bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of leukocyte-platelet rich fibrin as an antibiotic slow-release biological device in the treatment of moderate periodontitis: a randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Omar Yasmeen K. , Rashidy Mohy A. El , Ahmed Ghada B. , Aboulela Aliaa G. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by the accumulation of biofilm. Antimicrobials have been used as adjuncts to non-surgical periodontal therapy. However, systemic antibiotics often require large dosages to achieve suitable concentrations at the disease site. Leukocyte platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) is a promising bio-material, with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing enhancement effects. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of L-PRF as a locally sustained released device for metronidazole antimicrobial.

Methods
Twenty-four patients with eighty periodontal pockets had moderate periodontitis with attachment loss of 3–4 mm, and probing depth ≤ 5, which was equally divided into two groups: Group (I) underwent scaling and root planing with intra-pocket application of L-PRF loaded with Metronidazole, while Group (II) was treated by scaling and root planing with intra-pocket application of L-PRF alone. Microbiological measurements were taken at baseline and after one month to analyze the relative count of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) using real time PCR. Clinical parameters were measured at baseline and after 1, 3, and 6 months. These parameters included probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), plaque index (PI), modified gingival index (MGI), and bleeding index (BI).

Results
Microbiological and clinical findings revealed that both treatment methods resulted in a reduction in P. gingivalis counts, in addition to improvements in the clinical parameters: PD reduction, CAL gain, PI reduction, BI decrease and MGI reduction compared to baseline. However, L-PRF-metronidazole group showed superior results in the studied parameters over the study period. Nonetheless, there was no statistically significant improvement. (p < .001).

Conclusion
The intra-pocket application of both L-PRF loaded with Metronidazole and L-PRF alone contributed to the successful treatment of moderate periodontitis.

Trial registration
NCT06153706 (http://www.clinical-trials.gov/); 1/12/2023, retrospective registration.
Nursing students and role modeled behavior while caring for LGBTQ + people: a cross-sectional, descriptive study
Authors: Roy Emily E. , Clark Kristen D. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
While efforts to improve the educational preparedness of nurses to care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ +) people have increased, the influence of role-modeled behaviors by healthcare professionals working with nursing students and recent graduates is not well understood. The purpose of this study is to describe the role-modeled behaviors of healthcare professionals observed by nursing students and recent graduates caring for LGBTQ + patients in clinical settings.

Methods
A cross-sectional, online survey was conducted. Recruitment of nursing students who had completed one or more clinical rotations or were recent graduates (≤ 2 years) was performed through university emails and social media. Items included measurement of stigmatizing attitudes, observed stigmatizing behaviors, and ability to provide inclusive/affirming care for LGBTQ + patients. Open-text items prompted participants to describe observed behaviors. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon signed rank sum tests to evaluate differences between LGB (lesbian, gay, bisexual) and T + (transgender and gender diverse) subscales. Open-text responses were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify relevant themes.

Results
Participants (N = 73) had a low level of stigmatizing attitudes toward LGBTQ + people (M = 1.8, SD = 0.4), although higher stigmatizing attitudes toward T + people were reported (M = 3.0, SD = 0.2; Z = -7.254, p < .001). Half of the participants reported that they observed LGBTQ + stigmatizing behaviors role-modeled by two + healthcare professional roles; approximately one-third of participants personally engaged in one + LGBTQ + stigmatizing behaviors, most commonly toward T + people. Themes from participants’ examples of observed stigmatizing behaviors included: cis-heteronormative bias, non-affirmation of chosen name/pronouns, outing patients, and rejected competency.

Conclusions
The majority of participants described observing stigmatizing behaviors toward LGBTQ + people in clinical settings. Poorer attitudes and a higher frequency of stigmatizing behaviors observed towards T + people point to deficits in healthcare provided to T + people in particular. Efforts to address LGBTQ + stigma in healthcare should be expanded to include clinical settings to address role-modeled behaviors and socialization of nurses.
Ambivalent and heavy burdened wanderers on a road less travelled: a meta-ethnography on end-of-life care experiences among family caregivers in rural areas
Authors: Breivik Elisabet , Ervik Bente , Kitzmüller Gabriele 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
As the population ages, more people will be diagnosed with cancer, and they will live longer due to receiving better treatment and optimized palliative care. Family members will be expected to take on more responsibilities related to providing palliative care at home. Several countries have expressed their vision of making home death an option, but such a vision can be more challenging in rural areas. There is a lack of synthesized research providing an in-depth understanding of rural family caregiving for people with cancer at the end of life. Thus, the purpose of this study was to synthesize and reinterpret the findings from qualitative research on rural family caregivers of adult cancer patients at the end of life.

Methods
We conducted a meta-ethnography following Noblit and Hare’s approach. A systematic literature search of four databases and extensive manual searches were completed in April 2022. The final sample included twelve studies from six different countries published in 2011–2022.

Results
Based on the translation and synthesis of the included studies, four themes were developed (1) providing family care at the end of life in rural areas—a challenging endeavour; (2) the heavy responsibility of rural caregiving—a lonesome experience; (3) working on and behind the scenes; and (4) the strong and weak spots of community connectedness in rural areas. An overarching metaphor, namely, “ambivalent and heavy burdened wanderers on a road less travelled”, provides a deeper understanding of the meaning of rural family caregiving at the end of life.

Conclusions
This study provides valuable insights into end-of-life cancer care for rural families on four continents. It is crucial to prepare family caregivers for the demanding role of palliative caregiving in rural areas. To address the long distances and poor access related to specialized health care services, outpatient palliative teams tailored to the families’ individual needs should be provided. In addition, more telehealth services, palliative units, or beds in local nursing facilities may reduce the number of exhausting trips that need to be made by caregivers and patients. Healthcare workers in rural areas need further education in palliative care.

Trial registration
The study was registered in PROSPERO.
Relational anonymity in reducing the harms of illicit drug use: accounts of users of dark web- and street-based services in Finland
Authors: Ranta Johanna , Kaskela Teemu , Nurmi Juha , Ruokolainen Teemu , Shorter Gillian W. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
Protecting individual anonymity is a common practice in harm reduction (HR), as it can mitigate the fears that may prevent people from accessing services. Protecting anonymity usually means applying for services with a pseudonym. However, anonymity protection practices have diversified in current HR environments, for example, on the streets or in the Tor network, which relies on technology to guarantee exceptionally strong anonymity. Despite its importance, the individual’s need for anonymity when seeking help to reduce drug-related harm has been underexplored.

Methods
The research contexts included four street- and dark web-based HR services in Finland. The data consisted of service user interviews and naturally occurring conversations in the Tor network. We focused on service users’ accounts of their need for anonymity and applied the concept of relational anonymity, acknowledging that wider contextual relations intertwine with situational needs for anonymity. We asked: What kinds of needs for anonymity do service users express when discussing seeking help to reduce drug-related harm? How do service users account for their need for anonymity when seeking such help? To which kinds of contextual relations are these accounts attached?

Results
We identified connections between the accounts of the need for anonymity and various contextual relations: (1) excusing the need for anonymity by referring to societal relations: blaming Finnish society for stigmatising attitudes and exclusionary practices; (2) excusing the need for anonymity by referring to service system relations: blaming the service system for the risk of negative consequences from recording the use of illicit drugs; (3) justifying and excusing the need for anonymity by referring to personal relations: appealing to personal situation, feelings and experiences.

Conclusions
The need for anonymity reflects problematic societal relations, in which the stigma towards drug use is strong. The service users’ accounts were motivated by rational actions to avoid possible sanctions and the perceived abuse of power in Finnish society and services, which the service users deemed to have various negative consequences in their lives. Societies should promote cultural atmospheres and information sharing practices where anonymity is not needed, but services that protect anonymity are crucial in the current societal conditions.
Proportional myoelectric control of a virtual bionic arm in participants with hemiparesis, muscle spasticity, and impaired range of motion
Authors: Thomson Caleb J. , Mino Fredi R. , Lopez Danielle R. , Maitre Patrick P. , Edgley Steven R. , George Jacob A. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
This research aims to improve the control of assistive devices for individuals with hemiparesis after stroke by providing intuitive and proportional motor control. Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States, with 80% of stroke-related disability coming in the form of hemiparesis, presented as weakness or paresis on half of the body. Current assistive exoskeletonscontrolled via electromyography do not allow for fine force regulation. Current control strategies provide only binary, all-or-nothing control based on a linear threshold of muscle activity.

Methods
In this study, we demonstrate the ability of participants with hemiparesis to finely regulate their muscle activity to proportionally control the position of a virtual bionic arm. Ten stroke survivors and ten healthy, aged-matched controls completed a target-touching task with the virtual bionic arm. We compared the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the recorded electromyography (EMG) signals used to train the control algorithms and the task performance using root mean square error, percent time in target, and maximum hold time within the target window. Additionally, we looked at the correlation between EMG SNR, task performance, and clinical spasticity scores.

Results
All stroke survivors were able to achieve proportional EMG control despite limited or no physical movement (i.e., modified Ashworth scale of 3). EMG SNR was significantly lower for the paretic arm than the contralateral nonparetic arm and healthy control arms, but proportional EMG control was similar across conditions for hand grasp. In contrast, proportional EMG control for hand extension was significantly worse for paretic arms than healthy control arms. The participants’ age, time since their stroke, clinical spasticity rate, and history of botulinum toxin injections had no impact on proportional EMG control.

Conclusions
It is possible to provide proportional EMG control of assistive devices from a stroke survivor’s paretic arm. Importantly, information regulating fine force output is still present in muscle activity, even in extreme cases of spasticity where there is no visible movement. Future work should incorporate proportional EMG control into upper-limb exoskeletons to enhance the dexterity of stroke survivors.
Exploring the effects of probiotics on olanzapine-induced metabolic syndrome through the gut microbiota
Authors: Mushraf Syed , Chawla Kiran , Fayaz Shaik Mohammed Abdul , Mathew Aranjani Jesil , Reddy Gayam Prasanna Kumar , Kappettu Gadahad Mohandas Rao , Shenoy Padmaja A. , Devi Vasudha , Adiga Shalini , Nayak Veena 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
Maintaining gut microbial homeostasis is crucial for human health, as imbalances in the gut microbiota (GM) can lead to various diseases, including metabolic syndrome (MS), exacerbated by the use of antipsychotic medications such as olanzapine (OLZ). Understanding the role of the GM in OLZ-induced MS could lead to new therapeutic strategies. This study used metagenomic analysis to explore the impact of OLZ on the GM composition and examined how probiotics can mitigate its adverse effects in a rat model. Changes in weight, blood pressure, and lipid levels, which are key parameters defining MS, were assessed. Additionally, this study investigated serotonin, dopamine, and histopathological changes to explore their possible link with the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA).

Results
OLZ had an antagonistic effect on serotonin and dopamine receptors, and it was consistently found to alter the composition of the GM, with an increase in the relative abundance (RA) of the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes phyla ratio and TM7 genera, indicating that the anticommonsal action of OLZ affects appetite and energy expenditure, contributing to obesity, dyslipidemia and increased blood pressure, which are core components of MS. Hepatic steatosis and intestinal damage in OLZ-treated rat tissues further indicate its role in MS. Conversely, the administration of probiotics, either alone or in combination with OLZ, was found to mitigate these OLZ-induced symptoms of MS by altering the GM composition. These alterations included increases in the abundances of the taxa Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Prevotella, Blautia, Bacteroides, Bacteroidales, and Ruminococcaceae and a decrease in Firmicute abundance. These changes helped maintain gut barrier integrity and modulated neurotransmitter levels, suggesting that probiotics can counteract the adverse metabolic effects of OLZ by restoring the GM balance. Moreover, this study highlights the modulation of the MGBA by OLZ as a potential mechanism through which probiotics modulate serotonin and dopamine levels, influencing metabolic health.

Conclusion
These findings emphasise the significant impact of OLZ on the GM and its contribution to MS. These findings suggest that interventions targeting the GM, such as probiotics, could mitigate the metabolic side effects of OLZ. Future research should focus on developing integrative treatment approaches that consider the health of the gut microbiome in managing antipsychotic-induced adverse effects.
A review of biodegradation and formation of biodegradable microplastics in soil and freshwater environments
Authors: Payanthoth Nehala Sona , Mut Nik Nurhidayu Nik , Samanta Palas , Li Guanlin , Jung Jinho 
Published: December 2024

AbstractPlastic pollution is of critical environmental concern, thus biodegradable plastics (BPs) have emerged as a potential solution to limit plastic waste accumulation. However, the fate of BPs in the environment, particularly their degradation and the subsequent generation of biodegradable microplastic (BMP) particles, remains poorly understood. This review aims to provide comprehensive insights into the biodegradation process of BPs and their impacts on soil and freshwater environments. Microorganisms play a pivotal role in this process by dismantling polymer chains into smaller particles. Factors influencing biodegradation rates include polymer composition, environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, ultraviolet radiation (UV), and pH), and the presence of chemical additives. However, incomplete degradation can result in BMPs, potentially perpetuating their presence in the environment and posing risks to ecosystems and organisms. This review consolidates understanding the mechanisms governing biodegradation and BMP formation, which is imperative for evaluating their environmental consequences and devising effective strategies for managing plastic waste.
Atypical femur fracture in two patients treated with denosumab: case reports of a patient undergoing maintenance hemodialysis and a kidney transplant recipient, with a literature review of the denosumab used to treat these patients
Authors: Miyazaki Ryoichi , Miyagi Kyoko , Hirayama Sun , Miyanaga Tatsuto 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
Osteoporosis is a serious complication for both patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) and kidney transplant (KTx) recipients. Denosumab (Dmab) is a highly efficacious drug used to treat osteoporosis. However, like bisphosphonates, Dmab has the rare complication of atypical femur fracture (AFF). Here, we report two cases of AFF in a patient on MHD and a KTx recipient during treatment with Dmab.

Case presentation
Case 1 was a 78-year-old female patient undergoing MHD diagnosed with an AFF in April 2023. In 2018, she started hemodialysis necessitated by glomerulonephritis caused by parvovirus B19. She had been receiving intravenous alendronate for osteoporosis since 2005, then changed to subcutaneous Dmab in 2020. She underwent an intramedullary nail osteosynthesis for her AFF and is doing well on teriparatide. Case 2 was a 67-year-old female KTx recipient diagnosed with an AFF in June 2023. She had been on oral minodronate since 2014 but was switched to subcutaneous Dmab in 2020 owing to repeated fractures. She is doing well on romosozumab after intramedullary nail osteosynthesis.

Conclusions
We report two cases of AFF treated with Dmab. Case 1 was a patient undergoing MHD and case 2 was a KTx recipient. AFFs are relatively rare and, to our knowledge, have not been reported in patients undergoing MHD or KTx recipients. Dmab-associated AFFs are likely to increase in the future as the population ages, and adequate attention should be paid to patients undergoing MHD and KTx recipients.
Mobile systems for assessing air quality: available solutions and application examples
Authors: Zboralski Dominik , Kunz Mieczysław 
Published: December 2024

Air quality is of interest to many institutions and individuals, including, above all, the informed residents of monitored areas. The state of the air and its pollution level are very important to the health, life and functioning of any community living in urban areas. A poor state of the environment has inevitable health consequences; in the case of the air, these are mainly respiratory or cardiovascular diseases. This element intensifies during the heating season when compounds from the combustion of banned substances and materials are emitted into the atmosphere. The quality of the lowest layer of the atmosphere can be studied using various recording systems and detectors. These include continuous monitoring of the state of the air by spatially dispersed stationary measuring stations operating in the State Environmental Monitoring system. Their location is usually associated with significant traffic intensity in their immediate vicinity rather than high local residential density. The measurement network is also co-created and densified by alternative point air-quality-monitoring systems proposed by private companies or community organizations (e.g., Airly, Sensor.Community, LoVo). A precious source of reliable local air quality data is mobile recording systems, which use unmanned aircraft or vehicles – objects in motion – and carry out periodic inspections, control missions or measurements. Examples of such solutions in the Polish market are Sniffer4D, Nosacz II and AirDrone. This paper aims to analyze and compare the available mobile measurement systems in terms of technical and usability for air quality research, along with a description of example areas where they are being used and implemented in practice. In addition, selected results of tests carried out with the Sniffer4D system at three testing grounds in Toruń are presented as part of a measurement campaign using an unmanned aerial vehicle and a passenger car.
Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction as the same symptom of various basis - review of literature
Authors: Grzegorczyk Aleksandra , Pachla Magdalena , Dardzińska Nicol 
Published: December 2024

The aim of this work is to discuss the known causes of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction. Determining the etiology of the symptoms reported by the patient, such as: abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, constipation, heartburn or regurgitation, the cause of which cannot be clearly identified in imaging tests as mechanical intestinal obstruction, is necessary to implement proper therapy. We distinguished, among others: infections, gene mutations, cancer and paraneoplastic syndromes and autoimmune diseases. This broad range of causes shows the complexity of this disease.
Among pathogens, the most common cause are viruses, especially herpesviruses, what is more bacterial infections and gut dysbiosis must be taken under consideration. We found that specific pathway gene mutations can cause obturation symptoms which need extended diagnostic tests. Paraneoplastic syndromes should be examined as a possible etiological factor while looking for the cause of this disease and anticancer treatment can be either a solution for the chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction symptoms or a cause of them. Lastly we discussed autoimmune diseases as a part of the inflammation problem of the bowel.
The goal is to emphasize how important it is to draw attention to the need of looking at the patient and his ailments integrally, which will enable an accurate diagnosis to be made and the appropriate treatment to be effectively selected. We found it very important to think unconventionally with every patient we deal with and what can be done thanks to a great amount of knowledge provided by other doctors.