bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predictors and outcome of deterioration during admission in patients with cerebral venous thrombosis
Authors: Ferro Margarida , Bettencourt Sofia , Soares Mafalda , Baptista Mariana , Marques-Matos Cláudia , Fragata Isabel , Paiva Nunes Ana , Aguiar de Sousa Diana 
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a less common stroke subtype. While long term outcome factors have been extensively studied, short term deterioration remains poorly understood. Patients and methods: We conducted a 10-years retrospective analysis at a high-volume tertiary center, including consecutive patients diagnosed with CVT. The primary outcome was early deterioration (ED), defined as decrease in Glasgow Coma Scale, de novo or worsening of focal deficit, death from neurological cause, new or enlarged parenchymal lesions or subarachnoid hemorrhage during hospitalization. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with ED. Results: We included 138 patients (81.2% female, median age 42.0 years (IQR 29.3–49.0)). Forty-five (32.6%) patients had ED, with 33 (23.9%) showing clinical deterioration and 35 of 104 (33.7%) imaging worsening. Variables selected from the multivariate model for association with ED were aphasia (OR 4.63, 95% CI 1.61–13.32), motor deficits (OR 2.34, 95% CI 0.97–5.61), and parenchymal lesion (OR 3.65, 95% CI 1.38–9.67). Twenty-seven patients underwent endovascular treatment after deterioration. Patients in the ED group had worse functional outcome at discharge, 6 and 12 months ( p < 0.001). Discussion: One third of patients in this cohort experienced ED. Patients with aphasia, motor deficit, or parenchymal brain lesion at baseline were at higher risk. These patients performed worse at long term follow-up. Conclusion: We identified predictors of ED in patients with CVT. These patients should be carefully monitored. These findings may inform the design of future clinical trials aimed at evaluating additional therapeutic interventions in the acute phase.
Predictors of Functional Outcome at 1 Year After Stroke: Analysis of INTERSTROKE Data from Pakistan
Authors: Awan Safia , Wasay Mohammad , Iqbal Romaina , Ali Ali N. , Yusuf Salim , Donnell Martin O. 
Published: February 2025

Background and Objective Identification of early and long-term outcomes after stroke is important in stroke management strategies. The aim of this study was to analyse predictors of independence and functional outcome at 1 and 12 months post-stroke. Methods This was a prospective study of patients with first stroke who were enrolled between April 2013 and July 2015 from a single-centre tertiary care hospital in Pakistan. Patients were followed up at 1 and 12 months and assessed using the modified Rankin scale (mRs). Results A total of 395 patients with acute first strokes were enrolled. Stroke dependency (mRs score 3-5) was higher in our site at 1 month. At 1 month, 137 (34.6%) of the participants were independent (mRs 0-2), 54.1% ( n = 214) were dependent (mRs 3-5) and 11.1% ( n = 44) died. At 12 months, 86% ( n = 303/351) completed the follow-up. Of 303 participants, 35.3% ( n = 107) were independent (mRs 0-2), 35.6% ( n = 108) were dependent (mRs 3-5) and 29% ( n = 88) had died. Forty-eight patients (14%) were lost to follow-up. Overall mortality was 33% (132/395) in 1 year. At 12 months, no comorbidities (OR 3.26; 95% CI: 1.48-7.21) and normal level of consciousness at onset (OR 3.44; 95% CI: 1.93-6.12) were associated with greater post-stroke independence (mRs 0-2). Out of 395, 111 (28.1%) patients with no or minimal disability at 1 month (mRs 0-2), 32.4% showed worsening of disability (mRs 3-5) at 12 months. Conclusion At 1 year, 33% died and 36% were dependent. A large number (60%) of patients with minimal disability at 30 days worsened or died at 1 year.
Endoscopic Proximal Hamstring Repair Using a Modified Whipstitch: A Technical Note
Authors: Cotter Eric J. , Kazi Omair , Vogel Michael J. , Nho Shane J. 
Published: February 2025

Background: Tearing of the proximal hamstring tendon is a common injury in athletes for which surgical repair is being increasingly utilized. The described techniques for endoscopic repair employ a simple or mattress suture configuration. We hypothesize that the incorporation of a running modified whipstitch may allow for increased suture purchase and sturdier tendon fixation. Indications: Patients with partial tears, 2-tendon tears and >2 cm retraction, or 3-tendon tears refractory to conservative management are typically indicated for surgery. Technique Description: In the prone position, 2 portals are established in the gluteal crease. Neurologic structures such as the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve and the sciatic nerve are visualized. The ischium is decorticated, and a triple-loaded suture anchor is placed in the ischial tuberosity. Using a tissue penetrator and a suture-passing device, a modified whipstitch suture configuration is constructed to secure the torn tendons. Results: Overall, following endoscopic surgical repair, most patients demonstrate improvement in functional outcomes metrics and achievement of patient acceptable symptom state in >70% of cases. Return-to-sport rate between 77.3% and 95% has been described in the literature. Discussion/Conclusion: Open repair utilizes a running suture configuration, whereas endoscopic repair has traditionally been performed with simple or mattress constructs. A modified whipstitch, performed endoscopically, may provide the durability of open repair with decreased rates of perioperative complications associated with endoscopic repair. Further work comparing suture techniques and postoperative outcomes should be investigated. Patient Consent Disclosure Statement: The author(s) attests that consent has been obtained from any patient(s) appearing in this publication. If the individual may be identifiable, the author(s) has included a statement of release or other written form of approval from the patient(s) with this submission for publication.
Odoribacter splanchnicus-derived extracellular vesicles alleviate inflammatory bowel disease by modulating gastrointestinal inflammation and intestinal barrier function via the NLRP3 inflammasome suppression
Authors: Zhuang Jinfu , Zhuang Zhicheng , Chen Bin , Yang Yuanfeng , Chen Hengkai , Guan Guoxian 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Background
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from specific bacteria exert therapeutic potential on inflammatory diseases. Previous reports suggest the protective role of Odoribacter splanchnicus (O.splanchnicus) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The effect of EVs derived from O.splanchnicus (Os-EVs) and the underlying mechanism on IBD were surveyed here.

Methods
Os-EVs were derived with ultracentrifugation before characterization by transmission electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis. Based on IBD model mice induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), the effects of Os-EVs on IBD symptoms, intestinal barrier dysfunction, and colonic apoptosis, inflammation as well as NLRP3 inflammasome activation were analyzed. NLRP3 knockout mice were exploited to judge the role of NLRP3 in Os-EVs against IBD.

Results
Os-EVs were typically shaped as a double concave disc (average diameter = 95 nm). The administration of Os-EVs attenuated DSS-induced body weight loss, colon shortening, disease activity index score, and histological injury in mice. Os-EVs could also relieve intestinal barrier dysfunction and colonic apoptosis, as evidenced by the up-regulation of zona occludens-1 and Occludin and the decrease of TUNEL-positive staining in colonic tissues of IBD mice. Os-EVs downregulated the expression of the interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α, and IL-6, and elevated IL-10, accompanied by blockage of the NLRP3 inflammasome activation in DSS-induced mice. Furthermore, NLRP3 knockout mice experiments revealed that the protective role of Os-EVs in IBD relies on regulating NLRP3.

Conclusion
Our finding indicated that Os-EVs effectively ameliorated IBD through repressing NLRP3, strongly supporting the potential of probiotic-derived EVs for alleviating IBD.
A hybrid machine learning framework for functional annotation of mitochondrial glutathione transport and metabolism proteins in cancers
Authors: Kennedy Luke , Sandhu Jagdeep K. , Harper Mary-Ellen , Cuperlovic-Culf Miroslava 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Background
Alterations of metabolism, including changes in mitochondrial metabolism as well as glutathione (GSH) metabolism are a well appreciated hallmark of many cancers. Mitochondrial GSH (mGSH) transport is a poorly characterized aspect of GSH metabolism, which we investigate in the context of cancer. Existing functional annotation approaches from machine (ML) or deep learning (DL) models based only on protein sequences, were unable to annotate functions in biological contexts.

Results
We develop a flexible ML framework for functional annotation from diverse feature data. This hybrid ML framework leverages cancer cell line multi-omics data and other biological knowledge data as features, to uncover potential genes involved in mGSH metabolism and membrane transport in cancers. This framework achieves strong performance across functional annotation tasks and several cell line and primary tumor cancer samples. For our application, classification models predict the known mGSH transporter SLC25A39 but not SLC25A40 as being highly probably related to mGSH metabolism in cancers. SLC25A10, SLC25A50, and orphan SLC25A24, SLC25A43 are predicted to be associated with mGSH metabolism in multiple biological contexts and structural analysis of these proteins reveal similarities in potential substrate binding regions to the binding residues of SLC25A39.

Conclusion
These findings have implications for a better understanding of cancer cell metabolism and novel therapeutic targets with respect to GSH metabolism through potential novel functional annotations of genes. The hybrid ML framework proposed here can be applied to other biological function classifications or multi-omics datasets to generate hypotheses in various biological contexts. Code and a tutorial for generating models and predictions in this framework are available at: https://github.com/lkenn012/mGSH_cancerClassifiers.
Menstrual waste management practices among female students in Niger delta development commission hostels in educational institutions in Niger delta, Nigeria
Authors: Ikogho Doris Eseoghene , Onoharigho Festus Dafe 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Background of the study
Menstrual waste management encompasses the practices involved in handling menstrual hygiene products from the onset to the conclusion of menstruation. Despite being a crucial public health issue, menstrual waste management remains under-researched, particularly in educational institutions in Nigeria. This study investigates menstrual waste management practices among female students residing in hostels constructed by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in the Niger Delta region, focusing on their methods of disposal, associated challenges, and compliance with global standards.

Methods
The study targeted first-year undergraduate female students from three tertiary institutions, with a total population of 825. A systematic sampling technique was used to select a sample of 413 respondents. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire adapted from the World Bank’s Menstrual Health and Hygiene Resource Package (2021) and validated instruments by Adekunle and Ajayi (Am Int J Social Sci Res 4(2):78--87, 2019), with a reliability coefficient of 0.8. Ethical clearance was obtained from Delta State University.

Result
Findings revealed that common menstrual waste materials included cotton wool, pads, and napkins, with many students facing challenges related to affordability and availability of preferred products. Improper disposal practices, such as discarding without wrapping and burying in pits or burning, were prevalent, posing significant health and environmental risks. These unsound practices were exacerbated by the lack of adequate disposal facilities in hostels, limited awareness of proper disposal methods, and non-compliance with global guidelines. Health consequences included an increased risk of infections, while environmental impacts ranged from contamination to prolonged degradation of non-biodegradable materials.

Conclusion
The study highlights the urgent need for infrastructural improvements, targeted education on sustainable menstrual hygiene practices, and stricter adherence to global standards. Recommendations include: University management should jointly implement stringent policies to eliminate unsustainable disposal methods, providing affordable and eco-friendly menstrual products, such as reusable pads, integrating menstrual health education into institutional policies, and enhancing waste management systems. These measures are vital for promoting sustainable menstrual hygiene and aligning with global health and environmental goals.
Comparing self-assessment and instructor ratings: a study on communication and interviewing skills in psychology student training
Authors: Najström Mats , Oscarsson Martin , Ljunggren Ingrid , Ramnerö Jonas 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Background
A multitude of studies have investigated, assessed, and debated the merits of self-assessment within medical education and related fields, yielding inconclusive results. This raises questions about the reliability of self-assessment as a tool for evaluating competency development. The objective of the current study was to investigate the self-assessment accuracy of psychology students regarding their performance in training for interviewing and communication skills. A novel assessment instrument was employed for this purpose. The main research questions were: (1) How accurate are students’ self-assessments of their performance in comparison to instructors’ ratings? (2) How well do these self-assessments align with perceived changes in skill development at both group and individual levels?

Methods
The study was conducted in three phases to achieve the research objective. In Phase 1, 206 psychology students from the first three semesters of a 5-year master’s program at Stockholm University conducted 15-minute video-recorded interviews, which were rated by instructors using an 11-item assessment instrument. Data were analyzed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). Phase 2 included 173 second semester students conducting 15-minute video interviews. These were reviewed in small groups, with both students and instructors rating the interviews using the same instrument. The process was repeated after one week. Two Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFAs) were conducted on instructors’ and students’ ratings to validate the three-factor model identified in Phase 1. In Phase 3, correlation analyses and paired-samples t-tests were conducted at both group and individual levels to address the research questions.

Results
The findings indicated high self-assessment accuracy, reflecting strong self-assessment abilities among the students. Comparisons between instructor ratings and students’ self-assessments of skill progression demonstrated good overall alignment. The validated assessment scale developed in Phases 1 and 2 shows potential for application in various educational contexts.

Conclusions
This study demonstrates that students are capable of evaluating their own interviewing and communication skills and can take an active role in their skill development when provided with suitable tools and adequate training. The findings support the viability of self-assessment as an educational tool and suggest its integration into psychology training programs, emphasizing clear criteria and reflective practices.
A systems based qualitative analysis exploring the potential to implement risk stratified bowel cancer screening in England
Authors: Moorthie Sowmiya , Taylor Lily , Dennison Rebecca , Usher-Smith Juliet 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Background
Improving bowel cancer screening programmes through the introduction of risk stratification has been discussed, but not widely implemented in many countries. This study aimed to gain an understanding of system and programmatic aspects that need to be addressed to enable a move towards implementation.

Methods
The Engineering Better Care Framework was used to support exploration and thematic analysis of the views of stakeholders involved in delivery of bowel cancer screening in England. Semi-structured interviews (n = 11) were conducted to gain a better understanding of the problem, and to identify elements that would contribute to a well-designed programme and anticipate barriers to delivery.

Results
There is enthusiasm for introducing risk stratification and it is considered to be beneficial to improving the current screening programme. A major barrier impacting implementation is a lack of consensus on the best approach for risk stratified screening. Many interviewees recognised this as a bottle-neck and were in favour of processes that would enable more joined up decision-making to enable balanced consideration of the differing, and often nuanced potential of different strategies for risk stratification.
Several key considerations and design elements were identified: evidence demonstrating benefit of a particular strategy, feasibility of programme delivery (data availability, workforce capacity, public and patient acceptability, impact on equity), as well as changes to design of patient communication materials, the bowel cancer screening system, consent and follow-up services.

Conclusions
System level issues and clarification of remaining uncertainties require resolution in order to move towards implementation. Moving this agenda forward requires consensus across different stakeholders in the first instance on the best use of risk. This will enable outlining key outstanding evidence gaps and establishing evidence thresholds for implementation. There are opportunities to design an optimal system based on harnessing existing infrastructure and learnings from other screening programmes.
Generative artificial intelligence (GAI) usage guidelines for scholarly publishing: a cross-sectional study of medical journals
Authors: Yin Shuhui , Huang Simu , Xue Peng , Xu Zhuoran , Lian Zi , Ye Chenfei , Ma Siyuan , Liu Mingxuan , Hu Yuanjia , Lu Peiyi , Li Chihua 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Background
Generative artificial intelligence (GAI) has developed rapidly and been increasingly used in scholarly publishing, so it is urgent to examine guidelines for its usage. This cross-sectional study aims to examine the coverage and type of recommendations of GAI usage guidelines among medical journals and how these factors relate to journal characteristics.

Methods
From the SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) list for medicine in 2022, we generated two groups of journals: top SJR ranked journals (N = 200) and random sample of non-top SJR ranked journals (N = 140). For each group, we examined the coverage of author and reviewer guidelines across four categories: no guidelines, external guidelines only, own guidelines only, and own and external guidelines. We then calculated the number of recommendations by counting the number of usage recommendations for author and reviewer guidelines separately. Regression models examined the relationship of journal characteristics with the coverage and type of recommendations of GAI usage guidelines.

Results
A higher proportion of top SJR ranked journals provided author guidelines compared to the random sample of non-top SJR ranked journals (95.0% vs. 86.7%, P < 0.01). The two groups of journals had the same median of 5 on a scale of 0 to 7 for author guidelines and a median of 1 on a scale of 0 to 2 for reviewer guidelines. However, both groups had lower percentages of journals providing recommendations for data analysis and interpretation, with the random sample of non-top SJR ranked journals having a significantly lower percentage (32.5% vs. 16.7%, P < 0.05). A higher SJR score was positively associated with providing GAI usage guidelines for both authors (all P < 0.01) and reviewers (all P < 0.01) among the random sample of non-top SJR ranked journals.

Conclusions
Although most medical journals provided their own GAI usage guidelines or referenced external guidelines, some recommendations remained unspecified (e.g., whether AI can be used for data analysis and interpretation). Additionally, journals with lower SJR scores were less likely to provide guidelines, indicating a potential gap that warrants attention. Collaborative efforts are needed to develop specific recommendations that better guide authors and reviewers.
Functional evaluation of novel compound heterozygous variants in SLC12A3 of Gitelman syndrome
Authors: Wang Na , Yang Yuanxing , Tian Xiong , Fu Hongjun , Chen Shuaishuai , Du Juping , Xu Mengyi , He Haixia , Shen Bo , Xu Jiaqin 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Background
Gitelman syndrome (GS) is an inherited renal tubular disorder characterized by hypokalemic alkalosis and hypomagnesemia, due to biallelic pathogenic variants in the solute carrier family 12 member 3 (SLC12A3) gene encoding a sodium-chloride (Na-Cl) cotransporter (NCC). This work aimed at identifying SLC12A3 variants in the GS pedigree and reveal the effect of the mutations on protein structure and function.

Methods
Whole-exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger sequencing were performed in the pedigree. Configuration prediction of two mutant NCC proteins were achieved using SWISS-MODEL. The SLC12A3 missense mutants were generated by site-specific mutagenesis, and the protein expression, location and Na+ uptake activity were assessed by using the HEK293T cell line.

Results
Genetic analysis identified novel compound heterozygous SLC12A3 variants (c.718G > A/p.E240K and c.2675T > C/p.L892P) in the patient with typical GS phenotype. Both of her parents, elder brother and her son carried the heterozygous p.L892P variant, but only the elder brother exhibited mild hypokalemia. Bioinformatics tools predicted that both mutations were highly species conserved and pathogenic. The prediction of mutant protein indicated that p.E240K and p.L892P altered protein’s secondary and three-dimensional (3D) structure and stability. Functional experiments revealed decreased protein expression and Na+ uptake activity caused by these two variants, especially the p.L892P variant.

Conclusion
Our study presents the genetic and functional evidence for the novel compound heterozygous loss-of-function variants in SLC12A3 that may synergistically cuase GS, and expands the mutation spectrum of SLC12A3 variants in patients with GS.
Teleassessment can overestimate the risk of learning disability in first and second grade of primary school
Authors: Fontolan Stefania , Franceschini Sandro , Bortolozzo Marisa , Dui Linda Greta , Ferrante Simona , Termine Cristiano 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Background
Early administration of reading, writing and math standardised tests allows us to assess the risk of developing a learning disorder and to plan a specific intervention. The ease of access to technological tools and past pandemic restrictions have led to the abandonment of face-to-face assessment in favour of teleassessment methods. Although these kinds of assessments sometimes seem comparable in the literature, their equivalence is not clearly defined. The first aim of our research was to test the comparability of the two modalities using a complete battery of neuropsychological tests. Second, we addressed whether the administration order could influence performance.

Methods
Using a within-subject sample design, we compared face-to-face and teleassessment performance in reading, writing and math tasks in 64 children attending first and second year of primary school.

Results
Teleassessment scores were lower than face-to-face; math tests weighted on difference. Differences were mitigated by previous experience with face-to-face modality.

Conclusions
Although there was considerable overlap between the two administration methods, teleassessment could lead to overestimation of the risk for learning disorders.