bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risk Factors in Serrated Pathway Lesions: N-Glycosylation Profile as a Potential Biomarker of Progression to Malignancy
Authors: Fernandes-Mendes Henrique , Azevedo Catarina M. , Garrido Mónica , Lemos Carolina , Pedroto Isabel , Pinho Salomé S. , Marcos-Pinto Ricardo , Fernandes Ângela
Published: January 2024

Introduction: The serrated pathway contributes to interval colorectal cancers, highlighting the need for new biomarkers to assess lesion progression risk. The β1,6-GlcNAc branched N-glycans expression in CRC cells was associated with an invasive phenotype and with immune evasion. Therefore, this study aims to identify potential risk factors for progression of serrated lesions (SLs) to malignancy, analyzing the N-glycosylation profile of epithelial/infiltrating immune cells. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed with data from 53 colonoscopies (48 patients). Sixty-three serrated pathway lesions (SPLs) were characterized based on N-glycosylation profile (lectin histochemistry/flow cytometry) and MGAT5 expression. Statistical analysis was performed to search for associations between the glycoprofile and clinical variables from each patient. Results: Increased β1,6-GlcNAc branched N-glycans expression in epithelial cells is found associated with age (p = 0.007 in SPL), smoking (p = 0.038 in SL), increased BMI (p = 0.036 in sessile serrated lesions [SSL]), and polyp dimensions ≥10 mm (p = 0.001 in SL), while increased expression of these structures on immune cells is associated with synchronous CA number (CD4+T cells: p = 0.016; CD8+T cells: p = 0.044 in SL) and female gender (p = 0.026 in SL). Moreover, a lower high-mannose N-glycans expression in immune cells is associated with smoking (p = 0.010 in SPL) and synchronous CA presence (p = 0.010 in SPL). Higher expression of these glycans is associated with female (p = 0.016 in SL) and male (p = 0.044 in SL) gender, left colon location (p = 0.028), dysplasia (p = 0.028), and adenocarcinoma (p = 0.010). Conclusions: We identified an association between an abnormal glycoprofile and several clinical risk factors, proposing the N-glycosylation profile as a potential biomarker of tumor progression in the serrated pathway. The N-glycosylation anatomopathological profile analysis could be further used to decide shorter interval follow-up in patients with SPL.
Association of Neonatal Antibiotic Exposure with Long-Term Growth Trajectory Faltering in Preterm-Birth Children
Authors: Lin Yung-Chieh , Chu Chi-Hsiang , Lin Yen-Kuang , Chen Chih-Chia , Chen Li-Wen , Huang Chao-Ching
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Preterm neonates often receive a variety of duration of antibiotic exposure during admission. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether neonatal antibiotic exposure is relevant with longitudinal growth problems in preterm-birth children. Methods: This prospective study enrolled 481 infants who were born <32 weeks of gestation, discharged, and longitudinally followed from corrected age (CA) 6–60 months. After excluding 153 infants with blood culture-confirmed bacteremia, necrotizing enterocolitis, severe cerebral palsy, intestinal ostomy, and congenital anomaly, 328 infants were included for analysis. Covariates included perinatal demographics, neonatal morbidities, extrauterine growth restriction, and antibiotic exposure accumulated by term equivalent age. The primary outcome was the anthropometric trajectories in z-score of bodyweight (zBW), body height (zBH), and body mass index (zBMI) from CA 6–60 months. Results: Antibiotic exposure duration was significantly negatively associated with zBW and zBH at CA 6, 12, and 60 months, and zBMI at CA 60 months. Multivariate generalized estimating equation analyses showed antibiotic exposure duration had significantly faltering z-score increment from CA 6 to 60 months in zBW and zBH (adjusted mean [95% CI]; ΔzBW: −0.021 [−0.041 to −0.001], p = 0.042; ΔzBH: −0.019 [−0.035 to −0.002], p = 0.027) after adjustment. Children with neonatal antibiotic exposure duration >15 days were significantly lower in the mean anthropometric zBW, zBH, and zBMI at CA 6, 12, 24, and 60 months compared with children with neonatal antibiotic exposure ≤15 days (all p < 0.01). Conclusions: Growth increments were negatively associated with antibiotic exposure duration in preterm neonates implicating that antibiotic stewardship and growth follow-up for preterm neonates are thus warranted.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Maternal Vaccination in Infants below 6 Months of Age: Meta-Analysis of Safety, Immunogenicity, and Efficacy
Authors: Mapindra Muhammad Pradhika , Mahindra Muhammad Pradhiki , McNamara Paul , Semple Malcolm G. , Clark Howard , Madsen Jens
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease is most prevalent during infancy, particularly in those born prematurely, who benefit least from maternal antibody transfers. Maternal immunization is an attractive prevention leading to vaccine clinical trials. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate recent maternal RSV vaccine trials. Methods: Following PRISMA-P guidelines for systematic reviews and registered at https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, this study shortlisted six randomized clinical trials of suitable quality from four databases. Meta-analysis evaluated vaccine safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy in infants and their mothers. Results: From random-effects and fixed-effects meta-analysis between trial and control arms, the maternal post-vaccination geometric antibody (Ab) titers showed pooled standard mean differences (SMDs [95% CI]) at delivery of (4.14 [2.91–5.37]), (3.95 [2.79–5.11]), and (12.20 [7.76, 16.64]) for RSV neutralizing Ab A, B, and F IgG, respectively. Vaccine administration was more likely than placebo to cause local pain, erythema, swelling, and systemic myalgia. Furthermore, the Ab levels in infants at birth showed pooled SMDs of each RSV A (3.9 [2.81–4.99]), RSV B (1.86 [1.09–2.62]), and RSV F IgG (2.24 [1.24–3.23]). The overall reduction of RSV-related lower respiratory tract infections and hospitalizations in the first 6 months of life was 52% and 48%, respectively. Conclusions: Not only does antenatal RSV vaccination look safe and immunogenic in vaccinated mothers, but it also reliably provides effective antibody levels in infants and diminishes RSV-related severe disease in infants under 6 months of age.
Psychological Treatment of Comorbid Insomnia and Depression: A Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial
Authors: Blom Kerstin , Forsell Erik , Hellberg Monica , Svanborg Cecilia , Jernelöv Susanna , Kaldo Viktor
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Insomnia and depression are highly prevalent disorders and commonly occur together. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, CBT-I, has been shown to be effective in treating insomnia and also comorbid depression. However, it is unclear whether effects of CBT-I on depression are specific or nonspecific. Also, depressive symptoms often remain too high after CBT-I, indicating a need for improved treatments. The objective was to determine whether combining CBT-I with CBT for depression, without increasing treatment length, reduces both insomnia and depression more than CBT for depression with a placebo insomnia intervention. Methods: A 12-week double-blind randomized controlled trial with a 6-month follow-up in a psychiatric setting using therapist-guided internet-delivered treatments was conducted. Patients (N = 126) were diagnosed with insomnia disorder and major depression by physicians. Primary outcome measures were as follows: self-rating scales Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS-S). Results: The combined treatment showed specific effects on insomnia severity over the control treatment (p = 0.007) but was not more effective in reducing depression severity. Within-group effects (Cohen’s d) at post and at 6 months were as follows: ISI 1.40 and 1.42 (combined treatment), 0.95 and 1.00 (control); MADRS-S 0.97 and 1.12 (combined), 0.88 and 0.89 (control). Conclusions: CBT-I shows large specific effects on insomnia severity and is superior to control in this regard. Both treatments had similar effects on depression severity, i.e., combining CBT-I with CBT for depression did not enhance outcomes on depression compared to control. We suggest CBT-I should always be offered to patients with insomnia and depression comorbidity, possibly as the first-hand choice. Combining it with a psychological treatment for depression could be too burdening and may not be beneficial.
Trajectory of urine albumin-creatinine ratio in patients with acute heart failure (TACRAHF study)
Authors: Llàcer Pau , Croset François , de la Espriella Rafael , Torres Elena , Campos Jorge , García-Melero Marina , Pérez-Nieva Alberto , Pumares María , Fabregate Martín , López Genoveva , Ruiz Raúl , Tello Susana , Fernández José María , Núñez Julio , Manzano Luis
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Introduction: Albuminuria is prevalent in patients with chronic heart failure and is a risk factor for disease progression. However, its clinical meaning in acute heart failure remains elusive. This study analyzed the trajectory of urine albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR) between admission and discharge and its association with decongestion.
Methods: In this prospective observational study, 63 patients were enrolled. UACR, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), and clinical congestion score (CCS) were obtained at admission and discharge. We used linear mixed regression analysis to compare changes in the natural logarithm of UACR (logUACR) and its association with changes in markers of decongestion. Estimates were reported as least squares mean (LSM) with their respective 95% CIs.
Results: The median age of the study population was 87 years, 68.5% were women, and 69.8% had a left ventricular ejection fraction >50%. LogUACR at discharge significantly decreased in the overall population compared to admission [Δ –0.47, 95% CI -0.78 to -0.15, p-value=0.003]. The magnitude of UACR drop at discharge was associated with changes in surrogate markers of decongestion. Patients who showed a greater reduction in BNP at discharge exhibited a greater reduction in UACR (p=0.016). The same trend was also found with clinical decongestion, as assessed by changes in CCS; however, without achieving statistical significance (p=0.171). UACR change at discharge was not associated with changes in serum creatinine (p-value=0.923).
Conclusion: In elderly patients with AHF and volume overload, the level of UACR significantly decreased upon discharge compared to admission. This reduction in UACR was closely linked to decreases in BNP.
Predictive Clinical Factors of In-Hospital Mortality in Women Aged 85 Years or More with Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Torres-Riera Sonia , Arboix Adrià , Parra Olga , García-Eroles Luís , Sánchez-López María-José
Published: January 2024

Introduction: There are limited data on the outcome of acute ischemic stroke in oldest old women. We assessed clinical risk factors for in-hospital mortality in women aged 85 years or more with acute ischemic stroke. Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study included 506 women aged ≥85 years collected from a total of 4,600 patients with acute cerebral infarction registered in an ongoing 24-year hospital stroke database. The identification of clinical risk factors for in-hospital mortality was the primary endpoint of the study. Results: The mean (± standard deviation) age of the patients was 88.6 ± 3.2 years. Stroke subtypes were cardioembolic infarcts in 37.7% of patients, atherothrombotic infarcts in 30.8%, infarcts of unknown cause and lacunar infarcts in 26.1% each, and infarcts of unusual cause in 11.5%. The in-hospital mortality rate was 20.4% (n = 103). Cardioembolic infarct accounted for 67% of all deaths (n = 69). Sudden stroke onset (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.14–3.06), altered consciousness (OR 7.05, 95% CI 4.36–11.38), and neurological, cardiac, respiratory, and hemorrhagic events during hospitalization were independent risk factors for death, whereas lacunar infarction was a protective factor (OR 0.10, 95% CI 0.01–0.82). Conclusion: The oldest old age segment of women with acute ischemic infarction is a subgroup of stroke patients with unfavorable prognosis and high in-hospital mortality associated with sudden stroke onset, altered consciousness, and medical complications developed during hospitalization. Lacunar infarction as stroke subtype showed a favorable prognosis.
Systemischer Lupus erythematodes: Neue Hoffnung durch Baricitinib-Therapie?
Authors: Braun-Falco Markus
Published: January 2024

Background: Baricitinib is an oral selective inhibitor of Janus kinase 1 and 2 approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, atopic dermatitis, and alopecia areata. In a 24-week phase 2 study in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), baricitinib 4 mg significantly improved SLE disease activity compared with placebo. The objective of this trial was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of baricitinib in patients with active SLE in a 52-week phase 3 study. Methods: In a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, phase 3 study, SLE-BRAVE-I, patients (aged ≥18 years) with active SLE receiving stable background therapy were randomly assigned 1:1:1 to baricitinib 4 mg, 2 mg, or placebo once daily for 52 weeks with standard of care. Glucocorticoid tapering was encouraged but not required per protocol. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients reaching an SLE Responder Index (SRI)-4 response at week 52 in the baricitinib 4 mg treatment group compared with placebo. The primary endpoint was assessed by logistic regression analysis with baseline disease activity, baseline corticosteroid dose, region, and treatment group in the model. Efficacy analyses were done on a modified intention-to-treat population, comprising all participants who were randomly assigned and received at least one dose of investigational product. Safety analyses were done on all randomly assigned participants who received at least one dose of investigational product and who did not discontinue from the study for the reason of lost to follow-up at the first post-baseline visit. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03616912. Findings: 760 participants were randomly assigned and received at least one dose of baricitinib 4 mg (n=252), baricitinib 2 mg (n=255), or placebo (n=253). A significantly greater proportion of participants who received baricitinib 4 mg (142 [57%]; odds ratio 1·57 [95% CI 1·09 to 2·27]; difference with placebo 10·8 [2·0 to 19·6]; p=0·016), but not baricitinib 2 mg (126 [50%]; 1·14 [0·79 to 1·65]; 3·9 [-4·9 to 12·6]; p=0·47), reached SRI-4 response compared with placebo (116 [46%]). There were no significant differences between the proportions of participants in either baricitinib group reaching any of the major secondary endpoints compared with placebo, including glucocorticoid tapering and time to first severe flare. 26 (10%) participants receiving baricitinib 4 mg had serious adverse events, 24 (9%) participants receiving baricitinib 2 mg, and 18 (7%) participants receiving placebo. The safety profile of baricitinib in participants with SLE was consistent with the known baricitinib safety profile.
Artificial Intelligence Model Predicts Sudden Cardiac Arrest Manifesting With Pulseless Electric Activity Versus Ventricular Fibrillation
Authors: Holmstrom Lauri , Bednarski Bryan , Chugh Harpriya , Aziz Habiba , Pham Hoang Nhat , Sargsyan Arayik , Uy-Evanado Audrey , Dey Damini , Salvucci Angelo , Jui Jonathan , Reinier Kyndaron , Slomka Piotr J. , Chugh Sumeet S.
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND:

There is no specific treatment for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) manifesting as pulseless electric activity (PEA) and survival rates are low; unlike ventricular fibrillation (VF), which is treatable by defibrillation. Development of novel treatments requires fundamental clinical studies, but access to the true initial rhythm has been a limiting factor.

METHODS:

Using demographics and detailed clinical variables, we trained and tested an AI model (extreme gradient boosting) to differentiate PEA-SCA versus VF-SCA in a novel setting that provided the true initial rhythm. A subgroup of SCAs are witnessed by emergency medical services personnel, and because the response time is zero, the true SCA initial rhythm is recorded. The internal cohort consisted of 421 emergency medical services-witnessed out-of-hospital SCAs with PEA or VF as the initial rhythm in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area. External validation was performed in 220 emergency medical services-witnessed SCAs from Ventura, CA.

RESULTS:

In the internal cohort, the artificial intelligence model achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.68 (95% CI, 0.61–0.76). Model performance was similar in the external cohort, achieving an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.72 (95% CI, 0.59–0.84). Anemia, older age, increased weight, and dyspnea as a warning symptom were the most important features of PEA-SCA; younger age, chest pain as a warning symptom and established coronary artery disease were important features associated with VF.

CONCLUSIONS:

The artificial intelligence model identified novel features of PEA-SCA, differentiated from VF-SCA and was successfully replicated in an external cohort. These findings enhance the mechanistic understanding of PEA-SCA with potential implications for developing novel management strategies.
Long-Term Durability of High- and Very High-Power Short-Duration PVI by Invasive Remapping: The HPSD Remap Study
Authors: Szegedi Nándor , Salló Zoltán , Nagy Vivien Klaudia , Osztheimer István , Hizoh István , Lakatos Bálint , Boussoussou Melinda , Orbán Gábor , Boga Márton , Ferencz Arnold Béla , Komlósi Ferenc , Tóth Patrik , Perge Péter , Kovács Attila , Merkely Béla , Gellér László
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND:

High-power short-duration ablation has shown impressive efficacy and safety for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI); however, initial efficacy results with very high power short-duration ablation were discouraging. This study compared the long-term durability of PVI performed with a 90- versus 50-W power setting.

METHODS:

Patients were randomized 1:1 to undergo PVI with the QDOT catheter using a power setting of 90 or 50 W. Three months after the index procedure, patients underwent a repeat electrophysiology study to identify pulmonary vein reconnections. Patients were followed for 12 months to detect AF recurrences.

RESULTS:

We included 46 patients (mean age, 64 years; women, 48%). Procedure (76 versus 84 minutes;
P
 =0.02), left atrial dwell (63 versus 71 minutes;
P
 =0.01), and radiofrequency (303 versus 1040 seconds;
P
 <0.0001) times were shorter with 90- versus 50-W procedures, while the number of radiofrequency applications was higher with 90 versus 50 W (77 versus 67;
P
 =0.01). There was no difference in first-pass isolation (83% versus 82%;
P
 =1.0) or acute reconnection (4% versus 14%;
P
 =0.3) rates between 90 and 50 W. Forty patients underwent a repeat electrophysiology study. Durable PVI on a per PV basis was present in 72/78 (92%) versus 68/77 (88%) PVs in the 90- and 50-W energy setting groups, respectively; effect size: 72/78−68/77=0.040, lower 95% CI=−0.051 (noninferiority limit=−0.1, ie, noninferiority is met). No complications occurred. There was no difference in 12-month atrial fibrillation-free survival between the 90- and 50-W groups (
P
 =0.2).

CONCLUSIONS:

Similarly high rates of durable PVI and arrhythmia-free survival were achieved with 90 and 50 W. Procedure, left atrial dwell, and radiofrequency times were shorter with 90 W compared with 50 W. The sample size is too small to conclude the safety and long-term efficacy of the high and very high-power short-duration PVI; further studies are needed to address this topic.

REGISTRATION:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT05459831.
Trajectories of Sleep Over Midlife and Incident Cardiovascular Disease Events in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation
Authors: Thurston Rebecca C. , Chang Yuefang , Kline Christopher E. , Swanson Leslie M. , El Khoudary Samar R. , Jackson Elizabeth A. , Derby Carol A.
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND:

Up to 50% of women report sleep problems in midlife, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in women. How chronic poor sleep exposure over decades of midlife is related to CVD risk in women is poorly understood. We tested whether trajectories of insomnia symptoms or sleep duration over midlife were related to subsequent CVD events among SWAN (Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation) participants, whose sleep was assessed up to 16 times over 22 years.

METHODS:

At baseline, SWAN participants (n=2964) were 42 to 52 years of age, premenopausal or early perimenopausal, not using hormone therapy, and free of CVD. They completed up to 16 visits, including questionnaires assessing insomnia symptoms (trouble falling asleep, waking up several times a night, or waking earlier than planned ≥3 times/week classified as insomnia), typical daily sleep duration, vasomotor symptoms, and depressive symptoms; anthropometric measurements; phlebotomy; and CVD event ascertainment (ie, fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, revascularization). Sleep trajectories (ie, insomnia, sleep duration) were determined by means of group-based trajectory modeling. Sleep trajectories were tested in relation to CVD in Cox proportional hazards models (multivariable models: site, age, race and ethnicity, education, CVD risk factors averaged over visits; additional covariates: vasomotor symptoms, snoring, depression).

RESULTS:

Four trajectories of insomnia symptoms emerged: low insomnia symptoms (n=1142 [39% of women]), moderate insomnia symptoms decreasing over time (n=564 [19%]), low insomnia symptoms increasing over time (n=590 [20%]), and high insomnia symptoms that persisted (n=668 [23%]). Women with persistently high insomnia symptoms had higher CVD risk (hazard ratio, 1.71 [95% CI, 1.19, 2.46],
P
=0.004, versus low insomnia; multivariable). Three trajectories of sleep duration emerged: persistently short (~5 hours: n=363 [14%]), moderate (~6 hours: n=1394 [55%]), and moderate to long (~8 hours: n=760 [30%]). Women with persistent short sleep had marginally higher CVD risk (hazard ratio, 1.51 [95% CI, 0.98, 2.33],
P
=0.06, versus moderate; multivariable). Women who had both persistent high insomnia and short sleep had significantly elevated CVD risk (hazard ratio, 1.75 [95% CI, 1.03, 2.98],
P
=0.04, versus low insomnia and moderate or moderate to long sleep duration; multivariable). Relations of insomnia to CVD persisted when adjusting for vasomotor symptoms, snoring, or depression.

CONCLUSIONS:

Insomnia symptoms, when persistent over midlife or occurring with short sleep, are associated with higher CVD risk among women.
Potassium-Enriched Salt Substitutes: A Review of Recommendations in Clinical Management Guidelines
Authors: Xu Xiaoyue , Zeng Ling , Jha Vivekanand , Cobb Laura K. , Shibuya Kenji , Appel Lawrence J. , Neal Bruce , Schutte Aletta E.
Published: January 2024

Excess dietary sodium intake and insufficient dietary potassium intake are both well-established risk factors for hypertension. Despite some successful initiatives, efforts to control hypertension by improving dietary intake have largely failed because the changes required are mostly too hard to implement. Consistent recent data from randomized controlled trials show that potassium-enriched, sodium-reduced salt substitutes are an effective option for improving consumption levels and reducing blood pressure and the rates of cardiovascular events and deaths. Yet, salt substitutes are inconsistently recommended and rarely used. We sought to define the extent to which evidence about the likely benefits and harms of potassium-enriched salt substitutes has been incorporated into clinical management by systematically searching guidelines for the management of hypertension or chronic kidney disease. We found incomplete and inconsistent recommendations about the use of potassium-enriched salt substitutes in the 32 hypertension and 14 kidney guidelines that we reviewed. Discussion among the authors identified the possibility of updating clinical guidelines to provide consistent advice about the use of potassium-enriched salt for hypertension control. Draft wording was chosen to commence debate and progress consensus building: strong recommendation for patients with hypertension—potassium-enriched salt with a composition of 75% sodium chloride and 25% potassium chloride should be recommended to all patients with hypertension, unless they have advanced kidney disease, are using a potassium supplement, are using a potassium-sparing diuretic, or have another contraindication. We strongly encourage clinical guideline bodies to review their recommendations about the use of potassium-enriched salt substitutes at the earliest opportunity.
Individualized epidemic spreading models predict epilepsy surgery outcomes: A pseudo-prospective study
Authors: Millán Ana P. , van Straaten Elisabeth C. W. , Stam Cornelis J. , Nissen Ida A. , Idema Sander , Van Mieghem Piet , Hillebrand Arjan
Published: January 2024

Epilepsy surgery is the treatment of choice for drug-resistant epilepsy patients, but up to 50% of patients continue to have seizures one year after the resection. In order to aid presurgical planning and predict postsurgical outcome on a patient-by-patient basis, we developed a framework of individualized computational models that combines epidemic spreading with patient-specific connectivity and epileptogeneity maps: the Epidemic Spreading Seizure and Epilepsy Surgery framework (ESSES). ESSES parameters were fitted in a retrospective study (N = 15) to reproduce invasive electroencephalography (iEEG)-recorded seizures. ESSES reproduced the iEEG-recorded seizures, and significantly better so for patients with good (seizure-free, SF) than bad (nonseizure-free, NSF) outcome. We illustrate here the clinical applicability of ESSES with a pseudo-prospective study (N = 34) with a blind setting (to the resection strategy and surgical outcome) that emulated presurgical conditions. By setting the model parameters in the retrospective study, ESSES could be applied also to patients without iEEG data. ESSES could predict the chances of good outcome after any resection by finding patient-specific model-based optimal resection strategies, which we found to be smaller for SF than NSF patients, suggesting an intrinsic difference in the network organization or presurgical evaluation results of NSF patients. The actual surgical plan overlapped more with the model-based optimal resection, and had a larger effect in decreasing modeled seizure propagation, for SF patients than for NSF patients. Overall, ESSES could correctly predict 75% of NSF and 80.8% of SF cases pseudo-prospectively. Our results show that individualised computational models may inform surgical planning by suggesting alternative resections and providing information on the likelihood of a good outcome after a proposed resection. This is the first time that such a model is validated with a fully independent cohort and without the need for iEEG recordings.
Wpływ języka niemieckiego na czeską i górnołużycką frazeologię: czesko-górnołużyckie paralele
Authors: Bura Renata
Published: January 2024

The Influence of the German Language on Czech and Upper Sorbian Phraseology: Czech-Upper Sorbian Parallels
The article is an attempt to assess the influence of the German language on Czech and Upper Sorbian phraseology. Research on this topic is motivated by the fact of the very long contact of Czech and the constant contact of Upper Sorbian with German, as well as Upper Sorbian-Czech contacts. The study analyses idioms of German origin in contemporary Upper Sorbian and Czech languages – primarily calques, but also semi-calques and idioms containing a German component. A separate place is devoted to the so-called winged words of German origin belonging to the phraseological resources of these two languages. The collected material shows that all the mentioned types of idioms significantly enrich these resources.
Wpływ języka niemieckiego na czeską i górnołużycką frazeologię: czesko-górnołużyckie paralele
Artykuł jest próbą oceny wpływu języka niemieckiego na czeską i górnołużycką frazeologię. Do podjęcia tego tematu skłania bardzo długi kontakt czeszczyzny i stały kontakt górnołużycczyzny z językiem niemieckim, a także kontakty górnołużycko-czeskie. Przedmiotem analizy są frazeologizmy pochodzenia niemieckiego we współczesnych językach górnołużyckim i czeskim – przede wszystkim kalki, ale także półkalki i frazeologizmy zawierające komponent niemiecki. Osobne miejsce poświęca się tzw. skrzydlatym słowom pochodzenia niemieckiego należącym do zasobów frazeologicznych tych dwóch języków. Zgromadzony materiał pokazuje, że wszystkie wymienione typy frazeologizmów istotnie te zasoby wzbogacają.
Diabatic Eddy Forcing Increases Persistence and Opposes Propagation of the Southern Annular Mode in MERRA-2
Authors: Smith Samuel , Lu Jian , Staten Paul W.
Published: January 2024

As a dominant mode of jet variability on subseasonal time scales, the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) provides a window into how the atmosphere can produce internal oscillations on longer-than-synoptic time scales. While SAM’s existence can be explained by dry, purely barotropic theories, the time scale for its persistence and propagation is set by a lagged interaction between barotropic and baroclinic mechanisms, making the exact physical mechanisms challenging to identify and to simulate, even in latest generation models. By partitioning the eddy momentum flux convergence in MERRA-2 using an eddy–mean flow interaction framework, we demonstrate that diabatic processes (condensation and radiative heating) are the main contributors to SAM’s persistence in its stationary regime, as well as the key for preventing propagation in this regime. In SAM’s propagating regime, baroclinic and diabatic feedbacks also dominate the eddy–jet feedback. However, propagation is initiated by barotropic shifts in upper-level wave breaking and then sustained by a baroclinic response, leading to a roughly 60-day oscillation period. This barotropic propagation mechanism has been identified in dry, idealized models, but here we show evidence of this mechanism for the first time in reanalysis. The diabatic feedbacks on SAM are consistent with modulation of the storm-track latitude by SAM, altering the emission temperature and cloud cover over individual waves. Therefore, future attempts to improve the SAM time scale in models should focus on the storm-track location, as well as the roles of the cloud and moisture parameterizations.

Significance Statement

As they circumnavigate the planet, the tropospheric jet streams slowly drift north and south over about 30 days, longer than the normal limit of weather prediction. Understanding the source of this “memory” could improve our knowledge of how the atmosphere organizes itself and our ability to make long-term forecasts. Current theories have identified several possible internal atmospheric interactions responsible for this memory. Yet most of the theories for understanding the jets’ behavior assume that this behavior is only weakly influenced by atmospheric water vapor. We show that this assumption is not enough to understand jet persistence. Instead, clouds and precipitation are more important contributors in reanalysis data than internal “dry” mechanisms to this memory of the Southern Hemisphere jet.
The Use of Brief Mindfulness Interventions in the Context of Perioperative Care
Authors: Palmer Kelly Elizabeth , McGee Julia , Klatt Maryanna , Beckers Grateful , Pawlik Timothy M.
Published: January 2024

The purpose of this review was to synthesize and categorize the literature on the use of brief mindfulness interventions for both patients and physicians across the spectrum of perioperative care. Web-based discovery services and discipline-specific databases were queried. Brief mindfulness interventions were defined as sessions lasting 30 min or less on any single occasion, with a total practice accumulation not exceeding 100 min per week, and a duration of up to 4 weeks. Study screening and data extraction were facilitated through the Covidence software platform. After screening 1047 potential studies, 201 articles were identified based on initial abstract and title screening; 10 studies ultimately met inclusion criteria. All ten studies were published between 2019 and 2023; most (n = 9) reports focused on patients (total joint arthroplasty, n = 3; stereotactic breast biopsy, n = 2; minimally invasive foregut surgery, n = 1; septorhinoplasty, n = 1; cardiac surgery, n = 1; and other/multiple procedures, n = 1); one studied investigated mindfulness interventions among surgeons. The duration of the interventions varied (3 min to 29 min). The most common issue that the mindfulness intervention aimed to address was pain (n = 6), followed by narcotic use (n = 3), anxiety (n = 2), delirium (n = 1), or patient satisfaction (n = 1). While most studies included a small sample size and had inconclusive results, brief mindfulness interventions were noted to impact various health-related outcomes, including mental health outcomes, anxiety, and pain perception. Mindfulness interventions may be a scalable, low-cost, time-limited intervention that has the potential to optimize well-being and surgical outcomes broadly construed.
Expert System for Fourier Transform Infrared Spectra Recognition Based on a Convolutional Neural Network With Multiclass Classification
Authors: Koshelev Daniil S.
Published: January 2024

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) is a widely used spectroscopic method for routine analysis of substances and compounds. Spectral interpretation of spectra is a labor-intensive process that provides important information about functional groups or bonds present in compounds and complex substances. In this paper, based on deep learning methods of convolutional neural networks, models were developed to determine the presence of 17 classes of functional groups or 72 classes of coupling oscillations in the FT-IR spectra. Using web scanning, the spectra of 14 361 FT-IR spectra of organic molecules were obtained. Several different variants of model architectures with different sizes of feature maps have been tested. Based on the Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) and gradient-weighted class activation mapping (GradCAM) methods, visualization tools have been developed for visualizing and highlighting the areas of absorption bands manifestation for corresponding functional groups or bonds in the spectrum. To determine 17 and 72 classes, the F1-weighted metric, which is the harmonic mean of the class' precision and class' recall weighted by class' fraction, reached 93 and 88%, respectively, when using data on the position of absorption maxima in the spectrum as an additional source layer. The resulting model can be used to facilitate the routine analysis of spectra for all areas such as organic chemistry, materials science, and biology, as well as to facilitate the preparation of the obtained experimental data for publication.
Understanding Petty Traders’ Use of Honorifics as a Persuasive Tool in Sales
Authors: Nuworsu Anastasia , Kosiba John Paul Basewe , Lawer Richard Ayertey
Published: January 2024

The widespread use of honorifics as a persuasive tool to achieve diverse communicative goals in Ghana has given rise to the necessity to investigate honorific expressions and their influence on sales performance among petty traders in Accra. Using an interpretive method, sampled shoppers and traders from Ghana’s centre of trade – Makola Market – were interviewed to better understand honorifics’ influence on sales. According to the study, honorifics have lost their purpose as a persuasive technique because their use no longer influences shoppers. However, they are still a politeness strategy for attracting the attention of potential shoppers.
African Union Kampala Convention: The Continuing Dialogue on the Protection of Internally Displaced Persons in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Bamidele Seun , Pikirayi Innocent
Published: January 2024

Millions of displaced persons in sub-Saharan Africa annually take the risk of moving from their communities to the camps and host communities of neighbouring areas. Therefore, the article puts into perspective the danger of forced displacement for sub-Saharan Africa’s young and growing population. With a population of displaced persons estimated at 40.5 million in 2021, of which 50% are below 18 years of age, the sub-Saharan African region is central to any strategy for curbing internal displacement in different African states. Using the welfare state theory as the framework of analysis, this article evaluates all the nuances of internal displacement in sub-Saharan African countries. It highlights the role of the African Union (AU) in supporting countries in the combat against the continuous tragedy of forced displacement. In addition, the article focuses on the failure of the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (Kampala Convention), which is a treaty formulated in 2009 and enforced in 2017, to solve the problem. The article, thus, shows that there is a need to strengthen the capacity of state and non-state actors through the AU Kampala Convention, create regional frameworks to control internal displacement and intensify awareness of the dangers of internal displacement. There is also a need to impress on the managers of governance in the sub-Saharan African region that Africa, as the epicentre of displacement, is politically and constitutionally responsible for millions of citizens caught up in the web of internal displacement. However, the apportioning of responsibility to the AU is missing in almost all narratives on internal displacement.
A National Survey of the Writing Instructional Practices of Teachers of Students With Visual Impairments
Authors: Rodgers Derek B. , Hebert Michael , Savaiano Mackenzie E. , Koziol Natalie A. , Bazis Pamela Shanahan
Published: January 2024

Despite the importance of writing skill development, we know very little about how writing instruction is provided to students with visual impairments (VI) with and without co-occurring disabilities (e.g., multiple disabilities, deaf-blindness). The purpose of this study was to survey a national sample of U.S. teachers of students with visual impairments (TSVIs) on several important constructs, including their preparation to teach writing; their beliefs, attitudes, and experiences about teaching writing; and the writing practices they use for students with various visual conditions. We received responses from 457 TSVIs. The results showed that TSVIs vary considerably in their preparation to teach writing and disagree as to whether writing instruction (above and beyond braille) is part of their responsibilities. Most TSVIs indicated that they believe writing to be important for their students with VI, and they reported using various writing practices in their instruction within different student groups.
Effects of Anatolian Propolis and Hypertonic Saline Combination Nasal Spray on Allergic Rhinitis Symptoms: A Prospective, Multicenter Study
Authors: Cingi Cemal , Bayar Muluk Nuray , Çukurova İbrahim , Dündar Rıza , Osma Ustün , Bal Cengiz , Zirek Alaattin , Budak Ali , Seyed Resuli Ali , Selimoğlu Asif , Tanuğur Samancı Aslı Elif , Karaoğullarından Ayşe , Yılmaz Begüm , Arslan Bengi , Sizer Bilal , Cihan Celalettin , Koca Çiğdem Fırat , Avcı Deniz , Aydenizöz Doğukan , Ünver Ethem , Alaskarov Elvin , Gülmez Emrah , Gündoğan Fatih , Günay Gözde , Çetiner Hasan , Güngör Hilal , Salcan İsmail , Gündoğan Mahmut Emre , Akbay Makbule Özlem , Akdağ Mehmet , Kaplama Mehmet Erkan , Yaşar Mehmet , Koparal Mehtap , Kar Murat , Altıntaş Mustafa , Torun Mümtaz Taner , Bozan Nazım , Sarı Neslihan , Susaman Nihat , Küçük Nurten , Erdoğan Osman , Gül Osman , Sancaklı Özlem , Kundi Pınar , Budak Rezzan Okyay , Karaman Sait , Taşar Soner , Demir Songül , Belli Şeyda , Yağcı Tarık , Bilici Taylan , Çelik Turgut , Yıldırım Yavuz Sultan Selim , Atayoglu Ali Timucin , Irkan Reşat Kubilay , Zorlu Duygu , Can Demet
Published: January 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate how Rhinapi nasal spray affects symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Methods: In this prospective, multicenter, observational study, 10,000 patients (comprising 5028 males and 4972 females) exhibiting symptoms of allergic rhinitis (namely, nasal discharge, sneezing, nasal itching, and nasal obstruction) from different centers in different regions of Turkey were enrolled in the study between March 2022 and March 2023. All the patients wanted to participate in the study and were administered Rhinapi one puff to each nostril three times a day, for a period of 3 weeks. Total symptom scores, quality of life (QoL) scores, and otolaryngological examination scores were evaluated before and 3 weeks after treatment. Results: The scores for discharge from the nose, sneezing, nasal pruritus, and blockage of the nose all indicated improvement when compared to pre-medication and post-medication. This difference achieved statistical significance ( P < .001). The mean total symptom score fell following treatment ( P < .001): whilst the score was 11.09 ± 3.41 before administering Rhinapi; after administration, the average score was 6.23 ± 2.41. The mean QoL scores also altered after medication ( P < .001), improving from a mean value of 6.44 ± 1.55 to a mean of 7.31 ± 1.24. Significant improvement was also noted in the scores for conchal color and degree of edema after the treatment had been administered ( P < .001). Conclusion: The study demonstrates that Rhinapi nasal spray decreases total symptom scores, and results in improved QoL and otolaryngological examination scores. Propolis spray may be recommended for patients with allergic rhinitis alongside other treatments.
Comparison of Batroxobin Versus the Combination of Batroxobin and Intratympanic Dexamethasone Injection in the Treatment of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Authors: Jia Qiaofei , Zhu Jingjing , Wu Dezhong , Chen Tengfang , Hong Chaoqun
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) manifests as an abrupt decline in hearing by at least 30 dB within a 3 day period. Intratympanic dexamethasone injection (ITDI) has gained recognition as a potential treatment for SSNHL. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of combining batroxobin with ITDI (Bat and ITDI) in treating SSNHL patients and its influence on peripheral blood inflammatory indicators. Methods: SSNHL patients were retrospectively categorized into the control group (treated with Bat) and the observation group (treated with Bat and ITDI). The study involved analyzing clinical baseline data, evaluating clinical efficacy, and comparing the total effective rates among SSNHL patients with different audiometric curve types in the observation group. Routine blood tests were performed on peripheral blood samples to calculate the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and to determine C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Adverse reactions and complications were closely monitored. Results: Following treatment, both groups displayed improvements in hearing, with the observation group exhibiting a significantly higher total effective rate (75.90%) than the control group (59.78%). For patients with 3 distinct types of sudden hearing loss (high-frequency, flat-frequency, total deafness), Bat and ITDI treatment demonstrated increased total effective rate for patients with different sudden hearing loss types (high-frequency, flat-frequency, and total deafness). Both groups experienced reduced peripheral blood CRP levels and the NLR/PLR values, with the observation group demonstrating lower values. Additionally, across the 4 audio metric subtypes, the levels of peripheral blood CRP, NLR, and PLR decreased in SSNHL patients, and the observation group had a lower incidence of adverse reactions compared to the control group. Conclusions: Bat and ITDI emerge as notably more effective for SSNHL patients, displaying potential for reducing peripheral blood inflammatory indicator levels and mitigating the incidence of adverse reactions or complications, thereby enhancing safety.
Intramasseteric Solitary Myofibroma: A Case Report
Authors: El Hafi Zakaria , Habte Eden Ayele , Hjaouj Khalil , Bencheikh Razika , Benbouzid Mohamed Anas , Oujilal Abdelilah , Cherradi Nadia , El Ouazzani Hafsa , Essakalli Leila
Published: January 2024

Solitary myofibroma or infantile myofibroma is a rare spindle cell neoplasm that generally affects infants before the age of 2 years but cases in young children and adults have been described. Although the location of infantile myofibroma in the oral and maxillofacial region has been described, the intramasseteric location of the lesion is very uncommon. A thorough assessment of histopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics is necessary to have a correct diagnosis. Treatment relies on surgical resection. In this article, we present a rare clinical case of a 15-year-old patient with a myofibroma of the masseteric muscle and its management.
Defend, Deny, Distance, and Dismantle: A New Measure of Advantaged Identity Management
Authors: Shuman Eric , van Zomeren Martijn , Saguy Tamar , Knowles Eric , Halperin Eran
Published: January 2024

The experience of privilege can trigger psychological conflict among advantaged group members. Nonetheless, little work has explored strategies that advantaged group members use to manage their identities as privileged actors. Building on Knowles et al.’s framework and theories of intergroup relations, we address the conceptualization and measurement of advantaged group identity-management strategies. We aim to refine theorizing and validate a measure of these strategies across three contexts (U.S.’s White-Black relations, Israel’s Jewish-Arab/Palestinian relations, and U.S.’s gender relations). This process yielded two novel conceptual and empirical contributions. First, we add a strategy— defend—in which advantaged-group members overtly justify inequality. Second, we discover that distancing has two facets ( distancing from inequality and from identity). Across six studies, we find support for our proposed factor structure, measurement invariance, and construct validity. We discuss how advantaged groups contend with privilege and offer a tool for studying these strategies across domains and contexts.
Blind spots in the study of democratic representation: Masses and elites in old and new democracies
Authors: Shim Jaemin , Farag Mahmoud
Published: January 2024

Preference congruence between masses and elites lies at the heart of the study of democratic representation. In this article, substantiated by a meta-analysis of 154 studies published between 1960 and 2022, we show that the literature on mass–elite congruence has increased exponentially in the past decade. Despite the growing academic interest, the publications mainly focus on Western Europe and leave two critical blind spots. First, at the mass level, little attention has been paid to distinguishing between voters and non-voters and between independents and partisans. Second, at the elite level, presidents have been overlooked, including those studies examining presidential or semi-presidential democracies. In this article, we demonstrate the existence of two blind spots with a meta-analysis, explain their significance for political representation and test the extent to which they affect mass–elite congruence measurement. The article contributes to the comparative study of representation by illustrating how filling in these two blind spots is necessary to ensure a reliable and comprehensive assessment of mass–elite congruence.