bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of microbial diversity and community structure in soils managed with organic and chemical fertilization strategies using amplicon sequencing of 16 s and ITS regions
Authors: Mishra Ajay Kumar , Yadav Poonam , Sharma Sheetal , Maurya Piyush
Published: February 2025

Soil microbial species diversity and distribution of microbial communities are vital for soil and crop health, nutrient cycling, availability, and subsequent plant growth. These soil dynamics are highly influenced and altered by various soil management practices, inputs, and agricultural techniques. In the present study, the effects of chemical and organic management practices on soil microbial diversity and community structure were examined and compared using amplicon sequencing of the 16S and ITS regions. Two contrasting soil samples were selected from each crop fields at the International Rice Research Institute-South Asia Regional Centre (IRRI-SARC) in Varanasi: one field followed conventional chemical fertilizer inputs, while the other implemented natural farming practices, including tillage, on-farm crop residue management, and water management. Soil samples from each field were analyzed for bacterial and fungal diversity. Our findings showed that the two differently managed soils exhibited distinct microbial community compositions, with the organically managed soil exhibiting a higher diversity of decomposer bacteria and fungi, showing 40 unique elements in organic soil samples and 19 in chemically managed soil. Natural farming practices also demonstrated a higher relative abundance of bacterial and fungal phyla. Our results emphasize the significance of sustainable soil management techniques, suggesting that organic inputs can increase soil microbial diversity and richness. The functional roles of these microbial communities in soil ecosystems and their potential impact on crop yield and nutrient cycling warrant further study.
Deciphering novel mitochondrial signatures: multi-omics analysis uncovers cross-disease markers and oligodendrocyte pathways in Alzheimer’s disease and glioblastoma
Authors: Xu Xuan , Wang Jiaqi , Chen Tong , Wang Shuaibin , Wang Fei , He Junwen , Meng Xiang-Yu , Shen Yin
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and glioblastoma (GBM) are severe neurological disorders that pose significant global healthcare challenges. Despite extensive research, the molecular mechanisms, particularly those involving mitochondrial dysfunction, remain poorly understood. A major limitation in current studies is the lack of cell-specific markers that effectively represent mitochondrial dynamics in AD and GBM.

Methods

In this study, we analyzed single-cell transcriptomic data using 10 machine learning algorithms to identify mitochondria-associated cell-specific markers. We validated these markers through the integration of gene expression and methylation data across diverse cell types. Our dataset comprised single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) from AD patients, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) from GBM patients, and additional DNA methylation and transcriptomic data from the ROSMAP, ADNI, TCGA, and CGGA cohorts.

Results

Our analysis identified four significant cross-disease mitochondrial markers: EFHD1, SASH1, FAM110B, and SLC25A18. These markers showed both shared and unique expression profiles in AD and GBM, suggesting a common mitochondrial mechanism contributing to both diseases. Additionally, oligodendrocytes and their interactions with astrocytes were implicated in disease progression, particularly through the APP signaling pathway. Key hub genes, such as HS6ST3 and TUBB2B, were identified across different cellular subpopulations, highlighting a cell-specific co-expression network linked to mitochondrial function.
Research progress on brain network imaging biomarkers of subjective cognitive decline
Authors: Yingmei Han , Chaojie Wang , Yi Zhang , Yijie Li , Heng Zhang , Ze Feng , Weiqing Li , Bingyuan Chu , Feng Wang
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is an early manifestation of the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) continuum, and accurately diagnosing SCD to differentiate it from neurotypical aging in older adults is a common challenge for researchers.

Methods

This review examines and summarizes relevant studies regarding the neuroimaging of the AD continuum, and comprehensively summarizes and outlines the SCD clinical features characterizing along with the corresponding neuroimaging changes involving structural, functional, and metabolic networks.

Results

The clinical characteristics of SCD include a subjective decline in self-perceived cognitive function, and there are significant imaging changes, such as reductions in gray matter volume in certain brain regions, abnormalities in the integrity of white matter tracts and diffusion metrics, alterations in functional connectivity between different sub-networks or within networks, as well as abnormalities in brain metabolic networks and cerebral blood flow perfusion.

Conclusion

The 147 referenced studies in this paper indicate that exploring the structural, functional, and metabolic network changes in the brain related to SCD through neuroimaging aims to enhance the goals and mission of brain science development programs: “Understanding the Brain,” “Protecting the Brain,” and “Creating the Brain,” thereby strengthening researchers’ investigation into the mechanisms of brain function. Early diagnosis of SCD, along with prompt intervention, can reduce the incidence of AD spectrum while improving patients’ quality of life, even integrating numerous scientific research achievements into unified and established standards and applying them in clinical practice by doctors, thus all encouraging researchers to further investigate SCD issues in older adults.
Possible antidepressant mechanism of acupuncture: targeting neuroplasticity
Authors: Xu Ning , He Yue , Wei Yong-Nan , Bai Lu , Wang Long
Published: February 2025

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a highly prevalent and severely disabling psychiatric disorder that decreases quality of life and imposes substantial economic burden. Acupuncture has emerged as an effective adjunctive treatment for depression, it regulates neurotransmitters involved in mood regulation and modulates the activity of specific brain regions associated with emotional processing, as evidenced by neuroimaging and biochemical studies. Despite these insights, the precise neuroplastic mechanisms through which acupuncture exerts its antidepressant effects remain not fully elucidated. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on acupuncture’s modulation of neuroplasticity in depression, with a focus on the neuroplasticity-based targets associated with acupuncture’s antidepressant effects. We encapsulate two decades of research into the neurobiological mechanisms underpinning the efficacy of acupuncture in treating depression. Additionally, we detail the acupoints and electroacupuncture parameters used in the treatment of depression to better serve clinical application.
Prenatal maternal life adversity impacts on learning and memory in offspring: implication to transgenerational epigenetic inheritance
Authors: Adeline Dorothy Prince David , Rajan Koilmani Emmanuvel
Published: February 2025

Maternal stress exposure during pregnancy is known to affect offspring behavior, including learning and memory. We hypothesized that maternal stress-induced changes transmit this effect through maternal line mediated transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. To test our hypothesis, pregnant rats (F0) were undisturbed (Control, Ctrl)/exposed to social stress during gestational days (GD) 16–18 (PMS)/exposed to social stress and treated with oxytocin during GD-16 to 18 (PMS+OXT). Subsequently, F1 female offspring from Ctrl, PMS, and PMS+OXT were mated with Ctrl F1 males to examine maternal line mediated transgenerational impacts. Female animals (F1 and F2) were subjected to behavioral test and the levels of global H3K4me2/H3K4me3 methylation, methylation in the CRH promoter, expression of Crh, Crh receptors (Crhr1, Crhr2), and BDNF were determined. It was found that prenatal maternal stress (PMS) reduced reference and working memory in F1 and F2 offspring, increased global and specific H3K4me2, H3K4me3 methylation in the CRH promoter, expression of Crh, Crh receptors, and corticosterone (CORT), and down-regulated the expression of pro-and mature BDNF by differentially regulating Bdnf transcripts III, IV and VI in the amygdala. Oxytocin exposure reduced PMS-induced global and specific H3K4me2/3 changes, which repressed the expression of Crh, Crh receptors, reduced CORT levels, up-regulated the expression of pro-BDNF and mature BDNF, and improved memory in F1 and F2 offspring. Collectively, our study revealed that PMS reduced reference and working memory performance in F1 and F2 offspring through maternal line transgenerational inheritance of H3K4me2, H3K4me3 methylation, and associated mechanisms that regulate BDNF expression and synaptic plasticity.
Extrinsic and intrinsic control of striatal cholinergic interneuron activity
Authors: Ratna Desh Deepak , Francis Tanner Chase
Published: February 2025

The striatum is an integrated component of the basal ganglia responsible for associative learning and response. Besides the presence of the most abundant γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA-ergic) medium spiny neurons (MSNs), the striatum also contains distributed populations of cholinergic interneurons (ChIs), which bidirectionally communicate with many of these neuronal subtypes. Despite their sparse distribution, ChIs provide the largest source of acetylcholine (ACh) to striatal cells, have a prominent level of arborization and activity, and are potent modulators of striatal output and play prominent roles in plasticity underlying associative learning and reinforcement. Deviations from this tonic activity, including phasic bursts or pauses caused by region-selective excitatory input, neuromodulator, or neuropeptide release can exert strong influences on intrinsic activity and synaptic plasticity via diverse receptor signaling. Recent studies and new tools have allowed improved identification of factors driving or suppressing cholinergic activity, including peptides. This review aims to outline our current understanding of factors that control tonic and phasic ChI activity, specifically focusing on how neuromodulators and neuropeptides interact to facilitate or suppress phasic ChI responses underlying learning and plasticity.
A case report of breast Rosai-Dorfman disease and a literature review
Authors: Lin Yuan , Wang Ya-Wen , Li Li-Xin , Qiao Zhong-Qi , Chen Xu , Chen Yan-Duo , Liu Can , Zhang Kai
Published: February 2025

Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is a rare idiopathic histiocytoproliferative disease that usually affects the lymph nodes of the head and neck, but can also involve extranodal sites such as the skin, sinuses, and soft tissues. Breast RDD is exceedingly rare. It may be clinically and radiographically similar to neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases. We report a case of breast RDD in a 68-year-old female patient and describe the clinical imaging and pathological features of the patient. The management of extranodal RDD is individualized, and there are no standardized guidelines for treatment. We highlight the importance of considering the diagnosis of extranodal breast RDD, and suggest that surgical resection is an effective way to treat this disease, particularly for single-focal breast lesions with RDD.
The human 18S rRNA m6A methyltransferase METTL5 promotes tumorigenesis via DEPDC1 in lung squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Yan Yang , Fu Jianjun
Published: February 2025

Background

N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) is one of the post-transcriptional modifications and abnormal m6A is critical for cancer initiation, progression, metastasis in Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) accounts for most of the total cellular RNA, however, the functions and molecular mechanisms underlying rRNA modifications in LUSC remained largely unclear.

Methods

High-throughput library screening identifies the key m6A regulator METTL5 in LUSC. Cell and animal experiments were used to identify that METTL5 promoted LUSC tumorigenesis to enhance DEP domain containing 1 (DEPDC1) translation via m6A modification.

Results

We showed that the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methyltransferase METTL5 was an independent risk factor in LUSC and was associated with poor prognosis of patients. Notedly, overexpression METTL5 promoted LUSC tumorigenesis in an m6A modification, while METTL5 knockdown markedly inhibited proliferation and migratory ability of tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, METTL5 promoted LUSC tumorigenesis via m6a methyltransferase to increase the translation of DEPDC1.

Conclusion

Our results revealed that METTL5 enhances DEPDC1 translation to contribute to tumorigenesis and poor prognosis, providing a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for LUSC.
Tofacitinib treatment of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a case report and literature review
Authors: Zhu Meifang , Zhao Yan , Zhang Xiaohua , Zhou Peng , Jin Jing , Fan Zhidan , Yu Haiguo
Published: February 2025

Objective

Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA), a particularly aggressive form of childhood arthritis, is characterized by persistent systemic inflammation. The most advanced treatments include biologic agents that target the interleukin-1(IL-1) and interleukin-6(IL-6) pathways. However, sJIA continue to pose challenging challenges for rheumatologists treating pediatric patients worldwide.

Methods

1 children with sJIA was retrospectively collected from the Department of Rheumatology and immunology, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing. Literature published between 2019 and 2024 was reviewed to understand the effect of tofacitinib on patients with sJIA.

Results

After a month of treatment of tofacitinib, there was a significant improvement in clinical symptoms and inflammatory indicators showed a marked decrease. As of July 2023, the patient's condition was effectively in remission. The efficacy of tofacitinib treatment was remarkable.

Conclusion

Tofacitinib has shown good efficacy and safety in the treatment of sJIA patients, effectively controlling disease activity and relieving symptoms. The application of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors may offer a new treatment option for this disease.
Preterm-born children, screen time, and spectacle wear in the Longitudinal Preterm Outcome Project: a cohort study
Authors: Iyer V. , de Kroon M. L. A. , Klaver C. C. W. , Reijneveld S. A.
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Preterm born children are at a higher risk for refractive errors. A long duration of screen time and activities with short working distance (≤30 cm) may further add to the increased risk. The aim of this study was to assess the separate and combined effects of preterm birth and screen time on spectacle wear among 5-year-olds and adolescents.

Methods

We analyzed data from the community-based preterm cohort study, part of the Longitudinal Preterm Outcome Project (LOLLIPOP). Early preterm-born (EP < 32 weeks), moderately-late preterm-born (MLP 32–36 weeks) and full-term born (FT 38–42 weeks) children were followed. Spectacle wear and screen time were assessed by questionnaire at the age of 5 (n = 1,515) and at adolescence, ages 13–16, for a subsample (n = 227).

Results

At age 5, the prevalences of spectacle wear were 7.8%, 7.6% and 3.2%, for EP, MLP, and FT children, respectively (p = 0.007); the risk of spectacle wear decreased by 7% for each additional week of gestational age. In adolescence, prevalences were 36.6%, 20.8% and 22.4%, for EP, MLP, and FT children, respectively (p = 0.12). We found no relationship between screen-time and spectacle wear or a combined effect with preterm birth at age 5 or adolescence.

Conclusions

EP and MLP children have a significantly increased risk of spectacle wear at age 5, but not significantly at adolescence. At that age, the prevalences of spectacle wear were generally higher. We found no evidence for an association of screen time preterm birth with spectacle wear, and neither an impact of screentime on such an association.
Medroxyprogesterone promotes neuronal survival after cerebral ischemic stroke by inhibiting PARthanatos
Authors: Yue Chang-Ling , Ding Yan-Xia , Chen Meng , Shen Yu-Xin , Hu Ao-Meng , Huang Hai , Zhang Zhao-Huan , Zhou Ying-Xin , Xu Xiao-Hui
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Cerebral ischemic stroke (CIS) is caused by the interruption of cerebral blood circulation due to thrombosis or embolism and is the second-leading cause of mortality worldwide. The neuronal death and motor dysfunction resulting from CIS are primarily attributed to the induction of PARthanatos in neurons at the site of ischemia. Blocking parthanatos is a promising treatment for CIS.

Methods

The effect of medroxyprogesterone treatment on PARthanatos in vitro was examined by CCK8 assay and flow cytometry and the target protein of medroxyprogesterone was then identified by a series of assays, including western blotting, immunofluorescence, cell thermal shift assay and molecular docking. Subsequently, the efficacy of medroxyprogesterone in the treatment of ischemic stroke was evaluated by FJC staining.

Results

In our study, medroxyprogesterone was able to block the occurrence of PARthanatos in Hela cells induced by MNNG. PARP-1 activity did not change after medroxyprogesterone treatment but prevented MNNG-induced apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) release from mitochondria by improving the stability of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). In vivo, medroxyprogesterone significantly reduces neuronal death in mouse models of CIS by inhibiting PARthanatos.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that medroxyprogesterone effectively inhibits PARthanatos not by affecting the activity of PARP-1, but by directly binding to ERK and stabilizes the active phosphorylated ERK, thereby inhibiting AIF translocation. Furthermore, medroxyprogesterone shows potential as a neuroprotective agent for patients with CIS, potentially enhancing post-stroke recovery and reducing societal burdens.
Exploring skin adverse events and mechanisms of apalutamide using data mining algorithms and network pharmacology
Authors: Chen Yaqing , Huang Longzhuan , Li Wenwei , Gu Hangye , Chen Yong
Published: February 2025

Background

Skin adverse events of apalutamide pose a major challenge to its clinical use, particularly the severe and difficult to identify toxic epidermal necrolysis. For the purpose of providing the basis for the clinical monitoring of the administration of apalutamide and further research. This study examined the pathways of apalutamide and Stephen Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis using network pharmacology and data mining tools to analyze skin adverse events.

Methods

Using the Information Component method and the Reporting Odds Ratio, the relationship between apalutamide and skin adverse events was evaluated. Molecular docking was utilized to explore the potential mechanism of apalutamide and Stephen Johnson Syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Results

With a median time to onset of all skin adverse events of 55 days, a total of 21 skin-related adverse events were found. Low body weight and advanced age may be major hazards for skin adverse events with apalutamide. The results showed a substantial association between apalutamide and Stephen Johnson Syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis, and the mechanism behind this association may be the binding of apalutamide to JAK1 and JAK2.

Conclusion

Special attention is recommended for skin adverse events when using apalutamide, especially for rapidly progressing and severe adverse events. To confirm the connection between the triad of Janus kinase, apalutamide, and skin adverse events, further research is required in the future.
Laboratory comparison of consumer-grade and research-established wearables for monitoring heart rate, body temperature, and physical acitivity in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Mendt Stefan , Zout Georgi , Rabuffetti Marco , Gunga Hanns-Christian , Bunker Aditi , Barteit Sandra , Maggioni Martina Anna
Published: February 2025

Background

Consumer-grade wearables are becoming increasingly popular in research and in clinical contexts. These technologies hold significant promise for advancing digital medicine, particularly in remote and rural areas in low-income settings like sub-Saharan Africa, where climate change is exacerbating health risks. This study evaluates the data agreement between consumer-grade and research-established devices under standardized conditions.

Methods

Twenty-two participants (11 women, 11 men) performed a structured protocol, consisting of six different activity phases (sitting, standing, and the first four stages of the classic Bruce treadmill test). We collected heart rate, (core) body temperature, step count, and energy expenditure. Each variable was simultaneously tracked by consumer-grade and established research-grade devices to evaluate the validity of the consumer-grade devices. We statistically compared the data agreement using Pearson’s correlation r, Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (LCCC), Bland-Altman method, and mean absolute percentage error.

Results

A good agreement was found between the wrist-worn Withings Pulse HR (consumer-grade) and the chest-worn Faros Bittium 180 in measuring heart rate while sitting, standing, and slow walking on a treadmill at a speed of 2.7 km/h (r ≥ 0.82, |bias| ≤ 3.1 bpm), but this decreased with increasing speed (r ≤ 0.33, |bias| ≤ 11.7 bpm). The agreement between the Withing device and the research-established device worn on the wrist (GENEActiv) for measuring the number of steps also decreased during the treadmill phases (first stage: r = 0.48, bias = 0.6 steps/min; fourth stage: r = 0.48, bias = 17.3 steps/min). Energy expenditure agreement between the Withings device and the indirect calorimetry method was poor during the treadmill test (|r| ≤ 0.29, |bias | ≥ 1.7 MET). The Tucky thermometer under the armpit (consumer-grade) and the Tcore sensor on the forehead were found to be in poor agreement in measuring (core) body temperature during resting phases (r ≤ 0.53, |bias| ≥ 0.8°C) and deteriorated during the treadmill test.

Conclusion

The Withings device showed adequate performance for heart rate at low activity levels and step count at higher activity levels, but had limited overall accuracy. The Tucky device showed poor agreement with the Tcore in all six different activity phases. The limited accuracy of consumer-grade devices suggests caution in their use for rigorous research, but points to their potential utility in capture general physiological trends in long-term field monitoring or population-health surveillance.
Application of the hierarchical model of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in the context of exercise: a systematic review
Authors: Viveiros Bernardo , Jacinto Miguel , Antunes Raúl , Matos Rui , Amaro Nuno , Cid Luís , Couto Nuno , Monteiro Diogo
Published: February 2025

Given the increase in sedentary lifestyles and physical inactivity, various psychosocial approaches have been used to combat this epidemic. Several studies have used Self-Determination Theory (SDT) as a theoretical framework for studying behavioral change, as well as the Hierarchical Model of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation (HMIEM) which, based on SDT, aims to explain how different levels of generality can be responsible for behavioral consequences. The aim was to investigate the associations between the variables that make up the HMIEM model applied to the context of physical exercise (gym exercisers). Following the PRISMA protocol and the PECOS strategy, the Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus databases were used to search for experimental and non-experimental studies written in English. Seven studies were considered for analysis and subjected to a methodological quality assessment The results showed that the variables that make up the social factors (e.g., supportive/thwarting behaviors) tend to be associated with satisfaction of basic psychological needs (BPN) (r = 0.51, p < 0.01; r = −0.73, p < 0.01) and with frustration of BPN (r = −0.39, p < 0.01; r = 0.78, p < 0. 01), BPN satisfaction and frustration tend to be associated with autonomous forms of motivation (r = 0.57, p < 0.01; r = −0.63, p < 0.01) and controlled forms of motivation (r = −0.76, p < 0.01; r = 0.46, p < 0.01) and autonomous and controlled forms of motivation are associated with behavioral consequences (e.g., intention) (r = 0.19, p < 0.01; r = −0.17, p < 0.01). This systematic review covers interpersonal behaviors and the bright and dark sides of SDT, showing that the positive alignment between the psychosocial determinants that make up the horizontal axis of the HMIEM is fundamental for adherence to and maintenance of sustainable physical exercise practices, and future studies should now address these issues in a longitudinal manner and perhaps move on to study the vertical axis of the HMIEM.
“His brain works in a different way”: siblings’ understanding of autism
Authors: Fjermestad Krister W. , Lervik Nora Hjelde
Published: February 2025

Siblings of autistic children are at increased risk of mental health problems. Lack of autism knowledge may contribute to this risk. We examined siblings’ autism knowledge using the Sibling Knowledge Interview (SKI) conducted by clinicians before a sibling intervention. The sample comprised 28 siblings (61% boys; 39% girls) aged 8 to 12 years. All had a brother or sister with a clinically confirmed autism diagnosis. Audiotaped recordings of the interviews were transcribed and analyzed thematically. We identified six main themes: (1) definition, including diagnostic label, localization, explanation, and etiology, (2) regulation-, behavior-, social-, and cognition-related challenges, (3) strengths, (4) health service and family-based interventions, (5) misconceptions, and (6) lack of knowledge. Siblings displayed some knowledge about the key aspects of autism but also expressed insecurity, lack of knowledge, confusion, and misconceptions. Siblings displayed a narrow vocabulary to describe their brother’s or sister’s autism diagnosis. Few siblings provided elaborate and rich answers. Several siblings provided vague descriptions. The youngest siblings had particularly few verbally rich answers and displayed limited knowledge. The findings indicate that siblings need more knowledge about their brother’s or sister’s autism diagnosis. Research is needed on how this information should be provided.
Electrocortical signatures of attentional bias toward subliminal and supraliminal socially negative words in social anxiety
Authors: Gan Shuzhen , Cai Yanglong , Li Weijun
Published: February 2025

Background

Previous research has demonstrated that abnormal attentional bias toward social threats at different processing stages is pivotal for the development and maintenance of social anxiety. However, the temporal property and the neural indicators of this bias are still open to clarification. The present study employed event-related potential (ERP) methodology to investigate the attentional bias toward social threats at the early preconscious and later controlled processing stages, along with associated electrocortical indicators.

Methods

Socially or non-socially negative words paired with neutral ones were presented subliminally and supraliminally in two dot-probe tasks, respectively. Twenty-six participants with high level of social anxiety (high SA) and twenty-four participants with low level of social anxiety (low SA) completed the tasks.

Results

The results revealed that, compared to the low SA group, the high SA group specifically showed a significant N2pc in response to subliminal socially negative words, and the amplitude tended to correlate with anxious severity. Additionally, the high SA group exhibited greater amplitudes of parietal P3 in response to incongruent probes than congruent ones following both subliminal and supraliminal socially negative words.

Conclusion

These results indicate that abnormal attentional bias of social anxiety includes both early preconscious attentional orienting to social threats and subsequent difficulty disengaging from conscious and unconscious social threats, as indexed by N2pc and parietal P3 components, respectively. Our study may hold clinical significance by providing electrophysiological markers for assessing the cognitive symptoms of social anxiety.
Association between depressive status and mild cognitive impairment in middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults from CHARLS study
Authors: Wei Caijuan , Zhao Jinyu , Hu Rui , Wei Xingli
Published: February 2025

Background

The potential association between depressive status and the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) remains unclear, especially in the absence of prospective evidence. This study aims to elucidate the impact of either depression score or depression on the risk of MCI using longitudinal data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS).

Methods

This prospective study included 5,766 participants from CHARLS followed from 2011 to 2015. We calculated the baseline depression score using the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10) and the cognitive status score after 3 years of follow-up through four dimensions: orientation, memory, calculation, and draw. We collected baseline sociological characteristics and health-related factors as covariates, using multivariate-adjusted logistics regression models (odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI)) and restricted cubic splines (RCS) to estimate the effect of depressive status on MCI risk.

Results

We observed 724 new cases of MCI at follow-up. Logistics regression analysis showed that participants with depression had a 58% higher risk of developing MCI than those without depression (OR = 1.58, 95%CI: 1.35-1.85), and the positive association persisted after adjusting for covariates such as sociological characteristics of the population and health-related factors (OR = 1.24, 95%CI: 1.04-1.48). We also observed a dose-response relationship between depression score and MCI risk, with participants with 11~20 and 21~30 scores having a progressively higher risk of MCI compared to participants with depression score of 0~10 (p for trend < 0.05), and a 3% increase in MCI risk for each 1-point increase in depression scores (OR = 1.03, 95%CI: 1.01-1.04). RCS analysis also showed a nonlinear association between depression score and MCI risk (p for non-linearity = 0.001), with MCI risk increasing with increasing depression score. In addition, stratified analyses based on sex, age, marital status, residence, BMI, nighttime sleep, smoking status, alcohol drinking status, baseline serological indicators, and comorbidities showed no interaction (p for interaction > 0.05) other than serum total cholesterol levels (p for interaction = 0.008).

Conclusions

Among middle-aged and elderly adults from CHARLS, depression is an independent risk factor for MCI, indicating that individuals with more severe depression symptoms are more likely to suffer from MCI. Early depression screening based on CESD-10 may help identify individuals at high risk of MCI, and early intervention may reduce the incidence of MCI and Alzheimer’s disease, thereby reducing the social care burden of an ageing population.
Knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and information needs of women vaccinated with the HPV vaccine regarding cervical cancer prevention: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Zhou Xuan , Wu Miaomiao , Zhou Yuling , Su Fang , He Yiqing , Ding Jinxia , Xie Lunfang
Published: February 2025

Background

Cervical cancer poses a serious threat to women’s health globally, especially in China. HPV vaccination and screening are crucial prevention and control measures. However, the screening coverage among Chinese women remains low, and there is a need to better understand the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and information needs of Chinese HPV-vaccinated women regarding cervical cancer prevention to optimize prevention and control strategies.

Objectives

To explore the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and information needs of women vaccinated with the HPV vaccine regarding cervical cancer prevention.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sampling method from October 1 to December 30, 2023. A questionnaire survey was administered to 439 women vaccinated with the HPV vaccine at the Shu Shan District Community Health Service Center in Hefei, Anhui Province. The survey tool was self-designed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression.

Results

The average age of the 439 participants was 27.82 ± 6.42 years. The average cervical cancer prevention knowledge score was 35.01 ± 5.76. 434 (98.9%) women held a positive attitude towards cervical cancer screening, and 320 (72.9%) women had undergone cervical cancer screening after receiving the HPV vaccine. Educational levels such as college (OR = 2.995, 95%CI: 1.233–7.279, p = 0.015), bachelor’s degree (OR = 3.694, 95%CI: 1.718–7.943, p = 0.001), and postgraduate and above (OR = 4.826, 95%CI: 2.176–10.707, p < 0.001), as well as occupation as medical workers (OR = 4.660, 95%CI: 2.292–9.474, p < 0.001), were associated with higher knowledge of prevention and treatment scores. Individuals aged 26–35 years (OR = 7.431, 95%CI: 2.856–19.331, p < 0.001), 36–45 years (OR = 11.466, 95%CI: 2.279–57.694, p = 0.003), married individuals (OR = 4.307, 95%CI: 1.455–12.750, p = 0.008), and participants who had received health education related to cervical cancer prevention (OR = 2.125, 95%CI: 1.169–3.863, p = 0.013) and possessed good knowledge of prevention (OR = 16.770, 95%CI: 8.667–32.451, p < 0.001) were more inclined to undergo cervical cancer screening. Among the 254 participants who had received health education, 34.2% still had unmet information needs regarding cervical cancer prevention, and 29.5% hoped to receive health education services from professionals.

Conclusion

Chinese HPV-vaccinated women have a good understanding of cervical cancer prevention and a positive attitude and behavior towards cervical cancer screening. However, their knowledge of cervical cancer screening is not sufficient, and their information needs have not been fully met.
Klotho protects INS-1 pancreatic β-cells from senescence and enhances mitochondrial function
Authors: Wang Zhihong , Ni Yunzhi , Lou Yan-Ru , Prud’homme Gerald J. , Wang Qinghua
Published: February 2025

Aging is an important contributing factor for β-cell failure which could lead to the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Aging β-cell exhibits signs of senescence and develops senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), causing the senescence and dysfunction of neighboring cells through paracrine action. Klotho is recognized as an anti-aging gene, and the corresponding protein is α-Klotho (KL). KL exerts potent anti-aging effects on multiple cell types, but its role in β-cell aging remains unclear. Here we showed that pancreatic INS-1 cell (a rat insulinoma cell line commonly used to study pancreatic β-cell function) developed the typical hallmarks of senescent cells when treated with doxorubicin in vitro, and this was accompanied by downregulation of endogenous KL expression. Supplementation with exogenous KL protein protected pancreatic INS-1 cell against senescence, as indicated by downregulation of senescent markers and SA-β-gal staining. Notably, these effects were associated with improved mitochondrial ATP production and mitochondrial dynamic balance, as well as reduced ROS production. Our study further revealed that INS-1 cell treated with doxorubicin exhibited a reduced insulin secretion response to glucose stimulation, while supplementation with KL could reverse this effect. Our results indicate the important role of KL in regulating β-cell senescence and provide new mechanistic insights into its role in β-cell aging.
Oral health disorders among visually impaired children in South Asian countries: a systematic review
Authors: Mehta Vini , Selvaraj Siddharthan , Tripathy Snehasish , Mishra Neeta , Negi Sapna , Mathur Ankita , Tabnjh Abedelmalek Kalefh
Published: February 2025

Background and aim

Despite the convergence of visual impairment and poor oral health among children, there is a scarcity of data on the common oral health disorders and their prevalence among children with visual impairments in South Asia. The purpose of this systematic review is to synthesize the existing literature on oral health diseases in visually impaired children in South Asia.

Methods

An exhaustive literature search was carried out in PubMed-MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase and Google Scholar from inception till 31st December, 2024. We included studies if they fulfilled the following criteria: visually impaired children (aged <18 years); assessment using dental examination; children with no other impairment from South Asian regions. Due to the high variability across age groups within the target population, we have synthesized and presented the data in a narrative format.

Results

The search across databases yielded a total of 1,681 studies, out of which 9 studies were included. The prevalence of dental caries was reported ranging from 40% to 98.5%, and dental trauma ranged from 4.62% to 44.28%. High prevalence of malocclusion and gingivitis has also been reported. Quality assessment showed that three studies had medium risk of bias and remaining had a low risk of bias.

Conclusion

In the South Asian region, it is crucial to make special needs dentistry widely accessible, provide caregivers with sufficient dental health information, and ensure dentists receive specialized training to enhance the effectiveness, comfort, and satisfaction of treatment.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=582083, PROSPERO (CRD42024582083).
Sports dentistry intricacies with season-related challenges and the role of athlete-centered outcomes
Authors: Júdice André , Botelho João , Machado Vanessa , Proença Luís , Ferreira Luciano M. A. , Fine Peter , Mendes José João
Published: February 2025

Sports dentistry is an emerging field focusing on the prevention, treatment, and management of oral health issues in athletes. This review critically examines the current state of sports dentistry, emphasizing the integration of oral health care into athletes' overall health management. The high prevalence of dental caries, erosion, and periodontal problems among athletes is linked to diet, habits, and increased risk of orofacial injuries. Routine oral health evaluations, particularly during the preseason, are recommended to tailor prevention strategies and address potential issues early on. The recently proposed Universal Screening Protocol for Dental Examinations in Sports is discussed, noting its potential limitations in terms of time and complexity. The review explores the challenges posed by athletes' demanding training and competition schedules, stressing the importance of incorporating oral health care into the medical team. Future research should investigate the feasibility and validity of self-reported questionnaires for screening oral health conditions, potentially simplifying the process for athletes. The review highlights the use of athlete-reported outcomes and self-reporting in sports dentistry as crucial for evaluating dental care effectiveness and monitoring long-term health outcomes. It concludes by emphasizing the need for streamlined, universally applicable protocols that fit athletes' schedules while providing comprehensive care, and the importance of further research to explore innovative screening tools and self-reported measures to transform routine care practices and reduce barriers to dental health for athletes.
Past and future trends in swiss snow cover: multi-decades analysis using the snow observation from space algorithm
Authors: Poussin Charlotte , Timoner Pablo , Peduzzi Pascal , Giuliani Gregory
Published: February 2025

Despite the large availability of satellite and in-situ data on snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere, long-term assessments at an adequate resolution to capture the complexities of mountainous terrains remain limited, particularly for countries like Switzerland. This study addresses this gap by employing two products—the monthly NDSI (Normalized Difference Snow Index) and snow cover products—derived from the Snow Observation from Space (SOfS) algorithm to monitor snow cover dynamics across Switzerland over the past 37 years. The pixel-wise analysis reveals significant negative trends in the monthly NDSI across all seasons, with the most pronounced decreases at low to mid-elevations, particularly in winter and spring (e.g., a 50% reduction in NDSI for pixels showing positive significative trends in winter below 1,000 m, and a 43% reduction in spring between 1,000 and 2,000 m). Similarly, snow cover area has declined significantly, with reductions of −13% to −15% in spring for the transitional zones between 1,000–1,500 m and 1,500–2,000 m. Furthermore, the monthly NDSI values are more strongly influenced by temperature than precipitation, especially at lower altitudes. To estimate trends in snow cover for the 21st century, we modelled the relationship between snow presence and two climatic variables (temperature and precipitation) using a binomial generalized linear mixed model (GLMM). In the context of climate change, projections under various greenhouse gas emission scenarios suggest further declines in snow cover by the end of the century. Even with moderate climate action (RCP 2.6), snow-free areas could expand by 22% at lower elevations by 2100. Under the more extreme scenario (RCP 8.5), snow-free regions could increase by over 43%, with significant impacts during the transitional months of April and May. The SOfS algorithm, developed within the Swiss Data Cube, provides valuable insights into snow cover dynamics across Switzerland. Complementing in-situ observations, this innovative approach is essential for assessing snow cover changes and guiding adaptation strategies in a country where snow is not only an environmental indicator but also a cultural and economic asset.
Forecasting long-term sunspot numbers using the LSTM-WGAN model
Authors: Yang Hao , Zuo Pingbing , Zhang Kun , Shen Zhenning , Zou Zhengyang , Feng Xueshang
Published: February 2025

The sunspot number, an indicator of solar activity, is vital for forecasting variations in solar activity and predicting disturbances of the geomagnetic field. This study proposes a hybrid model that combines Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) with the Wasserstein Generative Adversarial Network (WGAN) for sunspot number prediction. The LSTM-WGAN model performs better than the LSTM model in forecasting long-term sunspot numbers using single-step forecasting methods. To further evaluate its effectiveness, we performed a comparative analysis, by comparing predictions of LSTM-WGAN with those provided by the European Space Agency (ESA). This analysis confirmed the accuracy and reliability of LSTM-WGAN model in predicting the sunspot numbers. In particular, our model successfully predicted that the peak of sunspot numbers during the 25th Solar Cycle is slightly higher than that during the 24th Solar Cycle, which is consistent with current observations.
Adaptive walking performance is related to the hip joint position sense during active hip flexion rather than during passive hip flexion
Authors: Matsui Taishi , Hirata Kosuke , Miyamoto Naokazu , Akagi Ryota
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between hip joint position sense during active or passive hip flexion and adaptive walking performance across obstacles. After screening, 30 young men with the right dominant leg (age, 21 ± 2 years) participated in the experiment. To measure adaptive walking performance on the first day, the participants stepped over an obstacle underfoot with the left leg just high enough to avoid touching the obstacle. The difference between the height of the knee joint at the moment of crossing the obstacle and the height of the obstacle was normalized to the lower limb length and used to evaluate performance. To measure hip joint position sense on the second day, the participants adjusted their left hip joint angle to the target angle (range of joint motion: 80° of hip flexion) by active or passive hip flexion using a dynamometer. Although the absolute error in hip joint position sense during active hip flexion (6.3° ± 4.4°) significantly correlated with that during passive hip flexion (23.2° ± 11.0°) (r = 0.507, P < 0.001), a notable difference was observed between the two (P < 0.001). The normalized knee joint height was significantly correlated with the absolute error of hip joint position sense during active hip flexion (r = 0.477, P < 0.001) but not during passive hip flexion. The results of this study suggest a strong association between hip joint position sense under conditions that closely resemble actual walking behavior and adaptive walking performance, such as crossing over obstacles.
Sex differences in elite ski mountaineering aerobic performance
Authors: Schorderet Forrest , Mottet Justin , Lathion Aurélien , Raberin Antoine , Bourdillon Nicolas , Millet Grégoire P.
Published: February 2025

Ski mountaineering (SkiMo) sprints will debut as an Olympic sport in 2026, yet research on the discipline remains scarce compared to other winter sports. The demanding sprint format, with most of the race time spent on uphill sections, highlights the importance of body composition and maximal oxygen consumption (V˙O2max). While previous studies have primarily focused on male athletes, this study aimed to analyze sex differences in physiological parameters of elite SkiMo athletes, hypothesizing that differences in vertical velocities (vV) would surpass those in V˙O2 at ventilatory thresholds (VT1, VT2) and maximal intensity (MAX), respectively. Twenty elite/worldclass Swiss SkiMo athletes (6 women, 14 men, aged 20–32 years) participated in the study. They performed a graded exercise test to exhaustion on a treadmill set at a 25% slope, with breath-by-breath gas exchanges. Elite female SkiMo athletes had a V˙O2 value 13.6% lower at MAX (64.0 ± 3.8 vs. 72.8 ± 5.5 ml/kg/min; p = 0.002) and 15.5% lower at VT2 (54.8 ± 2.8 vs. 62.2 ± 5.8 ml/kg/min; p = 0.009) than their male counterparts. Interestingly, the sex-differences in vV at both MAX (1,825 ± 113 vs. 2,125 ± 156 m/h; p < 0.001; 16.4%) and VT2 (1,412 ± 56 vs. 1,696 ± 151 m/h; p < 0.001; 20.1%) intensities were consistently larger than the differences in V˙O2. Moreover, fat mass was higher in females (15.2 ± 1.0 vs. 6.6 ± 0.6%; p = 0.004). Additionally, vertical running energy cost at VT2 was significantly higher in females compared to males (2,329 ± 95 vs. 2,199 ± 60 ml/kg/kmv; p = 0.018). Sex differences in uphill velocities (16.4–20.1%) exceeded those in V˙O2 (13.6–16.5%). Investigation on the underlying mechanisms is required but several factors may contribute to this pronounced sex difference in uphill velocity beyond aerobic power alone. Overall, the present findings align with recent studies reporting a 16%–20% difference in performance times when investigating sex differences in uphill displacement. The performance gap between men and women appears to be larger in uphill sports.