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Dynamic association between ICT, renewable energy, economic complexity and ecological footprint: Is there any difference between E-7 (developing) and G-7 (developed) countries?
No full text[[abstract]]This empirical research scrutinizes the nexus between information and communication technologies (ICT), renewable energy, economic complexity, human capital, financial development, and ecological footprint for E-7 and G-7 countries over the period from 1995 to 2018. We use four variables (Mobile cellular subscription, fixed broadband subscription, fixed telephone subscription, Internet consumers) for the ICT index prepared through principal component analysis. For empirical analysis, after testing the cross-sectional dependency, this study performs the second-generation method. From the E-7 countries' perspective, the empirical results reveal that ICT, economic complexity, and human capital increase the pollution level while renewable energy significantly reduces it. The estimated financial development coefficient is established to be statistically insignificant. In G-7 countries, all potential factors significantly improve the environmental quality except financial development. Moreover, the interaction between ICT and human capital significantly reduces the ecological footprint level in both panel countries. Therefore, we can observe that there is a wide discrepancy in these countries. The only common thing is that in these countries, bidirectional causality is discovered between ICT, human capital, and ecological footprint. Based on these empirical findings, several practice policy implications for ICT, renewable energy, economic complexity, human capital, financial development, and ecological footprint are discussed
Renoprotective Effect of Pediococcus acidilactici GKA4 on Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury by Mitigating Inflammation and Oxidative Stress and Regu-lating the MAPK, AMPK/SIRT1/NF-κB, and PI3K/AKT Pathways
No full text[[abstract]]Acute kidney injury (AKI) describes a sudden loss of kidney function and is associated with a high mortality. Pediococcus acidilactici is a potent producer of bacteriocin and inhibits the growth of pathogens during fermentation and food storage; it has been used in the food industry for many years. In this study, the potential of P. acidilactici GKA4 (GKA4) to ameliorate AKI was investigated using a cisplatin-induced animal model. First, mice were given oral GKA4 for ten days and intraperitoneally injected with cisplatin on the seventh day to create an AKI mode. GKA4 attenuated renal histopathological alterations, serum biomarkers, the levels of inflammatory mediators, and lipid oxidation in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. Moreover, GKA4 significantly decreased the expression of inflammation-related proteins and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in kidney tissues. Eventually, GKA4 also increased the levels of related antioxidant enzymes and pathways. Consistently, sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) upregulated the level of autophagy-related proteins (LC3B, p62, and Beclin1). Further studies are needed to check our results and advance our knowledge of the mechanism whereby PI3K inhibition (wortmannin) reverses the effect of GKA4 on cisplatin-treated AKI. Taken together, GKA4 provides a therapeutic target with promising clinical potential after cisplatin treatment by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation via the MAPK, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/SIRT1/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) axes
Survival effect of pretreatment FDG-PET–CT on nasopharyngeal cancer
No full text[[abstract]]Background/purpose: Accurate staging is the first step for optimal treatment selection in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In this propensity-score-matched, population-based cohort study, we investigated the survival effects of pretreatment 8-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (18FDG-PET-CT) on patients with NPC.
Methods: We included patients with stage I-IVA NPC receiving radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy and categorized them into two 1:1 propensity score-matched groups according to whether or not they underwent pretreatment 18FDG-PET-CT and compared their outcomes.
Results: Of the 10,756 patients, propensity score matching yielded 4366 patients in each group. According to multivariable Cox regression analyses, the most prominent correlation between pretreatment 18FDG-PET-CT and all-cause death was observed in patients with stage II NPC (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.60-0.90; P = .0433), followed by patients with stage III NPC (aHR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.69-0.94; P = .0071) and patients with stage IVA NPC (aHR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.79-0.97; P = .0091). This association was not significant in patients with stage I NPC (aHR, 1.20; 95% CI, 0.75-1.93; P = .4426).
Conclusion: Pretreatment 18FDG-PET-CT is associated with longer survival in patients with clinical stage II-IVA NPC but not in stage I NPC
The novel anti-inflammatory activity of mcIRBP from Momordica charantia is associated with the improvement of diabetic nephropathy
No full text[[abstract]]Diabetic nephropathy is an inflammatory immune disorder accompanying diabetes. A trypsin inhibitor of Momordica charantia, mcIRBP, is an abundant 68 amino acid residue protein that interacts with the insulin receptor. Here the long-term effects of mcIRBP on the improvement of diabetic nephropathy were determined. Type 2 diabetic mice (db/db) were given mcIRBP administered orally for 12 consecutive weeks. Histological changes relating to the kidney were evaluated using Periodic Acid Schiff and Sirius Red staining. The mcIRBP-affected gene expression profile in the kidney was determined using RNA-Seq. The renoprotective mechanism of mcIRBP was elucidated based on ex vivo imaging and immunohistochemistry staining. Data showed that the administration of mcIRBP significantly decreased fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels by 61% and 27.92%, respectively, suggesting that mcIRBP exhibited HbA1c-lowering abilities in diabetic mice. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis showed that the majority of the mcIRBP-affected biological pathways were associated with inflammation and immunity, and the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway was significantly affected by mcIRBP. Ex vivo imaging showed that mcIRBP significantly decreased NF-κB-driven bioluminescence in the kidney by 46 ± 23%. The levels of the renal function indices, Evans blue dye content, fibrosis lesions, and cytokine expression were significantly decreased by mcIRBP, suggesting that mcIRBP improved vascular leakage and the pathological and inflammatory characteristics of diabetic nephropathy. This is the first study reporting that, in addition to blood glucose regulation, mcIRBP can act as a novel renoprotective and anti-inflammatory polypeptide, thereby improving diabetic nephropathy in db/db mice. In addition, this study suggested that there was a potential medicinal use of mcIRBP for the management of diabetes and its complications
Association of risperidone with gastric cancer: triangulation method from cell study, animal study, and cohort study
No full text[[abstract]]Purpose: To examine the effects of risperidone, an atypical antipsychotic agent, on gastric cancer. Methods: A triangulation method comprising bench studies, including cell and animal experiments, and a retrospective cohort study, was subsequently performed. Results: The bench study indicated that risperidone exerted more prominent tumor inhibition effects than other atypical antipsychotics on the proliferation of KATO-III cells, a human gastric cancer cell line. Significant and dose-dependent cell viability was observed in Hs27 cells (control cells) in the presence of risperidone compared with in KATO-III cells. Both in vivo and in vitro results indicated that risperidone significantly inhibited the proliferation of KATO-III cells by inducing ROS and apoptosis, and that it suppressed the growth of xenografted KATO-III tumors in nude mice. In addition, the population-based cohort study found that risperidone users had reduced risks of gastric cancer compared with non-users, with lowered adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for two induction periods (HR = 0.75; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.68-0.83 for the one-year induction period, and HR = 0.68; 95% CI 0.61-0.75 for the two-year induction period). Conclusion: The findings are consistent with anticancer effects associated with risperidone, but further research and evaluations are warranted
Effects of sodium benzoate, a D-amino acid oxidase inhibitor, on perceived stress and cognitive function among patients with late-life depression: A randomized, double-blind, sertraline- and placebo-controlled trial
No full text[[abstract]]Background: Compared with adults with depression in the general population, elderly depressive patients are prone to poor treatment response, more side effects, and early withdrawal with current antidepressants (which principally modulate monoamines). Whether N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor enhancement can benefit treatment of late-life depression deserves study. This study aims to compare sodium benzoate (a D-amino acid oxidase inhibitor and an indirect N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor enhancer), sertraline (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), and placebo in the treatment of late-life depression.
Methods: In this randomized, double-blind trial, 117 patients with major depressive disorder aged 55 years or older received 8-week treatment of 250-1500 mg/d of sodium benzoate, 25-150 mg/d of sertraline, or placebo in 2 medical centers. The primary outcome measures were Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Perceived Stress Scale scores.
Results: Three treatments similarly decreased clinicians-rated Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores. Compared with placebo, sodium benzoate but not sertraline substantially improved Perceived Stress Scale scores and cognitive function. Sertraline, but not benzoate, significantly reduced self-report Geriatric Depression Scale scores. Benzoate and placebo showed similar safety profiles, while sertraline was more likely to raise low-density lipoprotein than benzoate and placebo. Benzoate-treated patients were less likely to drop out than sertraline or placebo recipients.
Conclusions: Sertraline can reduce subjective depressive symptoms, while benzoate can decrease perceived stress, improve cognitive function, and enhance treatment adherence in late-life depression patients. The results show promise for D-amino acid oxidase inhibition as a novel approach for perceived stress and cognitive decline among patients with late-life depression
Associations between allergic and autoimmune diseases with autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder within families: a population-based cohort study
No full text[[abstract]]Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are commonly comorbid with allergic and autoimmune diseases in children. The aim of the current study was to investigate the association between children's and first-degree relatives' (i.e., mother, father, and full sibling) allergic and autoimmune diseases and children's ASD and ADHD. We enrolled participants from Taiwan's Maternal and Child Health Database. We used the Cox regression model to examine the associations of familial, siblings' and children's allergic and autoimmune diseases with children's ASD and/or ADHD. In total, we included 1,386,260 children in the current study. We found the significant association between familial allergic or autoimmune disease and development of ASD or ADHD among children. We also identified the predominant impact of familial aggregation on the above associations. The associations between some parental diagnoses of autoimmune or allergic diseases in children's ASD and/or ADHD were stronger in mothers than those in fathers. Early assessment of the possibility of ASD and ADHD is required for children who have a parent with an allergic or autoimmune disease
Pharmacologic interventions for Kawasaki disease in children: A network meta-analysis of 56 randomized controlled trials
No full text[[abstract]]Background: Although the current consensus recommends a standard treatment of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin with high-dose aspirin to manage Kawasaki disease (KD), the use of different adjunctive therapies remains controversial. The aim of the current network meta-analysis (NMA) was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of different existing interventions for the initial and refractory stages of KD.
Methods: An NMA of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted using the frequentist model applied after electronic searches in PubMed, Embase, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, ClinicalTrials.gov, ClinicalKey, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Web of Science. The main outcomes were reduced fever duration/diminished severity of fever subsided. The initial stage of KD was defined as the first stage to treat patients with KD; the refractory stage of KD represents KD patients who failed to respond to standard KD treatment. The cut-off points for intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) were low (100-400 mg), medium (1 g), and high (at least 2 g).
Findings: A total of fifty-six RCTs with 6486 participants were included. NMA demonstrated that the medium-dosage IVIG + aspirin + infliximab [mean difference=-1.76 days (95% confidence intervals (95% CIs): -3.65 to 0.13 days) compared to high-dosage IVIG + aspirin] exhibited the shortest fever duration; likewise, the medium-dosage IVIG + aspirin + infliximab [odds ratio (OR)=0.50, 95% CIs: 0.18-1.37 compared to high-dosage IVIG + aspirin] exhibited the smallest incidence of coronary artery lesion (CAL) in the initial-stage KD. In the refractory-stage KD, the high-dosage IVIG + pulse steroid therapy (OR=0.04, 95% CIs: 0.00-0.43 compared to the high-dosage IVIG only) had the best rate of decline of fever; likewise, the high-dosage IVIG + ciclosporin [OR=0.05 (95% CIs: 0.00-1.21) compared to the high-dosage IVIG only] exhibited the smallest incidence of CAL. Infliximab significantly improved resolution compared to the high-dosage IVIG only group (OR=0.20, 95%CIs: 0.07-0.62) in refractory-stage KD.
Interpretation: The NMA demonstrated that the combination therapy with the standard therapy of IVIG and aspirin might have an additional effect on shortening the duration of fever and lowering the CAL incidence rate in patients with acute KD. Moreover, the combination therapy with high-dose IVIG and pulse steroid therapy or cyclosporine therapy might have an additional effect on improving the rate of decline of fever and lowering the incidence rate of CAL in children with refractory KD. Because some of the findings of this NMA should be considered hypothesis-generating rather than confirmatory, further evidence from de novo randomised trials is needed to support our results
Facilitated virtual learning for advanced geriatric education among nursing students during the COVID pandemic in Taiwan
No full text[[abstract]]Purpose
This study explored the students' perception of their adoption and acceptance of virtual learning (VL), the factors affecting the adoption of educational technologies and the correlation between their intention, perceived behavioral control and care competence in caring for older adults.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Surveys were administered to evaluate the participants who were involved in VL on geriatric care during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A total of 315 nursing students participated in the survey, and 287 valid questionnaires were collected (response rate: 91.11%).
Findings
A total of 287 participants (mean age 21.09, SD 1.44 years; 242/287, 84.3% female) were included in the study. The variables of intention to use technologies were positively correlated with care competence (r = 0.59, p < 0.001). The results revealed that the major predictors were perceived ease-of-use (PEOU) (β = 0.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.16–0.40) and perceived usefulness (PU) (β = 0.22, CI 0.09–0.35) which were significantly positive predictors of competence in geriatric care.
Research limitations/implications
Nursing students lack in clinical knowledge and situational experience in geriatric care; therefore, their perceptiveness, expressions and reflection on the process of providing care to hospitalized older patients should be increased. These results indicated that students improved in geriatric healthcare after/during the VL program during COVID-19 pandemic.
Originality/value
It is hoped that the present study would make an invaluable contribution to existing research on education in general and on the quality of care in geriatric nursing as limited studies have been published so far
Deep Learning in Left and Right Footprint Image Detection Based on Plantar Pressure
No full text[[abstract]]People with cerebral palsy (CP) suffer primarily from lower-limb impairments. These impairments contribute to the abnormal performance of functional activities and ambulation. Footprints, such as plantar pressure images, are usually used to assess functional performance in people with spastic CP. Detecting left and right feet based on footprints in people with CP is a challenge due to abnormal foot progression angle and abnormal footprint patterns. Identifying left and right foot profiles in people with CP is essential to provide information on the foot orthosis, walking problems, index gait patterns, and determination of the dominant limb. Deep learning with object detection can localize and classify the object more precisely on the abnormal foot progression angle and complex footprints associated with spastic CP. This study proposes a new object detection model to auto-determine left and right footprints. The footprint images successfully represented the left and right feet with high accuracy in object detection. YOLOv4 more successfully detected the left and right feet using footprint images compared to other object detection models. YOLOv4 reached over 99.00% in various metric performances. Furthermore, detection of the right foot (majority of people’s dominant leg) was more accurate than that of the left foot (majority of people’s non-dominant leg) in different object detection models