bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bactericidal efficacy of low dose gaseous ozone against clinically relevant multidrug-resistant bacteria
Authors: Banerjee Bob , Thompson Christine , Nizet Victor , Bjånes Elisabet 
Published: December 2024

IntroductionHealthcare-associated infections (HAIs) pose a significant challenge in acute care hospitals, particularly in intensive care units, due to persistent environmental contamination despite existing disinfection protocols and manual cleaning methods. Current disinfection methods are labor-intensive and often ineffective against multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, highlighting the need for new, automated, hands-free approaches.MethodsThis study evaluates the bactericidal efficacy of low concentrations of gaseous ozone (5 ppm) against clinically relevant and often MDR bacteria under various concentrations, contact times, temperatures, and environmental conditions.ResultsWe observed a 3 log10-fold reduction in Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium and a 1–2 log10-fold reduction in group A Streptococcus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus upon ozone exposure. The bactericidal effect was dose-dependent, with no significant difference between single and repeated exposures. Environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity had minimal impact on low-dose ozone efficacy, with slightly improved bacterial killing at colder temperatures and higher humidity levels. Gaseous ozone also showed significant bactericidal activity against the broad range of Gram-positive and -negative MDR clinical isolates.DiscussionThese findings highlight the potential of low-dose gaseous ozone as a versatile, effective, and hands-free disinfectant for healthcare and other settings. Further research is needed to establish long-term safety and efficacy guidelines for its use in occupied spaces and to explore potential synergy with other contemporary disinfection strategies.
Molecular characterization and antimicrobial susceptibility for 62 isolates of Bordetella pertussis from children
Authors: He Baohua , Jia Zhaoyi , Zheng Fei , Zhang Wenchao , Duan Suxia , Wang Leyu , Zhang Haixia , Zhang Hongbin , Wang Ruoxuan , Gao Yuan , Sun Yinqi 
Published: December 2024

BackgroundPertussis is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by Bordetella pertussis (BP). Despite global control of pertussis cases through the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), there has been a significant increase in the incidence of pertussis in recent years, characterized by a “resurgence” in developed countries with high immunization rates as well as a comparable reemergence in certain areas of China. We aim to explore the genotypes and antimicrobial susceptibility of circulating BP from children in Hebei.Study designChildren diagnosed with BP infection from 2019 to 2020 in Hebei, China were enrolled. We performed antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST), whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection, mltilocus sequence typing (MLST), multilocus antigen sequence typing (MAST), multilevel genome typing (MGT). A total of 313 international BP genomes were selected for comparison to examine the genomic diversity and evolutionary traits of Chinese strains within a global framework.ResultsSixty-two individuals were identified with BP infection via culture, yielding a positive rate of 15.62% (62/397) for BP. Two phylogenetic groups were identified, each carrying a dominating genotype. The two vaccine strains, CS and Tohama I, exhibited a distant relationship to these two groups. This study identified 56 erythromycin-resistant isolates, 55 azithromycin-resistant isolates, 58 sulfamethoxazole-sensitive isolates, and 53 cefotaxime-sensitive isolates. All BP isolates were sensitive to levofloxacin, amoxicillin, ceftriaxone, and meropenem. Meanwhile, all erythromycin-resistant strains, which belonged to lineage I and MGT2 sequence type 7 (ST7), shared the ptxP1 gene and contained the 23S rRNA A2047G mutation. The major MAST was prn1/ptxP1/ptxA1/fim3-1/fim2-1 (75.81%). All 62 BP strains were divided into 1, 2, 3, 14, and 52 types at the MGT1, MGT2, MGT3, MGT4, and MGT5 levels, respectively.ConclusionThis work showed that there may be a link between antimicrobial resistance and alterations in specific molecular types, and the isolates showed a clear change when compared with the vaccine strain and that selection pressure from both antibiotics and immunization may be responsible for driving Chinese BP evolution, and necessitate a reevaluation of the immunization strategy and the development of novel vaccines in China to halt the resurgence and medication resistance of pertussis.
Proteomic analysis of the Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum SS14 strain: coverage and comparison with the Nichols strain proteome
Authors: Houston Simon , Marshall Steven , Gomez Alloysius , Cameron Caroline E. 
Published: December 2024

IntroductionStrains of the syphilis spirochete, Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum, group into one of two deep-branching clades: the Nichols clade or the globally dominant Street Strain 14 (SS14) clade. To date, in-depth proteome-wide analyses have focused on Nichols clade strains.MethodsThe T. pallidum SS14 clade reference strain (SS14) proteome was characterized via protein detection and quantification analyses using mass spectrometry, and comparison was made to the Nichols clade reference strain (Nichols) proteome.ResultsApproximately two thirds of all proteins from T. pallidum SS14 were detected and quantitated, allowing confirmation of expression of 259 proteins for the first time in this strain, including 11 known/putative outer membrane proteins (OMPs). SS14 and Nichols proteome comparative analyses demonstrated similar protein expression/quantification profiles between the two strains, and showed that inter-strain amino acid sequence differences are located primarily within predicted surface-exposed regions in 16 known/putative OMPs.DiscussionThis study provides the first comparative analyses of the proteomes from the T. pallidum SS14 and Nichols strains. The findings inform syphilis vaccine design by confirming the expression of known/predicted OMP vaccine candidates in SS14 treponemes, and via the finding that most inter-strain variable residues found in OMPs are predicted to be located in surface-exposed, host-facing regions of these proteins.
Contribution of social activity participation to the relationship between sensory impairment, physical performance and cognitive decline: a longitudinal study in China
Authors: Lei Lei , Zhou Yinuo , Ye Lizhen , Yang Yanfang 
Published: December 2024

ObjectivesThis study examined the impact of sensory impairment (hearing and/or vision) combined with poor physical performance on cognitive decline and assessed whether social activity participation mediated this relationship.MethodsMultilevel models were used to explore the relationships between sensory impairment, physical performance, their combination, and cognitive decline. A multilevel mediation model analyzed the mediating effect of social activity participation. The study included 10,149 adults aged 45 and older (mean age 53.84) from five waves (2011–2020) of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The exposure variable, body function (BF), was categorized into six groups based on sensory impairment and physical performance. Cognitive function was measured using an adapted Chinese Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).ResultsCompared to BF group 1 (normal physical performance without sensory impairment), individuals in BF group 4 (low physical performance without sensory impairment) (β = −0.670, P &lt; 0.001), BF group 5 (low physical performance with single sensory impairment) (β = −1.029, P &lt; 0.001), and BF group 6 (low physical performance with dual sensory impairment) (β = −1.630, P &lt; 0.001) showed worse cognitive function. Only BF group 4 (β = −0.670, P &lt; 0.001) had a faster cognitive decline. Mediation analysis revealed a significant indirect effect of social activity participation on cognitive function in BF group 4 (β = −0.03, P &lt; 0.01, mediation proportion: 4.32%).ConclusionThe combined effect of sensory impairment and low physical performance on cognitive decline may be accumulative, and social activity participation could mitigate this effect. Prioritizing social activity participation is crucial for health professionals and policymakers.
Quantitative hemodynamics of draining veins in brain arteriovenous malformation: a preliminary study based on computational fluid dynamics
Authors: Ma Long , Chen Yu , Chen Pingting , Ma Li , Yan Debin , Li Ruinan , Li Zhipeng , Zhang Haibin , Han Heze , Yuan Kexin , Li Runting , Lin Fa , Zhao Yuanli , Chen Xiaolin 
Published: December 2024

ObjectiveThis study initiated a preliminary computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based study to investigate the relationship between quantitative hemodynamics of arteriovenous malformation (AVM) draining veins and rupture.MethodsThe quantitative hemodynamics of AVM draining veins were generated from computed tomography angiography (CTA)-based steady-state CFD models. Morphological and hemodynamic parameters were compared between the ruptured and unruptured groups. The boundary conditions of the drainage vein were obtained from quantitative digital subtraction angiography (QDSA). The draining veins were divided into 15 consecutive segments to analyze the spatial distribution of the hemodynamic parameters by linear regression analysis.ResultsFrom 11 AVMs, it was revealed that morphological parameters of drainage veins in ruptured and unruptured AVMs were similar. The intravascular pressure of the draining vein in the ruptured AVMs was significantly higher than those of the unruptured AVMs (pressure average: p = 0.006; pressure maximum: p = 0.045), and the WSS of the posterior segment was higher in ruptured AVMs (p = 0.045). WSS of draining veins in ruptured AVMs showed a linear increase trend with segmenting (R = 0.731, p &lt; 0.001), and ruptured AVMs were more likely to be accompanied by high-velocity segments in the draining vein (40.0% vs. 14.7%, p = 0.037), especially in the posterior segment (p = 0.011).ConclusionThe draining veins of ruptured AVMs had significantly higher intravascular pressure and posterior segment WSS. WSS showed a linear increase with segmentation in ruptured AVMs, and they often had more high-velocity segments in the draining vein, especially in the posterior segment.
Public awareness, knowledge, and attitude toward epilepsy in Lebanon: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Younes Samar , Chahine Bahia , Hanna Venise , Mourad Nisreen , Al Souheil Farah , Al Mazrouei Nadia , Rahal Mohamad , Malaeb Diana 
Published: December 2024

PurposeEpilepsy, a prevalent chronic neurological disorder, is associated with misconceptions, negative attitudes, and stigma because of poor public knowledge and awareness. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to assess the knowledge, awareness, and attitudes toward epilepsy and its associated factors among the Lebanese general population.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on Lebanese adults between October 2021 and June 2022 using an electronic structured self-administered questionnaire that was circulated online using the different social media platforms. Data related to participants’ demographic characteristics, knowledge, awareness, and attitude about epilepsy were measured. Eight items were included in the knowledge score that ranged between “0 and 16”, five items were included in the awareness score and ranged between 0 and 10. Likewise, the attitude score was calculated from 14 items and the score ranged between “0 and 28”. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, and logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with knowledge and awareness of epilepsy.ResultsA total of 301 participants filled the questionnaire with a mean age of 28.68 and majority (66%) were females. The analyzed scores revealed that most of the participants (87.4%) had a good knowledge regarding epilepsy as a disease with mean of 10.2 (± 2.14), 70.1% had good awareness about epilepsy with mean of 6.3 (± 1.4), and 88% had good attitude toward patients with epilepsy with mean of 21.5 (± 6.2). Attending lecture about epilepsy was significantly associated with higher knowledge (OR 5.756, CI 95% 4.652–11.676, p &lt; 0.001), better awareness (OR 4.936, CI 95% 3.062–10.566, p &lt; 0.001) and attitude (OR 5.187, CI 95% 1.687–9.761, p &lt; 0.014) toward the disease.ConclusionThe findings of this study reflected an adequate knowledge and awareness, as well a positive attitude toward patients with epilepsy in Lebanon. However, there is a need for raising societal awareness and understanding of epilepsy to minimize the public misconceptions and reduce the stigma and discriminatory attitudes toward epileptic patients.
Exploring ultrasound and electromyography for carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosis: a comprehensive comparative study and implications for occupational medicine
Authors: Braham Salem , Moussa Amen , Bouhoula Marwa , Ben Meriem Nihel , Annen Ichraf , Sakly Ghazi , Chouchane Asma , Ben Abdelkader Malek , Aloui Asma , Kacem Imène , Maoua Maher , Kalboussi Houda , Elmaalel Olfa , Mhabrech Houda , Chatti Souheil , Brahem Aicha 
Published: December 2024

BackgroundTo assess the contribution of ultrasound in diagnosing occupational carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), compare it with electromyography (EMG) results, and evaluate the ultrasound characteristics of CTS patients.MethodsA nine-month cross-sectional study (January–September 2021) involved CTS patients and a control group, utilizing a structured form for data collection. EMG was performed on the patient group (‘cases’) and ultrasound examinations were conducted on both groups. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software.ResultsAmong 44 cases and 30 controls, CTS patients (mean age 44.9 years) exhibited predominantly bilateral symptoms (90.9%). The optimal cross-sectional area (CSA) threshold for diagnosis was 10.3 mm2 (89% sensitivity, 84% specificity). Significant differences in ultrasound criteria were observed between patient and control groups, including the “notch sign” (p = 0.012), hypoechoic appearance (p = 0.016), and reduced median nerve mobility (p = 0.021). Quantitatively, CSA (13.7 mm2 vs. 7.4 mm2), flattening ratio (3.3 vs. 2.1), and retinaculum bulging (3.2 mm vs. 1.9 mm) significantly differed between cases and controls (p = 0.0019, 0.025, and 0.01, respectively). Positive Phalen tests correlated with higher CSA (p = 0.005) and retinacular bulging (p = 0.02). CSA correlated with EMG parameters, indicating slower conduction velocities, lower amplitudes, and longer latencies (p &lt; 10^(−3), r = −0.56, −0.62, −0.36, and −0.68, respectively).ConclusionThis study highlights ultrasound’s diagnostic potential for CTS, particularly in occupational settings. Its non-invasiveness and reliability advocate for its integration into routine diagnostic protocols, supporting evidence-based management strategies. Further research is needed to explore long-term efficacy and broader applicability.
Clinical observations from the clinical video head pulse test in patients with idiopathic horizontal semicircular canal light cupula
Authors: Song Niu , Jingling Chang , Wenyan Xu , Xuemei Pei 
Published: December 2024

ObjectiveThe objective of the study is to analyze and explore the characteristics of the video head impulse test (vHIT) for light cupula in the idiopathic horizontal semicircular canal and compare them with those of horizontal semicircular canal cupulolithiasis (HC-cu) in order to investigate the potential mechanism involved.MethodsData from 51 cases of idiopathic light cupula and 42 cases of horizontal semicircular canal cupulolithiasis were retrospectively analyzed. The positional nystagmus features, vHIT anomaly rate, gain value, saccades, and other indicators were compared. SPSS 26 and Medcalc 22 were used to analyze the differences and correlations.ResultsThere were no differences in sex, age, the affected side, and positional nystagmus between the light cupula group and HC-cu group (p &gt; 0.05). The overall abnormal rate of the vHIT (56.86% vs. 21.43%), the abnormal rate of the affected side (23.53% vs. 0.00%), and the saccade ratio of the affected side [40.0 (13.0, 76.0) vs. 6.0 (0.0, 15.0)] in the light cupula group were higher than those in the HC-cu group. The HC saccade ratio in the light cupula group was higher on the affected side than on the healthy side [40.0 (13.0, 76.0) vs. 11.0 (0.0, 38.0)], and the differences were statistically significant (p &lt; 0.05). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the abnormal vHIT results and saccade ratio of the light cupula group were correlated with the affected side (p &lt; 0.05).ConclusionThe vHIT results of idiopathic HC light cupula and HC-Cu were different as they are distinct diseases. Light cupula may be associated with some mild lesions in the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) pathway. The lighter cupula theory is the possible mechanism.
The research focus and frontiers in surgical treatment of essential tremor
Authors: Zhang Linlin , Cui Shifang , Bi Hongyan , Chen Qiang , Kan Mengfan , Wang Cheng , Pu Yu , Cheng Hongxia , Huang Bin 
Published: December 2024

BackgroundEssential tremor (ET) is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders, with surgery serving as the principal treatment option. This paper presents a bibliometric analysis of research in the field of ET surgery from 2004 to 2024, aiming to identify current research hotspots and inform future research directions.MethodsThis study employs CiteSpace to analyze publication trends, countries/institutions, authors, keywords, and co-cited references in ET surgery, using the Web of Science core database from 2004 to 2024 to delineate the research pathways.ResultsA total of 1,362 publications were included in this study. The number of publications has shown steady growth over the analyzed period from 2004 to 2024. Research in this field was carried out in 58 countries and by 371 institutions. The United States had the highest volume of publications, with the University of California System identified as the most prolific institution. Dr. Michael S. Okun from the University of Florida was the most prolific author, also based in the United States. This study identified 879 keywords, with significant citation bursts noted in areas such as the caudal zona incerta, ventral intermediate nucleus, location, and MR-guided focused ultrasound. Among the top ten highly cited articles, five pertained to MR-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy, two addressed localization techniques, and one focused on surgical targets.ConclusionThis study employs comprehensive bibliometric and visualization analyses to elucidate the evolution of research and identify emerging hotspots. The identified hotspots are as follows: First, deep brain stimulation (DBS), the most advanced technology in ET surgery, has room for improvement, especially in neuromodulation automation. Second, MR-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy is a new surgical approach that requires further research on efficacy, safety, and side effect management. Third, novel surgical targets have demonstrated some efficacy, yet further research is essential to validate their effectiveness and safety. Lastly, localization techniques are fundamental to ET surgery, with ongoing efforts directed towards achieving more precise, individualized, and intelligent localization.
Cranial volume measurement with artificial intelligence and cognitive scales in patients with clinically isolated syndrome
Authors: Albuz Özlem , Acir Ibrahim , Haşimoğlu Ozan , Suskun Melis , Hocaoğlu Elif , Yayla Vildan 
Published: December 2024

ObjectiveWe aimed to investigate the relationship between volumetric measurements of specific brain regions which were measured with artificial intelligence (AI) and various neuropsychological tests in patients with clinically isolated syndrome.Materials and methodsA total of 28 patients diagnosed with CIS were included in the study. The patients were administered Öktem Verbal Memory Processes Test, Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Backward-Forward Digit Span Test, Stroop Test, Trail Making Test, Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT), Brief Visuospatial Memory Test, Judgement of Line Orientation Test, Beck Depression Scale, Beck Anxiety Scale and Fatigue Severity Scale. Artificial intelligence assisted BrainLab Elements™ Atlas-Based Automatic Segmentation program was used for calculating volumes. The measured volumes were compared with the reference database. In addition, neuropsychological test performances and volumetric measurements of the patients were compared.ResultsOf the patients included in the study, 78.6% were female and 21.4% were male, with an average age of 33 years. Verbal Memory Processes Test, SDMT, Backward-Forward Digit Span, JLOT, and Stroop Test showed significant correlations with multiple anatomical regions, particularly the anterior thalamic nucleus, which was associated with the highest number of cognitive tests. The JLOT exhibited the strongest correlation with six different brain regions (p &lt; 0.001).ConclusionThe Judgement of Line Orientation and Stroop Tests, correlated with multiple brain regions, especially the anterior thalamic nucleus, underscoring the importance of these tests in assessing cognitive function in CIS.
A fusion analytic framework for investigating functional brain connectivity differences using resting-state fMRI
Authors: Jeon Yeseul , Kim Jeong-Jae , Yu SuMin , Choi Junggu , Han Sanghoon 
Published: December 2024

IntroductionFunctional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data is highly complex and high-dimensional, capturing signals from regions of interest (ROIs) with intricate correlations. Analyzing such data is particularly challenging, especially in resting-state fMRI, where patterns are less identifiable without task-specific contexts. Nonetheless, interconnections among ROIs provide essential insights into brain activity and exhibit unique characteristics across groups.MethodsTo address these challenges, we propose an interpretable fusion analytic framework to identify and understand ROI connectivity differences between two groups, revealing their distinctive features. The framework involves three steps: first, constructing ROI-based Functional Connectivity Networks (FCNs) to manage resting-state fMRI data; second, employing a Self-Attention Deep Learning Model (Self-Attn) for binary classification to generate attention distributions encoding group-level differences; and third, utilizing a Latent Space Item-Response Model (LSIRM) to extract group-representative ROI features, visualized on group summary FCNs.ResultsWe applied our framework to analyze four types of cognitive impairments, demonstrating their effectiveness in identifying significant ROIs that contribute to the differences between the two disease groups. The results reveal distinct connectivity patterns and unique ROI features, which differentiate cognitive impairments. Specifically, our framework highlighted group-specific differences in functional connectivity, validating its capability to capture meaningful insights from high-dimensional fMRI data.DiscussionOur novel interpretable fusion analytic framework addresses the challenges of analyzing high-dimensional, resting-state fMRI data. By integrating FCNs, a Self-Attention Deep Learning Model, and LSIRM, the framework provides an innovative approach to discovering ROI connectivity disparities between groups. The attention distribution and group-representative ROI features offer interpretable insights into brain activity patterns and their variations among cognitive impairment groups. This methodology has significant potential to enhance our understanding of cognitive impairments, paving the way for more targeted therapeutic interventions.