bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are associated with high FIB-4 index in a health checkup examination cohort without known liver disease
Authors: Sato Shunsuke , Kawai Hidehiko , Sato Sho , Iwasaki Hirohiko , Omori Masashi , Kita Yuji , Ikeda Yuji , Awatsu Takahito , Murata Ayato , Taniguchi Gentaro , Shimada Yuji , Genda Takuya
Published: November 2022

Background

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is usually asymptomatic and lacks a specific biomarker; therefore, many individuals might remain undiagnosed even with advanced liver fibrosis. The aim of this study was to clarify the prevalence and clinical features of subjects with a high risk of advanced liver fibrosis in the general population, using the Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index.

Methods

We retrospectively investigated 6,087 subjects without known liver disease who had participated in an annual health checkup examination. We analyzed the factors associated with high FIB-4 index (≥ 2.67) using a logistic regression analysis.

Results

Among the 6,087 subjects, 76 (1.2%) had high FIB-4 index. Multivariate analysis identified hypertension (odds ratio [OR]; 9.040; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.081–20.024; P < 0.001) and diabetes mellitus (OR = 4.251; 95% CI, 1.773–10.193; P = 0.001) as important risk factors for high FIB-4 index. The rates of hypertension and diabetes mellitus in subjects with high FIB-4 index were 78.9% and 23.7%, respectively. No significant association was observed between obesity or large waist circumference and high FIB-4 index. A history of cardiovascular disease was significantly more common in subjects with high FIB-4 index. These results were also observed in subjects with normal liver function test.

Conclusions

The present study revealed that approximately 1% of the general Japanese population has a high risk of advanced liver fibrosis. Many of these patients had hypertension and/or diabetes mellitus. Our findings suggest that there are many undiagnosed patients NAFLD with risk of advanced liver fibrosis in the general population.
Effect of nursing guidelines on first-year nursing students’ knowledge and reported practice towards sensory impairments among the elderly
Authors: Abdelnasser Nadia , Abdel Aziz Saieda Abd Elhameed , El-Gamal Sara Mohamed Ahmed
Published: November 2022

Background

Sensory impairments are common among older adults. These impairments have consequences on activities of daily living and communication with others. Such impairments for the elderly remain a significant public health issue globally. This study aimed to assess effect of nursing guidelines on first-year nursing students' knowledge and reported practice towards sensory impairment among the elderly.

Method

A Pre- and post-test research design was utilized in this study to assess first year nursing students’ knowledge and reported practice towards sensory impairments among the elderly. It was carried out at faculties of nursing affiliated with three universities with a purposive sample (n = 531) of the first-year nursing students. The study was conducted in four phases: Pre-intervention assessment, nursing guidelines development, nursing guidelines implementation, and post-test after one month. The pre- and post-tests were conducted online and included three parts to collect the required data about students’ socio-demographic data, students’ knowledge about the five senses and changes in these senses among the elderly, and the students’ reported practice for coping with changes in these senses among elderly. Student t-tests and an ANOVA test were used to compare means. For qualitative data, comparison was done using chi-square. Pearson correlation coefficient was used for detecting the relations between continuous variables of the study.

Results

There are statistically significant differences between the studied subjects means score knowledge and reported practice about the five senses among elderly people in the pre- and the post-tests (P = 0.001). At pre-test the total score mean of students’ knowledge was 24.25 while at post-test became 28.16. At pre-test the total score mean of students’ reported practice was 38.40 while at post-test became 44.43. There is a relationship between students’ knowledge and their reported practice at both pre-test and post-test with P value = 0.001.

Conclusion

The levels of the first-year nursing students’ knowledge and reported practice of the studied sample towards sensory impairment among the elderly were improved after implementation of the nursing guidelines. So, it is recommended that these nursing guidelines could be embedded within the undergraduate curriculum. Raising students’ awareness through providing lectures, and workshops on sensory impairment among elderly and how to deal with them, and train students on how to communicate with sensory impairment among the elderly.
Human brucellosis and fever of unknown origin
Authors: Wu Zhi-guo , Song Zhi-ying , Wang Wei-xin , Xi Wen-na , Jin Di , Ai Mao-xing , Wu Yu-chan , Lan Yu , Song Shu-fen , Zhang Gong-chang , Yao Xue-bing , Gao Zhen , Liu Cui-yun , Sun Ke , Yu Dong-shan , Xie Bao-gang , Sun Shui-lin
Published: November 2022

Background

Human brucellosis has become one of the major public health problems in China, and increases atypical manifestations, such as fever of unknown origin (FUO), and misdiagnosis rates has complicated the diagnosis of brucellosis. To date, no relevant study on the relationship between brucellosis and FUO has been conducted.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of 35 patients with confirmed human brucellosis and prospectively recorded their outcomes by telephone interview. The patients were admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University between January 01, 2013 and October 31, 2019. Patient data were collected from hospital medical records.

Results

The percentage of males was significantly higher than that of female in FUO (78.95% vs. 21.05%, P < 0.05), and 80% of the patients had a clear history of exposure to cattle and sheep. Moreover, 19 (54%) cases were hospitalized with FUO, among which the patients with epidemiological histories were significantly more than those without (P < 0.05). The incidence of toxic hepatitis in FUO patients was higher than that in non-FUO patients (89% vs. 50%, P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the misdiagnosis rate was considerably higher in the FUO group than in the non-FUO group (100% vs. 63%; P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Brucellosis is predominantly FUO admission in a non-endemic area of China, accompanied by irregular fever and toxic hepatitis. Careful examination of the epidemiological history and timely improvement of blood and bone marrow cultures can facilitate early diagnosis and prevent misdiagnosis.
Initial empirical antibiotics of non-carbapenems for ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae bacteremia in children: a retrospective medical record review
Authors: Park Saera , So HyeJin , Kim Mi-Na , Lee Jina
Published: November 2022

Background

The efficacy of non-carbapenems as an empirical antibiotic for extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia in children remains controversial. We compared clinical and microbial outcomes according to the types of empirical antibiotics for treating pediatric patients with ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae bacteremia.

Methods

Data from pediatric patients aged ≤ 18 years who were hospitalized with monomicrobial ESBL-producing E. coli or K. pneumoniae bacteremia at Asan Medical Center Children’s Hospital, Seoul, Korea between January 2014 and May 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. The impact of empirical therapy was assessed as 30-day all-cause mortality and 2-day microbiological outcomes evaluated by the sterility of blood cultures collected on day 2 after empirical antibiotic administration. Logistic regression analysis was used to control for the effects of confounding variables.

Results

A total of 53 patients with bacteremia caused by ESBL-producing E. coli (n = 29) and K. pneumoniae (n = 24) were included in this study; the median age was 3.6 years, and all had underlying comorbidities. As empirical antibiotics, 27 patients were treated with meropenem, and non-carbapenem agents were administered to 26 patients; 84.6% (22/26) were converted to carbapenem antibiotics as the definitive antibiotic by day 2 after empirical antibiotic administration. Overall, the 30-day all-cause mortality of ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae bacteremia was 17.0% (9/53). After adjustment, there was no statistically significant association of use of a non-carbapenem agent as an empirical antibiotic with microbiological failure on day 2 and 30-day all-cause mortality [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.0; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.22–4.88, and adjusted OR 0.1; 95% CI 0.01–1.56].

Conclusions

The empirical use of non-carbapenems might not be a risk factor for mortality and early microbiological outcomes in pediatric patients with ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae BSI if early transition to appropriate antimicrobial therapy was possible.
Association between the bi-dimensional aspect of orthorexia and healthy behaviors among lebanese adolescents
Authors: Samaha Serena , Azzi Reine , Rizk Rana , Sarray El Dine Abir , Malaeb Diana , Hallit Souheil , Obeid Sahar , Soufia Michel
Published: November 2022

Background

Recently, there has been a blooming focus on “eating healthy and clean”, with the ideal of being healthy becoming a popular lifestyle trend. Previous research suggested the presence of two forms of orthorexia: Orthorexia Nervosa (OrNe) and Healthy Orthorexia (HeOr). Taking into consideration that orthorexia thoughts are led by the desire to reach an optimal physical health, the dedication to a healthy living may require healthy lifestyle habits: smoking cessation, moderate alcohol intake, and increased physical activity. The main study aim was to determine, among Lebanese adolescents, the association between healthy behaviors and the two likely forms of orthorexia (OrNe and HeOr), given that the adolescent phase is a risky period in the development of eating disorders.

Methods

A cross-sectional study, conducted between January and April 2022, enrolled 444 adolescents aged between 14 and 18 years, with an equitable random sample from all the Lebanese governorates (mean age 16.23 ± 1.15 years; 60.1% females). The Teruel Orthorexia Scale (TOS) was used to assess orthorexic eating tendencies. The Lebanese Waterpipe Dependence Scale, the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence and the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test scales, all validated in adolescents, were used to evaluate the association between orthorexia and healthy behaviors.

Results

Higher TOS OrNe scores were significantly and highly correlated with the TOS HeOr scores (r = 0.68; p < 0.001). In the bivariate analysis, waterpipe smoking was weakly but significantly associated with more OrNe, whereas more physical activity was significantly and moderately associated with more HeOr. After adjusting over all sociodemographic characteristics, other behaviors and the other dimension of orthorexia, more alcohol use disorder was significantly but strongly associated with higher OrNe, whereas more physical activity remained significantly associated with higher HeOr.

Conclusion

In light of our results, OrNe and HeOr might be considered as different entities, mainly in their associations with alcohol consumption and physical activity. This supports the hypothesis of OrNe being a new form of eating disorder, whereas HeOr possibly showing protective characteristics. Orthorexia is still a topic of controversy, especially in the probable presence of two facets that are still difficult to differentiate.
Impact of opioid analgesics on the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in a lung cancer population
Authors: Yu Xiaoyuan , Zhao Li , Song Bin
Published: November 2022

Objective

A retrospective clinical study was conducted to compare the prognosis between the opioid analgesic (OA) treated and OA-untreated groups and to evaluate the effect of opioid analgesics on the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in the treatment of advanced lung cancer patients. In addition, a subgroup analysis of the clinical characteristics of the enrolled patients was performed to explore possible influencing factors.

Methods

This study reviewed the medical records of eligible patients who received ICIs at our institution. The clinicopathological features and clinical outcomes were compared. Also, the use of OA was collected. Patient survival, the incidence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs), and other baseline variables were examined in both cohorts according to whether OA was used.

Results

A total of 132 patients were included in the study. Of them, 39 (29.5%) were in the OA-treated group. No significant differences in baseline characteristics were observed between the OA-treated and untreated groups. The combined application of OA treatment significantly shortened progression-free survival (PFS) (P < 0.001) and overall survival (OS) (P = 0.002). However, both groups experienced similar incidences and gradations of irAEs. According to multivariate analysis, OA treatment resulted in significantly worse PFS (HR = 4.994, 95% CI 3.217–7.753, P < 0.001) and OS (HR = 3.618, 95% CI 2.030–6.240, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Clinical outcomes of ICIs were significantly diminished in a cohort of Chinese patients with advanced lung cancer receiving OA therapy.
Assessment of thyroid gland hormones and ultrasonographic abnormalities in medical staff occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation
Authors: El-Benhawy Sanaa A. , Fahmy Enayat I. , Mahdy Sherien M. , Khedr Galal H. , Sarhan Alyaa S. , Nafady Mohamed H. , Yousef Selim Yousef A. , Salem Tarek M. , Abu-Samra Nehal , El Khadry Hany A.
Published: November 2022

Background

Ionizing radiation (IR) is high-energy radiation that has the potential to displace electrons from atoms and break chemical bonds. It has the ability to introduce mutations, DNA strand breakage, and cell death. Being a radiosensitive organ, exposure of the thyroid gland to IR can lead to significant changes in its function.

Aim of the work

Was to measure the levels of thyroid hormones panel and ultrasonography abnormalities in medical staff occupationally exposed to IR.

Subjects and methods

A total of 120 subjects were divided into three main groups: Group I: radiation-exposed workers occupationally exposed to radioiodine (131I) (n = 40), Group II: radiation-exposed workers occupationally exposed to X-ray (n = 40), and Group III: non-exposed healthy professionals matched in age and sex with the previous groups (n = 40). Thyroid hormones panel including free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies (anti-TPO), and thyroglobulin (Tg) were measured. Thyroid ultrasonography was performed. Oxidative stress markers such as malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured.

Results

Group I had significantly higher fT3 levels than the control group. fT3 levels were considerably higher, while TSH was substantially lower in group II participants than in the control group. Tg was markedly lower in radiation-exposed workers. However, anti-TPO levels in radiation-exposed workers were significantly higher than in the control group. MDA and H2O2 were substantially higher; TAC was significantly lower in radiation-exposed workers compared to the control group. According to ultrasonographic examination, thyroid volume and the percentage of thyroid nodules in all radiation workers were significantly higher than in the control group.

Conclusion

Despite low exposure doses, occupational exposure to IR affects the thyroid hormones and links with a higher likelihood of developing thyroid immune diseases.
Evaluation of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of PCOS patients attending a tertiary care institute in Colombo
Authors: Ranathunga I. , Athukorala T. G. , Sumanatilleke M. R. , Somasundaram N. P.
Published: November 2022

Background and objectives

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder with heterogeneous aetiology. It is characterized by irregular menses and or oligo/anovulation, hyper-androgenism, and polycystic ovaries. The prevalence and diagnosis of PCOS changes depending on which clinical criteria are utilized to confirm the diagnosis. The prevalence can be high as 8–13% when the Rotterdam criteria are used. However, there is significant inter-individual variation in presentation. We have studied the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of PCOS patients attending the Endocrinology clinic in a tertiary care institute in Sri Lanka.

Methods

A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted from September 2019 to September 2020 at the Endocrinology Unit of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka. All the patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and who has a diagnosis of PCOS made according to Rotterdam criteria were recruited in to the study. After obtaining informed written consent, the data was collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire. HOMA-IR was calculated using the fasting insulin and blood glucose level.

Results

The study enrolled sixty females. The mean age was 26.7 years (range 18–44). The mean weight was 64.8 (SD = 11.9) kg and BMI was 27.1 (SD = 4.8) kg/m−2. According to Asian BMI cut-offs, 1 (1.7%) patient was underweight and 13 (21.7%) had normal weight. Forty six (76.7%) had their weight in the overweight or obese category. Fifty four (90.0%) patients had clinical or biochemical evidence of hyperandrogenism while 24 (40%) had polycystic ovaries on trans-abdominal ultrasound scan and 50 (83.3%) had irregular menstrual cycles. According to the body fat percentage assessed by the whole body DEXA scan 4.1% normal body fat, while 50.0% and 45.8% had overweight and obesity respectively. HOMA-IR detected 61.1% to have high insulin resistance. Out of the patients who had USS of the abdomen 27.5% had co-existent non-alcoholic fatty liver. Fifty four percent of the patients had sub/infertility.

Conclusions

The majority of the population were overweight or obese and had higher prevalence of insulin resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver. Out of the clinical characteristics used to make the diagnosis of PCOS, the presence of clinical or biochemical evidence of hyperandrogenism and irregular menstrual cycles are more common than the detection of polycystic ovaries on trans-vaginal USS. The higher prevalence of overweight, obesity, insulin resistance and NAFLD associated with PCOS makes the diagnosis and management of the disease crucial to prevent long term consequences of the disease.
How vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype switching contributes to vascular disease
Authors: Cao Genmao , Xuan Xuezhen , Hu Jie , Zhang Ruijing , Jin Haijiang , Dong Honglin
Published: November 2022

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are the most abundant cell in vessels. Earlier experiments have found that VSMCs possess high plasticity. Vascular injury stimulates VSMCs to switch into a dedifferentiated type, also known as synthetic VSMCs, with a high migration and proliferation capacity for repairing vascular injury. In recent years, largely owing to rapid technological advances in single-cell sequencing and cell-lineage tracing techniques, multiple VSMCs phenotypes have been uncovered in vascular aging, atherosclerosis (AS), aortic aneurysm (AA), etc. These VSMCs all down-regulate contractile proteins such as α-SMA and calponin1, and obtain specific markers and similar cellular functions of osteoblast, fibroblast, macrophage, and mesenchymal cells. This highly plastic phenotype transformation is regulated by a complex network consisting of circulating plasma substances, transcription factors, growth factors, inflammatory factors, non-coding RNAs, integrin family, and Notch pathway. This review focuses on phenotypic characteristics, molecular profile and the functional role of VSMCs phenotype landscape; the molecular mechanism regulating VSMCs phenotype switching; and the contribution of VSMCs phenotype switching to vascular aging, AS, and AA.
FGF12 is a novel component of the nucleolar NOLC1/TCOF1 ribosome biogenesis complex
Authors: Sochacka Martyna , Karelus Radoslaw , Opalinski Lukasz , Krowarsch Daniel , Biadun Martyna , Otlewski Jacek , Zakrzewska Malgorzata
Published: November 2022

Among the FGF proteins, the least characterized superfamily is the group of fibroblast growth factor homologous factors (FHFs). To date, the main role of FHFs has been primarily seen in the modulation of voltage-gated ion channels, but a full picture of the function of FHFs inside the cell is far from complete. In the present study, we focused on identifying novel FGF12 binding partners to indicate its intracellular functions. Among the identified proteins, a significant number were nuclear proteins, especially RNA-binding proteins involved in translational processes, such as ribosomal processing and modification. We have demonstrated that FGF12 is localized to the nucleolus, where it interacts with NOLC1 and TCOF1, proteins involved in the assembly of functional ribosomes. Interactions with both NOLC1 and TCOF1 are unique to FGF12, as other FHF proteins only bind to TCOF1. The formation of nucleolar FGF12 complexes with NOLC1 and TCOF1 is phosphorylation-dependent and requires the C-terminal region of FGF12. Surprisingly, NOLC1 and TCOF1 are unable to interact with each other in the absence of FGF12. Taken together, our data link FHF proteins to nucleoli for the first time and suggest a novel and unexpected role for FGF12 in ribosome biogenesis.
De novo methylation of histone H3K23 by the methyltransferases EHMT1/GLP and EHMT2/G9a
Authors: Vinson David A. , Stephens Kimberly E. , O’Meally Robert N. , Bhat Shri , Dancy Blair C. R. , Cole Robert N. , Yegnasubramanian Srinivasan , Taverna Sean D.
Published: November 2022

Epigenetic modifications to histone proteins serve an important role in regulating permissive and repressive chromatin states, but despite the identification of many histone PTMs and their perceived role, the epigenetic writers responsible for generating these chromatin signatures are not fully characterized. Here, we report that the canonical histone H3K9 methyltransferases EHMT1/GLP and EHMT2/G9a are capable of catalyzing methylation of histone H3 lysine 23 (H3K23). Our data show that while both enzymes can mono- and di-methylate H3K23, only EHMT1/GLP can tri-methylate H3K23. We also show that pharmacologic inhibition or genetic ablation of EHMT1/GLP and/or EHMT2/G9a leads to decreased H3K23 methylation in mammalian cells. Taken together, this work identifies H3K23 as a new direct methylation target of EHMT1/GLP and EHMT2/G9a, and highlights the differential activity of these enzymes on H3K23 as a substrate.
Free sugar intake and associated factors among Sri Lankan preschool children
Authors: Mututanthri Shanika , Thoradeniya Tharanga , Samaranayake Anil , Harris Rebecca
Published: November 2022

Background

Excessive free sugar intake tends to be associated with unpleasant health consequences, such as dental caries and unhealthy weight gain in children, as well as a number of noncommunicable diseases in adults. The WHO suggests that the best method for addressing these issues is to reduce free sugar consumption throughout life, in order to be successful, these measures should be implemented as early as possible. This makes the early formative years of preschool an important point for possible intervention. To confirm this, baseline information on current sugar intake levels is needed, as well as identification of factors associated with high levels of consumption.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted in the district of Colombo, Sri Lanka. The probability proportionate to size technique combined with cluster sampling was used to select a representative sample of 813 children aged 4-5-years from 82 preschools. We developed, and validated a quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to assess free sugar consumption. Data on correlated factors were collected from caregivers using a pre-tested self-administered questionnaire.

Results

Based on the data, the daily median (IQR) free sugar intake of preschool children was 57.9 (33.2-95.8) grams/day (approximately to 14.5 (8.3-23.9) teaspoons/day) or 21.1% (12.5-34.9%) of their daily energy requirements. The WHO recommends limiting sugar intake to less than 5% of total energy intake; however, the current level is fourfold, and 96% of children consume higher percentage of energy from free sugar than recommended. In terms of total daily sugar consumption, bakery products accounted for 27%, followed by biscuits (15%), and table sugar (15%). Increasing maternal education level significantly reduced sugar intake (p = 0.04). Children of other ethnicities ate more sugar than the Sinhala children (p = 0.01). There was higher sugar intake among those who ate while returning from preschool (p < 0.001), while watching television (p < 0.001), and those who had school-going siblings (p = 0.02).

Conclusion

Among preschool children, free sugar consumption levels were very high and most of the children consumed more sugar than is recommended; which warranted urgent actions to curb sugar intake among them.
Cascade controller based modeling of a four area thermal: gas AGC system with dependency of wind turbine generator and PEVs under restructured environment
Authors: Saha Debdeep , Saikia Lalit Chandra , Rahman Asadur
Published: November 2022

This paper investigates automatic generation control (AGC) of a realistic hybrid four-control area system with a distinct arrangement of thermal units, gas units and additional power generation. A proportional-integral-double derivative cascaded with proportional-integral (PIDD-PI) controller is employed as secondary controller in each control area for robust restructured AGC considering bilateral transactions and contract violations. The Harris Hawks algorithm is used to determine the optimal controller gains and system parameters under several scenarios. Electric vehicle (EV) aggregators are employed in each area to participate fully along with thermal and gas units to compensate for the unscheduled system demand in the local area. A comparison of non-cascaded controllers such as PI-PD, PD-PID and the proposed PIDD-PI proves the superiority of the last. The effect of the decline in inertia is closely examined because of the sudden outage of a generating unit while at the same time considering the change in area frequency response characteristics and area control error. EV fleets make significant contributions to improving the system dynamics during system inertia loss. The use of EVs in the presence of a wind energy-supported grid can provide a stable efficacy to the power grid. Numerous simulations with higher load demands, stochastic communication delays in presence of the WTG plant, and violations in system loadings and changes in gas turbine time constants in the absence of WTG demonstrate the robustness of the proposed control approach.
Neurobiological substrates of chronic low back pain (CLBP): a brain [99mTc]Tc-ECD SPECT study
Authors: Lia Erica Negrini , Papassidero Priscila Colavite , Coelho Eduardo Barbosa , Dach Fabíola , Alexandre-Santos Leonardo , Trevisan Ana Carolina , Santos Lucas Emmanuel Lopes e , Silvah Jose Henrique , Lanchote Vera Lúcia , Pasqua Oscar Della , Wichert-Ana Lauro
Published: November 2022

Background

Recent neuroimaging studies have demonstrated pathological mechanisms related to cerebral neuroplasticity in chronic low back pain (CLBP). Few studies have compared cerebral changes between patients with and without pain in the absence of an experimentally induced stimulus. We investigated the neurobiological substrates associated with chronic low back pain using [99mTc]Tc-ECD brain SPECT and correlated rCBF findings with the numeric rating scale (NRS) of pain and douleur neuropathique en 4 questions (DN4). Ten healthy control volunteers and fourteen patients with neuropathic CLBP due to lumbar disc herniation underwent cerebral SPECT scans. A quantitative comparison of rCBF findings between patients and controls was made using the Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM), revealing clusters of voxels with a significant increase or decrease in rCBF. The intensity of CLBP was assessed by NRS and by DN4. RESULTS: The results demonstrated an rCBF increase in clusters A (occipital and posterior cingulate cortex) and B (right frontal) and a decrease in cluster C (superior parietal lobe and middle cingulate cortex). NRS scores were inversely and moderately correlated with the intensity of rCBF increase in cluster B, but not to rCBF changes in clusters A and C. DN4 scores did not correlate with rCBF changes in all three clusters. CONCLUSIONS: This study will be important for future therapeutic studies that aim to validate the association of rCBF findings with the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of therapeutic challenges in pain.
Biosynthesized silver nanoparticles inhibit Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci by directly destroying bacteria and inducing plant resistance in Nicotiana benthamiana
Authors: Jiang Long , Xiang Shunyu , Lv Xing , Wang Xiaoyan , Li Fengwei , Liu Weina , Liu Changyun , Ran Mao , Huang Jin , Xu Xiaohong , Ma Xiaozhou , Jin Yabo , Sun Xianchao
Published: November 2022

Silver (Ag)-containing agents or materials are widely used today in plant protection for their antimicrobial activity. In view of the superior inhibitory ability of biosynthesized (aldehyde-modified sodium alginate based) silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against plant pathogenic fungi in our previous research, here we explored the antagonistic effect of biosynthesized AgNPs on plant pathogenic bacteria and the underlying mechanism. We selected Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci, the causal agent of tobacco wildfire disease, as the target and found that 1.2 μg/mL biosynthesized AgNPs completely inhibited the growth of P. syringae pv. tabaci in vitro and in vivo by partly destroying the cell membrane structure of the pathogen, resulting in cytoplasmic leakage. Moreover, Nicotiana benthamiana treated with 1.2 μg/mL biosynthesized AgNPs exhibited a significant upregulation of nonexpressor of pathogenesis-related genes 1 (NPR1) and pathogenesis-related gene 2 (PR2), the typical markers of the salicylic acid (SA)-mediated defense system, and an increase in peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities as well as the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, biosynthesized AgNPs treatment increased the chlorophyll content and dry weight of N. benthamiana. Overall, we demonstrated that biosynthesized AgNPs at a low concentration have high inhibitory effect on the pathogen causing tobacco wildfire disease by destroying bacterial cell membrane and inducing defense resistance in host plant. These results lay a theoretical foundation for further application of biosynthesized AgNPs in the control of plant bacterial diseases.
Explore the distribution of (rs35742686, rs3892097 and rs1065852) genetic polymorphisms of cytochrome P4502D6 gene in the Moroccan population
Authors: El Akil Soumaya , Elouilamine Ezohra , Ighid Nassima , Izaabel El Hassan
Published: November 2022

Background

The CYP2D6 gene encodes a crucial enzyme involved in the metabolic pathways of many commonly used drugs. It is a highly polymorphic gene inducing an interethnic and interindividual variability in disease susceptibility and treatment response. The aim of this study is to evaluate the frequency of the three CYP2D6 most investigated alleles (CYP2D6*3, CYP2D6*4, and CYP2D6*10 alleles) in Morocco compared to other populations.

This study enrolled 321 healthy Moroccan subjects. CYP2D6 genotypes and allele frequencies were assessed using a restriction fragment length polymorphism–polymerase chain reaction genotyping method. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and dendrogram were conducted to evaluate genetic proximity between Moroccans and other populations depending on CYP2D6 allele frequencies.

Results

According to the current study, the results observed the homozygous wild type of the three studied SNPs were predominant among the Moroccan population, while 1.4% of Moroccans carried the CYP2D6*4 allele responsible for a Poor Metabolizer phenotype and associated with low enzyme activity which may induce a treatment failure. The PCA and cluster dendrogram tools revealed genetic proximity between Moroccans and Mediterranean, European and African populations, versus a distancing from Asian populations.

Conclusion

The distribution of CYP2D6 polymorphisms within Morocco follows the patterns generally found among the Mediterranean, European and African populations. Furthermore, these results will help to lay a basis for clinical studies, aimed to introduce and optimize a personalized therapy in the Moroccan population.
The digital redesign of mental health: leveraging connected digital technologies for agency-driven patient-focused care
Authors: Goodday Sarah M. , Karlin Daniel R. , Friend Stephen H.
Published: November 2022

Digital psychiatry could empower individuals to navigate their context-specific experiences outside healthcare visits. This editorial discusses how leveraging digital health technologies could dramatically transform how we conceptualise mental health and the mental health professional's day-day practice, and how patients could be enabled to navigate their mental health with greater agency.
Artificial double-zero-index materials
Authors: Xu Changqing , Lyu Keqiang , Wu Ying
Published: November 2022

Materials with near-zero refractive index have attracted much attention over the past decade due to the fascinating phenomena they enabled, such as energy squeezing in thin waveguides, engineering of wavefronts, and “photonic doping”. These materials are not directly available in nature, but can be realized in periodic artificial structures. Among near-zero refractive index materials, double-zero-index materials are a special type with both constitutive parameters vanishing simultaneously, leading to intriguing applications including arbitrarily shaped high-transmission waveguides, cloaking of inclusions, nonlinear enhancement, and directional emissions. This perspective focuses on the recent developments on double-zero-index materials, including their fundamental physics, design principles, experimental realizations, and potential applications.
Animals, Angelenos, and the Arbitrary
Authors: Altrudi Soledad , Kelty Christopher M.
Published: November 2022

Multispecies entanglement has been a major research focus in environmental humanities, aiming to rethink ontological and ethical possibilities, especially in urban settings, by attending to speculative other-than-human futures. This article dwells on already existing entanglements of multiple species of animals in Los Angeles, using empirical data (conversations from the social media platform Nextdoor) to describe these entanglements according to a fourfold framework—spatial, emotional, behavioral, and political. Drawing on the political philosophy of nondomination, it argues that existing entanglements are primarily arbitrary in a political sense, and that moving beyond them will require reducing this arbitrariness, even it if it means restricting human freedom or introducing new forms of control over animals, for a more-than-human city to be just.
Damned Ecologies
Authors: O’Donnell S. Jonathon
Published: November 2022

This article uses a queer ecocritical methodology to analyze constructions of the environment and subjectivity in American spiritual warfare demonologies (discourses about the reality and activity of demons) published in 2008–18. There has been a surge in critical research on evangelical climate skepticism, the ecological thought of far-right movements, and the growing influence of Christian nationalism and charismatic evangelicalism on the US political landscape. Spiritual warfare, which constructs reality as a battle between divine and demonic forces, is a key part of this landscape. This article shows how spiritual warfare demonology operates as a tool for the construction of entwined social, political, and environmental ecologies, combining notions of deviant nature and deviant culture. Such ecologies both reinforce and destabilize biopolitical hierarchies that enshrine a normative (white, settler, cisheteropatriarchal) model of the human over both other (racialized, queered) humans and the nonhuman world. Critically rereading spiritual warfare demonologies through queer ecology, the article shows that such texts frame the fights against climate change and for queer and racialized subjects as prongs of a demonic assault on the futurity of white Christian America. Such texts reveal spiritual warfare demonology to rest on an ecological ultimatum: that nature will be normative or it will not be at all.
Animal Sex in Public
Authors: Szczygielska Marianna
Published: November 2022

Contemporary zoological gardens are hoping to delay the sixth mass extinction through captive breeding of endangered species. This article explores the dominant temporal orders invoked by managing animal sex in captivity in order to unfold unnatural histories of the zoo. Departing from the queer critique of reproductive futurism, it demonstrates that in the modern zoo, reproduction is removed from sexuality. By mapping out the more-than-human dimensions of chronopolitics at the zoo, this article unravels the complex process of transposing sexual acts into temporally fixed sexuality. To account for multiple pasts and futures of captive sex, this analysis employs the category of queer animality. Tracing the fascination with animal homosexuality to early sexological taxonomies, this article argues that anchoring sexual identity in animality is an anachronistic move that rests on the myth of timeless nature. At the same time, the sexological distinction between constitutional and circumstantial homosexuality relies on two types of teleological temporality: developmental and degenerative time of evolutionary change. The zoo is not only a place where education of desire occurs along the deep time line of natural history but also a contested terrain of captivity that can cancel any claim to atemporal naturalness.
Renal and mediastinal perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) in a young child with tuberous sclerosis; a rare case report
Authors: Attia Kamal H. , Al Boukai Ahmad A. , Mohammed Muammar H. , Arafah Maha
Published: November 2022

We describe a unique case of perivascular epithelioid cell tumors occurring as mediastinal and left renal soft tissue masses discovered incidentally in a 5-year-old tuberous sclerosis patient upon presentation to the emergency department for upper respiratory illness. The radiographic features were non-specific. However, the similar CT characteristics of both lesions and background history raised the suspicion of a synchronous mesenchymal tumor, and histopathology confirmed the diagnosis. The rarity of these tumors in the pediatric population and lack of specific diagnostic criteria impose reporting the case and emphasize the need for further research on imaging features of such tumors.
Percepção do acadêmico de enfermagem acerca do procedimento de coleta do material do exame Papanicolau
Authors: Dias Ernandes Gonçalves , Andrade Camila Antunes , Silva Natália Miranda , Campos Lyliane Martins , Caldeira Maiza Barbosa
Published: November 2022

Objetivos: analisar a percepção do acadêmico de enfermagem acerca do procedimento de coleta do material do exame Papanicolau durante a formação profissional na Atenção Primária à Saúde. Metodos: trata-se de um estudo descritivo, transversal, de abordagem qualitativa, realizado com 14 acadêmicos de enfermagem com idade entre 20 a 28 anos. Os dados foram coletados no período de agosto a setembro de 2021, por meio de uma entrevista semiestruturada e analisada mediante análise temática. Resultados: os acadêmicos reconhecem a importância da realização do procedimento da coleta do material Papanicolau durante a formação acadêmica; porém, há dificuldades em relação à adesão das mulheres devido à resistência em realizar o procedimento com estagiário, pela falta de confiança originada do medo e a vergonha em se submeter ao exame, sentimentos que se acentuam quando o estudante é do sexo masculino. Para enfrentar tais dificuldades, relataram estratégias de conscientização da importância em realizar o exame, além de buscar transmitirem segurança em sua abordagem e manterem postura ética e técnica durante a realização do procedimento. Conclusão: é preciso difundir as informações quanto à importância do procedimento, estabelecer vínculo e constante mobilização das mulheres para a realização do Papanicolau. Assim, os acadêmicos, enquanto profissionais em formação, são fortes aliados para a sensibilização do público e a intensificação das ações ofertadas.
Characterization of the Complete Chloroplast Genome of Gaultheria nummularioides D.Don 1825 (Ericaceae)
Authors: Cheng Xiao-Juan , Xu Yan-Ling , Bush Catherine M. , Lin Yan-Jun , Du Xin-Yu , Lu Lu
Published: November 2022

Gaultheria nummularioides D.Don 1825 (Ericaceae) is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. The complete chloroplast genome of G. nummularioides has been sequenced and assembled. The genome is 176,207 bp in total with one large single copy (LSC: 107,726 bp), one small single copy (SSC: 3,389 bp), and two inverted repeat regions (IRa and IRb; each 32,546 bp). The chloroplast genome encoded a total of 110 unique genes; the GC content of these genes is 36.6%. The results based on phylogenetic analysis confirmed that G. nummularioides diverged later than G. praticola, and the sister-group relationship between G. nummularioides and the clade comprising G. fragrantissima Wall. 1820 and G. hookeri C.B.Clarke 1882 was strongly supported, revealing the phylogenetic position of G. nummularioides. This work provides additional information for studying the genetic diversity of G. nummularioides and its closely related taxa, as well as further exploration of chloroplast genomes in the Ericaceae family.
L’UCRONIA COSTRUITA DI LEONARDO BENEVOLO. IL RUOLO DELL’URBANIZZAZIONE PUBBLICA NEL PROGETTO DI SAN POLO A BRESCIA
Authors: Galli Jacopo
Published: November 2022

L’articolo riscopre il progetto urbano realizzato dal famoso urbanista e storico Leonardo Benevolo per il quartiere di San Polo a Brescia focalizzandosi sul metodo dell’urbanizzazione pubblica, testato per la prima volta in Italia e, nonostante il successo economico e urbano dell’operazione, mai più riproposto in seguito. La prima sezione fornisce un inquadramento delle condizioni politiche e amministrative che portarono Benevolo a Brescia e del suo rapporto con Luigi Bazoli, illuminato assessore all’urbanistica. La seconda sezione descrive il cambio di paradigma apportato dall’urbanizzazione pubblica: una rivoluzione dei sistemi di proprietà fondiaria in Italia che mirava ad allinearsi ai principali paesi europei definendo un mercato delle aree urbanizzate di proprietà pubblica che abbassasse i prezzi di costruzione consentendo una pianificazione coesa dello sviluppo urbano. La terza sezione criticizza l’operazione progettuale sottolineandone gli indubbi meriti ma facendone emergere i limiti e le possibilità inespresse. La quarta sezione mostra come San Polo sia una ucronia, un frammento unico di una storia alternativa, illustrando come nel 1962 la proposta di riforma urbanistica nazionale elaborata da Fiorentino Sullo, che avrebbe fatto dell'urbanizzazione pubblica una legge statale, avesse sollevato così grandi preoccupazioni da provocare un tentativo di colpo di stato. La conclusione re-inserisce San Polo nella contemporaneità, verificando il valore urbano dell’operazione a cinquanta anni di distanza e cercando di riportare alla luce la lezione di Benevolo, inascoltata ma ancora valevole per le sfide odierne.
VALENCIA REBELDE: MOVIMIENTOS SOCIALES QUE DIERON FORMA A LA CIUDAD
Authors: Domingo Calabuig Débora , Rivera Linares Javier
Published: November 2022

Durante la década de los sesenta, Valencia experimentó un despertar económico que vino acompañado del desarrollo de infraestructuras territoriales y urbanas. Con más de medio millón de habitantes, la ciudad se recuperaba de la riada acontecida en 1957 y crecía paulatinamente, aún sin medir las consecuencias de una planificación arrolladora cada vez más cuestionada por sus habitantes. El detonante del activismo urbano se sitúa en las protestas enérgicas por salvar El Saler, aunque otros fenómenos le siguieron. Los movimientos vecinales activaron y cohesionaron diferentes frentes sociales, siempre respaldados por jóvenes profesionales que experimentaban un punto de inflexión en su orientación disciplinar. Este trabajo plantea una panorámica comparada de las reivindicaciones que nacieron tímidamente en los sesenta, adquirieron popularidad en los setenta y evolucionaron, especialmente en Valencia, en operaciones residenciales durante los ochenta. Se seleccionan casos de estudio a diferentes escalas, protagonizados por voces corales enraizadas en la cultura local: todos son procesos disruptivos que resultan de la conflictividad urbana. Las conclusiones evidencian trazos comunes en las reflexiones sobre lo privado y lo público, en las reacciones contra la especulación, y en la valoración y preservación del entorno natural en aras a un bienestar para los usuarios.
TYPE MEETS INDUSTRY: XAVIER BUSQUETS ANTE EL POLÍGONO RESIDENCIAL DE BELLVITGE
Authors: Navarro-González Rubén
Published: November 2022

De entre todos los polígonos de vivienda construidos en el área periurbana de Barcelona en los sesenta, el de Bellvitge en L’Hospitalet de Llobregat (proyectado en 1955-1965, construido en 1964-1976), con sus más de 9700 viviendas, 62 hectáreas de superficie y una dilatada gestación, sea quizás uno de los casos más relevantes. El estudio, a partir de los planos originales, de las aportaciones efectuadas por Xavier Busquets Sindreu entre 1960 y 1961 al proyecto previamente planteado por Antonio Perpiñá Sebriá (1955-1960), permite reseguir el impacto que pudieron tener sobre este caso de producción masiva de vivienda plurifamiliar aspectos como el marco jurídico aplicable, la incorporación de la iniciativa privada a la promoción pública, la racionalización del tipo, la asunción de estrategias proyectuales de seriación, el ensayo de unos primeros medios de industrialización de la construcción y la introducción de referencias arquitectónicas extranjeras desde coordenadas tan distantes como las visiones del Team X, la modernidad arquitectónica de Brasil o la praxis industrial de la prefabricación francesa. Todo de ello permite aportar cierta nueva luz sobre la cultura residencial convencional en la España de la época, y anticipar algunos de los fenómenos que se consolidarían con la década.