bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Transition to remote/hybrid learning during the COVID-19 pandemic among Saudi students of the College of Applied Medical Sciences: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Alshamrani Khalid M. , Ghulam Enas M. , Alattas Maryam , Aljaddani Haneen , Alhakami Montaha , Al Nufaiei Ziyad F. , Althaqafy Majid S. 
Published: August 2023

BackgroundThe novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has presented unparalleled and unique stressors and challenges to the field of applied health sciences education. This study explored how the College of Applied Medical Sciences (COAMS) Saudi students perceive the transition to remote/ hybrid learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA cross-sectional exploratory investigation was carried out during the months of February and March in the year 2023 among 196- COAMS Saudi students, using the 48-item previously developed and validated questionnaire, and with a non-probability convenient sampling technique. Descriptive statistics were generated for participants’ demographics, and for each questionnaire item and statistical analysis was performed using chi-square test.ResultsOut of the 283 undergraduates who have enrolled in COAMS, a total of 196 students have agreed to participate in the study with an overall response rate of 69.3%. Over 70% of COAMS students were satisfied and engaged in their on-site coursework. Nevertheless, questionnaire data indicates that their satisfaction and level of engagement diminished following the shift to remote learning. More than 62% of COAMS students were satisfied with their instructors’ instructional and assessment strategies during on-site coursework, but such perceptions have decreased with remote instruction. Hybrid learning can be beneficial and effective in improving the performance and learning experience of COAMS students. As compared to female students, COAMS male students were more satisfied with remote learning because it met their needs (p = 0.017).ConclusionRemote classrooms have lower attendance and interest than on-site classes. Despite lower satisfaction levels in online courses, hybrid learning was viewed favourably by COAMS students. Higher educational institutions should develop plans to increase student involvement, improve academic integrity, and assess the effect of the pandemic on undergraduate education on a regular basis. By incorporating these measures, educational institutions can enhance and support the remote learning experience for their students.
MV-CVIB: a microbiome-based multi-view convolutional variational information bottleneck for predicting metastatic colorectal cancer
Authors: Cui Zhen , Wu Yan , Zhang Qin-Hu , Wang Si-Guo , He Ying , Huang De-Shuang 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionImbalances in gut microbes have been implied in many human diseases, including colorectal cancer (CRC), inflammatory bowel disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, autism, and Alzheimer's disease. Compared with other human diseases, CRC is a gastrointestinal malignancy with high mortality and a high probability of metastasis. However, current studies mainly focus on the prediction of colorectal cancer while neglecting the more serious malignancy of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). In addition, high dimensionality and small samples lead to the complexity of gut microbial data, which increases the difficulty of traditional machine learning models.MethodsTo address these challenges, we collected and processed 16S rRNA data and calculated abundance data from patients with non-metastatic colorectal cancer (non-mCRC) and mCRC. Different from the traditional health-disease classification strategy, we adopted a novel disease-disease classification strategy and proposed a microbiome-based multi-view convolutional variational information bottleneck (MV-CVIB).ResultsThe experimental results show that MV-CVIB can effectively predict mCRC. This model can achieve AUC values above 0.9 compared to other state-of-the-art models. Not only that, MV-CVIB also achieved satisfactory predictive performance on multiple published CRC gut microbiome datasets.DiscussionFinally, multiple gut microbiota analyses were used to elucidate communities and differences between mCRC and non-mCRC, and the metastatic properties of CRC were assessed by patient age and microbiota expression.
Synaptic network structure shapes cortically evoked spatio-temporal responses of STN and GPe neurons in a computational model
Authors: Kromer Justus A. , Bokil Hemant , Tass Peter A. 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionThe basal ganglia (BG) are involved in motor control and play an essential role in movement disorders such as hemiballismus, dystonia, and Parkinson's disease. Neurons in the motor part of the BG respond to passive movement or stimulation of different body parts and to stimulation of corresponding cortical regions. Experimental evidence suggests that the BG are organized somatotopically, i.e., specific areas of the body are associated with specific regions in the BG nuclei. Signals related to the same body part that propagate along different pathways converge onto the same BG neurons, leading to characteristic shapes of cortically evoked responses. This suggests the existence of functional channels that allow for the processing of different motor commands or information related to different body parts in parallel. Neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease are associated with pathological activity in the BG and impaired synaptic connectivity, together with reorganization of somatotopic maps. One hypothesis is that motor symptoms are, at least partly, caused by an impairment of network structure perturbing the organization of functional channels.MethodsWe developed a computational model of the STN-GPe circuit, a central part of the BG. By removing individual synaptic connections, we analyzed the contribution of signals propagating along different pathways to cortically evoked responses. We studied how evoked responses are affected by systematic changes in the network structure. To quantify the BG's organization in the form of functional channels, we suggested a two-site stimulation protocol.ResultsOur model reproduced the cortically evoked responses of STN and GPe neurons and the contributions of different pathways suggested by experimental studies. Cortical stimulation evokes spatio-temporal response patterns that are linked to the underlying synaptic network structure. Our two-site stimulation protocol yielded an approximate functional channel width.Discussion/conclusionThe presented results provide insight into the organization of BG synaptic connectivity, which is important for the development of computational models. The synaptic network structure strongly affects the processing of cortical signals and may impact the generation of pathological rhythms. Our work may motivate further experiments to analyze the network structure of BG nuclei and their organization in functional channels.
Body composition parameters correlate with the endoscopic severity in Crohn’s disease patients treated with infliximab
Authors: Tang Wuli , Xie Gang , Li Junlin , Tan Wei , Yi Rongqi , Yang Ling , Zhang Lingqin , Deng Jiaxing , Zhang Yue , Li Kang 
Published: August 2023

BackgroundThe disease activity status and behavior of Crohn’s disease (CD) can reflect the severity of the disease, and changes in body composition are common in CD patients.AimsThe aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between body composition parameters and disease severity in CD patients treated with infliximab (IFX).MethodsPatients with CD assessed with the simple endoscopic score (SES-CD) and were treated with IFX were retrospectively collected, and body composition parameters at the level of the 3rd lumbar vertebrae were calculated from computed tomography (CT) scans of the patients. The correlation of patients’ body composition parameters with disease activity status and disease behavior was analyzed, and the diagnostic value of the relevant parameters was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.ResultsA total of 106 patients were included in this study. There were significant differences in the subcutaneous adiposity index (SAI) (p = 0.010), the visceral adiposity index (VAI) (p &lt; 0.001), the skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) (p &lt; 0.001), and decreased skeletal muscle mass (p &lt; 0.001) among patients with different activity status. After Spearman and multivariate regression analysis, SAI (p = 0.006 and p = 0.001), VAI (p &lt; 0.001 and p &lt; 0.001), and SMI (p &lt; 0.001and p = 0.007) were identified as independent correlates of disease activity status (both disease activity and moderate-to-severe activity), with disease activity status independently positively correlated with SAI and SMI and independently negatively correlated with VAI. In determining the disease activity and moderate-to-severe activity status, SMI performed best relative to SAI and VAI, with areas under the ROC curve of 0.865 and 0.801, respectively. SAI (p = 0.015), SMI (p = 0.011) and decreased skeletal muscle mass (p = 0.027) were significantly different between different disease behavior groups (inflammatory disease behavior group, complex disease behavior group) but were not independent correlates (p &gt; 0.05).ConclusionBody composition parameters of CD patients treated with IFX correlate with the endoscopic disease severity, and SMI can be used as a reliable indicator of disease activity status.
Can CD34+CD38− lymphoblasts, as likely leukemia stem cells, be a prognostic factor in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children?
Authors: Stolpa Weronika , Mizia-Malarz Agnieszka , Zapała Magdalena , Zwiernik Bartosz 
Published: August 2023

BackgroundCD34+CD38− lymphoblasts as likely leukemia stem cells (LSCs) may be responsible for a worse response to treatment and may be a risk factor for recurrence in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL).ObjectiveThe study objective was to assess the prognostic role of CD34+CD38− lymphoblasts in bone marrow on the day of BCP-ALL diagnosis.Methods115 patients with BCP-ALL, the median age of 4.5 years (range 1.5–17.9 years), gender: female 63 (54.8%) with BCP-ALL were enrolled; Group I (n = 90)—patients with CD34+CD38+ antigens and Group II (n = 20)—patients with CD34+CD38− antigens on the lymphoblast surface.ResultsA worse response on Days 8, 15, and 33 of therapy and at the end of treatment in Group II (CD34+CD38−) was more often observed but these differences were not statistically significant. A significantly higher incidence of BCP-ALL recurrence was in Group II.Conclusions1.In BCP-ALL in children, the presence of CD34+CD38− lymphoblasts at the diagnosis does not affect the first remission.2.In BCP-ALL in children, the presence of CD34+CD38− lymphoblasts at the diagnosis may be considered an unfavorable prognostic factor for disease recurrence.3.It is necessary to further search for prognostic factors in BCP-ALL in children.
The role of pharmacists in eliminating counterfeit medicines in Nigeria
Authors: Adigwe Obi Peter 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionOver the years, counterfeit pharmaceuticals have posed immense concerns for global health and patient safety. This menace encompasses various classes of medications. Given the criticality of pharmacists’ interventions in drug distribution and supply, this study aimed at exploring their role in the prevention and control of counterfeit pharmaceutical products in Nigeria.MethodsA cross-sectional study was undertaken, using questionnaires to collect data from pharmacists across various sectors of pharmacy practice in Nigeria. Face and content validity was undertaken on the study tool prior to data collection. Ethical approval was obtained from the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development Health Research Ethics Committee, and confidentiality was strictly maintained during data collection process. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Descriptive statistical analysis was undertaken and chi square was used to determine association between socio-demographic characteristics and variables.ResultsThe responses comprised 205 (52.6%) female and 185 (47.4%) male participants. Almost all the participants (98.4%) agreed that strict enforcement of drug laws can contribute to adequate control of counterfeit medicines in Nigeria, and majority of the study sample (64.7%) indicated that the poor implementation of these laws was a major factor influencing the preponderance of counterfeit medicines in the country. Two-thirds (63.5%) of the participants supported the need for pharmacists to provide adequate education to patients on strategies to identify counterfeit medicines, and a similar proportion (68.0%) were of the opinion that it was the responsibility of pharmacists to ensure that drugs are purchased from credible sources.ConclusionFindings from this study, in addition to confirming pharmacists’ instrumentality in the fight against counterfeit medicines, identified certain context specific factors that can strengthen the regulation, policy and the entire healthcare system. Government and relevant stakeholders can therefore begin to articulate strategic reforms for contextual policy intervention that address medicines’ counterfeiting, whilst prioritising pharmacists’ role in other critical areas in the healthcare system.
COVID-19 and cognitive performance: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Tang Ching-Man , Li Gloria Hoi-Yee , Cheung Ching-Lung 
Published: August 2023

BackgroundA substantial proportion of individuals with COVID-19 experienced cognitive impairment after resolution of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We aimed to evaluate whether genetic liability to SARS-CoV-2 infection per se, or more severe COVID-19, is causally linked to cognitive deficit.MethodsWe firstly performed univariable Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to examine whether genetic liability to SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospitalized and severe COVID-19 is causally associated with cognitive performance. To dissect the causal pathway, multivariable MR (MVMR) analysis was conducted by adjusting for five inflammatory markers [C-reactive protein, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and tumour necrosis factor α, as proxies of systemic inflammation].ResultsIn univariable MR analysis, host genetic liability to SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with lower cognitive performance [inverse variance weighted (IVW) analysis, estimate: −0.023; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): −0.038 to −0.009]. Such causal association was attenuated in MVMR analysis when we adjusted for the five correlated inflammatory markers in one analysis (IVW analysis, estimate: −0.022; 95% CI: −0.049 to 0.004). There was insufficient evidence of association for genetic liability to hospitalized and severe COVID-19 with cognitive performance.ConclusionThe causal effect of host genetic liability to SARS-CoV-2 infection on reduced cognitive performance may be mediated by systemic inflammation. Future studies examining whether anti-inflammatory agents could alleviate cognitive impairment in SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals are warranted.
‘It doesn’t happen how you think, it is very complex!’ Reconciling stakeholder priorities, evidence, and processes for zoonoses prioritisation in India
Authors: Asaaga Festus A. , Sriram Aditi , Chanda Mudassar M. , Hoti Subhash L. , Young Juliette C. , Purse Bethan V. 
Published: August 2023

BackgroundWhy do some zoonotic diseases receive priority from health policy decision-makers and planners whereas others receive little attention? By leveraging Shiffman and Smith’s political prioritisation framework, our paper advances a political economy of disease prioritisation focusing on four key components: the strength of the actors involved in the prioritisation, the power of the ideas they use to portray the issue, the political contexts in which they operate, and the characteristics of the issue itself (e.g., overall burdens, severity, cost-effective interventions). These components afford a nuanced characterisation of how zoonotic diseases are prioritised for intervention and highlight the associated knowledge gaps affecting prioritisation outcomes. We apply this framework to the case of zoonoses management in India, specifically to identify the factors that shape disease prioritisation decision-making and outcomes.MethodsWe conducted 26 semi-structured interviews with national, state and district level health policymakers, disease managers and technical experts involved in disease surveillance and control in India.ResultsOur results show pluralistic interpretation of risks, exemplified by a disconnect between state and district level actors on priority diseases. The main factors identified as shaping prioritisation outcomes were related to the nature of the zoonoses problem (the complexity of the zoonotic disease, insufficient awareness and lack of evidence on disease burdens and impacts) as well as political, social, cultural and institutional environments (isolated departmental priorities, limited institutional authority, opaque funding mechanisms), and challenges in organisation leadership for cross-sectoral engagement.ConclusionThe findings highlight a compartmentalised regulatory system for zoonoses where political, social, cultural, and media factors can influence disease management and prioritisation. A major policy window is the institutionalisation of One Health to increase the political priority for strengthening cross-sectoral engagement to address several challenges, including the creation of effective institutions to reconcile stakeholder priorities and prioritisation processes.
Diverse clinical presentation of primary spontaneous pneumothorax in patients with pectus excavatum
Authors: Lee June , Jeong Jin Yong , Suh Jong Hui , Park Chan Beom , Kim Dulee , Park Soo Seog 
Published: August 2023

ObjectivePatients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) tend to be young, tall, and thin, as do those with pectus excavatum (PE). Notably, the Haller index, which measures the severity of PE, tends also to be higher in patients with PSP, further suggesting a potential predisposing factor for the development of PSP in individuals with PE. This study aimed to share clinical experiences with case series of concomitant PSP and PE and to emphasize the importance of evaluating these two conditions together.MethodsIn this single-center study, we conducted a retrospective records review to identify patients who were diagnosed and treated (including surgical or conservative treatment and follow-up observation) for the diagnosis of PE between July 2011 and February 2023. From these, we selected patients who were diagnosed with both PE and PSP and analyzed their clinical presentations.ResultsAmong a total of 139 patients with PE, there were 8 (5.76%) who had concurrent diagnoses of PE and PSP and who underwent surgery for PSP, PE, or both. The average age of these 8 patients (male:female = 7:1) was 19.38 years. The 8 patients were grouped into four categories based on their clinical scenarios. Group A had 1 patient with PE diagnosed first, followed by the discovery of PSP during evaluation; Group B included 2 patients initially presenting with PSP and subsequently diagnosed with PE during evaluation; Group C consisted of 1 patient who had PSP before undergoing surgical PE correction; and Group D comprised 4 patients who developed PSP after PE correction.ConclusionsThe incidence of PSP in patients with PE was 5.76% (8 out of 139 patients), indicating the importance of vigilant monitoring for PSP prior to PE surgery, and vice versa. Furthermore, the authors recommend close observation for PSP independent of PE surgery, even in the absence of postoperative complications.
Patient delay and its clinical significance among head and neck cancer patients in Hungary
Authors: Dános Kornél , Horváth Angéla , Halász Judit , Tamás László , Polony Gábor 
Published: August 2023

Introduction: Head and neck cancers represent a major health problem in Hungary. With their high incidence and mortality rates, Hungary is one of the world leaders in these indicators. The length of patient delay, defined as time from onset of symptoms to first medical consultation, is unknown in Hungarian patients with head and neck cancer. We aimed to use a representative sample of the Hungarian head and neck cancer patient population to determine patient delay according to disease localization and stage and to identify correlations with other clinical parameters.Methods: In our retrospective study, we reviewed patient documentation. For the inclusion, the patients had to be diagnosed with malignant tumors of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx or larynx at the Department Head and Neck Surgery of Semmelweis University between 2012 and 2017.Results: We identified 236 patients who met the inclusion criteria. The median delay was 9.5 weeks (range 0–209 weeks) and the mean delay of patients was 17.57 weeks (SD 23.67). There was a significant difference in patient delay data by location. Among glottic cancers, the most common diagnosis was an early stage (67%), compared with other localizations, including most commonly the oropharynx (81%) and hypopharynx (80%), where a locoregionally advanced stage was more frequent.Discussion: Compared to data from different countries, the delay of Hungarian patients with head and neck cancer is significantly longer, which may contribute to the high mortality in Hungary. Screening and patient education in high-risk groups could contribute to earlier diagnosis and thus improve prognosis.
Antibiofilm, Antimicrobial, Anti-Quorum Sensing, and Antioxidant Activities of Saudi Sidr Honey: In Vitro and Molecular Docking Studies
Authors: Bazaid Abdulrahman S. , Alsolami Ahmed , Patel Mitesh , Khateb Aiah Mustafa , Aldarhami Abdu , Snoussi Mejdi , Almusheet Shekah M. , Qanash Husam 
Published: August 2023

Sidr honey is a valuable source of bioactive compounds with promising biological properties. In the present study, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-quorum sensing properties of Saudi Sidr honey were assessed, along with phytochemical analysis, via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In silico study was also carried out to study the drug-likeness properties of the identified compounds and to study their affinity with known target proteins assessed using molecular docking approach. The results showed that Saudi Sidr honey exhibited promising antibacterial activity, with MIC values ranging from 50 to 400 mg/mL and MBC values from 50 to >450 mg/mL. Interestingly, the Saudi Sidr honey was active against Candida auris and Candida neoformans, with an MIC value of about 500 mg/mL. Moreover, the Sidr honey showed important antioxidant activities (ABTS assay: IC50 5.41 ± 0.045 mg/mL; DPPH assay: IC50 7.70 ± 0.065 mg/mL) and β-carotene bleaching test results (IC50 ≥ 20 mg/mL). In addition, the Saudi Sidr honey was able to inhibit biofilm formation on glass slides at 1/2 MIC by 77.11% for Bacillus subtilis, 70.88% for Staphylococcus aureus, 61.79% for Escherichia coli, and 56.64% for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Similarly, violacein production by Chromobacterium violaceum was reduced by about 56.63%, while the production of pyocyanin by P. aeruginosa was decreased to 46.27% at a low concentration of Saudi Sidr honey. ADMET properties showed that five identified compounds, namely, 1-cyclohexylimidazolidin-2-one, 3-Butyl-3-methylcyclohexanone, 4-butyl-3-methoxy-2-cyclo penten-1-one, 2,2,3,3-Tetramethyl cyclopropane carboxylic acid, and 3,5-dihydroxy-2-(3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl showed promising drug-likeness properties. The compound 3,5-dihydroxy-2-(3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl exhibited the highest binding energy against antimicrobial and antioxidant target proteins (1JIJ, 2VAM, 6B8A, 6F86, 2CDU, and 1OG5). Overall, the obtained results highlighted the promising potential of Saudi Sidr honey as a rich source of bioactive compounds that can be used as food preservatives and antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-quorum sensing molecules.