bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Implant-supported prosthesis under progressive loading protocol stimulates alveolar bone growth in patients with severe alveolar bone atrophy. Retrospective case series
Authors: Anitua Eduardo , Piñas Laura , Alkhraisat Mohammad H. 
Published: December 2024

IntroductionThe jaw with severe bone atrophy is a difficult challenge when rehabilitating with dental implants. To be able to place dental implants in the most severe cases and to achieve an increase in bone volume by means of the tension transmitted by the load is a novelty. This work provides data on the alveolar bone changes in a severely atrophic mandible that has been treated with implant supported prosthesis under progressive loading protocol.Material and methodsThis study reported on 3 patients with completely edentulous mandible. In all cases, implants were inserted in the anterior region of the mandible and progressive loading was carried out with an increase in the distal cantilever. The length of the cantilever extension was adapted to growth of the residual alveolar bone at the mandible body. The increase in bone height was controlled in the area of implant placement as well as in the area distal to the implants (1 cm behind the last implant).ResultsThis case series described 3 patients where 13 implants were placed. The patients were followed for 17, 19 and 20 years after implants insertion. The mean mandibular residual height of the alveolar bone was 7.8 ± 2.7 mm at the implant site. The mean mandibular body height at 1.0 cm distal to the last implant was 7.0 ± 3.9 mm in the third quadrant and 8.1 ± 4.4 mm in the fourth quadrant. The mean height at the last follow-up was 11.0 ± 3.2 mm (±3.2) in the third quadrant and 11.20 ± 4.4 mm in the fourth quadrant.ConclusionsImplant-supported prosthesis and progressive loading have resulted in vertical bone growth in a series of patients with extreme atrophy of the mandible. The long-term follow-up indicated that bone growth is confined to the dental implants but has been extended to distant regions resulting in the thickening of the mandibular body and the creation of the absent mandibular canal.
A systematic review of research on nontraditional students reveals inconsistent definitions and a need for clarity: focus on U.S. based studies
Authors: Brozina Cory , Johri Aditya , Chew Alanis 
Published: December 2024

BackgroundThe term “nontraditional students” (NTS) is widely used in higher education research, but its definition varies across studies.ObjectivesThis systematic literature review aims to examine how researchers define NTS in U.S.-based studies and identify potential definitional issues.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines, searching EBSCO databases (Education Research Complete, Education Full Text, and ERIC) for peer-reviewed articles published between 2018 and 2022. We analyzed 65 papers that met our inclusion criteria to assess the definitions used for NTS. In this systematic literature review we focus on the definitional issues related to how researchers use the term nontraditional students in US-based studies. We review 65 papers from search results containing 432 papers to understand how researchers define nontraditional students. Of the 65 papers reviewed fully, 33 papers included a specific definition of nontraditional students, 15 included an unspecified definition of nontraditional students, and 17 papers did not include a clear definition at all. Our work suggests that researchers use a clearer definition, such as from the NCES, to define nontraditional students and focus their attention on the seven categories given by NCES.
Management of perioperative thyrotoxicosis – what to do when standard therapy is contraindicated or fails?
Authors: Tian Kristy , Liang Trilene , Yew Jielin , Chng Chiaw-Ling 
Published: December 2024

BackgroundCurrent guidelines recommend that hyperthyroid patients should be rendered euthyroid prior to surgical procedures. These guidelines rely heavily on the use of ATDs as the primary medication, and do not give recommendations for patients who have contraindications to ATDs, or for whom standalone ATD treatment is inadequate.ObjectivesTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of adjunctive pharmacological therapy and/or therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in the perioperative management of patients with thyrotoxicosis who were intolerant to ATD or for whom standalone ATD therapy was inadequate to achieve euthyroidism prior to surgery.MethodsA comprehensive search of MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Embase and CENTRAL up to 31 December 2023 retrieved 12,876 records. After screening titles, abstracts and full manuscripts, 16 reports were enrolled. The study quality was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS).ResultsPatients were primarily female (78.5%), aged between 35 and 52 years. The predominant thyroid condition was Graves’ disease (89.7%). Majority underwent thyroidectomy (99.3%). Patients treated pre-operatively with 2nd line pharmacotherapy with/without therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) underwent surgery safely with no reports of perioperative thyroid storm. Pre-operative treatment achieved mean percentage reduction of free thyroxine and free triiodothyronine levels of 52.6 ± 8.2% and 68.1 ± 9.3% respectively. One study reported a patient who suffered from myocardial infarction and tachyarrhythmia and subsequently demised.ConclusionPreoperative management of hyperthyroidism with second line pharmacotherapy and/or TPE can be effectively and safely implemented in patients with intolerance to or ineffective treatment with ATDs. The treatment modalities were generally safe, though some complications were observed.
The complete chloroplast genome of Illicium verum and comparative analysis with related species from Magnoliaceae and Illiciaceae
Authors: Cao Yingying , Lai Yongxing , Li Zhuxin , Zhai Shanshan , Dai Yinghan , Tao Junyu , Wang Qing , Xu Ziheng , Jiang Minjie , Yu Li , Leng Jing , Tang Haibo 
Published: December 2024

Illicium verum (Illiciaceae), an ecologically significant endemic plant, predominantly grows in Guangxi, China, which is the primary region for its cultivation. This area accounts for more than 80% of the total cultivation and yield in China. Despite its importance, comprehensive studies on the chloroplast (cp) genome of I. verum are limited. In our research, we sequenced and analyzed the complete cp genome of I. verum and conducted a comparative analysis with nine related species from the families Magnoliaceae, Schisandraceae, and Illiciaceae. The cp genome of I. verum spans 143,187 base pairs (bp), comprising a large single copy (LSC) region of 100,868 bp, a small single copy (SSC) region of 20,235 bp, and two inverted repeats (IR) regions, each 11,042 bp in length. We identified 81 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) within this genome. The chloroplast genome contains 78 protein-coding genes, 8 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and 35 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes. Structurally, the IR regions exhibit greater similarity across different genera of Magnoliaceae and Illiciaceae compared to the LSC and SSC regions. Phylogenetic analysis revealed high homology between the cp genome of I. verum and those of Illicium burmanicum, Illicium simonsii, and Illicium anisatum. These findings suggest that the cp genome of I. verum may serve as a valuable genomic resource for elucidating the phylogenetic positions and relationships within the Illiciaceae family. This information will be instrumental for future taxonomic research on Illicium species and for advancing genomic studies of these plants.
Integration of bulk/scRNA-seq and multiple machine learning algorithms identifies PIM1 as a biomarker associated with cuproptosis and ferroptosis in abdominal aortic aneurysm
Authors: Han Zonglin , Lu Xiulian , He Yuxiang , Zhang Tangshan , Zhou Zhengtong , Zhang Jingyong , Zhou Hua 
Published: December 2024

BackgroundAbdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a serious life-threatening vascular disease, and its ferroptosis/cuproptosis markers have not yet been characterized. This study was aiming to identify markers associated with ferroptosis/cuproptosis in AAA by bioinformatics analysis combined with machine learning models and to perform experimental validation.MethodsThis study used three scRNA-seq datasets from different mouse models and a human PBMC bulk RNA-seq dataset. Candidate genes were identified by integrated analysis of scRNA-seq, cell communication analysis, monocle pseudo-time analysis, and hdWGCNA analysis. Four machine learning algorithms, LASSO, REF, RF and SVM, were used to construct a prediction model for the PBMC dataset, the above results were comprehensively analyzed, and the targets were confirmed by RT-qPCR.ResultsscRNA-seq analysis showed Mo/MF as the most sensitive cell type to AAA, and 34 cuproptosis associated ferroptosis genes were obtained. Pseudo-time series analysis, hdWGCNA and machine learning prediction model construction were performed on these genes. Subsequent comparison of the above results showed that only PIM1 appeared in all algorithms. RT-qPCR and western blot results were consistent with sequencing results, showing that PIM1 was significantly upregulated in AAA.ConclusionIn a conclusion, PIM1 as a novel biomarker associated with cuproptosis/ferroptosis in AAA was highlighted.
TLS and immune cell profiling: immunomodulatory effects of immunochemotherapy on tumor microenvironment in resectable stage III NSCLC
Authors: Yang Chaopin , You Jinqi , Wang Yizhi , Chen Si , Tang Yan , Chen Hao , Zhong Haoran , Song Ruyue , Long Hao , Xiang Tong , Zhao Ze-Rui , Xia Jianchuan 
Published: December 2024

BackgroundThe use of programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors in the neoadjuvant setting for patients with resectable stage III NSCLC has revolutionized this field in recent years. However, there is still 40%-60% of patients do not benefit from this approach. The complex interactions between immune cell subtypes and tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) within the tumor microenvironment (TME) may influence prognosis and the response to immunochemotherapy. This study aims to assess the relationship between immune cells subtypes and TLSs to better understand their impact on immunotherapy response.MethodsThis study initially compared the tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) density among patients who underwent immunochemotherapy, chemotherapy and upfront surgery using 123 tumor samples from stage-matched patients. Multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) was employed to analyze the spatial distribution of PD-L1+CD11c+ cells and PD1+CD8+ T cells within TLSs. Cytometry by time-of-flight (CyTOF) was used to assess immune cell dynamics in paired biopsy and resection specimens from six patients who underwent immunochemotherapy. Key immune cells were validated in newly collected samples using flow cytometry, mIHC, and in vitro CAR-T cells model.ResultsPatients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy or immunochemotherapy exhibited increased TLSs compared to those who opted for upfront surgery. The TLS area-to-tumor area ratio distinguished pCR+MPR and NR patients in the immunochemotherapy group. Spatial analysis revealed variations in the distance between PD-L1+CD11c+ cells and PD1+CD8+ T cells within TLSs in the immunochemotherapy group. CyTOF analysis revealed an increase in the frequency of key immune cells (CCR7+CD127+CD69+CD4+ and CD38+CD8+ cells) following combined therapy. Treatment responders exhibited an increase in CCR7+CD4+ T cells, whereas CD38+CD8+ T cells were associated with compromised treatment effectiveness.ConclusionsImmunochemotherapy and chemotherapy increase TLSs and granzyme B+ CD8+ T cells in tumors. The TLS area-to-tumor ratio distinguishes responders from non-responders, with PD-L1+ dendritic cells near CD8+PD-1+ T cells linked to efficacy, suggesting that PD-1 inhibitors disrupt harmful interactions. Post-immunochemotherapy, CD8+ T cells increase, but CD38+CD8+ T cells show reduced functionality. These findings highlight the complex immune dynamics and their implications for NSCLC treatment.
Prognostic value of tertiary lymphoid structures in triple-negative breast cancer: integrated analysis with the tumor microenvironment and clinicopathological features
Authors: Boissière-Michot Florence , Chateau Marie-Christine , Thézenas Simon , Lafont Virginie , Crapez Evelyne , Sharma Priyanka , Bobrie Angélique , Roger Pascal , Guiu Séverine , Jacot William 
Published: December 2024

BackgroundIn triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), the most immunogenic breast cancer type, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are an independent prognostic factor. Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) are an important TILs source, but they are not integrated in the current prognostic criteria.MethodsIn this retrospective study, TLS were assessed in hematein-eosin-saffron-stained (HES) histological sections from 397 early, chemotherapy-naive TNBC samples after primary surgical resection. Their association with i) classical clinicopathological features, ii) TILs and CD3+, CD8+, CD20+ lymphoid populations, iii) CD68+, CD163+, CD11b+, CD66b+ myeloid populations, and iv) expression of the PD1/PD-L1 and PVR/TIGIT axis immune checkpoint components and their prognostic significance were evaluated.ResultsTLS were observed in 88.2% of samples, mainly in peritumoral areas (86.1%). Increased amount of peritumoral TLS (PT-TLS) was significantly associated with younger age (p&lt;0.001), smaller tumor size and higher tumor grade (both, p&lt;0.001), HER2null tumors (versus HER2low tumors, p&lt;0.002), and non-lobular histological type (p&lt;0.016). TNBC with higher PT-TLS abundance displayed more often a basal-like (p&lt;0.001) and not molecular-apocrine phenotype (p&lt;0.001). TLS abundance was associated with TILs and hot tumor inflammatory pattern (both, p&lt;0.001). Remarkably, PT-TLS abundance was positively associated with the density of the analyzed lymphoid (CD3+, CD8+, CD20+) and myeloid (CD68+, CD163+, CD11b+) cell populations (all p&lt;0.001), with the exception of CD66b+ cells, as well as with expression of the PD1/PD-L1 and TIGIT/PVR immune checkpoint markers. In univariate analysis, beside the classical clinicopathological factors (tumor size, node involvement and adjuvant chemotherapy), TILs, hot tumors and PT-TLS were significantly associated with clinical outcome. Moreover, the risk of relapse was inversely correlated with PT-TLS abundance (Kaplan-Meier analysis). In multivariate analysis, pathological stage, adjuvant chemotherapy and PT-TLS remained correlated with relapse-free survival.ConclusionOur results suggest that TLS are a frequent feature in early TNBC and that their presence, particularly at the tumor periphery, recapitulates the tumor immune microenvironment. In our series, their prognostic value outperformed that of TILs. Therefore, their easy quantification on routine HES sections and their integration into the factors classically analyzed by pathologists could improve the clinical management of TNBC, a breast cancer type whose prognosis remains too poor.
Metabolism and immune responses of striped hamsters to ectoparasite challenges: insights from transcriptomic analysis
Authors: Lun Xinchang , Wang Yiguan , Zhao Ning , Yue Yujuan , Meng Fengxia , Liu Qiyong , Song Xiuping , Liang Ying , Lu Liang 
Published: December 2024

IntroductionThe striped hamster, often parasitized by ectoparasites in nature, is an ideal model for studying host-ectoparasite molecular interactions. Investigating the response to ectoparasites under laboratory conditions helps elucidate the mechanism of host adaptations to ectoparasite pressure.MethodsUsing transcriptome sequencing, we analyzed gene expression in striped hamsters after short-term (3 days) and long-term (28 days) flea (Xenopsylla cheopis) parasitism. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and subjected to Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. Hub genes were pinpointed using protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis and the MCODE in Cytoscape. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was used to further clarify the functional pathways of these hub genes. Validation of DEGs was performed via RT-qPCR. Additionally, the concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) were determined using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detection kits for hamsters.ResultsGO analysis revealed that during early parasitism, hosts primarily responded to the ectoparasites by adjusting the expression of genes related to metabolic functions. As parasitism persisted, the immune response became prominent, activating various immune pathways against ectoparasites. KEGG analysis confirmed the ongoing roles of metabolism and immunity. Notably, the chemical carcinogenesis - reactive oxygen species pathway was upregulated during flea parasitism, with downregulation of hub genes ATP5MC1 and ATP5MC2, highlighting the importance of mitochondrial function in oxidative stress. ELISA findings revealed that on day 3, flea parasitism groups showed elevated ROS expression and reduced SOD and CAT levels compared to the control group. By day 28, only SOD expression showed a significant decrease in both parasitism groups.ConclusionThis study uncovered the dynamic changes in metabolism and immune responses of striped hamsters parasitized by Xenopsylla cheopis. Hosts adjust their physiological and immune states to optimize survival strategies during different ectoparasite stages, enhancing our understanding of host-ectoparasite interactions. This also paves the way for further research into how hosts regulate complex biological processes in response to ectoparasite challenges.
Effect of alternating salinity stress on the gut microbiota of razor clam Sinonovacula constricta
Authors: Yuan Yi , Jiang Qunqun , Xue Qinggang , Lin Zhihua , Dai Wenfang 
Published: December 2024

IntroductionRazor clam (Sinonovacula constricta) is a bivalve of economic importance that widely resides in coastal and estuarine areas where salinity fluctuates rapidly. Gut microbiota, which plays a pivotal role in the disease resistance against pathogens and the growth and development of aquatic animals, is affected by salinityfluctuation in ambient environment. However, there is limited knowledge about the underlying mechanism of how clam gut microbiota respond to alternating salinity stress.MethodsHere, we exposed S. constricta to different salinity treatments including normal salinity-acclimated (NN, 20 psu), low salinity-acclimated (LL, 5 psu), low salinity-stressed (NL, transferred from 20 to 5 psu) and normal salinity-stressed (LN, transferred from 5 to 20 psu) groups. The former two groups were used as the control, and the latter two groups aimed to investigate the effect of alternating salinity stress on clam growth and gut microbiota by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing.ResultsAlternating salinity stress caused faster and higher mortality compared with the two control groups, and disrupted the gut microbiota including altered α-diversity, composition and structure. The salinity stress, hours post stress and their interaction had significant impact on the gut microbiota, which contributed 4.5%, 9.5% and 6.0%, respectively, to the variance in the gut communities. Alternating salinity stress increased the proportion of stochastic processes in governing the gut microbiota to a certain extent, and the stochasticity aggravated with the increase of stress time. Furthermore, the gut bacterial interspecies interaction networks exhibited more complex and higher connected topology in two alternating salinity stress groups compared with the control group (NN), and the interaction relationships between core OTUs in gut networks were altered after salinity stress. The functional potentials involved in immune system and metabolisms of amino acid, energy, carbohydrate and lipid remarkably increased in LN and NN groups after salinity exposure for 96 h compared to corresponding 0 h, while these pathways exhibited the opposite pattern in NL and LL groups.DiscussionCollectively, our findings provide evidence that alternating salinity stress has potentially negative effect on the growth of S. constricta from an ecological viewpoint.
Hand grip strength and all-cause mortality risk in individuals with decreased bone mass: a study from NHANES database
Authors: Sun Hongdong , Liu Jiayi , Tan Ruirui , Zhang Xiaomei , Qian Xin , Qi Chenxi , Qi Wei 
Published: December 2024

ObjectivePrevious studies have demonstrated that grip strength is associated with various health outcomes, including osteoporosis. However, the impact of grip strength on long-term mortality risk among individuals with low bone mass remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the association between grip strength and the risk of all-cause mortality in the population with low bone mass.MethodsWe included 1,343 cases of decreased bone mass from the NHANES database spanning 2013 to 2014. All-cause mortality data were ascertained through linkage with national death index records up to December 31, 2015. Analysis was conducted using the Cox proportional hazards regression model, and we assessed result reliability through various model adjustments and hierarchical analyses, Schoenfeld’s global and individual tests are utilized to estimate the time-varying covariance in the Cox proportional hazards regression model’s hypothesis.ResultsThroughout an average follow-up period of 69.5 months, 148 deaths were documented. After adjusting for covariates, a significant association between grip strength and the risk of all-cause mortality was observed in individuals with decreased bone mass (HR = 0.9, 95% CI: 0.87–0.93, p &lt; 0.001). Individuals with normal grip strength, compared to those with low grip strength, exhibited a 56% lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.29–0.67, p &lt; 0.001). Various models consistently demonstrated similar significant trends post-adjustment. Subgroup analysis revealed an interaction between grip strength and coronary heart disease (p &lt; 0.05). Schoenfeld’s global and individual tests confirmed the reliability of the model (p &gt; 0.05).ConclusionOur findings indicate that low grip strength is associated with increased all-cause mortality risk in individuals with decreased bone mass. The inclusion of routine monitoring of grip strength in patients with osteopenia and the encouragement of maintaining or improving grip strength in this population may offer a novel approach to health management for these individuals.