bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Immediate outcomes of using tubular retractors in surgery of deep brain lesions
Authors: Ostapyuk M. V. , Kravets L. Ya. , Yashin K. S. , Bokov A. E. , Medyanik I. A. 
Published: February 2025

Background. Resection of deep-seated space-occupying brain lesions is traditionally associated with a triad of problems: retraction injury, limited radicality, and risks of augmentation of neurologic symptoms. Port-assisted or tubular surgery has been recently gaining popularity as its goal is to minimize these risks. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate its effectiveness and compare it to the traditional interventions. Aim. To perform comparative analysis of the immediate outcomes of traditional and port-assisted surgery of deep-seated space-occupying brain lesions. Materials and methods. The results of resection of deep-seated space-occupying brain lesions in 61 patients (31 men and 30 women) including 36 patients with diffuse glial tumors and 25 patients with nodular lesions were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 35 patients were operated on using the traditional technique with spatulas (1st group), 26 patients – using tubular retractors, port-assistance (2nd group). Evaluation and comparison of radicality and neurologic outcomes in these patient groups, as well as differentiation of possible factors of unfavorable outcomes were performed. Results. Radicality of glial tumor resection per the total / subtotal / partial grading in the 1st group was 0, 50 and 50 %; in the 2nd group, 21.4; 35.7 and 42.9 %. Total resection of nodular lesions in the 1st group was achieved in 76.9 % of cases; in the 2nd group, in 91.7 %. Clinical deterioration was observed in 13 (37.1 %) patients of the 1st group and 4 (15.4 %) patients of the 2nd group, but it was mostly transient. Compared to traditional surgery, the use of tubular retractors allowed to achieve significantly smaller trephination size (13.2 ± 4.6 cm2 versus 22.7 ± 7.8 cm2) and decrease postoperative in-hospital period (3 [3; 5] days versus 12 [6; 16] days). Conclusion. The use of port-assistance in surgery of deep-seated space-occupying brain lesions is preferential to traditional surgery in terms of higher radicality for similar size and histology of lesions and lower rate of neurologic complications without imposition of additional constraints.
Experience using temozolomide in the treatment of aggressive pituitary adenomas
Authors: Kalinin P. L. , Astafyeva L. I. , Chernov I. V. , Kobyakov G. L. , Fomichev D. V. , Trunin Yu. Yu. 
Published: February 2025

Background. The term “aggressive pituitary adenoma” arose as a result of transforming the term “atypical pituitary adenoma”, which was used in WHO classification for pituitary adenomas with specifications of higher labeling index Ki-67 (≥3 %) and increased number of mitoses with expression of the p53 proteins. However, not all tumors with these features were aggressive, and currently, according to the European Society of Endocrinology Clinical Practice Guideline for the management of aggressive pituitary tumors and carcinomas (2018), aggressive pituitary tumors are labeled as tumors that have invasive and unusually rapid or clinically significant growth which occurs despite the use of standard treatment protocols (pharmacological, surgical and radiation). Till date, there are numerous papers in literature describing various schemes and indications for the use of temozolomide. The efficiency of ongoing therapy, according to different authors, varies from 29 to 81 %, with an average effectiveness ranging between 40–45 %. Aim. To present our own experience of using temozolomide in the treatment of patients with aggressive pituitary tumors. Materials and methods. Three patients were included in the study, one male (45 years old) and 2 females (61 and 29 years old). All three patients included in the study first underwent surgical resection followed by radiation therapy if no response / hormonal activity didn’t resume. The decision to start temozolomide protocol was held by concerned medical commission under supervision of local ethical committee. Results. All patients responded well to temozolomide therapy with decrease in the size of tumor and decrease in levels of prolactin in cases of prolactinoma. Conclusion. The most important step in treating patients with aggressive pituitary adenomas is their early diagnosis, which could be possible only if the specific identifying markers of aggressiveness were found, which unfortunately are not found yet.
Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring of facial nerve in vestibular schwannoma surgery: experience of the Burnasian Federal Medical Biophysical Center
Authors: Kovalev V. V. , Semenov M. S. , Tsymbal I. V. , Brilʼ E. V. , Lepsveridze L. T. , Isaev K. O. 
Published: February 2025

Background. Large vestibular schwannomas can not only change the anatomy and structure of the facial nerve in the process of growth, but also encapsulate it over a considerable length. Despite the development of modern neurosurgical techniques and achievements in the field of microscopy, it is often impossible to avoid damage to its integrity during the separation of the facial nerve, which is associated with the development of paresis of the facial muscles in the postoperative period. The use of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring in surgery for vestibular schwannomas pursues the following tasks: identification of neural structures, timely detection of signs of their damage, and prevention of iatrogenic neurological deficit. Aim. To analyze the results of microsurgical removal of vestibular schwannomas using intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring. Materials and methods. A series of clinical cases of patients who underwent microsurgical removal of sporadic vestibular schwannomas using suboccipital retrosigmoid transmeatal access under the control of multimodal intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring is presented. Neurological assessment of the facial nerve function was carried out in the early postoperative period and 3 months after surgical treatment using the House–Brackmann scale. Results. Postoperative results of surgical treatment were collected in 11 patients. According to the results of the neurological assessment in the early postoperative period, the result was regarded as successful in 5 cases, satisfactory in 3 cases, and poor in 3 cases (grade V on the House–Brackmann scale). The use of direct monopolar stimulation technique made it possible to identify the location and course of the facial nerve with high accuracy in all patients. In 2 cases, the tumor was resected subtotally due to the appearance of neurophysiological predictors of facial nerve dysfunction. Conclusion. The use of multimodal neurophysiological monitoring when removing large vestibular schwannomas can make surgical treatment more controllable and thus indirectly affect functional outcomes.
STUDY OF IQ LEVEL WITH RAVEN PROGRESSIVE MATRIXES IN CHILDREN WITH CONGENITAL HEART DEFECTS
Authors: Rumiantseva Alexandra A. , Kameneva Veronika A. 
Published: February 2025

HighlightsCharacteristics of IQ level in children with congenital heart disease are presented. The results of a study of IQ levels in children using Raven's progressive matrices are described. Aim. The level of IQ assessment in children with congenital heart disease in the preoperative period.Methods. A prospective IQ level was conducted using Raven's progressive matrices in children aged 8–14 years with septal congenital heart defects in the preoperative period on the basis of the Research Institute of Complex Problems of Cardiovascular Diseases.Results. Among the 70 children included in this study, 22 patients had a documented ventricular septal defect, and 48 had a secondary type of atrial septal defect. According to the IQ test conducted using Raven's progressive matrices, it was revealed that the majority of children had average and below average intelligence (56% and 28%, respectively), and the weakest score in the use of “extraordinary intelligence” was noted in only 16% of cases. It should be noted that “highly developed intelligence” and “defective intellectual abilities” were not identified in any of the patients. Using logistic regression, predictive factors influencing the low IQ level in patients with congenital heart disease were identified, which were: a stable family history, heart failure clinic and comorbid background.Conclusion. It is necessary to take into account studies of cognitive diseases in domestic children with congenital heart disease to adjust the correction already at the stage of preoperative preparation.
Social impact assessment in educational projects: Teachers' perspectives on social net present value
Authors: Arcos Jesus Verdugo , Arcos Ambar Verdugo , Ramirez Jennyffer Yepez , Parraga Rayner Ricaurte 
Published: February 2025

This investigation evaluates professors’ viewpoints on social net present value and its relevance in making decisions about educational projects. The aim of this paper is to examine the factors behind these perceptions and how social NPV should improve the value and social relevance of these projects. A descriptive and correlational research design with a quantitative approach was applied. The study applied a survey to a random sample of 100 teachers from the University State of Milagro selected through stratified random sampling. The information obtained underwent scrutiny using advanced statistical tools like factor analysis to establish the major perceptions towards the social NPV. The findings show that teachers believe social NPV is an important method to enhance the social impact of educational projects. On the other hand, important limitations concerning its implementation were also highlighted including training and insufficient resources. The factor analysis revealed two factors: a positive attitude towards social NPV and possibility – advantages of its use in evaluating educational projects. This paper emphasizes the need to incorporate social NPV in the appraisal of educational projects. However, the teacher sees a great opportunity in it to better connect the policies of education.
Análise crítica das condições socioambientais do bairro jardim Kennedy II em poços de caldas
Authors: Rosa Lauane , Rodrigues Luiz Felipe , Ribeiro Lucas , Silva Caroline , Roberto João Guilherme , Maciel Ana Laura , Ruela Larissa , Silva Tainara , Oliveira Myllena , Marques Jacqueline , Pinheiro Isabela , Bertho Isabela , Loureiro Luiza , Gonçalves de Souza Antônio Donizetti , Basso Rodrigo Corrêa 
Published: February 2025

Este estudo analisa a percepção socioambiental dos moradores do bairro Jardim Kennedy II, em Poços de Caldas - MG. A pesquisa do grupo PET-Conexões avaliou o perfil socioeconômico, condições de vida, problemas de infraestrutura, e acesso a serviços de saúde e educação, através da aplicação de questionários aos moradores. Os resultados revelam que a população, com baixo nível educacional e renda, tem sido negligenciada pelo poder público. A infraestrutura é precária, refletindo conflitos entre interesses econômicos e o bem-estar dos residentes. Portanto, conclui-se que há necessidade de maior atenção do poder público e participação comunitária nas decisões que afetam o bairro.
MAPPING THE LEVEL OF PREPAREDNESS COMMUNITY FOR EARTHQUAKE DISASTER USING SPATIAL APPROACH IN CENTRAL OF SULAWESI
Authors: Novarita Amalia , Rahmawati Rahmawati , Putra Exsa 
Published: February 2025

<p>The impact of earthquakes and floods in the Kulawi, Central Sulawesi district informed the choice of research location. The primary feature of this research site is the general lack of community readiness for local calamities. This study aims to assess the degree of community readiness for earthquake disasters using the Spatial Approach, which provides a succinct and precise description of the entire study. Spatially-based quantitative descriptive method. use the CVR (Content Validity Ratio) approach to assess the questionnaire's validity and the AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) method. The community's comprehension of the spatial approach that exists in the surrounding environment and is connected to the possibility of disaster as both a risk component and a vulnerability factor is the unresolved issue. Thus, the community needs to imitate obtaining progressively greater knowledge about disasters. Despite the most weight (25), earthquake-resistant infrastructure highlights the significance of high-quality building construction and the presence of emergency facilities to lower the danger of damage and casualties. The requirement for training and simulations to improve the community's comprehension of preparedness measures is shown by the 20-point weight assigned to mitigation and community awareness. With a weight of 20, the Early Warning System emphasises the efficiency and dissemination of information to provide the public adequate time to take action before a crisis strikes. With a weight of 15, coordination and rapid response help to speed up disaster management by fostering agency collaboration and prompt action. On the other hand, logistics readiness, which has a weight of 10, places a strong emphasis on having emergency supplies like food and water.</p>
Acarous calamus L. based nano-bio formulation as an alternative to synthetic fungicides against Aspergillus flavus Link
Authors: Kanagasabai Vaishnavi , Kandiah Pakeerathan , Sashikesh Ganeshalingam 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Carcinogenic Aflatoxins producing Aspergillus flavus contaminate food crops and pose health risks to humans and livestock. Synthetic fungicides are commonly used to control A. flavus, but they can have negative environmental and health impacts. Acarous calamus L., also known as sweet flag, is a plant with potential antifungal properties. Nanotechnology can enhance the effectiveness of plant extracts by increasing their surface area and allowing for better penetration. Current study focused to explore nano-bio formulation of A.calamus silver nanoparticle and comparative study of its efficacy on growth inhibition and reproduction of A. flavus. All the experiments were conducted in Complete Randomized Design (CRD), and data were subjected ANOVA using SAS 9.1 and Tukey's HSD multiple comparison test was used to determine the best treatment combination at P <0.05. The Jasco V-570 UV-VIS-NIR spectrophotometer results confirmed that the silver nanoparticle was synthesized at the optimum condition of optimum volume was found to as 25 mL of 0.01 mol L(-1) of silver nitrate, optimum time was found as 210 minutes with the absorption peak range of 400 nm - 500 nm. SEM characterization captured the AgNPs size varies from 0.11µm to 2.23µm. AgNPs concentration of 0.02 g inhibit the growth by 50% compared to A. calamus water extracts and >90% reduction in spore production reduction at . Moreover, growth inhibition percentage and rate spore production of A. flavus in Ag-Nano particle inoculated treatments were perfectly corelated with the R2 value of 0.96 at P <0.01& 0.05. This study concludes Nano-bio formulations show enhanced the efficiency and promise of plant-based solution as a natural fungicide against A. flavus. Field research is underway to fully understand the potential of this Nano-bio formulations.
Shaping the developing homunculus: the roles of deprivation and compensatory behaviour in sensory remapping
Authors: Tucciarelli Raffaele , Bird Laura , Straka Zdenek , Szymanska Malgorzata , Kollamkulam Mathew , Sonar Harshal , Paik Jamie , Clode Danielle , Hoffmann Matej , Cowie Dorothy , Makin Tamar 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Some of the most dramatic examples of neuroplasticity in the human brain follow congenital sensory deprivation, though we have limited understanding of the plasticity mechanisms driving such large-scale remapping. Hand loss due to congenital limb differences (CLD) offers a unique temporal dissociation of developmental neuroplasticity mechanisms: While sensory deprivation is congenital, compensatory motor behaviours develop progressively across childhood. Using paediatric neuroimaging and semi-ecological behavioural analysis in children (5-7 years old) and adults (>25 years old) with unilateral upper-limb CLD, we studied deprivation- and use-dependent plasticity in the deprived primary somatosensory cortex and beyond. We reveal that global remapping, encompassing the entire sensory homunculus, is established early and maintained in adulthood. We demonstrate that deprivation-driven homeostatic plasticity can drive this global remapping, with Hebbian-based compensatory learning further contributing to inter-individual differences both in childhood and adulthood. Our findings emphasise the early establishment and stability of cortical maps, despite extensive daily-life behavioural adaptation.
PRMT1-Catalyzed NUSAP1 Methylation Enhances Notch2 Signaling and 5-FU Resistance in Gastric Cancer
Authors: wang feng , Jiang Suting , Li Guoli , Peng Shihan , Chen Shitong , Pang Yi , Cui Hongjuan 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) resistance remains a significant challenge in the treatment of gastric cancer, limiting its clinical efficacy. Our study identifies NUSAP1, a nucleolar and spindle-associated protein, as a key driver of 5-FU resistance in gastric cancer. Proteomic analyses of 5-FU-resistant gastric cancer cell lines revealed that NUSAP1 is significantly upregulated, and functional studies demonstrated its essential role in promoting resistance, proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor growth. Mechanistic investigations revealed that NUSAP1 undergoes asymmetric dimethylation (ADMA) at R418 and R422, mediated by PRMT1, with the R422 site being critical for its function. NUSAP1 interacts with the PEST domain of Notch2 through its R422 site, inhibiting Notch2 ubiquitination and stabilizing its expression, thereby activating the Notch2 signaling pathway. This pathway is closely linked to gastric cancer progression and chemoresistance. Inhibition of PRMT1 or mutation of the R422 site abrogated NUSAP1’s ability to stabilize Notch2 and regulate downstream signaling. These findings unveil a novel mechanism by which NUSAP1 promotes 5-FU resistance in gastric cancer and highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting the NUSAP1-Notch2 axis or PRMT1 in overcoming chemoresistance.
Why Do We Treat Hopeless Diseases? --A Philosophical and Ethical Inquiry into Patient and Physician Perspectives
Authors: Huang Ling-Lang 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Background: Decision-making for futile medical care is a significant challenge in contemporary bioethics, requiring a balance between life extension, quality of life, and the value of life. This study explores the effectiveness of Shared Decision-Making (SDM) in the context of futile medical care.
Methods: This study adopts Heidegger's concept of "being-in-the-world" and Gadamer's "fusion of horizons" as its philosophical foundation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with one patient and three treating physicians (a cardiologist, a cardiac surgeon, and a gynecologic oncologist). The Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) method was used to analyze the reasons behind their willingness to pursue aggressive treatment despite evidence-based medicine (EBM) indicating futile care.
Results: The findings reveal that significant differences in values between physicians and patients profoundly influence decision-making for futile medical care. A "good decision" does not always equate to a "right decision." Furthermore, patients need to be "included in the horizon" of physicians, meaning they must be fully seen and understood as whole and independent individuals. This inclusion is a crucial prerequisite for achieving the "fusion of horizons," fostering deeper interaction and mutual understanding between physicians and patients.
Conclusions: Comprehensive SDM should be grounded in the "fusion of horizons" to promote meaningful understanding between physicians and patients. This study underscores the importance of integrating philosophical perspectives into clinical interactions to address the complexities of futile medical care. Three practical steps are proposed to enhance the implementation of SDM, offering guidance for clinical decision-making.
Prediction of major adverse cardiovascular events after immune checkpoint inhibitor related myocarditis with machine learning
Authors: Lu Jing , Lu Rui , Lu Mingjun 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Objective
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have come into widespread use in oncology in recent years and are associated with rare cardiotoxicity, including potentially fatal myocarditis. To date, no model of the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in ICI‐related myocarditis has been constructed. In this paper, To construet a machine-learning-based model through diagnosis and treatment data of patients with ICI-related myocarditis to predict MACE in ICI-related myocarditis patients.
Methods
35 patients with ICI-related myocarditis from May 2019 to August 2023 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University were selected as study subjects. The variables used for analvsis included basic information, immunotherapy-related indicators, laboratory indicators, cardiac examination-related indexes, and therapeutic regimen. Prediction model of the occurrence of MACE in ICI-related myocarditis patients was constructed with logistic regression, random forest (RF), extremegradient boosting, and light gradient boosting machine. Area under the curve (AUC) was adopted to evaluate the prediction efficacy of four prediction models. We also utilized SHapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) values to explain the prediction model.
Results
MACE occurred in 17 patients, incidence of MACE was 48.6%. Comparatively, the RF model had the highest predictive performance among four models with an AUC of 0.892. The SHAP method reveals the top 6 predictors of MACE according to the importance ranking, and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio was recognized as the most important predictor variable.
Conclusions
The machine learning methods were successfully established to predict MACE, and therefore, provides better treatment plans and optimal resource allocation for patients.
A three-dimensional high throughput assay identifies novel antibacterial molecules with activity against intracellular Shigella
Authors: Phat Voong Vinh , Lim Andrew , Cozar-Gallardo Cristina , Alvaro Maria Isabel Castellote , Alvarez Demetrio Muñoz , Alvaro Elena Fernandez , Ballell-Pages Lluis , Lozano-Arias Sonia , Baker Stephen 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

The Gram-negative bacterial species Shigella is the second leading cause of diarrhea among children in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) and is a World Health Organization (WHO) priority pathogen. Shigella infections are becoming increasing difficult to treat due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), leading to an urgent for new antimicrobial agents with novel modes of action. Shigella pathogenesis is largely intracellular and antibacterial chemicals that preferentially work inside cells may be desirable to limit collateral AMR and block key components of the Shigella infection cycle. Aiming to facilitate the process of identifying antibacterial chemicals that kill intracellular Shigella, we developed a high-throughput screening (HTS) cell-based chemical screening assay. The three-dimensional (3-D) assay, incorporating Shigella invasion into Caco-2 cells on Cytodex3 beads, was scaled into a 384 well platform for screening chemical compound libraries. Using this assay, we evaluated > 500,000 compounds, identifying 12 chemical hits that inhibit Shigella replication inside cells. This simple, efficient and HTS-compatible assays circumvents many of the limitations of traditional screening methods with cell monolayers and may be deployed for antibacterial compound screening for other intracellular pathogens.