bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Performance of an interstitial glucose monitoring device in patients with type 1 diabetes during haemodialysis
Authors: Cornet Sophie , Moranne Olivier , Jouret François , Parotte Marie Christine , Georges Benoit , Godon Eric , Cavalier Etienne , Radermecker Régis P , Delanaye Pierre 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT

Background
The use of interstitial glucose monitoring devices such as flash glucose monitoring has been shown to be beneficial in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). However, these devices have been little studied in patients with diabetes treated by chronic haemodialysis (HD).

Methods
The goal of this prospective, observational, multicentric study was to evaluate the analytical performance of the FreeStyle Libre 2 (FSL2) sensor in T1DM patients during HD sessions. During three HD sessions, interstitial fluid glucose (ISFG) concentrations given by the FSL2 were compared every 15 minutes with blood glucose (BG) concentrations obtained simultaneously. BG concentrations were measured by two different glucometers: the Accu-Chek Guide and StatStrip meters.

Results
Twelve HD patients were included, with a mean age of 54 ± 11 years and a mean diabetes duration of 36.5 ± 11.6 years. Dialysis vintage was 35 ± 22 months. A total of 565 pairs of ISFG/BG values were available for analysis. The mean absolute relative difference, defined as the mean of the absolute relative differences between the ISFG and BG measurements, was 17.4% and 20.9% when the ISFG was compared with the StatStrip meter or Accu-Chek Guide, respectively. Interstitial results tend to underestimate blood results, but all values were classified as having clinically acceptable error. The differences observed remained stable during the dialysis session and were not associated with the ultrafiltration rate.

Conclusion
Use of the FSL2 interstitial glucose monitoring device in HD patients with T1DM is clinically acceptable, even though the accuracy of the device is generally poorer than in studies including non-dialysis patients.
‘The imitation game’: a heart failure case report with a great diagnostic twist
Authors: Khan-Kheil Ayisha Mehtab , Demetriades Polyvios , Steeds Richard P , Moody William E 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Background
Arrhythmogenic ventricular cardiomyopathy (AVC) is a hereditary cardiomyopathy that has been associated with mutations in genes encoding for components of the cardiac desmosome including desmoglein-2 (DSG-2).

Case summary
A 49-year-old male presented with decompensated heart failure and ventricular arrythmias. A cardiac magnetic resonance scan demonstrated a dilated left ventricle (LV) with severely impaired systolic function and extensive subepicardial late gadolinium enhancement in the lateral wall. An 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scan identified myocardial uptake consistent with inflammation. Following treatment with steroids for presumed cardiac sarcoidosis, a repeat FDG-PET confirmed resolution of inflammation. A dilated cardiomyopathy/AVC gene panel, however, subsequently identified a pathogenic variant in the DSG-2 gene.

Discussion
We describe the case of a patient presenting with clinical and imaging features suggestive for cardiac sarcoidosis, however genetic testing established a diagnosis of DSG-2 associated AVC. DSG-2 mutations in AVC are associated with frequent LV involvement and heart failure. Active inflammation has been observed in other cardiomyopathies, specifically in desmoplakin cardiomyopathy which has a similar clinical course to DSG-2. To our knowledge, this is the first case of DSG-2 cardiomyopathy presenting in this manner. We encourage clinicians to have a high index of suspicion of inflammatory cardiomyopathies as a differential to myocarditis and cardiac sarcoidosis, when patients present with evidence of decompensated heart failure, arrhythmias, and active myocardial inflammation.
Tall stature and gigantism in adult patients with acromegaly
Authors: Bogusławska Anna , Godlewska Magdalena , Hubalewska-Dydejczyk Alicja , Korbonits Márta , Starzyk Jerzy , Gilis-Januszewska Aleksandra 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Objectives
Increased height in patients with acromegaly could be a manifestation of growth hormone (GH) excess before epiphysis closure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the height of adult patients with GH excess related to mid-parental height (MPH) and population mean and to find whether taller patients with acromegaly come from tall families.

Methods
This is a single-centre, observational study involving 135 consecutive patients with acromegaly diagnosed as adults and no family history of GH excess. We established three categories for height for patients with acromegaly: normal stature, tall stature (TS, height above the 97th percentile (1.88 standard deviations (SD)) to &lt;3 SD for gender- and country-specific data or as a height which was greater than 1.5 SD but less than 2 SD above the MPH) and gigantism (height which was greater than 3 SD) above the gender- and country-specific mean or greater than 2 SD above MPH).

Results
Thirteen percent (17/135) of patients (53% females) met the criteria for gigantism, 10% (14/135) fulfilled the criteria for TS (57% females). Parents and adult siblings were not taller than the population mean.

Conclusion
In a group of 135 consecutive adult patients with acromegaly, 23% had increased height based on country-specific and MPH data: 13% presented with gigantism while 10% had TS. The frequency of gigantism and TS in patients diagnosed with GH excess as adults is not higher in males than in females. Patients with acromegaly come from normal-stature families.
Stability, survival, patient satisfaction, and cost-minimization of CAD/CAM versus conventional multistranded fixed retainers in orthodontic patients: a 2-year follow-up of a two-centre randomized controlled trial
Authors: Pullisaar Helen , Cattaneo Paolo M , Gera Arwa , Sankiewicz Monika , Bilińska Małgorzata , Vandevska-Radunovic Vaska , Cornelis Marie A 
Published: February 2024

Summary

Background
CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing) fixed retainers (FRs) as an alternative to multistranded FRs to maintain orthodontic treatment outcome.

Objectives
The primary aim was to compare CAD/CAM versus conventional multistranded FRs in terms of stability until 2 years. Secondary outcomes were failure rates, patient satisfaction, and cost-minimization.

Trial design
2-arm parallel, two-centre randomized controlled trial.

Methods
Patients were randomized to CAD/CAM or conventional FRs in both arches, in a 1:1 ratio and blocks of four. Allocation concealment was secured by using sequentially numbered envelopes. Patients were blinded. FRs were bonded at the end of treatment, and patients were recalled after 12 and 24 months. First-time retainer failures were recorded and digital impressions were taken. Arch widths and lengths, as well as Little’s Irregularity Index (LII), were measured. Additionally, patients answered satisfaction questionnaires. Linear mixed models were applied for measurements and patient satisfaction. Survival analyses were estimated with Kaplan–Meier curves, along with Cox-regression modelling. Cost-minimization analysis was undertaken.

Results
One hundred and eighty-one patients were randomized (98 in Centre 1, and 83 in Centre 2): 90 in CAD/CAM and 91 in conventional group. One hundred and fifty three patients attended T24 follow-up. There were no significant differences in LII and arch dimensions between groups for failure-free patients. Within 24 months, 34% maxillary CAD/CAM FRs and 38% maxillary conventional FRs failed, along with 42% mandibular CAD/CAM FRs and 40% mandibular conventional FRs, with no significant difference in survival between groups (hazard ratios conventional to CAD/CAM: maxillary arch: 1.20 [P = 0.46], mandibular arch: 0.98 [P = 0.94]). There were no significant differences in patient satisfaction between groups. No harms were observed. Cost-minimization analysis showed that CAD/CAM FRs were slightly cheaper than conventional FRs.

Conclusions
There were no clinically significant differences in LII, arch widths, and lengths between CAD/CAM and conventional FRs after 24 months. There were no differences in failures and patient satisfaction between groups. CAD/CAM FRs were slightly cheaper than conventional FRs.

Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04389879.
Harmful types of gambling: changes and emerging trends in longitudinal helpline data
Authors: Marionneau Virve , Kristiansen Søren , Wall Håkan 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Background
Gambling products differ in terms of their harm potential. Products are also constantly developing and changing. However, little research has addressed changes and trends in the types of gambling that are associated with harms. The current study explores trends in the gambling product categories identified as harmful in longitudinal helpline data from three Nordic countries.

Methods
We use data collected by national helplines in Denmark (StopSpillet), Finland (Peluuri) and Sweden (Stödlinjen) in their daily operations (N = 46 646). The data consist of information collected on gamblers and concerned significant others who have contacted these helplines between January 2019 and December 2022. We analyse which gambling products are mentioned as harmful by clients. The analysis uses linear regression with the interaction term (country) times time regressed over the outcome variable (proportion per month).

Results
The results show that an increased share of contacts concern online gambling. Online casino products have become the most harmful category across contexts. The share of reported harms from online betting and new emerging online forms is also increasing. The share of land-based products as a reported source of harms has decreased across 2019–22.

Conclusions
The results suggest that online gamlbing environments, and particularly online casino products, are associated with increasing harms to help-seekers. The harmfulness of different gambling products may not be stable, but change over time. Further harm prevention efforts are needed to address the online gambling field, including emerging formats.
Directional epistasis is common in morphological divergence
Authors: Bourg Salomé , Bolstad Geir H , Griffin Donald V , Pélabon Christophe , Hansen Thomas F 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Epistasis is often portrayed as unimportant in evolution. While random patterns of epistasis may have limited effects on the response to selection, systematic directional epistasis can have substantial effects on evolutionary dynamics. Directional epistasis occurs when allele substitutions that change a trait also modify the effects of allele substitution at other loci in a systematic direction. In this case, trait evolution may induce correlated changes in allelic effects and additive genetic variance (evolvability) that modify further evolution. Although theory thus suggests a potentially important role for directional epistasis in evolution, we still lack empirical evidence about its prevalence and magnitude. Using a new framework to estimate systematic patterns of epistasis from line-crosses experiments, we quantify its effects on 197 size-related traits from diverging natural populations in 24 animal and 17 plant species. We show that directional epistasis is common and tends to become stronger with increasing morphological divergence. In animals, most traits displayed negative directionality toward larger size, suggesting that epistatic constraints reducing evolvability toward larger size. Dominance was also common but did not systematically alter the effects of epistasis.
Home Care Worker Continuity in Home-Based Long-Term Care: Associated Factors and Relationships With Client Health and Well-Being
Authors: Reckrey Jennifer M , Russell David , Fong Mei-Chia , Burgdorf Julia G , Franzosa Emily C , Travers Jasmine L , Ornstein Katherine A 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Background and Objectives
Despite the importance of provider continuity across healthcare settings, continuity among home care workers who provide hands-on long-term care is understudied. This project describes home care worker continuity, identifies factors associated with increased continuity, and examines associations between continuity and client outcomes.

Research Design and Methods
We conducted a retrospective cohort study of clients receiving Medicaid-funded home-based long-term care (n = 3,864) using insurance plan and home care agency data from a large nonprofit organization. We estimated home care worker continuity for clients between 6-month clinical assessments using Bice–Boxerman scores. We then used generalized estimating equations to model associations between home care worker continuity and (1) client characteristics (e.g., cognitive impairment), and (2) client functional, health, and psychosocial outcomes.

Results
While home care worker continuity was lowest for clients receiving the most weekly care hours, a range of continuity existed across all levels of care need. Those who were male, older, Asian/Pacific Islander/Native American, cognitively impaired, and functionally impaired had lower continuity. Higher home care worker continuity was significantly associated (p &lt; .05) with fewer falls, a higher likelihood of functional improvement/stabilization, and fewer depressive symptoms.

Discussion and Implications
The finding that home care worker continuity is associated with the health and well-being of home-based long-term care clients underscores the importance of building high-quality relationships in long-term care. Continued efforts are necessary to understand and advance home care worker continuity and to identify other aspects of the home care experience that benefit those receiving long-term care at home.
Reply to: Tuvikene et al. The inadequacies of estimating silver eel escapement by studying yellow eels caught in the coastal sea far away from the river mouth. A comment on Rohtla et al. (2021)
Authors: Rohtla Mehis , Saks Lauri , Eschbaum Redik , Vaino Väino , Verliin Aare , Kooijman Ellen , Vetemaa Markus 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Restocking European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is generally considered as a conservation action, but its true conservation value remains unknown and is currently debated over. Estimation of the biomass of escaping silver eels is one way to partially measure the success of restocking. Tuvikene et al. in a comment to Rohtla et al. criticize the data that were used to reach the conclusion that eel conservation goals in a fully restocked eel management unit in Estonia are not being met. While acknowledging some potential and unavoidable sampling biases in our study that need to be addressed in the future, we stand by our general conclusions.
A short-term photovoltaic power interval forecasting method based on fuzzy granular computing and CNN-BiGRU
Authors: Shi Yan , Zhang Luxi , Wang Siteng , Li Wenjie , Tong Renjie 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
This paper presents a short-term PV power interval prediction method combining fuzzy information granulation and CNN-BiGRU model. First, historical data of PV power generation is processed using fuzzy information granulation to determine the interval range. Subsequently, a CNN-BiGRU model is constructed, where the CNN module extracts local features of the interval range and the BiGRU module captures temporal patterns. The interval range is then fed into the CNN-BiGRU model for training, which enables accurate prediction of short-term PV power generation intervals. Finally, the predicted power generation interval ranges are given. The experimental results show that this hybrid interval prediction method is first applied to the prediction of short-term PV power scenarios, which fully utilizes the advantages of information granularity to express the data intervals and CNN-BiGRU to learn the complex time series patterns, and realizes the accurate and reliable prediction of short-term PV power intervals. Compared with direct numerical prediction, the method provides an expression of prediction uncertainty, which provides an important reference for the operation decision of PV power plants.
A qualitative exploration of the barriers and enablers to supporting informal and familial carers within community pharmacies
Authors: Richardson Charlotte Lucy , Edwards Katherine , Lunny Judith , Lindsey Laura 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Objectives
There are approximately 5.3 million informal carers in the United Kingdom, many of whom support family in their health despite being unpaid and often unsupported. Many visit pharmacies to collect medicines and look for advice. This work explores informal carer support within community pharmacies (CP).

Methods
Semi-structured video interviews exploring perspectives on the role of CP in supporting carers were conducted in autumn 2022. The study received institutional ethical approval. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using a reflexive thematic approach.

Key findings
In total 25 interviews were conducted with 13 carers and 12 pharmacy staff. Three themes were identified:
-What support do carers need through CP?—medicines management, navigating services, and carers health and wellbeing.
-Barriers to CP better supporting carers—relationships with CP, carer needs, identification as a ‘carer’.
-Enablers to CP better supporting carers—support is a team effort, and CP as a community ‘hub’.

Conclusions
There is a trusted relationships between carers and pharmacy staff which can contribute to establishing pharmacies as a safe space of support, this includes medicines-specific support and navigating services, but also carer health and wellbeing support. Pharmacy staff may need to reconsider approaches to identifying and supporting carers and not just treating them as an extension of supporting a patient. In making this support accessible, relationships with pharmacy staff are important, as well as embracing CP as a ‘community hub’, although pharmacy staff may need training and information to facilitate them in this role.
The Political Geography of Globalized Civil Wars: Networked Actors and Multi-Scalar Strategies in the Kurdish Conflict Assemblage
Authors: Adamson Fiona B 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThis article introduces and lays out a conflict assemblage framework for understanding the political geography of globalized civil wars. It suggests the utility of conceptualizing Turkey’s Kurdish conflict as an assemblage in which networked actors use multi-scalar strategies as part of their overall conflict strategy. Insurgent organizations such as the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) operate at various scales beyond the national—including local, regional, transnational, and global—and in so doing utilize political opportunities and mobilize resources that are embedded in different locales. In the Kurdish case, disparate sites such as Diyarbakir, Marseille, Istanbul, London, New York, and Kobane become tied together within a single conflict assemblage that transcends geographical boundaries. An assemblage approach to violent conflict is a form of ontological theorizing that highlights this spatial and political complexity. By treating violent conflicts as assemblages with their own symbolic boundaries, political dynamics, internal governance structures, and strategic logics, we gain a better understanding of the contours and dynamics of globalized civil wars.
Construction of an immune-related prognostic signature and lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA ceRNA network in acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Qin Ling , Li Boya , Wang Shijie , Tang Yulai , Fahira Aamir , Kou Yanqi , Li Tong , Hu Zhigang , Huang Zunnan 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
The progression of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is influenced by the immune microenvironment in the bone marrow and dysregulated intracellular competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks. Our study utilized data from UCSC Xena, The Cancer Genome Atlas Program, the Gene Expression Omnibus, and the Immunology Database and Analysis Portal. Using Cox regression analysis, we identified an immune-related prognostic signature. Genomic analysis of prognostic messenger RNA (mRNA) was conducted through Gene Set Cancer Analysis (GSCA), and a prognostic ceRNA network was constructed using the Encyclopedia of RNA Interactomes. Correlations between signature mRNAs and immune cell infiltration, checkpoints, and drug sensitivity were assessed using R software, gene expression profiling interactive analysis (GEPIA), and CellMiner, respectively. Adhering to the ceRNA hypothesis, we established a potential long noncoding RNA (lncRNA)/microRNA (miRNA)/mRNA regulatory axis. Our findings pinpointed 9 immune-related prognostic mRNAs (KIR2DL1, CSRP1, APOBEC3G, CKLF, PLXNC1, PNOC, ANGPT1, IL1R2, and IL3RA). GSCA analysis revealed the impact of copy number variations and methylation on AML. The ceRNA network comprised 14 prognostic differentially expressed lncRNAs (DE-lncRNAs), 6 prognostic DE-miRNAs, and 3 prognostic immune-related DE-mRNAs. Correlation analyses linked these mRNAs’ expression to 22 immune cell types and 6 immune checkpoints, with potential sensitivity to 27 antitumor drugs. Finally, we identified a potential LINC00963/hsa-miR-431-5p/CSRP1 axis. This study offers innovative insights for AML diagnosis and treatment through a novel immune-related signature and ceRNA axis. Identified novel biomarkers, including 2 mRNAs (CKLF, PNOC), 1 miRNA (hsa-miR-323a-3p), and 10 lncRNAs (SNHG25, LINC01857, AL390728.6, AC127024.5, Z83843.1, AP002884.1, AC007038.1, AC112512, AC020659.1, AC005921.3) present promising candidates as potential targets for precision medicine, contributing to the ongoing advancements in the field.
Treatment status of psychiatric disorders and falls in the workplace among Japanese workers: a nationwide cross-sectional study
Authors: Yama Asumi , Nagata Tomohisa , Odagami Kiminori , Adi Nuri-Purwito , Nagata Masako , Mori Koji , W2S-Ohpm Study on behalf of the 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Objectives: In Japan, the most common injury requiring sick leave is a fall in the workplace; therefore, it is very important to prevent falls. Most measures to prevent falls involve aspects of the workplace environment and safety. However, few measures consider the perspective of individual health. We investigated the relationship between psychiatric disorders and falls in the workplace and whether treatment status for a psychiatric disorder is associated with workplace falls.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among workers aged 20 years or older in Japan from February 28 to March 3, 2022. In total, the data of 27 693 participants were analyzed. We used a questionnaire to query participants’ status of treatment for any psychiatric disorder and whether they had experienced a fall in the workplace. The association between treatment for a psychiatric disorder and workplace falls was examined using logistic regression analysis.
Results: Compared with participants receiving appropriate treatment for a psychiatric disorder, the odds ratio (OR) of a workplace fall was significantly lower among participants who did not require treatment for a psychiatric disorder, at 0.56 (95% CI: 0.47-0.66; P &lt; .001); the OR of a workplace fall was significantly higher among participants whose treatment for a psychiatric disorder was interrupted, at 1.47 (95% CI: 1.21-1.78; P &lt; .001), after adjusting for age, sex, household income, number of workplace employees, sleeping hours, exercise habits, and psychological distress.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that receiving appropriate treatment for psychiatric disorders may contribute to preventing falls in the workplace.