bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of serum autoantibodies on the COVID-19 patient’s prognosis
Authors: Zhang Weiming , Tao Yue , Zhu Yijia , Zheng Qisi , Hu Fenghua , Zhu Wenbo , Wang Jian , Ning Mingzhe 
Published: December 2023

ObjectivesVirus infection closely associated with autoimmune disease. The study aimed to explore the autoantibody profiles and the correlation of autoantibodies with the disease severity and the prognosis of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.MethodsThree hundred thirty-seven hospitalized COVID-19 patients from 6th to 23rd January 2023 were enrolled. Logistic and Cox regression analyses were used to analyze the risk factors for the patient’s disease severity and outcome. The association between Anti-extractable nuclear antigen antibody (ENA) positivity and the prognosis of COVID-19 patients was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier survival curves.Results137 of COVID-19 patients were detected positive for antinuclear antibody (ANA), 61 had positive results for ENA, and 38 were positive for ANA and ENA. ANA positivity rate was higher in non-severe illness group (p = 0.032). COVID-19 patients who died during hospitalization had a high rate of ENA positivity than convalescent patients (p = 0.002). Multivariate logistic regression showed that ANA positivity was a protective factor for the disease severity of COVID-19. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that ENA positivity, white blood cells count (WBC), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Creatinine (CREA), and CRP were independent risk factors for the outcome of COVID-19 patients, and that COVID-19 patients with ENA positivity had a lower cumulative survival rate (p = 0.002).ConclusionA spectrum of autoantibodies were expressed in COVID-19 patients, among which ANA and ENA positivity was associated with the severity and prognosis of COVID-19. Therefore, autoantibodies may help to assess the disease severity and prognosis of COVID-19 patients.
Pseudo-Label Assisted nnU-Net enables automatic segmentation of 7T MRI from a single acquisition
Authors: Donnay Corinne , Dieckhaus Henry , Tsagkas Charidimos , Gaitán María Inés , Beck Erin S. , Mullins Andrew , Reich Daniel S. , Nair Govind 
Published: December 2023

IntroductionAutomatic whole brain and lesion segmentation at 7T presents challenges, primarily from bias fields, susceptibility artifacts including distortions, and registration errors. Here, we sought to use deep learning algorithms (D/L) to do both skull stripping and whole brain segmentation on multiple imaging contrasts generated in a single Magnetization Prepared 2 Rapid Acquisition Gradient Echoes (MP2RAGE) acquisition on participants clinically diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), bypassing registration errors.MethodsBrain scans Segmentation from 3T and 7T scanners were analyzed with software packages such as FreeSurfer, Classification using Derivative-based Features (C-DEF), nnU-net, and a novel 3T-to-7T transfer learning method, Pseudo-Label Assisted nnU-Net (PLAn). 3T and 7T MRIs acquired within 9 months from 25 study participants with MS (Cohort 1) were used for training and optimizing. Eight MS patients (Cohort 2) scanned only at 7T, but with expert annotated lesion segmentation, was used to further validate the algorithm on a completely unseen dataset. Segmentation results were rated visually by experts in a blinded fashion and quantitatively using Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC).ResultsOf the methods explored here, nnU-Net and PLAn produced the best tissue segmentation at 7T for all tissue classes. In both quantitative and qualitative analysis, PLAn significantly outperformed nnU-Net (and other methods) in lesion detection in both cohorts. PLAn's lesion DSC improved by 16% compared to nnU-Net.DiscussionLimited availability of labeled data makes transfer learning an attractive option, and pre-training a nnUNet model using readily obtained 3T pseudo-labels was shown to boost lesion detection capabilities at 7T.
Individual and combined association between nutritional trace metals and the risk of preterm birth in a recurrent pregnancy loss cohort
Authors: Liu Yilin , Wang Tingting , Ge Yunpeng , Shen Hongfei , Li Jiapo , Qiao Chong 
Published: December 2023

BackgroundRecurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) was associated with an elevated risk of pregnancy complications, particularly preterm birth (PTB). However, the risk factors associated with PTB in RPL remained unclear. Emerging evidence indicated that maternal exposure to metals played a crucial role in the development of PTB. The objective of our study was to investigate the individual and combined associations of nutritional trace metals (NTMs) during pregnancy with PTB in RPL.MethodsUsing data from a recurrent pregnancy loss cohort (n = 459), propensity score matching (1:3) was performed to control for covariates. Multiple logistic regression and multiple linear regression were employed to identify the individual effects, while elastic-net regularization (ENET) and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were used to examine the combined effects on PTB in RPL.ResultsThe logistic regression model found that maternal exposure to copper (Cu) (quantile 4 [Q4] vs. quantile 1 [Q1], odds ratio [OR]: 0.21, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.05, 0.74) and zinc (Zn) (Q4 vs. Q1, OR: 0.19, 95%CI: 0.04, 0.77) was inversely associated with total PTB risk. We further constructed environmental risk scores (ERSs) using principal components and interaction terms derived from the ENET model to predict PTB accurately (p &lt; 0.001). In the BKMR model, we confirmed that Cu was the most significant component (PIP = 0.85). When other metals were fixed at the 25th and 50th percentiles, Cu was inversely associated with PTB. In addition, we demonstrated the non-linear relationships of Zn with PTB and the potential interaction between Cu and other metals, including Zn, Ca, and Fe.ConclusionIn conclusion, our study highlighted the significance of maternal exposure to NTMs in RPL and its association with PTB risk. Cu and Zn were inversely associated with PTB risk, with Cu identified as a crucial factor. Potential interactions between Cu and other metals (Zn, Ca, and Fe) further contributed to the understanding of PTB etiology in RPL. These findings suggest opportunities for personalized care and preventive interventions to optimize maternal and infant health outcomes.
Case Report: The value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound and contrast-enhanced computed tomography in the diagnosis of hepatic angiosarcoma
Authors: Wang Feiqian , Numata Kazushi , Liang Hua , Tsuchiya Hiromi , Ruan Litao , Tanabe Mikiko , Bai Xiaofang 
Published: December 2023

BackgroundEnhanced imaging techniques have the overwhelming advantages of being noninvasive and sensitive enough to evaluate the microcirculation of lesions, thus making them accurate in the diagnosis of hepatic lesions. Unfortunately, there is very little research on and knowledge of the imaging features of a rare cancerous condition: hepatic angiosarcoma (HA).Case summaryIn this study, we retrospectively collected the data of six patients who underwent both contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT), and subsequently obtained a definitive histopathologic diagnosis of HA. We described the imaging appearances of HA by comparing CEUS and CECT images. Furthermore, we analyzed these imaging characteristics from the perspective of histopathology and tumorigenesis. The study included the largest number (six) of histopathologically confirmed HA patients who had received CEUS examinations to date.ConclusionBy offering readers comprehensive knowledge of contrast imaging, especially CEUS, in the diagnosis of HA, our study may reduce misdiagnosis and further improve treatment options.
Systemic immunological profile of children with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: performance of cell populations and soluble mediators as serum biomarkers
Authors: Carvalho Maria Perpétuo Socorro Sampaio , Magalhães-Gama Fábio , Loiola Bruna Pires , Neves Juliana Costa Ferreira , Araújo Nilberto Dias , Silva Flavio Souza , Catão Claudio Lucas Santos , Alves Eliana Brasil , Pimentel João Paulo Diniz , Barbosa Maria Nazaré Saunier , Fraiji Nelson Abrahim , Teixeira-Carvalho Andréa , Martins-Filho Olindo Assis , Costa Allyson Guimarães , Malheiro Adriana 
Published: December 2023

BackgroundChildren with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) have an immune imbalance that is marked by remodeling of the hematopoietic compartment, with effects on peripheral blood (PB). Although the bone marrow (BM) is the main maintenance site of malignancy, the frequency with which immune cells and molecules can be monitored is limited, thus the identification of biomarkers in PB becomes an alternative for monitoring the evolution of the disease.MethodsHere, we characterize the systemic immunological profile in children undergoing treatment for B-ALL, and evaluate the performance of cell populations, chemokines and cytokines as potential biomarkers during clinical follow-up. For this purpose, PB samples from 20 patients with B-ALL were collected on diagnosis (D0) and during induction therapy (days 8, 15 and 35). In addition, samples from 28 children were used as a control group (CG). The cellular profile (NK and NKT-cells, Treg, CD3+ T, CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells) and soluble immunological mediators (CXCL8, CCL2, CXCL9, CCL5, CXCL10, IL-6, TNF, IFN-γ, IL-17A, IL- 4, IL-10 and IL-2) were evaluated via flow cytometry immunophenotyping and cytometric bead array assay.ResultsOn D0, B-ALL patients showed reduction in the frequency of cell populations, except for CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells, which together with CCL2, CXCL9, CXCL10, IL-6 and IL-10 were elevated in relation to the patients of the CG. On D8 and D15, the patients presented a transition in the immunological profile. While, on D35, they already presented an opposite profile to D0, with an increase in NKT, CD3+ T, CD4+ T and Treg cells, along with CCL5, and a decrease in the levels of CXCL9, CXCL10 and IL-10, thus demonstrating that B-ALL patients present a complex and dynamic immune network during induction therapy. Furthermore, we identified that many immunological mediators could be used to classify the therapeutic response based on currently used parameters.ConclusionFinally, it is noted that the systemic immunological profile after remission induction still differs significantly when compared to the GC and that multiple immunological mediators performed well as serum biomarkers.
Depression and stress are associated with latent profiles of problematic social media use among college students
Authors: Cui Jingjing , Wang Yang , Liu Dongyu , Yang Haibo 
Published: December 2023

BackgroundThe previous literature has demonstrated that depression, anxiety, and stress are significant predictors of problematic social media use. However, the manifestation of problematic social media use varies, and the predictive relationship between depression, anxiety, and stress with different subgroups of problematic social media use remains unclear. The aim of this research was to evaluate latent subgroups of problematic social media use among college students and to investigate the impact of depression, anxiety, and stress on these latent subgroups.MethodsA survey was carried out among college students in China using a cross-sectional approach. A total of 955 participants were included, with a mean age of 19.50 ± 1.22 years. Participants completed questionnaires containing the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). The study employed latent profile analysis (LPA) to investigate latent subgroups of Chinese college students with problematic social media use, and a robust three-step approach was used to develop predictive regression mixed models of depression, anxiety, and stress on latent subgroups.ResultsProblematic social media use of Chinese college students can be categorized into four latent subgroups, namely, the high-risk group, the moderate-risk with pleasure group, the moderate-risk with compulsion group, and the low-risk group. The regression model showed that there was a significant difference between the high-risk group and the low-risk group on the stress scale. There was a significant difference between the moderate-risk with pleasure group and the moderate-risk with compulsion group on the depression scale.ConclusionProblematic social media use is heterogeneous, with depression and stress being potentially key factors influencing problematic social media use. Depression would make college students more likely to be moderate-risk with compulsion problematic social media users than moderate-risk with pleasure problematic social media users, and stress would make college students more likely to be high-risk problematic social media users than low-risk problematic social media users.
Understanding and learning from rural drug service adaptations to opioid substitution therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic: the What C-OST? study
Authors: Scott Jenny , Family Hannah , Kesten Joanna May , Hines Lindsey , Millar Josie 
Published: December 2023

IntroductionIn April 2020, in response to government COVID-19 advice, changes were made to the way English drug services operated. Methadone and buprenorphine were typically dispensed in 1- to 2-week supplies, and key working was conducted by phone/online. Previous studies have examined the impact of these changes on people from urban settings. This study adds the experiences and perspectives of people receiving care from drug services in rural areas and makes suggestions for future emergency planning.MethodsTelephone semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 people receiving care in Somerset, Wiltshire, and Suffolk, rural counties in England. Reflexive thematic analysis was used.ResultsThree overarching themes were found. “Challenges of rural lockdown” (theme 1) describes how rural community challenges, especially reduced or no rural public transport, were experienced. This hampered some OST collections, with consequential drug use. It also impeded connections to loved ones, worsening isolation. For participants who were struggling pre-pandemic, the intersection between this and their experience of revised drug service operations is embodied in “Amplification of Social Disconnection: Cut off and unheard” (theme 2). They felt a lack of support, particularly from remote provision key working. Participants who had supportive relationships and time in the pandemic occupied in ways they found meaningful, and others who struggled with anxiety or depression, found pandemic changes “Fits better with my life” (theme 3). They experienced more freedom for other things, gained support by other means, such as family, or felt more comfortable with remote engagement. A cross-cutting sub-theme “Understandable Interruptions” showed acceptance of pandemic disruptions.ConclusionNational guidance and organizational policy impacted participants in different ways. Those who had supportive relationships and occupied time were better able to make positive use of newfound freedoms and engage with community-level support. In contrast, those who had less stability, including mental health struggles and social isolation, felt cut off and unheard, particularly from key workers. Reduced rural transport was a significant community-level issue, which impeded OST collection and social support. We suggest emergency response plans be created for individuals taking account of their pre-existing personal situations.
Feasibility of four-dimensional similarity filter for radiation dose reduction in dynamic myocardial computed tomography perfusion imaging
Authors: Yamamoto Yuta , Tanabe Yuki , Kurata Akira , Yamamoto Shuhei , Kido Tomoyuki , Uetani Teruyoshi , Ikeda Shuntaro , Nakano Shota , Yamaguchi Osamu , Kido Teruhito 
Published: December 2023

Rationale and objectivesWe aimed to evaluate the impact of four-dimensional noise reduction filtering using a four-dimensional similarity filter (4D-SF) on radiation dose reduction in dynamic myocardial computed tomography perfusion (CTP).Materials and methodsForty-three patients who underwent dynamic myocardial CTP using 320-row computed tomography (CT) were included in the study. The original images were reconstructed using iterative reconstruction (IR). Three different CTP datasets with simulated noise, corresponding to 25%, 50%, and 75% reduction of the original dose (300 mA), were reconstructed using a combination of IR and 4D-SF. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were assessed, and CT-derived myocardial blood flow (CT-MBF) was quantified. The results were compared between the original and simulated images with radiation dose reduction.ResultsThe median SNR (first quartile–third quartile) at the original, 25%-, 50%-, and 75%-dose reduced-simulated images with 4D-SF was 8.3 (6.5–10.2), 16.5 (11.9–21.7), 15.6 (11.0–20.1), and 12.8 (8.8–18.1) and that of CNR was 4.4 (3.2–5.8), 6.7 (4.6–10.3), 6.6 (4.3–10.1), and 5.5 (3.5–9.1), respectively. All the dose-reduced-simulated CTPs with 4D-SF had significantly higher image quality scores in SNR and CNR than the original ones (25%-, 50%-, and 75%-dose reduced vs. original images, p &lt; 0.05, in each). The CT-MBF in 75%-dose reduced-simulated CTP was significantly lower than 25%-, 50%- dose-reduced-simulated, and original CTPs (vs. 75%-dose reduced-simulated images, p &lt; 0.05, in each).Conclusion4D-SF has the potential to reduce the radiation dose associated with dynamic myocardial CTP imaging by half, without impairing the robustness of MBF quantification.
Identification of key somatic features that are common and the ones that differ between swim strokes through allometric modeling
Authors: Rejman Marek , Nevill Alan M. , Garrido Nuno D. , Rudnik Daria , Morais Jorge E. 
Published: December 2023

IntroductionThe aim of this study was to explore which key somatic features are common to four swim strokes and medley, and specifically to identify which characteristics benefit only specific strokes.MethodsThe sample was composed of 130 swimmers (95 males aged 19.5 ± 2.9 years and 35 females aged 18.4 ± 2.8 years). A set of anthropometric variables was used to predict swimming speed in the four swimming strokes and medley.ResultsA multiplicative model with allometric body size components was used to identify the demographic and anthropometric predictors of swimming speed. Trunk height and waist circumference were the only variables significantly different among swimming strokes (p &lt; 0.05). Associations between swimming speed and arm length were similar in breaststroke and medley, and in freestyle, backstroke and butterfly (R2 = 60.9%). The model retained as swimming speed predictors the age2, upper body circumference, hand breadth, waist circumference, and subscapular skinfold thickness (these last two had negative associations).ConclusionAll these predictors were common to all four swim strokes and medley. Arm length was also retained as a significant predictor, but this one varied significantly between the four different swim strokes and medley. These findings highlight the importance of having a “V-shape” trunk, longer upper limbs, and large hands as predictors of swimming performance.
Educating Residents in Abdominal Wall Closure: An Overview
Authors: Leavitt Justin , Hager Matthew , Edgerton Colston , Hooks W. Borden , Hope William 
Published: December 2023

Background and Aims: Incisional hernia prevention has become an important concept for surgeons operating on the abdominal wall. Several techniques have been proposed to help decrease incisional hernia formation with suture closure of the abdominal wall being one of the cornerstones. Technical details that have been reported to decrease incisional hernia rates include achieving a 4:1 Suture to Wound length ratio and the use of a small bites technique. Despite evidence to support many of these techniques there appears to be a gap in practice patterns amongst practicing surgeons. Introducing and promoting these principles in surgical residency may help to close this gap. This paper reviews our experience with surgical training for abdominal wall closures at our institution.Materials and Methods: Programs and projects related to abdominal wall closure were reviewed from our institution from 2010-Present. Type of project, intervention, and impact on education was evaluated and summarized.Results: Seven projects were identified relating to surgical training and abdominal wall closure. Three projects dealt with skills training using an abdominal wall simulation model and related to suturing techniques. Two projects were clinical studies focused on suture to wound length ratios and improving outcomes with this variable in a residency training program. Two projects dealt with models relating to abdominal wall closure and education.Conclusion: Implementation of educational programs in surgical residency programs can lead to improvements in technique and knowledge around abdominal wall closure and help in research endeavors.
Memory, Emotion, and Quality of Life in Patients with Long COVID-19
Authors: Espinar-Herranz Katrina , Delgado-Lima Alice Helena , Villatoro Beatriz Sequeira , Garaboa Esther Marín , Gómez Valeria Silva , Vides Leonela González , Bouhaben Jaime , Delgado-Losada María Luisa 
Published: December 2023

(1) Background: Persistent COVID is characterized by the presence of fatigue, mental fog, and sleep problems, among others. We aimed to study cognitive abilities (attention, executive functions, memory, language) and psychological and emotional factors in a group of participants of the population with persistent COVID-19 and asymptomatic or non-COVID-19-infected patients; (2) Methods: A total of 86 participants aged 18 to 66 years (X = 46.76) took part in the study, with 57 individuals (66.27%) in the experimental group and 29 (33.73%) in the control group. A comprehensive assessment included neuropsychological evaluations, evaluations of anxious and depressive symptomatology, assessments of the impact of fatigue, sleep quality, memory failures in daily life, and the perceived general health status of the participants; (3) Results: significant differences between groups were found in incidental learning within the Key Numbers task (U = 462.5; p = 0.001; p = 0.022) and in the Direct Digit Span (U = 562; p = 0.022), but not in the Inverse Digit Span (U = 632.5; p = 0.105). Differences were also observed in the prospective memory task of the Rivermead Prospective Memory Tasks (from the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test) in the recall of quotations (U = 610; p = 0.020) as well as in the recall of objects (U = 681.5; p = 0.032). Concerning the task of verbal fluency, significant differences were found for both phonological cues (p- and s-) (t = −2.190; p = 0.031) and semantic cues (animals) (t = −2.277; p = 0.025). In terms of the psychological impact assessment, significant differences were found in the emotional impact across all variables studied (fatigue, quality of sleep, memory lapses, and the perceived general health status), except for quality of life; (4) Conclusions: Our results suggest that the sequelae derived from persistent COVID may have an impact on people’s lives, with higher levels of anxiety and depression, worse sleep quality, a greater number of subjective memory complaints, and a greater feeling of fatigue and impact on quality of life. Furthermore, poorer performance was observed in memory and verbal fluency.