bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An education intervention in gastrointestinal healthcare workers improves knowledge of sexual and gender minority digestive health
Authors: Goldowsky Alexander , Clukey Jenna , Streed Carl , Paul Sonali , Vélez Christopher 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Background
Sexual and gender minority (SGM) communities experience barriers in accessing healthcare. While literature exists in remedying SGM-related knowledge deficits in primary care, none exists for gastroenterology specialists.
Aims
We detail a two-site experience with a focused education intervention for gastrointestinal healthcare workers on SGM digestive health.
Methods
Gastroenterology and hepatology physicians, nurses, trainees, and staff at two academic medical centers participated. A 10- question pre-test and Likert scale questions on competence in caring for sexual and gender minority patients was given. Participants then attended a lecture about SGM digestive health. After, they completed a post-test and 6-month follow-up assessment. Pre- and post-test averages of correct answers were compared to assess objective knowledge acquisition and identify gaps in knowledge.
Results
Of 368 eligible participants, 143 (39.0%) completed the pre-test, 79 completed the post-test, and 93 completed 6-month follow-up. Pre-test average correct responses was 61%, while post-test correct responses increased to 70% (p < 0.001). At 6-month follow-up, average percent correct was 66% (p = 0.027 compared to pre-test). Competence caring for SGM patients improved from 3.62 to 3.99. (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree; p = .033). This persisted at 6 months (average 4.07, p = .007).
Conclusions
A lecture-based intervention results in significant and sustained improvement in competence and knowledge surrounding digestive healthcare in SGM patients. This can be used as a starting point for curricular development at all medical education levels. Doing so may allow for more culturally inclusive care to be provided to SGM communities and foster cultural humility.
Clustering of &gt;145,000 Symptom Logs Reveals Distinct Pre, Peri, and Post Menopausal Phenotypes
Authors: Aras Shravan G. , Grant Azure D. , Konhilas John P. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Background and Objectives:
The transition to menopause is associated with disappearance of menstrual cycle symptoms and emergence of vasomotor symptoms. Although menopausal women report a variety of mood, digestive, and pain symptoms, it remains unclear which emerge prior to menopause, if symptoms occur in predictable clusters, how these clusters change from across the menopausal transition, or if distinct phenotypes are present within each life stage.
Methods
We present an analysis of symptoms in premenopausal to menopausal women using the MenoLife app, which includes 4,789 individuals (23% premenopausal, 29% perimenopausal, 48% menopausal) and 147,501 symptom logs (19% premenopausal, 39% perimenopausal, 42% menopausal). Clusters generated from logs of 45 different symptoms were assessed for similarities across methods: hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), K-Means clustering of principal components of symptom reports, and binomial network analysis. Participants were further evaluated based on menstrual cycle regularity or natural versus medically induced menopause.
Results
Menstrual cycle-associated symptoms (e.g., cramps, breast swelling), digestive, mood, and integumentary symptoms were characteristic of premenopause. Vasomotor symptoms, pain, mood, and cognitive symptoms were characteristic of menopause. Perimenopausal women exhibited both menstrual cycle-associated and vasomotor symptoms. Subpopulations across life stages presented with additional correlated mood and cognitive, integumentary, digestive, nervous, or sexual complaints. Symptoms also differed among women depending on the reported regularity of their menstrual cycles or the way in which they entered menopause. Notably, we identified a set of symptoms that were very common across life stages: fatigue, headache, anxiety, and brain fog. Finally, we consistently identified the lack of predictive power of hot flashes for other symptoms except night sweats.
Conclusions
Together, premenopausal women exhibit menstrual cycle-associated symptoms and menopausal women reported vasomotor symptoms, perimenopausal women report both; and all report high rates of fatigue, headache, anxiety, and brain fog. Limiting focus of menopausal treatment to vasomotor symptoms, or to premenstrual syndrome in premenopausal women, neglects a large proportion of overall symptom burden. Future interventions targeting mood and cognition, digestion, and the integumentary system are needed across stages of female reproductive life.
λ-cyhalothrin induced sex-specific inflammation, glia activation and GABAergic interneuron disruption in the hippocampus of rats
Authors: Imam Aminu , Oyegbola Christianah , Busari Maryam , Gbemisola Adewumi Mercy , Abubakar Laaro , Odunayo Ajala Taofeeqoh , Attai Alhassan Godwin , Iyiola Ajibola Musa , Imam Wahab Abdulmajeed , Akorede Aalimah Akinosho , Ijomone Omamuyovwi Meashack , Ajao Moyosore Salihu 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Background
Glia mediated neuroinflammation and degeneration of inhibitory
GABAergic interneurons are some of the hall marks of pyrethroid
neurotoxicity. Here we investigated the sex specific responses of
inflammatory cytokines, microglia, astrocyte and parvalbumin
positive inhibitory GABAergic interneurons to λ-cyhalothrin (LCT)
exposures in rats.

Methods
Equal numbers of male and female rats were given oral corn oil,
2 mg/kg.bw and 4 mg/kg.bw of LCT for fourteen days. They were
euthanized on day 15, brains were excised and hippocampus
(n = 5/group) isolated for interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor
necrotic factor alpha (TNF-α) analysis. The remaining brains
(n = 3/group) were processed for Ionized calcium binding adaptor
molecule 1 (Iba1), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and
parvalbumin (PV) expressions in the hippocampus. All quantitative
data was subjected to one way analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Results
LCT caused sex and dose dependent increase in IL-1β and TNF-α
concentrations, activated microglia (IBA1+) and reactive astrocyte
(GFAP+) expressions, but depleted PV + GABAergic interneurons.
These effects were greater in males compared to females, and
dose-dependent in both sexes.

Conclusion
LCT specifically induced inflammation and disrupted GABAergic
interneurons’ integrities via activation of microglia and reactive
astrogliosis and such effects are dose-dependent and sexually
dimorphic.
A Complex Case of Right Heart Masses in a Leukemia Patient: A case report
Authors: Wang Xiaoning , Fatahichegeni Mahsa , Ansarian Mohammad Amin , Ranjbarha Seifollah , Ren Juan 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Background: An acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) patient presented with a cardiac mass of unknown nature. This case report discusses a 33-year-old male who was initially diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). During medical check-ups before allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT), cardiac ultrasound revealed several mobile, homogenous, and calcified masses of unidentified nature in his right atrium and right ventricle. The nature of these masses has presented gradually increasing calcification but remains unknown.
Case presentation: The patient was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and achieved complete remission after multiple rounds of chemotherapy. From a leukemia treatment perspective, an allo-HSCT was needed as soon as possible. However, several masses were found in his right heart before the transplant. A series of tests were performed to determine the nature of the cardiac mass. His echocardiograms and cardiac MRI revealed persistent, calcified, and mobile nodular masses in the right atrium and right ventricular lateral wall. These masses did not exhibit delayed enhancement, complicating the differential diagnosis. Finally considering the need for leukemia treatment, allo-HSCT was performed after extensive workup, including echocardiography, MRI, and PET/CT, which ruled out leukemic infiltration, typical infectious vegetation, and primary or metastatic cardiac tumors. At present, more than 2 years after transplantation, dynamic detection of the masses revealed gradually increasing calcification, but of a still unknown nature.
Conclusions: The case of this 33-year-old male with AML and concomitant cardiac masses highlights a complex challenge in his diagnosis and treatment. Despite extensive imaging and multidisciplinary consultations, including echocardiography, cardiac MRI, and PET/CT, the exact nature of these calcified, mobile nodular masses in the right atrium and right ventricular lateral wall remains elusive. Their persistence and atypical imaging characteristics underscore the need for continued research and collaboration to elucidate their underlying pathology. This case underscores the importance of vigilant monitoring and a multidisciplinary approach in managing rare cardiac complications in leukemia patients. It aims for improved diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic outcomes in similar challenging scenarios.
Geographic Disparities in Hospital Readmissions: a Retrospective Cohort Study among Patients with Chronic Disease in Rural China
Authors: Li Mingyue , Tang Haoqing , Zheng Huixian , Zhang Baisong , Cheng Haozhe , Wang Yanshang , Zhou Yuxun , Zhang Xiaotian , Geldsetzer Pascal , Liu Xiaoyun 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Background
Frequent hospital readmissions place a significant burden on patients, families, and society. Many high-income countries have implemented financial incentives to reduce readmissions. In China, readmission metrics have also been introduced as part of the performance evaluation for secondary hospitals. However, the understanding of hospital readmissions, particularly in rural and remote areas of China, remains limited. This study aims to analyze geographic disparities in hospital readmissions among high-need patients.
Methods
This retrospective cohort study used anonymized hospital discharge data from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2021, from three public secondary county hospitals. We included rural patients aged 15 and older with hypertension or type 2 diabetes. The outcomes were 30-day, 90-day, and annual readmissions. The explanatory variable was the travel distance to county hospitals, calculated based on the longitude and latitude of registered addresses. Covariates included patient demographics (gender, age, marital status, and ethnicity); health status (Charlson comorbidity score, types of chronic diseases, surgery, and length of stay); and other factors (health insurance and admitted departments). We first reported unweighted readmissions stratified by travel distances (< 40 km versus ≥ 40 km). Multiple logistic regression models were then used to examine the relationship between travel distances and readmissions.
Results
The 30-day, 90-day and annual readmission rates for hypertension or type 2 diabetes were 8.5%, 19.1%, and 39.7%, respectively. Patients living far away were more vulnerable – older (aged 65 and older 59.1% versus 58.5%, P < 0.001), predominantly minorities (Minority 55.6% versus 29.4%, P < 0.001), and having more hypertension and diabetes-related complications, as well as undergoing more surgeries (surgery 29.4% versus 23.3%, P < 0.001) compared to those living nearby. After adjusting covariates and weights, patients living 40km away had 11% decrease in the odds of being readmitted within 30 days (OR = 0.89, 95%CI = 0.83–0.96), 10% decrease in the odds of 90-day readmissions (OR = 0.90, 95%CI = 0.85–0.94), and 13% decrease in the odds of annual readmissions (OR = 0.87, 95%CI = 0.84–0.91) compared to those living within 40km.
Conclusion
We found significant geographic disparities in hospital readmissions among high-need patients. Patients living farther from hospitals had significantly lower odds of readmissions. Readmission rates reflect patients’ healthcare utilization patterns in rural and remote areas. Policymakers should address the geographic access barriers and be cautious when using readmission rates as a measure of hospital performance.
Clinical presentation, acute care management and discharge information of patients with thoracic trauma in South Africa and Sweden: a prospective multicenter observational study.
Authors: Aswegen Heleen van , Roos Ronel , Svensson-Raskh Anna , Svensson Annie , Sehlin Maria , Caragounis Eva-Corina , Plani Frank , Olsén Monika Fagevik 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Purpose:
Thoracic trauma causes pain and hospitalisation. Middle- and high-income countries have different trauma contexts and populations. To report patients’ clinical presentation (pain and shortness of breath) and its influence on hospital length of stay (LOS), acute care management, and discharge destinations in South Africa (SA) and Sweden.
Methods:
Prospective observational multicenter study by means of clinical record review. One thousand nine hundred and eighteen adults with thoracic trauma were screened. Study objectives guided information retrieved from clinical records. Statistical analysis was done with significance at p-value < 0.05.
Results:
Three-hundred-sixty-four participants were recruited with most being male (n = 170 (95%) SA; n = 125 (68%) Sweden). Type and mechanism of injury differed (SA penetrating (82%) versus Sweden blunt (95%); SA assaults (90%) versus Sweden falls (44%)). Unilateral haemopneumothorax was common (SA 68%, Sweden 35%) and managed with intercostal drainage. Rib cage injuries were common in the Swedish cohort with rib fixation surgery for 17%. Physiotherapy treatment frequency was mostly daily. Swedish participants reported higher pain levels during deep breathing (day 1: p = 0.053; day 2: p < 0.001; day 3: p < 0.001). Shortness of breath during activity was higher for the Swedish cohort (day 1: p = 0.023; day 2: p = 0.001; day 3: p < 0.001). LOS was shorter for SA cohort (5.4 (± 4.3) versus 6.6 (± 5.1) days; p = 0.024). Pulmonary complications (p = 0.013) and moderate-to-severe pain on day 3 (p = 0.005) influenced LOS. Discharge destination was mostly home (99% SA, 56% Sweden).
Conclusion:
Moderate-to-severe pain on day three suggests priority care for those with thoracic trauma to prevent pulmonary complications and prolonged hospitalisation.
Genome-wide DNA mutations in two peatland adapted Coffea liberica varieties
Authors: Melia Tisha , Fatayat Fatayat , Wahibah Ninik Nihayatul , Fatonah Siti , Roslim Dewi Indriyani , Adnan Arisman 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Objectives: Coffea liberica is one of the species within the Coffeagenus known for its distinctive flavor and resistance to leaf rust disease. Through breeding approaches, two superior varieties of C. liberica, designated as Liberoid Meranti 1 (Lim 1) and Liberoid Meranti 2 (Lim 2), were introduced in 2015. These varieties are known for their high adaptability in peatlands. The genetic basis of plant adaptability to peatlands remains largely unknown. It is therefore essential to identify genome-wide DNA mutations in Lim 1 and 2 in order to gain insights into its capacity for adaptation in peatlands.
Data description: Whole genome sequencing was performed on three plants from each variety (Lim 1 and 2), resulting in 430 million sequencing reads. The mean depth of sequencing for each sample was 36.90x. The reads were mapped to the Coffea canephora genome, with an average mapping rate of 96.34%. The sequencing data revealed the presence of 3,766,805 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 1,123,683 insertion-deletions (indels) in all six plants. Among the SNPs, there was a notable prevalence of transitions, with a ratio of approximately twofold compared to transversions. The generated data offers invaluable genomic resources for marker development, with significant implications for understanding peatlands adaptability.
Coexistence and control of firing patterns in a heterogeneous neuronal network coupled by memristive synapses
Authors: Wu Jinyi , Li Zhijun , Lan Yonghong 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

To simulate the complex electrical activity exhibited in biological neuronal networks more accurately, a heterogeneous neuron-coupled network is established in this study. This network consists of an Hindmarsh-Rose (HR) neuron and a tri-cell Hopfield Neural Network (HNN) interconnected via three memristive synapses. The complex dynamical behaviors of the heterogeneous coupled network are investigated by means of bifurcation diagram, Lyapunov exponent, time series and phase portrait. The firing pattern transitions are also revealed as the memristive synaptic coupling strengths vary. Furthermore, coexisting firing patterns, including period-1, period-2, period-4 and chaotic firing, are also observed by manipulating the initial conditions. Especially, a linear augmentation strategy is introduced to target a desired firing pattern. Both numerical simulations and hardware experimental tests demonstrate that the linear augmentation method can not only select the desired firing patterns, but also promote synchronous firing activities within the heterogeneous neuronal network.
Key Metrics for Monitoring Performance Variability in Edge Computing Applications
Authors: Giannakopoulos Panagiotis , Knippenberg Bart van , Joshi Kishor Chandra , Calabretta Nicola , Exarchakos George 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Edge computing is an emerging approach that enables applications to run closer to users, accommodating their specific execution time requirements. Edge computing systems usually consist of heterogeneous processing and networking components, resulting in task performance inconsistency. To improve the performance consistency of edge computing, this study presents a method for identifying the factors that affect task execution time variability. We test a set of Single Particle Analysis (SPA) algorithms, designed for an electron microscopy use case, running on a Kubernetes cluster monitored by Prometheus. Our experiments revealed a significant increase in the variability of round trip time when tasks share resources. The proposed approach identifies the most relevant performance metrics from the 442 collected, with correlations reaching up to 87%. This process reduces the number of metrics to 90, achieving an 80% reduction. As a result, the overhead of the monitoring system is decreased, and the use of these metrics for further processing, such as predictive modeling and scheduling, is simplified. These selected metrics not only help in understanding the causes of performance variability but also possess predictive value, enabling more efficient scheduling. The prediction power of these metrics is shown using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis.
Red cell distribution width as a cardiovascular risk predictor in adults with hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa.
Authors: Ibrahim Olayinka , Hutton-Mensah Kojo Awotwi , Adeniyi Funmi , Nketiah George , Nwankwo Adaku , Natogmah Abukari , Ogunmodede James , Ojji Dike , Adesola Olumide , Alabi Biodun , Sarpong Daniel , Mokuolu Olugbenga 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Red cell distribution width (RDW) quantifies the degree of variation in erythrocyte size, is identified as a potential marker of adverse cardiovascular events, and maybe a surrogate marker for assessing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in low-resource settings. We evaluated RDW as a predictor of CVD risk compared to the WHO CVD risk score among adults with hypertension attending primary healthcare centers in Ghana and Nigeria. Adults with hypertension attending selected PHCs in Ghana and Nigeria participated in a cross-sectional study. Each participant underwent BP measurement and laboratory evaluation (RDW, total cholesterol, and fasting blood sugar) following standard methods. We recruited 319 adults aged 40–74 years from the study sites. The mean (standard deviation) RDW was 13.96 (1.1%). The median CVD risk score was 8.11% [interquartile range (IQR) 4.00 to 11.00]. For participants with hemoglobin (Hb) levels ≥ 12 g/dL, RDW showed positive correlations with age (r=0.136;p=0.042); systolic BP (r=0.183; p=0.006), diastolic BP (r=0.206, p=0.002) and WHO CVD risk scores (r=0.166, p=0.013). Multiple linear regression showed an independent association between RDW and WHO CVD risk scores with an upward gradient and was most significant at 3rd quartiles. Using ROC analysis, the C-statistic was 0.673 (95% CI 0.618 to 0.724), p=0.031. With a cut-off of > 14, the RDW demonstrated a sensitivity of 81.82% and specificity of 55.84%. This study shows that at Hb levels ≥ 12 g/dL, RDW modestly predicted CVD risk in adults with hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa.
Gender Differences in the Cognitive Benefits of Physical Activity for Older Adults: A Scoping Review
Authors: Zhang Xinyue , Zhao Jiawei , Li xin 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Background: With the global population aging rapidly and dementia cases expected to rise substantially, identifying effective strategies to mitigate cognitive decline has become crucial. This scoping review aimed to systematically examine the existing evidence on gender differences in the cognitive protective effects of physical activity among older adults and to provide recommendations for future research.
Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library was conducted following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Researches that evaluated the effects of physical activity interventions on cognitive function in older adults and examined gender differences were included.
Results: Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. The majority of studies (95.5%) were of moderate to high methodological quality. Approximately 60% of the studies found significant gender differences in cognitive outcomes or other related outcomes following physical activity interventions, while the remaining studies observed no gender differences. In subgroups, studies targeting on the old with mild cognitive impairment all shows significant gender difference. When gender differences were present, women appeared to benefit more from physical activity in cognition, especially executive function, compared to men.
Conclusion: This review suggested that physical activity may provide cognitive benefits differing between genders with women benefiting more. However, due to varied study design, intervention and outcome measures among the included studies, future studies should employ more rigorous designs, larger samples, and longer follow-ups to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and optimize interventions for both genders.
Stathmin 1 Expression in Neuroendocrine and Proliferating Prostate Cancer
Authors: Shi Yingli , Yeh Yunshin A. , Cheng Siyuan , Gu Xin , Yang Shu , Li Lin , Khater Nazih P. , Kasper Susan , Yu Xiuping 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality among men in the United States. While PCa initially responds to androgen deprivation therapy, a significant portion progresses to castration-resistant PCa. Approximately 20–25% of these cases acquire aggressive neuroendocrine (NE) features, ultimately leading to neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC). In this study, we used bioinformatics analysis, western blotting, and immunohistochemical staining to investigate the expression of stathmin 1 (STMN1) in PCa cell lines and tissue samples from human PCa and mouse models. Our findings revealed a correlation between elevated STMN1 expression, high Gleason Score, and poor clinical outcomes in PCa patients. Additionally, STMN1 expression was positively correlated with the cell proliferation marker Ki67. Importantly, we observed a significant increase in STMN1 expression in NEPC compared to prostate adenocarcinoma, suggesting its potential role as a diagnostic and prognostic marker for advanced PCa. Furthermore, elevated STMN1 expression was detected in TRAMP tumors, a mouse model of PCa, further supporting its association with PCa progression. In summary, our study highlights the increased expression of STMN1 in NEPC and proliferating prostate adenocarcinoma cells, indicating its potential utility as a diagnostic and prognostic marker for advanced PCa.