bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Incidence of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy in the UK from 1991 to 2024: a longitudinal observational cohort study
Authors: Rosadas Carolina , Baylon Jerico , Greiller Claire , Adonis Adine , Dhasmana Divya , Davies Nicholas W. S. , Taylor Graham P. 
Published: January 2025

IntroductionHuman T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) may cause spinal cord inflammation, leading to HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (HAM). HAM is a chronic and progressive neurological disorder that is associated with increased mortality and impaired quality of life. There are limited data on the incidence of HAM, with higher rates seen in Latin America and the Caribbean compared to Japan. We investigated the incidence of HAM in a cohort of initially asymptomatic people with HTLV-1 in the United Kingdom (UK).MethodsThis is a longitudinal retrospective observational study of people with confirmed HTLV-1 infection who first attended the National Centre for Human Retrovirology in London, UK, between 1st March 1991 and 31st March 2024. Clinical records were analysed to calculate the incidence rate and cumulative incidence of HAM. A secondary analysis was conducted to assess HAM incidence in people living with HTLV-1 and HIV coinfection. At the first visit, the HTLV-1 proviral load was compared between incident cases and those who remained asymptomatic during follow-up.ResultsIn a cohort with up to 33 years of follow-up of individuals living with HTLV-1 in the UK, the cumulative incidence of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (HAM) was found to be 1.35% (4/297), with an incidence rate of 1.98 per 1,000 person-years. All people who developed HAM had a high proviral load at the first clinic visit. No cases of incident HAM were observed among individuals who had HIV-HTLV-1 coinfection during the study period.DiscussionThe incidence of HAM in the UK cohort is comparable to the rates reported in Latin America and the Caribbean and is higher than reported in other high-income countries. High proviral load of HTLV-1 predates the development of HAM.
Prolonged storage reduces viability of Peptacetobacter (Clostridium) hiranonis and core intestinal bacteria in fecal microbiota transplantation preparations for dogs
Authors: Correa Lopes Bruna , Turck Jonathan , Tolbert M. Katherine , Giaretta Paula R. , Suchodolski Jan S. , Pilla Rachel 
Published: January 2025

IntroductionFecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been described useful as an adjunct treatment for chronic enteropathy in dogs. Different protocols can be used to prepare and store FMT preparations, however, the effect of these methods on microbial viability is unknown. We aimed (1) to assess the viability of several core intestinal bacterial species by qPCR and (2) to assess Peptacetobacter (Clostridium) hiranonis viability through culture to further characterize bacterial viability in different protocols for FMT preparations.MethodsBacterial abundances were assessed in feces from six healthy dogs by qPCR after propidium monoazide (PMA-qPCR) treatment for selective quantitation of viable bacteria. Conservation methods tested included lyophilization (stored at 4°C and at −20°C) and freezing with glycerol-saline solution (12.5%) and without any cryoprotectant (stored at −20°C). Additionally, the abundance of P. hiranonis was quantified using bacterial culture.ResultsUsing PMA-qPCR, the viability of Faecalibacterium, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus, Blautia, Fusobacterium, and P. hiranonis was reduced in lyophilized fecal samples kept at 4°C and −20°C up to 6 months (p &lt; 0.05). In frozen feces without cryoprotectant, only Streptococcus and E. coli were not significantly reduced for up to 3 months (p &gt; 0.05). Lastly, no differences were observed in the viability of those species in glycerol-preserved samples up to 6 months (p &gt; 0.05). When using culture to evaluate the viability of P. hiranonis, we observed that P. hiranonis abundance was lower in lyophilized samples kept at 4°C than −20°C; and P. hiranonis abundance was higher in glycerol-preserved samples for up to 6 months than in samples preserved without glycerol for up to 3 months. Moreover, the highest abundance of P. hiranonis was observed in glycerol-preserved feces. After 3 months, P. hiranonis was undetectable by culture in 83% (5/6) of the frozen samples without glycerol.DiscussionWhile the lyophilization procedure initially reduced P. hiranonis abundance, P. hiranonis viability was stable thereafter for up to 6 months at −20°C. The higher bacterial viability detected in fecal samples preserved with glycerol confirms the use of this cryoprotectant as a reliable method to keep bacteria alive in the presence of fecal matrix for FMT purposes.
Anticarcinogenic cationic peptides derived from tryptic hydrolysis of β-lactoglobulin
Authors: Ibrahem Eman , Osman Ali , Taha Hefnawy , Abo El-Maati Mohamed F. , Sitohy Basel , Sitohy Mahmoud 
Published: January 2025

IntroductionThis study investigated the tryptic hydrolysis of β-lactoglobulin (BLG) for 30, 60, 90, and 120 min at 1/200 E/S (enzyme/substrate ratio, w/w) to prepare potentially anticarcinogenic peptides.MethodsThe properties of hydrolysates were characterized, including degree of hydrolysis, free amino acids, SDS-PAGE, FTIR, and antioxidant activity employing DPPH-assay, β-carotene/linoleic acid, and FRAP assay.ResultsBLG tryptic hydrolysate produced after 60 min hydrolysis recorded the highest antioxidant activity, and LCMS analysis revealed 162 peptides of molecular masses ranging from 800 to 5671Da, most of them are of hydrophobic nature. Within the low-MW peptide group (24 peptides), there were nine hydrophobic basic (HB) and seven hydrophobic acidic (HA), representing 38% and 29%, respectively. The HB peptides may be responsible for the considerable biological activity of the hydrolysate. With dominant basic character supporting the carcinogenic activity of this hydrolysate. The in vitro anticancer activity against Mcf-7, Caco-2, and A-549 human cancer cell lines proliferation by MTT assay recorded IC50% at 42.8, 76.92, and 45.93 μg/mL, respectively. Treating each cell line with IC50% of the hydrolysate for 24 h increased the apoptosis by enhancing the expression of caspase-9 by 5.66, 7.97, and 3.28 folds over the untreated control and inhibited angiogenesis by reducing VEGFR-2 expression by about 56, 76, and 70%, respectively, indicating strong anticancer and antiangiogenic actions on human cancer cells. BLG tryptic hydrolysate may serve as a natural anticarcinogenic agent. The results of this study demonstrated that BLG hydrolysates have direct anticancer and antiangiogenic effects on human cancer cells. The chemical composition and characteristics of the BLG tryptic hydrolysate influence these biological and anticancer activities. The tryptic hydrolysates were generally effective against the three cancer cell lines studied (Mcf-7, Caco-2, and A-549). This effectiveness was assessed by measuring cell proliferation using the MTT assay and by evaluating their impact on angiogenesis through inhibition of VEGFR-2 activity.DiscussionFuture studies may focus on enhancing the anticarcinogenic effectiveness of the peptides by isolating and evaluating the most prominent individual peptide and varying the treatment conditions.
Preoperative factors and four-year decompressive laminectomy success in symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis
Authors: Fields Daryl P. , Holloway Kathryn Lois , Levin Emily , Keyserling Harold , Nortman Samuel , Krein Sarah L. , Gentili Amilcare , Katz Jeffrey N. , Perera Subashan , Weiner Debra K. 
Published: January 2025

Background/contextDecompressive laminectomy (DL) for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is the most common spinal surgery for older adults. Biopsychosocial factors are associated with 1-year outcomes in these patients. While most surgical failures occur within 12 months, some are delayed, and factors responsible for delayed surgical failure are poorly understood.PurposeWe sought to identify preoperative factors associated with long-term surgical success as defined by the Brigham Spinal Stenosis (BSS) questionnaire.Study design/setting/patient sampleWithin this prospective cohort study, we used logistic regression modeling to identify preoperative biopsychosocial factors that predict 4-year DL success in 110 prospectively evaluated veterans who underwent DL without fusion for LSS.Outcome measures/methodsA questionnaire was used to evaluate BSS outcomes at 4 years post-DL.ResultsOverall, 69 participants (63%) demonstrated 4-year surgical success—sustained improvement in at least two of the three BSS domains (symptoms, function, and satisfaction). Greater catastrophizing [OR for 2 points 0.92 (0.84–1.00); p = 0.0512] and longer symptom duration [OR for 12 months 0.96 (0.93–0.99); p = 0.0231] were associated with lower likelihood of success, while presence of moderate/severe stenosis (OR 7.16–7.39; p = 0.0195–0.0260), college education [OR 2.93 (1.27–6.77); p = 0.0120], and greater treatment credibility [OR for 10 points 1.35 (1.10–1.66); p = 0.0048] were associated with greater likelihood of success in bivariate analyses. Symptom duration [OR 0.96 (0.92–0.99); p = 0.0208], treatment credibility [OR 1.51 (1.15–1.98); p = 0.0031], and stenosis severity (OR 14.4–17.4; p = 0.0045–0.0055) constituted a parsimonious set of factors in multivariable modeling.ConclusionsFurther work is needed to definitively identify preoperative factors that predict long-term outcomes. This may facilitate more accurate patient selection and counseling for patients undergoing DL for LSS.
KalmanFormer: using transformer to model the Kalman Gain in Kalman Filters
Authors: Shen Siyuan , Chen Jichen , Yu Guanfeng , Zhai Zhengjun , Han Pujie 
Published: January 2025

IntroductionTracking the hidden states of dynamic systems is a fundamental task in signal processing. Recursive Kalman Filters (KF) are widely regarded as an efficient solution for linear and Gaussian systems, offering low computational complexity. However, real-world applications often involve non-linear dynamics, making it challenging for traditional Kalman Filters to achieve accurate state estimation. Additionally, the accurate modeling of system dynamics and noise in practical scenarios is often difficult. To address these limitations, we propose the KalmanFormer, a hybrid model-driven and data-driven state estimator. By leveraging data, the KalmanFormer promotes the performance of state estimation under non-linear conditions and partial information scenarios.MethodsThe proposed KalmanFormer integrates classical Kalman Filter with a Transformer framework. Specifically, it utilizes the Transformer to learn the Kalman Gain directly from data without requiring prior knowledge of noise parameters. The learned Kalman Gain is then incorporated into the standard Kalman Filter workflow, enabling the system to better handle non-linearities and model mismatches. The hybrid approach combines the strengths of data-driven learning and model-driven methodologies to achieve robust state estimation.Results and discussionTo evaluate the effectiveness of KalmanFormer, we conducted numerical experiments in both synthetic and real-world dataset. The results demonstrate that KalmanFormer outperforms the classical Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) in the same settings. It achieves superior accuracy in tracking hidden states, demonstrating resilience to non-linearities and imprecise system models.
Enriched rehabilitation on brain functional connectivity in patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment
Authors: Huai Yaping , Yang Weiwei , Lv Yichen , Wang Kui , Zhou Hongyu , Lu Yiqing , Zhang Xiaoyun , Wang Yaze , Wang Jibing , Wang Xin 
Published: January 2025

ObjectiveThis study aims to observe the effect of enrichment rehabilitation (ER) on cognitive function in post-stroke patients and to clarify its underlying mechanism.MethodsForty patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to two groups: conventional medical rehabilitation (CM group) and ER intervention (ER group). All patients underwent assessments of overall cognitive function, attention function, and executive function within 24 h before the start of training and within 24 h after the 8 weeks of training. We investigated the altered resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) with the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in patients with PSCI following ER training through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Additionally, twenty people undergoing routine physical examinations in the outpatient department of our hospital were selected as the healthy control (HC) group.ResultsBefore training, both groups of PSCI patients exhibited significant impairment in overall cognitive function, attention function, and executive function compared to the HC group. However, there was no significant difference between the two PSCI patient groups. Following 8 weeks of treatment, both PSCI patient groups demonstrated substantial improvement in overall cognitive function, attention function, and executive function. Moreover, the ER group exhibited greater improvement after training compared to the CM group. Despite the improvements, the cognitive behavioral performance assessment scores of both PSCI patient groups remained lower than those of the HC group. RSFC analysis in the ER group revealed strengthened positive functional connectivity between the right DLPFC and the left superior frontal gyrus (SFG) and left anterior cingulate gyrus (ACG), along with decreased functional connectivity between the right DLPFC and the right superior temporal gyrus (STG) and right precentral gyrus post-ER intervention.ConclusionER intervention is more effective than conventional medical rehabilitation in improving the cognitive function of PSCI patients, potentially by augmenting the FC between the right DLPFC and dominant cognitive brain regions, such as the left SFG and left ACG while attenuating the FC between the right DLPFC and non-dominant hemisphere areas including the STG and precentral gyrus within the right hemisphere.
Temporary trigeminal ganglion stimulation can improve zoster-related trigeminal neuralgia: a retrospective study in a single center
Authors: Yue Kan , Xu Shengrong , Hu Xin , Li Junhong , He Ruilin , Jiang Zongbin 
Published: January 2025

IntroductionConventional management approaches have been challenged in dealing with zoster-related trigeminal neuralgia. Percutaneous trigeminal ganglion stimulation (TGS) has been rarely reported as a potential treatment option for alleviating pain associated with this condition. The present study investigated the application of percutaneous TGS in a series of patients suffering from Zoster-related trigeminal neuralgia to evaluate its potential efficacy of pain relief.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients who underwent TGS at the Department of Pain Management, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University. All patients were followed for up to 6 months. Clinical data, including the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and medication consumption were recorded before and after treatment. Adverse events related to the treatment were also documented.ResultsA total of nine patients underwent percutaneous TGS for Zoster-related trigeminal neuralgia. Among these patients, five (56%) experienced more than 50% pain relief at discharge. At the six-month follow-up, the mean VAS score decreased from preoperative 6.1 ± 1.5 to 2.5 ± 1.9, demonstrating a statistically significant reduction (t = 4.36, p &lt; 0.05). The PSQI also showed a significant reduction from a baseline score of 14.1 to 6.5 at the six-month follow-up (Z = 4.2, p &lt; 0.05). Seven patients reported satisfaction with the treatment and no serious adverse events occurred.DiscussionThe results of the present study suggest that this contributes growing evidence that percutaneous TGS may be an effective treatment for Zoster - related trigeminal neuralgia.
Characterizing executive functioning and associated behaviors in individuals with dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A) syndrome
Authors: Rea Hannah M. , Webb Sara Jane , Kurtz-Nelson Evangeline C. , Hudac Caitlin M. , Bernier Raphael A. , Miles Conor , Earl Rachel , Whiting Alana , Eayrs Curtis , Johansson Margaret , Wang Tianyun , Eichler Evan E. , Neuhaus Emily 
Published: January 2025

IntroductionDYRK1A, a protein kinase located on human chromosome 21, plays a role in postembryonic neuronal development and degeneration. Alterations to DYRK1A have been consistently associated with cognitive functioning and neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., autism, intellectual disability). However, the broader cognitive and behavioral phenotype of DYRK1A syndrome requires further characterization. Specifically, executive functioning, or cognitive processes that are necessary for goal-directed behavior, has not yet been characterized in this population.MethodsIndividuals with DYRK1A variants (n = 29; ages 4 to 21 years) were assessed with a standardized protocol with multiple measures of executive functioning: Delis-Kaplan Executive Function Schedule, and chronologically age-appropriate caregiver-report forms of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) and Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA). We first examined the feasibility and appropriateness of established executive functioning measures among participants with DYRK1A syndrome to inform selection of executive functioning tools in future research. We then characterized executive functioning among the group, including associations with other phenotypic features.ResultsNeurocognitive assessments of executive functioning were deemed infeasible due to cognitive and verbal functioning. Caregiver-report revealed elevated executive functioning concerns related to self-monitoring, working memory, and planning/organization on the BRIEF, and attention and ADHD on the CBCL. Only two participants had existing ADHD diagnoses; however, 5 participants (out of 10 participants with data) exceeded the cutoff on the BRIEF, 13 individuals (out of 27 with data) exceeded the cutoff on the ASEBA ADHD subscale, and 18 exceeded the cutoff on the ASEBA attention subscale. There was concordance between ADHD diagnosis and the ASEBA, but not BRIEF. Executive functioning was correlated with nonverbal IQ and autism traits.DiscussionObjective measures of executive functioning are needed for individuals with intellectual disability who are nonverbal and/or have motor limitations. Diagnostic overshadowing, or the tendency to attribute all problems to intellectual disability and to leave other co-existing conditions, such as executive functioning challenges or ADHD, undiagnosed, is common. Phenotypic characterization of executive functioning is therefore important for our understanding of DYRK1A syndrome and for ensuring that caregivers’ concerns are addressed, and individuals receive the clinical services that best meet their needs.
Dietary glycemic and insulin indices with the risk of osteoporosis: results from the Iranian teachers cohort study
Authors: HoushiarRad Anahita , Fotros Danial , Esmaili Mina , Sohouli Mohammad Hassan , Ajami Marjan , Abdollahi Morteza , Hatami Marbini Motahare 
Published: January 2025

BackgroundOsteoporosis is a chronic condition characterized by reduced bone strength and an elevated risk of fractures. The influence of diet and glucose metabolism on bone health and the development of osteoporosis has been an area of interest. This study aimed to investigate the potential association between dietary glycemic index (DGI), dietary glycemic load (DGL), dietary insulin index (DII), dietary insulin load (DIL), and the odds of osteoporosis among Iranian adults.MethodsData from 12,696 Iranian teachers (35–50 years) in a cross-sectional study on diet, nutrition, physical activity, and diseases were analyzed. The participants had no history of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, thrombosis, or cancer and consumed between 800 and 4,200 kcal/day. We estimated DGI, DGL, DII, and DIL from a validated semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ). We also diagnosed osteoporosis using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.ResultsIn the fully adjusted model, higher DGI and DGL were significantly associated with increased odds of osteoporosis (OR = 1.78 and 1.46 for the highest vs. the lowest tertile; P trend &lt; 0.05). Nonetheless, no significant association was found between DII or DIL and osteoporosis prevalence. Moreover, higher DIL and DGL were associated with a higher intake of calorie-dense/nutrient-poor foods and a lower intake of antioxidant-rich foods.ConclusionAlthough our study showed that high DGI/DGL increased osteoporosis risk in Iranian teachers, no association was found between DII/DIL and osteoporosis prevalence. More research is needed to confirm these results and understand the mechanisms involved.
Associations of urinary caffeine metabolites with sex hormones: comparison of three statistical models
Authors: Zhou Jianli , Qin Linyuan 
Published: January 2025

AimsThe association between urinary caffeine and caffeine metabolites with sex hormones remains unclear. This study used three statistical models to explore the associations between urinary caffeine and its metabolites and sex hormones among adults.MethodsWe selected the participants aged ≥18 years in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data 2013–2014 as our study subjects. We performed principal components analysis (PCA) to investigate the underlying correlation structure of urinary caffeine and its metabolites. Then we used these principal components (PCs) as independent variables to conduct multiple linear regression analysis to explore the associations between caffeine metabolites and sex hormones (E2, TT, SHBG). We also fitted weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) methods to further assess these relationships.ResultsIn the PCA-multivariable linear regression, PC2 negatively correlates with E2: β = −0.01, p-value = 0.049 (male population). In the WQS regression model, the WQS indices were associated with SHBG and TT both in male (SHBG: WQS index = −0.11, p &lt; 0.001; TT: WQS index = −0.10, p &lt; 0.001) and female (SHBG: WQS index = −0.10, p &lt; 0.001; TT: WQS index = −0.04, p &lt; 0.001) groups. Besides, the WQS index was significantly associated with E2 in females (p &lt; 0.05). In the BKMR model, despite no significant difference in the overall association between caffeine metabolites and the sex hormones (E2, TT, SHBG), there was nonetheless a declining trend in the male population E2 group, in the male and female population SHBG groups also observed a downward trend.ConclusionWhen considering the results of these three models, the whole-body burden of caffeine metabolites, especially the caffeine metabolites in the PC2 metabolic pathway was significantly negatively associated with E2 in males. Considering the advantages and disadvantages of the three statistical models, we recommend applying diverse statistical methods and interpreting their results together.