bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Traditional Chinese medicine for premature ventricular contraction caused by obstructive sleep apnea: A case report and literature review
Authors: Yue Qing-Qing , Hao Yi-Fang , Li Ting , Miao Han-Ying , Chen Bing-Chang , Li Sheng-Yao 
Published: January 2025

Rationale:
Premature ventricular contraction (PVC) is a common type of arrhythmia, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common trigger for this condition. Some patients still have PVC, even if ventilation is improved by wearing a respirator. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history of arrhythmia treatment, and this is the first report of a patient with PVC caused by OSA treated with TCM. Twenty-four-hour Holter showed that the number of PVCs decreased from 8968 to 0 before and after TCM treatment, and discomfort symptoms disappeared completely.

Patient concerns:
A 37-year-old middle-aged man, with no history of hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, or other underlying diseases, had been suffering from OSA for over 1 year and currently uses a respirator to sleep. He was diagnosed with PVC at Beijing Anzhen Hospital 1 year ago and had been taking propafenone hydrochloride tablets following the physician’s advice, but palpitation had not been relieved. The patient did not consider surgery and hoped to take TCM to treat the palpitations.

Diagnoses:
The patient was diagnosed with PVC. After excluding other factors that could cause PVC, it was ultimately considered that the patient’s PVC was related to OSA.

Interventions:
The patient visited Xiyuan Hospital on December 5, 2023, on the basis of existing Western medicine and TCM, using the modified Huanglian Wendan Decoction.

Outcomes:
After taking TCM for 21 days, the Holter tests were conducted again. The results showed that the number of PVCs decreased from 8968 to 0 within 24 hours. Meanwhile, his palpitations were relieved, and the dosage of propafenone hydrochloride tablets was halved. After 7 days, he did not experience any discomfort; therefore, propafenone hydrochloride tablets were discontinued and TCM was exclusively administered. He received 7 additional courses in TCM. During the final consultation on April 23, 2024, the patient reported no discomfort, and snoring improved.

Lessons:
After treatment with TCM, the patient’s palpitations disappeared completely and snoring improved, which proved that TCM can treat PVC caused by OSA. To verify this conclusion, more high-quality research is necessary to establish the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of TCM in treating PVC caused by OSA.
Efficacy of toothpaste containing OPTIMEALTH® OR in inhibiting dental plaque and gingivitis: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Fu Yimin , Yang Yong , Mu Keyun , Zhou Yuye , Chai Hui 
Published: January 2025

Background:
This randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluated the effects of 2% OPTIMEALTH® OR toothpaste in regulating dental plaque microbiota and alleviating gingivitis.

Methods:
Subjects were randomly assigned to the placebo group and test group. They were instructed to brush their teeth with placebo toothpaste (placebo group) or OPTIMEALTH® OR toothpaste (test group) for a continuous 4 weeks. Clinical indices of plaque index, gingival index, and bleeding on probe (%) were examined, and images of dental plaque staining were captured at baseline and after 2 and 4 weeks. The plaque microbiome was analyzed by 16s rDNA amplicon sequencing at baseline and after 4 weeks.

Results:
Thirty-two participants with similar characteristics were recruited. After using OPTIMEALTH® OR toothpaste for 4 weeks, a decrease of 27.05% (P < .01), 8.29% (P > .05), and 47.44% (P < .05) in plaque index, gingival index, and bleeding on probe (%) scores was observed compared to the baseline, respectively. The extent of decline in these indices is greater than that in the placebo group. A decrease in dental plaque could be observed after 2 and 4 weeks in the test group. The 16s rDNA sequencing results showed that the observed species index and Chao index, but not the Shannon index and beta diversity, were reduced significantly after using OPTIMEALTH® OR toothpaste for 4 weeks. In addition, compared with the placebo group, using OPTIMEALTH® OR toothpaste reduced the abundance of bacterial species such as Veillonella parvula and Prevotella denticola.

Conclusion:
Brushing teeth with 2% OPTIMEALTH® OR-fortified toothpaste could effectively reduce dental plaque and regulate plaque microbiota.
Effect of Tai Ji and/or Qigong on patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A meta-analysis and systematic review
Authors: Liu Hongliang , Cheng Ningchang 
Published: January 2025

Background:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a global health problem with high morbidity and mortality. Tai Ji and Qigong are traditional Chinese meditative movements, benefit COPD patient’s physical and mental health.

Methods:
We searched the following 7 databases Web of Science, EBSCO, Medline, PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library online, and CNKI from inception to July 2023. Any RCTs managed with Tai Ji and/or Qigong on stable COPD were eligible without age, and comparison management restrict, however should be published in English. Outcome measures comprised pulmonary function, 6WMT, physical and/or cognitive function, and any assessment of people QoL.

Results:
Tai Ji and/or Qigong significant increased %PredFEV1 on stable COPD people (MD: 3.46, 95% CI: 1.69–5.23), and 6MWT (MD: 45.07, 95% CI: 31.16–58.97). 5/6 studies reported a meaningful change in CAT/SGRQ total (MD: −4.04, 95% CI: −7.76 to −0.32; MD: −11.95, 95% CI: −21.22 to −2.68). However, 6MWT, CAT and SGRO total were debated on high heterogeneity.

Conclusion:
Tai Ji and Qigong increase %PredFEV1 and promote QoL. However, the evidences are not sufficient, a proper subgroup analysis should be considered.
Anti-inflammatory potential of royal jelly in multiple sclerosis disease: a double randomized clinical trial
Authors: Sabbagh Susan , Eslamifar Zahra , Behzadifard Saba , Tabandeh Mohammad Reza , Zandi Mohammad Reza , Behzadifard Mahin 
Published: January 2025

Introduction:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, autoimmune, and neurodegenerative disease that affects the central nervous system. Royal jelly (RJ), a nutrient-rich substance known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, holds potential in impeding disease progression by mitigating inflammatory processes and oxidative stress. This study was undertaken to explore the impact of RJ on oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in individuals diagnosed with MS.

Methods:
This randomized clinical trial involved the allocation of 35 MS patients into two groups: intervention (n = 19) and control (n = 16). The intervention group received daily 500 mg RJ capsules for a duration of 2 months, while the control group received placebo capsules. Prior to and following the intervention, the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was ascertained for the patients. Furthermore, the serum levels of inflammatory markers interleukin (IL-1B), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interferon (IFN), in addition to the oxidative stress indices catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase, and nitric oxide were evaluated. The data were analyzed using the GraphPad Prism software.

Results:
After the intervention, the mean EDSS score significantly decreased in the case group compared to pre-intervention (P < 0.05). Levels of MDA, IL-1B, TNF, and IFN significantly decreased in the case group post-intervention (P < 0.05). Additionally, a significant increase in CAT enzyme levels was observed in the case group after two months (P < 0.05). In contrast, the control group showed a significant increase in MDA levels after 2 months compared to baseline (P < 0.05).

Conclusion:
Our findings suggest that RJ supplementation may have beneficial effects on inflammatory markers, oxidative stress indices and quality of life in MS patients.
Expanded Forehead Flaps Based on the Frontal Branch of the Superficial Temporal Artery: Patterns, Techniques, and Outcomes in Cervicofacial Reconstruction
Authors: Zhang Zixuan , Dai Xinyue , Zang Mengqing , Zhu Shan , Li Shanshan , Chen Zixiang , Jin Shengyang , Liu Yuanbo 
Published: January 2025

The expanded forehead flap based on the frontal branch of the superficial temporal artery (STA-Fbr) is a versatile technique for reconstructing cervicofacial defects. The aim of this study was to summarize STA-Fbr forehead flap harvesting patterns. Between July 2003 and July 2023, 66 patients (43 males) underwent face and neck defect reconstruction using STA-Fbr-based forehead flaps. These were divided into pattern I (vascular-pedicled) and pattern II (cutaneous-pedicled) flaps. Pattern II was subdivided into unilateral (IIa) and bilateral (IIb) cutaneous-pedicled flaps. Pattern IIa flaps were categorized as traditional or scarless based on pedicle location. Of the 66 flaps, 62 survived without perfusion-related complications. There were 10 Pattern I and 56 pattern II flaps (11 traditional IIa, 19 scarless IIa, and 26 IIb). Venous congestion occurred in 3 pattern I and 1 scarless IIa flap. After conservative management, 3 flaps survived; 1 pattern I flap developed distal necrosis. Defects were located in the temporal region, eyebrow, eyelid, nose, cheek, ear, mentum, and neck. Expanders ranged from 50 to 400 mL (average: 236 mL), with expansion times of 3 to 16 months (average: 5.9 mo). Defect dimensions ranged from 3 × 2 cm to 27 × 8 cm (average: 10.8 × 5.3 cm), and flap dimensions ranged from 4 × 3 cm to 30 × 9 cm (average: 16.3 × 6.6 cm). The STA-Fbr-based forehead flap remains a reliable and effective option for cervicofacial defect reconstruction, delivering functional and aesthetic outcomes. Successful surgery requires thorough anatomical knowledge, meticulous flap design, and in-depth patient communication.
Palliative radiotherapy for the hemostasis of bleeding tumors: an overview of the most recent literature
Authors: Guhlich Manuel , Verschuren Pieter , Oldenburger Eva 
Published: January 2025

Purpose of review
Palliative radiotherapy is frequently applied for various indications, with hemostasis being a quite common one. However, while bleeding can occur at different sites and arise from various primary tumor types, clear guidelines for administering hemostatic radiotherapy are lacking. Additionally, most available data on hemostatic radiotherapy are retrospective, and often studies do not focus on hemostasis specifically. This review provides an overview of the most recent data on hemostatic radiotherapy to identify any research trends and focus areas for this specific topic.

Recent findings
This review confirms the value of radiation for tumor bleeding. Unfortunately, research in hemostatic radiotherapy predominantly continues to focus on retrospective analyses of treated patients. However, at least two prospective trials specifically investigating hemostasis have been published recently, both conducted in low-income countries.

Summary
Radiotherapy is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for bleeding tumors. As the incidence of advanced cancer rises in low- and middle-income countries, where resources are limited, further research should focus on hypofractionated regimens. Additionally, there is a need for comprehensive descriptions of contouring and treatment planning to optimize outcomes in these settings.
Cognitive disorders in patients with neuroimmunological disease
Authors: Restrepo-Martinez Miguel , Bell Vaughan , Ramirez-Bermudez Jesus 
Published: January 2025

Purpose of review
Autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), multiple sclerosis (MS), and autoimmune encephalitis can directly and indirectly affect brain function, leading to cognitive dysfunction or well characterized neurocognitive syndromes. However, these are often poorly characterized in the literature. Here, we review evidence on clinical manifestations, risk factors, their assessment and outcomes, and evidence for underlying mechanisms and associated biomarkers, if available.

Recent findings
Significant advances have been made in neurocognitive disorders associated with four categories of autoimmune disease: neurocognitive disorders due to autoimmune connective tissue diseases, neurocognitive disorders due to autoimmune demyelinating diseases of the CNS, neurocognitive disorders due to autoimmune encephalitis, and neurocognitive disorders due to cerebrovascular disease of autoimmune origin.

Summary
Autoimmune diseases should be considered as critical causal factors underlying new cases of neurocognitive disorder, especially in young patients. These diseases are mediated by immune system reactions involving antibody production, T-cell-mediated damage, and demyelination. Although the prognosis seems favourable in most conditions after immunotherapy, the magnitude of the therapeutic effect of immunotherapy on cognitive functioning remains unclear.
Biofluid biomarkers in distinguishing young-onset dementia from primary psychiatric disorders
Authors: Loi Samantha M. , Eratne Dhamidhu , Santillo Alexander F. , Velakoulis Dennis 
Published: January 2025

Purpose of review
There has been growing interest in the role of biofluid biomarkers to aid the diagnosis of dementia in older people. However, less attention has been given to younger people who have dementia (young-onset dementia), who frequently experience misdiagnoses of primary psychiatric disorders diagnostic delay and challenges accessing appropriate care.

Recent findings
We describe 12 studies from the previous 2 years of which the majority have investigated the role of neurofilament light chain protein (NfL) in blood and cerebrospinal fluid in distinguishing young-onset dementia from primary psychiatric disorders. Synaptic and astrocytic biomarkers were also investigated. Sample sizes ranged from n = 46 to n = 999 and studies were mostly from Australia and the Netherlands.

Summary
The major finding from this review was that NfL has very high sensitivity and specificity in differentiating a range of young-onset dementias (Alzheimer's dementia, behavioural-variant frontotemporal dementia) from PPD (schizophrenia, bipolar affective and major depressive disorders). NfL is easily accessible via the blood, so there is significant potential that a blood test could be available to make this dichotomisation. Further research is required to support clinical translation such as changes of NfL with disease progression and standardising analytic techniques.
Mutation ages and population origins inferred from genomes in structured populations
Authors: Nagel Anna A. , Rannala Bruce 
Published: January 2025

AbstractInferring the time of origin (age) of mutations is an old question in population genetics and inferring their population of origin has become of particular interest with the sequencing of the Neanderthal genome. However, existing methods to infer mutation ages and populations of origin do not explicitly consider population structure, migration rates, and divergence times, which may bias estimates, and it is unclear how to even apply single-population estimators to structured populations. We develop a method to jointly estimate the time and population of origin of a mutation (as well as the ancestral and derived states) in a structured population using population genomic data and examine its statistical performance using simulations. Results indicate that mutation age and population of origin can be quite uncertain, even with long sequences or many samples, but this uncertainty is accurately captured using credible intervals/sets. The ancestral nucleotide state is relatively easy to infer. We apply our method to whole genome data from the 1000 Genomes Project, analyzing seven SNP mutations from six genes associated with human skin pigmentation for populations from Great Britain, China, and Kenya. Our results partially support previous conclusions, with the putative ancestral alleles from the literature matching our inferences, while the mutation age estimates only overlap in some cases. Furthermore, there are non-trivial posterior probabilities of recurrence for three of the mutations.
Order disorder phase transitions in the plasma membrane of HeLa cells measured by fluorescent analysis of solvatochromic probes
Authors: Färber Nicolas , Mauritz Sophie C. F. , Huber Marina G. , Klymchenko Andrey S. , Westerhausen Christoph 
Published: January 2025

AbstractUsing the solvatochromic membrane probes Laurdan and Pro12A we investigated order-disorder phase transitions in cellular lipid membranes of HeLa cells. Due to internalization of Laurdan its fluorescence signal yields information about inner and outer cellular membranes while Pro12A exclusively stains the plasma membrane. The two different membrane-embedded dyes show an emission redshift upon increasing disorder of the surrounding lipids that can be quantified by the Generalized Polarization (GP). First, we compare the sensitivity of both probes to lipid phase transitions by analyzing GP of synthetic lipid vesicles as function of temperature. Second, we investigate the temperature dependent lipid order of HeLa cell membranes and find that the plasma membrane shows a partially reversible order-disorder transition regime at temperatures between T = 20 °C and T = 70 °C. Third, we calorimetrically detect an irreversible transition at T = 55 °C and conclude that the optically detected restructuring of the plasma membrane can be partially attributed to protein denaturation. At last, it is shown that the reversible plasma membrane transition temperature Tmshifts from Tm= 25 °C to Tm=-16 °C upon cholesterol depletion and sharpens from a half width of ΔTFWHM= 60 K to ΔTFWHM= 8 K. The reversibility and the sensitivity to cholesterol of this transition indicate a temperature-induced lipid melting within the plasma membrane of HeLa cells.
Measurement force, speed and post-mortem time affect the ratio of CNS grey to white matter elasticity
Authors: Becker Julia M. , Winkel Alexander K. , Kreysing Eva , Franze Kristian 
Published: January 2025

AbstractFor several decades, many attempts have been made to characterise the mechanical properties of grey and white matter, which constitute the two main compartments of the central nervous system (CNS), with various methods and contradictory results. In particular, the ratio of grey-to-white-matter elasticity is sometimes larger than 1 and sometimes smaller; the reason for this apparent discrepancy is currently unknown. Here, we exploited atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based indentation measurements to systematically investigate how the measurement force, measurement speed, post-mortem interval and temperature affect the measured elasticity of spinal cord tissue, and in particular the ratio of grey-to-white-matter elasticity (Kg/Kw). Within the explored parameter space, increasing measurement force and speed increased the measured elasticity of both grey and white matter. However,Kg/Kwdeclined from values as high as ∼5 at low forces and speeds to ∼1 for high forces and speeds.Kg/Kwalso strongly depended on the anatomical plane in which the measurements were conducted and was considerably higher in transverse sections compared to longitudinal sections. Furthermore, the post-mortem interval impacted both the absolute measured tissue elasticity andKg/Kw. Grey matter elasticity started decreasing ∼3 hours post-mortem until reaching a plateau after ∼6 hours. In contrast, white matter elasticity started declining from the beginning of the measurements until ∼6 hours post-mortem, when it also levelled off. As a result,Kg/Kwincreased until ∼6 hours post-mortem before stabilising. Between 20°C and 38°C, both grey and white matter elasticity decreased at a similar rate, without affectingKg/Kw. We have thus identified differences in the response of grey and white matter to varying strains and strain rates, and the post-mortem interval, and excluded temperature as a factor affectingKg/Kw. These differential responses likely contribute to the contradictory results obtained with different methods working in different strain regimes.Statement of significanceWe here showed that the mechanical response of CNS grey and white matter to an applied force differentially depends on measurement parameters such as the speed and magnitude of the applied forces, the post-mortem interval, as well as the anatomical axis along which measurements are conducted. These results broaden our understanding of CNS mechanics and pave the way for better and more targeted experimental design of future experiments. Ultimately, they may help to reconcile seemingly contradictory results in the literature concerning the ratio of grey-to-white-matter elasticity.
Conjugative Plasmids Rarely Confer Antibiotic Resistance or Virulence
Authors: Domingues Célia P.F. , Rebelo João S. , Dionisio Francisco , Nogueira Teresa 
Published: January 2025

SummaryAntimicrobial-resistant bacteria cause over a million deaths annually. This study investigates the role of plasmid mobility types in disseminating antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence genes (VGs). By analyzing 142,492 fully sequenced plasmids from bacterial isolates and metagenomes, we offer a comprehensive representation of plasmid distribution in microbial communities. Our findings reveal that conjugative plasmids (pCONJ) are less common than previously estimated, comprising only 4.14% of the dataset. Mobilizable plasmids (pMOB) are the most prevalent (66.82%), followed by non-transmissible plasmids (pNT) at 29.04%. Although plasmids are recognized as key drivers of ARG dissemination, only 3.8% of plasmids encode ARGs. Among pCONJ plasmids, 6.9% harbor ARGs, and just 0.18% carry VGs. These findings contrast with earlier estimates, which overrepresented clinically associated plasmids. Interestingly, ARGs are more frequently associated with pMOB plasmids, which exhibit higher ARG density. In contrast, VGs are primarily found in pCONJ plasmids. This study highlights the significance of pMOB plasmids in ARG dissemination, emphasizing their role in resistance spread. Our results challenge prevailing assumptions about plasmid-mediated gene transfer and underscore the need to prioritize pMOB plasmids in future epidemiological studies. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of plasmid dynamics and their implications for public health.
Technological insights on blockchain adoption: the electric vehicle supply chain use case
Authors: Capocasale Vittorio , Bruni Maria Elena , Perboli Guido 
Published: January 2025

PurposeBlockchain and distributed ledger technologies are increasingly prominent, yet their adoption remains complex. This paper addresses the common misalignment between blockchain technology and actual needs, often leading to project failure. It introduces a decision-making framework focused on the technological aspects of blockchain adoption.Design/methodology/approachWe designed the framework by analyzing key decision drivers from existing literature and applied it to a real-world use case in the electric vehicle supply chain. The blockchain solution was tested with live production data.FindingsBlockchain is beneficial for use cases requiring decentralized governance, but it often needs to be supplemented with additional technologies in industrial applications.Originality/valueThe framework provides a set of managerial-level questions that simplify the decision-making process for those without deep technical expertise, helping determine when blockchain is appropriate, valuable and superior to other technologies.