bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Traumatic cervical spinal cord injury in southeastern Norway: acute treatment, specialized rehabilitation referral and mortality
Authors: Brommeland Tor , Strøm Mona , Mirzamohammadi Jalal , Glott Thomas , Linnerud Hege , Rønning Pål Andre , Rizvi Syed Ali Mujtaba , Holla Torjus Mogstad , Høydal Birgitte Jensen , Biernat Donata , Aarhus Mads , Helseth Eirik
Published: December 2024

Background

Traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (cSCI) is a serious condition that requires a multidisciplinary treatment approach involving care at a neurotrauma center (NTC) and specialized rehabilitation. Contemporary population-based studies of cSCI are important for ensuring the quality and planning of health care approaches for these patients.

Methods

This is a population-based cohort study of patients with traumatic cSCI who were admitted to the NTC in Southeast Norway between 2015 and 2022. The main outcome variables were length of stay (LOS), rate of surgical fixation/stabilization, rate of transfer to specialized rehabilitation, and 90-day mortality. Uni-and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the effect of different covariates on LOS, transfer to specialized rehabilitation and 90-day mortality.

Results

The median age of the 370 patients admitted to the NTC was 64 years, 75% were males, 40% had severe comorbidities, 45% had multiple injuries, and 67% underwent primary triage at a local hospital (LH). Surgical cervical stabilization/decompression was performed in 78% of the patients. The median LOS at the NTC was 9 days, and increasing LOS was significantly associated with young age, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) grade B, surgery and prolonged ventilatory support. Inpatient specialized rehabilitation was provided to 54% of patients. Receiving specialized rehabilitation was associated with younger age, preinjury independent living, more severe cSCI, no need for acute phase tracheostomy, and surgical stabilization/decompression. Only 6% of the octogenarians received specialized rehabilitation. The 90-day mortality rate was 13%, which was associated with older age, preinjury dependent living, more severe cSCI, upper cervical injuries, and days on ventilator and inversely correlated with LOS.

Conclusion

Advanced age, especially among octogenarians, was significantly linked to a lack of specialized rehabilitation. Qualified physicians should assess all patients with cSCI for their need of rehabilitation and their potential to benefit from it. If the number of patients who are likely to respond to rehabilitation outnumbers the capacity of the rehabilitation center, we have two choices. Either guidelines for prioritization of patients for rehabilitation should be developed, or the capacity of the rehabilitation centers should be increased.
Olfactory deficits in aging and Alzheimer’s—spotlight on inhibitory interneurons
Authors: Elhabbari Kaoutar , Sireci Siran , Rothermel Markus , Brunert Daniela
Published: December 2024

Cognitive function in healthy aging and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease (AD) correlates to olfactory performance. Aging and disease progression both show marked olfactory deficits in humans and rodents. As a clear understanding of what causes olfactory deficits is still missing, research on this topic is paramount to diagnostics and early intervention therapy. A recent development of this research is focusing on GABAergic interneurons. Both aging and AD show a change in excitation/inhibition balance, indicating reduced inhibitory network functions. In the olfactory system, inhibition has an especially prominent role in processing information, as the olfactory bulb (OB), the first relay station of olfactory information in the brain, contains an unusually high number of inhibitory interneurons. This review summarizes the current knowledge on inhibitory interneurons at the level of the OB and the primary olfactory cortices to gain an overview of how these neurons might influence olfactory behavior. We also compare changes in interneuron composition in different olfactory brain areas between healthy aging and AD as the most common neurodegenerative disease. We find that pathophysiological changes in olfactory areas mirror findings from hippocampal and cortical regions that describe a marked cell loss for GABAergic interneurons in AD but not aging. Rather than differences in brain areas, differences in vulnerability were shown for different interneuron populations through all olfactory regions, with somatostatin-positive cells most strongly affected.
A sex-specific effect of M4 muscarinic cholinergic autoreceptor deletion on locomotor stimulation by cocaine and scopolamine
Authors: Berezovskaia Anna , Thomsen Morgan , Fink-Jensen Anders , Wörtwein Gitta
Published: December 2024

Objective

Acetylcholine modulates the activity of the direct and indirect pathways within the striatum through interaction with muscarinic M4 and M1 receptors. M4 receptors are uniquely positioned to regulate plasticity within the direct pathway and play a substantial role in reward and addiction-related behaviors. However, the role of M4 receptors on cholinergic neurons has been less explored. This study aims to fill this gap by addressing the role of M4 receptors on cholinergic neurons in these behaviors.

Methods

To investigate the significance of M4-dependent inhibitory signaling in cholinergic neurons we created mutant mice that lack M4 receptors on cholinergic neurons. Cholinergic neuron-specific depletion was confirmed using in situ hybridization. We aimed to untangle the possible contribution of M4 autoreceptors to the effects of the global M4 knockout by examining aspects of basal locomotion and dose-dependent reactivity to the psychostimulant and rewarding properties of cocaine, haloperidol-induced catalepsy, and examined both the anti-cataleptic and locomotion-inducing effects of the non-selective anticholinergic drug scopolamine.

Results

Basal phenotype assessment revealed no developmental deficits in knockout mice. Cocaine stimulated locomotion in both genotypes, with no differences observed at lower doses. However, at the highest cocaine dose tested, male knockout mice displayed significantly less activity compared to wild type littermates (p = 0.0084). Behavioral sensitization to cocaine was similar between knockout and wild type mice. Conditioned place preference tests indicated no differences in the rewarding effects of cocaine between genotypes. In food-reinforced operant tasks knockout and wild type mice successfully acquired the tasks with comparable performance results. M4 receptor depletion did not affect haloperidol-induced catalepsy and scopolamine reversal of catalepsy but attenuated scopolamine-induced locomotion in females (p = 0.04). Our results show that M4 receptor depletion attenuated the locomotor response to high doses of cocaine in males and scopolamine in females, suggesting sex-specific regulation of cholinergic activity.

Conclusion

Depletion of M4 receptors on cholinergic neurons does not significantly impact basal behavior or cocaine-induced hyperactivity but may modulate the response to high doses of cocaine in male mice and the response to scopolamine in female mice. Overall, our findings suggest that M4-dependent autoregulation plays a minor but delicate role in modulating specific behavioral responses to pharmacological challenges, possibly in a sex-dependent manner.
Sarcopenic obesity is significantly associated with poorer overall survival after liver transplantation: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Huang Hui-Bin , Zhu Yi-Bing , Yu Da-Xing
Published: December 2024

Background

Sarcopenia has been shown to worsen survival after liver transplantation. However, it remains unclear whether coexisting sarcopenia and obesity, so-called sarcopenic obesity (SO), may also synergistically increase their adverse effects. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate whether pre-transplant SO independently predicts survival in this population.

Methods

We conducted this study according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Wanfang, CNKI, and Cochrane databases were searched up to 15 October 2023, for studies with any study design evaluating the relationship between SO and post-transplant survival in patients undergoing liver transplantation. We used ROBINS-E to assess the study quality. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at any length of follow-up. We calculated pooled odds risks (ORs) or hazard risks (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was quantified with I2 statistics. Subgroup analyses and publication bias evaluations were also conducted.

Results

We included nine cohort studies with 2,416 patients. These studies were moderate to high quality. Pre-liver transplant patients commonly experience SO, with a mean prevalence as high as 34%. Overall, patients with SO exhibited a significantly higher overall mortality than patients without SO, as demonstrated by pooled studies using both univariate analysis [HR = 1.76, 95%C 1.33–2.33, p < 0.0001] and multivariate analysis (HR = 2.33, 95%CI 1.34–4.04, p = 0.003). Similar results were also found when comparing patients with or without SO at 1, 3, and 5 years of follow-up (OR = 1.86, 95%CI 1.22–2.83; OR = 1.83, 95%CI: 1.27–2.64; and OR = 1.54, 95% CI 1.02–2.34, respectively). In addition, subgroup analysis based on studies that reported HRs of both sarcopenia and SO indicated both had independent negative effects on post-transplant survival.

Conclusion

Our meta-analysis showed that SO occurs frequently in liver transplant patients. SO is associated with an increased risk of mortality in such patient populations.

Systematic review registration

https://doi.org/10.37766/inplasy2024.2.0069 [inplasy2024.2.0069].
Prognostic value of the Naples Prognostic Score in adult chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: NHANES 2005–2018
Authors: Kang Yue , Tan Yingjian , Tie Yongxin , Zhang Yujing , Cui Chenyu , Zhao Yuanyuan
Published: December 2024

Background

Previous studies have demonstrated that the Naples Prognostic Score (NPS) provides strategic direction in the prognosis of malignant illness. Nevertheless, its relationship with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains underexplored. Therefore, additional research specifically focusing on the relationship between the Naples Prognostic Score and COPD is necessary to determine its widespread applicability.

Objectives

The objective was to explore the relationship between the NPS and the susceptibility to developing COPD.

Methods

A total of 15,184 participants were included in our research, and statistical analyses were performed after weighting. We used weighted logistic regression to assess whether the NPS and COPD had a relationship, as well as its association with lung function. Subgroup analysis was used to detect the interaction. In addition, Kaplan–Meier survival curves were generated, and adjusted hazard ratios of different causes of death were calculated using Cox regression.

Results

Our investigation examined 15,184 participants’ data and then revealed a significant positive link between the NPS and COPD risk, while smoking has an interactive effect on it. A trend toward a decreasing prevalence of lung function indicators such as FEV1 [OR (95%CI), −339.70 (−456.53, −222.87)], FVC [OR (95%CI), −296.70 (−435.34, −158.06)], FEV1/FVC [OR (95%CI), −0.03 (−0.04, −0.02)], predicted FEV1 [OR (95%CI), −0.09 (−0.14, −0.04)], and predicted FVC [OR (95%CI), −0.08 (−0.15, −0.01)] was observed with increased NPS levels. Survival curves were drawn, and Cox regression analysis was conducted by dividing participants into group 0, group 1, and group 2 with NPS values of 0, 1–2, and 3–4, respectively. After assigning participants to groups 0, 1, and 2, with NPS values of 0, 1–2, and 3–4, respectively, the survival curves were created, and the Cox regression analysis was carried out. All-cause mortality [HR (95%CI), 1.68 (1.39–2.85)] and hypertension-related mortality [HR (95%CI), 67.64 (8.88–515.07)] of group 2 were significantly elevated.

Conclusion

The findings of this study suggested that the NPS serves as a robust prognostic indicator of COPD.
Coffee and tea consumption and glioma risk: a meta-analysis of cohort studies
Authors: Pan Jinyu , Shao Chuan , Tang Hui , Wu Nan
Published: December 2024

Background

Research on the association between glioma risk and coffee and tea consumption remains inconclusive. This study seeks to present a meta-analysis of the relationship between coffee and tea intake and glioma risk.

Method

Relevant cohort studies that collected coffee and tea exposure prospectively were identified through searches of the PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases. Eligible studies included those providing adjusted relative risk estimates or hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), or data sufficient for such calculations. Study quality was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, while the GRADE system assessed the quality of evidence. The analysis explored glioma risk concerning the highest versus lowest levels of coffee and tea intake, supplemented by a dose–response evaluation using a one-stage robust error meta-regression model.

Results

A total of nine studies, published between 2004 and 2020, were included. In a model comparing the highest and lowest levels of coffee and tea consumption, 3,896 glioma cases were identified among 2,648,468 participants. Correspondingly, the pooled HRs with 95% CIs were 0.98 (0.87–1.09) for coffee and 0.95 (0.86–1.06) for tea, respectively. Furthermore, no evidence of publication bias was detected for either beverage. The dose–response analysis indicated a near “L”-shaped relationship between tea consumption and glioma risk, with the most notable risk reduction observed in individuals consuming more than 2.5 cups of tea per day. However, additional tea intake beyond this threshold did not confer evident risk reduction. According to Grade scoring system, the quality of meta-evidence was classified as “very low” for coffee and “low” for tea.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis provides evidence suggesting a potential inverse association between tea consumption and glioma risk, while no such association was observed for coffee consumption. Given that the evidence for coffee was classified as “very low” and for tea as “low,” cautious interpretation of the findings is warranted, and further research is needed to validate these results.
Body Mass Index mediates the associations between dietary approaches to stop hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea among U.S. adults
Authors: Li Songtao , Yang Yuxin , Lin Mengying , Lv Tian , Pan Yourang , Zhou Jie
Published: December 2024

Background

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) are associated with reduced cardiovascular, diabetes risk, but the effect on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is uncertain.

Methods

This study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). DASH score was assessed through 24-h dietary recall interviews, and OSA diagnosis in individuals was based on predefined criteria. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between DASH and OSA. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis was used to investigate the dose–response relationship between DASH score and OSA risk. And comprehensive subgroup and mediation analyses were performed.

Results

Among the 14,978 participants, 27.01% had OSA. DASH scores had a negative association with the risk of OSA (OR = 0.91, 95%CI: 0.88–0.95, p < 0.01). Next, we divided DASH scores into quintiles groups. In comparison to the reference group Q1, groups Q5 had adjusted OR values of 0.63 (95%CI: 0.52–0.76, p < 0.01). Subgroup analyses revealed that this association was consistent across different groups. Further mediation analyses showed that the associations of DASH with OSA risk parallelly mediated by the above Body Mass Index (BMI) 33.4%,95%CI (20.6–46.2%) (all p < 0.05). The restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis indicated a significant dose–response relationship between DASH diet and OSA risk.

Conclusion

These findings suggested that DASH decreased OSA risk, which was possibly and partly mediated by BMI.
Effect modification of the association between vitamin B2 intake and diabetes mellitus by sex: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013–2020
Authors: Yang Hui , Wang Xudong , Xi Xiaolan , Xia Yujia , Jiang Mingxia , Zuo Hui
Published: December 2024

Background and objectives

The relationship between vitamin intake and diabetes mellitus (DM) has attracted growing attention. Only few studies have linked vitamin B2 (VB2) and development of DM. In this study, we aimed to assess the association between VB2 intake and DM among U.S. adults.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional analysis by using four waves of the National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys (NHANES) data in 2013–2020. A total of 18,338 participants aged ≥18 years were included. VB2 intake was estimated by 24-h dietary recall on the first day. We used multiple logistic regression analysis to assess the association between VB2 intake and DM in men and women, separately.

Results

VB2 intake was significantly associated with DM in women but not in men (P-interaction < 0.05). In women, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratio (OR) for the fourth compared with the first quartile of VB2 intake was 0.67 (95% CI: 0.48, 0.93, P-trend = 0.025). Each standard deviation increment of log-transformed VB2 intake was associated with 19% reduced odds of DM (P = 0.005). In contrast, no significant association between VB2 intake and DM was observed in men (P-trend > 0.05). An inverse dose-response relationship between VB2 intake and DM was observed in women, but not in men.

Conclusions

Increased VB2 intake was associated with lower odds of DM in women, but not men. Our study underscores the potential role of VB2 in the prevention of DM in women. Prospective studies from different populations are warranted to confirm our findings.
A systematic review of adult pineoblastoma
Authors: Chu Xiufeng , Zhang Ting , Benghiat Helen , Xu Jixuan
Published: December 2024

Background

Adult pineoblastoma is an extremely rare central nervous system malignancy. Limitations of tumour databases, single institution retrospective analyses and a few case reports are not sufficient to clarify treatment options. Therefore, a systematic review of comprehensive research data provides referenceable treatment options.

Methods

A systematic review was performed using MEDLINE and Embase using the terms “pineoblastoma” and “adult”. Relevant articles in the references were considered to supplement this systematic review. In addition, data were analysed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves, COX analysis, chi-square tests and log-rank tests.

Results

A total of 108 adult cases from 32 articles were included in this study and the median age at diagnosis was 30 years. The 5-year survival rate was 49.5% (95% confidence interval: 0.378-0.602) and the 10-year survival rate was 33.9% (95% confidence interval: 0.207-0.476). During the 10-year follow-up period, Kaplan-Meier survival curves highlighted that the gross total resection was more beneficial than subtotal resection and no surgery (P=0.018). The treatment modality of radiotherapy and chemotherapy was beneficial for survival (P<0.001; P=0.020). In addition, multivariate COX analysis showed that radiotherapy was an independent factor in the beneficial prognosis (P<0.001) and gross total resection tends to improve survival within five years (P=0.079).

Conclusion

For adult pineoblastoma, gross total excision and radiotherapy can be beneficial for survival.

Systematic Review Registration: [website], identifier [registration number].
A phase I study using bortezomib (Velcade), cladribine, and rituximab in treating patients over 50 years old with mantle cell lymphoma
Authors: Pu Jeffrey J. , Berger Kristin N. , Zheng Chunlei , Do Nhan , Claxton David F. , Ehmann W. Christopher , Drabick Joseph J. , Li Haiquan , Loughran Thomas P. , Epner Elliot M.
Published: December 2024

Cladribine indirectly downregulates methylation of DNA, RNA, and histones by blocking the transfer of methyl groups from S-adenosyl-methionine. The cladribine and rituximab combination showed a synergetic effect in treating B-cell lymphomas. Bortezomib (Velcade) is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved proteasome inhibitor for treating mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). In this single-arm, phase I study, the safety, dose-limiting toxicity, and clinical activity of bortezomib, cladribine, and rituximab (VCR) combination treatment were evaluated in elderly MCL patients. Potential DNA methylation biomarkers for VCR treatment were also proposed. A standard 3 + 3 dose-escalation scheme was designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose of cladribine. The therapy consisted of six 28-day cycles. Most patients tolerated this regimen well. The overall response (OR) rate was 84.6%, and the complete remission (CR) rate was 84.6%. In the newly diagnosed subject cohort, the OR and CR were 100%, the 2-year overall survival rate was 84.6%, and the progression-free survival rate was 76.9%. The median age was 64 (54–81). The median time to first response was 3 (2.1–7.4) months. The median follow-up time was 43 (9–60) months. Low-grade hematological toxicity and mild fatigue were observed. No severe systemic toxicity was observed. Five hypermethylated regions located at gene promoters were identified as potential biomarkers for an effective treatment response. In conclusion, the VCR combination is a well-tolerated, low-toxicity, and highly effective regimen for the elderly with untreated MCL.

Clinical Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT01439750.
Survival outcomes and contributing factors in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients in Khuzestan province, southwest of Iran
Authors: Karimi Babak , Ghoreyshvandi Arian , Cheraghi Maria
Published: December 2024

Background

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most frequent oral cancer worldwide. Despite advances in OSCC treatment, the mortality rate has not decreased in recent years. Therefore, the aim of this investigation was to assess the survival rate as a factor reflecting the quality aspects of care and background parameters that influence survival in patients with OSCC.

Methods

This is a retrospective analysis of 165 patients with OSCC who were registered in the Khuzestan cancer registry system in 2014 to 2018. The data were collected in two parts: demographic information and survival information. Demographic and background variables include age, gender, marital status, ethnicity, employment status, insurance status, and educational status. Survival information was also collected through phone calls to patients or their families. The survival rate of the patients was analyzed using the log-rank test and the influencing factors were analyzed with the Cox regression test.

Results

In this study, 165 patients, 43 women (26.1%) and 122 men (73.9%), with OSCC were included. The follow-up period of the patients was 5 years (2014–2019), during which 74 patients died. One, three, and five-year survival rates were 93.34%, 71.51%, and 44.84%, respectively. The results showed that age (χ2 = 4.410, p < 0.05) and employee status (χ2 = 10.205, p < 0.05) were associated with survival rate in OSCC patients based on the log-rank test results, while Cox regression analysis, after including all variables in the model and adjusting them, showed that all variables were not associated with survival rate (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Since all background factors were not associated with survival rate, efforts should continue to identify effective factors and investigate the relationship between survival and pathological factors such as recurrence status, distant metastasis, type of treatment, and involved organs.
Fully endoscopic neurosurgery using a two-handed technique for cerebellopontine angle tumors via the retrosigmoid approach
Authors: Xie Zhengxing , Zhuang Yan , Liu Jieping
Published: December 2024

Background

Surgery for tumors in the cerebellopontine angle is always a significant challenge due to the densely packed neurovascular structures, the narrow deep location, and the complex relationship between the lesions and surrounding neurovascular structures. Recently, great attention has been given to the neuroendoscope for its exclusive advantages, which have added a new dimension to many classical microscopic surgeries. However, the feasibility and advisability of fully endoscopic neurosurgery for cerebellopontine angle tumors remain to be further evaluated.

Methods

We retrospectively collected the clinical outcomes and endoscopic surgical experience of 12 patients with tumors in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) from January 2022 to April 2024 in our department. We analyzed patients’ records, radiological neuroimaging, tumor-related variables, surgical procedures, and postoperative outcomes in detail. All patients were regularly followed up with neurological examinations and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/computed tomography (CT).

Results

The pathology of the series included five cases of acoustic neuroma, six cases of meningioma, and one case of teratoma. The mean largest diameter of the lesion was 29.5 mm ±8.5 mm. Headache, hearing loss, and dizziness were the top three most common symptoms. All tumors were resected using the hand technique. No hemorrhage, cerebrospinal fluid leaks, or intracranial infections occurred. All patients with meningioma achieved Simpson grade II resection, and the remaining tumors underwent gross total resection, confirmed by both intraoperative and postoperative imaging. Overall, 91.7% of patients maintained normal facial nerve function postoperatively (HB1). One patient with acoustic neuroma experienced transient facial paralysis after surgery (HB2), which resolved during follow-up at 3 months postoperation. Clinical symptoms of all the other patients were resolved or ameliorated after surgery, with no new neurological deficits. The Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) scores remained unchanged or improved for all patients postoperatively.

Conclusions

With the accumulation of experience and technological progress, the fully endoscopic retrosigmoid approach could enable safe and effective resection of cerebellopontine angle tumors, providing a panoramic view and illumination of deep-seated structures.
Research progress of novel anti-tumor drug formulations
Authors: Liu Yan , Guo Qie , Shi YunYan , Cui MengNa , Jing FanBo
Published: December 2024

Cancers have become the second leading cause of death worldwide, following cardiovascular diseases.Traditional anti- cancer strategies, including radiotherapy chemotherapy, surgery, and targeted therapies, have been widely used but are often reassessed due to their significant side effects and relatively low cure rate. Recently, the development of novel formulations for anti-tumor drugs has gained considerable attention, marking a pivotal step forward in cancer treatment advancements. These innovative formulations aim to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of anti-tumor drugs by employing advanced drug formulation technologies and delivery systems. In particular, nano-drug delivery systems (NDDS) have emerged as a promising approach to improve drug targeting, reduce side effects, and overcome drug resistance. This review highlights recent progress in NDDS for anti-tumor drug development and explores the future prospects of these advanced formulations in improving cancer treatment outcomes.
Effectiveness of various atropine concentrations in myopia control for Asian children: a network meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Xiaoyan , Zhang Linyu , Gan Jinhua , Wang Yun , Yang Weihua
Published: December 2024

Objectives

To assess the effectiveness of various atropine concentrations in managing myopia among children in East, South, and Southeast Asia, and to determine the most effective concentration.

Methods

A systematic literature review was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE. The search was limited to articles published up to 1 June 2024, and included studies in Chinese or English. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted relevant data, and assessed the data quality using the Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias 2 (RoB2) tool. A network meta-analysis was performed using Stata 14.2 software to compare the efficacy of different atropine concentrations in delaying myopia progression, measured by changes in refraction and axial length.

Results

The analysis included 39 studies with 7,712 participants, examining 10 atropine concentrations ranging from 0.005% to 1%. Forest plots indicated that five concentrations (0.01%, 0.02%, 0.025%, 0.05%, and 1%) were more effective than a placebo in controlling myopia progression. The cumulative ordination plot indicated that 0.05% atropine most effectively delayed refraction change, which the mean change per year was 0.62D, while 1% was superior in slowing axial length progression, which the mean change per year was −0.43 mm. Considering both measures, 1% atropine showed the highest efficacy which the mean changes per year were 0.56D in spherical equivalent refraction and −0.43 mm in axial length, followed by 0.05% and 0.125% atropine.

Conclusion

While 1% atropine demonstrated the highest efficacy in myopia control among East, South and Southeast Asian children, its use is not recommended due to increased adverse effects and a rapid rebound in myopia after cessation. Considering both efficacy and safety, 0.05% atropine is suggested as the optimal concentration for myopia management in this population.
Interspecific association of herbaceous plant communities on different slope orientations and at different altitudes in central Yunnan grasslands
Authors: Gong Rui , Gong He-de
Published: December 2024

Aims

Understanding the response of herbaceous plants to habitat changes and the mechanisms of vegetation succession is crucial to the theoretical foundation of the conservation of local vegetation.

Methods

Plots were established at elevations of 1900-2200m, 2200-2500m, and 2500-2800m on both shady and sunny slopes. Four statistical methods 2×2 contingency table χ2-test, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, AC joint coefficient, 17 and Ochiai Index, were employed to analyze the species composition and interspecific associations within each elevation band and aspect.

Important findings

(1) the number of herbaceous plant species was greater on the sunny slope than on the shady slope; the number of species was higher in the2 elevation bands of 1900-2200m and 2200-2500m than in 2500-2800m. (2) Both AC joint coefficient and Ochiai Index revealed that the interspecific connectivity increased as elevation increased on the shady slope, although the highest interspecific connectivity was observed in the 2200-2500m elevation rather than other two elevations on the sunny slope. (3) Negative associations among species pairs were more prevalent than positive associations on both the shady and sunny slopes at all elevations,indicating a high level of negative interspecific associations and connectivity. (4) χ2-test values and Spearman rank correlation analysis indicated that it was a relatively unstable community.However, an overall more stable community on the shady slope.The influence of altitude and slope orientation on interspecific associations has wide applications in multiple fields. By deeply understanding the role of these environmental factors, scientists, agricultural workers, forestry managers, and protectors can better carry out work in resource management, species conservation, climate change adaptation, and other aspects.
TCA cycle impairment leads to PIN2 internalization and degradation via reduced MAB4 level and ARA6 components in Arabidopsis roots
Authors: Song Xiaomin , Ohbayashi Iwai , Sun Song , Wang Qiuli , Yang Yi , Lu Mengyuan , Liu Yuanyuan , Sawa Shinichiro , Furutani Masahiko
Published: December 2024

The mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) plays a crucial role in linking the glycolysis pathway and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Previously, we reported that a mutation of MAB1, encoding an E1β subunit of PDC, affects the abundance of auxin efflux carriers PIN-FORMED proteins (PINs) via reduced recycling and enhanced degradation in vacuoles. Here, we further analyzed the effects of TCA cycle inhibition on vesicle trafficking using both the mab1-1 mutant and 3-BP, a TCA cycle inhibitor. Pharmacological and genetic impairment of the TCA cycle induced the aggregated components of ARA6, which is a plant-unique RAB5 GTPase that mediates endosomal trafficking to the plasma membrane. In addition, MAB4, which is an NPH3-like protein that inhibits PIN internalization from the plasma membrane, was severely reduced in 3-BP-treated roots and mab1-1. Furthermore, TCA cycle impairment led to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species in root tips, and treatment with H2O2 reduced MAB4 levels while increasing the internalization of PIN2 from the plasma membrane, and aggregated ARA6-positive compartments. These results suggest that TCA cycle impairment targets PIN proteins for degradation in the vacuole by disrupting both the MAB4-mediated block of internalization and the ARA6-mediated endocytic pathway.
Integrated transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic analyses revealing the roles of amino acid and sucrose metabolism in augmenting drought tolerance in Agropyron mongolicum
Authors: Ma Xiaoran , Liang Qingwei , Han Yusi , Fan Lu , Yi Dengxia , Ma Lin , Tang Jun , Wang Xuemin
Published: December 2024

Drought, a major consequence of climate change, initiates molecular interactions among genes, proteins, and metabolites. Agropyron mongolicum a high-quality perennial grass species, exhibits robust drought resistance. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this resistance remaining largely unexplored. In this study, we performed an integrated analysis of the transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome of A. mongolicum under optimal and drought stress conditions. This combined analysis highlighted the pivotal role of transporters in responding to drought stress. Moreover, metabolite profiling indicated that arginine and proline metabolism, as well as the pentose phosphate pathway, are significantly involved in the drought response of A. mongolicum. Additionally, the integrated analysis suggested that proline metabolism and the pentose phosphate pathway are key elements of the drought resistance strategy in A. mongolicum plants. In summary, our research elucidates the drought adaptation mechanisms of A. mongolicum and identifies potential candidate genes for further study.
Unveiling the dark side of eating disorders: evidence on the role of dark triad and body uneasiness in youth
Authors: Giancola Marco , D’Amico Simonetta , Vinciguerra Maria Giulia
Published: December 2024

Eating disorders comprise an array of mental disturbance with profound implications for individuals’ psychophysical and societal well-being. Extensive research has elucidated the role of the Big Five personality traits in explaining individual differences in the risk of eating disorders, overshadowing alternative personality taxonomies, such as the Dark Triad - DT (i.e., Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism). Accordingly, the current study aimed to address the association between DT and the risk of eating disorders, also exploring the potential involvement of body uneasiness as captured in terms of weight phobia (fear of being or becoming fat), body image concerns (worries related to physical appearance), avoidance (body image related avoidance behaviors), compulsive self-monitoring (compulsive checking of physical appearance), and depersonalization (detachment and estrangement feelings towards one’s own body). By using an online cross-sectional design, data were gathered from 419 participants. Results indicated that among the three dimensions of DT, only narcissism exhibited a positive correlation with the risk of eating disorders, while only weight phobia mediated this association. These findings yield theoretical implications extending the knowledge about the role of DT and body uneasiness in the risk of eating disorders. These results also have implications for tailoring prevention or treatment strategies to reduce the risk of eating disorders. Limitations and avenues for future research directions are discussed.
Cross-regional cultural recognition of adolescent voice emotion
Authors: Cheng Shanshan , Li Yue , Wang Yingying , Zhang Yin
Published: December 2024

Background

In previous studies, an in-group advantage in emotion recognition has been demonstrated to suggest that individuals are more proficient in identifying emotions within their own culture than in other cultures. However, the existing research focuses mainly on the cross-cultural variations in vocal emotion recognition, with limited attention paid to exploring intracultural differences. Furthermore, there is little research conducted on the ability of adolescents to recognize the emotions conveyed by vocal cues in various cultural settings. To fill these research gaps, three experiments were conducted in this study to explore the differences among different regions within a culture.

Methods

The study involved three experiments. In Experiment 1, a within-subjects design of 2 (language: Mandarin vs. English) × 4 (emotion: anger vs. fear vs. happiness vs. sadness) was used to establish whether adolescents exhibit a similar in-group advantage in vocal emotion recognition with adults. As an expansion of Experiment 1, Experiment 2 incorporated the Shaoxing dialect to assess the ability of adolescents to identify the emotions in voices across different cultural regions of a nation. In Experiment 3, the regional variation was extended by substituting the Shaoxing dialect with Tibetan to explore the disparities in vocal emotion recognition among adolescents.

Results

As indicated by the results of Experiment 1, Mandarin-speaking adolescents performed well in recognizing emotions in Mandarin compared to English. In Experiment 2, the results of Experiment 1 were replicated to reveal that Shaoxing-speaking adolescents performed better in emotion recognition of Mandarin in comparison to the Shaoxing dialect and English. As indicated by Experiment 3, both Mandarin-speaking adolescents and Tibetan-speaking adolescents possessed a higher capacity of vocal emotion recognition within their own language groups.

Conclusion

Chinese adolescents demonstrated a stronger ability to recognize vocal emotions within their own cultural group compared to other regional cultures, an advantage that became more pronounced as the cultural differences between groups increased. These findings underscore the significance of cultural factors in adolescent emotional recognition research, indicating the directions of cross-cultural interventions.
Self-other differences in the perceived authenticity of attitudes expressed toward social groups
Authors: Mata André , Vaz André
Published: December 2024

We assessed the perceived authenticity of attitudes expressed toward several social groups as a function of whether those attitudes were expressed by the self or by other people, and whether those expressions were automatic (without time to ponder) or controlled (without time constraints). Participants considered their controlled responses more authentic than their automatic responses. However, the same did not happen when considering others’ attitudes. Implications for social perception are discussed.
The chain mediating role of rumination and psychological resilience in symptom burden and kinesiophobia in patients with chronic heart failure
Authors: Li Mengqi , Cheng Lina , Jiang Yu
Published: December 2024

Objective

To explore the chain-mediating role and impact of rumination and psychological resilience on symptom burden and kinesiophobia in patients with chronic heart failure.

Methods

We selected a total of 318 patients with chronic heart failure from a hospital in Wuxi between November 2023 and May 2024 using a convenience sampling method. Various scales and questionnaires assessed general information, symptom burden, resilience, rumination thinking, and kinesiophobia. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS and the bootstrap method to examine the chain mediation effect.

Results

The scores for symptom burden, rumination, psychological resilience, and kinesiophobia in patients with chronic heart failure were 0.81± 0.47, 50.63± 9.02, 23.43± 6.26, and 38.91± 8.01, respectively. Mediation analysis showed that symptom burden had a direct positive predictive effect on rumination (β = 0.475, 95% CI: 0.365–0.584), rumination had a direct negative predictive effect on psychological resilience (β = -0.199, 95% CI: -0.306–0.092), and psychological resilience had a direct negative predictive effect on kinesiophobia (β = -0.273, 95% CI: -0.340–0.206). Rumination and psychological resilience played a chain mediation role between symptom burden and kinesiophobia, with a total effect of 0.606, a direct effect of 0.380, and an indirect effect of 0.226. The mediation effect accounted for 37.29% of the total effect.

Conclusion

Kinesiophobia is at a high level in patients with chronic heart failure. Symptom burden can affect patients’ kinesiophobia through the independent or chain mediation effects of rumination and psychological resilience. Healthcare professionals should actively adopt strategies to address symptom burden and rumination while enhancing psychological resilience to reduce patients’ kinesiophobia.
Status quo and influencing factors of job burnout among residents in standardized training
Authors: An Jiale , Chang Yu , Zhang Xiyuan , Zhang Minghao , Lei Xia , Yang MingYi , Hu Yunfeng
Published: December 2024

Background

With the continuous progress and in-depth implementation of the reform of the medical and health care system, alongside the gradual enhancement of the standardized training framework for residents, such training has become a crucial avenue for cultivating high-level clinicians and improving medical quality. However, due to various constraints and limitations in their own capabilities, residents undergoing standardized training are often susceptible to job burnout during this process. Numerous factors contribute to job burnout, which is closely associated with depression and anxiety. To promote effective standardized training and develop high-quality resident personnel, it is essential to investigate the influencing factors of job burnout and implement strategies to mitigate its occurrence.

Objective

Explore the job burnout and its influencing factors among standardized training residents of Affiliated Hospital of Yan ‘an University, and to provide favorable basis for effective prevention of job burnout.

Methods

An online questionnaire survey was conducted among all standardized training residents at the hospital from June 2020 to September 2022. The evaluation utilized a general situation questionnaire, the Job Burnout Inventory - General Survey (MBI-GS), the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS).

Results

A total of 660 valid questionnaires were collected, and 315 people had positive reaction for job burnout, and the detection rate was 47.7%. Difference in gender, marital status, whether they held practicing certificates, participated in work before training, used sleep medication, age, grade, sleep state were the influencing factors of different dimensions of job burnout. 175 people were in a state of anxiety (26.5%), while 357 (54.1%) were depressed. Pearson correlation analysis showed that anxiety and depression were highly correlated with job burnout (p < 0.01). The results of multi-factor analysis showed that sleep status, whether to take sleep AIDS, anxiety and depression were the factors affecting the dimension of emotional exhaustion (p < 0.01). Income, sleep status, anxiety and depression scores were the influencing factors of job burnout dimension (p < 0.05). Sleep status and depression score were the factors affecting the dimension of reduced sense of achievement (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Job burnout is prevalent among residents undergoing standardized training, and the factors influencing it are numerous and diverse. It is closely associated with various elements such as age, income, years of training, sleep quality, anxiety, and depression. Therefore, it is recommended to implement appropriate measures to mitigate the occurrence of job burnout and enhance the quality of standardized training for residents. Such measures may include formulating reasonable training policies and theoretical learning plans, as well as providing mental health interventions.
Piecing together the narrative of #longcovid: an unsupervised deep learning of 1,354,889 X (formerly Twitter) posts from 2020 to 2023
Authors: Ng Qin Xiang , Wee Liang En , Lim Yu Liang , Ong Rebecca Hui Shan , Ong Clarence , Venkatachalam Indumathi , Liew Tau Ming
Published: December 2024

Objective

To characterize the public conversations around long COVID, as expressed through X (formerly Twitter) posts from May 2020 to April 2023.

Methods

Using X as the data source, we extracted tweets containing #long-covid, #long_covid, or “long covid,” posted from May 2020 to April 2023. We then conducted an unsupervised deep learning analysis using Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT). This method allowed us to process and analyze large-scale textual data, focusing on individual user tweets. We then employed BERT-based topic modeling, followed by reflexive thematic analysis to categorize and further refine tweets into coherent themes to interpret the overarching narratives within the long COVID discourse. In contrast to prior studies, the constructs framing our analyses were data driven as well as informed by the tenets of social constructivism.

Results

Out of an initial dataset of 2,905,906 tweets, a total of 1,354,889 unique, English-language tweets from individual users were included in the final dataset for analysis. Three main themes were generated: (1) General discussions of long COVID, (2) Skepticism about long COVID, and (3) Adverse effects of long COVID on individuals. These themes highlighted various aspects, including public awareness, community support, misinformation, and personal experiences with long COVID. The analysis also revealed a stable temporal trend in the long COVID discussions from 2020 to 2023, indicating its sustained interest in public discourse.

Conclusion

Social media, specifically X, helped in shaping public awareness and perception of long COVID, and the posts demonstrate a collective effort in community building and information sharing.