bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trophic niche differentiation and foraging plasticity of long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas edwardii) in Tasmanian waters: insights from isotopic analysis
Authors: Jackson Christine H. , Gales Rosemary , Cherel Yves , Jackson George D. , Virtue Patti
Published: February 2025

Understanding the foraging preference of cetaceans is crucial for assessing their role as apex predators and indicators of marine ecosystem health. Using stable isotope analysis, we investigated trophic niche differentiation and foraging plasticity in 141 long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas edwardii) that stranded along the Tasmanian coast at three locations (Marion Bay, King Island, and Maria Island). Stranding location accounted for most of the variability in skin isotopic values (δ13C: - 17.9 ± 0.2 ‰ to –16.9 ± 0.2 ‰, Principal Coordinate 1 = 89%), likely reflecting differences in foraging habitats. In addition, isotopic niche overlap ranged from minimal (0-10% between Marion Bay and Maria Island) to moderate (between Marion Bay and King Island, and King Island and Maria Island). While sex related differences in isotopic niche space were minimal overall, there was some variability in the core niche space between males and females at Maria Island. Dietary proportions from our mixing model support a predominantly cephalopod diet for pilot whales in Tasmanian waters (91%, CI: 63-90%), with greater contributions from offshore dietary sources (68%, CI: 25-95%). The dietary variability across the three strandings highlights the foraging plasticity of pilot whales, which despite their preferences for a wide range of oceanic cephalopods, can adopt a more generalist feeding strategy when necessary. These findings provide valuable insights into the ecological role and adaptability of pilot whales in Tasmanian waters, highlighting the importance of monitoring apex predators to inform conservation and ecosystem management strategies in dynamic marine ecosystems.
Motives for choice of work in healthcare and individual performance of medical doctors working in public multispecialty hospitals in Warsaw
Authors: Chmielewska Malgorzata , Stokwiszewski Jakub , Markowska Justyna , Hermanowski Tomasz
Published: February 2025

Objective

This study explores the relationship between the motives driving people to work in healthcare and the individual work performance of public hospital doctors. The results are analyzed in terms of changes necessary to improve work performance among medical practitioners.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 249 medical doctors from 22 randomly selected inpatient departments of multidisciplinary public hospitals in Warsaw. Data were collected using self-administered structured questionnaires developed by WHO. Herzberg model as modified by the authors was used to identify key motives for choosing a job in healthcare. A chi-square test was used to analyze the correlations between the reasons for choosing to work as a medical practitioner and socio-demographic variables. The interdependence between individual performance and the main reason for choosing a career in healthcare was examined with a Kruskal-Wallis test.

Results

The research results indicate a statistically significant relationship between the main motive for choosing a career in healthcare—namely, the individual motivation of hospital doctors, and individual work performance as measured by “notion that my work is valuable in itself” (p = 0.003) and “responsibility for outcomes” (p = 0.024) response categories. Doctors whose main motive for choosing the profession was to help patients are more likely to feel high satisfaction with “The notion that my work is valuable in itself” than others (42.5% vs. 27.0% for “other” and 28.3% for “Nature of the work itself”) and with “The sense of responsibility for the outcomes” (50.0% vs. 35.1% for “other” and 36.3% for “Nature of the work itself”).

Conclusions

When examining factors affecting the professional performance of medical doctors, aspects related to the original main motive for choosing this profession and for working in the healthcare must not be disregarded. The distinctive features of this profession, including personal qualities, should perhaps be considered in the admission criteria for medical studies.
Machine learning-based myocardial infarction bibliometric analysis
Authors: Fang Ying , Wu Yuedi , Gao Lijuan
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study analyzed the research trends in machine learning (ML) pertaining to myocardial infarction (MI) from 2008 to 2024, aiming to identify emerging trends and hotspots in the field, providing insights into the future directions of research and development in ML for MI. Additionally, it compared the contributions of various countries, authors, and agencies to the field of ML research focused on MI.

Method

A total of 1,036 publications were collected from the Web of Science Core Collection database. CiteSpace 6.3.R1, Bibliometrix, and VOSviewer were utilized to analyze bibliometric characteristics, determining the number of publications, countries, institutions, authors, keywords, and cited authors, documents, and journals in popular scientific fields. CiteSpace was used for temporal trend analysis, Bibliometrix for quantitative country and institutional analysis, and VOSviewer for visualization of collaboration networks.

Results

Since the emergence of research literature on medical imaging and machine learning (ML) in 2008, interest in this field has grown rapidly, particularly since the pivotal moment in 2016. The ML and MI domains, represented by China and the United States, have experienced swift development in research after 2015, albeit with the United States significantly outperforming China in research quality (as evidenced by the higher impact factors of journals and citation counts of publications from the United States). Institutional collaborations have formed, notably between Harvard Medical School in the United States and Capital Medical University in China, highlighting the need for enhanced cooperation among domestic and international institutions. In the realm of MI and ML research, cooperative teams led by figures such as Dey, Damini, and Berman, Daniel S. in the United States have emerged, indicating that Chinese scholars should strengthen their collaborations and focus on both qualitative and quantitative development. The overall direction of MI and ML research trends toward Medicine, Medical Sciences, Molecular Biology, and Genetics. In particular, publications in “Circulation” and “Computers in Biology and Medicine” from the United States hold prominent positions in this study.

Conclusion

This paper presents a comprehensive exploration of the research hotspots, trends, and future directions in the field of MI and ML over the past two decades. The analysis reveals that deep learning is an emerging research direction in MI, with neural networks playing a crucial role in early diagnosis, risk assessment, and rehabilitation therapy.
Immune-neuroendocrine reactivity and features of tuberculosis in pregnancy
Authors: Starshinova Anna , Churilov Leonid P. , Kudryavtsev Igor , Rubinstein Artem , Belyaeva Ekaterina , Kulpina Anastasia , Ling Hong , Zhuang Min , Kudlay Dmitry
Published: February 2025

The combination of tuberculosis and pregnancy always raises questions about therapy, the specialness of management of pregnancy, obstetrics, postpartum period, and lactation; the effect of therapy on fetal development and the peculiarities of the tuberculosis course. Until recently, tuberculosis and pregnancy were considered a rare combination, but with the growing problem of HIV infection and worsening tuberculosis screening among adults, this combination has become quite common. Moreover, cases of congenital tuberculosis in newborns have begun to emerge. In this review, we analyzed features of immunologic and immuno-neuroendocrine reactivity in pregnant women that influence for prevalence TB and TB/HIV coinfection. The immuno-neuroendocrine changes characteristic of pregnancy have a multifactorial effect on antituberculosis immunity and determine the specificity of the course of tuberculosis against the background of pregnancy. These changes contribute to a more severe course of TB than before pregnancy. The structure of TB clinical forms in women who became ill during pregnancy and in the first year after childbirth is characterized by greater severity, higher frequency of multi-organ lesions, and the percentage of bacterial isolates is significantly higher among women with TB that developed in the postpartum period compared to women who developed it during pregnancy. HIV infection poses a particular threat, exacerbating immune response disorders that affect the effectiveness of treatment and disease progression in general.
Orlistat ameliorates lipid dysmetabolism in high-fat diet-induced mice via gut microbiota modulation
Authors: Huang Chengyan , He Yuanhui , Chai Ping , Liu Zongxin , Su Sirui , Zhang Yanhui , Luo Yuelan , Fu Shuiping
Published: February 2025

Orlistat reduces obesity by inhibiting gastrointestinal lipases, thereby blocking the absorption and accumulation of triglycerides in the intestine. It has been shown to improve lipid metabolism and alter intestinal microbial communities in animals and humans. However, the impact of Orlistat-induced changes in gut microbiota on obesity requires further investigation. In this study, we found that Orlistat significantly improved metabolic disorders, inhibited fat accumulation, and reshaped the structure of intestinal microbiota. Specifically, it reduced α diversity and increased the relative abundance of Verrucomicrobia and Akkermansia. Notably, antibiotic-induced gut microbiota depletion significantly weakened Orlistat’s effect on improving metabolic disorders. Furthermore, microbiota transplanted from Orlistat-treated mice effectively alleviated lipid metabolic disorders caused by a high-fat diet. We also observed that Orlistat increased food intake in mice and inhibited the synthesis of appetite-regulating hormones glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon (Gcg). However, antibiotic-depleted microbiota mitigated this inhibitory effect. Interestingly, although Orlistat altered the gut microbiota of mice, transplanting these microbiota did not inhibit the synthesis of appetite-regulating hormones. In summary, our results suggest that Orlistat can reshape the gut microbiota, and the altered gut microbiota works synergistically with Orlistat to improve metabolic disorders. This improvement is related to the increased abundance of Verrucomicrobia and Akkermansia.
The role of FTO in m6A RNA methylation and immune regulation in Staphylococcus aureus infection-related osteomyelitis
Authors: Liu Sijing , Li Kai , Long Changhai , Lao Mingwu , Ma Biao , Liu Changquan , He Haoyuan , Wang Chunjiang , Chen Wangzhu , Yu Bin
Published: February 2025

Background

Regulators of n6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification play important roles in many diseases; however, their involvement in Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)-related osteomyelitis remains inadequately explored. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the role of m6A in S. aureus infection-related osteomyelitis and elucidate its underlying mechanisms.

Methods

We downloaded the S. aureus infection-related osteomyelitis infection dataset GSE30119 from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Initially, we constructed a diagnostic model based on m6A genes and predicted the hub node miRNAs and transcription factors by constructing a protein–protein interaction network. Subsequently, a prognostic model was built using LASSO regression, the receiver operating characteristic curve of the model was plotted, and the predictive performance of the diagnostic model was validated. Further, unsupervised clustering analysis, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and gene set variation analysis (GSVA) were employed to assess immune cell infiltration. Additionally, we validated the expression of fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) in S. aureus-infected Raw264.7 macrophages using qPCR and western blotting. Moreover, we conducted si-FTO experiments on mouse Raw264.7 macrophages to investigate the anti-inflammatory regulatory role of si-FTO during S. aureus infection.

Results

We identified 19 co-expressed genes closely related to FTO were identified, along with 206 related transcription factor regulatory genes and 589 miRNAs. Enrichment analyses suggested that these genes were involved in pathways related to the proliferation and oxidation of various immune cells, cellular senescence, and various tumors and immune cells, as well as cell cycle-related functions. GSEA revealed that PD-1, TH1, TH2, CTLA4, and other pathways were significantly enriched in patients with high FTO expression. GSVA indicated that the differentially enriched pathways were related to included amino acid metabolism, immunity, and infection. Correlation analysis of immune infiltration revealed that monocytes, M2 macrophages, resting mast cells, and neutrophils were present in normal and diseased samples. Differences in expression were observed between the groups. The western blotting and qPCR analyses confirmed that the protein expression of FTO was reduced in macrophages after infection with S. aureus, consistent with the observed changes in mRNA expression. Furthermore, we validated that FTO may influence the regulation of inflammation through the FoxO1/NF-kB pathway.

Conclusion

The m6A RNA methylation regulator FTO may serve as a potential diagnostic marker and therapeutic target, involved in the pathogenesis of S. aureus infection-related osteomyelitis. This finding provides new insights into the relationship between FTO-mediated m6A RNA methylation and osteomyelitis.
Fission yeast cells deficient in siderophore biosynthesis require Str2 for ferrichrome-dependent growth
Authors: Mbuya Berthy , Plante Samuel , Vahsen Tobias , Brault Ariane , Labbé Simon
Published: February 2025

Ferrichrome (Fc) acquisition in Schizosaccharomyces pombe is mediated by the cell-surface siderophore-iron transporter Str1. Here, we report that Str2, a protein homologous to Str1, localizes to the vacuolar membrane. Like Str1, Str2 expression is transcriptionally regulated in response to changes in iron concentrations. Both the str2+ and str1+ genes are induced under low-iron conditions and are repressed by the iron-responsive GATA-type transcription factor Fep1 when iron is abundant. Under high-iron conditions, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays reveal that TAP-Fep1 occupies the str2+ and str1+ promoters. Isolated vacuoles from str2Δ fep1Δ cells expressing GFP-tagged Str2 exhibit iron accumulation in vacuoles upon exposure to exogenous holo-Fc. sib1Δ sib2Δ cells deficient in Fc biosynthesis and lacking the str2+ gene (str2Δ) are unable to grow in the presence of exogenous Fc as a sole source of iron. Further analysis identified that conserved amino acids Tyr539 and Tyr553 in the last predicted loop of Str2 are required for supporting Fc-dependent growth of a sib1Δ sib2Δ mutant strain. Collectively, these findings indicate that the vacuolar Str2 protein plays a role in the consumption of Fc as an iron source, while also revealing the involvement of the vacuole in iron release from exogenous Fc after its assimilation.
The effect of resizing on the natural appearance of scintigraphic images: an image similarity analysis
Authors: Ghassel Siraj , Jabbarpour Amir , Lang Jochen , Moulton Eric , Klein Ran
Published: February 2025

Background and objective

This study aimed to assess the impact of upsampling and downsampling techniques on the noise characteristics and similarity metrics of scintigraphic images in nuclear medical imaging.

Methods

A physical phantom study using dynamic imaging was used to generate reproducible static images of varying count statistics. Naïve upsampling and downsampling with linear interpolation were compared against alternative methods based on the preservation of Poisson count statistics and principles of nuclear scintigraphic imaging; namely, linear interpolation with a Poisson resampling correction (upsampling) and a sliding window summation method (downsampling). For each resizing method, we computed the similarity of resized images to count-matched images acquired at the target grid size with the structural similarity index measure and the logarithm of the mean squared error. These image quality metrics were subsequently compared to those of two independent count-matched images at the target grid size (representing variance due to natural noise permutations) as a reference to establish an optimal resizing method.

Results

Only upsampled images with the Poisson resampling correction after linear interpolation produced images that were similar to those acquired at the target grid size. For downsampling, both linear interpolation and sliding window summation yielded similar outcomes for a reduction factor of 2. However, for a reduction factor of 4, only sliding window summation resulted in image similarity metrics in agreement with those at the target grid size.

Conclusions

The study underlines the importance of applying appropriate resizing techniques in nuclear medical imaging to produce realistic images at the target grid size.
Clinical analysis of risk factors for diarrhea associated with enteral nutrition in post-craniocerebral surgery patients
Authors: Zhang Lei , Zhang Lulu , Zhu Xiaojie , Xu Leiming , Zhu Lin , Zhou Hai , Yang Shengkai
Published: February 2025

Background

Patients undergoing craniocerebral surgery often require early enteral nutrition (EN) for energy support to improve neurological prognosis. However, diarrhea is a common complication associated with EN that can affect recovery and overall prognosis. This study aims to identify the clinical risk factors for diarrhea in patients receiving EN after undergoing craniocerebral surgery.

Methods

The clinical data of patients hospitalized in the Department of Neurosurgery and Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit of Binhai County People’s Hospital were retrospectively collected from January 2021 to December 2022. Variables such as sex, age, liquid preservation, infusion duration, pipeline assessment, heating during infusion, infusion rate, post-infusion rounds, and oral care were compared between diarrhea and non-diarrhea groups. Based on the variables obtained from the LASSO regression, multivariate logistic regression was employed to analyze their association with the occurrence of diarrhea. A diagnostic nomogram was constructed to predict the probability of diarrhea in patients receiving EN after craniocerebral surgery.

Results

According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 141 patients were enrolled in this study, including 50 patients in the diarrhea group and 91 patients in the non-diarrhea group. The following factors were significantly associated with diarrhea: age ≥ 70 years (OR: 2.240; 95% CI 1.110–4.520), no pipeline assessment before EN (OR: 3.807; 95% CI 1.702–7.643), no heating of EN preparations (OR: 3.188; 95% CI 1.853–6.722), no control of normal infusion rate (OR: 1.721; 95% CI 1.136–3.890), no timely post-infusion rounds after EN (OR: 2.260; 95% CI 1.454–5.075), and no oral care during EN. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified two independent predictors of diarrhea: no heating during EN (OR: 2.135; 95% CI 1.716–5.851) and no oral care during EN (OR: 1.125; 95% CI 1.025–1.652). A diagnostic nomogram based on these two variables was developed to predict the probability of diarrhea in postoperative craniocerebral surgery patients receiving EN. The nomogram demonstrated strong predictive performance, with an AUC of 0.848 (95% CI 0.778 to 0.918).

Conclusion

Various factors contribute to the occurrence of diarrhea after receiving EN after craniocerebral surgery. A nomogram incorporating two independent predictors—lack of heating during EN infusion and absence of oral care—exhibited strong predictive ability and may serve as a useful tool for early risk assessment. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating heating protocols and maintaining oral hygiene during EN administration to reduce the risk of diarrhea and improve postoperative care outcomes.
Relationship between prognostic nutritional index and asthma: a cross-sectional analysis
Authors: Jiang Zhimeng , Zhu Xingyu , Jiang Huixin , Zhao Donglin , Tian Jianwei
Published: February 2025

Background and objective

Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by inflammation of the airways. The association between nutritional status, inflammation, and asthma has been well-documented, yet the relationship between the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) and asthma remains unclear. This is a study to see whether there is a relationship between PNI and asthma prevalence.

Methods

The present study employed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2017 and 2020, including a total of 7,869 adult participants were included in the analysis. Participants were categorized into four quartiles based on PNI levels. A multivariable regression model was employed for the purpose of evaluating the correlation between PNI and asthma. In order to ascertain the stability of the association across different populations, subgroup analyses were performed.

Results

Higher PNI levels were significantly associated with lower asthma prevalence. In the complete adjusted model, each additional unit of PNI was associated with a 3% reduction in the prevalence of asthma [0.97 (0.95, 0.99)]. Trend analysis indicated a significant negative correlation between PNI and asthma (p for trend = 0.0041). Subgroup analyses showed a consistent negative association across different populations.

Conclusion

The findings of our study indicated that lower PNI values were linked to an elevated odds prevalence of asthma. Early nutritional intervention and inflammation management in high-risk populations with low PNI may reduce the incidence and severity of asthma. Future prospective studies are needed to confirm this relationship.
Associations between sleep traits and colorectal cancer: a mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Meng Xiangyue , Fan Enshuo , Lv Dan , Yang Yongjing , Liu Shixin
Published: February 2025

Background

Although many researches have shown a relationship between sleeping habits and the risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC), there is a lack of data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to support this point. Hence, this study used Mendelian randomization (MR) to robustly assess whether five primary sleep characteristics are directly linked with the risk of CRC occurrence.

Methods

In the performed study, the main Mendelian randomization analysis was conducted using approaches such as Inverse Variance Weighting (IVW), MR Egger, and weighted median method. To this end, five genetically independent variants associated with the sleep-related characteristics (chronotype, sleep duration, insomnia, daytime napping, and daytime fatigue) were identified and used as instrumental variables. Publicly accessible GWAS (Genome-Wide Association Study) data were used to identify these variants to investigate the putative causal relationships between sleep traits and CRC. Additionally, we conducted sensitivity analyses to minimize possible biases and verify the consistency of our results.

Results

Mendelian randomization analyses showed that an morning chronotype reduces the risk of CRC with the IVW method, hence, odds ratio (OR) of 1.21 and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.67-0.93, which is statistically significant at P = 5.74E-03. Conversely, no significant evidence was found to suggest that sleep duration, insomnia, daytime napping, or daytime sleepiness have a direct causal impact on CRC risk according to the IVW analysis.

Conclusions

Findings from our Mendelian randomization analyses suggest that an individual’s chronotype may contribute to an increased risk of CRC. It is advisable for individuals to adjust their sleep patterns as a preventative measure against CRC.
BRAF V600E-mutated lung adenocarcinoma with thyroid metastasis as the initial manifestation: a case report
Authors: Liu Yufei , Lei Hanhan , Cai Lingling , Tan Yuyan , Song Xinyu
Published: February 2025

Thyroid metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma is exceedingly uncommon. Here we present a case of a 72-year-old Chinese male with hoarseness, dysphagia, pain, and palpable thyroid nodules. Ultrasonography-guided thyroid fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) suggested a high-grade follicular-derived thyroid carcinoma (HGFCTC). Molecular analysis identified a BRAF V600E mutation. Comprehensive histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations, however, revealed that the thyroid cancer originated from the left lung. The patient received a 6-month post-operative dual-target therapy with dalafenib and trametinib. As of the last follow-up, the patient was still alive, demonstrating the effectiveness of targeted therapy.
Case report: Ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound findings of pediatric small intestinal inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor
Authors: Xing Zengmiao , Wu Tangna , Qin Lingling
Published: February 2025

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) are uncommon mesenchymal neoplasms with malignant potential, primarily affecting children and adolescents. It usually manifests in the abdominal and pelvic regions; however, small intestinal IMT is particularly rare. This report presents the case of a 7-year-old girl who presented with a small intestinal IMT. The patient was admitted with a one-day history of abdominal pain and vomiting. Ultrasonography revealed a solid hypoechoic mass in the lower abdomen. Based on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) findings, a preliminary diagnosis of small intestinal IMT was proposed, which was subsequently confirmed by postoperative histopathology. This case underscores the sonographic and CEUS features of small intestinal IMT in children, emphasizing that the combination of ultrasound and CEUS can improve diagnostic accuracy and preoperative evaluation in pediatric patients.
A pan-cancer analysis of homeobox family: expression characteristics and latent significance in prognosis and immune microenvironment
Authors: Wang Yuanhui , Gao Jie , Ren Ziyi , Shen Ziyi , Gu Wei , Miao Qinyi , Hu Xiaomeng , Wu Yan , Liu Wei , Jia Jia , Cai Yi , Wan Chunpeng (Craig) , Sun Lei , Yan Tingdong
Published: February 2025

Background

The Homeobox (HOX) gene family are conserved transcription factors that are essential for embryonic development, oncogenesis, and cancer suppression in biological beings. Abnormally expressed HOX genes in cancers are directly associated with prognosis.

Methods

Public databases such as TCGA and the R language were used to perform pan-cancer analyses of the HOX family in terms of expression, prognosis, and immune microenvironment. The HOX score was defined, and potential target compounds in cancers were predicted by Connective Map. Immunohistochemistry was employed to validate protein expression levels. Gene knockdowns were used to verify the effects of HOXB7 and HOXC6 on the proliferation and migration of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cells.

Results

HOX genes play different roles in different cancers. Many HOX genes, especially HOXB7 and HOXC6, have higher expression and lower overall survival in specific cancers and are predicted as risk factors. The high expression of most HOX genes is mainly related to immune subtypes C1-C4 and C6. Potential anti-tumor compounds for down-regulating HOX gene expression were identified, such as HDAC inhibitors and tubulin inhibitors. LUAD Cell migration and proliferation were inhibited when HOXB7 or HOXC6 was knocked down.

Conclusions

Many HOX genes may act as both oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, necessitating precision medicine based on specific cancers. The HOX gene family plays a crucial role in the development of certain cancers, and their expression patterns are closely related to cancer prognosis and the tumor microenvironment (TME), which may affect cancer prognosis and response to immunotherapy. Compounds that are negatively correlated with the expression levels of the HOX family in various cancers, such as HDAC inhibitors, are potential anti-cancer drugs. HOXB7 and HOXC6 may serve as potential targets for cancer treatment and the development of targeted compounds in the future.
DNA methylation and immune evasion in triple-negative breast cancer: challenges and therapeutic opportunities
Authors: Cai Wen-yu , Cai Xin-xian , Fei Yi-ran , Ye Rui , Song Ding-ming , Hu Dan , Zhang Wan-wan , Xia Ming-fei , Yang Xiao-xiao
Published: February 2025

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer characterized by the lack of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Chemotherapy remains the primary treatment option, yet TNBC frequently develops resistance, leading to relapse and metastasis. Emerging evidence highlights the potential of combining DNA methylation inhibitors with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). DNA methylation contributes to immune escape by silencing immune-regulatory genes, thereby reducing the tumor’s visibility to immune cells. Reversing this epigenetic modification can reinvigorate immune surveillance and enhance the efficacy of immunotherapies. This review discusses the role of DNA methylation in TNBC progression and immune evasion, focusing on recent advances in combination therapies involving DNA methylation inhibitors and ICIs. We discuss the underlying mechanisms that enable these therapeutic synergies, preclinical and clinical evidence supporting the approach, and the challenges posed by tumor heterogeneity, drug resistance, and toxicity. Finally, we explore the potential for personalized treatment strategies incorporating multi-omics data to optimize therapeutic outcomes. The integration of epigenetic therapies and immunotherapy offers a promising avenue for improving survival in TNBC patients.
Exploring the genetic profiles linked to senescence in thyroid tumors: insights on predicting disease progression and immune responses
Authors: Zhang Baoliang , Pang Yanping
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Thyroid cancer (THCA) is the most common endocrine tumor. Research on Cell Senescence Associated Genes (CSAGs), which impact many cancers, remains limited in the THCA field.

Methods

In this study, we downloaded THCA sample data from several public databases and selected a set of CSAGs for subsequent analysis. Differential expression genes (DEGs) obtained through differential analysis were intersected with prognostic genes identified by Cox regression analysis to explore the correlation among these crossed genes. We constructed a prognostic model using the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) algorithm and verified its efficacy. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted, and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves rigorously confirmed the accuracy of model predictions.

Results

To evaluate the predictive power of prognostic models across different phenotypic traits, we performed survival analysis, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), and immune-related differential analysis. Differences in tumor mutation burden (TMB) and treatment response between high-risk and low-risk patient groups were also analyzed. Finally, the predictive effect of our model on immunotherapy response was validated, showing promising results for THCA patients.

Discussion

Our study enhances the understanding of THCA cell senescence and provides new therapeutic insights. The proposed model not only accurately predicts patient survival but also reveals factors related to immunotherapy response, offering new perspectives for personalized medicine.
Clinical characteristics of Kawasaki disease with pulmonary radiographic abnormalities and its impact on the incidence of coronary artery lesions: a randomized retrospective cohort study
Authors: Liu Chenchen , Rong Xing , Qiu Huixian , Zhou Jinhui , Chen Yufei , Huang Xuhong , Chu Maoping , Wang Zhenquan
Published: February 2025

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of Kawasaki disease (KD) in patients demonstrating pneumonia-like changes and pulmonary complications, as well as the subsequent impact on coronary artery lesions, by comparing them with those of KD patients with normal pulmonary imaging.

Method

From January 1, 2013 to October 1, 2022, this study included paediatric patients diagnosed with KD who were registered in the KD database at Yuying Children's Hospital affiliated with Wenzhou Medical University. Patients were divided into three distinct groups based on the presence and severity of abnormalities observed via lung imaging. We first compared the demographic and clinical characteristics across these groups. The imaging characteristics of KD patients with pneumonia-like changes and pulmonary complications were identified via chest radiography (x-ray) and chest computerized tomography (CT). Logistic regression models and stratified analyses were employed to further identify factors influencing coronary artery lesions (CALs).

Results

Among the 2,686 KD children admitted to our centre in recent years, 115 presented with pneumonia-like changes, 366 presented with pulmonary complications, and 495 presented with no evident abnormalities on chest radiographs. In KD patients with pneumonia-like changes, there were significant elevations in inflammatory markers including the C-reactive protein (CRP) (P = 0.011), white blood cell (WBC) (P = 0.027), NT-proBNP (P = 0.007), and D-dimer (D-D) (P = 0.002) levels. Imaging studies have frequently revealed bilateral lung infections, predominantly in the mid-lower lung fields. Bronchitis-related changes were the most common manifestation of pulmonary complications in KD patients. A significant difference was observed in the incidence of CALs among patients with pneumonia-like changes. After adjusting for confounding variables, patients with pneumonia-like changes had a greater likelihood of developing CALs, with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 1.94 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.21, 3.11]. Similar findings were obtained through stratification and sensitivity analyses.

Conclusion

Patients diagnosed with KD who develop pneumonia-like changes and related pulmonary complications can be identified based on their clinical manifestations and imaging characteristics. Moreover, patients with KD and pneumonia-like changes had a significantly increased risk of developing CALs.
Videofluoroscopic swallowing study predicts clinical outcomes in critically Ill children with dysphagia: a retrospective observational study
Authors: Na Yoonju , Choi Jaeyoung , Choi Jihong , Oh Su Mi , Jang Hyuna , Choi Suein , Cho Joongbum , Kwon Jeong-Yi
Published: February 2025

Background

This retrospective observational study aimed to investigate the features of acute dysphagia observed during videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) in critically ill children and their potential to anticipate clinical outcomes.

Methods

Administrative healthcare data of children aged 1–18 were analyzed. Data were collected from the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a single tertiary medical center in South Korea between March 2019 and December 2022. We reviewed VFSS conducted on patients in the PICU who were referred by clinicians suspecting dysphagia.

Results

A total of 36 children were included in the study; 52.8% exhibited aspiration on VFSS. In this investigation, participants were provided with pureed food, liquids, solids, and a combination of solids and liquids (referred to as mixed) during the examination. Any occurrence of aspiration throughout the examination was deemed as aspiration. All individuals displaying aspiration were found to have silent aspiration. Silent aspiration was associated with a longer length of stay (LOS) in the PICU. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the time from PICU admission to VFSS and intubation duration significantly influenced LOS. Abnormal findings in the VFSS, including aspiration, delayed swallowing reflex, insufficient laryngeal closure, and residue, were statistically significant variables in determining the feeding mode at discharge.

Conclusion

This study highlights the importance of VFSS in assessing swallowing function in critically ill children. It suggests that VFSS findings, such as silent aspiration, can aid in predicting patient outcomes, including LOS and the delay in oral feeding.
Enhancing physical activity levels in 9–11-year-old children of varied genders: strategies leveraging parental exercise consciousness
Authors: Song Chao , Ge Sha
Published: February 2025

Objective

This study aimed to explore the predictive associations of parental exercise consciousness with the physical activity (PA) status and characteristics of 9–11-year-old children, in an attempt to identify effective strategies for addressing PA insufficiency in children from a parental standpoint.

Methods

The PA rating scale-3 and the Chinese Civic Exercise Consciousness Questionnaire were used to measure primary school students’ PA and their parents’ exercise consciousness from 361 families in Tianjin, China. The dimensions of exercise consciousness were cognition and identity (CI), sentiment and intention (SI), attitude and willingness (AW), and rights and responsibilities (RR) dimensions. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA with post-hoc test analysis, correlation analysis, and hierarchical regression analysis were performed.

Results

First, children’s PA increased with age, with boys significantly exceeding girls (p < 0.01). Significant gender differences were observed in both PA intensity and frequency (boys higher than girls, p < 0.01), although this was not consistent across age groups. Variations in PA duration and frequency showed significant age-related changes (p < 0.01), whereas intensity showed significant changes at older ages (p < 0.01). Second, we observed moderate to above-average level of parental exercise consciousness, and a significantly positive correlation between parental exercise consciousness and children’s PA levels (α = 0.601, p < 0.01); meanwhile, all four dimensions of parental exercise consciousness showed varying degrees of positive correlations with children’s PA intensity, duration, and frequency (p < 0.01). Third, stratified linear regression analysis showed the varied predictive associations of the different dimensions of parental exercise consciousness with children’s PA intensity, duration, and frequency. SI and AW significantly predictively associated with PA levels across different age groups and genders (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Age and gender showed crucial associations with children’s PA levels, resulting in distinct preferences and behaviors between boys and girls across various age groups. Parental exercise consciousness of exercise positively associated with the intensity, frequency, and overall volume of children’s PA. Enhancing parental consciousness of exercise-related emotions, intentions, attitudes, and willingness may effectively associate with enhancements in the intensity, duration, and frequency of their children’s PA, ultimately promoting greater engagement in physical exercise among the youth.
Research on improving urban park green space landscape quality based on public psychological perception: a comprehensive AHP-TOPSIS-POE evaluation of typical parks in Jinan City
Authors: Cheng Qingtao
Published: February 2025

During rapid urbanization, environmental issues significantly affect urban residents health. Urban parks and green spaces play a crucial role in urban planning and layout, significantly impacting residents quality of life and livability. This study constructs a comprehensive landscape evaluation model, “AHP-TOPSIS-POE” from the perspective of behavioral psychological perception. It uses four urban parks in Jinan City (Qianfoshan Park, Baotu Spring Park, Daming Lake Park, and Quancheng Park) as case study samples. This method validates its feasibility by converting subjective perceptions into objective data. The research findings are as follows: (1) Urban park green space landscapes are significantly correlated with public psychological recovery; (2) The weight ranking of the criteria layer is as follows: Landscape Perception (B4) 0.5135 > Social Interaction (B3) 0.3015 > Spatial Form (B2) 0.1244 > Visual Quality (B1) 0.0606; (3) The relative closeness ranking of the four typical urban parks in Jinan City is as follows: Qianfoshan Park > Quancheng Park > Daming Lake Park > Baotu Spring Park. This study aims to reduce the subjectivity of evaluation indicators, raise public awareness of high-quality cognition and emotional experiences, and provide a scientific basis for the development of scientifically reasonable urban park green landscapes.
A preliminary investigation into self-compassion and compassion-based intervention for mental health in the performing arts
Authors: Walton Courtney C. , Kirby James N. , McKenzie Sabrina , Gao Caroline X. , Purcell Rosemary , Rice Simon M. , Osborne Margaret S.
Published: February 2025

Objectives

Very little is known about the role of self-compassion on performing artists’ mental health. This project had two primary aims. First, was to examine the relationship between self-compassion and mental health among performing artists in dance, music, and acting. Second, was to test a brief compassion-based intervention to establish proof of concept for future work.

Method

Two sequential studies recruiting Australian performing artists were conducted. In Study 1, a cross-sectional online survey of performing artists explored patterns of association between self-compassion and mental health. In Study 2, participants engaged with a brief compassion-based intervention including an online workshop and daily meditation over 3 weeks. Descriptive pre-post data combined with thematic analysis of semi-structured interview transcripts identified performer perspectives of the compassion-based intervention.

Results

In Study 1, 211 participants were included in the final cross-sectional analysis, which showed that the intention to be self-compassionate was associated with lower symptoms of depression and anxiety, and higher wellbeing, even while controlling for several key demographic and risk factors (stress, alcohol use, and body appreciation). In Study 2, ten participants completed the intervention with medium-large improvements in self-compassion and small improvements in wellbeing and body appreciation. Qualitative data demonstrated that participants experienced self-compassion to be helpful, however fears of lowering standards existed. Participants feedback from this study can now directly inform future compassion-based interventions among performers.

Conclusion

While acknowledging the small sample size, these findings suggest that self-compassion may help performing artists manage various forms of internal, interpersonal, and environmental distress. These findings warrant progression to controlled evaluation of compassion-based interventions within larger samples of performing artists.
Unlocking engagement: exploring the drivers of elderly participation in digital backfeeding through community education
Authors: Sun Sijie
Published: February 2025

Amid China’s rapid aging and digitalization, elderly individuals face a “digital refugee” dilemma, making community education a vital channel for enhancing their digital participation. To address this, the study investigates how community education influences elderly engagement in digital backfeeding—a process where younger generations assist older adults with digital skills—by examining the interplay of personal, technological, and community factors in promoting technology acceptance. Using an integrated framework of the UTAUT, TTF, and TAM models, the research surveyed 482 elderly participants in community centers in Taiyuan, China, focusing on variables such as task and technology characteristics, social influence, facilitating conditions, perceived usefulness, ease of use, and technology anxiety. Analysis through AMOS and SPSS Process macro revealed that task characteristics significantly enhance engagement willingness, although technology characteristics introduce certain challenges. Furthermore, social influence and facilitating conditions were found to positively affect willingness and behavior, mediated by perceived usefulness, ease of use, and technology anxiety. Notably, participatory digital skills exhibited a stronger moderating effect on engagement willingness compared to receptive skills. These findings underscore the pivotal role of community education in fostering digital inclusion among the elderly. Practical recommendations include simplifying technology interfaces, creating supportive environments, and prioritizing participatory skills development to enhance technology acceptance, offering valuable insights for the design of age-friendly digital tools that bridge the digital divide.
Validation of a composite outcome measure for inpatient psychiatry using scales from the interRAI-MH
Authors: Barbaree Howard E. , Perlman Christopher , Ham Elke , Brown Gregory P. , Hirdes John P.
Published: February 2025

Background

Inpatient psychiatry is a critical service in a community-based care system for persons with serious mental illness (SMI). Currently, there are few generally accepted or widely used outcomes to assess the effectiveness of inpatient treatment.

Method

Following a Donabedian Model of Health Care Quality, we utilized eight scales from the RAI Mental Health assessment to derive a clinician-scored outcome measure consisting of 4 domains (Psychosis, Depression, Impairment, and Aggression). We combined subscales measuring these domains into a Composite Measure. We used this measure to assess the entire population (N=719) of our large specialized mental health hospital at the beginning (T1) and end (T2) of three months in the hospital (or admission to discharge in shorter stays). We evaluated the content validity of the measure by comparing items and scales with a list of putative contributors to hospital admission (symptoms and complications). To evaluate concurrent validity, we compared mean scores among hospital units with varying lengths of stay and clinical complexity (acute versus chronic versus complex chronic). We used ROC analysis to evaluate the CIIMHS’s ability to predict discharge from the hospital. To evaluate construct validity, we examined the measure’s responsiveness to changes among patients after treatment in the hospital.

Results

We found strong evidence for all four kinds of validity.

Conclusions

The composite measure represents a valid measure of inpatient mental health status and will serve as a valuable measure of the quality of care for inpatient psychiatry.