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Journal of Cancer 2024Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the predominant malignancy of the digestive tract, ranks as the third most common cause of cancer-related mortality globally,...
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the predominant malignancy of the digestive tract, ranks as the third most common cause of cancer-related mortality globally, significantly impeding human health and lifespan. Emerging immunotherapeutic approaches have ignited fresh optimism for patient outcomes. This investigation probes the link between 731 immune cell phenotypes and HCC through Mendelian Randomization and single-cell sequencing, aiming to unearth viable drug targets and dissect HCC's etiology. We conducted an exhaustive two-sample Mendelian Randomization analysis to ascertain the causal links between immune cell features and HCC, utilizing publicly accessible genetic datasets to explore the causal connections of 731 immune cell traits with HCC susceptibility. The integrity, diversity, and potential horizontal pleiotropy of these findings were rigorously assessed through extensive sensitivity analyses. Furthermore, single-cell sequencing was employed to penetrate the pathogenic underpinnings of HCC. Establishing a significance threshold of pval_Inverse.variance.weighted at 0.05, our study pinpointed five immune characteristics potentially elevating HCC risk: B cell % CD3- lymphocyte (TBNK panel), CD25 on IgD+ (B cell panel), HVEM on TD CD4+ (Maturation stages of T cell panel), CD14 on CD14+ CD16- monocyte (Monocyte panel), CD4 on CD39+ activated Treg ( Treg panel). Conversely, various cellular phenotypes tied to BAFF-R expression emerged as protective elements. Single-cell sequencing unveiled profound immune cell phenotype interactions, highlighting marked disparities in cell communication and metabolic activities. Leveraging MR and scRNA-seq techniques, our study elucidates potential associations between 731 immune cell phenotypes and HCC, offering a window into the molecular interplays among cellular phenotypes, and addressing the limitations of mono-antibody therapeutic targets.
PubMed: 38947379
DOI: 10.7150/jca.96744 -
The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine Jun 2024In the Netherlands, one out of two people will be confronted with the diagnosis of cancer sometime in their life. Against this increased number of patients, a large... (Review)
Review
In the Netherlands, one out of two people will be confronted with the diagnosis of cancer sometime in their life. Against this increased number of patients, a large proportion luckily can be cured. Today, a rather high proportion of people receive treatment to control cancer growth or stabilize the disease, sometimes, for the rest of their lives. If such long-standing treatment is administered for more than 10-20 years, the stage of cancer is presently often not referred to as "palliative" anymore, but much more often as "chronic." It could be argued that regardless of the cancer disease stage you are in and whether you are or can be cured, your cancer diagnosis nevertheless has become part of your life, including the experience of chronicity. Discussions surrounding the chronicity of cancer in the context of cancer are still ongoing. This is especially the case because "experiencing chronicity" is dependent on the type of cancer and is less applicable in cancers where the prognosis is often less than one year, such as is more frequently the case with lung or pancreatic cancer. In all situations, experiencing chronicity nevertheless brings along uncertainty, either with or without chronic stress. Combatting stress by choosing the right wording, maintaining an optimistic stance along with physical activity and/or psychosocial education seems important to optimize well-being and to stabilize tumor growth or remove the tumor. In conclusion, chronicity in the context of treating and caring for cancer seems a somewhat gray area. However, regardless in how we, as medical professionals, speak about cancer with long-standing disease trajectories (that sometimes even can be cured), it first of all seems important to approach, take care, and treat patients well. This can facilitate discussions with patients about their disease and disease experiences. Moreover, it can stimulate patients themselves to take responsibility for their own health, which can be of added value to the entire disease trajectory.
Topics: Humans; Neoplasms; Netherlands
PubMed: 38947106
DOI: 10.59249/FQVX3500 -
Acta Psychologica Jun 2024In a context marked by teachers' shortage, prioritizing teachers' well-being emerges as one of the factors that can encourage them to stay in the profession. Well-being...
In a context marked by teachers' shortage, prioritizing teachers' well-being emerges as one of the factors that can encourage them to stay in the profession. Well-being is a multidimensional concept and difficult to define and measure. Moreover, its link with Psychological Capital (PsyCap), a concept that includes personal psychological resources (hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism) (Luthans & Youssef, 2004), has received little attention in the educational sciences. The main objective of this paper is therefore to investigate the links between these two concepts from a theoretical point of view in psychology and educational sciences. For this purpose, the scoping review methodology (Tricco et al., 2018) is mobilized to identify research issues, methodological questions, and the various links between well-being and PsyCap. Based on a systematic review of 376 bibliographic references conducted in the main databases in psychology and educational sciences, 32 articles were selected analysed. The data extracted indicate that these concepts particularly affect teachers (42.11 % of subjects concerned, N = 42,750). In addition, all the sources selected report significant and positive statistical links between well-being and PsyCap. These results suggest possible avenues for research on teachers' well-being.
PubMed: 38943874
DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104370 -
Practical Radiation Oncology 2024
Topics: Radiation Oncology; Humans; Optimism; Internship and Residency
PubMed: 38942569
DOI: 10.1016/j.prro.2024.04.007 -
The Lancet. Diabetes & Endocrinology Jun 2024Osteoporotic fractures are a major health challenge in older adults. Despite the availability of safe and effective therapies for osteoporosis, these therapies are... (Review)
Review
Osteoporotic fractures are a major health challenge in older adults. Despite the availability of safe and effective therapies for osteoporosis, these therapies are underused in individuals at high risk for fracture, calling for better case-finding and fracture risk assessment strategies. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) hold promise for enhancing identification of individuals at high risk for fracture by distilling useful features from high-dimensional data derived from medical records, imaging, and wearable devices. AI-ML could enable automated opportunistic screening for vertebral fractures and osteoporosis, home-based monitoring and intervention targeting lifestyle factors, and integration of multimodal features to leverage fracture prediction, ultimately aiding improved fracture risk assessment and individualised treatment. Optimism must be balanced with consideration for the explainability of AI-ML models, biases (including information inequity in numerically under-represented populations), model limitations, and net clinical benefit and workload impact. Clinical integration of AI-ML algorithms has the potential to transform osteoporosis management, offering a more personalised approach to reduce the burden of osteoporotic fractures.
PubMed: 38942044
DOI: 10.1016/S2213-8587(24)00153-0 -
Telemedicine Journal and E-health : the... Jun 2024With the rapid advancement of technology, online health care services are becoming increasingly prominent. This study aims to investigate medical students' perceptions,...
With the rapid advancement of technology, online health care services are becoming increasingly prominent. This study aims to investigate medical students' perceptions, attitudes, and readiness to adopt online health care services. Based on a literature review, this study constructed a conceptual model describing the relationships among medical students' perception, personality traits, and usage intention, grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model and Technology Readiness Index (TRI). The data for this study were collected from January to February 2023 through a questionnaire survey at Wenzhou Medical University, China. The proposed hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling through AMOS software. Out of the 340 respondents, 281 (82.6%) validly responded. Among these, 58.4% of medical students agreed and strongly agreed with the intention to become an online doctor. Within the TRI's motivational factors, optimism positively and significantly affected perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEOU). Innovativeness also significantly enhanced PEOU. Among the inhibitory factors, insecurity was found to have a negative and statistically significant influence on PU. The rest of the dimensions did not have a significant effect on either PU or PEOU. Importantly, both PU and PEOU demonstrated a direct and substantial effect on usage intention. This study emphasizes the significance of comprehending medical students' readiness to adopt the role of online doctors in shaping the future of health care. By equipping medical students with the necessary skills and competencies, health care institutions can effectively leverage the full potential of online health care services while ensuring the provision of high-quality, accessible, and patient-centered care in the digital era.
PubMed: 38938217
DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2023.0579 -
The British Journal of General Practice... Jul 2024
Topics: Humans; General Practice; Artificial Intelligence; Optimism
PubMed: 38936857
DOI: 10.3399/bjgp24X738525 -
Journal of Immunological Methods Jun 2024Acute rejection (AR) undermines the life-extending benefits of kidney transplantation and is diagnosed using the invasive biopsy procedure. T cell-mediated rejection...
INTRODUCTION
Acute rejection (AR) undermines the life-extending benefits of kidney transplantation and is diagnosed using the invasive biopsy procedure. T cell-mediated rejection (TCMR), antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR), or concurrent TCMR + ABMR (Mixed Rejection [MR]) are the three major types of AR. Development of noninvasive biomarkers diagnostic of AR due to any of the three types is a useful addition to the diagnostic armamentarium.
METHODS
We developed customized RT-qPCR assays and measured urinary cell mRNA copy numbers in 145 biopsy-matched urine samples from 126 kidney allograft recipients. We determined whether the urinary cell three-gene signature diagnostic of TCMR (Suthanthiran et al., 2013) discriminates patients with no rejection biopsies (NR, n = 50) from those with ABMR (n = 28) or MR (n = 20) biopsies.
RESULTS
The urinary cell three-gene signature discriminated all three types of rejection biopsies from NR biopsies (P < 0.0001, One-way ANOVA). Dunnett's multiple comparisons test yielded P < 0.0001 for NR vs. TCMR; P < 0.001 for NR vs. ABMR; and P < 0.0001 for NR vs. MR. By bootstrap resampling, optimism-corrected area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.749 (bias-corrected 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.638 to 0.840) for NR vs. TCMR (P < 0.0001); 0.780 (95% CI, 0.656 to 0.878) for NR vs. ABMR (P < 0.0001); and 0.857 (95% CI, 0.727 to 0.947) for NR vs. MR (P < 0.0001). All three rejection categories were distinguished from NR biopsies with similar accuracy (all AUC comparisons P > 0.05).
CONCLUSION
The urinary cell three-gene signature score discriminates AR due to TCMR, ABMR or MR from NR biopsies in human kidney allograft recipients.
PubMed: 38936464
DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2024.113714 -
Psychological Trauma : Theory,... Jun 2024To longitudinally estimate the prevalence and predictors of potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) and posttraumatic embitterment disorder (PTED) and in U.K....
OBJECTIVE
To longitudinally estimate the prevalence and predictors of potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) and posttraumatic embitterment disorder (PTED) and in U.K. health and social care workers (HSCWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, to investigate the mechanism by which PMIEs increase embitterment by lowering personal belief in procedural justice, that is, the belief that they experience fair processes.
METHOD
An online longitudinal survey was hosted on Qualtrics between September-October 2020 and September-November 2021. Using Prolific, 400 HSCWs aged 18 or above and working in the United Kingdom during the pandemic were recruited. PMIEs were assessed using the Moral Injury Events Scale, and PTED was assessed using the PTED self-rating scale. Potential predictors were measured using surveys of exposure to occupational stressors, optimism, pessimism, self-esteem, resilient coping style, consideration of future consequences, and personal just world beliefs.
RESULTS
Seventy-one percent of participants experienced at least one COVID-related PMIE and 20% displayed clinically relevant signs of PTED at Time 2 in 2021. Exposure to occupational stressors increased the risk of experiencing PMIEs and PTED, whereas personal belief in a procedurally just world protected against transgressions by others and betrayal PMIEs. Self-esteem was protective, and a resilient coping style was a risk for experiencing betrayal. PMIEs increased embitterment by lowering personal belief in procedural justice over a 12-month period.
CONCLUSIONS
PMIEs and PTED are being experienced by U.K. HSCWs in 2020 and 2021, particularly in those exposed to work-related stressors. Exposure to PMIEs increases the risk of embitterment by lowering belief in procedural justice. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
PubMed: 38934936
DOI: 10.1037/tra0001723 -
Frontiers in Medicine 2024The aim of this study is to determine the steps of a training program utilizing Head-Mounted Display (HMD) based Virtual Reality Technology to enhance nursing students'...
Designing and implementing a training program on surgical hand scrubbing, wearing surgical cap and surgical mask, gowning, and gloving using HMD-based virtual reality technologies for nursing students: an exploration of student perceptions.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to determine the steps of a training program utilizing Head-Mounted Display (HMD) based Virtual Reality Technology to enhance nursing students' skills in surgical hand scrubbing, wearing surgical cap and surgical mask, gowning and gloving, and to evaluate students' perceptions toward the program.
METHODS
The study aimed to investigate the potential applications of HMD-Based Virtual Reality Technology in Surgical Hand Scrubbing, Wearing Surgical Cap and Surgical Mask, Gowning and Gloving Program for nursing students, as well as students' perceptions toward this technology. The research was conducted with a focus group consisting of second-year nursing students in Osmaniye/Turkey, between January and June 2022, and the training program was implemented in five stages: Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation. The program was evaluated with a focus group of nursing students. Focus group discussions were conducted to provide insights into students' experiences, feedback, and perceptions of the program.
RESULTS
A vast majority of participants (92.5%) reported feeling fully immersed in the operating room environment during the virtual reality (VR) experience. Notably, all students acknowledged the potential of HMD-Based Virtual Reality Technology to enrich their understanding of surgical hand scrubbing, wearing surgical cap and surgical mask, gowning and gloving procedures, surpassing conventional instructional models. While many participants found the experience exhilarating (85.1%), a considerable portion reported a decline in engagement after repeated exposures (88.8%). Overall, participants welcomed the integration of VR technology into education, expressing optimism about its capacity to facilitate additional instructional modules (74.4%). Moreover, they conveyed satisfaction with the opportunity to engage with the VR application, emphasizing its significant educational value (81.4%).
CONCLUSION
Based on these findings, we can suggest that virtual reality technology has the potential to have an impact on nursing students' education. The majority of students expressing a sense of presence in the operating room highlights the value of this method in education. However, the reported boredom after repeated experiences by most participants underscores the importance of diversifying the program and introducing innovative approaches to keep students engaged.
PubMed: 38933115
DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1364465