bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disease-Suppressive Soils Induce Systemic Resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana Against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato
Authors: Weller David M. , van Pelt Johan A. , Thomashow Linda S. , Mavrodi Dmitri V. , Mavrodi Olga V. , Pieterse Corné M. J. , Bakker Peter A. H. M.
Published: March 2024

Arabidopsis thaliana accession Col-0 seedlings were transferred into an autoclaved soil/sand mixture amended with either 10 or 20% (wt/wt) soil from fields in Washington State that are suppressive to take-all or Rhizoctonia root rot of wheat. Three weeks after transplanting, these plants had population sizes of 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG) or phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA)-producing pseudomonads of greater than 5 × 105 colony forming units per gram fresh weight of root with rhizosphere soil. When the plants were challenge-inoculated with Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000, both soils induced systemic resistance in the leaves against bacterial speck to a level similar to that induced by P. simiae WCS417r, P. fluorescens Q2-87 (DAPG+), P. brassicacearum Q8r1-96 and L5.1-96 (both DAPG+), and P. synxantha 2-79 (PCA+). Pasteurization of the soils before adding them into the soil/sand mixture eliminated DAPG- and PCA-producing pseudomonads from the Arabidopsis rhizosphere and significantly reduced induced systemic resistance activity. However, populations of total culturable aerobic bacteria were similar in the rhizosphere of plants grown in soil/sand mixes amended with untreated or pasteurized suppressive soils. This is the first report of induction of systemic resistance in Arabidopsis by take-all and Rhizoctonia-suppressive soils and the ability of PCA-producing P. synxantha 2-79 to induce resistance.

[Formula: see text] The author(s) have dedicated the work to the public domain under the Creative Commons CC0 “No Rights Reserved” license by waiving all of his or her rights to the work worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law, 2024.
Clinical Utility of Repeat Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies Among Children With Acute Hematogenous Osteomyelitis
Authors: Thorne Abby , Moss Angela , Sanders Julia S. , Stein Jill , Searns Justin B.
Published: March 2024

Background and Objectives:

There is limited guidance for whether repeat magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies are clinically impactful among children with acute hematogenous osteomyelitis (AHO) who fail to improve as expected. This study aimed to determine whether repeat MRIs changed management among children with AHO and identify clinical characteristics predictive of which patients benefit from repeat MRIs.

Methods:

Children admitted to a quaternary care pediatric hospital with AHO were identified during a 9-year period. Patients with chronic symptoms, non-hematogenous infections, or significant contributing comorbidities were excluded. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for all MRIs performed 3 weeks before admission to 24 months after discharge. An MRI was considered clinically impactful if it identified a new infectious process (eg, abscess not seen on the initial MRI) or if it resulted in surgical intervention within 24 hours. Bivariable comparisons of categorical variables were performed, and multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the clinical factors of impactful repeat MRIs.

Results:

Among the 239 included patients, 41 (17%) had more than 1 MRI performed during their clinical course, the majority of whom (53.7%) had a repeat MRI that impacted care. Patients who underwent repeat MRIs had longer hospitalizations (7 vs. 5 d, P<0.01), were more likely to have C-reactive protein (CRP) levels >20 mg/dL (41% vs. 10%, P<0.01), and were more likely to have a delayed transition to oral antimicrobials (8.4 vs. 3.3 d, P<0.01). Peak CRP >20 mg/dL and prolonged bacteremia were found to be associated with increased odds of having an impactful repeat MRI, with adjusted odds ratios of 3.9 (P=0.007) and 3.4 (P=0.03), respectively.

Conclusions:

When used judiciously among ill children with complicated AHO, repeat MRI can be clinically impactful. Prospective studies are needed to better define which children with AHO benefit from repeat MRI.

Level of Evidence:

Level II evidence—this is a retrospective cohort study interested in determining the clinical utility of repeat magnetic resonance imaging studies for children with osteomyelitis.
Absorbable Sutures Repair Without Meniscopexy, Results in Superior Outcomes for Discoid Lateral Meniscus With Meniscocapsular Anterior Detachment in Children
Authors: Cance Nicolas , Dan Michael J. , Bauwens Paul Henri , Commeureuc Jeanne , Vandergugten Simon , Chotel Franck
Published: March 2024

Background:

Despite the fact that meniscocapsular anterior detachment is the most common location of instability in children with a Discoid Lateral Meniscus (DLM), there is a lack of consensus about the type of repair that should be utilized for stabilization. The aim of this study was to determine the best fixation method for anterior detachment of DLM in children. Our hypothesis was that excessive rigidity with fixation would restrict meniscal mobility and increase the rate of failure or prevent full knee flexion.

Methods:

This study was a retrospective single-center study consisting of 51 consecutive knees (45 children) with menico-capsular anterior detachment that underwent stabilization and minimal saucerization of the meniscus between 2007 and 2018. We aimed to compare the need for revision surgery and knee flexion between the different types of fixations utilized; namely we compared meniscopexy using anchors on the tibia (n=30) with outside-in arthroscopic soft tissue fixation (n=21), and absorbable (n=18) and nonabsorbable sutures (n=33) were compared.

Results:

The mean age at surgery was 10.4 years (3 to 17) with a mean follow-up of 52 months (18 to 148). The group of knees treated with absorbable sutures had a significantly better rate of full knee flexion (15/18) compared with the nonabsorbable group (17/33) (P=0.03). Despite the absence of significance (P=007), there was a lower rate of revision surgery due to suture failure in the soft tissue fixation group (0 revision operations) compared with the meniscopexy group (5 revision operations).

Conclusions:

For anterior meniscocapsular detachment of DLM, it is recommended to perform soft tissue fixation with absorbable sutures, as this technique resulted in better knee flexion and a lower rate of revision surgery when compared with meniscopexy and nonabsorbable suture fixation.

Level of Evidence:

Level III—retrospective case studies.
Efficacy of an Intensive Exposure Intervention for Individuals With Persistent Concussion Symptoms Following Concussion: A Concurrent Multiple Baseline Single-Case Experimental Design (SCED) Study
Authors: King Skye , Stapert Sven Z. , Winkens Ieke , van der Naalt Joukje , van Heugten Caroline M. , Rijkeboer Marleen M.
Published: March 2024

Objective:

After a concussion, 1 in 3 patients report persistent symptoms and experience long-term consequences interfering with daily functioning, known as persistent concussion symptoms (PCS). Evidence suggests PCS is (partly) maintained by anxious thoughts about brain functioning, recovery, and experienced symptoms, leading to avoidance behaviors, which may prevent patients from meeting life demands. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of a newly developed intensive exposure intervention for individuals with PCS after concussion aimed to tackle avoidance behavior.

Setting:

Participants took part in the intervention at the Maastricht University faculty.

Participants:

Four participants who experienced PCS after concussion partook in the exploratory study. Participants' age ranged between 20 and 32 (mean = 26.5, SD = 5.9) years, with an average length of time after the concussion of 9.8 months.

Design:

A concurrent multiple-baseline single-case design was conducted. The baseline period (A phase) length was randomly determined across participants (3, 4, 5, or 6 weeks). The exposure intervention (B phase) was conducted by psychologists over a 4-week period and consisted of 3 stages: exploration (2 sessions), active exposure (12 sessions conducted over 1 week), and 2 booster sessions.

Main Measures:

Participants answered daily questions on a visual analog scale related to symptom experience, satisfaction with daily functioning, and degree of avoidance of feared activities. Additional outcomes included symptom severity, catastrophizing, fear of mental activity, anxiety, depression, and societal participation.

Results:

Tau-U yielded significant effects (P < .05) for all participants on all measures when comparing baseline and intervention phases. The pooled standardized mean difference was high for all measures (symptom experience = 0.93, satisfaction of daily functioning = 1.86, and activity avoidance = −2.05).

Conclusions:

The results show efficacy of the newly developed intensive exposure treatment for PCS after concussion, which is based on the fear avoidance model. Replication in a larger heterogeneous sample is warranted and needed.
Adaptive Optics Imaging in Diabetic Retinopathy: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Balas Michael , Issa Mariam , Popovic Marko M. , Moayad Lana , Zajner Chris , Aponte Paola Oquendo , Hamli Hesham , Yan Peng , Wright Tom , Melo Isabela M , Muni Rajeev H.
Published: March 2024

Purpose:

To investigate the correlation between diabetic retinopathy (DR) severity and microscopic retinal and vascular alterations using adaptive optics imaging (AOI).

Methods:

In this single-center, prospective cohort study, adult participants with healthy eyes or DR underwent AOI. Participants were classified into control/mild non-proliferative DR (NPDR), moderate/severe NPDR, and proliferative DR. AOI using the RTX1 camera was obtained from 48 participants (87 eyes) for photoreceptor data, and from 36 participants (62 eyes) for vascular data.

Results:

Photoreceptor parameters significantly differed between DR groups at 2° and 4° of retinal eccentricity. Wall-to-lumen ratio varied significantly at 2° eccentricity, while other vascular parameters remained non-significant. Cone density and dispersion were the strongest predictors for DR severity (p<0.001) in multivariable generalized estimating equation (GEE) modeling, while other vascular parameters remained non-significant between DR severity groups. All photoreceptor parameters showed significant correlations with visual acuity overall and across most DR severity groups.

Conclusion:

To date, this is one of the largest studies evaluating the use of AOI in DR. AOI was demonstrated to differentiate between various levels of disease severity in DR. These results support the potential role in diagnostic and therapeutic microstructural evaluation in research and clinical practice.
Ectasia Detection by Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography in Scheimpflug Tomographically Normal Keratoconus Fellow Eyes
Authors: Naujokaitis Tadas , Augustin Victor A. , Son Hyeck-Soo , Köppe Maximilian , Kovalchuk Bogdana , Auffarth Gerd U. , Khoramnia Ramin
Published: March 2024

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the Scheimpflug tomographically normal fellow eyes of keratoconus patients are also classified as normal using an ectasia screening algorithm based on anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT).

Methods:

This monocentric cross-sectional study included 22 very asymmetric ectasia patients with tomographically significant keratoconus in 1 eye and normal Scheimpflug tomography in the fellow eye. Twenty-two eyes of 22 healthy subjects served as a control group. We performed corneal tomography using Pentacam AXL (Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany) and used Belin/Ambrósio Enhanced Ectasia total deviation index as well as Belin ABCD keratoconus classification to identify Scheimpflug tomographically normal eyes. We also performed AS-OCT using Anterion (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) and analyzed for the presence of ectasia using the Screening Corneal Objective Risk of Ectasia (SCORE) algorithm, with positive values indicating ectasia suspect tomography.

Results:

The SCORE value was positive in 9.1% (n = 2) of the healthy eyes, in 45.5% (n = 10) of the Scheimpflug tomographically normal eyes of keratoconus patients and in all eyes (n = 22) with tomographically significant keratoconus. The Scheimpflug tomographically normal eyes of keratoconus patients had higher SCORE values compared with healthy controls (P < 0.001). The median (interquartile range) SCORE value was −1.7 (1.3) in healthy controls, −0.5 (2.2) in Scheimpflug tomographically normal eyes of keratoconus patients, and 11.1 (11.0) in tomographically significant keratoconus eyes.

Conclusions:

The Scheimpflug tomographically normal fellow eyes of keratoconus patients had higher AS-OCT–based SCORE values than healthy controls, with positive SCORE values found in 46% of the eyes, indicating early tomographic ectatic changes.
Scoping Review of Workplace Mental Health and Well-being Programs in Higher Education Institutions
Authors: Coats Shari Fallek , Roemer Enid Chung , Kent Karen B. , Zhang Ying , Davis Meghan F. , Goetzel Ron Z.
Published: March 2024

Objective

The study aimed to conduct a scoping review of stressors in higher education institutions (HEIs), exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to identify successful interventions.

Methods

We reviewed 79 studies published between January 2020 and January 2023.

Results

Stressors were organized into psychosocial, organizational, and environmental categories. They included high job demand/low control, work/personal life imbalance, pressure to publish, lack of resources, low perceived organizational support, and fear of infection. Interventions included providing back-up childcare, employee assistance programs, financial well-being resources, paid medical leave, flexible work arrangements, greater transparency in decision making, leadership development, and adaptive physical space design.

Conclusions

Mental health and well-being interventions directed at faculty and staff in HEIs are needed given the many stressors faced by this workforce. Several interventions are highlighted in the literature, but most are speculative regarding their impact, given the limited number of outcome studies.
Immediate mobilization after repair of Achilles tendon rupture may increase the incidence of re-rupture: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Wang Ruihan , Huang Lei , Jiang Songtao , You Guixuan , Zhou Xin , Wang Guoyou , Zhang Lei
Published: March 2024

Background:

Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) is a significant injury that can require surgery and can have the risk of re-rupture even after successful treatment. Consequently, to minimize this risk, it is important to have a thorough understanding of the rehabilitation protocol and the impact of different rehabilitation approaches on preventing re-rupture.

Materials and methods:

Two independent team members searched several databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL) to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on operative treatment of ATR. We included articles that covered open or minimally invasive surgery for ATR, with a detailed rehabilitation protocol and reports of re-rupture. The study protocol has been registered at PROSPERO and has been reported in the line with PRISMA Guidelines, Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/JS9/C85, Supplemental Digital Content 2, http://links.lww.com/JS9/C86 and assessed using AMSTAR Tool, Supplemental Digital Content 3, http://links.lww.com/JS9/C87.

Results:

A total of 43 RCTs were eligible for the meta-analysis, encompassing a combined cohort of 2553 patients. Overall, the postoperative incidence of ATR patients developing re-rupture was 3.15% (95% CI: 2.26–4.17; I
2=44.48%). Early immobilization group patients who had ATR had a 4.07% (95% CI: 1.76–7.27; I
2=51.20%) postoperative incidence of re-rupture; Early immobilization + active range of motion (AROM) group had an incidence of 5.95% (95% CI: 2.91–9.99; I
2=0.00%); Early immobilization + weight-bearing group had an incidence of 3.49% (95% CI: 1.96–5.43; I
2=20.06%); Early weight-bearing + AROM group had an incidence of 3.61% (95% CI: 1.00–7.73; I
2=64.60%); Accelerated rehabilitation (immobilization) group had an incidence of 2.18% (95% CI: 1.11–3.59; I
2=21.56%); Accelerated rehabilitation (non-immobilization) group had a rate of 1.36% (95% CI: 0.12–3.90; I
2=0.00%). Additionally, patients in the immediate AROM group had a postoperative re-rupture incidence of 3.92% (95% CI: 1.76–6.89; I
2=33.24%); Non-immediate AROM group had an incidence of 2.45% (95% CI: 1.25–4.03; I
2=22.09%).

Conclusions:

This meta-analysis suggests the use of accelerated rehabilitation intervention in early postoperative rehabilitation of the Achilles tendon. However, for early ankle joint mobilization, it is recommended to apply after one to two weeks of immobilization.
Characterization of research trends and prospects on hepatic echinococcosis over the past forty years: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Li Tianen , Su Wei , Wang Zhiqiang , Wang Xiao , Ma Xiaoguang , Cao Yigeng , Zhao Rui
Published: March 2024

Background:

The distribution of hepatic echinococcosis (HE) is extensive, significantly impacting public health and economic development. Therefore, analyzing global collaboration networks and tracking developmental trends over the past four decades are crucial. This study aimed to demonstrate collaboration in the field of HE and explore key topics and future directions.

Materials and Methods:

Bibliometric analyses were conducted using CiteSpace, Bibliometrix package of R, and VOSviewer software on HE-related studies from the Web of Science Core Collection published before 1 August 2023.

Results:

This study identified 2605 records published in 196 journals by 9860 authors from 2607 institutes in 90 countries. Publications significantly notably increased in 2021. Developing countries like Turkey and China made notable contributions, while developed countries like the USA had higher average citation rates. The largest nodes in every cluster of the collaboration network were Hacettepe University, Tehran University, Xinjiang Medical University, Salford University, and the University of Pavia, and the top-producing authors were Wen H, Vuitton DA, Gottstein B, and Craig PS. Keyword co-occurrence analysis suggested that surgical techniques and novel drugs targeting combined immune checkpoints are the main therapeutic approaches in the future.

Conclusion:

Although developing countries had significantly contributed to publications on HE, the citation rate for individual articles from developed countries was significantly higher. Additionally, advancements in surgical techniques and novel drugs targeting combined immune checkpoints may emerge as the next research focus and developmental direction.
Asthma in pregnancy: a review of recent literature
Authors: Colas Kelly , Namazy Jennifer
Published: March 2024

Purpose of review

Asthma remains the most common respiratory disease in pregnancy. Identifying risk factors for asthma exacerbations during pregnancy is critical, as uncontrolled asthma can have detrimental effects for both mother and baby. In this review, we discuss recent literature exploring risk factors, fetal and maternal effects, and treatment options for asthma during pregnancy.

Recent findings

Recent literature suggests that optimizing asthma during pregnancy improves outcomes for both mother and baby, as well as later in childhood. Current research affirms that the benefit of asthma medication use outweighs any potential risks related to the medications themselves. Limited information is available regarding the use of newer therapies such as biologics during pregnancy.

Identifying risk factors for asthma exacerbations during pregnancy is critical to prevent adverse outcomes for both mother and baby. Recent evidence continues to affirm the safety of asthma medication use; more studies are needed regarding the use of new therapies during pregnancy.
Myosteatosis is an independent risk factor for overt hepatic encephalopathy after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting
Authors: Shi Wenfeng , Yin Hua , Yu Zhijian , Li Yong , Bai Xiao , Fu Sirui , Duan Chongyang , Xu Weiguo , Yang Yang
Published: March 2024

Objective

The relationship between skeletal muscle and adipose tissue compositions and risk of overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE) following transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) treatment needs to be investigated.

Methods

A total of 282 patients were collected from two medical centres. The median time of follow-up was 48.23 + 1.36 months and the first-year results of all patients after TIPS therapy were collected. The muscle and adipose tissue indices were quantified at the third lumbar vertebra level. Sarcopenia and myosteatosis were defined according to previous researches. Receiver operating characteristic curves, chi-square test, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to investigate the potential association between muscle and adipose indices, sarcopenia, myosteatosis and the risk of developing post-TIPS OHE.

Results

All skeletal muscle indices, adipose tissue indices and sarcopenia had limited associations with post-TIPS OHE. Myosteatosis (148 cases, 52.5%, 55 with OHE, 37.2%) was identified as an independent risk factor for post-TIPS OHE. with P < 0.001 in Chi-square test, P < 0.001, odds ratio (OR): 2.854, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.632–4.993 in univariate logistic regression analyses, and P = 0.007, OR: 2.372, 95% CI: 1.268–4.438 in multivariate logistic regression analyses, respectively.

Conclusion

Our results showed that myosteatosis was proven as an independent risk factor for the development of post-TIPS OHE.
Iron therapy supplementation in inflammatory bowel disease patients with iron deficiency anemia: findings from a real-world analysis in Italy
Authors: Fiorino Gionata , Colombel Jean-Frederic , Katsanos Kostas , Mearin Fermín , Stein Jürgen , Andretta Margherita , Antonacci Stefania , Arenare Loredana , Citraro Rita , Dell’Orco Stefania , Degli Esposti Luca , Ramirez de Arellano Serna Antonio , Morin Neige Teldja , Koutroubakis Ioannis E.
Published: March 2024

Background

This real-world analysis evaluated iron therapy supplementation in inflammatory bowel disease patients with iron-deficiency anemia, considering disease progression and healthcare resource consumption.

Methods

A retrospective observational study was conducted using administrative databases of a pool of Italian healthcare entities, covering about 9.3 million beneficiaries. Between January 2010 and September 2017, adult patients were enrolled in the presence of either hospitalization or active exemption code for ulcerative colitis/Crohn’s disease, or one vedolizumab prescription. Iron-deficiency anemia was identified by at least one prescription for iron and/or hospitalization for iron-deficiency anemia and/or blood transfusion (proxy of diagnosis). Patients were divided in untreated and iron-treated during 12-month follow-up and analyzed before and after propensity score matching. Disease progression, was evaluated through inflammatory bowel disease-related hospitalizations and surgeries, and healthcare resource utilization was assessed.

Results

Overall, 1753 patients were included, 1077 (61.4%) treated with iron therapy and 676 (38.6%) untreated. After propensity score matching, 655 patients were included in each group. In unbalanced cohorts, disease progression was significantly reduced in patients receiving iron therapy compared to the untreated (11.0% vs. 15.7%, P < 0.01), and this trend was maintained also after applying propensity score matching. The overall mean cost/patient was significantly lower in iron-treated than untreated (4643€ vs. 6391€, P < 0.01).

Conclusion

The findings of this real-world analysis suggest that iron therapy was associated with significant benefits in inflammatory bowel disease patients with iron-deficiency anemia, in terms of both disease progression and healthcare resource utilization.
Prevalence, trends, and characteristics of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease among the US population aged 12–79 years
Authors: Shen Tsung-Hua , Wu Chung-Hsuen , Lee Yuan-Wen , Chang Chun-Chao
Published: March 2024

Background and aims

Clinical observation revealed an increase in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) prevalence among adults and adolescents and young adults (AYA). However, its prevalence trend in specific subgroups and its characteristics are unclear.

Approach and results

This cross-sectional study included adults and AYA aged 20–79 and 12–19 years, respectively, from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2018. MASLD was defined as US Fatty Liver Index ≥30 in adults and alanine amino transaminase elevation and obesity in AYA. Joinpoint and logistic regression were used to evaluate the MASLD prevalence trend and its associated characteristics. MASLD was diagnosed in 17 156 892 of 51 109 914 (33.6%) adults and 1 705 586 of 29 278 666 AYA (5.8%). During the study period, MASLD prevalence significantly increased from 30.8% to 37.7% (P < 0.01) in adults and in subgroups of female participants, individuals aged 20–45 and 61–79 years, and non-Hispanic white individuals. Conversely, MASLD prevalence did not significantly change in AYA (from 5.1% to 5.2%, P = 0.139), except in the subgroup of Mexican Americans (from 8.2% to 10.8%, P = 0.01). Among adults, high MASLD prevalence was associated with male sex, Mexican American ethnicity, age >50 years, being unmarried, poverty income ratio <130, poor or fair health condition, obesity or overweight, and chronic conditions. Among AYA, high MASLD prevalence was associated with male sex, poverty income ratio <130, and education.

Conclusion

Accordingly, we concluded that health care providers should prevent and treat conditions associated with MASLD by raising awareness of the increasing trend of MASLD.
Referral for liver transplant following acute variceal bleeding: a multicenter cohort study
Authors: Bragança Sofia , Ramos Marta , Lopes Sara , Alexandrino Gonçalo , Mendes Milena , Perdigoto Rui , Coimbra João , Marques Hugo P. , Cardoso Filipe S.
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Referral for liver transplant (LT) following acute variceal bleeding (AVB) varies widely. We aimed to characterize and assess its impact on clinical outcomes.

Methods

Observational retrospective cohort including cirrhosis patients with AVB from 3 hospitals in Lisbon, Portugal, from 2018 to 2019. Primary exposure was referral for LT and primary endpoint was all-cause mortality within 2 years of index hospital admission.

Results

Among 143 patients, median (IQR) age was 59 (52–72) years and 90 (62.9%) were males. Median (IQR) MELDNa scores on hospital admission and discharge were 15 (11–21) and 13 (10–16), respectively. Overall, 30 (21.0%) patients were assessed for LT, 13 (9.1%) prior to and 17 (11.9%) within 2 years of hospital admission. Overall, 58 (40.6%) patients had at least one potential contra-indication for transplant. LT was performed in 3 (2.1%) patients (among 5 listed). Overall, 34 (23.8%) and 62 (43.4%) patients died at 6 weeks and 2 years post hospital admission, respectively. Following adjustment for confounders, referral for LT was associated with lower 2-year mortality (aHR (95% CI) = 0.20 (0.05–0.85)).

Conclusion

In a multicenter cohort of cirrhosis patients with AVB, less than a quarter underwent formal LT evaluation. Improved referral for LT following AVB may benefit cirrhosis patients’ longer-term mortality.
Fatigue, depression, and sleep disorders are more prevalent in patients with metabolic-associated fatty liver diseases
Authors: Mostafa Alaa M. , Hafez Shaimaa Moustafa , Abdullah Noha M. , Fouad Yasser
Published: March 2024

Patients with metabolic-associated fatty liver disorders (MAFLD) report feeling fatigued. It adversely affects their mortality, morbidity, and health-related quality of life (HRQL).

Aim

To determine the prevalence and risk factors for depression, sleep disturbances, and exhaustion in MAFLD patients.

Methods

Two hundred twenty-four consecutive patients with MAFLD attending the outpatient clinic from April to October 2023; were subjected to clinical evaluation, laboratory testing including non-invasive laboratory markers, fibroscan (measuring steatosis and fibrosis), and different quantitative and qualitative fatigue scores. A control group including 342 patients without MAFLD was taken.

Results

The prevalence of fatigue, depression, and sleeping disorders in the MAFLD group was 67.8%, 75%, 62.5% vs 21%, 16.4%, and 19.5% in the control group respectively (P = <0.001, P = <0.001 and P = <0.001). MAFLD with fatigue was significantly associated with the presence and severity of steatosis and fibrosis by fibroscan (P = <0.0001). By univariate and multivariate analysis: age, BMI, waist circumference, T2DM, hypertension, steatosis, fibrosis, and Fib-4 were considered risk factors for fatigue in the MAFLD group. The age, high social level, diabetes, hypertension, steatosis, fibrosis, and fib-4 were considered, by univariate and multivariate analysis, independent risk factors for depression in the MAFLD group. age, BMI, waist circumference, diabetes, hypertension, steatosis, fibrosis, and fib-4 were independent risk factors for sleep disorders in MAFLD.

Conclusion

Fatigue, sleeping disorders, and depression are more prevalent in MAFLD patients than in the general population. The lower health utility scores in patients with MAFLD are associated with more advanced stages of the disease.
Presentation, Management, and Child Protective Service Reporting of Children Who Test Positive for Cannabis in an Emergency Room Setting
Authors: Dubinin Alexandra , Bialostozky Mario , Richardson Andrew , Laub Natalie
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Rates of cannabis ingestion among young children are increasing. Small studies have evaluated symptomatology of these children. The literature lacks research regarding factors influencing medical management. Our goal was to 1) understand circumstances leading to exposure over time and 2) gain insight into factors that may influence emergency room management and Child Protective Services reporting over time.

Methods

Retrospective cross-sectional study on children younger than 10 years with cannabis-positive urine drug screens in the emergency room setting. Single-factor analysis of variance and Fisher exact tests were used to assess for trends. Two-tailed t tests and Fisher exact tests were used to compare management of children presenting to the emergency room with chief complaint (CC) “ingestion” versus those without.

Results

Of the 179 children, the mean age was 3.7 years and 48% were boys. We observed a significant increase over time in cannabis-positive children. The most common location of exposure was the primary residence (54%), with parents as the most frequent users (46%). In the emergency department, the most common CC was ingestion followed by altered mental status and fatigue. Children with an “ingestion” CC were managed with less testing than those with other CCs. They received fewer needle sticks (43% vs 91%), less imaging (5% vs 56% computed tomography heads), and fewer procedures (0% vs 8% lumbar punctures). Children with “ingestion” CC were less likely to be reported to Child Protective Services.

Conclusions

Pediatric cannabis exposures are increasing and have a wide array of clinical presentations that complicate emergency room management. Parental report of cannabis ingestion seems to impact and reduce potentially unnecessary testing.
Early Diagnosis of Rare Diaphragmatic Synovial Sarcoma in a Pediatric Patient With Epigastric Pain Using Point-of-Care Ultrasound
Authors: Rong Katie , Good Amanda , Chicaiza Henry , Jones Ruchika Mohla
Published: March 2024

Synovial cell sarcoma is a rare mesenchymal tumor that typically originates from the soft tissues of the extremities of young adults. Only 3 cases of primary diaphragmatic synovial cell sarcoma have been described in the literature: 2 in adult males and 1 in a 12-year-old pediatric patient.1–3 When this tumor is found in the mediastinum or pericardial region, prognosis is historically poor because of the advanced disease stage at time of diagnosis. The surgical course and pathology have been described in this 12-year-old boy.3 This is the first case, to our knowledge, of the use of cardiac point-of-care ultrasound in the early identification and diagnosis of a primary diaphragmatic synovial sarcoma in a pediatric patient.
Myocarditis—A Helpful Algorithm to Overcome Diagnostic Challenges in the Pediatric Population
Authors: Knoler Nitzan , Krymko Hanna , Slanovic Leonel , Grunseid Michael , Paran Nave , Hassan Lior , Levitas Aviva
Published: March 2024

Objectives

This study was designed to investigate clinical differences between pediatric patients who presented with chest pain, tachycardia, and/or tachypnea who subsequently were or were not diagnosed with myocarditis. The results were used to develop a decision tree to aid in rapid diagnosis of pediatric myocarditis.

Methods

A retrospective case-control study was performed using the electronic medical records of children aged 0 to 18 years between the years 2003 and 2020 with a complaint of chest pain, tachycardia, and/or tachypnea. Patients included in the study were those diagnosed with myocarditis and those with suspected myocarditis, which was ultimately ruled out. Demographic and clinical differences between the research groups were analyzed. A decision tree was rendered using the rpart (Recursive Partitioning and Regression Trees) package.

Results

Four thousand one hundred twenty-five patients were screened for eligibility. Seventy-three myocarditis patients and 292 nonmyocarditis patients were included. Compared with the control group, the study group was found to have a higher mean respiratory rate (37 ± 23 vs 23 ± 7 breaths per minute) and mean heart rate (121 ± 44 vs 97 ± 25 beats per minute) and lower mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure (102 ± 27/56 ± 17 mm Hg vs 114 ± 14/67 ± 10 mm Hg). The mean white blood cell count was greater in the case group (13 ± 6 vs 10 ± 5 × 103/μL). A decision tree was rendered using simple demographic and clinical variables. The accuracy of the algorithm was 85.2%, with 100% accuracy in patients aged 0 to 2.5 years and 69% in patients aged 2.5 to 18 years.

Conclusion

The clinical and laboratory characteristics described in this study were similar to what is described in the literature. The decision tree may aid in the diagnosis of myocarditis in patients 2.5 years and younger. In the population aged 2.5 to 18 years, the decision tree did not constitute an adequate tool for detecting myocarditis.
Quasi steady-state modelling and characterization of diffusion-controlled dissolution from polydisperse spheroidal particles, I: modelling
Authors: Wang Yanxing , Wan Hui , Refuaiti Rusitan , Wei Tie , Shu Fangjun
Published: March 2024

A quasi steady-state model (QSM) for accurately predicting the detailed diffusion-dominated dissolution process of polydisperse spheroidal (prolate, oblate and spherical) particle systems with a broad range of distributions of particle size and aspect ratio has been developed. A rigorous, mathematics-based QSM of the dissolution of single spheroidal particles has been incorporated into the well-established framework of polydisperse dissolution models based on the assumption of uniform bulk concentration. Validation against experimental results shows that this model can accurately predict the increase in bulk concentration of polydisperse systems with various particle sizes and shape parameters. A series of representative instances involving the dissolution of polydisperse felodipine particles at various concentration ratios is used to demonstrate the model's effectiveness, rendering it a valuable tool for understanding and managing complex systems with diverse particle characteristics.
Genomic insights into the chromosomal elongation in a family of Collembola
Authors: Jin Jianfeng , Zhan Zhihong , Wei Xiping , Pan Zhixiang , Zhao Yuxin , Yu Daoyuan , Zhang Feng
Published: March 2024

Collembola is a highly diverse and abundant group of soil arthropods with chromosome numbers ranging from 5 to 11. Previous karyotype studies indicated that the Tomoceridae family possesses an exceptionally long chromosome. To better understand chromosome size evolution in Collembola, we obtained a chromosome-level genome of
Yoshiicerus persimilis
with a size of 334.44 Mb and BUSCO completeness of 97.0% (
n
= 1013). Both genomes of
Y. persimilis
and
Tomocerus qinae
(recently published) have an exceptionally large chromosome (ElChr greater than 100 Mb), accounting for nearly one-third of the genome. Comparative genomic analyses suggest that chromosomal elongation occurred independently in the two species approximately 10 million years ago, rather than in the ancestor of the Tomoceridae family. The ElChr elongation was caused by large tandem and segmental duplications, as well as transposon proliferation, with genes in these regions experiencing weaker purifying selection (higher d
N
/d
S
) than conserved regions. Moreover, inter-genomic synteny analyses indicated that chromosomal fission/fusion events played a crucial role in the evolution of chromosome numbers (ranging from 5 to 7) within Entomobryomorpha. This study provides a valuable resource for investigating the chromosome evolution of Collembola.
No city for wetland species: habitat associations affect mammal persistence in urban areas
Authors: Ancillotto Leonardo , Amori Giovanni , Capizzi Dario , Cignini Bruno , Zapparoli Marzio , Mori Emiliano
Published: March 2024

The fast rate of replacement of natural areas by expanding cities is a key threat to wildlife worldwide. Many wild species occur in cities, yet little is known on the dynamics of urban wildlife assemblages due to species' extinction and colonization that may occur in response to the rapidly evolving conditions within urban areas. Namely, species’ ability to spread within urban areas, besides habitat preferences, is likely to shape the fate of species once they occur in a city. Here we use a long-term dataset on mammals occurring in one of the largest and most ancient cities in Europe to assess whether and how spatial spread and association with specific habitats drive the probability of local extinction within cities. Our analysis included mammalian records dating between years 1832 and 2023, and revealed that local extinctions in urban areas are biased towards species associated with wetlands and that were naturally rare within the city. Besides highlighting the role of wetlands within urban areas for conserving wildlife, our work also highlights the importance of long-term biodiversity monitoring in highly dynamic habitats such as cities, as a key asset to better understand wildlife trends and thus foster more sustainable and biodiversity-friendly cities.
EPHA4 signaling dysregulation links abnormal locomotion and the development of idiopathic scoliosis
Authors: Wang Lianlei , Yang Xinyu , Zhao Sen , Zheng Pengfei , Wen Wen , Xu Kexin , Cheng Xi , Li Qing , Khanshour Anas M. , Koike Yoshinao , Liu Junjun , Fan Xin , Otomo Nao , Chen Zefu , Li Yaqi , Li Lulu , Xie Haibo , Zhu Panpan , Li Xiaoxin , Niu Yuchen , Wang Shengru , Liu Sen , Yuan Suomao , Terao Chikashi , Li Ziquan , Chen Shaoke , Zhao Xiuli , Liu Pengfei , Posey Jennifer E , Wu Zhihong , Qiu Guixing , Ikegawa Shiro , Lupski James , Rios Jonathan J , Wise Carol A , Zhang Jianguo , Zhao Chengtian , Wu Nan
Published: March 2024

Idiopathic scoliosis (IS) is the most common form of spinal deformity with unclear pathogenesis. In this study, we firstly reanalyzed the loci associated with IS, drawing upon previous studies. Subsequently, we mapped these loci to candidate genes using either location-based or function-based strategies. To further substantiate our findings, we verified the enrichment of variants within these candidate genes across several large IS cohorts encompassing Chinese, East Asian, and European populations. Consequently, we identified variants in theEPHA4gene as compelling candidates for IS. To confirm their pathogenicity, we generated zebrafish mutants ofepha4a. Remarkably, the zebrafishepha4amutants exhibited pronounced scoliosis during later stages of development, effectively recapitulating the IS phenotype. We observed that theepha4amutants displayed defects in left-right coordination during locomotion, which arose from disorganized neural activation in these mutants. Our subsequent experiments indicated that the disruption of the central pattern generator (CPG) network, characterized by abnormal axon guidance of spinal cord interneurons, contributed to the disorganization observed in the mutants. Moreover, when knocked downefnb3b, the ligand for Epha4a, we observed similar CPG defects and disrupted left-right locomotion. These findings strongly suggested that ephrin B3-Epha4 signaling is vital for the proper functioning of CPGs, and defects in this pathway could lead to scoliosis in zebrafish. Furthermore, we identified two cases of IS inNGEF, a downstream molecule in theEPHA4pathway. Collectively, our data provide compelling evidence that neural patterning impairments and disruptions in CPGs may underlie the pathogenesis of IS.
Changes of urine proteome after intragastric administration of polysaccharide iron complex in rats
Authors: Shen Ziyun , Yang Minhui , Wang Haitong , Gao Youhe
Published: March 2024

Iron is an essential trace element to maintain the normal physiological function of organisms. In this study, the urine proteome of rats before and after short-term intragastric administration of polysaccharide-iron complex (28mg/kg/d iron, which is equivalent to the dose of anemia prevention in adults) was compared and analyzed by using two analysis methods: individual comparison and group comparison. Many different proteins were reported to be related to iron, including 2’, 3’ -cyclic nucleotide 3’ -phosphodiesterase (CNPase) (7.7 times higher than that after gavage, p=0.0039), p38 (14.5 times higher than that before gavage, p=0.003), etc. In the individual comparison, Hepcidin was up-regulated in 4 rats simultaneously. The biological processes of differential protein enrichment include carbohydrate metabolism, iron ion reaction, apoptosis regulation, hematopoietic progenitor cell differentiation, etc. Molecular functions (e.g., complement binding, hemoglobin binding, etc.), KEGG pathways (e.g., complement and coagulation cascade, cholesterol metabolism, malaria, etc.) have also been shown to be associated with iron. This study contributes to the in-depth understanding of the biological function of iron from the perspective of urine proteomics, and provides a new research perspective for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of iron-related disorders.
Effects of age and dietary methionine restriction on cognitive and behavioural phenotypes in the rTg4510 model of frontotemporal dementia
Authors: Matos Marina Souza , Sil Annesha , Riedel Gernot , Platt Bettina , Delibegovic Mirela
Published: March 2024

Metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity are linked to neurodegenerative diseases, with evidence of decreased brain glucose metabolism and insulin resistance in patients with dementia. Given the rising prevalence of age-related diseases, lifestyle adjustments and nutritional interventions are gaining interest. Dietary methionine restriction (MR) is a nutritional intervention that enhances insulin sensitivity and delays ageing-associated metabolic alterations. Since the potential impact of MR on neurodegenerative diseases like dementia is not fully understood, we here examined the metabolic and behavioural phenotypes of a murine tauopathy model (rTg4510), which overexpresses human P301L mutated tau, and assessed the impact of an 8-week dietary MR. The rTg4510 mice and wild type (WT) littermates were assessed at 6 and 12 months of age. While rTg4510 mice displayed progressive behavioural and motor impairments at 6 and 12 months of age, MR led to significant benefits in the aged 12-month-old cohort, improving motor coordination and learning, short-term memory, and social recognition. These effects were accompanied by increased glycolysis in the hippocampus and higher FGF21 levels in the cortex. These benefits occurred in the absence of alterations in glucose metabolism/adiposity in this model. Overall, our results support the positive impact of MR on rTg4510 mice, suggesting this as a potential therapeutic intervention to delay and/or improve the progression in tau-related disease.
Transcriptional dynamics of the murine heart during perinatal development at single-cell resolution
Authors: Feulner Lara , Wünnemann Florian , Liang Jenna , Hofmann Philipp , Hitz Marc-Phillip , Schapiro Denis , Leclerc Severine , van Vliet Patrick Piet , Andelfinger Gregor
Published: March 2024

Heart maturation and remodelling during the foetal and early postnatal period are critical for proper survival and growth of the foetus, yet our knowledge of the molecular processes involved are lacking for many cardiac cell types. To gain a deeper understanding of the transcriptional dynamics of the heart during the perinatal period, we performed single-cell RNA-seq on E14.5, E16.5, E18.5, P0, P4 and P7 mouse hearts to establish a catalogue of 49,769 cells. Gene regulatory network and pathway activity analyses underscored that heart maturation is strongly associated with regulation of cell growth and proliferation via pathways such as TGFβ. We additionally identified a common, cell type-independent signature for imprinted genes over time. Surprisingly, bioinformatics analyses and confirmation with RNAscope confirmed that while lncRNA H19 expression decreased over time in multiple cardiac cell types, it remained stably expressed in endocardial cells between E14.5 and P7. This suggests a differential requirement for H19 in the endocardium, and points towards an endocardium-specific maturation process when compared to other cardiac cell types. We envision this dataset to serve as a resource for better understanding perinatal heart maturation at the transcriptomic level, and to help bridge the gap between early developmental and adult heart stages for single-cell transcriptomics.
Understanding flux switching in metabolic networks through an analysis of synthetic lethals
Authors: Manojna Sowmya , Malpani Tanisha , Mohite Omkar S. , Nath Saketha , Raman Karthik
Published: March 2024

Biological systems are extremely robust and exhibit high levels of redundancy for multiple cellular functions. Some of this redundancy manifests as alternative pathways in metabolism. Synthetic double lethals in metabolic networks comprise pairs of reactions, which, when deleted simultaneously, abrogate cell growth. However, when one reaction from such pairs is removed, the cell reroutes its metabolites through alternative pathways. Very little is known about the set of reactions through which fluxes are rerouted. Analysing this redistribution would help us to uncover the linkage between the reactions in a synthetic double lethal and also understand the complexity underlying the reroutings. Studying synthetic lethality in the context of pathogenic bacteria can offer valuable insights into therapeutic interventions. In this work, we propose a constraint-based approach to unravel these alternate pathways and complex interdependencies within and across metabolic modules. The approach involves a generic optimisation that minimises the extent of rerouting between two reaction deletions, corresponding to synthetic lethal pairs. We also include a systematic analysis of synthetic lethals by identifying the reaction classes that make up these synthetic lethals. We applied our computational workflow to several existing high-quality genome-scale models to show that these rerouted reactions span across metabolic modules, thereby illustrating the complexity and uniqueness of metabolism. Our results provide interesting insights into the organisation of metabolic networks and their redundancy.

The algorithm is available athttps://github.com/RamanLab/minRerouting.

Contact:kraman@iitm.ac.in