bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the application of the FA280—a fully automated fecal analyzer for diagnosing clonorchiasis: a mixed-method study
Authors: Huang Si-Yue , Zeng Qing-Sheng , Shi Xin-Fu , He Yun-Ting , Fang Yue-Yi , Lai Ying-Si
Published: January 2025

Background

Clonorchiasis is an important foodborne parasitic disease in China caused by Clonorchis sinensis. Accurate and rapid diagnosis of this disease is vital for treatment and control. Traditional fecal examination methods, such as the Kato-Katz (KK) method, are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and have limited acceptance. The FA280, an advanced automated fecal analyzer, increases efficiency while significantly reducing labor load. This study aims to evaluate its performance, applicability, and scalability in clonorchiasis diagnosis to explore its potential application in the future.

Methods

A mixed-methods study integrating both quantitative and qualitative approaches was conducted. The quantitative component consisted of a cross-sectional survey in Xinhui District, Guangdong, China, to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the FA280. The positive rate and agreement between the FA280 and the KK method were evaluated using McNemar’s test. Additionally, Pearson’s Chi-square test was used to analyze the consistency of positive results between the two methods across various eggs per gram (EPG) groups under different cut-off values. The qualitative component included semi-structured individual interviews with medical staff and institutional administrators to examine the FA280’s applicability and potential for broader adoption, with thematic analysis of the data.

Results

In the quantitative study of 1000 participants, both the FA280 and KK methods detected clonorchiasis with a positive rate of 10.0%, achieving 96.8% agreement and showing no significant difference (P > 0.999). The kappa value was 0.82 (95% confidence interval: 0.76–0.88), indicating a strong agreement between the methods. The agreement rate for positive results between the two methods was significantly higher in the high infection intensity group compared to the low infection intensity group (P < 0.05). The qualitative study, which involved interviews with three medical staff and two administrators revealed that the FA280 outperformed the KK method in testing procedures, detection results, and user acceptance. The benefits, challenges, and suggestions of FA280 promotion were also emphasized.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the FA280’s application value in clonorchiasis diagnosis by assessing its detection performance, applicability, and scalability. These findings contribute to the future prevention and control of the disease.

Graphical Abstract
A rare case of acute myocardial infarction with heart failure following hump-nosed viper bite in a Sri Lankan female
Authors: Wanninayake W. M. D. A. S. , Aponso Tilan , Seneviratne Manohari , Dissanayake Dhanapala
Published: January 2025

Background

Hump-nosed viper (Hypnale species) bites are an important cause of mortality and morbidity in southern India and Sri Lanka, accounting for 27 and 77% of venomous snake bites, respectively. Previously, we knew them to be moderately venomous snakes, primarily causing local envenomation. However, recent reports have indicated severe systemic envenomation incidents, which include hemostatic dysfunction, microangiopathic hemolysis, kidney injury, myocardial toxicity, and even death. The literature rarely reports cardiac manifestations from hump-nosed viper bites, and all reported cases show cardiac manifestations within hours of the snake bite. The literature did not report late presentations of cardiac manifestations. Here, we report a case of hump-nosed viper bite complicated with type 2 myocardial infarction and acute pulmonary oedema secondary to acute heart failure in a Sri Lankan female presented to the National Hospital of Colombo, Sri Lanka, on day 3 after the snake bite.

Case presentation

A local hospital transferred a previously healthy 39-year-old female from Kegalle, Sri Lanka, to our hospital for further condition management. We identified the offending snake as a hump-nosed viper after she reported a history of snake bites 3 days ago. She complained of chest tightness on day 3 of the illness and was found to have acute heart failure precipitated by troponin-positive non-ST elevation myocardial infarction in initial investigations. We performed a CT coronary angiography along with a metabolic screening, revealing normal coronary arteries and a negative metabolic screening. Supportive therapy with loop diuretics and oxygen managed her condition, and a follow-up 2D echocardiogram revealed complete recovery of her cardiac function. She was asymptomatic 3 months into the follow-up. Therefore, we concluded that the case was a venom-induced type 2 myocardial infarction leading to heart failure with acute pulmonary oedema, as the CT coronary angiogram showed normal coronary arteries.
Progression of the faecal microbiome in preweaning dairy calves that develop cryptosporidiosis
Authors: Hares M. F. , Griffiths B. E. , Barningham L. , Vamos E. E. , Gregory R. , Duncan J. S. , Oikonomou G. , Stewart C. J. , Coombes J. L.
Published: January 2025

Background

Cryptosporidiosis is a diarrheal disease that commonly affects calves under 6 weeks old. The causative agent, Cryptosporidium parvum, has been associated with the abundance of specific taxa in the faecal microbiome during active infection. However, the long-term impact of these microbiome shifts, and potential effects on calf growth and health have not yet been explored in depth.

Methods

Three hundred and forty-six (346) calves from three dairy farms had one faecal swab collected during the first week of life (W1). Thereafter, sampled calves were monitored for diarrhoeal disease and those that suffered a diarrhoea event were tested for C. parvum by lateral flow testing (LFT). Calves that experienced diarrhoea and tested positive for C. parvum by LFT were assigned to the Cryptosporidium-positive (Cp+) group (n = 32). Matched healthy (H) controls with no history of diarrhoea were selected from the remaining cohort (n = 33). The selected subset of calves (n = 65) was observed until weaning, collecting a faecal swab, at approximately Week 5 (W5) and Week 10 (W10) after birth, resulting in a total of 191 samples (W1; n = 65, W5; n = 64, W10; n = 62). 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was performed on all extracted samples.

Results

Analysis of the longitudinal microbiome showed significant changes in the microbial diversity and composition across all three time-points. Whilst Firmicutes were elevated in the Cp+ group at W5 compared to the H group, no other significant differences were detected between H and Cp+ groups. Whilst the core microbiota showed some taxa were exclusive to each group, the role of these taxa in health and disease has yet to be determined. Antibiotics were also found to have an impact on the relative abundance of some taxa. Though healthy calves received a significantly higher body condition score than Cp+ calves at W5, the difference did not reach significance at W10, suggesting that Cp+ calves may catch up to their healthy counterparts once the infection has resolved.

Conclusions

The findings of this study illustrated the changes in the microbial diversity and composition during the preweaning period in dairy calves. The results also indicated that the faecal microbiome is not predictive of cryptosporidiosis and implied that cryptosporidiosis doesn’t cause long-term gut dysbiosis. This study furthered our understanding of the parasite-microbiome relationship and its impact on the bovine host.
Self-harm in children and young people who die by suicide: UK-wide consecutive case series
Authors: Aggarwal Shilpa , Tham Su-Gwan , Ibrahim Saied , Turnbull Pauline , Webb Roger T. , Appleby Louis , Kapur Nav , Rodway Cathryn
Published: January 2025

Background

An improved understanding of the factors associated with self-harm in young people who die by suicide can inform suicide prevention measures.

Aims

To describe sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and service utilisation related to self-harm in a national sample of young people who died by suicide.

Method

We carried out a descriptive study of self-harm in a national consecutive case series (N = 544) of 10- to 19-year-olds who died by suicide over 3 years (2014–2016) in the UK as identified from national mortality data. Information was collected from coroner inquest hearings, child death investigations, criminal justice system and National Health Service serious incident reports.

Results

Almost half (49%) of these young people had harmed themselves at some point in their lives, a quarter (26%) in the 3 months before death. Girls were twice as likely as boys to have recent self-harm (40 v. 20%; P < 0.001). Compared to the no self-harm group, young people with recent self-harm were more likely to have a mental illness diagnosis (63 v. 23%; P < 0.001); misused alcohol (19 v. 9%; P = 0.07); experienced physical, sexual or emotional abuse (17 v. 3%; P < 0.01); and recent life adversity (95 v. 75%; P < 0.001). Furthermore, they were more likely to be in contact with mental health services (60 v. 10%), or emergency departments or general physicians for a mental health condition (52 v. 10%) in the 3 months before death.

Conclusions

Presentation to services in young people who self-harm is an important opportunity to intervene through comprehensive psychosocial assessment and treatment of underlying conditions.
Trastuzumab Plus Pertuzumab Versus Cetuximab Plus Irinotecan in Patients With
RAS/BRAF
Wild-Type, HER2-Positive, Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (S1613): A Randomized Phase II Trial
Authors: Raghav Kanwal Pratap Singh , Guthrie Katherine A. , Tan Benjamin , Denlinger Crystal S. , Fakih Marwan , Overman Michael J. , Dasari N. Arvind , Corum Larry R. , Hicks Lee G. , Patel Mital S. , Esparaz Benjamin T. , Kazmi Syed M. , Alluri Nitya , Colby Sarah , Gholami Sepideh , Gold Philip J. , Chiorean E. Gabriela , Kopetz Scott , Hochster Howard S. , Philip Philip A.
Published: January 2025

PURPOSE

ERBB2
overexpression/amplification in
RAS/BRAF
wild-type (WT) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC; human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 [HER2]-positive mCRC) appears to be associated with limited benefit from anti-EGFR antibodies and promising responses to dual-HER2 inhibition; however, comparative efficacy has not been investigated. We conducted a randomized phase II trial to evaluate efficacy and safety of dual-HER2 inhibition against standard-of-care anti-EGFR antibody–based therapy as second/third-line treatment in HER2-positive mCRC.

METHODS

Patients with
RAS/BRAF
-WT mCRC after central confirmation of HER2 positivity (immunohistochemistry 3+ or 2+ and in situ hybridization amplified [HER2/CEP17 ratio >2.0]) were assigned (1:1) to either trastuzumab plus pertuzumab (TP; trastuzumab 6 mg/kg and pertuzumab 420 mg once every 3 weeks) or cetuximab plus irinotecan (CETIRI; cetuximab 500 mg/m
2
and irinotecan 180 mg/m
2
once every 2 weeks) until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Crossover to TP was allowed after progression on CETIRI. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary end points included objective response rate (ORR), overall survival, safety, and
HER2
gene copy number (GCN ≥20/<20) as a predictive factor.

RESULTS

Between October 2017 and March 2022, 54 participants were assigned to TP (n = 26) and CETIRI (n = 28). Median PFS did not vary significantly by treatment: 4.7 (95% CI, 1.9 to 7.6) and 3.7 (95% CI, 1.6 to 6.7) months in the TP and CETIRI groups, respectively. Efficacy of TP versus CETIRI differed significantly by
HER2
GCN (median PFS, GCN ≥20 [9.9
v
2.9 months] and GCN <20 [3.0
v
4.2 months], respectively;
P
interaction = .003). On TP, ORR was 34.6% (57.1% with GCN ≥20
v
9.1% with GCN <20) with median GCN of 29.7 versus 13.2 for responders and nonresponders, respectively (
P
= .004). Grade ≥3 adverse events occurred in 23.1% and 46.1% of participants with TP and CETIRI, respectively.

CONCLUSION

TP appears to be a safe and effective cytotoxic chemotherapy-free option for patients with
RAS/BRAF
-WT, HER2-positive mCRC. Higher levels of
HER2
amplification were associated with greater degree of clinical benefit from TP vis-à-vis CETIRI.
Clinical Utility of Serial Circulating Tumor DNA Analysis as a Minimally Invasive Biomarker in Advanced Urothelial Cancer
Authors: Sakatani Toru , Sumiyoshi Takayuki , Kita Yuki , Takada Hideaki , Nakamura Kenji , Hamada Akihiro , Murakami Kaoru , Sano Takeshi , Goto Takayuki , Sawada Atsuro , Akamatsu Shusuke , Saito Ryoichi , Kobayashi Takashi
Published: January 2025

PURPOSE

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis is an alternative to tissue biopsy for genotyping in various cancers. We aimed to establish a plasma ctDNA sequencing assay, then evaluate its clinical utility in advanced urothelial cancer (UC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study included 82 patients with muscle-invasive or metastatic UC. A total of 158 blood samples and 73 tumor tissue samples were sequenced using our designed panel covering 53 UC-relevant genes and
TERT
promoter. We investigated the association between the proportion of ctDNA in total cell-free DNA (ctDNA fraction) and response to pembrolizumab treatment. ctDNA dynamics were explored during systemic therapy.

RESULTS

In paired tissue-ctDNA samples with estimated tumor fraction, half (50.2%) of the somatic mutations were shared between both sources, while some (17.6%) mutations were found only in ctDNA. In the metastatic setting, on-treatment increase in ctDNA fraction during pembrolizumab treatment was significantly associated with a poor response rate (18.7%
v
76.1%;
P
= .001) and progression-free survival (median 2.8
v
9.8 months;
P
< .001). A comparison of cancer cell fraction, the fraction of tumor cells carrying somatic mutations, between pembrolizumab initiation and on-treatment showed a strong correlation among patients where ctDNA fraction increased during treatment (
r
= 0.73). By contrast, no correlation was observed in patients without ctDNA fraction increase (
r
= 0.09). Most mutations newly detected at pembrolizumab resistance have already been identified in tumor tissues at earlier stages.

CONCLUSION

Our newly established assay is suitable for assessing the genomic profile of ctDNA in patients with advanced UC. Our data may support future analyses of prognostic or predictive biomarkers for UC.
Shape, temperature and density interplay in depletion forces
Authors: Azizi Itay
Published: January 2025

Via numerical simulations, depletion forces are studied in mixtures of small and big particles that interact via a soft repulsive potential for a wide range of densities and temperatures. While big particles are spherical, small particles are nonspherical with shapes that vary gradually, from squares to rods via intermediate shapes. Depletion forces and their resulting potentials depend on the interplay of shape, temperature and density, an argument that is elaborated qualitatively and quantitatively. While in some thermodynamic conditions, depletion potentials of distinct shapes are distinguishable, in different conditions, they are very similar. Finally, novel computational models and experiments are proposed for further investigation of the effect of particle morphology on phase separation in and out of thermal equilibrium.
Human GH Use By Athletes With Short Stature Without GH Deficiency: Therapeutic Use Exemptions
Authors: Allen David B , Vernec Alan , Branco Pedro , Cappa Marco , Horikawa Reiko , Banon Tamar , Dozono Yoko , Rogol Alan D
Published: January 2025

Organized sports are governed by specific rules that aim to create or preserve fair play. An unfair advantage can be obtained by the use of specific substances or methods, also referred to as doping. The World Anti-Doping Agency leads the international doping-free sport movement and annually publishes the List of Prohibited Substances and Methods (List), which is used by most sport federations and organizations around the world. However, some athletes have legitimate medical conditions that require treatments that are included on the List. These athletes may apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), which, if approved, would allow them to take the required prohibited treatments. A challenging scenario concerns adolescents with short stature receiving treatment with human GH (hGH) who are not GH-deficient. Such treatment for short stature conditions is an approved indication for GH therapy in only a few countries, including the United States. Development of TUE Physician Guidelines for hGH for adolescent athletes with short stature required determining whether and to what extent such treatment constituted medical therapy or “enhancement.” The group of experts contributing to the TUE Physician Guidelines concluded that hGH treatment for athletes with non-GH-deficient short stature could be considered therapeutic—and could be granted a TUE if they are below 2.25 SD on the growth curve—until the athlete reached a height at the 5th percentile of adult normal range on the appropriate growth chart pertaining to a specific country or region or another relevant chart. Beyond that point, a TUE for hGH treatment is not medically necessary and a TUE should no longer be considered.
Reconfiguring Racial Capitalism
Authors: Huang Mingwei
Published: January 2025

In Reconfiguring Racial Capitalism, Mingwei Huang traces the development of new forms of racial capitalism in the twenty-first century. Through fieldwork in one of the “China malls” that has emerged along Johannesburg’s former mining belt, Huang identifies everyday relations of power and difference between Chinese entrepreneurs and African migrant workers in these wholesale shops. These relations, Huang contends, replicate and perpetuate global structures of white supremacy, anti-Blackness, capitalism, and colonialism, even when whiteness is not present. Huang argues that this dynamic reflects the sedimented legacies and continued operation of white supremacy and colonialism, which have been transformed in the shift of capitalism’s center of gravity toward China and the Global South. These new forms of racial capitalism and empire layer onto and extend histories of exploitation and racialization in South Africa. Taking a palimpsestic approach, Huang offers tools for understanding this shift and decentering contemporary Western conceptions of race, empire, and racial capitalism in the Chinese Century.
Thyroid hormones reversibly inhibit metamorphic development in ophiuroid larvae
Authors: Taylor Elias , Allen Jonathan D. , Heyland Andreas
Published: January 2025

The timing of metamorphosis and settlement is critical for the survival and reproductive success of marine animals with biphasic life cycles. Thyroid hormones (THs) regulate developmental timing in diverse groups of chordates, including the regulation of metamorphosis in amphibians, teleosts, lancelets, tunicates and lampreys. Recent evidence suggests a role for TH regulation of metamorphosis outside of the chordates, including echinoderms, annelids and molluscs. Among echinoderms, TH effects on development as well as underlying signaling mechanisms in early embryogenesis have been documented for echinoid (sea urchin) larvae, but we lack information on TH effects on metamorphic development in most other echinoderm groups, including the ophiuroids (brittle stars). Unexpectedly, we found that THs, principally 3,5,3′,5′-tetraiodo-l-thyronine (T4), reversibly inhibit metamorphic development and settlement in the daisy brittle star (Ophiopholis aculeata). Exposure to thiourea, an inhibitor of TH synthesis, accelerated metamorphic development. We showed that these effects were highly stage specific, providing evidence for a developmental point-of-no-return in ophiuroid metamorphic development. Furthermore, starvation of O. aculeata accelerated juvenile morphogenesis and settlement. Starvation also prevented the inhibitory effect of thiourea on TH function, suggesting that TH synthesis may play a role in delaying metamorphosis under conditions of high food availability. These findings provide evidence for a function of TH signaling in ophiuroid metamorphic development and suggest that exogenous TH sources may be involved in the regulation of metamorphic timing in O. aculeata. Together with new evidence of TH involvement in metamorphic development in a range of invertebrates, these findings further emphasize the versatile and central role of endocrine signaling in metamorphosis.
Connecting genotype and phenotype in minor spliceosome diseases
Authors: Norppa Antto J. , Shcherbii Mariia V. , Frilander Mikko J.
Published: January 2025

Minor spliceosome is responsible for recognizing and excising a specific subset of divergent introns during the pre-mRNA splicing process. Mutations in the unique snRNA and protein components of the minor spliceosome are increasingly being associated with a variety of germline and somatic human disorders, collectively termed as minor spliceosomopathies. Understanding the mechanistic basis of these diseases has been challenging due to limited functional information on many minor spliceosome components. However, recently published cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of various minor spliceosome assembly intermediates have marked a significant advancement in elucidating the roles of these components during splicing. These structural breakthroughs have not only enhanced our comprehension of the minor spliceosome's functionality but also shed light on how disease-associated mutations disrupt its functions. Consequently, research focus is now shifting toward investigating how these splicing defects translate into broader pathological processes within gene expression pathways. Here we outline the current structural and functional knowledge of the minor spliceosome, explore the mechanistic consequences of its mutations, and discuss emerging challenges in connecting molecular dysfunctions to clinical phenotypes.
Analysis of the dynamics of transition from non-colonization to colonization and Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in hemodialysis patients using Markov models.
Authors: Montoya-Urrego Daniela , Vanegas Johanna M , Jiménez J Natalia , González-Gómez Difariney
Published: January 2025

Background Hemodialysis patients are frequently colonized by Staphylococcus aureus, leading to severe infections with high mortality rates. However, little is known about transition from non-colonization to colonization or bacteremia over time. The aim was to analyze the behavior of S. aureus colonization, identifying the probability of transition from non-colonized to colonized state or bacteremia, and the influence of specific covariates. Methods The study was conducted in a dialysis unit associated with a tertiary care hospital in Medellín between October 2017 and October 2019. An initial measurement was taken to evaluate S. aureus colonization, and follow-up measurements were performed 2 and 6 months later. Bacteremia evolution was monitored for 12 months. A two-state recurrent continuous-time Markov model was constructed to model transition dynamics from non-colonization to S. aureus colonization in hemodialysis patients. Subsequently, the model was applied to a third state of bacteremia. Results Of 178 patients on hemodialysis, 30.3% were colonized by S. aureus. Transition intensity from non-colonization to colonization was three times higher (0.21; CI: 0.14-0.29) than from colonization to non-colonization (0.07; CI: 0.05-0.11). The colonization risk increased in patients with previous infections (HR: 2.28; CI: 0.78-6.68), hospitalization (HR: 1.29; CI: 0.56-2.99) and antibiotics consumption (HR: 1.17; CI: 0.53-2.58). Mean non-colonized state duration was 10.9 months, while in the colonized state was 5.2 months. In the 3-state model, it was found that patients colonized were more likely to develop S. aureus infection (13.9%). Conclusion A more likely transition from non-colonization to colonization was found, which increases with factors such as previous infection. In addition, the development of bacteremia was more likely in colonized than in non-colonized patients. These results underline the importance of surveillance and proper management of S. aureus colonization to prevent serious complications, such as bacteremia, and improve prognosis in this vulnerable population.
Case Report: Invasive candidiasis of the head and neck in a five-month-old infant: A case study
Authors: Mezri Sameh , Laabidi Eya , Zitouni Chaima , Thabet Wadii
Published: January 2025

Invasive sino-orbital fungal infection is an uncommon, yet severe condition that is rare among immunocompetent individuals, with most cases typically occurring in those with compromised immune systems. In this study, we report the case of a 5-month-old immunocompetent infant who exhibited persistent dacryocystitis despite receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics. Subsequently, the patient developed ethmoiditis, orbital subperiosteal abscess, and ulceration of the hard palate. Mycological and histological samples were collected from the affected area. The combination of microscopy and PCR amplification allowed for the identification of the fungal agent Candida tropicalis. The patient underwent sinus surgery and surgical debridement, along with antifungal therapy. The treatment was successful, and the follow-up was uneventful for up to 6 months. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of invasive sino-orbital candidiasis in an immunocompetent infant with dacryocystitis as the entry point. This study explores the clinical features, management approaches, and outcomes of this potentially fatal disease.
Types of refractive errors in a sample of Iraqi children with Intermittent exotropia
Authors: K. Mohammad Najah , Ali Rajab Ibrahim
Published: January 2025

Background One of the most common strabismus types in children is intermittent exotropia, which predominantly occurs in children between the ages of 2 to 4 years. It may affect visual development and often coexists with refractive errors. Unlike esotropia, which usually links to hyperopia, intermittent exotropia might have a different relationship with refractive errors and thus lead to myopia. This study will investigate the prevalence and distribution of refractive errors in children with intermittent exotropia, challenging the traditionally held relationship between strabismus and hyperopia and its possible contribution to the development of myopia. Methods In this cross-sectional retrospective study from August 2021 to December 2023, 179 patients diagnosed with intermittent exotropia were recruited via an outpatient clinic of Najah Al-Quraishi, Baghdad, Iraq. The refractive errors were compared by autorefractometry and retinoscopy after cycloplegic dilation. Data analysis was constructed under the use of IBM SPSS V.26 for the determination of emmetropia, myopia, and hyperopia prevalence. Results Among the 179 patients, emmetropia was the most commonly observed refractive status, present in 68 patients (38%). Low hyperopia and low myopia were also common, with 64 and 40, respectively. A limited number of patients had moderate/high myopia and moderate/high hyperopia; in detail, the prevalence was following: 5% of patients had moderate myopia, while 0.5% of patients suffered from high myopia; symmetrically, 5% were moderate to high hyperopia. From the data collected, a trend emerged for a low refractive error and symmetric refractive error in both eyes. Conclusion Contrasted to prior conventional wisdom about refractive error in strabismus, it established the greater prevalence of emmetropia in patients with intermittent exotropia. The findings call for specific management strategies to be applied in this population.
The science of printing and polishing 3D printed dentures
Authors: Sulaya Kavishma , B V Swapna , Nayak Vaishnavi M
Published: January 2025

Objective To analyze the effectiveness of various techniques available for printing, finishing and polishing of 3D printed prosthesis. Methods The articles were selected from electronic databases including PubMed and Scopus. Recently, lot of advancements have been observed in the field of 3D printing in dentistry. Results Numerous studies were found explaining the factors affecting the surface roughness such as printing speed, direction, layer thickness, post curing, etc., and the significance in achieving a smooth surface finish of a 3D printed prosthesis. The methods employed to achieve this range, similar to conventional and chairside polishing, are to use advanced coating materials such as light cured glazes to nanoparticles. Conclusion 3D printing is being used in day-to-day practice and the prosthesis must be aesthetic looking to satisfy the patients’ expectations. There is a lack of data supporting any one polishing method for the prosthesis. There is a need for further research on the existing techniques and newer advancements yielding aesthetic prostheses with an optimal surface finish.
Computational Intelligence Approaches for Heart Disease Prediction: A Comparative Evaluation
Authors: Anwar Khalid , Goel Raghav , Ahmad Shahnawaz , Tripathi Shivangi
Published: January 2025

Heart disease is a worldwide health concern for which precise risk assessment and early detection need a call for solutions that are creative as well as accurate. Cardiovascular research has undergone a significant revolution because of advancements in computational intelligence (CI) techniques like machine learning (ML), which has improved diagnostic accuracy and identified new risk factors. To predict the risk of heart disease in the early stages, ML algorithms evaluate large chunks of diversified patient data, while also considering their lifestyle, genetic markers, and medical history. Some of the meticulous features for careful engineering and selecting methods required to create effective ML models include feature extraction, dimensionality reduction, hyperparameterization, etc. The decision support systems often provide pragmatic insights suitable to individualized treatment suggestions. These features of ML-based heart disease prediction are a beacon to bridge the gap between these predictions and actual clinical practices. Therefore, it would be suitable to conclude that ML has great potential to address patient-specific therapies, the early diagnosis of the disease, and the risk assessment in the context of heart diseases. This paper compares the performance of various CI approaches in heart disease prediction. It evaluates the performance of different evaluation metrics by varying the train test splits. It will help the researchers working in the relevant domain to select the most suitable model for designing the heart disease diagnostic system.
Strong Mammaglobin-A Expression in Tumor Tissue as a Risk Factor for Metastasis in Balinese Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Adiputra Putu Anda Tusta , Sudarsa I Wayan , Setiawan Gede Budhi , Suryawisesa Ida Bagus Made , Mahendra Kadek Yudi Fajar
Published: January 2025

Mammaglobin (hMAG) is a secretory protein (secretoglobin) essential for tumor growth. The molecular mechanisms of hMGB-A-regulated growth include the expression and activation of various Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathways. Elevated hMAG signifies metastatic breast cancer and primary breast cancer compared to non-malignant breast tissue. This study aimed to prove the relationship between mammaglobin A expression and metastasis at Prof. I.G.N.G. Ngoerah Hospital Bali. This is an observational study with a case-control design, conducted in the Oncology Department of Prof. I.G.N.G. Ngoerah Hospital Bali. Secondary data were collected from medical records which included the results of clinical data, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry. Data analysis was carried out with the help of SPSS version 25, which included the stages of descriptive analysis, bivariate tests with Chi-Square, Mann Whitney, and independent t-test. A total of 48 subjects were divided into 2 groups, 24 subjects in the metastasis group and 24 subjects in the non-metastasis group. Age, menstrual status, parity, histopathological grading, and breast cancer subtypes showed no significant differences between the two groups. The metastatic group had a larger tumor size with more lymph node metastasis than the non-metastatic group (p<0.001). The most common metastatic organ was in the lungs. The difference in the presence of Mammaglobin A expression in metastases had an RR of 22.0 (95%CI = 4.1-117.8; p<0.001) with the results of the percentage of strong expression with the metastatic group having a mean of 55.0% ± 31.8% and not metastatic 7.5% ± 11.9% (p<0.001). The results of weak expression found no significant difference in the two groups with a value of p=0.376. In conclusion, strong mammaglobin A expression increase the risk of metastasis in breast cancer by 22 times.
Exploring the in Vitro Antidiabetic Efficacy of 50% Ethanolic Extract of Acmella Ciliata and its Phytochemical Studies
Authors: Govindasamy Nagarajaperumal , Rabab Ruby , John Asha , Krishnanunny Purnima Moothandaseery , Prasad Krishna , Rasha Fathima , J Jubairiya , Suresh Aswathi , John Anjana
Published: January 2025

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a group of diseases that affect the body's processes and overall health. The whole plant of Acmella ciliata was collected, substantiated, and extracted for specified. The antidiabetic activity of the extract was evaluated using the L6 cell line study, while its antioxidant properties were assessed through DPPH, hydrogen peroxide, and FRAP assays. Consequences obtained from contemporary studies designated hydroalcoholic Acmella ciliate extract has appreciable antioxidant and antidiabetic capacity. Hence, this can be used as a natural source of antioxidants, which could have great importance as therapeutic agents in slowing or preventing the progress of ageing and oxidative stress-related diabetes
Innovative RP-HPLC Technique for Method Development and Validation of Propylthiouracil Tablets
Authors: Duraisamy Umamaheswari , Muthukumar Priya Dharshini
Published: January 2025

This work focuses on the use of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the quantitative analysis and validation of propylthiouracil tablets through reverse phase chromatography (HPLC- RP). The analysis was optimised using a C18 column with a mobile phase that includes acetonitrile and buffer in a ratio of 20:80 (v/v). The buffer is made from monobasic potassium phosphate with a pH of 4.6 ± 0.05. The detection of propylthiouracil was performed at λ = 272 nm. Samples were extracted using methanol and water. The newly developed method exhibited good linearity between 24.916 and 74.748 µg/mL, with an R2 > 0.999. Precision expressed in terms of % relative standard deviation (RSD) was within the acceptable range, whereas accuracy in terms of % recovery varied between 98-102%. Therefore, the proposed and validated HPLC-RP method is reliable for the quantitative analysis of propylthiouracil in pharmaceutical formulations, ensuring accurate dosage determination and quality control. The technique shows promising potential for pharmacokinetic studies and routine quality assurance in the pharmaceutical industry.
Tuberculous Pleurisy: the role of the ADA Enzyme in Diagnosis and Treatment Outcomes
Authors: Abdugapparov Fazlkhan , Mamatov Lochin , Ongarbayev Dauranbek
Published: January 2025

Extrapulmonary TB, representing nearly 15% of the global TB burden, is more difficult to diagnose. Tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE), one of the commonest forms of extrapulmonary TB, is a diagnostic challenge with rather poor microbiologic confirmation rates from pleural fluid analysis2,3. Even diagnostic tools like CBNAAT and interferon-gamma release assays have shown suboptimal diagnostic accuracy4,5. Adenosine deaminase (ADA), an enzyme produced from lymphocytes and involved in purine metabolism, has been extensively studied as a biochemical marker in pleural fluid during investigation for TPE. The test is simple, cheap, rapid, minimally invasive, and can be performed in most laboratories3.
DESEMPENHO DO CHATGPT E DO BARD AI NAS PROVAS DO EXAME NACIONAL DE REVALIDAÇÃO DE DIPLOMAS MÉDICOS DO BRASIL - REVALIDA
Authors: Morais Fernanda Gabriele Fernandes , Grunewald Sabrine Teixeira Ferraz
Published: January 2025

INTRODUÇÃO: O ChatGPT e o Bard AI são ferramentas de inteligência artificial construídas de forma a gerar linguagem semelhante à humana e realizar uma ampla gama de tarefas. Essas ferramentas vêm sendo estudadas quanto a inúmeras aplicações, inclusive no campo da educação médica, avaliando o desempenho em exames relevantes para o exercício profissional. OBJETIVOS: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar e comparar o desempenho do ChatGPT-3.5 e do Bard AI em responder às questões da prova escrita do exame nacional brasileiro para revalidação de diplomas médicos de 2023. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: As questões das provas objetivas foram inseridas nas ferramentas e as respostas obtidas foram comparadas com os gabaritos oficiais. As questões foram classificadas por área, cenário e complexidade. RESULTADOS: Ambas as ferramentas tiveram mais de 60% de acertos, sendo que o Bard AI foi o modelo com melhor desempenho. Não houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas no desempenho das ferramentas quando as questões foram classificadas quanto a área, cenário ou complexidade. CONCLUSÕES: É importante que os profissionais de saúde reconheçam os potenciais e as limitações dessas ferramentas, e que as pesquisas avancem para que possam ser efetivamente utilizadas na educação médica.
A TERAPIA COMUNITÁRIA INTEGRATIVA NO CONTROLE DA ANSIEDADE MATERNA DE BEBÊS PRÉ-TERMO: Experiências de extensão em saúde mental
Authors: Evangelista Lopes Ávila Roberlandia , Cavalcante de Almeida Lyrlanda Maria , Rodrigues de Mesquita Edmara , De Sousa Teixeira Jorge Samuel , Carvalho de Aguiar Leidiane , Simplício Teixeira Suênia Évelyn
Published: January 2025

Introdução: Quando a mulher se depara com a experiência do parto prematuro, se vê numa situação inesperada, e seus níveis de estresse são inversamente proporcionais à sua idade gestacional. Objetivo: Descrever a aplicação da roda de Terapia Comunitária Integrativa com mães de bebês pré-termo hospitalizados como atividade de Extensão em Saúde Mental. Materiais e Métodos: Pesquisa interventiva, do tipo relato de experiência, desenvolvida durante a disciplina de Enfermagem em Saúde Mental por uma professora e 4 alunas. Foi realizada no setor de maternidade mãe canguru do Hospital Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Sobral, Ceará. As ações ocorreram com três puérperas internadas no setor de maternidade mãe canguru que aceitaram participar da Roda de Terapia Comunitária Integrativa (TCI). A pesquisa foi realizada com base na sistematização das 5 etapas propostas por Barreto: acolhimento, escolha do tema, contextualização, problematização, rituais de agregação e conotação positiva. Resultados: Nesta ação, foi possível captar o medo, a insegurança e a impotência das mães em relação à situação vivenciada de hospitalização no contexto da prematuridade. Essa estratégia atingiu o seu potencial terapêutico diante do relato das mães, pois o uso dessa metodologia de cuidado valorizou a subjetividade destas. A aprendizagem do grupo interventor foi significativa, contribuindo para seu desempenho em saúde mental. Conclusões: Foi notória a necessidade de desenvolver a TCI para o controle de ansiedade materna, centradas na observância das necessidades subjetivas e valorização dos aspectos psicossociais das mulheres em situação de prematuridade.
SEQUÊNCIA DIDÁTICA: capacitação de estudantes de medicina em prática baseada em evidências
Authors: Beatriz Obadovski Alves Nascimento Sarah , Guzzo da Silva Victoria , Bueno Lima Leandro , Costa Araujo Amanda
Published: January 2025

Introdução: A Prática Baseada em Evidências (PBE) é composta por três pilares: a melhor evidência científica disponível, a experiência clínica do profissional e as preferências do paciente. A implementação pedagógica que incorpora esses três pilares demonstra um potencial significativo para promover um engajamento mais ativo dos estudantes na aquisição de conhecimento. Objetivos: Elaborar uma sequência didática para capacitar discentes em PBE, integrando a aplicação de casos clínicos e a realização de simulações realísticas. Materiais e métodos: A sequência didática foi iniciada com a análise de casos clínicos e a aplicação do teste de Fresno. Esses elementos são empregados simultaneamente em um primeiro momento, seguidos por um programa de capacitação focado na PBE. Subsequentemente, e em intervalos quinzenais, os casos clínicos são reaplicados de maneira individual, procedendo-se então a uma análise crítica dos casos e a simulações realísticas relacionadas ao tema em estudo. Este ciclo é repetido para todos os casos clínicos envolvidos no programa, culminando na reavaliação dos participantes por meio do teste de Fresno. Resultados: No caso clínico 1, 2, 3 e 4 houve, respectivamente, diferenças estatisticamente significantes antes e após a capacitação em PBE (Z=-4,52, Z=-3,94, Z=-3,46, Z=-4,62, p<0,01). Conclusão: A sequência didática foi eficaz para melhorar o desempenho dos estudantes de medicina tanto na resolução dos casos clínicos quanto nas avaliações subsequentes do teste de Fresno. Desta forma, sugere-se o uso desse material em outras instituições de ensino superior para melhorar o aprendizado dos alunos para resolução de casos clínicos.
A RESOLUÇÃO DE CONFLITOS NAS RELAÇÕES DE ENSINO NA MEDICINA: uma revisão integrativa sobre aspectos, perfis e técnicas de ensino
Authors: Cabral Borges Martins Guilherme , Antonio Raimondi Gustavo
Published: January 2025

Introdução Conflitos são muito presentes no cotidiano dos profissionais de saúde e se estendem para as relações de ensino na Medicina. Por isso, existe uma necessidade crescente do ensino de habilidades de resolução de conflitos, tanto para profissionais quanto para estudantes. Apesar disso, ainda existe pouco conteúdo a respeito do ensino dessas habilidades na área médica, tornando-se necessário uma revisão integrativa/sistemática da literatura.  Objetivos: Realizar uma revisão integrativa da literatura a respeito do ensino de resolução de conflitos para estudantes, residentes e professores/preceptores de Medicina, tendo como alvo a literatura nacional e internacional nos últimos 12 anos. Materiais e Métodos: Foi realizado uma busca nas bases de dados Scielo, Scopus, PubMed e Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde com os termos “negotiating” e “medicine”, entre os anos de 2012 e 2024, aplicando-se critérios de inclusão e exclusão. Resultados: Durante as buscas iniciais, foram encontrados 19.226 artigos, destes, 11 foram selecionados para compor a revisão, dentre eles, foram formadas 3 categorias temáticas e discutidas separadamente: Perfis de resolução de conflito e conhecimento acerca do tema, etiologia dos conflitos e modelo para ensino. Conclusões: Fica evidente a necessidade de intervenções voltadas ao ensino de técnicas de mediação em todos os níveis (estudantes, residentes e preceptores) com uso de metodologias ativas de ensino, com destaque ao role-play. Além disso, as intervenções devem se atentar a prevalência de perfis mais concessivos entre os estudantes e residentes, bem como nas relações de poder como principais etiologias de conflito.
Chronotherapeutic and Epigenetic Regulation of Circadian Rhythms: Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide-Sirtuin Axis
Authors: Abbas Kashif , Sharf Rushda , Alam Mudassir , Sharf Yusra , Usmani Nazura
Published: January 2025

Circadian rhythms are endogenous oscillations coordinating the physiological and behavioral activities with the daily light-dark cycle and are controlled by molecular mechanisms. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a critical cofactor in redox processes and a substrate for many enzymes, is an important metabolite in circadian rhythms. NAD+ levels show strong circadian oscillations, which are caused by the rhythmic production of biosynthetic enzymes such as nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase. In contrast, the circadian clock system regulates the expression of NAD+ biosynthetic enzymes, resulting in a bidirectional regulatory loop. Sirtuins, a class of NAD+-dependent protein deacetylases, regulate the circadian clock by interacting with the core clock components and transcriptional regulators. Sirtuin (SIRT) 1 deacetylates and modulates the activity of key circadian transcription factors such as brain and muscle arnt-like 1 and period circadian regulator 2, while SIRT6 regulates the expression of circadian-controlled metabolic genes. This review explored the complex relationships among NAD+, sirtuins, and the circadian clock machinery, emphasizing their roles in sustaining metabolic homeostasis and coordinating cellular processes with daily environmental cycles. Moreover, circadian disruptions are strongly associated with aging, which results in the dysregulation of NAD+ homeostasis and sirtuin activity and contributes to the development of various age-related pathologies. Strategies to restore NAD+ levels or modify the sirtuin activity have emerged as promising treatment options for circadian rhythm disturbances and age-related disorders. This review also aimed to cover new horizons in this subject, such as the development of NAD+ boosters and sirtuin modulators, chrono-pharmacological methods, and the study of epigenetic mechanisms underlying sirtuin-mediated circadian regulation.
Estimated Sleep-Wake Patterns Obtained From a Large U.S. Sample Using a Home-Based Under-Mattress Sleep-Monitoring Device
Authors: Zitser Jennifer , Cotton-Clay Andrew , Easwar Venkat , Kinsolving Arthur , Kahn Philippe , Kushida Clete A.
Published: January 2025

Objectives: This study aimed to characterize sleep-wake schedules in a large U.S. sample. Methods: Descriptive analyses were performed on data from 12,507 users (46.9% female; mean age, 48.5±13.4 years) of a home-based sleep-monitoring device. To understand sleep-wake schedules and sleep regularity, the total sleep time (TST) standard deviation (SD) and sleep onset (SO) SD were included as parameters. Inferential analyses were performed on additional sleep parameters, including physiological (heart rate and respiratory rate) and sleep architecture parameters (TST, sleep efficiency, and wake after SO), in typically regular (average TST SD <60 minutes) vs. irregular (≥60 minutes) users. Results: 4,175,260 recorded nights were analyzed. The overall estimated TST SD (SD) across users mean was 66.1 (18.7) minutes, and the SO SD (SD) was 55.6 (20.5) minutes. The population was divided into 6 groups according to age: Groups 1 (20–29), 2 (30–39), 3 (40–49), 4 (50–59), 5 (60–69), and 6 (70–79). The estimated TST SD were: 70.7 (20.0), 67.2 (18.0), 66.8 (18.5), 66.1 (18.4), 63.4 (18.2), and 60.5 (18.9) minutes, respectively. The estimated SO SD were: 62.1 (21.1), 57.4 (19.4), 57.0 (20.2), 55.7 (20.0), 51.6 (20.3), and 46.7 (20.8) minutes, respectively. When participants were divided into those with regular and irregular sleep schedules, 58.4% were found to have an irregular sleep-wake schedule. Conclusions: Irregular sleep-wake schedules were prevalent across all age categories in this population. Even though this does not implicate causality, sleep habits represent a potentially modifiable behavior with health implications.