bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of hub genes and establishment of a diagnostic model in tuberculosis infection
Authors: Liu Chunli , Li Xing
Published: April 2024

Tuberculosis (TB) poses significant challenges due to its high transmissibility within populations and intrinsic resistance to treatment, rendering it a formidable respiratory disease with a substantial susceptibility burden. This study was designed to identify new potential therapeutic targets for TB and establish a diagnostic model. mRNA expression data for TB were from GEO database, followed by conducting differential expression analysis. The top 50 genes with differential expression were subjected to GO and KEGG enrichment analyses. To establish a PPI network, the STRING database was utilized, and hub genes were identified utilizing five algorithms (EPC, MCC, MNC, Radiality, and Stress) within the cytoHubba plugin of Cytoscape software. Furthermore, a hub gene co-expression network was constructed using the GeneMANIA database. Consistency clustering was performed on hub genes, and ssGSEA was utilized to analyze the extent of immune infiltration in different subgroups. LASSO analysis was employed to construct a diagnostic model, and ROC curves were used for validation. Through the analysis of GEO data, a total of 159 genes were identified as differentially expressed. Further, GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that these genes were mainly enriched in viral defense, symbiotic defense, and innate immune response-related pathways. Hub genes, including DDX58, IFIT2, IFIH1, RSAD2, IFI44L, OAS2, OAS1, OASL, IFIT1, IFIT3, MX1, STAT1, and ISG15, were identified using cytoHubba analysis of the PPI network. The GeneMANIA analysis unmasked that the co-expression rate of hub genes was 81.55%, and the physical interaction rate was 12.27%. Consistency clustering divided TB patients into two subgroups, and ssGSEA revealed different degrees of immune infiltration in different subgroups. LASSO analysis identified IFIT1, IFIT2, IFIT3, IFIH1, RSAD2, OAS1, OAS2, and STAT1 as eight immune-related key genes, and a diagnostic model was constructed. The ROC curve demonstrated that the model exhibited excellent diagnostic performance. DDX58, IFIT2, IFIH1, RSAD2, IFI44L, OAS2, OAS1, OASL, IFIT1, IFIT3, MX1, STAT1, and ISG15 were hub genes in TB, and the diagnostic model based on eight immune-related key genes exhibited good diagnostic performance.
Mechanistic insights and the clinical prospects of targeted therapies for glioblastoma: a comprehensive review
Authors: Shen Yating , Thng Dexter Kai Hao , Wong Andrea Li Ann , Toh Tan Boon
Published: April 2024

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a fatal brain tumour that is traditionally diagnosed based on histological features. Recent molecular profiling studies have reshaped the World Health Organization approach in the classification of central nervous system tumours to include more pathogenetic hallmarks. These studies have revealed that multiple oncogenic pathways are dysregulated, which contributes to the aggressiveness and resistance of GBM. Such findings have shed light on the molecular vulnerability of GBM and have shifted the disease management paradigm from chemotherapy to targeted therapies. Targeted drugs have been developed to inhibit oncogenic targets in GBM, including receptors involved in the angiogenic axis, the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway, the ubiquitination-proteasome pathway, as well as IDH1/2 pathway. While certain targeted drugs showed promising results in vivo, the translatability of such preclinical achievements in GBM remains a barrier. We also discuss the recent developments and clinical assessments of targeted drugs, as well as the prospects of cell-based therapies and combinatorial therapy as novel ways to target GBM. Targeted treatments have demonstrated preclinical efficacy over chemotherapy as an alternative or adjuvant to the current standard of care for GBM, but their clinical efficacy remains hindered by challenges such as blood-brain barrier penetrance of the drugs. The development of combinatorial targeted therapies is expected to improve therapeutic efficacy and overcome drug resistance.
Custodial and perinatal care patterns of women who received prenatal care while incarcerated in the Arkansas state prison system, 2014–2019
Authors: Zielinski Melissa J. , Smith Mollee Steely , Stahman Alleigh
Published: April 2024

Background

The extraordinary growth in women’s incarceration over the past several decades has resulted in calls for expansion of research into their unique needs and experiences, including those related to pregnancy and perinatal care. However, while research into the health outcomes of women who are incarcerated while pregnant has grown, research on women’s custodial and perinatal care patterns has remained nearly non-existent. Here, we sought to describe (1) the characteristics of the population of women who came to be incarcerated in a state prison system during pregnancy and (2) the characteristics of women’s custodial and perinatal care patterns during and after incarceration.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective chart review of the population of women who received perinatal care while incarcerated in the Arkansas state prison system over a 5-year period from June 2014 to May 2019. Electronic medical records and state prison records were merged to form our study population. Data were from 212 women (Mage = 28.4 years; 75.0% non-Latina White) with a singleton pregnancy who received at least one obstetric care visit while incarcerated.

Results

Drug-related convictions were the most common crimes leading to women’s incarceration while pregnant, and violent crime convictions were rare. Nearly half (43.4%) of women who gave birth in custody did so within 90 days of admission and the great majority (80.4%) released within 1-year of giving birth, including 13.3% who released within 30 days.

Discussion

The frequency with which women who became incarcerated while pregnant released from prison either prior to or shortly after giving birth was a striking, novel finding of this study given the implications for perinatal care disruption among a high-risk population and the harms of forced separation from infants within hours of birth.

Conclusions

Diversionary programs for pregnant women convicted of crimes, particularly in states without current access, are urgently needed and should be a priority for future policy work.
Burdens and resources of Austrian clinical psychologists: results of a qualitative study two years into the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Jesser Andrea , Steinböck Agnes , Pammer Barbara , Ghorab Tiam , Weber Magdalena , Schaffler Yvonne , Probst Thomas , Felnhofer Anna , Kothgassner Oswald D. , Pieh Christoph , Humer Elke
Published: April 2024

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic increased the mental health burden in the general population, enhancing the demands placed on mental healthcare professionals.

Methods

This study aimed to assess the burdens and resources of clinical psychologists that emerged since the beginning of the pandemic. N = 172 Austrian clinical psychologists participated in a cross-sectional online survey between April and May 2022. The burdens and the sources of support that emerged during the pandemic were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Results

Mental health-related issues were identified as the greatest burden, followed by work-related themes and restrictions imposed by the government to combat the spreading of the virus. The most important resources mentioned by the clinical psychologists were social contacts and recreational activities. Practising mindfulness and focusing on inner processes and work-related aspects were further important resources mentioned.

Conclusion

Overall, it seems that clinical psychologists have a high awareness of mental health-related problems related to the pandemic and use adaptive coping strategies to deal with them.
Effects of three prophylactic interventions on French middle-schoolers’ mental health: protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Vaillant-Coindard Eugénie , Briet Gaëtan , Lespiau Florence , Gisclard Béatrice , Charbonnier Elodie
Published: April 2024

Adolescence is a strategic developmental stage in terms of preventing later difficulties and ensuring good mental health. Prophylactic interventions, which are conducted before the onset, prolongation, or worsening of difficulties, and aim to prevent or reduce symptoms or to promote wellbeing, therefore appear particularly appropriate for adolescents. However, existing prophylactic interventions conducted with adolescents have several weaknesses, including sparse theoretical frameworks, ambivalent evidence of their efficacy, and implementation and dissemination difficulties. In addition, no data are currently available on the effectiveness of such interventions in France. To fill this gap, a four-arm randomized controlled trial will be performed to assess the effectiveness of three prophylactic interventions targeting reactive, proactive and interpersonal adaptation in fourth-grade middle-school students, together with participants’ experience and perception of the interventions. Based on existing knowledge about adolescents, their learning mechanisms, and field constraints, these three interventions have been designed to promote their learning and receptiveness to interventions. Compared with baseline (i.e., before the intervention), we expect to observe a significant decrease in the level of distress (anxiety and depressive symptoms, functional impairment, and psychosocial difficulties) and a significant increase in the level of wellbeing after the intervention, across the three intervention groups, but not in the control group. In addition, we expect to observe post-intervention improvements in the processes targeted by the reactive adaptation intervention (operationalized as coping strategy use and flexibility), those targeted by the proactive adaptation intervention (operationalized as the tendency to engage in committed actions and general self-efficacy), and those targeted by the interpersonal adaptation intervention (operationalized as assertiveness in interactions), but only in the corresponding groups, with no change in any of these processes in the control group. The results of this research will not only enrich our knowledge of the processes involved in adolescents’ distress and wellbeing, but also provide clues as to the best targets for intervention. Moreover, the material for these interventions will be freely available in French on request to the corresponding author, providing access to innovative and fully assessed interventions aimed at promoting adolescents’ mental health in France.

This clinical trial is currently being registered under no. 2023-A01973-42 on https://ansm.sante.fr/. This is the first version of the protocol.
Enhancing academic performance prediction with temporal graph networks for massive open online courses
Authors: Huang Qionghao , Chen Jili
Published: April 2024

Educational big data significantly impacts education, and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), a crucial learning approach, have evolved to be more intelligent with these technologies. Deep neural networks have significantly advanced the crucial task within MOOCs, predicting student academic performance. However, most deep learning-based methods usually ignore the temporal information and interaction behaviors during the learning activities, which can effectively enhance the model’s predictive accuracy. To tackle this, we formulate the learning processes of e-learning students as dynamic temporal graphs to encode the temporal information and interaction behaviors during their studying. We propose a novel academic performance prediction model (APP-TGN) based on temporal graph neural networks. Specifically, in APP-TGN, a dynamic graph is constructed from online learning activity logs. A temporal graph network with low-high filters learns potential academic performance variations encoded in dynamic graphs. Furthermore, a global sampling module is developed to mitigate the problem of false correlations in deep learning-based models. Finally, multi-head attention is utilized for predicting academic outcomes. Extensive experiments are conducted on a well-known public dataset. The experimental results indicate that APP-TGN significantly surpasses existing methods and demonstrates excellent potential in automated feedback and personalized learning.
Streamlining hyperparameter optimization for radiation emulator training with automated Sherpa
Authors: Roh Soonyoung , Kim Park Sa , Song Hwan-Jin
Published: April 2024

This study aimed to identify the optimal configuration for neural network (NN) emulators in numerical weather prediction, minimizing trial and error by comparing emulator performance across multiple hidden layers (1–5 layers), as automatically defined by the Sherpa library. Our findings revealed that Sherpa-applied emulators consistently demonstrated good results and stable performance with low errors in numerical simulations. The optimal configurations were observed with one and two hidden layers, improving results when two hidden layers were employed. The Sherpa-defined average neurons per hidden layer ranged between 153 and 440, resulting in a speedup relative to the CNT of 7–12 times. These results provide valuable insights for developing radiative physical NN emulators. Utilizing automatically determined hyperparameters can effectively reduce trial-and-error processes while maintaining stable outcomes. However, further experimentation is needed to establish the most suitable hyperparameter values that balance both speed and accuracy, as this study did not identify optimized values for all hyperparameters.
Separation of microalgae from bacterial contaminants using spiral microchannel in the presence of a chemoattractant
Authors: Ngum Leticia F. , Matsushita Y. , El-Mashtoly Samir F. , Fath El-Bab Ahmed M. R. , Abdel-Mawgood Ahmed L
Published: April 2024

Cell separation using microfluidics has become an effective method to isolate biological contaminants from bodily fluids and cell cultures, such as isolating bacteria contaminants from microalgae cultures and isolating bacteria contaminants from white blood cells. In this study, bacterial cells were used as a model contaminant in microalgae culture in a passive microfluidics device, which relies on hydrodynamic forces to demonstrate the separation of microalgae from bacteria contaminants in U and W-shaped cross-section spiral microchannel fabricated by defocusing CO2 laser ablation. At a flow rate of 0.7 ml/min in the presence of glycine as bacteria chemoattractant, the spiral microfluidics devices with U and W-shaped cross-sections were able to isolate microalgae (Desmodesmus sp.) from bacteria (E. coli) with a high separation efficiency of 92% and 96% respectively. At the same flow rate, in the absence of glycine, the separation efficiency of microalgae for U- and W-shaped cross-sections was 91% and 96%, respectively. It was found that the spiral microchannel device with a W-shaped cross-section with a barrier in the center of the channel showed significantly higher separation efficiency. Spiral microchannel chips with U- or W-shaped cross-sections were easy to fabricate and exhibited high throughput. With these advantages, these devices could be widely applicable to other cell separation applications, such as separating circulating tumor cells from blood.

Graphical Abstract
Cost-Effectiveness of Treatments for Musculoskeletal Conditions Offered by Physiotherapists: A Systematic Review of Trial-Based Evaluations
Authors: Baumbach Linda , Feddern Wiebke , Kretzler Benedikt , Hajek André , König Hans-Helmut
Published: April 2024

Background

Musculoskeletal conditions are a leading contributor to disability worldwide. The treatment of these conditions accounts for 7% of health care costs in Germany and is often provided by physiotherapists. Yet, an overview of the cost-effectiveness of treatments for musculoskeletal conditions offered by physiotherapists is missing. This review aims to provide an overview of full economic evaluations of interventions for musculoskeletal conditions offered by physiotherapists.

Methods

We systematically searched for publications in Medline, EconLit, and NHS-EED. Title and abstracts, followed by full texts were screened independently by two authors. We included trial-based full economic evaluations of physiotherapeutic interventions for patients with musculoskeletal conditions and allowed any control group. We extracted participants' information, the setting, the intervention, and details on the economic analyses. We evaluated the quality of the included articles with the Consensus on Health Economic Criteria checklist.

Results

We identified 5141 eligible publications and included 83 articles. The articles were based on 78 clinical trials. They addressed conditions of the spine (n = 39), the upper limb (n = 8), the lower limb (n = 30), and some other conditions (n = 6). The most investigated conditions were low back pain (n = 25) and knee and hip osteoarthritis (n = 16). The articles involved 69 comparisons between physiotherapeutic interventions (in which we defined primary interventions) and 81 comparisons in which only one intervention was offered by a physiotherapist. Physiotherapeutic interventions compared to those provided by other health professionals were cheaper and more effective in 43% (18/42) of the comparisons. Ten percent (4/42) of the interventions were dominated. The overall quality of the articles was high. However, the description of delivered interventions varied widely and often lacked details. This limited fair treatment comparisons.

Conclusions

High-quality evidence was found for physiotherapeutic interventions to be cost-effective, but the result depends on the patient group, intervention, and control arm. Treatments of knee and back conditions were primarily investigated, highlighting a need for physiotherapeutic cost-effectiveness analyses of less often investigated joints and conditions. The documentation of provided interventions needs improvement to enable clinicians and stakeholders to fairly compare interventions and ultimately adopt cost-effective treatments.
Leakage detection applied to the Da Hedong Reservoir dam (China) based on the flow-field fitting method
Authors: Zhao Xiang , Zhang Hongbing , Revil André , Liu Yandong , Zeng Fanxin , Wang Ping , Ren Quan
Published: April 2024

Detecting leakage in concrete gravity dams presents a formidable challenge. The flow-field fitting (FFF) method is used to identify leaks in China’s Da Hedong Reservoir dam. We develop vertical- and horizontal-gradient approaches based on the transmitted signal electrical field. A plastic frame is developed to allow the probe to measure horizontal gradients. We determine the exact location of leaks at the reservoir’s bottom and upstream face, respectively, assuming that current leakages are located in hydraulic leakage zones. Numerical experiments and water pressure tests reveal that the conductive silt layer beneath the reservoir can lower the response of the potential values at the leakage inlet, and the effect of the silt layer should be considered and not ignored when interpreting measured data. In addition, with regard to the principle of superposition, the contribution associated with metal pipes in the dam body can be roughly determined by subtracting it from the original potential field data, thereby aiding in locating leaks around the metal pipes. In addition, the FFF measurements from the reservoir’s bottom also confirm the position of existing faults in the substratum at the reservoir site. Last, the results of the FFF method are tested against supporting evidence, such as ground penetrating radar and water pressure tests. In conclusion, these independent data confirm the effectiveness of the FFF method for leakage localization in the concrete gravity dam.
A modified displacement discontinuity method for seismic wave propagation across rock masses with thin-layer joints
Authors: Wang M. , Jia L. , Li G. Y. , Wang W. , Fan L. F.
Published: April 2024

Seismic wave propagation across rock masses with thin-layer joints by the modified displacement discontinuity method (M-DDM) is of great importance for geophysical surveys. The M-DDM introduces a frequency-dependent effective stiffness to describe the dynamic stress-closure relationship of a thin-layer joint. We verify the accuracy of M-DDM in studying seismic wave propagation across rock masses with thin-layer joints. Subsequently, we evaluate the influence of the joint thickness and the incident wave frequency on M-DDM accuracy. We analyze the prediction error of the transmission coefficient obtained with M-DDM. The results demonstrate that the frequency-dependent effective joint stiffness increases with increasing incident wave frequency and decreases with increasing joint thickness. Compared with the traditional displacement discontinuity method (DDM), M-DDM more accurately predicts the transmission coefficients of seismic waves propagating across thin-layer joints. The transmission coefficient prediction error obtained based on M-DDM increases with increasing joint thickness and incident wave frequency and is always smaller than that obtained based on DDM. Therefore, the M-DDM can be used to effectively investigate seismic wave propagation across rock masses with thin-layer joints.
A computational topology-based method for extracting fault surfaces
Authors: Zhou Cheng , Zhou Ruoshui , Cai Hanpeng , Yao Xingmiao , Hu Guangmin , Yang Cun
Published: April 2024

Fault surface extraction is a crucial step in seismic interpretation, which can help structural interpretation and structural modeling. A key focus of fault surface extraction research is to extract fault surfaces in their entirety as much as possible, rather than just in fault segments, which is more challenging in some complex fault situations. To address this challenge, we develop a fault surface extraction method based on computational topology to extract fault surfaces in their entirety as much as possible from a fault attribute and effectively handle some complex fault situations, such as intersecting faults. From a given seed point on the target fault, we use the idea of regional growth to search for high-confidence points on the target fault, called fault control points, under the constraints of the fault attribute and the calculated fault orientations. Through these fault control points, we extract the fault boundary and process the fault attribute so that only the target fault is included. Furthermore, we use an operation in computational topology called collapse to extract the target fault from the processed fault attribute using the fault boundary as a constraint. By incorporating fault orientation information and using a relatively large search distance during the control point search, our method enables the integration of segmented faults and facilitates the handling of complex fault situations such as intersecting faults. The collapse operation ensures that the extracted fault surfaces align with the fault attribute, correspond to the actual fault locations in seismic data, and enhance fault continuity. In addition, we develop an automatic method for picking seed points to realize the extraction of all the faults in the research data. We test our method on several field data sets and the experimental results demonstrate its effectiveness. In some complex fault situations, such as intersecting faults, our method performs well and indicates a significant improvement over the compared method.
Zoledronate After Denosumab Discontinuation: Is Repeated Administrations More Effective Than Single Infusion?
Authors: Grassi Giorgia , Ghielmetti Alberto , Zampogna Marta , Chiodini Iacopo , Arosio Maura , Mantovani Giovanna , Eller-Vainicher Cristina
Published: April 2024

Background

After denosumab (Dmab) discontinuation C-terminal telopeptide (CTX) levels increase, bone mineral density (BMD) decreases and multiple vertebral fractures (FX) may occur with relevant impacts on women's health. A sequential therapy with bisphosphonates is recommended, and the European Calcified Tissue Society (ECTS) proposed repeated zoledronate (ZOL) administrations in patients with persistently high CTX levels, although the efficacy of this schedule is unknown. In this retrospective study, we describe BMD changes and FX rate in 52 patients managed according to the ECTS recommendations.

Methods

We measured CTX levels and administered ZOL after 1 month from Dmab withdrawal (t0). After 6 months (t1), we administered a second ZOL infusion, if CTX levels were ≥280 ng/L. BMD changes and FX rate were assessed on average after 17 months from Dmab withdrawal.

Results

Seventy-five percent of patients repeated ZOL infusion. In this group, spine BMD declined significantly (−5.5 ± 5.6%), while it remained stable in the group with CTX levels <280 ng/L (−0.1 ± 5.5%, P = 0.008). All fractured patients (9.6%) had received >5 Dmab injections and 2 ZOL infusions. The BMD worsening after Dmab withdrawal was associated with CTX t1 [odds ratio (OR) 2.9, interquartile range (IQR) 1.3-6.6, P = .009] and spine BMD gain during Dmab therapy corrected for the number of Dmab injections (OR 3.0, IQR 1.2-7.2, P = .014). A CTX level at t1 > 212 ng/L had 100% sensitivity in predicting the BMD loss.

Conclusion

In patients with uncontrolled CTX levels after Dmab withdrawal, 2 ZOL infusions 6 months apart do not prevent BMD loss and FX.
Impact of Distinct Antiandrogen Exposures on the Plasma Metabolome in Feminizing Gender-affirming Hormone Therapy
Authors: Shepherd Rebecca , Angus Lachlan M , Mansell Toby , Arman Bridget , Kim Bo Won , Lange Katherine , Burgner David , Kerr Jessica A , Pang Ken , Zajac Jeffrey D , Saffery Richard , Cheung Ada , Novakovic Boris
Published: April 2024

Context

The plasma metabolome is a functional readout of metabolic activity and is associated with phenotypes exhibiting sexual dimorphism, such as cardiovascular disease. Sex hormones are thought to play a key role in driving sexual dimorphism.

Objective

Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is a cornerstone of transgender care, but longitudinal changes in the plasma metabolome with feminizing GAHT have not been described.

Methods

Blood samples were collected at baseline and after 3 and 6 months of GAHT from transgender women (n = 53). Participants were randomized to different anti-androgens, cyproterone acetate or spironolactone. Nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics was used to measure 249 metabolic biomarkers in plasma. Additionally, we used metabolic biomarker data from an unrelated cohort of children and their parents (n = 3748) to identify sex- and age-related metabolite patterns.

Results

We identified 43 metabolic biomarkers altered after 6 months in both anti-androgen groups, most belonging to the very low- or low-density lipoprotein subclasses, with all but 1 showing a decrease. We observed a cyproterone acetate-specific decrease in glutamine, glycine, and alanine levels. Notably, of the metabolic biomarkers exhibiting the most abundant “sex- and age-related” pattern (higher in assigned female children and lower in assigned female adults, relative to assigned males), 80% were significantly lowered after GAHT, reflecting a shift toward the adult female profile.

Conclusion

Our results suggest an anti-atherogenic signature in the plasma metabolome after the first 6 months of feminizing GAHT, with cyproterone acetate also reducing specific plasma amino acids. This study provides novel insight into the metabolic changes occurring across feminizing GAHT.
Personalized Noninvasive Diagnostic Algorithms Based on Urinary Free Cortisol in ACTH-dependant Cushing's Syndrome
Authors: Lavoillotte Julie , Mohammedi Kamel , Salenave Sylvie , Furnica Raluca Maria , Maiter Dominique , Chanson Philippe , Young Jacques , Tabarin Antoine
Published: April 2024

Context

Current guidelines for distinguishing Cushing's disease (CD) from ectopic ACTH secretion (EAS) are questionable, as they use pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as first-line investigation for all patients. CRH testing is no longer available, and they suggest performing inferior petrosal sinus sampling (BIPPS), an invasive and rarely available investigation, in many patients.

Objective

To establish noninvasive personalized diagnostic strategies based on the probability of EAS estimated from simple baseline parameters.

Design

Retrospective study.

Setting

University hospitals.

Patients

Two hundred forty-seven CD and 36 EAS patients evaluated between 2001 and 2023 in 2 French hospitals. A single-center cohort of 105 Belgian patients served as external validation.

Results

Twenty-four-hour urinary free cortisol (UFC) had the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for discrimination of CD from EAS (.96 [95% confidence interval (CI), .92-.99] in the primary study and .99 [95% CI, .98-1.00] in the validation cohort). The addition of clinical, imaging, and biochemical parameters did not improve EAS prediction over UFC alone, with only BIPPS showing a modest improvement (C-statistic index .99 [95% CI, .97-1.00]). Three groups were defined based on baseline UFC: < 3 (group 1), 3-10 (group 2), and > 10 × the upper limit of normal (group 3), and they were associated with 0%, 6.1%, and 66.7% prevalence of EAS, respectively. Diagnostic approaches performed in our cohort support the use of pituitary MRI alone in group 1, MRI first followed by neck-to-pelvis computed tomography scan (npCT) when negative in group 2, and npCT first followed by pituitary MRI when negative in group 3. When not combined with the CRH test, the desmopressin test has limited diagnostic value.

Conclusion

UFC accurately predicts EAS and can serve to define personalized and noninvasive diagnostic algorithms.
LDL-C and TC Mediate the Risk of PNPLA3 Inhibition in Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Zhang Genshan , Jiang Wei , He Fangxun , Fu Jie , Xu Xiangshang , Luo Xuelai , Cao Zhixin
Published: April 2024

Context

PNPLA3 is a promising target for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease. ARO-PNPLA3 is a drug that efficiently lowers PNPLA3 expression in hepatocytes at the mRNA level, resulting in a significant reduction in liver fat in Phase I clinical trials. However, the long-term effects and potential side effects of ARO-PNPLA3 are not well understood.

Objective

We conducted a 2-sample, 2-step Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate the association between PNPLA3 inhibition and 10 cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), as well as the role of lipid traits as mediators.

Methods

We identified genetic variants near the PNPLA3 gene, which are linked to liver fat percentage, as instrumental variables for inhibiting PNPLA3. Additionally, positive control analyses on liver diseases were conducted to validate the selection of the genetic instruments.

Results

Genetically predicted PNPLA3 inhibition significantly increased the risk of coronary atherosclerosis (1.14, 95% CI 1.06, 1.23), coronary heart disease (1.14, 95% CI 1.08, 1.21), and myocardial infarction (1.16, 95% CI 1.08, 1.26). Suggestive associations were observed for increased risk of heart failure (1.09, 95% CI 1.02, 1.17, P = .0143) and atrial fibrillation (1.17, 95% CI 1.00, 1.36, P = .0468). Blood low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and total cholesterol (TC) mediated approximately 16% to 25%, 16% to 30%, and 14% to 22% of the associations between PNPLA3 inhibition and coronary atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and coronary heart disease, respectively.

Conclusion

This study suggests that PNPLA3 inhibition increases the risk of major CVDs. Moreover, blood LDL-C and TC may mediate a significant proportion of the associations between PNPLA3 inhibition and coronary atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, or myocardial infarction.
Ideology as a Phenomenon of Culture And as a Civilizational Potential of Russia
Authors: Andreev A.
Published: April 2024

The proposed work explores a range of issues that help to comprehend the phenomenon of ideology in order to understand what ideology is, whether Russia needs ideology, why Russia needs ideology, what kind of ideology Russia needs, what needs to be done in order for Russia to have the ideology it needs, and what can make the ideology Russia needs as effective as possible. As a method, a holistic-system approach is used, which makes it possible to identify the relationships and patterns of ideological parameters. Ideology is understood in an anthropological sense as a type of information management: it is the rationalization of an irrational motive, it is a belief disguised as evidence in order to present one's beliefs as true. The structure of ideology, a multifaceted narrative, is proposed to be considered as the interaction of three levels: " pictures of the world" , " matrices" , " technologies" . The logic of confrontation between the ideologies of the West and Russia is traced. A position is put forward on social mobilization as a way to achieve victory in the war of civilizations. The practical conclusion of the article is that Russia has all the necessary capabilities to create an effective and victorious ideology.
Consensus as Social Dialogue Base
Authors: Kalney Marina
Published: April 2024

The article about problem of consensus as social dialogue basis. Necessary consensus condition is value core as world out-look attitudes community. Author analyses risks of both social community split because of extreme world out-look attitudes pluralism and social uniformity reaching to totalitarian form. Author highlights risk of transformation democracy into ideocracy because of subjection all aspects of civil life to political and ideological agenda.
The Eternal Priority of the State
Authors: Ryzhakov Mikhail
Published: April 2024

The author conducts a historical analysis of the reforms of the content of Russian education. The article is published by the author in response to the article: Shishov S.E. Disinterested intellectual curiosity // Scientific research and development. Socio-humanitarian research and technology. 2023, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 7–8.
Pedagogical Prevention of Negative Behavioral Manifestations of Students of Educational Institutions of Higher Education Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia
Authors: Baal' N. , Frolova S.
Published: April 2024

The urgency of preventing undesirable manifestations in the behavior of students of higher education institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia is explained by the fact that in modern Russian society, as well as in other countries, abnormal behavior has become a common phenomenon among this age group. Types of antisocial behavior among adolescents are becoming more diverse and complex, which entails an increase in negative social consequences both for adolescents and young people themselves and for society as a whole. Prevention of negative behavior among students, of course, is an important area of work with adolescents, since it is the younger generation that shapes the course of development of society.

The article discusses pedagogical prevention aimed at eliminating negative behavioral manifestations of university students The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, which is a set of educational measures aimed at preventing, and possibly completely eliminating negative manifestations that affect the development of deviant behavior of students.

Any negative manifestation of deviant behavior carries a potential danger both for adolescents themselves and for society as a whole. It is for this reason that the identification and prevention of negative behavioral manifestations among students is a critically important area of activity. To achieve maximum results in prevention, it is necessary to focus on forming an active position in the life of every young employee who is just starting his professional career. To do this, it is necessary to pay sufficient attention to leisure activities: sports, art, self-education.
The Model of the Formation of Future Teachers of Readiness for Professional Activity Using New Social Media as a Means of Teaching and Educating Schoolchildren
Authors: Vinogradova K.
Published: April 2024

The article is devoted to the problem of preparing future teachers for professional activities using new social media as effective means of teaching and educating schoolchildren. The author substantiates the relevance of the research problem, reveals the educational potential of new social media, and identifies the possible risks of its implementation in the educational process of the school, associated with the unpreparedness of future teachers to use them in their professional activities. The article presents the content of the author's model of developing readiness for the use of new social media in the teaching and educational process of school among students studying in teacher education programs. The model includes target, content, organizational, technological and effective blocks, the integration of which represents an integral pedagogical system aimed at bringing higher pedagogical education into line with the requirements of the modern information society. The model was implemented over four academic years as part of a pedagogical experiment. Using diagnostic tools developed in accordance with the author’s idea of the criteria and indicators of teachers’ readiness to effectively use new social media as new means of teaching and education, the level of its formation among experimental (n = 67) and control (n = 69) students is studied. groups before and after the implementation of the proposed model. Based on the results of the comparative analysis, a conclusion is drawn about the feasibility and possibility of transforming the system of media education for modern students — future teachers.
Vocational Guidance and Career Counseling as an Integral Part of the Educational Process at School
Authors: Arhipova O.
Published: April 2024

This article considers the issue of vocational guidance work in schools as a factor in increasing the level of self-determination of students. Professional self-determination of young people is one of the most important state goals of the educational system. The author presents the stages and tools of vocational guidance work within the framework of public projects. As the main directions of career guidance work in school can be defined: professional education, professional diagnostics, professional counseling. The author considers the directions that make career guidance work more productive.
Personal and Professional Development of Students-Future Teachers in the Context of Digital Modernization of the Education System
Authors: Suleymanov A.
Published: April 2024

This article examines the issue of personal and professional development of future teachers in the context of digital modernization of the education system. The trends of the modern education system are reflected, which in turn affect the personal and professional development of the future teacher. The article examines the crisis moments in the professional development of a future teacher in the context of the implementation of professional pedagogical activity both in traditional conditions and in the context of digital reform of the education system. The axiological and motive are considered. The basic stages of personal and professional development of a student of a future teacher in the conditions of digitalization of the education system are determined. In this regard, the importance of personal and professional development of a student-a future teacher in the context of digitalization of the education system is emphasized.
THE ROLE OF THE FAMILY IN THE COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN
Authors: Serebryakova T. , Dvoryanceva S.
Published: April 2024

The article describes a fragment of an experimental program aimed at developing responsible fatherhood and increasing the level of competence of modern fathers in matters of development of the cognitive sphere of preschool children. Based on the results of research by scientists in the field of cognitive development of personality, we tend to understand cognitive development as a complex, complex phenomenon that includes the development of such mental cognitive processes as perception, thinking, attention, imagination, which are different forms of human orientation, both in the surrounding reality and both in itself and those regulating its activities. Considering cognitive development as a process of transition from ignorance to knowledge, and relying on the conclusion of scientists that cognitive development is the result of the sociocultural development of a subject that has biological foundations and prerequisites, and also having analyzed the age characteristics, capabilities and patterns of cognitive development of the individual on basic levels of ontogenesis, as the most important condition for the optimal cognitive development of preschool children, we identify the family and cognitively oriented contacts with children purposefully organized by parents. Our research indicates that not all parents are focused on providing comprehensive conditions for the full cognitive development of their children. Based on the conclusion made and working in the mode of innovative activities on the problem of responsible fatherhood, as one of the basic topics of our developmental program of psychological and pedagogical support for the process of formation of responsible fatherhood among modern parents, we will highlight the topic “The Role of the Family in the Cognitive Development of Preschool Children,” which is not oriented only to develop in fathers a system of knowledge in the field of specific development of the cognitive sphere of preschool children, but also a system of skills and abilities to effectively interact with their children, which will optimize the process of cognitive development of their children, which, from our point of view, will contribute more conscious and responsible implementation by fathers of their social role of “parent”
INSTILLING OF SPIRITUAL AND MORAL VALUES AS A FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENT OF A FOREIGN LANGUAGE LESSON
Authors: Novikova Vera , Golovyashkina Marina
Published: April 2024

The article, based on the empirical data obtained during the survey, aims to consider the prob-lem of the formation of spiritual and moral values in foreign language lessons. The article proves that the integration of traditional spiritual and moral values into the content of the school and university curriculum is perceived by the majority of respondents as a return to tradition. The majority of respondents expressed a desire to reassess the goals and content of the learning process, pointing to the need to integrate traditional spiritual and moral values into educational programs. The obtained research data demonstrate that foreign language teachers are aware of the need for constant professional development, taking into account spiritual and moral aspects, and are ready to adapt and introduce new approaches into the educational process to effectively instill the traditional Russian spiritual and moral values. The results of the study indicate the need to update educational materials taking into account spiritual and moral aspects. Textbooks and teaching aids should be richer in content that promotes the formation of values, ethical principles and moral beliefs of students.
Journal scan
Authors: Welyczko Nikki
Published: April 2024

A brief overview of recently published articles on gastroenterology, hepatology and stoma care
‘More IBD nurses, better care’ – a collaborative approach to driving inflammatory bowel disease nursing development
Authors: Woo Nathaniel , Parekh Amit , Ainley Rachel , Mason Isobel , Younge Lisa ,   Crohn's & Colitis UK
Published: April 2024

This report examines how Crohn's & Colitis UK, in partnership with the RCN's Gastrointestinal Forum and IBD Nursing Network, supports IBD nurse specialists to improve patient care
The effect of abdominal heat therapy on constipation
Authors: Eshaghi Amir , Norouzadeh Reza , Jadid-Milini Maryam
Published: April 2024

Background:

Constipation is one of the most common complications of the digestive system and has a significant impact on people's health and quality of life. One of the proposed non-drug interventions is the use of heat therapy. This study aimed to determine the effect of abdominal heat therapy on constipation.

Aims:

To identify if the use of heat therapy reduces constipation in elderly people admitted to the general internal medicine department.

Methods:

This study employs a triple-blind clinical trial design. A total of 92 elderly patients admitted to the internal medicine department of Sinai Hospital in Arak City in 2023 were randomly assigned to either a control or intervention group. Patients in the intervention group received local heat therapy using a standard hot water bottle with a temperature of 50°C applied to the abdomen. The control group received a hot water bottle at a temperature of 25°C. Data collection tools included the Bristol Stool Form Scale and a demographic data sheet. Analysis was conducted using SPSS 16.

Results:

The results showed that stool consistency was similar between the interventional and control groups before applying the hot water bag to the abdomen. A significant difference was observed on the first day (P=0.001) and the second day (P=0.005). There was a significant difference in stool consistency before the intervention, on day 1 and day 2 (P<0.001), but most people in the control group had no defecation.

Conclusions:

Local heat therapy improves bowel function and reduces constipation during defecation in the elderly, and its use is suggested at the same time as complementary studies.
How practitioner-led colonoscopy surveillance management improves productivity while saving money
Authors: Wargen Adele
Published: April 2024

Background:

The British Society for Gastroenterology (BSG) guidelines for post-polypectomy and post-cancer-resection surveillance were changed in October 2020, essentially excluding a large proportion of patients awaiting a surveillance colonoscopy as they now no longer fit the criteria for surveillance.

Aims:

To audit the colonoscopy surveillance waiting list at the Wye Valley Trust to ascertain patient appropriateness for colonoscopy under the new BSG guidelines.

Methods:

A practitioner-led colonoscopy surveillance clinic led by a clinical endoscopist was set up to audit the colonoscopy surveillance waiting list of over 1200 patients. The aim was to clinically assess each patient against the guidelines and determine discharge from, or continuation of, the surveillance pathway for each patient. The patients were then offered outpatient clinic appointments where fitness was assessed and appropriate investigations were finalised.

Results:

Patient numbers on the colonoscopy surveillance waiting list were reduced by nearly 50%, with waiting times down to 0 weeks, by facilitating practitioner-led pre-assessment and outpatient clinics, all while saving Weston General Hospital almost £300000 in the initial 9 months.

Conclusions:

The new colonoscopy surveillance guidelines presented an opportunity to audit and evaluate the colonoscopy guidelines in the Wye Valley Trust. The facilitation of a clinical endoscopist committed time to implement new pre-assessment processes and outpatient clinics, this process allowed the discharge of almost 50% of patients upon the colonoscopy surveillance waiting list, it created extra colonoscopy capacity for 2 week wait and urgent colonoscopies, while generating a positive financial implication for the trust.