bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sex differences in intracranial plaque burden in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease: a pilot study based on high-resolution MRI
Authors: Yan Xuejiao , Li Ling , Gao Jie , Wang Lihui , Ai Kai , Lei Xiaoyan , Tang Min , Zhang Xiaoling , Zhang Dongsheng 
Published: January 2025

BackgroundAtherosclerosis (AS) is the main cause of macrovascular disease. Previous studies have found sex differences in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its associated macrovascular disease outcomes. However, the relationship between sex differences, T2DM, and AS is not fully understood. This study attempts to explore possible associations between sex, treatment, and the burden of intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS) in patients with T2DM who have experienced an acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease.MethodsWe focused on patients with T2DM with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack due to intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis. ICAS was assessed by 3T cardiovascular magnetic resonance vascular wall imaging. Plaque counts of the total, proximal, and distal intracranial arteries were used to assess plaque burden. Patients with a history of T2DM and currently taking hypoglycemic drugs were defined as being treated. Poisson regression models or negative binomial regression models were used to analyze the interaction between sex and treatment in relation to plaque burden.ResultsA total of 495 plaques were detected in 120 patients (75 male; mean age, 60.77 ± 11.01 years), including 311 proximal and 184 distal plaques. The intracranial culprit plaque was located proximal to the artery in both male (85.3%) and female (88.9%) patients. The adjusted total and proximal intracranial plaque burdens were 1.261 times (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.050–1.515, P=0.013) and 1.322 times (95%CI, 1.055–1.682, P=0.016) higher in male than in female patients. The risk ratio for proximal plaque burden in untreated male versus female patients was 0.966 (95%CI, 0.704–1.769). However, the proximal plaque risk ratio for treated male versus female patients was 1.530 (95%CI, 1.076–2.174). The interaction of sex and treatment significantly affected the proximal plaque burden.ConclusionMale patients with T2DM and acute cerebrovascular disease have a significantly higher adjusted risk of total and proximal intracranial plaque burden compared to female patients. Female patients undergoing antidiabetic treatment have a significantly reduced risk of proximal plaque to males. Considering that culprit plaques tend to accumulate in the proximal arteries, understanding how to reduce the burden of proximal plaques may help reduce the risk of adverse cerebrovascular events.
Association of abstinence time with semen quality in men who undergoing fertility evaluation: a cross-sectional study from 3052 participants
Authors: Yao Guanying , Qi Qinglin , Dou Xianchao , Zhou Wen , Bai Shun , Zhang Xi 
Published: January 2025

ObjectiveAbstinence time has been associated with semen quality, but the results remain controversial.MethodsThis study recruited 3052 men undergoing fertility evaluation. Abstinence time (AT) was categorized as short (0-1 day), WHO-recommended (2-7 days) and long (&gt;7 days). Semen parameters including volume, sperm concentration, progressive motility, total motility, total motility sperm count (TMSC), morphology and DNA fragmentation index were assessed for their association with AT.ResultsShort AT was significantly associated with lower semen volume (P&lt; 0.001), sperm concentration (P= 0.01) and TMSC (P&lt; 0.001), while long AT was significantly associated with higher sperm concentration (P= 0.006), reduced progressive motility (P= 0.005) and total motility (P= 0.02), and higher DFI (P&lt; 0.001). Restricted cubic spline models demonstrated a non-linear relationship between AT and the risk of low semen volume (Pnon-linear &lt; 0.001), sperm concentration (Pnon-linear = 0.039) and TMSC (Pnon-linear &lt; 0.001).ConclusionsOur findings suggest both short and long AT were significantly associated with lower sperm quality, which indicated the importance of maintaining a recommended AT (2-7days) for semen analysis. Additionally, short abstinence periods may be recommended to maintain optimal sperm DNA integrity.
Reduction in thermal plasticity of life history traits in response to cold selection: an experimental evolution study using Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Roy Rishav , Chattopadhyay Aradhya , Deb Sharma Sreebes , Mondal Aharna , Biswas Payel , Ghosh Shampa M. 
Published: January 2025

IntroductionHow selection influences phenotypic plasticity is an important question in evolutionary biology. We report an experimental evolution study that examined how prolonged selection at cold vs. warm temperature impacts the thermal plasticity of traits like reproductive output, body size, and body water content in Drosophila melanogaster.MethodsWe conducted the study on two sets of large, outbred fly populations: one maintained at the standard fly rearing temperature, i.e., 25°C, and another selected at cold temperature, i.e., 17°C, for 3.5 years. Both selection lines were derived from the same ancestral population.Results and discussionWe found that while 25°C selected females lay significantly fewer eggs in cold compared to warm or optimal rearing temperature of 25°C, the 17°C selected females have consistent or canalized fecundity levels across warm and cold conditions. Sustained fecundity levels across cold and warm conditions are potential marks of adaptation to a broader thermal range. While phenotypic plasticity may aid in adaptation to new environments, for traits such as fecundity, consistent levels across environments, that is, low plasticity, may be more adaptive. We also found that male flies from cold vs. warm selection regimes differ in their thermal plasticity. Plasticity of dry weight and body water content was reduced in the cold-selected males, indicating the evolution of canalized levels for these traits too. While canalized fecundity levels across temperatures can potentially help in thermal adaptation, the significance of reduced plasticity of male body size and water content needs to be investigated in the future.
Bibliometric analysis of neutrophil extracellular traps induced by protozoan and helminth parasites (2008–2024)
Authors: Muñoz-Caro Tamara , Saraiva Elvira M. , Mariante Rafael M. 
Published: January 2025

IntroductionParasitic diseases pose a significant global public health challenge, affecting billions of people and causing substantial economic losses in livestock and poultry. In the fight against these infections, neutrophils play a crucial role, employing various strategies, including the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Recent studies have made significant progress in understanding NETs triggered by protozoa and helminths. However, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis that compiles these findings and identifies research hotspots and trends in this field is still lacking.MethodsWe utilized the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus databases to retrieve original articles on NETs induced by protozoa and helminths. After screening, the data was transferred to the visualization tools VOSviewer, Biblioshiny, and CiteSpace for analysis.ResultsOur study included 159 original articles published in 69 journals, involving 909 authors from 270 institutions across 41 countries. Germany and Brazil have made the most significant contributions to the research on NETs and parasites, accounting for 45 and 32 publications, and 1,495 and 1,342 citations, respectively. Carlos Hermosilla and Anja Taubert (Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany), and Elvira Saraiva (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), are leaders in the field, both in terms of publication output and citations. Frontiers in Immunology has consistently and significantly impacted the field, and an article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America providing the first direct evidence of NETs release in response to a parasite is by far the most cited. Current research focuses on malaria, Toxoplasma gondii, Besnoitia besnoiti, nematodes, and the mechanisms of NETs production and their effects on parasites and host cells. Emerging trends include therapeutic targeting of NETs and comparative studies across different host and parasite species.ConclusionThis study offers a comprehensive overview and visual analysis of NETs and parasites, highlighting key areas for future research.
Immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced diabetes mellitus: clinical characteristics and risk factors
Authors: Zhan Mei , Long Qinran , He Jinhan , Huang Litao , Wu Bin , Xu Haixia , Mo Li , Xu Ting 
Published: January 2025

BackgroundEmerging evidence indicates that immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced diabetes mellitus (ICI-DM) might be more common than initially reported, and more different clinical pictures associated with ICI-DM were described.ObjectiveThe aim of our study was to identify the clinical characteristics and possible predictive factors of ICI-DM.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective review of patients who received immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) at West China Hospital, Sichuan University until June 2023. Patients were reviewed at death or on 7 May 2024. We applied logistic regression to study the associations between clinical characteristics and ICI-DM.ResultsOur study included 8,199 participants who received ICI between October 2014 and June 2023. Among them, 1,077 patients (13.14%) developed ICI-DM according to diagnostic criteria based on guidelines. By excluding patients influenced by glucocorticoids or immunosuppressants, ICI-DM was observed in 713 of 8,199 (8.70%) patients. In all patients, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, using glucocorticoids or immunosuppressants, lung cancer, and using more than one pathway of ICI were associated with a higher risk of ICI-DM. However, the risk factors for ICI-DM in patients without the influence of glucocorticoids or immunosuppressants were only hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and pancreatic lesions. In all patients and those patients without the influence of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants, hypertension and hyperlipidemia may increase the risk for ICI-DM.ConclusionsThis large, real-world cohort demonstrates that the incidence of ICI-DM may be underestimated in previous literature. Blood glucose monitoring is needed in patients receiving ICI therapy.Clinical trial registrationhttps://www.chictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR2300075974.
The association of systemic immune-inflammation index with incident breast cancer and all-cause mortality: evidence from a large population-based study
Authors: Li Yu , Yu Meng , Yang Ming , Yang Jingqi 
Published: January 2025

BackgroundChronic low-grade inflammation is recognized as a significant factor in various health outcomes, including the development and progression of breast cancer. The Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII), a novel marker derived from routine blood counts, has been suggested as a predictor of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. However, its predictive value in a nationwide representative population, particularly for breast cancer incidence and mortality, is not well-established.MethodsThis study aimed to assess the association of SII and the risk of breast cancer incidence and all-cause mortality in breast cancer patients within the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2018. SII was calculated from complete blood count parameters. We used multifactor regression models to examine the associations between SII and the outcomes of interest.ResultsA total of 21,058 female participants were included in the study, of which 557 (2.7%) were identified as having breast cancer. After adjusting for multiple potential confounders, the relationship between SII and the incidence of breast cancer revealed an inverse L-shaped association. The optimal inflection point for SII/100 was determined to be 5.09. Below this threshold, there was a significant increase in the risk of breast cancer (OR=1.05, 95% CI: 1.02-1.09). Within the breast cancer population, SII exhibited a J-shaped relationship with all-cause mortality. The optimal inflection point for SII/100 in this context was 5.22, and above this threshold, there was a marked escalation in all-cause mortality (HR=1.09, 95% CI: 1.04-1.14).ConclusionThe SII, as a novel inflammatory composite index, is significantly associated with the risk of breast cancer incidence and all-cause mortality in breast cancer patients. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring systemic inflammation and suggest that SII could serve as a valuable prognostic tool.
Efficacy and safety of Xiongzhitongluo granules in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Chen Yunmeng , Wei Jingjing , Liang Xiao , Liu Yue , Miao Lina , Zhao Di , Zhang Yunfan , Liu Hongxi , Zhang Yunling 
Published: January 2025

IntroductionAcute ischemic stroke (AIS) poses a significant risk to human health. Intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy are essential treatments for AIS, offering substantial benefits for neurological recovery and brain protection. However, their efficacy is often limited by stringent time constraints and contraindications, restricting accessibility for certain patient populations. Investigating novel therapeutic strategies is, therefore, crucial. Our team developed Xiongzhitongluo granules specifically for AIS and is conducting a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to validate their effectiveness.Methods and analysisThis multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial includes 120 participants randomly allocated to the intervention or placebo group. Participants will receive a 14-day treatment alongside routine medications and will be monitored at multiple time points: days 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 30, 60, and 90. The primary outcome is the change in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score from baseline to day 14. Secondary outcomes include the Scandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS), Barthel Index (BI), modified Rankin Scale (mRS), Brief Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom assessment. Safety evaluations will include vital signs and laboratory tests. Data will be recorded using Epidata V3.1 and analyzed with SPSS 26.0.Ethics and disseminationThis study received approval from the Ethics Committee of Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (2021XLA102-2). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants.Clinical trial registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier, ChiCTR2200061859.
Plasma EphA2 level is a superior biomarker to Del-1 for sepsis diagnosis and prognosis
Authors: Lee Eun Hye , Shin Mi Hwa , Kwak Se Hyun , Choi Ji Soo , Leem Ah Young , Lee Su Hwan , Chung Kyung Soo , Kim Young Sam , Lee Sang-Guk , Park Moo Suk 
Published: January 2025

BackgroundSepsis, characterized by a dysregulated host response to infection, often leads to organ dysfunction, and vascular endothelial dysfunction plays a central role. The erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular carcinoma (Eph)A2 receptor is associated with increased vascular permeability; however, the developmental endothelial locus-1 (Del-1), has contrasting effects on endothelial function. Hence, we examined their potential as biomarkers of sepsis.MethodsIn total, 117 participants, including 20 healthy controls, 21 patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and 76 patients with sepsis, were enrolled in this study. Sepsis severity was assessed using the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II and the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores.ResultsThe Median plasma EphA2 levels increased progressively from healthy controls to SIRS and sepsis cases (154.29, 293.52, and 554.24 pg/mL; all p &lt; 0.05). The median plasma Del-1 levels were highest in healthy controls, lowest in SIRS, and intermediate level in sepsis (101.27, 16.88, and 36.9 pg/mL; all p &lt; 0.001). The levels of both biomarkers were higher in 28-day non-survivors than in survivors, in patients with sepsis (EphA2:898.09 vs. 475.88 pg/mL, p &lt; 0.001; Del-1:46.09 vs. 32.68 pg/mL, p = 0.193); however, only EphA2 was statistically significant. The area under the curve for the EphA2 was 0.74 in the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for predicting 28-day mortality, whereas APACHE II, SOFA, and Del-1 showed values of 0.762, 0.614, and 0.595, respectively. Kaplan–Meier analysis using these cutoffs revealed that survival was significantly higher in the group with both low EphA2 and Del-1 levels compared to the group with high levels of both markers (p &lt; 0.001).ConclusionPlasma EphA2 levels consistently increased with sepsis severity, suggesting its biomarker value for sepsis diagnosis and prognosis. In contrast, plasma Del-1 response was variable, indicating its limited prognostic utility.
Association of arm circumference with the prevalence of gallstones in United States adults: a retrospective analysis on US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Authors: Wang Jianjun , Chen Xi , He Wei , Zeng Xintao , Yang Pei , Gong Jianping , Wang Decai 
Published: January 2025

BackgroundArm circumference (AC) is a measure of nutritional status and an indicator of the risk of developing diseases, such as metabolic disorders. However, its relationship with the prevalence of gallstone disease (GS), a metabolic disorder, is unknown. Consequently, this research sought to investigate the relationship between AC and the prevalence of GS among the general adult population in America.MethodsParticipant data were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017–2020 cycle. GS was defined based on self-reported medical history. AC was measured following standardized protocols as the primary exposure variable. Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to assess the association between AC and GS. Dose–response relationships were evaluated using generalized additive models with smoothed curve fitting, and subgroup analyses were conducted to explore effect modification by key covariates such as age, sex, race, hypertension, diabetes, and body mass index.ResultsOverall, a total of 8,081 participants were included in this study, with 849 reporting a history of GS. After accounting for potential confounders, we discovered that each centimeter increase in AC was linked to an 8% rise in the prevalence of GS (Odd ratio = 1.08, 95% confidence interval: 1.07–1.10). Dose–response curves demonstrated a positive linear relationship between AC and the prevalence of GS, which, according to the results of the subgroup analyses, was consistent in the vast majority of subgroups, although there were subtle differences.ConclusionAC exhibited a linear and positive association with the prevalence of GS. Although a causal relationship between AC and the prevalence of GS could not be established, our study provides strong new support for the potential role of AC in the health assessments of adult populations.
Mapping hippocampal glutamate in healthy aging with in vivo glutamate-weighted CEST (GluCEST) imaging
Authors: Pecsok Maggie K. , Robinson Heather , Atkins Ally , Calkins Monica E. , Elliott Mark A. , Mordy Arianna , Stifelman Jacquelyn , Gur Ruben C. , Moberg Paul J. , Nanga Ravi Prakash Reddy , Ruparel Kosha , Shinohara Russell T. , Wolk David A. , Reddy Ravinder , Roalf David R. 
Published: January 2025

IntroductionHippocampal glutamate (Glu) dysfunction is a pertinent indicator of neurodegeneration, yet mapping typical age-related changes in Glu has been challenging. Here, we use a 7T MRI approach, Glutamate Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (GluCEST), to measure bilateral hippocampal Glu in healthy old (HOA) and young (HYA) adults.MethodsBilateral hippocampal GluCEST data was acquired from 27 HOA and 22 HYA using 7T MRI. GluCEST differences by age and hemisphere were tested with a linear mixed model. GluCEST asymmetry index was also evaluated by age. Exploratory analyses examined associations between hippocampal GluCEST, age group, and scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Cognitive Complaints Index (CCI).ResultsGluCEST levels showed an age group and hemisphere interaction. In HOA, GluCEST was higher in left than right hippocampus, but in HYA, GluCEST level was equivalent across hemispheres. HOA had lower GluCEST than HYA in the right hippocampus. GluCEST asymmetry index confirmed significant left asymmetry in HOA. Lower GluCEST levels in HOA were associated with subjective cognitive complaints as measured by the CCI.DiscussionHippocampal GluCEST provides insight into age-related neural changes, with lower GluCEST in the right hippocampus in older adults. These findings offer a step toward elucidating the asymmetrical trajectory of hippocampal glutamatergic alterations and their relationship to cognitive phenotypes.
Associations between social networks, messaging apps, addictive behaviors, and sleep problems in adolescents: the EHDLA study
Authors: Navalón-González María , Montenegro-Espinosa José Adrián , Gutiérrez-Espinoza Héctor , Olivares-Arancibia Jorge , Yañéz-Sepúlveda Rodrigo , Duclos-Bastías Daniel , Garrido-Miguel Miriam , Mesas Arthur Eumann , López-Gil José Francisco , Jiménez-López Estela 
Published: January 2025

ObjectiveThe current study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the relationships between social network (SN) use, messaging apps use, and addictive behaviors related to SNs, and sleep-related problems in a sample of Spanish adolescents.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study using data from the Eating Healthy and Daily Life Activities (EHDLA) project, which involved adolescents aged 12–17 years from three secondary schools in Valle de Ricote (Region of Murcia, Spain). A sample of 632 adolescents was studied. The use of SN (i.e., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat or TikTok) or messaging applications (i.e., WhatsApp) was assessed via a scale including one item for each SN, in which adolescents were asked what type of SN they used and the usage profile of each SN. The Short Social Networks Addiction Scale-6 Symptoms (SNAddS-6S) was used to determine SN addictive behaviors. Generalized linear regression analyses with a negative binomial distribution were performed to determine the associations of SN use or SN addictive behaviors with sleep-related problems. These analyses were adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, socioeconomic level, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet.ResultsHigher SN use was related to greater presence of sleep-related problems [prevalence ratio (PR) = 1.04; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.07; p = 0.015]. Additionally, the higher the score on the addictive behaviors toward SN use scale was, the more sleep-related problems were identified (PR = 1.15; 95% Cl 1.09 to 1.21; p &lt; 0.001). Specifically, only the use of Twitter was significantly associated with sleep-related problems (PR = 1.10; 95% Cl 1.01 to 1.21; p = 0.035). In terms of addictive behaviors related to SN use, mood modification, relapse, withdrawal, and conflict were significantly associated with sleep-related problems (mood modification: PR = 1.58; 95% CI 1.36 to 1.84; p &lt; 0.001; relapse: PR = 1.24; 95% CI 1.07 to 1.43; p = 0.004; withdrawal: PR = 1.28; 95% CI 1.08 to 1.51; p = 0.004; conflict: PR = 1.19; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.39; p = 0.037).ConclusionOur results suggest a relationship between SN use, SN addictive behaviors, and sleep-related problems in adolescents. These cross-sectional results should be confirmed in longitudinal and intervention studies.