bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Respiratory drive heterogeneity associated with systemic inflammation and vascular permeability in acute respiratory distress syndrome
Authors: Baedorf-Kassis Elias , Murn Michael , Dzierba Amy L. , Serra Alexis L. , Garcia Ivan , Minus Emily , Padilla Clarissa , Sarge Todd , Goodspeed Valerie M. , Matthay Michael A. , Gong Michelle N. , Cook Deborah , Loring Stephen H. , Talmor Daniel , Beitler Jeremy R. ,   for the EPVent-2 Study Group, Talmor Daniel , Sarge Todd , Goodspeed Valerie , Fish Emily , Jinadasa Sayuri , Ritz Ray , Previtera Joseph , Gong Michelle N. , Lee Lawrence , Beitler Jeremy R. , Cook Deborah , Clarke France , Piraino Tom , Levitt Joseph , Vojnik Rosemary , Park Pauline , Brierley Kristin , Haas Carl , Weirauch Andrew , Fan Eddy , Matte Andrea , Harris R. Scott , Kone Mamary , Heard Stephen , Longtine Karen , Lellouche Franćois , Bouchard Pierre-Alexandre , Rubinson Lewis , McGrain Jennifer , Griesdale Donald E. G. , Foster Denise , Oeckler Richard , Amsbaugh Amy , Jimenez Edgar , Danesh Valerie
Published: April 2024

Background

In acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), respiratory drive often differs among patients with similar clinical characteristics. Readily observable factors like acid–base state, oxygenation, mechanics, and sedation depth do not fully explain drive heterogeneity. This study evaluated the relationship of systemic inflammation and vascular permeability markers with respiratory drive and clinical outcomes in ARDS.

Methods

ARDS patients enrolled in the multicenter EPVent-2 trial with requisite data and plasma biomarkers were included. Neuromuscular blockade recipients were excluded. Respiratory drive was measured as PES0.1, the change in esophageal pressure during the first 0.1 s of inspiratory effort. Plasma angiopoietin-2, interleukin-6, and interleukin-8 were measured concomitantly, and 60-day clinical outcomes evaluated.

Results

54.8% of 124 included patients had detectable respiratory drive (PES0.1 range of 0–5.1 cm H2O). Angiopoietin-2 and interleukin-8, but not interleukin-6, were associated with respiratory drive independently of acid–base, oxygenation, respiratory mechanics, and sedation depth. Sedation depth was not significantly associated with PES0.1 in an unadjusted model, or after adjusting for mechanics and chemoreceptor input. However, upon adding angiopoietin-2, interleukin-6, or interleukin-8 to models, lighter sedation was significantly associated with higher PES0.1. Risk of death was less with moderate drive (PES0.1 of 0.5–2.9 cm H2O) compared to either lower drive (hazard ratio 1.58, 95% CI 0.82–3.05) or higher drive (2.63, 95% CI 1.21–5.70) (p = 0.049).

Conclusions

Among patients with ARDS, systemic inflammatory and vascular permeability markers were independently associated with higher respiratory drive. The heterogeneous response of respiratory drive to varying sedation depth may be explained in part by differences in inflammation and vascular permeability.
spVC for the detection and interpretation of spatial gene expression variation
Authors: Yu Shan , Li Wei Vivian
Published: April 2024

Spatially resolved transcriptomics technologies have opened new avenues for understanding gene expression heterogeneity in spatial contexts. However, existing methods for identifying spatially variable genes often focus solely on statistical significance, limiting their ability to capture continuous expression patterns and integrate spot-level covariates. To address these challenges, we introduce spVC, a statistical method based on a generalized Poisson model. spVC seamlessly integrates constant and spatially varying effects of covariates, facilitating comprehensive exploration of gene expression variability and enhancing interpretability. Simulation and real data applications confirm spVC’s accuracy in these tasks, highlighting its versatility in spatial transcriptomics analysis.
Who am I with my Lewy bodies? The insula as a core region of the self-concept networks
Authors: Tisserand Alice , Blanc Frédéric , Mondino Mary , Muller Candice , Durand Hélène , Demuynck Catherine , Loureiro de Sousa Paulo , Ravier Alix , Sanna Léa , Botzung Anne , Philippi Nathalie
Published: April 2024

Background

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is characterized by insular atrophy, which occurs at the early stage of the disease. Damage to the insula has been associated with disorders reflecting impairments of the most fundamental components of the self, such as anosognosia, which is a frequently reported symptom in patients with Lewy bodies (LB). The purpose of this study was to investigate modifications of the self-concept (SC), another component of the self, and to identify neuroanatomical correlates, in prodromal to mild DLB.

Methods

Twenty patients with prodromal to mild DLB were selected to participate in this exploratory study along with 20 healthy control subjects matched in terms of age, gender, and level of education. The Twenty Statements Test (TST) was used to assess the SC. Behavioral performances were compared between LB patients and control subjects. Three-dimensional magnetic resonance images (MRI) were acquired for all participants and correlational analyses were performed using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) in whole brain and using a mask for the insula.

Results

The behavioral results on the TST showed significantly impaired performances in LB patients in comparison with control subjects (p < .0001). Correlational analyses using VBM revealed positive correlations between the TST and grey matter volume within insular cortex, right supplementary motor area, bilateral inferior temporal gyri, right inferior frontal gyrus, and left lingual gyrus, using a threshold of p = .001 uncorrected, including total intracranial volume (TIV), age, and MMSE as nuisance covariates. Additionally, correlational analysis using a mask for the insula revealed positive correlation with grey matter volume within bilateral insular cortex, using a threshold of p = .005.

Conclusions

The behavioral results confirm the existence of SC impairments in LB patients from the prodromal stage of the disease, compared to matched healthy controls. As we expected, VBM analyses revealed involvement of the insula, among that of other brain regions, already known to be involved in other self-components. While this study is exploratory, our findings provide important insights regarding the involvement of the insula within the self, confirming the insula as a core region of the self-networks, including for high-order self-representations such as the SC.
Longitudinal validation of cognitive reserve proxy measures: a cohort study in a rural Chinese community
Authors: Chen Hao , Hu Jin , Gui Shiqi , Li Qiushuo , Wang Jing , Yang Xing , Yang Jingyuan
Published: April 2024

Background

While evidence supports cognitive reserve (CR) in preserving cognitive function, longitudinal validation of CR proxies, including later-life factors, remains scarce. This study aims to validate CR’s stability over time and its relation to cognitive function in rural Chinese older adults.

Methods

Within the project on the health status of rural older adults (HSRO), the survey included baseline assessment (2019) and follow-up assessment (2022). 792 older adults (mean age: 70.23 years) were followed up. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was constructed using cognitive reserve proxies that included years of formal education, social support, hobbies, and exercise. We examined the longitudinal validity of the CR factor using confirmatory factor analyses and measurement invariance and explored the association of CR with cognition using Spearman’s correlation and Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE).

Results

The results showed that CR’s CFA structure was stable over time (T0, χ2/df: 3.21/2; RMSEA: 0.02, and T1, χ2/df: 7.47/2; RMSEA: 0.05) and that it accepted both configural and metric invariance (Δχ2/df = 2.28/3, P = 0.52). In addition, it was found that CR had a stable positive relationship with cognitive function across time (T0, r = 0.54; T1, r = 0.49). Furthermore, longitudinal CR were associated with MMSE (β = 2.25; 95%CI = 2.01 ~ 2.49).

Conclusions

This study provided valuable evidence on the stability and validity of cognitive reserve proxy measures in rural Chinese older adults. Our findings suggested that cognitive reserve is associated with cognitive function over time and highlighted the importance of accumulating cognitive reserve in later life.
Genetic exploration of Dravet syndrome: two case report
Authors: Triono Agung , Herini Elisabeth Siti , Gunadi
Published: April 2024

Background

Dravet syndrome is an infantile-onset developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) characterized by drug resistance, intractable seizures, and developmental comorbidities. This article focuses on manifestations in two Indonesian children with Javanese ethnicity who experienced Dravet syndrome with an SCN1A gene mutation, presenting genetic analysis findings using next-generation sequencing.

Case presentation

We present a case series involving two Indonesian children with Javanese ethnicity whom had their first febrile seizure at the age of 3 months, triggered after immunization. Both patients had global developmental delay and intractable seizures. We observed distinct genetic findings in both our cases. The first patient revealed heterozygous deletion mutation in three genes (TTC21B, SCN1A, and SCN9A). In our second patient, previously unreported mutation was discovered at canonical splice site upstream of exon 24 of the SCN1A gene. Our patient’s outcomes improved after therapeutic evaluation based on mutation findings When comparing clinical manifestations in our first and second patients, we found that the more severe the genetic mutation discovered, the more severe the patient’s clinical manifestations.

Conclusion

These findings emphasize the importance of comprehensive genetic testing beyond SCN1A, providing valuable insights for personalized management and tailored therapeutic interventions in patients with Dravet syndrome. Our study underscores the potential of next-generation sequencing in advancing genotype–phenotype correlations and enhancing diagnostic precision for effective disease management.
Dissecting the respective roles of microbiota and host genetics in the susceptibility of Card9−/− mice to colitis
Authors: Danne C. , Lamas B. , Lavelle A. , Michel M.-L. , Da Costa G. , Pham Hang-Phuong , Lefevre A. , Bridonneau C. , Bredon M. , Planchais J. , Straube M. , Emond P. , Langella P. , Sokol H.
Published: April 2024

Background

The etiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is unclear but involves both genetics and environmental factors, including the gut microbiota. Indeed, exacerbated activation of the gastrointestinal immune system toward the gut microbiota occurs in genetically susceptible hosts and under the influence of the environment. For instance, a majority of IBD susceptibility loci lie within genes involved in immune responses, such as caspase recruitment domain member 9 (Card9). However, the relative impacts of genotype versus microbiota on colitis susceptibility in the context of CARD9 deficiency remain unknown.

Results

Card9 gene directly contributes to recovery from dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis by inducing the colonic expression of the cytokine IL-22 and the antimicrobial peptides Reg3β and Reg3γ independently of the microbiota. On the other hand, Card9 is required for regulating the microbiota capacity to produce AhR ligands, which leads to the production of IL-22 in the colon, promoting recovery after colitis. In addition, cross-fostering experiments showed that 5 weeks after weaning, the microbiota transmitted from the nursing mother before weaning had a stronger impact on the tryptophan metabolism of the pups than the pups’ own genotype.

Conclusions

These results show the role of CARD9 and its effector IL-22 in mediating recovery from DSS-induced colitis in both microbiota-independent and microbiota-dependent manners. Card9 genotype modulates the microbiota metabolic capacity to produce AhR ligands, but this effect can be overridden by the implantation of a WT or “healthy” microbiota before weaning. It highlights the importance of the weaning reaction occurring between the immune system and microbiota for host metabolism and immune functions throughout life. A better understanding of the impact of genetics on microbiota metabolism is key to developing efficient therapeutic strategies for patients suffering from complex inflammatory disorders.
The absorption-addiction model of celebrity worship: in search of a broader theoretical foundation
Authors: Aruguete Mara S. , Grieve Frederick , Zsila Ágnes , Horváth Rita , Demetrovics Zsolt , McCutcheon Lynn E.
Published: April 2024

Background

A large body of evidence suggests that some people have a strong, obsessive attachment to a favorite celebrity. The absorption-addiction model attempts to account for this extreme attachment, sometimes labeled “celebrity worship.” According to the model, a small portion of celebrity admirers (“celebrity worshipers”) become absorbed in the personal lives of celebrities to compensate for perceived personal or social deficiencies. The purpose of this study is to examine how the absorption-addiction model relates to broader psychological theories that include non-celebrity contexts. Specifically, we examine how the absorption-addiction model relates to three theories: empty-self theory, extremism theory, and the dualistic model of passion.

Methods

Participants (N = 399; 77.94% women, Mage = 19.91 years, SD = 3.24) completed an online questionnaire measuring attraction to favorite celebrities. Constructs representing the three broader theories were compared to a measure of attraction to one’s favorite celebrity.

Results

Sense of emptiness, obsessive passion, and extremism were positively associated with celebrity attraction. The strongest association was found with extremism, though the effect was moderate.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that extremism theory is the best fit of the three broader theories explaining celebrity worship, although its contribution to understanding celebrity worship is modest.
The effects of Mediterranean diet on cardiovascular risk factors, glycemic control and weight loss in patients with type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis
Authors: Zheng Xing , Zhang Wenwen , Wan Xiaojuan , Lv Xiaoyan , Lin Peng , Si Shucheng , Xue Fuzhong , Wang Aijun , Cao Yingjuan
Published: April 2024

To explore the impact of the Mediterranean diet on cardiovascular risk factors, glycemic control and weight loss in patients with type 2 diabetes(T2D) by a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We systematically searched PubMed, Cochrance Library, EMBASE and four Chinese databases to identify RCTs that compared the Mediterranean diet with control diets in patients with T2D up to December 2021. The Risk of Bias of the included studies was assessed using the version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tools for randomized trials (ROB 2). Seven RCTs with 1371 patients met the eligibility criteria and entered into the meta-analysis. Compared to control diets, the beneficial effects of Mediterranean diet were not statistically significant in high-density lipoprotein (MD = 2.33; 95% CI: -0.27 to 4.92), low-density lipoprotein (MD = -2.34; 95% CI -5.67 to 0.99) and total cholesterol (MD = 2.60; 95% CI: -0.95 to 6.15). But Mediterranean diet led to reduce the level of diastolic blood pressure (MD = -1.20; 95% CI: -2.21 to -0.19) and systolic blood pressure (MD = -4.17; 95% CI: -7.12 to -1.22). Meanwhile, Mediterranean diet showed beneficial effects in glycemic control (HbA1[%]: MD = -0.39, 95% CI: -0.58 to -0.20; fasting plasma glucose: MD = -15.12, 95% CI: -24.69 to -5.55) and weight loss (BMI: MD = -0.71, 95% CI: -1.30 to -0.78; WC: MD = -1.69; 95% CI: -3.35 to -0.02) compared to the control diets. The meta-analysis presented evidence supporting the beneficial effects of the Mediterranean diet on blood pressure, glycemic control, and weight loss. However, the impact of the Mediterranean diet on the lipid profile was not found to be significant, warranting further verification. This Meta-analysis was registered on the INPLASY website (Registration number: INPLASY 202160096).
Effects of Chronic Static Stretching on Maximal Strength and Muscle Hypertrophy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis with Meta-Regression
Authors: Warneke Konstantin , Lohmann Lars Hubertus , Behm David G. , Wirth Klaus , Keiner Michael , Schiemann Stephan , Wilke Jan
Published: April 2024

Background

Increases in maximal strength and muscle volume represent central aims of training interventions. Recent research suggested that the chronic application of stretch may be effective in inducing hypertrophy. The present systematic review therefore aimed to syntheisize the evidence on changes of strength and muscle volume following chronic static stretching.

Methods

Three data bases were sceened to conduct a systematic review with meta-analysis. Studies using randomized, controlled trials with longitudinal (≥ 2 weeks) design, investigating strength and muscle volume following static stretching in humans, were included. Study quality was rated by two examiners using the PEDro scale.

Results

A total of 42 studies with 1318 cumulative participants were identified. Meta-analyses using robust variance estimation showed small stretch-mediated maximal strength increases (d = 0.30 p < 0.001) with stretching duration and intervention time as significant moderators. Including all studies, stretching induced small magnitude, but significant hypertrophy effects (d = 0.20). Longer stretching durations and intervention periods as well as higher training frequencies revealed small (d = 0.26–0.28), but significant effects (p < 0.001–0.005), while lower dosage did not reach the level of significance (p = 0.13–0.39).

Conclusions

While of minor effectiveness, chronic static stretching represents a possible alternative to resistance training when aiming to improve strength and increase muscle size. As a dose-response relationship may exist, higher stretch durations and frequencies as well as long program durations should be further elaborated.
Potential climate-induced impacts on trade: the case of agricultural commodities and maritime chokepoints
Authors: Key Ramon , Parrado Ramiro , Delpiazzo Elisa , King Richard , Bosello Francesco
Published: April 2024

This study assesses the potential macro-economic effects of climate change affecting operations in three maritime chokepoints, i.e., the Panama Canal, the Suez Canal, and the Turkish Straits. The analysis focuses on agricultural commodities. It couples a “logistics” model of maritime trade flows with a Computable General Equilibrium model considering three modelling alternatives: (1) increase of “iceberg trade costs”, (2) shadow import tariffs, and (3) shadow export tariffs. Methodologically, we found a comforting qualitative agreement across methodologies in predicting the direction of changes in the main economic variables under scrutiny. However, negative GDP performances are more frequent and larger using the first method that also tends to predict lower import contractions than the other two methods. The impact assessment, examining storylines of climate-change-induced events delaying chokepoints operations, highlights that climate change impacts on chokepoints’ operations can convey detectable effects on production and prices of agricultural commodities associated with negative GDP impacts worldwide. In addition, although trade re-composition generates winners and losers, total losses tend to prevail. The combined GDP losses of the three chokepoints can reach $34 billion (2014 prices) in 2030. It shows that weather events in remote locations, such as the Panama Canal, can have cascading effects on the EU, with potential losses of USD 2 billion $ in GDP. North Africa, Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa are particularly vulnerable. They suffer from a drop in imports of agricultural commodities and GDP losses in all the three cases. This impact assessment emphasizes another mechanism at play that could increase the asymmetry and the adverse distributional impacts of climate change on agriculture.
Elevations in NLR at the first year of pirfenidone treatment may be associated with worse prognosis in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Özdemir Özer , Polat Gülru , Üçsular Fatma Demirci , Unat Damla Serçe , Ermin Sinem , Şimşek Tarık
Published: April 2024

Background

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hemogram parameters, namely NLR and PLR, at the end of the first year of antifibrotic treatment in IPF patients and evaluate the association of change in NLR and PLR levels and mortality in this study population. Patients diagnosed with IPF and started on antifibrotic therapy between 2016 and 2022 were included. Study design was retrospective cohort study. Baseline NLR and PLR values were obtained at the time of diagnosis before any treatment was started. Follow-up levels of NLR and PLR were obtained at the completion of the first year of antifibrotic treatment.

Results

A total of 125 patients were included in the study. Mean age was 67.9 ± 7.27 years. It was found that increment in NLR at first year was significant in non-survived group (p =  0.01). When patients were separated into four groups according to their survival status and antifibrotic medication, significant NLR and PLR elevations were only present in non-survived pirfenidone group (p =  0.02 and p =  0.01).

Conclusions

Elevated levels of NLR at the first year of antifibrotic treatment may be a sign of worse prognosis in IPF patients, especially in patients treated with pirfenidone.
3D ground-penetrating radar data analysis and interpretation using attributes based on the gradient structure tensor
Authors: Koyan Philipp , Tronicke Jens
Published: April 2024

In near-surface geophysics, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys are routinely used in a variety of applications including those from archaeology, civil engineering, hydrology, and soil science. Thanks to recent technical developments in GPR instrumentation and antenna design, 3D surveys comprising several hundred thousand traces can be performed daily. Especially in complex environments such as sedimentary systems, analyzing and interpreting the resulting GPR volumes is a time-consuming and laborious task that is still largely performed manually. In the past few decades, several data attributes have been developed to guide and improve such tasks and assure a higher degree of reproducibility in the resulting interpretations. Many of these attributes have been developed in image processing or computer vision and are routinely used, for example, in reflection seismic data interpretation. Especially in sedimentary systems, variations in the subsurface are accompanied by variations of GPR reflections in terms of the amplitudes, continuity, and geometry in view of the dip angle and direction. A promising tool to analyze such structural features is known as the gradient structure tensor (GST). To date, the application of the GST approach has been limited to a few 2D GPR examples. Thus, we take the basic idea of GST analysis and introduce and evaluate the corresponding attributes to analyze 3D GPR data. We apply our GST approach to one synthetic and two field data sets imaging diverse sedimentary structures. Our results demonstrate that our set of GST-based attributes can be efficiently computed in three dimensions and that these attributes represent versatile measures to address different typical interpretation tasks and, thus, help for an efficient, reproducible, and more objective interpretation of 3D GPR data.
Increased Prevalence of Germline Pathogenic CHEK2 Variants in Individuals With Pituitary Adenomas
Authors: De Sousa Sunita M C , McCormack Ann , Orsmond Andreas , Shen Angeline , Yates Christopher J , Clifton-Bligh Roderick , Santoreneos Stephen , King James , Feng Jinghua , Toubia John , Torpy David J , Scott Hamish S
Published: April 2024

Context

CHEK2 is a cell cycle checkpoint regulator gene with a long-established role as a clinically relevant, moderate risk breast cancer predisposition gene, with greater risk ascribed to truncating variants than missense variants.

Objective

To assess the rate and pathogenicity of CHEK2 variants amongst individuals with pituitary adenomas (PAs).

Methods

We assessed 165 individuals with PAs for CHEK2 variants. The study population comprised a primary cohort of 29 individuals who underwent germline and tumor whole-exome sequencing, and a second, independent cohort of 136 individuals who had a targeted next-generation sequencing panel performed on both germline and tumor DNA (n = 52) or germline DNA alone (n = 84).

Results

We identified rare, coding, nonsynonymous germline CHEK2 variants amongst 3 of 29 (10.3%) patients in our primary cohort, and in 5 of 165 (3.0%) patients overall, with affected patients having a range of PA types (prolactinoma, thyrotropinoma, somatotropinoma, and nonfunctioning PA). No somatic variants were identified. Two variants were definitive null variants (c.1100delC, c.444 + 1G > A), classified as pathogenic. Two variants were missense variants (p.Asn186His, p.Thr476Met), classified as likely pathogenic. Even when considering the null variants only, the rate of CHEK2 variants was higher in our cohort compared to national control data (1.8% vs 0.5%; P = .049).

Conclusion

This is the first study to suggest a role for the breast cancer predisposition gene, CHEK2, in pituitary tumorigenesis, with pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants found in 3% of patients with PAs. As PAs are relatively common and typically lack classic autosomal dominant family histories, risk alleles—such as these variants found in CHEK2—might be a significant contributor to PA risk in the general population.
SHBG Gene Polymorphisms and Their Influence on Serum SHBG, Total and Free Testosterone Concentrations in Men
Authors: Walravens Joeri , Sleumer Bas , Vos Michel J , Snaterse Gido , Narinx Nick , Antonio Leen , Reyns Tim , Fiers Tom , Kema Ido P , Kaufman Jean-Marc , van de Merbel Nico C , Lapauw Bruno
Published: April 2024

Context

Genetic variation in SHBG structure may affect estimates of sex steroid exposure by altering the affinity of the protein for its ligand. Consequently, free hormone calculations assuming constant binding affinity may, for certain genetic variations, lead to incorrect diagnoses if genetic variation is not taken into consideration.

Objective

To investigate the effects of genetic variation in SHBG on calculated and measured serum free testosterone (T) in men.

Design, setting and participants

Population-based sibling-pair study in 999 healthy men aged 25 to 45 (mean, 34.5) years.

Main outcome measures

Genotyping using microarray (Illumina) for single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) suggested to affect binding affinity and/or concentration of SHBG or T. SHBG concentrations were measured using immunoassay and in a subset (n = 32) by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Total T was measured using LC-MS/MS. Free T was calculated and in a subset (n = 314) measured directly using LC-MS/MS after equilibrium dialysis.

Results

Allelic frequencies of analyzed SNPs ranged from 0.5% to 58.2%. Compared to wild-type, SHBG concentrations were lower in rs6258 heterozygotes (−24.7%; P < .05) and higher in rs6259 heterozygotes, rs727428 homozygotes, and carriers of rs1799941 (+10.8 to 23.1%; all P < .05). Total T was higher in rs727428 homozygotes and carriers of rs5934505, rs1799941and rs6259 (+3.9 to 21.4%; all P < .05). No clear effects on measured free T were found, except for a trend toward higher values in rs6259 homozygotes, significant for calculated free T (+18.7%; P < .05) in the larger global study population.

Conclusion

In these men, analyzed SNPs were relatively prevalent and affected serum concentrations of total T and SHBG but not calculated or measured free T except for a higher trend in rs6259 homozygotes.
Preoperative Corticosteroids Reduce Diagnostic Accuracy of Stereotactic Biopsies in Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Tosefsky Kira , Rebchuk Alexander D. , Martin Karina Chornenka , Chen David W. , Yip Stephen , Makarenko Serge
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Despite general acceptance that corticosteroid therapy (CST) should be withheld before biopsy for suspected primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), there remains conflicting evidence surrounding the precise impact of preoperative CST on the histopathological diagnosis. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to describe and quantify the effects of preoperative CST on the diagnostic accuracy of biopsies for PCNSL.

METHODS:

Primary articles were screened from Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Meta-analysis was performed for immunocompetent patients with histologically confirmed PCNSL. Subgroup and regression analyses were performed to assess the effects of biopsy type, CST duration, dose, and preoperative taper on the diagnostic accuracy. In addition, the sensitivity of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analyses for PCNSL was assessed.

RESULTS:

Nineteen studies, comprising 1226 patients (45% female; mean age: 60.3 years), were included. Preoperative CST increased the risk of nondiagnostic biopsy with a relative risk (RR) of 2.1 (95% CI: 1.1-4.1). In the stereotactic biopsy subgroup, the RR for nondiagnostic biopsy was 3.0 (95% CI: 1.2-7.5). CST taper, duration, and dose did not significantly influence diagnostic biopsy rates. The sensitivity of CSF cytology, including flow cytometry, for PCNSL was 8.0% (95% CI: 6.0%-10.7%).

CONCLUSION:

Our results suggest that preoperative CST reduces the diagnostic yield of stereotactic biopsies for PCNSL. We found no evidence that tapering CST before biopsy improves diagnostic rates. CSF analysis currently has a poor sensitivity for the diagnosis of PCNSL.
Vascular smooth muscle cell-derived nerve growth factor regulates sympathetic collateral branching to innervate blood vessels in embryonic skin
Authors: Li Wenling , Lipsius Katherine , Burns Nathan G. , Sato Ryo , Rehman Azaan , Xue Hui , Combs Christian , Minichiello Liliana , Gangrade Harshi , Tampakakis Emmanouil , Mukouyama Yoh-suke
Published: April 2024

Blood vessels serve as intermediate conduits for the extension of sympathetic axons towards target tissues, while also acting as crucial targets for their homeostatic processes encompassing the regulation of temperature, blood pressure, and oxygen availability. How sympathetic axons innervate not only blood vessels but also a wide array of target tissues is not clear. Here we show that in embryonic skin, after the establishment of co-branching between sensory nerves and blood vessels, sympathetic axons invade the skin alongside these sensory nerves and extend their branches towards these blood vessels covered by vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Our mosaic labeling technique for sympathetic axons shows that collateral branching predominantly mediates the innervation of VSMC-covered blood vessels by sympathetic axons. The expression of nerve growth factor (NGF), previously known to induce collateral axon branching in culture, can be detected in the vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC)-covered blood vessels, as well as sensory nerves. Indeed, VSMC-specific Ngf knockout leads to a significant decrease of collateral branching of sympathetic axons innervating VSMC-covered blood vessels. These data suggest that VSMC-derived NGF serves as an inductive signal for collateral branching of sympathetic axons innervating blood vessels in the embryonic skin.
Clinical Utility of the Combined Use of CA19-9 and DUPAN-2 in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Sumiyoshi Tatsuaki , Uemura Kenichiro , Shintakuya Ryuta , Okada Kenjiro , Baba Kenta , Harada Takumi , Serikawa Masahiro , Ishii Yasutaka , Nakamura Shinya , Arihiro Koji , Murakami Yoshiaki , Takahashi Shinya
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients with normal carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 levels can have early-stage cancer or advanced cancer without elevation of CA19-9 level; estimating their malignant potential is difficult. This study investigated the clinical utility of the combined use of preoperative CA 19-9 and Duke pancreatic monoclonal antigen type 2 (DUPAN-2) levels in patients with PDAC.

Methods

Patients who underwent curative-intent surgery for PDAC between November 2005 and December 2021 were investigated. Eligible patients were classified into four groups based on these two markers. Among patients with normal CA19-9 levels, those with normal and high DUPAN-2 levels were classified into normal/normal (N/N) and normal/high (N/H) groups, respectively. Among patients with high CA19-9 levels, those with normal and high DUPAN-2 levels were classified into high/normal (H/N) and high/high (H/H) groups, respectively. Survival rates were compared between the groups.

Results

Among 521 patients, the N/N, N/H, H/N, and H/H groups accounted for 25.0%, 10.6%, 35.1%, and 29.4% of patients, respectively. The proportions of resectable PDAC in the N/N and H/N groups (71.5% and 66.7%) were significantly higher than those in the N/H and H/H groups (49.1% and 54.9%) (P < 0.01). The 5-year survival rates in the N/N, N/H, H/N, and H/H groups were 66.0%, 31.1%, 34.9%, and 29.7%, respectively; the rate in the N/N group was significantly better than those in the other three groups (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001, and P < 0.0001, respectively).

Conclusions

Only patients with normal CA19-9 and DUPNA-2 values should be diagnosed with early-stage PDAC.
Low-Volume Speed Endurance Training with Reduced Volume Improves Short-Term Exercise Performance in Highly Trained Cyclists
Authors: JEPPESEN JAN S. , WICKHAM KATE A. , ZEUTHEN MARTIN , THOMASSEN MARTIN , JESSEN SØREN , HELLSTEN YLVA , HOSTRUP MORTEN , BANGSBO JENS
Published: April 2024

Purpose

We investigated the effects of low- and high-volume speed endurance training (SET), with a reduced training volume, on sprint ability, short- and long-term exercise capacity, muscle mitochondrial properties, ion transport proteins, and maximal enzyme activity in highly trained athletes.

Methods

Highly trained male cyclists (maximal oxygen consumption (V̇O2max): 68.3 ± 5.0 mL·min−1·kg−1, n = 24) completed 6 wk of either low (SET-L; 6 × 30-s intervals, n = 8) or high (SET-H; 12 × 30-s intervals, n = 8) volume SET twice per week with a 30% reduction in training volume. A control group (CON; n = 8) maintained their training. Exercise performance was evaluated by i) 6-s sprinting, ii) a 4-min time trial, and iii) a 60-min preload at 60% V̇O2max followed by a 20-min time trial. A biopsy of m. vastus lateralis was collected before and after the training intervention.

Results

In SET-L, 4-min time trial performance was improved (P < 0.05) by 3.8%, with no change in SET-H and CON. Sprint ability, prolonged endurance exercise capacity, V̇O2max, muscle mitochondrial respiratory capacity, maximal citrate synthase activity, fiber type–specific mitochondrial proteins (complexes I–V), and phosphofructokinase (PFK) content did not change in any of the groups. In SET-H, maximal activity of muscle PFK and abundance of Na+-K+ pump-subunit α1, α2, β1, and phospholemman (FXYD1) were 20%, 50%, 19%, 24%, and 42% higher (P < 0.05), respectively after compared with before the intervention, with no changes in SET-L or CON.

Conclusions

Low SET volume combined with a reduced aerobic low- and moderate-intensity training volume does improve short-duration intense exercise performance and maintain sprinting ability, V̇O2max, endurance exercise performance, and muscle oxidative capacity, whereas, high volume of SET seems necessary to upregulate muscle ion transporter content and maximal PFK activity in highly trained cyclists.
Case Report: Giant bronchogenic cyst compressing the pericardium and the lung hilum
Authors: Abdennadher Mahdi , Ben Mansour Amani , Zribi Hazem , Mlika Mouna , Abdelkebir Amina , Bellali Hedia , Zairi Sarra , Tritar Fatma , Marghli Adel
Published: April 2024

Introduction: The bronchogenic cyst is a congenital anomaly of the trachea and the bronchi resulting in a malformation that develop in the bronchial tree, most often in the middle mediastinum. It is a benign pathology, often asymptomatic, however in the case of a large bronchogenic cyst, signs of compression of the intra-thoracic organs appear and early surgery is necessary to avoid complications.

Case presentation:  A 49-year-old patient was referred to our department with dry cough, dyspnea and chest tightness progressing for six months. Radiological exploration concluded that a giant bronchogenic cyst, 90 mm in diameter, was very probable. Surgery was performed via a right posterolateral thoracotomy. Intraoperatively, there was a large cystic formation 100mm*80 mm of the middle mediastinum in intimate contact with the origin of the right pulmonary artery, the lower right pulmonary vein as well as the right atrium exerting a compressive effect on the bronchi. The lesion was firmly adhered to the pericardium. The cystic was ‘en bloc’ resected in totality. The postoperative course was uncomplicated. Histological examination confirmed diagnosis of a bronchogenic cyst. The patient was asymptomatic throughout the follow-up period.

Clinical discussion:  Apart from the possibility of malignant degeneration, a bronchogenic cyst can increase in size and become huge causing serious complications.  Despite the predictive diagnostic value of imaging, definitive diagnosis of a bronchogenic cyst is confirmed by surgical excision and pathological examination.

Conclusions:  Surgery is almost obligatory especially if the cyst is above a certain size (about 60 mm) and in the case of giant bronchogenic cysts.
Acrylamide in starchy foods subjected to deep-frying, 20 years after its discovery (2002-2022): a patent review
Authors: Díaz-Ávila William Yesid , Villarreal-Archila Sylvia María , Castellanos-Galeano Francisco Javier
Published: April 2024

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the discovery of acrylamide in food, an analysis of patents related to the mitigation of this compound in food products obtained through immersion frying was carried out. For this purpose, a comprehensive search, compilation, and information analysis were conducted using free online databases such as Google Patents, Patenscope, and Lens. The search yielded a total of 79 patents within the considered time period (2002-2022). The countries with the highest number of granted patents were the United States, the European Union, and South Korea. The patents were classified into four main approaches: raw material modification (49%), application of pre-treatments (27%), process modification (16%), and measurement techniques (8%). Among the results, Frito-Lay, an American company, stands out as the food industry company with the highest number of granted patents, totaling 15. Based on this review, it is concluded that while a significant number of patents have been granted in recent years, there is still a lag in developing countries. Furthermore, more studies are needed to determine acrylamide in starchy food matrices subjected to immersion frying different from potatoes.
Transforming the tourism experience: Virtual Reality for customer loyalty in the tourism industry
Authors: Cayahuallpa-Paquirachi Carlos , Pacheco Alex , Uribe-Hernandez Yrene
Published: April 2024

Background Today, the tourism sector in particular is becoming increasingly competitive, forcing companies to adopt innovative approaches to attract the attention of consumers. In this context, a virtual reality application is presented with the aim of strengthening brand loyalty through immersive experiences in tourism companies. Methods The development was divided into three phases: planning, implementation and operation, which emphasized close collaboration with stakeholders to adapt to changing requirements; implementation, which focused on a simple design with emphasis on creating a scalable and secure backend architecture; and finally, in the operation phase, two iterations were carried out. The first focused on creating an immersive virtual environment with intuitive interfaces and basic interactive elements. The second iteration enhanced these basic features and incorporated advanced features such as greater interactivity with virtual objects for a more realistic experience. Results A 66.36% increase in brand loyalty was achieved, demonstrating increased customer engagement and sustainable revenue generation. There was also a 65.48% increase in customer retention, indicating a continued willingness to purchase services from this brand. In addition, 78.15% of participants expressed a high level of satisfaction with the virtual reality experience. Conclusions This research contributes to the process of inclusive and sustainable industrialization by improving infrastructure and making industries more sustainable. This will be achieved by making more efficient use of resources and promoting the adoption of technologies.
The genome sequence of the beech bark beetle, Taphrorychus bicolor (Herbst, 1793)
Authors: Telfer Mark G. , Badham Xavier Richard ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: April 2024

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Taphrorychus bicolor (the beech bark beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Curculionidae). The genome sequence is 575.2 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 12 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X and Y sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.46 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 24,125 protein coding genes.
The genome sequence of the Elm Groundling moth, Carpatolechia fugitivella (Zeller, 1839)
Authors: Boyes Douglas , Crowley Liam M. , McCulloch James , Boyes Clare ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: April 2024

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Carpatolechia fugitivella (the Elm Groundling; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Gelechiidae). The genome sequence is 493.1 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 30 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.26 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 12,721 protein coding genes.
The genome sequence of a false flower beetle, Anaspis maculata (Geoffroy in Fourcroy, 1785)
Authors: Telfer Mark G. , Barclay Maxwell V. L. , Phillips Dominic ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Natural History Museum Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: April 2024

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Anaspis maculata (false flower beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Scraptiidae). The genome sequence is 757.8 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 8 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.31 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 21,965 protein coding genes.
Recent Developments on Flexible Materials for Thermoelectrics
Authors: Rabinal Mohammad Hussain , Mawazzan Mohammed Hamid Raza , Padasalagi Anita , B Manoj
Published: April 2024

In recent decades, thermoelectric materials have gained a significant attention due to their ability to directly convert waste heat into electricity. While extensive research has been focused on enhancing the thermoelectric properties of inorganic bulk materials, a new frontier has emerged in this area as flexible thermoelectric materials. These flexible thermoelectrics are driven by the limitations posed by the rigidity, less functional and toxicity of conventional inorganic thermoelectric materials. Despite notable achievements in the development of high-performance flexible thermoelectric materials, they still pose inferior figure of merit (zT) in comparison to their inorganic counterparts. This review encompasses various aspects of flexible thermoelectric materials including theoretical foundations which highlight the principles that explain the concepts and parameters of thermoelectricity to enhance the overall performance, serving as a foundation for understanding the subsequent developments. Further it is overviewed in detail the corresponding state of the art in development of conducting thermoelectric polymers, inorganic-polymer composites, carbon-based thermoelectric and inorganic thermoelectrics on flexible substrates to enhance their thermoelectric performances. Finally it includes the overlook to the future of flexible thermoelectric for wearable thermoelectrics.
Unpacking the Past and Charting the Future: A Comprehensive Review of Organizational Development Trends and Predictions
Authors: Patangia Bishal , R Vijaya
Published: April 2024

The current study is a comprehensive review that provides an overview of recent trends in Organizational Development (OD) over the past five years (2018-23) based on empirical evidence. The study analyzes the identified trends, key concepts, and theories, and their impact on the OD field. The major trends in OD identified include strategic agility, learning and development, digital transformation, effective leadership, engagement and well-being, and fostering inclusivity and diversity. The study highlights the underlying theories and approaches that have influenced these trends. The findings suggest that organizations need to adapt to change faster with a dynamic environment and market expectations, and strategic agility is crucial for researchers and business practitioners. Learning and development within the organization is essential to keep employees up-to-date with relevant skills and help them adapt to changes much faster. Effective leadership, engagement and well-being, and fostering inclusivity and diversity are also critical for organizational growth and sustainability. The study provides insights for OD professionals to tailor solutions that meet the unique requirements of each organization and forecasts the future of OD globally by identifying trends and emerging issues.
Interrogating Hick’s View of Religious Pluralism
Authors: Chauhan Kavita , Tinyi Venusa
Published: April 2024

A philosopher whose name has become almost synonymous with religious pluralism is John Hick. He justifies his position by borrowing insights and concepts from Immanuel Kant and Ludwig Wittgenstein. We argue that Kantian and Wittgensteinian frameworks are inadequate to explain and defend religious pluralism of the kind he advocates. We critically analyze the concepts of religious experience and religious language and then proceed to discuss Yoga school of Indian philosophy as a limiting case against his enterprise.
Editorial: la economía de la atención en un internet monopolizado
Authors: García Ramírez Diego Alonso , Giraldo Luque Santiago
Published: April 2024

Editorial del número 15-2 (Julio-Diciembre, 2022)