bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Robotic-assisted Lymphovenous Anastomosis of the Central Lymphatic System
Authors: Grünherz Lisanne , Weinzierl Andrea , Gutschow Christian Alexander , Puippe Gilbert Dominique , Gnannt Ralph , von Reibnitz Donata , Gousopoulos Epameinondas , Barbon Carlotta , Giovanoli Pietro , Pieper Claus Christian , Lindenblatt Nicole 
Published: September 2024

Background:
Recent advances in robotic microsurgery have enabled the application of robotic technology in central lymphatic reconstruction. Although the use of microsurgical robots demands careful consideration of associated costs and potentially prolonged operating times, it may offer improved surgical approaches and enhanced accessibility to deeper anatomical structures such as the thoracic duct (TD).

Methods:
We report on successful reconstruction of the central lymphatic system using the Symani Surgical System in four patients with lesions of the central lymphatic system. The patients were of different age (range: 8 mo–60 y) and had variable conditions, including central conducting lymphatic anomaly and other rare anomalies of the central lymphatic pathways.

Results:
Depending on the underlying pathology, a cervical access (n = 1) or median laparotomy (n = 3) was chosen to access the TD and perform anastomosis with a nearby vein. In all patients, anastomoses were patent, and chyle leakage decreased postoperatively. From a surgical perspective, the Symani Surgical System improved the precision of the microsurgeon and accessibility to the deep-lying TD.

Conclusion:
Considering the high morbidity and rarity of pathologies of the central lymphatic system, robotic-assisted microsurgery holds substantial promise in expanding and improving the microsurgical treatment for central lymphatic anomalies.
Clinical characteristics and prognosis of pancreatic metastases: a 10-year retrospective study.
Authors: Yu Yichen , Wu Jiahao , Guo Wenyi , Li Chengqing , Wang Lei , Xu Jianwei 
Published: September 2024

Background:
Pancreatic metastasis is rare. Its characteristics have primarily been described in autopsy studies and case reports, which may not accurately reflect the actual clinical profiles. Moreover, few studies have addressed the prognostic feature in patients with pancreatic metastasis.

Methods:
Cases of pancreatic metastases that were diagnosed by the multidisciplinary tumor board from September 2013 to July 2023 at our hospital were collected and analyzed.

Results:
A total of 77 cases were collected. The most common primary tumor sites were the lung (35.1%) and kidney (23.4%). Clear cell renal carcinoma (CCRC) accounted for 23.4% of cases, making it the most common histological type, followed by small cell lung cancer (SCLC, 16.9%). Among the cases, 36.4% (28 cases) presented with organ-related symptoms, and 70.4% (57 cases) were solitary metastases. Metachronous metastases accounted for 70.1% (54 cases), with an average interval of 62.7 ± 74.4 months between the diagnosis of the primary tumor and metastasis. The overall survival (OS) of the collected cases was 42 months. The overall survival (OS) for all cases was 42 months. OS varied by primary tumor type, with pancreatic metastases secondary to lung, kidney, digestive tract, and gynecological cancers showing OS of 23, 81, 11, and 32 months, respectively. Subgroup analysis indicated that 15 cases secondary to the CRCC were metachronous with an average interval of 132.4 ± 83.9 months from initial diagnosis to metastasis, who had an OS of 80 months. Radical resection was performed in 10 of these cases, increasing the OS to 91 months.

Conclusion:
Pancreatic metastasis was uncommon and imperceptible. The prognosis of patients depended on the primary tumor type and the timing of metastasis. Pancreatic metastases secondary to CCRC were the most frequent and had the most favorable prognosis. Radical resection of the metachronous metastases prolonged survival. This study described the real-world clinical profiles of pancreatic metastases, providing valuable insights to reduce misdiagnosis and guide treatment decisions.
Smoking and sudden cardiac death in patients with previous coronary artery disease
Authors: Järvensivu-Koivunen Minna , Hernesniemi Jussi , Tynkkynen Juho 
Published: September 2024

Background
Smoking is a known risk for sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the general population. However, its significance in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), a condition that also elevates the risk of SCD, is disputable.

Methods
A total of 9704 consecutive ACS patients with available smoking data were included in the analysis. Comprehensive patient data were obtained from the Mass Data in Detection and Prevention of Serious Adverse Events in Cardiovascular Disease research database. A composite endpoint of SCD, SCD aborted by successful resuscitation and accurate implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy to otherwise potentially fatal ventricular fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia was used. Univariate, age- and sex-adjusted, and a multivariate fine-gray competing risk regression with adjustment to traditional risk factors was conducted.

Results
Median follow-up time was 6.8 years (IQR, 4.1–10.2), and 454 (4.7%) SCD cases were identified. At the baseline, 23.7% (N = 2444) were active smokers, and 20.8% (N = 2146) were ex-smokers. In the multivariate model, active smokers had an elevated risk of 1.79 (95% CI, 1.41–2.27; P < 0.001) for future SCD. Ex-smokers had no elevated risk for SCD in fine-gray subdistribution hazard. Also, active smokers were notably younger (mean age 58.7 years) than non- or ex-smokers (71.1 years and 68.9 years, respectively, P < 0.001 for both comparisons).

Conclusion
Active smokers had a 79% higher risk of SCD when compared with nonsmokers. Smoking cessation should be heavily encouraged after ACS. Also, a person’s smoking status should be considered in further studies developing SCD and implantable cardioverter defibrillator-benefit risk scores.
Markers of extracellular matrix degradation and inflammasome activation are associated with carotid plaques in virally suppressed people with HIV in Botswana
Authors: Ueland Thor , Nkele Isaac , Hoel Hedda , Lockman Shahin , Michelsen Annika E. , Moshomo Thato , Aukrust Pål , Mohammed Terence , Trøseid Marius , Mosepele Mosepele 
Published: September 2024

Background:
HIV is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We investigated soluble markers of extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and inflammation in relation to presence of carotid plaques in a well characterized adult cross-sectional study of people with HIV (PWH) and matched people without HIV in Botswana.

Methods:
Using enzyme immunoassays we analyzed plasma ECM remodeling mediators including galectin-3 (GAL-3), cystatin B (CysB), and growth/differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) and the inflammatory marker interleukin (IL)-18 in 196 without HIV and 197 PWH of which 36 were ART-naïve.

Results:
We found (i) PWH had higher plasma levels of the ECM markers GAL-3 and CysB and the NLRP3 inflammasome activation marker IL-18, mainly in ART naïve participants, (ii) PWH on ART had markedly higher GDF-15, associated with use of first generation nucleoside analogs; iii) high levels of CysB and IL-18 correlated with presence of carotid plaques

Conclusion:
In PWH, high levels of CysB and IL-18 were associated with the presence of carotid plaques. For IL-18, this was observed in the study population as a whole, whereas the association for CysB was restricted to PWH.
Evaluating the Efficacy of Wrist-Ankle Acupuncture Combined With Patient-Controlled Intravenous Analgesia for Managing Post Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty
Authors: Chen Hai-Jing , Zheng Ying-Song , Chen Ling-Qin , Xiong Guo-Feng , Xu Jia-Ni 
Published: September 2024

Objective:
The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of combining wrist-ankle acupuncture with patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) on active pain and food intake in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) after undergoing uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP).

Methods:
Sixty patients with OSAHS who underwent UPPP at our hospital’s Department of Otorhinolaryngology from January 2020 to October 2023 were selected and randomly divided into 2 groups of 30 each: an observation group and a control group. The control group received general anesthesia administered by an anesthesiologist and used a PCIA pump. In addition to this treatment, the observation group received the combined intervention of wrist-ankle acupuncture. Active pain levels were monitored at 0, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours after UPPP, and food intake was observed at 24, 36, and 48 hours postoperation. The results were compared and recorded for both groups.

Results:
The analgesic effect on active pain in the observation group was significantly greater than in the control group at 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours postoperation, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). In addition, when comparing food intake scores at 24, 36, and 48 hours postoperation, the observation group had significantly higher food intake than the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).

Conclusions:
The combined intervention of wrist-ankle acupuncture and PCIA provides effective pain relief for OSAHS patients after UPPP, enhances their food intake, improves their quality of life, and supports early recovery.
Advances in breathlessness support services for people with serious illness
Authors: Takemura Naomi , Maddocks Matthew , Brighton Lisa Jane 
Published: September 2024

Purpose of review
Breathlessness remains a common and distressing symptom among people with serious illness, particularly in advanced disease. This review synthesises recent advances in the development, characteristics, and outcomes of breathlessness support services.

Recent findings
The expanding body of evidence regarding breathlessness support services has broadened and strengthened our understanding of clinical and cost-effectiveness. The expansion of these services, into diverse settings and including digital delivery, has augmented their reach and accessibility to a wider population. Additionally, there is increasing attention to the psychological aspects of breathlessness and its management, including the challenges of optimising breathlessness support services for long-term benefit.

Summary
Recent studies have made substantial progress in enhancing our knowledge of breathlessness support services and their impact on people with serious illness. Innovations extending services into new countries and settings, including use of digital platforms for intervention delivery, plus increased recognition of psychological mechanisms, have the potential to support more people with serious illness to live as best as possible with breathlessness.
DRED: A Comprehensive Database of Genes Related to Repeat Expansion Diseases
Authors: Shi Qingqing , Dai Min , Ma Yingke , Liu Jun , Liu Xiuying , Wang Xiu-Jie 
Published: September 2024

AbstractExpansion of tandem repeats in genes often causes severe neuromuscular diseases, such as fragile X syndrome, huntington’s disease, and spinocerebellar ataxia. However, information on genes associated with repeat expansion diseases is scattered throughout the literature, systematic prediction of potential genes that may cause diseases via repeat expansion is also lacking. Here, we develop DRED, a Database of genes related to Repeat Expansion Diseases, as a manually-curated database that covers all known 61 genes related to repeat expansion diseases reported in PubMed and OMIM, along with detailed repeat information for each gene. DRED also includes 516 genes with the potential to cause diseases via repeat expansion, which were predicted basing on their repeat composition, genetic variations, genomic features, and disease associations. Various types of information on repeat expansion diseases and their corresponding genes/repeats are presented in DRED, together with links to external resources, such as NCBI and ClinVar. DRED provides user-friendly interfaces with comprehensive functions, and can serve as a central data resource for basic research and repeat expansion disease-related medical diagnosis. DRED is freely accessible athttp://omicslab.genetics.ac.cn/dred, and is frequently updated to include newly reported genes related to repeat expansion diseases.
A brainstem circuit controls cough-like airway defensive behaviors in mice
Authors: Xu Xiaoshan , Nie Xiupeng , Zhang Weijia , Jiang He-Hai , Liu Bingyi , Ren Yanyan , Wang Tingting , Xu Xiang , Yang Jing , Luo Fujun 
Published: September 2024

AbstractThe respiratory tract is subject to complex neural control for eupneic breathing and distinct airway defensive reflexes. Growing evidence has highlighted significant heterogeneity of airway-innervating vagal sensory neurons in mediating various respiratory functions, however, the central neuronal pathways and neural circuits involved in the airway regulation remain less understood. Combining whole-body plethysmography (WBP), audio, and video tracking to access breathing and airway defensive behaviors in conscious animals, we developed a quantitative paradigm implementing the mouse as a model to study cough-like defensive behaviors. Using TRAP2 transgenic mice and in vivo fiber photometry, we found that the neural activity in the caudal spinal trigeminal nucleus (SP5C) is strongly correlated with tussigen-evoked cough-like responses. Impairing synaptic outputs or chemogenetic inhibition of the SP5C effectively abolished these cough-like reflexes. Optogenetic stimulation of SP5C excitatory neurons or their projections to the ventral respiratory group (VRG) triggered robust cough-like behaviors without tussive stimuli. Notably, tonic elevation of SP5C excitability caused spontaneous cough-like activities chronically in mice. Together, our data provide strong evidence for a previously unrecognized brainstem circuit that controls cough-like defensive behaviors in mice.
Vaginal Tissue Engineering via Gelatin-Elastin Fiber-Reinforced Hydrogels
Authors: Zambuto Samantha G. , Kolluru Samyuktha S. , Hamdaoui Abir , Mascot Annabella M. , Sutcliffe Siobhan S. , Lowder Jerry L. , Oyen Michelle L. 
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACTThe vagina is a fibromuscular tube-shaped organ spanning from the hymenal ring to the cervix that plays critical roles in menstruation, pregnancy, and female sexual health. Vaginal tissue constituents, including cells and extracellular matrix components, contribute to tissue structure, function, and prevention of injury. However, much microstructural function remains unknown, including how the fiber-cell and cell-cell interactions influence macromechanical properties. A deeper understanding of these interactions will provide critical information needed to reduce and prevent vaginal injuries. Our objectives for this work herein are to first engineer a suite of biomaterials for vaginal tissue engineering and second to characterize the performance of these biomaterials in the vaginal microenvironment. We successfully created fiber-reinforced hydrogels of gelatin-elastin electrospun fibers infiltrated with gelatin methacryloyl hydrogels. These composites recapitulate vaginal material properties, including stiffness, and are compatible with the vaginal microenvironment: biocompatible with primary vaginal epithelial cells and in acidic conditions. This work significantly advances progress in vaginal tissue engineering by developing novel materials and developing a state-of-the-art tissue engineered vagina.
Type III interferons suppress influenza A virus infection independently of STAT activation by triggering cell death
Authors: Prus Wiktor , Grabowski Frederic , Koza Paulina , Korwek Zbigniew , Czerkies Maciej , Kochańczyk Marek , Lipniacki Tomasz 
Published: September 2024

Type III interferons (IFN-λ1–λ4) are known to limit influenza virus infectionsin vivoand are non-redundant to type I interferons (IFN-α and IFN-β). Here, we demonstratedin vitrothat type III interferons limit infection with influenza A virus (IAV) independently of STAT1 and STAT2 activation. Despite the fact that the knockout of the IFN-λ receptor (subunit IFNLR1), compared to the knockout of the IFN-β receptor (subunit IFNAR1), is associated with higher levels of STAT1/2 phosphorylation during infection, it results in a greater proportion of IAV-infected cells and higher viral RNA and protein levels. We showed that the ratio of dying to infected cells is lower in IFNLR1-deficient cells compared to wild-type cells suggesting that type III interferons limit the spread of IAV by promoting the death of IAV-infected cells. In contrast, type I interferons induce a stronger accumulation of proteins coded by interferon-stimulated genes, and correspondingly suppress IAV spread more effectively than type III interferons when provided prior to infection. Overall, our results suggest an additional non-transcriptional role of type III interferons in the control of viral infections.Key pointsIFNAR1 deficiency leads to a significant reduction of STAT1/2 activation in cell populations infected with IAV and a small decrease in IAV proliferation.IFNLR1 deficiency leads to a small reduction of STAT1/2 activation in cell populations infected with IAV and a significant increase in IAV proliferation.IFN-λ controls the proliferation of IAV (but not RSV) independently of STAT1/2 signaling.IFN-λ signaling increases the ratio of the dead to the infected cells, likely by promoting death in IAV-infected cells.
Acute sildenafil administration reduces susceptibility to induced atrial fibrillation in sheep
Authors: Denham Nathan C , Madders George W P , Hutchings D C , Smith C E R , Whitley A S , Obeidat M , Trafford A W , Pearman C M , Dibb K M 
Published: September 2024

AbstractBackgroundSildenafil is a PDE5 inhibitor with a very good safety profile and animal models suggest it may be beneficial in the treatment of heart failure and ventricular fibrillation. Sildenafil has also been associated with a reduced incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in a retrospective observational study. We have therefore sought to determine whether sildenafil has a direct effect on atrial electrophysiology and resultant AF burden.MethodsInvasive electrophysiological studies were performed in 12 anaesthetised healthy adult female Welsh mountain sheep. Pacing protocols were performed in the right atrium before and after administration of an acute 10 mg intravenous bolus of sildenafil and the burden of AF assessed.ResultsSildenafil profoundly reduced the vulnerability to AF, decreasing AF duration (112.2 ± 73.5 s vs. 3.3 ± 1.4 s), the number of burst pacing inductions causing AF (90 % vs 70 %) and the complexity of AF. The antiarrhythmic effects of sildenafil were determined to be resultant of prolongation of both the atrial effective refractory period (146.9 ± 7.2 ms vs 166.2 ± 32.5 ms) and the atrial excitation wavelength (12.9 ± 0.07 cm vs 15.0 ± 0.07 cm) and resulted in a shallower restitution curve, reflected in a decreased magnitude of monophasic action potential alternans (0.09 ± 0.001 mV vs 0.05 ± 0.10 mV).ConclusionsIn the subjectively healthy atria of a highly translational model a strong antiarrhythmic effect upon acute sildenafil application was observed suggestive of a potential clinical benefit in AF.
Wakefulness Induced by TAAR1 Partial Agonism is Mediated Through Dopaminergic Neurotransmission
Authors: Park Sunmee , Heu Jasmine , Hoener Marius C. , Kilduff Thomas S. 
Published: September 2024

AbstractTrace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) is known to negatively regulate dopamine (DA) release. The partial TAAR1 agonist RO5263397 promotes wakefulness and suppresses NREM and REM sleep in mice, rats, and non-human primates. We tested the hypothesis that the TAAR1-mediated effects on sleep/wake were due, at least in part, to DA release. Male C57BL6/J mice (n=8) were intraperitoneally administered the D1R antagonist SCH23390, the D2R antagonist eticlopride, a combination of D1R+D2R antagonists or saline at ZT5.5, followed 30 min later by RO5263397 or vehicle (10% DMSO in DI water) at ZT6per os. EEG, EMG, subcutaneous temperature, and activity were recorded in each mouse across the 8 treatment conditions and sleep architecture was analyzed for 6 hours post-dosing. Consistent with our previous reports, RO5263397 increased wakefulness as well as the latency to NREM and REM sleep. D1, D2, and D1+D2 pretreatment reduced RO5263397-induced wakefulness during the first 1-2 hours after dosing, but only the D1+D2 combination attenuated the wake-promoting effect of RO5263397 from ZT6-8, mostly by increasing NREM sleep. Although D1+D2 antagonism blocked the wake-promoting effect of RO5263397, only the D1 antagonist significantly reduced the TAAR1-mediated increase in NREM latency. Neither the D1 nor the D2 antagonist affected TAAR1-mediated suppression of REM sleep. These results suggest that, whereas TAAR1 effects on wakefulness are mediated in part through the D2R, D1R activation plays a role in reversing the TAAR1-mediated increase in NREM sleep latency. By contrast, TAAR1-mediated suppression of REM sleep appears not to involve D1R or D2R mechanisms.
Single-cell analysis of human airway epithelium identifies cell type-specific responses toAspergillusandCoccidioides
Authors: Harding Alfred T. , Crossen Arianne J. , Reedy Jennifer L. , Basham Kyle J. , Hepworth Olivia W. , Zhang Yanting , Shah Viral S. , Harding Hannah Brown , Surve Manalee V. , Simaku Patricia , Kwaku Geneva N. , Jensen Kristine Nolling , Otto Yohana , Ward Rebecca A. , Thompson George R. , Klein Bruce S. , Rajagopal Jayaraj , Sen Pritha , Haber Adam L. , Vyas Jatin M. 
Published: September 2024

AbstractRespiratory fungal infections pose a significant threat to human health. Animal models do not fully recapitulate human disease, necessitating advanced models to study human-fungal pathogen interactions. In this study, we utilized primary human airway epithelial cells (hAECs) to recapitulate the lung environmentin vitroand investigate cellular responses to two diverse, clinically significant fungal pathogens,Aspergillus fumigatusandCoccidioides posadasii. To understand the mechanisms of early pathogenesis for both fungi, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing of infected hAECs. Analysis revealed that both fungi induced cellular stress and cytokine production. However, the cell subtypes affected and specific pathways differed between fungi, withA. fumigatusandC. posadasiitriggering protein-folding-related stress in ciliated cells and hypoxia responses in secretory cells, respectively. This study represents one of the first reports of single-cell transcriptional analysis of hAECs infected with eitherA. fumigatusorC. posadasii, providing a vital dataset to dissect the mechanism of disease and potentially identify targetable pathways.ImportanceFungal infections in the lungs are dreaded complications for those with compromised immune systems and have limited treatment strategies available. These options are restricted further by the increased prevalence of treatment-resistant fungi. Many studies focus on how our immune systems respond to these pathogens, yet airway epithelial cells remain an understudied component of fungal infections in the lungs. Here, the authors provide a transcriptional analysis of primary human airway epithelial cells stimulated by two distinct fungal pathogens,Aspergillus fumigatusandCoccidioides posadasii. These data will enable further mechanistic studies of the contribution of the airway epithelium to initial host responses and represent a powerful new resource for investigators.