bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Methylation of PCDH17 and NEFH as prognostic biomarker for nonmetastatic RCC: A cohort study
Authors: Koudonas Antonios , Papaioannou Maria , Kampantais Spyridon , Anastasiadis Anastasios , Hatzimouratidis Konstantinos , Dimitriadis Georgios 
Published: September 2022

DNA methylation makes up a main part of the molecular mechanism of cancer evolution and has shown promising results in the prognosis of renal cell cancer (RCC). In this study, we investigated the possible association of promoter methylation of PCDH17, NEFH, RASSF1A, and FHIT, genes with the prognosis of nonmetastatic RCC patients.
Cancerous and normal adjacent tissues from surgical specimens of 41 patients with long follow-up were treated for DNA isolation and bisulfite conversion. The gene promoter methylation was determined with quantitative methylation-specific PCR (qMSP). Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for paired methylation comparisons, while univariate linear regression and Mann-Whitney test were applied for associating methylation status with clinical and disease characteristics. Cox regression proportional hazards models and Kaplan-Meier plots were used for survival analyses in reference to methylation status.
Paired comparisons showed tissue-specific hypermethylation for PCDH17 (P < .001), NEFH (P < .001), RASSF1A (P = .032), while a positive association of methylation in normal tissues with age was demonstrated for PCDH17 (P < .001), RASSF1A (P < .001), FHIT (P < .001). PCDH17 was more methylated in cases with clear cell RCC (P = .015) and high-grade tumor (P = .013), while NEFH methylation was higher in locally advanced cases (P = .032). PCDH17 hypermethylation in cancerous and normal tissues was linked to shorter disease-specific survival (DSS, P = .026, P = .004), disease-free survival (DFS, P = .004, P = .019) while NEFH hypermethylation in cancerous tissues was related to shorter DSS (P = .032). Increased methylation difference of NEFH was also associated with shorter DSS (P = .041) and DFS (P = .020), while the corresponding parameter for PCDH17 was associated with poor DFS (P = .014). Kaplan-Meier curves for hypermethylation in cancer tissues demonstrated different clinical courses for PCDH17 (P = .017), NEFH (P = .023) regarding DSS, and PCDH17 (P = .001) regarding DFS.
Our study not only highlights the prognostic value of promoter methylation of PCDH17 and NEFH in cancer tissues but also is the first report of the prognostic value of methylation alterations in normal tissues. Our findings are the first report of the prognostic value of methylation alterations in normal tissues, which can contribute to improved assessment of recurrence risk.
Analysis of treatment effect with teriparatide on device-related vertebral osteopenia after lumbar spinal interbody fusion using Hounsfield unit values: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Miyazaki Masashi , Ishihara Toshinobu , Abe Tetsutaro , Kanezaki Shozo , Hirakawa Masashi , Iwasaki Tatsuya , Tsumura Hiroshi 
Published: September 2022

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of teriparatide on device-related vertebral osteopenia after single lumbar spinal interbody fusion and compare osteopenia in fused and nonfused spinal segments using Hounsfield unit (HU) values.
The present study was a retrospective cohort study. We reviewed 68 consecutive patients (28 men and 40 women) who underwent single-segment (L4–5) transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion with cage and pedicle screw fixation. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether they were treated with teriparatide (teriparatide and nonmedication groups). The primary outcome measure was HU values measured on computed tomography images from each L1 to S1 vertebral body12-month postoperatively. Secondary outcome measures were femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD), T-score, osseous union, and clinical outcomes using the Japanese Orthopedic Association scoring system 12-month postoperatively.
There were significant decreases in HU values of lumbar vertebral bodies at all levels and BMD and T-score values obtained using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry of the femur between preoperative and postoperative 12-month computed tomography in the nonmedication group (P < .05). On the other hand, there were no significant differences between properative and postoperative 12-month HU values of each lumbar vertebral body and BMD values of the femur in the teriparatide group. Osseous fusion scores in the teriparatide group were significantly better than those in the nonmedication group. There were no significant differences in postoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association scores between the 2 groups.
Administration of teriparatide during the perioperative period may prevent bone loss associated with spinal fusion surgery.
Cross-sectional comparison of age- and gender-related comorbidities in people living with HIV in Canada
Authors: Brunetta Jason M. , Baril Jean-Guy , de Wet Joseph J. , Fraser Chris , Rubin Gary , Thomas Réjean , Loemba Hugues , Logue Ken , Silverman Michael , Palmart Jean , Jiang Haiyan , Lorgeoux René-Pierre , Tossonian Harout , Kim Connie J. , Wong Alexander 
Published: September 2022

Because antiretroviral therapy (ART) is allowing people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) to survive longer, they are developing more age-related comorbidities. We evaluated the effects of age and gender on the burden of age-related comorbidities among PLWH.
In this retrospective real-world study, de-identified data were extracted from the medical charts of 2000 HIV-positive adults on ART across 10 sites in Canada. The prevalence of age-related comorbidities was determined in 6 age subgroups (<30, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, and ≥70 years). The effects of gender on these comorbidities were also examined. Risks of cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease (CKD) were calculated using the Framingham and D:A:D equations.
Most persons were White (68%), male (87%), and virologically suppressed (94%). The mean age was 50.3 years (57% aged ≥50 years), and mean CD4+ T-cell count was 616 cells/mm3. The most common comorbidities were neuropsychiatric symptoms (61%), overweight/obesity (43%), liver disease (37%), and dyslipidemia (37%). The mean number of comorbidities increased across age subgroups (P < .001). Across all age subgroups, the prevalence of hypertension (P = .04), dyslipidemia (P = .04), CKD (P = .03), bone fragility (P = .03), and depression (P = .02) differed between males and females. Both age (P < .001) and gender (P < .001) impacted cardiovascular disease and CKD risk.
Age and gender influenced the burden, types, and risks of age-related comorbidities in PLWH in this Canadian cohort. These comorbidities should be diagnosed and treated in routine clinical practice.
Association between ATP binding cassette gene member 1 polymorphism and glucocorticoid response in children with immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Zakaria Marwa , Hassan Tamer , Fawzy Amal , Fathy Manar , Abdelazeem Mahmoud , Magdy Abdelnour Hanim , Abdelstar Eman , Nafea Alaa , Ali Ahmed A. 
Published: September 2022

ATP binding Cassette gene member 1 (ABCB1) polymorphism has been incriminated in susceptibility to many malignant, infectious and autoimmune diseases. Recently, it was reported that ABCB1 polymorphisms might have a link to disease progression as well as response to therapy.
We aimed to study the association between ABCB1 gene polymorphism and glucocorticoid response in children with newly diagnosed immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).
A case control study was conducted on 90 newly diagnosed children with ITP and 90 healthy controls over a period of 1 year. ABCB1 (C3435T) polymorphism was determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction (RFLP-PCR) in patients and controls.
There was no significant difference between patients and controls as regards to frequency of different ABCB1 genotypes (CC, CT, and TT genotypes were 44.4%, 36.7%, and 18.9% respectively in patients and 48.9%, 38.9%, and 12.2% respectively in controls, P value = 0.18). 80% of patients who received steroids alone or steroids in combination with intravenous immunoglobulin showed complete recovery. There was highly significant relationship between ABCB1 genotypes and response to steroids where 55 % of responders had CC (wild) genotype while 40 % of nonresponders had TT (mutant) genotype.
We concluded that ABCB1 gene polymorphism may contribute to the response to steroids in Egyptian children with ITP where patients with homozygous CC genotype responded better to steroids than patients with homozygous TT genotype. These results may help us choose the appropriate initial treatment in these children.
Global remapping in granule cells and mossy cells of the mouse dentate gyrus
Authors: Kim Sang Hoon , GoodSmith Douglas , Temme Stephanie J. , Moriya Fumika , Ming Guo-li , Christian Kimberly M. , Song Hongjun , Knierim James J. 
Published: September 2022

SUMMARYHippocampal place cells exhibit spatially modulated firing, or place fields, which can remap to encode changes in the environment or other variables. Unique among hippocampal subregions, the dentate gyrus (DG) has two excitatory populations of place cells, granule cells and mossy cells, which are among the least and most active spatially modulated cells in the hippocampus, respectively. Previous studies of remapping in the DG have drawn different conclusions about whether granule cells exhibit global remapping and contribute to the encoding of context specificity. By recording granule cells and mossy cells as mice foraged in different environments, we found that by most measures, both granule cells and mossy cells remapped robustly but through different mechanisms that are consistent with firing properties of each cell type. Our results resolve the ambiguity surrounding remapping in the DG and suggest that most spatially modulated granule cells contribute to orthogonal representations of distinct spatial contexts.
Low forces push the maturation of neural precursors into neurons
Authors: De Vincentiis Sara , Baggiani Matteo , Merighi Francesca , Cappello Valentina , Lopane Jakub , Di Caprio Mariachiara , Costa Mario , Mainardi Marco , Onorati Marco , Raffa Vittoria 
Published: September 2022

ABSTRACTMechanical stimulation modulates neural development and neuronal activity. In a previous study, we proposed magnetic “nano-pulling” as a tool to generate active forces. By loading neural cells with magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), a precise force vector is remotely generated through static magnetic fields. In the present study, human neural stem cells (NSCs) were subjected to a standard differentiation protocol, in the presence or absence of nano-pulling. Under mechanical stimulation, we found an increase in the length of the neural processes which showed an enrichment in microtubules, endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria. A stimulation lasting up to 52 days induced a strong remodelling at the level of synapse density and a re-organization of the neuronal network, halving the time required for the maturation of neural precursors into neurons. We then injected the MNP-loaded NSCs into mouse spinal cord slices, demonstrating that nano-pulling stimulates the elongation of the NPC processes and modulates their orientation even in an ex vivo model system. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first evidence showing that active mechanical stimuli can guide the outgrowth of NSCs transplanted into the spinal cord tissue. Our findings suggest that MNPs play an important role in neuronal maturation which could be applied in regenerative medicine.
Economic issue and technological resilience of pre- and post-COVID-19
Authors: Abdelkafi Ines , Ben Romdhane Youssra , Mefteh Haifa 
Published: September 2022

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the changing relationship between technology and economic activity in MENA countries.Design/methodology/approachThe generalized method of moments (GMM) was applied to explore the presence of dynamic causality between technology, inflation, unemployment, foreign direct investment, trade opening, gross fixed capital formation and economic growth for 14 MENA countries before and after COVID-19.FindingsEmpirical evidence shows that the economic predictor variables change signs and impact negatively the economic growth as a result of the adverse consequences of the MENA health crisis. More interestingly, there is a unique, positive, meaningful relationship between ICT and economic growth.Originality/valueThe results show that economic resilience in MENA is significantly affected by digital infrastructure during the epidemic crisis. The authors conclude that macroeconomic adjustment and innovation improve the predictive performance of the health news model. Countries could take strong measures to support new strategies to strengthen their innovation competitiveness.
Modeling the formation of the public's information needs in the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak
Authors: Lu Hongru , Xie Juan , Cheng Ying , Chen Ya 
Published: September 2022

PurposeThis study aims to investigate how the public formed their need for information in the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak. Exploring the formation of information needs can reveal why the public's information needs differ and provide insights on targeted information service during health crises at an essential level.Design/methodology/approachThe data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 46 participants and analyzed using the grounded theory approach. Concepts, sub-categories and categories were developed, and a model was built to examine how the public formed the need for information about the pandemic.FindingsThe authors found that participants were stimulated by information asymmetry, severity of the pandemic and regulations to control the pandemic, which triggered their perceptions of information credibility, threat and social approval. After the participants perceived that there was a threat, it activated their basic needs and they actively formed the need for information based on cognitive activities. Moreover, information delivered by different senders resulted in a passive need for information. Participants' individual traits also influenced their perceptions after being stimulated.Research limitations/implicationsLong-term follow-up research is needed to help researchers identify more detailed perspectives and do comparative studies. Besides, this study conducted interviews through WeChat voice calls and telephone calls, and might be limited compared with face-to-face interviews.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study provide theoretical contributions to the information needs research and practical implications for information services and public health management.Originality/valueThere is little systematic research on how the public formed information needs in the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak.
The role of strategic internal communication in empowering female employees to cope with workplace gender discrimination
Authors: Li Jo-Yun , Lee Yeunjae , Xu Dongqing 
Published: September 2022

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how the excellent practice of public relations concerning strategic internal communication may help empower female employees to cope with workplace gender discrimination. It constructs and empirically tests a theoretical model that investigates the role of transparent internal communication on diversity and inclusion in shaping female employees' sense of empowerment, and that empowerment may affect how they cope with such problems in the workplace.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey was conducted with 402 full-time female employees in large-sized organizations in the United States. Structural equation models were conducted to test the proposed measurement model and hypothesized model.FindingsThe findings of this study offer support for the proposed model that featuring transparent internal communication regarding workplace gender discrimination increases female employees' empowerment to tackle the problems, which in turn encourages them to adopt problem-focused coping and participate in collective coping behaviors.Research limitations/implicationsExcellent internal communication not only facilitates organization-employee relationships as prior research widely demonstrated, but, according to the findings of this study, also creates a sense of empowerment among female employees, which encourage them to proactively address workplace gender discrimination issue.Practical implicationsOrganizations should practice transparent communication regarding diversity and inclusion, ensuring employees receive sufficient information, clear guidelines, and opportunities to voice as well as aim to develop empowerment interventions that help employees address discrimination issues in the workplace.Originality/valueTo the best of the author's knowledge, this study is among the first empirical studies that present the importance of strategic internal communication, particularly transparent communication, in facilitating gender equality in the workplace.
Recommendation matters: how does your social capital engage you in eWOM?
Authors: Baykal Bilge , Hesapci Karaca Ozlem 
Published: September 2022

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to contribute to the existing knowledge on two aspects. First, the authors introduce a conceptual model based on the social capital theory (SCT) to understand the mechanisms through which social capital factors affect consumers’ electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) engagement and purchase intentions via social network sites (SNSs). Second, the present study empirically tests and validates the proposed relationships that delineate social capital dimensions as crucial precursors of eWOM engagement and purchase intention in the specific SNS context, namely, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors applied both exploratory and descriptive design based on a triangulation approach. The authors adapted an in-depth interview method in the first part to better specify our constructs and hypotheses. At the quantitative part, the authors conducted the survey method on 1,169 consumers as central part of the research for empirical testing and validating our conceptual model. The authors applied structural equation modeling analysis by using AMOS 22.0.

Findings
Overall, the results of this study indicate that social capital-based drivers have a significant role underlying the eWOM engagement of consumers, while engagement in eWOM has a further effect on their purchase intentions. In this study, social network culture appears as the most dominant social driver of consumers’ engagement in eWOM, followed by tie strength and interpersonal trust.

Research limitations/implications
This study extends prior research on drivers of eWOM. An integrated conceptual model under SCT is proposed and tested to verify the dimensional interrelationships and effects on consumers’ eWOM engagement and purchase intentions. Second, this work advances the understanding of eWOM behavior in a novel context, social networks. Cross-cultural comparison of our results in other regions of Turkey or different countries might enable generalizability, which is one of the limitations of the study.

Practical implications
This study highlights that consumers are incorporating recommendations into their social networking behavior. The findings of this study show that before constructing their social media strategies, marketers should first investigate the congruence between the cultural environment of the SNS in which they connect with their customers and the positioning of their products.

Social implications
This study suggests implications about privacy guidelines for SNS regulation setters. Policymakers should understand when and how consumers’ profile and social tie information should be disclosed and accessed through their eWOM behaviors and try to develop trustful regulations.

Originality/value
This study serves as the first attempt to demonstrate that social capital drivers affect consumers’ purchase intentions through their eWOM engagement by its robust conceptual model. No integrated model under SCT has ever been proposed and tested on consumers’ eWOM engagement via SNSs.
Online teaching during COVID-19 pandemic in Fiji: challenges, facilitators and improvement strategies
Authors: Okyere Eunice , Salusalu Mosese , Goundar Ramneek , Marfoh Kissinger 
Published: September 2022

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore online teaching experiences of educators in Fiji National University (FNU). Although they quickly adapted to online teaching, their experiences are yet to be explored and documented, hence the relevance of this study.Design/methodology/approachThis study used phenomenological research design to understand the lived experiences of participants' regarding online teaching. A total of 58 in-depth interviews were conducted among educators, at various levels and analysed thematically using an inductive approach.FindingsThe findings show online teaching challenges including difficulties maintaining students' engagement, teaching practically oriented courses, assessing students and embracing change, limited knowledge impact and output, anxiety and stress, inadequate teaching environment, increased workload and unstable Internet. The facilitators and enablers were flexibility, free Internet, creating conducive environment, Moodle training, skills acquisition and support from faculty members' and information technology team. Recommendations for improvement ranged from modifying course outline, summarising previous lessons, reducing course load, adequate assessment tools, incentives, guidelines enforcement to regular training.Originality/valueThis is an original work carried out by the researchers in a specific context. The findings suggest the need to address various challenges for effective online teaching. School managers' and relevant key stakeholders need to understand educators’ teaching experiences as well as their recommended improvement strategies, to enhance online teaching.
Social and environmental apparel practices and perceived value of “Made in the USA”
Authors: Kim Nokyeon , Bye Elizabeth 
Published: September 2022

Purpose
This study aims to investigate the relationship between people’s socially and environmentally responsible apparel practices (SERAP) and valuing US made clothing, current perceptions of US made clothing and factors affecting apparel purchases.

Design/methodology/approach
An online survey was completed by 502 US consumer aged 18-65. Five factors were identified representing responsible apparel practices and US made clothing. Inter-factor correlations were tested. People’s perceptions toward US made clothing were examined through perceived quality, purchase experience and intentions to pay premium prices.

Findings
There was a positive correlation between SERAP and valuing US made clothing. Perceived quality of US apparel influenced both actual purchase and intentions to pay higher prices. Availability and affordability were major purchase factors.

Practical implications
US apparel companies that produce their products domestically may consider developing specific messaging that resonates with customers, taking advantage of the perception of high quality and being transparent with the cost of producing apparel domestically.

Originality/value
This study suggests domestically made apparel purchases as part of a move toward SERAP. Although previous studies have addressed consumer responsibility and sustainable businesses, the connection has been inconclusive. This study provides current data of renewed and growing interest in US made apparel and expands its value.