bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictably Unpredictable? How Judgmental and Machine Learning Forecasts Complement Each Other
Authors: Nair Devadrita , Huchzermeier Arnd
Published: March 2024

Demand forecasting for seasonal products becomes especially challenging in the case of fast innovations, where the product portfolio is upgraded every season. In addition to the problem of forecasting demand without any historical data, companies also have to deal with frequent stockouts, which bias past sales and provide an unreliable anchor for making new forecasts. We show how one can use machine learning models to leverage information on comparable products from the past together with experts’ forecasts to improve forecasting accuracy. A machine learning forecast using only statistical features results in a forecast error reduction of 24%, measured by weighted mean absolute percentage error, compared to a purely judgmental prediction on data from Canyon Bicycles. Better yet, an integrated human-machine forecast leads to a further 14% reduction in forecast error, indicating that experts’ predictions remain essential for forecasting demand for rapidly innovating seasonal products. The combination of the experts’ knowledge of the future and the machine learning algorithms’ ability to leverage historical information works best in this setting.
What's in a Name? Replacing Pejorative Terminology in Anatomic Pathology
Authors: Magguilli Michael , Thomas Cody , Fowle Evan
Published: March 2024

Recent changes to medical terminology and nomenclature have made strides to improve ethical integrity in healthcare. Removing tarnished eponymous namesakes and depreciative descriptions from the medical lexicon is a challenging, but righteous undertaking. In this article, the authors propose replacing the pejorative histologic description of “Indian file” with “Tusken Raider file.”
Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Expediting Implementation Efforts
Authors: Younas Ahtisham , Reynolds Staci S
Published: March 2024

Expedited implementation of evidence into practice and policymaking is critical to ensure the delivery of effective care and improve health-care outcomes. Implementation science deals with the designing of methods and strategies for increasing and facilitating the uptake of evidence into practice and policymaking. Nevertheless, the process of designing and selecting methods and strategies for implementing evidence is complicated because of the complexity of health-care settings where implementation is desired. Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized a range of fields, including genomics, education, drug trials, research, and health care. This commentary discusses how AI can be leveraged to expedite implementation science efforts for transforming health-care practice. Four key aspects of AI use in implementation science are highlighted: (a) AI for implementation planning (e.g., needs assessment, predictive analytics, and data management), (b) AI for developing implementation tools and guidelines, (c) AI for designing and applying implementation strategies, and (d) AI for monitoring and evaluating implementation outcomes. Use of AI along the implementation continuum from planning to delivery and evaluation can enable more precise and accurate implementation of evidence into practice.
Immunohistochemical Expression of Lymphatic Endothelial Markers in Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus Syndrome
Authors: Bakker Andrea C. , Fishman Steven J. , Liang Marilyn G. , Al-Ibraheemi Alyaa , Kozakewich Harry P. , Mulliken John B. , Slack Jonathan C.
Published: March 2024

Introduction:

Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS) is an uncommon vascular anomaly characterized by multifocal cutaneous, visceral, and other soft tissue or solid organ venous malformations. We observed that BRBNS lesions express immunohistochemical markers of lymphatic differentiation.

Methods:

BRBNS histopathologic specimens assessed at our institution during the past 27 years were reviewed. Slides from 19 BRBNS lesions were selected from 14 patients (9 cutaneous, 9 gastrointestinal, and 1 hepatic). We recorded the involved anatomical compartments and presence/absence of thrombi or vascular smooth muscle. Immunohistochemical endothelial expression of PROX1 (nuclear) and D2-40 (membranous/cytoplasmic) was evaluated semi-quantitatively.

Results:

Endothelial PROX1 immunopositivity was noted in all specimens; the majority (89.5%) demonstrated staining in more than 10% of cells. D2-40 immunopositivity was present in one-third (33%) of cutaneous lesions and only 1 gastrointestinal lesion.

Conclusion:

Endothelial cells in BRBNS almost always express 1 or more immunohistochemical markers of lymphatic differentiation.
‘Being bilingual will open doors for them’: Ideologies informing French immersion educators’ perspectives on bilingualism
Authors: Bokhorst-Heng Wendy D. , Marshall Kelle
Published: March 2024

Purpose:

New Brunswick, Canada, established its English-French Official Languages Act (OLA) in 1969 to promote linguistic equality for historically minoritized Francophones, premised on a language-as-right ideology. The OLA has been presented to Anglophones, however, as creating access to English-French bilingualism for various kinds of capital through a neoliberal language-as-resource ideology. In this context of conflicting ideologies, we wondered about the perspective of French immersion (FI) educators – the interface between policy and practice – regarding the purposes of bilingualism. We frame our question within Bakhtin’s notion of ideological becoming, asking: As potential mediators of their students’ ideological becoming, what are the perspectives of FI teachers and principals regarding the purposes of bilingualism?

Design/data:

We examine nine principals’ and 17 FI teachers’ discourse in semi-structured interviews conducted in New Brunswick. Data were analysed using constructivist grounded theory procedures, and further categorized according to Bourdieu’s constructs of capital.

Findings:

Our analysis indicates the dialogic nature of ideological becoming. On the one hand, authoritative neoliberal ideologies dominate the educators’ discourse regarding the purposes of bilingualism for their students. There was little attention to a socially-situated view of bilingualism enacted in a variety of communities of practice. On the other hand, we also note evidence of resistance against and distancing from this dominant ideology in educators’ own ideological becoming regarding bilingualism’s purposes for themselves.

Originality:

Bakhtin’s theory of ideological becoming provides a way to consider the entangled workings of ideology within language education for both educators and students.

Implications:

We thus propose professional development for educators to understand their own ideological becoming and develop students’ ideological becoming and their identities as bi/multilingual speakers.
The epidemiological characteristics of sleep disordered breathing in congestive heart failure: A prospective, single centre study in Southeast Asia
Authors: Lourdesamy Anthony Albert Iruthiaraj , Abdul Rani Rosilawati
Published: March 2024

Background:

The presence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in congestive heart failure (CHF) is associated with poor prognosis and is underdiagnosed despite advances in CHF management. The prevalence of SDB in CHF remains understudied in South East Asia.

Methods:

A prospective, observational single-centre study was conducted where 116 consecutive patients in a specialised heart failure clinic underwent level 1, attended polysomnography (PSG).

Results:

The prevalence of SDB was 78% using the apnoea-hypopnea index (AHI), AHI ⩾ 5/h threshold, and 59% with the AHI ⩾ 15/h threshold. Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) was the predominant type of SDB and was associated with increased body mass index and neck circumference. STOP-BANG was predictive of SDB, especially in men. Central sleep apnoea (CSA) patients had worse sleep indexes and lower awake arterial carbon dioxide. SDB was also homogenously present in preserved ejection fraction (EF) CHF.

Conclusion:

Most of the CHF patients were found to have SDB with the utility of PSG. Local CHF guidelines should include sleep testing for all patients with CHF. The study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05332223) as ‘The Epidemiological Characteristics of SDB in Patients with Reduced or Preserved EF CHF’.
Plethysmography: A game changer for chronic venous insufficiency diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up
Authors: Guven Hakan
Published: March 2024

Objective

Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) presents a various clinical symptoms and treatment options. Although it is generally known which treatment option is more appropriate in which situations in CVI, it is even more difficult to find the right option in some uncertain situations. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential contribution of Digital Photoplethysmography (D-PPG) in the diagnosis of CVI and especially in the selection of treatment options.

Patients and method

This retrospective study was conducted at Bursa Heart and Arrhythmia Hospital, involving 721 consecutive patients diagnosed with CVI and with Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) indication. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the extent of the failure in Doppler USG. In Group 1, the insufficiency ended above the knee, and in Group 2, the insufficiency progressed to below the knee. Patients were evaluated based on anamnesis, physical examination, Doppler USG, and D-PPG. Clinical classification, Venous Clinic Severity Score (VCSS), Quality of Life (QoL) assessment, venous pump capacity (VPC), and venous refill time (VRT) were measured.

Results

The study included 263 male and 458 female patients with a mean age of 52.37 ± 12.26 years. Significant differences were observed between Group 1 (above knee reflux) and Group 2 (below knee reflux) patients in terms of VCSS, QoL, VPC, and VRT values. The mean values of VCSS, patient complaints, VPC, and VRT were higher in Group 2 patients. Similar findings were observed within the CEAP 2 subgroup.

Conclusion

D-PPG shows potential as a valuable tool in the diagnosis and treatment of CVI. By providing information about venous hemodynamics and volume changes, it can assist in optimizing treatment decisions, including saphenous vein preservation. Combining D-PPG with Doppler USG may improve the comprehensive assessment of CVI and change the treatment option, especially for CEAP 2 patients. More research is needed to confirm these findings and explore wider applications of plethysmographic methods in the management of CVI.
Neurotropin® ameliorates chronic pain associated with scar formation in a mouse model: A gene expression analysis of the inflammatory response
Authors: Zhou Xuan , Iida Hiroki , Li Yuqiang , Ota Akinobu , Zhuo Lisheng , Nobuhara Reiko , Terajima Yuki , Naiki Mitsuru , Reddi A Hari , Kimata Koji , Ushida Takahiro
Published: March 2024

Background: Scar formation after trauma and surgery involves an inflammatory response and can lead to the development of chronic pain. Neurotropin® (NTP) is a nonprotein extract of inflamed skin of rabbits inoculated with vaccinia virus. It has been widely used for the treatment of chronic pain. However, the in vivo effects of NTP on painful scar formation have not been determined. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of NTP on the inflammatory response, we evaluated gene expression in the scar tissues and dorsal root ganglions (DRGs) of mice administered NTP and control mice. Methods and results: Mice injected with saline or NTP were used as controls; other mice were subjected to surgery on the left hind paw to induce painful scar formation, and then injected with saline or NTP. Hind paw pain was evaluated by measuring the threshold for mechanical stimulation using the von Frey test. The paw withdrawal threshold gradually returned to pre-operative levels over 4 weeks post-operation; NTP-treated mice showed a significantly shortened recovery time of approximately 3 weeks, suggesting that NTP exerted an analgesic effect in this mouse model. Total RNA was extracted from the scarred hind paw tissues and DRGs were collected 1 week post-operation for a microarray analysis. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that the expression of some gene sets related to inflammatory responses was activated or inhibited following surgery and NTP administration. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis results for several genes were consistent with the microarray results. Conclusion: The administration of NTP to the hind paws of mice with painful scar formation following surgery diminished nociceptive pain and reduced the inflammatory response. NTP inhibited the expression of some genes involved in the response to surgery-induced inflammation. Therefore, NTP is a potential therapeutic option for painful scar associated with chronic pain.
The development of lexical processing: Real-time phonological competition and semantic activation in school age children
Authors: Jeppsen Charlotte , Baxelbaum Keith , Tomblin Bruce , Klein Kelsey , McMurray Bob
Published: March 2024

Prior research suggests that the development of speech perception and word recognition stabilises in early childhood. However, recent work suggests that development of these processes continues throughout adolescence. This study aimed to investigate whether these developmental changes are based solely within the lexical system or are due to domain general changes, and to extend this investigation to lexical-semantic processing. We used two Visual World Paradigm tasks: one to examine phonological and semantic processing, one to capture non-linguistic domain-general skills. We tested 43 seven- to nine-year-olds, 42 ten- to thirteen-year-olds, and 30 sixteen- to seventeen-year-olds. Older children were quicker to fixate the target word and exhibited earlier onset and offset of fixations to both semantic and phonological competitors. Visual/cognitive skills explained significant, but not all, variance in the development of these effects. Developmental changes in semantic activation were largely attributable to changes in upstream phonological processing. These results suggest that the concurrent development of linguistic processes and broader visual/cognitive skills lead to developmental changes in real-time phonological competition, while semantic activation is more stable across these ages.
Empathy & Literature
Authors: Denham A. E.
Published: March 2024

There is a long tradition in philosophy and literary theory defending the view that engagement with literature promotes readers’ empathy. Until the last century, few of the empirical claims adduced in that tradition were investigated experimentally. Recent work in psychology and neuropsychology has now shed new light on the interplay of empathy and literature. This article surveys the experimental findings, addressing three central questions: What is it to read empathically? Does reading make us more empathic? What characteristics of literature, if any, affect readers’ empathy? While experimental studies have delivered no conclusive answers to these questions, it has exposed their psychological complexity and constructed a more nuanced picture of the diverse ways in which literature interacts with our empathic capacities.
A review on cytomegalovirus in patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases: Prevalence, clinical spectrum, treatment, and antiviral prophylaxis
Authors: Brianna Brianna , Masnammany Adrian Mark , Wu Yuan Seng
Published: March 2024

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a highly infectious virus that is prevalent among adults worldwide. In immunocompetent individuals, CMV infection rarely causes complications. Following initial infection, however, CMV remains latent in the body and can be reactivated especially in immunocompromised patients, such as those with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRDs), leading to tissue-invasive, life-threatening diseases, such as colitis, vascular thrombosis, and pneumonitis. Although there are standard treatment recommendations for symptomatic CMV disease, there is paucity of consensus in the role of primary and secondary antiviral prophylaxis to prevent CMV reactivation, especially in AIIRDs patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. Therein, this review aimed to provide an overview of the prevalence, clinical disease, risk factors, and treatment for CMV infection, as well as on the role of primary and secondary antiviral prophylaxis in AIIRDs patients. The emerging novel techniques that measure CMV-specific T-cell immunity as a guide to initiate prophylaxis in high-risk patients were also discussed.
After automation: Homelessness prioritization algorithms and the future of care labor
Authors: Tracey Pelle , Garcia Patricia
Published: March 2024

People experiencing homelessness seek support from homeless services systems that increasingly rely on prioritization algorithms to determine who is the most deserving of scarce resources. In this paper, we argue that algorithmic harms in homeless services require a reparative approach that takes the data work of care workers seriously. Building on Davis, Williams, and Yang's concept of algorithmic reparation, we present a qualitative study that examines the intertwining of data work and care labor of 15 care workers. We show how they wrestle with the ethics of algorithmic prioritization and develop workarounds that allow them to advocate for their clients. We contribute an empirical understanding of how care workers provide care under homeless services systems that equate data work with care labor to justify work intensification. Our findings have implications for understanding the future of care labor in datafied conditions and the social and political ramifications of algorithmically mediated care.
Evaluating the Implementation of a Relationship-Centered Communication Training for Connecting With Patients in Virtual Visits
Authors: Pines Rachyl , Haverfield Marie C. , Wong Chen Stephanie , Lee Ethan , Brown-Johnson Cati , Kline Merisa , Weimer-Elder Barbette
Published: March 2024

The use of telehealth, specifically virtual visits, has increased and adoption continues. Providers need effective training for how to communicate with patients to develop a connection during virtual visits. This article describes the implementation and evaluation of a course called Mastering Presence in Virtual Visits. Results show that although providers perceive lack of time, technology issues, and lacking experiential knowledge as barriers to enacting course behaviors, the course was feasible and acceptable. Following the course, providers rated key course behaviors as helpful for practice, and 80.7% of providers were likely to recommend the course to a colleague. The course shifted provider perceptions of the purpose, patient experience, and procedures in virtual visits. Prior to the course, providers perceived virtual visits as fundamentally different than in-person visits. However, after the course, they recognized the importance of connection in virtual visits and how to foster that connection. Providers continue to require support in conducting high-quality virtual visits. Online, asynchronous courses, developed in partnership with providers, are feasible and effective for encouraging behavior change. Key findings: When asked on a needs assessment in 2020, communication strategies to connect with patients in virtual visits were a top provider need. Partnering with providers to create online, communication training content is effective for increasing the acceptability of courses about virtual visits. Asynchronous, online courses can meet provider needs for communication strategies to connect with patients in virtual visits.
The political ecologies of fire: Recasting fire geographies in British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Sloan Morgan Onyx , Burr Judith
Published: March 2024

How fires burn across British Columbia (BC), Canada is shaped by settler coloniality, timber capitalism, state forestry regimes, criminalization of burning, and Indigenous resistance. Despite the urgency of confronting the fire suppression paradox embedded in settler colonial fire management laws and practices, approaches to studying fire in Canada that foreground Indigenous law and de-center settler colonial governance is scarce. As political ecologists and geographers working and living in the context of unceded and ancestral lək̓ʷəŋən, W̱SÁNEĆ, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, səlilwətaɬ, and syilx territories, we engage with Indigenous feminist scholarship to expose how coloniality and gender intersect in attempts to erase Indigenous sovereignty to structure and naturalize provincial fire policy and its emplaced impacts on Indigenous legal orders. Our analysis contextualizes settler-colonial provincial fire management policy in the purview of Indigenous legal orders to foreground how racial-colonial and gendered politics are obscured when colonial fire and wildfire practices are naturalized. Revisiting key moments in the political development of fire suppression across so-called BC, we contend that the suppression paradox is embedded in and reproduces a colonial logic that widens existing social and economic gaps. These gaps are uniquely gendered, as settler coloniality operates upon patriarchal lines that have actively attempted to erase Indigenous women and Two-Spirit peoples, including the laws and legal authorities that they possess and practice. Considering the 1910 Fulton Commission, we highlight an example of how women and Indigenous people were excluded from the political decision-making structures that shaped colonial fire management practices in BC. These gendered and racialized exclusions bear directly on the exclusion of Indigenous women and gender-diverse folx, and Indigenous legal orders guided by matriarchal lines of fire knowledge.
Th2-skewed peripheral T-helper cells drive B-cells in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
Authors: Luo Rong-Guang , Wu Yi-Fan , Lu Hai-Wen , Weng Dong , Xu Jia-Yan , Wang Le-Le , Zhang Li-Sha , Zhao Cai-Qi , Li Jian-Xiong , Yu Yong , Jia Xin-Ming , Xu Jin-Fu
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) suffer from repeated exacerbations. The involvement of T-cell subsets remains unclear.

Methods

We enrolled ABPA patients, asthma patients and healthy controls. T-helper type 1 (Th1), 2 (Th2) and 17 (Th17) cells, regulatory T-cells (Treg) and interleukin (IL)-21+CD4+T-cells in total or sorted subsets of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and ABPA bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were analysed using flow cytometry. RNA sequencing of subsets of CD4+T-cells was done in exacerbated ABPA patients and healthy controls. Antibodies of T-/B-cell co-culturesin vitrowere measured.

Results

ABPA patients had increased Th2 cells, similar numbers of Treg cells and decreased circulating Th1 and Th17 cells. IL-5+IL-13+IL-21+CD4+T-cells were rarely detected in healthy controls, but significantly elevated in the blood of ABPA patients, especially the exacerbated ones. We found that IL-5+IL-13+IL-21+CD4+T-cells were mainly peripheral T-helper (Tph) cells (PD-1+CXCR5−), which also presented in the BALF of ABPA patients. The proportions of circulating Tph cells were similar among ABPA patients, asthma patients and healthy controls, while IL-5+IL-13+IL-21+Tph cells significantly increased in ABPA patients. Transcriptome data showed that Tph cells of ABPA patients were Th2-skewed and exhibited signatures of follicular T-helper cells. When co-culturedin vitro, Tph cells of ABPA patients induced the differentiation of autologous B-cells into plasmablasts and significantly enhanced the production of IgE.

Conclusion

We identified a distinctly elevated population of circulating Th2-skewed Tph cells that induced the production of IgE in ABPA patients. It may be a biomarker and therapeutic target for ABPA.
Pulmonary vascular phenotype identified in patients withGDF2(BMP9) orBMP10variants: an international multicentre study
Authors: Grynblat Julien , Bogaard Harm Jan , Eyries Mélanie , Meyrignac Olivier , Savale Laurent , Jaïs Xavier , Ghigna Maria-Rosa , Celant Lucas , Meijboom Lilian , Houweling Arjan C. , Levy Marilyne , Antigny Fabrice , Chaouat Ari , Cottin Vincent , Guignabert Christophe , Coulet Florence , Sitbon Olivier , Bonnet Damien , Humbert Marc , Montani David
Published: March 2024

Background

Bone morphogenetic proteins 9 and 10 (BMP9 and BMP10), encoded byGDF2andBMP10, respectively, play a pivotal role in pulmonary vascular regulation.GDF2variants have been reported in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). However, the phenotype ofGDF2andBMP10carriers remains largely unexplored.

Methods

We report the characteristics and outcomes of PAH patients inGDF2andBMP10carriers from the French and Dutch pulmonary hypertension registries. A literature review explored the phenotypic spectrum of these patients.

Results

26 PAH patients were identified: 20 harbouring heterozygousGDF2variants, one homozygousGDF2variant, four heterozygousBMP10variants, and one with bothGDF2andBMP10variants. The prevalence ofGDF2andBMP10variants was 1.3% and 0.4%, respectively. Median age at PAH diagnosis was 30 years, with a female/male ratio of 1.9. Congenital heart disease (CHD) was present in 15.4% of the patients. At diagnosis, most of the patients (61.5%) were in New York Heart Association Functional Class III or IV with severe haemodynamic compromise (median (range) pulmonary vascular resistance 9.0 (3.3–40.6) WU). Haemoptysis was reported in four patients; none met the HHT criteria. Two patients carryingBMP10variants underwent lung transplantation, revealing typical PAH histopathology. The literature analysis showed that 7.6% ofGDF2carriers developed isolated HHT, and identified cardiomyopathy and developmental disorders inBMP10carriers.

Conclusions

GDF2andBMP10pathogenic variants are rare among PAH patients, and occasionally associated with CHD. HHT cases amongGDF2carriers are limited according to the literature.BMP10full phenotypic ramifications warrant further investigation.
Illness perceptions, cognitive and behavioural responses to chronic breathlessness in individuals living with advanced respiratory disease: an observational study
Authors: Reilly Charles C. , Higginson Irene J. , Chalder Trudie
Published: March 2024

Background

Understanding the complexity and multidimensional nature of chronic breathlessness is key to its successful management. The aim of this study was to explore illness perceptions, cognitive and behavioural responses to chronic breathlessness in individuals living with advanced respiratory disease.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional secondary analysis of data from a feasibility randomised control trial (SELF-BREATHE) for individuals living with chronic breathlessness due to advanced disease. All participants completed the following questionnaires: numerical rating scale (NRS) breathlessness severity, NRS distress due to breathlessness, NRS self-efficacy for managing breathlessness, Dyspnea-12 (D-12), Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRQ), Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief IPQ) and the Cognitive and Behavioural Responses Questionnaire, short version (CBRQ-S). The associations between the Brief IPQ and CBRQ-S with NRS breathlessness severity, distress and self-efficacy, D-12 and CRQ were examined using Spearman's rho correlation coefficient rs. A Spearman's rsof ≥0.50 was predefined as the threshold to denote important associations between variables. A p-value of <0.008 was considered statistically significant, to account for the number of comparisons performed.

Results

The illness perception items consequences, identity, concern and emotional response were associated with increased breathlessness severity, increased distress, reduced breathlessness self-management ability and lower health-related quality of life. Symptom focusing and embarrassment avoidance were identified as important cognitive responses to chronic breathlessness.

Conclusion

Interventions that directly target illness perceptions, cognitive and behavioural responses to chronic breathlessness may improve symptom burden, self-efficacy and health-related quality of life.
Association of interleukin-17A and chemokine/vascular endothelial growth factor-induced angiogenesis in newly diagnosed patients with bladder cancer
Authors: Moadab Ali , Valizadeh Mohammad Rafie , Nazari Alireza , Khorramdelazad Hossein
Published: March 2024

Background

The human interleukin-17 (IL-17) family comprises IL-17A to IL-17 F; their receptors are IL-17RA to IL-17RE. Evidence revealed that these cytokines can have a tumor-supportive or anti-tumor impact on human malignancies. The purpose of this study was to assess the expression of CXCR2, IL-17RA, and IL-17RC genes at the mRNA level as well as tissue and serum levels of IL-17A, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) in patients with bladder cancer (BC) compared to control.

Results

This study showed that gene expression of IL-17RA, IL-17RC, and CXCR2 in the tumoral tissue of BC patients was significantly upregulated compared with normal tissue. The findings disclosed a significant difference in the serum and tissue concentrations of IL-17A, VEGF, and TGF-β between the patient and the control groups, as well as tumor and normal tissues.

Conclusion

This study reveals notable dysregulation of CXCR2, IL-17RA, and IL-17RC genes, alongside changes in IL-17A, VEGF, and TGF-β levels in patients with BC than in controls. These findings indicate their possible involvement in BC development and their potential as diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
Usefulness of lactate to albumin ratio for predicting in-hospital mortality in atrial fibrillation patients admitted to the intensive care unit: a retrospective analysis from MIMIC-IV database
Authors: Huang Ting , Lin Sen
Published: March 2024

Background

High lactate to albumin ratio (LAR) has been reported to be associated to with poor prognosis in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). However, its role in predicting in-hospital mortality in AF patients admitted to ICU has not been explored.

Methods

The Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV (MIMIC-IV) database was used to retrieve information on patients who had been diagnosed with AF. X-tile software was utilized to determine the optimal cut-off LAR. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC), calibration plots, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were conducted to assess the prediction performance of LAR for in-hospital mortality.

Results

Finally, 8,287 AF patients were included and 1,543 death (18.6%) occurred. The optimal cut-off value of LAR is 0.5. Patients in lower LAR (< 0.5) group showed a better in-hospital survival compared to patients in higher LAR (≥ 0.5) group (HR: 2.67, 95%CI:2.39–2.97, P < 0.001). A nomogram for in-hospital mortality in patients with AF was constructed based on multivariate Cox analysis including age, CCI, β blockers usage, APSIII, hemoglobin and LAR. This nomogram exhibited excellent discrimination and calibration abilities in predicting in-hospital mortality for critically ill AF patients.

Conclusion

LAR, as a readily available biomarker, can predict in-hospital mortality in AF patients admitted to the ICU. The nomogram that combined LAR with other relevant variables performed exceptionally well in terms of predicting in-hospital mortality.
First reported human case of isolation of Vagococcus fluvialis from the urine of a former zoo clerk in Japan: a case report
Authors: Kitano Hiroyuki , Kitagawa Hiroki , Tadera Kayoko , Saito Kohei , Kohada Yuki , Takemoto Kenshiro , Kobatake Kohei , Sekino Yohei , Hieda Keisuke , Ohge Hiroki , Hinata Nobuyuki
Published: March 2024

Background

Vagococcal infections are extremely rare in humans. There are limited studies on the optimal methods for identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and clinical manifestations of vagococcal infections. Herein, we report a patient with a urinary tract infection who had Vagococcus fluvialis in the urine.

Case presentation

An 84-year-old man presented to our urology department with a fever that had persisted for several days. He previously worked as a zoo clerk. The patient underwent a left nephroureterectomy for ureteral cancer 5 years ago, and total cystectomy and right cutaneous ureterostomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer 1 year prior. He was empirically treated with 500 mg of levofloxacin intravenously every 24 h for the urinary tract infection. V. fluvialis was detected in his urine samples and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was detected in his urine and blood samples. Two bacterial species were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. He was administered intravenous levofloxacin for approximately 1 week, followed by oral levofloxacin for another week, after which the infections were eradicated.

Conclusions

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of V. fluvialis detected in human urine in Japan. Vagococcus spp. is commonly isolated from fish or animals, and based on the patient’s work history, it is possible that the patient was a carrier because of transmission from animals.
Predictive value of cyst/tumor volume ratio of pituitary adenoma for tumor cell proliferation
Authors: Wu Jianwu , Zhang Fangfang , Huang Yinxing , Wei Liangfeng , Mei Tao , Wang Shousen , Zeng Zihuan , Wang Wei
Published: March 2024

Background

MRI has been widely used to predict the preoperative proliferative potential of pituitary adenoma (PA). However, the relationship between the cyst/tumor volume ratio (C/T ratio) and the proliferative potential of PA has not been reported. Herein, we determined the predictive value of the C/T ratio of PA for tumor cell proliferation.

Methods

The clinical data of 72 patients with PA and cystic change on MRI were retrospectively analyzed. PA volume, cyst volume, and C/T ratio were calculated. The corresponding intraoperative specimens were collected. Immunohistochemistry and hematoxylin–eosin staining were performed to evaluate the Ki67 index and nuclear atypia. Patients were categorized according to the Ki67 index (< 3% and ≥ 3%) and nuclear atypia (absence and presence). Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the significant predictors of the Ki67 index and nuclear atypia. The receiver operating characteristic curve assessed the prediction ability of the significant predictors.

Results

Larger tumor volumes, smaller cyst volumes, and lower C/T ratios were found in patients with higher Ki67 indexes and those with nuclear atypia (P < 0.05). C/T ratio was an independent predictor of the Ki67 index (odds ratio = 0.010, 95% confidence interval = 0.000–0.462) and nuclear atypia (odds ratio = 0.010, 95% confidence interval = 0.000–0.250). The predictive value of the C/T ratio did not differ significantly from that of tumor volume (P > 0.05) but was better than that of cyst volume (P < 0.05). The area under the curve of the C/T ratio for predicting the Ki67 index and nuclear atypia was larger than that for predicting cyst volume and tumor volume.

Conclusions

C/T ratios can be used to predict PA tumor proliferation preoperatively. Our findings may facilitate the selection of surgery timing and the efficacy evaluation of surgery.
The association between organised colorectal cancer screening strategies and reduction of its related mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ding Hanyue , Lin Jiaye , Xu Zijun , Wang Harry H. X. , Huang Liwen , Huang Junjie , Wong Martin C. S.
Published: March 2024

Background

To assess the long-term association between organised colorectal cancer (CRC) screening strategies and CRC-relate mortality.

Methods

We systematically reviewed studies on organised CRC screening through PubMed, Ovid Medline, Embase and Cochrane from the inception. We retrieved characteristics of organised CRC screening from included literature and matched mortality (over 50 years) of those areas from the International Agency for Research on Cancer in May 2023. The variations of mortality were reported via the age-standardised mortality ratio. A random-effects model was used to synthesis results.

Results

We summarised 58 organised CRC screening programmes and recorded > 2.7 million CRC-related deaths from 22 countries where rollout screening programmes were performed. The CRC screening strategy with faecal tests (guaiac faecal occult blood test (gFOBT) or faecal immunochemical tests (FIT)) or colonoscopy as the primary screening offer was associated with a 41.8% reduction in mortality, which was higher than those offered gFOBT (4.4%), FIT (16.7%), gFOBT or FIT (16.2%), and faecal tests (gFOBT or FIT) or flexible sigmoidoscopy (16.7%) as primary screening test. The longer duration of screening was associated with a higher reduction in the pooled age-standardised mortality ratio. In particular, the pooled age-standardised mortality ratio became non-significant when the screening of FIT was implemented for less than 5 years.

Conclusions

A CRC screening programme running for > 5 years was associated with a reduction of CRC-related mortality. Countries with a heavy burden of CRC should implement sustainable, organised screening providing a choice between faecal tests and colonoscopy as a preferred primary test.
Research on multi-model imaging machine learning for distinguishing early hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Ma Ya , Gong Yue , Qiu QingTao , Ma Changsheng , Yu Shuang
Published: March 2024

Objective

To investigate the value of differential diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and non-hepatocellular carcinoma (non-HCC) based on CT and MR multiphase radiomics combined with different machine learning models and compare the diagnostic efficacy between different radiomics models.

Background

Primary liver cancer is one of the most common clinical malignancies, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common subtype of primary liver cancer, accounting for approximately 90% of cases. A clear diagnosis of HCC is important for the individualized treatment of patients with HCC. However, more sophisticated diagnostic modalities need to be explored.

Methods

This retrospective study included 211 patients with liver lesions: 97 HCC and 124 non-hepatocellular carcinoma (non-HCC) who underwent CT and MRI. Imaging data were used to obtain imaging features of lesions and radiomics regions of interest (ROI). The extracted imaging features were combined to construct different radiomics models. The clinical data and imaging features were then combined with radiomics features to construct the combined models. Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-nearest Neighbor (KNN), RandomForest (RF), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM), Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) six machine learning models were used for training. Five-fold cross-validation was used to train the models, and ROC curves were used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of each model and calculate the accuracy rate. Model training and efficacy test were performed as before.

Results

Statistical analysis showed that some clinical data (gender and concomitant cirrhosis) and imaging features (presence of envelope, marked enhancement in the arterial phase, rapid contouring in the portal phase, uniform density/signal and concomitant steatosis) were statistical differences (P < 0.001). The results of machine learning models showed that KNN had the best diagnostic efficacy. The results of the combined model showed that SVM had the best diagnostic efficacy, indicating that the combined model (accuracy 0.824) had better diagnostic efficacy than the radiomics-only model.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that the radiomic features of CT and MRI combined with machine learning models enable differential diagnosis of HCC and non-HCC (malignant, benign). The diagnostic model with dual radiomic had better diagnostic efficacy. The combined model was superior to the radiomic model alone.
Prevalence and risk factors of obesity among undergraduate student population in Ghana: an evaluation study of body composition indices
Authors: Obirikorang Christian , Adu Evans Asamoah , Anto Enoch Odame , Afum-Adjei Awuah Anthony , Fynn Angela Nana Bosowah , Osei-Somuah George , Ansong Patience Nyarkoa , Boakye Alexander Owusu , Ofori-Boadu Ivy , Obirikorang Yaa , Adobasom-Anane Austin Gideon , Nyarko Eric NY , Balmer Lois
Published: March 2024

Background

Obesity is a classified risk factor for several of the world’s leading causes of death. In this study, we combined information contained in body mass index (BMI), total percentage body fat (TPBF) and relative fat mass (RFM) to estimate obesity prevalence and examine the risk factors associated with obesity.

Methods

The study recruited 1027 undergraduate students aged between 16 and 25 years using a cross-sectional study design and two-stage stratified random sampling between January and April 2019 from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. Demographic, lifestyle, and family history of chronic disease data, were collected using a structured questionnaire. Bioelectrical impedance, along with height, weight, age, and gender, were used to estimate BMI and TPBF. The RFM was calculated using a published equation. The TPBF and RFM ranges were evaluated based on standard BMI thresholds and an informative combined obesity prevalence estimated in a Bayesian framework. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate potential risk factors of overweight/obesity.

Results

Concordance between BMI, TPBF and RFM for obesity classification was 84% among female and 82.9% among male students. The Bayesian analysis revealed a combined prevalence means of obesity of 9.4% (95%CI: 6.9-12.2%) among female students and 6.7% (95%CI:4.3-9.5%) among male students. The odds of obesity were increased between 1.8 and 2.5 for females depending on the classification index. A significant increasing trend of obesity was observed with university-level. A family history of obesity was associated with a high estimate of general, central, and high TPBF.

Conclusion

Using multiple adiposity indicators conjointly in a Bayesian framework offers a greater power to examine obesity prevalence. We have applied this and reported high obesity prevalence, especially among female students. University level and family history of obesity were key determinants for obesity among the student population.
Association of sarcopenia with osteoporosis in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Xu Ke , Feng Xiaozhen , Xu Zeru , Pan Yang , Zhang Ping , Zhu Hong
Published: March 2024

Background

People with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) present a higher tendency to develop sarcopenia and osteoporosis compared with the normal population. Currently, osteoporosis screening has been frequently performed among T2DM patients, but sarcopenia screening is relatively less, and the association between the two diseases remains unclear. Herein, this study aims to determine the association between sarcopenia and osteoporosis in Chinese T2DM patients.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of 678 patients with T2DM in the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University. The bone mineral density (BMD) and muscle mass were measured by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scanning. The diagnostic criteria of sarcopenia referred to the consensus by the Asia Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS).

Result

Among T2DM patients, the proportion of the sarcopenia population complicated with osteoporosis was higher than that of the non-sarcopenia (30.9% vs. 8.6% in men and 46.9% vs. 33.9% in women), but only significantly in men. The BMD of the hip and femoral neck was positively correlated with skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), grip strength, and gait speed (P < 0.01). After adjusting all covariates, the association between sarcopenia and BMD showed odds ratios of 0.43 (95% CI:0.28–0.66) for the femoral neck and 0.49 (95% CI:0.32–0.73) for the hip.

Conclusions

The BMD of the hip and femoral neck in T2DM patients is related to sarcopenia-related indicators and represents an independent protective factor for sarcopenia. To reduce the risk of falls, fractures, and weakness, it is necessary to take sarcopenia assessment in people with T2DM and osteopenia/osteoporosis.
Role of αENaC in root resorption of adjacent teeth due to entirely impacted mandibular third molars
Authors: Tang Jiaqi , Yu Weijun , Lin Lu , Yang Ruhan , Li Guanglong , Jin Min , Gu Yuting , Jiang Bin , Lu Eryi
Published: March 2024

Background

Entirely impacted mandibular third molar (EIM3M) concerns the pathological external root resorption (ERR) of the adjacent mandibular second molar (M2M) and formation of granulation tissue between two molars. The study aimed to clarify the effect of αENaC, a mechano-sensitive molecule, to explore the mechanical mechanism in this scenario.

Methods

The force EIM3M exerted on M2M was proved by finite element analysis. αENaC expressions were tested by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), immunoblotting and immunofluorescence. Inflammatory and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related molecules expressions were also detected by real-time PCR. The correlation was analyzed by Spearman’s correlation analysis, and receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve was further exhibited.

Results

The force was concentrated in the ERR area. αENaC was upregulated, positively correlated with ERR degree and localized to the fibroblasts in ERR granulation tissues. Moreover, αENaC was respectively and positively associated with elevated TNF-α and N-cadherin in ERR granulation tissues. More importantly, ROC analysis verified αENaC as a novel indication of the incidence of this disease.

Conclusions

Our finding revealed the force from EIM3M causing ERR of M2M, and elucidated the expression and localization of αENaC and its positive correlation with inflammation, EMT and disease severity, suggesting a novel indication in this disease.
Effects of Sjogren’s syndrome and high sugar diet on oral microbiome in patients with rampant caries: a clinical study
Authors: Tang Yifei , Nie Hua , Zhang Yu , Wei Yuan , Huang Yequan , Zhuang Yuan , Yang Weidong , Zhu Yanan
Published: March 2024

Objective

The purpose of this study was to assess the composition of the oral microbial flora of adults with rampant caries in China to provide guidance for treatment.

Patients and methods

Sixty human salivary and supragingival plaque samples were collected. They were characterized into four groups: patients with rampant caries with Sjogren’s syndrome (RC-SS) or high-sugar diet (RC-HD), common dental caries (DC), and healthy individuals (HP). The 16S rRNA V3-V4 region of the bacterial DNA was detected by Illumina sequencing. PCoA based on OTU with Bray–Curtis algorithm, the abundance of each level, LEfSe analysis, network analysis, and PICRUSt analysis were carried out between the four groups and two sample types. Clinical and demographic data were compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA) or the nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis rank-sum test, depending on the normality of the data, using GraphPad Prism 8 (P < 0.05).

Results

OTU principal component analysis revealed a significant difference between healthy individuals and those with RC-SS. In the saliva of patients with rampant caries, the relative abundance of Firmicutes increased significantly at the phylum level. Further, Streptocpccus, Veillonella, Prevotella, and Dialister increased, while Neisseria and Haemophilus decreased at the genus level. Veillonella increased in the plaque samples of patients with rampant caries.

Conclusion

Both salivary and dental plaque composition were significantly different between healthy individuals and patients with rampant caries. This study provides a microbiological basis for exploring the etiology of rampant caries.

Clinical relevance

This study provides basic information on the flora of the oral cavity in adults with rampant caries in China. These findings could serve as a reference for the treatment of this disease.