bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
C/EBPβ: A transcription factor associated with the irreversible progression of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Yao Qing , Long Chubing , Yi Pengcheng , Zhang Guangyong , Wan Wei , Rao Xiuqin , Ying Jun , Liang Weidong , Hua Fuzhou 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackgroundAlzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder distinguished by a swift cognitive deterioration accompanied by distinctive pathological hallmarks such as extracellular Aβ (β‐amyloid) peptides, neuronal neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), sustained neuroinflammation, and synaptic degeneration. The elevated frequency of AD cases and its proclivity to manifest at a younger age present a pressing challenge in the quest for novel therapeutic interventions. Numerous investigations have substantiated the involvement of C/EBPβ in the progression of AD pathology, thus indicating its potential as a therapeutic target for AD treatment.AimsSeveral studies have demonstrated an elevation in the expression level of C/EBPβ among individuals afflicted with AD. Consequently, this review predominantly delves into the association between C/EBPβ expression and the pathological progression of Alzheimer's disease, elucidating its underlying molecular mechanism, and pointing out the possibility that C/EBPβ can be a new therapeutic target for AD.MethodsA systematic literature search was performed across multiple databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and so on, utilizing predetermined keywords and MeSH terms, without temporal constraints. The inclusion criteria encompassed diverse study designs, such as experimental, case–control, and cohort studies, restricted to publications in the English language, while conference abstracts and unpublished sources were excluded.ResultsOverexpression of C/EBPβ exacerbates the pathological features of AD, primarily by promoting neuroinflammation and mediating the transcriptional regulation of key molecular pathways, including δ‐secretase, apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4), acidic leucine‐rich nuclear phosphoprotein‐32A (ANP32A), transient receptor potential channel 1 (TRPC1), and Forkhead BoxO (FOXO).DiscussionThe correlation between overexpression of C/EBPβ and the pathological development of AD, along with its molecular mechanisms, is evident. Investigating the pathways through which C/EBPβ regulates the development of AD reveals numerous multiple vicious cycle pathways exacerbating the pathological progression of the disease. Furthermore, the exacerbation of pathological progression due to C/EBPβ overexpression and its molecular mechanism is not limited to AD but also extends to other neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease (PD), and multiple sclerosis (MS).ConclusionThe overexpression of C/EBPβ accelerates the irreversible progression of AD pathophysiology. Additionally, C/EBPβ plays a crucial role in mediating multiple pathways linked to AD pathology, some of which engender vicious cycles, leading to the establishment of feedback mechanisms. To sum up, targeting C/EBPβ could hold promise as a therapeutic strategy not only for AD but also for other degenerative diseases.
Opioid use, prescribing and fatal overdose patterns among racial/ethnic minorities in the United States: A scoping review and conceptual risk environment model
Authors: Ezell Jerel M. , Pho Mai T. , Ajayi Babatunde P. , Simek Elinor , Shetty Netra , Goddard‐Eckrich Dawn A. , Bluthenthal Ricky N. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIssuesTo date, there has been no synthesis of research addressing the scale and nuances of the opioid epidemic in racial/ethnic minority populations in the United States that considers the independent and joint impacts of dynamics such as structural disadvantage, provider bias, health literacy, cultural norms and various other risk factors.ApproachUsing the “risk environment” framework, we conducted a scoping review on PubMed, Embase and Google Scholar of peer‐reviewed literature and governmental reports published between January 2000 and February 2024 on the nature and scale of opioid use, opioid prescribing patterns, and fatal overdoses among racial/ethnic minorities in the United States, while also examining macro, meso and individual‐level risk factors.Key FindingsResults from this review illuminate a growing, but fragmented, literature lacking standardisation in racial/ethnic classification and case reporting, specifically in regards to Indigenous and Asian subpopulations. This literature broadly illustrates racial/ethnic minorities' increasing nonmedical use of opioids, heightened burdens of fatal overdoses, specifically in relation to polydrug use and synthetic opioids, with notable elevations among Black/Latino subgroups, in addition uneven opioid prescribing patterns. Moreover, the literature implicates a variety of unique risk environments corresponding to dynamics such as residential segregation, provider bias, overpolicing, acculturative stress, patient distrust, and limited access to mental health care services and drug treatment resources, including medications for opioid use disorder.ImplicationsThere has been a lack of rigorous, targeted study on racial/ethnic minorities who use opioids, but evidence highlights burgeoning increases in usage, especially polydrug/synthetic opioid use, and disparities in prescriptions and fatal overdose risk‐phenomena tied to multi‐level forms of entrenched disenfranchisement.ConclusionThere is a need for further research on the complex, overlapping risk environments of racial/ethnic minorities who use opioids, including deeper inclusion of Indigenous and Asian individuals, and efforts to generate greater methodological synergies in population classification and reporting guidelines.
Digital alcohol marketing and gender: A narrative synthesis
Authors: Lyons Antonia C. , Kersey Kate , Emslie Carol , Dimova Elena , Burrows Annamae 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIssuesAlcohol marketing on social media platforms is pervasive and effective, reaching wide audiences and allowing interaction with users. We know little about the gendered nature of digital alcohol marketing, including how women and men are portrayed, how different genders respond and implications for gender relations. This review aimed to identify how males, females and other genders are targeted and represented in digital alcohol marketing, and how they are encouraged to engage with digital alcohol marketing content.ApproachA narrative synthesis approach was employed. Academic literature and research reports were searched for studies on digital alcohol marketing published within the previous 10 years with a range of methods and designs. We reviewed the studies, extracted data relevant to gender and synthesised findings thematically.Key FindingsThe review included 17 articles and 7 reports with a range of designs and methods, including content analyses of digital material, interviews, focus groups and surveys. Our analysis identified three conceptual themes that captured many of the gendered results, namely: (i) leveraging a diversity of idealised femininities; (ii) amplifying hegemonic masculinity; and (iii) infiltrating everyday gendered life.Implications and ConclusionAlcohol marketing on social media is highly gendered and is designed to embed itself into everyday life in agile ways that reinforce traditional and evolving gendered stereotypes, activities, lifestyles and roles. Gendered engagement strategies are widely used to link alcohol to everyday gendered activities and identities to encourage alcohol purchase and consumption. This marketing normalises alcohol consumption and reproduces harmful gender norms and stereotypes.
Clinical features of quadricuspid aortic valve in middle‐aged and elderly patients: Insights from a regional study
Authors: Takiishi Azumi , Baba Yuichi , Ochi Yuri , Hotta Mizuki , Okazaki Nagisa , Yoshinaga Yuna , Miyamoto Shohei , Hirakawa Daigo , Kawaguchi Juri , Kubo Toru , Yamasaki Naohito , Tokuhiro Shinji , Kitaoka Hiroaki 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackgroundQuadricuspid aortic valve (QAV) is a rare congenital disease. The clinical characteristics of this disease remain unclear except for those in relatively young patients reported from tertiary referral hospitals. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical features of QAV in a regional population.Methods and ResultsWe retrospectively investigated 25 340 consecutive patients over middle age (median age, 73 (IQR 65–80) years; range, 45–102 years) who underwent transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) at our institute during the period from April 2008 to December 2023. Eight (0.032%) of the patients (median age, 65 years; range, 47–91 years) were diagnosed with QAV. Six patients suffered from aortic regurgitation (AR), and one patient had mild aortic stenosis at the time of QAV diagnosis. Two patients who had severe AR at referral underwent aortic valve surgery. The severity of AR in the other patients was moderate or less. During a median follow‐up period of 27 months (range, 1–171 months), none of the patients other than above two patients had cardiac events. One patient died from a non‐cardiac cause at 94 years of age.ConclusionsPatients diagnosed with QAV after middle age, who do not exhibit severe valve insufficiency at the time of diagnosis, may not experience worse clinical outcomes. However, further research is required for a better understanding of the long‐term outcomes.
Secondary‐tail formation during stolonization in the Japanese green syllid, Megasyllis nipponica
Authors: Sato Daisuke S. , Nakamura Mayuko , Teresa Aguado María , Miura Toru 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBenthic annelids belonging to the family Syllidae show a distinctive sexual reproduction mode called “stolonization,” in which posterior segments are transformed into a reproductive individual‐like unit called a “stolon.” Megasyllis nipponica forms a stolon head and a secondary tail in the middle of the trunk before a stolon detaches, while, in the case of posterior amputation, posterior regeneration initiates at the wound after amputation. To understand the difference between posterior regeneration and secondary‐tail formation during stolonization, detailed comparisons between the developmental processes of these two tail‐formation types were performed in this study. Morphological and inner structural observations (i.e., cell proliferation and muscular/nervous development) showed that some processes of posterior regeneration, such as blastema formation and muscular/nervous regeneration at the amputation site, are missing during secondary‐tail formation. In contrast, the secondary tail showed some unique features, such as the formation of ventrolateral half‐tail buds that later fused in the middle and muscle/nerve branches formed before the detachment of the stolon. These novel features in the process of stolonization are suggested to be adaptive since the animals need to recover a posterior end quickly to stolonize again.
‘Like an imprisoned robin’: Similes by English language teachers on teaching in and beyond the times of COVID‐19
Authors: Dündar Esin 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis qualitative study captured the reflections of 53 English language teachers from 40 different contexts including Bangladesh, Colombia, France, India, Scotland, Taiwan, Türkiye and the United Kingdom on teaching English during the times of COVID‐19 and its post‐effects on their practices. Data were collected through an online form consisting of three stems and the participants were asked to create similes about teaching English before, during and after the pandemic. By conducting thematic analysis, images created for each phase were categorized under occupational well‐being, digital transformation, transactional distance, gap of communication and social isolation. Teachers pointed out work overload, lack of administrational support, instructions' not making sense, decreasing level of participation, dropouts, loss of student–teacher interaction and isolation as the drawbacks of the process along with the possibility of digital transformation ahead of their profession.
Fix low dose venetoclax‐azacitidine treatment of unfit acute myeloid leukemia patients
Authors: Miklos Egyed , Oliver Tóth Peter , Adam Kellner , Eva Karadi , Balazs Kollar , Eszter Kovacs , Anett Pavlovics , Viktoria Gyori‐Korom , Jozsef Herczeg , Peter Rajnics 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe prognosis of elderly AML patients had not even been improved by using hypomethylating agents; however, synergistic effect of combining azacitidin with venetoclax had resulted in a remarkable therapeutic advance. Our goal was to study the latter treatment with a new dosing regimen in a retrospective/observational study. In our department, we analyzed the data of AML patients who were unfit for curative high‐dose treatment and accepted the medication with a fixed‐dose of azacitidin and venetoclax combination (AZA‐VEN, 100 mg sc for 7 days—100 mg per os continuously). The primary end point was the overall survival. In total, 55 AML patients received the treatment between OCT/2019‐DEC/2022. Mean age was 69.4‐year (48–84), median overall survival was 17.2‐month (95% CI, 14.3–20.10) Composite CR: (CR + CRi) 62%. Side effect CTCAE 3 or higher: neutropenia with fever: 36.4%, anemia: 29.1%, thrombocytopenia: 16.4% and nausea 20%. AZA‐VEN combination treatment of our unfit AML patients was found to be a good therapeutic option. The results achieved with significantly lower doses of the fixed dose of AZA‐VEN are comparable to the conclusions of the VIALE‐A study, and the less severe side effects we have observed are explained by the milder neutropenia of the newly introduced regimen.
CAR‐T from cord blood in a patient with Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia relapsing after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Marra John Donald , Galli Eugenio , Giammarco Sabrina , Metafuni Elisabetta , Minnella Gessica , Fosso Federica , Marietti Sara , Sica Simona , Sorà Federica , Chiusolo Patrizia 
Published: April 2024

AbstractWhile there is intense interest in the production of allogeneic CAR‐T cells from umbilical cord units, little is known about the reactivity and persistence of CAR‐T cells of umbilical origin. We report the case of a patient at our hematological center with multiple relapsing Ph+ B‐ALL, notably a Blinatunomab non‐responder, who underwent therapy with Brexucabtagene Autoleucel following relapse on Ponatinib post‐allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The patient achieved a rapid CAR‐T expansion and durable remission presenting in good clinical conditions 6 months post‐CAR‐T infusion, without manifestations of graft‐versus‐host disease. The case report provides insight into the reactivity and persistence of CAR‐T cells of umbilical origin, confirming the potential promise of allogeneic umbilical cord‐derived CAR‐T cells.
Naloxone increases conditioned fear responses during social buffering in male rats
Authors: Yamasaki Takumi , Kiyokawa Yasushi , Munetomo Arisa , Takeuchi Yukari 
Published: April 2024

AbstractSocial buffering is the phenomenon in which the presence of an affiliative conspecific mitigates stress responses. We previously demonstrated that social buffering completely ameliorates conditioned fear responses in rats. However, the neuromodulators involved in social buffering are poorly understood. Given that opioids, dopamine, oxytocin and vasopressin play an important role in affiliative behaviour, here, we assessed the effects of the most well‐known antagonists, naloxone (opioid receptor antagonist), haloperidol (dopamine D2 receptor antagonist), atosiban (oxytocin receptor antagonist) and SR49059 (vasopressin V1a receptor antagonist), on social buffering. In Experiment 1, fear‐conditioned male subjects were intraperitoneally administered one of the four antagonists 25 min prior to exposure to a conditioned stimulus with an unfamiliar non‐conditioned rat. Naloxone, but not the other three antagonists, increased freezing and decreased walking and investigation as compared with saline administration. In Experiment 2, identical naloxone administration did not affect locomotor activity, anxiety‐like behaviour or freezing in an open‐field test. In Experiment 3, after confirming that the same naloxone administration again increased conditioned fear responses, as done in Experiment 1, we measured Fos expression in 16 brain regions. Compared with saline, naloxone increased Fos expression in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and decreased Fos expression in the nucleus accumbens shell, anterior cingulate cortex and insular cortex and tended to decrease Fos expression in the nucleus accumbens core. Based on these results, we suggest that naloxone blocks social buffering of conditioned fear responses in male rats.
Inhibition of 14‐3‐3 proteins increases the intrinsic excitability of mouse hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons
Authors: Logue Jordan B. , Vilmont Violet , Zhang Jiajing , Wu Yuying , Zhou Yi 
Published: April 2024

Abstract14‐3‐3 proteins are a family of regulatory proteins that are abundantly expressed in the brain and enriched at the synapse. Dysfunctions of these proteins have been linked to neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Our group has previously shown that functional inhibition of these proteins by a peptide inhibitor, difopein, in the mouse brain causes behavioural alterations and synaptic plasticity impairment in the hippocampus. Recently, we found an increased cFOS expression in difopein‐expressing dorsal CA1 pyramidal neurons, indicating enhanced neuronal activity by 14‐3‐3 inhibition in these cells. In this study, we used slice electrophysiology to determine the effects of 14‐3‐3 inhibition on the intrinsic excitability of CA1 pyramidal neurons from a transgenic 14‐3‐3 functional knockout (FKO) mouse line. Our data demonstrate an increase in intrinsic excitability associated with 14‐3‐3 inhibition, as well as reveal action potential firing pattern shifts after novelty‐induced hyperlocomotion in the 14‐3‐3 FKO mice. These results provide novel information on the role 14‐3‐3 proteins play in regulating intrinsic and activity‐dependent neuronal excitability in the hippocampus.
Do corporate site visits affect the informational role of independent directors?
Authors: Wang Qiong , Cao Zhangfan , Lee Edward 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis study examines the influence of corporate site visits on information acquisition and dissemination by independent directors (IDs). Employing two unique sources of data from Chinese listed firms based on the mandatory disclosure of IDs’ (i) site visit activities and (ii) opinions about corporate decisions, we find that the acquisition of firm‐specific information and the dissemination of such information to the market are greater among IDs who conduct visits than their counterparts without such visits. Moreover, this effect is more pronounced in firms with complex information environments, in firms with lower proprietary costs, and among IDs with greater internal information asymmetry, superior external information, and stronger incentives and abilities to perform their duties. Furthermore, the firm‐specific information disseminated by IDs leads to stronger market reactions and improves stock price efficiency. Our study shows that site visits contribute to the informational role of IDs, and our evidence offers important corporate governance and regulatory implications.
Testing the deep‐sea glacial disturbance hypothesis as a cause of low, present‐day Norwegian Sea diversity and resulting steep latitudinal diversity gradient, using fossil records
Authors: Jöst Anna B. , Huang Huai‐Hsuan M. , Hong Yuanyuan , Wei Chih‐Lin , Bauch Henning A. , Thibodeau Benoit , Cronin Thomas M. , Okahashi Hisayo , Yasuhara Moriaki 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAimWithin the intensively‐studied, well‐documented latitudinal diversity gradient, the deep‐sea biodiversity of the present‐day Norwegian Sea stands out with its notably low diversity, constituting a steep latitudinal diversity gradient in the North Atlantic. The reason behind this has long been a topic of debate and speculation. Most prominently, it is explained by the deep‐sea glacial disturbance hypothesis, which states that harsh environmental glacial conditions negatively impacted Norwegian Sea diversities, which have not yet fully recovered. Our aim is to empirically test this hypothesis. Specific research questions are: (1) Has deep‐sea biodiversity been lower during glacials than during interglacials? (2) Was there any faunal shift at the Mid‐Brunhes Event (MBE) when the mode of glacial–interglacial climatic change was altered?LocationNorwegian Sea, deep sea (1819–2800 m), coring sites MD992277, PS1243, and M23352.Time period620.7–1.4 ka (Middle Pleistocene–Late Holocene).Taxa studiedOstracoda (Crustacea).MethodsWe empirically test the deep‐sea glacial disturbance hypothesis by investigating whether diversity in glacial periods is consistently lower than diversity in interglacial periods. Additionally, we apply comparative analyses to determine a potential faunal shift at the MBE, a Pleistocene event describing a fundamental shift in global climate.ResultsThe deep Norwegian Sea diversity was not lower during glacial periods compared to interglacial periods. Holocene diversity was exceedingly lower than that of the last glacial period. Faunal composition changed substantially between pre‐ and post‐MBE.Main conclusionsThese results reject the glacial disturbance hypothesis, since the low glacial diversity is the important precondition here. The present‐day‐style deep Norwegian Sea ecosystem was established by the MBE, more specifically by MBE‐induced changes in global climate, which has led to more dynamic post‐MBE conditions. In a broader context, this implies that the MBE has played an important role in the establishment of the modern polar deep‐sea ecosystem and biodiversity in general.
Impaired oral status is associated with sarcopenic obesity in post‐stroke patients
Authors: Shiraishi Ai , Yoshimura Yoshihiro , Wakabayashi Hidetaka , Nagano Fumihiko , Matsumoto Ayaka , Shimazu Sayuri , Kido Yoshifumi , Bise Takahiro , Kuzuhara Aomi , Hori Kota , Hamada Takenori , Yoneda Kouki , Maekawa Kenichiro 
Published: April 2024

PurposeOral problems and muscle health are indeed significant concerns in ageing populations. However, there is limited evidence concerning the association between these issues. The study's focus was to investigate the association between oral problems and sarcopenic obesity, wherein sarcopenia and obesity coexist concurrently, in post‐stroke patients.MethodsThis retrospective, observational, cross‐sectional study included patients hospitalised for post‐stroke rehabilitation. Oral problems were assessed using the Revised Oral Assessment Guide (ROAG). Sarcopenic obesity was diagnosed according to the European Society of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism/European Association for the Study of Obesity criteria. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine the association between the ROAG and sarcopenic obesity after adjusting for confounding factors.ResultsA total of 760 patients were included, with a mean (SD) age of 71 (9) years, of whom 408 (54.7%) were male. The median (interquartile range, 25th and 75th percentiles) ROAG was 11 [9, 13]. Sarcopenic obesity was diagnosed in 16 (3.9%) men, 18 (5.1%) women, and 34 (4.5%) patients overall. Multivariate linear analysis showed that ROAG was significantly and positively associated with sarcopenic obesity (β = .091, P = .023), followed by obesity alone (β = .084, P = .044), and sarcopenia alone (β = .081, P = .037).ConclusionOral problems were associated with sarcopenic obesity in post‐stroke. Oral assessment and intervention may have a positive impact on ADL and QOL in post‐stroke patients with sarcopenic obesity.