bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fault Detection Method of Medical Equipment Based on Multi-Index Electrical Performance Parameters
Authors: Chen Xiaoyu , Guo Haitao , Wang Zihong , Chang Feiba , Ren Xiaomei , Ma Chengqun , Li Weiben , Tian Miao , Yang Rui , Yuan Xianju , Zhou Shengting
Published: January 2024

There is a lack of study on fault detection methods of medical equipment at home and abroad. The main reason is that the research of fault features is diverse and not systematic. This paper aims to propose a fault recognition method for medical equipment combining the electrical performance parameter features with fault events. First, it treats the equipment as a whole system, setting up the analysis model. Then, we are going to analyze the signal for indicator. This paper chooses the multi-index electrical performance parameters (MEPP) method for the fault identification an indicator. It is proved that the electrical performance signal can evaluate the status of equipment. Thus, it can also be used to recognize the fault or other working statuses. Then, the features of current, voltage, and power are studied exhaustively using a mathematical model. After that, the weight of each parameter feature in any specific event will be determined according to the influence of each parameter feature on fault events. At that time, the recognition method basically realizes the correlation between multi-index features and fault events through weight. Next, the above method needs to be verified in the experiment. This paper chooses six monitors for setting the rules of normal status. The normal status is the baseline for fault identification. Then, feature intervals of other faults are established around this reference. Finally, each feature interval will be constantly adjusted to meet the preset recognition rate and updated to the rules in the subsequent measurement. In this paper, 10 monitors are selected as samples to update a set of basic fault judgment rules based on MEPP, and by adjusting the overlapping interval, the fault recognition rate reaches more than 90% in this study. To sum up, this paper uses the MEPP method to find out the relationship of features of current, voltage, and power with fault events. It will become a new direction for fault recognition studies on electrical medical equipment and other device.
Increasing Access to Care: Designing a Blended Curriculum to Educate Adult Hospice Nurses in Caring for Pediatric Patients
Authors: McDonald Paige L. , Abdallah Samia M. , Lyons Laurie B. , Fisher Deborah
Published: January 2024

Access to care for pediatric hospice patients is inhibited by a lack of providers specifically educated to care for pediatric patients. Education that seeks to address this gap in care must develop the specific knowledge and skills required to care for pediatric patients, and this education must also be delivered in a format that enables convenient access to providers. This article describes the development of an innovative blended curriculum to build upon the existing knowledge base and skill set required by experienced adult hospice care providers to expand care for pediatric patients. The article elucidates how the community of practice framework and Bloom’s taxonomy informed the blended curriculum leveraging both online, asynchronous modules and virtual, synchronous precepting sessions and also informed the selection of content, activities, and assessment methods aligned to requisite competencies and skills. It also details the identification of requisite competencies and skills and the next steps in piloting this intervention.
Data from Histone Demethylase JMJD1A Promotes Tumor Progression via Activating Snail in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Tang Dong-E , Dai Yong , Fan Ling-Ling , Geng Xin-Yan , Fu De-Xue , Jiang Hao-Wu , Xu Song-Hui
Published: January 2024

Abstract
The histone demethylase JMJD1A plays a key functional role in spermatogenesis, sex determination, stem cell renewal, and cancer via removing mono- and di-methyl groups from H3K9 to epigenetically control gene expression. However, its role in prostate cancer progression remains unclear. Here, we found JMJD1A was significantly elevated in prostate cancer tissue compared with matched normal tissue. Ectopic JMJD1A expression in prostate cancer cells promoted proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro, and tumorigenesis in vivo; JMJD1A knockdown exhibited the opposite effects. Mechanically, we revealed that JMJD1A directly interacted with the Snail gene promoter and regulated its transcriptional activity, promoting prostate cancer progression both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we found that JMJD1A transcriptionally activated Snail expression via H3K9me1 and H3K9me2 demethylation at its special promoter region. In summary, our studies reveal JMJD1A plays an important role in regulating proliferation and progression of prostate cancer cells though Snail, and thus highlight JMJD1A as potential therapeutic target for advanced prostate cancer.
Implications:
Our studies identify that JMJD1A promotes the proliferation and progression of prostate cancer cells through enabling Snail transcriptional activation, and thus highlight JMJD1A as potential therapeutic target for advanced prostate cancer.
Supplementary Table 4 from Exploring Co-occurring POLE Exonuclease and Non-exonuclease Domain Mutations and Their Impact on Tumor Mutagenicity
Authors: Shah Shreya M. , Demidova Elena V. , Ringenbach Salena , Faezov Bulat , Andrake Mark , Gandhi Arjun , Mur Pilar , Viana-Errasti Julen , Xiu Joanne , Swensen Jeffrey , Valle Laura , Dunbrack Roland L. , Hall Michael J. , Arora Sanjeevani
Published: January 2024

mTMB comparisons in TCGA dataset.
FIGURE 2 from Exploring Co-occurring POLE Exonuclease and Non-exonuclease Domain Mutations and Their Impact on Tumor Mutagenicity
Authors: Shah Shreya M. , Demidova Elena V. , Ringenbach Salena , Faezov Bulat , Andrake Mark , Gandhi Arjun , Mur Pilar , Viana-Errasti Julen , Xiu Joanne , Swensen Jeffrey , Valle Laura , Dunbrack Roland L. , Hall Michael J. , Arora Sanjeevani
Published: January 2024

A, mTMB comparisons in Group 2 and 3 tumors by ExoD driver alone [P286R, V411L, or other driver(s) combined] or in conjunction with POLE variants. Each filled round circle represents a tumor genomic profile; data are shown for the driver alone and/or plus POLE variant. Data in “other drivers” were combined because of lower numbers. The data are segregated for MSS or MSI status where relevant. A few statistical comparisons were not performed because of ≤2 datapoints. B, mTMB comparisons in Group 2 and 3 tumors by the increasing number of POLE variants. Data are combined analysis of colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer, and ovarian cancer genomic profiles in the Caris dataset. Each filled round circle represents a tumor genomic profile; data are shown for Group 2 ExoD drivers, and for Group 3 by the ExoD driver plus the number of variants [1, 2, and >2 variant(s)]. A and B, A Mann–Whitney test was performed and ****, P < 0.0001; ***, P < 0.001; **, P < 0.01; NS, nonsignificant. Corrections for multiple comparisons were performed using the Benjamini–Hochberg FDR test. C–E, 3-nucleotide context of POLE variants in Group 3 tumors. All COSMIC mutational signatures associated with POLE ExoD driver defects (SBS 10a, SBS 10b, SBS 14, and SBS 28) were assessed (39). Pie chart distribution of SBS 10a, SBS 10b, SBS 14, and SBS 28 in colorectal cancer (C), endometrial cancer (D), and ovarian cancer (E). Each of these signatures has a primary mutation which has been described as a “hotspot” (39); SBS 10a is C>A in TCT context; SBS 10b is C>T in the TCG context; SBS 14 is C>A in the NCT context (N is any base); and SBS 28 is T>G in the TTT context. In addition to these primary “hotspots,” all mutations that comprise >1% of the genome signature of interest were counted, capturing 88%–90% of each signature in the analysis.
FIGURE 1 from Exploring Co-occurring POLE Exonuclease and Non-exonuclease Domain Mutations and Their Impact on Tumor Mutagenicity
Authors: Shah Shreya M. , Demidova Elena V. , Ringenbach Salena , Faezov Bulat , Andrake Mark , Gandhi Arjun , Mur Pilar , Viana-Errasti Julen , Xiu Joanne , Swensen Jeffrey , Valle Laura , Dunbrack Roland L. , Hall Michael J. , Arora Sanjeevani
Published: January 2024

Characterization of POLE mutations in the CLS and TCGA dataset. A, Flowchart and analysis tree for colorectal cancer (CRC), endometrial cancer (EC), and ovarian cancer (OC) tumors by POLE mutations, TMB, and MSI/MSS status. Among 1,870 colorectal cancer, 4,481 endometrial cancers, and 8,910 ovarian cancer tumor genomic profiles, a total of 447 carried POLE mutations. Clinically relevant TMB cut-off points were used to define the TMB-H (≥10 mut/Mb) and TMB-L (<10 mut/Mb) cohorts. POLE mutation cohorts along with TMB and MSI/MSS status were defined. TMB-L tumors with POLE variants but no established POLE ExoD driver are referred to as “POLE Variants TMB-L” (Group 1, MSS or MSI). TMB-H tumors with known POLE ExoD driver only were referred to as “POLE ExoD Driver” (Group 2, MSS or MSI). TMB-H tumors with co-occurring POLE ExoD driver and POLE variant(s) were referred to as “POLE ExoD Driver + POLE ExoD Variant” (Group 3, MSS or MSI). TMB-H tumors with only POLE variant(s) and no POLE ExoD driver were referred to as “POLE Variant TMB-H” (Group 4, MSS or MSI). B, Age distribution of patients in the CLS cohort with POLE-mutated tumors (n = 447) designated as Group 1 (green), Group 2 (red), Group 3 (purple), and Group 4 (blue). mTMB comparisons between Group 2 and 3 colorectal cancers (C), endometrial cancers (D), and ovarian cancers (E). mTMB comparisons between Group 2 and 3 genomic profiles of colorectal cancer (F), endometrial cancer (G), and ovarian cancer (H). MSI-H tumor profiles were removed from this analysis. TCGA cohort mTMB comparisons between Group 2 and 3 tumors, in I MSI-H or MSS tumor profiles were included and in J only MSS tumor profiles were included. Because of smaller sample size per tumor type, analyses were pooled. A Mann–Whitney test was performed and ***, P < 0.001; *, P < 0.05; NS, nonsignificant.
Saberes docentes mobilizados em adaptações do Método Zaba à história brasileira feitas por professores de Salvador, Bahia (1871)
Authors: Almeida Leandro Antonio de
Published: January 2024

The Zaba method was a variation of what became known in the 19th century West as the Polish mnemonic method for teaching Universal History, created by Antoni Jazwinski in the 1820s and modified by Jozef Bem in the 1830s. At 1840 another pole, Napoleon Felix Zaba, developed his own version of the method and, over the next four decades, lectured on it in several, including Brazil. This work aims to analyze the reception of the Zaba method at his passage through Bahia, in 1871 june and july, when his lectures were attended by the high echelon of public education of that province, by normalists and primary teachers, giving rise to attempts to adapt the method to Brazil history. We aim to understand how the leaders perceived the effectiveness of the method for History Teaching in Bahia, and how the teachers and normalists mobilized their knowledge and efforts to adapt the issues to primary classes.
Two Ceratosporella (Fungi: Ascomycota) species from oak leaf litter in Almora, Uttarakhand, India
Authors: Dubey Manish Kumar , Upadhyay Ram Sanmukh , Gupta Ramesh Chandra
Published: January 2024

Two species of Ceratosporella collected on leaf litter of Mohru Oak Quercus floribunda in Uttarakhand, India, are described herein and compared with closely allied species. They are Ceratosporella deviata and Ceratosporella cheiroidea. Among them, C. cheiroidea is newly recorded from India. Morphological descriptions, illustrations, and comments are provided for the aforementioned species.
An annotated checklist of the birds in Loharghat Forest Range, Assam, India
Authors: Talwar Taniya , Abraham Leons Mathew , Rabha Borojit , Rabha Mrigen
Published: January 2024

Loharghat Forest Range, within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, features diverse habitats like wetlands, scrublands, grasslands, tropical and deciduous forests. Chandubi, a vital tectonic wetland in the landscape, is designated as Important Bird Area (2003) and Key Biodiversity Area (2005) but remains largely unexplored. This study aims to establish a baseline database of avifaunal assemblages from the Loharghat Forest Range in Kamrup District, Assam, which includes the Mayang Reserved Forest and Barduar Reserved Forest. The forest is protected and managed by the local community. The surveys were conducted between August 2021 to June 2023. The study revealed the occurrence of a total of 224 avian species belonging to 20 orders and 58 families. The birds are further categorised on the basis of their seasonal movements, diets, and rarity in the region. Our findings indicate that the community-managed forests have a rich and diverse avifauna.
Landscapes as Multispecies Matters: the Mushing Landscape in the Making in Finnish Lapland
Authors: Äijälä Mikko
Published: January 2024

Animals are important players in tourism but their presence and agency in the formation of tourist landscapes has been largely disregarded. Landscapes are often considered to be unchanging material surfaces shaped through culture, thus leaving only a limited role for animals. Drawing on non-representational ideas of landscape, I focus on the (re)formation of a local tourist landscape that takes place in the unfolding atmospheric practices of mushing. I present two narratives that are based on mobile video ethnographic vignettes and accompanying short video clips to reflect on the role of the sled dogs in the making of the local mushing landscape. Finally, I develop the argument that nonhuman animals are a unique part of the fabric and sociality of landscapes, thus making landscapes unavoidably multispecies matters.
Measuring the Academic Aspects of Religious Literacy of Estonian Basic School Graduates
Authors: Sooniste Aleksandra
Published: January 2024

This paper reports on two domains of a survey to map the religious literacy of Estonian basic school graduates undertaken in 2022 to understand how well the respondents distinguish religion as a discursive category and how much they know about basic concepts of world religions and the Estonian religious landscape. The sample consisted of 392 respondents from schools all over Estonia, both from large urban and small rural schools. The survey was conducted with an original instrument designed according to the Estonian religious landscape, the content of the National Curriculum for basic schools, the educational model of religious literacy according to Francis and Dinham, and the characterization of religious literacy by Moore, Prothero, Francis and Dinham. The results reflect the reality of the Estonian situation. Being one of the least religious countries in the world and with almost no education about religions and worldviews in public education, the students do not have enough competencies in the examined areas to operate well in a religiously diverse world.
Children Born of War: The Recognition of Children Born of War as Victims in the Ongwen Case
Authors: Frisso Giovanna M
Published: January 2024

This article explores the challenges associated with recognizing children born of war as victims within the framework of international criminal law. Focusing on the case of Dominic Ongwen, a former child soldier and senior commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army (lra), it analyses how the criteria established in the definition of victim in the Rules of Procedure and Evidence of the International Criminal Court have been applied to children born of war. This analysis brings to the fore conceptual challenges to the recognition of children born of war as victims and highlights the risks that the binary victim-perpetrator that characterises the international criminal narrative presents to a comprehensive understanding of the experiences and needs of these children.
Constitutional Review as a Democratic Instrument
Authors: Kovács Kriszta , Tóth Gábor Attila
Published: January 2024

The article situates Rosalind Dixon’s Responsive Judicial Review in constitutional legal literature and engages with its central message by introducing the idea of constitutional courts as accessible democratic institutions. It compares constitutional review in a well-functioning and a declining democracy. After considering the relationship between democratic self-government and constitutional review, the article argues that a lawfully established, accessible, yet reasonably self-restraining constitutional court with the power of procedural and substantive review can be understood as a democratic institution. To support this claim, the article offers the example of Hungary, where democratization coincided with the birth of accessible constitutional review and where the decay of democracy has been accompanied by the decline of constitutional review. It concludes that constitutional justices can always have a choice. They can contribute to an autocratic transformation or resist the autocratic government by performing a Herculean task.
What Kind of Judicial Review for a Small, Post-Communist European Constitutional Democracy?
Authors: Bardutzky Samo
Published: January 2024

The proposal for a new approach to judicial review in Rosalind Dixon’s book Responsive Judicial Review: Democracy and Dysfunction in the Modern Age builds on the ideas of John Hart Ely presented in his seminal work Democracy and Distrust. The purpose of this article is to engage with the idea of the responsive approach to judicial review being embraced by the Slovenian constitutional court. The article purports to contribute to a larger effort – to a comparative and sociologically informed discussion on judicial review in different jurisdictions that aims to predict the potential of responsive judicial review in Central and Eastern European courts.
Enhancing the nutritional value of bread by the addition of insect powder: a novel class of food protein additives
Authors: Guan Q.H. , Qian S. , Chen L. , Feng X.C.
Published: January 2024

The shortage of protein resources has become an urgent issue, and insects have been identified as a promising source of animal protein. The present study aimed to investigate the potential of insect powder as a novel class of food protein additives in bread. In this study, three species of insect powder were compared to traditional protein sources to conduct a preliminary analysis of their nutritional value. These insect powders were then added to flour and baked to produce a high-protein bread. The results indicated that the insects used in this experiment were rich in protein and amino acids. Additionally, insect proteins extracted via the alkali extraction method exhibited a lower molecular weight than common proteins. The addition of insect powder did not affect the rheological properties of the bread but increased the protein content of the product while giving the bread a darker colour and a unique insect flavour.
Vacuum assisted and gravitational venous drainage in aortic valve surgery: A propensity-match study
Authors: Silvano Raffaele , Malvindi Pietro Giorgio , Mazzocca Francesca , Genova Stefania , Di Campli Emanuele , Paterna Francesca , D’Este Jacopo M. , Alfonsi Jacopo , Berretta Paolo , Munch Christopher , Di Eusanio Marco
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Vacuum assisted venous drainage (VAVD) is widely adopted in minimally invasive cardiac surgery. VAVD enables the advantage of using smaller cannulae in a reduced surgical field while allowing satisfactory drainage and pump flow. The production of gaseous micro-emboli is a recognized risk associated with VAVD, however no difference in clinical endpoints have been reported between patients operated on with gravity venous drainage (GVD) or with VAVD. Due to the paucity of data on selected surgical populations, we sought to evaluate the early outcomes of patients undergoing isolated aortic valve replacement using VAVD or GVD.

Methods

Data on 521 patients between 09/2016 and 09/2022 were retrieved from our internal database. Patients were divided into two groups according to use VAVD or GVD. A propensity match analysis was performed to account for difference between the two groups.

Results

The propensity match provided two well balanced cohorts with 129 patients each. A minimally invasive access was used in 97% of the cases in VAVD group vs 98% in GVD group ( p = .68). Mean cardiopulmonary by-pass (CPB) time was 71 vs 73 min ( p = .74), respectively. There was no difference in lactates peak ( p = .19) and urine output during CPB ( p = .74). We registered two in-hospital deaths in VAVD cohort (1.6%) vs. no mortality in GVD group ( p = .5). Postoperative cerebral stroke occurred in 1 patient in GVD cohort vs. 0 in VAVD ( p = 1). Severe postoperative acute kidney injury complicated the course in 16 patients in GVD group and in 5 patients who had VAVD ( p = .012). VAVD was associated with a higher number of patients with elevated postoperative AST ( p = .07) and Troponin I ( p = .01) values.

Conclusions

The use of VAVD during isolated aortic valve replacement was not associated with increased risks of postoperative complications and in-hospital mortality with results that were at least similar to those registered in a matched cohort of patients operated on with GVD.
Novel AI-Based Algorithm for the Automated Measurement of Cervical Sagittal Balance Parameters. A Validation Study on Pre- and Postoperative Radiographs of 129 Patients
Authors: Vogt Sophia , Scholl Carolin , Grover Priyanka , Marks Julian , Dreischarf Marcel , Braumann Ulf-Dietrich , Strube Patrick , Hölzl Alexander , Böhle Sabrina
Published: January 2024

Study Design

Retrospective, mono-centric cohort research study.

Objectives

The analysis of cervical sagittal balance parameters is essential for preoperative planning and dependent on the physician’s experience. A fully automated artificial intelligence-based algorithm could contribute to an objective analysis and save time. Therefore, this algorithm should be validated in this study.

Methods

Two surgeons measured C2-C7 lordosis, C1-C7 Sagittal Vertical Axis (SVA), C2-C7-SVA, C7-slope and T1-slope in pre- and postoperative lateral cervical X-rays of 129 patients undergoing anterior cervical surgery. All parameters were measured twice by surgeons and compared to the measurements by the AI algorithm consisting of 4 deep convolutional neural networks. Agreement between raters was quantified, among other metrics, by mean errors and single measure intraclass correlation coefficients for absolute agreement.

Results

ICC-values for intra- (range: .92-1.0) and inter-rater (.91-1.0) reliability reflect excellent agreement between human raters. The AI-algorithm could determine all parameters with excellent ICC-values (preop:0.80-1.0; postop:0.86-.99). For a comparison between the AI algorithm and 1 surgeon, mean errors were smallest for C1-C7 SVA (preop: −.3 mm (95% CI:-.6 to −.1 mm), post: .3 mm (.0-.7 mm)) and largest for C2-C7 lordosis (preop:-2.2° (−2.9 to −1.6°), postop: 2.3°(-3.0 to −1.7°)). The automatic measurement was possible in 99% and 98% of pre- and postoperative images for all parameters except T1 slope, which had a detection rate of 48% and 51% in pre- and postoperative images.

Conclusion

This study validates that an AI-algorithm can reliably measure cervical sagittal balance parameters automatically in patients suffering from degenerative spinal diseases. It may simplify manual measurements and autonomously analyze large-scale datasets. Further studies are required to validate the algorithm on a larger and more diverse patient cohort.
Successfully conservative management of the uterus in acute pulmonary embolism during cesarean section for placenta previa: a case report from Tu Du Hospital, Vietnam and literature review
Authors: Vuong Anh Dinh Bao , Pham Thanh Hai , Bui Van Hoang , Nguyen Xuan Trang , Trinh Ngoc Bich , Nguyen Yen Oanh Ngoc , Le Dang Khoa Tran , Nguyen Phuc Nhon
Published: January 2024

Background

Cardiopulmonary collapse is a catastrophic event in cesarean section, which leads to adverse outcomes for both the mother and the fetus. Pulmonary embolism is one of the rare etiologies of this entity. We herein reported the successful management of acute embolism pulmonary associated with cesarean delivery on a healthy pregnant woman at our tertiary referral hospital.

Case presentation

A full-term pregnant woman hospitalized for planned cesarean delivery due to placenta previa without cardiorespiratory diseases. She was scheduled uneventfully for a planned cesarean section. After placental delivery, the patient spontaneously fell into cardiopulmonary collapse and her vital signs deteriorated rapidly. The obstetricians promptly completed the cesarean section and performed all procedures to prevent the PPH and preserve the uterus. At the same time, the anesthesiologists continued to carry out advanced heart-lung resuscitation in order to control her vital signs. After surgery, the multidisciplinary team assessed the patient and found a thrombus in her pulmonary circulation. Therefore, the patient was managed with therapeutic anticoagulation. The patient recovered in good clinical condition and was discharged after 2 weeks without any complications.

Conclusions

The diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism is extremely difficult due to uncommon occurrence, sudden onset, and non-specific presentation. Awareness of this life-threatening pathology during cesarean delivery should be raised. Interdisciplinary assessment must be essentially established in this life-threatening condition. After the whole conventional management, uterine conservation may be acceptable where applicable. Further data is required to encourage this finding.
ZIF-8 Nanoparticle: A Valuable Tool for Improving Gene Delivery in Sperm-Mediated Gene Transfer
Authors: Sameni Marzieh , Moradbeigi Parisa , Hosseini Sara , Ghaderian Sayyed Mohammad Hossein , Jajarmi Vahid , Miladipour Amir Hossein , Basati Hojat , Abbasi Maryam , Salehi Mohammad
Published: January 2024

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous materials with unique characteristics that make them well-suited for drug delivery and gene therapy applications. Among the MOFs, zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) has emerged as a promising candidate for delivering exogenous DNA into cells. However, the potential of ZIF-8 as a vector for sperm-mediated gene transfer (SMGT) has not yet been thoroughly explored.

This investigation aimed to explore the potential of ZIF-8 as a vector for enhancing genetic transfer and transgenesis rates by delivering exogenous DNA into sperm cells. To test this hypothesis, we employed ZIF-8 to deliver a plasmid expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) into mouse sperm cells and evaluated the efficiency of DNA uptake. Our findings demonstrate that ZIF-8 can efficiently load and deliver exogenous DNA into mouse sperm cells, increasing GFP expression in vitro. These results suggest that ZIF-8 is a valuable tool for enhancing genetic transfer in SMGT, with important implications for developing genetically modified animals for research and commercial purposes. Additionally, our study highlights the potential of ZIF-8 as a novel class of vectors for gene delivery in reproductive biology.

Overall, our study provides a foundation for further research into using ZIF-8 and other MOFs as gene delivery systems in reproductive biology and underscores the potential of these materials as promising vectors for gene therapy and drug delivery.
Characterization and analysis of multi-organ full-length transcriptomes in Sphaeropteris brunoniana and Alsophila latebrosa highlight secondary metabolism and chloroplast RNA editing pattern of tree ferns
Authors: Peng Yang , Wang Zhen , Li Minghui , Wang Ting , Su Yingjuan
Published: January 2024

Background

Sphaeropteris brunoniana and Alsophila latebrosa are both old relict and rare tree ferns, which have experienced the constant changes of climate and environment. However, little is known about their high-quality genetic information and related research on environmental adaptation mechanisms of them. In this study, combined with PacBio and Illumina platforms, transcriptomic analysis was conducted on the roots, rachis, and pinna of S. brunoniana and A. latebrosa to identify genes and pathways involved in environmental adaptation. Additionally, based on the transcriptomic data of tree ferns, chloroplast genes were mined to analyze their gene expression levels and RNA editing events.

Results

In the study, we obtained 11,625, 14,391 and 10,099 unigenes of S. brunoniana root, rachis, and pinna, respectively. Similarly, a total of 13,028, 11,431 and 12,144 unigenes were obtained of A. latebrosa root, rachis, and pinna, respectively. According to the enrichment results of differentially expressed genes, a large number of differentially expressed genes were enriched in photosynthesis and secondary metabolic pathways of S. brunoniana and A. latebrosa. Based on gene annotation results and phenylpropanoid synthesis pathways, two lignin synthesis pathways (H-lignin and G-lignin) were characterized of S. brunoniana. Among secondary metabolic pathways of A. latebrosa, three types of WRKY transcription factors were identified. Additionally, based on transcriptome data obtained in this study, reported transcriptome data, and laboratory available transcriptome data, positive selection sites were identified from 18 chloroplast protein-coding genes of four tree ferns. Among them, RNA editing was found in positive selection sites of four tree ferns. RNA editing affected the protein secondary structure of the rbcL gene. Furthermore, the expression level of chloroplast genes indicated high expression of genes related to the chloroplast photosynthetic system in all four species.

Conclusions

Overall, this work provides a comprehensive transcriptome resource of S. brunoniana and A. latebrosa, laying the foundation for future tree fern research.
Optimizing the frequency of physician encounters in follow - up care for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review
Authors: Xu Wanchun , Mak Ivy Lynn , Zhang Ran , Yu Esther Yee Tak , Ng Amy Pui Pui , Lui David Tak Wai , Chao David Vai Kiong , Wong Samuel Yeung Shan , Lam Cindy Lo Kuen , Wan Eric Yuk Fai
Published: January 2024

Background

Decisions on the frequency of physician encounters for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have significant impacts on both patients’ health outcomes and burden on health systems, whereas definitive intervals for physician encounters are still lacking in most clinical guidelines. This study systematically reviewed the existing evidence evaluating different frequencies of physician encounters among T2DM patients.

Methods

Systematic search of studies evaluating different visit frequencies for follow - up care in T2DM patients was performed in MEDLINE Ovid, Embase Ovid, and Cochrane library from database inception to 25 March 2022. Studies on the follow - up encounters driven by non - physicians and those on the episodic visits in the acute care settings were excluded in the screening. Citation searching was conducted via Google Scholar on the identified papers after screening. The risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane RoB2 tool for randomized controlled trials and Newcastle - Ottawa Scale for cohort studies. Findings were summarized narratively.

Results

Among 6363 records from the database search and 231 references from the citation search, 12 articles were eligible for in - depth review. The results showed that for patients who had not achieved cardiometabolic control, intensifying encounter frequency could enhance medication adherence, shorten the time to achieve the treatment target, and improve the patients’ quality of life. However, for the patients who had already achieved the treatment targets, less frequent encounters were equivalent to intensive encounters in maintaining their cardiometabolic control, and could save considerable healthcare costs without substantially lowering the quality of care and patients’ satisfaction.

Conclusion

Existing evidence suggested that the optimal frequency of physician encounters for patients with T2DM should be individualized, which can be stratified by patients’ risk levels based on the cardiometabolic control to guide the differential scheduling of physician encounters in the follow - up. More research is needed to determine how to optimize the frequency of physician encounters for this large and heterogeneous population.
Simultaneous detection of Helicobacter pylori infection comparing between white light and image-enhanced endoscopy
Authors: Chatrangsun Boonyaorn , Aumpan Natsuda , Pornthisarn Bubpha , Chonprasertsuk Soonthorn , Siramolpiwat Sith , Bhanthumkomol Patommatat , Nunanan Pongjarat , Issariyakulkarn Navapan , Mahachai Varocha , Yamaoka Yoshio , Vilaichone Ratha-korn
Published: January 2024

Background

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is associated with gastric cancer. Early and accurate diagnosis of H. pylori infection can reduce risk of gastric cancer. Conventional white light imaging (WLI) and image-enhanced endoscopic (IEE) techniques such as narrow-band imaging (NBI), linked color imaging (LCI) and blue laser imaging (BLI) plays pivotal role in H. pylori diagnosis. This study aimed to determine diagnostic performance of real-time endoscopy between WLI and other IEE techniques for diagnosis of H. pylori infection.

Methods

This prospective study compared endoscopic images by gastroscopy using WLI and IEE techniques (LCI, Magnifying-BLI, and Magnifying-NBI) at Thammasat University Hospital, Thailand between January 2020, and July 2021. All participants underwent gastroscopy. Three biopsies at gastric antrum and two biopsies at body were obtained for H.pylori diagnosis. H. pylori infection was defined as a positive test of either one of the following tests: rapid urease test, histopathology, H. pylori culture.

Results

Of 167 dyspeptic patients undergoing gastroscopy, 100 were enrolled in this study. Overall H. pylori infection was 40%. Patients had the mean age of 59.1 years and 53% were males. Enlarged gastric folds and antral nodularity can predict H. pylori infection with 100% PPV, while fundic gland polyps and red streak provided 100% PPV for exclusion of H. pylori infection on WLI. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy for diagnosis of H. pylori infection for WLI were 80%, 71.7%, 65.3%, 84.3% and 75% respectively, while those for LCI were 90%, 70%, 66.7%, 91.3% and 78% respectively. M-NBI and M-BLI endoscopy demonstrated elongated pits in H. pylori-positive patients. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy for M-BLI were 95%, 80%, 76%, 96% and 86% respectively, whereas those for M-NBI were 92.5%, 86.7%, 82.2%, 94.6% and 89% respectively. Sensitivity of M-BLI was better than WLI, while sensitivities of LCI and M-NBI were also numerically higher than WLI without statistical difference (M-BLI 95%vs.WLI 80%, p = 0.03; M-NBI 92.5%vs.WLI 80%, p = 0.13; LCI 90%vs.WLI 80%, p = 0.22). Sensitivities of all IEE modes were not different from one another (LCI 90%vs.M-BLI 95%, p = 0.50; LCI 90%vs.M-NBI 92.5%, p = 1.00, M-BLI 95%vs.M-NBI 92.5%, p = 1.00).

Conclusions

M-BLI significantly improved sensitivity of real-time endoscopic diagnosis of H. pylori infection compared with WLI. Enlarged gastric folds and antral nodularity could be reliable predictors for H. pylori infection, while fundic gland polyps and red streak could be important endoscopic findings for H. pylori-negative mucosa.
Long-term care needs and the risk of household poverty across Europe: a comparative secondary data study
Authors: Casanova Georgia , Lillini Roberto , Moreno Carolina , Lamura Giovanni
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Population ageing and rising poverty are two of the most pressing issues today, even in Western European nations, growing as a result of the recent global economic crisis and the COVID-19 containment measures. This study explores the relationship between long-term care (LTC) needs and risk of poverty at household level in eight European countries, representing the different European care regimes.

Methods

The main international databases were scoured for study variables, categorized according to the following conceptual areas: home care, residential care, health expenditure, service coverage, cash benefits, private services, population, family, education, employment, poverty, disability and care recipients, and life expectancy. We initially identified 104 variables regarding 8 different countries (Austria, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Poland, Romania). Statistical analyses were conducted as described hereafter: analysis of the Pearson’s Bivariate Correlation between the dependent variable and all other variables; a Multivariable Linear Regression Model between the Poverty Index (dependent variable) and the covariates identified in the preceding step; a check for geographical clustering effects and a reduced Multivariable Linear Regression Model for each identified European cluster.

Results

The variables that addressed the risk of poverty pertained to the area of policy intervention and service provision. Rising private out-of-pocket health expenditures and proportion of “poor” couples with at least one child are two factors that contributed significantly to poverty increasing. Moreover, rising private out-of-pocket health expenditures for covering LTC needs (even in presence of public financial contribution to the family) is the main contributor to household poverty increasing in presence of ADL disability.

Conclusion

The results reveal the existence of a clear correlation between the need for LTC and the risk of poverty in households across Europe. These results highlight the central relevance of LTC policies, which are often still treated as marginal and sectoral, for the future sustainability of integrated care strategies.
Identification of FOXP1 as a favorable prognostic biomarker and tumor suppressor in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Tang Chenwei , Zhuang Hongkai , Tong Huanjun , Yu Xiaopeng , Chen Jialu , Wang Qingbin , Ma Xiaowu , Wang Bingkun , Hua Yonglin , Shang Changzhen , Tang Zhaohui
Published: January 2024

Background

Forkhead-box protein P1 (FOXP1) has been proposed to have both oncogenic and tumor-suppressive properties, depending on tumor heterogeneity. However, the role of FOXP1 in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) has not been previously reported.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect FOXP1 expression in ICC and normal liver tissues. The relationship between FOXP1 levels and the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with ICC was evaluated. Finally, in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to examine the regulatory role of FOXP1 in ICC cells.

Results

FOXP1 was significantly downregulated in the ICC compared to their peritumoral tissues (p < 0.01). The positive rates of FOXP1 were significantly lower in patients with poor differentiation, lymph node metastasis, invasion into surrounding organs, and advanced stages (p < 0.05). Notably, patients with FOXP1 positivity had better outcomes (overall survival) than those with FOXP1 negativity (p < 0.05), as revealed by Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Moreover, Cox multivariate analysis showed that negative FOXP1 expression, advanced TNM stages, invasion, and lymph node metastasis were independent prognostic risk factors in patients with ICC. Lastly, overexpression of FOXP1 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ICC cells and promoted apoptosis, whereas knockdown of FOXP1 had the opposite role.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that FOXP1 may serve as a novel outcome predictor for ICC as well as a tumor suppressor that may contribute to cancer treatment.
Physician’s conceptions of the decision-making process when managing febrile infants ≤ 60 days old: a phenomenographic qualitative study
Authors: Orfanos Ioannis , Lindkvist Rose-Marie , Eklund Erik G. A. , Elfving Kristina , Alfvén Tobias , de Koning Tom J. , Castor Charlotte
Published: January 2024

Background

The management of febrile infants aged ≤ 60 days and adherence to guidelines vary greatly. Our objective was to describe the process of decision-making when managing febrile infants aged ≤ 60 days and to describe the factors that influenced this decision.

Methods

We conducted 6 focus group discussions with 19 clinically active physicians in the pediatric emergency departments of 2 university hospitals in Skåne region, Sweden. We followed an inductive qualitative design, using a phenomenological approach. A second-order perspective was used, focusing on how physicians perceived the phenomenon (managing fever in infants) rather than the phenomenon itself. The transcribed interviews were analyzed using a 7-step approach.

Results

Performing a lumbar puncture (LP) was conceived as a complex, emotionally and mentally laden procedure and dominated the group discussions. Three central categories emerged as factors that influenced the decision-making process on whether to perform an LP: 1) a possible focus of infection that could explain the origin of the fever, 2) questioning whether the temperature at home reported by the parents was a fever, especially if it was ≤ 38.2°C, and 3) the infant’s general condition and questioning the need for LP in case of well-appearing infants. Around these 3 central categories evolved 6 secondary categories that influenced the decision-making process of whether to perform an LP or not: 1) the physicians’ desire to be able to trust their judgement, 2) fearing the risk of failure, 3) avoiding burdensome work, 4) taking others into account, 5) balancing guidelines and resources, and 6) seeing a need to practice and learn to perform LP.

Conclusions

The difficulty and emotional load of performing an LP were important factors that influenced the decision-making process regarding whether to perform an LP. Physicians highlighted the importance of being able to rely on their clinical judgment and make independent decisions. Guidelines may consider allowing a degree of flexibility and independent thinking to take into account patients’ characteristics and needs.
Prevalence, associated factors, and gene polymorphisms of obesity in Tibetan adults in Qinghai, China
Authors: Wang Ye , Pan Li , He Huijing , Li Zhanquan , Cui Sen , Yang Airong , Li Wenfang , Jia Guoqiang , Han Ximing , Wang Xianghua , Shan Guangliang
Published: January 2024

Objectives

To explore the prevalence and associated factors of obesity in Tibetan adults in Qinghai, China, and to determine the association between the FTO (rs1121980 and rs17817449) and MC4R gene (rs17782313 and rs12970134) polymorphisms with obesity.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2015 in Qinghai to selected Tibetan adults aged 20 to 80 years. Prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2) and overweight (BMI 24 ~ 27.9 kg/m2) were evaluated. Multivariable logistic models were used to determine the associated factors. Pair-matched subjects of obesity cases and normal-weight controls were selected for the gene polymorphism analyses. Conditional logistic models were used to assess the association between gene polymorphisms with obesity. Additive and multiplicative gene-environment interactions were tested.

Results

A total of 1741 Tibetan adults were enrolled. The age- and sex- standardized prevalence of obesity and overweight was 18.09% and 31.71%, respectively. Male sex, older age, heavy level of leisure-time exercise, current smoke, and heavy level of occupational physical activity were associated with both obesity and overweight. MC4R gene polymorphisms were associated with obesity in Tibetan adults. No significant gene-environment interaction was detected.

Conclusion

The prevalence of obesity and overweight in Tibetan adults was high. Both environmental and genetic factors contributed to the obesity prevalent.
Influence of parallel pins on the angle deviation for placement of dental implants: an in vitro study
Authors: González Menéndez Héctor , Lorrio Castro Juan , Rodríguez Torres Paulina , de la Vega Buró Susana , Zubizarreta-Macho Álvaro , Riad Deglow Elena , Lobo Galindo Ana Belén , Hernández Montero Sofía
Published: January 2024

The aim of the present study was to analyze and compare the angle deviation of two, four and six adjacent dental implants placed with and without straight parallel pins. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and forty (240) dental implants were selected and randomly allocated into the following study groups: Two dental implants placed with straight parallel pins (Ref.: 144-100, BioHorizons, Birmingham, AL, USA) (n = 10) (2PP); Two dental implants placed without parallel pins (n = 10) (2withoutPP); Four dental implants placed with straight parallel pins hT(n = 10) (4PP); Four dental implants placed without parallel pins (n = 10) (4withoutPP); Six dental implants placed with straight parallel pins (n = 10) (6PP) and Six dental implants placed without parallel pins (n = 10) (6withoutPP). The dental implants randomly assigned to groups 2PP and 2withoutPP were placed into standardized polyurethane models of partially edentulous upper jaws in tooth positions 2.4 and 2.6, the dental implants randomly assigned to groups 4PP and 4withoutPP were placed into standardized polyurethane models of fully edentulous upper jaws in tooth positions 1.6, 1.4, 2.4 and 2.6, and the dental implants randomly assigned to groups 6PP and 6withoutPP were placed into standardized polyurethane models of fully edentulous upper jaws in tooth positions 1.6, 1.4, 1.2, 2.2, 2.4 and 2.6. Afterwards, postoperative CBCT scans and digital impressions were aligned in a 3D implant-planning software to compare the angle deviation (°) of two, four and six adjacent dental implants placed with and without straight parallel pins using the General Linear Model statistical analysis. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the angle deviation of 2 dental implants placed with straight parallel pins (p < 0.0001) and between the angle deviation of 4 dental implants placed with straight parallel pins (p = 0.0024); however, no statistically significant differences were found in the angle deviation of 6 dental implants placed with straight parallel pins (p = 0.9967). Conclusion: The use of a straight parallelization pin results in lower angle deviation between two and four adjacent dental implants; however, it is not effective for a larger number of dental implants.
Development and evaluation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation nursing education program for nursing students using virtual reality
Authors: Lee Hanna , Han Jeong-Won , Park Junhee , Min Soyoon , Park Jihey
Published: January 2024

Background

This study aims to improve nursing students’ ability to care for critically ill patients through education in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) nursing.

Methods

This study developed a virtual reality (VR) simulation program for the five-step ECMO nursing of the Analysis, Design, Development, Implement, and Evaluation (ADDIE) model and used an equivalent control group pre-test and post-test no-synchronized design to verify the effect. The participants of this study were fourth-year nursing students enrolled in nursing departments at three universities in Seoul, Gangwon, and Gyeonggi in South Korea; it included 66 participants, 33 in each of the experimental and control groups. The program consisted of pre-training, orientation, VR simulation, and debriefing.

Results

The interaction effect of the intervention and control groups with time points using the ECMO nursing VR simulation program was rejected due to no statistically significant difference in knowledge (F = 1.41, p = .251), confidence (F = 1.97, p = .144), and clinical reasoning capacity (F = 2.85, p = .061). However, learning immersion (t = 3.97, p < .001) and learning satisfaction (t = 4.25, p < .001) were statistically significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group.

Conclusion

VR simulation program for ECMO nursing developed in this study is a potential educational method that positively affects the learning immersion and learning satisfaction of nursing students.