bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Incidence and risk factors of postoperative nausea and vomiting in Africa among patient under gone surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Bacho Mebratu Tila , Wolda Getahun Dendir , Demssie Wondu Reta , Awoke Nefsu , Temsgen Ashagrie Sintayehu , Sulieman Elias Habtu , Geberemedin Tsegaye Demeke , Gemechu Ashebir Debalkie , Wosene Naol Gorde , Endebirku Andualem Assefa , Negash Wogayehu Abera , Alemu Afwork , Kussie Alemu Urmle , Kusie Wondafrsh , Obsa Mohammed Suleiman 
Published: December 2024

Background:
Patients who experience postoperative nausea and vomiting are not happy with their surgical outcomes. Preventing this problem expedites the patients’ return to normal activities following surgery and significantly increases their satisfaction. There are no condensed results that show the prevalence and contributing variables of postoperative nausea and vomiting in Africa. Thus, the purpose of this meta-analysis and comprehensive review was to ascertain the prevalence and contributing variables of postoperative nausea and vomiting in Africa.

Methods:
Studies were retrieved from the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Database, CINAHL, Scopus, Mednar, and Google Scholar databases using combinations of searching terms and Boolean operators. I-squared (I
2) statistics is used for evaluating study heterogeneity. Every publication is assessed for methodological quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal criteria. Using a funnel plot, publication bias is visually assessed. Subgroup analyses investigate the source of heterogeneity. To determine whether publication bias exists, the Eggers weighted regression test is employed. STATA software version 14 was used to perform statistical analyses.

Results:
In Africa, the combined incidences of nausea 24.96 % (95% CI: 17.903-32.018), vomiting 23.655 % (95% CI: 17.542-29.769) and nausea with vomiting 15.27 % (95% CI: 9.118-21.424) . History of motion sickness (odds ratio [OR]: 3.19 (95% CI 1.08–9.42), P < 0.036) and history of postoperative nausea and vomiting (OR: 4.33 (95% CI 2.654–7.07), P < 0.001) were factors linked to postoperative nausea and vomiting. Compared to their counterparts, patients who underwent more risky surgical procedures had a 1.4-fold increased chance of developing postoperative nausea and vomiting. Patients who skipped the use of prophylactic medication for nausea and vomiting had a 59% higher risk of experiencing postoperative nausea and vomiting than those who did [OR: 1.39 (95% CI (1.074–1.769), P < 0.012) and OR: 0.194 (95% CI (0.04–0.935), P < 0.001)], respectively.

Conclusion:
Postoperative nausea and vomiting were more common in surgically treated African individuals. Clinical interventions are needed to prevent, diagnose, and treat postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), with a focus on patients who have experienced motion sickness, high-risk surgery, or PONV in the past. It is advisable to use whole intravenous anesthesia based on Propofol for surgery, if feasible.
The limits of artificial intelligence: prospects and challenges in the clinical workplace
Authors: Schneider-Kamp Anna , Askegaard Søren 
Published: December 2024

Purpose of review
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly prevalent in the clinical workplace, a trend that is likely to continue with the amount of attention and resources these technologies receive. This review of 22 articles from the last 18 months takes stock of not only the prospects but also the challenges for clinicians resulting from AI integration.

Recent findings
While the technology matures rapidly, insights into organizational processes and user readiness and involvement in AI development, implementation, and deployment lag behind. AI impact assessments often focus narrowly on task efficiency, overlooking the derived effect of additional workload elsewhere. Additionally, the issue of the distribution of responsibility between humans and AIs poses a fundamental ethical, legal, and political challenge. Research acknowledges the need to consider healthcare professionals’ diverse roles and sociocultural backgrounds to avoid AI exacerbating existing inequalities among the clinical workforce and, ultimately, the patients cared for.

Summary
Decision-makers should involve users throughout the entire AI life cycle, from the early stages of AI development to continuous postdeployment impact assessment on workload. More research is needed on AI's cost-effectiveness, integration into clinical practice, and the role of diversity-aware facilitation in realizing its potential.
Accuracy of Ultrasound-Guided Attenuation Parameter for Diagnosing Hepatic Steatosis
Authors: Yagobian Shiva D. , Dasyam Navya , Minervini Marta , Tublin Mitchell , Behari Jaideep , Furlan Alessandro 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of a new noninvasive imaging technique, ultrasound-guided attenuation parameter (UGAP), in diagnosing hepatic steatosis. This single-center retrospective study included 81 UGAP studies performed to guide therapy between July 2022 and June 2023 at a large academic medical center. Patients with either liver biopsy or Magnetic resonance–based proton-density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) within 12 months of US-UGAP imaging, irrespective of order, were included. Patient demographics, body mass index, liver function tests, UGAP values, MRI-PDFF values, and liver biopsy results were obtained from a review of the medical records. Presence of steatosis was defined as PDFF >5.2% or >5% of hepatocytes with steatosis at pathology. Area under the ROC curve (AUROC) was used to measure UGAP accuracy for the detection of hepatic steatosis with statistical significance P < 0.05. There was a significant positive correlation between UGAP and MRI-PDFF (r = 0.463; P < 0.001; confidence interval [CI]: 0.220;0.651). The AUROC to differentiate absence of steatosis (n = 21) from presence of steatosis (n = 32) for UGAP with MRI as the gold standard was 0.760 (P < 0.001; CI: 0.623;0.867). A UGAP value >0.66 had 78% sensitivity and 67% specificity to identify steatosis presence on MRI-PDFF. The AUROC to differentiate absence of steatosis (n = 11) from presence of steatosis (n = 21) for UGAP with pathology as the gold standard was 0.894 (P < 0.001; CI: 0.734;0.974). A UGAP value >0.57 had 100% sensitivity and 64% specificity to identify steatosis presence at pathology. UGAP is an accurate measure for detecting the presence of hepatic steatosis and may be a noninvasive method for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease diagnosis and follow-up.
Computational modeling reveals biological mechanisms underlying the whisker-flick EEG
Authors: Tharayil Joseph , Isbister James B. , Neufeld Esra , Reimann Michael 
Published: December 2024

AbstractWhisker flick stimulation is a commonly used protocol to investigate somatosensory processing in rodents. Neural activity in the brain evoked by whisker flicks produces a characteristic EEG waveform recorded at the skull, known as a somatosensory evoked potential. In this paper, we usein silicomodeling to identify the neural populations that serve as sources and targets of the synaptic currents contributing to this signal (presynaptic and postsynaptic populations, respectively). The initial positive deflection of the EEG waveform is driven largely by direct thalamic inputs to Layer 2/3 and Layer 5 pyramidal cells, though interestingly, L5-L5 inhibition plays a modulatory role, reducing the amplitude and width of the deflection. This suggests that increasing thalamocortical connectivity and decreasing L5-L5 inhibition may be responsible for some of the changes observed in the EEG waveform over the course of development. The negative deflection is driven by a more complex mix of sources, including both thalamic and recurrent cortical connectivity. We demonstrate that small changes to the local connectivity of the circuit, particularly to perisomatic inhibitory targeting, can have an important impact on the recorded EEG, without substantially affecting firing rates, suggesting that EEG may be useful in constrainingin siliconeural models.
Growth-coupled continuous directed evolution by MutaT7 enables efficient and automated enzyme engineering
Authors: Deng Yijie , Etheridge Kai , Ran Xinping , Maurais Hannah E. , Sarpeshkar Rahul 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTTraditional directed evolution is limited by labor-intensive iterative steps and low-throughput selection and screening. To address these challenges, we developed a growth-coupled continuous directed evolution (GCCDE) approach, enabling automated and efficient enzyme engineering. By linking enzyme activity to bacterial growth and utilizing the MutaT7 system, GCCDE combinesin vivomutagenesis and high-throughput selection of superior enzyme variants in a single process. To validate this approach, we evolved the thermostable enzyme CelB to enhance β-galactosidase activity at lower temperatures while maintaining thermal stability. CelB activity was coupled to the growth ofE. coli, allowing variants with improved activity to metabolize lactose more efficiently and promote faster bacterial growth in a minimal medium. Using a continuous culture system, we achieved automated mutagenesis and real-time selection of over 109variants per culture. Integratingin vitroandin vivomutagenesis further increased genetic diversity, yielding CelB variants with significantly enhanced low-temperature activity compared to the wild type while preserving thermostability. DNA sequencing identified key mutations likely responsible for improved substrate binding and catalytic turnover. This GCCDE approach is broadly applicable for optimizing diverse enzymes, demonstrating the potential of automated continuous evolution for industrial and research applications.IMPORTANCEEnzyme engineering aims to develop enzymes with improved or novel traits, but traditional methods are slow and require repetitive manual steps. This study presents a faster, automated protein engineering approach. We utilized anin vivomutagenesis technique, MutaT7 tools, to induce mutations in living bacteria and established a direct link between enzyme activity and bacterial growth. A continuous culture setup was used to enable growth-coupled high-throughput selection of better-performing variants. Bacteria with improved enzymes grew faster, selecting superior variants without manual intervention. Using this method, we engineered CelB with better performance at lower temperatures while maintaining high-temperature stability. The approach is adaptable to many enzymes. It offers a faster and more efficient solution for enzyme engineering. This system enables high-throughput mutagenesis and selection simultaneously, showing the power of automated continuous evolution to advance enzyme engineering.
Innovative Carnitine-Fed Rats Model Reveals Resveratrol Butyrate Ester’s Multimechanistic Role in Reducing TMAO and Cardiovascular Risk
Authors: Hou Chih-Yao , Liu Cai-Sian , Shih Ming-Kuei , Bhat Asif Ali , Tain You-Lin , Hsieh Chang-Wei , Chen Yu-Wei , Chen Shin-Yu 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDTrimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a metabolite produced from dietary carnitine through gut microbiota, is a recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). High-fat diets and carnitine supplementation exacerbate TMAO levels and related risks, making them valuable in developing experimental models for studying CVD. Resveratrol butyrate ester (RBE) and its monomer ED4 have shown potential in reducing TMAO levels and improving cardiovascular outcomes through metabolic and microbial modulation, but their precise mechanisms remain unclear.METHODS AND RESULTSA novel animal model was established using 36 male Sprague-Dawley rats fed a high-fat diet supplemented with carnitine to elevate serum TMAO levels, simulating dietary-induced CVD risks. Rats were divided into six groups: control diet (CN), high-fat diet (HFD), high-fat diet with carnitine (HFDC), HFDC with dimethylbutanol (HFDCB), CN with ED4 (CNM), and HFDC with ED4 (HFDCM). Physiological parameters, serum lipid profiles, SCFA levels, microbiota composition, and gene expression (OCTN2 and FMO3) were analyzed. ED4 supplementation reduced serum TMAO levels by upregulating OCTN2 expression, promoting urinary TMAO excretion, and restoring SCFA levels. ED4 also modulated gut microbiota, reducing TMA-producing bacteria (e.g.,Bacteroides), and improved cardiovascular markers, including reduced blood lipid levels and fat accumulation. While dimethylbutanol inhibited FMO3 expression to reduce TMAO, ED4 acted primarily through carnitine utilization and microbiota modulation. Both treatments enhanced urinary TMAO excretion and altered gut microbiota composition.CONCLUSIONSThis study introduced an innovative animal model combining high-fat and carnitine-enriched diets to study TMAO-related cardiovascular risks. ED4 demonstrated multimechanistic effects in reducing TMAO levels and CVD risk factors by modulating gut microbiota, restoring SCFA levels, and enhancing carnitine metabolism. These findings highlight ED4’s therapeutic potential in cardiovascular protection and metabolic regulation. However, further research is needed to elucidate the molecular pathways underlying ED4’s effects on TMAO metabolism and its broader translational applications.
Molecular flexibility of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid measured by NMR has a profound effect on invasion of cancer cells
Authors: Bashtanova Uliana , Kuraite Agne , Rajan Rakesh , Duer Melinda J 
Published: December 2024

AbstractExtracellular hyaluronic acid (HA) has been shown to be important in cancer; low molecular weight HA typically correlates with cancer progression, high molecular weight HA with homeostasis. Here we show that even high molecular weight HA can induce cancer cell migration when it is highly diluted. HA-induced cell signalling is primarily through HA binding to the cell surface receptor, CD44. We show by NMR spectroscopy that at high dilution, high molecular weight HA molecules access the conformations needed for strong binding to CD44 on the tens of nanosecond timescale, the relevant timescale for induction of CD44 signalling. We further show that, in contrast, at higher concentrations, HA molecules have insufficient flexibility for strong CD44 binding. The high dilution HA condition correlates with profound changes in brain cancer cell morphology and proteome which supports cancer cell invasion. We hypothesize that the flexibility of HA molecules is central to HA-mediated cell signalling and that this concept can explain previous observations that the outcome of HA-mediated signalling depends on the HA molecular weight. HA dilution leading to stronger HA signalling may be important in understanding the role that oedema plays in cancer recurrence after primary surgery.
A universal single-cell transcriptomics atlas of human lung decodes multiple pulmonary diseases
Authors: Wu Fanjie , Cai Wenhao , Tang Hai , Zheng Shikang , Zhang Haiyue , Chen Yixin , Han Yutong , Zhou Dingli , Wang Ruihan , Ye Mingli , You Renke , Chen Amin , Li Jiaqi , Zhang Xuegong , Li Weizhong 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTHuman lung is a complex organ susceptible to various diseases. Single-cell transcriptomic studies provide rich data to targeting specific research questions. Here, we present uniLUNG, the largest lung transcriptomic cell atlas, comprising over 10 million cells across 20 disease states and healthy controls. We ensembled a universal hierarchical annotation framework and conducted a full benchmarking of data integration to define a standardized nomenclature and marker genes for lung cell types. Using uniLUNG, we identified Lym-monocyte and T-like B cells, new cell types in specific lung diseases, confirming their existence by comparing with external single-cell atlases. Additionally, we discovered the NSCLC-like SCLC subpopulation, a transitional malignant cell population associated with the transition from NSCLC to SCLC, which was validated and further characterized in spatial dimensions, revealing its complex role in tumour progression. Overall, uniLUNG represents a comprehensive range of human lung cell diversity, providing valuable data resources and a reliable foundation for lung single-cell research.HIGHLIGHTSThe largest scRNA atlas for human lung covers 10 million cells from 20 lung states.A four-level universal cell annotation framework encompasses 120 lung cell types.Comprehensive benchmarking on 18 strategies guides data integration.Specific distribution of Lym-monocytes and T-like B cells in specific lung diseases.The NSCLC-like SCLC subpopulation in transitional events of malignant cells from NSCLC to SCLC.
Exposure to novel females increases fecundity in adult male prairie voles
Authors: Hurd Jessica A. , Watanabe Yurika L. , Toben Gracie J. , Ford Alexandra K. , Miller Craig A. , Sergott Casey E. , Kelley Dale , Donaldson Zoe R. , McCullagh Elizabeth A. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractSocial circuitry of the mammalian brain can influence male reproductive physiology. This often manifests as plasticity in sperm production or allocation, particularly in response to male-male competition. However, socially mediated testicular plasticity has not been investigated with respect to mating and parental strategy. Testis mass and sperm production of sexually naïve and female-exposed adult male individuals of three rodent species were compared: the socially monogamous and paternal prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster), the promiscuous and non-paternal meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus), and the promiscuous and non-paternal house mouse (Mus musculus). Monogamously paired prairie vole males exhibited significantly larger testes and greater sperm production than naïve prairie vole males. Comparatively, there were no significant differences between naïve and monogamously paired male meadow voles or mice. To investigate the role of olfactory cues for regulating this phenomenon in prairie voles, a group of naïve males exposed to soiled bedding from novel females was used. These males were more similar to paired males than to naïve males not exposed to novel female odors, demonstrating a strong role of the social olfactory system. Further, while the predictions of sperm competition theory (species with greater female promiscuity have larger testes than closely related species with less female promiscuity) are consistent between naïve meadow voles and prairie voles, the prediction does not hold for monogamously paired prairie voles and meadow voles. This demonstrates the complexity of internal social dynamics and reproductive pressures which socially monogamous paternal males face and the evolutionary adaptions that may develop in response.
Deciphering single-cell heterogeneity and cellular ecosystem dynamics during prostate cancer progression
Authors: Zhao Faming , Zeng Jianming , Chen Canping , Zhao Xiaofan , Zhang Tingting , Thomas George V. , Sears Rosalie C. , Alumkal Joshi J. , Moran Amy E. , Mills Gordon B. , Nelson Peter S. , Xia Zheng 
Published: December 2024

AbstractProstate cancer (PC) progresses from benign epithelium through pre-malignant lesions, localized tumors, metastatic dissemination, and castration-resistant stages, with some cases exhibiting phenotype plasticity under therapeutic pressure. However, high-resolution insights into how cell phenotypes evolve across successive stages of PC remain limited. Here, we present the Prostate Cancer Cell Atlas (PCCAT) by integrating ∼710,000 single cells from 197 human samples covering a spectrum of tumor stages. This comprehensive analysis dissects the cellular landscape and characterizes key cell types and molecular features that associate with PC progression and prognosis. In malignant cells, we highlight a distinctive profile denoted by high Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) expression, low Androgen Receptor (AR) activity, and enhanced stemness programs associated with enzalutamide resistance. Moreover, we reveal several cell states strongly correlated with PC progression and adverse prognosis, including lineage plasticity-like malignant cells (LPCs), neuroendocrine tumor cells, pericytes, and matrix cancer-associated fibroblasts (mCAFs). Furthermore, we uncover shared cell states that underpin the immune suppressive tumor microenvironment in advanced PC, including activated regulatory T cells, exhausted CD8+ T cells, and SPP1-expressing macrophages. Lastly, we pinpoint a spatial niche composed of mCAFs and SPP1-expressing macrophages localized near the tumor boundary in aggressive PC, which correlates with poor prognosis. Overall, our work provides a valuable resource and offers deeper insights into the diverse cell states, dynamics, and functional characteristics involved in PC progression at single-cell resolution.
Electric field-induced pore constriction in the human Kv2.1 channel
Authors: Mandala Venkata Shiva , MacKinnon Roderick 
Published: December 2024

AbstractGating in voltage-dependent ion channels is regulated by the transmembrane voltage. This form of regulation is enabled by voltage sensing domains (VSDs) that respond to transmembrane voltage differences by changing their conformation and exerting force on the pore to open or close it. Here we use cryogenic electron microscopy to study the neuronal Kv2.1 channel in lipid vesicles with and without a voltage difference across the membrane. Hyperpolarizing voltage differences displace the positively charged S4 helix in the voltage sensor by one helical turn (∼5 Å). When this displacement occurs, the S4 helix changes its contact with the pore at two different interfaces. When these changes are observed in fewer than four voltage sensors the pore remains open, but when they are observed in all four voltage sensors the pore constricts. The constriction occurs because the S4 helix, as it displaces inward, squeezes the right-handed helical bundle of pore lining S6 helices. A similar conformational change occurs upon hyperpolarization of the EAG1 channel. Therefore, while Kv2.1 and EAG1 are from distinct architectural classes of voltage-dependent ion channels, called domain-swapped and nondomain-swapped, the manner in which the voltage sensors gate their pores is very similar.Significance StatementOur ability to transmit signals across long distances rapidly – for example an instruction from the brain to the muscles in our fingers – depends on electrical impulses that travel along nerve cells. These electrical signals are mediated by membrane proteins called voltage-dependent ion channels. These channels have voltage sensors, which are domains that sense the voltage difference across the cell membrane and switch the channel on or off accordingly. Scientists discovered two architectural classes of voltage-dependent ion channels distinguished by the different ways the voltage sensors attach to the pore. This study shows that the two architectures are not very different after all because they both solve the problem of regulation of the pore by voltage sensors in the same way.