bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Different Urinary Catheterization Practices on Urinary Complications and Quality of Life
Authors: Çulha Yeliz , Büyükyılmaz Funda , Çulha Mehmet Gökhan
Published: February 2025

Objective: This study investigates the effects of different urinary catheterization methods—
transurethral catheterization (TC), suprapubic catheterization (SC), and clean intermittent
catheterization (CIC)—on urinary complications and quality of life.
Material and Methods: This research conducted as a descriptive design with 91 patients at a
urology clinic in Istanbul between November 2023 and September 2024, the research evaluates
catheterization-related complications and their impact on patients’ emotional, social, and physical
well-being over a six-month period. Data collection utilized the Patient Information Form and the
King’s Quality of Life Questionnaire.
Results: Indicate that while all methods present complications such as urinary tract infections
(UTIs), urgency, and hematuria, CIC and SC showed significant reductions in UTI rates over time
(p=0.001 and p=0.042, respectively). CIC also resulted in fewer cases of hematuria compared to
other methods (p=0.039). In terms of quality of life, SC demonstrated improvements in emotional
and social domains over six months, whereas CIC offered enhanced autonomy and better physical
health outcomes. Transurethral catheterization, despite its widespread use, was associated with
higher complication rates, particularly UTIs.
Conclusion: The findings underscore the importance of individualized catheterization decisions
as based on multidisciplinary team approach and emphasize the critical role of nursing in following
patient outcomes. Comprehensive patient education and adherence to hygiene protocols were
instrumental in reducing complications and enhancing quality of life. Future studies should
explore the long-term implications of these catheterization methods and further assess the role of
nursing interventions in improving patient care.
PENGEMBANGAN E-MODUL BERBASIS BLOGSPOT SEBAGAI MEDIA PEMBELAJARAN ONLINE MATA PELAJARAN IPAS DI MIN 1 JOMBANG
Authors: Kholifah Nur , Muslih Imam
Published: February 2025

Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengembangkan media pembelajaran terkait penggunaan blogspot sebagai platform untuk mengembangkan e-modul sebagai media pembelajaran yang efektif dan interaktif, meningkatkan kesadaran akan potensi Blogspot dalam mendukung proses pembelajaran modern yang berbasis teknologi dan Memberikan motivasi kepada pendidik, pengembang materi, dan pengguna lainnya dalam menciptakan e-modul berkualitas menggunakan blogspot. Model yang dipakai dalam penelitian ini adalah R&D (Research and Development) dan motode yang digunakan dalam pengembangan media pembelajaran adalah ADDIE (analyze, design, develop, implement, evaluate). Instrumen dalam penelitian ini berupa angket tertutup yang berupa pernyataan dengan menggunakan Skala Likert terkait tanggapan serta penilaian dari ahli materi, ahli media, ahli pembelajaran, dan peserta didik dari validasi tersebut rata rata mendapat skor 8o% ke atas yang artinya e-modul sebagai media pembelajaran berbasis blogspot ini dikatakan sangat layak dan bagus di gunakan dalam kegiatan pembelajaran efektif didalam kelas maupun diluar kelas.
Clinical response to placebo botulinum toxin injection in cervical dystonia—a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wetmore Emma , Roberts Henry , Livinski Alicia A. , Camacho Terance , Eaton Chyanne , Norato Gina , Hallett Mark , Stacy Mark
Published: February 2025

Background

Cervical dystonia is the most common form of focal dystonia and is the most studied neurological condition in patients receiving botulinum toxin. In clinical trials of botulinum toxin, there is a placebo response, but this has not been studied systematically.

Objectives

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to assess and compare the peak and duration of placebo response in people with cervical dystonia receiving botulinum toxin in randomized, blinded controlled clinical trials.

Methods

Three databases (Embase, PubMed, Scopus) and two trial registers (Cochrane CENTRAL and Cochrane Movement Disorders Trials Register) were searched by a biomedical librarian in May 2022 and September 2023. Covidence was used for screening titles and abstracts and full text. Two authors independently screened each record and collected data from the included articles. Microsoft Excel was used for data collection. The Cochrane Collaboration’s Risk of Bias tool in randomized trials was used by two authors for each included study. A third author resolved conflicts during screening and discrepancies during data collection and risk of bias assessment. We conducted a random-effects meta-analysis of the mean reduction in the TWSTRS total score at 4 weeks post injection, to assess the clinical change in the placebo arm overall and by TWSTRS pain, severity, and disability scales.

Results

Twelve studies, with moderate overall risk of bias, that included 2,145 participants with 580 randomized to placebo, were included in the systematic review. Clinical changes in the placebo arm were mild with a mean reduction of Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS) total score of 3.5 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.6–4.4] 4 weeks post injection. TWSTRS pain score at week four was 0.9 (95% CI: 0.6 - 1.1; I2 = 59%). TWSTRS severity score at week four was 1.7 (95% CI: 1.3–2.0; I2 = 63%). TWSTRS disability score at week four was 0.7 (95% CI: 0.3–1.0; I2 = 63%). Duration of benefit ranged from 45.1 to 76.3 days with a mean duration of 57.6 days. Dropouts in patients randomized to placebo were due to lack of efficacy, pain, neck weakness, fatigue, and tiredness.

Conclusion

This information on placebo response will be useful in estimating sample size and interpreting participant benefit in future interventional studies of cervical dystonia.
AI-powered topic modeling: comparing LDA and BERTopic in analyzing opioid-related cardiovascular risks in women
Authors: Ma Li , Chen Ru , Ge Weigong , Rogers Paul , Lyn-Cook Beverly , Hong Huixiao , Tong Weida , Wu Ningning , Zou Wen
Published: February 2025

Topic modeling is a crucial technique in natural language processing (NLP), enabling the extraction of latent themes from large text corpora. Traditional topic modeling, such as Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), faces limitations in capturing the semantic relationships in the text document although it has been widely applied in text mining. BERTopic, created in 2022, leveraged advances in deep learning and can capture the contextual relationships between words. In this work, we integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI) modules to LDA and BERTopic and provided a comprehensive comparison on the analysis of prescription opioid-related cardiovascular risks in women. Opioid use can increase the risk of cardiovascular problems in women such as arrhythmia, hypotension etc. 1,837 abstracts were retrieved and downloaded from PubMed as of April 2024 using three Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) words: “opioid,” “cardiovascular,” and “women.” Machine Learning of Language Toolkit (MALLET) was employed for the implementation of LDA. BioBERT was used for document embedding in BERTopic. Eighteen was selected as the optimal topic number for MALLET and 23 for BERTopic. ChatGPT-4-Turbo was integrated to interpret and compare the results. The short descriptions created by ChatGPT for each topic from LDA and BERTopic were highly correlated, and the performance accuracies of LDA and BERTopic were similar as determined by expert manual reviews of the abstracts grouped by their predominant topics. The results of the t-SNE (t-distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding) plots showed that the clusters created from BERTopic were more compact and well-separated, representing improved coherence and distinctiveness between the topics. Our findings indicated that AI algorithms could augment both traditional and contemporary topic modeling techniques. In addition, BERTopic has the connection port for ChatGPT-4-Turbo or other large language models in its algorithm for automatic interpretation, while with LDA interpretation must be manually, and needs special procedures for data pre-processing and stop words exclusion. Therefore, while LDA remains valuable for large-scale text analysis with resource constraints, AI-assisted BERTopic offers significant advantages in providing the enhanced interpretability and the improved semantic coherence for extracting valuable insights from textual data.
Characterization of the gut microbiota in urinary calculi patients with preoperative urinary tract infection
Authors: Chen Hao , Yuan Jing , Zhou Hongmin , Zhan Xiangcheng , Gao Yuchen , Chen Bowen , Aihemaiti Nuer , Xu Xiao , Dong Yunze , Liu Shuai , Chen Yanhua , Liu Ding , Xie Tiancheng , Xu Yunfei
Published: February 2025

Background

Urinary tract infection is one of the most common comorbidities of urinary stones. Disorders of gut microbiota can affect various infectious diseases and the formation of the stones. Therefore, alterations in the gut bacteria profile may be a potential risk factor for the development of infections in patients with urinary tract stones.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study to analyze the association of urinary tract infections with gut microbiota and serum metabolism in patients with stones.

Results

Patients with urolithiasis were predominantly in combination with diabetes mellitus (11.4% vs. 20%) and hypertension (36.4% vs. 50%). There were no statistically significant differences in hematological and urinary parameters. Compared to negative patients, IL-17A was significantly higher in the positive group (25.0 vs 21.1 pg/ml p = 0.038). The majority of pathogens detected in urine cultures were urease-negative bacteria, and urease-positive bacteria accounted for 15% of the total number of patients. We analyzed the community composition of the two groups of patients and found a significant difference in their β-diversity (p = 0.025), suggesting that dysbiosis of the gut bacteria may be associated with the combination of urinary tract infections in urolithiasis. For identification of crucial bacteria, we found changes in the abundance of both Intestinibacter (p = 0.036) and Dialister (p = 0.039), and abundance of Intestinibacter was positively correlated with IFN-α, IL-12P70 (p<0.05), and especially IL-17A (p<0.01), which may result from differences in translational, ribosomal structural and biosynthetic functions in stone patients (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Urolithiasis with gut dysbiosis developed a higher incidence of urinary tract infections, which may be associated with the increasing of Intestinibacter and affect the expression of IL-17A by translational, ribosomal structural and biosynthetic function.
Positive association between serum lactate dehydrogenase levels and blood pressure: evidence from NHANES 2015–2016
Authors: Hu Tao , Li Linfeng , Cao Qiqiang , Tu Weiling , Huang XianTao , Yuan Tan
Published: February 2025

Background

Serum lactate dehydrogenase (sLDH) is an enzyme implicated in tissue injury and inflammatory responses. Despite its established role in these pathophysiological processes, the association between sLDH and blood pressure remains underexplored. The present findings suggest that sLDH could emerge as a valuable biomarker for blood pressure regulation and may hold significant promise in the management of hypertension.

Methods

Our investigation utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015–2016, comprising 3,469 participants after excluding those under the age of 20, individuals on antihypertensive therapies, and cases with incomplete data. sLDH levels were categorized into tertiles, while blood pressure measurements were conducted under standardized protocols. To elucidate the relationship between sLDH levels and blood pressure, multivariate regression analyses and smooth curve fitting techniques were employed, adjusting for 17 covariates, including age, sex, and body mass index.

Results

sLDH corresponds with both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The adjusted smooth curve fitting diagram demonstrates a linear positive connection between sLDH and SBP, with an increment of 0.053 mmHg (95% CI: 0.032, 0.074; p < 0.001) in SBP for every 1 U/L increment in LDH concentrations. The connection between sLDH and DBP is non-linear. sLDH concentrations below 123 U/L have a linear positive connection with DBP, increasing 0.079 mmHg (95% CI: 0.042, 0.115, p < 0.001). When sLDH concentrations exceed 123 U/L, there is not a substantial connection with DBP (P = 0.574).

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates a linear positive correlation between sLDH and SBP. A non-linear association was observed between sLDH and DBP, with a positive relationship for sLDH levels below 123 U/L. These findings underscore the potential of sLDH as a biomarker for blood pressure regulation.
Relationship between ghrelin and thyroid disease: a meta-analysis
Authors: Xin Caihong , Yao Jiayi , Li Huijuan , Sun Xin , Wang Huijuan
Published: February 2025

Background

Previous studies have identified a close relationship between ghrelin levels and thyroid disease. Ghrelin levels were lower in patients with hyperthyroidism compared with healthy individuals, and increased after treatment. However, other studies have reported inconsistent results. As such, the association between ghrelin and thyroid disease remains controversial.

Methods

A literature search of the Web of Science, Wiley Online Library, Embase, and PubMed databases was performed. The title or abstract search term “thyroid” was used in combination with “ghrelin”. Meta-analysis results are reported as standardized mean difference with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

Twenty-three studies were included in this meta-analysis. Ghrelin levels in patients with hyperthyroidism were significantly lower than those in healthy individuals (SMD: -1.03, 95% CI [-1.75, 0.32]), but significantly higher after effective treatment (SMD: 0.77, 95% CI [0.03, 1.51]). Ghrelin levels were higher, but not significantly, in patients with hypothyroidism compared with healthy controls (SMD: 0.48, 95% CI [-0.13, 1.08]).

Conclusions

This systematic review is the first to evaluate the relationship between ghrelin and thyroid disease. Determining the role of ghrelin in thyroid disease will significantly contribute to understand of symptom or pathomechanism.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42024591501.
Combined metabolome and transcriptome analysis provides molecular insights into reproductive process in Chuanxiang Black and Landrace pigs
Authors: Li Jiangling , Zhang Jinling , Zhao Sujun , Wang Qiushi , Liu Rui , Chen Xiaohui , He Zhiping
Published: February 2025

Testes are crucial for male reproduction, and transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses can help identify genes and pathways linked to reproductive performance differences in pig breeds. The present study was conducted to identify the differentially expressed genes and differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) through transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of testicular tissues in Chuanxiang Black and Landrace pigs. Six testis tissue samples from each pig breed were used for transcriptomic analysis. Further liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis was performed for targeted metabolomic analysis to identify differential metabolites in both breeds. RNA-sequencing data identified a total of 6,233 DEGs, including 3,417 upregulated and 2,816 downregulated genes in Chuanxiang Black compared to Landrace pigs. Comparative pathway enrichment analyses revealed that many DEGs and DAMs were associated with critical reproductive pathways, especially those related to male gametogenesis, spermatogenesis, sexual reproduction, development, and reproductive processes. Three major pathways related to signal transduction (PI3K-Akt, Rap1, and MAPK signaling pathways), lipid metabolism (linoleic acid and arachidonic acid metabolism), and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction were identified as differentially enriched pathways in Chuanxiang Black pigs. Differential circRNA target gene enrichment analysis revealed 4,179 DEGs, including 3,022 genes involved in biological processes, 477 in cellular components, and 680 in molecular functions. Differential analysis of miRNA between the two groups revealed 2,512 DEGs, including 1,628 upregulated and 884 downregulated genes. Both miRNA and circRNA were involved in enriched KEGG pathways mainly including signaling pathways (cAMP signaling pathways, calcium signaling pathways), endocrine secretion (aldosterone synthesis and secretion and GnRH secretion), and signaling molecules and interaction (ECM-receptor interaction). These findings revealed that both circRNA and miRNA play a crucial role in regulating the differential gene expression related to reproductive processes in Chuanxiang Black compared to Landrace pigs.
Case report: Whole exome sequencing identifies a novel variant in the HPRT1 gene in a male with developmental delay
Authors: Zheng Haoyang , Chen Gui , Wang Tingting , Cheng Weisheng , Yuan Jing , Liu Fang , Xu Yuanhong
Published: February 2025

Lesch-Nyhan syndrome (LNS, OMIM #300322) is a rare X-linked genetic disorder caused by variants in the HPRT1 gene, which codes for the Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT). HPRT1 gene variants disrupt normal purine metabolism, leading to the involvement of multiple organ systems, primarily characterized by hyperuricemia, dystonia, and neurological abnormalities, which makes LNS clinically heterogeneous and diagnostically challenging. Here, we report a rare case of a 27-year-old Chinese male exhibiting severe lower limb motor disorders, hyperuricemia, and intellectual development delay. Blood tests showed hyperuricemia and whole exome sequencing (WES) identified a novel hemizygous variant in the HPRT1 (NM-000194.3) gene: c.104T > C in exon 2, respectively. Bioinformatics techniques indicated that the variant may disrupt the activity of HGPRT. According to the clinical presentation, diagnostic examination, and WES results, the patient was finally diagnosed with LNS. This study identified a previously unreported pathogenic variant in the HPRT1 gene. Although no curative therapy is currently available for HPRT1 gene variants at present, a definite diagnosis of its genetic etiology is of great significance for genetic counseling and family planning.
Neutrophils in colorectal cancer: mechanisms, prognostic value, and therapeutic implications
Authors: Wang Xingyue , He Shukang , Gong Xiangmei , Lei Shijun , Zhang Qianwen , Xiong Junqi , Liu Yang
Published: February 2025

Neutrophils, the most abundant myeloid cells in human peripheral blood, serve as the first defense line against infection and are also significantly involved in the initiation and progression of cancer. In colorectal cancer (CRC), neutrophils exhibit a dual function by promoting tumor events and exerting antitumor activity, which is related to the heterogeneity of neutrophils. The neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), gut microbiota, and various cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME) are involved in shaping the heterogeneous function of neutrophils. This article provides an updated overview of the complex functions and underlying mechanisms of neutrophils in CRC and their pivotal role in guiding prognosis assessment and therapeutic strategies, aiming to offer novel insights into neutrophil-associated treatment approaches for CRC.
OnmiMHC: a machine learning solution for UCEC tumor vaccine development through enhanced peptide-MHC binding prediction
Authors: Jian Fangfang , Cai Haihua , Chen Qushuo , Pan Xiaoyong , Feng Weiwei , Yuan Ye
Published: February 2025

The key roles of Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Class I and II molecules in the immune system are well established. This study aims to develop a novel machine learning framework for predicting antigen peptide presentation by MHC Class I and II molecules. By integrating large-scale mass spectrometry data and other relevant data types, we present a prediction model OnmiMHC based on deep learning. We rigorously assessed its performance using an independent test set, OnmiMHC achieves a PR-AUC score of 0.854 and a TOP20%-PPV of 0.934 in the MHC-I task, which outperforms existing methods. Likewise, in the domain of MHC-II prediction, our model OnmiMHC exhibits a PR-AUC score of 0.606 and a TOP20%-PPV of 0.690, outperforming other baseline methods. These results demonstrate the superiority of our model OnmiMHC in accurately predicting peptide-MHC binding affinities across both MHC-I and MHC-II molecules. With its superior accuracy and predictive capability, our model not only excels in general predictive tasks but also achieves significant results in the prediction of neoantigens for specific cancer types. Particularly for Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma (UCEC), our model has successfully predicted neoantigens with a high binding probability to common human alleles. This discovery is of great significance for the development of personalized tumor vaccines targeting UCEC.
Impact of the on-site fish workshop in gaining children’s understanding and support for coastal zone management: leverage points and human-nature connection perspectives
Authors: Uehara Takuro , Tachibana Sawako , Hidaka Takeshi
Published: February 2025

Public understanding and support are essential for managing coastal zones because these are social-ecological systems (SES) in which the public plays a crucial role. As disconnection from nature may be a root cause of the unsustainability of SES, reconnecting people to nature is a promising avenue for improving their understanding and support. Although environmental education that involves exposure to nature has been considered influential in reconnecting people with nature, empirical research is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of an on-site fish workshop on Japanese elementary and junior high school student’s knowledge, attitudes, intentions, and behaviors through the notion of human-nature connection (HNC) and leverage points. A 2×2 difference-in-differences design was employed in which the workshop’s impact was assessed by comparing the treatment and control groups before and after the workshop. We collected 4,054 responses, with 1,243 (pre-) and 1,088 (post-) students in the treatment group and 857 (pre-) and 866 (post-) in the control group. The preliminary findings indicate that the workshop had diverse impacts, from shallow (parameters) to deep leverage points (Information flows, Rules, Goals, and Paradigms), including HNC, support for ongoing management measures, and pro-SES attitudes and intentions. Their diverse impacts in the same direction (i.e., improvements), as found in our study, are critical because leverage points should be aligned for systemic sustainability transformation. However, changes to leverage points measured in the average treatment effect on the treated (ATET) varied from limited to extensive. Future research directions are discussed based on the preliminary findings.
Addressing energy challenges: sustainable nano-ceramic electrolytes for solid-state lithium batteries by green chemistry
Authors: Chava Sai Raghuveer , Luckett Robert , Bashir Sajid
Published: February 2025

The escalating demand for high-performance, safe energy storage devices has propelled the advancement of solid-state battery (SSB) technology. SSBs can supplant traditional liquid electrolyte-based Li-ion batteries by offering higher theoretical capacities and enhanced safety through solid-state electrolytes. However, challenges like dendritic lithium growth and inadequate solid-solid interfaces impede their practical application. This study aims to overcome these barriers by enhancing the ionic conductivity of ceramic-based solid-state electrolytes by incorporating nanoscale multicomponent halides. Utilizing green chemistry principles, we synthesized composite electrolytes based on Li₃InCl₆, doped with fluorine (F), cerium (Ce), and molybdenum (Mo). Among these, the F-, Ce-, and Mo-doped Li₃InCl₆ electrolytes contributed uniquely to enhancing ionic conductivity. Mo-doping improved most substantially, reaching an average ionic conductivity modal value of 0.30 S cm⁻1 (Rangle 0.15,0.46) S cm−1;± 0.13 S cm⁻1, comparable to commercial liquid electrolytes. F doping enhanced lattice stability and facilitated Li⁺ ion mobility, while Ce doping improved structural integrity and reduced interfacial resistance. Comprehensive structural characterization confirmed the successful incorporation of dopants and favorable modification of the crystal lattice, facilitating enhanced Li⁺ ion mobility. Electrochemical performance evaluations using symmetrical half-cells demonstrated reduced charge transfer resistance and improved cycling stability, particularly in the Mo-doped variants. These findings underscore the effectiveness of molybdenum doping in mitigating interfacial resistance and promoting reliable ion transport in SSBs. Toxicity assessments revealed that using water as a solvent and natural extracts minimized the environmental footprint, aligning with sustainable synthesis practices. Our green nano-engineering approach not only advances the performance of solid-state electrolytes but also aligns with sustainable synthesis practices, paving the way for developing efficient and eco-friendly energy storage solutions. Additionally, our green nano-engineering approach was evaluated against traditional synthesis methods, demonstrating a 40% reduction in energy consumption and a 75% decrease in hazardous waste generation. This manuscript highlights the pivotal role of doped Li₃InCl₆ electrolytes in addressing current limitations of SSB technology, thereby contributing to the future of safe and high-capacity energy storage systems.
Effects of Trichoderma harzianum combined with Phanerochaete chrysosporium on lignin degradation and humification during chicken manure and rice husk composting
Authors: Zhai Senmao , Wang Kuang , Yu Fengcun , Gao Zhenlu , Yang Xu , Cao Xiuqing , Shaghaleh Hiba , Hamoud Yousef Alhaj
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of combined treatment of Trichoderma harzianum and Phanerochaete chrysosporium on lignin degradation and humification during aerobic composting. Chicken manure (CM) and rice husk (RH) were used as organic raw materials for composting. The basic physicochemical analysis indicated that the combined addition of Trichoderma harzianum and Phanerochaete chrysosporium effectively improved lignin degradation rate (16.60%), increased humic acid (HA) content (22.70 g/kg), and the germination index (GI) reached 110.99%. Fungal community revealed that the relative abundance of Ascomycota was 37.46–68.85%, 9.57–60.35%, 58.02–91.76%, 0.98–91.60% in CK, T1, T2, T3 and Basidiomycota was 7.81–36.03%, 7.84–3.55%, 4.42–9.60%, 0.06–8.05% in CK, T1, T2, T3 (in phylum); the relative abundance of Kazachstania was 0.001–68.48%, 0.62–14.60%, 7.06–25.45%, 0.001–38.16% in CK, T1, T2, T3 and Diutina was 2.67–7.97%, 1.11–34.42%, 15.79–64.41%, 0.25–35.34% in CK, T1, T2, T3 (in genus) during the composting. Especially, the combined addition of Trichoderma harzianum and Phanerochaete chrysosporium had more negative impact on the activity of Basidiomycota compared with CK and other treatments and Trichoderma harzianum treatment had the strongest inhibitory effect on Tausonia abundance compared with CK and other treatments. Correlation analysis indicated that moisture content influenced fungal community structure (r = −0.740, p < 0.01) which affected lignin degradation (r = −0.952, p < 0.01) and compost maturity level in the composting process. Fungi Functional Guild (FUNGuild) and correlation heatmap demonstrated that T3 could enhance the relative abundance of endophyte which may had the potential to improve the degradation of lignin. This study confirmed the positive effects of the combination of Trichoderma harzianum and Phanerochaete chrysosporium in enhancing lignin degradation and promoting compost maturity, providing a foundation for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms involved in lignin degradation and humification processes influenced by the fungal community during composting, ultimately contributing to the efficient utilization of agricultural waste resources.
High prevalence of periodontal disease and periodontopathogen colonization in adults with autism spectrum disorder: a pilot study
Authors: Berbé Ludivine , Machouart Marie , Luc Amandine , Albuisson Eliane , Strazielle Catherine , Bisson Catherine
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Alteration of the oral microbiome could potentially play a role in the etiology of certain patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), similar to the established link between gut microbiota dysbiosis and ASD. Most studies have assessed oral microbiota in children only and few have explored the oral flora composition in adults with ASD.

Methods

In our study, periodontal and dental status was evaluated in 30 adults with ASD using appropriate indices. Oral microbiota samples were collected in crevicular fluid and supra-gingival plaque at inflamed sites in each patient and analyzed using PCR for bacteria and qPCR for protozoa. Demographic data, co-morbidities, medication and oral hygiene habits were also collected.

Results

A total of 86.7% of the patients recruited suffering from severe ASD had periodontal disease and 67% had a high level of supra-gingival plaque. Two major periodontopathogens belonging to the red complex, Treponema denticola and Tannerella forsythia, were both detected in the supra-gingival plaque of 86.2% of patients and in the gingival crevicular fluid of 80 and 86.7% of patients, respectively. Certain microorganisms were statistically more frequently detected in patients with digestive disorders and taking certain medications.

Discussion

The oral microbiota composition of the adults with ASD showed significant differences compared to neurotypical individuals, particularly in the prevalence of the specific microorganisms P. gingivalis, T. tenax and E. gingivalis ST1. The detection frequency of periodontitis and periodontopathogens may have been underestimated due to the lack of cooperation of the adults with ASD during clinical examination and microbiota sampling. Further studies on larger cohorts are needed to consolidate these results to gain a better understanding of variations in oral microbiota.
The clinical value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, systemic immune-inflammation index, monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio for predicting the severity of patients with autoimmune encephalitis
Authors: Zhao Xin , Wu Fen , Zhao Shunfeng , Chen Wenna , Si Wei , Li Yuanrui , Zhang Dengke , Wang Jing , Wang Ningning , Sun Lina , Sun Zhiyu , Chang Haoxiao , Du Ganqin
Published: February 2025

Background

The systemic inflammation index (SII), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are inflammatory markers in peripheral blood, which have been proven to be associated with some central nervous system diseases. We aimed to evaluate the association of SII, NLR MLR and PLR with the severity of autoimmune encephalitis (AE) and to compare the predictive value of those biomarkers in the early identification of ICU admission.

Methods

This retrospective study was conducted in three medical centers in China. We included 176 patients diagnosed with AE and 200 age and gender-matched healthy controls and correlated their demographic and clinical data. The SII, NLR, MLR and PLR levels were calculated from the blood routine tests. The severity of the patients was evaluated by the Clinical Assessment Scale for Autoimmune Encephalitis (CASE) and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at admission, and the patients were divided into two groups according to the ICU admission.

Results

The SII, NLR, MLR and PLR were significantly higher in AE patients than that in HCs (<0.001 for all). The SII and NLR were positively correlated with the CASE score (r = 0.243, p = 0.001; r = 0.237, p = 0.002) and the mRS score (r = 0.185, p = 0.014; r = 0.185, p = 0.014) in AE patients. The MLR and PLR were only positively correlated with the CASE score (r = 0.242, p = 0.001; r = 0.158, p = 0.036). The SII and NLR of the ICU group were significantly higher than that of the non-ICU group. The result of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that NLR was the best predictor of ICU admission for AE patients (AUC = 0.701). NLR and MLR had similar predictive ability (AUC = 0.654; AUC = 0.608) and were superior to PLR. The optimal NLR cut-off value for the incidence of ICU was 3.906.

Conclusion

Increased SII, NLR, MLR and PLR at admission are positively correlated with the CASE score of AE patients. Among the four indexes, the NLR is the best predictor of ICU admission, which may be helpful for clinicians to monitor disease progression and identify potentially severe patients of AE.
Data transformation of unstructured electroencephalography reports by natural language processing: improving data usability for large-scale epilepsy studies
Authors: Chung Yoon Gi , Cho Jaeso , Kim Young Ho , Kim Hyun Woo , Kim Hunmin , Koo Yong Seo , Lee Seo-Young , Shon Young-Min
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Electroencephalography (EEG) is a popular technique that provides neurologists with electrographic insights and clinical interpretations. However, these insights are predominantly presented in unstructured textual formats, which complicates data extraction and analysis. In this study, we introduce a hierarchical algorithm aimed at transforming unstructured EEG reports from pediatric patients diagnosed with epilepsy into structured data using natural language processing (NLP) techniques.

Methods

The proposed algorithm consists of two distinct phases: a deep learning-based text classification followed by a series of rule-based keyword extraction procedures. First, we categorized the EEG reports into two primary groups: normal and abnormal. Thereafter, we systematically identified the key indicators of cerebral dysfunction or seizures, distinguishing between focal and generalized seizures, as well as identifying the epileptiform discharges and their specific anatomical locations. For this study, we retrospectively analyzed a dataset comprising 17,172 EEG reports from 3,423 pediatric patients. Among them, we selected 6,173 normal and 6,173 abnormal reports confirmed by neurologists for algorithm development.

Results

The developed algorithm successfully classified EEG reports into 1,000 normal and 1,000 abnormal reports, and effectively identified the presence of cerebral dysfunction or seizures within these reports. Furthermore, our findings revealed that the algorithm translated abnormal reports into structured tabular data with an accuracy surpassing 98.5% when determining the type of seizures (focal or generalized). Additionally, the accuracy for detecting epileptiform discharges and their respective locations exceeded 88.5%. These outcomes were validated through both internal and external assessments involving 800 reports from two different medical institutions.

Discussion

Our primary focus was to convert EEG reports into structured datasets, diverging from the traditional methods of formulating clinical notes or discharge summaries. We developed a hierarchical and streamlined approach leveraging keyword selections guided by neurologists, which contributed to the exceptional performance of our algorithm. Overall, this methodology enhances data accessibility as well as improves the potential for further research and clinical applications in the field of pediatric epilepsy management.
Decreased scene-selective activity within the posterior intraparietal cortex in amblyopic adults
Authors: Malladi Sarala N. , Skerswetat Jan , Schmidt Marianna E. , Tootell Roger B. H. , Gaier Eric D. , Bex Peter J. , Hunter David G. , Nasr Shahin
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Amblyopia is a developmental disorder associated with reduced performance in visually guided tasks, including binocular navigation within natural environments. To help understand the underlying neurological disorder, we used fMRI to test the impact of amblyopia on the functional organization of scene-selective cortical areas, including the posterior intraparietal gyrus scene-selective (PIGS) area, a recently discovered region that responds selectively to ego-motion within naturalistic environments.

Methods

Nineteen amblyopic adults (10 females) and thirty age-matched controls (15 females) participated in this study. Amblyopic participants spanned a wide range of amblyopia severity, based on their interocular visual acuity difference and stereoacuity. The visual function questionnaire (VFQ-39) was used to assess the participants’ perception of their visual capabilities.

Results

Compared to controls, we found weaker scene-selective activity within the PIGS area in amblyopic individuals. By contrast, the level of scene-selective activity across the occipital place area (OPA), parahippocampal place area (PPA), and retrosplenial cortex (RSC) remained comparable between amblyopic and control participants. The participants’ scores on “general vision” (VFQ-39 subscale) correlated with the level of scene-selective activity in PIGS.

Discussion

These results provide novel and direct evidence for the impact of amblyopia on scene processing within the human brain, thus enabling future studies to potentially link these changes across the spectrum of documented disabilities in amblyopia.
Mutation in Wdr45 leads to early motor dysfunction and widespread aberrant axon terminals in a beta-propeller protein associated neurodegeneration (BPAN) patient-inspired mouse model
Authors: Meyerink Brandon L. , Karia Krishna S. , Rechtzigel Mitchell J. , Patthi Prithvi R. , Edwards Ariana C. , Howard Jessica M. , Aaseng Elizabeth R. , Aftab Shamiq , Weimer Jill M. , Pilaz Louis-Jan
Published: February 2025

Beta-propeller Protein Associated Neurodegeneration (BPAN) is a devastating neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disease linked to variants in WDR45. Currently, there is no cure or disease altering treatment for this disease. This is, in part, due to a lack of insight into early phenotypes of BPAN progression and WDR45’s role in establishing and maintaining neurological function. Here we generated and characterized a mouse model bearing a c52C > T BPAN patient variant in Wdr45. We show this mutation ablates WDR45 protein expression and alters autophagy in the brain. Behavioral analysis of these mice revealed characteristic signs of BPAN including cognitive impairment, hyperactivity, and motor decline. We show these behaviors coincide with widespread glial activation and early development of axonal spheroids in multiple neuron subclasses throughout the brain. Several lines of evidence suggest these spheroids arise from axon terminals. Transcriptomic analysis uncovered multiple disrupted pathways in the cortex including genes associated with synapses, neurites, endosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, and ferroptosis. This is supported by accumulation of the iron regulating transferrin receptor 1 (TFRC) and the endoplasmic reticulum resident calreticulin (CALR) in the cortex as these animals age. CALR forms spheroid structures similar to the axonal spheroids seen in these animals. Taken together, our data suggest that WDR45 is necessary for healthy brain function and maintenance of axon terminals. This model opens the door to therapeutics targeting BPAN and further exploration of the role of WDR45 in neuronal function.
The velocity of temporalis muscle wasting in cerebral metastasis is prognostic for poor survival
Authors: Rafaelian Artem , Won Sae-Yeon , Behmanesh Bedjan , Cantré Daniel , Bernstock Joshua D. , Freiman Thomas M. , Seidlitz Jakob , Baumgarten Peter , Dinc Nazife , Konczalla Juergen , Gessler Florian , Dubinski Daniel
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Recently, the temporalis muscle thickness on cranial CT scan was proposed as a surrogate marker for patients’ baseline frailty that correlates with outcome in primary and metastatic brain tumor patients. In this study, we investigated whether the velocity of temporalis muscle atrophy (TMA) affects the outcome of patients with cerebral metastases.

Methods

We analyzed radiological and clinical data sets of 96 patients who received craniotomy for cerebral metastasis resection in our institution. We then correlated the radiological data with clinical course and outcome after stratification for the velocity of temporalis muscle atrophy.

Results

The median velocity of TMA was 0.0016 mm/day. In patients with a slow TMA rate, the median overall survival was significantly longer than in patients with a fast TMA rate (37.7 months versus 22.9, p = 0.0007). Furthermore, patients with slow TMA had longer progression-free survival postoperatively (7.6 versus 4.38 months, p <0.0001). The overall survival postoperatively (OS-PO) was also significantly longer in patients with slow TMA (8.9 months versus 5.1, p=0002).

Conclusion

Based on this study, the velocity of temporalis muscle atrophy may represent an objective and dynamic index with potential for survival prognostication for patients with cerebral metastases.
Case Report: A rare case of early esophageal basaloid squamous cell carcinoma with ductal differentiation
Authors: Qi Xing , Zuo Zhenxiang , Li Guangchun , Cui Xiujie , Wu Honglei
Published: February 2025

Background

Early esophageal basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (EBSCC) with ductal differentiation is a rare variant of esophageal cancer (EC), for which the clinical behavior, endoscopic features and diagnostic criteria are not fully elucidated.

Case presentation

An 81-year-old female presented to our hospital with a year of eating obstruction sensation. A rough, superficial-elevated and circumferential 1/2 esophageal lesion on the upper esophagus was found by the white light endoscopy (WLE). The uplift and swelling caused by subepithelial lesions suggest that this lesion may infiltrate into the submucosa. Under the narrow band imaging magnifying endoscopy (NBI-ME), papillary-like structures were visible in the lesion, and the loop capillaries classified as intraepithelial papillary capillary loop (IPCL) of type B1 were observed. Furthermore, a fine network pattern of microvascular similar to the surface glandular structure in early differentiated gastric cancer can be seen in the middle of type B1, indicating that the presence of special glandular tubular-like components. Microscopically, the tumor was a poorly differentiated EBSCC with a glandular structure. In addition, the tubular structures transitional with the surface squamous cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemical results showed that the bilayer-tubular structures exhibited bidirectional differentiation towards the outer basal epithelium and the inner columnar epithelium. The double-layer epithelium cells of the tumorous tubules expressed CK7, and the outer cells expressed p40, CK5/6.

Conclusion

Early EBSCC with ductal differentiation has unique endoscopic, histological and immunophenotypic characteristics. Understanding of the endoscopic and pathological features of the early EBSCC with ductal differentiation is crucial for early detection, accurate diagnosis, timely treatment, and prevention of misdiagnosis.
The efficacy and safety of 225Ac-PSMA-617 in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer
Authors: Ma Jiao , Zhang Yu , Yangqing Jiangchu , Liu Guangfu , Wang Junzheng , Zhang Chunyin
Published: February 2025

Background

We aimed to report our clinical experience with the use of 225Ac-PSMA-617 in the treatment of mCRPC patients.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 29 metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients treated with 225Ac-PSMA-617. Patients underwent treatment at 8-week intervals and discontinued treatment upon disease progression or the occurrence of intolerable adverse effects. We acquired 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT images and laboratory test outcomes of patients at baseline and 8 weeks following each treatment. Short-term efficacy was evaluated through the biochemical response of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and molecular tumor response criteria. A follow-up was conducted to assess the long-term effectiveness by examining the patient’s overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). The numerical rating scale (NRS) assessed the patient’s pain. The side effects after treatment were evaluated based on common terminal criteria for adverse events version 5.0 (CTCAE v5.0).

Results

29 patients with mCRPC underwent a total of 50 treatment cycles. The median age of the patients was 67 years (55-84years). Out of these patients, 11 had previously underwent 177 Lu-PSMA-617 radioligand therapy (RLT). After treatment, any PSA decline was observed in 75.9% of patients, and a PSA decline≥50% was observed in 62.1%. 61.1% of patients had disease control according to molecular response. The estimated OS and PFS were 18 months (95% CI: 15-21 months) and 8 months (95% CI: 6-10 months). Univariate analysis showed that any PSA decline was positively correlated with PFS (p<0.001). The most common side effect was xerostomia, observed in 79.3% of patients. Grade III blood toxicity was observed in 7/29 patients. After treatment, the pain disappeared in 4 patients and was relieved in 13 individuals.

Conclusions

In mCRPC, the results indicated that 225Ac-PSMA-617 demonstrated a favorable disease control rate and relatively minimal side effects. However, additional high-quality randomized controlled trials are required for future validation.