bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Instrumental balance assessment in Parkinson's disease and parkinsonism. A systematic review with critical appraisal of clinical applications and quality of reporting
Authors: Merlo Andrea , Cavazzuti Lorenzo , Bò Maria Chiara , Cavallieri Francesco , Bassi Maria Chiara , Damiano Benedetta , Scaltriti Sara , Fioravanti Valentina , Di Rauso Giulia , Portaro Giacomo , Valzania Franco , Lusuardi Mirco , Campanini Isabella 
Published: January 2025

IntroductionPatients with Parkinson's disease (pwPD) and atypical parkinsonism usually complain of impaired balance. Instrumental posturography is widely used to quantitatively assess static balance in pwPD but many posturographic parameters and protocols have been suggested. We aimed to appraise the use of static posturography in pwPD and atypical parkinsonism, and identify gaps hindering its translation into clinical routine.MethodsA systematic review on four databases. Study methodology, clinical aspects, assessment protocol, technical aspects, and transferability to clinical practice were critically appraised by a set of quality questions, scored on three levels (0, 0.5, 1). Total scores were used to assess overall studies' quality.Results132 studies were included. The majority (105/132) was rated medium-quality. The domains “transferability to clinical practice” and “assessment protocol” received the lowest scores. The main flaw hindering portability to clinical settings was the lack of a stated rationale behind the choice of a specific protocol and the selection of the posturographic parameters. Missing reporting about the technical aspects employed to manage posturographic data and comprehensive instructions given to the patients further contributed to lower quality.DiscussionWe provided recommendations for enhancing the clinical transferability of studies on static posturography to assess pwPD, including (1) discussing the rationale for choosing the assessment protocols and posturographic parameters, (2) detailing the inclusion criteria and select appropriate samples, and (3) reporting all the technical information to replicate the procedures and computations.Systematic review registrationInternational Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) on 6th February 2024 (ID CRD42024500777), https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024500777.
Optical coherence tomography angiography in patients with focal epilepsy
Authors: Rider Flora , Guekht Alla , Shpak Alexander 
Published: January 2025

PurposeThis study aims to compare optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) data in individuals with focal epilepsy and healthy individuals and to investigate the effect of antiseizure medications (ASM) on OCTA data.MethodsWe examined 48 consecutive patients with focal epilepsy and 46 healthy controls. Area and skeleton density of superficial and deep capillary plexuses in the macular area and peripapillary radial capillary plexus were measured.ResultsIn general, no differences in OCTA parameters were found between groups of individuals with epilepsy and healthy individuals. A comparison of individuals with epilepsy with and without comorbid major depressive disorder revealed no differences in OCTA data. However, the area and skeleton densities of the perfused capillary retinal vascular bed in the macular region showed a negative association with the use of valproates and modifiers of the presynaptic release machinery, whereas only the skeleton density of the deep capillary plexus showed a positive association with the use of modulators of voltage-gated sodium channels.ConclusionOCTA revealed different effects of various ASM groups on the perfused macular capillary bed. These findings suggest that OCTA parameters could serve as potential biomarkers for assessing ASM effects on small vessels and capillaries in the brain.
Harmonization of the fastest and densest responses reflects humanlike reaction time in mice
Authors: Kim Chan Hee 
Published: January 2025

IntroductionReaction time (RT) is important for evaluating delayed latency in behavior. Unlike humans, whose RT usually reflects a one-to-one stimulus–response relationship, the RT of animals can show two peaks representing the fastest and densest responses in the response distribution due to multiple responses per trial and can be further delayed depending on stimulus duration.MethodsStimulus duration was controlled to investigate whether these two peak latencies align to form a single RT. Sound cues lasting 10, 5, and 2 s, each associated with a food reward of condensed milk, were tested in three groups of 24 mice using delay conditioning paradigm. The frequency and latency of responses, along with basic indices such as accuracy, were analyzed.ResultsIn delay conditioning experiments using sound cues of 10, 5, and 2 s, the 2 s group exhibited the strongest positive correlations between the two peaks, as well as between the number of responses and accuracy rate, suggesting a coupling of the fastest and densest responses and a one-to-one relationship between stimulus and response.DiscussionBased on these findings, I propose harmonizing the two peaks, elicited by stimuli that induce prompt and minimal responses, as a criterion for designing animal experiments to better mimic humanlike RT.
Short- and long-term changes in neurological, behavioural, and blood biomarkers following repeated mild traumatic brain injury in rats—potential biological sex-dependent effects
Authors: Moraga-Amaro Rodrigo , Moreno Oscar , Llop Jordi , Bankstahl Marion , Bankstahl Jens P. 
Published: January 2025

IntroductionChronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease resulting from repeated mild traumatic brain injuries (rmTBI). The necessity for diagnosis of CTE, which can so far only be confirmed after post-mortem, is a pressing need. New approaches to early diagnose this disease are crucial to facilitate the translation of novel treatment strategies to the clinic. Several studies have found suitable candidate biomarkers, but the results are not straightforward. As biological sex is suggested to be a major confounding factor, we explored how sex influences behavioural and candidate blood biomarkers during CTE-like progression following experimental rmTBI.MethodsTo induce CTE-like development, we subjected male and female rats to three mTBIs at a 5-day interval. We then monitored and analysed differences in neurological, behavioural, and physiological parameters up to 12 weeks after the injuries—both by sex and grouped—and underwent further analysis using generalised estimated equation (GEE). To determine long-term changes in tau aggregation as a hallmark of CTE, we used [18F]-florzolotau (florzolotau) autoradiography in brain slices.ResultsBoth short-term weight gain and time-to-right after rmTBI were increased in grouped animals, with male rats showing more prominent changes. The neurological state was impaired after each mTBI and still 12 weeks later, independent of the sex. A protracted anhedonic-like behaviour due to rmTBI was found at the group level only at week 2 but remained continuously present in male rats. While spatial memory was not impaired, male rats showed increased anxiety-like behaviour. Moreover, neuron-specific enolase (NSE) was elevated in the blood 1 day after rmTBI, but only in females. On the contrary, blood p-tau was increased 3 days after rmTBI only in males. In addition, male rats showed significantly increased florzolotau binding in the brain after 12 weeks, suggesting brain contusion causes increased tau aggregation. Interestingly, brain neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) at 12 weeks after rmTBI showed a strong correlation with the neurological state at 1 day after rmTBI.DiscussionTaken together, our findings suggest that male rats may be more susceptible to short-and long-term consequences of rmTBI in the applied model. These sex differences should be considered when translating preclinical biomarker candidates to the clinic. Understanding these differences could guide the diagnosis and treatment of CTE in a personalized manner, offering hope for more effective treatments in the future.
Micronutrient status, food security, anaemia, Plasmodium infection, and physical activity as predictors of primary schoolchildren's body composition in Côte d'Ivoire
Authors: Long Kurt Z. , Traoré Sylvain G. , Kouassi Kouadio B. , Coulibaly Jean T. , Gba Bomey C. , Dao Daouda , Beckmann Johanna , Lang Christin , Seelig Harald , Probst-Hensch Nicole , Pühse Uwe , Gerber Markus , Utzinger Jürg , Bonfoh Bassirou 
Published: January 2025

BackgroundStunting and overt malnutrition remain prevalent among school age children in rural areas of Côte d'Ivoire while obesity is increasing in urban areas. Associations of children's nutritional status, Plasmodium infection, physical activity and household characteristics with body composition were analyzed to identify what factors might be contributing to this dual burden of disease.MethodsLongitudinal growth curve models (LGCM) evaluated associations of micronutrient status, household food security, Plasmodium falciparum prevalence and physical activity assessed at three time points with fat free mass and fat mass.ResultsMore severe anaemia was inversely associated with FFM and TrFFM trajectories overall and among girls. P. falciparum infection had an indirect inverse association with FFM trajectories through anaemia among girls and through reductions of vitamin A directly associated with FFM. Changes in zinc concentrations were positively associated with FM trajectories overall and among boys. Food insecurity was inversely associated with FFM among boys from lower socio-economic status (SES) households while increased MVPA was associated with reduced fat mass among girls.ConclusionsThe integration of Malaria control programs with efforts to improve household healthy diet and promote physical activity can lead to improvements in body composition and overall child health and wellbeing.
VIBE: an R-package for VIsualization of Bulk RNA Expression data for therapeutic targeting and disease stratification
Authors: Khatri Indu , van Asten Saskia D. , Moreno Leandro F. , Higgs Brandon W. , Klijn Christiaan , Blokzijl Francis , Kolder Iris C. R. M. 
Published: January 2025

BackgroundDevelopment of cancer treatments such as antibody-based therapy relies on several factors across the drug-target axis, including the specificity of target expression and characterization of downstream signaling pathways. While existing tools for analyzing and visualizing transcriptomic data offer evaluation of individual gene-level expression, they lack a comprehensive assessment of pathway-guided analysis, relevant for single- and dual-targeting therapeutics. Here, we introduce VIBE (VIsualization of Bulk RNA Expression data), an R package which provides a thorough exploration of both individual and combined gene expression, supplemented by pathway-guided analyses. VIBE’s versatility proves pivotal for disease stratification and therapeutic targeting in cancer and other diseases.ResultsVIBE offers a wide array of functions that streamline the visualization and analysis of transcriptomic data for single- and dual-targeting therapies. Its intuitive interface allows users to evaluate the expression of target genes and their associated pathways across various cancer indications, aiding in target and disease prioritization. Metadata, such as treatment or number of prior lines of therapy, can be easily incorporated to refine the identification of patient cohorts hypothesized to derive benefit from a given drug. We demonstrate how VIBE can be used to assist in indication selection and target identification in three user case studies using both simulated and real-world data. VIBE integrates statistics in all graphics, enabling data-informed decision-making.ConclusionsVIBE facilitates detailed visualization of individual and cohort-level summaries such as concordant or discordant expression of two genes or pathways. Such analyses can help to prioritize disease indications that are amenable to treatment strategies such as bispecific or monoclonal antibody therapies. With this tool, researchers can enhance indication selection and potentially accelerate the development of novel targeted therapies with the goal of precision, personalization, and ensuring treatments align with an individual patient’s disease state across a spectrum of disorders. Explore VIBE’s full capabilities using the vignettes on the GitLab repository (https://gitlab.com/genmab-public/vibe).
A case report of infantile fibrosarcoma with BRAF gene mutation with incomplete intestinal obstruction
Authors: Zhu Fan , Fan Liang , Cui Guanhua , Jian Hai , Zhou Hongjie , Xu Jianfeng , Chen Fengshun 
Published: January 2025

ObjectiveThis study aims to explore the clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of infantile fibrosarcoma (IFS) associated with BRAF mutations, with the goal of enhancing clinicians’ understanding of this rare genetic variant and its relationship to IFS.MethodsThe China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, VIP Database, PubMed, and National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) were searched using the keywords “infantile fibrosarcoma” and “congenital fibrosarcoma” for relevant articles published before August 2024. A total of 529 articles and 498 cases were identified, of which 48 articles and 149 cases were in Chinese and 479 articles and 349 cases were in foreign languages. Among them, 20 cases occurred in the gastrointestinal tract, with two cases associated with BRAF gene mutation. Combining the case reported in this paper, the clinical manifestations and treatment experience were summarized.ResultsThe patient was a male infant aged 5 months 18 days who presented with vomiting for 4 days. Preoperative abdominal ultrasonography revealed an abnormal hyper-echoic mass in the right upper abdomen. Exploratory laparotomy and complete tumor excision were performed. Pathological examination confirmed a diagnosis of IFS, with molecular analysis identifying a BRAF p.V600delinsDL mutation. Postoperative follow-up over 8 months showed no recurrence or metastasis on abdominal ultrasound. A review of this case alongside 20 reported cases of intestinal IFS revealed that intestinal perforation and obstruction were the most common presentations, with favorable overall prognoses.ConclusionIntestinal IFS is a rare soft tissue sarcoma predominantly occurring in early infancy. Cases involving the BRAF p.V600delinsDL mutation are even rarer. Treatment should be individualized, with complete surgical resection being the cornerstone of therapy. Prognosis remains favorable following complete excision.
PMAIP1 regulates the progression of follicular thyroid carcinoma through the Wnt3/FOSL1 pathway
Authors: Wang Haobo , Shang Fangjian , Wang Yifang , Pang Bo , Kang Longfei , Zhou Chuanmin , Li Dongyun , Li Zhongxin , Jiang Xia , Liu Bo , Zhao Zengren 
Published: January 2025

IntroductionIn thyroid carcinoma (TC), follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) represents the second most prevalent pathological type following papillary thyroid carcinoma. Notably, FTC exhibits a more aggressive clinical course and a higher propensity for distant metastasis. However, the underlying mechanisms governing the progression of FTC remain poorly understood. PMAIP1 is a gene implicated in various cancers and biological processes. Investigating the role and mechanism of PMAIP1 in FTC is crucial for enhancing our understanding of FTC and informing clinical treatment strategies. MethodsThis study examined the expression level of PMAIP1 in FTC through comprehensive analysis of databases, tumor tissues, and cell lines. Following the establishment of a stably transfected plasmid in cell lines, a series of functional assays and subcutaneous xenograft experiment were conducted to investigate the role of PMAIP1 in FTC. Additionally, transcriptome sequencing was employed to identify potential signaling pathways associated with PMAIP1. Mechanistic studies involved a series of rescue experiments to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of PMAIP1 in FTC. ResultsPMAIP1 was found to be highly expressed in FTC, and its knockdown significantly inhibited the proliferation and metastasis of FTC cells both in vivo and in vitro. The results of transcriptome sequencing analysis indicated that PMAIP1 may influence the progression of FTC via the Wnt signaling pathway. Subsequent investigations revealed a direct correlation between PMAIP1 expression levels and those of Wnt3 and FOSL1 in FTC. A series of rescue experiments further substantiated the regulatory role of PMAIP1 on Wnt3/FOSL1 in FTC. DiscussionIn conclusion, our research demonstrated that PMAIP1 emerges as a novel pro-cancer factor in FTC, and its knockdown significantly inhibited the proliferation and metastasis of FTC both in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, PMAIP1 regulated FOSL1 by modulating the Wnt signaling pathway, thereby promoting FTC progression. Targeting PMAIP1 may present a promising therapeutic strategy for FTC.
Case Report: Innovative anesthetic approaches for whole lung lavage in an infant with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis
Authors: Chen Jiaxiang , Shi Xiaoli , Tu Youbing , Chen Yuanzhen , Wang Xueqing , Shen Jing , Xu Liang , Meng Ligang 
Published: January 2025

IntroductionPulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare disease in infancy characterized by the accumulation of lipoprotein material within the alveoli, leading to impaired gas exchange, ventilation-perfusion mismatch, and, in severe cases, respiratory failure that may result in death. Treatment options include medical therapy and whole lung lavage (WLL), typically requiring lung isolation techniques or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Previous studies have reported the application of several lung isolation techniques in pediatric WLL. However, the use of a bronchial blocker (BB) in infant WLL has not been previously reported.Case descriptionThis study reports the anesthesia management of a 12-month-old infant diagnosed with secondary PAP, complicated by severe pneumonia and patent ductus arteriosus. The child presented with respiratory failure requiring WLL. The anesthesia method employed was intravenous general anesthesia, and airway management involved using a BB placed outside the endotracheal tube to facilitate one-lung ventilation (OLV). The procedure successfully maintained blood oxygen levels above 90%, and the WLL was completed without any anesthetic complications.ConclusionThis case demonstrates that using endotracheal intubation combined with extraluminal placement of a BB for lung isolation is a viable and effective approach for performing WLL in infants.
NCAPD3-mediated ferroptosis of 2,3,5,4’-Tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside inhibits proliferation in T47D cells
Authors: Shen Jianfen , Zhang Shuo , Song Yan , Yang Leiming , Huang Qi , Wang Pengyu , Zhang Youzhi 
Published: January 2025

ObjectiveNon-SMC condensin II complex subunit D3 (NCAPD3) has recently been demonstrated as a crucial oncogenic factor, nevertheless, the biological role of NCAPD3 in the pathogenesis of breast cancer has not been elucidated. Evidence suggests that targeting ferroptosis can inhibit the progression of breast cancer. Moreover, 2,3,5,4’-Tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside (THSG) could modulate MCF-7 cell proliferation in our previous study. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the potential mechanism by which NCAPD3 mediates ferroptosis in THSG inhibition of T47D cell proliferation by full-length transcriptome sequencing.MethodsAlternative splicing analysis was performed based on full-length transcriptome sequencing and the overlapping genes in differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) and differential alternative splicing (diAS) were obtained. Further, RT-PCR was used to validate the type of alternative splicing. And the hub genes (transcripts) were selected using the bioinformatics analysis, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blotting (WB). Moreover, cell cycle and ferroptosis were assessed using flow cytometry analysis and WB respectively. Mechanically, cell viability and clone formation was detected using Biochemical kit. And siRNA of Ncapd3 was transfected into T47D cells to detect the expression levels of ferroptosis-related proteins (WB) and cell viability (MTT).Results40 overlapping transcripts of DETs and diAS were obtained consistent with the analysis of full-length transcriptome sequencing, and Ncapd3 (Ncapd3-203) is key gene (transcript), which was also highly expressed in breast cancer and THSG could inhibit the mRNA and protein expression. Moreover, THSG could induce cell cycle arrest in G2/M stage and reduce ferroptosis-related protein expression (xCT and GPx4). Mechanically, we found that THSG inhibits the cell proliferation and clone formation in T47D cells, and Ncapd3 inhibition could inhibit (xCT and GPx4) proteins expression, which regulated THSG-suppressing effect in T47D cells.ConclusionTHSG could inhibit the proliferation in T47D cells by NCAPD3 -dependent ferroptosis, which provided novel insights into targeted strategy for breast cancer.
Impact of finasteride on modulating the risk and clinical outcomes of bladder cancer: insights from a comprehensive meta-analysis
Authors: Yu Ailing , Bai Zian , Wang Yijie , Luo Zhen , Du Xiaochen , Chen Mengxin , Wen Shuang , Wang Honglong , Yuan Xiaoying , Yang Chunyu , Bai Shanshan , Fan Bo 
Published: January 2025

PurposeNumerous prior analyses have highlighted a potential link between androgen suppression therapy (AST) and bladder cancer (BCa). However, there is a notable gap in research specifically examining the influence of finasteride on BCa risk and clinical outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate preventive and therapeutic value of finasteride for BCa patients.MethodsThis meta-analysis adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Guidelines. The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were searched up to 20 December 2024, to identify studies that examined the intake of finasteride and its impact on the incidence and clinical prognosis of patients with BCa. Data was extracted for further analysis by two different reviewers who independently examined the titles and abstracts of the included articles. Subgroup analyses and leave-one-out sensitivity analyses, were applied to mitigate the potential confounding factors associated with heterogeneity.ResultsOur investigation revealed that finasteride markedly decreased the likelihood of developing BCa (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.75, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.63–0.88). Subgroup analyses indicated that the preventive effect of finasteride in BCa incidence were generally consistent, regardless of study region, types of research. Furthermore, no notable disparities were observed in OS, CSS, or RFS between the finasteride group and the control group.ConclusionFinasteride plays a protective role against the progression of BCa, nevertheless, its effects on prognostic outcomes, including OS, CSS, and RFS, remain inconclusive. Additional multi-center prospective studies with long-term follow-up are required to further validate prophylactic role of finasteride on bladder cancer.Systematic review registration numberhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=525046, identifier CRD42024525046.