bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cerebral thrombus analysis as a useful diagnostic tool for infective endocarditis in ischemic stroke patients
Authors: Semerano Aurora , Dell’Acqua Beatrice , Genchi Angela , Sanvito Francesca , Schwarz Ghil , Montano Castillo Manuel Alejandro , Bergamaschi Andrea , Sampaolo Michela , Butti Erica , Gullotta Giorgia Serena , Piano Mariangela , Ripa Marco , Scarpellini Paolo , Falini Andrea , Panni Pietro , Agostoni Elio Clemente , Clementi Nicola , Saliou Guillaume , Hajdu Steven David , Roveri Luisa , Michel Patrik , Martino Gianvito , Filippi Massimo , Strambo Davide , Bacigaluppi Marco
Published: February 2025

Introduction:

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a life-threatening condition and a rare cause of ischemic stroke (IS). This study aimed to evaluate the utility of analyzing cerebral thrombi, obtained through endovascular thrombectomy in IS, for the pathological diagnosis of IE.

Patients and methods:

Cerebral thrombi from three groups of IS patients were compared: definite IE ( n = 10), cardioembolic stroke without and with concomitant infection (CE-I−: n = 30, CE-I+: n = 10). We performed histological examination, molecular biology, and microbiological tests on cerebral thrombi, to detect microorganisms and assess their composition.

Results:

Median age of included patients was 73 years and 50% were females. Hematoxylin & Eosin and Grocott-Gomori Methenamine Silver stains detected microorganisms in all IE cerebral thrombi, and none in the control groups. Thrombus PCR detected relevant microorganism in n = 2/7 IE. Compared to control groups, IE thrombi were characterized by significant lower content of red blood cells (median [IQR]: IE = 7.4 [4.2–26.7], CE-I− = 49.3 [17–62.6], CE-I+ = 57.5 [40.7–60.8], % over thrombus section area [%TSA], p = 0.001), increased von Willebrand Factor (IE = 23.9 [19.1–32], CE-I− = 11.2 [8.2–12.8], CE-I+ = 12.9 [10.7–18.3], %TSA, p = 0.001), cell-dominant pattern of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (IE = 100%, CE-I− = 69%, CE-I+ = 70%, p ⩽ 0.001), and more frequent sub-acute or chronic thrombus age classification ( p ⩽ 0.001). These latter thrombus features displayed good discriminative ability between IE and controls, with AUC values between 0.84 and 0.95.

Discussion:

Multimodal analysis of cerebral thrombi in IS with suspected IE supports early and definite pathological diagnosis by detecting pathogens and assessing changes in thrombus composition.
External validation of automated CT volumetry in renal tumor volume measurement and its surgical implications
Authors: Taye Mohammed R , Abdel-Aziz Mohamed Atef , Hameed DA , Behnsawy Hosny M , Moeen Ahmed M , Samy Marwa
Published: February 2025

Background

Accurate renal tumor anatomy description is crucial for improving surgical and oncological outcomes. CT advancements assist in surgical planning by determining renal tumor volume.

Objectives

To examine the accuracy and precision of CT in renal tumor volume measurement and to assess the impact of tumor volume on intra- and post-operative outcomes.

Methods

Data from 45 patients with renal mass who underwent partial or radical nephrectomy at our institution between December 2019 and January 2024 were analyzed. Automated CT volumetry software was used to detect and measure tumor volume from the pre-operative CT DICOM files. The volume of the retrieved specimens was re-measured using the water immersion method.

Results

The agreement between CT and the water immersion method was tested using Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), which yielded a value of 0.856. The bias correction factors (Cb) and Pearson's correlation coefficient (ρ) were 0.928 and 0.922, respectively. CCC was better for the partial nephrectomy group (0.943) than the radical nephrectomy group (0.799). The Bland-Altman plot indicated that CT overestimated large-sized tumors. A positive correlation was detected between tumor volume and each of the PADUA score (ρ = 0.494, p value = 0.001) and ischemia time (ρ = 0.048, p value = 0.821).

Conclusions

CT volumetry is an accurate tool for renal tumor volume measurement that could serve as a valuable parameter for optimizing surgical decisions.
Characterization of Anisotropy in Additively Manufactured Materials through Instrumented Indentation Testing
Authors: Cai Zhuoshao , Yang Zhiwei , Meng Liang , Lin Kaijie , Hou Yuliang , Sapanathan Thaneshan , Zhu Jihong , Zhang Weihong
Published: February 2025

The accurate characterization of anisotropy for additively manufactured materials is of vital importance for both high-performance structural design and printing processing optimization. To avoid the repetitive and redundant tensile testing on specimens prepared along diverse directions, this study proposes an instrumented indentation-based inverse identification method for the efficient characterization of additively manufactured materials. In the present work, a 3D finite element model of indentation test is first established for the printed material, for which an anisotropic material constitutive model is incorporated. We have demonstrated that the indentation responses are information-rich, and material anisotropy along different directions can be interpreted by a single indentation imprint. Subsequently, an inverse identification framework is built, in which an Euclidean error norm between simulated and experimental indentation responses is minimized via optimization algorithms such as the Globally Convergent Method of Moving Asymptotes (GCMMA). The developed method has been verified on diverse printed materials referring to either the indentation curve or the residual imprint, and the superiority of this latter over the former is confirmed by a better and faster convergence of inverse identification. Experimental validations on 3D printed materials (including stainless steel 316L, aluminum alloy AlSi10Mg, and titanium alloy TC4) reveal that the developed method is both accurate and reliable when compared with material constitutive behaviors obtained from uni-axial tensile tests, regardless of the degree of anisotropy among different materials.
Joint modelling of longitudinal data: a scoping review of methodology and applications for non-time to event data
Authors: Ouko Rehema K. , Mukaka Mavuto , Ohuma Eric O.
Published: February 2025

Background

Joint models are powerful statistical models that allow us to define a joint likelihood for quantifying the association between two or more outcomes. Joint modelling has been shown to reduce bias in parameter estimates, increase the efficiency of statistical inference by incorporating the correlation between measurements, and allow borrowing of information in cases where data is missing for variables of interest. Most joint modelling methods and applications involve time-to-event data. There is less awareness about the amount of literature available for joint models of non-time-to-event data. Therefore, this review’s main objective is to summarise the current state of joint modelling of non-time-to-event longitudinal data.

Methods

We conducted a search in PubMed, Embase, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines for articles published up to 28 January 2024. Studies were included if they focused on joint modelling of non-time-to-event longitudinal data and published in English. Exclusions were made for time-to-event articles, conference abstracts, book chapters, and studies without full text. We extracted information on statistical methods, association structure, estimation methods, software, etc.

Results

We identified 4,681 studies from the search. After removing 2,769 duplicates, 1,912 were reviewed by title and abstract, and 190 underwent full-text review. Ultimately, 74 studies met inclusion criteria and spanned from 2001 to 2024, with the majority (64 studies; 86%) published between 2014 and 2024. Most joint models were based on a frequentist approach (48 studies; 65%) and applied a linear mixed-effects model. The random effect was the most commonly applied association structure for linking two sub-models (63 studies; 85%). Estimation of model parameters was commonly done using Markov Chain Monte Carlo with Gibbs sampler algorithm (10 studies; 38%) for the Bayesian approach, whereas maximum likelihood was the most common (33 studies; 68.75%) for the frequentist approach. Most studies used R statistical software (33 studies; 40%) for analysis.

Conclusion

A wide range of methods for joint-modelling non-time-to-event longitudinal data exist and have been applied to various areas. An exponential increase in the application of joint modelling of non-time-to-event longitudinal data has been observed in the last decade. There is an opportunity to leverage potential benefits of joint modelling for non-time-to-event longitudinal data for reducing bias in parameter estimates, increasing efficiency of statistical inference by incorporating the correlation between measurements, and allowing borrowing of information in cases with missing data.
Effect of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery for cataracts after pars plana vitrectomy: a prospective randomized controlled study
Authors: Wen Lin , Lian Hao , Liu Yi , Wei Bin , Deng Yan , Hu Jianqi , Wu Ying , Zhang Min , Fan Yaoqin , Xu Li
Published: February 2025

Objective

To compare the efficacy of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) and conventional phacoemulsification surgery (CPS) in treating postvitrectomy cataracts.

Methods

Prospective randomized controlled study. Patients who underwent cataract surgery after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) were randomly divided into the FLACS group and the CPS group. Preoperative data of all patients were collected to compare intraoperative complications, average phacoemulsification energy (AVE), effective phacoemulsification time (EPT), postoperative intraocular pressure, corneal endothelial cell density (ECD), and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA).

Results

A total of 92 eyes were included in the analysis, with 47 eyes in the FLACS group and 45 eyes in the CPS group. The intraoperative AVEs and EPTs in the FLACS group were both lower than those in the CPS group (P < 0.05). In the FLACS group, incomplete prechopping and incomplete capsulorhexis occurred in 3 eyes (3/47, 6.38%), and incomplete lens dislocation occurred in 1 eye (1/47, 2.13%). In the CPS group, incomplete lens dislocation occurred in 2 eyes (2/45, 4.44%), and anterior capsule tears occurred in 1 eye (1/45, 2.22%). There was no statistically significant difference in intraoperative complications between the two groups (P > 0.05). Postoperatively, intraocular pressure (IOP) was lower in both groups than preoperatively, and there was no statistically significant difference in intraocular pressure between the two groups at three months postsurgery (P > 0.05). Three months postoperatively, the ECD in the FLACS group was greater than that in the CPS group, with less average endothelial cell loss (ECL) than that in the CPS group (P < 0.01). The BCVA in both groups improved to varying degrees compared with the preoperative values, with the FLACS group performing better than the CPS group on the first postoperative day (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups at one week, one month, or three months postoperatively (all P > 0.05).

Conclusion

FLACS is safe and effective for treating post-PPV cataracts and, compared with CPS, facilitates early postoperative recovery with no difference in final visual acuity. Residual silicone oil in the anterior chamber post-PPV may lead to certain specific outcomes for FLACS. Although it may not affect surgical results, it is still noteworthy.
Unveiling the psychosocial impact of Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor therapy in Cystic Fibrosis patients
Authors: García Marta Solís , Peláez Adrián , Punter Rosa Mar Gómez , López María Criado , Carbajal Claudia Madrid , Ancochea Julio , Bachiller Jose María Eiros , Hernández Ana Sofía Martín , Rodrigo-García María , Clemente Marta García , Moreno Rosa Mª Girón
Published: February 2025

Background

This study aimed to assess how Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor (ETI) influences lung function, Body Mass Index (BMI), Sweat Test (ST) and mental health of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients, emphasizing on depression and anxiety.

Methods

We conducted an observational, prospective, multicentre study including 108 patients over 18 years old who initiated ETI therapy between December 2019 and December 2023. Patients underwent regular evaluations, including clinical, functional, and microbiological assessments, alongside completion of quality of life, anxiety, and depression questionnaires. We evaluated whether there was a difference in anxiety and depression levels over time.

Results

After 12 months of treatment, significant improvements were noted in BMI, lung function (FEV1%), ST and various aspects of quality of life (CFQ-R). However, anxiety and depression levels did not differ significantly during the follow-up. When we stratified our sample by key groups, we observed that younger patients (under 28 years) and those with homozygous Phe508del mutations experienced significant higher anxiety with no differences on depression. Furthermore, anxiety and depression demonstrated a moderate correlation, strengthening over time.

Conclusions

Treatment with ETI establishes significant improvements in lung function, BMI, ST and quality of life in patients with CF. However, despite these positive outcomes, there were no significant changes observed in levels of anxiety and depression, except for individuals with homozygous mutation type and those younger than 28 years old, who exhibited significant higher levels of anxiety.
De-identification of clinical notes with pseudo-labeling using regular expression rules and pre-trained BERT
Authors: An Jiyong , Kim Jiyun , Sunwoo Leonard , Baek Hyunyoung , Yoo Sooyoung , Lee Seunggeun
Published: February 2025

Background

De-identification of clinical notes is essential to utilize the rich information in unstructured text data in medical research. However, only limited work has been done in removing personal information from clinical notes in Korea.

Methods

Our study utilized a comprehensive dataset stored in the Note table of the OMOP Common Data Model at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. This dataset includes 11,181,617 radiology and 9,282,477 notes from various other departments (non-radiology reports). From this, 0.1% of the reports (11,182) were randomly selected for training and validation purposes. We used two de-identification strategies to improve performance with limited and few annotated data. First, a rule-based approach is used to construct regular expressions on the 1,112 notes annotated by domain experts. Second, by using the regular expressions as label-er, we applied a semi-supervised approach to fine-tune a pre-trained Korean BERT model with pseudo-labeled notes.

Results

Validation was conducted using 342 radiology and 12 non-radiology notes labeled at the token level. Our rule-based approach achieved 97.2% precision, 93.7% recall, and 96.2% F1 score from the department of radiology notes. For machine learning approach, KoBERT-NER that is fine-tuned with 32,000 automatically pseudo-labeled notes achieved 96.5% precision, 97.6% recall, and 97.1% F1 score.

Conclusion

By combining a rule-based approach and machine learning in a semi-supervised way, our results show that the performance of de-identification can be improved.
Exploring the needs of family caregivers of people living with mental illness: a qualitative study in Lobatse, Botswana
Authors: Sakwape Keletwaetse , Kovane Gaotswake Patience , Chukwuere Precious Chibuike , Moagi Miriam Mmamphamo , Machailo Rorisang
Published: February 2025

Background

Mental disorders significantly contribute to the global disease burden and are a leading cause of disability worldwide. 57.8 million adults deal with some form of mental condition. Family caregivers play a crucial role in supporting people living with mental illness (PLWMI), but their own well-being is often impacted. When a family member has a mental illness, caregivers often feel solely responsible for various aspects, significantly increasing the burden of caregiving. This study aimed to explore and describe the needs of family caregivers of people living with mental illness in Lobatse.

Methods

The study used an exploratory, descriptive, contextual qualitative design to explore and describe the needs of family members caring for relatives diagnosed with mental illnesses. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the family caregivers who participated in the study. Data was collected through in-depth individual face-to-face interviews and analysed using a content analysis approach. The study’s trustworthiness was ensured by establishing credibility, transferability, authenticity, confirmability, and dependability. Approval to conduct the study was obtained from the relevant authorities, and written informed consent was secured from all participants.

Results

Several key needs of PLWMI family caregivers were identified: the need for interventions to assist family caregivers, the need for informational support, and the need for perceptible support.

Conclusion

Caring for a family member with mental illness at home is highly demanding and has negative effects on the caregivers’ financial, social, and emotional well-being. The study uncovered the specific needs of family caregivers. These findings underscore the importance of developing guidelines to improve the well-being of family caregivers and provide them with necessary support.
Comprehensive network pharmacology and experimental study to investigate the effect and mechanism of solasonine on breast carcinoma treatment
Authors: Ge Wenkai , Gao Min , Dai Yingqi , Zheng Gang , Yang Li , Zuo Wenshu , Tian Xingsong
Published: February 2025

Background

Ferroptosis is a therapeutic strategy for breast carcinoma (BC). Solasonine (SS) was linked to ferroptosis as a tumor suppressor. However, whether SS could treat BC by activating ferroptosis and its underlying mechanisms has not been reported.

Methods

We obtained the intersection of genes targeting SS and BC disease through network pharmacology. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the intersection genes were primarily enriched in the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2/mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK2/MAPK) signaling pathway. The interaction modes of SS with ERK2 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were simulated by molecular docking. We further detected the expressions of ERK2 and p-ERK2 in BC patients and the correlation between ERK2/p-ERK2 and ferroptosis. The effects and mechanism of SS on ferroptosis in BC were validated by mutation plasmids construction, immunohistology, wound healing, transwell assay, and western blotting using in vitro and in vivo models.

Results

ERK2 and p-ERK2 were up-regulated in BC patients, and the ERK2/p-ERK2 ratio was negatively correlated with ferroptosis. Molecular docking indicated that SS could bind to ERK2 and EGFR to inhibit the activity of the ERK2/MAPK pathway. In vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed that SS induced ferroptosis by inhibiting the ERK2/MAPK pathway, inhibiting proliferation, migration, and invasion of BC cells.

Conclusion

SS could inactivate the ERK2/MAPK pathway, thereby inducing ferroptosis and further inhibiting BC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. This study clarified the potential mechanism of SS in BC and provided a theoretical basis for its clinical application.
Targeting TUBB2B inhibits triple-negative breast cancer growth and brain-metastatic colonization
Authors: He Qingling , Hu Jianyang , Ngo Fung-Yin , Zhang Huiqi , He Lin , Huang Hao , Wu Tan , Pan Yilin , Yang Zihan , Jiang Yuanyuan , Cho William C. , Cheuk Wah , Tse Gary M. , Tsang Julia Y. , Yang Mengsu , Zhang Liang , Wang Xin , Lo Pui-Chi , Lau C. Geoffrey , Chin Y. Rebecca
Published: February 2025

Background

The triple-negative subtype of breast cancer is particularly challenging to treat due to its aggressiveness with a high risk of brain metastasis, and the lack of effective targeted therapies. Tubulin beta 2B class IIb (TUBB2B), a β-tubulin isoform regulating axon guidance during embryonic development, was found to be overexpressed in various types of cancers including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, its functional roles in breast cancer or metastasis remain unclear.

Methods

To identify TUBB2B as a novel molecular target in TNBC, we performed bioinformatics analysis to assess the association of TUBB2B expression and survival of patients. RNAscope in situ hybridization was used to examine TUBB2B expression in clinical breast tumor samples. The effect of TUBB2B knockdown on TNBC growth and brain metastasis colonization was evaluated by in vitro and in vivo assays. Mass spectrometry (MS) and biochemical experiments were performed to explore the underlying mechanisms. Preclinical efficacy of targeting TUBB2B was determined in xenograft studies using the siRNA-gold nanoparticle (siRNA-AuNP) approach.

Results

TUBB2B, but not other β-tubulin isoforms, is frequently overexpressed in TNBC primary tumors as well as brain metastases. We also find that upregulation of TUBB2B is associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer patients. Silencing TUBB2B induces tumor cell death and inhibits the outgrowth of brain metastasis. Mechanistically, we identify eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 alpha 1 (eEF1A1) as a novel interacting partner of TUBB2B, revealing a previously unexplored role of TUBB2B in translational regulation. In line with its neural-related functions, TUBB2B overexpression in TNBC cells activates astrocytes, which in turn upregulate TUBB2B in tumor cells. These findings suggest a feed-forward interaction between TUBB2B in TNBC cells and astrocytes that promotes brain metastatic colonization. Furthermore, we demonstrate the potent inhibition of TNBC xenograft growth as well as brain metastatic colonization using TUBB2B siRNA-AuNP treatment, indicating potential clinical applications of targeting TUBB2B for TNBC.

Conclusions

TUBB2B is a novel TNBC gene that plays a key role in promoting tumor cell survival and brain metastatic colonization, and can be targeted by siRNA-AuNPs as a treatment strategy.
Assessing the perceived impact of ESOR training programs on radiologists’ professional development
Authors: Grégory Jules , Kofoed-Ottesen Mathias , Lindlbauer Brigitte , Loewe Christian , Vilgrain Valérie ,   European Society of Radiology (ESR)
Published: February 2025

Objectives

This study evaluates the perceived impact of European School of Radiology (ESOR) training programs on radiologists’ professional development.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey targeted alumni who participated in ESOR fellowships from 2011 to 2023. The survey included questions on demographics, professional background, ESOR program details, and career impact. Data were collected via a web-based questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.

Results

A total of 916 alumni were invited to the survey, with a response rate of 21% (190 participants). The median age was 31 years (range 29–33), and 54% were female. Most worked in public healthcare (62%) and were involved in academic activities (24%). Fellowship types included the visiting scholarship program (44%), Bracco fellowship (32%), and exchange program for fellowships (25%). The majority (59%) reported the fellowship helped them reach their current position, and 35% noted it upgraded their CV. Significant application of learned skills was reported by 69%. Ongoing cooperation with former tutors was maintained by 54%. Financial support was crucial, with 41% stating they could not have completed the training without it, 33% considering it very important, and 13% important. Participants rated the impact on clinical skills with a median score of 9/10. Other areas of impact included research skills (median 7/10), subspecialization (median 9/10), exposure to diverse practices (median 9/10), networking (median 10/10), and personal and professional growth (median 10/10).

Conclusion

ESOR training programs significantly enhance radiologists’ professional development through comprehensive support, high-quality training, and substantial financial aid, ensuring participants are well-equipped for career advancement.

Critical relevance statement

This study evaluates the perceived impact of ESOR training programs on radiologists’ professional development, highlighting significant enhancements in clinical skills, career advancement, and the critical role of financial support in facilitating access to high-quality education.

Key Points

The ESOR offers various programs addressing both foundational and advanced training in radiology.

Fifty-nine percent of participants reported that ESOR fellowships helped them achieve their current positions.

Participants experienced a median improvement score of 9 out of 10 in clinical skills.

Fifty-four percent of participants maintained ongoing cooperation with former tutors post-fellowship.

ESOR financial support was perceived as crucial by many participants, ensuring access to high-quality education.

Graphical Abstract
Influence of virtual monoenergetic reconstructions on coronary CT angiography-based fractional flow reserve with photon-counting detector CT: intra-individual comparison with energy-integrating detector CT
Authors: Tremamunno Giuseppe , Pinos Daniel , Zsarnoczay Emese , Schoepf U. Joseph , Vecsey-Nagy Milan , Gnasso Chiara , Fink Nicola , Kravchenko Dmitrij , Hagar Muhammad Taha , Griffith Joseph , O’Doherty Jim , Laghi Andrea , Emrich Tilman , Varga-Szemes Akos
Published: February 2025

Objectives

This study aimed to assess the impact of the photon-counting detector (PCD)-CT-based virtual monoenergetic image (VMI) reconstruction keV levels on CT-based fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR), compared to the energy-integrating detector (EID)-CT.

Methods

Patients undergoing clinically indicated coronary CT angiography (CCTA) on an EID-CT were prospectively enrolled for a research CCTA on a PCD-CT within 30 days. PCD-CT datasets were reconstructed at VMI levels of 45, 55, 70, and 90 keV. CT-FFR was obtained semiautomatically using an on-site machine learning algorithm by two readers. CT-FFR ≤ 0.80 was considered hemodynamically significant.

Results

A total of 20 patients (63.3 ± 8.8 years; 13 men (65%) were included. Median CT-FFR values in the per-vessel analysis for PCD-CT scans were 0.86 (0.81–0.92) for 45 keV, 0.87 (0.80–0.93) for 55 keV, 0.85 (0.79–0.92) for 70 keV and 0.82 (0.76–0.89) for 90 keV, and 0.86 (0.71–0.93) for EID-CT. Comparison among different VMIs showed significant differences only for 45 vs. 90 keV (p < 0.001), and 55 vs. 90 keV (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found in the pairwise comparison between any VMI and EID-CT (all p > 0.05). PCD-CT at 70 keV showed the highest correlation (r = 0.83, p < 0.001), agreement (ICC: 0.90 (0.84–0.94)), and the lowest bias (mean bias −0.01; limits of agreement, 0.84/0.94) when compared to EID-CT.

Conclusion

VMI reconstructions showed significant influence on CT-FFR values only at the extreme levels of the spectrum, while no significant differences were found in comparison with EID-CT. VMI at 70 keV demonstrates the highest correlation and agreement, with the lowest bias compared to EID-CT.

Critical relevance statement

Evidence on novel spectral photon-counting detector (PCD)-CT’s impact on CT-fractional flow reserve (FFR) is limited; our results demonstrate the feasibility of CT-FFR using PCD-CT, showing no significant differences between various virtual monoenergetic images and energy-integrating detector (EID)-CT values

Key Points

The impact of spectral photon-counting detector (PCD)-CT on CT-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) is unclear.

Spectral PCD-CT-based CT-FFR is feasible, differing only at extreme virtual monoenergetic image levels.

CT-FFR from PCD-CT at 70 keV showed the strongest correlation with energy-integrating detector-CT.

Graphical Abstract
Usutu virus continues to spread across Europe: first report of multiple molecular detections of the USUV Africa 2 and Africa 3 lineages in free-living and captive birds in Poland, July–November 2023
Authors: Dziadek Kamila , Niczyporuk Jowita Samanta , Styś-Fijoł Natalia , Czujkowska Agnieszka , Śmietanka Krzysztof , Domańska-Blicharz Katarzyna
Published: February 2025

The growing importance of the Usutu virus (USUV) as an emerging zoonotic viral pathogen motivated Poland to investigate the epidemiological status of USUV infections among native bird species. Consequently, out of the 357 birds tested, 34 avian individuals from different geographical areas of the country were confirmed to be USUVpositive by RT‒PCR between July and November 2023. The phylogenetic analysis revealed the first recorded occurrence of the USUV Africa 2 and Africa 3 genetic lineages in Poland.
Optimizing energy task offloading technique using IoMT cloud in healthcare applications
Authors: Bhasker B. , Kaliraj S. , Gobinath C. , Sivakumar V.
Published: February 2025

The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) has revolutionized patient data and healthcare surveillance, enabling continuous monitoring without costly human resources and low error rates. IoMT uses medical devices as nodes to monitor and collect patient data efficiently and cost-effectively. IoMT issues emergency alarms and monitors people in hospitals and at home to help physicians track their health. It analyzes EEGs, ECGs, blood sugar, blood pressure, and other health markers. Real-time analysis is essential in crucial situations, these latency-sensitive scenarios are suitable for cloud-based IoT platforms. This research proposes an Efficient Augmented Moth-Flame Optimization (EA-MFO) technique for task offloading. The method focuses on prioritizing critical tasks to ensure deadlines are met while optimizing energy consumption for other tasks. EA-MFO enhances the moth-flame optimization process by incorporating chaos-based initialization, adaptive position updates with weighted adjustments, and strategies to improve population diversity. The chaos-based logistic map is used to increase diversity during initialization. Simulation results reveal that EA-MFO outperforms E-PSO, GWO, MQGA, and MATO in terms of energy consumption, makespan, and total execution time (TEC). Specifically, EA-MFO achieves a total execution time of 0.63 s, a makespan of 52.13 s, and energy consumption of 592.78 kWh.
What is favourable conservation status?: A systematic map protocol
Authors: Oswald Alice M. , Mannion Natasha , Willis Stephen G. , Stephens Philip A. , McGowan Philip J.K.
Published: February 2025

Background

Favourable Conservation status (FCS) is the overarching goal of the Habitats and Birds Directives, in which it is described as the situation in which a habitat or species is thriving throughout its natural range and is expected to continue to thrive. However, despite being introduced over thirty years ago, FCS has not been widely adopted as a conservation assessment framework. This systematic map aims to collate and characterise evidence to understand 1) how the term FCS is used in the literature, and 2) the context of its applications in policy and practice. Specifically, we ask the question: how is FCS defined and how has it been applied in policy and practice? This review will contribute to the field by providing the first systematic evidence synthesis on FCS, both as a concept and as a practical application, and will review the broader applicability of FCS beyond Member State reporting obligations.

Methods

A systematic search of the literature will be conducted to collate and categorise evidence on the definitions and applications of FCS and barriers to its implementation. The literature will be screened in two stages to assess relevance, firstly by titles and abstracts and secondly by the full-texts. Studies will be assessed against eligibility criteria pertaining to the components of the question. Coded data will be extracted from the relevant studies and used in a narrative synthesis to summarise the evidence in a discussion, complemented by descriptive statistics and visual aids.
Evaluation of pathogenic variant in WFS1 in a patient with Wolfram syndrome
Authors: Hoseinzadeh Marziyeh , Jahani Mohammad Mehdi , Nasrniya Samane , Tabatabaiefar Mohammad Amin
Published: February 2025

Objective

Wolfram syndrome (WS) is a genetically disorder that affect on many organs, and neurodegenerative disorder. Although various clinical dysfunctions may have different onset times, they can collectively contribute to delays in the diagnosis of the disorder. To date, more than 200 pathogenic and likely pathogenic variant have been identified. In the present investigation, we evaluated three families with WS and reported a mutation in the WFS1.

Methods

This study, we have evaluated mutation in the WFS gene in three consanguineous families including three patients with a history of young-onset DM, progressive hearing loss and optic atrophy further neurological abnormalities.

Results

Sequencing results showed a novel homozygous stop-gain variant, c.1444A > T (p.K482X), and two previously reported mutations (c.2006A > G and c.2105G > A) in exon 8 of WFS1 gene. The variant interpretation was done according to the genetic guidelines. Finally, p.K482X was determined as a novel pathogen variant. Also, analysis showed that variants in parents were heterozygous.

Conclusions

The present survey, revealed a novel nonsense mutation in the wolframin protein, creates a frameshift which causes a premature stop codon truncating the protein in amino acid 482 residues. This mutation occurs in transmembrane domain and causes elimination of 46% of wolframin protein.
Stability indicating RP-UPLC determination of three antiviral agents: emtricitabine, tenofovir, and rilpivirine in combined pharmaceutical dosage form
Authors: Kommineni Vinutha , Pohar Spoorthi , Lakshmi N. Sri , Latha N. Swarna
Published: February 2025

Background

The concurrent measurement of emtricitabine, tenofovir, and rilpivirine was achieved using UPLC, employing Analytical Quality by Design (AQbD) principles, which encompass response surface methodology (RSM) and Box–Behnken design (BBD). This approach offers a systematic and efficient method for improving analytical procedures and ensuring reliable results.

Results

Analyte separation was accomplished using an Endoversil C 18 (2.1 × 50 mm, 1.7 µm) column as the stationary phase. The mobile phase consisted of a mixture of 80% orthophosphoric acid (0.1%) and 20% acetonitrile, with a flow rate of 0.4 ml/min and a column temperature of 30 °C. A photodiode array detector was used for detection at 270 nm. The peak area response-concentration curve exhibited linearity across ranges of 50–250 µg/ml (emtricitabine), 100–500 µg/ml (tenofovir), and 10–50 µg/ml (rilpivirine). Quantitation limits were determined to be 0.099 µg/ml (emtricitabine), 0.165 µg/ml (tenofovir), and 0.066 µg/ml (rilpivirine). The method was successfully validated for the simultaneous determination of emtricitabine, tenofovir, and rilpivirine in combined tablet dosage form. Percentage recoveries were 99.89%, 99.52%, and 100.20%, with relative standard deviations of 0.415%, 0.268%, and 0.559% for emtricitabine, tenofovir, and rilpivirine, respectively.

Conclusion

The performance of the proposed method was evaluated against reported RP-UPLC methods and found to be rapid and cost-effective. The developed and validated stability indicating RP-UPLC method proved suitable for quality control and drug analysis.
Urinary CD163: an early biomarker of diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Abo Hashish Tahany Ibrahim , Abdel Ghafar Muhammad Tarek , Eisa Abd Elmoteleb , Okda Hanaa
Published: February 2025

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the urinary level of soluble CD163 (sCD163) in patients with type 2 diabetes as a potential early indicator of diabetic nephropathy (DN).

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 60 type 2 diabetic patients and 20 healthy individuals. Patients were divided into three groups according to their albumin/creatinine ratio: normoalbuminuric, microalbuminuric, and macroalbuminuric groups. Urinary levels of sCD163 (usCD163) were measured using ELISA.

Results

The mean CD163 levels showed a significantly increasing trend from the patients without nephropathy to those with nephropathy. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that CD163 was an independent risk factor for DN progression in patients with DM (p = 0.011). According to the ROC curve, at a cutoff value of CD163 > 510.2 pg/mL, the area under the curve was 0.88 for discriminating diabetic patients with DN from those without.

Conclusions

sCD163 can be used as a potential marker for prediction of DN in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Traumatic injury leads to ovarian cell death and reproductive disturbances in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Dixon Cameron T. , Yang Pamela , McCall Kimberly
Published: February 2025

Traumatic injury (TI), or global blunt force trauma, can arise from many sources such as car crashes, sports and intimate partner violence. Effects from these injuries impact the whole organism and can lead to many different pathologies, such as inflammation, neurodegeneration, gut dysbiosis, and female reproductive detriments. Drosophila melanogaster has recently emerged as a powerful model to study traumatic injuries due to their high conservation of physiological effects post-trauma and the genetic toolset that they leverage. Previously, we reported female-specific reproductive deficits post mild TI in Drosophila. Here we investigate the effects of more severe trauma on females and found an increased retention of mature eggs and decrease in egg laying. Additionally, severe trauma led to an increase of midstage egg chamber death and formation of melanization, a known marker of immune activation. These studies provide a valuable invertebrate model to understand disturbances to female reproduction post-trauma.
The Impact of Wearable Device Use on Physical Activity Levels in Individuals with Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Leung Willie , Tiralla Gillian
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of mortality globally despite being widely preventable. Such an epidemic calls for increased prevention efforts and awareness of the modifiable risk factors associated with CVD. Physical activity has the ability to prevent, manage, and treat CVD. With the increasingly popular use of wearable devices, such as fitness trackers, individuals are able to monitor physical activity and may benefit from the additional motivation the devices provide. This study aimed to assess the impact of wearable device use on physical activity levels among individuals with CVD using data from the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System.

Methods

A cross-sectional secondary analysis was conducted on a sample of 419 individuals with CVD, categorized into wearable device users and non-users. Descriptive analyses, chi-square analysis, and logistic regressions were performed. Physical activity levels, including total minutes of physical activity per week, vigorous activity, and adherence to aerobic physical activity guidelines, were compared between groups.

Results

Regardless of wearable device use status, most individuals with CVD (68.62%; 95% confidence interval, 56.58%–79.18%) met aerobic physical activity guidelines. The analysis resulted in no significant differences in physical activity levels between wearable device users and non-users, with both groups showing similar rates of meeting aerobic physical activity guidelines (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Wearable devices could have the potential to play a role in managing CVD by encouraging safe monitoring of physical activity. Further research is needed to explore the role of wearable devices in promoting sustained physical activity and addressing barriers specific to CVD populations.
Hybrid equation-based and data-driven computational workflows for analysis and prediction of industrial deposition processes
Authors: Παπαβασιλείου Πάρις
Published: February 2025

Παρά την πρόοδο στην ποιότητα και την ποσότητα των διαθέσιμων βιομηχανικών δεδομένων, καθώς και το αυξημένο ενδιαφέρον για τις προσεγγίσεις με βάση τα δεδομένα που επιφέρει η τέταρτη βιομηχανική επανάσταση (Industry 4.0), υπάρχουν ακόμη διεργασίες που είναι πολύ περίπλοκες για να μοντελοποιηθούν με ακρίβεια μέσω παραδοσιακών μεθόδων βασισμένων σε εξισώσεις που διατυπώνουν θεμελιώδεις αρχές, αλλά επίσης δεν διαθέτουν επαρκή δεδομένα για μια προσέγγιση αμιγώς βασισμένη στα δεδομένα. Λαμβάνοντας ως βασικό παράδειγμα μια βιομηχανική διεργασία Χημικής Απόθεσης από Ατμό (ΧΑΑ), η παρούσα διατριβή προτείνει μια υβριδική υπολογιστική προσέγγιση που περιλαμβάνει μεθόδους βασισμένες σε εξισώσεις (υπολογιστική ρευστοδυναμική - CFD) αλλά και μεθόδους μηχανικής μάθησης (ML) για τη μοντελοποίηση, διερεύνηση και πρόβλεψη τέτοιων πολύπλοκων διαδικασιών. Κατ’ αρχάς, η εργασία αυτή αποσκοπεί στην παροχή ενός τρόπου πρόβλεψης των αποτελεσμάτων της διεργασίας, επιτρέποντας παράλληλα τη διερεύνηση της διεργασίας και την απόκτηση γνώσεων σχετικά με τα διάφορα αλληλεπιδρώντα φυσικά και χημικά φαινόμενα που την καθορίζουν. Το προτεινόμενο μοντέλο ρευστοδυναμικής μπορεί να βοηθήσει στη διερεύνηση της διεργασίας και στην πρόβλεψη της ποσότητας ενδιαφέροντος, η οποία είναι το πάχος της αποτεθειμένης αλούμινας. Μπορεί επίσης να ρίξει φως στα φαινόμενα που διέπουν τη διαδικασία. Ωστόσο, συνοδεύεται από υψηλό υπολογιστικό κόστος, το οποίο καθιστά απαγορευτική τη χρήση του σε καθημερινές εφαρμογές. Για να ξεπεραστεί αυτός ο περιορισμός, προτείνεται ένα προβλεπτικό μοντέλο αμιγώς βασισμένο σε δεδομένα, το οποίο προσφέρει βελτιωμένη προβλεπτική και υπολογιστική απόδοση. Προτείνεται επίσης ένας τρόπος συνδυασμού των διαθέσιμων δεδομένων παραγωγής της διεργασίας και των αποτελεσμάτων του μοντέλου ρευστοδυναμικής, μέσω της μεθόδου GappyPOD. Στη συνέχεια, προτείνεται μια προσέγγιση αμιγώς καθοδηγούμενη από δεδομένα για τον εντοπισμό πιθανών κρίσιμων παραμέτρων της διεργασίας με βάση έναν συνδυασμό προσεγγίσεων επιτηρούμενης και μη επιτηρούμενης μάθησης. Μετά από μια αρχική ομαδοποίηση των διαθέσιμων δεδομένων αποτελεσμάτων της διεργασίας και την ανάλυση των ομάδων που προκύπτουν, οι διαφορές μεταξύ τους μπορούν να αντιστοιχιστούν με διαφορές στις «μεταβλητές εισόδου» της διεργασίας, επιτρέποντας έτσι τον προσδιορισμό πιθανών κρίσιμων μεταβλητών της διεργασίας. Αυτές οι μεταβλητές επιτρέπουν την βαθύτερη κατανόηση της διεργασίας και μπορούν στη συνέχεια να χρησιμοποιηθούν για την ανάπτυξη μοντέλων βασισμένων σε δεδομένα για την ποιοτική και ποσοτική πρόβλεψη της έκβασης της διεργασίας. Η ευελιξία αυτής της προσέγγισης αναδεικνύεται στη συνέχεια με την εφαρμογή της σε μια εντελώς διαφορετική διεργασία - τον μεταβολισμό των αστροκυττάρων.
Epidemiological, Gross Morphological, And Histopathological Analysis Of Postmortem Cases Of Hanging - An Observational Study
Authors: Chacko Alana , Gupta Chandni , Palimar Vikram , Nayak M Deepak
Published: February 2025

Background Death due to hanging is commonly seen. Sometime the ligature mark will be very prominent and in some cases it might not. In those cases, the post-mortem examination with its gross morphological findings and histopathological analysis, becomes significantly important. Objective: The objective of this study was to identify the patterns of epidemiological, gross morphological, and histopathological features in hanging cases. Methods The study was conducted on 46 cases of hanging and was carried out from February 2023 to June 2024. Their sociodemographic features were collected. Gross morphological analysis of the ligature mark and various measurements were taken. Later tissue from the ligature mark was sent for histopathological analysis. Statistical analysis was performed on the collected parameters. Results Significant male preponderance was observed in hanging cases. The maximum number of cases of hanging were observed in the fourth decade of life. Daily wage workers were the most significantly affected population. Depression was cited as the cause of suicide in most cases. Carotid intimal tears and injuries to bony and cartilaginous structures were present in smaller numbers. Vital reaction was observed in all 46 cases. Classification of wound vitality showed a correlation to known time since injury. Conclusion The results of the present study showed that socio-demographic factors play a significant role in the circumstances leading to suicidal deaths. Therefore, in reducing the burden of suicidal deaths, these factors must be addressed. To identify the cause of death as hanging analysis of various gross features and histopathology are very important and should be conducted carefully.
Positive change: workplace culture or team dynamics – where to start?
Authors: Godfrey Hannah , Auden Catherine
Published: February 2025

Dr Hannah Godrey explores how workplace culture and team dynamics impact veterinary teams, sharing practical steps for nurses to foster a positive, supportive environment that enhances wellbeing, teamwork and patient care.
Zoonotic hookworms and roundworms affecting dogs and cats in Europe
Authors: Colombo Mariasole , Traversa Donato
Published: February 2025

Ascarids and ancylostomatids are parasitic nematodes that are significant to animal and human health. Widespread misconceptions have often contributed to a tendency among the general public and pet owners to underestimate the importance of these intestinal worms. Similarly, there is a low level of concern even within the veterinary community, despite the need to remain vigilant. Understanding the epidemiology, transmission pathways and clinical implications of these infections is crucial in mitigating their impact on public health and animal wellbeing. This article provides a brief overview of zoonotic hookworms and roundworms affecting dogs and cats in Europe, with a focus on their biology, patterns of transmission, associated diseases and strategies for prevention and control. The article emphasises the need for interdisciplinary collaboration between veterinary and human health sectors and the importance of awareness, early detection and effective management of these zoonotic parasites to safeguard both animal and human health.
Anthelmintic resistance in the canine hookworm, Ancylostoma caninum
Authors: Castro Pablo David Jimenez
Published: February 2025

Hookworms are one of the most common soil-transmitted helminths and can infect a wide variety of mammals. There are three major anthelmintic drug classes currently available for treatment of hookworms in canines: the benzimidazoles, the tetrahydropyrimidines and the macrocylic lactones. In registration studies for the food and drug administration in the USA, febantel, moxidectin and milbemycin oxime all demonstrated efficacy of >99%. Fenbendazole demonstrated efficacy of >98% and pyrantel demonstrated a somewhat variable efficacy, with a mean across studies of approximately 94%, where more than half of those studies yielded >99%. The only mechanism of resistance currently known for anthelmintics is for the benzimidazole drugs. Detection of drug-resistant Ancylostoma caninum in dogs is a complex issue that deserves greater recognition before more multiple anthelmintic drug-resistant A. caninum infections are reported in an even wider geographic area and dog population distribution. Beyond the concerns for canine health, multiple anthelmintic drug-resistance in canine hookworms could present serious public health concerns because A. caninum is zoonotic.