bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic Ablation of p16 Mitigates Premature Osteoporosis Induced by PTHrP Nuclear Localization Sequence and C-terminal Deletion through Inhibition of Cellular Senescence
Authors: Han Yongli , Qiao Wanxin , Xue Qi , Miao Dengshun , Dong Zhan
Published: December 2024

Premature osteoporosis due to parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) dysfunction presents significant bone health challenges. This study explores the role of p16-mediated cellular senescence in this condition using a Pthrp knock-in (KI) mouse model lacking the nuclear localization sequence and C-terminus of PTHrP. We generated p16⁻⁄⁻KI mice and compared them with wild-type, p16⁻⁄⁻, and KI mice. The genetic ablation of p16 in KI mice extended their lifespan, increased body size, and weight. Micro-CT analysis revealed a significant increase in bone volume, while histological and immunohistochemical studies revealed enhanced chondrocyte proliferation and osteoblast function in p16⁻⁄⁻KI mice. In vitro experiments showed enhanced differentiation capacity and reduced senescence of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) from p16⁻⁄⁻KI mice. Molecular analyses indicated that p16 knockout partially reversed oxidative stress, DNA damage, and cellular senescence observed in KI mice, as evidenced by upregulated antioxidant enzymes, reduced DNA damage markers, and decreased senescence markers. These findings highlight the critical role of p16-mediated cellular senescence in the premature osteoporosis phenotype of KI mice, suggesting that targeting cellular senescence pathways could offer a promising therapeutic strategy for premature osteoporosis and age-related bone loss. This research provides new insights into the interplay between genetic factors, cellular senescence, and bone metabolism in the context of aging and osteoporosis.
Sevoflurane attenuates hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced cardiomyocyte injury by regulating miR-4454
Authors: Chen Jianxing , Zhang Gaofeng , Guo Aili , Mou Changliang , Du Meiqing , Zhai Shuang , Huang Mingshan
Published: December 2024

Background: Sevoflurane (Sevo) prevents hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced cardiomyocytes injury. The expression of miR-4,454 was increased in individuals experiencing an acute myocardial infarction. Objective: The purpose of current investigation was to delved into whether the effects of Sevo on cardiomyocytes are mediated through regulation of miR-4,454 expression. Method: In this study, the expression levels of miR-4,454 and BAG5 were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). The levels of creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were detected using various commercially available kits to assess the level of oxidative stress in the cells. The luciferase reporter gene assay was used to verify the interaction of miR-4,454 with downstream target genes. Results: There was a notable upregulation of miR-4,454 expression in H/R-induced cardiomyocyte models. This was accompanied by a decrease in the viability of myocardial cells induced by H/R and an intensification of the extent of myocardial injury and oxidative stress. However, the detrimental effects were mitigated by the administration of Sevo. miR-4,454 had a target site for binding to BAG5, and its expression was negatively modulated by miR-4,454. An increase in the expression of BAG5 was shown to directly offset the exacerbation of cardiomyocyte damage induced by the overexpression of miR-4,454. Conclusion: Sevo may attenuate H/R-induced cardiomyocyte injury by regulating miR-4454.
Thighplasty for Transfemoral Amputations and Osseointegration: Lower Rate of Complications Than Thighplasty for Body Contouring
Authors: Gibbs Hannah P. , Anderson Ashley B. , Hoyt Benjamin W. , Saberski Ean R. , Forsberg Jonathan A. , Souza Jason M. , Potter Benjamin K.
Published: December 2024

Background:

Modern techniques in lower extremity amputation have made significant advances to improve prosthetic control and soft-tissue envelopes through various techniques, including medial thighplasties. These advances are necessary to enhance the fit and functionality of the prosthesis in transfemoral amputations.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective review of all thighplasties performed at our institution in patients with ipsilateral transfemoral amputation from November 2017 to December 2021. We recorded complication rates, types of complications, and treatments throughout this period, and compared it to thighplasty for cosmetic surgery patient outcomes. Univariate statistics were performed using the Student t test and χ2 analysis to identify differences between the complication and no-complication cohorts, as well as for comparison with published, historical, bariatric surgery, and cosmetic thighplasty controls.

Results:

There were 46 combined thighplasty and osseointegration procedures, and 12 thighplasty procedures alone, and all patients had a minimum 2-year follow-up. The mean follow-up was 3.39 (2.10–4.05) years. In total, 13 (22%) patients developed a complication: 8 (57%) were due to dehiscence, 2 (14%) were due to seroma, 2 (14%) were due to superficial infection, and 1 (7%) was due to deep infection. Overall, our rate of complication was significantly lower than the overall historical complication rate (22% versus 68%, P < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

We demonstrate herein that the overall complication rate for thighplasty undertaken to improve thigh contour and bulk in transfemoral amputees is lower than when thighplasty is undertaken for other indications.
A Systematic Review of Human Paenibacillus Infections and Comparison of Adult and Pediatric Cases
Authors: Smith Danielle , Bastug Kristen , Burgoine Kathy , Broach James R. , Hammershaimb E. Adrianne , Hehnly Christine , Morton Sarah U. , Osman Marwan , Schiff Steven J. , Ericson Jessica E.
Published: December 2024

Background:

Neonatal infections due to Paenibacillus species have increasingly been reported over the last few years.

Methods:

We performed a structured literature review of human Paenibacillus infections in pediatric and adult patients to compare the epidemiology of infections between these distinct patient populations.

Results:

Forty reports describing 177 infections were included. Two additional cases were brought to our attention by colleagues. There were 38 Paenibacillus infections occurring in adults caused by 23 species. The clinical presentations of infections were quite variable. In contrast, infections in infants were caused primarily by Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus (112/141, 79%). All the infants with Paenibacillus infection presented with sepsis syndrome or meningitis, often complicated by extensive cerebral destruction and hydrocephalus. Outcomes were commonly poor with 17% (24/141) mortality. Cystic encephalomalacia due to brain destruction was common in both Ugandan and American infant cases and 92/141 (65%) required surgical management of hydrocephalus following their infection.

Conclusions:

Paenibacillus species seem to cause a clinical syndrome in infants characterized by brain abscesses, hydrocephalus and death. This contrasts with infection in adults, which is sporadic with only rare involvement of the central nervous system and very few deaths.
HYPERVIRULENT KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE OSTEOMYELITIS IN A CHILD
Authors: Yamaki Ryoichi , Isobe Yusuke , Otsubo Yuto , Komori Kohji , Harada Sohei , Hataya Hiroshi , Horikoshi Yuho
Published: December 2024

An 18-month-old boy presented with septic arthritis and osteomyelitis caused by Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae harboring cardinal virulence genes. The condition necessitated several surgical interventions, and a prolonged course of antibiotic therapy to effectively manage the severe infection and prevent complications, highlighting the challenges posed by Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae in pediatric cases.
The efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy for curative resected biliary tract cancers: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials
Authors: Peng Yishan , Liang Aijun , Chen Zhi , Yang Bin , Yu Wenke , Deng Jingduo , Fu Yu , Nie Yu , Cheng Yuan
Published: December 2024

Background:

Despite complete resection, the recurrence rate of biliary tract cancer (BTC) remains high, leading to poor prognosis. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) following radical resection may substantially reduce the recurrence risk by eradicating micrometastatic lesions. However, the benefits of postoperative ACT and the optimal ACT strategy are still unclear for BTC. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the prognostic value of ACT and compare the effectiveness of different ACTs among BTC patients after curative resection.

Methods:

A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the benefits of ACT versus no intervention or other ACTs in BTC patients after curative resection. A random-effects network meta-analysis was performed to compare overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS). The quality of evidence was rated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation framework.

Results:

Eight RCTs comprising 1803 patients were included in the meta-analysis. ACT was associated with significant improvements in 5-year all-cause mortality [four RCTs, hazard rate (HR) 0.93; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.87–1.00, marginally significant; low-certainty evidence], RFS (five RCTs, HR 0.87; 95% CI, 0.78–0.98; moderate-certainty evidence), and OS (7 studies, HR 0.85; 95% CI, 0.75–0.96; low-certainty evidence) compared with observation. ACT had significantly better survival benefits on patients with negative margins (R0), lymph node-positive (N+), and tumor node metastasis classification (TNM) stage I/II (P < 0.05). Further network meta-analysis demonstrated that fluorouracil-based ACT was significantly inferior to gemcitabine-based ACT (HR 1.20; 95% CI, 1.10–1.25) in improving RFS. However, both were superior to observation (P < 0.05). No statistical difference in OS was observed between gemcitabine-based and fluorouracil-based chemotherapy (HR 1.00; 95% CI, 0.86–1.20). In subgroup analysis, fluorouracil-based ACT but not gemcitabine-based ACT achieved significantly better OS benefits on patients with N+ (HR 0.67; 95% CI, 0.52–0.86) and R0 (HR 0.69; 95% CI, 0.54–0.88).

Conclusion:

Compared with observation, ACT should be routinely recommended to improve survival outcomes in BTC patients after curative resection, especially for those with R0, N+, and TNM stage I/II. Gemcitabine-based ACT performed better than other chemotherapies in improving RFS. This network meta-analysis provides precise information for determining the best adjuvant treatment for resected BTC. Further thorough and high-quality RCTs are needed.
Tracking adipose-derived stem cell exosomes applied in a mouse crush injury model: insights from fluorescent labeling and spatial transcriptomics – an experimental study
Authors: Rau Cheng-Shyuan , Wu Shao-Chun , Kuo Pao-Jen , Lin Chia-Wei , Lu Tsu-Hsiang , Wu Yi-Chan , Tsai Chia-Wen , Hsieh Ching-Hua
Published: December 2024

Adipose-derived stem cell exosomes (ADSC-exos) are promising for nerve regeneration; however, their precise mechanisms remain unclear. This study employed fluorescent labeling and spatial transcriptomics to track the effects of ADSC-exos on crushed sciatic nerves in mice. Labeled exosomes were detected in spinal neurons and proximal nerve segments after application. Spatial transcriptomics revealed significant changes in gene expression, with an upregulation of neurons and Schwann cells and the downregulation of oligodendrocytes. The key pathways affected were prosaposin, pleiotrophin, fibroblast growth factor, secreted phosphoprotein 1, SLIT and NTRK-like family, member, vascular endothelial growth factor, and growth arrest-specific protein. ADSC-exo treatment enhanced cell-cell interactions, particularly between Schwann cells and astrocytes, thereby promoting a regenerative environment. Gene ontology analysis suggested improvements in metabolic activity, cell communication, and structural support. This study highlights the complex interplay between multiple cell types and signaling pathways involved in the nerve regeneration response to ADSC-exos. This comprehensive approach offers new perspectives on the role of ADSC-exos in nerve regeneration and paves the way for advanced regenerative strategies for peripheral nerve injuries.
Total gastrectomy patients had a lower diet volume and greater diet frequency than distal gastrectomy patients after 6 months
Authors: Kim Ye-Ji , Jeong Sang-Ho , Jung Eun-Jung , Park Taejin , Lee Jin-Kwon , Kim Tae-Han , Kim Young-Hye , Min Jae-Seok , Park Miyeong , Lee Young-Joon
Published: December 2024

There are no reports comparing diet recovery between patients who underwent distal gastrectomy (DG) and those who underwent total gastrectomy (TG). The aim of the present study was to compare dietary habits and nutritional status after curative treatment with DG and TG in patients with gastric cancer. We retrospectively collected clinical data from 263 consecutive patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer without recurrence at a single-center between January 2016 and December 2022. Demographic data, diet questionnaires, and laboratory data were collected. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those who underwent DG and those who underwent TG. Dietary habits and nutritional status were compared between the groups from preoperation until the 36th postoperative month (POM). For the DG and TG groups, the diet volume increased similarly up to the 3rd POM. However, the diet volume of the DG group increased by approximately 10 percentage points compared to that of the TG group from the 6th POM to the 24th POM (77.7% vs 67.8%, P = .025) and 36th POM (77.8% vs 69.8%, P = .104). The volume of the DG group increased until the 24th POM, and the frequency of the DG group decreased until the 36th POM. In contrast, the diet volume of the TG group increased until the 3rd POM (P = .005) but then plateaued, and the diet frequency did not decrease until the 36th POM compared to the 1st POM (P > .05). Nutritional status did not significantly differ between the 2 groups. Patients who underwent TG had a lower diet volume and a greater diet frequency than DG patients did after 6 months. Postoperative nutrition education should be tailored differently for patients undergoing DG and TG. Specifically, TG patients should be educated to increase diet frequency rather than diet volume after surgery.
Research progress on the mechanism of hyperuricemic nephropathy based on multi-omics technique: A review
Authors: Li Kaiqing , Xia Xue , Fu Tong , Ma Yanchun , Wang Yingwei , Fan Mingming , Wang Songyan , Xing Guoli , Tong Ying
Published: December 2024

Hyperuricemic nephropathy is a metabolic disease in which renal uric acid deposition and excretion are impaired due to elevated levels of uric acid in the blood, leading to impaired renal tubule function and chronic renal disease. Hyperuricemic nephropathy is one of the important complications of hyperuricemia, which seriously affects the quality of life and prognosis of patients. The pathogenesis of hyperuricemic nephropathy involves a variety of factors, including: amino acid metabolism disorder, energy metabolism abnormality, increased nucleotide metabolism, lipid metabolism disorder and bile acid metabolism imbalance, REDOX process disorder, cell cycle and apoptosis imbalance, signal transduction and inflammatory response enhancement, and intestinal flora imbalance. In recent years, omics techniques such as metabolomics, transcriptomics and intestinal microecology have been used to reveal the metabolic, gene and microflora characteristics of hyperuricemic nephropathy from different levels, as well as their interactions and regulatory mechanisms. This paper reviews these studies, analyzes the existing problems and challenges, and puts forward future research directions and suggestions, aiming at providing new theoretical basis and practical guidance for the prevention and treatment of hyperuricemic nephropathy.
Evaluation of pediatric spinal ependymomas: A 25-year retrospective observational study
Authors: Narin Firat , Bahadir Sinan , Hanalioğlu Şahin , Karakaya Dicle , Yahya Diaa , Özer Hidir , Söylemezoğlu Figen , Bilginer Burçak
Published: December 2024

This study aims to evaluate the clinical and radiological features, histopathological characteristics, treatment modalities, and their effectiveness, as well as long-term follow-up results of pediatric spinal ependymomas treated at a single institution. In this retrospective study, medical records of 14 pediatric patients (3 females and 11 males) who were surgically treated for spinal ependymoma in our institution between 1995 and 2020 were reviewed. Data regarding age, gender, presenting symptoms and signs, radiological findings, postoperative status, extent of resection, histopathological grading, recurrence, tumor growth, seeding, and adjuvant treatment were collected and analyzed. Six patients had myxopapillary ependymoma, 7 patients had grade II ependymoma, and 1 had grade III ependymoma. Median age at diagnosis was 10.5 (range, 1–15) years. The most common presenting symptoms and signs were axial and radicular pain, paresis, and first motor neuron involvement. In 10 patients, gross total tumor resection was achieved. Five patients underwent additional surgeries for disease progression (recurrence or residual tumor growth). Most of the patients who had no disease progression were treated with gross total resection. Two patients experienced seeding. One patient who had a grade III tumor and did not achieve gross total resection died during follow-up. Pediatric spinal ependymomas are uncommon tumors with relatively benign course. Gross total resection should be the primary goal of surgery since it may prevent disease progression, and in case it fails, progression occurs later than those that were treated with subtotal resection.
Serum galectin-3 can help distinguish lupus nephritis from systemic lupus erythematosus and is also correlated with the degree of renal damage in lupus nephritis
Authors: Wu Jialong , Yu Xiaomei , Liu Xiaobin , Chen Jianye , Zhou Xiumei , Zhao Xueqin , Qin Yuan , Huang Biao , Chen Yan
Published: December 2024

Lupus nephritis (LN) constitutes a substantial contributor to morbidity and mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The monitoring of renal function in patients with LN is associated with improved prognostication. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical utility of serum galectin-3 (Gal-3) levels in differentiating LN from SLE. Moreover, we sought to ascertain whether serum galectin-3 levels can serve as a marker for the degree of renal impairment in patients with LN. In this cross-sectional study, 42 patients with LN and 12 patients with SLE without nephritis were enrolled. Furthermore, 110 healthy subjects were recruited as controls. Serum Gal-3 levels were quantified using a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay. Furthermore, Gal-3 levels were analyzed in conjunction with other clinical variables. The results demonstrated that patients with LN exhibited a significantly elevated serum Gal-3 concentration (35.98 ± 20.68 ng/mL) in comparison to healthy controls (10.11 ± 2.75 ng/mL, P < .001) and patients with SLE (14.38 ± 2.26, P < .001). The area under the curve of Gal-3 in distinguishing patients with SLE from patients with LN was 0.9157. When the cutoff value was set to 18.91 ng/mL, the sensitivity was 83.33%, and the specificity was 100%. There was a tendency for serum Gal-3 levels to increase with worsening renal impairment in patients with LN. In conclusion, Gal-3 could be a valuable biomarker for distinguishing LN from SLE, providing a useful clinical reference. Elevated serum Gal-3 levels may be associated with the severity of renal impairment in patients with LN.
Pneumorachis mimicking lumbar disc herniation combined with lumbar spinal stenosis: A case report and literature review
Authors: Fu Songning , Liu Lu , Liu Yadong , Xu Feng
Published: December 2024

Rationale:

Pneumorachis is an uncommon lesion of the spinal canal, which is often asymptomatic. The pathogenesis and treatment strategies are uncertain because only a few cases have been reported. Some patients were treated with percutaneous aspiration or percutaneous endoscopic treatment, but poor pain release and symptom recurrence were observed. Some patients were treated with open surgery and completely cystectomy and had good clinical outcomes. This article reports a case of pneumorachis resembling lumbar disc herniation combined with lumbar spinal stenosis, in which the patient’s compressive symptoms were completely alleviated through open surgery.

Patient concerns:

A-56-year-old patient has a 1-year history of radicular pain in the left leg. Magnetic resonance imaging prior to surgery showed a low-signal mass, like a sequestrated disc, in the epidural space at the level of L4 left recess and lumbar spinal stenosis of L4-5 level on both sides. There was a disc-like lesion located at the L4 recess. Computed tomography (CT) showed a homogeneous pneumorachis with a clear boundary. The patient underwent open surgery. Postoperative CT showed that the lumbar canal was decompressed, and this patient was free from pain.

Diagnoses:

L4-5 lumbar canal stenosis, pneumorrhachis.

Interventions:

For treatment, the patient underwent open surgery to decompress the lumbar canal stenosis.

Outcomes:

Postoperative CT demonstrated complete decompression of the L4-5 spinal canal, resulting in immediate relief of the patient’s nerve root pain. At the 3-month follow-up after surgery, the patient remained pain-free.

Lessons:

For patients with suspected spinal pneumatosis, CT scans hold significant value to distinguish air and bones from soft-tissue lesions. Furthermore, in this case, we have demonstrated the effectiveness of open surgical treatment for spinal pneumatosis and achieved favorable prognostic outcomes.
Exploring exercise interventions in substance abuse treatment: A comprehensive bibliometric analysis
Authors: Chen Jiawei , Sun Liu , Shilko Tatjana A. , Tian Ying , Li Jiawen , Wang Qingyuan , Wang Xing , Tian Xiaolou , Zhang Linan
Published: December 2024

This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the research landscape related to exercise and substance abuse over the past 2 decades. A systemic bibliometric analysis was conducted using 2 powerful tools, the Bibliometrix package for R and VOSviewer software. The analysis covered a corpus of literature indexed in the Web of Science’s core collection. The publication counts related to exercise interventions within the context of substance abuse from 2004 to 2023, key journals extensively publishing research on this topic, institutional affiliations contributing significantly to this field, frequently co-occurring keywords to highlight research focal areas, and citation patterns for these studies were examined. The analysis identified a total of 2110 articles during the specified period. Notably, there has been a discernible upward trend in publication volume within this field over the past 2 decades. Prominent journals featuring extensive research on this topic include Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Frontiers in Psychiatry, and International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Among the notable contributors to the field are researchers Greer TL and Trivedi MH. The University of California’s system has also emerged as a leading institution, fostering collaborations with diverse research entities. The most frequently recurring keywords were exercise, substance abuse, substance use disorders, mental health, and depression, among others, highlighting the research focus. This study offers insights and recommendations for future research in the area of exercise in substance abuse, emphasizing the need to explore physiological mechanisms and psychological comorbidities to optimize exercise as a therapeutic intervention.
Network pharmacology unveils the active components and potential mechanism of traditional efficacy of Mugua
Authors: Wu Yonggang , Yue Shijun
Published: December 2024

Mugua is a Chinese herbal medicine derived from the dried mature fruit of Chaenomeles speciosa (Sweet) Nakai. This study aimed to dissect the active ingredients and mechanism of Mugua. In the present study, the active components of Mugua were collected and screened through databases combined with UPLC-Q/TOF-MS based qualitative analysis and literature mining, and their potential disease targets were predicted. Then, a network relationship diagram of “component-target-disease-efficacy” was constructed. Moreover, the key active components and core targets were analyzed by molecular docking and in vitro anti-inflammatory assays. The traditional efficacy of Mugua mainly corresponded to 4 diseases, namely, rheumatoid arthritis, diarrhea, edema, and emesis. After screening and comparison, it was found that IL-1β, IL-6, TNF, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were the shared inflammatory targets of the 4 diseases. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment results showed that these targets were involved mainly in inflammatory responses and inflammation-related pathways, such as rheumatoid arthritis pathway and TNF signaling pathway. Network topology analysis revealed that succinic acid, cinnamic acid, citric acid, caffeic acid, gallic acid, ursolic acid, malic acid, betulinic acid, and oleanolic acid were the key active components, while IL-1β, IL-6, TNF, and EGFR were the shared core targets of these 4 diseases. These results suggested that Mugua could exert traditional efficacy through multi-component and multi-target synergistic mechanisms. Molecular docking results showed that all key active ingredients could autonomously bind to the shared core targets, and the in vitro anti-inflammatory results further confirmed that all the key active components had good anti-inflammatory activities. The present study found that Mugua mainly intervened in the inflammatory response and pathways by acting on key active components and core targets to exert traditional efficacy, providing a theoretical basis for further in-depth research.
Recurrent cholangitis due to an intrahepatic calculus caused by migrated coil for vascular embolization: A case report
Authors: Funamizu Naotake , Sogabe Kyosei , Uraoka Mio , Numata Yuki , Koizumi Mitsuhito , Ito Chihiro , Ueno Yoshitomo , Ikeda Yoshio , Umeda Yuzo
Published: December 2024

Rationale:

Pseudoaneurysm is a potential postoperative complication in hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, with catheter-based interventions being the first-line treatment. This study reviews the literature on potential secondary complications following arterial embolization. Additionally, we report a case in which a dislodged embolization coil acted as a nidus for bile duct stone formation, leading to recurrent cholangitis. This report aims to raise awareness among clinicians regarding such clinical scenarios.

Patient concerns:

In the current report, we discuss the case of a 43-year-old male patient, who had undergone coil embolization due to a hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm after biliary reconstruction because of bile duct injury during the laparoscopic cholecystectomy, was admitted to our hospital for repeated cholangitis.

Diagnoses:

Imaging modalities confirmed that the previously embolized coil had migrated into the bile duct, which was identified as the cause.

Interventions:

A double-balloon endoscopy revealed stones with a migrated coil as its nucleus.

Outcomes:

The endoscopic stone removal was completed.

Lessons:

We encountered a case in which an arterial embolization coil used for the treatment of a pseudoaneurysm migrated into the bile duct, acting as a nidus for stone formation and resulting in recurrent cholangitis. In patients with a history of intrahepatic coil embolization, it is essential to first confirm the location of the coil within the vasculature and then investigate the underlying cause of stone formation. It is important to consider coil migration as a differential diagnosis in cases of bile duct stones following hepatic artery embolization with coils.
The gut–heart axis: a review of gut microbiota, dysbiosis, and cardiovascular disease development
Authors: Abdulrahim Abdulrashid Onimisi , Doddapaneni Neha Sai Priya , Salman Nadhra , Giridharan Aditi , Thomas Jefrin , Sharma Kavya , Abboud Elias , Rochill Kinitoli , Shreelakshmi B , Gupta Vishyottama , Lakkimsetti Mohit , Mowo-Wale Adetola , Ali Noor
Published: December 2024

Background:

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and there are strong links existing between gut health and cardiovascular health. Gut microbial diversity determines gut health. Dysbiosis, described as altered gut microbiota, causes bacterial translocations and abnormal gut byproducts resulting in systemic inflammation.

Objective:

To review the current literature on the relationships between gut microbiota, dysbiosis, and CVD development, and explore therapeutic methods to prevent dysbiosis and support cardiovascular health.

Dysbiosis increases levels of pro-inflammatory substances while reducing those of anti-inflammatory substances. This accumulative inflammatory effect negatively modulates the immune system and promotes vascular dysfunction and atherosclerosis. High Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratios, high trimethylamine-n-oxide to short-chain fatty acid ratios, high indole sulfate levels, low cardiac output, and polypharmacy are all associated with worse cardiovascular outcomes. Supplementation with prebiotics and probiotics potentially alleviates some CVD risk. Blood and stool samples may be used in clinical practice to quantify and qualify gut bacterial ratios and byproducts, assess patients’ risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes, and track their gut health progress. Further research is required to set population-based cutoffs for normal and abnormal gut microbiota and byproduct ratios.
A Magnet Year in Review
Authors: Lal M. Maureen
Published: December 2024

This column will look at the year in review (October 2023–October 2024) and what is ahead for the Magnet Recognition Program®. The world will never look quite the same postpandemic. The Magnet Recognition Program's evidence-based framework continues to provide a solution for healthcare organizations domestically and internationally to adapt and react to a constantly changing complex environment.
Fostering Nurse Retention Through Community Integration
Authors: Abbeyquaye Sylvia , Cross Lisa
Published: December 2024

Like the acute care environment, long-term care (LTC) settings struggle to recruit and retain nursing staff. As the population ages, there are implications for administrators to create innovative approaches to attract and retain nurses to work in LTC. This article explores the basic tenets that foster and hinder retention in this important care setting.
Clinicopathologic Features of a Rare and Underrecognized Variant of Early-stage Primary Biliary Cholangitis With Ductopenia
Authors: Yu Haitian , Lv Tingting , Li Shuxiang , Chen Sha , Li Min , Liu Jimin , Duan Weijia , Jia Jidong , Zhao Xinyan
Published: December 2024

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) with early cholestasis and extensive bile duct loss but no significant fibrosis or cirrhosis is rare and underrecognized. We aimed to clarify the clinicopathology features and prognosis of these variants of patients with early-stage PBC with ductopenia. From January 2009 to January 2023, we retrospectively collected the laboratory and pathologic data of patients with early-stage PBC and recorded their liver-related events with a median follow-up of 4.5 years. Finally, a total of 141 patients with PBC in the early stage were included and divided into 2 groups: one with ductopenia (n = 36) and the other without ductopenia (n = 105). The median age of the participants was 50 years, with 90.8% being female. The ductopenia group exhibited significantly elevated alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, total bilirubin﻿﻿, total bile acid, and total cholesterol (CHOL). Conversely, they showed a reduced biochemical response to ursodeoxycholic acid according to the Paris II, Barcelona, and Rotterdam criteria. A relatively poorer prognosis was observed in patients with early-stage PBC with ductopenia but with no statistical difference (11.8% vs 4.9%, P = 0.352). Baseline total CHOL levels were identified as an independent factor for the presence of ductopenia in early-stage PBC (odds ratio = 1.771, 95% CI: 1.264-2.479, P = 0.001). In conclusion, ductopenia was a significant risk factor for worse biochemical profiles and poor treatment response in patients with early-stage PBC. High levels of total CHOL at baseline are associated with the presence of ductopenia in early-stage PBC.
Sleep During Pregnancy and Offspring Outcomes From Infancy to Childhood: A Systematic Review
Authors: Nevarez-Brewster Melissa , Han Deborah , Todd Erin L. , Keim Paige , Doom Jenalee R. , Davis Elysia Poggi
Published: December 2024

Objective

Prenatal sleep problems have been previously linked to poor birth outcomes. However, much less is known about the associations between poor prenatal maternal sleep and offspring outcomes after birth. The purpose of this systematic review was to synthesize the findings linking prenatal maternal sleep health and offspring health and development during infancy and childhood.

Methods

A total of 4650 nonduplicate articles were identified via PsycInfo and PubMed databases. After screening and full-text review, 34 articles met the inclusion criteria and were extracted for information.

Results

The bulk of studies in this review (n = 19; 76.5%) were published between 2019 and 2024. Measures of prenatal sleep included sleep timing, quality, sleep disorders and/or symptoms of disorders, and daytime sleepiness. Offspring outcomes were categorized as follows: a) sleep health (e.g., nighttime sleep duration, night wakings), b) physical health (e.g., body mass index, hospitalizations), c) child developmental outcomes (e.g., global development, negative affect, executive functioning), and d) brain structure and function (e.g., brain volume, event-related potentials). Evidence consistently links poor prenatal sleep health to poorer offspring sleep, higher body mass index, higher prevalence of physical health conditions, poorer global development, and more behavioral problems. Emerging evidence also links prenatal sleep to differences in offspring brain structure and function.

Conclusions

Poor prenatal maternal sleep health may be an environmental signal that informs offspring health. Future studies are needed to fully understand the pervasive, intergenerational, and long-lasting effects of sleep across pregnancy.
Risk optimization during ongoing movement: Insights from movement and gaze behavior in throwing
Authors: Zahno Stephan , Beck Damian , Kredel Ralf , Klostermann André , Hossner Ernst-Joachim
Published: December 2024

Handling motor noise is fundamental to successful sensorimotor behavior, especially in high-risk situations. Research using finger-pointing tasks shows that humans account for motor noise and costs of potential outcomes in movement planning. However, does this mechanism generalize to more complex movement tasks? Here, we investigate sensorimotor behavior under risk in throwing across three experiments with 20 participants each. Their task was to throw balls at a target circle, partially overlapped by a penalty circle. This task challenged participants to find strategies that trade off potential penalties and rewards. In the experiments, penalty magnitude and the distance between the circles were manipulated. We measured the location of their final gaze fixation before movement—as an indicator of their planned aiming point—and the ball’s impact location. Without penalty, the final gaze fixation and the ball’s impact location were both centered on the target. In the penalty condition, the location of the participants’ final gaze fixations and the ball’s impact shifted away from the penalty circle, with larger shifts for higher penalties and smaller distances. Interestingly, the shifts in the ball’s impact locations were not only larger (“more conservative”) but also closer to the statistically optimal (expected gain-maximizing) location compared to the fixated aim points. Movement trajectory analyses show that, in penalty conditions, the shifts away from the penalty zone increased until the final phases of the movement. These results suggest that risk evaluation is not completed in a pre-movement planning phase but is further optimized during movement execution.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY

We extend the study of sensorimotor behavior under risk from simple finger-pointing movements (Trommershäuser et al., 2008) to a complex throwing task in virtual reality. Our results suggest that, in complex sensorimotor behavior, risk evaluation of potential movements is not confined to a cognitive planning phase before movement but is optimized in action, with the motor system continuously biasing competing action options toward regions of higher expected rewards.
Random Tree Model of Meaningful Memory
Authors: Zhong Weishun , Can Tankut , Georgiou Antonis , Shnayderman Ilya , Katkov Mikhail , Tsodyks Misha
Published: December 2024

Traditional studies of memory for meaningful narratives focus on specific stories and their semantic structures but do not address common quantitative features of recall across different narratives. We introduce a statistical ensemble of random trees to represent narratives as hierarchies of key points, where each node is a compressed representation of its descendant leaves, which are the original narrative segments. Recall is modeled as constrained by working memory capacity from this hierarchical structure. Our analytical solution aligns with observations from large-scale narrative recall experiments. Specifically, our model explains that (1) average recall length increases sublinearly with narrative length, and (2) individuals summarize increasingly longer narrative segments in each recall sentence. Additionally, the theory predicts that for sufficiently long narratives, a universal, scale-invariant limit emerges, where the fraction of a narrative summarized by a single recall sentence follows a distribution independent of narrative length.
Investigating the effect of mechanical adaptation on mid-air ultrasound vibrotactile stimuli
Authors: Cataldo Antonio , Huang Tianhui , Frier William , Haggard Patrick
Published: December 2024

Gesture control systems based on mid-air haptics are increasingly used in infotainment systems in cars, where they can provide rich haptic feedback to improve human-computer interactions. Laboratory studies show that mid-air haptic feedback reduces drivers’ distractions and improve safety. However, it is unclear how the perception of mid-air ultrasound stimuli is affected by prolonged exposure to vibrational noise, e.g., from the steering wheel of a moving vehicle. Studies on vibrotactile adaptation show that perception of mechanical vibration is impaired by prior exposure to stimuli of the same frequency. Here, we investigated the effect of mechanical adaptation on the perception of mid-air ultrasound stimuli. We measured participants’ detection threshold for ultrasound stimuli of different frequencies both before and after exposure to 30 s mechanical vibrations. Across two experiments, we systematically manipulated the frequency and amplitude of the adapting stimulus. We found that exposure to low-frequency mechanical vibrations significantly impaired the detection of low-frequency ultrasound stimuli. In contrast, exposure to high-frequency mechanical vibrations equally impaired perception of both low- and high-frequency ultrasound stimuli. This effect was mediated by the amplitude of the adapting stimulus, with stronger mechanical vibrations producing a larger increase in participants’ detection threshold. Overall, these findings show that perception of mid-air ultrasound stimuli is affected by specific sources of mechanical noise. Crucially, frequency-specificity in the low-frequency band also points toward possible mitigating solutions that could help minimising unwanted desensitization of mechanoreceptor channels during mid-air haptic interactions.
Multi-Stable Bimodal Perceptual Coding within the Ventral Premotor Cortex
Authors: Andrade-Ortega Bernardo , Díaz Héctor , Bayones Lucas , Alvarez Manuel , Zainos Antonio , Rivera-Yoshida Natsuko , Franci Alessio , Romo Ranulfo , Rossi-Pool Román
Published: December 2024

Neurons of the primate ventral premotor cortex (VPC) respond to tactile or acoustic stimuli. But how VPC neurons process and integrate information from these two sensory modalities during perception remains unknown. To investigate this, we recorded the activity of VPC neurons in two trained monkeys performing a bimodal detection task (BDT). In the BDT, subjects reported the presence or absence of a tactile or an acoustic stimulus. Initial single-cell analyses revealed a diverse range of responses during the BDT: purely tactile, purely acoustic, bimodal and others that exhibited sustained activity during the decision maintenance delay—between the stimulus offset and motor report. To further explore the VPC’s role in the BDT, we applied dimensionality reduction techniques to uncover the low-dimensional latent dynamics of the neuronal population and conducted parallel analyses on a recurrent neural network (RNN) model trained on the same task. Neural trajectories associated with tactile responses diverged strongly from those related to acoustic responses. Conversely, during the stimulus-absent trials the neural dynamics remained at rest. During the delay, the trajectories demonstrated a pronounced rotational dynamic toward a subspace orthogonal to the sensory response space, supporting memory maintenance in stable equilibria. This suggests that the network dynamics can sustain distinct stable states corresponding to the three potential task outcomes. Using low-dimensional modeling, we propose a universal dynamical mechanism underlying the transition from sensory to mnemonic processing, consistent with our experimental and computational observations. These findings show that the VPC contains neurons capable of bimodal coding and that its population can integrate competing sensory information and maintain decisions throughout the delay period, regardless of the sensory modality.
Accurate nucleic acid-binding residue identification based on domain-adaptive protein language model and explainable geometric deep learning
Authors: Zeng Wenwu , Pan Liangrui , Ji Boya , Xu Liwen , Peng Shaoliang
Published: December 2024

Protein-nucleic acid interactions play a fundamental and critical role in a wide range of life activities. Accurate identification of nucleic acid-binding residues helps to understand the intrinsic mechanisms of the interactions. However, the accuracy and interpretability of existing computational methods for recognizing nucleic acid-binding residues need to be further improved. Here, we propose a novel method called GeSite based the domain adaptive protein language model and explainable E(3)-equivariant graph convolution neural network. Prediction results across multiple benchmark test sets demonstrate that GeSite is superior or comparable to state-of-the-art prediction methods. The performance comparison on low structure similarity and newly released test proteins demonstrates the robustness and generalization of the method. Detailed experimental results suggest that the advanced performance of GeSite lies in the well-designed nucleic acid-binding protein adaptive language model. Meanwhile, interpretability analysis exposes the perception of the prediction model on various remote and close functional domains, which is the source of its discernment. The data and source code of GeSite are freely accessible athttps://github.com/pengsl-lab/GeSite.
A central role for CCR2 in monocyte recruitment and blood-brain barrier disruption during Usutu virus encephalitis
Authors: Slowikowski Emily , Willems Céleste , Lemes Robertha Mariana Rodrigues , Schuermans Sara , Berghmans Nele , Rocha Rebeca Paiva Fróes , Martens Erik , Proost Paul , Delang Leen , Marques Rafael Elias , Filho José Carlos Alves , Marques Pedro Elias
Published: December 2024

Usutu virus (USUV) is an emerging neurotropic flavivirus capable of causing encephalitis in humans. Here, our main goal was to characterize the innate immune response in the brain during USUV encephalitis and to identify strategies to control disease severity. Using an immunocompetent mouse model of USUV encephalitis, we showed that microglia activation, blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption and inflammatory monocyte recruitment are hallmarks of disease 6 days post infection. Activated microglia were in close association to USUV-infected cells, concomitantly with elevated levels of IL-6, IFN-γ, CCL2, CCL5, CXCL10 and CXCL1 in the brain. Monocyte recruitment was CCR2-dependent and driven by IFN-γ and CCL2 production beneath the brain vasculature. Moreover, CCR2 deficiency inhibited microglia activation and BBB disruption, showing the central role of CCR2 in USUV encephalitis. Accordingly, treatment with dexamethasone prevented pro-inflammatory mediator production and reduced leukocyte recruitment significantly, restraining encephalitis severity. Concluding, USUV encephalitis is driven by CCR2-mediated monocyte recruitment and BBB disruption, and blocked therapeutically by glucocorticoids.

The neurotropic Usutu virus can cause encephalitis driven by CCR2-mediated monocyte recruitment, microglia activation and blood-brain barrier disruption, all of which are inhibited by glucocorticoid treatment.
FeatureForest: the power of foundation models, the usability of random forests
Authors: Seifi Mehdi , Nogare Damian Dalle , Battagliotti Juan , Galinova Vera , Rao Ananya Kedige ,   AI4Life Horizon Europe Programme Consortium, Decelle Johan , Jug Florian , Deschamps Joran
Published: December 2024

Once the work at the microscope is done, biological discoveries rely heavily on proper downstream analysis. This often amounts to first segmenting the biological objects of interest in the image before performing a quantitative analysis. Deep-learning (DL) is nowadays ubiquitous in such segmentation tasks. However, DL can be cumbersome to apply, as it often requires large amount of manual labeling to produce ground-truth data, and expert knowledge to train the models from scratch. Nonetheless, the performance of large foundation models, although trained on natural images, are improving on scientific images with every new model released. They, however, require either manual prompting or tedious post-processing to selectively segment the biological objects of interest. Classical machine learning algorithms, such as random forest classifiers, on the other hand, are well-established, easy to train, and often yield results of sufficient quality for downstream processing tasks, hence their continued popularity. Unfortunately, they are limited to objects with distinct, well-defined textures compared to their environment. This generally limits their usefulness to structures easy to recognize. Here, we present FeatureForest, an open-source tool that leverages the feature embeddings of large foundation models to train a random forest classifier, thereby providing users with a rapid way of semantically segmenting complex images using only a few labeling strokes. We demonstrate the improvement in performance over a variety of datasets, including large and complex volumetric electron microscopy stacks. Our implementation is available in napari, currently integrates four foundation models, and can easily be extended to any new model once they become available.