bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Habermas and Capitalism: an historic overview
Authors: Pinzani Alessandro
Published: January 2023

The article reconstructs Habermas’ view of capitalism from the 1970s to his most recent writings. It takes its starting point from Wolfgang Streeck’s claim that Habermas has failed to acknowledge that the real enemy of democracy is not bureaucracy but capitalism and that, therefore, he underestimates the role of capitalism in shaping the global order. It first returns to the diagnoses of late capitalism that Habermas developed in the 1970s and early 1980s and then moves on to some of his later writings. This will reveal that there was indeed a shift of emphasis from a critique of capitalism to a critique of technocracy, but not because of Habermas’ unawareness of the role of capitalism in shaping reality. Rather, he has come to objectify capitalism while looking for legal and political tools for reining it in instead of looking for possible alternatives to it.
Independent Relevance of Different Measures of Adiposity for Carotid Intima‐Media Thickness in 40 000 Adults in UK Biobank
Authors: Pillay Preyanka , Carter Jennifer , Taylor Hannah , Lewington Sarah , Clarke Robert
Published: January 2023

Background

Uncertainty persists about carotid intima–media thickness (CIMT) as a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis and the independent relevance of different measures of adiposity for CIMT. We assessed the independent relevance of general adiposity (body mass index), central adiposity (waist circumference), and body composition (fat mass index and fat‐free mass index) with CIMT among adults in the United Kingdom.

Methods and Results

Multivariable linear regression of cross‐sectional analyses of UK Biobank assessed the mean percentage difference in CIMT associated with equivalent differences in adiposity measures. To assess independent associations, body mass index and waist circumference were mutually adjusted, as were fat mass index and fat‐free mass index. Among 39 367 participants (mean [SD] age 64 [8] years, 52% female, 97% White), median (interquartile range) CIMT was 0.65 (0.14) mm in women and 0.69 (0.18) mm in men. All adiposity measures were linearly and positively associated with CIMT after adjusting for confounders. Fat‐free mass index was most strongly associated with CIMT after adjustment for fat mass index (% difference in CIMT: 1.23 [95% CI 0.93–1.53] women; 3.44 [3.01–3.86] men), while associations of fat mass index were attenuated after adjustment for fat‐free mass index (0.28 [−0.02, 0.58] women; −0.59 [−0.99, −0.18] men). After mutual adjustment, body mass index remained positively associated with CIMT, but waist circumference was completely attenuated.

Conclusions

Fat‐free mass index was the adiposity measure most strongly associated with CIMT, suggesting that CIMT may reflect vascular compensatory remodeling rather than atherosclerosis. Hence, screening for subclinical atherosclerosis should evaluate carotid plaques in addition to CIMT.
Redescribing Our Primary Expertise Or, In Praise of Promiscuous Curiosities
Authors: McCutcheon Russell T.
Published: January 2023

Using Burton L. Mack’s work in Christian origins and its subsequent influence across the field as an example, this essay argues for a form of scholarship in which working on shared problems and curiosities, across seemingly discrete content specialties, is seen as an expertise to be cultivated among scholars in the study of religion.
Teacher Absenteeism and Poor Learning Outcome in Tanzania: Rethinking an Incentive Scheme as a Strategic Solution to the Problem
Authors: Juma Amina A. , Stonier Francis
Published: January 2023

The purpose of this study was to determine the best strategically sound tactical response to teacher absenteeism that would enhance teacher effectiveness and learning outcomes in Tanzania. The study was guided by two theories; self-determination theory (2000) and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory (1943). A qualitative case study design was used to obtain the results. The study used a sample size of ten research participants comprising of eight habitually absent teachers and two primary school heads. Interviews, focus group discussions and an extensive review of literature that cites studies with similar characteristics were used. The study discovered that the issue of teacher absenteeism and poor learning outcomes can be resolved by providing extrinsic motivation, such as a financial incentive for teachers based on their teaching effort, and appreciating the intrinsic motivation at the same time. The study recommends that the government should prioritize teacher motivation as suggested by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory.
Morphological and phylogenetic studies of Agaricus bresadolanus, Agaricus infidus (nom. inval.) and Agaricus romagnesii (Agaricaceae) reveal their conspecificity and variation in toxicity of this taxon
Authors: PARRA L.A. , VIZZINI A. , ERCOLE E. , GEML J.
Published: January 2023

Original morphological descriptions and newly generated ribosomal DNA sequence data of A. bresadolanus, “A. infidus” and A. romagnesii are compared in this manuscript. In 23 specimens we evaluated the main morphological characters traditionally used to distinguish these taxa: shape of the stipe base, odour, size and shape of spores, presence/absence of cheilocystidia, and toxicity. The ITS rDNA region was sequenced in all specimens, except for an authentic collection of A. romagnesii (KW-M 71176) and two specimens with subglobose spores attributed to “A. infidus” (as A. alessii nom. inval.) by Curreli & Contu. No diagnostic molecular characters were found among all specimens examined that would justify the separation of the originally described entities A. bresadolanus, “A. infidus” and A. romagnesii. Based on our analysis of the morphological and molecular characters, we conclude that all three entities belong to a single taxon, whose correct name is A. bresadolanus based on priority over A. romagnesii. The apparent contradiction between the ellipsoid spores found by us in the two specimens of “A. infidus” identified by Alessio and the subglobose spores depicted by him in the original publication is explained by the extreme variability of the spore shape in this taxon. Our morphological study of the two specimens identified as “A. alessii” suggests that they might belong to A. pseudopratensis a member of A. sect. Xanthodermatei or to an unknown taxon. Nomenclatural problems of the names “A. infidus”, “A. alessii” and A. bresadolanus are revisited and it is concluded that the two first names are invalidly published.
Sperberacris, a new Neotropical genus of Gomphocerinae (Orthoptera: Acridoidea: Acrididae) from State of Alagoas, Brazil with chromosome complement
Authors: COSTA MARIA KÁTIA MATIOTTI DA , SILVA ANELISE FERNANDES E , ACOSTA RIULER CORRÊA , ZEFA EDISON
Published: January 2023

Sperberacris, a new Neotropical genus of Amblytropidiini. Sperberacris muriciensis n. sp. (type species) from the municipality of Murici, State of Alagoas, Brazil is described. The new genus differs from other tribe congenera by the epiproct suboval, furculae divided into four long sclerotized lobes, cerci curved inward, apex truncated and sclerotized at the tip and convex bridge of the epiphallus with two large black sclerotized spots. The new species presents a diploid number of 2n = 23, X0♂/24, XX♀, and the karyotype is made up of telo/acrocentric chromosomes, with one dot-like B chromosome occurring in some nuclei. Morphological descriptions are provided along with illustrations emphasizing the most significant diagnostic features of external morphology and male genitalia. Information on type specimens, material examined, and distribution provided.
A Neural Network-based Cloud Mask for PREFIRE and Evaluation with Simulated Observations
Authors: Bertossa Cameron , L’Ecuyer Tristan , Merrelli Aronne , Huang Xianglei , Chen Xiuhong
Published: January 2023

The Polar Radiant Energy in the Far InfraRed Experiment (PREFIRE) will fill a gap in our understanding of polar processes and the polar climate by offering widespread, spectrally-resolved measurements through the Far InfraRed (FIR) with two identical CubeSat spacecraft. While the polar regions are typically difficult for skillful cloud identification due to cold surface temperatures, the reflection by bright surfaces, and frequent temperature inversions, the inclusion of the FIR may offer increased spectral sensitivity, allowing for the detection of even thin ice clouds. This study assesses the potential skill, as well as limitations, of a neural network-based cloud mask using simulated spectra mimicking what the PREFIRE mission will capture. Analysis focuses on the polar regions. Clouds are found to be detected approximately 90% of time using the derived neural network. The NN’s assigned confidence for whether a scene is ‘clear’ or ‘cloudy’ proves to be a skillful way in which quality flags can be attached to predictions. Clouds with higher cloud top heights are typically more easily detected. Low-altitude clouds over polar surfaces, which are the most difficult for the NN to detect, are still detected over 80% of the time. The FIR portion of the spectrum is found to increase the detection of clear scenes and increase mid-to-high altitude cloud detection. Cloud detection skill improves through the use of the overlapping fields of view produced by the PREFIRE instrument’s sampling strategy. Overlapping fields of view increase accuracy relative to the baseline NN while simultaneously predicting on a sub-FOV scale.
Demonstrating Anticipatory Deflection and a Preemptive Measure to Manage It: An Extension of Affect Control Theory
Authors: Money Victoria
Published: January 2023

When people visualize a potential for deflection in future interactions, will they lie to prevent it? Affect control theory emphasizes the salience of deflection management in everyday life, otherwise known as an attempted realignment of experiences and expectations in the face of situational incongruency. Traditionally, deflection management is measured post hoc in an individual who, often disconnected from and unassociated with the situation, reconfigures the experience. This does not, however, speak to deflection management during an active interaction or how an individual might change things in anticipation of deflection. Prior to, or during, an active interaction, individuals have a unique opportunity to preemptively alter the definition of the situation based on anticipated sentiments. In essence, they can foresee oncoming deflection and act to avoid it. Using a vignette experiment, I extend affect control theory by highlighting deflection that is anticipated but not yet experienced. I also show that participants have higher odds of lying in interactions where an honest retelling would incur high deflection. To further inform this cognitive process, I present qualitative explanations from participants on why they chose their responses and how the dynamics of their relationship mattered.
Exploring the Festival Attendees’ Experiences on Social Media: A Study on the Guangzhou International Light Festival
Authors: Yin Shuhua , Fu Chengzhou , Dai Guangquan
Published: January 2023

This article explores festival attendees’ experiences on social media. Data on festival attendees’ posts on the Guangzhou International Light Festival were collected from TikTok. The Jieba Chinese word segmentation tool was applied to tokenize the texts and then classify the high-frequency words and phrases into five dimensions of festival experiences. The five dimensions of festival attendees’ experiences are cognitive, novel, affective, physical participation, and social interaction. A combination of the modularity algorithm and Gephi was used to cluster and visualize the festival attendees’ overall experiences and the different experiences in terms of gender and age. The results indicate that, in festival attendees’ overall experience, cognitive experience accounted for the largest proportion, followed by physical participation, and the proportion of social interaction, emotional experience, and novel experience was less. Moreover, the demographic characteristics of gender and age differ in the festival experience.
Defining the Current Deployment of Neonatal Infusion Pumps in Low- and Lower-Middle-Income Countries: A Rapid Review
Authors: Norton Oliver , Jha Prashant
Published: January 2023

There has been limited review of the reported deployment of infusion pumps in low- and lower-middle-income countries. This paper aims to identify the current distribution of infusion pumps in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs) used to treat neonates. A rapid review was conducted using material sourced from ProQuest, Pubmed, Web of Science, and IEEE Xplore. Twenty-six search results met the inclusion criteria. Within these, 41 neonatal healthcare facilities were discussed with 17 of the facilities having infusion pumps available, 13 limited access, and 11 none. Infusion pump use remains limited in Sub-Saharan Africa so efforts should be made to deploy specialist neonatal care improvement packages, potentially including infusion pumps designed for LLMICs. The effects of COVID-19, to neonatal care LLMICs, should be accessed to ensure progress has not regressed. These proposals aim to aid in the continued improvement of neonatal care globally and reduce newborn mortalities.
Polatuzumab vedotin in previously untreated DLBCL: an Asia subpopulation analysis from the phase 3 POLARIX trial
Authors: Song Yuqin , Tilly Hervé , Rai Shinya , Zhang Huilai , Jin Jie , Goto Hideki , Terui Yasuhito , Shin Ho-Jin , Kim Won Seog , Cao Junning , Feng Jifeng , Eom Hyeon Seok , Kim Tae Min , Tsai Xavier Cheng-Hong , Gau Jyh-Pyng , Koh Hideo , Zhang Liling , Song Yongping , Yang Yu , Li Wei , Huang He , Ando Kiyoshi , Sharman Jeff P. , Sehn Laurie H. , Bu Lilian , Wang Xin , Jiang Yanwen , Hirata Jamie , Lee Calvin , Zhu Jun , Izutsu Koji
Published: January 2023

In the phase 3 POLARIX study in previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, polatuzumab vedotin combined with rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (Pola-R-CHP) significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared with rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) with similar safety. Patients were randomized 1:1 to 6 cycles of Pola-R-CHP or R-CHOP plus 2 cycles of rituximab alone. For registration of POLARIX in China, consistency of PFS in an Asia subpopulation (defined as ≥50% of the risk reduction in PFS expected in the global population) was evaluated. Overall, 281 patients were analyzed: 160 patients from Asia in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population of the global study and 121 from an ITT China extension cohort. Of these, 141 were randomized to Pola-R-CHP and 140 to R-CHOP. At data cutoff (28 June 2021; median follow-up 24.2 months), PFS met the consistency definition with the global population, and was superior with Pola-R-CHP vs R-CHOP (hazard ratio, 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.40-1.03). Two-year PFS was 74.2% (95% CI, 65.7-82.7) and 66.5% (95% CI, 57.3-75.6) with Pola-R-CHP and R-CHOP, respectively. Safety was comparable between Pola-R-CHP and R-CHOP, including rates of grade 3 to 4 adverse events (AEs; 72.9% vs 66.2%, respectively), serious AEs (32.9% vs 32.4%), grade 5 AEs (1.4% vs 0.7%), AEs leading to study treatment discontinuation (5.0% vs 7.2%), and any-grade peripheral neuropathy (44.3% vs 50.4%). These findings demonstrate consistent efficacy and safety of Pola-R-CHP vs R-CHOP in the Asia and global populations in POLARIX. This trial was registered at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/home as # NCT03274492.
Transcriptome analysis of critical genes related to flowering in Mikania micrantha at different altitudes provides insights for a potential control
Authors: Liang Chen , Liu Ling , Zhang Zhixiao , Ze Sangzi , Pei Ling , Feng Lichen , Ji Mei , Yang Bin , Zhao Ning
Published: January 2023

Background

Mikania micrantha is a vine with strong invasion ability, and its strong sexual reproduction ability is not only the main factor of harm, but also a serious obstacle to control. M. micrantha spreads mainly through seed production. Therefore, inhibiting the flowering and seed production of M. micrantha is an effective strategy to prevent from continuing to spread.

Result

The flowering number of M. micrantha is different at different altitudes. A total of 67.01 Gb of clean data were obtained from nine cDNA libraries, and more than 83.47% of the clean reads were mapped to the reference genome. In total, 5878 and 7686 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found in E2 vs. E9 and E13 vs. E9, respectively. Based on the background annotation and gene expression, some candidate genes related to the flowering pathway were initially screened, and their expression levels in the three different altitudes in flower bud differentiation showed the same trend. That is, at an altitude of 1300 m, the flower integration gene and flower meristem gene were downregulated (such as SOC1 and AP1), and the flowering inhibition gene was upregulated (such as FRI and SVP). Additionally, the results showed that there were many DEGs involved in the hormone signal transduction pathway in the flower bud differentiation of M. micrantha at different altitudes.

Conclusions

Our results provide abundant sequence resources for clarifying the underlying mechanisms of flower bud differentiation and mining the key factors inhibiting the flowering and seed production of M. micrantha to provide technical support for the discovery of an efficient control method.
A broad spectrum of host plant responses to the actions of the gall midge: case study of Robinia pseudoacacia L. and Obolodiplosis robiniae (Haldeman)
Authors: Staszak Aleksandra M. , Ratajczak Ewelina , Leśniewska Joanna , Piotrowska-Niczyporuk Alicja , Kostro-Ambroziak Agata
Published: January 2023

This study aims to provide insights into plant-insect interaction during the formation and development of open gall structure on the leaves of Robinia pseudoacacia during gall formation by Obolodiplosis robiniae. This was the first time such far-reaching studies were performed at a biochemical and anatomical level. The gall wall is created from a few thick cells covered with epidermis. This parenchymatous nutritive tissue is rich in starch. Sclerenchyma only occurs around the vascular bundles as a result of the lignification of the parenchyma of the bundle sheaths. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the new structure was reduced and catalase activity was inhibited, which suggests another pathway of ROS decomposition – e.g. by ascorbate or glutathione peroxidase. The gall structure was combined with an increasing level of protein and non-protein thiols. Phenols seems to be a good protective factor; whose level was lower in infected leaflets. Levels of MUFA (monosaturated fatty acids) and SFA (saturated fatty acids) rose, probably as source of food for insects. The amount of fatty acid is positively correlated with the plant response. We detected that non infected leaflets produced C6:0 (hexanoic acid) and C8:0 (octanoic acid) fatty acids connected with odor. Changes in gall color as they develop are connected with photosynthetic pigments degradation (mainly chlorophylls) where the pathway of astaxanthin transformation to fatty acid is considered to be the most important process during gall maturation. Nutritive tissue is composed mainly of octadecanoic acid (C18:0) – a main source of food for O. robiniae.
Disposable laryngoscope intubation to reduce equipment failure in an emergency out of OR setting - a quality control case study
Authors: Simmons Colby G. , Eckle Tobias , Rogers Dustin , Williams Jason D. , Brainard Jason C.
Published: January 2023

Background

Reusable laryngoscopes have been reported to be superior to disposable laryngoscopes with plastic blades during emergent intubations. Surprisingly, at our institution a quality reporting system revealed a high number of equipment failures with reusable laryngoscopes in an emergency out-of-OR (operating room) setting. As recent studies indicated an improved quality of disposable laryngoscopes, we hypothesized that a thoroughly evaluated disposable laryngoscope would result in less equipment failure in an emergency out-of-OR setting.

Methods

To perform a more standardized and time efficient analysis, four distinct disposable laryngoscope blade/handle configurations were trialed during standard intubations (n = 4 × 30) in the OR by experienced anesthesia providers who completed a 6-question, Likert-scale/open-ended survey for product evaluation. The ‘best’ disposable blade was implemented in an emergency out-of-OR setting and equipment failure rates were monitored over a 3-year period.

Results

Different disposable laryngoscopes were equal regarding sturdiness, illumination and airway visualization. The laryngoscope with the highest overall score was significantly higher scored than the laryngoscope with the lowest overall score. All disposable laryngoscopes were more cost effective than the reusable ones, and the top scored laryngoscope demonstrated the highest 5-year cost-saving ($210 K). Implementation of the top scored disposable laryngoscope into an emergency out-of-OR setting reduced the equipment failure incidence from high 20s to 0.

Conclusion

Disposable laryngoscopes are cost effective and superior to reusable laryngoscopes in an emergency out-of-OR setting. We demonstrate that the implementation of a disposable laryngoscope in the emergency out-of-OR setting resulted in a near elimination of equipment related quality submissions which ultimately enhances patient safety.
Upgulation of lncRNA GASL1 inhibits atherosclerosis by regulating miR-106a/LKB1 axis
Authors: Rui Xueqi , Wu Xinning , Rong Zheyi , Wang Zipeng
Published: January 2023

Background

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a common frequently-occurring disease in the clinic and a serious threat to human health. This research aimed to explore the value between GASL1 and AS.

Methods

The expression and values of GASL1 in AS patients were revealed by qRT-PCR and ROC curve. The HUVEC cells were induced by ox-LDL to construct in-vitro models. Cell viability was detected by MTT assay, and apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The inflammatory situation was reflected by the ELISA assay. Double luciferase reporter gene assay verified the regulatory relationship between GASL1 and miR-106a, miR-106a and LKB1.

Results

The levels of GASL1 was lower in AS group than those in control group. The value of GASL1 in predicting AS patients was also tested by the ROC curve. After HUVEC cells were induced by ox-LDL, the levels of GASL1 and LKB1 decreased significantly, while the level of miR-106a increased significantly. Upregulation of LKB1 reversed the effect of upregulation of GASL1 on viability, apoptosis, and inflammation of HUVEC cells induced by ox-LDL.

Conclusion

Overexpression of GASL1 might suppress ox-LDL-induced HUVEC cell viability, apoptosis, and inflammation by regulating miR-106a/LKB1 axis.
Diastolic dysfunction assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging tissue tracking on normal-thickness wall segments in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Qiao Jinhan , Zhao Peijun , Lu Jianyao , Huang Lu , Ma Xiaoling , Zhou Xiaoyue , Xia Liming
Published: January 2023

Objectives

Myocardial strain is reported to be a sensitive indicator of myocardial mechanical changes in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The changes in the mechanics of the myocardium of normal wall thickness (< 12 mm) have yet to be well studied. This study aimed to evaluate the function of myocardial segments of normal thickness in patients with HCM.

Methods

Sixty-three patients with HCM and 30 controls were retrospectively enrolled in this retrospective study. Cine imaging, native and post-contrast T1 maps, T2 maps, and late gadolinium enhancement were performed. In addition, regional myocardial strain was assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance-tissue tracking. Strain parameters were compared between the controls and HCM patients with segments of the myocardium of normal thickness. Subgroup analysis was conducted in obstructive and non-obstructive HCM. Lastly, p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

In normal-thickness myocardial segments of HCM (n = 716), diastolic peak strain rates (PSRs) were significantly lower than in the control group (n = 480) (radial, − 2.43 [− 3.36, − 1.78] vs. − 2.67 [− 3.58, − 1.96], p = 0.002; circumferential, 1.28 [1.01,1.60] vs. 1.39 [1.14, 1.78], p < 0.001; and longitudinal, 1.16 [0.75,1.51] vs. 1.28 [0.90, 1.71], p < 0.001). The normal-thickness segments showed no significant difference in systolic PSRs between HCM and the controls. In the subgroup analysis, significantly decreased diastolic PSRs were noted in both obstructive and non-obstructive HCM, compared with the controls (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Diastolic changes in myocardial mechanics were observed in normal-thickness segments of HCM, occurring before morphological remodeling and systolic dysfunction developed. This finding contributed to a better understanding of the mechanical pathophysiology of HCM with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. It may potentially aid in predicting disease progression and risk stratification.
Intraocular neutralizing antibodies against aflibercept in patients with age related macular degeneration
Authors: Gyenes Andrea , István Lilla , Benyó Fruzsina , Papp András , Resch Miklós , Sándor Noémi , Józsi Mihály , Nagy Zoltán Z. , Kovács Illés , Kiss Szilárd
Published: January 2023

Purpose

To detect immunoglobulins in aqueous humour of AMD patients after repeated administration of intravitreal aflibercept.

Patients and methods

Twenty-one patients (age: 77.85 ± 9.21 years) previously treated with intravitreal aflibercept due to wet type age-related macular degeneration (AMD group) and 18 age-matched control subjects (age: 69.75 ± 12.67 years) were included in this study. Patients in the AMD group received a mean of 5 intravitreal injections (min: 1 max: 17) prior to the cataract surgery. Samples of aqueous humour (50 μl) were obtained by anterior chamber paracentesis as the first step of routine cataract surgery. The IgG content of the samples was analysed by an in-house developed ELISA system.

Results

A significant increase in nonspecific IgG levels in the AMD group was detected compared to the control group (13.37 ± 6.65 vs. 9.44 ± 6.55 μg/ml; p = 0.03). In 11 patients, intraocular anti-aflibercept immunoglobulins could be detected (0.05 ± 0.01 μg/ml) which was significantly higher than the limit of detection for anti-aflibercept (0.04 μg/ml; p = 0.001). No correlation was found between the number of injections or the type of CNV and the aqueous level of anti-aflibercept (r = 0.02; p = 0.95).

Conclusion

According to our results, penetration of non-specific systemic antibodies through the impaired blood-retinal barrier is higher in patients with neovascular AMD than in subjects with an intact structural barrier. Evaluation of neutralizing antibodies to anti-VEGF agents in the aqueous humour can lead us to understanding tachyphylaxis and changes in intraocular immune mechanisms due to AMD.
Utilization of inpatient ophthalmology services in Taiwan—A nationwide population study
Authors: Hsu Chia-An , Hsu Min-Huei , Yen Ju-Chuan
Published: January 2023

Background

This study attempted to illustrate the demographic of inpatient eye careservice from 1997 to 2011 in Taiwan, and also the ophthalmic disease landscape and utilization change over time. These insights might apply to resource allocation planning and trainees’ better understandings of ophthalmic inpatient practice.

Methods

This study utilized Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). Admission records of eye service that occurred since 1997 and until 2011 were included. Records were separated into operative and non-operative. The records were further divided according to their time: a group of early time before 2006 and a late one after 2006.

Results

Patients’ mean age were 56 and 44 years for operative and non-operative records. The sex ratio (male to female) was 1.3, and the average of admission duration was 4 days. The average spending was around 1000 United State Dollars per admission and a gradually upgoing trend was also noted. The number of inpatient eye services decreased over time, from 3,248 to 2,174 in the studied period. Cases admitted for operation primarily underwent cataract surgery, vitrectomy, and scleral buckling during the studied period. Trabeculectomy emerged as another major indication of admission during the later time. Cases admitted for non-operative management were primarily corneal ulcer, glaucoma, and infection, including orbital cellulitis and lid abscess. Corneal ulcers made up a major proportion of admission records in the non-operative group during both periods.

Conclusions

This study described the demographics of inpatient eye service in Taiwan. Ophthalmologist, especially trainees, and officials could make better policies according to the presented results in this study.
Technology and clinician-learner interaction: how clinicians expect introduction of a new electronic health record to affect educational practice
Authors: Caon Julianna , Eva Kevin W
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Electronic health records (EHRs) are increasingly common platforms used in medical settings to capture and store patient information, but their implementation can have unintended consequences. One particular risk is damaging clinician-learner-interactions, but very little has been published about how EHR implementation affects educational practice. Given the importance of stakeholder engagement in change management, this research sought to explore how EHR implementation is anticipated to affect clinician-learner interactions, educational priorities and outcomes.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a group of practicing oncologists who work in outpatient clinics while also providing education to medical student and resident trainees. Data regarding perceived impact on the teaching dynamic between clinicians and learners were collected prior to implementation of an EHR and analyzed thematically.

Results

Physician educators expected EHR implementation to negatively influence their engagement in teaching and the learning they themselves normally gain through teaching interactions. Additionally, EHR implementation was expected to influence learners by changing what is taught and the students’ role in clinical care and the educational dynamic. Potential benefits included harnessing learners’ technological aptitude, modeling adaptive behaviour, and creating new ways for students to be involved in patient care.

Conclusion

Anticipating the concerns clinicians have about EHR implementation offers both potential to manage change to minimize disruptions caused by implementation and a foundation from which to assess actual educational impacts.
CMTM6 overexpression confers trastuzumab resistance in HER2-positive breast cancer
Authors: Xing Fei , Gao Hongli , Chen Guanglei , Sun Lisha , Sun Jiayi , Qiao Xinbo , Xue Jinqi , Liu Caigang
Published: January 2023

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer is characterized by invasive growth, rapid metastasis and chemoresistance. Trastuzumab is an effective treatment for HER2+ breast cancer; however, trastuzumab resistance leads to cancer relapse and metastasis. CKLF-like MARVEL transmembrane domain-containing 6 (CMTM6) has been considered as a new immune checkpoint for tumor-induced immunosuppression. The role of CMTM6 in trastuzumab resistance remains unknown. Here, we uncover a role of CMTM6 in trastuzumab-resistant HER2+ breast cancer. CMTM6 expression was upregulated in trastuzumab-resistant HER2+ breast cancer cell. Patients with high CMTM6 expressing HER2+ breast cancer had worse overall and progression-free survival than those with low CMTM6 expression. In vitro, CMTM6 knockdown inhibited the proliferation and migration of HER2+ breast cancer cells, and promoted their apoptosis, while CMTM6 overexpression reversed these effects. CMTM6 and HER2 proteins were co-localized on the surface of breast cancer cells, and CMTM6 silencing reduced HER2 protein levels in breast cancer cells. Co-immunoprecipitation revealed that CMTM6 directly interacted with HER2 in HER2+ breast cancer cells, and CMTM6 overexpression inhibited HER2 ubiquitination. Collectively, these findings highlight that CMTM6 stabilizes HER2 protein, contributing to trastuzumab resistance and implicate CMTM6 as a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target for overcoming trastuzumab resistance in HER2+ breast cancer.
Perspectives on long-acting injectable HIV antiretroviral therapy at an alternative care site: a qualitative study of people with HIV experiencing substance use and/or housing instability
Authors: Fletcher Laura , Burrowes Shana A. B. , Khan Ghulam Karim , Sabin Lora , Johnson Samantha , Kimmel Simeon D. , Ruiz-Mercado Glorimar , Pierre Cassandra , Drainoni Mari-Lynn
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Adherence to daily oral antiretroviral therapy (ART) and regular clinic appointments can be challenging for individuals who experience adverse social determinants of health. Long-acting injectable ART administered outside of traditional clinic settings may be a promising solution to adherence barriers, but additional research is needed to assess patients’ perspectives. This study assessed perspectives of people living with HIV (PLWH) who had difficulty with adherence to traditional HIV care models and evaluated feasibility and acceptability of receiving a long-acting ART injection at a location outside of a traditional HIV clinic to address barriers to HIV care.

Methods

Qualitative interviews (n = 26) were conducted with PLWH who had experienced barriers to adherence. Participants were referred to the study by staff from Project Trust, a drop in harm reduction and sexually transmitted infection/HIV clinic. The interviews were conducted between May and November 2021. Interviews were recorded, professionally transcribed, coded, and analyzed qualitatively using the integrated-Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services framework.

Results

We identified 6 main themes regarding the acceptability of receiving a long-acting injection to treat HIV, and the acceptability and feasibility of receiving injections at an alternative care site. Participants specified that they: (1) have a general understanding about their HIV care and the importance of ART adherence, (2) prefer a long-acting injection over a daily pill regimen, (3) expressed concerns about injection safety and efficacy, (4) had specific logistical aspects around the delivery of long-acting injections, including location of injection administration, that they believed would improve their ability to adhere, (5) have confidence that they can become undetectable and then complete the oral lead-in required to begin receiving the injection, and (6) see potential barriers that remain a concern for successful adherence to long-acting injections.

Conclusion

To better treat HIV among people who are living with challenging social determinants of health, interventions that include a long-acting injection in a non-traditional care setting may prove to be a promising treatment option.
NK/T-cell lymphoma with rash and peripheral neuropathy as the first manifestation: a case report and literature review
Authors: Tian Zizhu , Tian Jing , Liao Jiafen
Published: January 2023

Background

Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTCL-NT), is a rare, aggressive subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and it usually presents as a destructive sinus mass that may attend epistaxis. However, ENKTCL-NT with the manifestation of peripheral neuropathy is pretty unusual.

Case presentation

A 17-year-old Chinese patient presented with peripheral neuropathy and positive auto-antibodies. However, she failed methylprednisolone pulse therapy and developed hemophagocytic syndrome. The diagnosis of CD30-positive primary cutaneous ENKTCL-NT was confirmed by pathological biopsy. Her disease was brought under control after five cycles of chemotherapy.

Conclusions

The report findings are helpful in the differential diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy and autoimmune disease. We should be alert for the development of ENKTCL-NT when the rash and peripheral neuropathy are the first symptoms and are accompanied by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection.
Ten-year trends in the treatment and intervention timing for patients with metastatic spinal tumors: a retrospective observational study
Authors: Hirota Ryosuke , Teramoto Atsushi , Iesato Noriyuki , Chiba Mitsumasa , Yamashita Toshihiko
Published: January 2023

Background

Cancer treatment has recently evolved due to the advances in comprehensive therapies, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The aspect of cancer-related bone metastasis has undergone a paradigm shift with the transformation of orthopedic interventions for spinal metastasis. We performed this retrospective observational study to investigate the changes in patient status and metastatic spine-tumor treatment over the past decade.

Methods

We included 186 patients (122 men and 64 women; mean age: 67.6 years) who were referred to our hospital between 2009 and 2018 and were diagnosed and treated for metastatic spinal tumors. We classified the patients into early (81 patients from 2009 to 2013) and late (105 patients from 2014 to 2018) groups. The following components were investigated and compared between the groups: primary tumor, time taken from subjective-symptom onset to hospital visit, primary tumor evaluation during the visit, walking capacity due to lower paralysis during the visit, local treatment details, and post-treatment functional prognosis.

Results

Predominant primary tumors with similar trends in both groups included lung cancer, multiple myeloma, and prostate cancer. The percentage of non-ambulatory patients during the consultation was significantly lower in the late group (28% vs. 16%, P = 0.04). Among non-ambulatory patients at the time of hospital visit, the mean time from the primary doctor consultation to our hospital visit was 2.8 and 2.1 days in the early and late groups, respectively. In both groups, surgical procedures were performed promptly on the non-ambulatory patients; however, postoperative lower function did not improve in approximately half of the patients.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrated that in recent years, patients tended to be referred promptly from their previous doctors under a favorable collaboration system. However, the effectiveness of lower paralysis treatment remains limited, and it is important to raise awareness regarding the importance of early consultation among the general public for earlier detection.
Bevacizumab suppressed degenerative changes in articular cartilage explants from patients with osteoarthritis of the knee
Authors: Sotozawa Masaichi , Kumagai Ken , Ishikawa Kimi , Yamada Shunsuke , Inoue Yusuke , Inaba Yutaka
Published: January 2023

Background

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that blockade of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) suppresses degenerative changes in articular cartilage from patients with osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods

Articular cartilage from eight OA patients was subjected to explant culture for 2 days in the presence or absence of 10 ng/ml recombinant interleukin (IL)-1β. The blocking effect of VEGF was examined by the addition of 10 or 100 ng/ml of bevacizumab. The culture media were harvested, and markers for cartilage degradation were measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunoassay. Total RNA was isolated from cartilage tissues, and gene expressions associated with the anabolic response were examined by the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results

Bevacizumab significantly reduced concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-3, and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein in the culture media with and without IL-1β. Significant suppressive effects of bevacizumab on MMP-9 and MMP-13 were shown only in the presence of IL-1β. Gene expression of Col2a1 was significantly increased by the addition of bevacizumab in the absence of IL-1β.

Conclusion

Bevacizumab inhibits catabolic reactions and stimulates anabolic function in articular cartilage derived from OA patients directly, suggesting a protective effect on articular cartilage from OA progression.
Individual immune cell and cytokine profiles determine platelet-rich plasma composition
Authors: Niemann Marcel , Ort Melanie , Lauterbach Luis , Streitz Mathias , Wilhelm Andreas , Grütz Gerald , Fleckenstein Florian N. , Graef Frank , Blankenstein Antje , Reinke Simon , Stöckle Ulrich , Perka Carsten , Duda Georg N. , Geißler Sven , Winkler Tobias , Maleitzke Tazio
Published: January 2023

Objective

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is increasingly popular to treat musculoskeletal diseases, including tendinopathies and osteoarthritis (OA). To date, it remains unclear to which extent PRP compositions are determined by the immune cell and cytokine profile of individuals or by the preparation method. To investigate this, we compared leukocyte and cytokine distributions of different PRP products to donor blood samples and assessed the effect of pro-inflammatory cytokines on chondrocytes.

Design

For each of three PRP preparations (ACP®, Angel™, and nSTRIDE® APS), products were derived using whole blood samples from twelve healthy donors. The cellular composition of PRP products was analyzed by flow cytometry using DURAClone antibody panels (DURAClone IM Phenotyping Basic and DURAClone IM T Cell Subsets). The MESO QuickPlex SQ 120 system was used to assess cytokine profiles (V-PLEX Proinflammatory Panel 1 Human Kit, Meso Scale Discovery). Primary human chondrocyte 2D and 3D in vitro cultures were exposed to recombinant IFN-γ and TNF-α. Proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation were quantitatively assessed.

Results

All three PRP products showed elevated portions of leukocytes compared to baseline levels in donor blood. Furthermore, the pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and TNF-α were significantly increased in nSTRIDE® APS samples compared to donor blood and other PRP products. The characteristics of all other cytokines and immune cells from the donor blood, including pro-inflammatory T cell subsets, were maintained in all PRP products. Chondrocyte proliferation was impaired by IFN-γ and enhanced by TNF-α treatment. Differentiation and cartilage formation were compromised upon treatment with both cytokines, resulting in altered messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of collagen type 1A1 (COL1A1), COL2A1, and aggrecan (ACAN) as well as reduced proteoglycan content.

Conclusions

Individuals with elevated levels of cells with pro-inflammatory properties maintain these in the final PRP products. The concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines strongly varies between PRP products. These observations may help to unravel the previously described heterogeneous response to PRP in OA therapy, especially as IFN-γ and TNF-α impacted primary chondrocyte proliferation and their characteristic gene expression profile. Both the individual’s immune profile and the concentration method appear to impact the final PRP product.

Trial registration

This study was prospectively registered in the Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien (DRKS) on 4 November 2021 (registration number DRKS00026175).
MBi-GRUMCONV: A novel Multi Bi-GRU and Multi CNN-Based deep learning model for social media sentiment analysis
Authors: Başarslan Muhammet Sinan , Kayaalp Fatih
Published: January 2023

Today, internet and social media is used by many people, both for communication and for expressing opinions about various topics in many domains of life. Various artificial intelligence technologies-based approaches on analysis of these opinions have emerged natural language processing in the name of different tasks. One of these tasks is Sentiment analysis, which is a popular method aiming the task of analyzing people’s opinions which provides a powerful tool in making decisions for people, companies, governments, and researchers. It is desired to investigate the effect of using multi-layered and different neural networks together on the performance of the model to be developed in the sentiment analysis task. In this study, a new, deep learning-based model was proposed for sentiment analysis on IMDB movie reviews dataset. This model performs sentiment classification on vectorized reviews using two methods of Word2Vec, namely, the Skip Gram and Continuous Bag of Words, in three different vector sizes (100, 200, 300), with the help of 6 Bidirectional Gated Recurrent Units and 2 Convolution layers (MBi-GRUMCONV). In the experiments conducted with the proposed model, the dataset was split into 80%-20% and 70%-30% training-test sets, and 10% of the training splits were used for validation purposes. Accuracy and F1 score criteria were used to evaluate the classification performance. The 95.34% accuracy of the proposed model has outperformed the studies in the literature. As a result of the experiments, it was found that Skip Gram has a better contribution to classification success.
Asian students in the anglosphere – unravelling the unique familial pressures contributing to eating pathology: a systematic review
Authors: Sun Victor , Soh Nerissa , Touyz Stephen , Maguire Sarah , Aouad Phillip
Published: January 2023

Background

There is no clear consensus on the specific familial pressures affecting Asian students in the Anglosphere, despite the validation of the Tripartite Influence model of eating disturbances in this group. However, traditional familial risk factors for disordered eating can be elevated for immigrant Asians with collectivistic-oriented familial dynamics, necessitating an examination of the culture-specific risk profile for eating pathology in student-aged Asians. This systematic review aims to consolidate and critically examine the literature on the most widely studied familial pressures related to disordered eating in Asian students in the Anglosphere.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted in five databases for peer-reviewed articles measuring familial pressures and eating pathology in Asian students > 10 years old from an Anglosphere country. Following PRISMA guidelines, papers were screened by title, abstract and full text based on the eligibility criteria. Eligible studies were qualitatively analysed and synthesised narratively to assess the relationship between familial pressures and eating pathology.

Results

In total, 14 papers were eligible for inclusion in the review. Eight topics related to familial stressors were identified (1) intergenerational conflict; (2) lack of familial cohesion; (3) parental overprotection; (4) low parental care; (5) familial achievement orientation; (6) parental expectations; (7) parental criticism; and (8) direct parental influence. In multiple studies, intergenerational conflict, maternal overprotection, and familial achievement orientation were significantly elevated and associated with disordered eating in US and UK Asian students, compared to white students. The studies examining parental criticism and familial cohesion had more heterogeneous findings.

Conclusion

The findings demonstrate the perception of Asian parenting styles as overprotective and incompatible with individualist-oriented Western values could increase eating pathology in adolescent and university students living in Anglosphere countries. The synthesised findings of the literature also indicate disordered eating acts as a compensatory mechanism for the ongoing psychological distress generated from intergenerational conflict and familial achievement orientation. Conversely, traditional eating disorder literature on familial cohesion and low parental care may not be applicable to young Asians. Future research should focus on how social appearance anxiety and psychological factors can mediate the link between disordered eating and familial stressors in Asian students.