bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exploring Immediate Memory and Its Influencing Factors Among Young Arabic Readers: Insights from Letter and Symbol Recall Performance
Authors: Rami Younes , Abidli Zakaria , Hassan Bdouh , Laanaya Hicham , Badaoui Bouabid 
Published: July 2024

Few studies have examined the performance of recalling Arabic letters. Some studies suggest that the low recall performance of Arabic letters may be attributed to the inherent visual complexity of Arabic script, while others highlight poor visual attention abilities among Arabic readers. In this context, the present study focuses on investigating immediate memory and the factors influencing its capacity among young Arabic readers. Immediate memory refers to the number of letters an observer can recall in a free recall task. Three experiments were conducted to examine the effects of exposure time (50, 100, and 200 ms), letter spacing (0.04°, 0.36°, and 1°), and stimulus type (acquired vs. non-acquired). Acquired stimuli consisted of Arabic and Latin letters, whereas non-acquired stimuli included Amazigh letters. It is noteworthy that our participants had no prior exposure to the Amazigh language. The results revealed significant effects of exposure time, letter spacing, and stimulus type on performance in the free recall task. In light of these findings, the study provides a discussion of factors that may account for the low recall performance observed in previous research.
Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 23 No. 03 July’24 Page : 834-845
PENGGUNAAN METODE SERVQUAL DI KEMENTERIAN AGAMA TANJUNGBALAI BERBASIS WEB
Authors: Anandita Puan , Putra Guntur Maha , Lubis Iin Almeina 
Published: July 2024

Abstract: The success of a government agency can be seen from the services provided by the agency itself. Therefore, government agencies must provide optimal services according to the needs of the community so that it is easy to carry out administration. Tanjungbalai City Office of the Ministry of Religion in conducting community satisfaction survey activities distributes questionnaires using google form and processes questionnaire data using number processing applications. So that there is no decision support system to accelerate knowing the level of community satisfaction with the services that have been provided. purpose of this study was to determine the level of public satisfaction with Hajj and Umrah Organizer section at the Tanjungbalai City Ministry of Religion Office. In this study the method used is the servqual method with 5 dimensions. Data collection was carried out through a questionnaire given to 30 respondents who had received services from the Hajj and Umrah Organizer section. Based on the results of the study, it is known that 75% people feel very satisfied, 18.75% people feel satisfied, and 16.15% people feel dissatisfied. The results also show that there is one dimension that has a negative value, namely the dimension of physical evidence regarding waiting chairs. Keywords: Satisfaction; Servqual; Deccission Support. Abstrak: Keberhasilan suatu instansi pemerintah dapat dilihat dari pelayanan yang diberikan oleh instansi itu sendiri. Oleh karena itu, instansi pemerintah harus memberikan pelayanan optimal sesuai dengan kebutuhan masyarakat agar mudah melakukan administrasi. Kantor Kementerian Agama Kota Tanjungbalai dalam kegiatan survei kepuasan masyarakat melakukan penyebaran kuesioner menggunakan google form dan mengolah data kuesioner menggunakan aplikasi pengolah angka. Sehingga belum ada sistem pendukung keputusan untuk mempercepat mengetahui tingkat kepuasan masyarakat terhadap pelayanan yang telah diberikan. Tujuan dari penelitian ini untuk mengetahui tingkat kepuasan masyarakat terhadap seksi Penyelenggara Haji dan Umrah di Kantor Kementerian Agama Kota Tanjungbalai. Dalam penelitian ini metode yang digunakan adalah metode servqual dengan 5 dimensi. Pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui kuesioner yang diberikan kepada 30 responden yang pernah mendapat pelayanan dari bagian Penyelenggara Haji dan Umroh. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian diketahui 75% masyarakat merasa sangat puas, 18,75% masyarakat merasa puas, dan 16,15% masyarakat merasa tidak puas. Hasil penelitian juga menunjukkan bahwa terdapat satu dimensi yang bernilai negatif yaitu dimensi bukti fisik mengenai kursi tunggu. Kata kunci: Kepuasan; Servqual; Sistem Pendukung Keputusan.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease and risk for arrhythmias: a Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Liang JunHao , Tang LuYi , Yang JinHui , Li Yi , Yang XiQiao , Hou ChiJun 
Published: July 2024

BackgroundClinical observations and epidemiological studies suggest a potential linkage between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and arrhythmias, yet the underlying mechanism remains elusive. This study investigates the causal relationship between GERD and four types of arrhythmia through a genetic lens, employing Mendelian randomization analysis to elucidate the directionality of these associations.MethodsSelected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from genome-wide association study (GWAS) data were utilized as instrumental variables. The inverse variance weighting (IVW) method, MR-Egger regression analysis, and the weighted median method were employed in two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis. Horizontal pleiotropy was detected and corrected using the MR-PRESSO test and MR-Egger regression. The stability and reliability of the Mendelian randomization results were assessed using the leave-one-out method, Cochran's Q test, and funnel plots. The causal relationship between GERD and four types of arrhythmias was evaluated using the odds ratio (OR).ResultsIVW results indicated that GERD could increase the risk of arrhythmias. A one standard deviation increases in the logarithmically transformed GERD score resulted in a 34% increase in the risk of arrhythmia (OR = 1.34; 95% CI 1.19–1.51; p = 1.66E-06). No significant correlation was found between GERD and other arrhythmias.ConclusionA causal relationship exists between GERD and arrhythmias, suggesting that GERD increases the risk of developing these arrhythmias.
Fluvoxamine maleate alleviates amyloid-beta load and neuroinflammation in 5XFAD mice to ameliorate Alzheimer disease pathology
Authors: Kaur Sukhleen , Sharma Kuhu , Sharma Ankita , Sandha Kamalpreet Kaur , Ali Syed Mudassir , Ahmed Riyaz , Ramajayan P. , Singh Parvinder Pal , Ahmed Zabeer , Kumar Ajay 
Published: July 2024

IntroductionAlzheimer pathology (AD) is characterized by the deposition of amyloid beta (Aβ) and chronic neuroinflammation, with the NLRP3 inflammasome playing a significant role. This study demonstrated that the OCD drug fluvoxamine maleate (FXN) can potently ameliorate AD pathology in 5XFAD mice by promoting autophagy-mediated clearance of Aβ and inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome. MethodsWe used mice primary astrocytes to establish the mechanism of action of FXN against NLRP3 inflammasome by using various techniques like ELISA, Western blotting, confocal microscopy, Immunofluorescence, etc. The anti-AD activity of FXN was validated in transgenic 5XFAD mice following two months of treatment. This was followed by behavior analysis, examination of inflammatory and autophagy proteins and immunohistochemistry analysis for Aβ load in the hippocampi.ResultsOur data showed that FXN, at a low concentration of 78 nM, induces autophagy to inhibit NF-κB and the NLRP3 inflammasome, apart from directly inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome in primary astrocytes. FXN activated the PRKAA2 pathway through CAMKK2 signaling, leading to autophagy induction. It inhibited the ATP-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation by promoting the autophagic degradation of NF-κB, resulting in the downregulation of pro-IL-1β and NLRP3. The anti-NLRP3 inflammasome effect of FXN was reversed when autophagy was inhibited by either genetic knockdown of the PRKAA2 pathway or pharmacological inhibition with bafilomycin A1. Furthermore, FXN treatment led to improved AD pathology in 5XFAD mice, resulting in significant improvements in various behavioral parameters such as working memory and neuromuscular coordination, making their behavior more similar to that of wild-type animals. FXN improved behavior in 5XFAD mice by clearing the Aβ deposits from the hippocampi and significantly reducing multiple inflammatory proteins, including NF-κB, GFAP, IBA1, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6, which are associated with NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome in the brain. Moreover, these changes were accompanied by increased expression of autophagic proteins.DiscussionOur data suggest that FXN ameliorates AD pathology, by simultaneously targeting two key pathological features: Aβ deposits and neuroinflammation. As an already approved drug, FXN holds potential as a candidate for human studies against AD.
Efficacy and safety of a proposed omalizumab biosimilar compared to the reference product in the management of uncontrolled moderate-to-severe allergic asthma: a multicenter, phase III, randomized, double-blind, equivalency clinical trial
Authors: Ghanei Mostafa , Ghalebaghi Babak , Sami Ramin , Torabizadeh Mehdi , Mirsadraee Majid , Amra Babak , Tavakol Marzieh , Raji Hanieh , Fallahpour Morteza , Kiani Arda , Abedini Atefeh , Jabbari Azad Farahzad , Mahdaviani Seyed Alireza , Attaran Davood , Samet Mohammad , Tavana Sasan , Haddadzadeh shoushtari Maryam , Nazari Javad , AghaeiMeybodi FatemehAlsadat , Fazlollahi Mohammad Reza , Ghasemi Ramin , Sabzvari Araz , Kafi Hamidreza , Idani Esmaeil 
Published: July 2024

Background and aimsAllergic asthma has a considerable burden on the quality of life. A significant portion of moderate-to-severe allergic asthma patients need omalizumab, an anti-immunoglobulin-E monoclonal antibody, as an add-on therapy. In this phase III clinical trial P043 (Zerafil®, CinnaGen, Iran) efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity were compared with Xolair® (the originator omalizumab). The primary outcome was the rate of protocol-defined asthma exacerbations.MethodsExacerbation rates, Asthma Control Test (ACT) results, spirometry measurements, immunogenicity, and safety were evaluated. Each subject received either medication with a dose ranging from 150 to 375 mg based on pre-treatment serum total IgE level (IU/mL) and body weight (kg) every two or four weeks for a duration of 28 weeks.ResultsExacerbation rates were 0.150 (CI: 0.079-0.220) in the P043 group, and 0.190 (CI: 0.110-0.270) in the omalizumab group (per-protocol). The least squares mean differences of predicted Forced Expiratory Volume in the First second (FEV1) were -2.51% (CI: -7.17-2.15, P=0.29) and -3.87% (CI: -8.79-1.04, P=0.12), pre- and post-bronchodilator use. The mean ± SD of ACT scores at the screening and the last visit were 10.62 ± 2.93 and 20.93 ± 4.26 in P043 and 11.09 ± 2.75 and 20.46 ± 5.11 in the omalizumab group. A total of 288 adverse events were reported for the 256 enrolled participants. Among all, “dyspnea” and “headache” were the most reported ones. The overall incidence of adverse events (P=0.62) and serious adverse events (P=0.07) had no significant differences between the two groups. None of the samples were positive for anti-drug antibodies.ConclusionP043 was equivalent to omalizumab in the management of asthma in reduction of exacerbations. There was no significant difference in other efficacy and safety parameters.Clinical trial registrationwww.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05813470) and www.IRCT.ir (IRCT20150303021315N20).
An assessment of a GMP schistosomiasis vaccine (SchistoShield®)
Authors: Kim Jiho , Davis Jenn , Lee Jinhee , Cho Sang-Nae , Yang Kiyoung , Yang Jaekyoon , Bae Sungmin , Son Joohee , Kim Boyoung , Whittington Dale , Siddiqui Afzal A. , Carter Darrick , Gray Sean A. 
Published: July 2024

IntroductionSchistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that puts over 200 million people at risk, and prevention options are sparse with no approved vaccine. Our vaccine candidate, SchistoShield®, is based on an approximately 87 kDa large subunit of calcium activated neutral protease - termed Sm-p80 - combined with a potent TLR4 agonist-based adjuvant. SchistoShield® has been shown to prevent disease throughout the parasitic life cycle - including egg, juvenile, and adult worm stages - in numerous animal models up to and including baboons. SchistoShield® has been shown safe in both preclinical toxicology studies in rabbits and in a Phase 1 clinical trial in the USA. A Phase 1b trial was initiated in 2023 in endemic regions of Africa, and to date no serious safety signals have been reported.MethodsIn preparation for large-scale Phase 2 clinical trials and eventual vaccine deployment, the Sm-p80 antigen production process has been transferred to a manufacturing organization, Quratis Corporation in South Korea, which specializes in preparation of vaccines for large-scale European and African trials. The process of scaling from our current production level of ~ 2000 vaccine doses, to a process that will generate more than 100 million doses has required multiple improvement steps in the process including fermentation, downstream purification of the protein antigen, lyophilization, and fill and finish.ResultsIn this study, we detail the large-scale production process of the SchistoShield® protein product by Quratis. In addition, an effort was made to analyze and compare the Quratis-made lot of Sm-p80, referred to as QTP-105, to the cGMP lot of Sm-p80 which is in use in human trials in the USA and Africa, referred to as Sm-p80 DP (made in USA). We show that QTP-105 demonstrates excellent potency, purity, identity, and endotoxin levels compared to our Phase 1 Sm-p80 DP and is suitable for use in Phase 2 studies and beyond.
Chronic neuropathic pain components in whiplash-associated disorders correlate with metabolite concentrations in the anterior cingulate and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex: a consensus-driven MRS re-examination
Authors: Pinilla-Fernández Irene , Ríos-León Marta , Deelchand Dinesh Kumar , Garrido Leoncio , Torres-Llacsa Mabel , García-García Fernando , Vidorreta Marta , Ip I. Betina , Bridge Holly , Taylor Julian , Barriga-Martín Andrés 
Published: July 2024

IntroductionWhiplash injury (WHI) is characterised by a forced neck flexion/extension, which frequently occurs after motor vehicle collisions. Previous studies characterising differences in brain metabolite concentrations and correlations with neuropathic pain (NP) components with chronic whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) have been demonstrated in affective pain-processing areas such as the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). However, the detection of a difference in metabolite concentrations within these cortical areas with chronic WAD pain has been elusive. In this study, single-voxel magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), following the latest MRSinMRS consensus group guidelines, was performed in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and occipital cortex (OCC) to quantify differences in metabolite concentrations in individuals with chronic WAD with or without neuropathic pain (NP) components.Materials and methodsHealthy individuals (n = 29) and participants with chronic WAD (n = 29) were screened with the Douleur Neuropathique 4 Questionnaire (DN4) and divided into groups without (WAD-noNP, n = 15) or with NP components (WAD-NP, n = 14). Metabolites were quantified with LCModel following a single session in a 3 T MRI scanner within the ACC, DLPFC, and OCC.ResultsParticipants with WAD-NP presented moderate pain intensity and interference compared with the WAD-noNP group. Single-voxel MRS analysis demonstrated a higher glutamate concentration in the ACC and lower total choline (tCho) in the DLPFC in the WAD-NP versus WAD-noNP group, with no intergroup metabolite difference detected in the OCC. Best fit and stepwise multiple regression revealed that the normalised ACC glutamate/total creatine (tCr) (p = 0.01), DLPFC n-acetyl-aspartate (NAA)/tCr (p = 0.001), and DLPFC tCho/tCr levels (p = 0.02) predicted NP components in the WAD-NP group (ACC r2 = 0.26, α = 0.81; DLPFC r2 = 0.62, α = 0.98). The normalised Glu/tCr concentration was higher in the healthy than the WAD-noNP group within the ACC (p &lt; 0.05), but not in the DLPFC or OCC. Neither sex nor age affected key normalised metabolite concentrations related to WAD-NP components when compared to the WAD-noNP group.DiscussionThis study demonstrates that elevated glutamate concentrations within the ACC are related to chronic WAD-NP components, while higher NAA and lower tCho metabolite levels suggest a role for increased neuronal–glial signalling and cell membrane dysfunction in individuals with chronic WAD-NP components.
Association study of brain structure–function coupling and glymphatic system function in patients with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Sun Yong-Wen , Lyu Xin-Yue , Lei Xiao-Yang , Huang Ming-Ming , Wang Zhen-Min , Gao Bo 
Published: July 2024

BackgroundMild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a critical transitional phase from healthy cognitive aging to dementia, offering a unique opportunity for early intervention. However, few studies focus on the correlation of brain structure and functional activity in patients with MCI due to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Elucidating the complex interactions between structural-functional (SC-FC) brain connectivity and glymphatic system function is crucial for understanding this condition.MethodThe aims of this study were to explore the relationship among SC-FC coupling values, glymphatic system function and cognitive function. 23 MCI patients and 18 healthy controls (HC) underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and resting-state functional MRI (fMRI). DTI analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) index and SC-FC coupling values were calculated using DTI and fMRI. Correlation analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores, DTI-ALPS index, and coupling values. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves was conducted on the SC-FC coupling between the whole brain and subnetworks. The correlation of coupling values with MMSE scores was also analyzed.ResultMCI patients (67.74 ± 6.99 years of age) exhibited significantly lower coupling in the whole-brain network and subnetworks, such as the somatomotor network (SMN) and ventral attention network (VAN), than HCs (63.44 ± 6.92 years of age). Whole-brain network coupling was positively correlated with dorsal attention network (DAN), SMN, and visual network (VN) coupling. MMSE scores were significantly positively correlated with whole-brain coupling and SMN coupling. In MCI, whole-brain network demonstrated the highest performance, followed by the SMN and VAN, with the VN, DAN, limbic network (LN), frontoparietal network (FPN), and default mode network (DMN). Compared to HCs, lower DTI-ALPS index was observed in individuals with MCI. Additionally, the left DTI-ALPS index showed a significant positive correlation with MMSE scores and coupling values in the whole-brain network and SMN.ConclusionThese findings reveal the critical role of SC-FC coupling values and the ALPS index in cognitive function of MCI. The positive correlations observed in the left DTI-ALPS and whole-brain and SMN coupling values provide a new insight for investigating the asymmetrical nature of cognitive impairments.
Treatment satisfaction and medication adherence and predictors among patients with heart failure in Ethiopia: a hospital-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Tsige Abate Wondesen , Endalifer Bedilu Linger , Habteweld Habtemariam Alekaw , Wondmkun Yehualashet Teshome , Ayele Siraye Genzeb , Kefale Belayneh 
Published: July 2024

BackgroundGlobally, about 18 million people died from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in 2019, over three-quarters in developing countries. Non-adherence to medication in CVD patients causes hospitalization, worsened symptoms, higher healthcare costs, and more emergency visits. Hence, this study aimed to assess treatment satisfaction and medication adherence and predictors in heart failure (HF) patients attending Debre Berhan Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (DBCSH), Ethiopia.MethodsA hospital-based cross-sectional study was undertaken at the medical referral clinic of DBCSH. A total of 344 ambulatory HF patients who visited the medical care of the DBCSH medical referral clinic during the study period were included. Treatment satisfaction was assessed using a self-administered Medicine Questionnaire (SATMED-Q). Relationships between predictor variables and treatment satisfaction were determined using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and an independent t-test. Medication adherence was determined using the Morisky Green Levin Medication Adherence Scale (MGLS).ResultsParticipants with drug-drug interactions (DDIs) were approximately 38% less likely to adhere to medication compared to their counterparts (AOR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.54–0.71). Additionally, participants who had taken five or more drugs were approximately 68% less likely to adhere to medication compared to those who had taken only one drug (AOR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.2–0.51). The correlation between medication adherence and drug-drug interactions remains a possible pseudo-correlation via the number of medications taken. There was a noteworthy positive correlation (rs = 0.34, p = 0.027) between participants’ treatment adherence and treatment satisfaction.ConclusionThe rate of treatment satisfaction and treatment adherence among HF patients was 67.6% and 60.9%, respectively. The presence of DDI and the number of drugs were identified as predictors to medication adherence.
Association between medication complexity and follow-up care attendance: insights from a retrospective multicenter cohort study across 1,223 Chinese hospitals
Authors: Ma Xuedi , Wang Yang , Chen Yongwu , Lian Yufei , Zhao Xiaoyu , He Xuan , Qiu Yue , Han Sheng , Liu Lihong , Wang Chen 
Published: July 2024

BackgroundPatients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) frequently face substantial medication burdens. Follow-up care on medication management is critical in achieving disease control. This study aimed to analyze the complexity of COPD-specific medication and determine how it impacted patients’ attendance on follow-up care.MethodsThis multicenter study includes patients with COPD from 1,223 hospitals across 29 provinces in China from January 2021 to November 2022. The medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI) score was used to measure COPD-specific medication complexity. The association between medication complexity and follow-up care attendance was evaluated using the Cox Proportional Hazard Model.ResultsAmong 16,684 patients, only 2,306 (13.8%) returned for follow-up medication management. 20.3% of the patients had high complex medication regimen (MRCI score &gt;15.0). The analysis revealed that compared to those with less complex regimens, patients with more complex medication regimens were significantly less likely to attend the follow-up medication care, with a Hazard Ratio (HR) of 0.82 (95% Confidence Interval [CI], 0.74–0.91). Specifically, patients with more complex dosage forms were 51% less likely to attend the follow-up care (95% CI, 0.43–0.57). This pattern was especially marked among male patients, patients younger than 65 years, and those without comorbid conditions.ConclusionHigher medication complexity was associated with a decreased likelihood of attending follow-up care. To promote care continuity in chronic disease management, individuals with complex medication regimens should be prioritized for enhanced education. Furthermore, pharmacists collaborating with respiratory physicians to deprescribe and simplify dosage forms should be considered in the disease management process.