bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Flooding and health in Australia: a scoping review and coauthorship analysis of published research
Authors: Bailie Jodie , Matous Petr , Apelt Byron , Longman Jo , McNaught Rebecca , Morgan Geoff , Ekanayake Kanchana , Bailie Ross 
Published: December 2024

BackgroundAustralia is frequently affected by floods, and their severity and frequency are predicted to increase due to the effects of climate change. Over the past decade, there has been an increase in the number of publications reporting on the health impacts of flooding in Australia, but no synthesis of this research evidence has previously been published. The aim of this scoping review is to identify and map publications on the health impacts of flooding in Australia and to describe the networks of researchers contributing to this research.MethodsIn the study, we applied the scoping review methodology guided by Johanna Briggs Institute and coauthorship network analysis. Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINHAL, Scopus and Web of Science for all publications up to 31 December 2023. Screening, full-text review and data extraction were completed by two independent reviewers. Coauthor networks were constructed using social network analysis methods.Results69 publications were included, spanning a 70-year period from 1951 to 2023. The top three health impacts studied were post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), distress and child developmental outcomes, with the predominant focus in the past 10 years of recent publications on prenatal maternal stress, child outcomes and mental health impacts. There was minimal focus on socially vulnerable groups and long-term health impacts and few qualitative research studies were reported. Coauthorship analysis showed the primarily disease-specific nature of flood-related research.ConclusionOur review enhances understanding of the research on the physical and mental health impacts of flooding in Australia by identifying the areas of relatively greater research activity, existing research gaps and potential future research priorities. Given the context-dependent nature of flood and other climate-related health impacts, and of mitigation and adaptation responses, we anticipate that our review findings will enhance the understanding of this topic for Australia and other higher-income countries, identifying areas of focus and current research gaps.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the National Telehealth Service for triage and referral in Sweden: a national retrospective observational study
Authors: Berg Johanna , Wretborn Jens 
Published: December 2024

ObjectivesTelehealth, the provision of healthcare through digital communication, has been proposed as a potential solution to meet the increasing demand for healthcare, particularly in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sweden has an established national telehealth service for triage and referral by phone (1177) since 2013 which has the potential to meet this increasing demand. However, little is known about the development and retention in demand during and after the pandemic in Sweden. The objective of this study was to investigate the utilisation of the national telehealth service in Sweden before, during and after the pandemic in relation to emergency department (ED) visits.MethodsThis was a retrospective observational study of telephone calls to the national telehealth service in Sweden. We collected the number of calls, number of answered calls and visits to ED in Sweden from 2017 through 2021, aggregated by month. The difference in number of calls and visits was analysed using Student’s t-test for related samples.ResultsData were collected from all 21 healthcare regions in Sweden, serving 10.5 million citizens. The average number of monthly calls was 48 (SD 10) calls per 1000 citizens. The first month of the pandemic, March 2020, had the highest monthly calls per capita during the whole study period: 62 (diff 14, 95% CI 9 to 19, p<0.001). During the first 3 months of the pandemic, monthly calls increased by 22% (52.7 vs 43.2) compared with 2019 (diff 9.5, 95% CI −28 to –9, p=0.17). There was a 17% increase in calls for the whole year of 2020 compared with 2019 (49.2 vs 41.9, diff 7.3, 95% CI 3 to 11, p=0.002). Capacity, defined as the answer ratio, showed a negative correlation with demand (r=0.75, p<0.001).ConclusionThe increase in calls to the national telehealth service during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic suggests that the community will turn to a telehealth system in a healthcare crisis. The lack of capacity to meet the increasing demand may limit the effects of the telehealth service on the healthcare system as a whole.
Unraveling the ‘community effects’ of interventions against malaria endemicity: a systematic scoping review
Authors: Ko Yura K , Kagaya Wataru , Chan Chim W , Kanamori Mariko , Mbugua Samuel M , Rotich Alex K , Kanoi Bernard N , Ngara Mtakai , Gitaka Jesse , Kaneko Akira 
Published: December 2024

ObjectivesThere is an urgent need to maximise the effectiveness of existing malaria interventions and optimise the deployment of novel countermeasures. When assessing the effects of interventions against malaria, it is imperative to consider the interdependence of people and the resulting indirect effects. Without proper consideration of the effects, the interventions’ impact on health outcomes and their cost-effectiveness may be miscalculated. We aimed to summarise how the indirect effects of malaria interventions were analysed and reported.DesignWe conducted a scoping review.Data sourcesWe searched PubMed, Web of Science and EMBASE.Eligibility criteriaWe included studies that were conducted to quantify the indirect effects of any interventions for all species ofPlasmodiuminfection.Data extraction and synthesisWe used a standardised data collection form to obtain the following information from each record: title, name of authors, year of publication, region, country, study type, malaria parasite species, type of interventions, type of outcomes, separate estimated indirect effect for different conditions, pre-specified to measure indirect effect, secondary analysis of previous study, methods of indirect effects estimation, terms of indirect effects, and if positive or negative indirect effects observed.ResultsWe retrieved 32 articles and observed a recent increase in both the number of reports and the variety of terms used to denote the indirect effects. We further classified nine categories of methods to identify the indirect effects in the existing literature and proposed making comparisons conditional on distance to account for mosquito flight range or intervention density within that range. Furthermore, we proposed using the words community effects or spillover effects as standardised terms for indirect effects and highlighted the potential benefits of mathematical models in estimating indirect effects.ConclusionsIncorporating assessment of indirect effects in future trials and studies may provide insights to optimise the deployment of existing and new interventions, a critical pillar in the current fight against malaria globally.
Association of pre-existing conditions with major driver mutations and PD-L1 expression in NSCLC
Authors: Chen Peiling , Zheng Xin , Li Caichen , Li Jianfu , Yang Chen , Feng Yi , Cheng Bo , Liang Hengrui , Liu Zhichao , Zhao Yi , Xiong Shan , Li Feng , Zhong Ran , Zhan Shuting , Wang Huiting , Xiang Yang , Fu Wenhai , Ye Wenjun , Jiang Bo’ao , Fan Xianzhe , Liu Jun , He Jianxing , Liang Wenhua 
Published: December 2024

ObjectivesThis study aims to explore how pre-existing conditions such as blood types, family history of cancer and comorbid diseases correlate with the genetic and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression that contributes to the heterogeneous biological behaviours of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Materials and methodsA cohort of 5507 NSCLC patients who underwent surgical resection between January 2014 and July 2018 was studied. Targeted next-generation sequencing was used to detect mutations in nine pivotal cancer-related genes, and immunohistochemical staining was applied to assess PD-L1 expression. Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify significant correlations.ResultsAll patients underwent NGS, with 1839 were also evaluated for PD-L1 expression. Several significant findings were found: ROS1 mutations were closely associated with a family history of lung cancer (OR 7.499, 95% CI 1.094 to 30.940, p=0.013). Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) L858R mutations were common among patients with a family history of non-lung cancers and those with hypertension (OR 2.089, 95% CI 1.029 to 4.135, p=0.037 and OR 1.252, 95% CI 1.001 to 1.562, p=0.048, respectively). Pre-existing conditions such as diabetes and hepatitis B surface antigen positivity (OR 1.468, 95% CI 1.042 to 2.047, p=0.026 and OR 1.373, 95% CI 1.012 to 1.847, p=0.038, respectively) were correlated with EGFR exon 19 deletions. RhD negativity showed potential ties to BRAF mutations (OR 0.010, 95% CI 0.001 to 0.252, p=0.001). A history of tuberculosis linked to increased PD-L1 expression in immune cells (OR 3.597, 95% CI 1.295 to 14.957, p=0.034).ConclusionThis large-scale, cross-sectional study reveals a complex interplay between genetic mutations, immunological features and pre-existing conditions in NSCLC patients, offering insights that could inform personalised treatment strategies.
Durable antitumor response via an oncolytic virus encoding decoy-resistant IL-18
Authors: Cheng Yan , Zhao Yuanhui , Liu Yu , Zhang Yichi , Xu Dongge , Sun Weikang , Zhang Mengyu , Miao Yuqing , He Susu , Hou Yayi , Stupack Dwayne , Li Erguang 
Published: December 2024

BackgroundInterleukin-18 (IL-18), or interferon (IFN)-γ-inducing factor, potentiates T helper 1 and natural killer cell activation as well as CD8+T-cell proliferation. Recombinant IL-18 has displayed limited clinical efficacy in part due to the expression of the decoy receptor, IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP). A series of IL-18 variants that are devoid of IL-18BP binding, termed DR18 (decoy-resistant IL-18), was developed via directed evolution. We tested DR18 using oncolytic adenovirus (oAd) as a platform for delivery in syngeneic mouse tumor models.MethodsoAd harboring wild-type IL-18 or DR18 (oAdDR18) was constructed by inserting IL-18 mutant into modified oAd backbone with Ad5/3 chimeric fiber. The delivery effect and IFN-γ induction were determined by ELISA. The antitumor efficiency of oAdDR18 was tested in CT26, B16BL6 and 4T1 tumor-bearing mice, or athymic nude mice and compared with recombinant DR18 protein (rDR18). 4T1 lung metastasis model was used to evaluate the antitumor efficiency of local and distant tumors. Antitumor memory and synergistic effect with an anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) antibody was evaluated. The phenotypes of the immune cells in tumor microenvironment were analyzed by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry.ResultsMice received oAdDR18 maintained stable production of IL-18 and IFN-γ compared with those received rDR18. Intratumoral delivery of oAdDR18 significantly reduced tumor growth across several tumor models, but not in the athymic nude mouse model. Mice that had tumor remission showed antitumor memory. The antitumor effect was associated with intratumor infiltration of CD4+and CD8+T cells. DR18 delivered by oAd demonstrated long-lasting and enhanced antitumor activities against local and distant tumors compared with that received rDR18 or wild-type IL-18 delivered by oAd (oAdwtIL-18). oAdDR18 treatment also reduced 4T1 lung metastasis. In addition, combination of this virotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs)like the anti-PD-1 antibody further enhanced the antitumor activity as compared with respective monotherapy.ConclusionsoAdDR18 demonstrates enhanced antitumor activities through the induction of stronger local and system immunities and modulation of the tumor microenvironment compared with those of oAdwtIL-18 and rDR18. A combination of oncolytic virotherapy with cytokine engineering would lead to cytokine-based therapeutics for cancer and other diseases.
Plasma arginine as a predictive biomarker for outcomes with immune checkpoint inhibition in metastatic colorectal cancer: a correlative analysis of the CCTG CO.26 trial
Authors: Ma Lucy X , Titmuss Emma , Loree Jonathan M , Jonker Derek J , Kennecke Hagen F , Berry Scott , Couture Felix , Ahmad Chaudhary E , Goffin John R , Kavan Petr , Harb Mohammed , Colwell Bruce , Samimi Setareh , Samson Benoit , Abbas Tahir , Aucoin Nathalie , Aubin Francine , Koski Sheryl , Tu Dongsheng , O’Callaghan Christopher , Chen Eric X 
Published: December 2024

BackgroundNutritional stress is a mechanism that allows tumor cells to evade the immune system. Arginine (ARG), an amino acid involved in immunomodulation, aids in regulating T-lymphocyte cell activity and the antitumor response. ARG deficiency in the tumor microenvironment can impair T-cell response while ARG supplementation may promote antitumor immune activity. In this exploratory post hoc analysis of the randomized phase II CO.26 trial, we investigated the role of plasma ARG in predicting response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in patients with microsatellite stable refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).MethodsCO.26 randomized patients with refractory mCRC to durvalumab plus tremelimumab (D+T) versus best supportive care (BSC). Plasma ARG concentrations were determined from pretreatment blood samples using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The median plasma ARG value was used as a cut-off stratifying patients into ARG-high (≥10 700 ng/mL) versus ARG-low (<10 700 ng/mL) groups. Overall survival (OS) was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze the prognostic and predictive impacts of ARG on OS.ResultsOf 180 patients enrolled in CO.26, 161 (N=114 treated with D+T and 47 BSC) had pretreatment blood samples for ARG analysis. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between patients included in this analysis and the total study patients, or between ARG-high and ARG-low patients. In the BSC arm, the median OS was 3.09 months for ARG-high versus 4.27 months for ARG-low patients (univariable HR 0.89 (0.49–1.65), p=0.72). In the D+T arm, the median OS was 7.62 months for ARG-high versus 5.27 months for ARG-low patients (univariable HR 0.68, (0.48–1.0], p=0.048). In ARG-high patients, D+T significantly improved OS (median OS 7.62 months with D+T vs 3.09 months BSC; HR 0.61 (0.37–0.99), p=0.047; adjusted p=0.042 for interaction). In ARG-low patients there was no OS benefit with D+T (median OS 5.27 months D+T vs 4.27 months BSC; HR 0.87 (0.52–1.46), p=0.61).ConclusionHigh baseline plasma ARG was predictive of improved OS in patients with mCRC treated with D+T. Further investigations are needed to validate ARG as a biomarker. Therapeutic approaches targeting the ARG pathway may augment ICI activity.Trial registration numberNCT02870920.
“Oh, We Don’t Want the Men Around.” The Experience of Men in Nursing During Prelicensure Labor and Delivery Clinical Rotation
Authors: Iheduru-Anderson Kechi , Agomoh Chimezie J. 
Published: December 2024

Background: The nursing profession has traditionally been dominated by females, with male nurses comprising a small minority. The labor and delivery unit is one area of nursing that is particularly associated with female care providers. Male nursing students face unique challenges and experiences while completing their clinical rotations in this setting. Understanding these challenges is vital to help support them during their clinical rotation. With the nursing shortage being a global concern, all students must be supported to achieve academic success, regardless of gender.Purpose: This study uses social role theory to explore the experiences of male nursing students during their clinical rotations in the L&D unit.Method: This study used a phenomenological qualitative approach to gather data through in‐depth interviews with male nursing students who had completed their labor and delivery unit clinical rotations. The data were thematically analyzed.Findings: The analysis identified five main themes: Culture, Exclusion from the Learning Experience, Different Expectations for Men in Labor and Delivery Units, Men are not Equipped to Deal with Emotions in Labor and Delivery Units, and (Mis)interpretation of Touch.Conclusion: This study explored the experiences of male nursing students during their clinical rotations in the labor and delivery unit. The findings will add to the body of knowledge on gender and nursing education and provide valuable insight into the experiences of male nursing students, which can be used to support and improve nursing education in this area.
Primary Breast Malignancy in Children and Adolescents: A Population‐Based Study
Authors: He Guorong , Shen Nan , Zhao Lingling , Liu Xian , Zhang Caiyun 
Published: December 2024

Purpose: Primary breast cancer in children and adolescents is extremely uncommon and presents with different characteristics from those found in adult women. We aimed to conduct a population‐based cohort study to predict overall survival (OS) in pediatric patients with breast cancer.Methods: Demographic and clinicopathological data on pediatric breast cancer patients were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2000–2019). The survival rates were measured using the Kaplan–Meier method. Univariate survival analysis used the log‐rank test, while multivariate analysis used Cox proportional hazards regression to identify factors influencing OS. Furthermore, we created a nomogram to predict OS in pediatric patients.Results: A total of 115 pediatric patients were analyzed, with a median age at diagnosis of 18 years (range: 2–19 years). In terms of tumor grade, 27 (23.4%) patients had well or moderately differentiated tumors and 32 (27.8%) had poorly or undifferentiated tumors. The predominant histological type was phyllodes tumor, accounting for 36.5%, followed by infiltrating duct carcinoma at 31.3%, and other types at 32.2%. The SEER and M stages were substantial independent indicators of OS. A nomogram was created to predict OS in pediatric breast cancer patients.Conclusions: Our findings confirmed that the SEER stage and M stage were the most critical predictors of OS in pediatric patients with breast cancer. By focusing on this rare demographic, our study fills an important gap in the literature, as there are few comprehensive studies available that explore a prognosis in pediatric breast cancer.
Targeting the PREX2/RAC1/PI3Kβ Signaling Axis Confers Sensitivity to Clinically Relevant Therapeutic Approaches in Melanoma
Authors: Ford Catriona A. , Koludrovic Dana , Centeno Patricia P. , Foth Mona , Tsonou Elpida , Vlahov Nikola , Sphyris Nathalie , Gilroy Kathryn , Bull Courtney , Nixon Colin , Serrels Bryan , Munro Alison F. , Dawson John C. , Carragher Neil O. , Pavet Valeria , Hornigold David C. , Dunne Philip D. , Downward Julian , Welch Heidi C.E. , Barry Simon T. , Sansom Owen J. , Campbell Andrew D. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Metastatic melanoma remains a major clinical challenge. Large-scale genomic sequencing of melanoma has identified bona fide activating mutations in RAC1, which are associated with resistance to BRAF-targeting therapies. Targeting the RAC1-GTPase pathway, including the upstream activator PREX2 and the downstream effector PI3Kβ, could be a potential strategy for overcoming therapeutic resistance, limiting melanoma recurrence, and suppressing metastatic progression. Here, we used genetically engineered mouse models and patient-derived BRAFV600E-driven melanoma cell lines to dissect the role of PREX2 in melanomagenesis and response to therapy. Although PREX2 was dispensable for the initiation and progression of melanoma, its loss conferred sensitivity to clinically relevant therapeutics targeting the MAPK pathway. Importantly, genetic and pharmacologic targeting of PI3Kβ phenocopied PREX2 deficiency, sensitizing model systems to therapy. These data reveal a druggable PREX2/RAC1/PI3Kβ signaling axis in BRAF-mutant melanoma that could be exploited clinically.
Significance: Cotargeting the MAPK and the PREX2/RAC1/PI3Kβ pathways has remarkable efficacy and outperforms monotherapy MAPK inhibition in BRAF-mutant melanoma, supporting the potential of this combination therapy for treating metastatic melanoma.
Biomarkers of Exposure to Nicotine and Selected Toxicants in Individuals Who Use Alternative Tobacco Products Sold in Japan and Canada from 2018 to 2019
Authors: Miller Connor R. , Schneller-Najm Liane M. , Leigh Noel J. , Agar Thomas , Quah Anne CK. , Cummings K. Michael , Fong Geoffrey T. , O’Connor Richard J. , Goniewicz Maciej L. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Background:
Comparisons of nicotine and toxicant exposures between people who use different alternative tobacco products remain underexplored.

Methods:
This cross-sectional, multicountry study analyzed urinary metabolites of nicotine, tobacco-specific nitrosamines [4-methylnitrosamino-1-3-pyridyl-1-butanone (NNK)], and volatile organic compounds (acrolein, acrylamide, and acrylonitrile) among established users (n = 550) in Japan and Canada. Participants exclusively or concurrently used nicotine vaping products (NVP; Canada only), heated tobacco products (HTP; Japan only), and combustible cigarettes (CC; Japan and Canada) or abstained (Japan and Canada).

Results:
All product groups showed substantial nicotine exposure. Both HTPs and NVPs exposed exclusive users to lower toxicant levels than exclusive CC use. Canadian participants who exclusively used NVPs exhibited lower NNK and acrolein exposure but higher acrylamide exposure than Japanese participants who exclusively used HTPs. Concurrent use of CCs alongside alternative products exposed users to higher toxicant levels compared with exclusive use of either alternative product.

Conclusions:
Exclusive use of alternative tobacco products results in significant nicotine exposure but substantially lower toxicant exposure compared with exclusive CC use. People who use HTPs in Japan may experience higher exposure to nicotine and certain toxicants (NNK and acrolein) than people who use NVPs in Canada. Concurrent use results suggest that partially substituting CCs with alternative products may reduce toxicant exposure but to a lesser extent than completely transitioning to alternative products.

Impact:
Exposure patterns between two popular alternative tobacco products differ. The overall toxicant exposure from these products is lower than from CCs, providing critical data for regulatory decisions and public health considerations.