bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of the motor cortical theta‐burst transcranial‐focused ultrasound stimulation on the contralateral motor cortex
Authors: Xia Xue , Wang Zhen , Zeng Ke , Nankoo Jean‐François , Darmani Ghazaleh , Tran Stephanie , Ding Mandy Yi Rong , Chen Robert 
Published: May 2024

AbstractTheta‐burst transcranial ultrasound stimulation (tbTUS) increases primary motor cortex (M1) excitability for at least 30 min. However, the remote effects of focal M1 tbTUS on the excitability of other cortical areas are unknown. Here, we examined the effects of left M1 tbTUS on right M1 excitability. An 80 s train of active or sham tbTUS was delivered to the left M1 in 20 healthy subjects. Before and after the tbTUS, we measured: (1) corticospinal excitability using motor‐evoked potential (MEP) amplitudes from single‐pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of left and right M1; (2) interhemispheric inhibition (IHI) from left to right M1 and from right to left M1 using a dual‐site paired‐pulse TMS paradigm; and (3) intracortical circuits of the right M1 with short‐interval intracortical inhibition and intracortical facilitation (ICF) using paired‐pulse TMS. Left M1 tbTUS decreased right M1 excitability as shown by decreased MEP amplitudes, increased right M1 ICF and decreased short‐interval IHI from left to right hemisphere at interstimulus interval (ISI) of 10 ms but not long‐interval IHI at interstimulus interval of 40 ms. The study showed that left M1 tbTUS can change the excitability of remote cortical areas with decreased right M1 excitability and interhemispheric inhibition. The remote effects of tbTUS should be considered when it is used in neuroscience research and as a potential neuromodulation treatment for brain disorders.
imageKey points
Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is a novel non‐invasive brain stimulation technique for neuromodulation with the advantages of being able to achieve high spatial resolution and target deep brain structures.
A repetitive TUS protocol, with an 80 s train of theta burst patterned TUS (tbTUS), has been shown to increase primary motor cortex (M1) excitability, as well as increase alpha and beta movement‐related spectral power in distinct brain regions.
In this study, we examined on the effects of the motor cortical tbTUS on the excitability of contralateral M1 measured with MEPs elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation.
We showed that left M1 tbTUS decreased right M1 excitability and left‐to‐right M1 interhemispheric inhibition, and increased intracortical facilitation of right M1.
These results lead to better understand the effects of tbTUS and can help the development of tbTUS for the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders and in neuroscience research.
Multidrug resistance in
Salmonella
isolates of swine origin: mobile genetic elements and plasmids associated with cephalosporin resistance with potential transmission to humans
Authors: Garrido V. , Arrieta-Gisasola A. , Migura-García L. , Laorden L. , Grilló M. J. 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT

The emergence of foodborne
Salmonella
strains carrying antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in mobile genetic elements (MGE) is a significant public health threat in a One Health context requiring continuous surveillance. Resistance to ciprofloxacin and cephalosporins is of particular concern. Since pigs are a relevant source of foodborne
Salmonella
for human beings, we studied transmissible AMR genes and MGE in a collection of 83 strains showing 9 different serovars and 15 patterns of multidrug resistant (MDR) previously isolated from pigs raised in the conventional breeding system of Northern Spain. All isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and three isolates carried
bla
CMY-2
or
bla
CTX-M-9
genes responsible for cefotaxime resistance. Filter mating experiments showed that the two plasmids carrying
bla
CTX-M-9
were conjugative while that carrying
bla
CMY-2
was self-transmissible by transformation. Whole-genome sequencing and comparative analyses were performed on the isolates and plasmids. The IncC plasmid pSB109, carrying
bla
CMY-2
, was similar to one found in
S
. Reading from cattle, indicating potential horizontal transfer between serovars and animal sources. The IncHI2 plasmids pSH102 in
S
. Heidelberg and pSTM45 in
S
. Typhimurium ST34, carrying
bla
CTX-M-9
, shared similar backbones and two novel “complex class 1 integrons” containing different AMR and heavy metal genes. Our findings emphasize the importance of sequencing techniques to identify emerging AMR regions in conjugative and stable plasmids from livestock production. The presence of MGE carrying clinically relevant AMR genes raises public health concerns, requiring monitoring to mitigate the emergence of bacteria carrying AMR genes and subsequent spread through animals and food.

IMPORTANCE

The emergence of foodborne
Salmonella
strains carrying antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in mobile genetic elements (MGE) is a significant public health threat in a One Health context. Since pigs are a relevant source of foodborne
Salmonella
for humans, in this study, we investigate different aspects of AMR in a collection of 83
Salmonella
showing nine different serovars and 15 patterns of multidrug resistant (MDR) isolated from pigs raised in the conventional breeding system. Our findings emphasize the importance of sequencing techniques to identify emerging AMR regions in conjugative and stable plasmids from livestock production. The presence of MGE carrying clinically relevant AMR genes raises public health concerns, requiring monitoring to mitigate the emergence of bacteria carrying AMR genes and subsequent spread through animals and food.
Lighting the way: how the
Vibrio fischeri
model microbe reveals the complexity of Earth’s “simplest” life forms
Authors: Septer Alecia N. , Visick Karen L. 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT

Vibrio
(
Aliivibrio
)
fischeri
’s initial rise to fame derived from its alluring production of blue-green light. Subsequent studies to probe the mechanisms underlying this bioluminescence helped the field discover the phenomenon now known as quorum sensing. Orthologs of quorum-sensing regulators (i.e., LuxR and LuxI) originally identified in
V. fischeri
were subsequently uncovered in a plethora of bacterial species, and analogous pathways were found in yet others. Over the past three decades, the study of this microbe has greatly expanded to probe the unique role of
V. fischeri
as the exclusive symbiont of the light organ of the Hawaiian bobtail squid,
Euprymna scolopes
. Buoyed by this optically amenable host and by persistent and insightful researchers who have applied novel and cross-disciplinary approaches,
V. fischeri
has developed into a robust model for microbe-host associations. It has contributed to our understanding of how bacteria experience and respond to specific, often fluxing environmental conditions and the mechanisms by which bacteria impact the development of their host. It has also deepened our understanding of numerous microbial processes such as motility and chemotaxis, biofilm formation and dispersal, and bacterial competition, and of the relevance of specific bacterial genes in the context of colonizing an animal host. Parallels in these processes between this symbiont and bacteria studied as pathogens are readily apparent, demonstrating functional conservation across diverse associations and permitting a reinterpretation of “pathogenesis.” Collectively, these advances built a foundation for microbiome studies and have positioned
V. fischeri
to continue to expand the frontiers of our understanding of the microbial world inside animals.
Whole-genome sequence of a marine bacterial strain, FRT2, belonging to the genus
Leeuwenhoekiella
, isolated from the seawater of the Obama Bay in Fukui, Japan
Authors: Machii Yuka , Tsukamoto Mao , Kataoka Takafumi , Kondo Ryuji 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT

A marine bacterial strain, FRT2, was isolated from the surface water of the Obama Bay in Fukui, Japan. Its complete genome comprises one circular chromosome (3,806,097 bp), harboring 3,269 predicted protein- and 44-tRNA-encoding genes and 3 rRNA operons.
Spectrum of activity and mechanisms of azole–bisphosphonate synergy in pathogenic
Candida
Authors: Kane Aidan , Dinh Hue , Campbell Leona , Cain Amy K. , Hibbs David , Carter Dee 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT

Candidiasis places a significant burden on human health and can range from common superficial vulvovaginal and oral infections to invasive diseases with high mortality. The most common
Candida
species implicated in human disease is
Candida albicans
, but other species like
Candida glabrata
are emerging. The use of azole antifungals for treatment is limited by increasing rates of resistance. This study explores repositioning bisphosphonates, which are traditionally used for osteoporosis, as antifungal synergists that can improve and revitalize the use of azoles. Risedronate, alendronate, and zoledronate (ZOL) were tested against isolates from six different species of
Candida
, and ZOL produced moderate antifungal activity and strong synergy with azoles like fluconazole (FLC), particularly in
C. glabrata
. FLC:ZOL combinations had increased fungicidal and antibiofilm activity compared to either drug alone, and the combination prevented the development of antifungal resistance. Mechanistic investigations demonstrated that the synergy was mediated by the depletion of squalene, resulting in the inhibition of ergosterol biosynthesis and a compromised membrane structure. In
C. glabrata
, synergy compromised the function of membrane-bound multidrug transporters and caused an accumulation of reactive oxygen species, which may account for its acute sensitivity to FLC:ZOL. The efficacy of FLC:ZOL
in vivo
was confirmed in a
Galleria mellonella
infection model, where combinations improved the survival of larvae infected with
C. albicans
and
C. glabrata
to a greater extent than monotherapy with FLC or ZOL, and at reduced dosages. These findings demonstrate that bisphosphonates and azoles are a promising new combination therapy for the treatment of topical candidiasis.

IMPORTANCE

Candida
is a common and often very serious opportunistic fungal pathogen. Invasive candidiasis is a prevalent cause of nosocomial infections with a high mortality rate, and mucocutaneous infections significantly impact the quality of life of millions of patients a year. These infections pose substantial clinical challenges, particularly as the currently available antifungal treatment options are limited in efficacy and often toxic. Azoles are a mainstay of antifungal therapy and work by targeting the biosynthesis of ergosterol. However, there are rising rates of acquired azole resistance in various
Candida
species, and some species are considered intrinsically resistant to most azoles. Our research demonstrates the promising therapeutic potential of synergistically enhancing azoles with non-toxic, FDA-approved bisphosphonates. Repurposing bisphosphonates as antifungal synergists can bypass much of the drug development pipeline and accelerate the translation of azole–bisphosphonate combination therapy.
Surgical interventions and short-term outcomes for preterm infants with post-haemorrhagic hydrocephalus: a multicentre cohort study
Authors: Sewell Elizabeth , Cohen Susan , Zaniletti Isabella , Couture Dan , Dereddy Narendra , Coghill Carl H , Flanders Tracy M , Foy Andrew , Heuer Gregory G , Jano Eni , Kemble Nicole , Lee Stephanie , Ling Con Yee , Malaeb Shadi , Mietzsch Ulrike , Ocal Eylem , Padula Michael A , Welch Cherrie D , White Bernadette , Wilson Diane , Flibotte John 
Published: May 2024

ObjectiveTo (1) describe differences in types and timing of interventions, (2) report short-term outcomes and (3) describe differences among centres from a large national cohort of preterm infants with post-haemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH).DesignCohort study of the Children’s Hospitals Neonatal Database from 2010 to 2022.Setting41 referral neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in North America.PatientsInfants born before 32 weeks’ gestation with PHH defined as acquired hydrocephalus with intraventricular haemorrhage.Interventions(1) No intervention, (2) temporising device (TD) only, (3) initial permanent shunt (PS) and (4) TD followed by PS (TD-PS).Main outcome measuresMortality and meningitis.ResultsOf 3883 infants with PHH from 41 centres, 36% had no surgical intervention, 16% had a TD only, 19% had a PS only and 30% had a TD-PS. Of the 46% of infants with TDs, 76% were reservoirs; 66% of infants with TDs required PS placement. The percent of infants with PHH receiving ventricular access device placement differed by centre, ranging from 4% to 79% (p<0.001). Median chronological and postmenstrual age at time of TD placement were similar between infants with only TD and those with TD-PS. Infants with TD-PS were older and larger than those with only PS at time of PS placement. Death before NICU discharge occurred in 12% of infants, usually due to redirection of care. Meningitis occurred in 11% of the cohort.ConclusionsThere was significant intercentre variation in rate of intervention, which may reflect variability in care or referral patterns. Rate of PS placement in infants with TDs was 66%.
Terminal ileitis: a rare gastrointestinal manifestation of IgA vasculitis in a child
Authors: Sandhu Kirn , Mcdonald Kirsteen , Langmead Louise , Deb Protima 
Published: May 2024

A girl in middle childhood was referred to the paediatric surgical team with acute colicky abdominal pain and bile-stained vomiting. This was preceded by a viral illness. Investigations revealed raised inflammatory markers, and imaging of the abdomen demonstrated ileal and jejunal thickening. Concerns were raised regarding whether she had inflammatory bowel disease. Endoscopy revealed gastritis and duodenitis, and colonoscopy was unremarkable. Video capsule endoscopy demonstrated ulcers in the jejunum and ileum.On day 8 of admission, she developed a symmetrical purpuric rash over both ankles leading to the diagnosis of Henoch-Schonlein-related ileitis. Multidisciplinary team working led to appropriate management of the patient and avoided surgery. Video capsule endoscopy enabled visualisation of the small bowel. She was managed with 5 days of methylprednisolone followed by oral steroids. She made a good recovery with no sequelae. This case highlighted that terminal ileitis is a rare complication of IgA vasculitis with a good prognosis.
Predicting the cognitive impairment with multimodal ophthalmic imaging and artificial neural network for community screening
Authors: Jin Zi , Chen Xuhui , Jiang Chunxia , Feng Ximeng , Zou Da , Lu Yanye , Li Jinying , Ren Qiushi , Zhou Chuanqing 
Published: May 2024

Background/aimsTo investigate the comprehensive prediction ability for cognitive impairment in a general elder population using the combination of the multimodal ophthalmic imaging and artificial neural networks.MethodsPatients with cognitive impairment and cognitively healthy individuals were recruited. All subjects underwent medical history, blood pressure measurement, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, medical optometry, intraocular pressure and custom-built multimodal ophthalmic imaging, which integrated pupillary light reaction, multispectral imaging, laser speckle contrast imaging and retinal oximetry. Multidimensional parameters were analysed by Student’s t-test. Logistic regression analysis and back-propagation neural network (BPNN) were used to identify the predictive capability for cognitive impairment.ResultsThis study included 104 cognitive impairment patients (61.5% female; mean (SD) age, 68.3 (9.4) years), and 94 cognitively healthy age-matched and sex-matched subjects (56.4% female; mean (SD) age, 65.9 (7.6) years). The variation of most parameters including decreased pupil constriction amplitude (CA), relative CA, average constriction velocity, venous diameter, venous blood flow and increased centred retinal reflectance in 548 nm (RC548) in cognitive impairment was consistent with previous studies while the reduced flow acceleration index and oxygen metabolism were reported for the first time. Compared with the logistic regression model, BPNN had better predictive performance (accuracy: 0.91 vs 0.69; sensitivity: 93.3% vs 61.70%; specificity: 90.0% vs 68.66%).ConclusionsThis study demonstrates retinal spectral signature alteration, neurodegeneration and angiopathy occur concurrently in cognitive impairment. The combination of multimodal ophthalmic imaging and BPNN can be a useful tool for predicting cognitive impairment with high performance for community screening.
Creating realistic anterior segment optical coherence tomography images using generative adversarial networks
Authors: Assaf Jad F , Abou Mrad Anthony , Reinstein Dan Z , Amescua Guillermo , Zakka Cyril , Archer Timothy J , Yammine Jeffrey , Lamah Elsa , Haykal Michèle , Awwad Shady T 
Published: May 2024

AimsTo develop a generative adversarial network (GAN) capable of generating realistic high-resolution anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) images.MethodsThis study included 142 628 AS-OCT B-scans from the American University of Beirut Medical Center. The Style and WAvelet based GAN architecture was trained to generate realistic AS-OCT images and was evaluated through the Fréchet Inception Distance (FID) Score and a blinded assessment by three refractive surgeons who were asked to distinguish between real and generated images. To assess the suitability of the generated images for machine learning tasks, a convolutional neural network (CNN) was trained using a dataset of real and generated images over a classification task. The generated AS-OCT images were then upsampled using an enhanced super-resolution GAN (ESRGAN) to achieve high resolution.ResultsThe generated images exhibited visual and quantitative similarity to real AS-OCT images. Quantitative similarity assessed using FID scored an average of 6.32. Surgeons scored 51.7% in identifying real versus generated images which was not significantly better than chance (p value >0.3). The CNN accuracy improved from 78% to 100% when synthetic images were added to the dataset. The ESRGAN upsampled images were objectively more realistic and accurate compared with traditional upsampling techniques by scoring a lower Learned Perceptual Image Patch Similarity of 0.0905 compared with 0.4244 of bicubic interpolation.ConclusionsThis study successfully developed and leveraged GANs capable of generating high-definition synthetic AS-OCT images that are realistic and suitable for machine learning and image analysis tasks.
Improving healthcare accessibility for pregnant women and children in the context of health system strengthening initiatives and terrorist attacks in Central Mali: a controlled interrupted time series analysis
Authors: Zombré David , Diarra Dansiné , Touré Laurence , Bonnet Emmanuel , Ridde Valery 
Published: May 2024

IntroductionThe Health and Social Development Program of the Mopti Region (PADSS2) project, launched in Mali’s Mopti region, targeted Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The project addressed demand-side barriers by offering an additional subsidy to household contributions, complementing existing State support (component 1). Component 2 focused on supply-side improvements, enhancing quality and coverage. Component 3 strengthened central and decentralised capacity for planning, supervision and UHC reflection, integrating gender mainstreaming. The study assessed the impact of the project on maternal and child healthcare use and explored how rising terrorist activities might affect these health outcomes.MethodsThe impact of the intervention on assisted births, prenatal care and curative consultations for children under 5 was analysed from January 2016 to December 2021. This was done using an interrupted time series analysis, incorporating a comparison group and spline regression.ResultsC1 increased assisted deliveries by 0.39% (95% CI 0.20 to 0.58] and C2 by 1.52% (95% CI 1.36 to 1.68). C1-enhanced first and fourth antenatal visits by 1.37% (95% CI 1.28 to 1.47) and 2.07% (95% CI 1.86 to 2.28), respectively, while C2 decreased them by 0.53% and 1.16% (95% CI −1.34 to −0.99). For child visits under 5, C1 and C2 showed increases of 0.32% (95% CI 0.20 to 0.43) and 1.36% (95% CI 1.27 to 1.46), respectively. In areas with terrorist attacks, child visits decreased significantly by 24.69% to 39.86% compared with unexposed areas.ConclusionThe intervention had a limited impact on maternal and child health, falling short of expectations for a health system initiative. Understanding the varied effects of terrorism on healthcare is key to devising strategies that protect the most vulnerable in the system.
Daughter circumcision and maternal life satisfaction: a cultural moderation effect revealed across two multicountry studies
Authors: Strand Paul S , Maxwell Providence D , Trang Justin 
Published: May 2024

IntroductionThe present paper assessed the relationship between maternal life satisfaction (MLS) and the intergenerational transmission of female genital cutting (FGC, female circumcision). It was hypothesised that the association would be more strongly positive in countries in which FGC is more prevalent (ie, culturally normative), suggesting a practice that is socially reinforcing within sociocultural contexts in which it is common.MethodsAcross two studies with more than 85 000 participants in 15 African and Asian countries, mothers completed surveys reporting on their own FGC experiences and those of their daughters’ and on their educational history and socioeconomic status.ResultsThe association between MLS and daughter circumcision was weak but positive for the full sample. Contrary to predictions, in countries in which FGC is uncommon, it was more positively associated with MLS, and in countries in which it is common, it was weakly or negatively associated with MLS.ConclusionResults are contrary to the notion that the intergenerational transmission of FGC is a function of happiness deriving from its cultural normativity. They suggest, instead, a diversity of social motives depending on cultural context. Customised messaging to reduce the intergenerational transmission of FGC is discussed.