bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MuDoGeR: Multi‐Domain Genome recovery from metagenomes made easy
Authors: Rocha Ulisses , Coelho Kasmanas Jonas , Kallies René , Saraiva Joao Pedro , Toscan Rodolfo Brizola , Štefanič Polonca , Bicalho Marcos Fleming , Borim Correa Felipe , Baştürk Merve Nida , Fousekis Efthymios , Viana Barbosa Luiz Miguel , Plewka Julia , Probst Alexander J. , Baldrian Petr , Stadler Peter F. ,   CLUE‐TERRA Consortium
Published: November 2023

Several computational frameworks and workflows that recover genomes from prokaryotes, eukaryotes and viruses from metagenomes exist. Yet, it is difficult for scientists with little bioinformatics experience to evaluate quality, annotate genes, dereplicate, assign taxonomy and calculate relative abundance and coverage of genomes belonging to different domains. MuDoGeR is a user‐friendly tool tailored for those familiar with Unix command‐line environment that makes it easy to recover genomes of prokaryotes, eukaryotes and viruses from metagenomes, either alone or in combination. We tested MuDoGeR using 24 individual‐isolated genomes and 574 metagenomes, demonstrating the applicability for a few samples and high throughput. While MuDoGeR can recover eukaryotic viral sequences, its characterization is predominantly skewed towards bacterial and archaeal viruses, reflecting the field's current state. However, acting as a dynamic wrapper, the MuDoGeR is designed to constantly incorporate updates and integrate new tools, ensuring its ongoing relevance in the rapidly evolving field. MuDoGeR is open‐source software available at https://github.com/mdsufz/MuDoGeR. Additionally, MuDoGeR is also available as a Singularity container.
NeTaGFT: A similarity network‐based method for trait analysis
Authors: Matsumoto Hirotaka , Matsui Motomu
Published: November 2023

With the determination of numerous viral and bacterial genome sequences, sequence‐trait relationships, such as the evolution of virulence and associations to geographic location or host, are now being studied. In these studies, phylogenetic trees were first reconstructed, and trait data were analysed based on the trees. However, in some cases, such as fast evolution sequences and gene‐sharing network data, reconstructing the phylogenetic tree is challenging. Even in such cases, it is possible to quantify the similarity between sequences and construct an similarity network.

Here, we propose a novel approach, Network‐Trait association with Graph Fourier Transform (NeTaGFT), to analyse network‐trait associations. NeTaGFT is inspired by graph signalling process techniques. The graph in this study corresponds to a similarity network representing the similarities between virus samples, and the graph signal corresponds to trait data. By using graph Fourier transform, NeTaGFT aims to identify trait signals and associations of various traits from a similarity network.

We validated that NeTaGFT can find signals associated with network structures and associations of traits with the simulation dataset. We applied NeTaGFT for influenza type A and virome gene‐sharing datasets. As a result, we identified several network structures and their associated traits.

Our approach is expected to provide novel insights into network‐based approach not only for typical sequence‐trait relationships but also for various biological data, such as antibody evolution.
Depletion of preexisting B‐cell lymphoma 2‐expressing senescent cells before vaccination impacts antigen‐specific antitumor immune responses in old mice
Authors: Cobanoglu Ozmen , Delval Lou , Ferrari Daniele , Deruyter Lucie , Heumel Séverine , Wolowczuk Isabelle , Hussein Abir , Menevse Ayse Nur , Bernard David , Beckhove Philip , Alves Frauke , Trottein François
Published: November 2023

The age‐related decline in immunity reduces the effectiveness of vaccines in older adults. Immunosenescence is associated with chronic, low‐grade inflammation, and the accumulation of senescent cells. The latter express Bcl‐2 family members (providing resistance to cell death) and exhibit a pro‐inflammatory, senescence‐associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Preexisting senescent cells cause many aging‐related disorders and therapeutic means of eliminating these cells have recently gained attention. The potential consequences of senescent cell removal on vaccine efficacy in older individuals are still ignored. We used the Bcl‐2 family inhibitor ABT‐263 to investigate the effects of pre‐vaccination senolysis on immune responses in old mice. Two different ovalbumin (OVA)‐containing vaccines (containing a saponin‐based or a CpG oligodeoxynucleotide adjuvant) were tested. ABT‐263 depleted senescent cells (apoptosis) and ablated the basal and lipopolysaccharide‐induced production of SASP‐related factors in old mice. Depletion of senescent cells prior to vaccination (prime/boost) had little effect on OVA‐specific antibody and T‐cell responses (slightly reduced and augmented, respectively). We then used a preclinical melanoma model to test the antitumor potential of senolysis before vaccination (prime with the vaccine and OVA boost by tumor cells). Surprisingly, ABT‐263 treatment abrogated the vaccine's ability to protect against B16 melanoma growth in old animals, an effect associated with reduced antigen‐specific T‐cell responses. Some, but not all, of the effects were age‐specific, which suggests that preexisting senescent cells were partly involved. Hence, depletion of senescent cells modifies immune responses to vaccines in some settings and caution should be taken when incorporating senolytics into vaccine‐based cancer therapies.
Finite element study of the fatigue behaviour of nickel‐titanium endodontic files utilised with pecking motion technique
Authors: Kökan Eyüp Can , Atik Yasin , Özüpek Şebnem , Podnos Evgeny , Erişen Raif
Published: November 2023

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the influence of the pecking motion (reciprocal axial motion) surgical technique on the durability behaviour of the Nickel‐Titanium endodontic files using Finite Element Analysis (FEA). A commonly used endodontic file, ProTaper Universal F2, is selected for the study. Root canal treatment procedure is simulated on a test‐bench (simulated root canal) proposed by G. Gambarini for cyclic fatigue loading of endodontic files with and without the pecking motion via FEA. The hysteresis energy density is used as evaluation criteria for low cycle fatigue life estimation of Shape Memory Alloy files. In an additional study, the root canal treatment procedure is also simulated for an FEA model of a molar tooth with significant root canal curvature to understand the influence of the realistic curvature of a root canal on the fatigue behaviour of endodontic files. For the simulated root canal, analysis accurately predicts the endodontic file's failure location, and fatigue life estimation based on the hysteresis energy density is shown to increase significantly with the introduction of the pecking motion, an observation confirmed by reported experimental results. Molar tooth simulations reveal greater file fatigue resistance than in simulated root canals, confirming the pecking motion's efficacy in enhancing file durability, even in real root canal conditions. Simulations indicate that the pecking motion technique increases the fatigue life of endodontic files for simulated as well as real root canals and the hysteresis energy is confirmed as an acceptable parameter to quantify fatigue life of Nickel‐Titanium endodontic files.
Genetic diversity patterns in farmed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) populations using genome‐wideSNPand haplotype data
Authors: Longo Alessio , Kurta Khrystyna , Vanhala Tytti , Jeuthe Henrik , de Koning Dirk‐Jan , Palaiokostas Christos
Published: November 2023

Rainbow trout is one of the most popular aquaculture species worldwide, with a long history of domestication. However, limited information exists about the genetic diversity of farmed rainbow trout populations globally, with most available reports relying on low‐throughput genotyping technologies. Notably, no information exists about the genetic diversity status of farmed rainbow trout in Sweden. Double‐digest restriction‐site‐associated DNA sequencing was performed on more than 500 broodfish from two leading producers in Sweden and from the country's national breeding program. Following the detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), genetic diversity was studied by using either individual SNPs (n = 8680; one SNP retained per 300 bp sequence reads) or through SNP haplotypes (n = 20 558; all SNPs retained in 300 bp sequence reads). Similar amounts of genetic diversity were found amongst the three populations when individual SNPs were used. Furthermore, principal component analysis and discriminant analysis of principal components suggested two genetic clusters with the two industry populations grouped together. Genetic differentiation based on theFSTfixation index was ~0.01 between the industry populations and ~0.05 when those were compared with the breeding program. Preliminary estimates of effective population size (Ne) and inbreeding (based on runs of homozygosity;FROH) were similar amongst the three populations (Ne ≈ 50–80; medianFROH ≈ 0.11). Finally, the haplotype‐based analysis suggested that animals from the breeding program had higher shared coancestry levels than those from the other two populations. Overall, our study provides novel insights into the genetic diversity and structure of Sweden's three main farmed rainbow trout populations, which could guide their future management.
Brain volumetry from CT‐scan endocasts of three neotropical carnivores
Authors: Montana Marelise Moral , Kasper Carlos Benhur , Pinheiro Felipe Lima , Pereira Luis Felipe Salles , Abidu‐Figueiredo Marcelo , de Souza‐Junior Paulo
Published: November 2023

Studies on brain anatomy can clarify specific evolutionary and behavioural aspects of wild animals. The rich diversity in a broad range of habitats makes carnivorans especially eligible for studying the relations between the brain form and behaviour, cognitive, sensorial and motor traits. This study compared the brain's contour and total and segmented brain volumetry in three species of neotropical carnivorans. CT images of 17 skulls of three species were acquired: Conepatus chinga (n = 6), Galictis cuja (n = 6) and Lontra longicaudis (n = 5). Three‐dimensional endocasts allowed for estimating the brain's total and segmented volumes (olfactory bulb, rostral cerebrum, caudal cerebrum and cerebellum/brain stem). The average volume percentage of the segments was compared interspecifically and intraspecifically between the sexes. The otter has a notably more complex gyrification, typical for semiaquatic carnivorans. Proportionally, the olfactory bulb was significantly larger in hog‐nosed skunks, possibly due to a better sense of smell for capturing insects. The proportional volumes of the rostral cerebrum, caudal cerebrum and cerebellum/brain stem segments did not differ between these species. Social behaviour traits and tactile, motor and balance skills were probably not sufficiently distinct to reflect differences in the brain segments analysed in these three species.
UP‐regulated levels of sHLA‐G in women with a history of RPL in mid‐gestation presumably to achieve ongoing pregnancy
Authors: Jahan Parveen , Bhuwalka Rashmi , Begum Mahmooda , Madduru Dhatri , Ahmad Arif , Bonu Rajeshwari
Published: November 2023

Problem

Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL) is a disorder characterized by two or more pregnancy losses within 20th week of gestation. Globally 1–5% of the couples are affected, 50% of these cases are with unknown etiology. HLA‐G, an Immuno‐modulatory molecule is a non‐classical MHC‐1 protein, expressed abundantly on extravillous trophoblastic cells, responsible for spiral artery remodeling, maintaining maternal immune tolerance and fetal growth by adjusting pro and anti‐inflammatory milieu during different gestational phases.

Method of study

In the present case‐control study CD4+HLA‐G+ tTreg cells were enumerated by flow cytometry and estimation of the circulating levels of sHLA‐G in the blood samples of 300 mid‐gestation pregnant women with (iRPL) and without history of RPL (nRPL) by Enzyme‐linked Immunosorbent assay was done. The cases included 92 primary and 58 secondary RPL cases

Results

A significant reduction in number of tTregs and elevated levels of circulating sHLA‐G in iRPL (.03, 200.9) versus nRPL (.09, 90.32) was observed. Further, the primary cases showed higher circulating sHLA‐G and no difference in relation to CD4+HLA‐G+ tTregs compared to the secondary cases. Receiver operating curve (ROC) characteristics of sHLA‐G (AUC = .8) was superior to CD4+HLA‐G+ (AUC = .7) for iRPL patients over nRPL group. Conclusions: Our results are suggestive of the over‐expression of sHLA‐G which may be caused due to its shedding from surface of trophoblast as a compensatory mechanism to save the on‐going pregnancy. To realize the present outcome, studies are required on on‐going pregnancy follow‐up cases with favorable and unfavorable pregnancy outcome.
How well are we collecting umbilical cord lactate and gas samples?
Authors: Bui Trang Minh , Battin Malcolm , Sadler Lynn
Published: November 2023

Aims

The aim of this study is to measure staff compliance with the local umbilical cord lactate (UCL) sampling guideline and investigate the quality of paired UCG samples at a tertiary maternity unit.

Methods

We performed a retrospective consecutive sampling of 100 babies delivered via emergency caesarean section and 50 babies with each of all other guideline‐based indications for UCL sampling born on and before 31 December 2021. Data were extracted from physical and electronic records. Compliance with guideline‐based indications for UCL at birth was measured. The proportion of valid UCG samples was calculated. Samples were considered invalid under the following cases: (i) inadvertently collecting from the same vessel, (ii) switching arterial and venous samples, (iii) collecting from only one vessel or (iv) committing errors during sample collection and handling.

Results

Of the samples collected at birth from 321 babies, 280 (87%) had UCL. Small for gestational age and concerns about fetal well‐being in labour were indications associated with poorer compliance, 66% and 78%, respectively. About 99 (44%) babies of 226 babies with UCG performed had valid UCG samples. The most common reasons for invalid samples were collection and handling errors (22%) and inadvertent collection from the same vessel (15%).

Conclusions

Generally, compliance with the guidelines is good. However, invalid UCG samples were more frequent than expected.
Exploring the impact of recovery funding on the well‐being and health workforce capability of rural practices during natural disasters and emergencies
Authors: Hurst Kate P. , Ramsden Robyn , Roach Christine , Colbran Richard
Published: November 2023

Introduction

This study examines the impact of funding provided to support the well‐being of rural health practitioners and their practice staff following the 2019–2022 bushfires.

Objective

To assess the benefits and implications of grant funding for rural practices to aid recovery following bushfires in NSW, Australia.

Design

An explanatory sequential mixed method design consisted of a survey and a thematic analysis of semi‐structured Interviews.

Findings

Five key themes emerged from analysis: (1) the disasters altered the role of the practice and therapeutic relationships; (2) the funding had a positive impact on access to professional development; (3) the training had a positive impact on staff well‐being and resilience; (4) the professional development had a positive impact on rural practitioner's sense of capability; and (5) important elements of future grant opportunities.

Discussion

The findings indicate the importance of recovering funding to facilitate access to professional development for rural health practioners during natural disasters which improved their mental health and wellbeing, capability and support to clients.

Conclusion

Recovery funding facilitated improvement in workforce capability, professional resilience, mental health and well‐being in the face of natural disasters and emergencies. There was a link between training and maintaining the capability of rural health care practitioners and their practice staff. Capability was an important factor in the well‐being and resilience of the health workforce and their ability to support clients.
Prevalence of lumbopelvic pain during pregnancy: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of cross‐sectional studies
Authors: Shanshan Hong , Liying Chen , Huihong Zhuang , Yanting Wang , Tiantian Lin , Tong Jin , Jiawei Qin
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Lumbopelvic pain (LPP) is common in pregnant women and has a significant negative effect on physical and psychological health. In this study, for the first time, we conduct a meta‐analysis to estimate the overall prevalence of LPP among pregnant women and clarify the reasons for the differences in the estimated results.

Material and methods

A systematic search of four databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) was conducted from inception until October 2022. Two reviewers conducted a methodological quality assessment. Random‐effects model analysis was used to estimate the pooled prevalence and the 95% confidence interval. Chi‐square tests and I2‐values were used to assess the heterogeneity. Subgroup analysis (according to the participants’ continent, age, body mass index [BMI], gestational age and study risk of bias), sensitivity analysis and random‐effects meta‐regression were used to explore the the sources of heterogeneity.

Results

Of the 1661 unique citations, 38 studies (21 533 pregnant participants) were included in this systematic review and meta‐analysis. The overall pooled prevalence of LPP during pregnancy was 63% (95% CI: 0.57 to 0.69), with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 99.1%, P < 0.001). The prevalence differed by participants’ continents, 71% (North America), 74% (South America), 63% (Asia), 64% (Europe), 59% (Africa) and 45% (Oceania). The prevalence differed by BMI, 64% (BMI <25), 64% (25 ≤ BMI ≤ 28), and 71% (BMI >28). The prevalence differed by age, 72% (age <25 years), 58% (25 ≤ age ≤ 30 years), and 69% (age >30 years). The prevalence were the same differed by study risk of bias, 63% (both low and moderate risk of bias studies). The prevalence were similar by gestational age, 62% (second trimester) and 63% (third trimester).

Conclusions

Lumbopelvic pain during pregnancy is common; about three‐fifths of pregnant women experience LPP. More prevention and intervention research for lumbopelvic should be conducted in pregnant women with different clinical characteristics.
Subsite‐specific trends in mid‐ and long‐term survival for head and neck cancer patients in Japan: A population‐based study
Authors: Tsuge Hiroshi , Kawakita Daisuke , Taniyama Yukari , Oze Isao , Koyanagi Yuriko N. , Hori Megumi , Nakata Kayo , Sugiyama Hiromi , Miyashiro Isao , Oki Izumi , Nishino Yoshikazu , Katanoda Kota , Ito Yuri , Shibata Akiko , Matsuda Tomohiro , Iwasaki Shinichi , Matsuo Keitaro , Ito Hidemi
Published: November 2023

Advances in diagnostic techniques and treatment modalities have impacted head and neck cancer (HNC) prognosis, but their effects on subsite‐specific prognosis remain unclear. This study aimed to assess subsite‐specific trends in mid‐ and long‐term survival for HNC patients diagnosed from 1993 to 2011 using data from population‐based cancer registries in Japan. We estimated the net survival (NS) for HNC by subsite using data from 13 prefectural population‐based cancer registries in Japan. Changes in survival over time were assessed by multivariate excess hazard model of mortality. In total, 68,312 HNC patients were included in this analysis. We observed an overall improvement in 5‐year NS for HNC patients in Japan. However, survival varied among subsites of HNC, with some, such as naso‐, oro‐ and hypopharyngeal cancers, showing significant improvement in both 5‐ and 10‐year NS, whereas others such as laryngeal cancer showed only a slight improvement in 5‐year NS and no significant change in 10‐year NS after adjustment for age, sex and stage. In conclusion, the study provides insights into changing HNC survival by site at the population level in Japan. Although advances in diagnostic techniques and treatment modalities have improved survival, these improvements are not shared equally among subsites.
A comprehensive update on genetic inheritance, epigenetic factors, associated pathology, and recent therapeutic intervention by gene therapy in schizophrenia
Authors: R Rachana , Devtalla Harshit , Rana Karishma , Panda Siva Prasad , Agrawal Arushi , Kadyan Shreya , Jindal Divya , Pancham Pranav , Yadav Deepshikha , Jha Niraj Kumar , Jha Saurabh Kumar , Gupta Vivek , Singh Manisha
Published: November 2023

Schizophrenia is a severe psychological disorder in which reality is interpreted abnormally by the patient. The symptoms of the disease include delusions and hallucinations, associated with extremely disordered behavior and thinking, which may affect the daily lives of the patients. Advancements in technology have led to understanding the dynamics of the disease and the identification of the underlying causes. Multiple investigations prove that it is regulated genetically, and epigenetically, and is affected by environmental factors. The molecular and neural pathways linked to the regulation of schizophrenia have been extensively studied. Over 180 Schizophrenic risk loci have now been recognized due to several genome‐wide association studies (GWAS). It has been observed that multiple transcription factors (TF) binding‐disrupting single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been related to gene expression responsible for the disease in cerebral complexes. Copy number variation, SNP defects, and epigenetic changes in chromosomes may cause overexpression or underexpression of certain genes responsible for the disease. Nowadays, gene therapy is being implemented for its treatment as several of these genetic defects have been identified. Scientists are trying to use viral vectors, miRNA, siRNA, and CRISPR technology. In addition, nanotechnology is also being applied to target such genes. The primary aim of such targeting was to either delete or silence such hyperactive genes or induce certain genes that inhibit the expression of these genes. There are challenges in delivering the gene/DNA to the site of action in the brain, and scientists are working to resolve the same. The present article describes the basics regarding the disease, its causes and factors responsible, and the gene therapy solutions available to treat this disease.
Phenotypes of cough in children: A latent class analysis
Authors: Mallet Maria Christina , Pedersen Eva S. L. , Makhoul Ronny , Blanchon Sylvain , Hoyler Karin , Jochmann Anja , Latzin Philipp , Moeller Alexander , Regamey Nicolas , Goutaki Myrofora , Spycher Ben D. , Kuehni Claudia E. ,   the SPAC Study Team
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Distinguishing phenotypes among children with cough helps understand underlying causes. Using a statistical data‐driven approach, we aimed to identify and validate cough phenotypes based on measurable traits, physician diagnoses, and prognosis.

Methods

We used data from the Swiss Paediatric Airway Cohort and included 531 children aged 5–16 years seen in outpatient clinics since 2017. We included children with any parent‐reported cough (i.e. cough without a cold, cough at night, cough more than other children, or cough longer than 4 weeks) without current wheeze. We applied latent class analysis to identify phenotypes using nine symptoms and characteristics and selected the best model using the Akaike information criterion. We assigned children to the most likely phenotype and compared the resulting groups for parental atopy history, comorbidities, spirometry, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), skin prick tests and specific IgE, physician diagnoses, and 1‐year prognosis.

Results

We identified four cough phenotypes: non‐specific cough (26%); non‐allergic infectious and night cough with snoring and otitis (4%); chronic allergic dry night cough with snoring (9%); and allergic non‐infectious cough with rhino‐conjunctivitis (61%). Children with the allergic phenotype often had family or personal history of atopy and asthma diagnosis. FeNO was highest for the allergic phenotype [median 17.9 parts per billion (ppb)] and lowest for the non‐allergic infectious phenotype [median 7.0 parts per billion (ppb)]. Positive allergy test results differed across phenotypes (p < .001) and were most common among the allergic (70%) and least common among the non‐specific cough (31%) phenotypes. Subsequent wheeze was more common among the allergic than the non‐specific phenotype.

Conclusion

We identified four clinically relevant cough phenotypes with different prognoses. Although we excluded children with current wheeze, most children with cough belonged to allergy‐related phenotypes.
Use of overnight metyrapone test in suspected secondary adrenal insufficiency: A retrospective single centre‐study
Authors: Saini Jasmine , Garcia Raul Gregg , Herndon Justine , Erickson Dana , Gruber Lucinda , Bancos Irina
Published: November 2023

Objective

Overnight metyrapone test (OMT) is a dynamic test used to diagnose secondary adrenal insufficiency (SAI). Data on OMT use and its safety are scarce. We aimed to describe the indications and safety of outpatient OMT and compare OMT to the cosyntropin stimulation test (CST).

Design

Single‐centre retrospective study of adult patients undergoing OMT between 1 April 2018 and 27 January 2023.

Measurements

OMT‐related adverse events, post‐OMT diagnosis of SAI, and OMT comparison to CST.

Results

OMT was performed in 114 patients (81, 71% women) at a median age of 48 (interquartile range 37–58). The pretest probability for SAI was low in 52 (46%) patients, moderate in 48 (42%) patients and high in 14 (12%) patients. Adverse events were reported in 7 (6.1%) patients and were mild except for one hospitalization. No baseline or OMT‐related factors were associated with the development of adverse events. Prevalence of the OMT‐based SAI diagnosis was 26 (23%) and 47 (46%) using 11‐deoxycortisol cutoff <7 and <10 mcg/dL, respectively. Higher pretest probability was associated with the OMT‐based diagnosis of SAI. Post‐OMT 11‐deoxycortisol cutoff of 10 mcg/dL was used most to diagnose SAI. Compared to the OMT‐based diagnosis of SAI (11‐deoxycortisol cutoff of 10 mcg/dL), the specificity of CST was 100%, but the sensitivity was only 52%.

Conclusions

OMT was well tolerated and used in patients with low and moderate pretest probability for SAI. CST can erroneously exclude patients with SAI. Thus, OMT should be considered in selected patients with normal CST.
Curvature‐driven Multi‐stream Network for Feature‐preserving Mesh Denoising
Authors: Zhao Zhibo , Tang Wenming , Gong Yuanhao
Published: November 2023

Mesh denoising is a fundamental yet challenging task. Most of the existing data‐driven methods only consider the zero‐order information (vertex location) and first‐order information (face normal). However, higher‐order geometric information (such as curvature) is more descriptive for the shape of the mesh. Therefore, in order to impose such high‐order information, this paper proposes a novel Curvature‐Driven Multi‐Stream Graph Convolutional Neural Network (CDMS‐Net) architecture. CDMS‐Net has three streams, including curvature stream, face normal stream and vertex stream, where the curvature stream focuses on the high‐order Gaussian curvature information. Moreover, CDMS‐Net proposes a novel block based on residual dense connections, which is used as the core component to extract geometric features from meshes. This innovative design improves the performance of feature‐preserving denoising. The plug‐and‐play modular design makes CDMS‐Net easy to be implemented. Multiple sets of ablation study are carried out to verify the rationality of the CDMS‐Net. Our method establishes new state‐of‐the‐art mesh denoising results on publicly available datasets.
The effect of dopamine replacement therapy on cortical structure in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Wu Chenqing , Wu Haoting , Zhou Cheng , Guo Tao , Guan Xiaojun , Cao Zhengye , Wu Jingjing , Liu Xiaocao , Chen Jingwen , Wen Jiaqi , Qin Jianmei , Tan Sijia , Duanmu Xiaojie , Gu Luyan , Song Zhe , Zhang Baorong , Huang Peiyu , Xu Xiaojun , Zhang Minming
Published: November 2023

Aims

To explore the cortical structural reorganization in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients under chronic dopamine replacement therapy (DRT) in cross‐sectional and longitudinal data and determine whether these changes were associated with clinical alterations.

Methods

A total of 61 DRT‐treated, 60 untreated PD patients, and 61 normal controls (NC) were retrospectively included. Structural MRI scans and neuropsychological tests were conducted. Cortical thickness and volume were extracted based on FreeSurfer and were analyzed using general linear model to find statistically significant differences among three groups. Correlation analyses were performed among significant cortical areas, medication treatment (duration and dosage), and neuropsychological tests. Longitudinal cortical structural changes of patients who initiated DRT were analyzed using linear mixed‐effect model.

Results

Significant cortical atrophy was primarily observed in the prefrontal cortex in treated patients, including the cortical thickness of right pars opercularis and the volume of bilateral superior frontal cortex (SFC), left rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC), right lateral orbital frontal cortex, right pars orbitalis, and right rostral middle frontal cortex. A negative correlation was detected between the left SFC volume and levodopa equivalent dose (LED) (r = −0.316, p = 0.016), as well as the left rACC volume and medication duration (r = −0.329, p = 0.013). In the patient group, the left SFC volume was positively associated with digit span forward score (r = 0.335, p = 0.017). The left SFC volume reduction was longitudinally correlated with increased LED (standardized coefficient = −0.077, p = 0.001).

Conclusion

This finding provided insights into the influence of DRT on cortical structure and highlighted the importance of drug dose titration in DRT.
Sex‐specific associations between skeletal muscle mass and incident diabetes: A population‐based cohort study
Authors: Liu Dan , Li Nan , Zhou Yiling , Wang Miye , Song Peige , Yuan Changzheng , Shi Qingyang , Chen Hui , Zhou Kaixin , Wang Huan , Li Tao , Pan Xiong‐Fei , Tian Haoming , Li Sheyu
Published: November 2023

Aims

To investigate the sex‐specific associations between predicted skeletal muscle mass index (pSMI) and incident type 2 diabetes in a retrospective longitudinal cohort of Chinese men and women.

Materials and Methods

We enrolled Chinese adults without diabetes at baseline from WATCH (West chinA adulT health CoHort), a large health check‐up‐based database. We calculated pSMI to estimate skeletal muscular mass, and measured blood glucose variables and assessed self‐reported history to identify new‐onset diabetes. The nonlinear association between pSMI and incident type 2 diabetes was modelled using the penalized spline method. The piecewise association was estimated using segmented linear splines in weighted Cox proportional hazards regression models.

Results

Of 47 885 adults (53.2% women) with a median age of 40 years, 1836 developed type 2 diabetes after a 5‐year median follow‐up. In women, higher pSMI was associated with a lower risk of incident type 2 diabetes (Pnonlinearity = 0.09, hazard ratio [HR] per standard deviation increment in pSMI: 0.79 [95% confidence interval {CI} 0.68, 0.91]). A nonlinear association of pSMI with incident type 2 diabetes was detected in men (Pnonlinearity < 0.001). In men with pSMI lower than 8.1, higher pSMI was associated with a lower risk of incident type 2 diabetes (HR 0.58 [95% CI 0.40, 0.84]), whereas pSMI was not significantly associated with incident diabetes in men with pSMI equal to or greater than 8.1 (HR 1.08 [95% CI 0.93, 1.25]).

Conclusions

In females, a larger muscular mass is associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. For males, this association is significant only among those with diminished muscle mass.
Moderate‐intensity statin with ezetimibe combination therapy versus high‐intensity statin monotherapy in patients with metabolic syndrome and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: A post‐hoc analysis of the RACING trial
Authors: Lee Yong‐Joon , Lee Sang‐Hyup , You Seng Chan , Lee Yong‐ho , Lee Seung‐Jun , Hong Sung‐Jin , Ahn Chul‐Min , Kim Byeong‐Keuk , Ko Young‐Guk , Choi Donghoon , Hong Myeong‐Ki , Jang Yangsoo , Kim Jung‐Sun
Published: November 2023

Aim

This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of a moderate‐intensity statin with ezetimibe combination therapy versus high‐intensity statin monotherapy in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Materials and Methods

In this post‐hoc subgroup analysis of the RACING trial, patients were analysed based on the presence of MetS. MetS was defined as meeting at least three of the five following criteria: (a) elevated waist circumference; (b) elevated triglycerides; (c) reduced high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol; (d) elevated blood pressure; and (e) elevated fasting glucose. The primary outcome was a 3‐year composite of cardiovascular death, major cardiovascular events, or non‐fatal stroke.

Results

Of the 3780 patients enrolled in the RACING trial, 1703 (45.1%) had MetS at baseline. The primary outcome rate was 10.1% and 10.3% in patients with MetS receiving ezetimibe combination therapy versus high‐intensity statin monotherapy (hazard ratio = 0.97; 95% confidence interval = 0.72‐1.32; p = .868). Lower rates of intolerance‐related drug discontinuation or dose reduction (3.9% vs. 8.0%; p < .001) and lower low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (57 vs. 65 mg/dl; p < .001) were observed with ezetimibe combination therapy versus high‐intensity statin monotherapy. Furthermore, the rate of new‐onset diabetes was 18.5% and 19.1% in each group (p = .822). There were no significant interactions between MetS and therapy regarding study outcomes in the total population.

Conclusions

In patients with MetS and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, a moderate‐intensity statin with ezetimibe combination therapy had comparable cardiovascular benefits with those of high‐intensity statin monotherapy. Meanwhile, ezetimibe combination therapy was associated with lower drug intolerance and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, but there was no apparent between‐group difference in new‐onset diabetes.
Outcomes or participation? Experimentally testing competing sources of legitimacy for taxation
Authors: Engel Christoph , Mittone Luigi , Morreale Azzurra
Published: November 2023

Legitimacy may result from support for projects that a government implements. However, legitimacy may also result from the opportunity to participate in the selection process of projects. We tested the strength of these competing sources of legitimacy experimentally and their relationship. We find a straightforward effect of the former: the more projects a participant supports, the higher their taxes. Participants are also willing to pay for participation; if they have had a say, they pay higher taxes. Yet, most of this effect is actually instrumental: participants want participation to ensure that their taxes are used for purposes they deem acceptable.
Traumatic dental injuries sustained during Chile's civil unrest: A case series study
Authors: Corral Nunez Camila , Hurtado Alvaro , Latapiat Parodi André , Osorio Larraín Rodrigo , Ríos Erazo Matías , Herrera Ronda Andrea , Varas Reyes Joaquín , Rojas Alcayaga Gonzalo
Published: November 2023

Background/Aim

During Chile's period of social unrest, numerous people suffered physical trauma due to the use of police force. However, there have been no reports regarding traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) suffered in this context. This study aims to describe the dental trauma of patients injured by police during the social unrest period in Chile from 2019 to 2021.

Material and Methods

A case series methodology was employed. Following informed consent, clinical records of patients admitted to the Ocular and Dentomaxillofacial Prosthetic Care and Rehabilitation Program, who were affected by the violence of state agents during social mobilizations, were reviewed from October 2019 to December 2021. Information on the sociodemographic characteristics of the patients and the TDI diagnoses with their treatment needs were collected. A descriptive analysis was performed.

Results

Forty‐six patients were identified, nine of whom agreed to the informed consent. Most were male, with a mean age of 28 years, public health insurance, and a high educational level. The most common causes of injury were kinetic impact projectiles (KIPs) and the use of physical force (punches, kicks, or pushes). Of the nine cases described, 26 teeth were affected by TDI. The most affected teeth were the central upper incisors and, in most cases, they presented lesions in both injury categories: NA0D.0 (the tooth and pulp) and NA0D.1 (periodontal tissues). Treatment needs varied and included some complex procedures, such as implant‐retained crowns and removable dental prostheses.

Conclusions

The use of force by police during the period of social unrest in Chile caused TDIs among demonstrators, which were mainly due to physical force from less‐than‐lethal weapons. Most cases presented injuries affecting the incisors with multiple teeth requiring complex treatments.
Compromised melanocyte survival due to decreased suppression of CD4+ & CD8+ resident memory T cells by impaired TRM‐regulatory T cells in generalized vitiligo patients
Authors: Shah Firdosh , Giri Prashant S. , Bharti Ankit H. , Dwivedi Mitesh
Published: November 2023

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are involved in the suppression of activated T cells in generalized vitiligo (GV). The study was aimed to investigate resident memory (TRM)‐Tregs and antigen‐specific Tregs' numbers and functional defects in 25 GV patients and 20 controls. CD4+ & CD8+ TRM cell proliferation was assessed by BrDU assay; production of IL‐10, TGF‐β, IFN‐γ, perforin and granzyme B were assessed by ELISA and enumeration of TRM cells was done by flowcytometry. GV patients showed significantly increased frequency and absolute count of CD4+ & CD8+ TRM cells in lesional (L), perilesional (PL) and non‐lesional (NL) skin compared to controls (p = 0.0003, p = 0.0029 & p = 0.0115, respectively & p = 0.0003, p = 0.003 & p = 0.086, respectively). Whereas, TRM‐Treg (p < 0.0001 & p = 0.0015) and antigen‐specific Tregs (p = 0.0014 & p = 0.003) exhibited significantly decreased frequency and absolute counts in L & PL skin. GV patients showed reduced suppression of CD8+ & CD4+ TRM cells (with increased IFN‐γ, perforin & granzyme B) and decreased TRM‐Tregs and antigen‐specific Tregs (with decreased IL‐10 & TGF‐β production) and reduced proliferation of SK‐Mel‐28 cells in co‐culture systems. Immunohistochemistry revealed increased expression of TRM stimulating cytokines: IL‐15 & IL‐17A and reduced expression of TGF‐β & IL‐10 in L, PL, NL skins compared to controls. These results for the first time suggest that decreased and impaired TRM‐Tregs and antigen‐specific Tregs are unable to suppress CD4+ & CD8+ TRMs' cytotoxic function and their proliferation due to decrease production of immunosuppressive cytokines (IL‐10 & TGF‐β) and increased production of TRM based IFN‐γ, perforin and granzyme B production, thus compromising the melanocyte survival in GV.
Causal relationship between psoriasis vulgaris and dementia: Insights from Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Zhang Zehan , Xu Wenxiu , Zheng Yuxiao , Chen Congai , Kang Xiangdong , Chen Dan , Cheng Fafeng , Wang Xueqian
Published: November 2023

Many clinical studies have demonstrated a correlation between psoriasis vulgaris and dementia, yet this correlation remains controversial. Our study employed the Mendelian randomization (MR) method to investigate the causal relationship between psoriasis vulgaris and dementia. Data were obtained from the summary statistics of the genome‐wide association studies from IEU‐OpenGWAS project database. In univariate Mendelian randomization (UVMR) analysis, psoriasis vulgaris was used as exposure. Alzheimer disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), Parkinson's disease with dementia (PDD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) served as the outcomes. In multivariate Mendelian randomization (MVMR) analysis, VaD served as the outcome. The first MVMR analysis used psoriasis vulgaris, mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW) and platelet count (PLT) as exposures. The second MVMR analysis used psoriasis vulgaris, vitamin D level and 25 hydroxyvitamin D level as exposures. The main analysis employed the inverse variance weighted method, and the outcomes were evaluated by odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). In UVMR analysis, the results depicted that psoriasis vulgaris was associated with VaD (OR: 0.903, 95% CI: 0.818–0.996, p = 0.041). The results revealed insignificant associations between psoriasis vulgaris and other dementia types. After adjusting the effects of MPV, PDW and PLT in MVMR analysis, the association between psoriasis vulgaris and VaD was no longer significant (p = 0.164). Similarly, after adjusting the effects of vitamin D level and 25 hydroxyvitamin D level in MVMR analysis, the association between psoriasis vulgaris and VaD was also no longer significant (p = 0.533). Our study suggests that psoriasis vulgaris may potentially decrease VaD incidence. However, the causal association between psoriasis vulgaris and VaD may be impeded by platelet‐related indices, vitamin D level and 25 hydroxyvitamin D level.
Shareholder litigation rights and firm productivity
Authors: Bilokha Alona , Gupta Sudip
Published: November 2023

This paper analyzes the impacts of decreased shareholder litigation risk on firm productivity. Shareholder litigation provides shareholders a mechanism to enforce rights and mitigate agency conflicts. We use a staggered state‐level adoption of universal demand (UD) laws as an exogenous shock that suppressed the number of shareholder derivative lawsuits. We show that the resulting deterioration in corporate governance, coupled with increased managerial attention, had mixed effects on productivity. Adverse effects resulting from lower litigation risk are primarily observed in firms facing low takeover threats. Conversely, firms with incentivised management achieved a higher productivity growth.
Thirty‐six years of butterfly monitoring, snow cover, and plant productivity reveal negative impacts of warmer winters and increased productivity on montane species
Authors: Halsch Christopher A. , Shapiro Arthur M. , Thorne James H. , Rodman Kyle C. , Parra Adriana , Dyer Lee A. , Gompert Zachariah , Smilanich Angela M. , Forister Matthew L.
Published: November 2023

Climate change is contributing to declines of insects through rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and an increasing frequency of extreme events. The impacts of both gradual and sudden shifts in weather patterns are realized directly on insect physiology and indirectly through impacts on other trophic levels. Here, we investigated direct effects of seasonal weather on butterfly occurrences and indirect effects mediated by plant productivity using a temporally intensive butterfly monitoring dataset, in combination with high‐resolution climate data and a remotely sensed indicator of plant primary productivity. Specifically, we used Bayesian hierarchical path analysis to quantify relationships between weather and weather‐driven plant productivity on the occurrence of 94 butterfly species from three localities distributed across an elevational gradient. We found that snow pack exerted a strong direct positive effect on butterfly occurrence and that low snow pack was the primary driver of reductions during drought. Additionally, we found that plant primary productivity had a consistently negative effect on butterfly occurrence. These results highlight mechanisms of weather‐driven declines in insect populations and the nuances of climate change effects involving snow melt, which have implications for ecological theories linking topographic complexity to ecological resilience in montane systems.
Options to improve the carbon balance of the harvested wood products sector in four EU countries
Authors: Bozzolan Nicola , Grassi Giacomo , Mohren Frits , Nabuurs Gert‐Jan
Published: November 2023

Harvested wood products (HWP) may contribute to climate change mitigation by storing carbon and by replacing energy‐intensive materials and fossil energy, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, when assessing improved HWP utilisations, interactions between wood use pathways, the carbon stock dynamics, and the resulting effect on the GHG balance are still not well‐understood. This research aims to assess the carbon sequestration effects of alternative wood product utilisations in four European Union (EU) countries. We conducted a material flow analysis of wood uses in France, Finland, Germany, and Spain for 2017 taking into account national production, imports, and exports. Then, we quantified the future dynamics of carbon stock in the HWP through time, assuming the same as in 2017 input and ignoring the forest sink. We then ran six alternative scenarios: two energy‐focused (Energy, Energy+), two material‐focused (Cascading, Material), one with extended half‐life of the wood products (HL) and one as business as usual. For the simulation period (2020–2050), the material scenario leads to the highest mitigation benefits with a cumulative HWP net CO2removals of −502 Mt CO2for Germany, −290 Mt CO2for France, −118 Mt CO2for Spain, and −116 Mt CO2for Finland over the 30 years. The Energy+ scenario with an increase in wood usage for bioenergy generates a loss of the HWP pool of 351, 80, 77, and 6 Mt CO2for the same countries, not accounting for energy substitution effects. Overall, our results suggest that the HWP carbon stock can be increased in the short‐medium term by prioritizing the use of wood for material purposes, while maintaining constant harvest. The HWP mitigation potential differed greatly according to national wood industry characteristics. Hence, tailoring the HWP mitigation strategies to the specific characteristics of the national wood chain would enhance the HWP climate benefits.
Primary germ cell tumours of the mediastinum: A review with emphasis on diagnostic challenges
Authors: Fichtner Alexander , Marx Alexander , Ströbel Philipp , Bremmer Felix
Published: November 2023

This article will review current aspects of the histopathological, immunohistochemical and molecular analysis of primary mediastinal germ cell tumours (PMGCTs) as well as their aetiological, epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic features. PMGCTs represent an important differential diagnosis in the spectrum of mediastinal tumours, and their diagnosis is usually made on small tissue samples from core needle biopsies in combination with diagnostic imaging and serum tumour markers. As in lymphomas, a small biopsy is often the only viable tumour sample available from these patients, as they receive chemotherapy prior to eventual surgical resection. Pathologists therefore need to apply an efficient combination of immunohistochemical markers to confirm the diagnosis of a PMGCT and to exclude morphological mimics.