bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Are the screening guidelines for branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms cost‐effective in an Australian setting?
Authors: Lai Timothy , Bull Nicholas , Goonawardena Janindu , Bradshaw Luke , Fox Adrian , Hassen Sayed 
Published: September 2023

AbstractBackgroundsIntraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) are cystic neoplasms of the pancreatic ductal system. These incidental cystic lesions are increasingly found on radiological imaging and screened for malignant transformation. The Fukuoka consensus guidelines recommend screening with computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging or endoscopic ultrasound. Branch duct IPMN (BD‐IPMN) have significantly lower malignancy and mortality rates compared to main duct IPMN. Our aim was to assess the cost‐effectiveness of guideline's recommendations for BD‐IPMN screening of cysts between 2 and 3 cm in an Australian context.MethodsMarkov model decision analysis was used to calculate the incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) of screening. The ICER was compared to a willingness to pay (WTP) threshold of $50 000. We performed scenario analysis to examine the effect of cyst size and non‐linearity of malignancy rate on ICER. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses (PSA) were performed on our input parameters.ResultsScreening resulted in 586 quality adjusted life years gained and a net present value of $20 379 939, resulting in a base‐case ICER of $34 758. After scenario analysis for non‐linearity of malignancy rate the ICER increases to $64 555, which is above the WTP threshold. PSA indicates that ICER is most susceptible to the pre‐test malignancy rate.ConclusionThis cost analysis demonstrates that screening of 2–3 cm BD‐IPMN according to current guidelines is unlikely to be cost‐effective in an Australian context. To determine the true ICER, a cost analysis on real‐world data is required.
Critical care, maternal and neonatal outcomes of pregnant women with COVID‐19 admitted to eight intensive care units during the wildtype, alpha and delta waves of the pandemic across the North West of England—a retrospective review
Authors: Bhatia Kailash , Columb Malachy , Narayan Bhaskar , Wilson Anthony ,   Group of Obstetric Anesthetists of Lancashire; Greater Manchester and Mersey (GOAL‐GM) Study Collaborators
Published: September 2023

AbstractIntroductionFew studies have described obstetric and critical care outcomes in pregnant women with COVID‐19 needing intensive care unit (ICU) admission.Material and methodsObstetric and critical care outcomes of COVID‐19 women admitted to eight ICUs from April 1, 2020 to September 15, 2021, in the North West of England were retrospectively analyzed. Women admitted to ICU were assigned to three groups: antepartum women discharged from ICU prior to delivery (antepartum ICU‐discharged group), antepartum women who had expedited delivery (antepartum ICU‐delivered group) and a postpartum group. Our aims were to describe maternal characteristics and assess how delivery influenced the obstetric and critical care outcomes in these women.ResultsDuring the study period, 615 women tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), of whom 62 (10.1%) needed ICU admission due to symptomatic COVID‐19. Pregnancy loss (3.2%) was recorded in two women. Detailed obstetric and critical outcomes from 60 women are reported. Nine antepartum women (15%) admitted to ICU were discharged and continued their pregnancy, 13 antepartum women (21.7%) had expedited delivery by cesarean birth after ICU admission and 38 (63.3%) women were admitted to ICU during the postpartum period. Antepartum ICU‐discharged women contracted the SARS‐CoV‐2 at an earlier median gestational age (23 weeks; p = 0.0003) and needed ICU admission at an earlier median gestational age (28 weeks, p = 0.03) compared with antepartum ICU‐delivered (28 and 32 weeks) and postpartum women (35.5 and 36 weeks). Antepartum ICU‐discharged women had the lowest rate of mechanical ventilation receipt (11.1%) compared with antepartum ICU‐delivered women (52.3%) and postpartum women (44.3%) but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.13). No significant differences were observed in the frequency and severity of critical care complications in the antepartum ICU‐discharged, antepartum‐ICU delivered and postpartum women.ConclusionsOf the women admitted to ICU antepartum, 40% were discharged while remaining pregnant and 60% had expedited delivery. Antepartum women who were discharged from ICU without giving birth may receive lower rates of mechanical ventilation than those who delivered in ICU or admitted postpartum; however, further studies are needed to confirm or refute this association.
Tele‐robotic distal gastrectomy with lymph node dissection on a cadaver
Authors: Ebihara Yuma , Hirano Satoshi , Kurashima Yo , Takano Hironobu , Okamura Kunishige , Murakami Soichi , Shichinohe Toshiaki , Morohashi Hajime , Oki Eiji , Hakamada Kenichi , Ikeda Norihiko , Mori Masaki 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the performance of tele‐robotic distal gastrectomy (tele‐RDG) with lymph node dissection (LND) using a novel Japanese‐made surgical robot hinotori™ (Medicaroid, Kobe, Japan) in a cadaver with a presumptive gastric cancer. The Cadaveric Anatomy and Surgical Training Laboratory (CAST‐Lab.) at Hokkaido University and Kushiro City General Hospital (KCGH) are connected by a guaranteed type line (1 Gbps), and the distance between the two facilities is 250 km. A patient cart was installed at CAST‐Lab, and a surgeon cockpit was installed at KCGH. Tele‐RDG with D2 LND was performed on an adult human cadaver. In all surgical processes, the communication environment was stable without image degradation, and the mean round trip time was 40 milliseconds (36.5–55 milliseconds). For tele‐RDG with D2 LND, the operation time was 199 minutes without any technical problems. Tele‐RDG using hinotori™ was feasible and similar to local robotic RDG.
Shareholder activism in listed family firms: Exploring the effectiveness of say‐on‐pay on CEO compensation
Authors: Sánchez‐Marín Gregorio , Lozano‐Reina Gabriel , Baixauli‐Soler J. Samuel 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThe widespread critical evidence surrounding executive compensation of listed corporations has boosted shareholder activism in recent decades. The say‐on‐pay (SOP) mechanism—a vote in which shareholders express their (dis)agreement with executive pay designs—is one of the corporate governance mechanisms that has led to this activism among listed firms. Merging agency and socioemotional wealth (SEW) arguments, this paper analyzes how effective SOP voting results are among listed family firms in terms of CEO compensation efficiency and equity. Using a sample of UK listed firms from 2011 to 2018, our results show that SOP effectiveness is positively influenced by family ownership and is strongly moderated by family involvement in management and in governance as well as by family generation. Our findings stress the strong family effect and the ethical perceptions of family shareholders on SOP voting, showing how family participation in the firm encourages fairer and more aligned CEO compensation packages. SOP institutional and practical implications oriented to preserve shareholder value and family wealth are finally outlined.
Role of miRNA in pathogenesis, diagnosis, and prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Lv Yi , Sun Xiujuan 
Published: September 2023

AbstractHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers and is responsible for the second cancer‐related death globally. Many treatment regimens have been developed to cure the disease; however, life expectancy is still low. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore new selective, specific, and robust diagnosis markers for efficient early recognition of the ailment. Along with the diagnosis, the treatment's effectiveness can be determined by prognostic markers, and miRNAs are excellent tools for the diagnosis and prognosis of HCC. In addition, the altered expression profile of a few miRNAs promotes HCC cell migration and invasion, and selective up‐ or downregulation of these responsible genes may help mitigate the disorder. On one hand, few of the miRNAs have been found to enhance angiogenesis, a crucial step of tumor growth; on the other hand, upregulation of specific miRNAs is reported to suppress angiogenesis and resulting tumor growth of HCC cells. Exosomal miRNAs have significant implications in promoting angiogenesis, increased endothelial cell permeability, tube formation, and metastasis to hepatic and pulmonary tissues. miRNA also attributes to drug resistance toward chemotherapy and the prevention of autophagy also. Identifying novel miRNA and determining their differential expression in HCC tissue may serve as a potential tool for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy to enhance the life expectancy and quality of life of HCC patients. In the present review, we have summarized the recent advances in HCC‐related research.
Mesenchymal stromal cell secretory molecules improve the functional survival of human islets
Authors: Hong Tzu‐Wen , Caxaria Sara , Daniels Gatward Lydia F. , Hussain Sufyan , Zhao Min , King Aileen J. F. , Rackham Chloe L. , Jones Peter M. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractAimsHuman islet transplantation as a therapy for type 1 diabetes is compromised by the loss of functional beta cells in the immediate post‐transplantation period. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and MSC‐derived secretory peptides improve the outcomes of islet transplantation in rodent models of diabetes. Here, we utilized a mouse model for human islet transplantation and assessed the effects of a cocktail of MSC‐secreted peptides (screened by MSC‐secretome for human islet GPCRs) on the functional survival of human islets.MethodsHuman islets from nine donors (Age: 36–57; BMI: 20–35) were treated with a cocktail of human recombinant annexin A1 (ANXA1), stromal cell‐derived factor‐1 (SDF‐1/CXCL12) and complement component C3 (C3a). Glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) was assessed in static incubation, and cytokine‐induced apoptosis was assessed by measuring caspase 3/7 activity. mRNA expression levels were determined by qPCR. Human islet function in vivo was assessed using a novel model for human islet transplantation into a T1D mouse model. Human islet function in vivo was assessed using islet transplantation under the kidney capsule of immunodeficient mice prior to STZ destruction of endogenous mouse beta cells to model T1DM.ResultsPretreatment with a cocktail of MSC‐secreted peptides increased GSIS in vitro and protected against cytokine‐induced apoptosis in human islets isolated from nine donors. Animals transplanted with either treated or untreated human islets remained normoglycaemic for up to 28 days after STZ‐administration to ablate the endogenous mouse beta cells, whereas non‐transplanted animals showed significantly increased blood glucose immediately after STZ administration. Removal of the human islet graft by nephrectomy resulted in rapid increases in blood glucose to similar levels as the non‐transplanted controls. Pretreating human islets with the MSC‐derived cocktail significantly improved glucose tolerance in graft recipients, consistent with enhanced functional survival of the treated islets in vivo.ConclusionPretreating human islets before transplantation with a defined cocktail of MSC‐derived molecules could be employed to improve the quality of human islets for transplantation therapy for type 1 diabetes.
The influence of SARS‐CoV‐2 on male reproduction and men's health
Authors: Ali Ayad M. , Abdlwahid Rahel F. , Ali Kameran M. , Mahmood Kochar I. , Rashid Peshnyar M. A. , Rostam Hassan M. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractBackgroundSARS‐CoV‐2, the virus responsible for COVID‐19, primarily affects the respiratory system by targeting the Angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor and TMPRSS2. However, these receptors are also present in other organs, including the testes, where a higher concentration of ACE2 receptors has been observed. This raises concerns about the potential impact of the virus on male fertility.AimsIn this study, we aimed to assess the effects of SARS‐CoV‐2 on semen parameters by comparing samples during and after infection in the same patients.Materials & MethodThe study enrolled 51 individuals who had contracted COVID‐19 and analysed various parameters related to sperm quality and quantity, including C‐reactive protein, testosterone levels, total sperm concentration, motility and morphology. A comparison was made between these parameters during the initial infection with SARS‐CoV‐2 and after a 2‐ and 5‐month recovery period.ResultsThe results indicated that all of the mentioned parameters were significantly affected during COVID‐19 infection (PCR‐ct, CRP, WBCs LH, FSH and testosterone levels, p‐value = .0001). Furthermore, the study assessed TC, TM and sperm morphology in patients infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 and found that these parameters were also significantly influenced during the infection, (p‐value = .0001; Morphology, p‐value = .0004). We observed significant alterations in sperm count and morphology during infection, suggesting a potential negative impact on sperm quality. Additionally, lower hormone levels were observed during COVID‐19 infection, possibly due to increased inflammatory cytokines. However, both hormones and inflammation markers returned to normal following recovery. Our findings indicate a statistically significant change in total sperm count, motility and morphology post‐infection, which aligns with previous studies. Discussion, COVID‐19 have a transient impact on sperm parameters and fertility, emphasizing the importance of further investigation into the long‐term implications.
Goal‐directed modulation of stretch reflex gains is reduced in the non‐dominant upper limb
Authors: Torell Frida , Franklin Sae , Franklin David W. , Dimitriou Michael 
Published: September 2023

AbstractMost individuals experience their dominant arm as being more dexterous than the non‐dominant arm, but the neural mechanisms underlying this asymmetry in motor behaviour are unclear. Using a delayed‐reach task, we have recently demonstrated strong goal‐directed tuning of stretch reflex gains in the dominant upper limb of human participants. Here, we used an equivalent experimental paradigm to address the neural mechanisms that underlie the preparation for reaching movements with the non‐dominant upper limb. There were consistent effects of load, preparatory delay duration and target direction on the long latency stretch reflex. However, by comparing stretch reflex responses in the non‐dominant arm with those previously documented in the dominant arm, we demonstrate that goal‐directed tuning of short and long latency stretch reflexes is markedly weaker in the non‐dominant limb. The results indicate that the motor performance asymmetries across the two upper limbs are partly due to the more sophisticated control of reflexive stiffness in the dominant limb, likely facilitated by the superior goal‐directed control of muscle spindle receptors. Our findings therefore suggest that fusimotor control may play a role in determining performance of complex motor behaviours and support existing proposals that the dominant arm is better supplied than the non‐dominant arm for executing more complex tasks, such as trajectory control.
Processing stallion semen for on‐farm use and cooled transport
Authors: Kelley Dale E. 
Published: September 2023

SummarySimple dilution of semen is the oldest method to process semen for artificial insemination with either fresh or cooled semen. This was developed prior to the optimisation of centrifugation techniques for semen processing through a combination of trial and error and research. Simple dilution is a faster method to process semen, is easy to use and works in many circumstances. For on‐farm semen use a 1:1 (v/v) semen to extender ratio is used. A variety of other techniques have been developed, such as cushion centrifugation, density gradient centrifugation and sperm filtration. Cushion centrifugation is used to concentrate the sperm and allows higher centrifugation speeds than centrifugation alone. This allows for improved recovery rates of sperm. Density gradient centrifugation has been used to select for morphologically normal sperm but suffers from low recovery rates. Processing sperm with this technique can result in improved motility and improved DNA integrity of sperm. Sperm filtration is another method to concentrate sperm without the use of centrifugation; however, it has lower recovery rates compared to cushion centrifugation. This review will discuss these techniques in the application of processing equine semen for either fresh or cooled‐shipped use.
Single‐cell analysis of human dermal fibroblasts isolated from a single male donor over 35 years
Authors: Itai Eriko , Atsugi Toru , Inomata Ken , Yamashita Mika , Kaji Kazuhiko , Nanba Daisuke , Naru Eiji 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThe aim of this study is to examine the effects of ageing on dermal fibroblast heterogeneity based on samples obtained from the same donor. We used a dermal fibroblast lineage (named ASF‐4 cell lines) isolated from the inner side of the upper arm of a healthy male donor over a 35‐year period, beginning at 36 years of age. Because clonal analysis of ASF‐4 cell lines demonstrated a donor age‐dependent loss of proliferative capacity and acquisition of senescent traits at the single‐cell level, cultured cells frozen at passage 10 at ages 36 and 72 years were subjected to single‐cell RNA sequencing. Transcriptome analysis revealed an increase in senescent fibroblasts and downregulation of genes associated with extracellular matrix remodelling with ageing. In addition, two putative differentiation pathways, with one endpoint consisting of senescent fibroblasts and the other without, were speculated using a pseudo‐time analysis. Knockdown of the characteristic gene of the non‐senescent fibroblast cluster endpoint, EFEMP2, accelerated cellular senescence. This was also confirmed in two other normal human dermal fibroblast cell lines. The detection of a common cellular senescence‐related gene from single‐donor analysis is notable. This study provides new insights into the behaviour of dermal fibroblasts during skin ageing.
Effects of different forms of explicit instruction on L2 development: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Li Fei , Sun Yunmei 
Published: September 2023

AbstractTo determine the effects of explicit instruction (EI) and potential moderators in second/foreign language (L2) teaching, this study meta‐analyzed 28 primary reports (a total of 67 unique samples, N = 3754). The main results show that EI was significantly effective in facilitating L2 development, with effect sizes ranging from moderate to large magnitudes (d = 1.07 and 0.81 for within‐and between‐group contrasts, respectively). Moderator analyses show that EI type, practice type, delivery mode, length and intensity of treatment, the type of outcome measures, as well as the reporting practices of the validity and reliability of outcome measures moderated differentially the effects of EI. The findings offer important pedagogical implications for teacher‐practitioners to enhance the efficacy and efficiency of EI.
Cooking a telework theory with causal recipes: Explaining telework success with ICT, work and family related stress
Authors: Meier Marco , Maier Christian , Thatcher Jason Bennett , Weitzel Tim 
Published: September 2023

AbstractEmployees want to be able to telework and organisations want to provide the ideal environment to make it a success story. While some teleworkers experience telework success, that is, are satisfied and perform well, others do not. To understand the drivers of successful and unsuccessful telework, we used a mixed methods approach, taking a stress‐theoretic and configurational perspective. In Study 1, we conducted a quantitative analysis of data collected in a survey of 375 teleworkers to identify configurations of information and communication technology (ICT), work and family related challenge and hindrance stressors that lead to high and low telework success. In Study 2, we analysed qualitative data collected in interviews with 52 teleworkers to shed light on the interplay among ICT, work and family related challenge and hindrance stressors in the configurations that lead to high and low telework success. We contribute to telework research by showing that high and low telework success results from configurations of ICT, work and family related challenge and hindrance stressors. We extend the literature by showing that teleworkers benefit from challenge stressors only when they do not experience hindrance stressors. Methodologically, we provide a blueprint for an innovative approach using deductive fsQCA to refine, extend and delimit theory.
Outcomes of leadless pacemaker implantation after cardiac surgery and transcatheter structural valve interventions
Authors: Huang Jingwen , Bhatia Neal K. , Lloyd Michael S. , Westerman Stacy , Shah Anand , Leal Miguel , Delurgio David , Patel Anshul M. , Tompkins Christine , Leon Angel R. , El‐Chami Mikhael F. , Merchant Faisal M. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractIntroductionPermanent pacing indications are common after cardiac surgery and transcatheter structural valve interventions. Leadless pacemakers (LPs) have emerged as a useful alternative to transvenous pacemakers. However, current commercially available LPs are unable to provide atrial pacing or cardiac resynchronization and relatively little is known about LP outcomes after cardiac surgery and transcatheter valve interventions.MethodsThis retrospective study included patients who received a Micra VR (MicraTM MC1VR01) or Micra AV (MicraTM MC1AVR1) (Medtronic) leadless pacemaker following cardiac surgery or transcatheter structural valve intervention between September 2014 and September 2022. Device performance and clinical outcomes, including ventricular pacing burden, ejection fraction, and need for conversion to transvenous pacing systems, were evaluated during follow‐up.ResultsA total of 78 patients were included, of whom 40 received a Micra VR LP implant, and 38 received a Micra AV LP implant. The mean age of the cohort was 65.9 ± 17.9 years, and 48.1% were females. The follow‐up duration for the entire cohort was 1.3 ± 1.1 years: 1.6 ± 1.3 years for the Micra VR group and 0.8 ± 0.5 years for the Micra AV group. Among the cohort, 50 patients had undergone cardiac surgery and 28 underwent transcatheter structural valve interventions. Device electrical performance was excellent during follow‐up, with a small but clinically insignificant increase in ventricular pacing threshold and a slight decrease in pacing impedance. The mean right ventricle pacing (RVP) burden significantly decreased over time in the entire cohort (74.3% ± 37.2% postprocedure vs. 47.7% ± 40.6% at last follow‐up, p < .001), and left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) showed a modest but significant downward trend during follow‐up (55.0% ± 10.6% vs. 51.5% ± 11.2% p < .001). Patients with Micra VR implants had significantly reduced LVEF during follow‐up (54.1% ± 11.9% vs. 48.8% ± 11.9%, p = .003), whereas LVEF appeared stable in the Micra AV group during follow‐up (56.1% ± 9.0% vs. 54.6% ± 9.7%, p = .06). Six patients (7.7%) required conversion to transvenous pacing systems, four who required cardiac resynchronization for drop in LVEF with high RVP burden and two who required dual‐chamber pacemakers for symptomatic sinus node dysfunction.ConclusionLeadless pacemakers provide a useful alternative to transvenous pacemakers in appropriately selected patients after cardiac surgery and transcatheter structural valve interventions. Device performance is excellent over medium‐term follow‐up. However, a significant minority of patients require conversion to transvenous pacing systems for cardiac resynchronization or atrial pacing support, demonstrating the need for close electrophysiologic follow‐up in this cohort.