bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Erdosteine in children and adults with bronchiectasis (BETTER trial): study protocol for a multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled trial
Authors: Chang Anne B , Yerkovich Stephanie T , Baines Katherine J , Burr Lucy , Champion Anita , Chatfield Mark D , Eg Kah P , Goyal Vikas , Marsh Robyn L , McCallum Gabrielle B , McElrea Margaret , McPhail Steven , Morgan Lucy C , Morris Peter S , Nathan Anne M , O’Farrell Hannah , Sanchez Marion O , Parsons Marianne , Schultz André , Torzillo Paul J , West Nicholas P , Versteegh Lesley , Marchant Julie M , Grimwood Keith 
Published: May 2024

IntroductionBronchiectasis is a worldwide chronic lung disorder where exacerbations are common. It affects people of all ages, but especially Indigenous populations in high-income nations. Despite being a major contributor to chronic lung disease, there are no licensed therapies for bronchiectasis and there remain relatively few randomised controlled trials (RCTs) conducted in children and adults. Our RCT will address some of these unmet needs by evaluating whether the novel mucoactive agent, erdosteine, has a therapeutic role in children and adults with bronchiectasis.Our primary aim is to determine in children and adults aged 2–49 years with bronchiectasis whether regular erdosteine over a 12-month period reduces acute respiratory exacerbations compared with placebo. Our primary hypothesis is that people with bronchiectasis who regularly use erdosteine will have fewer exacerbations than those receiving placebo.Our secondary aims are to determine the effect of the trial medications on quality of life (QoL) and other clinical outcomes (exacerbation duration, time-to-next exacerbation, hospitalisations, lung function, adverse events). We will also assess the cost-effectiveness of the intervention.Methods and analysisWe are undertaking an international multicentre, double-blind, placebo-RCT to evaluate whether 12 months of erdosteine is beneficial for children and adults with bronchiectasis. We will recruit 194 children and adults with bronchiectasis to a parallel, superiority RCT at eight sites across Australia, Malaysia and Philippines. Our primary endpoint is the rate of exacerbations over 12 months. Our main secondary outcomes are QoL, exacerbation duration, time-to-next exacerbation, hospitalisations and lung function.Ethics and disseminationThe Human Research Ethics Committees (HREC) of Children’s Health Queensland (for all Australian sites), University of Malaya Medical Centre (Malaysia) and St. Luke’s Medical Centre (Philippines) approved the study. We will publish the results and share the outcomes with the academic and medical community, funding and relevant patient organisations.Trial registration numberACTRN12621000315819.
Cancer pain self-management interventions in adults: scoping review
Authors: Sjattar Elly L , Arafat Rosyidah , Ling Lee Wan 
Published: May 2024

Background
The predominant trend in cancer treatment now leans towards outpatient care, placing the responsibility of pain management largely on the patients themselves. Moreover, a significant portion of treatment for advanced cancer occurs in the home environment, so patient self-management becomes increasingly crucial for the effective treatment of cancer pain.

Objectives
To map self-management for pain in patients with cancer at all phases of the disease before examining the potential of pain self-care interventions for ill patients with cancer.

Methods
A search was conducted on six electronic databases to locate studies published in English, from 2013 to 2023. We followed Arskey and O’Malley’s Scoping Reviews guidelines.

Results
This study thoroughly examined the provision of cancer pain self-management by healthcare professionals and identified four intervention types from 23 studies. Education emerged as the most prevalent form of self-management for cancer pain.

Conclusion

G
uiding patients in managing their pain effectively, starting from their hospitalisation and extending to their discharge.
Fermionic fixed-point structure of asymptotically safe QED with a Pauli term
Authors: Gies Holger , Tam Kevin K. K. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractWe test the physical viability of a recent proposal for an asymptotically safe modification of quantum electrodynamics (QED), whose ultraviolet physics is dominated by a non-perturbative Pauli spin-field coupling. We focus in particular on its compatibility with the absence of dynamical generation of fermion mass in QED. Studying the renormalization group flow of chiral four-fermion operators and their fixed points, we discover a distinct class of behavior compared to the standard picture of fixed-point annihilation at large gauge couplings and the ensuing formation of chiral condensates. Instead, transcritical bifurcations, where the fixed points merely exchange infrared stability, are observed. Provided that non-chiral operators remain irrelevant, our theory accommodates a universality class of light fermions for $$N_{\textrm{f}}> 1$$

N
f

>
1

irreducible Dirac flavors. On the contrary, in the special case of $$N_{\textrm{f}}= 1$$

N
f

=
1

flavor, this comes only at the expense of introducing one additional relevant parameter.
Gluon–gluon fusion contribution to the productions of three gauge bosons at the LHC
Authors: Dai Jianpeng , Hu Zhenghong , Liu Tao , Yang Jin Min 
Published: May 2024

AbstractProductions of multiple gauge bosons at the LHC are sensitive to triple or quartic gauge couplings and thus provide a sensitive test for the electroweak sector of the Standard Model and allow for a probe of new physics. In this work we calculate the gluon–gluon initiate state contribution to the productions of three gauge bosons ($$Z\gamma \gamma ,$$

Z
γ
γ
,

$$ZZ\gamma $$

Z
Z
γ

and $$W^+W^-\gamma $$

W
+

W
-

γ

) at the LHC, which is formally part of NNLO effects compared to the LO quark–antiquark channels corrections. For each process we present the ratio between the gluon–gluon channels contribution and the quark–antiquark channels contribution. We found that such a ratio for $$Z\gamma \gamma $$

Z
γ
γ

$$(ZZ\gamma )$$

(
Z
Z
γ
)

is of the order of $$10^{-3}$$

10

-
3

$$(10^{-4}),$$

(

10

-
4

)
,

much smaller than the corresponding ratio for the diboson production due to the decrease of gluon PDF when more particles appear in the final states. These small ratios imply that gluon–gluon fusion contribution is phenomenological negligible for the productions of $$Z\gamma \gamma $$

Z
γ
γ

and $$ZZ\gamma .$$

Z
Z
γ
.

However, for $$W^+W^-\gamma $$

W
+

W
-

γ

production, the ratio is about 5%, which is of the same order of magnitude as the ratio for $$W^+W^-$$

W
+

W
-

production due to the big cancellation between the amplitudes of quark–antiquark channels. While such an effect can be neglected currently at the LHC, it may be accessible at the HL-LHC.
Renewing the Cold War Narrative of “Special” Anglo-American Relations: Commemoration, Performance, and the American Bicentennial
Authors: M. Hendershot Robert , Marsh Steve 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
This article uses the U.S. bicentennial as a case study to develop two themes about U.S.-British relations in the 1970s. First, the performative framework of commemoration was of considerable importance to the “special relationship.” The U.S. and British governments effectively used the bicentennial of an Anglo-American war to enact and popularize a distinctly useful historical narrative—a story of bilateral unity and strength, shared culture, eternal peace, and friendship—that was useful during the Cold War. Commemoration of the bicentennial signaled British recognition that historical and cultural ties offered a robust source of influence in Washington. Second, as the zenith of Anglo-American cooperation during World War II faded in collective memory, the political salience of commemorative events increased during the Cold War. They became contributory to and constitutive of a continually renewing public narrative of “special” Anglo-American relations that interwove times past, present, and future.
Understanding Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in Iran: a systematic review of case reports
Authors: Mohebbi Alireza , Motamedaria Parastoo , Naderi Malihe , Hassanpour Mina , Salavatiha Zahra , Makouei Mahsa , Ataei-Pirkooh Angila 
Published: May 2024

Objective To systematically review the reported cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in Iran. Methods A comprehensive literature review of CJD cases in Iran was undertaken using the PubMed®, Scopus® and Google Scholar databases. In addition, the Iranian database MagIran was searched for Persian language reports. Case selection used the following criteria: (i) patients of Iranian origin; (ii) publication in peer-reviewed journals or reputable medical databases; (iii) a definitive diagnosis of CJD based on established diagnostic criteria. Results Thirteen cases from twelve reports were included in this systematic review. The majority of the cases were female (11 of 13; 84.6%). The mean ± SD age of patients at hospital admission was 59.38 ± 7.44 years. The findings of the case review suggested that the prevalence of CJD in Iran is not fully established. CJD may be misdiagnosed alongside other clinical signs. The most prevalent early indications of the disease were psychiatric and neurological in nature. A considerable delay in diagnosis was observed in some cases and there was a shortage of brain autopsy records. Conclusion Efforts to improve diagnostic capabilities, promote awareness and establish monitoring systems are necessary for managing the challenges of providing an early diagnosis of CJD in Iran.
Prenatal exposure to low-dose bisphenol A disrupts hippocampal DNA methylation and demethylation in male rat offspring
Authors: Wang Yuxin , Guo Yi , Ren Jiajia , Liu Qiling , Wang Chong 
Published: May 2024

Earlier research has demonstrated that developmental exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) has persistent impacts on both adult brain growth and actions. It has been suggested that BPA might obstruct the methylation coding of the genes in the brain. In this study, the methylation changes in the hippocampus tissue of male rat pups were examined following prenatal BPA exposure. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with either vehicle (tocopherol-stripped corn oil) or BPA (4, 40, or 400 μg/kg·body weight/day) throughout the entire duration of gestation and lactation. At 3 weeks of age, the male rat offspring were euthanized, and the hippocampus were dissected out for analysis. The expression levels of DNA methyltransferases (DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B) and DNA demethylases (TET1, Gadd45a, Gadd45b, and Apobec1) were analyzed in the hippocampus by means of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. The results showed that prenatal exposure to BPA upregulated the expression of enzymes associated with DNA methylation and demethylation processes in the hippocampus of male rat offspring. These findings suggest that prenatal exposure to a low dose of BPA could potentially disrupt the balance of methylation and demethylation in the hippocampus, thereby perturbing epigenetic modifications. This may represent a neurotoxicity mechanism of BPA.
Spatiotemporal Distribution, Time to Treatment Outcome Clustering and Determinants of Esophageal Cancer in Ethiopia, a Scoping Study
Authors: Beyen Teresa Kisi , Seife Edom , Gurara Abenet M. , McCormack Valerie , Taye Girma , Addissie Adamu 
Published: May 2024

Introduction Esophageal cancer was the eighth and sixth leading cause of morbidity of all cancers in the world, and the 15th and 12th in Ethiopia, respectively. There is a lack of comprehensive data regarding Ethiopia’s esophageal cancer hotspot, treatment outcome clustering, and other factors. Objective This scoping review was designed to understand the extent and type of existing evidence regarding spatiotemporal distribution, time to treatment outcome clustering, and determinants of esophageal cancer in Ethiopia up to March 28, 2023. Methods Three-step search strategies were employed for the scoping review from March 15 to 28, 2023. Targeted databases included PubMed/Medline, PubMed Central (PMC), Google Scholar, Hinari, and Cochrane for published studies and different websites for unpublished studies for evidence synthesis. Data were extracted using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) manual format. Results Our final analysis comprised 17 (16 quantitative a nd 1 qualitative) studies. Three studies attempted to depict the country’s temporal distribution, whereas 12 studies showed the spatial distribution of esophageal cancer by proportion. The regional state of Oromia recorded a high percentage of cases. Numerous risk factors linked to the tumor have been identified in 8 investigations. Similarly, 5 studies went into detail regarding the likelihood of survival and the factors that contribute to malignancy, while 2 studies covered the results of disease-related treatments. Conclusions The substantial body of data that underpins this finding supports the fact that esophageal cancer has several risk factors and that its prevalence varies greatly across the country and among regions. Surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy helped the patient live longer. However, no research has investigated which treatment is best for boosting patient survival and survival clustering. Therefore, research with robust models for regional distribution, clustering of time to treatment outcomes, and drivers of esophageal cancer will be needed.
Tribuloside: Mechanisms and Efficacy in Treating Acute Lung Injury Revealed by Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation
Authors: Yang Zheng , Hao Tiantian , Ma Junbing , Yang Dan , Qiu Min , Wang Rui 
Published: May 2024

Background Acute lung injury (ALI) is a serious illness that has few treatment options available. Tribuloside, a natural flavonoid extracted from the Tribulus Terrestris plant in China, is potent in addressing many health issues such as headaches, dizziness, itching, and vitiligo. Objective This study intends to explore the mechanisms of action of Tribuloside in treating ALI through a combination of network pharmacology and experimental validation. Methods We obtained the 2D structure and SMILES number of Tribuloside from the PubChem database. We used the SwissTargetPrediction database to identify pharmacological targets. We found 1215 targets linked to ALI by examining the GeneCards database. We used the String database and Cytoscape software to create the “drug or disease-target” network as well as the protein-protein interactions (PPI). Key targets were identified by evaluating associated biological processes and pathway enrichment. A Venny Diagram showed 49 intersection points between Tribuloside and ALI. Molecular docking with AutoDockTools found that Tribuloside had a high affinity for IL6, BCL2, TNF, STAT3, IL1B, and MAPK3, the top 6 targets in the PPI network by Degree values. To test Tribuloside’s therapeutic efficacy in ALI, an acute lung damage model in mice was constructed using lipopolysaccharide. Tribuloside treatment reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, decreased fibrotic area, repaired damaged alveoli, and suppressed inflammatory factors IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the lungs through many pathways and targets. Conclusion This study reveals that Tribuloside has the potential to treat ALI by targeting various pathways and targets, according to network pharmacology predictions and experimental confirmation.
Intensive care nurses’ compassion and patience levels and their attitude towards elderly people
Authors: Turen Sevda , Efil Sevda , Turkoglu Meryem , Issever Merve 
Published: May 2024

Backgrounds: Intensive care nurses’ attitudes towards the elderly and their emotional readiness before giving care can have an impact on the quality of care. Aims: The objective of this study was to investigate intensive care nurses’ compassion and patience levels and their attitude towards elderly people. Methods: ‘Data Gathering Form’, the ‘Compassion Competence Scale’, the ‘Patience Scale and the University of California at Los Angeles Geriatrics Attitude (UCLA-GA) were used. Results: A total of 212 intensive care nurses participated in the study. It was found that nurses whose time working in the intensive care unit and total professional experience were 6 years or more and those who were married and had children had higher levels of both compassion and patience. In addition, patience levels were significantly higher in nurses aged 29 or more. It was found that the nurses’ sociodemographic and professional characteristics did not affect their UCLA-Geriatrics Attitudes total score. Conclusion: It was found in the study that there was a significant positive correlation between the nurses’ compassion and patience levels and their attitudes toward elderly people.
Environmental measures to improve pedestrian safety in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review
Authors: Sabi Boun Saidou , Janvier Ronaldo , Jean Marc Rose Eveyoung , Paul Peterline , Senat Rachel , Demes Joseph Adrien Emmanuel , Burigusa Guillaume , Chaput Sarah , Maurice Pierre , Druetz Thomas 
Published: May 2024

Objectives: This scoping study aims to identify environmental road safety measures implemented in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to reduce pedestrian injuries from collisions with motor vehicles. Methods: This review followed Arksey and O’Malley’s approach and reported results using the PRISMA-SCR 2018 checklist. A literature review was conducted in Medline, Google Scholar, and the Transport Research International Documentation database using keyword-derived medical subject heading terms. A total of 14 articles met the pre-established inclusion criteria and were analyzed using a data extraction matrix. The findings were categorized methodically into three prominent themes: (1) methods for reducing pedestrian exposure, (2) traffic calming strategies, and (3) measures for enhancing pedestrian visibility. Results: Traffic calming strategies, including vehicular speed reduction, roadway contraction, and vertical and horizontal diversionary tactics, emerged as the most effective interventions for reducing pedestrian injuries within LMICs. Conversely, interventions geared towards minimizing pedestrian exposure, such as zebra crossings, crosswalks controlled by traffic signals, underpasses, or overpasses, often produced minimal effects, and occasionally exacerbated the risk of pedestrian accidents. Lack of pedestrian visibility due to density of street vendors and parked vehicles was associated with a higher risk of injuries, while billboards impaired drivers’ attention and increased the likelihood of collisions with pedestrians. Discussion: In LMICs, the effectiveness of environmental measures in reducing vehicle–pedestrian crashes varies widely. In the face of resource constraints, implementing interventions for pedestrian safety in LMICs necessitates careful prioritization and consideration of the local context.
Clinical outcomes after use of checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapies in people with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Nylander Alyssa N , Rowles William , Poole Shane , Bove Riley 
Published: May 2024

Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) represent a novel class of agents approved for the treatment of several cancers and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). However, due to the risk of autoimmune side effects, their use in people with autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) has been limited. Objective To characterize outcomes in a cohort of adults with MS who received ICIs. Methods A single-center retrospective review of medical record data was performed for people with MS treated with ICIs. Results Seven people with MS were identified, with a mean (SD) age at ICI use of 55.4 (13.7) years and a mean MS duration of 18.2 (12.2) years. Six were treated for cancer; 1 was treated for PML. After mean (SD) follow-up of 1.76 (2.15) years after ICI, outcomes are: no evidence of disease (2), residual metastatic disease (1), death due to cancer (1), death due to PML (1), and lost to follow-up (2). Notably, 0 out of 7 patients experienced an MS relapse; two out of six had new asymptomatic demyelinating magnetic resonance imaging lesions. In the three patients with expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scores at baseline and follow-up, EDSS remained stable (mean delta 0.13). Conclusion In this cohort, no people with MS experienced clinical relapses and one-third experienced asymptomatic radiological activity following ICI treatment.
More Than a Flesh Wound: Trisomy 21 Patients Undergoing Posterior Spinal Fusion for Scoliosis Have High Odds of Wound Complications
Authors: Benvenuti Michael , Ang Bryan , Kannan Kiertana , Dunham Alexandra , Bosco Alexa , Cook Danielle , Hresko M. Timothy , Birch Craig , Hedequist Daniel , Hogue Grant 
Published: May 2024

Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Objectives Patients with trisomy 21 (T21) often have soft tissue differences that lead to greater risk of postoperative wound complications. Our aim was to use a matched cohort of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients with >2 year outcomes to determine odds of specific wound complications when comparing T21 and AIS patients. Methods 14 T21 and 544 AIS patients were available for matching. Propensity score matching was conducted using logistic regression models and yielded a 1:5 match of 14 T21 patients and 70 AIS patients. Bivariate analyses were conducted across both patient groups. The proportion of wound complications was estimated along with a 95% confidence interval. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was utilized to determine if there was a significant association between T21 patients and wound outcomes. Results 64% of T21 patients experienced a wound complication (9/14; 95% CI = 35.63-86.02) while only 3% of the AIS patients experienced a wound complication (2/70; 95% CI = .50-10.86). Patients with T21 had 56.6 times the odds of having a wound complication compared to matched AIS patients (OR = 56.57; 95% CI = 8.12-394.35; P < .001), controlling for age at surgery, BMI percentile, and propensity score. T21 patients had 10.4 times the odds of reoperation compared to AIS patients (OR = 10.36; 95% CI = 1.62-66.02; P = .01). Conclusion T21 patients have 10.4× the odds of reoperation and 56.6× the odds of overall wound complication when compared to AIS patients in a 1:5 matched cohort with appropriate controls. This is important for surgical planning, surgeon awareness, and communication with families preoperatively.