bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical and molecular epidemiological features of critically ill patients with invasive group A Streptococcus infections: a Belgian multicenter case-series
Authors: Peetermans Marijke , Matheeussen Veerle , Moerman Cedric , De Rydt Fréderic , Thieren Sabine , Pollet Emily , Casaer Michael , De Backer Benjamin , De Paep Rudi , Debaveye Yves , Desmet Lars , Desmet Stefanie , Duval Els I. M. , Fraipont Vincent , Geysels Dieter , Hermans Greet , Lahaye Frederik , Mathy Xavier , Meersseman Philippe , Meex Cécile , Van Herck Jozef , van Kleef-van Koeveringe Stefanie , Layios Nathalie , Wauters Joost , Jorens Philippe G. 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background
Recent alerts have highlighted an increase in group A streptococcal (GAS) infections since 2022 in Europe and the United States. Streptococcus pyogenes can cause limited skin or mucosal disease, but can also present as severe invasive disease necessitating critical care. We performed a multicenter retrospective study of patients with GAS infections recently admitted to Belgian intensive care units (ICUs) since January 2022. We describe patient characteristics and investigate the molecular epidemiology of the S. pyogenes strains involved.

Results
Between January 2022 and May 2023, a total of 86 cases (56 adults, 30 children) with GAS disease were admitted to critical care in the university hospitals of Leuven, Antwerp and Liège. We noted a strikingly high incidence of severe community-acquired pneumonia (sCAP) (45% of adults, 77% of children) complicated with empyema in 45% and 83% of adult and pediatric cases, respectively. Two-thirds of patients with S. pyogenes pneumonia had viral co-infection, with influenza (13 adults, 5 children) predominating. Other disease presentations included necrotizing fasciitis (23% of adults), other severe skin/soft tissue infections (16% of adults, 13% of children) and ear/nose/throat infections (13% of adults, 13% of children). Cardiogenic shock was frequent (36% of adults, 20% of children). Fifty-six patients (65%) had toxic shock syndrome. Organ support requirements were high and included invasive mechanical ventilation (77% of adults, 50% of children), renal replacement therapy (29% of adults, 3% of children) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (20% of adults, 7% of children). Mortality was 21% in adults and 3% in children. Genomic analysis of S. pyogenes strains from 55 out of 86 patients showed a predominance of emm1 strains (73%), with a replacement of the M1global lineage by the toxigenic M1UK lineage (83% of emm1 strains were M1UK).

Conclusions
The recent rise of severe GAS infections (2022–23) is associated with introduction of the M1UK lineage in Belgium, but other factors may be at play—including intense circulation of respiratory viruses and potentially an immune debt after the COVID pandemic. Importantly, critical care physicians should include S. pyogenes as causative pathogen in the differential diagnosis of sCAP.
Optimal drug regimens for improving ALP biochemical levels in patients with primary biliary cholangitis refractory to UDCA: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis
Authors: Lin Wei , Wang Jun-xi , Liu Yi-juan 
Published: January 2024

AbstractBackgroundUp to 40% of UDCA-treated patients do not have an adequate clinical response. Farnesoid X receptor agonists, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonists, and fibroblast growth factor 19 analogs were developed as adjunctive therapy. The aim of this network meta-analysis was to compare the efficacy of these drugs as add-on therapy for patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) refractory to UDCA in improving ALP levels.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for eligible studies until 1 December 2023. Randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case–control studies comparing the efficacy of different combination treatments and UDCA monotherapy in UDCA-refractory PBC patients were included in the analysis. Cumulative probability was used to rank the included treatments.ResultsA total of 23 articles were eligible for our network meta-analysis. In terms of improving ALP levels, In terms of improving ALP biochemical levels, bezafibrate combined with UDCA (MD 104.49, 95% CI 60.41, 161.92), fenofibrate combined with UDCA (MD 87.81, 95% CI (52.34, 129.79), OCA combined with UDCA (MD 65.21, 95% CI 8.99, 121.80), seladelpar combined with UDCA (MD 117.39, 95% CI 19.97, 213.95), elafibranor combined with UDCA (MD 140.73, 95% CI 74.34, 209.98), saroglitazar combined with UDCA (MD 132.09, 95% CI 13.99, 247.04) was more effective than UDCA monotherapy. Elafibranor in combination with UDCA was the most likely (32%) to be the optimal drug regimen.ConclusionAs second-line therapy for UDCA-refractory PBC, PPAR agonists were more effective than any other drugs with other mechanisms in improving ALP biochemical levels, with elafibranor being the best.
Abomasal infusion of branched-chain amino acids or branched-chain keto-acids alter lactation performance and liver triglycerides in fresh cows
Authors: Gallagher Kristen , Bernstein Isabelle , Collings Cynthia , Main David , Ahmad Ghayyoor , Naughton Sarah , Daddam Jayasimha , Mavangira Vengai , Vandehaar Mike , Zhou Zheng 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background
Dairy cows are at high risk of fatty liver disease in early lactation, but current preventative measures are not always effective. Cows with fatty liver have lower circulating branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) concentrations whereas cows with high circulating BCAA levels have low liver triglyceride (TG). Our objective was to determine the impact of BCAA and their corresponding ketoacids (branched-chain ketoacids, BCKA) on production performance and liver TG accumulation in Holstein cows in the first 3 weeks postpartum.

Methods
Thirty-six multiparous Holstein cows were used in a randomized block design experiment. Cows were abomasally infused for the first 21 d postpartum with solutions of 1) saline (CON, n = 12); 2) BCA (67 g valine, 50 g leucine, and 34 g isoleucine, n = 12); and 3) BCK (77 g 2-ketovaline calcium salt, 57 g 2-ketoleucine calcium salt, and 39 g 2-ketoisoleucine calcium salt, n = 12). All cows received the same diet. Treatment effects were determined using PROC GLIMMIX in SAS.

Results
No differences were detected for body weight, body condition score, or dry matter intake averaged over the first 21 d postpartum. Cows receiving BCK had significantly lower liver TG concentrations compared to CON (6.60% vs. 4.77%, standard error of the mean (SEM) 0.49) during the first 3 weeks of lactation. Infusion of BCA increased milk yield (39.5 vs. 35.3 kg/d, SEM 1.8), milk fat yield (2.10 vs. 1.69 kg/d, SEM 0.08), and lactose yield (2.11 vs. 1.67 kg/d, SEM 0.07) compared with CON. Compared to CON, cows receiving BCA had lower plasma glucose (55.0 vs. 59.2 mg/dL, SEM 0.86) but higher β-hydroxybutyrate (9.17 vs. 6.00 mg/dL, SEM 0.80).

Conclusions
Overall, BCAA supplementation in this study improved milk production, whereas BCKA supplementation reduced TG accumulation in the liver of fresh cows.

Graphical Abstract
Evolutionary origin of germline pathogenic variants in human DNA mismatch repair genes
Authors: Lei Huijun , Li Jiaheng , Zhao Bojin , Kou Si Hoi , Xiao Fengxia , Chen Tianhui , Wang San Ming 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background
Mismatch repair (MMR) system is evolutionarily conserved for genome stability maintenance. Germline pathogenic variants (PVs) in MMR genes that lead to MMR functional deficiency are associated with high cancer risk. Knowing the evolutionary origin of germline PVs in human MMR genes will facilitate understanding the biological base of MMR deficiency in cancer. However, systematic knowledge is lacking to address the issue. In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis to know the evolutionary origin of human MMR PVs.

Methods
We retrieved MMR gene variants from the ClinVar database. The genomes of 100 vertebrates were collected from the UCSC genome browser and ancient human sequencing data were obtained through comprehensive data mining. Cross-species conservation analysis was performed based on the phylogenetic relationship among 100 vertebrates. Rescaled ancient sequencing data were used to perform variant calling for archeological analysis.

Results
Using the phylogenetic approach, we traced the 3369 MMR PVs identified in modern humans in 99 non-human vertebrate genomes but found no evidence for cross-species conservation as the source for human MMR PVs. Using the archeological approach, we searched the human MMR PVs in over 5000 ancient human genomes dated from 45,045 to 100 years before present and identified a group of MMR PVs shared between modern and ancient humans mostly within 10,000 years with similar quantitative patterns.

Conclusion
Our study reveals that MMR PVs in modern humans were arisen within the recent human evolutionary history.
New psychometric evidence from the Revised Mental Health Inventory (R-MHI-5) in Peruvian adolescents from a network psychometrics approach
Authors: Rojas-Mendoza Estefany , Alania-Marin Vaneryn , Travezaño-Cabrera Aaron 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background
Mental health is an aspect that has been relegated in recent years, prioritizing physical health care. However, there are more and more mental problems and disorders worldwide. In this context, adolescents are considered at risk for developing psychological difficulties due to the important transition stage they are going through. Given this, an adequate measurement of mental health in the adolescent population is necessary. This research aims to evaluate the internal structure and estimate the reliability of the R-MHI-5.

Method
The sample covered 662 adolescents (55.2% men and 44.7% women) aged 12 to 17 years (M = 14.5; SD = 1.6).

Results
Exploratory graph analysis revealed a two-dimensional structure encompassing well-being and psychological distress. Furthermore, confirmatory factor analysis results indicated that a model with two related factors demonstrated superior fit indices (CFI = 0.99; TLI = 0.99; SRMR = 0.04; RMSEA = 0.101) in comparison to a one-dimensional model (CFI = 0.85; TLI = 0.71; SRMR = 0.23; RMSEA = 0.451). Additionally, adequate values were found in the reliability of the dimensions.

Conclusion
It is concluded that the R-MHI-5 is an instrument with robust psychometric evidence from the perspective of the EGA and CFA, providing adequate evidence of reliability and validity so that it can be used effectively in future research and prevention and intervention processes. Furthermore, our study is the first to provide psychometric evidence of the scale from a media approach in Peruvian adolescents.
A description of a pre-emptive typhoid Vi capsular polysaccharide vaccination campaign after the 2015 earthquake in Nepal and vaccine effectiveness evaluation
Authors: Dhoubhadel Bhim Gopal , Sawada Ikumi , Shrestha Dhruba , Fukuya Yoshifumi , Raya Ganendra Bhakta , Nébié Eric Ipyn , Hayashi Yumiko , Pasakhala Rasila , Suzuki Motoi , Morimoto Konosuke , Parry Christopher M. , Ariyoshi Koya 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background
A 7.8 R scale earthquake hit Nepal in April 2015 and caused about 9000 deaths along with damage to infrastructure, including the water and sewage system. Bhaktapur was one of the highly affected districts. A typhoid vaccination campaign (pre-emptive) was carried out among children who were living in the temporary shelters in this district. The assessment of vaccine effectiveness after a pre-emptive typhoid vaccine campaign following an earthquake has previously not been attempted in Nepal.

Objective
To describe the pre-emptive typhoid Vi capsular polysaccharide vaccination campaign and an evaluation of the vaccine effectiveness.

Methods
We conducted a pre-emptive typhoid Vi capsular polysaccharide vaccination campaign among children between 2 and 15 years of age dwelling in 23 temporary shelters in Bhaktapur district after the earthquake. Surveillance of clinical typhoid was carried out from 2014 to 2017 in Siddhi Memorial Hospital, the only hospital for children in the district. We calculated vaccine effectiveness using a case–control study design (clinical typhoid as cases and chest x-ray confirmed pneumonia as controls).

Results
Three thousand nine hundred sixteen children of age 2–15 years residing in the 23 temporary shelters in Bhaktapur received the typhoid Vi capsular polysaccharide vaccine between July and December 2015. 2193 children of age 2–15 years were admitted to the hospital during the study period and 260 (11.9%) were diagnosed with clinical typhoid. The numbers of children admitted with clinical typhoid decreased over the study period (105 in 2014 and 47 in 2017; P = 0.001). Overall vaccine effectiveness was calculated at 52% (95% CI −46 to 85%), and it was 87% (95% CI −25 to 99) among children less than 5 years of age.

Conclusions
We successfully conducted a pre-emptive vaccination campaign against typhoid after the 2015 Nepal earthquake. The pre-emptive vaccination campaign appeared to be more effective among children less than 5 years of age. Further studies are needed to assess the effectiveness of pre-emptive use of typhoid vaccines in the emergency situations. We highlight the challenges of calculating vaccine effectiveness of a typhoid vaccine in an emergency setting.
Potential applicability of blockchain technology in the maintenance of chain of custody in forensic casework
Authors: Patil Harsh , Kohli Ravshish Kaur , Puri Sorabh , Puri Pooja 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background
Proper investigation of digital evidence is of prime significance in cyber investigations. From the collection of evidence, its preservation, and its analysis, it is important to maintain its integrity in the legal system due to the involvement of different stakeholders like law enforcement agencies, digital analysts, and the judiciary. This review paper focuses on how blockchain technology can be used to collect evidence efficiently.

Main text
In the present scenario, the manual logs of the chain of custody are used to ensure that the evidence remains confidential and transparent. It is accompanied by filling out the application forms and maintaining logs within the organization handling the evidence. Hence, it is important to ensure the validity, integrity, and verifiability of evidence as it moves through different hierarchical levels. There are certain issues associated with the current chain of custody, such as evidence loss, theft, tampering, and, even worse, evidence manipulation inside the system. To avoid this situation and to make the process coherent, this review paper aims to highlight the potential use of blockchain technology to preserve chain of custody.

Conclusion
Although this scientific technology is mainly used to run cryptocurrencies, with careful consideration and application, this could play a key role in supporting and managing the chain of custody. It is a distributed database that keeps track of blocks. These blocks are collection of entries that keep growing continually and are secured from editing and manipulation by retaining the hash of the previous block in the chain. This is a decentralized technology that is not easily compromised in terms of security and therefore has the potential to solve our problem area. A future research agenda needs to be established, which lays the solid foundation for further studies on this evident emerging area.
Guiding principles for transdisciplinary and transformative fire research
Authors: Copes-Gerbitz Kelsey , Sutherland Ira J. , Dickson-Hoyle Sarah , Baron Jennifer N. , Gonzalez-Moctezuma Pablo , Crowley Morgan A. , Kitchens Katherine A. , Devisscher Tahia , Burr Judith 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background
Managing landscape fire is a complex challenge because it is simultaneously necessary for, and increasingly poses a risk to, societies and ecosystems worldwide. This challenge underscores the need for transformative change in the way societies live with and manage fire. While researchers have the potential to act as agents of transformative change, in practice, the ability to affect change is often constrained by siloed and biased expertise, rigid decision-making institutions, and increasingly vulnerable social-ecological systems where urgent rather than long-term solutions are prioritized. Addressing these challenges requires more holistic and equitable approaches to fire research that promote new models of transdisciplinary thinking, collaboration, and practice.

Results
To advance transformative solutions to this complex fire challenge, we propose four principles for conducting transdisciplinary fire research: (1) embrace complexity, (2) promote diverse ways of knowing fire, (3) foster transformative learning, and (4) practice problem-centered research. These principles emerged from our experience as a group of early-career researchers who are embedded within and motivated by today’s complex fire challenge within British Columbia (BC), Canada. In this forum piece, we first describe the four principles and then apply the principles to two case studies: (1) BC, a settler-colonial context experiencing increased size, severity, and impacts of wildfires, and (2) our ECR discussion group, a space of collective learning and transformation. In doing so, we present a unique contribution that builds on existing efforts to develop more holistic fire research frameworks and demonstrates how application of these principles can promote transdisciplinary research and transformation towards coexistence with fire, from local to global scales.

Conclusions
In this forum piece, we identify and apply four guiding principles for transdisciplinary fire research. Collectively, these principles can foster more inclusive applied fire research that matches the scope and scale of today’s fire challenge and promotes transformative change towards coexisting with fire.
Patient reported outcomes (PROs) among patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) by homologous recombination repair mutations (HRRm) gene clusters: Findings from the phase 3 TALAPRO-2 study cohort 2.
Authors: Fizazi Karim , Shore Neal D. , Fong Peter C.C. , Azad Arun , Matsubara Nobuaki , Saad Fred , De Giorgi Ugo , Joung Jae Young , Jones Robert J. , Zschaebitz Stefanie , Oldenburg Jan , Dunshee Curtis , Carles Joan , Fay Andre P. , Cislo Paul , Kirker Melissa , Healy Cynthia G. , Niyazov Alexander , Agarwal Neeraj 
Published: January 2024

109 Background: Cohort 2 of the TALAPRO-2 (NCT03395197) study demonstrated benefit in radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) with talazoparib (TALA) plus enzalutamide (ENZA) (n=200) vs placebo (PBO) + ENZA (n=199) across gene subgroups in men with HRRm receiving first-line treatment for mCRPC. Post-hoc analyses aimed to understand PROs by HRR gene clusters. Methods: PROs were assessed at day 1 and scheduled visits (every 4 weeks until week 53, then every 8 weeks) until radiographic progression using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and PR25 and BPI-SF. Prespecified PRO endpoints included overall mean change from baseline (per longitudinal repeated measures mixed-effects model) and time to definitive deterioration (TTDD) with a clinically meaningful change of ≥10-points for the EORTC QLQ-C30. Stratified log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model were used to make TTDD between-arm comparisons. Mutually exclusive gene clustering alteration dominance hierarchy was applied in the following order: any BRCA1/2 alteration (BRCAm cluster), PALB2 (PALB2 cluster), CDK12 (CDK12 cluster), ATM (ATM cluster), then any of all other HRR7genes (MLH1, CHEK2, NBN, FANCA, ATR, RAD51C, MRE11A). Results: A significantly longer TTDD in GHS/QoL was observed for TALA + ENZA vs PBO + ENZA in the BRCAm (HR=0.54, 95% CI (0.29, 0.99); p=0.043; median NE vs 19.0) and CDK12 clusters (HR=0.43 (0.19, 0.98); p=0.019, median 30.7 vs 16.6). Overall changes from baseline in GHS/QoL and worst pain are reported in the Table. Conclusions: PRO findings by HRR gene clusters are consistent with rPFS benefit analyses by gene clusters. This was an exploratory post-hoc analysis limited by missing PRO assessments and sample sizes especially in the PALB2 cluster. Clinical trial information: NCT03395197 . [Table: see text]
Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) with talazoparib (TALA) plus enzalutamide (ENZA) vs. placebo (PBO) plus ENZA in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC): Subgroup analysis of patients with novel hormonal therapy (NHT) pretreatment in the TALAPRO-2 study.
Authors: De Giorgi Ugo , Azad Arun , Fizazi Karim , Matsubara Nobuaki , Saad Fred , Joung Jae Young , Fong Peter C.C. , Jones Robert J. , Zschaebitz Stefanie , Oldenburg Jan , Shore Neal D. , Dunshee Curtis , Carles Joan , Fay Andre P. , Cislo Paul , Kirker Melissa , Healy Cynthia G. , Niyazov Alexander , Agarwal Neeraj 
Published: January 2024

116 Background: In TALAPRO-2 (NCT03395197), TALA +ENZA vs PBO + ENZA demonstrated significant improvement in radiographic progression-free survival, a manageable adverse event (AE) profile, and a delay in time to definitive clinical meaningful deterioration in global health status (GHS)/quality of life (QoL) overall and across all pre-specified subgroups. This post hoc analysis evaluated PROs in patients with prior NHT treatment. Methods: PROs were assessed on day 1 and scheduled visits (every 4 weeks until week 53 then every 8 weeks) until radiographic progression using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and its prostate cancer module, QLQ-PR25. PRO analyses, performed in NHT-pretreated/ patients for GHS/QoL functional and symptom scales, included on treatment comparison of overall change from baseline (per longitudinal repeated measures mixed-effects model). Results: Of the 805 men randomized and treated, 49 patients were included in this subgroup analysis (TALA + ENZA n= 22, PBO + ENZA n= 27). A statistically significant and clinically meaningful estimated overall change from baseline favored TALA + ENZA in physical functioning (20.5 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 8.8, 32.2]; P=0.0007), role functioning (20.4 [95% CI 4.8, 35.9]; P=0.0103), pain (32.9 [95% CI 50.3, 15.5]; P=0.0002), and constipation (12.5 [24.4, 0.6]; P=0.0399). No significant differences disfavoring TALA + ENZA were observed. Conclusions: In these subgroup analyses of NHT pretreated patients, significant differences in PROs favoring TALA + ENZA were observed. Results should be interpreted with caution given the small sample sizes and exploratory nature of this analysis. Clinical trial information: NCT03395197 .