bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multimodal optical imaging and genetic features of AB variant GM2 gangliosidosis: a case report
Authors: Chen Qin , Lu Fang
Published: May 2023

Background

AB variant GM2 gangliosidosis is an extremely rare autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disease. Macular cherry-red spots are the most commonly described ocular sign in this disease. Here, for the first time we report a case of an infant with AB variant GM2 gangliosidosis, along with multimodal optical imaging and genetic testing results.

Case description

A 7-month-old Chinese girl presented to the hospital with nystagmus for 2 months. Her family history for this condition showed negative results, and her parents were not known to be consanguineous. Fundus photography showed a cherry-red spot with a ring of whitish infiltrate surrounding both macula. Fundus fluorescein angiography showed normal retinal circulation and vessels. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed a thickening and increased reflectivity of the inner retinal layers with a shadowing effect on the outer structures. The patient had no obvious neurological symptoms, and the MRI results of the head were normal. The whole-exome genome sequencing results showed that there was a homozygous deletion (chr5: 150639196-150639548) of exon 2 in the GM2A gene. Finally, the patient was diagnosed with AB variant GM2 gangliosidosis.

Conclusions

AB variant GM2 gangliosidosis is a rare disease affecting multiple nervous systems. Before the occurrence of typical neurological symptoms, the clinical features of fundus photography and OCT help us diagnose GM2 gangliosidosis.
A novel mechanism of 6-methoxydihydroavicine in suppressing ovarian carcinoma by disrupting mitochondrial homeostasis and triggering ROS/ MAPK mediated apoptosis
Authors: Zhang Huachang , Shangguan Fugen , Zhang Lan , Ma Nengfang , Song Shuling , Ma Li , Liu Chuntong , Liu Mengke , An Jing , Li Hua , Cao Qizhi
Published: May 2023

Introduction: Alkaloids derived from M. cordata (Papaveraceae family), have been found to display antineoplastic activity in several types of cancer. However, the antitumor effects and mechanisms of a new alkaloid extracted from the fruits of M. cordata, named 6-Methoxydihydroavicine (6-ME), remains unclear in the case of ovarian cancer (OC).

Methods: CCK-8 assay was employed to analyze the cell viabilities of OC cells. RTCA, and colony-formation assays were performed to measure OC cell growth. Alterations in apoptosis and ROS levels were detected by flow cytometry in accordance with the instructions of corresponding assay kits. A Seahorse XFe96 was executed conducted to confirm the effects of 6-ME on cellular bioenergetics. Western blot and q-RT-PCR were conducted to detect alterations in target proteins. The subcutaneous xenografted tumor model of OC was used to further validate the anti-tumor activity of 6-ME in vivo.

Results: Here, we reported for the first time that 6-ME inhibits OC cells growth in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile, we found that 6-ME showed great antineoplastic activities by disrupting mitochondria homeostasis and promoting apoptosis in OC cells. Further investigation of the upstream signaling of apoptosis revealed that 6-ME-triggered apoptosis was induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation and mitochondria dysfunction in OC cells. Furthermore, we found oxaloacetic acid (OAA), a crucial metabolite has been proved to be related to NADPH production, can block the cytotoxicity and accumulation of ROS caused by 6-ME in OC cells.

Discussion: In summary, our data show that 6-ME exhibits cytotoxicity to OC cells in a ROS-dependent manner by interrupting mitochondrial respiration homeostasis and inducing MAPK-mediated apoptosis. This evidence suggests that 6-ME is a promising remedy for OC intervention.
Factors associated with medication adherence among children with rheumatic diseases
Authors: Manatpreeprem Roongroj , Lerkvaleekul Butsabong , Vilaiyuk Soamarat
Published: May 2023

Introduction: Failure to take medications regularly leads to poorer health outcomes. The Pediatric Rheumatology Adherence Questionnaire (PRAQ) is an effective tool for assessing medication adherence in rheumatic patients. Therefore, we aimed to determine the factors associated with poor medication adherence among children with rheumatic diseases.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Patients with rheumatic diseases who had taken at least one medication and had been followed up at our pediatric rheumatology clinic were included in the study, together with their caregivers. Patients with poor medication adherence were characterized as those who had taken less than 80% of their prescribed drugs, as determined using the pill count method. The original PRAQ was translated and validated in Thai language and was completed by caregivers and literate patients over age 13 years. Interviewing for additional problems with taking medications was conducted. We performed descriptive and logistic regression analyses.

Results: From 210 patients, 52.86% had juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and 46.19% had connective tissue diseases. The mean patient age was 14.10 ± 4.74 years, with a median (interquartile range) disease duration of 4.33 (2.08–6.98) years. PRAQ scores in the group with poor adherence were significantly higher than scores in the group with good adherence (11.00 ± 3.47 vs. 9.51 ± 3.16, p = 0.004). Enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA) (odds ratio [OR] 9.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.25–66.18; p = 0.029) and polyarticular JIA (OR 6.43, 95% CI 1.30–31.75; p = 0.022) were associated with poor treatment adherence. Disease duration ≥5 years (OR 3.88, 95% CI 1.17–12.87; p = 0.027), active disease (OR 6.49, 95% CI 1.76–23.99; p = 0.005), PRAQ scores ≥12 (OR 6.48, 95% CI 1.76–23.82; p = 0.005), forgetting to take medications (OR 14.18, 95% CI 4.21–47.73; p < 0.001), and unawareness about the importance of the medicines (OR 44.18, 95% CI 11.30–172.73; p < 0.001) were predictors of poor drug adherence.

Conclusion: In the present study, poor medication adherence was found in one-fourth of children with rheumatic illnesses, particularly those with ERA, polyarticular JIA, longer disease duration, active disease, and high PRAQ scores. The most frequent reasons for inadequate medication adherence were forgetfulness and unawareness about the importance of disease control and consistency with treatment.
Personalized treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma in the era of targeted medicine and bioengineering
Authors: Sun Hang , Yang Huayu , Mao Yilei
Published: May 2023

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major global health burden, causing approximately 8.3 million deaths each year, and it is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, with a relative 5-year survival rate of around 18%. Due to the advanced stage of diagnosis in most patients, systemic treatment based on targeted therapy has become the only feasible option. Genomic studies have established a profile of molecular alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma with potentially actionable mutations, but these mutations have yet to be translated into clinical practice. The first targeted drug approved for systemic treatment of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma was Sorafenib, which was a milestone. Subsequent clinical trials have identified multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as Lenvatinib, Cabozantinib, and Regorafenib, for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, with survival benefits for the patient. Ongoing systemic therapy studies and trials include various immune-based combination therapies, with some early results showing promise and potential for new therapy plans. Systemic therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma is complicated by the significant heterogeneity of the disease and its propensity for developing drug resistance. Therefore, it is essential to choose a better, individualized treatment plan to benefit patients. Preclinical models capable of preserving in vivo tumor characteristics are urgently needed to circumvent heterogeneity and overcome drug resistance. In this review, we summarize current approaches to targeted therapy for HCC patients and the establishment of several patient-derived preclinical models of hepatocellular carcinoma. We also discuss the challenges and opportunities of targeted therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma and how to achieve personalized treatment with the continuous development of targeted therapies and bioengineering technologies.
Multiparty quantum contract signing
Authors: Liu Zi-Fan , Yang Rui-Jie , Cai Xiao-Qiu , Wang Tian-Yin
Published: May 2023

Quantum contract signing has the advantage of unconditional security compared with classical one. However, the prior works focus on two clients’ case. In this paper, we give a multiparty quantum contract signing protocol, which allows multiparty clients to sign an electronic contract simultaneously. The analysis shows that it not only satisfies the requirements for optimism and fairness but also can be realized with current technology.
Case study of colorectal endometriosis treated with endoscopic submucosal excavation
Authors: Xu Tangzhou , Qiu Bingfeng , Xu Qi , Qu Junhan , Zhuang Dandan , Xu Qiancheng
Published: May 2023

Colorectal endometriosis (CEM) is a rare and complicated form of deep invasive endometriosis. Its treatment methods include drug therapy and surgery. However, it is often difficult to alleviate symptoms and address problems, such as infertility, using drug treatment alone. Surgical intervention provides a histologic diagnosis, allows assessment of pelvic cysts or masses with features concerning for malignancy, and reduces pain by destroying the endometriotic implants. We consider surgery in women with the following: Persistent pain despite medical therapy; Contraindications to or refusal of medical therapy; Need for a tissue diagnosis of endometriosis; Exclusion of malignancy in an adnexal mass; Obstruction of the bowel or urinary tract. But there is no consensus about the surgical methods. With the rapid development of gastroenteroscopy technology in recent years, many local gastrointestinal tumors that previously required surgical resection can now be removed by endoscopic surgery. Herein, we report one case of CEM treated by endoscopic submucosal excavation (ESE) to provide a new treatment option for the radical resection of single CEM.
Conduction system pacing is superior to biventricular pacing in patients with heart failure: Insights from the pooled clinical studies
Authors: Zhang Jie , Li Feng , Zhang Zhi-Yuan , Yang Fan , Kong Qi , Chen Jia-Yi , Zhang Lei , Liu Huan-Huan , Chen Xu-Fei , Ye Yu-Heng , Wang Ru-Xing
Published: May 2023

Background: The effects of conduction system pacing (CSP) compared with conventional biventricular pacing (BVP) on heart function in patients with heart failure remain elusive.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane’s Library and Web of science databases were searched up to 1 October 2022 for pertinent controlled studies. Random or fixed-effect model were used to synthesize the clinical outcomes. Subgroup analysis was performed to screen the potential confounding factors.

Results: Fifteen studies including 1,347 patients were enrolled. Compared with BVP, CSP was significantly associated with shortened QRS duration [WMD -22.51 ms; p = 0.000], improved left ventricular ejection fraction [WMD 5.53%; p = 0.000], improved NYHA grade [WMD -0.42; p = 0.000], higher response rate and lower heart failure rehospitalization rate. CSP resulted in better clinical outcomes in higher male proportion group than lower one compared with BVP. No significant differences of clinical outcomes were observed between left bundle branch area pacing (LBBaP) and his bundle pacing (HBP) except the pacing threshold. The pacing threshold of LBBaP was significantly lower than those in BVP and HBP.

Conclusion: This study suggests that CSP might be superior to conventional BVP for HF patients. In a higher male proportion group, CSP may be associated with more benefits than BVP.

Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022355991; Identifier: CRD42022355991.
Exploring the common diagnostic gene KCNJ15 and shared pathway of ankylosing spondylitis and ulcerative colitis through integrated bioinformatics
Authors: Zhou Su-Zhe , Shen Li , Fu Zhong-Biao , Li Hao , Pan Ying-Lian , Yu Run-Ze
Published: May 2023

Introduction: The similarity between ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and ulcerative colitis (UC) in incidence rate and pathogenesis has been revealed. But the common pathogenesis that explains the relationship between AS and UC is still lacked, and the related genetic research is limited. We purposed to explore shared biomarkers and pathways of AS and UC through integrated bioinformatics.

Methods: Gene expression data of AS and UC were obtained in the GEO database. We applied weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify AS-related and UC-related co-expression gene modules. Subsequently, machine learning algorithm was used to further screen hub genes. We validated the expression level and diagnostic efficiency of the shared diagnostic gene of AS and UC in external datasets. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was applied to analyze pathway-level changes between disease group and normal group. Finally, we analyzed the relationship between hub biomarker and immune microenvironment by using the CIBERSORT deconvolution algorithm.

Results: 203 genes were obtained by overlapping AS-related gene module and UC-related gene module. Through SVM-RFE algorithm, 19 hub diagnostic genes were selected for AS in GSE25101 and 6 hub diagnostic genes were selected for UC in GSE94648. KCNJ15 was obtained as a common diagnostic gene of AS and UC. The expression of KCNJ15 was validated in independent datasets, and the results showed that KCNJ15 were similarly upregulated in AS samples and UC samples. Besides, ROC analysis also revealed that KCNJ15 had good diagnostic efficacy. The GSEA analysis revealed that oxidative phosphorylation pathway was the shared pathway of AS and UC. In addition, CIBERSORT results revealed the correlation between KCNJ15 gene and immune microenvironment in AS and UC.

Conclusion: We have explored a common diagnostic gene KCNJ15 and a shared oxidative phosphorylation pathway of AS and UC through integrated bioinformatics, which may provide a potential diagnostic biomarker and novel insight for studying the mechanism of AS-related UC.
Levels of ACL-straining activities increased in the six months prior to non-contact ACL injury in a retrospective survey: evidence consistent with ACL fatigue failure
Authors: Grodman Louis H. , Beaulieu Mélanie L. , Ashton-Miller James A. , Wojtys Edward M.
Published: May 2023

Introduction: Recent evidence has emerged suggesting that a non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear can result from repetitive submaximal loading of the ligament. In other words, when the intensity of ACL-straining athletic activities is increased too rapidly, microdamage can accumulate in the ligament beyond the rate at which it can be repaired, thereby leading to material fatigue in the ligament and its eventual failure. The objective of this survey-based exploratory study was to retrospectively determine whether the levels of various athletic activities performed by ACL-injured patients significantly changed during the 6 months before injury.

Methods: Forty-eight ACL-injured patients completed a survey to characterize their participation in various activities (weightlifting, sport-specific drills, running, jumping, cutting, pivoting/twisting, and decelerating) at three timepoints (1 week, 3 months, 6 months) prior to ACL injury. Activity scores, which summarized the frequency and intensity of each activity, were calculated for each patient at each time interval. A series of linear mixed-effects regression models was used to test whether there was a significant change in levels of the various activities in the 6-month period leading up to ACL injury.

Results: Patients who sustained a non-contact ACL injury markedly increased their sport-specific drills activity levels in the time leading up to injury (p = 0.098), while those patients who sustained a contact ACL injury exhibited no change in this activity during the same time period (p = 0.829). Levels of running, jumping, cutting, pivoting/twisting, and decelerating increased for non-contact ACL-injured patients but decreased for contact ACL-injured patients, though not significantly (p values > 0.10). Weightlifting activity significantly decreased leading up to injury among contact ACL-injured patients (p = 0.002).

Discussion: We conclude that levels of ACL-straining athletic activities or maneuvers in non-contact ACL-injured patients markedly increased in the 6 months leading up to their injury, providing evidence that changing levels of certain activities or maneuvers may play a role in ACL injury risk. This warrants further investigation of the hypothesis that too rapid an increase in activities or maneuvers known to place large loads on the ACL can cause microdamage to accumulate in the ligament, thereby leading to failure.
Identification of the passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims) MYB family in fruit development and abiotic stress, and functional analysis of PeMYB87 in abiotic stresses
Authors: Zhang Yan-shu , Xu Yi , Xing Wen-ting , Wu Bin , Huang Dong-mei , Ma Fu-ning , Zhan Ru-lin , Sun Pei-guang , Xu Yong-yan , Song Shun
Published: May 2023

Environmental stresses are ubiquitous in agricultural cultivation, and they affect the healthy growth and development of edible tissues in passion fruit. The study of resistance mechanisms is important in understanding the adaptation and resistance of plants to environmental stresses. In this work, two differently resistant passion fruit varieties were selected, using the expression characteristics of the transcription factor MYB, to explore the resistance mechanism of the MYB gene under various environmental stresses. A total of 174 MYB family members were identified using high-quality passion fruit genomes: 98 2R-MYB, 5 3R-MYB, and 71 1R-MYB (MYB-relate). Their family information was systematically analyzed, including subcellular localization, physicochemical properties, phylogeny at the genomic level, promoter function, encoded proteins, and reciprocal regulation. In this study, bioinformatics and transcriptome sequencing were used to identify members of the PeMYB genes in passion fruit whole-genome data, and biological techniques, such as qPCR, gene clone, and transient transformation of yeast, were used to determine the function of the passion fruit MYB genes in abiotic stress tolerance. Transcriptomic data were obtained for differential expression characteristics of two resistant and susceptible varieties, three expression patterns during pulp development, and four induced expression patterns under abiotic stress conditions. We further focused on the resistance mechanism of PeMYB87 in environmental stress, and we selected 10 representative PeMYB genes for quantitative expression verification. Most of the genes were differentially induced by four abiotic stresses, among which PeMYB87 responded significantly to high-temperature-induced expression and overexpression of the PeMYB87 gene in the yeast system. The transgenic PeMYB87 in yeast showed different degrees of stress resistance under exposure to cold, high temperatures, drought, and salt stresses. These findings lay the foundation for further analysis of the biological functions of PeMYBs involved in stress resistance in passion fruit.
Consistency in personality trait judgments across online chatting and offline conversation
Authors: Wu Wenjie , Mitchell Peter , Lv Yingguo
Published: May 2023

Past research has suggested that people utilize various non-verbal cues to make personality judgments in either real-world or online environments, but little is known about the extent to which a person would be perceived consistently across realistic and virtual contexts. The present study was to investigate this issue, exploring the extent to which the same target was judged consistently in terms of empathic and big-five traits across online text-based chatting and offline conversation, and to pinpoint how the judgments occurred in the two contexts. In the formal procedure, 174 participants were asked to make trait judgments and evaluate the observable cues about the partner after chatting online and after watching the partner (who the participant did not know was the same person in the online chatting) in a real-world conversation. The results demonstrated the following: (1) Participants made consistent judgments of each trait about the same target across the online chatting and the offline conversation; (2) many cues in each context were employed to drive trait judgments, whereas few cues validly revealed the self-reported assessments of the traits. The results were discussed based on the empirical and theoretical work in person perception.
Search and insight processes in card sorting games
Authors: Öllinger Michael , Szathmáry Eörs , Fedor Anna
Published: May 2023

Insight problems are particularly interesting, because problems which require restructuring allow researchers to investigate the underpinnings of the Aha-experience, creativity and out of the box thinking. There is a need for new insight tasks to probe and extend the limits of existing theories and cognitive frameworks. To shed more light on this fascinating issue, we addressed the question: Is it possible to convey a well-known card sorting game into an insight task? We introduced different conditions and tested them via two online experiments (N = 546). Between the conditions we systematically varied the available perceptual features, and the existence of non-obvious rules. We found that our card sorting game elicited insight experience. In the first experiment, our data revealed that solution strategies and insight experience varied by the availability and saliency of perceptual features. The discovery of a non-obvious rule, which is not hinted at by perceptual features, was most difficult. With our new paradigm, we were able to construe ambiguous problems which allowed participants to find more than one solution strategy. Interestingly, we realized interindividual preferences for different strategies. The same problem drove strategies which either relied on feature integration or on more deliberate strategies. The second experiment varied the degree of independence of a sorting rule from the standard rules which were in accordance with prior knowledge. It was shown that the more independent the hidden rule was, the more difficult the task became. In sum, we demonstrated a new insight task which extended the available task domains and shed light on sequential and multi-step rule learning problems. Finally, we provided a first sketch of a cognitive model that should help to integrate the data within the existing literature on cognitive models and speculated about the generalizability of the interplay of prior knowledge modification and variation for problem solving.
“We may conclude that:” a corpus-based study of stance-taking in conclusion sections of RAs across cultures and disciplines
Authors: Deng Liming , He Ping
Published: May 2023

Research article conclusions form an important sub-genre in the academic community. This study aims to compare the use of stance markers in English and Chinese research article conclusions and investigate how stance markers may vary in soft and hard sciences. Based on Hyland's stance model, an analysis of stance markers over 20 years was made in two corpora, which were compiled with 180 research article conclusions in each language from four disciplines. It was found that English writers and soft science writers tended to make statements more tentatively by hedges and craft their persona more explicitly through self-mentions. However, Chinese writers and hard science writers made their claims with more certainty by boosters and showed their affective attitude more frequently through attitude markers. The results reveal how writers from different cultural backgrounds construct their stances and also unveil the disciplinary differences involved in stance-taking. It is hoped that this corpus study will inspire future research on stance-taking in the conclusion section and also help cultivate writers' genre awareness.
Psychotic symptoms and its associated factors relating to psychoactive substance use among the youth population in Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Kassew Tilahun , Tilahun Sewbesew Yitayih , Alemayehu Biruk Fanta , Getnet Berhanie , Demilew Demeke , Tarekegn Gebrekidan Ewnetu , Alemu Kassahun , Yesuf Yassin Mohammed , Oumer Mohammed , Mehari Eden Abetu , Melkam Mamaru , Nenko Goshu
Published: May 2023

Background

Substance use is associated with high rates of psychiatric symptoms including psychotic symptoms. Despite the severity of the problem, there are intervention gaps in Ethiopia. To combat this, relevant evidence is required to raise the awareness of service providers. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of psychotic symptoms and its associated factors among the youth population who uses psychoactive substances in the Central Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among the youth population in the Central Gondar zone, Northwest Ethiopia, from 01 January to 30 March 2021. A multistage sampling technique was used to recruit the study participants. All data were collected using questionnaires assessing socio-demographic; family-related variables; Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale; Multidimensional Scale Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-24). The data were analyzed using the STATA 14 statistical program.

Results

A total of 372 young people who used psychoactive substances (79.57%, 53.49%, 34.14%, and 16.13% were consuming alcohol, Khat, tobacco/cigarette products, and other substances such as shisha, inhalants, and drugs, respectively) were included in the study. The prevalence of psychotic symptoms was 24.2% with a 95% CI: 20.1, 28.8. Being married [AOR = 1.87 95% CI: 1.06, 3.48], recent loss of loved ones [AOR = 1.97 95% CI: 1.10, 3.18], low perceived social support [AOR = 1.61 95% CI: 1.11, 3.02], and severe psychological distress [AOR = 3.23 95% CI; 1.64, 6.54] were the factors associated with psychotic symptoms among young people with psychoactive substances use at a p-value of < 0.05.

Conclusion

Psychotic symptoms related to psychoactive substances among the youth population in Northwest Ethiopia were high. Thus, it is better to give a special attention to the youth population with low social support and existing psychological distress concurrent with psychoactive substance use.
The Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework: a model to reduce mental health inequity in England and Wales
Authors: Smith Shubulade Mary , Kheri Amna , Ariyo Kevin , Gilbert Steve , Salla Anthony , Lingiah Tony , Taylor Clare , Edge Dawn
Published: May 2023

The Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF) is an Organisational Competence Framework (OCF), recommended by the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act as a means to improve mental health access, experience and outcomes for people from ethnic minority backgrounds, particularly Black people. This is a practical framework that should be co-produced with and tailored to the needs of service users, based on quality improvement and place-based approaches. We aim to use the PCREF to address the longstanding epistemic justices experienced by people with mental health problems, particularly those from minoritised ethnic groups. We will outline the work that led to the proposal, the research on racial inequalities in mental health in the UK, and how the PCREF will build on previous interventions to address these. By taking these into account, the PCREF should support a high minimum standard of mental health care for all.
Temporal consistency of neurovascular components on awakening: preliminary evidence from electroencephalography, cerebrovascular reactivity, and functional magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Hsu Ai-Ling , Li Ming-Kang , Kung Yi-Chia , Wang Zhitong John , Lee Hsin-Chien , Li Chia-Wei , Huang Chi-Wen Cristina , Wu Changwei W.
Published: May 2023

Sleep inertia (SI) is a time period during the transition from sleep to wakefulness wherein individuals perceive low vigilance with cognitive impairments; SI is generally identified by longer reaction times (RTs) in attention tasks immediately after awakening followed by a gradual RT reduction along with waking time. The sluggish recovery of vigilance in SI involves a dynamic process of brain functions, as evidenced in recent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies in within-network and between-network connectivity. However, these fMRI findings were generally based on the presumption of unchanged neurovascular coupling (NVC) before and after sleep, which remains an uncertain factor to be investigated. Therefore, we recruited 12 young participants to perform a psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) and a breath-hold task of cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) before sleep and thrice after awakening (A1, A2, and A3, with 20 min intervals in between) using simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG)-fMRI recordings. If the NVC were to hold in SI, we hypothesized that time-varying consistencies could be found between the fMRI response and EEG beta power, but not in neuron-irrelevant CVR. Results showed that the reduced accuracy and increased RT in the PVT upon awakening was consistent with the temporal patterns of the PVT-induced fMRI responses (thalamus, insula, and primary motor cortex) and the EEG beta power (Pz and CP1). The neuron-irrelevant CVR did not show the same time-varying pattern among the brain regions associated with PVT. Our findings imply that the temporal dynamics of fMRI indices upon awakening are dominated by neural activities. This is the first study to explore the temporal consistencies of neurovascular components on awakening, and the discovery provides a neurophysiological basis for further neuroimaging studies regarding SI.
Case report: Anti-CARPVIII autoantibody-associated mixed dementia
Authors: Hansen Niels , Teegen Bianca , Hirschel Sina , Wiltfang Jens , Schott Björn H. , Malchow Berend , Claudia Bartels
Published: May 2023

Background

Anti-carbonic anhydrase-related protein VIII (CARPVIII) is reported to be associated with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration. Our case extends the spectrum of anti-CARPVIII-associated disease to severe cognitive impairment.

Methods

We present the case of a 75-year-old woman who presented to our Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy with a dementia syndrome. The diagnostic approach included magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cerebrospinal fluid analysis (CSF) analysis involving autoantibody determination, and neuropsychological examination.

Results

Neuropsychological examination revealed severe cognitive impairment meeting the criteria for dementia. MRI showed evidence of moderate cerebral microangiopathy. CSF analysis revealed mild pleocytosis, and serum analysis revealed anti-CARPVIII autoantibodies. Based on the dementia syndrome entailing signs of CNS inflammation such as pleocytosis and the repeated detection of anti-CARPVIII autoantibodies in serum, we diagnosed autoimmune dementia as a component of mixed dementia with additional vascular dementia components.

Conclusion

Our finding adds severe cognitive impairment to the spectrum of anti-CARPVIII-associated disease. However, detecting anti-CARPVIII antibodies may also be an incidental finding in conjunction with typical mixed dementia. Further studies are needed to evaluate the relevance of these clinical findings.
Types of suicide pacts: a comparative analysis using the National Violent Death Reporting System
Authors: Kim Kawon Victoria , Russell Cayley , Kaplan Mark S. , Rehm Jürgen , Lange Shannon
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Suicide pacts are lethal acts of violence involving multiple decedents. No study has ever compared suicide pact types using a large sample, limiting our understanding of this rare but serious phenomenon. The objective of the current study was to describe suicide pacts in the United States and empirically compare suicide pacts wherein all decedents died by self-harm with those that involved assisted suicide.

Methods

Using restricted access incident-level data from the National Violent Death Reporting System, we identified 277 suicide pact incidents (225 suicide pacts wherein all decedents died by self-harm and 52 suicide pacts wherein one pact member died by assisted suicide). The two suicide pact types were compared for demographics, pact characteristics, and preceding circumstances.

Results

Compared with decedents of suicide pacts involving assisted suicide, decedents of suicide pacts wherein both members died by self-harm had significantly lower odds of being non-white, Hispanic or non-Hispanic (OR = 0.33, 95%CI: 0.18, 0.64), using an active method of suicide (i.e., ICD-10 codes X70-X83) (OR = 0.01, 95%CI: <0.01, 0.04), and experiencing interpersonal relationship problems (OR = 0.48, 95%CI: 0.27, 0.87) and a crisis within two weeks of their death (OR = 0.58, 95%CI: 0.36, 0.97), but greater odds of preceding physical health problems (OR = 3.25, 95%CI: 1.84, 6.04).

Discussion

Overall, our findings indicate that suicide pacts wherein all decedents died by self-harm and suicide pacts that involved an assisted suicide appear to have largely distinct profiles. While further research is required, the discrete characteristics of these two types of suicide pacts have important implications for prevention.
Challenges of COVID-19 prevention during protracted conflicts: differential adherence to preventive measures in “contact line” regions in eastern Ukraine
Authors: Cha Jiho , Noh Jin-Won , Robinson Courtland , Kwon Young Dae , Kim Jinseok
Published: May 2023

Objectives

Despite the epidemiological importance of social vulnerabilities in compliance with preventive measures, little is known about the disproportional nature of preventive behaviors in crisis-affected populations. We examined adherence to COVID-19 preventive behaviors, focusing on social distancing measures in the conflict-affected regions in eastern Ukraine.

Methods

From a multisectoral needs assessment conducted in 2020 using a household interview of a stratified simple random sample, we included 1,617 rural and urban households located in the government-controlled area. We performed multivariable binary logistic regression analysis with latent class analysis (LCA) to identify unmeasured patterns of classification of preventive measures using data from a cross-sectional survey.

Results

The conflict-affected populations showed difficulty in complying with COVID-19 preventive measures due to losses of housing, partners, and access to food resources due to conflicts. Among the various preventive measures, wearing a face mask (88.1%) and washing hands more regularly (71.4%) were the most frequently reported. Compliance with social distancing was significantly lower in those who experienced the direct impacts of conflicts indicated by damaged accommodation or being widowed. Three different groups who showed distinctive patterns of employing COVID-19 preventive measures were identified via the LCA model, which were “highly complying group”, “moderately complying group”, and “face masks only group”. The group membership was associated with a respondent’s poverty status.

Conclusion

The findings show the difficulty in compliance with COVID-19 preventive measures among conflict-affected populations indicating secondary impacts of the conflicts on preventive health behaviors. To mitigate the health impacts of conflicts, immediate attention is needed to address barriers to COVID-19 preventive measures among conflict-affected populations in Ukraine. This study suggests the need for public health strategies to improve preventive health behaviors in conflict-affected populations under pandemics or large-scale outbreaks.
The impact of health education interventions on HPV vaccination uptake, awareness, and acceptance among people under 30 years old in India: a literature review with systematic search
Authors: Krokidi Eleni , Rao Arathi P. , Ambrosino Elena , Thomas Pierre P. M.
Published: May 2023

Background

The HPV vaccine is used as one of the main prevention tools for HPV-related cancers globally, yet it is not part of the Indian National Immunization program. In light of the introduction of the indigenous vaccine, we examine the effectiveness of health education about uptake, acceptance, and awareness.

Methods

Research was performed in the following databases: PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Embase to identify studies between 2008 and 2022. Studies were included if: they were conducted in India including primary data research and health education intervention, and participants were between 9 and 29 years old.

Results

Out of the 10.952 results, 7 studies were included. Four studies focused on adolescent girls, aged from 9 to 20 years old, and 3 on university students aged from 17 to 26 years. Five studies were implemented in urban areas and 2 in rural areas. Health education interventions proved to be effective in increasing uptake, awareness, and acceptance of the HPV vaccine. The barriers included among others: cost, lack of awareness, and cultural barriers.

Conclusion

Observations from this study outline immediate action for policymakers to educate and encourage the young population toward HPV vaccination. Future programs should be aimed at different population groups and be adjusted according to their special characteristics and needs. Attention should be given to the male population and marginalized groups. The involvement of various stakeholders proved to be beneficial, and it is highly recommended.
Is psychologically vulnerable rural-to-urban migrants' mental health further at stake under China's tightened COVID-19 measures: how should the government respond?
Authors: Hung Jason
Published: May 2023

There is a well-documented scholarly discourse on how the COVID-19 outbreak adversely affects the mental health of Chinese nationals. However, there is little evidence revealing how the public health crisis negatively influenced the mental health of rural-to-urban migrants in China. The relevant literature argues that rural-to-urban migrant workers and their dependents have been experiencing discrimination, exclusion, and stigmatization in the urban labor market and social space, thereby jeopardizing their mental health to a large extent. However, whether the COVID-19 outbreak and its associated consequences further compounded rural-to-urban migrant workers' mental health has rarely been discussed. Since 2010, the Chinese government has emphasized the importance of promoting positive mental health. Without identifying how COVID-19 specifically imposed mental health challenges on rural-to-urban migrant cohorts, Chinese policymakers cannot effectively and efficiently address the dilemmas faced by such vulnerable groups. The significant rural-to-urban migrant population (i.e. 291 million), alongside their disposition to encounter social and psychological challenges, prompts the urgency to develop this narrative essay to examine whether their mental health burdens worsened during the pandemic. The author also discusses remedies for the worsened mental issues faced by migrant cohorts, and recommends policies that local Chinese governments should adopt to mitigate the mental health burdens encountered by rural-to-urban migrants.
The Eastern Door Center: re-balancing the wheel–a Two-Eyed Seeing approach to FASD and other disorders related to transgenerational adversity
Authors: Cox Lori Vitale
Published: May 2023

In 2015, the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) called for immediate action to address the lack of access to health services for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in Indigenous communities. They called for the provision of culturally safe, community-based, FASD diagnostic, intervention and prevention services. FASD is a neurodevelopmental condition that can affect all aspects of functioning. The term refers to a spectrum of conditions occurring as a result of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and associated risk factors. PAE can affect both physical and mental health leading to problems with learning, memory, attention, language, social behavior, executive functioning, sleep, and affect regulation. According to Elders in Mi'kmaq First Nations (FN) communities, FASD is a condition that is rooted in transgenerational trauma and the loss of relationship to their land, their language and the traditional community culture. The Elsipogtog Eastern Door (ED) Center opened in 2006 to provide culturally informed diagnosis, intervention and prevention for FASD and related conditions. The ED was the first FASD diagnostic team in Atlantic Canada and it served as a demonstration model for the New Brunswick FASD Center of Excellence as well as for Indigenous communities regionally and nationally. In this article, we outline the history and evolution of the Eastern Door Center and its programs and describe some of the successes of this model as well as some of its limitations in practice.
Evidence for the efficacy of pre-harvest agricultural practices in mitigating food-safety risks to fresh produce in North America
Authors: Devarajan Naresh , Weller Daniel L. , Jones Matthew , Adell Aiko D. , Adhikari Achyut , Allende Ana , Arnold Nicole L. , Baur Patrick , Beno Sarah M. , Clements Donna , Olimpi Elissa M. , Critzer Faith , Green Hyatt , Gorski Lisa , Ferelli Gruber Angela , Kovac Jasna , McGarvey Jeffery , Murphy Claire M. , Murphy Sarah I. , Navarro-Gonzalez Nora , Owen Jeb P. , Pires Alda F. A. , Richard Nicole , Samaddar Sandipan , Schmidt Radomir , Scow Kate , Shariat Nikki W. , Smith Olivia M. , Spence Austin R. , Stoeckel Don , Tran Thao D. H. , Wall Gretchen , Karp Daniel S.
Published: May 2023

Consumption of contaminated produce remains a leading cause of foodborne illness. Increasingly, growers are altering agricultural practices and farm environments to manage food-safety hazards, but these changes often result in substantial economic, social, and environmental costs. Here, we present a comprehensive evidence synthesis evaluating the efficacy of soil, non-crop vegetation, animal, landscape, and irrigation water management strategies aimed at reducing produce-safety risk in North America. We systematically summarized findings from 78 peer-reviewed papers on the effect of 21 management practices on the prevalence, abundance, or survival of four foodborne pathogens (i.e., E. coli, Salmonella spp., Listeria spp., and Campylobacter spp.), resulting in 113 summaries. We then organized a 30-member expert panel, who used these summaries to evaluate the impact of each practice on food-safety outcomes. While more than half of the practices were too understudied to confidently evaluate their impact on food safety, the panel did identify several practices that were associated with reduced preharvest food-safety risks, including not using raw manure, separating crop and livestock production, and choosing low-risk irrigation sources. The panel also identified practices that appear ineffective at reducing food-safety risks, such as the removal of non-crop vegetation. Overall, these findings provide insights into the food-safety impacts of agricultural and land management practices that growers, auditors, and extension personnel can use to co-manage produce preharvest environments for food safety and other aims.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm volume and relative intraluminal thrombus volume might be auxiliary predictors of rupture—an observational cross-sectional study
Authors: Koncar I. , Nikolic D. , Milosevic Z. , Bogavac-Stanojevic N. , Ilic N. , Dragas M. , Sladojevic M. , Markovic M. , Vujcic A. , Filipovic N. , Davidovic L.
Published: May 2023

Objectives

The study aimed to identify differences and compare anatomical and biomechanical features between elective and ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs).

Methods

Data (clinical, anatomical, and biomechanical) of 98 patients with AAA, 75 (76.53%) asymptomatic (Group aAAA) and 23 (23.46%) ruptured AAA (Group rAAA), were prospectively collected and analyzed. Anatomical, morphological, and biomechanical imaging markers like peak wall stress (PWS) and rupture risk equivalent diameter (RRED), comorbid conditions, and demographics were compared between the groups. Biomechanical features were assessed by analysis of Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine images by A4clinics (Vascops), and anatomical features were assessed by 3Surgery (Trimensio). Binary and multiple logistic regression analysis were used and adjusted for confounders. Accuracy was assessed using receiving operative characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results

In a multivariable model, including gender and age as confounder variables, maximal aneurysm diameter [MAD, odds ratio (OR) = 1.063], relative intraluminal thrombus (rILT, OR = 1.039), and total aneurysm volume (TAV, OR = 1.006) continued to be significant predictors of AAA rupture with PWS (OR = 1.010) and RRED (OR = 1.031). Area under the ROC curve values and correct classification (cc) for the same parameters and the model that combines MAD, TAV, and rILT were measured: MAD (0.790, cc = 75%), PWS (0.713, cc = 73%), RRED (0.717, cc = 55%), TAV (0.756, cc = 79%), rILT (0.656, cc = 60%), and MAD + TAV + rILT (0.797, cc = 82%).

Conclusion

Based on our results, in addition to MAD, other important predictors of rupture that might be used during aneurysm surveillance are TAV and rILT. Biomechanical parameters (PWS, RRED) as valuable predictors should be assessed in prospective clinical trials. Similar studies on AAA smaller than 55 mm in diameter, even difficult to organize, would be of even greater clinical value.