bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The long-term effects of a high-sucrose/high-fat diet on bone health in male Sprague–Dawley rats
Authors: Shirai Tomomi , Ishida Mei , Kubo Rumi , Inaba Sakiko , Hayashi Asaka , Watanabe Ryoka , Aoyagi Asami , Sakuta Mana , Yasuno Hinako , Wakana Mami , Wakana Noriaki , Homma Kazuhiro , Fukuyama Naoto 
Published: November 2024

Background The high-sugar and high-fat diet exerts distinct effects on bone volume and structure, depending on the type of carbohydrates and the amount of lipids. However, the effects of this diet on human bone health remain unexplored. Objective This study examined the effects of a high-sucrose/high-fat diet on the bone health of Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats. Methods Five-week-old SD rats were divided into two groups based on whether they received a normal (CE-2) or high-sucrose/high-fat (HSF) diet: SD＋CE-2 (control) and SD + HSF (treatment) groups (n = 5 rats/group). After 35 weeks of treatment, bone mineral density, structural parameters, and bone metabolism markers were measured. Student's t-test, Welch's t-test, and Mann-Whitney's U-test were used to determine differences between the two groups. Results Femur weight did not differ significantly between the control and treatment groups. The femur area was considerably wider in the treatment group than in the control group. However, trabecular bone density was lower in the treatment group than in the control group. Trabecular volume and node structure number were significantly reduced in the treatment group when compared with those in the control group. Conclusions Although high-sucrose/high-fat diet loading decreased trabecular bone volume and node strut number in SD rats, the diet did not contribute to bone density or structural changes.
The association between multimorbidity and food insecurity in Cyprus: An epidemiological study
Authors: Kantilafti Maria , Heraclides Alexandros , Yannakoulia Mary , Alexandrou Antonia , Miltiadou Panayiota , Kyprianidou Maria , Giannakou Konstantinos , Chrysostomou Stavri 
Published: November 2024

Background Although multimorbidity is a public health problem, it's possible association with food insecurity is not well documented. Objective This study aimed to investigate the association between multimorbidity and food insecurity in Cyprus. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted between June 1, 2022, and May 28, 2023, in Cyprus using a representative sample of 1255 adults with mean age 43.4 ± 17.1 years. Participants were required to complete a self-report questionnaire on food insecurity, multimorbidity and sociodemographic factors. Men and women ≥18 years were eligible for inclusion in the study. Results The majority of the sample was married (66%), with higher education (68.7%) and had a yearly salary of €6500-€19,500 (44.3%). Food insecurity was significantly higher in individuals with multimorbidity. Participants with multimorbidity were 67% more likely to be food insecure, than those without multimorbidity in a basic model adjusted for age and sex, with women being 81% more likely to experience food insecurity within this group. However after adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and anthropometric factors, the association was no longer statistically significant. Conclusions Despite the fact that people with multimorbidity are more likely to be food insecure compared to people without multimorbidity, other socio-demographic factors seem to influence the above association. Further, studies should be conducted in other European countries to clarify this association and the possible underlying mechanisms.
Investigating the Influence of Modifiable Physical Measures on the Elbow Varus Torque – Ball Velocity Relationship in Collegiate Baseball Pitchers
Authors: Barrack Adam J. , Sakurai Motoki , Wee Choo Phei , Diaz Paul R. , Stocklin Carl , Karduna Andy R. , Michener Lori A. 
Published: November 2024

Background: The mechanism of ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury during pitching is excessive elbow varus torque (EVT). The EVT–ball velocity (T-V) relationship allows concurrent assessment of player performance and UCL injury risk. Modifiable physical capacities may underlie individual variation seen in the T-V relationship. Purpose: To identify physical performance characteristics that impact the T-V relationship during pitching. Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: A total of 87 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I pitchers participated. Pitching collection involved measurement of EVT and ball velocity during 5 maximal effort fastballs thrown to a catcher. Physical measures collected were the following: shoulder and hip passive range of motion (ROM) and strength, shoulder rate of torque development (RTD), grip strength, and lumbopelvic stability. Physical measures were entered into univariate linear mixed models with ball velocity as a covariate to predict EVT. Variable reduction for multivariate models involved selection of physical measures based on random forest–derived variable importance and univariate relationship significance, rendering a 27-variable pool. Multivariate linear mixed models predicting EVT, adjusting for physical measures and other physical characteristics, were then created using backward elimination. Results: In univariate analysis, for every 1 m/s (2.2 mph) increase in ball velocity, the mean EVT increased by 1.51 Nċm (95% CI, 0.66-2.37 Nċm; P = .001). In univariate analysis, hip abduction strength symmetry and bilateral lumbopelvic stability significantly increased EVT, while dominant-shoulder ROM, scaption RTD symmetry, and hip ROM significantly decreased EVT. Variables that increased EVT while controlling for ball velocity in the final model include grip strength symmetry, lead-leg lumbopelvic stability, and bodyweight. Increased dominant-shoulder internal rotation (IR) strength, dominant-shoulder flexion ROM, and scaption strength asymmetry decreased EVT as ball velocity increased. Conclusion: Several modifiable physical measures affected EVT in the univariate analysis. In our final model, when controlling for ball velocity, EVT increased with increased grip strength symmetry, lead-leg lumbopelvic stability, and bodyweight and decreased with increased dominant-shoulder IR strength, dominant-shoulder flexion ROM, and scaption strength asymmetry. Clinical Relevance: Defining the individual and multivariate effects of these physical capacities on EVT contextualizes their role in the T-V relationship and helps identify access points through which coaches and clinicians can optimize a pitcher's T-V relationship.
How stressful is firm insolvency? Self-reported, biological, and physiological indicators of entrepreneurs’ well-being
Authors: Wach Dominika , Schermuly Carsten C. , Kirschbaum Clemens , Wegge Jürgen 
Published: November 2024

This study advances research on the nexus of business insolvency and entrepreneurs’ well-being. We broadly build upon the Conservation of Resources Theory (COR) and explore the severity of the impact of firm insolvency on subjective well-being, stress hormones, and physiological recovery. To test our hypotheses, we compared entrepreneurs operating in 51 businesses affected by insolvency with 51 entrepreneurs in a control group. We conducted our study in Germany, where legal regulations surrounding insolvency are relatively unfavorable for those affected. Our findings indicate that entrepreneurs facing insolvency experience lower psychological well-being, greater vital exhaustion, higher stress hormone levels, and, as revealed by supplementary analyses, poorer risk adjustment. Our study complemented entrepreneurs’ self-reports with objective methods to examine entrepreneurial well-being in times of hardship from three perspectives: psychological, biological, and physiological. Although exploratory, our study provides relevant insights into potential repercussions of business failure. JEL CLASSIFICATION: I10; L26; G01
Cardio and cerebrovascular diseases risk among Alzheimer's disease patients and racial/ethnic disparities, based on Hawaii Medicare data
Authors: Siriwardhana Chathura , Carrazana Enrique , Liow Kore , Chen John J 
Published: November 2024

Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) are significant concerns among the elderly, sharing overlapping risk factors. Hawaii's unique demographic profile, characterized by its strong ethnic diversity, shows marked racial health disparities. For instance, the Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (NHPI) population is identified as a high-risk group for multiple health conditions, including CVD. Objective This study investigates the impact of AD on the risk of developing CVD, with a focus on racial influences, utilizing Hawaii Medicare data. Methods Employing nine years of longitudinal Hawaii Medicare data, this study identified elderly patients diagnosed with AD who subsequently developed heart failure (HF), ischemic heart disease (IHD), atrial fibrillation (AF), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or stroke. To assess the risk of CVD, we utilized multistate models and employed propensity score-matched controls. Additionally, we evaluated racial and ethnic differences in the risk of these diseases, while accounting for other relevant risk factors. Results Our findings revealed an elevated risk of AMI, HF, and IHD among individuals diagnosed with AD. Additionally, socioeconomic status (SE) was identified as a crucial factor in the risk of cardio and cerebrovascular diseases. Within the low SE group, NHPIs exhibited increased risks of HF and IHD compared to their white counterparts. Interestingly, NHPIs demonstrated reduced risks of HF in the higher SE group. Conclusions The presence of AD increases the likelihood of developing AMI, HF, and IHD. Moreover, the risk of CVD appears to be influenced by race/ethnicity in Hawaii, as well as socioeconomic status.
Identifying shared diagnostic genes and mechanisms in vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease via bioinformatics and machine learning
Authors: Zheng Wanning , Lin Dongdong , Shi Shunan , Ren Jiayi , Wu Jiong , Wang Ming , Wan Shu 
Published: November 2024

Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) share overlapping pathophysiological characteristics, yet comparative genetic studies are rare. Understanding these overlaps may aid in identifying common diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets. Objective This study identifies shared diagnostic genes and mechanisms linking AD and VaD. Methods Datasets GSE5281 and GSE122063 from the GEO database were used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Intersection DEGs were analyzed using KEGG and GO enrichment to explore signaling pathways. A PPI network was constructed, and LASSO and SVM-RFE were applied to identify core genes. CIBERSORT assessed immune cell composition and their relationship with core genes. Diagnostic efficacy was evaluated using ROC curves, nomogram, and Decision Curve Analysis (DCA). Core genes were used to identify characteristic genes in various brain regions of AD patients. Results The analysis identified 9021 DEGs for AD and 373 DEGs for VaD, with 74 co-expressed genes and 8 core genes. ROC curves, nomogram, and DCA indicated high diagnostic accuracy. Core gene analysis revealed differential expression of characteristic genes in various brain regions of AD patients. Conclusions This research identified 74 co-expressed genes and 8 pivotal diagnostic genes. These genes likely play roles in signal transduction, neuroinflammation, and autophagy in both AD and VaD. The findings offer potential targets for future research and clinical interventions. Further research should use larger, more diverse datasets and incorporate custom NGS panels to identify novel genetic variants, enhancing precise diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Intraocular complement activation is independent of systemic complement activation and is related to macular vascular remodelling in retinal vein occlusion
Authors: Liu Hengwei , Zhou Yufan , Qi Jinyan , Liang Shengnan , Guo Tingting , Chen Juan , Tan Huanhuan , Wang Jie , Xu Heping , Chen Zhongping 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Background
Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is a major cause of vision loss. The pathogenesis remains poorly defined although inflammation is known to play a critical role. In this study, we investigated the levels of complement proteins in the aqueous humour and plasma of RVO participants and the relationship between complement levels and retinal pathologies.

Methods
The plasma and aqueous humour were collected from 20 treatment-naive RVO and 20 cataract patients. Retinal lesions were examined by fundus stereoscopy and optical coherence tomography angiography. The levels of C1q, C2, C4, C4b, C3, C3b/iC3b, C5, C5a, CFB, CFD, CFI, CFH, and MBL in the plasma and aqueous humour were measured using the Luminex® x MAP® multiplex assay.

Results
RVO patients had significantly higher levels of C4, C4b, C3b/iC3b, CFB, and CFH in the plasma and aqueous humour compared to controls. The aqueous levels of C1q, C2, C5, C5a, and MBL were also significantly higher in RVO patients than in controls. CRVO patients had higher intraocular levels of C1q, C4, C5, CFI, CFH, and MBL than BRVO patients. C5a was below the detectable limit in the plasma in 18 cataracts and 16 RVO participants. The intraocular levels of C5a positively correlated with C1q, C2, C4, C3, C5, CFB, CFH, and MBL. The intraocular levels of CFD, CFI and MBL positively correlated with CRT, and the levels of C2, C3, C5, CFB, and MBL negatively correlated with the size of the foveal avascular zone. The plasma levels of C4b, C3b/iC3b, and CFD positively correlated with their counterparts in the aqueous humour in cataracts but not in RVO patients. The ratios of aqueous humour/plasma of C1q, C4, C4b, C3b/iC3b, C5, CFB, CFD, CFI, and CFH in the RVO patients were significantly higher than those in the cataract patients.

Discussion and conclusions
The intraocular complement activation in RVO is mediated by the classical and the alternative pathways and is largely independent of systemic complement activation. Intraocular complement activation may be related to retinal oedema and vascular remodeling in RVO patients.
Implementation, barriers, solving strategies and future perspectives of reimbursed community pharmacy services - a nationwide survey for community pharmacies in Germany
Authors: Kroenert Ann-Christin , Bertsche Thilo 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Background
Since June 2022, the legal framework has been created for German community pharmacies to offer their patients five reimbursed community pharmacy services that go beyond the current operating regulations. However, little is known about barriers that hinder their implementation. We therefore aimed to investigate the implementation of reimbursed community pharmacy services (i), barriers to the implementation (ii), solving strategies to overcome the barriers (iii), and future perspectives (iv). The objective of this study is to find out how the implementation of community pharmacy services can be facilitated for community pharmacies so that more services can be offered.

Methods
In July 2023, we created an online survey and sent it to pharmacists in community pharmacies, including those who offered reimbursed community pharmacy services and those who did not.

Results
Overall, 218 pharmacists from 218 different community pharmacies participated. (i) Of those, 176 (81%) already offered at least one reimbursed community pharmacy service. (ii) For hypertension service, 33% of the offering pharmacists reported barriers in “Communicating with patients,” and 41% reported “Too little patient demand.” For polymedication service, 53% of the offering pharmacists indicated “Barriers in communication with physicians,” and 44% mentioned “Fear of competing with physicians.” (iii) The most frequently reported solving strategies of pharmacists in offering pharmacies were taking advanced training (median of all five services 42%) and developing standardized procedures (median of all five services 34%). In contrast, pharmacists in non-offering pharmacies had not developed any solving strategies (median of all five services 40%). (iv) 64% of the pharmacists in non-offering pharmacies could imagine being able to offer reimbursed community pharmacy services in the future.

Conclusions
Many German pharmacies already offer reimbursed community pharmacy services. However, there are still barriers to widespread implementation. Therefore, customized support regarding the needs of the pharmacies should be provided since most pharmacists who do not yet offer these services today can imagine offering them in the future.
Bayesian tip-dated timeline for diversification and major biogeographic events in Muroidea (Rodentia), the largest mammalian radiation
Authors: López-Antoñanzas Raquel , Simões Tiago R. , Condamine Fabien L. , Dirnberger Moritz , Peláez-Campomanes Pablo 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Background
Extinct organisms provide vital information about the time of origination and biogeography of extant groups. The development of phylogenetic methods to study evolutionary processes through time has revolutionized the field of evolutionary biology and led to an unprecedented expansion of our knowledge of the tree of life. Recent developments applying Bayesian approaches, using fossil taxa as tips to be included alongside their living relatives, have revitalized the use of morphological data in evolutionary tree inferences. Eumuroida rodents represent the largest group of mammals including more than a quarter of all extant mammals and have a rich fossil record spanning the last ~ 45 million years. Despite this wealth of data, our current understanding of the classification, major biogeographic patterns, and divergence times for this group comes from molecular phylogenies that use fossils only as a source of node calibrations. However, node calibrations impose several constraints on tree topology and must necessarily make a priori assumptions about the placement of fossil taxa without testing their placement in the tree.

Results
We present the first morphological dataset with extensive fossil sampling for Muroidea. By applying Bayesian morphological clocks with tip dating and process-based biogeographic models, we provide a novel hypothesis for muroid relationships and revised divergence times for the clade that incorporates uncertainty in the placement of all fossil species. Even under strong violation of the clock model, we found strong congruence between results for divergence times, providing a robust timeline for muroid diversification. This new timeline was used for biogeographic analyses, which revealed a dynamic scenario mostly explained by dispersal events between and within the Palearctic and North African regions.

Conclusions
Our results provide important insights into the evolution of Muroidea rodents and clarify the evolutionary pathways of their main lineages. We exploited the advantage of tip dating Bayesian approaches in morphology-based datasets and provided a classification of the largest superfamily of mammals resulting from robust phylogenetic inference, inferring the biogeographical history, diversification, and divergence times of its major lineages.
Novel biallelic variants in IREB2 cause an early-onset neurodegenerative disorder in a Chinese pedigree
Authors: Guo Zhenglong , Huo Dawei , Shao Yingying , Yang Wenke , Wang Jinming , Zhang Yuwei , Xiao Hai , Hao Bingtao , Liao Shixiu 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Background
Cellular iron metabolism is essential for maintaining various biological processes in organisms, and this is influenced by the function of iron-responsive element-binding protein 2 (IRP2), encoded by the IREB2 gene. Since 2019, three cases of a genetic neurodegenerative syndrome resulting from compound heterozygous mutations in IREB2 have been documented, highlighting the crucial role of IRP2 in regulating iron metabolism homeostasis. This study aims to investigate the molecular basis in a single proband born to non-consanguineous healthy parents, presenting with severe psychomotor developmental abnormalities and microcytic anemia.

Methods
Trio-whole exome sequencing (WES) was applied to identify the disease-causing gene in an 8-month-old male patient from China. In silico tools were used to predict the pathogenicity of the identified variants, and in vitro functional studies were performed to evaluate the molecular mechanism.

Results
WES identified novel biallelic variants, c.1111 A > G (P.Ile371Val) and c.2477 A > T (P.Asp826Val), in the IREB2 gene, which encodes the iron metabolism-related protein, IRP2. Functional studies revealed that c.2477 A > T resulted in a significant degradation of IRP2, which led to the misregulation of intracellular ferric iron.

Conclusions
We report the identification of the first functional domain associated with the degradation of IRP2. The biallelic variants that affect protein degradation likely underlie the pathogenesis of the IRP2-related neurodegenerative disorder. Moreover, the use of proteasome inhibitors can potentially restore the expression of IRP2, highlighting a promising therapeutic target for patients with IRP2deficiency.