bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Causal associations between gut microbiota and primary biliary cholangitis: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Zhang Jiahao , Wu Gefeng , Tang Yuhong , Liu Huanxiang , Ge Xinyu , Peng Rui , Cao Jun , Tu Daoyuan , Su Bingbing , Jin Shengjie , Jiang Guoqing , Zhang Chi , Bai Dousheng 
Published: November 2023

BackgroundPrevious studies have suggested an association between gut microbiota and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Nonetheless, the causal relationship between gut microbiota and PBC risk remains unclear.MethodsA bidirectional two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) study was employed using summary statistical data for gut microbiota and PBC from the MiBioGen consortium and Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) database to investigate causal relationships between 211 gut microbiota and PBC risk. Inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was the primary analytical approach to assess causality, and the pleiotropy and heterogeneity tests were employed to verify the robustness of the findings. Additionally, we performed reverse MR analyses to investigate the possibility of the reverse causal association.ResultsThe IVW method identified five gut microbiota that demonstrated associations with the risk of PBC. Order Selenomonadales [odds ratio (OR) 2.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10–4.14, p = 0.03], Order Bifidobacteriales (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.07–2.33, p = 0.02), and Genus Lachnospiraceae_UCG_004 (OR 1.64, 95%CI 1.06–2.55, p = 0.03) were correlated with a higher risk of PBC, while Family Peptostreptococcaceae (OR 0.65, 95%CI 0.43–0.98, p = 0.04) and Family Ruminococcaceae (OR 0.33, 95%CI 0.15–0.72, p = 0.01) had a protective effect on PBC. The reverse MR analysis demonstrated no statistically significant relationship between PBC and these five specific gut microbial taxa.ConclusionThis study revealed that there was a causal relationship between specific gut microbiota taxa and PBC, which may provide novel perspectives and a theoretical basis for the clinical prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of PBC.
Analysis of the mRNA export protein ZC3H11A in HCMV infection and pan-cancer
Authors: Li Jiawen , Song Min , Liu Zhen , Nan Fulong , Wang Bin , Qian Dongmeng , Hu Ming 
Published: November 2023

BackgroundWe have previously reported that human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection could promote the progression of glioma. Here we discovered a stress-induced nuclear protein ZC3H11A (ZC3) through high-throughput sequencing after HCMV infection, which has been reported recently by our research group in regulating mRNA export under stress conditions. And also, a thorough analysis of ZC3 in pan-cancer and the omics data of ZC3 are yet to be conducted.MethodsThe transcriptomes of glioma cells after HCMV infection were assessed by RNA sequencing. ZC3 mRNA and protein level following HCMV infection were validated and measured by qRT-PCR and Western-blot. The RNA sequencing and protein expression information of ZC3 across pan-cancer were analyzed and visualized by R packages. The localization of ZC3 protein was assessed by IHC images from HPA. The ZC3 proteomics and transcriptomics data in different cancers were extracted through the CPTAC data portal, and comparisons were conducted with a Python script. The genetic alteration, survival prognosis, immune infiltration analysis of ZC3 in pan-cancer were analyzed by cBioPortal, TCGA, and TIMER2 databases. The protein interaction networks were revealed by STRING, GEPIA2 and TCGA.ResultsGenes in mRNA processing pathways were upregulated after HCMV infection and ZC3 expression in mRNA and protein level was validated. We also discovered that the status of ZC3 were generally at high levels in cancers, although varied among different cancer types. ZC3 protein in tumor cells localized to the nuclear whereas in normal cells it was mainly found in cytoplasmic/membranous. However, from ZC3 proteomics and transcriptomics data in some cancer types, the increase in ZC3 protein was not accompanied by a significant elevation in mRNA level. Additionally, our analysis indicated that elevated ZC3 expression was primarily linked to a negative prognosis in majority cancers but still varied depending on the cancer types. Our annotation analysis suggested that ZC3-related proteins are mainly involved in mRNA processing clusters.ConclusionWe demonstrated that ZC3 significantly impacted by HCMV infection in gliomas. Furthermore, we identified a set of genes exhibiting analogous expression patterns to ZC3H11A in TCGA pan-cancer cohorts, implying a potential functional role for ZC3H11A in mRNA processing. Our study provided valuable insights into the role of a new mRNA export protein ZC3 in HCMV infection and pan-cancer progression. These results lay the foundation for our next research on the regulatory mechanism of ZC3 in virus-infected tumors.
Retinal ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer, white matter hyperintensities, and their interaction with cognition in older adults
Authors: Wang Ruilin , Wu Xinmao , Zhang Zengyi , Cao Le , Kwapong William Robert , Wang Hang , Tao Wendan , Ye Chen , Liu Junfeng , Wu Bo 
Published: November 2023

PurposeWe explored the interaction of optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters and white matter hyperintensities with cognitive measures in our older adult cohort.MethodsThis observational study enrolled participants who underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, structural 3-T brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), visual acuity examination, and OCT imaging. Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) markers were read on MR images; lacune, cerebral microbleeds (CMB), white matter hyperintensities (WMH), and enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS), were defined according to the STRIVE standards. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thicknesses (μm) were measured on the OCT tool.ResultsOlder adults with cognitive impairment (CI) showed lower RNFL (p = 0.001), GCIPL (p = 0.009) thicknesses, and lower hippocampal volume (p = 0.004) when compared to non-cognitively impaired (NCI). RNFL (p = 0.006) and GCIPL thicknesses (p = 0.032) correlated with MoCA scores. GCIPL thickness (p = 0.037), total WMH (p = 0.003), PWMH (p = 0.041), and DWMH (p = 0.001) correlated with hippocampal volume in our older adults after adjusting for covariates. With hippocampal volume as the outcome, a significant interaction (p &lt; 0.05) between GCIPL and PWMH and total WMH was observed in our older adults.ConclusionBoth GCIPL thinning and higher WMH burden (especially PWMH) are associated with hippocampal volume and older adults with both pathologies are more susceptible to subclinical cognitive decline.
Association between bronchopulmonary dysplasia and death or neurodevelopmental impairment at 3 years in preterm infants without severe brain injury
Authors: Li Wenli , Wang Yong , Song Juan , Zhang Chen , Xu Yiran , Xu Falin , Wang Xiaoyang , Zhu Changlian 
Published: November 2023

ObjectiveWe investigated the association between bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and 3 years death or neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) in very preterm infants without severe brain injury.MethodOur prospective cohort study recruited preterm infants who were born prior to 32 weeks of gestational age and survived in the neonatal intensive care unit until 36 weeks of corrected age. Upon reaching 3 years of age, each infant was assessed for death or NDI such as cerebral palsy, cognitive deficit, hearing loss, and blindness. Correlations between BPD and death or NDI were determined using multiple logistic regression analyses adjusted for confounding factors.ResultA total of 1,417 infants without severe brain injury who survived until 36 weeks of corrected age were initially enrolled in the study. Over the study period, 201 infants were lost to follow-up and 5 infants were excluded. Our final dataset, therefore, included 1,211 infants, of which 17 died after 36 weeks of corrected age and 1,194 were followed up to 3 years of age. Among these infants, 337 (27.8%) developed BPD. Interestingly, by 3 years of age, BPD was demonstrated to be independently associated with death or NDI, with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.935 (95% confidence interval: 1.292–2.899, p = 0.001), in preterm infants without severe neonatal brain injury.ConclusionOur findings indicate that BPD is strongly associated with death or NDI in preterm infants without severe neonatal brain injury at 3 years of age. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms linking the development of BPD with death or NDI and whether appropriate treatment of BPD may ameliorate or prevent the development of neurological complications.
Results of longitudinal Nutri-D study: factors influencing winter and summer vitamin D status in a Caucasian population
Authors: Hribar Maša , Pravst Igor , Pogačnik Tina , Žmitek Katja 
Published: November 2023

IntroductionInadequate vitamin D status is a worldwide public health issue. In humans, vitamin D status is affected by diet, and even more by exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) light and consequential endogenous synthesis. Various personal and environmental factors influence endogenous synthesis. Factors affecting vitamin D status were investigated in a prospective longitudinal cohort study with a summer and winter observation period.MethodsThe final sample included 292 adults, of those 111 (38%) males and 181 (62%) females, with a mean age of 38.2 (±11.8) years from Slovenia who were not supplementing vitamin D. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations were measured in both periods; vitamin D intake, self-reported body mass index (BMI), and protective behaviors against sun were also recorded. Other measured parameters included measurements of constitutive skin color using the objective individual typology angle (ITA), and difference in the melanin index (ΔMI) for assessment of objective sun exposure.ResultsIn winter a high prevalence (63.4%) of insufficient vitamin D status (&lt; 50 nmoL/L) was observed with higher odds ratios (OR) for insufficiency in those with a higher BMI and light ITA. During summer, insufficiency prevalence was low (5.5%), but half of the participants (50.0%) had suboptimal 25(OH)D concentration (&lt; 75 nmol/L). In summer OR for suboptimal status were higher in those with obesity, lower ΔMI, light ITA, low vitamin D intake, and protective clothing behaviors.ConclusionUsing a series of measures, we showed that vitamin D status is hugely affected by several personal factors such as BMI, ITA, vitamin D intake, ΔMI, and protective behavior against the sun. This conclusion questions the usefulness of generalized population-level recommendations since personal factors are a major predictor of vitamin D status.
Clinical manifestations of pain in patients suffering from COVID-19 infected with Delta variant of SARS-Cov-2
Authors: Mohammadian Erdi Ali , Zakavi Minoo , Amani Mohammad , Fooladi Shahnaz , Abedi Ali 
Published: November 2023

BackgroundAlthough respiratory presentations of COVID-19 predominate, the extra pulmonary involvement such as muscle pain, joint pain, headache, back pain, abdominal pain, and sore throat are usually included in the clinical picture of the disease and it can be considered as an early symptom in COVID-19 patients. The objective of the present study was to determine the frequency, localization, and intensity of pain in COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Imam Khomeini hospital of Ardabil, Iran.Methods and materialsA prospective study was conducted on 388 COVID-19 patients who were admitted to Ardabil, Iran's Imam Khomeini Central Hospital between March and June 2020. Demographic characteristics of patients and general clinical manifestations of pain at the first admission to the hospital, localization, severity, and continuity of pain were evaluated by using a questionnaire and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).FindingsFor the 388 (51.3% female, age 47.25 + 15.55 and 48.7% male, age 50.12 + 15.26 years old) Delta COVID-19 patients, the median duration from illness onset to hospitalization was 5 days. Patients' complaints included 89.7% fatigue, 85.56% cough, 67.8% fever, 64.17% loss of taste, 63.91% loss of smell, 37.9% diarrhea, and 11.85% skin lesions, respectively. Pain including muscle, joint, bone and low back pain was the chief complaint in both sexes. Pain complaints had started on average 5 days before admission. The distribution of pain was 313 (80.41%) muscle pain, 264 (70.61%) joint pain, 299 (77.1%) headache, 208 (53.6%) low back pain, 312 (80.41%) sore throat, and 157 (40.46%) abdominal pain. Out of 388 patients, 292 (75.25%) had diffuse pain.ConclusionsAcute pain including myalgia, sore throat, arthralgia, headache, and low back pain were the most common symptoms of COVID-19 patients. Viral diseases such as COVID-19 may trigger the immune system to release cytokines that lead to muscle pain. Patients presenting to healthcare centers with complaints of pain should be evaluated for suspected COVID-19 infection.
Maternal pre-pregnancy obesity affects the uncinate fasciculus white matter tract in preterm infants
Authors: Lee Joo Young , Lee Hyun Ju , Jang Yong Hun , Kim Hyuna , Im Kiho , Yang Seung , Hoh Jeong-Kyu , Ahn Ja-Hye 
Published: November 2023

BackgroundA growing body of evidence suggests an association between a higher maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and adverse long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes for their offspring. Despite recent attention to the effects of maternal obesity on fetal and neonatal brain development, changes in the brain microstructure of preterm infants born to mothers with pre-pregnancy obesity are still not well understood. This study aimed to detect the changes in the brain microstructure of obese mothers in pre-pregnancy and their offspring born as preterm infants using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).MethodsA total of 32 preterm infants (born to 16 mothers with normal BMI and 16 mothers with a high BMI) at &lt;32 weeks of gestation without brain injury underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging at term-equivalent age (TEA). The BMI of all pregnant women was measured within approximately 12 weeks before pregnancy or the first 2 weeks of gestation. We analyzed the brain volume using a morphologically adaptive neonatal tissue segmentation toolbox and calculated the major white matter (WM) tracts using probabilistic maps of the Johns Hopkins University neonatal atlas. We investigated the differences in brain volume and WM microstructure between preterm infants of mothers with normal and high BMI. The DTI parameters were compared among groups using analysis of covariance adjusted for postmenstrual age at scan and multiple comparisons.ResultsPreterm infants born to mothers with a high BMI showed significantly increased cortical gray matter volume (p = 0.001) and decreased WM volume (p = 0.003) after controlling for postmenstrual age and multiple comparisons. We found a significantly lower axial diffusivity in the uncinate fasciculus (UNC) in mothers with high BMI than that in mothers with normal BMI (1.690 ± 0.066 vs. 1.762 ± 0.101, respectively; p = 0.005).ConclusionOur study is the first to demonstrate that maternal obesity impacts perinatal brain development patterns in preterm infants at TEA, even in the absence of apparent brain injury. These findings provide evidence for the detrimental effects of maternal obesity on brain developmental trajectories in offspring and suggest potential neurodevelopmental outcomes based on an altered UNC WM microstructure, which is known to be critical for language and social–emotional functions.
Peripheral muscle fractional tissue oxygen extraction in stable term and preterm neonates during the first 24 h after birth
Authors: Wolfsberger Christina H. , Höller Nina , Baik-Schneditz Nariae , Schwaberger Bernhard , Suppan Ena , Mileder Lukas , Avian Alexander , Urlesberger Berndt , Pichler Gerhard 
Published: November 2023

BackgroundPeripheral muscle fractional tissue oxygen extraction (pFTOE) represents the relative extraction of oxygen from the arterial to venous compartment, providing information about dynamic changes of oxygen delivery and oxygen consumption. The aim of the present study was to establish reference values of pFTOE during the first 24 h after birth in stable term and late preterm neonates.MethodsThe present study is a post-hoc analysis of secondary outcome parameters of prospective observational studies. Only stable neonates without infection, asphyxia and any medical support were eligible for our analysis to obtain normal values. For measurements of peripheral muscle tissue oxygenation index (pTOI) during the first 24 h after birth in term and preterm neonates, the NIRO200/NIRO200NX was used. Arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) was obtained by pulse oximetry. pFTOE was calculated out of pTOI and SpO2: pFTOE = (SpO2-pTOI)/SpO2. Measurements of neonates were stratified into four groups according to their respective measurement time point (6 h periods) after birth. Term and preterm neonates were analyzed separately. Mean values of measurements during the first time period (0–6 h after birth) were compared to measurements of the following time periods (second = 7–12 h, third = 13–18 h, fourth = 19–24 h after birth).ResultsTwo-hundred-fourty neonates (55 term and 185 late preterm neonates) had at least one peripheral muscle NIRS measurements within the first 24 h after birth. Mean gestational age and birth weight were 39.4 ± 1.1 weeks and 3360 (2860–3680)g in term neonates and 34.0 ± 1.4 weeks and 2060 (1750–2350)g in preterm neonates, respectively. In term neonates pFTOE was 0.264 (0.229–0.300), 0.228 (0.192–0.264), 0.237 (0.200–0.274) and 0.220 (0.186–0.254) in the first, second, third and fourth time period. In preterm neonates pFTOE was 0.229 (0.213–0.246), 0.225 (0.209–0.240), 0.226 (0.210–0.242) and 0.238 (0.222–0.255) in the first, second, third and fourth time period. pFTOE did not show any significant changes between the time periods, neither in term nor in preterm neonates.ConclusionWe provide reference values of pFTOE for stable term and late preterm neonates within the first 24 h after birth, which were stable when comparing four 6-h periods. These normal values are of great need for interpreting pFTOE in scientific context as well as for potential future clinical applications.
Initial therapeutic target attainment of perampanel in pediatric patients with epilepsy
Authors: Yu Lingyan , Chen Meng , Liu Jieqiong , Yu Zhenwei , Feng Jianhua , Dai Haibin 
Published: November 2023

Perampanel is a promising option for the treatment of pediatric epilepsy, but its plasma concentration varies among patients. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the initial target attainment of perampanel plasma concentration in pediatric patients with epilepsy in China. Inpatients admitted from January 2020 to December 2021 in a tertiary hospital were retrospectively included according to pre-set criteria. Demographic characteristics of patients and dosing strategies and therapeutic drug monitoring results were collected. A total of 137 pediatric patients (84 females and 53 males, aged from 0.6 to 16.4 years) were include for analysis. The perampanel concentrations varied greatly from 60 to 1,560 mg/L among patients, but 89.8% had suitable perampanel concentrations (100–1,000 ng/mL). The concomitant use of enzyme-inductive antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) was the only identified risk factor associated with target nonattainment (OR = 5.92, 95% confidence interval 1.68–20.9). Initial perampanel target attainment in pediatric patients is satisfactory. Routine therapeutic drug monitoring to achieved the suggested concentration range for these patients may be unnecessary, except for those receiving combined enzyme inductive AEDs.
Antidepressant effect of bright light therapy on patients with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers
Authors: Mei Xi , Zou Chenjun , Si Zizhen , Xu Ting , Hu Jun , Wu Xiangping , Zheng Chengying 
Published: November 2023

Background: As a non-pharmacologic treatment, bright light therapy (BLT) is often used to improve affective disorders and memory function. In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of BLT on depression and electrophysiological features of the brain in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and their caregivers using a light-emitting diode device of 14000 lux.Methods: A 4-week case-control trial was conducted. Neuropsychiatric and electroencephalogram (EEG) examination were evaluated at baseline and after 4 weeks. EEG power in delta (1–4 Hz), theta (4–8 Hz), alpha (8–12 Hz), and beta (12–30 Hz) bands was calculated for our main analysis. Demographic and clinical variables were analyzed using Student’s t test and the chi-square test. Pearson’s correlation was used to determine the correlation between electrophysiological features, blood biochemical indicators, and cognitive assessment scale scores.Results: In this study, 22 in-patients with AD and 23 caregivers were recruited. After BLT, the Hamilton depression scale score decreased in the fourth week. Compared with the age-matched controls of their caregivers, a higher spectral power at the lower delta and theta frequencies was observed in the AD group. After BLT, the EEG power of the delta and theta frequencies in the AD group decreased. No change was observed in blood amyloid concentrations before and after BLT.Conclusion: In conclusion, a 4-week course of BLT significantly suppressed depression in patients with AD and their caregivers. Moreover, changes in EEG power were also significant in both groups.
The association between aspirin use and immune-related adverse events in specific cancer patients receiving ICIs therapy: analysis of the FAERS database
Authors: Yang Huaju , Liu Zheran , Li Ruidan , Huang Rendong , Peng Xingchen 
Published: November 2023

Background: The promise of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy in cancer treatment is tempered by the occurrence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Many patients undergoing ICIs also take aspirin, but the association between aspirin and irAEs is not well understood.Methods: This study analyzed adverse reaction data associated with the use of ICIs in the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System FDA Adverse Event Reporting System database, from the approval date of each drug until 1 October 2022. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to assess the association of aspirin use with irAEs in patients receiving ICIs.Results: The results indicated that aspirin use was associated with an increased risk of irAEs in a pan-cancer analysis, with a more pronounced association in specific cancer types such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, and pancreatic cancer. However, in lymphoma, aspirin use was associated with a reduced risk of irAEs. Furthermore, aspirin use was associated with an increased risk of certain irAEs, such as anemia, colitis, myocarditis, myositis, pancreatitis, pericarditis, and pneumonia, while it was associated with a reduced risk of rash, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and thyroiditis.Conclusion: This study has unveiled an association between aspirin use and irAEs in cancer patients receiving ICIs therapy, emphasizing the need for individualized consideration of patients’ medication history when devising cancer treatment plans to enhance efficacy and reduce risks.