bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A specific metabolomic and lipidomic signature reveals the post-partum resolution of gestational diabetes mellitus or its evolution to Type 2 Diabetes in rat
Authors: Bobin Paul , Mitanchez Delphine , Castellano Blandine , Grit Isabelle , Moyon Thomas , Raux Axel , Vambergue Anne , Winer Norbert , Darmaun Dominique , Michel Catherine , Le Dréan Gwenola , Alexandre-Gouabau Marie-Cécile
Published: February 2025

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) represents a major public health concern due to adverse maternal post-partum and long-term outcome. Current strategies to manage GDM fail to reduce the maternal risk to develop later impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). In a rodent model of diet-induced GDM without obesity, we explored the perinatal metabolic adaptations in dams followed by either persistent or resolved post-partum IGT. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a High-Fat High-Sucrose (HFHS) or a Chow (CTL) diet, one week before mating and throughout gestation (G). Following parturition, HFHS dams were randomized to two subgroups: one switched to Chow diet and the other one maintained on HFHS diet throughout lactation (L). Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) were performed and plasma metabolome-lipidome were characterized at G12 and L12. We found that: (1) in GDM pregnant-dams, IGT was associated with incomplete fatty acid oxidation (FAO), enhanced gluconeogenesis, altered insulin signaling and oxidative stress; (2) improved glucose tolerance post-partum seemed to restore complete FAO along with elevation of nervonic acid-containing sphingomyelins, assumed to impart β-cell protection; and (3) persistence of IGT after delivery was associated with metabolites known to predict the early onset of insulin and leptin resistance, with maintained liver dysfunction. Our findings shed light on the impact of post-partum IGT evolution on maternal metabolic outcome after an episode of GDM. They suggest innovative strategies, implemented shortly after delivery and targeted on these biomarkers, should be explored to curb or delay the transition from GDM to T2D in these mothers.
Neuroimaging meets neurophysiology: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in early Alzheimer's disease (AD)
Authors: Song Bing Xin , Jiang Guocheng , Wong Melissa , Gallagher Damien , MacIntosh Bradley J. , Andreazza Ana C. , Beroncal Erika L. , Black Sandra E. , Herrmann Nathan , Charles Jocelyn Elizabeth , Gao Fuqiang , Kiss Alex , Marotta Giovanni , Lanctôt Krista L.
Published: February 2025

Angiogenesis may play an important role in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Previous in vitro and in vivo studies suggest a link between angiogenesis and cerebral blood flow (CBF) in AD; however, this has never been studied clinically. In this sample of study participants with early AD (n = 15), serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an angiogenesis biomarker, was negatively associated with regional CBF (rCBF) in the angular gyrus even after bootstrapping at a repetition of 5000 and controlling for age, sex, and diagnosis (β = -0.015, SE = 0.006, p = .02, f2= 0.27, pbootstrapped = .049). Sex-stratified subgroup analyses showed a strong negative correlation between rCBF in the angular gyrus and log-VEGF in males (n = 7; r = -0.78, p = .04), but not in females (n = 8; r = -0.16, p = .7). These results support an association between angiogenesis and CBF in early AD that should be further investigated in longitudinal studies and may have relevance for future therapeutic interventions in AD.
Interventional Retrospective Case Series of Patients Undergoing Treatment Intervals of More Than Twenty‐Four (24) Weeks With Faricimab
Authors: Babel Adrian , Chin Eric K. , Almeida David
Published: February 2025

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal faricimab dosing interval at and beyond 24 weeks in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) and neovascular age‐related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Methods: This study is a retrospective case series of eight patients with persistent DME and nAMD who received intravitreal faricimab at and beyond the 24‐week (6‐month) dosing interval regimen.

Results: The majority of patients experienced an improved mean best‐corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 9.9 letters; congruent anatomical improvement (mean central macular thickness (CMT)) decrease of 44 μm on optical coherence tomography (OCT) is demonstrated at 6 months despite extended faricimab dosing intervals.

Conclusions: Extended intravitreal faricimab dosing intervals at and beyond 24 weeks maintained visual and anatomical outcomes in patients over 1 year. This suggests the feasibility of personalized extended dosing tailored to each patient’s disease activity, potentially reducing treatment burden.
Multimodal Imaging of a Case of Monitoring of Acute Posterior Multifocal Placoid Pigment Epitheliopathy (APMPPE): Long‐Term Follow‐Up
Authors: Sarna Monika , Wilczynski Michal , Waszczykowska Arleta
Published: February 2025

An 18‐year‐old male presented with bilateral vision loss, worsening over 10 days in the left eye and rapidly in the right eye following a suspected viral respiratory infection. On admission, his best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.9 in the right eye and 0.025 in the left. No inflammation was found in the anterior segment or vitreous body, but both eyes showed multiple yellow–white, plaque‐like lesions in the retina and choroid, with foveal involvement in the left eye. Diagnostic tests revealed choriocapillaris flow deficits (optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA)), hyperreflective changes in the outer retina and choroidal thickening (optical coherence tomography (OCT)), hypofluorescence and patchy hyperfluorescence (fluorescein angiography (FA)), hypoautofluorescence with peripheral hyperautofluorescence (fundus autofluorescence (FAF)), reduced a‐ and b‐wave amplitudes (electroretinogram (ERG)), and scotomas with decreased retinal sensitivity (visual field (VF)). The presence of HLA‐B15 and HLA‐B35 antigens was confirmed. Treatment with oral methylprednisolone and intravenous acyclovir led to significant improvement within 1 day. BCVA improved to 0.9 in the right eye and 0.25 in the left, with further improvement to 0.9 and 0.5 9 days after discharge. Full visual recovery was achieved within 5 weeks. This case underscores the diagnostic value of OCTA and suggests a potential genetic predisposition linked to HLA‐B15 and HLA‐B35. It also highlights the effectiveness of methylprednisolone and acyclovir in APMPPE following a viral infection.
Detection of Acanthamoeba Harboring Campylobacter jejuni Endosymbionts in Hospital Environments of Markazi Province, Iran
Authors: Mohammadi Alireza , Dalimi Abdolhossein , Ghaffarifar Fatemeh , Pirestani Majid , Akbari Majid
Published: February 2025

Most Acanthamoebas contain endosymbionts such as viruses, yeasts, protists, and bacteria, some of which are potential human pathogens, including Campylobacter jejuni which often causes gastroenteritis and septicemia in humans. Amoebae have been shown to be resistant to chlorination and apparently protect ingested bacteria such as C. jejuni from free chlorine. Such resistance can have health implications, especially for drinking water treatment. The aim of this study is to identify Acanthamoeba in hospital samples in Markazi province, to determine the identity of C. jejuni endosymbiont in positive samples of Acanthamoeba in natural and laboratory conditions, and to determine the relationship between the two. The main aim of this study was to determine the identity of C. jejuni endosymbiont in Acanthamoeba‐positive samples in natural and laboratory conditions. In this study, 134 samples including water, soil, and dust were collected from hospital environments. After molecular detection, the identity of the symbiotic Campylobacter jejuni in Acanthamoeba was determined by microscopic and PCR methods. Then, the ability of bacteria to infect the parasite was examined by cocultivation in vitro using real‐time PCR. Finally, their relationship was examined based on statistical tests. The rate of contamination of hospital samples with Acanthamoeba was 44.7% on average. Out of 42 Acanthamoeba PCR‐positive samples, seven isolates (16.67%) were found to be positive in terms of C. jejuni endosymbiont according to sampling location. The results showed that Helicobacter is able to penetrate and enter the Acanthamoeba parasite. In conclusion, our results showed that C. jejuni is able to contaminate Acanthamoeba in natural and laboratory conditions. The presence of pathogenic Acanthamoeba in various hospital environments and the hiding of Helicobacter as an endosymbiont inside it can pose a serious threat to the health of hospitalized patients.
Figure S3 from Expression Patterns of DLL3 across Neuroendocrine and Non-neuroendocrine Neoplasms Reveal Broad Opportunities for Therapeutic Targeting
Authors: Lozada John R. , Elliott Andrew , Evans Mark G. , Wacker James , Storey Kathleen M. , Egusa Emily A. , Zorko Nicholas A. , Kumar Akhilesh , Crymes Anthony , Heath Elisabeth I. , Carneiro Benedito A. , Soares Heloisa P. , Cichocki Frank , Miller Jeffrey S. , Lou Emil , Beltran Himisha , Antonarakis Emmanuel S. , Ryan Charles J. , Hwang Justin H.
Published: February 2025

Supplementary Figure S3: Immune repertoire of DLL3-high versus –low NENs across anatomic sites. Stacked radar plots comparing the imputed cell fractions of immune cells between DLL3-high and -low samples in (A) lung NECs, (B) lung NETs, (C) prostate NENs, and (D) bladder NENs. *q < 0.05, **q < 0.01
Figure S1 from Expression Patterns of DLL3 across Neuroendocrine and Non-neuroendocrine Neoplasms Reveal Broad Opportunities for Therapeutic Targeting
Authors: Lozada John R. , Elliott Andrew , Evans Mark G. , Wacker James , Storey Kathleen M. , Egusa Emily A. , Zorko Nicholas A. , Kumar Akhilesh , Crymes Anthony , Heath Elisabeth I. , Carneiro Benedito A. , Soares Heloisa P. , Cichocki Frank , Miller Jeffrey S. , Lou Emil , Beltran Himisha , Antonarakis Emmanuel S. , Ryan Charles J. , Hwang Justin H.
Published: February 2025

Supplementary Figure S1: UMAP view of NEN samples across diverse anatomic sites. Samples were unbiasedly clustered based off the top 1,000 variably expressed genes across samples and annotated using (A) DLL3 expression level and (B) anatomic site of origin.
Study on Drug-Food Thickening Agents’ Interactions between Warfarin and Prebiotics Used for Viscosity Adjustment
Authors: Wakabayashi Hitomi , Karasawa Koji , Okamoto Matoka , Chiba Masahiro , Tanaka Katsumi
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Prebiotics are widely used in nutritional supplements, with water-soluble dietary fibers used as thickeners for patients with swallowing difficulties. Interactions between thickeners and medications have been reported; however, the effects of thickeners on warfarin remain unclear. Here, we examined the interaction between warfarin and thickeners through clinical and basic research studies. Methods: The clinical research study evaluated the effects of combining warfarin and thickeners on blood coagulation, while the basic research study measured the impact of different prebiotics and mixing with gastric and intestinal fluids on warfarin concentration. Results: The clinical research study showed no significant differences in the patients’ prothrombin time-international normalized ratio and Warfarin Sensitivity Index (WSI) before and after the combination. However, the WSI decreased postcombination in half of the patients. Meanwhile, in the basic research study, a concentration-dependent decrease in the residual rate of warfarin was observed with xanthan gum, guar gum, and pectin. When mixed with artificial gastric and intestinal fluids, the residual rate decreased with xanthan and guar gum in gastric fluid and with pectin in intestinal fluid. Conclusion: Thickeners primarily composed of xanthan gum, guar gum, and pectin may reduce the effectiveness of warfarin due to drug-food interactions.
ПРОБЛЕМИ ТА СТРАТЕГІЯ СТВОРЕННЯ ЧАТ-БОТА "ПСИХОЛОГІЯ"
Authors: Мінцер О. П. , Лук’янов Є. Ю.
Published: February 2025

Розглянуто питання використання чат-ботів у психології. Відстежено динаміку змінення завдань при застосуванні чат-ботів, напрями використання, ризики впровадження технології. Дослідження спрямовано на обґрунтування особливості стратегії створення чат-боту з психології. Особливості розроблення чат-ботів полягають, перш за все, в розумінні потреб і мотивації користувачів. Такі розмовні інтерфейси користувача для взаємодії з даними та послугами значно змінюють спосіб, у який дизайнери та розробники звикли мислити про взаємодію та потреби користувачів. Чат-боти змінюють поведінку користувачів, а також їхні потреби. Чат-боти можуть принести користь людям із проблемами психічного здоров’я, але вони також створюють ризики та виклики. Етичні проблеми, перш за все, стосуються наявності належної доказової бази, використання та безпеки даних.
Sex Differences in the Relationship Between Lipid Ratios and the Risk of Carotid Plaque
Authors: Wang Ling-ling , Xu Zi-xiang , Sun Bo-qian , Liu Jie , Liu Xue-lian , Liu Dong
Published: February 2025

Lipid ratio is a balance between atherogenesis and antiatherogenesis. it is an important predictive marker of carotid plaque. The lipid ratios, which include non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C)/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), remnant cholesterol (RC)/HDL-C, apolipoprotein B (ApoB)/apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)/HDL-C, ApoB/HDL-C, total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-C, triglycerides (TG)/HDL-C, were included and analyzed. Sex differences in the relationship between lipid ratios and carotid plaque were discussed. The risk of carotid plaque was found to be significantly associated with the Non-HDL-C /HDL-C, RC/HDL-C, ApoB/ApoA1, LDL-C /HDL-C, ApoB/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C in females but not in males. The ApoB/HDL risk presented the highest relationship with carotid plaque in females only. The predictive value of the aforementioned lipid ratios for carotid plaque was observed in females only.
Impact of Otologic Surgery on Medical and Social Outcomes in Adults With Hearing Loss
Authors: Perlov Natalie M. , Li Marwin , Patel Jena , Kumar Ayan T. , Urdang Zachary D. , Willcox Thomas O. , Chiffer Rebecca C.
Published: February 2025

Objectives:

To test the hypothesis that surgical otologic intervention for any type of adult hearing loss decreases the odds for incident adverse life events (ALEs) and medical comorbidities (MCBs).

Study Design:

Retrospective cohort database study.

Methods:

Electronic medical record data from the TriNetX Research Network were queried for adults (age ≥18 years) with congenital, sensorineural, conductive, and mixed hearing loss (HL). Patients were further stratified into 3 groups by presence or absence (HL-surgery) of surgical intervention at any point following diagnosis, including (1) stapes surgery (HL + stapes); (2) cochlear implantation and bone-anchored hearing aid (HL + CI); and (3) mastoidectomy alone and tympanoplasty with or without mastoidectomy (HL + TM). Primary outcomes were defined as odds for new ALEs or MCBs at any point given HL treatment status [Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval, (OR; 95% CI, P-value)]. Cohorts were balanced using propensity-score matching (PSM) based on US census-defined demographics and congenital comorbidities.

Results:

There were 2 577 153 patients included in this study. Matched analysis demonstrated that HL + stapes adults (n = 7985) had 0.37-lower odds (95% CI = 0.30-0.47, P < .0001) of experiencing any incident ALE versus HL-surgery adults (n = 2 518 409). Adults in the HL + CI cohort (n = 17 129) had 0.58-lower odds (0.52-0.66, P < .0001) of experiencing any incident MCB versus HL-surgery adults.

Conclusions:

This study highlights the benefit of surgical intervention for adult hearing loss on social and medical phenomes. These findings represent the largest cohort study to date demonstrating this association and further support that hearing restoration improves patient socioeconomic and medical outcomes.
L’America di Carlo Levi: Tra mito e disincanto (1945–1960)
Authors: Acetoso Mattia
Published: February 2025

America is a recurring subject in the works of Carlo Levi, and many of his writings on this country and its culture fall within the tradition of travel literature. Levi's interest in the United States, which can be traced between 1945 and 1960, follows a unique itinerary. Levi constructs a personal American myth long before visiting the country: over the years he develops, revisits, and overcomes this myth. This essay retraces the steps of this journey, attempting to contextualize the evolution of the American theme in Levi's writings, both within the tradition of twentieth century travel literature, and in relation to the reportages that Levi offered from other parts of the world. The goal is to transcend the very definition of travel literature, which is limiting for Levi's writings on American subjects.
A novel model to quantify blood transit time in cerebral arteries using ASL-based 4D magnetic resonance angiography with example clinical application in moyamoya disease
Authors: Bhogal Alex A , Uniken Venema Simone M , Deckers Pieter T , van de Ven Kim , Versluis Maarten , Braun Kees P , van der Zwan Albert , Siero Jeroen CW
Published: February 2025

Angiography is critical for visualizing cerebral blood flow in intracranial steno-occlusive diseases. Current 4D magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) techniques primarily focus on macrovascular structures, yet few have quantified hemodynamic timing. This study introduces a novel model to estimate macrovascular arterial transit time (mATT) derived from arterial spin labeling (ASL)-based 4D-MRA. We provide examples of our method that visualize mATT differences throughout the brain of patients with intracranial steno-occlusive disease (moyamoya), as well as changes in mATT resulting from the cerebrovascular reactivity response to an acetazolamide (ACZ) injection. Furthermore, we present a method that projects sparse arterial signals into a 3D native brain-region atlas space and correlates regional mATT with other hemodynamic parameters of interest, such as tissue transit time and cerebrovascular reactivity. This approach offers a non-invasive, quantitative assessment of macrovascular dynamics, with potential to enhance understanding of large-vessel and tissue-level hemodynamics and augment monitoring of treatment outcomes in steno-occlusive disease patients. Furthermore, it sets the stage for more in-depth investigations of the macrovascular contribution to brain hemodynamics.
Do we trust ourselves? Is the human the weak link?
Authors: Mercer Kate , Weaver Kari D , Mehlenbacher Ashley Rose , Virdi Makhan
Published: February 2025

Generative artificial intelligence tools are becoming ubiquitous in applications across personal, professional and educational contexts. Similar to the rise of social media technologies, this means they are becoming an embedded part of people's lives, and individuals are using these tools for a variety of benign purposes. This article examines how existing information literacy understandings will not work for artificial intelligence literacy, and provides an example of artificial intelligence searching, demonstrating its shortcomings. Present approaches may fall short of the answer required to navigate these new information tools, and this begs the question of what comes next. The current scope of information literacy and technology necessitates a multidisciplinary approach to solving the question of ‘what to do with artificial intelligence’ and arguably most impactfully requires one to acknowledge that what has worked may no longer suffice.
The anxiety of beginning
Authors: Scott Robert Lucas
Published: February 2025

To shoot from a pistol: this essay explores the anxiety of beginning through a reading of Hegel and Gillian Rose. Hegel is anxious about philosophical beginnings and the presuppositions which they might take for granted. Yet he is also anxious to begin, to not waste time securing the beginning in advance, which would indefinitely forestall beginning altogether. For Hegel, one must take the risk of beginning, without any guarantees, if only to discover in retrospect the beginning's shortcomings and failings. Gillian Rose takes this up in her reading of the philosophical canon. Past works are not dogma, unquestionable authorities which tell us what to think, but the work of authorships which, if followed, open up a space for self-reflexive and self-corrective thinking. She also takes it up in her conception of identity. She does not write ‘as a woman’ or ‘as a Jew’, for that would presuppose and fix those identities in advance as a beginning without anxiety. Instead, writing is the means of anxiously developing these identities and discovering their plasticity. Furthermore, Rose takes up the anxiety of beginning in her critique of those philosophies which infer from our failure to think the absolute that the absolute itself is a failure. For Rose, the failure to think the absolute must be recognised as a failure determined by its beginning in the middle of bourgeois property law (or capitalism). In this, I mount a Rosean critique of Slavoj Žižek who transforms the determined failure to think the absolute into an undetermined metaphysics which says that the absolute is a failure. Finally, she takes it up in her notion of justice. Unlike Derrida, for whom justice is a messianic promise outside the law, Rose argues that justice may only be realised through the anxiety of beginning, through the risky activity of the assuming and exercising of power for the sake of the universal interest, activity arising from a comprehension of actuality. This essay will recover the essential point that the (broken) middle for Rose is not only a spatial term, but a narratological or temporal term, naming the passage between the beginning and the end, which at once undoes the certainty of any beginning or end. The essay ends with some reflections on the anxiety of beginning in Palestine.
Living on the Margins: Bourdieu on Social Dynamics
Authors: Borghini Andrea
Published: February 2025

This contribution highlights the methodological and theoretical aspects at the basis of Bourdieu’s work The Weight of the World, regarded as an exceptionally significant text, rich in intellectual, political, and methodological insights and provocations. Recently rediscovered, particularly in Italy, it has demonstrated its enduring relevance more than 30 years after its initial publication. The paper is organized in two parts. In the first part, the methodological challenges raised by the book are presented, and in the second part, the social theory is analyzed in order to show how relevant this book is in our current age. In conclusion, a short comparison between Bourdieu’s work and his relationship with Marx is made.
Association of Factors Related to the Size and Hepple Classification of Medial Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus
Authors: Guo Changjun , Cao Yongxing , Yang Chonglin , Lim SooMay , Li Xingchen , Xu Yang , Huang Jianping , Yang Liying , Xu Xiangyang
Published: February 2025

Background:

Few studies have analyzed the association of factors contributing to the morphologic changes of medial osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs).

Methods:

Two hundred eighty consecutive patients who underwent surgery for OLTs from January 2010 to December 2022 were enrolled. The potential association of factors were age, gender, side of injury, duration of symptoms, body mass index, history of ankle sprain, chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI), and ankle varus. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between these factors and both the size and Hepple classification of OLTs.

Results:

Size of OLTs was associated with age 40-60 years (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.08-4.25; P = .029), age >60 years (OR 3.78, 95% CI 1.61-8.89; P = .002), duration of symptom 1-3 years (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.03-4.15; P = .042), and duration of symptoms ≥3 years (OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.09-4.71; P = .028). CLAI was negatively correlated with the size of OLTs (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.17-0.54; P < .001). Age >60 years was associated with Hepple V classification (OR 3.65, 95% CI 1.50-8.89; P = .004).

Conclusion:

In our cohort we found older age positively correlated with Hepple V classification. Increasing age and duration of symptom are positively associated with increasing size of medial OLTs, whereas CLAI was negatively correlated with the lesion size.
The use of the Kodály method in the creation of modern Chinese music / El uso del método Kodály en la creación de música china moderna
Authors: Zhang Minhua
Published: February 2025

The primary objective of this article is to analyse the application of the Kodály method for the creation of contemporary Chinese music, which depends on creative skills, emotional expression and musical hearing. In pursuit of this inquiry, a cohort of 118 third-year students specializing in composition was enlisted from diverse academic institutions, namely Ningbo University, Beijing International Art School and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. The fulfilment of the article’s intended objective was made feasible through the employment of an analytical methodology, the utilization of the Thurstone scale, as well as the application of Mann-Whitney coefficients to ascertain pertinent statistical significance. Additionally, the evaluation of the resultant musical compositions was undertaken to appraise their artistic quality. The obtained findings substantiate the efficacy of the employed Kodály method in the genesis of musical compositions. In light of these results, the authors proffer a recommendation for the implementation of a comprehensive pedagogical approach, one that encompasses a multifaceted acquisition of musical knowledge, diverse melodic orientations and variations in compositional elements, as well as strategies for the fusion of textual and musical components.
The context, mechanisms and outcomes of intergenerational programmes involving people living with dementia in scotland: A realist, qualitative study
Authors: Emond Heather , Kelly Fiona
Published: February 2025

Intergenerational programmes, involving activity-based interventions designed to promote mutually beneficial interactions between participants, have been used in Scotland and further afield as a means of generating social inclusion between different age groups. There is growing interest in the potential outcomes of intergenerational programmes for people living with dementia in particular, with policy in Scotland recognising that people living with dementia and their carers may be at greater risk of loneliness and social isolation. Given this interest, there is a need to explore what ‘intergenerational best practice’ may look like for people living with dementia. Using data from semi-structured interviews with thirteen stakeholders involved in intergenerational practice and/or dementia policymaking, this study explored the contextual factors, mechanisms, and outcomes of intergenerational programmes in the Scottish context. Stakeholders perceived the concerns of carers, perceptions of risk, along with inaccessible venues and transportation to be important contextual factors. Mechanisms that helped ensure programmes offered full and appropriate participation opportunities included ongoing, flexible programme planning; the provision of purpose and roles; and the use of older participants’ preferences, lived experience, and personhood. Overall intergenerational programmes were perceived to have the potential to promote beneficial outcomes for older participants living with dementia in Scotland.
Medication overuse in patients with migraine: Severity of dependence and personality characteristics
Authors: Reis Marques Sofia Alexandra , Silva Gomes Matilde , Ferreira Andreia , Costa Luís , Lopes Sofia , Varanda Sara Dias
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Factors associated with the development of medication overuse (MO) are not fully understood. The aim of this article is to investigate whether patients diagnosed with migraine with and without MO differed in personality characteristics.

Methods

The study was a single-center observational study of patients with migraine, as defined by the International Classification of Headache Disorders III (ICHD-III). After written consent, patients were given access to an online survey. Scores obtained in the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) and NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), namely openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism, from both patients with and without MO were compared applying Mann–Whitney U-test.

Results

A total of 128 patients completed the survey, of which 46 (35.9%) were migraine patients with analgesic overuse. Patients with migraine and MO were significantly older (41.2 ± 8.6 vs. 37.5 ± 11.4, p = 0.015), while the percentage of female patients was equivalent between groups (73.3% vs. 86.4%, p = 0.068). Migraine patients with MO reported more frequent past or current visits to mental care providers (52.2% vs. 29.4%, p = 0.015). Scores obtained in the SDS were comparable between groups (2.8 ± 3.8 vs. 2.3 ± 2.9, p = 0.756). Patients with migraine without MO scored significantly higher on agreeableness ( p = 0.016). No differences were observed between groups regarding the remaining personality characteristics.

Conclusions

Migraine patients with MO were significantly more likely to report past or current visits to mental health care providers compared to those without MO. Differences in personality traits were minimal, with only agreeableness being significantly higher in migraine patients without MO.
Considerations for moving from collaboration to intervention
Authors: Dahlgren Kari
Published: February 2025

Ruckenstein calls for social scientists to engage actively with the actors shaping digital society, outlining three modes of collaborative engagement: ‘creating trouble’, ‘securing breathing space’, and ‘composing futures’. While these strategies generate critical insights and reflective spaces, this commentary seeks to centre the interventional purposes of collaboration. This commentary emphasises the necessity for alignment between researchers’ interests and collaborators’ goals, as well as the importance of strategic timing in collaborative projects. By addressing these challenges, the commentary builds on Ruckenstein's framework, offering practical considerations in choosing collaborative projects which enable meaningful interventions.
Equalising power imbalances or a trail of broken promises? A qualitative study on engaging people with diverse lived experience of marginalisation in food policymaking in Australia
Authors: Venegas Hargous Carolina , Kapeke Kevin , Backholer Kathryn , Jeyapalan Dheepa , Nunez Veronica , Browne Jennifer , Peeters Anna , Chung Alexandra , Allender Steven , Stead Victoria , Paradies Yin , Zorbas Christina
Published: February 2025

Background

Achieving nutrition and health equity warrants understanding lived experiences of marginalisation. Yet, people with diverse lived experiences are often inadequately included in food policy advocacy, agenda setting, and development. We aimed to explore cross-sectoral perceptions of engaging people with lived experiences of marginalisation in food policymaking in Australia, specifically in terms of challenges, enablers, required actions, and potential outcomes of doing so.

Methods

In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 people with expertise in food policy and/or community engagement from academic, government, advocacy, and community sectors. Interviews were inductively and deductively coded using the Knowledge-to-Action framework.

Results

Participants identified few food policymaking examples where people with lived experience have been meaningfully engaged. Reported barriers included the lack of time, resources, and prioritisation across sectors and the lack of political commitment to inclusive policymaking. Having access to successful examples, existing networks of actors and flexible funding were among the few enablers identified. Several actions were deemed necessary to effectively engage people with lived experience in food policymaking and improve current practice: (1) having a dedicated budget; (2) enabling true collaboration where people with lived experience are valued, effectively engaged, sufficiently represented, have the opportunity to work alongside decision-makers, and where power is equalised; (3) striving to do no harm to the people engaged; and (4) ensuring results from engaging people with lived experience are effectively disseminated.

Conclusions

We provide a list of practical recommendations to guide more inclusive, equitable and fit-for-purpose food policymaking into the future. These recommendations seek to challenge dominant systems of discrimination by demonstrating how we can tangibly shift to ways of working that value and elevate the power of people who are often excluded from many decision-making systems, specifically when it comes to food and nutrition.
The correlation between bone mineral density measured at the forearm and at the lumbar spine or femoral neck: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Papa Mario Virgilio , Ceolin Chiara , Simonato Cristina , Termini Giulia , Vilona Federica , Ruggiero Alessandro , Bertocco Anna , Curreri Chiara , Talomo Rocco , Coin Alessandra , Sergi Giuseppe , De Rui Marina
Published: February 2025

Background

Current guidelines for osteoporosis diagnosis do not recommend forearm dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) as a standard tool, except in specific cases. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates the potential correlation between forearm BMD and BMD at the lumbar and/or hip sites.

Methods

The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024568756), and the study adhered to the PRISMA guidelines. Major databases were systematically searched from their inception until August 2024 to identify studies evaluating the ability of forearm DXA scans to detect osteoporosis, particularly in comparison to central sites like the femoral neck and lumbar spine. A meta-analysis was conducted on studies that reported correlation coefficients between these measurements. Quality assessment was conducted independently by 3 reviewers following Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) criteria. Additionally, a narrative synthesis of the main findings across different patient groups was performed.

Results

Thirteen studies were included. Published between 1992 and 2023, these studies involved 5941 participants. Forearm scans exhibited strong correlations with lumbar and femoral sites (pooled effect size 0.603, 95%CI 0.579–0.627 and 0.641, 95%IC 0.600–0.680, respectively) demonstrating good predictive value for central osteoporosis. Despite some result variations, forearm DXA scanning emerged as a valid method, especially when lumbar and femoral measures are challenging.

Conclusions

A DXA scan of the distal forearm proves to be a valuable supplementary tool for identifying osteoporotic conditions. This could be particularly relevant in older patients, where conducting lumbar or hip scans is often challenging or not feasible.
Key mechanisms of angiogenesis in the infarct core: association of macrophage infiltration with venogenesis
Authors: Xue Luping , Ouyang Wei , Qi Peiyun , Zhu Yan , Qi Xiaoru , Zhang Xiao , Zhang Xiangjian , Wang Lina , Cui Lili
Published: February 2025

Angiogenesis in the ischemic penumbra compensates for microcirculatory dysfunction and promotes neuronal plasticity after stroke. However, the current understanding may be highly biased because the contribution of veins to angiogenesis has been overlooked. This study revealed that the remodeling processes of veins differ from those of arteries after ischemia. Ligation of the right jugular vein increased the infarct volume, decreased cerebral blood flow and impaired long-term functional restoration after stroke. RNA-seq analysis revealed significant upregulation of the expression of genes associated with angiogenesis in the infarct core during the recovery period. By using gelatin ink-alkaline phosphatase-oil red O (GIAO) staining, we found that venogenesis, the process of creating new veins, was the predominant angiogenic event in the infarct core. Macrophage infiltration and transformation are closely associated with venogenesis in the infarct core. However, depletion of macrophages in the circulation by clodronate liposomes in the acute phase inhibited the proliferation of endothelial progenitor cells and decreased the vascular density in the infarct core. This study demonstrated that dynamic vein remodeling is crucial for cerebral ischemic damage and subsequent neuronal restoration. Angiogenesis occurs in the infarct core during the recovery period, promotes the absorption of necrotic tissue and facilitates functional recovery after stroke.
Soluble TIM-3, likely produced by myeloid cells, predicts resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors in metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Pourmir Ivan , Benhamouda Nadine , Tran Thi , Roux Hugo , Pineau Joséphine , Gey Alain , Munoz Andyara , Mabrouk Nesrine , Epaillard Nicolas , Verkarre Virginie , Vano Yann-Alexandre , Tartour Eric , Oudard Stéphane
Published: February 2025

Background

Immunotherapies targeting PD-1 and CTLA-4 are key components of the treatment of metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (mccRCC). However, they have distinct safety profiles and resistance to treatment can occur. We assess soluble TIM-3 (sTIM-3) in the plasma of mccRCC patients as a potential theranostic biomarker, as well as its source and biological significance.

Methods

We analyzed the association between sTIM-3 and overall survival (OS), tumor response, and common clinical and biological factors in two mccRCC cohorts treated with anti-PD-1 (nivolumab, n = 27), anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-1 + anti-CTLA-4 (nivolumab + ipilimumab – N + I, n = 124). The origin and role of sTIM-3 are studied on tumor and blood samples, using multiplex immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry, as well as analyses of publicly available single-cell transcriptomic (scRNAseq) and mass cytometry data.

Results

sTIM-3 is significantly elevated in the plasma of treatment-naive mccRCC. It shows distinct associations with survival on anti-PD-1 vs anti-PD-1 + anti-CTLA-4: under nivolumab monotherapy, sTIM-3-high patients have a significantly reduced survival compared to sTIM-3-low patients, while they have similar survival probabilities under N + I. sTIM-3 is independent from other clinical and biological factors. Myeloid immune cells appear as the prominent source of sTIM-3, which may indicate their dysfunctional role in the antitumor immune response.

Conclusions

sTIM-3 appears to be a promising biomarker for optimizing treatment strategies in ccRCC as well as a potential therapeutic target, linked with to the immune myeloid compartment. Future investigations are warranted in patients treated with anti-PD-1 + antiangiogenic therapies.
Early high-sensitivity troponin elevation and short-term mortality in sepsis: a systematic review with meta-analysis
Authors: Gajardo Abraham I. J. , Ferrière-Steinert Santiago , Valenzuela Jiménez Joaquín , Heskia Araya Sebastián , Kouyoumdjian Carvajal Thomas , Ramos-Rojas José , Medel Juan Nicolás
Published: February 2025

Background

Serum cardiac troponin (cTn) elevation is a well-established phenomenon in sepsis. However, the clinical significance of this phenomenon with high-sensitivity (hs) assays and the current sepsis definition needs to be settled.

Research Question

What is the association between early serum cTn levels measured by hs-assays and the risk of short-term mortality in septic patients?

Study Design and Methods

We conducted a systematic review using a comprehensive PubMed, Scopus, and Embase search. Studies were eligible if they reported association data on early hs-cTn and mortality in an adult sample with sepsis that met the Sepsis-3 definition. For the synthesis of the effect of hs-cTn on mortality, we applied random effect models on the pooled unadjusted and adjusted odds ratio (OR and aOR, respectively) of elevated vs. normal hs-cTn serum values, and on the crude standardized mean difference (SMD) of hs-cTn between survivors and non-survivors.

Results

In total, 6242 patients from 17 studies were included, with short-term mortality rates ranging from 16.9% to 53.8%. Using a crude analysis, non-survivor patients showed higher hs-cTn than survivors (SMD of 0.87, 95%CI: 0.41–1.33). Elevated hs-cTn was associated with increased mortality (OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.41–2.25). However, this prognostic effect was absent in studies that adjusted for different confounders (aOR = 1.06, 95% CI: 0.99–1.14).

Discussion and Conclusions

Non-survivors of sepsis exhibited significantly elevated hs-cTn levels. While elevated hs-cTn levels are associated with an increased risk of mortality, they are not independently associated with this outcome in sepsis.
Circular RNA APP contributes to Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis by modulating microglial polarization via miR-1906/CLIC1 axis
Authors: Wu Deng-Pan , Wei Yan-Su , Hou Li-Xiang , Du Yu-Xuan , Yan Qiu-Qing , Liu Ling-Ling , Zhao Yuan-Dan , Yan Ru-Yu , Yu Chao , Zhong Zhen-Guo , Huang Jin-Lan
Published: February 2025

Background

Abnormal microglial polarization phenotypes contribute to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have garnered increasing attention due to their significant roles in human diseases. Although research has demonstrated differential expression of circRNAs in AD, their specific functions in AD pathogenesis remain largely unexplored.

Methods

CircRNA microarray was performed to identify differentially expressed circRNAs in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 and WT mice. The stability of circAPP was assessed via RNase R treatment assay. CircAPP downstream targets miR-1906 and chloride intracellular channel 1 (CLIC1) were identified using bioinformatics and proteomics, respectively. RT-PCR assay was conducted to detect the expression of circAPP, miR-1906 and CLIC1. Morris water maze (MWM) test, passive avoidance test and novel object recognition task were used to detect cognitive function of APP/PS1 mice. Microglial M1/M2 polarization and AD pathology were assessed using Western blot, flow cytometry and Golgi staining assays. CLIC1 expression and channel activity were evaluated using Western blot and functional chloride channel assays, respectively. The subcellular location of circAPP was assessed via FISH and RT-PCR assays. RNA pull-down assay was performed to detect the interaction of miR-1906 with circAPP and 3’ untranslated region (3’UTR) of CLIC1 mRNA.

Results

In this study, we identified a novel circRNA, named circAPP, that is encoded by amyloid precursor protein (APP) and is implicated in AD. CircAPP is a stable circRNA that was upregulated in Aβ-treated microglial cells and the hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice. Downregulation of circAPP or CLIC1, or overexpression of miR-1906 in microglia modulated microglial M1/M2 polarization in Aβ-treated microglial cells and the hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice, and improved AD pathology and the cognitive function of APP/PS1 mice. Further results revealed that circAPP was mainly distributed in the cytoplasm, and circAPP could regulate CLIC1 expression and channel activity by interacting with miR-1906 and affecting miR-1906 expression, thereby regulating microglial polarization in AD.

Conclusions

Taken together, our study elucidates the regulatory role of circAPP in AD microglial polarization via miR-1906/CLIC1 axis, and suggests that circAPP may act as a critical player in AD pathogenesis and represent a promising therapeutic target for AD.
Prospects for lithium treated patients with severe renal impairment
Authors: Aiff Harald , Attman Per-Ola , Golic Mihaela , Ramsauer Bernd , Schön Staffan , Steingrimsson Steinn , Svedlund Jan
Published: February 2025

Objectives

To study the prospects for lithium treated patients who develop end stage renal disease (ESRD) and the role of renal replacement therapy (RRT).

Methods

Retrospective analysis of survival, somatic comorbidity, lithium treatment and eligibility for renal replacement therapy in adult patients with at least one eGFR < 30 ml/min/1.73 m2. Subjects were selected from our laboratory database (s-Lithium and s-creatinine) from 1980 to 2017.

Results

620 (14%) of 4396 patients with a lithium history had at least one measurement of eGFR < 30 ml/min/1.73 m2. 302 (49%) patients had a transient decrease in renal function with subsequent improvement, 135 (22%) patients died with acute renal failure, while 153 (25%) developed chronic kidney disease stage 4 (CKD4) and 33 (5%) required RRT. RRT-treated patients represent only a fraction of the total ESRD population. Median survival time from the debut of CKD4 was 13.9 years in patients < 65 years and 4.4 years in older patients.

100 of the 153 patients with CKD4 continued lithium treatment. There was no significant difference in survival after the debut of CKD4 between the patients who stopped lithium treatment and those who continued.

Conclusions

A measurement of eGFR < 30 ml/min/1.73 m2 reflects a significant loss of renal function. In half of the patients it was due to a transient functional disturbance without long-term consequences. A quarter of patients had acute renal failure and died within days while the remaining quarter progressed to CKD4. Despite irreversible renal damage, patient survival can be counted in several years after debut of renal insufficiency with appropriate care including RRT. As the treating psychiatrist, it is important to consult with nephrology when renal function starts to deteriorate, to optimise somatic treatment.
Transition from magmatic to phreatomagmatic eruptions in Young Ciremai volcano, Indonesia: insights from stratigraphy, componentry, and textural analysis of tephra deposits
Authors: Hamzah Wildan N. , Ohba Tsukasa , Gurusinga Muhammad Andriansyah , Moktikanana Mradipta L. A. , Indriyanto Jananda N. , Hoshide Takashi , Abdurrahman Mirzam , Kurniawan Idham A. , Fadlin
Published: February 2025

Vulcanian eruptions, characterized by intermediate magma compositions, pose significant hazards due to their potential for both magmatic and phreatomagmatic fragmentation. The Young Ciremai volcano located in Indonesia has undergone recent phreatic–phreatomagmatic eruptions (from 1698 to 1951), with previous eruptions likely exhibiting both magmatic and phreatomagmatic fragmentations. To reconstruct the eruptive histories and elucidate the fragmentation mechanism, we integrate stratigraphic analysis, grain size distribution, componentry, bulk XRD analysis of fine ash, and petrographic analysis, which encompassed the morphometry, vesicularity, and crystallinity of ash particles. The results indicate a complex eruption history characterized by changing fragmentation mechanisms. Magmatic fragmentation correlates with the Vulcanian eruption style, which is characterized by diverse grain size distributions and higher vesicle number densities. The interactions between magma and water drive phreatomagmatic fragmentation, characterized by predominant finer ash exhibiting blocky textures and lower vesicle number densities. The eruptive evolution is described into three distinct stages: Stage 1 indicates magmatic fragmentation resulting from conduit plugging, Stage 2 signifies phreatomagmatic activity originating from the interaction with shallow groundwater, and Stage 3 emphasizes phreatic–hydrothermal activity with continuous recent solfatara manifestation. The results highlight the potential hazards of alternating magmatic and phreatomagmatic eruptions, including pyroclastic density currents and sudden phreatic explosions.

Graphical Abstract