bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical feature of omicron infection in children with inborn errors of immunity in China
Authors: Yang Han , Sun Fei , He Ziwei , Li Yan , Lu Dan , Han Tongxin , Mao Huawei 
Published: July 2024

IntroductionSARS-CoV-2 infection is hypothesized to be more severe in immunocompromised patients; however, clinical outcomes in children with inborn errors of immunity (IEI) during the Omicron pandemic in China have not been reported.MethodsThis cohort study retrospectively reviewed 71 SARS-CoV-2-infected children with IEI using nationwide data from the National Center for Children’s Health of China. COVID-19 was diagnosed by a positive rapid antigen or nucleic acid test result.ResultsAmong 71 SARS-CoV-2-infected children with IEI, male preponderance (male: female ratio of ~1.8:1), a median age of 8 years (IQR 3–11), and a predominance of antibody deficiency (19/71, 26.8%) were detected. Most of the patients got infected through household transmission, while a small proportion of them did so during hospital visits. The mean time periods were 3.3 days (n=44) for incubation, 8.4 days for symptoms (n=69), and 8.8 days for viral shedding (n=37). The time to viral shedding was proportional to the symptomatic period (R2 = 0.1243, p=0.0323) and prolonged in children with X- linked agammaglobulinemia. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 were fever, and some children showed only aggravation of the underlying disease. 15% of IEI children progress to pneumonia, 85% require medication, 17% are admitted to hospital, and 4.1% are classified as critical. Previously application of anti- infective medications was associated with an increased risk of hospitalization after COVID-19 infection. Of the 71 children with IEI, all recovered from COVID- 19.ConclusionOverall, Omicron variant did not cause significant life-threatening infections among children with IEI in China, and most of them had a good clinical outcome. Nevertheless, these children exhibit an increased vulnerability to higher hospitalization rates, pneumonia, and severe illness compared to the general pediatric population.
Intranasal administration of a synthetic TLR4 agonist INI-2004 significantly reduces allergy symptoms following therapeutic administration in a murine model of allergic sensitization
Authors: Jackson Konner J. , Buhl Cassandra , Miller Shannon M. , Khalaf Juhienah K. , Ward Janine , Sands Cherrokee , Walsh Lois , Whitacre Margaret , Burkhart David J. , Bazin-Lee Hélène G. , Evans Jay T. 
Published: July 2024

IntroductionAtopic diseases have been steadily increasing over the past decades and effective disease-modifying treatment options are urgently needed. These studies introduce a novel synthetic Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) agonist, INI-2004, with remarkable efficacy as a therapeutic intranasal treatment for seasonal allergic rhinitis.MethodsUsing a murine airway allergic sensitization model, the impact of INI-2004 on allergic responses was assessed.ResultsOne or two intranasal doses of INI-2004 significantly reduced airway resistance, eosinophil influx, and Th2 cytokine production – providing strong evidence of allergic desensitization. Further investigations revealed that a liposomal formulation of INI-2004 exhibited better safety and efficacy profiles compared to aqueous formulations. Importantly, the liposomal formulation demonstrated a 1000-fold increase in the maximum tolerated intravenous dose in pigs. Pre-clinical GLP toxicology studies in rats and pigs confirmed the safety of liposomal INI-2004, supporting its selection for human clinical trials.DiscussionThese findings lay the groundwork for the ongoing clinical evaluation of INI-2004 in allergic rhinitis as a stand-alone therapy for individuals poly-sensitized to multiple seasonal allergens. The study underscores the significance of innovative immunotherapy approaches in reshaping the landscape of allergic rhinitis management.
Correlation of brain tissue volume loss with inflammatory biomarkers IL1β, P-tau, T-tau, and NLPR3 in the aging cognitively impaired population
Authors: Lee Kyung Mi , Kim Sang Tae , Tian Yunan , Jung Sue Min , Chang Yunjung , Rhee Hak Young , Park Soonchan , Ryu Chang-Woo , Lee Woo-In , Kim Eui Jong , Jahng Geon-Ho 
Published: July 2024

BackgroundBlood inflammatory biomarkers have emerged as important tools for diagnosing, assessing treatment responses, and predicting neurodegenerative diseases. This study evaluated the associations between blood inflammatory biomarkers and brain tissue volume loss in elderly people.MethodsThis study included 111 participants (age 67.86 ± 8.29 years; 32 men and 79 women). A battery of the following blood inflammatory biomarkers was measured, including interleukin 1-beta (IL1β), NACHT, LRR, and PYD domains-containing protein 3 (NLRP3), monomer Aβ42 (mAβ), oligomeric Aβ42 (oAβ), miR155, neurite outgrowth inhibitor A (nogo-A), phosphorylated tau (P-tau), and total tau (T-tau). Three-dimensional T1-weight images (3D T1WI) of all participants were prospectively obtained and segmented into gray matter and white matter to measure the gray matter volume (GMV), white matter volume (WMV), and gray-white matter boundary tissue volume (gwBTV). The association between blood biomarkers and tissue volumes was assessed using voxel-based and region-of-interest analyses.ResultsGMV and gwBTV significantly decreased as the levels of IL1β and T-tau increased, while no significant association was found between the level of P-tau and the three brain tissue volumes. Three brain tissue volumes were negatively correlated with the levels of IL1β, P-tau, and T-tau in the hippocampus. Specifically, IL1β and T-tau levels showed a distinct negative association with the three brain tissue volume losses in the hippocampus. In addition, gwBTV was negatively associated with the level of NLRP3.ConclusionThe observed association between brain tissue volume loss and elevated levels of IL1β and T-tau suggests that these biomarkers in the blood may serve as potential biomarkers of cognitive impairment in elderly people. Thus, IL1β and T-tau could be used to assess disease severity and monitor treatment response after diagnosis in elderly people who are at risk of cognitive decline.
Tinnitus reduction in patients with single-sided deafness: the effect of cochlear implantation, bone conduction devices, and contralateral routing of sound hearing aids investigated in a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wendrich Anne W. , Assouly Kelly K. S. , van Heteren Jan A. A. , Peters Jeroen P. M. , Grolman Wilko , Stokroos Robert J. , Versnel Huib , Smit Adriana L. 
Published: July 2024

ObjectivesSingle-sided deafness (SSD) is often accompanied by tinnitus, resulting in a decreased quality of life. Currently, there is a lack of high level of evidence studies comparing different treatment options for SSD regarding tinnitus reduction. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluated the effect of a cochlear implant (CI), bone conduction device (BCD), contralateral routing of sound (CROS), and no treatment on tinnitus outcomes in SSD patients, with follow-up extending to 24 months.MethodsA total of 120 adult SSD patients were randomized to three groups: CI, a trial period with first a BCD on a headband, then a CROS, or vice versa. After the trial periods, patients opted for a BCD, CROS, or no treatment. At the start of follow-up, 28 patients were implanted with a CI, 25 patients with a BCD, 34 patients had a CROS, and 26 patients chose no treatment. The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Tinnitus Questionnaire (TQ), the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were completed at baseline and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months of follow-up.ResultsThe CI and BCD groups showed significantly decreased tinnitus impact scores. The CI group showed the largest decrease, which was already observed at 3 months of follow-up. Compared to the baseline, the median THI score decreased by 23 points, the TQ score by 17 points, and the VAS score by 60 points at 24 months. In the BCD group, the TQ score decreased by 9 points, and the VAS decreased by 25 points at 24 months. The HADS anxiety and depression subscale showed no indication for anxiety or depression at baseline, nor at 24 months, for all groups.ConclusionIn this RCT, SSD patients treated with a CI or BCD showed an overall decrease in tinnitus impact scores up to 24 months compared to baseline. The CI group reported a stable and the largest reduction. Cochlear implants appear to be superior to BCD and CROS, and no treatment for achieving partial or complete resolution of tinnitus in patients with SSD.Clinical trial registrationNetherlands Trial Register, www.onderzoekmetmensen.nl/nl/trial/26952, NTR4457, CINGLE trial.
Bounding tractogram redundancy
Authors: Persson Sanna , Moreno Rodrigo 
Published: July 2024

IntroductionIn tractography, redundancy poses a significant challenge, often resulting in tractograms that include anatomically implausible streamlines or those that fail to represent the brain's white matter architecture accurately. Current filtering methods aim to refine tractograms by addressing these issues, but they lack a unified measure of redundancy and can be computationally demanding.MethodsWe propose a novel framework to quantify tractogram redundancy based on filtering tractogram subsets without endorsing a specific filtering algorithm. Our approach defines redundancy based on the anatomical plausibility and diffusion signal representation of streamlines, establishing both lower and upper bounds for the number of false-positive streamlines and the tractogram redundancy.ResultsWe applied this framework to tractograms from the Human Connectome Project, using geometrical plausibility and statistical methods informed by the streamlined attributes and ensemble consensus. Our results establish bounds for the tractogram redundancy and the false-discovery rate of the tractograms.ConclusionThis study advances the understanding of tractogram redundancy and supports the refinement of tractography methods. Future research will focus on further validating the proposed framework and exploring tractogram compression possibilities.
Hyperglycemia-independent neonatal streptozotocin-induced retinopathy (NSIR) in rats
Authors: Lin Yu , Du Wenyu , Fu Xiangyu , Huang Ling , Hong Yiwen , Tan Haishan , Xiao Lirong , Ren Xiang , Wang Yujiao , Chen Danian 
Published: July 2024

Introduction: Chemicals, such as MNU (N-methyl-N-nitrosourea) and NaIO3 (sodium iodate), are widely used to induce retinal degeneration in rodents. Streptozotocin (STZ) is an analog of N-acetyl glucosamine in which an MNU moiety is linked to a hexose and has a special toxic effect on insulin-producing pancreatic β-cells. It is commonly used to induce hyperglycemia to model diabetes. While intracerebroventricular injection of STZ can produce Alzheimer's disease independent of hyperglycemia, most retinal studies using STZ focus on the effects of hyperglycemia on the retina, but whether STZ has any impact on retinal cells independent of hyperglycemia is unknown. We aimed to investigate the role of cytotoxicity of STZ in rat retina.Methods: Intravitreal or subcutaneous injection of STZ was performed on newborn rats. Electroretinogram (ERG) and H&amp;E staining investigated retinal function and morphological changes. Retinal cell types, cell death, proliferation, inflammation, and angiogenesis were studied by immunostaining. RNA sequencing was performed to examine the transcriptome changes of retinal cells after intravitreal injection of STZ.Results: Intravitreal (5 μg or 10 μg) or subcutaneous (30 mg/kg) injection of STZ at the early stage of newborn rats couldn’t induce hyperglycemia but caused NSIR (Neonatal STZ-induced retinopathy), including reduced ERG amplitudes, retinal rosettes and apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, microglial activation, and delayed retinal angiogenesis. STZ did not affect the early-born retinal cell types but significantly reduced the late-born ones. Short-term and long-term hyperglycemia had no significant effects on the NSIR phenotypes. RNA sequencing revealed that STZ induces oxidative stress and activates the p53 pathway of retinal cells. Locally or systemically, STZ injection after P8 couldn’t induce SINR when all retinal progenitors exit the cell cycle.Conclusion: NSIR in rats is independent of hyperglycemia but due to STZ’s direct cytotoxic effects on retinal progenitor cells. NSIR is a typical reaction to STZ-induced retinal oxidative stress and DNA damage. This significant finding suggests that NSIR may be a valuable model for studying retinal progenitor DNA damage-related diseases, potentially leading to new insights and treatments.
Effect of type 2 diabetes on biochemical markers of bone metabolism: a meta-analysis
Authors: Yang Jie , Zhang Yuan , Liu Xiaohua , Chen Binglin , Lei Le 
Published: July 2024

ObjectiveThis meta-analysis aims to examine differences in biochemical markers of bone metabolism between individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and non-T2DM control groups.Materials and methodsTwo independent evaluators searched five databases: PubMed, EMBASE, EBSCOhost, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. We aimed to identify observational studies investigating the impact of T2DM on biochemical markers of bone metabolism. Literature retrieval covered the period from the establishment of the databases up to November 2022. Studies were included if they assessed differences in biochemical markers of bone metabolism between T2DM patients and non-T2DM control groups using cross-sectional, cohort, or case-control study designs.ResultsFourteen studies were included in the analysis, comprising 12 cross-sectional studies and 2 cohort studies. Compared to the non-T2DM control group, T2DM patients showed reduced levels of Osteocalcin and P1NP, which are markers of bone formation. Conversely, levels of Alkaline phosphatase and Bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, other bone formation markers, increased. The bone resorption marker CTX showed decreased levels, while TRACP showed no significant difference.ConclusionIn individuals with T2DM, most bone turnover markers indicated a reduced rate of bone turnover. This reduction can lead to increased bone fragility despite higher bone mineral density, potentially increasing the risk of osteoporosis.Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php? identifier CRD42022366430.
Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in vivo assessment of skeletal muscle oxidative capacity: a comparison of results from short versus long exercise protocols and reproducibility in non-athletic adults
Authors: Tandirerung Fistra J. , Jamieson Alexandra , Hendrick Elizabeth , Hughes Alun D. , Jones Siana 
Published: July 2024

BackgroundNear-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) provides a non-invasive, cost-effective method for assessing skeletal muscle oxidative capacity when combined with a short exercise protocol and arterial occlusions. However, the impact of different exercise protocols and reproducibility of the method in non-athletic adults have not previously been assessed.MethodsYoung, non-athletic adults (YA) were invited to perform a short duration, fast frequency contraction (SF) exercise protocol and a long duration slow frequency (LS) contraction protocol, combined with NIRS measurements and arterial occlusions to assess skeletal muscle oxidative capacity. YA and older non-athletic adults (OA; &gt;65 years old) were invited to perform the SF exercise protocol twice to assess the reproducibility of this oxidative capacity measurement.ResultsWe included 25 participants (14 male (56%), age range: 18–86 years) in the analyses. There was a strong positive correlation and good agreement between time constants derived following the SF and LS exercise protocols (Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient: 0.69, p-value &lt; 0.001 mean bias [LoA]: −3.2 [−31.0, 24.4] seconds. There was a strong positive correlation and good agreement between time constants derived from the SF exercise protocol in the YA &amp; OA group (Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient: 0.63, p-value &lt; 0.001; mean bias [LoA] −6.4 [−34.0, 21.3] seconds).ConclusionThese data provide evidence to suggest that NIRS is a reliable in vivo method for the assessment of skeletal muscle oxidative capacity irrespective of exercise protocol duration or muscle contraction frequency. NIRS-measured oxidative capacity via the SF exercise protocol was reproducible in non-athletic adults with a wide range in age.
Italian university students’ future time perspective and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Parrello Santa , Postiglione Jacopo , Sica Luigia Simona , De Rosa Barbara , Parola Anna , Regnoli Giorgio Maria , Fenizia Elisabetta , Sommantico Massimiliano 
Published: July 2024

IntroductionDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, young adults worldwide showed signs of distress as they were affected in their specific developmental tasks, including the construction of personal and professional futures.MethodsThe present study aimed to assess the situational future time perspective of Italian university students during the second pandemic wave, as measured by an ad hoc constructed instrument, to explore its interaction with some dispositional traits relevant in future construction, such as optimism, sense of life, aggression, and dispositional future time perspective, and to test their effect on psychological well-being. The total sample consisted of 389 subjects (18–35 years, M = 23.5, SD = 4.4).Results and discussionThe results indicated that the pandemic experience, assessed by surveying specific indicators, negatively affected the future time perspective of students, particularly those dispositionally optimistic and convinced that life has meaning. However, awareness of the negative impact that the pandemic brought to the vision of the future seems to have dampened the levels of depression and stress, while anxiety was found to be related only to dispositional traits. The results also suggested the need for educational and economic policies that help young adults develop confidence in the future and in their ability to build it.
Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and human papillomavirus in cervical samples from incarcerated women in São Paulo, Brazil: a retrospective single-center study
Authors: Zonta Marco A. , Liljander Anne , Roque Karina B. , Schillert Arne , Kai Marco , dos Santo Flávia A. , de Freitas Giulia Pinheiro , Soane Michel , Cavalar Markus , Janaudis Gustavo , Shio Marina Tiemi 
Published: July 2024

IntroductionSexually transmitted infections (STIs) cause considerable morbidity worldwide and, depending on the specific pathogen, may lead to serious complications in the female reproductive tract. Incarcerated women are particularly vulnerable to health problems with a disproportionate high rate of STIs, including infections with human papillomavirus (HPV).MethodsHere, cervical swab samples collected from 299 women (18 to 64 years) living in one of the women’s prisons of São Paulo, Brazil were submitted for liquid-based cytology to determine the prevalence of precancerous lesions. Furthermore, direct detection of 30 genital HPV genotypes (18 high-risk and 12 low-risk types) and 11 additional STIs (Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2, Haemophilus ducreyi, Mycoplasma genitalium and hominis, Treponema pallidum, Trichomonas vaginalis, Ureaplasma parvum and urealyticum) were performed by molecular typing using two PCR-based DNA microarray systems, i.e., EUROArray HPV and EUROArray STI (EUROIMMUN), respectively.ResultsThe overall prevalence of cytological abnormalities was 5.8%, including five women with low-grade and five women with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. The overall prevalence of HPV was 62.2, and 87.1% of the HPV-positive women were infected with oncogenic high-risk (HR) HPV types. HPV types 16 (24.1%), 33 and 52 (both 10.4%) were the most frequently detected. The prevalence of the other STIs was 72.8%. Up to four different pathogens were found in the infected women, the most frequent being Ureaplasma parvum (45.3%), Mycoplasma hominis (36.2%) and Trichomonas vaginalis (24.8%).ConclusionThe high number of HR-HPV infections and other STIs described here highlights the fact that the Brazilian female prison population requires more attention in the country’s health policies. The implementation of screening programs and treatment measures might contribute to a decrease in the incidence of STIs and cervical cancer in this vulnerable population. However, for such measures to be effective, further studies are needed to investigate the best practice to get more women to engage in in-prison prevention programs, e.g., through offering further sexual health education and self-sampling.
What is known about adolescent dysmenorrhoea in (and for) community health settings?
Authors: Dixon Sharon , Hirst Jennifer , Taghinejadi Neda , Duddy Claire , Vincent Katy , Ziebland Sue 
Published: July 2024

IntroductionDysmenorrhoea affects many adolescents with significant impacts on education and well-being. In the UK, most of the adolescents who seek care (and many never do), will do so through general practice (primary care). Knowing how best to care for adolescents reporting menstrual pain is an area where UK general practitioners would like better guidance and resources.MethodsThis mixed-methods narrative synthesis collates community and specialist evidence from 320 papers about adolescent dysmenorrhoea, with a UK general practice community health perspective.ResultsWe report a narrative summary of symptoms, cause, consequences and treatments for adolescent dysmenorrhoea. We highlight areas of tension or conflicted evidence relevant to primary care alongside areas of uncertainty and research gaps identified through this synthesis with input from lived experience advisersDiscussionThere is little evidence about primary care management of adolescent dysmenorrhoea or specific resources to support shared-decision making in general practice, although there are evidence-based treatments to offer. Primary care encounters also represent potential opportunities to consider whether the possibility of underlying or associated health conditions contributing to symptoms of dysmenorrhoea, but there is little epidemiological evidence about prevalence from within community health settings to inform this. The areas where there is little or uncertain evidence along the care journey for adolescent dysmenorrhoea, including at the interface between experience and expression of symptoms and potential underlying contributory causes warrant further exploration.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPEROFILES/256458_STRATEGY_20210608.pdf, identifier (CRD42021256458).