bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Diagnostic Value of Optical Coherence Tomography for Detecting Glaucoma in High Myopia
Authors: Zhang Yan , Wang Wenxing , Chen Jiawei , Huang Chukai 
Published: March 2023

Précis:
Glaucomatous changes in high myopia are difficult to detect due to the similarity of functional and structural alteration in both disease. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) shows relatively high diagnostic accuracy in glaucoma with high myopia (HM).

Purpose:
This study aims to evaluate the thickness differences of OCT parameters between HM and HM with glaucoma (HMG), and to verify which parameters have a higher diagnostic value on this issue according to area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve.

Materials and Methods:
A comprehensive literature search was performed on PubMed, Embase, Medline, Cochrane, CNKI, and Wanfang. Eligible articles were identified by reviewing the retrieved results. The weighted mean difference and 95% CI for continuous outcomes and pooled AUROC were calculated.

Results:
Fifteen studies with a total of 1304 eyes, including 569 high myopia and 735 HMG were comprised in this meta-analysis. Our results showed that, in comparison with HM, HMG had a significantly thinner thickness for retinal nerve fiber layer except for nasal sector, macular ganglion cell inner plexiform layer thickness except for superior sector and macular ganglion cell complex thickness. In contrast, the inferior sector and average thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer, macular ganglion cell complex and ganglion cell inner plexiform layer had relatively high AUROC.

Conclusion:
Based on the current study of retinal OCT measurement differences between HM and HMG, ophthalmologists should pay more attention to the thinning in inferior sector and the average thickness of macular and optic disc during the management of HM.
Effects of COVID-19 on Retinal and Choroidal Thickness by Optical Coherence Tomography
Authors: Sumer Fatma , Subasi Sevgi 
Published: March 2023

Précis:
The aim of our study was to evaluate the subclinical changes in the macula, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and choroidal thickness after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection using spectral domain optical coherence tomography.

Methods:
Our study was prospectively designed and involved 170 eyes of 85 patients. Patients with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive COVID-19 infection were examined in the ophthalmology clinic before and after infection were included. All included patients had mild COVID-19 with no hospitalization and no need for intubation. Control ophthalmic examination was repeated at least 6 months after PCR positivity. Macular and choroidal thickness and RNFL parameters were compared before and at least 6 months after PCR-positive COVID-19 infection using optical coherence tomography.

Results:
When the mean macular thickness data were evaluated, a significant decrease was detected in the inner (mean difference, −3.37 µm; 95% CI: −6.09 to −0.65, P = 0.021) and outer (mean difference, −6.56 µm; 95% CI: −9.26 to −3.86, P < 0.001) temporal segments and the inner (mean difference, −3.39 µm; 95% CI: −5.46 to −1.32, P = 0.002) and outer (mean difference, −2.01 µm; 95% CI, −3.70 to −0.31, P = 0.018) superior segments in the post-COVID-19 measurements compared with pre–COVID-19 measurements. Similarly, on RNFL evaluation, some thinning was evident in the temporal superior (mean = 1.14 µm, P = 0.004) and temporal inferior (mean = 1.30 µm, P = 0.032) regions. All choroidal regions, including central, nasal 500 µm and 1500 µm and temporal 500 µm and 1500 µm, exhibited significant thinning (P < 0.001).

Conclusion:
At least 6 months after mild COVID-19 infection, significant thinning was seen in the temporal and superior quadrants of the macula, the temporal superior and temporal inferior regions of the RNFL, and all measured areas of choroidal regions.
Assessment of bone lesions with 18F-FDG PET/MRI in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Fang Yuting , Chen Shoucong , Xu Yuanfan , Qiang Mengyun , Tao Changjuan , Huang Shuang , Wang Lei , Chen Xiaozhong , Cao Caineng 
Published: March 2023

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of 18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18F) PET/MRI (18F-FDG PET/MRI) for detecting bone metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Patients and methods
Between May 2017 and May 2021, 58 histologically proven NPC patients who underwent both 18F-FDG PET/MRI and 99mTc-MDP planar bone scintigraphy (PBS) for tumor staging were included. With the exception of the head, the skeletal system was classified into four groups: the spine, the pelvis, the thorax and the appendix.

Results
Nine (15.5 %) of 58 patients were confirmed to have bone metastasis. There was no statistical difference between PET/MRI and PBS in patient-based analysis (P = 0.125). One patient with a super scan was confirmed to have extensive and diffuse bone metastases and excluded for lesion-based analysis. Of the 57 patients, all 48 true metastatic lesions were positive in PET/MRI whereas only 24 true metastatic lesions were positive in PBS (spine: 8, thorax: 0, pelvis: 11 and appendix: 5). PET/MRI was observed to be more sensitive than PBS in lesion-based analysis (sensitivity 100.0% versus 50.0 %; P < 0.001).

Conclusions
Compared with PBS for tumor staging of NPC, PET/MRI was observed to be more sensitive in the lesion-based analysis of bone metastasis.
A Cross-sectional Survey to Review Food Safety Practices Within Pediatric Oncology and Stem Cell Transplant Centers in the United Kingdom
Authors: Morris Alisa , O’ Connor Graeme , Renshaw Gemma 
Published: March 2023

Food Safety and Pediatric Cancer:
Neutropenia is a common complication of chemotherapy, which poses a high risk of infection and mortality. Neutropenic diet has historically been recommended for those undergoing chemotherapy. The rationale is to reduce the risk of foodborne infection by avoiding foods considered to be of high microbial risk. However, evidence for this diet is limited, and there is a lack of national consensus guidelines.

Aim:
Ascertain food safety advice across specialist centers providing high-dose chemotherapy for malignancy or stem cell transplants in the United Kingdom.

Materials and Methods:
Dietitians at 22 centers were contacted to complete a questionnaire regarding food safety guidance implemented at their center for pediatric patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy or stem cell transplants. Questions related to restricted foods, specific guidelines implemented, ward food provision, and timings of food provision.

Results:
Sixteen centers responded (73%). Many aspects of neutropenic diet were consistent across centers; avoidance of unpasteurized dairy products (94%), raw/undercooked meat (94%), and unpasteurized pâté (88%). There was a lack of consistency regarding water sources used on wards and unpeeled fruits and vegetables.

Conclusions:
Food safety guidance for neutropenic patients differs across centers, with some practices seeming outdated and nonevidence based. A national review of food safety guidance should be considered to provide a standardized approach.
Circulation of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) isolates expressing CS23 from the environment to clinical settings
Authors: Toledo Carla Calderon , von Mentzer Astrid , Agramont Jorge , Thorell Kaisa , Zhou Yingshun , Szabó Miklós , Colque Patricia , Kuhn Inger , Gutiérrez-Cortez Sergio , Joffré Enrique 
Published: March 2023

AbstractEnterotoxigenicEscherichia coli(ETEC) is one of the leading causes of infant diarrhea in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Diarrheal pathogens are transmitted through environmental reservoirs; however, the bacterial clones that spread across the human-environment interphases remind unexplored. We aimed to determine the relationship and clonal dissemination of ETEC between children with diarrhea (> 5 years of age) and polluted water samples from local river in La Paz, Bolivia. Our study used whole genome sequencing and phenotypic fingerprinting system (PhenePlates) to analyze ETEC strains. We showed that ST218 and ST410 LT+STh CS23 ETEC were found with high frequency in both samples. The CS23 ETEC isolates were found within several STs,E. coliphylogroups A, B1, C, and D, and across ETEC lineages. Our comparative genomic analysis and PhenePlate screening of globally distributed clinical ETEC strains suggested that virulent CS23 plasmids acquisition occurs independently of the bacterial chromosomal background. Environmental strains were more often multidrug-resistant (MDR) than clinical isolates and harbored the class 1 integron-integrase geneintI1next to the MDR cassettes. Retrospective analysis of antibiotic resistance in ETEC revealed a high frequency of MDR in clinical isolates. The LT+STh CS23 ETEC isolates showed an increased biofilm ability at environmental temperature, equal cytotoxicity, and significantly lower adherence to human epithelial cells compared to ETEC expressing other CFs. Together, our findings suggest that CS23 is more prevalent in ETEC than previously estimated, and the Choqueyapu River is a reservoir for LT+STh CS23 ETEC containing strains capable of causing diarrheal cases in children.ImportanceThe importance of clean water cannot be overstated. It is a vital resource for maintaining health and well-being. Unfortunately, water sources contaminated with fecal discharges from animal and human origin due to a lack of wastewater management poses a significant risk to communities, as they can become a means of transmission pathogenic bacteria like enterotoxigenicE. coli(ETEC). ETEC is frequently found in polluted water in countries with a high prevalence of diarrheal diseases, such as Bolivia. This study provides novel insights into the circulation of ETEC between diarrheal cases and polluted water sources in areas with high rates of diarrheal disease. The findings highlight the Choqueyapu River as a potential reservoir for emerging pathogens carrying antibiotic-resistance genes, making it a crucial area for monitoring and intervention. Furthermore, the results demonstrate the feasibility of a low-cost, high-throughput method for tracking bacterial pathogens in low- and middle-income countries, making it a valuable tool for One Health monitoring efforts.
Characterization of Long COVID among U.S. Medicare Beneficiaries using Claims Data
Authors: Lu Yun , Lindaas Arnstein , Izurieta Hector S , Cozen Myrna , Menis Mikhail , Shi Xiangyu , Steele Whitney , Wernecke Michael , Chillarige Yoganand , Kelman Jeffrey A , Forshee Richard A 
Published: March 2023

ABSTRACTThis retrospective study utilized healthcare claims data to investigate the incidence, patient demographics, and concurrent diagnoses associated with long COVID in the U.S. Medicare population. Nearly 194,000 (0.6%) beneficiaries had post-COVID condition diagnoses, with higher rates among nursing home residents. Of those medically attended for COVID-19, 3-5% were diagnosed with post-COVID conditions. We observed minimal demographic differences between those with and without long COVID. When comparing diagnoses concurrent with long COVID and COVID-19, certain codes (G72 and J84) for myopathies and interstitial pulmonary diseases were disproportionately present with long COVID.
Variants inACTC1underlie distal arthrogryposis accompanied by congenital heart defects
Authors: Chong Jessica X. , Childers Matthew Carter , Marvin Colby T. , Marcello Anthony J. , Gonorazky Hernan , Hazrati Lili-Naz , Dowling James J. , Amrani Fatema Al , Alanay Yasemin , Nieto Yolanda , Marín Gabriel Miguel Á , Aylsworth Arthur S. , Buckingham Kati J. , Shively Kathryn M. , Sommers Olivia , Anderson Kailyn ,   University of Washington Center for Mendelian Genomics,   University of Washington Center for Rare Disease Research, Regnier Michael , Bamshad Michael J. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractContraction of the human sarcomere is the result of interactions between myosin cross-bridges and actin filaments. Pathogenic variants in genes such asMYH7,TPM1, andTNNI3that encode parts of the cardiac sarcomere cause muscle diseases that affect the heart, such as dilated cardiomyopathy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In contrast, pathogenic variants in homologous genesMYH2,TPM2, andTNNI2, that encode parts of the skeletal muscle sarcomere, cause muscle diseases affecting skeletal muscle, such as the distal arthrogryposis (DA) syndromes and skeletal myopathies. To date, there have been few reports of genes (e.g.,MYH7) encoding sarcomeric proteins in which the same pathogenic variant affects both skeletal and cardiac muscle. Moreover, none of the known genes underlying DA have been found to contain mutations that also cause cardiac abnormalities. We report five families with DA due to heterozygous missense variants in the geneactin, alpha, cardiac muscle 1(ACTC1).ACTC1encodes a highly conserved actin that binds to myosin in both cardiac and skeletal muscle.Mutations inACTC1have previously been found to underlie atrial septal defect, dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and left ventricular noncompaction. Our discovery delineates a new DA condition due to mutations inACTC1and suggests that some functions ofactin, alpha, cardiac muscle 1are shared in cardiac and skeletal muscle.
Pharmacogenetics of SGLT2 Inhibitors: Validation of a sex-agnostic pharmacodynamic biomarker
Authors: Taylor Simeon I. , Cherng Hua-Ren , Yazdi Zhinous Shahidzadeh , Montasser May E. , Whitlatch Hilary B. , Mitchell Braxton D. , Shuldiner Alan R. , Streeten Elizabeth A. , Beitelshees Amber L. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractAimSGLT2 inhibitors provide multiple benefits to patients with type 2 diabetes – including improved glycemic control and decreased risks of cardiorenal disease. Because drug responses vary among individuals, we initiated investigations to identify genetic variants associated with the magnitude of drug responses.MethodsCanagliflozin (300 mg) was administered to 30 healthy volunteers. Several endpoints were measured to assess clinically relevant responses – including drug-induced increases in urinary excretion of glucose, sodium, and uric acid.ResultsThis pilot study confirmed that canagliflozin (300 mg) triggered acute changes in mean levels of several biomarkers: fasting plasma glucose (−4.1 mg/dL; p=6x10), serum creatinine (+0.05 mg/dL; p=8×10-4), and serum uric acid (−0.90 mg/dL; p=5×10-10). The effects of sex on glucosuria depended upon how data were normalized. Whereas males’ responses were ∼60% greater when data were normalized to body surface area, males and females exhibited similar responses when glucosuria was expressed as grams of urinary glucose per gram-creatinine. The magnitude of glucosuria was not significantly correlated with fasting plasma glucose, estimated GFR, or age in these healthy non-diabetic individuals with estimated GFR>60 mL/min/1.73m2.ConclusionsNormalizing data relative to creatinine excretion will facilitate including data from males and females in a single analysis. Furthermore, because our ongoing pharmacogenomic study (NCT02891954) is conducted in healthy individuals, this will facilitate detection of genetic associations with limited confounding by other factors such as age and renal function.RegistrationNCT02462421 (clinicaltrials.gov)FundingResearch grants from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: R21DK105401, R01DK108942, T32DK098107, and P30DK072488.
A geopositioned, evidence-graded, pan-species compendium of Mayaro Virus occurrence
Authors: Celone Michael , Potter Alex , Han Barbara A. , Beeman Sean P. , Okech Bernard , Forshey Brett , Dunford James , Rutherford George , Mita-Mendoza Neida Karen , Estallo Elizabet Lilia , Khouri Ricardo , de Siqueira Isadora Cristina , Petersen Kyle , Maves Ryan C. , Anyamba Assaf , Pollett Simon 
Published: March 2023

AbstractMayaro Virus (MAYV) is an emerging health threat in the Americas that can cause febrile illness as well as debilitating arthralgia or arthritis. To better understand the geographic distribution of MAYV risk, we developed a georeferenced database of MAYV occurrence based on peer-reviewed literature and unpublished reports. Here we present this compendium, which includes both point and polygon locations linked to occurrence data documented from its discovery in 1954 until 2022. We describe all methods used to develop the database including data collection, georeferencing, management and quality-control. We also describe a customized grading system used to assess the quality of each study included in our review. The result is a comprehensive, evidence-graded database of confirmed MAYV occurrence in humans, non-human animals, and arthropods to-date, containing 266 geo-positioned occurrences in total. This database - which can be updated over time - may be useful for local spill-over risk assessment, epidemiological modelling to understand key transmission dynamics and drivers of MAYV spread, as well as identification of major surveillance gaps.
Single Nucleus Transcriptomics Reveals Pervasive Glial Activation in Opioid Overdose Cases
Authors: Wei Julong , Lambert Tova Y. , Valada Aditi , Patel Nikhil , Walker Kellie , Lenders Jayna , Schmidt Carl J. , Iskhakova Marina , Alazizi Adnan , Mair-Meijers Henriette , Mash Deborah C. , Luca Francesca , Pique-Regi Roger , Bannon Michael J , Akbarian Schahram 
Published: March 2023

ABSTRACTDynamic interactions of neurons and glia in the ventral midbrain (VM) mediate reward and addiction behavior. We studied gene expression in 212,713 VM single nuclei from 95 human opioid overdose cases and drug-free controls. Chronic exposure to opioids left numerical proportions of VM glial and neuronal subtypes unaltered, while broadly affecting glial transcriptomes, involving 9.5 - 6.2% of expressed genes within microglia, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes, with prominent activation of the immune response including interferon, NFkB signaling, and cell motility pathways, sharply contrasting with down-regulated expression of synaptic signaling and plasticity genes in VM non-dopaminergic neurons. VM transcriptomic reprogramming in the context of opioid exposure and overdose included 325 genes with genetic variation linked to substance use traits in the broader population, thereby pointing to heritable risk architectures in the genomic organization of the brain’s reward circuitry.
Cellular dynamics across aged human brains uncover a multicellular cascade leading to Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Green Gilad Sahar , Fujita Masashi , Yang Hyun-Sik , Taga Mariko , McCabe Cristin , Cain Anael , White Charles C. , Schmidtner Anna K. , Zeng Lu , Wang Yangling , Regev Aviv , Menon Vilas , Bennett David A. , Habib Naomi , De Jager Philip L. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractAlzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease seen with advancing age. Recent studies have revealed diverse AD-associated cell states, yet when and how they impact the causal chain leading to AD remains unknown. To reconstruct the dynamics of the brain’s cellular environment along the disease cascade and to distinguish between AD and aging effects, we built a comprehensive cell atlas of the aged prefrontal cortex from 1.64 million single-nucleus RNA-seq profiles. We associated glial, vascular and neuronal subpopulations with AD-related traits for 424 aging individuals, and aligned them along the disease cascade using causal modeling. We identified two distinct lipid-associated microglial subpopulations, one contributed to amyloid-β proteinopathy while the other mediated the effect of amyloid-β in accelerating tau proteinopathy, as well as an astrocyte subpopulation that mediated the effect of tau on cognitive decline. To model the coordinated dynamics of the entire cellular environment we devised the BEYOND methodology which uncovered two distinct trajectories of brain aging that are defined by distinct sequences of changes in cellular communities. Older individuals are engaged in one of two possible trajectories, each associated with progressive changes in specific cellular communities that end with: (1) AD dementia or (2) alternative brain aging. Thus, we provide a cellular foundation for a new perspective of AD pathophysiology that could inform the development of new therapeutic interventions targeting cellular communities, while designing a different clinical management for those individuals on the path to AD or to alternative brain aging.
The ability to sense the environment is heterogeneously distributed in cell populations
Authors: Goetz Andrew , Akl Hoda , Dixit Purushottam 
Published: March 2023

AbstractChannel capacity of signaling networks quantifies their fidelity in sensing extracellular inputs. Low estimates of channel capacities for several mammalian signaling networks suggest that cells can barely detect the presence/absence of environmental signals. However, given the extensive heterogeneity and temporal stability of cell state variables, we hypothesize that the sensing ability itself may depend on the state of the cells. In this work, we present an information theoretic framework to quantify the distribution of sensing abilities from single cell data. Using data on two mammalian pathways, we show that sensing abilities are widely distributed in the population and most cells achieve better resolution of inputs compared to an “average cell”. We verify these predictions using live cell imaging data on the IGFR/FoxO pathway. Importantly, we identify cell state variables that correlate with cells’ sensing abilities. This information theoretic framework will significantly improve our understanding of how cells sense in their environment.
β-carotene accelerates the resolution of atherosclerosis in mice
Authors: Pinos Ivan , Coronel Johana , Albakri Asma’a , Blanco Amparo , McQueen Patrick , Molina Donald , Sim JaeYoung , Fisher Edward A , Amengual Jaume 
Published: March 2023

ABSTRACTβ-carotene oxygenase 1 (BCO1) catalyzes the cleavage of β-carotene to form vitamin A. Besides its role in vision, vitamin A regulates the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism and immune cell differentiation. BCO1 activity is associated with the reduction of plasma cholesterol in humans and mice, while dietary β-carotene reduces hepatic lipid secretion and delays atherosclerosis progression in various experimental models. Here we show that β-carotene also accelerates atherosclerosis resolution in two independent murine models, independently of changes in body weight gain or plasma lipid profile. Experiments inBco1-/-mice implicate vitamin A production in the effects of β-carotene on atherosclerosis resolution. To explore the direct implication of dietary β-carotene on regulatory T cells (Tregs) differentiation, we utilized anti-CD25 monoclonal antibody infusions. Our data show that β-carotene favors Treg expansion in the plaque, and that the partial inhibition of Tregs mitigates the effect of β-carotene on atherosclerosis resolution. Our data highlight the potential of β-carotene and BCO1 activity in the resolution of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.