Global Database Research Articles

Mortality Patterns in Candidemia: Insights from a Multispecies Analysis Using a Global Research Network.

Understanding the impact of different Candida species on patient outcomes is crucial for effective management and treatment strategies. This study aims to comprehensively analyze the association between Candida species and mortality in documented candidemia. We queried TriNetX, a global research network database, to identify patients diagnosed with candidemia through polymerase chain reaction from 2020-2023. The primary outcome was mortality in candidemia patients, categorized by Candida species at 90 days and one year. The time to death was assessed using Kaplan-Meier plots. Cox proportional hazard (PH) models were also used for comparative analysis, unadjusted and adjusted for demographic and comorbidity covariates. We captured 1,234 candidemia episodes during the study period. The 90-day and 1-year mortality rates for the various Candida species were as follows: C. tropicalis (33.9% and 35.6%), C. glabrata (28.3% and 34%), multispecies (27.7% and 36.4%), C. parapsilosis (25.8% and 31.8%), C. krusei (21.4% and 28.6%), C. albicans (21.1% and 23.9%), and C. auris (13.3% and 15.9%). The unadjusted Kaplan-Meier Survival analysis showed that multispecies candidemia, followed by C. tropicalis, had the lowest survival. The adjusted multivariable Cox PH model found that C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, and multispecies candidemia had significantly higher mortality rates than C. auris. Age and a higher Charlson comorbidity index value emerged as independent predictors of increased mortality. Among patients with candidemia, we found an overall 1-year mortality of 28%. Multispecies candidemia, C. tropicalis, older age, and a higher comorbidity burden were associated with the highest mortality rates.

Machine learning reveals CAT gene as a novel potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer

BackgroundNon-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents one of the most prevalent forms of lung cancer, with a five-year survival rate of 21.7%. There is an urgent need to identify pertinent biomarkers to inform the diagnosis and prognosis of tumors, particularly those that can be applied to different age groups. Herein, we would apply machine learning methods to specifically analyze the issue of biomarker applicability across different age groups in NSCLC.MethodsStudies have shown a higher incidence of NSCLC in people over 40 years of age, and due to the limitations of data set, studies of individuals under 40 years of age were not included in this study. To simulate the human aging model as closely as possible, we gathered corresponding non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) samples from the UCSC Xena database based on patient age information. These samples were then categorized into three groups: 40–60, 60–80, and over 80 years old. Subsequently, we employed four machine learning methods—Random Forest, LASSO regression analysis, XGBoost, and GBM—to identify gene sets with significant diagnostic value for each age group. By taking the intersection of these sets, we identified the optimal gene and assessed its prognostic significance in NSCLC. Then, the diagnostic value of CAT gene was validated using global public databases, including the GSE32863, GSE43458, GSE68571, GSE10072, and GSE63459 datasets from the Americas, the GSE30219 and GSE102511 datasets from Europe, and the GSE31210 and GSE19804 datasets from Asia. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining was performed in an independent cohort from a tissue microarray. Additionally, cell culture and RT-qPCR were employed for external validation.ResultsThrough the implementation of machine learning methods, we successfully identified the catalase (CAT) gene. Our analysis revealed that individuals with high expression of the CAT gene experienced improved survival rates. Additionally, these individuals exhibited elevated immune scores. We further discovered that the CAT gene synergizes with multiple components of neutrophils, including TLRs, FcRn, and the selective GEF of Rho-family GTPases. In addition, we identified a potential immune checkpoint, TNFSF15, which is applicable to the human aging model. Finally, we validated the CAT gene's diagnostic value using databases encompassing the Americas, Europe, and Asia regions. Through external RT-qPCR validation, we verified that CAT expression in BEAS-2B was higher than that of A549. In an independent human cohort, we also verified that CAT is lowly expressed in lung cancer tissues. In addition, higher CAT levels were associated with improved survival in the 40–60 and 60–80 age groups.ConclusionsIn our analysis of the NSCLC database, we pinpointed the CAT gene, which holds promise for potential diagnostic and prognostic applications in the context of human aging. Furthermore, it may offer insights into addressing age-related heterogeneity of NSCLC.

Leaf functional traits highlight phenotypic variation of two tree species in the urban environment

Urbanization is transforming landscapes globally, altering environmental conditions that affect ecosystem functioning, particularly in urban areas where trees are crucial for regulating microclimates, improving air quality, and sustaining biodiversity. This study investigates the environmental differences and tree leaf structure and morphology in urban and suburban sites in the Chicago Metropolitan Region. The leaf functional traits of Norway Maple and Little − leaved Linden were studied in three locations in the summer of 2023: an urban park (University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL), a suburban park (Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL), and a suburban residential site (Lombard, IL). The urban site had higher daytime and nighttime air, and land surface temperatures compared to the suburban sites with significant fluctuations observed across the sites. Cumulative growing degree days, a measure of potential photosynthetically active days, were also higher in the urban park than in the suburban sites between March and August. Norway Maple trees growing in the urban site displayed higher specific leaf area (SLA) and lower leaf dry matter content (LDMC) than in the suburban sites, resulting in thinner leaves. Similarly, Little−leaved Linden trees in the suburban residential site displayed higher SLA and lower LDMC than those in the suburban park. The values of gas exchange traits − namely photosynthetic assimilation, transpiration rates, and stomatal conductance − of Norway Maple were higher at the urban site compared to suburban sites as temperatures increased during the summer. Norway Maple gas exchange values decreased as the growing season progressed, as expected by ontogeny. In contrast, Little−leaved Linden maintained similar leaf gas exchange values throughout the growing season. Both species in the urban site exhibited lower instantaneous water use efficiency and reduced LDMC, suggesting greater water loss in response to elevated temperatures compared to suburban park and residential sites. Comparisons with existing global trait databases emphasize the need for localized data to accurately capture site−specific responses. Although some traits aligned with database values, others deviated significantly, underscoring the importance of comprehensive, site−specific datasets for robust ecosystem modeling and management strategies.

Mapping sustainable development goals to citizen science projects–a comparative evaluation of automatic classifiers

AbstractTraditional data sources provide insufficient knowledge for measuring the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Data related to SDGs are sourced primarily from global databases maintained by international organizations, national statistical offices and other government agencies. Recent studies show the value of using data from Citizen Science (CS) for assessing the SDGs. There is an important online presence of CS programs, professional networks for CS and online communities of citizen scientists, leading to the generation of several CS platforms. In this context, the role of computational data science is key. This paper explores and exemplifies opportunities for combining web-data mining techniques and automatic classifiers to enhance the understanding of the inter-relation between CS and the SDGs. An analysis of different automatic classifiers is presented by comparing the results obtained from their application in a sample of 208 CS project descriptions. The results of this study indicate the benefits and limitations of these techniques (nCoder, ESA, OSDG and BERT), but also provides a discussion of the potential benefits of using data from CS projects to map the 17 SDGs.

Assessing the Public Health Consequences of Terrorist Attacks on Telecommunications Infrastructure: A Global Analysis.

This study investigates the public health implications of terrorist attacks on telecommunications infrastructure globally, assessing the direct and indirect impacts on emergency response and medical services. Utilizing retrospective analysis, this research delves into incidents recorded in the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) from 1970 to 2020. The study employs descriptive statistical methods to identify patterns and examine the regional distribution and frequency of these attacks, alongside the types of weaponry used and the direct casualties involved. The analysis underscores a significant focus on telecommunications by terrorist groups, revealing a frequent use of high-impact weapons like explosives and incendiary devices aimed at maximizing disruption. The study highlights considerable regional variations in the frequency and nature of attacks, emphasizing the strategic importance of these infrastructures to public safety and health systems. The findings demonstrate the critical need for robust security enhancements tailored to regional threats and the integration of advanced technologies in public safety strategies. The research advocates for enhanced international cooperation and policymaking to mitigate the impacts of these attacks, ensuring telecommunications resilience in the face of global terrorism.

The integrate geomorphological, morphotectonics investigations using remote sensing data from space as the basis for the efficiency increasing of geological works

The underestimation of the integrated application of geomorphological, morphotectonic information and materials of space remote data during a geological research, the geological survey and predictive-prospecting work significantly reduces their effectiveness. The imperfection of the geomorphological researches methodology focused on the study of territories relief as a collection of surfaces of geological bodies is one of the possible reasons for this. Perspectives opens the transition to the research of landforms and geological structures, bodies in their unity, as three-dimensional, volumetric objects. Fundamentally new opportunities for studying the geology of the seas and oceans bottom are associated, in particular, with the visualization of digital 3D relief models created on the basis of the global bathymetric database GEBCO 2014 (http ://Ocean3dproects...), regional echo-depth-sounder metering’s maps, altimetry materials and remote sensing of the Earth from space. The topicality of such investigations is also due to the fact determined that plate tectonics cannot explain many features of the structure of the Earth and individual regions relief. A number of examples show that modern geomorphology combined with methods of remote sensing from space and computerization should be considered as one of the necessary disciplines for geological mapping and work aimed at solving various geological problems. The further common development of the planet relief sciences (geomorphology + morphotectonics) determines the need to train geomorphologists at both geographical and geological faculties of universities.

The Role of Innovation Management in Driving Educational Technology Adoption in Emerging Economies

The rapid socio-economic changes in emerging economies demand integrating educational technologies to improve learning outcomes and prepare students for the globalized economy. The successful adoption of these technologies relies on effective innovation management, which must address challenges such as limited infrastructure and varying technological literacy levels. This research investigates the role of innovation management in facilitating the adoption of educational technologies in emerging economies. It aims to identify strategies to overcome barriers to technology integration in education and analyze their impact on academic outcomes. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative data from global databases such as the World Bank's EdStats and UNESCO's Institute for Statistics with qualitative insights from interviews and case studies in selected emerging economies, including India, Kenya, Brazil, and Nigeria. Statistical analyses revealed a positive correlation between the Innovation Support Index and the Educational Technology Adoption Rate. For instance, India and Brazil demonstrated higher adoption rates (78% and 80%, respectively) corresponding to robust innovation support systems. In contrast, countries with lower innovation indices, like Nigeria, showed significantly lower adoption rates (50%). The study concludes that strategic innovation management is critical for driving the successful adoption of educational technologies in emerging economies. It emphasizes the need for policymakers and academic leaders to prioritize the development of innovation support systems to foster a conducive environment for technology integration. Strengthening innovation support systems significantly enhances the adoption of educational technologies, offering a pathway to improved educational equity and economic growth in these regions.

P47 Pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to guselkumab: review of cases reported to the manufacturer’s global safety database

Abstract Data on the use of biologics during pregnancy are limited. Guselkumab, a human IgG1λ monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis (PsO) and active psoriatic arthritis (PsA), is in clinical development for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). As IgG1λ antibodies can cross the placental barrier, we assessed pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women exposed to guselkumab. Cumulative data from the Janssen Global Safety Database reported through 12 July 2023 were summarized descriptively for medically confirmed and unconfirmed pregnancies with maternal exposure to guselkumab <3 months before conception, during or after first trimester (T1 or T2/T3), or any time during confirmed pregnancy. Pregnancy outcomes included live births with/without congenital anomalies; spontaneous abortions; elective terminations, stillbirths, or unspecified abortions with/without fetal defects; fetal deaths; ectopic pregnancies; induced/missed abortions; or ongoing pregnancies having no reported outcome. Cumulative through 12 July 2023, 590 pregnancy events [including twins (2); triplets (1)] in 586 guselkumab-exposed women were reported prospectively (N = 505) or retrospectively (N = 85). In cases with indication reported, most were PsO [90.0% (371/412)]; others included PsA [2.2% (9/412)], both PsO and PsA [3.4% (14/412)], and IBD [1.5% (6/412)]. In cases with data on the timing of guselkumab exposure, 14.3% (27/189) had exposure before conception, 77.8% (147/189) during T1, 5.3% (10/189) during T2/T3, and 2.6% (5/189) any time during pregnancy. Mean guselkumab exposure duration before pregnancy in known cases (N = 158) was 385 days (median, 238; range = 0–1717 days). Mean maternal age (N = 349) was 32.0 years (median, 32 years; range = 19–56 years). Outcomes were reported for 30.2% (178/590) of pregnancy events, including live birth [63.5% (113/178)]; spontaneous abortion [22.5% (40/178)]; elective termination (no fetal defects or unknown) [6.7% (12/178)]; ectopic pregnancy [3.4% (6/178)]; induced abortion [1.1% (2/178)]; fetal death [1.1% (2/178)]; and 1 event each (0.6%) of elective termination with fetal defect, missed abortion, and unspecified abortion with fetal defects. In pregnancy cases with known outcomes, rates of live births, spontaneous and elective/induced abortions, and congenital anomalies in women exposed to guselkumab ≤3 months before/during pregnancy are consistent with rates reported for the US general population, suggesting no apparent impact of guselkumab on pregnancy outcomes. Despite incomplete data on pregnancy outcomes, maternal age statistics, concomitant medication use, other risk factors, and duration of guselkumab exposure, these findings represent the most robust analysis of maternal guselkumab-exposed pregnancy outcomes to date. Additional evidence is needed to increase our understanding of the effects of guselkumab exposure on pregnancy outcomes across disease indications.

How to decline inequality: A taxation study on the luxury goods market

This article investigates the income and expenditure patterns of individuals, with a specific focus on investments in luxury items, real estate, and expensive modes of transportation. Using global databases such as “Luxury Goods—Worldwide/Statista Market Forecast” and “Data—WID—World Inequality Database”, the authors explore the correlation between high demand for luxury items and economic inequality. The study emphasizes the role of luxury tax as essential for implementing a progressive personal income tax system in Russia. By examining country-specific factors, particularly in China and Russia, and conducting a comparative analysis of progressive tax systems globally, the research highlights the potential of luxury tax to enhance the efficacy of income tax in reducing inequality.

Mapping hazards to the global food system

Environmental hazards associated with the global food system threaten societal integrity. Yet, there is a major data gap in the global understanding of how the prevalence of hazards is changing over time, how different classes of hazard are distributed, and whether the combined literature represents hazard prevalence equitably across research, policy and legislation, and news. Here, we explore this data gap, leveraging global research, policy, and news databases. We reveal increasing attention on food system hazards over time, in line with major geopolitical events. Coverage on environmental hazards is not distributed equally geographically, and media attention does not match research and policy evidence focus. Climate change and water scarcity in particular receive substantial attention across all source types, whilst, for example biodiversity loss, genetic erosion, or harmful algal blooms receive much less. Environmental, financial and food systems sustainability damage due to hazard neglect should be avoided and a first step is to understand, map, and quantify biases in focus.

The implications of removing race from interpretation of pulmonary function among persons with or without HIV.

Studies suggest that the use of race-specific pulmonary function reference equations may obscure racial inequities in respiratory health. Whether removing race from the interpretation of pulmonary function would influence analyses of HIV and pulmonary function is unknown. Pulmonary function measurements from 1,067 men (591 with HIV) in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) and 1,661 women (1,175 with HIV) in the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) were analyzed. Percent-of-predicted values for spirometry and single-breath diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO) measurements were generated with race-specific reference equations derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and with the race-neutral application of reference equations derived from the Global Lung Function Initiative database. Regression models were used to evaluate the association between HIV and percent-of-predicted measures of pulmonary function. Alpaydin's F test was used to compare how well these values predicted self-reported respiratory health-related quality of life. Persons with HIV were observed to have significantly lower percent-of-predicted DLCO than those without HIV but no significant differences in spirometric measures of pulmonary function, regardless of whether a race-specific or race-neutral approach was used. Among men, but not women, the race-neutral application of reference equations to generate percent-of-predicted DLCO values performed better for predicting respiratory-related quality of life. The race-neutral application of pulmonary function reference equations continues to identify lung function impairment in persons with or at risk for HIV and, for DLCO, may be superior to the use of race-specific reference equations in identifying clinically relevant impairments.

Evaluating the adverse drug reactions to clozapine in populations of children and adolescents: insights from VigiBase data.

Pharmacovigilance findings have marked clozapine use. Prescribers and package inserts worldwide focus on clozapine-induced neutropenia. The literature on clozapine adverse drug reactions (ADRs) for those under age 18 and their associated fatal outcomes is limited. Reports to the World Health Organization's global pharmacovigilance database (VigiBase) were analyzed among patients under 18 years of age extending from clozapine's introduction to June 1, 2022. There were 2825 reports of clozapine, including 42 fatal outcomes (relative lethality = 1.5% vs. 11.7% in all ages). After 280 cases were excluded (clozapine exposure during pregnancy, accidental exposure or unclear age), 2455 were included with ADRs during therapeutic use. Decreased white blood cell (WBC) count provided the most frequent aggregated ADR, accounting for 934 cases (37% of 2545), with only 1 fatal outcome (0.01%, 1/934). Suicide explained 7 of 27 (26%) non-duplicated fatal outcomes. Next in importance was clozapine-induced gastrointestinal hypomotility (CIGH) with 3 cases (11% of 27) and neuroleptic malignant syndrome with 2 cases (7% of 27). Agranulocytosis, aspiration, myocarditis, myocardiopathy and ventricular arrythmia led to single fatal cases. Based on these new findings and recent literature in all ages, to prevent fatal outcomes, child and adolescent psychiatrists need to shift their focus from severe neutropenia to other ADRs including pneumonia, respiratory aspiration and CIGH. In spite of its potential toxicity during overdoses, clozapine may have specific and strong anti-suicidal effects when compared with other antipsychotics. Child and adolescent psychiatrists need to take extreme precautions to avoid intentional overdoses when prescribing clozapine to patients with suicide risk.

The Loss of Beneficial Thermal Priming on Global Coral Reefs.

Warm-season marine heatwaves (MHWs) have greatly increased in frequency, severity, and extent over the last few decades, driving more frequent and severe coral bleaching episodes. Given the grave near-term threat to coral reefs imposed by MHWs, it is important to assess the mechanisms by which corals may acquire higher thermal tolerance. Recent field and laboratory studies have demonstrated that exposure to sublethal heat stress, known as "priming," can reduce bleaching susceptibility during a subsequent MHW. Little is known, however, about how often priming conditions occur, and how effective those conditions may be at protecting coral reefs. We employed a global historical coral bleaching database and a high-resolution sea surface temperature dataset to assess the frequency of priming and examine its effect on coral bleaching sensitivity on a global scale. The analysis showed that coral reefs in parts of the western to central tropical Pacific experienced priming on average over twice a decade and had a higher likelihood of priming protection. Mixed-effects regression models indicated that priming conditions could mitigate coral bleaching response by up to 12% in advance of a moderate MHW. However, the protective effect of priming decreased, and even became harmful, with more severe MHWs. We detected spatial variations in priming frequency that could provide insight for conservation planning and explain some variations in bleaching sensitivity to MHWs. Even so, our findings suggest that thermal priming will not be sufficient to protect most coral reefs from MHWs in the future, without substantial efforts to mitigate climate change.

Classification of Duration in Global Terorism using ResNet

Terrorism is a global threat that affects the political, economic, and social stability of many countries. The number of victims killed is based on the duration of the terrorism incident. This study uses the Residual Network (ResNet) model to classify terrorism incidents based on the duration of the incident (less than 24 hours and more than 24 hours) using the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) dataset. The GTD data used covers terrorism incidents from 1970 to 2017, with a total of 181,691. After preprocessing the data by converting categorical features to numeric and removing missing values, the data was divided into training, validation, and test sets with a composition of 70%, 15%, and 15%. The results show that the ResNet model is able to achieve a validation accuracy of 99.61% and a validation loss value of 0.0183. These findings show that the ResNet model is effective in classifying the duration of terrorism incidents and has the potential to be used in the development of better terrorism prevention systems.

Resistome phylodynamics of multidrug-resistant Shigella isolated from diarrheal patients.

Multi-drug resistance (MDR) in Shigella continues to pose a significant public health challenge, particularly in developing countries. Recent advances in genomics strengthen the surveillance of MDR-pathogens and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) mediators. However, genome-based investigations into resistome dynamics in Shigella are limited, specifically in Bangladesh. Therefore, we investigated MDR-Shigella resistomes to evaluate their AMR transmission and phylodynamics. Clinical Shigella strains were screened for MDR phenotypes through susceptibility tests against 28 antibiotics from 10 different classes. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and bioinformatics approaches were performed to unveil the resistome dynamics: >500 global plasmid entities and >1,000 plasmid-mediated resistance gene clusters from global databases were included in this study. We identified 28 distinct antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) from nine antibiotic classes, with 75% originating from plasmids. Notably, two conjugative MDR plasmids included nearly all potential ARGs, conferring resistance to first-line drugs for shigellosis. Two third-generation cephalosporin-resistant [wubC-blaCTX-M-15-ISEcp1 and blaTEM-1] and two macrolide-resistant mobile genomic islands (GIs) [mphA-mrx-mph(R)A-IS6100 and mphE-msrE-IS482-IS6] had emerged in Shigella in Bangladesh. In addition, trimethoprim-aminoglycoside-streptothricin-sulfonamide-resistant dfrA1-sat1-aadA1 and aph3-dfrA14-aph6-sul2 were in conjugative plasmids in Bangladesh. The MDR plasmids and resistant GIs were phylogenetically relevant to Europe, USA, or China-derived isolates, indicating carry-over of the emerging ARGs from heavily industrialized countries and MSM-burdened (men who have sex with men) populations. The global burden of resistance GIs has increased sharply, especially after 2014. Emerging resistance mediators were most frequent (>80%) in human-associated Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. We infer ARGs horizontally propagate among Enteropathogens: informing treatment strategies and supporting policymakers in strengthening AMR-containment efforts utilizing the phylodynamics network.IMPORTANCEThe world is suffering from a high burden of MDR enteropathogens. Healthcare providers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) often face trouble finding effective drugs among the many antibiotics introduced in diarrheal treatment. Resistance-mediated drug inactivation is more rapid than the advent of new antimicrobials, leaving enteritis treatment on the edge. In Bangladesh, where one-third of users are self-prescribing antibiotics and thousands are dying due to resistance-related treatment failure, phylogenomic evidence of AMR transmission root is scarce. Therefore, investigating the resistomes of MDR-Shigella, the leading cause of diarrheal deaths in Bangladesh, is crucial. We identified several emerging resistance mediators and their phylogenetic links to global entities, which is significant for improving shigellosis treatment and enhancing AMR containment strategies. Understanding the MDR mechanism in Shigella will help physicians choose effective drugs and anticipate resistance-mediated changes in treatment approaches; the spatiotemporal phylodynamics of AMR mediators aid policymakers in setting effective checkpoints in the AMR transmission network.

Medical and Demographic Characteristics of Patients With Eosinophilic Esophagitis and Celiac Disease

Background: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and celiac disease are both chronic T helper cell-mediated inflammatory conditions of the digestive tract. Although an association between these two conditions has been suggested, it has not been well characterized in a real-world setting. Goals: Our objective was to better examine the association between celiac disease and EoE using a real-world population database. Study: This was a retrospective cohort study of data using TriNetX, a global population database, to identify patient records using International Classification of Disease 10 (ICD-10) codes. We organized participants into six distinct cohorts predicated on age and diagnoses of celiac disease and EoE between April 28, 2003, and April 28, 2023. Patient demographics, prevalence, incidence, and medical characteristics of each cohort were extracted. Results: Among 46,398 patients with EoE and 84,383 patients with celiac disease, individuals with EoE demonstrated a higher prevalence (2.76%) and incidence (329/100,000 persons/year) of celiac disease compared with those without EoE (0.21% prevalence and 146/100,000 incidence, between 2021 and 2023). A concurrent diagnosis of both conditions increased the risk of asthma (RR: 2.00 pediatric, 1.82 adult), allergic rhinitis (RR: 2.35 pediatric, 1.81 adult), atopic dermatitis (RR: 3.28 pediatric, 2.07 adult), and rheumatoid arthritis (RR: 3.53 pediatric, 1.41 adult). In addition, patients with celiac disease with EoE exhibited a heightened risk for iron deficiency anemia (aHR 1.789; 95% CI: 1.166 to 2.745). Conclusions: Both the incidence and prevalence of EoE are elevated in patients with celiac disease and vice versa. These concurrent diagnoses affect disease characteristics and heighten the risk of complications in celiac disease.

From exploration to production: Understanding the development dynamics of lithium mining projects

Recently, there has been considerable recent controversy whether current and new lithium mines will be able to supply the rapidly growing needs of the electromobility transition. Mineral exploration projects are typically active for many years, and only some become operational mines. From exploration to production, the projects go through several stages of characterisation and evaluation. At each stage, decisions are made by companies and stakeholders to advance, continue or stop the project. This is a complex process, and even projects with very similar geological and technical characteristics may take very different trajectories, depending on external factors such as global market conditions and local regulatory environments. The present study investigates the dynamics of this process for lithium exploration projects. A global database of 397 lithium projects was compiled, covering their progression through major development stages between 2004 and 2022. Ordinal logistic regression was used for the statistical analysis of this data. Different explanatory variables were tested, including economic, geological, technical, and geographic factors, to identify the best predictors for project progress at each development stage. The results suggest an essential role for lithium carbonate prices, and a variable role for other factors at each stage. Critically, the already elapsed lead time and project economics, which are traditionally considered important for the prediction of the start-up of individual mines, do not appear to be relevant in all cases. The results provide important insights into the dynamics of lithium supply and may eventually allow more realistic forecasts to be made for future lithium market dynamics.

Fracture-Related Safety Reporting of JAK Inhibitors: An Analysis from the WHO Global VigiBase.

The Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors are treatment options for autoimmune diseases. Numerous safety concerns have been raised. The European Medicines Agency updated the product information of tofacitinib to include the risk of fractures-but not for other JAK inhibitors. We conducted a global pharmacovigilance analysis of previously investigated JAK inhibitors to investigate a potential class effect. Individual case safety reports (ICSRs) for all licensed JAK inhibitors were identified from the global WHO pharmacovigilance database. The primary outcome of interest was a bone fracture. Disproportionality analyses using reporting odds ratios (RORs) were conducted. We identified 122,037 ICSRs for tofacitinib, 27,786 ICSRs for upadacitinib, 14,616 ICSRs for baricitinib, 830 for filgotinib, and 350 for abrocitinib. Among the ICSRs, we identified 2198 (1.8%), 634 (2.3%), and 144 (1.0%) reports, where a bone fracture was reported for tofacitinib, upadacitinib, and baricitinib, respectively. Few reports were available for the newest drugs filgotinib (10) and abrocitinib (1). JAK inhibitors were associated with increased reporting for fracture: tofacitinib (ROR 3.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.20-3.48), upadacitinib (ROR 4.23, 95% CI 3.80-4.48), baricitinib (ROR 1.80, 95% CI 1.52-2.11) and filgotinib (ROR 2.24, 95% CI 1.11-3.94). Patients with bone fractures were more often female, older and had a higher number of co-reported medications. They were more likely to use glucocorticoids, opioids, and bisphosphonates. The results from this pharmacovigilance analysis, based on a spontaneous reporting database associated with inherent limitations, suggest a potential risk of fractures with JAK inhibitors, indicating that a class effect cannot be ruled out.

Prospects of digital scientific publishing on blockchain: The concept of DAP

Background Traditional publishing models, open access and major publishers, cannot adequately address the key challenges of academic publishing today: Speed of peer review, recognition of work and incentive mechanisms, transparency and thrust of the system. Methods To address these challenges, the authors propose Democratisation of Academic Publishing (DAP) platform, which is based on the novel HashNET DLT platform. The DAP introduces several innovative components: tracking the activities of all participants in the peer review process using blockchain and smart contracts, the introduction of the Scholarly Wallet for holding reputation (non-fungible) and reward (fungible) tokens, the use of the Scholarly Wallet as the main interface to the DAP platform, the Virtual Editor that enables automatic discovery of the research area and invitation of reviewers, and finally the global database of evaluated reviewers, ranked by the quality of their previous work. Results The DAP platform is in the development phase, with the design and functionalities of all modules defined. An exception is the central component of DAP, the Scholarly Wallet module, whose first prototype has already been created, tested and published. The implementation of DAP is planned for the next phase of the HorizonEurope TruBlo project and other research initiatives. The DAP platform will be connected to the publishing ecosystem: 1) as a backend system (distributed blockchain database) for existing publishing platforms and 2) as a standalone publishing platform with its own API interface. Conclusions The authors believe that DAP has the potential to significantly improve academic peer review and knowledge dissemination. It is expected that the use of blockchain technology, the fast HashNET consensus platform and tokens for reward (fungible) and reputation/ranking (non-fungible) will lead to a more efficient and transparent way of rewarding all participants in the peer review process and ultimately advance scientific research.

A systematic review of microneedles technology in drug delivery through a bibliometric and patent overview

The transdermal drug delivery (TDD) route has gathered considerable attention for its potential to improve therapeutic efficacy while minimizing systemic side effects. Among transdermal technologies, microneedle (MN) devices have proven to be a promising approach that combines the advantages of traditional needle injections and non-invasive topical applications. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of progress in transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) via MN from 2000 to 2023, integrating bibliometric analysis and patent landscape to present a multi-faceted perspective on the evolution of this technology. The study identifies key trends, challenges, and opportunities in the research, implementation, and commercialization of MN tools through a systematic examination of scientific literature and an extensive investigation of global patent databases. The study of bibliometric trends reveals the leading experts, organizations, companies, and countries contributing to this field, collaboration networks, and the thematic evolution of research topics. The patent analysis offers insights into innovative trajectories, key players, and geographical distribution of intellectual property. This review resumes the latest advancements in MN devices and provides a strategic outlook that can guide future research directions, promote partnerships, and inform stakeholders involved in the development of TDDS.