bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Indications and Outcomes of Medical Intensive Care Admissions in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital
Authors: Akinjola OE , Olateju SO , Idowu AO , Aaron OI , Adetoye AO , Ogunmodede AF , Andero V , Komolafe MA 
Published: March 2024

Background: The demand for intensive care is rising in many developing countries with specialties requiring specialized intensive care services. Medical conditions constitute a substantial proportion of demands for intensive care.
Objectives: To determine the patients’ characteristics and outcomes of medical indications for intensive care unit (ICU) admissions in a Nigerian tertiary hospital.
Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Southwest Nigeria. The data of all patients aged 16 years and above managed from 2010 to 2019 were extracted from the general ICU admissions book. The age, sex, indication for admission, need for mechanical ventilation, length of stay in the ICU and outcome of care were retrieved for analysis.
Results: There were 255 patients with medical conditions, constituting 12.6% of all (3,213) ICU admissions during the study period. The male-to-female ratio was 1.3:1.0 and the age range was 16 to 89 years. The most common indication for admission was neurological illnesses (56.7%). Stroke accounted for 40.4% of all medical ICU admissions. The mean length of ICU stay was 4.9±5.95 days. A larger proportion of patients (75.0%) who had mechanical ventilation died compared to 25.0% who survived (p = 0.001).
Conclusion: Neurological disorders, especially stroke, were the most common indications for ICU admission. Many medical conditions had high mortality rates and outcomes were notably poor for mechanically ventilated patients.
Updates on hosts and distribution of pepper yellow leaf curl Indonesia virus and squash leaf curl China virus in Central Java Province, Indonesia
Authors: Santosa Adyatma Irawan , Irbati Adenisa Hanifah , Pratiwi Geby Nandita Cahyaning , Surwadinata Antama , Laeshita Putri , Dharma Krisnanda Surya , Jaya Reko Saputra , Andriyani Annisa Lisa , A'yun Chilya Qurrota , Fatika Chusnu Naura Syifa 
Published: March 2024

Chili pepper, tomato, and squash cultivated in Magelang Regency, Central Java Province, Indonesia showed severe viral symptoms. Three samples were taken then molecularly tested against begomovirus, potyvirus, tobamovirus, and polerovirus. However, PCR test confirmed only begomovirus infections. BLAST analysis concluded that the chili pepper and tomato isolates were pepper yellow leaf curl Indonesia virus (PepYLCIV) while the squash isolate was squash leaf curl China virus (SLCCNV). The 552 bp partial AV1 gene sequences of the three isolates were given NCBI GenBank acc nos. OR924278-80. PepYLCIV OR924279 and OR924280 formed a subgroup with LC542629 from Bali in the phylogenetic tree constructed using MEGA11, and shared 95.8 – 96.7% identities at nucleotide (nt) and 98.4 – 99.5% at amino acid (aa) levels according to Sequence Demarcation Tool v1.2 software. Meanwhile, SLCCNV OR924278 was clustered, and shared 95.8 – 96.7% nt and 98.4 – 99.5% aa identities with three Malaysian isolates (MW248685, MW248687, and MW248689). Different plant species inoculated with SLCCNV OR924278 remained symptomless up to four weeks observation, suggesting that the isolate is not mechanically transmissible. This study contributed additional knowledge on molecular variation while expanding hosts and distribution of PepYLCIV and SLCCNV in Central Java Province.
Conundrums of the Liquidity Determinants of Commercial Banks in Ethiopia
Authors: Adafre Million , Bushira Yayehyirad Kedir 
Published: March 2024

This study examines the conundrums of the liquidity determinants of commercial banks in Ethiopia. The study employed a causal research design by utilizing data from 2011 to 2021. The study unit of analysis is 15 commercial banks in Ethiopia. It utilized General Methods of Moment (GMM) dynamic panel regression. The finding showed that bank profit, interest rate margin, concentration ratio, and inflation have significantly adverse effects on bank liquidity. However, capital adequacy has no significant effect on the bank's liquidity. Besides, the growth of the gross domestic product and exchange rate significantly enhance the bank's liquidity. The study urges bank management and regulatory bodies to search for the optimum trade-off point between profit and interest rate spread at the required level of liquidity. Besides, policymakers and regulators should take measures that neutralize the detrimental effect of the market structure of the banking industry. Since inflation and money supply (M2) negatively affect liquidity, it is vital to transform macroeconomic variables into a robust institutional mechanism to enhance liquidity. Generally, the study recommends continued supervision and support to shield banks from a liquidity crunch.
Avaliação óssea de implantes dentários: Distâncias lineares mensuradas em tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico
Authors: Farias Alex Medeiros de , Melo Ana Tatiana Gonzalez de , Franceschini Neto Francisco , Silva Ennyo Sobral Crispim da , Farias Naiara de Oliveira , Lopes Patrícia de Medeiros Loureiro 
Published: March 2024

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar, por meio da tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico (TCFC), a relação dos implantes dentários com as estruturas anatômicas nobres, o “volume’’ ósseo perimplantar em medidas lineares verticais e horizontais na maxila e na mandíbula, as medidas lineares perimplantar nos terços cervical, médio e apical e as mensurações lineares ósseo perimplantar nas faces vestibular e lingual. Utilizando o programa i-CAT Vision, foram avaliadas 66 regiões perimplantares de 24 pacientes em um serviço privado de radiologia odontológica. Cortes parassagitais com espaçamento de 1mm foram utilizados nas mensurações da distância entre os implantes e as estruturas anatômicas nobres e medidas dos volumes ósseos vestibulares e linguais nos terços cervical, médio e apical. A mandíbula apresentou diferença significativa, dentro do padrão estabelecido na literatura, quando comparada com a maxila, em relação à distância dos implantes às estruturas anatômicas nobres (p ≤ 0,05). Os terços médio e apical dos implantes apresentaram maior percentual de volume ósseo perimplantar dentro do padrão com 59,1% (terço médio) e 74,2% (terço apical), enquanto a face vestibular dos implantes demonstraram maior percentual fora do padrão (78,8%). Concluiu-se que a distância dos implantes dentários às estruturas anatômicas nobres preconizada na literatura foi respeitada na maior parte das avaliações realizadas; a maxila apresentou menor quantidade de tecido ósseo perimplantar em comparação com a mandíbula; o terço cervical dos implantes dentários avaliados apresentou menor quantidade de tecido ósseo perimplantar e as faces vestibulares apresentaram menor quantidade de tecido ósseo perimplantar que as faces linguais.
Digital Evaluation of the Depth and Width of Upper and Lower Molar Cavity Preparations of Dental Students
Authors: Fidan Muhammet , Gönder Hakan Yasin 
Published: March 2024

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the mesial and distal seat widths and the buccal, lingual, and axial wall height values of cavity preparations by measuring them with the help of a digital scanner.
Methods: In this study, 70 randomly selected students of 140 tooth preparations (mandibular molar and a maxillary molar cavities) of phantom jaw models were evaluated. The prepared teeth were scanned with an intraoral scanner. The parameters used in the analysis were the depth values of the buccal and lingual (or palatal) wall depth, the mesial and distal axial wall height, and the mesial and distal seat width values. For main effects and interactions, two-way analysis of variance was used, and for multiple comparisons, Tukey’s test was used (p < .05).
Results: No significant difference was found in the teeth according to cavity depth. However, a significant difference was found in the cavity regions’ depths or widths. There was no difference between the total buccal (1.93 ± 0.01 mm) and lingual (1.91 ± 0.32 mm) depth values. There was no difference between the total mesial (1.51 ± 0.27 mm) and distal (1.41 ± 0.26 mm) seat width values. There was no difference between the total mesial (1.11 ± 0.35 mm) and distal (1.21 ± 0.27 mm) axial wall height values.
Conclusion: It was observed that the students had more difficulty in the distal region of the tooth than in the mesial region. Digital methods in preclinical education can provide objective results in the evaluation of cavity preparations.
Diabetic kidney disease as an independent predictor of long-term adverse outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease and diabetic mellitus
Authors: Liu Zhiyu , Jiang Rui , Xu Ruochen , Wang Yunzhe , Lv Yan , Su Chang , Yu Fengyi , Qin Zhen , Tang JunNan , Zhang JinYing 
Published: March 2024

BackgroundDiabetic kidney disease (DKD) had been proposed as a contributor in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the relationship of DKD and the long-term adverse outcomes in patients with CAD after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was still undiscovered.MethodsApproximately 892 patients with CAD enrolled from January 2012 to December 2016. The patients were divided into two groups, the DKD group (n = 341) and the None DKD group (n = 551). The primary outcome was major adverse cardiac events (MACE) after PCI. The average follow-up time was 1,897 ± 1,276 days.ResultsBaseline data showed that some factors were significantly different between the two groups, including age, body mass index, gender (female), hypertension, smoking, stroke history, heart failure, duration of diabetic mellitus (DM), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, urinary protein/creatinine ratio, serum creatinine, hemoglobin, platelet, antiplatelet, beta blocker, statin, antihypertensive drugs, and insulin (all p &lt; 0.005). There were significant differences between the two groups in MACE, 40.3% vs. 52.2% (p = 0.001), and in cardiovascular death events and all-cause death events (5.6% vs. 20.5%, p &lt; 0.001 and 4.4% vs. 13.5%, p &lt; 0.001, respectively). In the DKD group, the risk of MACE was elevated to 141.9% [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.419, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.164–1.730, p = 0.001] in the Cox univariable regression analyses; after adjusting co-variables, the Cox multivariable regression analyses demonstrated that DKD was an independent predictor for MACE (HR = 1.291, 95% CI: 1.027–1.624, p = 0.029) in patients with CAD after PCI, as well as in cardiovascular death events (HR = 2.148, 95% CI: 1.292–3.572, p = 0.003) and all-cause death events (HR = 2.229, 95% CI: 1.325–3.749, p = 0.003).ConclusionThis study suggests that DKD is an independent and novel predictor of long-term adverse outcomes in patients with CAD and DM who underwent PCI.
Virtual reality and augmented reality in medical education: an umbrella review
Authors: Tene Talia , Vique López Diego Fabián , Valverde Aguirre Paulina Elizabeth , Orna Puente Luz María , Vacacela Gomez Cristian 
Published: March 2024

ObjectiveThis umbrella review aims to ascertain the extent to which immersive Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies improve specific competencies in healthcare professionals within medical education and training, in contrast to traditional educational methods or no intervention.MethodsAdhering to PRISMA guidelines and the PICOS approach, a systematic literature search was conducted across major databases to identify studies examining the use of VR and AR in medical education. Eligible studies were screened and categorized based on the PICOS criteria. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were employed to analyze the data, supplemented by the Fisher test for small sample sizes or specific conditions.AnalysisThe analysis involved cross-tabulating the stages of work (Development and Testing, Results, Evaluated) and variables of interest (Performance, Engagement, Performance and Engagement, Effectiveness, no evaluated) against the types of technologies used. Chi-square tests assessed the associations between these categorical variables.ResultsA total of 28 studies were included, with the majority reporting increased or positive effects from the use of immersive technologies. VR was the most frequently studied technology, particularly in the “Performance” and “Results” stages. The chi-square analysis, with a Pearson value close to significance (p = 0.052), suggested a non-significant trend toward the association of VR with improved outcomes.ConclusionsThe results indicate that VR is a prevalent tool in the research landscape of medical education technologies, with a positive trend toward enhancing educational outcomes. However, the statistical analysis did not reveal a significant association, suggesting the need for further research with larger sample sizes. This review underscores the potential of immersive technologies to enhance medical training yet calls for more rigorous studies to establish definitive evidence of their efficacy.
Rs4862705 in the melatonin receptor 1A gene is associated with renal function decline in type 1 diabetes individuals
Authors: Daher Gustavo , Santos-Bezerra Daniele Pereira , Cavaleiro Ana Mercedes , Pelaes Tatiana Souza , Admoni Sharon Nina , Perez Ricardo Vessoni , Machado Cleide Guimarães , Amaral Fernanda Gaspar do , Cipolla-Neto José , Correa-Giannella Maria Lúcia 
Published: March 2024

AimThe pathogenesis of chronic diabetes complications has oxidative stress as one of the major elements, and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes belonging to antioxidant pathways modulate susceptibility to these complications. Considering that melatonin is a powerful antioxidant compound, our aim was to explore, in a longitudinal cohort study of type 1 diabetes (T1D) individuals, the association of microvascular complications and SNPs in the gene encoding melatonin receptor 1A (MTNR1A).MethodsEight SNPs in MTNR1A were genotyped in 489 T1D individuals. Besides cross-sectional analyses of SNPs with each one of the microvascular complications (distal polyneuropathy, cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy, retinopathy, and diabetic kidney disease), a longitudinal analysis evaluated the associations of SNPs with renal function decline in 411 individuals followed up for a median of 8 years. In a subgroup of participants, the association of complications with urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) concentration was investigated.ResultsThe group of individuals with a renal function decline ≥ 5 mL min−1 1.73 m−2 year−1 presented a higher frequency of the A allele of rs4862705 in comparison with nondecliners, even after adjustment for confounding variables (OR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.20–2.82; p = 0.0046). No other significant associations were found.ConclusionsThis is the first study showing an association between a variant in a gene belonging to the melatonin system and renal function decline in the diabetic setting.
SAP-expressing T peripheral helper cells identify systemic lupus erythematosus patients with lupus nephritis
Authors: Gartshteyn Yevgeniya , Geraldino-Pardilla Laura , Khalili Leila , Bukhari Shoiab , Lerrer Shalom , Winchester Robert J. , Askanase Anca D. , Mor Adam 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionT follicular (TFH) and peripheral helper (TPH) cells have been increasingly recognized as a pathogenic subset of CD4 T cells in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The SLAM Associated Protein (SAP) regulates TFH and TPH function by binding to the co-stimulatory signaling lymphocyte activation molecule family (SLAMF) receptors that mediate T cell - B cell interactions. SAP and SLAMF are critical for TPH-dependent B cell maturation into autoantibody-producing plasma cells that characterize SLE pathogenesis. We hypothesized that SAP-expressing TPH cells are involved in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis (LN).MethodsPeripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated using density gradient separation from whole blood. Cells were stained for cell surface markers, followed by permeabilization and staining of intracellular SAP for spectral flow cytometry analysis. We also analyzed SAP expression from renal infiltrating LN T cells using the available single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA seq) Accelerated Medicines Partnership (AMP) SLE dataset.ResultsPBMC from 30 patients with SLE (34 ± 10 years old, 83% female), including 10 patients with LN, were analyzed. We found an increase in total SAP-positive CD4 and CD8 T cells in SLE compared with controls (55.5 ± 2.6 vs. 41.3 ± 3.4, p=0.007, and 52.5 ± 3.0 vs. 39.2 ± 2.8, p=0.007 respectively). In CD4 T cells, the highest SAP expression was in the TPH subset. The frequency of SAP+TPH in circulation correlated with disease activity; SLE patients with renal disease had higher levels of circulating SAP+TPH that remained significant after adjusting for age, sex, race, low complements, and elevated anti-dsDNA (p=0.014). scRNA-seq data of renal infiltrating T cells in LN identified SAP expression to localize to the TFH-like CD4 cluster and GZMK+ CD8 cluster. Increased SAP expression in LN was associated with the differential expression of SLAMF3 and SLAMF7 and granzyme K and EOMES. The existence of two predominant SAP-expressing subsets, the TFH-like CD4 T cells, and GZMK+ effector CD8 T cells, was verified using scRNA-seq data from a human transcriptomic atlas of fifteen major organs.ConclusionThe expansion of SAP-expressing T helper cells was associated with LN in our cohort and verified using scRNA-seq data of renal infiltrating T cells. Improved SLAM and SAP signaling understanding can identify new therapeutic targets in LN.
A genome-wide cross-trait analysis identifies shared loci and causal relationships of obesity and lipidemic traits with psoriasis
Authors: Wu Yuan , Huang Mengfen , Chen Xueru , Wu Jingjing , Li Li , Wei Jianan , Lu Chuanjian , Han Ling , Lu Yue 
Published: March 2024

BackgroundObesity and dyslipidemia, major global health concerns, have been linked to psoriasis, but previous studies faced methodological limitations and their shared genetic basis remains unclear. This study examines various obesity-related and lipidemic traits as potential contributors to psoriasis development, aiming to clarify their genetic associations and potential causal links.MethodsSummary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) conducted for obesity-related traits (body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for the body mass index (WHRadjBMI)) and lipidemic traits (high-density lipoprotein (HDL), LDL, triglyceride (TG), total Cholesterol (TC), apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1), apolipoprotein B (apoB), and apolipoprotein E (apoE)) and psoriasis, all in populations of European ancestry, were used. We quantified genetic correlations, identified shared loci and explored causal relationship across traits.ResultsWe found positive genetic correlation between BMI and psoriasis (rg=0.22, p=2.44×10-18), and between WHR and psoriasis (rg=0.19, p=1.41×10-12). We further found the positive genetic correlation between psoriasis and WHRadjBMI(rg=0.07, p=1.81×10-2) the genetic correlation, in while the effect of BMI was controlled for. We identified 14 shared loci underlying psoriasis and obesity-related traits and 43 shared loci between psoriasis and lipidemic traits via cross-trait meta-analysis. Mendelian randomization (MR) supported the causal roles of BMI (IVW OR=1.483, 95%CI=1.333-1.649), WHR (IVW OR=1.393, 95%CI=1.207-1.608) and WHRadjBMI (IVW OR=1.18, 95%CI=1.047-1.329) in psoriasis, but not observe any significant association between lipidemic traits and the risk of psoriasis. Genetic predisposition to psoriasis did not appear to affect the risk of obesity and lipidemic traits.ConclusionsAn intrinsic link between obesity-related traits and psoriasis has been demonstrated. The genetic correlation and causal role of obesity-related traits in psoriasis highlight the significance of weight management in both the prevention and treatment of this condition.
Therapeutic potential of procathepsin L-inhibiting and progesterone-entrapping dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin nanoparticles in treating experimental sepsis
Authors: Qiang Xiaoling , Chen Weiqiang , Zhu Cassie Shu , Li Jianhua , Qi Timothy , Lou Li , Wang Ping , Tracey Kevin J. , Wang Haichao 
Published: March 2024

The pathogenic mechanisms of bacterial infections and resultant sepsis are partly attributed to dysregulated inflammatory responses sustained by some late-acting mediators including the procathepsin-L (pCTS-L). It was entirely unknown whether any compounds of the U.S. Drug Collection could suppress pCTS-L-induced inflammation, and pharmacologically be exploited into possible therapies. Here, we demonstrated that a macrophage cell-based screening of a U.S. Drug Collection of 1360 compounds resulted in the identification of progesterone (PRO) as an inhibitor of pCTS-L-mediated production of several chemokines [e.g., Epithelial Neutrophil-Activating Peptide (ENA-78), Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1) or MCP-3] and cytokines [e.g., Interleukin-10 (IL-10) or Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)] in primary human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In vivo, these PRO-entrapping 2,6-dimethal-β-cyclodextrin (DM-β-CD) nanoparticles (containing 1.35 mg/kg PRO and 14.65 mg/kg DM-β-CD) significantly increased animal survival in both male (from 30% to 70%, n = 20, P = 0.041) and female (from 50% to 80%, n = 30, P = 0.026) mice even when they were initially administered at 24 h post the onset of sepsis. This protective effect was associated with a reduction of sepsis-triggered accumulation of three surrogate biomarkers [e.g., Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) by 40%; Macrophage Inflammatory Protein-2 (MIP-2) by 45%; and Soluble Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor I (sTNFRI) by 80%]. Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) analysis revealed a strong interaction between PRO and pCTS-L (KD = 78.2 ± 33.7 nM), which was paralleled with a positive correlation between serum PRO concentration and serum pCTS-L level (ρ = 0.56, P = 0.0009) or disease severity (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment, SOFA; ρ = 0.64, P = 0.0001) score in septic patients. Our observations support a promising opportunity to explore DM-β-CD nanoparticles entrapping lipophilic drugs as possible therapies for clinical sepsis.