bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adjunctive Use of Bone Growth Stimulation Increases Cervical Spine Fusion Rates in Patients at Risk for Pseudarthrosis
Authors: Patel Vikas , Wind Joshua J. , Aleem Ilyas , Lansford Todd , Weinstein Marc A. , Vokshoor Amir , Campbell Peter G. , Beaumont Andrew , Hassanzadeh Hamid , Radcliff Kristen , Matheus Virgilio , Coric Domagoj 
Published: April 2024

Study Design:
A prospective multicenter clinical trial (NCT 03177473) was conducted with a retrospective cohort used as a control arm.

Objective:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate cervical spine fusion rates in subjects with risk factors for pseudarthrosis who received pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) treatment.

Summary of Background Data:
Certain risk factors predispose patients to pseudarthrosis, which is associated with prolonged pain, reduced function, and decreased quality of life.

Methods:
Subjects in the PEMF group were treated with PEMF for 6 months postoperatively. The primary outcome measure was fusion status at the 12-month follow-up period. Fusion status was determined using anterior/posterior, lateral, and flexion/extension radiographs and computed tomography (without contrast).

Results:
A total of 213 patients were evaluated (PEMF, n=160; Control, n=53). At baseline, the PEMF group had a higher percentage of subjects who used nicotine (P=0.01), had osteoporosis (P<0.05), multi-level disease (P<0.0001), and were >65 years of age (P=0.01). The PEMF group showed over two-fold higher percentage of subjects that had ≥3 risk factors (n=92/160, 57.5%) compared with the control group (n=14/53, 26.4%). At the 12-month follow-up, the PEMF group demonstrated significantly higher fusion rates compared with the control (90.0% vs. 60.4%, P<0.05). A statistically significant improvement in fusion rate was observed in PEMF subjects with multi-level surgery (P<0.0001) and high BMI (>30 kg/m2; P=0.0021) when compared with the control group. No significant safety concerns were observed.

Conclusions:
Adjunctive use of PEMF stimulation provides significant improvements in cervical spine fusion rates in subjects having risk factors for pseudarthrosis. When compared with control subjects that did not use PEMF stimulation, treated subjects showed improved fusion outcomes despite being older, having more risk factors for pseudarthrosis, and undergoing more complex surgeries.
Intravitreal dexamethasone for the treatment of macular edema secondary to hydroxychloroquine toxicity
Authors: Zeleny Alexander , Mathai Mariam , Jacobsen Bradley H. , Garfinkel Richard A. , Katira Reshma , Fein Jordana G. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Purpose:
Cystoid macular edema is a vision threatening complication infrequently associated with hydroxychloroquine retinal toxicity. There is limited data on the best treatment for this pathology.

Methods:
A retrospective case series is presented.

Results:
In this series, we present three cases of cystoid macular edema in patients with diagnosed hydroxychloroquine maculopathy successfully treated with intravitreal dexamethasone implantation.

Conclusions
Minimal literature has been published regarding the best management of cystoid macular edema related to hydroxychloroquine toxicity. Our case series suggests a possible new agent in the treatment of this rare occurrence.
Hederagenin Improves Adriamycin-induced Nephropathy by Inhibiting the JAK/STAT Signaling Pathway
Authors: Zhong Xia , Jia Jian , Tan Ruizhi , Wang Li 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:
Glomerulonephritis, a common kidney disease and major cause of end-stage renal disease, lacks effective treatment options. Hederagenin (HDG) exerts potent anti-inflammatory and protective effects on the kidneys and exhibits promise for the treatment of glomerulonephritis. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanism of action of hederagenin in the context of adriamycin-induced nephropathy (ADN).

Methods:
C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 5 groups that included the control, model, low-dose HDG (20 mg/kg), high-dose HDG (40 mg/kg), and positive control (10 mg/kg irbesartan) groups. ADN was established in mice by administering a single injection of 10 mg/kg adriamycin. Renal pathology and fibrosis were assessed using haematoxylin and eosin (H & E) and Masson’s trichrome staining, whereas in vitro studies were conducted using cultured mouse podocytes (MPC5). Immunofluorescence staining and western blotting were performed to detect inflammation and the protein levels of signaling pathways.

Results:
The results revealed that HDG significantly improved adriamycin-induced abnormal serum creatinine, albumin, and urea nitrogen levels. HDG treatment reduced glomerular injury and fibrosis, particularly at high doses. Additionally, HDG effectively reduced adriamycin-induced activation of Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling and renal fibrosis while suppressing CD4+/CD8+ cell ratios in the kidneys and enhancing the immune response. Interestingly, when the JAK/STAT signaling pathway was activated by an agonist, the ameliorative effects of HDG on ADN were inhibited, thus suggesting that JAK/STAT signaling is a key target of HDG.

Conclusion:
HDG may represent a promising treatment option for glomerulonephritis by inhibiting JAK/STAT-mediated immune-inflammatory responses.
Career Trajectory After General Surgery Residency
Authors: Green Allen , Sommer Elijah R. , Johnson Max R. , Gonzalez Hector , Sia Twan , Spain David A. , Choi Jeff 
Published: April 2024

Objective:
Determine the proportion of contemporary US academic general surgery residency program graduates who pursue academic careers and identify factors associated with pursuing academic careers.

Summary Background Data:
Many academic residency programs aim to cultivate academic surgeons, yet the proportion of contemporary graduates who choose academic careers is unclear. The potential determinants that affect graduates’ decisions to pursue academic careers remain underexplored.

Methods:
We collected program and individual-level data on 2015 and 2018 graduates across 96 US academic general surgery residency programs using public resources. We defined those pursuing academic careers as faculty within US allopathic medical school-affiliated surgery departments who published two or more peer-reviewed publications as the first or senior author between 2020-2021. After variable selection using sample splitting LASSO regression, multivariable regression evaluated association with pursuing academic careers among all graduates, and graduates of top-20 residency programs. Secondary analysis using multivariable ordinal regression explored factors associated with high research productivity during early faculty years.

Results:
Among 992 graduates, 166 (17%) were pursuing academic careers according to our definition. Graduating from a top-20 ranked residency program (OR[95%CI]: 2.34[1.40-3.88]), working with a longitudinal research mentor during residency (OR[95%CI]: 2.21[1.24-3.95]), holding an advanced degree (OR[95%CI]: 2.20[1.19-3.99]), and the number of peer-reviewed publications during residency as first or senior author (OR[95%CI]: 1.13[1.07-1.20]) were associated with pursuing an academic surgery career, while the number of peer-reviewed publications before residency was not (OR[95%CI]: 1.08[0.99-1.20]). Among top 20 program graduates, working with a longitudinal research mentor during residency (OR[95%CI]: 0.95[0.43-2.09]) was not associated with pursuing an academic surgery career. The number of peer-reviewed publications during residency as first or senior author was the only variable associated with higher productivity during early faculty years (OR[95%CI]: 1.12[1.07-1.18]).

Conclusions:
Our findings suggest programs that aim to graduate academic surgeons may benefit from ensuring trainees receive infrastructural support and demonstrate sustained commitment to research throughout residency. Our results should be interpreted cautiously as the impact of unmeasured confounders is unclear.
The Ribosomal Operon Database (ROD): A full-length rDNA operon database derived from genome assemblies
Authors: Krabberød Anders K. , Stokke Embla , Thoen Ella , Skrede Inger , Kauserud Håvard 
Published: April 2024

AbstractCurrent rDNA reference sequence databases are tailored towards shorter DNA markers, such as parts of the 16/18S marker or the ITS region. However, due to advances in long-read DNA sequencing technologies, longer stretches of the rDNA operon are increasingly used in environmental sequencing studies to increase the phylogenetic resolution. There is, therefore, a growing need for longer rDNA reference sequences. Here, we present the Ribosomal Operon Database (ROD), which includes eukaryotic full-length rDNA operons fished from publicly available genome assemblies. Full-length operons were detected in 34.1% of the 34,701 examined eukaryotic genome assemblies from NCBI. In most cases (53.1%), more than one operon variant was detected, which can be due to intragenomic operon copy variability, allelic variation in non-haploid genomes, or technical errors from the sequencing and assembly process. The highest copy number found was 5,947 inZea mays. In total, 453,697 unique operons were detected, with 69,480 operon variant clusters remaining after intragenomic clustering at 99% sequence identity. The operon length varied extensively across eukaryotes, ranging from 4,136 to 16,463 bp, which will lead to considerable PCR bias during amplification of the entire operon. Clustering the full-length operons revealed that the different parts (i.e., 18S, 28S, the hypervariable region V4 of 18S, and ITS) provide divergent taxonomic resolution, with 18S and the V4 region being the most conserved. The Ribosomal Operon Database (ROD) will be updated regularly to provide an increasing number of full-length rDNA operons to the scientific community.
A Qualitative Study of the Ethical Issues Encountered at End-of-life Care at a University Teaching Hospital in Nigeria
Authors: Udeh Nnenma Ndidiamaka , Ngozi Idemili-Arounu , Ezeome Emmanuel R 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackgroundEnd-of-life (EOL) care involves providing quality medical attention to the dying patient. It is fraught with some ethical challenges, often under-explored in African settings. This communication presents a qualitative analysis of ethical issues encountered by caregivers and their patients who are receiving end-of-life care in a teaching hospital in Nigeria.MethodsEthical issues in EOL care encountered by 40 people (dying patients, their families, nurses, and doctors) at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu (UNTH-E) Enugu State, Nigeria was explored over two months. The Participants’ socio-demographic data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data was analyzed using a thematic framework. The coding of transcripts was done with NVivo 12 software.ResultsAll participant groups encountered commonly reported ethical challenges in end-of-life (EOL) care, including issues of medical futility, treatment refusal, truthful disclosures, families requesting that a competent patient not be informed about their condition, confidentiality, limiting or withdrawing a treatment, limited or insufficient pain management, conflicting interests in care, an unfair financial burden without the patient consent, and an unfair burden on the healthcare system. Additionally, the uncommon issues included the patient’s unwillingness to discussions about their terminal status; families withdrawing due care and support prematurely, and delayed referrals.ConclusionEthical issues are commonly encountered in caring for the patient at EOL in the Nigerian environment notwithstanding the paucity of literature on them. This underscores the importance of adopting known preventive measures to eliminate or minimize these issues.
Scanner-based real-time 3D brain+body slice-to-volume reconstruction for T2-weighted 0.55T low field fetal MRI
Authors: Uus Alena U. , Neves Silva Sara , Aviles Verdera Jordina , Payette Kelly , Hall Megan , Colford Kathleen , Luis Aysha , Sousa Helena S. , Ning Zihan , Roberts Thomas , McElroy Sarah , Deprez Maria , Hajnal Joseph V. , Rutherford Mary A. , Story Lisa , Hutter Jana 
Published: April 2024

PurposeIntegrating the SVRTK methods within the Gadgetron framework enables automated 3D fetal brain and body reconstruction in the low-field 0.55T MRI scanner within the duration of the scan.MethodsA deep-learning based, integrated, robust, and deployable workflow from several motion-corrupted individual T2-weighted single-shot Turbo Spin Echo stacks to produce super-resolved 3D reconstructed fetal brain and body is enabled by combining automated deformable and rigid Slice-to-Volume (D/SVR) reconstruction adapted for low field MRI with a real-time scanner-based Gadgetron workflow. Qualitative evaluation of the pipeline in terms of image quality and efficiency is performed in 12 prospectively acquired fetal datasets from the 22-40 weeks gestational age range.ResultsThe reconstructions were available on average 6:42±3:13 minutes after the acquisition of the final stack and could be assessed and archived on the scanner console during the ongoing fetal MRI scan. The output image data quality was rated as good to acceptable for interpretation. The additional retrospective testing of the pipeline on 83 0.55T datasets demonstrated stable reconstruction quality for low-field MRI.ConclusionThe proposed pipeline allows scanner-based prospective motion correction for low-field fetal MRI. The main novel components of this work are the compilation of automated fetal and body D/SVR methods into one combined pipeline, the first application of 3D reconstruction methods to 0.55T T2-weighted data, and the online integration into the scanner environment.
The Metabolic Triad: Trends and Determinants of the Isolated and Combined Presence of Hypertension, Obesity, and Diabetes in Peru
Authors: Vera-Ponce Víctor Juan , Zuzunaga-Montoya Fiorella E. , Vásquez-Romero Luisa Erika Milagros , Loayza-Castro Joan A. , Paucar Cori Raquel Iturregui , Vigil-Ventura Enrique 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIntroductionInrecent years, the presence of non-communicable diseases, particularly hypertension (HTN), obesity, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), has emerged as a significant threat to global public health.ObjectiveTo determine the trends and factors associated with these diseases’ isolated and combined presence in both dual and triple forms (metabolic triad).MethodsSecondary data analysis from the Demographic and Family Health Survey for 2014–2022. The primary variable had seven categories, ranging from isolated states to triple combinations. Given the polytomous nature of the dependent variable, multinomial logistic regression models were constructed. The results of these models are presented in the form of adjusted odds ratios, accompanied by their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).ResultsAmong the isolated forms, obesity was the most prevalent comorbidity (15.35%), while T2DM was the least common (1.14%). Among the combined forms, the most frequent was obesity and HTN (6.40%). The prevalence of the metabolic triad was low (0.84%). The factors commonly related to each were female sex, age, urban residency, region, economic level, daily smoking, alcohol consumption, and altitude.ConclusionsAn increasing prevalence of HTN, T2DM, and obesity was found, both individually and in their various combinations. Furthermore, the complexity and sometimes contradictory nature of the associated factors, which can increase or decrease the presence of these metabolic diseases, reflect the need for a personalized approach to prevention and treatment.
Synthetic bacteria with programmed cell targeting and protein injection suppress tumor growthin vivo
Authors: Asensio-Calavia Alejandro , Mañas Carmen , Cabrera-Fisac Alba , Pico-Sánchez Eva , Seco Elena M. , Kolodziej Starsha , Leventhal Daniel S. , Lora José M. , Álvarez Beatriz , Fernández Luis Ángel 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBacterial living therapeutics (BLTs) hold promise for treating cancer and other human diseases because they can be engineered and transported into the microbiota (e.g., of tumors, gastrointestinal tract) to deliver therapeutic payloads. Current approaches rely on the natural tropism of the bacterial chassis used and trigger the local release of protein cargoes, typically through active extracellular secretion or bacterial lysis. BLTs capable of targeting specific cellular subsets and delivering payloads intracellularly might provide new therapeutic opportunities and improve efficacy while reducing off-target effects. We used synthetic biology to develop BLTs that can deliver defined cargo proteins into the cytoplasm of target cells. We designed a modular synthetic bacterium with programmed adhesion to cells by targeting defined cell surface antigen and armed with an inducible type III secretion system (T3SS) for injection of a protein cargo of interest. As a proof of principle, we programmed synthetic bacteria to recognize the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and inject the catalytic fragments of the potent adenosine diphosphate-ribosyltransferase toxins ExoA and TccC3. These BLTs demonstrated the ability to trigger robust tumor cell deathin vitro. Intratumoral administration of these synthetic bacteria suppressed tumor growthin vivoand prolonged the survival of treated animals when the tumor cells were recognized by the engineered bacteria. These results demonstrate the potential of programming cell targeting and controlled protein injection for the development of effective and specific BLTs.Graphical Abstract
Simulations Predict Stronger CRISPRi Transcriptional Repression in Plants for Identical than Heterogeneous gRNA Target Sites
Authors: Scott Helen , Occhialini Alessandro , Lenaghan Scott C. , Beal Jacob 
Published: April 2024

AbstractPlant synthetic biologists have been working to adapt the CRISPRa and CRISPRi promoter regulation methods for applications such as improving crops or installing other valuable pathways. With other organisms, strong transcriptional control has typically required multiple gRNA target sites, which poses a critical engineering choice between heterogeneous sites, which allow each gRNA to target existing locations in a promoter, and identical sites, which typically require modification of the promoter. Here, we investigate the consequences of this choice for CRISPRi plant promoter regulation via simulation-based analysis, using model parameters based on single gRNA regulation and constitutive promoters inN. benthamiana. Using models of 2 to 6 gRNA target sites to compare heterogeneous versus identical sites for tunability, sensitivity to parameter values, and sensitivity to cell-to-cell variation, we find that identical gRNA target sites are predicted to yield far more effective transcriptional repression than heterogeneous sites.
Swiss-Austrian VEry Preterm Infant Transition Systematic Review (SAVE-T): Transition to home: improving outcomes of children and families - a systematic review protocol
Authors: Engel Vivienne , Papadimitriou Valentina Mauron , Bührer Lea , Ebner Laura , Keller Lena , Gosteli Martina , Siegfried Sandra , Latal Beatrix , Kiechl-Kohlendorfer Ursula , Held Ulrike 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackgroundMedical progress has significantly improved the survival rates of very preterm-born infants in recent decades. Nevertheless, these infants are still at increased risk for long-term impairments as compared to term-born infants. This situation often leaves parents coping with anxiety and a sense of unpreparedness, as they navigate the transition to home. While the homecoming of a preterm born infant is long awaited and brings relief to families, it also marks the end of intensive monitoring and highly specialized professional care. Correspondingly, the World Health Organisation (WHO) advocates for additional support for parents of preterm infants following the transition to home. According to the WHO, preparation for this transition yields positive effects on crucial aspects such as nutrition, parent-child interaction, and parental well-being. Consequently, we aimed to provide an overview of existing transition to home interventions and their efficacy, by conducting a systematic review of the literature.MethodsWe will perform a systematic review of interventions aiming at improving the transition to home process for very preterm-born infants and their parents and will search the following databases: Cochrane, Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE, and PsycINFO. Our main aim is to provide an overview over the existing interventions, and their efficacy. Thus, we will not predefine specific outcomes, but we will describe, assess and summarize the outcomes of the included studies.DiscussionThis systematic literature review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current interventions designed to improve the transition from hospital to home. Subsequently, it will show the individual effect of these interventions and pool effect sizes if possible. The most promising interventions will then be combined and used as the basis of a subsequent randomized controlled trial of a new transition to home intervention.Systematic review registrationThe systematic review protocol was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) on August 30, 2023. PROSPERO CRD42023455401
How many colours can you see? Real environmental lighting increases discriminability of surface colours
Authors: Morimoto Takuma , Linhares João M. M. , Nascimento Sérgio M. C. , Smithson Hannah E. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractColor supports object identification. However, two objects that differ in color under one light can appear indiscriminable under a second light. This phenomenon, known asilluminant metamerism, underlies the difficulty faced by consumers of selecting matching fabric or paint colors in a store only to find that they appear not to match under home lighting. The frequency of illuminant metamerism has been evaluated only under single, uniform illuminants. However, in real world conditions, the spectral content of light falling on an object varies with direction (Morimoto et al. 2019), meaning that a surface will sample different spectra depending on its angle within the environment. Here we used computer-graphics techniques to simulate a pair of planar surfaces placed under newly measured hyperspectral illumination maps that quantify the directional variability of real-world lighting environments. We counted the instances of illuminant metamerism that can be solved simply by viewing surfaces tilted to a different direction. Results show that most instances of illuminant metamerism can in theory be resolved for both trichromatic and dichromatic observers. Color deficient observers benefit more than trichromats implying that the directional variability allows the recovery of the ‘missing’ dimension in their colour vision systems. This study adds a new perspective to the classic trichromatic theory of human vision and emphasizes the importance of carefully considering the environments in which biological vision operates in daily life. It is striking that the physical directional variability available in natural lighting environments substantially mitigates the biological limitations of trichromacy or dichromacy.