bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and experimental validation of dephosphorylation-related biomarkers to assess prognosis and immunotherapeutic response in gliomas
Authors: Tang Hui , Yang Xuping , Li Guoqian , Peng Ke , Sun Yang , Jiang Longyang , Huang Yilan
Published: January 2025

Background

Gliomas are common aggressive brain tumors with poor prognosis. Dephosphorylation-related biomarkers are in a void in gliomas. This study aims to construct a validated prognostic risk model for dephosphorylation, which will provide new directions for clinical treatment, prognostic assessment, and temozolomide (TMZ) resistance in glioma patients.

Methods

Screening dephosphorylation-related genes (DRGs) and transcriptome expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Molecular signatures database (MSigDB) and constructing risk scoring models. Kaplan-Meier (K-M), nomogram and ROC curve were used to assess the predictive efficacy of the model. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), immune cell infiltration, immunotherapy response and chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity analysis were performed in this study. The correlation between chemotherapeutic drugs and the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 12 DRGs was analyzed. Cell division cycle 25A (CDC25A) and TMZ were screened and verified by experiments. Quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR) detection of mRNA expression of 12 genes in human normal glial cells and two glioma cell lines. Transfection techniques overexpressed and knocked down CDC25A. qRT-PCR and Western Blot (WB) were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of CDC25A. Subsequently, verify the effect of CDC25A on TMZ resistance in glioma cells.

Results

The model established in this study was able to accurately predict the prognosis of glioma patients. Besides, there were significant differences in GSEA, immune cell infiltration, immunotherapeutic response and chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity analysis between glioma patients in the high and low risk groups. The results of CCK8 experiments showed that overexpression of CDC25A increased the susceptibility of U251 and LN229 cells to TMZ, and knockdown of CDC25A attenuated the susceptibility of U251 and LN229 cells to TMZ.
Myeloid dendritic cells and periodontal disease association: integrated study of single-cell sequencing and Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Shi ChengJi , Ou XinYi , Lei XiaoXu , Huang LiJuan , Xu ShuHao , Li Wei , Zhao Xi
Published: January 2025

Background

Periodontal disease is a widespread inflammatory condition that compromises the supporting structures of the teeth, potentially resulting in tooth loss if left untreated. Despite advancements in therapeutic interventions and an enhanced understanding of its pathophysiology, emerging techniques such as single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and Mendelian randomization (MR) present new opportunities for precision medicine in the management of periodontal disease.

Methods

Data derived from the GSE152042 dataset underwent rigorous quality control, normalization, and dimensionality reduction using Seurat and the MonacoImmuneData framework. Marker genes were identified to delineate subgroups for subsequent analysis utilizing CellChat and ClusterProfilerR. MR analysis of the expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) for these genes was conducted to determine causal relationships with periodontal disease, leveraging data from the IEU Open GWAS project.

Results

Single-cell analysis revealed distinct immune cell subtypes and indicated an increased presence of myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) in patients with periodontal disease. MR analysis identified twenty-six significant genes, with LIMA1 (LIM domain and actin-binding 1) demonstrating a robust causal association with the progression of periodontal disease. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses highlighted crucial pathways involved in periodontal inflammation and tissue destruction. Visualization at the single-cell level elucidated the role of LIMA1 in disease progression, alongside differences in cell communication dynamics between LIMA1-positive and -negative populations.

Conclusion

This study underscores the utility of scRNA-seq and MR in elucidating essential factors in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease, thereby reinforcing the necessity for targeted therapeutic strategies. The identification of LIMA1 as a pivotal gene in periodontal disease progression opens new avenues for precision medicine approaches, potentially enhancing treatment efficacy and patient outcomes in periodontal management.
Deep anterior chamber depth may be a risk factor for axial length growth in children
Authors: Cao Huijie , Xiang Yongguo , Cheng Hong , Sun Kexin , Zheng Shijie , Du Miaomiao , Gao Ning , Zhang Tong , Yang Xin , Xia Jiuyi , Wan Wenjuan , Hu Ke
Published: January 2025

Objective

To investigate and evaluate the progression of myopia and associated factors of axial length (AL) growth among children in Chongqing.

Methods

This six-month prospective study was conducted on students in grades 1 to 8 at a school in Chongqing, China. All participants underwent a standard ophthalmologic examination including uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), noncycloplegic refraction, AL, and corneal topography in March 2023. Six months later, the above examinations were repeated to obtain follow-up data. Visual habits questionnaire was gained to analyze the correlation between the AL growth and vision-related behavior.

Results

A total of 417 students from Chongqing were enrolled in this study. The myopia prevalence was higher in follow-up (38.6%) than in baseline (33.3%) and the AL was longer in follow-up than in baseline (23.69 ± 1.03 mm vs. 23.57 ± 1.03 mm, p < 0.001). The anterior chamber depth (ACD) in students with AL growth greater than or equal to 0.2 mm (3.16 ± 0.23 mm) was deeper than that in students with AL growth less than or equal to 0.05 mm (3.02 ± 0.28 mm, p = 0.001), lens thickness (LT) was thinner (3.29 ± 0.10 mm vs. 3.33 ± 0.10 mm, p = 0.004). Furthermore, ACD was positively correlated with AL growth. (r = 0.181, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Compared to SE, AL serves as a more sensitive indicator for monitoring myopia progression. ACD was positively correlated with AL growth, and deeper ACD may be contributed to longer AL growth.
Investigating Saudi university medical students’ English language difficulties: a needs analysis study
Authors: Alrashed Mohammed , Abdel Latif Muhammad M. M.
Published: January 2025

An important dimension in the education of health professionals is developing their English language performance to help them meet academic and professional needs. Though understanding Saudi university medical students’ English language needs is key to helping them perform well in their academic studies and future workplaces, there has been scarce research on these needs. The present study investigated Saudi university medical students’ English language difficulties, the strategies they use for overcoming these difficulties, their evaluation of the English language instruction received at their colleges and perceptions of their English language needs. The study drew upon surveying students’ language needs through using a 25-item questionnaire with four sections assessing the target dimensions. Two hundred and 55 students completed the questionnaire. The students have some difficulties when completing productive language tasks and when processing content explained or written fully in English. Their highest language needs relate to improving medical terminology and English speaking, but their lowest language need concerns listening. A few significant gender-related differences were noted. The English language instruction provided to the students studying medicine could be reformed through giving more attention to improving their productive language skills and helping them communicate fluently using target medical terminology.
Never mind the bug: no differences in infection-free survival after periprosthetic joint infections with Staphylococcus aureus, Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, or Streptococcus
Authors: Brüggemann Anders , Hailer Nils P.
Published: January 2025

Background

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a devastating complication following arthroplasty of the hip or knee joint and can be challenging to treat, depending on the underlying pathogen. There is still a debate whether streptococcal PJI are more difficult to treat than those caused by staphylococci. We aimed to investigate if the treatment results after PJI caused by Staphylococci aureus (S. aureus), Coagulase-negative Staphylococci spp. (CoNS) or Streptococci differ.

Patients and methods

This study was designed as a retrospective observational study on patients with PJI caused by either streptococci or staphylococci in the hip or knee treated at a tertiary referral center between 1998 and 2021. Patients were identified in the local PJI register and data were collected by medical chart review performed minimum 1 year after the index PJI. Patients with polymicrobial infections or incomplete data were excluded, leaving 299 patients with streptococcal or staphylococcal PJI for final analysis. These patients were categorized according to the underlying pathogen: 114 were S. aureus 121 were CoNS, and 64 Streptococci. Infection-free survival was defined as the absence of (1) further surgery to the index joint due to PJI, (2) suppressive antibiotic therapy, and (3) death due to PJI and was assessed using the Kaplan–Meier method. Cox regression models were fitted to estimate the risk of infection relapse adjusted for relevant confounders.

Results

We found no statistically or clinically significant difference in unadjusted survival between the three groups. Infection-free survival at 2 years was 71% (95%CI: 63–80) for S. aureus, 75% (95%CI: 67–84) for CoNS, and 60% (95%CI: 60–84) for Streptococci. The adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for the risk of infection relapse with S. aureus as the reference were 1.2 (95%CI: 0.7–2.0) for CoNS and 1.1 (95%CI: 0.6–2.0) for Streptococci. For all three groups of bacteria, survival was lower when DAIR was performed in comparison to exchange surgery.

Discussion

In our cohort, there was no difference in infection-free survival between the three groups. Albeit limitations due to the study design, it seems that streptococcal PJI do not have to be considered more difficult to treat than their staphylococcal counterparts. Exchange surgery shows favorable results in all groups compared to DAIR.
SPD_0410 negatively regulates capsule polysaccharide synthesis and virulence in Streptococcus pneumoniae D39
Authors: Tao Ye , Lei Li , Wang Shuhui , Zhang Xuemei , Yin Yibing , Zheng Yuqiang
Published: January 2025

Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular polysaccharide (CPS) is a crucial virulence factor for this pathogenic bacterium and is partially under transcriptional control. In this study, we used electrophoretic mobility shift assays and DNA enzyme footprinting to identified the hypothetical protein SPD_0410 as a negative regulator of cps locus. Our results showed that the D39Δspd0410 mutant strain exhibited significantly elevated CPS levels compared to the parental strain D39s. SPD_0410 directly binds at two specific sites on the cps promoter. The regulatory effect of SPD_0410 on CPS was weakened after the mutation of specific binding sites in the promoter. RNAseq analysis revealed that the deletion of spd0410 led to alterations in glucose metabolism. However, the altered glucose levels appeared to eliminate the regulation of CPS synthesis by SPD_0410. Deleting the spd0410 gene resulted in higher invasion and phagocytic resistance of bacteria and in vivo mouse experiments confirmed that D39Δspd0410 caused more severe systemic disease than the parental strain D39s. Our results indicated that SPD_0410 negatively regulates the synthesis of S. pneumoniae capsules and can directly alter pneumococcal virulence.
Stress-relieving plant growth-promoting bacterial co-inoculation enhances nodulation and nitrogen uptake in black gram under nitrogen-free saline conditions
Authors: Tiwari Praveen Kumar , Srivastava Anchal Kumar , Singh Rachana , Srivastava Alok Kumar
Published: January 2025

Non-halophytic plants are highly susceptible to salt stress, but numerous studies have shown that halo-tolerant microorganisms can alleviate this stress by producing phytohormones and enhancing nutrient availability. This study aimed to identify and evaluate native microbial communities from salt-affected regions to boost black gram (Vigna mungo) resilience against salinity, while improving plant growth, nitrogen uptake, and nodulation in saline environments. Six soil samples were collected from a salt-affected region in eastern Uttar Pradesh, revealing high electrical conductivity (EC) and pH, along with low nutrient availability. A total of 72 bacterial strains were isolated from soil and 28 from black gram (Vigna mungo) root nodules, with 32 of the soil bacteria tolerating up to 10% NaCl. These bacteria were characterized through taxonomic and biochemical tests. Cross-compatibility analysis showed two rhizobia strains were highly compatible with five salt-tolerant bacteria. These strains exhibited significant plant growth-promoting traits, including phosphate, potassium, and zinc solubilization, as well as ACC deaminase, IAA, siderophore, and EPS production. Strain Paenibacillus sp. SPR11 showed the strongest overall performance. Genetic diversity was assessed using BOX-PCR and ERIC-PCR, and strains were identified through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. In a seed germination study under saline conditions (200 mM and 300 mM), co-inoculation with Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense PR3 and Paenibacillus sp. SPR11 resulted in a significant enhancement in seed germination (40%), root growth (84.45%), and shoot growth (90.15%) compared to single inoculation of B. yuanmingense PR3. Under greenhouse conditions in Leonard jars, co-inoculation with strains PR3 and SPR11 significantly enhanced shoot and root length, fresh and dry biomass, nodule count, and nodule fresh and dry weight. Chlorophyll content, nutrient uptake, and crude protein levels increased, while proline content decreased compared to single inoculation and uninoculated seeds. Our best understanding leads us to believe that this is the very first report of utilizing co-inoculation of salt-tolerant Paenibacillus sp. SPR11 and B. yuanmingense PR3, demonstrating their promising potential to alleviate salt stress and enhance growth, root architecture, nitrogen uptake, and nodule formation in black gram under nitrogen free saline conditions.
Global glucose metabolism rate as diagnostic marker for disorder of consciousness of patients: quantitative FDG-PET study
Authors: Liu Dongsheng , Wang Nan , Song Ming , Chai Xiaoke , He Qiheng , Cao Tianqing , Kong Dawei , Song Zhuhuan , Zhang Guangming , Liu Lei , Wang Xiaosong , Chen Guoqiang , Yin Shaoya , Yang Yi , Zhao Jizong
Published: January 2025

Objective

This study was to employ 18F-flurodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET) to evaluate the resting-state brain glucose metabolism in a sample of 46 patients diagnosed with disorders of consciousness (DoC). The aim was to identify objective quantitative metabolic indicators and predictors that could potentially indicate the level of awareness in these patients.

Methods

A cohort of 46 patients underwent Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) assessments in order to distinguish between the minimally conscious state (MCS) and the unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS). Additionally, resting-state FDG-PET data were acquired from both the patient group and a control group consisting of 10 healthy individuals. The FDG-PET data underwent reorientation, spatial normalization to a stereotaxic space, and smoothing. The normalization procedure utilized a customized template following the methodology outlined by Phillips et al. Mean cortical metabolism of the overall sample was utilized for distinguishing between UWS and MCS, as well as for predicting the outcome at a 1-year follow-up through the application of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

Results

We used Global Glucose Metabolism as the Diagnostic Marker. A one-way ANOVA revealed that there was a statistically significant difference in cortical metabolic index between two groups (F(2, 53) = 7.26, p < 0.001). Multiple comparisons found that the mean of cortical metabolic index was significantly different between MCS (M = 4.19, SD = 0.64) and UWS group (M = 2.74, SD = 0.94,p < 0.001). Also, the mean of cortical metabolic index was significantly different between MCS and healthy group (M = 7.88, SD = 0.80,p < 0.001). Using the above diagnostic criterion, the diagnostic accuracy yielded an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.89 across the pooled cohort (95%CI 0.79–0.99). There was an 85% correct classification between MCS and UWS, with 88% sensitivity and 81% specificity for MCS. The best classification rate in the derivation cohort was achieved at a metabolic index of 3.32 (41% of the mean cortical metabolic index in healthy controls).

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrate that conscious awareness requires a minimum of 41% of normal cortical activity, as indicated by metabolic rates.
Aesthetic evaluation underpinning brand love relationship development: an activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis and multivariate analysis
Authors: Watanuki Shinya
Published: January 2025

Objectives

Brand love is a crucial construct in marketing strategies. Building brand love can generate stable profits for enterprises. Although the marketing literature points out that aesthetic factors contribute to establishing the relationship as a trigger, to what stage of the relationship do they influence the minds of consumers? The present study attempts to reveal the involvement of aesthetic experiences in brand love developmental dynamics.

Methodology

Using the activation likelihood estimation method, we address this issue by assessing overlapping brain regions between brand love at each stage and aesthetic experiences. We adopted three major meta-analytic decoding analysis modules to objectively interpret these brain regions, namely, Neurosynth, NeuroQuery, and the Behavioral Analysis plugin (BrainMap platform). Moreover, we performed a correspondence analysis to identify relationships of mental processes between aesthetic experiences and brand love in each developmental stage of brand love.

Findings

Our results suggest that the same neural mechanism and mental processes may be underlaid between brand love and aesthetic experiences across all stages. Although reward- and emotion-related mental processes are commonly underlaid between brand love at the first-half stage and aesthetic experiences, exteroceptive and interoceptive signals may drive those mental processes between the early and migration stages of brand love, respectively, and aesthetic experiences. Overlapping regions of brand love at the stable stage and aesthetic experiences may be associated with semantic processing.

Conclusion

We demonstrate that several brain regions overlapped between brand love and aesthetic experiences across all the brand love developmental stages. Therefore, aesthetic experiences might be associated with the mental processes of brand love development through all the developmental stages. Our results suggest that aesthetic experiences are essential elements for developing brand-love relationships.

Implications

Our findings indicate that marketers should recognize that aesthetic experiences play a crucial role in building a bond between brands and consumers, not only when choosing brands. Thus, marketers need to design visual strategies from the view of nurturing brand-love relationships.
Opportunities for the further development of the Safety Case for deep geological repositories by transdisciplinary research – FEP catalogs and scenario development
Authors: Ebeling Marcel , Heiermann Martina , Röhlig Klaus-Jürgen
Published: January 2025

In the TRANSENS research project (2019–2025), large-scale transdisciplinary research on nuclear waste management is being conducted for the first time in Germany. Transdisciplinary in this context means that non-specialists and practice actors are systematically involved in developing and addressing research questions. One out of four TRANSENS research topics is addressing optimization potential for the Safety Case (SC) for Deep Geological Repositories (DGR) for nuclear waste. Seven workshops on this topic were held with three working groups, which differed from one another in terms of their types of knowledge. The work focused on the area of FEP (features, events, and processes) and scenarios. It also shows how objections and optimization proposals for safety cases differ between the various transdisciplinary working groups. Accessibility of SC content was identified as a fundamental area for improvement. Summaries of the report that are appropriate for various target audiences were called for, as was the inclusion of experts from outside the established SC community. The use of digital presentations and communication options was examined in detail. Regarding FEP processing, matrix forms of representation were discussed which, in addition to representing general dependencies, can also depict the strength of these dependencies. There were also proposals for the use of a morphological box to achieve this goal and to be able to create scenarios from FEP. Suggestions were made as to when FEP should be excluded from catalogs, when scenarios can be discarded and how these processes could be documented. To find previously unknown FEP, ideas were put forward regarding a reward system through which the general public could contribute to the completeness of the FEP catalog. In all workshops, promising and valuable results (e.g., criticisms, ideas) were achieved through transdisciplinary research. In TRANSENS, it was proven that the participation of non-experts in research can lead to substantive and in-depth suggestions for improvement. This also means that meaningful contributions based on participatory research are possible in broad participatory processes such as the German site selection procedure. It remains to be seen to what extent the results obtained in TRANSENS will be considered in the preparation of the future German Safety Cases.
Therapeutic dose prediction using score-based diffusion model for pretreatment patient-specific quality assurance
Authors: Yu Xiuwen , Lin Jiabin , Gong Changfei , Zhang Minhui , Luo Xianyu , Liu Qiegen , Zhang Yun
Published: January 2025

Objectives

Implementing pre-treatment patient-specific quality assurance (prePSQA) for cancer patients is a necessary but time-consuming task, imposing a significant workload on medical physicists. Currently, the prediction methods used for prePSQA fall under the category of supervised learning, limiting their generalization ability and resulting in poor performance on new data. In the context of this work, the limitation of traditional supervised models was broken by proposing a conditional generation method utilizing unsupervised diffusion model.

Methods

A conditional generation method base on the score-based diffusion model was proposed, which employed diffusion model for the first time to predict the predict patients’ therapeutic doses (TherapDose). The proposed diffusion model TherapDose prediction method (DMTP) learns the data distribution of dose images. The data distribution contains the quantitative relationship between the radiotherapy dose (RTDose) derived from the VMAT plan files of the Treatment Planning System (TPS) and the measured Dose (MDose, i.e., TherapDose) obtained from the Dolphin Compass physical system. By sampling from the learnt distribution, efficient prediction of TherapDose was achieved. The training dataset comprises RTDose, and the MDose. The three-dimensional information of dose slice was utilized to predict TherapDose, aiming to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of TherapDose prediction. Root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and structural similarity (SSIM) metrics were leveraged to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Meanwhile, CT images were further added to test the impacts of CT images on the prediction effect of MDose.

Results

The DMTP method has demonstrated superior performance in predicting TherapDose within key anatomical regions including the head and neck, chest, and abdomen, outperforming existing state-of-the-art methods by achieving high-quality predictions as measured across different evaluation metrics. It indicates that the proposed method is highly effective and accurate in its dose prediction capabilities.

Conclusions

The proposed method has proven to be highly effective, consistently outperforming state-of-the-art techniques in MDose prediction across multiple anatomical regions and evaluation metrics. This method can serve as a clinical aid to assist medical physicists in diminishing the measurement workload associated with prePSQA.
Unveiling the role of ASPP1 in cancer progression: pan-cancer bioinformatics and experimental validation in colorectal cancer
Authors: Xiao Keyuan , Li Xiang , Ullah Ihsan , Hu Wenqing , Wang Kaiqiang , Yang Fan , Yang Chengyu , Feng Chunqi , Zong Liang , Li Xinghua
Published: January 2025

Background

The Apoptosis-Stimulating Protein of P53 (ASPP) family contributes to apoptosis regulation and tumor suppression, with ASPP1 influencing processes like cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. Its expression varies across cancer types, suggesting a potential role in oncogenesis.

Methods

This study investigates ASPP1’s role across various cancers using a comprehensive bioinformatics approach. Data were extracted from public resources, including The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), GTEx, and the Human Protein Atlas, and analyzed via tools such as cBioPortal, GEPIA, and TIMER2. Statistical and network analyses were performed with R, Cytoscape, and Hiplot. ASPP1’s function in colorectal cancer was further explored through in vitro assays, including qRT-PCR, Western blotting, colony formation, Transwell, and wound healing.

Results

ASPP1 expression exhibited significant variability across different cancer types, with marked associations with patient outcomes, particularly overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) across several cancer types. In-depth protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis revealed ASPP1’s involvement in apoptosis and cancer progression networks. Functional enrichment analysis further linked ASPP1 to key apoptotic signaling pathways and transcriptional regulatory processes, underscoring its potential impact on tumor biology. Additionally, the expression of ASPP1 correlates with immune cell infiltration patterns, including cancer-associated fibroblasts and various immune markers, suggesting roles in immune response modulation. In vitro assays with colorectal cancer cell lines revealed significantly lower ASPP1 expression levels compared to normal colon cells (HCM460), and ASPP1 overexpression experiments showed a marked reduction in colorectal cancer cell proliferation, colony formation, invasion, and migration abilities. These cellular findings align with the bioinformatics predictions, highlighting ASPP1’s role as a suppressor of metastatic traits in colorectal cancer.

Conclusion

This study highlights ASPP1 as a forecasting biomarker in the colorectal cancers and potentially across other cancers. The findings support ASPP1’s involvement in tumor biology, particularly regarding cell proliferation and metastatic potential, establishing a foundation for further investigation into its therapeutic relevance.
Efficacy, safety, and therapeutic drug monitoring of polymyxin B sulfate and colistin sulfate in critically ill patients: a real-world retrospective study
Authors: Zhang Yijing , Wang Chuhui , Chen Jiaojiao , Bai Chuqi , Sun Dan , Qiu Yulan , Teng Mengmeng , Dong Yalin
Published: January 2025

Background

Polymyxin B sulfate (PBS) and colistin sulfate (CS) are the last-line treatments for infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, but their efficacy and safety have not been validated. The aims of the current study were to (1) determine their efficacy and safety among critically ill patients and the influencing factors, and (2) determine the relationships of drug exposure with efficacy and safety, to provide evidence for the precision dosing.

Method

This retrospective study included 100 critically ill patients treated with PBS and 80 treated with CS. The efficacy outcomes were clinical efficacy and 30-day mortality, while the safety indicator was acute kidney injury (AKI) incidence.

Result

There was no significant difference between the two drugs in clinical efficacy, 30-day mortality, or overall AKI incidence, but the incidence of stage 3 AKI was significantly higher in the PBS cohort than the CS cohort. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and trough concentration (Cmin) were significantly associated with clinical efficacy and AKI in both cohorts. Classification and regression tree analysis revealed that Cmin values of ≥0.91 mg/L for PBS and Cmin ≥ 0.53 mg/L for CS were associated with higher clinical efficacy.

Conclusion

There is basically no significant difference in the efficacy and safety of PBS and CS. TDM can significantly improve the clinical efficacy of both drugs and reduce the incidence of AKI. TDM is therefore recommended to improve the clinical efficacy while reducing the adverse reactions.
Antithrombotic therapy for a case report of acute myocardial infarction after laparoscopic radical cystectomy
Authors: Wang Zilong , Yuan Huisheng , Chu Junhao , Duan Shishuai , Zhang Zhihui , Song Changze , Wang Muwen
Published: January 2025

Background

Radical cystectomy constitutes the standard therapeutic approach for high-risk urothelial carcinomas of the bladder. Contemporary guidelines advise urologists to discontinue anticoagulation therapy during the perioperative period to mitigate the risk of significant intraoperative or postoperative hemorrhage. Nevertheless, in elderly patients with a history of coronary artery disease, the cessation of anticoagulant medication elevates the risk of acute myocardial infarction, thereby posing a substantial threat to their survival. Therefore, the necessity and optimal strategy for anticoagulation therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction following radical cystectomy remains a subject of ongoing debate. This study aims to contribute clinical insights for clinicians to manage high-risk patients with acute myocardial infarction post-major surgery.

Methods and results

The 64-year-old male patient was admitted for multiple high-grade urothelial carcinomas of the bladder. The preoperative computed tomography angiography revealed intra-luminal stenosis of the coronary arteries. However, the patient declined further assessment via preoperative coronary angiography, thereby precluding the accurate prediction of postoperative myocardial infarction risk. The patient subsequently underwent laparoscopic radical cystectomy with Bricker conduit urinary diversion and the postoperative pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of high-grade urothelial carcinoma (T1N0M0, G3). Regrettably, on the first postoperative day, the patient experienced an acute anterior wall ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Consequently, the patient underwent emergency percutaneous coronary intervention and was administered dual antiplatelet therapy consisting of aspirin and ticagrelor. The daily pelvic fluid drainage, routine blood and coagulation parameters remained within normal ranges. Following the second percutaneous coronary intervention and dual antiplatelet therapy, the patient was discharged after 2 days. Over a 3-year follow-up period, all hematological parameters consistently remained within normal ranges, and there were no incidents of bleeding or anastomotic leakage.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that postoperative percutaneous coronary intervention, in conjunction with continued dual antiplatelet therapy, is a safe and effective antithrombotic strategy for managing perioperative acute myocardial infarction. This finding suggests a potential paradigm shift in the management of antithrombotic therapy for high-risk surgical patients, advocating for a tailored approach rather than the routine discontinuation of such therapy.
Research progress on the synthesis process, detection method, pharmacological effects and application of glycocholic acid
Authors: Li Jiahui , Zhang Chungang , Wang Yang , Tian Minyuan , Xie Chao , Hu Heng
Published: January 2025

Objective

This review aims to summarize the research progress of glycocholic acid to promote its broader development and application.

Methods

This article collects relevant literature from databases such as Science Direct, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar and CNKI from the establishment to 2024, systematically organizing and analyzing aspects of glycocholic acid including its physicochemical properties, synthesis and extraction techniques, detection methods, pharmacological effects, mechanisms of action, clinical research, and application as an excipient.

Results

Glycocholic acid, as a key conjugated component in bile acids, exhibits various pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Nevertheless, current research on glycocholic acid is insufficient, with synthesis techniques requiring improvement, limited application of detection technologies, and a need for in-depth exploration of its pharmacological mechanisms. Due to its amphiphilic molecular structure, glycocholic acid is primarily used as a pharmaceutical excipient.

Conclusion

This review summarizes the existing research on glycocholic acid, indicating that future research should strengthen work in this field, including improving synthesis processes and enhancing the sensitivity of detection technologies, to provide a scientific basis for the development of new formulations and drug combinations, thereby promoting the advancement of traditional Chinese medicine.
Exploring perceived barriers and attitudes in young adults towards antidepressant pharmacotherapy, including the implementation of pharmacogenetic testing to optimize prescription practices
Authors: Roberts Bradley , Cooper Zahra , Landery Georgia , Stanley Susanne , Majda Bernadette T. , Collins Khan R. L. , Akkari P. Anthony , Hood Sean D. , Rodger Jennifer
Published: January 2025

Introduction

The field of pharmacogenetics (PGx) is experiencing significant growth, with increasing evidence to support its application in psychiatric care, suggesting its potential to personalize treatment plans, optimize medication efficacy, and reduce adverse drug reactions. However, the perceived utility and practicability of PGx for psychiatric treatment in youth remains underexplored. This study investigated perceived barriers and attitudes in Australian young adults towards the implementation of PGx testing to guide antidepressant treatment in primary care.

Methods

Semi-structured focus groups and interviews were conducted with 17 participants aged between 18 and 24 years. These sessions were recorded and transcribed before thematic analysis was used to identify collective themes.

Results

Three key themes were identified, including attitudes towards the medication prescription process, concerns and attitudes towards PGx testing, and perceived barriers to its clinical implementation. Although PGx testing was positively perceived by most participants, all participants shared concerns about PGx testing. Participants voiced concerns about the financial impact of PGx testing, the potential for treatment delays, and the accuracy of PGx testing in guiding antidepressant treatment. Additionally, participants noted that the low awareness and willingness of general practitioners to incorporate PGx testing into routine practice could hinder successful clinical implementation.

Discussion

Prior to the implementation of PGx testing into Australian primary practices, it is essential to acknowledge patient perspectives and ensure that clinical practices remain patient-focused. This study highlights important considerations for integrating PGx testing into antidepressant pharmacotherapy and emphasizes the need for future research to address and mitigate the perceived barriers of young adults.
Non-invasive ML methods for diagnosis of congenital heart disease associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Gao Yuyang , Ma Pengyue , Pan Jiahua , Yang Hongbo , Guo Tao , Wang Weilian
Published: January 2025

Objective

Congenital heart disease with pulmonary arterial hypertension (CHD-PAH), caused by CHD, is associated with high clinical mortality. Hence, timely diagnosis is imperative for treatment.

Approach

Two non-invasive diagnosis algorithms of CHD-PAH were put forward in this review, which were direct three-divided and two-stage classification models. Pre-processing in both algorithms focuses on segmentation of heart sounds into discrete cardiac cycles. Both the dual-threshold and Bi-LSTM (Bi-directional Long Short-Term Memory) methods demonstrate efficacy. In the feature extraction phase, the direct three-divided model integrate time-, frequency-, and energy-domain features with deep learning features. While the two-stage classification model sequentially extracts sub-band envelopes and short-time energy of cardiac cycle. In the classification phase, considering the lack of CHD-PAH data, ensemble learning was widely used.

Main results

An accuracy of 88.61% was achieved with direct three-divided model and 90.9% with two-stage classification model.

Significance

By analyzing and discussing these algorithms, future research directions of CHD-PAH assisted diagnosis were discussed. It is hoped that it will provide insight into prediction of CHD-PAH. Thus saving people from death due to untimely assistance.
Enterobacter-inoculation altered the C, N contents and regulated biomass allocation in Reaumuria soongorica to promote plant growth and improve salt stress tolerance
Authors: Bao Xin-Guang , Chong Pei-Fang , He Cai , Lu Xue-Mei , Wang Xue-Ying , Zhang Feng , Tan Bing-Bing , Yang Jia-Li , Gao Li-Li
Published: January 2025

Soil salinization poses a significant ecological and environmental challenge both in China and across the globe. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) enhance plants’ resilience against biotic and abiotic stresses, thereby playing a vital role in soil improvement and vegetation restoration efforts. PGPR assist plants in thriving under salt stress by modifying plant physiology, enhancing nutrient absorption, and synthesizing plant hormones. However, the mechanisms through which PGPR regulate the contents of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), and biomass allocation of desert plant in response to salt stress is still unclear. This study explores the impact of PGPR on biomass allocation, C, and N contents of R. soongorica seedlings through a pot experiment. Strains P6, N20, and N21, identified as Enterobacter, were isolated from the rhizosphere of R. soongorica, and they exhibited various beneficial traits such as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, phosphate solubilization, nitrogen fixation, and tolerance to up to 8% NaCl stress. We found that under NaCl stress, R. soongorica seedlings exhibit significant reductions in plant height, basal diameter, and root surface area (P<0.05). However, inoculation with strains P6, N20, and N21 reverses these trends. Compared to NaCl treatment alone, co-treatment with these strains significantly increases the biomass of roots, stems, and leaves, particularly root biomass, which increases by 99.88%, 85.55%, and 141.76%, respectively (P<0.05). Moreover, N contents decrease significantly in the roots, stems and leaves, C contents increase significantly in the roots and leaves compared to NaCl treatment (P<0.05). Specifically, N contents in roots decrease by 14.50%, 12.47%, and 8.60%, while C contents in leaves increase by 4.96%, 4.45%, and 4.94%, respectively (P<0.05). Additionally, stem and leaf biomasses exhibit a significant positive correlation with C contents and a significant negative correlation with N contents in these tissues. In conclusion, inoculation of Enterobacter strains enhanced the biomass of R. soongorica seedlings, regulated the biomass distribution, and modifies C and N contents to promote plant growth and improve salt stress tolerance. This study provides a novel adaptive strategy for the integrated use of PGPR and halophytes in saline-alkali soil improvement and vegetation restoration efforts.
Dihydroporphyrin iron (III) enhances low temperature tolerance by increasing carbon and nitrogen metabolism in Andrographis paniculata
Authors: Jian Shao-Fen , Huang Yan-Fen , Chen Dong-Liang , Zhong Chu
Published: January 2025

Dihydroporphyrin iron (DH-Fe) is a novel plant growth regulator that plays significant roles in plant stress resistance. We found that Andrographis paniculata is extremely sensitive to low temperature (LT) with a threshold of 25°C. To evaluate whether and how DH-Fe alleviates LT stress in A. paniculata, different DH-Fe concentrations (0, 10, 20, and 40 μg·L-1) were applied to estimate its effects on C and N metabolism and antioxidative capacity in A. paniculata grown under 20°C. Pre-treatment of DH-Fe alleviated LT-induced anthocyanin accumulation. Additionally, it relieved LT-induced oxidative stress by increasing the activity of catalase (CAT). DH-Fe reduced the contents of sucrose, soluble sugar and starch and the activities of sucrose synthase (SS) and hexokinase (HXK), but stimulated the activities of sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH), and malic enzyme (ME). Soluble protein and proline contents were decreased by DH-Fe, while total N and free amino acids contents were increased, accompanying by the enhancement of the activities of glutamine synthase (GS), glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GTP). Simultaneously, the content of andrographolide, the bioactive ingredient of A. paniculata, was remarkably declined. These results indicated that DH-Fe alleviates LT-induced oxidation by increasing sugar catabolism and allocating C metabolic flow to N assimilation. A concentration of 20 μg·L-1 DH-Fe is recommended to be used to enhance LT tolerance in A. paniculata. Our results update the understanding of the mechanism of plant cold tolerance and provide new ideas for relieving plant cold damage.
The antinomian framework of Western and non-Western democracies—from theory to application
Authors: Hidalgo Oliver Fernando
Published: January 2025

This article argues in favour of broadening the classical paradigm of democracy that historically emerged in the West. Without disregarding the undiminished significance of the idea of liberal democracy and its deep commitment to universal human rights, the necessity of a new accentuation of the concept of democracy is accepted in view of the observable democratic processes in non-Western societies. This should help to avoid both the blind spots of Eurocentrism and the misperception of countries as democracies that are merely masking their authoritarian or despotic character. The result is a theory of popular sovereignty that seeks to grasp and combine Western and non-Western conceptions of democracy in a balanced way and is based on a genealogical and comparative perspective of the history of political ideas in the global North and South. In a second step, the theory is then tested using a few selected examples (Confucian democracy, Islamic democracy, African democracy).
Strategic stability in a new era
Authors: Bolt Paul J.
Published: January 2025

Numerous factors are undermining strategic stability in the contemporary world, making the prospects of nuclear war more dangerous. This article reviews the concept of strategic stability and provides an overview of the nuclear forces of the United States, Russia, and China to offer some understanding of the nuclear hardware that shapes strategic stability. It next explores new challenges to strategic stability. These include uncertainty about the reasoning behind China’s nuclear buildup and the strategic challenge this buildup presents to the United States, the shift to a tripolar nuclear “balance” as China’s nuclear forces continue to grow, Russian threats to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, enhanced Russian-Chinese ties overall and specifically in the nuclear arena, and challenges posed by smaller nuclear powers. The article concludes by discussing important implications of changes in the strategic environment and hence strategic stability. These include pressures on the United States to upgrade its nuclear posture, greater challenges for the US in convincingly providing extended deterrence to its allies, and the need to shift focus in arms control from limiting the number of weapons to more modest but achievable goals.
Perception of animate motion in dogs
Authors: Abdai Judit
Published: January 2025

Various motion cues can lead to the perception of animacy, including (1) simple motion characteristics such as starting to move from rest, (2) motion patterns of interactions like chasing, or (3) the motion of point-lights representing the joints of a moving biological agent. Due to the relevance of dogs in comparative research and considering the large variability within the species, studying animacy perception in dogs can provide unique information about how selection for specific traits and individual-level (social) differences may shape social perception. Despite these advantages, only a few studies have investigated the phenomenon in dogs. In this mini-review, we discuss the current findings about how specific motion dynamics associated with animacy drive dogs' visual attention.
Combined effect of the smartphone addiction and physical activity on the depressive symptoms in secondary school students: a cross sectional study in Shanghai, China
Authors: Yang Rui , Tan Shuoyuan , Abdukerima Gulqihra , Lu Ting , Chen Chen , Song Lixin , Ji Bing , Lv Yipeng , Shi Jianwei
Published: January 2025

Objective

This study aims to investigate the prevalence of smartphone addiction, physical activity levels, and depressive symptoms among secondary school students, and to analyze the combined impact of smartphone addiction and physical activity on depressive symptoms.

Methods

A cluster sampling method was employed in two secondary schools in the Jing’an District of Shanghai, China. Univariate analysis was used to compare the prevalence of depressive symptoms across different demographic characteristics. Logistic regression was utilized to examine the associations between smartphone addiction, physical activity, and their combined effect on depressive symptoms.

Results

A total of 1,316 respondents participated in the study, with reported prevalence rates of depressive symptoms (36.2%), smartphone addiction (19.2%), and insufficient physical activity (23.3%). Risk factors for depressive symptoms included being a non-only child (OR=1.421, 95% CI: 1.090-1.853, P=0.009), inadequate sleep duration (OR=2.722, 95% CI: 2.070-3.578, P<0.001) and smartphone addiction (OR=2.173, 95% CI: 1.621-2.913, P < 0.001). Adolescents with smartphone addiction were significantly more likely to report depressive symptoms compared to those without (OR=2.173, 95% CI: 1.621-2.913, P < 0.001). Joint analysis indicated that combined smartphone addiction and insufficient physical activity significantly increased the risk of depressive symptoms (OR=2.781, 95% CI: 1.627-4.753, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The study identified a high prevalence of severe smartphone addiction, insufficient physical activity, and elevated rates of depressive symptoms among secondary school students. Smartphone addiction and inadequate physical activity were associated with increased likelihood of depressive symptoms. Moreover, higher levels of physical activity appeared to mitigate the adverse impact of smartphone addiction on depressive symptoms.