bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Uric acid elevation in pediatric patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and prediction of mortality
Authors: Han Yong , Chen Cheng , Qin Suyuan , Liu Dongli , Pang Yusheng 
Published: July 2024

Background and aimsPediatric dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a primary cause of heart failure, highlighting the urgent need for effective prognostic markers.MethodsWe performed a single-center retrospective study involving 145 children diagnosed with DCM, with a median follow-up period of 4.0 months (interquartile range: 6.2–108.4 months). The relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and all-cause mortality was assessed using Kaplan–Meier survival curves, multivariate Cox proportional hazard models, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) models.ResultsOf the 145 children with DCM (median age 5.7 years; 61.4% male), 45 (31%) died within 1 year, and 65 (44.8%) died during the maximum follow-up period. In adjusted multivariate Cox regression models, each log2 SUA increase was linked to a higher risk of 1-year mortality [hazard ratio (HR), 2.66; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.41–5.01] and overall mortality (HR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.15–3.37). The highest SUA tertile showed a greater risk of mortality at 1 year (HR, 4.26; 95% CI: 1.5–12.06) and during the maximum follow-up (HR, 2.56; 95% CI: 1.06–6.16) compared with the lowest tertile. RCS models indicated an inverted L-shaped association between baseline SUA levels and overall mortality risk, with age-stratified analyses revealing a linear and U-shaped relationship in children ≤10 and &gt;10 years, respectively. Further age-stratified analyses highlighted the modifying effect of age on this association.ConclusionElevated SUA levels are a significant predictor of mortality in pediatric DCM, with a pronounced impact on children under 10 years of age. Therefore, SUA levels could serve as potential biomarkers for risk stratification in this population.
Complete vs. incomplete percutaneous revascularization in patients with chronic total coronary artery occlusion
Authors: Maestre-Luque Luis Carlos , Gonzalez-Manzanares Rafael , Suárez de Lezo Javier , Hidalgo Francisco , Barreiro-Mesa Lucas , de Juan Jaime , Gallo Ignacio , Perea Jorge , Alvarado Marco , Romero Miguel , Ojeda Soledad , Pan Manuel 
Published: July 2024

IntroductionThere is current controversy surrounding the benefits of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of chronic total coronary occlusions (CTO). We aimed to evaluate the impact of complete percutaneous revascularization on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with CTO.MethodsA retrospective observational study was conducted of consecutive patients referred for invasive coronary angiography at a single center between January 2018 and December 2019 and at least a CTO. The patients were divided into two groups according to the result of the procedure: complete revascularization of CTO (CR-CTO) versus incomplete revascularization (ICR-CTO) (patients with at least one non-recanalized CTO). Short- and mid-term clinical outcomes were evaluated. The primary endpoint was a composite of MACE that included all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, or unplanned revascularization.ResultsIn total, 359 patients with CTO were included. The median age was 68 years [interquartile range (IQR) 60–77 years], 66 (18%) were women and 169 (47.3%) had diabetes mellitus. In all, 167 (46.5%) patients received complete revascularization. After a median follow-up of 42 months (IQR 46–50 months), the primary endpoint occurred in 39 (23.4%) patients in the CR-CTO group and in 75 (39.1%) in the ICR-CTO group (HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.34–0.74; p &lt; 0.001). This association remained significant in an inverse probability weighted model considering prognostic factors (adjusted HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.41–0.92; p = 0.018) and was driven by lower rates of all-cause death (adjusted OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.23–0.84; p = 0.01).ConclusionsComplete revascularization of CTO was associated with a lower risk of MACE in the midterm follow up.
An automatic measure for speech intelligibility in dysarthrias—validation across multiple languages and neurological disorders
Authors: Tröger Johannes , Dörr Felix , Schwed Louisa , Linz Nicklas , König Alexandra , Thies Tabea , Barbe Michael T. , Orozco-Arroyave Juan Rafael , Rusz Jan 
Published: July 2024

IntroductionDysarthria, a motor speech disorder caused by muscle weakness or paralysis, severely impacts speech intelligibility and quality of life. The condition is prevalent in motor speech disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD), atypical parkinsonism such as progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), Huntington's disease (HD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Improving intelligibility is not only an outcome that matters to patients but can also play a critical role as an endpoint in clinical research and drug development. This study validates a digital measure for speech intelligibility, the ki: SB-M intelligibility score, across various motor speech disorders and languages following the Digital Medicine Society (DiMe) V3 framework.MethodsThe study used four datasets: healthy controls (HCs) and patients with PD, HD, PSP, and ALS from Czech, Colombian, and German populations. Participants’ speech intelligibility was assessed using the ki: SB-M intelligibility score, which is derived from automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems. Verification with inter-ASR reliability and temporal consistency, analytical validation with correlations to gold standard clinical dysarthria scores in each disease, and clinical validation with group comparisons between HCs and patients were performed.ResultsVerification showed good to excellent inter-rater reliability between ASR systems and fair to good consistency. Analytical validation revealed significant correlations between the SB-M intelligibility score and established clinical measures for speech impairments across all patient groups and languages. Clinical validation demonstrated significant differences in intelligibility scores between pathological groups and healthy controls, indicating the measure's discriminative capability.DiscussionThe ki: SB-M intelligibility score is a reliable, valid, and clinically relevant tool for assessing speech intelligibility in motor speech disorders. It holds promise for improving clinical trials through automated, objective, and scalable assessments. Future studies should explore its utility in monitoring disease progression and therapeutic efficacy as well as add data from further dysarthrias to the validation.
Identifying queer discourses and navigational strategies in mathematics for undergraduate STEM students
Authors: Voigt Matthew 
Published: July 2024

IntroductionWhile research has explored racialized and gendered discourses in mathematics, there is a gap in understanding the experiences of Queer students and the discourses related to sexual identity in mathematics. This study aims to identify the discourses about mathematics that Queer STEM students describe in relation to their Queer identity and how they navigate these discourses.MethodsUsing phenomenology, individual interviews were conducted with 17 Queer STEM students at four universities in the United States. The interviews explored their life histories, experiences in mathematics, and responses to vignettes depicting mathematical scenarios. Grounded theory was leveraged to analyze the interviews to build a framework for Queer discourses and navigational strategies.ResultsSeven Queer discourses in mathematics were identified with underlying notions of exclusion and irrelevancy. The most prevalent discourses cast Queer identity as being irrelevant (erasure), unseen (heteronormative), or discriminated against (marginalized) in mathematics. At the same time there were some beliefs that Queer identity acceptance was unknown (ambiguous) was treated equally (normalized) or was accepted and even valued in math. Key findings from the study help theory build an exclusion-irrelevancy space to network together mathematical discourses and highlight how Queer marginalization is acted upon based on notions of rightful presence and not mathematical success.DiscussionThis study highlights the need to recognize and address the marginalization of Queer students in mathematics. By understanding the discourses and navigational strategies employed by these students, educators can create more inclusive and equitable STEM environments. It is critical to recognize and build upon the unique strengths of Queer students in mathematics, rather than focusing only on the challenges they face.
Benthic communities under methane gradient in the Laptev and East Siberian seas
Authors: Konovalova Olga , Rimskaya-Korsakova Nadezhda , Kuznetsov Petr , Osadchiev Alexander , Fedyaeva Maria , Moiseeva Iuliia , Purgina Darya , Kosmach Denis , Semiletov Igor 
Published: July 2024

IntroductionMethane seeps influence surrounding benthic communities in different ways from slight changes in benthic abundance and biomass to major altering the species composition.Materials and MethodsWe studied benthic communities of 14 methane seep flares in Laptev and East Siberian seas with comparative analysis of species composition and abiotic parameters at the nearby areas not affected by methane seeps. The species diversity was comparable at seep and non-seep sites varying from 3.9 to 39.6 taxa per 100 individuals and from 4.5 to 34.8 taxa per 100 individuals, correspondingly.ResultsThe Laptev Slope community corresponds with the Polychaeta-community, encircling the upper continental slope area of the entire Siberian Arctic. The Lower Shelf community described in this study apparently corresponds with the Ophiocten sericeum community identified in the shelf areas of the Kara, Laptev and East Siberian seas. The Upper Shelf community is mostly inhabited by the bivalves species such as Portlandia arctica, Ennucula tenuis and Astarte montagui communities. The Estuarine community, which is the poorest by diversity but has high values of abundance and biomass is directly influenced by the Lena River runoff in terms of lower salinities and higher sedimentation rates.DiscussionThroughout the study area, the differences between the Estuarine, Upper Shelf, Lower Shelf and Laptev Slope communities exceeded the differences between the seep and background non-seep areas. Several taxa demonstrated correlations with different environmental factors, including the latitude, depth, temperature, salinity, pH and methane content, not depending on the revealed benthic community. Eight taxa demonstrated correlations with the methane content measured at different sediment depths. Two siboglinids taxa demonstrated high abundances at stations with highest methane content deep in the sediment. At the Siberian shelf, our geochemical data for siboglinid habitats are the first to be published so far.
Causal relationship between complement C1QB and colorectal cancer: a drug target Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Jiao Mingwen , Cui Yuying , Qiu Xiaodong , Liang Xuezhen , Li Junhan , Guo Congcong , Tian Hu 
Published: July 2024

BackgroundColorectal cancer is influenced by several factors such as unhealthy habits and genetic factors. C1QB has been linked to a number of malignancies. However, uncertainty surrounds the connection between C1QB and CRC. Therefore, this study aimed to explore a bidirectional causal relationship of C1QB as a drug target in CRC through Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.MethodsThe GWASs for C1QB and CRC were obtained from the Integrative Epidemiology Unit Open GWAS database. There were five strategies to investigate MR. Sensitivity analysis was carried out via tests for heterogeneity, horizontal pleiotropy and leave-one-out effects to evaluate the dependability of the MR analysis results. Furthermore, colocalization analysis of C1QB and CRC, protein-protein interaction network and drug prediction according to exposure factors as well as phenotype scanning were performed.ResultsThe results of forward MR analysis demonstrated that C1QB was a risk factor for CRC (OR = 1.104, p = 0.033). However, we did not find a causal relationship between CRC and C1QB (reverse MR). Rs294180 and rs291985 corresponded to the same linkage interval and had the potential to influence C1QB and CRC, respectively. The PPI results demonstrated that C1QB interacted with 10 genes (C1QA, C1QC, C1R, C1S, C2, C4A, C4B, CALR, SERPING1, and VSIG4). Additionally, 21 medications were predicted to match C1QB. Molecular docking data, including for benzo(a)pyrene, 1-naphthylisothiocyanate, calcitriol and medroxyprogesterone acetate, revealed excellent binding for drugs and proteins. Moreover, we identified 29 diseases that were associated with C1QB and related medicines via disease prediction and intersection methods. As a therapeutic target for CRC, phenotypic scanning revealed that C1QB does not significantly affect weight loss, liver cirrhosis, or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, but might have protective impacts on ovarian cancer and melanoma.ConclusionThe results highlight a causal relationship between C1QB and CRC and imply an oncogenic role for C1QB in CRC, as potential drug targets. Drugs designed to target C1QB have a greater chance of success in clinical trials and are expected to help prioritize CRC drug development and reduce drug development costs. That provided a theoretical foundation and reference for research on CRC and C1QB in MR.
TRP channel-related LncRNAs, AC092535.4 and LINC01637, as novel prognostic biomarkers for uveal melanoma
Authors: Zhang Min , Ni Jinglan , Liu Dongyue , Cui Yubo , Ma Xiaochen , Zhao Jun 
Published: July 2024

IntroductionTransient receptor potential (TRP) channels function as cellular sensors with a broad impact, and their dysregulation is linked to numerous cancers. The influence of TRP channel-related long noncoding RNAs (TCRLs) on uveal melanoma (UM) remains poorly understood.MethodsWe employed bioinformatics to examine the RNA-seq data and relevant clinical information of UM in the TCGA databases. By implementing coexpression analysis, we identified differentially expressed TCRLs. Using univariate Cox regression analysis, selection operator (LASSO) algorithm and stepwise regression, five key prognostic biomarkers were chosen. The high- and low-risk groups were divided based on the risk scores. Afterwards, the prediction performance of the signature was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival analysis. The functional enrichment analysis of TCRLs was also investigated. Following that, we examined immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoint expression, and tumor immune microenvironment between patients in high and low risk groups. TCRLs were validated using Random forests and multifactor Cox analysis. Candidate biomarkers were identified and screened. Finally, the effects of the candidate biomarkers on the proliferation, migration and invasion of UM cells were detected by CCK-8 assay, migration assay and perforation invasion assay.ResultsThe risk score generated by five TCRLs demonstrated robust predictive power. The high-risk group exhibited a poorer prognosis, increased immune cell infiltration, and an active tumor immune microenvironment compared to the low-risk group. Furthermore, two TCRLs of risk score, AC092535.4 and LINC01637, were screened to multiplex modelling. The in vitro experiments demonstrated that UM cells were suppressed following AC092535.4 or LINC01637 knockdown.DiscussionTwo TCRLs, AC092535.4 and LINC01637, serve as novel prognostic biomarkers for uveal melanoma and may present potential therapeutic targets.
The impact of widowhood on mental health: anxiety, depression, and stress among widowed women in Nepal
Authors: Mamidanna Pooja , Thagunna Narendra Singh , Dangi Jyotshna , Zelman Diane C. 
Published: July 2024

IntroductionIn South Asia, particularly in regions with strong patriarchal norms, widowhood is stigmatized, compounding the negative impact of grief and partner loss. This study measured the prevalence of mental health symptoms among widows in Nepal and its relationship to demographic variables.MethodsThis cross-sectional study surveyed 588 Nepalese widows from six districts in Nepal (mean age = 52.62, SD = 13.99) who had lost their spouses within the past two years. Participants completed the Anxiety, Depression and Stress Scale (ADSS). Analyses examined prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms, using standard ADSS cut-points. Level of anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms measured by the ADSS in the sample were also compared with female psychiatric and nonpsychiatric normative ADSS data, and were compared with one available comparison sample (a sample of older Nepalese women). Measures of association between ADSS scores and demographic variables were computed.ResultsResults showed that a high percentage of the Nepalese widows reported moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. They also endorsed significantly higher levels of anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms relative to normative data and the comparison sample. Stress scores were significantly negatively correlated with age, Anxiety and Depression scores were associated with income under the poverty line, and Depression scores were associated with homemaker status.DiscussionThese findings confirm the high emotional distress among widowed women in Nepal, and establish the relationship between emotional distress and poverty, homemaker status, and age. These findings can inform public health efforts and mental health care providers regarding the mental health needs of widows in Nepal.
Scinderin is a potential prognostic biomarker and correlated with immunological regulation: from pan-cancer analysis to liver hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Zhai Shengyong , Li Yuhua , Yang Yuanyuan , Lang Wei , Liu Xiaoxia , Liu Kai , Qu Jianjun , Zhu Lingyu 
Published: July 2024

AimThis study aimed to systematically dissect the role of Scinderin (SCIN) in tumorigenesis.MethodsBioinformatics techniques were employed based on cancer data from TCGA, ENCORI, HPA, GEPIA2, UALCAN, Kaplan-Meier plotter, TIMER, TISIDB, cBioPortal, HCCDB, GeneMANIA and LinkedOmics database. Experiments in vitro and in vivo were conducted to dissect the role of SCIN in liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC).ResultsSignificantly differential expression of SCIN was found in nine types of cancers, including LIHC. Through pan-cancer analysis, the correlations between SCIN expression with prognosis and immune cell infiltration were proven, especially in LIHC, ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma and lung adenocarcinoma. The highest frequency of alteration in SCIN (6.81%) was seen in patients with uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma, in which “mutation” was the predominant type, with a frequency of about 5.29%; meanwhile, S673F and S381Y were the two most frequent mutation sites. Furthermore, the abnormal expression of SCIN exhibited a strong relationship with immune cell subtypes, immune checkpoint genes, tumor mutation burden, microsatellite instability, neoantigen, molecular subtypes, mismatch repair signatures and DNA methyl-transferase in different cancer types. Through comparative analysis, we discovered that SCIN was dramatically up-regulated in LIHC, and associated with poor survival. Experiments in vitro and in vivo suggested the knockdown of SCIN could suppress tumor cell proliferation and improve the survival rate partly in animal models.ConclusionThis study reveals SCIN may be a promising biomarker for prognosis and treatment in certain cancers, especially in LIHC.
Ocular hypertension after EyeCee One preload lens implantation: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: González-Martín-Moro Julio , Fernández Miguel Yolanda , Castro-Rebollo María , Izquierdo-Rodríguez Carlos , Prieto-Garrido Francisco Luis , Padeira Iranzo Victoria , Mittendrein Vanesa , Miralles Pechuan Vicente , Ruiz-Pomeda Alicia , Cobo-Soriano Rosario 
Published: July 2024

ObjectiveIn 2022, several cases of ocular hypertension (OHT) related to EyeCee One preloaded IOLs were reported. The aim of this study was to determine the presurgical and surgical variables associated with this response.Methods and analysisAn analysis was conducted on patients who underwent isolated cataract surgery between September 2022 and December 2022 at the Hospital Universitario del Henares. The influence of potential factors was studied using the Kruskal–Wallis test and multiple regression analysis.ResultsA total of 353 cataract surgeries were included in the study. No significant differences between the different IOLs were found related to a change in the IOP on the first postoperative day (p = 0.395), but the change in the IOP after 1 month was higher in the EyeCee One group (p = 0.016). Approximately 6.1% of the patients who received EyeCee One had an IOP increase greater than 10 mmHg, compared to only 0.8% of the patients who received other IOLs. The odds ratio (OR) of experiencing an IOP increase greater than 10 mmHg in the EyeCee One group at the 1-month visit was 7.99 (1.52–41.99). The multiple regression analysis showed that receiving the EyeCee One lens was associated with a 2-mmHg increase in IOP. A previous history of glaucoma or OHT was not associated with greater IOP. Two patients in the EyeCee One group developed severe visual loss.ConclusionPatients who received the EyeCee One IOL experienced significant increases in IOP at the 1-month visit. A small number of patients might suffer visual loss secondary to the rise in IOP.
The influence of body fat content and distribution on bone mass in healthy Chinese adults
Authors: Chen Bin , Liu Gongwen , Wang Yike , Xu Youjia 
Published: July 2024

BackgroundPrevious studies have reported a close relationship between body mass index (BMI) and bone mineral density (BMD). However, the effects of fat on bone mass remain controversial, particularly for fat tissue distribution. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between regional fat percentage and BMD using a population-based database.MethodsThis study included participants who were referred to the Department of Radio Diagnosis for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan from January 2018 to December 2020. The relationships between BMI and regional fat percentage with BMD were assessed using multiple linear regression and generalized additive models. The risk of low bone mass was determined using logistic regression.ResultsThere was a negative relationship between the regional fat percentage and femoral neck BMD (FN BMD) or lumbar spine BMD (LS BMD) in both genders (p &lt; 0.05). In females, an inverted U-shaped relationship was observed between regional fat percentage and BMD at both the femoral neck and lumbar spine. The impact of trunk fat percentage on LS BMD was associated with the highest OR of low bone mass in females (OR 3.1, 95% CI 2.6 to 3.7, p for trend &lt;0.001), while the impact of abdomen fat percentage on FN BMD was associated with the highest OR of low bone mass in males (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.8 to 2.7, p for trend &lt;0.001).ConclusionThere was an inverted U-shaped relationship between regional fat percentage and BMD. Excessive regional fat percentage may be harmful to bone health in both genders. To promote bone health, males should restrict their abdomen circumference and avoid abdominal adiposity, while females should control their trunk circumference.