bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic accuracy of hip joint ultrasound for detection of calcium pyrophosphate deposition
Authors: Soto-Fajardo Carina , Carranza-Enríquez Fabián , Pichardo-Bahena Raúl , Clavijo-Cornejo Denise , Ilizaliturri-Sánchez Víctor Manuel , Flores-Ordoñez Paola , Ángeles-Acuña Abish , Solórzano-Flores Sinthia , Filippou Georgios , Sandoval Hugo , Pineda Carlos 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Objective
CPPD disease is a chronic and disabling arthropathy. US has been shown to be a tool with high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of CPPD disease, but its value at the hip joint has not yet been determined. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of US for the identification of CPP crystals in the hip joint as compared with histopathology.

Methods
Diagnostic test study involving patients over 50 years of age with osteoarthritis, scheduled for hip replacement surgery. US was performed on the affected hip. Acetabular fibrocartilage (FC) and hyaline cartilage (HC) of the femoral head were assessed, and a dichotomous score was used for the presence/absence of CPP crystals. SF was obtained from the affected hip and examined using polarized light microscopy. Histopathological examination was performed by an experienced pathologist in search of CPP crystals in FC and HC samples.

Results
One hundred patients were enrolled, of whom 62% were found to have hyperechoic areas suggestive of CPP deposition on US examination. Pathological evaluation revealed a prevalence of 61% of CPP crystals. The sensitivity, specificity and the positive predictive and the negative predictive values were 90%, 82%, 89%, and 84%, respectively. The area under the curve for US compared with histopathology for the diagnosis of hip CPPD was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.78–0.94).

Conclusion
US is a valid imaging modality with good diagnostic accuracy for the detection of hip CPPD.
Increased Sensitivity to Effort and Perception of Effort in People with Schizophrenia
Authors: Culbreth Adam J , Chib Vikram S , Riaz Safa S , Manohar Sanjay G , Husain Masud , Waltz James A , Gold James M 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Objective
Motivational deficits in schizophrenia are proposed to be attributable in part to abnormal effort-cost computations, calculations weighing the costs vs. the benefits of actions. Several reports have shown that people with schizophrenia display a reduced willingness to exert effort for monetary rewards when compared to controls. The primary goal of the current study was to further characterize reduced willingness to exert effort in schizophrenia by determining whether reduced willingness reflects (1) reduced sensitivity to reward, (2) increased sensitivity to effort, or (3) a combination of both.

Design
We assessed effort-cost decision-making in 30 controls and 30 people with schizophrenia, using 2 separate experimental tasks. Critically, one paradigm allowed for independent estimation of effects of reward and effort sensitivity on choice behavior. The other task isolated effort sensitivity by measuring effort in the absence of reward. Clinical interviews and self-report questionnaires were administered to people with schizophrenia to determine negative symptom severity.

Results
Across both tasks, we found evidence for reduced willingness to exert effort in people with schizophrenia compared to controls. Further, in both paradigms reduced willingness to exert effort was driven by increased sensitivity to effort in people with schizophrenia compared to controls. In contrast, measures of reward sensitivity did not significantly differ between groups. Surprisingly, we did not find correlations between task variables and measures of negative symptom severity.

Conclusions and Relevance
These findings further specify prior work by identifying a specific contributory role for increased effort sensitivity in effort-cost decision-making deficits in schizophrenia.
The neurocranium of Potamotrygonidae: morphology and phylogenetic significance
Authors: Araújo Marcus V G , Vaz Diego F B , Medeiros Jade , de Lima Arthur , Rosa Ricardo S , Loboda Thiago S , da Silva João Paulo C B 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
The family Potamotrygonidae is part of the Neotropical ichthyofauna and has the largest diversity of freshwater elasmobranchs in the world. The neurocranium in Potamotrygonidae is an elongated and dorsoventrally flattened structure that articulates anterolaterally with the anterior portion of the propterygium, posteriorly with the sinarcual, and posterolaterally with the hyomandibula. This anatomical structure is comparatively described in Potamotrygonidae in an effort to reveal new phylogenetically relevant characters. Additionally, a new genus-level phylogeny of the family is proposed herein based on 60 novel morphological characters. The subfamily Potamotrygoninae, whose monophyly is well sustained by previous studies, is further supported herein by a variable number of cranial synapomorphies (up to 17), depending on the optimization adopted. Furthermore, we also recovered Potamotrygon and Plesiotrygon as consecutive sister-groups to a clade including Heliotrygon and Paratrygon. The neurocranium of potamotrygonids and its anatomical variation is also discussed in the context of previous morphological and molecular phylogenies of Neotropical freshwater stingrays.
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Reduces Pressure Pain Sensitivity in Patients With Noncancer Chronic Pain
Authors: Zolezzi Daniela M. , Kold Sebastian , Brock Christina , Jensen Anne Birthe Helweg , Jensen Sarah Thorius , Larsen Isabelle Myriam , Olesen Søren Schou , Mørch Carsten Dahl , Drewes Asbjørn Mohr , Graven-Nielsen Thomas 
Published: September 2024

Objectives:
Noncancer chronic pain is a clinical challenge because pharmacological treatment often fails to relieve pain. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a treatment that could have the potential for pain relief and improvement in quality of life. However, there is a lack of clinical trials evaluating the effects of tDCS on the pain system. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of 5 days of anodal tDCS treatment on the pain system in patients with chronic noncancer pain using quantitative sensory testing and quality of life questionnaires: (1) Brief Pain Inventory-short form, (2) European Organization for Research and Treatment of Life Questionnaire-C30, and (3) Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale.

Methods:
Eleven patients with noncancer chronic pain (51 ± 13.6 y old, 5M) participated in the study. Anodal tDCS was applied for 5 consecutive days, followed by sham stimulation after a washout period of at least 2 weeks. Pressure pain thresholds and pain tolerance thresholds (PTT) were assessed in different body regions on days 1 and 5.

Results:
Anodal tDCS appeared to maintain PTT at C5 (clavicle) on day 5, but sham stimulation decreased PTT (P = 0.007). In addition, anodal tDCS increased PTT compared with sham at day 5 at Th10 ventral dermatomes (P = 0.014). Both anodal and sham tDCS decreased the Brief Pain Inventory-short form total and interference scores, and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Life Questionnaire-C30 fatigue score, but no interaction effect was observed.

Conclusion:
This study adds to the evidence in the literature that tDCS may be a potential therapeutic tool for the management of noncancer chronic pain.
Changes in Intra- and Cross-hemispheric Directed Functional Connectivity in the Electroencephalographic Signals during Propofol-induced Loss of Consciousness
Authors: Troyas Carla , Ostertag Julian , Schneider Gerhard , García Paul S. , Sleigh Jamie W. , Kreuzer Matthias 
Published: September 2024

Background:
Numerous, sometimes conflicting, changes in brain functional connectivity have been associated with the transition from wakefulness to unresponsiveness at induction of general anesthesia. However, relatively few studies have looked at the detailed time evolution of the transition, for different electroencephalogram (EEG) frequency bands, and in the clinical scenario of surgical patients undergoing general anesthesia.

Methods:
The authors investigated the changes in the frontal and frontoparietal directed and undirected functional connectivity to multichannel EEG data recorded from 29 adult male surgical patients undergoing propofol-induced loss of consciousness during induction of anesthesia. Directed functional connectivity was estimated using bivariate frequency domain Granger causality, and undirected connectivity was assessed using EEG coherence.

Results:
Around the point of loss of consciousness, local frontal, interhemispheric frontal, and frontoparietal feedback and feedforward Granger causality all decreased between 31% and 51.5% in the delta band (median [interquartile range] for local frontal, 0.14 [0.08, 0.27] to 0.08 [0.06, 0.12]; P = 0.02). After a lag of a few minutes, Granger causality markedly increased in the gamma and beta bands for local frontal (0.03 [0.02, 0.07] to 0.09 [0.07, 0.11]; P < 0.001) and long-distance cross-hemispheric frontoparietal feedback (0.02 [0.01, 0.04] to 0.07 [0.04, 0.09]; P < 0.001) and feedforward (0.02 [0.01, 0.04] to 0.03 [0.03, 0.04]; P = 0.01) coupling, but not for within-hemispheric frontoparietal feedback and feedforward. Frontal interhemispheric EEG coherence significantly decreased in the lower frequencies (f < 12 Hz) at loss of consciousness, while no significant increase for the beta and gamma bands was observed.

Conclusions:
Propofol-induced loss of consciousness in surgical patients is associated with a global breakdown in low-frequency directed functional connectivity, coupled with a high-frequency increase between closely located brain regions. At loss of consciousness, Granger causality shows more pronounced changes than coherence.
Corneal Layer Thickness Mapping With Optical Coherence Tomography in Different Stages Reveals Pathologic Processes of Keratoconus
Authors: Koh Shizuka , Inoue Ryota , Ambrósio Renato , Lopes Bernardo , Matsuo Risako , Maeno Sayo , Maeda Naoyuki , Kohji Nishida  
Published: September 2024

Purpose:
The aim of this study was to characterize the corneal layer thickness profile in different stages of keratoconus (KC).

Methods:
Patients with clinical or subclinical KC without a history of contact lens use were retrospectively enrolled. We evaluated 164 eyes, including 69 clinical KC, 32 topographic KC (no clinical signs), 22 very asymmetric ectasia with normal topography and no clinical signs of ectasia (VAE-NT), and 41 control eyes. The corneal epithelial, stromal, and total thicknesses in a 10-mm diameter were evaluated using swept-source anterior segment optical coherence tomography.

Results:
The epithelial thickness in the control and VAE-NT groups was thicker inferiorly than superiorly. While epithelial thickness parameters between the VAE-NT and control groups did not differ, significant stromal thinning was observed in the paracentral inferior and midperipheral temporal areas. The epithelium in the topographic and clinical KC groups was thinner than that in the control and VAE-NT groups, with focal thinning of the epithelium in the inferior-temporal area. In clinical KC, stromal thinning increased mainly in the central and paracentral inferior/temporal areas. With KC progression, the thinnest epithelial points tended to be placed temporally and inferiorly.

Conclusions:
Corneal layer thickness mapping using swept-source optical coherence tomography in a 10-mm diameter cornea across various severities of KC, from very mild to advanced, revealed that epithelial and stromal thicknesses changed with KC severity and was involved in the pathogenesis of KC progression. Pathological changes in the stroma may precede those in the epithelium. Epithelial compensatory mechanisms in clinical and topographic KC may not have fully emerged in VAE-NT.
Impact of Acute Short-Term Hypobaric Hypoxia on Anterior Chamber Geometry
Authors: Xie Yuan , Sun Yunxiao , Shao Yaqi , Tian Jiaxing , Fu Yingdi , Yang Diya , Yang Yiquan , Cao Kai , Zhang Ye , Wang Huaizhou , Wang Guozhong , Wang Ningli 
Published: September 2024

Précis:
Hypobaric hypoxia, the major environmental factor at high altitudes, has been observed to induce pupil miosis and widening of the anterior chamber angle. This environment may be safe for individuals with narrow angle and deserves further study.

Purpose:
This study aimed to quantify anterior chamber biometric parameters before and after acute short-term, effortless exposure to hypobaric hypoxia (HH) in healthy lowlanders using swept-source anterior segment optical coherence tomography (SS AS-OCT).

Methods:
This prospective study included 25 healthy young lowlanders (50 eyes) who underwent SS AS-OCT measurements and intraocular pressure (IOP) assessments under baseline sea-level conditions (T1). They were then passively exposed to simulated 4000 m above sea level for 3 hours and underwent acute mountain sickness (AMS) symptoms evaluation and IOP measurement after 2 hours exposure to HH (T2). Repeat SS AS-OCT measurements and IOP assessments were taken within 15 minutes after leaving the hypobaric chamber (T3). Anterior segment parameters including anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens vault (LV), angle opening distance (AOD500), trabecular-iris space area (TISA500), angle recess area (ARA500) at 500 μm from the scleral spur, iris curvature (IC), iris volume (IV), pupil diameter (PD), and central corneal thickness (CCT) were obtained through SS AS-OCT. These repeated measurements were compared using linear mixed model analysis.

Results:
In comparison to the sea level, both IOP (16.4±3.4 vs. 14.9±2.4 mm Hg, P=0.029) and PD (5.36±0.77 vs. 4.78±0.89 mm, P=0.001) significantly decreased after exposure to HH. Significant post-HH changes [mean difference (95% CI)] were observed in AOD500 [0.129 (0.006, 0.252), P=0.04], TISA500 [0.059 (0.008, 0.11), P=0.025], ARA500 [0.074 (0.008, 0.141), P=0.029], IV [1.623 (0.092, 3.154), P=0.038], and IC [−0.073 (−0.146, 0.001), P=0.047], whereas CCT, ACD, and LV remained stable. After adjusting for age, post-HH variations in AOD500 (Beta=0.553, 95% CI: 0.001, 1.105, P=0.048) and TISA500 (Beta=0.256, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.492, P=0.034) were associated with decreased IC but were not related to lowered arterial oxygen pressure or IV increase per millimeter of pupil miosis (IV/PD). These differences in anterior segment parameters were neither correlated with differences in IOP nor AMS.

Conclusions:
After short-term, effortless exposure to hypobaric hypoxia, pupil miosis occurred with widening of the anterior chamber angle and decreased IC. These changes in anterior chamber angle parameters were associated with decreased IC but did not correlate with the post-hypobaric variations in IV/PD, IOP, or AMS.
Comparing Endoscopic Treatment Modalities for Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia
Authors: Gangwani Manesh Kumar , Haghbin Hossein , Hasan Fariha , Dillard Julia , Jaber Fouad , Dahiya Dushyant Singh , Ali Hassam , Kamal Faisal , Hayat Umar , Lee-Smith Wade , Sohail Amir , Inamdar Sumant , Aziz Muhammad , Adler Douglas G. 
Published: September 2024

Objective:
Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) is characterized by vascular ectasias accounting for 4% of nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeds, which can range from occult bleeds to severe acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding. In turn, GAVE can lead to severe morbidity and recurrent hospitalization. Current endoscopic treatments for GAVE include argon plasma coagulation (APC), endoscopic band ligation (EBL), and radiofrequency ablation. With this significant burden in mind, a systematic review and network meta-analysis were conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of various modalities in the treatment of GAVE.

Methods:
All studies that involved adults and children with endoscopic characteristics of GAVE undergoing treatment with APC, EBL, radiofrequency ablation, or a combination of 2 treatment modalities were included.

Results:
There was no statistical difference in the rate of adverse events and the number of red blood cell transfusions across all 3 groups (APC, EBL, and APC + EBL). However, statistical differences were noted for outcomes of bleeding recurrence, length of hospitalization, and change in hemoglobin status. EBL exhibited a significant decrease in bleeding recurrence when compared with APC. Moreover, shorter hospitalization stays were seen in APC + EBL and EBL groups compared with APC, and a beneficial change in hemoglobin status was also more often seen in APC + EBL and EBL groups compared with APC.

Conclusions:
Based on this study, EBL was found to have superior efficacy when compared with APC for the treatment of GAVE; however, there was no significant difference in rates of adverse events between APC, EBL, and combination therapy.
Predictors of Morbidity, Mortality, and Hospital Utilization Among Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography–related Hospitalizations
Authors: Kilani Yassine , Madi Mahmoud Y. , Alsakarneh Saqr , Puelo Priscila Castro , Aldiabat Mohammad , Syrilan Kym Yves , Ferreira Mariana Nunez , Gonzalez Mosquera Daniel Alejandro , Sohail Amir H. , Numan Laith , Kim Marina , Kiwan Wissam 
Published: September 2024

Objective:
We aimed to assess the hospital frailty risk score on the inpatient mortality, morbidity, and health care resource utilization among endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-related hospitalizations.

Background:
Data regarding the inpatient mortality, morbidity, and health care resource utilization of ERCP among frail individuals remain limited.

Materials and Methods:
Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, we compared the odds of inpatient mortality and morbidity of ERCP-related hospitalizations among individuals with low frailty scores, intermediate frailty scores (IFSs), and high frailty scores (HFSs).

Results:
Overall, 776,025 ERCP-related hospitalizations were recorded from 2016 to 2020. 552,045 had a low frailty score, whereas 217,875 had an IFS, and 6105 had an HFS. Frail individuals had a 5-fold increase in mortality [IFS: adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 4.81, 95% CI: 3.77-6.14; HFS: aOR = 4.62, 95% CI: 2.48-8.63]. An IFS was associated with a 24% increase in post-ERCP pancreatitis (aOR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.11-1.41), a 3-fold increase in post-ERCP bleeding (aOR = 2.59, 95% CI: 1.82-3.67), and a 2-fold increase in post-ERCP duct perforation (aOR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.38-2.64). Frail individuals experienced higher odds of in-hospital morbidity, including secondary sepsis, respiratory failure, acute kidney injury, cerebrovascular accidents, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism.

Conclusions:
In summary, our study presents strong evidence in support of using the hospital frailty risk score as an index to predict mortality and morbidity during ERCP-related hospitalizations. Additional caution is warranted in the management of frail individuals undergoing ERCP.
Indications for testosterone therapy in men
Authors: Grossmann Mathis 
Published: September 2024

Purpose of review
Testosterone replacement therapy for men with organic hypogonadism due to medical disease of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPT) axis is uncontroversial. In these men, testosterone replacement replaces the deficient hormone and relieves the signs and symptoms of androgen deficiency. In contrast, the role of testosterone treatment in middle-aged or older men who have clinical features consistent with androgen deficiency accompanied by reductions in serum testosterone but lack identifiable HPT axis disease, a scenario sometimes referred to as ‘functional’ or ‘late onset’ hypogonadism, has been uncertain.

Recent findings
Three large randomized controlled clinical trials, discussed in this review, have reported new data regarding short-term to medium-term benefits and risks of testosterone therapy in such middle-aged and older men, including effects on sexual function, vitality, cognition and mood, glucose metabolism, physical function, hematologic parameters, as well as bone, cardiovascular and prostate health.

Summary
The findings of these trials allow for a more nuanced, personalized approach to testosterone therapy in such men. However, long-term benefits and risk of testosterone therapy (beyond 3–4 years) remain unknown.
Anxiety of Patients Undergoing Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): The Effectiveness of Guided Mental Imagery
Authors: Shojaie Atena , Amiri Houshang , Dehesh Tania , Bagherian Behnaz 
Published: September 2024

Abstract:

Background:
Since magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an extensively used and fundamental diagnostic imaging method and anxiety is one of the most important confounding factors in its performance, using guided imagery is recommended.

Objective:
This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of guided imagery on the anxiety of patients undergoing MRI in 2023.

Methods:
88 patients were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The intervention group listened to the nature-based guided imagery audio file during their scan, and the control group did not receive any intervention. Data were collected using demographic information and the Spielberger Anxiety Questionnaire before and after the scan.

Results:
There was no significant difference between the 2 groups before the intervention regarding demographic data and anxiety. In the intervention group, the mean anxiety decreased from 104.0 ± 14.6 to 92.4 ± 9.0, showing a significant reduction in the level of anxiety in both subscales (state and trait) and the total score (P < 0.001), compared with the control group and before the intervention.

Conclusion:
The results showed that using guided imagery could decrease anxiety levels in patients undergoing MRI. Since patients' anxiety is one of the most important nursing diagnoses, performing cognitive methods, including guided imagery, as a simple, safe, inexpensive, and effective intervention should be considered.
Subnational tailoring of malaria interventions for strategic planning and prioritization: experience and perspectives of five malaria programs
Authors: Onyango Letitia , Ouédraogo-Ametchie Ghislaine , Ozodiegwu Ifeoma , Galatas Beatriz , Gerardin Jaline 
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACTIn the context of high malaria burden and insufficient resources, several national malaria programs (NMPs) used subnational tailoring (SNT) as a tool for evidence-informed decision-making on their national malaria strategic plans and funding requests. The SNT process included the formation of an SNT team, determination of criteria for targeting interventions, data assembly and review, stratification, application of targeting criteria to determine preliminary plans, mathematical modeling, finalization of intervention plans, and monitoring and evaluation of the eventual implemented plan, all under the leadership of the NMP. Analysis steps of SNT were supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners. As SNT was a new approach, this study used semi-structured interviews to understand the perspectives and experiences of personnel from five NMPs (Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, and Togo) that undertook SNT between 2019 and 2023. Participants reported that SNT outputs were used to inform national strategic plans and prioritized plans, that the process incentivized improvements in data collection and data quality, and that NMPs were strongly motivated to grow their capacity to conduct more steps of the SNT analysis process internally. Major challenges included the lack of resources available to implement the full strategic plans as well as challenges with data quality and alignment of stakeholders. Participants reported a moderate to strong sense of ownership over the process and were eager to extend, adapt, and reuse the SNT process in the future. Among countries supported by WHO, SNT was well-accepted and allowed NMPs to successfully use evidence to inform their decision-making, advocate for themselves, and mobilize resources.