bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comprehensive Assessment of Heavy Slow Resistance Training and High-Dose Therapeutic Ultrasound in Managing Patellar Tendinopathy
Authors: Xiao Liufeng , Zhou Heng , He Jia , Liu Hua , Li Yongchao , Liu Ziyi , Hu Hao
Published: July 2024

Background: Patellar tendinopathy (PT) is a common sports-related injury that often recurs. Heavy Slow Resistance Training (HSR) and High-Dose Therapeutic Ultrasound (TUS) are commonly used to treat PT. However, there is a lack of research on the combined effectiveness of these treatments.
Methods: In this study, fifty-one college students aged 18 to 25, diagnosed with patellar tendinopathy using musculoskeletal ultrasound, were randomly assigned to three groups: a Combined HSR and high-dose TUS treatment group (n=17), an HSR training group (n=17), and a high-dose TUS treatment group (n=17). The intervention lasted for 8 weeks and various assessments were conducted including the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Patella (VISA-P), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Y-balance Test (YBT), Modified Thomas Test (MTT), Horizontal Jumping Distance, Maximum Isometric Muscle Strength Test, musculoskeletal ultrasound for patellar tendon thickness and blood flow, and electromyography (EMG) of lower extremity muscles. Results showed significant improvement in knee joint function across all intervention methods, with the Combined group showing the most improvement. Follow-up at week 16 indicated continued improvement in VISA-P scores for the Combined and HSR groups, while a decrease was observed in the TUS group. Compared to pre-intervention, all groups showed significant differences in post-intervention VAS scores (p < 0.01), indicating a reduction in pain. While no significant differences in VAS scores were present among groups pre-intervention, post-intervention results revealed significant differences between the Combined and HSR groups (p < 0.05), as well as between the Combined and TUS groups (p < 0.01). The MTT test demonstrated notable improvements in joint mobility and quadriceps flexibility in the Combined and HSR groups after the 8-week intervention (p < 0.01), with no significant changes observed in the TUS group. Inter-group comparisons did not show significant differences both before and after the intervention. YBT test results also indicated significant differences.
Conclusion: Both exercise intervention and high-dose TUS can moderately decrease pain and improve motor capacity in patients with patellar tendinopathy. However, the therapeutic effect of high-dose TUS alone is relatively limited compared to exercise intervention. The combined application of both methods results in the most significant improvement in pain relief and motor function enhancement. The trial was registered on ISRCTN11447397 (www.ISRCTN.com) on 17/02/2024（Retrospectively registered）.
The efficacy of topological properties of functional brain networks in identifying major depressive disorder
Authors: xu Kejie , Long Dan , Zhang Mengda , Wang Yifan
Published: July 2024

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a common mental disorder characterized by cognitive impairment, and its pathophysiology remains to be explored. In this study, we aimed to explore the efficacy of brain network topological properties (TPs) in identifying MDD patients, revealing variational brain regions with efficient TPs. Functional connectivity (FC) networks were constructed from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Small-worldness did not exhibit significant variations in MDD patients. Subsequently, two-sample t-tests were employed to screen FC and reconstruct the network. The discriminative ability of TPs between MDD patients and healthy controls was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC), ROC analysis showed the small-worldness of binary reconstructed FC network (p < 0.05) was reduced in MDD patients, with area under the curve (AUC) of local efficiency (Le) and clustering coefficient (Cp) as sample features having AUC of 0.6351 and 0.6347 respectively being optimal. The AUC of Le and Cp for retained brain regions by T-test (p < 0.05) were 0.6795 and 0.6956 respectively. Further, support vector machine (SVM) model assessed the effectiveness of TPs in identifying MDD patients, and it identified the Le and Cp in brain regions selected by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), with average accuracy from leave-one-site-out cross-validation being 62.03% and 61.44%. Additionally, shapley additive explanations (SHAP) was employed to elucidate variations in TPs across brain regions, revealing that predominant variations among MDD patients occurred within the default mode network. These results reveal efficient TPs that can provide empirical evidence for utilizing nodal TPs as effective inputs for deep learning on graph structures, contributing to understanding the pathological mechanisms of MDD.
Effect of IMA Ligation Technique on Bleeding Complications in Rectal Cancer Patients Undergoing Total Mesorectal Excision
Authors: Winland Ama J. , Suresh Reena S. , Stem Miloslawa , Maturi Jay R. , Gearhart Susan L. , Gabre-Kidan Alodia , Efron Jonathan E. , Obias Vincent J.
Published: July 2024

Background
Inferior mesenteric artery ligation techniques for left colon and rectal resections include stapling, using an energy device, or suture ligation based on surgeon preference. To our knowledge, no studies have demonstrated superiority of one technique over the other.
Methods
This retrospective study utilized an institutional database for adult rectal cancer patients undergoing total mesorectal excision (2006–2021). The association between IMA ligation technique (stapled, energy, or suture ligation) and primary outcomes of intra- and 30-day post-operative bleeding complications necessitating transfusion were assessed. Primary and secondary outcomes were analyzed using ANOVA, Pearson's Chi-squared or Fisher's exact test when appropriate.
Results
Among the 769 rectal cancer patients included, 69 (8.97%) underwent stapled ligation, 281 (36.54%) underwent energy ligation, and 419 (54.59%) underwent suture ligation. Patients in the suture ligation group more frequently underwent open procedures (17.39% vs 19.22% vs 92.84%; p < 0.001) compared to the stapled and energy groups, respectively. There were no differences in intra- (5.80%, 3.20%, 7.16%; p = 0.082) or post-operative bleeding necessitating transfusion (7.25%, 7.47%, 5.73%; p = 0.634). However, there was significantly more bleeding post-operatively for patients in the energy cohort compared to the suture ligation cohort when receiving an open approach (14.81% vs 5.91%: p = 0.016). There were no differences in 30-day overall morbidity, readmission, reoperation, or length of stay between groups.
Conclusions
Energy and stapling of the IMA is as safe as traditional IMA suture ligation, with potential benefit of suture ligation over bipolar energy in decreasing post-operative bleeding when undergoing an open approach.
Deep Learning-Based Land Use and Land Cover Classification for Change Detection Studies
Authors: Pushpalatha V , Mallikarjuna P B , Mahendra H N , Subramoniam Rama , Mallikarjunaswamy S
Published: July 2024

Accurate land use land cover (LULC) classification is crucial for monitoring environmental changes, urban planning, and natural resource management. Traditional methods and conventional machine learning algorithms can be time-consuming and less effective in handling large datasets. Hence, this paper presents the deep learning-based classification method, to classify Linear Imaging Self-Scanning Sensor-III ((LISS-III) satellite imagery into various land cover categories with improved accuracy and efficiency. We developed a Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN)-based deep learning model and trained on a diverse dataset of LISS-III images, covering the geographical region of Nanjangud taluk, Myusuru district, India. The developed model is applied to LISS-III images of the two years 2010 and 2020 respectively for LULC classification. Further, classified maps are used for change detection studies to identify and quantify land cover changes over time. The results indicate that the CNN approach achieved an overall accuracy of 94.08% for the 2010 data and 95.30% for the 2020 data, demonstrating the model's robustness and precision in LULC classification. The results highlight significant improvements in detecting small and large-scale changes, thereby providing valuable insights for environmental monitoring and policy-making.
Predicting patient outcomes after major abdominal surgery: the role of shock index and heart rate
Authors: Mostafa Maha , Hasanin Ahmed , Awad Mahmoud , Zaki Rana M , Abdallah Ahmed S , Elbrashy Assem A , Raafat Heba
Published: July 2024

Background
The aim of this work was to evaluate the ability of postoperative vital signs and risk scores in identification of postoperative complications and mortality after major abdominal surgery.
Methods
This prospective observational study included adults (aged ≥ 18 years) after elective major abdominal surgery. Heart rate and shock index were recorded at day-zero and day-one postoperatively. Patients were followed up for any postoperative medical and/or surgical complications until discharge from hospital. Postoperative complications were graded according to Clavien-Dindo grading system and a score > II was classified as severe complications. Outcomes were the ability of shock index (primary outcome) and heart rate, at day-one postoperatively, in predicting severe postoperative complication and in-hospital mortality using the area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).
Results
The final analysis included 133 patients. The number of patients who developed severe postoperative complications was 27/133 (20%) and in-hospital mortality was 16/133 (12%). Shock index and heart rate, at day-one postoperatively showed good predictive ability for severe complications (AUC [95% confidence interval]: 0.85[0.77–0.90] and 0.82[0.76–0.89], respectively) and in-hospital mortality (AUC [95% confidence interval]: 0.85[0.78–0.91] and 0.83[0.75–0.89], respectively). a cutoff value of 0.75 for shock index had negative predictive values of 97 and 98% for severe postoperative complications and in-hospital mortality, respectively. Cutoff values for heart rate of 102 and 104 had negative predictive values of 95 and 99% for severe postoperative complications and in-hospital mortality, respectively.
Conclusion
Shock index and heart rate at day-one postoperatively accurately predicted severe complications and in-hospital mortality after major abdominal surgery. Shock index ≤ 0.75 and heart rate < 104 bpm can rule out in-hospital mortality with 98–99% accuracy.
Disparities in Clinical Outcomes and Risk Profiles Among Male and Female Chemotherapy Patients During COVID-19: An Observational Study
Authors: Lima Giérisson Brenno Borges , Lima Gabriel Santos de Castro e , Silva Flaviana Santos de Sousa , Araújo Luis Felipe Castro , Pereira Thaís da Conceição Tavares , Macedo Michel Monteiro , Rosa Thiago dos Santos , Corrêa Hugo de Luca , Amorim Carlos Eduardo Neves
Published: July 2024

Objective
To evaluate and describe clinical parameters and risk factors in patients undergoing chemotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic, comparing men and women.
Methods
The sample comprised 106 cancer patients, mean age 54.12 (SD 16.18), both sexes (71 women and 35 men), with different types of cancer, all undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Assessments included anthropometric measurements, tetrapolar bioimpedance (phase angle), handgrip dynamometry, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ).
Results
After analysis, 49% of the patients showed deviations from the ideal Body Mass Index (BMI) (13% below and 36% above ideal). The waist-hip ratio was adversely altered in 90.9% of patients, indicating a moderate to very high cardiovascular disease risk (27.3% moderate, 36.4% high, and 27.3% very high). Notably, no women exhibited a low risk, unlike men (31%) (p = 0.007). Reduced calf circumference was observed in 76% of patients. Regarding body composition, 62.9% of patients displayed significant changes in body fat percentage. The majority also exhibited inadequate handgrip strength levels (63.6%), with men being approximately four times more likely to have insufficient strength (p = 0.008, OR = 3.910). A phase angle below the recommended level was found in 94.8% of the sample. Physical activity assessment revealed a 100% sedentary lifestyle rate.
Conclusion
Patients undergoing chemotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic had insufficient physical activity levels, inadequate handgrip muscle strength, and anthropometric indices and body composition with adverse changes, increasing cardiovascular risk and low phase angle reference values in the majority of the sample, with women displaying the most unfavorable profile.
The research project was approved by the institutional review board, no. 5.069.269.
Central and peripheral dual neuromodulation strategy in pain management of zoster-associated pain：a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Li Xuelian , Zhang Huaxiang , Zhang Xu , Ma Ke , Lv Yan , Song Tao , Guo Gangwen , Huang Dong
Published: July 2024

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has shown effectiveness in relieving zoster-associated pain (ZAP), but some patients still experience moderate or severe pain after SCS treatment. This study aims to evaluate the impact of SCS combined with dorsal root ganglion (DRG) pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) as a dual neuromodulation strategy on the prognosis of ZAP.The clinical records of patients diagnosed with ZAP who underwent SCS (SCS group) or SCS combined with PRF (SCS + PRF group) at The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, were retrospectively analyzed to compare the effectiveness of the two treatment approaches for ZAP. Outcome measures included changes in Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores before and after neuromodulation treatment, response rates, and incidence of progression to postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).13 SCS patients and 15 SCS + PRF patients were analyzed. Admission VAS scores were similar (P = 0.934). Upon discharge, no significant differences in VAS or response rates were observed (P > 0.05). However, at 6-month follow-up, the SCS + PRF group had lower VAS scores (1.53 ± 1.06 vs. 3.23 ± 1.50, P < 0.001) and a lower proportion of residual moderate pain (P = 0.041). None in the SCS + PRF group progressed to PHN in the acute/subacute phases, differing significantly from the SCS group (P = 0.038).Therefore,SCS combined with DRG PRF is feasible and effective in the treatment of ZAP. This dual neuromodulation strategy may be a more appropriate regimen for the treatment of ZAP.
Identification of plasma cell subsets and molecular markers of Alzheimer's disease based on single-cell weighted gene co-expression network analysis and Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Xin Chao , Zhi Hong-Wei , Ding Peng-Li , Wang Ya-Han , Wang Zhong-Lin
Published: July 2024

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with a multifactorial pathogenesis, comprising gene expression alterations and abnormal immune cell infiltration. In this study, we aimed at further exploring AD pathogenesis and identifying potential therapeutic targets. We downloaded GSE181279 dataset-derived single-cell data from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, then processed and analyzed it using various bioinformatic methods. We screened, standardized, homogenized, and processed the data using principal component analysis and harmony. We identified subgroups using t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding analysis. For the single-cell data, we performed cell-type annotation and marker analysis, and compared cell proportions between the groups. After confirming the plasma cell subtype, we screened the disease-associated gene modules via high-dimensional weighted gene co-expression network analysis and identified key genes using pathway, Mendelian randomization (MR), sensitivity, and immune cell infiltration analyses. Finally, we analyzed the transcription factor regulatory network and the correlation between key genes, identifying 21 subgroups. The plasma cell subtype proportion significantly increased in patients with AD. We identified brown- and blue-module disease-associated genes. Further pathway and MR analyses identified four key genes (COX4I1, MAL, RGS1, and RPS5) and confirmed their association with AD. Immune cell infiltration analysis revealed that the key genes are closely related to immune cells, underlining their potentially important roles in AD-related immune regulation. This study explored various AD pathogenesis-related aspects and identified disease-associated key genes and biological pathways. Our results provide important clues for upcoming AD pathophysiological mechanism-related studies and AD therapeutic target assessments.
A study of peri-implant tissue clinical parameters in patients starting anti-osteoporosis medication after existing implant function: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Seki Keisuke , Tamagawa Takaaki , Yasuda Hiroyasu , Manaka Soichiro , Akita Daisuke , Kamimoto Atsushi , Hagiwara Yoshiyuki
Published: July 2024

Purpose
Rare cases of peri-implant medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (PI-MRONJ) have recently been reported. Cases that occur after the implant has been functional and the use of anti-osteoporosis medications (AOM) has begun are unpredictable and pose a significant threat to the patient. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of AOM on peri-implant tissues and to examine risk factors for peri-implantitis, which is presumed to be a trigger for PI-MRONJ.
Methods
The study cohort consisted of patients who underwent implant maintenance treatment between January 2016 and February 2024. Patients were divided into AOM users (AOM group) and controls (control group). Clinical parameters of implant probing depth (iPPD), implant bleeding on probing (iBoP), marginal bone resorption (MBL), and mandibular cortical index (MCI) measured at baseline and at the last visit were statistically evaluated. Risk factors were examined by multivariate analysis for adjusted odds ratios.
Results
A total of 94 patients (35 male, 59 female) with 270 implants were recruited. The AOM group had 93 implants (24 patients). Comparison of clinical parameters showed that the AOM group had significantly greater changes in iBoP and MBL over time than the control group. Risk factors for peri-implantitis were a history of moderate or severe periodontal disease (OR: 15.8, 95% CI 3.6–69.3) and MCI class 3 (OR: 3.3, 95% CI 1.4–7.8).
Conclusions
In implant treatment of AOM users in an aging society, special attention should be paid to local inflammation, which is presumed to be the cause of PI-MRONJ.
Dexamethasone intravitreal implant for retinitis pigmentosa combined with macular edema：A case report
Authors: JIANG XIN-HONG , CHEN ZHI-PING , LIU RU-BING , LIU HONG-MING , ZHANG WEI-YI , WU XIAO-JIAN , ZOU YU-LING
Published: July 2024

RP is a highly blinding disease, with central vision often impaired when accompanied by macular oedema, for which there is no clear and effective treatment. Current treatment options include oral and topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, oral, topical, intravitreal, periocular injections of steroids, topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, retinal laser photocoagulation, vitrectomy and inner border membrane peeling, oral lutein, and intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections. We report a case of a patient who was given bilateral vitreous injections of dexamethasone intravitreal implant.We report the case of a 33-year-old male with night blindness since childhood, blurred vision in both eyes for more than 3 months, previously healthy, with peripheral retinal osteoclastic pigmentation, small retinal arteries, and thickening of retinal oedema in the macula.OCT showed cystic changes in the macula in both eyes, FFA exhibited an increased level of fluorescence leakage in both the left and right eyes. Petal-like fluorescence accumulation was seen in the macular area in the late stage, which led to the diagnosis of bilateral retinitis pigmentosa with macular oedema in both eyes. Best-corrected visual acuity improved and macular oedema were subsided after about two months of treatment, and Ozurdex might be useful in the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa with macular oedema.
The Long-term Consequences of Fertility on the Elderly’s Labor Supply
Authors: Wang Sophie Xuefei
Published: July 2024

Two trends are shaping the demographic structure in China in recent decades: population ageing and declining fertility. This paper explores the long-term effect of fertility on the elderly’s labor supply in China. By applying the instrumental variable methods on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) dataset, I find that having more children decreases the elderly’s labor supply, especially for the disadvantaged elderly, including females, those living in rural regions and those with low levels of educational attainment. The negative effect is concentrated on the effect on the extensive margin of labor supply, rather than the intensive margin. I rule out co-residence with adult children and providing care to grandchildren as potential channels for the negative effect on the elderly’s labor supply. The increase in the net transfer from children as the number of children increases can be a viable explanation for the negative effect. The linkage between fertility and labor supply of the elderly has important policy implications.
Assessing brain activity in patients with disorder of consciousness using the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations and regional homogeneity derived from resting-state functional magnetic resonance images
Authors: Qin Xuewei , Chen Xuanling , Yao Lan , niu hongchuan , Wang Shengpei , He Jianghong , Guo Xiangyang , Li Xiaoli
Published: July 2024

Objective
Disorder of consciousness (DoC) is an impaired state of consciousness. This study used the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) measures obtained from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to observe neuronal activity changes in patients with DoC from various injuries for prognostic predictions.
Methods
This study included six patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI)-induced DoC and six patients with cerebrovascular disease (CVD)-induced DoC. Images were processed using Data Processing Assistant for rs-fMRI software to obtain the ALFF and ReHo values.
Results
The ALFF values were lower in the TBI group than in the CVD (i.e., control) group for the Precuneus_R, Superior frontal gyrus_R, Middle frontal gyrus, Middle occipital gyrus, and Hippocampus_R but higher for the bilateral insula, Postcentral gyrus_L, right moment gyrus, Superior parietal gyrus_L, and Inferior temporal gyrus_L. The ReHo values were higher in the TBI group than in the CVD group for the Precental gyrus_L and Postcentral gyrus_L, Middle temporal gyrus_R, right superior temporal gyrus, Superior temporal gyrus_R, Superior parietal gyrus_L, Superior frontal gyrus_R, and Inferior frontal gyrus)_L but lower for the Insula_R, Postcentral gyrus_R, Inferior frontal gyrus, Orbital part_L, straight gyrus, and Anterior cingulate_L. Consciousness improved in three patients with CVD DoC and one with TBI DoC.
Conclusion
ALFF and ReHo enhancements in the precuneus and frontal lobes on rs-fMRI might suggest improved consciousness for patients with CVD and TBI DoC.
Comparative Analysis of the Risk of Severe Bacterial Infection and Septicemia in Adolescents and Young Adults with Treatment-Resistant Depression and Treatment- Responsive Depression - A Nationwide Cohort Study in Taiwan
Authors: Li Jia-Ru , Kao Yu-Chen , Tsai Shih-Jen , Bai Ya-Mei , Su Tung-Ping , Chen Tzeng-Ji , Liang Chih-Sung , Chen Mu-Hong
Published: July 2024

Background
Previous studies have shown an association between depression and susceptibility to infection in adults. However, few studies have investigated the association between treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and severe infections in adolescents and young adults.
Methods
This study included adolescents (12–19 years of age) and young adults (20–29 years of age) who were diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD, including 6958 cases of TRD and 27832 cases of antidepressant-responsive depression [ARPD]), from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD), from 2001 to 2010. The TRD and ARPD groups were further matched (4:1) by chronological age, age at diagnosis of depression, sex, residence, and family income. The primary outcomes were severe bacterial infections (SBI) and septicemia. Cox regression analysis was conducted to identify the risk of hospitalization due to SBI or septicemia during the follow-up period.
Results
Compared with controls, the ARPD group had increased risks of SBI (hazard ratio [HR] with 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.90, 2.73–5.57) and septicemia (HR, 95% CI: 2.56, 1.34–4.91). Notably, the risks of SBI and septicemia appeared to be further elevated in the TRD group. The TRD group exhibited higher incidences of SBI (HR, 95% CI: 6.99, 4.73–10.34) and septicemia (HR, 95% CI: 2.85, 1.28–6.36) than the control group.
Conclusions
Adolescents and young adults with TRD had 6.99-fold and 3.90-fold increased risks of SBI and septicemia compared to individuals without MDD, respectively. Therefore, healthcare providers need to be vigilant when monitoring and implementing preventive measures in this population.
Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use, Comorbidity and Quality of Life in Community-Dwelling Older People: A Cross-Sectional Study in Iran
Authors: Shirdozham Maryam , Rahimi Majid , feizi Awat
Published: July 2024

Background
Multimorbidity, polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication use in elderly people are prevalent which affect the quality of life in them. This study investigates the interrelationship between potentially inappropriate medication use, polypharmacy, comorbidity, and the quality of life among elderly people in Iran.
Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted on 500 elderly people in Isfahan City, Iran. the Beers criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults, a health-related quality-of-life questionnaire for elderly people, and the Charlson comorbidity index were used for gathering data.
Results
Our findings related to the elderly living in Isfahan community Dewelling showed that the prevalence of PIM = 61.6% and the most common drug category was related to painkillers, the average quality of life score was (0.86 ± 0.08) and the worst category was related to the sleep status of the elderly Was. The average score of CCI = 3.63 ± 1.40 and the most frequent diseases of the elderly were blood lipids, hypertension and diabetes.After adjusting for intervening variables, there was a negative relationship between CCI(B=-0.009(SE = 0.0027), P < 0.001) and PIM(B =- 0.03(SE = 0.007); P < 0.001) was observed with quality of life
Conclusion
Potentially inappropriate medication use and comorbidities in our older population are high and these variables are negatively associated with quality of life in this population. There are few educated family physicians in geriatrics in Iran. Policymakers should pay attention to these issues.
VPAC1 and VPAC2 receptors mediate tactile hindpaw hypersensitivity and carotid artery dilatation induced by PACAP38 in a migraine relevant mouse model
Authors: Guo Song , Rasmussen Rikke Holm , Hay-Schmidt Anders , Ashina Messoud , Asuni Ayodeji A. , Hansen Jeppe Møller , Holm Anja , Lauritzen Sabrina Prehn , Dorsam Glenn , Hannibal Jens , Georg Birgitte , Kristensen David Møbjerg , Olesen Jes , Christensen Sarah Louise
Published: July 2024

Background
Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) is a neuropeptide pivotal in migraine pathophysiology and is considered a promising new migraine drug target. Although intravenous PACAP triggers migraine attacks and a recent phase II trial with a PACAP-inhibiting antibody showed efficacy in migraine prevention, targeting the PACAP receptor PAC1 alone has been unsuccessful. The present study investigated the role of three PACAP receptors (PAC1, VPAC1 and VPAC2) in inducing migraine-relevant hypersensitivity in mice.
Methods
Migraine-relevant hindpaw hypersensitivity was induced by repeated PACAP38 injections. Tactile sensitivity responses were quantified using von Frey filaments in three knockout (KO) mouse strains, each lacking one of the PACAP-receptors (Ntotal = 160). Additionally, ex vivo wire myography was used to assess vasoactivity of the carotid artery, and gene expression of PACAP receptors was examined by qPCR.
Results
PACAP38 induced hypersensitivity in WT controls (p < 0.01) that was diminished in VPAC1 and VPAC2 KO mice (p < 0.05). In contrast, PAC1 KO mice showed similar responses to WT controls (p > 0.05). Myograph experiments supported these findings showing diminished vasoactivity in VPAC1 and VPAC2 KO mice. We found no upregulation of the non-modified PACAP receptors in KO mice.
Conclusions
This study assessed all three PACAP receptors in a migraine mouse model and suggests a significant role of VPAC receptors in migraine pathophysiology. The lack of hypersensitivity reduction in PAC1 KO mice hint at the involvement of other PACAP receptors or compensatory mechanisms. The results indicate that targeting only individual PACAP receptors may not be an effective migraine treatment.
Physical, but not laboratory, treatment-related adverse events are associated with favorable outcomes of enfortumab vedotin for advanced urothelial carcinoma: A landmark analysis
Authors: Taguchi Satoru , Kawai Taketo , Ambe Yoshiki , Kishitani Kenjiro , Noda Michio , Kaneko Tomoyuki , Miyakawa Jimpei , Nakamura Yu , Hoshina Hayato , Obinata Daisuke , Yamaguchi Kenya , Kakutani Shigenori , Furuya Yoshitsune , Sato Yujiro , Adachi Yume , Sugimoto Kazuma , Sato Keigo , Tabata Mariko , Tanaka Takehiro , Nara Katsuhiko , Uemura Yukari , Kamei Jun , Akiyama Yoshiyuki , Sato Yusuke , Yamada Yuta , Niimi Aya , Yamada Daisuke , Takada Tappei , Takahashi Sayuri , Yamada Yukio , Miyazaki Hideyo , Enomoto Yutaka , Nishimatsu Hiroaki , Fujimura Tetsuya , Fukuhara Hiroshi , Nakagawa Tohru , Takahashi Satoru , Kume Haruki
Published: July 2024

Background
While the occurrence of immune-related adverse events has been recognized as a prognostic marker in patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors, the prognostic significance of treatment-related adverse events (trAEs) in patients undergoing antibody–drug conjugates such as enfortumab vedotin (EV) is controversial.
Methods
We reviewed 106 patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma who were treated with EV therapy at 10 institutions between 2021 and 2023. Associations of clinical parameters with overall survival and progression-free survival were assessed using the Cox proportional hazards model. For the assessment of trAEs, landmark analysis was conducted to minimize immortal time bias.
Results
Of 106 patients, 55 (51.9%) experienced disease progression and 44 (41.5%) died during the follow-up period. Any grade and grade ≥ 3 trAEs occurred in 94 (88.7%) and 44 (41.5%) patients, respectively. Common trAEs included skin disorders (74.5%), gastrointestinal disorders (62.3%), fatigue (50.0%), peripheral neuropathy (36.8%), and hematological disorders (37.7%). One patient died of interstitial pneumonia (grade 5). According to landmark analysis using 88 patients who survived for two months or more, trAEs were significantly associated with longer survival. Furthermore, when trAEs were classified into “physical trAEs” such as skin disorders and “laboratory trAEs” such as hematological disorders, the former were associated with longer survival while the latter were associated with shorter survival.
Conclusions
Physical, but not laboratory, trAEs are associated with favorable outcomes of EV therapy for advanced urothelial carcinoma. Both managing trAEs and utilizing them as prognostic markers are key points in the use of antibody–drug conjugates such as EV.
A Dual-Correlation Feature Enhancement Network Model Based on Transformer for Occluded Pedestrian Re-identification
Authors: Zhao Zoufei , Li Lihong , Liu Qingqing , Zeng Ziwei , Teng Peixian
Published: July 2024

In pedestrian re-identification, retrieving occluded pedestrians remains a challenging problem. The current methods primarily utilize additional networks to provide body cues for distinguishing the visible parts of the body. However, the inevitable domain gap between the auxiliary models and the Re-ID datasets significantly increases the difficulty in obtaining effective and efficient models. To eliminate the need for additional pre-trained networks, a Transformer-based dual correlation feature enhancement network model is proposed. Specifically, this method designs a relation-based feature enhancement module that effectively compensates for the absence or inaccuracy of local features by modeling the relational information within pedestrian images. Additionally, a dual correlation fusion module is designed to adaptively generate feature weights, fusing global and local features with weighted summation. Finally, extensive experiments were conducted on both occluded and holistic datasets to demonstrate that the proposed model outperforms state-of-the-art methods. The proposed model achieved a Rank-1 accuracy of 72.2% on the Occluded-Duke dataset and 88.0% on the Partial-REID dataset. This proves the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Vertical Bearing Behavior and Pile Group Effect for Cemented-Soil Composite Pile Groups Based on On-Site Experiments
Authors: Gong Zhiyu , Dai Guoliang , Chen Xinsheng , Ouyang Haoran , Hu Tao , Chen Zhiwei
Published: July 2024

Bearing characteristics and interactions of a pile group are complex. and there is almost no on-site full-scale test data for cemented-soil composite pile group. In this research, vertical static load tests were conducted on two isolated pile, two-pile group and six-pile group for long-core SDCM pile. The bearing behavior of long-core SDCM pile and the interaction between pile groups have been studied. The results indicate that the long-core SDCM single pile is a typical friction type pile, and cemented soil provides most of the lateral friction resistance for the bearing capacity. In pile groups, pile spacing is the main factor affecting the pile group effect. The model calculation results based on the equivalent pier method are verified using on-site test data and the key parameters in the pile group for long-core SDCM pile including pile spacing Sij, cemented soil Elastic modulus Ec and PHC pipe pile Elastic modulus Ep are analyzed using a mathematical model. Parameter analysis results indicate that the pile group interaction for long-core SDCM pile is mainly reflected in settlement. Group effect is inapparent at pile spacing greater than 4 D. The appropriate value of Ec and Ep are taken in the range of 0.8-1.0 GPa and 30-40 GPa.
Role of Immune Cells in Mediating the Effect of Gut Microbiota on Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Wang Chen , Chen Xin
Published: July 2024

Background
The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the development of various illnesses, including immune-related disorders. However, the potential association between renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and gut microbiota remains underexplored.
Methods
We utilized data from Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) public databases to perform a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis with two samples, aiming to investigate the causal relationship between gut microbiota and RCC. The primary analysis employed the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method. Extensive sensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy. Additionally, a two-step MR was used to identify potential mediator.
Results
Our analysis identified significant associations between 22 microbiota taxa and RCC, along with several immune cell traits implicated in RCC modulation by gut microbiota. For instance, Demequinaceae affected RCC through CD14- CD16- AC and CD45 on HLA DR + NK cells. Mediation effect proportions were used to explore the intricate relationships among gut microbiota exposures, immune markers, and their impact on RCC.
Conclusion
This study reveals the complex interplay between the gut microbiome, immune cells, and RCC. The associations and mediated effects of gut microbiota management for RCC offer valuable insights for future therapeutic strategies.
Optimizing Crowd Evacuation: Evaluation of Strategies for Safety and Efficiency
Authors: Oliveira Hugo S.
Published: July 2024

Predicting and controlling crowd dynamics in emergencies is one of the main objectives of simulated emergency exercises. However, during emergency exercises, there is often a lack of sense of danger by the actors involved and concerns about exposing real people to potentially dangerous environments.
These problems impose limitations in running an emergency drill, harming the collection of valuable information for posterior analysis and decision-making. This work aims to mitigate these problems by using \gls{abm} simulator to deepen the comprehension of human actions when exposed to a sudden variation in extensive crowded environmental conditions and how evacuation strategies affect evacuation performance. To assess the impact of the evacuation strategy, we propose a modified informed leader-flowing approach and compare it with common evacuation strategies in a simulated environment to replicate typical stadium benches with narrow corridors leading to different exit points. The emergency is triggered when one or more fire erupts on the bench, leading to a sudden behaviour change, with people trying to find their way out quickly. The objective is to determine the impact of each set of configurations and evacuation strategies. Our experiments determined that agents following the leader with vital real-time information achieved lower fatality counts and exit times in all evaluation scenarios, proving that relevant and controlled information is crucial in an emergency evacuation scenario.
Evaluation of the Synergistic Effect of Thymol/Ampicillin on Escherichia coli strains
Authors: jafari sajjad , Shirmohammadpour Mina , jafari sajjad sajjad , Mirzaei Bahman
Published: July 2024

Introduction:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the synergistic effect of thymol/ampicillin on Escherichia coli (E. coli).
Material and methods
Antimicrobial effect of thymol, and ampicillin individually and in combination with different concentrations on E. coli ATCC25922 were performed by MIC-MBC method. The antimicrobial effect of a compound that had synergistic effect on twenty clinical strains of E. coli bacteria was performed by the MIC-MBC method, and the identification of chemical bonds, functional groups, and molecular interactions of this compound was investigated with an FTIR device. Checkered method, time-killing curve and biofilm inhibition on E. coli ATCC25922 bacteria, and investigation of cytotoxicity on human red blood cells (RBCs) by hemolysis method and human skin fibroblast cells (Ffk) with MTT method were performed. F1 compound had a synergistic effect.
Results
The results of this study showed that the antimicrobial effects of thymol, ampicillin, and thymol/ampicillin (F1 compound), on E. coli ATCC25922 were 256, 8, 8/2 µg/ml (FICI: 1) respectively. The antimicrobial effects of the F1 compound on clinical strains of E. coli were 128–512/32–64 µg/ml respectively. The time curve for killing E. coli was higher in the combined mode than in the individual modes. These compounds had chemical bonds OH carbohydrates proteins, polyphenols, C = O Amide I band, C-O-Cpolysaccharide, and C-Namide III band, but C = C conjugated, C ≡ C compound, shows the connection between thymol/ampicillin. The biofilm inhibition rate of thymol, ampicillin, and thymol/ampicillin against E. coli bacteria was 29.69%, 60%, and 62% respectively. The toxicity of thymol, ampicillin, and F1 compound against human RBCs were 36.12, 8.38, and 9.54, and against human Ffk cells were 9.92, 6.83, and 9.33 respectively.
Discussion
Considering the resistance of ampicillin in the treatment of diseases caused by E. coli, the results of this study proved that the thymol/ampicillin has high anti-bacterial and anti-biofilm properties. Toxicity on several cells was the same, and this compound can be tested later.
Microstructural features of weathered tailings in the Northern Chile
Authors: Gerding Javiera , Novoselov Alexey A. , Kelm Ursula , Nilo Bianca T. Guggiana , Morales Juan
Published: July 2024

The mining industry in Chile concentrates in the northern part of the country, mostly covered by desert landscapes, including the Atacama Desert and its adjacent areas. Their arid and semi-arid climates cause the predominance of eolian weathering on tailing surfaces. The tailing dust transported by wind is a main factor of metal contamination in the vast areas surrounding mining waste repositories. In this context, we studied with Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis the microstructural characteristics of tailings from the Domeyko and Delirio impoundments exposed to wind erosion under contrasting humidity regimes. Both sites are located near urban areas and have been abandoned for more than 30 years. Pyrite together with other sulfides trigger the acidification of the system and the activation of the dissolution processes. The proportion between pyrite, pH compensating silicates such as feldspars and water available in the adjacent pores controls the development of three main alteration patterns in the tailings column. Unaltered feldspars, secondary iron hydroxides or jarosite dominate in the mineral makeup of the matured tailings. Considering BET characteristics, those mineralogical clusters differ by the reactive surface area that links directly to the volume of micropores and mesopores. Microstructural features like bottleneck, plate and cylindrical pores correspond to the specific alteration patterns. Cylindrical pores do not form in the Feldspar cluster, but they are common in samples of the Jarosite cluster. Otherwise, bottleneck-shaped pores, typical for the tailings not affected by chemical transformations, are rare in the Jarosite cluster. Both bottleneck and cylindrical pores are not found in the sulfate crusts. At the more acidic levels, typical for the Jarosite cluster, the smallest pores are destroyed reducing the reactive surface area. The plate-shaped pores formed in goethite store toxic metals. On the other hand, in the Jarosite cluster, gypsum shares microstructural features linked to the adsorption of hazardous elements. The development of sulfate crusts inhibits the reactivity and shields the tailing surfaces affected by the acid weathering, although sulfate minerals may accumulate toxic metals in their structure. The BET analysis complements the chemical, mineralogical and granulometric properties of abandoned mining waste deposits and improves our understanding of the eolian transport of tailing dust in desert climates.
Effects of damming, seasonality and different environments on reservoir phytoplankton
Authors: Castro Luana Silva , Silva Idelina Gomes , Dunck Bárbara
Published: July 2024

Reservoirs transform the physical, biological and chemical characteristics of rivers, altering their flow dynamics and the availability of nutrients. After a river is dammed, the species composition in the reservoir and its tributaries tend to change in response to the new conditions which are generated. This work investigates the tributary rivers and sites along the main channel of the Tocantins River’s middle course. The study was conducted between 2009 and 2013 in the pre- and post-dam periods to evaluate the effects of the dam on phytoplankton. The area of study was located along the middle course of the Tocantins River, where the Estreito hydroelectric power plant is found. The variables of ammonium, nitrate and inorganic phosphorous were those that most contributed to the environmental variation post-damming. The richness in classes of phytoplankton was higher during the pre-dam period, the dry season, and in the environment of the river’s main channel. The classes which stood out the most were Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae and Cyanophyceae. We verified that damming the Tocantins River negatively affected the phytoplankton communities, reducing their richness and density in the post-dam period. The results showed that the species with the largest contributions to beta diversity were found to be the most common and abundant ones, suggesting that the damming of the Tocantins River has led to the loss of sensitive and specialist species.
Short term Quality of life outcomes of Metabolic/Bariatric surgery tourism; a single-centre survey-based study
Authors: Khan Haseeb Javed , Ghumman Abdul Kamil , Yunus Tahir , Tariq Nabil , Nimeri Abdelrahman
Published: July 2024

Background
Global obesity is a pervasive issue, affecting one in three adults by 2013. Metabolic/bariatric surgery (MBS) addresses weight loss needs but faces challenges in accessibility. MBS tourism, driven by factors like cost and wait times, constitutes 2% of global MBS volume, presenting ethical concerns.
Methods
A cross-sectional study at Evercare Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan, with patients who met the inclusion criteria and had MBS between June 2020 and September 2023 at the hospital by a single surgeon. Data was collected via a self-administered Google Forms questionnaire, including demographics, weight changes, and the Bariatric Quality of Life Index (BQLI), providing insights into impact of surgery on diverse patient groups. Statistical analysis was performed with significance set at p < 0.05. Parametric and non-parametric tests were used for comparisons along with correlation tests.
Results
38.9% patients (105/270) responded to the questionnaire. The study included 105 patients MBS (69 local and 36 medical tourism). We found no significant difference in QOL, TWL%, BMI change, or post-surgical follow-up duration between MBS tourism patients and native patients. Both groups showed significant weight and BMI reductions (p < 0.001). A positive correlation was observed between TWL% and BQLI scores (r = 0.25, p = 0.01), and post-MBS quality of life was better in younger patients (r = -0.32, p < 0.001). Satisfaction rates were 75% for tourism patients and 59.4% for native patients.
Conclusion
MBS tourism offers comparable outcomes to MBS performed in home countries, suggesting that it can be a viable option for patients facing accessibility issues. Ensuring ethical practices and patient satisfaction remains crucial.
Research on the resonance of photodiode with a collector for terahertz communication
Authors: Tan Shuhu , Huang Yongqing , Wamh Xuejie , Yang Mingxi , Ye Jihong , Duan Xiaofeng , Liu Kai , Ren Xiaomin
Published: July 2024

In this paper, we find that utilizing the resonance of photodiode with a collector can lead to a flat frequency response within the terahertz frequency range. To enhance the resonant peak output power, we propose a large-sized terahertz band photodiode (TB-PD) features a depleted absorption layer made of 400 nm InGaAs material. Operating under a bias of -4 V and an optical intensity of 1.5e5 W/cm2, the 20-µm-diameter TB-PD exhibits a 3dB flatness in the frequency range of 275 GHz ~ 437 GHz and − 4.6 dBm@340GHz of the output power.