bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
1278 MANELS: A Retrospective, Multi-National, Longitudinal Study for Quantitative Analysis of Gender Distribution in Speakers at Major Pan-Specialty Surgical Conferences
Authors: Burton O , Georgi M , Asif A , Fricker M , Patel S , Raja A K , Gargan A , Gargan K , Lee K , Kamboj R , Thamilmaran A , Leung K H C , Abdi Z , Haque S , Tse F , Moore C , Nathan A 
Published: August 2023

Abstract

Aim
Although the proportion of female medical students worldwide is increasing, only an estimated 35% of UK surgical trainees are female, and only 14% of consultant surgeons – these statistics are similar globally. This study aims to quantify the gender distribution in invited speakers and panellists at international pan-specialty surgical conferences in recent years.

Method
Retrospective analysis of annual meetings organised by 5 international surgical organizations between January 2016 and December 2021 was conducted. Male and female faculty were academically stratified according to mean publications, citations, and H-index. A manel was defined as a session with ≥ 2 speakers, all of whom are men. Sex was determined by specific speaker title in conference program, online autobiography, or Gender Balance Assessment Tool (GBAT).

Results
Between 22 conferences, there were 1978 invited speakers, of which 25.6% (n = 506) were female. Of the included 74 panel sessions, 48.6% (n = 36) were manels. When considering the gender of invited lecture speakers, there was no significant difference in their mean H-indices (M = 33.4, F = 27.8, p = 0.063) or mean total publications (M = 205.6, F = 169.9). Male invited lecturers had a significantly higher number of citations (M = 7944.7, F = 4211.7, p = 0.025). There was a significant decrease in the proportion of manels between 2016 and 2021 (p = 0.01).

Conclusions
Despite the increasing representation of women in surgery, only one quarter of invited speakers were female and almost half of panels with two or more speakers were manels despite no difference in speaker H-index or publications. This study highlights the need for new strategies and concerted efforts to increase female representation at surgical conferences.
Genomic evidence and virulence properties decipher the extra-host origin of Bordetella bronchiseptica
Authors: Badhai Jhasketan , Das Subrata K 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Until recently, members of the classical Bordetella species comprised only pathogenic bacteria that were thought to live exclusively in warm-blooded animals. The close phylogenetic relationship of Bordetella with Achromobacter and Alcaligenes, which include primarily environmental bacteria, suggests that the ancestral Bordetellae were probably free-living. Eventually, the Bordetella species evolved to infect and live within warm-blooded animals. The modern history of pathogens related to the genus Bordetella started towards the end of the 19th century when it was discovered in the infected respiratory epithelium of mammals, including humans. The first identified member was Bordetella pertussis, which causes whooping cough, a fatal disease in young children. In due course, B. bronchiseptica was recovered from the trachea and bronchi of dogs with distemper. Later, a second closely related human pathogen, B. parapertussis, was described as causing milder whooping cough. The classical Bordetellae are strictly host-associated pathogens transmitted via the host-to-host aerosol route. Recently, the B. bronchiseptica strain HT200 has been reported from a thermal spring exhibiting unique genomic features that were not previously observed in clinical strains. Therefore, it advocates that members of classical Bordetella species have evolved from environmental sources. This organism can be transmitted via environmental reservoirs as it can survive nutrient-limiting conditions and possesses a motile flagellum. This study aims to review the molecular basis of origin and virulence properties of obligate host-restricted and environmental strains of classical Bordetella.
Genetic regulation and manipulation of nicotine biosynthesis in tobacco: strategies to eliminate addictive alkaloids
Authors: Shoji Tsubasa , Hashimoto Takashi , Saito Kazuki 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) is a widely cultivated crop of the genus Nicotiana. Due to the highly addictive nature of tobacco products, tobacco smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease. There is therefore a critical need to develop tobacco varieties with reduced or non-addictive nicotine levels. Nicotine and related pyridine alkaloids biosynthesized in the roots of tobacco plants are transported to the leaves, where they are stored in vacuoles as a defense against predators. Jasmonate, a defense-related plant hormone, plays a crucial signaling role in activating transcriptional regulators that coordinate the expression of downstream metabolic and transport genes involved in nicotine production. In recent years, substantial progress has been made in molecular and genomics research, revealing many metabolic and regulatory genes involved in nicotine biosynthesis. These advances have enabled us to develop tobacco plants with low or ultra-low nicotine levels through various methodologies, such as mutational breeding, genetic engineering, and genome editing. We review the recent progress on genetic manipulation of nicotine production in tobacco, which serves as an excellent example of plant metabolic engineering with profound social implications.
Detection of significant X-ray polarization from transient NS-LMXB XTE J1701−462 with IXPE and its implication on the coronal geometry
Authors: Jayasurya Kiran M , Agrawal Vivek K , Chatterjee Rwitika 
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACT
In this paper, we performed a spectro-polarimetric analysis of the transient NS-LMXB XTE J1701−462 using IXPE, NICER, and NuSTAR data during its 2022 outburst. We report significant detection of energy-dependent polarization in the X-ray signal from the source on 2022 September 29 in the 2–4, 4–8, and 2–8 keV energy bands with a polarization degree of 3.9 ± 0.3, 5.5 ± 0.6, and 4.5 ± 0.4 per cent, respectively. The polarization angle in the overall 2–8 keV band was ∼143° ± 2°. The spectra were modelled using a combination of thermal emission from an accretion disc, Comptonized emission from a hot electron plasma (or corona) and a Gaussian line. From spectro-polarimetric analysis, the polarization degree due to the disc emission had an upper limit of ∼11.5 per cent, and that of the Comptonized emission was constrained at 7.7 ± 2.5 per cent (at the 3σ level). The results suggest that the Comptonized component probably originates from a spreading-layer/boundary-layer above the neutron star surface. IXPE observation of the source on 2022 October 8 does not show significant polarization which can be attributed to a weakening of the coronal Comptonized emission. The implication of these results are discussed.
Matrix Effects of Urine Marker Substances in LC-MS/MS Analysis of Drug of Abuse
Authors: Huppertz Bernd , Möller-Friedrich Silke , Baum Klaus 
Published: August 2023

Background:
Analysis of drug abuse is frequently performed using high-performance liquid chromatography with an MS/MS detector and electrospray ionization. In this context, matrix effects, like signal reduction by ion suppression of individual analytes, play an important role. In this study, the authors evaluated the matrix effect caused by polyethylene glycol (PEG) with chain lengths ranging from 6 to 12 repeating units in drug analysis by LC-MS/MS. Selected chain lengths were used in the Ruma urine marker system.

Methods and Results:
Amphetamines, opiates, opioids, antidepressants, psychotics, benzodiazepines, z-substances, and individual drugs, including THCCOOH, cocaine, LSD, and some of their metabolites were investigated. The matrix effect was investigated at PEG concentrations of 500 mcg/mL and 20 mcg/mL. The effect of each PEG molecule was determined. Furthermore, the effects of different common sample preparations on the PEG matrix effects were evaluated. There was a strong correlation between the retention time of PEG and the drug that was ion-suppressed by PEG. The matrix effect decreased to the point where it was within an acceptable range at the lower PEG concentrations investigated in this study.

Conclusions:
Matrix effects were observed for drugs with approximately the same retention times as the individual PEGs. The influence of the different workup methods was not as clear, which may be because of the similar solubilities of the PEGs and some analytes. At low PEG concentrations, the matrix effect was always below 60%, except for nortilidine. All the drugs were detectable. The effect on quantification was less than 15% for substances with deuterated analytes as internal standards and less than 32% for analytes without their own internal standards.
The relationship between serum CA-125 level and recurrence in surgical stage I endometrial cancer patients
Authors: Wu Hua-Hsi , Chou Hung-Tse , Tseng Jen-Yu , Chan I-San , Chen Yi-Jen 
Published: August 2023

Background:
The majority of patients diagnosed with early stage endometrial cancer have a favorable prognosis; however, approximately 10% to 15% experience a recurrence. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate whether postoperative carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA-125) levels could be used to predict recurrence and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients with surgical stage I endometrial cancer.

Methods:
We enrolled a total of 518 patients with stage I endometrial cancer who underwent surgical treatment between January 2010 and March 2019. Serum CA-125 levels were measured prior to surgery, as well as 6 to 12 months after surgery. Subsequently, the correlations between the CA-125 levels, cancer recurrence, and RFS were analyzed.

Results:
Although the preoperative CA-125 level was not associated with the risk of cancer recurrence, the postoperative CA-125 level was found to be the only independent predictor of recurrence in both univariate and multivariate analyses. Additionally, we found that a postoperative CA-125 cutoff value of 13.75 U/mL yielded the best sensitivity and specificity for predicting cancer recurrence. Patients with a postoperative CA-125 level ≥13.75 U/mL, and those with a level <13.75 U/mL, had a median time to recurrence and a 5-year RFS rate of 35.5 vs 50.5 months and 84.7 vs 94.4%, respectively. Additionally, postoperative CA-125 levels were not found to be correlated with preoperative levels.

Conclusion:
In patients with stage I endometrial cancer, a postoperative CA-125 level ≥13.75 U/mL was found to be significantly correlated with a higher recurrence rate, as well as a shorter RFS. Therefore, obtaining a follow-up CA-125 level within 6 to 12 months after staging surgery may be a promising noninvasive biomarker for predicting recurrence.
A case report of solitary fibrous tumor of the thyroid gland and literature review
Authors: Zhang Jin , Han Simin , Zhao Yufeng , Song Panpan , Zhang Hui , Zhang Jiafu , Ding Detao , Wu Yungang 
Published: August 2023

Rationale:
A solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is an uncommon soft tissue tumor that was first discovered in the pleura. Although SFTs have been documented in other extra-pleural sites, an SFT in the thyroid gland is highly unusual. An SFT of the thyroid gland can be difficult to diagnose, and there is little information about their Underlying biological behavior.

Patient concerns:
We present a case of a 63-year-old man with a progressively growing left-neck mass detected 1 month ago, which was pathologically confirmed to be a benign SFT of the thyroid gland.

Diagnosis:
Postoperative pathological examination of the tumor revealed an SFT. Immunopathological examination was consistent with the diagnosis of an SFT.

Interventions:
The patient underwent surgical resection of the SFT.

Outcomes:
The patient was recurrence-free during 1.5 years of follow-up.

Lessons:
Surgical excision is beneficial in SFTs that show no histological signs of malignancy, such as pleomorphism, enhanced mitotic activity, necrosis, bleeding, or capsular invasion. However, because the biologic activity remains unknown, meticulous long-term monitoring is required.
Anatomical Reconstruction following Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting
Authors: O’Dey Dan mon , Kameh Khosh Masih , Boersch Nina 
Published: August 2023

Background:
International migration from high-prevalence regions has increasingly confronted nonendemic countries with female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), and Western-based health care providers have seen a greater demand for surgical reconstruction of female anatomic units. The authors introduce novel surgical techniques developed by the first author for clitoral and vulvovestibular reconstruction and examine operative outcomes.

Methods:
The authors performed a retrospective cohort study of operative outcomes of the omega domed flap, neurotizing and molding of the clitoral stump (NMCS procedure), and anterior obturator artery perforator flap for preputial, clitoral, and vulvovestibular reconstruction, respectively. Between 2014 and 2021, the authors treated patients with all types of FGM/C, and analyzed various data, including demographics, clitoral sensation, and symptoms such as dysmenorrhea, dysuria, dyspareunia, and anorgasmia. The authors aimed to examine the efficacy and safety of these techniques in improving clitoral sensation and reducing symptoms.

Results:
A total of 119 women (mean age, 31.0 ± 10.4 years) were included. The authors performed the omega domed flap (85%), the NMCS procedure (82%), or the anterior obturator artery perforator flap (36%), and had a 1-year follow-up period, which was attended by 94.1% of patients. Patients reported significant postoperative reduction of dysmenorrhea, dysuria, and dyspareunia, as well as significant improvement of clitoral sensation and ability to achieve orgasm (P < 0.001). There was 1 major complication (loss of flap) reported. Secondary ambulatory interventions were performed in 10 patients (8.4%).

Conclusion:
By allowing for safe and effective anatomic reconstruction of the female genitalia, the described surgical techniques represent a new stage of treatment possibilities for women with FGM/C.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:
Therapeutic, IV.
Capillary leak and edema following resuscitation: the potential contribution of reduced endothelial shear stress caused by haemodilution
Authors: Walsh Don , Cunning Ciara , Lee Graham , Boylan John , McLoughlin Paul 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Normal shear stress is essential for the normal structure and functions of the microcirculation. Hemorrhagic shock leads to reduced shear stress due to reduced tissue perfusion. Although essential for the urgent restoration of cardiac output and systemic blood pressure, large volume resuscitation with currently available solutions causes hemodilution, further reducing endothelial shear stress. In this narrative review, we consider how the use of currently available resuscitation solutions results in persistent reduction in endothelial shear stress, despite successfully increasing cardiac output and systemic blood pressure. We consider how this reduced shear stress causes (i) a failure to restore normal vasomotor function and normal tissue perfusion thus leading to persistent tissue hypoxia and (ii) increased microvascular endothelial permeability resulting in edema formation and impaired organ function. We discuss the need for clinical research into resuscitation strategies and solutions that aim to quickly restore endothelial shear stress in the microcirculation to normal.
Dopamine pathway and Parkinson’s risk variants are associated with levodopa-induced dyskinesia
Authors: Sosero Yuri L. , Bandres-Ciga Sara , Ferwerda Bart , Tocino Maria T. P. , Belloso Dìaz R. , Gómez-Garre Pilar , Faouzi Johann , Taba Pille , Pavelka Lukas , Marques Tainà M. , Gomes Clarissa P. C. , Kolodkin Alexey , May Patrick , Milanowski Lukasz M , Wszolek Zbigniew K. , Uitti Ryan J. , Heutink Peter , van Hilten Jacobus J. , Simon David K. , Eberly Shirley , Alvarez Ignacio , Krohn Lynne , Yu Eric , Freeman Kathryn , Rudakou Uladzislau , Ruskey Jennifer A. , Asayesh Farnaz , Menéndez-Gonzàlez Manuel , Pastor Pau , Ross Owen A. , Krüger Rejko , Corvol Jean-Christophe , Koks Sulev , Mir Pablo , De Bie Rob M.A. , Iwaki Hirotaka , Gan-Or Ziv 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundLevodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) is a common adverse effect of levodopa, one of the main therapeutics used to treat the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Previous evidence suggests a connection between LID and a disruption of the dopaminergic system as well as genes implicated in PD, includingGBA1andLRRK2.ObjectivesTo investigate the effects of genetic variants on risk and time to LID.MethodsWe performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and analyses focused onGBA1andLRRK2variants. We also calculated polygenic risk scores including risk variants for PD and variants in genes involved in the dopaminergic transmission pathway. To test the influence of genetics on LID risk we used logistic regression, and to examine its impact on time to LID we performed Cox regression including 1,612 PD patients with and 3,175 without LID.ResultsWe found thatGBA1variants were associated with LID risk (OR=1.65, 95% CI=1.21-2.26, p=0.0017) andLRRK2variants with reduced time to LID onset (HR=1.42, 95% CI=1.09-1.84, p=0.0098). The fourth quartile of the PD PRS was associated with increased LID risk (ORfourth_quartile=1.27, 95% CI=1.03-1.56,p=0.0210). The third and fourth dopamine pathway PRS quartiles were associated with a reduced time to development of LID (HRthird_quartile=1.38, 95% CI=1.07-1.79,p=0.0128; HRfourth_quartile=1.38, 95% CI=1.06-1.78,p=0.0147).ConclusionsThis study suggests that variants implicated in PD and in the dopaminergic transmission pathway play a role in the risk/time to develop LID. Further studies will be necessary to examine how these findings can inform clinical care.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis-dependent Monocyte Expression Quantitative Trait Loci and Tuberculosis Pathogenesis
Authors: Hong Hyejeong , Dill-McFarland Kimberly A. , Simmons Jason D. , Peterson Glenna J. , Benchek Penelope , Mayanja-Kizza Harriet , Boom W. Henry , Stein Catherine M. , Hawn Thomas R. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe heterogeneity of outcomes afterMycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb) exposure is a conundrum associated with millennia of host-pathogen co-evolution. We hypothesized that human myeloid cells contain genetically encoded, Mtb-specific responses that regulate critical steps in tuberculosis (TB) pathogenesis. We mapped genome-wide expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) in Mtb-infected monocytes with RNAseq from 80 Ugandan household contacts of pulmonary TB cases to identify monocyte-specific, Mtb-dependent eQTLs and their association with cytokine expression and clinical resistance to tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon-γ release assay (IGRA) conversion. cis-eQTLs (n=1,567) were identified in Mtb-infected monocytes (FDR<0.01), including 29 eQTLs in 16 genes which were Mtb-dependent (significant for Mtb:genotype interaction [FDR<0.1], but not classified as eQTL in media condition [FDR≥0.01]). A subset of eQTLs were associated with Mtb-induced cytokine expression (n=8) and/or clinical resistance to TST/IGRA conversion (n=1). Expression ofBMP6, an Mtb-dependent eQTL gene, was associated withIFNB1induction in Mtb-infected and DNA ligand-induced cells. Network and enrichment analyses identified fatty acid metabolism as a pathway associated with eQTL genes. These findings suggest that monocyte genes contain Mtb-dependent eQTLs, including a subset associated with cytokine expression and/or clinical resistance to TST/IGRA conversion, providing insight into immunogenetic pathways regulating susceptibility to Mtb infection and TB pathogenesis.
Changing Faces of Authorship: A Study of Gender, Race, Regional Disparities in Gastroenterology/Hepatology-related RCTs. A Two Decade Analysis (2000-2022)
Authors: Kumari Roopa , Sadarat FNU , Luhana Sindhu , Parkash Om , Chander Subhash 
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo investigate gender, racial, ethnic, and regional disparities in first and senior authorship positions in gastroenterology/hepatology-related randomised controlled trials (RCT).DesignRetrospective bibliometric analysis of PubMed-indexed RCTs published between January 2000 to December 2022 in leading journals with an impact factor of at least five.Results943 RCTs met our inclusion criteria, providing a participant pool of 301 female (15.96%) and 1,585 male (84.04%) authors from 37 countries (70% high-income countries). Despite a significant increase in the proportion of female authors in first and senior authorship positions between 2000 and 2022 (p<0.001), females were grossly underrepresented in both authorship positions, with a male-to-female ratio of 4.45 and 6.37, respectively. The male-to-female ratio was highest among Asian authors (7.79) than among White (4.22), Hispanic (1.44), and Black (1) authors in the first authorship position. In contrast, the male-to-female ratio was similar for Asian (6.2) and White (6.67) authors in the senior authorship position, with a low underlying frequency of Hispanic and Black female authors. There were statistically significant differences in gender distribution for first authorship at the country level (p=0.0018). Binary logistic regression analysis showed significant positive effects of the senior author being a female (β=1.124, p<0.001) and the senior author having PhD qualification (β=0.753, p=0.021) on female first authorship.ConclusionDespite significant improvements in gender, racial and ethnic representation in first and senior authorship of gastroenterology/hepatology-related RCTs published in high-impact journals, progress toward parity remains slow. Targeted interventions to improve author diversity are warranted.