bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ductal Stenting in Duct-Dependent Pulmonary Circulation: Technical Challenges and Complications in a Resource-Limited Setting
Authors: Ara Andaleeb , Khan Tanzeela , Akhtar Khurram , Sadiq Nadeem , Haq Intisar Ul , Ahmad Kaleem , Rafique Saima 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Objective
To examine the technical challenges and complications of palliative ductal stenting in patients with duct-dependent pulmonary circulation in a resource limited setting.
Methodology:
This retrospective study was conducted in Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology and National Institute of Heart Diseases, Rawalpindi, Pakistan covering a period from September 2020 to September 2023. The study was approved by the institutional ethical review board. Data of all patients who underwent ductal stenting for duct-dependent pulmonary circulation during the study period were explored. Demographic data of patients, details of the procedure, the immediate procedural outcome, occurrence of any immediate, and early onset complications, re-intervention procedures, and in-hospital mortality were noted. Statistical package for social sciences version 21 was used for data entry and analysis.
Results
A total of 52 patients underwent ductal stenting procedure during the study period. Males were 27 (51.9%) and females were 25 (48.1%). Age ranged from 1 day to 1460 days (Mean: 133.2 ± 257.47 days; Median: 60 days). The procedure was successful in 47 (90.4%) cases while it was unsuccessful in 5 (9.6%) cases. Seven (13.5%) patients had to undergo a re-intervention procedure raising the total number of ductal stenting procedures during the study period to 59. All of the re-intervention procedures were done successfully. Complications included stent dislodgement in 1 (1.7%) case, stent fracture in 1 (1.7%) case, stent migration in 2 (3.4%), branch pulmonary artery jailing in 5 (8.5%), and stenosis of the uncovered duct in 5 (8.5%) cases. Overall in-hospital mortality of ductal stenting was 5.1%.
Conclusion
Ductal stenting makes a reasonable palliative therapy in selected cases of duct-dependent pulmonary circulation.
Ectopic Thyroid Tissue in Adrenal Gland – A Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Vijayakumar Varadharajan , Mahender Banu , Bose Jagadesh Chandra , Kajamohideen SuhailDeen , Shanmugasundaram Gouthaman 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Ectopic thyroid tissue along the line of descent of thyroid from foramen caecum along thyroglossal duct to the normal anatomic location in neck has been reported. Ectopic thyroid tissue in adrenal gland (ETTAG) is rarely encountered and very few cases have been reported in literature. The most common differential diagnosis to be considered when thyroid follicles are noted in adrenal gland are metastasis from a thyroid malignancy or a teratoma or an ectopic thyroid tissue in adrenal gland. We present a case of an adrenal incidentaloma in a young pregnant female which was diagnosed to be ectopic thyroid tissue in adrenal gland. The review of literature of similar cases of this rare embryological aberrance is discussed. To our knowledge, only 16 such cases have been documented in literature and our case is the first one from Indian subcontinent and the largest documented with respect to size.
Assessing the Efficacy Of Nifedipine in the Management of Hypertensive Urgency among Blacks in Oyo Town
Authors: Ojo Iyanuloluwa S. , Alawode Samuelii O. , Oyerinde Adeola , Salami Mubarak A. , Surakat Mujib O. , Adeniyi Ismael 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
Hypertensive crisis are burdensome in sub Saharan Africa than every other part of the world. Few studies have been done to assess the effectiveness of Nifedipine among blacks in sub-Saharan Africa, the region which ironically has the highest burden of hypertensive urgency in the world hence the need for this study.
Results
Out of the 328 hypertensive patients that presented at the health center for the study, 40 were diagnosed with hypertensive urgency. The overall use of nifedipine was moderately efficacious, as nifedipine did not reduce the diastolic pressure by 10 percent or the mean arterial pressure by 25 percent in 23 out of 40 participants(57.5%). However, it was effective by standard in a considerable 17 out of 40patients(42.5%). The oral route of administration was efficacious in only 2 out of 6(33.3%)participants, while the sublingual route was efficacious in 15 out of 34(44.1%). Nifedipine was efficacious in 4 out of 10(40%) of those who waited for 30 minutes before checking their post-administration blood pressure, 1 out of 2(50%) of those who waited for 45 minutes, 10 out of 25(40%) of those who waited for 60 minutes, and 2 out of 3(66.6%) of those who waited for 120 minutes. Nifedipine was efficacious in 17 out of 35(48.6%) of the participants administered 20 mg, while it was not efficacious in those administered 40 mg. However, the proportion of those administered 20 mg was overwhelmingly more than those administered 40 mg.
Conclusion
This study reveals that the efficacy of Nifedipine in the management of hypertensive urgency among blacks in Oyo town is at best average. The sublingual route of administration is more effective than chewing the tablets (the oral route) and the dose of Nifedipine administered does not affect the efficacy of Nifedipine in steadily lowering the blood pressure in hypertensive urgency.
Management history can cause irreversible changes in agroecosystems: an experimental demonstration
Authors: Senthilnathan Athmanathan , Ong Theresa 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

History-dependence plays a significant role in understanding how ecosystems can shift dramatically in response to environmental changes. Hysteresis is a special case where a shift from a desirable state to an undesirable change can only be reversed when an external driver of change (e.g. pollution) is brought down to a much lower level than at the level in which the unfavorable transition first occurred. Here we ask whether hysteresis or a different form of history-dependence can be observed in plant-soil interactions due to changing agricultural management, and determine the ecological causes. We show that history-dependence is more complex in a common garden experiment where we observe Zea Mays growing under different fertilization treatments. Of particular interest is the case where nitrite leaching decreases irreversibly when fertilization is shifted from inorganic to organic sources. We complement the experiment with a simple mathematical model of nutrient cycling, which shows that correlation between nutrient loss rate and recycling rate are sufficient to cause irreversible shifts in the plant-soil system. Overall, our results show that complex history-dependence due to past management occurs in an agricultural context and plant-soil interactions more broadly.
Benefit of Laparoscopic Two-team Transanal Beyond Total Mesorectal Excision for Advanced and Recurrent Rectal Cancer with Invasion: A Retrospective Study Compared with Conventional Laparoscopic Approach
Authors: Shioi Ikuma , Shiraishi Takuya , Shimizu Yutaro , Uehara Kosei , Seki Takahiro , Hosoi Nobuhiro , Tateno Kouhei , Endo Mizuki , Uchida Shintaro , Yamaguchi Arisa , Katayama Chika , Shibasaki Yuta , Komine Chika , Osone Katsuya , Okada Takuhisa , Kimura Akiharu , Sano Akihiko , Sakai Makoto , Shirabe Ken , Saeki Hiroshi 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background The optimal surgical approach for advanced or recurrent rectal cancer with invasion of adjacent structures remains controversial. This study aimed to clarify the feasibility of laparoscopic two-team transanal beyond total mesorectal excision in patients with invasive rectal cancer.Methods This single-center retrospective study was conducted in a single educational hospital in Japan from January 2014 to May 2024. Patients with advanced or recurrent rectal cancer who underwent laparoscopic or two-team transanal excision beyond total mesorectal excision were included in the analysis. Short-term outcomes were compared between the laparoscopic and transanal approaches. The burden of medical resources was assessed using a new index, Staff Time Consumed (STC = median number of participating staff members × operation time).Results A total of 35 patients were included in the study. More patients underwent preoperative treatment and lateral lymph node dissection using the transanal approach. However, the operative time (539 and 339 min in the laparoscopic and transanal groups, respectively; p < 0.001) and total blood loss (274 and 70 mL, respectively; p = 0.008) were lower in the transanal group. Additionally, the positive resection margin was lower in the transanal group (28% and 0%, p = 0.019), and STC was comparable between the groups. There was no increase in postoperative mortality or morbidity. Surgical complexity did not affect the outcomes of the transanal approach. Patients with surgical difficulties had shorter operative times and comparable STC between the two groups.Conclusions Laparoscopic two-team transanal approach offers better short-term outcomes than the conventional approach in highly selected patients.
Diagnostic accuracy of LiquidArray MTB-XDR VER1.0 for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, fluoroquinolone, amikacin, ethambutol, and linezolid susceptibility
Authors: Auma Erick , Alberts Rencia , Derendinger Brigitta , Venter Rouxjeane , Streicher Elizabeth M , Pillay Samantha , Ghebrekristos Yonas T , Mburu Moses , Ruhwald Morten , Warren Robin , Penn-Nicholson Adam , Grant Theron , de Vos Margaretha 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Drug susceptibility testing (DST) is essential for effectively starting people on effective tuberculosis (TB) regimens. No accuracy data exists for the new high-throughput LiquidArray MTB-XDR (LA-XDR) test, which detects Mycobacterium tuberculosiscomplex (MTBC) and susceptibility to the fluoroquinolones, amikacin, ethambutol, and linezolid (the latter two drugs have no rapid molecular DSTs available). We enrolled (n=720) people with presumptive TB who provided two sputa for Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra and culture (MTBC reference standard). Phenotypic DST and Sanger sequencing served as a composite reference standard. Manual FluoroLyse and automated GenoXtract-fleXT (fleXT) DNA extraction methods were compared. For MTBC, LA-XDR using fleXT-extracted or FluoroLyse-extracted DNA had similar sensitivities (85-87%; which improved upon eluate retesting) and specificities (99%). Drug susceptibility sensitivities varied: 94% (86, 98) for fluoroquinolones, 64% (45, 80) for amikacin, and 88% (79, 93) for ethambutol (specificities 97-100%). LA-XDR detected 86% (6/7) phenotypically resistant linezolid isolates. LA-XDR with fleXT had indeterminate proportions of 8% (21/251) for fluoroquinolones, 1% (2/251) for ethambutol, 25% (63/251) for amikacin, and 37% (93/251) for linezolid. In a hypothetical population of 100 smear-negative fluoroquinolones-resistant cases, 24% (24/100) could be missed due to an unsuccessful result (1 fleXT error and, for LA-XDR, 2 invalid results, 15 MTBC-negative, 6 fluoroquinolone-indeterminate, 1 false-susceptible). LA-XDR met the minimum WHO target product profile for a next-generation sputum-based moderate complexity DST with high sensitivity for fluoroquinolones and ethambutol resistance, moderate sensitivity for amikacin resistance, and promise for linezolid resistance, for which more data are needed. Improved MTBC detection would reduce missed resistance.
Genome Diversity, Population Structure and MALDI-TOF MS Profiling of Aspergillus oryzae/flavus Strains from Fermentation and Wild Environments
Authors: Kim Dong-Hyun , Kim Dong-Chan , Seo Donggun , Kim Ki-Tae , Lee Sang-Han , Hong Seung-Beom 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Various strains of Aspergillus oryzae, regarded as a domesticated variant of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus, are utilized in soybean fermentation industry of Korea. This study compared A. oryzae/flavus strains isolated from various environments in Korea, including industrial settings, Meju (brick of dried fermented soybeans), and wild conditions, with globally reported strains using genomic analysis to determine their taxonomic positions and safety. Using population genomics, five distinct groups (A to E) were identified, with all aflatoxigenic Korean strains in Group C and non-aflatoxigenic Korean strains in Groups A, B, and E. Korean strains from Meju and wild conditions are distributed across Groups A and B, and most of the Korean industrial strains form a sub-cluster with Japanese industrial strains in Group A. Comparing secondary metabolite gene cluster mutation pattern, three gene clusters (Aflatoxin, Cyclopiazonic acid and Ditryptophenaline) were revealed as group specific ones. In aflatoxin and cyclopiazonic acid clusters, most of the Group C strains had intact regions compared to other groups strains.Since most of the Group C strains produce aflatoxin and have intact Aflatoxin and Cyclopiazonic acid gene cluster, we considered that this group represent A. flavus. Profiling of MALDI-TOF MS analysis also distinguished Group C from Groups A, B and E by specific proteomic peaks. Among these peaks, those around 12700 to 12900 m/z (Da) are expected to correspond to AflF (nor B), an enzyme involved in Aflatoxin metabolism. These results showed taxonomic positions of Korean strains of A. oryzae/ flavus from various environments and also showed possibility to differentiate between A. oryzae and A. flavus with genome and Maldi-tof analysis.
Association Between Atherogenic Index of Plasma, Body Mass Index, and Sarcopenia: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on Elderly Individuals in China
Authors: Lu Bowen , Li Jiacheng , Liang Xuezhen , Wen Mingtao , Luo Di , Jia Haifeng , Zhang Jiahao , Li Gang 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the correlation between the Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP), Body Mass Index (BMI), and sarcopenia in the elderly Chinese population, and to analyze the predictive ability of AIP and BMI for sarcopenia.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 3,709 eligible participants aged 60 and above, based on data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) from 2011 to 2015. The subjects were divided into a sarcopenia group (n=1449) and a non-sarcopenia group (n=2260). AIP and BMI were grouped by quartiles, and logistic regression models were used to analyze the relationship between these variables and the risk of sarcopenia. A restricted cubic spline regression model was used to analyze the dose-response relationship between different levels of AIP and BMI with sarcopenia. The predictive value of individual and combined indicators for sarcopenia was assessed using the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve.
Results: Univariate analysis showed that sarcopenia was associated with age, marital status, education level, place of residence, alcohol consumption, BMI, uric acid (UA), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), AIP index, and the presence of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, chronic lung disease, liver disease, and digestive system diseases (p < 0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors, logistic regression analysis indicated that the 4th quartile of AIP index and BMI had the lowest risk of sarcopenia compared to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd quartiles, with odds ratios of 0.46 (95% CI = 0.37–0.57) and 0.04 (95% CI = 0.03–0.05), respectively. The AIP index showed a clear linear dose-response relationship with sarcopenia, while BMI demonstrated a significant nonlinear dose-response curve, resembling an "L" shape. ROC curve analysis revealed that the combined predictive ability of AIP and BMI was superior to that of individual indicators, with an AUC of 0.7996.
Conclusion: Elevated AIP index and BMI are closely associated with a reduced risk of sarcopenia, and both have certain predictive value for sarcopenia. Considering all factors, the combination of AIP and BMI is the optimal predictive indicator for sarcopenia.
AVR/I/SSAPDB: A Comprehensive &amp; Specialised Knowledgebase of Antimicrobial Peptides to Combat VRSA, VISA, and VSSA
Authors: Mondal Rajat Kumar , Karmakar Debayan , Pal Oshin , Samanta Sintu Kumar 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

The rise of multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria, especially strains of Staphylococcus aureus like Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA), Vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA), and Vancomycin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (VSSA), poses a severe threat to global health. This situation underscores the urgent need for novel antimicrobial agents to combat these resistant strains effectively. Here, we are introducing the Anti-Vancomycin-Resistant/Intermediate/Susceptible Staphylococcus aureusPeptide Database (AVR/I/SSAPDB), a manually curated comprehensive and specialized knowledgebase dedicated to antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that target VRSA, VISA, and VSSA with clinical and non-clinical significance. Our database sources data from PubMed, cataloging 491 experimentally validated AMPs with detailed annotations on peptides, activity, and cross-references to external databases like PubMed, UniProt, PDB, and DrugBank. AVR/I/SSAPDB offers a user-friendly interface with simple to advanced search capabilities, enabling researchers to explore AMPs against VRSA, VISA, and VSSA. We are hoping that this resource will be helpful to the scientific community in developing targeted peptide-based therapeutics, providing a crucial tool for combating VRSA, VISA, and VSSA, and addressing a major public health concern. AVR/I/SSAPDB is freely accessible via any web-browser at URL: https://bblserver.org.in/avrissa/.
Physical and chemical niche of human growth plate for polarized bone development
Authors: Ouyang Hongwei , Xie Chang , Li Wenyue , Yao Xudong , Wu Boxuan , Fang Jinghua , Mao Renwei , Yan Yiyang , Meng Hongxu , Wu Yan , Zhang Xianzhu , Duan Wangping , Dai Xuesong , Wang Xiaozhao 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Growth plate (GP), a critical cartilaginous structure in amniotes, underpins longitudinal bone growth, yet the intricate mechanisms behind its polarized mineralization during evolution remain unclear. Herein, employing high-resolution analytical techniques, we reveal that the GP-epiphysis interface displays a sharp transition in tissue modulus, acting as a “protective shell” for the underlying GP, whereas the GP-metaphysis interface exhibits a gradual modulus increase, enabling efficient load redistribution to metaphysis. This mechanical microenvironment drives unique microstructural and compositional transformations from GP to epiphysis and metaphysis. Notably, the GP-epiphysis interface acts as a mineralization inhibition zone while the GP-metaphysis serves as a mineralization promotion zone, orchestrated by a complex network of proteins. Proteins such as SPP1 and AHSG at the GP-epiphysis interface inhibit mineralization, forming a defense line; while ENPP1 and ALPL coexisted with SPP1 and AHSG at the GP-metaphysis promote a sequential nucleation and assembly of CaP minerals, initiating “mineralization waves”. Such polarized mineralization patterns maintain the homeostasis of GPs and promote bone polarized elongation. Replicating this process in vitro, we synthesized stable amorphous calcium phosphate which showed highly controlled transformation to hydroxyapatites. This work provides a more comprehensive view of the structural integrity of human bone in development and offers strategies for controlled biomineralization.
Aneuploidy drives the acquisition of cancer-specific driver genes
Authors: Schramek Daniel , Al-Zahrani Khalid , Langille Ellen , Obersterescu Andreea , Lowden Christopher , Teng Katie , Caldwell Lauren , Cook David , Pérez-Castro Miguel , Chiu Cynthia , Bahcheli Alexander , Tsai Ricky , Berman Jacob , Chan Kin , Zhang Linkang , Bang K.W. Annie , Parsons Michael , Lopes Adele , Nurtanto Jocelyn , Temel E. Idil , Fotiadou Iosifina , Dessapt Julien , Jackson Hartland , Egan Sean , Reimand Juri , Wrana Jeff 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Chromosome instability is highly prevalent in cancer and drives large scale chromosomal imbalances, known as aneuploidies. However, how aneuploidy contributes to tumorigenesis remains difficult to study due to the vast numbers of genes affected. Here, we develop a CRISPR-Knock Out and Activation Linked Assay (CRISPR-KOALA), enabling high-throughput bidirectional genetic screens in immune-competent mouse models of cancer. We developed a compendium of the ten most frequently altered human chromosome arms in basal-like breast cancer (BLBC), a copy number-driven disease. Using CRISPR-KOALA we screened the mouse orthologs of all 3,752 genes on these arms and identified 90 cancer driver genes, the vast majority of which have hitherto unknown functions in cancer. These genes drive distinct signalling pathways including MAPK, Hippo and WNT, reflecting the high degree of BLBC heterogeneity. Manipulating the identified cancer driver genes overcomes the need for copy number alterations (CNAs) in p53-mutant BLBC mouse models. Mechanistically, we uncover PLGRKT as a potent oncogene that lies adjacent to the immune checkpoint gene CD274/PD-L1 on chr9p and show that its tumor-promoting activity is associated with the creation of highly stress-resistant mitochondria that promote tumor cell survival. Thus, our findings reveal that arm-level CNAs can function to select specific driver genes to promote heterogenous biological processes.
WITHDRAWN: Macroeconomic Factors Underlying External Currency Instability in Developing Countries: Analysis of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from 1990 to 2022.
Authors: FATAKI ALEXANDRE DONATIEN 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

The full text of this preprint has been withdrawn, as it was submitted in error. Therefore, the authors do not wish this work to be cited as a reference. Questions should be directed to the corresponding author.