Search Results (150)

Background/Objectives: Schizophrenia exhibits symptoms linked to the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus. This includes the entorhinal cortex (ERC) and perirhinal cortex (PRC) as anterior parts, along with the posterior segment known as the parahippocampal cortex (PHC). However, recent research has detailed atlases based on cytoarchitectural characteristics and the hippocampus divided into four subregions: cornu ammonis (CA), dentate gyrus (DG), subiculum (SUB), and hippocampal–amygdaloid transition (HATA). This study aimed to explore the functional connectivity (FC) changes between these hippocampal subregions and the parahippocampal gyrus structures (ERC, PRC, and PHC) as well as between hippocampal subregions and various functional brain networks in schizophrenia. Methods: In total, 50 individuals with schizophrenia and 50 matched healthy subjects were examined using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Results: The results showed alterations characterized by increases and decreases in the strength of the positive connectivity between the parahippocampal gyrus structures and the four hippocampal subregions when comparing patients with schizophrenia with healthy subjects. Alterations were observed among the hippocampal subregions and functional brain networks, as well as the formation of new connections and absence of connections. Conclusions: There is strong evidence that the different subregions of the hippocampus have unique functions and their connectivity with the parahippocampal cortices and brain networks are affected by schizophrenia. Full article

The Arctic Ocean is turning blue. Abrupt Arctic warming and amplification is driving rapid sea ice decline and irreversible deglaciation of Greenland. The already emerging, substantial consequences for the planet and society are intensifying and yet, model-based projections lack validatory consensus. To date, we cannot anticipate how a blue Arctic will respond to and amplify an increasingly warmer future climate, nor how it will impact the wider planet and society. Climate projections are inconclusive as we critically lack key Arctic geological archives that preserved the answers. This “Arctic Challenge” of global significance can only be addressed by investigating the processes, consequences, and impacts of past “greenhouse” (warmer-than-present) climate states. To address this challenge, the ERC Synergy Grant project Into the Blue (i2B) is undertaking a program of research focused on retrieving new Arctic geological archives of past warmth and key breakthroughs in climate model performance to deliver a ground-breaking, synergistic framework to answer the central question: “Why and what were the global ramifications of a “blue” (ice-free) Arctic during past warmer-than-present climates?” Here, we present the proposed research plan that will be conducted as part of this program. Into the Blue will quantify cryosphere (sea ice and land ice) change in a warmer world that will form the scientific basis for understanding the dynamics of Arctic cryosphere and ocean changes to enable the quantitative assessment of the impact of Arctic change on ocean biosphere, climate extremes, and society that will underpin future cryosphere-inclusive IPCC assessments. Full article

This study investigates how differing national research governance models impact academic performance by comparing European Research Council (ERC) grant winners in the social sciences and humanities from France and the Netherlands. Situated within the broader context of centralized versus decentralized research systems, the analysis aims to understand how these structures shape publication trends, thematic diversity, and collaboration patterns. Drawing on Scopus and SciVal data covering 9996 publications by 305 ERC winners between 2019 and 2023, we employed a multi-method approach, including latent Dirichlet allocation for topic modeling, compound annual growth rate analysis, and co-authorship network analysis. The results show that neuroscience, climate change, and psychology are dominant domains, with language and linguistics particularly prevalent in France and law and political science in the Netherlands. French ERC winners are more likely to be affiliated with national or sectoral institutions, whereas in the Netherlands, elite universities dominate. Collaboration emerged as a key success factor, with an average of four co-authors per publication and network analyses revealing central figures who bridge topical clusters. International collaborations were consistently linked with higher visibility, while single-authored publications showed limited impact. These findings suggest that institutional context and collaborative practices significantly shape research performance in both countries. Full article

Incorporating external knowledge has been shown to improve emotion understanding in dialogues by enriching contextual information, such as character motivations, psychological states, and causal relations between events. Filtering and categorizing this information can significantly enhance model performance. In this paper, we present an innovative Emotion Recognition in Conversation (ERC) framework, called the Scene-Speaker Emotion Awareness Network (SSEAN), which employs a dual-strategy modeling approach. SSEAN uniquely incorporates external commonsense knowledge describing speaker states into multimodal inputs. Using parallel recurrent networks to separately capture scene-level and speaker-level emotions, the model effectively reduces the accumulation of redundant information within the speaker’s emotional space. Additionally, we introduce an attention-based dynamic screening module to enhance the quality of integrated external commonsense knowledge through three levels: (1) speaker-listener-aware input structuring, (2) role-based segmentation, and (3) context-guided attention refinement. Experiments show that SSEAN outperforms existing state-of-the-art models on two well-adopted benchmark datasets in both single-text modality and multimodal settings. Full article

6-PPD quinone (6-PPDQ) is a derivative from 6-PPD, an antioxidant added in tires. Leucine is an important amino acid that needs to be obtained from the diet. In Caenorhabditis elegans, we examined the effect of 6-PPDQ exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations (ERCs) on the content of leucine and underlying mechanisms. In nematodes, 0.1–10 μg/L of 6-PPDQ decreased leucine content. The expression of the aat-1-encoding amino acid transmembrane transporter was decreased by 0.1–10 μg/L of 6-PPDQ, and leucine content was reduced by aat-1 RNAi. Meanwhile, the expression of bcat-1-encoding branched-chain amino acid transferase was increased by 0.1–10 μg/L of 6-PPDQ, and leucine content was increased by bcat-1 RNAi. Additionally, the expressions of dbt-1 and ivd-1 encoding two enzyme genes governing NADH and FADH₂ generations were decreased by 0.1–10 μg/L of 6-PPDQ, and their expressions in 6-PPDQ exposed nematodes were increased by bcat-1 RNAi. After 6-PPDQ exposure, NADH content was reduced by dbt-1 RNAi, and FADH₂ content was reduced by ivd-1 RNAi. Moreover, 6-PPDQ-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and other aspects of toxicity (such as intestinal ROS generation and lipofuscin accumulation, inhibited locomotion, and reduced brood size) were suppressed by bcat-1 RNAi and strengthened by dbt-1 and ivd-1 RNAi. The 6-PPDQ-induced toxicity and the decrease in dbt-1 and ivd-1 expressions could be inhibited by following leucine (5 mM) treatment. Our results demonstrate the important association of leucine adsorption and catabolism with 6-PPDQ toxicity induction. Full article

Neurophysiological techniques, particularly somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) and electroencephalography (EEG), are essential tools for the functional and prognostic evaluation of patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness (DoC) in intensive neurorehabilitation settings. This narrative review critically analyzes the most relevant evidence regarding the use of SEPs and EEG in the management of post-comatose patients, highlighting the strategic role of physiatrists in integrating these assessments into individualized rehabilitation plans. A systematic search was conducted across major international databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cinahl, and DiTA) until December 2024, selecting consensus documents, official guidelines (including the 2021 ERC/ESICM guidelines), systematic reviews, observational studies, and significant Italian neurophysiological contributions. The literature supports the strong prognostic value of the bilateral presence of the N20 component in SEPs, while its early bilateral absence, particularly in post-anoxic cases, is a robust predictor of poor neurological outcomes. EEG provides complementary information, with continuous, reactive, and symmetrical patterns associated with favorable outcomes, while pathological patterns, such as burst suppression or isoelectric activity, predict a worse prognosis. Combining SEP and EEG assessments significantly improves prognostic sensitivity and specificity, especially in sedated or metabolically compromised patients. Additionally, the use of direct muscle stimulation (DMS) and nerve conduction studies enables accurate differentiation between central and peripheral impairments, which is crucial for effective rehabilitation planning. Overall, SEPs and EEG should be systematically incorporated into the evaluation and follow-up of DoC patients, and the acquisition of neurophysiological competencies by physiatrists represents a strategic priority for modern, effective, and personalized neurorehabilitation. Full article

Background: Professional knowledge and experience of healthcare organization went through continuous change and development with the progression of COVID-19 pandemic waves. However, carefully developed guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) remained largely unchanged regardless of the epidemic situation, with the largest change being a more prominent bioethical approach. It would be possible to further improve the quality of CPR by systematic data collection, the facilitation of prospective studies, and further development of the methodology based on this evidence, as well as by providing information and developing provisions on interventions with expected poor outcomes, and ultimately by refusing resuscitation. Methods: This study involved the critical collection and analysis of literary data originating from the Web of Science and PubMed databases concerning bioethical aspects and the efficacy of CPR during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: According to the current professional recommendation of the European Resuscitation Council (ERC), CPR should be initiated immediately in case of cardiac arrest in the absence of an exclusionary circumstance. One such circumstance is explicit refusal of CPR by a well-informed patient, which in practice takes the form of a prior declaration. ERC prescribes the following conjunctive conditions for do-not-attempt CPR (DNACPR) declarations: present, real, and applicable. It is recommended to take the declaration as a part of complex end-of-life planning, with the corresponding documentation available in an electronic database. The pandemic has brought significant changes in resuscitation practice at both lay and professional levels as well. Incidence of out-of-hospital resuscitation (OHCA) did not differ compared to the previous period, while cardiac deaths in public places almost halved during the epidemic (p < 0.001) as did the use of AEDs (p = 0.037). The number of resuscitations performed by bystanders and by the emergency medical service (EMS) also showed a significant decrease (p = 0.001), and the most important interventions (defibrillation, first adrenaline time) suffered a significant delay. Secondary survival until hospital discharge thus decreased by 50% during the pandemic period. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic provided a significant impetus to the revision of guidelines. While detailed methodology has changed only slightly compared to the previous procedures, the DNACPR declaration regarding self-determination is mentioned in the context of complex end-of-life planning. The issue of safe environment has come to the fore for both lay and trained resuscitators. Future Directions: Prospective evaluation of standardized methods can further improve the patient’s autonomy and quality of life. Since clinical data are controversial, further prospective controlled studies are needed to evaluate the real hazards of aerosol-generating procedures. Full article

Natural disasters and emergencies continue to increase in frequency and severity worldwide, necessitating robust emergency management (EM) systems and evaluation methodologies. This study addresses critical gaps in current emergency response capacity (ERC) evaluation frameworks by developing a comprehensive quantitative decision-making model to assess ERC more effectively. This research constructs a systematic ERC assessment framework based on the four phases of the disaster management cycle (DMC): prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. The methodology employs multi-criteria decision analysis to evaluate ERC using three distinct information representation environments: intuitionistic fuzzy (IF) sets, linguistic variables (LV), and a novel mixed IF-LV environment. For each environment, we derive appropriate aggregation operators, weight determination methods, and information fusion mechanisms. The proposed model was empirically validated through a case application to emergency plan selection in Shenzhen, China. A statistical analysis of results demonstrates high consistency across all three decision environments (IF, LV, and mixed IF-LV), confirming the model’s robustness and reliability. A sensitivity analysis of key parameters further validates the model’s stability. Results indicate that the proposed decision-making approach provides significant value for EM by enabling more objective, comprehensive, and flexible ERC assessment. The indicator system and evaluation methodology offer decision-makers (DMs) tools to quantitatively analyze ERC using various information expressions, accommodating both subjective judgments and objective metrics. This framework represents an important advancement in emergency preparedness assessment, supporting more informed decision-making in emergency planning and response capabilities. Full article

Background: Infections of the biliary tract are found frequently in pathologically or surgically altered bile ducts. Mostly these infections result from the ascent of bacteria or fungi from the small bowel, although hematogeneous infections of the biliary system may also occur. The biliary sphincter and the continuous flow of bile are thought to prevent or limit ascending infections. Obstructive alterations in the biliary system are the most frequent indication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC). The aim of this study was to analyze the spectrum and frequency of microbes within the bile, and discover the influence of earlier sphincterotomy. Methods: In our department, we routinely aspirate bile for microbiologic culture during ERC. For this study, all ERC performed in 2014–2018 were retrospectively analyzed, including all microbiological reports. Indications for the endoscopic examination were also recorded. In addition, the findings were correlated with whether or not a sphincterotomy had been previously performed, and whether or not there had been antibiotic treatment prior to the examination. Results: A total of 2253 successful standard ERC procedures were performed between 2014 and 2016. In 486 cases, bile was aspirated and sent for microbiologic culture. In total, 1220 bile samples were analyzed, and bacteria or fungi were found in 1029 (86.0%). Enterococci and Enterobacter were found most commonly, but E. coli, streptococci, klebsiella, and staphylococci were also found. In 11.2% of positive cultures, multiresistant pathogens were identified. In up to 29% Candida spp., most commonly, Candida albicans (68%) were also found, either alone or in conjunction with bacteria. Neither prior sphincterotomy nor the use of peri-interventional antibiotics had a major influence on the frequency with which positive bile cultures were detected. Conclusions: Aspiration of bile during ERC is of high clinical relevance, because microbiological analysis reveals the frequent presence of bacteria and fungi, knowledge of which may be useful for deciding on anti-infective treatment. Full article

Background/Objectives: Sedentary office workers (SOWs) often adopt prolonged sitting postures, which potentially disrupt the lumbar–pelvic rhythm (LPR) and contribute to lower back pain (LBP). This study aimed to clarify the group differences in LPR and related physical factors between SOWs with and without LBP. Methods: Sixty-three SOWs were divided into LBP (n = 30) and non-LBP (n = 33) groups. The lumbar flexion angle (LF) and lumbar–hip angle difference (LHD), which are indicators of LPR, were measured using inertial sensors during trunk flexion. Hip flexion muscle strength (HFMS) and hip-extension muscle strength (HEMS) were assessed using handheld dynamometry. Hip joint range of motion (ROM) was measured using a goniometer. Lumbar proprioception was evaluated via active joint repositioning, and pain and perception were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale, Oswestry Disability Index, and Fremantle Back Awareness Questionnaire. Results: Multiple regression analysis showed significantly greater LF (estimated regression coefficient [ERC]: −2.9, p < 0.05) and LHD (ERC: −5.5, p < 0.05) during early trunk flexion (ETF) in the LBP group. In the LBP group, LHD during ETF and late trunk flexion were positively correlated with HFMS, and HFMS was correlated with HEMS. Conclusions: HFMS may contribute to an altered LPR in SOWs with LBP. Full article

Background: Endoscopic treatment is one of the first-line treatments for bile leaks after hepatic surgery. However, detailed reports of endoscopic treatment for bile leaks after hepatic resection (HR) or liver transplantation (LT) are scarce. The outcomes of endoscopic treatment for bile leaks after hepatic surgery were examined, and factors related to successful treatment were identified. Methods: A total of 122 patients underwent endoscopic treatment for bile leaks after hepatic surgery. The diagnosis of a bile leak is based on the ISGLS criteria. The decision to perform endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) is made based on the amount of drainage output, laboratory data, clinical symptoms, and CT scan findings. In our study, the site of the bile leak was assessed using ERC. Endoscopic stents were placed to bridge across the bile leak site as much as possible. Otherwise, stents were placed near the leak site. Endoscopic stents were replaced every 2–3 months until an improvement in the bile leak was observed with or without biliary strictures. The outcomes of endoscopic treatment and the factors related to clinical success were evaluated. Results: Seventy-four patients with HR and forty-eight patients with LT were treated endoscopically. Technical and clinical success was achieved in 89% (109/122) and 82% (100/122) of patients, respectively. Three (2%) patients died from uncontrollable bile leaks. Bridging stent placement (p < 0.001), coexistent percutaneous drainage (p = 0.0025), and leak severity (p = 0.015) were identified as independent factors related to the clinical success of endoscopic treatment. During a median observation period of 1162 days after the achievement of clinical success, bile leak recurrence was observed in only three cases (3%). Conclusions: Endoscopic treatment is safe and effective for bile leaks after hepatic surgery. Bridging stent placement across the leak site is the most crucial factor for clinical success. Full article

In adults, expressed in renal cancer (ERC)/mesothelin is exclusively expressed in the mesothelial cells lining the pleural, pericardial, and peritoneal cavities, yet its function under physiological conditions is unknown. To explore this, we studied ERC expression in wild-type (WT) mice at different developmental stages by immunohistochemistry and analyzed the ultrastructure of the mesothelium in WT and Erc-knockout (KO) mice via electron microscopy. Additionally, cardiopulmonary function in adult WT and Erc-KO mice was assessed using echocardiography and the forced oscillation technique (FOT). During embryonic development in WT mice, ERC expression was detected in the epicardium as early as embryonic day (E)12.5 but was absent in the pleura until E18.5. The timing of expression appeared to coincide with the active maturation of these organs, which implied a potential role in cardiopulmonary development. Electron microscopy revealed that microvilli on the mesothelium of Erc-KO mice were immature compared to those of WT mice. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that ERC might contribute to cardiopulmonary function; however, echocardiography and FOT did not reveal any functional differences between WT and Erc-KO mice. This suggests that ERC has limited functional relevance under physiological conditions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a rare, incurable liver disease characterized by chronic biliary inflammation and fibrosis. PSC is a significant risk factor for biliary tract cancer (BTC). This study aims to evaluate STAT3 expression in BTC and its prognostic significance as well as explore the potential of organoids derived from PSC and liver tumor patients as an in vitro model for testing novel therapeutic strategies in both PSC and BTC. Methods: Fresh tissue samples obtained from 10 PSC patients through targeted endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) and biopsy samples from liver tumor patients were used to establish organoid cultures. Organoids were treated with different agents and the therapeutic effect was measured by CellTiterGlo. Treatment with the JAK inhibitor baricitinib was followed by the measurement of cytokine concentrations in the supernatant. Archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples from 55 surgically resected BTC tumors were analyzed for STAT3 expression using immunohistochemistry. Results: We successfully established organoid cultures from all ERC samples. STAT3 protein expression was detected in 56% of tumor samples and 69% of the immune microenvironment. STAT3 positivity in the immune cell compartment was associated with longer disease-free survival, although the multivariate analysis could not confirm its value as an independent prognostic factor. Chemotherapy testing on liver tumor organoids showed various degrees of decreases in viability after treatment with gemcitabine, cisplatin, and cabozantinib. Baricitinib treatment significantly reduced IL-6 and MCP-1 secretion in cholangiocarcinoma Conclusions: The patient-derived organoid model of PSC and liver tumors is a valuable tool for testing novel and established therapeutic strategies, including JAK inhibitors and chemotherapy regimens. STAT3 expression in the immune microenvironment of BTC may serve as a prognostic marker. Further studies are needed to explore the integration of co-cultured organoid systems with stromal and immune components to improve physiological relevance. Full article

Background/Objectives: Genodermatoses are genetic conditions with clinical symptoms manifesting in the skin and adjoining tissues, individually rare but comprising a large and heterogeneous group of disorders that represents 15% of genetic diseases. This article discusses the results of individuals with genodermatoses from a reference center for rare diseases studied through whole genome sequencing conducted by the Brazilian Rare Genomes Project between 2021 and 2023. Methods: A retrospective case series with data comprising sex, age at first assessment in the hospital, family history, clinical findings, and molecular results. Results: Excluding neurofibromatosis type 1, Ehlers–Danlos syndrome and RASopathies are discussed elsewhere. Diagnoses in this work comprised ectodermal dysplasias (n = 6), ichthyosis (n = 4), albinism (n = 4), tuberous sclerosis complex (n = 4), and incontinentia pigmenti (n = 3), in addition to 11 others with individual rare conditions. The sex ratio was 17:16 (M:F), consanguinity was present in 6/33 (18%), and the age at the first evaluation ranged from neonatal to 26 years (median 13.65 years). Negative results were 3/33 (9%), novel variants were 17/41 (41.4%), and 7/30 (23%) presented initially with a double molecular diagnosis, three confirming composed phenotypes. Conclusions: Besides reporting 17 novel variants in 14 genes (BLM, CACNA1B, EDA, ELN, ENG, ERC6, EVC2, PNPLA1, PITCH1, PORCN, SIN3A, TP63, TYR, and WNT10B), the study also identified three atypical clinical presentations due to dual diagnoses, and the c.454C>T variant in the SDR9C7 gene, previously reported only in dogs, was, for the first time, confirmed as causative for ichthyosis in humans. Full article

This study focuses on the green economic growth of marine fisheries and explores the relationship among environmental regulations (ERs), industrial structure (INS), and the green total factor productivity of marine fisheries (MGTFP). Against the backdrop of global climate change and increasing pressure on resources and the environment, a green fisheries economy has become key to achieving sustainable development. This study selects panel data from 11 coastal provinces and municipalities in China spanning from 2014 to 2023 and, through quantitative analysis, evaluates the implementation effects of ER policies on marine fisheries’ production methods, INS, and MGTFP. When measuring the MGTFP, this study innovatively incorporates fishery disaster economic losses as an undesirable output and employs the super-efficiency SBM-GML model for precise calculation. The results of the study showed that ERs was able to promote the increase in MGTFP, and the effect of REC was stronger. The mediating effect model suggests that industry structure mediates this process. The results of threshold effect analysis show that both ERC and ERM exhibit significant single-threshold effects. This study aims to provide empirical support and policy recommendations for the government to formulate more effective environmental protection policies and promote the transformation and upgrading of the marine fisheries sector, thereby fostering the green development of China’s marine fisheries. Full article