bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Glycaemic control, body weight, and safety of tirzepatide versus dulaglutide by baseline glycated haemoglobin level in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes: A subgroup analysis of the SURPASS J‐mono study
Authors: Osonoi Takeshi , Oura Tomonori , Hirase Tetsuaki 
Published: October 2023

AbstractAimTo evaluate glycaemic control, body weight, and safety outcomes following treatment with tirzepatide or dulaglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) with a baseline haemoglobin (HbA1c) level of ≤8.5% (≤69 mmol/mol) versus >8.5% (>69 mmol/mol).Materials and MethodsSURPASS J‐mono was a 52‐week, multicentre, randomized, double‐blind, parallel, active‐controlled, phase 3 study conducted in Japan. In this exploratory subgroup analysis of SURPASS J‐mono, we examined mean change in HbA1c and body weight and the incidence of adverse events (AEs) in patients with a baseline HbA1c of ≤8.5% versus >8.5% after treatment with tirzepatide (5, 10 or 15 mg) or dulaglutide 0.75 mg.ResultsOf 636 randomized participants, 203 had a baseline HbA1c of >8.5% and 433 had a baseline HbA1c of ≤8.5% (range ≥7.0% to ≤10.0%). Both subgroups showed significantly greater reductions in HbA1c and body weight with any‐dose tirzepatide versus dulaglutide 0.75 mg, with greater HbA1c reductions observed in patients with a baseline HbA1c of >8.5% treated with tirzepatide (least squares mean [LSM] differences of −3.13% to −3.86%) or dulaglutide (LSM −1.81%) compared with patients with a baseline HbA1c of ≤8.5% (LSM −2.00% to −2.32%) or dulaglutide (LSM −1.05%; treatment‐by‐baseline HbA1c subgroup interaction P ≤ 0.001). For the tirzepatide treatment arms, LSM change from baseline in body weight ranged from −6.7 to −10.7 kg for the baseline HbA1c ≤8.5% subgroup and from −4.0 to −10.6 kg for the baseline HbA1c >8.5% subgroup, compared with −0.6 kg and −0.4 kg, respectively, for the dulaglutide arm. The incidence of hypoglycaemia was low, with no substantial difference in hypoglycaemia or treatment‐emergent AEs between subgroups.ConclusionsRegardless of baseline HbA1c (≤8.5% or >8.5%), tirzepatide at doses of 5, 10 and 15 mg is effective in Japanese patients with T2D compared with dulaglutide 0.75 mg in terms of glycaemic control and body weight reduction, with an adequate safety profile consistent with previous reports.
Polygenic risk scores and the prediction of onset of mood and psychotic disorders in adolescents and young adults
Authors: Scott Jan , Crouse Jacob J. , Medland Sarah , Byrne Enda , Iorfino Frank , Mitchell Brittany , Gillespie Nathan A. , Martin Nicholas , Wray Naomi , Hickie Ian B. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractAimTo examine whether polygenic risk scores (PRS) for neuroticism, depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are higher in individuals manifesting trans‐diagnostic risk factors for the development of major mental disorders and whether PRS enhance prediction of early onset full‐threshold disorders.MethodsUsing data from the Brisbane Longitudinal Twin Study, we examined individual PRS for neuroticism, depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, recorded evidence of subthreshold syndromes and family history of mood and/or psychotic disorders and noted progression to trans‐diagnostic clinical caseness (onset of major mental disorders) at follow‐up. We undertook multivariate, receiver operating curve and logistic regression analyses that were adjusted for known variables of influence (age, twin status, and so on).ResultsOf 1473 eligible participants (female = 866, 59%; mean age 26.3 years), 28% (n = 409) met caseness criteria for a mood and/or psychotic disorder. All PRS were higher in cases versus non‐cases but associations with different levels of risk were inconsistent. The prediction of caseness (reported as area under the curve with 95% confidence intervals [CI]) improved from 0.68 (95% CI: 0.65, 0.71) when estimated using clinical risk factors alone up to 0.71 (95% CI: 0.69, 0.73) when PRS were added to the model. Logistic regression identified five variables that optimally classified individuals according to caseness: age, sex, individual risk characteristics, PRS for depression and mental health case status of cotwins or siblings.ConclusionsThe findings need replication. However, this exploratory study suggests that combining PRS with other risk factors has the potential to improve outcome prediction in youth.
Oviposition preference for spherical surfaces is shared among multiple Drosophila species except D. melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophilidae)
Authors: Akutsu Junichi , Matsuo Takashi 
Published: October 2023

AbstractOviposition preference for spherical substrates has been reported in some insects but not in Drosophila species until the recent finding that Drosophila suzukii preferentially lays eggs on spherical surfaces with a smaller radius, whereas D. melanogaster does not. This finding raised two questions: (i) Was this trait specifically acquired in D. suzukii or lost in D. melanogaster? (ii) In the latter case, is it due to the long‐term laboratory culture using oviposition substrates with flat surfaces? To answer these questions, we examined the oviposition preference of three Drosophila species using the stocks recently established from wild individuals. As with D. suzukii, D. simulans and D. takahashii showed significant preference for spherical surfaces with a smaller radius, suggesting that this trait is shared by multiple Drosophila species. In contrast, D. melanogaster did not show any preference for either smaller or larger radii, showing that the preference already has been lost in the natural population of D. melanogaster. It may be possible that the loss of oviposition preference for spherical surfaces is involved in the evolutionary process of D. melanogaster becoming a human commensal.
Novel genetic tools improve Penicillium expansum patulin synthase production in Aspergillus niger
Authors: Dai Ziyu 
Published: October 2023

Since the first CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)‐Cas (CRISPR‐associated) system was developed for creating double‐stranded DNA breaks, it has been adapted and improved for different biotechnological applications. In this issue of The FEBS Journal, Arentshorst et al. developed a novel approach to enhance transgene expression of a specific protein, patulin synthase (PatE) from Penicillium expansum, in the important industrial filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger. Their technique involved the disruption of selected genes with counter‐effects on targeted protein production and simultaneous integration of glucoamylase landing sites into the disrupted gene locus such as protease regulator (prtT) in an ATP‐dependent DNA helicase II subunit 1 (kusA or ku70)‐deletion strain. Multiple copies of the PatE transgene expression cassette were introduced by CRISPR‐Cas9‐mediated insertion. The purified PatE was further used for structural and functional studies, and the technique laid the foundation for elevating the overall production of various proteins or chemicals in those industrially important fungi.
Corrosion surface morphology‐based methodology for fatigue assessment of offshore welded structures
Authors: Okenyi Victor , Afazov Shukri , Mansfield Neil , Eder Martin Alexander , Abrahamsen Asger Bech , Fæster Søren , Klingaa Christopher Gottlieb , Siegkas Petros , Bodaghi Mahdi 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThis work employed a novel corrosion‐based fatigue model to determine the fatigue life of offshore welded structures to enable the fatigue assessment of welds under corrosive conditions. In addition to the material's ultimate strength, endurance limit, and stress ratio (mean stress effect), the model includes a corrosion factor concept to account for the impact of corrosion pits on the fatigue performance of welded S355 steel, which is the novel contribution in this paper. X‐ray computed tomography scans of corroded S355 specimens in a salt spray chamber were characterized. Surface texture characterization was employed to obtain surface roughness, size, and aspect ratio of corrosion pits. The corrosion factor was determined based on notch and surface fatigue theories using the characterized pit size, aspect ratio, and surface roughness. Fatigue S‐N curves were then predicted for critical pits and compared against the fatigue code DNVGL‐RP‐C203 and experimental data from the literature. The novel approach combining corrosion characterization method with corrosion‐based fatigue model for the prediction of fatigue S‐N curves provided a minor deviation of only 2.8% between predicted and measured data. This approach can potentially be integrated into predictive frameworks for the remaining life assessment of offshore structures.
Prosthesis use and the change in activities of daily living following below‐knee amputation in patients undergoing hemodialysis
Authors: Yamazaki Hayato , Matsufuji Shota , Nishikawa Aina , Ashida Masahiro , Yamaguchi Masao , Sato Motohiko , Tanimura Nobuhiro , Tsujimoto Yoshihiro , Ubai Takanobu , Shoji Tetsuo 
Published: October 2023

AbstractIntroductionPatients undergoing hemodialysis are at an increased risk of peripheral arterial disease, amputation of lower extremities, and decline of activities of daily living. Although a prosthesis is used to support activities of daily living, no previous study reported the association of prosthesis use with the change in activities of daily living following leg amputation in hemodialysis patients. The purpose of this study was to compare the changes in activities of daily living following amputation between those who created a prosthesis and those who did not.MethodsThis study was a single‐center, retrospective observational study. We screened medical records for hemodialysis patients who underwent below‐knee amputation (BKA) and activities of daily living were examined two times with the functional independence measure (FIM) before BKA and at discharge. They were divided into two groups according to the creation of a prosthesis.FindingsWe identified 28 eligible patients, among whom 12 patients used a prosthesis (prosthesis group), whereas 16 patients did not (non‐prosthesis group). The FIM score was significantly decreased following BKA in the non‐prosthesis group, whereas it was not significantly changed in the prosthesis group. The change in FIM score was significantly different between the two groups, and the difference remained significant after considering potential confounders.DiscussionThe results of this study showed that use versus nonuse of a prosthesis was an independent factor associated with changes in activities of daily living in hemodialysis patients following BKA, supporting the important role of a prosthesis in maintaining activities of daily living in hemodialysis patients who need BKA.
Impact of monthly headache days on migraine‐related quality of life: Results from the Chronic Migraine Epidemiology and Outcomes (CaMEO) study
Authors: Lipton Richard B. , Pozo‐Rosich Patricia , Orr Serena L. , Reed Michael L. , Fanning Kristina M. , Dabruzzo Brett , Buse Dawn C. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractObjectiveTo characterize the direct impact of monthly headache days (MHDs) on health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) in people with migraine and the potential mediating effects of anxiety, depression, and allodynia.BackgroundAlthough the general relationship between increased migraine frequency (i.e., MHDs) and reduced HRQoL is well established, the degree to which reduced HRQoL is due to a direct effect of increased MHDs or attributable to mediating factors remains uncertain.MethodsCross‐sectional baseline data from participants with migraine who completed the Core and Comorbidities/Endophenotypes modules in the 2012–2013 US Chronic Migraine Epidemiology and Outcomes (CaMEO) study, a longitudinal web‐based survey study, were analyzed. The potential contribution of depression, anxiety, and/or allodynia to the observed effects of MHDs on HRQoL as measured by the Migraine‐Specific Quality‐of‐Life Questionnaire version 2.1 (MSQ) was evaluated.ResultsA total of 12,715 respondents were included in the analyses. The MSQ domain scores demonstrated progressive declines with increasing MHD categories (B = −1.23 to −0.60; p < 0.001). The observed HRQoL decrements associated with increasing MHDs were partially mediated by the presence of depression, anxiety, and allodynia. The MHD values predicted 24.0%–32.4% of the observed variation in the MSQ domains. Depression mediated 15.2%–24.3%, allodynia mediated 9.6%–16.1%, and anxiety mediated 2.3%–6.0% of the observed MHD effects on the MSQ.ConclusionsIncreased MHD values were associated with lower MSQ scores; the impact of MHDs on the MSQ domain scores was partially mediated by the presence of depression, anxiety, and allodynia. MHDs remain the predominant driver of the MSQ variation; moreover, most of the variation in the MSQ remains unexplained by the variables we analyzed. Future longitudinal analyses and studies may help clarify the contribution of MHDs, comorbidities, and other factors to changes in HRQoL.
University social responsibility and sustainability. How they work on the SDGS and how they communicate them on their websites
Authors: Carrillo‐Durán María Victoria , Blanco Sánchez Tania , García María 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThis paper shows how the leading Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking communicate their environmental sustainability policies through their websites. Specifically, this paper analyses the presence of sustainability‐related sustainable development goals on the websites of the top 100 universities in the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking (2021). In the area of university social responsibility, sustainability is less commonly communicated, hence the need to delve deeper into the presence of these messages, carrying out a descriptive study using content analysis as a form of data extraction. The conclusion is that neither position in the ranking nor geographic area are decisive for developing better communication about sustainability. In terms of content, sustainability features on the websites are in three key dimensions of the communication of HEIs worldwide (Climate change, Efficiency of sustainable cities and communities and Striving for peace and justice). Thus, the areas for improvement are around the positioning of this sustainability‐related content on their home pages, improving location and format (especially video). Moreover, reinforcing reputational messages, through plans or programmes, as well as improving engagement working on the multi‐directionality to other social media, is required.
Successful endodontic treatment reduces serum levels of cardiovascular disease risk biomarkers—high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein, asymmetric dimethylarginine, and matrix metalloprotease‐2
Authors: Al‐Abdulla Noor , Bakhsh Abdulaziz , Mannocci Francesco , Proctor Gordon , Moyes David , Niazi Sadia Ambreen 
Published: October 2023

AbstractAimTo investigate serum biomarkers of inflammation 2 years following non‐surgical root canal re‐treatment (Re‐RCT) and peri‐apical surgery (PS). The results were correlated with signs and symptoms, treatment outcome, metabolic syndrome factors, infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 SARS‐CoV‐2 (COVID‐19) infection and COVID‐19 vaccination.MethodologySubjects from our previous study were recalled for 2 years post‐treatment follow‐up. Changes to the patient's history (medical, dental, social) were noted. Periapical health of the treated teeth was examined both clinically and radiographically. Blood pressure, fasting HbA1C and low‐density lipoprotein (LDL), high‐density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides and total cholesterol (TC) levels were measured. Serum inflammatory marker levels were assayed using a Bio‐Rad Bio‐Plex 200 analyser and values at different time points within the same group were compared using a Wilcoxon signed‐rank test and differences between groups with a Mann–Whitney test. Linear associations were tested using Pearson's correlations.ResultsThe recall percentage at 2 years was 56.9% (n = 37), with a 100% radiographic success rate using periapical radiographs. In total, 21 cases (56.8%) were completely healed, and 16 cases (43.2%) were healing. Higher matrix metalloprotease 2 (MMP2) levels were present in the healing group compared to the healed group. Serum levels of high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and MMP‐2 were significantly reduced (p ≤ .001) whereas other biomarkers showed significant increases at 2 year compared to pre‐operative levels, while FGF‐23 and ICAM‐1 were not significantly increased. HbA1C (p = .015), TC (p = .003), LDL (p = .003) and HDL (p = .003) reduced significantly at 2 years post‐treatment compared to their preoperative levels. COVID infection showed a significant association with MMP‐9 (p = .048).Conclusionshs‐CRP, ADMA and MMP‐2 can be regarded as prognostic biomarkers of successful Re‐RCT and PS as they reduced at 2 year recall in cases which showed evidence of clinical and radiographic success. The successful treatment of chronic apical periodontitis is correlated with improvements in metabolic syndrome indicators, better glycemic control, and reduction at 2 year of some systemic inflammatory markers which are related to risks of cardiovascular disease events.
Is immunology doing well? A look at 100 immune‐mediated inflammatory diseases for 100 years of the Journal
Authors: Riminton D Sean 
Published: October 2023

AbstractIt is now 60 years since Ian Mackay and Macfarlane Burnet published their seminal text “The Autoimmune Diseases” in which they examined the full scope of human inflammatory pathology as a manifestation of the underlying structure and function of the immune system. Here I revisit this approach to ask to what extent has the promise of Mackay and Burnet's work been exploited in clinical medicine as currently practiced. In other words, is immunology doing well? Despite spectacular headline contributions of immunology in clinical medicine, I present evidence suggesting a performance ceiling in our capacity to answer the relatively straightforward questions that patients frequently ask about their own diseases and find that this ceiling exists across almost all of the 100 immune‐mediated inflammatory diseases examined. I propose that these questions are difficult, not so much because the immune system is overwhelmingly complex but rather that we have more to learn about the relatively simple agents and rules that may underpin self‐organizing complex interacting systems as revealed in studies from other disciplines. The way that the immune system has evolved to exploit the ancient machinery determining three independent cell fate timers as described in this Journal would be a great place to start to decode the self‐organizing principles that underpin the emergent pathology that we observe in the clinic.
Determinants of market‐assessed sovereign default risk: Macroeconomic fundamentals or global shocks?
Authors: Cho Dooyeon , Rhee Dong‐Eun 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThis paper investigates the macroeconomic fundamentals that international investors consider crucial when assessing a country's default risk. Using panel data for 41 countries over the period 2002–2019, we find that the macroeconomic determinants of a sovereign credit default swap (CDS) are heterogeneous across developed and developing economies after controlling for potential endogeneity. While international investors consider government budget balance and inflation as crucial elements in the evaluation of the CDS of developed economies, more stress is placed on economic growth and foreign reserves in the assessment of the creditworthiness of developing economies. Furthermore, we document that better institutional quality reduces the sovereign default risk in both developed and developing economies. However, global shocks appear to have a strong impact in developing economies. The results remain robust to various specifications.
Characteristics of tissue temperature during ablation with THERMOCOOL SMARTTOUCH SF versus TactiCath versus QDOT MICRO catheters (Qmode and Qmode+): An in vivo porcine study
Authors: Otsuka Naoto , Okumura Yasuo , Kuorkawa Sayaka , Nagashima Koichi , Wakamatsu Yuji , Hayashida Satoshi , Ohkubo Kimie , Nakai Toshiko , Takahashi Rie , Taniguchi Yoshiki 
Published: October 2023

AbstractIntroductionHigh‐power short‐duration (HPSD) ablation at 50 W, guided by ablation index (AI) or lesion size index (LSI), and a 90 W/4 s very HSPD (vHPSD) setting are available for atrial fibrillation (AF) treatment. Yet, tissue temperatures during ablation with different catheters around venoatrial junction and collateral tissues remain unclear.MethodsIn this porcine study, we surgically implanted thermocouples on the epicardium near the superior vena cava (SVC), right pulmonary vein, and esophagus close to the inferior vena cava. We then compared tissue temperatures during 50W‐HPSD guided by AI 400 or LSI 5.0, and 90 W/4 s‐vHPSD ablation using THERMOCOOL SMARTTOUCH SF (STSF), TactiCath ablation catheter, sensor enabled (TacthCath), and QDOT MICRO (Qmode and Qmode+ settings) catheters.ResultsSTSF produced the highest maximum tissue temperature (Tmax), followed by TactiCath, and QDOT MICRO in Qmode and Qmode+ (62.7 ± 12.5°C, 58.0 ± 10.1°C, 50.0 ± 12.1°C, and 49.2 ± 8.4°C, respectively; p = .005), achieving effective transmural lesions. Time to lethal tissue temperature ≥50°C (t−T ≥ 50°C) was fastest in Qmode+, followed by TacthCath, STSF, and Qmode (4.3 ± 2.5, 6.4 ± 1.9, 7.1 ± 2.8, and 7.7 ± 3.1 s, respectively; p < .001). The catheter tip‐to‐thermocouple distance for lethal temperature (indicating lesion depth) from receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was deepest in STSF at 5.2 mm, followed by Qmode at 4.3 mm, Qmode+ at 3.1 mm, and TactiCath at 2.8 mm. Ablation at the SVC near the phrenic nerve led to sudden injury at t−T ≥ 50°C in all four settings. The esophageal adventitia injury was least deep with Qmode+ ablation (0.4 ± 0.1 vs. 0.8 ± 0.4 mm for Qmode, 0.9 ± 0.3 mm for TactiCath, and 1.1 ± 0.5 mm for STSF, respectively; p = .005), correlating with Tmax.ConclusionThis study revealed distinct tissue temperature patterns during HSPD and vHPSD ablations with the three catheters, affecting lesion effectiveness and collateral damage based on Tmax and/or t−T ≥ 50°C. These findings provide key insights into the safety and efficacy of AF ablation with these four settings.