bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Mediating Role of Biomarkers in the Association Between Subjective Aging and Episodic Memory
Authors: Stephan Yannick , Sutin Angelina R , Luchetti Martina , Aschwanden Damaris , Terracciano Antonio
Published: September 2022

Objectives

Subjective aging, indexed by subjective age and self-perceptions of aging (SPA), is consistently related to cognition in adulthood. The present study examined whether blood biomarkers mediate the longitudinal associations between subjective aging indices and memory.

Methods

Data of 5,369 individuals aged 50–94 years (mean = 66.89 years, SD = 9.22; 60% women) were drawn from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Subjective age, SPA, and demographic factors were assessed in 2012/2014. Interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, albumin, cystatin C, N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), fasting glucose, Vitamin D, hemoglobin, red cells distribution width, and epigenetic aging were assessed as part of the HRS Venuous Blood Study in 2016. Memory was measured in 2018. The mediators (except for epigenetic aging, which was assessed in a subsample) were tested simultaneously in models that accounted for demographic covariates.

Results

An older subjective age was related to worse memory partially through higher fasting glucose, higher cystatin C, higher NT-proBNP, and accelerated epigenetic aging. Negative SPA was related to worse memory through lower Vitamin D3, higher fasting glucose, higher cystatin C, higher NT-proBNP, and accelerated epigenetic aging. The biomarkers explained between 2% and 10% of subjective age and between 1% and 8% of SPA associations with memory. Additional analysis revealed that biomarkers continued to be significant mediators when physical inactivity and depressive symptoms were included as additional mediators.

Conclusion

The present study adds to existing research on the association between subjective aging and memory by providing new evidence on the biological mediators of this association.
How Justice Becomes Part of the Deal: Pre-Conditions for the Inclusion of Transitional Justice Provisions in Peace Agreements
Authors: Leib Julia
Published: September 2022

ABSTRACT∞

In which negotiation contexts are transitional justice provisions included in peace agreements? Today, many peace agreements include transitional justice provisions, but their inclusion differs based on conflict and negotiation characteristics. While context thus seems to be relevant for the choice of transitional justice provisions agreed on by the warring parties, very little is known about the context clusters that enable transitional justice. Using data on 58 full peace agreements signed between 1989 and 2018, a crisp-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) investigates the combinations of conflict intensity, rebel group strength, type of conflict, third-party support and civil society participation that led to the inclusion of transitional justice provisions. The result of this exploratory study suggests four context settings that are identified as being empirically relevant for the inclusion of transitional justice provisions. Choices of justice are thus the result of an overall negotiation environment characterized by multiple interrelated context factors.
Approximations of the set of trajectories and integral funnel of the non-linear control systems with Lp norm constraints on the control functions
Authors: Huseyin Nesir , Huseyin Anar , Guseinov Khalik G
Published: September 2022

In this paper, approximations of the set of trajectories and integral funnel of the control system described by non-linear ordinary differential equation with integral constraint on the control functions are considered. The set of admissible control functions is replaced by a set, consisting of a finite number of piecewise-constant control functions. It is shown that the set of trajectories generated by a finite number of piecewise-constant control functions is an internal approximation of the set of trajectories. Further, each trajectory generated by a piecewise-constant control function is substituted by appropriate Euler’s broken line and it is proved that the set consisting of a finite number of Euler’s broken lines is an approximation of the set of trajectories of given control system. An approximation of the system’s integral funnel by a set consisting of a finite number of points is obtained.
Structural health monitoring of railway bridges using innovative sensing technologies and machine learning algorithms: a concise review
Authors: Wang You-Wu , Ni Yi-Qing , Wang Su-Mei
Published: September 2022

Railway bridges are a vital element of railway infrastructures, and their safety can directly affect the regional economy and commuter transportation. However, railway bridges are often subjected to severe loading and working conditions, caused by rising traffic levels and heavier vehicles, and increases in train running speeds makes the bridges extremely susceptible to degradation and failure. One of the promising tools for evaluating the overall safety and reliability of railway bridges is the bridge structural health monitoring (SHM) system, which not only monitors the structural conditions of bridges and maintains the safety of train operations, but also helps to expand the lifespan of bridges by enhancing their durability and reliability. While a multitude of review papers on SHM and vibration-based structural damage detection methods have been published in the past two decades, there is a paucity of literature that provides a review or overview on the SHM of railway bridges. Some of the review papers have become obsolete and do not reflect the state-of-the-art research. Therefore, the main goal of this article is to summarize state-of-the-art SHM techniques and methods that have been widely used and popular in recent years. First, two state-of-the-art SHM sensing technologies (i.e. fiber optic sensing (FOS) technology and computer vision-based (CV) technology) are reviewed, including the working principles of various sensors and their practical applications for railway bridge monitoring. Second, two state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms (i.e. convolutional neural networks (CNN) and transfer learning (TL)) and their applications for railway bridge structural condition assessment are exemplified. Third, the principle of digital twin (DT) and its applications for railway bridge monitoring are presented. Finally, issues related to the future direction and challenges of the monitoring technologies and condition assessment methods of railway bridges are highlighted.
3M™ Petrifilm™ Rapid Yeast and Mold Count Plate Method for the Enumeration of Yeast and Mold on Selected Surfaces: AOAC Official Method 2014.05
Authors: Lingle Cari K , Schumacher April J , Rosauer Micki L , Silbernagel Karen M , Blackburn Jonathan
Published: September 2022

Background

The 3M™ Petrifilm™ Rapid Yeast and Mold Count (RYM) Plate contains nutrients supplemented with antibiotics, a cold-water-soluble gelling agent, and an indicator system that facilitates yeast and mold enumeration in 48–60 h.

Objective

The objective of this study is to evaluate the 3M Petrifilm RYM Plate in a matrix extension study for the enumeration of yeast and mold on stainless steel, sealed concrete, and rubber surfaces.

Methods

The 3M Petrifilm RYM Plate was compared to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Bacteriological Analytical Manual, Ch. 18: Yeasts, Molds and Mycotoxins in a paired matrix study for enumeration of yeast and mold on stainless steel, sealed concrete, and rubber environmental surfaces.

Results

The 3M Petrifilm RYM Plate demonstrated equivalent performance to the reference method for enumeration of yeast and mold from stainless steel, sealed concrete, and rubber environmental surfaces. There were no significant statistical differences between the 3M Petrifilm RYM Plate and reference method results for the three matrixes evaluated.

Conclusion

The 3M Petrifilm RYM Plate is an effective plating method for enumerating yeast and mold when analyzing stainless steel, sealed concrete, and rubber surfaces.

Highlights

The 3M Petrifilm RYM Plate method allows the user to obtain accurate results within 48–60 h in the matrices evaluated for the presence of yeast and mold when incubated at 25 ± 1°C or 28 ± 1°C. Interpretation and colony counting was straightforward and the 3M Petrifilm RYM Plate method required no additional agar or Petri dishes, creating an easier workflow by cutting down on supplies, sample plating time, and most noticeably, occupying less space in the incubator.
Natural forest regeneration on anthropized landscapes could overcome climate change effects on the endangered maned sloth (Bradypus torquatus, Illiger 1811)
Authors: Santos Paloma Marques , Ferraz Katia Maria Paschoaletto Micchi de Barros , Ribeiro Milton Cezar , Niebuhr Bernardo Brandão , Vancine Maurício Humberto , Chiarello Adriano Garcia , Paglia Adriano Pereira
Published: September 2022

Climate change and habitat loss have been identified as the main causes of species extinction. Forest regeneration and protected areas are essential to buffer climate change impacts and to ensure quality habitats for threatened species. We assessed the current and future environmental suitability for the maned sloth, Bradypus torquatus, under both future climate and forest restoration scenarios, using ecological niche modeling. We compared environmental suitability for two Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUnorth and ESUsouth) using two climate change scenarios for 2070, and three potential forest regeneration scenarios. Likewise, we evaluated the protection degree of the suitable areas resulting from the models, according to Brazilian law: PA—Protected Areas; PPA—Permanent Protection Areas (environmentally sensitive areas in private properties); and LR—Legal Reserves (natural vegetation areas in private properties). Finally, we calculated the deficit of PPA and LR in each ESU, considering the current forest cover. Forest regeneration might mitigate the deleterious effects of climate change by maintaining and increasing environmental suitability in future scenarios. The ESUnorth contains more suitable areas (21,570 km²) than the ESUsouth (12,386 km²), with an increase in all future scenarios (up to 45,648 km² of new suitable areas), while ESUsouth might have a significant decrease (up to 7,546 km² less). Suitable areas are mostly unprotected (ESUnorth—65.5% and ESUsouth—58.3%). Therefore, PPA and PA can maintain only a small portion of current and future suitable areas. Both ESUs present a high deficit of PPA and LR, highlighting the necessity to act in the recovery of these areas to accomplish a large-scale restoration, mitigate climate change effects, and achieve, at least, a minimum forested area to safeguard the species. Notwithstanding, a long-term conservation of B. torquatus will benefit from forest regeneration besides those minimum requirements, allied to the protection of forest areas.
Ram pressure stripping and ISM disc truncation: prediction versus observation
Authors: Lee Seona , Sheen Yun-Kyeong , Yoon Hyein , Jaffé Yara , Chung Aeree
Published: September 2022

Ram pressure stripping (RPS) is known to be a key environmental effect that can remove interstellar gas from galaxies in a cluster. The RPS process is commonly described as a competition between the ram pressure by the intracluster medium and the anchoring pressure on the interstellar medium by the gravitational potential of a galaxy. However, the actual gas stripping process can be more complicated due to the complexity of gas physics such as compression and geometrical self-shielding as well as cooling and heating. In order to verify how well the observed signatures of the RPS process can be understood as simple momentum transfer, we compare the stripping radii of Virgo cluster galaxies in different stages of RPS measured from the H i observation with the predicted gas truncation radii for the given conditions. For the sample undergoing active RPS, we generally find good agreements between predictions and observations within a measurement uncertainty. On the other hand, galaxies likely in the early or later RPS stage and/or the ones with signs of environmental impacts other than RPS such as tidal interaction or starvation show some discrepancies. Our results imply that the conventional RPS relation works reasonably well in a broad sense when RPS is the most dominant process and the galaxy is located where the surrounding environment can be well defined. Otherwise, more careful inspections on the second mechanism and local environment are required to assess the impact of RPS on the target.
Rapid Early Progression (REP) of Glioblastoma Is an Independent Negative Prognostic Factor: Results From a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Waqar Mueez , Roncaroli Federico , Lehrer Eric , Palmer Joshua , Villanueva-meyer Javier , Braunstein Steve , Hall Emma , Aznar Marianne , De Hamer Philip Witt , D’Urso Pietro , Trifiletti Daniel , Quiñones-Hinojosa Alfredo , Wesseling Pieter , Borst Gerben
Published: October 2022

AIMS

In patients with newly-diagnosed glioblastoma, rapid early progression (REP) refers to tumour regrowth between surgery and postoperative chemoradiotherapy. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to appraise published data on REP to better characterise and understand this phenomenon.

METHOD

Systematic searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane database from inception to 21/10/21. Studies describing the incidence of REP – tumour growth between the postoperative MRI scan and pre-radiotherapy MRI scan in newly-diagnosed glioblastoma, were included. The primary outcome was REP incidence.

RESULTS

From 1590 search results, 9 studies were included with 716 patients. The median age was 56.9 years (IQR 54.0- 58.8 years). There was a male predominance with a median male-to-female ratio of 1.4 (IQR 1.1-1.5). The median number of days between MRI scans was 34 days (IQR 18-45 days). The mean incidence rate of REP was 45.9% (range 19.3%-72.0%) and significantly lower in studies employing functional imaging to define REP (p<0.001). REP/non-REP groups were comparable with respect to age (p=0.99), gender (p=0.33) and time between scans (p=0.81). REP was associated with shortened overall survival (HR 1.78, 95% CI 1.30-2.43, p<0.001), shortened progression-free survival (HR 1.78, 95% CI 1.30-2.43, p<0.001), subtotal resection (OR 6.96, 95% CI 4-51-10.73, p<0.001) and IDH wildtype versus mutant tumours (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.02-0.38, p=0.03). MGMT promoter methylation was not associated with REP (OR 1.29, 95% CI 0.72-2.28, p=0.39).

CONCLUSION

REP occurs in almost half of patients with newly-diagnosed glioblastoma and has a strongly negative prognostic effect. Future studies should investigate its biology and effective treatment strategies.
Treatment Response in GBM Cells Under Normoxic and Hypoxic Conditions
Authors: Griggs Becky , Allison Simon J , Bruning-Richardson Anke , Vaughn-Beaucaire Philippa
Published: October 2022

AIMS

Glioblastomas (GBMs) are characterised by highly hypoxic regions and the ability to invade into healthy brain tissue promoting tumour dissemination and recurrence; the development of novel anti-migratory inhibitors to target cell invasion and recurrence must consider varying treatment responses in this tumour background. As proof of principle we investigated the anti-migratory activity of two, previously characterised, small molecule inhibitors under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. We hypothesised that anti-migratory drug activity is dependent on hypoxia levels.

METHOD

Glioma cell line U251 was exposed to BIO-indirubin and Y-27632 alone or in combination and activity was assessed in 2D scratch assays under normoxic (21% O2) and hypoxic (0.1% O2) conditions. Live cell imaging was performed and analysis was carried out using ImageJ.

RESULTS

Treatment with BIO, Y-27632 or in combination had a statistically significant effect on the inhibition of migration in normoxia and hypoxia (p=0.01); BIO inhibited migration and Y-27632 promoted migration under normoxia, whereas BIO maintained the anti-migratory effect under hypoxia, the effect of Y-27632 was switched towards anti-migratory activity and combination treatment potentiated. The effect of Y-27632 was concomitant with a phenotypic shift in cells under hypoxia from highly elongated to possessing shorter extensions.

CONCLUSION

An anti-migratory effect of Y-27632 on cell migration was induced under hypoxic conditions suggesting that the adoption of amoeboid migration by the cells allowed targeting migratory pathways under the control of RhoA and ROCK. This confirms that candidate drug activity must be assessed under both conditions to be considered as drugs complementary to chemotherapy as potential novel treatment option.
Survival and Prognostic Factors in Brain Metastases from Breast Cancer Treated with Stereotactic Radiotherapy
Authors: Mitchell Adam , Palmer Kieran , Fitzpatrick Amanda , Bartram Alex , Rockall Louise , Lewis Rachel , Plowman Nick , Lowe Hannah , Scandura Glenda , Panday Pratistha
Published: October 2022

AIMS

Intracranial metastases are common in patients with breast cancer. Stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) can improve overall survival (OS) in selected patients; however there is uncertainty over the presence of prognostic indicators in this cohort. Here, we aim to determine whether the number of brain metastases, receptor status and presence of extracranial disease affected OS.

METHOD

Retrospective analysis was performed for all patients receiving SRT for brain metastases from breast cancer between 2014-2020 at Barts Cancer Centre. Overall survival (OS) was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Differences between groups were assessed using the Log-rank (Mantel-cox) test.

RESULTS

109 patients with a histopathologically confirmed diagnosis of breast cancer were included. The median age at treatment was 52 years (IQR:46-60). Of 103 patients with documented receptor status, 22 patients were ER+/HER2+, 32 ER+/HER2-, 20 ER-/HER2+ and 29 triple-negative. 68/105 patients had extra-cranial metastatic disease at treatment with SRT. A median of 2 lesions were treated per patient (range:1-15). Median OS for all patients was 67.4 weeks. Median OS was 91.4 weeks for ER+/HER2+ patients, 64.9 weeks for ER+/HER- patients, 71.4 weeks for ER-/HER2+ and 37 weeks for ER-/HER2- (p=0.001). Median OS was 55.1 weeks for patients with extra-cranial metastatic disease and 91.4 weeks in those without (p=0.017). Median OS was 72.1 weeks in patients with 1-2 brain metastases and 53.7 in those with extensive (3+) brain metastases, however this was not statistically significant (p=0.892).

CONCLUSION

A trend towards worse OS in patients with triple-negative receptor status and extra-cranial metastatic disease at treatment with SRT warrants further investigation.
Proportionality in Criminal Sentencing: A Cognitive Hypothesis
Authors: Petrov Philip
Published: September 2022

Research into the cognitive psychology of proportionality—here, the familiar idea that the severity of the punishment should reflect the severity of the crime—can enrich the study of US criminal sentencing and identify new connections between research in law, psychology and philosophy. This article presents a cognitive-psychological model of proportionality and shows how the model helps to illuminate the behaviour of a range of sentencing decision makers. According to this model, the way in which people tend to mentally represent and compute proportionality means that the latter has at least two behaviourally important features: it is both cognitively intuitive and difficult non-arbitrarily to apply to prison sentences, in well-defined senses of those terms. The interaction between these two features helps to account for data points such as the following: (i) why the original US Sentencing Commission tried to, but did not, base the US Sentencing Guidelines on a retributivist rationale; (ii) why sentencing decision makers are likely to have political-rhetorical flexibility in deciding whether to use the concept of proportionality; and (iii) why several federal judges have observed that sentencing decision makers are susceptible to anchoring. Attending to the psychology of proportionality also yields normative implications and suggestions for future research.
Urban Tourism
Authors: Furnée Jan Hein
Published: September 2022

Since the seventeenth century, visiting cities for pleasure transformed from a predominant male elite pastime to a middle-class family activity, and finally a mass phenomenon accessible to men and women of all classes and generations. Drawing examples from a selection of European and American cities, this chapter demonstrates that motivations and experiences of urban tourists, despite evident differences and changes, also show some remarkable continuities. Not only with regard to their very first impressions of unfamiliar cities and their elementary strategies of navigating and sightseeing, but also in their enduring quest to search for spiritual enrichment through personal encounters with religion, art and history; their search for shared pleasures and exotic otherness in urban entertainment; their fascination for transgressing ethnic, class, gender, sexual, and other boundaries; as well as in their perennial hunt for souvenirs.
Medieval Tourism
Authors: Craig Kate M.
Published: September 2022

The intersection of medieval history and tourism history is not methodologically straightforward. Although some aspects of late medieval pilgrimage culture (the existence of guidebooks, souvenirs, set itineraries, etc.) correspond to modern expectations of tourism, medieval travel was a more complex phenomenon than the commercial infrastructure that sustained it. Medieval travel affected the traveler’s perception of self and their place in society, and medieval travel literature promoted and reinforced certain visions of the world; it was also not limited to Christian European travelers. Discarding the idea that tourism is neatly separable from other categories of travel (pilgrimage, missionary work, exile) should allow historians of tourism to consider medieval travelers as comparative models for modern travelers rather than simple precursors, and medieval historians to move beyond the negative moral associations of “tourism” to identify aspects of leisure and pleasure within the world of medieval travel.
Grand Tour
Authors: Verhoeven Gerrit
Published: September 2022

Our present-day understanding of the classic Grand Tour hovers between identification and estrangement. On the one hand, there is a tendency among scholars to tone down the differences between early modern travel and modern tourism. Focusing on apparent similarities—the fascination for Michelangelo’s Last Judgment, the burgeoning tourism industry, the craving for souvenirs, and so on—the Grand Tour traveler becomes a tourist avant la lettre. On the other hand, there is also a strand to maximize the differences by emphasizing the danger and discomfort involved. Focusing on highwaymen and pirates, spectacular accidents, religious intolerance, epidemic diseases, and other calamities, a black-and-white opposition is created between our bland vacationing and its more spectacular premodern variant. To move beyond these classic, binary storylines on the Grand Tour, a more evolutionary lens will be explored here. How did early modern travel evolve in terms of space and time, the social profile of the travelers, and their motivations?
The Experiences of Caretaking and Financial Stress among Social Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Cederbaum Julie A , Zerden Lisa de Saxe , Ross Abigail M , Zelnick Jennifer R , Pak Hee-Eun (Helen) , Ruth Betty J
Published: September 2022

Social workers have engaged in promotive, preventive, and intervention work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Given that social workers are disproportionately women, and the essential nature of practice during the pandemic, how social workers experience caretaking and financial stressors warrants examination. Data are drawn from a larger cross-sectional survey of U.S.-based social workers (N = 3,118) conducted from June to August 2020. A convergent mixed-methods design included thematic content analysis and univariate, ordinal, and linear regression models. The sample was 90 percent female; average age was 46.4 years. Although 44 percent indicated moderate or significant caretaking stress, results varied by race/ethnicity, workplace setting, and age. Social workers of color were more likely to report caretaking (p < .001) and financial stress (p < .001) compared with White counterparts. Social workers in children/family services were more likely to report increased financial stress (p < .004). Older age was protective for both caretaking (p < .001) and financial stress (p < .001). Three distinct subthemes were found in caretaking stress (work/life balance, safety concerns, and positionality) and two in financial stress (uncertainty and absence of workplace recognition). Understanding workforce stressors may help organizations and policymakers better support an essential workforce integral to the United States’ COVID-19 response and recovery.
Resveratrol regulates PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy via the lncRNA ZFAS1-miR-150-5p-PINK1 axis, and enhances the antitumor activity of paclitaxel against non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Kong Fanhua , Xie Chuan , Zhao Xudong , Zong Xiang , Bu Lingguo , Zhang Bo , Tian Hui , Ma Shengjun
Published: September 2022

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a common malignant subtype of lung cancer with high mortality. Resveratrol (RSV) is a natural molecule that regulates mitochondrial metabolism. Here, we explored the effect of RSV on NSCLC cell mitophagy and paclitaxel (PTX) resistance. LncRNA ZFAS1, miR-150-5p, and PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) expressions in NSCLC cells were analyzed by RT-qPCR. Levels of PINK1, Parkin and autophagy related molecules LC3I and LC3II were assessed by western blot. Mitophagy was demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy. Luciferase reporter assay revealed that miR-150-5p directly interacted with ZFAS1 or PINK1. MTT was performed to test the IC50 of NSCLC cells. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were measured with CCK-8, EdU, and TUNEL assays. A549/PTX cells exhibited a higher mitophagy activity, and chemoresistance, whereas RSV suppressed PTX resistance and mitophagy in NSCLC cells. Furthermore, ZFAS1 was found to be a downstream effector of RSV in NSCLC cells. We next found ZFAS1 directly interacted with miR-150-5p and regulated the expression of a key mitophagy regulator PINK1. In addition, RSV modulated PTX resistance and mitophagy in NSCLC via ZFAS1/miR-150-5p/PINK1 axis. We validate that RSV influences mitophagy and PTX resistance in NSCLC via ZFAS1/miR-150-5p mediated PINK1/Parkin pathway. Combining these 2 drugs may be a new option of NSCLC therapy.
Screening and Assessment of Cancer-Related Fatigue: An Executive Summary and Road Map for Clinical Implementation
Authors: Cohn Joy C. , Harrington Shana , Lee Jeannette Q. , Malone Daniel , Fisher Mary Insana
Published: September 2022

Background:

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) prevalence is reported as high as 90%. Cancer-related fatigue is multidimensional and associated with lower health-related quality of life. Effective screening and assessment are dependent upon use of valid, reliable, and clinically feasible measures. This Executive Summary of the Screening and Assessment of Cancer-related Fatigue Clinical Practice Guideline provides recommendations for best measures to screen and assess for CRF based on the quality and level of evidence, psychometric strength of the tools, and clinical utility.

Methods:

After a systematic review of the literature, studies evaluating CRF measurement tools were assessed for quality; data extraction included psychometrics and clinical utility. Measurement tools were categorized as either screens or assessments.

Results:

Four screens are recommended: European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory, the Distress Thermometer, and the One-Item Fatigue Scale. Eight assessments are recommended: Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy—Fatigue, Piper Fatigue Scale—Revised, Brief Fatigue Inventory, Cancer Fatigue Scale, Fatigue Symptom Inventory, Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Fatigue Short Form and CAT, and Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20.

Discussion:

This Executive Summary is a synopsis of and road map for implementation of the Clinical Practice Guideline for Screening and Assessment of CRF. Review of the full Clinical Practice Guideline is recommended [10.1093/ptj/pzac120]. Additional research focused on responsiveness of instruments is needed in order to consider them for use as outcome measures. Screening and assessing CRF will result in opportunities to improve the quality of life of individuals with cancer.
Molecular diagnosis and treatment of meningiomas: an expert consensus (2022)
Authors: Deng Jiaojiao , Hua Lingyang , Bian Liuguan , Chen Hong , Chen Ligang , Cheng Hongwei , Dou Changwu , Geng Dangmurenjiapu , Hong Tao , Ji Hongming , Jiang Yugang , Lan Qing , Li Gang , Liu Zhixiong , Qi Songtao , Qu Yan , Shi Songsheng , Sun Xiaochuan , Wang Haijun , You Yongping , Yu Hualin , Yue Shuyuan , Zhang Jianming , Zhang Xiaohua , Wang Shuo , Mao Ying , Zhong Ping , Gong Ye
Published: September 2022

Meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial neoplasm with diverse pathological types and complicated clinical manifestations. The fifth edition of the WHO Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System (WHO CNS5), published in 2021, introduces major changes that advance the role of molecular diagnostics in meningiomas. To follow the revision of WHO CNS5, this expert consensus statement was formed jointly by the Group of Neuro-Oncology, Society of Neurosurgery, Chinese Medical Association together with neuropathologists and evidence-based experts. The consensus provides reference points to integrate key biomarkers into stratification and clinical decision making for meningioma patients.
Historical Legacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine Education in Canada: The Case of Henry C. Lu
Authors: Yang Li-Wen , Wang Li-Li , Jia Rong-Man
Published: September 2022

This article begins with a review of the publications by Dr. Henry C. Lu, a Canadian-Chinese traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) scholar, educator and writer, and founder of a Vancouver-based TCM college. Dr. Lu has translated many TCM classics and written books extensively on TCM education, TCM clinical practice and Mandarin-Chinese grammar. Aside from his widespread prominence as one of the representative English translators of Huangdi Neijing (The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic), Dr. Lu is also noted for his pioneering role in the promotion of TCM education in British Columbia, where he lived and worked for more than half of his life. By making references to and drawing lessons from Dr. Lu’s four-decade-long efforts to help TCM gain legal status and to promote wider application of TCM in Canada, this article also puts forth suggestions for overseas TCM education and international TCM standards for building a global community with a shared future.
Transmission of Ancient Chinese Forensic Medicine in the West: The View from Xiyuan Jilu (Records for Vindication)
Authors: Yin Li
Published: September 2022

Chinese forensic medicine has a long and brilliant history, and the forensic knowledge in ancient China represents the world’s highest medicolegal level at the time. Among all extant essays and works on China’s early medical jurisprudence, Xiyuan Jilu (Records for Vindication) written by Song Ci in 1247 CE, during the Southern Song dynasty, is the oldest text on legal medicine in the world. Subsequently, this work went through successive editions and expansions. The book was not simply a manual providing instruction on conducting inquests; it also established standards for all judicial practices in ancient China. From the beginning of the 18th century, the earliest existing Yuan edition and subsequent editions of this book were translated. They contributed to the broad dissemination of ancient Chinese forensic culture in the West. By discussing the diffusion of Xiyuan Jilu and its corresponding studies in the Western world, this paper intends to expound on the cultural transmission of early Chinese forensic medicine, and reveal its values and impacts on the history and development of legal medicine worldwide to provide an illustrative example of Sino-Western medical and cultural exchange.
Historical Medical Exchanges Following the Confluence of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine: Coexistence and Mutual Development
Authors: Chen Shi-Yun , Qu Kun , Liu Xiao-Jie , Chen Zhan
Published: September 2022

This article examines the overall characteristics of historical medical exchanges between China and foreign countries, analyzing their contribution to the development of medicines in the world. It presents a summary of historical experiences of the development of medicines through mutual exchanges. It also provides an objective analysis of the effects of the eastward dissemination of Western medicine on traditional Chinese medicine. The history of their exchanges can be used as a mirror for each to learn from the other’s strengths to offset their own weakness, and achieve the coordinated and balanced development of both traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine. Such balanced development would enable the world’s medicinal systems to thrive and protect the health of people worldwide.
Reception of Translated Classics of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Spanish-speaking World: A Survey of Seven Spanish Versions of Huangdi Neijing (The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic)
Authors: Hu Wen-Wen
Published: September 2022

Previous studies on translations of Huangdi Neijing (The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic) have focused on English versions; little attention has been given to non-English translations. The present study is the first investigation of the reception of the seven Spanish versions of Huangdi Neijing in terms of three parameters: collection records in libraries worldwide; book reviews and citation counts in international journals; and customer reviews on Amazon. The results revealed four features of Spanish translations and communication of Huangdi Neijing in terms of reception of academia, reception of general readers, the center of translation and communication, and the role of Chinese scholars. These factors demonstrate the marginal status of Spanish translations of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) classics. The implications are summarized in hopes of promoting the translation and communication of TCM classics in the Spanish-speaking world and to provide insights into the communication of TCM culture in the non-English-speaking world.
Short dual antiplatelet therapy in patients with high bleeding risk undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Junyan , Chen Zhongxiu , Li Chen , Wang Duolao , He Siyu , Luo Chaoyu , Luo Fangbo , He Yong
Published: September 2022

Background

The efficacy and safety of an abbreviated duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in patients with high bleeding risk (HBR) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (PCI-HBR patients) remain controversial.

Methods

The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, and Ovid MEDLINE databases were searched. Studies that enrolled PCI-HBR patients as research subjects, compared different DAPT durations, and reported incidences of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and net adverse clinical events (NACE) in PCI-HBR patients were obtained. The studies were stratified according to the DAPT duration (1, 3, and 6 months), and meta-analysis was subsequently performed.

Results

Nine studies (10 cohorts) were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with those who received DAPT for >1 month, PCI-HBR patients who received the 1-month DAPT regimen had comparable risks of NACE and MACE. Compared to those who received DAPT for >3 months, the risk of developing MACE in PCI-HBR patients who received the 3-month DAPT was not increased; however, the risk of ischemic stroke and stent thrombosis increased. Compared to those who received DAPT for >6 months, patients who received the 6-month DAPT had a reduction in the risk of major bleeding without an increase in NACE and MACE.

Conclusions

Shortening the DAPT regimen to 1 or 6 months did not increase the risk of MACE, and the 6-month DAPT regimen reduced the risk of major bleeding. However, the 3-month DAPT regimen increased the risk of ischemic stroke. Thus, shortened DAPT reduced the risk of MACE and bleeding, with a small absolute increase in ischemic strokes.
Switching to tenofovir alafenamide versus continued therapy in chronic hepatitis B patients who were treated with entecavir: A prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled study
Authors: Sato Kosuke , Inoue Jun , Akahane Takehiro , Kobayashi Tomoo , Sato Shuichi , Kisara Norihiro , Ninomiya Masashi , Iwata Tomoaki , Sano Akitoshi , Tsuruoka Mio , Onuki Masazumi , Masamune Atsushi
Published: September 2022

Backgrounds:

Entecavir (ETV) and tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) have been used widely to treat patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, but it is still unclear how best to use these drugs. Although some studies compared the efficacies of treatment switch from ETV to TAF, there has been no randomized study.

Methods:

We performed a prospective multicenter randomized controlled study in which subjects were enrolled from April 2018 to June 2019 and observed for 2 years until March 2021 to clarify the efficacy and safety of switching from ETV to TAF.

Results:

Thirty-three patients were enrolled and randomized into 2 groups, and a total of 30 patients were evaluated; a TAF-switching group (n = 16) and an ETV-continuing group (n = 14). The mean age of the 30 patients was 61 years old and 18 patients (60%) were male. The serum HBV DNA in all patients were below detection limit. The mean change in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels after 2 years was not significantly different between the TAF and ETV groups (–0.08 vs –0.20 log IU/mL, P = .07). Comparing the group with a HBsAg decline (≤ –0.1 log IU/mL) and a group without a HBsAg decline in an overall analysis, the prior ETV duration was significantly shorter in the HBsAg-declined group (49 vs 92 months, P = .03). Although the eGFR levels tended to decrease in the TAF group compared to ETV (–6.15 vs –2.26 mL/min/1.73 m2, P = .09), no significant differences were observed in patients with baseline eGFR < 60 (–2.49 vs 0.40 mL/min/1.73 m2, P = .25).

Conclusion:

The efficacy and safety were comparable in the TAF-switching group and the ETV-continuing group. Because the present study was conducted in limited patients, a larger study will be required.
A case report of pelviscopic resection of lipoleiomyoma originating from the uterine cervix in a postmenopausal woman
Authors: Kim Yun Sook , Lee Ji Hye
Published: September 2022

Rationale:

Lipoleiomyoma is a rare neoplasm of the uterus. It is considered a variant of uterine myomas. Its reported incidence varies from 0.03% to 0.2%. Lipoleiomyoma consists of variable proportions of mature lipocytes and smooth muscle cells. These tumors generally occur in asymptomatic obese perimenopausal or postmenopausal women. About 90.7% of lipoleiomyomas arise from the uterine corpus, with only 6.5% arising from the cervix. When it occurs in the cervix, it is difficult to diagnose and treat it. We report an uncommon case of pelviscopic resection of uterine cervical lipoleiomyoma showing continuous growth after menopause.

Patient concerns:

A 55-year-old postmenopausal woman was diagnosed with 40 mm-sized uterine myoma 4 years ago. The size of the mass increased to 58 mm in the last year.

Diagnoses:

An ultrasound scan revealed a 58 × 34-mm-sized round hyperechogenic and barely vascularity mass that appeared to have originated on the left side of the uterine cervix. Final pathologic findings showed lipoleiomyoma.

Interventions:

After admission to the hospital, we performed pelviscopic removal of uterine lipoleiomyoma and both tubes. Microscopic examination revealed a significant amount of fat cells between muscle cells.

Outcomes:

Surgeries were successful. The patient had been followed up regularly for three years after surgery. She did not experience any complications. She remained disease-free.

Lessons:

Although lipoleiomyomas mainly occur in postmenopausal women, they can also occur in the uterine cervix. They can increase in size after menopause. They can be removed laparoscopically. If a hyperechoic mass occurred in the uterus after menopause that keeps growing without symptoms, a differential diagnosis of lipoleiomyomas must be performed.
PLK1 as one novel target for the poor prognosis of bladder cancer: An observational study
Authors: Liu Bin , Meng Ling-Bing , Su Jian-Zhi , Fan Bo , Zhao Shi-Bin , Wang Hao-Yuan , Li Tao , Wang Tian-Yi , Zhang Ai-Li , Ni Xiao-Chen
Published: September 2022

Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most common male malignant tumors and the most common urological tumor. However, the molecular mechanism and role of PLK1 on bladder cancer were unclear. Therefore, the study aims to explore the potential part of the overall survival of bladder cancer through bioinformatics analysis. GSE121711 and GSE130598, from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. The GEO2R screened differently expressed genes, and DAVID and Metascape were used for functional annotation. The cytoHubba made hub genes identification and expression. A total of 50 BC participants were recruited. After surgery, 50 BC tumor samples from BC patients and 50 adjacent standard bladder tissue samples were obtained. The RT-qPCR assay was performed to verify the expression of hub genes. The Kaplan–Meier Plotter analyzed the effect of hub gene expression for overall survival of BC. The compulsory module of Molecular Complex Detection tool analysis was shown, which included CDK1, TTK, AURKB, MELK, PLK1, and BUB1. And the six hub genes were up-regulated in the BC compared with the normal tissues. The relative expression levels of CDK1, TTK, AURKB, MELK, PLK1, and BUB1 were significantly higher in BC samples compared with the regular kidney tissue groups. The result demonstrated that CDK1, TTK, AURKB, MELK, PLK1, and BUB1 might be considered biomarkers for BC. Overall survival analysis showed that BC patients with high expression level of PLK1 had poorer overall survival times than those with low expression level (P < .05). The expression levels of CDK1, TTK, AURKB, MELK, and BUB1 was not related to the overall survival of BC patients (P > .05). The PLK1 gene might provide new ideas and evidence for bladder cancer research.
Factors associated with place of death for terminal cancer patients who wished to die at home
Authors: Lee Eun Jee , Lee Na-Ri
Published: September 2022

A patient’s desired place of death is an important indicator of the quality of dying. The purpose of this study was to investigate the actual places of death of terminal cancer patients who wished to die at home and the factors affecting their actual place of death. A retrospective survey was used to analyze the medical records of 143 terminal cancer patients who wanted to die at home among a population of 168 patients who used a home hospice care service more than once between March 2016 and December 2019. Patients who wanted to die at home represented 85.1% of the total study population (143 patients). Of these, 31.5% and 68.5% were home and hospital deaths, respectively. Factors associated with the actual place of death of patients who desired to die at home were marital status (odds ratio [OR] = 2.57, confidence interval [CI]: 1.08–6.13), the patient’s status at the time of their enrollment in a home hospice care service (OR = 3.30, CI: 1.56–7.02), and the primary caregiver’s relationship with the patient (OR = 2.52, CI: 1.12–5.66). Most terminal cancer patients studied did not die in their preferred place. Support from policies and hospice professionals is needed to decrease caregiver burden and help patients die wherever they want. Consequently, quality of end-of-life care can be improved.
A bibliometric analysis of COVID-19 and physical activity
Authors: Zhang Yuting , Chen Mengtong , Liu Chunlong , Zhang Zhijie , Fu Xihua
Published: September 2022

Background:

Due to the huge impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on a global scale, the level of physical activity during confinement has become a widespread concern. This study summarizes the development of performance and research trends in COVID-19 and physical activity over the last 3 years.

Methods:

Research publications on COVID-19 and physical activity in the past 3 years were downloaded from the Web of Science database. CiteSpace and VOSviewer software were used to analyze the authors, published outputs, journals, cited authors, countries and institutions, co-cited journals, cited references, and keywords. Statistical and centrality analyses were used to identify the active authors, core journals, basic references, hot topics, and cutting-edge fields.

Results:

A total of 1331 papers was retrieved. SMITH L was a prolific author in the field of exercise intervention in COVID-19 with 11 publications. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health was the most productive journal (179 publications) and the most cited journal (1324). The most productive countries and institutions in this field were the USA (322 publications) and Harvard Medical School (21 publications). The four hot keywords in COVID-19 and physical activity research were physical activity, exercise, health, and mental health.

Conclusions:

This study provides researchers with directions to intervene in changing levels of physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic and valuable information for researchers in the field of sports medicine to identify potential collaborators, collaborating institutions, hot issues, and research frontiers.
Identification of key snoRNAs serves as biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma by bioinformatics methods
Authors: Xie Qingqing , Zhang Di , Ye Huifeng , Wu Zhitong , Sun Yifan , Shen Haoming
Published: September 2022

Background:

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy with high mortality and poor prognosis due to a lack of predictive markers. However, research on small nuclear RNAs (snoRNAs) in HCC were very little. This study aimed to identify a potential diagnostic and prognostic snoRNA signature for HCC.

Methods:

HCC datasets from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) and international cancer genome consortium (ICGC) cohorts were used. Differentially expressed snoRNA (DEs) were identified using the limma package. Based on the DEs, diagnostic and prognostic models were established by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and COX analysis, and Kaplan–Meier (K–M) survival analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were conducted to evaluate the efficiency of signatures. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and gene set variation analysis (GSVA) were used to analyze the risk score and further explore the potential correlation between the risk groups and tumor immune status in TCGA. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed to determine the functions of key snoRNAs.

Results:

We constructed a 6-snoRNAs signature which could classify patients into high- or low-risk groups and found that patients in the high-risk group had a worse prognosis than those in the low-risk group and were significantly involved in p53 processes. Tumor immune status analysis revealed that CTLA4 and PDCD1 (PD1) were highly expressed in the high-risk group, which responded to PD1 inhibitor therapy. Additionally, a 25-snoRNAs diagnostic signature was constructed with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.933 for distinguishing HCCs from normal controls. Finally, 3 key snoRNAs (SNORA11, SNORD124, and SNORD46) were identified with both diagnostic and prognostic efficacy, some of which were closely related to the spliceosome and Notch signaling pathways.

Conclusions:

Our study identified 6 snoRNAs that may serve as novel prognostic models and 3 key snoRNAs with both diagnostic and prognostic efficacy for HCC.