bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predictive value of protein‐bound uremic toxins for heart failure in patients with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Zwaenepoel Bert , De Backer Tine , Glorieux Griet , Verbeke Francis 
Published: December 2023

AbstractAimsThis retrospective cohort study aimed to be the first to evaluate the association between plasma protein‐bound uremic toxins (PBUTs) concentrations, echocardiographic parameters of heart failure (HF), and incident HF events in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) not on dialysis.Methods and resultsRetrospective, single‐centre, cohort study at the Ghent University Hospital, Belgium. Adults with CKD stages G1–G5, not on dialysis, could be included. Exclusion criteria were ongoing pregnancy, age <18 years, active acute infection, active malignancy, history of transplantation, or a cardiovascular event within 3 months prior to inclusion. Free and total concentrations of five PBUTs were quantified at baseline: indoxyl sulfate (IxS), p‐cresyl sulfate (pCS), p‐cresyl glucuronide (pCG), indole‐3 acetic acid (IAA), and hippuric acid (HA). Patients were grouped into three echocardiographic categories: normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and normal left ventricular end‐diastolic pressure (LVEDP), normal LVEF and increased LVEDP, and reduced LVEF, based on available echocardiographic data in a time interval of ±6 months around the plasma sample collection. A total of 523 patients were included between January 2011 and January 2014. Echocardiographic data within the predefined timeframe were available for 210 patients (40% of patients). Levels of pCG and pCS were significantly higher in patients with reduced (<50%) versus normal LVEF (P < 0.05). After a median follow‐up 5.5 years, 43 (8.4%) patients reached the composite endpoint of hospitalization or mortality due to HF. Free fractions of IxS, pCS, and pCG showed the strongest association with clinical outcome: free IxS: HR 1.71 (95% CI 1.11–2.63; P = 0.015), free pCS: HR 1.82 (95% CI 1.11–3.01; P = 0.019), and free pCG: HR 1.67 (95% CI 1.08–2.58; P = 0.020), and these results were independent of age, gender, body mass index, diabetes, and systolic blood pressure. In models that were also adjusted for serum creatinine, the free fractions of these PBUTs remained significant.ConclusionsElevated free concentrations of IxS, pCG, and pCS were independently associated with an increased risk of HF events in non‐dialysed CKD patients. Further research is necessary to confirm these findings and investigate the potential impact of PBUT‐lowering interventions on HF events in this patient group.
Pharmacoutilization and adherence to sacubitril/valsartan in real world: the REAL.IT study in HFrEF
Authors: Iacoviello Massimo , Di Gesaro Gabriele , Sarullo Filippo Maria , Miani Daniela , Driussi Mauro , Correale Michele , Bilato Claudio , Passantino Andrea , Carluccio Erberto , Villani Alessandra , degli Esposti Luca , d'Agostino Chiara , Peruzzi Elena , Poli Simone , di Lenarda Andrea 
Published: December 2023

AbstractAimsThe current European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines provide clear indications for the treatment of acute and chronic heart failure (HF). Nevertheless, there is a constant need for real‐world evidence regarding the effectiveness, adherence, and persistence of drug therapy. We investigated the use of sacubitril/valsartan for the treatment of HF with reduced ejection fraction in real‐world clinical practice in Italy.Methods and resultsAn observational, retrospective, non‐interventional cohort study based on electronic medical records from nine specialized hospital HF centres in Italy was carried out on patients with prescription of sacubitril/valsartan. Overall, 948 patients had a prescription of sacubitril/valsartan, with 924 characterized over 6 months and followed up for 12 months. Pharmacoutilization data at 1 year of follow‐up were available for 225 patients {mean age 69.7 years [standard deviation (SD) = 10.8], 81.8% male}. Of those, 398 (45.2%) reached the target dose of sacubitril/valsartan of 97/103 mg in a mean time of 6.9 (SD = 6.2) weeks. Blood pressure and hypotension in 61 patients (65%) and worsening of chronic kidney disease in 10 patients (10.6%) were the main reasons for not reaching the target dose. Approximatively 50% of patients had a change in sacubitril/valsartan dose during follow‐up, and 158 (70.2%) were persistent with the treatment during the last 3 months of follow‐up. A sensitivity analysis (persistence during the last 4 months of follow‐up) showed persistence for 162 patients (72.0%). Adherence data, available for 387 patients, showed full adherence for 205 (53%). Discontinuation (102/717 patients, 14.2%) was mainly due to hypotension and occurred after a mean time of 34.3 (SD = 28.7) weeks. During follow‐up, out of 606 patients with available data, 434 patients (71.6%) had an HF add‐on drug or drugs concomitant with sacubitril/valsartan. HF‐related hospitalization during follow‐up was numerically higher in non‐persistent (16/67 patients, 23.9%) vs. patients persistent to sacubitril/valsartan (30/158, 19%) (P = 0.405).ConclusionsReal‐world data on the use of sacubitril/valsartan in clinical practice in Italy show a rapid titration to the target dose, high therapeutic adherence enabling a good level of therapeutic management in line with ESC guidelines for patients with reduced ejection fraction.
Exploring possibilities for the development of healthy eating habits in preschool settings: parent's and teacher's perspectives
Authors: Niškanović Jelena , Stojisavljević Dragana , Stojisavljević Stela , Djikanovic Bosiljka , Manigoda Dijana 
Published: December 2023

AbstractAdoption of eating habits starts early in life, through interaction with family members and alongside preschool settings that offer context for developing healthy lifestyles among children. The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions and practices of teachers and parents related to the development of healthy eating habits among preschool children. Focus groups were conducted with a total sample of 48 parents and teachers (three focus groups among parents and three among teachers) from 15 kindergartens in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia, and Herzegovina. All of the mentioned kindergartens are part of the “Nutrition friendly preschool/school initiative”, a program aimed at creating and developing settings that support and improve children's health. Focus groups were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed according to the Framework Method. Teachers emphasized that good communication and support from parents are important factors for the development of healthy eating habits. During COVID‐19, direct communication with parents was restricted, and mutual activities among teachers, children, and parents were reduced. Lack of knowledge, finance, and time are perceived by parents as main obstacles to the improvement of children's healthy eating habits. All participants in the focus groups agreed that more education and informative material are needed so their skills related to good nutrition can be improved and adopted in a culture‐sensitive way. Mutual support, education, and dissemination of informative materials are imposed as particularly important needs by all actors involved in the upbringing of children in order to support the development of children's healthy eating habits.
Simple and safe resection of the crista galli
Authors: Omura Kazuhiro , Nomura Kazuhiro , Aoki Satoshi , Takeda Teppei , Ebihara Teru , Kimple Adam J. , Thorp Brian D. , Zeatoun Abdullah L. , Otori Nobuyoshi , Senior Brent A. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractA critical procedure in the transcribriform approach is the resection of the crista galli. However, the standard technique for crista galli resection has several disadvantages. We reviewed the cases of patients with olfactory neuroblastomas who underwent an endoscopic endonasal transcribriform approach using a newly developed technique for crista galli resection. We performed a cadaveric study to measure the superior accessibility limits using the proposed method. We included 38 patients with olfactory neuroblastomas in this study. The tumor invaded the posterior crista galli in four patients. The anterior end of the crista galli was not invaded by the tumor. Our cadaveric study showed that the dura was approachable to the point that was 7.4 ± 1.3 mm superior and 23.2 ± 7.2 mm lateral to the foramen cecum following crista galli removal. By resecting the crista galli in advance, manipulation of the superior dura became feasible.
Relationships among tissues, biofluids, and otolith selenium concentrations in wild female burbot (Lota lota)
Authors: Graves Stephanie D , Molbert Noëlie , Janz David M , Hayhurst Lauren D , Brandt Jessica E , Timlick Lauren , Palace Vince P 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
In the Lake Koocanusa-Kootenai River system (Montana, USA and British Columbia, Canada), selenium (Se) contamination has become an international concern and is suspected to contribute to the observed burbot (Lota lota) population collapse. Due to our limited ability to sample burbot in Lake Koocanusa for monitoring studies, we used a reference population to develop tools to model tissue Se disposition for a focal species in systems with elevated Se. Total Se concentrations in otoliths, biofluids (blood and endolymph), and tissues (muscle, liver, and ovary) from burbot in reference lakes in northwestern Ontario, Canada, were measured to document tissue-to-tissue Se relationships and evaluate the potential for otoliths to retrace Se exposure in fish. Among burbot tissue, Se concentrations were the highest in the ovary (mean ± SD = 4.55 ± 2.23 μg g−1 dry mass [dm]), followed by the liver (2.69 ± 1.96 μg g−1 dm) and muscle (1.87 ± 1.14 μg g−1 dm), and decreased with body size (p &lt; 0.05). In otoliths, Se was detected at low levels (&lt;1 μg g−1). Selenium concentrations in burbot samples were positively correlated among muscle, ovary, liver, and endolymph tissues, but not for the most recent annually averaged or lifetime-averaged Se concentrations in otoliths. We hypothesize that Se concentrations were too low in this study to establish links between otoliths and other fish tissues and to detect significant lifetime variation in individuals, and that further validation using archived otoliths from burbot exposed to elevated Se levels in Lake Koocanusa-Kootenai River is needed to reconstruct exposure histories. However, intercompartmental models proved valuable for estimating Se concentrations in burbot tissues only available by means of lethal sampling (i.e., ovary), although additional work should confirm whether the established models are reliable to predict concentrations in Se-impaired systems as tissue distributions are likely to differ with increasing Se levels.
In vitro effect of Er: YAG laser irradiation in caries cavity preparation on biobehaviors of adjacent human dental pulp cells in the pulp chamber
Authors: Wang Shaofeng , Li Yijun , Wang Yanhuang , Huang Jing , Cai Zhiyu , Huang Xiaojing 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe erbium‐doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er: YAG) laser has been successfully applied in caries removal; however, little is known about proper parameters of Er: YAG laser on different conditions of caries removal, especially the influence of Er: YAG irradiation on human dental pulp cells (hDPCs). Here, we tested the effects of Er: YAG laser at different output energy levels (100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 mJ) on biobehaviors of hDPCs. To simulate clinical deep caries conditions, hDPCs were cultured on the pulpal side of 500‐μm‐thick dentin disks in an in vitro pulp chamber model. Temperature change, structural change, and ablation depth of dentin disk were also recorded. The findings suggested that the biological behaviors of hDPCs are strongly correlated with the energy output of the Er: YAG laser. Er: YAG laser irradiation at 100 mJ may be proper and safe for deep caries removal since it would not cause any adverse effect on hDPCs biobehaviors.
Cold atmospheric plasma sensitizes melanoma cells to targeted therapy agents in vitro
Authors: Yan Cong , Zhao Lihong , Zhang Xinyue , Chu Zhaowei , Zhou Tong , Zhang Yanbin , Geng Songmei , Guo Kun 
Published: December 2023

AbstractCold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has been reported to kill melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo. BRAF and MEK inhibitors are targeted therapy agents for advanced melanoma patients with BRAF mutations. However, low overall survival and relapse‐free survival are still tough challenges due to drug resistance. In this study, we confirmed that CAP alleviated innate drug resistance and promoted the anti‐tumor effect of targeted therapy in A875 and WM115 melanoma cells in vitro. Further, we revealed that CAP altered the expression of various molecules concerning MAPK and PI3K‐AKT pathways in A875 cells. This study demonstrates that CAP promises to work as adjuvant treatment with targeted therapy to overcome drug resistance for malignant tumors in future.
Evaluation of the fully automated urine particle analyzer UF‐1500
Authors: Morita Yoshifumi , Yokoyama Rin , Tanaka Masami , Nakatsuka Naru , Hisasue Takashi , Ono Yoshikazu , Kurano Makoto 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackground and AimsThis study primarily assessed the performance of the UF‐1500, the novel and compact model of the fully automated urine particle analyzer and evaluated its performance against the existing UF‐5000 instrument.Materials and MethodsA total of 648 residual urine specimens were randomly collected and examined using both the UF‐1500 and UF‐5000 instruments as well as manual microscopy. For each parameter, the concordance rates and detection accuracy of the UF‐1500 against manual microscopy were compared with the UF‐5000.ResultsThe concordance rates between the UF‐1500 and manual microscopy were 75.3%–98.5%. The UF‐1500 concordance rates within one group agreement were observed to be >90%, for all parameters except for YLCs. The differences within one group agreement between the UF‐1500 and manual microscopy were insignificant, in comparison to the UF‐5000, with exceptions noted for ECs and YLCs. The sensitivity and specificity of the UF‐1500 for RBCs, WBCs, Squa.ECs, and BACT exceeded 80%, while the positive predictive values of ECs and CASTs were below 70%.ConclusionThe UF‐1500 exhibited a performance that was comparable to the existing instrument, the UF‐5000, and was suitable to be introduced in clinical practice. For the samples with suspected false‐positive or false‐negative results, a manual microscopic examination is required for accurate testing.
How rejected recommendations shape recommenders' future product intentions
Authors: Hall Matthew J. , Hyodo Jamie D. , Kristofferson Kirk 
Published: December 2023

AbstractWhen a consumer (a recommender) recommends a product to another consumer (a recommendee), it is not uncommon to learn whether the recommendee chose the recommended option (i.e., accepted the recommendation) or a different option (i.e., rejected the recommendation). Our research examines how rejected recommendations affect recommenders' subsequent intentions toward the originally recommended product. We find that upon learning one's recommendation was rejected, recommenders are less likely to repurchase or choose the product in the future. This negative effect emerges because recommenders question their knowledge about the recommended product (i.e., self‐perceived expertise is reduced). Such questioning is more likely to occur when the recommendee is a close other and less likely to occur when the recommended product is perceived to primarily differ from alternatives due to subjective preferences (i.e., horizontal differentiation is salient). Importantly, this rejected recommendation effect is shown to be distinct from a social proof account. The current research contributes to WOM theory by identifying a novel outcome of recommendation interactions—rejected recommendations—and by demonstrating that this outcome can cause consumers to shift away from a product despite having felt positively enough about the product to recommend it to others.
Lack of vitamin D signalling shifts skeletal muscles towards oxidative metabolism
Authors: Das Anamica , Jawla Neha , Meena Vaidehee , Gopinath Suchitra D. , Arimbasseri Gopalakrishnan Aneeshkumar 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundMice lacking vitamin D receptor (VDR) exhibit a glycogen storage disorder, disrupting carbohydrate utilization in muscle. Here, we asked if the defective carbohydrate metabolism alters the fat utilization by the skeletal muscles of vdr−/− mice.MethodsTo check the effect of high‐fat‐containing diets on muscle mass and metabolism of vdr−/− mice, we subjected them to two different milk fat‐based diets (milk fat diet with 60% of energy from milk fat and milk‐based diet [MBD] with 37% of energy from milk fat) and lard‐based high‐fat diet (HFD) containing 60% of energy from lard fat. Skeletal muscles and pancreas from these mice were analysed using RNA sequencing, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot to understand the changes in signalling and metabolic pathways. Microscopic analyses of cryosections stained with haematoxylin and eosin, BODIPY, succinate dehydrogenase and periodic acid–Schiff reagent were performed to understand changes in morphology and metabolism of muscle fibres and pancreatic islets.ResultsTranscriptomic analyses showed that the skeletal muscles of vdr−/− mice exhibit upregulation of the fatty acid oxidation pathways, suggesting a shift towards increased lipid utilization even in a carbohydrate‐enriched regular chow diet (chow). Two different milk fat‐enriched diets restored body weight (12.01 ± 0.33 g in chow vs. 17.99 ± 0.62 g in MBD) and muscle weights (38.58 ± 3.84 mg in chow vs. 110.72 ± 1.96 mg in MBD for gastrocnemius [GAS]) of vdr−/− mice. Muscle ATP levels (0.56 ± 0.18 μmol in chow vs. 1.48 ± 0.08 μmol in MBD) and protein synthesis (0.25 ± 0.04 A.U. in chow vs. 2.02 ± 0.06 A.U. in MBD) were upregulated by MBD. However, despite increasing muscle energy levels, HFD failed to restore the muscle mass and cross‐sectional area to that of wild‐type (WT) mice (104.95 ± 2.6 mg for WT mice on chow vs. 77.26 ± 1.7 mg for vdr−/− mice on HFD for GAS). Moreover, HFD disrupted glucose homeostasis in vdr−/− mice, while MBD restored it. We further analysed insulin response and pancreatic insulin levels of these mice to show that HFD led to reduced insulin levels in pancreatic beta cells of vdr−/− mice (mean intensity of 1.5 × 10−8 for WT mice on chow vs. 4.3 × 10−9 for vdr−/− mice on HFD). At the same time, MBD restored glucose‐stimulated pancreatic insulin response (mean intensity of 9.2 × 10−9).ConclusionsSkeletal muscles of vdr−/− mice are predisposed to utilize fatty acids as their primary energy source to circumvent their defective carbohydrate utilization. Thus, HFDs could restore energy levels in the skeletal muscles of vdr−/− mice. This study reveals that when mice are subjected to a lard‐based HFD, VDR signalling is essential for maintaining insulin levels in pancreatic islets. Our data show a critical role of VDR in muscle metabolic flexibility and pancreatic insulin response.
Ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions from beef feedlot surface material treated with aluminum sulfate (alum) or microbial amendments
Authors: Spiehs Mindy J. , Woodbury Bryan L. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractA lab‐scale study evaluated ammonia (NH3) and greenhouse gases, emissions when aluminum sulfate (alum) or a microbial product were added to beef feedlot surface material (FSM). Three kilograms of FSM and 1.5 kg of water were added to stainless steel pans (50 cm × 30 cm × 6.5 cm). Treatments included a control (no amendment), 450 g alum, or 0.5 g microbial product. The pans were placed in an environmental chamber that was maintained at 23°C and 50%–60% humidity. Emissions were measured three times weekly for 3 weeks. Ammonia, N2O, and CH4 were lower (p < 0.01) from pans with amendments compared to the control pans; emissions from the FSM that received the microbial treatment were lower than the FSM treated with alum. Methane emissions were similar for the control and alum‐treated FSM but lower (p < 0.01) for the FSM that was treated with the microbial product. Nitrate‐N was lower, and NH4+‐N and total sulfur concentrations were higher in FSM treated with alum compared to no treatment or the microbial treatment (p < 0.01). Results indicate that both alum and microbial amendments have benefits in reducing emissions from the feedlot surface, with the microbial product providing additional reductions in emissions compared to the alum.
Aged tendons lack adaptive response to acute compressive injury
Authors: Mlawer Samuel J. , Frank Eliot H. , Connizzo Brianne K. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractRotator cuff tendinopathy has a multifactorial etiology, with both aging and external compression found to influence disease progression. However, tendon's response to these factors is still poorly understood and in vivo animal models make it difficult to decouple these effects. Therefore, we developed an explant culture model that allows us to directly apply compression to tendons and then observe their biological responses. Using this model, we applied a single acute compressive injury to C57BL/6J flexor digitorum longus tendon explants and observed changes in viability, metabolic activity, matrix composition, matrix biosynthesis, matrix structure, gene expression, and mechanical properties. We hypothesized that a single acute compressive load would result in an injury response in tendon and that this effect would be amplified in aged tendons. We found that young tendons had increased matrix turnover with a decrease in small leucine‐rich proteoglycans, increase in compression‐resistant proteoglycan aggrecan, increase in collagen synthesis, and an upregulation of collagen‐degrading MMP‐9. Aged tendons lacked any of these adaptive responses and instead had decreased metabolic activity and collagen synthesis. This implies that aged tendons lack the adaptation mechanisms required to return to homeostasis, and therefore are at greater risk for compression‐induced injury. Overall, we present a novel compressive injury model that demonstrates lasting age‐dependent changes and has the potential to examine the long‐term response of tendon to a variety of compressive loading conditions.