bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Testing androgen‐induced immunosuppression: Environmental androgens as a model system for steroid‐immune interaction
Authors: López‐Pérez Jorge E. , Goessling Jeffrey M. , Murray Christopher M. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIt is well known that hormones influence and direct most facets of physiology; however, there is still contention regarding the directions of certain relationships, for example, between gonadal hormones and immunity. Among the many proposed relationships relating to gonadal–immune interactions, support for immunosuppressive effects of androgens remains prominent within physiological literature. Although ample study has been directed toward the immunosuppressive effects of androgens, considerable disagreement remains regarding their influence on immune function. In this study, we test the hypothesis that androgens inhibit immunocompetence in the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). Developing alligators were incubated at female‐producing temperatures with a subset of individuals being exposed to 17‐α‐methyltestosterone (MT) before sexual determination. 17‐α‐methyltestosterone is a potent androgen, not aromatizable by crocodilians, that has been found to exert masculinizing effects in exposed crocodilian populations in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, a subset of animals was exposed to a novel antigen to quantify innate and acquired immune function. We recovered no significant differences in leukocyte ratios or proportions between groups and found no significant differences in innate immune function as measured by hemolysis‐hemagglutination. However, we did find significant differences in acquired immune function, where masculinized individuals expressed greater antibody titers. Our findings reject the hypothesis that androgens suppress immune function; rather, androgens may be immunoenhancing to acquired humoral responses and neutral to innate humoral immunity in crocodilians.
Diagnostic utility of immunohistochemistry in detection of NPM1 mutations in acute myeloid leukemia with a patchy distribution
Authors: Wei Qing , Wang Sa A. , Loghavi Sanam , Fang Hong , Medeiros L. Jeffrey , Wang Wei 
Published: February 2024

AbstractNucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) mutations occur in approximately one‐third cases of adult de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Identification of NPM1 mutations is important for classification, risk stratification, tailored therapy, and monitoring minimal residual disease. Mutational analysis is widely used for detecting NPM1 mutations. Immunochemistry assessing abnormal cytoplasmic localization of NPM1 protein has been used as a surrogate marker for NPM1 mutations. We present a case of AML with mutated NPM1 that was missed by sequencing analysis but detected by immunohistochemistry. This case highlights the value of immunohistochemistry in identifying NPM1 mutations in a subset of AML cases.
Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction and Diffuse Myocardial Fibrosis in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Using Quantitative Perfusion MRI
Authors: Zhao Wenjin , Li Kang , Tang Leting , Zhang Jiamin , Guo Hu , Zhou Xiaoyue , Luo Meichen , Liu Hongduan , Cui Rongrong , Zeng Mu 
Published: February 2024

BackgroundImaging techniques that quantitatively and automatically measure changes in the myocardial microcirculation in patients with diabetes are lacking.PurposeTo detect diabetic myocardial microvascular complications using a novel automatic quantitative perfusion MRI technique, and to explore the relationship between myocardial microcirculation dysfunction and fibrosis.Study TypeProspective.Subjects101 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (53 without and 48 with complications), 20 healthy volunteers.Field Strength/Sequence3.0T; modified Look‐Locker inversion‐recovery sequence; saturation recovery sequence and dual‐bolus technique; segmented fast low‐angle shot sequence.AssessmentAll participants underwent MRI to determine the rest myocardial blood flow (MBF), stress MBF, myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR), and extracellular volume (ECV), which represents the extent of myocardial fibrosis.Statistical TestsKolmogorov–Smirnov test, Shapiro–Wilk test, Kruskal–Wallis H test, Mann–Whitney U test, chi‐square test, Spearman correlation coefficient, multivariable linear regression analysis. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsThe rest MBF was not significantly different between the T2DM without complications group (1.1, IQR: 0.9–1.3) and the control group (1.1, 1.0–1.3) (P = 1.000), but it was significantly lower in the T2DM with complications group (0.8, 0.6–1.0) than in both other groups. The stress MBF and MPR were significantly lower in the T2DM without complications group (1.9, 1.5–2.3, and 1.7, 1.4–2.1, respectively) than in the control group (3.0, 2.6–3.5, and 2.7, 2.4–3.1, respectively), and were also significantly lower in the T2DM with complications group (1.1, 0.9–1.4, and 1.4, 1.2–1.8, respectively) than in the T2DM without complications group. A decrease in MBF and MPR were significantly associated with an increase in the ECV.Data ConclusionQuantitative perfusion MRI can evaluate myocardial microcirculation dysfunction. In T2DM, there was a significant decrease in both MBF and MPR compared to healthy controls, with the decrease being significantly different between T2DM with and without complications groups. The decrease of MBF was significantly associated with the development of myocardial fibrosis, as determined by ECV.Level of Evidence2Technical EfficacyStage 3
Influence of offset on osseointegration in cementless total hip arthroplasty: A finite element study
Authors: Meisterhans Michel , Dimitriou Dimitris , Fasser Marie‐Rosa , Hoch Armando , Jud Lukas , Zingg Patrick O. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractEarly aseptic loosening is caused by deficient osteointegration of the femoral stem due to increased micromotions and represents a common mode of failure in uncemented total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study hypothesized that a higher femoral offset, a smaller stem size and obesity increase femoral micromotion, potentially resulting in early aseptic loosening. A finite element analysis was conducted based on computed tomography segmented model of four patients who received a THA with a triple‐tapered straight stem (Size 1, 3, 6). The influence of femoral stem offset (short neck, standard, lateral), head length (S to XXL), femoral anteversion and obesity during daily activities of fast walking and stair climbing was analyzed. The micromotions for the femoral stem zones were compared to a threshold representing a value above which only partial osseointegration is expected. The minimum femoral offset configuration compared to the maximum offset configuration (short neck stem, S head vs. lateral stem, XXL head) leads to a relative mean micromotion increase of 24% for the upper stem zone. Increasing the body weight (body mass index 30–35 kg/m2) increases the micromotion by 20% for all stem zones. The obese population recorded threshold‐exceeding micromotions for stem sizes 1 and 3 for all offset configurations during stair climbing. Higher femoral offset, a smaller stem size, and higher loading due to obesity lead to an increase in micromotion between the prosthesis and proximal femur and represent a risk configuration for impaired osseointegration of a triple‐tapered straight stem, especially when these three factors are present simultaneously.
Sex‐Based Differences in the Sonographic Characterization of Diaphragm Thickness in Preterm Infants With Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia at Term Corrected Age
Authors: Yeung Telford , Ibrahim Jenna , Mohamed Adel 
Published: February 2024

ObjectiveTo determine the sex‐specific diaphragm thickness in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) as well as in healthy term and near‐term infants.MethodsWe performed a secondary analysis of an observational study to compare the sonographic diaphragm thickness at end expiration (DTexp) in female and male infants. The study included infants with BPD and healthy near‐term and term infants. To account for differences in anthropometric measurements, we calculated the DTexp as a ratio of body surface area (BSA). Statistical analysis was performed using R statistical software.ResultsOf the 111 infants included, 54 (48.6%) were female. There were no significant differences in mean (SD) birth gestation [26.2 (2.1) vs 26.3 (2.1) weeks] and mean study age [38.0 (2.0) vs 37.4 (1.1) weeks] of male vs female infants with BPD. The mean (SD) DTexp [1.5 (0.4) mm vs 1.2 (0.3) mm, P = .02] and DTexp/BSA [8.3 (2.3) mm/m2 vs 6.7 (1.6) mm/m2, P < .01] were significantly thicker in female than male infants with BPD. In contrast, there were no significant differences in DTexp between sexes [1.5 (0.4) mm vs 1.5 (0.3) mm, P = .89] within the healthy control group. Moreover, there were no differences in inspiratory diaphragm thickness, diaphragm thickness fraction, or excursion between males and females in the BPD or healthy groups.ConclusionsMale infants with BPD exhibit thinner diaphragm thickness compared with female infants. Its implication on higher rates of BPD in preterm males is unclear, but this finding highlights the need for further investigation.
Infinite time blow‐up with arbitrary initial energy for a damped plate equation
Authors: Li Xiatong , Fang Zhong Bo 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThis paper deals with the infinite blow‐up phenomena for a class of damped plate equations with logarithmic nonlinearity under the Navier boundary condition. Combining potential well method and modified differential inequality technique, we establish the infinite blow‐up result of solutions with arbitrary initial energy. In particular, it is not necessary to suppose that the initial velocity and the initial displacement should have the same sign in the sense of the inner product, that is, the solution may blow up at infinity even , more precisely, .
Chasing spammers: Using the Internet protocol address for detection
Authors: Sáez‐Ortuño Laura , Forgas‐Coll Santiago , Huertas‐Garcia Ruben , Puertas‐Prats Eloi 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe proliferation of reviews evaluating different services on social networks and online platforms and their importance in consumer decision‐making has led some unscrupulous individuals to take advantage of the anonymity offered by the Internet to manipulate these reviews and influence customers' decisions. The main objectives of this study are: (1) to test whether spammers usually perform their misdemeanors from the same IP address; (2) to explore whether there are differences between stated sexes in this regard; (3) to detect the main motivations for posting fraudulent reviews; and (4) to determine the motivations for doing so from the same IP address. These objectives were achieved by means of a quasi‐experiment with a sample of 7,192,487 users, and a qualitative investigation in which 37 users who had falsified information were interviewed. The results show that spammers who tend to fake their identity do so from the same IP address and that they tend to be male. Four types of motivation are presented: revenge, entertainment, opportunity for profit, and self‐esteem; as well as a further three to explain the use of the same IP: convenience, limited resources, and complacency.
Effects of interaction between brand positioning and chatbot conversational style on perceived fit and brand attitudes
Authors: Cheng Li‐Keng , Toung Chung‐Lin 
Published: February 2024

AbstractAlthough an underdog brand positioning can elicit positive consumer responses, maintaining a brand's positioning requires maintaining consistent brand associations. If the associations created by the company's service providers do not align with the brand's positioning, this discrepancy can lead to consumer confusion or to a decline in brand attitudes. Chatbots, as customer‐facing representatives, play a crucial role in how consumers perceive and evaluate a brand. However, the role of chatbots in shaping brand attitude has not been extensively studied. Therefore, this study investigates the effects of chatbot conversational styles on consumers' perceptions of the fit between a brand's positioning and its messaging, focusing on both “top‐dog” and “underdog” brands. This study demonstrates that underdog brands using chatbots with warm conversational styles and top‐dog brands using chatbots with competent (i.e., professional) conversational styles foster positive brand evaluations by consumers through perceived fit. Additionally, this study introduces the concept of power state—an individual's degree of perceived control over their surroundings—as a moderator in human–chatbot interactions, demonstrating that high‐power‐state consumers of top‐dog brands favor a competent conversational style, whereas low‐power‐state consumers favor a warm conversational style regardless of the brand's positioning.
Effect of the polysaccharide capsule and its heptose on the resistance of Campylobacter jejuni to innate immune defenses
Authors: Myles Matthew , Barnawi Heba , Mahmoudpour Mahmoud , Shlimon Sargon , Chang Adrienne , Zimmermann Daniel , Choi Chiwon , Zebian Najwa , Creuzenet Carole 
Published: February 2024

AbstractCampylobacter jejuni is a commensal in many animals but causes diarrhea in humans. Its polysaccharide capsule contributes to host colonization and virulence in a strain‐ and model‐specific manner. We investigated if the capsule and its heptose are important for interactions of strain NCTC 11168 with various hosts and their innate immune defenses. We determined that they support bacterial survival in Drosophila melanogaster and enhance virulence in Galleria mellonella. We showed that the capsule had limited antiphagocytic activity in human and chicken macrophages, decreased adherence to chicken macrophages, and decreased intracellular survival in both macrophages. In contrast, the heptose increased uptake by chicken macrophages and supported adherence to human macrophages and survival within them. While the capsule triggered nitric oxide production in chicken macrophages, the heptose mitigated this and protected against nitrosative assault. Finally, the C. jejuni strain NCTC 11168 elicited strong cytokine production in both macrophages but quenched ROS production independently from capsule and heptose, and while the capsule and heptose did not protect against oxidative assault, they favored growth in biofilms under oxidative stress. This study shows that the wild‐type capsule with its heptose is optimized to resist innate defenses in strain NCTC 11168 often via antagonistic effects of the capsule and its heptose.
Preoperative photoacoustic versus indocyanine green lymphography in lymphaticovenular anastomosis outcomes for lower extremity lymphedema: A pilot study
Authors: Suzuki Yushi , Kajita Hiroki , Watanabe Shiho , Otaki Marika , Okabe Keisuke , Sakuma Hisashi , Imanishi Nobuaki , Kishi Kazuo 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBackgroundIdentification of the proper lymphatics is important for successful lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) for lymphedema; however, visualization of lymphatic vessels is challenging. Photoacoustic lymphangiography (PAL) can help visualize lymphatics more clearly than other modalities. Therefore, we investigated the usefulness of PAL and determined whether the clear and three‐dimensional image of PAL affects LVA outcomes.MethodsWe recruited 22 female patients with lower extremity lymphedema. The operative time, number of incisions, number of anastomoses, lymphatic vessel detection rate (number of functional lymphatics identified during the operation/number of incisions), and limb volume changes preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively were compared retrospectively. The patients were divided according to whether PAL was performed or not, and results were compared between those undergoing PAL (PAL group; n = 10) and those who did not (near‐infrared fluorescence [NIRF] group, n = 12).ResultsThe mean age of the patients was 55.9 ± 15.1 years in the PAL group and 50.7 ± 14.9 years in the NIRF group. One patient in the PAL group and three in the NIRF group had primary lymphedema. Eighteen patients (PAL group, nine; and NIRF group, nine) had secondary lymphedema. Based on preoperative evaluation using the International Society of Lymphology (ISL) classification, eight patients were determined to be in stage 2 and two patients in late stage 2 in the PAL group. In contrast, in the NIRF group, one patient was determined to be in stage 0, three patients each in stage 1 and stage 2, and five patients in late stage 2.Lymphatic vessel detection rates were 93% (42 LVAs and 45 incisions) and 83% (50 LVAs and 60 incisions) in the groups with and without PAL, respectively (p = 0.42). Limb volume change was evaluated in five limbs of four patients and in seven limbs of five patients in the PAL and NIRF groups as 336.6 ± 203.6 mL (5.90% ± 3.27%) and 52.9 ± 260.7 mL (0.71% ± 4.27%), respectively. The PAL group showed a significant volume reduction. (p = .038).ConclusionsDetection of functional lymphatic vessels on PAL is useful for treating LVA.
Rehabilitation protocols in neonates undergoing primary nerve surgery for upper brachial plexus palsy: A scoping review
Authors: Mendiratta Dhruv , Levidy Michael F. , Chu Alice , McGrath Aleksandra 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIntroductionSurgical management is recommended in patients with severe neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP) within the first 6 months of age to regain best possible function. Rehabilitation post‐surgery remains relatively unexplored. This is a scoping review that explores, which rehabilitation modalities exist and how they vary for different microsurgical approaches in NBPP.Materials and MethodsA systematic search was conducted to include articles about upper trunk obstetric brachial plexus nerve microsurgery in pediatric patients that made mention of rehabilitation protocols. The aims of rehabilitation modalities varied and were grouped: “passive” movement to prevent joint contracture or stiffness, “active” or task‐oriented movement to improve motor function, or “providing initial motor recovery”. Surgical approach was described as either exploration of the brachial plexus (EBP) or nerve transfer without root exploration (NTwoRE). Technique was categorized into transfers and non‐transfers.ResultsThirty‐six full‐text articles were included. Initiation of rehabilitation was 22.26 days post‐surgery. Twenty‐eight studies were EBP, and six were NTwoRE. Of studies classifiable by aims, nine were “passive”, nine were “active”, and five were “providing initial motor recovery”. Only 27.7% of EBP studies mentioned active therapy, while 75.0% of NTwoRE studies mentioned active therapy. The average age of patients in the EBP procedure category was 7.70 months, and NTwoRE was 17.76 months. Within transfers, the spinal accessory to suprascapular group was more likely to describe an active shoulder exercise therapy, whereas contralateral C7 group was more likely to describe “initial motor recovery”, especially through the use of electrostimulation. All articles on electrostimulation recommended 15–20‐minute daily treatment.ConclusionInformation on rehabilitation is limited post‐nerve surgery in NBPP. However, when mentioned, the aims of these therapies vary with respect to surgical approach and technique. The type of therapy to employ may be a multifaceted decision, involving factors such as patient age, initial deformity, and goals of the care team.
Motion correction of 3D dynamic contrast‐enhanced ultrasound imaging without anatomical B‐Mode images: Pilot evaluation in eight patients
Authors: Chen Jia‐Shu , Goubran Maged , Kim Gaeun , Kim Matthew J. , Willmann Jürgen K. , Zeineh Michael , Hristov Dimitre , Kaffas Ahmed El 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBackgroundDynamic contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (DCE‐US) is highly susceptible to motion artifacts arising from patient movement, respiration, and operator handling and experience. Motion artifacts can be especially problematic in the context of perfusion quantification. In conventional 2D DCE‐US, motion correction (MC) algorithms take advantage of accompanying side‐by‐side anatomical B‐Mode images that contain time‐stable features. However, current commercial models of 3D DCE‐US do not provide side‐by‐side B‐Mode images, which makes MC challenging.PurposeThis work introduces a novel MC algorithm for 3D DCE‐US and assesses its efficacy when handling clinical data sets.MethodsIn brief, the algorithm uses a pyramidal approach whereby short temporal windows consisting of three consecutive frames are created to perform local registrations, which are then registered to a master reference derived from a weighted average of all frames. We applied the algorithm to imaging studies from eight patients with metastatic lesions in the liver and assessed improvements in original versus motion corrected 3D DCE‐US cine using: (i) frame‐to‐frame volumetric overlap of segmented lesions, (ii) normalized correlation coefficient (NCC) between frames (similarity analysis), and (iii) sum of squared errors (SSE), root‐mean‐squared error (RMSE), and r‐squared (R2) quality‐of‐fit from fitted time‐intensity curves (TIC) extracted from a segmented lesion.ResultsWe noted improvements in frame‐to‐frame lesion overlap across all patients, from 68% ± 13% without correction to 83% ± 3% with MC (p = 0.023). Frame‐to‐frame similarity as assessed by NCC also improved on two different sets of time points from 0.694 ± 0.057 (original cine) to 0.862 ± 0.049 (corresponding MC cine) and 0.723 ± 0.066 to 0.886 ± 0.036 (p ≤ 0.001 for both). TIC analysis displayed a significant decrease in RMSE (p = 0.018) and a significant increase in R2 goodness‐of‐fit (p = 0.029) for the patient cohort.ConclusionsOverall, results suggest decreases in 3D DCE‐US motion after applying the proposed algorithm.
Nutrition and outcomes in venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: An observational cohort study
Authors: Pelekhaty Stacy , Gessler Julie , Dante Siddhartha , Rector Nicholas , Galvagno Samuel , Stachnik Stephen , Rabin Joseph , Tabatabai Ali 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBackgroundOverfeeding and underfeeding are associated with negative outcomes during critical illness. The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess the association between nutrition intake and outcomes for patients receiving venovenous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).MethodsAdults who received VV ECMO August 2017 to June 2020 were screened. Patients with <3 ECMO nutrition support days were excluded. Age, sex, height, weight, ideal body weight (IBW), body mass index, sequential organ failure assessment score, respiratory ECMO survival prediction score, energy, and protein goals were collected. All nutrition intake was collected for the first 14 days of ECMO or until death, decannulation, or oral diet initiation. Outcomes analyzed included mortality and VV ECMO duration. The relationship between nutrition delivery and outcomes was tested with multivariate analysis. Univariate analyses were conducted on obese and nonobese subgroups.ResultsA total of 2044 nutrition days in 178 patients were analyzed. The median estimated needs were 24 (interquartile range: 22.3–28.3) kcal/kg/day and 2.25 (interquartile range: 2.25–2.77) g/kg/day of protein using IBW in patients with obesity and actual weight in patients without obesity. Patients received 83% of energy and 63.3% of protein targets. Patients with obesity who received ≥2 g/kg IBW of protein had a significantly shorter ECMO duration (P = 0.037). Increased protein intake was independently associated with a reduced risk of death (odds ratio: 0.06; 95% confidence interval: 0.01–0.43).ConclusionHigher protein intake was associated with reduced mortality. Optimal energy targets for patients receiving ECMO are currently unknown and warrant further study.