Original Article Research Articles

Community and governance beyond the nation-state in the 21st century: introduction to the special issue on the legacy of Ernst B. Haas

ABSTRACT Ernst B. Haas was a leading authority on international relation theory who pioneered the fields of European integration and supra-national governance. This Special Issue re-evaluates the significance of his work for the present time and explores lesser known research areas opened by the founder of neo-functionalism. Two workshops at the European University Institute, Florence, in 2023 and the International Studies Association in 2024, produced original articles by scholars whose work builds on and engages with Haas’ approach. They address topics ranging from the role of expertise in politics, and the tension between liberalism and nationalism, to the rise of policy areas such as environmental change, human rights and migration. Haas’ work on these themes makes a crucial contribution to understand current global challenges. To complement this picture, an essay by Peter Haas links Ernst Haas’ intellectual development to his life experience.

Peer-reviewed research based on the relationship between South African cultures and biodiversity

Understanding past and present relationships of traditional cultures with biodiversity through biocultural research can help inform inclusive conservation policy and planning in a country seeking to undo past injustices such as South Africa. This review of 326 articles published between 1990 and 2019 maps the methodology employed in biocultural research, the focus of this research niche, ethical conduct and research recommendations to understand the state of biocultural research and make recommendations for biocultural research that is representative of South Africa’s diverse cultural landscape. This systematic review of original research articles indexed on the Scopus database found South African biocultural research to exclude Swati and Ndebele cultures while having an unevenly strong focus on plants, human health sciences, rural areas, and three of the country’s nine provinces. Some of this unevenness is likely because of utility of plants in human health and association of traditional practices with rural areas. Using a systematic review approach for this study not only ensured replicability but it also introduced a limitation of the results only being applicable to peer-reviewed articles indexed on the Scopus database.Conservation implications: Biocultural research’s strong focus on utilitarian use could encourage conservation policy that favours utilitarian use of wildlife. An even focus in biocultural research is recommended to avoid the knowledge pool for conservation policy being mostly focussed on utilitarian value.

Cardiomyopathy in Celiac Disease: A Systematic Review.

(1) Background: Cardiomyopathy in celiac disease or celiac cardiomyopathy (CCM) is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease that can occur in both adults and children. However, data supporting the causal relationship between celiac disease (CD) and cardiomyopathy (CMP) are still inconsistent. The aim of this study was to review and synthesize data from the literature on this topic and potentially reveal a more evidence-based causal relationship. (2) Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to search Medline, Embase, and Scopus databases from database inception until September 2023. A total of 1187 original articles were identified. (3) Results: We identified 28 CCM patients (19 adult and 9 pediatric) with a mean age of 27.4 ± 18.01 years. Adult patients with CCM were predominantly male (84.2%) while pediatric patients were predominantly female (75%). The most common comorbidities associated with CCM were anemia (75%) and pulmonary hemosiderosis (20%). In 35% of patients, CCM occurred before the diagnosis of CD, while in 48% of patients, CCM and CD were diagnosed at the same time. Diagnosis of CD preceded diagnosis of CCM in only 18% of patients. Diagnosis of CCM is often delayed with an average, from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis, of 16 months. All patients were treated with a gluten-free diet in addition to guideline-directed medical therapy. At 11-month follow-up, cardiovascular improvement was seen in 60.7% of patients. Pediatric mortality was 33.3%, while adult mortality was 5.3%. (4) Conclusions: Clinicians should be aware of the possible association between CD and CMP, and we recommend CD work-up in all patients with CMP who have concomitant anemia. While we identified only 28 cases in the literature, many cases might go unreported due to a lack of awareness regarding CCM. A high degree of clinical suspicion and a prompt diagnosis of CCM are essential to minimizing the risks of morbidity and mortality, as the combination of a gluten-free diet and guideline-directed medical therapy can improve clinical outcomes.

A Bibliometric Analysis of the 50 Most Cited Articles on Body Contouring Surgery After Massive Weight Loss.

Body contouring surgery after massive weight loss has emerged a safe and reliable option to improve self-esteem, social life, work ability, physical activity, and sexual activity, and it is considered as an essential step in the multidisciplinary approach to morbid obesity. In this study, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of literature on body contouring after massive weight loss, identifying research trends and areas for future investigation. The Web of Science Core Collection was used to identify the 50 most cited publications on post-massive weight loss surgery. Data collected from each article included: title, journal, publication year, total citations, average citations per year, authors, study type, study topic, country, and institution of origin. The top 50 most-cited articles include 44 original articles and 6 review articles. The most cited article, published by Lockwood in 1991, received a total of 224 citations. The research areas included surgical outcomes and complications (n=19, 38%), psychological aspects such as body image, quality of life and desire for body contouring procedures (n=18, 36%), surgical techniques (n=11, 22%), an anatomical study (n=1, 2%), and a classification system (n=1; 2%). Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery journal published most (44%) of the papers identified. The University of Pittsburgh was the single institution that contributed the most (n=11; 22%). This bibliometric analysis provides insights and research trends for clinicians interested in body contouring after massive weight loss, facilitating the understanding and evolution of post-bariatric surgery and elucidating the rationale behind current practice. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Challenges and opportunities in inflammatory bowel disease: from current therapeutic strategies to organoid-based models.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an increasingly prevalent global health concern that has garnered substantial attention. However, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear and the current treatments have significant limitations. Intestinal organoids provide an in vitro model to explore the pathogenesis, test the therapeutic effects, and develop regenerative treatments as well as offer the potential to transform drug discovery of IBD. To advance our understanding of the whole story of IBD spanning from the pathogenesis to the current therapeutic strategies and latest advancements, a comprehensive search of major databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted to retrieve original articles and reviews related to IBD, organoids, pathogenesis and therapy. This review deciphers the etiopathogenesis and the current therapeutic approaches in the treatment of IBD. Notably, critical aspects of intestinal organoids in IBD, such as their potential applications, viability, cell renewal ability, and barrier functionality are highlighted. We also discuss the advances, limitations, and prospects of intestinal organoids for precision medicine. The latest strides made in research about intestinal organoids help elucidate intricate aspects of IBD pathogenesis, and pave the prospective avenues for novel therapeutic interventions.

Scoping review: The terminology used to describe major abdominal surgical procedures.

Major abdominal surgery (MAS) can have a profound impact on the patient but there is currently no consensus as to which surgical procedures constitute MAS. The main objective of this work is to ascertain the terminology used to describe MAS procedures and to apply these findings in order to propose a definition of MAS. The following databases were searched: Ovid MEDLINE (R) ALL, Embase Classic and Embase (via OvidSP), Global Health (via OvidSP), Health Management Information Consortium (via OvidSP), APA PsycInfo (via OvidSP), PubMed and Web of Science. Original research articles, published between 1980 and April 26, 2022 that contained a description of MAS procedure were included in this study. Article screening and data extraction was undertaken independently by 3 authors. Content analysis was performed to identify key terminology used to describe MAS. Five thousand six hundred and sixty three articles were identified, of which 767 underwent full-text review and 312 were included in the scoping review. Content analysis resulted in 4 main categories: (1) pre-operative factors, (2) intraoperative factors, (3) operation-related factors, (4) post-operative factors. Operation-related factors was the predominant category (1137 references coded). The gastrointestinal resection made the vast majority of the references coded (591). Based on these results, the term "major abdominal surgery" should be defined as an intra-peritoneal operation with no primary involvement of the thorax, involving either luminal resection and/or resection of a solid organ associated with the gastrointestinal tract. However, further work is required to verify this definition using real world data.

UNSTABLE ANGINA, LITERATURE REVIEW

Introduction: Angina, or chest pain, is the most frequent symptom of ischemic heart disease, one of the primary origins of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Unstable angina falls within a spectrum under the general term acute coronary syndrome, being the leading cause of death worldwide. Objective: to detail current information related to unstable angina, definition, etiology, epidemiology, anamnesis, physical examination, evaluation, treatment and prevention. Methodology: a total of 28 articles were analyzed in this review, including review and original articles, as well as clinical cases, of which 16 bibliographies were used because the other articles were not relevant to this study. The sources of information were PubMed, Google Scholar and Cochrane; the terms used to search for information in Spanish, Portuguese and English were: angina, precordial pain, cardiac management, unstable angina, cardiac emergencies, treatment. Results: Coronary artery disease is estimated to cause more than one third of deaths in individuals over 35 years of age. It is the leading cause of death in this age group. The incidence is more frequent in men; however, as individuals exceed 75 years of age, the incidence between men and women becomes more balanced. The average age of presentation is 62 years. The basis of treatment focuses on improving coronary artery perfusion. Conclusions: Unstable angina is characterized by an onset during rest, its diagnosis is clinical so it is of vital importance to know its clinical, epidemiological manifestations and its evaluation to reach a correct diagnosis, in order to guarantee a timely and adequate treatment. Since this condition continues to be a public health problem that affects a high percentage of the population on a daily basis, it is important to raise awareness of the problem and to try to prevent it by modifying lifestyle. KEY WORDS: angina, precordial pain, cardiology.

Efficient administration of a combination of nifedipine and sildenafil citrate versus only nifedipine on clinical outcomes in women with threatened preterm labor: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundPreterm labor (PTL) is a common and serious pregnancy disorder that can cause long-term neurological issues in the infant. There are conflicting studies concerning whether sildenafil citrate (SC) reduces preterm labor complications. Therefore, the meta-analysis aimed to examine the clinical outcomes in women with threatened PTL who received nifedipine plus SC therapy versus only nifedipine.MethodsFor the original articles, six databases were searched using relevant keywords without restriction on time or language until January 13, 2024. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB) and the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Nonrandomized Studies (RoBANS) were both used to assess the risk of bias in randomized and non-randomized studies, and GRADE determined the quality of our evidence. Meta-analysis of all data was carried out using Review Manager (RevMan) version 5.1.ResultsSeven studies with mixed quality were included in the meta-analysis. The study found that combining nifedipine and SC resulted in more prolongation of pregnancy (MD = 6.99, 95% CI: 5.32, 8.65, p < 0.00001), a lower rate of delivery in the 1st to 3rd days after hospitalization (RR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.50, 0.76, p < 0.00001), a higher birth weight (252.48 g vs. nifedipine alone, p = 0.02), and the risk ratio of admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) was significantly lower (RR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.50, 0.76, p < 0.00001) compared to nifidepine alone. The evidence was high for prolongation of pregnancy, delivery rate 24–72 h after admission, and NICU admission, but low for newborn birth weight.ConclusionsGiven the effectiveness of SC plus nifedipine in increased prolongation of pregnancy and birth weight, lower delivery in the 1st to 3rd days after hospitalization, and NICU admission, Gynecologists and obstetricians are suggested to consider this strategy for PTL management, although additional article rigor is required to improve the quality of the evidence.

Trends of Publications on Humanism in Nursing: A Bibliometric Analysis

Humanism has significantly shaped modern nursing practices by emphasizing on the crucial value of providing patient-centered care and acknowledging the innate worth of human dignity. That is why this paper aims to explore and assess the existing framework of knowledge within publications that address humanism in nursing, as well as trace its evolutionary trajectory. The present document shows the results of a descriptive bibliometric study based on a data retrieval conducted from the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database and its subsequent analysis made using Excel and VOSviewer. The study encompassed 135 documents published from 1993 to 2021 in 82 journals, authored by 390 researchers from 33 countries. Notably, 79.3% of these works were classified as original articles, 53.3% belonged to the nursing category, and 86.7% were published in English. The existence of a strong connection between humanism, ethics, care, and nursing education was observed in all the works analyzed.

Acute kidney injury and its predictors among HIV-positive patients in Africa: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

cute kidney injury(AKI) is a rapid loss of the kidney's excretory function, resulting in an accumulation of end products of nitrogen metabolism. The causes of AKI in HIV-positive patients are not well investigated, but it may be associated with antiretroviral drug side effects and HIV itself. Even though there were studies that reported the prevalence of AKI among HIV-positive patients in Africa, their findings were inconsistent across the studies. We searched on PubMed, Embas, Ebsco, OVID, Cochrane Library, and other supplementary search engines, including Google and Google Scholar. Articles published upto July 2023 were included in this review study. The quality of the study was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies. The data were extracted using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and exported to Stata version 14 for analysis. A random effect meta-analysis model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of AKI among HIV-positive patients. Heterogeneity was evaluated using Cochrane Q statistics and I squared (I2). Furthermore, the graphic asymmetric test of the funnel plot and/or Egger's tests were computed to detect publication bias. Sensitivity analysis was computed to see the effect of a single study on the summary effects. To treat the publication bias, a trim and fill analysis was carried out. The protocol of this review has been registered in an international database, the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO),with reference number CRD42023446078. A total of twenty-four original articles comprising 7913HIV-positive patients were included in the study. The pooled prevalence of AKI among HI-positive patients was found to be 23.35% (95% CI: 18.14-28.56%, I2 = 97.7%, p-value <0.001). Low hemoglobin (Hgb <8mg/dl) was found to be the determinant factor for AKI among HIV-positive patients (AOR = 2.4; 95% CI:1.69-3.4, I2 = 0.0%, p-value = 0.40). In meta-regression analysis, sample size was the possible source of variation among the included studies (AOR = 3.11, 95%CI: 2.399-3.83). The pooled prevalence of AKI among HIV-positive patients was high. HIV-positive patients with low hemoglobin levels are at risk of developing AKI. Hence, regular monitoring of kidney function tests is needed to prevent or delay the risk of AKI among HIV-positive patients. Healthcare workers should provide an integrated healthcare service to HIV-positive patients on the prevention, treatment, and reduction of the progression of AKI to advanced stages and complications.

Ketogenic diet and behavior: insights from experimental studies.

As a journal page for full details. The ketogenic diet (KD) has been established as a treatment for epilepsy, but more recently it has been explored as an alternative or add-on therapy for many other diseases ranging from weight loss to neurological disorders. Animal models are widely used in studies investigating the therapeutic effects of the KD as well as underlying mechanisms. Especially in the context of neurological, psychiatric, and neurodevelopmental disorders essential endpoints are assessed by behavioral and motor tests. Here we summarized research evaluating the influence of the KD on cognition, depressive and anxiety-related behaviors, and social and nutritional behaviors of laboratory rodents. Each section contains a brief description of commonly used behavioral tests highlighting their limitations. Ninety original research articles, written in English, performed on mice or rats, providing measurement of blood beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) levels and behavioral evaluation were selected for the review. The majority of research performed in various disease models shows that the KD positively impacts cognition. Almost an equal number of studies report a reduction or no effect of the KD on depressive-related behaviors. For anxiety-related behaviors, the majority of studies show no effect. Despite the increasing use of the KD in weight loss and its appetite-reducing properties the behavioral evaluation of appetite regulation has not been addressed in preclinical studies. This review provides an overview of the behavioral effects of nutritional ketosis addressed to a broad audience of scientists interested in the KD field but not necessarily specializing in behavioral tests.

Role of hydroxyurea therapy in the prevention of organ damage in sickle cell disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Hydroxyurea is an affordable drug that reduces vaso-occlusive crises and transfusion requirements in sickle cell disease. However, its effectiveness in preventing chronic organ damage is still unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the role of hydroxyurea in preventing organ morbidity.Method We included original articles published in English from 1st January 1990 to 31st January 2023, reporting hydroxyurea therapy and organ damage from PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and CrossRef databases. A total of 45 studies with 4681 sickle cell disease patients were evaluated for organ damage.ResultsOur analysis showed that hydroxyurea intervention significantly lowered transcranial Doppler and tricuspid regurgitant velocity, with a standardized mean difference of − 1.03 (− 1.49; − 0.58); I2 = 96% and − 1.37 (CI − 2.31, − 0.42); I2 = 94%, respectively. Moreover, the pooled estimate for albuminuria showed a beneficial effect post-hydroxyurea therapy by reducing the risk of albuminuria by 58% (risk ratio of 0.42 (0.28; 0.63); I2 = 28%).ConclusionOur study found that a hydroxyurea dose above 20 mg/kg/day with a mean rise in HbF by 18.46% post-hydroxyurea therapy had a beneficial role in reducing transcranial doppler velocity, tricuspid regurgitant velocity, albuminuria, and splenic abnormality.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42023401187.

Gender authorship in major American and European gastroenterology journals: the gap is still unfilled.

The gender gap in the authorship of scientific research may affect career advancement. Our aim was to assess the potential gender gap in gastrointestinal (GI) journals. A systematic review was performed of the GI literature and ongoing research in the period 2020-2022. A total 10 GI journals and ongoing research on clinicaltrials.gov were selected for review. The gender gap in first and senior authorship was evaluated for each article and ongoing research project. Associations between the gender gap and possible predictors were measured and results are presented as odds ratios (ORs) with 95%CI. The number of first female authors (FFAs) and senior female authors (SFAs) in published articles were 1408/4207 (33.5%) and 911/4207 (21.7%), respectively. There were 781/2654 (29.4%) female principal investigators (PI)s for the ongoing research. On comparison of non-endoscopic vs. endoscopic topics, the latter were associated with the gender gap (hepatology, OR 2.15 [95%CI 1.83-2.55]; inflammatory bowel disease, OR 2.12 [95%CI 1.60-2.45]; upper and lower GI, OR 1.31 [95%CI 1.18-1.73]); as well as the type of article (original article vs. editorial, OR 1.92 [95%CI 1.58-2.33]). The type of research was also associated with the gender gap (clinical vs. preclinical studies, OR 0.88 [95%CI 0.66-0.91]). Our results demonstrated a correlation between the gender gap and the design and topic of the research. Future strategies for improving equity in career development in GI endoscopy should focus on closing the gender gap in equity of authorship.

A Systematic Narrative Review on ADIPOQ Gene Variants and its Association with T2DM in the Indian Population

Background:: The prevalence of diabetes is rapidly increasing in India, even among young adult individuals. Rare adiponectin gene (ADIPOQ) variants may be predominantly present in Indians and decrease the circulatory levels of APN (Adiponectin). Studies reported that ADIPOQ gene variants were associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its complications in the Indian population. Objectives:: To review the association of specific ADIPOQ gene variants with T2DM and its associated complications Materials &amp; Methods: A search of Pubmed, Chinhal, Medline, Scopus, Web of Science databases, and Google Scholar search engine was performed to retrieve articles by using the following keywords; “ADIPOQ and T2DM”, “ADIPOQ and India,” “ADIPOQ gene variants and T2DM”, “ADIPOQ gene variants and T2DM and India”, “SNPs of ADIPOQ gene and T2DM”, “SNPs of ADIPOQ gene and India,” SNPs of ADIPOQ gene and T2DM and India”. Eligibility criteria for the inclusion of articles: Original, Case-Control Study, and Full-Text articles were published in the English language till the end of April 2023. Results:: A total of 540 articles were retrieved. Out of this, only 18 articles were found suitable to include in this systematic narrative review. The most studied ADIPOQ gene variants were found to be +10211T/G (rs17846866), +45T/G (rs2241766), and +276G/T (rs1501299) in different Indian populations. Conclusion:: It was reviewed that ADIPOQ gene variants +10211T/G (rs17846866), +45T/G (rs2241766), and +276G/T (rs1501299) were predominantly present in the Indian population, and decreasing the circulatory levels of APN and significantly associated with T2DM and its complications.

Accuracy of automated analyzers for the estimation of CSF cell counts: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review evaluates the evidence for accuracy of automated analyzers that estimate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) white blood cell counts (WBC) compared to manual microscopy. Inclusion criteria of original research articles included human subjects, English language, and manual microscopy comparator. PUBMED, EMBASE and Cochrane Review databases were searched through 2019 and QUADAS-2 Tool was used for assessment of bias. Data were pooled and analyzed by comparison method, using random effects estimation. Among 652 titles, 554 abstracts screened, 104 full-text review, 111 comparisons from 41 studies were included. Pooled estimates of sensitivity and specificity (n = 7) were 95% (95%-CI 93%-97%) and 84% (95%-CI: 64%-96%), respectively. Pooled R2 estimates (n = 29) were 0.95 (95%-CI: 0.95-0.96); Pooled spearman rho correlation (n = 27) estimates were 0.95 (95% CI 0.95-0.96). Among those comparisons using Bland-Altman analysis (n = 11) pooled mean difference was estimated at 0.98 (95% CI-0.54-2.5). Among comparisons using Passing-Bablok regressions (n = 14) the pooled slope was estimated to be 1.05 (95% CI 1.03-1.07). Q tests of homogeneity were all significant with the exception of the Bland-Altman comparisons (I2 10%, p value 0.35). There is good overall accuracy for CSF WBC by automated hematologic analyzers. These findings are limited by the small sample sizes and inconsistent validation methodology in the reviewed studies.

Surgical Outcome Reporting. Moving from a Comic to a Tragic Opera?

To assess the current quality of surgical outcome reporting in the medical literature, and to provide recommendations for improvement. In 1996, the Lancet labelled surgery as a "comic opera" mostly referring to the poor quality of outcome reporting in the literature impeding improvement in surgical quality and patient care. We screened three 1st tier and two 2nd tier surgical journals, as well as three leading medical journals for original articles reporting on results of surgical procedures published over a recent 18-month period. The quality of outcome reporting was assessed using a pre-specified 12-item checklist. 627 articles reporting surgical outcomes were analyzed, including 125 randomized controlled trials (RCT). Only 1 (0·2%) article met all 12 criteria of the checklist, while 356 articles (57%) fulfilled less than half of criteria. The poorest reporting was on cumulative morbidity burden, which was missing in 94% of articles (n=591) as well as patient reported outcomes missing in 83% of publications (n=518). Comparing journal groups for the individual criterion, we found moderate to very strong statistical evidence for better quality of reporting in high versus lower impact journals for 7 of 12 criteria, and strong statistical evidence for better reporting of patient-reported outcomes in medical versus surgical journals (P<0·001). The quality of outcome reporting in the medical literature remains poor lacking improvement over the past 20 years on most key endpoints. The implementation of standardized outcome reporting is urgently needed to minimize biased interpretation of data thereby enabling improved patient care and the elaboration of meaningful guidelines.

Systemic sclerosis associated respiratory involvement: Scopus-based analysis of articles in 2013-2022.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc), a complex autoimmune disorder, manifests as a convergence of rheumatologic, dermatologic, and pulmonary challenges. Among the severe complications contributing to morbidity and mortality are SSc Associated Interstitial Lung Disease (SSc-ILD) and pulmonary hypertension. Over the past decade, research on pulmonary involvement in SSc has intensified, leading to a heightened understanding of its pathogenesis, diagnostic methods, and therapeutic strategies. This study aims to provide a data-driven overview of the current state of systemic sclerosis research, identifying emerging trends and fostering informed decisions regarding resource allocation and research priorities. A literature search was conducted in the Scopus database, using MESH keywords such as "systemic sclerosis" AND "lungs" OR "pulmonary hypertension" OR "interstitial lung disease". After applying exclusion criteria, a thorough analysis was performed, considering factors such as document category, authorship, journal source, citation frequency, country of publication, language, and keywords. The bibliometric analysis utilized Scopus as the preferred database, leveraging its extensive coverage, user-friendly interface, and commitment to data accuracy. Visual networks were constructed using VOSviewer software to map the relationships between keywords, countries, and authors. Altmetric Attention Scores (AAS) were employed to assess the social impact of articles. The analysis revealed a total of 2538 scholarly items, with 55.7% identified as open access. The USA (n = 532), Italy (n = 458), France (n = 304), Japan (n = 271), and the UK (n = 236) emerged as primary contributors, with English being the predominant language. A notable upward tendency in annual publication and citation scores indicated sustained interest and relevance in SSc-ILD research. The top journals, including Rheumatology United Kingdom, Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology, Clinical Rheumatology, Arthritis and Rheumatology, and Journal of Rheumatology, played a pivotal role in scholarly output. Original Articles (n = 1795; 70.7%) constituted the majority of publications, followed by Reviews, Letters, Notes, and Editorials. The analysis of publication impact within different scholarly formats revealed varying citation patterns, with Original Articles and Reviews leading in influence. The identification of influential research hubs and key contributors provided insights into collaborative efforts and geographic distribution. A strong correlation (rho = 0.612, p < 0.001) was observed between the quantity of Mendeley readers and the citations received by scholarly articles. This bibliometric analysis offers a comprehensive overview of SSc-ILD research, highlighting its dynamic and interdisciplinary nature. The surge in publications, citation scores, and the identification of key contributors underscore the continued relevance and impact of this field. The nuanced relationships between social attention and scientific recognition, as revealed by Mendeley readership and AAS, contribute to a deeper understanding of the multifaceted nature of scholarly impact.

On Joule’s paddle wheel experiment in textbooks

Authors of university and secondary school textbooks have resorted to Joule’s famous paddle wheel experiment when introducing the topic ‘energy’. The explanations provided are misleading. In this study, Joule’s original article was used to address this problem.

Pulse wave velocity on the risk stratification of aortic aneurysm

Introduction. The maintenance of tissue perfusion during the cardiac cycle is essential in organs with high metabolic demand, which is guaranteed by the maintenance of the physical properties of the arterial wall. When altered, there are hemodynamic repercussions that can be quantified using new methods, such as pulse wave velocity (PWV). These changes can occur in aortic aneurysms (AA), which have a high mortality rate associated with their rupture, making risk stratification and early intervention essential. Objectives. Demonstrate the relationship between PWV in risk stratification in patients with AA. Methods. Original articles from the Scientific Electronic Library Online (Scielo), the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences System (Lilacs) and PubMed Central (PMC) databases were included, which addressed the risk stratification of AA with the use of PWV in the human population. Studies published more than five years ago and those that did not address AA risk stratification based on PWV were excluded. Results and Discussion. Three articles were selected. An increase in PWV was observed in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) when compared to the control group (12.3 m/s x 10.9 m/s, p&lt;0.01). Furthermore, the use of PWV is recommended in the risk stratification of all patients with AAA. Finally, the prediction of the use of PWV in the growth of thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) stands out, as well as its increased sensitivity for females. Conclusions. PWV is an excellent marker for cardiovascular risk stratification in AA, easy to apply clinically and at low cost. However, some issues must be resolved for its application, such as the PWV value based on age and blood pressure variables.

Trends in airborne grass pollen in Évora City (Portugal)

AbstractAerobiology could be used as complementary data or proxy for studying phenology, especially in species which usually are not long-distance transported, such as grasses. This 21-year aerobiological study took place in Évora (South Portugal), using a seven-day recording volumetric pollen trap with the aim of analysing the temporal trends of grass pollen seasons. To this end, data were statistically tested for correlation and regression to determine the features and temporal trends of pollen seasons. Main results show that Poaceae pollen has a high representation in pollen spectrum, 20% (min: 7%; max: 44%), with a long season starting in March and lasting till August/September or October. There was an overall, but not statistically significant trend, towards an increase in the annual pollen integral and peak values, and also an overall non-statistically significant trend towards an earlier start and later end of the pollen season. Main and high pollen seasons have been lasting longer, and the days with allergenic potential have been rising in line with the local temperature rising trend. It seems that grass pollen production is being aided by warmer temperatures and increased grassland areas in Alentejo region. This could promote the increase in annual pollen levels and in the number of high pollen days over the years. In clinical terms, it means that grass allergic patients are exposed to longer periods of airborne pollen and to higher counts over a longer time. The climate conditions projected for Alentejo region, including rising temperature, and the changes in local grassland areas may help to clarify the trends of grass pollen seasons in the next decades.