bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of thermochromic phantoms for characterizing microwave ablation devices
Authors: Zia Ghina , Lintz Amber , Hardin Clay , Bottiglieri Anna , Sebek Jan , Prakash Punit 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACTBackground and PurposeThermochromic gel phantoms provide a controlled medium for visual assessment of thermal ablation device performance. However, there are limited studies reporting on the comparative assessment of ablation profiles assessed in thermochromic gel phantoms against those inex vivotissue. The objective of this study was to compare microwave ablation zones in a thermochromic tissue mimicking gel phantom andex vivobovine liver, and to report on measurements of the temperature dependent dielectric and thermal properties of the phantom.MethodsThermochromic polyacrylamide phantoms were fabricated following a previously reported protocol. Phantom samples were heated to temperatures in the range of 20 – 90 °C in a temperature-controlled water bath, and colorimetric analysis of images of the phantom taken after heating were used to develop a calibration between color changes and temperature to which the phantom was heated. Using a custom, 2.45 GHz water-cooled microwave ablation antenna, ablations were performed in freshex vivoliver and phantoms using 65 W applied for 5 min or 10 min (n =3 samples in each medium for each power/time combination). Broadband (500 MHz – 6 GHz) temperature-dependent dielectric and thermal properties of the phantom were measured over the temperature range 22 – 100 °C.ResultsColorimetric analysis showed that the sharp change in gel phantom color commences at a temperature of 57 °C. Short and long axes of the ablation zone in the phantom (as assessed by the 57 °C isotherm) for 65 W, 5 min ablations were aligned with extents of the ablation zone observed inex vivobovine liver. However, for the 65 W, 10 min setting, ablations in the phantom were on average 23.7% smaller in short axis and 7.4 % smaller in long axis than those observed inex vivoliver. Measurements of the temperature dependent relative permittivity, thermal conductivity, and volumetric heat capacity of the phantom largely followed similar trends to published values forex vivoliver tissue.ConclusionThermochromic tissue mimicking phantoms provide a controlled, and reproducible medium for comparative assessment of microwave ablation devices and energy delivery settings, though ablation zone size and shapes may not accurately represent ablation sizes and shapes observed inex vivoliver tissue under similar conditions.
Effectiveness of fixation methods for wholemount immunohistochemistry across cellular compartments in chick embryos
Authors: Echeverria Camilo V. , Leathers Tess A. , Rogers Crystal D. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe choice of fixation method significantly impacts tissue morphology and protein visualization after immunohistochemistry (IHC). In this study, we compared the effects of paraformaldehyde (PFA) and trichloroacetic acid (TCA) fixation prior to IHC on chicken embryos. Our findings underscore the importance of validating fixation methods for accurate interpretation of IHC results, with implications for antibody validation and tissue-specific protein localization studies. We found that TCA fixation resulted in larger and more circular nuclei compared to PFA fixation. Additionally, TCA fixation altered the appearance of subcellular localization and fluorescence intensity of various proteins, including transcription factors and cytoskeletal proteins. Notably, TCA fixation revealed protein localization domains that may be inaccessible with PFA fixation. These results highlight the need for optimization of fixation protocols depending on the target epitope and model system, emphasizing the importance of methodological considerations in biological analyses.
A functional overlap between evidence accumulation, confidence, and changes of mind in the pre-supplementary motor area and insula
Authors: Goueytes Dorian , Stockart François , Robin Alexis , Gyger Lucien , Rouy Martin , Hoffmann Dominique , Minotti Lorella , Kahane Philippe , Pereira Michael , Faivre Nathan 
Published: March 2024

AbstractEvidence accumulation models have proven to be powerful tools to explain the temporal dynamics of decisions, as well as their metacognitive components such as confidence judgments and changes of mind. However, it is still unclear how and where in the brain evidence accumulation leads to these two metacognitive components. To better understand the functional overlap between evidence accumulation, confidence, and changes of mind, we recorded intracranial high-gamma activity in patients with focal epilepsy while they reported the motion direction of a random dot kinetogram with a computer mouse, and estimated their confidence level. We found an anatomical overlap between the neural correlates of evidence accumulation, confidence, and changes of mind in the pre-supplementary motor area, as well as in the orbitofrontal, inferior frontal, and insular cortices. Both mouse-tracking behaviour and electrophysiological results were reproduced with a post-decisional evidence accumulation model. After characterising the temporal dynamics of decision-making with mouse-tracking and intracranial electrophysiology, we conclude that confidence and changes of mind result from evidence accumulation instantiated before the decision in the pre-supplementary motor area, and after the decision in the insula.
Retinal microglia exacerbate uveitis by functioning as local antigen-presenting cells
Authors: Shirahama Shintaro , Okunuki Yoko , Lee May Y. , Karg Margarete M. , Refaian Nasrin , Krasniqi Drenushe , Connor Kip M. , Gregory-Ksander Meredith S. , Ksander Bruce R. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAutoimmune uveitis is a major cause of blindness in the working-age population of developed countries. Experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) depends on activation of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) specific CD4+effector T cells that migrate systemically and infiltrate into the retina. Following systemic induction of retinal antigen-specific T cells, the development of EAU can be broken down into three phases: early phase when inflammatory cells begin to infiltrate the retina, amplification phase, and peak phase. Although studied extensively, the function of local antigen-presenting cells (APCs) within the retina remains unclear. Two potential types of APCs are present during uveitis, resident microglia and infiltrating CD11c+dendritic cells (DCs). MHC class II (MHC II) is expressed within the retina on both CD11c+DCs and microglia during the amplification phase of EAU. Therefore, we used microglia specific (P2RY12 and TMEM119) and CD11c+DC specific MHC II knockout mice to study the function of APCs within the retina using the conventional and adoptive transfer methods of inducing EAU. Microglia were essential during all phases of EAU development: the early phase when microglia were MHC Il negative, and amplification and peak phases when microglia were MHC II positive. Unexpectedly, retinal infiltrating MHC Il+CD11c+DCs were present within the retina but their antigen-presenting function was not required for all phases of uveitis. Our data indicate microglia are the critical APCs within the retina and an important therapeutic target that can prevent and/or diminish uveitis even in the presence of circulating IRBP-specific CD4+effector T cells.
Maternal Fiber Intake and Perinatal Depression & Anxiety
Authors: Ebrahimi Neda , Tuner Tiffany , Gallant Faith , Chandrakumar Abinaa , Kohli Roshni , Lester Rebecca , Forte Victoria , Cooley Kieran 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackgroundDietary fiber can significantly alter gut microbiota composition. The role of gut microbiome in the Gut-Brain Axis and modulation of neuropsychiatric disease is increasingly recognized. The role of antenatal diet, particularly fiber intake, in mitigating maternal mental health disorders remains unexplored. The objective of this review is to investigate the association between maternal fiber intake and perinatal depression and anxiety (PDA).MethodsA literature review of PubMed and Google Scholar was conducted using appropriate keyword/MeSH terms for pregnancy, diet, fiber, and mental health. Observational and clinical trials published between 2015-2021 were included and data pertaining to dietary patterns (DP), food intake, mental health, and demographic data were extracted. The top three fiber-containing food groups (FG) per study were identified using a sum rank scoring system of fiber per 100 grams and fiber per serving size. The consumption of these top three fiber FGs was then ranked for each dietary pattern/group. Mental health outcomes for each study were simplified into three categories of improved, no change, and worsened. The relationship between top three fiber FGs consumed within each DP and mental health outcomes was analyzed using Spearman’s correlation.ResultsThirteen of 52 studies met inclusion criteria. Ten (76.9%) studies assessed DPs (7 examined depression only, 2 examined depression and anxiety, and 1 examined anxiety only). Seven (53.9%) studies reported at least one significant positive relationship between mental health outcomes and DPs while 3 reported at least one negative outcome. Three (23.1%) studies compared intake of different food groups between depressed and non-depressed groups. In studies of DPs, the average consumption ranking of the top 3 fiber FGs, bore a significant inverse association with mental health outcomes [r=-0.419(95%CI: – 0.672—0.078)] p=0.015. In studies comparing intake of different FGs between depressed and non-depressed groups, consumption of top-ranking fiber foods was higher in the non-depressed groups, but significantly higher in 4 of the 10 high fiber FGs.ConclusionThis study reframes findings from previously published studies of maternal diet and mental health outcomes to focus on fiber intake specifically, using a fiber ranking system. A significant correlation between lower intake of fiber and poorer mental health outcomes warrants further investigation in future studies.
The Burden of Cancer and Pre-cancerous Conditions Among Transgender Individuals in a Large Healthcare Network
Authors: Yang Shuang , Li Yongqiu , Wheldon Christopher W. , Prosperi Mattia , George Thomas J. , Shenkman Elizabeth A. , Wang Fei , Bian Jiang , Guo Yi 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe current study aimed to examine the prevalence of and risk factors for cancer and pre-cancerous conditions, comparing transgender and cisgender individuals, using 2012-2023 electronic health record data from a large healthcare system. We identified 2,745 transgender individuals using a previously validated computable phenotype and 54,900 matched cisgender individuals. We calculated the prevalence of cancer and pre-cancer related to human papillomavirus (HPV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), tobacco, alcohol, lung, breast, colorectum, and built multivariable logistic models to examine the association between gender identity and the presence of cancer or pre-cancer. Results indicated similar odds of developing cancer across gender identities, but transgender individuals exhibited significantly higher risks for pre-cancerous conditions, including alcohol-related, breast, and colorectal pre-cancers compared to cisgender women, and HPV-related, tobacco-related, alcohol-related, and colorectal pre-cancers compared to cisgender men. These findings underscore the need for tailored interventions and policies addressing cancer health disparities affecting the transgender population.
Accounting for bias due to outcome data missing not at random: comparison and illustration of two approaches to probabilistic bias analysis: a simulation study
Authors: Kawabata Emily , Major-Smith Daniel , Clayton Gemma L , Shapland Chin Yang , Morris Tim P , Carter Alice R , Fernández-Sanlés Alba , Borges Maria Carolina , Tilling Kate , Griffith Gareth J , Millard Louise AC , Smith George Davey , Lawlor Deborah A , Hughes Rachael A 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackgroundBias from data missing not at random (MNAR) is a persistent concern in health-related research. A bias analysis quantitatively assesses how conclusions change under different assumptions about missingness using bias parameters which govern the magnitude and direction of the bias. Probabilistic bias analysis specifies a prior distribution for these parameters, explicitly incorporating available information and uncertainty about their true values. A Bayesian approach combines the prior distribution with the data’s likelihood function whilst a Monte Carlo approach samples the bias parameters directly from the prior distribution. No study has compared a Monte Carlo approach to a fully Bayesian approach in the context of a bias analysis to MNAR missingness.MethodsWe propose an accessible Monte Carlo probabilistic bias analysis which uses a well-known imputation method. We designed a simulation study based on a motivating example from the UK Biobank study, where a large proportion of the outcome was missing and missingness was suspected to be MNAR. We compared the performance of our Monte Carlo probabilistic bias analysis to a principled Bayesian probabilistic bias analysis, complete case analysis (CCA) and missing at random implementations of inverse probability weighting (IPW) and multiple imputation (MI).ResultsEstimates of CCA, IPW and MI were substantially biased, with 95% confidence interval coverages of 7–64%. Including auxiliary variables (i.e., variables not included in the substantive analysis which are predictive of missingness and the missing data) in MI’s imputation model amplified the bias due to assuming missing at random. With reasonably accurate and precise information about the bias parameter, the Monte Carlo probabilistic bias analysis performed as well as the fully Bayesian approach. However, when very limited information was provided about the bias parameter, only the Bayesian approach was able to eliminate most of the bias due to MNAR whilst the Monte Carlo approach performed no better than the CCA, IPW and MI.ConclusionOur proposed Monte Carlo probabilistic bias analysis approach is easy to implement in standard software and is a viable alternative to a Bayesian approach. We caution careful consideration of choice of auxiliary variables when applying imputation where data may be MNAR.
Glycosylation state of vWF in circulating extracellular vesicles serves as a novel biomarker for predicting depression
Authors: Yamada Norihiro , Tominaga Kana , Tominaga Naoomi , Kobayashi Ayumi , Niino Chihiro , Miyagi Yuta , Yamagata Hirotaka , Nakagawa Shin 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe clinical diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD), a heterogeneous disorder, still depends on subjective information in terms of various symptoms regarding mood. Detecting extracellular vesicles (EVs) in blood may result in finding a diagnostic biomarker that reflects the depressive stage of patients with MDD. Here, we report the results on the glycosylation pattern of enriched plasma EVs from patients with MDD and age-matched healthy subjects. In this cohort, the levels ofTriticum vulgaris(wheat germ) agglutinin (WGA),N-acetyl glucosamine (GlcNAc) andN-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac, sialic acid) - binding lectin, were significantly decreased in patients with MDD in depressive state compared to healthy subjects (area under the curve (AUC): 0.87 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.76 - 0.97)) and in remission state (AUC: 0.88 (95% CI 0.72 - 1.00)). Furthermore, proteome analysis revealed that the von Willebrand factor (vWF) was a significant factor recognized by WGA. WGA-binding vWF antigen differentiated patients with MDD versus healthy subjects (AUC: 0.92 (95% CI 0.82 - 1.00)) and the same patients with MDD in depressive versus remission state (AUC: 0.98 (95% CI 0.93 - 1.00)). In this study, the change patterns in the glycoproteins contained in plasma EVs support the usability of testing to identify patients who are at increased risk of depression during antidepressant treatment.
Evaluation of smartphone-based cough data in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis as a potential predictor of functional disability
Authors: Santos-Rocha Pedro , Bento Nuno , Folgado Duarte , Carreiro André Valério , Santos Miguel Oliveira , de Carvalho Mamede , Miranda Bruno 
Published: March 2024

AbstractObjectivesCough dysfunction is a feature of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The cough sounds carry information about the respiratory system and bulbar involvement. Our goal was to explore the association between cough sound characteristics and the respiratory and bulbar functions in ALS.MethodsThis was a single-center, cross-sectional, and case-control study. On-demand coughs from ALS patients and healthy controls were collected with a smartphone. A total of 31 sound features were extracted for each cough recording using time-frequency signal processing analysis. Logistic regression was applied to test the differences between patients and controls, and in patients with bulbar and respiratory impairment. Support vector machines (SVM) were employed to estimate the accuracy of classifying between patients and controls and between patients with bulbar and respiratory impairment. Multiple linear regressions were applied to examine correlations between cough sound features and clinical variables.ResultsSixty ALS patients (28 with bulbar dysfunction, and 25 with respiratory dysfunction) and forty age- and gender-matched controls were recruited. Our results revealed clear differences between patients and controls, particularly within the frequency-related group of features (AUC 0.85, CI 0.79- 0.91). Similar results were observed when comparing patients with and without bulbar dysfunction; and with and without respiratory dysfunction. Sound features related to intensity displayed the strongest correlation with disease severity.DiscussionWe found a good relationship between specific cough sound features and clinical variables related to ALS functional disability. The findings relate well with some expected impact from ALS on both respiratory and bulbar contributions to the physiology of cough. Finally, our approach could be relevant for clinical practice, and it also facilitates home-based data collection.
Health outcome priorities of people with multiple long-term conditions before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: Survey data from the UK
Authors: Sathanapally Harini , Chudasama Yogini V , Zaccardi Francesco , Rizzi Alessandro , Seidu Samuel , Khunti Kamlesh 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe outcome prioritisation tool (OPT) is a simple tool to ascertain the health outcome priorities of people with MLTC. Use of this tool in people aged under 65 years with MLTC has not previously been investigated. This study investigated the feasibility of using the OPT in people with MLTC aged 45 years or above, in a multi-ethnic primary-care setting, to describe the health outcome priorities of people with MLTC by age, clusters of long-term conditions and demographic factors, and to investigate any differences in prioritisation in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThis was a multi-centre cross-sectional study using a questionnaire for online self-completion by people aged 45 years or above with MLTC in 19 primary care settings across the East Midlands, UK. Participants were asked to complete the OPT twice, first from their current perspective and second from their recollection of their priorities prior to COVID-19.ResultsThe questionnaire was completed by 2,454 people with MLTC. The majority of participants agreed or strongly agreed that the OPT was easy to complete, relevant to their healthcare and will be useful in communicating priorities to their doctor. Summary scores for the whole cohort of participants showed Keeping Alive and Maintaining Independence receiving the highest scores. Statistically significant differences in prioritisation by age, clusters of long-term conditions and employment status were observed, with respondents aged over 65 most likely to prioritise Maintaining independence, and respondents aged under 65 most likely to prioritise Keeping alive. There were no differences before or after COVID-19, or by ethnicity.ConclusionsThe OPT is feasible and acceptable for use to elicit the health outcome priorities of people with MLTC across both middle-aged and older age groups and in a UK setting. Individual factors could influence the priorities of people with MLTC and must be considered by clinicians during consultations.HIGHLIGHTSSurvey data from 2,454 patients with MLTC showed that keeping alive and maintaining independence were the top first-choice priorities from the health outcome priorities tool (OPT).The health outcomes priorities differed by socio-demographics and clusters of long-term conditions.There were no differences in health outcomes priorities before and during COVID-19.OPT is easy and acceptable to implement in a health care setting in a broad patient group.Translation of the OPT into different languages is recommended to address any potential language barrier for people with MLTC completing the OPT
The repercussions of timing in the invasion of synthetic bacterial communities
Authors: Dooley Keven D. , Bergelson Joy 
Published: March 2024

AbstractMicrobial communities regularly experience ecological invasions that can lead to changes in composition and function. Factors thought to affect the outcome of invasions, like diversity and resource use, vary over the course of community assembly, potentially altering susceptibility to arriving invaders. We used synthetic bacterial communities to evaluate the success and impact of invasions occurring at different times during the community assembly process. Fifteen distinct communities were subjected to each of three bacterial invaders at the initial assembly of the community (“initial”), 24 hours into community assembly (“early”), when the community was still undergoing transient dynamics, and 7 days into community assembly (“late”), once the community had settled into its final composition. Communities were passaged daily and characterized through sequencing after reaching a stable composition. Invasions were most successful and had their largest effect on composition when they occurred before a community had settled into a stable composition. Surprisingly, we found instances where an invader was ultimately excluded yet had profound and long-lasting effects on invaded communities. We also found that common community members were more greatly impacted by invaders than rare community members. Higher invasion success and impact were associated with lower community resource use efficiency, which varied throughout assembly. Our results demonstrate that microbial communities experiencing transient community dynamics are more prone to invasion, a finding relevant to efforts to modify the composition of microbial communities.