bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Postoperative Radiculitis After L5-S1 Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion
Authors: Araghi Kasra , Fourman Mitchell S. , Merrill Robert , Maayan Omri , Zhao Eric , Pajak Anthony , Subramanian Tejas , Kim David , Kamil Robert , Shahi Pratyush , Sheha Evan , Dowdell James , Iyer Sravisht , Qureshi Sheeraz 
Published: June 2023

Study Design.
Retrospective chart review.

Objective.
This study aimed to examine postoperative radiculitis after isolated L5-S1 ALIF, determine which factors contribute to its development, and investigate the comparative outcomes of patients with vs. without postoperative radiculitis.

Summary of Background Data.
Both stand-alone and traditional anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) are common and safe lumbar spine fusion techniques. Although optimal safety and effectiveness are achieved through appropriate patient selection, postoperative radiculitis after L5-S1 ALIF is a potential complication that appears to be the least predictable in the absence of iatrogenic injury.

Methods.
All adult patients (18–80 y) with preoperative radiculopathies who underwent L5-S1 ALIF by nine board-certified spine surgeons at a single academic institution from January 2016 to December 2021 with a minimum of 3-months follow-up were included. Patient records were assessed for data on clinical characteristics and patient-reported outcome scores (PROMs). All patient records were evaluated to determine whether postoperative radiculitis developed. Radiographic measurements using X-rays were completed using all available pre-& post-operative imaging. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed utilizing radiculitis as the dependent variable and various independent predictor variables.

Results.
140 patients were included, 48 (34%) patients developed postoperative radiculitis, with symptom onset and resolution occurring at 14.5 and 83 days, respectively. The two groups had no differences in preoperative or postoperative radiographic parameters. Multivariable regression showed three independent predictors of postoperative radiculitis: methylprednisolone use [OR: 6.032; (95% CI: 1.670–25.568)], increased implant height [OR: 1.509; (95% CI: 1.189–1.960)], and no posterior fixation [OR: 2.973; (95% CI: 1.353–.806)].

Conclusion.
Of the 34% of patients who developed postoperative radiculitis following L5-S1 ALIF, it resolved on average within 3 months of surgery. These findings may help reduce the risk of undue short-term morbidity following isolated L5-S1 ALIF by informing preoperative counseling and intraoperative decision-making.
A Biological Perspective of TLR8 Signaling in Host Defense and Inflammation
Authors: Bian Funing , Yan Dong , Wu Xiaopeng , Yang Chao 
Published: June 2023

Abstract
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play important roles in immune responses against pathogens and tumors. Recently, TLR8 has gained attention because of its association with multiple inflammatory diseases, infections and anti-tumor responses. TLR8 senses the degradation products of single-stranded RNA from microbes and self-released RNA to induce type I interferons (IFN-Is), inflammatory gene expression and nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain (NOD)-, leucine-rich repeat (LRR)- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation. So far, the understanding of TLR8 function in vivo is still limited, partially because of lacking a reliable rodent animal model. Murine Tlr8 cannot sense the ligands of human TLR8. In mammals, TLR8 distinguishes live bacteria from dead bacteria to regulate the magnitude of immune responses. Recently, TLR8 has been reported to recognize severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA to induce inflammatory responses, suggesting that TLR8 participates in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this review, we discuss the mechanism of ligand recognition by TLR8, TLR8-mediated signaling pathways and signaling crosstalk between TLR8 and other molecules, and untangle the contribution of TLR8 to inflammatory diseases, infectious diseases, anti-tumor immunity and vaccination.
Diagnosis and treatment of varicella-zoster virus infection with herpetic visceral neuralgia without rash: A case report
Authors: Zeng Jin , Yang Yuanyuan 
Published: June 2023

Rationale:
Herpes zoster (HZ) is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus reactivation, often leading to peripheral nervous system infection and pain. This case report aimed to present 2 patients with damaged sensory nerves originating from the visceral neurons of the lateral horn of the spinal cord.

Patient concerns:
Two patients presented intractable, severe lower back pain and abdominal pain, but without rash or herpes. A female patient was admitted 2 months after symptom onset. She was presented with paroxysmal, acupuncture-like pain in the right upper quadrant and around the umbilicus without apparent incentives. A male patient was presented with recurrent episodes of paroxysmal and spastic colic in the left waist and left middle abdomen for 3 days. Abdominal examination showed no tumors or organic lesions in their intra-abdominal tissues or organs.

Diagnoses:
After excluding organic lesions on the waist and in abdominal organs, patients were diagnosed with herpetic visceral neuralgia without rash.

Intervention:
The treatment for herpes zoster neuralgia or postherpetic neuralgia was applied for 3 to 4 weeks.

Outcome:
Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory analgesics were not effective in either patient. The therapeutic effects of herpes zoster neuralgia or postherpetic neuralgia treatment were satisfactory.

Lessons:
Herpetic visceral neuralgia can be easily misdiagnosed due to the absence of a rash or herpes, resulting in delayed treatment. When patients have severe, intractable pain but no rash or herpes, and the biochemical and imaging examinations are normal, the treatment method for HZ neuralgia can be used. If the treatment is effective, HZ neuralgia is diagnosed. If not, shingles neuralgia can be ruled out. Further investigations are required to elucidate the mechanisms of pathophysiological changes in varicella-zoster virus-induced peripheral HZ neuralgia or visceral neuralgia without herpes.
Novel vs. modified platelet-rich plasma therapy for hair loss treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Fatima Kaneez , Ovais Haziq , Anwar Zainab , Abdul Latif Motan Maaz , Masood Khan Maaz , Khowaja Aly H. , Shahriyar Ghazanfar Altamash , Khalid Muhammad A. , Jamil Ayesha , Ismail Mujtaba Yahya , Kumar Sahil , Rashid Ahmed M. 
Published: June 2023

Background:
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, is a stand-alone therapy or is used in combination with other treatments for the treatment of androgenic alopecia. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to compare the improvement in hair density seen, when PRP was used alone and when used as an adjunct.

Methods:
Conforming to systematic review and meta-analysis recommendations, we performed a meta-analysis of relevant articles in multiple databases, from inception till May 2022. Randomized clinical trials were included that evaluated the use of PRP alone or used PRP as an adjuvant with previously used therapies. Hair density data at the start of treatment and follow-up after 3 and 6 months was used for analysis.

Results:
A review of 255 articles included nine studies, for a cumulative data set of 230 individuals. In comparison to the placebo, stand-alone PRP therapy resulted in a significant increase in hair density (MD=25.39, P<0.00001.) PRP combination therapy also showed marked improvement in hair density compared to placebo (MD=34.38, P=0.002.) When comparing stand-alone PRP to combination therapy, MD=36.16, and MD=34.63 was observed for the two groups, respectively.

Conclusions:
The results of this meta-analysis reaffirm previous studies that suggest the role of PRP in improving hair density in AGA; however, the results cannot justify the use of PRP-combined therapy. Stand-alone PRP therapy should be considered in the management protocols for both men and women, whereas more studies and may be, different combination therapies are required before combined therapy can be included in the management guidelines for AGA.
Disastrous evolution of ollier disease: a rare case report
Authors: Fadili Omar , El Khaymy Khalid , Bouzid Youssef , El Adaoui Oussama , El Andaloussi Yassir , Fadili Mustapha 
Published: June 2023

Introduction:
Ollier disease is a rare genetic disorder characterized by the development of multiple enchondromas. The clinical manifestations of the disease vary widely, but patients often present with bone deformities and an increased risk of developing chondrosarcoma. Here, the authors present a case report of a 25-year-old male patient with a devastating and historic evolution of Ollier disease.

Case presentation:
At the age of 10, the patient developed a sub-centimeter mass in the first phalanx of the left middle finger, which subsequently grew in size. A biopsy was performed at the age of 14, which confirmed the diagnosis of chondroma. At the age of 14, the patient developed multiple large masses on the left hand, resulting in the amputation of his left hand. At 25 years old, the patient developed new masses in his contralateral hand and left foot.

Discussion:
Ollier disease is caused by somatic mutations in the PTH/PTHrP receptor gene, leading to the formation of multiple enchondromas. Patients with Ollier disease are at an increased risk of developing chondrosarcoma, which can be life-threatening. The diagnosis of Ollier disease is usually made based on clinical and radiographic findings, and genetic testing can confirm the diagnosis. Treatment is typically focused on managing the symptoms and preventing the development of chondrosarcoma.

Conclusion:
The authors presented a case report of a patient with a devastating and historic evolution of Ollier disease. This case highlights the importance of early diagnosis and management of this disease to prevent the development of chondrosarcoma and minimize the risk of complications. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms of the disease and develop effective treatments.
Medial minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis for humeral shaft fractures: a case series
Authors: Liu Da-Peng , Liang Jing-Hao 
Published: June 2023

Background:
Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) is increasingly favored for treating humeral shaft fractures (HSFs). However, conventional MIPO techniques pose challenges in fixing fractures near the fossa olecrani and carry a high risk of iatrogenic radial nerve palsy. This study was aimed to report the clinical outcomes of a series of patients who underwent MIPO through a medial approach for HSFs and describe our treatment algorithm.

Patients and Method:
This is a study conducted in our university hospital, which is a Level 1 academic trauma center. A retrospective analysis of 21 patients with HSFs who received minimally invasive treatment using plate osteosynthesis through a medial approach over a 5-year period was conducted. The outcomes measured included time for radiographic consolidation, disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand score, and complications such as infection, iatrogenic radial nerve injury, loss of reduction or fixation, and nonunion.

Results:
Twenty-one patients who underwent the procedure were identified. Bone healing was achieved in all patients with an early and aggressive range of motion. There were no cases of infection or iatrogenic radial nerve injury. The mean radiographic fracture union time was 15.76 weeks (range: 8–40 weeks). The mean disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand score was 3.29 (range: 0–14.17) at the time of the last follow-up. The mean screw density was 0.43.

Conclusion:
The proposed algorithm is effective in addressing the challenges of iatrogenic nerve injury and extra-articular distal fixation of HSFs with conventional MIPO techniques.
Concerns over cardiovascular manifestations associated with monkeypox immunization: a literature review
Authors: Shrestha Abhigan Babu , Mehta Aashna , Zahid Muhammad Jawad , Candelario Katherine , Shrestha Sajina , Pokharel Pashupati 
Published: June 2023

Background:
Following the recent surge in monkeypox cases worldwide, vaccines have gained popularity due to their protective role against the disease in the absence of specific pharmacological therapies for the disease. This article explores the possible challenges associated with the treatment and prevention of monkeypox with special emphasis on cardiovascular concerns relating to vaccines, warranting further investigation and research.

Methods:
Multiple electronic databases from inception till October 2022 were searched to find articles reporting the cardiovascular adverse events associated with monkeypox immunization.

Results:
Smallpox vaccines ACAM2000, JYNNEOS, and modified vaccinia Ankara have been used for monkeypox. ACAM2000 has been reported to have major cardiovascular adverse events such as myocarditis, dilated cardiomyopathy, and heart failure. Whereas JYNNEOS and modified vaccinia Ankara are associated with minor cardiovascular adverse events such as tachycardia, palpitation, electrocardiogram changes such as T wave inversion, and ST elevation.

Conclusions:
Despite having cardiovascular issues with the existing vaccines, clinicians and public health experts should measure the risk benefit aspect of smallpox vaccines to decide whether to go for mass immunization or not. Based on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, immunization will be a better strategy to halt the monkeypox spread throughout the globe. However, further research is needed to determine the exact incidence and susceptibility to develop cardiovascular complications among monkeypox immunized individuals.
The Relationship of Prolonged Grief Disorder Symptoms With Hemodynamic Response to Grief Recall Among Bereaved Adults
Authors: Palitsky Roman , Wilson Da’Mere T. , Friedman Sydney E. , Ruiz John M. , Sullivan Daniel , O’Connor Mary-Frances 
Published: June 2023

ABSTRACT

Objective
Bereavement is among the most impactful psychosocial stressors for cardiovascular health, and hypertensive episodes accompanying bereavement-related distress are one putative mechanism for this effect. The present study examined hemodynamic responses to the Grief Recall (GR), a promising method for studying the effects of acute grief on cardiovascular function, and the relationship of grief severity to blood pressure (BP) response.

Methods

N = 59 participants within 1 year of the loss of a close loved one completed the GR, a semistructured interview protocol for eliciting bereavement-related distress (a “grief pang”) and cardiovascular response. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were measured at two time points: a) an attention-control baseline and (2) after a 10-minute GR interview. Baseline versus post-GR SBP and DBP differences (i.e., BP response) were measured. Grief severity was examined as a predictor of SBP and DBP response, as well as BP recovery

Results
SBP and DBP increased significantly after GR (SBP, +21.10 mm Hg; DBP, +8.10 mm Hg). Adjusting for variables relevant to cardiovascular function and bereavement (antihypertensive medication use, days since death, gender, age), grief severity predicted the magnitude of increase after GR in SBP but not DBP. No relationship of grief severity and recovery was observed.

Conclusions
The observed association between hemodynamic response and grief severity suggests a mechanistic contribution from hemodynamic effects of acute grief episodes to the cardiovascular impact of grief. This is the first study to show that increased symptoms of prolonged grief disorder are associated with an elevated SBP response. The GR may have further utility for research examining physiological responses to bereavement-related emotions.
Wastewater-based epidemiology for surveillance of infectious diseases in healthcare settings
Authors: Hassard Francis , Bajón-Fernández Yadira , Castro-Gutierrez Víctor 
Published: June 2023

Purpose of review
Wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) (epidemiology) using near-source sampling (NSS) in large buildings, hospitals and care homes is reviewed covering three main areas: state-of-the-art WBS, benefits/opportunities NSS has for hospital infection control systems and new insights from hospital wastewater surveillance and policy implications.

Recent findings
Wastewater provides aggregate, anonymous sources of data where the spatial resolution can be linked to populations being served. In hospitals, clear links established between wastewater RNA-fragments signal to nosocomial COVID-19 cases/outbreaks. Detecting other targets from hospital wastewater such as antimicrobial resistance markers is considered a substantial opportunity for this technology. Other clinically relevant infections, that is influenza and monkeypox, can be perceived, and sub-variant resolution to target public health response in near real time to benefit hospital infection control. WBS can reduce hospitals’ clinical testing requirements, as diagnostic costs are aggregated into fewer samples while still detecting single cases.

Summary
WBS using NSS can inform infectious disease monitoring earlier, faster and cheaper than conventional monitoring. Routine sampling using wastewater provides a platform for risk-based sampling and enables smarter allocation of resources. Finally, hospital wastewater can be used for the benefit of the wastewater surveillance field as a promising source to monitor emerging threats and resolve longstanding questions on faecal shedding. Hospital monitoring in low-income settings is considered a priority for future research.
Abnormality Detection for Medical Images Using Self-Supervision and Negative Samples
Authors: Rafiee Nima , Gholamipoor Rahil , Kollmann Markus 
Published: June 2023

AbstractRecent progress in computer-aided technologies has had a considerable impact on helping experts with a reliable and fast diagnosis of abnormal samples. In particular, self-supervised and self-distillation techniques have advanced automated out-of-distribution (OOD) detection in the image domain. Further improvements in OOD detection have been observed by including negative samples derived from shifting transformations of real images. In this work, we study different ways of creating negative samples for medical images and how effective they are when leveraging them in a self-supervised self-distillation framework. We investigate the impact of various types of negative examples by applying different shifting transformations on samples when they are derived from in-distribution training data, from an auxiliary dataset, or a combination of both. For the case of the auxiliary dataset, we compare the OOD detection performance when auxiliary samples are extracted from an indomain or an out-domain. Our approach uses only data belonging to healthy people during the training procedure and does not require any additional information from labels. We demonstrate the efficiency of our technique by comparing abnormality detection performance on diverse medical datasets, setting new benchmarks for pneumonia, polyp, and glaucoma detection from X-ray, colonoscopy, and ophthalmology images.
Restoring declining species through translocations: A test case using flightless grasshoppers in an urban setting
Authors: Yagui Hiromi , Kearney Michael R. , Hoffmann Ary A. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractPopulation translocations are used increasingly as a conservation strategy for vertebrates. However, relatively few attempts have been made to translocate invertebrates despite their potential benefits for food webs, and despite the practicality of undertaking such translocations in small areas including urban environments where space is limited.We conducted 36 translocations of 1851 individuals of the generalist flightless grasshopperVandiemenella viaticaacross urban Melbourne, where 93% of its original habitat has been lost.We aimed to understand characteristics essential for grasshopper persistence and to investigate detection, occupancy, dispersal, and habitat suitability throughout its active period to improve insect translocation success in urban settings using revegetated sites and small remnant habitats. We also measured movement and detection probability after one week in short-term trials.The one-week trial indicated that grasshopper sex and colour morph did not influence the probability of detection, and there was no evidence of directional movement by females and males.One year after translocation,V. viaticawere found in 28 out of 36 translocation sites. These surveys showed that detection probability changed across survey seasons and was influenced by soil temperature. Also, soil temperature positively affected detection in the winter surveys. Occupancy probability was influenced by graminoid cover, plant species richness and weed cover. We found no evidence of directional movement by females and males in the F1 generation. Abundance and presence/absence data were best explained by graminoid cover and plant species richness.Our findings suggest that wingless grasshopper translocations are feasible in small urban patches of suitable habitat, helping to restore invertebrate biodiversity and ecological services.
Visualizing scRNA-Seq Data at Population Scale with GloScope
Authors: Wang Hao , Torous William , Gong Boying , Purdom Elizabeth 
Published: June 2023

AbstractIncreasingly, scRNA-Seq studies explore cell populations across different samples and the effect of sample heterogeneity on organism’s phenotype. However, relatively few bioinformatic methods have been developed which adequately address the variation between samples for such population-level analyses. We propose a framework for representing the entire single-cell profile of a sample, which we call a GloScope representation. We implement GloScope on scRNA-Seq datasets from study designs ranging from 12 to over 300 samples and demonstrate how GloScope allows researchers to perform essential bioinformatic tasks at the sample-level, in particular visualization and quality control assessment.
Deep Stroop: Using eye tracking and speech processing to characterize people with neurodegenerative disorders while performing the Stroop Test
Authors: Meyer Trevor , Favaro Anna , Cao Tianyu , Butala Ankur , Oh Esther , Motley Chelsie , Irazoqui Pedro , Dehak Najim , Moro-Velázquez Laureano 
Published: June 2023

AbstractAlthough many neurodegenerative diseases affect different neural circuits, they often express complex and overlapping symptom profiles making them difficult to differentiate precisely. Current methods of analyzing patients are limited to bedside examination, patient self-rating scales, semiquantitative clinician-rating scales, and other observational evidence, which are often non-specific, resulting in open multiple interpretations and ambiguity in diagnosis and treatment plans. We present a method to analyze patient symptom profiles using multimodal analysis of subjects performing the Stroop Test. We use high-sample-rate eye tracking and speech recording tools to record subject behavior while completing the Stroop Test and simultaneously analyze multiple traits of their interaction with the test. We compare the performance of healthy controls to patients with Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, and other neurodegenerative diseases with clinical parkinsonism. We automatically extract metrics based on eye motor behavior, gaze characteristic uttered responses, and the temporal relationship between gaze and uttered responses. We identify many that have clinical relevance through high correlations with existing MoCA and MDS-UPDRS, many of which have significantly different distributions between groups. We present here our analysis approach, provide freely available source code to replicate it and demonstrate the potential of multi-modal recording and analysis of patients throughout their execution of neuro-psychological tests like the Stroop Test.