bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Press and Politics in the Seventeenth Century
Authors: Liapi Lena
Published: September 2023

In its examination of the role of the press in the unfolding of seventeenth-century politics, the chapter analyses how new scholarship has reworked traditional areas of debate on the press and politics: the role of newspapers in the development of public opinion, the significance of print in the ‘news revolution’ and the almost exclusive focus on England (rather than Britain and Ireland) when examining the development of the periodical press. Although newspapers were intimately connected with politics throughout the seventeenth century as vehicles of political debate, propaganda, and diplomacy, recent works in this field have provided more nuanced accounts of newspapers’ potential for informing and shaping public opinion, as well as of censorship. In its description of the news reportage surrounding the 1696 assassination plot against William III, the case study shows that although newspapers were a site of public debate they were not a self-contained one.
Religion and the Seventeenth-Century Press
Authors: McKeogh Katie , Clavier Sarah Ward
Published: September 2023

As in early modern Britain and Ireland there were few areas of life, both for the state and the individual person, in which religion was not relevant, it is not surprising that religion pervaded early modern news media: content, censors, audiences, writers, printers, and publishers. This chapter draws out of this complex morass some key themes including the historiography of religion and the news, the range of sources available to scholars, and an exploration of religious news in relation to foreign news, parliamentary proceedings, national and regional news, and royalist news and protestant radicalism (1642–51). The chapter also includes a case study of papistry and the news, focusing on a newspaper featuring news from the Catholic Church and, more surprisingly, a particular effort to include a discussion of developments in a Catholic religious order, the Society of Jesus.
Un nuevo testimonio de Sempronii en el territorio de Baesucci (Hispania Citerior)
Authors: Gimeno Pascual Helena , Ramos Miguel Pedro
Published: September 2023

Este trabajo presenta una nueva inscripción funeraria romana de La Carolina (Jaén) que menciona a tres miembros de una familia Sempronia.
Los accesos de la alcazaba de medina shaltîsh (Isla de Saltés, Huelva)
Authors: De Haro Ordóñez Jesús
Published: September 2023

Se presenta en este trabajo un resumen del análisis arqueológico de los accesos principales de la Alcazaba de Medina Shaltîsh, descubiertos durante las actuaciones de 2014. El acceso oriental o “Puerta de la Medina” y el acceso occidental o “Puerta de la Ría”, conjuntos arquitectónicos que definen ingresos en recodo en la que fue la fortificación andalusí del estuario de Huelva.
Tema – en väg för att skapa helhet och lugn i det fritidspedagogiska arbetet
Authors: Elvstrand Helene , Lago Lina
Published: September 2023

Artikel belyser ett aktionsforskningsarbete i fritidshem inom ramen för ULF. Projektet syftar till att öka kvalitén i fritidshem och att personalen får verktyg att arbeta på ett systematiskt sätt med läroplanen med utgångspunkt i fritidspedagogik. I utvecklingarbetet, som beskrivs i artikeln, har arbetslaget prövat ett temainriktat arbetssätt där de fokuserat på det i läroplanen framskrivna centrala innehållet för fritidshemmet och relaterat det till sociala relationer, elevinflytande och utvecklande av kompetenser.
Checkboxes and radio buttons: metrologies, cultural policy, and the dispositif of art management
Authors: Kauppinen Asko , Clavier Berndt
Published: September 2023

Cultural policies will be analysed as producing what Bruno Latour calls “metrologies”; that is, measuring devices and valuemeters, and by extension, concepts and instruments that contribute to the progressive socialization and naturalization of art effects such as social sustainability, community cohesion, social capital, and innovation. The case analysed will be the art scene of the city of Malmö, its policies and metrological devices, with a focus on one community theatre project as an exemplary case. The metrologies, we claim, are the ways in which the policy apparatus opens up to larger concerns of what Michel Foucault calls dispositifs, linking art policy to other policy changes and societal concerns in general, and making art respond to those concerns in managed ways.
Numerical demonstration of a topologically-protected electroacoustic transistor
Authors: Kuchibhatla Sai Aditya Raman , Leamy Michael J.
Published: September 2023

In this paper we conceptualize electroacoustic transistors based on topologically protected interface states in a reconfigurable valley-Hall topological insulator. Using piezoelectric media and active shunt circuits, we numerically model the spatial inversion symmetry breaking in a unit cell to produce topological bandgaps. These gaps are known to host robust modes for wave propagation along an interface. We use two such modes to design a transistor where the wave propagation in one topological channel switches on or off a second topological channel between a source and receiver elsewhere in the structure. Multiple such transistors may be combined to develop logic gates. Further, we develop and simulate the behavior of an electronic circuit which enables the transistor action. Our design opens a pathway to novel wave-based devices which may find applications in structure-based computing, as hybrid multiplexers in communication devices, and as structural switches or embedded sensors in robotics and internet of things.
Text classification in fair competition law violations using deep learning
Authors: Kong Yinying , Huang Niangqiu , Deng Haodong , Feng Junwen , Liang Xingyi , Lv Weisi , Liu Jingyi
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Ensuring fair competition through manual review is a complex undertaking. This paper introduces the utilization of Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural networks and TextCNN to establish a text classifier for classifying and reviewing normative documents.

Methods

The experimental dataset used consists of policy measure samples provided by the antitrust division of the Guangdong Market Supervision Administration. We conduct a comparative analysis of the performance of LSTM and TextCNN classification models.

Results

In three classification experiments conducted without an enhanced experimental dataset, the LSTM classifier achieved an accuracy of 95.74%, while the TextCNN classifier achieved an accuracy of 92.7% on the test set. Conversely, in three classification experiments utilizing an enhanced experimental dataset, the LSTM classifier demonstrated an accuracy of 96.36%, and the TextCNN classifier achieved an accuracy of 96.19% on the test set.

Discussion

The experimental results highlight the effectiveness of LSTM and TextCNN in classifying and reviewing normative documents. The superior accuracy achieved with the enhanced experimental dataset underscores the potential of these models in real-world applications, particularly in tasks involving fair competition review.
Live attenuated vaccines and layered defense strategies to combat infections caused by nonencapsulated Yersinia pestis
Authors: Biryukov Sergei S. , Klimko Christopher P. , Dankmeyer Jennifer L. , Toothman Ronald G. , Shoe Jennifer L. , Hunter Melissa , Rill Nathaniel O. , Talyansky Yuli , Davies Michael L. , Qiu Ju , Fetterer David P. , Bozue Joel A. , Welkos Susan L. , Cote Christopher K.
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Plague is an ancient disease caused by Yersinia pestis, a widely disseminated Tier 1 pathogen that poses significant public health and biothreat risks. The rapid course and high mortality of pneumonic plague limit the efficacy of antibiotic treatment and mandate the need for an effective, licensed, and readily available vaccine. New candidate vaccines are being developed; however, their efficacy in nonhuman primates, optimal vaccination schedule and immune response, duration of protection, and breadth of coverage against various virulent strains are inadequately understood. In the current work, we explored homologous and heterologous vaccination schemes using the sensitive BALB/c mouse models of bubonic and pneumonic plague challenged with Y. pestis strain C12. This strain, a derivative of the wild-type strain CO92, lacks the anti-phagocytic F1 capsule yet remains highly virulent. Protection against such nonencapsulated strains has been particularly elusive.

Methods

We tested the efficacy of live attenuated vaccine (LAV) derivatives of Y. pestis CO92 or C12 with a deletion of a type 3 secretion-associated gene (ΔyscN) or the pgm pigmentation locus, and they were cured of the pPst (PCP1) plasmid (CO92 pgm− pPst−). The LAVs were evaluated alone or accompanied by a dose of a protein subunit vaccine (rF1V or rV).

Results

The most protective and immunogenic vaccination scheme, as tested under a variety of conditions in bubonic and pneumonic plague models, was heterologous vaccination with a LAV and the recombinant rF1V or rV protein subunit vaccine. Furthermore, in the heterologous scheme, different LAVs and subunit vaccines could be substituted, affording flexibility in vaccine component selection. We also evaluated a novel intervention strategy consisting of vaccination and post-exposure antibiotic treatment. The layering of vaccination with the LAVs and post-exposure treatment with streptomycin was synergistic, extending the time after the Y. pestis C12 challenge when treatment remained effective and affording a sparing of antibiotics.

Conclusion

The current work defined effective and flexible vaccination and treatment interventions that successfully prevented lethal infection with virulent, nonencapsulated Y. pestis.
Characterization of fetal microchimeric immune cells in mouse maternal hearts during physiologic and pathologic pregnancies
Authors: Lintao Ryan C. V. , Kammala Ananth Kumar , Radnaa Enkhtuya , Bettayeb Mohamed , Vincent Kathleen L. , Patrikeev Igor , Yaklic Jerome , Bonney Elizabeth A. , Menon Ramkumar
Published: September 2023

Introduction: During pregnancy, fetal cells can be incorporated into maternal tissues (fetal microchimerism), where they can persist postpartum. Whether these fetal cells are beneficial or detrimental to maternal health is unknown. This study aimed to characterize fetal microchimeric immune cells in the maternal heart during pregnancy and postpartum, and to identify differences in these fetal microchimeric subpopulations between normal and pregnancies complicated by spontaneous preterm induced by ascending infection.

Methods: A Cre reporter mouse model, which when mated with wild-type C57BL/6J females resulted in cells and tissues of progeny expressing red fluorescent protein tandem dimer Tomato (mT+), was used to detect fetal microchimeric cells. On embryonic day (E)15, 104 colony-forming units (CFU) E. coli was administered intravaginally to mimic ascending infection, with delivery on or before E18.5 considered as preterm delivery. A subset of pregnant mice was sacrificed at E16 and postpartum day 28 to harvest maternal hearts. Heart tissues were processed for immunofluorescence microscopy and high-dimensional mass cytometry by time-of-flight (CyTOF) using an antibody panel of immune cell markers. Changes in cardiac physiologic parameters were measured up to 60 days postpartum via two-dimensional echocardiography.

Results: Intravaginal E. coli administration resulted in preterm delivery of live pups in 70% of the cases. mT + expressing cells were detected in maternal uterus and heart, implying that fetal cells can migrate to different maternal compartments. During ascending infection, more fetal antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and less fetal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and fetal double-positive (DP) thymocytes were observed in maternal hearts at E16 compared to normal pregnancy. These HSCs were cleared while DP thymocytes persisted 28 days postpartum following an ascending infection. No significant changes in cardiac physiologic parameters were observed postpartum except a trend in lowering the ejection fraction rate in preterm delivered mothers.

Conclusion: Both normal pregnancy and ascending infection revealed distinct compositions of fetal microchimeric immune cells within the maternal heart, which could potentially influence the maternal cardiac microenvironment via (1) modulation of cardiac reverse modeling processes by fetal stem cells, and (2) differential responses to recognition of fetal APCs by maternal T cells.
Exploring the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on pre-reading skills among Portuguese children
Authors: Filipe Marisa G. , Frota Sónia
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Although it could be expected that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted preschool children’s abilities associated with later reading skills, research has not yet addressed the topic. Our study focused on the impact of the pandemic on phonological awareness (PA) and rapid automatized naming (RAN) abilities that have been shown to reliably predict later reading skills.

Methods

A cohort of 82 typically developing European Portuguese children (mean age = 64.5 months, SD = 3.47), enrolled in their last year of preschool and dramatically affected by COVID-19 lockdowns, were assessed for PA and RAN skills.

Results

Compared to pre-pandemic normative data, our findings revealed lower average scores on the PA subtest (t = −10.85; p < 0.001; d = 1.62) and comparable average scores on the RAN task. A year later, the same group of children still exhibited lower scores on PA skills (t = 2.87; p = 0.005; d = 0.41). Furthermore, their word reading performance was also below the expected according to the normative pre-pandemic dataset (t = −2.69; p = 0.008; d = 0.29). A further comparison between the preschoolers affected by the pandemic and a post-pandemic cohort from the same school setting (N = 25; mean age = 72.08 months, SD = 3.30) highlighted that the pandemic cohort had lower PA average scores than their post-pandemic peers (t = 12.27; p < 0.001; d = 2.66).

Discussion

These findings underscore the enduring impact of disrupted learning environments on pre-reading abilities among preschoolers. Consequently, they contribute to further the understanding of the effects of the pandemic on the learning progress of young children.
Spatiotemporal variations and its driving factors of soil conservation services in the Three Gorges Reservoir area in China
Authors: Li Qi , Kou Xiaomei , Niu Le , Xia Xianli , Xiao Wenfa , Zhu Jianhua
Published: September 2023

Soil conservation services play a vital role in regulating ecosystem services to prevent soil erosion and ensure regional ecological security. Therefore, effective evaluation and quantification of soil conservation services in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA) are conducive to sustainable management under future global change. In this study, based on a basic database, including land use/cover data, soil data, topographic data, meteorological data, and NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) data as the basic databases, to evaluate the temporal and spatial changes of soil conservation services in the TGRA from 1990 to 2015 at a regional-scale level using the general soil loss equation. The results showed that forest ecosystems (including coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests, coniferous forests, shrub forests, and broad-leaved forests) made a greater contribution (69%) to regulating soil conservation in TGRA, followed by farmland ecosystems (29%). In total TGRA, large spatial variation in soil conservation, such as the highest appeared in the northern hinterland, whereas the lowest was mostly shown in the northwest with relatively frequent human activities and developed industry and agriculture. In general, soil conservation in the TGRA ecosystem gradually increased from 1990 to 2015, with a total increase of 6%. In this period, with the effective implementation of ecological projects, such as the conversion of farmland to forest and natural forest protection, the distributed proportion of forest land area in total TGRA showed a significant increase. In the meantime, the increase of vegetation coverage also helps the restoration of ecosystem structure and function and the improvement of soil conservation services. Our findings will aid our knowledge regarding the ecosystem services of the TGRA and provide implications for future sustainable land management and ecological protection.
Detection of copy number variations based on a local distance using next-generation sequencing data
Authors: Liu Guojun , Yang Hongzhi , He Zongzhen
Published: September 2023

As one of the main types of structural variation in the human genome, copy number variation (CNV) plays an important role in the occurrence and development of human cancers. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology can provide base-level resolution, which provides favorable conditions for the accurate detection of CNVs. However, it is still a very challenging task to accurately detect CNVs from cancer samples with different purity and low sequencing coverage. Local distance-based CNV detection (LDCNV), an innovative computational approach to predict CNVs using NGS data, is proposed in this work. LDCNV calculates the average distance between each read depth (RD) and its k nearest neighbors (KNNs) to define the distance of KNNs of each RD, and the average distance between the KNNs for each RD to define their internal distance. Based on the above definitions, a local distance score is constructed using the ratio between the distance of KNNs and the internal distance of KNNs for each RD. The local distance scores are used to fit a normal distribution to evaluate the significance level of each RDS, and then use the hypothesis test method to predict the CNVs. The performance of the proposed method is verified with simulated and real data and compared with several popular methods. The experimental results show that the proposed method is superior to various other techniques. Therefore, the proposed method can be helpful for cancer diagnosis and targeted drug development.
Oxidation is an underappreciated post-translational modification in the regulation of immune responses associated with changes in phosphorylation
Authors: Karkossa Isabel , Fürst Sabine , Großkopf Henning , von Bergen Martin , Schubert Kristin
Published: September 2023

Although macrophages are known to be affected by their redox status, oxidation is not yet a well-recognized post-translational modification (PTM) in regulating macrophages and immune cells in general. While it has been described that the redox status of single cysteines in specific proteins is relevant for macrophage functions, global oxidation information is scarce. Hence, we globally assessed the impact of oxidation on macrophage activation using untargeted proteomics and PTM-omics. We exposed THP-1 macrophages to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 4 h and 24 h and applied a sequential iodoTMT labeling approach to get information on overall oxidation as well as reversible oxidation of cysteines. Thus, we identified 10452 oxidation sites, which were integratively analyzed with 5057 proteins and 7148 phosphorylation sites to investigate their co-occurance with other omics layers. Based on this integrative analysis, we found significant upregulation of several immune-related pathways, e.g. toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling, for which 19 proteins, 7 phosphorylation sites, and 39 oxidation sites were significantly affected, highlighting the relevance of oxidations in TLR4-induced macrophage activation. Co-regulation of oxidation and phosphorylation was observed, as evidenced by multiply modified proteins related to inflammatory pathways. Additionally, we observed time-dependent effects, with differences in the dynamics of oxidation sites compared to proteins and phosphorylation sites. Overall, this study highlights the importance of oxidation in regulating inflammatory processes and provides a method that can be readily applied to study the cellular redoxome globally.
Interprofessional education: a necessity in Alzheimer’s dementia care—a pilot study
Authors: Dressel Katharina , Ablinger Irene , Lauer Anna Andrea , Grimm Heike Sabine , Hartmann Tobias , Hermanns Carina , Schwarz Marcus , Taddey Tim , Grimm Marcus Otto Walter
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Interprofessional collaboration is seen as an indispensable prerequisite for high-quality health services and patient care, especially for complex diseases such as dementia. Thus, the current project aimed to extend interprofessional and competency-based education in the field of dementia care to the previously understudied therapy professions of nutrition, speech-language pathology, and physiotherapy.

Methods

A three-day workshop was designed to provide specific learning objectives related to patient-centered dementia care, as well as competences for interprofessional collaboration. Teaching and learning approaches included case-based learning in simulated interprofessional case-conferences and peer-teaching. A total of 42 students (n = 20 nutrition therapy and counseling, n = 8 speech-language pathology, n = 14 physiotherapy), ranging from first to seventh semester, finished the whole workshop and were considered in data analysis. Changes in self-perceived attitudes toward interprofessional collaboration and education were measured by the German version of the UWE-IP. An in-house questionnaire was developed to evaluate knowledge and skills in the field of dementia, dementia management and interprofessional collaboration.

Results

Participation in the workshop led to significant improvements in the total scores of the UWE-IP-D and the in-house questionnaire, as well as their respective subscales. Moderate to large effect sizes were achieved. All professions improved significantly in both questionnaires with large effect sizes. Significant differences between professions were found in the UWE-IP-D total score between students of speech-language pathology and physiotherapy in the posttest. Students of nutrition therapy and counseling revealed a significant lower level of self-perceived knowledge and skills in the in-house questionnaire pre- and post-testing.

Discussion

The pilot-study confirms the effectiveness of interprofessional education to promote generic and interprofessional dementia care competencies and to develop positive attitudes toward interprofessional learning and collaboration in the therapy professions, thus increasing professional diversity in interprofessional education research. Differences between professions were confounded by heterogenous semester numbers and participation conditions. To achieve a curricular implementation, interprofessional education should be expanded to include a larger group of participants belonging to different professions, start early in the study program, and be evaluated over the long term.
Magnetic resonance imaging based deep-learning model: a rapid, high-performance, automated tool for testicular volume measurements
Authors: Sun Kailun , Fan Chanyuan , Feng Zhaoyan , Min Xiangde , Wang Yu , Sun Ziyan , Li Yan , Cai Wei , Yin Xi , Zhang Peipei , Liu Qiuyu , Xia Liming
Published: September 2023

Background

Testicular volume (TV) is an essential parameter for monitoring testicular functions and pathologies. Nevertheless, current measurement tools, including orchidometers and ultrasonography, encounter challenges in obtaining accurate and personalized TV measurements.

Purpose

Based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), this study aimed to establish a deep learning model and evaluate its efficacy in segmenting the testes and measuring TV.

Materials and methods

The study cohort consisted of retrospectively collected patient data (N = 200) and a prospectively collected dataset comprising 10 healthy volunteers. The retrospective dataset was divided into training and independent validation sets, with an 8:2 random distribution. Each of the 10 healthy volunteers underwent 5 scans (forming the testing dataset) to evaluate the measurement reproducibility. A ResUNet algorithm was applied to segment the testes. Volume of each testis was calculated by multiplying the voxel volume by the number of voxels. Manually determined masks by experts were used as ground truth to assess the performance of the deep learning model.

Results

The deep learning model achieved a mean Dice score of 0.926 ± 0.034 (0.921 ± 0.026 for the left testis and 0.926 ± 0.034 for the right testis) in the validation cohort and a mean Dice score of 0.922 ± 0.02 (0.931 ± 0.019 for the left testis and 0.932 ± 0.022 for the right testis) in the testing cohort. There was strong correlation between the manual and automated TV (R2 ranging from 0.974 to 0.987 in the validation cohort; R2 ranging from 0.936 to 0.973 in the testing cohort). The volume differences between the manual and automated measurements were 0.838 ± 0.991 (0.209 ± 0.665 for LTV and 0.630 ± 0.728 for RTV) in the validation cohort and 0.815 ± 0.824 (0.303 ± 0.664 for LTV and 0.511 ± 0.444 for RTV) in the testing cohort. Additionally, the deep-learning model exhibited excellent reproducibility (intraclass correlation >0.9) in determining TV.

Conclusion

The MRI-based deep learning model is an accurate and reliable tool for measuring TV.
Host microbiome in tuberculosis: disease, treatment, and immunity perspectives
Authors: Pant Archana , Das Bhabatosh , Arimbasseri Gopalakrishnan Aneeshkumar
Published: September 2023

Tuberculosis (TB), an airborne pulmonary disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb), poses an unprecedented health and economic burden to most of the developing countries. Treatment of TB requires prolonged use of a cocktail of antibiotics, which often manifest several side effects, including stomach upset, nausea, and loss of appetite spurring on treatment non-compliance and the emergence of antibiotic resistant M. tb. The anti-TB treatment regimen causes imbalances in the composition of autochthonous microbiota associated with the human body, which also contributes to major side effects. The microbiota residing in the gastrointestinal tract play an important role in various physiological processes, including resistance against colonization by pathogens, boosting host immunity, and providing key metabolic functions. In TB patients, due to prolonged exposure to anti-tuberculosis drugs, the gut microbiota significantly loses its diversity and several keystone bacterial taxa. This loss may result in a significant reduction in the functional potency of the microbiota, which is a probable reason for poor treatment outcomes. In this review, we discuss the structural and functional changes of the gut microbiota during TB and its treatment. A major focus of the review is oriented to the gut microbial association with micronutrient profiles and immune cell dynamics during TB infection. Furthermore, we summarize the acquisition of anti-microbial resistance in M. tb along with the microbiome-based therapeutics to cure the infections. Understanding the relationship between these components and host susceptibility to TB disease is important to finding potential targets that may be used in TB prevention, progression, and cure.
The antibacterial activity of a photoactivatable diarylacetylene against Gram-positive bacteria
Authors: Waite Ryan , Adams Candace T. , Chisholm David R. , Sims C. H. Cole , Hughes Joshua G. , Dias Eva , White Emily A. , Welsby Kathryn , Botchway Stanley W. , Whiting Andrew , Sharples Gary J. , Ambler Carrie A.
Published: September 2023

The emergence of antibiotic resistance is a growing threat to human health, and therefore, alternatives to existing compounds are urgently needed. In this context, a novel fluorescent photoactivatable diarylacetylene has been identified and characterised for its antibacterial activity, which preferentially eliminates Gram-positive over Gram-negative bacteria. Experiments confirmed that the Gram-negative lipopolysaccharide-rich outer surface is responsible for tolerance, as strains with reduced outer membrane integrity showed increased susceptibility. Additionally, bacteria deficient in oxidative damage repair pathways also displayed enhanced sensitivity, confirming that reactive oxygen species production is the mechanism of antibacterial activity. This new diarylacetylene shows promise as an antibacterial agent against Gram-positive bacteria that can be activated in situ, potentially for the treatment of skin infections.
A novel oncolytic virus-based biomarker participates in prognosis and tumor immune infiltration of glioma
Authors: Hao Zheng , Yin Xiaofeng , Ding Rui , Chen Laizhao , Hao Chunyan , Duan Hubin
Published: September 2023

Background

Glioma is the most common central nervous malignancy. Due to its poor survival outcomes, it is essential to identify novel individualized therapy. Oncolytic virus (OV) treatment is a key therapy regulating tumor microenvironment in malignant glioma. Herein, we aim to identify the key genes after OV infection and its role in glioma.

Methods

Performing an RNA-seq analysis, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between EV-A71-infection and mock group were screened with GFold values. DAVID online analysis was performed to identify the functional classification. Overall survival (OS) or disease-free survival (DFS) was evaluated to analyze the relation between PTBP1 expression levels and prognosis of glioma patients. Additionally, the ssGSEA and TIMER algorithms were applied for evaluating immune cell infiltration in glioma.

Results

Following EV-A71 infection in glioma cells, PTBP1, one of the downregulated DEGs, was found to be associated with multiple categories of GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. We observed elevated expression levels of PTBP1 across various tumor grades of glioma in comparison to normal brain samples. High PTBP1 expression had a notable impact on the OS of patients with low-grade glioma (LGG). Furthermore, we observed an obvious association between PTBP1 levels and immune cell infiltration in LGG. Notably, PTBP1 was regarded as an essential prognostic biomarker in immune cells of LGG.

Conclusion

Our research uncovered a critical role of PTBP1 in outcomes and immune cell infiltration of glioma patients, particularly in those with LGG.
Alterations in the preferred direction of individual arm muscle activation after stroke
Authors: Hong Yoon No G. , Roh Jinsook
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Stroke survivors have challenges appropriately coordinating the multiple muscles, resulting in a deficit in motor control. Therefore, comprehending the mechanism underlying abnormal intermuscular coordination becomes crucial in developing effective rehabilitation strategies. Quantitative analyses have been employed at pairwise or multi-dimensional levels to understand the underlying mechanism of abnormal intermuscular coordination and its relationship to motor impairment. However, how alterations in individual muscle activation contribute to abnormal intermuscular coordination, motor impairment, and motor performance remains unclear. Thus, we investigated the alterations in the preferred direction of individual muscles after stroke and their relationship with stroke-induced changes in intermuscular coordination, clinical motor impairment, and qualities of motor performance during isometric force generation in the upper extremity.

Methods

Twenty-four stroke survivors and six age-matched controls were recruited and performed isometric force target matches while recording electromyographic signals from eight upper limb muscles. We determined the preferred activation direction of each muscle, evaluated abnormal intermuscular coordination through a muscle synergy analysis, assessed motor impairment using upper extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment scores, and examined motor performance characteristics defined by force trajectory features.

Results

The post-stroke alterations in the preferred direction of the brachioradialis, anterior, middle, and posterior deltoid were correlated with the motor impairment level and attributed to the changes in muscle synergy characteristics. Only alterations in the preferred direction of the brachioradialis and posterior deltoid activation in forward-backward and upward-downward axes were associated with the qualities of isometric force generation, respectively.

Discussion

These findings imply that alterations in the preferred direction of individual muscle activation contribute to various aspects of motor deficit following stroke. This insight may serve as a foundation for the development of innovative stroke neurorehabilitation approaches that take into account specific attributes of individual muscle activation, including their preferred activation direction.
Adherence to diabetes risk reduction diet and the risk of head and neck cancer: a prospective study of 101,755 American adults
Authors: Wu Xia , Peng Linglong , Luo Haoyun , Xu Zhiquan , Wang Jijian , Gu Haitao , Wang Yaxu , Xiao Yi , Zhang Chaohua , Xiang Ling
Published: September 2023

Background

Adherence to the diabetes risk reduction diet (DRRD) may potentially reduce the risk of developing head and neck cancer (HNC) as the diet includes fruits and limits red and processed meats, known risk factors for HNC. However, there is currently no epidemiological research to investigate this potential association.

Methods

The present study utilized data on demographics, lifestyles, medications, and diets of participants from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial to explore the potential association between adherence to DRRD and the risk of HNC. We used a DRRD score to evaluate adherence to the dietary pattern and employed Cox regression analysis to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for HNC risk. Several subgroup analyses were carried out to identify potential effect modifiers, and multiple sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the stability of the correlation. The nine components of the DRRD was assessed separately for its association with the risk of HNC.

Results

During a mean follow up of 8.84 years, 279 cases of HNC were observed. DDRD score was found to be inversely associated with the risk of HNC (HR Q4 vs. Q1: 0.582; 95% CI: 0.396, 0.856; p = 0.005 for trend) in a linear dose–response manner (p = 0.211 for non-linearity). Subgroup analysis indicated this inverse correlation was more pronounced among participants who had never smoked (HRQ4 vs. Q1: 0.193; 95% CI: 0.073, 0.511; p < 0.001 for trend) compared to current or former smokers (p = 0.044 for interaction). The primary association of DDRD and HNC risk remained robust after several sensitivity analyses. Regarding the individual components of DRRD, an inverse association was also observed between the risk of HNC and increased intake of cereal fiber and whole fruit (all p < 0.05 for trend).

Conclusion

Our findings provide evidence that following the DRRD pattern may reduce the risk of NHC, especially for non-smokers.
Normal-weight central obesity: implications for diabetes mellitus
Authors: Jin Xueshan , Liu Jiajun , Cao Qiuyu , Lin Jiehua , Wu Guangfu , Liu Longhui , Jiang Shan , Zhou Xin , Li Zhiqiang , Yang Aicheng
Published: September 2023

Background

Current guidelines for obesity prevention and control focus on body mass index (BMI) and rarely address central obesity. Few studies have been conducted on the association between normal-weight central obesity and the risk of diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods

26,825 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were included in our study. A weighted multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between different obesity patterns and the risk of DM.

Results

Our results suggest that normal-weight central obesity is associated with an increased risk of DM (OR: 2.37, 95% CI: 1.75–3.23) compared with normal-weight participants without central obesity. When stratified by sex, men with normal-weight central obesity, obesity and central obesity were found to have a similar risk of DM (OR: 3.83, 95% CI: 2.10–5.97; OR: 4.20, 95% CI: 3.48–5.08, respectively) and a higher risk than all other types of obesity, including men who were overweight with no central obesity (OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 0.96–1.51) and obese with no central obesity (OR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.30–0.91).

Conclusion

Our results highlight the need for more attention in people with central obesity, even if they have a normal BMI.
Upright patient positioning for gantry-free breast radiotherapy: feasibility tests using a robotic chair and specialised bras
Authors: Boisbouvier Sophie , Underwood Tracy , McNamara Joanna , Probst Heidi
Published: September 2023

For external beam radiotherapy using photons or particles, upright patient positioning on a rotating, robotic chair (a gantry-less system) could offer substantial cost savings. In this study, we considered the feasibility of upright breast radiotherapy using a robotic radiotherapy chair, for (i) a cohort of 9 patients who received conventional supine radiotherapy using photons for a diagnosis of primary breast cancer, plus (ii) 7 healthy volunteers, selected to have relatively large bra cup sizes. We studied: overall body positioning, arm positioning, beam access, breast reproducibility, and comfort. Amongst the healthy volunteer cohort, the impact of specialised radiotherapy bras upon inframammary skinfolds (ISF) was also determined, for upright treatment positions. In conclusion, upright body positioning for breast radiotherapy appears to be comfortable and feasible. Of the 9 patients who received conventional, supine radiotherapy (mean age 63.5 years, maximum age 90 years), 7 reported that they preferred upright positioning. Radiotherapy bras were effective in reducing/eliminating ISF for upright body positions, including for very large breasted volunteers. For upright proton radiotherapy to the breast, beam access should be straightforward, even for arms-down treatments, as en-face field directions are typically used. For photon radiotherapy, additional research is now required to investigate beam paths and whether, for certain patients, additional immobilisation will be required to keep the contralateral breast free from exposure. Future research should also investigate arm supports custom-designed for upright radiotherapy.
Oncological and reproductive outcomes of conization combined with pelvic node evaluation in patients with early-stage cervical cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Yisi , Chen Yali , Wang Mengyao , Qin Zhaojuan , Zhang Lingli , Zheng Ai , Han Ling
Published: September 2023

Objective

This study aims to preliminarily assess the oncological and reproductive outcomes of fertility preservation treatment using conization combined with pelvic node evaluation in young patients with early-stage cervical cancer (ECC) through meta-analysis.

Methods

In this meta-analysis, we analyzed studies published in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), and Clinical Trials. gov that appeared in our search from inception to 0 7/02/2023.

Results

There were 17 relevant studies with a total of 620 patients included, of which 444 patients received conization combined with pelvic node evaluation. The combined pregnancy rate was 45.4% (95% CI: 0.34–0.57), the combined live birth rate was 33.9% (95% CI: 0.26–0.42), the combined miscarriage rate was 4.8% (95% CI: 0.02–0.092), the combined preterm delivery rate was 5.1% (95% CI: 0.02–0.092), and the combined recurrence rate was 1.9% (95% CI: 0.006–0.035), which did not significantly differ from that of patients who received radical surgery (OR: 0.689, 95% CI: 0.506–0.938).

Conclusion

Cervical conization combined with pelvic lymph node evaluation for fertility preservation in young ECC patients can achieve oncological outcomes similar to radical surgery while improving pregnancy success rates and preserving postoperative fertility. In summary, fertility preservation treatment using cervical conization combined with pelvic lymph node evaluation may be considered as a viable option for young ECC patients with strong fertility preservation desire, resulting in better pregnancy and live birth outcomes.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/#myprospero, identifier PROSPERO (CRD42023423432).
Case report: The lesson from opioid withdrawal symptoms mimicking paraganglioma recurrence during opioid deprescribing in cancer pain
Authors: Ruggiero Elena , Pambuku Ardi , Caccese Mario , Lombardi Giuseppe , Gallio Ivan , Brunello Antonella , Ceccato Filippo , Formaglio Fabio
Published: September 2023

Pain is one of the predominant and troublesome symptoms that burden cancer patients during their whole disease trajectory: adequate pain management is a fundamental component of cancer care. Opioid are the cornerstone of cancer pain relief therapy and their skillful management must be owned by physicians approaching cancer pain patients. In light of the increased survival of cancer patients due to advances in therapy, deprescription should be considered as a part of the opioid prescribing regime, from therapy initiation, dose titration, and changing or adding drugs, to switching or ceasing. In clinical practice, opioid tapering after pain remission could be challenging due to withdrawal symptoms’ onset. Animal models and observations in patients with opioid addiction suggested that somatic and motivational symptoms accompanying opioid withdrawal are secondary to the activation of stress-related process (mainly cortisol and catecholamines mediated). In this narrative review, we highlight how the lack of validated guidelines and tools for cancer patients can lead to a lower diagnostic awareness of opioid-related disorders, increasing the risk of developing withdrawal symptoms. We also described an experience-based approach to opioid withdrawal, starting from a case-report of a symptomatic patient with a history of metastatic pheochromocytoma-paraganglioma.
Hypericum sampsonii Hance: a review of its botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, biological activity, and safety
Authors: Sun Zhanghua , Li Yanzhen , Zhong Ruimin , Li Ran
Published: September 2023

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Hypericum sampsonii Hance, also known as Yuanbao Cao in Chinese, is a traditional medicinal herb from the Guttiferae family and has been widely used in China to treat various conditions, including dysentery, enteritis, mastitis, scrofula, and contusion.

Aim of the review: This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, biological activity and safety of H. sampsonii and to highlight its potential for medical application and drug development.

Materials and methods: We searched several databases, i.e., Web of Science, SciFinder, PubMed, CBM, CNKI, Google Scholar, etc., for relevant information on H. sampsonii. Additionally, we also consulted some books on Chinese medicine.

Results: To date, 227 secondary metabolites have been isolated from H. sampsonii, including polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs), benzophenones, xanthones, flavonoids, naphthodianthrones, anthraquinones and aromatic compounds. These metabolites exhibit various biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-depressant, anti-oxidant, anti-viral and anti-bacterial effects. PPAPs are considered the main active metabolites with rich biological activities. Despite being known as rich source of PPAPs, the full extent of H. sampsonii biological activities, including their potential as PDE4 inhibitors, remained unclear. Since, previous studies have mainly been based on structural identification of metabolites in H. sampsonii, and efficacy evaluations of these metabolites based on clinical applications of H. sampsonii lack sufficient data. However, current evidence suggest that PPAPs are the most likely material basis for efficacy. From the limited information available so far, there is no evidence of potential safety issues and the safety data are limited.

Conclusion: Collectively, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and safety of H. sampsonii, a valuable medicinal plant in China with various pharmacological activities. Based on pharmacological studies, H. sampsonii shows potential for treating gastrointestinal and gynecological disorders as well as traumatic injuries, which aligns with traditional medicinal use due to the presence of PPAPs, benzophenones, xanthones, and flavonoids. Therefore, further studies are needed to evaluate the pharmacological effects and elucidate the pharmacological mechanisms. In addition, pharmacological mechanisms and safety evaluation of PPAPs on animal models need to be clarified. Yet, further comprehensive studies are required to elucidate the phytochemical constituents, pharmacological mechanisms, structure-activity relationships, safety evaluation, and quality standards of this plant. Takentogether, this review highlights the potential of H. sampsonii for medical application and drug development.
Evaluation of a clinical pharmacist-led antimicrobial stewardship program in a neurosurgical intensive care unit: a pre-and post-intervention cohort study
Authors: Yu Jing , Liu Yan , Qu Ruochen , Wang Ziyang , Zhao Yan , Zhao Yuanyuan , Zhou Chunhua
Published: September 2023

Background: Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant challenge in neurosurgical intensive care units (ICU). The excessive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics is closely linked to the emergence and dissemination of drug-resistant bacteria within neurosurgical ICUs. This study assessed the effects of implementing a comprehensive Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) program in a neurosurgical ICU setting.

Methods: From April 2022 to September 2022, an AMS program was implemented in the neurosurgical ICU. The program involved the regular presence of a pharmacist and an infectious disease physician who conducted prospective audits and provided feedback. To assess the impact of the AMS program, the outcome measures were compared between the AMS period and the 6 months before AMS implementation (pre-AMS period). The primary outcome was the use of antibacterial agents, including anti-pseudomonal beta-lactams (APBLs), polymyxin, and tigecycline. Additionally, the study evaluated the appropriateness of antimicrobial de-escalation and the susceptibility of Gram-negative bacilli to antimicrobial agents.

Results: A total of 526 were included during the AMS period, while 487 patients were included in the pre-AMS period. The two groups had no significant differences in disease severity and mortality rates. During the AMS period, there was a notable decrease in the use of APBLs as empiric treatment (43.92% vs. 60.99%, p < 0.001). Multi-drug resistant organism (MDRO) infections decrease significantly during AMS period (11.03% vs. 18.48%, p < 0.001). The number of prescription adjustment increased significantly in all patients (0 item vs. 0 item, p < 0.001) and MDRO-positive patients (3 items vs. 2 items, p < 0.001) during the AMS period. Additionally, appropriate antimicrobial de-escalation for patients with MDRO showed improvement during the AMS period (39.66% vs. 20%, p = 0.001). Polymyxin utilization also decreased during the AMS period (15.52% vs. 31.11%, p = 0.034). Furthermore, the susceptibility of Gram-negative Bacilli isolates to APBLs was significantly higher during the AMS period.

Conclusion: Implementing a comprehensive pharmacist-led AMS program led to a decrease in the use of antibacterial agents. This reduction in usage is significant because it can potentially delay the emergence of bacterial resistance.