bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Anthropometric and DXA-derived measures of body composition in relation to pre-diabetes among adults
Authors: Mohammad Anwar , Ziyab Ali H. , Mohammad Talal 
Published: October 2023

IntroductionAbdominal obesity is the most common risk factor of pre-diabetes and diabetes. Currently, several types of indices are used for the determination of visceral fat-related abdominal obesity. To better understand the effect of the different adiposity indices, we sought to evaluate the association of different adiposity measurements, assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and pre-diabetes.Research design and methodsThis cross-sectional study included 1184 adults between 18 and 65 years who participated in the Kuwait Wellbeing Study. Anthropometry measurements included body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio. Total body fat (TBF) mass, android fat mass, gynoid fat, and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) mass were measured using the Lunar iDXA. Pre-diabetes was defined as 5.7≤HbA1c%≤6.4. Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% CIs were estimated. Area under the curve (AUC) was estimated for each adiposity measurement as predictor of pre-diabetes.ResultsA total of 585 (49.4%) males and 599 (50.6%) females were enrolled in the study. Increased BMI (aPRobese vs normal=1.59, 95% CI: 1.19 to 2.12), waist-to-hip ratio (aPRQ4 vs Q1=1.25, 0.96 to 1.61), TBF (aPRQ4 vs Q1=1.58, 1.20 to 2.07), android fat (aPRQ4 vs Q1=1.67, 1.27 to 2.20), gynoid fat (aPRQ4 vs Q1=1.48, 1.16 to 1.89), android-to-gynoid fat ratio (aPRQ4 vs Q1=1.70, 1.27 to 2.28), and VAT mass (aPRQ4 vs Q1=2.05, 1.49 to 2.82) were associated with elevated pre-diabetes prevalence. Gynoid fat was associated with pre-diabetes among males (aPRQ4 vs Q1=1.71, 1.22 to 2.41), but not among females (aPRQ4 vs Q1=1.27, 0.90 to 1.78). Moreover, in terms of AUC, VAT had the highest estimated AUC of 0.680, followed by android-to-gynoid fat ratio (AUC: 0.647) and android fat (AUC: 0.646).ConclusionsPre-diabetes prevalence increased as adiposity measurements increased, with VAT mass demonstrating the highest AUC for pre-diabetes.
Health promotion intervention among women with recent gestational diabetes mellitus: penetration, participation, and baseline findings from the Face-it randomized controlled trial
Authors: Jensen Nanna Husted , Kragelund Nielsen Karoline , Dahl-Petersen Inger Katrine , Kampmann Ulla , Damm Peter , Ovesen Per , Mathiesen Elisabeth Reinhardt , Vinter Christina Anne , Davidsen Emma , Thøgersen Maja , Timm Anne , Andersen Lise Lotte Torvin , Knorr Sine , Jensen Dorte Møller , Maindal Helle Terkildsen 
Published: October 2023

IntroductionFace-it is a randomized controlled trial for women with recent gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and their families designed to evaluate the effect of a health promotion intervention on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk and quality of life. This study examined (1) the penetration and participation rates for the Face-it trial, (2) the characteristics of the participating women and the potential differences in characteristics according to partner participation status, and (3) representativity of the women at baseline.Research design and methodsWe identified women with GDM during pregnancy and invited them and their partners to a baseline examination 10–14 weeks after delivery. Representativity was assessed by comparing the baseline participants with non-participating women, the general population of women with GDM delivering in Denmark, and populations from other intervention trials.ResultsThe penetration rate was 38.0% (867/2279) and the participation rate was 32.9% (285/867). The 285 women who attended baseline had a mean age of 32.7 (±4.8) years and body mass index (BMI) of 28.1 (±5.4) kg/m2, and 69.8% had a partner who participated. The women participating with a partner were more often primiparous, born in Denmark (82.8% vs 68.2%), were younger, and more often had a BMI ≤24.9 kg/m2(35.7% vs 21.2%) compared with women without a partner. Compared with the general population of women with GDM in Denmark, these women broadly had similar degree of heterogeneity, but had higher rates of primiparity and singleton deliveries, and lower rates of preterm delivery and prepregnancy obesity.ConclusionsThe penetration and participation rates were acceptable. We found a high rate of partner participation. Overall, women participating with a partner were comparable with those participating without a partner. Participating women were broadly similar to the general national GDM population, however with prepregnancy obesity, multiparity, preterm delivery, and multiple pregnancy being less represented.Trial registration numberNCT03997773.
Overdiagnosis in malignant melanoma: a scoping review
Authors: Bjørch Mille Falk , Gram Emma Grundtvig , Brodersen John Brandt 
Published: October 2023

ObjectivesWe aimed to systematically identify and scrutinise published empirical evidence about overdiagnosis in malignant melanoma and examine how frequent overdiagnosis of melanoma is and whether this is related to different types of interventions or diagnostic technologies.Design and settingEmpirical studies that discussed overdiagnosis in malignant melanoma were eligible, including qualitative and quantitative studies in any type of population, age group and geographical location. We excluded studies that did not include empirical data, studies that only mentioned ‘overdiagnosis’ without addressing it further and studies that used the term overdiagnosis for cases of misdiagnosis or false positives.We developed the search strategy in cooperation with an information specialist. We searched five databases on 21 April 2022: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Cochrane Library.This scoping review adheres to The JBI methodology and Prefered Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for Scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts and full texts for inclusion and extracted data from the included studies. The data extracted include study characteristics, population details, research question, the context and the study’s main results.ResultsOur search resulted in 1134 potentially relevant studies. 35 studies were included: 29 register studies, 3 cohort studies, 1 case–control study, 1 survey study and 1 randomised controlled trial. Most register studies examined trends in melanoma incidence and/or mortality and found a significant increase in incidence between 0.39% and 6.6% annually and a little or no increase in mortality. Three cohort studies and one case–control study showed that skin screening was associated with increased detection of melanoma; especially in situ or thin invasive melanoma. Three studies estimated the degree of overdiagnosis which ranged from 29% to 60%.ConclusionsEpidemiological data suggest a high degree of overdiagnosis in malignant melanoma. Studies that examined the association between skin screening and malignant melanoma all found increased detection of melanomas, mostly thin and in situ melanomas, which raises concern about overdiagnosis.
Patient perspectives on home-spirometry in interstitial lung disease: a qualitative co-designed study
Authors: Mandizha Jessica , Lanario Joseph W , Duckworth Anna , Lines Sarah , Paiva Ana , Elworthy Victoria , Muraleedharan Veena , Da Ponte Ana Jorge , Shuttleworth Rebecca , Brown Graham , Almond Howard , Bond Carole , Cosby Maureen , Dallas Joanne , Naqvi Marium , Russell Adam David , Berry Alex , Gibbons Michael , Scotton Christopher J , Russell Anne-Marie 
Published: October 2023

BackgroundOpportunities for home-monitoring are increasing exponentially. Home- spirometry is reproducible and reliable in interstitial lung disease (ILD), yet patients’ experiences are not reported. Given the morbidity and mortality associated with ILDs, maintaining health-related quality-of-life is vital. We report our findings from a codesigned, qualitative study capturing the perspectives and experiences of patients using home-spirometry in a UK regional ILD National Health Service England (NHSE) commissioned service.MethodsPatients eligible for home-spirometry as routine clinical care, able to give consent and able to access a smart phone were invited to participate. In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted at serial time points (baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months), recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically.ResultsWe report on the experiences of 10 recruited patients (8 males; median age 66 years, range 50–82 years; 7 diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, 3 other ILDs) who generally found spirometry convenient and easy to use, but their relationships with forced vital capacity results were complex. Main themes emerging were: (1) anticipated benefits—to identify change, trigger action and aid understanding of condition; (2) needs—clinical oversight and feedback, understanding of results, ownership, need for data and a need ‘to know’; (3) emotional impact—worry, reassurance, ambivalence/conflicting feelings, reminder of health issues, indifference; (4) ease of home-spirometry—simplicity, convenience and (5) difficulties with home-spirometry—technical issues, technique, physical effort.ConclusionHome-spirometry has many benefits, but in view of the potential risks to psychological well-being, must be considered on an individual basis. Informed consent and decision-making are essential and should be ongoing, acknowledging potential limitations as well as benefits. Healthcare support is vital.
UK-wide survey of gastroenterology and hepatology trainees in 2022: endoscopy, workforce planning and the Shape of things to come
Authors: Saunsbury Emma , Haddadin Yazan , Gadhok Radha , Ratcliffe Elizabeth , Raju Suneil A ,   British Society of Gastroenterology Trainees Section
Published: October 2023

ObjectiveShape of Training has shortened the gastroenterology curriculum in the UK from a 5 to 4-year programme. There are ongoing concerns that this will negatively impact training and the attainment of competencies expected at consultant level. We undertook a UK-wide survey of gastroenterology trainees to establish their views.MethodThe British Society of Gastroenterology Trainees Section collected anonymised survey responses from trainees between June and September 2022 via an online platform.Results40.3% of trainees responded. Strikingly, only 10% of respondents felt they could achieve certificate of completion of training (CCT) within a 4-year programme. Furthermore, 31% were not confident they would attain the required expertise in their subspecialist interest during training. 70.8% reported spending a quarter or more of their training in general internal medicine (GIM) and 71.6% felt this negatively impacted on their gastroenterology training. Only 21.6% of respondents plan to pursue a consultant post with GIM commitments.Regarding endoscopy, only 36.1% of ST7s had provisional and 22.2% full accreditation in colonoscopy. Although 92.3% of respondents wanted exposure to a ‘bleed rota’, this was the case for only 16.2%. Teaching quality was judged to be insufficient by 45.9% of respondents.ConclusionRespondents had struggled to achieve the necessary competencies for CCT even prior to the newly reduced 4-year curriculum. While still maintaining service provision, we must safeguard gastroenterology training from encroaching GIM commitments. This will be critical in order to provide capable consultants of the future and prevent UK standards from falling behind internationally.
Prebiotic diet changes neural correlates of food decision-making in overweight adults: a randomised controlled within-subject cross-over trial
Authors: Medawar Evelyn , Beyer Frauke , Thieleking Ronja , Haange Sven-Bastiaan , Rolle-Kampczyk Ulrike , Reinicke Madlen , Chakaroun Rima , von Bergen Martin , Stumvoll Michael , Villringer Arno , Witte A Veronica 
Published: October 2023

ObjectiveAnimal studies suggest that prebiotic, plant-derived nutrients could improve homoeostatic and hedonic brain functions through improvements in microbiome–gut–brain communication. However, little is known if these results are applicable to humans. Therefore, we tested the effects of high-dosed prebiotic fibre on reward-related food decision-making in a randomised controlled within-subject cross-over study and assayed potential microbial and metabolic markers.Design59 overweight young adults (19 females, 18–42 years, body mass index 25–30 kg/m2) underwent functional task MRI before and after 14 days of supplementary intake of 30 g/day of inulin (prebiotics) and equicaloric placebo, respectively. Short chain fatty acids (SCFA), gastrointestinal hormones, glucose/lipid and inflammatory markers were assayed in fasting blood. Gut microbiota and SCFA were measured in stool.ResultsCompared with placebo, participants showed decreased brain activation towards high-caloric wanted food stimuli in the ventral tegmental area and right orbitofrontal cortex after prebiotics (preregistered, family wise error-corrected p <0.05). While fasting blood levels remained largely unchanged, 16S-rRNA sequencing showed significant shifts in the microbiome towards increased occurrence of, among others, SCFA-producingBifidobacteriaceae, and changes in >60 predicted functional signalling pathways after prebiotic intake. Changes in brain activation correlated with changes inActinobacteriamicrobial abundance and associated activity previously linked with SCFA production, such as ABC transporter metabolism.ConclusionsIn this proof-of-concept study, a prebiotic intervention attenuated reward-related brain activation during food decision-making, paralleled by shifts in gut microbiota.Trial registration numberNCT03829189.
Non-invasive PD-L1 quantification using [18F]DK222-PET imaging in cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Mishra Akhilesh , Gupta Kuldeep , Kumar Dhiraj , Lofland Gabriela , Sharma Ajay Kumar , Solnes Lilja B , Rowe Steven P , Forde Patrick M , Pomper Martin G , Gabrielson Edward W , Nimmagadda Sridhar 
Published: October 2023

BackgroundCombination therapies that aim to improve the clinical efficacy to immune checkpoint inhibitors have led to the need for non-invasive and early pharmacodynamic biomarkers. Positron emission tomography (PET) is a promising non-invasive approach to monitoring target dynamics, and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression is a central component in cancer immunotherapy strategies. [18F]DK222, a peptide-based PD-L1 imaging agent, was investigated in this study using humanized mouse models to explore the relationship between PD-L1 expression and therapy-induced changes in cancer.MethodsCell lines and xenografts derived from three non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) and three urothelial carcinomas (UCs) were used to validate the specificity of [18F]DK222 for PD-L1. PET was used to quantify anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) therapy-induced changes in PD-L1 expression in tumors with and without microsatellite instability (MSI) in humanized mice. Furthermore, [18F]DK222-PET was used to validate PD-L1 pharmacodynamics in the context of monotherapy and combination immunotherapy in humanized mice bearing A375 melanoma xenografts. PET measures of PD-L1 expression were used to establish a relationship between pathological and immunological changes. Lastly, spatial distribution analysis of [18F]DK222-PET was developed to assess the effects of different immunotherapy regimens on tumor heterogeneity.Results[18F]DK222-PET and biodistribution studies in mice with NSCLC and UC xenografts revealed high but variable tumor uptake at 60 min that correlated with PD-L1 expression. In MSI tumors treated with anti-PD-1, [18F]DK222 uptake was higher than in control tumors. Moreover, [18F]DK222 uptake was higher in A375 tumors treated with combination therapy compared with monotherapy, and negatively correlated with final tumor volumes. In addition, a higher number of PD-L1+ cells and higher CD8+-to-CD4+cell ratio was observed with combination therapy compared with monotherapy, and positively correlated with PET. Furthermore, spatial distribution analysis showed higher [18F]DK222 uptake towards the core of the tumors in combination therapy, indicating a more robust and distinct pattern of immune cell infiltration.Conclusion[18F]DK222-PET has potential as a non-invasive tool for monitoring the effects of immunotherapy on tumors. It was able to detect variable PD-L1 expression in tumors of different cancer types and quantify therapy-induced changes in tumors. Moreover, [18F]DK222-PET was able to differentiate the impact of different therapies on tumors.
Diagnostic yield of a heart failure referral pathway using N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide
Authors: Zegard Abbasin , Naneishvili Tamara , Viyapurapu Ravi , Desai Purushottam , White Sam , Patel Peysh A , Stegemann Berthold , Zaphiriou Alex , Qiu Tian , Leyva Francisco 
Published: October 2023

ObjectiveTo determine the diagnostic yield of a ‘high’ N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients with suspected heart failure (HF) referred from primary to secondary care.MethodsIn this retrospective study, cardiac diagnoses were quantified in consecutive patients with an NT-proBNP>400 ng/L referred from primary care centres to a specialist HF service.ResultsAmong 654 consecutive patients (age: 78.5±9.72 years; 45.9% men; left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): 55.4±12.5% (mean±SD)), the primary diagnoses were: valvular disease (39.4%), HF (29.2%; 13.3% with LVEF<40%) and atrial fibrillation (AF; 17.3%). In terms of primary or secondary diagnoses, 68% of patients had valve disease, 46.9% had AF and 29.2% had HF. A cardiac diagnosis was made in 85.9%. In multivariable analyses, NT-proBNP predicted HF with LVEF<40% (OR: 10.2, 95% CI: 5.63 to 18.3) and HF with any LVEF (OR: 6.13, 95% CI: 3.79 to 9.93). In canonical linear discriminant analyses, NT-proBNP correctly identified 54.5% of patients with HF. The remainder were misclassified as valvular disease, AF or no cardiac diagnosis.ConclusionAmong patients with an NT-proBNP>400 ng/L referred through a primary care HF pathway, most patients had valve disease or AF rather than HF. NT-proBNP cannot discriminate among HF, valve disease and AF. On this basis, NT-proBNP may be best employed in detecting cardiac disease in general rather than HF per se.
Use of recycled tyre segments to enhance the stability of ballasted track by increased confinement
Authors: Mishra Soumyaranjan , Indraratna Buddhima , Rujikiatkamjorn Cholachat , Ngo Trung 
Published: October 2023

The most common railway ballast is produced by quarrying, and its mechanical characteristics are crucial for both stability and drainage for safer and faster rail operations. Ballasted tracks have certain drawbacks, primarily because ballast starts to degrade over time. In this regard, reducing the rate of ballast degradation is vital to enhance track longevity and minimise maintenance costs. This study demonstrates how segments of huge waste rubber tyres (e.g., 3 m in diameter) from the mining industry can be used to improve the stability of tracks, while contributing to reduced ballast deformation and degradation. By placing arched segments cut from these tyres along the track shoulders beyond the edge of sleepers (i.e., the plan view gives a schematic impression of a caterpillar), the in-situ lateral confining pressure can be increased from 20–25 (standard track) to 40–50 kPa. This novel idea of confined-caterpillar track (CCT) was tested at a prototype physical model (1:1 scale) at the National Facility for the Heavy-haul Railroad Testing, and the experimental outcomes were compared with the performance of a conventional track. Apart from constributing to at least 25% saving of quarried aggregates, the test results prove that the CCT concept can curtail the lateral displacement and settlement of the ballast layer, while reducing particle breakage and affecting significant stress reduction in the underlying substructure layers.
Design-truck ultimate limit states of buried modular polymer stormwater collection structures
Authors: LeBlanc J.M. , Brachman R.W.I. , Zarpeima A. 
Published: October 2023

Modular polymer stormwater structures are a relatively new class of buried structure with two horizontal platens supported by vertical columns. While structural demand at design truck loads has been quantified, the ultimate limit state to design truck loading is unknown. Full-scale physical experiments were conducted to quantify the applied load and identify the mode(s) of failure at the ultimate limit state of three types of modular structures when buried (with 0.6 m soil cover) and subject to static design truck loading. All three module types tested reached an ultimate limit state at applied loads around three times the nominal design load but had different modes of failure. The ultimate resistance for the module with columns having the lowest moment of inertia relative to length squared was caused by column buckling and top platen rupture, while the two modules with nearly twice the moment of inertia relative to length squared failed by top platen rupture and their column forces at most were 70%–75% of their short-term single column buckling resistance. The results provide new data to allow independent load rating of the buried structure, support continued assessment of column buckling, and identify the need to limit platen bending deflections.
Diversity dilemmas: uncovering gender and nationality biases in graduate admissions across top North American computer science programs
Authors: Kalhor Ghazal , Zeraati Tanin , Bahrak Behnam 
Published: October 2023

AbstractAlthough different organizations have defined policies towards diversity in academia, many argue that minorities are still disadvantaged in university admissions due to biases. Extensive research has been conducted on detecting partiality patterns in the academic community. However, in the last few decades, limited research has focused on assessing gender and nationality biases in graduate admission results of universities. In this study, we collected a novel and comprehensive dataset containing information on approximately 14,000 graduate students majoring in computer science (CS) at the top 25 North American universities. We used statistical hypothesis tests to determine whether there is a preference for students’ gender and nationality in the admission processes. In addition to partiality patterns, we discuss the relationship between gender/nationality diversity and the scientific achievements of research teams. Consistent with previous studies, our findings show that there is no gender bias in the admission of graduate students to research groups, but we observed bias based on students’ nationality.