bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Higher antibody titres against Pseudogymnoascus destructans are associated with less white-nose syndrome skin lesions in Palearctic bats
Authors: Pikula Jiri , Brichta Jiri , Seidlova Veronika , Piacek Vladimir , Zukal Jan 
Published: December 2023

IntroductionSerological tests can be used to test whether an animal has been exposed to an infectious agent, and whether its immune system has recognized and produced antibodies against it. Paired samples taken several weeks apart then document an ongoing infection and/or seroconversion.MethodsIn the absence of a commercial kit, we developed an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect the fungus-specific antibodies for Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the agent of white-nose syndrome in bats.Results and DiscussionSamples collected from European Myotis myotis (n=35) and Asian Myotis dasycneme (n=11) in their hibernacula at the end of the hibernation period displayed 100% seroprevalence of antibodies against P. destructans, demonstrating a high rate of exposure. Our results showed that the higher the titre of antibodies against P. destructans, the lower the infection intensity, suggesting that a degree of protection is provided by this arm of adaptive immunity in Palearctic bats. Moreover, P. destructans infection appears to be a seasonally self-limiting disease of Palearctic bats showing seroconversion as the WNS skin lesions heal in the early post-hibernation period.
A little bit of Sargassum goes a long way: seafloor observations of Sargassum fluitans and Sargassum natans in the Western Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Pries Ashley , Netburn Amanda N. , Batchelor Heidi , Hermanson Victoria R. 
Published: December 2023

The North Atlantic Ocean features high seasonal productivity of the brown seaweed Sargassum, which floats on the ocean surface and accumulates in large numbers in the Sargasso Sea. Sargassum blooms can stretch from the west coast of Africa to the Gulf of Mexico, and have created the largest seaweed blooms ever observed. Sargassum blooms have increased in intensity in recent years, and can negatively impact coastal communities when they wash up onshore in large quantities and decay. While seaweed sinking from surface waters to the seafloor may be an important carbon sink by removing carbon from the atmosphere, the magnitude of carbon sequestration by Sargassum and other macroalgae remains poorly understood. Given the magnitude of Sargassum blooms in the North Atlantic, they may pose a significant mechanism for carbon sequestration in the deep sea, though direct observations are rare. In this study, we documented the presence and distribution of Sargassum seaweed on the seafloor using video from ten remotely operated vehicle dives conducted on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. Locations included sites in the Gulf of Mexico, in the Caribbean Sea, and off the Southeastern United States. Sargassum was observed in numbers ranging from 0 to over 112 per dive, and a frequency of between 0-11.23 observations for every 100 meters of horizontal distance. These observations suggest that Sargassum does make its way to the deep sea in potentially significant amounts. Natural systems like Sargassum sinking could serve as natural laboratories for understanding and managing seaweed burial as a climate mitigation strategy. Long-term monitoring of the fate of sunken Sargassum on the seabed is needed in order to determine how much is ultimately sequestered rather than recycled back into the system. Such observations would inform the feasibility of Sargassum farming and/or facilitated sinking as potential carbon dioxide removal strategies.
The millennial dynamics of malaria in the mediterranean basin: documenting Plasmodium spp. on the medieval island of Corsica
Authors: Boualam Mahmoud Abdelwadoud , Corbara Anne-Gaëlle , Aboudharam Gérard , Istria Daniel , Signoli Michel , Costedoat Caroline , Drancourt Michel , Pradines Bruno 
Published: December 2023

IntroductionThe lack of well-preserved material upon which to base the paleo-microbiological detection of Plasmodium parasites has prevented extensive documentation of past outbreaks of malaria in Europe. By trapping intact erythrocytes at the time of death, dental pulp has been shown to be a suitable tissue for documenting ancient intraerythrocytic pathogens such as Plasmodium parasites.MethodsTotal DNA and proteins extracted from 23 dental pulp specimens collected from individuals exhumed from the 9th to 13th century archaeological site in Mariana, Corsica, were analyzed using open-mind paleo-auto-immunohistochemistry and direct metagenomics, Plasmodium-targeting immunochromatography assays. All experiments incorporated appropriate negative controls.ResultsPaleo-auto-immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of parasites Plasmodium spp. in the dental pulp of nine teeth. A further immunochromatography assay identified the presence of at least one Plasmodium antigen in nine individuals. The nine teeth, for which the PfHRP-2 antigen specific of P. falciparum was detected, were also positive using paleo-autoimmunohistochemistry and metagenomics.ConclusionDental pulp erythrocytes proved to be suitable for the direct paleomicrobiology documentation of malaria in nine individuals buried in medieval Corsica, in agreement with historical data. This provides additional information on the millennial dynamics of Plasmodium spp. in the Mediterranean basin.
Differential microbial composition in parasitic vs. questing ticks based on 16S next-generation sequencing
Authors: Zhang Lin , Han Jing , Zhou Qi , He Zhen , Sun Shi-Wei , Li Rui , Li Rui-Shan , Zhang Wen-Kai , Wang Yu-Hua , Xu Lin-Li , Lu Zhen-Hua , Shao Zhong-Jun 
Published: December 2023

IntroductionAs tick-borne diseases rise to become the second most prevalent arthropod-transmitted disease globally, the increasing investigations focus on ticks correspondingly. Factors contributed to this increase include anthropogenic influences, changes in vertebrate faunal composition, social-recreational shifts, and climatic variation. Employing the 16S gene sequence method in next-generation sequencing (NGS) allows comprehensive pathogen identification in samples, facilitating the development of refined approaches to tick research omnidirectionally.MethodsIn our survey, we compared the microbial richness and biological diversity of ticks in Wuwei City, Gansu province, differentiating between questing ticks found in grass and parasitic ticks collected from sheep based on 16S NGS method.ResultsThe results show Rickettsia, Coxiella, and Francisella were detected in all 50 Dermacentor nuttalli samples, suggesting that the co-infection may be linked to specific symbiotic bacteria in ticks. Our findings reveal significant differences in the composition and diversity of microorganisms, with the Friedmanniella and Bordetella genera existing more prevalent in parasitic ticks than in questing ticks (p &lt; 0.05). Additionally, the network analysis demonstrates that the interactions among bacterial genera can be either promotive or inhibitive in ticks exhibiting different lifestyles with the correlation index |r| &gt; 0.6. For instance, Francisella restrains the development of 10 other bacteria in parasitic ticks, whereas Phyllobacterium and Arthrobacter enhance colonization across all tick species.DiscussionBy leveraging NGS techniques, our study reveals a high degree of species and phylogenetic diversity within the tick microbiome. It further highlights the potential to investigate the interplay between bacterial genera in both parasitic and questing ticks residing in identical habitat environments.
Comparative untargeted and targeted metabonomics reveal discriminations in metabolite profiles between Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae and Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum
Authors: Hao Huafang , Zhang Xiaoliang , Chen Shengli , Lan Shimei , Li Zhangcheng , Liu Shuang , Yan Xinmin , Gao Pengcheng , Chu Yuefeng 
Published: December 2023

BackgroundMycoplasmas are among the smallest prokaryotic microbes that can grow and proliferate on non-living media. They have reduced genomes, which may be associated with a concomitant reduction in their metabolic capacity. Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae (Mccp) and Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum (Mcc), both belong to the Mycoplasma mycoides cluster, are significant important pathogenic Mycoplasma species in veterinary research field. They share high degree of genome homology but Mcc grows markedly faster and has higher growth titer than Mccp.MethodsThis study investigated the metabolites of these two pathogenic bacteria from the middle and late stages of the logarithmic growth phase through liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry–based metabolomics and targeted energy metabolomics. The multivariate analysis was conducted to identify significant differences between the two important Mycoplasma species.ResultsA total of 173 metabolites were identified. Of them, 33 and 34 metabolites involved in purine and pyrimidine, pyruvate metabolism, and amino acid synthesis were found to significantly differ in the middle and late stages, respectively. The abundance of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, ADP, and pyruvate was higher in Mcc than in Mccp during the whole logarithmic period. Lactate was upregulated in slow-growing Mccp. The pH buffering agent N-[2-hydroxyethyl]piperazine-N′-[2-ethanesulfonic acid] added to media effectively prevented pH reduction and increase bacterial viability and protein biomass. The multivariate analysis revealed that the two Mycoplasma species significantly differed in glucose metabolism, growth factor transport and metabolism, cholesterol utilization, and environmental regulation.ConclusionThe study data are beneficial for understanding the metabolomic characteristics of these two crucial Mycoplasma species and shedding more light on mycoplasma metabolism, and serve as a resource for the pathogenesis and development of related vaccines.
Resting state correlates of picture description informativeness in left vs. right hemisphere chronic stroke
Authors: Meier Erin L. , Sheppard Shannon M. , Sebastian Rajani , Berube Shauna , Goldberg Emily B. , Shea Jennifer , Stein Colin M. , Hillis Argye E. 
Published: December 2023

IntroductionDespite a growing emphasis on discourse processing in clinical neuroscience, relatively little is known about the neurobiology of discourse production impairments. Individuals with a history of left or right hemisphere stroke can exhibit difficulty with communicating meaningful discourse content, which implies both cerebral hemispheres play a role in this skill. However, the extent to which successful production of discourse content relies on network connections within domain-specific vs. domain-general networks in either hemisphere is unknown.MethodsIn this study, 45 individuals with a history of either left or right hemisphere stroke completed resting state fMRI and the Cookie Theft picture description task.ResultsParticipants did not differ in the total number of content units or the percentage of interpretative content units they produced. Stroke survivors with left hemisphere damage produced significantly fewer content units per second than individuals with right hemisphere stroke. Intrinsic connectivity of the left language network was significantly weaker in the left compared to the right hemisphere stroke group for specific connections. Greater efficiency of communication of picture scene content was associated with stronger left but weaker right frontotemporal connectivity of the language network in patients with a history of left hemisphere (but not right hemisphere) stroke. No significant relationships were found between picture description measures and connectivity of the dorsal attention, default mode, or salience networks or with connections between language and other network regions.DiscussionThese findings add to prior behavioral studies of picture description skills in stroke survivors and provide insight into the role of the language network vs. other intrinsic networks during discourse production.
Laser interstitial thermal therapy is effective and safe for the treatment of brain tumors in NF1 patients after cerebral revascularization for moyamoya angiopathy: a report on two cases
Authors: Guida Lelio , Beccaria Kevin , Benichi Sandro , Kossorotof Manoelle , Naggara Olivier , Bourgeois Marie , Bourdeaut Franck , Abbou Samuel , Dangouloff-Ros Volodia , Boddaert Nathalie , Blauwblomme Thomas 
Published: December 2023

BackgroundThe co-occurrence of moyamoya vasculopathy and extra-optic pathway tumors is rare in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), with only four cases described in the literature. Brain surgery in these patients may be challenging because of the risk of brain infarction after skin and dural incision. Given its percutaneous and minimally invasive nature, laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is an ideal option for the treatment of brain tumors in these patients. Here, we report on two patients with NF1 and moyamoya syndrome (MMS) treated for a brain glioma with LITT, after cerebral revascularization.CasesThe first patient, with familial NF1, underwent bilateral indirect revascularization with multiple burr holes (MBH) for symptomatic MMS. Two years later, she was diagnosed with a left temporal tumor, with evidence of radiologic progression over 10 months. The second patient, also with familial NF1, developed unilateral MMS when he was 6 years old and was treated with MBH. At the age of 15 years, MRI showed a right cingular lesion, growing on serial MRIs. Both patients underwent LITT with no perioperative complications; they are progression free at 10 and 12 months, respectively, and the tumors have decreased in volume.DiscussionWhile the association of extra-optic neoplasm and moyamoya angiopathy is seldom reported in NF1, tumor treatment is challenging in terms of both avoiding stroke and achieving oncological control. Here, we show in 2 cases, that LITT could be a safe and effective option in these rare conditions.
The effect of general anesthesia and conscious sedation in endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke: an updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and trial sequential analysis
Authors: Peng Zhi , Luo Wenmiao , Yan Zhengcun , Zhang Hengzhu 
Published: December 2023

ObjectivesGeneral anesthesia (GA) and conscious sedation (CS) are common methods for endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, the risks and benefits of each strategy are unclear. This study aimed to summarize the latest RCTs and compare the postoperative effects of the two methods on EVT patients.Materials and methodsWe systematically searched the database for GA and CS in AIS patients during EVT. The retrieval time was from the creation of the database until March 2023. The quality of the studies was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Random-effects or fixed-effects meta-analyses were used to assess all outcomes.ResultsWe preliminarily identified 304 studies, of which 8 were included. Based on the pooled estimates, there were no significant differences between the GA group and the CS group in terms of good functional outcomes (mRS0-2) and mortality rate at 3 months (RR = 1.09, 95% CI: 0.95–1.24, p = 0.23) (RR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.75–1.22, p = 0.70) as well as in NHISS at 24 h after treatment (SMD = −0.01, 95% CI: −0.13 to 0.11, p = 0.89). However, the GA group had better outcomes in terms of achieving successful recanalization of the blood vessel (RR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.07–1.19, p &lt; 0.0001). The RR value for the risk of hypotension was 1.87 (95% CI: 1.42–2.47, p &lt; 0.00001); for pneumonia, RR was 1.43 (95% CI: 1.07–1.90, p = 0.01); and for symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, RR was 0.94 (95% CI: 0.74–1.26, p = 0.68). The pooled RR value for complications after intervention was 1.03 (95% CI, 0.87–1.22, p = 0.76).ConclusionIn patients undergoing EVT for AIS, GA, and CS are associated with similar rates of functional independence. Further trials of a larger scale are needed to confirm these findings.
The impact of platelet indices on ischemic stroke: a Mendelian randomization study and mediation analysis
Authors: Li Yang , Xiang Wenping , Xue Hui , Meng Tianyu , Zhang Tianyou , Zhang Jinfeng , Wang Jingbo , Zhao Jili , Wang Baojun 
Published: December 2023

IntroductionPlatelet indices (PIs) are hematological parameters that indicate the number, morphology, and activation of platelets. Although some clinical trials suggest an association between PIs and the risk of stroke, the lack of robust evidence is attributed to confounding effects and reverse causation.ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the association between PIs and stroke risk through Mendelian randomization (MR) while exploring the mediating effect of blood pressure in this association.MethodsWe identified genetic variants associated with PIs, including platelet count (PLT), platelet distribution width (PDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet crit (PCT), in the UK Biobank (n = 350,474). Relevant genome-wide association studies were utilized to gather summary statistics pertaining to the traits of interest. We primarily used the inverse-variance weighted analysis to obtain estimates for individual causal power.ResultWe observed a positive correlation between genetically predicted increases in PCT levels with the stroke onset [PCT: OR (95%CI) = 1.113(1.047, 1.183), p &lt; 0.001]. However, no significant causal relationship was found between PLT, PDW, and MPV and the risk of stroke [PLT: OR (95%CI) = 1.037(0.979, 1.098), p = 0.221; PDW: OR (95%CI) = 0.973(0.923, 1.024), p = 0.294; MPV: OR (95%CI) = 0.990(0.945, 1.038), p = 0.675]. Multivariable MR analyses and mediation analysis found that the proportion mediated by systolic blood pressure (SBP) is 23.71% [95%CI (10.85–33.31%)] and the proportion mediated by diastolic blood pressure (DBP) is 28.09% [95%CI (12.92–39.63%)].ConclusionThis large MR study presents evidence for the potential causal relationship between the PCT level and the risk of ischemic stroke, which might be mediated by blood pressure.
Investigating pre-professional dancer health status and preventative health knowledge
Authors: Nicholas Joanna , Grafenauer Sara 
Published: December 2023

IntroductionDance is a highly demanding physical pursuit coupled with pressure to conform to aesthetic ideals. Assessment of health status and preventative health knowledge of pre-professional dancers may help inform educational strategies promoting dancers’ health and career longevity. The aim of this research was to establish a baseline understanding of dance students at a single pre-professional institution based on metrics focused on current health, nutrition, lifestyle, and wellbeing while also gauging knowledge of longer-term health implications.MethodsAdopting a cross-sectional study design, the Dance-Specific Energy Availability Questionnaire was tailored for Australian participants and administered online.ResultsThe response rate was 59.5% (69/116 eligible students) and the survey was completed in full by 63 students. Mean BMI was 20 kg/m2, although among females, 47% had a BMI &lt; 20 (range 16 to 25 kg/m2), and at their lowest reported weight BMI was 14 to 25 kg/m2. Over a third had either experienced (31%) or were currently experiencing (3.4%) secondary amenorrhea (period absence ≥ 3 consecutive months). Most dancers did not exclude food groups, however, 24% had been advised to exclude particular foods in the past, mostly by dance teachers. A large percentage used nutritional supplements (68%) with 60% supplementing with iron and more than half (53%) taking two or more supplements. Only 25% had ever utilised a qualified dietitian, although 16% reported a history of eating disorders and 25% reported vegetarian or vegan eating patterns. REDs risk scores ranged from −16 to +16 points with negative scores indicating LEA and higher risk of REDs. The mean score for males was 5.2 (SD = 3.9) and 2.1 (SD = 5.9) for females, with 33.3% producing a negative score.ConclusionResults provide insight to health knowledge and particular issues pertinent for dancers and highlights the need for specific education strategies to promote a preventative health focus for those entering a pre-professional programme. This study also highlights the need for improved awareness of LEA and REDs among all practitioners working with dancers along with cultural and structural changes within the broader dance community to help protect and promote the wellbeing of dancers.
Neoadjuvant therapy in non-small cell lung cancer: basis, promise, and challenges
Authors: Kalvapudi Sukumar , Vedire Yeshwanth , Yendamuri Sai , Barbi Joseph 
Published: December 2023

IntroductionSurvival rates for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain poor despite the decade-long established standard of surgical resection and systemic adjuvant therapy. Realizing this, researchers are exploring novel therapeutic targets and deploying neoadjuvant therapies to predict and improve clinical and pathological outcomes in lung cancer patients. Neoadjuvant therapy is also increasingly being used to downstage disease to allow for resection with a curative intent. In this review, we aim to summarize the current and developing landscape of using neoadjuvant therapy in the management of NSCLC.MethodsThe PubMed.gov and the ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched on 15 January 2023, to identify published research studies and trials relevant to this review. One hundred and seven published articles and seventeen ongoing clinical trials were selected, and relevant findings and information was reviewed.Results &amp; DiscussionNeoadjuvant therapy, proven through clinical trials and meta-analyses, exhibits safety and efficacy comparable to or sometimes surpassing adjuvant therapy. By attacking micro-metastases early and reducing tumor burden, it allows for effective downstaging of disease, allowing for curative surgical resection attempts. Research into neoadjuvant therapy has necessitated the development of surrogate endpoints such as major pathologic response (MPR) and pathologic complete response (pCR) allowing for shorter duration clinical trials. Novel chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy agents are being tested at a furious rate, paving the way for a future of personalized systemic therapy in NSCLC. However, challenges remain that prevent further mainstream adoption of preoperative (Neoadjuvant) therapy. These include the risk of delaying curative surgical resection in scenarios of adverse events or treatment resistance. Also, the predictive value of surrogate markers of disease cure still needs robust verification. Finally, the body of published data is still limited compared to adjuvant therapy. Addressing these concerns with more large scale randomized controlled trials is needed.