bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Associations of maternal perinatal depressive disorders with autism spectrum disorder in offspring: Findings from a data-linkage cohort study
Authors: Tusa Biruk Shalmeno , Alati Rosa , Betts Kim , Ayano Getinet , Dachew Berihun 
Published: February 2025

Background: There is limited research on the association between maternal depression and autism spectrum disorder, and existing studies face significant limitations, including inadequate control for confounders, reliance on self-reported data, small sample sizes and lack of investigation into mediating factors. This study addresses these gaps by examining the direct relationship and the potential mediating effects of preterm birth, low birth weight and low Apgar scores. Methods: We analysed linked administrative health data involving 223,068 mother–offspring pairs in New South Wales, Australia. Maternal perinatal depressive disorders and offspring autism spectrum disorder were assessed using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Australian Modification (ICD-10 AM). A generalised linear model was employed to examine the association. The mediation effects of preterm birth, low birth weight and low Apgar scores were assessed through mediation analysis. Results: After adjusting for a range of potential confounders, offspring of mothers with antenatal, postnatal and overall perinatal depressive disorders had a 61% (risk ratio = 1.61, 95% confidence interval = [1.12, 2.32]), 85% (risk ratio = 1.85, 95% confidence interval = [1.20, 2.86]) and 80% (risk ratio = 1.80, 95% confidence interval = [1.33, 2.43]) higher risk of autism spectrum disorder, respectively. Only about 1.29% and 1.31% of the effect of maternal antenatal depressive disorders on offspring autism spectrum disorder was mediated by preterm birth and low Apgar scores, respectively. Low birth weight had no significant mediating effect on the association. Conclusion: Maternal perinatal depressive disorders are associated with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder in offspring. Preterm birth and low Apgar scores were weak mediators of this association. Early intervention strategies that aim to enhance maternal mental health and mitigate the risk of exposed offspring are needed.
A Power Comparison and Simulation Study of Tests of Fit for the Gumbel Distribution with Application to COVID-19 Data
Authors: Noughabi Hadi Alizadeh 
Published: February 2025

In this article, we investigate goodness-of-fit tests based on the empirical distribution function for the composite Gumbel (extreme value) hypothesis. The parameters of the Gumbel distribution are estimated using numerical methods through the maximum likelihood approach. We employ a Monte Carlo method to obtain critical values and determine the actual sizes of the tests for different sample sizes. Furthermore, we conduct a comprehensive simulation study to compare the power values of the tests against various alternatives and different sample sizes. Finally, for illustrative purposes, we analyse a real data set. AMS Subject Classification: 62G10; 62P10
Democratic legitimacy and its vulnerabilities: The case of South Africa
Authors: Levy Brian 
Published: February 2025

This article uses the example of South Africa to explore how inequality, institutions, identity, and polarization interact. The first 15 years of the country’s constitutional democracy was characterized by a virtuous spiral fueled by hope that a thriving, inclusive society was in reach, an embrace of win-win cooperation, and a surge of civic confidence in the legitimacy of the public domain. The next 15 years witnessed rising discontent in response to continuing massive inequality and economic hardship – plus sustained efforts by populist political entrepreneurs to use economic discontent to fuel identity-based polarization and weaken institutions. In both periods, contrary to the either/or discourse of much scholarship, change was fueled by the ways in which economic expectations and identity politics interacted with one another. Renewal of the political center needs both reforms that address economic imbalances and engagement at the level of ideas.
Aquatic exercise interventions in the treatment of musculoskeletal upper extremity disorders: A scoping review
Authors: Murray Lynn , Kennedy Michelle , Malone Michael , Mair Lyn , Alexander Lyndsay 
Published: February 2025

Objective To identify literature on aquatic exercise therapy used to manage upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders and identify key concepts, intervention components, and gaps in the evidence base. Data sources The comprehensive search included MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOHost), Embase (Ovid), CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) databases and grey literature sources. Review methods JBI Scoping review methodology guided this review through protocol development, searching, screening, data extraction and analysis. Study Selection included: Participants – Adults with upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders; Concept – Aquatic based exercise therapy; Context – any setting in any very highly developed nation. Results The search identified 5045 sources with 68 studies included in the final synthesis. Findings outlined shoulder problems were the most reported upper extremity condition treated ( n = 78) especially following rotator cuff repair ( n = 17), followed by the hand and wrist ( n = 9), and elbow ( n = 6). Range of movement ( n = 36) and resistance exercises ( n = 17) were the most common interventions reported for aquatic therapy, however compliance with reporting guidance across included studies was poor. Sixteen health domains were identified with range of movement ( n = 21) and pain ( n = 20) the most common, and 62 outcome measures were reported related to the identified domains. Qualitative aspects of aquatic interventions were evaluated in two papers. Conclusion There is a need for more primary experimental and qualitative studies related to the upper extremity and aquatic therapy. Improved reporting quality of aquatic therapy exercise intervention is required as is the need to establish specific core outcome sets and domains in this area.
Short-term effect of mirabegron on female sexual function in women with overactive bladder
Authors: Karabacak Nihat , Koparal Murat Yavuz , Erten Kadir Şerefhan , Çetin Serhat , Onaran Metin , Şen İlker 
Published: February 2025

Background: Overactive bladder (OAB) is a common syndrome that can negatively affect patients’ daily activities, sleep patterns, mental health, sexual function, and general health. In addition to reducing the frequency of attacks, treatment of OAB can be expected to improve the psychological and sexual health of patients. Aims: To evaluate the effects of mirabegron used in the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) on female sexual function (FSF). Methods: This retrospective study includes 48 sexually active women who were diagnosed with overactive bladder and treated with a daily oral dose of 50 mg mirabegron between November 2021 and March 2022. The evaluation of FSF was conducted using female sexual function index (FSFI) along with urinary parameters before the start of the treatment and at the 6th week of the treatment. Results: In the study, out of 48 participants, 40 (83.3%) were identified with the dry type and 8 (16.7%) with the wet type OAB. The median age when diagnosed was 43.5 years. Although the decrease in the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-V8) score did not reach statistical significance in the entire patient group after treatment ( p = 0.058), a statistically significant decrease in the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire–Short Form (ICIQ-SF) score was detected in the wet type OAB group ( p < 0.001). During the assessment of sexual function, there was a statistically significant increase in the FSFI score, from 21.4 to 23.05, by the 6th week of treatment ( p = 0.017). Specifically, the scores for desire, lubrication, and satisfaction showed a statistically significant post-treatment improvement ( p < 0.001, p = 0.049, and p = 0.035, respectively). Conclusion: The study indicates that a 6-week regimen of a daily 50 mg mirabegron dose enhanced sexual function in women. This beneficial impact of mirabegron on sexual health should be taken into account when selecting a treatment for OAB.
In Vitro Biological Evaluation and In Vivo Anti-inflammatory Effect of Chicozapote (Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen) Leaf Extracts in Mice with Internal Atrial Edema
Authors: Martínez Araceli Torres- , Fernández Juan José Acevedo- , Pérez Nelly del Carmen Jiménez- , Alejo Fanny Adabel González- , Alamilla Pedro García- , Botello Maximiano Antonio Estrada- , León Jesús Alfredo Araujo- , Lanestosa Areli Carrera- 
Published: February 2025

Background In Mexico, the fruit of the Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen (Chicozapote) tree is widely consumed; however, numerous studies have identified bioactive compounds within its leaves. Purpose To evaluate the bioactive properties of M. zapota leaf extracts, focusing on their anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-hypertensive potentials, and assessing their efficacy in mitigating inflammation. Materials and Methods This study evaluated the anti-oxidant properties of aqueous (AE), ethanolic (EE), and hydroalcoholic (HE) extracts, utilizing 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays. Anti-diabetic activity was assessed by inhibiting the enzymes α-amylase and α-glucosidase, while anti-hypertensive efficacy was measured via angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition. The anti-inflammatory potential was also examined in vivo using a murine model of 12- O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced ear edema. Results The DPPH assay revealed that all extracts exhibited equivalent anti-oxidant capacities at the same concentration, with no significant statistical difference ( p < 0.05). Conversely, the ABTS assay demonstrated that AE possessed superior activity (4.6−28.5%) across varying concentrations. EE exhibited the most potent inhibition of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and ACE, with 81.8%, 58.9%, and 87.8%, respectively. In anti-inflammatory assays, EE at a 5 mg dosage significantly outperformed other extracts. Conclusion These findings suggest that M. zapota leaf extracts, mainly through EE, could offer a viable natural alternative for reducing inflammation and potentially managing diabetes and hypertension.
Determinants of Antibiotic Prescription in Outpatient Hospice: A Regional Observational Study
Authors: Crowley Patrick D. , Whalen Francis X. , Siegel Leslie R. , Challener Douglas W. 
Published: February 2025

Background Patients enrolling in hospice care are asked their preferences for antibiotic treatment. There is little information regarding which patients are more likely to receive antibiotics. To better inform discussions, we sought to characterize the use of antibiotics in the outpatient hospice setting. Methods We performed a retrospective review of patients enrolled in outpatient hospice within the Mayo Clinic Health System from 1/1/2017 through 1/1/2023. We calculated what percent of patients received antibiotics based on Hospice Qualifying Condition (HQC), age at enrollment, sex, survival time, and Charlson Comorbidity Index and calculated adjusted odds ratios (aOR). We documented which antibiotics were prescribed based on HQC. Results Of 6452 patients identified, 1259 (19.5%) received antibiotic prescriptions. Cephalosporins were the most common class of antibiotics prescribed (22.8% of antibiotics prescribed), followed by fluoroquinolones (20.3%) and penicillin derivatives (14.9%). Patients with Pulmonary HQCs were most likely to receive antibiotics (28.6% aOR 1.85 [1.51-2.25]), those with neurologic HQCs were least likely (14.9% aOR 0.66 [0.53-0.83]). There was no difference of age for those receiving antibiotics (80.7 yr) vs those not receiving (80.3 yr [ P = 0.25]), or for sex (male vs female aOR 1.10 [0.96-1.26). 4.6% of those surviving <7d received antibiotics (aOR .22 [0.17-0.29]), compared to 47.7% of those surviving >6mo (aOR 4.46 [3.50-5.69]). Discussion 19.5% of patients will receive antibiotics during their hospice course, with more frequent prescriptions in those surviving longer periods and those enrolled for pulmonary conditions. It is important to clarify patient preferences regarding antimicrobial utilization at the time of hospice enrollment.
“Weigh Easy”: Use of an At-Home Weight Reporting System to Improve Weight Monitoring in Infants With a Cleft
Authors: Murari Karthi , Nguyen Steven , Sherman Ashley , Jiang Shao , Tracy Meghan , Bergman Hannah , Goldstein Jeffrey 
Published: February 2025

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and parental satisfaction of an at-home weight reporting system for the maintenance of weight stability in infants with cleft lip and/or palate (CLP). Design A prospective cohort of infants with CLP was provided an at-home scale to track weekly weights compared to a retrospective cohort of infants with CLP that underwent standard weight checks at routine healthcare appointments. Setting Tertiary care pediatric hospital. Patients/Participants Infants from 0 to 3 months of age who presented to a large midwestern Cleft Clinic with a diagnosis of CLP without a secondary major birth difference. Interventions “Weigh Easy” at-home scale and reporting system. Main Outcome Measure(s) Weight loss or plateau. Results Infants enrolled in the prospective cohort (n = 25) were significantly less likely to have a destabilizing weight loss compared to the retrospective cohort (n = 131) (OR = 0.09, 95% CI = 0.01-0.60, P = .001 at 30 g/day; OR = 0.15, 95% CI = 0.04-0.60, P = .001 at 25 g/day; OR = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.09-0.61, P = .002 at 20 g/day). Over at least 90 days of data collection, the prospective group had a median of 12 weight changes compared to 4 in the retrospective cohort ( P < .001). The Parent Satisfaction Survey (n = 17) revealed 94.1% preferred to weigh their child at home with the Weigh Easy Scale compared to commuting to a publicly available scale and 88.2% would recommend the “Weigh Easy” scale to their friends and family. Conclusions Providing parents of infants with CLP with the “Weigh Easy” scale identifies feeding and nutritional needs more quickly than standard weight checks.
Automated Patient-specific Quality Assurance for Automated Segmentation of Organs at Risk in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Radiotherapy
Authors: Wang Yixuan , Hu Jiang , Chen Lixin , Zhang Dandan , Zhu Jinhan 
Published: February 2025

Introduction Precision radiotherapy relies on accurate segmentation of tumor targets and organs at risk (OARs). Clinicians manually review automatically delineated structures on a case-by-case basis, a time-consuming process dependent on reviewer experience and alertness. This study proposes a general process for automated threshold generation for structural evaluation indicators and patient-specific quality assurance (QA) for automated segmentation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods The patient-specific QA process for automated segmentation involves determining the confidence limit and error structure highlight stage. Three expert physicians segmented 17 OARs using computed tomography images of NPC and compared them using the Dice similarity coefficient, the maximum Hausdorff distance, and the mean distance to agreement. For each OAR, the 95% confidence interval was calculated as the confidence limit for each indicator. If two or more evaluation indicators (N2) or one or more evaluation indicators (N1) exceeded the confidence limits, the structure segmentation result was considered abnormal. The quantitative performances of these two methods were compared with those obtained by artificially introducing small/medium and serious errors. Results The sensitivity, specificity, balanced accuracy, and F-score values for N2 were 0.944 ± 0.052, 0.827 ± 0.149, 0.886 ± 0.076, and 0.936 ± 0.045, respectively, whereas those for N1 were 0.955 ± 0.045, 0.788 ± 0.189, 0.878 ± 0.096, and 0.948 ± 0.035, respectively. N2 and N1 had small/medium error detection rates of 97.67 ± 0.04% and 98.67 ± 0.04%, respectively, with a serious error detection rate of 100%. Conclusion The proposed automated patient-specific QA process effectively detected segmentation abnormalities, particularly serious errors. These are crucial for enhancing review efficiency and automated segmentation, and for improving physician confidence in automated segmentation.
Outcomes of contemporary stents with deep femoral artery coverage
Authors: Tokuda Takahiro , Yoshioka Naoki , Tanaka Akiko , Kojima Shunsuke , Yamaguchi Kohei , Yanagiuchi Takashi , Ogata Kenji , Takei Tatsuro , Nakama Tatsuya 
Published: February 2025

Introduction: We aimed to investigate deep femoral artery (DFA) status during endovascular treatment (EVT) and the patency of the femoropopliteal (FP) artery and DFA using current stent devices for ostial FP lesions. Methods: A multicenter, retrospective study analyzed data from 457 patients who underwent EVT with stent deployment for de novo ostial FP lesions between April 2018 and December 2021 at eight centers in Japan. Propensity score-matched analysis was performed to compare the clinical impacts of DFA coverage for ostial FP lesions with stent deployment. The prognostic value was analyzed based on DFA status during EVT, primary patency of the FP artery, clinically driven-target lesion revascularization (CD-TLR) of the FP artery, and incidence of DFA occlusion/major amputation/acute limb ischemia (ALI) at 3 years. Results: A total of 132 matched pairs of patients was analyzed using propensity score matching. The percentage of DFA occlusion and stenosis was significantly higher in the DFA coverage group. However, there were no significant differences in terms of primary patency of the FP artery, CD-TLR, DFA occlusion, major amputation, or ALI after 3 years. Conclusions: Stent deployment in DFA coverage significantly led to the DFA stenotic events of EVT during the procedure, but patency of the FP artery and DFA, major amputation, and ALI up to 3 years did not differ according to stent deployment for ostial FP lesions.
Impact properties of banana/coir/palm/hexagonal boron nitride particles reinforced epoxy composites
Authors: Gopalan Venkatachalam , Subramonia Anish , Elango Meiyarasi Rithikkumar , Pitchumani Shenbaga Velu , Sampath Aravindh , Annamalai K 
Published: February 2025

Natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites have gained attention due to their biodegradability, lower density and cost-effectiveness. In this study, the impact strength of banana fibre, coir fibre, palm fibre powder, individually used with hexagonal Boron Nitride (h-BN) particles in the epoxy polymer composites, is studied. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM), based on a Box-Behnken design, helps to analyze the effects of h-BN content (wt. %), fiber content (wt. %) and type of fibers on impact strength. The Izod test is carried out to find the impact strength of each sample. ANOVA and regression equations are used to examine the result. It is noticed that the impact strength of the composite is improved with a rise in h-BN and fiber content (wt. %). It is also concluded that the optimum composition is 3.95 wt. % of h-BN and 5 wt. % of palm fiber content exhibits the highest impact strength of 0.32 kJ/m2. A confirmation test is also conducted to confirm the same. The findings demonstrate that the mechanical properties of the epoxy-palm fiber composite are affected by the properties of palm fiber. The morphological studies shows superior interfacial bonding between the matrix and fiber and also uniform distribution of the reinforcement particle helps in improving the mechanical properties of the materials.
Midterm Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement via Right Lateral Minithoracotomy
Authors: Furutachi Akira , Nakamura Yoshitsugu , Niitsuma Kusumi , Ushijima Masaki , Yasumoto Yuto , Yoshiyama Daiki , Kuroda Miho , Nakamae Kosuke , Hayashi Yujiro , Nakayama Taisuke , Tsuruta Ryo , Ito Yujiro 
Published: February 2025

Objective: Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (MIAVR) procedures have been found to have good short-term results. However, no known reports regarding outcomes of MIAVR via a right lateral minithoracotomy (LT) approach over longer terms have been presented. The aim of the present study was to analyze the midterm outcomes of the use of MIAVR with the right LT approach over an 8-year period. Methods: Between September 2014 and February 2023, MIAVR was performed for 348 patients with severe aortic valve stenosis and regurgitation at our hospital. Operative mortality, all-cause mortality, and valve-related events were retrospectively examined. Results: The mean patient age was 72.3 ± 10.9 years, while 78 patients (22.4%) were more than 80 years old. Surgical, cardiopulmonary bypass, and cross-clamp times were 194.7 ± 43.2, 118.6 ± 28.7, and 89.4 ± 23.3 min, respectively. The 30-day mortality rate was 0.3%. The mean follow-up period was 35.6 ± 25.9 months. Overall survival shown by Kaplan-Meier analysis at 1, 3, and 5 years was 96.4%, 90.3%, and 83.2%, respectively, and freedom from valve-related events at those time points was noted in 100%, 99.5%, and 96.9% of the cases, respectively. Conclusions: MIAVR via a right LT approach was found to be associated with excellent short-term and midterm outcomes and is considered to have the potential to become an established surgical option.
Epidemiology, clinical manifestation, diagnosis,and treatment of bursitis iliopectinea: A systematic review
Authors: Jonczy Malgorzata Lea , Büchler Lorenz , Mahenthiran Yadusha , Helfenstein Fabrice , Appenzeller-Herzog Christian , Isaak Andrej 
Published: February 2025

Background: Bursitis iliopectinea (BI) is a condition that is characterized by swelling of the iliopsoas bursa, leading to compression of inguinal neurovascular structures, causing swelling, pain, paresthesia, or thrombosis of the leg. Questions: Due to the rare occurrence of BI, the available literature consists of case reports. Our study aims to systematically review the literature for a comprehensive analysis of the etiology, treatment modalities, and clinical outcomes of patients with BI. Methods: We systematically analyzed 217 studies with 502 cases of BI and extracted information about the terminology, risk factors, diagnostic and treatment strategies, association with neurovascular compression syndromes, treatment outcomes, and recurrence rates. Results: The overall quality of the analyzed studies was moderate to good. The terminology uses for BI was heterogeneous and included ganglion, tumor, mass, and bursitis. In addition to conventional X-ray, ultrasound, CT, or MRI were used to diagnose BI. The most prevalent etiology of BI was osteoarthritis of the hip or wear-related soft-tissue reactions after total hip replacement (THA). Nearly one-third of the patients suffered from compression syndromes, most frequently of the femoral vein (16%). Only rheumatoid arthritis showed an association with the occurrence of compression syndromes. The most common operative treatments were the resection of the bursa (30%), total hip arthroplasty (29%), and aspiration (24%). Use of analgesics (17%), injection of corticoids (11%), and physiotherapy (9%) were used for conservative treatments. The recurrence rate was highest after physiotherapy (OR: 4.1) or aspiration (4.5) and lowest after THA (OR: 0.2). Conclusions: Although BI is a condition commonly associated with hip arthritis or local tissue reactions following total hip prosthesis, its impact extends beyond typical hip-related symptoms. Notably, BI related to rheumatoid arthritis shows a high correlation with neurovascular compression symptoms, with femoral vein compression being the most frequently reported. This underscores the necessity of considering BI in patients presenting with nonspecific inguinal pain or neurovascular symptoms of the lower extremity. Additionally, standardizing the nomenclature of BI nomenclature could improve future research.