bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Epidemiology of American Football-Related Fractures in the United States 2002-2021
Authors: Ladehoff Lauren C. , Kuruvilla Davis , Coughlin Emily , Mhaskar Rahul , Remaley D. Trey
Published: September 2024

Background:

American football is the most popular sport in the United States, with over 5.6 million people >6 years old playing the sport. Fractures in American football athletes are significant, as they compromise an athlete's performance and can also lead to prolonged recovery periods, affecting team dynamics and player careers. Analyzing these injuries is critical to evaluate preventive measures and tailor rehabilitation strategies to ensure the well-being and sustained peak performance of football athletes on and off the field.

Purpose:

To analyze the trend of American football fractures by body site, sex, and age in amateur athletes over a 20-year period between 2002 and 2021.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods:

The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database was queried to characterize football-related fractures and injuries from 2002 to 2021 in patients aged 0-99 years old. National injury estimates were calculated using sample weights. Chi-square analysis and one-way ANOVA were performed to compare categorical variables.

Results:

Of 56,809 cases of American football-related fractures over 20 years, patients aged 10 to 14 years had the highest incidence of fractures, composing 41.2% of all fractures (n = 23,389), and patients aged <18 years represented 88.8% of all fractures (n = 50,457). The median age of players when fractures occurred was 13 years. Upper extremity fractures (n = 41,863 [73.7%]) were the most common fracture reported compared with lower extremity and head, neck, and trunk fractures. Among upper extremity fractures, finger fractures had the highest prevalence (35.6%), followed by lower arm fractures (19.9%) and wrist fractures (13%). While most cases resulted in release after treatment (93.1%), 5.9% resulted in treatment and hospitalization. When analyzing trends in American football-related fractures over time, we observed the largest number of fractures in 2006 (n = 3664), while the smallest number of fractures occurred in 2020 (n = 1313). Also, a downward trend was found in American football-related fractures since 2006, with a mean of 101 fewer fractures each year.

Conclusion:

Our analysis showed that American football-related fractures diagnosed in the emergency department in the United States were most likely to occur in pediatric patients (10-18 years old). In addition, patients experiencing American football-related fractures were most likely to have an upper extremity fracture and not require hospitalization. The trend in American football-related fractures has been decreasing since 2006.
Comparison of Quantile Regression and Gaussian (Z-scores) Percentiles to BSA in Growth Charts With a Pakistani Population
Authors: Hussain Waqas Ghulam , Shehzad Farrukh , Akbar Atif
Published: September 2024

Introduction: In the current study, we construct growth charts of body surface area (BSA) for adults using the quantile regression (QR) approach and growth charts of different Gaussian Percentiles ( Z-scores) against age. Methods: A cross-sectional data consisting of 3,473 individuals aged 5 or more, both males and females were taken from Multan city. Quantile regression (QR) was used to construct BSA growth charts. Growth charts for different Z-scores were also constructed. Results: For our data set, the mean BSA is 0.48750. The BSA percentiles show a trending higher after the age of 5 until the age of 22, then decrease between age 22 and 35, and then finally increase after age 35. The Z-score curve increases slightly after age 5 and then proceeds higher until age 22. After age 22 and before 35 it plateaus and then increases slightly after age 35. Conclusion: Since the use of empirical BSA percentiles and Z-scores with grouped age provides a discrete approximation for the population percentiles and Z-scores, it is more accurate to use continuous BSA percentile and Z-score, curves against given ages while using quantile regression and Z-score approach. Furthermore, this approach can also be adopted to construct many other growth charts for physiological and medical sciences.
‘Who Owns Data?’: Emerging Debates on Data Ownership, Distribution and Protection in Digital Democracies
Authors: Natani Aakansha
Published: September 2024

Today, in the post-industrial society, the data created by computers and the internet are becoming a new ‘means of production’. With this, there is a new-found realisation on the question of its ownership, distribution and protection. The question of accessibility in this regard is also becoming a crucial issue in democratic political systems. Internet and data have led to epistemological changes such that new rights for citizens are required with an overhaul of democratic processes founded in digital methods. It will definitely have its own challenges, limitations and possibilities. As data protection bills are now being introduced in many countries of the world, it is important to analyse the key theoretical nuances in the data ownership discourse. In this regard, this article attempts to highlight these nuances along with the scope for new public policy frameworks required in the domain of data ownership, distribution and protection.
A Case of Cotyledonoid-Dissecting Leiomyoma - The Utility of Laparoscopic Biopsy and Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Analogs
Authors: Kawashita Sayaka , Nonoshita Akiko , Iwasaki Keisuke , Nakayama Daisuke
Published: September 2024

Cotyledonoid-dissecting leiomyoma, a very unusual form of uterine leiomyoma, often leads to misdiagnosis as a malignant tumor. Here, we describe a case of a 45-year-old nulliparous woman who underwent a laparoscopic biopsy of a large pelvic mass consisting of multiple flaps. Histologically, the mass was composed of smooth muscle fascicle nodules separated by hydropic connective tissue, and exhibited extensive stromal hyalinization. The tumor was diagnosed as a cotyledonoid-dissecting leiomyoma based on the laparoscopic, pathological, and image findings. Prior to performing radical laparotomy, two courses of leuprorelin were administered in anticipation of tumor reduction and hypoperfusion, and the tumor size reduced remarkably. We demonstrated the utility of laparoscopic biopsy, considering its minimal invasiveness and diagnostic accuracy. Furthermore, the preoperative use of Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs to reduce surgical stress may be useful for treating cotyledonoid-dissecting leiomyomas.
Growing inequities by immigration group among older adults: population-based analysis of access to primary care and return to in-person visits during the COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Sierra-Heredia Cecilia , Tayyar Elmira , Bozorgi Yasmin , Thakore Padmini , Hagos Selamawit , Carrillo Ruth , Machado Stefanie , Peterson Sandra , Goldenberg Shira , Wiedmeyer Mei-ling , Lavergne M Ruth
Published: September 2024

Background

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic drove a rapid and widespread shift to virtual care, followed by a gradual return to in-person visits. Virtual visits may offer more convenient access to care for some, but others may experience challenges accessing care virtually, and some medical needs must be met in-person. Experiences of the shift to virtual care and benefits of in-person care may vary by immigration experience (immigration status and duration), official language level, and age. We examined use of virtual care and return to in-person visits in the Canadian province of British Columbia (BC), comparing patterns by age and across immigration groups, including length of time in Canada and language level (official languages English and French) at time of arrival.

Methods

We used linked administrative health and immigration data to examine total primary care visits (virtual or in-person) and return to in-person visits during the COVID-19 pandemic (2019/20–2021/2) in BC. We examined the proportion of people with any primary care visits and with any in-person visits within each year as measures of access to primary care. We estimated the odds of any primary care visits and any in-person visits by immigration group and official language level assessed prior to arrival: non-immigrants, long-term immigrants, recent immigrants (< 5 years) with high assessed official language level and recent immigrants (< 5 years) with low assessed official language level (assessed prior to arrival), stratified by age.

Results

In general, changes in access to primary care (odds of any visits and odds of any in-person visits) were similar across immigration groups over the study period. However, we observed substantial disparities in access to primary care by immigration group among people aged 60 + , particularly in recent immigrants with low official language level (0.42, 0.40–0.45). These disparities grew wider over the course of the pandemic.

Conclusion

Though among younger adults changes in access to primary care between 2019–2021 were similar across immigration groups, we observed significant and growing inequities among older adults, with particularly limited access among adults who immigrated recently and with low assessed official language level. Targeted interventions to ensure acceptable, accessible care for older immigrants are needed.
Breastfeeding experiences of women with perinatal mental health problems: a systematic review and thematic synthesis
Authors: Billings Hayley , Horsman Janet , Soltani Hora , Spencer Rachael Louise
Published: September 2024

Background

Despite its known benefits, breastfeeding rates among mothers with perinatal mental health conditions are staggeringly low. Systematic evidence on experiences of breastfeeding among women with perinatal mental health conditions is limited. This systematic review was designed to synthesise existing literature on breastfeeding experiences of women with a wide range of perinatal mental health conditions.

Methods

A systematic search of five databases was carried out considering published qualitative research between 2003 and November 2021. Two reviewers conducted study selection, data extraction and critical appraisal of included studies independently and data were synthesised thematically.

Results

Seventeen articles were included in this review. These included a variety of perinatal mental health conditions (e.g., postnatal depression, post-traumatic stress disorders, previous severe mental illnesses, eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders). The emerging themes and subthemes included: (1) Vulnerabilities: Expectations versus reality; Self-perception as a mother; Isolation. (2) Positive outcomes: Bonding and closeness; Sense of achievement. (3) Challenges: Striving for control; Inconsistent advice and lack of support; Concerns over medication safety; and Perceived impact on milk quality and supply.

Conclusions

Positive breastfeeding experiences of mothers with perinatal mental health conditions can mediate positive outcomes such as enhanced mother/infant bonding, increased self-esteem, and a perceived potential for healing. Alternatively, a lack of consistent support and advice from healthcare professionals, particularly around health concerns and medication safety, can lead to feelings of confusion, negatively impact breastfeeding choices, and potentially aggravate perinatal mental health symptoms. Appropriate support, adequate breastfeeding education, and clear advice, particularly around medication safety, are required to improve breastfeeding experiences for women with varied perinatal mental health conditions.
First trimester maternal serum PAPP-A and free β-hCG levels and risk of SGA or LGA in women with and without GDM
Authors: Kantomaa Tiina , Vääräsmäki Marja , Gissler Mika , Ryynänen Markku , Nevalainen Jaana
Published: September 2024

Background

Maternal gestational diabetes (GDM), small (SGA) and large (LGA) for gestational age neonates are associated with increased morbidity in both mother and child. We studied how different levels of first trimester pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and free beta human chorionic gonadotropin (fβ-hCG) were associated with SGA and LGA in GDM pregnancies and controls.

Methods

Altogether 23 482 women with singleton pregnancies participated in first trimester combined screening and delivered between 2014 and 2018 in Northern Finland and were included in this retrospective case-control study. Women with GDM (n = 4697) and controls without GDM (n = 18 492) were divided into groups below 5th and 10th or above 90th and 95th percentile (pc) PAPP-A and fβ-hCG MoM levels. SGA was defined as a birthweight more than two standard deviations (SD) below and LGA more than two SDs above the sex-specific and gestational age-specific reference mean. Odds ratios were adjusted (aOR) for maternal age, BMI, ethnicity, IVF/ICSI, parity and smoking.

Results

In pregnancies with GDM the proportion of SGA was 2.6% and LGA 4.5%, compared to 3.3% (p = 0.011) and 1.8% (p < 0.001) in the control group, respectively. In ≤ 5th and ≤ 10th pc PAPP-A groups, aORs for SGA were 2.7 (95% CI 1.5–4.7) and 2.2 (95% CI 1.4–3.5) in the GDM group and 3.8 (95% CI 3.0–4.9) and 2.8 (95% CI 2.3–3.5) in the reference group, respectively. When considering LGA, there was no difference in aORs in any high PAPP-A groups. In the low ≤ 5 percentile fβ-hCG MoM group, aORs for SGA was 2.3 (95% CI 1.8–3.1) in the control group. In fβ-hCG groups with GDM there was no association with SGA and the only significant difference was ≥ 90 percentile group, aOR 1.6 (95% CI 1.1–2.5) for LGA.

Conclusion

Association with low PAPP-A and SGA seems to be present despite GDM status. High PAPP-A levels are not associated with increased LGA risk in women with or without GDM. Low fβ-hCG levels are associated with SGA only in non-GDM pregnancies.
VUS next in rare diseases? Deciphering genetic determinants of biomolecular condensation
Authors: Heredia-Torrejón María , Montañez Raúl , González-Meneses Antonio , Carcavilla Atilano , Medina Miguel A. , Lechuga-Sancho Alfonso M.
Published: September 2024

The diagnostic odysseys for rare disease patients are getting shorter as next-generation sequencing becomes more widespread. However, the complex genetic diversity and factors influencing expressivity continue to challenge accurate diagnosis, leaving more than 50% of genetic variants categorized as variants of uncertain significance.

Genomic expression intricately hinges on localized interactions among its products. Conventional variant prioritization, biased towards known disease genes and the structure-function paradigm, overlooks the potential impact of variants shaping the composition, location, size, and properties of biomolecular condensates, genuine membraneless organelles swiftly sensing and responding to environmental changes, and modulating expressivity.

To address this complexity, we propose to focus on the nexus of genetic variants within biomolecular condensates determinants. Scrutinizing variant effects in these membraneless organelles could refine prioritization, enhance diagnostics, and unveil the molecular underpinnings of rare diseases. Integrating comprehensive genome sequencing, transcriptomics, and computational models can unravel variant pathogenicity and disease mechanisms, enabling precision medicine. This paper presents the rationale driving our proposal and describes a protocol to implement this approach. By fusing state-of-the-art knowledge and methodologies into the clinical practice, we aim to redefine rare diseases diagnosis, leveraging the power of scientific advancement for more informed medical decisions.
Why make it if you can take it: review on extracellular cholesterol uptake and its importance in breast and ovarian cancers
Authors: Lauridsen Anna Røssberg , Skorda Aikaterini , Winther Nuggi Ingholt , Bay Marie Lund , Kallunki Tuula
Published: September 2024

Cholesterol homeostasis is essential for healthy mammalian cells and dysregulation of cholesterol metabolism contributes to the pathogenesis of various diseases including cancer. Cancer cells are dependent on cholesterol. Malignant progression is associated with high cellular demand for cholesterol, and extracellular cholesterol uptake is often elevated in cancer cell to meet its metabolic needs. Tumors take up cholesterol from the blood stream through their vasculature. Breast cancer grows in, and ovarian cancer metastasizes into fatty tissue that provides them with an additional source of cholesterol. High levels of extracellular cholesterol are beneficial for tumors whose cancer cells master the uptake of extracellular cholesterol. In this review we concentrate on cholesterol uptake mechanisms, receptor-mediated endocytosis and macropinocytosis, and how these are utilized and manipulated by cancer cells to overcome their possible intrinsic or pharmacological limitations in cholesterol synthesis. We focus especially on the involvement of lysosomes in cholesterol uptake. Identifying the vulnerabilities of cholesterol metabolism and manipulating them could provide novel efficient therapeutic strategies for treatment of cancers that manifest dependency for extracellular cholesterol.
Trypanosoma cruzi reprograms mitochondrial metabolism within the anterior midgut of its vector Rhodnius prolixus during the early stages of infection
Authors: Ouali Radouane , Vieira Larissa Rezende , Salmon Didier , Bousbata Sabrina
Published: September 2024

Background

Trypanosoma cruzi is transmitted to humans by hematophagous bugs belonging to the Triatominae subfamily. Its intra-vectorial cycle is complex and occurs exclusively in the insect's midgut. Dissecting the elements involved in the cross-talk between the parasite and its vector within the digestive tract should provide novel targets for interrupting the parasitic life cycle and affecting vectorial competence. These interactions are shaped by the strategies that parasites use to infect and exploit their hosts, and the host's responses that are designed to detect and eliminate parasites. The objective of the current study is to characterize the impact of T. cruzi establishment within its vector on the dynamics of its midgut.

Methods

In this study, we evaluated the impact of T. cruzi infection on protein expression within the anterior midgut of the model insect Rhodnius prolixus at 6 and 24 h post-infection (hpi) using high-throughput quantitative proteomics.

Results

Shortly after its ingestion, the parasite modulates the proteome of the digestive epithelium by upregulating 218 proteins and negatively affecting the expression of 11 proteins involved in a wide array of cellular functions, many of which are pivotal due to their instrumental roles in cellular metabolism and homeostasis. This swift response underscores the intricate manipulation of the vector's cellular machinery by the parasite. Moreover, a more in-depth analysis of proteins immediately induced by the parasite reveals a pronounced predominance of mitochondrial proteins, thereby altering the sub-proteomic landscape of this organelle. This includes various complexes of the respiratory chain involved in ATP generation. In addition to mitochondrial metabolic dysregulation, a significant number of detoxifying proteins, such as antioxidant enzymes and P450 cytochromes, were immediately induced by the parasite, highlighting a stress response.

Conclusions

This study is the first to illustrate the response of the digestive epithelium upon contact with T. cruzi, as well as the alteration of mitochondrial sub-proteome by the parasite. This manipulation of the vector's physiology is attributable to the cascade activation of a signaling pathway by the parasite. Understanding the elements of this response, as well as its triggers, could be the foundation for innovative strategies to control the transmission of American trypanosomiasis, such as the development of targeted interventions aimed at disrupting parasite proliferation and transmission within the triatomine vector.

Graphical Abstract
A methodology for appropriate withdrawal of tsunami warnings based on numerical simulations
Authors: Shinmoto Naoko , Baba Toshitaka
Published: September 2024

This study performed large-scale numerical simulations for predicting the attenuation of tsunamis caused by the 2011 Tohoku, Japan, and 2010 Maule, Chile earthquakes, recorded at Japanese tide gauges. Tsunami amplitude waveforms were generated by computing the moving root-mean-square of the data for quantitative analyses. Sensitivity analysis showed that tsunami nonlinearity and computational grid intervals near the tide gauges significantly impact the prediction of tsunami attenuation. The predicted withdrawal times of tsunami warnings agreed with the observations; however, time discrepancies were observed for advisory withdrawals at several stations. Using the proposed method, we predicted the warning period of a great interplate earthquake in the Nankai Trough to be approximately one day. These findings can provide critical information for disaster prevention because the withdrawal of warnings is directly related to permission to enter coastal areas affected by the tsunami, whereas unnecessarily long warnings hinder rescue operations.
Electrical conductivity of mantle minerals beneath East Asia revealed by geomagnetic observatory data
Authors: Zhang Yuyan , Ma Mina , Hu Yujia , Han Yiliang , Zhang Yanhui
Published: September 2024

The electrical conductivity of the earth’s mantle can provide important information about geodynamic phenomena. East Asia is associated with complex tectonics and geodynamic processes. Hence, it is necessary to better understand the deep structure beneath East Asia. In this study, geomagnetic data obtained from East Asian observatories are employed to image the conductivity structure of the mantle at depths ranging from 410 to 900 km. First, the data are processed using the modified bounded influence remote reference processing (BIRRP) method and the ratio method is used to correct for the ocean effect. Thereafter, the stable C-response curves at the 27 observatories are estimated, and 1D electrical conductivity models for these observatories are established using the L-BFGS method. The conductivity-depth profiles reveal a heterogeneous distribution of the electrical conductivity beneath East Asia. The mantle transition zone (MTZ) beneath East China and Japan is found to be more conductive, whereas the MTZ beneath central and southern regions of China is more resistive. In East China, the dehydration of the stagnant Pacific slab may lead to an increase in the conductivity of the mantle minerals. There is also the possibility of upwelling of the thermal material from the lower mantle beneath the Japanese Island arc. In Northwest China, there exists a large high-conductive body beneath the Tarim area, which could indicate an upwelling of the Tarim mantle plume. Our results provide insights into the deep structure of the earth at the mantle scale.
Exploring the impact of internet usage on individuals’ social status discordance: evidence from China
Authors: Ding Guoxuan , Meng Xiao , Fan Xiaoyan
Published: September 2024

This study examines the impact of internet usage frequency and behavior on social status discordance using CSS2021 data, and adopts a causal random forest model to test the heterogeneity of the impact of internet usage on social status discordance. The results reveal a clear inconsistency between objective and subjective social status among Chinese residents. In addition, increasing internet usage frequency can make actors more inclined to underestimate their social status. Moreover, capital enhancement through the internet significantly reduces the likelihood of status inflation. Finally, individuals with higher social status are less likely to have an upward bias in status cognition than those with lower social status when they use the internet frequently and use it for capital enhancement. These findings advance our understanding of social status identification among Chinese residents and provide different perspectives for studying social stratification in the digital age.
An actinomycosis infection resembling peritoneal dissemination of rectal cancer: a case report
Authors: Fukunaga Yukiko , Maeda Hiromichi , Yamaguchi Sachi , Tsutsui Miho , Okamoto Ken , Tanaka Tomoki , Maeda Masahiro , Marui Akira , Namikawa Tsutomu , Kobayashi Michiya , Seo Satoru
Published: September 2024

Background

Actinomycosis is a suppurative and granulomatous inflammation commonly caused by Actinomyces israelii. Due to its rarity and the paucity of characteristic clinical features, diagnosis of intra-abdominal actinomycosis is challenging, especially when the patient has a treatment history of abdominal cancer.

Case presentation

The patient is a 72-year-old man who has a history of multiple abdominal surgeries for rectal cancer, including low anterior resection for primary rectal cancer, partial hepatic resection for metachronous liver metastasis, and Hartmann surgery for local recurrence. The patient has also undergone parastomal hernia repair using the Sugarbaker method. One year after hernia repair, computed tomography (CT) identified a mass lesion between the abdominal wall and the mesh, suggesting the possibility of peritoneal recurrence of rectal cancer. The accumulation of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) was evident via positron emission tomography-CT (PET-CT), while tumor marker levels were within the normal range. On laparotomy, the small intestine, abdominal wall, mesh, colon, and stoma were observed to be associated with the mass lesion, and en bloc resection was carried out. However, postoperative histopathological examination revealed an actinomyces infection without any cancerous cells.

Conclusions

This case highlights the challenges faced by surgeons regarding preoperative diagnosis of actinomycosis, especially when it occurs after the resection of abdominal cancer. Also, this case reminds us of the importance of a histopathological examination for abdominal masses or nodules before starting chemotherapy.
Mesenteric ischemia caused by chronic occlusion of multiple mesenteric arteries: a case report
Authors: Zhao Qin-Ming , Xu Zhong-You , Wang Hui
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) is a rare disease that progresses with acute mesenteric ischemia, along with high mortality. How to choose the appropriate surgical method and the artery which should be opened first is the key to the treatment.

Case report

In this study, we successively used vascular bypass and endovascular therapy to treat a case of complex chronic mesenteric ischemia.

Conclusion

For mesenteric ischemic disease, the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) should be opened preferentially. Arterial bypass or interventional therapy can be used, or both can be combined, to finally achieve the purpose of treatment.
Metformin and intermittent fasting mitigate high fat-fructose diet-induced liver and skeletal muscle injury through upregulation of mitophagy genes in rats
Authors: Bastawy Nermeen , Soliman Ghada Farouk , Sadek Nermeen Bakr , Gharib Doaa Mostafa , Gouda Mai Abdelaziz , Rashed Laila Ahmed , Abdallah Hanan , Hisham Dina , Abdel-Maksoud Omnia Mohamed
Published: September 2024

Background

High fat-fructose diet is a proinflammatory diet that increases risk of hepatocytes and myocytes steatosis and fibrosis. Finding anti-inflammatory strategies to fight these harmful effects is paid attention to nowadays. This study compared the effects of two widely anti-inflammatory interventions—metformin and intermittent fasting on myocytes and hepatocyte injury induced by proinflammatory diet and tracking possible underlying mechanisms. In this work, rats fed high fat-fructose diet were subdivided into untreated group, treated by metformin, and/or intermittent fasting.

Results

Metformin (300 mg/kg/day) and intermittent fasting (3 days/week) specially their combination for 4 weeks showed significant improvement in insulin resistance, lipid profile, antioxidants (p < 0.05), as well as enhanced hepatocytes and myocytes repair and reduced collagen deposition through upregulation of mitophagy-related genes: PINK1, PARKIN, LAMP2, and PPAR-α (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Intermittent fasting has beneficial metabolic and molecular therapeutic effects against proinflammatory diet-induced injury. Their results are like those of metformin sparing its adverse effects. Their combination showed additional effects against diet-induced myocytes and hepatocyte injury by upregulation of mitophagy-related genes without the need of increasing the dose of metformin.

Graphic abstract
Gender identity services for children and young people: navigating uncertainty through communication, collaboration and care
Authors: Cass Hilary
Published: September 2024

This editorial describes the Cass Review findings and the extraordinary challenge we all face in managing uncertainty amid a toxic and highly polarised debate. Children and young people will only get the best care if patients and professionals join forces to seek answers collaboratively and respectfully.
Androgens Suppress Corticosteroid Binding Globulin in Male Mice, Affecting the Endocrine Stress Response
Authors: Sommers Vera , Gentenaar Max , David Karel , Narinx Nick , Dubois Vanessa , Kroon Jan , Claessens Frank , Meijer Onno C
Published: September 2024

Biological sex affects the activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. However, how androgen deprivation affects this axis remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of androgen status on different components of the HPA axis in male mice. Two weeks of androgen deprivation did not affect total plasma corticosterone levels but led to increased pituitary ACTH levels. Stress-induced total plasma corticosterone levels were increased, whereas the suppression of corticosterone after dexamethasone treatment under basal conditions was attenuated. Androgen-deprived mice displayed a 2-fold increase in plasma levels of corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG). A similar increase in CBG was observed in global androgen receptor knock-out animals, compared to wild-type littermates. Androgen deprivation was associated with a 6-fold increase in CBG mRNA in the liver and enhanced transcriptional activity at CBG regulatory regions, as evidenced by increased H3K27 acetylation. We propose that the induction of CBG as a consequence of androgen deprivation, together with the unaltered total corticosterone levels, results in lower free corticosterone levels in plasma. This is further supported by mRNA levels of androgen-independent GR target genes in the liver. The reduction in negative feedback on the HPA axis under basal condition would suffice to explain the enhanced stress reactivity after androgen deprivation. Overall, our data demonstrate that, in mice, tonic androgen receptor activation affects CBG levels in conjunction with effects on gene expression and HPA-axis reactivity.
Application and Safety of Externally Controlled Metronomic Drug Delivery to the Brain by an Implantable Smart Pump in a Sheep Model
Authors: Chen Thomas C. , Wu Winston H. , Chang Ki-Eun , Schönthal Axel H. , Gang Eli S. , Indravudh Vic , Lobl Thomas , Adell Frank , Shachar Yehoshua
Published: September 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Intraventricular drug delivery enables the delivery of therapeutics to the central nervous system, while minimizing peripheral drug exposure and toxicity. However, currently used delivery devices cannot be controlled externally to adjust their output during delivery. Here, the authors investigated the performance of a conceptually novel device designed to metronomically deliver a drug to the cerebrospinal fluid in a manner that can be adjusted wirelessly from an external controller.

METHODS:

Six sheep were subcutaneously implanted in the shoulder region with a drug delivery pump and a catheter connecting to the brain ventricles. Three groups of 2 sheep received low, medium, and high dosages of metronomic methotrexate (MTX) over several weeks, while kept mobile outdoors in a pen. MTX dosages were adjusted from a wireless external controller, and intraventricular MTX concentrations were measured in regular intervals with an Ommaya reservoir.

RESULTS:

Over the course of this 12-week study, sheep showed no signs of toxicity. MTX measurements in the cerebrospinal fluid confirmed that the pump remained responsive to external control and able to deliver drug in an adjustable, metronomic fashion.

CONCLUSION:

This implantable pump system enables external control of drug output, so that the resulting intraventricular drug concentrations can continuously be maintained within the therapeutic range.
A Journey into Harold Hotelling’s Economics
Authors: Gaspard Marion , Missemer Antoine , Mueller Thomas Michael
Published: September 2024

Harold Hotelling (1895–1973) was a major contributor to twentieth-century American economics. The overall thrust of his research, and his view of the role of mathematics in the discipline, have so far received little attention. Based on an unprecedented examination of his work and professional archives, this article provides a thorough analysis of Hotelling’s background and contribution to economics. A self-taught economist in the 1920s, Hotelling built a research program that, despite apparently being highly technical, was primarily conceived as applied science to solve concrete social and economic issues, from spatial competition to natural resource exhaustion and public utility regulation. Although Hotelling’s research was not exempt from criticism, it remains profoundly inspiring for the twenty-first century, from both a theoretical and epistemological point of view. When we remember that he trained the greatest, from Kenneth J. Arrow to William Vickrey, his career and ideas are all the more worthy of consideration. (JEL B21, B23, B31)
Against the World: Anti-Globalism and Mass Politics between the World Wars
Authors: O'Rourke Kevin Hjortshøj
Published: September 2024

Kevin Hjortshoj O'Rourke of NYU Abu Dhabi reviews “Against the World: Anti-Globalism and Mass Politics between the World Wars” by Tara Zahra. The Econlit abstract of this book begins: “Explores the development of nationalism in the twentieth century after World War I, discussing significant events that contributed to the rise of anti-globalization policies and social movements.”
Introducing the Democratic Electoral Systems data, 1919-1945
Authors: Bormann Nils-Christian , Kaftan Lea
Published: September 2024

This data note introduces an update to the widely-used Democratic Electoral Systems (DES) data that encompasses the period from 1919 to 1945. The data include 243 legislative lower house and presidential elections in 34 interwar democracies. Information on these elections falls into four categories: first and foremost, DES contains variables that capture the institutional rules that define how elections are organized. Second, the data captures the consequences of electoral rules in the form of summary statistics of electoral outcomes. Third, we include democracy classifications for four major democracy datasets so that users can choose their preferred democracy definition when working with the data. Finally, the DES dataset contains multiple identification variables that allow linking the DES data to a wide variety of other datasets. This update to the DES data is fully compatible with prior releases for the post-war period 1–3 .
Ruptured triple hormone-secreting adrenal cortical carcinoma with hyperaldosteronism, hypercortisolism, and elevated normetanephrine: a case report
Authors: Woo Sin Yung , Park Seongji , Kwon Kun Young , Lim Dong-Mee , Park Keun-Young , Kim Jong-Dai
Published: September 2024

We report a case of a ruptured triple hormone-secreting adrenal mass with hyperaldosteronism, hypercortisolism, and elevated normetanephrine levels, diagnosed as adrenal cortical carcinoma (ACC) by histology. A 53-year-old male patient who initially presented with abdominal pain was referred to our hospital for angiocoagulation of an adrenal mass rupture. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a heterogeneous 19×11×15 cm right adrenal mass with invasion into the right lobe of the liver, inferior vena cava, retrocaval lymph nodes, and aortocaval lymph nodes. Angiocoagulation was performed. Laboratory evaluation revealed excess cortisol via a positive 1-mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test, primary hyperaldosteronism via a positive saline infusion test, and plasma normetanephrine levels three times higher than normal. An adrenal mass biopsy was performed for pathological confirmation to commence palliative chemotherapy because surgical management was not deemed appropriate considering the extent of the tumor. Pathological examination revealed stage T4N1M1 ACC. The patient started the first cycle of adjuvant mitotane therapy along with adjuvant treatment with doxorubicin, cisplatin, and etoposide, and was discharged. Clinical cases of dual cortisol- and aldosterone-secreting ACCs or ACCs presenting as pheochromocytomas have occasionally been reported; however, both are rare. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, a triple hormone-secreting ACC has not yet been reported. Here, we report a rare case and its management. This case report underscores the necessity of performing comprehensive clinical and biochemical hormone evaluations in patients with adrenal masses because ACC can present with multiple hormone elevations.
Cinema of the Modern Era (Joint-stock cinematographic companies in Russia at the beginning of the twentieth century)
Authors: Bessolicyn Aleksandr
Published: September 2024

Based on a wide range of sources, the monograph shows the activities of the main officially registered joint-stock cinematographic companies operating in Russia at the beginning of the twentieth century. Economic modernization, which flourished in Russia at the turn of the XIX – XX centuries, accelerated the process of formation of joint-stock cinematographic companies. This period turned out to be bright for Russia, but chronologically short. Having turned into a mass spectacle, cinema developed along the path of transformation into an art form that was technological in nature and focused largely on the broad masses of the population. This predetermined the interest of private business in this type of entertainment, which saw a real opportunity to make significant profits by involving democratic segments of the population, primarily cities, in this form of leisure activities. At the beginning of the twentieth century, branches of famous French film companies operated in Russia: Gaumont, Br Pathe, as well as about 20 officially registered domestic joint-stock companies, the largest of which was the joint-stock company A.A. Khanzhonkov and Co., which turned out to be the most effective in the pre-revolutionary film business. The paper examines the mechanism of approval of joint-stock cinematographic companies, the formation of management bodies and the participation of founders and shareholders in this process, as well as in the distribution of profits and payment of dividends.
Spaces of Scientific Knowledge
Authors: Stehr Nico
Published: September 2024

Perhaps the first and most pertinent observation that comes to mind when  considering knowledge spaces is that scientific knowledge knows no boundaries. However, it would be naive to assume that knowledge flow freely and without cost within and across borders. Indeed, distance can be largerly irrelevant among influences on the cognitive outcomes of scientific collaboration. The nature of the social and cognitive ties between scientists has a greater influence.
O możliwości zastosowania algorytmów sztucznej inteligencji do badań humanistycznych
Authors: Radomski Andrzej
Published: September 2024

Sztuczna inteligencja stała się jednym z najważniejszych elementów współczesnego świata. Jest wykorzystywana w różnych przejawach ludzkiej działalności. Odnosi także sukcesy w naukach przyrodniczych. W artykule podejmuje się problem zastosowania algorytmów sztucznej inteligencji do badania świata kultury, czyli tradycyjnego przedmiotu zainteresowań humanistów. Badacze kultury mają też coraz częściej do czynienia z wielkimi kolekcjami danych: big data. Dużych zestawów danych kulturowych nie da się badać za pomocą klasycznych metod. Autor postuluje, aby do badania współczesnych danych kulturowych użyć sztucznej inteligencji. Pokazuje przykłady takich badań - także z własnej praktyki badawczej. Omawia wybrane algorytmy i aplikacje, które można zastosować w humanistyce i w naukach społecznych. Autor uważa, że zastosowanie sztucznej inteligencji do badań w humanistyce może przynieść nowe rezultaty poznawcze i zmianę panujących do tej pory poglądów.
Code and Data Repository for Heuristic Search for Rank Aggregation with Application to Label Ranking
Authors: Zhou Yangming , Hao Jin-Kao , Li Zhen
Published: September 2024

Rank aggregation combines the preference rankings of multiple alternatives from different voters into a single consensus ranking, providing a useful model for a variety of practical applications, but posing a computationally challenging problem. In this paper, we provide an effective hybrid evolutionary ranking algorithm to solve the rank aggregation problem with both complete and partial rankings. The algorithm features a semantic crossover based on concordant pairs and an enhanced late acceptance local search method reinforced by a relaxed acceptance and replacement strategy and a fast incremental evaluation mechanism. Experiments are conducted to assess the algorithm, indicating a highly competitive performance on both synthetic and real-world benchmark instances compared with state-of-the-art algorithms. To demonstrate its practical usefulness, the algorithm is applied to label ranking, a well-established machine learning task. We additionally analyze several key algorithmic components to gain insight into their operation.
A case of Raoultella ornithinolytica cholangitis in a liver transplant recipient
Authors: De Coster Daan A. , Carroll Melissa , Lavender James , Gibson Robert
Published: September 2024

Background: We present the first documented case of Raoultella ornithinolytica bacteraemia in a patient with liver transplantation. R. ornithinolytica is a Gram-negative anaerobic bacterium found in aquatic environments in fish and birds, and is source of nosocomial infection causing pneumonia, enteritis, cholangitis or urinary infections, associated with surgical interventions in a hospital setting. Case description: A 44-year-old female presented with a 2-day history of fever, rigors, and headache. Her past medical history was significant for having received three orthotopic liver transplants due to Wilson’s disease over a 20-year period. Her physical examination was unremarkable besides stigmata of prior liver transplantation. Blood tests revealed mild elevations in liver function markers and raised inflammatory markers. R. ornithinolytica was eventually isolated from blood cultures. Subsequent magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) demonstrated new left intrahepatic ductal dilation with heterogeneous peripheral enhancement. The proximal location of the cholangitis explained the lack of abdominal pain or tenderness. The patient was treated with appropriate antibiotic therapy and cultures were negative on day 2. The patient recovered without further intervention. Conclusion: Seldom encountered R. ornithinolytica is uncommonly pathogenic but should be considered in patients receiving immunosuppressants and those with complex surgical anatomy.
The role of the district nurse providing care to service users with obsessive compulsive disorder
Authors: Hobson Amanda
Published: September 2024

Service users living with Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) often delay or avoid seeking diagnosis or treatment because of a fear of judgement or feelings of shame associated with their obsessions and compulsions. They may feel that their behaviour defies societal norms, which can lead to social isolation, and in turn, further contribute to health inequality. When such individuals present with physical illness and are seen by district nurses, it is imperative that behaviours are understood and approached appropriately. It is important to develop therapeutic relationships and consider their holistic wellbeing. Developing a close working relationship with the mental health team as a multidisciplinary team and using the team as a resource may contribute to the overall health outcome of service users with OCD.
Vascular eczema and link with intestinal disease
Authors: Hampton Sylvie
Published: September 2024

Mr J worked as a long-distance driver and warehouse manager. He was diagnosed with Crohn's disease after retirement and developed dermatitis of the lower limbs as a consequence. Dermatitis and venous disease led to the appearance of leg ulcers. A friend recommended the local Leg Club to Mr J when he noticed that his leg wounds were not healing. Mr J has become a member since then and often visits the clinic with his wife and daughter.
Creating sensory environments
Authors: Guscott Sarah
Published: September 2024

In the second article in this series, Sarah Guscott, Higher Education Practice tutor and lecturer at University Centre Peterborough, shares some strategies practitioners can implement to create sensory-friendly environments for all children.
Field Study to Assess UASS Mosquito Adulticiding: Methods and Data
Authors: Bonds Jane A.S. , Thistle Harold W. , Fritz Brad , Jank Phillip C. , Martin Daniel E. , Reynolds William
Published: September 2024

Highlights

Mosquito adulticiding over operationally relevant areas is feasible using UASS.

Wind speed plays an important role in the spray landing position, as expected based on previous studies using CASA.

Results are based on both passive and active collectors, including flat cards, rotary impingers, and bottle brushes.

Over 1900 total samples were collected in 8 trials, and elevated samplers allowed analysis of the descent of the droplet cloud.

Abstract. A spatially extensive experiment was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of Uncrewed Aerial Spray Systems (UASS) in mosquito adulticiding. The practice of adulticiding uses very fine droplets (DV0.5 <50µm). The objective is to fill a volume of air with fine droplets that a flying adult mosquito will encounter in flight. A field program was designed with samplers as far as 500 m downwind from the UASS flight line. A total of over 1900 samples were collected over the course of eight trials. Both passive and active collectors were deployed. Tests were conducted in the early morning and were generally successful in terms of meteorological conditions and data collection. Elevated samplers successfully tracked the descent of the spray cloud, and spray was collected from the most distant samplers. The known dependence of spray movement on wind speed that has been widely observed and codified into label language for Crewed Aerial Spray Aircraft (CASA) was observed. Very low wind speed conditions are problematic for adulticiding in general, and undesirable near-field deposition of adulticiding spray was observed in the data presented here under low wind speed conditions. It needs to be emphasized that much more data needs to be collected before statistically robust conclusions can be drawn. Generally, these data show that UASS can be used to disperse very fine spray droplets over areas representative of operational adulticiding. This paper presents and discusses spray movement and deposition, a second paper is in preparation comparing these data to existing models of spray dispersion and deposition from UASS spraying. A third paper examining mortality from UASS adulticiding has been published. Keywords: Adulticiding, Pesticide drift, UASS Spraying, UAV.