bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Factors associated with complications among deep neck infection in the community-based hospital in Thailand
Authors: Pinsai Subencha , Keeratitadapong Wuttipat , Trakarnchansiri Jiraporn 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Background
Deep neck infections (DNIs) are medical emergencies that can result in severe complications and even death. Prompt and accurate diagnosis, coupled with appropriate management, can mitigate the severity of these infections.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients over 15 years old diagnosed with DNIs at a community-based hospital in Thailand from January 2017 to December 2021. The study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical features, and risk factors associated with complications in patients diagnosed with DNIs.
Results
A total of 226 patients were included, with 135 (59.7%) males and a median age of 39.5 years (IQR 29–58). Comorbidities were present in 87 patients (38.5%), with hypertension (20.4%) and diabetes mellitus (19.0%) being the most common. Odontogenic infections were the leading cause of DNIs (54.9%), and the primary presenting symptoms were neck pain and swelling (67.7%). The buccal space was the most frequent infection site (22.6%), followed by the peritonsillar space (20.4%) and the submandibular space (19.9%). Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most identified pathogen (20%), followed by Staphylococcus spp. and Viridans streptococcus (each 6.2%). Among the patients, 44.6% underwent incision and drainage, 12.4% underwent simple aspiration, and 42.9% received conservative treatment with intravenous antibiotics. Complications were observed in 16.4% of the patients, with airway obstruction being the most common (7.1%), followed by sepsis (4.9%). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed significant risk factors for complications: involvement of the parapharyngeal space (odds ratio 43.3, p = 0.006), multiple space involvement (odds ratio 7.98, p < 0.001), and involvement of the submental space (odds ratio 5.5, p = 0.017). Additionally, presenting symptoms such as fever (odds ratio 6.1, p = 0.008), anemia (odds ratio 37.4, p = 0.024), and neck pain and swelling (odds ratio 0.2, p = 0.045) were associated with higher complication rates.
Conclusions
Odontogenic infections are the most common cause of DNIs. Complications are significantly associated with infections involving the parapharyngeal, submental, and multiple spaces. Early diagnosis and prompt management, especially in patients with identified risk factors, are crucial in reducing life-threatening complications.
The relationship of the HbA1c/ApoA-1 ratio with short- term prognosis in patients with STEMI following PCI: a retrospective study
Authors: Li Dani , Sun Yuyu , Han Jie , Guo Chen , Xia Linying , Jiang Wei , Wei Jin 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

The ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients tend to experience cardiovascular events following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and the prognosis remains suboptimal. The objective of this investigation was to examine the correlation between the ratio of glycosylated hemoglobin A1c/Apolipoprotein A1 (HbA1c/ApoA-1) and the short-term prognosis in STEMI patients following PCI. This study conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 182 patients diagnosed with STEMI following PCI and admitted to our hospital between January 2022 and June 2023. The patients were categorized into two groups based on the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), and a comparative analysis of baseline characteristics was performed. The significant correlation between HbA1c/ApoA-1 with short-term MACEs in STEMI patients post-PCI were determined through univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Different models and Subgroup analysis demonstrated that HbA1c/ApoA-1 was independent risk factor for MACEs in STEMI patients post-PCI and exhibited high stability. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under curve (AUC) value were utilized to validate the predictive value of HbA1c/ApoA-1 in forecasting outcomes among STEMI patients post-PCI, with an AUC of 0.752 (95% CI: 0.68–0.86), sensitivity of 85.7%, and specificity of 56.8%. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) was employed to evaluate the potential non-linear relationship between HbA1c/ApoA-1 levels and MACEs in STEMI patients post-PCI. Our results demonstrated high and significant correlation between HbA1c/ApoA-1 and short-term prognosis, and indicated that HbA1c/ApoA-1 was independent risk factor for MACEs in STEMI patients following PCI and possessed significant predictive value, facilitating the early identification of high-risk cohorts and the anticipation of MACEs.
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in the treatment of critical Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in a child with Langerhans cell histiocytosis: a case report and literature review
Authors: Zou Zhuan , Zhao Wanlin , Chen Yulin , Liu Zhongqiang , He Guoqian , Zhang Haiyang 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Background: Children with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) are particularly susceptible to infections such as Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) due to the immunosuppressive effects of chemotherapy, which can progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and respiratory failure. The use of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) to manage hypoxemia secondary to PJP in LCH presents unique challenges, including the prevention of catheter-related bloodstream infections associated with arterial and venous access. This study explores a case wherein ECMO was crucial in treating severe PJP-induced respiratory failure in a pediatric patient with LCH.
Case Presentation: A 3-year-old female with a history of LCH, undergoing long-term chemotherapy and corticosteroid treatment, was admitted with fever, dyspnea, and lethargy. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid confirmed Pneumocystis jirovecii (PJ). Despite aggressive management with invasive high-frequency ventilation, inhaled nitric oxide, and prone positioning, the patient’s oxygenation remained critically low, with severe hypercapnia and resultant severe respiratory acidosis, necessitating vasopressor support for hemodynamic stability and veno-arterial (V-A) ECMO intervention. Early initiation of V-A ECMO facilitated ultraprotective lung ventilation and circulatory support, effectively preventing hemodynamic collapse. The patient was successfully decannulated after 13 days of ECMO support.
Conclusion: While PJP is a rare and extremely serious opportunistic infection, the V-A ECMO support in this pediatric case effectively managed severe PJP without ECMO-related complications, underscoring the efficacy and safety of V-A ECMO in treating severe PJP pneumonia in pediatric patients.
Investigation of frequency dependence of bioimpedance capacitance in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema
Authors: Niwa Shiori , Imai Kuniharu , Mawaki Ayana , Nakanishi Keisuke , Hisano Fumiya , Tsukioka Kako , Kikumori Toyone , Fujimoto Etsuko , Oshima Chika 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Bioimpedance analysis is a noninvasive, low cost intervention for the early diagnosis and evaluation of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BRCL). This study investigated the frequency dependence of capacitance, a marker of disease progression, in 27 patients with BRCL. Capacitance of the affected and unaffected sides of upper limbs was calculated from XC values obtained at several frequencies (5, 50, and 250 kHz). At all frequencies, there was a significant difference in capacitance between the affected and unaffected sides; however, this difference was most pronounced at 5 kHz. The Weibull plot of capacitance at 5 kHz showed linear distributions on the affected and unaffected sides with Pearson’s correlation coefficients of 0.97 and 0.98, respectively. Furthermore, the shape parameter obtained from the slope of the fitting line of the Weibull plot was α = 3.90 for the unaffected side, which is approximated by a Gaussian distribution. The capacitance on the affected side was also on the fitting line of the Weibull plot, and the shape parameter of the Weibull distribution was approximately 2 (α = 2.04). The capacitance on the affected side was statistically characterized by a Rayleigh distribution. The capacitance distribution in the upper extremity of patients with lymphedema changed from Gaussian to Rayleigh as lymphedema progressed.
Course Quality Evaluation of Higher Integrated Distance Education Based on Group Decision-making Algorithm
Authors: Wang Wei , Wang Zhichao , Wang Jianfei 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Higher integrated distance education courses involve an educational process where students with and without disabilities learn together. The course quality evaluation methods of these courses require indicators that fully consider the conditions of different students. Due to the significant differences among students, the methods primarily based on the superposition of personal evaluations cannot be applied to these two special student groups. It leads to a lack of consensus and balance in the course quality evaluation and lower quality and accuracy in decision-making. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a group decision-making algorithm for the quality evaluation of higher integrated distance education courses. In a large, differentiated student group, the decision-making results are formed by collecting, integrating, and weighing group members' opinions, knowledge, experience, and other information. Firstly, the algorithm proposed uses the K-means algorithm to cluster and collect the learning behavior data of students into predefined K clusters based on feature similarity. Secondly, this algorithm constructs course quality evaluation indicators from multiple perspectives under the support of multiple evaluation principles. Finally, this algorithm brings together the personal preferences of each decision-maker into a collective preference, allowing these decision-makers to rank the decision-making algorithm by their preference in this paper. Students are regarded as decision-makers, the higher integrated education courses are regarded as decision-making options, the learning behaviors and preferences of students are regarded as attribute decision variables. Thus, the quality evaluation of higher integrated distance education courses can be regarded as a group decision-making process according to the problem description above. This process makes decisions through iterative optimization. Experimental results show that this algorithm performs excellently in the metrics consistency ratio and comprehensive score and has practical application value.
Hemin-Induced Transient Senescence via DNA Damage Response as Potential Neuroprotective Mechanism during Brain Hemorrhage
Authors: Hegde Muralidhar , Rao Vikas , Vasquez Velmarini , Kodavati Manohar , Mitra Joy , Provasek Vincent , Vo Anh , Kent Thomas Andrew , Derry Paul , Mikheve Andrei , Rostomily Robert , Horner Philip , Tour James , Britz Gavin , Liopo Anton 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) poses acute fatality and long-term neurological risks due to hemin and iron accumulation from hemoglobin breakdown. Our observation that hemin induces DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), prompting a senescence-like phenotype in neurons, necessitating deeper exploration of cellular responses. Using experimental ICH models and human ICH patient tissue, we elucidate hemin-mediated DNA damage response (DDR) inducing transient senescence and delayed expression of heme oxygenase (HO-1). HO-1 co-localizes with senescence-associated β-Galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) in ICH patient tissues, emphasizing clinical relevance of inducible HO-1 expression in senescent cells. We reveal a reversible senescence state protective against acute cell death by hemin, while repeat exposure leads to long-lasting senescence. Inhibiting early senescence expression increases cell death, supporting the protective role of senescence against hemin toxicity. Hemin-induced senescence is attenuated by a pleiotropic carbon nanoparticle that is a catalytic mimic of superoxide dismutase, but this treatment increased lipid peroxidation, consistent with ferroptosis from hemin breakdown released iron. When coupled with iron chelator deferoxamine (DEF), the nanoparticle reduces hemin-induced senescence and upregulates factors protecting against ferroptosis. Our study suggests transient senescence induced by DDR as an early potential neuroprotective mechanism in ICH, but the risk or iron-related toxicity supports a multi-pronged therapeutic approach.
Evaluating Privacy Compliance in Commercial Large Language Models - ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini
Authors: Cartwright Oliver , Dunbar Harriet , Radcliffe Theo 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

The integration of artificial intelligence systems into various domains has raised significant privacy concerns, necessitating stringent regulatory measures to protect user data. Evaluating the privacy compliance of commercial large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT-4o, Claude Sonet, and Gemini Flash under the EU AI Act presents a novel approach, providing critical insights into their adherence to privacy standards. The study utilized hypothetical case studies to assess the privacy practices of these LLMs, focusing on data collection, storage, and sharing mechanisms. Findings revealed that ChatGPT-4o exhibited significant issues with data minimization and access control, while Claude Sonet demonstrated robust compliance with data minimization and effective data security measures. However, Gemini Flash showed inconsistencies in data collection and a higher incidence of anonymization failures. The comparative analysis underscored the importance of tailored privacy strategies and continuous monitoring to ensure regulatory compliance. These results provide valuable insights for developers and policymakers, emphasizing the necessity of a multifaceted approach to privacy compliance in the deployment of LLMs.
Phylogenetic diversity of the rhizobial nodulating symbionts associated to the introduced Vachellia karroo (Hayne) Banfi and Galasso (Fabaceae) in Algeria
Authors: Amina Bouherama , Samir Djouadi , Thinhinan Khedim , Said Amrani 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

The diversity of rhizobia associated with the introduced woody legume flora of Algeria were rarely investigated despite their widespread distribution and agroecological and economic importance. The current research attempted to fill this knowledge gap by identifying the rhizobia species associated with Vachellia karoo seedlings cultivated in ten nurseries distributed in different bioclimatic stages all over the country. The primary objective was to understand the diversity and distribution of rhizobia species associated with this legume across different soil and climate zones.
The results of our study show that despite the fact that Vachellia karoo species are located exclusively in the north part of the country under a humid and sub humid climate, the seedlings cultivated in ten nurseries distributed in different bioclimatic stages (Saharian, sub Saharian and humid) have a strong ability to grow and form nitrogen-fixing nodules regardless of the soil and climate zone. The molecular identification based on the 16S RNA gene of the 29 strains isolated and identified in the laboratory were assigned to three genera: Ensifer, Mesorhizobium and Bradyrhizobium. The genus Ensifer showed a higher occurrence (48%) and diversity compared to the two other genera and an exclusive symbiotic association with Vachellia karroo seedlings collected from nurseries located in saharian and sub saharian zones.
EGAN: An Ensemble Adversarial Network for Topology-Preserving EEG Data Generation for Predicting Cognitive Load Levels
Authors: Havugimana Felix , Moinuddin Kazi Ashraf , Yeasin Mohammed 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Learning representations and extracting meaningful patterns from Electroen- cephalogram (EEG) recordings is critical for analyzing cognitive events (e.g., predicting cognitive load). The primary challenges include individual variability, technical noise from unreliable sensor-skin contacts, and rapid temporal changes in the EEG recordings. Given the multi-factorial nature of the problems, deep learning models are natural choices for learning representations from the data. However, the extensive time required for data collection limits the number of subjects (samples) available, which is essential for building robust deep learn- ing models. We introduce an ensemble generative adversarial network (EGAN) to generate high-fidelity EEG data. The EGAN generates multi-channel EEG recordings and their spatial-spectral representation. Key design constraints were preserving topological structure and maintaining proper bias-variance trade-offs for building robust models. To ensure the quality of the synthetic data, we visually inspected the data generated by EGAN. We conducted spectral analyses to con- firm that the quality and spectral similarity were comparable to EEG recordings. To illustrate the efficacy of data generated by EGAN, we developed a convolu- tional neural network (CNN) model to predict four levels of cognitive load (CL). We used spatial-spectral representations (topomap) from three frequency bands (i.e., θ, α, and β). We trained our model on real data and a mixture of origi- nal and EGAN-generated data with varying proportions (e.g., 50%, 70%, 100%) of real data for training. We compared the performance of models trained solely on original data to those trained on mixed data. Our results indicate that CNN models trained on EGAN-supplemented data significantly outperformed those trained using only real data across all three frequency bands and all training set proportions. For example, the model trained on the mixed data with 50% real data achieved classification F1 and accuracy scores of approximately 71%, 69%, and 72% for θ, α, and β bands, respectively. The same model trained on only real data achieved approximately 52%, 57%, and 59% accuracy and F1 scores for the respective bands. These results demonstrate the utility of EGAN in gener- ating high-fidelity EEG data, significantly advancing cognitive load analysis and modeling other cognitive events.
Samotność seniorów w okresie pandemii COVID-19 na podstawie badań własnych w Suwałkach
Authors: Bronikowski Marek 
Published: July 2024

Artykuł podejmuje problem samotności osób starszych w okresie pandemii COVID-19 w opracowaniu o badania własne zrealizowane w miejscowości Suwałki. Zebrane dane empiryczne pozwoliły określić w jaki sposób sytuacja pandemiczna zdeterminowała życie seniorów w sferze rodzinnej, kulturalnej i społecznej. Na podstawie zebranego materiału badawczego możliwe było poznanie, w jaki sposób objawiała się samotność osób starszych z miasta Suwałki oraz jakie towarzyszyły im przeżycia wywołane przez izolację.
End-to-End Anastomotic Urethroplasty Outcome in Anterior and Posterior Traumatic Urethral Stricture: A Single-Center Experience
Authors: Sihotang Retta Catherina , Muhammad Haryo Satrio , Wahyudi Irfan , Irdam Gampo Alam 
Published: July 2024

Introduction
The objective of this study was to describe the results and associated factors of anterior and posterior traumatic urethral stricture after end-to-end anastomotic urethroplasty.

Methods
Medical records were used to retrieve clinical data. We included men over 18 years old who had a traumatic urethral stricture and were treated with end-to-end anastomotic urethroplasty. The data collection period was from January 2015 to December 2021, with at least 12 months follow-up period. After data screening, the data were divided into anterior and posterior strictures.

Results
Fifty patients were included in the study. The overall mean age was 42.06 (SD 12.4; 95% CI) years old, with a 21 (12-77) month median follow-up. %). The overall restricture rate was 36%. Furthermore, restricture rate in anterior stricture was 21.1%, while in posterior stricture was 45.2%. A significant association with restricture rate was found in the BMI category (p = 0.041) and etiology (p=0.03). There were 19 patients with anterior strictures and 31 patients with posterior strictures. Straddle injury was the most prevalent cause of anterior strictures (63.2%), whereas pelvic injury was the most common cause of posterior strictures (80.6%). For anterior and posterior groups, the majority of patients were normoweight (78.9% & 61.3%), entirely obliterated (63.2% & 64.5%), primary cases (84.2% & 80.6%), and done by reconstructive consultants (84.2% & 80.6%).

Conclusion
One-third of the patients experienced restricture arter end-to-end anastomotic urethroplasty, a higher restricture rate was found in posterior stricture. Restricture rate was associated with body mass index (BMI) and etiologies. End-to-end anastomotic urethroplasty may give durable patency if appropriately performed, especially in partial anterior traumatic urethral strictures.
Role of Osmotic Response Element-Binding Protein in High Glucose-Induced Cataractogenesis: Involvement of ERK and p38 MAPK Pathways
Authors: He Kun , Pan Binxin , Tian Pengfei , Ye Guoning 
Published: July 2024

Background
Osmotic Response Element-binding Protein (OREBP) is a key regulator in cellular responses to osmotic stress. However, its specific role in cataractogenesis remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms regulating OREBP expression in high-glucose environments and examine the associated signaling pathways.

Methods
Human Lens Epithelial Cells (HLEpiCs) were cultured and treated with normal (25 mmol/L) and high (300 mmol/L) concentrations of D-glucose. To assess the cellular response, western blot analysis was performed to detect the activation of ERK/p38MAPKs in HLEpiCs. The mRNA and protein expression levels of OREBP were measured using RT-PCR and western blot techniques, respectively. Specific inhibitors for ERK (U0126) and p38 MAPK (SB239063) were applied to assess their roles in OREBP expression. Additionally, OREBP expression was examined in the lens subcapsular epithelium of diabetic patients and rats using RT-PCR and immunofluorescence techniques.

Results
Following exposure to varying glucose concentrations, OREBP mRNA levels in HLEpiCs peaked at 4 hours with 300 mM glucose, showing significant upregulation at 2 and 4 hours (Fig. 1A, Fig. B). Western blot analysis revealed a corresponding increase in OREBP protein levels after 24 hours of high glucose exposure. Morphologically, HLEpiCs exhibited compact growth and increased apoptosis under high glucose conditions, contrasting with their initial polygonal morphology. OREBP expression was markedly elevated in the lens subcapsular epithelium of diabetic patients and rats, correlating with high glucose stress. Furthermore, phosphorylation of ERK and p38 MAPK proteins was significantly induced within 45 minutes of exposure to 300 mM glucose. Inhibition experiments using ERK inhibitor U0126 and p38 MAPK inhibitor SB239063 demonstrated substantial downregulation of OREBP mRNA expression. Combination treatment with both inhibitors consistently suppressed OREBP protein expression after 24 hours of high glucose exposure.

Conclusion
In summary, our study reveals that OREBP is upregulated in response to high glucose levels through the activation of ERK and p38 MAPK pathways. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms of cellular responses to osmotic stress in high-glucose environments, offering potential therapeutic targets for diabetic cataracts. Future research should explore the specific functions of OREBP in cataractogenesis and its potential as a therapeutic target.