bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impacts of unconditional cash transfers on health care utilisation in informal sector households in Togo
Authors: Atake Esso‐Hanam , Dandonougbo Yevessé , Gbeasor‐Komlanvi Fifonsi Adjidossi , Yagninim Malb Ama N’Danida , Kouevi Didier Koumavi
Published: October 2023

Background

Most Togolese population earns their income from informal sector, and they are very often exposed to health outcomes. Cash transfers impact healthcare utilization by improving household's social capital, socio‐economic status, lifestyle choice, and physical health. The aim of this paper was to analyse the impact of unconditional cash transfers on health care utilisation in informal sector households.

Methods

We used the propensity‐score method to compare health care utilisation by households that received cash transfers from nonbeneficiary households and simulated a potential confounder to assess the robustness of the impacts of the estimated treatment (i.e., cash transfer). Data were obtained from a national survey that covered 1405 households.

Results

The results show that women benefited the most from cash transfers (73.1%). Our estimates indicate that health care utilisation increased by 28.3% among workers in the informal sectors who benefited from unconditional cash transfers compared to nonbeneficiaries. The greatest impact was found on agriculture households with an increase by 31.3% in the health care utilisation. In general, cash transfer beneficiaries are more likely to use public health centres; there was an increase in public health facility attendance of 21.3%.

Conclusions

Cash transfers are a valuable social protection instrument that improve health care utilisation of populations in the informal sector. Policymakers could use cash transfer as the infusion of income and/or assets that may impact health outcomes. Cash transfers are an opportunity to alleviate barriers of access to health care by older people. Future research must examine impact of cash transfer on health of vulnerable groups such as older people, children, and people with disabilities.
Hand preference trajectories as predictors of language outcomes above and beyond SES: Infant patterns explain more variance than toddler patterns at 5 years of age
Authors: Contino Kaityn , Campbell Julie M. , Marcinowski Emily C. , Michel George F. , Ramos Michelle L. , Coxe Stefany , Hayes Timothy , Nelson Eliza L.
Published: October 2023

Prior studies found that hand preference trajectories predict preschool language outcomes. However, this approach has been limited to examining bimanual manipulation in toddlers. It is not known whether hand preference during infancy for acquiring objects (i.e., reach‐to‐grasp) similarly predicts childhood language ability. The current study explored this motor‐language developmental cascade in 90 children. Hand preference for acquiring objects was assessed monthly from 6 to 14 months, and language skill was assessed at 5 years. Latent class growth analysis identified three infant hand preference classes: left, early right and late right. Infant hand preference classes predicted 5‐year language skills. Children in the left and early right classes, who were categorized as having a consistent hand preference, had higher expressive and receptive language scores relative to children in the inconsistent late right class. Consistent classes did not differ from each other on language outcomes. Infant hand preference patterns explained more variance for expressive and receptive language relative to previously reported toddler hand preference patterns, above and beyond socio‐economic status. Results suggest that hand preference, measured at different time points across development using a trajectory approach, is reliably linked to later language.

Highlights

Hand preference trajectories reliably predict preschool language above and beyond SES.

Infants with a consistent hand preference for reaching had greater language skills at 5 years.

Infant hand preference explained more variance in language than toddler hand preference.
COVID‐associated arthritis after severe and non‐severe COVID‐19: A systematic review
Authors: Zarpoosh Mahsa , Amirian Parsa
Published: October 2023

Aim

Since the coronavirus outbreak became a global health emergency in 2020, various immune‐based effects, such as inflammatory arthritis (IA), have been recorded. This study aimed to determine the role of COVID‐19 severity on post‐COVID arthritis.

Methods

We systematically reviewed 95 patients who developed arthritis after severe and non‐severe COVID‐19 infection by searching the databases, including PubMed, SCOPUS, and EMBASE. We used the term “COVID‐associated arthritis” because there was no definite diagnostic method for classifying arthritides after COVID‐19 infection, and the diagnosed arthritis types were based on the authors' viewpoints.

Results

After evaluating the data between the two severe and non‐severe COVID‐19‐infected groups of patients, the results showed that the COVID‐19 severity may affect the pattern of joint involvement in IA. In both groups, combination therapy, including oral nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs with different types of corticosteroids, was the most common treatment. In addition, the mean age and comorbidities rate was higher in the severe COVID‐19 group. Even though the patients in the severe COVID‐19 group developed more serious COVID‐19 symptoms, they experienced milder arthritis with better outcomes and more delayed onsets that required less aggressive therapy.

Conclusion

We conclude that there may be an inverse relationship between COVID‐19 severity and arthritis severity, possibly due to weaker immunity conditions following immunosuppressant treatments in patients with severe COVID‐19.
Machine learning identification and immune infiltration of disulfidptosis‐related Alzheimer's disease molecular subtypes
Authors: Zhu Yidong , Kong Lingyue , Han Tianxiong , Yan Qiongzhi , Liu Jun
Published: October 2023

Background

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder. Disulfidptosis is a newly discovered form of programmed cell death that holds promise as a therapeutic strategy for various disorders. However, the functional roles of disulfidptosis‐related genes (DRGs) in AD remain unknown.

Methods

Microarray data and clinical information from patients with AD and healthy controls were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. A thorough examination of DRG expression and immune characteristics in both groups was performed. Based on the identified DRGs, we performed an unsupervised clustering analysis to categorize the AD samples into various disulfidptosis‐related molecular clusters. Weighted gene co‐expression network analysis was performed to select hub genes specific to disulfidptosis‐related AD clusters. The performances of various machine learning models were compared to determine the optimal predictive model. The predictive ability of the optimal model was assessed using nomogram analysis and five external datasets.

Results

Eight DRGs showed differential expression between the AD and control samples. Two different molecular clusters were identified. The immune cell infiltration analysis revealed distinct differences in the immune microenvironment of the two clusters. The support vector machine model showed the highest performance, and a panel of five signature genes was identified, which showed excellent performance on the external validation datasets. The nomogram analysis also showed high accuracy in predicting AD.

Conclusion

We identified disulfidptosis‐related molecular clusters in AD and established a novel risk model to assess the likelihood of developing AD. These findings revealed a complex association between disulfidptosis and AD, which may aid in identifying potential therapeutic targets for this debilitating disorder.
Mechanism of KLF9 in airway inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary
Authors: Gu Peijie , Wang Zhen , Yu Xin , Wu Nan , Wu Liang , Li Yihang , Hu Xiaodong
Published: October 2023

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an airway‐associated lung disorder, resulting in airway inflammation. This article aimed to explore the role of the krüppel‐like factor 9 (KLF9)/microRNA (miR)‐494‐3p/phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) axis in airway inflammation and pave a theoretical foundation for the treatment of COPD.

Methods

The COPD mouse model was established by exposure to cigarette smoke, followed by measurements of total cells, neutrophils, macrophages, and hematoxylin and eosin staining. The COPD cell model was established on human lung epithelial cells BEAS‐2B using cigarette smoke extract. Cell viability was assessed by cell counting kit‐8 assay. miR‐494‐3p, KLF9, PTEN, and NLR family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) levels in tissues and cells were measured by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction or Western blot assay. Inflammatory factors (TNF‐α/IL‐6/IL‐8/IFN‐γ) were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Interactions among KLF9, miR‐494‐3p, and PTEN 3′UTR were verified by chromatin immunoprecipitation and dual‐luciferase assays.

Results

KLF9 was upregulated in lung tissues of COPD mice. Inhibition of KLF9 alleviated airway inflammation, reduced intrapulmonary inflammatory cell infiltration, and repressed NLRP3 expression. KLF9 bound to the miR‐494‐3p promoter and increased miR‐494‐3p expression, and miR‐494‐3p negatively regulated PTEN expression. miR‐494‐3p overexpression or Nigericin treatment reversed KLF9 knockdown‐driven repression of NLRP3 inflammasome and inflammation.

Conclusion

KLF9 bound to the miR‐494‐3p promoter and repressed PTEN expression, thereby facilitating NLRP3 inflammasome‐mediated inflammation.
The Cellular Environment Guides Self‐Assembly and Structural Conformations of Microtubule‐Associated Protein Tau (MAPT)
Authors: Montgomery Kelly M. , Samelson Avi J. , Gestwicki Jason E.
Published: October 2023

In neurodegenerative tauopathies, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), microtubule‐associated protein tau (MAPT/tau) transitions from a soluble form to insoluble, filamentous lesions inside affected neurons. During this process, tau adopts a range of physical configurations: from misfolded monomers to higher‐order oligomers and fibrils. Tau aggregation is also associated with changes in post‐translational modifications (PTMs), such as ubiquitination, oxidation, glycation, hyper‐phosphorylation and acetylation, which collectively produce an impressive range of possible tau proteoforms. Many of these tau proteoforms are highly cationic and unlikely to self‐assemble without neutralization of their charges. Indeed, tau fibrils from patients contain anionic biomacromolecules and bound proteins, suggesting that cytosolic components contribute to fibrilligenesis. Here, we review what is known about how the cytosol impacts tau's aggregation pathways. We also speculate that the composition of each brain region (e. g., redox state, tau proteoforms, levels of permissive polyanions, etc.) might play an active role in shaping the structure of the resulting tau fibrils. Although much remains to be discovered, a greater understanding of the role of the cytosol on tau self‐assembly might lead to identification of new therapeutic targets.
Preterm infant mental health in the neonatal intensive care unit: A review of research on NICU parent‐infant interactions and maternal sensitivity
Authors: Hartzell Georgina , Shaw Richard J. , Givrad Soudabeh
Published: October 2023

Caregiving relationships in the postnatal period are critical to an infant's development. Preterm infants and their parents face unique challenges in this regard, with infants experiencing separation from parents, uncomfortable procedures, and increased biologic vulnerability, and parents facing difficulties assuming caregiver roles and increased risk for psychological distress. To better understand the NICU parent‐infant relationship, we conducted a review of the literature and identified 52 studies comparing observed maternal, infant, and dyadic interaction behavior in preterm dyads with full‐term dyads. Eighteen of 40 studies on maternal behavior found less favorable behavior, including decreased sensitivity and more intrusiveness in mothers of preterm infants, seven studies found the opposite, four studies found mixed results, and 11 studies found no differences. Seventeen of 25 studies on infant behavior found less responsiveness in preterm infants, two studies found the opposite, and the remainder found no difference. Eighteen out of 14 studies on dyad‐specific behavior reported less synchrony in preterm dyads and the remainder found no differences. We identify confounding factors that may explain variations in results, present an approach to interpret existing data by framing differences in maternal behavior as potentially adaptive in the context of prematurity, and suggest future areas for exploration.
Distinct responses of airborne abundant and rare microbial communities to atmospheric changes associated with Chinese New Year
Authors: Li Hu , Hong You‐Wei , Gao Meng‐Ke , An Xin‐Li , Yang Xiao‐Ru , Zhu Yong‐Guan , Chen Jin‐Sheng , Su Jian‐Qiang
Published: October 2023

Airborne microorganisms, including pathogens, would change with surrounding environments and become issues of global concern due to their threats to human health. Microbial communities typically contain a few abundant but many rare species. However, how the airborne abundant and rare microbial communities respond to environmental changes is still unclear, especially at hour scale. Here, we used a sequencing approach based on bacterial 16S rRNA genes and fungal ITS2 regions to investigate the high time‐resolved dynamics of airborne bacteria and fungi and to explore the responses of abundant and rare microbes to the atmospheric changes. Our results showed that air pollutants and microbial communities were significantly affected by human activities related to the Chinese New Year (CNY). Before CNY, significant hour‐scale changes in both abundant and rare subcommunities were observed, while only abundant bacterial subcommunity changed with hour time series during CNY. Air pollutants and meteorological parameters explained 61.5%−74.2% variations of abundant community but only 13.3%−21.6% variations of rare communities. These results suggested that abundant species were more sensitive to environmental changes than rare taxa. Stochastic processes predominated in the assembly of abundant communities, but deterministic processes determined the assembly of rare communities. Potential bacterial pathogens during CNY were the highest, suggesting an increased health risk of airborne microbes during CNY. Overall, our findings highlighted the “holiday effect” of CNY on airborne microbes and expanded the current understanding of the ecological mechanisms and health risks of microbes in a changing atmosphere.
Science teachers designing text use for equitable Next Generation Science instruction
Authors: Greenleaf Cynthia , Hinchman Kathleen A. , Brown Willard
Published: October 2023

Students need support to learn Next Generation Science practices that include use of such texts as investigative records and datasets, analyses and arguments, and works of other scientists. This article describes secondary school science teachers' curation and support of students' multimodal text use during their development of a library of equitable, text‐rich, phenomena‐based science units of study. Following a description of project background and inquiry methods, findings delineate how teachers collaborated to select texts, delineate roles for the texts, and use scaffolds to support students' equitable access to these texts in investigations and engineering designing. Findings also explain how the pandemic and teachers' ongoing concerns for their students' equitable learning of science and literacy practices caused teachers to amend their plans. The article concludes with a discussion of implications for science educators and others who are interested in science‐specific disciplinary literacies.
Daily use of digital technologies to feel better: Adolescents' digital emotion regulation, emotions, loneliness, and recovery, considering prior emotional problems
Authors: Scott Riley A. , Zimmer‐Gembeck Melanie J. , Gardner Alex A. , Hawes Tanya , Modecki Kathryn L. , Duffy Amanda L. , Farrell Lara J. , Waters Allison M.
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Adolescents report using digital technologies for emotion regulation (digital ER), with the aim of feeling better (i.e., improving emotions and reducing loneliness). In this 7‐day diary study, we investigated associations of digital ER, emotions, and loneliness, and tested whether prior emotional problems moderated these associations.

Method

Participants were 312 Australian adolescents (Mage = 13.91, SD = 1.52; 44% boys). Daily surveys measured digital ER; end‐of‐day happiness, sadness, worry, anger, and loneliness; and peak sadness, worry, and anger. End‐of day emotions were subtracted from peak emotions to calculate emotion recovery for sadness, worry, and anger. Participants were randomly selected from two symptom strata (high/low) defined by depression and social anxiety measures collected before the diary. Data were analyzed using multilevel path modeling. Cross‐level interactions tested whether symptom strata moderated associations.

Results

Digital ER was associated with more recovery from peak to end‐of‐day sadness and worry, but also with increased sadness, worry, anger, and loneliness by the next end‐of‐day. Higher end‐of‐day loneliness was associated with increased next‐day digital ER. Prior emotional symptoms were not a significant moderator of daily digital ER and emotion associations.

Conclusion

Adolescents who report more digital ER in a day show more recovery from the peak of negative emotion that day, but this recovery dissipates, with digital ER also associated with increased negative emotion and loneliness by the next day for all adolescents, regardless of prior symptom status. Lonelier adolescents use more digital ER by the next day, suggesting they need support to make social connections—online or offline.
Multidisciplinary argument for the decriminalization of drugs
Authors: Gibson Sandy , Patterson Natasha , Naples Michele I. , Mitchell Michael B. , Bates Diane C. , Bowen Daniel , Dell'Angelo Tabitha , Herres Joanna , Pearson Kim , Whalen Dara , Lowe Laurie , Donaldson Robert
Published: October 2023

This manuscript offers an overview of 11 disciplinary perspectives on the failed and destructive War on Drugs and the salutary prospects from decriminalizing drug use, including History, African American studies, Journalism, Sociology, Political Science, Cost Accounting, Urban Education, Counseling, Psychology, Nursing, and Public Health. This offers a roadmap for counselor social and political advocacy with drug policy and highlights community collaboration opportunities.
Palmatine attenuates LPS‐induced neuroinflammation through the PI3K/Akt/NF‐κB pathway
Authors: Zeng Jianning , Pei Hongyan , Wu Hong , Chen Weijia , Du Rui , He Zhongmei
Published: October 2023

To investigate the key molecular mechanisms of palmatine for the treatment of neuroinflammation through modulation of a pathway using molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation combined with network pharmacology, and animal experiments. Five alkaloid components were obtained from the traditional Chinese medicine Huangteng through literature mining. Molecular docking and MD simulation with acetylcholinesterase were used to screen palmatine. At the animal level, mice were injected with LPS intracerebrally to cause a neuroinflammatory model, and the Morris water maze experiment was performed to examine the learning memory of mice. Anxiety levels were tested using the autonomous activity behavior experiment with the open field and elevated behavior experiments. HE staining and Niss staining were performed on brain tissue sections to observe morphological lesions and apoptosis; serum was examined for inflammatory factors TNF‐α, IL‐6, and IL‐1β; Western blot was performed to detect the protein expression. The expression of PI3K/AKT/NFkB signaling pathway‐related proteins was examined by Western blot. The results of network pharmacology showed that the screening of palmatine activation containing the PI3K/Akt/NFkB signaling pathway exerts antineuroinflammatory effects. Results from behavioral experiments showed that Pal enhanced learning memory in model mice, improved anxiety behavior, and significantly improved brain damage caused by neuroinflammation. The results of HE staining and Niss staining of brain tissue sections showed that palmatine could alleviate morphological lesions and nucleus damage in brain tissue. Palmatine improved the levels of serum inflammatory factors TNF‐α, IL‐6, and IL‐1β. SOD, MDA, CAT, ACH, and ACHE in the hippocampus were improved. Western blot results showed that palmatine administration ameliorated LPS‐induced neuroinflammation through the PI3K/Akt/NFkB pathway.
Exploring the roles of human values and self‐discrepancies in postnatal depression in first‐time mothers
Authors: Smith Cassandra , Hanel Paul H. P. , Maio Gregory R.
Published: October 2023

Objectives

Postnatal depression is the most prevalent psychopathology experienced within the perinatal period and has been associated with a range of adverse outcomes for both mother and infant. In the present research, we combine two influential theories, Schwartz's theory of human values and Higgins' self‐discrepancy theory (SDT), to test new hypotheses about postnatal depression.

Methods

We recruited 80 first‐time mothers who had given birth within the last 6 months and who self‐reported experiencing low mood or postnatal depression. Participants anonymously completed measures of postnatal depression, value importance, self‐discrepancies, and subjective value fulfillment.

Results

Contrary to our hypotheses, actual‐ought self‐discrepancies, but not actual‐ideal self‐discrepancies, predicted postnatal depression. Interestingly however, self‐discrepancies were negatively correlated with value fulfillment. The findings within this study diverge from the relation predicted within SDT and highlight how motherhood may represent a unique circumstance, in which the “ideal self” has evolved to become a self that one feels morally obligated to embody. Further exploratory analyses revealed that depression was predicted by the difference between value fulfillment and value importance in conservation values, but not by differences between value fulfillment and value importance regarding any of the other value types.

Discussion

We discuss potential impact on discourses around motherhood, alongside clinical implications for practitioners who work with mothers during the perinatal period.
Safety of laparoscopic liver resection for high‐risk patients
Authors: Maeda Tetsuya , Otsuka Yuichiro , Okada Rei , Ito Yuko , Matsumoto Yu , Kimura Kazutaka , Ishii Jun , Tsuchiya Masaru , Kaneko Hironori , Funahashi Kimihiko
Published: October 2023

Background/Purpose

To investigate the safety of laparoscopic liver resections (LLRs) for high‐risk patients (HRs) with preoperative comorbidities affecting the heart, lungs, kidneys, glucose tolerance, and central nervous system.

Methods

This retrospective study included 585 patients who had undergone total hepatectomies from 2006 to 2020. Among them, 239 patients underwent LLRs, and 349 underwent open liver resections (OLRs). The safety and validity of LLRs were analyzed by comparing outcomes and preoperative records between HRs and nonhigh‐risk patients (nHRs). HRs were defined as patients with any type of chronic heart disease rated New York Heart Association II or higher, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease rated stage III or higher, chronic kidney disease rated stage III or higher, insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus, or cerebrovascular disease with neurological sequelae.

Results

A total of 117 LLRs (49.0%) were performed in HRs, and there were more patients with ASA class III or higher than nHRs. Complications of Clavien‐Dindo classification grade 3b or higher were not observed in HRs and in only one nHR. Furthermore, no postoperative exacerbations of the five HRs factors were observed in either group.

Conclusions

Rigorous assessment of surgical indications and perioperative management can promote safe LLRs, even in HRs with comorbidities.
Pneumonia is not just pneumonia: Differences in utilization and costs with common comorbidities
Authors: Lee Jessica T. , Navathe Amol S. , Werner Rachel M.
Published: October 2023

We sought to explore the heterogeneity among patients hospitalized with pneumonia, a condition targeted in payment reform. In a retrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized for pneumonia, we compared postacute care utilization and costs of 90‐day episodes of care among patients with and without comorbidities of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and/or heart failure. Of the 1,926,674 discharges, 28.1% had COPD, 14.3% had heart failure, and 14.6% carried both diagnoses. Patients with pneumonia were more likely to be discharged to a facility than those with pneumonia and COPD with or without heart failure, though less likely than those with pneumonia and heart failure only. Compared to patients with pneumonia only, patients with COPD and/or heart failure had higher episode payments. Acute conditions such as pneumonia may hold promise for episode‐based care payment reform; however, the heterogeneity within this diagnosis indicates the need to consider other patient characteristics in interventions to improve value‐based care.
MRI‐Based Radiomics Approach for Differentiating Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy from Epilepsy with Generalized Tonic–Clonic Seizures Alone
Authors: Sim Yongsik , Lee Seung‐Koo , Chu Min Kyung , Kim Won‐Joo , Heo Kyoung , Kim Kyung Min , Sohn Beomseok
Published: October 2023

Background

The clinical presentation of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) and epilepsy with generalized tonic–clonic seizures alone (GTCA) is similar, and MRI scans are often perceptually normal in both conditions making them challenging to differentiate.

Purpose

To develop and validate an MRI‐based radiomics model to accurately diagnose JME and GTCA, as well as to classify prognostic groups.

Study Type

Retrospective.

Population

164 patients (127 with JME and 37 with GTCA) patients (age 24.0 ± 9.6; 50% male), divided into training (n = 114) and test (n = 50) sets in a 7:3 ratio with the same proportion of JME and GTCA patients kept in both sets.

Field Strength/Sequence

3T; 3D T1‐weighted spoiled gradient‐echo.

Assessment

A total of 17 region‐of‐interest in the brain were identified as having clinical evidence of association with JME and GTCA, from where 1581 radiomics features were extracted for each subject. Forty‐eight machine‐learning combinations of oversampling, feature selection, and classification algorithms were explored to develop an optimal radiomics model. The performance of the best radiomics models for diagnosis and for classification of the favorable outcome group were evaluated in the test set.

Statistical Tests

Model performance measured using area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) analysis to estimate the contribution of each radiomics feature.

Results

The AUC (95% confidence interval) of the best radiomics models for diagnosis and for classification of favorable outcome group were 0.767 (0.591–0.943) and 0.717 (0.563–0.871), respectively. SHAP analysis revealed that the first‐order and textural features of the caudate, cerebral white matter, thalamus proper, and putamen had the highest importance in the best radiomics model.

Conclusion

The proposed MRI‐based radiomics model demonstrated the potential to diagnose JME and GTCA, as well as to classify prognostic groups. MRI regions associated with JME, such as the basal ganglia, thalamus, and cerebral white matter, appeared to be important for constructing radiomics models.

Level of Evidence

3

Technical Efficacy

Stage 3
Glymphatic Imaging in Pediatrics
Authors: Li Xianjun , Lin Zixuan , Liu Congcong , Bai Ruiliang , Wu Dan , Yang Jian
Published: October 2023

The glymphatic system, which facilitates cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow through the brain parenchyma, is important for brain development and waste clearance. Advances in imaging techniques, particularly magnetic resonance imaging, have make it possible to evaluate glymphatic structures and functions in vivo. Recently, several studies have focused on the development and alterations of the glymphatic system in pediatric disorders. This review discusses the development of the glymphatic system, advances of imaging techniques and their applications in pediatric disorders. First, the results of the reviewed studies indicate that the development of the glymphatic system is a long‐lasting process that continues into adulthood. Second, there is a need for improved glymphatic imaging techniques that are non‐invasive and fast to improve suitability for pediatric applications, as some of existing methods use contrast injection and are susceptible to motion artifacts from long scanning times. Several novel techniques are potentially feasible for pediatric patients and may be used in the future. Third, the glymphatic dysfunction is associated with a large number of pediatric disorders, although only a few have recently been investigated. In conclusion, research on the pediatric glymphatic system remains an emerging field. The preliminary applications of glymphatic imaging techniques have provided unique insight into the pathological mechanism of pediatric diseases, but mainly limited in visualization of enlarged perivascular spaces and morphological measurements on CSF volumes. More in‐depth studies on glymphatic functions are required to improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying brain development and pediatric diseases.

Level of Evidence

5

Technical Efficacy

Stage 3
The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the prevalence and genotype distribution of HPV infection in Beijing, China
Authors: Yi Jie , Li Xu , Zhang Rui , Kong Lingjun , Wang Ziyi , Yu Qi , Zhang Han , Chen Binghan , Li Sabrina , Xu Yingchun , Chen Yu
Published: October 2023

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections nationwide. The COVID‐19 pandemic has greatly influenced on the HPV prevention project. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of the pandemic on HPV prevalence and genotype distribution in Beijing, China. A total of 44 401 genital swabs were obtained from outpatients at Peking Union Medical College Hospital during two distinct periods: the prepandemic stage from January 2017 to December 2019 and the pandemic stage from January 2020 to December 2022. During the prepandemic and pandemic stages, a total of 33 531 and 10 870 swabs were respectively collected. Fifteen high‐risk HPV (HR‐HPV) DNA type and a combination of two low‐risk (LR‐HPV) types (6/11) of genital swabs were detected to compare the HPV infection rates and genotype distributions in two stages. The results showed that the pandemic period witnessed a decrease in the overall HPV infection rate from 33.43% (11 245/33 531) to 29.43% (5527/18 780) compared to the prepandemic. There were statistically significant differences in infection rates between females and males (p < 0.05). Single infection was the predominant type while multiple infection was more prevalent in males than females in both prepandemic and pandemic periods. HR‐HPV infection constituted the majority of infections and cannot be disregarded. The distribution of HR‐HPV genotypes exhibited little variation before and after the outbreak, but there were some differences between females and males. HPV 16, 52, 58, 56, and 66 were the most commonly detected genotypes in females, whereas HPV 16, 52, 51, 58, and 18 were frequently detected in males. Additionally, HPV 6/11 exhibited a higher prevalence in males than in females. Notably, the age group of 31−40 years old exhibited the highest prevalence of HPV and the lowest infection rate was detected among individuals aged ≤20 years (p < 0.05), which remained relatively consistent before and during the pandemic. These findings underscore the importance of monitoring the trend of HPV epidemic and offer valuable insights for the prevention, treatment, and scientific investigation of HPV in the post‐COVID‐19 era.
Persistent steatosis correlates with decreased fibrosis regression during anti‐HBV treatment in patients with chronic HBV infection
Authors: Zhang Mengyang , Chen Shuyan , Wu Xiaoning , Zhou Jialing , Wang Tailing , Liu Hui , Zhao Xinyan , Wang Bingqiong , Zhao Xinyu , Kong Yuanyuan , Soon Gwyneth Shook Ting , Ou Xiaojuan , Jia Jidong , Chen Wei , Sun Yameng , You Hong
Published: October 2023

Despite the increasing prevalence of steatosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), whether the changes in steatosis impact fibrosis regression during antiviral therapy remain unclear. We aimed to identify the association between histological changes of steatosis and fibrosis in patients undergone antiviral treatment. Patients with paired liver biopsies before and after 78 weeks of antiviral therapy were enrolled in this study. Liver fibrosis was assessed by the Ishak score combined with Beijing Classification predominantly progressive, indeterminate, and predominately regressive score. Steatosis was evaluated by the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score. Collagen in each site was quantitated by second harmonic generation/two photon excitation fluorescence technology. Serum proteomic changes after treatment were characterized by mass‐based spectrometry. A total of 239 CHB patients were included and divided into four groups according to the changes in steatosis: 162 (67.8%) had no steatosis throughout, 24 (10.0%) developed new‐onset steatosis, 21 (8.8%) had initial steatosis which disappeared, and 32 (13.4%) had persistent steatosis. The persistent steatosis group showed the lowest rate of fibrosis regression (14/32, 43.8%). Persistent steatosis correlated with decreased fibrosis regression significantly after adjusting for age, sex, fibrosis stage, and metabolic factors at baseline, as well as the viral response (adjusted odds ratio = 0.380, 95% confidence interval 0.145–0.996, p = 0.049). This decreased fibrosis regression was associated with accumulated collagen in the perisinusoidal area. Patients with persistent steatosis showed unique changes in glycolipid metabolism according to the serum proteomic atlas. Persistent steatosis correlated with decreased fibrosis regression during antiviral therapy in patients with CHB.
Subunit vaccine raised against the SARS‐CoV‐2 spike of Delta and Omicron variants
Authors: Feng Sheng , Fan Zechang , Zhou Keyue , Ma Shanshan , Liang Mingzheng , Zhang He , Xie Yubiao , Ha Zhuo , Jin Ningyi , Lu Huijun
Published: October 2023

Vaccination has proven effective against SARS‐CoV‐2 infection but vaccines were originally based on the wild type and emerging variants have led to a decrease in protective efficacy. There is an urgent need for broad‐spectrum vaccine protection against emerging variants. A vaccine based on the Delta strain spike protein was created by optimization of vector, codon, and protein structure to produce a subunit immunogen (Delta‐6P‐S) containing six proline mutations, stable pre‐fusion conformation, and with high expression in CHO‐S cells. Immunogenicity and protective efficacy were evaluated in mice and golden hamsters using alum adjuvant. The Delta‐6P‐S recombinant protein induced strong immune responses in C57BL/6J mice and golden hamsters and sera had cross‐neutralization activity and neutralized wild type and Beta, Delta, Omicron BA.1, BA.2, and BA.5 variant strains. Golden hamsters were immunized against Delta, Omicron BA.1, and BA.2 variants. Viral RNA detected from throat swabs, lungs and tracheas decreased significantly in vaccine‐inoculated animals relative to alum‐treated controls and no infectious viruses were detected in lungs and tracheas. Almost no pathological damage to lung tissue was found in vaccinated animals by contrast with those treated only with alum. The Delta‐6P‐S recombinant protein rapidly eliminated replicating virus in the upper and lower airways of golden hamsters and merits further investigation as a candidate anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine.
Spatiotemporal cluster of mpox in men who have sex with men: A modeling study in 83 countries
Authors: Shang Weijing , Cao Guiying , Wu Yu , Kang Liangyu , Wang Yaping , Gao Peng , Liu Jue , Liu Min
Published: October 2023

Mpox outbroke globally during 2022–2023, with more than 90% of cases occurring in men who have sex with men (MSM). However, the spatiotemporal distribution of mpox is not well established yet. This study aimed to explore the spatiotemporal clustering of mpox cases in MSM worldwide. We obtained the numbers of mpox cases from Our World in Data, the number of MSM from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), UNAIDS DATA 2021 and UNAIDS Global AIDS Update 2022 and literature. We evaluated the spatiotemporal cluster of mpox in MSM using retrospective space–time analyses method. The total number of mpox cases was 85 795 during May 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023. The most likely cluster was Spain (likelihood ratio = 4764.97; p < 0.001), with a cluster period from July 26 to August 14, 2022. There were 11 secondary clusters, which included 46 countries located in western Europe, eastern and northern South America, northern Europe, Canada, Central Africa, southern and central Europe, Latin America, Turkey, Dominican Republic, New Zealand, and Australia. The findings may inform current and future control strategies of mpox and might provide references for the identification of the spatiotemporal distribution of new and emerging infectious diseases in specific populations.
Assessment of alterations in the retina and vitreous in pre‐ and post‐COVID‐19 patients using swept‐source optical coherence tomography and angiography: A comparative study
Authors: Gao Yuzhu , Zhang Yifan , Mou Kefan , Liu Yilin , Chen Qing , Man Shulei , Xu Hanyue , Zhou Jiaming , Wang Ting , Li Yating , Chen Yi , Zhang Ming
Published: October 2023

Ocular manifestations have been well recognized in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) outbreak. Several studies have detected ocular manifestations in patients after COVID‐19. However, little is known about the retinal and vitreal alterations in patients before and after COVID‐19 infection. This study aimed to investigate the retinal and vitreal alterations in patients before and after contracting COVID‐19 infection using swept‐source optical coherence tomography (SS‐OCT) and angiography (SS‐OCTA). A total of 38 participants (76 eyes) were enrolled and followed‐up 1 month after COVID‐19 infection. Then, 26 patients (52 eyes) were evaluated 3 months after COVID‐19 infection. Compared with the pre‐COVID‐19 status, patients with 1‐ and 3‐month post‐COVID‐19 statuses had significant thinning of ganglion cell and inner plexiform layer, thickening of inner nuclear layer, a decrease in the vessel density (VD) of superficial vascular complex, and an increase in the VD of deep vascular complex. Meanwhile, alteration in parameters of foveal avascular zone (all p < 0.05) and hyper‐reflective dots in the vitreous of 27 patients (54 eyes) (71.1% vs. pre‐COVID‐19, 34.2%, p = 0.006) were observed. These findings suggest significantly retinal and vitreal alterations occurred in patients after COVID‐19 infection, possibly due to direct or indirect virus‐induced injuries. Further longitudinal studies are required to investigate the long‐term effects of COVID‐19 infection on the human eyes.
Higher‐order comparative reward processing is affected by noninvasive stimulation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex
Authors: Kroker Thomas , Rehbein Maimu Alissa , Wyczesany Miroslaw , Bölte Jens , Roesmann Kati , Wessing Ida , Junghöfer Markus
Published: October 2023

A crucial skill, especially in rapidly changing environments, is to be able to learn efficiently from prior rewards or losses and apply this acquired knowledge in upcoming situations. Often, we must weigh the risks of different options and decide whether an option is worth the risk or whether we should choose a safer option. The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) is suggested as a major hub for basic but also higher‐order reward processing. Dysfunction in this region has been linked to cognitive risk factors for depression and behavioral addictions, including reduced optimism and feedback learning. Here, we test whether modulations of vmPFC excitability via noninvasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can alter reward anticipation and reward processing. In a financial gambling task, participants chose between a higher and a lower monetary risk option and eventually received feedback whether they won or lost. Simultaneously feedback on the unchosen option was presented as well. Behavioral and magnetoencephalographic correlates of reward processing were evaluated in direct succession of either excitatory or inhibitory tDCS of the vmPFC. We were able to show modulated reward approach behavior (expectancy of greater reward magnitudes) as well as altered reevaluation of received feedback by vmPFC tDCS as indicated by modified choice behavior following the feedback. Thereby, tDCS not only influenced early, rather basic reward processing, but it also modulated higher‐order comparative feedback evaluation of gains and losses relative to alternative outcomes. The neural results underline this idea, as stimulation‐driven modulations of the basic reward‐related effect occurred at rather early time intervals and were followed by stimulation effects related to comparative reward processing. Importantly, behavioral ratings were correlated with neural activity in left frontal areas. Our results imply a dual function of the vmPFC consisting of approaching reward (as indicated by more risky choices) and elaborately evaluating outcomes. In addition, our data suggest that vmPFC activity is associated with adaptive decision‐making in the future via modulated behavioral adaptation or reinforcement learning.
Understanding the role of the NMDA receptor subunit, GluN2D, in mediating NMDA receptor antagonist‐induced behavioral disruptions in male and female mice
Authors: Vinnakota Chitra , Schroeder Anna , Du Xin , Ikeda Kazutaka , Ide Soichiro , Mishina Masayoshi , Hudson Matthew , Jones Nigel Charles , Sundram Suresh , Hill Rachel Anne
Published: October 2023

Noncompetitive NMDA receptor (NMDAR) antagonists like phencyclidine (PCP) and ketamine cause psychosis‐like symptoms in healthy humans, exacerbate schizophrenia symptoms in people with the disorder, and disrupt a range of schizophrenia‐relevant behaviors in rodents, including hyperlocomotion. This is negated in mice lacking the GluN2D subunit of the NMDAR, suggesting the GluN2D subunit mediates the hyperlocomotor effects of these drugs. However, the role of GluN2D in mediating other schizophrenia‐relevant NMDAR antagonist‐induced behavioral disturbances, and in both sexes, is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of the GluN2D subunit in mediating schizophrenia‐relevant behaviors induced by a range of NMDA receptor antagonists. Using both male and female GluN2D knockout (KO) mice, we examined the effects of the NMDAR antagonist's PCP, the S‐ketamine enantiomer (S‐ket), and the ketamine metabolite R‐norketamine (R‐norket) on locomotor activity, anxiety‐related behavior, and recognition and short‐term spatial memory. GluN2D‐KO mice showed a blunted locomotor response to R‐norket, S‐ket, and PCP, a phenotype present in both sexes. GluN2D‐KO mice of both sexes showed an anxious phenotype and S‐ket, R‐norket, and PCP showed anxiolytic effects that were dependent on sex and genotype. S‐ket disrupted spatial recognition memory in females and novel object recognition memory in both sexes, independent of genotype. This datum identifies a role for the GluN2D subunit in sex‐specific effects of NMDAR antagonists and on the differential effects of the R‐ and S‐ket enantiomers.
Analysis of localized features during wet and dry rainfall episodes over southern tip of India
Authors: Resmi E. A. , Preethi B. , Ajayamohan R. S. , Ray Pallav , Unnikrishnan C. K. , Nita S. , Sumesh R. K. , Dharmadas J.
Published: October 2023

The large spatial and temporal variability of wet and dry spells of the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) poses the great challenge in understanding and predicting monsoonal rainfall. This challenge is further exacerbated over smaller regions, such as the southern tip of India, which receives the first spell of ISM rainfall. In this study, the characteristic features and possible precursors for wet and dry spells of rainfall over the southern tip of India are investigated. We also explore the variability in monsoon low‐level jet (LLJ) in relation to wet and dry spells over a coastal station Thiruvananthapuram (8.48°N, 76.95°E) in southwest India using in situ observations and other ancillary datasets. The results show that a wet spell spanning 3–4 days contributes about 30% of seasonal rainfall. Wet spells are characterized by westerly wind anomaly in the southern tip of India and easterly wind anomaly in northern India, leading to anomalous cyclonic vorticity over the Indian subcontinent. The opposite happens during dry spells. These characteristics are prominent from 2 days prior to the initiation of the spells, suggesting they may be used as precursors for forecasting wet and dry spells over Thiruvananthapuram. Analysis of low‐ to mid‐tropospheric (2 and 4 km) humidity reveals significant moistening (drying) during wet (dry) spells. Yet, both wet and dry spells experience humid (>80%) boundary layer. The differences in mid‐level humidity and thermodynamical structures between wet and dry spells seem to contribute to distinct rainfall characteristics over the southern tip of India. These results indicate that the use of in situ observations along with large‐scale reanalysis datasets may provide valuable information on the precursors for wet and dry spells over the southern tip of India, which can help both in regional‐ and city‐level planning and management of water resources.
Vibrational Raman modes of alamosite (PbSiO3): Combining density functional theory calculations and in situ temperature experiments
Authors: Pena R. B. , Cunha T. R. , Gomes E. O. , Sampaio D. V. , Rodrigues A. D. , Andrés J. , Pizani P. S.
Published: October 2023

Raman vibrational modes, temperature wavenumber coefficients, and isobaric‐mode Grüneisen parameters of the monoclinic alamosite (PbSiO3) have been pioneeringly characterized by combining density functional theory calculation and in situ unpolarized Raman measurements. No structural phase transition was observed, corroborating the thermal stability of the monoclinic phase until 1000 K.
UV‐based solvent system screening for high‐speed counter‐current chromatography fractionation of compounds with similar UV absorption from complex samples followed by preparative HPLC purification: Flavonoids from barley seedlings as sample
Authors: Chen Tao , Jia Jing , Shen Cheng , Wang Shuo , Li Hongmei , Ma Yumei , Song Zhibo , Lu Weihang , Li Aijing , Li Yulin
Published: October 2023

This article proposes a solvent system screening strategy for compounds with similar UV absorption in complex samples by UV spectrophotometer. There is no need to calculate the partition coefficient value of each compound, only the partition coefficient of the whole sample. The partition coefficient value should be close to 1 in order to obtain as many high‐speed counter‐current chromatography fractions as possible. Then, preparative HPLC was used to purify the high‐speed counter‐current chromatography fractions. Based on the above strategy, seven c‐glycosyl flavonoids and an amino acid were successfully obtained from barley seedlings through high‐speed counter‐current chromatography fractionation with ethyl acetate/n‐butanol/water (8:2:10, v:v:v) system followed by preparative HPLC purification. The research shows that high‐speed counter‐current chromatography could be well developed as a tool for fractionation before purification, and greatly improves the separation efficiency.