bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bariatric surgery reduces long-term mortality in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and cirrhosis
Authors: Rouillard Nicholas A. , Barnett Scott D. , Zhang Xinrong , Kam Leslie , Manikat Richie , Cheung Ramsey , Nguyen Mindie H.
Published: November 2024

Background/Aims: With the obesity pandemic, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common liver disease and a leading cause of end-stage liver disease and liver-related deaths in the USA. Therefore, we aimed to compare the long-term outcomes of patients with MASLD and cirrhosis with and without bariatric surgery.Methods: Patients were retrospectively identified from the California Department of Healthcare Access and Information database, 2005 to 2019, for a population-based cohort study. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance background risks between patients with cirrhosis who underwent bariatric surgery and those who did not. Overall, liver-related and non-liver-related mortality were analyzed.Results: Of 91,708 eligible patients with MASLD and cirrhosis, PSM yielded 2,107 patients who underwent bariatric surgery and 8,428 non-bariatric controls. Compared to matched controls, patients who underwent bariatric surgery had lower 5-year overall (24.9% vs. 37.1%; p<0.0001), liver-related (3.3% vs. 14%; p<0.0001), and non-liver-related mortality (22.3% vs. 26.9%; p=0.046). In multivariable analysis, bariatric surgery was associated with decreased overall mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]=0.63; p<0.0001), liver-related (aHR=0.24; p<0.0001), and non-liverrelated (aHR=0.81; p=0.0026) mortality. However, only laparoscopic surgeries were associated with lower overall mortality (aHR=0.39; p<0.0001) whereas open surgeries were associated with higher overall mortality (aHR=1.24; p=0.022).Conclusions: Patients with MASLD and cirrhosis who underwent bariatric surgery, specifically laparoscopic approaches, had significantly lower mortality risk than non-surgical counterparts.
Medical terminology issues: a feasibility study of machine translation in a low-resource language
Authors: Kasperė Ramunė , Mikelionienė Jurgita , Venckienė Dalia
Published: November 2024

Medical knowledge may be targeted at a multitude of audiences, including researchers, health professionals, patients and the general public. For many reasons, like in other spheres, machine translation has gained its way into medical and clinical settings. Medical translation is complicated not only because of terminological issues, but also because of a variety of genres and text types ranging from clinical practice to education, research and dissemination. Adequacy and fluency of the translated text are all equally crucial. The aim of this study is to analyze machine translation output of medical texts with a focus on terminology issues in English to Lithuanian language pair. The results of this study on human evaluation of machine translated output reveal that the performance of machine translation systems is insufficient, and the raw output requires careful review. While the accuracy of terminology translation and adequacy of longer segments may be regarded fairly acceptable for non-professional uses, the fluency of the raw translation mostly produces poor readability. Our research corroborates the findings of other studies that machine translation may be employed as a complementary tool only and cannot be relied on as the only source, but its significance for medical professionals and the broad public cannot be ignored.
Court Verdict: Procedure and Problems of the Decision
Authors: Kostyukov D.
Published: November 2024

The features, procedure and problems of sentencing are considered. The court's verdict acts as the final decision in the proceedings on a criminal case. The special significance of this document is determined by the legal status of the judge, which is also considered in this article. The legality of the verdict is considered, since it must be legislatively established as a requirement for each verdict and contains the very essence of the court's verdict. Much attention is paid to the problem of issuing acquittals.
New Light on Thomas May's Date of Birth
Authors: Repetto Maddalena
Published: November 2024

This note sheds light on the matter of Thomas May's date of birth, which, in biographical accounts, is given as either 1595 or 1596. Starting with the examination of seventeenth century reports of his age at the time of his death, I established 1596 as the more probable year; then, I collected evidence that pointed towards a different place of birth than previously assumed. Following this lead, I found a baptism record that matches the biographical, administrative, and bibliographical information regarding the poet and his family. Although it cannot be taken as irrefutable proof, this discovery offers a reasonable explanation for the absence of birth records in May's home county, as well as, in my opinion, a very likely interval of dates for the birth of the poet.
Many Molyneux answers: Why we shouldn’t care (that much) about the answers to Molyneux’s question
Authors: Fulkerson Matthew
Published: November 2024

In this paper I argue that the answer(s) to Molyneux's question are not as important as usually assumed. This view stems from two directions: (i) I believe the question is generally under-specified, and can be made precise in several incompatible ways (something noted by many others) and (ii) in order to answer a precise formulation of the question we are forced to make a number of assumptions about the individuation of the senses, the nature of representation, and about psychological explanation. These assumptions play an outsize role in evaluating Molyneux questions compared to most other questions in cognitive science, lessening the interest of any particular study or finding on this matter, even when we are very precise in the formulation of our question. Further, if we take our best contemporary accounts of sensory taxonomy, representation, and psychological explanation to be inherently pluralistic, modestly interest-relative, and multivariate (as many do), then we should not expect any answer to a precise version of the question to definitively settle any issues about content, taxonomy, or psychological explanation. The focus of this paper is a defense of this second line of thought.
Uncovering Tibet’s Oldest Religion through AI-enhanced Handwritten Text Recognition
Authors: Griffiths Rachael , Meelen Marieke
Published: November 2024

This poster presents our AI-enhanced workflow to digitise a vast corpus of manuscripts, hand-written in an extremely difficult form of Tibetan. These offer a unique glimpse into archaic non-Buddhist rituals and narratives, enabling us to reconstruct Tibetan Pagan religion for the first time. The palm-leaf page layout differs from any previously trained models and the wide range of abbreviations, a mixture of scripts and languages, and varying image quality make the task extremely challenging. To tackle these challenges, we developed a unique collaborative Handwritten Text Recognition (HTR) workflow making optimal use of new technologies while bringing together a diverse range of expertise from multiple stakeholders. Central to this workflow is the custom-developed PechaTools that streamlines the process of transcribing from scratch and correcting computer-generated output, with multiple proofreading stages to ensure accuracy. Within six months, the above-sketched workflow enabled us to successfully train Layout Analysis (LA) and HTR models using Transkribus. We furthermore show how we improve results by providing detailed feedback to the correction teams (including customised glyph-lookup dictionaries), optimising parameters as well as fine-tuning. We also discuss the trade-off of getting more-readable results by using dictionaries and language models that yield more normalised text, which can be useful for a more general audience, but is highly detrimental to retrieving essential philological details. We also discuss postprocessing leading to the next steps of creating both diplomatic as well as normalised transcriptions to make these unique text collections maximally useful for researchers in a wide range of disciplines.
Language comprehension and sensorimotor learning with cochlear-implant simulated speech
Authors: Black Susan , Davis Matt , Bradshaw Abbie
Published: November 2024

Cochlear implants (CIs) are a device that can provide auditory input for individuals who are deaf, giving them access to spoken language. This experiment aimed to investigate whether typical hearing participants can learn to use CI simulated speech input for language comprehension and sensorimotor control of speech during production. The experiment was made up of two phases. First, a perceptual learning phase tested recognition of noise vocoded sentences before and after a training task which was manipulated between groups; either a perception training task where participants listened to noise vocoded sentences while reading matching text, or a production training task where participants read aloud sentences whilst hearing their own voice noise-vocoded in real-time. The second phase of the experiment tested sensorimotor learning with CI speech. Participants read aloud sentences while hearing their voice noise vocoded in real-time, with an additional perturbation to their formants (spectral properties of speech which determine the vowel sound). When speaking with non-vocoded feedback, speakers typically show corrective adjustments to their production of speech sounds in order to compensate for such formant perturbations; this is known as speech motor adaptation. Preliminary results with N = 20 (target N = 30) indicate that both the perception and production training tasks in the first phase resulted in significant improvements in recognition of noise vocoded sentences; training type however did not affect the magnitude of this improvement. For the second phase, no significant speech motor adaptation was found at the group level in response to the formant perturbations.
LLMs as supersloppers
Authors: Copestake Ann , Duggan Lucy , Herbelot Aurelie , Moeding Amira , von Redecker Eva
Published: November 2024

The development of Large Language Models (LLMs) as a component of systems such as ChatGPT foregrounds a range of issues which can only be analysed through novel interdisciplinary approaches. Our pilot project `Exploring novel figurative language to conceptualise Large Language Models’, funded by Cambridge Language Sciences, is aimed at helping both specialists and non-specialists gain a more precise understanding of the technology and its implications. In this poster, we use `slop' as a metaphor to highlight one aspect of LLMs, but situate the issue in a broader context. We use ‘slop’ to mean text delivered to a reader which is of little or no value to them (or is even harmful) OR is so verbose or convoluted that the value is hidden. Examples of slop include: over-general instructions, unnecessary terms and conditions and spam email. The term `slop' is sometimes used specifically for AI-generated content but in our usage it predates machine-generated text. Slop arises when desiderata other than communication with readers determine text production or delivery. Systems incorporating LLMs may become `supersloppers': tools for the creation and delivery of more and more pointless text. Because so much slop already exists, and because it is often repetitious, maximizing the text on which LLMs are trained results in systems which excel at production of slop. It is useful to think of slop as a category because it draws attention to specific ways in which the arenas we are examining are far removed from the basic setting of human conversation.
Production and purification of outer membrane vesicles encapsulating green fluorescent protein from Escherichia coli: a step towards scalable OMV technologies
Authors: Torres-Vanegas Julian Daniel , Rincon-Tellez Nicolas , Guzmán-Sastoque Paula , Valderrama-Rincon Juan D. , Cruz Juan C. , Reyes Luis H.
Published: November 2024

Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are spherical structures that contain a small fraction of the periplasm of Gram-negative bacteria, surrounded by its outer membrane. They are naturally produced and detached from the bacterial surface, participate in diverse biological processes, and their diameter size is in the range of 10–300 nm. OMVs have gained interest in different applications, such as the development of biosensors, vaccines, protein chips, and the encapsulation of heterologous proteins and peptides expressed by these microorganisms. However, the use of OMVs in these applications is limited due to the low yields and high purification costs. In this study, we produced green fluorescent protein (GFP) encapsulated into OMVs using Escherichia coli JC8031 transformed with pTRC99A-ssTorA-GFP to establish the production and purification route. Results showed that the motility of the strain prevents its immobilization in alginate, which hampers the purification of OMVs. To address this issue, a zeolite-based column was used to chromatographically separate the OMVs from smaller particles. Further experiments will be focused on standardizing the production and purification of OMVs at a scalable level.
Identification of miR-342-5p/MDM4/p53 network in acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Misir Sema , Ozer Yaman Serap , Hepokur Ceylan , Akidan Osman , Aliyazicioglu Yuksel , Enguita Francisco J. , Al Zoubi Mazhar Salim
Published: November 2024

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the most prevalent hematological malignancies. miRNAs play roles in cancer initiation and progression in various cancer types by post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanisms in the development and progression of acute myeloid leukemia and to identify potential target genes and miRNAs by bioinformatic analysis. miRNA expression profiles were obtained from the GSE51908 dataset on the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). GEO2R was used to identify differentially expressed miRNAs. The diagnostic and overall survival effects of the identified miRNA were determined using ROC analysis and Kaplan-Meier curve, respectively. Putative miRNA targets were determined based on miRWalk and miRDB tools. The expression change and overall survival analysis of the identified target gene were analyzed by Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA). Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks of the target gene were determined using STRING and GeneMANIA. Functional enrichment analysis was performed using the DAVID program. 24 DE-miRNAs were identified, including 16 upregulated and 8 downregulated genes. miR-342-5p expression had significantly shorter survival than those in higher expression control group (p = 0.0001), and its AUC value to discriminate AML from control groups was 0.795. High expression of MDM4 predicts an unfavorable prognosis in AML patients. The MDM4 gene was determined to be associated with decreased survival rates. According to KEGG results, microRNAs, p53 signaling pathway, and cell cycle are associated with AML development. The current study based on the GEO database, miR-342-5p/MDM4/p53 axis AML may provide new therapeutic targets.
Hydrogen gas and biochar production from kitchen food waste through dark fermentation and pyrolysis
Authors: Pradhan Snigdhendubala , Yuzer Burak , Bicer Yusuf , McKay Gordon , Al-Ansari Tareq
Published: November 2024

The transportation and consumption of kitchen food waste is a major contribution to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in global warming. To reduce this risk, it is important to recycle food waste into energy production and agricultural byproduct for nutrient management. Dark fermentation is one of the most suitable nutrient recovery techniques for generating hydrogen (H2) gas and serves as a clean energy carrier for a sustainable environment. Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) are an important vegetable and fruit in demand in markets worldwide. Each year, almost 8,000 kilotons of potato peel is generated, with a GHG emission of 5 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent. More than 90% of watermelon rind is considered waste and is discarded. A small-scale preliminary study was conducted on these two waste products to produce H2 gas from potato peel, watermelon rind, and a mixture of peel and rind by the dark fermentation process. After volume analysis of the H2 gas produced, the remaining residue was used to produce biochar. The highest volume of 149 mL H2 gas was achieved from the peel, followed by 140 mL and 135 mL of H2 gas from the rind and the mixture of peel and rind, respectively, with a biomass pH of 4.7–5.6 and volatile solids (VS) of 77%–88%. The biochar produced from all the sample types was alkaline in nature with a pH of 7.88 ± 0.33, electrical conductivity of 0.38 ± 0.03 mS/cm, zeta potential of −25.12 ± 0.32 mV, and had a nutrient richness that could be beneficial for soil quality improvement and plant growth. However, the outcomes of this small-scale analysis cycle requires additional analytical outcomes with field application that targets the future scope of research on sustainable H2 production and agricultural application.
Identification of iron metabolism-related genes in coronary heart disease and construction of a diagnostic model
Authors: Zhu Lin , Zhang Jianxin , Fan Wenhui , Su Chen , Jin Zhi
Published: November 2024

Background

Coronary heart disease is a common cardiovascular disease, yferroptosiset its relationship with iron metabolism remains unclear.

Methods

Gene expression data from peripheral blood samples of patients with coronary heart disease and a healthy control group were utilized for a comprehensive analysis that included differential expression analysis, weighted gene co-expression network analysis, gene enrichment analysis, and the development of a logistic regression model to investigate the associations and differences between the groups. Additionally, the CIBERSORT algorithm was employed to examine the composition of immune cell types within the samples.

Results

Eight central genes were identified as being both differentially expressed and related to iron metabolism. These central genes are mainly involved in the cellular stress response. A logistic regression model based on the central genes achieved an AUC of 0.64–0.65 in the diagnosis of coronary heart disease. A higher proportion of M0 macrophages was found in patients with coronary heart disease, while a higher proportion of CD8T cells was observed in the normal control group.

Conclusion

The study identified important genes related to iron metabolism in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease and constructed a robust diagnostic model. The results suggest that iron metabolism and immune cells may play a significant role in the development of coronary heart disease, providing a basis for further research.
CO-CREATION-HF protocol: clinical trial to evaluate the impact of a comprehensive and hybrid cardiac rehabilitation model on patients with heart failure
Authors: Seron Pamela , Gómez-Pérez Daniela , Opazo-Díaz Edgardo , Oliveros Maria Jose , Contreras Maria Francisca , Salinas Alejandra , Andrade-Mayorga Omar , Marzuca-Nassr Gabriel Nasri , Saavedra Kathleen , Espejo Cinthya , Muñoz Sergio , Lanas Fernando , Grace Sherry L.
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Comprehensive, hybrid cardiac rehabilitation (CR) models have been scantly investigated in heart failure (HF) populations, particularly in low-resource settings. CO-CREATION-HF aims to evaluate the effectiveness of such a model compared to supervised exercise alone.

Methods and analysis

A 2 parallel-arm, multi-center randomized clinical superiority trial will be conducted with blinded outcome assessment. 152 HF patients (NYHA class II or III) will be recruited consecutively, and randomly assigned using permuted blocks; allocation will be concealed. The 12-week intervention will include evaluation, medical and nurse management, aerobic interval training, resistance exercise training, psychosocial support, and education. These will initially be delivered in a center, transitioning to home in 4 stages. Controls will receive similar management, but face-to-face continuous aerobic exercise sessions and resistance exercises. The main outcomes are cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2 max), functional capacity (m from 6 MWT), and quality of life (Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire). Program adherence and completion, NT-proBNP, functioning, all-cause and HF-specific mortality and hospitalization, muscle strength, adverse events and cost will be secondary outcomes. These will be measured at baseline, end of intervention, and 12-month follow-up. The sample size was calculated considering 90% power, a significance level of 5%, a between-group difference equivalent to 1/2 MET, and a 10% potential loss to follow-up. Intention-to-treat analysis will be considered. Between-group differences will be assessed using Student's t-tests or Z-tests along with 95% confidence intervals, and the rate ratio will be computed to compare mortality.

Ethics and dissemination

The study protocol and the Informed Consent form were approved by Ethical Committees at the Universidad de La Frontera (No. 081-23) and each center participating. Research findings will be disseminated to the scientific community and will be shared with relevant stakeholder groups and policy-makers. Finally, investigators shall reach HF patients via various dissemination channels such as social media.

Clinical Trial Registration

clinicaltrials.gov, identifier (NCT06313684).
Association between periodontal disease and atherosclerosis: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Chang Haoxiang , Wang Yahui , Zhang Ziqi , Mi Zhongqian , Qiu Xinjie , Zhao Miaomiao , Wang Chong , Bai Xue , Ren Xiuyun
Published: November 2024

Background

In recent years, the relationship between periodontal disease (PD) and atherosclerosis (AS) has garnered significant scholarly attention. Chronic inflammation induced by PD may promote the onset and progression of AS through multiple mechanisms. Given the increasing global incidence of both PD and AS, which adversely affects patients’ quality of life and longevity, further investigation into the interplay between PD and AS is of substantial clinical importance. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the association between PD and AS using bibliometric methods.

Methods

Articles and reviews on the association between PD and AS were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) on June 1, 2023. Bibliometric and knowledge mapping analyses were conducted using CiteSpace [6.3.R1 (64-bit) Advanced].

Results

Through a bibliometric analysis of the literature published between 2000 and 2023 on the PD-AS relationship, we identified 1,572 relevant studies. The results show a steadily increasing number of studies on this topic annually, with a significant upward trend after 2002. Keyword analysis reveals “atherosclerosis,” “periodontal disease,” “cardiovascular disease,” “Porphyromonas gingivalis,” and “periodontal pathogens” as research hotspots. Collaboration network analysis highlights the United States as the primary contributor to research in this field. Co-citation analysis shows that J Periodontol, J Clin Periodontol, and Circulation are the most frequently cited journals, reflecting their support for research in this area. Document co-citation analysis identifies several high-impact studies focusing on how systemic inflammation induced by periodontitis promotes AS. This study uncovers development trends and research hotspots in the PD-AS relationship and emphasizes the role of international collaboration and high-impact journals in advancing this field. These insights provide valuable references and guidance for future research.

Conclusion

PD and AS are global epidemics causing significant distress and imposing a substantial burden. Research on the PD-AS relationship is evolving rapidly and continues to be a critical focus. Elucidating the mechanisms linking PD and AS represents an emerging trend, providing valuable references for future studies.
Metabolomic profiling of infants undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass and association with clinical outcomes: a systematic review
Authors: Meggiolaro Leonardo , Moschino Laura , Stocchero Matteo , Giordano Giuseppe , Vida Vladimiro , Di Salvo Giovanni , Baraldi Eugenio
Published: November 2024

Introduction

The incidence of adverse short-term outcomes for infants who undergo complex congenital heart disease (CHD) surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is still high. Early identification and treatment of high-risk patients remain challenging, especially because clinical risk factors often fail to explain the different outcomes of this vulnerable population. Metabolomics offers insight into the phenotype of the patient and the complex interplay between the genetic substrate and the environmental influences at the time of sampling. For these reasons, it may be helpful to identify the mechanisms of physio-pathological disruptions experienced in neonates undergoing congenital heart surgery and to identify potential therapeutic targets.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review (PROSPERO: ID 565112) of studies investigating the association between targeted or untargeted metabolomic analysis of infants undergoing elective surgery with CPB for CHD and clinical outcomes. The PRISMA guidelines were followed. We searched MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE via Ovid, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization's International Trials Registry and Platform.

Results

Seven studies involving 509 children (aged 1 day to 21.3 months), all of whom underwent cardiac surgery requiring CPB, were included for qualitative analysis. We found associations between metabolomic profiles and various clinical outcomes, such as mortality, acute kidney injury (AKI), and neurological outcomes. Specific metabolites (mainly amino acids, their metabolic products and fatty acids) were identified as potential biomarkers for these outcomes, demonstrating the utility of metabolomics in predicting certain postoperative complications.

Conclusion

The quality of the evidence was limited due to heterogeneity in study designs and small sample sizes, but the findings are promising and suggest that further research is warranted to confirm these associations.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, PROSPERO ID 565112.
Implementing the hidden curriculum for biomedical graduate research trainees: leveraging qualitative data and student affairs personnel to develop soft skills
Authors: Ragland Debra A. , Lowry Augustus J. , Nardone-White Dasean T. , Frierson Johnna M.
Published: November 2024

Biomedical graduate research trainees are increasingly pursuing careers beyond academia in response to limited academic positions relative to the trainee population. Biomedical research training must therefore evolve alongside the shifting career landscape by circumventing a “hidden curriculum” to help trainees develop skills complementary to existing graduate training. Here, we describe an approach to implement “soft skills” training for a diverse population of biomedical graduate research trainees from the Duke University BioCoRE program. Qualitative data from the BioCoRE annual program survey revealed that trainees felt they were not meeting crucial benchmarks in areas often absent from graduate training. Responses to open-ended survey questions overwhelmingly focused on “soft skills,” including communication, conflict resolution, and time management. Using these themes as a guide, the BioCoRE Program Director and graduate student-led Professional Development Committee collaborated to design a monthly workshop series, enlisting support from human resources personnel, undergraduate student affairs offices, and senior graduate trainees with relevant expertise. The year-long workshop series covered a range of topics: personal branding, science communication, scientific storytelling, conflict resolution, time management, and job market preparation. Based on survey data, the inaugural series was well-received and cited as highly effective by attendees. Survey dissemination and analysis will continue in subsequent years to address new topics and anticipate emerging themes in the shifting career development landscape. Implementation of this workshop series demonstrates the ability of graduate programs to enhance trainee soft skills by leveraging the expertise of internal and local professional personnel.
Tumor differentiation-dependent conditional survival of patients with operable thyroid cancer
Authors: Yu Ruo-nan , Zhang Zi-qi , Zhang Ping , Zhang Hao , Qu Hui-ling , Dong Wen-wu
Published: November 2024

Objective

Little is known about the changing risk profile of death and conditional survival in patients with operable thyroid cancer. This study aimed to investigate the annual hazard rate of cancer death, actuarial disease-specific survival (DSS), and conditional DSS in patients with thyroid cancer and explore the effects of tumor differentiation.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer (N = 132,354) between 2004 and 2019 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. The hazard function was used to estimate the annual hazard rate of death. The Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used for the calculation and between-group comparison of actuarial DSS, respectively. The life table was used to estimate the conditional DSS.

Results

A total of 1896 (1.4%) patients died due to thyroid cancer during the follow-up period. Patients with ATC (68.9%, 313/454) were more likely to die than those with PDTC (19.4%, 171/883) or DTC (1.1%, 1412/131017). For the entire cohort, patients with DTC and PDTC had excellent and relatively stable one-year conditional survival, respectively; patients with ATC had the worst one-year conditional survival, but they achieved the greatest improvements. The worst one-year conditional survival and the most obvious improvement were seen in patients with ATC regardless of any SEER Summary Stage.

Conclusion

Prognosis improved over time in a tumor differentiation-dependent manner in patients with operable thyroid cancer after diagnosis. This information provides more precise dynamic evaluations of the long-term prognosis of thyroid cancer survivors and paramount clinical implications for individualized treatment and surveillance.
The diagnosis and management of small and indeterminate lymph nodes in papillary thyroid cancer: preoperatively and intraoperatively
Authors: Hu Ang , Tian Jiahe , Deng Xinpei , Wang Zhongyu , Li Yin , Wang Jianwei , Liu Longzhong , Li Qiuli
Published: November 2024

Although thyroid cancer is an indolent tumor with a favorable prognosis, lymph node metastasis (LNM) serves as a major concern for many patients. Because LNM is strongly correlated with recurrence, distant metastasis, and shortened survival, a precise and timely diagnosis and following appropriate management for LNM are necessary. However, significant challenges still exist in the diagnosis of small LNs (<1 cm in diameter), and their low volume makes it difficult to determine whether they are metastatic or benign. Therefore, the diagnostic technique for these small and indeterminate LNs (siLNs) has been one of the leading research subjects in recent years. The implementation of innovative technologies, such as contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, frozen section, and molecular detection, has brought great progress to the diagnosis of siLNs. Meanwhile, the strategies for managing siLNs in clinical practice have evolved considerably over the past several years, with several appropriate options recommended by guidelines. In this review, we aim to provide a systematic overview of the latest studies and potential evidence about effective approaches for detecting and evaluating siLNs. Furthermore, the following management modalities of siLNs in different situations are well discussed.
Identification and evaluation of BAG (B-cell lymphoma-2 associated athanogene) family gene expression in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) under terminal heat stress
Authors: Alekhya Chakravaram , Tejaswi Avuthu , Harika Gadeela , Bomma Naresh , Gangashetty Prakash I. , Tyagi Wricha , Yogendra Kalenahalli
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Heat stress poses a significant environmental challenge, impacting plant growth, diminishing crop production, and reducing overall productivity. Plants employ various mechanisms to confront heat stress, and their ability to survive hinges on their capacity to perceive and activate appropriate physiological and biochemical responses. One such mechanism involves regulating multiple genes and coordinating their expression through different signaling pathways. The BAG (B-cell lymphoma-2 associated athanogene) gene family plays a multifunctional role by interacting with heat shock proteins, serving as co-chaperones, or regulating chaperones during the response to heat stress and development. While numerous studies have explored BAG proteins in model plants, there still remains a knowledge gap concerning crop plants.

Methods

Our study successfully identified nine BAG genes in pigeonpea through genome-wide scanning. A comprehensive in silico analysis was conducted to ascertain their chromosomal location, sub-cellular localization, and the types of regulatory elements present in the putative promoter region. Additionally, an expression analysis was performed on contrasting genotypes exhibiting varying heat stress responses.

Results

The results revealed eight CcBAG genes with higher expression levels in the tolerant genotype, whereas BAG6 (Cc_02358) exhibited lower expression. Upstream sequence analysis identified BAG members potentially involved in multiple stresses.

Discussion

The functional characterization of these BAG genes is essential to unravel their roles in signaling pathways, facilitating the identification of candidate genes for precise breeding interventions to produce heat-resilient pigeonpea.
Multi-fusion strategy network-guided cancer subtypes discovering based on multi-omics data
Authors: Liu Jian , Xue Xinzheng , Wen Pengbo , Song Qian , Yao Jun , Ge Shuguang
Published: November 2024

Introduction

The combination of next-generation sequencing technology and Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data provides unprecedented opportunities for the discovery of cancer subtypes. Through comprehensive analysis and in-depth analysis of the genomic data of a large number of cancer patients, researchers can more accurately identify different cancer subtypes and reveal their molecular heterogeneity.

Methods

In this paper, we propose the SMMSN (Self-supervised Multi-fusion Strategy Network) model for the discovery of cancer subtypes. SMMSN can not only fuse multi-level data representations of single omics data by Graph Convolutional Network (GCN) and Stacked Autoencoder Network (SAE), but also achieve the organic fusion of multi- -omics data through multiple fusion strategies. In response to the problem of lack label information in multi-omics data, SMMSN propose to use dual self-supervise method to cluster cancer subtypes from the integrated data.

Results

We conducted experiments on three labeled and five unlabeled multi-omics datasets to distinguish potential cancer subtypes. Kaplan Meier survival curves and other results showed that SMMSN can obtain cancer subtypes with significant differences.

Discussion

In the case analysis of Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) and Breast Invasive Carcinoma (BIC), we conducted survival time and age distribution analysis, drug response analysis, differential expression analysis, functional enrichment analysis on the predicted cancer subtypes. The research results showed that SMMSN can discover clinically meaningful cancer subtypes.
Vaccine-elicited and naturally elicited antibodies differ in their recognition of the HIV-1 fusion peptide
Authors: Reveiz Mateo , Xu Kai , Lee Myungjin , Wang Shuishu , Olia Adam S. , Harris Darcy R. , Liu Kevin , Liu Tracy , Schaub Andrew J. , Stephens Tyler , Wang Yiran , Zhang Baoshan , Huang Rick , Tsybovsky Yaroslav , Kwong Peter D. , Rawi Reda
Published: November 2024

Broadly neutralizing antibodies have been proposed as templates for HIV-1 vaccine design, but it has been unclear how similar vaccine-elicited antibodies are to their naturally elicited templates. To provide insight, here we compare the recognition of naturally elicited and vaccine-elicited antibodies targeting the HIV-1 fusion peptide, which comprises envelope (Env) residues 512–526, with the most common sequence being AVGIGAVFLGFLGAA. Naturally elicited antibodies bound peptides with substitutions to negatively charged amino acids at residue positions 517–520 substantially better than the most common sequence, despite these substitutions rarely appearing in HIV-1; by contrast, vaccine-elicited antibodies were less tolerant of sequence variation, with no substitution of residues 512–516 showing increased binding. Molecular dynamics analysis and cryo-EM structural analysis of the naturally elicited ACS202 antibody in complex with the HIV-1 Env trimer with an alanine 517 to glutamine substitution suggested enhanced binding to result from electrostatic interactions with positively charged antibody residues. Overall, vaccine-elicited antibodies appeared to be more fully optimized to bind the most common fusion peptide sequence, perhaps reflecting the immunization with fusion peptide of the vaccine-elicited antibodies.
Effects of resveratrol-loaded dendrimer nanomedicine on hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Authors: Qu Jiao , Zhang Yueqin , Song Cong , Wang Yue
Published: November 2024

Resveratrol (Res), a Chinese herbal extract, has demonstrated a remarkable and distinct antitumor effect, characterized by prolonged efficacy and minimal adverse reactions. However, the bioavailability of Res in animals is hindered by limited absorption rates. Therefore, it is crucial to enhance the tumor-targeting ability of resveratrol to optimize cancer treatment outcomes by improving its bioavailability. Herein, we attempt to employ a functionalized nanoparticle drug carrier system based on polyamine-amine (PAMAM) dendrimers for targeted delivery of resveratrol in hepatocellular carcinoma cancer treatment. Initially, galactose-modified fifth-generation (G5) PAMAM dendrimers (G5-Gal) were synthesized through coupling reactions, followed by the synthesis of glycosylated dendrimers incorporating resveratrol (G5(Res)-Gal) via physical encapsulation. The G5-Gal or G5(Res)-Gal complexes were characterized using 1H NMR spectroscopy, zeta and size analysis, and UV spectrophotometry. Additionally, Hepa1-6 mouse hepatoma cells were utilized as model cells to assess the targeting capability of G5-Gal toward hepatoma cells using flow cytometry. Finally, CCK-8 assay was employed to evaluate the impact of G5(Res)-Gal on normal liver cells as well as its cytotoxicity against different types of hepatoma cells. Furthermore, cell apoptosis experiments were conducted to further evaluate the effects of G5(Res)-Gal on Hepa1-6 cells. The aim of this project is to establish a solid theoretical framework and provide technical expertise to optimize the application of resveratrol and advance its delivery system.
Beyond surveillance: leveraging the potential of next generation sequencing in clinical virology
Authors: Aulicino Paula C. , Kimata Jason T.
Published: November 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the strength of massive sequencing or next generation sequencing (NGS) techniques in viral genomic characterization. Millions of complete SARS-CoV-2 genomes were sequenced in almost real time. Laboratories around the world dedicated to the molecular diagnosis of infectious diseases were equipped with cutting-edge technologies for deep sequencing, coupled with strengthening or development of previously limited bioinformatics capacities. Almost 5 years have passed from the initiation of the COVID pandemic, and, opposed to what could be envisioned as an opportunity for viral genomics to expand, this has essentially scaled back in most clinical settings. Most of NGS equipment and capacities in many regions of the world have been repurposed for the study of cancer driver mutations, microbiome-related diseases, and pharmacogenomics, as the most important applications in health. Although financial constraints can limit their implementation, technical, regulatory, medical and data management factors are also part of the equation that will or will not make NGS a real game changer for advancing healthcare and guiding clinical decisions related to viral infections.
Localization and tracking of beluga whales in aerial video using deep learning
Authors: Alsaidi Mostapha , Al-Jassani Mohammed G. , Bang Chiron , O’Corry-Crowe Gregory , Watt Cortney , Ghazal Maha , Zhuang Hanqi
Published: November 2024

Aerial images are increasingly adopted and widely used in various research areas. In marine mammal studies, these imagery surveys serve multiple purposes: determining population size, mapping migration routes, and gaining behavioral insights. A single aerial scan using a drone yields a wealth of data, but processing it requires significant human effort. Our research demonstrates that deep learning models can significantly reduce human effort. They are not only able to detect marine mammals but also track their behavior using continuous aerial (video) footage. By distinguishing between different age classes, these algorithms can inform studies on population biology, ontogeny, and adult-calf relationships. To detect beluga whales from imagery footage, we trained the YOLOv7 model on a proprietary dataset of aerial footage of beluga whales. The deep learning model achieved impressive results with the following precision and recall scores: beluga adult = 92%—92%, beluga calf = 94%—89%. To track the detected beluga whales, we implemented the deep Simple Online and Realtime Tracking (SORT) algorithm. Unfortunately, the performance of the deep SORT algorithm was disappointing, with Multiple Object Tracking Accuracy (MOTA) scores ranging from 27% to 48%. An analysis revealed that the low tracking accuracy resulted from identity switching; that is, an identical beluga whale was given two IDs in two different frames. To overcome the problem of identity switching, a new post-processing algorithm was implemented, significantly improving MOTA to approximately 70%. The main contribution of this research is providing a system that accurately detects and tracks features of beluga whales, both adults and calves, from aerial footage. Additionally, this system can be customized to identify and analyze other marine mammal species by fine-tuning the model with annotated data.
Role of mesenchymal cells in enhancing cosmetic outcomes for autologous augmented fat transfers for facial rejuvenation and reconstructive surgery
Authors: Ansari Lari Soroush , Zumot Maya Salem , Nemrish Salsabiel , Fredericks Salim
Published: November 2024

In recent years, autologous fat transfer (AFT) has gained popularity for reconstructive and cosmetic procedures due to its minimally invasive nature and natural-looking results. However, limitations such as unpredictable fat resorption and safety concerns persist. To address these issues, researchers have explored incorporating adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) into fat grafts. Enriching fat grafts with ADSCs, often through stromal vascular fraction (SVF), shows promise in regenerative medicine, though their effectiveness remains debated. Some studies suggest no significant difference in outcomes, while others indicate that ADSCs are more effective in larger-volume grafts. This implies that ADSC-enriched grafts might achieve similar results to traditional methods, with volume retention being a crucial success indicator. Given that these cosmetic procedures impact body image and self-confidence, innovative techniques like ADSC-enriched grafts are crucial for improving clinical outcomes. ADSCs are favoured for their abundance in adipose tissue and wound healing properties, which enhance cosmetic results. Patients receiving ADSC-enriched grafts show increased collagen, elastin, and CD31 levels, and better graft survival compared to those with traditional fat grafting, reducing the need for repeat procedures. Recent applications in patients with fibrotic facial deformities have demonstrated positive outcomes both cosmetically and psychologically. This mini-review evaluates the efficacy and benefits of ADSC-enriched AFT for facial rejuvenation and reconstruction, focusing on graft retention and overall procedural outcomes.
Effectiveness, quality of life, and safety of secukinumab versus conventional systemic therapy in patients with erythrodermic psoriasis: a comparative study
Authors: Zhou Ying , Chen Weiquan , Fang Linglu , Qiu Fang , Wu Jiayuan , Li Jing
Published: November 2024

Background

Erythrodermic psoriasis (EP) is a rare but life-threatening variant of psoriasis less responsive to conventional systemic therapies (CST). Limited research exists on the management of EP with secukinumab.

Objectives

To compare the effectiveness, quality-of-life effects and safety of secukinumab versus CST in patients with EP.

Methods

EP patients treated with either secukinumab or CST between August 2020 and October 2022 were identified using the National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID) database encompassing 962 healthcare organizations. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance the cohorts based on demographic and clinical characteristics. The primary outcomes assessed were Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), Body Surface Area (BSA), and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scales at 4 weeks, 10–14 weeks, and 22–24 weeks.

Results

The study included 311 patients (160 receiving secukinumab and 151 receiving CST), among them, 101 matched pairs were generated by propensity score matching (PSM). Secukinumab recipients displayed a notably accelerated response compared to those receiving CST, evidenced by significantly higher rates of achieving PASI50 (before PSM: 73.8% vs. 61.6%, after PSM: 76.2% vs. 63.4%), PASI90 (before PSM: 36.9% vs. 25.8%, after PSM: 40.6% vs. 25.7%), and BSA50 (before PSM: 64.4% vs. 50.3%, after PSM: 68.3% vs. 51.5%) at week 4 (p < 0.05). However, before PSM, secukinumab showed significantly higher DLQI0/1 rates at weeks 4 (41.3% vs. 29.8%) and 12 (63.8% vs. 44.8%). After PSM, statistically significant differences were observed at week 12 for PASI and BSA scores, and at week 4 for DLQI scores (p < 0.05). Similar efficacy trends were observed in other outcomes at week 0 up to week 24, but no statistical differences were noted.

Conclusion

Compared to the CST, secukinumab tend to offer a more rapid response and achieve greater improvements in clinical symptoms and quality of life for EP patients.