bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementation of a vascular access team and an intravenous therapy programme: A first-year activity analysis
Authors: Rosich-Soteras Arianna , Bonilla-Serrano Carolina , Llauradó-González Ma Àngels , Fernández-Bombín Alicia , Triviño-López Joselyn Abigail , Barceló-Querol Lluís , Heredia-Aguilar Laura , Frías-Martín Ma Carmen , Valverde-Bosch Montserrat , Corominas-Bosch Ma Lourdes , Domènech Ariadna
Published: January 2024

Background:

Creating Vascular Access Teams (VAT) provides an expert nursing role that contributes to the training and continuous improvement of healthcare personnel. They can offer greater clinical safety, reducing complications and costs. Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) and midline catheters (ML) can be safe and cost-effective alternatives to other types of venous access (VA). The aim of the study was to analyse our centre’s VAT first 12 months of activity. The primary outcome was reported complications. Secondary outcomes were cause of catheter removal, consultancy activity and economic impact of VAT implantation.

Methodology:

A longitudinal, descriptive study was carried out from March 2019 to March 2020. Using consecutive sampling, all VA inserted, and all consults received were included. Patients under 18 years of age were excluded.

Results:

The VAT inserted 1257 catheters into 1056 patients (291 MLs, 966 PICCs). The mean dwell time was 14.9 days for MLs and 59.07 days for PICCs. The main reason for removing VA was end of treatment (80.7%). During VA follow-up confirmed infection was detected in 1 ML (0.3%) and nine PICCs (0.9%). Symptomatic thrombosis was reported in 2 MLs (0.7%) and 16 PICCs (1.7%). The VAT received 367 consultations, and the main reason for consultation was to resolve doubts regarding the management of VA (80.9%). The insertion of ML and PICC catheters represented annual estimated economic savings of €867,688.44€.

Conclusions:

Our study provides a detailed analysis of VAT’s activity, its relevance to clinical safety, and to efficient resource management within our hospital. It demonstrates how VAT establishment can be a safe and efficient intervention that enhances care quality.
Distal AVF creation with marginal calcified radial artery: Multicentric experience of intraoperative intravascular lithotripsy
Authors: Marcello Napoli , Marco Taurisano , Patrizia Covella , Paolo Ria , Silvia Barbarini , Simona Cuna , Antonio De Pascalis
Published: January 2024

Introduction:

The first-choice vascular access to starting dialysis in patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is autogenous distal arteriovenous-fistula (AVF) to spare vascular district avoiding proximal fistula complications. One of most significant exclusion criteria to create distal AVF is still now the presence of huge calcification of the feeding artery due to large numbers of early failure (EF) and failure in maturation (FTM). In recent years the possibility to use new devices able to deliver intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) to treat high calcified stenosis could be a possibility to recruit these marginal arteries to create distal AVF.

Methods:

ESRD patients with totally calcified radial artery wall were enrolled to participate to this prospective, single arm, multicentric study. The selected patients were treated with intraoperative IVL at surgical time, during anastomosis creation to soften calcified radial artery. Patients were followed 1 month after surgery with eco-doppler, for flow and vessels maturation assessment. At 3 month was investigated how many patients have started dialysis treatment with two needle cannulation and good efficiency.

Results:

Nineteen distal forearm radio-cephalic fistula were built in 19 patients. One-month doppler assessment showed mean AVF flow of 743 ml/min and efferent vein caliper of 6.46 mm. At 3 months 14 patient have started stable 2 needles dialysis (other three patients were not yet dialysis dependent CKD). Were observed one immediate failure, one failure in maturation, and two late failures at 4 and 16 months respectively. Sixteen months primary and secondary patency was 78.9% and 89.5% respectively.

Conclusion:

These results showed how intraoperative IVL could help to recruit huge calcified marginal artery to create autogenous distal forearm AVF, avoiding proximal AVF, risking distal ischemia syndrome, and sparing vascular district to eventually rebuilt more proximal AVF in future.
Research Translation for International Development: A Literature Review and Framework for Evidence Use and Partner Engagement
Authors: Riddering Laura , Towns Alexandra , Brunese Priyanka , Yih Yuehwern
Published: January 2024

Many research-to-practice approaches exist, yet fundamental differences in interpretation and uneven application of research translation approaches create a real challenge in generating research-driven solutions for development challenges. In this review, we aim to clarify the plethora of approaches to increase research uptake into international development practice and policy. Through a qualitative analysis of 93 articles, we identified four interrelated factors that differentiate research translation approaches. Building off the variation expressed across these factors, we propose a conceptual framework called the Research Translation Continuum. This framework illustrates the range of ways to produce useful evidence and the range of ways that academics and practitioners can collaborate. Our study makes a unique contribution by providing a conceptual framework for guiding research translation efforts in international development. We conclude that critical reflexive engagement is needed to situate, use, and produce evidence for development policy and practice.
Multi-stakeholder networks as learning settings towards pro-environmental entrepreneurship: Learning through the diversity and policy–practice interface
Authors: Baranova Polina
Published: January 2024

The article explores the value of stakeholder diversity for learning towards pro-environmental entrepreneurship in multi-stakeholder networks (MSNs). Networks are viewed as entrepreneurial learning settings where stakeholder diversity frames the access to knowledge, practice and stakeholder dialogues. A qualitative case study research design is used to explore the experiences of learning towards pro-environmental entrepreneurship across 15 organisations as part of a well-established MSN with over 140 members operating in the Midlands. Stakeholder dialogues are identified as a significant feature of the MSN and reveal the policy–practice interface. The article shows how learning in MSNs is informed by the policy–practice interface, and as such expose the policy–practice gap and orient entrepreneurial behaviour. A view of an MSN as a dynamic learning system that brings together, often conflicting, agendas of environmental stakeholders and supports development of pro-environmental entrepreneurshipas a pathway to sustainable regional development is argued. Policy makers and business support agencies are advised to pay a close attention to MSNs as mechanisms for the development of entrepreneurial activity which is policy attuned, practice informed and environmental sustainability oriented.
An integrated grey-box model for accurate ship engine performance prediction under varying speed and environmental conditions
Authors: Park Sunyoung , Noh Yoojeong , Kang Young-Jin , Sim Jaechul , Jang Minsung
Published: January 2024

The development of ship engine fault diagnosis has led to an increased interest in predicting marine engine performance under various environmental and operating conditions. However, predicting engine performance using a single model is limited due to the various characteristics of ship engines depending on speed and environmental conditions. To address this issue, we propose a grey box model (GBM)-based ship engine performance prediction framework that combines the white box model and black box model (BBM) appropriately for both low- and high-speed operating conditions. The application of data preprocessing techniques, such as clustering and cleaning, under specific engine and environmental conditions, combined with dimensionality reduction techniques (partial least square and principal component) and the use of WBM/BBM models under classified speed conditions, makes the proposed framework accessible to real-world operators through data-driven approaches and domain knowledge. We demonstrate that the proposed framework improves the robustness, accuracy, and efficiency of engine performance predictions by considering the characteristics of each speed in real-world navigation data, compared to using single models.
The temporal governance of planning in England: Planning reform, Uchronia and ‘proper time’
Authors: Dobson Mark , Parker Gavin
Published: January 2024

Attention to the multiple temporalities of planning has gained recent and further traction in the planning literature, and time is clearly implicated in how power and resources are combined in the governance of the built and natural environment. Time, and specifically the management of clock time, shapes planning practice. Moreover successive reform agendas in England have drawn heavily on temporal framings of ‘speed’, ‘efficiency’ and ‘delay’ as part of a neoliberal ‘timescaping’ deployed to promote growth. We discuss time theory in application to planning to contrast the opposing uchronic or perfect timescapes, balanced between neoliberal ideology and normative principles underpinning proper time for planning.
Critical-democratic citizenship in Dutch tertiary vocational education: Analyzing opportunities for growth
Authors: Coopmans Manja , van der Veen Ineke , Daas Remmert
Published: January 2024

Previous studies suggest that secondary school students in vocational tracks receive fewer opportunities to practice with critical-democratic citizenship than students in academic tracks. Less is known about the role of critical-democratic citizenship education in tertiary vocational education and training (VET). Utilizing questionnaire data collected in 2021 amongst 350 Dutch VET students, a structural equation model was constructed in which we conjointly studied to what extent differences in students’ attitudes towards societal awareness and sound opinion forming are associated with 1) students’ experiences regarding the curriculum content, 2) openness of the classroom climate for discussion, 3) autonomy and structure provided by the teacher and 4) intrinsic value of the experienced citizenship education. This latter element was found to be especially relevant, as it was associated with both societal awareness and sound opinion forming, whereas classroom climate played only a minor role. Students’ societal awareness was also associated with both the experienced curriculum content and the autonomy and structure offered by the teacher. These results offer important practical implications to further improve opportunities for critical-democratic citizenship in VET.
Do You Have Two Minutes to Talk about Your Data? Willingness to Participate and Nonparticipation Bias in Facebook Data Donation
Authors: Keusch Florian , Pankowska Paulina K. , Cernat Alexandru , Bach Ruben L.
Published: January 2024

Data donation is a novel approach to collecting digital trace data, where users are asked to download their retrospective data from a platform and share them with the researchers. Little is known about the willingness to donate data and the potential bias that may arise from nonparticipation. We conducted a study among over 900 German Facebook users asking them to donate two data packages. While around 80% of participants were willing to donate their data, only around one-third of them successfully did so. Trust in researchers positively correlates with willingness and donation success, and trust in Facebook is negatively associated with donation success. The framing of the data donation request did not affect the outcomes. We find no difference in frequency of Facebook use between donors and non-donors.
The Hot Hand in the NBA 3-Point Contest: The Importance of Location, Location, Location
Authors: Lantis Robert , Nesson Erik
Published: January 2024

We investigate the hot hand in the 1986-2019 NBA 3-Point Shooting Contests. Combining repeated shots in a location and shots across locations, the contest mimics game situations without many of the confounding factors. We find that a hot hand exists in the contest, but only for shots within the same location. Streaks of shots increase a hot hand, but only if the player makes his previous shot and has not moved locations. Our results suggest that while a hot hand does exist in basketball shooting, it is only present when shots are taken from the same shooting location.
Adaptive phase I–II clinical trial designs identifying optimal biological doses for targeted agents and immunotherapies
Authors: Zang Yong , Guo Beibei , Qiu Yingjie , Liu Hao , Opyrchal Mateusz , Lu Xiongbin
Published: January 2024

Targeted agents and immunotherapies have revolutionized cancer treatment, offering promising options for various cancer types. Unlike traditional therapies the principle of “more is better” is not always applicable to these new therapies due to their unique biomedical mechanisms. As a result, various phase I–II clinical trial designs have been proposed to identify the optimal biological dose that maximizes the therapeutic effect of targeted therapies and immunotherapies by jointly monitoring both efficacy and toxicity outcomes. This review article examines several innovative phase I–II clinical trial designs that utilize accumulated efficacy and toxicity outcomes to adaptively determine doses for subsequent patients and identify the optimal biological dose, maximizing the overall therapeutic effect. Specifically, we highlight three categories of phase I–II designs: efficacy-driven, utility-based, and designs incorporating multiple efficacy endpoints. For each design, we review the dose–outcome model, the definition of the optimal biological dose, the dose-finding algorithm, and the software for trial implementation. To illustrate the concepts, we also present two real phase I–II trial examples utilizing the EffTox and ISO designs. Finally, we provide a classification tree to summarize the designs discussed in this article.
Exploring the supervisors’ writing experiences and their effects on undergraduate thesis supervisory practices: A comparison of Japanese and Swedish contexts
Authors: Fujimoto-Adamson Naoki , Adamson John L , Aida Niendorf Mariya
Published: January 2024

This study explored the effects of the writing experiences of supervisors on undergraduate English language thesis supervision, specifically focusing on the Japanese and Swedish tertiary contexts where English medium instruction (EMI) is delivered to students whose first language is not English. Employing a Collaborative Autoethnographic (CAE) approach, three teacher-researchers working at universities in Japan and Sweden jointly co-constructed their narratives about their own literacy practices in the historical development of their writing and current thesis supervision. Findings demonstrated limited influences of the teachers’ personal experiences on their practices, with social and educational norms in each country emerging as more significant factors. Particularly, the teacher-centeredness and exam-orientation were observed by the Japan-based supervisors to affect Japanese students, whereas the more horizontal relationship between students and teachers in Swedish education was reported as impacting university students’ autonomy in thesis writing. We concluded that in both tertiary EMI contexts, local embedded educational norms largely influenced teachers' supervisory practices.
Variations in the prevalence of atrial fibrillation, and in the strength of its association with ischemic stroke, in countries with different income levels: INTERSTROKE case–control study
Authors: Murphy Robert , Damasceno Albertino , Reddin Catriona , Hankey Graeme J , Iversen Helle K , Oveisgharan Shahram , Lanas Fernando , Czlonkowska Anna , Langhorne Peter , Ogunniyi Adesola , Wasay Mohammad , Rumboldt Zvonko , Judge Conor , Oguz Aytekin , Mondo Charles , Winter Yaroslav , Rosengren Annika , Pogosova Nana , Avezum Alvaro , Nilanont Yongchai , Penaherrera Ernesto , Xavier Denis , Lopez-Jaramillo Patricio , Wang Xingyu , Yusuf Salim , O’Donnell Martin
Published: January 2024

Background:

The contribution of atrial fibrillation (AF) to the etiology and burden of stroke may vary by country income level.

Aims:

We examined differences in the prevalence of AF and described variations in the magnitude of the association between AF and ischemic stroke by country income level.

Methods:

In the INTERSTROKE case–control study, participants with acute first ischemic stroke were recruited across 32 countries. We included 10,363 ischemic stroke cases and 10,333 community or hospital controls who were matched for age, sex, and center. Participants were grouped into high-income (HIC), upper-middle-income (subdivided into two groups—UMIC-1 and UMIC-2), and lower-middle-income (LMIC) countries, based on gross national income. We evaluated the risk factors for AF overall and by country income level, and evaluated the association of AF with ischemic stroke.

Results:

AF was documented in 11.9% (n = 1235) of cases and 3.2% (n = 328) of controls. Compared to HIC, the prevalence of AF was significantly lower in UMIC-2 (aOR 0.35, 95% CI 0.29–0.41) and LMIC (aOR 0.50, 95% CI 0.41–0.60) on multivariable analysis. Hypertension, female sex, valvular heart disease, and alcohol intake were stronger risk factors for AF in lower-income countries, and obesity a stronger risk factor in higher-income countries. The magnitude of association between AF and ischemic stroke was significantly higher in lower-income countries compared to higher-income countries. The population attributable fraction for AF and stroke varied by region and was 15.7% (95% CI 13.7–17.8) in HIC, 14.6% (95% CI 12.3–17.1) in UMIC-1, 5.7% (95% CI 4.9–6.7) in UMIC-2, and 6.3% (95% CI 5.3–7.3) in LMIC.

Conclusion:

Risk factors for AF vary by country income level. AF contributes to stroke burden to a greater extent in higher-income countries than in lower-income countries, due to a higher prevalence and despite a lower magnitude of odds ratio.
The significance of dynamic monitoring plasma TMAO level in pulmonary arterial hypertension – a cohort study
Authors: Yang Yicheng , Li Xin , Wang Peizhi , Shu Songren , Liu Bingyang , Liang Yanru , Yang Beilan , Zhao Zhihui , Luo Qin , Liu Zhihong , Zheng Lemin , Zeng Qixian , Xiong Changming
Published: January 2024

Background:

Gut microbiota assumes an essential role in the development and progression of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a gut microbiota-dependent metabolite, is correlated with the prognosis of patients with PAH. However, the correlation between changes in TMAO (ΔTMAO) and the prognosis of PAH remains elusive.

Objectives:

To investigate the association between ΔTMAO and prognosis of PAH, and explore whether dynamic assessment of TMAO level was superior to measurement at a single time point in predicting prognosis.

Design:

Single-center cohort study.

Methods:

Consecutive patients diagnosed with PAH and had at least two TMAO measurements taken from May 2019 to June 2020 were eligible. The outcome events of this study were defined as adverse clinical events.

Results:

A total of 117 patients with PAH who had two TMAO measurements and follow-up were included in this study. Patients with ΔTMAO ⩾1.082 μmol/L had over four times increased risk of adverse clinical events than their counterparts after adjusting for confounders [hazard ratio (HR) 4.050, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.468–11.174; p = 0.007]. Patients with constant high TMAO levels at both time points had the highest risk of adverse clinical events compared with patients with constant low TMAO levels (HR 3.717, 95% CI: 1.627–8.492; p = 0.002). ΔTMAO was also associated with changes in parameters reflecting PAH severity ( p < 0.05).

Conclusion:

Changes in TMAO were independently correlated with prognosis in patients with PAH, irrespective of baseline level of TMAO. ΔTMAO also correlated with alteration in disease severity. Repeated assessment of TMAO level contributes to better identification of patients with increased risk of adverse clinical events.
Surgical management of recurrent instability following Latarjet procedure – A systematic review of salvage procedures
Authors: Baur Alexander , Satalich James , O’Connell Robert , Vap Alexander
Published: January 2024

Background

Failed Latarjet procedures pose a surgical challenge due to complex anatomical issues. This systematic review investigates salvage techniques for recurrent instability following a Latarjet procedure.

Methods

A search was conducted on MEDLINE and PubMed Central following the methodology registered to International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews. Inclusion criteria focused on identifying revision procedures following a Latarjet procedure. Exclusion criteria filtered out irrelevant studies, such as those focused on Bankart procedures. After a multistage selection process, 10 eligible studies were included for data extraction.

Results

The most frequently utilized technique for salvage was variations of the Eden–Hybinette procedure. Complications associated with these salvage procedures include graft-related problems and donor site morbidity. Patients reported significant improvements in multiple patient-reported outcome scores, and multiple studies indicated high rates of return to sports activities. However, it is noteworthy that there remains an average recurrence rate of 7%.

Discussion

The review emphasizes the limited therapeutic options available largely due to shoulder anatomy alterations. Despite promising trends in patient-reported outcomes, recurrence remains possible post-salvage surgeries.

Conclusion

Addressing recurrent instability after a Latarjet procedure continues to be a unique surgical challenge. However, this systematic review highlights encouraging indications, with positive trends evident in patient-reported outcomes.
Child Trafficking: What School Nurses Need to Know
Authors: Peck Jessica L. , Rigby Kelley B. , Hettenhaus Katherine P. , King Kelcey Y.
Published: January 2024

Human trafficking is a severe form of child abuse and maltreatment. Cases are pervasive and no demographic, socioeconomic status, community, or school is immune. The most effective response to human trafficking in school settings requires increased awareness and establishing policies, protocols, and procedures that support collaborative response to suspected human trafficking. School nurses are well equipped to lead these efforts. While the National Association of School Nurses acknowledges the importance of the role of the school nurse in child trafficking response in their Human Trafficking Position Statement, resources to aid school nurses in coordinated recognition and response efforts remain limited. This article reviews clinical guidance on human trafficking through a school-based lens, highlights indicators that should alert school nurses to the risk of trafficking, outlines best practices for response to abuse and exploitation, and provides additional tools and resources available to aid school nurses in their approach to caring for children experiencing trafficking.
Flying around social security
Authors: Pisani Federico , Mangan David
Published: January 2024

INAIL and INPS is a decision about social security and insurance contributions. The case was brought against Ryanair, alleging that contributions were owed to the relevant Italian authorities where the documentation (an E101 certificate, now an A1 form) had not been properly completed by the employing airline. Aircrew personnel were employed under Irish employment contracts, but resided in Italy. Other than 45 minutes per day in the crew room at the airport in Bergamo, these staff were on board an aircraft registered in Ireland.
Introduction: Democratic backsliding in Southeast Asia
Authors: Kasuya Yuko , Tan Netina
Published: January 2024

This introduction to the special issue highlights the key findings and implications of democratic backsliding in Southeast Asia. It begins with an overview of the region's democratic landscape using the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) dataset and compares the patterns and modes of backsliding in six selected cases. Collectively, the articles suggest the importance of unpacking regime components and the growing attitudinal elite-mass gap in analyzing the quality of democracy. The liberalization effects of social media were found to be mixed. The theoretical and empirical findings offer a fertile ground for future comparative work beyond the region.
Infrastructural capitalism in China: Alibaba, its corporate culture and three infrastructural mechanisms
Authors: Tse Tommy , Pun Ngai
Published: January 2024

Contrasting existing scholarship in ‘socialism with Chinese characteristics’, this article builds on the theorisation of infrastructural capitalism as an emerging global-capitalist project entangled with both China’s state-socialist ideology and the latest nationalistic revitalisation agenda, serving both political and commercial goals, yet also rendering discontent and resistance in daily business and employment practices. Through participant observation across 13 Alibaba departments or subsidiaries, semi-structured interviews with workers in Alibaba and other Chinese platform companies, and the analysis of corporate documentation and media reports, our ethnographic study highlights the ‘physical and digital (phygital)’ nature of infrastructure, and theorises how discursive, symbolic, and sensorial techniques are adopted to direct and sustain infrastructural capitalism in daily organisational setting through three unique mechanisms: public-private partnerships, corporate prosumption networks (CPN) and imagineered global competition. This article’s key contributions are threefold: to dissect the intertwined discursive, symbolic and affective mechanisms through which the ‘invisible’ infrastructures of capitalism are made ‘visible’ and ‘sensible’; unpack the variegated impacts and inherent dilemmas of infrastructural capitalism; and reimagine the possibility of individual resistance and systemic transgression.
Wage Differentials and Inequality in Managerial and Professional Jobs: Quantile Regression Analysis
Authors: Muniyoor Krishna , M Aishwarya , Sarma Angana Parashar
Published: January 2024

In the economics literature, it is vividly portrayed that there is a great deal of disparity in wages received by workers across economic activities and occupations in India. The primary purpose of this article is to identify factors determining wage differentials and to measure wage inequality in managerial and professional occupations. Using unit-level records of periodic labour force survey (PLFS) published by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), we apply quantile regression model to examine how wage distribution is determined by personal, household and labour market characteristics. Our analysis is limited to persons aged between 15 and 65 and employed in managerial and professional occupations. The findings suggest that rural–urban dichotomy, gender, technical education, social group, job contract, type of enterprise and enterprise workforce size are statistically significant across quantiles and are important in explaining the wage distribution of managerial and professional workers in India. From a policy perspective, the invigoration of gender-based measures coupled with the expansion of technical education and labour market institutions are essential for bridging the wage disparity in India.

JEL Classifications: J16, J24, J31
Video Bridges: Enhancing Learning Through the Use of Analogous Videos
Authors: Liu Joseph T. , Breidenthal Amy P. , Fan Yifeng , Schoenfeld Gerald
Published: January 2024

The traditional approach to using videos involves the so-called movie sandwich, which focuses on the use of a single video clip. Based on analogical learning research, we highlight the possible benefits of constructing what we term a video bridge, which consists of two analogous videos that are linked by important themes of similarity and used in tandem to enhance student learning through contrast and comparisons of the videos. In this article, we review research that supports the benefits of analogical learning through video bridges, highlight teaching implications, provide a detailed example of a video bridge with accompanying assignment, and list video resources for management educators to construct their own video bridges.
Bystander Intervention in Bullying and Sexual Harassment Training: Mixed-Method Evaluation of NAB IT!
Authors: Nickerson Amanda B. , Manges Margaret E. , Casella Julianna , Huang Yingqi , Livingston Jennifer A. , Jenkins Lyndsay N. , Bellavia Gina M. , Feeley Thomas H.
Published: January 2024

The goal of the current pilot study was to examine the effects of bystander intervention training on a sample of 27 high school students who were selected by their peers as opinion leaders. Measures of bystander intervention knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors were included in the within-subjects design. Sixteen of the students also participated in focus groups to provide feedback about their experiences with the training. Results showed that participating students reported increases in knowledge about bullying and sexual harassment, confidence in intervening, acceptance of responsibility, knowing what to do, and acting to intervene (including direct intervention, providing support, and reporting to an adult) from pre-to posttest. Themes from focus groups indicated that students found the training relevant and helpful, particularly for focusing on both bullying and sexual harassment and for providing opportunities to learn and practice multiple intervention strategies. Barriers to intervening based on the type of violence (e.g., physical vs. relational or verbal) and relationship with the people involved were also themes. Directions for future research and implications for practice, such as focusing on dissemination to the larger student body and implementing bystander intervention training within the context of a positive school climate that emphasizes social and emotional competencies, are discussed.
KBTBD4-mediated reduction of MYC is critical for hematopoietic stem cell expansion upon UM171 treatment
Authors: Chagraoui Jalila , Girard Simon , Mallinger Laure , Mayotte Nadine , Tellechea Maria Florencia , Sauvageau Guy
Published: January 2024

Ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is gaining importance for cell and gene therapy, and requires a shift from dormancy state to activation and cycling. However, abnormal or excessive HSC activation results in reduced self-renewal ability and increased propensity for myeloid-biased differentiation. We now report that activation of the E3 ligase complex CRL3KBTBD4 by UM171 not only induces epigenetic changes through CoREST1 degradation but also controls chromatin-bound master regulator of cell cycle entry and proliferative metabolism (MYC) levels to prevent excessive activation and maintain lympho-myeloid potential of expanded populations. Furthermore, reconstitution activity and multipotency of UM171-treated HSCs are specifically compromised when MYC levels are experimentally increased despite degradation of CoREST1.
High microRNA-145 plasma levels are associated with decreased risk of future incident venous thromboembolism: the HUNT study
Authors: Morelli Vânia M. , Snir Omri , Hindberg Kristian Dalsbø , Hveem Kristian , Brækkan Sigrid K. , Hansen John-Bjarne
Published: January 2024

MicroRNA-145 (miR-145) has been reported to downregulate the expression of tissue factor and factor XI in vitro and decrease venous thrombus formation in animal models. However, the association between miR-145 and risk of future venous thromboembolism (VTE) in the general population remains unknown. We investigated the association between plasma levels of miR-145 and risk of future VTE in a case-cohort study. Incident VTE cases (n = 510) and a subcohort (n = 1890) were derived from the third survey of the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT3), a population-based cohort. The expression levels of miR-145 were measured in plasma samples obtained at baseline. The study population was divided into quartiles based on miR-145 levels in participants in the subcohort, and weighted Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Plasma levels of miR-145 were inversely associated with VTE risk. Participants with miR-145 levels in the highest quartile had a 49% lower risk of VTE (HR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.38-0.68) than those with miR-145 in the lowest quartile in age- and sex-adjusted analysis, and the inverse association was most pronounced for unprovoked VTE (HR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.25-0.61). Risk estimates remained virtually the same after further adjustment for body mass index, and cancer and arterial cardiovascular disease at baseline. In conclusion, elevated expression levels of miR-145 in plasma were associated with decreased risk of future incident VTE. The protective role of miR-145 against VTE is consistent with previous experimental data and suggests that miR-145 has the potential to be a target for VTE prevention.
Patterns of progression after immune checkpoint inhibitors for Hodgkin lymphoma: implications for radiation therapy
Authors: Burlile Jessica F. , Frechette Kelsey M. , Breen William G. , Hwang Steven R. , Higgins Alexandra S. , Nedved Adrienne N. , Harmsen William S. , Pulsipher Sydney D. , Witzig Thomas E. , Micallef Ivana N. , Hoppe Bradford S. , Habermann Thomas M. , Thanarajasingam Gita , Johnston Patrick B. , Inwards David J. , Bennani N. Nora , Peterson Jennifer L. , Stish Bradley J. , Rule William G. , Ansell Stephen M. , Lester Scott C.
Published: January 2024

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated remarkable response rates in relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Still, most patients eventually progress. Patterns of progression after ICIs are not well described and are essential to defining the role of local therapies in combination with ICIs. We identified patients who received ICIs for HL between 2013 and 2022. Fludeoxyglucose-18 positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) before initiating ICI and at progression on/after ICI were reviewed, and areas of active HL were recorded. An exploratory analysis of treatable progression included patients with ≤5 sites of disease on pre-ICI FDG-PET and progression only at pre-ICI sites. Ninety patients were identified; 69 had complete records, and of these, 32 (52%) had relapsed at ICI initiation, 17 (25%) were refractory, and 16 (23%) received ICI as first-line therapy. Forty-five of 69 patients had ≤5 sites of disease (limited) on pre-ICI FDG-PET. Patients with >5 sites of disease had a higher risk of progression, and every site of disease >5 sites conferred an additional 1.2x higher chance of progression. At a median follow-up of 4.0 years, 41 of 69 patients had progressed on/after ICIs (cumulative incidence 66.4%), and of these, 22 of 41 patients progressed only at pre-ICI sites (cumulative incidence 39.4%). In an exploratory analysis, the cumulative incidence of a treatable progression among 45 patients with limited disease was 34%. The cumulative incidence of any progression among this cohort was 58.9%. More than one-third of patients with limited disease before ICIs experienced progression only at pre-ICI sites of disease. These patients could be candidates for radiation during or after ICIs.
Prevalence, incidence and healthcare burden of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis in the UK
Authors: Hwee Jeremiah , Harper Lorraine , Fu Qinggong , Nirantharakumar Krishnarajah , Mu George , Jakes Rupert W.
Published: January 2024

Background

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a rare but serious disease characterised by the combination of small-to-medium vessel vasculitis, blood and tissue eosinophilia, and asthma and/or sinonasal disease. This study estimated the prevalence and incidence of diagnosed EGPA in the United Kingdom (UK), and described the demographics, clinical characteristics and healthcare resource utilisation (HCRU) of this population.

Methods

This retrospective longitudinal study of patients with newly diagnosed EGPA (index) (2005–2019) used the Clinical Practice Research Datalink AURUM and Hospital Episode Statistics databases. The primary outcomes were the annual prevalence (2005–2019) and incidence (2006–2019) of EGPA, and secondary outcomes included patient demographics and clinical characteristics, and HCRU in the year pre- and post-index (diagnosis).

Results

Populations of patients with EGPA comprised 940 prevalent cases and 502 incident cases, of which 377 were linked to Hospital Episode Statistics. EGPA prevalence increased from 22.7 to 45.6 cases per 1 000 000 (2005–2019), driven by patients aged ≥18 years. Incidence ranged from 2.3 to 4.0 per 1 000 000 person-years (2006–2019). Pre-index, the most common clinical symptoms were respiratory related, and the most common comorbidities were asthma (80.6%) and nasal polyps (32.1%). Post-index, 19.1% had an EGPA-related inpatient stay (median length of stay 11.0 days) and 38.7% had five or more oral corticosteroid (OCS) prescriptions with a mean OCS possession ratio per patient of 47.0%.

Conclusions

Although EGPA incidence in the UK remains relatively stable, prevalence is increasing, and HCRU and OCS use remain frequent, suggesting considerable healthcare burden for patients with EGPA.
Sleep apnoea increases biomarkers of immune evasion, lymphangiogenesis and tumour cell aggressiveness in high-risk patients and those with established lung cancer
Authors: Cubillos-Zapata Carolina , Troncoso-Acevedo Fernanda , Díaz-García Elena , Alfaro Enrique , Gotera-Rivera Carolina , Pérez-Warnisher Teresa , Peces-Barba Germán , Seijo Luis M. , García-Río Francisco
Published: January 2024

Background

Intermittent hypoxaemia and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) have been linked to lung cancer through as yet unidentified pathophysiological mechanisms. This study evaluates the effect of OSA on serum levels of biomarkers of immunosurveillance, lymphangiogenesis and intrinsic tumour cell aggressiveness in high-risk individuals screened for lung cancer and patients with established lung cancer.

Methods

Serum samples from individuals participating in a lung cancer screening cohort (SAILS study) or with newly diagnosed lung cancer (SAIL study) were analysed. All patients underwent home sleep apnoea testing. Soluble levels of programmed cell death-1 (PD-1), programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1), cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4, midkine (MDK), paraspeckle component-1 (PSPC1), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), SMAD3, matrix metalloproteinase-2 and co-stimulus receptor of the tumour necrosis factor family of receptors (CD137) were determined by ELISA.

Results

The presence of moderate-to-severe OSA was associated with increased levels of PSPC1, MDK, PD-L1 and PD-1 in screened individuals, and with higher values of PSPC1, TGF-β1, PD-L1 and PD-1 in patients with established lung cancer. The findings correlated with nocturnal intermittent hypoxaemia indices.

Conclusion

Moderate-to-severe OSA is associated with increased expression of serum biomarkers of immune evasion, lymphangiogenesis and tumour cell aggressiveness in high-risk individuals screened for lung cancer and those with established disease.
Association of gut microbiome with COPD in Japanese male residents: the SESSA study
Authors: Kawashima Satoru , Kinose Daisuke , Arima Hisatomi , Kondo Keiko , Yamazaki Akio , Uchida Yasuki , Nakagawa Hiroaki , Yamaguchi Masafumi , Segawa Hiroyoshi , Torii Sayuki , Okami Yukiko , Kadota Aya , Yano Yuichiro , Andoh Akira , Miura Katsuyuki , Nakano Yasutaka , Ueshima Hirotsugu
Published: January 2024

Background

Altered gut microbiota may contribute to COPD development or progression. Herein, we investigated the association of gut microorganisms with COPD, taking into account the impact of smoking status.

Methods

This cross-sectional observational study was a part of the Shiga Epidemiological Study of Subclinical Atherosclerosis, a population-based cohort study of Japanese men aged 46–76 years, conducted from 2010 to 2016. The gut microbiome, determined using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, was compared among 99 never-smokers, 306 non-COPD ever-smokers and 76 patients with COPD while adjusting for age, body mass index, ethanol consumption and treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Results

The abundance of phylum Firmicutes was comparable between patients with COPD and non-COPD ever-smokers but tended to be higher in never-smokers. Similarly, the α- and β-diversity analysis showed similarity between patients with COPD and non-COPD ever-smokers, which tended to differ from never-smokers. Discriminant analysis identified the genus[Prevotella]to be more prevalent in patients with COPD than in never-smokers or non-COPD ever-smokers.Post hocanalysis confirmed similarity of gut microbiome between COPD Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) I and non-COPD ever-smokers, which was different from GOLD II.

Conclusion

Smoking may alter the overall gut microbial composition, but gut microbial composition itself may not play a role in the development of COPD. Rather, specific gut bacteria, such as[Prevotella], could be a risk factor for the development of COPD; this may be a potential therapeutic target.
Introducing the f0% method: a reliable and accurate approach for qPCR analysis
Authors: Gamal Mahmoud , Ibrahim Marwa A.
Published: January 2024

Background

qPCR is a widely used technique in scientific research as a basic tool in gene expression analysis. Classically, the quantitative endpoint of qPCR is the threshold cycle (CT) that ignores differences in amplification efficiency among many other drawbacks. While other methods have been developed to analyze qPCR results, none has statistically proven to perform better than the CT method. Therefore, we aimed to develop a new qPCR analysis method that overcomes the limitations of the CT method. Our f0% [eff naught percent] method depends on a modified flexible sigmoid function to fit the amplification curve with a linear part to subtract the background noise. Then, the initial fluorescence is estimated and reported as a percentage of the predicted maximum fluorescence (f0%).

Results

The performance of the new f0% method was compared against the CT method along with another two outstanding methods—LinRegPCR and Cy0. The comparison regarded absolute and relative quantifications and used 20 dilution curves obtained from 7 different datasets that utilize different DNA-binding dyes. In the case of absolute quantification, f0% reduced CV%, variance, and absolute relative error by 1.66, 2.78, and 1.8 folds relative to CT; and by 1.65, 2.61, and 1.71 folds relative to LinRegPCR, respectively. While, regarding relative quantification, f0% reduced CV% by 1.76, 1.55, and 1.25 folds and variance by 3.13, 2.31, and 1.57 folds regarding CT, LinRegPCR, and Cy0, respectively. Finally, f0% reduced the absolute relative error caused by LinRegPCR by 1.83 folds.

Conclusions

We recommend using the f0% method to analyze and report qPCR results based on its reported advantages. Finally, to simplify the usage of the f0% method, it was implemented in a macro-enabled Excel file with a user manual located on https://github.com/Mahmoud0Gamal/F0-perc/releases.
Comparative analysis of metagenomic classifiers for long-read sequencing datasets
Authors: Marić Josip , Križanović Krešimir , Riondet Sylvain , Nagarajan Niranjan , Šikić Mile
Published: January 2024

Background

Long reads have gained popularity in the analysis of metagenomics data. Therefore, we comprehensively assessed metagenomics classification tools on the species taxonomic level. We analysed kmer-based tools, mapping-based tools and two general-purpose long reads mappers. We evaluated more than 20 pipelines which use either nucleotide or protein databases and selected 13 for an extensive benchmark. We prepared seven synthetic datasets to test various scenarios, including the presence of a host, unknown species and related species. Moreover, we used available sequencing data from three well-defined mock communities, including a dataset with abundance varying from 0.0001 to 20% and six real gut microbiomes.

Results

General-purpose mappers Minimap2 and Ram achieved similar or better accuracy on most testing metrics than best-performing classification tools. They were up to ten times slower than the fastest kmer-based tools requiring up to four times less RAM. All tested tools were prone to report organisms not present in datasets, except CLARK-S, and they underperformed in the case of the high presence of the host’s genetic material. Tools which use a protein database performed worse than those based on a nucleotide database. Longer read lengths made classification easier, but due to the difference in read length distributions among species, the usage of only the longest reads reduced the accuracy. The comparison of real gut microbiome datasets shows a similar abundance profiles for the same type of tools but discordance in the number of reported organisms and abundances between types. Most assessments showed the influence of database completeness on the reports.

Conclusion

The findings indicate that kmer-based tools are well-suited for rapid analysis of long reads data. However, when heightened accuracy is essential, mappers demonstrate slightly superior performance, albeit at a considerably slower pace. Nevertheless, a combination of diverse categories of tools and databases will likely be necessary to analyse complex samples. Discrepancies observed among tools when applied to real gut datasets, as well as a reduced performance in cases where unknown species or a significant proportion of the host genome is present in the sample, highlight the need for continuous improvement of existing tools. Additionally, regular updates and curation of databases are important to ensure their effectiveness.