bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Frequency and factors associated with oral Candida growth in patients with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Gonzales Cintia Belén , Brusca María Isabel , Garzon María Laura , Vela Ferreira Atilio , Jewtuchowicz Virginia 
Published: January 2025

Introduction: Yeasts of the genus Candida, especially Candida albicans, are responsible for oral infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Candida colonization can lead to oral candidiasis and, in severe cases, to esophageal or systemic candidiasis. In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), dialysis and immunosuppression increase the risk of oral infections, such as candidiasis. CKD is a highly prevalent pathology, and patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis are more prone to suffer oral complications due to alterations in oral health habits and defense mechanisms. Objective: To relate risk factors and clinical characteristics of patients with chronic kidney disease to the frequency of oral Candida.Methods: This study is framed within a cross-sectional and analytical design, including a total of 21 patients over 18 years of age who were undergoing peritoneal dialysis treatment at the HIGA “Presidente Perón”. Samples of biofilm from the gingival sulcus and buccal mucosa were collected from each participant using standardized sampling techniques.Results: A predominance of C. albicans (46%) and C. parapsilosis (40%) was observed. The variables that showed a statistically significant association (p < 0.05) were: age (p = 0.002), smoking (p = 0.032), time on peritoneal dialysis (p = 0.005), oral hygiene (p = 0.003), oral health (p = 0.003) and maximum probing depth (p = 0.011).Conclusions: We were able to demonstrate a relationship between oral Candida and CKD, in addition to its association with various risk factors. C. albicans and C. parapsilosis species were the most frequent, especially in women and smokers with prolonged peritoneal dialysis treatment.
Effectiveness of Student-Facilitated Problem-Based Learning in Integrated Basic Medical Sciences: A Retrospective Quantitative Analysis
Authors: Joshi Lok Raj , Nembang Penchha , Hamal Deependra , Thakur Chandan Kumar , Anu Anuraj , Jha Jay Prakash , Amgain Kapil 
Published: January 2025

IntroductionProblem-based learning (PBL) is considered as a historic innovation in medical education. However, shortage of experienced faculty tutors for PBL is a major challenge in resource-limited settings. We aimed to assess effectiveness of student-facilitated PBL in content knowledge at a medical college of Nepal.
MethodsThe Student-facilitated PBL modules were implemented for preclinical medical students in Karnali Academy of Health Science, Jumla during March and April 2024. Our retrospective observational study used both quantitative and qualitative approaches to analyze the outcome and experience of the PBL modules. This article reports the quantitative analysis (with qualitative analysis in a separate paper) which compared pretest and posttest results of the students on multiple-choice questions to assess content knowledge. The maximum possible score was 30 for each test and pass score was set as per modified Angoff method.
ResultsPretest and posttest results of 53 medical students were analyzed. The results showed that 39 (74%) students passed the pretest and 48 (91%) passed the posttest. This improvement was statistically significant (McNemar's chi-squared=4.27, p=0.04). The median (interquartile range) of the pretest scores was 19(17-21) and that of the posttest scores was 23(21-25) with a significant increase after the PBL module (Wilcoxon signed rank test, p<0.001, effect size=0.67). The posttest scores of the first year students were comparable to the posttest scores of the second year students (Wilcoxon rank sum test, p=0.40).
ConclusionThe student-facilitated PBL module was effective for improving content knowledge.
Pengaruh Gaya Kepemimpinan Dan Kecerdasan Emosional Terhadap Kinerja Karyawan PT Meyer Proteindo Prakarsa
Authors: Syakila Azka  , Ida Farida Syarifah 
Published: January 2025

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui adanya keterkaitan, pengaruh atau seberapa besarkah pengaruh antara variabel Gaya Kepemimpinan dan Kecerdasan Emosional secara parsial dan simultan terhadap kinerja karyawan di PT Meyer Proteindo Prakarsa Cipondoh Tangerang. Metode yang digunakan adalah metode kuantitatif, dimana teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan dengan penyebaran kuesioner, observasi dan data Pustaka. Menggunakan metode sampel jenuh dengan jumlah reponden 60 orang. Dari hasil pengolahan data menggunakan SPSS 24, didapati hasil bahwa Adjusted R Square sebesar 74%. Yang bisa diartikan bahwa variabel Gaya Kepemimpinan dan Kecerdasan Emosional dapat menjelaskan variabel Kinerja sebesar 74%. Dan selisihnya disebabkan variabel lain yang tidak digunakan dalam penelitian ini. Maka, dari penelitian ini menyimpulkan bahwa secara parsial, variabel Gaya Kepemimpinan dan Kecerdasan Emosional berpengaruh secara signifikan terhadap kinerja karyawan PT Meyer Proteindo Pratama. Secara simultan Gaya Kepemimpinan dan Kecerdasan Emosional berpengaruh terhadap Kinerja Karyawan, hasil ini dinyatakan dari pengaruh Gaya Kepemimpinan uji parsial (uji t) pada variabel Gaya Kepemimpinan dimana hasil thitung>ttabel yaitu sebesar 6,668 > 2,002 dengan taraf signifikansi 0,000>0,005. Kecerdasan Emosional juga berpengaruh secara positif dan signifikan terhadap kinerja, hal ini dibuktikan dengan hasil uji parsial dimana hasil thitung>ttabel yaitu sebesar 8,388 > 2,002 dengan taraf signifikansi 0,00 < 0,05. Sedangkan Gaya Kepemimpinan dan Kecerdasan Emosional berpengaruh secara simultan memiliki pengaruh positif dan signifikan, hal ini terbukti dari hasil uji simultan (uji F) dimana hasil fhitung>ftabel yaitu sebesar 80,945 > 3,160 dan taraf signifikasi 0,00 < 0,05.
Clinical Outcomes for Uptitration of Baricitinib Therapy in Patients With Severe Alopecia Areata
Authors: Ko Justin M. , Mayo Tiffany T. , Bergfeld Wilma F. , Dutronc Yves , Yu Guanglei , Ball Susan G. , Somani Najwa , Craiglow Brittany G. 
Published: August 2023

ImportanceBaricitinib is an oral selective Janus kinase 1/2 inhibitor that has achieved clinically meaningful outcomes for scalp, eyebrow, and eyelash hair regrowth in patients with severe alopecia areata (AA) at week 36 of treatment. Treatment with baricitinib, 4 mg, has resulted in higher response rates than baricitinib, 2 mg, at weeks 36 and 52.ObjectiveTo determine the efficacy of uptitration to baricitinib, 4 mg, for 24 weeks in patients who had previously not responded to baricitinib, 2 mg (Severity of Alopecia Tool [SALT] score of &amp;gt;20).Design, Setting, and ParticipantsBRAVE-AA1 and BRAVE-AA2 are multicenter, placebo-controlled, phase 3 randomized clinical trials that were initiated on September 24, 2018, and July 8, 2019, respectively, with follow-up to 200 weeks (data cutoffs of November 11, 2021, and November 5, 2021, respectively). This pooled analysis reports long-term extension data up to week 76. At baseline, 1200 adult patients with severe AA (SALT score ≥50) were randomly assigned in a 3:2:2 ratio to receive baricitinib, 4 mg; baricitinib, 2 mg; or placebo. Patients treated with baricitinib remained on the same treatment dose until week 52. Patients were considered nonresponders to baricitinib, 2 mg, if they had a SALT score greater than 20 after 52 weeks of therapy.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe proportions of patients achieving a SALT score of 20 or lower and clinician-reported outcome for eyebrow hair loss and eyelash hair loss scores of 0 or 1 (full coverage or minimal gaps) with 2-point or higher improvements from baseline (among those with baseline scores ≥2 [significant gaps to no notable hair]) were analyzed through week 76.ResultsAt week 52, of the 340 patients (mean [SD] age, 38.4 [12.9] years; 212 [62.4%] female) treated with baricitinib, 2 mg, 212 (62.4%) had a SALT score higher than 20 and were uptitrated to baricitinib, 4 mg. Two-thirds of these patients (142 of 212 [67.0%]) had a baseline SALT score of 95 to 100, indicating very severe AA. At week 76, 55 of the 212 patients (25.9%) had achieved a SALT score of 20 or lower. During the same period, response rates for clinician-reported outcome scores of 0 or 1 increased from 19.3% (31 of 161 patients) to 37.9% (61 of 161 patients) for eyebrows and from 24.1% (33 of 137 patients) to 40.9% (56 of 137 patients) for eyelashes.Conclusions and RelevanceIn this pooled analysis of the BRAVE-AA1 and BRAVE-AA2 trials, uptitration of baricitinib, 2 mg, to baricitinib, 4 mg, in those who did not respond to the 2-mg dose resulted in meaningful improvement of response rates over the subsequent 24 weeks for scalp, eyebrow, and eyelash hair loss.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT03570749 and NCT03899259
Modulation of Neuroimmune and Epithelial Dysregulation in Patients With Moderate to Severe Prurigo Nodularis Treated With Nemolizumab
Authors: Deng Junwen , Liao Viviane , Parthasarathy Varsha , Cornman Hannah L. , Kambala Anusha , Kwatra Madan M. , Ständer Sonja , Piketty Christophe , Chaskar Prasad , Krishnaswamy Jayendra Kumar , Julia Valerie , Kwatra Shawn G. 
Published: August 2023

ImportancePrurigo nodularis (PN) is a debilitating skin disease characterized by intense pruritus and hyperkeratotic skin nodules. Nemolizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin 31 receptor α, is a promising novel therapy for the treatment of moderate to severe PN. The biological mechanisms by which nemolizumab promotes improvement of itch and skin lesions in PN are unknown.ObjectiveTo characterize changes in plasma protein biomarkers associated with clinical response to nemolizumab in patients with PN.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis multicenter cohort study included patients recruited from Austria, France, Germany, Poland, and the US from a phase 2 clinical trial. Adults diagnosed with moderate to severe PN with severe pruritus for at least 6 months were included in the original trial. Patients in the nemolizumab group were included in the present study if they achieved at least a 4-point decrease in the Peak Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (PP-NRS) from baseline to week 12 during nemolizumab treatment. Placebo controls did not experience a 4-point decrease in PP-NRS. Mass spectrometry with tandem mass tags to enrich skin-specific protein detection was used to characterize changes in plasma protein expression in nemolizumab and placebo groups. Data were collected from November 2, 2017, to September 26, 2018, and analyzed from December 6, 2019, to April 8, 2022.InterventionAs part of the clinical trial, patients were treated with 3 doses of nemolizumab or placebo at 0, 4, and 8 weeks.Main Outcomes and MeasuresChanges in plasma and epidermal protein expression in nemolizumab-treated patients compared with the placebo group at 0, 4, and 12 weeks.ResultsAmong the 38 patients included in the analysis (22 women and 16 men; mean [SD] age, 55.8 [15.8] years), enrichment analysis of canonical pathways, biological functions, and upstream regulators showed downregulation of terms involving inflammation (IL-6, acute-phase response, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, and interferon γ), neural processes (synaptogenesis signaling and neuritogenesis), tissue remodeling and fibrosis (transforming growth factor β1 and endothelin-1), and epidermal differentiation (epithelial mesenchymal transition) in the plasma of nemolizumab group.Conclusions and RelevanceIn this cohort study, differences between nemolizumab and placebo groups included modulation of inflammatory signaling, neural development, and epithelial differentiation, suggesting a promising potential approach for clinical management of PN.
Vitamin D receptor and binding protein genes variants in patients with migraine
Authors: García‐Martín Elena , Navarro‐Muñoz Santiago , Ayuso Pedro , Rodríguez Christopher , Serrador Mercedes , Alonso‐Navarro Hortensia , Calleja Marisol , Espada‐Rubio Silvina , Navacerrada Francisco , Turpín‐Fenoll Laura , Recio‐Bermejo Marta , García‐Ruiz Rafael , Millán‐Pascual Jorge , Plaza‐Nieto José Francisco , García‐Albea Esteban , Agúndez José A.G. , Jiménez‐Jiménez Félix Javier 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackground/ObjectivesSeveral studies have shown a relationship between vitamin D and migraine, including the association between decreased serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D in patients with migraine and the positive effects of vitamin D supplementations in the therapy of this disease. Two single‐nucleotide variants (SNVs)vitamin D receptor(VDR) gene,VDRrs2228570, andVDRrs731236 have shown an association with migraine risk in a previous case–control association study, while an exome sequencing study identified a rare variant inGC vitamin D binding proteingene. This study aims to look for the association between several common variants in these two genes and the risk for migraine.MethodsWe genotyped 290 patients diagnosed with migraine and 300 age‐matched controls using specific TaqMan assays forVDRrs2228570,VDRrs731236,VDRrs7975232,VDRrs739837,VDRrs78783628,GCrs7041, andGCrs4588 SNVs.ResultsWe did not find an association between these SNVs and the risk for migraine. None of these SNVs were related to the positivity of a family history of migraine or with the presence of aura. TheVDRrs731236A allele showed a significant association with the triggering of migraine attacks by ethanol (Pc = 0.007).ConclusionsIn summary, the results of the current study suggest a lack of association between common SNVs in theVDRandGCgene and the risk of developing migraine. The possible relationship betweenVDRrs731236 and the triggering of migraine episodes with ethanol deserves future studies.
Effective Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis Using a Nano‐Enabled Drug Acupuncture Technology in Mice
Authors: Xu Wenjie , Xiao Yu , Zhao Minzhi , Zhu Jiahui , Wang Yu , Wang Wenbin , Wang Peng , Meng Huan 
Published: August 2023

AbstractA nano‐enabled drug delivery acupuncture technology (nd‐Acu) is developed that is based on traditional acupuncture needles where the stainless‐steel surface is designed to deliver various payload molecules. To create thend‐Acu platform, an electrochemistry procedure is used to attach methyl salicylate‐modified cyclodextrin in which the sugar rings allow the encapsulation of structurally defined single or multiple payload molecules via an inclusion complexation process. Drug loading and release profile are first studied using fluorescent dyes abiotically and at intact animal level.nd‐Acu allows more efficient dye loading and time‐dependent release compared to pristine needles without cyclodextrin modification. Subsequently, a proof‐of‐principle efficacy study is conducted using the platform to load a local anesthetic, lidocaine, for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in mice. It is demonstrated that lidocaine‐ladennd‐Acu can effectively alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, and slow down KOA development biochemically and histologically. Hypothesis‐driven and proteomic approaches are utilized to investigate the working mechanisms of lidocainend‐Acu, indicating that the therapeutic outcome is attributed to the in vivo modulation of the HMGB1/TLR4 signaling pathway. The study also obtained preliminary evidence suggesting the involvement of mitochondria as well as small GTPase such as cdc42 during the treatment by lidocainend‐Acu.
Changes in Tissue Fluidity Predict Tumor Aggressiveness In Vivo
Authors: Sauer Frank , Grosser Steffen , Shahryari Mehrgan , Hayn Alexander , Guo Jing , Braun Jürgen , Briest Susanne , Wolf Benjamin , Aktas Bahriye , Horn Lars‐Christian , Sack Ingolf , Käs Josef A. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractCancer progression is caused by genetic changes and associated with various alterations in cell properties, which also affect a tumor's mechanical state. While an increasedstiffnesshas been well known for long for solid tumors, it has limited prognostic power. It is hypothesized that cancer progression is accompanied by tissuefluidization, where portions of the tissue can change position across different length scales. Supported by tabletop magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) on stroma mimicking collagen gels and microscopic analysis of live cells inside patient derived tumor explants, an overview is provided of how cancer associated mechanisms, including cellular unjamming, proliferation, microenvironment composition, and remodeling can alter a tissue'sfluidityandstiffness. In vivo, state‐of‐the‐art multifrequency MRE can distinguish tumors from their surrounding host tissue by their rheological fingerprints. Most importantly, a meta‐analysis on the currently available clinical studies is conducted and universal trends are identified. The results and conclusions are condensed into a gedankenexperiment about how a tumor can grow and eventually metastasize into its environment from a physics perspective to deduce corresponding mechanical properties. Based onstiffness, fluidity,spatial heterogeneity, andtextureof thetumor fronta roadmap for a prognosis of a tumor's aggressiveness and metastatic potential is presented.
Enhanced UV Light‐Emission of Zinc‐Phosphate‐Hydrate Hydrothermally‐Grown on Cu Metal Substrates for Opto‐Electronic Applications
Authors: Spiegelhoff Yuting , Zemajtis Filip , Kheirandish Elaheh , Grauby Olivier , Ferry Daniel , Pellenq Roland J.‐M. , Sobolev Konstantin , Kouklin Nikolai 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIn the present study, polycrystalline films of layered zinc phosphate hydrate are produced by a facile, low‐temperature single‐step hydrothermal fabrication method on top of Cu metal substrates. Despite containing structural water, the as‐grown films remain crystalline, chemically stable, and electrically conductive. The photoluminescence spectrum obtained at room‐temperature reveals the presence of a spectrally narrow, high‐intensity ultraviolet band that consists of two Gaussian peaks at ≈377 and 383 nm and a UV‐to‐visible peak emission intensity ratio of ≈5.3. The electrical charge‐transport properties remain Ohmic for electric fields of up to ≈2 kV m−1 and temperature (T) range of ≈223–368 K. The electrical conductivity is further found to vary exponentially with the inverse temperature, and the thermal activation energy, Ea is 285 ± 8 meV. A moderate UV‐vis photoconduction effect is registered and assigned to light‐assisted electronic transitions that involve near‐band edge defect states. This study can potentially open a door to the engineering and deployment of water‐based compounds with advanced, semiconducting‐like attributes in short‐wavelength opto‐electronic devices.
Bipolar Membrane with Porous Anion Exchange Layer for Efficient and Long‐Term Stable Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 to CO
Authors: Disch Joey , Ingenhoven Stefan , Vierrath Severin 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBipolar membranes in forward bias have the potential to address several challenges of alkaline zero‐gap CO2 electrolyzers. However, the inevitable gas evolution of CO2 at the membrane junction typically leads to delamination and failure of the membrane after a few hours, limiting its applicability in electrolyzers so far. In this work, a bipolar membrane with a perforated anion exchange layer is presented that allows the CO2 gas to flow back to the cathode and thus preventing accumulation of gas at the junction. This configuration for the first time enables stable operation of a forward bias bipolar membrane showing a degradation rate of 0.5 mV h−1 in a 200 h constant current hold at 100 mA cm−2 and 3.1 V. Highest reported energy efficiency of EECO = 39% and Faradaic efficiency of FECO = 96% at 200 mA cm−2 among forward bipolar membranes prove that the perforated membrane does not compromise efficiency. A maximum CO2 single‐pass conversion of 52% at 0.75 mLCO2 min−1 cm−2 and a low specific energy consumption of 665 kJ mol−1 CO2 shows that this concept is superior not only to other bipolar membranes in the literature, but potentially also to conventional anion exchange membrane‐based electrolyzers.
The impact of tau deposition and hypometabolism on cognitive impairment and longitudinal cognitive decline
Authors: Boccalini Cecilia , Ribaldi Federica , Hristovska Ines , Arnone Annachiara , Peretti Débora Elisa , Mu Linjing , Scheffler Max , Perani Daniela , Frisoni Giovanni B. , Garibotto Valentina 
Published: August 2023

AbstractINTRODUCTIONTau and neurodegeneration strongly correlate with cognitive impairment, as compared to amyloid. However, their contribution in explaining cognition and predicting cognitive decline in memory clinics remains unclarified.METHODSWe included 94 participants with Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE), tau positron emission tomography (PET), amyloid PET, fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET, and MRI scans from Geneva Memory Center. Linear regression and mediation analyses tested the independent and combined association between biomarkers, cognitive performance, and decline. Linear mixed‐effects and Cox proportional hazards models assessed biomarkers’ prognostic values.RESULTSMetabolism had the strongest association with cognition (r = 0.712; p < 0.001), followed by tau (r = ‐0.682; p < 0.001). Neocortical tau showed the strongest association with cognitive decline (r = ‐0.677; p < 0.001). Metabolism mediated the association between tau and cognition and marginally mediated the one with decline. Tau positivity represented the strongest risk factor for decline (hazard ratio = 32).DISCUSSIONTau and neurodegeneration synergistically contribute to global cognitive impairment while tau drives decline. The tau PET superior prognostic value supports its implementation in memory clinics.Highlights
Hypometabolism has the strongest association with concurrent cognitive impairment.
Neocortical tau pathology is the main determinant of cognitive decline over time.
FDG‐PET has a superior value compared to MRI as a measure of neurodegeneration.
The prognostic value of tau‐PET exceeded all other neuroimaging modalities.
Supporting collaborative dissection through the development of an online wiki positively impacts the learning of veterinary anatomy
Authors: Previdelli Renato L. , Boardman Emma , Frill Michael , Frean Stephen , Channon Sarah B. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractAn innovative series of dissections of the canine abdomen was created to facilitate social distancing in the dissection room following COVID‐19 restrictions imposed in the UK. In groups of six, first‐year veterinary students took turns dissecting selected parts of the canine abdomen while maintaining social distancing and documenting their work with video and photographs. Here, students learned about the canine abdominal anatomy by dissecting, recording the dissections of others in their group, and compiling the recorded material into a collaborative electronic media portfolio (Wiki). An online formative multiple‐choice test was created to test students' knowledge of the canine abdominal anatomy. The result analysis showed that although students achieved the learning outcomes only by studying the Wiki, they had better performance in the anatomical areas where they learned through the dissection (p < 0.05). Student performance was very similar in the areas in which they were present in the dissection room and participated in recording the dissection compared with the areas that they effectively dissected (p > 0.05). A qualitative thematic analysis was developed to understand students' opinions via their feedback on this dissection approach. Our results showed that student collaboration and the development of practical skills were the most valued aspects of this dissection teaching initiative. Moreover, these results show that developing a group Wiki has a positive impact on student achievement of learning objectives, with a practical hands‐on dissection being fundamental for the optimal learning of the canine abdominal anatomy.