bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Functional, Spiroergometric, and Subjective Comparisons Between Forearm Crutches and Hands-Free Single Crutches in a Crossover Study
Authors: Yao Daiwei , Meyer-Kobbe Louisa , Ettinger Sarah , Claassen Leif , Altemeier-Sasse Anna , Sturm Christian , Kerling Arno , Stukenborg-Colsman Christina , Plaass Christian 
Published: May 2023

Background: Following below-knee surgery, the optimal medical mobility device remains controversial as adequate nonweightbearing of the operated extremity is critical to ensure successful healing. The use of forearm crutches (FACs) is well established but requires using both upper extremities. The hands-free single orthosis (HFSO) is an alternative that spares the upper extremities. This pilot study compared functional, spiroergometric, and subjective parameters between HFSO and FAC. Methods: Ten healthy (5 females, 5 males) participants were asked to use HFSOs and FACs in a randomized order. Five functional tests were performed: climbing stairs (CS), an L-shaped indoor course (IC), an outdoor course (OC), a 10-meter walk test (10MWT), and a 6-minute walk test (6MWT). Tripping events were counted while performing IC, OC, and 6MWT. Spiroergometric measurements consisted of a 2-step treadmill test with speeds of 1.5 and 2 km/h, each for 3 minutes. Lastly, a VAS questionnaire was completed to collect data regarding comfort, safety, pain, and recommendations. Results: Significant differences between both aids were observed in CS and IC (HFSO: 29.3 seconds; FAC: 26.1 seconds, P < .03; and HFSO: 33.2 seconds, FAC: 18 seconds, P < .001, respectively). The other functional tests showed no significant differences. The trip events were not significantly different between the use of the 2 aids. Spiroergometric tests showed significant differences regarding heart rate (HFSO: 131.1 bpm at 1.5 km/h and 131 bpm at 2 km/h; FAC: 148.1 bpm at 1.5 km/h and 161.8 bpm at 2 km/h) and oxygen consumption (HFSO: 15.4 mL/min/kg at 1.5 km/h and 16 mL/min/kg at 2 km/h; FAC: 18.3 mL/min/kg at 1.5 km/h and 21.9 mL/min/kg at 2 km/h) at both speeds (all P < .01). In addition, significantly different ratings regarding the items comfort, pain, and recommendation were recorded. Both aids were equally rated for safety. Conclusion: HFSOs may be an alternative to FACs, especially in activities that require physical stamina. Further prospective studies in patients with below-knee surgical intervention concerning everyday clinical use would be interesting. Level of Evidence: Level IV pilot-study.
Multimorbidity prevalence and patterns at the baseline of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)
Authors: Marques Larissa Pruner , de Aguiar Odaleia Barbosa , Paula Daniela Polessa , Oliveira Fernanda Esthefane Garrides , Chor Dóra , Benseñor Isabela , Ribeiro Antonio Luiz , Brunoni Andre R , A C Machado Luciana , Fonseca Maria de Jesus Mendes da , Griep Rosane Härter 
Published: May 2023

Background To identify multimorbidity patterns, by sex, according to sociodemographic and lifestyle in ELSA-Brasil. Methods Cross-sectional study with 14,516 participants from ELSA-Brasil (2008–2010). Fuzzy c-means was used to identify multimorbidity patterns of 2+ chronic morbidities, where the consequent morbidity had to occur in at least 5% of all cases. Association rule (O/E≥1.5) was used to identify co-occurrence of morbidities, in each cluster, by sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Results The prevalence of multimorbidity was higher in women (73.7%) compared to men (65.3%). Among women, cluster 1 was characterized by hypertension/diabetes (13.2%); cluster 2 had no overrepresented morbidity; and cluster 3 all participants had kidney disease. Among men, cluster 1 was characterized by cirrhosis/hepatitis/obesity; cluster 2, most combinations included kidney disease/migraine (6.6%); cluster 3, no pattern reached association ratio; cluster 4 predominated co-occurrence of hypertension/rheumatic fever, and hypertension/dyslipidemia; cluster 5 predominated diabetes and obesity, and combinations with hypertension (8.8%); and cluster 6 presented combinations of diabetes/hypertension/heart attack/angina/heart failure. Clusters were characterized by higher prevalence of adults, married and participants with university degrees. Conclusion Hypertension/diabetes/obesity were highly co-occurred, in both sexes. Yet, for men, morbidities like cirrhosis/hepatitis were commonly clustered with obesity and diabetes; and kidney disease was commonly clustered with migraine and common mental disorders. The study advances in understanding multimorbidity patterns, benefiting simultaneously or gradually prevention of diseases and multidisciplinary care responses.
Immunosuppressive therapy for Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease: a retrospective study and review of literature
Authors: Rahman Najiha , Artiaga Jose Carlo M , Bouras Konstantinos , Luis Joshua , Rees Angela , Westcott Mark 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease is an idiopathic autoimmune disease which targets melanin-containing tissues such as the uvea, meninges, ear and skin. This typically presents in the eye with acute findings of granulomatous anterior uveitis, diffuse choroidal thickening, multiple focal areas of sub-retinal fluid and, in severe cases, optic nerve involvement with bullous serous retinal detachment can occur.
Early initiation of treatment has been advocated to prevent progression to the chronic stage of the disease, which can result to a sunset glow fundus with devastatingly poor visual outcome. Treatment is usually initiated with corticosteroids followed by an early introduction of immunosuppressive treatment (IMT) to achieve immediate response after disease presentation, although the choice of IMT for VKH can vary.

Main Findings
We conducted a retrospective case-series to investigate the management trend of treating VKH over a 20-year period. Twenty-six patients were included and we found a shift from steroid monotherapy to combined IMT/low-dose steroid for the management of acute initial-onset of VKH in the last 10 years. Our average time from diagnosis to initiation of IMT was 2.1 months. 81% (21 of 26 patients) of our patients treated with combined IMT/steroid were able to achieve disease stability with significant good visual outcome at 24 months (Median VApre-IMT = 0.3 Logmar vs VApost-IMT = 0.0 Logmar, p = 0.0001). MMF monotherapy was the most common IMT used and it was well-tolerated by our patients. Even so, 50% of our patients who were treated with MMF did not achieve disease control.
We then performed a literature review to identify any IMT which could be superior in the treatment of VKH. We also share our experience (where applicable) on the various treatment options found from the literature review.

Short conclusion
Our study found that patients with VKH who were treated with combined IMT/low-dose steroids achieved significantly better visual improvement at 24 months compared to steroid monotherapy. We frequently chose MMF and this appears to be well tolerated by our patients. Since its introduction, anti-TNF agents are increasingly becoming a popular choice of treatment for VKH as these have been shown to be safe and effective. However, more data is required to provide evidence that anti-TNF agents can be used as first-line treatment and as monotherapy.
Generation of magnetic biohybrid microrobots based on MSC.sTRAIL for targeted stem cell delivery and treatment of cancer
Authors: Gundersen Rebekah Anamarie , Chu Tianyuan , Abolfathi Kiana , Gokcen Dogan Serap , Blair Phoebe Elizabeth , Nago Nyasha , Hamblin Michael , Brooke Greg Nicholas , Zwacka Ralf Michael , Kafash Hoshiar Ali , Mohr Andrea 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
Combining the power of magnetic guidance and the biological activities of stem cells transformed into biohybrid microrobots holds great promise for the treatment of several diseases including cancer.

Results
We found that human MSCs can be readily loaded with magnetic particles and that the resulting biohybrid microrobots could be guided by a rotating magnetic field. Rotating magnetic fields have the potential to be applied in the human setting and steer therapeutic stem cells to the desired sites of action in the body. We could demonstrate that the required loading of magnetic particles into stem cells is compatible with their biological activities. We examined this issue with a particular focus on the expression and functionality of therapeutic genes inside of human MSC-based biohybrid microrobots. The loading with magnetic particles did not cause a loss of viability or apoptosis in the human MSCs nor did it impact on the therapeutic gene expression from the cells. Furthermore, the therapeutic effect of the gene products was not affected, and the cells also did not lose their migration potential.

Conclusion
These results demonstrate that the fabrication of guidable MSC-based biohybrid microrobots is compatible with their biological and therapeutic functions. Thus, MSC-based biohybrid microrobots represent a novel way of delivering gene therapies to tumours as well as in the context of other diseases.
On the correspondence between the transcriptomic response of a compound and its effects on its targets
Authors: Engler Hart Chloe , Ence Daniel , Healey David , Domingo-Fernández Daniel 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBetter understanding the transcriptomic response produced by a compound perturbing its targets can shed light on the underlying biological processes regulated by the compound. However, establishing the relationship between the induced transcriptomic response and the target of a compound is non-trivial, partly because targets are rarely differentially expressed. Therefore, connecting both modalities requires orthogonal information (e.g., pathway or functional information). Here, we present a comprehensive study aimed at exploring this relationship by leveraging thousands of transcriptomic experiments and target data for over 2000 compounds. Firstly, we confirm that compound-target information does not correlate as expected with the transcriptomic signatures induced by a compound. However, we reveal how the concordance between both modalities increases by connecting pathway and target information. Additionally, we investigate whether compounds that target the same proteins induce a similar transcriptomic response and conversely, whether compounds with similar transcriptomic responses share the same target proteins. While our findings suggest that this is generally not the case, we did observe that compounds with similar transcriptomic profiles are more likely to share at least one protein target and common therapeutic applications. Finally, we demonstrate how to exploit the relationship between both modalities for mechanism of action deconvolution by presenting a case scenario involving a few compound pairs with high similarity.
Metagenomics of gut microbiome for migratory seagulls in Kunming city revealed the potential public risk to human health
Authors: Liao Feng , Qian Jing , Yang Ruian , Gu Wenpeng , Li Rufang , Yang Tingting , Fu Xiaoqing , Yuan Bing , Zhang Yunhui 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
Seagull as a migratory wild bird has become most popular species in southwest China since 1980s. Previously, we analyzed the gut microbiota and intestinal pathogenic bacteria configuration for this species by using 16S rRNA sequencing and culture methods. To continue in-depth research on the gut microbiome of migratory seagulls, the metagenomics, DNA virome and RNA virome were both investigated for their gut microbial communities of abundance and diversity in this study.

Results
The metagenomics results showed 99.72% of total species was bacteria, followed by viruses, fungi, archaea and eukaryota. In particular, Shigella sonnei, Escherichia albertii, Klebsiella pneumonia, Salmonella enterica and Shigella flexneri were the top distributed taxa at species level. PCoA, NMDS, and statistics indicated some drug resistant genes, such as adeL, evgS, tetA, PmrF, and evgA accumulated as time went by from November to January of the next year, and most of these genes were antibiotic efflux. DNA virome composition demonstrated that Caudovirales was the most abundance virus, followed by Cirlivirales, Geplafuvirales, Petitvirales and Piccovirales. Most of these phages corresponded to Enterobacteriaceae and Campylobacteriaceae bacterial hosts respectively. Caliciviridae, Coronaviridae and Picornaviridae were the top distributed RNA virome at family level of this migratory animal. Phylogenetic analysis indicated the sequences of contigs of Gammacoronavirus and Deltacoronavirus had highly similarity with some coronavirus references.

Conclusions
In general, the characteristics of gut microbiome of migratory seagulls were closely related to human activities, and multiomics still revealed the potential public risk to human health.
Antibiotic resistance in potential probiotic lactic acid bacteria of fermented foods and human origin from Nigeria
Authors: Duche Rachael T. , Singh Anamika , Wandhare Arundhati Ganesh , Sangwan Vikas , Sihag Manvesh Kumar , Nwagu Tochukwu N. T. , Panwar Harsh , Ezeogu Lewis. I. 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Introduction
Probiotic lactobacilli are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) and are being used in several food and pharma formulations. However, growing concern of antibiotic resistance in bacterial strains of food origin and its possible transmission via functional foods is increasingly being emphasized.

Objectives
This study screened potential probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains for their phenotypic and genotypic antibiotic resistance profiles.

Methods
Susceptibility to different antibiotics was assayed by the Kirby Bauer standard disc diffusion protocol. Both conventional and SYBR-RTq-PCR were used for detection of resistance coding genes.

Results
A variable susceptibility pattern was documented against different antibiotic classes. LAB strains irrespective of origin displayed marked phenotypic resistance against cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, quinolones, glycopeptides; and methicillin among beta-lactams with few exceptions. In contrast, high sensitivity was recorded against macrolides, sulphonamides and carbapenems sub-group of beta-lactams with some variations. parC, associated with ciprofloxacin resistance was detected in 76.5% of the strains. Other prevalent resistant determinants observed were aac(6?)Ii (42.1%), ermB, ermC (29.4%), and tetM (20.5%). Six (?17.6%) of the isolates were free from genetic resistance determinants screened in this study.

Conclusion
Study revealed presence of antibiotic resistance determinants among lactobacilli from both fermented foods and human sources.
Vaginal carriage of Haemophilus influenzae in a non-pregnant reproductive-age population
Authors: Limaye Meghana A , Brubaker Sara , Randis Tara M , Ratner Adam J 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) is an emerging cause of early onset neonatal sepsis, but mechanisms of transmission are not well understood. We aimed to determine the prevalence of vaginal carriage of Hi in reproductive age women and to examine behavioral and demographic characteristics associated with its carriage.

Methods
We performed a secondary analysis of stored vaginal lavage specimens from a prospective cohort study of nonpregnant reproductive-age women. After extraction of bacterial genomic DNA, samples were tested for the presence of the gene encoding Haemophilus protein d (hpd) by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using validated primers and probe. PCR for the V3-V4 region of the 16 S rRNA gene (positive control) assessed sample quality. Samples with cycle threshold (CT) value < 35 were defined as positive. Sanger sequencing confirmed the presence of hpd. Behavioral and demographic characteristics associated with vaginal carriage of Hi were examined.

Results
415 samples were available. 315 (75.9%) had sufficient bacterial DNA and were included. 14 (4.4%) were positive for hpd. There were no demographic or behavioral differences between the women with Hi vaginal carriage and those without. There was no difference in history of bacterial vaginosis, vaginal microbiome community state type, or presence of Group B Streptococcus in women with and without vaginal carriage of Hi.

Conclusion
Hi was present in vaginal lavage specimens of 4.4% of this cohort. Hi presence was unrelated to clinical or demographic characteristics, though the relatively small number of positive samples may have limited power to detect such differences.
Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion/mitral annular plane systolic excursion ratio in critically ill patients: an index of right- and left-ventricular function mismatch and a risk factor for cardiogenic pulmonary edema
Authors: Zhang Hongmin , Lian Hui , Wang Xiaoting , Zhang Qing , Liu Dawei 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
This study aimed to explore whether the tricuspid annular systolic excursion (TAPSE)/mitral annular systolic excursion (MAPSE) ratio was associated with the occurrence of cardiogenic pulmonary edema (CPE) in critically ill patients.

Materials and methods
This was a prospective observational study conducted in a tertiary hospital. Adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit who were on mechanical ventilation or in need of oxygen therapy were prospectively screened for enrolment. The diagnosis of CPE was determined based on lung ultrasound and echocardiography findings. TAPSE ≥ 17 mm and MAPSE ≥ 11 mm were used as normal references.

Results
Among the 290 patients enrolled in this study, 86 had CPE. In the logistic regression analysis, the TASPE/MAPSE ratio was independently associated with the occurrence of CPE (odds ratio 4.855, 95% CI: 2.215–10.641, p < 0.001). The patients’ heart function could be categorized into four types: normal TAPSE in combination with normal MAPSE (TAPSE↑/MAPSE↑) (n = 157), abnormal TAPSE in combination with abnormal MAPSE (TAPSE↓/MAPSE↓) (n = 40), abnormal TAPSE in combination with normal MAPSE (TAPSE↓/MAPSE↑) (n = 50) and normal TAPSE in combination with abnormal MAPSE (TAPSE↑/MAPSE↓) (n = 43). The prevalence of CPE in patients with TAPSE↑/MAPSE↓ (86.0%) was significantly higher than that in patients with TAPSE↑/MAPSE↑ (15.3%), TAPSE↓/MAPSE↓ (37.5%), or TAPSE↓/MAPSE↑ (20.0%) (p < 0.001). The ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve for the TAPSE/MAPSE ratio was 0.761 (95% CI: 0.698–0.824, p < 0.001). A TAPSE/MAPSE ratio of 1.7 allowed the identification of patients at risk of CPE with a sensitivity of 62.8%, a specificity of 77.9%, a positive predictive value of 54.7% and a negative predictive value of 83.3%.

Conclusions
The TAPSE/MAPSE ratio can be used to identify critically ill patients at higher risk of CPE.
Post-cardiac injury syndrome occurred two months after permanent dual-chamber pacemaker implantation
Authors: Zhang Ruiqi , Du Jiali , Liu Meilin 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
Post cardiac injury syndrome (PCIS) is characterized by the development of pericarditis with or without pericardial effusion due to a recent cardiac injury. The relatively low incidence makes diagnosis of PCIS after implantation of a pacemaker easily be overlooked or underestimated. This report describes one typical case of PCIS.

Case presentation
We present a case report of a 94-year-old male with a history of sick sinus syndrome managed with a dual-chamber pacemaker who presented with PCIS after two months of pacemaker implantation. He gradually developed chest discomfort, weakness, tachycardia and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea and cardiac tamponade after two months of pacemaker. Post-cardiac injury syndrome related to dual-chamber pacemaker implantation was considered based on exclusion of other possible causes of pericarditis. His therapy was drainage of pericardial fluid and managed with a combination of colchicine and support therapy. He was placed on long-term colchicine therapy to prevent any recurrences.

Conclusion
This case illustrated that PCIS can occur after minor myocardial injury, and that the possibility of PCIS should be considered if there is a history of possible cardiac insult.
Some examples of privacy-preserving sharing of COVID-19 pandemic data with statistical utility evaluation
Authors: Liu Fang , Wang Dong , Yan Tian 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBackgroundA considerable amount of various types of data have been collected during the COVID-19 pandemic, the analysis and understanding of which have been indispensable for curbing the spread of the disease. As the pandemic moves to an endemic state, the data collected during the pandemic will continue to be rich sources for further studying and understanding the impacts of the pandemic on various aspects of our society. On the other hand, naïve release and sharing of the information can be associated with serious privacy concerns.MethodsWe use three common but distinct data types collected during the pandemic (case surveillance tabular data, case location data, and contact tracing networks) to illustrate the publication and sharing of granular information and individual-level pandemic data in a privacy-preserving manner. We leverage and build upon the concept of differential privacy to generate and release privacy-preserving data for each data type. We investigate the inferential utility of privacy-preserving information through simulation studies at different levels of privacy guarantees and demonstrate the approaches in real-life data. All the approaches employed in the study are straightforward to apply.ResultsThe empirical studies in all three data cases suggest that privacy-preserving results based on the differentially privately sanitized data can be similar to the original results at a reasonably small privacy loss ($$\epsilon \approx 1$$ϵ≈1). Statistical inferences based on sanitized data using the multiple synthesis technique also appear valid, with nominal coverage of 95% confidence intervals when there is no noticeable bias in point estimation. When$$\epsilon <1$$ϵ<1 and the sample size is not large enough, some privacy-preserving results are subject to bias, partially due to the bounding applied to sanitized data as a post-processing step to satisfy practical data constraints.ConclusionsOur study generates statistical evidence on the practical feasibility of sharing pandemic data with privacy guarantees and on how to balance the statistical utility of released information during this process.