bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial mediastinal cryobiopsy: Insights and technical tips from our early experience with 30 patients
Authors: Soo Chun Ian , Kho Sze Shyang 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundEndobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is commonly used to diagnose and stage lung cancer. In real-life practice, limitations are seen with cytology samples from EBUS-TBNA. Obtaining adequate samples can be challenging when faced with necrotic lesions with low cellular yield and the evolving landscape of targeted therapy, necessitating additional samples for comprehensive testing. Hence, transbronchial mediastinal cryobiopsy guided by endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS-TBMC) has emerged as a promising approach for obtaining larger tissue samples. In retrospective review, our aim is to present our early experience regarding the feasibility of performing EBUS-TBMC, employing a similar approach to EBUS-TBNA, followed by the outcomes of our procedures. We include a step-by-step explanation and some recommendations to conduct a successful EBUS-TBMC.MethodSingle center retrospective analysis to evaluate the feasibility and utility of EBUS-TBMC cases over six months from July to December 2022.Results36 EBUS-TBMC procedures on 30 patients. Moderate sedation was used in 80% of cases. Majority (83.4%) of the patients had biopsy of a single lesion with a median of 3 cryobiopsies (Interquartile range 3-4). The median cryo-activation time was 6 seconds (Interquartile range 6-8). EBUS-TBMC demonstrated a positive yield of 86.1% with an overall diagnostic yield of 83.3%. Mild bleeding occurred in six biopsies (16.7%) which did not required further intervention. No other major complications were observed.ConclusionEBUS-TBMC is a safe and effective alternative to EBUS-TBNA. Histology samples obtained through EBUS-TBMC have the potential to increase confidence in diagnosing and staging lung cancer, thereby alleviating concerns about tissue inadequacy.
National Changes in Diabetes Care Practices during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Prospective Study of US Adults
Authors: Vashist Kushagra , Hassan Saria , Weber Mary Beth , Quarells Rakale C. , Patel Shivani A. 
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACTBackgroundThere is a lack of nationally representative prospective data on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on diabetes care and management in adults with type 2 diabetes. We examined changes in diabetes care and management practices before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsUsing the National Health Interview Survey, we analyzed data from 870 adults living with type 2 diabetes who were interviewed in 2019 and re-interviewed between August and December 2020. Exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic was defined by year of survey (2019, pre-pandemic; 2020, pandemic). We estimated percent change in past year blood sugar check by a health professional and current use of blood sugar lowering medication overall and by sociodemographic subgroups.ResultsReceiving an annual blood sugar test fell by -3.3 percentage points (pp) (95% CI -5.7, -1.0), from 98.3% in 2019 to 95.0% in late 2020. The reduction in annual blood glucose testing was largely consistent across socio-demographic groups and was particularly pronounced among adults not working and adults aged 65 years and older. In the same time period, current use of diabetes medications increased by +3.8 pp (0.7, 6.9), from 85.9% to 89.7%. The increase in medication use was most pronounced among individuals aged 40-64-year old, employed, and those living in large central metropolitan areas.ConclusionsNationally, adults with Type 2 diabetes reported a reduction in annual blood glucose testing by a health professional and an increase in diabetes medication usage during the COVID-19 pandemic. If sustained after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, these changes have implications for national diabetes management and care.
Crossover of the dimensions of work-family and family-work conflict in couples: Protocol for a qualitative study
Authors: Smoktunowicz Ewelina , Lesnierowska Magdalena , Ziolkowska Justyna , Roczniewska Marta 
Published: August 2023

AbstractConflict between work and non-work is a bidirectional and a multidimensional construct that has garnered much attention from researchers and practitioners alike. Previously, studies with a dyadic design demonstrated that interrole conflict can cross over between partners in romantic relationships. The aim of the present study is to explore—from an individual and dyadic perspective—how partners perceive dimensions of interrole conflict (that is: time, strain, behaviour, and possibly others) and whether crossover between partners is dimension-dependent. This protocol outlines a qualitative interview study. Participants (N= 40) will be dual-earner couples that meet two inclusion criteria: both partners need to be professionally active, and the couples need to have lived together for at least a year. Interviews will be conducted separately with each partner. To analyse the data at the individual level we will use reflexive thematic analysis. To analyse the data at the dyadic level we will apply an adapted version of the framework method. We anticipate that findings of this study will have the potential to advance theoretical models depicting crossover processes and, more generally, the interface between work and family lives. Moreover, insights into how couples experience dimension-based interrole conflict will be important for the development of targeted interventions.
Experiences of psycho-oncological counselling to support mental health in South Australians diagnosed with cancer
Authors: Blunt Jason , Trigg Joshua 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundEffective delivery of psycho-oncological support requires understanding of client perceptions of counselling service effectiveness, psychosocial outcomes, and meeting of client support needs and expectations.ObjectiveThis study aimed to describe perceptions of clients accessing psycho-oncological counselling for people directly or indirectly affected by cancer, and describe perceived psychological distress, depression, and anxiety from pre-to post-counselling.MethodsSouth Australian psycho-oncological counselling service clients were recruited (n=28). Psychological distress, anxiety, and depression were assessed before and after counselling sessions. Client expectations, experiences, and counselling outcomes were examined via pre-post-tests, and thematic analysis.ResultsClients reported reduced anxiety (t=-2.31,p=.029), depression (t=-2.51,p=.018), distress (t=-4.19,p<.0001), and global mental health symptomology (t=-2.79,p=.009). Four themes were identified: having no expectations, needing help managing emotions, seeking coping strategies, and seeking better understanding of their experience. Client expectations were satisfied (92.8%), regardless of counselling reason.ConclusionBenefits of counselling included reduced symptomology, receipt of knowledge and skills, and increased ability to manage everyday life. Supportive counselling significantly reduces distress and symptoms of anxiety and depression while supporting client and family functioning during cancer treatment.ImplicationsIndividual supportive counselling plays an integral role in lives of cancer patients and family members. Clients face concerns relating to cancer prognosis (e.g., recurrence fear), and to broader related experiences (e.g., social dynamics). Complex needs across cancer experience as a patient, carer, or other family member, requires that psycho-oncological counselling targets major client expectations, promotes benefits of counselling, and strategies for managing daily life events.
iMOUSE - Reforming the Strategy of Refinement and Reduction for indispensable laboratory animal-based studies in translational research
Authors: Łaz Maciej , Lampe Mirko , Connor Isaac , Shestachuk Dmytro , Ludwig Marcel , Müller Ursula , Strauch Oliver F. , Suendermann Nadine , Lüth Stefan , Kah Janine 
Published: August 2023

AbstractConsidering the intricate nature of biological processes within organisms, it is undeniable that relying solely on in vitro-generated primary-cell-like cultures or organ-like products in preclinical and basic research is insufficient to replace animal-based studies fully. This limitation is particularly significant when considering the regulations enforced by legislative assemblies worldwide. The necessity of animal-based studies to approve chemicals and medications. In contradiction, European countries aim to banish animal-based studies. Therefore, we must understand the impact of the data refinement and experiment replacement strategy we will introduce here.This projectaimedto revolutionize data acquisition in animal-based studies by transforming manual observation into a reliable digital process. Reliable digital data will be generated by having the potential to reduce human bias by simply reducing human interaction. Additionally, reducing human interaction will reduce the severity levels due to stress reduction, fulfilling the 3R principles.Therefore, the first goal wasto develop and implement a scalable, stable, running, and remotely accessible camera-based monitor system (the iMouse solution). At the same time, the target was to develop a retrofit solution (DigiFrame) for existing home-cage systems, not interfering with the regular workflow in animal facilities.As a result, we developed a digital monitoring system, named iMouseTV platform based on existing open-source software, allowing users to observe, record, share, and review animal-based studies within the home cage anytime from anywhere, reducing the stress level for the animals. Our system’s first Proof of concept ran for over two years at the LIV in Hamburg. We also investigated an effective way to reduce data generation by setting up specific zones for detecting the motion of choice (e.g., drinking, food intake). The data sets can be stored, shared, and reviewed by users and refined by algorithms aiming to recognize the dedicated motions of the animals automatically. The implementation of the ML algorithms allows the iMouse solution to recognize whether an individual mouse was drinking and for how long and store results in the annotated video file and graph format. However, the identification and continuous tracking of the species is still in progress.In conclusion, we established a scalable human-independent monitoring and recording system, which can be implemented into the existing structures of institutions and companies without changing handling processes, to monitor animals and observe them by getting reliable digital data. Moreover, it is fundamental for automatic recognition within animal-based studies based on Artificial Intelligence.
National Trends in Mortality and Urgent Dialysis after Admission for Acute Hypertension in Japan from 2010 through 2019
Authors: Matsuki Hisazumi , Genma Taku , Mandai Shintaro , Fujiki Tamami , Mori Yutaro , Ando Fumiaki , Mori Takayasu , Susa Koichiro , Iimori Soichiro , Naito Shotaro , Sohara Eisei , Rai Tatemitsu , Fushimi Kiyohide , Uchida Shinichi 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundDespite increasing incidences of hypertension, recent trends in mortality and urgent dialysis following acute hypertension (AHT) remain undetermined.MethodsThis retrospective observational cohort study evaluated 50,316 hospitalized AHT patients from 2010 to 2019, using an administrative claims database in Japan. We examined trends in incidence, urgent dialysis, mortality and its risk factors using logistic regression models. Using ICD-10 codes, AHT was categorized into five spectrums: malignant hypertension (MHT) (n= 1,792), hypertensive emergency (n= 17,907), hypertensive urgency (n= 1,562), hypertensive encephalopathy (n= 6,593), and hypertensive heart failure (HHF) (n= 22,462).ResultsThe median age of the patients was 76 years and 54.9% were female. The total AHT incidence was 70 cases per 100,000 admission year. The absolute death rate increased from 1.83% [95% confidence intervals (CI), 1.40–2.40] to 2.88% (95%CI, 2.42–3.41) [Cochran-Armitage trend test (CA),P< 0.0001]. Upward trends were observed in patients aged ≥80, with lean body mass index ≤18.4, and with HHF. Urgent dialysis rates increased from 1.52% (95%CI, 1.12–2.06) to 2.60% (2.17–3.1) (CA,P= 0.0071) in 48,235 patients, excluding maintenance dialysis patients. Older age, male, lean body mass, MHT, HHF, and underlying chronic kidney disease (CKD) correlated with higher mortality risk; greater hospital volume correlated with lower mortality risk; and MHT, HHF, diabetes mellitus, CKD, and scleroderma correlated with a higher risk of urgent dialysis.ConclusionsMortality and urgent dialysis rates following AHT have increased. Aging, complex comorbidities, and HHF-type AHT contributed to the rising trend of mortality.
Applying behavioural economics principles to increase demand for free HIV testing services at private doctor-led clinics in Johannesburg, South Africa: A randomised controlled trial
Authors: Bokolo Simamkele , Mabaso Suzanne , Kruger Wentzel , Mistri Preethi , Schmucker Laura , Chetty-Makkan Candice , Pascoe Sophie J S , Buttenheim Alison , Thirumurthy Harsha , Long Lawrence 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundExpanding free HIV testing service (HTS) access to include private clinics could increase testing rates. A donor funded programme, GP Care Cell, offered free HIV testing at selected private doctor-led clinics but uptake was low. We investigated whether HTS demand creation materials that used behavioural economics principles could increase demand for HIV testing at these clinics.MethodsWe conducted a randomised controlled trial in Johannesburg, South Africa (January-April 2022) distributing brochures promoting HTS to adults in five private doctor-led clinic catchment areas. Individuals were randomised to receive three brochure types: (1) “Standard of care” (SOC) advertising a free HIV test and ART; (2) “Healthy lifestyle screening” promoted free low-cost health screenings in addition to HTS; and (3) “Recipient of care voucher” leveraged loss aversion and the endowment effect by highlighting the monetary value of free HTS. The primary outcome was presenting at the clinic following exposure to the brochures. Logistic regression compared outcomes between arms.ResultsOf the 12,129 brochures distributed, 658 were excluded because of errors or duplicates and 11,471 were analysed. About 59% of brochure recipients were male and 50,3% were aged 25-34 years. In total, 448 (3.9%) brochure recipients presented at the private doctor-led clinics of which 50.7% were males. There were no significant differences in clinic presentation between the healthy lifestyle screening and SOC arm (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] 1.02; 95% CI 0.79-1.32), and similarly between the recipient of care voucher and SOC arm (AOR 1.08; 95% CI 0.84-1.39). Individuals were more likely to attend clinics that were centrally located with visible branding for HTS (AOR=5.30; 95% CI: 4.14-6.79).ConclusionBrochures that used behavioural insights did not increase demand for HTS at private doctor-led clinics. However, consistent distribution of the brochures may have potential to increase HIV testing uptake at highly visible private doctor-led clinics.Trial registrationSANCTR registration number: DOH-27-032022-9053
Flexible Bayesian estimation of incubation times
Authors: Gressani Oswaldo , Torneri Andrea , Hens Niel , Faes Christel 
Published: August 2023

AbstractMotivationThe incubation period is of paramount importance in infectious disease epidemiology as it informs about the transmission potential of a pathogenic organism and helps to plan public health strategies to keep an epidemic outbreak under control. Estimation of the incubation period distribution from reported exposure times and symptom onset times is challenging as the underlying data is coarse.MethodologyWe develop a new Bayesian methodology using Laplacian-P-splines that provides a semi-parametric estimation of the incubation density based on a Langevinized Gibbs sampler. A finite mixture density smoother informs a set of parametric distributions via moment matching and an information criterion arbitrates between competing candidates.ResultsOur method has a natural nest within EpiLPS, a tool originally developed to estimate the time-varying reproduction number. Various simulation scenarios accounting for different levels of data coarseness are considered with encouraging results. Applications to real data on COVID-19, MERS-CoV and Mpox reveal results that are in alignment with what has been obtained in recent studies.ConclusionThe proposed flexible approach is an interesting alternative to classic Bayesian parametric methods for estimation of the incubation distribution.
Burden of Liver Cancer in China from 1990 to 2019 and projections to 2044: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study
Authors: Han Jianglong , Chen Chao , Tang Tian , Liu Wenmin , Chen Ruyan , Li Si , Deng Haiyu , Jian Tingting , Zhao Liang , Fu Zhenming 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundChina has the highest liver cancer burden in the world. Prediction and comparison of the future trends of liver cancer in China and some representative areas may guide further control action.MethodsUsing data from the Global Burden of Disease Study, we assessed incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life-years of liver cancer in Mainland China, with reference to representative East Asia areas (Taiwan China, Japan, and Korea) and Western areas (the United Kingdom and the United States). The burden of liver cancer was evaluated and predicted using NOREPRED model from 1990 to 2044.ResultsOverall, the liver cancer incidence (28.1 to 10.6 per 100,000) and mortality (27.5 to 9.7 per 100,000) decreased from 1990 to 2015 in Mainland China, which were consistent with the trends of Eastern Asia areas. However, the disease burden in Mainland China were then plateaued and started to increase during 2015-2044 (10.6 to 14.8 per 100,000 for incidence; 9.7 to 14.02 per 100,000 for mortality), including the hepatitis-related liver cancer incidence (increase from 8.6 to 11.7 per 100,000). While the changing patterns of alcohol- and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)- related liver cancer incidence were found similar among Mainland China (0.93 to 1.51 per 100,000 for alcohol; 0.5 to 0.73 per 100,000 for NASH) and Western countries in our projection.ConclusionThe liver cancer burden in Mainland China is unexpectedly predicted to increase again after decades of decline. Future efforts must be made to resolve both the remaining hepatitis-related cancer burden and the changing etiologies.
Immunometabolic effects of lactate on B cell function in healthy individuals of different ages
Authors: Romero Maria , Miller Kate , Gelsomini Andrew , Garcia Denisse , Li Kevin , Suresh Dhananjay , Frasca Daniela 
Published: August 2023

AbstractAging is characterized by chronic systemic inflammation and metabolic changes. When we compared B cells from young and elderly donors, we found that aging induces higher oxygen consumption rates, and especially higher extracellular acidification rates, measures of oxidative phosphorylation and of anaerobic glycolysis, respectively. Importantly, this higher metabolic status, which reflects the age-associated expansion of pro-inflammatory B cell subsets, was found associated with higher secretion of lactate and autoimmune antibodies after in vitro stimulation. B cells from elderly individuals, induce in vitro generation of pro-inflammatory CD4+ T cells from young individuals through metabolic pathways mediated by lactate secretion. Lactate also induces immunosenescent B cells that are glycolytic and express transcripts for multiple pro-inflammatory molecules. These results altogether may have relevant clinical implications and suggest novel targets for therapeutic interventions in patients with inflammatory conditions and diseases.
Genetic influences on circulating retinol and its relationship to human health
Authors: Reay William R. , Kiltschewskij Dylan J. , Di Biase Maria A. , Gerring Zachary F. , Kundu Kousik , Surendran Praveen , Greco Laura A. , Clarke Erin D. , Collins Clare E. , Mondul Alison M. , Albanes Demetrius , Cairns Murray J. 
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACTRetinol is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays an essential role in many biological processes throughout the human lifespan. Previous work has characterised genetic influences on circulating retinol; however, small sample sizes have limited our ability to fully appreciate the genetic architecture of this trait. In this study, we performed the largest genome-wide association study (GWAS) of retinol to date in up to 22,274 participants. We identified eight common variant loci associated with retinol, as well as a rare-variant signal. An integrative gene prioritisation pipeline supported novel retinol-associated genes outside of the main retinol transport complex (RBP4:TTR) related to lipid biology, energy homeostasis, and endocrine signalling. Genetic proxies of circulating retinol were then used to estimate causal relationships with almost 20,000 clinical phenotypes via a phenome-wide Mendelian randomisation study (MR-pheWAS). The MR-pheWAS suggested that retinol may exert causal effects on inflammation, adiposity, ocular measures, the microbiome, and MRI-derived brain phenotypes, amongst several others. Conversely, circulating retinol may be causally influenced by factors including lipids and renal function. Finally, we demonstrated how a retinol polygenic score could identify individuals who are more likely to fall outside of the normative range of circulating retinol for a given age. In summary, this study provides a comprehensive evaluation of the genetics of circulating retinol, as well as revealing traits which should be prioritised for further clinical investigation with respect to retinol related therapies or nutritional intervention.
Connection of brain glymphatic system with circadian rhythm
Authors: Kholmanskiy Alexander 
Published: August 2023

AbstractTo establish the relationship between the glymphatic system of the brain and the circadian rhythm, we analyzed the effect of anomalies in water thermodynamics on the dependence of the dynamic, electrical, and optical characteristics of physiological fluids on temperature. The dynamics of hydrogen bonds in bulk and hydrated water affected the activation energies of ion currents of voltage-dependent channels that regulate signaling and trophic bonds in the neuropil of the cortical parenchyma. The physics of minimizing the of the isobaric heat capacity of water made it possible to explain the stabilization and functional optimization of the thermodynamics of eyeball fluids at 34.5 °C and the human brain during sleep at 36.5 °C. At these temperatures, the thermoreceptors of the cornea and the cells of the ganglionic layer of the retina, through connections with the suprachiasmatic nucleus and the pineal gland, switch the circadian rhythm from daytime to nighttime. The phylogenesis of the circadian rhythm was reflected in the dependence of the duration of the nighttime sleep of mammals on the diameter of the eyeball and the mass of the pineal gland. The activity of all the nerves of the eyeball led to the division of the nocturnal brain metabolism into NREM and REM phases. These phases correspond to two modes of the glymphatic system electrochemical and dynamic. The first is responsible for the relaxation processes of synaptic plasticity and chemical neutralization of toxins with the participation of water and melatonin. Rapid eye movement and an increase in cerebral blood flow in the second mode increase water exchange in the parenchyma and flush out toxins into the venous system. Electrophysics of clearance and conductivity of ionic and water channels of membranes of blood vessels and astrocytes modulate oscillations of polarization potentials of water dipole domains in parietal plasma layers of arterioles and capillaries.