bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dietary melatonin and liver cancer incidence in Japan: From the Takayama study
Authors: Wada Keiko , Hattori Atsuhiko , Maruyama Yusuke , Mori Tomoka , Sugino Masaaki , Nakashima Yuma , Yamakawa Michiyo , Yamamoto Masayuki , Hori Akihiro , Seishima Mitsuru , Tanabashi Shinobu , Matsushita Shogen , Nagata Chisato 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThere is some biological plausibility that exogenous melatonin plays a role in preventing liver carcinogenesis. There has been little research on the association between melatonin intake in a normal diet and health outcomes. We evaluated the association between dietary melatonin intake and the incidence of liver cancer in a population‐based prospective study in Japan. This study included 30,824 residents of Takayama city who were 35 years of age or older in 1992 and had participated in the Takayama study, Japan. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire at the baseline. Melatonin content in foods was measured by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Cancer incidence was confirmed through regional population‐based cancer registries in Gifu. Liver cancer was defined as code C22 according to the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision. Hazard ratios for liver cancer were estimated for the tertile groups of melatonin intake using a Cox proportional hazards model. During the mean follow‐up period of 13.6 years, 189 individuals developed liver cancer. Compared with subjects in the lowest tertile of melatonin intake, those in the middle and highest tertiles had decreased risks of liver cancer, with a significant linear trend after multivariate adjustments (hazard ratios: 0.64 and 0.65, respectively, trend p = 0.023). There was no significant interaction by sex (interaction p = 0.54). This initial finding, which needs to be confirmed by further studies, suggests that consuming melatonin‐containing foods might play a role in the prevention of liver cancer.
Caregivers' perspectives of community acceptance before and after surgical treatment for their child's disability
Authors: Johnson Kali , Hartwig Kari , Maisano Kristen , Crusan Ambria , Biggs Jennifer , DiSpirito Keira 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIn Tanzania, about 600 000 youth between 5 and 24 years old have a disability. Individuals with disabilities face numerous obstacles due to social stigma. The aim of this formative evaluation is to assess how caregivers of children with correctable disabilities (e.g., cleft lip/palate, club foot, and burn scar contractures) in Tanzania perceive their community's acceptance of their child before and after surgical treatment. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 80 caregivers of children with disabilities treated at Kafika House in Arusha, Tanzania. The constant comparative method identified themes regarding the caregivers' feelings on their child's functional abilities and experiences of stigma in their community. Caregiver perceptions of stigma before and after surgical treatment were categorized and quantified as ‘positive’, ‘neutral’ and ‘negative’. Thematic analysis of the 80 interviews resulted in five major themes: (1) stigma and acceptance (pre‐treatment) and (2) post‐treatment; (3) functional abilities (pre‐treatment) and (4) post‐treatment; and (5) emotional impact (pre‐ and post‐treatment). These themes indicate caregivers and their children experience a range of emotional impacts before and after treatment, more severe stigma before treatment, and overall better social, emotional and functional status after treatment. Frequency analysis of caregiver experiences indicated that stigma experienced by children and their families decreased from 75% before surgical treatment to 2.5% after surgery. Surgical intervention and rehabilitation of physical disabilities mitigated experiences of social stigma for both children and their caregivers. Findings support the need for expanded treatment of correctable disabilities, larger investments in community‐based rehabilitation programmes and further interventions to support stigmatized parents and their children.
Prevalence and phenotypes associated with ALPK3 null variants in a large French multicentric cohort: Confirming its involvement in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Ader Flavie , Jedraszak Guillaume , Janin Alexandre , Billon Clarisse , Buisson Nathalie Roux , Bloch Adrien , Bensalah Meriem , De Sandre‐Giovannoli Anachiara , Goudal Adeline , Marsili Luisa , Cazeneuve Cécile , Charron Philippe , Millat Gilles , Richard Pascale ,   Cardiogen French Network of Molecular Biologists
Published: February 2024

AbstractBiallelic disease‐causing variants in the ALPK3 gene were first identified in children presenting with a severe cardiomyopathy. More recently, it was shown that carriers of heterozygous ALPK3 null variants are at risk of developing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) with an adult onset. Since the number of reported ALPK3 patients is small, the mutational spectrum and clinical data are not fully described. In this multi‐centric study, we described the molecular and clinical spectrum of a large cohort of ALPK3 patients. Genetic testing using targeted next generation sequencing was performed in 16 183 cardiomyopathy index cases. Thirty‐six patients carried at least one null ALPK3 variant. The five paediatric patients carried two ALPK3 variants, all presented an HCM phenotype with severe outcomes (one transplantation, one heart failure and one cardiac arrest). The 31 adult patients carried heterozygous variants and the main phenotype was HCM (n = 26/31); including 15% (n = 4) presented with an apical or a concentric form of hypertrophy. Reporting a large cohort of ALPK3 patients, this collaborative work confirmed a strong association with HCM and suggesting his screening in the context of idiopathic HCM.
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation ameliorates adolescent depressive‐ and anxiety‐like behaviors via hippocampus glycolysis and inflammation response
Authors: Sun Lan , Ma Shixiang , Yu Yun , Li Xiangji , Wei Qianwen , Min Li , Rong Peijing 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBackgroundTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a crucial neuromodulation therapy for depression, yet its molecular mechanism remains unclear. Here, we aim to unveil the underlying mechanisms of antidepression by systematically evaluating the change of gene expression in different brain regions (i.e., hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex, and medial prefrontal cortex).MethodsThe adolescent depression rat model was established by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), followed by the taVNS treatment for 3 weeks. The open field test (OFT), forced swimming test (FST), elevated plus maze test (EPM), and new object recognition (NOR) test were used to evaluate depressive‐ and anxiety‐like behaviors. Gene expression analysis of three brain regions was conducted by RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq) and further bioinformatics methods.ResultsThe depressive‐ and anxiety‐like behaviors in CUMS‐exposed rats were manifested by decreased spontaneous locomotor activity of OFT, increased immobility time of FST, increased entries and time in the closed arms of EPM, and decreased new object index of NOR. Furthermore, CUMS exposure also led to alterations in gene expression within the hippocampus (HIP), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), suggesting a potential link between adolescent stress and pathological changes within these brain regions. TaVNS could significantly ameliorate depressive‐ and anxiety‐like behaviors. Its effects on these three brain regions were found related to regulation of the metabolism, and there were some brain region‐specific findings. Compared with ACC and mPFC, taVNS has a more concrete effect on HIP by regulating the inflammation response and glycolysis.ConclusiontaVNS is capable of ameliorating adolescent depressive‐ and anxiety‐like behaviors by regulating plenty of genes in the three brain regions. Suppressed level of inflammatory response and enhanced glycolysis manifests the dominant role of taVNS in HIP, which provides a theoretical foundation and data support for the molecular mechanism of antidepression by taVNS.
Quantitative computed tomography angiography evaluation of the coronary fractional flow reserve in patients with left anterior descending artery myocardial bridging
Authors: Zhang Dan , Tian Xin , Li Meng‐Ya , Zheng Wen‐Song , Yu Yang , Zhang Hao‐Wen , Pan Tong , Gao Bu‐Lang , Li Cai‐Ying 
Published: February 2024

AbstractPurposeTo quantitatively investigate the effect of myocardial bridge (MB) in the left anterior descending artery (LAD) on the fractional flow reserve (FFR).Materials and MethodsThree‐hundred patients with LAD MB who had undergone coronary artery CT angiography (CCTA) were retrospectively enroled, and 104 normal patients were enroled as the control. The CCTA‐derived fractional flow reserve (FFRCT) was measured at the LAD 10 mm proximal (FFR1) and 20–40 mm distal (FFR3) to the MB and at the MB location (FFR2).ResultsFFR2 and FFR3 of the MB (with BM only) and MBLA (with both MB and atherosclerosis) groups were significantly (p < 0.01) lower than those of the control. The FFR3 distal to the MB was significantly lower (p < 0.01) than that of the control. The FFRCT of the whole LAD in the MBLA group was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than that of the MB and control group (p < 0.05). MB length (OR 1.061) and MB muscle index (odds ratio or OR 1.007) were two risk factors for abnormal FFRCT, and MB length was a significant independent risk factor for abnormal FFRCT (OR = 1.077). LAD stenosis degree was a risk factor for abnormal FFRCT values (OR 3.301, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.441–7.562, p = 0.005) and was also a significant independent risk factor (OR = 3.369, 95% CI: 1.392–8.152; p = 0.007) for abnormal FFRCT.ConclusionMB significantly affects the FFRCT of distal coronary artery. For patients with MB without atherosclerosis, the MB length is a risk factor significantly affecting FFRCT, and for patients with MB accompanied by atherosclerosis, LAD stenotic severity is an independent risk factor for FFRCT.
Feeding‐structure morphogenesis in “rhabditid” and diplogastrid nematodes is not controlled by a conserved genetic module
Authors: Theska Tobias , Sommer Ralf J. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractDisentangling the evolution of the molecular processes and genetic networks that facilitate the emergence of morphological novelties is one of the main objectives in evolutionary developmental biology. Here, we investigated the evolutionary history of a gene regulatory network controlling the development of novel tooth‐like feeding structures in diplogastrid nematodes. Focusing on NHR‐1 and NHR‐40, the two transcription factors that regulate the morphogenesis of these feeding structures in Pristionchus pacificus, we sought to determine whether they have a similar function in Caenorhabditis elegans, an outgroup species to the Diplogastridae which has typical “rhabditid” flaps instead of teeth. Contrary to our initial expectations, we found that they do not have a similar function. While both receptors are co‐expressed in the tissues that produce the feeding structures in the two nematodes, genetic inactivation of either receptor had no impact on feeding‐structure morphogenesis in C. elegans. Transcriptomic experiments revealed that NHR‐1 and NHR‐40 have highly species‐specific regulatory targets. These results suggest two possible evolutionary scenarios: either the genetic module responsible for feeding‐structure morphogenesis in Diplogastridae already existed in the last common ancestor of C. elegans and P. pacificus, and subsequently disintegrated in the former as NHR‐1 and NHR‐40 acquired new targets, or it evolved in conjunction with teeth in Diplogastridae. These findings indicate that feeding‐structure morphogenesis is regulated by different genetic programs in P. pacificus and C. elegans, hinting at developmental systems drift during the flap‐to‐tooth transformation. Further research in other “rhabditid” species is needed to fully reconstruct the developmental genetic changes which facilitated the evolution of novel feeding structures in Diplogastridae.
Structural barriers to help‐seeking in first‐episode psychosis: A systematic review and thematic synthesis
Authors: Causier Chiara , Waite Felicity , Sivarajah Nithura , Knight Matthew T. D. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractAimAccess to timely treatment is key to early intervention in psychosis. Despite this, barriers to treatment exist. In this review, we aimed to understand the structural barriers that patients and caregivers face in help‐seeking for first‐episode psychosis, and the recommendations provided to address these.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review (PROSPERO: CRD42021274609) of qualitative studies reporting structural barriers to help‐seeking from the patient or caregiver perspective. Searches were performed in September 2023, restricted to studies published from 2001. Study quality was appraised using Critical Appraisal Skills Programme. Data were analysed using thematic synthesis.ResultsNineteen papers from 11 countries were included. Across all papers, participants reported experiencing structural barriers to receiving healthcare. For many patients and caregivers, the process of accessing healthcare is complex. Access requires knowledge and resources from parents, caregivers and healthcare providers, yet too often there is a misalignment between patients' needs and service resources. Expertise amongst healthcare providers vary and some patients and caregivers experience negative encounters in healthcare. Patients highlighted earlier caregiver involvement and greater peer support as potential routes for improvement.ConclusionPatients and caregivers face multiple structural barriers, with legislative practices that discourage family involvement, and healthcare and transport costs found to be particularly problematic. Understanding these barriers can facilitate the co‐design of both new and existing services to provide easier access for patients and caregivers. Further research is needed focusing not only on the perspectives of patients and caregivers who have accessed professional help but also crucially on those who have not.
Which clinical factors delay proper treatment in panic disorder? A cross‐sectional multicentric study
Authors: Surace T. , Buoli M. , Affaticati L. M. , Esposito G. , Capuzzi E. , Colzani L. , La Tegola D. , Biagi E. , Colmegna F. , Caldiroli A. , Clerici M. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractAimThe aim of the present study was to identify clinical and socio‐demographic factors associated with duration of untreated illness (DUI) in patients affected by panic disorder (PD).MethodsData were collected from patients' medical records (N = 157) of two mental health services respectively located in Milan and in Monza (Italy). Correlation analyses and analysis of variance (ANOVAs) were run to analyse the relation between DUI and quantitative/qualitative variables respectively. Statistically significant variables in uni‐ variate analyses were then inserted in a linear multivariable regression model (backward procedure).ResultsMean DUI was 27.33 (±50.56) months. Patients with an earlier age at onset (r = −0.270; p < .01), a longer duration of illness (r = 0.483; p < .01) and who received a lifetime psychotherapy (F = 6.86; p = .01) had a longer DUI. The final global model showed that a longer DUI was associated with pre‐onset poly‐substance misuse (p = .05) and a longer duration of illness (p < .01).ConclusionThe results of our study showed that a longer DUI was predicted by clinical factors such as the presence of a pre‐onset poly‐substance use disorder and that delayed proper treatment can lead to a chronicization of PD, as indicated by a longer duration of illness. Further studies are needed to in‐depth investigate the role of DUI in influencing the course and outcome of anxiety disorders, including PD.
Young people's pathways to a specialist suicide prevention service and the influence of caregiver prior suicidality and mental health treatment
Authors: Onay Zozan , Sidis Anna , Robinson Laura , Deane Frank P. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractAimTimely help‐seeking and pathways to care (PtC) have been linked to positive outcomes in suicidal adolescents. While the importance of formal contacts is recognized, caregivers also play a significant role in these pathways. Caregiver's familiarity with mental health issues may influence an adolescent's PtC. This study explores the relationship between a caregiver's prior suicidality and mental health treatment on their children's pathways to entering a specialist suicide prevention treatment program.MethodCaregivers (n = 118, 35 males and 83 females) of young individuals (12–25 years) who were admitted into an outpatient suicide prevention service, completed a self‐report questionnaire describing their child's onset of symptoms, help‐seeking, PtC and the caregiver's prior suicidality and mental health treatment.ResultsParents were the source most likely to recognize the onset of suicidality, with general practitioners and psychologists the most common first contacts. Significant delays were identified for onset duration averaging 48.0 weeks, and it was observed that shorter delays in treatment were related to fewer number of contacts. Caregiver prior suicidality was associated with longer delays in treatment but had no relationship with onset duration.ConclusionCaregivers and professional contacts are vital agents in improving the PtC of suicidal adolescents. Results highlight the significant delays in treatment and the added complexity of a caregiver's prior experience of suicidality to these pathways. These complexities warrant further exploration to minimize obstacles that hinder help‐seeking and lengthen PtC, as this may improve interventions and outcomes for suicidal adolescents and their caregivers.
Sex‐specific oviposition site selection in an arboreal treefrog with a resource‐defense mating system
Authors: Poo Sinlan , Cheng Yuan‐Cheng , Fuh Nien‐Tse , Chuang Ming‐Feng , Kam Yeong‐Choy 
Published: February 2024

AbstractOviposition site selection by parents is an important factor that affects offspring survival and parental fitness. The relative importance of sexes in oviposition site selection in anurans is rarely evaluated, especially in species with resource‐defense mating systems, where males defend territory containing eventual oviposition sites before advertising for females. Using a phytotelm‐breeding frog (Kurixalus eiffingeri) with male territoriality, we examined 310 bamboo stumps (potential for oviposition sites) to determine whether male and female choice of oviposition site based on physical characteristics (stump height, inner diameter, stump depth, water depth, and water volume). We found that males preferred a site with higher stumps that were deeper and contained more water, while females showed no preference for sites based on the characteristics observed. Although we do not exclude the possibility that K. eiffingeri female oviposition site selection can be relied on and/or correlates to male advertisement calls, this study is one of few studies to examine the role of both sexes in oviposition site selection simultaneously, and provides empirical evidence that oviposition site selection is primarily determined by males in an amphibian with a resource‐defense mating system.
Genomic prediction based on preselected single‐nucleotide polymorphisms from genome‐wide association study and imputed whole‐genome sequence data annotation for growth traits in Duroc pigs
Authors: Zhang Yuling , Zhuang Zhanwei , Liu Yiyi , Huang Jinyan , Luan Menghao , Zhao Xiang , Dong Linsong , Ye Jian , Yang Ming , Zheng Enqin , Cai Gengyuan , Wu Zhenfang , Yang Jie 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe use of whole‐genome sequence (WGS) data is expected to improve genomic prediction (GP) power of complex traits because it may contain mutations that in strong linkage disequilibrium pattern with causal mutations. However, a few previous studies have shown no or small improvement in prediction accuracy using WGS data. Incorporating prior biological information into GP seems to be an attractive strategy that might improve prediction accuracy. In this study, a total of 6334 pigs were genotyped using 50K chips and subsequently imputed to the WGS level. This cohort includes two prior discovery populations that comprise 294 Landrace pigs and 186 Duroc pigs, as well as two validation populations that consist of 3770 American Duroc pigs and 2084 Canadian Duroc pigs. Then we used annotation information and genome‐wide association study (GWAS) from the WGS data to make GP for six growth traits in two Duroc pig populations. Based on variant annotation, we partitioned different genomic classes, such as intron, intergenic, and untranslated regions, for imputed WGS data. Based on GWAS results of WGS data, we obtained trait‐associated single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We then applied the genomic feature best linear unbiased prediction (GFBLUP) and genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP) models to estimate the genomic estimated breeding values for growth traits with these different variant panels, including six genomic classes and trait‐associated SNPs. Compared with 50K chip data, GBLUP with imputed WGS data had no increase in prediction accuracy. Using only annotations resulted in no increase in prediction accuracy compared to GBLUP with 50K, but adding annotation information into the GFBLUP model with imputed WGS data could improve the prediction accuracy with increases of 0.00%–2.82%. In conclusion, a GFBLUP model that incorporated prior biological information might increase the advantage of using imputed WGS data for GP.
Repeatability of ultrasonographic measurement of cross‐sectional area of the multifidus muscle in the horse
Authors: Symonds Nicolle E. , Dart Andrew J. , Perkins Nigel R. , Burns Gillian , Young Alex C. , Bell Robin J. W. , Jeffcott Leo B. 
Published: February 2024

SummaryBackgroundRecent studies have described techniques to acquire ultrasound measurements of the cross‐sectional area of the multifidus muscle to investigate back pain in horses and monitor the response to rehabilitation. These techniques have been extrapolated from human research but have not been clinically validated in the horse.ObjectiveThe objective of the study was to investigate whether measuring the cross‐sectional area of the multifidus muscle in horses using ultrasound is a repeatable technique.Study designCross‐sectional.MethodsUltrasound images of the articular process view and interspinous view of the multifidus muscle were acquired at T15, T18, L2 and L5 on the left and right sides. Three images were acquired at each location and each image was measured three times to give an average cross‐sectional area. Study 1 investigated the repeatability of acquiring images in a single session, and then on two separate days. Study 2 compared measurements of images acquired with a console (Philips EpiQ) and a portable (MyLab™Alpha) ultrasound machine. Study 3 investigated the repeatability of measuring the cross‐sectional area using external software, OsiriX. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated for each study.ResultsRepeatability varied from good to excellent for images taken in a single session. The repeatability for measuring the images using external software was good to excellent. There was poor‐to‐moderate repeatability for images taken on two different days and poor‐to‐good repeatability when using the two different machines.Main limitationsPopulation size, study population limited to a single breed, only one operator.ConclusionsThe measurement of the multifidus muscle in horses has poor repeatability and may have limited application.