bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intraoperative central venous pressures related to early graft function in deceased donor kidney transplant recipients with low immunological risks
Authors: Ahn Hyoeun , Bang Jun Bae
Published: July 2024

This study aims to analyze data from patients who received kidney transplantation from deceased donors to investigate the anesthetic factors influencing early and late graft outcomes, including the incidence of slow graft function (SGF), delayed graft function (DGF), and 3-year graft outcomes. We retrospectively analyzed 202 recipients who underwent deceased donor kidney transplantation from March 2010 to December 2020. Anesthetic monitoring data during the intraoperative period was analyzed at 5-minute intervals, and basic clinical parameters were evaluated. The mean recipient age was 46.6 ± 10.3 years, and the mean donor age was 41.7 ± 12.7 years. Anesthetic time averaged 285.8 ± 70.2 minutes, and operation time averaged 223.1 ± 44.0 minutes. The incidence of SGF was 11.8%, and the incidence of DGF was 3.9%. Mean central venous pressures (CVPs) were higher in recipients with SGF or DGF (11.7 mmHg) compared to those with immediate graft function (9.7 mmHg). Higher CVP was identified as an independent risk factor for SGF or DGF (odds ratio 1.219, p = 0.006). This study suggests that intraoperative monitoring of CVP is crucial for predicting short-term graft function in deceased donor kidney transplantation and should be managed to prevent excessive fluid intake.
Assessing the Efficacy and Safety of Ivermectin use for Lymphatic Filariasis Among Eligible Civil Servants in Kaduna State
Authors: Ashaolu Joseph Opeolu , Salisu Umar
Published: July 2024

Background: Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a parasitic disease transmitted through mosquito bites, causing debilitating symptoms such as lymphedema and elephantiasis. Ivermectin has shown promises in treating various parasitic infections, including lymphatic filariasis. However, its efficacy and safety profile, especially among civil/public servants remain understudied. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Ivermectin in treating Lymphatic filariasis among eligible civil servants in Kaduna State, Nigeria.
Method: The research study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data on treatment outcomes and qualitative insights on the experiences of participants. The study also assessed the impact of Ivermectin treatment on the quality of life and productivity of study participants. The hypothesis for this study was tested using chi-square analyses.
Result: Our study showed that age, gender and duration of service are the factors statistically significant (P<0.05) with the prevalence of LF, suggesting possible socio-demographic factors for LF. However, age and gender were the only significant variables (P<0.05) associated with Ivermectin administration and its safety profile among eligible civil servants of Kaduna State. Findings from this study indicates that 71% (n=230) of the total sample have ever taken Ivermectin for LF, in contrast to 29% (n=93) who have never taken Ivermectin for LF. More so, 59% (n=189) of the total sample were aware of the potential side effects of Ivermectin. 98% (n=316) who have taken Ivermectin reported not to have experienced any side effects taking this medication for LF, coupled with 65%, (n=209) who reported that Ivermectin effected an improvement in their LF symptoms. In addition, 83% (n=269) of the respondent suggested that Ivermectin should be publicly made available in the community for end-users. Similarly, 69% (n=224) respondents are aware of some contraindications associated with the use of Ivermectin. Despite this, 80% (n=259) reported never to have missed their treatment which may indicate that the knowledge of contraindication does not necessarily equate avoidance of treatment with Ivermectin. 71% (n=228) admitted that they have a feeling of adequacy of the dose regimen being administered to them, while 82% (n=266) registered their satisfaction with the effectiveness of Ivermectin for LF treatment.
Conclusion: Our study shows that Ivermectin, to a very large extent, is well accepted among the populace for LF treatment. However, additional effort must be put in place to educating the not yet adhering population at risk of the infection. Campaigns to take and adhere to the administration protocol of the medication is essential since the goal is elimination of the infection in the community. Safety monitoring in those with chronic manifestation of LF during MDA is also recommended for proper management
Accurate Protein-Ligand Binding Free Energy Estimation by Applying QM/MM Calculations on Multi-Conformers Predicted from a Classical Mining Minima Approach
Authors: Cho Art , Molani Farzad
Published: July 2024

In a bid to develop a more accurate binding free energy prediction method that is becoming ever more important in drug discovery, we have concocted four protocols that combine QM/MM calculations and the mining minima method. We tested these protocols on 9 targets and 203 ligands. Our protocols carry out free energy processing with or without conformational search on the selected conformers obtained from classical VM2 calculations, where their force field atomic charge parameters are substituted with those obtained from a QM/MM calculation. The free energy processing with or without conformational search takes an average of 15 minutes or 1 minute per conformer, respectively. A reasonably high Pearson’s correlation coefficient (0.69) was achieved in relation to experimental binding free energies across a broad range of targets, demonstrating the generality of the method. Our proposed differential evolution algorithm, with a universal scaling factor of 0.2, achieved a low mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.60. This correlation and MAE are noticeably better than many common methods and comparable with most popular relative binding free energy (RBFE) methods. Meanwhile, the computing cost of our protocol is significantly lower than any of them. Moreover, our method gives binding poses of local minima, which can be further exploited for protein-ligand interactions analysis.
Hierarchical Region-level DecouplingKnowledge Distillation for Semantic Segmentation
Authors: Yu Xiangchun , Liu Huofa , Zhang Dingwen , Wu Jianqing , Zheng Jian
Published: July 2024

Region-level distillation can facilitate the transfer of salient region information for each channel, but computing Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence for the entire soft probability map can significantly limit the function of Non-target Class Knowledge Distillation (NCKD). To address the aforementioned issue, we propose the Region-level Decoupling Knowledge Distillation (RDKD), and the simple and efficient RDKD implicitly decouples region-level distillation into Target Region Knowledge Distillation (TRKD) and Non-target Region Knowledge Distillation (NRKD), which ensures the effective transfer of the region-level dark knowledge present in both TRKD and NRKD. In order to progressively integrate global information, we further propose the Hierarchical Region-level Decoupling Knowledge Distillation (HRDKD), which gradually aggregates global information through a simple average pooling operation, thereby facilitating the distillation of multi-scale semantic information. Extensive experiments are conducted on six benchmark datasets: Cityscapes, Pascal VOC, ADE20k and COCO Stuff164k for natural images, and Synapse and FLARE22 for medical images. The experimental and visualization results demonstrate that our proposed distillation methods achieve state-of-the-art (SOTA) performance without the need for introducing auxiliary modules in the corresponding semantic segmentation tasks.
Optimal design of water distribution network considering the uncertainty and correlation of nodal demands
Authors: Hou Benwei , Zhou Baojin , Wu Shan
Published: July 2024

In the least-cost design of water distribution network (WDN), it is crucial to consider the uncertainties in nodal demands to improve the reliability and robustness of the design. Meanwhile, the nodal demands with similar consumption pattern may behaves notable correlations. This paper proposes a multi-objective optimal design model of WDN considering the uncertainty and correlation of nodal demands, which takes pipe diameter as the design variable aiming to maximize the service reliability of WDN and minimize the design cost of pipes. To deal with the probabilistic problem in the optimization model, the reliability of WDN is expressed as the probability of all user nodes in the WDN simultaneously satisfying the minimum water pressure. The reliability is evaluated by the Monte Carlo method, where the independent uncertain samples of nodal demands are firstly generated by Latin hypercube sampling according to their probabilistic characteristics, then the correlated uncertain samples are transformed from the independent samples through the inverse-orthogonal and inverse-Nataf transformation. The influence of uncertainty and correlation of nodal demands on the optimal design schemes is investigated by its application in two WDNs. In comparison with the result of independent uncertain cases, the correlation of uncertain nodal demands results in a greater increment of design cost by 8%~15%. In addition, the correlations of nodal demands do not always result in higher design costs. The cost corresponding to the partial inter-group correlation among user nodes with similar pattern of water demands is lower than that corresponding to independent cases.
Macrophage junctional adhesion molecule-like protein promotes NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the development of atherosclerosis
Authors: Yang Janmin , cui huiliang , Cheng Cheng , Xue Fei , xie lin , wu zhenguo , liu li , Lu Hanlin , Zhang Cheng , zhang Wencheng
Published: July 2024

Inflammation plays a crucial role in the progression of atherosclerosis. Junctional adhesion molecule-like protein (JAML), a type-I transmembrane glycoprotein, activates downstream signaling pathways. However, the precise role of macrophage-derived JAML in inflammation and atherosclerosis remains unclear. This study aimed to generate mice with macrophage-specific deletion or overexpression of JAML, with the focus of assessing its impact on macrophage function and elucidating its regulatory mechanism in atherosclerosis. High-throughput data screening was employed to investigate JAML expression in atherosclerosis, and macrophage-specific JAML-knockout and transgenic mice models were utilized to examine the effects of JAML on atherosclerosis. Furthermore, the role of JAML was assessed using Oil Red O staining, RNA-sequencing analysis, and co-immunoprecipitation techniques. Increased JAML expression was observed in macrophages from both mice and patients with atherosclerosis. Macrophage-specific JAML deletion attenuated atherosclerosis and inflammation, whereas macrophage-specific JAML overexpression exacerbated these conditions. Mechanistically, JAML deletion inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation by decreasing nuclear translocation of pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) and PKM2/p65 complex formation, which consequently suppressed the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that macrophage-expressed JAML facilitates the progression of atherosclerosis by activating the NF-κB pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome through nuclear migration and phosphorylation of PKM2. Notably, our study revealed a novel mechanism for the regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome activation in atherosclerosis. Therefore, targeting JAML may be an effective treatment strategy for atherosclerosis, a condition characterized by chronic inflammation.
Genetic prediction of the causal relationship between systemic lupus erythematosus and interstitial lung disease: a two-sample Mendelian randomized study
Authors: Liu Yi , Song Xuejiao , Yang Yue , Yang Jungang , Zuo Xianbo , Cui Yong
Published: July 2024

Background
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) are often associated with clinical practice, and their co-pathogenesis and clinical features have been reported. However, genetic causality between SLE and ILD remains unclear.
Methods
We searched public genome-wide association study (GWAS) databases for SLE and ILD data, and appropriate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected as instrumental variables (IVs). Inverse-variance weighting (IVW) was used as the main analysis method, and the weighted media and weighted models were supplemented by verification. The Cochran Q test was used to evaluate SNPs heterogeneity. The horizontal pleiotropy of SNPs was tested using the Mendelian randomization (MR) Egger intercept test. Using the method of leave-one-out sensitivity analysis method, we evaluated whether MR is affected by a single SNP.
Results
IVW results showed that SLE significantly increased the risk of ILD (OR = 1.095, P = 0.023). The results obtained using the other two methods were consistent with the IVW. The MR-PRESSO and MR-Egger intercept tests showed that there was no heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy among the IVs. The leave-one-out method confirms the robustness of the results.
Conclusion
Our results showed a genetic prediction of the causal relationship between SLE and ILD. These results provide a valuable contribution to future clinical research on SLE-ILD.
Contrasting the performance of mainstream Large Language Models in Radiology Board Examinations
Authors: Wei Boxiong , Zhang Xiumei , Shao Yuhong , Sun Xiuming , Chen Luzeng
Published: July 2024

Objective
This study evaluates the performance of mainstream Large Language Models, including GPT-4, Claude, Bard, Tongyi Qianwen, and Gemini Pro, in radiology board exams.
Methods
A comparative analysis of 150 multiple-choice questions from radiology board exams without images was conducted. Models were assessed on accuracy in text-based questions categorized by cognitive levels and medical specialties using chi-square tests and ANOVA.
Results
GPT-4 achieved the highest accuracy (83.3%), significantly outperforming others. Tongyi Qianwen also performed well (70.7%). Performance varied across question types and specialties, with GPT-4 excelling in both lower-order and higher-order questions, while Claude and Bard struggled with complex diagnostic questions.
Conclusion
GPT-4 and Tongyi Qianwen show promise in medical education and training. The study emphasizes the need for domain-specific training datasets to enhance large models' effectiveness in specialized fields like radiology.
Sequential Testing with Xpert MTB/RIF assay for Diagnosis of Tuberculous Meningitis in Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai University Hospital
Authors: Winichakoon Poramed , Watcharasaksilp Kanokwan , Butphet Sunisa , Wongworapat Kanlaya , Pantip Chansom , Khamnoi Phadungkiat , Supparatpinyo Khuanchai , Salee Parichat
Published: July 2024

Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial in the effort to reduce morbidity and mortality from tuberculous meningitis (TBM). This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the diagnostic performance of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay in accurately diagnosing TBM. Sixty-five CSF specimens from patients at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai University Hospital, Thailand, who had subacute lymphocytic meningitis between January 2015 and March 2016 were included for analysis. By using Mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) culture as a reference standard, the sensitivity and specificity of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay were 83.33% (95% CI 57.19–98.22) and 96.23% (95% CI 87.02–99.54), respectively. There was good agreement between the Xpert MTB/RIF assay and MGIT culture of 93.85% (p < 0.001) and a kappa score of 0.796 (95% CI 0.603–0.988). By using a TBM score as a cut-off point of 6, followed by the Xpert MTB/RIF assay as the sequential testing, there was an improvement in specificity from 96.23–97.15%. This study demonstrated that the Xpert MTB/RIF assay was a fast and accurate method for detecting M. tuberculosis from centrifuged CSF specimens, with a high level of sensitivity and specificity. The diagnostic algorithm of sequential testing, combined with the TBM scoring system and the Xpert MTB/RIF assay, could improve diagnostic performance.
The Effect of Maryland's 2022 Minimum Wage Increase on Employment in the Fast-Food Industry
Authors: Broccolina Ethan , Tan Kerry
Published: July 2024

Economic theory suggests that increasing minimum wage could lead to a decrease in employ- ment, especially for industries most sensitive to minimum wage laws. Using Pennsylvania as a control group, we study the labor implications of Maryland’s increase in minimum wage in 2022 using a difference-in-differences approach. Although OLS regressions infer that the minimum wage hike had no effect on employment in the fast-food industry, our more rigorous fixed effects regressions indicate that the minimum wage law had a negative and statistically significant impact on employment, implying that higher minimum wage caused an increase in unemployment among fast-food workers.
JEL classifications: J20, K31
DCNN: Dual Cross-current Neural Networks Realized Using An Interactive Deep Learning Discriminator for Fine-grained Objects
Authors: Fu Da , Rong Mingfei , Huang Hao , Kim Eun-Hu , Pedrycz Witold
Published: July 2024

Accurate classification of fine-grained images remains a challenge in backbones based on convolutional operations or self-attention mechanisms. This study proposes novel dual-current neural networks (DCNN), which combine the advantages of convolutional operations and self-attention mechanisms to improve the accuracy of fine-grained image classification. The main novel design features for constructing a weakly supervised learning backbone model DCNN include (a) extracting heterogeneous data, (b) keeping the feature map resolution unchanged, (c) expanding the receptive field, and (d) fusing global representations and local features. Experimental results demonstrated that using DCNN as the backbone network for classifying certain fine-grained benchmark datasets achieved performance advantage improvements of 13.5–19.5% and 2.2–12.9%, respectively, compared to other advanced convolution or attention-based fine-grained backbones
Imaging the three human primary amygdala output tracts with age and sex characterisation across the lifespan
Authors: Nasa Anurag , Drago Thomas , Shah Ashka , Kewlani Bharti , Nagassima Katharina , Mahmoud Muhammad , Roman Elena , O'Connor Michael , O’Hora Emma , Kelly Linda , Ang Jin Zhe , Guha Arunava , Ukponu Ezije , Levins Kirk J , Connaughton Michael , Mitchell Orla , O’Hanlon Erik , O’Keane Veronica , Roddy Darren William
Published: July 2024

Background
- The amygdala is involved memory and emotion processing and communicates with the rest of the brain through three efferent tracts: the stria terminalis (ST), ventral amygdalofugal pathway (VAP), and anterior commissure (AC). This is the first study to isolate all three major amygdalar output pathways using novel diffusion tractography protocols with exploration of the diffusion, age, and sex characteristics of each tract.
Methods
− 64 healthy individuals aged 15–64 underwent high-resolution T1, T2, and diffusion MR brain imaging with constrained spherical deconvolution tractography. Individually generated amygdalae aided the virtual dissection of the ST, VAP and AC using novel bespoke protocols for each tract based on anatomical principles. Age and sex diffusion characteristics were explored.
Results
- The ST showed age-related decreases in fractional anisotropy (left: p = 0.00018; right: p = 0.00032), mean diffusivity (left: p = 0.0017; right: p = 0.00058), and radial diffusivity (left: p = 0.00015; right: p = 3.44E-05). The AC showed decreases in mean diffusivity (p = 0.0022) and axial diffusivity (p = 0.00015). Sex had no significant effect on the diffusion metrics apart from the right ST, showing higher fractional anisotropy in males than in females (p = 0.001).
Conclusion
- This is the first study to virtually dissect the three main output tracts of the amygdala from neuroimaging. We also show age related changes in markers of neuronal integrity with age. No sex differences were found apart from potentially more robust integrity in the right ST in males. The novel anatomically-driven and reproducible protocols for ST and VAP isolation presented may guide future investigation of the connectivity and efferent circuitry of the amygdala.
A Modular Hypoplastic Constitutive Model for Granular Soils
Authors: Pucker Tim
Published: July 2024

A new hypoplastic constitutive model with a modular structure is presented for granular soils. The modular structure allows the application of the constitutive model with very little material information under restriction of the soil effects to be reproduced. The more material information available, the better the stress-strain behavior of the material can be represented. The basic model and six modules are presented that allow to model soil phenomena like barotropy, pyknotropy, load history and small strain stiffness. Laboratory tests are simulated to show the performance of the constitutive model.
Identification of Novel Therapeutic Targets for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Through Bioinformatics Analysis
Authors: Kim Yeon Soo , Jeong Eun-jeong , Kim Eunjeong
Published: July 2024

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a heterogeneous cancer with limited therapeutic options. Using publicly available datasets, we identified the WD repeat domain 54 (WDR54) gene as a potential therapeutic target in HNSCC. Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis version 2 (GEPIA2) was used to identify genes differentially overexpressed in HNSCC. Our results showed that WDR54, a member of the WD40 repeat domain family, was overexpressed in HNSCC tumor samples. Analysis of three Gene Expression Omnibus datasets showed that WDR54 was overexpressed in tumor samples. Using the UALCAN database, we showed that WDR54 expression in patients with HNSCC at different tumor stages gradually increased with disease progression. We confirmed the association between WDR54 and metastasis using TNMplot.com. WDR54 was overexpressed in metastatic samples compared to that in normal and tumor samples. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that patients with high WDR54 levels had a poorer prognosis. Additionally, WDR54 expression was correlated with the epidermal growth factor receptor, which is frequently overexpressed in HNSCC. Our findings suggest that WDR54 is a promising biomarker and therapeutic target in HNSCC.
Digital Survey-based Tracing of COVID-19 Over the Early Pandemic: A Comprehensive Geospatial and Symptomatic Analysis in Lebanon
Authors: Bassim Youssef , Abdelrahman Abir , Douglas Gavin M. , Iaaly Amal , Daou Patrick , Finianos Mayda , Hassan Rim , Nassif Ibrahim , Greige Layal , Dib Liza , Chaar Mira El
Published: July 2024

Background
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, an application utilizing Geographic Information Systems technology was launched to monitor the virus's spread in Lebanon. Initiated in response to the first reported case, this initiative tracked infection levels, evaluated public health measures, and explored the interaction between the virus's spread and demographic factors.
Methods
The application relied heavily on survey data gathered from users, enabling a crowd-sourced approach to trace the virus spread during the early stages of the pandemic. The accuracy of this approach can now be evaluated by comparing the application results to well-documented global trends observed during the same period.
Results
Data from approximately 11,000 individuals revealed critical trends in the virus's spread, including the disproportionate impact on specific demographics and the effectiveness of public health interventions. Statistical analysis confirmed the increased risk posed by certain behaviors and conditions. Our study corroborates global findings regarding early COVID-19 characteristics, particularly the significance of taste and smell loss as key symptoms, and highlights the impact of demographic factors on disease spread.
Conclusions
This study demonstrates the integration of digital solutions with epidemiological methods. The knowledge gained illustrates the practical application of digital health technologies in managing public health crises and provides a framework for addressing future challenges.
Machine Learning-Based Prediction Models for Postoperative Delirium:A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Tu Yingying , Zhu Haoyuan , Zhang Xiaozhen , Huang Shaoyi , Tu Wenyi
Published: July 2024

Background
The number of risk prediction models for postoperative delirium has increased yearly, but their quality and applicability in clinical practice and future research remain unclear.
Aims
This systematic review aimed to evaluate published studies on postoperative delirium risk prediction models and provide guidance for model establishment and improvement.
Methods
We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science for eligible studies up to February 10, 2024. Included studies provided data for assessing the sensitivity and specificity of prediction models.
Results
We included 12 articles with 58 machine learning (ML) prediction models, covering 37,978 cases with 3,044 instances of postoperative delirium. The combined area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for predicting postoperative delirium was 0.82 [95% CI, 0.79–0.85], with a sensitivity of 0.74 [95% CI, 0.69–0.78] and a specificity of 0.78 [95% CI, 0.73–0.82].Subgroup analysis showed that prediction models using random forests had a higher combined AUC of 0.90 [95% CI, 0.87–0.92]. Models for orthopedic surgeries and individuals aged over 60 had higher predictive value. Asian populations showed higher predictive value compared to European and American populations.
Conclusions
ML models perform well in predicting the occurrence of postoperative delirium, particularly random forest models.
Hemodynamic changes for half cover Left subclavian artery ostium during thoracic endovascular aortic repair
Authors: Li Xiaowei , Wen Zan , Yuan Xiaoming , Bi Wei
Published: July 2024

Some clinicians use endograft to cover half the left subclavian artery (LSA) ostium to cure some cases with insufficient landing area in thoracic endovascular aortic repair(TEVAR) treatment. So we used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to study the hemodynamic changes on LSA, because they may cause acute thrombosis or arteriosclerosis of LSA.
Methods
The digital model of the aortic arch was established and named model A, which only included supraarch branch the LSA. By directly covering half of the LSA ostiumto simulate half cover LSA ostium as model B. All established models were imported into the Gambit grid division software for grid division and were subsequently imported into the Fluent software for hemodynamic numerical simulation and calculation. The related changes for hemodynamic parameters of LSA were analyzed and compared.
Results
Under the same aortic inlet flow, in model B, the local blood flow velocity of LSA ostium increased and whole blood flow velocity at the distal end decreased. The average wall shear stress(WSS) of the LSA was significantly decreased. Meanwhile there was an obvious turbulent flow in the LSA lumen, and the related blood flow state was disordered.
Conclusion
CFD research confirmed that the implantation of an endograft covering half the LSA ostium can cause obvious hemodynamic changes, which is likely to cause a long-term hardening or an acute thrombosis of the LSA, finally increased the risk of stroke. Once this operation is performed in some specific clinical cases for simplicityand economy, we should actively anticoagulate and follow up regularly.
Cortical thickness alternation in obsessive-compulsive disorder patients compared with healthy controls
Authors: Dong Chunyu , Zheng Hao , Shen Hailong , Wan Yu , Xu Yinghong , Li Ying , Ping Liangliang , Yu Hao , Liu Chuanxin , Cui Jian , Li Kun , Zhou Cong
Published: July 2024

Cortical morphological abnormalities are one of the neuropathological changes of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The surface-based morphometry (SBM) analyses have reported altered cortical thickness (CTh) among patients with OCD in numerous neuroimaging studies; however, the results have been inconsistent. We are attempting to utilize meta-analysis of whole-brain data to investigate changes in cortical thickness among individuals with OCD. This endeavor may enhance spatial accuracy in identification, thus effectively improving our recognition of OCD and facilitating the development of more precise and efficient treatment strategies. The seed-based d mapping (SDM) approach was employed to conduct a vertex-wise coordinate-based meta-analysis (CBMA) of whole-brain studies that explored CTh alteration among patients with OCD, compared with healthy controls (HCs). A systematic literature search identified 9 studies (containing 9 datasets) of CTh, including 518 patients with OCD and 449 healthy controls (HCs). Overall, patients with OCD showed decreased CTh in the left anterior cingulate / paracingulate gyri, right insula, as well as increased CTh in the left lingual gyrus, left inferior frontal gyrus, orbital part, left superior frontal gyrus, dorsolateral of the regions. Besides, the Meta-regression analyses revealed a negative correlation between age and cortical thickness of the right insula in patients with OCD. Due to the limited number of studies and sample sizes included in the final analysis, as well as partial data missing from some samples, we were unable to conduct a comprehensive subgroup analysis. Besides, the outcomes of meta-regression analyses should be interpreted cautiously due to their reliance on a limited number of studies. The meta-analysis revealed cortical thickness alterations in specific regions of the brain among individuals diagnosed with OCD. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms of OCD brain dysfunction and provide insights for early intervention strategies for the disorder.
Post-panniculectomy improvement in low back pain: A Case Report
Authors: Marquette Lauren , Skylsen Marc
Published: July 2024

While abdominoplasty is traditionally considered a cosmetic surgery, there has been growing interest in the potential role of abdominoplasty for the treatment of low back pain. We present a case of a 69 year old man with a history of over 10 years of significant low back pain with radiculopathy resistant to various conservative measures as well as multiple surgeries for spinal decompression. Fourteen years after bariatric surgery and having maintained a stable BMI, he presented with a large pannus desiring abdominoplasty for aesthetic reasons. He underwent an abdominoplasty with panniculectomy only which was uncomplicated. As an unintended benefit of his procedure, he reported on his one month post op visit that he had near resolution of his low back pain and radiculopathy. He had rated his pre-op back pain as 7/10 and reported that it now had been reduced to 1-2/10. More research needs to be done to assess the potential of abdominoplasty as a treatment for low back pain in patients with massive weight loss.
Association between ADA (AGE-D-DIMER-ALBUMIN) and Chest CT severity score in COVID-19 pneumonia
Authors: Maggio Enrico , Bonito Giacomo , Oliva Alessandra , Mastroianni Claudio Maria , Vezza Riccardo , Pugliese Francesco , Violi Francesco , Ricci Paolo , Loffredo Lorenzo , Pignatelli Pasquale
Published: July 2024

Purpose: This study aims to assess the association between ADA score with the severity of pneumonia, as evaluated by chest tomography using a severity score.
Materials and Methods:In this observational study we enrolled 350 consecutive adult (≥18 years) patients with COVID-19-related severe acute pneumonia which needed hospitalization, consecutively admitted to non-intensive care unit (ICU) medical wards from March 2020 to March 2022. A standard high-resolution chest CT was performed in all cases with a multidetector CT scanner without intravenous contrast injection, except in case of suspicion of pulmonary embolism. ADA score and semi-quantitative CT Severity Score (CTSS) were calculated for all patients. A linear regression analysis and a correlation analysis regarding Severity Score were performed.
Results: 350 COVID-19 patients (154 males (44%) and 196 females (56%)) were recruited. A linear correlation analysis showed that Severity Score correlates with ADA Score, P/F ratio, SpO2, Respiratory rate, pO2, GFR, Glycemia and CRP. Finally, a linear regression analysis confirmed the relation between Severity Score and ADA Score, GFR and CRP (p=0,003) (Predictors: ADA Score [IC 95% 0,041 - -0,402; p=0,017], GFR [IC 95% -0,095 - -0,001; p=0,045], CRP [IC 95% -0,077 - -0,001; p=0,044]).
Conclusions: This study demonstrates a correlation between the ADA score and the severity of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. These findings suggest that the ADA score serves as an index not only capable of predicting thrombotic events but also associated with the severity of the radiological presentation. Future studies should assess the accuracy of the ADA score using non-SARS-CoV-2 pulmonary tomography scores.
Association between oxidative balance score and endometriosis findings from NHANES 1999–2006
Authors: SU SU Luyang , Du Zeqing , Liu Weilan , Xu Ren , Meng Cuiqiao
Published: July 2024

Aim
The Oxidative Balance Score (OBS) functions as a measure for gauging the oxidative stress condition, OBS has been utilized to assess the overall oxidants and antioxidants exposure status in various chronic disease studies, Growing evidence suggests that oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of endometriosis, The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between OBS and endometriosis in women between the ages of 20 and 54.
Methods and Results
The correlation between OBS and endometriosis was meticulously examined through a multifaceted approach, encompassing multivariate logistic regression, sensitivity analysis, and the application of smoothing techniques for curve fitting. This analysis was conducted utilizing the extensive dataset from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning the years 1999 to 2006. To ascertain the stability of the observed relationship across diverse demographic segments, subgroup analysis, and interaction tests were meticulously implemented. Among the 3881 participants aged between 20 and 54 years, a significant inverse association was identified between OBS scores and the presence of endometriosis. Specifically, within the comprehensively adjusted model, for every 1 score increase in OBS, the odds of endometriosis prevalence decreased by 2.00%. The highest quartile of OBS demonstrated a 29.1% reduction in the prevalence of endometriosis when compared to those in the lowest quartile, with a confidence interval of [0.480, 1.048], underscoring the robustness of the observed trend.
Conclusions
OBS is related to endometriosis among American adults. Our results suggest that elevated OBS may potentially reduce the odds of endometriosis prevalence.
Safety of different termination methods for hydatidiform mole coexisting with a normal fetus in the second trimester
Authors: Zhang Guorui , Chen Weilin , Peng Ping , Jin Li , Liu Xinyan , Li Chunying , Teng Lirong , Zhao Jun , Wan Xirun , Xiang Yang
Published: July 2024

Background: To explore the safety of different termination methods of hydatidiform mole coexisting with a normal fetus in the second trimester of pregnancy.
Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study conducted in a referral center for difficult and critical diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Beijing, China. Patients diagnosed hydatidiform mole coexisting with a normal fetus who received termination of pregnancy in the second trimester (12 weeks to 27+6 weeks) were enrolled. The primary end point was the safety of different termination methods, including the volume of blood loss and progression to gestational trophoblastic neoplasm.
Results: Different methods of terminating pregnancy in the second trimester of hydatidiform mole coexisting with a normal fetus were feasible, including forceps curettage, combination of mifepristone and misoprostol, intra-amniotic injection of rivanol, and cesarean section. The incidence of massive blood loss (over 300ml) was 50.0%. Molar tissues closer to the lower uterine segment than the fetus (P=0.035), and presence of complications (P=0.015) were the risk factors for massive blood loss during termination of pregnancy. The incidence of progression to gestational trophoblastic neoplasm was 35.7%.
Conclusion: Different termination methods might lead to complications including massive blood loss and progression to gestational trophoblastic neoplasm. More medical measures should be taken to prevent and reduce the volume of bleeding among patients with high risk factors.
Paranormal believers are quicker but less accurate in rejecting the presence of the target in conjunction visual search compared to skeptics
Authors: Akbari Fatemeh , Asivandzadehchaharmahali Samaneh , Narmashiri Abdolvahed
Published: July 2024

Recent studies have shown that paranormal believers may exhibit cognitive dysfunctions, yet their performance in conjunction with visual search has not been understood. To address this issue, we examined the performance of both paranormal believers and skeptics in a conjunction visual search task, paying particular attention to their search time and accuracy across different set sizes in both target-present (TP) and target-absent (TA) trials. In our study, believers demonstrated a tendency toward speed but also displayed carelessness compared to skeptics when rejecting the presence of the target. Conversely, skeptics exhibited slower search times but demonstrated greater accuracy both in rejecting the presence of the target and in finding it. Overall, our findings suggest that believers were quicker and less accurate in rejecting the presence of the target in conjunction visual search compared to skeptics, highlighting potential differences in cognitive processing between skeptics and believers.
Rapid Degradation of Carbamazepine in Wastewater Using Dielectric Barrier Discharge-Assisted Fe³⁺/Sodium Sulfite Oxidation
Authors: Zhu Yulong , Wei Wei , Zhou Zhenghan , Dong Yuxiang , Ni Ziyan , Wu Xiachun , Kai Zhou , Xu Yulu , Cai Xinli , Zhu Shuguang
Published: July 2024

The discharge of medical and domestic wastewater has resulted in a steady increase in the levels of pharmaceutical pollutants in water bodies. In this study, we combine dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) technology with an Fe³⁺/sodium sulfite oxidation system to address the limitations associated with traditional water treatment technologies in removing carbamazepine, exploring the application efficacy and mechanisms of this approach in carbamazepine degradation. Under optimized experimental conditions (0.5 mM Fe³⁺; 5 mM sodium sulfite; 90 W DBD discharge power), this system achieved a 97% degradation rate for carbamazepine within 4 min, significantly outperforming both DBD and sodium sulfite standalone systems. Using response surface methodology to optimize experimental parameters, the effects of sodium sulfite concentration, pH, and Fe³⁺ concentration on degradation efficiency were assessed. The system's degradation rate under optimal conditions was 2.5 times higher than that of individual systems. Hydroxyl and sulfate radicals contributed 65% and 85%, respectively, to carbamazepine degradation, while superoxide radicals contributed only 30%. This system was found to effectively break down carbamazepine's molecular structure. The main degradation products were 10,11-dihydro-10,11-dihydroxy-carbamazepine and benzoic acid. The concentrations of these products gradually decreased as degradation progressed, ultimately resulting in over 85% mineralization, confirming the complete degradation of carbamazepine. This study not only provides an effective technical solution for rapidly treating recalcitrant organic pollutants in water but also offers new insights for environmental protection and the sustainable use of water resources while providing theoretical and experimental data for future related research.
A cross-sectional study explored the association between weight-adjusted waist index and sleep disorders
Authors: Gan Wanling , Han Fangfang , Hu Yuli , Liu Xiaoxin
Published: July 2024

Background
A novel way to quantify obesity is the weight-adjusted waist circumference index (WWI). To date, although studies have investigated the relationship between obesity and sleep, the specific relationship between WWI and sleep disorders is yet unknown. Therefore, this study sought to determine whether WWI and sleep disorders were related in American adults.
Methods
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005–2020, comprising 46,458 participants, provided the data for this cross-sectional study. A range of statistical techniques, such as multiple regression analysis, smoothed curve fitting, threshold effects analysis, and subgroup analysis, were employed to investigate the connection between WWI and sleep disorders.
Results This study involved
46,458 participants, of whom 1,163 (25.03%) suffered from sleep disorders. In models fully adjusted for potential confounders, WWI was positively associated with sleep disorders [1.18, (1.13–1.22)]. Compared to those in the lowest quartile, those in the highest WWI quartile had a 43% higher probability of having a sleep disorder [1.43, (1.32–1.56)]. A nonlinear association between WWI and sleep disorders was revealed by smooth curve fitting. Subgroup analyses showed that it was more significant in the male group, age ≤ 60 years, non-Hispanic blacks, and no physical activity.
Conclusion
Our findings indicate a positive correlation between WWI and the likelihood of sleep disorders. These results suggest that monitoring WWI could help in managing and potentially preventing sleep disorders.
Association of delayed cord clamping with acute kidney injury and two-year kidney outcomes in extremely premature neonates: a secondary analysis of the Preterm Erythropoietin Neuroprotection Trial (PENUT)
Authors: Harer Matthew , Zapata Henry , Todurkar Namrata , Favel Kristen , Griffin Russell , Starr Michelle , Charlton Jennifer , McAdams Ryan , Askenazi David , Kulkarni Tapas , Menon Shina , Mammen Cherry
Published: July 2024

Background: Delayed cord clamping (DCC) occurs in most preterm births.
Objective: Evaluate the association of DCC with acute kidney injury (AKI) and two-year kidney outcomes.
Methods: Secondary analysis of the Preterm Erythropoietin Neuroprotection Trial of neonates born 240/7 to 276/7 weeks’ gestation. AKI and two year kidney outcomes were compared in neonates with DCC (≥30 seconds after delivery) to those with early cord clamping (ECC) (<30 seconds after delivery).
Results: The incidence and severity of AKI did not differ between the DCC and ECC groups (aOR 1.17 [95%CI 0.76-1.80]). At two years corrected age, DCC was associated with a 4.5-fold times increased adjusted odds of eGFR <90 mL/min/1.73m2. No significant associations were noted between DCC and albuminuria or elevated BP.
Conclusions: DCC was not associated with decreased neonatal AKI, but was associated with higher adjusted odds of eGFR <90 mL/min/1.73m2 at two years.
Assessment of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Practices in the Selected Primary Healthcare Centers in Owerri West Local Government Area, Imo State
Authors: Mercy Orji S. , Okorie Ede A. , Okereke Anunonwu C.C. , Oluchi Anyanwu E. , Nkechi Osuoji J. , Queen Kenechukwu-Dozie O. , Alugbala Nwazunku A. , N Ihekwoaba E. , Chima Duru , Chinwe Ngumah J. , Sylvia Egbom
Published: July 2024

Water, sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) practices remains an issue of global concern in every community level and larger society because several infections and illnesses are linked to water sanitation and hygiene. The study aimed to assess water, sanitation and hygiene practices in the selected primary healthcare centers in Owerri West LGA, Imo state. A descriptive cross sectional research design was adopted for this study. A multi stage sampling technique was used in recruiting a total of 387 respondents that participated in this study and a pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect data. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 was used in the analysis of the study. Results from the study showed that majority, 33.7% (131), of the respondents were between ages 25–34. This study revealed that 55.6% (215) of the respondents sometimes washed their hands daily, 23.0% (89) always washed hand. From the finding, 37.5% (145) reported removable plastic waste collection containers (Garbage bins) was used in disposing healthcare waste. Also, 21.4% (83) used water closets in disposing human waste in the healthcare facilities. The results showed a statistical difference between the socio demographic characteristics of respondents and hand washing practices in primary healthcare centers where cadre of health worker (p = 0.0035), length in service (p = 0.0023) were associated with hand washing practices. In conclusion, the study showed that the workers and patients in the healthcare centers had a moderate underrate of water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practice. Therefore, they should provide proper enlightenment programmes on water sanitation and hygiene in all healthcare centers in Owerri West and beyond.
Pan-cancer analysis of UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase and its carcinogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Cao Xu , Li Size , Xue Baiquan , Hou Li , Zheng Shihao , Zhang Jiaxin , Li Xiaoke , Du Hongbo , Zhang Liping , Zao Xiaobin , Ye Yong’an
Published: July 2024

Backgrounds: Abnormalities in glycometabolism lead to carcinogenesis. UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase (UGDH) is the key enzyme of glucuronic acid metabolism and acts as a key mediator in several cancer developmental signaling pathways. In this study, our objective is to offer a more systematic and comprehensive elucidation of the involvement of UGDH in the onset and advancement of various malignancies via an in-depth analysis of UGDH in cancer contexts.
Method: We investigated the role of UGDH in cancers using the Human Protein Atlas (HPA), The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases. And analyzed data using various R packages and websites, including TISIDB, cBioPortal, STRING, Cytoscape, GSCALite, and CancerSEA. A rat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) model was established using intraperitoneal injection of diethylnitrosamine. Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining, MASSON staining, and KI67 immunohistochemistry of liver tissues were performed. Real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blotting (WB) were used to detect the expression of UGDH. UGDH gene was knocked down in Huh7 cells, and CCK8 and nude mice tumor xenograft assays were further performed.
Results: UGDH high expression is associated with poor clinical outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, lung squamous cell carcinoma, and sarcoma. And differentially expressed across molecular and immune subtypes. UGDH was primarily involved in the pentose and glucuronate interconversion pathway. Its expression positively correlated with T helper, Tcm, and Th2 cells in most cancers. Moreover, experimental results demonstrated that UGDH expression is elevated in liver cancer and promotes the proliferation of HCC.
Conclusions: Our study elucidates that UGDH could be used as a valuable prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target in many cancers, especially liver and lung cancer. UGDH could promote the proliferation of HCC cells, possibly by modulating the pentose and glucuronate interconversion pathway.