bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A low androgenic state inhibits erectile function by suppressing endothelial glycosides in the penile cavernous tissue of rats
Authors: Zhou Wei , Jiang Jun , Jiang Rui 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
The endothelial glycocalyx is an important barrier that protects the structure and function of endothelial cells. Androgen deficiency is a common factor that causes structural and functional impairment of endothelial cells.

Aim
To investigate changes in the endothelial glycocalyx in the penile corpus cavernosum of the rat with low androgen status and its relationship with erection function.

Methods
Eighteen 10-week-old Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 6 each): sham operation, castration, and castration + testosterone replacement. The maximum intracavernosal pressure/mean arterial pressure of the penis was measured after modeling for 4 weeks. The expression levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), phospho-eNOS, syndecan 1, heparanase, and nitric oxide in penile cavernous tissue and the serum levels of heparan sulfate, hyaluronic acid, tumor necrosis factor α, and interleukin 6 were determined. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the ultrastructure of the endothelial glycocalyx in penile tissue.

Outcomes
The thickness of the endothelial glycocalyx in the penile corpus cavernosum of castrated rats was significantly lower than that of the control group.

Results
In the castrated rats, the endothelial glycocalyx thickness, syndecan 1 level, ratio of phospho-eNOS to eNOS, nitric oxide level, and maximum intracavernosal pressure/mean arterial pressure (3 V, 5 V) were significantly lower than those in the sham group (P &lt; .05). The expression of heparanase and the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 6 were significantly higher in the castrated group than in the sham group (P &lt; .05).

Clinical Translation
Upregulating the expression of the endothelial glycocalyx in the penile corpus cavernosum may be a new method for treating erectile dysfunction caused by low androgen levels.

Strengths and Limitations
This study confirms that low androgen status promotes the breakdown of the endothelial glycocalyx. However, further research is needed to determine whether androgens are related to the synthesis of the endothelial glycocalyx.

Conclusion
Low androgen status may suppress the level of nitric oxide in the cavernous tissue of the penis via impairment of the endothelial glycocalyx, resulting in inhibited erection function in rats.
Demographic and Audiological Characteristics of Candidates for Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids in the United States
Authors: Humes Larry E. 
Published: May 2024

Objectives:This report presents descriptive data on the demographic and audiological characteristics of US adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss, the primary candidates for over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids.Design:The analyses are descriptive and present population-weighted responses for various self-reported demographic and audiological variables for adults with mild or moderate perceived hearing trouble. Results of pure-tone audiometry and immittance measures are also presented. Nationally representative datasets from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) for 2011 to 2012, 2015 to 2016, and 2017 to 2020, the three most recent NHANES datasets with audiological information, were used.Results:The NHANES datasets indicated that there are 49.5 million adults in the United States with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing trouble. Results indicated that OTC hearing-aid candidates are most frequently 50 to 69 years of age, married, and identify as non-Hispanic White race/ethnicity. Most of these individuals graduated from high school, had several risk factors for hearing loss, had not had a hearing test in the past 5 years, and had never used hearing aids or assistive listening devices previously. The typical audiometric profile was a bilaterally symmetrical sloping hearing loss with slight to mild hearing loss above 2000 Hz. Group data showed normal immittance measures and absence of otoscopic abnormalities except for the presence of excessive (not impacted) cerumen in about 13% of the OTC hearing-aid candidates.Conclusions:Tens of millions of US adults have perceived mild-to-moderate hearing trouble but have not pursued assistance, either through obtaining a hearing test or acquiring prescription hearing aids.
Total Pancreatectomy With Percutaneous Islet Autotransplant After Remote Islet Processing
Authors: Lewellen Kyle A. , Maatman Thomas K. , House Michael G. , McGreevy Kathleen , Cavaghan Melissa K. , Dorwart Michael R. , Fogel Evan L. , Haste Paul M. , Montero Anne Mary , Roch Alexandra M. , Zyromski Nicholas J. 
Published: May 2024

Objectives
Total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplant (TPIAT) is important therapy for select chronic pancreatitis (CP) patients. The specialized technique of islet isolation limits widespread TPIAT use. We hypothesized that remote islet isolation provides satisfactory islet yield and perioperative outcomes.

Methods
A retrospective review of TPIAT patients between 2020 and 2022 was conducted. Islet isolation was performed off-site, with percutaneous intraportal islet autotransplant (IAT) completed the morning following pancreatectomy. Demographics and perioperative outcomes were analyzed.

Results
Fourteen patients underwent TPIAT; median age was 43 (interquartile range, 12.5) years. Operation occurred 7.5 (14.8) years after pancreatitis diagnosis. The most common pancreatitis etiology was genetic (50%). All patients underwent preoperative endoscopic therapy; three underwent prior pancreatectomy. Operative time was 236 (51) minutes; subsequent percutaneous IAT time was 87 (35) minutes. The islet equivalent (IEQ)/kilogram (kg) yield was 3456 (3815) IEQ/kg. Nine patients had positive islet cultures. Two thromboembolic events and one bacteremia occurred. One perihepatic hematoma occurred after percutaneous portal venous access. The median postoperative length of stay was 14.5 days, and five patients (36%) were readmitted within 90 days. All patients were discharged home on insulin. No mortality occurred.

Conclusions
Total pancreatectomy with remote islet isolation provides excellent islet yield for autotransplant and satisfactory perioperative outcomes.
Atypical Antipsychotic Prescribing in Australian Children and Adolescents: A Survey of Medical Practitioners
Authors: Rao Pradeep , Wilson Hayden , Mahfouda Simone , Wong Janice W. Y. , Morandini Hugo A. E. , Zepf Florian D. 
Published: May 2024

Objective:
Prescriptions for atypical antipsychotics in children and adolescents are increasing globally. However, a precise understanding of the clinical variables and evidence that prescribers consider before using these agents is lacking. While empirical literature on the long-term safety and efficacy of these medications is available, the literature concerning their use in these younger age groups is relatively sparse. In this study, we examined the current prescribing patterns of medical professionals employed by a public health service in Australia.

Methods:
A survey examining their current practice when prescribing atypical antipsychotics to children and adolescents was completed by 103 physicians. Questions were asked about commonly prescribed atypical antipsychotics, indications, dose ranges, target symptoms, duration of treatment, and the evidence base(s) used when making treatment decisions.

Results:
Physicians prescribed atypical antipsychotics for a wide range of indications in this age group, with the most common agents being risperidone, quetiapine, and olanzapine. Adverse effects were reported as the main reason for treatment discontinuation. More than half of the respondents indicated that the most common source of guidance/evidence they referred to when initiating prescriptions were peers or expert opinion.

Conclusions:
Children and adolescents were prescribed a number of atypical antipsychotics for a variety of indications, with variable perceived confidence and a relatively heavy reliance on “own or peer experience” as opposed to good quality evidence. Challenges exist for both prescribers and policymakers, and further “head-to-head” studies are needed in this age group to ensure that a balance is maintained between therapeutic benefit and safety.
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy in persons living with HIV
Authors: Rubinstein Paul G. , Galvez Carlos , Ambinder Richard F. 
Published: May 2024

Purpose of review
Summarize the latest research of both stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy and present the implications with respect to persons with HIV (PWH), hematologic malignancies, and HIV-1 cure.

Recent findings
Allogeneic (alloSCT) and autologous (autoSCT) stem cell transplantation have been shown to be well tolerated and effective regardless of HIV-1 status. AlloSCT leads to a decrease in the HIV-1 latently infected reservoir orders of magnitude below that achieved with antiretroviral therapy (ART) alone. Utilization of CCR5Δ2/Δ32 donors in an alloSCT has resulted in HIV-1 cures. In the last 12 months, three cases of cure have been published, giving further insight into the conditions required for HIV-1 control. Other advances in the treatment of hematological cancers include chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CART) therapy, which are active in PWH with lymphoma.

Summary
Here we discuss the advances in SCT and cellular therapy in PWH and cancer. Additionally, we discuss how these technologies are being utilized to achieve HIV-1 cure.
Effect of a Bladder Control Self-Management Program Delivered Through a Health Kiosk
Authors: Zhang Yuchen , Engberg Sandra J. , Courtney Karen L. , Kariuki Jacob K. , Matthews Judith Tabolt 
Published: May 2024

PURPOSE:
The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of delivering a bladder control self-management program through a multiuser health kiosk and to evaluate the program’s effect on urinary incontinence (UI) and incontinence-specific quality of life (QoL).

DESIGN:
Secondary analysis of data collected during participants’ interactions with the Bladder Control Module (BCM) from the parent study.

SUBJECTS AND SETTING:
One hundred eleven participants from the parent study were eligible to be included in this secondary analysis. Their mean age was 72.8 years, and most were female (n = 95, 85.6%); 81 (75.7%) identified themselves as Caucasian. Each participant could access the BCM at a health kiosk situated at one of several sites: senior centers, subsidized senior housing, retirement communities, and a public library.

METHODS:
The BCM comprised 6 sessions self-administered at least 1 week apart. The content focused on lifestyle modification, pelvic floor muscle training, and bladder (habit) retraining, with encouragement of behavioral self-monitoring between sessions. The feasibility of delivering the intervention was measured by the proportion of participants completing each session. The effect of the BCM on incontinence episodes and incontinence-specific QoL was measured, respectively, by a 7-day bladder diary and the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire Short Form.

RESULTS:
Sixty-one of the 111 eligible participants accessed the BCM. Participants recording incontinence episodes in their baseline bladder diary and completing at least 3 BCM sessions experienced significant decreases in median total UI (P = .01), urge UI (P < .001), and stress UI (P = .02) episodes per day. Incontinence-related QoL significantly improved (P = .03).

CONCLUSIONS:
Our findings support the potential effectiveness of providing community-based, kiosk-enabled access to a conservative behavioral intervention designed to improve incontinence-related outcomes among older adults with UI. Additional research with a larger sample is warranted.
Ostomy Information on the Internet—Is It Good Enough?
Authors: Zhou Zheyi , Besson Alex J. , Hayes Diana , Yeung Justin M.C. 
Published: May 2024

PURPOSE:
The aim of this study was to determine which internet search engines and keywords patients with ostomies utilize, to identify the common websites using these terms, to determine what aspects of information they wanted, and to perform a quality and readability assessment for these websites.

DESIGN:

A cross-sectional survey of persons with ostomies to identify search engines and terms, followed by a structured assessment of the quality and readability of the identified web pages.

SUBJECT AND SETTINGS:
The sample comprised 20 hospitalized patients with ostomies cared for on a colorectal surgical ward of a tertiary care hospital located in Melbourne, Australia. There were 15 (75%) adult males and 5 (25%) adult females; their mean age was 52.2 years. Participants were surveyed between August and December 2020.

METHODS:
Patients with newly formed ostomies were surveyed about which search engines and keywords they would use to look for information and for which questions regarding ostomies they wanted answers. In addition, 2 researchers then performed independent searches using the search terms identified by patient participants. These searches were conducted in August 2021, with the geographical location set to Australia. The quality of the websites was graded using the DISCERN, Ensuring Quality Information for Patients, and Quality Evaluation Scoring Tool scoring assessments, and their readability was graded using the Flesch Reading Ease Score tool.

RESULTS:
Participants used Google as their primary search engine. Four keywords/phrases were identified: stoma for bowel surgery, ileostomy, colostomy, and caring for stoma. Multiple web pages were identified, 8 (21%) originated from Australia, 7 (18%) were from the United Kingdom, and 23 (61%) were from the United States. Most web pages lacked recent updates; only 18% had been undated within the last 12 months. The overall quality of the online information on ostomies was moderate with an average level of readability, deemed suitable for patient educational purposes.

CONCLUSIONS:
Information for persons living with an ostomy can be obtained from multiple web pages, and many sites have reasonable quality and are written at a suitable level. Unfortunately, these websites are rarely up-to-date and may contain advice that may not be applicable to individual patients.
Evolutionary divergence of induced versus constitutive antiviral gene expression between primates and rodents
Authors: Schneor Lilach , Hagai Tzachi 
Published: May 2024

SummaryBackgroundHundreds of genes are upregulated in response to viral infection. These genes’ sequences often diverge across mammals, to counteract rapid virus evolution. However, the transcriptional divergence of these genes, their relative levels before and after infection in different host species, remains poorly understood.ResultsWe studied this divergence by comparing gene expression before and after viral stimulation in cells from primates and rodents. We developed a method to identify orthologs upregulated in one species that are unchanged in response to stimulus in another species. Using human and mouse data, we detected 578 transcriptionally divergent orthologous genes. While most divergent genes do not belong to the same cellular process, several pathways and protein complexes are enriched in this set, suggesting that divergence in immune responses between closely related mammals is limited to specific modules rather than involving entire pathways. Transcriptional divergence between human and mouse orthologs was also observed when ortholog expression from different primates and rodents were compared, when responses were studied in several cell types, and was recapitulated at the chromatin level, using histone mark patterns that denote active promoter regions.ConclusionsIn summary, we found genes whose orthologs diverge between primates and rodents in response to immune stimulation. Some of these genes are constitutively expressed in one species even before infection, potentially facilitating rapid antiviral activity, and suggesting clade-specific adaptation to confer greater resistance against viruses. Further comparative studies on diverse infections can point to additional species-specific responses and how they enable different species to overcome infection.
Limited evidence for probabilistic cueing effects on grating-evoked event-related potentials and orientation decoding performance
Authors: den Ouden Carla , Kashyap Máire , Kikkawa Morgan , Feuerriegel Daniel 
Published: May 2024

AbstractWe can rapidly learn recurring patterns that occur within our sensory environments. This knowledge allows us to form expectations about future sensory events. Several influential predictive coding models posit that, when a stimulus matches our expectations, the activity of feature-selective neurons in visual cortex will be suppressed relative to when that stimulus is unexpected. However, after accounting for known critical confounds, there is currently scant evidence for these hypothesised effects from studies recording electrophysiological neural activity. To provide a strong test for expectation effects on stimulus-evoked responses in visual cortex, we performed a probabilistic cueing experiment while recording electroencephalographic (EEG) data. Participants (n=488) learned associations between visual cues and subsequently presented gratings. A given cue predicted the appearance of a certain grating orientation with 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, or 90% validity. We did not observe any stimulus expectancy effects on grating-evoked event-related potentials. Bayes factors generally favoured the null hypothesis throughout the time-courses of the grating-evoked responses. Multivariate classifiers trained to discriminate between grating orientations performed better when classifying 10% compared to 90% probability gratings. However, classification performance did not substantively differ across any other stimulus expectancy conditions. Our findings provide very limited evidence for modulations of prediction error signalling by probabilistic expectations as specified in contemporary predictive coding models.
Nutrition and density dependence of spontaneous female-biased dispersal inDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Halder Subhasish , Bhore Utkarsh , Nandy Bodhisatta 
Published: May 2024

AbstractDispersal is often essential for the attainment of Darwinian fitness, especially for species living on spatially structured, heterogeneous habitats. Theoretically, sex-specific resource requirement can drive the two sexes to disperse differently, resulting in sex biased dispersal (SBD). Understanding ecological factors affecting SBD is important. Using an experimental two-patch dispersal setup we measured spontaneous dispersal in laboratory adapted populations ofDrosophila melanogasterunder a set of common, interlinked ecological scenarios relating to – (a) dietary ecology and (b) adult density. We found deteriorating overall nutritional quality of food affects strength of SBD, and female dispersal is particularly sensitive to availability of protein. Adult density had sex specific effect on dispersal. Female dispersal was found to be density independent but males showed increased dispersal at higher density. Female tend to disperse more from male biased patch likely to avoid male harassment whereas absence of female drives male dispersal solidifying mate-finding dispersal hypothesis. These evidences of dispersal suggest that variation in dietary ecology and intraspecific competition can affect the degree and strength of existing SBD and thereby male-female interactions in a patch potentially affecting fitness components and population dynamics.
Dopamine-mediated plasticity preserves excitatory connections to direct pathway striatal projection neurons and motor function in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Brague Joe C. , Sinha Ghanshyam P. , Henry David A. , Headrick Daniel J. , Hamdan Zane , Hooks Bryan M. , Seal Rebecca P. 
Published: May 2024

SUMMARYThe cardinal symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) such as bradykinesia and akinesia are debilitating, and treatment options remain inadequate. The loss of nigrostriatal dopamine neurons in PD produces motor symptoms by shifting the balance of striatal output from the direct (go) to indirect (no-go) pathway in large part through changes in the excitatory connections and intrinsic excitabilities of the striatal projection neurons (SPNs). Here, we report using two different experimental models that a transient increase in striatal dopamine and enhanced D1 receptor activation, during 6-OHDA dopamine depletion, prevent the loss of mature spines and dendritic arbors on direct pathway projection neurons (dSPNs) and normal motor behavior for up to 5 months. The primary motor cortex and midline thalamic nuclei provide the major excitatory connections to SPNs. Using ChR2-assisted circuit mapping to measure inputs from motor cortex M1 to dorsolateral dSPNs, we observed a dramatic reduction in both experimental model mice and controls following dopamine depletion. Changes in the intrinsic excitabilities of SPNs were also similar to controls following dopamine depletion. Future work will examine thalamic connections to dSPNs. The findings reported here reveal previously unappreciated plasticity mechanisms within the basal ganglia that can be leveraged to treat the motor symptoms of PD.
Heterogeneous brain region-specific responses to astrocytic mitochondrial DNA damage in mice
Authors: Ayala Daniela A. , Matarazzo Anthony , Seaberg Bonnie L. , Patel Misha , Tijerina Eliana , Matthews Camryn , Bizi Gabriel , Brown Ashton , Ta Alan , Rimer Mendell , Srinivasan Rahul 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACTAstrocytes use Ca2+signals to regulate multiple aspects of normal and pathological brain function. Astrocytes display context-specific diversity in their functions, and in their response to noxious stimuli between brain regions. Indeed, astrocytic mitochondria have emerged as key players in governing astrocytic functional heterogeneity, given their ability to dynamically adapt their morphology to regional demands on their ATP generation and Ca2+buffering functions. Although there is reciprocal regulation between mitochondrial dynamics and mitochondrial Ca2+signaling in astrocytes, the extent of this regulation into the rich diversity of astrocytes in different brain regions remains largely unexplored. Brain-wide, experimentally induced mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) loss in astrocytes showed that mtDNA integrity is critical for proper astrocyte function, however, few insights into possible diverse responses to this noxious stimulus from astrocytes in different brain areas were reported in these experiments. To selectively damage mtDNA in astrocytes in a brain-region-specific manner, we developed a novel adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based tool, Mito-PstI, which expresses the restriction enzyme PstI, specifically in astrocytic mitochondria. Here, we applied Mito-PstI to two distinct brain regions, the dorsolateral striatum, and the hippocampal dentate gyrus, and we show that Mito-PstI can induce astrocytic mtDNA lossin vivo, but with remarkable brain-region-dependent differences on mitochondrial dynamics, spontaneous Ca2+fluxes and astrocytic as well as microglial reactivity. Thus, AAV-Mito-PstI is a novel tool to explore the relationship between astrocytic mitochondrial network dynamics and astrocytic mitochondrial Ca2+signaling in a brain-region-selective manner.