bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biochemical composition of three Opuntia species O. humifusa, O. phaeacantha, O. engelmannii var. lidheimeri. Prospects of their utilization
Authors: Golubkina N. А. , Bagrikova N. A. , Lapchenko V. A. , Lapchenko H. V. , Naumenko T. S. , Levko G. D. 
Published: October 2024

Relevance. Opuntia distinguished by high adaptability is widespread in many countries of the world. Tolerance to water deficiency and high biological activity provide prospects of its cultivation for food and pharmaceutical industry. In Russia Opuntia is grown in the Crimea, Caucasus, Donbass, Astrakhan region and even in the Central Russia. Evaluation of the Opuntia cultivation efficiency in the Crimea for various utilization supposes the importance of its biochemical characteristics which variability greatly depends on the place of habitat. Materials and Methods. Total antioxidant activity and titratable acidity were determined using titration methods, polyphenol content –using spectrophotometric method, monosaccharide and total sugar concentrations were assessed via reaction with ferricyanide, mucilage levels were determined gravimetrically.Results. Investigation of cladode, inflorescence and fruit biochemical parameters of three Opuntia species: O. humifusa, O. phaeacantha, O. engelmannii, – gathered at the Southern and South-Eastern part of the Crimean peninsular revealed wide variability of fruit mucilage (4.3-16.56% d.w.), sugar and total antioxidant activity. Polyphenol content decreased according to: inflorescence (18.4-21.0) > fruit (11.7-18) > cladodes (10.2-20.0). Fruit monosaccharide content reached (6.2-31) % while in cladodes these values were in the range of 8.1-16.0%. Total sugar content was equal to 32.6-95% in fruit and 15.5-29.7% in cladodes. Concentration of selenium as a natural antioxidant was higher in the cladodes (102-176 µg/kg d.w.) than in fruit (46.8-72 µg/kg d.w.). The highest levels of the total antioxidant activity and titratable acidity were registered in O. engelmannii while the highest sugar, mucilage and taste index were typical for O. humifusa. Nevertheless, O. humifusa was characterized by the lowest fruit mass (6.0-6.3 g) contrary to O. engelmannii (36-40 g). The results suppose prospects of fruit, cladode and inflorescence utilization in food industry, cosmetics and pharmacology with the preference to O. humifusa.
Performance of ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4 in the field of specialist medical knowledge on National Specialization Exam in neurosurgery
Authors: Laskowski Maciej , Ciekalski Marcin , Laskowski Marcin , Błaszczyk Bartłomiej , Setlak Marcin , Paździora Piotr , Rudnik Adam 
Published: October 2024

WPROWADZENIE:W ostatnim czasie obserwuje się wzrost liczby opublikowanych artykułów dotyczących sztucznej inteligencji w dziedzinie medycyny, szczególnie w obszarze neurochirurgii. Badania dotyczące integracji sztucznej inteligencji z praktyką neurochirurgiczną wskazują na postępującą zmianę w kierunku szerszego wykorzystania narzędzi wspomaganych sztuczną inteligencją w diagnostyce, analizie obrazu i podejmowaniu decyzji.MATERIAŁ I METODY:W badaniu oceniono efektywność ChatGPT-3.5 i ChatGPT-4 na Państwowym Egzaminie Specjalizacyjnym (PES) z neurochirurgii przeprowadzonym jesienią 2017 r., który w czasie przeprowadzania badania był najnowszym dostępnym na stronie Centrum Egzaminów Medycznych (CEM) egzaminem z oficjalnie udostępnionymi odpowiedziami. Próg zdawalności egzaminu specjalizacyjnego wynosi 56% poprawnych odpowiedzi. Egzamin składał się ze 116 pytań jednokrotnego wyboru, po wyeliminowaniu czterech z uwagi na ich niezgodność z aktualną wiedzą. Ze względu na poruszane zagadnienia pytania podzielono na dziesięć grup tematycznych. Na potrzeby gromadzenia danych obie wersje ChatGPT zostały poinformowane o zasadach egzaminu i poproszone o ocenę stopnia
pewności co do każdej odpowiedzi w skali od 1 (zdecydowanie niepewny) do 5 (zdecydowanie pewny). Wszystkie interakcje odbywały się w języku polskim i były rejestrowane.WYNIKI:ChatGPT-4 wyraźnie przewyższył ChatGPT-3.5 z różnicą wynoszącą 29,4% (p < 0,001). W przeciwieństwie do ChatGPT-3.5, ChatGPT-4 z sukcesem osiągnął próg zdawalności dla PES. W testach ChatGPT-3.5 i ChatGPT-4 odpowiedzi były takie same w 61 pytaniach (52,58%), w obu przypadkach były poprawne w 28 pytaniach (24,14%) i niepoprawne w 33 pytaniach (28,45%).WNIOSKI:ChatGPT-4 osiąga większą poprawność w udzielanych odpowiedziach w porównaniu z ChatGPT-3.5, prawdopodobnie dzięki zaawansowanym algorytmom i szerszemu zbiorowi danych treningowych, co podkreśla lepsze zrozumienie złożonych koncepcji neurochirurgicznych.
Men Shall Be Lovers of Self, Money and Pleasure (II Timothy 3:2, 4): A Contemporary Discourse on the Apostle Paul's Prophecy of the End Times
Authors: Oluwatoba Rotimi Paul , Akeju Gabriel O. , Ampitan Afolabi J. 
Published: October 2024

<p><em>The present time in Nigeria and globally has been more perilous than ever, characterized with bizarre occurrences within the church and the larger society. This study explores the Pauline eschatological prediction of the perilous times when men will become lovers of self, lovers of money, and lovers of pleasure more than God (II Timothy 3:1, 2 &amp; 5). Experiential and theological methodologies were adopted for generating qualitative primary and secondary data. The theological aspect of the research employed the tools of biblical exegesis, textual analysis, and literatures. The experiential aspect involved in-depth interviews (IDIs), observations, social media contents and Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) to access current events and personalized experiences of respondents who were purposively selected from within and outside the church. The results were discussed in the light of Christian theology, social ethics and Pastoral ministry. The Nigerian society is evidently witnessing the perilous times when love of self, money and pleasure will become the untoward defining features of human society and sadly too, of men that profess the faith. Transactional gospel, gimmickry, merchandize of holy things, and self-indulgent love of money are rife in the contemporary church. Ostentatious lifestyles, lack of support for the minister at the local church, and false messages on material blessings are what trap church ministers and laypersons in this end-time evil. The context and practice of ‘full time’ ministry when the local assembly is not able to support its minister is a challenge that predisposes some to ‘Simoniacal’ presentations, offering the gifts of God for monetary gain. Sound biblical teachings to protect the people of God and expose the mercenary spirit in sacred function is the local church most potent weaponry.</em></p><strong> </strong>
Parameters of leukopoiesis and thrombocytopenia in early urosepsis as potential predictors of a lethal outcome in hospitalized patients
Authors: Fedosenko S. V. , Rodionova Yu. O. , Ivanova A. I. , Arzhanik M. B. , Semenova O. L. , Nesterovich S. V. , Starovoitova E. A. , Zima A. P. , Vinokurova D. A. , Kamaltynova E. М. , Kalyuzhin V. V. 
Published: October 2024

Aim. To perform a comparative analysis of leukopoiesis parameters and platelet count in peripheral blood with evaluation of their changes in the first 48 hours from urosepsis (US) verification in hospitalized patients depending on the outcome of the disease.Materials and methods. A retrospective comparative study included 40 patients with US divided into a group of deceased (n = 10) and a group of recovered (n = 30) individuals. Along with a full clinical and paraclinical examination, which is a routine practice in the urology clinic in case of suspected (confirmed) sepsis, we performed a differentiated assessment of leukopoiesis and platelet count in peripheral blood at baseline (at the moment of US verification) and 48 hours after US verification. The assessment included determination of the immature granulocyte count, investigation of neutrophil granularity intensity (NEUT-GI) and neutrophil reactivity intensity (NEUT-RI), and measurement of the mean platelet volume (MPV).Results. The baseline level of organ dysfunction graded by the SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) score was significantly higher in deceased patients than in survivors (6 points vs. 3 points, respectively; p = 0.001). The group of the deceased was characterized by lower platelet and monocyte levels. The ROC analysis with the calculation of area under the curve (AUC) identified the following potential predictors of a lethal outcome in US: proportion of monocytes from the total leukocyte count at baseline ≤ 5.5% (AUC 0.732, p = 0.032), proportion of eosinophils from the total leukocyte count at baseline ≤ 0% (AUC 0.756, p = 0.011), absolute eosinophil count at baseline ≤ 0.01 × 109 / l (AUC 0.802, p = 0.009), absolute basophil count at baseline ≤ 0.03 × 109 / l (AUC 0.718, p = 0.028), NEUT-GI at baseline ≤ 153.2 scatter intensity (SI) units (AUC 0.754, p = 0.021), NEUT-RI at baseline ≤ 59.3 SI units (AUC 0.737, p = 0.024) and their increase after 48 hours by > 0.9 SI units (AUC 0.852, p = 0.001) or by > 1.34% (AUC 0.844, p = 0.003), platelet count at baseline ≤ 144 × 109 / l (AUC 0.762, p = 0.007) and after 48 hours ≤ 174 × 109 / l (AUC 0.769, p < 0.007).Conclusion. The assessment of the platelet count and leukopoiesis parameters, including the ones characterizing neutrophil maturation (NEUT-RI, NEUT-GI), in the first 48 hours from US verification, can be effective predictors of a lethal outcome in patients with US.
Prognostic value of elevated transaminase levels as predictors of adverse outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Hoang T. H. , Maiskov V. V. , Merai I. A. , Kobalava Zh. D. 
Published: October 2024

Aim. To assess the prevalence of elevated serum liver transaminases (LTs), including alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (ALT), and their impact on in-hospital and long-term mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).Materials and methods. The prospective observational study included 416 consecutive AMI patients (median age 65 years, 40.9% female, 46.9% with ST elevation) without prior liver diseases, who underwent coronary angiography within 24 hours after hospitalization. AST and ALT levels were measured upon admission. LTs were considered as abnormal when their levels exceeded the local upper limit of normal. Clinical endpoints were all-cause in-hospital and 18-month mortality. Associations between clinical endpoints and various risk factors, including LT levels, were assessed by the multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results. Elevated LT levels were seen in 28.6% of AMI patients: an isolated increase in ALT was noted in 17.8% of patients, while an isolated increase in AST was registered in 25% of cases. In-hospital and 18-month mortality was 5.8 and 11.3%, respectively. Abnormal LT levels were associated with the presence of ST elevation (odds ratio (OR) 1.873, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.218–2.881, p = 0.004), lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure (OR 0.993, 95% CI 0.986–1.0, p = 0.04 and 0.979, 95% CI 0.964–0.994, p = 0.007, respectively), higher Killip class (OR 1.510, 95% CI 1.142–1.999, p = 0.004), and higher creatinine level (OR 1.010, 95% CI 1.003–1.016, p = 0.004). In the multivariate analysis, elevated LT levels were independently associated with in-hospital and 18-month mortality (OR 3.607, 95% CI 1.199–10.848, p = 0.022 and 2.182, 95% CI 1.011–4.708, p = 0.047, respectively).Conclusion. Elevated LT levels were present in about a third of patients with AMI. They were associated with specific clinical, biological, and prognostic features, including in-hospital and long-term mortality in AMI patients.
On the pathogenesis of COVID-19: the role of transforming growth factor beta
Authors: Budnevsky A. V. , Ovsyannikov E. S. , Shishkina V. V. , Alekseeva N. G. , Perveeva I. M. , Kitoyan A. G. , Antakova L. N. 
Published: October 2024

Proteins of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) family regulate numerous cellular processes that are essential in the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), contributing to increased alveolar epithelial permeability, activation of fibroblasts, and extracellular matrix remodeling. TGF-β is involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory respiratory diseases during the development of COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 leads to complex immune responses that include the release of inflammatory cytokines, increased activity of mast cells, and the release of mast cell secretome, in particular profibrotic enzymes and cytokines, including TGF-β.Tryptaseand chymase-positive mast cells play a major role in pulmonary fibrosis and embolism in COVID-19. Mast cell chymase is angiotensin-converting enzyme 2-independent due to extracellular formation of angiotensin II in the interstitium; it also activates TGF-β and other molecules, thereby playing a role in tissue remodeling. Mast cell β-tryptase increases the secretion of TGF-β1 by airway smooth muscle tissue and the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). TGF-β also induces the generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), which enhances the production of ROS in lung fibroblasts. TGF-β is crucial for induing the synthesis of extracellular matrix components by fibroblasts.The review is devoted to the structure of TGF-β, the sources of its secretion and functions, the mechanism of its involvement in the pathogenesis of COVID-19, and the possibility of its use as a prognostic marker of COVID-19 severity.
Myopathy in glycogen storage disease type IV: case report of a family
Authors: Fedoseeva I. F. , Poponnikova T. V. , Pinevich O. S. 
Published: October 2024

Aim. To study the clinical presentation and differential diagnosis of a rare hereditary disease glycogen storage disease type IV with progressive skeletal myopathy in a case report of a family.Materials and methods. Two patients were followed up in the specialized neurology unit of the regional clinical hospital and in the outpatient setting.Results. Long-term follow-up and examination in two clinically similar cases of myopathy in siblings allowed us to diagnose a hereditary metabolic disease. The congenital muscular form of glycogen storage disease type IV was manifested by myopathy and peripheral tetraparesis with the development of bone deformities. Difficulty in the diagnosis was due to isolated myopathy progression with no signs of liver involvement. The diagnosis was established with account of clinical manifestations, the progressive course of the disease, electromyography findings, and the results of molecular genetic testing for pathogenic mutations associated with hereditary neuromuscular diseases.Conclusion. Glycogen storage disease type IV can clinically manifest itself by progressive myopathy without liver involvement and changes in blood biochemistry. The presented clinical cases in siblings are identical. Myopathy does not have clinical features that are significant for the differential diagnosis with other hereditary neuromuscular diseases. Genetic testing identified a mutation in the GBE1 gene and is considered as the main diagnostic criterion of the disease.
Features of subset composition and functional activity of blood lymphocytes in tick-borne infections of different etiologies
Authors: Voronkova O. V. , Ilyinskikh E. N. , Hasanova R. R. , Esimova I. E. , Nevskaya K. V. , Karpova M. R. , Chernyshov N. A. , Yampolskaya A. V. , Yampolskaya O. V. 
Published: October 2024

Aim. To perform a comparative assessment of subset composition and functional activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and ixodid tick-borne borreliosis (ITBB) in the acute phase of the disease.Materials and methods. The study involved 22 patients with febrile and meningeal TBE, 15 patients with ITBB with and without erythema, and 11 healthy controls. Subset composition of blood lymphocytes was determined by flow cytometry. The blast transformation assay was applied to assess lymphocyte proliferation. Cytokine-producing activity of cells was studied in 24-hour incubated mononuclear cell cultures. Cytokine concentrations (interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-10, interferon (IFN)γ) were determined in the supernatants by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results. Patients with TBE demonstrated an increase in the proportion of helper – inducer T-cells, a pronounced decrease in the proportion and absolute count of cytotoxic T cells, and low T lymphocyte count compared to the control values. The study in ITBB patients revealed an increase in the helper – inducer T-cell count and the proportion of NK-cells, a decrease in the cytotoxic T cell count, and the T lymphocyte count comparable to normal values. The most significant decrease in the levels of phytohemagglutinin-induced lymphocyte proliferation was found in patients with TBE. Patients of both groups showed a decrease in IL-2 secretion in the mononuclear cell culture, a rise in IL-4 and IL-10 production, and IFNγ production levels comparable to control values.Conclusion. The study of TBE patients revealed relative lymphocytopenia with changes in the subset composition of lymphocytes characterized by an increase in the proportion of helper – inducer T-cells and a decrease in the absolute cytotoxic T lymphocyte count. Patients with ITBB demonstrated an increase in the proportion of NK-cells and a more pronounced imbalance in the T-helper / cytotoxic T lymphocyte ratio. Changes in the functional phenotype of lymphocytes, regardless of the etiology of tick-borne infection, were characterized by reduced proliferative reserve, low IL-2 secretion, increased IL-4 and IL-10 production, and depressed reactivity of lymphocytes with respect to IFNγ secretion.
Adipocytokine levels in patients with atherosclerosis and high triglyceride – glucose index
Authors: Garbuzova E. V. , Shramko V. S. , Kashtanova E. V. , Polonskaya Ya. V. , Stakhneva E. M. , Kurguzov A. V. , Chernyavsky A. M. , Ragino Yu. I. 
Published: October 2024

Aim. To study the levels of adipocytokines and their associations with stable and unstable atherosclerotic plaques in patients with a high triglyceride – glucose (TyG) index.Materials and methods. The study included 109 men aged 38–79 years (mean age 62.28 ± 8.19 years) with atherosclerosis hospitalized for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). After microscopy of the intima – media layer, the type of atherosclerotic plaque was determined: stable / unstable. The TyG index ≥ 4.49 was considered as high. Fifty-eight (60%) men had stable plaques in the CA (28 (56%) of them had TyG ≥ 4.49); 39 (40%) men had unstable plaques in the CA (15 (39%) had TyG ≥ 4.49). Blood adipocytokine level was studied using the multiplex assay and the Human Metabolic Hormone Panel V3.Results. The final analysis included 97 patients. The level of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) was 1.53 times greater in patients with TyG ≥ 4.49 (34.16 [18.71; 54.98] vs. 22.34 [15.02; 34.77], p = 0.004). In patients with TyG < 4.49, the adipsin level was 1.2 times higher in patients with unstable plaques than in patients with stable ones. In patients with stable plaques and TyG ≥ 4.49, the GIP level was 1.88 times higher than in patients with TyG < 4.49 (42.13 [25.34; 68.95] vs. 22.39 [17.00; 28.60], p = 0.003). In patients with unstable plaques and TyG ≥ 4.49, the level of peptide tyrosine – tyrosine (PYY) was 1.46 times greater than in patients with TyG < 4.49 (46.14 [30.49; 70.66] vs. 31.53 [24.71; 43.01], p = 0.048).Conclusion. Men with atherosclerosis and TyG ≥ 4.49 had higher blood levels of GIP and PYY. Blood adipsin levels were higher in patients with unstable plaques without insulin resistance.
Course of arterial hypertension during breast cancer chemotherapy with anthracyclines
Authors: Berezikova E. N. , Shilov S. N. , Popova A. A. , Neupokoeva M. N. , Teplyakov A. T. , Grakova E. V. , Kopeva K. V. , Kalyuzhin V. V. , Yushin A. Yu. 
Published: October 2024

Aim. To study the characteristics of the course of arterial hypertension (AH) and subclinical cardiac damage during breast cancer chemotherapy with doxorubicin.Materials and methods. The study included a total of 27 women with breast cancer (BC) and a history of controlled hypertension who were to receive chemotherapy with anthracyclines. Twelve women had stage 1 hypertension; 15 women had stage 2 hypertension. The patients received dual antihypertensive therapy according to clinical guidelines. All patients underwent echocardiography and 24-hour blood pressure monitoring at baseline, after the last course of chemotherapy, and 12 months after the end of chemotherapy. The control group included 35 women with BC without a history of AH, who also were to receive anthracycline chemotherapy.Results. A significant relationship between pre-existing AH and the development of left ventricular systolic dysfunction 12 months after the completion of chemotherapy (p = 0.01) was found. According to 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, 15 women (55.6%) showed deterioration of blood pressure control after the completion of chemotherapy, which required modification of antihypertensive therapy by adding one more drug to the treatment regimen. At 12 months after the end of chemotherapy, in 13 women, hypertension control was reached with triple antihypertensive therapy. In two women, hypertension became resistant, which required prescription of a fourcomponent antihypertensive regimen.Conclusion. Pre-existing AH plays an essential role in the development of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity, despite the quality of blood pressure control. Polychemotherapy with anthracyclines may deteriorate blood pressure control in patients with AH, which requires addition of antihypertensive drugs to the treatment regimen.
A decision rule for identifying patients at high risk for impaired lung diffusion capacity after COVID-19
Authors: Savushkina O. I. , Muraveva E. S. , Zhitareva I. V. , Davydov D. V. , Kryukov E. V. 
Published: October 2024

Aim. To elaborate a decision rule for identifying the main predictors of impaired lung diffusion capacity after COVID-19. Materials and methods. The retrospective study included 341 patients without underlying lung diseases (median age 48 years) who experienced COVID-19 with bilateral pneumonia. The median extent of parenchymal lesion in the acute phase of COVID-19 (CTmax) was 50%. Spirometry, body plethysmography, and lung diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) test were performed. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, one-dimensional logistic regression analysis with an assessment of odds ratios (OR), and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to assess the quality of the binary classifier model.Results. The initial model for predicting reduced DLCO (< 80% of predicted) included the following predictors: CTmax, time interval from the COVID-19 onset, gender, age, body mass index. Backward stepwise regression was applied, and a binary classifier model that includes CTmax was obtained. The sensitivity and specificity of the model for the training sample were 80 and 67%, respectively, for the test sample – 79 and 70%, respectively. The analysis of OR showed that OR > 1 was observed at СTmax > 40%.Conclusion. The decision rule was obtained for predicting impaired lung diffusion capacity after COVID-19 with virus-associated lung damage in patients without underlying bronchopulmonary diseases. Patients with CTmax > 40% require more thorough clinical follow-up with DLCO monitoring after the acute phase of COVID-19