bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An update on the management of axial spondyloarthritis for sports medicine professionals
Authors: Danve Abhijeet , Magrey Marina , Deodhar Atul 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Background
Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease which mainly affects the spine and sacroiliac joints, causing longstanding back pain, stiffness, and limited mobility. AxSpA is an underrecognized disease in non-rheumatology practices because of its heterogeneous clinical features that may be difficult to identify.

Main body
Sports medicine practitioners are well positioned to suspect and recognize axSpA among their patients with chronic back pain and refer them to a rheumatologist. Early referral to a rheumatologist is important for timely diagnosis, prompt treatment, and improved long-term outcomes for patients with axSpA. Physical therapy and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) remain the first-line treatment for and the cornerstone of axSpA management. For patients with inadequate response to or intolerance of NSAIDs, biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) and targeted synthetic (ts) DMARDs are indicated. These drugs can reduce pain, inflammation, fatigue, and disability and can improve health-related quality of life. The goal of this review is to improve awareness of axSpA among sports medicine practitioners and other non-rheumatologists so that these providers ensure timely referral of patients with suspected axSpA to rheumatologists for appropriate treatment and better outcomes. We also provide an update on current treatment possibilities for axSpA and describe how rheumatologists use treatment guidelines and disease activity measures to identify and optimally treat patients with active axSpA.

Conclusion
Sports medicine practitioners have an excellent opportunity to identify patients with suspected axSpA and refer them to rheumatologists in a timely manner, as well as monitor symptoms among patients diagnosed with axSpA to identify inadequately controlled disease.
CT-guided infiltration of the ischiofemoral space in young patients with ischiofemoral impingement is an effective diagnostic tool
Authors: Heimann Alexander F. , Wagner Moritz , Vavron Peter , Brunner Alexander , Donners Ricardo , Schmaranzer Ehrenfried , Steppacher Simon D. , Tannast Moritz , Sutter Reto , Schmaranzer Florian 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Objectives
To present our technique of diagnostic CT-guided ischiofemoral space injection and report on pain response, complications, and associated imaging findings in young patients with ischiofemoral impingement (IFI).

Methods
Retrospective case series of patients with a clinical diagnosis of IFI that underwent CT-guided IFS injection with local anesthetic in a prone position with the feet in maximum internal rotation between 06/2019 and 04/2021. The response was evaluated using maximum subjective pain evaluation on a 0–10 visual analog scale (VAS) during a standardized pre- and postinterventional clinical examination. Patient charts and radiographic imaging data were reviewed to report associated imaging findings and subsequent surgeries.

Results
Eleven patients (13 hips, 9 females) with a median age of 31 years (interquartile range; IQR: 25–37 years) were included. Median baseline VAS was 7 points (IQR: 5–8) with a pain reduction of 5 points (IQR: 5–7 points, p = 0.001) after the injection. One patient reported transient ischial nerve paresthesia, otherwise, no complications occurred. Quadratus femoris muscle edema was present in 85% (11 of 13 hips). Excessively high femoral torsion (11/13 hips, 85%) and cam deformities (8/13 hips, 62%) were the most common osseous deformities. Eight of 13 hips (62%) underwent subsequent surgery for IFI.

Conclusion
CT-guided diagnostic injection of the ischiofemoral space is safe and feasible. In young IFI patients, diagnostic IFS injections have the potential to improve the differential diagnosis of hip pain and to inform decision-making with regard to a possible benefit of joint-preserving hip surgery.

Critical relevance statement
In young patients with hip pain, diagnosis of IFI can be challenging due to concomitant pathologies. Furthermore, surgical treatment in these patients is controversial. In this context, CT-guided diagnostic infiltrations of the ischiofemoral space may facilitate not only the initial diagnosis of IFI, but could also improve surgical decision-making.

Key Points

CT-guided diagnostic injection of local anesthetic in the ischiofemoral space is safe.

In young patients with IFI, it leads to subjective pain reduction.

In young patients with concomitant osseous deformities, it may improve surgical decision-making.

Graphical Abstract
Using high-repeatable radiomic features improves the cross-institutional generalization of prognostic model in esophageal squamous cell cancer receiving definitive chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Gong Jie , Wang Qifeng , Li Jie , Yang Zhi , Zhang Jiang , Teng Xinzhi , Sun Hongfei , Cai Jing , Zhao Lina 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Objectives
Repeatability is crucial for ensuring the generalizability and clinical utility of radiomics-based prognostic models. This study aims to investigate the repeatability of radiomic feature (RF) and its impact on the cross-institutional generalizability of the prognostic model for predicting local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) and overall survival (OS) in esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) receiving definitive (chemo) radiotherapy (dCRT).

Methods
Nine hundred and twelve patients from two hospitals were included as training and external validation sets, respectively. Image perturbations were applied to contrast-enhanced computed tomography to generate perturbed images. Six thousand five hundred ten RFs from different feature types, bin widths, and filters were extracted from the original and perturbed images separately to evaluate RF repeatability by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The high-repeatable and low-repeatable RF groups grouped by the median ICC were further analyzed separately by feature selection and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model for predicting LRFS and OS.

Results
First-order statistical features were more repeatable than texture features (median ICC: 0.70 vs 0.42–0.62). RFs from LoG had better repeatability than that of wavelet (median ICC: 0.70–0.84 vs 0.14–0.64). Features with smaller bin widths had higher repeatability (median ICC of 8–128: 0.65–0.47). For both LRFS and OS, the performance of the models based on high- and low-repeatable RFs remained stable in the training set with similar C-index (LRFS: 0.65 vs 0.67, p = 0.958; OS: 0.64 vs 0.65, p = 0.651), while the performance of the model based on the low-repeatable group was significantly lower than that based on the high-repeatable group in the external validation set (LRFS: 0.61 vs 0.67, p = 0.013; OS: 0.56 vs 0.63, p = 0.013).

Conclusions
Applying high-repeatable RFs in modeling could safeguard the cross-institutional generalizability of the prognostic model in ESCC.

Critical relevance statement
The exploration of repeatable RFs in different diseases and different types of imaging is conducive to promoting the proper use of radiomics in clinical research.

Key Points

The repeatability of RFs impacts the generalizability of the radiomic model.

The high-repeatable RFs safeguard the cross-institutional generalizability of the model.

Smaller bin width helps improve the repeatability of RFs.

Graphical Abstract
Blastocystis occurrence and subtype diversity in European wild boar (Sus scrofa) from the Iberian Peninsula
Authors: Köster Pamela C. , Figueiredo Ana M. , Maloney Jenny G. , Dashti Alejandro , Bailo Begoña , Torres Rita T. , Fonseca Carlos , Mysterud Atle , Habela Miguel Á. , Rivero-Juarez Antonio , Vicente Joaquín , Serrano Emmanuel , Arnal Maria C. , de Luco Daniel Fernández , Armenteros José A. , Balseiro Ana , Cardona Guillermo A. , Carvalho João , Hipólito Dário , Fernandes Joana , Palmeira Josman D. , Calero-Bernal Rafael , González-Barrio David , Santin Monica , Carmena David 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe ongoing increase in wild boar populations across Europe has fostered human–wildlife conflicts, including the transmission of emerging pathogens with zoonotic importance. Blastocystis is a ubiquitous, faecal-oral transmitted protist that can cause gastrointestinal illnesses and is observed in humans and animals worldwide. The role of wildlife in the epidemiology of Blastocystis is insufficiently understood. Thus, we investigated the occurrence and subtype diversity of Blastocystis in free-ranging wild boars from the Iberian Peninsula using conventional PCR and next-generation amplicon sequencing of a fragment of the ssu RNA gene. A total of 459 wild boar faecal samples were collected across Spain (n = 360) and Portugal (n = 99) between 2014 and 2021. Blastocystis was present in 15.3% (70/459; 95% CI 12.1–18.9) of the wild boars analysed, and its occurrence was significantly higher in Portugal (34.3%, 34/99; 95% CI 25.1–44.6) than in Spain (10.0%, 36/360; 95% CI 7.1–13.6). Seven Blastocystis subtypes (ST5, ST10b, ST13–ST15, ST24b, and ST43) were detected among the surveyed wild boar populations, with greater variability detected in Portuguese samples. ST5 was identified in all the Blastocystis-positive animals, whereas 14.3% of them harboured ST mixed colonisations. Our results demonstrate that Blastocystis ST5 is particularly adapted to infect wild boars. The additional identification of zoonotic STs reinforces the role of wild boars as spreaders of zoonotic infections with public health significance.
Transcriptome analysis reveals a new virulence-associated trimeric autotransporter responsible for Glaesserella parasuis autoagglutination
Authors: Li Junxing , Ye Shiyi , Su Fei , Yu Bin , Xu Lihua , Sun Hongchao , Yuan Xiufang 
Published: October 2024

AbstractCapsular polysaccharide is an important virulence factor of Glaesserella parasuis. An acapsular mutant displays multiple phenotype variations, while the underlying mechanism for these variations is unknown. In this study, we created an acapsular mutant by deleting the wza gene in the capsule locus. We then used transcriptome analysis to compare the gene expression profiles of the wza deletion mutant with those of the parental strain to understand the possible reasons for the phenotypic differences. The mutant Δwza, which has a deleted wza gene, secreted less polysaccharide and lost its capsule structure. The Δwza exhibited increased autoagglutination, biofilm formation and adherence to eukaryotic cells, while the complementary strain C-Δwza partially restored the phenotype. Transcriptome analysis revealed several differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in Δwza, including up-regulated outer membrane proteins and proteins involved in peptidoglycan biosynthesis, suggesting that wza deletion affects the cell wall homeostasis of G. parasuis. Transcriptome analysis revealed the contribution of non-coding RNAs in the regulation of DEGs. Moreover, a new virulence-associated trimeric autotransporter, VtaA31 is upregulated in Δwza. It is responsible for enhanced autoagglutination but not for enhanced biofilm formation and adherence to eukaryotic cells in Δwza. In conclusion, these data indicate that wza affects the expression of multiple genes, especially those related to cell wall synthesis. Furthermore, they provide evidence that vtaA31 is involved in the autoagglutination of G. parasuis.
A chimeric strain of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus 2 derived from HP-PRRSV and NADC30-like PRRSV confers cross-protection against both strains
Authors: Li Yang , Wang Yumiao , Pei Xiuxiu , Chen Shao , Jing Yang , Wu Yongshuai , Ma Zhiqian , Li Zhiwei , Zheng Zifang , Feng Yingtong , Xu Lele , Liu Xiao , Guo Xuyang , Zheng Haixue , Xiao Shuqi 
Published: October 2024

AbstractPorcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is one of the most significant swine viral infectious diseases worldwide. Vaccination is a key strategy for the control and prevention of PRRS. At present, the NADC30-like PRRSV strain has become the predominant epidemic strain in China, superseding the HP-PRRSV strain. The existing commercial vaccines offer substantial protection against HP-PRRSV, but their efficacy against NADC30-like PRRSV is limited. The development of a novel vaccine that can provide valuable cross-protection against both NADC30-like PRRSV and HP-PRRSV is highly important. In this study, an infectious clone of a commercial MLV vaccine strain, GD (HP-PRRSV), was first generated (named rGD). A recombinant chimeric PRRSV strain, rGD-SX-5U2, was subsequently constructed by using rGD as a backbone and embedding several dominant immune genes, including the NSP2, ORF5, ORF6, and ORF7 genes, from an NADC30-like PRRSV isolate. In vitro experiments demonstrated that chimeric PRRSV rGD-SX-5U2 exhibited high tropism for MARC-145 cells, which is of paramount importance in the production of PRRSV vaccines. Moreover, subsequent in vivo inoculation and challenge experiments demonstrated that rGD-SX-5U2 confers cross-protection against both HP-PRRSV and NADC30-like PRRSV, including an improvement in ADG levels and a reduction in viremia and lung tissue lesions. In conclusion, our research demonstrated that the chimeric PRRSV strain rGD-SX-5U2 is a novel approach that can provide broad-spectrum protection against both HP-PRRSV and NADC30-like PRRSV. This may be a significant improvement over previous MLV vaccinations.
Severe bleeding events among critically ill patients with haematological malignancies
Authors: Vigneron Clara , Devautour Clément , Charpentier Julien , Birsen Rudy , Jamme Matthieu , Pène Frédéric 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Background
Bleeding events are common complications in critically ill patients with haematological malignancies. The objective of this study was to assess the incidence and identify determinants of ICU-acquired severe bleeding events in critically ill patients with haematological malignancies. We conducted a single-center retrospective study including all adult patients with a history of haematological malignancy requiring unplanned ICU admission over a 12-year period (2007–2018). The primary endpoint was the occurrence of ICU-acquired (i.e. after the first 24 h in the ICU) severe bleeding events, as defined as grades 3 or 4 of the World Health Organization classification.

Results
A total of 1012 patients were analysed, mainly with a diagnosis of lymphoma (n = 434, 42.9%) and leukaemia or myelodysplastic syndrome (n = 266, 26.3%). Most patients were recently diagnosed (n = 340, 33.6%) and under active cancer treatment within the last 3 months (n = 604, 59.7%). The main cause for admission was infection (n = 479, 47.3%), but a significant proportion of patients were admitted for a primary haemorrhage (n = 99, 10%). ICU-acquired severe bleeding events occurred in 109 (10.8%) patients after 3.0 days [1.0–7.0] in the ICU. The main source of bleeding was the gastrointestinal tract (n = 44, 40.3%). Patients experiencing an ICU-acquired severe bleeding event displayed prolonged in-ICU length of stay (9.0 days [1.0–6.0] vs. 3.0 [3.5–15.0] in non-bleeding patients, p < 0.001) and worsened outcomes with increased in-ICU and in-hospital mortality rates (55% vs. 18.3% and 65.7% vs. 33.1%, respectively, p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, independent predictors of ICU-acquired severe bleeding events were chronic kidney disease (cause-specific hazard 2.00 [1.19–3.31], p = 0.008), a primary bleeding event present at the time of ICU admission (CSH 4.17 [2.71–6.43], p < 0.001), non-platelet SOFA score (CSH per point increase 1.06 [1.01–1.11], p = 0.02) and prolonged prothrombin time (CSH per 5-percent increase 0.90 [0.85–0.96], p = 0.001) on the day prior to the event of interest.

Conclusions
Major bleeding events are common complications in critically ill patients with haematological malignancies and are associated with a worsened prognosis. We identified relevant risk factors of bleeding which may prompt closer monitoring or preventive measures.
Impact of mechanical power on ICU mortality in ventilated critically ill patients: a retrospective study with continuous real-life data
Authors: Manrique Sara , Ruiz-Botella Manuel , Murillo Natalia , Canelles Sandra , Victoria Ivan David , Samper Manuel Andres , Plans Oriol , Claverias Laura , Magret Mónica , Gordo Federico , Roca Oriol , Bodí María 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Background
Over the past decade, numerous studies on potential factors contributing to ventilation-induced lung injury have been carried out. Mechanical power has been pointed out as the parameter that encloses all ventilation-induced lung injury-contributing factors. However, studies conducted to date provide data regarding mechanical power during the early hours of mechanical ventilation that may not accurately reflect the impact of power throughout the period of mechanical ventilatory support on intensive care unit mortality.

Methods
Retrospective observational study conducted at a single center in Spain. Patients admitted to the intensive care unit, > o = 18 years of age, and ventilated for over 24 h were included. We extracted the mechanical power values throughout the entire mechanical ventilation in controlled modes period from the clinical information system every 2 min. First, we calculate the cutoff-point for mechanical power beyond which there was a greater change in the probability of death. After, the sum of time values above the safe cut-off point was calculated to obtain the value in hours. We analyzed if the number of hours the patient was under ventilation with a mechanical power above the safe threshold was associated with intensive care unit mortality, invasive mechanical ventilation days, and intensive care unit length of stay. We repeated the analysis in different subgroups based on the degree of hypoxemia and in patients with SARS CoV-2 pneumonia.

Results
The cut-off point of mechanical power at with there is a higher increase in intensive care unit mortality was 18 J/min. The greater the number of hours patients were under mechanical power > 18 J/min the higher the intensive care unit mortality in all the study population, in patients with SARS CoV-2 pneumonia and in mild to moderate hypoxemic respiratory failure. The risk of death in the intensive care unit increases 0.1% for each hour with mechanical power exceeding 18 J/min. The number of hours with mechanical power > 18 J/min also affected the days of invasive mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit length of stay.

Conclusions
The number of hours with mechanical power > 18 J/min is associated with mortality in the intensive care unit in critically ill patients. Continuous monitoring of mechanical power in controlled modes using an automated clinical information system could alert the clinician to this risk.
Improving ecosystem services through applied agroecology on German farms: costs and benefits
Authors: Wenzel Bettina , Winkler Julian , Kirchner Sascha M. , Junge Stephan Martin , Mendonça Pedro , Alves Fátima , Kehlenbeck Hella 
Published: October 2024

AbstractUnder the EU’s new “Farm to Fork” strategy, crop production systems should rapidly become more environmentally friendly. In particular, by adopting agroecological measures that support functional biodiversity and improve ecosystem services for crop production, this paper contributes to the ongoing efforts in characterizing the socio-economic effects that the upscaling of these measures entails, by looking into two key measures: flower strips and mulching. One important socio-economic aspect of their adoption is their potential impact on agricultural income; however, knowledge on costs and benefits of measures enhancing functional biodiversity at the farm level is still limited. In order to improve these shortcomings our approach makes use of data from field experiments completed with interviews to provide cost–benefit results for flower strips and organic mulching. The estimations show that for “flower strips,” on average costs could be covered by compensation payments. Regarding the in-crop measure “organic mulching,” the benefits potentially outweigh the costs under the frame conditions of organic agriculture. The analysis also highlights some obstacles and knowledge gaps in the estimation of benefits, especially for off-crop measures like flower strips.
Dietary ferulic acid supplementation enhances antioxidant capacity and alleviates hepatocyte pyroptosis in diquat challenged piglets
Authors: Luo Junqiu , Wu Xiu , Chen Daiwen , Yu Bing , He Jun 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Background
Oxidative stress significantly impacts growth performance and liver function in piglets. Ferulic acid (FA) works as an antioxidant, however, the role and mechanism of FA in the regulation of diquat-induced oxidative stress in piglets are less known. This study was designed to investigate the effects of FA on growth performance and antioxidant capacity in piglets with diquat challenge.

Methods
Thirty-two healthy DLY (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) piglets (13.24 ± 0.19 kg) were randomly divided into one of two diets including 0 or 4 g/kg FA for 14 d. On d 15, all pigs were intraperitoneally injected diquat or sterile saline.

Results
Dietary supplementation with ferulic acid (FA) significantly improved the average daily gain (ADG) and decreased feed-gain ratio (F/G) of piglets. Here, dietary FA supplementation reduced serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities in diquat challenged piglets. Furthermore, diquat infusion increased reactive oxygen radicals (ROS) level in liver, decreased the activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the liver and serum. Supplementation with FA significantly increased T-AOC and T-SOD activities and decreased MDA and ROS levels. FA down-regulated gene and protein expression of Keap1, and up-regulated protein expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 in the liver of piglets with diquat challenge. Importantly, diquat challenge increased the ratio of late apoptosis, increased serum levels of IL-1β, IL-18 and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and up-regulated pyroptosis-related genes in the liver. FA supplementation reduced the ratio of late apoptosis and down-regulated mRNA expression of Caspase-1. Accordingly, FA addition reduced concentration of IL-1β, IL-18, and LDH under diquat challenge.

Conclusions
Diquat-induced oxidative stress reduced growth performance and impaired liver function in piglets. Dietary FA supplementation enhanced the antioxidant capacity and reduced the degree of hepatocyte pyroptosis, thereby alleviating the oxidative damage in the liver and mitigating the impact of diquat on growth performance of piglets.