bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring Shared Genetic Signatures of Alzheimer’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis: A Bioinformatic Analysis Study
Authors: Yuan Dasen , Huang Bihui , Gu Meifeng , Qin Bang-e , Su Zhihui , Dai Kai , Peng Fu-hua , Jiang Ying
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Many clinical studies reported the coexistence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and multiple sclerosis (MS), but the common molecular signature between AD and MS remains elusive. The purpose of our study was to explore the genetic linkage between AD and MS through bioinformatic analysis, providing new insights into the shared signatures and possible pathogenesis of two diseases. Methods: The common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were determined between AD and MS from datasets obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Further, functional and pathway enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction network construction, and identification of hub genes were carried out. The expression level of hub genes was validated in two other external AD and MS datasets. Transcription factor (TF)-gene interactions and gene-miRNA interactions were performed in NetworkAnalyst. Finally, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was applied to evaluate the predictive value of hub genes. Results: A total of 75 common DEGs were identified between AD and MS. Functional and pathway enrichment analysis emphasized the importance of exocytosis and synaptic vesicle cycle, respectively. Six significant hub genes, including CCL2, CD44, GFAP, NEFM, STXBP1, and TCEAL6, were identified and verified as common hub genes shared by AD and MS. FOXC1 and hsa-mir-16-5p are the most common TF and miRNA in regulating hub genes, respectively. In the ROC curve analysis, all hub genes showed good efficiency in helping distinguish patients from controls. Conclusion: Our study first identified a common genetic signature between AD and MS, paving the road for investigating shared mechanism of AD and MS.
Addendum to the German Consensus Recommendations on Ponatinib in the Treatment of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Saussele Susanne , La Rosée Paul , Kiani Alexander , Haverkamp Wilhelm , Jentsch-Ullrich Kathleen , Stegelmann Frank , Rieger Christina , Waller Cornelius F. , Franke Georg-Nikolaus , Junghanss Christian , Kirchmair Rudolf , Theurl Markus , le Coutre Philipp
Published: October 2023

Background: Based on the new data from the primary analysis of the OPTIC (Optimizing Ponatinib Treatment in CP-CML) trial on dose optimization of ponatinib in patients with chronic phase (CP)-CML, the German consensus paper on ponatinib published in 2020 (Saussele S et al., Acta Haematol. 2020) has been updated in this addendum. Summary: Focus is on the update of efficacy and safety of ponatinib, reflecting the new data set, as well as the update of the benefit-risk assessment and recommendations for ponatinib starting dose in CP-CML – provided that the decision to use ponatinib has already been made. Furthermore, based on OPTIC and additional empirical data, the expert panel collaborated to develop a decision tree for ponatinib dosing, specifically for intolerant and resistant patients. The recommendations on cardiovascular management have also been updated based on the most recent 2021 guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice. Key Messages: The OPTIC data confirm the high efficacy of ponatinib in patients with CP-CML and provide the basis for individualized dose adjustment during the course of treatment.
Eccentric Fixation and Good Visual Acuity in a Child with Large Traumatic Macular Hole: A Case Report
Authors: Asadigandomani Hassan , Mohammadi Nader , Riazi-Esfahani Hamid , Sadeghi Motahhareh , Khalili Pour Elias
Published: October 2023

A girl of 8 years old was referred to our clinic with a history of penetrating injury to her left eye 6 years ago with light perception vision and a large traumatic macular hole in her right eye. Her right eye’s vision was 4/10 when she first visited our clinic. Considering the patient’s one-eye status, her parents’ reluctance to undergo surgery, and the possibility of spontaneous closure of traumatic macular holes, it was determined to observe the patient and evaluate her visual acuity and macular hole condition. In 2 years, the final best corrected visual acuity was 8/10 in the right eye, with infratemporal eccentric fixation in visuoscopy. In addition to evaluating and reporting this case as a traumatic macular hole, we will discuss the role of nonsurgical treatment and the possibility of good visual acuity with eccentric fixation in a child with large traumatic macular hole.
Sterile Corneal Infiltrates following Cataract Surgery: Case Series
Authors: Franch Antonella , Bini Silvia , Francescutti Lorena , Birattari Federica , Leon Pia , Bonamartini Daniele , Gambato Tommaso , Altafini Romeo
Published: October 2023

We report a case series of 26 eyes of 26 patients undergoing planned cataract surgery from December 2021 to March 2022, who were diagnosed as having whitish round infiltrates in the surgical corneal incisions. The infiltrates were detected at the first check after 5–8 days from cataract surgery and were located either within the main corneal incision and/or in the smaller incisions. Corneal infiltrates (CIs) were single or multiple, without epithelial defects, and painless. All infiltrates were initially treated with full topical antibiotic coverage, in order to control eventual and serious postsurgical infection. However, at daily checks, the clinical course of CIs suggested a sterile etiology. For this reason, steroidal topical treatment was maintained for a long time with slow tapering until complete remission of the CIs. All infiltrates resolved completely in around 30–40 days. The surgical instruments and the sterilization process were scrutinized. A white amorphous material was found mainly on non-disposable anterior chamber cannulas and on irrigation/aspiration tips. Disposable cannulas were adopted, and machinery for cleaning and sterilization procedures were reviewed, with specific reference to water softener renewal. Thanks to these precautions, CIs never occurred again. Finally, our hypothesis was an immune corneal reaction to amorphous deposit on cannula tips. This case series describes a previously unknown complication of cataract surgery and our experience might be useful for other surgeons.
Unilateral Melanoma-Associated Retinopathy Case Report
Authors: Peeters Reinout , Peeters Freya , Jacob Julie , Draganova Dafina , Casteels Ingele , Poesen Koen , Balikova Irina
Published: October 2023

In this report, we present a case of unilateral melanoma-associated retinopathy in a 72-year-old woman. The patient’s main symptoms were decreased vision and positive dysphotopsia. Unilateral electronegative electroretinogram (ERG) was suggestive for melanoma retinopathy. PET-CT discovered metastatic disease, 3 years after the initial melanoma. A prompt treatment with corticosteroids was started, followed by immunotherapy. The central and peripheral vision of the patient improved, and the ERG showed normalization of the responses. This case highlights the importance of early recognition and individualized treatment strategies for melanoma-associated retinopathy.
Cohen Syndrome: Novel VPS13B Genetic Variants in a Male Portuguese Patient with Pigmentary Retinopathy
Authors: Curado Vilares Morgado Rodrigo Manuel Robalo , Ferreira Ana Margarida , Santos-Silva Renato , Quental Rita , Carneiro Angela , Estrela-Silva Sérgio
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this clinical report was to describe a case of Cohen syndrome with its classical ophthalmological manifestations and novel VPS13B genetic variants. A 39-year-old Caucasian male patient with severe rod-cone retinal dystrophy and no history of parental consanguinity was referred to our ophthalmology department. Ophthalmologic history included high bilateral myopia and a 3-year prior bilateral cataract surgery. Systemic history included facial dysmorphism, intellectual disability, transient neutropenia, microcephaly, truncal obesity, and joint hyperextensibility. The patient presented classic fundoscopic features of pigmentary retinopathy in both eyes (OU). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed bilateral central and diffuse retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and outer retinal atrophy without concomitant macular edema, while fluorescein angiography (FA) demonstrated diffuse RPE atrophy with prominent choroidal vessels. The full-field ERG (ffERG) showed no dark-adapted or light-adapted responses and the P50 wave was not identified in the pattern ERG (pERG). The genetic study revealed two novel heterozygous variants in the VPS13B gene: (1) c.5138T>C p.(Leu1713Pro) and (2) c.10179del p.(Asn3393Lysfs*37), thus confirming the diagnosis of Cohen syndrome. This case report introduces these two novel genetic variants to the literature, in a patient with classic phenotypic characteristics of Cohen syndrome, a rare genetic disease which has been increasingly reported since its first description in 1973.
Efficacy of Therapeutic Apheresis for Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis Patients with Renal Involvement: A Systematic Review
Authors: Miao Jing , Krisanapan Pajaree , Tangpanithandee Supawit , Thongprayoon Charat , Cheungpasitporn Wisit
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Therapeutic apheresis (TA) is commonly used for cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CV) patients, but its efficacy remains uncertain. This systematic review aimed to assess the efficacy of different TA modalities, such as plasma exchange (PE), plasmapheresis (PP), and cryofiltration (CF), in treating CV patients with renal involvement. Methods: Literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Databases was conducted up to December 2022. Studies that reported the outcomes of TA in adult CV patients with renal involvement were assessed. The protocol for this systematic review has been registered with PROSPERO (No. CRD42023417727). The quality of each study was evaluated by the investigators using the validated methodological index for non-randomized studies (minors) quality score. Results: 154 patients who encountered 170 episodes of serious events necessitating TA were evaluated across 76 studies. Among them, 51% were males, with a mean age ranging from 49 to 58 years. The CV types included 15 type I, 97 type II, and 13 type III, while the remaining patients exhibited mixed (n = 17) or undetermined CV types (n = 12). Among the treatment modalities, PE, PP, and CF were performed in 85 (56%), 52 (34%), and 17 patients (11%), respectively, with no identical protocol for TA treatment. The overall response rate for TA was 78%, with response rates of 84%, 77%, and 75% observed in type I, II, and III patients respectively. Most patients received steroids, immunosuppressants, and treatment targeting the underlying causative disease. The overall long-term renal outcome rate was 77%, with type I, II, and III patients experiencing response rates of 89%, 76%, and 90%, respectively. The renal outcomes in patients receiving PE, PP, and CF were comparable, with rates of 78%, 76%, and 81%, respectively. Conclusions: This study presents compelling evidence that combination of TA with other treatments, especially immunosuppressive therapy, is a successful strategy for effectively managing severe renal involvement in CV patients. Among the TA modalities studied, including PE, PP, and CF, all demonstrated efficacy, with PE being the most frequently employed approach.
Reference Values for 3-Meter Backward Walk Test among Apparently Healthy Adults
Authors: Mbada Chidozie E. , Afolabi Aanuoluwapo D. , Akinkuoye Augusta , Afolabi Taofik O. , Ademoyegun Adekola B. , Niyi-Odumosu Faatihah , Fatoye Francis
Published: October 2023

Objective: The 3-meter backward walk (3MBW) test is an outcome performance measure to assess backward walking mobility, balance, and risk of fall. However, the lack of baseline values is a potential limitation for its use as a rehabilitation target value or predictor of outcomes. This study aimed at ascertaining a gender- and age-reference value of 3MBW and determining its correlation with sociodemographic and anthropometric variables. Methods: A total of 1,601 Nigerian healthy adults participated in this cross-sectional study. 3MBW was measured following standardized procedure on a marked 3-m floor. Anthropometric and sociodemographic parameters were taken. Data were summarized using the descriptive statistics of mean, standard deviation, and percentile (less than the 25th, between the 25th and 75th, and above the 75th percentiles were regarded as low, average, and high 3MBW, respectively). Results: From this study, less than 2.23 s and 2.60 s were regarded as low risk of fall for males and females, respectively; 2.23–3.00 s and 2.60–3.50 s were regarded as average risk of fall for males and females, respectively, while greater than 3.00–3.9 s and 3.50–3.90 s were regarded as high risk of fall for males and females, respectively. 3MBWT was significantly associated with age (r = 0.51, p = 0.001), sex (r = 0.315, p = 0.001), weight (r = 0.14, p = 0.001), BMI (r = 0.28, p = 0.001), but not height (r = −0.03; p = 0.250). Conclusion: This study provided a reference set of values according to age and gender for 3MBW in healthy individuals. Males have shorter 3MBW than females, and the time taken to accomplish 3MBW increases with age.
Prevalence and Quality of Life among Overweight and Obese Women with Different Severity and Types of Urinary Incontinence
Authors: Alsannan Baydaa , Alharmi Jehad , Alrahal Fatima , Al Mansoor Shaikha , Tulandi Togas
Published: October 2023

Objective: Urinary incontinence (UI) is an involuntary leakage of urine and affects the social, physical, and psychological aspects of many individuals worldwide. The purpose of our study was to examine the prevalence, quality of life (QoL), severity, and different types of UI in overweight and obese women. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1,351 consecutive patients, who were recruited between June 2021 and May 2022. Results: The mean age of the patients was 39.7 ± 14.2 years with less than a half in the 19–35-year age group (46.9%); 65% of the subjects were overweight or obese. The overall prevalence of UI was 61.2%. Overweight and obesity accounted to 70.2% of patients with mild to very severe UI. The risk estimates to have UI were 1.84 in overweight and 5.4 in obese group. The risk estimate for severe and very severe UI was 2.33 in overweight and 10.34 in obese group. When considering all subtypes, 67.9% of women with overweight and obesity had any of the subtypes, urge UI, stress UI, and mixed UI. Overweight and obesity were significantly associated with poor QoL in women with UI (p < 0.0001). Among 36.1% of all patients with poor QoL, 79.9% were overweight and obese. Conclusions: Overweight and obesity are important risk factors of UI affecting daily activity and QOL considerably. As the number of people with obesity is increasing, the prevalence of UI with increased severity is likely to increase in young to mid-aged women. Weight loss should be considered as first-line treatment for this patient population.
Associations Between Albuminuria and Mortality Among US Adults by Demographic and Comorbidity Factors
Authors: Drexler Yelena , Tremblay Julien , Mesa Robert A. , Parsons Bailey , Chavez Efren , Contreras Gabriel , Fornoni Alessia , Raij Leopoldo , Swift Samuel , Elfassy Tali
Published: October 2023

Background

Albuminuria is a known marker of mortality risk. Whether the association between albuminuria and mortality differs by demographic and comorbidity factors remains unclear. Therefore, we sought to determine whether albuminuria is differentially associated with mortality.

Methods and Results

This study included 49 640 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2018). All‐cause mortality through 2019 was linked from the National Death Index. Multivariable‐adjusted Poisson regression models were used to determine whether levels of urine albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio (ACR) were associated with mortality. Models were adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, and clinical factors. Mean age in the population was 46 years, with 51.3% female, and 30.3% with an ACR ≥10 mg/g. Over a median follow‐up of 9.5 years, 6813 deaths occurred. Compared with ACR <10, ACR ≥300 was associated with increased risk of mortality by 132% overall (95% CI, 2.01–2.68), 124% among men (95% CI, 1.84–2.73), 158% among women (95% CI, 2.14–3.11), 130% among non‐Hispanic White adults (95% CI: 1.89–2.79), 135% among non‐Hispanic Black adults (95% CI, 1.82–3.04), and 114% among Hispanic adults (95% CI, 1.55–2.94). Compared with ACR <10, ACR ≥300 was associated with increased risk of mortality by 148% among individuals with neither hypertension nor hypercholesterolemia (95% CI, 1.69–3.64), 128% among individuals with hypertension alone (95% CI, 1.86–2.79), and 166% among individuals with both hypertension and hypercholesterolemia (95% CI, 2.18–3.26).

Conclusions

We found strong associations between albuminuria and mortality risk, even at mildly increased levels of albuminuria. Associations persisted across categories of sex, race or ethnicity, and comorbid conditions, with subtle differences.
Age‐Stratified Prevalence and Relative Prognostic Significance of Traditional Atherosclerotic Risk Factors: A Report from the Nationwide Registry of Percutaneous Coronary Interventions in Japan
Authors: Kanenawa Kenji , Yamaji Kyohei , Kohsaka Shun , Ishii Hideki , Amano Tetsuya , Ando Kenji , Kozuma Ken
Published: October 2023

Background

The prevalence of traditional atherosclerotic risk factors (TARFs) and their association with clinical profiles or mortality in percutaneous coronary intervention remain unclear.

Methods and Results

The study analyzed 559 452 patients who underwent initial percutaneous coronary intervention between 2012 and 2019 in Japan. TARFs were defined as male sex, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, smoking, and chronic kidney disease. We calculated the relative importance according to
R
2
and machine learning models to assess the impact of TARFs on clinical profile and in‐hospital mortality. The relative contribution (RC) of each TARF was defined as the average percentage of the relative importance calculated from these models. The age‐specific prevalence of TARFs, except for chronic kidney disease, formed an inverted U‐shape with significantly different peaks and percentages. In the logistic regression model and relative risk model, smoking was most strongly associated with acute myocardial infarction (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.62 [95% CI, 1.60–1.64]; RC, 47.1%) and premature coronary artery disease (adjusted unstandardized beta coefficient, 2.68 [95% CI, 2.65–2.71], RC, 42.2%). Diabetes was most strongly associated with multivessel disease (adjusted unstandardized beta coefficient, 0.068 [95% CI, 0.066–0.070], RC, 59.4%). The absence of dyslipidemia was most strongly associated with presentation of cardiogenic shock (adjusted OR, 0.62 [95% CI, 0.61–0.64], RC, 34.2%) and in‐hospital mortality (adjusted OR, 0.44 [95% CI, 0.41–0.46], RC, 39.8%). These specific associations were consistently observed regardless of adjustment or stratification by age.

Conclusions

Our analysis showed a significant variation in the age‐specific prevalence of TARFs. Further, their contribution to clinical profiles and mortality also varied widely.
Previous Ischemic Stroke Significantly Alters Stroke Risk in Newly Diagnosed Cancer Patients
Authors: Lun Ronda , Cerasuolo Joshua O. , Carrier Marc , Gross Peter L. , Kapral Moira K. , Shamy Michel , Dowlatshahi Dar , Sutradhar Rinku , Siegal Deborah M.
Published: October 2023

BACKGROUND:

Previous ischemic stroke (IS) is a risk factor for subsequent IS in the general population; it is unclear if this relationship remains true in patients with cancer. Our objective was to examine the association between previous IS and risk for future IS in individuals newly diagnosed with cancer.

METHODS:

We conducted a retrospective population-based matched cohort study of newly diagnosed adult cancer patients (excluding nonmelanoma skin cancers and primary central nervous system tumors) in Ontario, Canada from 2010 to 2020; those with prior IS were matched (1:4) by age, sex, year of cancer diagnosis, cancer stage, and cancer site to those without a history of stroke. Cumulative incidence function curves were created to estimate the incidence of IS. Subdistribution adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% CIs were calculated, where death was treated as a competing event. Multivariable analysis was adjusted for imbalanced baseline characteristics.

RESULTS:

We examined 65 525 individuals with cancer, including 13 070 with a history of IS. The median follow-up duration was 743 days (interquartile range, 177–1729 days). The incidence of IS following cancer diagnosis was 261.3/10 000 person-years in the cohort with prior IS and 75.3/10 000 person-years in those without prior IS. Individuals with prior IS had an increased risk for IS after cancer diagnosis compared with those without a history (aHR, 2.68 [95% CI, 2.41–2.98]); they also had more prevalent cardiovascular risk factors. The highest risk for stroke compared with those without a history of IS was observed in the gynecologic cancer (aHR, 3.84 [95% CI, 2.15–6.85]) and lung cancer (aHR, 3.18 [95% CI, 2.52–4.02]) subgroups. The risk of IS was inversely correlated with lag time of previous stroke; those with IS 1 year before their cancer diagnosis had the highest risk (aHR, 3.68 [95% CI, 3.22–4.22]).

CONCLUSIONS:

Among individuals with newly diagnosed cancer, those with IS history were almost 3× more likely to experience a stroke after cancer diagnosis, especially if the prediagnosis stroke occurred within 1 year preceding cancer diagnosis.
The Canadian ‘War of the Two Sugars’: Homegrown Sugar Beets and the Racial Stratification of Labour
Authors: Komori Jane
Published: October 2023

This paper provides a history of more than a century of efforts to establish and maintain a homegrown Canadian sugar supply – a twentieth-century version of what Eric Williams called the ‘war of the two sugars’, or the global competition between sugar beet and cane. To resolve beet sugar’s so-called ‘labour problem’, the industry has collaborated with the Canadian state to produce new classes of temporary workers, mobilising incarcerated Japanese Canadians, migrant Indigenous families, and Mexican and Caribbean workers employed through the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program. At the same time, the sugar industry has sought to refine itself of the racialised workers upon whom it relies by promoting the figure of the white Canadian worker. The Canadian ‘war of the two sugars’ has been fought through the stratification of the labour force along the lines of citizenship, resulting in the production of unique racial forms.
The Practice of Pluralism: How Ritual Strengthens Democratic Politics
Authors: Gillin Joel
Published: October 2023

This article argues that ritual can play a positive role in democratic politics in conditions of pluralism. It situates discussions of ritual and pluralism in the context of anthropological and social theory. It examines two insights scholars have made with regards to ritual that make it both compatible with and enabling of pluralism: ritual creates cohesion without agreement and a ‘subjunctive’ space for managing ambiguity. Finally, it develops an account of how these important social benefits of ritual are connected to a democratic pluralist politics, especially its formal, institutional dimensions. Drawing on the work of Luke Bretherton and Chantal Mouffe, it argues that ritual can strengthen the informal dimensions of citizenship and thus affective bonds toward the political community. The claim is also made that ritual constructs shared discourse by creating forms of life from which agreement can emerge in discursive political contexts.
Post-Apartheid South Africa and its Contribution to African Peace and Security
Authors: Biao Opeoluwa
Published: October 2023

This study has two main research questions. (i) Which factors have led to post-apartheid South Africa developing the Developmental Peacekeeping (DP) and Post-conflict reconstruction and development (PCRD) peace and security strategies? (ii) Has post-apartheid South Africa’s peace and security innovations led to the resolution of African conflicts? These two questions were answered. First, using a thematic qualitative method approach, we found out that post-apartheid South Africa has, since 1994, been innovative to find permanent solutions to African crises. The second research question unravels that what is observable and discernable from the literature is that there is a sort of dependence on the Republic of South Africa because of its power capabilities. The theory that guides this study is the International Relations Structural Realism as advanced by Kenneth Waltz. The theory was tested for its efficacy in an African peace and security context. Although the paper does not perform a confirmation of the theory, it suggests that the Rational Persuasion theory (KP = W) be considered as a route that can be taken by African states in their quest for Continental peace.
Phylogenetic relationships and historical biogeography of Otus species based on mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequence
Authors: Daipan Bernard Peter O. , Lambio Ivy Amor F. , Gonzales Juan Carlos T. , Pampolina Nelson M.
Published: October 2023

This study analyzed mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences to infer Otus species’ phylogenetic relationships and historical biogeography. The researchers used Maximum Parsimony and Maximum Likelihood methods to generate the phylogenetic trees. They constructed a Bayesian MCC Chronogram Tree to determine the Otus species’ age and speciation events. Paleoclimate and paleogeology maps were also used to correlate the branching out of Otus species with geological time periods and climatic conditions. The results showed five major clusters or clades for the core taxon group (Otus) and one for the sister group (Tyto). The Bayesian tree showed seven major clades for Otus, with the first speciation occurrence dating back to 21.54 mya during the Early Miocene epoch. Most of the core taxon species speciated during the Pliocene Period, with some exceptions. The paleoclimate data indicated that Otus clades branched out during the Icehouse climate state, with the first branching out occurring during the Coolhouse climatic state. The paleogeologic data revealed that the African and American (North and South) continents were already distinct and divided by the Atlantic Ocean during the first branching out of the Otus clade. The distribution areas of Otus species were also mapped using updated Wallace’s zoogeographic realms. Overall, this study provides a better understanding of the phylogenetic history of Otus species and their diversification in relation to geological and climatic events. However, the authors caution that all phylogenetic trees, evolutionary studies, and divergence time estimates should be considered hypotheses with significant uncertainty.
Home Advantage and Referee Bias: A Comparative Analysis of League Level Differences
Authors: Işın Ali
Published: October 2023

Home advantage (HA) and referee bias are two important phenomena in football (soccer) and are frequently investigated by researchers. This study focused on analyzing HA and referee bias at different league levels. The study included 632 matches played in Turkey’s top two leagues during the 2022–2023 season. Both leagues showed statistically significant game outcome differences between home and away teams regarding points, goals, shots, shots on target, passes, accurate passes, and ball possessions, indicating a HA. However, regarding referee bias, this study found that only Level 1 teams significantly differed in penalties and that this difference was not evident after analyzing for Bayes factors. Among Level 2 teams, as there was no statistical difference between home and away teams on any parameter indicating referee bias, and all Bayes factors indices were between 3.92–11.15, the null hypothesis was supported. Therefore, the results revealed a HA at both league levels, but a referee bias was not present in either league. This study emphasized that the HA phenomenon is clear and still evident in elite football and sub-elite leagues.
Fostering Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving in Programming: Integrating Concept Maps Into Robot Block-Based Programming
Authors: Chen Chih-Hung , Chung Hsiang-Yu
Published: October 2023

Computational thinking (CT) has gained considerable attention and in-depth discussion over the last two decades. Although the significance of CT has been highlighted, it could be challenging for educators to teach CT. Fortunately, adopting robots in education has been evidenced to be of benefit to promoting students’ learning motivation, CT, and higher-order thinking skills. However, several significant factors affecting students’ programming performances in robot-assisted learning activities have been identified, such as cognitive needs and organization. In this study, a CMR-BBP (concept map robot block-based programming) approach was designed by integrating concept maps into robot block-based programming to enhance students’ programming learning. Moreover, a three-group experiment was carried out in an elementary school to evaluate their learning outcomes. The experimental results revealed that the CMR-BBP approach benefited the students’ perceptions of their computational thinking and problem solving in comparison with the R-BBP (robot block-based programming) and C-BBP (conventional block-based programming) approaches. Furthermore, regarding cognitive load, both the CMR-BBP and R-BBP approaches enhanced the students’ germane cognitive load, while the CMR-BBP approach effectively reduced their extrinsic cognitive load. This study could be a notable reference for designing other courses in conjunction with programming learning activities.
The pace of biological aging helps explain the association between insomnia and chronic low back pain
Authors: Aroke Edwin N , Wiggins Asia M , Hobson Joanna M , Srinivasasainagendra Vinodh , Quinn Tammie L , Kottae Pooja , Tiwari Hemant K , Sorge Robert E , Goodin Burel R
Published: October 2023

Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is associated with insomnia and advanced age. Emerging evidence suggests that the severity of both sleep disorders (like insomnia) and chronic pain are associated with a faster pace of biological aging. We aimed to determine whether the pace of biological age mediates the relationship between insomnia and the impact of cLBP in a sample of community-dwelling adults ages 19 to 85 years. Participants (49 with no pain, 32 with low-impact pain, and 37 with high-impact pain) completed sociodemographic, pain, insomnia, and short physical performance battery assessments. We calculated the pace of biological aging using DunedinPACE from blood leukocyte DNA. On average, individuals with high-impact cLBP had significantly faster biological aging than those with low-impact and no chronic pain ( p < .001). Bivariate associations of DunedinPACE scores with insomnia severity and functional performance were significant at p < .01 (rs = 0.324 and -0.502, respectively). After adjusting for race and sex, the association of insomnia severity and the impact of cLBP was partially mediated by the pace of biological aging (β = 0.070, p < .001). Also, the association of insomnia severity with functional performance was partially mediated by the pace of biological aging (β = -0.105, p < .001). Thus, insomnia remains strongly predictive of cLBP outcomes, and the pace of biological aging helps explain this association. Future prospective studies with repeated assessments are needed to uncover the directionality of these complex relationships and ultimately develop interventions to manage cLBP.
Memeing Politics: Understanding Political Meme Creators, Audiences, and Consequences on Social Media
Authors: Halversen Audrey , Weeks Brian E.
Published: October 2023

Political memes have become a common way for people to be exposed to political content and express their political views online. However, little is known about who shares political memes online or whether exposure to memes is associated with key attitudinal, emotional, and behavioral political outcomes. To address these gaps, this study uses data from a two-wave survey (YouGov) of American adults fielded during the 2020 U.S. presidential election ( N = 1800) to investigate (a) predictors of creating and sharing political memes on Facebook and (b) associated outcomes of exposure to political memes on Facebook. Results reveal that sharing political memes is a form of political expression employed by a variety of people in the United States, including political moderates and people both politically interested and noninterested. The data suggest that people who circulate political memes are motivated to make fun of politicians, but also to persuade and inform others in some cases. Results also highlight potential consequences of exposure to political memes, such as heightened online opinion expression, political participation, and anger toward the opposing presidential candidate. Taken together, the results provide insights into how people engage with memes and their associations with key political outcomes and offer an important foundation for future work on the effects of political memes.
Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in water and organs of Tilapia brevimanus and Euthynnus alletteratus from a coaster water in southwestern Nigeria
Authors: Njinga Raymond L. , Adebayo Adebiyi S. , Olufemi Ayodele P.
Published: October 2023

The bioaccumulation of some heavy metals in coaster waters directly affects the ecosystem and human beings. Thus, the objectives of this study are to evaluate the interaction between fish and coastal water and assess the long-term implications of human consumption of some major organs obtained from Tilapia brevimanus and Euthynnus alletteratus. The study determined the concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) in twenty coaster water samples collected from two points and in the muscle, gills, and intestine of ten pieces of Tilapia brevimanus and ten pieces of Euthynnus alletteratus using a Perkin Elmer Model 306 Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. Furthermore, the accumulation of these metals and the assessment of the long-term implications of human consumption of the designated organs of the two species types were performed. The statistical significance level of the obtained results was determined using the T-test analysis tool, which revealed that the distribution of the metals varies in different organs of the fish species. The levels of pollutants were higher in Tilapia brevimanus organs than in Euthynnus alletteratus. The contents of As, Cd, Cr, and Pb in the gills were higher than those in the muscle. Also, the metal pollution index in the organs followed the order of intestine > gills > muscle for both Tilapia brevimanus and Euthynnus alletteratus, posing serious health risks.
Relation between red blood cell distribution width and 30-day in-hospital mortality of patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia
Authors: Li Zhonghua , Yang Liping , Xu Qin , Wu Feifei
Published: October 2023

Background

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated an association between red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and the prognosis of pneumonia-associated diseases. However, prognostic value of RDW in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) has yet to be investigated. This study aimed to explore the association between RDW and in-hospital mortality in VAP patients and explore predictive value of RDW for VAP patients.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included 1,543 VAP patients from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV database 2008-2019. The primary outcome was considered to 30-day in-hospital mortality of VAP patients in this study. Non-high RDW level group was defined as <15 %, and high RDW level group as ≥15%. The possible confounding factors were screened by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression. Univariate and multivariate COX regression analyses were used for the assessment on the association of RDW and 30-day in-hospital mortality in VAP patients. We also performed subgroup analyses. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of RDW and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score and simplified acute physiology score II (SAPS II) were performed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

Results

The 30-day in-hospital mortality of VAP patients was approximately 19.05%. After adjusting all confounding factors, high RDW was associated with 30-day in-hospital mortality among VAP patients by using non-high RDW as the reference [hazard ratio (HR) =1.29, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-1.63]. Additionally, the relationship was also robust in several populations, such as patients were younger than 60 years, or had not a history of congestive heart failure, or had a history of sepsis, or had not received renal replacement therapy, or had a duration of mechanical ventilation for more than 7 days. The result of ROC indicated that RDW had a better prognostic value in predicting 30-day in-hospital mortality for VAP patients than SOFA score and SAPS II score.

Conclusion

High RDW level is associated with an increased 30-day in-hospital mortality. The RDW is a promising biomarker in predicting 30-day in-hospital mortality for patients admitted to the ICU, regardless of VAP.
A phubbing scale tested in Bangladesh, Iran, and Pakistan: confirmatory factor, network, and Rasch analyses
Authors: Lin Chung-Ying , Mamun Mohammed A. , Mamun Firoj al , Ullah Irfan , Hosen Ismail , Malik Najma Iqbal , Fatima Abiha , Poorebrahim Ali , Pourgholami Morteza , Potenza Marc N , Pakpour Amir H
Published: October 2023

Background

Phubbing, a phenomenon of ignoring others in face-to-face conversations due to mobile phone use, can be assessed using a Phubbing Scale (PS). Recently, the PS has been shortened into an eight-item version, the PS-8. However, psychometric properties of the PS-8 among Iranian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani individuals remain understudied, especially using advanced psychometric testing, such as Rasch and network analyses.

Methods

Participants residing in Iran, Bangladesh, and Pakistan (n = 1902; 50.4% females; mean age = 26.3 years) completed the PS-8 and the Internet Disorder Scale-Short Form (IDS9-SF) via an online survey. Network analysis was used to examine if PS-8 items were differentiated from IDS9-SF items; confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the factor structure and measurement invariance of the PS-8; Rasch modeling was used to examine the dimensionality of the PS-8 and differential item functioning (DIF).

Results

Network analysis showed that PS-8 items were clustered together with a distance to the IDS9-SF items. The CFA results supported a two-factor structure of the PS-8, and the two-factor structure was found to be invariant across countries and women and men. Rasch model results indicated that the two PS-8 subscales were both unidimensional and did not display DIF across countries and gender/sex.

Conclusion

The PS-8 is a feasible and robust instrument for healthcare providers, especially mental health professionals, to quickly assess and evaluate individuals’ phubbing behaviors.
Preference for care models among older people living with HIV: cross-sectional study
Authors: Li Mei , Ren Jianlan , Luo Yue , Watson Roger , Zheng Yu , Ding Li , Wang Fulan , Chen Yanhua
Published: October 2023

Background

The number of people living with HIV (PWH) aged 50 and above is increasing. The question of care among older PWH (aged ≥ 50 years) is an increasing concern. Understanding the care preference of older people can better provide care services for them. The purpose of this study was to investigate the care preference (home-based care, self-care, institutional care, community-based care, and mutual-aid care) among older PWH and identify the factors affecting their care preference.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among older PWH (aged ≥ 50 years) about care preference from May to November 2021. We enrolled 319 participants using convenience sampling. We designed a questionnaire to assess the care preference of older PWH. The Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test were used to conduct univariate analysis of care preference. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify factors influencing care preference.

Results

Most older PWH (72.7%) preferred home-based care, and few (15.7%) preferred self-care. Fewer older PWH preferred community-based care (5.3%), institutional care (5.0%) and mutual-aid care (1.3%). Multivariate analysis showed that older PWH with a house, spouse and more children were more inclined to choose home-based care (p < .05). Older PWH living alone, having higher monthly income and higher HIV stigma preferred to choose self-care (p < .05).

Conclusion

Home-based care was the most preferred model of older PWH, and self-care ranked second. The number of those who preferred institutional care, community-based care and mutual-aid care were few. Nation and government should take measures to allocate care resources for older adults reasonably to better meet the care needs of older PWH. It is important to strengthen social security, reduce internalized HIV stigma, improve social support, and explore diversified care models for improving the quality of life of older PWH.
Clinical impacts of sarcopenic obesity on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Wang Zilin , Zhou Xiaoming , Deng Mingming , Yin Yan , Li Yanxia , Zhang Qin , Bian Yiding , Miao Jinrui , Li Jiaye , Hou Gang
Published: October 2023

Background

Sarcopenia and obesity are two abnormal body composition phenotypes, and sarcopenic obesity (SO) is characterized by both low skeletal muscle mass (sarcopenia) and high adiposity (obesity). SO negatively influences the clinical status of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the studies exploring the prevalence and clinical effects of SO in COPD patients are limited. Our study aimed to elucidate the prevalence and impact of SO on COPD patients.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, the pulmonary function, St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire, exercise tolerance, body composition, and serum levels of resistin and TNF-α were assessed in 198 COPD patients. The clinical value of serum resistin and TNF-α for predicting SO in patients with COPD was evaluated.

Results

In the 198 patients with COPD, the prevalence rates of sarcopenia, obesity, and SO in COPD patients were 27.27%, 29.8%, and 9.6%, respectively. Patients with SO experienced more severe symptoms of dyspnea and worse health related quality of life. The expression of resistin increased in patients with SO compared to other patients. The AUC value of serum resistin level for predicting SO was 0.870 (95% CI: 0.799–0.940). BMI (OR: 1.474, 95% CI: 1.124–1.934) and resistin (OR: 1.001, 95% CI: 1.000-1.002) levels were independent risk factors of SO in patients with COPD in Multivariate analysis.

Conclusion

The prevalence rates of SO in COPD patients was 9.6%. COPD accompanied by SO is significantly associated with worse pulmonary function and poor physical performance. Serum resistin may be a potential adjunct for predicting SO in COPD patients.
The value of radiomics-based CT combined with machine learning in the diagnosis of occult vertebral fractures
Authors: Li Wu-Gen , Zeng Rou , Lu Yong , Li Wei-Xiang , Wang Tong-Tong , Lin Huashan , Peng Yun , Gong Liang-Geng
Published: October 2023

Purpose

To develop and evaluate the performance of radiomics-based computed tomography (CT) combined with machine learning algorithms in detecting occult vertebral fractures (OVFs).

Materials and methods

128 vertebrae including 64 with OVF confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging and 64 corresponding control vertebrae from 57 patients who underwent chest/abdominal CT scans, were included. The CT radiomics features on mid-axial and mid-sagittal plane of each vertebra were extracted. The fractured and normal vertebrae were randomly divided into training set and validation set at a ratio of 8:2. Pearson correlation analyses and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator were used for selecting sagittal and axial features, respectively. Three machine-learning algorithms were used to construct the radiomics models based on the residual features. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to verify the performance of model.

Results

For mid-axial CT imaging, 6 radiomics parameters were obtained and used for building the models. The logistic regression (LR) algorithm showed the best performance with area under the ROC curves (AUC) of training and validation sets of 0.682 and 0.775. For mid-sagittal CT imaging, 5 parameters were selected, and LR algorithms showed the best performance with AUC of training and validation sets of 0.832 and 0.882. The LR model based on sagittal CT yielded the best performance, with an accuracy of 0.846, sensitivity of 0.846, and specificity of 0.846.

Conclusion

Machine learning based on CT radiomics features allows for the detection of OVFs, especially the LR model based on the radiomics of sagittal imaging, which indicates it is promising to further combine with deep learning to achieve automatic recognition of OVFs to reduce the associated secondary injury.
An artificial intelligence study: automatic description of anatomic landmarks on panoramic radiographs in the pediatric population
Authors: Bağ İrem , Bilgir Elif , Bayrakdar İbrahim Şevki , Baydar Oğuzhan , Atak Fatih Mehmet , Çelik Özer , Orhan Kaan
Published: October 2023

Background

Panoramic radiographs, in which anatomic landmarks can be observed, are used to detect cases closely related to pediatric dentistry. The purpose of the study is to investigate the success and reliability of the detection of maxillary and mandibular anatomic structures observed on panoramic radiographs in children using artificial intelligence.

Methods

A total of 981 mixed images of pediatric patients for 9 different pediatric anatomic landmarks including maxillary sinus, orbita, mandibular canal, mental foramen, foramen mandible, incisura mandible, articular eminence, condylar and coronoid processes were labelled, the training was carried out using 2D convolutional neural networks (CNN) architectures, by giving 500 training epochs and Pytorch-implemented YOLO-v5 models were produced. The success rate of the AI model prediction was tested on a 10% test data set.

Results

A total of 14,804 labels including maxillary sinus (1922), orbita (1944), mandibular canal (1879), mental foramen (884), foramen mandible (1885), incisura mandible (1922), articular eminence (1645), condylar (1733) and coronoid (990) processes were made. The most successful F1 Scores were obtained from orbita (1), incisura mandible (0.99), maxillary sinus (0.98), and mandibular canal (0.97). The best sensitivity values were obtained from orbita, maxillary sinus, mandibular canal, incisura mandible, and condylar process. The worst sensitivity values were obtained from mental foramen (0.92) and articular eminence (0.92).

Conclusions

The regular and standardized labelling, the relatively larger areas, and the success of the YOLO-v5 algorithm contributed to obtaining these successful results. Automatic segmentation of these structures will save time for physicians in clinical diagnosis and will increase the visibility of pathologies related to structures and the awareness of physicians.