bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) on coronavirus survival
Authors: Cantu Jody C. , Barnes Ronald A. , Gamboa Bryan M. , Keister Allen S. , Echchgadda Ibtissam , Ibey Bennett L. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractPrevious work demonstrated inactivation of influenza virus by GHz frequency electromagnetic fields. Despite theoretical and experimental results, the underlying mechanism driving this inactivation remains unknown. One hypothesis is that the electromagnetic field is causing damage to the virion membrane (and therefore changing spike protein orientation) rendering the virus unable to attach and infect host cells. Towards examining this hypothesis, our group employed nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) as a surrogate to radiofrequency (RF) exposure to enable exploration of dose response thresholds of electric field-induced viral membrane damage. In summary, Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) was exposed, in suspension, to mono and bipolar 600-ns pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) at two amplitudes (12.5 and 25 kV/cm) and pulse numbers [0 (sham), 1, 5, 10, 100, and 1000] at a 1 Hz (Hz) repetition rate. The temperature rise immediately after exposure(s) was measured using thermocouples to differentiate effects of the electric field (E-field) and heating (i.e., the thermal gradient). Inactivation of BCoV was evaluated by infecting HRT-18G host cells and assessing differences in virus infectivity days after exposure. Our results show that 600 nsPEFs, both bipolar and monopolar, can reduce the infectivity of coronaviruses at various amplitudes, pulse numbers, and pulse polarity. Interestingly, we observed that bipolar exposures appeared to be more efficient at lower exposure intensities than monopolar pulses. Future work should focus on experiments to identify the mechanism underlying nsPEF-induced viral inactivation.
Research on the effectiveness and safety of bronchial thermoplasty in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Wang Tao , Fu Peng , Long Fa , Liu Shengming , Hu Siyu , Wang Qiongping , Huang Zhihui , Long Liang , Huang Wenting , Hu Fengbo , Gan Jingfan , Dong Hongbo , Yan Guomei 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Objectives
To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of bronchial thermoplasty (BT) in treating patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods
Clinical data of 57 COPD patients were randomized into the control (n = 29, conventional inhalation therapy) or intervention group (n = 28, conventional inhalation therapy plus BT). Primary outcomes were differences in clinical symptom changes, pulmonary function-related indicators, modified Medical Research Council (mMRC), 6-min walk test (6MWT), COPD assessment test (CAT) score and acute exacerbation incidence from baseline to an average of 3 and 12 months. Safety was assessed by adverse events.

Results
FEV1, FEV1(%, predicted) and FVC in both groups improved to varying degrees post-treatment compared with those pre-treatment (P < 0.05). The Intervention group showed greater improving amplitudes of FEV1 (Ftime × between groups = 21.713, P < 0.001) and FEV1(%, predicted) (Ftime × between groups = 31.216, P < 0.001) than the control group, and there was no significant difference in FVC variation trend (Ftime × between groups = 1.705, P = 0.193). mMRC, 6MWT and CAT scores of both groups post-treatment improved to varying degrees (Ps < 0.05), but the improving amplitudes of mMRC (Ftime × between groups = 3.947, P = 0.025), 6MWT (Ftime × between groups = 16.988, P < 0.001) and CAT score (Ftime × between groups = 16.741, P < 0.001) in the intervention group were greater than the control group. According to risk assessment of COPD acute exacerbation, the proportion of high-risk COPD patients with acute exacerbation in the control and intervention groups at 1 year post-treatment (100% vs 65%, 100% vs 28.6%), inpatient proportion (100% vs 62.1%; 100% vs 28.6%), COPD acute exacerbations [3.0 (2.50, 5.0) vs 1.0 (1.0, 2.50); 3.0(3.0, 4.0) vs 0 (0, 1.0)] and hospitalizations [2.0 (2.0, 3.0) vs 1.0 (0, 2.0); 2.0 (2.0, 3.0) vs 0 (0, 1.0)] were significantly lower than those pre-treatment (P < 0.05). Besides, data of the intervention group were significantly lower than the control group at each timepoint after treatment (P < 0.05).

Conclusions
Combined BT therapy is superior to conventional medical treatment in improving lung function and quality of life of COPD patients, and it also significantly reduces the COPD exacerbation risk without causing serious adverse events.
MicroRNAs as the critical regulators of Forkhead box protein family during gynecological and breast tumor progression and metastasis
Authors: Taghehchian Negin , Lotfi Malihe , Zangouei Amir Sadra , Akhlaghipour Iman , Moghbeli Meysam 
Published: September 2023

AbstractGynecological and breast tumors are one of the main causes of cancer-related mortalities among women. Despite recent advances in diagnostic and therapeutic methods, tumor relapse is observed in a high percentage of these patients due to the treatment failure. Late diagnosis in advanced tumor stages is one of the main reasons for the treatment failure and recurrence in these tumors. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the molecular mechanisms involved in progression of these tumors to introduce the efficient early diagnostic markers. Fokhead Box (FOX) is a family of transcription factors with a key role in regulation of a wide variety of cellular mechanisms. Deregulation of FOX proteins has been observed in different cancers. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) as a group of non-coding RNAs have important roles in post-transcriptional regulation of the genes involved in cellular mechanisms. They are also the non-invasive diagnostic markers due to their high stability in body fluids. Considering the importance of FOX proteins in the progression of breast and gynecological tumors, we investigated the role of miRNAs in regulation of the FOX proteins in these tumors. MicroRNAs were mainly involved in progression of these tumors through FOXM, FOXP, and FOXO. The present review paves the way to suggest a non-invasive diagnostic panel marker based on the miRNAs/FOX axis in breast and gynecological cancers.
Comparison of methods for deriving phenotypes from incomplete observation data with an application to age at puberty in dairy cattle
Authors: Stephen Melissa A. , Burke Chris R. , Pryce Jennie E. , Steele Nicole M. , Amer Peter R. , Meier Susanne , Phyn Claire V. C. , Garrick Dorian J. 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
Many phenotypes in animal breeding are derived from incomplete measures, especially if they are challenging or expensive to measure precisely. Examples include time-dependent traits such as reproductive status, or lifespan. Incomplete measures for these traits result in phenotypes that are subject to left-, interval- and right-censoring, where phenotypes are only known to fall below an upper bound, between a lower and upper bound, or above a lower bound respectively. Here we compare three methods for deriving phenotypes from incomplete data using age at first elevation (> 1 ng/mL) in blood plasma progesterone (AGEP4), which generally coincides with onset of puberty, as an example trait.

Methods
We produced AGEP4 phenotypes from three blood samples collected at about 30-day intervals from approximately 5,000 Holstein–Friesian or Holstein–Friesian × Jersey cross-bred dairy heifers managed in 54 seasonal-calving, pasture-based herds in New Zealand. We used these actual data to simulate 7 different visit scenarios, increasing the extent of censoring by disregarding data from one or two of the three visits. Three methods for deriving phenotypes from these data were explored: 1) ordinal categorical variables which were analysed using categorical threshold analysis; 2) continuous variables, with a penalty of 31 d assigned to right-censored phenotypes; and 3) continuous variables, sampled from within a lower and upper bound using a data augmentation approach.

Results
Credibility intervals for heritability estimations overlapped across all methods and visit scenarios, but estimated heritabilities tended to be higher when left censoring was reduced. For sires with at least 5 daughters, the correlations between estimated breeding values (EBVs) from our three-visit scenario and each reduced data scenario varied by method, ranging from 0.65 to 0.95. The estimated breed effects also varied by method, but breed differences were smaller as phenotype censoring increased.

Conclusion
Our results indicate that using some methods, phenotypes derived from one observation per offspring for a time-dependent trait such as AGEP4 may provide comparable sire rankings to three observations per offspring. This has implications for the design of large-scale phenotyping initiatives where animal breeders aim to estimate variance parameters and estimated breeding values (EBVs) for phenotypes that are challenging to measure or prohibitively expensive.
Immersive VR-based instruction in vocational schools: effects on domain-specific knowledge and wellbeing of retail trainees
Authors: Kablitz David , Conrad Matthias , Schumann Stephan 
Published: September 2023

AbstractImmersive virtual reality (IVR) based simulation and training is gaining increasing importance in vocational education and training (VET). However, while IVR is primarily investigated and utilized in technical domains, its implementation and the resulting effects in commercial education remain largely unexplored. Moreover, the experience of motion sickness is a widely reported phenomenon while using IVR, which can interfere with cognitive processes and should therefore be considered more closely in terms of learning and instruction. This explorative study focuses on domain-specific knowledge acquisition in vocational apprenticeship for retailers and the accompanying side effects on students’ wellbeing in an IVR-based learning environment. For this purpose, an IVR-based scenario in a virtual supermarket was developed and tested with trainees in the field of retail at a German commercial vocational school. Using a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design, we compared the effects of IVR-based and conventional instruction on domain-specific knowledge acquisition in a sample of first-year trainees (N = 79). The findings indicate an advantage of IVR in the acquisition of domain-specific knowledge (ɳ2 = .261). Although moderate motion sickness symptoms were reported in the experimental group, no direct links between the experience of motion sickness and learning outcomes could be identified. These findings advance the current knowledge about learning-related effects of IVR-based instruction in the field of VET and provide further understanding about the special conditions of IVR scenarios conducive to learning.
Classification of long-term clinical course of Parkinson’s disease using clustering algorithms on social support registry database
Authors: Park Dougho , Lee Su Yun , Kim Jong Hun , Kim Hyoung Seop 
Published: September 2023

AbstractAlthough Parkinson’s disease (PD) has a heterogeneous disease course, it remains challenging to establish subtypes. We described and clustered the natural course of Parkinson’s disease (PD) with respect to functional disability and mortality. This retrospective cohort study utilized the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, which contains the social support registry database for patients with PD. We extracted patients newly diagnosed with PD in 2009 and followed them up until the end of 2018. Functional disability was assessed based on the long-term care insurance (LTCI) and National Disability Registry data. Further, we measured all-cause mortality during the observation period. We included 2944 eligible patients. The surviving patients were followed up for 113.7 ± 3.3 months. Among the patients who died, patients with and without disability registration were followed up for 61.4 ± 30.1 and 43.2 ± 32.0 months, respectively. The cumulative survival rate was highest in cluster 1 and decreased from Cluster 1 to Cluster 6. In the multivariable Cox regression analysis, the defined clusters were significantly associated with increased long-term mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 3.440; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.233–3.659; p < 0.001). Further, age (aHR, 1.038; 95% CI, 1.031–1.045; p < 0.001), diabetes (aHR, 1.146; 95% CI, 1.037–1.267; p = 0.007), and chronic kidney disease (aHR, 1.382; 95% CI, 1.080–1.768; p = 0.010) were identified as independent risk factors for increased risk of long-term mortality. Contrastingly, the female gender (aHR, 0.753; 95% CI, 0.681–0.833; p < 0.001) and a higher LTCI grade (aHR, 0.995; 95% CI, 0.992–0.997; p < 0.001) were associated with a significantly decreased long-term mortality risk. We identified six clinical course clusters for PD using longitudinal data regarding the social support registry and mortality. Our results suggest that PD progression is heterogeneous in terms of disability and mortality.
Recognizing patient partner contributions to health research: a systematic review of reported practices
Authors: Fox Grace , Lalu Manoj M. , Sabloff Tara , Nicholls Stuart G. , Smith Maureen , Stacey Dawn , Almoli Faris , Fergusson Dean A. 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
Patient engagement in research refers to collaboration between researchers and patients (i.e., individuals with lived experience including informal caregivers) in developing or conducting research. Offering non-financial (e.g., co-authorship, gift) or financial (e.g., honoraria, salary) compensation to patient partners can demonstrate appreciation for patient partner time and effort. However, little is known about how patient partners are currently compensated for their engagement in research. We sought to assess the prevalence of reporting patient partner compensation, specific compensation practices (non-financial and financial) reported, and identify benefits, challenges, barriers and enablers to offering financial compensation.

Methods
We conducted a systematic review of studies citing the Guidance for Reporting the Involvement of Patients and the Public (GRIPP I and II) reporting checklists (October 2021) within Web of Science and Scopus. Studies that engaged patients as research partners were eligible. Two independent reviewers screened full texts and extracted data from included studies using a standardized data abstraction form. Data pertaining to compensation methods (financial and non-financial) and reported barriers and enablers to financially compensating patient partners were extracted. No formal quality assessment was conducted since the aim of the review is to describe the scope of patient partner compensation. Quantitative data were presented descriptively, and qualitative data were thematically analysed.

Results
The search identified 843 studies of which 316 studies were eligible. Of the 316 studies, 91% (n = 288) reported offering a type of compensation to patient partners. The most common method of non-financial compensation reported was informal acknowledgement on research outputs (65%, n = 206) and co-authorship (49%, n = 156). Seventy-nine studies (25%) reported offering financial compensation (i.e., honoraria, salary), 32 (10%) reported offering no financial compensation, and 205 (65%) studies did not report on financial compensation. Two key barriers were lack of funding to support compensation and absence of institutional policy or guidance. Two frequently reported enablers were considering financial compensation when developing the project budget and adequate project funding.

Conclusions
In a cohort of published studies reporting patient engagement in research, most offered non-financial methods of compensation to patient partners. Researchers may need guidance and support to overcome barriers to offering financial compensation.
Working collaboratively with an online advisory group of people with learning disabilities in covid-times: carrier pigeons, cats and drones
Authors: Leishman Eppie , Quilgars Deborah , Abbott David , Clark Sam , Cooper Becca , Pollin Andy , Hodgkins Stephen , Scarrott Paul 
Published: September 2023

AbstractWhile much attention and emphasis have been given to the role and value of advisory groups in social science research, less has been published on the experiences of those involved in such collaborative efforts. This article reflects on the experiences of academics, collaborators and self-advocacy experts who formed an advisory group for a research project focused on people with learning disabilities’ experiences of renting their own homes. Our paper describes the collaboration, how it changed because of Covid and because of changing relationships, and what worked well and what was challenging. This is in part because these more transparent accounts of working together are sometimes missing from research. We discuss issues relating to bureaucratic research systems which are largely inaccessible to people with learning disabilities and how we approached these. We also highlight the joys and benefits of the research approach that we adopted as well as the challenging and more difficult aspects.
Metabolomics and biomarkers for lupus nephritis – a systematic review
Authors: Barone Felippe Pereira , Lourenço Silvia Vanessa , Azevedo Luiz Sergio , de Souza Mayara Nanci , Coutinho-Camillo Claudia Malheiros , Florezi Giovanna Piacenza 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
The development of personalized medicine using high-throughput methods, such as metabolomics profiling, in discovering and validating biomarkers, may play a key role in the development of new and non-invasive methods for diagnosis and understanding of lupus nephritis (LN).

Objectives
The aim of this systematic review was to present the current status of metabolomics discovery of biomarkers applied to diagnosing, staging, understanding and treating LN.

Methods
The review was made according to PRISMA guidelines, searching for keywords associated to “Lupus”, “Lupus nephritis”, “Metabolomics” and their variants, with no language restriction, in PUBMED, MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. Full-texts and primary studies in humans including the topics of lupus erythematosus and/or lupus nephritis and used metabolomics in urine and serum as a research method, were included and data analysis was performed individually.

Results
The search revealed multiple candidates for the diagnosis, staging and prognosis of lupus nephritis, such as citrate, acetate, N-acetyl glycoproteins and various amino acids, as their level in the biofluids of LN patients found in the studies are consistent with the known pathophysiology of LN and inflammatory processes.

Conclusions
The study of metabolomics associated with LN still needs further investigation concerning metabolic pathways and pathogeny. As the community building the databases for the research and annotation of metabolites grow, the use of serum, urine, and saliva in metabolomic profiling, may become a potential non-invasive method in translational medicine studies.
Early stent fractures in superficial femoral artery resulting multiple pseudoaneurysm formation within one year: a case report
Authors: Benedict Taylor , Hassan Esraa , Mir Mikael , Boike Sydney , Gao Jidi , Khan Syed Anjum 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
Though fracture is known complication of stenting, pseudoaneurysm asscoiated with stent fracture is an extremely rare complication. This has previoulsy been described to occur at least one or more years following initial stent placement. Here we present a case of multi-site stent fracture leading to two separate SFA pseudoaneurysms within one year of placement, successfully treated with covered stents.

Case presentation
A 72-year-old male presented with severe claudication of his left lower extremity (Rutherford 3), found to have long segment SFA chronic total occlusion (CTO). Patient successfully underwent endovascular revascularization. Follow-up duplex ultrasound (US) at one year demonstrated a focus of severe in-stent restenosis (ISR). During repeat angiogram for treatment of the stenosis, stent fracture and pseudoaneurysm was seen in the distal SFA, which was treated successfully with a self-expanding covered stent. Additional stent fractures and pseudoanerusyms were subseuqently identified on follow-up, necessitating a third angiogram, and these were successfully repaired using overlapping covered stents, without further recurrence.

Conclusions
Superficial femoral artery stent fractures leading to pseudoaneurysms are extremely rare, particularly within first year of stent placement. Endovascular repair with covered stents has proven to be an effective treatment option with decreased procedural morbidity compared to surgical repair.
Pleomorphic adenomia of lower lip: A case report
Authors: Akram Muhammad Usman , Hasham Nausheen , Atique Hafsa , Raza Ahmad 
Published: September 2023

Pleomorphic adenoma is a benign tumor of the salivary glands. It commonly occurs in the parotid gland, palate, upper lip and cheek. The authors present a rare case of a pleomorphic adenoma of the lower lip in a 30 years old female admitted on 20th of July, 2022 at Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital, Islamabad with a complaint of painless, slightly itchy swelling on the lower lip for the last four months. Careful history and examination revealed a swelling of the lower lip which had gradually increased in size but was static for the last three months. As the patient complained of cosmetic and social inconvenience, it was surgically managed. Any post-operative complications were ruled out and the patient was sent home in a good condition. Much research is warranted to know the exact etiopathogenesis and appropriate management of pleomorphic adenoma of the lower lip.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.6.7191
How to cite this: Akram MU, Hasham N, Atique H, Raza A. Pleomorphic adenomia of lower lip: A case report. Pak J Med Sci. 2023;39(6):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.6.7191
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Lamotrigine-associated toxic epidermal necrolysis
Authors: Farooq Omair , Abbas Akifa , Ahmad Muhammad , Manzoor Abu Bakr 
Published: September 2023

Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) is an uncommon, idiosyncratic, potentially fatal dermatologic emergency affecting skin and mucous membranes. It is characterized clinically by blistering and widespread exfoliation, and pathologically by apoptosis of keratinocytes and epidermal necrosis. Drugs are one of the most common causative agents. The management ranges from nutritional support, care of denuded skin and mucosa to intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG). The patient being reported developed TEN, secondary to lamotrigine; an anti-epileptic drug also used for bipolar disorder. On admission, lamotrigine was discontinued, he was managed symptomatically and given IVIG for three days. His condition started to improve after the first dose and he got discharged on 6th day of admission.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.6.7513
How to cite this: Farooq O, Abbas A, Ahmad M, Manzoor AB. Lamotrigine-associated toxic epidermal necrolysis. Pak J Med Sci. 2023;39(6):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.6.7513
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.