bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Profile and development of adaptive behavior in adults with autism spectrum disorder and severe intellectual disability
Authors: Adrien Jean-Louis , Blanc Romuald , Thiébaut Eric 
Published: January 2025

BackgroundThis study examined the profiles of adaptive behavior development in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and severe intellectual disability (ID), and the relationships between the levels of the different domains and subdomains of adaptive development and the intensity of autistic symptomatology.ParticipantsThis study involved 71 adults (44 men and 27 women with average ages of 39 years 7 months and 36 years 2 months, respectively) living in medico-social institutions and having a level of adaptive development corresponding to age below 3 years 4 months and a level of cognitive development corresponding to ages between 12 and 24 months.MethodsASD was diagnosed using Pervasive Development Disorder-Mental Retardation Scale (PDD-MRS) and Childhood Autistic Rating Scale (CARS), ID and its severity were determined based on the Diagnostic Statistical Manual-5 (DSM-5) criteria, and the very low cognitive developmental level was assessed using the Socio-emotional Cognitive Evaluation Battery (Adrien, Pearson-ECPA, 2007), adapted for adults (SCEB-A). Adaptive development was assessed using the Vineland-II tool.ResultsThe adaptive developmental profile was heterogeneous: the median levels of the three domains of socio-adaptive development differed significantly from each other, and the domain of Daily Living was the most developed. Among the nine subdomains, the weakest developmental levels corresponded to Expressive Language, Interpersonal Relationships, and Play/Leisure. By contrast, the highest levels corresponded to Writing and Personal and Domestic Autonomy. Significant and negative relationships were noted between the intensity of autism severity and the levels of development in Communication and Daily Living but not Socialization. These results are discussed to highlight the best-developed adaptive domains and those to be improved.
Automated classification of stress and relaxation responses in major depressive disorder, panic disorder, and healthy participants via heart rate variability
Authors: Byun Sangwon , Kim Ah Young , Shin Min-Sup , Jeon Hong Jin , Cho Chul-Hyun 
Published: January 2025

BackgroundStress is a significant risk factor for psychiatric disorders such as major depressive disorder (MDD) and panic disorder (PD). This highlights the need for advanced stress-monitoring technologies to improve treatment. Stress affects the autonomic nervous system, which can be evaluated via heart rate variability (HRV). While machine learning has enabled automated stress detection via HRV in healthy individuals, its application in psychiatric patients remains underexplored. This study evaluated the feasibility of using machine-learning algorithms to detect stress automatically in MDD and PD patients, as well as healthy controls (HCs), based on HRV features.MethodsThe study included 147 participants (MDD: 41, PD: 47, HC: 59) who visited the laboratory up to five times over 12 weeks. HRV data were collected during stress and relaxation tasks, with 20 HRV features extracted. Random forest and multilayer perceptron classifiers were applied to distinguish between the stress and relaxation tasks. Feature importance was analyzed using SHapley Additive exPlanations, and differences in HRV between the tasks (ΔHRV) were compared across groups. The impact of personalized longitudinal scaling on classification accuracy was also assessed.ResultsRandom forest classification accuracies were 0.67 for MDD, 0.69 for PD, and 0.73 for HCs, indicating higher accuracy in the HC group. Longitudinal scaling improved accuracies to 0.94 for MDD, 0.90 for PD, and 0.96 for HCs, suggesting its potential in monitoring patients’ conditions using HRV. The HC group demonstrated greater ΔHRV fluctuation in a larger number of and more significant features than the patient groups, potentially contributing to higher accuracy. Multilayer perceptron models provided consistent results with random forest, confirming the robustness of the findings.ConclusionThis study demonstrated that differentiating between stress and relaxation was more challenging in the PD and MDD groups than in the HC group, underscoring the potential of HRV metrics as stress biomarkers. Psychiatric patients exhibited altered autonomic responses, which may influence their stress reactivity. This indicates the need for a tailored approach to stress monitoring in these patient groups. Additionally, we emphasized the significance of longitudinal scaling in enhancing classification accuracy, which can be utilized to develop personalized monitoring technologies for psychiatric patients.
Health literacy status and associated factors among residents in Anhui Province, China: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Fu Yuansheng , Xie Jianrong , Xu De , Xia Yuanrui , Wang Zhimin , Fan Yinguang 
Published: January 2025

BackgroundHealth literacy (HL) is a critical determinant of health outcomes. Improving HL stands as one of the most essential, cost-effective, and efficacious strategies for enhancing the overall health of the population. This study aims to analyze the status of HL among urban and rural residents in Anhui Province, explore the associated factors, and provide a scientific basis for the formulation of targeted health education and promotion strategies.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted on 16,080 non-collective residents in Anhui Province from July to September 2022. Participants were selected using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method. HL was measured using the Chinese Citizen Health Literacy Questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with adequate HL.ResultsOverall, 29.60% of residents in Anhui Province had adequate HL. The proportion of adequate HL in the different cities ranged from 22.42 to 38.73%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that the proportion of individuals with adequate HL was higher for males than for females (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.200; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.086–1.326); married was higher than unmarried (aOR = 1.195, 95% CI: 1.021–1.398). Compared with illiterate/less literate, the aOR values for primary school, junior high school, senior high school, and college or above were 1.690 (1.326–2.155), 3.467 (2.760–4.356), 7.033 (5.516–8.968), and 17.895 (13.948–22.959), respectively; compared with the age group of 65–69 years, the aOR values for the age groups 15–24, 25–34, 35–44, 45–54 and 55–64 years were 2.384 (1.774–3.202), 2.598 (2.049–3.294), 2.862 (2.267–3.615), 2.135 (1.697–2.685), and 1.468 (1.157–1.863), respectively; compared with farmers, the aOR values were 1.244 (95% CI, 1.081–1.432) for technical/professional, 1.121 (95% CI, 1.003–1.254) for commercial/service, and 1.329 (95% CI, 1.163–1.518) for other occupations.ConclusionResidents of Anhui Province exhibit relatively low levels of HL, with notable disparities observed among different education levels, age groups, genders, and marital statuses. It is essential for health policymakers and public health practitioners to develop targeted health education and promotion strategies tailored to distinct subpopulations of residents.
The economic burden of atopic dermatitis in Romania: a broad perspective
Authors: Nicolescu Alin Codruț , Strilciuc Stefan , Lăpădatu Rozalina , Grad Diana-Alecsandra , Vlădescu Cristian , Olteanu Rodica 
Published: January 2025

IntroductionAtopic dermatitis (AD), a common dermatological condition, is often associated with significant economic and social burdens. Despite extensive studies globally, there is a gap in understanding the impact of this condition in Romania. This study evaluated the economic burden of AD in Romania, considering both direct and indirect costs.Materials and methodsA cost of illness study, conducted from a broad perspective, considering 2022 as a reference, using top-down and bottom-up approaches and retrospective and prospective data sources was used to assess direct medical costs (treatments, medical services, hospitalizations), direct non-medical costs (associated costs due to transportation, accommodation), and indirect costs (productivity losses) across four costing scenarios.ResultsIn 2022, the total cost of atopic dermatitis in Romania was €29,810,077.2 for adult patients and €133,635,535.2 for pediatric patients, based on a prevalence-based approach, and €5,529,867.8 for adults and €53,175,049.1 for pediatric AD patients when using an incidence-based approach. Medical costs had the highest attributable share of the AD cost for adult patients while productivity costs (inquired by caregivers) had the highest share for pediatric AD patients in both approaches. The overall average annual cost per patient ranged, depending on the scenarios, between €284.72 and €1,045 for adult AD patients and between €293.73 and €9,558.52 for pediatric AD patients.DiscussionOur results show the increased burden among pediatric AD patients emphasizing the need that future policy interventions should be tailored according the patients’ age.
Periodontal pathogens and obesity in the context of cardiovascular risks across age groups
Authors: Leonov Georgy , Varaeva Yurgita , Livantsova Elena , Vasilyev Andrey , Vladimirskaya Olga , Korotkova Tatyana , Nikityuk Dmitry , Starodubova Antonina 
Published: January 2025

BackgroundCardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity among noncommunicable diseases. Over the past decade, there has been a notable increase in the prevalence of CVDs among young individuals. Obesity, a well-known risk factor for CVDs, is also associated with various comorbidities that may contribute to cardiovascular risk. The relationship between periodontal pathogens and CVD risk factors, including obesity, smoking, lipid metabolism disorders, and inflammatory markers, remains underexplored.MethodsThis study examined the relationship between six periodontal pathogens (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Treponema denticola, Tannerella forsythia, Prevotella intermedia, and Fusobacterium nucleatum) and CVD risk factors among 189 subjects stratified by age and body mass index (BMI). Body composition was assessed via bioimpedance analysis, and blood samples were analyzed for lipid profiles, glucose, and proinflammatory cytokines. Oral samples were collected for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis to identify periodontal pathogens. Cardiovascular and diabetes risk scores were calculated using the SCORE and FINDRISC scales.ResultsThe prevalence of periodontal pathogens in the population was 33.0% for P. gingivalis, 47.8% for P. intermedia, 63.4% for A. actinomycetemcomitans, 46.6% for T. forsythia, 46.6% for T. denticola, and 89.2% for F. nucleatum. Significant age- and BMI-related differences were observed in pathogen prevalence, particularly with P. gingivalis, P. intermedia, and T. denticola. Young obese individuals exhibited a higher prevalence of P. intermedia and T. forsythia. P. gingivalis was found to be associated with hypertension and dyslipidemia, while P. intermedia was linked to hypertension and obesity. T. denticola was associated with obesity, dyslipidemia and smoking, whereas T. forsythia was linked to dyslipidemia alone.ConclusionsThis study highlights the potential connection between periodontal pathogens and risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease, including smoking, elevated BMI, increased adipose tissue, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Further research is required to determine the causal relationships between oral microbiome dysbiosis, obesity and, systemic diseases and to develop an effective strategy for preventing oral health-related CVD risk factors in young adults.
Forecasting the development of antimicrobial resistance of S. aureus
Authors: Shemetov Oleh , Faustova Mariia , Perepelova Tetiana , Balia Hennadii , Pavlish Ihor , Loban' Galina 
Published: January 2025

Today, about 15.0% of odontogenic pathology is caused by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The aim of the study was to predict the development of antimicrobial resistance of S. aureus based on retrospective data.MethodsA total of 425 patients undergoing treatment for odontogenic infectious diseases of the facial area during 2019–2023 were involved in the study. The object of the study was 106 clinical isolates of S. aureus that were isolated and identified from patients. Determining the sensitivity of the obtained isolates to antimicrobial drugs was carried out using Vitek antimicrobial susceptibility testing (Biomerioux, France) and analyzed according to the breackpoint tables of the EUCAST. Prediction of the development of antimicrobial resistance of S. aureus to various antibiotics was carried out on the basis of the received sensitivity data of the studied isolates in 2019–2023 using the exponential smoothing method.ResultsThe antimicrobial resistance of S. aureus isolates to various antibiotics changed annually during 2019–2023. The level of resistance of S. aureus isolates to benzylpenicillin wavered between 40%–50% from 2019 to 2023 with the trend of an 18.0% increase over the next five years. A uniform plateau of antimicrobial resistance of S. aureus to cefoxitin is predicted at the level of 32.0% during 2024–2028. We recorded the highest portions of S. aureus resistant to norfloxacin (33.3%) and ciprofloxacin (16.7%) in 2023 with prediction of its increasing in the next five years within the range of 20.0%. It was established that S. aureus may reach 100.0% resistance to gentamicin in 2027. According to exponential smoothing, the level of S. aureus resistance to amikacin will increase by 22.7% over the next five-year period. Moreover, representatives of this species of bacteria can develop complete (100.0%) resistance to tetracycline as early as 2027.ConclusionsMathematical prediction of the development of antimicrobial sensitivity of S. aureus isolates showed a high probability of its development to antibiotics of all groups in the next five years.
Bacteria-Inspired Synthesis of Silver-Doped Zinc Oxide Nanocomposites: A Novel Synergistic Approach in Controlling Biofilm and Quorum-Sensing-Regulated Virulence Factors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Karthikeyan Abirami , Thirugnanasambantham Manoj Kumar , Khan Fazlurrahman , Mani Arun Kumar 
Published: January 2025

Multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections pose a critical challenge to healthcare systems, particularly in nosocomial settings. This drug-resistant bacterium forms biofilms and produces an array of virulent factors regulated by quorum sensing. In this study, metal-tolerant bacteria were isolated from a metal-contaminated site and screened for their ability to synthesize multifunctional nanocomposites (NCs). Rapid color changes in the reaction solution evidenced the biotransformation process. The potent isolated Bacillus cereus SASAK, identified via 16S rRNA sequencing and deposited in GenBank under accession number MH885570, facilitated the microbial-mediated synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles and silver-doped ZnO NCs. These biogenic nanocomposites were characterized using UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, zeta potential, HRTEM, FESEM, and EDX analyses. At a sub-MIC concentration of 100 µg/mL, 2% Ag-ZnO NCs effectively inhibited virulent factor production and biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa without affecting bacterial growth. Notably, there was a significant reduction in violacein pigment (96.25%), swarming motility, and pyocyanin concentration (1.87 µg/mL). Additionally, biofilm formation (81.1%) and EPS production (83.9%) using P. aeruginosa were substantially hindered, along with reduced extracellular protease activity, as indicated by zone formation (from 2.3 to 1.8 cm). This study underscores the potential of Ag-ZnO NCs as promising agents for combating quorum sensing-mediated virulence in chronic infections caused by multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa.
Evaluation of the Bacterial Infections and Antibiotic Prescribing Practices in the Intensive Care Unit of a Clinical Hospital in Romania
Authors: Szabó Sándor , Feier Bogdan , Mărginean Alina , Dumitrana Andra-Elena , Costin Simona Ligia , Cristea Cecilia , Bolboacă Sorana D. 
Published: January 2025

Introduction: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are associated with increased mortality, antimicrobial resistance, and high antibiotic use. Methods: The characteristics of bacterial resistance and antibiotic consumption in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a clinical hospital in Romania were evaluated. Demographic data of patients, identified bacteria, antibiotics administered, and their sensitivity profiles were collected and analyzed. Results: One hundred and twenty-five patients, with a median age of 68 years, mostly male (60%), were included in the study. More than one-third of the patients died. The deceased patients were older (median age of 74 years), had longer hospitalization (median of 9 days) and bacteria detected (55.3%), and had higher antibiotic consumption than the discharged patients. The most frequent bacteria identified in our cohort were Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in deceased patients and Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus hemolyticus, and Enterococcus faecalis in the survived group. The top three antibiotics used were ceftriaxone, metronidazole, and meropenem. Resistance to antibiotics was observed in 44.3% of the deceased group and 37.5% of patients who were discharged (χ2 = 5.5, p = 0.0628). Discussion: A positive monotonic association was observed between the number of hospitalization days and the number of antibiotic doses, with a higher correlation coefficient for deceased patients (0.6327, p < 0.0001) than in survived group (0.4749, p < 0.0001). Conclusions and Future Trends: This study provides a real picture of HAIs, the characteristics of bacteria, and the consumption of antibiotics in an ICU of a clinical hospital in Romania. The data obtained are similar to those from other international studies, but further studies are needed to reflect the real situation in Romania.
From Cure to Crisis: Understanding the Evolution of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in Human Microbiota
Authors: Tahmasebi Hamed , Arjmand Neda , Monemi Marzieh , Babaeizad Ali , Alibabaei Farnaz , Alibabaei Negar , Bahar Aisa , Oksenych Valentyn , Eslami Majid 
Published: January 2025

The growing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria within the human microbiome has become a pressing global health crisis. While antibiotics have revolutionized medicine by significantly reducing mortality and enabling advanced medical interventions, their misuse and overuse have led to the emergence of resistant bacterial strains. Key resistance mechanisms include genetic mutations, horizontal gene transfer, and biofilm formation, with the human microbiota acting as a reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Industrialization and environmental factors have exacerbated this issue, contributing to a rise in infections with multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. These resistant pathogens compromise the effectiveness of essential treatments like surgical prophylaxis and chemotherapy, increase healthcare costs, and prolong hospital stays. This crisis highlights the need for a global One-Health approach, particularly in regions with weak regulatory frameworks. Innovative strategies, including next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, offer promising avenues for mitigating resistance. Addressing this challenge requires coordinated efforts, encompassing research, policymaking, public education, and antibiotic stewardship, to safeguard current antibiotics and foster the development of new therapeutic solutions. An integrated, multidimensional strategy is essential to tackle this escalating problem and ensure the sustainability of effective antimicrobial treatments.
Comprehensive Identification of AREB Gene Family in Populus euphratica Oliv. and Functional Analysis of PeAREB04 in Drought Tolerance
Authors: Liu Binglei , Sun Jianhao , Qiu Chen , Han Xiaoli , Li Zhijun 
Published: January 2025

The transcription factors in the ABA Response Element Binding (AREB) protein family were differentially regulated under multiple stress conditions; however, functional analyses of AREB in Populus euphratica Oliv. had not been conducted previously. In the present study, the comprehensive identification of the P. euphratica AREB gene family and the function of PeAREB04 in response to drought stress in P. euphratica were elucidated. A comprehensive analysis of the PeAREB family was first performed, followed by the determination of their expression patterns under drought stress. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that thirteen AREB genes were identified across the P. euphratica genome, with these genes distributed across eight chromosomes in a seemingly random pattern. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the PeAREB genes could be categorized into four distinct branches. Cis-acting element analysis revealed that most PeAREB genes contained multiple hormone- and stress-responsive elements. Transcriptomic sequencing of P. euphratica seedlings under drought stress showed that most PeAREB genes responded rapidly to drought stress in either the leaves or roots. One gene, PeAREB04, was selected for further functional validation due to its significant upregulation in both leaves and roots under drought stress. Overexpression of PeAREB04 in Arabidopsis thaliana resulted in a high survival rate, reduced water loss in isolated leaves, and a significant reduction in stomatal aperture under natural drought conditions. Drought stress simulations using mannitol further demonstrated that overexpression of PeAREB04 significantly enhanced root elongation. These findings indicate that the identification of the PeAREB gene family and the characterization of PeAREB04’s role in drought stress have been largely accomplished. Furthermore, the PeAREB04 gene demonstrates considerable potential as a key target for future genetic engineering strategies aimed at enhancing plant drought resistance.