bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A robust Parkinson’s disease detection model based on time-varying synaptic efficacy function in spiking neural network
Authors: Das Priya , Nanda Sarita , Panda Ganapati , Dash Sujata , Ksibi Amel , Alsenan Shrooq , Bouchelligua Wided , Mallik Saurav
Published: December 2024

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease affecting millions of people around the world. Conventional PD detection algorithms are generally based on first and second-generation artificial neural network (ANN) models which consume high energy and have complex architecture. Considering these limitations, a time-varying synaptic efficacy function based leaky-integrate and fire neuron model, called SEFRON is used for the detection of PD. SEFRON explores the advantages of Spiking Neural Network (SNN) which is suitable for neuromorphic devices. To evaluate the performance of SEFRON, 2 publicly available standard datasets, namely (1) UCI: Oxford Parkinson’s Disease Detection Dataset and (2) UCI: Parkinson Dataset with replicated acoustic features are used. The performance is compared with other well-known neural network models: Multilayer Perceptron Neural Network (MLP-NN), Radial Basis Function Neural Network (RBF-NN), Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) and Long short-term memory (LSTM). The experimental results demonstrate that the SEFRON classifier achieves a maximum accuracy of 100% and an average accuracy of 99.49% on dataset 1. For dataset 2, it attains a peak accuracy of 94% and an average accuracy of 91.94%, outperforming the other classifiers in both cases. From the performance, it is proved that the presented model can help to develop a robust automated PD detection device that can assist the physicians to diagnose the disease at its early stage.
Thyroid cancer survival and prognostic factors in Yantai, China (2012–2022): a population-based study
Authors: Liu Haiyun , Zhang Shuxia , Liu Xiaohui , Wang Qianqian , Zhang Hongjie , Cui Weihong
Published: December 2024

Background

Although thyroid cancer is associated with low mortality rates, significant racial disparities in thyroid cancer outcomes have not been adequately studied in Asia. Moreover, the Asian population consists of different ethnic groups that are not homogeneous. This study aimed to perform a population-based analysis of survival outcomes and prognostic factors in thyroid cancer patients.

Methods

The demographic data and tumor characteristics of all the thyroid cancer patients identified were obtained from the Yantai Cancer Registry. The thyroid cancer-specific death risk in patients was evaluated using the proportion of deaths, standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and absolute excess risk (AER). The Kaplan‒Meier method and the Cox proportional hazards regression model were used to evaluate overall survival (OS) and prognosis.

Results

A total of 10,852 new cases of thyroid cancer occurred with a 5-year OS of 96.20% in Yantai from 2012 to 2022. The SMR decreased from 1.06 (95%CI: 0.93 − 1.33) in 2012 to 0.50 (95%CI: 0.42 − 0.63) in 2022 and the AER decreased from 11.07 (95%CI: -13.42 − 47.39) per 10,000 population in 2012 to -105.02 (95%CI: -149.53 − -63.02) per 10,000 population in 2022. Disparities in the OS of thyroid cancer patients were found across different diagnosis periods, genders, age groups, places of residence, occupational classes, tumor sites and sizes, cervical lymph node metastasis statuses, TgAb levels, pathological types, clinical stages and treatment timings (all p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that age group (≥ 65 years: HR = 1.727), tumor site (location in the isthmus: HR = 3.117), tumor size (> 3 cm: HR = 3.170), cervival lymph node metastasis (HR = 1.876), TgAb levels (115 − 500 IU/ml: HR = 7.103; > 500 IU/ml: HR = 13.554), pathological types (MTC: HR = 2.060; ATC: HR = 10.747), clinical stages (stage II: HR = 2.224; stage III: HR = 3.361; stage IV: HR = 3.494), treatment timing (> 3 months: HR = 2.594), diagnosis period (2017 − 2022: HR = 0.633) and gender (female: HR = 0.711) were found to be associated with the risk of death; after stratified adjustment, significant differences in prognostic factors were identified among thyroid cancer patients with varying pathological types.

Conclusion

The risk of death from thyroid cancer in Yantai has significantly decreased and the OS of patients has improved significantly in the past decade. The prognosis of thyroid cancer in this area was notably impacted by various factors and the resolution of survival study outcomes for thyroid cancer patients should be enhanced.
Differentiating low- and high-proliferative soft tissue sarcomas using conventional imaging features and radiomics on MRI
Authors: Schmitz Fabian , Voigtländer Hendrik , Strauss Dimitrios , Schlemmer Heinz-Peter , Kauczor Hans-Ulrich , Jang Hyungseok , Sedaghat Sam
Published: December 2024

Background

Soft-tissue sarcomas are rare tumors of the soft tissue. Recent diagnostic studies mainly dealt with conventional image analysis and included only a few cases. This study investigated whether low- and high-proliferative soft tissue sarcomas can be differentiated using conventional imaging and radiomics features on MRI.

Methods

In this retrospective study, soft tissue sarcomas were separated into two groups according to their proliferative activity: high-proliferative (Ki-67 ≥ 20%) and low-proliferative soft tissue sarcomas (Ki-67 < 20%). Several radiomics features, and various conventional imaging features on MRI like tumor heterogeneity, peritumoral edema, peritumoral contrast-enhancement, percentage of ill-defined tumor margins, Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) values, and area under the curve (AUC) in contrast dynamics were collected. These imaging features were independently compared with the two mentioned groups.

Results

118 sarcoma cases were included in this study. Metastases were more prevalent in high-proliferative soft tissue sarcomas (p < 0.001), and time till metastasis negatively correlated with the Ki-67 proliferation index (k -0.43, p = 0.021). Several radiomics features representing intratumoral heterogeneity differed significantly between both groups, especially in T2-weighted (T2w) and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted (CE-T1w) sequences. Peritumoral contrast enhancement and edema were significantly more common in soft tissue sarcomas with a high Ki-67 index (p < 0.001). Tumor configuration, heterogeneity, and ill-defined margins were commonly seen in high-proliferative soft tissue sarcomas (p = 0.001–0.008). Diffusion restriction (ADC values) and contrast dynamics (AUC values) did not present significant differences between low- and high-proliferative soft tissue sarcomas.

Conclusions

Several radiomics and conventional imaging features indicate a higher Ki-67 proliferation index in soft tissue sarcomas and can therefore be used to distinguish between low- and high-proliferative soft tissue sarcomas.
Comparative efficacy and safety of pulmonary surfactant delivery strategies in neonatal RDS: a network meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Shiyue , Wang Yu , Zhu Xingwang , Chen Feifan , Shi Yuan
Published: December 2024

Purpose

To compare five pulmonary surfactant (PS) administration strategies for neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), including intubation-surfactant-extubation (InSurE), thin catheter administration, laryngeal mask airway (LMA), surfactant nebulization (SN), and usual care, with a particular emphasis on the comparison of the LMA and SN with other strategies.

Methods

We conducted a systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, PUBMED, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases up to November 2023. Two authors independently conducted data extraction, and assessed bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Frequency-based random-effects network meta-analyses were executed.

Results

A total of 36 trials and 4035 infants were included in the analysis. LMA (OR: 0.20, 95%CI: 0.09 to 0.42) and Less Invasive Surfactant Administration (LISA) (OR: 0.17, 95%CI: 0.09 to 0.32) significantly reduced intubation rates compared to usual care. SN had a higher intubation rate compared to LISA (OR: 3.36, 95%CI: 1.46 to 7.71) and LMA (OR: 2.92, 95%CI: 1.10 to 7.71). LMA had a higher incidence of BPD compared to LISA (OR: 2.59, 95%CI: 1.21 to 5.54). SN ranked second to LISA in preventing BPD and death, but its efficacy decreased after excluding high-risk studies. SN and LMA had the lowest incidence of adverse events during administration.SN had the highest likelihood of secondary administration. Most results were rated as low or very low quality, with findings related to SN significantly impacted by high-risk trials.

Conclusions

The thin catheter strategy minimized intubation risk and showed a better composite effect in reducing both mortality and BPD incidence. SN and LMA each showed safety and some clinical benefits in the subpopulations where they were studied, but their efficacy needs further validation through high-quality studies.

Registration

 This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023463756).
The prevalence of radiographic trochlear dysplasia in patients with patellar fractures
Authors: Morello Vanessa , Zingg Matthieu , Tscholl Philippe
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Trochlear dysplasia is found in 3.2% (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2–6.7) of the general population and linked to patellar instability and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of radiographic trochlear dysplasia in patients with patellar fractures. Secondary outcome was to evaluate the prevalence of trochlear dysplasia in different type of patellar fracture.

Methods

All consecutive 18-year-old or older patients treated in a level-1 trauma center for patellar fracture between 2003 and 2016 were retrospectively evaluated. Trochlear dysplasia was assessed according to Dejour’s classification on a strict lateral knee x-ray. Patellar fractures were analyzed on AP, lateral and axial knee x-rays and classified on pattern and displacement. Patellar dislocation at time of injury was recorded.

Results

Out of 482 patellar fractures, a strict lateral knee x-ray was found in 166 cases (50.6% women, mean age 56years +/-21, 51% right knee). Nineteen cases had trochlear dysplasia (11.5%, 95% CI 6.9–17.9): 10 high-grade trochlear dysplasia meaning type B, C and D (6.0%, 95% CI 2.4–9.7%); 15 without dislocation (9.3%, 95% CI 5.2–15.3). Patellar fracture distribution showed 17 transverse non-displaced (10.2%), 38 transverse displaced (22.9%), 15 avulsion (9%), 27 multifragmented non-displaced (16.3%), 56 multi-fragmented displaced (33.7%), 7 vertical (4.2%) and 6 osteochondral (3.6%) fractures. Four dislocations were recorded, all had osteochondral fractures and trochlear dysplasia. When considering patellar fractures with dislocation, the incidence of osteochondral lesions was significantly higher in patients with trochlear dysplasia (p < 0.001). This is not true for any other type of patellar fracture (p = 0.138).

Conclusions

This study suggests that there is a significant prevalence of trochlear dysplasia in patients with patellar fractures. This study also suggests that the pattern of patellar fracture is not influenced by the presence of trochlear dysplasia, except for osteochondral fractures associated with patello-femoral dislocations.
The implementation of teledentistry training in orthodontic practice: an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study
Authors: Peanchitlertkajorn Supakit , Ngamdachakij Charn , Wongwatjana Boonsita , Jongpatranichpunth Wichayaporn , Sipiyaruk Kawin
Published: December 2024

Background

Teledentistry has been increasingly used in orthodontic practice. Comprehensive and appropriate trainings should be required to enhance the effective use of teledentistry. However, there is still a lack of adequate teledentistry training in postgraduate orthodontic programs. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the perceptions of key stakeholders regarding the necessity of teledentistry and to formulate a conceptual framework highlighting the implementation of teledentistry training in orthodontic education.

Methods

This research employed an explanatory sequential mixed-method design. The research participants included orthodontic instructors, practitioners, and residents from the Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University. The participants were asked to complete an online questionnaire to provide initial overview of this topic. They were then purposively selected and recruited for a semi-structured interview, allowing the exploration of in-depth information.

Results

Participants expressed positive perceptions toward the use of teledentistry in orthodontic practice. The conceptual framework derived from this study highlighted awareness of both advantages and concerns of teledentistry among participants, leading to the necessity of training in orthodontic education. The findings also provided in-depth information regarding expected learning outcomes, a combination of training delivery and assessment strategies to adequately prepare learners for the use of teledentistry in orthodontic practice.

Conclusion

This study supports the implementation of teledentistry into orthodontic practice, with participants recognizing both its benefits and concerns. Emphasizing the significance of incorporating teledentistry preparation into orthodontic curricula, it is essential to outline expected learning outcomes, delivery methods, and assessment strategies for effective training.
Approaches and outcomes of adalimumab discontinuation in patients with well-controlled inflammatory arthritis: a systematic search and review
Authors: Balay-Dustrude Erin , Fennell Jessica , Baszis Kevin , Goh Y. Ingrid , Horton Daniel B. , Lee Tzielan , Rotman Chloe , Sutton Anna , Twilt Marinka , Halyabar Olha ,   for the CARRA JIA Inactive Disease Workgroup
Published: December 2024

Objective

This systematic search and review aimed to evaluate the available literature on discontinuation of adalimumab and other tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) for patients with well-controlled chronic inflammatory arthritides.

Methods

We conducted a publication search on adalimumab discontinuation from 2000–2023 using PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library. Included studies evaluated adalimumab discontinuation approaches, tapering schemes, and outcomes including successful discontinuation and recapture after flare, in patients with well-controlled disease. Studies included evaluated rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Results

Forty-nine studies were included. Studies evaluating adalimumab alone were limited, and many reported TNFi outcomes as a single entity. Studies on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (32, 8 RCTs) reported flare rates from 33–87%. Flares with medication tapering were slightly lower than with abrupt stop, and successful recapture was generally high (80–100%). Studies on spondyloarthropathy (12, 4 RCTs), focused on tapering, noting lower flare rates in tapering rather than abruptly stopping, and high recapture rates (~ 90%). Studies on JIA (5) were observational and demonstrated modestly lower flare rates with tapering (17–63%) versus abrupt stopping (28–82%). There was notable variability in study design, follow-up duration, specificity for TNFi results, and controlled pediatric studies.

Conclusion

The literature evaluating adalimumab and other TNFi discontinuation, flare rates, and recapture success within the inflammatory arthritis population demonstrated less flare when medications were tapered, over abrupt stop in the RA, spondyloarthropathy, and JIA populations. When medications were restarted after flare, recapture of well-controlled disease was generally high in RA and spondyloarthropathy, and generally favorable in JIA.
Multi-scale attention patching encoder network: a deployable model for continuous estimation of hand kinematics from surface electromyographic signals
Authors: Lin Chuang , Xiao Qiong , Zhao Penghui
Published: December 2024

Background

Simultaneous and proportional control (SPC) based on surface electromyographic (sEMG) signals has emerged as a research hotspot in the field of human–machine interaction (HMI). However, the existing continuous motion estimation methods mostly have an average Pearson coefficient (CC) of less than 0.85, while high-precision methods suffer from the problem of long inference time (> 200 ms) and can only estimate SPC of less than 15 hand movements, which limits their applications in HMI. To overcome these problems, we propose a smooth Multi-scale Attention Patching Encoder Network (sMAPEN).

Methods

The sMAPEN consists of three modules, the Multi-scale Attention Fusion (MAF) module, the Patching Encoder (PE) module, and a smoothing layer. The MAF module adaptively captures the local spatiotemporal features at multiple scales, the PE module acquires the global spatiotemporal features of sEMG, and the smoothing layer further improves prediction stability.

Results

To evaluate the performance of the model, we conducted continuous estimation of 40 subjects performing over 40 different hand movements on the Ninapro DB2. The results show that the average Pearson correlation coefficient (CC), normalized root mean square error (NRMSE), coefficient of determination (R2), and smoothness (SMOOTH) of the sMAPEN model are 0.9082, 0.0646°, 0.8163, and − 0.0017, respectively, which significantly outperforms that of the state-of-the-art methods in all metrics (p < 0.01). Furthermore, we tested the deployment performance of sMAPEN on the portable device, with a delay of only 97.93 ms.

Conclusions

Our model can predict up to 40 hand movements while achieving the highest predicting accuracy compared with other methods. Besides, the lightweight design strategy brings an improvement in inference speed, which enables the model to be deployed on wearable devices. All these promotions imply that sMAPEN holds great potential in HMI.
Risdiplam utilization, adherence, and associated health care costs for patients with spinal muscular atrophy: a United States retrospective claims database analysis
Authors: Patel Anish , Toro Walter , Yang Min , Song Wei , Desai Raj , Ye Mingchen , Tabatabaeepour Nadia , Dabbous Omar
Published: December 2024

Background

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic neuromuscular disease associated with progressive loss of motor function. Risdiplam, a daily oral therapy, was approved in the United States for the treatment of SMA. Risdiplam’s effectiveness depends on patient adherence to the treatment regimen. This retrospective claims database analysis assessed real-world treatment adherence and persistence, and all-cause health care costs by adherence status, for patients with SMA receiving risdiplam. Outcomes were summarized by SMA types (1−4) and age groups (0–2, 3–5, 6–17, and ≥ 18 years).

Results

86 patients with ≥ 1 SMA diagnosis, risdiplam treatment, and ≥ 6 months of continuous enrollment after the index date (SMA diagnosis) were identified in the IQVIA PharMetrics® Plus database (01/01/2020−06/30/2022). One patient had SMA type 1 (a 1-year-old boy), 18 had type 2 (mean ± SD age: 7.9 ± 5.7 years; 61% female), 47 had type 3 (17.3 ± 10.2 years; 55% female), and 20 had type 4 (38.2 ± 11.6 years; 55% female). The mean proportion of days covered (PDC) with risdiplam was 0.89 overall, ranging from 0.88 for SMA type 4 to 0.97 for type 1. The majority (83.7%) of patients were adherent to risdiplam (PDC ≥0.80), ranging from 75.0% for type 4 to 100% for type 1. Adherence ranged from 76.5% among 6–12-year-olds to 100% among 0–2-year-olds. Compared with adherent patients, nonadherent patients had higher median total health care costs by $335,049 for type 2, $41,204 for type 3, and $12,223 for type 4. Among adherent patients, patients with PDC between 0.90 and 1.00 had lower costs compared with patients with PDC between 0.80 and 0.90.

Conclusions

Nonadherence to risdiplam was observed in the first year of treatment, especially for patients with SMA type 4 and patients aged 6–12 years. Nonadherence was associated with higher all-cause health care costs, with the most pronounced cost difference for SMA type 2. For adherent patients, those who were highly adherent incurred lower health care costs. These findings underscore the importance of treatment adherence and persistence for patients with SMA receiving risdiplam, particularly for younger children and those with greater disease severity.
vmrseq: probabilistic modeling of single-cell methylation heterogeneity
Authors: Shen Ning , Korthauer Keegan
Published: December 2024

Single-cell DNA methylation measurements reveal genome-scale inter-cellular epigenetic heterogeneity, but extreme sparsity and noise challenges rigorous analysis. Previous methods to detect variably methylated regions (VMRs) have relied on predefined regions or sliding windows and report regions insensitive to heterogeneity level present in input. We present vmrseq, a statistical method that overcomes these challenges to detect VMRs with increased accuracy in synthetic benchmarks and improved feature selection in case studies. vmrseq also highlights context-dependent correlations between methylation and gene expression, supporting previous findings and facilitating novel hypotheses on epigenetic regulation. vmrseq is available at https://github.com/nshen7/vmrseq.
Disentangling the genetic overlap between ischemic stroke and obesity
Authors: Yang Ren , Zhang Tangfeng , Han Feng
Published: December 2024

Objective

Obesity has been recognized as a risk factor for cerebrovascular diseases, with observational studies suggesting a heightened incidence of stroke. However, the genetic epidemiology field has yet to reach a consensus on the causal relationship and genetic overlap between ischemic stroke (IS) and obesity.

Methods

We utilized linkage disequilibrium score regression, high-definition likelihood, and local analysis of variant associations to assess the genetic correlation between body mass index (BMI) and IS. Bidirectional Mendelian randomization was employed to infer causality. We identified shared risk single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) through cross-trait meta-analyses and estimated heritability using summary statistics. Summary-data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) was applied to explore potential functional genes.

Results

Our analysis revealed a significant positive genetic correlation between BMI and IS, supporting a causal link from BMI to IS. Cross-trait analysis yielded 9 and 16 shared risk SNPs for IS and small vessel stroke (SVS), respectively. We observed a notable enrichment of SNP heritability for IS and BMI in brain tissues, suggesting tissue-specific influences. The genes shared between the traits were predominantly involved in brain development, synaptic electrical activity, and immunoregulation. Notably, our SMR analysis identified the risk genes CHAF1A, CEP192, ULK4, CYP2D6, AS3MT, and WARS2 across the majority of the 14 enriched tissues shared by both traits.

Conclusion

Our study uncovered a significant genetic correlation and identified shared risk SNPs between BMI and IS. The identification of CHAF1A, CEP192, ULK4, CYP2D6, AS3MT, and WARS2 as potential functional genes common to both obesity and IS enriched our understanding of their genetic interplay, potentially advanced our grasp of their pathogenesis and therapeutic targets.
Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated food allergy
Authors: Bégin Philippe , Waserman Susan , Protudjer Jennifer L. P. , Jeimy Samira , Watson Wade
Published: December 2024

Food allergy is defined as an adverse immunologic response to a food. Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated reactions to foods are associated with a broad range of signs and symptoms that may involve any of the following body systems: the skin, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, and cardiovascular system. IgE-mediated food allergy is a leading cause of anaphylaxis. Therefore, timely and appropriate diagnosis and treatment are imperative. A diagnosis of food allergy entails a careful history and diagnostic tests, which may include skin prick tests, serum-specific IgE, and oral food challenge. The goal of food allergy care is to empower patients and caregivers to manage the risk of food-allergic reactions, reduce food allergy-related anxiety, and achieve a sense of control over their condition. This can be achieved in different ways for different patients and across different life stages. This article provides an overview of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of IgE-mediated food allergy.
Biopsychosocial correlates of body satisfaction in 7- to 8-year old children: a cross-sectional and prospective investigation
Authors: Smith Danielle L. , Damiano Stephanie R. , McLean Siân A. , Wertheim Eleanor H. , Paxton Susan J.
Published: December 2024

Background

Biopsychosocial factors have been associated with body satisfaction/dissatisfaction and related body image concerns in adolescence; however, few studies have investigated these relationships in middle childhood, an important developmental phase for body satisfaction. This study investigated relationships between a range of biological (body mass index), psychological (child anxiety/depression, self-esteem, and self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism) and sociocultural (mother’s body dissatisfaction and comments about child’s appearance, father’s body dissatisfaction and comments about child’s appearance, peer teasing and child’s media exposure) factors and body satisfaction cross-sectionally and longitudinally in a sample of 7- and 8-year-old children.

Methods

In this study, participants from the longitudinal Children’s Body Image Development Study (in which children had been followed-up annually from 3 years old) were assessed by interview at 7 years old (Time 1; n = 293: girls = 167, boys = 126) and 8 years old (Time 2; n = 222; girls = 126, boys = 96) and their parents completed a questionnaire at each time point.

Results

Multiple regression analyses revealed that child self-esteem, socially prescribed perfectionism, and mother body dissatisfaction in the total sample at 7-years, as well as child self-esteem and mother body dissatisfaction in the total sample at 8-years were significant unique cross-sectional correlates of child body satisfaction. While self-esteem outcomes were replicated at both time points for boys and girls, some differences in patterns were found for other variables in the subsamples of boys versus girls across time points. Prospectively in partial correlations (controlling for Time 1 child body satisfaction), mother’s body dissatisfaction predicted later child body satisfaction in boys and child self-esteem predicted later body satisfaction in girls. However, no longitudinal biopsychosocial predictors were identified as contributing unique variance in child body satisfaction from 7- to 8-years old after accounting for Time 1 (7-yearold) child body satisfaction.

Conclusions

These findings point to important psychosocial factors that are consistently related to body satisfaction in children and could be targets for intervention, but also suggest that a number of biopsychosocial variables develop concurrently with body satisfaction.
Recent advances and current challenges in suture and sutureless scleral fixation techniques for intraocular lens: a comprehensive review
Authors: Sun Han , Wang Caixia , Wu Hong
Published: December 2024

Over the past two decades, both suture and sutureless techniques for scleral fixation of intraocular lenses have seen significant advancement, driven by improvements in methodologies and instrumentation. Despite numerous reports demonstrating the effectiveness, safety, and superiority of these techniques, each approach carries with it its own drawbacks, including an elevated risk of certain postoperative complications. This article delves into various surgical techniques for scleral fixation of posterior chamber intraocular lenses, discussing their procedural nuances, benefits, drawbacks, postoperative complications, and outcomes. Furthermore, a comparative analysis between suture and sutureless fixation methods is presented, elucidating their respective limitations and associated factors. It is hoped that this comprehensive review will offer clinicians guidance on how to individualize procedural selection and mitigate surgical risks, and thus achieve optimal visual outcomes. This review will also endeavor to provide guidance for future advancements in intraocular lens fixation techniques.
Association between bone mineral density and scoliosis: a two-sample mendelian randomization study in european populations
Authors: Yang Fangjun , Wen Jiantao
Published: December 2024

Background

Previous studies have shown that bone mineral density (BMD) has a certain impact on scoliosis. However, up to now, there is no clear evidence that there is a causal association between the two. The aim of this study is to investigate whether there is a causal association between BMD at different body positions and scoliosis by two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR).

Methods

Genetic variants (SNPS) strongly associated with BMD (total body BMD (TB-BMD), lumbar spine BMD (LS-BMD), femoral neck BMD (FN-BMD), heel BMD (HE-BMD), and forearm BMD (FA-BMD)) were extracted from GEFOS and genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) databases SNPs) were used as instrumental variables (IVs). Scoliosis was also selected from the Finnish database as the outcome. Inverse variance weighting (IVW) method was used as the main analysis method, and multiple sensitivity analysis was performed by combining weighted median, MR-Egger, MR Multi-effect residuals and outliers.

Results

IVW results showed that TB-BMD (OR = 0.83, 95%CI: 0.66–1.55 P = 0.13), LS-BMD (OR = 0.72, 95%CI: 0.52–0.99, P = 0.04), FN-BMD (OR = 0.74, 95%CI: 0.50–1.09, P = 0.13), FA-BMD (OR = 0.95,95%CI: 0.70–1.28, P = 0.75), HE-BMD (OR = 0.91, 95%CI: 0.77–1.08, P = 0.29). Sensitivity analyses showed no evidence of pleiotropy or heterogeneity (p > 0.05) (MR-PRESSO and Cochrane). The results were further validated by leave-one-out test and MR-Egger intercept, which confirmed the robustness of the study results.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that the causal role of genetic prediction of scoliosis increases with decreasing lumbar BMD. There was no evidence that BMD at the remaining sites has a significant causal effect on scoliosis. Our results suggest that the lumbar spine BMD should be routinely measured in the population at high risk of scoliosis. If osteoporosis occurs, appropriate treatment should be given to reduce the incidence of scoliosis.

Clinical trial number

Not applicable
Considerations in assessing blood glucose in mice: coping with interferences of intraperitoneal injection, noise, fasting, housing and blood sampling
Authors: Zheng Si-Li , Wang Xue-Lian , Wang Pin , Chen Jin , Miao Chao-Yu
Published: December 2024

Background

Blood glucose levels can fluctuate for many reasons. This study is to discuss conditions in assessing blood glucose in C57BL/6J mice, providing references to help increase the success of blood glucose testing in mouse experiments.

Methods

Animals were fed common chow or high-fat diet, without fasting or with a fasting duration of 6 h in the daytime or overnight before the test. During the test, animals were awake or under good anesthesia induced by intraperitoneal (IP) injection of sodium pentobarbital, interfered by a record of construction noise or not, in grouped cages or individual cages. Blood glucose measurements by glucose meters and insulin tolerance tests (ITT) were performed.

Results

Both IP injection and noise independently raised blood glucose levels in conscious mice, while neither of these two interferences affected blood glucose levels in mice under good anesthesia. In an ITT, a fasting of 6 h in the daytime worked well, while an overnight fasting was at higher risk of hypoglycemia. During conscious ITT, animals housed in isolated cages were more likely to have smoothly decreased levels of blood glucose with a lower minimal value as compared to those in social cages. Blood glucose tested during different stages of blood sampling varied greatly, where values of blood collected by inferior vena cava puncture were significantly higher than those of tail-tip blood, and values of serum samples after immediate centrifugation of blood were the highest, followed by those of serum samples underwent a common clotting process of 2 h.

Conclusions

Interferences of IP injection and noise can be reduced by anesthesia. 6-h fasting in the daytime is suitable for mouse ITT. Single housing works better than group housing during serial measurements of blood glucose in conscious mice. Tail-tip blood rather than serum or blood from sampling processes with big surgery invasion is recommended for blood glucose testing.
Elucidation of intragenomic variation of ribosomal DNA sequences in the enigmatic fungal genus Ceraceosorus, including a newly described species Ceraceosorus americanus
Authors: Kijpornyongpan Teeratas , Noble Mary Claire , Piątek Marcin , Lutz Matthias , Aime M. Catherine
Published: December 2024

Multicopy nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) genes have been used as markers for fungal identification for three decades. The rDNA sequences in a genome are thought to be homogeneous due to concerted evolution. However, intragenomic variation of rDNA sequences has recently been observed in many fungi, which may make fungal identification and species abundance estimation based on these loci problematic. Ceraceosorus is an enigmatic genus in the smut lineage Ustilaginomycotina for which very limited distribution data exist. Our previous research demonstrated intragenomic variation in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) region of two Ceraceosorus species. In this study, we described the fourth known species of Ceraceosorus, C. americanus, isolated from an asymptomatic rosemary leaf collected in Louisiana, USA. This is the first report of this genus in the Americas. We then selected all four known Ceraceosorus species, plus exemplar smut fungi representing all major lineages of subphylum Ustilaginomycotina, to examine sequence heterogeneity in three regions of the rDNA repeat (partial 18S, ITS, and partial 28S regions). Three methods were used: PCR-cloning-Sanger sequencing, targeted amplicon high-throughput sequencing, and whole-genome shotgun high-throughput sequencing. Our results show that Ceraceosorus is the only sampled fungal genus in Ustilaginomycotina with significant intragenomic variation at the ITS, with up to 25 nucleotide variant sites in the ITS1–5.8S–ITS2 region and 2.6% divergence among analyzed ITS haplotypes. We found many conflicting patterns across the three detection methods, with up to 27 conflicting variant sites recorded from a single individual. At least 40% of the conflicting patterns are possibly due to PCR-cloning-sequencing errors, as the corresponding variant sites were not observed in the other detection methods. Based on our data and the literature, we evaluated the characteristics and advantages/disadvantages of each detection method. Finally, a model for how intragenomic variation in the rDNA copies within a genome may arise is presented.
Clinical outcomes following shock team implementation for cardiogenic shock: a systematic review
Authors: Abdelnabi Mohamed , Elsaeidy Ahmed Saad , Aboutaleb Aya Moustafa , Johanis Amit , Ghanem Ahmed K. , Rezq Hazem , Abdelazeem Basel
Published: December 2024

Background

Cardiogenic shock is a critical cardiac condition characterized by low cardiac output leading to end-organ hypoperfusion and associated with high in-hospital mortality rates. It can manifest following acute myocardial infarction or acute exacerbation of chronic heart failure. Despite advancements, mortality rates remain elevated, prompting interest in multidisciplinary approaches to improve outcomes. This manuscript presents a review focused on the concept of a cardiogenic shock team and its potential impact on patient management and outcomes.

Methods

A comprehensive search was performed on March 19, 2023, covering PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane Library. We included primary studies (prospective and retrospective) only and evaluated their quality using the Newcastle–Ottawa Quality Scale. This review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023440354).

Results

Six relevant studies with 2066 cardiogenic shock patients were included, of which 1071 were managed by shock teams and 995 received standard care. Findings from the reviewed studies indicated the favorable outcomes associated with implementing cardiogenic shock teams. Patients managed by these teams exhibited higher 30-day and in-hospital survival rates compared to those without team intervention. The implementation of cardiogenic shock teams was linked to reduced in-hospital and intensive care unit mortality rates. Additionally, shock team involvement was associated with shorter door-to-balloon times.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that cardiogenic shock teams play a crucial role in improving patient outcomes through earlier detection and timely interventions. Despite challenges in team implementation, their potential to reduce mortality and improve efficiency in patient care warrants further research and greater integration of multidisciplinary strategies into clinical practice.
Anxiety, depression, and insomnia among medical and non-medical students in Jordan: a cross-sectional study
Authors: AlSamhori Jehad Feras , Kakish Diala Ra’Ed Kamal , AlSamhori Abdel Rahman Feras , AlSamhori Ahmad Feras , Hantash Noor Rajeh Abu , Swelem Afnan Firas Abu , Abu-Suaileek Mamoun Hamed Ali , Arabiat Hazar Mohammed , Altwaiqat Mohammad Anwer , Banimustafa Radwan , Qaswal Abdallah Barjas , Nashwan Abdulqadir J.
Published: December 2024

Background

Depression, the leading cause of disability worldwide, has worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with key risk factors including age, gender, and socioeconomic status. Jordan is experiencing an increase in mental health issues, particularly among children, adolescents, and university students, yet negative attitudes and structural barriers limit access to mental healthcare This study provides a comprehensive analysis of depression, anxiety, and sleep quality among Jordanian undergraduate students.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2023 and March 2024. The study used the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) to evaluate these mental health factors. Data collection involved a self-administered survey, distributed online and in paper format. Multiple linear regression was utilized to pinpoint significant predictors.

Results

A total of 1181 participants completed the survey, with an average age of 20.43 years. Among the respondents, 74.2% were female, and 35.1% were medical students. Predictors of GAD-7 scores included year of study for medical students, with PHQ-9 scores and male gender serving as negative predictors. For non-medical students, both PHQ-9 and ISI scores positively predicted higher GAD-7 scores. ISI scores were positively influenced by age and PHQ-9 scores for medical students, whereas for non-medical students, age, PHQ-9, and GAD-7 scores were positive predictors.

Conclusion

The study demonstrates that non-medical students experience higher levels of depression, insomnia, and anxiety than their medical counterparts. These findings highlight the necessity for targeted mental health interventions and awareness programs for all undergraduate students.
Photonic nanojet-regulated soft microalga-robot with controllable deformation and navigation capability
Authors: Xiong Jianyun , He Ziyi , Zhu Guoshuai , Li Xing , Shi Yang , Pan Ting , Zhong Shuhan , Wang He , Su Zihao , Ye Liliang , Li Baojun , Xin Hongbao
Published: December 2024

Micro/nanorobots have shown great potential to execute different tasks in microenvironments due to their small size, high controllability and environmental adaptability. However, it is still challenging to precisely control the deformation and navigation of soft micro/nanorobots to better adapt to unstructured and complex surroundings. Here, we report a photonic nanojet (PNJ)-regulated soft microalga robot (saBOT) based on Euglena gracilis with controlled deformation and precise navigation capability. The deformability of the saBOT was precisely controlled by the highly focused light energy from a microlens-based PNJ bound to a tapered optical fiber probe (TFP), which can precisely stimulate the channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) in the photoreceptor of the microalga. This saBOT can be further precisely navigated toward different positions in complex and unstructured microenvironments by combining the deformability with the phototaxis ability of the microalga via the flexible manipulation of TFP. Notably, due to the ability of controllable deformation and precision navigation, the saBOT can travel across cell clusters for precision drug delivery toward a target cell. This PNJ-regulated saBOT holds great promise in executing different biomedical tasks in complex and unstructured microenvironments that cannot be reached by conventional tools and rigid microrobots.
Stimulation of Piezo1 Mechanosensitive Channels Inhibits Adipogenesis in Thyroid Eye Disease
Authors: Galgoczi Erika , Orsos Istvan , Molnar Zsanett , Ujhelyi Bernadett , Steiber Zita , Szabo Laszlo , Dienes Beatrix , Csernoch Laszlo , Nagy Endre V , Katko Monika
Published: December 2024

Context

Increased orbital tissue volume due to matrix expansion, orbital fibroblast (OF) proliferation, and adipocyte differentiation are the hallmarks of thyroid eye disease (TED). Their combination with the presence of hyaluronan-bound excess water in the constrains of the bony orbit results in increased intraorbital pressure. High intraorbital pressure, along with changes in the mechanical properties of orbital tissues, may lead to the activation of mechanosensitive receptors. The expression and role of the Piezo1 mechanoreceptor has not been investigated in TED.

Objective

We aimed to verify the expression of Piezo1 in OFs, and to study the effect of in vitro Piezo1 activation by its synthetic agonist Yoda1 on adipocyte differentiation.

Methods

OF cultures established using orbital connective tissues from patients with TED and controls were studied in the presence or absence of adipogenic stimuli. Piezo1 expression was confirmed by Western Blot and immunofluorescent imaging, and its function was verified by intracellular Ca2+ measurement. Adipogenic differentiation was characterized using Oil Red O staining for lipid accumulation, real-time polymerase chain reaction for gene and Western blot for protein expressions indicative in adipogenesis.

Results

OFs express functional Piezo1 channels. Differentiation into adipocytes is inherent to TED OFs. Piezo1 activation by Yoda1 inhibits the expressions of early (CEBPβ, CEBPδ) and main (PPARγ, CEBPα) transcription factors, and the terminal marker FABP4 during adipogenesis, resulting in markedly lower intracytoplasmic lipid accumulation.

Conclusion

Piezo1 channels are expressed and functional in OFs. Modeling orbital pressure by in vitro Piezo1 activation reduces de novo adipogenesis of OFs derived from TED orbits.
The fission yeast SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligase Slx8 functionally associates with clustered centromeres and the silent mating-type region at the nuclear periphery
Authors: Chakraborty Shrena , Strachan Joanna , Schirmeisen Kamila , Besse Laetitia , Mercier Eve , Fréon Karine , Zhang Haidao , Zhao Ning , Bayne Elizabeth H. , Lambert Sarah A. E.
Published: December 2024

The SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligase (STUbL) family is involved in multiple cellular processes via a wide range of mechanisms to maintain genome stability. One of the evolutionarily conserved functions of STUbL is to promote changes in the nuclear positioning of DNA lesions, targeting them to the nuclear periphery. In Schizossacharomyces pombe, the STUbL Slx8 is a regulator of SUMOylated proteins and promotes replication stress tolerance by counteracting the toxicity of SUMO conjugates. In order to study the dynamic dialectic between ubiquitinylation and SUMOylation in the nuclear space of the S. pombe genome, we analyzed Slx8 localization. Unexpectedly, we did not detect replication stress-induced Slx8 foci. However, we discovered that Slx8 forms a single nuclear focus, enriched at the nuclear periphery, which marks both clustered centromeres at the spindle pole body and the silent mating-type region. The formation of this single Slx8 focus requires the E3 SUMO ligase Pli1, poly-SUMOylation and the histone methyl transferase Clr4 that is responsible for the heterochromatin histone mark H3-K9 methylation. Finally, we established that Slx8 promotes centromere clustering and gene silencing at heterochromatin domains. Altogether, our data highlight evolutionarily conserved and functional relationships between STUbL and heterochromatin domains to promote gene silencing and nuclear organization.
Heterogeneity in School Value Added and the Private Premium
Authors: Andrabi Tahir , Bau Natalie , Das Jishnu , Khwaja Asim I.
Published: December 2024

We estimate and validate test score–based measures of school quality (school value added, or SVA) in Pakistan. We document substantial variation in SVA within villages and within the public and private sectors, leading to a wide range of possible estimates of the private premium. We also show that parents value SVA. Heterogeneity in parental demand for quality helps explain both the evolution of the market over time and cross-market variation in school quality. The supply side responds to parental demand for quality in the private sector, but there is no evidence it does so in the public sector. (JEL H44, I21, I26, I28, O15)
Dying or Lying? For-Profit Hospices and End-of-Life Care
Authors: Gruber Jonathan , Howard David H. , Leder-Luis Jetson , Caputi Theodore L.
Published: December 2024

The Medicare hospice program is intended to provide palliative care to terminal patients, but patients with long stays in hospice are highly profitable, motivating concerns about overuse among the Alzheimer's and Dementia (ADRD) population in the rapidly growing for-profit sector. We provide the first causal estimates of the effect of for-profit hospice on patient spending using the entry of for-profit hospices over 20 years. We find hospice has saved money for Medicare by offsetting other expensive care among ADRD patients. As a result, policies limiting hospice use including revenue caps and antifraud lawsuits are distortionary and deter potentially cost-saving admissions. (JEL H51, I11, I12, I18, J14, L84)
Five Facts about MPCs: Evidence from a Randomized Experiment
Authors: Boehm Johannes , Fize Etienne , Jaravel Xavier
Published: December 2024

We present five facts from an experiment on the marginal propensity to consume (MPC) out of transitory transfers: (1) the one-month MPC on a cash-like transfer is 23 percent; (2) it is substantially higher (61 percent) on a transfer administered via a card where remaining funds expire after three weeks, inconsistent with money fungibility; (3) the consumption response is concentrated in the first three weeks; (4) MPCs vary with household characteristics but are high even for the liquid wealthy; (5) unconditional MPC distribution exhibits large variation. Our findings inform the design of stimulus policies and pose challenges to existing macroeconomic models. (JEL D12, D91, E21, G51, I38)