bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Central nervous system immune-related disorders after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination: a multicenter study
Authors: Vogrig Alberto , Tartaglia Sara , Dentoni Marta , Fabris Martina , Bax Francesco , Belluzzo Marco , Verriello Lorenzo , Bagatto Daniele , Gastaldi Matteo , Tocco Pierluigi , Zoccarato Marco , Zuliani Luigi , Pilotto Andrea , Padovani Alessandro , Villagrán-García Macarena , Davy Vincent , Gigli Gian Luigi , Honnorat Jérôme , Valente Mariarosaria 
Published: February 2024

BackgroundCOVID-19 vaccines have been approved due to their excellent safety and efficacy data and their use has also permitted to reduce neurological complications of SARS-CoV-2. However, clinical trials were underpowered to detect rare adverse events. Herein, the aim was to characterize the clinical spectrum and immunological features of central nervous system (CNS) immune-related events following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.MethodsMulticenter, retrospective, cohort study (December 1, 2020-April 30, 2022). Inclusion criteria were (1) de novo CNS disorders developing after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination (probable causal relationship as per 2021 Butler criteria) (2); evidence for an immune-mediated etiology, as per (i) 2016 Graus criteria for autoimmune encephalitis (AE); (ii) 2015 Wingerchuk criteria for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders; (iii) criteria for myelitis.ResultsNineteen patients were included from 7 tertiary referral hospitals across Italy and France (one of them being a national referral center for AE), over almost 1 year and half of vaccination campaign. Vaccines administered were mRNA-based (63%) and adenovirus-vectored (37%). The median time between vaccination and symptoms onset was 14 days (range: 2-41 days). CSF was inflammatory in 74%; autoantibodies were detected in 5%. CSF cytokine analysis (n=3) revealed increased CXCL-10 (IP-10), suggesting robust T-cell activation. The patients had AE (58%), myelitis (21%), acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) (16%), and brainstem encephalitis (5%). All patients but 2 received immunomodulatory treatment. At last follow-up (median 130 days; range: 32-540), only one patient (5%) had a mRS&gt;2.ConclusionCNS adverse events of COVID-19 vaccination appear to be very rare even at reference centers and consist mostly of antibody-negative AE, myelitis, and ADEM developing approximately 2 weeks after vaccination. Most patients improve following immunomodulatory treatment.
Identification of systemic biomarkers and potential drug targets for age-related macular degeneration
Authors: Lei Shizhen , Hu Mang , Wei Zhongtao 
Published: February 2024

PurposeSince age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is tightly associated with aging and cellular senescence, objective of this study was to investigate the association between plasma levels of senescence-related proteins (SRPs) and risk of AMD.DesignThe whole study was based on two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.MethodsFor MR analysis, the primary approach for MR analysis was the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method and the heterogeneity and pleiotropy of results were tested. The instrumental single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with 110 SRPs were filtered and selected from a large genome-wide association study (GWAS) for plasma proteome involving 35,559 participants. The GWAS data of AMD was obtained from FinnGen consortium (6,157 AMD cases and 288,237 controls) and further validated by using data from UK Biobank consortium (3,553 AMD cases and 147,089 controls).ResultsThe MR results at both discovery and validation stages supported the causality (IVW-P &lt; 0.00045) between plasma levels of 4 SRPs (C3b, CTNNB1, CCL1, and CCL3L1) and the risk of AMD and supported potential causality (IVW-P &lt; 0.05) between other 10 SRPs and risk of AMD. No heterogeneity or pleiotropy in these results was detected.ConclusionOur findings supported that high plasma levels of C3b, CTNNB1, CCL1, and CCL3L1 were associated with increased risk of AMD, thereby highlighting the role of systemic inflammation in AMD pathogenesis and providing the rationale for developing new preventative and therapeutic strategies.
Vestibular assessment in children with sensorineural hearing loss: diagnostic accuracy and proposal for a diagnostic algorithm
Authors: Gerdsen Max , Hundscheid Tamara Maria , Boudewyns An , Van Rompaey Vincent , Van De Berg Raymond , Widdershoven Josine Christine Colette 
Published: February 2024

IntroductionVestibular assessment in children with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is critical for early vestibular rehabilitation therapy to promote (motor) development or guide decision making towards cochlear implantation (timing of surgery and laterality). It can be challenging from a clinical viewpoint to decide which vestibular tests should be performed for a pediatric patient. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of several clinically available vestibular tests in children with SNHL, and to provide recommendations for the implementation of vestibular testing of children in clinical practice, to screen for vestibular hypofunction (VH).MethodsA two-center retrospective chart review was conducted. Eighty-six patients between the age of 0 and 18 years were included in this study with SNHL. Vestibular tests included video headimpulse test (VHIT), caloric test (performed at the age of four or higher), rotatory chair and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP). A combination of the clinical assessment and (combinations of) vestibular test outcomes determined the diagnosis. The diagnostic quality of tests and combination of tests was assessed by diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity.ResultsVH was diagnosed in 44% of the patients. The VHIT and caloric test showed the highest diagnostic accuracy compared to the rotatory chair and cVEMP. All combinations of VHIT, caloric test and cVEMP showed improvement of the diagnostic accuracy compared to the respective tests when performed singularly. All combinations of tests showed a relatively similar diagnostic accuracy, with the VHIT combined with the caloric test scoring the highest. Adding a third test did not substantially improve the diagnostic accuracy.DiscussionVestibular testing is feasible and VH is highly prevalent in children with SNHL. A proposed diagnostic algorithm recommends starting with VHIT, followed by cVEMP for children under the age of four, and caloric testing for older children if VH is not confirmed with the first test. Performing a third test is redundant as the diagnostic accuracy does not improve substantially. However, challenges remain, including the lack of a gold standard and the subjective nature of the diagnosis, highlighting the need for standardized testing and increased understanding of VH in this population.
Unraveling the link: white matter damage, gray matter atrophy and memory impairment in patients with subcortical ischemic vascular disease
Authors: Huang Jing , Cheng Runtian , Liu Xiaoshuang , Chen Li , Luo Tianyou 
Published: February 2024

IntroductionPrior MRI studies have shown that patients with subcortical ischemic vascular disease (SIVD) exhibited white matter damage, gray matter atrophy and memory impairment, but the specific characteristics and interrelationships of these abnormal changes have not been fully elucidated.Materials and methodsWe collected the MRI data and memory scores from 29 SIVD patients with cognitive impairment (SIVD-CI), 29 SIVD patients with cognitive unimpaired (SIVD-CU) and 32 normal controls (NC). Subsequently, the thicknesses and volumes of the gray matter regions that are closely related to memory function were automatically assessed using FreeSurfer software. Then, the volume, fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) values of white matter hyperintensity (WMH) region and normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) were obtained using SPM, DPARSF, and FSL software. Finally, the analysis of covariance, spearman correlation and mediation analysis were used to analyze data.ResultsCompared with NC group, patients in SIVD-CI and SIVD-CU groups showed significantly abnormal volume, FA, MD, ALFF, and ReHo values of WMH region and NAWM, as well as significantly decreased volume and thickness values of gray matter regions, mainly including thalamus, middle temporal gyrus and hippocampal subfields such as cornu ammonis (CA) 1. These abnormal changes were significantly correlated with decreased visual, auditory and working memory scores. Compared with the SIVD-CU group, the significant reductions of the left CA2/3, right amygdala, right parasubiculum and NAWM volumes and the significant increases of the MD values in the WMH region and NAWM were found in the SIVD-CI group. And the increased MD values were significantly related to working memory scores. Moreover, the decreased CA1 and thalamus volumes mediated the correlations between the abnormal microstructure indicators in WMH region and the decreased memory scores in the SIVD-CI group.ConclusionPatients with SIVD had structural and functional damages in both WMH and NAWM, along with specific gray matter atrophy, which were closely related to memory impairment, especially CA1 atrophy and thalamic atrophy. More importantly, the volumes of some temporomesial regions and the MD values of WMH regions and NAWM may be potentially helpful neuroimaging indicators for distinguishing between SIVD-CI and SIVD-CU patients.
Radiotherapy quality assurance in the TROG 12.01 randomised trial and its impact on loco-regional failure
Authors: Corry June , Moore Alisha , Kenny Liz , Wratten Chris , Fua Tsien , Lin Charles , Porceddu Sandro , Liu Chen , Ruemelin Michael , Sharkey Amy , McDowell Lachlan , Wilkinson Dean , Tiong Albert , Rischin Danny 
Published: February 2024

IntroductionThere is no consensus as to what specifically constitutes head and neck cancer radiotherapy quality assurance (HNC RT QA). The aims of this study are to (1) describe the RT QA processes used in the TROG 12.01 study, (2) review the RT QA processes undertaken for all patients with loco-regional failure (LRF), and (3) provide prospective data to propose a consensus statement regarding the minimal components and optimal timing of HNC RT QA.Materials and methodsAll patients undergoing RT QA in the original TROG 12.01 study were included in this substudy. All participating sites completed IMRT credentialling and a clinical benchmark case. Real-time (pre-treatment) RT QA was performed for the first patient of each treating radiation oncologist, and for one in five of subsequent patients. Protocol violations were deemed major if they related to contour and/or dose of gross tumour volume (GTV), high dose planning target volume (PTVhd), or critical organs of risk (spinal cord, mandible, and brachial plexus).ResultsThirty HNROs from 15 institutions accrued 182 patients. There were 28 clinical benchmark cases, 27 pre-treatment RT QA cases, and 38 post-treatment cases. Comprehensive RT QA was performed in 65/182 (36%) treated patients. Major protocol violations were found in 5/28 benchmark cases, 5/27 pre-treatment cases, and 6/38 post-treatment cases. An independent review of all nine LRF cases showed major protocol violations in four of nine cases.ConclusionOnly pre-treatment RT QA can improve patient outcomes. The minimal components of RT QA in HNC are GTVs, PTVhd, and critical organs at risk. What constitutes major dosimetric violations needs to be harmonised.
Jiawei Kongsheng Zhenzhong Pill: marker compounds, absorption into the serum (rat), and Q-markers identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS
Authors: Wu Qiaolan , Ou Chunxue , Wang Jiayun , Wu Xiaolin , Gao Zu , Zhao Yue , Lu Guangying , Wu Zhichun , Yu Huayun 
Published: February 2024

Background: The Jiawei Kongsheng Zhenzhong pill (JKZP), a Chinese herbal prescription comprised of eight Chinese crude drugs, has been historically employed to treat neurological and psychological disorders. Nevertheless, the ambiguous material basis severely hindered its progress and application.Purpose: The current study aimed to establish a rapid analytical method for identifying the chemical components of the JKZP aqueous extract and the components absorbed into the rat serum to investigate the quality markers (Q-markers) responsible for the neuroprotective effects of JKZP.Methods: The qualitative detection of the chemical components, prototype components, and metabolites of the aqueous extracts of JKZP, as well as the serum samples of rats that were administered the drug, was performed using the ultra-performance liquid chromatography- quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) technology. This analysis combined information from literature reports and database comparisons. Moreover, the study was conducted to anticipate the potential Q-markers for the neuroprotective effects of JKZP based on the “five principles” of Q-marker determination.Results: A total of 67 compounds and 111 serum components (comprising 33 prototypes and 78 metabolites) were detected and identified. Combining the principles of quality transmission and traceability, compound compatibility environment, component specificity, effectiveness, and measurability, the study predicted that five key compounds, namely, senkyunolide H, danshensu, echinacoside, loganin, and 3,6′-disinapoyl sucrose, may serve as potential pharmacological bases for the neuroprotective effects of JKZP.Conclusion: To summarize, the UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS technique can be employed to rapidly and accurately identify compounds in JKZP. Five active compounds have been predicted to be the Q-markers for the neuroprotective effects of JKZP. This discovery serves as a reference for improving quality, advancing further research and development, and utilizing Chinese herbal prescriptions.
Tracheal intubation in patients with Pierre Robin sequence: development, application, and clinical value based on a 3-dimensional printed simulator
Authors: Mao Yu , Liu Lu , Zhong John , Qin Pei , Ma Rui , Zuo Mingzhang , Zhang Li , Yang Lifang 
Published: February 2024

Background: The main clinical manifestations of patients with Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) include micrognathia, the glossoptosis and dyspnoea. The difficulty of tracheal intubation (TI) in such patients is increased.Objective: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the reliability and efficacy of the PRS simulator.Methods: A PRS simulator was developed by using 3-dimensional (3D) printing technology under computer-aided design. A total of 12 anaesthesiologists each trained 5 times for TI on the PRS Training Simulator-1 and recorded the simulation time. After the training, they were randomly divided into three groups with a total of 12 nontrained anaesthesiologists, and the simulation was completed on PRS Simulator-2, 3 and 4. The simulation time was recorded, and the performance was evaluated by three chief anaesthesiologists. Then, all 24 anaesthesiologists completed the questionnaire.Results: A PRS simulator developed by 3D printing was used to simulate the important aspects of TI. The average number of years worked was 6.3 ± 3.1 years, and 66.7% were female. The time for the 12 anaesthesiologists to complete the training gradually decreased (p &lt; 0.01). Compared with the trained anaesthesiologists, the simulation time of TI in the nontrained anaesthesiologists was much longer (all p &lt; 0.01). In addition, the simulation performance of the trained anaesthesiologists was relatively better (all p &lt; 0.01).Conclusion: The reliability and efficacy of the PRS simulator is herein preliminarily validated, and it has potential to become a teaching and training tool for anaesthesiologists.
Effect of lite touch on the anxiety of low-risk pregnant women in the latent phase of childbirth: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Yang Wenqian , Wang Yonghong , Ko Chingyuan , Niu Xiaoyu , Huang Yan , Luo Biru , Wang Guoyu , He Jingjing , Li Huafeng 
Published: February 2024

IntroductionWomen with perinatal anxiety have reduced coping capacity during labor, which affects labor progress and increases the likelihood of a cesarean section. Several non-pharmacological interventions for anxiety during childbirth are available. This study used the “lite touch” method, a non-pharmacological intervention based on physiological responses and obstetric clinical experience in women. We aimed to evaluate whether lite touch could relieve perinatal anxiety and investigate the effect of light skin stroking on the maternal hormones, catecholamine, and cortisol.MethodsThis randomized clinical trial involved women with low-risk singleton pregnancies at full term or near term. Eligible pregnant women who were latent and did not undergo epidural anesthesia were randomized into two groups. Participants in the intervention group underwent routine prenatal care, including lite touch, whereas the control group underwent routine prenatal care alone. Demographic data were collected through a questionnaire. Labor anxiety was assessed using the State Anxiety Inventory, and saliva was collected before and after the intervention. Changes in saliva cortisol and catecholamine levels were analyzed using a double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsIn total, 83 participants were included, with 43 and 40 in the intervention and control groups, respectively. In the intervention group, pre-intervention anxiety scores were significantly lower (p &lt; 0.01) than post-intervention anxiety scores, whereas the control group showed no difference in anxiety scores before and after intervention (p &gt; 0.05). Cortisol and catecholamine levels in saliva were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group after the intervention (p &lt; 0.01).DiscussionLite touch can reduce the latent anxiety state of low-risk pregnant women, thereby maintaining in vivo stability and facilitating labor.Clinical trial registrationhttps://www.chictr.org.cn/aboutEN.html, ChiCTR2300070905, Retrospectively Registered Date: April 26, 2023.
‘We are all in the same boat’: a qualitative cross-sectional analysis of COVID-19 pandemic imagery in scientific literature and its use for people working in the German healthcare sector
Authors: Baranowski Andreas M. , Blank Rebecca , Maus Katja , Tüttenberg Simone C. , Matthias Julia-K. , Culmann Anna C. , Radbruch Lukas , Richter Cornelia , Geiser Franziska 
Published: February 2024

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic presents a significant challenge to professional responders in healthcare settings. This is reflected in the language used to describe the pandemic in the professional literature of the respective professions. The aim of this multidisciplinary study was to analyze the linguistic imagery in the relevant professional literature and to determine the identification of different professional groups with it and its emotional effects.MethodA list of 14 typical, widespread and differing imageries for COVID-19 in form of single sentences (e.g., “Until the pandemic is over, we can only run on sight.”) were presented to 1,795 healthcare professionals in an online survey. The imageries had been extracted from a qualitative search in more than 3,500 international professional journals in medicine, psychology and theology. Ratings of agreement with these imageries and feelings about them were subjected to factor analysis.ResultsBased on the list of imageries presented, it was possible to identify three factors for high/low agreement by experiences, and two factors for high/low induced feelings. Broad agreement emerged for imageries on “fight against the crisis” and “lessons learned from the crisis”, while imageries on “acceptance of uncontrollability” tended to be rejected. Imageries of “challenges” tended to lead to a sense of empowerment among subjects, while imageries of “humility” tended to lead to a sense of helplessness.ConclusionBased on the qualitative and subsequential quantitative analysis, several factors for imageries for the COVID-19 pandemic were identified that have been used in the literature. Agreement with imageries is mixed, as is the assessment of how helpful they are.
The accuracy of screening tools for sarcopenia in older Chinese adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Qian Siyu , Zhang Siqing , Lu Mengchen , Chen Shuhang , Liu Liyao , Liu Siqi , Jiang Fanglin , Zhang Jisheng 
Published: February 2024

ObjectiveThis review aimed to analyze and compare the accuracy of eight screening tools for sarcopenia in older Chinese adults according to different diagnostic criteria.MethodsThis systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang databases were searched between the publication of the first expert consensus on sarcopenia in 2010 and April 2023 using relevant MeSH terms. We evaluated the risk bias of the included studies using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) tool. The pooled result of sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and plot the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (SROC) were calculated by using a bivariate random-effects model. The accuracies of sensitivity and specificity of the screening tools were compared using the Z-test.ResultsA total of 30 studies (23,193 participants) were included, except for calf circumference (CC), Ishii, and Finger-ring Test; Screening tools for sarcopenia in older Chinese adults have consistently shown low to moderate sensitivity and moderate to high specificity. Regional and sex differences affect the accuracy of the screening tools. In terms of sensitivity and specificity, the CC, Ishii, and Finger-ring Test were superior to the other screening tools.ConclusionThe Asian Working Group on Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 criteria are more appropriate for the diagnosis of sarcopenia in older Chinese adults. According to the AWGS 2019, CC and Ishii are recommended for sarcopenia screening in older Chinese adults.
Associations of educational attainment with Sepsis mediated by metabolism traits and smoking: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Lan Ying , Chen Lvlin , Huang Chao , Wang Xiaoyan , Pu Peng 
Published: February 2024

ObjectiveSepsis constitutes a significant global healthcare burden. Studies suggest a correlation between educational attainment and the likelihood of developing sepsis. Our goal was to utilize Mendelian randomization (MR) in order to examine the causal connection between educational achievement (EA) and sepsis, while measuring the mediating impacts of adjustable variables.MethodsWe collected statistical data summarizing educational achievement (EA), mediators, and sepsis from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Employing a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach, we calculated the causal impact of education on sepsis. Following this, we performed multivariable MR analyses to assess the mediation proportions of various mediators, including body mass index (BMI), smoking, omega-3 fatty acids, and apolipoprotein A-I(ApoA-I).ResultsGenetic prediction of 1-SD (4.2 years) increase in educational attainment (EA) was negatively correlated with sepsis risk (OR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.96). Among the four identified mediators, ranked proportionally, they including BMI (38.8%), smoking (36.5%), ApoA-I (6.3%) and omega-3 (3.7%). These findings remained robust across a variety of sensitivity analyses.ConclusionThe findings of this study provided evidence for the potential preventive impact of EA on sepsis, which may be influenced by factors including and metabolic traits and smoking. Enhancing interventions targeting these factors may contribute to reducing the burden of sepsis.