions provided by ChatGPT were related to policy. The answer sources used by Google were mostly drawn from medical practice, while those used by ChatGPT were mostly drawn from academic information.

Conclusion

Compared to Google, ChatGPT exhibits stronger capabilities in promoting awareness of stem cell therapy. ChatGPT has the ability to eliminate misleading information by providing accurate and reliable answers. However, the responses provided by ChatGPT are still general in nature and cannot substitute academic sources for providing specialized knowledge.
Exploring contextual factors impacting the implementation of and engagement with a digital platform supporting psychosis recovery: A brief report
Authors: Sequeira Lydia , Kassam Iman , D’Arcey Jessica , Zhou Wenjia , Junaid Sana , Luo Sherry , Boparai Navi , Tackaberry-Giddens Leah , Kidd Sean
Published: November 2023

Individuals with schizophrenia often demonstrate poor engagement in treatment and challenges with illness self-management. App4independence (A4i) is a digital health platform that was developed with the purpose of addressing the aforementioned challenges. While digital interventions can support patient care, there is a paucity of research on implementing such interventions in clinical settings. To describe the contextual factors that impacted the implementation of and engagement with A4i across three different clinical implementation sites, a descriptive approach, guided by implementation science frameworks, was employed to understand how people, culture, process, and technology impacted the implementation of A4i. Descriptive statistics were used to present user engagement data across each site implementation. Additionally, the lessons learned from each implementation were described narratively. Overall, 53 patients were onboarded to A4i in Context 1, 8 in Context 2, and 65 within Context 3, with retention rates over 90 days of 100%, 100%, and 96%, respectively. The adoption, engagement, and sustained use of the A4i platform varied across each implementation site and were affected by implementation strategies within the sociotechnical domains of people, culture, process, and technology. Despite differences in implementation processes, engagement with A4i remained consistently high. Customized educational materials, digital navigators, and technical support served as facilitators in the adoption of A4i.
Effect of Concomitant Use of Proton Pump Inhibitors on Immunotherapy Clinical Response in Advanced Cancer Patients: Real-Life Setting
Authors: Cantarelli Lorenzo , Gutiérrez Nicolás Fernando , García Gil Sara , Morales Barrios Jose A. , Oramas Rodriguez Juana , Nazco Casariego Gloria J.
Published: November 2023

The alteration of the gut microbiota mediated by proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs could be involved in the clinical response associated with immunotherapy [immunocheckpoint inhibitors (ICIs)] in cancer patients. Due to the current controversy in the scientific evidence, it has been proposed to evaluate the correlation between the concomitant use of PPIs and the effectiveness of immunotherapy in a real clinical practice setting. Single-center retrospective cohort study that included patients treated with anti-PD-1 or anti-CTLA4, including nivolumab, pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, or the combination ipilimumab-nivolumab in metastatic neoplastic disease. The clinical effectiveness of ICI, measured in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), was compared between the PPI-use versus PPI-no-use group. PPI-use group was associated with lower PFS [hazard ratio (HR):1.89 (1.38–2.59), P<0.001] and OS [HR: 2.02 (1.45–2.82), P<0.001] versus PPI-no-use group. However, this difference was not observed for pembrolizumab PFS [HR: 1.38 (0.93–2.39), P=0.160] and OS [HR: 1.41 (0.81–2.44), P=0.187]. The study showed significantly lower PFS and OS in the chronic PPI-use group (P<0.001), recent PPI-use group (P<0.001) and concomitant PPI-use group (P=0.001, 0.007) versus PPI-no-use group. However, late PPI use >30 days after the onset of ICI has no significant effect on the efficacy of treatment [HR: 0.92 (0.49–1.70), P=0.791; HR: 1.10 (0.59–2.05), P=0.756]. The concomitant use of PPIs in immunotherapy is associated with worse clinical outcomes compared with the group without PPI use. In addition, the study shows how the late use of PPIs does not have a significant effect on clinical benefit.
Association of depression trajectories and subsequent hypertension and cardiovascular disease: findings from the CHARLS cohort
Authors: Qiu Weida , Cai Anping , Li Liwen , Feng Yingqing
Published: November 2023

Objectives:

Little evidence regarding the associations of longitudinal trajectories of depressive symptoms and incident hypertension and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between trajectories of depressive symptoms and new-onset hypertension and CVDs among the Chinese middle-aged and older general population.

Methods:

This prospective cohort study used data from a nationally representative sample aged older than 45 years of Chinese residents recruited for the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The depressive symptoms were assessed using the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10). The outcomes of the study were new-onset hypertension and CVDs.

Results:

A total of 6071 participants were included in the final analysis and four trajectories of CES-D-10 were identified, including low-stable, medium-decreasing, medium-increasing, and high-stable trajectories. Until 2018, 1668 (27.5%) and 959 (15.8%) participants were newly diagnosed with hypertension and CVDs, respectively. Compared with participants with a low-stable trajectory, individuals with other three trajectories had a significantly higher risk of hypertension and CVDs. The results remained robust in several sensitivity analyses. The restricted cubic spline (RCS) showed an S-shaped relationship between the mean CES-D-10 score and hypertension/CVDs (P for nonlinear <0.001). Hypertension partially mediated the association between CES-D-10 and CVDs.

Conclusion:

Among Chinese aged older than 45 years’ general adults, depressive symptoms were prevalent and associated with higher risks of incident hypertension and CVDs. Depressive symptoms mediated the development of CVDs by promoting hypertension progression. Immediate efforts are needed to improve depression management in China to further prevent CVDs.
Toward a Psychological Model of Chemical Coping with Opioids in Cancer Care
Authors: Yusufov Miryam , Pirl William F. , Braun Ilana M. , Sannes Timothy , McHugh R. Kathryn
Published: November 2023

Learning Objectives: After participating in this CME activity, the psychiatrist should be better able to

• Outline the risk factors involved with opioid accessibility in patients receiving treatment for cancer.

• Identify factors to address in order to mitigate risk for opioid misuse during cancer care.

Most patients with advanced cancer receive treatment for related pain. Opioid accessibility, however, is a risk factor for misuse, which can present care challenges and quality-of-life concerns. There is a lack of consistent universal screening prior to initiation of opioid prescribing. One crucial issue in treating this population is adequately identifying and mitigating risk factors driving opioid misuse. Drawing on theory and research from addiction science, psychology, palliative care, and oncology, the presented conceptual framework suggests that risk factors for opioid misuse during cancer care can be stratified into historical, current, malleable, and unmalleable factors. The framework identifies necessary factors to address in order to mitigate risk for opioid misuse during cancer care, and offers key directions for future research.
Impact of posterior vitreous detachment on visual acuity after the implantation of a diffractive multifocal intraocular lens
Authors: Takabatake Ryu , Takahashi Makiko
Published: November 2023

Purpose:

To investigate the effect of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) on visual acuity (VA) after implantation of a diffractive multifocal intraocular lens (mIOL).

Setting:

Eye Clinic, Okayama, Japan.

Design:

Retrospective case series.

Methods:

This study evaluated 475 eyes of 475 patients who underwent cataract surgery with a TECNIS Multifocal ZLB00 lens implant between November 2017 and October 2019. Patient eyes were classified into the complete PVD group (PVD group) or the control group with no PVD/partial PVD (non-PVD group) and divided into 3 age categories: 65 to 69, 70 to 74, and 75 to 79 years. The postoperative VA of the PVD and non-PVD groups was compared between and within groups by age.

Results:

Distance-corrected near VA (DCNVA) was significantly worse in the PVD group than in the non-PVD group in all age categories (P ≤ .029). In the PVD group, both corrected distance VA (CDVA) and DCNVA were significantly worse in the 75 to 79 years age group than in the 65 to 69 and 70 to 74 years age groups (P ≤ .034). CDVA and DCNVA in the non-PVD group did not differ significantly between age categories.

Conclusions:

The results of this study suggest that complete PVD worsens near VA in eyes with a diffractive mIOL. Furthermore, eyes with complete PVD may show an age-related decline in both CDVA and DCNVA. In particular, eyes ≥75 years of age with complete PVD have a poor visual prognosis and should be given careful consideration when deciding whether to implant a diffractive mIOL.
Comparative effectiveness of non-invasive therapeutic interventions for myofascial pain syndrome: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Liu Chang , Wang Yang , Yu Wenli , Xiang Junai , Ding Guoyong , Liu Weihua
Published: November 2023

Background:

Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) has an impact on physical health and quality of life for patients, with various non-invasive methods used for relieving myofascial pain. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of different non-invasive therapeutic interventions for MPS.

Materials and Methods:

We searched PubMed, Embase, CINAHL Complete, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Scopus to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) describing the effects of any non-invasive treatments in patients with MPS. The primary outcome was pain intensity, while pressure pain threshold and pain-related disability were secondary outcomes.

Results:

The analysis included 40 studies. Manual therapy (MD of pain: -1.60, 95% CI: -2.17 to -1.03; MD of pressure pain threshold: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.19 to 0.86; MD of pain-related disability: -5.34, 95% CI: -8.09 to -2.58), laser therapy (MD of pain: -1.15, 95% CI: -1.83 to -0.46; MD of pressure pain threshold: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.46 to 1.54; MD of pain-related disability: -4.58, 95% CI: -7.80 to -1.36)，extracorporeal shock wave therapy (MD of pain: -1.61, 95% CI:-2.43 to -0.78; MD of pressure pain threshold: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.33 to 1.35; MD of pain-related disability: -5.78, 95% CI: -9.45 to -2.12), and ultrasound therapy (MD of pain: -1.54, 95% CI: -2.24 to -0.84; MD of pressure pain threshold: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.31 to 1.22) were more effective than no treatment.

Conclusion:

Our findings support that manual therapy, laser therapy, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy could effectively reduce pain intensity, pressure pain threshold, and pain-related disability with statistical significance when compared with placebo. This finding may provide clinicians appropriate therapeutic modalities for patients with myofascial pain syndrome among different scenarios.
Assessing reliability and validity of SIPAT and opportunities for improvement: A single-center cohort study
Authors: Perry Jennifer M. , Deutsch-Link Sasha , Marfeo Elizabeth , Serper Marina , Ladin Keren
Published: November 2023

Psychosocial assessment is a standard component of patient evaluations for transplant candidacy. The Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment for Transplant (SIPAT) is a widely used measure to assess psychosocial risk for transplant. However, there are questions regarding the SIPAT's reliability and validity. We examined the SIPAT’s psychometric performance and its impact on equitable access to transplant in a diverse cohort of 2825 patients seeking liver transplantation between 2014 and 2021 at an urban transplant center. The SIPAT demonstrated good internal consistency reliability at the overall score [Cronbach’sα= 0.85, 95% CI (0.83, 0.86)] and domain levels (0.80 >α> 0.70). There was mixed support for structural validity, with poor overall model fit in confirmatory factor analysis and 50% of questions achieving the 0.70-factor loadings threshold. Adjusting for sociodemographic variables, the odds of not being waitlisted for psychosocial reasons were three times higher for patients with Medicaid insurance than patients with private insurance [OR 3.24, 95% CI (2.09, 4.99)] or Medicare [OR 2.89, 95% CI (1.84, 4.53)], mediated by higher SIPAT scores. Black patients had nearly twice the odds of White patients [OR 1.88, 95% CI (1.20, 2.91)], partially mediated by higher social support domain scores. Patients with Medicaid, non-White patients, and those without a college degree scored significantly higher on collinear questions, disproportionately contributing to higher SIPAT scores. The SIPAT did not perform equally across insurance type, race/ethnicity, and education groups, with the lowest subgroup validity associated with patient readiness and psychopathology domains. The SIPAT should be interpreted with caution, especially as a composite score. Future studies should examine validity in other populations.
Validation of the automated oscillometric upper-arm cuff home blood pressure monitor AVITA BPM82 in a general population according to the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation/European Society of Hypertension/International Organization for Standardization (AAMI/ESH/ISO) Universal Standard
Authors: Menti Ariadni , Ntousopoulos Vasileios , Theodosiadi Aikaterini , Stathopoulou Panagiota , Kollias Anastasios , Stergiou George S.
Published: November 2023

Objective

This study evaluated the accuracy of the automated oscillometric upper-arm cuff device AVITA BPM82 intended for home use in a general population according to the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation/European Society of Hypertension/International Organization for Standardization (AAMI/ESH/ISO) Universal Standard (ISO 81060-2:2018) and its Amendment 1.2020-01.

Methods

Participants were recruited to fulfill the age, sex, blood pressure (BP), and limb distribution criteria of the AAMI/ESH/ISO Universal Standard and its Amendment 1.2020-01 in a general population using the same arm sequential BP measurement method. Two cuffs of the test device were used for arm circumference 22-33 (medium) and 33-42 cm (large).

Results

One-hundred-one individuals were recruited and 85 were analyzed [mean age 57.3 ± 15.1 (SD) years, 46 men, arm circumference 32 ± 5.1 cm, range 22.3–42 cm]. For validation Criterion 1, the mean difference ±SD between the test device and reference BP readings (N = 255) was 1.3 ± 6.5/3.6 ± 5.9 mmHg (systolic/diastolic; threshold ≤5 ± 8 mmHg). For Criterion 2, the SD of the averaged BP differences between the test device and reference BP per individual (N = 85) was 5.70/5.25 mmHg (systolic/diastolic; threshold ≤6.82/5.89 mmHg).

Conclusions

The automated oscillometric home BP monitor AVITA BPM82 comfortably fulfilled all the requirements of the AAMI/ESH/ISO Universal Standard (ISO 81060-2:2018) and its Amendment 1.2020-01 in a general population and can be recommended for clinical use.
Glutamate and obesity – what is the link?
Authors: Chaouche Lila , Marcotte Félix , Maltais-Payette Ina , Tchernof André
Published: November 2023

Purpose of review

Many studies using metabolomics have tried to unravel the metabolic signature of obesity and understand the pathophysiology of this complex and heterogeneous disease. Circulating levels of the amino acid glutamate have been consistently associated with obesity and more specifically with measurements of abdominal fat accumulation. The purpose of this narrative review is to highlight recent studies documenting this association.

Recent findings

Circulating glutamate concentrations have been positively correlated with measurements of central fat accumulation such as waist circumference and visceral adipose tissue area. Moreover, elevated glutamate levels have been linked to a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The association with adiposity is detected in early life, and genetic predisposition does not appear as a major driver. Glutamate levels reflect in vivo synthesis rather than dietary intake. However, interventions generating metabolic improvements such as incretin receptor agonist treatment or dietary improvements may reduce plasma levels of this amino acid.

Recent findings confirm the consistent association between circulating glutamate and abdominal obesity and its cardiometabolic complications. The pathophysiological pathways underlying this phenomenon are still unclear. Furthermore, studies are needed to establish the usefulness of this analyte as a biomarker of abdominal obesity.
Practical challenges in lung cancer pathology: bedside care to treatment decisions
Authors: Takano Angela Maria , Chow Chun Yuen , Lim Kiat Hon
Published: November 2023

Purpose of review

Lung cancer is one of the most common malignancies in the whole world, and the pulmonologist is generally the first medical professional to meet the patient and decide what method of tumour sampling is preferable in each specific case. It is imperative for pulmonary physicians to be aware of the intricacies of the diagnostic process, and understand the multiple challenges that are encountered, from the moment the tissue specimen leaves their offices and is sent to the pathology laboratory, until the diagnosis reaches the patient and treating physician.

Recent findings

The new 2021 WHO classification of thoracic tumours recommended a minimum immunohistochemical (IHC) diagnostic panel for nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and following publications of different institutional and country-based guidelines, advocated basic molecular testing for epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR), anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) to be initiated by the diagnosing pathologist in all cases of biopsy or resection specimens. In general, sequential testing for molecular biomarkers was not recommended due to tissue wastage, instead next generation sequencing (NGS) diagnostic panel was supported.

The lung cancer specimen has to undergo histologic diagnosis through a panel of IHC studies, and –preferably, a reflex molecular study by NGS including several targetable genes. Adequate communication and clinical information preclude the pathologist from “overusing” the tissue for additional studies, while focusing on preservation of material for molecular testing.
Lipidome and inflammation interplay: the role of diet in this relationship
Authors: Rovayo Anacristina , Toledo Estefanía , Razquin Cristina
Published: November 2023

Purpose:

The aim of this review was to provide an overview of the role of novel lipid biomarkers from the circulating lipidome in inflammatory processes and the impact that dietary patterns may have on the lipidome.

Recent findings:

Inflammation is a process that underlies many acute and chronic diseases, contributing to their development and severity. Finding novel molecules which serve as biomarkers and which are involved in inflammation is very useful, since they offer us both preventive or therapeutic targets and reveal mechanisms of action. Recently, several studies have found circulating lipid molecules that are implicated in inflammatory processes of different diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, COVID-19 or other respiratory infectious diseases. As such, ceramides, triacylglicerides or lysophosphatidylcholines have been associated with inflammation in a different manner depending on the stage of inflammation. The study of dietary patterns, especially healthy ones as the Mediterranean or the Nordic diets, has shown the impact that dietary habits may have on the lipidomic profile of individuals.

Conclusions:

Healthy dietary patterns have been suggested to exert beneficial effects in the circulating lipid profile. Studying the circulating lipidome could help to find new biomarkers of underlying inflammation, especially in cases of chronic low-grade inflammatory diseases in which it is more difficult to detect.
Implementation of Digital Image Analysis in Assessment of Ki67 Index in Breast Cancer
Authors: Vanderschelden Rachel K. , Jerome Jacob A. , Gonzalez Daniel , Seigh Lindsey , Carter Gloria J. , Clark Beth Z. , Elishaev Esther , Louis Fine Jeffrey , Harinath Lakshmi , Jones Mirka W. , Villatoro Tatiana M. , Soong Thing Rinda , Yu Jing , Zhao Chengquan , Hartman Doug , Bhargava Rohit
Published: November 2023

The clinical utility of the proliferation marker Ki67 in breast cancer treatment and prognosis is an active area of research. Studies have suggested that differences in pre-analytic and analytic factors contribute to low analytical validity of the assay, with scoring methods accounting for a large proportion of this variability. Use of standard scoring methods is limited, in part due to the time intensive nature of such reporting protocols. Therefore, use of digital image analysis tools may help to both standardize reporting and improve workflow. In this study, digital image analysis was utilized to quantify Ki67 indices in 280 breast biopsy and resection specimens during routine clinical practice. The supervised Ki67 indices were then assessed for agreement with a manual count of 500 tumor cells. Agreement was excellent, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.96 for the pathologist-supervised analysis. This study illustrates an example of a rapid, accurate workflow for implementation of digital image analysis in Ki67 scoring in breast cancer.
Characterization of Spheno-occipital Synchondrosis Fusion From Preadolescents to Young Adults Using Age and Cervical Vertebrae Maturation Index
Authors: Kim Sun-Min , Jeon Sungmi , Hong Hyunseung , Choi Jeong-Ho , Kim Jong-Wan , Chung Jee Hyeok , Yang Il-Hyung , Kim Byung Jun , Baek Seung-Hak
Published: November 2023

The purpose of this study was to characterize the spheno-occipital synchondrosis fusion (SOSF) from preadolescents to young adults. A total of 630 Korean subjects (308 men, 322 women; age range, 6–18 y) were divided into 26 groups according to sex and age. After 3-dimensional computed tomography (CT) images were reoriented using the Frankfort horizontal (FH) plane, mid-sagittal plane, and frontal plane via ON3D software (3DONS), the cervical vertebrae maturation index (CVMI) and SOSF stages were identified using 6-stage and 5-stage scoring systems, respectively. The distributions of stage in each group were statistically investigated. Women showed early appearance and a short range of onset (CVMI stage 2, SOSF stage 2), middle (CVMI stage 4, SOSF stage 3 and stage 4), and completion (CVMI stage 6, SOSF stage 5), indicating rapid skeletal maturation compared with men. In both males and females, there were strong positive correlations between age and CVMI stage (r
s=0.902, r
s=0.890), between age and SOSF stage (r
s=0.887, r
s=0.885), and between CVMI and SOSF stages (r
s=0.955, r
s=0.964) (all P<0.001). The mean ages at SOSF stage 3 and stage 4 (12.7~13.9 y in males and 11.0~12.5 y in females) could be used as indicators of the pubertal growth peak. Regression equations for SOSF stage (y), age (a), and CVMI stage (b) were as follows: y=1.355−(0.133×a)+(0.29007×b)+(0.041×a×b) for males (r
2=0.9496); y=1.305−(0.158×a)+(0.455×b)+(0.036×a×b) for females (r
2=0.9606). Ordinal logistic regression analyses with the proportional odds model showed that females had more advanced SOSF stages than males (odds ratio: 1.972; 95% CI: 1.063–3.658, P<0.05). Our findings may provide basic references for CVMI and SOSF from preadolescents to young adults.
Anxiety and Health Literacy Levels of Patients Undergoing Colonoscopy
Authors: Cevheroğlu Seda , Büyükyılmaz Funda
Published: November 2023

This descriptive, correlational study was conducted to determine the anxiety and health literacy levels of patients undergoing colonoscopy and the variables affecting them. The study population consisted of individuals who presented for colonoscopy to the endoscopy department of a state hospital. The sample consisted of 160 individuals who met the inclusion criteria. Three data collection tools (Identifying Information Form, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Health Literacy Scale) were used to determine anxiety and health literacy levels. Findings show that the state-trait anxiety of individuals who would undergo colonoscopy for the first time was moderate, and their health literacy scores were inadequate, problematic, and weak. There was a positive and significant relationship between patients' anxiety and health literacy levels. Variables such as age, gender, marital status, education level, employment status, disease-related symptoms, a family history of cancer, and fear of colonoscopy influenced anxiety and health literacy. Based on these findings, we recommend that individuals' anxiety and health literacy status be determined before a colonoscopy procedure to improve gastroenterology nurses' management of these patients.
Association Between Whole Blood Transfusion and Mortality Among Injured Pediatric Patients
Authors: Aoki Makoto , Katsura Morihiro , Matsushima Kazuhide
Published: November 2023

Objective:

To assess the association between whole blood (WB) and mortality among injured children who received immediate blood transfusion.

Background:

The use of WB for transfusion therapy in trauma has been revisited, and recent studies have reported an association between WB and improved survival among adults. However, evidence of a similar association lacks in children.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective cohort study from the ACS-TQIP between 2020 and 2021. Patients were aged ≤16 years and had immediate blood transfusion within 4 hours of hospital arrival. Survival at 24 hours and 30 days were compared after creating 1:1 propensity-score matched cohorts, matching for demographics, injury type, vital signs on admission, trauma severity scores, hemorrhage control procedures, hospital characteristics, and the need for massive transfusion.

Results:

A total of 2,729 patients were eligible for analysis. The median age was 14 years (interquartile range: 8-16 y); 1,862 (68.2%) patients were male; and 1,207 (44.2%) patients were White. A total of 319 (11.7%) patients received WB. After a 1:1-ratio propensity score matching, 318 matched pairs were compared. WB transfusion was associated with improved survival at 24 hours, demonstrating a 42% lower risk of mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.34–0.98; P=0.042) Similarly, the survival benefit associated with WB transfusion remained consistent at 30 days (HR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.46–0.90; P=0.011).

Conclusions:

The use of WB was associated with improved survival among injured pediatric patients requiring immediate transfusion.
The Role of Epigenetics in Accelerated Aging: A Reconsideration of Later-Life Visual Loss After Early Optic Neuropathy
Authors: Rizzo Joseph F. , Shah Madhura P. , Krasniqi Drenushe , Lu Yuancheng Ryan , Sinclair David A. , Ksander Bruce R.
Published: November 2023

Background:

In 2005, we reported 3 patients with bilateral optic nerve damage early in life. These patients had stable vision for decades but then experienced significant bilateral vision loss with no obvious cause. Our hypothesis, novel at that time, was that the late decline of vision was due to age-related attrition of retinal ganglion cells superimposed on a reduced neuronal population due to the earlier injury.

Evidence Acquisition:

The field of epigenetics provides a new paradigm with which to consider the normal aging process and the impact of neuronal injury, which has been shown to accelerate aging. Late-in-life decline in function after early neuronal injury occurs in multiple sclerosis due to dysregulated inflammation and postpolio syndrome. Recent studies by our group in mice have also demonstrated the possibility of partial reversal of cellular aging and the potential to mitigate anatomical damage after injury and even improve visual function.

Results:

The results in mice and nonhuman primates published elsewhere have shown enhanced neuronal survival and visual function after partial epigenetic reprogramming.

Conclusions:

Injury promotes epigenetic aging, and this finding can be observed in several clinically relevant scenarios. An understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms at play opens the opportunity to restore function in the nervous system and elsewhere with cellular rejuvenation therapies. Our earlier cases exemplify how reconsideration of previously established concepts can motivate inquiry of new paradigms.
Centralized red muscle in
Odontaspis ferox
and the prevalence of regional endothermy in sharks
Authors: Dolton Haley R. , Snelling Edward P. , Deaville Robert , Jackson Andrew L. , Perkins Matthew W. , Bortoluzzi Jenny R. , Purves Kevin , Curnick David J. , Pimiento Catalina , Payne Nicholas L.
Published: November 2023

The order Lamniformes contains charismatic species such as the white shark
Carcharodon carcharias
and extinct megatooth shark
Otodus megalodon
, and is of particular interest given their influence on marine ecosystems, and because some members exhibit regional endothermy. However, there remains significant debate surrounding the prevalence and evolutionary origin of regional endothermy in the order, and therefore the development of phenomena such as gigantism and filter-feeding in sharks generally. Here we show a basal lamniform shark, the smalltooth sand tiger shark
Odontaspis ferox
, has centralized skeletal red muscle and a thick compact-walled ventricle; anatomical features generally consistent with regionally endothermy. This result, together with the recent discovery of probable red muscle endothermy in filter feeding basking sharks
Cetorhinus maximus
, suggests that this thermophysiology is more prevalent in the Lamniformes than previously thought, which in turn has implications for understanding the evolution of regional endothermy, gigantism, and extinction risk of warm-bodied shark species both past and present.
Pericentric major satellite transcription is essential for meiotic chromosome stability and spindle pole organization
Authors: Baumann Claudia , Zhang Xiangyu , Viveiros Maria M. , De La Fuente Rabindranath
Published: November 2023

In somatic cells, mitotic transcription of major satellite non-coding RNAs is tightly regulated and essential for heterochromatin formation and the maintenance of genome integrity. We recently demonstrated that major satellite transcripts are expressed, and chromatin-bound during mouse oocyte meiosis. Pericentric satellite RNAs are also expressed in human oocytes. However, the specific biological function(s) during oocyte meiosis remain to be established. Here, we use validated locked nucleic acid gapmers for major satellite RNA depletion followed by live cell imaging, and superresolution analysis to determine the role of pericentric non-coding RNAs during female meiosis. Depletion of satellite RNA induces mesoscale changes in pericentric heterochromatin structure leading to chromosome instability, kinetochore attachment errors and abnormal chromosome alignment. Chromosome misalignment is associated with spindle defects, microtubule instability and, unexpectedly, loss of acentriolar microtubule organizing centre (aMTOC) tethering to spindle poles. Pericentrin fragmentation and failure to assemble ring-like aMTOCs with loss of associated polo-like kinase 1 provide critical insight into the mechanisms leading to impaired spindle pole integrity. Inhibition of transcription or RNA splicing phenocopies the chromosome alignment errors and spindle defects, suggesting that pericentric transcription during oocyte meiosis is required to regulate heterochromatin structure, chromosome segregation and maintenance of spindle organization.
Interaction of gallium, indium and vanadyl diacetylcurcumin complexes with lysozyme: mechanistic aspects and evaluation of antiamyloidogenic activity
Authors: Sahraei Amin , Ehsanfar Ahmad , Mohammadi Fakhrossadat
Published: November 2023

Diacetylcurcumin as a derivative of curcumin is a strong nitric oxide (NO) and O
2
−.
anion scavenger. One strategy to improve stability of curcumin and its derivatives is complexation with metal. In this study, the binding interactions of gallium diacetylcurcumin (Ga(DAC)
3
), indium diacetylcurcumin (In(DAC)
3
), and vanadyl diacetylcurcumin (VO(DAC)
2
) with hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) have been investigated. The results of fluorescence quenching analyses revealed that In(DAC)
3
and VO(DAC)
2
have higher binding affinities than Ga(DAC)
3
towards HEWL. The interactions of these metal complexes were not accompanied by considerable conformational changes in the tertiary structure of HEWL. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of these complexes on the amyloid fibrillation of HEWL were confirmed by the thioflavin T fluorescence assays. The kinetic curves of the fibrillation process illustrated that VO(DAC)
2
has the highest inhibitory activity and In(DAC)
3
has a significant delaying effect on the formation of amyloid fibrils of HEWL.
Accelerometer-based predictions of behaviour elucidate factors affecting the daily activity patterns of spotted hyenas
Authors: Minasandra Pranav , Jensen Frants H. , Gersick Andrew S. , Holekamp Kay E. , Strauss Eli D. , Strandburg-Peshkin Ariana
Published: November 2023

Animal activity patterns are highly variable and influenced by internal and external factors, including social processes. Quantifying activity patterns in natural settings can be challenging, as it is difficult to monitor animals over long time periods. Here, we developed and validated a machine-learning-based classifier to identify behavioural states from accelerometer data of wild spotted hyenas
(Crocuta crocuta)
, social carnivores that live in large fission–fusion societies. By combining this classifier with continuous collar-based accelerometer data from five hyenas, we generated a complete record of activity patterns over more than one month. We used these continuous behavioural sequences to investigate how past activity, individual idiosyncrasies, and social synchronization influence hyena activity patterns. We found that hyenas exhibit characteristic crepuscular-nocturnal daily activity patterns. Time spent active was independent of activity level on previous days, suggesting that hyenas do not show activity compensation. We also found limited evidence for an effect of individual identity on activity, and showed that pairs of hyenas who synchronized their activity patterns must have spent more time together. This study sheds light on the patterns and drivers of activity in spotted hyena societies, and also provides a useful tool for quantifying behavioural sequences from accelerometer data.
Review: chitosan-based biopolymers for anion-exchange membrane fuel cell application
Authors: Myrzakhmetov Bauyrzhan , Akhmetova Aktilek , Bissenbay Aiman , Karibayev Mirat , Pan Xuemiao , Wang Yanwei , Bakenov Zhumabay , Mentbayeva Almagul
Published: November 2023

Chitosan (CS)-based anion exchange membranes (AEMs) have gained significant attention in fuel cell applications owing to their numerous benefits, such as environmental friendliness, flexibility for structural alteration, and improved mechanical, thermal and chemical durability. This study aims to enhance the cell performance of CS-based AEMs by addressing key factors including mechanical stability, ionic conductivity, water absorption and expansion rate. While previous reviews have predominantly focused on CS as a proton-conducting membrane, the present mini-review highlights the advancements of CS-based AEMs. Furthermore, the study investigates the stability of cationic head groups grafted to CS through simulations. Understanding the chemical properties of CS, including the behaviour of grafted head groups, provides valuable insights into the membrane’s overall stability and performance. Additionally, the study mentions the potential of modern cellulose membranes for alkaline environments as promising biopolymers. While the primary focus is on CS-based AEMs, the inclusion of cellulose membranes underscores the broader exploration of biopolymer materials for fuel cell applications.
Eleven years of student replication projects provide evidence on the correlates of replicability in psychology
Authors: Boyce Veronica , Mathur Maya , Frank Michael C.
Published: November 2023

Cumulative scientific progress requires empirical results that are robust enough to support theory construction and extension. Yet in psychology, some prominent findings have failed to replicate, and large-scale studies suggest replicability issues are widespread. The identification of predictors of replication success is limited by the difficulty of conducting large samples of independent replication experiments, however: most investigations reanalyse the same set of

170
 

replications

. We introduce a new dataset of 176 replications from students in a graduate-level methods course. Replication results were judged to be successful in 49% of replications; of the 136 where effect sizes could be numerically compared, 46% had point estimates within the prediction interval of the original outcome (versus the expected 95%). Larger original effect sizes and within-participants designs were especially related to replication success. Our results indicate that, consistent with prior reports, the robustness of the psychology literature is low enough to limit cumulative progress by student investigators.
Effective statistical control strategies for complex turbulent dynamical systems
Authors: Covington Jeffrey , Qi Di , Chen Nan
Published: November 2023

Control of complex turbulent dynamical systems involving strong nonlinearity and high degrees of internal instability is an important topic in practice. Different from traditional methods for controlling individual trajectories, controlling the statistical features of a turbulent system offers a more robust and efficient approach. Crude first-order linear response approximations were typically employed in previous works for statistical control with small initial perturbations. This paper aims to develop two new statistical control strategies for scenarios with more significant initial perturbations and stronger nonlinear responses, allowing the statistical control framework to be applied to a much wider range of problems. First, higher-order methods, incorporating the second-order terms, are developed to resolve the full control-forcing relation. The corresponding changes to recovering the forcing perturbation effectively improve the performance of the statistical control strategy. Second, a mean closure model for the mean response is developed, which is based on the explicit mean dynamics given by the underlying turbulent dynamical system. The dependence of the mean dynamics on higher-order moments is closed using linear response theory but for the response of the second-order moments to the forcing perturbation rather than the mean response directly. The performance of these methods is evaluated extensively on prototype nonlinear test models, which exhibit crucial turbulent features, including non-Gaussian statistics and regime switching with large initial perturbations. The numerical results illustrate the feasibility of different approaches due to their physical and statistical structures and provide detailed guidelines for choosing the most suitable method based on the model properties.