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Frontiers in Psychology 2024Belief in psi, which includes psychic phenomena such as extra-sensory perception and post-mortem survival, is widespread yet controversial. According to one of the...
INTRODUCTION
Belief in psi, which includes psychic phenomena such as extra-sensory perception and post-mortem survival, is widespread yet controversial. According to one of the leading and perhaps most tested hypotheses, high belief in psi can be explained by differences in various aspects of cognition, including cognitive styles. Most of this research has been conducted with lay individuals. Here, we tested the hypothesis that academic researchers who investigate psi may exhibit different cognitive styles than lay individuals interested in psi, and are more similar to skeptics.
METHODS
We measured two cognitive styles-actively open-minded thinking (AOT) and the need for closure (NFC)-and assessed differences among four heterogeneous groups regarding belief in psi and involvement in related research. Specifically, our study included academic psi researchers ( = 44), lay individuals who believe in psi ( = 32), academics who are skeptics of psi ( = 35), and lay individuals who are skeptics ( = 33).
RESULTS
We found group differences in AOT ( = 0.003) but not in NFC scores ( = 0.67). tests showed no significant difference in AOT scores between academics who conduct psi research (4.5 ± 0.3) and academic skeptics (4.5 ± 0.3; = 0.91) or lay skeptics (4.5 ± 0.4; = 0.80). The lay psi group had significantly lower AOT scores (4.2 ± 0.4) than the other three groups (s: 0.005-0.04), indicating a decreased willingness to consider a range of evidence when forming an opinion, including evidence that challenges their beliefs. AOT was negatively associated with psi belief in the two skeptic groups combined ( = -0.29, = 0.01), but not in the psi groups ( = -0.03, = 0.78).
DISCUSSION
Our research shows that academics who work with psi differ from lay psi individuals, but not from skeptics, in actively open-minded thinking. In other words, despite their high belief in psi phenomena, psi researchers demonstrate a commitment to sound reasoning about evidence that is no different from that of skeptics.
PubMed: 38947901
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1398121 -
Frontiers in Oncology 2024Treatment intensification with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPi) have led to improved survival in advanced prostate...
Treatment intensification with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPi) have led to improved survival in advanced prostate cancer. However, ADT is linked to significant cardiovascular toxicity, and ARPi also negatively impacts cardiovascular health. Together with a higher prevalence of baseline cardiovascular risk factors reported among prostate cancer survivors at diagnosis, there is a pressing need to prioritise and optimise cardiovascular health in this population. Firstly, While no dedicated cardiovascular toxicity risk calculators are available, other tools such as SCORE2 can be used for baseline cardiovascular risk assessment. Next, selected patients on combination therapy may benefit from de-escalation of ADT to minimise its toxicities while maintaining cancer control. These patients can be characterised by an exceptional PSA response to hormonal treatment, favourable disease characteristics and competing comorbidities that warrant a less aggressive treatment regime. In addition, emerging molecular and genomic biomarkers hold the potential to identify patients who are suited for a de-escalated treatment approach either with ADT or with ARPi. One such biomarker is AR-V7 splice variant that predicts resistance to ARPi. Lastly, optimization of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors for patients through a coherent framework (ABCDE) and exercise therapy is equally important. This article aims to comprehensively review the cardiovascular impact of hormonal manipulation in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, propose overarching strategies to mitigate cardiovascular toxicity associated with hormonal treatment, and, most importantly, raise awareness about the detrimental cardiovascular effects inherent in our current management strategies involving hormonal agents.
PubMed: 38947889
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1386597 -
Open Life Sciences 2024Membrane-associated proteins are important membrane readers that mediate and facilitate the signaling and trafficking pathways in eukaryotic membrane-bound compartments.... (Review)
Review
Membrane-associated proteins are important membrane readers that mediate and facilitate the signaling and trafficking pathways in eukaryotic membrane-bound compartments. The protein members in the Phafin family are membrane readers containing two phosphoinositide recognition domains: the Pleckstrin Homology domain and the FYVE (Fab1, YOTB, Vac1, and early endosome antigen 1) domain. Phafin proteins, categorized into two subfamilies, Phafin1 and Phafin2, associate with cellular membranes through interactions involving membrane-embedded phosphoinositides and phosphoinositide-binding domains. These membrane-associated Phafin proteins play pivotal roles by recruiting binding partners and forming complexes, which contribute significantly to apoptotic, autophagic, and macropinocytotic pathways. Elevated expression levels of Phafin1 and Phafin2 are observed in various cancers. A recent study highlights a significant increase in Phafin1 protein levels in the lungs of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients compared to normal subjects, suggesting a crucial role for Phafin1 in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. Additionally, phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate-binding 2 (Pib2), a close relative of the Phafin1 protein, functions as an amino acid sensor activating the TOCR1 pathway in yeasts. This review focuses on delineating the involvement of Phafin proteins in cellular signaling and their implications in diseases and briefly discusses the latest research findings concerning Pib2.
PubMed: 38947768
DOI: 10.1515/biol-2022-0896 -
Endoscopic Ultrasound 2024Artificial intelligence (AI) is an epoch-making technology, among which the 2 most advanced parts are machine learning and deep learning algorithms that have been... (Review)
Review
Artificial intelligence (AI) is an epoch-making technology, among which the 2 most advanced parts are machine learning and deep learning algorithms that have been further developed by machine learning, and it has been partially applied to assist EUS diagnosis. AI-assisted EUS diagnosis has been reported to have great value in the diagnosis of pancreatic tumors and chronic pancreatitis, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, esophageal early cancer, biliary tract, and liver lesions. The application of AI in EUS diagnosis still has some urgent problems to be solved. First, the development of sensitive AI diagnostic tools requires a large amount of high-quality training data. Second, there is overfitting and bias in the current AI algorithms, leading to poor diagnostic reliability. Third, the value of AI still needs to be determined in prospective studies. Fourth, the ethical risks of AI need to be considered and avoided.
PubMed: 38947752
DOI: 10.1097/eus.0000000000000053 -
Endoscopic Ultrasound 2024EUS-guided portal pressure gradient (PPG) is a novel technique that permits a true, direct measure of portal vein pressure and hepatic vein pressure. This article...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
EUS-guided portal pressure gradient (PPG) is a novel technique that permits a true, direct measure of portal vein pressure and hepatic vein pressure. This article details our experience and lessons learned from 20 consecutive outpatient EUS-PPG procedures performed at a single center, along with simultaneous EUS-guided liver biopsy, variceal screening, and variceal banding.
METHODS
Data on the first 20 patients who underwent EUS-PPG at a single center were retrospectively viewed and analyzed. The effects of various liver diseases or other patient-related factors on the clinical and technical success of EUS-PPG measurements, as well as EUS-guided liver biopsy (EUS-LB), were evaluated. During the procedure, if esophageal varices were encountered, they were assessed, and if felt to be clinically indicated, endoscopic variceal ligation was performed.
RESULTS
The 20 patients included 10 male and 10 female patients. All procedures were technically successful. In all patients, the portal vein and hepatic veins could be easily identified. One adverse event of bleeding occurred during the EUS-PPG measuring procedure. All 20 EUS-LBs were technically successful and yielded adequate samples for histological evaluations, with an average of 25 complete portal tracts per sample. Among patients with esophageal varices, 40% of patients underwent banding. The mean EUS-PPG among 5 patients with esophageal varices was 11.6 mm Hg, compared with 3.2 mm Hg among 15 patients without esophageal varices.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrates that EUS-PPG is a novel, safe, reproducible, and effective technique. Also, the fact that EUS-PPG, EUS-LB, variceal screening, and variceal banding could be performed in 1 session and on an outpatient basis speaks to the growing relevance and impact of the nascent field of endohepatology.
PubMed: 38947750
DOI: 10.1097/eus.0000000000000030 -
Endoscopic Ultrasound 2024To compare the efficacy of EUS-guided celiac plexus neurolysis (CPN) and celiac plexus irradiation with iodine-125 (I) seeds with absolute ethanol for relieving pain in...
Clinical efficacy of EUS-guided celiac plexus neurolysis EUS-guided celiac ganglion irradiation with iodine-125 seeds for pain relief in advanced pancreatic cancer: A long-term retrospective study.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy of EUS-guided celiac plexus neurolysis (CPN) and celiac plexus irradiation with iodine-125 (I) seeds with absolute ethanol for relieving pain in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed data of 81 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who underwent EUS-CPN or EUS-I implantation between January 2017 and December 2020. Postoperative pain was assessed using visual analog scale (VAS) scores; self-assessments of quality of life and the median survival time were compared between the 2 groups.
RESULTS
EUS-CPN and I implantation were performed in 43 and 38 patients, respectively. Postoperative VAS scores were significantly lower than the preoperative levels in both groups. One week after the operation, 26 patients (60.5%) in the EUS-CPN group achieved partial pain relief, whereas no patients in the EUS-I seed group experienced pain relief. However, after 4 weeks postoperatively, VAS scores had decreased, and the rate of partial pain relief was higher for EUS-I seeds than for EUS-CPN. Self-assessments of quality of life were similar in both groups during the first 1 month after the procedure.
CONCLUSIONS
Both EUS-CPN and EUS-I seeds can safely and effectively relieve pain in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Although EUS-I seeds take additional time to show effects, the extent and duration of pain relief are better compared with CPN, and interestingly, the median survival time was different.
PubMed: 38947749
DOI: 10.1097/eus.0000000000000048 -
Endoscopic Ultrasound 2024EUS interventions have an increasing role in the treatment for hepatobiliary-pancreatic diseases. However, the procedure itself is not frequently performed, needs... (Review)
Review
EUS interventions have an increasing role in the treatment for hepatobiliary-pancreatic diseases. However, the procedure itself is not frequently performed, needs expertise, and carries a high risk of complications. With these limitations, the hands-on practice model is very important for the endoscopist in training for EUS intervention. There have been various hands-on models for EUS interventions, ranging from living pig model to all-synthetic model. Although a living model provides realistic sensation, the preparation is complex and increases concerns for zoonotic issues. All-synthetic models are easier to prepare and store but not realistic and still need the room for improvement. Hybrid model is more widely available and provides various training procedures but still needs special preparation for the porcine tissue.
PubMed: 38947748
DOI: 10.1097/eus.0000000000000046 -
Endoscopic Ultrasound 2024Rare malignant mesenchymal pancreatic tumors are systematized and reported in this review. The focus is on the appearance on imaging. The present overview summarizes the... (Review)
Review
Comments and illustrations of the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine guidelines: Rare pancreatic tumors, ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound features-Malignant mesenchymal tumors.
Rare malignant mesenchymal pancreatic tumors are systematized and reported in this review. The focus is on the appearance on imaging. The present overview summarizes the data and shows that not every pancreatic tumor corresponds to the most common entities of ductal adenocarcinoma or neuroendocrine tumor.
PubMed: 38947746
DOI: 10.1097/eus.0000000000000054 -
Endoscopic Ultrasound 2024Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the third cause of cancer-related deaths. Early detection and interception of premalignant pancreatic lesions represent a promising strategy to...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the third cause of cancer-related deaths. Early detection and interception of premalignant pancreatic lesions represent a promising strategy to improve outcomes. We evaluated risk factors of focal pancreatic lesions (FPLs) in asymptomatic individuals at hereditary high risk for PC.
METHODS
This is an observational single-institution cohort study conducted over a period of 5 years. Surveillance was performed through imaging studies (EUS or magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography) and serum biomarkers. We collected demographic characteristics and used univariate and multivariate logistic regression models to evaluate associations between potential risk factors and odd ratios (ORs) for FPL development.
RESULTS
A total of 205 patients completed baseline screening. Patients were followed up to 53 months. We detected FPL in 37 patients (18%) at baseline; 2 patients had lesions progression during follow-up period, 1 of them to PC. Furthermore, 13 patients developed new FPLs during the follow-up period. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that new-onset diabetes (NOD) is strongly associated with the presence of FPL (OR, 10.94 [95% confidence interval, 3.01-51.79; < 0.001]; OR, 9.98 [95% confidence interval, 2.15-46.33; = 0.003]). Follow-up data analysis revealed that NOD is also predictive of lesions progression or development of new lesions during screening (26.7% 2.6%; = 0.005).
CONCLUSIONS
In a PC high-risk cohort, NOD is significantly associated with presence of FPL at baseline and predictive of lesions progression or new lesions during surveillance.
PubMed: 38947744
DOI: 10.1097/eus.0000000000000057 -
Endoscopic Ultrasound 2024Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) imaging is a valuable tool for predicting lymph node (LN) metastasis in lung cancer patients. This study aimed to develop a risk-scoring...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) imaging is a valuable tool for predicting lymph node (LN) metastasis in lung cancer patients. This study aimed to develop a risk-scoring model based on EBUS multimodal imaging (grayscale, Doppler mode, elastography) to predict LN metastasis in lung cancer patients.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
This retrospective study analyzed 350 metastatic LNs in 314 patients with lung cancer and 124 reactive LNs in 96 patients with nonspecific inflammation. The sonographic findings were compared with the final pathology results and clinical follow-up. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the independent risk factors of metastatic LNs. According to the coefficients of corresponding indicators in logistic regression analysis, a risk-scoring model was established. Receiver operating characteristic curve was applied to evaluate the predictive capability of model.
RESULTS
Multivariate analysis showed that short axis >10 mm, distinct margin, absence of central hilar structure, presence of necrosis, nonhilar vascularity, and elastography score 4 to 5 were independent predictors of metastatic LNs. Both short axis and margin were scored 1 point, and the rest of independent predictors were scored 2 points. The combination of 3 EBUS modes had the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic and accuracy of 0.884 (95% confidence interval, 0.846-0.922) and 87.55%, respectively. The risk stratification was as follows: 0 to 2 points, malignancy rate of 11.11%, low suspicion; 3 to 10 points, malignancy rate of 86.77%, high suspicion.
CONCLUSIONS
The risk-scoring model based on EBUS multimodal imaging can effectively evaluate metastatic LNs in lung cancer patients to support clinical decision making.
PubMed: 38947743
DOI: 10.1097/eus.0000000000000051