bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stigma and its associations with self-confidence and sexual relations in 4 types of premature ejaculation
Authors: Liu Jishuang , Bao Tong , Wang Qunfeng , Jiang Hui , Zhang Xiansheng
Published: July 2024

Background

Although men with premature ejaculation (PE) always show more negative emotions, including embarrassment, guilt and worry, this may be related to the stigma of PE. To investigated stigma and its associations with self-confidence and sexual relations in 4 PE syndromes, a survey was conducted in our hospital from December 2018 to December 2019 among 350 men with self-reported PE and 252 men without self-reported PE. The stigma, self-confidence and sexual relations were assessed by the Social Impact Scale (SIS) and Self-Esteem and Relationship questionnaire (SEAR), respectively. Ejaculation control, sexual life satisfaction and distress caused by PE were evaluated by the Index of PE.

Results

Men with self-reported PE had higher internalized shame and social isolation scores and lower SEAR scores than control subjects. The highest score of internalized shame and social isolation and the lowest score of SEAR appeared in men with lifelong PE (LPE). After age adjustment, the positive relationships were stronger between distress about PE and internalized shame. Whereas, the stronger negative associations were found between social isolation and sexual satisfaction. The strongest association was observed between social isolation and sexual relationship. Therefore, the stigma associated with PE adversely affects the self-confidence, self-esteem, and sexual relationships of men with PE.

Conclusion

Men with PE, especially LPE, have a high level of stigma and disharmonious sexual relations, and often lack self-confidence and self-esteem, which have a certain negative impact on their physical and mental health and life. These will be the key issues to be considered when we formulate a personalized treatment plan for PE.
Echocardiography of persistent fifth aortic arch confirmed by computed tomography angiography or surgery in children: a case series
Authors: Yuan Rui , Li Hezhou , Wu Juan , Yin Xing
Published: June 2024

Background

The purpose of this study was to review echocardiography-based diagnosis of persistent fifth aortic arch (PFAA) in children.

Methods

From January 2015 to December 2022, we retrospectively analyzed the echocardiographic findings and the relevant clinical data during follow-up of patients with PFAA who were treated in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. The diagnosis was confirmed by computed tomography angiography or surgery.

Results

Seven PFAA cases included two Weinberg type A and five Weinberg type B. The anatomical details of PFAA were assessed using a combination of the long-axis view of the left ventricular outflow tract (from the left high parasternal window) and the long-axis view of the aortic arch (from the suprasternal window). In Weinberg type A, the distal fifth and fourth aortic arches were connected to the descending aorta, which was associated with aortic coarctation. In Weinberg type B, the upper arch of the fourth aorta was interrupted, and only the lower arch of the fifth aorta was connected to the descending aorta. Surgical repair of PFAA was indicated in five patients with blood flow disruption, among which four had good postoperative results and one refused surgery. Two patients with unobstructed PFAA blood flow required follow-up rather than surgery.

Conclusions

It is feasible to diagnose PFAA by echocardiography. Combined application of the high parasternal left ventricular outflow tract view and the suprasternal aortic arch view can improve timely detection of different types of PFAA in children.
Factors associated with a history of critical wandering among Medic-Alert subscribers
Authors: Cruz Antonio Miguel , Perez Hector , Rutledge Emily , Daum Christine , Liu Lili
Published: June 2024

Background

Critical wandering occurs when an individual living with dementia leaves a location and is unaware of place or time. Critical wandering incidents are expected to increase with the growing prevalence of persons living with dementia worldwide. We investigated the association between demographic, psychopathological, and environmental factors and a history of critical wandering among Medic-Alert subscribers, both with and without dementia.

Methods

Our retrospective study included data of 25,785 Canadian Medic-Alert subscribers who were aged 40 years or older. We used multivariable logistic regression analysis to examine the associations between a history of critical wandering and dementia status as psychopathological independent variable, controlled by demographic (age, ethnic background, sex at birth, Canadian languages spoken) and environmental (living arrangement, population density) factors.

Results

The overall study sample comprised of mainly older adults (77.4%). Medic-Alert subscribers who were older, male sex at birth, living with dementia, of a minority ethnic group and who did not have proficiency in an official Canadian language had a higher likelihood of a history of critical wandering. Residing in an urban environment, in an institution or with a family member, were environmental factors associated with a higher likelihood of a history of critical wandering.

Conclusions

People living with dementia experience a higher likelihood of a history of critical wandering compared to those without dementia. Medic-Alert and similar organizations can develop algorithms based on the associated factors that can be used to flag risks of critical wandering. This can inform preventative strategies at the individual and community levels.
Imbalanced IL10/TGF-β production by regulatory T-lymphocytes in patients with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/ tropical spastic paraparesis
Authors: Gois Luana Leandro , Ribeiro-Soares Bárbara , Regis-Silva Carlos Gustavo , Zanette Dalila L , Lisboa Raphaella , Nascimento Regina Santos , Coutinho Junior Raimundo , Galvão-Castro Bernardo , Grassi Maria Fernanda Rios
Published: June 2024

Background

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), also denominated Human T-cell leukemia virus-1, induces immune activation and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, especially in individuals with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs) may control of inflammation through the production of regulatory cytokines, including IL10 and TGF-β. In this study we determined the frequencies of CD4 + and CD8 + Tregs in a HAM/TSP population, compared to asymptomatic carriers and uninfected individuals, as well as investigated the profiles of regulatory and inflammatory cytokines.

Methods

Asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers and HAM/TSP patients were matched by sex and age. The frequencies of IL10- and/or TGF-β-producing Tregs were quantified by flow cytometry. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to quantify HTLV-1 proviral load and the mRNA expression of cytokines and cellular receptors in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Results

Total frequencies of CD4 + Tregs, as well as the IL10-producing CD4 + and CD8 + Treg subsets, were statistically higher in patients with HAM/TSP compared to asymptomatic HTLV-1-infected individuals. In addition, a positive correlation was found between the frequency of CD4 + IL10 + Tregs and proviral load in the HAM/TSP patients evaluated. A positive correlation was also observed between gene expression of proinflammatory versus regulatory cytokines only in HAM / TSP group.

Conclusions

A higher frequencies of IL10-producing Tregs were identified in patients with HAM/TSP. Imbalanced production of IL10 in relation to TGF-β may contribute to the increased inflammatory response characteristically seen in HAM/TSP patients.
Crohn’s disease in hemophilic arthropathy patient: a case report
Authors: Zhang Zhongyi , Chen Lei , Zhou Haojing , Chen Guoqian , Tong Peijian
Published: June 2024

Crohn’s disease (CD) is an inflammatory bowel disease affecting the digestive tract, the incidence of which is on the rise worldwide. The most common clinical manifestation of hemophilia is arthropathy secondary to recurrent joint effusions and chronic synovitis. This article reports on a rare 25-year-old male patient with both hemophilic arthropathy and Crohn’s disease who was at risk for pathogenic gastrointestinal bleeding. After undergoing endoscopic pathologic testing and genetic testing, a multidisciplinary expert work-up of a treatment and nutritional plan was performed. The patient improved clinically and adhered to conservative treatment. This case report is the first report of this rare co-morbidity, demonstrating the highly pathogenic mutation locus and summarizing the clinical experience of early diagnosis and treatment.
Poor glycemic control impairs oral health in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus - a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Triebl Zsuzsanna , Bencze Bulcsú , Bányai Dorottya , Rózsa Noémi , Hermann Péter , Végh Dániel
Published: June 2024

Objective

There are more than one million children and adolescents living with type 1 diabetes mellitus, and their number is steadily increasing. Diabetes affects oral health through numerous channels, including hyposalivation, immune suppression, and the inflammatory effect of glycation end-products. However, patients with type 1 diabetes must follow a strict sugar free diet that is proven to be carioprotective. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to investigate whether children with type 1 diabetes have a difference in Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth index (DMFT), salivary function, and periodontal status than children without diabetes, with an emphasis on glycemic control.

Materials and Methods

PubMed, Embase and Cochrane libraries were screened for articles, using predefined search keys without any language or date restrictions. Two independent authors performed the selection procedure, extracted data from the eligible articles, carried out a manual search of the reference lists, and assessed the risk of bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Meta-analysis was performed in R using the random-effects model. Effect sizes were mean differences; subgroup analysis was performed on glycemic control.

Results

33 studies satisfied the eligibility criteria. 22 studies did not show a significant difference regarding the DMFT index between the diabetes and non-diabetes groups; six studies found that children living with diabetes had higher DMFT scores, compared to five studies that found significantly lower scores. Meta-analysis found no statistically significant differences in plaque, gingival, and calculus indexes, however it found significant differences in pooled DMFT indexes, and salivary flow rate. Subgroup analysis on glycemic control using DMFT values found significant differences in children with good and poor glycemic control with results of 0.26 (CI95%=-0.50; 1.03) and 1.46 (CI95%=0.57; 2.35), respectively.

Conclusions

Children with poor glycemic control face higher risk of developing caries compared to good control and non-diabetes children. Regular dental check-ups and strict control of glycemic levels are highly advised for children living with type 1 diabetes, further emphasizing the importance of cooperation between dentists and diabetologists.
Evaluation of the relationship between dental anxiety and oral health status of mothers and their children
Authors: Besiroglu-Turgut Ekin , Kayaalti-Yuksek Sibel , Bulut Müge
Published: June 2024

Background

Mothers usually have the primary role in raising children and developing health-related behaviors. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between dental anxiety and oral hygiene status of mothers and children’s dental anxiety and gingival health.

Methods

The study included 305 children, aged 4–12 years, who came to the dentist for the first time and their mothers. All the demographic and oral hygiene information were collected through a questionnaire. The dental anxiety of the mothers and children was assessed using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) and Venham Picture Test (VPT), respectively. The oral examination of the mother and children was performed, and their PI, GI, and DMFT scores were recorded.

Results

While the correlation between MDAS and VPT was positive and strong in children aged 8–12, it was positive but weak in the 4–7 age group. A significant relationship was detected between the mother’s PI, GI, DMFT, and the child’s VPT score. According to the mothers’ dental anxiety, there were no statistically significant differences in PI, GI, and dmft values in children aged between 4 to 7. A moderately positive and statistically significant relationship between maternal dental anxiety and children’s DMFT was identified in children aged 8–12.

Conclusions

Children’s dental anxiety was significantly influenced by maternal dental anxiety, post-treatment complications experienced by the mother, and the oral health status of the mother.

Trial registration

Clinical Trials-ID: NCT05563532; Registration Date: 17.09.2022.
Protocol for a pragmatic trial of Cannabidiol (CBD) to improve chronic pain symptoms among United States Veterans
Authors: Bergmans Rachel S. , Wegryn-Jones Riley , Klida Catherine , Kurtz Vivian , Thomas Laura , Williams David A. , Clauw Daniel J. , Kidwell Kelley M. , Bohnert Amy S. B. , Boehnke Kevin F.
Published: July 2024

Background

Chronic pain affects over 100 million Americans, with a disproportionately high number being Veterans. Chronic pain is often difficult to treat and responds variably to medications, with many providing minimal relief or having adverse side effects that preclude use. Cannabidiol (CBD) has emerged as a potential treatment for chronic pain, yet research in this area remains limited, with few studies examining CBD’s analgesic potential. Because Veterans have a high need for improved pain care, we designed a clinical trial to investigate CBD’s effectiveness in managing chronic pain symptoms among Veterans. We aim to determine whether CBD oral solution compared to placebo study medication is associated with greater improvement in the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC).

Methods

We designed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pragmatic clinical trial with 468 participants. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either placebo or a CBD oral solution over a 4-week period. The trial is remote via a smartphone app and by shipping study materials, including study medication, to participants. We will compare the difference in PGIC between the CBD and placebo group after four weeks and impacts on secondary outcomes (e.g., pain severity, pain interference, anxiety, suicide ideation, and sleep disturbance).

Discussion

Once complete, this trial will be among the largest to date investigating the efficacy of CBD for chronic pain. Findings from this clinical trial will contribute to a greater knowledge of CBD’s analgesic potential and guide further research. Given the relative availability of CBD, our findings will help elucidate the potential of an accessible option for helping to manage chronic pain among Veterans.

Trial registration

This protocol is registered at clinicaltrials.gov under study number NCT06213233.
Medical-informed machine learning: integrating prior knowledge into medical decision systems
Authors: Sirocchi Christel , Bogliolo Alessandro , Montagna Sara
Published: June 2024

Background

Clinical medicine offers a promising arena for applying Machine Learning (ML) models. However, despite numerous studies employing ML in medical data analysis, only a fraction have impacted clinical care. This article underscores the importance of utilising ML in medical data analysis, recognising that ML alone may not adequately capture the full complexity of clinical data, thereby advocating for the integration of medical domain knowledge in ML.

Methods

The study conducts a comprehensive review of prior efforts in integrating medical knowledge into ML and maps these integration strategies onto the phases of the ML pipeline, encompassing data pre-processing, feature engineering, model training, and output evaluation. The study further explores the significance and impact of such integration through a case study on diabetes prediction. Here, clinical knowledge, encompassing rules, causal networks, intervals, and formulas, is integrated at each stage of the ML pipeline, resulting in a spectrum of integrated models.

Results

The findings highlight the benefits of integration in terms of accuracy, interpretability, data efficiency, and adherence to clinical guidelines. In several cases, integrated models outperformed purely data-driven approaches, underscoring the potential for domain knowledge to enhance ML models through improved generalisation. In other cases, the integration was instrumental in enhancing model interpretability and ensuring conformity with established clinical guidelines. Notably, knowledge integration also proved effective in maintaining performance under limited data scenarios.

Conclusions

By illustrating various integration strategies through a clinical case study, this work provides guidance to inspire and facilitate future integration efforts. Furthermore, the study identifies the need to refine domain knowledge representation and fine-tune its contribution to the ML model as the two main challenges to integration and aims to stimulate further research in this direction.
The role of Empathy in the relationship between emotional support and caring behavior towards patients among intern nursing students
Authors: Atta Mohamed Hussein Ramadan , Hammad Heba Abdel-Hamid , Elzohairy Nadia Waheed
Published: June 2024

Background

The empathic relationship between nursing students and patients allows them to understand and address caring behavior for patients. Appropriate emotional support equips them to overcome the complexities and difficulties inherent in patient care. This support cultivates resilience and self-awareness, enabling students to manage their emotions effectively and establish meaningful connections and caring with their patients.

Objectives

To investigate the role of empathy in the association between emotional support and caring behavior toward patients among intern nursing students at Alexandria and Damanhur University.

Subjects

The study subjects were 200 intern nursing students in their internship years of 2022–2023, randomly selected from an equal sample size from Alexandria and Damanhur University, Egypt.

Tools

A questionnaire of social information& academics from students, the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire, the Caring Dimension Inventory, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support are used to collect participants’ data.

Results

Empathy was associated with caring behavior and emotional support among nursing students (P < 0.001), and higher levels of empathy indicated increased levels of caring behavior and emotional support. The caring behavior significantly increased when intern nursing students received more emotional support and among those who were not working in private hospitals (p < 0.001,&p = 0.023 respectively). Empathy acts as a mediating role in the relationship between emotional support and caring behavior.

Implications

Implementing strategies to assist interns in navigating challenges and promoting a culture of support can facilitate the cultivation of caring behaviors. Shedding light on the interconnectedness of empathy, emotional support, and caring behavior can inform the design of interventions to strengthen empathy as a pathway to improving patient outcomes.

Conclusion

Empathy is a mediating factor in the relationship between emotional support and caring behavior. This suggests that interventions promoting empathy may serve as a pathway to enhancing caring behavior among nursing students and strategies for improving patient care outcomes by strengthening empathy skills among healthcare professionals.
Dietary choline intake in European and non-european populations: current status and future trends—a narrative review
Authors: Zuk Ewelina , Nikrandt Grzegorz , Chmurzynska Agata
Published: June 2024

Background

Choline is a nutrient necessary for the proper functioning of the body with a multidimensional impact on human health. However, comprehensive studies evaluating the dietary intake of choline are limited. The aim of this narrative review is to analyze current trends in choline intake in European and non-European populations. The secondary aim was to discuss possible future choline trends.

Methods

The search strategy involved a systematic approach to identifying relevant literature that met specific inclusion criteria. Observational studies and randomized clinical trials were searched for in PubMed and Scopus databases from January 2016 to April 2024. This review includes the characteristics of study groups, sample sizes, methods used to assess choline intake and time period, databases used to determine intake, choline intakes, and the main sources of choline in the diet. The review considered all population groups for which information on choline intake was collected.

Results

In most studies performed in Europe after 2015 choline intake did not exceed 80% of the AI standard value. The mean choline intake for adults in different European countries were 310 mg/day, while the highest value was reported for Polish men at 519 mg/day. In non-European countries, mean choline intakes were 293 mg/day and above. The main reported sources of choline in the diet are products of animal origin, mainly eggs and meat. The available data describing the potential intake of these products in the EU in the future predict an increase in egg intake by another 8% compared to 2008–2019 and a decrease in meat intake by about 2 kg per capita from 2018 to 2030.

Conclusions

In the last decade, choline intake among adults has been insufficient, both in Europe and outside it. In each population group, including pregnant women, choline intake has been lower than recommended. Future choline intake may depend on trends in meat and egg consumption, but also on the rapidly growing market of plant-based products. However, the possible changes in the intake of the main sources of choline may lead to either no change or a slight increase in overall choline intake.
Economic evaluation of the effect of needle and syringe programs on skin, soft tissue, and vascular infections in people who inject drugs: a microsimulation modelling approach
Authors: Lim Jihoon , Russell W. Alton , El-Sheikh Mariam , Buckeridge David L. , Panagiotoglou Dimitra
Published: June 2024

Background

Needle and syringe programs (NSP) are effective harm-reduction strategies against HIV and hepatitis C. Although skin, soft tissue, and vascular infections (SSTVI) are the most common morbidities in people who inject drugs (PWID), the extent to which NSP are clinically and cost-effective in relation to SSTVI in PWID remains unclear. The objective of this study was to model the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of NSP with respect to treatment of SSTVI in PWID.

Methods

We performed a model-based, economic evaluation comparing a scenario with NSP to a scenario without NSP. We developed a microsimulation model to generate two cohorts of 100,000 individuals corresponding to each NSP scenario and estimated quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) and cost (in 2022 Canadian dollars) over a 5-year time horizon (1.5% per annum for costs and outcomes). To assess the clinical effectiveness of NSP, we conducted survival analysis that accounted for the recurrent use of health care services for treating SSTVI and SSTVI mortality in the presence of competing risks.

Results

The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio associated with NSP was $70,278 per QALY, with incremental cost and QALY gains corresponding to $1207 and 0.017 QALY, respectively. Under the scenario with NSP, there were 788 fewer SSTVI deaths per 100,000 PWID, corresponding to 24% lower relative hazard of mortality from SSTVI (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.72–0.80). Health service utilization over the 5-year period remained lower under the scenario with NSP (outpatient: 66,511 vs. 86,879; emergency department: 9920 vs. 12,922; inpatient: 4282 vs. 5596). Relatedly, having NSP was associated with a modest reduction in the relative hazard of recurrent outpatient visits (HR = 0.96; 95% CI = 0.95–0.97) for purulent SSTVI as well as outpatient (HR = 0.88; 95% CI = 0.87–0.88) and emergency department visits (HR = 0.98; 95% CI = 0.97–0.99) for non-purulent SSTVI.

Conclusions

Both the individuals and the healthcare system benefit from NSP through lower risk of SSTVI mortality and prevention of recurrent outpatient and emergency department visits to treat SSTVI. The microsimulation framework provides insights into clinical and economic implications of NSP, which can serve as valuable evidence that can aid decision-making in expansion of NSP services.
piRNA associates with immune diseases
Authors: Jiang Mingye , Hong Xiaoning , Gao Yunfei , Kho Alvin T. , Tantisira Kelan G. , Li Jiang
Published: June 2024

PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) is the most abundant small non-coding RNA in animal cells, typically 26–31 nucleotides in length and it binds with PIWI proteins, a subfamily of Argonaute proteins. Initially discovered in germ cells, piRNA is well known for its role in silencing transposons and maintaining genome integrity. However, piRNA is also present in somatic cells as well as in extracellular vesicles and exosomes. While piRNA has been extensively studied in various diseases, particular cancer, its function in immune diseases remains unclear. In this review, we summarize current research on piRNA in immune diseases. We first introduce the basic characteristics, biogenesis and functions of piRNA. Then, we review the association of piRNA with different types of immune diseases, including autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiency diseases, infectious diseases, and other immune-related diseases. piRNA is considered a promising biomarker for diseases, highlighting the need for further research into its potential mechanisms in disease pathogenesis.
Trend change analysis of postural balance in Parkinson’s disease discriminates between medication state
Authors: Wodarski Piotr , Jurkojć Jacek , Chmura Marta , Warmerdam Elke , Romijnders Robbin , Hobert Markus A. , Maetzler Walter , Cygoń Krzysztof , Hansen Clint
Published: June 2024

Background

Maintaining static balance is relevant and common in everyday life and it depends on a correct intersegmental coordination. A change or reduction in postural capacity has been linked to increased risk of falls. People with Parkinson’s disease (pwPD) experience motor symptoms affecting the maintenance of a stable posture. The aim of the study is to understand the intersegmental changes in postural sway and to apply a trend change analysis to uncover different movement strategies between pwPD and healthy adults.

Methods

In total, 61 healthy participants, 40 young (YO), 21 old participants (OP), and 29 pwPD (13 during medication off, PDoff; 23 during medication on, PDon) were included. Participants stood quietly for 10 s as part of the Short Physical Performance Battery. Inertial measurement units (IMU) at the head, sternum, and lumbar region were used to extract postural parameters and a trend change analysis (TCA) was performed to compare between groups.

Objective

This study aims to explore the potential application of TCA for the assessment of postural stability using IMUs, and secondly, to employ this analysis within the context of neurological diseases, specifically Parkinson’s disease.

Results

Comparison of sensors locations revealed significant differences between head, sternum and pelvis for almost all parameters and cohorts. When comparing PDon and PDoff, the TCA revealed differences that were not seen by any other parameter.

Conclusions

While all parameters could differentiate between sensor locations, no group differences could be uncovered except for the TCA that allowed to distinguish between the PD on/off. The potential of the TCA to assess disease progression, response to treatment or even the prodromal PD phase should be explored in future studies.

Trial registration

The research procedure was approved by the ethical committee of the Medical Faculty of Kiel University (D438/18). The study is registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00022998).
2-year results and myocardial impact of transapical mitral valve repair in patients with primary mitral regurgitation: an echocardiographic study
Authors: Hu Chunqiang , Ge Zhenyi , Li Wei , Pan Wenzhi , Ge Zhengdan , Zhao Weipeng , Kong Dehong , Zhou Daxin , Wei Lai , Shu Xianhong , Pan Cuizhen , Ge Junbo
Published: June 2024

Background

There is limited data on the 2-year outcomes of transapical transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TA-TEER) using the ValveClamp in patients with severe primary mitral regurgitation (MR) and its impact on myocardial deformation.

Methods

From July 2018 to March 2021, 53 patients with symptomatic severe primary MR underwent TA-TEER were enrolled. The endpoint was the composite of all-cause mortality, recurrent 3 + or 4 + MR, or need for mitral surgery.

Results

Among the 53 patients who had successfully ValveClamp implantation, 8(15.1%) reached the composite endpoint. Significant improvement in left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic volume, pulmonary artery systolic pressure, NYHA functional class, and MR severity were observed (P < 0.05 for all). Univariate Cox’s regression analysis revealed that LV end-diastolic volume index, LV end-systolic volume index, left atrial volume index, and pulmonary artery systolic pressure were associated with adverse events (P < 0.05 for all). On multivariate Cox regression analysis, left atrial volume index was independently associated with the endpoint (hazard ratio, 1.049; 95% CI, 1.009–1.091; P < 0.001) after adjustment for above echocardiographic parameters. LV global longitudinal strain and apical longitudinal strain in global and regional segments decreased at 30 days, but showed a recovery at 2 years with no significant difference compared to the baseline.

Conclusion

TA-TEER using the ValveClamp presented favorable safety and efficacy at 2-year. Myocardial deformation impairment was observed at 30 days post-procedure, but did not persist at 2 years.
Clinical application of CT-assisted body surface localization combined with intraoperative stereotactic anatomical localization in thoracoscopic lung nodule resection: a single-centre retrospective study
Authors: Zhu Xiao , Chen Zhi , Zhu Kun-Lun , Zhou Shao , Xing Fu-Bao , Chen Wen-Bang , Zhang Lei
Published: June 2024

Background

Today, the detection rate of lung nodules is increasing. Some of these nodules may become malignant. Thus, timely resection of potentially malignant nodules is essential. However, Identifying the location of nonsurface or soft-textured nodules during surgery is challenging. Various localization techniques have been developed to accurately identify lung nodules. Common methods include preoperative CT-guided percutaneous placement of hook wires and microcoils. Nonetheless, these procedures may cause complications such as pneumothorax and haemothorax. Other methods regarding localization of pulmonary nodules have their own drawbacks. We conducted a clinical study which was retrospective to identify a safe, accurate and suitable method for determining lung nodule localization. To evaluate the clinical value of CT-assisted body surface localization combined with intraoperative stereotactic anatomical localization in thoracoscopic lung nodule resection.

Methods

We retrospectively collected the clinical data of 120 patients who underwent lung nodule localization and resection surgery at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, from January 2020 to January 2022. Among them, 30 patients underwent CT-assisted body surface localization combined with intraoperative stereotactic anatomical localization, 30 patients underwent only CT-assisted body surface localization, 30 patients underwent only intraoperative stereotactic anatomical localization, and 30 patients underwent CT-guided percutaneous microcoil localization. The success rates, complication rates, and localization times of the four lung nodule localization methods were statistically analysed.

Results

The success rates of CT-assisted body surface localization combined with intraoperative stereotactic anatomical localization and CT-guided percutaneous microcoil localization were both 96.7%, which were significantly higher than the 70.0% success rate in the CT-assisted body surface localization group (P < 0.05). The complication rate in the combined group was 0%, which was significantly lower than the 60% in the microcoil localization group (P < 0.05). The localization time for the combined group was 17.73 ± 2.52 min, which was significantly less than that (27.27 ± 7.61 min) for the microcoil localization group (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

CT-assisted body surface localization combined with intraoperative stereotactic anatomical localization is a safe, painless, accurate, and reliable method for lung nodule localization.
A SEER-based analysis of trends in HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Kim Su Il , Lee Jung Woo , Eun Young-Gyu , Lee Young Chan
Published: June 2024

Background

The proportional trends of HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) according to various factors have not been analyzed in detail in previous studies. We aimed to evaluate the trends of HPV-associated OPSCC in the United States.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included 13,081 patients with OPSCC from large population-based data using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 2010–2017 database, 17 Registries. Patients were diagnosed with OPSCC primarily in the base of tongue (BOT), posterior pharyngeal wall (PPW), soft palate (SP), and tonsil and were tested for HPV infection status. We analyzed how the proportional trends of patients with OPSCC changed according to various demographic factors. Additionally, we forecasted and confirmed the trend of HPV (+) and (−) patients with OPSCC using the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model.

Results

The proportion of patients who performed the HPV testing increased every year, and it has exceeded 50% since 2014 (21.95% and 51.37% at 2010 and 2014, respectively). The HPV-positive rates tended to increase over past 7 years (66.37% and 79.32% at 2010 and 2016, respectively). Positivity rates of HPV were significantly higher in OPSCC located in the tonsil or BOT than in those located in PPW or SP. The ARIMA (2,1,0) and (0,1,0) models were applied to forecast HPV (+) and (−) patients with OPSCC, respectively, and the predicted data generally matched the actual data well.

Conclusion

This large population-based study suggests that the proportional trends of HPV (+) patients with OPSCC has increased and will continue to increase. However, the trends of HPV (+) and (−) patients differed greatly according to various demographic factors. These results present a direction for establishing appropriate preventive measures to deal with HPV-related OPSCC in more detail.
Impact of an intergenerational program to improve loneliness and social isolation in older adults initiated at the time of emergency department discharge: study protocol for a three-arm randomized clinical trial
Authors: Zheng David , Rose Louise , Borgundvaag Bjug , McLeod Shelley L. , Melady Donald , Mohindra Rohit , Sinha Samir , Wesson Virginia , Wiesenfeld Lesley , Kolker Sabrina , Kiss Alex , Lowthian Judy A. , Lee Jacques S.
Published: June 2024

Background

Social isolation and loneliness (SIL) worsens mortality and other outcomes among older adults as much as smoking. We previously tested the impact of the HOW R U? intervention using peer support from similar-aged volunteers and demonstrated reduced SIL among older adults discharged from the emergency department (ED). Generativity, defined as “the interest in establishing and guiding the next generation,” can provide an alternative theoretical basis for reducing SIL via intergenerational programs between members of younger and older generations. The current protocol will examine the impact of younger intergenerational volunteers providing the HOW RU? intervention.

Methods

In this randomized clinical trial, we will compare the following three arms: (1) the standard same-generation peer support HOW R U? intervention, (2) HOW R U? intervention delivered by intergenerational volunteers, and (3) a common wait-list control group. Outcome assessors will be blinded to the intervention. Trained volunteers will deliver 12 weekly telephone support calls. We will recruit participants ≥ 70 years of age with baseline loneliness (six-item De Jong loneliness score of 2 or greater) from two EDs. Research staff will assess SIL, depression, quality of life, functional status, generativity, and perceived benefit at baseline, at 12 weeks, and 24 weeks post-intervention.

Discussion

We hypothesize participants receiving the intergenerational intervention will show improved outcomes compared to the control group and peer support HOW R U? intervention. We also hypothesize that participants with higher perceptions of generativity will have greater reductions in SIL than their lower generativity counterparts. Aging is experienced diversely, and social interventions combatting associated SIL should reflect that diversity. As part of a program of research following the Obesity-Related Behavioral Intervention Trials (ORBIT) model, the findings of this RCT will be used to define which intervention characteristics are most effective in reducing SIL.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05998343 Protocol ID:21-0074E. Registered on 24 July 2023.
Oral vaccination with a recombinant Lactobacillus plantarum expressing the Eimeria tenella rhoptry neck 2 protein elicits protective immunity in broiler chickens infected with Eimeria tenella
Authors: Zhang Tongxuan , Qu Hangfan , Zheng Wei , Zhang Yanan , Li Yanning , Pan Tianxu , Li Junyi , Yang Wentao , Cao Xin , Jiang Yanlong , Wang Jianzhong , Zeng Yan , Shi Chunwei , Huang Haibin , Wang Chunfeng , Yang Guilian , Zhang Jingwei , Wang Nan
Published: June 2024

Background

Chicken coccidiosis is a protozoan disease that leads to considerable economic losses in the poultry industry. Live oocyst vaccination is currently the most effective measure for the prevention of coccidiosis. However, it provides limited protection with several drawbacks, such as poor immunological protection and potential reversion to virulence. Therefore, the development of effective and safe vaccines against chicken coccidiosis is still urgently needed.

Methods

In this study, a novel oral vaccine against Eimeria tenella was developed by constructing a recombinant Lactobacillus plantarum (NC8) strain expressing the E. tenella RON2 protein. We administered recombinant L. plantarum orally at 3, 4 and 5 days of age and again at 17, 18 and 19 days of age. Meanwhile, each chick in the commercial vaccine group was immunized with 3 × 102 live oocysts of coccidia. A total of 5 × 104 sporulated oocysts of E. tenella were inoculated in each chicken at 30 days. Then, the immunoprotection effect was evaluated after E. tenella infection.

Results

The results showed that the proportion of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, the proliferative ability of spleen lymphocytes, inflammatory cytokine levels and specific antibody titers of chicks immunized with recombinant L. plantarum were significantly increased (P < 0.05). The relative body weight gains were increased and the number of oocysts per gram (OPG) was decreased after E. tenella challenge. Moreover, the lesion scores and histopathological cecum sections showed that recombinant L. plantarum can significantly relieve pathological damage in the cecum. The ACI was 170.89 in the recombinant L. plantarum group, which was higher than the 150.14 in the commercial vaccine group.

Conclusions

These above results indicate that L. plantarum expressing RON2 improved humoral and cellular immunity and enhanced immunoprotection against E. tenella. The protective efficacy was superior to that of vaccination with the commercial live oocyst vaccine. This study suggests that recombinant L. plantarum expressing the RON2 protein provides a promising strategy for vaccine development against coccidiosis.

Graphical Abstract
Comparative genomic and transcriptomic analyses reveal distinct response strategies to hypoxia by Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates of clinical and aquatic animal origins
Authors: Xu Huihui , Zhang Beiyu , Yu Pan , Sun Meng , Xie Lu , Chen Lanming
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a leading seafood borne pathogen worldwide. The aim of this study was to decipher the response mechanism of V. parahaemolyticus isolates of clinical and aquatic animal origins to the hypoxic condition, which challenges the bacterial survival in the host and in the environment.

Methods

Growth profiles of V. parahaemolyticus isolates (n = 5) of clinical and aquatic animal origins were examined at different stress conditions (osmolality, acid, temperature, and O2 concentrations). Draft genomes of the V. parahaemolyticus isolates were determined using the Illumina sequencing technique. Comparative genomic analysis were performed to identify and validate the hypoxic tolerance-related genes.

Results

The V. parahaemolyticus isolates had an oxygen concentration-dependent growth mode, and the 10% O2 condition strongly inhibited the bacterial growth, when incubated in TSB medium (pH 8.5, 3% NaCl) at 37 °C. Unexpectedly, in marked contrast to the normal 21% O2 condition, the 10% O2 treatment for 24 h significantly increased biofilm formation of V. parahaemolyticus isolates (p < 0.05). Draft genome sequences of four V. parahaemolyticus isolates of aquatic animal origins were determined (4.914–5.3530 Mb), which carried mobile genetic elements (n = 12–29). Genome-wide gene expression changes triggered by the hypoxic condition were further examined. Comparative transcriptomic analyses unveiled multiple molecular strategies employed by the bacterium to mitigate the cell damage caused by the hypoxia. Of note, the pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus ATCC17802 down-regulated and/or shut down ten metabolic pathways to reduce cell viability and maintain cell structure under the hypoxic stress.

Conclusions

The results of this study fill prior gaps in the response mechanism of V. parahaemolyticus to the hypoxic condition. Different tolerance to hypoxia contributes to the persistence of pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus in the niches.
Quasinormed spaces generated by a quasimodular
Authors: Foralewski Paweł , Hudzik Henryk , Kolwicz Paweł
Published: June 2024

In this paper, we introduce the notion of a quasimodular and we prove that the respective Minkowski functional of the unit quasimodular ball becomes a quasinorm. In this way, we refer to and complete the well-known theory related to the notions of a modular and a convex modular that lead to the F-norm and to the norm, respectively. We use the obtained results to consider the basic properties of quasinormed Calderón–Lozanovskiĭ spaces $E_{\varphi}$

E
φ

, where the lower Matuszewska–Orlicz index $\alpha _{\varphi}$

α
φ

plays the key role. Our studies are conducted in a full possible generality.
Computational intelligence-based classification system for the diagnosis of memory impairment in psychoactive substance users
Authors: Zhu Chaoyang
Published: June 2024

Computational intelligence techniques have emerged as a promising approach for diagnosing various medical conditions, including memory impairment. Increased abuse of psychoactive drugs poses a global public health burden, as repeated exposure to these substances can cause neurodegeneration, premature aging, and negatively affect memory impairment. Many studies in the literature relied on statistical studies, but they remained inaccurate. Some studies relied on physical data because the time factor was not considered, until Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques came along that proved their worth in this diagnosis. The variable deep neural network method was used to adapt to the intermediate results and re-process the intermediate in case the result is undesirable. Computational intelligence was used in this study to classify a brain image from MRI or CT scans and to show the effectiveness of the dose ratio on health with treatment time, and to diagnose memory impairment in users of psychoactive substances. Understanding the neurotoxic profiles of psychoactive substances and the underlying pathways is hypothesized to be of great importance in improving the risk assessment and treatment of substance use disorders. The results proved the worth of the proposed method in terms of the accuracy of recognition rate as well as the possibility of diagnosis. It can be concluded that the diagnostic efficiency is increased by increasing the number of hidden layers in the neural network and controlling the weights and variables that control the deep learning algorithm. Thus, we conclude that good classification in this field may save human life or early detection of memory impairment.
Improving the accuracy of genomic prediction in dairy cattle using the biologically annotated neural networks framework
Authors: Wang Xue , Shi Shaolei , Ali Khan Md. Yousuf , Zhang Zhe , Zhang Yi
Published: July 2024

Background

Biologically annotated neural networks (BANNs) are feedforward Bayesian neural network models that utilize partially connected architectures based on SNP-set annotations. As an interpretable neural network, BANNs model SNP and SNP-set effects in their input and hidden layers, respectively. Furthermore, the weights and connections of the network are regarded as random variables with prior distributions reflecting the manifestation of genetic effects at various genomic scales. However, its application in genomic prediction has yet to be explored.

Results

This study extended the BANNs framework to the area of genomic selection and explored the optimal SNP-set partitioning strategies by using dairy cattle datasets. The SNP-sets were partitioned based on two strategies–gene annotations and 100 kb windows, denoted as BANN_gene and BANN_100kb, respectively. The BANNs model was compared with GBLUP, random forest (RF), BayesB and BayesCπ through five replicates of five-fold cross-validation using genotypic and phenotypic data on milk production traits, type traits, and one health trait of 6,558, 6,210 and 5,962 Chinese Holsteins, respectively. Results showed that the BANNs framework achieves higher genomic prediction accuracy compared to GBLUP, RF and Bayesian methods. Specifically, the BANN_100kb demonstrated superior accuracy and the BANN_gene exhibited generally suboptimal accuracy compared to GBLUP, RF, BayesB and BayesCπ across all traits. The average accuracy improvements of BANN_100kb over GBLUP, RF, BayesB and BayesCπ were 4.86%, 3.95%, 3.84% and 1.92%, and the accuracy of BANN_gene was improved by 3.75%, 2.86%, 2.73% and 0.85% compared to GBLUP, RF, BayesB and BayesCπ, respectively across all seven traits. Meanwhile, both BANN_100kb and BANN_gene yielded lower overall mean square error values than GBLUP, RF and Bayesian methods.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrated that the BANNs framework performed better than traditional genomic prediction methods in our tested scenarios, and might serve as a promising alternative approach for genomic prediction in dairy cattle.