bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Increasing Incidence of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus in Germany: An Analysis of the Federal Statistical Office Database from 2005 to 2022
Authors: Thavarajasingam Santhosh G. , Salih Ahmed , Namireddy Srikar R. , Ringel Florian , Kramer Andreas 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Introduction
Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a reversible cause of gait disturbances and dementia in the elderly, posing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. In Germany, the epidemiology and surgical management of NPH are not well understood. This study aimed to characterise epidemiological trends and evaluate surgical management strategies for NPH in Germany.
Methods
A retrospective nationwide population-based study of NPH cases in Germany from 2005 to 2022 was conducted using data from the German Federal Statistical Office. Parameters assessed included incidence trends, demographic characteristics, and surgical interventions.
Results
A total of 118,526 NPH diagnoses were recorded, with 29,662 surgical interventions. The population-adjusted incidence of NPH increased by 48%, from 5.4 to 8.0 cases per 100,000 individuals (p < 0.001), peaking in 2018. The largest increases were seen in the “80–89” age group, followed by the “70–79” and “90+” age groups. Surgical interventions increased by 8.4% (p < 0.001), with ventriculoperitoneal shunt being the predominant procedure.
Conclusion
The study highlights a 48% rise in NPH incidence in Germany from 2005 to 2022, particularly affecting the elderly. There was also an increase in surgical interventions, underscoring the need for prioritising NPH in national healthcare research agendas.
Development and validation of a neural network-based survival model for mortality prediction in ischemic heart disease
Authors: Brunak Søren , Holm Peter , Haue Amalie Dahl , Westergaard David , Röder Timo , Banasik Karina , Tragante Vinicius , Christensen Alex , Thomas Laurent , Nøst Therese , Skogholt Anne Heidi , Iversen Kasper , Pedersen Frants , Høfsten Dan , Pedersen Ole , Ostrowski Sisse , Ullum Henrik , Svendsen Mette , Gjødsbøl Iben , Gudnason Thorarinn , Gudbjartsson Daniel , Helgadottir Anna , Hveem Kristian , Køber Lars , Holm Hilma , Stefansson Kari , Bundgaard Henning 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background
The reduced precision of currently applied risk prediction models for patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a limitation for clinical use. Using machine learning to integrate a much broader panel of features from electronic health records (EHRs) may improve precision markedly.
Methods
The development and validation of a prediction model for IHD in this study was based on Danish and Icelandic data from clinical quality databases, national registries, and electronic health records. Danish patients suspected for IHD and referred for a coronary angiography showing 1, 2, or 3 vessel-disease or diffuse coronary artery disease between 2006 and 2016 were included for model development (n = 39,746). Time to all-cause mortality, the prediction target, was tracked until 2019, or up to 5 years, whichever came first. To model time-to-event data and address censoring, neural network-based discrete-time survival models were used. Our prediction model, PMHnet, used up to 584 different features including clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and diagnosis and procedure codes. Model performance was evaluated using time-dependent AUC (tdAUC) and the Brier score and was benchmarked against the updated GRACE risk score and less feature-rich neural network models. Models were evaluated using hold-out data (n = 5,000) and external validation data from Iceland (n = 8,287). Feature importance and model explainability factors were assessed using SHAP analysis.
Findings
: On the test set (n = 5,000), the tdAUC of PMHnet was 0.88[0.86–0.90] (case count = 196) at six months, 0.88[0.86–0.90] (cc = 261) at one year, 0.84[0.82–0.86] (cc = 395) at three years, and 0.82[0.80–0.84] (cc = 763) at five years. The model predictions were well-calibrated. PMHnet showed similar performance in the Icelandic data. Compared to the GRACE score and intermediate models limited to GRACE features or single data modalities, PMHnet had significantly better model discrimination across all evaluated prediction timepoints.
Interpretation:
More complex and feature-rich machine learning models improved prediction of all-cause mortality in patients with IHD and may be used to inform and guide clinical management.
The Prospective Relationship Between Uptake of Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Financial Strain, and Health in Underserved Families
Authors: Arnetz Bengt B. , Grinstead Alesia , Thomas Gabrielle , Hetherwick Matt , Ma Wenjuan , Arble Eamonn , Kabalan Malak , Cole Andrew , Arnetz Judith E. , Ayoub Riham 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

The federal government offers earned income tax credit (EITC) to working low and middle-income families. Lack of knowledge and distrust in government result in a large proportion of qualified families does not uptake (‘claim”) EITC. The study objectives were to (1) determine whether a community derived EITC outreach campaign resulted in improved knowledge of EITC, and (2) examine the relationship between financial stress and self-rated health. A total of 215 women attending Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) centers in southeast Detroit, Michigan, were recruited in 2021. Participants filled out a survey at baseline, and after 6 and 12 months, respectively. The 1-year retention rate was 48% (n = 104). The survey contained questions on sociodemographics, financial stressors, exercise, health, and knowledge of EITC. At baseline, knowledge about EITC was low (mean 1.1 [SE 0.3] on a 0–10 visual analogue scale) but increased significantly during the first six months (2.9 [0.3]; p < .01). Approximately 38% of respondents worried about not having sufficient funds to pay for rent/mortgage at baseline, and almost 28% worried about not being able to buy nutritious meals for their families. Worry about paying for meals at the 6-month mid-point assessment was significantly related to self-rated health at 12 months (p = 0.013). Self-rated health at 12 months was significantly lower (-0.74; 95% confidence interval − 1.40, − 0.16) among those worrying vs not worrying about paying for meals. The model explained 5.6% (r2 = 0.056) of the variance in self-rated health at 12-months. The study shows that knowledge about EITC is limited among qualified households. A community engaged EITC outreach campaign increased knowledge substantially. Financial strain is related to worsening self-rated health. EITC is an underused bipartisan, pro-employment supported federal program to address near-poverty and poverty among underserved families.
Thermal defect detection of electrical components in transmission lines based on infrared images and deep learning
Authors: Liu Chuanyang , Liu Jingjing , Wu Yiquan , Sun Zuo 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

The safe operation of transmission lines will be an important guarantee for domestic economic construction, and it is urgent to improve the fault diagnosis and identification ability of electrical components in transmission lines. In order to realize electrical components identification and thermal defect detection from massive aerial images, in this study, a cascaded detection method is proposed based on infrared images and YOLO model. Firstly, two infrared datasets used for classification and localization are created, totaling 4887 infrared images. Secondly, to enhance the accuracy and robustness of electrical components identification, similarity-based attention mechanism modules, cross-level weighted feature pyramid network, and Wise IoU are introduced to the original YOLOv7. Finally, the improved YOLOv7 model and comparative models are trained and then tested on the infrared datasets. The mAP of the improved model reaches 97.4%, which is 6% higher than that of the original YOLOv7. More importantly, by cascading the improved YOLOv7 and YOLOv7-tiny for thermal defect detection, the AP value of the proposed method (87.91%) is more than 20% higher than that of YOLOv7 (67.17%). The experimental results show that the cascaded model is superior to mainstream object detection models in electrical components identification and thermal defect detection, and it is expected to be deployed on embedded devices for real-time inspection of transmission lines.
Myocarditis Caused by Metapneumovirus with Klebsiella pneumoniae Infection: A Case Report
Authors: Wang Shih-Hung , Lee Mei-Hui , Lee Yuarn-Jang , Liu Yung-Ching 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background Human metapneumovirus (hMPV), classified in the Pneumoviridae family, primarily causes lower respiratory tract infections in children and immunocompromised individuals. However, rare cases have highlighted hMPV infections manifesting beyond the respiratory system, including cardiac impairment.
Case presentation We report the case of a 68-year-old man who presented at the emergency room with dyspnea and fever and who rapidly progressed to septic shock with increasing oxygen requirements, necessitating transfer to the medical intensive care unit (MICU). Diagnostic evaluations comprising cardiac echocardiography and coronary angiography were utilized to confirmmyocarditis while ruling out acute myocardial infarction. Despite the implementation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP)therapy, the patient succumbed to the illness three days after admission to the MICU. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of a throat swab confirmed the diagnosis of Metapneumovirus infection, and Klebsiella pneumoniae was concurrently detected through sputum culture.
Conclusions Compared to previously reported cases of metapneumovirus-related myocarditis, this case is the first to demonstrate a notably adverse outcome associated with the concurrent presence of bacterial infection.
ADRB1 gene polymorphism regulated the positive inotropic effect of myocardial insufficiency with metabolic syndrome:a basic experimental research
Authors: Liu Ruining , Yang Feihong , Wang Pengcheng , Zhao Xia , Wu Wenfeng , Ma Haoli , Zhao Yan , Jiang Cheng 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background
The risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in metabolic syndrome (MS) patients is significantly higher than that in healthy people, and ADRB1 gene polymorphism is closely associated with CVD. Our previous study found that obesity can lead to the change of β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) in myocardium, but the mechanism is not clear. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of ADRB1 gene polymorphism on the β-AR and its downstream signaling molecules involved in a model of myocardial insufficiency with MS.
Materials and Methods
We constructed the β1AR-49M (HA-β1AR-S49G) and β1AR-389M (HA-β1AR-R389G) mutant plasmids for cell transfection. cAMP level was assessed by Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET). The Ca2+ flow detection was characterized by Fluo-4 indicator calcium concentration assay. H9C2 cardiomyocytes were treated with palmitic acid (PA) to construct the cell injury model. Wistar rats were subjected to normal chow diet (Control group) and high-fat diet (MS group) for 16 weeks. The cardiac function of rats was detected by echocardiography. The positive inotropic effect in vivo was observed by intravenous pumping of Isoproterenol (ISO), and in vitro, muscle force was determined by administering ISO using muscle force measurement system. The protein expression of β-AR and downstream molecular proteins in left ventricular tissue was detected by Western Blot.
Results
ADRB1 gene polymorphism did not affect the expression of β1-AR. Moreover, like wild type, carrying β1AR-389M was most sensitive to Bisoprolol, while β1AR-49M is most sensitive to Carvedilol. PA intervention resulted in up-regulation of β1-AR expression with no significant difference between the mutant groups. The inhibitory effect of Bisoprolol in those carrying β1AR-R389G mutant was stronger than that of carrying β1AR-S49G mutant. Echocardiographic results indicated that left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions were not impaired in MS group. The positive inotropic effect in MS rats was significantly weaker than that in Control group in vitro, without being impaired in vivo.
Conclusions
ADRB1 gene polymorphism can lead to the differences on the molecular mechanism and response to β1AR inhibitors, and especially, carrying the β1AR-R389G mutant is more conducive to the exertion of the pharmacological effects of Bisoprolol.
A dramatic case report: Achived remission in metamphetamine addiction after changing city, yet ended up in prison
Authors: Danışman Mustafa , Hasanlı Zehra Uçar , İspir Gamze Zengin , Katar Kübra Sezer 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background: Neuroscientific approaches to addiction as a brain disease often locate addiction within the individual's body or brain and describe it as a disordered or diseased state. However, such explanations ignore the importance of social contexts for addiction problems and how consumption patterns change over time and consider addiction as a process that is often independent of the environment for individuals who use substances. However, the impact of the environment is significant in the development and treatment of substance use disorders, which should be handled with a biopsychosocial model. Many studies prove that substance use behaviours change with changes in the environment. In addition, the fact that some people who use substances commit crimes and violate the law constitutes an important social aspect of substance addiction. While there may be many factors that lead individuals to commit crimes, drugs may be among the reasons that lead individuals to commit crimes by causing changes in their thoughts and behaviors.
Case Presentation: In this report, we present the story of a patient with methamphetamine use disorder who was placed on probation for theft offence during the period when he was using this substance. Although the patient was hospitalized and received treatment several times, he relapsed when he returned to his living environment. However, he entered the remission process after moving to a regular and developed area where he could receive family support. However, he was sentenced to prison for his previous offence during this period.
Conclusions: This is an essential example of the critical effect of the living environment on substance use behaviours, which was achieved through remission after moving from the socially disadvantaged area where the patient was living. Although it is sad for the patient's family and himself that his story ended in prison, the changes in his life during his stay with his sister and the fact that he did not continue substance use are promising for his treatment. In conclusion, it is essential to consider environmental factors and integrate these factors into treatment strategies for effective treatment in the fight against methamphetamine addiction.
Assessing the clinical utility of preoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio as a predictor of clinicopathological parameters in patients being treated for primary breast cancer
Authors: Isik Burce , Davey Matthew G , Jaffer Alisha A. , Buckley Juliette , Baban Chwanrow , Merrigan Bridget Anne , Tormey Shona 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background
There is a paucity of data supporting the role of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratios (NLR) to determine clinicopathological parameters in patients being treated for primary breast cancer.
Aims
To evaluate the association between preoperative NLR and clinicopathological parameters in patients diagnosed with breast cancer.
Methods
A retrospective cohort study was performed. This included consecutive patients indicated to undergo surgery for primary breast cancer at University Hospital Limerick between January 2010 - June 2017. NLR was expressed as a continuous variable. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were used to determine the correlation between NLR and clinicopathological data. Data analytics was performed using SPSS v29.0.
Results
673 patients met the inclusion criteria. Overall, the median preoperative NLR of 2.63 (standard deviation: 1.42). At univariable analysis, patient age (beta coefficient: 0.009, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.001–0.017, P = 0.027), tumour size (beta coefficient: 0.013, 95% CI: 0.005–0.021, P = 0.001), and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 status (beta coefficient: -0.370, 95% CI: -0.676 - -0.065, P = 0.017) were all predicted using NLR. However, at multivariable analysis, tumour size was the sole parameter predictable by NLR (beta coefficient: 0.011, 95% CI: 0.002–0.019, P = 0.013).
Conclusions
This study demonstrates that preoperative NLR may serve as an independent predictor of tumour size in patients being treated with primary breast cancer. Ratification of these preliminary findings is warranted before robustly adopted into clinical practice.
Podoplanin hetero-insufficiency demonstrates congenital protein-losing enteropathy by inflammation in the jejunum: NO synthase inhibitor may become a selective tool for pharmacological therapy
Authors: Ohhashi Toshio , Takasaka Mieko , Tsukiji Nagaharu , Watanabe-Asaka Tomomi , Hayashi Moyuru , Maejima Daisuke , Kaidoh Maki , Yokoyama Yumiko , Suzuki-Inoue Katsue , Kawai Yoshiko 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

We demonstrated that podoplanin was expressed in jejunal villi. Based on the finding, we aimed to clarify the pathogenesis of congenital protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) using podoplanin heterozygeous knock-out (Pdpn-het KO) mice and aspirin-mediated inflammation of the jejunum. Podoplanin was expressed with differential region of the jejunal villi in the Pdpn-het KO mice compared with wild-type one. Fluorescent intensity of intravenous administration of FITC-albumin in the jejunal villi of Pdpn-het KO mice was significantly greater than that of wild-type mice. In the wild-type mice, the blue-colored mesenteric lymph vessels and lymph nodes were observed around 6 min after intravenous injection of Evans blue dye. However, in the Pdpn-het KO mice, the blue-colored lymph vessel and lymph nodes were not observed until 15 min. In the Pdpn-het KO mice, aspirin-mediated jejunal inflammation leaked significantly the intravenous administration of FITC-albumin into the jejunal canal. To design pharmacological therapy for PLE, the effects of NG-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME) on permeant albumin in jejunal villi were investigated. Pretreatment with L-NAME significantly reduced the intravenous administration of FITC-albumin distribution in the jejunal villi of Pdpn-het KO mice. In conclusion, we proposed that Podoplanin hetero-insufficiency with jejunal inflammation causes the pathogenesis of congenital PLE. The NO synthase inhibitor may become pharmacological tool for the therapy of PLE.
Tensor-valued diffusion MRI detects brain microstructure changes in HIV infected individuals with cognitive impairment
Authors: Uddin Md Nasir , Singh Meera V. , Faiyaz Abrar , Szczepankiewicz Filip , Nilsson Markus , Boodoo Zachary D. , Sutton Karli R. , Tivarus Madalina E. , Zhong Jianhui , Wang Lu , Qiu Xing , Weber Miriam T. , Schifitto Giovanni 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Despite advancements, the prevalence of HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment remains at approximately 40%, attributed to factors like pre-cART (combination antiretroviral therapy) irreversible brain injury. People with HIV (PWH) treated with cART do not show significant neurocognitive changes over relatively short follow-up periods. However, quantitative neuroimaging may be able to detect ongoing subtle microstructural changes. This study aimed to investigate the sensitivity of tensor-valued diffusion encoding in detecting such changes in brain microstructural integrity in cART-treated PWH. Additionally, it explored relationships between these metrics, neurocognitive scores, and plasma levels of neurofilament light (NFL) chain and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Using MRI at 3T, 24 PWH and 31 healthy controls underwent cross-sectional examination. The results revealed significant variations in b-tensor encoding metrics across white matter regions, with associations observed between these metrics, cognitive performance, and blood markers of neuronal and glial injury (NFL and GFAP). Moreover, a significant interaction between HIV status and imaging metrics was observed, particularly impacting total cognitive scores in both gray and white matter. These findings suggest that b-tensor encoding metrics offer heightened sensitivity in detecting subtle changes associated with axonal injury in HIV infection, underscoring their potential clinical relevance in understanding neurocognitive impairment in PWH.
Production, Purification, Characterization, and Safety Evaluation of Constructed Recombinant D-Psicose 3-Epimerase
Authors: Watthanasakphuban Nisit , Sr Pimsiriya , Pinmanee Phitsanu , Punvittayagul Charatda , Petchyam Nopphon , Ninchan Boontiwa 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background D-psicose 3-epimerase (DPEase) is a potential catalytic enzyme for D-psicose production. D-psicose, also known as D-allulose is a low-calorie sweetener that has garnered considerable attention for healthy alternative sweetener due to its remarkable physicochemical properties. This research focused on an in-depth investigation of the expression of the constructed DPEase gene from Agrobacterium tumefaciens in Escherichia coli for D-psicose synthesis, with a strong emphasis on scalability. Experimentally, this research created the recombinant enzyme, explored the optimization of gene expression systems and protein purification strategies, and then investigated the enzymatic characterization to establish a robust and scalable process for D-psicose production. Additionally, the optimization of D-psicose production using the recombinant DPEase was also studied. Finally, the produced D-psicose syrup was underwent acute toxicity evaluation to provide scientific evidence supporting its safety.Results The optimization of DPEase expression involved the utilization of Mn2+ as a cofactor, fine-tuning isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) induction, and controlling induction temperature. The purification process was strategically designed to facilitate industrial-scale operations. A nickel column and an elution buffer containing 200 mM imidazole were employed, resulting in purified DPEase with a remarkable 21.03-fold increase in specific activity compared to the crude extract. The optimum D-psicose conversion conditions of purified DPEase were performed at pH 7.5 and 55°C under Mn2+ addition as the cofactor. Kinetic parameters of purified DPEase, Vmax and Km, were determined, demonstrating the high substrate affinity and efficiency of DPEase, which are crucial factors for achieving cost-effective for D-psicose production that was confirmed by binding site of fructose-DPEase-Mn2+ structure. Stability studies were conducted to ensure the enzyme's robustness during storage, which the glycerol supplementation and storage at -20°C were identified as effective strategies for maintaining its stability. D-psicose production using purified DPEase was investigated across a range of fructose concentrations, with a focus on optimizing yields for industrial applications. Moreover, the results from acute toxicity study showed no toxicity to rats, supporting the safety of mixed D-fructose-D-psicose syrup produced using recombinant DPEase.Conclusions These findings have direct and practical implications for the industrial-scale production of D-psicose, a valuable rare sugar with a broad range of applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Our research advances the understanding of DPEase biocatalysis and offers a roadmap for the successful scale-up production of rare sugars, opening new avenues for their utilization in various industrial processes.