bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stress across the lifecourse and adult mental and physical health outcomes
Authors: Suglia Shakira F , Shelton Rachel C , Factor-Litvak Pam , Kezios Katrina , Batayeh Brian , Cirillo Piera , Cohn Barbara , Link Bruce
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Economic, social, and traumatic stressors have been shown to impact mental and physical health. Few studies have considered whether different domains of stressors have a differential effect on health outcomes or have considered stressors across the lifecourse. We characterize stress cumulatively (life stress) and across different domains and examine their relation to adult mental and physical health using prospectively collected data from the DISPAR study.

Methods

At 4 timepoints (birth, age 9, 15, and 50), economic, relational, and traumatic stressors were assessed, and interviews were conducted between 1959 and 2012. Experiences of major discrimination were assessed at age 50. Life stress scores and domain-specific stress scores, (occurring in either childhood or adulthood), were created. The Kessler distress scale, self-reported health, and objective measured allostatic load (AL) were assessed at age 50.

Results

Adjusting for race and sex, life stress was associated with all 3 outcomes. Domain-specific analysis showed that only SES stressors impacted all outcomes (poorer self-rated health, higher distress, and higher AL). Relational stress was associated with distress only; experiences of discrimination were associated with poor self-rated health and distress.

Conclusion

Stressors across the lifecourse have been proposed to affect wear and tear on multiple bodily systems and to affect multiple health outcomes. Our empirical test supported this hypothesis in a 50-year old cohort and in particular the impact of economic stress across physical and mental health outcomes.
Racialized economic segregation and Black youth suicide in the US
Authors: Das Abhery , Huo Shutong , Bustos Brenda , Masoumirad Mandana , Bruckner Tim A , Stolte Allison
Published: January 2025

Between the early 2000s and 2020s, the suicide prevalence among non-Hispanic (NH) Black youth increased more than three-fold, making suicide the second leading cause of death in this population. Structural factors such as poverty and place-based racial inequities may contribute to the high prevalence of suicide among this population. We examine whether changes in racialized economic segregation correspond with changes in Black youth suicide prevalence, over time. As our exposure, we utilize longitudinal measures of the Index of the Concentration of the Extremes (ICE) race/income. As the outcome, we use counts of suicides among NH Black youth aged 5-19, across three epochs (2000-2004, 2006-2010, 2014-2018) in 703 counties in the US. We use county-level fixed effects Poisson models that include population offsets and adjust for time trends, percent poverty, unmarried households, educational attainment, and public assistance. A standard deviation increase in ICE race/income, or less concentrated Black poverty, coincides with a 7% decline in NH Black youth suicide over time (Incidence Rate Ratio [IRR]: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.87 – 0.99). Despite overall increases in Black youth suicide in the US, reductions in concentrated Black poverty may attenuate this trend.
ProtGraph: a tool for the quick and comprehensive exploration and exploitation of the peptide search space derived from protein sequence databases using graphs
Authors: Lux Dominik , Marcus-Alic Katrin , Eisenacher Martin , Uszkoreit Julian
Published: January 2025

Due to computational resource limitations, in mass spectrometry based proteomics only a limited set of peptide sequences is used for the matching against measured spectra. We present an approach to represent proteins by graphs and allow not only the canonical sequences but also known isoforms and annotated amino acid variations, e.g. originating from genomic mutations, and further common protein sequence features contained in Uniprot KB or other protein databases. Our C++ and Python implementation enables a groundbreaking comprehensive characterization of the peptide search space, encompassing for the first time all available annotations in a protein database (in combination more than $10^{200}$ possibilities). Additionally, it can be used to quickly extract the relevant subset of the search space for peptide to spectrum matching, e.g. filtering by the peptide mass. We demonstrate the advantages and innovative findings of our implementation compared to previous workflows by re-analysing publicly available datasets.
The network structural entropy for single-cell RNA sequencing data during skin aging
Authors: Liu Zhilong , Lin Hai , Li Xiang , Xue Hao , Lu Yuer , Xu Fei , Shuai Jianwei
Published: January 2025

Aging is a complex and heterogeneous biological process at cellular, tissue, and individual levels. Despite extensive effort in scientific research, a comprehensive understanding of aging mechanisms remains lacking. This study analyzed aging-related gene networks, using single-cell RNA sequencing data from >15 000 cells. We constructed a gene correlation network, integrating gene expressions into the weights of network edges, and ranked gene importance using a random walk model to generate a gene importance matrix. This unsupervised method improved the clustering performance of cell types. To further quantify the complexity of gene networks during aging, we introduced network structural entropy. The findings of our study reveal that the overall network structural entropy increases in the aged cells compared to the young cells. However, network entropy changes varied greatly within different cell subtypes. Specifically, the network structural entropy among various cell types may increase, remain unchanged, or decrease. This wide range of changes may be closely related to their individual functions, highlighting the cellular heterogeneity and potential key network reconfigurations. Analyzing gene network entropy provides insights into the molecular mechanisms behind aging. This study offers new scientific evidence and theoretical support for understanding the changes in cell functions during aging.
Multimodal deep learning approaches for precision oncology: a comprehensive review
Authors: Yang Huan , Yang Minglei , Chen Jiani , Yao Guocong , Zou Quan , Jia Linpei
Published: January 2025

The burgeoning accumulation of large-scale biomedical data in oncology, alongside significant strides in deep learning (DL) technologies, has established multimodal DL (MDL) as a cornerstone of precision oncology. This review provides an overview of MDL applications in this field, based on an extensive literature survey. In total, 651 articles published before September 2024 are included. We first outline publicly available multimodal datasets that support cancer research. Then, we discuss key DL training methods, data representation techniques, and fusion strategies for integrating multimodal data. The review also examines MDL applications in tumor segmentation, detection, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment selection, and therapy response monitoring. Finally, we critically assess the limitations of current approaches and propose directions for future research. By synthesizing current progress and identifying challenges, this review aims to guide future efforts in leveraging MDL to advance precision oncology.
Improving LAMMPS performance for molecular dynamic simulation on large-scale HPC systems
Authors: Qi Du , Wang Feng , Huang Hui , Chen Jinlin
Published: January 2025

Large-scale atomic/molecular massively parallel simulator (LAMMPS) is a prevalent software package employed for molecular dynamics simulations, enabling the study of materials at the atomic and molecular scale. Its performance is paramount in numerous industrial applications, driving the need for ongoing enhancements in simulation speed and parallel efficiency. Previous works heavily rely on hardware accelerators, which lead to limited parallel and high costs. To address this, this work optimizes the message passing interface (MPI) and memory copy functions, while deploying LAMMPS on high-performance computing (HPC) systems. We propose a new adaptive broadcast algorithm to improve the parallelism efficiency of the interconnect topology. We also discuss how to realize the mutual hiding of computation and communication of the Packing algorithm in LAMMPS, and optimize the memory copy function and MPI operators to facilitate the execution of the program. The resulting components are integrated into the MPICH4 software and deployed on the MT-3000 HPC system. The experimental results show a significant performance improvement, with up to four orders of magnitude speedup on 1024, and more than 90% parallel efficiencies, demonstrating the effectiveness of our proposed optimization scheme. The adaptive broadcast algorithm and the portability of computation and communication hiding are also discussed. The adaptive broadcast algorithm is applied to SPEC MPI2007, and the average performance improvement is 23.91 and 27.29% on ARMv8 cluster and x86_64 cluster, respectively.
The politics of digital recognition of states
Authors: Berisha Butrint , Kursani Shpend
Published: January 2025

The International Relations literature has long argued, as has international law scholarship, that state recognition is the prerogative only of established states: non-state actors hold no such prerogative. Yet, what the existing literature ignores is how the expansion of the transnational digital landscape is transforming the dynamics of the practice of state recognition. In the contemporary age, is it more relevant that a putative state is recognized by another, established, state, or by a multinational corporation? The article does not aim to suggest that one or the other is more or less important. It does aim, however, to bring forward the much-ignored argument that established states, while maintaining their monopoly on the legal aspects of state recognition, no longer hold a monopoly on its practical significance. There are ‘new actors in town’ in the state recognition process which ought not to be ignored. The article engages with the debate and argues that, with the expansion of the digital landscape, multinational corporations are playing a crucial role in defining not only what constitutes a state, but also what that state's official name is and where its borders lie in the expanding digital realm.
The EU's soft balancing governance model: origins, characteristics and prospects for the future
Authors: Wivel Anders
Published: January 2025

A series of crises has challenged the European Union in the 2010s and 2020s, but has at the same time illustrated the resilience of the EU governance model. This model is characterized by soft balancing and is conditioned upon a division of labour, with NATO—and ultimately the United States—taking care of hard security and military balancing. The EU's success has relied on its not becoming a geopolitical actor, and it provides security mainly through processes of soft balancing, rather than policy outcomes. This article reconceptualizes soft balancing as a tool for understanding the EU's governance model, arguing that it is characterized by embedded and inclusive institutional soft balancing: member states use institutional mechanisms for pursuing power and interests by binding other actors through norms, rules and procedures inside the institutions. At the same time, member states' understandings of what constitutes power and interests, and how they are best pursued, are embedded in expectations created by the informal practices and formal rules of the institutions. Applying this model in the context of the history of EU integration since the early Cold War era, this article traces the development of the EU governance model, identifies and unpacks its characteristics, and discusses the lessons to be learned in terms of its future prospects.
Sovereignty, self-determination and the contending logics of territorial distribution
Authors: Heimann Gadi , Kacowicz Arie M , Press-Barnathan Galia
Published: January 2025

This article discusses the interplay between territorial sovereignty and national self-determination in international politics. It starts by drawing parallels between historical events such as the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014, the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and previous incidents of territorial snatching. The central argument is that the variance in international responses to these events can be explained by the extent to which these actions align with the moral principle of national self-determination. The underlying contradiction between territorial sovereignty and national self-determination is often underestimated. While sovereignty is framed as an instrumental institution aimed at preserving the territorial status quo, self-determination is characterized by a moral imperative that advocates territorial distribution based on legitimate claims of national affiliation. This contradiction is not merely theoretical; it has tangible implications for international relations. States often profess loyalty to the principle of self-determination while adhering to the territorial status quo. Despite this, self-determination claims carry moral weight because they induce passivity in the international community when an aggressor justifies actions relying on the principle. This can lead, for example, to a limited international response in cases of irredentism.
Murmurations of Dirichlet Characters
Authors: Lee Kyu-Hwan , Oliver Thomas , Pozdnyakov Alexey
Published: January 2025

We calculate murmuration densities for two families of Dirichlet characters. The first family contains complex Dirichlet characters normalized by their Gauss sums. Integrating the first density over a geometric interval yields a murmuration function compatible with experimental observations. The second family contains real Dirichlet characters weighted by a smooth function with compact support. We show that the second density exhibits a universality property analogous to Zubrilina’s density for holomorphic newforms, and it interpolates the phase transition in the the $1$-level density for a symplectic family of $L$-functions.
Apportionment of oxygen demand contributions from aircraft and pavement deicer freezing point depressants in airport runoff, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2005–2022
Authors: LaFond-Hudson Sophia , Corsi Steven R , Rutter Troy D
Published: January 2025

Aircraft anti-icers and pavement deicers improve the safety of airport operations during winter precipitation events. Runoff containing these products can contribute elevated biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) to receiving streams. We monitored runoff from Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport at one upstream site, three outfall sites, and one downstream site from 2005 to 2022 for BOD, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and freezing point depressants used in deicing and anti-icing fluids to determine the primary sources of BOD and COD in the receiving stream. The greatest concentrations of BOD, COD, and freezing point depressants occurred at the primary outfall, which drains the main terminal area, and the secondary outfall, which drains cargo operations. The greatest loadings occurred at the primary outfall; loadings were an order of magnitude less at the secondary outfall due to a small drainage area with relatively low flow volumes. At the three outfalls, median concentrations of five-day BOD (BOD5) and COD were 100–1,300 mg L−1 and 200–2,100 mg L−1 respectively. Apportionment computations indicated that propylene glycol from aircraft deicers and anti-icers was responsible for at least half of the BOD5 and COD concentrations and loadings. Acetate from pavement deicers contributed another 7%–15% at each site. These findings suggest that management actions in the primary outfall drainage area that target propylene glycol–containing deicers have the greatest potential to decrease BOD5 in airport runoff. This work demonstrates the usefulness of BOD and COD apportionment for identifying the deicing products and locations within an airport to prioritize for reduction or recovery and treatment.
Critical Insights into The Return of the Taliban book: Assessing Methodologies, Diverse Perspectives, and Analytical Rigour
Authors: Gulrani Abdul Wahid
Published: January 2025

The Return of the Taliban, by Hassan Abbas, provides a detailed narrative of the Taliban’s resurgence and the political dynamics in Afghanistan. The book offers a chronological and thematic analysis, covering the Taliban’s history, ideological foundations, internal dynamics, and international interactions. It divides the Taliban’s history into three phases: Taliban 1.0 (1994–2001), Taliban (2003–18), and Taliban 3.0 (post-2018). The book critically examines the circumstances leading to the Taliban’s return to power, focusing on the USA–Taliban peace deal of February 2020 and the later fall of Kabul. The analysis extends to the governance challenges faced by the Taliban, their internal rivalries, ideological foundations, and their international relations. The book explores the Taliban’s governance philosophy and the practical difficulties they face, highlighting contradictions within their ideology. It also provides insights into the Taliban’s internal power struggles and their ideological underpinnings influenced by Deobandis. The book concludes with an analysis of the Taliban’s international relations and speculates on their prospects. Despite its comprehensive approach, the book is critiqued for several shortcomings. These include superficial coverage of certain topics, limited economic analysis, potential Western-centric biases, and an overemphasis on political and military aspects at the expense of social, cultural, and economic dimensions. Methodologically, the book relies heavily on secondary sources, leading to a potential selection bias and limiting the depth of analysis. The book’s speculative conclusions on the future of the Taliban also lack empirical support.
Metachronous descending colon volvulus after sigmoidectomy: a case report
Authors: Amare Asratu G , Workneh Gebrehiwot A , Tassew Mequanint T , Kebede Minale M , Tegegne Mengist A , Negussie Michael A
Published: January 2025

Volvulus is the rotation or twisting of the intestine around its vascular pedicle. The occurrence of descending volvulus after sigmoidectomy is extremely rare. We report a case of a 35-year-old male who presented with abdominal distention, cramping, and no passage of feces or gas for three days. He had a history of recurrent sigmoid volvulus, previously treated with sigmoidectomy. On this occasion, clinical examination and imaging revealed a distended bowel with air-fluid levels. During exploratory laparotomy, descending colon volvulus, a rare finding, was confirmed. The patient underwent a left hemicolectomy and transverse stoma and recovered well postoperatively. Descending colon volvulus is a rare but serious complication after sigmoidectomy, and early diagnosis is essential. In volvulus-endemic regions, awareness of this condition is critical to prevent delayed diagnosis and complications.
Photothermal-controlled ICG@ZIF-8/PLGA coating to modify the degradation behavior and biocompatibility of Zn-Li alloy for bone implants
Authors: Zhang Ting , Yu Yameng , Yuan Wei , Ren Zeqi , Cheng Yan , Wu Shuilin , Zheng Yufeng , Xia Dandan
Published: January 2025

Biodegradable Zn alloy have recently gained considerable attention for use in bone implants considering their biodegradability, attractive mechanical properties, and bioactivity. However, excessive corrosion of Zn alloy at the early stage of implantation may cause severe cytotoxicity, resulting in insufficient osseointegration, which hinders the clinical use of the Zn alloy. In this study, we designed a photothermal-controlled degradative hybrid coating as corrosion-protective barrier with the intention of preventing Zn ion burst release during the early stages of implantation and regaining the alloy's corrosion advantage later on. The coating consisting of Zeolite imidazole skeleton-encapsulated indocyanine green core-shell structured nanoparticles and polylactic coglycolic acid (ICG@ZIF-8/PLGA) on pristine Zn-0.8 (wt.%) Li (ZL) alloy. The electrochemical test results indicated that coating ZL with ICG@ZIF-8/PLGA might effectively reduce its corrosion current density (icorr) from 2.48 × 1 0 −5 A•cm−2 to 2.10 × 1 0 −8 A•cm−2. After near-infrared light irradiation, ICG@ZIF-8 heated PLGA coating to reach Tg, so that the coating was degrading, and the icorr of coated ZL alloy decreased to 2.50 × 1 0 −7 A•cm−2, thus restoring corrosion advantage. Both in vitro and in vivo investigations showed that coated ZL alloy had acceptable biocompatibility. Overall, the development of the photothermally controlled coating improved the Zn alloy's resistance to corrosion and allowed for the adjustment of the coated ZL alloy's rate of degradation through the use of 808 nm NIR laser irradiation.
Inside out Monoplacophora: revisiting Neopilina galatheae Lemche, 1957 using µCT scanning
Authors: Ampuero Andre , Sigwart Julia D
Published: January 2025

Neopilina galatheae Lemche, 1957, first collected in the 1950s, was presented as a critical species for understanding animal evolution, particularly in the context of segmentation. Decades later, we have now revisited this iconic species using a newly collected specimen and modern micro-computed tomography (µCT). A comprehensive 3D digital model of the internal anatomy of N. galatheae revealed new complexities within the musculature, digestive, excretory, and reproductive structures, as well as insights to its feeding ecology. Although developmental data for monoplacophorans are still lacking, it has long been clear that the repeated anatomical elements of Neopilina are not true metamerism. Our new results show that the seventh muscle pair is an asymmetrical double muscle bundle, and there are independent pairs of kidneys without interconnections. Monoplacophorans remain a critical and contentious group for the phylogeny of conchiferan molluscs, though recent phylogenomic studies have shown consistency with traditional morphological hypotheses. Understanding body plan evolution in molluscs requires robust anatomical descriptions that can be compared among classes and between living and fossil species. Neopilina galatheae remains the iconic, textbook monoplacophoran; revisiting classic species with modern technology can challenge established views and contribute new perspectives on evolutionary processes.
Navigating Language Barriers in Linguistically Complex Settings
Authors: Alamrani Mashael Hasan , Birnbaum Shira
Published: January 2025

This qualitative study explores how nurses managed communication challenges in linguistically complex Saudi Arabian acute care hospitals. A secondary analysis of transcripts from interviews with 21 nurses in Riyadh revealed the use of informal and creative strategies, including translation apps, non-verbal signaling, family interpreters, and an ad hoc system of sharing translation work among team members. In the absence of formal interpretation services, these strategies were essential but paradoxical, contributing to delays, errors, and team tension. Findings underscore the need for interventions prioritizing inclusivity, formal interpretation services, and clear guidelines, affirming nurse and patient rights to understand and be understood.
High Preoperative T1 Slope is a Marker for Global Sagittal Malalignment
Authors: Ani Fares , Ayres Ethan W. , Woo Diann , Vasquez-Montes Dennis , Brown Avery , Alas Haddy , Abotsi Edem J. , Bortz Cole , Pierce Katherine E. , Raman Tina , Smith Micheal L. , Kim Yong H. , Buckland Aaron J. , Protopsaltis Themistocles S.
Published: January 2025

Study Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Objective:

To develop parameter thresholds obtainable from cervical radiographs that correlate with concomitant thoracolumbar malalignment.

Summary of Background Data:

T1 slope (T1S) is typically discussed in the context of cervical deformity and correlated with health-related quality of life outcomes. Prior research suggests that T1S is related to global alignment; however, a definition for “high” T1S has not been established. Most patients undergoing cervical surgery do not undergo full-spine imaging; therefore, obtaining a parameter associated with thoracolumbar malalignment from cervical radiographs would be beneficial.

Methods:

A database of preoperative adult spinal deformity (ASD) patients was analyzed. Measures obtained from standing lateral radiographs included T1S, thoracic kyphosis (TK), sagittal vertical axis (SVA), T1-pelvic angle (TPA), pelvic tilt (PT), and pelvic incidence minus lumbar lordosis (PI-LL). Decision tree analysis was then used to determine the T1S corresponding to published thresholds for high TK (40 degrees), SVA (40 mm), TPA (25 degrees), and PT (25 degrees). Alignment between high and normal T1S patients was compared.

Results:

Two hundred twenty-six preoperative patients were included (mean: 58±16 y 62%F). Larger T1S was correlated with greater SVA (r=0.365), TPA (r=0.302), TK (r=0.606), and PT (r=0.230) (all P<0.001). Decision tree analysis yielded a threshold of 30 degrees for high T1S, which 50% of patients had. Compared with patients with T1S <30 degrees, those with T1S >30 degrees had higher TK (41.5 vs. 25.8 degrees), SVA (78.7 vs. 33.7 mm), TPA (27.6 vs. 18.3 degrees), and PT (26.3 vs. 20.8 degrees), and PI-LL (18.2 vs. 11.7 degrees) (all P<0.05). Seventy-nine percent of patients with high T1S had high TK (T1S <30=13%), 69% had high SVA (T1S <30=38%), 66% had high TPA (T1S <30=37%), 60% had PT >25 degrees (T1S <30=42%), and 47% had PI-LL >20 degrees (T1S <30=34%) (all P<0.05).

Conclusion:

Higher T1S was associated with worse global alignment. T1S was most strongly associated with TK. A T1S=30 degrees corresponded to high TK, SVA, TPA, and PT thresholds. Therefore, surgeons should consider obtaining full-spine radiographs if a T1S >30 degrees is present on cervical imaging.
Oncocytic Carcinoma Ex-Pleomorphic Adenoma of the Lacrimal Gland
Authors: Vahdani Kaveh , Rose Geoffrey E.
Published: January 2025

Oncocytic carcinoma is a rare malignant neoplasm of oncocytic cells, such cells being characterized by abundant granular eosinophilic cytoplasm, invasive growth, and pronounced cellular pleomorphism. It may arise de novo, or through malignant transformation of a pre-existing benign oncocytoma. Oncocytic carcinoma most commonly occurs in the salivary glands, with rare involvement of the ocular adnexa where it mainly affects caruncle, conjunctiva, and lacrimal sac, and only very arises in the lacrimal gland. This report presents a unique case of a 77-year-old male with lacrimal gland oncocytic carcinoma that probably arose from a pre-existing pleomorphic adenoma; local tumor control was achieved with local excision and adjuvant radiotherapy, but he developed metastasis and died 3 years later. Together with a literature review, this case underlines the aggressive biological behavior of lacrimal gland oncocytic carcinoma, with its high propensity for local and distant recurrence.
Utility and bias in psychosocial evaluations for transplant listing
Authors: Ladin Keren
Published: January 2025

Purpose of review

Disparities in access to transplantation are persistent and pervasive among minoritized populations, and remain incompletely explained by socioeconomic status, insurance, geography, or medical factors. Although much attention has been paid to factors contributing to disparities in organ allocation, fewer studies have focused on barriers to the transplant waitlist. Given increasing calls for equity in organ transplantation, we examine the role of nonmedical factors used in transplant listing decisions, including psychosocial factors like social support, motivation, and knowledge in improving utility in transplant listing decisions, as well as their potential for reinforcing bias.

Recent findings

Minoritized groups are more likely to be declined from transplant listing owing to psychosocial criteria. Lack of consistent definitions, screening tools with differential subgroup validity, and insufficient evidence-base contribute to concerns about reliance on psychosocial factors in transplant listing decisions.

Improving consistency and evidence-based approaches in patient evaluation and listing decisions will require greater efforts to identify which psychosocial risk factors are predictive of posttransplant outcomes. Social needs screening presents a strengths-based framework for incorporating psychosocial factors in transplant listing decisions.
Heat shock protein and Alzheimer’s disease: an updated systematic review
Authors: Raza Hasnain , Ali Asim , Kumar Anish , Hussain Adnan , Shah Syed Ali Waqas , Ghazanfar Shamas , Roshan FNU , Shamim Zainab , Opare Ama Dufie , Tanveer Fariha Shahid
Published: January 2025

Background:

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is widely acknowledged as a global medical and social concern, and is characterized by the absence of a definitive cure. One of the primary challenges in AD research is the difficulty in targeting and isolating the intricate biochemical pathways that are implicated in the disease, particularly the mechanisms underlying protein misfolding that lead to the generation of harmful substances. Given the role of misfolding processes in the etiology of AD, there is potential for therapeutic interventions that focus on molecular chaperones.

Objective:

This review evaluated the association between AD and molecular chaperones, focusing specifically on the prominent heat shock proteins (HSPs) that serve as key constituents of the human chaperone.

Methods:

Publications from several electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Sciences, were examined by the reviewers, and 10 articles were selected after the screening process following the PRISMA guidelines. The search was conducted using specific keywords such as HSP, AD, Neurocognitive disorders, and Dementia.

Results:

The findings of our review indicate that HSPs play a role in the process of refolding or degrading misfolded proteins. Additionally, they contribute to the reduction of abnormal protein accumulation and neuronal degeneration, the mitigation of synaptic dysfunction, and the gradual and continuous decline of cognitive function observed in individuals with AD.

Conclusion:

The findings of this study indicate that HSPs have a role in the process of refolding or degrading misfolded proteins.
Accidental finding of sturge weber syndrome presented to the emergency department with persistent seizures: an unusual case report from Somalia
Authors: Iyow Sowdo Nur , Ibrahim Ismail Gedi , Turfan Selim , Osman Ubah Mumin Ali , Ibrahim Muna Abdirahman , Mohamud Mohamed Farah Yusuf
Published: January 2025

Introduction:

Sturge-Weber syndrome, also known as encephalotrigeminal angiomatosis, is a rare neurocutaneous disorder characterized by the presence of craniofacial capillary malformations (port-wine stain birthmark) in association with leptomeningeal vascular abnormalities. The syndrome is usually sporadic, but some cases may have a genetic basis.

Case Presentation:

Here we report a case of an 18-year-old female who was brought to our Emergency department with a history of seizures and a facial birthmark. Based on the clinical presentation, characteristic facial birthmark, and cranian CT scan findings, the patient was diagnosed with Sturge-Weber syndrome.

Discussion:

This case emphasizes the importance of early recognition of Sturge-Weber syndrome in emergency settings. The patient’s port-wine stain, localized to the distribution of the trigeminal nerve, was a critical clue in guiding the diagnosis. Imaging revealed associated leptomeningeal angiomas, corroborating the clinical suspicion. Such findings underline the necessity for healthcare providers to maintain a high index of suspicion for neurocutaneous disorders in patients presenting with unexplained seizures and specific cutaneous manifestations.

Conclusion:

This case underscores the need for healthcare providers to maintain a high index of suspicion for Sturge-Weber syndrome, particularly in patients presenting with unexplained seizures and distinctive facial cutaneous findings. Early diagnosis and intervention are essential to improve patient outcomes and quality of life. Enhanced awareness and education among medical professionals can lead to timely recognition and management of this rare condition.
Factors and Strategies Influencing Chemotherapy Safety Among Oncology Nurses: A Qualitative Descriptive Study
Authors: Abu-Alhaija Dania M. , Al-Faraj Hanan , Miller Elaine T. , Gillespie Gordon L.
Published: January 2025

The purpose of this research is to describe the factors affecting hazardous chemotherapy exposure and strategies to foster chemotherapy safety among oncology nurses. Fifteen oncology nurses and 5 oncology nurse managers were recruited from 2 medical centers in the Midwest United States through convenience purposive sampling. A qualitative descriptive approach was employed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the participants and analyzed using the content analysis method. Five main themes emerged: (1) description of chemotherapy exposure incidents, (2) nurse’s personal health beliefs, (3) cues to adhere to chemotherapy handling guidelines, (4) invisible exposure to chemotherapy, and (5) strategies to promote chemotherapy safety at the workplace. Important strategies that promote chemotherapy safety for nurses are providing continuous education on chemotherapy safety, offering chemotherapy-specific equipment and personal protective equipment in several sizes, promoting nurses’ health beliefs toward chemotherapy safety (perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and perceived self-efficacy), supporting a culture of safety at the workplace, having policies on handling guidelines and exposure incident reporting, monitoring nurses’ adherence to chemotherapy handling guidelines, using hazard labels and alerts, and monitoring chemotherapy contamination on common surfaces in oncology settings. Oncology nurses and nurse managers should be involved in designing strategies that promote nurses’ occupational safety.
Heparin Versus Saline: A Comparative Study to Support Practice Change Within an Organization
Authors: Denke Linda , Allen Meredith , Atem Folefac , Nair Kavitha , Warkola Ramona , Gonzales Miriam
Published: January 2025

This nurse-led research study investigates the comparative effectiveness of heparin versus 0.9% sodium chloride locking in blood cancer patients with peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs). Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either heparin or 0.9% sodium chloride locking for up to 7 days. Results show no significant difference in maintaining the PICCs’ patency between the 2 locking methods. Additionally, heparin was associated with more side effects, higher costs, and increased nursing time compared to 0.9% sodium chloride. These findings support adopting 0.9% sodium chloride for PICC maintenance in blood cancer patients, aiming to enhance patient safety and reduce costs.
68Ga-Pentixafor PET in Combination With MRI Improves the Differential Diagnosis of Glioblastoma and Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma
Authors: Chen Zhenying , Liu Huimin , Yang Apeng , Liao Jingwei , Wu Zanyi , Chen Junmin , Miao Weibing
Published: January 2025

Purposes

This study aims to investigate the diagnostic performance of combining 68Ga-pentixafor PET with MRI to differentiate primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) from glioblastoma (GBM), particularly focusing on atypical lymphoma identification.

Patients and Methods

Seventy-one PCNSL and 53 GBM patients who underwent both 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT and MRI were retrospectively included. We evaluated the quantitative imaging parameters and MRI features of positive lesions, identifying atypical PCNSL by hemorrhage, necrosis, or heterogeneous enhancement. Logistic regression identified key variables, and the ROC-AUC evaluated their diagnostic value. Immunohistochemistry for CXCR4 was performed.

Results

PCNSLs, including 23 atypical cases, showed higher SUVmax and TBR, and lower MTV, ADCmin, and relative ADCmin (rADCmin) than GBMs (all P’s < 0.05). The CXCR4 staining in PCNSL was also more pronounced in GBM (P = 0.048). Multivariate logistic regression indicated that a combination of TBR, MTV, and ADCmin (quantitative model 1) had a superior AUC of 0.913 in distinguishing PCNSL from GBM, outperforming single parameters (all P’s < 0.05). For differentiating atypical PCNSL from GBM, single quantitatively parameters showed moderate performance (AUC, 0.655–0.767). Further combining TBR with ADCmin (quantitative model 2) significantly improve the AUC to 0.883. Multiparameter models, incorporating significant quantitative and qualitative MRI features, achieved AUCs of 0.953 (PCNSL vs GBM) and 0.902 (atypical PCNSL vs GBM), significantly outperforming single parameters (all P’s < 0.05).

Conclusions

68Ga-pentixafor PET in combination with MRI provides valuable diagnostic information in differentiating PCNSL from GBM, especially for atypical PCNSL.
Uncommon Breast Metastasis From Rectal Carcinoma Clearly Revealed on 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT
Authors: Xiao Liu , Li Li , Li Lin , Zhang Wenjie
Published: January 2025

Breast metastasis from rectal carcinoma is very rare. We report a case of imaging findings of breast metastasis in a 31-year-old woman who underwent laparoscopic radical tumor resection 8 months ago. 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT and 18F-FDG PET/CT showed 4 small breast nodules with intense 68Ga-FAPI uptake (SUVmax, 9.22) but slight 18F-FDG uptake (SUVmax, 1.95). Needle biopsy supported a diagnosis of metastasis from rectal adenocarcinoma.
Normative Palatal Measurements in Infants: Implications for Nasoalveolar Molding in Cleft Lip and Palate Patients
Authors: Gossett Katherine A. , Kassam Serena N. , Rist Tyler M. , Thuman Jenna , Stalcup Seth , Yazdani Milad , Gregoski Mathew J. , Patel Krishna G.
Published: January 2025

Background:

Children with cleft lip ± palate (CL/P) may undergo nasoalveolar molding (NAM) before surgery to achieve arch alignment and tension-free closure, yet the endpoint of arch dimensions has not been defined.

Objective:

To characterize the size and shape of infant palates using anatomic landmarks on magnetic resonance imaging in infants without CL/P.

Methods:

Magnetic resonance imaging of infants without cleft palate younger than 3 months were reviewed and 13 measurements were taken to define palatal shape: distance between incisive foramen (IF) and incisors (IN), IF and middle of canines (MOC), between MOCs, between first molars (FM), 2 depth and 4 angle measurements.

Results:

Ninety-two infants between 30 and 44 weeks old were included. Pre-maxillary growth from 30 to 44 weeks demonstrated the slowest growth (0.06 cm) from IF to between IN (B) and the greatest growth (0.7 cm) between the width of FM (K). The measurements between MOC (J) and between FMs (K) had the highest positive correlation to age at 0.55 and 0.61, respectively.

Conclusion:

There was predictable growth of the palate noted between 30 and 44 weeks, with the most predictive measurements represented by the width of the canines and first molar locations along the alveolus. These values can help guide pre-surgical orthopedics in infants with CL/P.
Incarceration is associated with higher mortality after trauma: An unreported health care disparity
Authors: Newman-Plotnick Harry , Byrne James P. , Haut Elliott Richard , Hultman Charles Scott
Published: January 2025

BACKGROUND

While the United States has the highest incarceration rate worldwide, at nearly 1% of the adult population (more than 2 million people), insights regarding health disparities in this population remain limited. This retrospective cohort study represents the largest national database analysis of incarcerated trauma patients to date and investigates whether incarceration status is an independent risk factor for poor outcomes after trauma for US adults.

METHODS

We analyzed data from the National Trauma Data Bank from 2017 to 2018. Using multilevel logistic regression, we measured risk-adjusted associations between incarceration status (assessed by International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, location codes) and trauma outcomes: mortality, any in-hospital complications, aggregate major complications, and failure to rescue. We report odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals, adjusting for demographics, transfer status, insurance, comorbidities, injury mechanism, injury severity, and presenting vitals. A secondary analysis was performed using nearest neighbor matching with a 2:1 ratio of nonincarcerated to incarcerated patients, followed by multilevel logistic regression.

RESULTS

There were 12,888 incarcerated patients and 1,654,254 nonincarcerated patients. Incarcerated patients were younger (median, 36 vs. 55 years), more likely to be male (94.9% vs. 60.5%), Black (27.9% vs. 13.9%), and Hispanic (15.7% vs. 11.5%) and presented more frequently with minor injuries (Injury Severity Score, <9; 65.4% vs. 48.9%) and with stabbings and other blunt events as mechanisms of injury. Although unadjusted mortality was lower for incarcerated patients, after adjustment, they were significantly more likely to die (adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 1.42 [1.19–1.68]), which was consistent in the matched analysis (AOR, 1.19 [1.03–1.36]). Incarcerated patients were, conversely, less likely to suffer any in-hospital complication (AOR, 0.76 [0.68–0.85]; matched AOR, 0.88 [0.81–0.97]).

CONCLUSION

Our study redemonstrated that incarcerated trauma patients' demographics and injuries differ significantly from nonincarcerated patients. Furthermore, incarceration was an independent risk factor for mortality, a previously unreported disparity. This highlights the need for improved data collection regarding incarceration status and national prospective investigations.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic and Epidemiological; Level III.
Inappropriate antithrombotic use in geriatric patients with complicated traumatic brain injury
Authors: Gautam Diwas , Botros David , Aubrey Jackson , Bounajem Michael T. , Lombardo Sarah , Cortez Janet , McCrum Marta , Enniss Toby , Puckett Megan , Bowers Christian A. , Menacho Sarah T. , Grandhi Ramesh
Published: January 2025

BACKGROUND

Preinjury antithrombotic (AT) use is associated with worse outcomes for geriatric (65 years or older) patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Previous studies have found that use of AT outside established guidelines is widespread in TBI patients.

METHODS

In this single-center retrospective cross-sectional study, we examined inappropriate AT use among geriatric patients presenting with traumatic intracranial hemorrhage. We reviewed records of patients 65 years or older with preinjury AT use who presented to a Level 1 trauma center with traumatic intracranial hemorrhage between 2016 and 2023. Patient demographics and AT indications/types were extracted. Appropriateness of AT use was determined using established guidelines.

RESULTS

The cohort comprised 207 patients (56.5% male; median age, 77 years). Fall was the most common mechanism of injury (87.9%). At initial presentation, 87.0% of patients had mild TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale scores 13–15). The two most common indications for AT use were atrial fibrillation (41.5%) and venous thromboembolism (14.5%). Anticoagulation therapy was used by 51.7% of patients, antiplatelet therapy by 40.1%, and both by 8.2%. Prescribed AT agents included warfarin (23.2%), direct oral anticoagulants (36.2%), aspirin (32.4%), and clopidogrel (15.0%). Per clinical guidelines, 31 patients (15.0%) were determined to be inappropriately on AT therapy. On multivariable analysis, venous thromboembolism (odds ratio [OR], 5.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.80–15.71; p = 0.002) and arterial stent (OR, 4.69; 95% CI, 1.53–14.37; p = 0.007) were associated with inappropriate AT use; aspirin was the most common inappropriately prescribed AT (OR, 3.59; 95% CI, 1.45–8.91; p = 0.006).

CONCLUSION

Overall, 15% of geriatric TBI patients with preinjury AT use were prescribed this therapy outside of current guidelines. Trauma providers should remain vigilant in identifying such patients and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams to implement interventions that minimize inappropriate AT use.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic and Epidemiological Study; Level IV.
Prevalance of Carbapenemase Production Among Clinical Gram-Negative Isolates in Bangladesh: A Comprehensive Study Using Disc Potentiation Test (DPT) Method
Authors: Das Sumon Kumar , Ara Nikhat , Biswas Suma Mita , Sheikh Afzal
Published: January 2025

Background

The prompt identification of carbapenemases, particularlyKlebsiella pneumoniaecarbapenemases (KPC) and Metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) produced byKlebsiella pneumoniaeandEnterobacteriaceae, is imperative in stemming the spread of pathogens carrying these antibiotic-resistant attributes. This retrospective study seeks to delve into the clinical and microbiological characteristics of patients affected by gram-negative bacteria producing KPC and MBL, shedding light on their profiles and impacts.

Methods

We analyzed 147 clinical isolates from tertiary care hospitals in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Bacterial identification and Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) analysis were performed using conventional culture and VITEK®2 compact system. Carbapenem non-susceptibility (Cns) was defined as a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ≥1 µg/ml forEnterobacteriaceaewhilePseudomonas aeruginosaandAcinetobacter baumanniibacterial isolates Imipenem non-susceptibility was defined as an MIC of ≥2 µg/ml. Detection of KPC and MBL-producing isolates was performed using the disk potentiation test (DPT) method.

Results

All 147 clinical bacterial isolates demonstrated resistance to Imipenem (MIC 1 -≥16 µg/ml), withKlebsiella pneumoniaecarbapenemase (KPC) detected in 26.53 % (39 out of 147) isolates and metallo-beta-lactamases (MBL) in 44.89% (66 out of 147) isolates. Carbapenem resistance was notably prevalent among older male patients of the “> 60” age group, with the ICU harboring the highest number of resistant isolates, primarily associated withAcinetobacter baumanniifollowed byKlebsiella pneumoniae.

Conclusion

Our findings unveiled a concerning prevalence of carbapenem resistance among clinical bacterial isolates, with notable proportions of KPC and MBL producers. The findings underscore the urgent need for effective surveillance and infection control measures to mitigate the spread of multidrug-resistant pathogens in healthcare settings.
Exploring Drug Repurposing for Rare Diseases: Leveraging Biomedical Knowledge Graphs and Access to Scientific Literature
Authors: Yuryev Anton , Tropsha Alex , Mitchell Grant
Published: January 2025

Drug repurposing presents a potential solution for finding new therapies for rare and orphan diseases. The limited number of patients affected by rare diseases, combined with scarce research and the financial burden of clinical trials, creates a significant barrier to developing new drugs. Drug repurposing utilizes the known safety profile and effectiveness of existing medications to fast-track the development of life-saving therapies.

Recently drug repurposing has focused on utilizing biomedical knowledge graphs to uncover hidden connections between diseases and drugs, revealing promising candidates for repurposing. Because most knowledge graphs in biomedical domain are made by text-mining scientific literature we decided to compare the amount of knowledge contained in open access and controlled (subscription only) access literature.

Elsevier and Every Cure make logical partners and allowed the project to use Elsevier’s ability to access both controlled and open access publications and its proprietary Elsevier AI technology to construct the knowledge graph. Notwithstanding the fact that more than 50% of relationships in drug repurposing for rare diseases can be found in open access content, 45% of relationships remain only in controlled access. We argue that this is due to the large number of edges supported by single reference in the entire biomedical knowledge graph and does not reflect an intrinsic difference between open and controlled access.