bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Participation in Polish Local Elections: Sheer Rational Choice or Social Embeddedness Fate?
Authors: Markowski Radosław , Żerkowska-Balas Marta , Stanley Ben
Published: July 2023

In this article, a modest attempt is undertaken to connect the rational choice theory mechanism with the sociological theory of voting, as efforts to juxtapose both theories are still rare, although some cited accomplishments offer interesting insights. Our dependent variable is participation in a local election in Poland. The local government elections in Poland seem to offer a setting particularly well-suited for a test of the rational choice hypothesis and its relation to sociological explanations of voting behavior. The essential contribution of the article derives from our conviction that social embeddedness and rooting into the social milieu and local community matter for both the cost of participating in a local election and the cost of deciding whether to participate. In the world of post-cleavage politics, individualization of political behavior and involvement in (new) social networks play an increasingly important role. The general finding can be summarized as follows: the social embeddedness of citizens does enhance the probability of participation in an election; however, it does not substitute for the impact of rational motivation factors, nor does it significantly decrease the latter’s net impact on our dependent variable.
Acceptability and feasibility of HIV self-testing in Southeast Asia: A scoping review
Authors: Entierro Joshel Mary , Camañag Kimberly , Muyot Kianna Marie , Rubio Mitzi Ingrid , Miranda Kevin Jace , Carandang Rogie Royce
Published: July 2023

Background

HIV self-testing (HIVST) policies in Southeast Asia are under development. This scoping review aimed to systematically synthesize the available literature on the acceptability and feasibility of HIVST in Southeast Asia.

Methods

Systematic search was conducted on January 20, 2022, in eight databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Academic Search Complete, SocINDEX, PsycINFO, PsycArticles, and CENTRAL. Acceptability (HIV testing frequency, willingness to pay, use, and recommend the test, ease of use, preference over standard tests, and partner testing) and feasibility (error rate, readability, and diagnostic performance) parameters were followed for the inclusion of articles. A narrative synthesis was done to present findings from included studies on the acceptability and feasibility of HIVST.

Results

A total of 5091 records were identified through database search, and 362 were deleted after deduplication. The screening process resulted in 18 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Results indicated a high acceptability rate due to convenience, increasing awareness about HIVST, availability, and affordability of test kits, and confidentiality of test results. A high feasibility rate was reported due to a low occurrence of errors in self-testing, interpretability of results, and a low percentage of invalid and false-reactive results. Issues identified include costs of HIVST for individual use, distribution mode, type of supervision, counseling, geographic location, and socioeconomic status.

Conclusions

Evidence supports the acceptability and feasibility of HIVST in Southeast Asia. There is a need to regulate and license HIVST in Southeast Asia to have better recognition as a supplement to HTS.
Relationship of handgrip strength with health indicators of people living with HIV in west Pará, Brazil
Authors: Gouvêa-e-Silva Luiz Fernando , Brito Ester Rosa de , Sol Naiara Cristina Correia , Fernandes Eduardo Vignoto , Xavier Marília Brasil
Published: July 2023

Background

Handgrip strength (HGS) is an important health indicator that can be influenced by body composition and biochemical markers of people living with HIV, contributing to better understanding of health-related outcomes.

Objective

To analyze the relationship between HGS and health indicators in people living with HIV.

Methods

Cross-sectional study, with 207 people living with HIV, attending a reference center, located in Santarém, Pará, Brazil. Data collection covered sociodemographic, clinical, laboratory, physical activity level, body composition, and HGS information. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, adopting p < .05.

Results

There was a predominance of men (60%), aged 33–47 years (42%). A relationship was observed between adequate HGS and the male sex ( p < .001), and adequate values for body mass index ( p = .003), abdominal circumference ( p < .001), and total cholesterol ( p = .012). In addition, higher values of fat mass ( p < .001), and lower lean mass ( p = .006) were observed for people living with HIV with low HGS.

Conclusion

People living with HIV present an association between lean body mass and high HGS. On the other hand, low HGS favored obesity and hypercholesterolemia. Thus, monitoring HGS is an important indicator of body, laboratory, and functional capacity changes, with HGS being an additional element in the clinical evaluation.
Classic Text No. 136 ‘On the question of unitary psychosis’, by Harry Marcuse (1926)
Authors: Engstrom Eric J
Published: July 2023

In his article ‘On the question of unitary psychosis’ (1926), Harry Marcuse (1876–1931) undertook a thought experiment in which he challenged clinical psychiatrists to entertain the possibility that the concept of unitary psychosis could be a useful diagnostic and nosological tool. Drawing on the psychology of Friedrich Jodl (1849–1914) and contemporary notions of energeticism, Marcuse proposed a non-empirical, ‘analytic’ method of overcoming growing dissatisfaction with Kraepelinian categories in the 1910s and 1920s.
SDGs and fictional energy utopias: Gauging sustainable energy transitions against Ecotopia (1975) and The Ministry for the Future (2020)
Authors: Wuebben Daniel , Meinhold Roman , Frigo Giovanni
Published: July 2023

Strategic narratives about the transition to sustainable energy systems, including those influenced by the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs), frequently incorporate utopian elements. These ambitious targets encapsulate future-oriented visions and postulate implications of technological advancements; they also often underrepresent or even bypass the multifaceted nature of socioeconomic diversities, planetary constraints, and persistent energy disputes. The genre of utopian science fiction can offer a valuable heuristic to elucidate the heterogeneous and occasionally unsatisfactory projections that emerge from the SDGs. Two seminal novels—Ernest Callenbach’s Ecotopia (1975) and Kim Stanley Robinson’s The Ministry for the Future (2020)—which we classify as “fictional energy utopias” (FEUs), present incisive critiques of contemporary energy mechanisms and practices and envisage equitable, resilient, and robust renewable energy systems and socio-technical structures. Through an approach that combines narrative and discourse analyses, these literary works are juxtaposed with selected indicators of three SDGs. The ensuing study underscores the primacy of the topic of energy in policy and its concomitant narratives in fostering collective endeavors toward sustainable development. It also amplifies the pivotal interconnections between SDG 7 “Affordable and Clean Energy,” SDG 13 “Climate Action,” and SDG 16 “Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.” Employing FEUs to evaluate sustainability policies can substantially benefit researchers, policy architects, and public engagement coordinators by highlighting lacunae and limitations within prevailing strategic narratives and proposing potential enhancements to fortify their capacity to motivate collective action.
The short- and long-run causal correlation between green finance, renewable energy consumption, and economic growth
Authors: Bughio Amanullah , Teng Ying , Tunio Raza Ali , Das Ghansham , Jamali Rizwan , Shar Rashid Usman
Published: July 2023

We propose a vector error correction model to explore the causal correlation between green finance, economic growth, and renewable energy consumption from both short- and long-run perspectives to empirically evaluate the efficacy of green finance policies. Based on time-series data from 2000 to 2020, we use the unit root test method to examine time-varying trends and cointegration for time-series data. We find that renewable energy consumption has a negative relationship with emissions but green finance is positively correlated with economic growth. Green finance is the driving factor behind the increasing utilization of renewable energy in China. CO2 emissions per unit of GDP decreased by 1.077% for every 1% increase in green finance development. Although the share of renewable energy consumption increased by 1%, CO2 emissions per unit of GDP decreased by 0.55%. Therefore, green finance is significant in decreasing CO2 emissions; it has a negative impact on CO2 emissions and the renewable energy sector and must be addressed by financial policy, stability, and long-run sustainability. We categorized green finance, which refers to carbon finance innovations such as trusteeship, to improve market demand and eventually develop industries to expand the number of emission-control industries.
Unregistered Firms, Financial Access and Innovation
Authors: Njinyah Sam Z. , Asongu Simplice A.
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this article is to examine the relationship between a firm starting operation informally and its future innovation and whether this relation is moderated by institutional support (having access to finance from financial institutions to run their business). Data from the World Bank Enterprise Survey on 30 Eastern European and Central Asian countries were analysed using probit regression analysis. The findings show that there is a positive significant relationship between firms that start operation informally and the firm’s innovation and that such effect persists overtime. The study found that this relationship is stronger if the firms can gain access to finance to expand their business activities. Finally, the results show that such a relationship is based on the type of innovation being pursued by the firms. By examining the moderation effect of access to finance on starting a business informally, the study provides an alternative explanation to policymakers on how to deal with informal firms to benefit from their contribution to growth.
Integrating Trauma-Informed Practices Into Check-In/Check-Out for Use in Alternative Education Settings
Authors: Hackney Aimee J. , Jolivette Kristine , Sanders Sara
Published: July 2023

A majority of students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD), particularly those served in alternative educational settings, have a history of trauma exposure before placement. Evidence-based interventions such as Check-In/Check-Out (CICO) may be more effective for these students if the interventions are systematically adapted to include trauma-informed principles within intervention features. In this article, adaptations to CICO to benefit students with EBD with a history of trauma exposure are presented.
Plurihormonal Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumours – A Single Centre Experience
Authors: Mihajlović Milena , Pekić Sandra , Doknić Mirjana , Stojanović Marko , Rašić Dejan , Miljić Dragana , Petakov Milan , Manojlović Gačić Emilija
Published: July 2023

Introduction. Plurihormonal pituitary neuroendocrine tumours (PitNET)/adenomas are pituitary neuroendocrine tumours composed of monomorphous cell populations expressing anterior pituitary transcription factors and/or hormones belonging to more than one cell lineage. Studies dedicated to plurihormonal tumours are rare and quite heterogenous with their results, bearing in mind changes in diagnostic criteria and inconsistent use of antibodies for anterior pituitary transcription factors in the diagnostic immunohistochemical panel. Material and Methods. We retrospectively analysed all patients surgically treated for PitNETs from 2016 to July 2022 in a tertiary healthcare institution. All tumours previously diagnosed PitNETs with the word “plurihormonal” were re-examined and potentially re-classified, according to 2022 WHO classification of endocrine tumours. Results. Among 721 patients surgically treated for PitNET in 5.5 years period, the diagnosis of plurihormonal PitNET was established in 11 tumours (1.3%). All tumours showed diffuse and intensive positivity for anterior pituitary transcription factors PIT1 and SF1. Clinically, all patients presented with acromegaly. Conclusions. Retrospective studies related to newly defined plurihormonal PitNETs with a reassessment of diagnoses are necessary due to their rarity and ambition to investigate their origin and biological behaviour. The fact that the majority of plurihormonal PitNETs are clinically presented with acromegaly and show simultaneous positivity to PIT1 and SF1 transcription factors deserve special attention and need for further research in larger cohorts of these exceptional tumours.
The partisan foundations of parliamentary speech: How parliamentary party groups decide who gets to speak for them
Authors: van Kleef Charlotte , Mickler Tim , Otjes Simon
Published: July 2023

This study examines how parliamentary party groups decide who speaks for them on specific issues in parliament. We build on three strands of the literature: the work on the institutional foundations of parliamentary speech; the literature on committee assignments in parliamentary systems which points to different rationales behind parliamentary specialisation and the division of labour; and the literature on issue competition. First, we expect that the party leadership will assign more speaking time on issues that parties ‘own’ to Members of Parliament (MPs) they favour. Second, we expect an informational rationale regarding the allocation of speaking time by which MPs speak on issues for which they have pre-existing expertise. Third, we expect MPs to speak on issues if they have ties to relevant constituencies outside parliament. We analyse a new data set of all speeches in the Dutch lower house between 1998–2017. The analyses point to the importance of two rationales in the allocation of speaking time: high-status MPs (reflected by their list positions) speak on issues that parties prioritise, and MPs speak on issues on which they have specialised knowledge. Our analyses shed important light on how parliamentary party groups (PPGs) function, specifically how they divide labour within their ranks.
A tiny home of one's own
Authors: Smitheram Jan , Nakai Kidd Akari
Published: July 2023

The home occupies a prominent place in our popular and material imagination. The ideal home is a powerful image because it is understood to be a haven from the ills of the world and a material expression of our true selves. This article considers how home, as a tiny home, is framed through two YouTube channels, Living Big in Tiny Homes and Kirstin Dirksen. Extending Sara Ahmed's work on affect, we present this framing as twofold: first, through a sense of ‘with-ness’ where YouTube facilitates an intimate storytelling with materiality; and second, a sense of ‘against-ness’ where both channels facilitate the notion of the materiality of home as separate and bounded. The study draws on detailed analysis of 42 video episodes and accompanying written comments to consider how materialities, affects, and experiences of tiny homes are intersected with the constraints of the ideal of a stand-alone home.
Afterword: Medium America and the grounds of a transnational history of farm media
Authors: Peters Benjamin
Published: July 2023

This essay bookends the first special issue of essays dedicated to farm media and situates the issue’s contributions within a broader history of media, communications, and agricultural entanglement. The connections between these fields are grounded in what Peters calls “Medium America,” which names the spaces and ideologies most shaped by farming across the middle of the Americas to orient a critical transnational history of farm media. Land grant universities, farmworker movements, and rural communication infrastructure are just a few of the institutions that give shape to Medium America, as are the linguistic inheritances that stitch together these relationships, from broadcasting and academic fields to news feeds and data farms. The future of food and farming grows out of these histories.
Cultural intelligence and COVID-induced virtual teams: Towards a conceptual framework for cross-cultural management studies
Authors: Mahadevan Jasmin , Steinmann Jakob
Published: July 2023

This article proposes a creative approach to cultural intelligence, as an individual’s capability to function effectively under the condition of cultural diversity. Virtual team collaboration, as stimulated by the COVID-19 pandemic, constitutes a novel, culturally diverse context. We explore how cultural intelligence may shed light onto the requirements of post-COVID virtual and hybrid team collaboration. The contribution of this article to cross-cultural management studies is thus conceptual: by using the concept of cultural intelligence creatively and beyond its classic application, we exemplify a way in which cross-cultural management studies remain relevant, in an increasingly virtual world of work wherein people travel less to other countries, wherein collaboration takes place online and remotely, and wherein national cultural boundaries intersect with other cultural diversity factors.
Evaluating ‘living well’ with mild-to-moderate dementia: Co-production and validation of the IDEAL My Life Questionnaire
Authors: Clare Linda , Pentecost Claire , Collins Rachel , Martyr Anthony , Litherland Rachael , Morris Robin G , Quinn Catherine , Gamble Laura D , Sabatini Serena , Victor Christina
Published: July 2023

Objectives

We aimed to co-produce and validate an accessible, evidence-based questionnaire measuring ‘living well’ with dementia that reflects the experience of people with mild-to-moderate dementia.

Methods

Nine people with dementia formed a co-production group. An initial series of workshops generated the format of the questionnaire and a longlist of items. Preliminary testing with 53 IDEAL cohort participants yielded a shortlist of items. These were tested with 136 IDEAL cohort participants during a further round of data collection and assessed for reliability and validity. The co-production group contributed to decisions throughout and agreed the final version.

Results

An initial list of 230 items was reduced to 41 for initial testing, 12 for full testing, and 10 for the final version. The 10-item version had good internal consistency and test-retest reliability, and a single factor structure. Analyses showed significant large positive correlations with scores on measures of quality of life, well-being, and satisfaction with life, and expected patterns of association including a significant large negative association with depression scores and no association with cognitive test scores.

Conclusions

The co-produced My Life Questionnaire is an accessible and valid measure of ‘living well’ with dementia suitable for use in a range of contexts.
Continuing Coercive Control After Intimate Partner Femicide: The Role of Detection Avoidance and Concealment
Authors: Ferguson Claire , McLachlan Freya
Published: July 2023

Links between IPF and homicide concealment have been observed but not explained. We theorize IPF perpetrators use concealment to continue coercively controlling investigators, children, courts and finances post-IPF. We compare abuse in the relationship and surrounding IPF in five diverse cases. Facilitated by concealment, offenders use versatile, subtle and overt tactics to extend control post-IPF. They capitalize on opportunities for concealment and regaining control, sometimes without other benefits. Tactics are akin to those employed previously, aligning with the power and control wheel. Concealment allows offenders to dominate the death narrative and assists with remaining unaccountable.
Impact of branch arteries on efficacy of endoluminal flow diverters: Insights from posterior communicating artery aneurysms
Authors: Bilgin Cem , Kandemirli Sedat Giray , Ghozy Sherief , Orscelik Atakan , Kobeissi Hassan , Senol Yigit Can , Shehata Mostafa , Kadirvel Ramanathan , Brinjikji Waleed , Kallmes David F
Published: July 2023

Background

Flow diverter treatment may inevitably require jailing of the branch vessels. While the patency of covered branch arteries and associated safety risks have been a topic of substantial interest, the question of whether the characteristics of branch vessels affect flow diversion's efficacy remains unanswered. In this study, we aimed to assess the impact of branch arteries on the efficacy of endoluminal flow diverters, specifically focusing on posterior communicating artery (Pcomm) aneurysms.

Methods

Following PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases with predefined keywords. Studies providing data for flow diversion outcomes in Pcomm aneurysms were included. Outcomes of interest included complete and adequate aneurysm obliteration, ischemic and hemorrhagic complications, and Pcomm occlusion in the follow-up period. A random or fixed effects model was used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and pooled event rates with their corresponding confidence intervals (CI).

Results

The overall complete and adequate aneurysm occlusion rates were 72.25% (95% CI: 64.46–78.88%) and 88.37% (95% CI: 84.33–92.6), respectively. Fetal-type Pcomm aneurysms had significantly lower complete aneurysm occlusion rates than the nonfetal-type Pcomm aneurysms (OR: 0.12, 95% CI: 0.05–0.29). Overall ischemic and hemorrhagic complication rates were 2.62% (95% CI = 0.71–5.32) and 0.71% (95% CI: 0–2.24), respectively. There were no significant associations between Pcomm morphology and complications (OR: 3.61, 95% CI = 0.42–31.06 for ischemic complications and OR: 2.31, 95% CI = 0.36–14.6 for hemorrhage). Overall Pcomm occlusion rate was 32.04% (95% CI = 19.96–47.13), and the Pcomm patency was significantly lower in nonfetal-type Pcomm aneurysms (OR: 0.10, 95% CI = 0.02–0.44).

Conclusion

Our meta-analysis suggests that flow diversion is a safe treatment option for Pcomm aneurysms, regardless of fetal-type Pcomm morphology. However, on the other hand, our findings indicate that Pcomm anatomy or the presence of jailed large branches can affect the efficacy of flow diverter treatment.
Magnetic resonance imaging for diagnostic workup of embolic stroke of undetermined source: A systematic review
Authors: Khenkina Natallia , Aimo Alberto , Fabiani Iacopo , Masci Pier Giorgio , Sagris Dimitrios , Williams Steven E , Mavraganis George , Chen Hui-Sheng , Wintermark Max , Michel Patrik , Ntaios George , Georgiopoulos Georgios
Published: July 2023

Background:

Embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) refers to ischemic stroke where the underlying cause of thromboembolism cannot be found despite the recommended diagnostic workup. Unidentified source of emboli hinders clinical decision-making and patient management with detrimental consequences on long-term prognosis. The rapid development and versatility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) make it an appealing addition to the diagnostic routine of patients with ESUS for the assessment of potential vascular and cardiac embolic sources.

Aims:

To review the use of MRI in the identification of cardiac and vascular embolic sources in ESUS and to assess the reclassification value of MRI examinations added to the conventional workup of ESUS.

Summary of review:

We reviewed the use of cardiac and vascular MRI for the identification of a variety of embolic sources associated with ESUS, including atrial cardiomyopathy, left ventricular pathologies, and supracervical atherosclerosis in carotid and intracranial arteries and in distal thoracic aorta. The additional reclassification after MRI examinations added to the workup of patients with ESUS ranged from 6.1% to 82.3% and varied depending on the combination of imaging modalities.

Conclusion:

MRI techniques allow us to identify additional cardiac and vascular embolic sources and may further decrease the prevalence of patients with the diagnosis of ESUS.
Enhanced Anticancer Effect of Unripe Rubus occidentalis on Gastric Cancer Cells
Authors: Kee Keun H. , Lee Tae-Bum , Kwon Ji W. , Han Song Iy
Published: July 2023

Background

Black raspberry ( Rubus occidentalis L.) has various bioactive properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. Recently, it has been proposed that the pharmacological efficacy of black raspberry varies with its maturation stage. In the current study, we explored the relationship between maturation stage and anticancer activity in gastric cancer cell lines.

Materials and Methods

Black raspberry extracts were prepared from both ripe samples 41 days after the fruit set and unripe samples 22 days after the fruit set. Their anticancer activities were compared by assessing the effects on proliferation, apoptosis, invasiveness, and clonogenicity in gastric cancer cell lines.

Results

Both the ripe and unripe black raspberry samples were effective in inhibiting cell proliferation, invasion, and clonogenic activity. However, the unripe black raspberry extract showed a stronger effect on these activities compared to ripe black raspberry extract. Additionally, the unripe fruit extract increased apoptotic body formation, caspase-3 activity, Bak expression and decreased Bcl2 expression. Furthermore, the unripe black raspberry sample was found to contain higher contents of ellagic acid and gallic acid, and had a stronger suppressive effect on p-ERK and p-AKT protein levels compared to the ripe black raspberry sample.

Conclusion

Unripe black raspberry has greater anti-cancer effects than fully ripe black raspberry in gastric cancer cells.
Avatrombopag treatment response in patients with immune thrombocytopenia: the REAL-AVA 1.0 study
Authors: Oladapo Abiola , Kolodny Scott , Vredenburg Michael , Swallow Elyse , Goldschmidt Debbie , Sarathy Kirthana , Lopez Priscilla , Maitland Hillary , Yee John
Published: July 2023

Background:

Thrombopoietin-receptor agonists (TPO-RAs) are used to treat immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), a disorder characterized by prolonged low platelet counts (PCs) that pose a risk of serious bleeding episodes. Avatrombopag (AVA) is the most recently approved TPO-RA for the treatment of chronic ITP. A high proportion of patients responded to AVA in clinical trials, and treatment was well-tolerated; however, limited real-world effectiveness data have been reported to date.

Objectives:

To describe demographic and clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes following the initiation of AVA in patients with ITP in the United States.

Design:

This is a retrospective study using administrative claims data from the Komodo Healthcare Map (1 February 2017 to 28 February 2022) linked with PC laboratory data.

Methods:

Patients with ⩾1 diagnosis of ITP, ⩾1 paid prescription for AVA (index date), and ⩾1 month of pharmacy coverage after AVA initiation were selected. Baseline characteristics and follow-up steroid, immunosuppressant, and rescue medication use were described. The percentage of patients achieving clinically meaningful PC thresholds (⩾30 × 109/l) were assessed among patients with ⩾1 PC following AVA initiation and prior to AVA discontinuation/switch (effectiveness subgroup).

Results:

A total of 205 patients met eligibility criteria and 49% reported TPO-RA use in the prior 6 months. Approximately 70% and 93% of patients did not require use of steroid or immunoglobulin rescue medication during follow-up, respectively. Among patients with concomitant steroid ( n = 75) or immunosuppressant ( n = 7) use at AVA initiation, 35% and 57% discontinued those treatments, respectively. Of the 21 patients in the effectiveness subgroup, 81% achieved clinically meaningful PC thresholds.

Conclusion:

A high proportion of evaluable patients with ITP in this real-world study achieved clinically meaningful PCs, without requiring rescue medication during AVA treatment, with many able to discontinue baseline concomitant steroid or immunosuppressant utilization. Despite limited availability of PC data, these results are consistent with results from the AVA pivotal clinical trials.
Decreased Synovial Fluid Ghrelin Level Is Associated With Acute Cartilage Injury in Patients With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear
Authors: Jin Danjie , Liu Ruiping , Xu Nanwei
Published: July 2023

Background:

Ghrelin, an amino acid hormone secreted primarily from the stomach, can regulate bone metabolism, regulate inflammation via suppressing proinflammatory cytokines, and suppress expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs).

Purpose:

To measure synovial fluid levels of ghrelin in young patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear to assess the role of ghrelin as a potential biomarker for cartilage injury.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

This study included 120 patients who underwent ACL reconstructionbetween January 1, 2016, and May 31, 2021. We categorized 60 patients with acute cartilage injury (International Cartilage Regeneration & Joint Preservation Society grade 2 or 3) as the acute group and 60 patients with no acute cartilage injury as the nonacute group, with the healthy contralateral knee of each patient acting as the control group (n = 120). Synovial fluid samples were collected from the knees in the operating room before ACL reconstruction. We assessed the inflammatory biomarkers interleukin (IL)-6, MMP-1, MMP-9, and MMP-13, as well as serum ghrelin level and Mankin score, and results were compared between the 3 study groups with the Mann-Whitney U test.

Results:

Lower serum ghrelin levels in the synovial fluid were found in the acute group compared with the nonacute group and healthy controls (232.4 vs 434.4 vs 421.5 pg/mL, respectively; P < .001). Ghrelin level in the synovial fluid was significantly and positively correlated with IL-6 ( r = 0.4223; P < .0001), MMP-13 ( r = 0.3402; P < .0001), and Mankin score ( r = 0.1453; P = .0244).

Conclusion:

In patients with ACL injury, ghrelin synovial fluid was significantly differently expressed in patients with cartilage injury and no cartilage injury.

Clinical Relevance:

Ghrelin synovial fluid has the potential to be a biomarker to predict acute cartilage injury in patients with ACL injury.
Outcomes After Derotational Distal Femoral Osteotomy for Recurrent Patellar Dislocations With Increased Femoral Anteversion: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Hao Kuo , Niu Yingzhen , Feng Ao , Wang Fei
Published: July 2023

Background:

An increased femoral anteversion angle (FAA) is a predisposing factor for recurrent patellar dislocations (RPDs), and combined procedures including derotational distal femoral osteotomy (DDFO) have been shown to be good options.

Purpose:

To investigate the safety and effectiveness of combined DDFO on clinical and radiological outcomes to treat RPDs with an increased FAA.

Study Design:

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

This review was performed according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) guidelines. We searched 7 databases for articles from inception to March 10, 2023, that reported outcomes after combined DDFO in patients with an RPD and increased FAA. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed study quality. Outcomes evaluated were functional scores, redislocation rates, complications, satisfaction, and radiological parameters. A meta-analysis was performed to pool functional scores, with data reported as mean differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results:

Included were 8 studies of 189 knees from 183 patients, with a mean patient age of 22.4 years and a mean follow-up of 33.4 months. The mean preoperative FAA ranged from 31° to 42.70°, and the mean postoperative FAA ranged from 10° to 19.08°. Significant improvements were found in the Kujala score (MD, 26.96 [95% CI, 23.54 to 30.37]), Lysholm score (MD, 26.17 [95% CI, 22.13 to 30.22]), visual analog scale score for pain (MD, –2.61 [95% CI, –3.12 to –2.10]), and Tegner activity score (MD, 1.33 [95% CI, 0.86 to 1.79]). No subluxation or redislocation occurred. The overall complication rate was 10.6%, and most of the complications were pain (60%) and limited knee activity (20%). The overall satisfaction rate was 83.3%. The patellar tilt angle significantly decreased from 40.7° ± 11.9° to 20.5° ± 8.7° and from 26.35° ± 6.86° to 11.65° ± 2.85° in 2 studies.

Conclusion:

Combined DDFO was found to be safe and effective for the treatment of RPDs and an increased FAA by addressing both patellar dislocations and torsional malalignment. However, because of the lack of comparisons, it remains to be investigated when DDFO should be combined in such patients.
Professionalism, Ethics, and Realism of Television Medical Dramas as Perceived by Saudi Medical Students
Authors: Alahmari Abdussalam A.
Published: July 2023

Objectives

Since their debut, medical dramas have been popular, particularly among medical students. This study examined how much time medical students spend watching medical TV shows and their impressions of the shows’ professionalism, ethics, and realism.

Methods

A survey on medical students’ medical drama viewing behavior and perceptions with regard to bioethics was given to 341 first- to fifth-year undergraduate medical students at a university in Al Majmaah, Saudi Arabia. The poll gathered demographic information, TV medical drama watching habits, bioethical and professional concerns in medical dramas, and the sources of bioethical knowledge.

Results

The most popular medical dramas were The Good Doctor, Grey's Anatomy, and House M.D. Compared with English-language television medical dramas, Arabic ones were less popular. Ninety-one percent of students watched television alone. There was no statistically significant difference in respondents’ perceptions of ethics accuracy based on year of study, gender, or whether they discussed it with friends. In comparison to students who had not seen any medical dramas, those who had were more inclined to view them as a credible source of ethical advice ( P-value .04).

Conclusions

There is a high interest in medical programs among medical students, and these programs can be used to teach them about the ethical aspects of practicing medicine.
Legitimacy and space in the use of technologies for environmental and social governance: The cases of human trafficking and COVID-19 contact tracing
Authors: Porter Tony , Rani Hina
Published: July 2023

This article develops the concept of legitimacy to analyze the capacity of technologies such as phone apps to mobilize collective commitments to shared environmental and social outcomes by constituting new governance spaces. This concept of governance spaces highlights the variable configurations of technologies and their interactions with humans, and helps avoid the tendency to see technologies as passive relays that transmit power originating elsewhere, or, in contrast, to overstate the almost magical autonomous capacities of technology. The concept of legitimacy is valuable for evaluating the degree to which technologies are effective and deserving of support. The article draws on Mark Suchman’s distinction between pragmatic, moral and cognitive legitimacy, which correspond in turn to interests, ethical values, and facts. In contrast to more conventional state-centered conceptions of legitimacy, these aspects of legitimacy can be applied to governance spaces constituted by technologies. The article then examines and compares the cases of technologies for countering human trafficking and COVID-19 digital contact tracing apps. In both cases all three aspects of legitimacy are present, important, and interconnected. An examination of a recent report issued by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Tech Against Trafficking coalition on 305 anti-trafficking tools shows the role of ethics and facts in their legitimacy, but also the degree to which the tools are skewed towards interests other than those at risk of being trafficked. Acceptance and evaluations of digital contract tracing apps are similarly shaped by the interactions between interests, ethical values, and facts, including evidence about their effectiveness. The legitimacy of COVID-19 digital contact tracing apps involves a wider presence of a public interest in health while the risks associated with power inequalities are greater with anti-trafficking technologies, highlighting the importance of variability in the legitimacy of governance spaces constituted by technologies.
Biplanar Proximal Tibial Opening-Wedge Osteotomy for a Chronic PCL Tear With Medial Compartment Arthritis
Authors: Banovetz Mark T. , Braaten Jacob A. , Homan Morgan D. , Kennedy Nicholas I. , LaPrade Robert F.
Published: July 2023

Background:

Chronic posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) insufficiency leads to instability of the knee, resulting in increased loading of the medial and patellofemoral compartments. Chronic PCL insufficiency progressively damages the menisci and chondral surfaces and can accentuate and worsen varus malalignment. Biplanar proximal tibial opening-wedge osteotomy (BPTO) is a treatment option for chronic PCL tears with medial compartment arthritis which concurrently treats sagittal (flat slope) and varus coronal alignment.

Indications:

Opening-wedge BPTO is indicated in active patients who present with varus malalignment and flat slope with concomitant degenerative medial compartment osteoarthritis and PCL insufficiency. In general, BPTO is contraindicated in patients with a significantly elevated body mass index (BMI), smokers, or in those who have advanced tricompartmental osteoarthritis.

Technique Description:

Preoperative long-leg radiographs are essential to preoperative evaluation. Ideal coronal alignment following correction would have the mechanical axis pass through the apex of the lateral tibial eminence to properly off-load the medial compartment. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies are also useful for determining the presence and extent of concomitant soft tissue and chondral injury, especially in the lateral compartment. This video demonstrates the senior author’s preferred technique for a biplanar proximal tibial opening (PTO) with concomitant chondroplasty and partial medial meniscectomy (PMM). The senior author’s preferred order of operations is also displayed and involves first performing an arthroscopy, then proceeding with the open portions of the case, including the medial approach and subsequent osteotomy.

Results:

Past studies have supported PTO as a reliable treatment option for varus malalignment. Bode et al reported a 5-year survival rate of 96% of patients with an overall complication rate of 8.6%. The authors also reported that Lysholm scores were also significantly improved at 60-month follow-up compared with preoperative scores.

Discussion:

This is a technique for the correction of a varus malalignment with concomitant flat slope and PCL insufficiency with biplanar open-wedge PTO. This operation corrects the mechanical axis and sagittal slope of the knee and restores proper load distribution across the tibiofemoral articulation. In conclusion, a biplanar open-wedge PTO is a useful alternative to joint arthroplasty for active patients with a chronic PCL tear, medial compartment arthritis, and varus malalignment.

Patient Consent Disclosure Statement:

The author(s) attests that consent has been obtained from any patient(s) appearing in this publication. If the individual may be identifiable, the author(s) has included a statement of release or other written form of approval from the patient(s) with this submission for publication.
Therapeutic effects of engineered exosome-based miR-25 and miR-181a treatment in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 mice by silencing ATXN3
Authors: Tang Zhenchu , Hu Shenglan , Wu Ziwei , He Miao
Published: July 2023

Background

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is the most common autosomal dominant hereditary ataxia worldwide, which is however in a lack of effective treatment. In view of that engineered exosomes are a promising non-invasive gene therapy transporter that can overcome the traditional problem of poor drug delivery, the aim of this study was to evaluate, for the first time, the value of exosome-based microRNA therapy in SCA3 and the therapeutic effects of intravenously administrated ATXN3 targeting microRNAs in transgenic SCA3 mouse models.

Methods

The rabies virus glycoprotein (RVG) peptide–modified exosomes loaded with miR-25 or miR-181a were peripherally injected to enable targeted delivery of miRNAs to the brain of SCA3 mice. The behaviors, ATXN3 level, purkinje cell and other neuronal loss, and neuroinflammation were evaluated 4 weeks after initial treatment.

Results

The targeted and efficient delivery of miR-25 and miR-181a by modified exosomes substantially inhibited the mutant ATXN3 expression, reduced neuron apoptosis and induced motor improvements in SCA3 mouse models without increasing the neuroinflammatory response.

Conclusions

Our study confirmed the therapeutic potential of engineered exosome-based miR-25 and miR-181a treatment in substantially reducing ATXN3 aggregation and cytotoxicity by relying on its targeted and efficient drug delivery performance in SCA3 mice. This treatment method shows a promising prospect for future clinical applications in SCA3.
Hypothermic oxygenated perfusion attenuates DCD liver ischemia–reperfusion injury by activating the JAK2/STAT3/HAX1 pathway to regulate endoplasmic reticulum stress
Authors: Yue Pengpeng , Lv Xiaoyan , You Jian , Zou Yongkang , luo Jun , Lu Zhongshan , Cao Hankun , Liu Zhongzhong , Fan Xiaoli , Ye Qifa
Published: July 2023

Background

Hepatic ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI) in donation after cardiac death (DCD) donors is a major determinant of transplantation success. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays a key role in hepatic IRI, with potential involvement of the Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK2/STAT3) pathway and the antiapoptotic protein hematopoietic-lineage substrate-1-associated protein X-1 (HAX1). In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of hypothermic oxygenated perfusion (HOPE), an organ preservation modality, on ER stress and apoptosis during hepatic IRI in a DCD rat model.

Methods

To investigate whether HOPE could improve IRI in DCD livers, levels of different related proteins were examined by western blotting and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Further expression analyses, immunohistochemical analyses, immunofluorescence staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, and transmission electron microscopy were conducted to analyze the effects of HOPE on ER stress and apoptosis. To clarify the role of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway and HAX1 in this process, AG490 inhibitor, JAX1 plasmid transfection, co-immunoprecipitation (CO-IP), and flow cytometry analyses were conducted.

Results

HOPE reduced liver injury and inflammation while alleviating ER stress and apoptosis in the DCD rat model. Mechanistically, HOPE inhibited unfolded protein responses by activating the JAK2/STAT3 pathway, thus reducing ER stress and apoptosis. Moreover, the activated JAK2/STAT3 pathway upregulated HAX1, promoting the interaction between HAX1 and SERCA2b to maintain ER calcium homeostasis. Upregulated HAX1 also modulated ER stress and apoptosis by inhibiting the inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) pathway.

Conclusions

JAK2/STAT3-mediated upregulation of HAX1 during HOPE alleviates hepatic ER stress and apoptosis, indicating the JAK2/STAT3/HAX1 pathway as a potential target for IRI management during DCD liver transplantation.

Graphical Abstract
Improvement of variables interpretability in kernel PCA
Authors: Briscik Mitja , Dillies Marie-Agnès , Déjean Sébastien
Published: July 2023

Background

Kernel methods have been proven to be a powerful tool for the integration and analysis of high-throughput technologies generated data. Kernels offer a nonlinear version of any linear algorithm solely based on dot products. The kernelized version of principal component analysis is a valid nonlinear alternative to tackle the nonlinearity of biological sample spaces. This paper proposes a novel methodology to obtain a data-driven feature importance based on the kernel PCA representation of the data.

Results

The proposed method, kernel PCA Interpretable Gradient (KPCA-IG), provides a data-driven feature importance that is computationally fast and based solely on linear algebra calculations. It has been compared with existing methods on three benchmark datasets. The accuracy obtained using KPCA-IG selected features is equal to or greater than the other methods’ average. Also, the computational complexity required demonstrates the high efficiency of the method. An exhaustive literature search has been conducted on the selected genes from a publicly available Hepatocellular carcinoma dataset to validate the retained features from a biological point of view. The results once again remark on the appropriateness of the computed ranking.

Conclusions

The black-box nature of kernel PCA needs new methods to interpret the original features. Our proposed methodology KPCA-IG proved to be a valid alternative to select influential variables in high-dimensional high-throughput datasets, potentially unravelling new biological and medical biomarkers.
An insight into the role of the organic acids produced by Enterobacter sp. strain 15S in solubilizing tricalcium phosphate: in situ study on cucumber
Authors: Zuluaga Mónica Yorlady Alzate , de Oliveira André Luiz Martinez , Valentinuzzi Fabio , Jayme Nádia Souza , Monterisi Sonia , Fattorini Roberto , Cesco Stefano , Pii Youry
Published: July 2023

Background

The release of organic acids (OAs) is considered the main mechanism used by phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) to dissolve inorganic phosphate in soil. Nevertheless, little is known about the effect of individual OAs produced by a particular PSB in a soil–plant system. For these reasons, the present work aimed at investigating the effect of Enterobacter sp. strain 15S and the exogenous application of its OAs on (i) the solubilization of tricalcium phosphate (TCP), (ii) plant growth and (iii) P nutrition of cucumber. To this purpose two independent experiments have been performed.

Results

In the first experiment, carried out in vitro, the phosphate solubilizing activity of Enterobacter 15S was associated with the release of citric, fumaric, ketoglutaric, malic, and oxalic acids. In the second experiment, cucumber plants were grown in a Leonard jar system consisting of a nutrient solution supplemented with the OAs previously identified in Enterobacter 15S (jar’s base) and a substrate supplemented with the insoluble TCP where cucumber plants were grown (jar’s top). The use of Enterobacter 15S and its secreted OAs proved to be efficient in the in situ TCP solubilization. In particular, the enhancement of the morpho-physiological traits of P-starved cucumber plants was evident when treated with Enterobacter 15S, oxalate, or citrate. The highest accumulation of P in roots and shoots induced by such treatments further corroborated this hypothesis.

Conclusion

In our study, the results presented suggest that organic acids released by Enterobacter 15S as well as the bacterium itself can enhance the P-acquisition by cucumber plants.