bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating causal associations between pork intake and multiple sclerosis using Mendelian randomization: Insights from large-scale GWAS data in European populations
Authors: Ye Zhinan , Liu Hongwei , Shi Luya , Ke Xiaoyong
Published: January 2025

Background

Observational studies propose associations between dietary factors and multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the causal nature of these relationships remains unclear. This study aims to determine whether nutritional factors causally influence MS risk through Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Methods

Summary statistics for 15 common dietary factors were derived from the Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) conducted by the Medical Research Council Integrated Epidemiology Unit (MRC-IEU). The GWAS data of MS were sourced from the International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium (IMSGC), including 14,498 cases and 24,091 controls. The inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method was utilized as the primary analytical approach to estimate causality, while Cochran's Q test assessed heterogeneity. MR-Egger (MRE) and MR-Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier (MR-PRESSO) were employed to detect pleiotropy and conduct sensitivity analyses.

Results

We executed univariable- and multivariable-adjusted MR analyses, incorporating adjustments for past tobacco smoking, particulate matter air pollution (PM2.5) and moderate to vigorous physical activity. The univariable Mendelian randomization (UVMR) analysis elucidated potential causal relationships concerning the risk of MS for only two dietary factors: pork intake (odds ratio [OR] = 6.764, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.772–25.814, p = 0.005 by IVW) and fish/liver oil dietary supplements (OR = 0.119, 95%CI: 0.032–0.444, p = 0.002 by IVW). In the multivariate Mendelian randomization (MVMR) analysis, the significant causal relationship between pork intake and MS remained robust even after adjusting for potential confounders. Conversely, after adjusting for these confounders, the initially observed causal associations between fish/liver oil dietary supplements and MS ceased to be statistically significant.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that pork intake could increase the risk of MS. Other nutritional factors analyzed in this study did not exhibit significant correlations with MS.
Exploring the usage demands of AIGC functions among Chinese researchers: A study based on the KANO model
Authors: Xie Zehang , Li Wu , Yu Wen
Published: January 2025

This study delves into the utilization demands of Artificial Intelligence-Generated Content (AIGC) tools among Chinese researchers, guided by the KANO model to understand their varying demands. By administering a comprehensive online survey (N = 1025), we collected data reflecting the researchers’ preferences for different AIGC functions. Our findings reveal a multifaceted perspective on user satisfaction: literature research emerged as a reverse quality, indicating a decline in satisfaction when provided, suggesting concerns over the authenticity of sources. Must-be qualities—data analysis and interpretation, statistical guidance, citation checks, and review response assistance—form the backbone of essential AIGC tools. Attractive qualities such as text writing, language services, charting assistance, and citation generation significantly boost user satisfaction, highlighting the AIGC's strength in content creation and formatting. Indifferent qualities, including concept clarification and viewpoint research, show a preference for personal research efforts, while diagram optimization and reference sorting are viewed as trivial tasks, comfortably managed with existing software tools. The study underscores the critical and discretionary AIGC functions from the perspective of Chinese academics, providing insights into tool development and indicating a need for future research on AIGC's evolving role in global research practices.
Utilizing deep learning for automatic segmentation of the cochleae in temporal bone computed tomography
Authors: Li Zhenhua , Zhou Langtao , Tan Songhua , Liu Bin , Xiao Yu , Tang Anzhou
Published: January 2025

Background

Segmentation of the cochlea in temporal bone computed tomography (CT) is the basis for image-guided otologic surgery. Manual segmentation is time-consuming and laborious.

Purpose

To assess the utility of deep learning analysis in automatic segmentation of the cochleae in temporal bone CT to differentiate abnormal images from normal images.

Material and Methods

Three models (3D U-Net, UNETR, and SegResNet) were trained to segment the cochlea on two CT datasets (two CT types: GE 64 and GE 256). One dataset included 77 normal samples, and the other included 154 samples (77 normal and 77 abnormal). A total of 20 samples that contained normal and abnormal cochleae in three CT types (GE 64, GE 256, and SE-DS) were tested on the three models. The Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and Hausdorff distance (HD) were used to assess the models.

Results

The segmentation performances of the three models improved after adding abnormal cochlear images for training. SegResNet achieved the best performance. The average DSC on the test set was 0.94, and the HD was 0.16 mm; the performance was higher than those obtained by the 3D U-Net and UNETR models. The DSCs obtained using the GE 256 CT, SE-DS CT, and GE 64 CT models were 0.95, 0.94, and 0.93, respectively, and the HDs were 0.15, 0.18, and 0.12 mm, respectively.

Conclusion

The SegResNet model is feasible and accurate for automated cochlear segmentation of temporal bone CT images.
Use of artificial intelligence innovations in public academic libraries
Authors: Molaudzi Amogelang Isaac , Ngulube Patrick
Published: January 2025

Public academic libraries are among the many organisations concerned about using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The study adopted a mixed methods research (MMR) approach using a concurrent research design to examine the use of AI innovations in public academic libraries. Thematic and descriptive statistical data analysis was used to analyse the data gathered from questionnaires, interviews and document content analysis. The findings revealed that public academic libraries in South Africa did not have clear strategies for adopting AI innovations. Consequently, AI was not widely used. Library management systems can support AI, but some must be upgraded. Librarians had excellent computer literacy, although many had not received AI training to broaden their expertise and awareness of this innovation. Results suggested that public academic libraries should create comprehensive AI adoption strategies responsive to AI trends. This study highlights the need for strategies that ensure AI technologies are utilized ethically, equitably, and with accountability. It also contributes to the literature on the use of AI in academic libraries. The results of this study may encourage public academic librarians to begin planning the incorporation of AI technology into their strategies.
Williams-Beuren Syndrome and Epilepsy: A Retrospective Analysis of 589 Patients
Authors: Pohl Johanna , Nuss Harry , Caliebe Almuth , Gosch Angela , Reutershahn Elke , Pankau Rainer , Muhle Hiltrud
Published: January 2025

Although many reports have described the characteristics of Williams-Beuren syndrome, few specifically analyzed epilepsy in patients with Williams-Beuren syndrome. In this retrospective study, we map the prevalence, types, and prognosis of epileptic seizures in a large cohort of 589 patients with Williams-Beuren syndrome, as well as associations between deletions of the membrane-associated guanylate kinase inverted-2-gene ( MAGI2 gene), which is associated with infantile spasms (IS), and epilepsy in patients with Williams-Beuren syndrome. Our findings indicate that the incidence of epilepsy in patients with Williams-Beuren syndrome is approximately 1.02% (6 in 589), and is thus not higher than the incidence in the general population (0.5%-1.0%). West syndrome emerged as the most common epileptic syndrome in patients with Williams-Beuren syndrome (4 of 6) and typically has a favorable prognosis. There was no genotype-phenotype correlation between MAGI2 deletions and West syndrome in this cohort.
Glut-1 exerts anti-tumor activity in glioma by regulating AKT / mTOR signaling pathway
Authors: Li Zhimei , Zhang Guofeng
Published: January 2025

Objective

Glioma is a common tumor in neurosurgery. Glut-1 is the main carrier of glucose uptake by cells and can provide energy through the glycolytic pathway. However, the role and related mechanisms of Glut-1 in glioma have not yet been elucidated.

Methods

Real time PCR and Western blot were done to assess Glut-1 level in glioma tumor tissues and adjacent tissues. Glioma U87 cells were separated into control group; Glut-1 negative control (NC group); and Glut-1 siRNA group followed by analysis of Glut-1 expression, cell proliferation by MTT assay, cell invasion, cell apoptosis and cycle by flow cytometry and AKT / mTOR signaling proteins level by Western blot.

Results

Glut-1 expression was significantly increased in the tissues of glioma patients (P < 0.05) compared to adjacent tissues and its level was related to tumor size, pathological grade and survival. Down-regulating the expression of Glut-1 can significantly inhibit tumor cell proliferation and invasion, increase apoptosis and induce G0 phase of cell cycle arrest, and inhibit the expression of AKT / mTOR signaling proteins phosphorylation (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Glut-1 level in glioma tissues is significantly increased, which is related to the pathological features. Down-regulating Glut-1 can inhibit glioma by regulating the AKT / mTOR signaling pathway.
Material pathologies: Caring for personality disorder in prison
Authors: Hudson Becka S.
Published: January 2025

The British prison estate is characterised by an elaborate mental health infrastructure, an edifice often rearranged to meet the near-permanent mental health ‘crisis’ in its walls. From ‘trauma-informed’ prisons to behaviour change programmes, care for mentally ‘vulnerable’ people in prison has sedimented into the backbone of penal strategy. Much of this is developed through appeals to inclusion: of the vulnerable, disadvantaged, and traumatised people who are increasingly recognised as comprising a disproportionate number of prisoners. One category around which this infrastructure is organised is ‘personality disorder’. Since New Labour's demarcation of this ‘offender group’ in the early 2000s, they are now thought to comprise a majority of the prison population. This article, grounded in prison documents and interviews with former prisoners, looks at the disorder's operationalisation in prison. It shows the disorder to be a broad and malleable category that works to mediate between prisoners, as individual subjects, and an expanding, complex, and shifting prison structure. Prisoners are explained in terms of the diagnosis, as the category’s borders are wide and shifting enough to absorb all kinds of behaviour, beliefs, and experiences. We thus see how the diagnosis simultaneously works to dismiss prisoners’ inner lives at the very moment it claims to understand them—and how this move facilitates penal management. The article uses Althusser's work on subjects and interpellation to make sense of this situation, and prisoners’ tactical navigation of it. The material practices that make the diagnosis real are emphasised, and connected to the imperatives of prison management.
How does a mental health chatbot work? A ‘conversation design’ concept of mental health intervention
Authors: Fullam Eoin
Published: January 2025

Mental health chatbots, along with computerised treatment in general, have gradually entered the realm of acceptability. This article looks at a chatbot called ReMind. It begins with an overview of the development of computerised mental health interventions, drawing links between the invention of cognitive behavioural therapy and automated therapy. The focus then moves to analysis of ReMind's conversational system. The bot acts as a sympathetic guide which directs the user to mental health activities, and as we will see, a concept of mental health is produced through this system which is unique to the way that chatbot conversations are designed. The bot is tasked with interpreting the user's typed inputs in terms of keywords. Keywords are identified in terms of predetermined tags (‘sad’, ‘can’t sleep’, ‘relationship’, etc.). The bot then ‘predicts’ what the most appropriate response should be. ‘Prediction’ will be focused on to draw out how users interact with the bot in terms of conforming to the conversational logic imposed by the bot. This article illustrates a concept of mental health which is produced in the conversational dynamic between the users and the bot, and in how these conversations are directed on an abstract level by the ReMind company. The article concludes that the tautological cycle that the ReMind app facilitates represents a model of mental health which is correspondingly tautological in terms of users adopting an attitude of adaptation. This article addresses an urgent need to critically assess new forms of mental health interventions, and especially, technologically informed interventions.
‘I feel I must work harder and still be overlooked’ – How the implementation of video assistant referee (VAR) influences gendered recruitment and working conditions in elite football refereeing
Authors: Skirbekk Sigbjørn B.
Published: January 2025

Since 2018, video assistant referee (VAR) has rapidly been implemented in men's elite football across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. VAR is to a lesser extent implemented in women's football. As football is a highly gendered field, where men primarily referee men's matches and women referee women's matches, this study examines in what ways the implementation of VAR in elite football refereeing is gendered. The analytical framework is a Science and Technology Studies (STS)-informed approach, combining domestication theory with gendered technoscience. Methodologically, the study is based on fieldwork of the VAR training of Norwegian elite referees throughout 2022, ahead of the implementation of VAR in Norway in 2023. The findings show how the implementation of VAR works to the advantage of some referees (men) while disadvantaging others (women). Men and women in elite football refereeing are affected differently by the implementation of VAR, in two pivotal ways. First, a more demanding workload due to the implementation of VAR works to increase gendered aspects of workload which affects women referees. Second, gendered differences in elite refereeing recruitment are amplified by the implementation of VAR, marginalizing women referees to a larger extent than before. The analysis demonstrates the gendered tensions and negotiations of implementing VAR in Norwegian elite football, and how it creates barriers for women referees. Ultimately, this article shows how technological innovations in sports often imply gendered consequences that work to disadvantage women.
EXPRESS: The Predictor Role of Perceived Consumer Effectiveness and Environmental Concern in Consumer Green Behavior: A Meta-analysis with Cultural-level Moderators
Authors: Vieira Valter Afonso , Araújo Clécio Falcão , Groening Christopher
Published: January 2025

Consumers do not always act in accordance with their environmental concerns and intentions.

Researchers have posited that Perceived Consumer Effectiveness (PCE), or the belief that one’s behaviors are efficacious in ameliorating environmental impact, is a more appropriate explanatory variable. Yet, there have been contrasting results regarding the comparative effect of PCE, environmental concern, and intentions on green behavior. To address this question and to better understand the generalizability of the results to multiple cultures, the authors integrate PCE and environmental concern into a theoretical model based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. The results from a meta-analysis consisting of 118 studies, and 813 effect sizes, and 26,968 respondents reveal several key insights. First, cultural characteristics, such as power distance, masculinity, indulgence, and uncertainty moderate the relationship between PCE and green behavior. Second, contrary to prevailing assumptions, both PCE and environmental concern exhibit similar magnitudes in explaining overall green behavior. Third, a model with PCE and environmental concern demonstrates greater explanatory power for green behavior when compared to the traditional Theory of Planned Behavior model. These results offer valuable insights for researchers, managers, non-governmental organizations, and policymakers seeking culturally nuanced guidance to promote consumer green behavior more effectively.
Effects of Option Framing on the Purchase of Luxury Hotel Ancillary Amenities
Authors: Suh Taehyun , Shin Minjung , Back Ki-Joon
Published: January 2025

When booking a hotel, customers typically select a room size and then add extra services like breakfast or spa access, generating ancillary revenue. While widely studied in airlines, ancillary revenue is less explored in hotels despite its growing importance. Hotels often use upselling, where customers start with a basic room and add services. However, marketing research suggests that offering all services upfront and allowing customers to remove options (downward framing) leads to higher ancillary purchases. This study examines how framing impacts customers’ decisions to buy additional services, and explores the role of anticipated regret in these choices. Using a multiple-method approach, including experiments and choice modeling, the research offers insights into the most effective framing strategies to maximize ancillary revenue in hotels.
Acute Pancreatitis: An Unusual Side Effect of Adalimumab in Crohn’s Disease Patient
Authors: El Ouardi Walid , Benazzouz Mustapha
Published: January 2025

Background:

Drug-induced acute pancreatitis is a rare condition occurs at an incidence rate of 0.1–1.4% and represents a diagnostic challenge. TNFα inhibitors specially adalimumab is very rarely reported in the literature, primarily through case reports, as a potential cause of acute pancreatitis.

Case presentation:

Our case report presents a case of a 23-year-old patient followed for Crohn disease in whom a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis induced by adalimumab was made. This diagnosis was confirmed after the elimination of other possible etiologies, and notably by the recurrence of pancreatitis after Adalimumab rechallenge. The occurrence of acute pancreatitis induced by TNFα inhibitors exposes to the risk of pancreatitis with other drugs in this class, hence the need to switch to another therapeutic class, which was Ustekinumab in our case.

Conclusion:

Acute pancreatitis is an unusual complication of treatment with Adalimumab. Through our experience, based on solid scientific data, we want to draw the attention of clinicians to the reality of this complication. It should be considered in any patient on TNFα inhibitors who presents with acute pancreatitis without an obvious cause.
“I don’t understand why we have to favor just one ethnicity”: Stigma and coping experience perspectives from ethnicminority students in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines
Authors: Pamoso Aron Harold G , Liem Andrian , Balmores-Paulino Rozel , Muhiddin Syurawasti , Zay Hta May Kyi , Wetherick Faridah Kristi , Silvestre Jeremiah Paul C , Kiling Indra Y
Published: January 2025

Despite the growing movement towards inclusivity, the voices of ethnic minority students (EMS) in Southeast Asia (SEA) remain underrepresented, resulting in marginalization that hinders their academic pursuits, and well-being. However, past research often overlooked experiences of EMS and the role of sociocultural elements that drive oppression. This study seeks to explore the experience of stigma among EMS in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. We conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 37 EMS from university-based student organizations and analyzed them using the KJ method. The results indicate that sociocultural elements significantly influence their experiences, ranging from subtle microaggressions to overt acts of harm and violence. Furthermore, these encounters necessitate a variety of strategies, including coping mechanisms, stigma management, and the management of social standing, which characterize our understanding of how they navigate stigmatization. The findings illuminate the intricate interplay between socio-cultural elements and stigma among EMS in SEA, underscoring the urgency for more inclusive policies in higher education, facilitated by community-led initiatives, allyship, and activism.
“Woven in”: Mental Health and College Graduation Rates
Authors: Eshetu Mariam , Bjork Christopher , Taylor Wendy Maragh , Quock Michelle , Pinol Angeli , Vu Kathleen , Bradley Elizabeth H.
Published: January 2025

Despite the benefits of a 4-year degree colleges graduate an average of only 51% of their students within 6 years of matriculation. Previous studies have identified individual-level and institutional-level factors that influence college completion but have not adequately examined institutional actions regarding student mental health that improve completion rates. Using the positive deviance method, we conducted site visits at five institutions and interviewed 172 participants including administrators (44%), faculty (23%), and students (32%) regarding each college's practices. Four recurrent themes emerged: these colleges: (a) recognized the breadth and depth of mental health needs, (b) used proactive approaches with early alert and outreach programming, (c) offered diverse services with a quality improvement approach, and (d) embedded mental health services in the larger social system. Many of these innovations can be accomplished without extensive new resources and may help colleges improve graduation rates, particularly for students with mental health needs.
Tofersen and other antisense oligonucleotides in ALS
Authors: Ludolph Albert , Wiesenfarth Maximilian
Published: January 2025

The advent of antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapies in neurodegenerative disorders is associated with enormous hope. Nusinersen treatment was a breakthrough intervention in the recessive disease spinal muscular atrophy, and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) seems to be the paradigm disease in dominant degenerative diseases. The results of treatment with the ASO tofersen in SOD1-ALS show that the drug has a convincing beneficial effect on ALS caused by SOD1 mutations, that preclinical studies in rodents predicted the therapeutic effect in the human disease, and that clinical efficacy is associated with a specific sequence of effects of the drug on mechanistic and degenerative biomarkers and, subsequently, functional outcomes such as weight stabilization and ALSFRS-R. Therefore, the enthusiasm seems to be justified; but this should be followed by an attempt to obtain further insights with the goal to improve this therapy. In particular, the following issues are only partially resolved: Which mechanisms are responsible for the clinical effect following the downregulation of SOD1 protein by ASOs? Is long-term downregulation of SOD1 function associated with side effects? Is there an autoimmune response caused by this and other ASO? Is prevention of SOD1-associated ALS possible?
Psychological Temperament, Spirituality, and Augustinian Prayer: An Empirical Enquiry
Authors: Francis Leslie J. , Cook Christopher C. H. , McKenna Ursula
Published: January 2025

Drawing on data provided by 207 Anglican and Methodist ministry training candidates, who completed the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and an 80-item battery of type-related prayer preference items, this study tested the thesis advanced by Michael and Norrisey that the Apollonian (NF) Temperament is associated with Augustinian prayer and spirituality. From the battery of eighty items, the analysis identified eleven items rated more highly by NF participants. These items produced a scale with a satisfactory alpha of .81 (offering internal consistency reliability). Consideration of these items alongside the secondary literature on Augustinian spirituality, and Augustine’s own account in his Confessions, showed that they mapped broadly onto the characteristics of Augustinian prayer and spirituality (offering content validity). These data support the hypothesized link between the Apollonian (NF) Temperament and Augustinian prayer and spirituality.
Can negatively valenced climate information promote pro-environmental behaviour? An experimental approach to energy conservation / ¿Puede la información sobre el clima con valencia negativa favorecer la conducta proambiental? Un enfoque experimental del ahorro energético
Authors: Elbakry Sarah A. , Mansour Sarah , Ibrahiem Dalia M.
Published: January 2025

This paper assesses the effect of communicating negatively valenced climate change information on pro-environmental behaviour and environmental attitude. The paper employs an experimental methodology, where an incentivized lab experiment was conducted with the participation of 194 subjects randomly allocated into two experimental conditions. Subjects in both conditions performed a consequential Pro-Environmental Behaviour Task (PEBT) and completed a post-experiment attitudinal questionnaire. PEBT choices and questionnaire responses were compared across conditions to assess the effectiveness of the behavioural intervention applied in the treatment condition only. Results provide evidence that climate change information that induces an environment-related negative affect is effective in achieving energy conservation outcomes.
Impact of Standardized Reporting Systems on Patient Experience in Radiology
Authors: Toker Igor , Jansen Sven , Lorenz Daniel
Published: January 2025

Patient experience is a vital measure of healthcare quality, affecting satisfaction, engagement, and outcomes. Standardized radiology reporting can improve care by enhancing communication, reducing errors, and optimizing workflows. This article examines the role of structured reporting and AI in improving patient experience, addressing challenges like workload imbalances and communication issues. Key points include adopting standardized systems, leveraging AI, and focusing on patient-centered communication. Practical tips are shared to boost reporting accuracy, patient engagement, and care quality.
Investigating the association between health vulnerabilities and police enforcement during the Covid-19 pandemic: A novel study using linked administrative data in Scotland
Authors: Gorton Victoria , McVie Susan , Matthews Ben , Murray Kath
Published: January 2025

Public health regulations introduced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic placed unprecedented restrictions on the U.K. public. To maximise compliance with the regulations, new policing powers were introduced enabling officers to issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) to those believed to have breached them. In Scotland, where over 20,000 Covid-FPNs were issued for regulatory breaches, police officers reported particular challenges dealing with non-compliance amongst people with health vulnerabilities involving mental illness and substance use. Health studies suggest that people with such conditions were most severely impacted by the pandemic in a whole range of ways; however, there are no existing studies on whether this includes police use of enforcement. Our study addresses this gap using linked administrative data from police and health organisations in Scotland. Using a case-control design, we found that people who had accessed health services for psychiatric conditions or substance use were more likely to have received a Covid-FPN, especially during the first lockdown. The strength of this association was greatest amongst people with multiple health conditions and those accessing health services both before and during the pandemic. The findings suggest the new policing powers impacted disproportionately on people suffering from mental illness and/or addictions and point to a previously unidentified justice inequality. This novel administrative data linkage study highlights the importance of taking health vulnerabilities into greater consideration when planning for future pandemic preparedness.
CD44-Mediated Metabolic Rewiring is A Targetable Dependency of IDH-Mutant Leukemia
Authors: Lyu Junhua , Liu Yuxuan , Liu Ningning , Vu Hieu , Cai Feng , Cao Hui , Kaphle Pranita , Wu Zheng , Botten Giovanni A , Zhang Yuannyu , Wang Jin , Achyutuni Sarada , Gao Xiaofei , Iacobucci Ilaria , Mullighan Charles G. , Chung Stephen S , Ni Min , DeBerardinis Ralph J , Xu Jian
Published: January 2025

Recurrent IDH mutations catalyze NADPH-dependent production of oncometabolite R-2HG for tumorigenesis. IDH inhibition provides clinical response in a subset of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases; however, most patients develop resistance, highlighting the need for more effective IDH-targeting therapies. By comparing transcriptomic alterations in isogenic leukemia cells harboring CRISPR base-edited IDH mutations, we identify the activation of adhesion molecules including CD44, a transmembrane glycoprotein, as a shared feature of IDH-mutant leukemia, consistent with elevated CD44 expression in IDH-mutant AML patients. CD44 is indispensable for IDH-mutant leukemia cells through activating pentose phosphate pathway and inhibiting glycolysis by phosphorylating G6PD and PKM2, respectively. This metabolic rewiring ensures efficient NADPH generation for mutant IDH-catalyzed R-2HG production. Combining IDH inhibition with CD44 blockade enhances the elimination of IDH-mutant leukemia cells. Hence, we describe an oncogenic feedforward pathway involving CD44-mediated metabolic rewiring for oncometabolite production, representing a targetable dependency of IDH-mutant malignancies.
Comparing the efficacy of 3D-printing-assisted surgery with traditional surgical treatment of fracture: an umbrella review
Authors: Xiao Lin , Tang Peiyuan , Yang Shengwu , Su Jingyue , Ma Wenbo , Tan Han , Zhu Ying , Xiao Wenfeng , Wen Ting , Li Yusheng , Liu Shuguang , Deng Zhenhan
Published: January 2025

Background

The objective of this review is to evaluate the methodological quality of meta-analyses and observe the consistency of the evidence they generated to provide comprehensive and reliable evidence for the clinical use of three-dimensional (3D) printing in surgical treatment of fracture.

Methods

We searched three databases (PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science) up until August 2024. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) standards were adhered to in this review. The Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) 2 was used to rate the quality and reliability of the meta-analyses (MAs), and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to grade the outcomes. Furthermore, Graphical Representation of Overlap for Overviews (GROOVE) was employed to examine overlap, and the resulting evidence was categorized into four groups according to established criteria for evidence classification.

Results

Results from 14 meta-analyses were combined. AMSTAR 2 gave six meta-analyses a high rating, six MAs a moderate rating, and two MAs a low rating. Three-dimensional printing shows promising results in fracture surgical treatment, significantly reducing operation time and loss of blood for tibial plateau fracture. For acetabular fracture, apart from the positive effects on operation time (ratio of mean (ROM) = 0.74, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.66–0.83, I
2 = 93%) and blood loss (ROM = 0.71, 95% CI 0.63–0.81, I
2 = 71%), 3D printing helps reduce postoperative complications (odds ratio (OR) = 0.42, 95% CI, 0.22–0.78, I
2 = 9%). For proximal humerus fracture, 3D printing helps shorten operation time (weighted mean difference (WMD) = −19.49; 95% CI −26.95 to −12.03; p < 0.05; I
2 = 91%), reduce blood loss (WMD = −46.49; 95% CI -76.01 to −16.97; p < 0.05; I
2 = 98%), and get higher Neer score that includes evaluation of pain, function, range of motion, and anatomical positioning (WMD = 9.57; 95% CI 8.11 to 11.04; p < 0.05; I
2 = 64%). Additionally, positive results are also indicated for other fractures, especially for operation time, blood loss, and postoperative complications.

Conclusions

Compared with traditional fracture surgical treatment, 3D-printing-assisted surgery has significant advantages and great effectiveness in terms of operation time, loss of blood, and postoperative complications in the treatment of many different types of fractures, with less harm to patients.
Assembly and comparative analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome of red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) revealing repeat-mediated recombination and gene transfer
Authors: Zhang Huajie , Yan Minghui , Li Lijuan , Jiang Zhuo , Xiong Ye , Wang Yusheng , Akogwu Caleb Onoja , Tolulope Olutayo Mary , Zhou Hao , Sun Yanxia , Wang Hengchang
Published: January 2025

Background

Red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) is a renowned fruit plant with significant medicinal value. Its nuclear genome and chloroplast genome (plastome) have been reported, while there is a lack of genetic information on its mitogenome. We sequenced and assembled the complete mitogenome of R. idaeus, and conducted a series of genetic investigations comparing it with the nuclear and chloroplast genomes, so as to better gain a comprehensive understanding of the species’ genetic background.

Results

The mitogenome is represented by one circular chromosome of 438,947 bp. Twenty-four core genes, nine variable genes, 26 tRNAs, and three rRNAs were annotated. A total of 52 SSRs and 38 tandem repeat sequences were identified. 533 pairs of dispersed repeats were detected, among which three pairs were found to have mediated the homologous recombination, resulting in one major conformation and seven minor conformations. Furthermore, 52 homologous sequences between the mitogenome and plastome were identified, including six complete protein-coding genes and 12 tRNA genes. We also detected 828 homologous fragments between the nuclear genome and mitogenome, including one trnM-CAU gene.

Conclusions

In this study, we presented the mitogenome of R. idaeus for the first time based on data obtained from Illumina and Oxford Nanopore sequencing platforms. Key characteristics of the mitogenome were examined, including its gene composition, repetitive elements, and homologous DNA fragments. Additionally, we identified multiple recombination events in the mitogenome mediated by repetitive sequences The high-quality and well-annotated mitogenome for the known fruit red raspberry will provide essential genetic information for species classification, evolution analysis, and even genetic improvement in Rubus in the future.
Nationwide representative serosurvey of third-grade school children to evaluate the hepatitis B vaccination impact in Kyrgyzstan, 2022
Authors: Brandl Michael , Zhumagulova Gulnara , Ishenapysova Gulbara , Nurmatov Zuridin , Kuchuk Tatiana Enverovna , Zamirbekova Nurzhan , Sattarova Gulsunai , Temirbekova Saikal , Bekenova Zhanara , Gassowski Martyna , Mosina Liudmila , Mozalevskis Antons , Dudareva Sandra , Datta Siddhartha Sankar
Published: January 2025

Background

Kyrgyzstan introduced universal hepatitis B childhood vaccination in 1999 to reduce the burden of hepatitis B. In 2016, aligned with the goal of controlling hepatitis B in the WHO European Region, a regional target of 0.5% was set for seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among targeted birth cohorts. We conducted a representative nationwide serosurvey to assess the HBsAg prevalence among third-grade school children in Kyrgyzstan in 2022.

Methods

We sampled numbers of children proportional to the population size and stratified the sample by region and urbanization level (urban/rural). We applied multistage cluster sampling with school classes as clusters. Identified participants in the survey were tested for HBsAg, using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), and positive samples confirmed with neutralization tests. Data on vaccination coverage for hepatitis B birth dose (HepB BD), including timing, and three doses of hepatitis B vaccine (HepB3) were collected from medical vaccination records. We calculated crude and weighted proportions for HBsAg seroprevalence and HepB BD and HepB3 coverage.

Results

From the target sample size of 3,352 children, a total of 3,183 children (95%) participated in the survey. The majority of children were 9 or 10 years old (2,964; 93%) with almost equal numbers of girls and boys (1,606; 50% boys) and rural and urban participants (1,624; 51% urban). Five participants tested positive for HBsAg in confirmatory tests. The weighted HBsAg seroprevalence was 0.12% (95% CI 0.04–0.35%). Weighted coverage for HepB BD was 88% (95% CI 86–90%) and for HepB3 90% (95% CI 86–93%). Results from crude and weighted analysis did not differ statistically.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates the impact of a successfully implemented hepatitis B vaccination programme in Kyrgyzstan. High hepatitis B vaccination coverage has resulted in very low HBsAg seroprevalence among vaccinated birth cohorts, paving the way towards the achievement of regional hepatitis B control targets. Maintaining high vaccination uptake plus additional measures like screening of pregnant women and treatment of those infected will be key to achieve elimination of vertical transmission of hepatitis B in Kyrgyzstan.
An analysis of heavy silicone oil treatment for inferior proliferative vitreoretinopathy
Authors: Hammer Maximilian , Ie Amanda , Eibenberger Katharina , Auffarth Gerd Uwe , Xue Kanmin
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is a complication of retinal detachment which requires multiple vitreoretinal surgical interventions and frequent use of oil endotamponade. In this study, we conducted an in-depth analysis of complications associated with the use of heavy silicone oil in the management of inferior PVR.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of 20 eyes that underwent vitrectomy for inferior PVR with use of heavy silicone oil (Densiron 68) between March 2021 and October 2022 at Oxford Eye Hospital. Complications were classified into major categories relating to intraocular pressure, inflammation, lens, and oil emulsification/migration. Visual outcomes and surgical success rate were also evaluated.

Results

Fill-induced pressure spikes (> 30 mmHg) within 14 days post-surgery were common after Densiron tamponade, especially in patients previously on glaucoma drops. The number of glaucoma drugs were increased in 45% of patients during Densiron tamponade. In 20% of cases, an increased medication was continued long-term after Densiron removal. Significant cataract progression occurred in all phakic patients. In 25% of pseudophakic cases, posterior capsule opacification was noted. Inflammatory complications, such as anterior uveitis, were rare and any cystoid macular oedema was transient. No unexplained acute loss of vision following Densiron removal was encountered. The anatomical success rate at 30 days after Densiron removal was 70%. The mean (± SD) best-corrected visual acuities were 1.04 (± 0.79), 0.85 (± 0.62) and 0.50 (± 0.51) logMAR prior, during and after Densiron tamponade, respectively.

Conclusion

The outcomes in this cohort treated with Densiron 68 were comparable to previously reported anatomical and functional results in cases with inferior PVR. IOP and lens-related complications require additional treatment during or after Densiron tamponade. Inflammatory complications rarely occurred over tamponade durations of around three months.

Trial registration

Analyses were conducted as an internal quality improvement audit and as such did not require external IRB review.
A single-site randomized controlled trial of partner navigation to HCV treatment for people who inject drugs: a study protocol for the You’re Empowered for Treatment Initiation (YETI) partner trial
Authors: Morris Meghan D. , Tan Judy Y. , McDonell Claire C. , Scarpetta Maia , Nguyen Tiffany N. , Price Jennifer C. , Neilands Torsten B.
Published: January 2025

Background

Disparities persist in testing and treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV), leaving socially marginalized populations, including people who inject drugs (PWID), less likely to benefit from curative treatment. Linkage services are often insufficient to overcome barriers to navigating the medical system and contextual factors.

Methods

The You’re Empowered for Treatment Initiation (YETI) Partner trial is a single-site randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of a two-session behavioral intervention that engages injecting partners as peer navigators for HCV treatment. We aim to recruit 250 PWID and their primary injecting partners in San Francisco, California, randomizing them 1:1 to either a control or intervention group. The primary outcome is the initiation of HCV treatment, with secondary outcomes including treatment completion and sustained virologic response 12 weeks post-treatment. Data will be collected through questionnaires and electronic health records and analyzed using intention-to-treat and mixed-effects models.

Discussion

This trial will provide evidence of a new HCV treatment linkage intervention leveraging the support of primary injecting partners to initiate HCV treatment. If successful, the intervention could inform public health strategies and policies to address HCV in marginalized populations.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06179498. Registered on December 22, 2023.
Internalizing and externalizing symptoms in individuals with neurofibromatosis type 1: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Dan , Yu Liyan , Wu Xian , Moreira Julia , Mujica Benjamin Felipe , Mukhopadhyay Elora Shelly , Novotney Angelena , Rietman André B. , Hou Yang
Published: January 2025

Background

Individuals with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) frequently report psychosocial problems, among which internalizing and externalizing symptoms are the most poorly understood due to limited research and inconsistent evidence. This hinders the overall attendance of their psychosocial needs and has a major impact on their quality of life. Thus, this systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to synthesize existing findings on the degree to which individuals with NF1 experience internalizing and externalizing symptoms, compared with the unaffected population, and explore moderators of the group disparities.

Methods

Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Science, PubMed, and ProQuest were searched from inception to March 26th, 2024, which identified 59 eligible studies (N of NF1 = 3182, mean ages 2.38 to 46.4 years). Hedges’ g was calculated for differences in internalizing and externalizing symptoms between the NF1 group and the unaffected controls. Study effect sizes were pooled using robust variance estimation and random-effects models. Moderators of group differences were tested using meta-regression.

Results

Random-effects meta-analyses indicated that compared with unaffected controls, individuals with NF1 showed more severe depressive (k = 21; g = 0.43; 95% CI [0.21, 0.65]), anxiety (k = 24; g = 0.27; 95% CI [0.01, 0.54]), somatic (k = 27; g = 0.56; 95% CI [0.30, 0.83]), total internalizing (k = 75; g = 0.50; 95% CI [0.33, 0.67]), aggression (k = 33; g = 0.33; 95% CI [0.08, 0.58]), delinquency, (k = 37; g = 0.43; 95% CI [0.26, 0.60]), and total externalizing symptoms (k = 47; g = 0.24; 95% CI [0.13, 0.35]). Studies that included more participants with NF1 who had ADHD or a lower verbal IQ reported greater group disparities in total internalizing symptoms or aggression.

Conclusions

Findings highlight the importance of promptly recognizing internalizing and externalizing symptoms in individuals with NF1 for timely interventions. Future research should identify predictors of internalizing and externalizing symptoms within the NF1 population to inform our knowledge and intervention development. Other implications for future research were also discussed.

Systematic review registration

The study protocol of this meta-analysis was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42023478258).
Using Optimization Techniques on Mechanical Characteristics and Sustainability Assessment of Rubberized Concrete Blended with PVA Fiber Through Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Bheel Naraindas , Baikerikar Abhijeet Vidyadhar , Mohammed Bashar S.
Published: January 2025

The construction sector is promoting eco-friendly materials to combat global warming. Researchers use crumb rubber (CR) in concrete due to its ductility and hardness, but studies show it can decrease strength. Therefore, the addition of PVA fiber improves the mechanical properties of CR concrete. The research aims to assess the mechanical and physical characteristics of concrete by utilizing RSM modeling and optimization, comparing the effects of CR replacement for sand and PVA fiber by volume fraction. It has been observed that the optimum compressive, tensile and flexural strengths were observed by 49 MPa, 4.31 MPa, and 5.88 MPa at 10% of sand replaced with CR and 1.5% of PVA fiber together at 28 days, respectively. In addition, water absorption improves with increased CR and PVA fiber in concrete, while dry density decreases with increased CR and PVA fiber quantity in concrete at 28 days, respectively. Moreover, RSM was utilized to develop response prediction models with R2 coefficients ranged from 97 to 99%. Furthermore, the enhancement of embodied carbon is seen when the volume percent of PVA fiber and CR increases in concrete. Additionally, using 10% CR instead of sand and adding 1.5% PVA fiber has been proven to deliver favourable outcomes for the construction sector therefore it is recommended for construction purpose.
Semaglutide, type 2 diabetes, and the risk of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy
Authors: Malerbi Fernando K. , Bertoluci Marcello C.
Published: January 2025

In the last months, conflicting evidence on a possible association between the use of semaglutide and incident nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) has emerged. A recently published study, which evaluated all patients with type 2 diabetes in Denmark, has shown with robustness that once-weekly semaglutide doubles the five-year risk of NAION. In this comment, the new evidence is discussed, along with practical implications for type 2 diabetes patients. The possibility of ophthalmological evaluation regarding optic disc morphology is suggested, before initiation of semaglutide treatment or, for those patients already under treatment, during a follow-up ophthalmological visit. If a disc-at-risk pattern is detected, such information could be brought to the attention of the attending clinician involved with diabetes control and discussed with patients for a shared decision-making approach. A new risk-benefit discussion weighing the undoubted benefits of semaglutide in reducing cardiovascular mortality and cardiovascular events, heart failure hospitalization, and renal protection must be started and carefully balanced against a rare but devastating condition such as NAION.