bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Progression of vertebral deformity of prevalent vertebral fractures in the elderly: a population-based study
Authors: Akeda Koji , Nakase Kazuma , Yamada Junichi , Takegami Norihiko , Fujiwara Tatsuhiko , Sudo Akihiro 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
Little is known about the progression pattern of vertebral deformities in elderly patients with prevalent vertebral fractures. This population-based cohort study investigated the incidence, progression pattern, and risk factors of vertebral deformity in prevalent vertebral fractures over a finite period of four years in a population-based cohort study.

Methods
A total of 224 inhabitants of a typical mountain village underwent medical examinations every second year from 1997 to 2009, and each participant was followed up for four years. The extent (mild, moderate, severe) and type (wedge, biconcave, crush) of prevalent vertebral fractures on spinal radiographs were evaluated using the Genant semi-quantitative method. Of these participants, 116 with prevalent vertebral fractures at baseline (32 men and 84 women; mean age: 70.0 years) were included in this study. The progression patterns of the 187 vertebral fractures with mild and moderate deformities (except severe deformity) were evaluated. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors associated with deformity progression.

Results
The progression of vertebral deformities was identified in 13.4% (25 vertebral fractures) of the total 187 prevalent (mild and moderate) vertebral fracture deformities over four years. Among the three deformity types, the prevalence of deformity progression was significantly lower in wedge-type vertebral fractures (P < 0.05). Age and number of prevalent vertebral fractures per participant were independent risk factors associated with the progression of prevalent vertebral deformities.

Conclusion
This study clarified the natural history of the progression pattern of vertebral deformities in radiographic prevalent vertebral fractures in elderly individuals. Multiple vertebral fractures in the elderly present a risk for the progression of vertebral deformities.
The role of oral microbiota in the development of oral mucositis in pediatric oncology patients treated with antineoplastic drugs: a systematic review
Authors: Filetici Pierfrancesco , Gallottini Sofia Germana , Corvaglia Andrea , Amendolea Martina , Sangiovanni Roberta , Nicoletti Fabrizio , D’Addona Antonio , Dassatti Leonardo 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
In the pediatric oncology population, oral mucositis as a consequence of chemotherapy is a highly prevalent complication which strongly affects both the quality of life and treatment possibilities of the patients. Still, the etiopathological mechanisms carrying to its development are not fully understood, although a possible role of oral dysbiosis has been previously investigated with unclear conclusions. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the available evidence on the role of microbiota in the development of oral mucositis.

Methods
A systematic literature search was performed following PRISMA guidelines. Three electronic databases were searched up until April 2023 and a following manual search included the reference lists of the included studies and reviews. Studies reporting microbiological and clinical data of pediatric patients treated by antineoplastic drugs were included.

Results
Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria, reporting an average mucositis prevalence of 57,6%. Candida albicans infections were frequently observed in studies performing microbiological analysis on oral lesions, in contrast with the low rate detection of the Herpes simplex viruses. Bacterial species such as coagulase-negative Staphylococci and Streptococcus viridans were detected more frequently on lesion sites. Studies reporting a quantitative analysis of the general flora did not show comparable results. Risk of bias assessment among studies was generally considered high or very high.

Conclusions
While the specific role of certain microbiological agents, such as Candida albicans, was frequently reported among studies, data regarding the general dynamics of oral microbiota in the development of oral mucositis are lacking in the current literature. Thus, more studies are needed to provide the knowledge required in order to improve protocols for the prevention and treatment of this threatening complication.
A new chromosome-scale duck genome shows a major histocompatibility complex with several expanded multigene families
Authors: Hu Jiaxiang , Song Linfei , Ning Mengfei , Niu Xinyu , Han Mengying , Gao Chuze , Feng Xingwei , Cai Han , Li Te , Li Fangtao , Li Huifang , Gong Daoqing , Song Weitao , Liu Long , Pu Juan , Liu Jinhua , Smith Jacqueline , Sun Honglei , Huang Yinhua 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
The duck (Anas platyrhynchos) is one of the principal natural hosts of influenza A virus (IAV), harbors almost all subtypes of IAVs and resists to many IAVs which cause extreme virulence in chicken and human. However, the response of duck’s adaptive immune system to IAV infection is poorly characterized due to lack of a detailed gene map of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC).

Results
We herein reported a chromosome-scale Beijing duck assembly by integrating Nanopore, Bionano, and Hi-C data. This new reference genome SKLA1.0 covers 40 chromosomes, improves the contig N50 of the previous duck assembly with highest contiguity (ZJU1.0) of more than a 5.79-fold, surpasses the chicken and zebra finch references in sequence contiguity and contains a complete genomic map of the MHC. Our 3D MHC genomic map demonstrated that gene family arrangement in this region was primordial; however, families such as AnplMHCI, AnplMHCIIβ, AnplDMB, NKRL (NK cell receptor-like genes) and BTN underwent gene expansion events making this area complex. These gene families are distributed in two TADs and genes sharing the same TAD may work in a co-regulated model.

Conclusions
These observations supported the hypothesis that duck’s adaptive immunity had been optimized with expanded and diversified key immune genes which might help duck to combat influenza virus. This work provided a high-quality Beijing duck genome for biological research and shed light on new strategies for AIV control.
The functional role of spatial anisotropies in ensemble perception
Authors: Tiurina Natalia A. , Markov Yuri A. , Whitney David , Pascucci David 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
The human brain can rapidly represent sets of similar stimuli by their ensemble summary statistics, like the average orientation or size. Classic models assume that ensemble statistics are computed by integrating all elements with equal weight. Challenging this view, here, we show that ensemble statistics are estimated by combining parafoveal and foveal statistics in proportion to their reliability. In a series of experiments, observers reproduced the average orientation of an ensemble of stimuli under varying levels of visual uncertainty.

Results
Ensemble statistics were affected by multiple spatial biases, in particular, a strong and persistent bias towards the center of the visual field. This bias, evident in the majority of subjects and in all experiments, scaled with uncertainty: the higher the uncertainty in the ensemble statistics, the larger the bias towards the element shown at the fovea.

Conclusion
Our findings indicate that ensemble perception cannot be explained by simple uniform pooling. The visual system weights information anisotropically from both the parafovea and the fovea, taking the intrinsic spatial anisotropies of vision into account to compensate for visual uncertainty.
Comprehensive analysis reveals the prognostic and immunogenic characteristics of DNA methylation regulators in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Huang Jing , Huang Chujian , Huang Can , Xiang Zichang , Ni Yao , Zeng Jian , Cai Songhua 
Published: February 2024

AbstractDNA methylation regulators (DMRs) play a key role in DNA methylation, thus mediating tumor occurrence, metastasis, and immunomodulation. However, the effects of DMRs on clinical outcomes and immunotherapy response remain unexplored in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). In this study, eight LUAD cohorts and one immunotherapeutic cohort of lung cancer were utilized. We constructed a DNA methylation regulators-related signature (DMRRS) using univariate and multivariate COX regression analysis. The DMRRS-defined low-risk group was preferentially associated with favorable prognosis, tumor-inhibiting microenvironment, more sensitivity to several targeted therapy drugs, and better immune response. Afterward, the prognostic value and predictive potential in immunotherapy response were validated. Collectively, our findings uncovered that the DMRRS was closely associated with the tumor immune microenvironment and could effectively predict the clinical outcome and immune response of LUAD patients.
MicroRNA-377-3p exacerbates chronic obstructive pulmonary disease through suppressing ZFP36L1 expression and inducing lung fibroblast senescence
Authors: Lu Fang , Yao Li-peng , Gao Dan-dan , Alinejad Tahereh , Jiang Xin-qing , Wu Qi , Zhai Qiao-cheng , Liu Ming , Zhu Sheng-mei , Qian Mao-xiang , Xu Li-feng , Chen Cheng-shui , Zhang Feng 
Published: February 2024

AbstractChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading aging related cause of global mortality. Small airway narrowing is recognized as an early and significant factor for COPD development. Senescent fibroblasts were observed to accumulate in lung of COPD patients and promote COPD progression through aberrant extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). On the basis of our previous study, we further investigated the the causes for the increased levels of miR-377-3p in the blood of COPD patients, as well as its regulatory function in the pathological progression of COPD. We found that the majority of up-regulated miR-377-3p was localized in lung fibroblasts. Inhibition of miR-377-3p improved chronic smoking-induced COPD in mice. Mechanistically, miR-377-3p promoted senescence of lung fibroblasts, while knockdown of miR-377-3p attenuated bleomycin-induced senescence in lung fibroblasts. We also identified ZFP36L1 as a direct target for miR-377-3p that likely mediated its pro senescence activity in lung fibroblasts. Our data reveal that miR-377-3p is crucial for COPD pathogenesis, and may serve as a potential target for COPD therapy.
Impact of ambient temperature on respiratory disease: a case-crossover study in Seoul
Authors: Lee Hyewon , Yoon Hee-Young 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
Respiratory diseases contribute to global morbidity and mortality, and temperature is a significant factor. We investigated the association between ambient temperature and emergency department (ED) visits for various respiratory diseases in Seoul, South Korea.

Methods
Using data from the National Emergency Department Information System (2008–2017), we analysed 1,616,644 ED visits for respiratory diseases, categorised according to the Korean Standard Classification of Diseases 7th revision codes (J00-J99). Using a time-stratified case-crossover design and a distributed lag nonlinear model, we investigated the effect of temperature exposure on ED visits for respiratory diseases, calculating the relative risk (RR) for the maximum risk temperature (MaxRT) of both cold and hot extremes compared to the minimum risk temperature (MinRT).

Results
Cold temperatures (MaxRT: -9.0 °C) resulted in a 2.68-fold increase (RR = 2.68, 95% CI = 2.26–3.14) in ED visits for total respiratory diseases, while hot temperatures (MaxRT: 29.4 °C) led to a 1.26-fold increase (RR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.11–1.42) compared to the MinRT (24.8 °C). Cold temperatures increased the risk of most respiratory diseases, except interstitial lung disease, whereas hot temperatures increased ED visits for acute upper respiratory infections and influenza. Cold temperatures increased ED visits for all age groups, especially those aged 18–64 (RR = 3.54, 95% CI = 2.90–4.33), while hot temperatures significantly affected those < 18 (RR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.27–1.66). The risk levels were similar in both males and females, regardless of hot and cold temperatures.

Conclusion
Our findings underscore the significant impact of both cold and heat exposure on ED visits for respiratory diseases, with varying intensities and risk profiles across different population groups.
Dynamics of host immune responses and a potential function of Trem2hi interstitial macrophages in Pneumocystis pneumonia
Authors: Yang Hu-Qin , Sun Han , Li Kang , Shao Ming-Ming , Zhai Kan , Tong Zhao-Hui 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is a life-threatening opportunistic fungal infection with a high mortality rate in immunocompromised patients, ranging from 20 to 80%. However, current understanding of the variation in host immune response against Pneumocystis across different timepoints is limited.

Methods
In this study, we conducted a time-resolved single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of CD45+ cells sorted from lung tissues of mice infected with Pneumocystis. The dynamically changes of the number, transcriptome and interaction of multiply immune cell subsets in the process of Pneumocystis pneumonia were identified according to bioinformatic analysis. Then, the accumulation of Trem2hi interstitial macrophages after Pneumocystis infection was verified by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. We also investigate the role of Trem2 in resolving the Pneumocystis infection by depletion of Trem2 in mouse models.

Results
Our results characterized the CD45+ cell composition of lung in mice infected with Pneumocystis from 0 to 5 weeks, which revealed a dramatic reconstitution of myeloid compartments and an emergence of PCP-associated macrophage (PAM) following Pneumocystis infection. PAM was marked by the high expression of Trem2. We also predicted that PAMs were differentiated from Ly6C+ monocytes and interacted with effector CD4+ T cell subsets via multiple ligand and receptor pairs. Furthermore, we determine the surface markers of PAMs and validated the presence and expansion of Trem2hi interstitial macrophages in PCP by flow cytometry. PAMs secreted abundant pro-inflammation cytokines, including IL-6, TNF-α, GM-CSF, and IP-10. Moreover, PAMs inhibited the proliferation of T cells, and depletion of Trem2 in mouse lead to reduced fungal burden and decreased lung injury in PCP.

Conclusion
Our study delineated the dynamic transcriptional changes in immune cells and suggests a role for PAMs in PCP, providing a framework for further investigation into PCP’s cellular and molecular basis, which could provide a resource for further discovery of novel therapeutic targets.
Efficacy and safety of anticoagulant for treatment and prophylaxis of VTE patients with renal insufficiency: a systemic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ma Shuangshuang , Fan Guohui , Xu Feiya , Zhang Xiaomeng , Chen Yinong , Tao Yuzhi , Li Yishan , Lyu Yanshuang , Yang Peiran , Wang Dingyi , Zhai Zhenguo , Wang Chen 
Published: February 2024

AbstractPatients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) comorbid renal insufficiency (RI) are at higher risk of bleeding and thrombosis. Recommendations in guidelines on anticoagulation therapy for those patients remain ambiguous. The goal of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety between different anticoagulant regimens in VTE patients comorbid RI at different stages of treatment and prophylaxis. We performed English-language searches of Pubmed, EMBASE, and Web of Science (inception to Nov 2022). RCTs evaluated anticoagulants for VTE treatment at the acute phase, extension phase, and prophylaxis in patients with RI and reported efficacy and safety outcomes were selected. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed at the outcome level using the risk-of-bias assessment tool developed by the Cochrane Bias Methods Group. A meta-analysis of twenty-five RCTs was conducted, comprising data from twenty-three articles, encompassing a total of 9,680 participants with RI. In the acute phase, the risk of bleeding was increased with novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) compared to LMWH (RR 1.29, 95% CI 1.04–1.60). For the prophylaxis of VTE, NOACs were associated with an elevated risk of bleeding compared with placebo (RR 1.31, 95%CI 1.02–1.68). In comparison to non-RI patients, both NOACs and vitamin K antagonists (VKA) could increase the risk of bleeding among RI patients (RR 1.45, 95%CI 1.14–1.84 and RR 1.53, 95%CI 1.25–1.88, respectively) during acute phase, while NOACs may increase the incidence of VTE in RI population (RR 1.74, 95%CI 1.29–2.34). RI patients who are under routine anticoagulation have a significantly higher risk of adverse outcomes. LMWH is the most effective and safe option for VTE treatment or prophylaxis in patients with RI.
GOLGA7 is essential for NRAS trafficking from the Golgi to the plasma membrane but not for its palmitoylation
Authors: Liu Chenxuan , Jiao Bo , Wang Peihong , Zhang Baoyuan , Gao Jiaming , Li Donghe , Xie Xi , Yao Yunying , Yan Lei , Qin Zhenghong , Liu Ping , Ren Ruibao 
Published: February 2024

AbstractNRAS mutations are most frequently observed in hematological malignancies and are also common in some solid tumors such as melanoma and colon cancer. Despite its pivotal role in oncogenesis, no effective therapies targeting NRAS has been developed. Targeting NRAS localization to the plasma membrane (PM) is a promising strategy for cancer therapy, as its signaling requires PM localization. However, the process governing NRAS translocation from the Golgi apparatus to the PM after lipid modification remains elusive. This study identifies GOLGA7 as a crucial factor controlling NRAS’ PM translocation, demonstrating that its depletion blocks NRAS, but not HRAS, KRAS4A and KRAS4B, translocating to PM. GOLGA7 is known to stabilize the palmitoyltransferase ZDHHC9 for NRAS and HRAS palmitoylation, but we found that GOLGA7 depletion does not affect NRAS’ palmitoylation level. Further studies show that loss of GOLGA7 disrupts NRAS anterograde trafficking, leading to its cis-Golgi accumulation. Remarkably, depleting GOLGA7 effectively inhibits cell proliferation in multiple NRAS-mutant cancer cell lines and attenuates NRASG12D-induced oncogenic transformation in vivo. These findings elucidate a specific intracellular trafficking route for NRAS under GOLGA7 regulation, highlighting GOLGA7 as a promising therapeutic target for NRAS-driven cancers.
The current state of complex systems research on socioeconomic inequalities in health and health behavior—a systematic scoping review
Authors: Mudd Andrea L. , Bal Michèlle , Verra Sanne E. , Poelman Maartje P. , de Wit John , Kamphuis Carlijn B. M. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBackgroundInterest in applying a complex systems approach to understanding socioeconomic inequalities in health is growing, but an overview of existing research on this topic is lacking. In this systematic scoping review, we summarize the current state of the literature, identify shared drivers of multiple health and health behavior outcomes, and highlight areas ripe for future research.MethodsSCOPUS, Web of Science, and PubMed databases were searched in April 2023 for peer-reviewed, English-language studies in high-income OECD countries containing a conceptual systems model or simulation model of socioeconomic inequalities in health or health behavior in the adult general population. Two independent reviewers screened abstracts and full texts. Data on study aim, type of model, all model elements, and all relationships were extracted. Model elements were categorized based on the Commission on Social Determinants of Health framework, and relationships between grouped elements were visualized in a summary conceptual systems map.ResultsA total of 42 publications were included; 18 only contained a simulation model, 20 only contained a conceptual model, and 4 contained both types of models. General health outcomes (e.g., health status, well-being) were modeled more often than specific outcomes like obesity. Dietary behavior and physical activity were by far the most commonly modeled health behaviors. Intermediary determinants of health (e.g., material circumstances, social cohesion) were included in nearly all models, whereas structural determinants (e.g., policies, societal values) were included in about a third of models. Using the summary conceptual systems map, we identified 15 shared drivers of socioeconomic inequalities in multiple health and health behavior outcomes.ConclusionsThe interconnectedness of socioeconomic position, multiple health and health behavior outcomes, and determinants of socioeconomic inequalities in health is clear from this review. Factors central to the complex system as it is currently understood in the literature (e.g., financial strain) may be both efficient and effective policy levers, and factors less well represented in the literature (e.g., sleep, structural determinants) may warrant more research. Our systematic, comprehensive synthesis of the literature may serve as a basis for, among other things, a complex systems framework for socioeconomic inequalities in health.