bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Validation of the social communication questionnaire amongst Nigerian adolescents
Authors: Nwokolo Eziafakaku Uchechukwu , Murphy Glynis H. , Langdon Peter E. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractFew autism spectrum disorder (ASD) screening tools have been developed and validated in Africa. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) when used with Nigerian adolescents. Parents and caregivers of two hundred and five adolescents completed the SCQ Lifetime form while the adolescents were assessed for ASD using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, 2nd Edition (ADOS‐2). Factor structure and convergent and discriminative validity were examined, along with the sensitivity and specificity of the SCQ in identifying participants with an autism spectrum disorder. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the factor structure, while logistic regression and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used to examine the validities. The SCQ had good internal consistency, discriminative, and convergent validity. A cut‐off score of 10 revealed sensitivity = 0.81 and specificity = 0.88 for the identification of autism spectrum disorder. AUC was 0.83, p < 0.001, 95% CI [0.77, 0.90]. The results of this study provide evidence to support the retention of the original four factors of the SCQ. The SCQ has good psychometric properties when used with Nigerian adolescents.
Analgesic nanomedicines for the treatment of chronic pain
Authors: Liu Hao , Zhuang Hongjun , Wang Ya , Cheng Yuen Yee , Chen Feixiang , Chen Jian , Song Xinglei , Zhang Run , Liu Yanyan , Bu Wenbo 
Published: October 2023

AbstractChronic pain is a major cause of suffering that often accompanies diseases and therapies, affecting approximately 20% of individuals at some point in their lives. However, current treatment modalities, such as anesthetic and antipyretic analgesics, have limitations in terms of efficacy and side effects. Nanomedical technology offers a promising avenue to overcome these challenges and introduce new therapeutic mechanisms. This article reviews the recent research on nanomedicine analgesics, integrating analyses of neuroplasticity changes in neurons and pathways related to the transition from acute to chronic pain. Furthermore, it explores potential future strategies using nanomaterials, aiming to provide a roadmap for new analgesic development and improved clinical pain management. By leveraging nanotechnology, these approaches hold the potential to revolutionize pain treatment by delivering targeted and effective relief while minimizing side effects.
Relationship between esophageal squamous cell carcinoma risk and alcohol‐related ALDH2 and ADH1B polymorphisms: Evidence from a meta‐analysis and Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Zhang Biao , Peng Yu‐Hui , Luo Yun , Hong Chao‐Qun , Lin Yi‐Wei , Zhang Yu‐Ling , Xu Yi‐Wei , Su Xue‐Fen , Wu Fang‐Cai 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackgroundPrevious studies have shown that ALDH2 and ADH1B genes may be associated with alcohol metabolism and the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), with inconsistent results. This meta‐analysis aimed at comprehensively assessing the associations between ALDH2 and ADH1B polymorphisms and the risk of ESCC to synthesize and clarify the evidence.MethodsWe calculated summary estimates of the associations between four genetic variants (rs671 and rs674 in ALDH2, and rs1229984 and rs1042026 in ADH1B) and the ESCC risk across 23 publications in the additive model and allelic model. Venice criteria, Bayesian false discovery probability (BFDP), and false‐positive reporting probability (FPRP) were used to assess the strength of epidemiological evidence. Heterogeneity among studies was evaluated by using the Higgin's I2 statistic, and publication bias was assessed by using funnel plots and Begg's test. A Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed to determine the causal association between alcohol intake and esophageal cancer risk. Data from the HaploReg v4.1 and PolyPhen‐2 were analyzed for functional annotations.ResultsOf the four genetic variants, rs671 of ALDH2 was associated with a significantly reduced risk of ESCC (OR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.50–0.73), whereas rs1229984 of ADH1B was associated with a significantly increased risk (2.50, 95% CI: 1.70–3.69) in the additive model. In the allelic model, the variant rs1229984 of ADH1B also increased the risk of ESCC (OR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.21–1.87). The result for the variant rs671 was considered as strong epidemiological evidence. Functional annotations identified that the four variants were related to the enhancer histone marks and motif changes. The other two variants were not associated with the ESCC risk (rs674 of ALDH2 OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 0.71–2.12; rs1042026 of ADH1B OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 0.52–3.14) in the additive model. The MR analysis did not find a causal effect of alcohol on the esophageal cancer risk.ConclusionsThe results showed that ADH1B rs1229984 was significantly associated with an increased the risk of ESCC.
Salivary microbiome in kidney diseases: A narrative review
Authors: Ramanathan Kumaresan , Padmanabhan Giri , Gulilat Henok , Malik Tabarak 
Published: October 2023

AbstractMany research has been conducted since the microbiota's discovery that have focused on the role it plays in health and disease. Microbiota can be divided into categories like intestinal, oral, respiratory, and skin microbiota based on the specific localized areas. To maintain homeostasis and control immunological response, the microbial populations live in symbiosis with the host. On the other hand, dysbiosis of the microbiota can cause diseases including kidney diseases and the deregulation of body functioning. We discuss the current understanding of how various kidney diseases are caused by the salivary microbiome (SM) in this overview. First, we review the studies on the salivary microbiota in diverse clinical situations. The importance of the SM in diabetic kidney disease, chronic kidney disease, membranous nephropathy, and IgA nephropathy is next highlighted. We conclude that the characteristics of the SM of patients with various kidney diseases have revealed the potential of salivary microbial markers as noninvasive tool for the detection of various kidney diseases.
Extensive but minimally symptomatic deep vein thrombosis in duplicated femoral veins
Authors: Chan Joel Ern Zher , Podorozhnyy Dmytro 
Published: October 2023

Key Clinical MessageDuplicated femoral veins predispose to venous thrombosis, but patients may present with minimal/no symptoms. The required length of treatment is unclear, but periodic ultrasound surveillance may play a role in the absence of definitive treatment options.
Reversible Electrochemical Conversion Reaction for Selective Ion Removal and Recovery
Authors: Yang Yilong , Miao Jiaming , Zhang Kan 
Published: October 2023

AbstractCapacitive deionization (CDI) is a green and pollution‐free emerging technology that can be used for ions removal and recovery from water. However, the traditional electro‐adsorption process to achieve ions removal faces the challenges of non‐selectivity, low efficiency and difficult ion recovery. In recent years, the conversion reaction has attracted wide attention due to its high selectivity, reversibility and excellent desalination ability for ions removal and recovery. This concept article will focus on the connotation and representative applications of conversion reactions that can be used for ion‐selective removal and recovery and put forward the perspectives and outlooks of conversion reactions.
Fast and artifact‐free circular dichroism measurement of solid‐state structural changes
Authors: Kuroda Reiko , Harada Takunori , Takahashi Hiromi 
Published: October 2023

AbstractA novel chiroptical spectrophotometer, Multichannel (MC)‐circular dichroism (CD), which does not require a wavelength scan and provides artifact‐free CD spectra in seconds, was developed by solving the incompatibility problem between data acquisition and modulation timescales. The design and instrumentation are compared with the Universal Chiroptical Spectrophotometer (UCS)‐1, which can measure artifact‐free CD spectra in the solid state. Enantiomeric single crystals composed of achiral components, α‐Ni(H2O)6・SO4, and achiral films with substantial macroscopic anisotropies were measured on both MC‐CD and UCS‐1 and compared.
Chemical Biology Perspectives on STING Agonists as Tumor Immunotherapy
Authors: Xuan Chenyuan , Hu Rong 
Published: October 2023

AbstractStimulator of interferon genes (STING) is a crucial adaptor protein in the innate immune response. STING activation triggers cytokine secretion, including type I interferon and initiates T cell‐mediated adaptive immunity. The activated immune system converts “cold tumors” into “hot tumors” that are highly responsive to T cells by recruiting them to the tumor microenvironment, ultimately leading to potent and long‐lasting antitumor effects. Unlike most immune checkpoint inhibitors, STING agonists represent a groundbreaking class of innate immune agonists that hold great potential for effectively targeting various cancer populations and are poised to become a blockbuster in tumor immunotherapy. This review will focus on the correlation between the STING signaling pathway and tumor immunity, as well as explore the impact of STING activation on other biological processes. Ultimately, we will summarize the development and optimization of STING agonists from a medicinal chemistry perspective, evaluate their potential in cancer therapy, and identify possible challenges for future advancement.
The influence of bone model geometries on the determination of skull acoustic properties
Authors: Marchant Joshua K. , Clinard Samuel R. , Odéen Henrik , Parker Dennis L. , Christensen Douglas A. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractIn this study, we investigated the impact of various simulated skull bone geometries on the determination of skull speed of sound and acoustic attenuation values via optimization using transmitted pressure amplitudes beyond the bone. Using the hybrid angular spectrum method (HAS), we simulated ultrasound transmission through four model sets of different geometries involving sandwiched layers of diploë and cortical bone in addition to three models generated from CT images of ex‐vivo human skull‐bones. We characterized cost‐function solution spaces for each model and, using optimization, found that when a model possessed appreciable variations in resolvable layer thickness, the predefined attenuation coefficients could be found with low error (RMSE < 0.01 Np/cm). However, we identified a spatial frequency cutoff in the models' geometry beyond which the accuracy of the property determination begins to fail, depending on the frequency of the ultrasound source. There was a large increase in error of the attenuation coefficients determined by the optimization when the variations in layer thickness were above the identified spatial frequency cutoffs, or when the lateral variations across the model were relatively low in amplitude. For our limited sample of three CT‐image derived bone models, the attenuation coefficients were determined successfully. The speed of sound values were determined with low error for all models (including the CT‐image derived models) that were tested (RMSE < 0.4 m/s). These results illustrate that it is possible to determine the acoustic properties of two‐component models when the internal bone structure is taken into account and the structure satisfies the spatial frequency constraints discussed.
Shock‐Induced Microstructural Evolution, Phase Transformation, Sintering of Al‐Ni Dissimilar Nanoparticles: A Molecular Dynamics Study
Authors: Jiang Jun , Sun Weifu , Luo Ning 
Published: October 2023

AbstractMolecular dynamic simulations have been performed to explore contact behavior, microstructure evolution and sintering mechanism of Al−Ni dissimilar nanoparticles under high‐velocity impact. We confirmed that the simulated contact stress, contact radius, and contact force under low‐velocity impact are in good agreement with the predicted results of the Hertz model. However, with increasing the impact velocity, the simulated results gradually deviate from the predicted results of the Hertz model due to the elastic‐plastic transition and atomic discrete structure. The normalized contact radius versus strain exhibits a weak dependence on nanosphere diameter. Below a critical velocity, there are very few HCP atoms in the nanospheres after thermal equilibrium. There are two different sintering mechanisms: under low‐velocity impact, the sintering process relies mainly on the dislocation slip of Al nanospheres, while the dislocation slip of Ni nanospheres and the atomic diffusion of Al nanospheres predominate under high‐velocity impact.
Early monitoring‐to‐warning Internet of Things system for emerging infectious diseases via networking of light‐triggered point‐of‐care testing devices
Authors: Fu Yu , Liu Yan , Song Wenlu , Yang Delong , Wu Wenjie , Lin Jingyan , Yang Xiongtiao , Zeng Jian , Rong Lingzhi , Xia Jiaojiao , Lei Hongyi , Yang Ronghua , Zhang Mingxia , Liao Yuhui 
Published: October 2023

AbstractEarly monitoring and warning arrangements are effective ways to distinguish infectious agents and control the spread of epidemic diseases. Current testing technologies, which cannot achieve rapid detection in the field, have a risk of slowing down the response time to the disease. In addition, there is still no epidemic surveillance system, implementing prevention and control measures is slow and inefficient. Motivated by these clinical needs, a sample‐to‐answer genetic diagnosis platform based on light‐controlled capillary modified with a photocleavable linker is first developed, which could perform nucleic acid separation and release by light irradiation in less than 30 seconds. Then, on site polymerase chain reaction was performed in a handheld closed‐loop convective system. Test reports are available within 20 min. Because this method is portable, rapid, and easy to operate, it has great potential for point‐of‐care testing. Additionally, through multiple device networking, a real‐time artificial intelligence monitoring system for pathogens was developed on a cloud server. Through data reception, analysis, and visualization, the system can send early warning signals for disease control and prevention. Thus, anti‐epidemic measures can be implemented effectively, and deploying and running this system can improve the capabilities for the prevention and control of infectious diseases.
Colibactin mutational signatures in NTHL1 tumor syndrome and MUTYH associated polyposis patients
Authors: Terlouw D. , Boot A. , Ducarmon Q. R. , Nooij S. , Jessurun M. A. , van Leerdam M. E. , Tops C. M. , Langers A. M. J. , Morreau H. , van Wezel T. , Nielsen M. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractPolyketide synthase (pks) island harboring Escherichia coli are, under the right circumstances, able to produce the genotoxin colibactin. Colibactin is a risk factor for the development of colorectal cancer and associated with mutational signatures SBS88 and ID18. This study explores colibactin‐associated mutational signatures in biallelic NTHL1 and MUTYH patients. Targeted Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) was performed on colorectal adenomas and carcinomas of one biallelic NTHL and 12 biallelic MUTYH patients. Additional fecal metagenomics and genome sequencing followed by mutational signature analysis was conducted for the NTHL1 patient. Targeted NGS of the NTHL1 patient showed somatic APC variants fitting SBS88 which was confirmed using WGS. Furthermore, fecal metagenomics revealed pks genes. Also, in 1 out of 11 MUTYH patient a somatic variant was detected fitting SBS88. This report shows that colibactin may influence development of colorectal neoplasms in predisposed patients.
Challenges and opportunities of big data analytics in healthcare
Authors: Goyal Priyanshi , Malviya Rishabha 
Published: October 2023

AbstractData science is an interdisciplinary discipline that employs big data, machine learning algorithms, data mining techniques, and scientific methodologies to extract insights and information from massive amounts of structured and unstructured data. The healthcare industry constantly creates large, important databases on patient demographics, treatment plans, results of medical exams, insurance coverage, and more. The data that IoT (Internet of Things) devices collect is of interest to data scientists. Data science can help with the healthcare industry's massive amounts of disparate, structured, and unstructured data by processing, managing, analyzing, and integrating it. To get reliable findings from this data, proper management and analysis are essential. This article provides a comprehensive study and discussion of process data analysis as it pertains to healthcare applications. The article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of using big data analytics (BDA) in the medical industry. The insights offered by BDA, which can also aid in making strategic decisions, can assist the healthcare system.
Measuring skin color inequality in women's health in Northeast Brazil: Evidence from the PCSVDFMulher survey
Authors: de Oliveira Victor Hugo , Carvalho José Raimundo 
Published: October 2023

AbstractIn this paper, we investigate whether skin color is a source of inequality in women's health by exploring the longitudinal framework of the PCSVDFMulher survey in Northeast Brazil. Specifically, we measure the skin color gradient in women's general and mental health, as well as in showing health risk behavior. We find that darker‐skinned women show poorer mental health outcomes and a higher likelihood of drinking and smoking more frequently than their lighter‐skinned counterparts. The skin color gradient is persistent and systematic, even when modeling different sources of unobserved heterogeneity and accounting for the existing socioeconomic inequalities and racial identity. We also find that racial identity is an important source of heterogeneous responses of women's health to skin tone.
The prevalence and risk factors of irritable bowel syndrome (PRIBS study) among adults in low‐ and middle‐income countries: A multicenter cross‐sectional study
Authors: Arnaout Ahmad Y. , Nerabani Yaman , Douba Zain , Kassem Luma H. , Arnaout Khaled , Shabouk Muhammad B. , Zayat Hussein , Mayo Wafik , Bezo Yamen , Arnaout Ibrahim , Yousef Ahmad , Zeina Mohamed B. , Aljarad Ziad ,   PRIBS Study Team
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackground and AimsBecause of the plenty and abundance of risk factors and the expected increase in the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in the world in general and in low‐ and middle‐income countries in particular, this international cross‐sectional study was conducted in 15 low‐ and middle‐income countries according to our previous protocol, NCT05340400.MethodsParticipants were recruited in the period from April 22, 2022 to June 14, 2022. The diagnosis of IBS was according to ROME IV. We determined the physical activity, daily stress, and fatigue of the participants. A large number of collaborators were chosen from different regions and institutions within each country to achieve diversity within the sample and reduce the probability of bias.ResultsThe prevalence of IBS appears to be higher in low‐ and middle‐income countries (mean = 25.2%, range [6.2%–44.2%]) than in high‐income countries, with a higher prevalence among Africans than Caucasians and Asians. The prevalence of IBS increased in the fourth decade by 32.1% and in the fifth decade by 31.1% (p‐value < 0.001). In addition to the previously known risk factors for IBS such as female sex, smoking, psychological stress, and chronic fatigue, other risk factors were discovered such as chronic diseases, including high blood pressure and diabetes, allergies to some substances, previous infection with COVID‐19, and the participant having a first‐degree relative with a patient. There are also some other modifiable risk factors, such as an abnormal body mass index (whether high or low), smoking, a protein‐ or fat‐rich diet, drinking caffeine‐containing beverages, and poor physical activity.ConclusionsHighlighting the prevalence and increasing risk factors of IBS in developing countries should draw the attention of those responsible for health care in these countries and reduce the risk factors.
Investigating the relationship between liver enzymes and incidence of hypertension: A population‐based cohort study in Kharameh, a city in the South of Iran
Authors: Baeradeh Najibullah , Seif Mozhgan , Rezaianzadeh Abbas , Hosseini Seyed Vahid 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackground and AimsHypertension and abnormal liver enzymes are common health issues that frequently coexist, and recent research has suggested a possible association between them, warranting further investigation. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the relationship between liver enzymes and hypertension.MethodsThis prospective cohort study utilized data from the Kharameh cohort study, which is a branch of the Prospective Epidemiological Studies in Iran (PERSIAN) database. The study included 7710 participants aged between 40 and 70 years. Hypertension was defined in accordance with the European guidelines for hypertension management, and the association between liver enzymes and hypertension was modeled and predicted using Firth logistic regression.ResultsThis study investigated the association between liver enzymes and hypertension risk in a cohort of 7710 individuals aged 40–70 years. The results showed that higher levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were associated with an increased risk of hypertension, and this relationship remained significant even after adjusting for potential confounding factors. Additionally, separate analyses within age subgroups revealed a significant association between ALP concentration and high blood pressure in certain age ranges.ConclusionThe study demonstrated a significant association between high levels of ALT, GGT, and ALP and an increased risk of hypertension, regardless of other risk factors. These results suggest that monitoring liver enzymes, specifically ALT, GGT, and ALP, could serve as a useful tool to predict hypertension risk and identify individuals who could benefit from early intervention. Overall, these findings underscore the importance of monitoring liver function in preventing and managing hypertension.