bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cognitive Screening Tools for Dementia Detection in Primary Healthcare Centres in India: A Scoping Review
Authors: Jeevitha Gowda R 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBackgroundDementia is a growing public health concern in India, with an increasing prevalence among the elderly population. Early detection is crucial for effective intervention. Primary healthcare (PHC) centres play a vital role in identifying cognitive impairment; however, the effectiveness of cognitive screening tools in these settings is questionable.ObjectiveThis scoping review explores the cognitive screening tools available for dementia detection in PHC centres in India, assesses their effectiveness, and identifies the need for their improvement and adaptation.MethodsA systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar for studies published up to October 2024. A total of 29 studies were identified, indicating that tools such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) are frequently used. However, these tools face significant challenges related to educational background and language comprehension, impacting their effectiveness.ConclusionThere is an urgent need for culturally and linguistically appropriate cognitive screening tools in PHC settings in India to enhance the early detection of dementia.
Structural, Behavioral, and Symptomatic Predictors of Risk Allele Frequency at rs10866912
Authors: Forthman Katherine L. , Periyasamy Sathish , Kuplicki Rayus , Paulus Martin P. , Mowry Bryan J. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThis study examines the distribution of risk (A) alleles at rs10866912 among 480 individuals stratified by group assignment, gender, age, race/ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), and education level. Preliminary analysis indicated higher prevalence of the risk allele in the population diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, in concordance with past research. Linear models were applied to elucidate the relationship between the risk allele and various measures covering drug use, diet, psychiatric symptoms, neuropsychiatric ability, and structural brain measures. The findings highlight significant variations in allele frequencies across these measures, in particular egg consumption and analgesic use, which may provide insights into the mechanisms by which this genetic marker influences development of psychiatric disorders.
Underdiagnosis of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome-like illness in a large integrated healthcare system — Kaiser Permanente Northern California, 2022-2023
Authors: Wood Mariah S. , Halmer Nicole , Bertolli Jeanne , Amsden Laura B. , Nugent Joshua R. , Lin Jin-Mann S. , Rothrock Gretchen , Nadle Joelle , Chai Shua J. , Champsi Jamila H. , Yang James , Unger Elizabeth R. , Skarbinski Jacek ,   STOP-ME/CFS and COVID-SELECT
Published: December 2024

AbstractBackgroundSurveillance of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), a chronic, debilitating multisystem illness, is challenging because ME/CFS can be under-recognized in healthcare settings.MethodsUsing a population-based panel study of 9,820 adult members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC), a large, integrated healthcare system, we compared survey-defined ME/CFS-like illness with presence of an ME/CFS diagnosis in the electronic health record (EHR) to evaluate ME/CFS underdiagnosis.ResultsOf those with survey-defined ME/CFS-like illness, an estimated 97.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 97.1%-98.4%) did not have an ME/CFS diagnosis in the EHR. The group without EHR diagnosis was younger, less likely to identify as white non-Hispanic, and more likely to have developed fatigue in the past three years than the EHR diagnosed group. Both diagnosed and undiagnosed ME/CFS-like illness groups had significantly impaired physical, cognitive, and social functioning, and significantly worse mental health and anxiety than those without ME/CFS-like illness.ConclusionME/CFS is underdiagnosed in the Kaiser Permanente Northern California healthcare system. Enhanced syndromic surveillance that characterizes patients with ME/CFS who have not been diagnosed has the potential to increase timely recognition of ME/CFS.
Efficacy and Safety of Atorvastatin as Adjunctive Treatment in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Chen Ke , Xu Bowen , Zhang Lu , Fang Li , Wu Di , Ding Huanzhang , Li Zegeng 
Published: December 2024

BackgroundAccumulating evidence suggests that atorvastatin, a widely used lipid-lowering agent, may provide additional benefits for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, including anti-inflammatory effects and improved lung function. However, inconsistent findings across studies warrant a systematic evaluation to clarify its clinical role.ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of atorvastatin as an adjunctive treatment for COPD and inform clinical decision-making.MethodsA comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang, CBM, and VIP databases identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) up to May 20, 2024. Meta-analysis using RevMan 5.3 and R software was performed to estimate pooled effects with mean differences or standardized mean differences (95% CI). Subgroup analyses explored variations by treatment duration and dosage.ResultsTwenty-four RCTs involving 2,534 patients demonstrated significant benefits of atorvastatin for stable COPD and acute exacerbations (AECOPD):Lung function: FEV1%pred increased by 5.36% (95% CI: 4.57–6.14), FEV1/FVC by 6.30% (95% CI: 4.46–8.14), and FEV1 by 0.21 L (95% CI: 0.15–0.27).Inflammatory markers: CRP decreased by 1.87 mg/L (95% CI: 1.45–2.29), with reductions in hs-CRP and IL-6.Quality of life: CAT scores improved by 3.5 points (95% CI: 2.8–4.2).Exercise capacity: The 6-minute walk distance increased by 25.4 meters (95% CI: 18.1– 32.7).Stronger evidence emerged with 3-month treatments (I² < 30%) and consistent benefits at 20 mg doses. Adverse events were mild and self-limiting.ConclusionAtorvastatin (20 mg) significantly improves lung function, reduces inflammation, and enhances quality of life in COPD patients, with a favorable safety profile. Although not currently recommended in COPD guidelines, these findings support further trials to validate its potential role in COPD management.
Development of a novel transcriptomic measure of aging: Transcriptomic Mortality-risk Age (TraMA)
Authors: Klopack Eric T. , Seshadri Gokul , Arpawong Thalida Em , Cole Steve , Thyagarajan Bharat , Crimmins Eileen M. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractIncreasingly, research suggests that aging is a coordinated multi-system decline in functioning that occurs at multiple biological levels. We developed and validated a transcriptomic (RNA-based) aging measure we call Transcriptomic Mortality-risk Age (TraMA) using RNA-seq data from the 2016 Health and Retirement Study using elastic net Cox regression analyses to predict 4-year mortality hazard. In a holdout test sample, TraMA was associated with earlier mortality, more chronic conditions, poorer cognitive functioning, and more limitations in activities of daily living. TraMA was also externally validated in the Long Life Family Study and several publicly available datasets. Results suggest that TraMA is a robust, portable RNAseq-based aging measure that is comparable, but independent from past biological aging measures (e.g., GrimAge). TraMA is likely to be of particular value to researchers interested in understanding the biological processes underlying health and aging, and for social, psychological, epidemiological, and demographic studies of health and aging.
Reporting quality of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) methods in scientific publications
Authors: Drude Natascha , Baselly Camila , Gazda Małgorzata Anna , May Jan-Niklas , Tienken Lena , Abbasi Parya , Weissgerber Tracey , Burgess Steven 
Published: December 2024

AbstractReproducibility is a significant concern in scientific research and complex methods like quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) demand stringent reporting standards to ensure that the methods are reproducible, data are sound, and conclusions are trustworthy. Although the MIQE (Minimum Information for Publication of Quantitative Real-Time PCR Experiments) guidelines were introduced in 2009 to improve qPCR reporting, a 2013 study identified ongoing deficiencies that hinder reproducibility. To further investigate the transparency and completeness of qPCR reporting, we systematically assessed articles published in the top 20 journals in genetics and heredity (n=186) and plant sciences (n=246) that used qPCR. Our analysis revealed frequent omissions and inadequate specification of critical information necessary for evaluating and replicating qPCR experiments. RNA integrity, along with assessment methods and instruments used to assess it, are seldom reported. Although primer sequences are often disclosed, names and accession numbers of housekeeping genes are frequently omitted. Additionally, essential details about RNA extraction, RNA-to-cDNA conversion, and qPCR, such as kit names, catalog numbers, and reagent information, are often missing. Our findings underscore the urgent need for improved reporting practices in qPCR experiments, emphasizing quality controls, detailed descriptions of reagents and materials, and greater analytical transparency. Addressing these reporting deficiencies is crucial for enhancing the reproducibility and evaluating the trustworthiness of qPCR research. Potential solutions include encouraging authors to cite protocols published in online repositories, providing reporting templates, or developing automated tools to check reporting compliance.
Lesions of anterior cingulate cortex disrupt an electrophysiological signature of reward processing in humans
Authors: Oerlemans Joyce , Alejandro Ricardo J. , Hemelsoet Dimitri , Genbrugge Eva , Bouche Katie , Defreyne Luc , De Herdt Veerle , Holroyd Clay B. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThe reward positivity (RewP) is an event-related brain potential (ERP) component associated with feedback and reward processing. Although the component is said to be generated in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), this inference is disputed because of the inverse problem. Recently, by conducting a current source density analysis of intracranial electroencephalogram (EEG) data recorded from a large cohort of epilepsy patients, we provided direct evidence that the RewP is produced by a circumscribed region in caudal ACC corresponding to Brodmann areas 24c’ and 32’. In the present study we confirm that this brain area is the source of the RewP by examining the effects of damage to frontal cortex on RewP amplitude. We recorded scalp EEG from 68 stroke patients with damage to frontal cortex while they engaged in a trial-and-error guessing task used to elicit a canonical RewP. Application of non-parametric voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping to the lesion data revealed that damage to Brodmann areas 24c’ and 32’ attenuated RewP amplitude, whereas damage to other parts of frontal cortex did not affect it. These results provide causal evidence that the caudal ACC generates the RewP and underscore the contribution of this brain region toward motivating extended behaviours.Significance statementThe reward positivity (RewP) is an event-related brain potential component that reflects reward processing in the brain. Although multiple studies have suggested that anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is the neural generator of the RewP, this assertion is disputed mainly because of the inverse problem. In this study, we present direct evidence that the RewP is generated in caudal ACC by performing voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping (VLSM) in a cohort of 68 stroke patients with lesions in the frontal lobe. We found that a circumscribed region in right caudal ACC was significantly associated with a reduced RewP, providing the first causal evidence that this region generates the RewP in humans. These fundings elucidate the central role ACC plays in motivating extended behaviours.
Volitional Regulation and Transferable Patterns of Midbrain Oscillations
Authors: Lu Hung-Yun , Zhao Yi , Stealey Hannah M. , Barnett Cole R. , Tobler Philippe N. , Santacruz Samantha R. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractDopaminergic brain areas are crucial for cognition and their dysregulation is linked to neuropsychiatric disorders typically treated with pharmacological interventions. These treatments often have side effects and variable effectiveness, underscoring the need for alternatives. We introduce the first demonstration of neurofeedback using local field potentials (LFP) from the ventral tegmental area (VTA). This approach leverages the real-time temporal resolution of LFP and ability to target deep brain. In our study, non-human primates learned to regulate VTA beta power using a customized normalized metric to stably quantify VTA LFP signal modulation. The subjects demonstrated flexible and specific control with different strategies for specific frequency bands, revealing new insights into the plasticity of VTA neurons contributing to oscillatory activity that is functionally relevant to many aspects of cognition. Excitingly, the subjects showed transferable patterns, a key criterion for clinical applications beyond training settings. This work provides a foundation for neurofeedback-based treatments, which may be a promising alternative to conventional approaches and open new avenues for understanding and managing neuropsychiatric disorders.Significance statementThis study demonstrates, for the first time, that neurofeedback using local field potentials (LFP) from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) is feasible in non-human primates. By leveraging the temporal resolution and ability to target deep brain regions, this approach provides a novel way to modulate brain activity linked to dopamine-related functions. The findings reveal that subjects can flexibly control VTA LFP signals and transfer learned strategies to new settings, offering potential for developing neurofeedback-based treatments. This research opens new avenues for managing neuropsychiatric disorders, presenting an alternative to traditional pharmacological interventions that often have side effects and limited effectiveness. The study highlights the plasticity of VTA neurons and their relevance to cognition and mood regulation.
Differences and similarities between human hippocampal low-frequency oscillations during navigation and mental simulation
Authors: Seger Sarah , Kriegel Jennifer , Lega Brad , Ekstrom Arne 
Published: December 2024

AbstractLow frequency oscillations in the hippocampus emerge during by both spatial navigation and episodic memory function in humans. We have recently shown that in humans, memory-related processing is a stronger driver of low frequency oscillations than navigation. These findings and others support the idea that low-frequency oscillations are more strongly associated with a general memory function than with a specific role in spatial navigation. However, whether the low-frequency oscillations that support episodic memory and those during navigation could still share some similar functional roles remains unclear. In this study, patients undergoing intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) monitoring performed a navigation task in which they navigated and performed internally directed route replay, similar to episodic memory. We trained a random forest classification model to use patterns in low-frequency power (2-12 Hz) to learn the position during navigation and subsequently used the same model to successfully decode position during mental simulation. We show that removal of background differences in power between navigation and mental simulation is critical to detecting the overlapping patterns. These results suggest that the low-frequency oscillations that emerge during navigation are more associated with a role in memory than specifically with a navigation related function.
Evaluation of the safety and tolerability of three single ascending doses of Diamine oxidase (DAO) in healthy volunteers
Authors: Molina Perelló P. , Puntes Rodríguez M. , Coimbra Hurtado J. , Garrido Sánchez M. , Castillo Ocaña M. , Martínez Bonifacio D. , Carrera Marcolin L. , Cuñé Castellana J. , Antonijoan Arbós R. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractDiamine oxidase (DAO) is a key enzyme for metabolizing dietary histamine in the gastrointestinal tract. DAO deficiency can lead to histamine intolerance (HIT), manifesting as migraines, gastrointestinal disturbances, and allergic reactions. DAO supplementation has been shown to enhance histamine breakdown, alleviating these symptoms. This randomized, double-blind, single ascending dose (SAD) Phase I clinical trial aimed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of escalating doses of DAO supplementation in healthy volunteers. Thirty participants were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive DAO or placebo. Single doses of 42 mg, 84 mg, or 210 mg of DAO extract (adiDAO® Veg) were administered under fasting conditions. Vital signs, laboratory parameters, and adverse events (AEs) were monitored, and a follow-up visit assessed post-administration safety. All participants completed the study without discontinuations. No serious adverse events or clinically significant changes in vital signs, ECGs, or laboratory parameters were observed. The study demonstrated that even doses significantly exceeding typical recommendations were well-tolerated, with no safety concerns identified. This trial confirms the safety of high-dose DAO supplementation, supporting its potential use in managing DAO deficiency and HIT. Future studies are recommended to explore the effects of chronic high-dose administration and alternative dosage forms to improve convenience.
Incidence, prevalence, and survival of head and neck cancers in the United Kingdom from 2000-2021
Authors: Miquel Dominguez Andrea , Tan Eng Hooi , Burn Edward , Delmestri Antonella , Duarte-Salles Talita , Golozar Asieh , Man Wai Yi , Prieto-Alhambra Daniel , Avilés-Jurado Francesc Xavier , Newby Danielle 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTImportanceIncidence, prevalence, and survival are important measures to inform the management and provision of head and neck cancer care.ObjectiveTo calculate the incidence, prevalence, and survival rates for head and neck cancers and subsites in the UK from 2000 to 2021.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis population-based cohort study uses routinely collected primary care data from the UK. Patients aged 18 years or older with at least 1 year of history registered in Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) GOLD or Aurum were included. Data were analyzed from January 2023 to March 2024.Main Outcomes and MeasuresHead and neck cancer incidence rates (IR), period prevalence (PP), and one-, five-, and ten-year survival after diagnosis between 2000 and 2021, stratified by age and calendar years.ResultsThere were 12,455 HNC patients (male 69.2%) with a median age of 64 years. Crude incidence increased from 9.08 (7.88 to 10.42) per 100 000 person-years in 2000 to 15.59 (14.07 to 17.23) in 2021 in CPRD GOLD with similar rates in Aurum. Age standardization attenuated incidence rises for HNC subsites apart from oropharynx and tongue. Prevalence increased for both databases, from 0.04% in 2000 to 0.12% in 2019. HNC five-year survival increased from 53.8% (95% CI, 51.4% - 56.3%) in 2000-2004 to 58.7% (56.5 - 60.9%) in 2015 to 2019.Conclusions and RelevanceHNC increases over recent decades are likely due to ageing with increases in specific subsites such as oropharyngeal cancers are due to other behavioural risk factors. Small improvements in survival highlights more research is needed to improve earlier diagnosis which will lead to better patient outcomes.KEY POINTSQuestionWhat is the disease burden of the head and neck cancers (HNC) in UK from 2000-2021?FindingsFor all HNC combined, incidence and prevalence have increased with five-year survival slightly improving over time. Variation in results were observed for different subsites.MeaningOur findings show increases in HNC are likely due to ageing with increases in certain subsites due to other behavioural risk factors. The small increase in survival highlights more research is needed to improve earlier diagnosis leading to better patient outcomes.
Intratympanic cortisone injection: an evaluation of the current data situation
Authors: Schmidt Sandra , Thomsen Milena , Lorenz Kai Johannes 
Published: December 2024

AbstractIntroductionIntratympanic cortisone injections (ITI) have been established for sudden deafness for years. ITI can be used as primary therapy and, above all, as rescue therapy if systemic administration has not brought any improvement or if there are contraindications to systemic administration.MethodsMany different forms of application, indication, duration and treatment have been used. Different local anesthetics, cortisone preparations, body and head positions are practiced.Results103 patients are analyzed. In 55 cases, the injection after oral therapy. In 48 cases, given immediately due to extreme hearing loss or comorbidities the injections are well tolerated with rare unpleasant side effects.DiscussionHigh-dose treatment with cortisone has been used for decades. The HODOKORT study brought significant dose reductions. The KORTEBO study could not be carried out, but there is need for it. There is a lack of evidence of an optimal indication, implementation and objective proof, which is urgently needed.
Peripheral immune cell response to stimulation stratifies Parkinson’s disease progression from prodromal to clinical stages
Authors: Mark Julian R. , Titus Ann M. , Staley Hannah A. , Alvarez Stephan , Mahn Savanna , McFarland Nikolaus R. , Wallings Rebecca L. , Tansey Malú Gámez 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThe motor stage of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (iPD) can be preceded for years by a prodromal stage characterized by non-motor symptoms like REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD). Here, we show that multiple stages of iPD, including the pre-motor prodromal stage, can be stratified according to the inflammatory and immunometabolic responses to stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cellsex vivo. We identified increased stimulation-dependent secretion of TNF, IL-1β, and IL-8 in monocytes from RBD patients and showed diminished proinflammatory cytokine secretion in monocytes and T cells in early and moderate stages of PD. Mechanistically, immune activation revealed deficits in CD8+T-cell mitochondrial health in moderate PD, and relative mitochondrial health in CD8+T cells was positively correlated with stimulation-dependent T-cell cytokine secretion across the PD spectrum. Dysregulated immunometabolism may drive peripheral inflammation and PD progression, andex vivostimulation-based assays have potential to reveal novel biomarkers for patient stratification and progression with immune endophenotypes.