bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Mendelian randomization analysis reveals the multifaceted role of the skin microbiota in liver cancer
Authors: Wang Xiaoxue , Zhu Zexin 
Published: July 2024

BackgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, or hepatic cancer, HC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA, or hepatic bile duct cancer, HBDC) are two major types of primary liver cancer (PLC). Previous studies have suggested that microbiota can either act as risk factors or preventive factors in PLC. However, no study has reported the relationship between skin microbiota and PLC. Therefore, we conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study to assess the causality between skin microbiota and PLC.MethodsData from the genome-wide association study (GWAS) on skin microbiota were collected. The GWAS summary data of GCST90018803 (HBDC) and GCST90018858 (HC) were utilized in the discovery and verification phases, respectively. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was utilized as the principal method in our MR study. The MR-Egger intercept test, Cochran's Q-test, MR-Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier (MR-PRESSO), and leave-one-out analysis were conducted to identify the heterogeneity and pleiotropy.ResultsThe results showed that Veillonella (unc.) plays a protective role in HBDC, while the family Neisseriaceae has a positive association with HBDC risk. The class Betaproteobacteria, Veillonella (unc.), and the phylum Bacillota (Firmicutes) play a protective role in HC. Staphylococcus epidermidis, Corynebacterium (unc.), the family Neisseriaceae, and Pasteurellaceae sp. were associated with an increased risk of HC.ConclusionThis study provided new evidence regarding the association between skin microbiota and PLC, suggesting that skin microbiota plays a role in PLC progression. Skin microbiota could be a novel and effective way for PLC diagnosis and treatment.
Screening of preoperative obstructive sleep apnea by cardiopulmonary coupling and its risk factors in patients with plans to receive surgery under general anesthesia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Hou Shujie , Zhu Guojia , Liu Xu , Wang Chuan , Liang Junchao , Hao Wei , Kong Lili 
Published: July 2024

ObjectivePreoperative obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is supposed to be the abnormally high occurrence of OSA the night before surgery under general anesthesia. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence preoperative OSA using cardiopulmonary coupling (CPC) and its correlation with imbalance of sympathetic/parasympathetic nervous system.MethodsA total of 550 patients with plans to receive surgery under general anesthesia were enrolled. All patients were assigned to wear CPC on the night before surgery until the next day. Sleep quality characteristics, heart rate variation parameters, and apnea-hypopnea index were acquired. The diagnosis of pre-existing OSA was not considered in the current study.ResultsAccording to apnea-hypopnea index, 28.4%, 32.2%, 26.2%, and 13.3% patients were assessed as no, mild, moderate, and severe operative OSA, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression model revealed that higher age [p &lt; 0.001, odds ratio (OR) = 1.043] was independently and positively associated with preoperative OSA; heart rate variation parameters representing the imbalance of sympathetic/parasympathetic nervous system, such as higher low-frequency (p &lt; 0.001, OR = 1.004), higher low-frequency/high-frequency ratio (p = 0.028, OR = 1.738), lower NN20 count divided by the total number of all NN intervals (pNN20; p &lt; 0.001, OR = 0.950), and lower high-frequency (p &lt; 0.001, OR = 0.998), showed independent relationships with a higher probability of preoperative OSA. Higher age (p = 0.005, OR = 1.024), higher very-low-frequency (p &lt; 0.001, OR = 1.001), and higher low-frequency/high-frequency ratio (p = 0.003, OR = 1.655) were associated with a higher probability of moderate-to-severe preoperative OSA, but higher pNN10 (p &lt; 0.001, OR = 0.951) was associated with a lower probability of moderate-to-severe preoperative OSA.ConclusionPreoperative OSA is prevalent. Higher age and imbalance of sympathetic/parasympathetic nervous system are independently and positively associated with a higher occurrence of preoperative OSA. CPC screening may promote the management of preoperative OSA.
Efficacy of cannabinoids compared to the current standard treatments on symptom relief in persons with multiple sclerosis (CANSEP trial): study protocol for a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Zertal Amel , Alami Marrouni Kanza , Arbour Nathalie , Jutras-Aswad Didier , Pomey Marie-Pascale , Rouleau Isabelle , Prat Alexandre , Larochelle Catherine , Beaulieu Pierre , Chamelian Laury , Sylvestre Marie-Pierre , Morin Danielle , Ouellette Jean-Sylvain , Fréjeau Nathalie , Duquette Pierre 
Published: July 2024

BackgroundMultiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory and degenerative disease of the central nervous system. More than 90,000 Canadians are affected; a cure is yet to be found. Available treatments to manage the disease course are only partially effective. For many years, persons with MS (PwMS) have used cannabis to relax, to reduce pain and spasticity, or to improve sleep and daily functioning, despite the lack of scientific evidence on the efficacy of specific cannabinoids [i.e., tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)] on these MS symptoms. The purpose of this clinical trial is to assess the effectiveness of different doses of these cannabinoids, alone or combined, on spasticity relief, compared to placebo. Moreover, we aim to determine which treatment is best effective to address other key MS conditions.MethodsA double-blinded, randomized, factorial, placebo-controlled trial will be performed. We intend to include up to 250 PwMS aged over 21 recruited from the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal MS Clinic. PwMS will be randomly assigned on a 1:1:1:1 ratio to one of the trial arms: THC alone, CBD alone, THC/CBD combination, or placebo, using stratified blocked randomization, with random blocks within each stratum. The primary outcome is a self-assessment of spasticity using the mean Numeric Rating Scale score over 7 days. The main outcome will be the difference in this score at 4 weeks compared to baseline. Secondary outcomes include assessments of spasticity as measured by a clinician, pain, fatigue, sleep, bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunction, restless legs syndrome, mental health, quality of life, mobility, cognitive functioning, and adverse events. Treatment responders are eligible for a 12-week extension phase, using the same treatment allocation and assessments.DiscussionPrevious clinical studies examined the efficacy of cannabis-based medicines in PwMS, mostly using products with 1:1 THC/CBD ratio. The major barrier to effectively use cannabis in real-world clinical settings is the lack of evidence on benefits of specific cannabinoids and information on possible related risks. The CANSEP study will contribute to overcome these limitations and identify the risks and benefits of cannabis-based treatments in PwMS.Clinical trial registrationClinicalTrials.Gov, NCT05092191.
Based on machine learning, CDC20 has been identified as a biomarker for postoperative recurrence and progression in stage I & II lung adenocarcinoma patients
Authors: Miao Rui , Xu Zhi , Han Tao , Liu Yafeng , Zhou Jiawei , Guo Jianqiang , Xing Yingru , Bai Ying , He Zhonglei , Wu Jing , Wang Wenxin , Hu Dong 
Published: July 2024

ObjectiveBy utilizing machine learning, we can identify genes that are associated with recurrence, invasion, and tumor stemness, thus uncovering new therapeutic targets.MethodsTo begin, we obtained a gene set related to recurrence and invasion from the GEO database, a comprehensive gene expression database. We then employed the Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) to identify core gene modules and perform functional enrichment analysis on them. Next, we utilized the random forest and random survival forest algorithms to calculate the genes within the key modules, resulting in the identification of three crucial genes. Subsequently, one of these key genes was selected for prognosis analysis and potential drug screening using the Kaplan-Meier tool. Finally, in order to examine the role of CDC20 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), we conducted a variety of in vitro and in vivo experiments, including wound healing assay, colony formation assays, Transwell migration assays, flow cytometric cell cycle analysis, western blotting, and a mouse tumor model experiment.ResultsFirst, we collected a total of 279 samples from two datasets, GSE166722 and GSE31210, to identify 91 differentially expressed genes associated with recurrence, invasion, and stemness in lung adenocarcinoma. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that these key gene clusters were primarily involved in microtubule binding, spindle, chromosomal region, organelle fission, and nuclear division. Next, using machine learning, we identified and validated three hub genes (CDC45, CDC20, TPX2), with CDC20 showing the highest correlation with tumor stemness and limited previous research. Furthermore, we found a close association between CDC20 and clinical pathological features, poor overall survival (OS), progression-free interval (PFI), progression-free survival (PFS), and adverse prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma patients. Lastly, our functional research demonstrated that knocking down CDC20 could inhibit cancer cell migration, invasion, proliferation, cell cycle progression, and tumor growth possibly through the MAPK signaling pathway.ConclusionCDC20 has emerged as a novel biomarker for monitoring treatment response, recurrence, and disease progression in patients with lung adenocarcinoma. Due to its significance, further research studying CDC20 as a potential therapeutic target is warranted. Investigating the role of CDC20 could lead to valuable insights for developing new treatments and improving patient outcomes.
Comparative cost-effectiveness analysis of CDK4/6 inhibitors in the first-line treatment of HR-positive and HER2-negative advanced breast cancer: a Markov's model-based evaluation
Authors: Elazzazy Shereen , Al-Ziftawi Nour Hisham , Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed Izham , Bujassoum Salha , Hamad Anas 
Published: July 2024

IntroductionCDK4/6 inhibitors are the first-line treatment for HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer. Despite their clinical benefit, they can increase healthcare expenditure. To date, there is no thorough comparison among the three approved CDK4/6 inhibitors in terms of their cost-effectiveness.ObjectiveTo investigate and compare the cost-effectiveness of CDK4/6 inhibitors in combination with letrozole as a first-line treatment for advanced breast cancer with hormonal-receptor-positivity and HER-2-negativity versus one another and versus letrozole monotherapy.MethodsA 10-year within-cycle-corrected Markov’s model was employed from the healthcare payer perspective. Costs were obtained from the National Center for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR) in Qatar. Utilities and transition probabilities were calculated from published landmark trials of PALOMA-2, MONALEESA-2, MONARCH-3, PO25, and other relevant literature. Costs, measured in Qatari Riyal (QAR), and effectiveness, measured in quality-adjusted-life-years (QALYs), were incremented and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was compared to a willingness-to-pay threshold (WTP) of 1.5 Qatari GDP (448,758 QAR). A deterministic sensitivity analysis was implemented to account for uncertainties.ResultsRibociclib was the most effective option, generating 4.420 QALYs, followed by palbociclib (4.406 QALYs), abemaciclib (4.220 QALYs), then letrozole monotherapy (2.093 QALYs). As for cost-effectiveness, ribociclib dominated palbociclib. However, it was not cost-effective compared to abemaciclib (ICER=1,588,545 QAR/QALY). Ribociclib remained dominant over palbociclib with all uncertainties. The base-case conclusion of ribociclib versus abemaciclib remained robust over all uncertainties.ConclusionFrom the healthcare payer perspective in Qatar, ribociclib is the most effective CDK4/6 inhibitor. It was dominant over palbociclib in terms of cost-effectiveness; however, it was not cost-effective compared to abemaciclib at current prices.
Low gain avalanche diodes for photon science applications
Authors: Centis Vignali Matteo , Paternoster Giovanni 
Published: July 2024

Low Gain Avalanche Diodes (LGADs) are silicon sensors designed to achieve an internal gain in the order of 10 through the impact ionization process. The development of LGADs was pushed forward by their application in High Energy Physics (HEP) experiments, where they will be employed to provide measurements of the time of arrival of minimum ionizing particles with a resolution of around 30  ps. The initial technological implementation of the sensors constrains their minimum channel size to be larger than 1 mm2, in order to reduce inefficiencies due to the segmentation of the gain structure. The gain of the sensors is kept in the order of 10 to limit the sensor shot noise and their power consumption. In photon science, the gain provided by the sensor can boost the signal-to-noise ratio of the detector system, effectively reducing the x-ray energy threshold of photon counting detectors and the minimum x-ray energy where single photon resolution is achieved in charge integrating detectors. This can improve the hybrid pixel and strip detectors for soft and tender x-rays by simply changing the sensor element of the detector system. Photon science applications in the soft and tender energy range require improvements over the LGADs developed for HEP, in particular the presence of a thin entrance window to provide a satisfactory quantum efficiency and channel size with a pitch of less than 100 μm. In this review, the fundamental aspects of the LGAD technology are presented, discussing also the ongoing and future developments that are of interest for photon science applications.
Flow-mediated modulation of the endothelial cell lipidome
Authors: Hong Soon-Gook , Kennelly John P. , Williams Kevin J. , Bensinger Steven J. , Mack Julia J. 
Published: July 2024

The luminal surface of the endothelium is exposed to dynamic blood flow patterns that are known to affect endothelial cell phenotype. While many studies have documented the phenotypic changes by gene or protein expression, less is known about the role of blood flow pattern on the endothelial cell (EC) lipidome. In this study, shotgun lipidomics was conducted on human aortic ECs (HAECs) exposed to unidirectional laminar flow (UF), disturbed flow (DF), or static conditions for 48 h. A total of 520 individual lipid species from 17 lipid subclasses were detected. Total lipid abundance was significantly increased for HAECs exposed to DF compared to UF conditions. Despite the increase in the total lipid abundance, HAECs maintained equivalent composition of each lipid subclass (% of total lipid) under DF and UF. However, by lipid composition (% of total subclass), 28 lipid species were significantly altered between DF and UF. Complimentary RNA sequencing of HAECs exposed to UF or DF revealed changes in transcripts involved in lipid metabolism. Shotgun lipidomics was also performed on HAECs exposed to pro-inflammatory agonists lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or Pam3CSK4 (Pam3) for 48 h. Exposure to LPS or Pam3 reshaped the EC lipidome in both unique and overlapping ways. In conclusion, exposure to flow alters the EC lipidome and ECs undergo stimulus-specific lipid reprogramming in response to pro-inflammatory agonist exposure. Ultimately, this work provides a resource to profile the transcriptional and lipidomic changes that occur in response to applied flow that can be accessed by the vascular biology community to further dissect and extend our understanding of endothelial lipid biology.
Sport anxiety and subjective happiness of college athletes: a self-determination theory perspective
Authors: Zhang Zhiwen , Chen Xiaoyu , Xu Liyu , Qin Xiao , Veloo Arsaythamby 
Published: July 2024

IntroductionSport anxiety not only impacts the performance of college athletes but also influences their psychological well-being. The psychological well-being of sports students is crucial for both academic performance and competition, as they need to balance their academic performance with professional athletic training.MethodBased on self-determination theory, this study examines the relationship between various factors in sport anxiety (somatic anxiety, worry, and concentration disruption) and subjective happiness, as well as the mediating role of need satisfaction in this relationship. A total of 835 college athletic students participated in the study, completing the Sport Anxiety Scale-2, Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale-in General, and Subjective Happiness Scale.ResultsAn analysis of gender differences revealed that female participants scored significantly higher on somatic anxiety (t= −2.21,df= 833,p= 0.028, Cohen’sd= −0.155) and worry (t= −3.17,df= 833,p= 0.002, Cohen’sd= −0.223) compared to males. In the analysis by sport type, participants engaged in team sports scored significantly higher on somatic anxiety (t= 2.70,df= 833,p= 0.007, Cohen’sd= 0.187), Worry (t= 1.97,df= 833,p= 0.049, Cohen’sd= 0.136), and concentration disruption (t= 2.73,df= 833,p= 0.007, Cohen’sd= 0.189) than those in individual sports. Additionally, in the analysis by grade level, freshman college athletes exhibited significantly lower sport anxiety compared to sophomore athletes [F(4, 830) = 4.06,p= 0.003,ηp2=0.019]. The mediation analysis revealed that concentration disruption in sport anxiety is significantly and negatively related to subjective happiness. Additionally, need satisfaction (competence, autonomy, and relatedness) mediates the relationship between worry, as well as concentration disruption in sport anxiety and subjective happiness.DiscussionFuture research should build on the current study by employing longitudinal designs and integrating multiple objective measures to further explore the relationship between sport anxiety and subjective happiness.
Work-related socioeconomic determinants of health: evidence from educational mismatch in Italy
Authors: Abbafati Cristiana , Rosano Aldo 
Published: July 2024

IntroductionAn educational mismatch is defined as the situation where the education qualifications of an employee do not match the qualifications required for the job they do. A mismatch can be vertical where the level of the employee's qualification is not the one required by the job. This study contributes to the literature on work-related social determinants of health, by carrying out the first assessment of the relationship between educational mismatch and health in Italy.MethodsData come from PLUS, a national survey of labor supply. The risk of suffering from bad or very bad health associated with educational mismatch is investigated through a logistic regression model accounting for the socioeconomic context and occupation.ResultsOur findings show women are at greater risk of suffering from bad or very bad health than men, especially if under-educated.DiscussionOur results show the need to address more research on work-related social determinants of health, which can represent a barrier to achieving health equity.
Path analysis of the awareness status and influencing factors of sarcopenia in older adults in the community: based on structural equation modeling
Authors: Wang Dahui , Zeng Huaying , Wu Peiwen , Zhou Yuchen , Chen Hongkun , Zhao Falin , Liu Shucong 
Published: July 2024

BackgroundSarcopenia is a progressive geriatric syndrome that impacts older adults’ quality of life. Insufficient focus has been given to sarcopenia among Chinese residents, resulting in low level of sarcopenia awareness. This study aims to investigate awareness of sarcopenia and its influencing factors and the influencing pathways among older adults in Hangzhou.MethodsA stratified random sample of 942 community-dwelling older adults was evaluated using the SARC-CalF screening tool, along with a questionnaire based on health ecology theory to assess awareness of sarcopenia and its influencing factors and the influencing pathways. Descriptive statistics, linear regression analysis, and path analysis were conducted using SPSS 25.0 and Amos 23.0 to analyze the data.ResultsThe mean awareness score for sarcopenia was 60.26 ± 7.31. Self-rated physical health, daily intake of high-quality protein, exercise frequency, smoking status, self-efficacy, religious beliefs, social support, education level, occupation, participation in community free medical examinations, and awareness of nutrition policy were all factors affecting scores for sarcopenia awareness (p &lt; 0.05). Except for negative effects observed in social support, smoking status, and self-rated physical health, all others exhibit positive effects.ConclusionCommunity healthcare institutions should target populations with low awareness of sarcopenia and focus on these key factors. Diverse health education programs and multi-channel screening activities can promote awareness, guide healthy lifestyles and prevent or delay the onset of sarcopenia in the older.
A Mendelian randomization study investigating causal links between gut microbiota or metabolites and chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Xing Tongjing , Wang Xuequan , He Shanshan 
Published: July 2024

ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the potential causal relationship between the gut microbiota and/or its metabolites and the progression of chronic hepatitis B (CHB).MethodThe gut microbiota was used as the exposure factor. The training set exposure data were obtained from the China Nucleotide Sequence Archive (CNSA). Genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from Asia were used as the outcome variables. Outcome data for both the training and validation sets were sourced from the GWAS Catalog database. A dual-sample Mendelian randomization approach was used to analyze the causal relationships, with the inverse variance-weighted method serving as the main analytical strategy. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the robustness of Mendelian randomization analysis results.ResultIn the training set database, analysis using the inverse variance-weighted method revealed a positive correlation between Fusobacterium varium and chronic hepatitis B [OR = 1.122, 95% CI (1.016, 1.240), p = 0.022]. Conversely, Veillonella parvula exhibited a negative correlation with chronic hepatitis B [OR = 0.917, 95% CI (0.852, 0.987), p = 0.021]. Sensitivity analysis revealed no evidence of pleiotropy and heterogeneity. No gut microbiota metabolites with a causal effect on chronic hepatitis B were identified. Additionally, no associations between the gut microbiota and the progression of chronic hepatitis B were found in the validation data from the European cohort.ConclusionThis study suggests that F. varium may facilitate the progression of chronic hepatitis B, whereas V. parvula may impede it. No causal relationships between gut microbiota metabolites and chronic hepatitis B were established.