bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Initial experience with radiomics of carotid perivascular adipose tissue in identifying symptomatic plaque
Authors: Nie Ji-Yan , Chen Wen-Xi , Zhu Zhi , Zhang Ming-Yu , Zheng Yu-Jin , Wu Qing-De 
Published: February 2024

BackgroundCarotid atherosclerotic ischemic stroke threatens human health and life. The aim of this study is to establish a radiomics model of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) around carotid plaque for evaluation of the association between Peri-carotid Adipose Tissue structural changes with stroke and transient ischemic attack.MethodsA total of 203 patients underwent head and neck computed tomography angiography examination in our hospital. All patients were divided into a symptomatic group (71 cases) and an asymptomatic group (132 cases) according to whether they had acute/subacute stroke or transient ischemic attack. The radiomic signature (RS) of carotid plaque PVAT was extracted, and the minimum redundancy maximum correlation, recursive feature elimination, and linear discriminant analysis algorithms were used for feature screening and dimensionality reduction.ResultsIt was found that the RS model achieved the best diagnostic performance in the Bagging Decision Tree algorithm, and the training set (AUC, 0.837; 95%CI: 0.775, 0.899), testing set (AUC, 0.834; 95%CI: 0.685, 0.982). Compared with the traditional feature model, the RS model significantly improved the diagnostic efficacy for identifying symptomatic plaques in the testing set (AUC: 0.834 vs. 0.593; Z = 2.114, p = 0.0345).ConclusionThe RS model of PVAT of carotid plaque can be used as an objective indicator to evaluate the risk of plaque and provide a basis for risk stratification of carotid atherosclerotic disease.
Ethical considerations for integrating multimodal computer perception and neurotechnology
Authors: Hurley Meghan E. , Sonig Anika , Herrington John , Storch Eric A. , Lázaro-Muñoz Gabriel , Blumenthal-Barby Jennifer , Kostick-Quenet Kristin 
Published: February 2024

BackgroundArtificial intelligence (AI)-based computer perception technologies (e.g., digital phenotyping and affective computing) promise to transform clinical approaches to personalized care in psychiatry and beyond by offering more objective measures of emotional states and behavior, enabling precision treatment, diagnosis, and symptom monitoring. At the same time, passive and continuous nature by which they often collect data from patients in non-clinical settings raises ethical issues related to privacy and self-determination. Little is known about how such concerns may be exacerbated by the integration of neural data, as parallel advances in computer perception, AI, and neurotechnology enable new insights into subjective states. Here, we present findings from a multi-site NCATS-funded study of ethical considerations for translating computer perception into clinical care and contextualize them within the neuroethics and neurorights literatures.MethodsWe conducted qualitative interviews with patients (n = 20), caregivers (n = 20), clinicians (n = 12), developers (n = 12), and clinician developers (n = 2) regarding their perspective toward using PC in clinical care. Transcripts were analyzed in MAXQDA using Thematic Content Analysis.ResultsStakeholder groups voiced concerns related to (1) perceived invasiveness of passive and continuous data collection in private settings; (2) data protection and security and the potential for negative downstream/future impacts on patients of unintended disclosure; and (3) ethical issues related to patients’ limited versus hyper awareness of passive and continuous data collection and monitoring. Clinicians and developers highlighted that these concerns may be exacerbated by the integration of neural data with other computer perception data.DiscussionOur findings suggest that the integration of neurotechnologies with existing computer perception technologies raises novel concerns around dignity-related and other harms (e.g., stigma, discrimination) that stem from data security threats and the growing potential for reidentification of sensitive data. Further, our findings suggest that patients’ awareness and preoccupation with feeling monitored via computer sensors ranges from hypo- to hyper-awareness, with either extreme accompanied by ethical concerns (consent vs. anxiety and preoccupation). These results highlight the need for systematic research into how best to implement these technologies into clinical care in ways that reduce disruption, maximize patient benefits, and mitigate long-term risks associated with the passive collection of sensitive emotional, behavioral and neural data.
Genetic prediction of the causal relationship between schizophrenia and tumors: a Mendelian randomized study
Authors: Zhou Xintong , Liu Qi , Liu Shihan , Wang Liquan , Sun Zhongli , Sun Changgang , Cui Xiangning 
Published: February 2024

BackgroundPatients with schizophrenia are at a higher risk of developing cancer. However, the causal relationship between schizophrenia and different tumor types remains unclear.MethodsUsing a two-sample, two-way Mendelian randomization method, we used publicly available genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) aggregate data to study the causal relationship between schizophrenia and different cancer risk factors. These tumors included lung adenocarcinoma, lung squamous cell carcinoma, small-cell lung cancer, gastric cancer, alcohol-related hepatocellular cancer, tumors involving the lungs, breast, thyroid gland, pancreas, prostate, ovaries and cervix, endometrium, colon and colorectum, and bladder. We used the inverse variance weighting (IVW) method to determine the causal relationship between schizophrenia and different tumor risk factors. In addition, we conducted a sensitivity test to evaluate the effectiveness of the causality.ResultsAfter adjusting for heterogeneity, evidence of a causal relationship between schizophrenia and lung cancer risk was observed (odds ratio [OR]=1.001, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.000–1.001; P=0.0155). In the sensitivity analysis, the causal effect of schizophrenia on the risk of lung cancer was consistent in both direction and degree. However, no evidence of causality or reverse causality between schizophrenia and other tumors was found.ConclusionThis study elucidated a causal relationship between the genetic predictors of schizophrenia and the risk of lung cancer, thereby providing a basis for the prevention, pathogenesis, and treatment of schizophrenia in patients with lung cancer.
Exploring the diagnostic value of CLR and CPR in differentiating Kawasaki disease from other infectious diseases based on clinical predictive modeling
Authors: Liao Jin-Wen , Guo Xin , Li Xu-Xia , Xian Jia-Ming , Chen Cheng , Xu Ming-Guo 
Published: February 2024

BackgroundKawasaki disease (KD) is an important cause of acquired heart disease in children and adolescents worldwide. KD and infectious diseases can be easily confused when the clinical presentation is inadequate or atypical, leading to misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis of KD. In turn, misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis of KD can lead to delayed use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), increasing the risk of drug resistance and coronary artery lesions (CAL).ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to develop a predictive model for identifying KD and infectious diseases in children in the hope of helping pediatricians develop timely and accurate treatment plans.MethodsThe data Patients diagnosed with KD from January 2018 to July 2022 in Shenzhen Longgang District Maternity &amp; Child Healthcare Hospital, and children diagnosed with infectious diseases in the same period will be included in this study as controls. We collected demographic information, clinical presentation, and laboratory data on KD before receiving IVIG treatment. All statistical analyses were performed using R-4.2.1 (https://www.rproject.org/). Logistic regression and Least Absolute Shrinkage with Selection Operator (LASSO) regression analyses were used to build predictive models. Calibration curves and C-index were used to validate the accuracy of the prediction models.ResultsA total of 1,377 children were enrolled in this study, 187 patients with KD were included in the KD group and 1,190 children with infectious diseases were included in the infected group. We identified 15 variables as independent risk factors for KD by LASSO analysis. Then by logistic regression we identified 7 variables for the construction of nomogram including white blood cell (WBC), Monocyte (MO), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), alanine transaminase (ALT), albumin (ALB), C-reactive protein to procalcitonin ratio (CPR) and C-reactive protein to lymphocyte ratio (CLR). The calibration curve and C-index of 0.969 (95% confidence interval: 0.960–0.978) validated the model accuracy.ConclusionOur predictive model can be used to discriminate KD from infectious diseases. Using this predictive model, it may be possible to provide an early determination of the use of IVIG and the application of antibiotics as soon as possible.
Adverse drug events associated with linezolid administration: a real-world pharmacovigilance study from 2004 to 2023 using the FAERS database
Authors: Zou Fan , Cui Zhiwei , Lou Siyu , Ou Yingyong , Zhu Chengyu , Shu Chengjie , Chen Junyou , Zhao Ruizhen , Wu Zhu , Wang Li , Chen Zhenyong , Chen Huayu , Lan Yuanbo 
Published: February 2024

Introduction: Linezolid is an oxazolidinone antibiotic that is active against drug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria and multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Real-world studies on the safety of linezolid in large populations are lacking. This study aimed to determine the adverse events associated with linezolid in real-world settings by analyzing data from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).Methods: We retrospectively extracted reports on adverse drug events (ADEs) from the FAERS database from the first quarter of 2004 to that of 2023. By using disproportionality analysis including reporting odds ratio (ROR), proportional reporting ratio (PRR), Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Network (BCPNN), along with the multi-item gamma Poisson shrinker (MGPS), we evaluated whether there was a significant association between linezolid and ADE. The time to onset of ADE was further analyzed in the general population and within each age, weight, reporting population, and weight subgroups.Results: A total of 11,176 reports of linezolid as the “primary suspected” drug and 263 significant adverse events of linezolid were identified, including some common adverse events such as thrombocytopenia (n = 1,139, ROR 21.98), anaemia (n = 704, ROR 7.39), and unexpected signals that were not listed on the drug label such as rhabdomyolysis (n = 90, ROR 4.33), and electrocardiogram QT prolonged (n = 73, ROR 4.07). Linezolid-induced adverse reactions involved 27 System Organ Class (SOC). Gender differences existed in ADE signals related to linezolid. The median onset time of all ADEs was 6 days, and most ADEs (n = 3,778) occurred within the first month of linezolid use but some may continue to occur even after a year of treatment (n = 46).Conclusion: This study reports the time to onset of adverse effects in detail at the levels of SOC and specific preferred term (PT). The results of our study provide valuable insights for optimizing the use of linezolid and reducing potential side effects, expected to facilitate the safe use of linezolid in clinical settings.
Parent training for disruptive behavior symptoms in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Paiva Gabrielle Chequer de Castro , de Paula Jonas Jardim , Costa Danielle de Souza , Alvim-Soares Antônio , Santos Daniel Augusto Ferreira e , Jales Julia Silva , Romano-Silva Marco Aurélio , Miranda Débora Marques de 
Published: February 2024

BackgroundAttention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects 5% of children and 2.5% of adults worldwide. Comorbidities are frequent, and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) reaches 50%. Family environment is crucial for the severity of behaviors and for prognosis. In middle-income countries, access to treatment is challenging, with more untreated children than those under treatment. Face-to-face behavioral parent training (PT) is a well-established intervention to improve child behavior and parenting.MethodA clinical trial was designed to compare PT-online and face-to-face effects to a waiting list group. Outcomes were the ADHD and ODD symptoms, parental stress and styles, and quality of life. Families were allocated into three groups: standard treatment (ST), ST + PT online, and ST + Face-to-Face PT. We used repeated measures ANOVA for pre × post treatment analysis corrected for multiple comparisons.Results and discussionParent training was effective in reducing symptoms of ADHD (p = 0.030) and ODD (p = 0.026) irrespective of modality (p = 1.000). The combination of ST and PT was also associated with better quality of life in the physical domain for patients (p = 0.009) and their parents (p = 0.050). In addition to preliminary data, online intervention seems effective for parenting and improving social acceptance of children. The potential to reach many by an online strategy with a self-directed platform may imply effectiveness with a low cost for public health to support parents’ symptoms management.
Toxoplasma gondii infection in people with schizophrenia is related to higher hair glucocorticoid levels
Authors: Beaumont Emy , Brodeur Jacques , Thomas Frédéric , Dujon Antoine M. ,   and Consortium Signature, Lupien Sonia J. 
Published: February 2024

IntroductionToxoplasma gondii (TG) is a common protozoan parasite infecting approximately one third of the human population. Animal studies have shown that this parasite can manipulate its host behavior. Based on this, human studies have assessed if TG can be involved in mental health disorders associated with important behavioral modifications such as schizophrenia. However, results have been discrepant. Given that TG has a strong impact on fear and risk-taking processes in animal studies and that fear and risk-taking behaviors are associated with the human stress response, we tested whether glucocorticoid biomarkers (salivary and hair) differ in people with schizophrenia and controls as a function of TG status. MethodsWe measured TG antibodies in blood samples, as well as salivary and hair glucocorticoid levels in 226 people with schizophrenia (19.9% women, mean age = 39 years old) and 129 healthy individuals (controls) (45.7% women, mean age = 41 years old). ResultsThe results showed that people with schizophrenia infected with TG presented significantly higher hair glucocorticoid concentrations than non-infected people with schizophrenia. This effect was not found in control participants. No effect was observed for salivary glucocorticoid levels. Additionally, there were no associations between TG infection and positive psychotic symptoms nor impulsivity. DiscussionThese results show that people with schizophrenia present high levels of hair glucocorticoid levels only when they are infected with TG. Further studies performed in populations suffering from other mental health disorders are needed to determine if this effect is specific to schizophrenia, or whether it is generalized across mental health disorders.
Development and validation of a risk score model for predicting autism based on pre- and perinatal factors
Authors: Ou Jianjun , Dong Huixi , Dai Si , Hou Yanting , Wang Ying , Lu Xiaozi , Xun Guanglei , Xia Kun , Zhao Jingping , Shen Yidong 
Published: February 2024

BackgroundThe use of pre- and perinatal risk factors as predictive factors may lower the age limit for reliable autism prediction. The objective of this study was to develop a clinical model based on these risk factors to predict autism.MethodsA stepwise logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the relationships between 28 candidate risk factors and autism risk among 615 Han Chinese children with autism and 615 unrelated typically developing children. The significant factors were subsequently used to create a clinical risk score model. A chi-square automatic interaction detector (CHAID) decision tree was used to validate the selected predictors included in the model. The predictive performance of the model was evaluated by an independent cohort.ResultsFive factors (pregnancy influenza-like illness, pregnancy stressors, maternal allergic/autoimmune disease, cesarean section, and hypoxia) were found to be significantly associated with autism risk. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve indicated that the risk score model had good discrimination ability for autism, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.711 (95% CI=0.679-0.744); in the external validation cohort, the model showed slightly worse but overall similar predictive performance. Further subgroup analysis indicated that a higher risk score was associated with more behavioral problems. The risk score also exhibited robustness in a subgroup analysis of patients with mild autism.ConclusionThis risk score model could lower the age limit for autism prediction with good discrimination performance, and it has unique advantages in clinical application.
Girls referred for amenorrhea: analysis of a patient series from a specialist center
Authors: Mörö Sara , Kosola Silja , Holopainen Elina 
Published: February 2024

ObjectiveAmong adolescents, amenorrhea is a common reason for medical consultation. Despite the variety of underlying etiologies, the prevalence of the causes is incompletely understood. This study aimed to assess the demographic and etiological factors among patients with amenorrhea treated in a single specialist unit of adolescent gynecology.DesignRetrospective register study.MethodsMedical records of 438 girls evaluated for primary or secondary amenorrhea in a single tertiary care center between 2015 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. In all, 423 patients—171 with primary amenorrhea and 252 with secondary amenorrhea—were included in the study. Data on underlying conditions, anthropometric variables, and selected hormonal markers were analyzed.ResultsFunctional hypogonadotropic hypogonadism was the most frequent reason for primary (56%) and secondary (78%) amenorrhea. It was mostly explained by lifestyle-related functional hypothalamic amenorrhea caused by disordered eating, intense exercise, energy deficiency, psychological stress, and their combinations.ConclusionMenstrual pattern is a significant indicator of overall health and well-being among adolescent girls and young women. Functional reasons behind primary and secondary amenorrhea are important to recognize. Treatment often requires long-term lifestyle modifications. The frequency of functional causes also implies that most amenorrhea cases are preventable.
Salivary levels of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory biomarkers in periodontitis patients with and without acute myocardial infarction: implications for cardiovascular risk assessment
Authors: Varma Sudhir , Thomas Biju , Subrahmanyam K. , Duarte Kimberly , Alsaegh Mohammed A. , Gopinath Divya , Kuriadom Sam T. , Narayanan Jayaraj , Desai Vijay B. , Khair Al Moutassem B. , Afrashtehfar Kelvin I. 
Published: February 2024

BackgroundPeriodontitis is initiated by a dysbiotic activity and furthermore leads to a chronic inflammatory response. The presence of pro-inflammatory markers plays an important role in the inflammatory load. Macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1α) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are pro- inflammatory biomarkers that quantify clinical and subclinical inflammation in cardiac ischemia in cardiac inflammation and disease. Adiponectin is an anti-inflammatory marker associated with good health. The susceptibility of periodontitis patients to cardiovascular events needs to be evaluated.ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the levels of biomarkers in periodontitis patients with and without acute myocardial infarction (AMI) compared to controls.Material and methodsPro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory analytes were examined by collecting unstimulated saliva from three groups (n = 20/each): healthy individuals, individuals with stage III periodontitis, and post-myocardial infarction patients with stage III periodontitis. The samples were collected within 48 h of AMI.ResultsAdiponectin levels were significantly lower in patients with periodontitis with and without AMI compared to controls, while CRP and MIP-1α were significantly higher in patients with periodontitis with and without AMI compared to controls. The highest titers for MIP-1α and CRP were detected among patients with periodontitis with and AMI.ConclusionOur study provides possible evidence of the association between periodontitis and salivary analytes that occur in tandem with cardiovascular disease. The lower levels of Adiponectin and higher levels of CRP and MIP-1α in patients with periodontitis indicate that this condition is a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The findings emphasize the importance of early detection and intervention for periodontitis patients to prevent cardiovascular events.
Effect of tea polyphenols on intestinal barrier and immune function in weaned lambs
Authors: Xu Yuewen , Yin Fuquan , Wang Jialin , Wu Pengxin , Qiu Xiaoyuan , He Xiaolin , Xiao Yimei , Gan Shangquan 
Published: February 2024

IntroductionThe purpose of this study was to explore the effects of tea polyphenols on growth performance, cytokine content, intestinal antioxidant status and intestinal barrier function of lambs, in order to provide reference for intestinal health of ruminants.MethodsThirty weaned lambs (average initial weight 9.32 ± 1.72 kg) were randomly divided into five groups with six lambs in each group. The control group did not add anything but the basic diet mainly composed of Pennisetum and Corn, and the other four groups added 2, 4, 6 g/kg tea polyphenols and 50 mg/kg chlortetracycline to the basic diet, respectively. The experiment lasted for 42 days.ResultsDietary tea polyphenols improved the growth and stress response and reduced intestinal permeability of lambs (p &gt; 0.05), while CTC did not affect the final lamb weight (p &gt; 0.05). Both tea phenols and CTC significantly reduced inflammatory factors and enhanced the immune system (p &gt; 0.05). Dietary tea polyphenols increased villus height, villus height/crypt depth, secretory immunoglobulin A (p &gt; 0.05), and antioxidant enzymes, while decreasing MDA and apoptosis in the intestine (p &gt; 0.05). However, compared with other groups, the content of T-AOC in jejunum did not change significantly (p &gt; 0.05). Tea polyphenols also increased claudin-1 levels in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum more than CTC (p &gt; 0.05). CTC had a limited effect on the mRNA expression of Occludin and ZO-1, while tea polyphenols increased these in both the duodenum and ileum (p &gt; 0.05).ConclusionThis study demonstrated that tea polyphenols can effectively improve the intestinal barrier of weaned lambs, and that they have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects similar to those of antibiotics. Thus, tea polyphenols could be used to replace antibiotics in ensuring safety of livestock products and in achieving the sustainable development of modern animal husbandry.