bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Movement of Chinese Music Student Teachers Through Fuller and Bown Stages of Concern: A Comparison of Survey Ratings and Free Response
Authors: Liu Jing , Killian Janice
Published: October 2024

Student teaching is a critical element in music teacher preparation. Fuller and Bown’s three-stage model of teacher concerns development has been widely utilized in the United States, but little is known about the development of concerns of Chinese preservice music teachers. Therefore, the purpose of this mixed-method study was to investigate Chinese student teachers’ ( N = 65) concerns and shift-of-concern patterns before and after student teaching. A rating survey translated to Chinese and written free responses were used to examine concerns. Both quantitative and qualitative data indicated that teaching experience, as predicted, notably decreased student teachers’ self concerns. Analysis of written comments revealed that many concerns were context-specific, and thus we added a new category: social concerns, including legitimacy of music as a subject, physical work environment, and others. Comparisons between the two types of dependent measures showed notable differences. By ratings, task concerns were ranked significantly higher than self and student impact concerns both before and after student teaching. The written comments, however, revealed that Chinese student teachers had the most self concerns before student teaching but emphasized social concerns after student teaching. In-depth discussion includes emerging themes, cultural context, possible factors associated with concerns shifts, and implications for future research.
Tetrahybrid nanoparticles through squeezed channel with inclined Lorentz forces
Authors: Gangadhar Kotha , Ananda Vardhana K. , Vinodh Kumar Pallamkuppam , Dinarvand Saeed
Published: October 2024

Heat exchangers, nuclear power plants, and other engineering and manufacturing operations all involve high temperatures. These systems have a very big temperature gradient, which has a substantial impact on the fluid's transport characteristics. Under such circumstances, using the linear Boussinesq approximation and taking into account the constant thermophysical parameters for the ambient liquid become meaningless. Thus, under the impact on the angled magnetic field and joule heating, the radiative convection flow of the blood-based tetrahybrid nanoliquid in a squeezing channel is examined in this work. The base fluid that contains the distributed alumina, gold, silver, and titania nanoparticles is blood. Through suitable transformations, the partial governing equations were decreased into nonlinear ordinary differential equation's, which are then resolved mathematically applying the fourth-order accurate BVP4C technique. The increase in the viscous dissipation parameter corresponds toward the notable elevation on the blood temperature profile. The rate of heat transfer 57.4519% improved in Au-Ag-Al2O3-TiO2/blood than that of pure blood.
Interventions for the promotion of the ethical environment among health professionals: Scoping review
Authors: Carpes Lanes Taís , de Lima Dalmolin Graziele , Villagran Camila Antunez , Azevedo Wagner Benetti Sabrina , Ramos Flávia Regina Souza
Published: October 2024

Background

Education is a tool for the promotion of ethical skills that ensure the principles of conduct and the quality of care provided. The literature is still incipient in this theme; however, some studies point to education and ethical consultations as strategies to promote an ethical environment.

Objective

To map the interventions that aim to prospect the ethical environment in health services.

Method

Scoping review to answer the question “What interventions are being used by health professionals to prospect an ethical environment in health services?” It occurred in the Medline (PubMed), CINAHL with Full Text (EBSCO), Scopus, Embase (Elsevier), and Web of Science databases in January 2023 by two reviewers, via the Rayyan platform. Articles with health professionals addressing interventions to prospect the ethical environment in any health service were included, without time frame. A form was used for data extraction and analysis occurred via Bardin content analysis. The review protocol was registered in the Open Science Framework.

Results

2429 records were found; however, only 12 articles were included for analysis, these being randomized, cross-sectional, descriptive, and qualitative studies. Among the interventions, it was noticed that 58.3% ( n = 7) is about ethical education, 16.7% ( n = 2) about ethical guidelines and codes, 16.7% ( n = 2) about ethical reflection and leadership, and 8.3% ( n = 1) of ethical consultations. A theoretical map was elaborated, and four types of interventions were identified, based on ethical consultation, ethical education, guidelines and codes of ethics, reflection, and ethical leadership.

Conclusions

The interventions were considered effective to prospect the ethical environment in health services, and their effectiveness was evaluated by validated instruments, as well as through interviews and focus groups.
A Nomogram for Predicting Cancer-Associated Venous Thromboembolism in Hospitalized Patients Receiving Chemoradiotherapy for Cancer
Authors: Sisi Yan , Genpeng Li , Yao Chen , Suting Song , Rongying Tang , Jiayi Du , Zhaoli Zhang , Chunyu Wang
Published: October 2024

Purpose

The aim of this study was to develop a novel nomogram to predict cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (CAT) in hospitalized patients with cancer who receive chemoradiotherapy.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of hospitalized patients with cancer who received chemoradiotherapy between January 2010 and December 2022. Predictive factors for CAT were determined using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, and a risk prediction model based on the nomogram was constructed and validated internally. Nomogram performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

A total of 778 patients were eligible for inclusion in this study. The nomogram incorporated 5 independent risk factors: age, cancer stage, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, D-dimer levels, and history of diabetes mellitus. The area under the curve (AUC) of the nomogram for the training and validation cohorts was 0.816 and 0.781, respectively, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of 0.770-0.861 and 0.703-0.860, respectively. The calibration and DCA curves also displayed good agreement and clinical applicability of the nomogram model.

Conclusions

The incidence of CAT was relatively high among patients with cancer receiving chemoradiotherapy. The nomogram risk model developed in this study has good prediction efficiency and can provide a reference for the clinical evaluation of the risk of adverse outcomes in patients with cancer receiving chemoradiotherapy.
Conversational topic maintenance and related cognitive abilities in autistic versus neurotypical children
Authors: Abbot-Smith Kirsten , Matthews Danielle , Bannard Colin , Nice Joshua , Malkin Louise , Williams David , Hobson William
Published: October 2024

Keeping a conversation going is the social glue of friendships. The DSM criteria for autism list difficulties with back-and-forth conversation but does not necessitate that all autistic children will be equally impacted. We carried out three studies (two pre-registered) with verbally fluent school children (age 5–9 years) to investigate how autistic and neurotypical children maintain a conversation topic. We also investigated within-group relationships between conversational ability and cognitive and sociocognitive predictors. Study 1 found autistic children were more likely than neurotypical controls to give off-topic and generic minimal responses (e.g. ‘mm’, ‘oh’) and were less likely to give non-verbal responses (e.g. nodding or use of facial affect to respond). Nonetheless, the autistic group provided topic-supporting responses 62% of the time, indicating some aspects of conversation topic maintenance are a relative strength. Studies 2 and 3 found large individual differences in topic-supporting conversational responding among both neurotypical and autistic children. These were positively related to theory of mind ability and age in both groups. Conversational skills lie on a continuum for the general population and differences by diagnostic group are a matter of degree. Given the importance for peer relationships, we suggest a whole classroom approach to supporting conversation skills in all children.

Lay abstract

Children who struggle to maintain conversation with peers often have fewer friends and lower popularity ratings, which can affect wellbeing. Verbal social communication more broadly is linked to both behavioural difficulties and emotional problems. We carried out three studies to examine children’s ability to provide responses which keep a back and forth conversation going. The first study found that while autistic children had on average greater difficulties than their neurotypical peers with certain aspects of conversation topic maintenance, for other aspects the autistic group showed considerable strengths. Both studies 2 (neurotypical children) and 3 (autistic children) found relationships between, on the one hand, conversational ability, and on the other, the ability to consider another’s viewpoint and the ability to maintain and update information in short term memory. We suggest support for social conversation skills should be part of mainstream classroom curricula for autistic and neurotypical children alike.
Reconstructing reflective metamers: A comparative analysis of white LEDs with high and low colour rendering indexes
Authors: Hung ST , Huang PT , Chen HS
Published: October 2024

This study introduces an innovative method for reconstructing metamers, the aim is to identify metamerism when utilising white LEDs with high and low colour rendering. Two types of white LEDs were utilised as experimental light sources with two colour rendering indexes: high colour rendering (International Commission on Illumination (CIE) Ra of 95, TM-30 Rf of 92) and low colour rendering (CIE Ra of 78, TM-30 Rf of 78). Employ 741 training colours, principal component analysis was applied to extract basis function. Subsequently, 18 chromatic samples on ColorChecker colour chart were employed as target colours for spectrum reconstruction. Five sets of constraint were established to effectively filter potential metamers which are capable of inducing metamerism. Ultimately, three sets metamers were successfully reconstruct to differentiate white LEDs with high colour rendering, while an additional three sets of metamers were developed to distinguish white LEDs with low colour rendering. This outcome demonstrates the efficient method in reconstructing metamers to identify metamerism under high and low colour rendering white LEDs.
Legal hostilities: Navigating queerness, emotion, and space in asylum law
Authors: Raj Senthorun
Published: October 2024

Asylum laws, policies, and bureaucracies are structured by spatializing logics of emotion such as compassion, sympathy, fear, anxiety, and hostility. For lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ) people who seek asylum, legal recognition as a refugee is contingent on the extent to which receiving states believe they are deserving of compassion and care. This materializes spatially through racialized legal and administrative cartographies of safety and danger that position LGBTIQ people as being at risk of a “well-founded fear” of persecution. Meanwhile, those LGBTIQ people who seek asylum in a “disorderly” manner or present “disrupted” narratives of either their identity or persecution generate administrative anxieties and hostilities as states seek to “guard” the border from disingenuous claims and dangerous bodies. For LGBTIQ people who seek asylum in the United Kingdom (UK), these affective tensions become apparent in the hostile bordering practices of law that seek to narrowly codify sex, gender, sexuality, race, culture, and harm. Drawing on a rich data set of LGBTIQ asylum cases from the UK, this paper adopts hostility as a novel analytic lens to map carefully how: (1) hostility materializes as a substantive object of legal or administrative scrutiny when understanding the nature of LGBTIQ identity and persecution and (2) hostility emerges procedurally through status determination processes as an “emotional grammar” to limit the possibilities of legal recognition. This affective critical work is normatively significant if we (as scholars and lawyers) are to create spaces within law and policy to support LGBTIQ people who seek asylum.
Decolonial leaps in more-than-human geographies
Authors: Lobo Michele
Published: October 2024

This commentary illuminates how Whitehead's vitalistic ethos and speculative philosophy mobilises decolonial leaps in more-than-human geographies. These risky leaps that unsettle apocalyptic, commonsense western literacies of planetary crises call for daring and experimentation. Amid the ongoing brutality of a racial, colonial, and capitalist logics, perhaps Whitehead and Roberts are accomplices in decolonial leaps that contribute to a planetary consciousness.
Mobile chat messaging for preventing relapse among people who recently quit smoking: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Su Xiaoyu , Wong Vanessa , Cheung Yee Tak Derek , Chan Helen Ching-han , Wong Grace Nga-ting , Lee John Ka Hong , Ho Sai Yin , Wang Man Ping , Luk Tzu Tsun
Published: October 2024

Objective

Most smokers who achieve short-term abstinence relapse even when aided by evidence-based cessation treatment. Mobile health presents a promising but largely untested avenue for providing adjunct behavioral support for relapse prevention. This paper presents the rationale and design of a randomized controlled trial aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of personalized mobile chat messaging support for relapse prevention among people who recently quit smoking.

Methods

This is a two-arm, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial conducted in two clinic-based smoking cessation services in Hong Kong. An estimated 586 daily tobacco users who have abstained for 3 to 30 days will be randomized (1:1) to intervention group or control group. Both groups receive standard-of-care smoking cessation treatment from the services. The intervention group additionally receives 3-month relapse prevention support via mobile chat messaging, including cessation advice delivered by a live counselor and access to a supportive chatbot via WhatsApp. The control group receives text messaging on generic cessation advice for 3 months as attention control. The primary outcome is tobacco abstinence verified by an exhaled carbon monoxide of <5 parts per million or a negative salivary cotinine test at 6 months after randomization. Secondary outcomes include self-reported 6-month prolonged tobacco abstinence, 7-day point-prevalent abstinence, and relapse rate. The primary analyses will be by intention-to-treat, assuming participants with missing data are non-abstinent. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05370352) and follows CONSORT-EHEALTH.

Conclusion

This trial will provide new evidence on the effectiveness of mobile chat messaging as a scalable and accessible intervention for relapse prevention.
Clinical Frailty Scale score is a predictor of short-, mid- and long-term mortality in critically ill older adults (≥ 70 years) admitted to the emergency department: an observational study
Authors: Javadzadeh Dariush , Karlson Björn W , Alfredsson Joakim , Ekerstad Elin , Hellberg Jenny , Herlitz Johan , Ekerstad Niklas
Published: October 2024

Background

The estimated prognos of a patient might influence the expected benefit/risk ratio of different interventions. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) score as an independent predictor of short-, mid- and long-term mortality in critically ill older adults (aged ≥ 70) admitted to the emergency department (ED).

Methods

This is a retrospective, single-center, observational study, involving critically ill older adults, recruited consecutively in an ED. All patients were followed for 6.5–7.5 years. The effect of CFS score on mortality was adjusted for the following confounders: age, sex, Charlson’s Comorbidity Index, individual comorbidities and vital parameters. All patients (n = 402) were included in the short- and mid-term analyses, while patients discharged alive (n = 302) were included in the long-term analysis. Short-term mortality was analysed with logistic regression, mid- and long-term mortality with log rank test and Cox proportional hazard models. The CFS was treated as a continuous variable in the primary analyses, and as a categorical variable in completing analyses.

Results

There was a significant association between mortality at 30 days after ED admission and CFS score, adjusted OR (95% CI) 2.07 (1.64–2.62), p < 0.0001. There was a significant association between mortality at one year after ED admission and CFS score, adjusted HR (95% CI) 1.75 (1.53–2.01), p < 0.0001. There was a significant association between mortality 6.5–7.5 years after discharge and CFS score, adjusted HR (95% CI) 1.66 (1.46–1.89), p < 0.0001. Adjusted HRs are also reported for long-term mortality, when the CFS was treated as a categorical variable: CFS-score 5 versus 1–4: HR (95% CI) 1.98 (1.27–3.08); 6 versus 1–4: HR (95% CI) 3.60 (2.39–5.44); 7 versus 1–4: HR (95% CI) 3.95 (2.38–6.55); 8–9 versus 1–4: HR (95% CI) 20.08 (9.30–43.38). The completing analyses for short- and mid-term mortality indicated a similar risk-predictive value of the CFS.

Conclusions

Clinical frailty scale score was independently associated with all-cause short-, mid- and long-term mortality. A nearly doubled risk of death was observed in frail patients. This information is clinically relevant, since individualised treatment and care planning for older adults should consider risk of death in different time perspectives.
Left hand abscess as a paradoxical reaction during treatment of disseminated tuberculosis in immunocompetent patient: case report and review of literature
Authors: Alharbi Aisha , Aljahdali Aseel , Ahamed Mohamed Firoze , Almarhabi Hassan
Published: October 2024

A paradoxical reaction (PR) during the treatment of tuberculosis was defined as the worsening of preexisting disease either clinically or radiologically or the appearance of a new tuberculous lesion. These reactions are frequently observed in patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) upon the initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Herein, we present a unique case of a paradoxical reaction in a previously healthy 19-year-old female who started anti-tuberculosis treatment for disseminated tuberculosis. Four weeks after treatment initiation, she developed two new swollen masses in her left dorsum of the hand, accompanied by fever and new right submandibular painful lymphadenopathy, with worsening of the preexisting left lower neck lymph node. The patient underwent needle aspiration from her new skin abscess on the dorsum of her left hand, which revealed positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Anti-tuberculosis treatment was continued, and the patient fully recovered. We described an unusual presentation of paradoxical reaction manifested by a skin abscess at a site distant from her primary disease in an immunocompetent TB patient, which demonstrated the importance of considering paradoxical reactions in HIV-negative patients who present with worsening signs and symptoms after initial improvement following treatment initiation.
Receipt of social services intervention in childhood, educational attainment and emergency hospital admissions: longitudinal analyses of national administrative health, social care, and education data in Wales, UK
Authors: Lowthian Emily , Moore Graham , Evans Annette , Anthony Rebecca , Rahman Muhammad Azizur , Daniel Rhian , Brophy Sinead , Scourfield Jonathan , Taylor Chris , Paranjothy Shantini , Long Sara
Published: October 2024

Background

Research consistently finds poorer health and educational outcomes for children who have experienced out-of-home care relative to the general population. Few studies have explored differences between those in care and those in receipt of intervention from social services but not in care. Children receiving social services interventions often experience Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and deprivation, which are known to negatively impact outcomes. We aimed to estimate the association of different social services interventions with educational outcomes and hospital admissions, while adjusting for ACEs and deprivation.

Methods

We linked retrospective, routinely collected administrative records from health, education, and social care to create a cohort via the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) databank in Wales, UK. We analysed data for children and household members (N = 30,439) across four different groups: (1) no social care intervention; (2) children in need but not in care (CIN); (3) children on the Child Protection Register but not in care (CPR); (4) children in care - i.e. removed from the family home and looked after by the local authority (CLA). Our primary outcome was education outcomes at age 16 years. Secondary outcomes were all cause emergency hospital admissions, and emergency admissions for external causes/injuries.

Results

Children in receipt of social services intervention were more likely to not attain the expected level upon leaving statutory education at age 16 after adjusting for ACEs and other characteristics (for children who had been in out-of-home care (conditional OR: 1·76, (95%CI) 1·25 − 2·48), in need (2·51, 2·00–3·15) and those at risk (i.e., on the child protection register) (4·04, 2·44 − 6·68). For all-cause emergency admissions, all social care groups were at greater risk compared to children in the general population (children in care (conditional HR: 1·31, 1·01–1·68), children in need (1·62, 1·38 − 1·90), and children at risk (1·51, 1·11 − 2·04).

Conclusions

All groups receiving social service intervention experience poorer educational and health outcomes than peers in the general population. Children who remain with their home parents or caregivers but are identified as ‘in need’ or ‘at risk’ by social care practitioners require further research. Integrated support is needed from multiple sectors, including health, educational and social care.
Tongue microbiota in relation to the breathing preference in children undergoing orthodontic treatment
Authors: Marincak Vrankova Zuzana , Brenerova Petra , Bodokyova Lenka , Bohm Jan , Ruzicka Filip , Borilova Linhartova Petra
Published: October 2024

Background

Mouth breathing (MB), a risk factor of oral dysbiosis and halitosis, is linked with craniofacial anomalies and pediatric obstructive sleep apnea. Here, we aimed to analyze tongue microbiota in children from the perspective of their breathing pattern before/during orthodontic treatment.

Methods

This prospective case–control study included 30 children with orthodontic anomalies, 15 with MB and 15 with nasal breathing (NB), matched by age, sex, and body mass index. All underwent orthodontic examination and sleep apnea monitoring. Tongue swabs were collected before starting (timepoint M0) and approx. six months into the orthodontic therapy (timepoint M6). Oral candidas and bacteriome were analyzed using mass spectrometry technique and 16S rRNA sequencing, respectively.

Results

MB was associated with higher apnea–hypopnea index. At M0, oral candidas were equally present in both groups. At M6, Candida sp. were found in six children with MB but in none with NB. No significant differences in bacterial diversity were observed between groups and timepoints. However, presence/relative abundance of genus Solobacterium was higher in children with MB than NB at M0.

Conclusions

Significant links between MB and the presence of genus Solobacterium (M0) as well as Candida sp. (M6) were found in children with orthodontic anomalies, highlighting the risk of halitosis in them.
Perceived effectiveness of the person–environment–occupation innovative teaching model in rehabilitation therapy students
Authors: Wang Zhizhuo , Wu Peiyun , Li Ming , Chen Xiuyun , Lin Cheng
Published: October 2024

Background

Given the characteristics of the rehabilitation therapy specialty and the drawback of the traditional didactic teaching approach, we developed the innovative teaching approach from the students’ perspective using the person–environment–occupation (PEO) model. The new model was developed from the original PEO model to be applied in pedagogical contexts and tailored to the characteristics of an application-oriented specialty, such as rehabilitation therapy. The present study aimed to examine the perceived effectiveness of the PEO innovative teaching model applied to rehabilitation therapy students.

Methods

A pre–post descriptive study was conducted to compare the perceived effectiveness of the PEO innovative teaching model for two consecutive student cohorts. A purposive sampling method was used to recruit students from two cohorts of junior medical students majoring in rehabilitation therapy in the spring semesters of 2020 and 2021. A questionnaire was developed to evaluate the perceived effectiveness of the PEO innovative teaching model. SPSS version 26.0 was used to perform data analysis.

Results

A total of 112 students were included in the study and completed both pre- and post-tests. Of 112 received questionnaires, 101 were considered as valid questionnaires after the quality check (effective rate 90.18%). In the 2020 and 2021 cohorts, students rated the PEO innovative teaching model significantly higher than the didactic teaching approach in the following aspects: the teaching content is highly professional and valuable; the course is extensively expounded; the clinical reasoning is strengthened; problem-solving ability is developed; communication skills are improved; and teamwork skills are developed.

Conclusion

The PEO innovative teaching model was perceived to be an effective teaching strategy to enhance students’ academic performance. In addition, three core skills including clinical reasoning, problem-solving ability, and communication skills were improved by the PEO innovative teaching model.
Leaders development program by 360 degree feedback: reflection on head nurses’ leadership practices
Authors: Emam Sabrine Mohammed , Fakhry Samah Faisal , Abdrabou Hanaa Mohamed
Published: October 2024

Background

Leadership in nursing is crucial for delivering high-quality healthcare and ensuring positive outcomes for patients, staff, and institutions. Many nurses in leadership positions lack formal training, which can compromise their effectiveness. This study aims to evaluate the effect of a leadership development program utilizing 360-degree feedback on head nurses’ leadership practices.

Methods

A true-experimental design was employed in three healthcare institutions. The study involved 80 head nurses (40 intervention, 40 control), 240 staff nurses, and 29 supervisors. The intervention group participated in a six-week leadership development program using 360-degree feedback. Data were collected pre- and post-intervention using the Leadership Development and 360-Degree Feedback Knowledge Questionnaire and the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI).

Results

The intervention group showed significant improvements in leadership knowledge and practices across all dimensions. Knowledge scores increased from 25.1 ± 8.8 to 93.0 ± 5.1 post-intervention, maintaining at 83.2 ± 7.1 at follow-up. Self-assessed leadership scores improved from 88.1 ± 6.0 to 97.5 ± 2.7, and 98.5 ± 2.0 at follow-up. Supervisor and staff assessments also showed substantial increases. Multiple linear regression analyses confirmed the strong positive impact of the intervention on leadership outcomes.

Conclusion

The leadership development program using 360-degree feedback significantly enhanced head nurses’ leadership knowledge and practices. The results suggest that such programs can improve leadership capabilities in healthcare settings, leading to better patient care and organizational performance. Future research should address group homogeneity and explore long-term impacts on patient outcomes.
Physical (in)activity and screen-based media use of adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis over time - data from a German inception cohort
Authors: Milatz Florian , Pedersen Malthe Jessen , Klotsche Jens , Liedmann Ina , Niewerth Martina , Hospach Anton , Horneff Gerd , Klein Ariane , Weller-Heinemann Frank , Foeldvari Ivan , Kallinich Tilmann , Haas Johannes-Peter , Windschall Daniel , Dressler Frank , Foell Dirk , Kuemmerle-Deschner Jasmin B. , Minden Kirsten
Published: October 2024

Background

Regular physical activity (PA) has been proven to help prevent non-communicable diseases and is beneficial for disease management in chronically ill populations. Physical inactivity and recreational screen-based media (SBM) use are related to poor health outcomes and common among youth. This study aimed to (1) investigate PA levels and recreational SBM use of adolescents with JIA over time and (2) compare these behaviours with those of their peers.

Methods

Data from JIA patients and their peers enrolled in the inception cohort study ICON at 11 German centers were analyzed. Individuals aged 13 and over were followed prospectively with questionnaires concerning PA level, recreational SBM use, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) at a two-year interval. Group by time interactions were analyzed using linear mixed models.

Results

Data of 214 patients (mean age at first documentation 14.4 ± 0.9 years, female 63%) and 141 peers could be considered. At first documentation, patients were less physically active compared to their peers (p < 0.001). In contrast to their peers, patients’ PA levels increased over time (OR 3.69; 95% CI: 1.01–13.50, p = 0.048). Mean screen time did not differ significantly between patients and peers (first documentation: 3.5 h vs. 3.0 h, p = 0.556; follow-up: 3.6 h vs. 3.3 h, p = 0. 969). During the observation period, male patients reported higher PA levels than female patients, but also higher screen time levels. While low socioeconomic status (SES) (OR 14.40; 95%-CI: 2.84–73.15) and higher cJADAS-10 score (OR 1.31; 95%-CI: 1.03–1.66) increased the likelihood for high SBM use (≥ 4.5 h/d), higher PedsQL psychosocial health score (OR 0.93; 95%-CI: 0.88–0.99) was associated with a decreased likelihood.

Conclusions

Adolescents with JIA become more physically active over the disease course and achieve comparable levels of PA and recreational screen time to their peers. However, the vast majority appear to be insufficiently physically active. Future interventions to promote healthy lifestyles should include gender and SES as important determinants to reach most vulnerable groups.
Distinct immunomodulation elicited by young versus aged extracellular vesicles in bone marrow-derived macrophages
Authors: Livkisa Dora , Lee Tsung-Lin , Yeh Wei-Ting , Jaimes Manuel S.V. , Szomolay Barbara , Liao Chia-Te , Lundy David J.
Published: October 2024

Background

Previous research has indicated that extracellular vesicles (EVs) potentially play significant roles in multiple ageing phenotypes. This study uses a factorial experimental design to explore the interactions between circulating EVs and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) isolated from young (7–12 weeks) and aged (70–90 weeks) mice.

Results

In this study, plasma EVs from young (Y_EV) and aged (O_EV) mice were isolated and compared based on abundance, size, and miRNA cargo. Compared to some previous studies, we found relatively few differences in EV miRNA cargo between Y_EVs and O_EVs. Young and old EVs were then used to stimulate naïve BMDMs isolated from young (Y_BMDM) and aged (O_BMDM) mice. A panel of five “M1” and six “M2” macrophage markers were used to assess the degree of polarisation. Our results revealed differences in the immunomodulatory effects of Y_EVs and O_EVs in Y_BMDMs and O_BMDMs. Y_EVs induced less pro-inflammatory gene expression, while O_EVs exhibited a more varied impact, promoting both pro- and anti-inflammatory markers. However, neither EV population induced a clearly defined ‘M1’ or ‘M2’ macrophage phenotype. We also report that EVs elicited responses that differed markedly from those induced by whole plasma. Plasma from old mice had strong pro-inflammatory effects on Y_BMDMs, increasing Il1b, Nlrp3 and Tnfa. However, O_EVs did not have these effects, supporting current evidence that EVs are a separate component of circulating factors during ageing. More research is needed to elucidate specific factors involved in inflammageing processes.

Conclusions

Our findings reveal age-related differences in EV cargo and function, with young EVs tending to suppress inflammatory markers more effectively than aged EVs. However, this is not straightforward, and EVs often promoted both M1 and M2 markers. These results suggest that EVs are a distinct component of circulating factors and hold potential for therapeutic strategies aimed at mitigating age-related inflammation and immune dysregulation.
Data-independent acquisition proteomic analysis of the brain microvasculature in Alzheimer’s disease identifies major pathways of dysfunction and upregulation of cytoprotective responses
Authors: Erickson Michelle A. , Johnson Richard S. , Damodarasamy Mamatha , MacCoss Michael J. , Keene C. Dirk , Banks William A. , Reed May J.
Published: October 2024

Brain microvascular dysfunction is an important feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). To better understand the brain microvascular molecular signatures of AD, we processed and analyzed isolated human brain microvessels by data-independent acquisition liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (DIA LC–MS/MS) to generate a quantitative dataset at the peptide and protein level. Brain microvessels were isolated from parietal cortex grey matter using protocols that preserve viability for downstream functional studies. Our cohort included 23 subjects with clinical and neuropathologic concordance for Alzheimer’s disease, and 21 age-matched controls. In our analysis, we identified 168 proteins whose abundance was significantly increased, and no proteins that were significantly decreased in AD. The most highly increased proteins included amyloid beta, tau, midkine, SPARC related modular calcium binding 1 (SMOC1), and fatty acid binding protein 7 (FABP7). Additionally, Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis identified the enrichment of increased proteins involved in cellular detoxification and antioxidative responses. A systematic evaluation of protein functions using the UniProt database identified groupings into common functional themes including the regulation of cellular proliferation, cellular differentiation and survival, inflammation, extracellular matrix, cell stress responses, metabolism, coagulation and heme breakdown, protein degradation, cytoskeleton, subcellular trafficking, cell motility, and cell signaling. This suggests that AD brain microvessels exist in a stressed state of increased energy demand, and mount a compensatory response to ongoing oxidative and cellular damage that is associated with AD. We also used public RNAseq databases to identify cell-type enriched genes that were detected at the protein level and found no changes in abundance of these proteins between control and AD groups, indicating that changes in cellular composition of the isolated microvessels were minimal between AD and no-AD groups. Using public data, we additionally found that under half of the proteins that were significantly increased in AD microvessels had concordant changes in brain microvascular mRNA, implying substantial discordance between gene and protein levels. Together, our results offer novel insights into the molecular underpinnings of brain microvascular dysfunction in AD.
A comprehensive study of genetic regulation and disease associations of plasma circulatory microRNAs using population-level data
Authors: Mustafa Rima , Mens Michelle M. J. , van Hilten Arno , Huang Jian , Roshchupkin Gennady , Huan Tianxiao , Broer Linda , van Meurs Joyce B. J. , Elliott Paul , Levy Daniel , Ikram M. Arfan , Evangelou Marina , Dehghan Abbas , Ghanbari Mohsen
Published: October 2024

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression. Perturbations in plasma miRNA levels are known to impact disease risk and have potential as disease biomarkers. Exploring the genetic regulation of miRNAs may yield new insights into their important role in governing gene expression and disease mechanisms.

Results

We present genome-wide association studies of 2083 plasma circulating miRNAs in 2178 participants of the Rotterdam Study to identify miRNA-expression quantitative trait loci (miR-eQTLs). We identify 3292 associations between 1289 SNPs and 63 miRNAs, of which 65% are replicated in two independent cohorts. We demonstrate that plasma miR-eQTLs co-localise with gene expression, protein, and metabolite-QTLs, which help in identifying miRNA-regulated pathways. We investigate consequences of alteration in circulating miRNA levels on a wide range of clinical conditions in phenome-wide association studies and Mendelian randomisation using the UK Biobank data (N = 423,419), revealing the pleiotropic and causal effects of several miRNAs on various clinical conditions. In the Mendelian randomisation analysis, we find a protective causal effect of miR-1908-5p on the risk of benign colon neoplasm and show that this effect is independent of its host gene (FADS1).

Conclusions

This study enriches our understanding of the genetic architecture of plasma miRNAs and explores the signatures of miRNAs across a wide range of clinical conditions. The integration of population-based genomics, other omics layers, and clinical data presents opportunities to unravel potential clinical significance of miRNAs and provides tools for novel miRNA-based therapeutic target discovery.
Comparison of ketorolac intravenous versus acetaminophen intravenous in treating headache following head trauma: a semi-experimental study
Authors: Zohrevandi Behzad , Hosseinnia Marjan , Balikshahi Niloufar , Jobaneh Masoud , Leili Ehsan Kazemnezhad , Khodadadi-Hassankiadeh Naema
Published: October 2024

Background

Post-traumatic headache is a disabling secondary headache disorder often attributed to traumatic brain injury and affects millions of individuals worldwide. Few studies have been done on the treatment needs of these patients in emergency departments. The purpose was to compare the effectiveness of ketorolac intravenous versus acetaminophen intravenous in reducing headaches in patients following head trauma.

Methods

This was a semi-experimental study in which the participants were assigned two groups. In the acetaminophen intravenous group, 1 g acetaminophen and in the ketorolac intravenous group, 60 mg of this drug was injected. Statistical analysis was done with IBM SPSS statistical software version 21, and a P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Among samples after 6 h from the injection, the pain score in the ketorolac intravenous group was less than the acetaminophen intravenous group (P = 0.006). Also, the pain reduction rate in the ketorolac intravenous group was more than the acetaminophen intravenous group from before the injection until 2 h after it (P = 0.01) and before injection until 6 h after it (P = 0.001). The frequency of drowsiness in 2 and 6 h after drug administration in the ketorolac intravenous group was lower than the acetaminophen intravenous group, which is significant in 2 h after drug administration (P = 0.038). The verbal analog scale score comparison for two groups 2 h before medicine administration with pain control score (P = 0.03) and 6 h with pethidine use control (P = 0.003) is significant.

Conclusions

According to this study, ketorolac’s intravenous effect on pain control is better than that of acetaminophen intravenous. With more samples, we can express the survey results more decisively in the future.
Evaluation of some mechanical and optical properties of modified glass ionomer cement with TiO2 and SiO2 nanoparticles
Authors: Elbatanony Mai M. , El Shahawi Amal M.
Published: October 2024

Background

Glass ionomer cements with extended setting time and inferior mechanical properties present significant challenges for dentists in clinical practice. Thus, various alterations aimed to enhance their properties.

Aim of the study

To study the effect of adding TiO2 and SiO2 nanoparticles on properties of conventional glass ionomer cement.

Methods

2.5 wt% TiO2 and 2.5 wt% SiO2 were added to the glass ionomer cement (GC Gold Label Luting & Lining Cement, Japan). Microhardness, compressive strength, setting time and color changes were evaluated using Vickers hardness tester, Universal testing machine, Gillmore needle apparatus and spectrophotometer, respectively.

Results

Data were analyzed using SPSS 18. Mean, SD, and confidence intervals were reported. Normality was checked using Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. The experimental group revealed a higher hardness value than the control group. Meanwhile, Compressive strength results revealed a higher value of the control group than experimental group. Setting time was longer for the experimental group, in the meantime no perceptible color change for the experimental group was recorded.

Conclusions

Adding 2.5 wt% TiO2 and 2.5 wt% SiO2 to conventional glass ionomer had a positive effect on microhardness without affecting the perceptible color.
Exploring programmatic elements that foster neurodiverse children and adolescents’ participation in informal STEM learning programs: a systematic review
Authors: Jenson Ronda J. , Lee Michele Sky , Vollmer April R. , Maroushek Emma E. , Hughes Amy E.
Published: October 2024

Informal STEM settings offer valuable opportunities for students, including neurodiverse students, to engage and participate in STEM activities. However, there is a limited information on how to best engage and include neurodiverse students in informal STEM programming. This systematic review aimed to identify the programmatic elements that facilitated the inclusion of K-12 neurodiverse STEM learners in informal STEM programs. In this systematic review, an academic and grey literature search was conducted, where the search resulted in 2632 records and 18 records were included in the systematic review. Records that met inclusion criteria were independently reviewed and assessed for quality by two reviewers using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) or a project-based MMAT. This paper describes how informal STEM programs were designed and implemented to foster the participation of neurodiverse K-12 STEM learners. A qualitative synthesis approach was used to identify the programmatic elements that fostered neurodiverse learner participation. Most of the informal STEM programming for neurodiverse youth occurred in after-school settings and with students with autism. Programmatic elements that facilitated the participation of this population in informal STEM were grouped into three categories: (1) environment/learning structure, (2) learning supports, and (3) instructional strategies and tools. Future informal STEM programming and research should expand to include the neurodiverse population in already established informal STEM programs.
Association of SIRT1 (rs7069102) Gene polymorphism with premature myocardial infarction in young Egyptian patients
Authors: Altaher Ali Mohamad , Foad Amera Morad , Youssef Wael , Ahmed Ahmed Elsharawy
Published: October 2024

Background

Premature myocardial infarction (PMI) is one of the most pressing global issues in modern cardiology. Recently, the incidence of PMI has gradually increased. Researches found that genetics is a major contributor in its development. SIRT1, an extremely conserved class III NAD-dependent deacetylase, has been linked to numerous cardiovascular disorders and engaged in a number of cellular functions. This work investigated the association between SIRT1 SNP rs7069102 in Egyptian patients ≤ 40 years old with premature ST-elevation Myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods

This cross sectional, single-center study included patients younger than 40 with STEMI (PMI group, n = 140) and a control group (n = 140) of healthy subjects of comparable age. In addition to clinical examination and standard tests, all participants underwent echocardiography, coronary angiography, SIRT1 (rs7069102) genotyping, and nitric oxide assay.

Results

The risk for PMI was increased in CG or CC genotype carriers of SIRT1 gene rs7069102 (OR: 3.93, 95% Cl: 2.25–6.86), as did carriers of the C allele (OR: 2.26, 95% Cl: 1.65–3.86). In the PMI group, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was significantly decreased; whereas, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) was significantly increased.

Conclusions

SIRT1 single-nucleotide polymorphism (rs7069102) may confer an increased risk for PMI in young Egyptian patients with affecting endothelial nitric oxide synthase protein expressions. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors are prevalent in patients with PMI, with dietary behaviors, obesity, diabetes and dyslipidemia serving as independent risk factors for PMI.

Clinical trial registration number: NCT05160844.
Estimation of weighted computed tomography dose index (CTDIw) in megavoltage computed tomography (MVCT)
Authors: Devi Rama , Singh Balbir , Basandrai Deepak , Passi Kamlesh , Singh Vikram
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Advanced technologies in radiation treatment deliveries require high accuracy and precision in setup before treatment to get accurate dose delivery for planned target volumes. During imaging procedures, patients are getting extra doses from kilovoltage computed tomography (KVCT) and megavoltage computed tomography (MVCT). Computed tomography dose index is an important dosimetric parameter to know the degree of radiation-induced side effects.

Aim

The main aim of this study is to quantify the dose received by patients during MVCT imaging procedures, weighted computed tomography dose index (CTDIw), volume computed tomography dose index (CTDIvol) and dose length product (DLP).

Methods and materials

This study has been performed on Radixact X9 LINAC machine with 6MV flattening filter-free (FFF) photon beam for treatment and imaging with 3.5 MeV average photon energy. CTDIw and dose length product (DLP) have been calculated for different scanning lengths 18 cm, 10 cm and 0.7 cm with fine, normal and coarse modes with standard imaging A1SL1 ion chamber, cheese phantom and tomoelectrometer.

Results

CTDIw, CTDIvol, and DLP have been calculated with cheese phantom using A1SL1 ion chamber. CTDIw for 0.7 cm is 2.16 cGy, 1.14 cGy and 0.77 cGy for fine normal and coarse modes, respectively.

Conclusion

CTDIw is a dosimetric index to know the dose levels at center and periphery of patient according to scan length. It gives an idea about how much additional dose is received by the patient during the imaging procedures. High pitch gives the lesser absorbed dose. DLP gives the knowledge about stochastic effects from radiation to patients after MVCT.