bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Microplastics in fish culture ponds: abundance, characterization, and contamination risk assessment
Authors: Hossain M. Belal , Banik Partho , Nur As-Ad , Choudhury Tasrina Rabia , Liba Samia Islam , Albeshr Mohammed Fahad , Yu Jimmy , Arai Takaomi 
Published: September 2023

Microplastics (MPs), an emerging pollutant, have drawn attention on a global scale and have been found in various ecosystems. Nevertheless, there is currently a lack of information regarding the contamination levels of MPs in aquaculture ponds worldwide. In this study, sediment and water samples were collected from five types of fish ponds, namely, homestead ponds (S1), commercial aquaculture ponds (S2), ponds near a residential area (S3), ponds near a small-scale industrial area (S4), and ponds near a large-scale industrial area (S5), to identify, characterize, and assess the contamination risk of MPs. Stereomicroscopic and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analyses revealed that the MPs ranged from 3.33 item/kg to 136.67 item/kg in sediment and 16.6 item/L to 100 item/L in water samples. Overall, the abundance of MPs was extremely high in S5, followed by S4, S2, S3, and S1, which clearly showed the levels increased with the intensity of human activities. The levels of MPs in both sediment and water showed significant differences (p &lt; 0.05) within and between ponds, as well as in comparison between water and sediment samples. The concentrations of MPs surpassed those noted in aquaculture ponds of different nations. The majority of MPs consisted of fragments and films in both sediment and water samples. Furthermore, transparent and white-colored MPs were the prevailing types found in the sediment and water samples of the aquaculture ponds. Around 34% of MPs present in sediment and 30% in water fell within the size range of 0.5–1 mm. Polymers like polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were prevalent in both sediment and water samples. The contamination factor reached exceptionally elevated levels (&gt;30 for sediment and &gt;3 for water), signifying that the sampled regions, particularly S4 and S5 (industrial sites), displayed significant MP contamination. Moreover, the pollution load index values of the sediment (3.0 ± 1.5) and water samples (1.5 ± 0.3) also indicated the areas were contaminated with MPs. Multivariate analysis indicated that the elevated concentration of MPs in the studied region could be attributed to the discharge of effluents and other human-induced activities.
Case Report: Non-negligible Epstein-Barr virus-associated posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders in a lung transplant recipient
Authors: Hu Juan , Yu Yong-Wei , Han Dong-Sheng , Li Xue-Jie , Zhang Yi-Qi , Cai Hong-Liu , Xiao Yong-Hong , Zheng Xia 
Published: September 2023

BackgroundPosttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) are uncommon but serious complications in patients following solid organ transplantation. Primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is a risk factor for the development of PTLD, especially early-onset PTLD, in EBV-negative recipients. To date, however, there are no specific guidelines on the threshold of EBV-DNA load for therapeutic intervention, the source for measurement (e.g., blood, bronchoalveolar fluid), or the use of antiviral agents as prophylaxis for early PTLD prevention in EBV-mismatched patients.MethodsThe present study describes a 56-year-old male lung transplant recipient diagnosed with EBV-associated PTLD.ResultsThis patient had a history of invasive fungal disease and Mucor and Aspergillus fumigatus infections in the early post-transplant period, necessitating antifungal therapy throughout the course of the disease. The patient was EBV-positive 15 days after transplantation, with lung CT showing multiple bilateral nodules of varying sizes beginning 98 days after transplantation. A lung biopsy showed PTLD, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) revealed EBV. This patient, however, did not receive any antiviral therapy for early PTLD prevention or any PTLD-related treatment. He died 204 days after lung transplantation.ConclusionThe present study describes a lung transplant recipient who developed EBV-associated PTLD, a non-negligible disease, after solid organ transplantation. Monitoring EBV-DNA load is important, as a sudden increase may be a sensitive indicator of PTLD. An earlier diagnosis may increase the likelihood of successful treatment.
Screening of cognitive performance in kidney transplant recipients: a mini review
Authors: Schietzel Simeon , Kressig Reto W. , Huynh-Do Uyen 
Published: September 2023

Why should we screen?The prevalence of cognitive impairment in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) is up to 58%. The 10-year graft loss and mortality rates are above 30% and 50%, respectively, and executive malfunctioning increases disadvantageous outcomes.What causes cognitive impairment in KTRs?Strong risk factors are older age and chronic kidney disease. However, causes are multifactorial and include cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, neurodegenerative, inflammatory, uremic, psychiatric, and lifestyle-related susceptibilities.How should we screen?KTR-specific validated instruments or strategies do not exist. The central element should be a multidomain cognitive screening test that is sensitive to mild cognitive impairment, corrects for age and education, and includes executive functions testing. Cognitive trajectories, effects on everyday life and psychiatric comorbidities should be assessed by integrating the perspectives of both patients and knowledgeable informants.When should we screen?Screening should not be postponed if there is suspicion of impaired cognition. Different time points after transplantation tend to have their own characteristics.Who should conduct the screening?Screening should not be limited to specialists. It can be carried out by any healthcare professional who has received a limited amount of training.What are the benefits of screening?Screening does not provide a diagnosis. However, suggestive results change care in multiple ways. Goals are: Initiation of professional dementia work-up, securing of adherence, anticipation of potential complications (delirium, falls, frailty, functional impairment, malnutrition, etc.), mitigation of behavioral disorders, adjustment of diagnostic and therapeutic “load”, reduction of caregiver burden and meeting of changing needs. We summarize data on the prevalence, risk factors and sequelae of cognitive impairment in KTRs. We also discuss the requirements for appropriate screening strategies and provide guiding principles regarding appropriate and safe care.
Success of conservative therapy for chronic subdural hematoma patients: a systematic review
Authors: Foppen M. , Bandral Harssh Verdan , Slot Kari-Anne Mariam , Vandertop W. P. , Verbaan D. 
Published: September 2023

BackgroundConservative therapy for chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) is an option for patients who express no, or only mild symptoms, thereby preventing surgery in some. Because it is not clear for whom conservative therapy is successful, we aimed to estimate the success rate of conservative therapy and to identify which factors might influence success.MethodsWe systematically searched MEDLINE and EMBASE databases to identify all available publications reporting outcome of conservative therapy for cSDH patients. Studies containing &gt;10 patients were included. The primary outcome was the success rate of conservative therapy, defined as “no crossover to surgery” during follow-up. In addition, factors possibly associated with success of conservative therapy were explored. Bias assessment was performed with the Newcastle Ottowa Scale and the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. We calculated pooled incidence and mean estimates, along with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs), using OpenMeta[Analyst] software.ResultsThe search yielded 1,570 articles, of which 11 were included in this study, describing 1,019 conservatively treated patients. The pooled success rate of conservative therapy was 66% (95% CI: 50–82%). One study (n = 98) reported smaller hematoma volume to be associated with success, whilst another study (n = 53) reported low hematoma density and absence of paresis at diagnosis to be associated with success.ConclusionConservative therapy is reported to be successful in the majority of cSDH patients who have either no, or only mild symptoms. Hematoma volume, low hematoma density and absence of paresis could be factors associated with success. However, further research is warranted in order to establish factors consistently associated with a successful conservative therapy.OtherNo funding was acquired for this study. The study was not registered nor was a study protocol prepared.
Effect of vagus nerve stimulation against generalized seizure and status epilepticus recurrence
Authors: Iimura Yasushi , Suzuki Hiroharu , Mitsuhashi Takumi , Ueda Tetsuya , Nishioka Kazuki , Horikoshi Kou , Nomura Kazuki , Sugano Hidenori , Kondo Akihide 
Published: September 2023

ObjectiveVagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a palliative surgery for drug-resistant epilepsy. The two objectives of this study were to (1) determine the seizure type most responsive to VNS and (2) investigate the preventive effect on status epilepticus (SE) recurrence.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 136 patients with drug-resistant epilepsy who underwent VNS implantation. We examined seizure outcomes at 6, 12, and 24 months following implantation of VNS as well as at the last visit to the Juntendo Epilepsy Center. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the prognostic factors.Results125 patients were followed up for at least 1 year after VNS implantation. The percentage of patients with at least a 50% reduction in seizure frequency compared with prior to VNS implantation increased over time at 6, 12, and 24 months after VNS implantation: 28, 41, and 52%, respectively. Regarding overall seizure outcomes, 70 (56%) patients responded to VNS. Of the 40 patients with a history of SE prior to VNS implantation, 27 (67%) showed no recurrence of SE. The duration of epilepsy, history of SE prior to VNS implantation and seizure type were correlated with seizure outcomes after VNS implantation in univariate analysis (p = 0.05, p &lt; 0.01, and p = 0.03, respectively). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, generalized seizure was associated with VNS response [odds ratio (OR): 4.18, 95% CI: 1.13–15.5, p = 0.03]. A history of SE prior to VNS implantation was associated with VNS non-responders [(OR): 0.221, 95% CI: 0.097–0.503, p &lt; 0.01]. The duration of epilepsy, focal to bilateral tonic–clonic seizure and epileptic spasms were not significantly associated with VNS responders (p = 0.07, p = 0.71, and p = 0.11, respectively).ConclusionFollowing 125 patients with drug-resistant epilepsy for an average of 69 months, 56% showed at least 50% reduction in seizure frequency after VNS implantation. This study suggests that generalized seizure is the most responsive to VNS, and that VNS may reduce the risk of recurrence of SE. VNS was shown to be effective against generalized seizure and also may potentially influence the risk of further events of SE, two marker of disease treatment that can lead to improved quality of life.
Spectral quantitative and semi-quantitative EEG provide complementary information on the life-long effects of early childhood malnutrition on cognitive decline
Authors: Razzaq Fuleah A. , Calzada-Reyes Ana , Tang Qin , Guo Yanbo , Rabinowitz Arielle G. , Bosch-Bayard Jorge , Galan-Garcia Lidice , Virues-Alba Trinidad , Suarez-Murias Carlos , Miranda Ileana , Riaz Usama , Bernardo Lagomasino Vivian , Bryce Cyralene , Anderson Simon G. , Galler Janina R. , Bringas-Vega Maria L. , Valdes-Sosa Pedro A. 
Published: September 2023

ObjectiveThis study compares the complementary information from semi-quantitative EEG (sqEEG) and spectral quantitative EEG (spectral-qEEG) to detect the life-long effects of early childhood malnutrition on the brain.MethodsResting-state EEGs (N = 202) from the Barbados Nutrition Study (BNS) were used to examine the effects of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) on childhood and middle adulthood outcomes. sqEEG analysis was performed on Grand Total EEG (GTE) protocol, and a single latent variable, the semi-quantitative Neurophysiological State (sqNPS) was extracted. A univariate linear mixed-effects (LME) model tested the dependence of sqNPS and nutritional group. sqEEG was compared with scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Stable sparse classifiers (SSC) also measured the predictive power of sqEEG, spectral-qEEG, and a combination of both. Multivariate LME was applied to assess each EEG modality separately and combined under longitudinal settings.ResultsThe univariate LME showed highly significant differences between previously malnourished and control groups (p &lt; 0.001); age (p = 0.01) was also significant, with no interaction between group and age detected. Childhood sqNPS (p = 0.02) and adulthood sqNPS (p = 0.003) predicted MoCA scores in adulthood. The SSC demonstrated that spectral-qEEG combined with sqEEG had the highest predictive power (mean AUC 0.92 ± 0.005). Finally, multivariate LME showed that the combined spectral-qEEG+sqEEG models had the highest log-likelihood (−479.7).ConclusionThis research has extended our prior work with spectral-qEEG and the long-term impact of early childhood malnutrition on the brain. Our findings showed that sqNPS was significantly linked to accelerated cognitive aging at 45–51 years of age. While sqNPS and spectral-qEEG produced comparable results, our study indicated that combining sqNPS and spectral-qEEG yielded better performance than either method alone, suggesting that a multimodal approach could be advantageous for future investigations.SignificanceBased on our findings, a semi-quantitative approach utilizing GTE could be a valuable diagnostic tool for detecting the lasting impacts of childhood malnutrition. Notably, sqEEG has not been previously explored or reported as a biomarker for assessing the longitudinal effects of malnutrition. Furthermore, our observations suggest that sqEEG offers unique features and information not captured by spectral quantitative EEG analysis and could lead to its improvement.
Stimulation of vagus nerve for patients with disorders of consciousness: a systematic review
Authors: Dong Xiaoyang , Tang Yunliang , Zhou Yifan , Feng Zhen 
Published: September 2023

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of stimulating the vagus nerve in patients with disorders of consciousness (DOCs).MethodsA comprehensive systematic review was conducted, encompassing the search of databases such as PubMed, CENTRAL, EMBASE and PEDro from their inception until July 2023. Additionally, manual searches and exploration of grey literature were performed. The literature review was conducted independently by two reviewers for search strategy, selection of studies, data extraction, and judgment of evidence quality according to the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM) Study Quality Scale.ResultsA total of 1,269 articles were retrieved, and 10 studies met the inclusion criteria. Among these, there were three case reports, five case series, and only two randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Preliminary studies have suggested that stimulation of vagus nerve can enhance the levels of DOCs in both vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness state (VS/UWS) and minimally conscious state (MCS). However, due to a lack of high-quality RCTs research and evidence-based medical evidence, no definitive conclusion can be drawn regarding the intervention’s effectiveness on consciousness level. Additionally, there were no significant adverse effects observed following stimulation of vagus nerve.ConclusionA definitive conclusion cannot be drawn from this systematic review as there was a limited number of eligible studies and low-quality evidence. The findings of this systematic review can serve as a roadmap for future research on the use of stimulation of vagus nerve to facilitate recovery from DOCs.
Risk factors for metachronous esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after endoscopic or surgical resection of esophageal carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Du Jie , Bao Zhixian , Liang Tianhu , Zhao Hongmei , Zhao Junxian , Xu Ruipu , Wang Xiaohui 
Published: September 2023

Backgroundearly-stage esophageal carcinoma (EC) patients lack typical clinical signs and symptoms and are often diagnosed and treated at a late stage, leading to a poor prognosis and a high incidence of metachronous esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (MESCC) and second primary carcinoma (SPC). The aims of the review were to identify and quantify risk factors for MESCC and analysis location of SPC in postoperative patients with EC; to predict incidence of MESCC over follow-up time.Methodsan electronic search of studies reporting potential risk factors, the incidence of MESCC, and the location of SPC were performed on PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Scopus from inception to 10 November 2022. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the study quality, and the qualitative strength of evidence rating of all items was provided. The meta-regression model was used to predict the incidence of MESCC over follow-up time, the location distribution of SPC was presented using clustered column chart, while the publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and Egger’s test.Resultssmoking, age, history of multiple other cancer, and Lugol-voiding lesions (LVLs) were determined to be the risk factors of MESCC. LVLs were qualitatively determined as “definite” and the history of multiple other cancer as “likely.” The overall pooled MESCC incidence was 20.3% (95% CI: 13.8% to 26.8%), with an increase of 0.20% for each additional year of follow-up. The head and neck were the most common locations for SPC, followed by the esophagus.Conclusiontimely investigating the age of patients, previous history of cancer and monitoring the number of LVLs in the first 5 years after operation are of great significance to identify high-risk populations of MESCC for timely medical care. Education and behavior correction about smoking are advocated. Tumor markers should be regularly detected in the head and neck, esophagus, and stomach. Endoscopic resection was associated with a higher incidence of MESCC, which provided a reference for doctors to choose the removal method.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42022377030.
Opioids and immune checkpoint inhibitors differentially regulate a common immune network in triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Scarpa Joseph R. , Montagna Giacomo , Plitas George , Gulati Amitabh , Fischer Gregory W. , Mincer Joshua S. 
Published: September 2023

BackgroundOpioids are the primary analgesics for cancer pain. Recent clinical evidence suggests opioids may counteract the effect of immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) immunotherapy, but the mechanism for this interaction is unknown. The following experiments study how opioids and immunotherapy modulate a common RNA expression pathway in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), a cancer subtype in which immunotherapy is increasingly used. This study identifies a mechanism by which opioids may decrease ICI efficacy, and compares ketamine, a non-opioid analgesic with emerging use in cancer pain, for potential ICI interaction.MethodsTumor RNA expression and clinicopathologic data from a large cohort with TNBC (N=286) was used to identify RNA expression signatures of disease. Various drug-induced RNA expression profiles were extracted from multimodal RNA expression datasets and analyzed to estimate the RNA expression effects of ICI, opioids, and ketamine on TNBC.ResultsWe identified a RNA expression network in CD8+ T-cells that was relevant to TNBC pathogenesis and prognosis. Both opioids and anti-PD-L1 ICI regulated RNA expression in this network, suggesting a nexus for opioid-ICI interaction. Morphine and anti-PD-L1 therapy regulated RNA expression in opposing directions. By contrast, there was little overlap between the effect of ketamine and anti-PD-L1 therapy on RNA expression.ConclusionsOpioids and ICI may target a common immune network in TNBC and regulate gene expression in opposing fashion. No available evidence supports a similar interaction between ketamine and ICI.
Current research trends on cognition, integrative complexity, and decision-making: a systematic literature review using activity theory and neuroscience
Authors: Molina Isaac , Molina-Perez Edmundo , Sobrino Fernanda , Tellez-Rojas Mario Arturo , Zamora-Maldonado Hilda C. , Plaza-Ferreira María , Orozco Yessica , Espinoza-Juarez Victor , Serra-Barragán Luis , De Unanue Adolfo 
Published: September 2023

IntroductionThis article presents a systematic literature review that follows the PRISMA and PICOS guidelines to analyze current research trends on cognition, integrative complexity (IC) (a cognitive feature focusing on information processing in a person’s response rather than its quantity or quality), and decision-making from the perspectives of activity theory and neuroscience.MethodsThe study examines 31 papers published between 2012 and 2022 and 19 articles specifically related to neuroscience. We performed a content analysis using six categories within activity theory: subjects, objects, rules, community, division of labor, and outcomes.ResultsThe study investigates the relationship between decision-making outcomes and IC as a cognitive feature in various contexts. Additionally, content analysis on neuroscience and IC revealed significant research gaps, including understanding the nature of IC, challenges related to its measurement, and differentiation from other cognitive features. We also identify opportunities for investigating the brain’s activity during decision-making in relation to IC.DiscussionWe address the need for a more precise categorization of IC in studies of cognition, IC, and decision-making. We discuss the implications of our analysis for understanding the cognitive nature of IC and the potential of neuroscience methods for studying this attribute.