bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gastrointestinal protozoa in pet cats from Anhui province: prevalence and molecular characterization
Authors: Zhang Hao , Tong Xing , Ma Zhonghui , Zhang Tao , Wu Feng , Wu Qiong , Yang Congshan , Han Chunyang
Published: January 2025

Introduction

To investigate the prevalence of Tritrichomonas foetus, Pentatrichomonas hominis, Giardia intestinalis, Cryptosporidium, Microsporidium, and Sarcocystis in domestic cats in Anhui Province, China, and their potential role as zoonotic hosts for human infection, a total of 304 fecal samples from two different sources were screened for the presence of related pathogens.

Methods

Using microscopy, along with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or nested PCR amplification, followed by genotyping through sequence analysis.

Results

The infection rates of T. foetus, P. hominis, G. intestinalis, Cryptosporidium, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Sarcocystis were 5.6%, 0%, 1.7%, 0.7%, 2.6%, and 0%, respectively. The evolutionary relationships and genetic characteristics of G. intestinalis based on the GDH gene, Cryptosporidium based on the SSU rRNA gene, and E. bieneusi based on the ITS sequence were assessed: five cases of G. intestinalis were identified, with four belonging to assemblage F and one to zoonotic assemblage B, two Cryptosporidium cases were identified as Cryptosporidium felis, and all eight E. bieneusi cases were identified as belonging to group 1, with three cases being genotype D, three EbpA, and two EbpC.

Discussion

Age, neutering status, and deworming were identified as potential risk factors. Further analysis revealed that diarrhea, as a clinical symptom, could serve as an indicator for pathogen infection. Although the pathogen infection rates detected in this study were relatively low, their zoonotic transmission potential cannot be ignored. Therefore, special attention should be paid, and it is essential to establish targeted prevention plans.
Analysis of factors affecting the clinical management of infection in culture-negative patients following percutaneous endoscopic decompression: a retrospective study
Authors: Qu Changpeng , Wei Haixin , Zhang Hao , Lian Zheng , Lu Hui , Han Shuo
Published: January 2025

Background

Culture-negative spinal infections after prophylactic antibiotic use in percutaneous endoscopic decompression are rare, and diagnostic difficulties and the risk of antibiotic-resistant infections complicate treatment. This study retrospectively analyzed the medical records of culture-negative patients following percutaneous endoscopic surgery to identify risk factors influencing antimicrobial therapy and provide insights for clinical management.

Methods

Data were retrospectively collected from patients who underwent lumbar percutaneous endoscopic decompression at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University between January 2014 and June 2023. The patients’ medical records were reviewed. Patient demographics, hidden blood loss, daily blood glucose control, and maximum temperature during treatment were recorded as potential risk factors. C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, white blood cells, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and the duration of antibiotic treatment were used as indicators of infection treatment. The impact of these risk factors on infection was then analyzed.

Results

The results showed that blood glucose control was strongly correlated with the severity of infection (Beta = 0.60, P = 0.00), strongly correlated with short-term treatment effectiveness (Beta = 0.65, P = 0.00), and moderately correlated with the duration of antibiotic treatment (Beta = 0.41, P = 0.01). Hidden blood loss was moderately correlated with the severity of infection (Partial-R = 0.49, P = 0.00) and moderately correlated with the duration of antibiotic treatment (Partial-R = 0.48, P = 0.00). Hidden blood loss index was moderately correlated with the duration of antibiotic treatment (Partial-R = 0.50, P = 0.00). Female was a favorable factor to shorten the duration of antibiotic treatment (Beta = -0.25, P = 0.01), and higher maximum temperature during infection may indicate a longer duration of antibiotic treatment (Beta = 0.28, P = 0.02).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that healthy blood glucose levels, a lower hidden blood loss and hidden blood loss index might help reduce the duration of antibiotic use after infection. Effective hemostasis during surgery to reduce hidden blood loss and good preoperative blood glucose control indicators are both beneficial measures for infection treatment.
Sense of agency in gesture-based interactions: modulated by sensory modality but not feedback meaning
Authors: Evangelou George , Georgiou Orestis , Brown Eddie , Moore James W.
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Gesture-based interactions provide control over a system without the need for physical contact. Mid-air haptic technology allows a user to not visually engage with the interface while receiving system information and is readily manipulable, which has positive implications for automotive environments. It is important, however, that the user still feels a sense of agency, which here refers to perceiving system changes as caused by their gesture.

Methods

In the current study, 36 participants engaged in an experimental time perception task with an automotive-themed infotainment menu, serving as an implicit quantitative measure of agency. This was supplemented with additional self-reported measures. They selected different icons via gesture poses, with sensory feedback either visually or haptically. In addition, (sensory) feedback was also the same for each icon, arbitrarily different or carried semantic information.

Results

Mid-air haptics increased agency compared to visual, and this did not vary as a function of feedback meaning. Agency was also associated with general measures of trust and usability.

Discussion

Our findings demonstrate positive implications for mid-air haptics in automotive contexts and highlight the general importance of user agency.
Fecal microbiota is more stable during degradation and more diverse for ex situ cheetahs in Namibia compared to the USA
Authors: Maly Morgan A. , Roberts Reade B. , Keady Mia M. , Schmidt-Küntzel Anne , Maxwell Meagan , Marker Laurie , Breen Matthew , Muletz-Wolz Carly R. , Crosier Adrienne E.
Published: January 2025

The relationships between gut microbiota and animal health are an important consideration increasingly influential in the management of wild and ex situ endangered species, such as the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). To better understand these relationships, fresh fecal samples are currently required as a non-invasive alternative for the gut microbiome. Unfortunately, fresh samples are challenging to collect in the wild. This study had two aims: 1) to determine the optimal collection time point for cheetah feces after deposit in their native environment of Namibia as a guide for wild cheetah fecal microbiome studies; and 2) to compare the fecal microbiota of two ex situ cheetah populations (Front Royal, VA, USA and Otjiwarongo, Namibia), which also consume different diets. We collected eight fresh fecal samples from cheetahs in Namibia and allowed them to decompose for four days, taking subsamples each day. The fresh Namibian samples (n = 8) were also used in objective two for comparison to fresh USA cheetah samples (n = 8). All samples were analyzed for bacterial community diversity and composition using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. First, over a five-day sampling period in Namibia, subsamples 1-3 days post-fresh showed no changes in bacterial diversity or composition compared to fresh subsamples. Second, fresh ex situ cheetah samples under Namibian conditions had increased bacterial taxa, more phylogenetically diverse bacterial communities, and compositionally distinct microbiomes from cheetahs managed in human care in the USA. However, when bacterial ASVs were weighted by relative abundance, both populations shared 69% of their total bacterial sequences indicating a conserved cheetah microbiota between the two populations. We also found few differences in predictive functions of the fecal microbiota between the populations, where only one disease-related pathway was higher in the USA samples. Overall, our findings suggest that in dry season conditions (no recorded rainfall) in Namibia, fecals may be usable for up to three days after defecation for microbial ecology studies. There are significant differences between ex situ Namibian and USA populations, and we suggest further investigation into the influence of diet, host demographics, and environment on the gut microbiota and health of cheetahs.
Policing wildlife trafficking in northeastern Mexico: the case of Tamaulipas in 2023-2024
Authors: Carpio-Domínguez José Luis , Cervantes-Niño José Juan , Castro-Salazar Jesús Ignacio , Mendezcarlo-Silva Violeta
Published: January 2025

Illegal wildlife trade is an environmental, economic, and social problem that threatens global public health and the security of countries. It is one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss on a global scale. Mexico is a source and transit nation for trafficked wildlife, so the timely detection by Mexico’s governmental institutions is of fundamental importance for combating wildlife trafficking. The present study aims to analyze the factors that facilitate or constrain the police actions taken as first responders to wildlife trafficking in the state of Tamaulipas during the period 2023-2024. Through interviews with police officers, we determined that the prioritization of crimes related to public security has limited police attention to other forms of crime, such as wildlife trafficking. as the outcome is that wildlife trafficking is a largely uninvestigated, unquantified, and unaddressed crime. Further, most police officers are unaware that environmental crimes fall under their jurisdiction, which limits law enforcement and environmental justice in the state.
On explaining recommendations with Large Language Models: a review
Authors: Said Alan
Published: January 2025

The rise of Large Language Models (LLMs), such as LLaMA and ChatGPT, has opened new opportunities for enhancing recommender systems through improved explainability. This paper provides a systematic literature review focused on leveraging LLMs to generate explanations for recommendations—a critical aspect for fostering transparency and user trust. We conducted a comprehensive search within the ACM Guide to Computing Literature, covering publications from the launch of ChatGPT (November 2022) to the present (November 2024). Our search yielded 232 articles, but after applying inclusion criteria, only six were identified as directly addressing the use of LLMs in explaining recommendations. This scarcity highlights that, despite the rise of LLMs, their application in explainable recommender systems is still in an early stage. We analyze these select studies to understand current methodologies, identify challenges, and suggest directions for future research. Our findings underscore the potential of LLMs improving explanations of recommender systems and encourage the development of more transparent and user-centric recommendation explanation solutions.
Unveiling the digital future: perspectives of Hungarian physicians under 35 years old on eHealth solutions
Authors: Győrffy Zsuzsa , Döbrössy Bence , Boros Julianna , Girasek Edmond
Published: January 2025

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has catalysed the emergence of digital solutions in all areas of medicine. Our prior study on the digital health related experiences and opinions of Hungarian physicians highlights the crucial role of age in shaping attitudes towards digital health solutions among medical doctors. Our aim was to examine how under 35-year-old Hungarian physicians relate to digital technologies, the advantages and disadvantages they perceive, and how they would like to incorporate these technologies into their everyday medical practice.

Methods

As part of the “E-physicians and E-patients in Hungary” study, we conducted an online representative survey among medical practitioners in Hungary between July 2021 and May 2022 (n = 1,774). The main target group of our research were physicians under 35 years of age: n = 399 (25.3%). Besides descriptive statistical analyses, cluster analysis and binary logistic regression were applied to analyse the digital health related attitudes of the young age group.

Results

Our cluster analysis confirmed that younger doctors perceived more advantages (on average 7.07 items vs. 8.52 items) and disadvantages (on average 4.06 vs. 4.42) of digital health solutions. They also demonstrated greater familiarity with (8.27 vs. 9.79) and use of (1.94 vs. 2.66) a broader spectrum of technologies. Proficiency and active utilization of diverse technologies correlates with a more comprehensive understanding of both pros and cons, as well as a more realistic self-assessment of areas of further improvement. Doctors under 35 years express a notable demand for significantly increased incentives, both in terms of knowledge transfer/training and infrastructure incentives. Multivariate analyses revealed that young doctors, compared to their older counterparts, perceived enhanced patient adherence as one of the greatest benefits of digital health solutions. Additionally, young doctors expect that digital health solutions could reduce burnout.

Conclusion

Our results underscore the inevitable transformation of the 21st-century physician role: the success of digital health solutions hinges on active patient involvement and management, which requires proper patient education and professional support in navigating the digital space. Digital health solutions can be a bridge between different generations of doctors, where young people can help their older colleagues navigate the digital world.
Three thousand years of oyster fisheries: a view from Southeast Queensland, Australia
Authors: Smith Tam
Published: January 2025

Oysters are an almost ubiquitous presence in coastal archaeological sites globally. Southeast Queensland is no exception, with oysters frequently the dominant taxon in midden deposits. It has been estimated the total number of oysters at Booral Shell Mound in the Great Sandy Strait to be more than 5.9 million individuals. This paper moves beyond just the number of oysters to examine the structure of populations within the deposits at two Southeast Queensland sites, Booral Shell Mound and White Patch 3, from an Applied Historical Ecology approach. In doing so, the nature and sustainability of First Nations marine resource exploitation may be determined. Additionally, environmental factors influencing molluscan population dynamics can be elucidated. Historical accounts provide insights into observed collection practices in the early colonial period, as well as the persistence of First Nations oystering and other marine resource exploitation in the mid-late 19th century in response to participation in the wider economy of early Brisbane. Reasons for the late nineteenth-early Twentieth century collapse of Southeast Queensland oyster populations are examined and attempts to revive the oyster industry reviewed.
Automating band selection for hyperspectral indices: bridging AVIRIS-NG and Sentinel-2 satellite data for earth science applications
Authors: Peddinti Veerendra Satya Sylesh , Mandla Venkata Ravibabu , Mesapam Shashi , Kancharla Suresh
Published: January 2025

Hyperspectral data from the Airborne Visible and Infra-Red Imaging Spectrometer – Next-Generation (AVIRIS-NG) offers transformative potential for Earth science research, enabling detailed analysis of land surface processes, resource monitoring, and environmental dynamics. This study presents an automated methodology to optimize the selection of AVIRIS spectral bands, improving the computation of indices critical to Earth science applications. By leveraging multiple hyperspectral bands, the approach enhances the accuracy of indices used to monitor water resources, vegetation health, urban expansion, and built-up areas. The methodology involves calculating indices from all possible AVIRIS band combinations, evaluating their root mean squared error (RMSE) against Sentinel-2 indices, reducing RMSE skewness, and selecting bands with minimal deviation for specific Land Use Land Cover (LULC) categories. The process is automated and employs parallel processing with Python, significantly reducing execution time and enabling scalability for large geospatial datasets. Key indices, including the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), Normalized Difference Red Edge (NDRE), and Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI), Green Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (GNDVI) were validated using the proposed methodology. Results demonstrate the potential of hyperspectral data to outperform traditional single-band approaches, providing more precise and reliable assessments.
Spatial and social relevance perceptions by pre-service teachers of learning about oil palm management as a local or nonlocal socioscientific issue
Authors: Matthiesen Finn Kristen , Nolte Gina , Rehling Finn , Arjana I Gede , Sitompul Lola Utama , Yelianti Upik , Bögeholz Susanne
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Pre-service teachers (PST)' perceived relevance of learning about environmental socioscientific issues (SSI) can be an indicator for their motivation to act as change agents. Until now, science education (research) has often addressed the relevance for learning about SSI insufficiently differentiated regarding spatial and social dimensions. However, theoretical frameworks suggest that such differentiation enhances meaningful teaching and learning. This study investigated how local, national, and global subdimensions of spatial relevance as well as individual, societal, and professional subdimensions of social relevance influence PST' relevance perceptions of learning about SSI. Additionally, we examined how relevance perceptions vary depending on whether the SSI is local or nonlocal to PST. We specifically investigated Indonesian PST' relevance perceptions of learning about oil palm management (OPM), a local SSI for PST of one university and a nonlocal SSI for PST of two other universities.

Methods

The PST participated in a 5-week socioscientific inquiry-based educational unit on OPM in curricular courses (N = 111). We followed a mixed-method approach, employing measurements of utility value. Utility value is a specific construct of perceived relevance, which refers to the usefulness of learning about objects for a person's life, profession, and society. Quantitatively, we conducted pretest-posttest-follow-up surveys on PST' perceived utility value for learning about OPM over time. Qualitatively, we analyzed responses to a utility value reflection task that was integrated into the unit.

Results

Overall, the unit increased PST' utility value over time. Local PST perceived lower utility value for learning about OPM than nonlocal PST. In the task responses, local PST referred more to the local subdimension, whereas nonlocal PST referred more to the national subdimension. Nonlocal PST' societal and professional utility value increased stronger over time compared to local PST.

Discussion

We discuss potential reasons for local PST' lower relevance perceptions, e.g., personal experiences and skepticism through local embeddedness. Our findings on relevance perceptions among local and nonlocal PST underscore the importance of spatial- and social-sensitive SSI education. We point out practical implications for promoting relevance perceptions considering local and nonlocal PST. Moreover, we suggest research directions for more differentiated relevance research in science education.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of three surgical approaches for parathyroidectomy in secondary hyperparathyroidism patients
Authors: Sa Qila , Zhou Yinghui , Cheng Guangming , Nan Boyuan , Feng Yingnan , Zhang Ningyuan , Xie Wantao , Zhang Wei
Published: January 2025

Background

There are three main surgical treatment options for secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT): subtotal parathyroidectomy (sPTX), total parathyroidectomy with auto-transplantation (tPTX+AT), and total parathyroidectomy (tPTX). However, a debate regarding which of these surgical methods is optimal has been ongoing. Aim of this study is to compare medical costs and final outcomes associated with the three surgical approaches for the entire treatment duration, aiming to identify the most cost-effective surgical method.

Methods

Based on previous research data from domestic and international studies, as well as data from on-site surveys, TreeAge Pro 2022 software was used to construct a Markov model for the surgical treatment of SHPT patients. The model was run using data from the 2022 registered population of end-stage renal disease dialysis patients in China (1 million) as baseline cohort. Main indicators for this analysis are total cost, quality-adjusted life years, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). The study period is 10 years post-surgery, with a discount rate of 5% per year. Uncertainty in the model was assessed using one-way sensitivity analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA).

Results

The costs incurred by SHPT patients undergoing sPTX, tPTX, and tPTX+AT within 10 years post-surgery are $7042.54, $9983.00, and $11435.60, respectively, with total utilities generated being 13.23 QALYs, 18.76 QALYs, and 18.69 QALYs. Compared to sPTX, the incremental costs and incremental effects of tPTX and tPTX+AT are $2,924.71 and $4,456.66, with 5.53 QALYs and 5.46 QALYs, respectively. The ICER for tPTX and tPTX+AT groups are $532.13/QALY and $805.10/QALY, respectively, which are well below our set willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold. Sensitivity analysis results indicate that varying any parameter within a certain range over the given time interval will not cause the ICER to exceed the WTP threshold and will not reverse the primary analysis results.

Conclusion

In the Chinese healthcare system, tPTX is considered the most cost-effective treatment for refractory hyperparathyroidism, when compared to tPTX+AT and sPTX.
Associations of maternal PM2.5 exposure with preterm birth and miscarriage in women undergoing in vitro fertilization: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Chen Miaoxin , Chen Qiaoyu , Liao Gengze , Sun Chunyan , Liu Cong , Meng Xia , Li Wentao , Qiu Andong , Bukulmez Orhan , Kan Haidong , Wang Feng , Tse Lap Ah , Teng Xiaoming
Published: January 2025

Background

Excessive exposure to PM2.5 can be detrimental to reproductive health. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential associations between ambient PM2.5 exposure during different periods and negative pregnancy outcomes, such as miscarriage and preterm birth, in patients who underwent assisted reproductive technology (ART).

Methods

This retrospective cohort study examined the outcomes of 2,839 infertile women aged ≤ 45 years who underwent their first fresh or frozen-thawed embryo transfer at the Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital between April 2016 and December 2019. Satellite data were used to determine the daily average levels of PM2.5, and exposure was categorized as excessive if it exceeded the WHO’s interim target 2 level of 50 µg/m3. The analysis was conducted separately for seven different periods. Our study used multinomial logistic regression models to explore the potential associations between PM2.5 exposure and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Sensitivity analysis was conducted by excluding women who underwent blastocyst transfer.

Results

Daily PM2.5 exposure exceeding the threshold (50 µg/m3) was associated with an increased risk of miscarriage during the period after confirmation of clinical pregnancy or biochemical pregnancy, with adjusted odds ratios (AORs) of 2.22 (95% CI 1.75-2.81) and 2.23 (95% CI 1.68-2.96), respectively. Moreover, for each increase of 10 µg/m3 above the threshold for PM2.5, there was a 46% elevated risk of preterm birth (AOR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.09-1.94) during the period after the confirmation of clinical pregnancy and a 61% elevated risk of preterm birth (AOR = 1.61, 95% CI 1.16-2.23) during the period after the confirmation of biochemical pregnancy. Our stratified analyses revealed that women with an endometrial thickness <11 mm or who underwent frozen embryo transfer were more vulnerable to PM2.5 exposure, leading to higher rates of preterm birth.

Conclusion

Excessive PM2.5 exposure after biochemical pregnancy or clinical pregnancy was associated with increased risks of preterm birth and miscarriage among women who underwent ART.
Protein-bound uremic toxins as therapeutic targets for cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic disorders
Authors: Zhang Shihan , Tang Shasha , Liu Yalei , Xue Binghua , Xie Qinyuan , Zhao Lingyun , Yuan Huijuan
Published: January 2025

Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome is a systemic clinical condition characterized by pathological and physiological interactions among metabolic abnormalities, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular diseases, leading to multi-organ dysfunction and a higher incidence of cardiovascular endpoints. Traditional approaches to managing CKM syndrome risk are inadequate in these patients, necessitating strategies targeting specific CKM syndrome risk factors. Increasing evidence suggests that addressing uremic toxins and/or pathways induced by uremic toxins may reduce CKM syndrome risk and treat the disease. This review explores the interactions among heart, kidney, and metabolic pathways in the context of uremic toxins and underscores the significant role of uremic toxins as potential therapeutic targets in the pathophysiology of these diseases. Strategies aimed at regulating these uremic toxins offer potential avenues for reversing and managing CKM syndrome, providing new insights for its clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway restores N-acetylcysteine-induced impairment of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis negative feedback by up-regulating GRα expression and down-regulating GRβ expression into pituitary glands
Authors: Chaves Amanda Silva , Ventura Raíssa Duarte , Pacini Maria Florencia , Magalhães Nathalia Santos , Silva Patrícia Machado Rodrigues e , Martins Marco Aurélio , Pérez Ana Rosa , Carvalho Vinicius Frias
Published: January 2025

We previously showed that antioxidants induced an impairment of negative feedback of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in rats, in parallel to a down-regulation of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression in the pituitary gland. This study evaluated the role of the Nrf2-heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway on the impairment of the negative feedback of the HPA axis induced by N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Male Swiss-Webster mice were orally supplemented with NAC for 5 consecutive days. The Nrf2-HO-1 pathway activator cobalt protoporphyrin IX (CoPPIX) was injected intraperitoneally on days 2 and 5 after the starting of NAC supplementation. NAC reduced the expression of Nrf2 in the pituitary of mice. Furthermore, NAC induced adrenal enlargement and hypercorticoidism, along with a decrease in the GRα expression and an increase of GRβ expression in the pituitary gland. Treatment with CoPPIX reduced adrenal enlargement, systemic corticosterone levels, and GRβ expression in the pituitary gland of mice supplemented with NAC, besides increasing the expression of GRα. CoPPIX treatment also restored the failure in the negative feedback of the HPA axis induced by NAC. In conclusion, these findings showed that NAC reduced the Nrf2-HO-1 pathway activation in the pituitary gland, in a mechanism probably related to a local downregulation of GRα and an up-regulation of GRβ, leading to a failure of negative feedback of the HPA axis and consequently to the hyperactivity of this neuroendocrine axis.
Relationship between triglyceride glucose-body mass index baselines and variation with future cardiovascular diseases risk in the middle-aged and elderly individuals
Authors: Qiao Junpeng , Chen Xueyu , Pang Jinhong , Fei Haicheng , Liu Zhang , Cheng Fang , Chen Qiaoqiao , Zhao Yingying , Shi Fengxue , Jia Hongying , Chi Weiwei
Published: January 2025

Background

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are gradually becoming the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among chronic non-communicable diseases. Previous studies have found that the TyG index is an effective alternative indicator for insulin resistance (IR) and is associated with cardiovascular events. Additionally, obesity directly or indirectly increases the risk of developing CVDs. Up to now, studies on the combined effects of these factors are insufficient, and the conclusions are not yet consistent. This study aims to analyze whether the baseline levels and fluctuations of triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI) are associated with the incidence of CVDs and their subtypes in a prospective cohort of middle-aged and elderly individuals.

Methods

The data for this study were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), which is an ongoing nationally representative prospective cohort study. After excluding participants with partially missing variables that could affect the study results, this study ultimately included 7,072 participants, with data records spanning from 2011 to 2020. The exposures were TyG-BMI and the change in TyG-BMI from 2011 to 2015. The TyG-BMI index was calculated as TyG index multiply BMI. The change of TyG-BMI was categorized using K-means clustering and baseline TyG-BMI was grouped based on quartiles. We used Cox proportional hazards models to evaluate the relationship between baseline quartiles of the TyG-BMI index and its variability with CVDs and their subtypes.

Results

Among the 7,072 participants (mean age of 59.1 ± 9.3 years), 3330 (47%) were male. During an average follow-up of 7.1 years, 1,774 (25.1%) participants developed new-onset cardiovascular diseases. After stratification by baseline TyG-BMI quartiles, higher TyG-BMI levels were associated with an increased risk of CVDs, The hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for the highest quartile group were 1.69 (1.44-2.00). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, compared to participants with consistently low TyG-BMI levels, those with moderate TyG-BMI levels and a slowly increasing trend had an HR of 1.27 (95% CI 1.10-1.47), while those with the highest TyG-BMI levels and a slowly decreasing trend had an HR of 1.52 (95% CI 1.26-1.83).

Conclusion

Material changes in the TyG-BMI are independently associated with the risk of CVDs in middle-aged and elderly individuals. Detecting long-term changes in the TyG-BMI may aid in the early identification of high-risk individuals and help prevent the occurrence of various cardiovascular diseases.
Understanding the drivers of a pro-environmental attitude in higher education institutions: the interplay between knowledge, consciousness, and social influence
Authors: Sehar Aqsa , Orangzab  , Akbar Minhas , Poulova Petra , Vasudevan Asokan , Huang Tianjiao
Published: January 2025

Academicians with a pro-environmental attitude can play a pivotal role in developing curricula and new programs aimed at education for sustainable development. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to identify the factors that influence academicians’ positive attitude toward the environment. This study attempts to investigate the effects of environmental consciousness, environmental knowledge, and biospheric values, as well as the moderating effects of social influence, on the attitude toward the environment among the faculty members of higher education institutions (HIEs) in Southern Pakistan. The data were collected from six universities in the district of Vehari, Punjab, Pakistan. After checking for reliability and validity, the study used the structural equation modeling technique to examine the aforementioned association. The results reveal that environmental consciousness and biospheric values significantly influence the attitude of faculty members toward the environment. Furthermore, social influence positively moderates the relationship only between biospheric values and attitudes toward the environment. Overall, this study contributes original insights into the factors influencing pro-environmental attitudes among faculty in a specific cultural and educational context. Its findings can inform targeted strategies to enhance environmental education and engagement in higher education, making it a valuable addition to the literature on education for sustainable development. The findings could guide policymakers of higher education institutions in promoting a pro-environmental attitude among faculty members by implementing awareness programs that increase environmental consciousness and integrate biospheric values into their core mission. Furthermore, HEIs should also establish “green teams” to induce a positive environmental attitude through social influence.
Carbon risk and corporate bankruptcy pressure: evidence from a quasi-natural experiment based on the Paris agreement
Authors: Liu Jingxing , Liao Zihang , Liu Tianqi , Geng Yuan
Published: January 2025

Green and low-carbon development transformation of enterprises is of great significance to climate governance and sustainable economic development. It is a realistic problem worth to study whether carbon risk will affect the bankruptcy pressure of corporates. This paper empirically analyzes the impact of carbon risk shocks on the corporates bankruptcy pressure based on the quasi-natural experiment of the implementation of the Paris Agreement. The results indicated that carbon risk significantly alleviated corporates bankruptcy pressure. Specifically, mechanistic analysis uncovered that the increase in carbon risk may reduce the bankruptcy pressure of corporates was mediated by lowering corporate financing costs and elevating green innovation levels. Finally, it was found through the heterogeneity analysis that the negative correlation between carbon risk and bankruptcy pressure was more pronounced for non-state-owned enterprises, small-scale corporations, and companies located in highly competitive industries.
Plasma IL-17A is increased in patients with critical MIS-C and associated to in-hospital mortality
Authors: de Farias Emmerson C. F. , Nascimento Luciana M. P. P. do , Pavão Junior Manoel J. C. , Pavão Dalila C. A. , Pinheiro Ana P. S. , Pinheiro Andreza H. O. , Alves Marília C. B. , Ferraro Kíssila M. M. M. , Aires Larisse F. Q. , Dias Luana G. , Machado Mayara M. M. , Serrão Michaelle J. D. , Gomes Raphaella R. , de Moraes Sara M. P. , Pontes Gabriela C. L. , Carvalho Railana D. F. P. , Silva Cristiane T. C. , Neves Carla M. A. das , Santos Joyce C. L. dos , de Sousa Adriana M. B. , da Silva Leda L. , de Mello Mary L. F. M. F. , Carvalho Patricia B. , Braga Renata de B. , Harada Kathia de O. , Justino Maria C. A. , Costa Iran B. , Brasil-Costa Igor , Monteiro Marta C. , Clemente Gleice , Terreri Maria Teresa
Published: January 2025

Background

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare and severe post-COVID-19 complication with multiple phenotypes.

Objectives

The aim of this study is to study inflammatory biomarkers (cytokines and oxidative stress) in critical MIS-C patients and to observe if there is association between these biomarkers and mortality.

Methods

A single-center prospective study enrolled patients with MIS-C (with positive molecular test), aged between 1 month and 18 years of age. Data was collected from 20 pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)’s bed. Inflammatory biomarkers (cytokines and oxidative stress markers) were performed on day 1 and 3 after hospitalization. Survival rate was calculated, and Kaplan-Meier curves were plotted. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted. The ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) curve analysis was performed.

Results and conclusions

A total of 41 patients out of 109 patients admitted at PICU with suspected MIS-C during the study period were included, of which 33 (80.5%) were male, 9 (22%) were under one year old, and 30 (73.2%) presented comorbidities. Among them, 16 (39%) did not survive. The mean survival time was shorter in patients with higher levels of IL-17A (≥ 19.71 pg/mL) on day 1 (115 vs 323 days, p = 0.004). Higher levels of IL-17A on day 1 were associated with mortality in both the crude model (HR 1.03, CI95% 1.004-1.057, p = 0.022) and the adjusted model (HR 1.043, CI95% 1.013-1.075, p = 0.012). ROC analysis revealed a cut-off value for the IL-17A of 14.32 pg/ml. The other immunological and inflammatory markers did not demonstrate an association with survival (p>0.05). Our findings suggest that patients with high levels of IL-17A are at greater risk for death.
Antiviral therapy can effectively suppress irAEs in HBV positive hepatocellular carcinoma treated with ICIs: validation based on multi machine learning
Authors: Pan Shuxian , Wang Zibing
Published: January 2025

Background

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have proven efficacy against hepatitis B-virus positive hepatocellular. However, Immunotherapy-related adverse reactions are still a major challenge faced by tumor immunotherapy, so it is urgent to establish new methods to effectively predict immunotherapy-related adverse reactions.

Objective

Multi-machine learning model were constructed to screen the risk factors for irAEs in ICIs for the treatment of HBV-related hepatocellular and build a prediction model for the occurrence of clinical IRAEs.

Methods

Data from 274 hepatitis B virus positive tumor patients who received PD-1 or/and CTLA4 inhibitor treatment and had immune cell detection results were collected from Henan Cancer Hospital for retrospective analysis. Models were established using Lasso, RSF (RandomForest), and xgBoost, with ten-fold cross-validation and resampling methods used to ensure model reliability. The impact of influencing factors on irAEs (immune-related adverse events) was validated using Decision Curve Analysis (DCA). Both uni/multivariable analysis were accomplished by Chi-square/Fisher’s exact tests. The accuracy of the model is verified in the DCA curve.

Results

A total of 274 HBV-related liver cancer patients were enrolled in the study. Predictive models were constructed using three machine learning algorithms to analyze and statistically evaluate clinical characteristics, including immune cell data. The accuracy of the Lasso regression model was 0.864, XGBoost achieved 0.903, and RandomForest reached 0.961. Resampling internal validation revealed that RandomForest had the highest recall rate (AUC = 0.892). Based on machine learning-selected indicators, antiviral therapy and The HBV DNA copy number showed a significant correlation with both the occurrence and severity of irAEs. Antiviral therapy notably reduced the incidence of IRAEs and may modulate these events through regulation of B cells. The DCA model also demonstrated strong predictive performance. Effective control of viral load through antiviral therapy significantly mitigates the occurrence of irAEs.

Conclusion

ICIs show therapeutic potential in the treatment of HBV-HCC. Following antiviral therapy, the incidence of severe irAEs decreases. Even in cases where viral load control is incomplete, continuous antiviral treatment can still mitigate the occurrence of irAEs.
The utility of muscle magnetic resonance imaging in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: a scoping review
Authors: Paik Julie J. , Christopher-Stine Lisa , Boesen Mikael , Carrino John A. , Eggleton S. Peter , Denis Deborah , Kubassova Olga
Published: January 2025

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are muscle disorders characterized by proximal weakness of the skeletal muscles, inflammation in muscle, and autoimmunity. The classic subgroups in IIMs include dermatomyositis, inclusion body myositis, immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy, and polymyositis (PM). PM is increasingly recognized as a rare subtype and often included in overlap myositis, the antisynthetase syndrome when no rash is present, or misdiagnosed inclusion body myositis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has played an increasingly important role in IIM diagnosis and assessment. Although conventional MRI provides qualitative information that is helpful for diagnosis, its application for the quantitative assessment of disease activity is challenging. Therefore, advanced quantitative MRI techniques have been implemented in the past 10 years to highlight potential new applications of disease monitoring in IIM. The aim of this review is to examine the role of quantitative MRI techniques in evaluating the key imaging features of IIM, mainly muscle edema and muscle damage (fatty replacement and/or muscle atrophy).
Impact of chemoradiotherapy for first primary lung cancer on the prognosis and re-chemoradiotherapy sensitivity of second primary lung cancer
Authors: Chen Zhe , Wang Gaoming , Wang Nan , Liu Jiangjiang , Yao Yu , Ma Haitao , Luo Jing , Xie Kai
Published: January 2025

Background

Despite undergoing surgery and chemoradiotherapy, patients with first primary lung cancer (FPLC) remain at risk for second primary lung cancer (SPLC), which is associated with a poor prognosis. The effects of FPLC chemoradiotherapy on SPLC prognosis and its sensitivity to re-chemoradiotherapy have not been adequately investigated.

Methods

This cohort study analyzed data from 23,827 patients who underwent FPLC surgery during 1973–2021, drawn from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Among these, 5,302 FPLC patients developed SPLC within 5 years of their initial diagnosis. We employed the Fine-Gray competitive risk model, Cox proportional hazards model, and restricted mean survival time analysis to assess the effects of FPLC radiotherapy and chemotherapy on SPLC risk and survival differences.

Results

The competitive risk model indicated that FPLC radiotherapy and chemotherapy did not significantly change the risk of developing SPLC. However, the Cox proportional hazards model revealed that FPLC radiotherapy was associated with decreased overall survival (OS; HR=1.251, P<0.001) and cancer-specific survival (CSS; HR=1.228, P=0.001) in patients with SPLC. Conversely, FPLC chemotherapy was linked to improved OS (HR=0.881, P=0.012) in this population. Patients with SPLC who received combined chemoradiotherapy for FPLC exhibited significantly reduced survival times (OS: HR=1.157, P=0.030; CSS: HR=1.198, P=0.018), a finding confirmed across multiple models. For SPLC patients with prior FPLC chemoradiotherapy, subsequent SPLC radiotherapy significantly improved prognosis. Notably, this benefit is even more pronounced in patients who have not received prior chemoradiotherapy. While SPLC chemotherapy enhanced OS for patients who did not receive FPLC chemotherapy, it was associated with reduced CSS for those who had.

Conclusions

Overall, FPLC chemoradiotherapy influences SPLC prognosis and influences sensitivity to treatment. Tailoring SPLC management to FPLC treatment regimens may improve survival outcomes.
Establishment of a prognostic signature and immune infiltration characteristics for uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma based on a disulfidptosis/ferroptosis-associated signature
Authors: Huang Yong , Li Huibin , Wei Zhifu , He Wanshan , Chen Bin , Cheng Shuang , Zhao Zhifang , Deng Lv , Chen Xiaohua , Lin Yu , Hong Xiaoshan
Published: January 2025

Background

Disulfidptosis and ferroptosis are two different programmed cell death pathways, and their potential therapeutic targets have important clinical prospects. Although there is an association between the two, the role of genes associated with these two forms of cell death in the development of endometrial cancer remains unclear.

Methods

In this study, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and clinical data were obtained from public databases, and comprehensive analysis methods, including difference analysis, univariate Cox regression, and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) analysis were used to construct a disulfidptosis/ferroptosis-related genes (DFRGs) prognostic signature. To further explore this new feature, pathway and functional analyses were performed, and the differences in gene mutation frequency and the level of immune cell infiltration between the high- and low-risk groups were studied. Finally, we validated the prognostic gene expression profile in clinical samples.

Results

We identified five optimal DFRGs that were differentially expressed and associated with the prognosis of uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC). These genes include CDKN2A, FZD7, LCN2, ACTN4, and MYH10. Based on these DFRGs, we constructed a robust prognostic model with significantly lower overall survival in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group, with differences in tumor burden and immune invasion between the different risk groups. The expression of two key genes, ACTN4 and LCN2, was verified by immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR.

Conclusion

This study established a clinical prognostic model associated with disulfidptosis/ferroptosis-related genes, and the expression characteristics of key genes were validated in clinical samples. The comprehensive assessment of disulfidptosis and ferroptosis provides new insights to further guide patient clinical management and personalized treatment.
Neoadjuvant immunotherapy for DNA mismatch repair proficient/microsatellite stable non-metastatic rectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Huan , Huang Jing , Xu Huanji , Yin Nanhao , Zhou Liyan , Xue Jianxin , Ren Min
Published: January 2025

Background

Neoadjuvant immunotherapy (NIT) has been endorsed by clinical guidelines for the management of DNA mismatch repair deficiency/microsatellite instability-high (dMMR/MSI-H) locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Nonetheless, the therapeutic efficacy of NIT in mismatch repair-proficient/microsatellite stable (pMMR/MSS) non-metastatic rectal cancer (RC) remain pending matters. Therefore, a meta-analysis was carried out to assess the efficacy and safety of NIT in patients with non-metastatic pMMR/MSS RC.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, ASCO and ESMO were searched to obtain related studies up to July 2024. Two reviewers independently screened the included articles and extracted the pertinent data. The risk of publication bias was assessed by Begg or Egger tests and in cases of publication bias, the trim and fill method was applied. Heterogeneity was assessed using I 2 statistics.

Results

Thirteen articles including 582 eligible patients were analyzed. The pooled pCR, MPR, cCR and anus preservation rate were 37%, 57%, 26% and 77% separately and the incidence of irAEs≥3 grades and TRAEs≥3 grades were 3% and 29%, respectively. Non-metastatic pMMR/MSS RC receiving the short-course radiotherapy (SCRT) in neoadjuvant setting exhibited superior pooled pCR and MPR than long-course radiotherapy (LCRT) without upregulating the incidence of adverse effects. Furthermore, patients with MSS RC underwent neoadjuvant treatment with anti-PD-1 inhibitors demonstrated higher pooled pCR, MPR, cCR compared to those receiving PD-L1 inhibitors. Additionally, yielded improved pooled MPR and anal preservation rates compared to sequential immuno-radiotherapy (63.4% vs 51.2% and 88.5% vs 69.9%), without raising the incidence of irAEs≥3 grade. Interestingly, RC patients with lymph node metastasis showed a higher pooled pCR than those without lymph node metastasis (43% vs 35%).

Conclusion

NIT was linked to favorable response rates and anal preservation, alongside an acceptable safety profile. Non-metastatic pMMR/MSS RC patients receiving SCRT, PD-1 inhibitors, or concurrent immuno-radiotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting exhibited enhanced outcomes. This meta-analysis provides evidence for further exploration and application of NIT in non-metastatic pMMR/MSS RC and highlights the potential for organ preservation with this approach. The relatively small sample size and the uneven quality of included studies may have had some impact on the generality of the results. Therefore, further analysis with a higher number of high-quality studies is needed to verify the conclusions.

Systematic review registration

https://inplasy.com/, identifier: INPLASY202470110.