bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Elevated biomarkers of neural injury in older adults following head-down bed rest: links to cardio-postural deconditioning with spaceflight and aging
Authors: Blaber Andrew P. , Sadeghian Farshid , Naz Divsalar Donya , Scarisbrick Isobel A. 
Published: September 2023

IntroductionProlonged physical inactivity with bed rest or spaceflight is associated with cardiovascular and neuromuscular deconditioning; however, its impact on neural integrity of cardio-postural reflexes and possible mitigation with exercise has not been examined. We assessed the association between the physiological deconditioning of bed rest immobilization with neural injury markers and the effects of 60–75 min of daily exercise.MethodsData were collected as part of a randomized clinical trial (clinicaltrials.govidentifier: NCT04964999) at the McGill University Medical Centre. Twenty-two 55- to 65-year-old healthy volunteers gave informed consent and took part. Within sex, participants were randomly assigned to exercise (60- to 75-min daily) or control (inactive) groups and spent 14 days in continuous 6° head-down tilt. Neural injury [neurofilament light chain (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), total tau (t-Tau), myelin basic protein (MBP), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1)], as well as interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) biomarkers were measured before, during, and after bed rest. The false discovery rate with Huber M-estimation was used to correlate changes in biomarkers with cardiovascular and muscular function changes over bed rest.ResultsBed rest elevated NfL, GFAP, TNF-α, and IL-6 in all participants and reduced IGF-1 in females only. With standing, changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and lower limb muscle motoneuron activity correlated with changes in TNF-α and BDNF. Baroreflex control, leg muscle maximal voluntary contraction, and postural sway are correlated with GFAP and NfL. Exercise participants had fewer interactions than control participants, but significant correlations still existed, with both groups exhibiting similar reductions in orthostatic tolerance.DiscussionAn hour of daily exercise in older persons otherwise immobilized for 2 weeks did not abate bed rest-induced increases in serum signatures of neural injury or pro-inflammatory markers. Exercise reduced the number of physiological interactions of biomarkers, but significant cardio-postural correlations remained with no protection against post-bed rest orthostatic intolerance. The identification of associations of inflammatory and neural injury biomarkers with changes in cardio-postural physiology and exercise points to biotherapeutic opportunities and improved exercise interventions for astronauts and individuals in bed rest.Clinical trial registrationhttps://www.clinicaltrials.gov/search?cond=NCT04964999, identifier: NCT04964999.
Value of sarcopenia in the resection of colorectal liver metastases—a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wagner D. , Wienerroither V. , Scherrer M. , Thalhammer M. , Faschinger F. , Lederer A. , Hau H. M. , Sucher R. , Kornprat P. 
Published: September 2023

IntroductionSarcopenia is defined as a decline in muscle function as well as muscle mass. Sarcopenia itself and sarcopenic obesity, defined as sarcopenia in obese patients, have been used as surrogates for a worse prognosis in colorectal cancer. This review aims to determine if there is evidence for sarcopenia as a prognostic parameter in colorectal liver metastases (CRLM).MethodsPubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and CINAHL databases were searched for articles that were selected in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). A random effects meta-analysis was conducted.ResultsAfter eliminating duplicates and screening abstracts (n = 111), 949 studies were screened, and 33 publications met the inclusion criteria. Of them, 15 were selected after close paper review, and 10 were incorporated into the meta-analysis, which comprised 825 patients. No significant influence of sarcopenia for OS (odds ratio (OR), 2.802 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.094–1.11); p = 0.4) or DFS (OR, 1.203 (95% CI, 1.162–1.208); p = 0.5) was found, although a trend was defined toward sarcopenia. Sarcopenia significantly influenced postoperative complication rates (OR, 7.905 (95% CI, 1.876–3.32); p = 0.001) in two studies where data were available.ConclusionExisting evidence on the influence of sarcopenia on postoperative OS as well as DFS in patients undergoing resection for CRLM exists. We were not able to confirm that sarcopenic patients have a significantly worse OS and DFS in our analysis, although a trend toward this hypothesis was visible. Sarcopenia seems to influence complication rates but prospective studies are needed.
Developing inclusive digital health diagnostic for schistosomiasis: a need for guidance via target product profiles
Authors: Onasanya Adeola , Bengtson Michel , de Goeje Ludo , van Engelen Jo , Diehl Jan-Carel , van Lieshout Lisette 
Published: September 2023

IntroductionThe INSPIRED project aims to develop inclusive Digital Optical Diagnostic Devices (DODDs) for schistosomiasis, to support disease management by enabling rapid diagnostic results, to improve efficient data management to guide decision-making and to provide healthcare workers with critical health information to facilitate follow-up action. Due to the non-availability of Target Product Profiles (TPPs) for guiding the development of digital diagnostics for schistosomiasis, we explored existing diagnostic TPPs.MethodsUsing a curated open access database (Notion database), we studied a selection of TPPs for diagnosing infectious diseases, focusing on specifications related to digital health products for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).ResultsEighteen TPPs originating from 12 documents, covering 13 specific diseases, were selected and their characteristics were labeled and entered into the database. Further exploration of the database revealed several gaps, including a lack of stakeholder input, sustainability, and TPP availability. Other significant gaps related to digital health platform interconnectivity and data stewardship specifically in relation to digital diagnostics, including DODDs.DiscussionThese findings reflect two possible scenarios: (1) there is currently no need for digital diagnostic devices for schistosomiasis and, by extension for other NTDs; or (2) those needs are not yet covered by TPPs. Therefore, we recommend that digital health diagnostics are included in the use cases for schistosomiasis control and elimination, at least in the ideal/desirable scenario, as this will guide research and incentivize investment in digital health diagnostics for schistosomiasis.
Alleviation of allergic conjunctivitis by (±)5(6)-dihydroxy-8Z,11Z,14Z,17Z-eicosatetraenoic acid in mice
Authors: Nagata Nanae , Suzuki Tomoka , Takenouchi Shinya , Kobayashi Koji , Murata Takahisa 
Published: September 2023

Background: Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) is a common ophthalmologic disorder that causes symptoms that often reduces a patient’s quality of life (QOL). We investigated the effects of the eicosapentaenoic acid metabolite (±)5(6)-dihydroxy-8Z,11Z,14Z,17Z-eicosatetraenoic acid ((±)5(6)-DiHETE) on AC using a mouse model.Methods: BALB/c mice were sensitized with two injections of short ragweed pollen in alum, challenged fifth with pollen in eyedrops. The clinical signs and tear volume were evaluated at 15 min after the final challenge. Histamine-induced ocular inflammation model was prepared by instilling histamine onto the surface of the eye. Fifteen minutes after histamine application, tear volume was measured using the Schirmer tear test. Miles assay was performed to investigate vascular permeability. To cause scratching behavior 10 μg of serotonin was injected in the cheek.Results: Repeated topical application of pollen induced conjunctivitis, accompanied by eyelid edema and tearing in mice. Pollen application typically degranulates mast cells and recruits eosinophils to the conjunctiva. Intraperitoneal administration of 300 μg/kg of (±)5(6)-DiHETE significantly inhibited pollen-induced symptoms. The administration of (±)5(6)-DiHETE also attenuated mast cell degranulation and eosinophil infiltration into the conjunctiva. To assess the effects of (±)5(6)-DiHETE on the downstream pathway of mast cell activation in AC, we used a histamine-induced ocular inflammation model. Topical application of 4 μg/eye histamine caused eyelid edema and tearing and increased vascular permeability, as indicated by Evans blue dye extravasation. Intraperitoneal administration of 300 μg/kg or topical administration of 1 μg/eye (±)5(6)-DiHETE inhibited histamine-induced manifestations. Finally, we assessed the effects of (±)5(6)-DiHETE on itching. An intradermal injection of 10 μg serotonin in the cheek caused scratching behavior in mice. Intraperitoneal administration of 300 μg/kg (±)5(6)-DiHETE significantly inhibited serotonin-induced scratching.Conclusion: Thus, (±)5(6)-DiHETE treatment broadly suppressed AC pathology and could be a novel treatment option for AC.
Transcriptome analysis provides insight into the regulatory mechanisms underlying pollen germination recovery at normal high ambient temperature in wild banana (Musa itinerans)
Authors: Zhang Chunyu , Zhang Chengyu , Xu Xiaoqiong , Liao Minzhang , Tong Ning , Zhang Zihao , Chen Yukun , Xu Han Xu , Lin Yuling , Lai Zhongxiong 
Published: September 2023

IntroductionCultivated banana are polyploid, with low pollen fertility, and most cultivars are male sterile, which leads to difficulties in banana breeding research. The selection of male parent with excellent resistance and pollen fertility is therefore essential for banana breeding. Wild banana (Musa itinerans) have developed many good characteristics during natural selection and constitute an excellent gene pool for breeding. Therefore, research on wild banana breeding is very important for banana breeding.ResultsIn the current analysis, we examined the changes in viability of wild banana pollens at different temperatures by in vitro germination, and found that the germination ability of wild banana pollens cultured at 28°C for 2 days was higher than that of pollens cultured at 23°C (pollens that could not germinate normally under low temperature stress), 24°C (cultured at a constant temperature for 2 days) and 32°C (cultured at a constant temperature for 2 days). To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the germination restoration process in wild banana pollens, we selected the wild banana pollens that had lost its germination ability under low temperature stress (23°C) as the control group (CK) and the wild banana pollens that had recovered its germination ability under constant temperature incubation of 28°C for 2 days as the treatment group (T) for transcriptome sequencing. A total of 921 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in CK vs T, of which 265 were up-regulated and 656 were down-regulated. The combined analysis of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) revealed that the activation, metabolism of various substances (lipids, sugars, amino acids) play a major role in restoring pollen germination capacity. TCA cycle and the sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthetic pathways were also significantly enriched in the KEGG pathway. And we found that some DEGs may be associated with pollen wall formation, DNA methylation and DNA repair. The cysteine content, free fatty acid (FFA) content, H2O2 content, fructose content, and sucrose content of pollen were increased at treatment of 28°C, while D-Golactose content was decreased. Finally, the GO pathway was enriched for a total of 24 DEGs related to pollen germination, of which 16 DEGs received targeted regulation by 14 MYBs.DiscussionsOur study suggests that the balance between various metabolic processes, pollen wall remodelling, DNA methylation, DNA repairs and regulation of MYBs are essential for germination of wild banana pollens.
Paediatric traumatic chronic subdural hematoma - a very rare entity
Authors: Kumar Kankane Vivek , Shukala Avadhesh , Iyenger S.N. 
Published: September 2023

Objectives: To study the prevalence of Traumatic chronic subdural hematoma in children.
Material and methods: This is a prospective study conducted at a tertiary care centre at Gwalior, from November 2020 to November 2021. We encountered 5 patients admitted for signs of raised intracranial tension due to Head trauma, showing Chronic subdural Haematoma ( CSDH) in plain CT Head or MRI brain. All patients had no history of loss of consciousness, no history of vomiting, no history of seizures, no history of nasal or ear bleed and GCS was 15/15. All blood investigation and coagulation profiles are normal. Frontal and parietal 2.5 cm trephine craniotomy with evacuation of subdural hematoma was done. Patients were followed up at 1 month and 6 months
Result: All children are male. Age ranging from 7 years to 14 years, Mean age of presentation was 10 years. All patients had a history of head trauma and mode of injury road traffic accidents (RTA) and Glasgow coma scale(GCS) at admission was 15 and duration of developed CSDH was 20 days to 42 days’(mean30.40 days). All patients had good outcomes and the average follow-up was 6.5 months. All patients went on Surgical intervention. and outcome assessed by Glasgow Outcome score. 3 out of 5 patients had brownish fluid as a collection in subdural space while the other 2 patients had fluid that has motor oil like consistency in subdural space. All the patients were subjected to a similar procedure. The postoperative course was uneventful. Mean hospital stay was 7 days. A postoperative scan was done on the 7th day.
Conclusion: Chronic Subdural Hematoma is a disease reported in infants and the elderly population. It is uncommon in the age group of 2-14 years. Most of the children present with symptoms of raised intracranial tension due to head injury, with no reported history of repeated head trauma, child abuse & coagulopathy. Traumatic Chronic subdural collection should be considered as one of the diagnoses as the prognosis of this disease is better. However, due to the scarcity of reports in the literature, established guidelines are not available.
Clinico-pathological features and molecular background of oligodendrogliomas
Authors: Popescu G. , Paslaru Francesca , Paslaru A. C. , Apostol M. , Zaharia M.C. , Popescu M. , Gorgan R. M. 
Published: September 2023

Background: Diffuse gliomas are the most frequent primary central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms, originating from the parenchyma itself, oligodendrogliomas accounting for approximately 10% of cerebral gliomas. For the past 20 years, the study of genetic/molecular mechanisms of glioma genesis and progression has gradually come into focus. However, the biological and clinical significance of these mutations are still to be completely characterized. The purpose of this article is to describe our clinical experience with oligodendrogliomas and to review the current literature, in order to better describe the characteristics of the molecular/genetic oligodendroglioma subgroups.
Methods: We performed a single-institution retrospective study that included 66 patients with oligodendrogliomas operated in our department between January 2011 and December 2018.
Results: Our study included 26 female patients (39%) and 40 male patients (59%). The mean age at presentation was 39.9year-old (range 26-59year-old). The tumours were located predominantly in the right hemisphere (53%), the majority being situated in the frontal lobe (59%). 64% of the patients had signs of mass effect on the imaging studies, 13% presented with brain herniation syndromes, and 16 % of the surgically treated patients had a relapse with regrowth and malignant transformation of the tumour. The most common complaint that the patients had at admission was a headache. Seizures were the second most common symptom that determined the patients to seek medical attention.
Conclusion: The expanding knowledge regarding the genetic alterations of oligodendroglial tumours could lead to significant changes in treatment strategies. However, the utility of each particular marker in planning the treatment has yet to be established. Emerging data will, most likely, improve outcome prediction and adjuvant therapy strategies by identifying the patients most likely to benefit from a particular treatment.
Delayed cerebrospinal fluid ascites following ventriculoperitoneal shunt
Authors: Khizar Ahtesham , Zahid Soha 
Published: September 2023

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) ascites is an abnormal accumulation of CSF within the peritoneal cavity caused by the peritoneum's inability to absorb the CSF, following a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt surgery. Excessive CSF production (e.g, choroid plexus papilloma and choroid plexus villous hypertrophy), high CSF protein secondary to chronic infection (e.g. tuberculosis), and brain tumours (e.g, optic gliomas and craniopharyngiomas) have all been suggested as contributing factors to the formation of CSF ascites. Peritoneal inflammation as a result of several shunt revisions or some non-specific inflammatory reaction to shunt material has also been explored.
Case Presentation: A 3-year-old girl with lumbar myelomeningocele and delayed CSF ascites following VP shunt is reported. Therapeutic paracentesis was employed to relieve abdominal distension, although recurring accumulation was common. The VP shunt was removed and instead of a Ventriculo-atrial shunt, she underwent Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy (ETV). CSF ascites gradually disappeared after ETV over a two-week period.
Conclusions: Abdominal paracentesis to relieve ascites and conversion of a Ventriculoperitoneal shunt to a Ventriculo-atrial shunt are commonly used to treat CSF ascites, however Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy, where feasible, is another alternative treatment that can be performed to treat this condition.
Flail bone flap in decompressive craniotomy for infants
Authors: Elshirbiny Mohammad Fekry , Amen Mohamed Mohsen , Ahmed Assem 
Published: September 2023

Background: Subdural hematoma in infants is a challenging condition. Acute subdural hematomas can cause intracranial hypertension and a midline shift, but decompressive craniotomies in young patients have shown promising results with specific complications in this age group. Hinge craniotomy is an old technique used in many neurosurgical procedures associated with elevated intracranial pressure. The objective of this study is to report the usage of flail bone flap in the management of acute subdural hematoma in infants, its outcome, advantages, disadvantages and related complications.
Methods: This is a review of the medical records of 5 infants younger than one-year-old who underwent decompressive craniotomy as management of acute subdural hematoma at Mansoura university hospital.
Results: In this series, five babies were included. Operative time for decompressive craniotomy (DC) ranged from 1 h and 40 min to 3 h. Four infants survived. Three infants recovered with good outcomes and one infant developed hemiparesis.
Conclusion: The use of flail bone flap technique in decompressive craniotomy is associated with a high success rate and low incidence of complications. Large-based studies are still required for a better assessment of the results.
Personal experience in intramedullary lesions, in adults
Authors: Iacob G. 
Published: September 2023

Background: Intramedullary spinal cord lesions (IMSCL) although they are rare, it generates invasion and destruction of the spinal cord. Such lesions must be diagnosed as early as possible, some have histological and genetic aggressiveness, generating severe functional neurological damage.
Objective: To identify the optimal strategy for diagnosis and treatment in IMSC, to improve prognosis.
Methods: A retrospective clinical study from 2001 to 2021, was performed on 33 adult patients (18 women, 15 men), diagnosed with magnetic resonance imaging with IMSCT. The most common topography was: thoracic 27 cases disposed between T2-T12, cervical 6 cases disposed between C2-C6, lumbar 2 cases at L1-L2. The most frequent symptoms in my cases were: unilateral radicular pain related to the tumour topography or bilateral diffuse burning pain, especially during the night; back and neck stiffness; paresthesia, motor disturbances with an ASIA score of 2-4, and severe atrophy especially in cervical topography, ataxia, initial retention, impotence and later loss of bowel and bladder function with incontinence. All patients were operated by the same senior neurosurgeon with at least 6 months of follow-up postoperatively. For functional outcome, the most important predictors are the preoperative neurological grade, and the high-grade IMSCT generating recurrence and reoperations.
Results: The patients addressed the clinic for pain and neurological deficits; the topography of the intramedullary lesion was confirmed by MRI native / with contrast, ultrasonography, and spinal arteriography. Several histologic entities were recorded: ependymomas - 12 cases, astrocytomas - 8 cases, hemangioblastomas - 3 cases, cavernomas - 6 cases, metastases - 2 cases, germ cell tumour - 1 case, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour - 1 case. Gross total excision was performed in 25 cases, with no mortality. In eight cases recurrences were recorded requiring the resumption of surgical treatment. In all cases physiotherapy-rehabilitation approach was used, and the outcome was correlated with pre-operatory motor deficits severity, 3 patients with thoracic high-grade astrocytoma underwent stereotactic spine radiosurgery (SSR) with Cyberknife abroad, stopping tumour growth one year after.
Conclusions: Intramedullary spinal cord lesions (IMSCL) are rare conditions, and MRI development allows an early diagnosis of these tumours. To adequately counselled patients, with minor preoperative deficits, real expectations concerning the functional outcomes, in benign tumours, and even anatomical healing should be based still on refinements of radical surgical excision. Actual radiotherapy techniques should be used in aggressive tumours.
PICA ischemic stroke
Authors: Covache-Busuioc Razvan Adrian , Costin Horia Petre , Saceleanu Vicentiu Mircea 
Published: September 2023

The posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) has a unique anatomical complexity, which is of great clinical importance and is involved in many pathologies, such as aneurysm, ischemic stroke, neurovascular compression syndrome (NVCS), arteriovenous malformation (AVM) and brain tumour (1).
PICA has a sinuous and variable trajectory, divided into 5 segments. PICA infarction usually manifests lateral bulbar syndrome and is more likely to cause mass effects. PICA frequently compresses the bulb and cranial nerves, resulting in various neurovascular compression syndromes (NVCS) (2).
The ischemic stroke caused by thromboembolism in the PICA segment is accounted for more than 2% of all cases of ischemic stroke (3). Moreover, it tends to be underdiagnosed due to the symptomatology, represented usually by vertigo which mimics a possible peripheral vestibulopathy (4).