bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
‘I couldn’t carry on taking a drug like that’: a qualitative study of patient perspectives on side effects from rheumatology drugs
Authors: Berthelsen Dorthe B , Nielsen Sabrina M , Rasmussen Marianne U , Voshaar Marieke , Richards Pamela , Bartlett Susan J , Hazlewood Glen S , Shea Beverly J , Tugwell Peter , Ellingsen Torkell , Jørgensen Tanja S , Kristensen Salome , Simon Lee S , Christensen Robin , Flurey Caroline A ,   OMERACT Safety Working Group
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Objectives
There is growing interest in collecting outcome information directly from patients in clinical trials. This study evaluates what patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) consider important to know about symptomatic side effects they may experience from a new prescription drug.

Methods
Patients with inflammatory arthritis, who had one or more prescribed drugs for their disease for at least 12 months, participated in focus groups and individual interviews. Discussions were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results
We conducted seven focus groups with 34 participants across three continents. We found four overarching and two underpinning themes. The ‘impact on life’ was connected to participants’ ‘daily life’, ‘family life’, ‘work life’ and ‘social life’. In ‘psychological and physical aspects’ participants described ‘limitation to physical function’, ‘emotional dysregulation’ and ‘an overall mental state’. Extra tests, hospital visits and payment for medication were considered a ‘time, energy and financial burden’ of side effects. Participants explained important measurement issues to be ‘severity’, ‘frequency’ and ‘duration’. Underpinning these issues, participants evaluated the ‘benefit–harm balance’ which includes ‘the cumulative burden’ of having several side effects and the persistence of side effects over time.

Conclusions
In treatment for RMDs, there seems to be an urgent need for feasible measures of patient-reported bother (impact on life and cumulative burden) from side effects and the benefit–harm balance. These findings contribute new evidence in support of a target domain—an outcome that represents the patient voice evaluating the symptomatic treatment-related side effects for people with RMDs enrolled in clinical trials.
Complex Polyploids: Origins, Genomic Composition, and Role of Introgressed Alleles
Authors: Leal J Luis , Milesi Pascal , Hodková Eva , Zhou Qiujie , James Jennifer , Eklund D Magnus , Pyhäjärvi Tanja , Salojärvi Jarkko , Lascoux Martin 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Introgression allows polyploid species to acquire new genomic content from diploid progenitors or from other unrelated diploid or polyploid lineages, contributing to genetic diversity and facilitating adaptive allele discovery. In some cases, high levels of introgression elicit the replacement of large numbers of alleles inherited from the polyploid’s ancestral species, profoundly reshaping the polyploid’s genomic composition. In such complex polyploids, it is often difficult to determine which taxa were the progenitor species and which taxa provided additional introgressive blocks through subsequent hybridization. Here, we use population-level genomic data to reconstruct the phylogenetic history of Betula pubescens (downy birch), a tetraploid species often assumed to be of allopolyploid origin and which is known to hybridize with at least four other birch species. This was achieved by modeling polyploidization and introgression events under the multispecies coalescent and then using an approximate Bayesian computation rejection algorithm to evaluate and compare competing polyploidization models. We provide evidence that B. pubescens is the outcome of an autoploid genome doubling event in the common ancestor of B. pendula and its extant sister species, B. platyphylla, that took place approximately 178,000–188,000 generations ago. Extensive hybridization with B. pendula, B. nana, and B. humilis followed in the aftermath of autopolyploidization, with the relative contribution of each of these species to the B. pubescens genome varying markedly across the species’ range. Functional analysis of B. pubescens loci containing alleles introgressed from B. nana identified multiple genes involved in climate adaptation, while loci containing alleles derived from B. humilis revealed several genes involved in the regulation of meiotic stability and pollen viability in plant species.
Bacillus paralicheniformis 809 and Bacillus subtilis 810 support in vitro intestinal integrity under hydrogen peroxide and deoxynivalenol challenges
Authors: Boll Erik J , Copani Giuseppe , Cappellozza Bruno I 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
We designed and conducted two in vitro experiments to evaluate the effects of two Bacillus spp. probiotics on gut barrier integrity using the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) assay under two different challenge models. In Exp. 1, intestinal epithelial cells received or not (CON) B. paralicheniformis 809 (BLI) or B. subtilis 810 (BSU) at a rate of 1 × 108 colony forming units (CFU)/transwell. Two hours after treatment application (CON, BLI, or BSU), 5 mM of the reactive oxygen species hydrogen peroxide, mimicking mucosal oxidative stress, was added alone (HYP) or with each of the Bacillus spp. (HYP + BLI or HYP + BSU). In Exp. 2, cells were assigned to the same treatments as in Exp. 1 (CON, BLI, and BSU), or mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON), which was added alone or in combination with BLI or BSU, resulting in another two treatments (DON + BLI and DON + BSU). Transepithelial electrical resistance was measured for 14 h postchallenge. In Exp. 1, a treatment × hour interaction was observed for TEER (P &lt; 0.0001). Adding BLI and BSU resulted in greater TEER values vs. CON for most of the experimental period (P &lt; 0.02), whereas HYP reduced mean TEER and area under the curve (AUC), while increasing the amount of sugar that translocated through the monolayer cells (P &lt; 0.001). A treatment × hour interaction was also observed in Exp. 2 (P &lt; 0.0001), as DON led to an immediate and acute drop in TEER that lasted until the end of the experimental period (P &lt; 0.0001). Both BLI and BSU alleviated the DON-induced damaging effects on the integrity of intestinal epithelial cells, whereas both Bacillus spp. alleviated the damage caused by DON alone and the proportion of sugar that translocated through the monolayer cells was not different between CON and DON + BLI (P = 0.14) and DON + BLI and DON + BSU (P = 0.62). In summary, both Bacillus spp. strains (B. paralicheniformis 809 and B. subtilis 810) were able to counteract the damaging effects of the challenge agents, hydrogen peroxide and deoxynivalenol, on gut barrier integrity.
Short term biodistribution and in vivo toxicity assessment of intravenously injected pristine graphene oxide nanoflakes in SD rats
Authors: De Indranil , Singh Rashmika , Kumar Sushil , Singh Srishti , Singh Manohar , Panda Jiban Jyoti , Ghosh Kaushik , Mishra Durga Prasad , Singh Manish 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe present study aimed to elucidate the short term biodistribution of nano sized graphene oxide (GO) along with the toxicological assessment under in-vivo condition with an intent to analyse the toxic effects of sudden accidental exposure of GO The synthesised GO was characterized using UV-Visible spectroscopy, XRD, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, TGA and DLS. The morphological imaging was performed using SEM, TEM and AFM. With a lateral size of less than 300 nm, these nanoparticles exhibit significant organ barrier permeability of up to 20%. Upon acute exposure to 10 mg/kg dose of ICG-tagged GO nanoflakes through intravenous route, various organs such as kidney, spleen and liver were observed, and the nanoparticles predominantly accumulated in the liver upon 24 h of exposure. Upon confirming the accumulation of these particles in liver through IVIS imaging, our next attempt was to analyse various biochemical and serum parameters. An elevation in various serum parameters such as ALT, AST, Creatinine and Bilirubin was observed. Similarly, in the case of biochemical parameters tested in liver homogenates, an increase in NO, Catalase, GSH, SOD, ROS, LPO, GR, GPx, and GST was observed. This study highlights the potential toxicological risk associated with GO exposure which must be taken into account for any risk analysis associated with GO based consumer products and the occupational hazards.
Prevalence and risk evaluation of cardiovascular disease in the newly diagnosed prostate cancer population in China: A nationwide, multi-center, population-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Zhang Weiyu , Liu Huixin , Liu Ming , Ying Shi , Yuan Renbin , Zeng Hao , Zhang Zhenting , Han Sujun , Si Zhannan , Hu Bin , Wen Simeng , Xu Pengcheng , Yu Weimin , Chen Hui , Wang Liang , Lin Zhitao , Dai Tao , Lin Yunzhi , Xu Tao 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has emerged as the leading cause of death from prostate cancer (PCa) in recent decades, bringing a great disease burden worldwide. Men with preexisting CVD have an increased risk for major adverse cardiovascular events when treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). The present study aimed to explore the prevalence and risk evaluation of CVD among people with newly diagnosed PCa in China.

Methods:
Clinical data of newly diagnosed PCa patients were retrospectively collected from 34 centers in China from 2010 to 2022 through convenience sampling. CVD was defined as myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, heart failure, stroke, ischemic heart disease, and others. CVD risk was estimated by calculating Framingham risk scores (FRS). Patients were accordingly divided into low-, medium-, and high-risk groups. χ
2 or Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical variables.

Results:
A total of 4253 patients were enrolled in the present study. A total of 27.0% (1147/4253) of patients had comorbid PCa and CVD, and 7.2% (307/4253) had two or more CVDs. The enrolled population was distributed in six regions of China, and approximately 71.0% (3019/4253) of patients lived in urban areas. With imaging and pathological evaluation, most PCa patients were diagnosed at an advanced stage, with 20.5% (871/4253) locally progressing and 20.5% (871/4253) showing metastasis. Most of them initiated prostatectomy (46.6%, 1983/4253) or regimens involving ADT therapy (45.7%, 1944/4253) for prostate cancer. In the present PCa cohort, 43.1% (1832/4253) of patients had hypertension, and half of them had poorly controlled blood pressure. With FRS stratification, as expected, a higher risk of CVD was related to aging and metabolic disturbance. However, we also found that patients with treatment involving ADT presented an originally higher risk of CVD than those without ADT. This was in accordance with clinical practice, i.e., aged patients or patients at advanced oncological stages were inclined to accept systematic integrative therapy instead of surgery. Among patients who underwent medical castration, only 4.0% (45/1118) received gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonists, in stark contrast to the grim situation of CVD prevalence and risk.

Conclusions:
PCa patients in China are diagnosed at an advanced stage. A heavy CVD burden was present at the initiation of treatment. Patients who accepted ADT-related therapy showed an original higher risk of CVD, but the awareness of cardiovascular protection was far from sufficient.
A simplified treatment algorithm for chronic scrotal content pain syndrome
Authors: Kravchick Sergey , Parekattil Sijo J. , Bratslavsky Gennady , Beamer Matthew R. , Moldwin Robert , Shulman Daniel , Nickel J.Curtis 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background
Chronic scrotal content pain (CSCP) is a devastating condition characterized by localized scrotal pain that persists for ≥ 3 months and interferes with daily activities. Approximately 2.5% of all urology outpatient visits are associated with CSCP. General urologists may have difficulty treating these patients because of uncertainties regarding the etiology and pathophysiology of CSCP. Therefore, we aimed to provide a simplified diagnostic and treatment approach for CSCP by subdividing it into distinct categories.

Materials and methods
We systematically reviewed the published literature in the PubMed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane databases for all reports on CSCP diagnosis and treatment using the keywords “chronic scrotal content pain,” “testicular pain,” “orchialgia,” “testicular pain syndrome,” “microdenervation of the spermatic cord,” “post-vasectomy pain syndrome,” “post-inguinal hernia repair pain,” “testialgia,” and “pudendal neuralgia.” This review included only CSCP-related articles published in English language.

Results
We subdivided CSCP syndrome into 5 clinical presentation types, including hyperactive cremasteric reflex, pain localized in the testicles, pain in the testis, spermatic cord, and groin, pain localized in the testicles, spermatic cord, groin, and pubis, and pain in the testicles, spermatic cord/groin, and penis/pelvis. Treatments were adjusted stepwise for each type and section. We included more information regarding the role of pudendal neuroglia in CSCP syndrome and discussed more options for nerve blocks for CSCP. For microsurgical spermatic cord denervation failure, we included treatment options for salvage ultrasound-guided targeted cryoablation, Botox injections, and posterior-inferior scrotal denervation.

Conclusions
Different CSCP subtypes could help general urologists assess the appropriate diagnostic and treatment approaches for scrotal pain management in daily practice.
Design of a shared context-aware assistive robot for personalised aged-care services
Authors: Duthie Nicholas , Ansari Keyvan , Wang Mingzhong , Ray Pradeep Kumar 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:
Sensors, robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT) and data analytics hold considerable potential for enhancing the efficiency of care and health outcomes in the health and aged care sectors. The Australian aged care sector in particular faces significant challenges due to an aging population and outdated technological infrastructure. This article builds upon the foundational research conducted through the collaboration between the University of New South Wales and the University of the Sunshine Coast, as part of the European Union VictoryaHome (VH) project (2014–2016). The VH project, which involved partners from Australia, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Portugal, aimed to enhance the emotional well-being and security of elderly individuals in their homes. The present study specifically addresses some of the challenges identified in relation to the prohibitively high costs and usability of robots for personalized services in the aged care sector.

Methods:
This paper presents the design and implementation of an affordable service robot specifically developed to offer personalized services to multiple users in aged care facilities. The system utilizes a Raspberry Pi 4 and incorporates functionalities that are tailored to the needs identified through interviews with facility managers and staff.

Results:
We successfully demonstrate tracking of entities within a room-scale environment and the switching of profiles using cost-effective devices. Moreover, by tracking multiple entities simultaneously we were able to achieve powerful context-aware functionality that was seamless to the end-user.

Conclusion:
This study underscores the feasibility and potential benefits of employing low-cost, context-aware service robots in aged care environments.
Simulation training of laparoscopic biliary-enteric anastomosis with a three-dimensional-printed model leads to better skill transfer: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Shen Jiliang , Zhang Yaping , Zhang Bin , Lu Chen , Cao Jiasheng , Chen Mingyu , Zheng Bin , Yang Jin 
Published: April 2024

Aim:
A new simulation model and training curriculum for laparoscopic bilioenteric anastomosis has been developed. Currently, this concept lacks evidence for the transfer of skills from simulation to clinical settings. This study was conducted to determine whether training with a three-dimensional (3D) bilioenteric anastomosis model result in greater transfer of skills than traditional training methods involving video observation and a general suture model.

Methods:
Fifteen general surgeons with no prior experience in laparoscopic biliary-enteric anastomosis were included in this study and randomised into three training groups: video observation only, practice using a general suture model, and practice using a 3D-printed biliary-enteric anastomosis model. Following five training sessions, each surgeon was asked to perform a laparoscopic biliary-enteric anastomosis procedure on an isolated swine organ model. The operative time and performance scores of the procedure were recorded and compared among the three training groups.

Results:
The operation time in the 3D-printed model group was significantly shorter than the suture and video observation groups (P=0.040). Furthermore, the performance score of the 3D-printed model group was significantly higher than those of the suture and video observation groups (P=0.001). Finally, the goal score for laparoscopic biliary-enteric anastomosis in the isolated swine organ model was significantly higher in the 3D model group than in the suture and video observation groups (P=0.004).

Conclusions:
The utilisation of a novel 3D-printed model for simulation training in laparoscopic biliary-enteric anastomosis facilitates improved skill acquisition and transferability to an animal setting compared with traditional training techniques.
Improving Antibiotic Overuse in Primary Care
Authors: Wharton Anestasia , Jerome-D’Emilia Bonnie , Avallone Margaret 
Published: April 2024

Purpose
Antibiotic overuse has increased over time related to provider knowledge gaps about best practices, provider perception of patient expectations on receiving an antibiotic, possible pressure to see patients in a timely fashion, and concerns about decreased patient satisfaction when an antibiotic is not prescribed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that up to 30% of antibiotics are inappropriately prescribed in the outpatient setting.

Approach
This quality improvement project consisted of a multimodal approach to decrease inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for viral upper respiratory infections (URIs) by using provider education, passive patient education, and clinical decision support tools based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations and the Be Antibiotic Aware tool.

Outcomes
Following implementation, there was an 11% decrease in viral URI antibiotic prescribing, from a rate of 29.33% to 18.33% following the multimodal implementation.

Conclusion
The use of evidence-based education and treatment guidelines was found to decrease inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for patients diagnosed with viral URIs.
Specialty-Specific Trends in Surgery for Apical Pelvic Organ Prolapse Post Vaginal Mesh
Authors: Dutta Rahul , Xu Raymond , Wolff Dylan Thomas , Badlani Gopal Hariram , Matthews Catherine Ann 
Published: April 2024

Importance
Since transvaginal mesh (VM) kits for apical pelvic organ prolapse (APOP) were labeled “high-risk” in 2016 and subsequently banned in 2019 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the most common remaining surgical options include abdominal mesh-augmented sacrocolpopexy (AS) and transvaginal native tissue suspension (VN).

Objective
The objective of this study was to determine temporal trends in APOP procedures for urologists and gynecologists.

Study Design
Between 2011 and 2020, the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for AS, VM, and VN.

Results
There were 26,477 cases of APOP repair (32% AS, 6% VM, 62% VN) included, 9% by urologists. Urologists operated on older (65 vs 61 years) patients with more medical comorbidities. Urologists performed significantly higher proportion of AS (65% vs 29%) and VM (8% vs 6%) relative to VN (27% vs 65%) than gynecologists (P < 0.0001). Transvaginal mesh utilization has decreased over time for both specialties (P < 0.05); nonsignificant trends toward increasing AS (P = 0.1646) in urologists and VN (P = 0.0913) in gynecologists concurrently occurred. Significant independent predictors of the operating surgeon being a urologist were surgery being performed in the latter half of the cohort (2016–2020; odds ratio [OR], 1.22), non-White patient race (OR < 1 for all), a concomitant sling being placed (OR = 0.89), the surgery being VM (OR = 2.95) or AS (OR = 4.36), the patient being older (OR > 1 for each age range), and having a higher frailty index score (OR = 1.16).

Conclusions
Significant differences in APOP repair choices exist between specialties. Urologists operate on older, more medically complex patients while demonstrating a strong preference for mesh-augmented compared with transvaginal native tissue repairs.
Chagas disease: lack of knowledge as a risk factor
Authors: Mas D’Alessandro Nicolás Mario , Blaisten Hernán Daniel , Ferrufino Cristian José , Fernández Boccazzi Julián Matías 
Published: April 2024

AbstractChagas disease presents not merely as a medical concern but as a multifaceted socio-environmental health issue demanding diverse approaches. In Argentina, an estimated two million individuals are afflicted with Chagas disease, with 600,000 exhibiting clinical manifestations. This study endeavors to gauge the populace’s knowledge levels in Añatuya, situated northeast of Santiago del Estero, and to compare comprehension levels between Chagas disease patients and non-patients. Employing a cross-sectional epidemiological design, demographic, socio-economic, and medical data were gathered through surveys from individuals aged 18 and above attending local healthcare facilities. Analysis revealed that among 200 patients, 12% exhibited low, 66% intermediate, and 22% high levels of elementary knowledge regarding Chagas disease, nearing optimal understanding for an endemic region. However, statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in knowledge were observed between Chagas and non-Chagas patients in only three out of ten elementary knowledge questions. Moreover, housing quality, a pivotal risk factor for Triatoma Infestans presence, indicated that 78% resided in improved dwellings, yet 22% lived in high-risk housing, reflecting persistent precarious living conditions susceptible to infestation. Enhanced comprehension of Chagas disease fundamentals and associated risk factors could empower endemic area residents towards proactive well-being practices, advocating for improved living standards and disease management strategies.