bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Childhood and Adolescent Central Nervous System Tumours in Spain: Incidence and Survival over 20 Years: A Historical Baseline for Current Assessment
Authors: Chirlaque Maria D. , Peris-Bonet Rafael , Sánchez Antonia , Cruz Ofelia , Marcos-Gragera Rafael , Gutiérrez-Ávila Gonzalo , Quirós-García José R. , Almela-Vich Fernando , López de Munain Arantza , Sánchez Maria J. , Franch-Sureda Paula , Ardanaz Eva , Galceran Jaume , Martos Carmen , Salmerón Diego , Gatta Gemma , Botta Laura , Cañete Adela ,   the Spanish Childhood Cancer Epidemiology Working Group
Published: December 2023

Background: Central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms are highly frequent solid tumours in children and adolescents. While some studies have shown a rise in their incidence in Europe, others have not. Survival remains limited. We addressed two questions about these tumours in Spain: (1) Is incidence increasing? and (2) Has survival improved? Methods: This population-based study included 1635 children and 328 adolescents from 11 population-based cancer registries with International Classification of Childhood Cancer Group III tumours, incident in 1983–2007. Age-specific and age-standardised (world population) incidence rates (ASRws) were calculated. Incidence time trends were characterised using annual percent change (APC) obtained with Joinpoint. Cases from 1991 to 2005 (1171) were included in Kaplan–Meier survival analyses, and the results were evaluated with log-rank and log-rank for trend tests. Children’s survival was age-standardised using: (1) the age distribution of cases and the corresponding trends assessed with Joinpoint; and (2) European weights for comparison with Europe. Results: ASRw 1983–2007: children: 32.7 cases/106; adolescents: 23.5 cases/106. The overall incidence of all tumours increased across 1983–2007 in children and adolescents. Considering change points, the APCs were: (1) children: 1983–1993, 4.3%^ (1.1; 7.7); 1993–2007, −0.2% (−1.9; 1.6); (2) adolescents: 1983–2004: 2.9%^ (0.9; 4.9); 2004–2007: −7.7% (−40; 41.9). For malignant tumours, the trends were not significant. 5-year survival was 65% (1991–2005), with no significant trends (except for non-malignant tumours). Conclusions: CNS tumour incidence in Spain was found to be similar to that in Europe. Rises in incidence may be mostly attributable to changes in the registration of non-malignant tumours. The overall malignant CNS tumour trend was compatible with reports for Southern Europe. Survival was lower than in Europe, without improvement over time. We provide a baseline for assessing current paediatric oncology achievements and incidence in respect of childhood and adolescent CNS tumours.
Oncologic Outcome of Robotic-Assisted and Laparoscopic Sentinel Node Biopsy in Endometrial Cancer
Authors: Ignatov Atanas , Mészáros József , Ivros Stylianos , Gennari Paolo , Ignatov Tanja
Published: December 2023

Background: Recently, sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has been introduced in the surgical staging of endometrial cancer as an alternative to systematic lymph node dissection (LND). However, the survival impact of SLNB is not yet well characterised. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 419 patients with endometrial cancer treated with SLNB alone or with pelvic and para-aortic LND. For SLNB mapping, indocyanine green was used. Results: Median follow-up was 66 months. After exclusions, 337 patients were eligible for analysis. Of them, 150 underwent SLNB and 187 LND. During the follow-up time, 27 (24.7%) of the 150 who underwent SLNB and 54 (28.9%) of the 187 who underwent LND were diagnosed with recurrent disease (p = 0.459). The estimated 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 76.7% and 72.2% for patients in the SLNB and LND group, respectively (p = 0.419). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 80.7% and 77.0% in the SLNB and LND group, respectively (p = 0.895). Survival rates were similar in both groups independent of lymph node status. Multivariable analysis confirmed that the staging approach was not associated with oncological outcome. For patients without lymph node metastases, patient outcome was worsened by advanced tumour stage and non-endometrioid tumour histology. In the group of patients with confirmed lymph node metastases, advanced tumour stage and inadequate adjuvant treatment significantly reduced DFS and OS. Conclusion: Our data suggested that SLNB did not compromise the oncological outcome of patients with endometrial cancer compared to LND.
Natural Killer T (NKT) Cells in Autoimmune Hepatitis: Current Evidence from Basic and Clinical Research.
Authors: Poddighe Dimitri , Maulenkul Tilektes , Zhubanova Gulsamal , Akhmaldtinova Lyudmila , Dossybayeva Kuanysh
Published: December 2023

Natural killer T (NKT) cells are unconventional T cells that are activated by glycolipid antigens. They can produce a variety of inflammatory and regulatory cytokines and, therefore, modulate multiple aspects of the immune response in different pathological settings, including autoimmunity. NKT cells have also been implicated in the immunopathogenesis of autoimmune hepatitis, and in this review we summarize and analyze the main studies investigating the involvement and/or homeostasis of NKT cells in this disease. In detail, the evidence from both basic and clinical research has been specifically analyzed. Even though the experimental murine models supported a relevant role of NKT cells in immune-mediated hepatic injury, very few studies specifically investigated NKT cell homeostasis in patients with autoimmune hepatitis; however, these initial studies reported some alterations of NKT cells in these patients, which may also correlate with the disease activity to some extent. Further clinical studies are needed to investigate the potential role and use of NKT cell analysis as a disease marker of clinical relevance, and to better understand the precise cellular and molecular mechanisms by which NKT cells contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune hepatitis.
Correction: Balaphas et al. Cell Therapy for Anal Sphincter Incontinence: Where Do We Stand? Cells 2021, 10, 2086
Authors: Balaphas Alexandre , Meyer Jeremy , Meier Raphael P. H. , Liot Emilie , Buchs Nicolas C. , Roche Bruno , Toso Christian , Bühler Leo H. , Gonelle-Gispert Carmen , Ris Frédéric
Published: December 2023

The authors would like to add a new reference to the section “3 [...]
Amplification of Signal on Cell Surfaces in Molecular Cascades
Authors: Rudchenko Sergei , Taylor Steven , Milosavic Nenad , Rudchenko Maria , Wedderhoff Tissi Betina , Mapara Markus Y. , Stojanovic Milan N.
Published: December 2023

We can formulate mixtures of oligonucleotide–antibody conjugates to act as molecular cascade-based automata that analyze pairs of cell surface markers (CD markers) on individual cells in a manner consistent with the implementation of Boolean logic—for example, by producing a fluorescent label only if two markers are present. While traditional methods to characterize cells are based on transducing signals from individual cell surface markers, these cascades can be used to combine into a single signal the presence of two or even more CDs. In our original design, oligonucleotide components irreversibly flowed from one antibody to another, driven by increased hybridizations, leading to the magnitude of the final signal on each cell being determined by the surface marker that was the least abundant. This is a significant limitation to the precise labeling of narrow subpopulations, and, in order to overcome it, we changed our design to accomplish signal amplification to a more abundant cell surface marker. We show the AMPLIFY function on two examples: (1) we amplify the fluorescent label from the CD19 marker onto a fivefold more abundant CD45, and (2) we amplify broadly distributed CD45RA to a more constant marker, CD3. We expect this new function to enable the increasingly complex Boolean analysis of cell surfaces.
Single-Cell Transcriptomics and In Vitro Lineage Tracing Reveals Differential Susceptibility of Human iPSC-Derived Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons in a Cellular Model of Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Cardo Lucia F. , Monzón-Sandoval Jimena , Li Zongze , Webber Caleb , Li Meng
Published: December 2023

Advances in stem cell technologies open up new avenues for modelling development and diseases. The success of these pursuits, however, relies on the use of cells most relevant to those targeted by the disease of interest, for example, midbrain dopaminergic neurons for Parkinson’s disease. In the present study, we report the generation of a human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line capable of purifying and tracing nascent midbrain dopaminergic progenitors and their differentiated progeny via the expression of a Blue Fluorescent Protein (BFP). This was achieved by CRISPR/Cas9-assisted knock-in of BFP and Cre into the safe harbour locus AAVS1 and an early midbrain dopaminergic lineage marker gene LMX1A, respectively. Immunocytochemical analysis and single-cell RNA sequencing of iPSC-derived neural cultures confirm developmental recapitulation of the human fetal midbrain and high-quality midbrain cells. By modelling Parkinson’s disease-related drug toxicity using 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), we showed a preferential reduction of BFP+ cells, a finding demonstrated independently by cell death assays and single-cell transcriptomic analysis of MPP+ treated neural cultures. Together, these results highlight the importance of disease-relevant cell types in stem cell modelling.
Climate Change Perceptions and Associated Characteristics in Canadian Prairie Agricultural Producers
Authors: Stewart Sheena A. , Arbuthnott Katherine D. , Sauchyn David J.
Published: December 2023

Climate change (CC) poses a threat to agricultural sustainability, which is important in the Canadian Prairies, as agriculture is a major occupation and driver of the economy. Agriculture involves both the creation and mitigation of emissions related to CC. To implement adaptation and mitigation practices, producers should accept CC as fact. This study is based in Saskatchewan, Canada, where CC denial is prevalent in public comments. To assess the validity of this anecdotal impression, this study provided a snapshot of Saskatchewan agricultural producers’ perceptions and observations of CC and assessed whether views on CC are associated with characteristics of political orientation and affiliation, mental flexibility, systems thinking, time orientation, climate knowledge, climate observations, and demographic variables. A survey was developed with the following four sections: (1) individual characteristics; (2) observed changes in climate-related variables; (3) knowledge and perceptions about CC; and (4) demographic variables. The survey included multiple-choice questions and items scored on a Likert scale. The survey was completed by 330 Saskatchewan agricultural producers (i.e., farmers and ranchers). The results indicated more CC denial in Saskatchewan producers than in other Canadian samples. Individual and socioeconomic characteristics of lower levels of formal education, identifying as male, conservative political affiliation and ideation, low trust in science, and low mental flexibility were associated with less acceptance and concern of CC. It is therefore necessary to consider socioeconomic and individual characteristics of producers in measures aiming to increase the acceptance of the reality of CC. Future intervention research should target male producers with lower levels of formal education, low trust in science, low mental flexibility, and right-leaning political ideation for the improvement of CC perceptions and examine different teaching methods (e.g., lectures, workshops, webinars) and dissemination methods (e.g., online versus in-person sessions) to see how various techniques may influence learning, as well as the way the information is used by particular groups.
Systemic Immune Modulation Induced by Ephedrine in Obese-Diabetes (db/db) Mice
Authors: Lee Seung-hoon , Lee Hyunah , Park Rackhyun
Published: December 2023

Immune-modulatory effects in obese-diabetes (db/db) mice were observed to understand the possible mechanism(s) of ephedrine-induced unfavorable responses. The ephedrine doses were selected based on the FDA report (NTP Tech Rep Ser NO 307; CAS# 134-72-5), which showed the non-toxic dose for B6C3F1 mice. In db/db mice, higher doses (6 and 12 mg/mouse) of ephedrine significantly harmed the liver and lung morphology, including fatty liver with multiple blood vessel engorgement, alveolar wall thickening, and inflammatory response in the lung. The immune micro-environment of db/db mice was an inflammatory state with suppressed adaptive cellular immunity. After the administration of ephedrine, significant deterioration of NK activity was observed with lowered gene transcription of klrk1 encoding NKG2D, and of ccl8, a NK cell targeting chemokine. Suppressed cellular immunity in db/db mice was lowered ever further by single ephedrine treatment, as was evidenced by mitogen-induced T or B cell proliferations. These observations demonstrate that at the non-toxic doses in normal B6C3F1 mice, ephedrine clearly suppressed systemic immunity of db/db mice. The data suggest that the immune micro-environment of obese individuals is fragile and susceptible to ephedrine-related pathologic response, and this may be a prelude to the induction of obesity-related secondary immunological disorders.
Water Extract of Portulaca Oleracea Inhibits PEDV Infection-Induced Pyrolysis by Caspase-1/GSDMD
Authors: Zhang Yu , Liu Yueyue , Yang Shifa , Yin Bin , Zhao Zengcheng , Huang Zhongli , Wu Jiaqiang , Lin Shuqian , Wang Xin
Published: December 2023

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) belongs to the coronavirus family and the coronavirus genus, causing contact enteric infection in pigs. It is one of the most serious diseases that threatens the pig industry. However, there is currently no specific drug to prevent and treat the disease, indicating that we need to be vigilant about the spread of the disease and the development of anti-PEDV drugs. The dried aerial parts of the plant Portulaca oleracea in the family Portulacaceous, whose decoction can be used to treat acute enteritis, dysentery, diarrhea, and other diseases. This study explored the potential mechanism of water extract of Portulaca oleracea (WEPO) in PEDV-induced pyroptosis in Vero cells. PEDV decreased the viability of Vero cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, causing cell damage, upregulating the level of intracellular Nlrp3, and inhibiting the level of Gasdermin D (GSDMD) and the activation of Caspase-1. WEPO can inhibit PEDV-induced pyroptosis, reduce the elevation of inflammatory factors caused by infection, and exhibit a dose-dependent effect. Knockdown of Caspase-1 and GSDMD separately can induce the production of the inflammatory factor IL-1β to significantly decrease and increase, respectively. These results suggest that WEPO can inhibit cell pyroptosis caused by PEDV and that the Caspase-1 and GSDMD pathways play an important role in this process.
In Silico Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Non-Structural Proteins Reveals an Interaction with the Host’s Heat Shock Proteins That May Contribute to Viral Replications and Development
Authors: Yamkela Mthembu , Sitobo Zingisa , Makhoba Xolani H.
Published: December 2023

The non-structural protein 2 (NSP2) is an RNA-binding protein involved in coronavirus genome replication, and it often decreases human immune response to promote viral invasion and development. It is believed that the NSP2 associates itself with polyamines and heat shock proteins inside the host cell to proceed with viral development. This study aimed to investigate how the SARS-CoV-2 virus’ key non-structural proteins (NSP2) utilize polyamines and heat shock proteins using a molecular docking approach and molecular dynamics (MD). ClusPro and HADDOCK servers were used for the docking and Discovery Studio, chimera, and PyMOL were used for analysis. Docking of the heat shock proteins 40 (HSP40), 70 (HSP70), and 90 (HSP90) with SARS-CoV-2 NSP2 resulted in 32, 28, and 19 interactions, respectively. Molecular dynamics revealed Arg458, Asn508, Met297, Arg301, and Trp417 as active residues, and pharmacophore modeling indicated ZINC395648, ZINC01150525, and ZINC85324008 from the zinc database as possible inhibitors for this NSP2.
A Review of the Developments of the Characteristics and Mechanisms of Airless Spraying on Complex Surfaces
Authors: Wu Zhaojie , Chen Yan , Liu Huishu , Hua Weixing , Duan Jimiao , Kong Linglan
Published: December 2023

The special surface appearance of complex surfaces restricts the coating film quality of spraying. The study of the atomization and film formation characteristics of typical complex surfaces, as well as the spraying mechanism, is essential for planning the spraying robotic trajectory and improving the spraying efficiency. In this paper, modeling and characteristics of the atomization and film formation process, based on CFD numerical simulations in previous studies, are systematically reviewed, focusing especially on airless spraying. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of the existing research from the perspective of numerical models and methods are discussed. Finally, a further research direction for spraying on complex surface is prospected. Overall, a comprehensive and up-to-date review of spray atomization and film formation characteristics is considered valuable to practitioners and researchers in these fields, and will facilitate the further application of robotic spraying in the mechanical, automotive, marine, aerospace, petrochemical and other industries.
Adhesion Strength and Anti-Corrosion Performance of Ceramic Coating on Laser-Textured Aluminum Alloy
Authors: Fan Changfeng , Wang Xue , Yin Xiaoli , Huang Wei , Da Yujie , Jiang Hao , Cao Jingfeng , Gai Yongchao , Zhang Wangwang
Published: December 2023

Laser surface texturing and micro-arc oxidation provide excellent approaches to enhance the adhesion strength and anti-corrosion performance of adhesive bonding interfaces in aluminum alloys, which can be applied in the field of automotive light weighting. Herein, micro-arc oxidation coatings were fabricated on the laser-textured aluminum surface under the voltage of 500 V for various treatment times (5 min, 15 min, 30 min, 60 min). The anti-corrosion performance of ceramic coatings on the laser-textured surface was analyzed using electrochemical measurements. The results of electrochemical measurement indicate that the coating on the sample surface presents two time constants corresponding to a dual-layer structure. The sample grown under 500 V for 60 min exhibits excellent protective performance with a value of 1.3 × 107 ohm·cm2. The adhesion strength of laser-textured ceramic coating is improved compared with the as-received substrate. The sample treated with 500 V for 30 min exhibits the highest bonding strength with a value of 52 MPa. The wider pores and bulges for the sample grown in 60 min would introduce microcracks and consequently reduce the adhesion strength.
(Ti, Nb)(C, B)/IN625 In-Situ Reactive Coating Prepared by Ultra-High-Speed Laser Cladding: Interfacial Characterization, Residual Stress and Surface Wear Mechanisms
Authors: Du Borui , Zhang Nan , Hou Xiaodong , Xu Yifei , Shi Hua , Wang Miaohui , Chen Shaoping , Yu Jing
Published: December 2023

In this study, homogeneous (Ti, Nb)(C, B)/IN625 composite coatings with almost defect-free microstructures were successfully prepared on a 42CrMo steel substrate by coupling ultra-high-speed laser cladding (USLC) with the direct reaction synthesis (DRS) technique to introduce the in-situ exothermic reaction into the cladding materials; these were comparatively analyzed with the pure IN625 coating prepared only by USLC. Our results showed that the interface of the composite coating/substrate was greatly affected by about 670 kJ Joule heat released from the in-situ reaction happening during the cladding process, which was sufficient to remelt the as-deposited materials and significantly increased the coating/substrate interface width to around 24 μm, six times the interface width of pure IN625 coating. Furthermore, the residual stress inside the coating and across the interfacial region was also reduced, alleviating the interface stress mismatch. However, the surface hardness of (Ti, Nb)(C, B)/IN625 composite coating was found to be lower than that of the IN625 coating, and the average wear weight loss was only 10% of that of the IN625 coating, attributable to the in-situ authigenic TiCB, TiC, NbMo3B4 and NbMo2B2 phases providing load transfer from the hard phases to the IN625 composite matrix to achieve abrasion reduction and wear resistance. It was also found that the formation of nano-equiaxial ultrafine grains in the depth range of 250 nm below the wear surface was facilitated by the coupling of the three fields of plastic rheology-heat-force, which dynamically strengthened the wear surface. Based on these findings, it is suggested to promote the strategy of combing USLC and DRS techniques to achieve an additional ability to enhance the coating microstructure and reduce residual stress, to achieve better tribological performance.
High-Power Impulse Magnetron Sputter-Deposited Chromium-Based Coatings for Corrosion Protection
Authors: Liu Yen-Chun , Hsiao Shih-Nan , Chen Ying-Hung , Hsieh Ping-Yen , He Ju-Liang
Published: December 2023

The use of high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HIPIMS) to deposit chromium-based thin films on brass substrates for the purpose of corrosion-protective coating was investigated. By varying the process parameters (pulse frequency, pulse width and N2 flow rate) and structure design, including single-layer and multilayer structures, the obtained results revealed that the Cr-N films deposited through the use of HIPIMS exhibited higher film density and corrosion resistance compared to traditional direct-current magnetron sputtering. Based on the results of a field test using copper-accelerated acetic acid solution, the Cr-N film with a multilayered structure can further extend the time to corrosion onset. This is because the bottom layer in the multilayer structure can block structural defects in the layer above it, effectively reducing the penetration of corrosive agents into the substrate. The high bias voltage, coupled with increased temperature during deposition, led to a dezincification effect, resulting in the reduced adhesion of the film to the substrate and decreased overall corrosion resistance.
Analytical Solution of the Susceptible-Infected-Recovered/Removed Model for the Not-Too-Late Temporal Evolution of Epidemics for General Time-Dependent Recovery and Infection Rates
Authors: Schlickeiser Reinhard , Kröger Martin
Published: December 2023

The dynamical equations of the susceptible-infected-recovered/removed (SIR) epidemics model play an important role in predicting and/or analyzing the temporal evolution of epidemic outbreaks. Crucial input quantities are the time-dependent infection (a(t)) and recovery (μ(t)) rates regulating the transitions between the compartments S→I and I→R, respectively. Accurate analytical approximations for the temporal dependence of the rate of new infections J˚(t)=a(t)S(t)I(t) and the corresponding cumulative fraction of new infections J(t)=J(t0)+∫t0tdxJ˚(x) are available in the literature for either stationary infection and recovery rates or for a stationary value of the ratio k(t)=μ(t)/a(t). Here, a new and original accurate analytical approximation is derived for general, arbitrary, and different temporal dependencies of the infection and recovery rates, which is valid for not-too-late times after the start of the infection when the cumulative fraction J(t)≪1 is much less than unity. The comparison of the analytical approximation with the exact numerical solution of the SIR equations for different illustrative examples proves the accuracy of the analytical approach.
Y-Branched Titanium Dioxide Nanotubes as a Potential Antimicrobial Coating for Implants
Authors: Păun Angela Gabriela , Petrina Valeria , Badea Nicoleta , Ungureanu Camelia , Popescu Simona , Dumitriu Cristina
Published: December 2023

The early loss of dental implants can be avoided with systemic antibiotics, however there are potentially significant side effects. Consequently, the use of local drug administration techniques is necessary to make dental implant therapy more practical. In this study, Y-branched nanotubes were prepared by non-expensive and simple anodization in two steps. Tests were performed to highlight their potential for local antibiotic administration. Y-branched nanotubes were able to incorporate a dose of Tetracycline and ensure its electrochemical stability. The presence of tetracycline significantly enhanced antibacterial efficacy, resulting in an increase of up to 55% for Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 50% for Staphylococcus aureus. The comparable antibacterial effects of the nanostructured surfaces highlight the potential of tetracycline in promoting antimicrobial action. Moreover, the addition of tetracycline does not influence the structural, morphological and stability properties of the nanostructured deposited TiO2 films.
Sexual Outcomes after Conservative Management for Patients with Localized Penile Cancer
Authors: Cilio Simone , Tufano Antonio , Pezone Gabriele , Alvino Pierluigi , Spena Gianluca , Pandolfo Savio Domenico , Del Prete Paola , Amato Claudio , Damiano Rocco , Salonia Andrea , Autorino Riccardo , Izzo Alessandro , Passaro Francesco , Perdonà Sisto
Published: December 2023

Background: Men with localized invasive penile cancer (PC) can be treated with organ-sparing treatments with different functional and aesthetical outcomes. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate sexual outcomes in patients with PC confined to the glans that underwent wide local excision (WLE) vs. glansectomy with urethral glanduloplasty. Methods: Complete data from 60 patients with PC were analyzed at our institution from 2017 to 2022. Patients were asked for personal habits and clinical features. PC was assessed with a clinical visit and imaging techniques. At the outpatient follow-up visit or phone call, all patients compiled the Changes in Sexual Function Questionnaire (CSFQ) and the International Index of Erectile Function in its short 5-item form (IIEF-5). Erectile function (EF) impairment was categorized using Cappelleri’s criteria. Results: Overall, 34 patients with PC confined to the glans (c ≤ T2N0) were included. Of those, 12 underwent WLE and 22 underwent glansectomy with urethral glanduloplasty. Using multivariable logistic regression, glansectomy (OR: 3.49) and diabetes (OR: 2.33) were associated with erectile disfunction (IEEF < 22). Meanwhile, using multivariable linear regression analysis, younger patients (Coeff: −2.41) and those that underwent glansectomy (Coeff: −7.5) had a higher risk of sexual function impairment, according to the CSFQ. Conclusions: Patients with PC ≤ T2N0 that underwent WLE have better outcomes in terms of sexual functioning than the patients who underwent glansectomy and uretheral gladuloplasty. Further research is needed to clarify the outcomes of penile-sparing surgery, to inform patients in pre-surgical counseling more comprehensively, and to meet their post-operative expectations more effectively.
Sixth-Week Immune-Nutritional-Inflammatory Biomarkers: Can They Predict Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors?
Authors: Olgun Polat , Diker Omer
Published: December 2023

Background: We investigated the relationships between inflammatory markers such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), Lung Immune Prognostic Index (LIPI), and modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS) to determine whether they could predict treatment response to pembrolizumab or nivolumab (immunotherapy) 6 weeks after the start of treatment (post-treatment). Methods: We included all patients with lung cancer treated with immunotherapy. We examined the biomarker trends and explored their associations with progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and response rate (RR) at 6 weeks. Results: Eighty-three patients were enrolled in the study. The presence of liver metastasis, low post-treatment NLR (<5), low post-treatment PLR (<170), intermediate post-treatment LIPI, and immune-related adverse events were significantly associated with the response. The multivariate analysis revealed that high post-treatment NLRs ≥ 5 (p = 0.004) and PLRs ≥ 170 (p ≤ 0.001) were independent prognostic factors of shorter OS. A good LIPI status was associated with better PFS (p = 0.020) and OS (p = 0.065). Post-treatment mGPS (0–2) was significantly associated with improved PFS (p = 0.009) and OS (p = 0.064). Conclusions: Post-treatment NLR, PLR, LIPI, and mGPS are associated with worse OS and recurrence. These findings should be independently and prospectively validated in further studies.
Land Use and Land Cover Trends and Their Impact on Streamflow and Sediment Yield in a Humid Basin of Brazil’s Atlantic Forest Biome
Authors: Viana Jussara Freire de Souza , Montenegro Suzana Maria Gico Lima , Srinivasan Raghavan , Santos Celso Augusto Guimarães , Mishra Manoranjan , Kalumba Ahmed Mukalazi , da Silva Richarde Marques
Published: December 2023

Understanding the trends in land use and land cover (LULC) is crucial for modeling streamflow and sediment yield, particularly in hydrological basins. This study examined the impact of LULC on the dynamics of streamflow and sediment yield within a humid tropical basin of the Atlantic Forest biome in Brazil, focusing on the period from 2000 to 2016. Changes in LULC were analyzed using annual MapBiomas data products for the same period. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was deployed to simulate streamflow and sediment yield based on LULC changes. To investigate temporal trends in LULC, a suite of non-parametric statistical tests, including the Mann–Kendall, Pettitt, and Sen’s slope estimator tests, was employed. Ecological diversity indices such as Shannon–Weaver, Simpson, and Pielou were applied to assess forest fragmentation, along with the Forest Fragmentation Index. The results revealed a growing trend in urban and sugarcane areas, coupled with a decline in dense vegetation, mangroves, and other forms of dense vegetation. With regard to the correlation between land uses and hydrological variables, the findings indicate minor variations in hydrological balance, attributable to the not-so-significant changes among the studied land-use scenarios, except for sediment yield estimates, which showed more considerable alterations. Notably, the estimates for 2000 and 2013–2016 were the most divergent. In a broader scientific context, this research conclusively establishes that the incorporation of dynamic LULC data into the SWAT model augments the precision and robustness of simulations pertaining to agricultural watersheds, thereby enabling a more comprehensive hydrological characterization of the study area.
Whole Brain and Corpus Callosum Fractional Anisotropy Differences in Patients with Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Kaļva Kalvis , Zdanovskis Nauris , Šneidere Kristīne , Kostiks Andrejs , Karelis Guntis , Platkājis Ardis , Stepens Ainārs
Published: December 2023

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is an MRI analysis method that could help assess cognitive impairment (CI) in the ageing population more accurately. In this research, we evaluated fractional anisotropy (FA) of whole brain (WB) and corpus callosum (CC) in patients with normal cognition (NC), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and moderate/severe cognitive impairment (SCI). In total, 41 participants were included in a cross-sectional study and divided into groups based on Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores (NC group, nine participants, MCI group, sixteen participants, and SCI group, sixteen participants). All participants underwent an MRI examination that included a DTI sequence. FA values between the groups were assessed by analysing FA value and age normative percentile. We did not find statistically significant differences between the groups when analysing CC FA values. Both approaches showed statistically significant differences in WB FA values between the MCI-SCI and MCI-NC groups, where the MCI group participants showed the highest mean FA and highest mean FA normative percentile results in WB.
Prehospital Targeting of 1-Year Mortality in Acute Chest Pain by Cardiac Biomarkers
Authors: Zalama-Sánchez Daniel , Martín-Rodríguez Francisco , López-Izquierdo Raúl , Benito Juan F. Delgado , Soberón Irene Sánchez , Vegas Carlos del Pozo , Sanz-García Ancor
Published: December 2023

The identification and appropriate management of patients at risk of suffering from acute chest pain (ACP) in prehospital care are not straightforward. This task could benefit, as occurs in emergency departments (EDs), from cardiac enzyme assessment. The aim of the present work was to derive and validate a scoring system based on troponin T (cTnT), N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and D-dimer to predict 1-year mortality in patients with ACP. This was a prospective, multicenter, ambulance-based cohort study of adult patients with a prehospital ACP diagnosis who were evacuated by ambulance to the ED between October 2019 and July 2021. The primary outcome was 365-day cumulative mortality. A total of 496 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The mortality rate was 12.1% (60 patients). The scores derived from cTnT, NT-proBNP, and D-dimer presented an AUC of 0.802 (95% CI: 0718-0.886) for 365-day mortality. This AUC was superior to that of each individual cardiac enzyme. Our study provides promising evidence for the predictive value of a risk score based on cTnT, NT-proBNP, and D-dimer for the prediction of 1-year mortality in patients with ACP. The implementation of this score has the potential to benefit emergency medical service care and facilitate the on-scene decision-making process.
ECMO in Myocardial Infarction-Associated Cardiogenic Shock: Blood Biomarkers as Predictors of Mortality
Authors: Senoner Thomas , Treml Benedikt , Breitkopf Robert , Oezpeker Ulvi Cenk , Innerhofer Nicole , Eckhardt Christine , Spurnic Aleksandra Radovanovic , Rajsic Sasa
Published: December 2023

Background: Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (va-ECMO) can provide circulatory and respiratory support in patients with cardiogenic shock. The main aim of this work was to investigate the association of blood biomarkers with mortality in patients with myocardial infarction needing va-ECMO support. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed electronic medical charts from patients receiving va-ECMO support in the period from 2008 to 2021 at the Medical University Innsbruck, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine. Results: Of 188 patients, 57% (108/188) survived to discharge, with hemorrhage (46%) and thrombosis (27%) as the most frequent adverse events. Procalcitonin levels were markedly higher in non-survivors compared with survivors during the observation period. The multivariable model identified higher blood levels of procalcitonin (HR 1.01, p = 0.002) as a laboratory parameter associated with a higher risk of mortality. Conclusions: In our study population of patients with myocardial infarction-associated cardiogenic shock, deceased patients had increased levels of inflammatory blood biomarkers throughout the whole study period. Increased procalcitonin levels have been associated with a higher risk of mortality. Future studies are needed to show the role of procalcitonin in patients receiving ECMO support.
The Histology-Driven Differential Diagnosis in Bowel Inflammatory Conditions Is Not All That Obvious: Evidence from a Survey Based on Digital Slides
Authors: Canavese Gabriella , Falco Enrico Costantino , Perez-Diaz-del-Campo Nuria , Caviglia Gian Paolo , Di Giovanni Fabrizia , Ribaldone Davide Giuseppe
Published: December 2023

(1) Background: when the pathologist faces histologic slides from colonoscopies in daily practice, given the large number of entities and etiologies under inflammatory bowel conditions, in-depth definition of the histological spectrum and the recommendations of current guidelines are often not enough to conclusively define a diagnostic framework. Histological patterns should be organized hierarchically in flowcharts that consider the correlation with clinical data. We conducted an online survey asking a group of gastroenteropathologists to apply a pattern classification based on the most significant lesions in colitis differential diagnosis: crypt distortion and activity. (2) Methods: digital slides from 20 endoscopy samples were analyzed by twenty pathologists and classified according to the occurrence of crypt distortion (nondestructive–destructive colitis) and subsequently to the evidence of activity (ND1-2-3, D1-2). (3) Results: in 8 out of 20 (40%) cases, the participants reached a full agreement regarding the evaluation of crypt distortion (5 cases: nondestructive colitis; 3 cases: destructive colitis). The calculated agreement was k = 0.432. In the second-level quiz (ND1-2-3 and D1-2), full agreement between participants was achieved for 7 of the 28 (25%) possible classifications, with k = 0.229. (4) Conclusions: The findings from this survey are indicative of an unexpectedly low consensus, even among dedicated pathologists, about the recognition of histological changes that are commonly considered critical lesions in the histologic identification of bowel non-neoplastic diseases. In our opinion, these divergences imply a significant risk of misdiagnosis of bowel inflammatory conditions, hampering the usefulness of histological assessment.
Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Pain
Authors: Rahman Sadiq , Kidwai Ali , Rakhamimova Emiliya , Elias Murad , Caldwell William , Bergese Sergio D.
Published: December 2023

More than 600 million people globally are estimated to be living with chronic pain. It is one of the most common complaints seen in an outpatient setting, with over half of patients complaining of pain during a visit. Failure to properly diagnose and manage chronic pain is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, especially when opioids are involved. Furthermore, it is a tremendous financial strain on the healthcare system, as over USD 100 billion is spent yearly in the United States on healthcare costs related to pain management and opioids. This exceeds the costs of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer-related care combined. Being able to properly diagnose, manage, and treat chronic pain conditions can substantially lower morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs in the United States. This review will outline the current definitions, biopsychosocial model, subclassifications, somatosensory assessments, imaging, clinical prediction models, and treatment modalities associated with chronic pain.
Gestational Age Is Positively Associated with Retinol and α-Tocopherol in Preterm Infants: The Mediating Role of Birth Weight
Authors: Papandreou Panos , Detopoulou Paraskevi , Skouroliakou Maria
Published: December 2023

Oxidative stress is thought to be one of the common mechanisms for several neonatal diseases in premature infants. Moreover, fat-soluble antioxidant vitamins, i.e., retinol and α-tocopherol, have been found to be low in preterm neonates; however, data are limited. The aim of this was to assess the circulating α-tocopherol and retinol concentrations in preterm infants at birth and investigate if they are related to gestational age. Retinol and α-tocopherol were measured on the first day after birth in 30 preterm neonates with HPLC. Means ± SD of serum retinol and α-tocopherol were 392.0 ± 162.9 μg/L and 6.83 ± 3.02 mg/L, respectively. In total, 73% of infants had a very low birth weight (<1500 g) and 23.3% were small for gestational age (SGA). Moreover, 10% of neonates had a retinol deficiency and 20% had an α-tocopherol deficiency. The retinol concentration was lower in SGA infants compared to appropriate for gestational age ones (340.85 ± 75.89 vs. 407.60 ± 179.83 μg/L, correspondingly p = 0.030). Retinol was linearly related to gestational age (Pearson’s rho = 0.84, p < 0.001) but the association did not remain significant after an adjustment for birth weight (partial rho = 0.193, p = 0.316). α-tocopherol was nonlinearly associated with gestational age (Spearman’s rho = 0.470, p = 0.044). The assessment of the vitamin status and potential deficiency in neonates is crucial in order to appropriately support the nutritional needs of newborns.
Social Participation and Perceived Quality of Environment of Adults with Disabilities
Authors: Pellichero Alice , Nezan Maud , Lamontagne Marie-Eve , Routhier François , Allègre Willy , Le Goff-Pronost Myriam
Published: December 2023

Background: Social participation is a fundamental right; however, restrictions often arise due to environmental barriers, both physical and social. The ‘Handicap Innovation Territoire’ (HIT) project aims to enhance social participation for individuals with disabilities living in Brittany, France. To gain insight into the desired areas of intervention and evaluate the HIT project, an initial experiment was conducted to assess the level of social participation and perceived environmental quality among people with disabilities. Methods: A cross-sectional investigation was performed, utilizing the Assessment of Life Habits (LIFE-H) and Measure of the Quality of the Environment (MQE). Results: Twenty-five individuals with disabilities, with an average age of 46.0 ± 23.6 years, were recruited. The results indicated an overall high level of social participation, while work, education, and leisure showed participation restrictions. The MQE scores revealed variations in the environmental perception across disability groups concerning work environment (p = 0.035), stores and services (p = 0.014), health care services (p = 0.006), education (p = 0.043), access to radio and television (p = 0.002), road accessibility (p = 0.003), and time allowed for tasks (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The study identified factors that influence social participation among individuals with disabilities living in Brittany, and highlighted the actions implemented within the HIT project to address the challenges related to social participation.
The Impact of the Islamic System on Economic and Social Factors: A Macroeconomic Uncertainty Context
Authors: Gassouma Mohamed Sadok , Benhamed Adel
Published: December 2023

This paper examines the effects of Islamic economic and social systems within a democratic environment on the causal relationships among uncertainty, informal economy, corruption, and economic growth. For this purpose, we considered a set of Middle East/North Africa MENA countries considered to be in economic difficulty and undergoing the democratic transition process (Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and Iraq) for the period of 2000–2018. Our contribution is to use the social index that measures the degree of Islamicity in each country in terms of economic and political matters. We examine the effects of Islamicity and democracy on uncertainty, informal economy, corruption, and economic growth using a vector autoregression (VAR) model. Our empirical findings show that, if a theoretical Islamic system is applied in practice, it must be accompanied by a democratic regime to effectively mitigate uncertainty, informal economy, and corruption and contribute to economic growth. Democracy is a necessary component for achieving an optimal level of Islamicity.
Development of Essential Competences for the Success of Inclusive Quality Teaching–Learning Processes in Higher Education
Authors: García-Toledano Eduardo , Gracia-Zomeño Andrea , González-Olivares Ángel Luis , Palomares-Ruiz Ascensión
Published: December 2023

Currently, the development of key competences has become a fundamental priority to ensure the success of inclusive quality teaching–learning processes at all levels of education. This research proposes a quantitative observational study that involved 446 Spanish, Chilean and Mexican individuals, using the INNOVAPRENDE questionnaire. Education is fundamental to provide citizens with the skills inside and outside the classroom. For this reason, the research focuses on the teachers’ perception of university students’ skills to develop Personal, Social and Learning to Learn (PSLL) competence: initiating learning, managing time, managing information and managing self-regulated learning. It was found that women (vs. men), older participants (vs. younger participants) and participants with 16–25 years of experience (vs. those with 0–5 years of experience) perceive that university students have greater knowledge and skills to deploy PSLL. The conclusion highlights the importance of teacher guidance and support, as well as expectations in relation to learners’ development of the skills that make up PSLL.
Pedagogical Assessment in Higher Education: The Importance of Training
Authors: Fialho Isabel , Cid Marília , Coppi Marcelo
Published: December 2023

The diversity of students reaching higher education, the skills required of the 21st-century citizen, the Bologna Declaration, and the pressure exerted by international organizations impose a pedagogical reconfiguration of teaching, learning, and assessment through the recognition of the pedagogical dimension as a component of teacher professional development. We present the results of a study conducted at a university in Portugal with the following objectives: identifying conceptions and practices of pedagogical assessment and determining the influence of pedagogical training on these conceptions and practices. An online questionnaire (pre- and post-test) was administered to 31 teachers who had taken part in a training course on pedagogical assessment. It was found that: nearly half of the teachers experience difficulties in pedagogical assessment, with fairness being the main issue; the most commonly used instruments are written tests, research assignments, and reports; around two-thirds of teachers change the way they assess students, with the nature of the curricular units being the most influential factor in this decision; and there has been a change in the concept of assessment, in which the strict idea of testing, measuring, and classifying students’ knowledge has been replaced by the gathering of information for decision-making about the teaching and learning process.