bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Alzheimer’s disease mortality among taxi and ambulance drivers: population based cross sectional study
Authors: R Patel Vishal , Liu Michael , Worsham Christopher M , Jena Anupam B 
Published: December 2024

AbstractObjectiveTo analyze mortality attributed to Alzheimer’s disease among taxi drivers and ambulance drivers, occupations that demand frequent spatial and navigational processing, compared with other occupations.DesignPopulation based cross-sectional study.SettingUse of death certificates from the National Vital Statistics System in the United States, which were linked to occupation, 1 January 2020-31 December 2022.ParticipantsDeceased adults aged 18 years and older.Main outcomes measuresAmong 443 occupations studied, percentage of deaths attributed to Alzheimer’s disease for taxi drivers and ambulance drivers and each of the remaining 441 occupations, adjusting for age at death and other sociodemographic factors.ResultsOf 8 972 221 people who had died with occupational information, 3.88% (348 328) had Alzheimer’s disease listed as a cause of death. Among taxi drivers, 1.03% (171/16 658) died from Alzheimer’s disease, while among ambulance drivers, the rate was 0.74% (10/1348). After adjustment, ambulance drivers (0.91% (95% confidence interval 0.35% to 1.48%)) and taxi drivers (1.03% (0.87% to 1.18%)) had the lowest proportion of deaths due to Alzheimer’s disease of all occupations examined. This trend was not observed in other transportation related jobs that are less reliant on real time spatial and navigational processing or for other types of dementia. Results were consistent whether Alzheimer’s disease was recorded as an underlying or contributing cause of death.ConclusionsTaxi drivers and ambulance drivers, occupations involving frequent navigational and spatial processing, had the lowest proportions of deaths attributed to Alzheimer’s disease of all occupations.
Sequential exploratory mixed-method research of an eHealth intervention on blood pressure, sleep quality and physical activity in obstructive sleep apnoea: rationale and methodology of the Moore4Medical trial protocol
Authors: Valenzuela-Pascual Fran , Verdejo-Amengual Francisco Jose , Martinez-Navarro Oriol , Blanco-Blanco Joan , El Arab Rabie Adel , Rubinat-Arnaldo Esther , Masbernat-Almenara Maria , Rubí‑Carnacea Francesc , Manuel Martí Blanca , Barbé Ferran , Sanchez-de-la-Torre Manuel 
Published: December 2024

IntroductionThe management of a chronic and frequent pathology, such as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), requires personalised programmes that implement new technology-based tools to improve the comprehensive treatment of the patient to reduce the morbidity associated with this disease. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of an eHealth tool in managing the pathophysiological consequences of OSA and how they impact the quality of life after 3 months of intervention among adults.Methods and analysisThis is a mixed-method sequential exploratory study protocol. Participants will be≥18 years with a new diagnosis of moderate OSA and diagnosed with hypertension. The qualitative phase will consist of personal semistructured interviews. The quantitative phase will be a triple-blind randomised controlled trial. The experimental group (n=135) will receive an eHealth intervention using an electronic wrist device and a mobile application that will offer specific healthcare recommendations, physical activity indications and hygienic and dietary advice. These recommendations will be based on the information obtained in the qualitative phase. Those in the control group (n=135) will receive the usual educational materials from the sleep unit. The primary outcome will be blood pressure changes at 3 months. Secondary outcomes are subjective sleep quality, sleep apnoea-related parameters, daytime sleepiness, physical activity, empowerment and motivation for change, quality of life, anthropometry, cost–benefit and adherence.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval for the study has been obtained from the Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova (CEIC-2511). Results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:NCT05380726.
Bile acids in the lower airways is associated with airway microbiota changes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: an observational study
Authors: Caparros-Martin Jose A , Saladié Montserrat , Agudelo-Romero S Patricia , Nichol Kristy S , Reen F Jerry , Moodley Yuben P , Mulrennan Siobhain , Stick Stephen , Wark Peter A B , O’Gara Fergal 
Published: December 2024

BackgroundChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex disorder with a high degree of interindividual variability. Gastrointestinal dysfunction is common in patients with COPD and has been proposed to influence the clinical progression of the disease. Using the presence of bile acid(s) (BA) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid as a marker of gastric aspiration, we evaluated the relationships between BAs, clinical outcomes and bacterial lung colonisation.MethodsWe used BAL specimens from a cohort of patients with COPD and healthy controls. BAs were profiled and quantified in BAL supernatants using mass spectrometry. Microbial DNA was extracted from BAL pellets and quantified using quantitative PCR. We profiled the BAL microbiota using an amplicon sequencing approach targeting the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene.ResultsDetection of BAs in BAL was more likely at the earliest clinical stages of COPD and was independent of the degree of airway obstruction. BAL specimens with BAs demonstrated higher bacterial biomass and lower diversity. Likewise, the odds of recovering bacterial cultures from BAL were higher if BAs were also detected. Detection of BAs in BAL was not associated with either inflammatory markers or clinical outcomes. We also observed different bacterial community types in BAL, which were associated with different clinical groups, levels of inflammatory markers and the degree of airway obstruction.ConclusionDetection of BAs in BAL was associated with alterations in the airway bacterial communities. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether BAs in BAL can be used to stratify patients and predict disease progression trajectories.
Rete anomaly of the middle cerebral artery: case series of 13 patients from the Northeastern United States
Authors: Ramaswamy Srinath , Colah Cyrus X , Guan Shaobo , Fayed Mahmoud , Spektor Vadim , Connolly E Sander , Willey Joshua 
Published: December 2024

BackgroundRete middle cerebral artery (MCA) is a rare anomaly of the intracranial circulation that mimics congenital Moyamoya disease (MMD). Similar to MMD, it is reported almost exclusively in East-Asian ethnicities. Here, we report 13 patients with rete MCA anomaly from a predominantly non-Asian background in the USA.MethodsConsecutive patients (≥18 years of age) with rete MCA seen in the neurovascular clinic at Columbia University Medical Center (2014–2024) were included. We retrieved demographics, clinical presentation, imaging findings, neurosurgical interventions, and clinical outcomes.Results13 patients were identified (mean age 42±21 years, 83.3% female): 7 were White (53.8%), 3 were multiracial Hispanic (23.1%), 2 were South-Asian (15.4%), and 1 was Black (7.7%). Rete MCA was unilateral in all (n=13) and collaterals typical of MMD were absent. MRI vessel wall imaging (n=6) did not show enhancement characteristic of MMD. With serial imaging (n=12), there was no progression or contralateral MCA involvement. Strokes occurred in 5 (38.5%): subarachnoid hemorrhage (n=2), intracerebral hemorrhage (n=2), and ischemic stroke (n=1) from cardioembolism (n=1). 5 (38.5%) underwent neurosurgical bypass (encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis) due to presumed initial diagnosis of MMD (n=4), or for hypoperfusion on imaging related to rete MCA (n=1). Over a 4±3-year mean follow-up, there were no acute neurovascular events.ConclusionsRete MCA anomaly occurs in non-Asian populations, and is likely benign relative to MMD. The diagnosis should be considered with unilateral, non-progressive findings, and absent MMD-type collaterals. Neurosurgical bypass appears safe, but studies are required to assess the natural history and stroke risk in this condition.
Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and future risk of dementia among individuals managed in UK general practice
Authors: Wang Jingya , Subramanian Anuradhaa , Cockburn Neil , Xiao Jingyi , Nirantharakumar Krishnarajah , Haroon Shamil 
Published: December 2024

BackgroundObstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) has been recognised as a potential risk factor for cognitive decline, yet its precise relationship with dementia remains uncertain. This study aimed to determine the risk of dementia among individuals with and without OSAS.MethodsData derived from 2.3 million adults (aged ≥18 years) were extracted from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (2000–2022), a nationally representative primary care electronic health records database in the UK. 193 600 individuals with OSAS were propensity score-matched to 536 701 individuals without OSAS. Cox proportional hazard regression models were applied to quantify the risk of developing all-cause dementia, vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease between individuals with and without OSAS.ResultsWith a median follow-up of 4.0 (IQR 1.8–7.5) years, 2802 and 6211 individuals developed all-cause dementia in those with and without OSAS, corresponding to crude incidence rates of 2.47 and 2.34 per 1000 person-years, respectively. The presence of OSAS was associated with higher risks of all-cause dementia (adjusted HR (aHR) 1.12, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.17), vascular dementia (1.29, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.41) and unchanged risk of Alzheimer’s disease (1.07, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.16). Individuals with OSAS who had received continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment exhibited a similar risk of all-cause dementia as their matched counterparts (0.99, 95% CI 0.74 to 1.32).ConclusionOSAS is associated with higher risks of all-cause dementia and some of its subtypes. Further investigation is needed to investigate the clinical benefits of screening for cognitive impairment in people with OSAS and to further evaluate the impact of CPAP on cognitive decline and dementia risk.
Hospitalised older adults with community-acquired pneumonia and sepsis have dysregulated neutrophil function but preserved glycolysis
Authors: Grudzinska Frances , Faniyi Aduragbemi A , Belchamber Kylie B R , Chen Celine , Stockley Robert , Jasper Alice , Parekh Dhruv , Sapey Elizabeth , Scott Aaron , Thickett David R 
Published: December 2024

ObjectiveCommunity-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of hospitalisation in older adults and is associated with a high likelihood of adverse outcomes. Given the ageing population and lack of therapeutic advances in CAP, new strategies to manage the burden of this disease are needed. Neutrophil dysfunction has been widely demonstrated in CAP and is associated with poor outcomes. We hypothesised that impaired glycolytic metabolism was driving neutrophil dysfunction in older adults with CAP.MethodsTo investigate the mechanism underlying neutrophil dysfunction in CAP, we recruited older adults with CAP and sepsis, age-matched controls and healthy young adults to assess neutrophil function and glycolytic metabolism in peripheral blood neutrophils.ResultsWe demonstrate that neutrophils from older donors with CAP display a broad range of functional defects, including inaccurate migration to interleukin 8, impaired respiratory burst in response to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and increased spontaneous degranulation compared with age-matched controls. Glycolysis (assessed by extracellular flux and RNA-sequencing) was not significantly altered between age-matched groups; however, basal rates of neutrophil glycolysis were significantly higher in patients with CAP and older adult controls compared with healthy young adults, and stimulated glycolysis was significantly higher in young adults compared with older adults with and without CAP.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that neutrophil dysfunction in older adults with CAP may be implicated in poor outcomes, irrespective of glycolytic metabolism.
The effectiveness of exercise referral schemes on patient health and their cost: an umbrella review
Authors: O'Brien Myles W. , Shivgulam Madeline E. , Liu Haoxuan , Courish Molly K. , Wu Yanlin , Fowles Jonathon R. , Nagpal Taniya S. 
Published: December 2024

Exercise referral schemes (ERS) involving referrals from primary care providers to exercise programs and professionals may be a useful strategy for helping patients lead more active lifestyles. We performed an umbrella review to determine the impact of ERS on patient activity/fitness, clinical outcomes, and their cost-effectiveness. The review was pre-registered in Prospero (CRD42023443094) and conducted in July 2023. PRISMA reporting was followed. Our umbrella review screened 2129 citations with 12 studies meeting our inclusion criteria ( n = 8 meta-analyses) that included 110 unique individual studies of 62 815 unique participants. The average study quality was 8.9 ± 1.9 (out of 11). Studies examined patient physical activity or fitness ( n = 9/12), a clinical outcome ( n = 8/12), and/or cost-effectiveness ( n = 4/12). Earlier reviews observed that physical activity or fitness was unchanged following ERS, but more recent (post-2015), larger sample size studies observe low-to-moderate improvements. Recent reviews reported that ERS lowered blood pressure, body mass index, and depression. ERS cost-effectiveness was conflicting. Altogether our umbrella review of high-quality reviews with a low risk of bias demonstrated that although early work indicated null effects, more up-to-date reviews of ERS observe improved patient activity/fitness, cardiometabolic, and mental health. ERS are an effective strategy to improve patient health.
Assessing the potential of upcoming laser-driven neutron sources and their practical applications for industry and society
Authors: Zimmer Marc , Rösch Thomas F. , Scheuren Stefan , Seupel Thomas , Jäger Tim , Kohl Jonas , Hofmann Daniel , Schaumann Gabriel , Roth Markus 
Published: December 2024

AbstractLaser-driven neutron sources (LDNS) are an emerging technology with significant potential. The most promising types of LDNS are based on laser wakefield acceleration or target normal sheath acceleration, driven in a “pitcher-catcher” configuration. In this publication, we estimate the performance of LDNS once they have been optimized for industrial-scale usage and identify for which applications they can be used. For this purpose, we evaluate the current laser developments and identify the three most promising laser systems that can be used to cover the most relevant applications. A scaling system is then derived to predict the neutron production rate for each of the three systems. The first system is expected to produce $$8 \times 10^{8}\,\hbox {n}\,\hbox {s}^{-1}$$

8
×

10
8

n

s

-
1

to $$8 \times 10^{9}\,\hbox {n}\,\hbox {s}^{-1}$$

8
×

10
9

n

s

-
1

for thermalized neutrons. The second one $${1 \times 10^{11}}\,\hbox {n}\,\hbox {s}^{-1}$$

1
×

10
11

n

s

-
1

for fast neutrons and the third one $$1 \times 10^{14}\,\hbox {n}\,\hbox {s}^{-1}$$

1
×

10
14

n

s

-
1

to $$1 \times 10^{15}\,\hbox {n}\,\hbox {s}^{-1}$$

1
×

10
15

n

s

-
1

fast neutrons. This is followed by an evaluation of possible applications that can be driven with each of the different LDNS system. We conclude with a comparison of the scaling law and the neutron production rate to existing experimental data and scaling laws from other groups to evaluate the accuracy of the model and the estimates for the different applications.
Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Single Center Retrospective Study in Malaysia
Authors: Leong Piem Jie , Salleh Anna Farazilah Mohd 
Published: December 2024

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, laboratory findings, treatments, and their impact on the outcome of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-related diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) in our local setting. Methods: A total of seven patients were selected from our hospital’s local SLE database between 2013 and 2024 based on the inclusion criteria. Various variables were captured and analyzed using the Mann-Whitney [Formula: see text] test or Fisher’s exact test for comparison where appropriate. Results: All seven patients were female, with a median age of 26 years, and the median duration of SLE before DAH was 3 months. More than half were presented with all three symptoms: fever (57%), dyspnea (71.4%), and hemoptysis (85.7%). Kidney involvement was present in all cases. All patients received methylprednisolone as initial treatment with 71.4% subsequently received plasmapheresis, 57% received cyclophosphamide, 28.6% received intravenous immunoglobulin, and 14.3% received rituximab. Five out of the seven patients required invasive mechanical ventilation. The mortality rate was 57%. Two out of three survivors received a combination of multiple immunosuppressive agents. Non-survivors had significantly higher acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) scores ([Formula: see text] = 0.034), while other variables were not statistically linked to mortality. In spite of that, all patients with nosocomial infection did not survive. Conclusion: Our observational study showed that a higher APACHE-II score was associated with a higher mortality rate. The efficacy of these treatment modalities cannot be conclusively determined due to the small sample size of this study. However, a combination of multiple immunosuppressive agents appeared to be associated with better outcomes in some patients.
Parallelize Single-Site Dynamics up to Dobrushin Criterion
Authors: Liu Hongyang , Yin Yitong 
Published: December 2024

Single-site dynamics are canonical Markov chain based algorithms for sampling from high-dimensional distributions, such as the Gibbs distributions of graphical models. We introduce a simple and generic parallel algorithm that faithfully simulates single-site dynamics. Under a much relaxed, asymptotic variant of the ℓ

p

-Dobrushin’s condition—where the Dobrushin’s influence matrix has a bounded ℓ

p

-induced operator norm for an arbitrary
p
∈ [1, ∞]—our algorithm simulates
N
steps of single-site updates within a parallel depth of
O
(
N
/
n
+log
n
) on Õ(
m
) processors, where
n
is the number of sites and
m
is the size of the graphical model. For Boolean-valued random variables, if the ℓ

p

-Dobrushin’s condition holds—specifically, if the ℓ

p

-induced operator norm of the Dobrushin’s influence matrix is less than 1—the parallel depth can be further reduced to
O
(log
N
+ log
n
), achieving an exponential speedup.

These results suggest that single-site dynamics with near-linear mixing times can be parallelized into RNC sampling algorithms, independent of the maximum degree of the underlying graphical model, as long as the Dobrushin influence matrix maintains a bounded operator norm. We show the effectiveness of this approach with RNC samplers for the hardcore and Ising models within their uniqueness regimes, as well as an RNC SAT sampler for satisfying solutions of conjunctive normal form formulas in a local lemma regime. Furthermore, by employing non-adaptive simulated annealing, these RNC samplers can be transformed into RNC algorithms for approximate counting.
Routine preoperative blood group and save is unnecessary for adult emergency appendicectomies: A retrospective multicentre study
Authors: Robertson Iona , Sundarraj Jeeva Karuniya , Khan Khurram Shahzad 
Published: December 2024

Background and Aims Routine group and save (G&S) is commonly performed before appendicectomy despite limited evidence. This study aims to evaluate the necessity of preoperative G&S by determining perioperative blood transfusion rates. Methods A multicentre retrospective observational study of adult patients who had emergency appendicectomy across four hospitals between August 2018 and November 2020. Data analysed included demographics, operative details, G&S, crossmatching and perioperative blood transfusion. Results 1105 patients were identified, 635 (57.4%) were male. Median age was 37 years (IQR 26–52). 1012 (91.6%) were ASA 1 or 2. Surgical approach: 890 (80.5%) laparoscopic, 79 (7.1%) converted to open, 119 (10.8%) open and 17 (1.5%) laparotomy. Severity of appendicitis: 804 (72.8%) inflamed, 56 (5.1%) gangrenous, 235 (21.3%) perforated and 10 (0.9%) normal. 921 (83.3%) patients had preoperative G&S. 42 (3.8%) patients also had crossmatch. No patients required blood transfusion in 30 days post appendicectomy. The cost of G&S is estimated to be £40,164 in this cohort. Conclusions The need for perioperative blood transfusion is rare in patients undergoing appendicectomy. It has a significant cost impact and can cause unnecessary delays. Our study suggests that a routine G&S policy is not necessary, and we suggest a more ‘selective’ G&S policy.
Heart rate during moderate exercise and attention among adolescents: An experimental study
Authors: Janota Krzysztof , Janota Bertrand 
Published: December 2024

Background Existing studies on the effects of physical activity on cognitive function have predominantly focused on pre- or post-exercise effects, leaving a gap in understanding the immediate cognitive impacts during physical exertion. Understanding cognitive performance during activity could have significant implications for improving productivity and therapeutic strategies. Methods This study examined the relationship between heart rate and cognitive performance, specifically attention, using the D2 attention test among 32 adolescents aged 12-18 years. Participants underwent attention assessments at rest and while moving at target heart rates of 100 bpm, 120 bpm, and 140 bpm. The influence of body mass index (BMI) and sleep quality on attention has been analysed too. Results A significant positive correlation between heart rate and attention was observed (r = 0.39, P < .005), indicating enhanced cognitive performance with increased heart rate. Furthermore, a significant negative correlation was found between BMI and attention (r = −0.37, P = .039) and a significant positive correlation was found between sleep quality and attention (r = 0.66, P = .014). Conclusion These findings suggest that moderate physical activity can enhance attention, which could inform the design of educational, therapeutic, and occupational strategies. Future research should explore the generalizability of these effects across different cognitive domains, age groups, and settings.