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Unveiling resistance patterns, kmt1 sequence analyses, virulence traits, and antibiotic resistance genes of multidrug-resistant Pasteurella multocida retrieved from poultry and rabbits
The importance of genetic counselling and testing in inherited eye diseases: A population-based retrospective study
Purpose Inherited eye diseases (IEDs) are among the main causes of visual impairment and blindness in children and young people worldwide. The objective of our study was to characterize the prevalence and distribution of the most common IEDs and causative genes in our population. Study design Retrospective study based on medical records of patients with IEDs who underwent genetic counselling through our multidisciplinary low vision center from 2018 to 2020. Methods Data retrieved from medical files included: year of consultation, age, gender, ethnicity, diagnosis, gene variants and mode of inheritance. Results 228 patients were included in our study. The most common diagnoses were inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) (41.2%) and albinism (32%). In 2018 and 2019 the number of patients reaching out for genetic counselling was between 50 and 60; this number doubled by 2020. The rate of pathogenic variant detection was 65.3%. The most common genes identified were TYR (29.2%), OCA2 (7.9%), ABCA4 (5.3%), TRPM1 (5.3%) and USH2A (4.4%). Conclusion Genetic counselling and testing became an essential part of caregiving for patients and families affected by these severe IEDs. The most common IEDs were IRDs in the Muslim population and albinism in the Jewish population. Pathogenic variants in the TYR gene were the most common in our cohort, OCA2 gene was the second in frequency, followed by ABCA4, TRPM1 and USH2A genes. We detected an increasing trend over the studied time in the number of patients reaching out for genetic counselling.
Elevated serum levels of HIF-1α and VEGF as potential biomarkers in connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension
Abstract We to measure the serum levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients diagnosed with connective tissue disease (CTD)-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (CTD-PAH) and to analyze their clinical implications. Thirty patients who were diagnosed with CTD-PAH via right heart catheterization (RHC) were enrolled in the observation group. Additionally, twenty CTD patients without PAH (CTD-non-PAH) were enrolled in the CTD-non-PAH group, and twenty healthy participants were enrolled in the healthy control group. Additional data on CTD-PAH patients, including demographic characteristics, laboratory parameters, and hemodynamic measurements, were obtained. The serum levels of HIF-1α and VEGF in all participants were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Pearson correlation was utilized to determine the correlation between the expression levels of these factors and clinical data. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of expression of HIF-1α and VEGF for diagnosing CTD-PAH. Participants in the three groups were age-matched. The CTD-PAH group included 29 females and 1 male, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was the most prevalent CTD diagnosis (17/30). Serum levels of VEGF and HIF-1α were significantly greater in both CTD-PAH and CTD-non-PAH patients compared to the healthy controls ( P < 0.01). In addition, the serum concentration of HIF-1α in the CTD-PAH group was significantly greater than that in the CTD-non-PAH group (248.86 ± 18.85 and 224.64 ± 12.22, respectively, P = 0.0022). Similarly, the serum concentration of VEGF in the CTD-PAH group was significantly greater than that in the CTD-non-PAH group (251.11 ± 48.37 and 222.120 ± 18.57, respectively, P = 0.0026). In patients with CTD-PAH, the concentrations of HIF-1α and VEGF are significantly positively correlated with mPAP ( r = 0.81, r = 0.88). Both HIF-1α and VEGF concentrations were positively correlated with BNP levels ( r = 0.5340, r = 0.6472) and negatively correlated with the 6-Minute Walk Distance (6MWD) ( r =-0.46, r =-0.47, respectively, P < 0.01). When VEGF and HIF-1α were combined, the diagnostic ROC curve yielded an AUC of 0.933. Increased serum levels of HIF-1α and VEGF were observed in CTD-PAH patients compared to CTD-non-PAH patients and healthy controls, which, along with their positive correlations with mPAP and BNP levels and negative correlations with the 6MWD, indicate their potential as biomarkers for diagnosing CTD-PAH.
Nature markets are nothing new — they are widespread, regulated and instructive
Digital transformation and liquidity creation in commercial banks: Evidence from the Chinese banking industry
This study investigates the impact of digital transformation on the liquidity creation among banks in China, focusing on 127 commercial banks from 2010 to 2021. The research is driven by the observed decline in the real economy function of China’s financial services in recent years. To analyze this trend, the study employs a panel fixed effect model and an intermediary effect test model. The findings indicate that the implementation of digital transformation in the banking sector resulted in a significant enhancement in liquidity generation. The intermediary transmission pathways through which digital transformation influences liquidity creation include optimization of loan loss provision, enhancement of risk tolerance, and mitigating financial disintermediation. Furthermore, the research indicates that the relationship between digital transformation and liquidity generation varies across banks operating in different contexts.
Comparison of endoscopic submucosal dissection and modified endoscopic mucosal resection for rectal neuroendocrine tumors
‘Male-dominated campuses belong to the past’: the University of Tokyo tackles the gender gap
Managing flash flood crises with cultural perspectives: A user-centric feature identification study
Flash floods are severe disaster that have caused enormous damage to people, property, and the environment. Despite the conventional emphasis on technical and engineering solutions in controlling flash flood disasters, this study investigates the understudied issue of user-centric cultural viewpoints, inspired by Grid-Group Cultural Theory, and their potential impact on crisis management. The study collected 351 responses, primarily targeting adults in flood-prone areas using convenience sampling method with the goal of exploring cultural bias for feature identification of in-vehicle flash flood app. Accordingly, the research investigates the participants responses using quantitative approach which includes descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, average factor, and rank scoring analysis to uncover critical user-centric cultural traits that might improve preparedness, response, and recovery activities during flash flood disasters. The findings of the study identified distinct cultural biases that impact perceptions and preferences regarding features of an in-vehicle flash flood app. By integrating Grid-Group Cultural Theory as a framework for analysis, the study highlights the importance of incorporating diverse cultural perspectives into flash flood management strategies. The result emphasizes the need to apply a holistic approach that integrates people’s knowledge and practices with technical solutions. Recommendations of features for future development of in-vehicle flash flood app is provided based on each cultural bias aligned with the theory to build more resilient communities in the face of flash flood occurrences.
Effects of a marine heatwave associated with the Kuroshio Extension large meander on extreme precipitation in September 2023
Abstract In 2023, the Kuroshio Extension (KE) exhibited an unusually large meander (LM) path, which caused a significant increase in sea surface temperatures, a marine heatwave (MHW), to the east of Japan. Although this MHW has the potential to influence heavy precipitation, it has not yet been examined. Here, we address this issue by examining an extreme precipitation event that occurred in Japan in September 2023 using high-resolution cloud-resolving numerical experiments. Results indicated that the MHW contributed to an increase in surface precipitation by ~ 300 mm, accounting for ~ 70% of the total precipitation. This precipitation intensification was attributed to the MHW-enhanced atmospheric instability and its influence on the formation and positioning of surface fronts. This research suggests that the KE-LM-induced MHW has elevated the risk of heavy precipitation in Japan, with significant societal implications. These findings could be applied to other regions such as the Northeastern United States.
The Greenland Ice Sheet is fracturing faster than expected
Production risk and technical efficiency of dry-season vegetable farmers in the Upper East Region of Ghana
The Ghanaian population is aware of the increasing health challenges in our health facilities and the need to consume more vegetables to improve their health status. This, coupled with population growth and changing consumer patterns has led to an increasing demand for vegetable products in Ghana. Smallholder farmers in the country have thus intensified the production of vegetables during the dry season to meet consumers’ demand and to generate income. However, their outputs have been lower than the country’s potential, so the research was conducted to identify the causes and determinants of the low yields. A total of 322 dry-season vegetable farmers in seven (7) districts in twenty-four (24) communities were selected from the Upper East Region of Ghana using a purposive random sampling technique. The Kumbhakar model was employed to compute the production risk, technical inefficiency and determinants of vegetable production in the region. The study reveals that the input variables: labour, seed, fertilizer, agrochemical and irrigation costs positively are related to the output value of vegetables with an increasing return to scale. In addition, labour, seed and agrochemical costs show a significant production risk-decreasing effect while the risk of vegetable production is reduced with fertilizer and irrigation costs. The study further depicts that extension visits, experience, water pumps and gravity-fed irrigation systems positively affect the technical efficiency of dry-season vegetable production. Again, given the current state of technology and resources available to the farmers, enhancing the vegetable outputs could be achieved by reducing the technical inefficiencies by 27% while considering the effects of production risk. The study concludes that the farmers can improve the output of the vegetable farms for higher income by adopting the best vegetable production practices such as efficient water-saving irrigation technologies and fertilizer usage while adopting the knowledge from the extension training to improve their technical efficiency.
The impact of collaborative pain management by healthcare providers on sleep quality and self-efficacy in perioperative lumbar surgery patients
Factors associated with pulmonary tuberculosis in elderly individuals: A protocol for a scoping review
Background Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease with a significant impact on public health, with the pulmonary form being the most critical. The disease poses numerous risks to the elderly population, as it often manifests concomitantly with other age-related illnesses, thereby complicating its diagnosis and management. Several causal and associated factors contribute to the disease. Objective The objective of this manuscript is to present a scoping review protocol aimed at mapping the available literature on factors associated with and contributing to the incidence of Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) in the elderly. Methods and analysis The scoping review protocol was developed following the guidelines of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and the PRISMA-ScR checklist, and it has been registered on the Open Science Framework (DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/DHQVP). The databases to be searched include Medline via PubMed, Lilacs, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, as well as gray literature through Google Scholar and the Brazilian Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) Thesis and Dissertation Catalog. The search strategy is grounded on a research question formulated using the PCC acronym (P–Population; C–Concept; C–Context). Peer-reviewed journal articles, scientific books, editorials, conference proceedings, and theses/dissertations published in Portuguese, English, or Spanish between 2014 and 2024 will be included. Discussion Elderly individuals are more susceptible to diseases due to the natural decline in immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis. In this age group, symptoms are often difficult to detect. Understanding the causal and associated factors of the disease contributes to favorable outcomes and helps reduce the transmission chain to the rest of the population.
Circuit response and experimental verification of high energy storage density materials
The effectiveness and safety of physical activity and exercise on women with endometriosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background Endometriosis is a debilitating, chronic disease that affects approximately 10% of women of reproductive age worldwide. The most common symptom is chronic pelvic pain, which leads to a reduced quality of life and requires lifelong treatment. The current standard of care for endometriosis is pain management, which consists mainly of medical and surgical treatment. Appropriate physical activity (PA) and exercise can help manage both physical and psychological symptoms of chronic conditions. Consequently, this systematic review and meta-analysis was designed to assess the effectiveness and safety of PA and exercise in women with endometriosis. Methods We searched the published literature in Pubmed, Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were obtained to assess the effects of physical activity and exercise on women with endometriosis. The random or fixed effects model was used to analyze the data in meta-analysis. The results were expressed as weighted mean differences (WMD) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Six RCTs were identified in our systematic review, involving 251 patients. The results indicated that physical activity and exercise have a beneficial impact on quality of life, pain intensity, mental health, pelvic floor dysfunction, and bone density. However, due to the heterogeneity of the outcome measures and the incomplete reporting of the results in the studies included in this review, only a simple meta-analysis of two studies could be performed. The meta-analysis demonstrated that physical activity and exercise have a significant impact on the improvement of quality of life, particularly in the context of pain (P <0.0001), control and powerlessness (P <0.00001), and emotional well-being (P = 0.006). Conclusion The present review indicates that physical activity and exercise have beneficial effects on the treatment of symptoms associated with endometriosis, particularly in terms of improving quality of life and providing pain relief. Due to the limitation in the quality of involved studies and the short duration of treatment, more RCTs with high-quality, long-term duration are needed for further validation. Trial registration Systematic review registration: Registration number: CRD 42024547551.
Histone demethylase inhibitor KDM5-C70 regulates metabolomic and lipidomic programming during an astrocyte differentiation of rat neural stem cell
Abstract Lysine-specific histone demethylase (KDM) 5 inhibition by KDM5-C70 induces astrocytogenesis and highlights the importance of modulation of histone methylation in cell fate specification. This study investigated the role of the histone demethylase inhibitor KDM5-C70 in modulating the metabolic and lipidomic landscape during astrocyte differentiation of rat neural stem cells (NSCs). Using chemical derivatisation combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, 42 metabolites were detected, indicating potential regulation of phospholipid metabolism. Subsequent lipidomic analysis, employing reverse-phase liquid chromatography with high-resolution quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, identified 180 lipid species and 9 lipid subclasses. Integrative analysis revealed that KDM5-C70 promoted astrocytogenesis through epigenetic changes linked to the attenuation of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) biosynthesis pathways. The reduced expression of transcripts related to PE highlighted the significance of the PE pathway in influencing cell fate decisions. These quantitative metabolomic and lipidomic analyses not only advance our understanding of NSC differentiation but also lay the groundwork for potential therapeutic strategies targeting metabolic pathways in neurodegenerative diseases and neural injuries.
Exploring the combined effect of optimally controlled chemo-stem cell therapy on a fractional-order cancer model
This study aims to investigate the effect of fractional order on a novel cancer treatment model in the Caputo sense with chemotherapy and stem cell therapy. The existence of positive solutions, equilibria, and linear stability of the model are examined. The Ulam-Hyers stability of the system is investigated. An optimal treatment schedule is developed to obtain the combined effect of chemotherapy and stem cell therapy on the model. The analytical results are verified through numerical examples. It has been observed that stem cell therapy and effector cells alone cannot eradicate tumor cells effectively. However, in the presence of optimally controlled chemotherapy, there is an effective reduction in the population of tumor cells, while the populations of normal and effector cells progressively grow over time.
Learning to read transforms phonological into phonographic representations
Exploring the effects of quercetin-added pancreatic diet on metabolic homeostasis in dogs via metabolomics
Objective To investigate the role of quercetin-added pancreatic prescription food in regulating metabolic homeostasis in dogs. Methods The experimental dogs were divided into a control diet group and a prescription diet group. The control group was fed regular food, while the prescription group was fed pancreatic prescription food (3.9 g of quercetin was added in per 1 kg of food) for 8 weeks. Canine physical examination, complete blood count, and serum biochemical tests were conducted at 0 w, 4 w, and 8 w. Non-targeted metabolomics tests were performed using plasma samples at 0 w and 8 w. Results Dogs that received a quercetin-added pancreatic diet supplemented with quercetin showed no changes in the body weight, fasting blood glucose, body condition score, the indexes of whole blood program of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, and most blood biochemical indexes, but increased lipase levels in plasma at 8 w. Quercetin significant improved in metabolic homeostasis, especially in fatty acid, amino acid, and bile acid metabolism. Untargeted metabolomics analysis revealed that quercetin activates ABC transport and arginine/proline pathways, suggesting potential benefits for pancreatitis in large animals, while maintaining comparable safety parameters. Conclusions Quercetin-added prescription food enhances fatty acid and amino acid metabolism, demonstrating its potential to promote pancreatic function and sustain metabolic homeostasis.