bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hospitalizations, emergency medical care utilization, and contacts with the regional on-call medical services among nursing home residents in Germany: a cross-sectional study in 44 nursing homes
Authors: Lienesch Paula , Rothgang Heinz , Gerhardus Ansgar , Wolf-Ostermann Karin , Hoffmann Falk , Czwikla Jonas
Published: February 2025

Background

Nursing home residents frequently utilize medical care, but there lacks a complete picture of their acute medical care utilization. We quantified hospitalizations, emergency medical care utilization, and contacts with the regional on-call medical services among nursing home residents, and investigated individual characteristics that may be associated with the utilization of these medical care types.

Methods

Cross-sectional data from the “Needs-based provision of medical care to nursing home residents” (MVP-STAT) study were analyzed, which were collected in 44 German nursing homes from 442 residents in 2018/2019. Proportions of residents with at least one hospitalization, emergency medical care utilization (via the nationwide phone number 112), and contact with an on-call medical service (nationwide via 116117) over the previous 12 months were determined. Associations between individual characteristics and the utilization of the three medical care types were examined using multivariable logistic regressions.

Results

Of the analyzed residents, 45.8% were hospitalized, 23.2% utilized emergency medical care, and 12.1% had contact with an on-call medical service at least once in the previous 12 months. Hospitalizations were positively associated with male vs. female sex (adjusted odds ratio 1.99 [95% confidence interval 1.22–3.26]), age group 85 + vs. 60–74 years (2.15 [1.12–4.13]), long-term care grades 4/5 vs. 1/2 (2.78 [1.48–5.21]), 6 + vs. 0–1 Elixhauser diseases (2.58 [1.01–6.62]), and the risk or presence of vs. no malnutrition (3.10 [1.52–6.35] and 2.01 [1.26–3.21]); and not associated with years of residence in the respective nursing home. Emergency medical care utilization was positively associated with age group 85 + vs. 60–74 years (2.58 [1.14–5.84]) and long-term care grades 3 and 4/5 vs. 1/2 (2.65 [1.07–6.55], 6.31 [2.60–15.35]); negatively associated with 5 + vs. 1- < 3 years of residence (0.46 [0.24–0.86]); and not associated with sex, the number of Elixhauser diseases, and nutritional status. No associations were found with on-call medical services.

Conclusions

Hospitalizations and emergency medical care utilization were more frequent among nursing home residents than contacts with on-call medical services. Future studies should investigate whether the frequent hospitalizations and emergency medical care utilization among nursing home residents are justified, or whether they can be reduced by strengthening medical care provision by on-call doctors and other professionals.

Trial registration

DRKS00012383 [2017/12/06].
Barriers to uptake of harm reduction techniques for GBMSM who use drugs in night-clubs and sex-on-premises venues in London and the Southeast: a mixed-methods, qualitative study
Authors: Naulls Stephen , Oniti K. , Eccles J. , Stone J. M.
Published: February 2025

Background

Drug-related harm is a significant public health concern in the UK, particularly among underserved groups such as gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). This study explores the role of night-time venues (for example night clubs or sex-on-premises venues) in promoting harm reduction strategies for GBMSM who use drugs, highlighting unique challenges within these spaces.

Methods

The study used a mixed-methods approach, including an online survey (n = 53) and semi-structured interviews (n = 8). Participants included GBMSM with lived experience of substance use in night-time venues, as well as those providing support to this population. Data was collected through a Likert-scale survey and thematic analysis of qualitative responses.

Results

Findings reveal dissatisfaction among survey respondents about the level of support for harm reduction provided by night-time venues, which are perceived as inconsistent in their approach towards substance use. The study also identifies economic and legal barriers faced by venues that prevent the endorsement of harm reduction techniques.

Conclusions

Addressing these barriers could transform night-time venues into effective sites for harm reduction, particularly by targeting “afters” culture (the phenomenon where club-goers will return to a residential setting and continue substance use for prolonged periods ‘after’ the night-time venue closes or the event ends) and promoting safer practices. This research suggests that coordinated efforts with local government and policy reform are crucial to fostering safer environments for GBMSM.
Indocyanine green nebulization visualizes the pulmonary bronchus during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery
Authors: Xu Hao , Wu Xun , Zhao Songjing , Wang Zhenfan , Jiang Guanchao , Li Yun , Zhou Jian
Published: February 2025

Background

Intraoperative tracheobronchial injury is a rare but serious complication of lung surgery. With the increasing number of segmentectomies, surgeons need to locate finer and less easily identified segmental bronchi or even subsegmental bronchi. However, there is no simple or feasible method for visualizing the bronchus during surgery.

Case presentation

Herein, we report a case in which indocyanine green (ICG) inhalation was used to visualize the pulmonary bronchus during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The patient was a woman with a GGO located in the anterior segment of the right upper lobe, and thoracoscopic segmentectomy was scheduled. ICG (3.75 mg/ml) was inhaled into the lung on the operative side after single-lung ventilation for 5 min. During surgery, the anterior segmental bronchus was difficult to locate accurately. Under the overlay imaging window of the NIF imaging system, the bronchus was shown in green, indicating the bronchi in contrast to the surrounding lung tissue. We dissected the bronchi with the assistance of fluorescence imaging and were surprised to find that the bifurcation of the anterior and apical bronchi could be clearly identified by navigation via the inhaled ICG and NIF system. Segmentectomy was successfully performed, and no adverse events were recorded.

Conclusion

This case showed that ICG nebulization is feasible and safe for visualizing the pulmonary bronchus during thoracoscopic surgery. This method has great application potential for reducing intraoperative tracheobronchial injury.
An analysis of ambulance re-contacts after non-conveyance: a retrospective cohort study in the Netherlands
Authors: de Loor Susanne E. , Verheij Tessa , Karol Thomas , Cuppen Franciscus G. M. H. M. , van Dijk Frits , Goldstein Femke , Janssen Joyce , Ebben Remco H. A.
Published: February 2025

Background

Non-conveyance is an increasing part of ambulance care and has to be safe. One of the indicators to measure safety is an ambulance re-contact within 72 h. However, solely measuring the percentage of re-contacts has limited validity as it lacks insight in actual reasons of an ambulance re-contact. Therefore, the aim of our study was to analyze the incidence, reasons and outcomes of ambulance re-contacts within 72 h after non-conveyance.

Methods

We conducted a one year (2022) retrospective study in one EMS region in the Netherlands. Medical records of all non-conveyance runs with a re-contact were analyzed using a framework to categorize re-contact reasons in illness-related, patient-related, professional-related, and unrelated. Re-contact outcomes were measured in terms of (non-)conveyance and mortality.

Results

585/13.879 (4.2%) non-conveyance runs had a re-contact within 72 h. 547/585 (93.5%) re-contacts could be categorized with the framework. Re-contacts were related to the illness (n = 267, 48.8%), the patient (n = 130, 23.8%), the professional (n = 106, 19.4%) and unrelated (n = 44, 8.0%). Four subreasons accounted for 68.5% of reasons for re-contacts: progression of disease (19.4%), recurrent disease process/exacerbation (18.6%), reassessment and ambulance request by another medical professional (15.9%), and psychiatric disorder and/or substance abuse (14.6%). 403/547 (73.7%) patients with a re-contact were conveyed to the hospital. Mortality rate for patients with a re-contact was 0.5%.

Conclusions

Re-contact incidence after non-conveyance is relatively low, with a very small part of re-contacts related to ambulance care professionals making errors in diagnosis or treatment. Combined with low re-contact mortality, this indicates safe non-conveyance decisions. Re-contacts as quality indicator cover a variety of reasons, with almost half of the re-contacts being related to illness. Four subcategories accounted for the majority of all reasons for re-contacts: progression of disease, recurrent disease process/exacerbation, reassessment and ambulance request by another medical professional, and psychiatric disorder and/or substance abuse. Three-quarters of the patients were conveyed, although more re-contacts due to patient related reasons ended in non-conveyance again.
Classifications of triple-negative breast cancer: insights and current therapeutic approaches
Authors: Chen Ziqi , Liu Yumeng , Lyu Minchuan , Chan Chi Ho , Sun Meiheng , Yang Xin , Qiao Shuangying , Chen Zheng , Yu Sifan , Ren Meishen , Lu Aiping , Zhang Ge , Li Fangfei , Yu Yuanyuan
Published: February 2025

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive and challenging type of cancer, characterized by the absence of specific receptors targeted by current therapies, which limits effective targeted treatment options. TNBC has a high risk of recurrence and distant metastasis, resulting in lower survival rates. Additionally, TNBC exhibits significant heterogeneity at histopathological, proteomic, transcriptomic, and genomic levels, further complicating the development of effective treatments. While some TNBC subtypes may initially respond to chemotherapy, resistance frequently develops, increasing the risk of aggressive recurrence. Therefore, precisely classifying and characterizing the distinct features of TNBC subtypes is crucial for identifying the most suitable molecular-based therapies for individual patients. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of these subtypes, highlighting their unique profiles as defined by various classification systems. We also address the limitations of conventional therapeutic approaches and explore innovative biological strategies, all aimed at advancing the development of targeted and effective therapeutic strategies for TNBC.
Targeting secretory autophagy in solid cancers: mechanisms, immune regulation and clinical insights
Authors: Li Xinyu , Zhao Haiying
Published: February 2025

Secretory autophagy is a classical form of unconventional secretion that integrates autophagy with the secretory process, relying on highly conserved autophagy-related molecules and playing a critical role in tumor progression and treatment resistance. Traditional autophagy is responsible for degrading intracellular substances by fusing autophagosomes with lysosomes. However, secretory autophagy uses autophagy signaling to mediate the secretion of specific substances and regulate the tumor microenvironment (TME). Cytoplasmic substances are preferentially secreted rather than directed toward lysosomal degradation, involving various selective mechanisms. Moreover, substances released by secretory autophagy convey biological signals to the TME, inducing immune dysregulation and contributing to drug resistance. Therefore, elucidating the mechanisms underlying secretory autophagy is essential for improving clinical treatments. This review systematically summarizes current knowledge of secretory autophagy, from initiation to secretion, considering inter-tumor heterogeneity, explores its role across different tumor types. Furthermore, it proposes future research directions and highlights unresolved clinical challenges.
Using tree-based models to identify factors contributing to trait negative affect in adults
Authors: Cañizares Catalina , Gómez-Maquet Yvonne , Ferro Eugenio , Torres Carlos Arturo , Agudelo Diana María , Odom Gabriel
Published: February 2025

Background

Individuals with high levels of negative affect (NA) are at an increased risk of experiencing distress and negative self-views. Theoretical models suggest that NA plays a critical role in psychopathology, particularly in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and is linked to cognitive-perceptual and affective regulation issues.

Objective

Determine whether maladaptive cognitive schemas, attributional style, childhood adversity, and lifestyle factors (including alcohol and drug use and physical activity) could effectively predict negative affect (NA) in adults.

Methods

A secondary data analysis was performed on a sample of 342 depressed and non-depressed adults. Beta regression and regression tree analyses were conducted to identify the principal risk factors and their interactions. The regression tree model was trained with 5-fold cross-validation on 75% of the sample, with 25% of observations held for testing.

Results

The findings revealed that the cognitive schemas of disconnection and rejection and impaired autonomy had a significant impact on the likelihood of higher scores on the State Depression Inventory (IDER) test (p < 0.001), as indicated by both beta regression and regression tree analyses. Additionally, childhood adversity emerged as a crucial factor in determining high levels of NA. The regression tree model achieved strong performance metrics, including an R-squared value of 0.77.

Conclusions

This study represents a significant step forward in the understanding of NA, as it considers a broad range of individual factors, such as cognitive schemas, lifestyle, and demographics, to predict its impact on NA, with potential implications for prevention programs aimed at reducing NA.
Development and validation of an instrument for assessing secondary students’ transdisciplinary STEM practices
Authors: Yang Kai-Lin , Fang Su-Chi , Fan Szu-Chun
Published: February 2025

Background

Given that limited well-developed instruments are available to assess students’ transdisciplinary STEM practices (T-STEMP), this study aims to develop and validate an instrument for examining secondary students’ T-STEMP competence. According to the T-STEMP assessment framework proposed in our previous study, we developed items and validated the items using Bayesian structural equation modeling (BSEM) and item response theory (IRT).

Results

First, the structure of T-STEMP has been justified, that the four design phases are related to a common third-order factor: knowledge-based reasoning and each design phase is composed of three key design challenges. The goodness of fit indices indicated that a two-parameter logistic (2PL) graded response model could fit the data well. The discrimination parameters indicated that most of the items for different grades performed well in distinguishing between students with various ability levels. The Cronbach’s alpha also indicated that the instrument had good reliability in terms of internal consistency.

Conclusions

The model of one third-order factor with four second-order factors and 12 first-order factors was justified as the fitted model representing the structure of the T-STEMP instrument. It means that the four design phases are related to knowledge-based reasoning and each design phase is composed of three key design challenges. The IRT findings show that Taiwanese students may have basic T-STEMP competence, but the breadth and depth of their responses to the key design challenges need to be advanced. Implications for further studies and suggestions for STEM teaching are also provided.
Topographic correlation of microperimetry with foveal microstructure characteristics in idiopathic epiretinal membrane patients with an ectopic inner foveal layer
Authors: Wang Qianqian , Wang Congyao , Su Yihua , Yu Fenfen , Chen Tingting , Dong Xia , Wan Pengxia
Published: February 2025

Purpose

To identify foveal structure-function topographic association and relationship in patients with idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) related to ectopic inner foveal layer (EIFL).

Methods

This was a cross-sectional, observational study that involved 40 individuals with idiopathic ERM: 22 without EIFL (Group 1) and 18 with EIFL (Group 2). Quantitative foveal light sensitivity was measured using microperimetry, and foveal microstructure was assessed using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Multiple indices of microvascular parameters of OCTA images were further processed using the AngioTool software. LASSO regression and quantile regression analyses were performed to identify the spatial distribution correlation between foveal light sensitivity and foveal microstructure parameters.

Results

Group 2 exhibited reduced light sensitivity across all parameters of microperimetry compared to Group 1 (P < 0.001). Additionally, the central foveal thickness, the percentage of ellipsoid zone disruption, and the foveal avascular zone area were significantly lower in Group 1 than in Group 2 (all P < 0.005). Compared to Group 1, the vessel density (VD) and perfusion density of the foveal region was significantly increased in Group 2 (P < 0.001). In contrast, Group 2 showed significantly decreased VD in the parafoveal region compared with Group 1 (P < 0.05). Significant differences in OCTA parameters including ‘total number of junctions’, ‘junction density’, ‘total vessel length’, ‘average vessel length’, ‘total number of end points’ were observed between Group 1 and Group 2 (all P < 0.01). The foveal light sensitivity was significantly positively correlated with VD in the parafoveal region and negatively correlated with EIFL alteration, best-corrected visual acuity and ellipsoid zone disruption [Log(λ) = − 0.18303, λ = 0.6561].

Conclusions

The presence of EIFL and decreased VD in the parafoveal region, factors that collectively elevate the risk of disease progression, are significantly and independently correlated with reduced microperimetric retinal sensitivity in patients with idiopathic ERM.
Repeatability and reproducibility of a new spectral-domain optical coherence tomography biometer and agreement with swept-source optical coherence tomography based biometer
Authors: Li Xin , Lei Chak Seng , Ning Rui , Liu Luze , Chen Aodong , Yang Xinning , Savini Giacomo , Schiano-Lomoriello Domenico , Zhou Xingtao , Huang Jinhai
Published: February 2025

Background

To assess the repeatability and reproducibility of the Colombo IOL biometer (Moptim, China), which utilizes spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), in measuring ocular parameters of normal subjects and to compare its agreement with the swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT)-based IOLMaster 700 biometer (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Germany).

Methods

This prospective study included 91 eyes from 91 normal subjects. The evaluated parameters were axial length (AL), central corneal thickness (CCT), aqueous depth (AQD), anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), flattest and steepest meridian keratometry (Kf and Ks), mean keratometry (Km), astigmatism (AST) magnitude, white-to-white (WTW) distance, and pupil diameter (PD). The within-subject standard deviation (Sw), test–retest repeatability (TRT), coefficient of variation (CoV), and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated to determine the repeatability and reproducibility. Paired t-tests and Bland–Altman plots with 95% limits of agreement (LoA) were employed to assess the agreement.

Results

With respect to intraobserver repeatability, the Sw and TRT values of all evaluated parameters were low. Except J45 and PD, the ICCs were all higher than 0.928. The reproducibility Sw and TRT values of Colombo IOL were also low, and ICCs were not lower than 0.900. Comparing Colombo IOL and IOLMaster 700, the 95% LoA of AL, CCT, AQD, ACD, LT, Kf, Ks, Km, AST, J0, J45, WTW and PD ranged from − 0.08 to 0.03 mm, − 21.58 to 5.09 μm, 0.01 to 0.15 mm, − 0.01 to 0.14 mm, − 0.05 to 0.10 mm, − 0.14 to 0.59 D, − 0.31 to 0.40 D, − 0.13 to 0.40 D, − 0.68 to 0.32 D, − 0.09 to 0.34 D, − 0.07 to 0.25 D, 0.11 to 1.47 mm, and − 0.97 to 2.31 mm, respectively.

Conclusion

The new SD-OCT-based Colombo IOL biometer demonstrates excellent repeatability and reproducibility. Moreover, it generally agrees well with the SS-OCT-based IOLMaster 700, except for the WTW and PD measurements.
Lipidomics-based investigation of its impact on the pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Wang Qun , Cao Yuan , Jia Lianqun
Published: February 2025

Background

Considerable attention has been devoted to investigating the association between lipid metabolites and cardiovascular diseases, particularly coronary atherosclerosis.

Methods

A two-sample MR framework was used to investigate the relationship between lipid metabolites and the risk of coronary atherosclerosis. Two GWAS datasets were examined to take intersections of SNPs from 51,589 cases and 343,079 controls, and 14,334 cases and 346,860 controls to determine genetic susceptibility to coronary atherosclerosis. Random-effects inverse variance weighted (IVW) MR analyses were performed by a series of sensitivity assessments to measure the robustness of our findings and to detect any violations of MR assumptions.

Results

Through IVW, MR-Egger and weighted median regression methods, we inferred that these six lipid metabolites: cholesterol levels, sterol ester (27:1/18:2) levels, triacylglycerol (52:4) levels, triacylglycerol (52:5) levels, diacylglycerol (18:1_18.2) levels, triacylglycerol (53:4), could directly impact the development of atherosclerosis.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our study comprehensively illustrates a causal relationship between lipid metabolites and the risk of coronary atherosclerosis. Furthermore, cholesterol levels, sterol ester (27:1/18:2) levels, triacylglycerol (52:4) levels, triacylglycerol (52:5) levels, diacylglycerol (18:1_18.2) levels, and triacylglycerol (53:4) levels are positively correlated with the risk of coronary atherosclerosis. These six lipid metabolites have the potential as new predictors of the risk of atherosclerosis, providing new insights into the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
Mediating Mendelian randomization in the proteome identified potential drug targets for obesity-related allergic asthma
Authors: Lin Jiannan , Lu Shuwen , Zhao Xiaoyu
Published: February 2025

Background

With the development of the economy, the number of obese patients has been increasing annually worldwide. The proportion of asthma patients associated with obesity is also gradually rising. However, the pathogenesis of obesity-related asthma remains incompletely understood, and conventional pharmacological treatments generally show limited efficacy.

Objective

This study aims to explore the causal relationship between obesity and allergic asthma, elucidate the pathogenesis of obesity-related asthma, and identify the plasma proteins involved in its development, providing new insights for clinical interventions.

Methods

In this study, we employed a two-step approach for mediation Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, utilizing stringent selection criteria to identify instrumental variables (IVs). This approach was used to assess the causal impact of obesity on allergic asthma and to validate the plasma proteins identified as mediating factors. We further explored the functions and enriched pathways of the mediating proteins using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses. Finally, we conducted drug-targeted MR analysis to evaluate the potential of each mediator plasma proteins as a drug target gene. If significant heterogeneity remained among the IVs, we applied the weighted median method as the primary analytical tool. Otherwise, we utilized the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method as the main analytical approach. Additionally, we conducted various sensitivity analyses and statistical tests to further illustrate the robustness of the observed associations.

Results

The research findings indicate a causal relationship between obesity and allergic asthma. Plasma proteins such as TPST1, ROR1, and DAPK1 mediate this relationship, with TPST1 accounting for over 10% of the mediation effect. GO and KEGG analyses show that the genes corresponding to these mediator proteins are primarily enriched in pathways related to responses to stimuli, carbohydrate synthesis and metabolism, regulation of certain protein activities, and synaptic connections. The drug-targeted MR analysis suggests that SIGLEC12, BOLA1, HOMER2, and TPST1 all have the potential to be drug target genes.

Conclusion

This study suggests that obese patients defined by BMI may promote the development of allergic asthma by influencing the expression of plasma proteins such as TPST1, ROR1, and DAPK1. Furthermore, some of these plasma proteins, including TPST1, could potentially serve as therapeutic targets for treating allergic asthma in these patients. However, further research is needed to explore their therapeutic potential and the mechanisms underlying their effects.

Clinical trial number

Not applicable.
Clinical evaluation of 3D PEEK implants for skull bone defects repair: a single center case serious
Authors: Elnaggar Mohamed Ahmed , Elnoamany Hossam Abdelhakim , Eissa Mohamed K.
Published: February 2025

Background

Custom-designed 3D-printed polyetheretherketone (PEEK) implants have emerged as a promising option for skull bone defect repair. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes, feasibility, and safety of using 3D-printed PEEK implants in patients with skull defects.

Methods

A retrospective case series was conducted at Menoufia University Hospital, reviewing the medical records of patients who underwent cranioplasty between January 2022 and December 2023. Patients aged 18–65 years with skull bone defects due to trauma, surgical resection, or congenital anomalies were included. All patients underwent preoperative CT scans for custom implant design using computer-aided design (CAD) software. The 3D-printed PEEK implants were fabricated and implanted during surgery. Primary outcome measures included successful implant integration and structural stability, while secondary outcomes assessed complications and patient satisfaction.

Results

Thirteen patients (76.9% male, mean age 45.8 years) were included. The majority of defects were caused by trauma (76.9%). The mean time to cranioplasty was 6 ± 2 months, and the average operative time was 143 ± 34 min. Mean blood loss was 265 ± 97 cc, and the average hospital stay was 2.85 ± 0.9 days. Complications included dural tears in 38.5% of cases, while no immediate postoperative complications were reported. Late complications included one case of convulsions (7.7%) and one superficial infection (7.7%). Radiographic follow-up confirmed successful implant integration in all patients.

Conclusion

3D-printed PEEK implants provide a feasible and effective solution for skull bone defect repair, with favorable outcomes and manageable complication rates. These custom implants offer a personalized approach to cranioplasty, but larger studies with longer follow-up are needed to validate these findings.
Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma, case series and review of literature
Authors: Mohammad Farrag , Abd Elhakeem Ahmed Abd Essattar , Algheriany Ahmad , Elshanawany Ahmed
Published: February 2025

Background

Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma is a rare circumscribed astrocytic glial neoplasm that represents less than 1% of astrocytic tumors. This is a retrospective descriptive hospital-based study of this rare tumor that includes five patients. Epidemiologic characteristics and preoperative clinical findings were recorded. Preoperative MRI characteristics and postoperative histopathology and immunohistochemistry were analyzed.

Results

The study included five patients, two diagnosed as Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma grade 2 tumors and three patients diagnosed as Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma grade 3 tumors. Age ranged from 4 to 47 years, three females and two males. All cases presented with seizures, only one case showed neurological deficit. The solid portions showed hyperintense signal in diffusion-weighted image in three cases (Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma grade 3), while two cases showed isointense signal (Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma grade 2). The mean apparent diffusion coefficient was 0.76 × 10–3 mm2/sec and 1.005 × 10–3 mm2/sec, respectively. Regarding immunohistochemistry, cytoplasmic glial fibrillary acidic protein was strongly positive in all five cases as well as synaptophysin. IDH was negative in all cases. CD34 was positive in three cases, P53 was positive in three cases (Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma grade 3), Ki67 was positive in three cases (Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma grade 3).

Conclusion

Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas are rare neoplasms with a better prognosis in grade 2 than grade 3. Diffusion-weighted imaging technology can be used to differentiate between grade 2 and grade 3 Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma preoperatively but further studies on larger samples are needed to confirm the possibility. Mitotic count is the main parameter used to differentiate Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma grade 2 and grade 3, but immunohistochemistry can play a role in that in the future.
A novel oversampling method based on Wasserstein CGAN for imbalanced classification
Authors: Zhou Hongfang , Pan Heng , Zheng Kangyun , Wu Zongling , Xiang Qingyu
Published: February 2025

Class imbalance is a crucial challenge in classification tasks, and in recent years, with the advancements in deep learning, research on oversampling techniques based on GANs has proliferated. These techniques have proven to be excellent in addressing the class imbalance issue by capturing the distributional features of minority samples during training and generating high-quality new samples. However, oversampling methods based on GANs may suffer from gradient vanishing, resulting in mode collapse, and produce noise and boundary-blurring issues when generating new samples. This paper proposes a novel oversampling method based on a conditional GAN (CGAN) incorporating Wasserstein distance. It generates an initial balanced dataset from minority class samples using the CGAN oversampling approach and then uses a noise and boundary recognition method based on K-means and

$$k$$

k

nearest neighbors algorithm to address the noise and boundary-blurring issues. The proposed method generates new samples that are highly consistent with the original sample distribution and effectively solves the problems of noise data and class boundary blurring. Experimental results on multiple public datasets show that the proposed method achieves significant improvements in evaluation metrics such as Recall, F1_score, G-mean, and AUC.
Impact of interferon-free regimens in patients with chronic HCV and successfully ablated HCC
Authors: Mahmoud Rasheed Amr Maged , Raziky Maissa E. L. , Sayed Mohammad El , Mehrez Mai , Esmat Gamal
Published: February 2025

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks sixth amongst all cancers and is the 2nd top cause of mortality attributable to cancer.

Aim of the work

This study aimed to ascertain the sustained virological response (SVR) to interferon-free regimens in chronic people with HCV after the successful treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as the percentage of persons who would demonstrate any radiological or laboratory alterations indicating a local or de novo recurrence of HCC.

Patients and methods

This trial was carried out on 90 Egyptian persons with chronic HCV infection who were eligible for treatment with oral antiviral agents (DAAs) with hepatic focal lesion(s). Patients were referred to from both the outpatient clinic and hepatocellular carcinoma clinic at the National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute (NHTMRI), and the trial was conducted in the period between October 2017 and May 2021.

Results

Four patients with distant metastasis, three dying from liver-related incidents, received surgical resection, TACE, and RFA treatment, while one patient survived with compensated chronic liver disease. By multivariate logistic regression, we found that AFP is an independent predictor of HCC recurrence, while baseline urea level and FIB4 before antiviral therapy protect against recurrence. PLT was the best predictor, with AFP having a sensitivity of 52% and specificity of 93.8% at a cutoff value of 135 and PCR having a sensitivity of 72%.

Conclusion

The HCC recurrence rate was 27.8%, slightly higher than the estimated annual HCC recurrence rate following curative procedures (20%).
Unmanned aerial vehicle aerial image stitching method based on superpixel segmentation
Authors: Lian Zhiyou , Ren Jianhua
Published: February 2025

Addressing the issues of long processing time, high computational complexity, and poor stitching quality in existing methods for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) aerial image stitching, this paper proposes an aerial image stitching method based on similar region estimation. Firstly, the input set of UAV aerial images is subjected to superpixel segmentation to estimate similar regions among the images. Secondly, an improved SIFT algorithm is used to extract and match feature points within the similar regions across the image set. Finally, based on the obtained matching points, an improved optimal seam-line algorithm and a weighted average fusion algorithm are employed to fuse the images, resulting in the stitched aerial image. Experimental validation using the public dataset UAV-image-mosaicing dataset demonstrates that our method achieves nearly double the speed of feature extraction compared to traditional feature extraction algorithms and triples the feature matching rate. Furthermore, compared to mainstream UAV aerial image stitching methods, our approach reduces time consumption by half while improving the stitching image evaluation metrics of SSIM, MAE, and PSNR by approximately 5% on average.
President's Page: Follow, understand, and do with SEG's help
Authors: Chávez-Pérez Sergio
Published: February 2025

AI and generative AI are now everywhere, and, sometimes, some of us need to understand and explain what not everyone wants to or can: How do AI models work? What is behind the black box? What about their work hypotheses? Is AI worth using? Will it replace segments of the workforce?
Introduction to this special section: Generative and physics-informed AI
Authors: Ovcharenko Oleg , Di Haibin , Waheed Umair Bin , Kazei Vladimir
Published: February 2025

Integrating advanced artificial intelligence (AI) into geoscience represents a pivotal moment, redefining how we approach exploration and interpretation of the earth's subsurface. Generative AI methods, such as large language models (LLMs), diffusion models, and physics-informed learning, offer new ways to simulate, invert, and interpret seismic data. LLMs are increasingly used in various seismic tasks ranging from interpolation and denoising to direct inversion for subsurface properties. Promising attempts have been made to develop foundational models that treat poststack seismic data like natural images. Prestack causality-aware and spatially aware foundational models have not yet been explored extensively. Diffusion models that draw samples from a learned distribution enhance data sets by generating synthetic subsurface models, filling data gaps, and creating plausible scenarios that support testing and validation. Physics-informed AI bridges the gap between empirical machine-learning approaches and traditional physics-based methodologies. Agentic AI — an emergent field leveraging the autonomous capabilities of LLMs for geophysical tasks — further expands the geophysicist's toolkit for seismic processing and workflow automation.
Seismic Soundoff: Shaping the future of humanitarian geoscience
Authors: Geary Andrew
Published: February 2025

In episode 232 of SEG's Seismic Soundoff podcast, Beth Burton, chair of the newly formed Geoscientists without Borders (GWB) Technical Review Subcommittee (TRSC), delves into its history, purpose, and operations. Burton offers insights into its significant role in advancing humanitarian projects through geoscience.
Endocrine dysfunction in primary mitochondrial diseases
Authors: Varughese Rachel , Rahman Shamima
Published: February 2025

Primary mitochondrial disorders (PMD) are genetic disorders affecting the structure or function of the mitochondrion. Mitochondrial functions are diverse, including energy production, ion homeostasis, reactive oxygen species regulation, antioxidant defence, and biosynthetic responsibilities, notably including steroidogenesis. Mitochondria provide the energy to drive intracellular production and extracellular secretion of all hormones. The understanding of the endocrine consequences of PMD is key to timely identification of both endocrine complications in PMD patients, and PMD presenting primarily with endocrine disease. This is a narrative review on the endocrine manifestations of PMD, underlying disease mechanisms and current and emerging approaches to diagnosing and treating these complex disorders. Diabetes is the most frequent endocrine manifestation of PMD, but growth hormone deficiency, adrenal insufficiency, hypogonadism and parathyroid dysfunction may occur. Despite the intricate involvement of the thyroid gland in metabolic regulation, there is little evidence for a causal relationship between thyroid dysfunction and PMD. In conclusion, endocrine dysfunction is observed in PMD with varying incidence depending on the specific mitochondrial disorder and the endocrine organ in question. Diagnosis of PMD in a patient with endocrine presenting features requires a high level of clinical suspicion, particularly when apparently unrelated co-morbidities co-exist. Similarly, endocrine pathology may be subtle in patients with known PMD and thorough consideration must be given to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment. The scope for novel therapeutics for this group of devastating conditions is enormous, however, several challenges remain to be overcome before hopes of curative treatments can be brought into clinical practice.
Image-Guided Robotic Surgery for Sentinel Lymph Node Status Assessment in Uterine Cancers Using Ultrasound Drop-in Probe: Surgical Technique in 10 Steps
Authors: Pavone Matteo , Teodorico Elena , Bizzarri Nicolò , Innocenzi Chiara , Rosati Andrea , Zorzi Michela , Cantarini Chiara , Ciancia Marianna , Moro Francesca , Gallotta Valerio , Marescaux Jacques , Lecointre Lise , Fagotti Anna , Scambia Giovanni , Fanfani Francesco , Testa Antonia , Querleu Denis
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Recent guidelines recommend the sentinel lymph node (SLN) technique in uterine cancers, as it is associated with lower perioperative complications.1 Image-guided surgery can address some limitations of SLN procedures, such as low frozen-section accuracy and risk of empty packets,2–4 by providing real-time lymph node assessment.5,6 This video describes the surgical procedure of intraoperative robotic ultrasound examination for SLN assessment.

Materials and Methods

The Arietta L43K (2–12 MHz, Hitachi, Japan) drop-in robotic ultrasound probe was used to assist with SLN dissection. The procedure was performed on the da Vinci Xi platform. The probe, introduced through an accessory trocar, was manipulated by robotic instruments, providing real-time ultrasound imaging in split-view mode on the surgeon’s console. Ultrasound images, captured by the surgeon under the guidance of an experienced ultrasound examiner, were analyzed both in vivo and ex vivo.7

Results

The procedure involves ten steps, detailed as follows. (1) The procedure begins with the cervical injection of indocyanine green. (2) The pelvic retroperitoneum is opened to allow access to anatomical landmarks. (3) Using near-infrared imaging mode, the lymphatic pathways are highlighted, allowing for the identification of the SLN. (4) Once identified, the drop-in ultrasound probe is introduced. (5) The console is switched to split-view mode, enabling the surgeon to observe ultrasound images alongside the endoscopic view. (6) In vivo imaging is conducted. (7) Both images and videos of the lymph node are captured. (8) The SLN is subsequently dissected. (9) SLN specimens are safely extracted. (10) Ex vivo ultrasound assessment is performed to further evaluate their characteristics.

Conclusions

Although its accuracy compared with histology as the gold standard is yet to be demonstrated, image-guided robotic lymph node ultrasound is a feasible and promising procedure for real-time SLN assessment. A prospective study is ongoing (R-LYNUS, NCT06621823) to clinically validate this technique.
Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Using Moderately Hypofractionated Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy Versus Upfront Surgery for Resectable Pancreatic Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Yamane Kei , Anazawa Takayuki , Nagai Kazuyuki , Kasai Yosuke , Masui Toshihiko , Izuwa Aya , Kurahashi Koki , Ishida Satoshi , Ogiso Satoshi , Yoshimura Michio , Iwai Takahiro , Matsubara Junichi , Fukuda Akihisa , Isoda Hiroyoshi , Hidaka Yu , Ibi Yumiko , Hatano Etsuro
Published: February 2025

Background

The efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (R-PDAC) remains unclear. This study was designed to evaluate neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy by using intensity-modulated radiotherapy (NAC-IMRT) for R-PDAC compared with upfront surgery (UpS).

Methods

Among 198 patients with R-PDAC who were indicated for resection between 2013 and 2021, 130 were included in this study after excluding patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy and did not meet the NAC-IMRT criteria (Eligible set). NAC-IMRT was planned for 58 patients, and UpS was planned for 72 patients. Additionally, in 105 patients who could undergo the planned treatment (As-treated set), the surgical, pathological, and oncological outcomes were evaluated.

Results

In the Eligible set, median overall survival (OS) was 50.5 months with NAC-IMRT and 34.7 months with UpS and progression-free survival was 20.4 months with NAC-IMRT and 13.9 months with UpS. In the As-treated set, OS was longer in the NAC-IMRT group (66.7 months vs. 34.7 months, p = 0.007). On multivariate analysis, NAC-IMRT was identified as an independent factor for better OS (hazard ratio 0.617, 95% confidence interval 0.382–0.995, p = 0.047, in the Eligible set). The incidence of postoperative complications did not show a difference between the two groups, and NAC-IMRT suppressed local tumor invasion, including lymphatic, venous, perineural invasion, and lymph node metastases.

Conclusions

NAC-IMRT may offer superior survival outcomes and manageable toxicity in R-PDAC patients compared with upfront surgery. This study supports the efficacy and safety of NAC-IMRT and recommends its consideration in R-PDAC treatment protocols.
A review of the types of diets used in Crohn’s disease: the support system for pharmacological treatment
Authors: Śnieżna Joanna , Wojciech Florczak Wojciech , Dziewic Jakub , Dzwonnik Karol , Zelik Urszula , Trestka Gabriela , Domino Wiktoria , Stępień Kamila , Włodyka Jagienka , Adamczyk Sabina , Przygoda Maria
Published: February 2025

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic and progressive disease, that requires a multilateral approach. Its incidence is rising globally, particularly in industrializing regions, correlating with increased consumption of ultra-processed foods. Besides pharmacological and surgical treatment, the diet component plays a crucial role in alleviating symptoms of the disease and preventing its progression. This review highlights the evolving role of dietary interventions as supportive treatments in CD management, complementing pharmacological and surgical approaches. This review represents the analysis of some of the most commonly used diets: the low FODMAP diet, Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD), Mediterranean diet, Crohn’s Disease Exclusion Diet (CDED), and exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) in Crohn's disease based on studies from PubMed’s articles published within the last five years. The aim of this systematic review is to highlight the importance of dietary element in the management of CD and a wide range of new methods of supporting treatment. Dietary interventions provide significant potential to modulate inflammation, support remission, and improve the quality of life in CD patients. Further research in personalized dietary protocols will help incorporate into multidisciplinary approaches for the treatment.
Vaping – A Beneficial Alternative to Traditional Cigarettes or an Unexplored Danger?
Authors: Błasiak Paulina , Ślusarska Aleksandra , Mikołajec Patryk , Bilecka Barbara , Mędyk Jolanta , Wirkijowska Małgorzata , Wirkijowski Jakub , Patarocha Yauheniya , Rogulski Michał , Huk Ruslan
Published: February 2025

The aim of this study is to assess the risks associated with e-cigarette use, particularly in the context of cardiovascular and respiratory health. In addition, the article addresses the social aspect of vaping as a significant challenge faced by national public health institutions, with a special focus on the prevalence of addiction among youth.
Methods: 
We carried out a comprehensive review using PubMed and Google Scholar, with a primary focus on literature published within five to eight years. The searches were performed using “vaping”, “e-cigarettes”, “smoking”, “COPD”, “nicotine replacement therapy”  and the names of its components as search terms to retrieve relevant articles. Furthermore, references cited in the selected articles were also included in the analysis.
Results: 
The current evidence suggests that while e-cigarettes may pose a lower risk than traditional cigarettes, they are not risk-free. Dual use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes increases cardiovascular risk and is comparable to the risks associated with exclusive cigarette smoking. Studies suggest that long-term e-cigarette use may result in increased aortic stiffness, elevated heart rate, heightened risk of atherosclerosis and diminished lung function, increased airway resistance, especially in individuals with pre-existing conditions like asthma. Exposure to aerosolized chemicals present in e-liquids poses risks of chronic respiratory diseases. 
Conclusions: 
The precise impact of e-cigarette use on health needs further research and long-term observations. Particular concern arises from the unregulated composition of e-liquids, which are gaining popularity among youth, thereby promoting early nicotine addiction and normalizing the use of tobacco products. Efforts to regulate the composition of e-liquids and the use of harmful additives are crucial to mitigate the potential health risks associated with vaping.