Global Status Research Articles

Global status of research on fertility preservation in male patients with cancer: A bibliometric and visual analysis

BackgroundRecently, male fertility preservation before cancer treatment has become more prevalent. The research in this field has progressed over time, with some studies having a major impact and providing guidance for further research. However, the trends and hotspots of research on fertility preservation in male cancer patients may have changed; exploring them is essential for relevant research progress. DesignWe extracted relevant studies from the Web of Science Core Collection database, capturing information on the countries of study, affiliations, authors, keywords, as well as co-citations of references and journals. To identify publication trends, research strengths, key subjects, prominent topics, and emerging areas, we conducted a bibliometric analysis using CiteSpace. ResultsWe included 3201 articles on fertility preservation in male cancer patients published over January 1999 to December 2023 were included. Although the relevant research growth rate was slow initially, the number of publications increased annually. Of all study countries, the United States, Germany, and Japan reported the earliest studies; the United States published the highest number of relevant studies. The US institutions remained at the forefront for all 25 years, and the US researcher Ashok Agarwal published the most articles. Literature co-citation analyses indicated a transformation in the study participants; they comprised a younger demographic (i.e., a large number of adolescent male patients underwent fertility preservation); moreover, fertility preservation techniques evolved from sperm cryopreservation to testicular tissue cryopreservation. Research on reproductive outcomes of sperm cryopreservation was the recent hotspot in male fertility preservation research, and the impact of immunotherapy and checkpoint inhibitors on male fertility requires further research. ConclusionsMale fertility preservation will be a major future research focus, with closer connections and collaborations between countries and organizations. Our results present the historical data on the development of research on male fertility preservation in cancer patients, providing relevant insights for future research and development in this study area.

The rise of China’s status: a relational approach

To what extent has China’s status risen, and how? Despite the pivotal role of China’s status in shaping its foreign policy and global phenomena, there is no scholarly consensus on where China is ranked in the global hierarchy and how it attains such a position. Building on empirical studies that use diplomatic exchanges and extending them by employing social network analysis, this article provides the first systematic analysis of China’s standing in the global status hierarchy. My findings show that China’s status has experienced significant growth with a substantial increase in the number of diplomatic recognitions received. While the United States garnered more recognition than China, the gap between the two has narrowed significantly over the last three decades, and, when considering the quality of diplomatic ties, China’s status even surpassed that of the United States by 2005. Additionally, my findings suggest that both exogenous and endogenous factors worked in concert to elevate China’s status. The rise of China’s status did not occur automatically with its economic or military capabilities’ growth. Instead, relational dynamics were also important: recognition from the most prestigious country, the United States, in the 1970s triggered a domino effect, prompting other countries to recognize China. Furthermore, China’s emphasis on aligning with the developing Third World enables it to uniquely position itself in diplomatic networks by engaging with both well-connected and marginalized countries. This diplomatic portfolio, in turn, equips China with significant social and brokerage power, suggesting that its influence is far more formidable than its material capabilities alone would imply.

Health workforce for oral health inequity: Opportunity for action.

Oral health is high on the global agenda following the adoption of the 2022 global strategy on oral health at the 75th World Health Assembly. Given the global burden of oral disease, workforce development to achieve universal health coverage [UHC] is crucial to respond to population needs within the non-communicable disease agenda. The aim of this paper is to present an overview of the oral health workforce [OHWF] globally in relation to key contextual factors. Data from the National Health Workforce Accounts and a survey of World Health Organization [WHO] member states were integrated for analysis, together with country-level data on population and income status. Data are presented using the WHO categorisation of global regions and income status categories established by the World Bank. Workforce densities for key OHWF categories were examined. Multiple regression was used to model workforce density and contextual influences. Challenges and possible solutions were examined by country income status. There are approximately 3.30 dentists per 10,000 population globally, and a combined OHWF [dentists, dental assistants/therapists and dental prosthetic technicians] of 5.31 per 10,000. Marked regional inequalities are evident, most notably between WHO European and African regions; yet both make greater use of skill mix than other regions. When adjusted by region, 'country income status' and 'population urbanization' are strong predictors of the workforce density of dentists and even more so for the combined OHWF. Maldistribution of the workforce [urban/rural] was considered a particular workforce challenge globally and especially for lower-income countries. Strengthening oral health policy was considered most important for the future. The global distribution of dentists, and the OHWF generally, is inequitable, with variable and limited use of skill mix. Creative workforce development is required to achieve the global oral health agenda and work towards equity using innovative models of care, supported by effective governance and integrated policies.

Traditional Korean diet high in one-carbon nutrients increases global DNA methylation: implication for epigenetic diet.

DNA methylation is a major epigenetic phenomenon through which diet affects health and disease. This study aimed to determine the epigenetic influence of the traditional Korean diet (K-diet) on global DNA methylation via one-carbon metabolism. A crossover study was conducted on 52 women. Two diets, a K-diet, high in plant foods and low in calories and animal fat, and a control diet, similar to the diet currently consumed in Korea, were provided to all subjects alternately for 4weeks with a 4-week washout period. Clinical parameters were measured before and after each dietary intervention. Nutrient intake was calculated by using a computer-aided nutritional analysis program. One-carbon metabolites in the serum and global DNA methylation in peripheral mononuclear cells were determined using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The K-diet group consumed more folate (669.9 ± 6.7µg vs. 502.7 ± 3.0, p < 0.001), B6, B12, serine, and choline, and less methionine (992.6 ± 63 vs. 1048.3mg ± 34.1, p < 0.0001) than the control group did. In the K-diet group, the increment of plasma 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (0.08µg/mL ± 0.11 vs 0.02 ± 0.10, p < 0.009) and decrement of L-homocysteine (-70.7 ± 85.0 vs -39.3 ± 69.4, p < 0.0168) were greater than those of the control group. Global DNA methylation was significantly increased in the K-diet group (6.70 ± 3.02% to 9.45 ± 3.69, p < 0.0001) but not in the control group. A K-diet high in one-carbon nutrients can enhance the global DNA methylation status, suggesting an epigenetic mechanism by which the K-diet conveys health effects. Trial registration Korean Clinical Trial Registry (trial number: KCT0005340, 24/08/2020, retrospectively registered).

Money matters: The association between blood donation rates and healthcare system quality across 171 countries.

Worldwide, insufficient blood donations cause blood shortages that jeopardize vital medical treatments for patients. Blood donation rates vary widely across countries, yet the determinants of this variation remain poorly understood. This study aims to illuminate the role of the institutional context in which blood donation is embedded by examining the link between country-level blood donation rates and healthcare system quality. The study employed a cross-sectional design using data on blood donation rates from 171 countries from the 2021 WHO Global Status Report on Blood Safety and Availability and three healthcare quality indicators (i.e., Healthcare Access and Quality [HAQ] Index, life expectancy, and health expenditures). The pre-registered hypotheses are tested using multiple linear regression. Robustness checks control for confounding factors. HAQ Index and health expenditures are positively associated with blood donation rates, whereas life expectancy is not related to blood donation when controlling for confounds. Health expenditures display the most robust association with blood donations, even when controlling for confounding factors, and when comparing countries within the same continent. Higher healthcare system quality in terms of HAQ Index and higher healthcare expenditures are related to higher blood donation rates. The finding that healthcare expenditures are most consistently related to blood donation rates indicates that policymakers should consider prioritizing financial support for the healthcare system, including blood-collecting institutions. More broadly, a better understanding of the role of contextual factors for blood donation may be needed to increase blood availability worldwide.

Malnutrition alters protein expression of KNDy neuropeptides in the arcuate nucleus of mature ewes.

The neuropeptides kisspeptin, neurokinin B, and dynorphin A are imperative for the pulsatile secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone and luteinizing hormone to ultimately regulate reproductive cyclicity. A population of neurons co-expressing these neuropeptides, KNDy neurons, within the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC) are positioned to integrate energy status from afferent neuronal and glial cells. We hypothesized that KNDy-expressing neurons in the ARC of mature ewes are influenced by energy balance. To test this hypothesis, ovary-intact, mature ewes were fed to lose, maintain, or gain body weight and hypothalamic tissue harvested during the luteal phase of the estrous cycle. Fluorescent, multiplex immunohistochemistry with direct antibody conjugation was employed to identify and quantify neurons expressing a single neuropeptide, as well as for the first time report co-expression of kisspeptin, neurokinin B, and dynorphin A protein in the ARC. Previous reports using this population of ewes demonstrated that concentrations of insulin and leptin differed between ewes fed to achieve different body weights and that ewes fed to gain body weight had increased concentrations of progesterone. Moreover, within this population of ewes tanycyte density and cellular penetration into the ARC was increased in ewes fed to gain body weight. Within the current report we have revealed that the number of neurons in the ARC expressing kisspeptin, neurokinin B, and dynorphin A protein was increased in ewes fed to gain body weight. Moreover, the number of KNDy neurons in the ARC expressing all three neuropeptides within a single neuron was decreased in ewes fed to lose body weight and increased in ewes fed to gain body weight when compared to ewes fed to maintain body weight. The cumulative findings of this experimental model suggest that expression of kisspeptin, neurokinin B, and dynorphin A protein in the ARC during the luteal phase of the estrous cycle are influenced by energy balance-induced alterations in circulating concentrations of progesterone that drive changes in morphology and density of tanycytes to ultimately regulate central perception of global energy status. Moreover, these results demonstrate that changes in KNDy neurons within the ARC occur as an adaptation to energy balance, potentially regulated divergently by metabolic milieu via proopiomelanocortin afferents.

Guarding Against China’s Predatory Acquisition of Foreign Technologies: A Quad Perspective

The study examines the response of the Quad countries (Australia, India, Japan and the United States) to People’s Republic of China (PRC)’s predatory acquisition of foreign technologies. This article looks at PRC’s science and technology (S&amp;T) policy and its relation to the grand strategy of attaining global superpower status. The meteoric rise of the PRC in the last four decades has amazed many. Innovation and technological advancement and their alignment with government policies are important factors in this rise. The study notes that PRC’s S&amp;T policy involves, among others, acquiring foreign technologies through illicit means that include stealing through espionage and sophisticated cyberattacks and forcing overseas companies operating in China to share intellectual property rights with local partners. Alarmed by PRC’s predatory strategy, the Quad countries have taken steps to regulate, and in some cases prohibit, the PRC’s targeted foreign investments and coercive and opportunistic takeovers. The article argues that the Quad countries need to coordinate their efforts to effectively counter PRC’s illicit acquisition of their technologies.

Quality of life (QoL) benefits following 177Lu-DOTATATE therapy in patients (pts) with 68Ga-DOTATATE PET positive primary site agnostic neuroendocrine tumors (NET).

e16291 Background: The QoL experience during the 1st year of follow up for 68Ga-DOTATATE PET positive primary site agnostic pts with progressive metastatic NET enrolled in a prospective single arm clinical trial of 177Lu-DOTATATE therapy (OZM 067) is described here. Methods: Pts with progressive NET, Ki67 Index &lt; 30%, adequate organ function &amp; ECOG £2 were eligible. Only pts demonstrating positive disease (Krenning score 3-4) on 68Ga-DOTATATE PET were eligible to proceed to 177Lu-DOTATATE therapy (4 cycles at 8- to 12- week intervals. Primary outcome was progression free survival (PFS) at 12 mths. QoL (EORTC QLQ 30 and GINET21) at baseline, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 months were recorded. Summary scores at time point of interest, and their change from baseline were estimated using a mixed model repeated measure, with baseline assessment included in the model as covariate. Data were normalized with a range of 0-100. A positive change score for Global Summary Status, Functioning Domains, and a negative change score for Symptom Scales and Items represent improvement. A ≥5 point change score is used as a threshold for Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID). Results: 195 pts were enrolled. 13 pts were 68Ga-DOTATATE PET negative while 5 pts withdrew consent. 177 pts received at least one dose of 177Lu-DOTATATE. All pts enrolled were eligible for a minimum of 12 mths follow up at time of data lock. The primary site was GEPNET in 143 (81%) and non GEPNET in 34 (19%). At 12 mths, the median follow-up was 33 (range 3-71) mths. PFS and OS were 81 (95% CI: 75-86)% and 92 (87-95)% respectively. QoL data at the following timepoints baseline, 6 &amp; 12 (±2) mths were available in 174,128 &amp; 111 pts respectively. The top three symptoms captured in EORTC QLQ 30 was Fatigue (32.5 SD 23.8) , Insomnia (26.7 SD 28.1) and Diarrhea (22.1 SD 29.4). At 12 mths, an improvement in mean score of ≥MCID in Global Health status (GHS) (+5.4), Role Fc Scale (+7,1), Social Fc Scale (+8.7) and multiple symptoms (Fatigue, Pain, Appetite, Constipation, Diarrhea, Financial Difficulties), Sexual fc, Social, Body image (Table 1) were captured. Conclusions: Patients with primary site agnostic 68Ga-DOTATATE PET positive NET experienced improvement in multiple quality of life domains including multiple symptoms post 177Lu-DOTATATE at 12 mths. Sexual fc and body image had the largest improvement. Clinical trial information: NCT02743741 . [Table: see text]

Anterior shoulder dislocation: A bibliometric analysis in the past two decades (2003–2022)

BackgroundAnterior shoulder dislocation is the most common type of shoulder dislocation and is easy to develop into recurrent type, causing economic burden to society. This study uses the bibliometric method to analyze the global research status, hotspots and trends of anterior shoulder dislocation, aiming to promote the exploration of anterior shoulder dislocation. MethodsThe literature on anterior shoulder dislocation in the past two decades were retrieved and downloaded from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database. CiteSpace, VOSviewer and bibliometrix package of R software were used to conduct scientific bibliometric analysis of the literature. Finally, some statistical graphics were performed in Graphpad Prism. ResultsA total of 3914 publications related to anterior shoulder dislocation from 2003 to 2022 were retrieved and screened from the WOSCC database. The ranking of the analysis results showed that Provencher MT was the author with the highest frequency of occurrence. Rush University was the most notable contributor. The American Journal of Sports Medicine was the most comprehensive journal. The United States was the most prominent country. Keywords related to surgical treatment were more significant than others. ConclusionIn the past two decades, the research output on anterior shoulder dislocation have been increasing year by year. The focus has gradually shifted to surgical treatment. Surgical treatment may continue to be the research hotspots in this field in the future.

POST-SOVIET ASIAN POLICY: RUSSIAN DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY IN CHINA AND INDIA (1991–1999)

This article is an attempt to revisit the Asian policy of the Russian Federation in the Post-Cold War era. More specifically, the aim of this article is to determine the origins of Moscow’s current strategic alliances with China and India in a historical trajectory from 1991 to 1999. To this end, the article focused on Russian diplomatic activities, state visits, cooperation strategies and signed agreements within this timeframe. Then, in the context of these diplomatic efforts, the article discussed how the priorities of each government could affect these initiatives with a focus on their national concerns, geopolitical imperatives and global strategies. Following these discussions, the article concluded that a revival of global status was at the heart of Russia’s Asian diplomacy. Moreover, it was concluded that while foreign relations with China and India had emerged from two different historical processes, the common interests and imperatives that were mutually perceived by these states were crucial in reaching strategic agreements and shaping post-Soviet alliances.

Anti-Infection of Oral Microorganisms from Herbal Medicine of Piper crocatum Ruiz & Pav.

The WHO Global Status Report on Oral Health 2022 reveals that oral diseases caused by infection with oral pathogenic microorganisms affect nearly 3.5 billion people worldwide. Oral health problems are caused by the presence of S. mutans, S. sanguinis, E. faecalis and C. albicans in the oral cavity. Synthetic anti-infective drugs have been widely used to treat oral infections, but have been reported to cause side effects and resistance. Various strategies have been implemented to overcome this problem. Synthetic anti-infective drugs have been widely used to treat oral infections, but they have been reported to cause side effects and resistance. Therefore, it is important to look for safe anti-infective alternatives. Ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological studies suggest that Red Betel leaf (Piper crocatum Ruiz & Pav) could be a potential source of oral anti-infectives. This review aims to discuss the pathogenesis mechanism of several microorganisms that play an important role in causing health problems, the mechanism of action of synthetic oral anti-infective drugs in inhibiting microbial growth in the oral cavity, and the potential of red betel leaf (Piper crocatum Ruiz & Pav) as an herbal oral anti-infective drug. This study emphasises the importance of researching natural components as an alternative treatment for oral infections that is more effective and can meet global needs.

Long-term impact of postnatal nutritional programming on cardiac sensitivity to ischemia-reperfusion injury in vivo and on glucose metabolism

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Fondation de France Introduction Nutritional environment during intra uterine and postnatal period has a major impact on health and disease in adulthood. The early programming of cardiometabolic risk through a postnatal overfeeding in rodents leads to a permanent increase in body weight, associated with alteration of left ventricular contractility, higher cardiac sensitivty to ischemic or chemo-toxic stresses and alterations of glucose métabolism in adulthood. However, these data have mainly obtained in young rodents and less is known for older animals. Purpose Our aim was to evaluate the impact of postnatal overfeeding (PNOF) on cardiac function, on cardiac sensitivity to ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury in vivo, on glucose metabolism and on metabolic profile of pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) in young (4 months), adult (6 months) and old (12 months) male mice. Methods PNOF was induced by the reduction of litter size of C57/BL6 mice immediately after birth: normally-fed group (NF) was composed of 9 male pups/mother and overfed group (PNOF) of 3 pups/mother. Echocardiography and blood sugar tests (glucose tolerance and insulin resistance) were performed at all ages. An in vivo ischemia-reperfusion injury was induced by the ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 45 minutes followed by 24 h of reperfusion. PAT was harvested and weighted, in order to investigate by rt-qPCR its inflammatory status. All experiments were performed in 4-, 6- and 12-months aged mice. Results PNOF induced an early and permanent increase in body weight in PNOF group, independently of mice’s age (+23% at 24 days of life, +14% at 4 months, +23% at 6 and 12 months, compared to NF group). Echocardiographic measurements showed an alteration of left ventricular ejection fraction in mice aged from 4 months up to 12 months (-11 % on average, compared to NF groups). PNOF mice presented glucose intolerance and insulin resistance from 4 to 12 months of age. Moreover, PNOF mice had a higher PAT mass indexed to body weight with increased inflammatory status and decreased activin A mRNA expression at 6 and 12 months. Finally, PNOF induced a significant increase of infarct size at 4 months (+37%, p&amp;lt;0.01, n=8), 6 months (+32%, p&amp;lt;0.05, n=9) and 12 months (+38%, p&amp;lt;0,05, n=9) after cardiac surgery. Conclusion Nutritional programming through short-term PNOF induced an early and permanent overweight, an increase in pericardial fat mass with a greater inflammatory status, associated with alterations of glucose metabolism, alteration of systolic function and a higher sensitivity to ischemia reperfusion injury induced in vivo. The cellular mechanisms of these pathological modifications induced by PNOF need further exploration but could involve alterations in cardiomyocyte pathways and/or modification of global inflammatory status. Therefore, the PNOF mice model corresponds to a relevant experimental model of programmed metabolic syndrome as we known in humans.

Prevalence and risk factors for dementia and mild cognitive impairment among older people in Southeast China: a community-based study

BackgroundWith the aging population, the number of individuals with dementia in China is increasing rapidly. This community-based study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among older adults in China.MethodsIn this study, 20,070 individuals aged ≥ 65 were recruited between January 1, 2022, and February 1, 2023, from ten communities in Xiamen City, China. We collected data on age, sex, level of education, and medical history, as well as global cognition and functional status. The prevalence of dementia and MCI was examined, and the risk factors for different groups were assessed.ResultsThe overall prevalence of dementia and MCI was approximately 5.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.1–5.7) and 7.7% (95% CI, 7.4–8.1), respectively. The results also indicated that dementia and MCI share similar risk factors, including older age, female sex, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Compared with individuals with no formal education, those with > 6 years of education had an odds ratio for MCI of 1.83 (95% CI, 1.49–2.25). We also found that only 5.5% of the positive participants chose to be referred to the hospital for further diagnosis and treatment during follow-up visits.ConclusionsThis study estimated the prevalence and risk factors for dementia and MCI among individuals aged ≥ 65 years in Southeast China. These findings are crucial for preventing and managing dementia and MCI in China.

Integrated Environmental Management: Achieving Sustainable Development through the Lens of Water, Air and Waste

This paper explores the global status, primary issues, challenges, and implications of water, air, and waste management for sustainable development. Water management is crucial to achieving sustainable development goals. Currently, half of the global population faces severe water shortages annually, and a quarter faces "extremely high" water stress. Air management is closely tied to energy consumption, urbanization, and industrialization, with air pollution causing millions of premature deaths each year, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Waste management faces challenges from plastic pollution, electronic waste, and food waste, urgently requiring global improvements in infrastructure and regulations. The paper emphasizes the importance of an integrated approach to water, air, and waste management, as they are interconnected and impact the environment, health, and the economy. It calls for policy innovation, technological advancements, and societal behavior change, and emphasizes global cooperation and local action to achieve sustainable development goals.

Global potential distributions and conservation status of rice wild relatives

Societal Impact StatementRice wild relatives (RWR) provide valuable genetic resources for modern rice breeding, yet knowledge gaps constrain their conservation and further utilization. To address these gaps, the potential distributions of 22 RWR taxa were modeled, and their conservation statuses were assessed. Most taxa were identified as medium priority for further conservation. Further ex‐situ collecting hotspots are in Southeast and South Asia, Northern Australia, West Africa, and tropical Americas, while habitat protection lies in Southeast and South Asia, Northern Australia, and West Africa. Climate change may shift equatorial habitats to higher latitudes and mountain habitats to higher altitudes.Summary Rice wild relatives (RWR) provide valuable genetic resources for modern rice breeding. However, knowledge gaps on their geographic distributions and conservation status constrain their conservation and further utilization. To fill these critical gaps, we modeled the potential distributions of 22 RWR taxa under current climate scenarios, assessed their conservation status, both ex situ (in genebanks or botanical gardens) and in situ (in protected areas), and examined changes in taxa richness of RWR in predicted areas under future climate scenarios. The RWR were primarily distributed in tropical Asia to tropical Australia, tropical Africa, and South and Central America. We identified 4 out of 22 taxa as high priority (HP) for further conservation action and 18 taxa as medium priority (MP). Hotspots requiring further collecting for ex situ conservation are concentrated in Southeast and South Asia, Northern Australia, West Africa, and tropical Americas. Meanwhile, habitat protection should be enhanced in Southeast and South Asia, Northern Australia, and West Africa. Under future climate change, suitable habitats near the equator are expected to shift toward higher latitudes and some in lower‐latitude basins may become unsuitable due to excessive heat, resulting in decreased taxa richness in these areas. Additionally, suitable habitats in high mountain areas may shift to higher altitudes, potentially augmenting taxa richness in the highlands. Our findings provide vital insights to guide future rescue conservation efforts for RWR.

Global research status and trends of enteric glia: a bibliometric analysis

BackgroundEnteric glia are essential components of the enteric nervous system. Previously believed to have a passive structural function, mounting evidence now suggests that these cells are indispensable for maintaining gastrointestinal homeostasis and exert pivotal influences on both wellbeing and pathological conditions. This study aimed to investigate the global status, research hotspots, and future directions of enteric glia.MethodsThe literature on enteric glia research was acquired from the Web of Science Core Collection. VOSviewer software (v1.6.19) was employed to visually represent co-operation networks among countries, institutions, and authors. The co-occurrence analysis of keywords and co-citation analysis of references were conducted using CiteSpace (v6.1.R6). Simultaneously, cluster analysis and burst detection of keywords and references were performed.ResultsA total of 514 publications from 36 countries were reviewed. The United States was identified as the most influential country. The top-ranked institutions were University of Nantes and Michigan State University. Michel Neunlist was the most cited author. “Purinergic signaling” was the largest co-cited reference cluster, while “enteric glial cells (EGCs)” was the cluster with the highest number of co-occurring keywords. As the keyword with the highest burst strength, Crohns disease was a hot topic in the early research on enteric glia. The burst detection of keywords revealed that inflammation, intestinal motility, and gut microbiota may be the research frontiers.ConclusionThis study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of enteric glia research. EGCs have emerged as a crucial link between neurons and immune cells, attracting significant research attention in neurogastroenterology. Their fundamental and translational studies on inflammation, intestinal motility, and gut microbiota may promote the treatment of some gastrointestinal and parenteral disorders.

Epigenetics in etiopathology of hyperprolactinemia

Aim: Epigenetic alterations have been reported in patients with pituitary tumors and those on antipsychotic drugs, which are also responsible for hyperprolactinemia. This suggests a possible role of epigenetics in the etiopathology of hyperprolactinemia. Methods: The study recruited 83 hyperprolactinemia cases with prolactin &gt; 100 ng/mL and 65 controls. Global DNA methylation status was studied by MethylFlash Methylated DNA Quantification Kit and genome-wide methylation analysis (GWMA) by Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip 850K array. Results: Hyperprolactinemia cases showed significant global DNA hypermethylation compared to controls. Around 66.67% of hypomethylated and 12.9% of hypermethylated cases were on antipsychotics. Gene enrichment analysis of 5-cytosine-phosphate-guanine-3 (CpG) site-associated genes demonstrated significantly enriched major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-related protein classes and cellular components. Conclusions: The study suggested the role of epigenetics in the etiopathology of hyperprolactinemia.

Organization and Structures for Detection and Monitoring of CKD Across World Countries and Regions: Observational Data From a Global Survey

Rationale & ObjectiveEstablished therapeutic interventions effectively mitigate the risk and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Countries and regions have a compelling need for organizational structures that enable early identification of people with CKD who can benefit from these proven interventions. We aimed to report the current global status of CKD detection programs. Study DesignA multinational cross-sectional survey. Setting & ParticipantsStakeholders, including nephrologist leaders, policymakers, and patient advocates from 167 countries, participating in the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) survey from June to September 2022. OutcomesStructures for the detection and monitoring of CKD, including CKD surveillance systems in the form of registries, community-based detection programs, case-finding practices, and availability of measurement tools for risk identification. Analytical ApproachDescriptive statistics. ResultsOf all participating countries, 19% (n=31) reported CKD registries and 25% (n=40) reported implementing CKD detection programs as part of their national policies. There were variations in CKD detection program, with 50% (n=20) using a reactive approach (managing cases as identified) and 50% (n=20) actively pursuing case-finding in at-risk populations. Routine case-finding for CKD in high-risk populations was widespread, particularly for diabetes (n=152; 91%) and hypertension (n=148; 89%). Access to diagnostic tools, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR), was limited, especially in low-income (LICs) and lower-middle-income (LMICs) countries, at primary (eGFR: LICs 22%, LMICs 39%, UACR: LICs 28%, LMICs 39%) and secondary/tertiary healthcare levels (eGFR: LICs 39%, LMICs 73%, UACR: LICs 44%, LMICs 70%), potentially hindering CKD detection. LimitationsA lack of detailed data prevented an in-depth analysis. ConclusionThis comprehensive survey highlights a global heterogeneity in the organization and structures (surveillance systems, detection programs and tools) for early identification of CKD. Ongoing efforts should be geared toward bridging such disparities to optimally prevent the onset and progression of CKD and its complications.

Data-Driven Pathwise Sampling Approaches for Online Anomaly Detection

Moving vehicle-based sensors (MVSs) have been increasingly used for real-time sensing and anomaly detection in various applications such as the detection of wildfires and oil spills. In this article, we propose data-driven sampling strategies using MVSs to quickly identify abrupt changes in an area of interest in real time considering their pathwise movement constraints. To tackle challenges due to variability and partial observability of online observations, we integrate instruments of statistical process control and mathematical optimization to monitor the global status of the area of interest and adaptively adjust paths of MVSs to sample from suspicious locations based on real-time data. We provide theoretical investigations and conduct simulations to validate the superior performance of the proposed methods. In a numerical study based on real-world wildfire data, we illustrate that our proposed strategies are able to detect wildfires much earlier than benchmark methods and can significantly reduce wildfire-related costs.

A review of crop residue-based biochar as an efficient adsorbent to remove trace elements from aquatic systems

AbstractCrop residue-based biochar (CRB) has shown great potential for removing trace elements (TEs) from aquatic matrices. Despite the increasing interest in this area, no review has focused specifically on the efficacy of CRB for TEs removal in aquatic environments. This comprehensive review examines the global TEs water contamination status with an emphasis on their sources, compositional metrics for crop residue feedstock (proximate, ultimate, and lignocellulosic properties), and the potential use of CRB for TEs removal in aquatic media. It also evaluates the factors that affect the ability of CRB to remove TEs, such as feedstock type, production conditions, water pH, background electrolytes, water temperature, CRB/water ratio, and underlying pollutant sorption mechanisms. This review also discusses the practical applications of CRB in real water samples and engineering considerations for designing CRB with improved physicochemical properties, treatment efficiencies, and regeneration abilities. Additionally, the cost–benefit and economic assessment of CRB, challenges, and future research directions related to CRB are highlighted to promote research on this sustainable source of biochar. By elucidating the prospects of CRB as an adsorbent, this review emphasizes the need for continued research on its practical implications for environmentally relevant pollutant concentrations. Graphical Abstract