bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical predictors of syringomyelia in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels with chiari-like malformation based on owners’ observations
Authors: Pedersen Tenna Remler , Bach Maiken Bayer Thode , Stougaard Camilla Løkke , Gredal Hanne , Rusbridge Clare , Finnerup Nanna Brix , Berendt Mette
Published: February 2024

Background

Syringomyelia (SM) is a prevalent inherited developmental condition in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCSs) with Chiari-like malformation (CM), accompanied by a variety of clinical manifestations, including signs of neuropathic pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold standard in SM diagnosis. However, it is desirable to establish clinical predictors that can identify CKCSs with a large clinical syrinx that needs treatment, as some owners cannot afford or lack access to MRI. The aims of the study were to investigate owner-reported clinical signs of SM and clinical predictors of a large clinical syrinx, using predictive values of significant signs, individually and in combinations. Eighty-nine CKCSs participated in this retrospective study. Based on MRI diagnosis, dogs were distributed into three groups: CM without syrinx or with a maximum transverse width < 2 mm (n = 13), CM with small syrinx 2.00-3.99 mm (n = 26) and CM with large syrinx ≥4 mm (n = 50). A structured investigator-owner interview using a standardized questionnaire was used to collect data regarding clinical signs of CM and SM. The statistical tests Pearson’s chi-square, Fisher’s Exact and Spearman’s rank order were used to assess the difference in owner-reported signs between groups. For signs with significant differences, positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) were calculated.

Results

Following clinical signs were reported significantly more frequent in dogs with a large syrinx: phantom scratching, bilateral scratching of the neck or shoulder, aversion when that area is touched, or exacerbation of clinical signs when the dog is emotionally aroused. Each individual sign had a high PPV, indicative of a large clinical syrinx. The PPV increased further when the signs phantom scratching, aversion to touch to the head, neck or shoulder, and a preferred head posture during sleep were present in combination.

Conclusions

Specific clinical signs can be used individually and in combination as clinical predictors of a large clinical syrinx in CKCSs with CM and SM. General practitioners can utilize this information to identify CKCSs with a large syrinx to initiate necessary treatment. This is particularly useful in cases where access to or affordability of an MRI diagnosis is limited.
Efficacy and safety of peppermint oil for the treatment in Japanese patients with irritable bowel syndrome: a prospective, open-label, and single-arm study
Authors: Matsueda Kei , Fukudo Shin , Ogishima Masayuki , Naito Yuki , Nakamura Soichiro
Published: February 2024

Background

In Europe, an herbal medicine containing peppermint oil is widely used in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In Japan, however, no clinical evidence for peppermint oil in IBS has been established, and it has not been approved as a drug for IBS. Accordingly, we conducted a clinical study to confirm the efficacy and safety of peppermint oil (ZO-Y60) in Japanese patients with IBS.

Methods

The study was a multi-center, open-label, single-arm, phase 3 trial in Japanese outpatients with IBS aged 17–60 years and diagnosed according to the Rome III criteria. The subjects were treated with an oral capsule of ZO-Y60 three times a day before meals, for four weeks. The efficacy of ZO-Y60 was evaluated using the patient’s global assessment (PtGA), IBS symptom severity score, stool frequency score, stool form score, and physician’s global assessment (PGA). The safety of ZO-Y60 was also assessed.

Results

Sixty-nine subjects were treated with ZO-Y60. During the four-week administration of ZO-Y60, the improvement rate of the PtGA was 71.6% (48/67) in week 2 and 85.1% (57/67) in week 4. It was also suggested that ZO-Y60 is effective against any type of IBS (IBS with constipation, IBS with diarrhea, and mixed/unsubtyped IBS). The improvement rate of the PGA was 73.1% (49/67) in week 2 and 85.1% (57/67) in week 4, also confirming the efficacy of ZO-Y60. Adverse events were observed in 14 subjects (20.3%), however, none of these adverse events were categorized as serious.

Conclusion

The efficacy of treatment was confirmed, subjective symptoms were improved, as was observed in previous clinical studies of ZO-Y60 conducted outside of Japan. All adverse reactions were previously known and were non-serious. These findings suggest that peppermint oil may be effective in the Japanese population and that it has an acceptable safety profile.

Trial registration

JAPIC Clinical Trials Information number: JapicCTI-121727 https://jrct.niph.go.jp/en-latest-detail/jRCT1080221685. Registration date: 2012–01-10.
Psychiatric disorders in term-born children with marginally low birth weight: a population-based study
Authors: Wu Shu-I , Huang Yu-Hsin , Kao Kai-Liang , Lin Yu-Wen , Tsai Po-Li , Chiu Nan-Chang , Chung Ching-Hu , Chen Chie-Pein
Published: February 2024

Background

Marginally low birth weight (MLBW) is defined as a birth weight of 2000 ~ 2499 g. Inconsistent findings have been reported on whether children with low birth weight had higher rates of neurological, attention, or cognitive symptoms. No studies have explored the occurrence of clinically diagnosed psychiatric disorders in term- born MLBW infants. We aimed to investigate the risk of subsequent psychiatric disorders in term-born children with MLBW.

Methods

This is a nationwide retrospective cohort study, by analysing the data from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database from 2008 to 2018. The study population includes propensity-score-matched term-born infants with MLBW and those without MLBW (birth weight ≥ 2500 g). Cox proportional hazard analysis was used after adjustment for potential demographic and perinatal comorbidity confounders. Incidence rates and hazard ratios (HR) of 11 psychiatric clinical diagnoses were evaluated.

Results

A total of 53,276 term-born MLBW infants and 1,323,930 term-born infants without MLBW were included in the study. After propensity score matching for demographic variables and perinatal comorbidities, we determined that the term-born MLBW infants (n = 50,060) were more likely to have attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (HR = 1.26, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.20, 1.33]), autism spectrum disorder (HR = 1.26, 95% CI [1.14, 1.40]), conduct disorder (HR = 1.25, 95% CI [1.03, 1.51]), emotional disturbance (HR: = 1.13, 95% CI [1.02, 1.26]), or specific developmental delays (HR = 1.38, 95% CI [1.33, 1.43]) than term-born infants without MLBW (n = 50,060).

Conclusion

MLBW was significantly associated with the risk of subsequent psychiatric disorder development among term-born infants. The study findings demonstrate that further attention to mental health and neurodevelopment issues may be necessary in term-born children with MLBW. However, possibilities of misclassification in exposures or outcomes, and risks of residual and unmeasured confounding should be concerned when interpreting our data.
Risk factors and incidence of postoperative delirium after cardiac surgery in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Fu Maoling , Yuan Quan , Yang Qiaoyue , Song Wenshuai , Yu Yaqi , Luo Ying , Xiong Xiaoju , Yu Genzhen
Published: February 2024

Delirium, a form of acute cerebral dysfunction, is a common complication of postoperative cardiac surgery in children. It is strongly associated with adverse outcomes, including prolonged hospitalization, increased mortality, and cognitive dysfunction. This study aimed to identify risk factors and incidence of delirium after cardiac surgery in children to facilitate early identification of delirium risk and provide a reference for the implementation of effective prevention and management. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, CNKI, Sinomed, and Wanfang for studies published in English or Chinese from the inception of each database to November 2023. The PRISMA guidelines were followed in all phases of this systematic review. The Risk of Bias Assessment for Nonrandomized Studies tool was used to assess methodological quality. A total of twelve studies were included in the analysis, with four studies classified as overall low risk of bias, seven studies as moderate risk of bias, and one study as high risk of bias. The studies reported 39 possible predictors of delirium, categorized into four broad groups: intrinsic and parent-related factors, disease-related factors, surgery and treatment-related factors, and clinical scores and laboratory parameters. By conducting qualitative synthesis and quantitative meta-analysis, we identified two definite factors, four possible factors, and 32 unclear factors related to delirium. Definite risk factors included age and mechanical ventilation duration. Possible factors included developmental delay, cyanotic heart disease, cardiopulmonary bypass time, and pain score. With only a few high-quality studies currently available, well-designed and more extensive prospective studies are still needed to investigate the risk factors affecting delirium and explore delirium prevention strategies in high-risk children.
Impact of an integrated health, nutrition, and early child stimulation and responsive care intervention package delivered to preterm or term small for gestational age babies during infancy on growth and neurodevelopment: study protocol of an individually randomized controlled trial in India (Small Babies Trial)
Authors: Chowdhury Ranadip , Manapurath Rukman , Sandøy Ingvild Fossgard , Upadhyay Ravi Prakash , Dhabhai Neeta , Shaikh Saijuddin , Chellani Harish , Choudhary Tarun Shankar , Jain Abhinav , Martines Jose , Bhandari Nita , Strand Tor A. , Taneja Sunita ,   on behalf of the Small Babies Trial Group
Published: February 2024

Background

Preterm and term small for gestational age (SGA) babies are at high risk of experiencing malnutrition and impaired neurodevelopment. Standalone interventions have modest and sometimes inconsistent effects on growth and neurodevelopment in these babies. For greater impact, intervention may be needed in multiple domains—health, nutrition, and psychosocial care and support. Therefore, the combined effects of an integrated intervention package for preterm and term SGA on growth and neurodevelopment are worth investigating.

Methods

An individually randomized controlled trial is being conducted in urban and peri-urban low to middle-socioeconomic neighborhoods in South Delhi, India. Infants are randomized (1:1) into two strata of 1300 preterm and 1300 term SGA infants each to receive the intervention package or routine care. Infants will be followed until 12 months of age. Outcome data will be collected by an independent outcome ascertainment team at infant ages 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months and at 2, 6, and 12 months after delivery for mothers.

Discussion

The findings of this study will indicate whether providing an intervention that addresses factors known to limit growth and neurodevelopment can offer substantial benefits to preterm or term SGA infants. The results from this study will increase our understanding of growth and development and guide the design of public health programs in low- and middle-income settings for vulnerable infants.

Trial registration

The trial has been registered prospectively in Clinical Trial Registry – India # CTRI/2021/11/037881, Registered on 08 November 2021.
Investigation of inter-rater and test-retest reliability of Y balance test in college students with flexible flatfoot
Authors: Zheng Yalin , Feng Renzhi , Hu Weiyin , Huang Peng
Published: February 2024

Background

The Lower Quarter Y Balance Test (YBT-LQ) has been widely used to assess dynamic balance in various populations. Dynamic balance in flexible flatfoot populations is one of the risk factors for lower extremity injuries, especially in college populations in which more exercise is advocated. However, no study has demonstrated the reliability of the YBT-LQ in a college student flexible flatfoot population.

Methods

A cross-sectional observational study. 30 college students with flexible flatfoot were recruited from Beijing Sports University. They have been thrice assessed for the maximal reach distance of YBT under the support of the lower limb on the flatfoot side. Test and retest were performed with an interval of 14 days. The outcome measures using the composite score and normalized maximal reach distances in three directions (anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral). The relative reliability was reported as the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). Minimal Detectable Change (MDC), Smallest worthwhile change (SWC), and Standard Error of Measurement (SEM) were used to report the absolute reliability.

Results

For inter-rater reliability, the ICC values for all directions ranged from 0.84 to 0.92, SEM values ranged from 2.01 to 3.10%, SWC values ranged from 3.67 to 5.12%, and MDC95% values ranged from 5.58 to 8.60%. For test-retest reliability, the ICC values for all directions ranged from 0.81 to 0.92, SEM values ranged from 1.80 to 2.97%, SWC values ranged from 3.75 to 5.61%, and MDC95% values ranged from 4.98 to 8.24%.

Conclusions

The YBT-LQ has “good” to “excellent” inter-rater and test-retest reliability. It appears to be a reliable assessment to use with college students with flexible flatfoot.

Trial registration

This trial was prospectively registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry with the ID number ChiCTR2300075906 on 19/09/2023.
Web-based questionnaire survey for exploring engagement characteristics of advance care planning in Japan: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Nakanishi Yasuhiro , Tsugihashi Yukio , Hayasaka Akira , Nishioka Yuichi , Akahane Manabu
Published: February 2024

Objective

Definitive promotion of advance care planning (ACP) practices will require policy interventions tailored to the characteristics of the Japanese population and society. However, effective policies for promoting ACP are currently lacking in Japan. This study aimed to explore the characteristics of Japanese people who engaged in ACP activities through a web-based questionnaire survey, which was administered to individuals aged 25–64 years and classified into four occupational categories (non-medical/non-caregiving professionals [general population], physicians, nurses, and caregivers).

Results

The total sample size was 1,648, with equal occupational category and age group distributions. Respondents in the general population group were less likely to discuss or document ACP than those in the other groups. Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed a significant difference in the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of the independent variables of “attended cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training session(s)” (aOR: 1.93; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18–3.15) and “having experience in performing CPR” (aOR: 2.61; 95% CI: 1.51–4.54) for respondents who discussed ACP with their families. A significant difference was observed in the aOR of the independent variable of “having experience in performing CPR” (aOR: 4.58; 95% CI: 2.30–9.13) for respondents who documented a written record of ACP.
The interaction between DNA methylation and tumor immune microenvironment: from the laboratory to clinical applications
Authors: Zhu Daoqi , Zeng Siying , Su Chao , Li Jingjun , Xuan Yiwen , Lin Yongkai , Xu Enwu , Fan Qin
Published: February 2024

DNA methylation is a pivotal epigenetic modification that affects gene expression. Tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) comprises diverse immune cells and stromal components, creating a complex landscape that can either promote or inhibit tumor progression. In the TIME, DNA methylation has been shown to play a critical role in influencing immune cell function and tumor immune evasion. DNA methylation regulates immune cell differentiation, immune responses, and TIME composition Targeting DNA methylation in TIME offers various potential avenues for enhancing immune cytotoxicity and reducing immunosuppression. Recent studies have demonstrated that modification of DNA methylation patterns can promote immune cell infiltration and function. However, challenges persist in understanding the precise mechanisms underlying DNA methylation in the TIME, developing selective epigenetic therapies, and effectively integrating these therapies with other antitumor strategies. In conclusion, DNA methylation of both tumor cells and immune cells interacts with the TIME, and thus affects clinical efficacy. The regulation of DNA methylation within the TIME holds significant promise for the advancement of tumor immunotherapy. Addressing these challenges is crucial for harnessing the full potential of epigenetic interventions to enhance antitumor immune responses and improve patient outcomes.
Impact of COVID-19 on Florida family dependency drug courts
Authors: Golan Olivia K. , Ahmed Fatema Z. , Andraka-Christou Barbara , Totaram Rachel , Asi Yara , Atkins Danielle
Published: February 2024

Background

To promote parent-child reunification, family dependency drug courts (FDDCs) facilitate substance use disorder treatment for people whose children have been removed due to parental substance use. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted FDDC operations, forcing FDDCs to quickly adapt to new circumstances. Although existing research has examined COVID-19 impacts on adult drug courts and civil dependency courts, studies have yet to examine the impact of COVID-19 on FDDCs specifically.

Methods

To explore the impact of COVID-19 on FDDCs, we conducted 20 focus groups and 5 individual interviews with court team members from five Florida FDDCs between 2020 and 2022. Data were analyzed using iterative categorization.

Results

Five overarching themes emerged. First, FDDCs adopted virtual technology during the pandemic and more flexible drug screening policies. Second, virtual technology was perceived as improving hearing attendance but decreasing client engagement. FDDC team members discussed a potential hybrid in-person/virtual hearing model after the pandemic. Third, COVID-19 negatively impacted parent-child visitation opportunities, limiting development of bonds between parents and children, and parent-child bonding is a key consideration during judicial reunification decisions. Fourth, COVID-19 negatively impacted the mental health of court team members and clients. Court team members adopted new informal roles, such as providing technical support and emotional counseling to clients, in addition to regular responsibilities, resulting in feeling overwhelmed and overworked. Court team members described clients as feeling more depressed and anxious, in part due to limited visitation opportunities with children, which decreased clients’ motivation for substance use recovery. Fifth, COVID-19 decreased recruitment of potential clients into FDDCs.

Conclusions

If FDDCs continue to rely on virtual hearings beyond the pandemic, they must develop practices for improving client engagement during virtual hearings. FDDCs should preemptively develop procedures for improving parent-child visitation during future public health crises, because limited visitation opportunities could weaken parent-child bonding and, ultimately, the likelihood of reunification.
Loss of Sarm1 reduces retinal ganglion cell loss in chronic glaucoma
Authors: Zeng Huilan , Mayberry Jordan E. , Wadkins David , Chen Nathan , Summers Daniel W. , Kuehn Markus H.
Published: February 2024

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide and vision loss in the disease results from the deterioration of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) and their axons. Metabolic dysfunction of RGC plays a significant role in the onset and progression of the disease in both human patients and rodent models, highlighting the need to better define the mechanisms regulating cellular energy metabolism in glaucoma. This study sought to determine if Sarm1, a gene involved in axonal degeneration and NAD+ metabolism, contributes to glaucomatous RGC loss in a mouse model with chronic elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Our data demonstrate that after 16 weeks of elevated IOP, Sarm1 knockout (KO) mice retain significantly more RGC than control animals. Sarm1 KO mice also performed significantly better when compared to control mice during optomotor testing, indicating that visual function is preserved in this group. Our findings also indicate that Sarm1 KO mice display mild ocular developmental abnormalities, including reduced optic nerve axon diameter and lower visual acuity than controls. Finally, we present data to indicate that SARM1 expression in the optic nerve is most prominently associated with oligodendrocytes. Taken together, these data suggest that attenuating Sarm1 activity through gene therapy, pharmacologic inhibition, or NAD+ supplementation, may be a novel therapeutic approach for patients with glaucoma.
Clinical application of machine learning models in patients with prostate cancer before prostatectomy
Authors: Guerra Adalgisa , Orton Matthew R. , Wang Helen , Konidari Marianna , Maes Kris , Papanikolaou Nickolas K. , Koh Dow Mu
Published: February 2024

Background

To build machine learning predictive models for surgical risk assessment of extracapsular extension (ECE) in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) before radical prostatectomy; and to compare the use of decision curve analysis (DCA) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) metrics for selecting input feature combinations in models.

Methods

This retrospective observational study included two independent data sets: 139 participants from a single institution (training), and 55 from 15 other institutions (external validation), both treated with Robotic Assisted Radical Prostatectomy (RARP). Five ML models, based on different combinations of clinical, semantic (interpreted by a radiologist) and radiomics features computed from T2W-MRI images, were built to predict extracapsular extension in the prostatectomy specimen (pECE+). DCA plots were used to rank the models’ net benefit when assigning patients to prostatectomy with non-nerve-sparing surgery (NNSS) or nerve-sparing surgery (NSS), depending on the predicted ECE status. DCA model rankings were compared with those drived from ROC area under the curve (AUC).

Results

In the training data, the model using clinical, semantic, and radiomics features gave the highest net benefit values across relevant threshold probabilities, and similar decision curve was observed in the external validation data. The model ranking using the AUC was different in the discovery group and favoured the model using clinical + semantic features only.

Conclusions

The combined model based on clinical, semantic and radiomic features may be used to predict pECE + in patients with PCa and results in a positive net benefit when used to choose between prostatectomy with NNS or NNSS.
Multiomics and blood-based biomarkers of moyamoya disease: protocol of Moyamoya Omics Atlas (MOYAOMICS)
Authors: Ge Peicong , Yin Zihan , Tao Chuming , Zeng Chaofan , Yu Xiaofan , Lei Shixiong , Li Junsheng , Zhai Yuanren , Ma Long , He Qiheng , Liu Chenglong , Liu Wei , Zhang Bojian , Zheng Zhiyao , Mou Siqi , Zhao Zhikang , Wang Shuang , Sun Wei , Guo Min , Zheng Shuai , Zhang Jia , Deng Xiaofeng , Liu Xingju , Ye Xun , Zhang Qian , Wang Rong , Zhang Yan , Zhang Shaosen , Wang Chengjun , Yang Ziwen , Zhang Nijia , Wu Mingxing , Sun Jian , Zhou Yujia , Shi Zhiyong , Ma Yonggang , Zhou Jianpo , Yu Shaochen , Li Jiaxi , Lu Junli , Gao Faliang , Wang Wenjing , Chen Yanming , Zhu Xingen , Zhang Dong , Zhao Jizong
Published: February 2024

Background

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a rare and complex cerebrovascular disorder characterized by the progressive narrowing of the internal carotid arteries and the formation of compensatory collateral vessels. The etiology of MMD remains enigmatic, making diagnosis and management challenging. The MOYAOMICS project was initiated to investigate the molecular underpinnings of MMD and explore potential diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Methods

The MOYAOMICS project employs a multidisciplinary approach, integrating various omics technologies, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, to comprehensively examine the molecular signatures associated with MMD pathogenesis. Additionally, we will investigate the potential influence of gut microbiota and brain-gut peptides on MMD development, assessing their suitability as targets for therapeutic strategies and dietary interventions. Radiomics, a specialized field in medical imaging, is utilized to analyze neuroimaging data for early detection and characterization of MMD-related brain changes. Deep learning algorithms are employed to differentiate MMD from other conditions, automating the diagnostic process. We also employ single-cellomics and mass cytometry to precisely study cellular heterogeneity in peripheral blood samples from MMD patients.

Conclusions

The MOYAOMICS project represents a significant step toward comprehending MMD’s molecular underpinnings. This multidisciplinary approach has the potential to revolutionize early diagnosis, patient stratification, and the development of targeted therapies for MMD. The identification of blood-based biomarkers and the integration of multiple omics data are critical for improving the clinical management of MMD and enhancing patient outcomes for this complex disease.
Enhancing diagnostic deep learning via self-supervised pretraining on large-scale, unlabeled non-medical images
Authors: Tayebi Arasteh Soroosh , Misera Leo , Kather Jakob Nikolas , Truhn Daniel , Nebelung Sven
Published: February 2024

Background

Pretraining labeled datasets, like ImageNet, have become a technical standard in advanced medical image analysis. However, the emergence of self-supervised learning (SSL), which leverages unlabeled data to learn robust features, presents an opportunity to bypass the intensive labeling process. In this study, we explored if SSL for pretraining on non-medical images can be applied to chest radiographs and how it compares to supervised pretraining on non-medical images and on medical images.

Methods

We utilized a vision transformer and initialized its weights based on the following: (i) SSL pretraining on non-medical images (DINOv2), (ii) supervised learning (SL) pretraining on non-medical images (ImageNet dataset), and (iii) SL pretraining on chest radiographs from the MIMIC-CXR database, the largest labeled public dataset of chest radiographs to date. We tested our approach on over 800,000 chest radiographs from 6 large global datasets, diagnosing more than 20 different imaging findings. Performance was quantified using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and evaluated for statistical significance using bootstrapping.

Results

SSL pretraining on non-medical images not only outperformed ImageNet-based pretraining (p < 0.001 for all datasets) but, in certain cases, also exceeded SL on the MIMIC-CXR dataset. Our findings suggest that selecting the right pretraining strategy, especially with SSL, can be pivotal for improving diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence in medical imaging.

Conclusions

By demonstrating the promise of SSL in chest radiograph analysis, we underline a transformative shift towards more efficient and accurate AI models in medical imaging.

Relevance statement

Self-supervised learning highlights a paradigm shift towards the enhancement of AI-driven accuracy and efficiency in medical imaging. Given its promise, the broader application of self-supervised learning in medical imaging calls for deeper exploration, particularly in contexts where comprehensive annotated datasets are limited.

Graphical Abstract
Community-based active-case finding for tuberculosis: navigating a complex minefield
Authors: MacPherson Peter , Shanaube Kwame , Phiri Mphatso D. , Rickman Hannah M. , Horton Katherine C. , Feasey Helena R. A. , Corbett Elizabeth L. , Burke Rachael M. , Rangaka Molebogeng X.
Published: February 2024

Community-based active case finding (ACF) for tuberculosis (TB) involves an offer of screening to populations at risk of TB, oftentimes with additional health promotion, community engagement and health service strengthening. Recently updated World Health Organization TB screening guidelines conditionally recommend expanded offer of ACF for communities where the prevalence of undiagnosed pulmonary TB is greater than 0.5% among adults, or with other structural risk factors for TB. Subclinical TB is thought to be a major contributor to TB transmission, and ACF, particularly with chest X-ray screening, could lead to earlier diagnosis. However, the evidence base for the population-level impact of ACF is mixed, with effectiveness likely highly dependent on the screening approach used, the intensity with which ACF is delivered, and the success of community- and health-system participation. With recent changes in TB epidemiology due to the effective scale-up of treatment for HIV in Africa, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the importance of subclinical TB, researchers and public health practitioners planning to implement ACF programmes must carefully and repeatedly consider the potential population and individual benefits and harms from these programmes. Here we synthesise evidence and experience from implementing ACF programmes to provide practical guidance, focusing on the selection of populations, screening algorithms, selecting outcomes, and monitoring and evaluation. With careful planning and substantial investment, community-based ACF for TB can be an impactful approach to accelerating progress towards elimination of TB in high-burden countries. However, ACF cannot and should not be a substitute for equitable access to responsive, affordable, accessible primary care services for all.
Email in healthcare: pros, cons and efficient use
Authors: Ginn Stephen
Published: February 2024

Email is a major means of communication in healthcare and it facilitates the fast delivery of messages and information. But email's ubiquity has brought challenges. It has changed the way we get things done, and working days can be dictated by the receipt and reply of multiple email messages, which drown out other priorities. This article examines email's advantages and disadvantages and, with a focus on healthcare professionals, examines what individuals and organisations can do to ensure email works for us, rather than – as can seem the case – the other way around.
Association of Hepatic Steatosis and Fibrosis Indices With Insulin Sensitivity and Inflammation in the POP-ABC Study
Authors: Colon-Barreto Brigida , Asuzu Peace , Ebenibo Sotonte , Dagogo-Jack Samuel
Published: February 2024

Context

The cardiometabolic significance of subclinical liver fat in otherwise healthy individuals is unclear.

Objective

This work aimed to evaluate the association of hepatic steatosis/fibrosis with cardiometabolic risk markers and incident prediabetes among healthy adults.

Methods

This is a post hoc analysis of data from the Pathobiology of Prediabetes in a Biracial Cohort (POP-ABC) study. The participants underwent assessments, including clinical examination, oral glucose tolerance test, insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion, plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and adiponectin levels, with the primary outcome of incident prediabetes during 5-year follow-up. Liver steatosis and fibrosis were assessed using the hepatic steatosis index (HSI) and the Fibrosis-4 (Fib-4) index, and participants were stratified by baseline quartiles (Q) of each index.

Results

Among 343 (193 African American, 150 European American) participants (mean age 44.2 ± 10.6 years, body mass index 30.2 ± 7.28, fasting glucose 91.8 ± 6.80 mg/dL, and 2-hour glucose 125 ± 26.5 mg/dL), the mean baseline HSI was 39.7 ± 8.21 and Fib-4 index was 0.80 ± 0.41. Baseline HSI correlated with insulin sensitivity (r = −0.44; P < .0001), hsCRP (r = 0.37; P < .0001), and adiponectin (r = −0.24; P < .0001), as did Fib-4 index: insulin sensitivity (r = 0.14; P = .046), hsCRP (r = −0.17; P = .0021), adiponectin (r = −0.22; P < .0001). During 5 years of follow-up, prediabetes occurred in 16.2%, 21.6%, 31.5%, and 30.6% among participants in Q1 to Q4 of baseline HSI, respectively (log-rank P = .02). The prediabetes hazard ratio was 1.138 (95% CI, 1.027-1.261) for baseline HSI.

Conclusion

Among initially normoglycemic individuals, hepatic steatosis predicted progression to prediabetes, probably via mechanisms that involve insulin resistance and inflammation.
Tax Equity in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Bachas Pierre , Jensen Anders , Gadenne Lucie
Published: February 2024

Income inequality is high and persistent in developing countries. In this paper, we ask what role taxation can or might play in reducing inequality in low and middle-income countries. Drawing on the recent literature, three findings emerge. Due to both structural factors and limited enforcement capacity, the effective distributional impacts of taxes often deviate from their ‘statutory’ objectives, in ways that are hard to predict based on evidence from high-income countries. Moreover, administrative reforms which are meant to be distributionally neutral end up having significant equity impacts because of the practical realities of implementation. Finally, the global challenges which tax authorities face to tax the very top of the income distribution appear to be even more pronounced in developing countries. We conclude by offering thoughts on future research and emphasize the need to carefully study equity characteristics of taxes at each stage of a country’s development path.
Clinical significance of exosomal noncoding RNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma: a narrative review
Authors: Yoo Jae Sung , Kang Min Kyu
Published: February 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide, with poor prognosis owing to its high frequency of recurrence and metastasis. Moreover, most patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage owing to a lack of early detection markers. Exosomes, which are characterized by their cargos of stable intracellular messengers, such as DNA, RNA, proteins, and lipids, play a crucial role in regulating cell differentiation and HCC development. Recently, exosomal noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs, long ncRNAs, and circular RNAs, have become increasingly important diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive markers of HCC. Herein, we discuss the clinical implications of exosomal ncRNAs, specifically those within the HCC regulatory network.
Effects of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill. on the growth of Vigna unguiculata (Linnaeus) Walpers under laboratory and field conditions, and the resistance of the plant to insect attack
Authors: Pachoute Julner , Souza Danival José de
Published: February 2024

Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill. is an established biocontrol agent in laboratory, but studies have shown negative effects of temperature and Ultraviolet radiation on its potential in vitro. Nevertheless, there is a lack of studies about its endophytic colonization in vivo, especially in field conditions in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]. In this sense, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of B. bassiana applied to cowpea seed on the growth of the plants under laboratory and field conditions, and on their resistance to insect attack. Cowpea seeds were treated with suspension of 5 x 108 conidia/mL of B. bassiana. The plants were cultivated in two independent conditions (laboratory and field). The resistance to attack of the pest in field conditions was assessed by monitoring weekly the plants three times a week during 12 weeks, from the initial vegetative to the reproductive stage. According to the results, in laboratory conditions, there were significant differences among the inoculated and control plants for the variables of height of the plants (31.17 cm for treatment and 23.00 cm for control plants) and dry mass of the root (2.38 g for treatment and 0.97 g for control plants). In field conditions, the observed pest insects were miner fly [Liriomyza sp.] (Diptera: Agromyzidae), Cerotoma arcuata Olivier, 1791 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), aphid (Aphis craccivora Koch, 1854) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and the polyphagous hemipteran [Crinocerus sanctus (Fabricius, 1775)] (Hemiptera: Coreidae). The treated plants were less affected than control plants by these pests, especially at the beginning of the vegetative phase.
Talking Past Each Other: Construal Level, Utilitarian Motives, and Entrepreneurial Team Formation
Authors: Gray Steven M. , Howell Travis , Sackett Esther
Published: February 2024

Entrepreneurs often struggle to add cofounders who are both interpersonally compatible and who possess complementary resources (i.e., hybrid ties). In this paper, we suggest that there are cognitive and motivational differences between lead entrepreneurs and potential cofounders that complicate the formation of hybrid ties. We propose that lead entrepreneurs prioritize resources, whereas potential cofounders prioritize interpersonal compatibility, because of differences in construal level and utilitarian motives during the team formation process. Although these differences can complicate the formation of hybrid ties, we posit that lead entrepreneurs can overcome these differences by communicating in ways that highlight their interpersonal compatibility with potential cofounders. We find support for our theory across three studies with data from (1) the Y Combinator Co-Founder Matching online platform, (2) an online experiment with entrepreneurs, and (3) a networking event at an incubator. Our findings add novel contributions to the entrepreneurial team formation, entrepreneurial networking, and social networks literatures.

Funding: This work was supported by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation [2016 Dissertation Fellowship Award].

Supplemental Material: The online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2022.16693 .
Competitive Familiarity: Learning to Coordinate by Competing
Authors: Ching Kenny , Forti Enrico , Rawley Evan
Published: February 2024

This paper develops and tests a theory of organizational learning, proposing that prior competitive interaction improves coordination among teammates. We test the theory using millions of experiments in the formation of eSports teams. The results show that exogenously assigned teams of former competitors are highly effective—The marginal returns to prior competitive interaction are even larger than the returns to prior collaborative interaction. The evidence suggests that teammates learn to coordinate by competing, a finding with implications for organizational design and the management of human capital.

Funding: The authors are grateful to UCL School of Management and Worcester Polytechnic Institute for financial and technical support.
Home and away: hybrid perspective on identity formation in 1.5 and second generation adolescent immigrants in Israel.
Authors: Shoshani Anat , Zubida Hani , Lavi Liron , Nakash Ora , Harper Robin A.
Published: February 2024

Immigration is not only about changing countries, but also about shifting identities. This change is especially important for adolescents. This article examines identity formation among 1.5 and 2nd generation adolescent immigrants to Israel. A survey of 125 children of immigrants aged 12-19 examined the role of social structures such as pace of life, culture, religion and language on identity formation in 1.5 and 2nd generational groups. We have identified several significant factors affecting the identities of children of migrants in each group. Looking beyond self-labeling, we argue that identity formation among children of immigrants is a continuous process in which the host country and origin country, both or neither of them, create dynamic hybrid patterns of identifications.
Navigating hybridity: investigating the dance between culture and values within the cuban national education system.
Authors: Fox Brandon , Byker Erik
Published: February 2024

Hybridity is the dynamic relationship between local and global factors that push and pull on people and nations. Hybridity is deeply situated in socio-contextual factors, like cultural beliefs, education, and political systems, that aid and hinder a people’s navigation of globalized phenomena. Simply put, hybridity is how people and societies adapt to a changing world. This article examines the case of Cuba in response to hybridity.

Specifically, the article’s purpose is to examine ways that the Cuban National Education System impacts how Cubans navigate the global march towards hybridity. The article reports on a focused ethnographic study of a week long education trip to Cuba during February 2013. The ethnography includes over 100 hours of data collection, including semi-structured interviews with 26 Cuban participants. The study uses Freire’s (1970) notion of “humanizing pedagogy” to analyze how the impact of the Cuban National Education System values in the context of Cuba and larger global context. The study found that three values in particular, amor, solidaridad, and conciencia de derechos y response, were deeply embedded in the Cuban National Education System and effect the way that Cubans navigate the complex hybridity that situates their island nation.
Beyond the discourse of globalization.
Authors: Robertson Roland
Published: February 2024

This paper deals with the ways in which discourse concerning planet earth is being transcended. Specifically, attention is drawn to the increasingly overlapping relationship between the work of philosophers and anthropologists, one the one hand, and astrophysicists on the other. Woven into the discussion are the issues of the neglect of global consciousness and culture in comparison with the more usual concern with global connectivity. In this respect it is argued that globalization, as it is normally understood, can be regarded as self-destroying when it is considered under the rubric of glocalization. The paper concludes with discussion of the possibility of some form of global governance in the light of the present chaotic state of global affairs. It is argued that some relatively clear-cut image of the world as a whole is a precondition of any systematic attempt to resolve this problem. The attempt to provide such an image rests upon the author’s previous discussions of the global field.
Os Blogs enquanto Espaços de (Re)territorializacao de Identidades
Authors: Tsavkko Garcia Raphael
Published: February 2024

Blogs are a locus of tension between global and local, between online and offline, a virtual place where individuals meet, interact, express themselves in a process of (re)territorialisation among the identity fragmentation of post-modernity and the internet itself. This article briefly debates key concepts of cyberculture, space-time compression, identity fragmentation, among others, in order to understand the role of a (re)territorialisation and (re)signification virtual space or settlement through sharing, linkania and the formation of strong ties among individuals forming virtual communities.
The Politics of Global Health Security: Problemetizing a Social Evidence
Authors: Genest Gabriel Blouin
Published: February 2024

Why have states, in a somewhat short period of time (1995-2005), suddenly decided to “cooperate” regarding global infectious disease surveillance? What kind of “cooperation” is it? Why did states apparently surrender part of their sovereign power to the WHO by giving it the power to declare pandemic at the global scale without state consent? These questions appear especially relevant in the context where issues of health and diseases at the global scale have been explicitly linked with the concepts of “risk”, “security”, “emergency”, “crisis”, “intelligence”, and “terrorism”. The objective of this article is to start answering these questions by first of all looking at the problems and paradoxes of the practices of Global Health Security through an analysis of the microbial space, capitalistic cooperation, and the production of information and data about health security. Secondly, the article draws the attention to the politics behind the structuration of Global Health Security as a social evidence by looking at contested concepts that represent promising research avenues.
Corruption Perception Studies and Anti-Corruption in Nigeria
Authors: Aiyede Remi
Published: February 2024

Perception studies of corruption have proliferated in the last decade. However, there is a lingering controversy over the proper us of the outputs from such studies to benefit anti-corruption efforts. Against this backdrop, these paper reviews the theoretical context of the perception studies of corruption and their justifications. It examined key perception studies of corruption at the global, regional and national levels in relation to Nigeria and discusses key issues associated with them. These include controversies around the definition of corruption, methodological issues such as the reliability of the perception approach to the study of corruption, possibilities of cross country comparisons, the connections between global, regional and local anticorruption studies and the issue of how such studies and rankings reflect power relations. The paper argues that perception studies will be significant and effective to the extent that elites and government officials continue to take the opinion and perception of citizens and other stakeholders seriously.
Foucault Comes to Bakur Sovereign Power and Collective Punishment
Authors: Kök Mümtaz Murat
Published: February 2024

The Solution Process in Turkey has come to an abrupt end and along with it came an unprecedented violence in Bakur (Northern Kurdistan). This paper argues that the violence ravaging the region – especially in those areas where curfews have been declared – can be considered as a practice of punishment that is being employed indiscriminately. In line with this thought, the paper adopts a Foucauldian approach for compre- hending the motivations behind the practice of collective punishment. In doing so, the paper revolves around the concepts of sovereign power and punishment introduced and argued by Michel Foucault. The paper argues that success of a pro-Kurdish party (HDP) in June 7 elections and following declarations of self-rule in the region constituted an obstacle in Erdoğan’s desire for presidency but more importantly he took it as an act of dissent to his sovereign will. As can be seen in the functioning of sovereign power, he therefore punishes those people who are HDP’s main constituent while making an example out of them for potential challengers to his sovereign will.
Territories, Peoples, Sovereignty
Authors: Cassese Sabino
Published: February 2024

Nation States have three defining characteristics: government of a territory, rapport with a group of people and ownership of a sovereign power. All three of these characteristics are undergoing changes. Several developments involve a redefinition of the “State” and produce numerous contradictions, which can only be solved if we consider the historicity of both the phenomenal essence and the conceptual essence of the State. We need to rethink and reconceptualise the State within the context of the new tendencies and transformations delineated by globalisation.