bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Career intervention program to promote academic adjustment and success in higher education
Authors: Sampaio Célia , de Carvalho Catarina Luzia , Taveira Maria do Céu , Silva Ana Daniela 
Published: January 2025

IntroductionThe transition to higher education can be challenging for many students, requiring developing skills and strategies to help them overcome various challenges. Adjustment to university is a multifaceted process involving several dimensions. Given the difficulty that a significant percentage of students face in this process, the lack of adaptation to higher education has been widely studied, as it is often associated with academic failure and dropping out of school. To mitigate these risks, career interventions have emerged as an essential support, helping students to develop personal resources such as resilience, time management, and decision-making capacity. The aim here is to present a career intervention program focused on promoting the adjustment and academic success of first-year undergraduate or integrated master’s students and evaluating the participants’ feedback on this intervention.MethodologyThis intervention program aimed to provide students with an opportunity to reflect on their adjustment process to the University, identifying possible areas of vulnerability, providing personalized feedback, and proposing modules of learning and personal and academic development that would favor the adjustment and academic success process. Additionally, it aimed to organize, systematize, and make known the support structures existing at the University to which students can resort in possible situations of psychosocial vulnerability and support for academic and career development. This intervention was based on and used a computer platform developed within the framework of the SUnStar project. The intervention took place over 6 weeks using the Teams platform and consisted of three modules, with module two divided into different sessions and topics. Seventy-four university students participated in the intervention, 56 (75.7%) of whom were female. A questionnaire with four Likert-type questions was designed to evaluate the sessions by the students.ResultsThe session “Pursuing my UMinho Career: Institutional Support Structures” consistently received the highest ratings across multiple evaluation criteria. In contrast, the “Social Networks and Cooperation” session received the lowest, although all sessions were rated above the average response point. The results are discussed regarding their relevance in an academic context and their implications for future interventions with this target group.
Impact of endometrial thickness and its combined effect with maternal age on singleton adverse neonatal outcomes in frozen–thawed embryo transfer cycles
Authors: Wang Jie , Gao Lina , Huang Qiaoyun , Jiang Weihua , Chen Linjun , Wang Shanshan 
Published: January 2025

BackgroundThin endometrial thickness (EMT) and advanced age are both common risk factors for adverse neonatal outcomes (ANOs). However, studies evaluating the impact of EMT and combined effect of EMT and age on ANOs remain scarce with conflicts.MethodA retrospective cohort study was conducted on 7,715 singleton deliveries from frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles between 2017 and 2021. The participants were categorized into four groups based on EMT quartiles (≤8.5, 8.6–9.5, 9.6–10.5, and &gt;10.5 mm). The primary outcome was preterm birth (PTB), and the secondary outcome included early PTB (EPTB), small/large for gestational age (SGA/LGA), and low birth weight (LBW).ResultsBaseline characteristics were unevenly distributed across EMT groups. After adjusting for the confounders, EMT was found to be associated with the incidence of PTB (aOR 0.922, 95% CI 0.874–0.973, p = 0.003), EPTB (aOR 0.795, 95% CI 0.663–0.954, p = 0.014), LBW (aOR 0.886, 95% CI 0.796–0.986, p = 0.027), and LGA (aOR 1.038, 95% CI 1.004–1.074, p = 0.030). Furthermore, the rates of LBW in the group of EMT at 9.6–10.5 mm (aOR 0.551, 95% CI 0.339–0.895, p = 0.016) and &gt;10.5 mm (aOR 0.536, 95% CI 0.332–0.865, p = 0.011) were lower compared to those with EMT ≤8.5 mm. Among women aged over 35, EMT of 9.6–10.5 mm was associated with a significantly lower incidence of LBW compared to thinner EMT, without increasing the risk of ANOs related to thicker EMT.ConclusionsOur study demonstrated the independent nonlinear impact of EMT on PTB, EPTB, LGA, and LBW. It provided new insights into the combined effects of EMT and age in FET cycles and offered valuable references for the clinical management and treatment strategies aimed at EMT.
Integrating single-cell RNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq to explore prognostic value and immune landscapes of methionine metabolism-related signature in breast cancer
Authors: Gao Yanxian , Feng Ziyu , Zhao Hailong , Liu Xinghai , Zhu Muyu , Yu Xiafei , Liu Xiaoan , Wu Xian , Tao Jing 
Published: January 2025

BackgroundNeoadjuvant, endocrine, and targeted therapies have significantly improved the prognosis of breast cancer (BC). However, due to the high heterogeneity of cancer, some patients cannot benefit from existing treatments. Increasing evidence suggests that amino acids and their metabolites can alter the tumor malignant behavior through reshaping tumor microenvironment and regulation of immune cell function. Breast cancer cell lines have been identified as methionine-dependent, and methionine restriction has been proposed as a potential cancer treatment strategy.MethodsWe integrated transcriptomic and single-cell RNA sequencing (ScRNA-seq) analyses based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. Then we applied weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and Cox regression to evaluate methionine metabolism-related genes (MRGs) in BC, constructing and validating a prognostic model for BC patients. Immune landscapes and immunotherapy were further explored. Finally, in vitro experiments were conducted to assess the expression and function of key genes APOC1.ResultsIn this study, we established and validated a prognostic signature based on eight methionine-related genes to predict overall survival (OS) in BC patients. Patients were further stratified into high-risk and low-risk groups according to prognostic risk score. Further analysis revealed significant differences between two groups in terms of pathway alterations, immune microenvironment characteristics, and immune checkpoint expression. Our study shed light on the relationship between methionine metabolism and immune infiltration in BC. APOC1, a key gene in the prognostic signature, was found to be upregulated in BC and closely associated with immune cell infiltration. Notably, APOC1 was primarily expressed in macrophages. Subsequent in vitro experiments demonstrated that silencing APOC1 reduced the generation of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) with an M2 phenotype while significantly decreasing the proliferation, invasion, and migration of MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cell lines.ConclusionWe established a prognostic risk score consisting of genes associated with methionine metabolism, which helps predict prognosis and response to treatment in BC. The function of APOC1 in regulating macrophage polarization was explored.
Upregulation of interferon-γ response genes in monocytes and T cells identified by single-cell transcriptomics in patients with anti-citrullinated peptide antibody-positive early rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Hong Bong-Ki , You Sungyong , Kim Jung Gon , Kim Minhyung , Lee Naeun , Lee Kijun , Baek In-Pyo , Ju Ji Hyeon , Kim Wan-Uk , Kim Ho-Youn 
Published: January 2025

IntroductionOur aim was to investigate the insufficiently understood differences in the immune system between anti-citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA)-positive (ACPA+) and ACPA-negative (ACPA-) early rheumatoid arthritis (eRA) patients.MethodsWe performed multiple cytokine assays using sera from drug-naïve ACPA+ and ACPA- eRA patients. Additionally, we conducted single-cell RNA sequencing of CD45+ cells from peripheral blood samples to analyze and compare the distribution and functional characteristics of the cell subsets based on the ACPA status.ResultsSerum concentrations of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin (IL)-12 were higher in ACPA+ eRA than in ACPA- eRA. Single-cell transcriptome analysis of 37,318 cells identified 17 distinct cell types and revealed the expansion of IL1B+ proinflammatory monocytes, IL7R+ T cells, and CD8+ CCL4+ T cells in ACPA+ eRA. Furthermore, we observed an enrichment of IFN-γ response genes in nearly all monocytes and T cells of ACPA+ eRA subsets. Heightened interactions between IFN-γ and IFN-γ receptors were observed in ACPA+ eRA, particularly between monocytes and T cells. We examined IFITM2 and IFITM3 as potential key markers in ACPA+ eRA given their pronounced upregulation and association with the IFN response. Specifically, the expression of these genes was elevated in IL1B+ proinflammatory monocytes (likely M1 monocytes), correlating with serum IFN-γ levels.DiscussionCompared to ACPA- eRA, ACPA+ eRA showed higher serum IFN-γ and IL-12 levels, upregulated IFN-γ response genes, and enhanced IFN-γ-driven monocyte-T cell interactions. These distinct immune features of the peripheral circulation in ACPA+ eRA suggest a role for type 1 helper T cell-related immunity in its pathogenesis.
Establishment and maturation of gut microbiota in White King pigeon squabs: role of pigeon milk
Authors: Xu Xiaoqin , Wang Zihan , Jian Yi , Zhang Long , Zhou Caiquan , Liu Li , Liu Hui 
Published: January 2025

BackgroundPigeons are significant economic animals in China; however, research regarding the establishment and influencing factors of gut microbiota in squabs remains limited. Understanding how the gut microbiota develops in pigeons, particularly in relation to pigeon milk, is importance in pigeon production. This study aims to elucidate the establishment characteristics of the gut microbiota in White King pigeon squabs and explore the role of pigeon milk in this process.MethodsThis study employed 16S rRNA sequencing technology to investigate the dynamics of microbial composition in feces and pigeon milk at various growth stages of White King pigeon. Functional prediction analysis was performed to assess the metabolic pathways involved, and correlation analysis was used to explore the relationships between microbial communities in different sample types.ResultsThe findings revealed a diverse microbiome present in the meconium of newborn pigeons, with a microbial composition that significantly differed from that of other feces groups. In contrast, the microbial composition of feces (FN) from pigeons aged 7 to 21 days exhibited less variability. At the phylum level, the predominant microbial taxa identified in the feces of FN were Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, and Proteobacteria. At the genus level, the main dominant bacterial groups included Lactobacillus, Limosilactobacillus, and Turicibacter. Functional prediction analysis indicated that the gut microbiota of pigeons primarily participate in metabolic pathways related to carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, cofactors, and vitamins. Furthermore, the dominant bacteria found in pigeon milk (MN) were identified as probiotics, including Limosilactobacillus, Ligilactobacillus, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Aeriscardovia, which collectively accounted for over 90% of the total abundance. Correlation analysis of the abundance of shared microbes revealed that the association between meconium and feces at the other stages was extremely low. In contrast, the correlation between colostrum and feces at the post-feeding stage were found to be the highest.ConclusionThis study indicates that prenatal colonization occurs in White King pigeons. Notably, within the first week after birth, the gut microbial composition of young pigeons becomes stable. Furthermore, the colostrum serves as the most significant driver for the establishment of intestinal microbiota in squab post-birth. The findings of this study suggest that microorganisms can be added to artificial pigeon milk based on the predominant microbial composition of colostrum. This approach could facilitate the establishment of gut microbiota in young pigeons, thereby promoting their growth and development and providing production benefits.
NDUFA11 may be the disulfidptosis-related biomarker of ischemic stroke based on integrated bioinformatics, clinical samples, and experimental analyses
Authors: Li Sijun , Chen Ningyuan , He Junrui , Luo Xibao , Lin Wei 
Published: January 2025

BackgroundProgrammed cell death plays an important role in neuronal injury and death after ischemic stroke (IS), leading to cellular glucose deficiency. Glucose deficiency can cause abnormal accumulation of cytotoxic disulfides, resulting in disulfidptosis. Ferroptosis, apoptosis, necroptosis, and autophagy inhibitors cannot inhibit this novel programmed cell death mechanism. Nevertheless, the potential mechanisms of disulfidptosis in IS remain unclear.MethodsThe GSE16561 dataset was used to screen for differentially expressed disulfidptosis-related biomarkers (DE-DRBs). A correlation between the DE-DRBs was detected. The optimal machine-learning (ML) model and predictor molecules were determined. The GSE58294 dataset was used to verify the accuracy of the optimal ML model. The DE-DRB expression was detected in the blood of patients with IS. Based on IS models, experimental analyses were performed to verify DE-DRB expression and the correlation between DE-DRBs.ResultsLeucine-rich pentatricopeptide repeat-containing (LRPPRC) and NADH dehydrogenase [ubiquinone] 1 alpha subcomplex subunit 11 (NDUFA11) were identified as DE-DRBs. The NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase core subunit S1 (NDUFS1) interacted with NDUFA11 and LRPPRC. The support vector machine (SVM) model was identified as the optimal ML model. The NDUFA11 expression level in the blood of patients with IS was 20.9% compared to that in normal controls. NDUFA11 expression was downregulated in the in vitro/in vivo models of IS. The number of formed complexes of NDUFS1 and NDUFA11 decreased in the in vitro/in vivo models of IS.ConclusionThis research suggests that NDUFA11 is a specific DRB for IS and demonstrates alterations in the disulfidptosis-related protein complexes NDUFS1-NDUFA11.
Effects of acupuncture at the Taichong (LIV3) and Hegu (LI4) points on functional connectivity with the retrosplenial cortex in patients with Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Wang Junkai , Bai Xinyue , Chen Xiaojun , Liu Shui , Sun Mengmeng , Li Kuncheng , Zheng Yunsong , Wang Zhiqun 
Published: January 2025

BackgroundAcupuncture has been demonstrated to have a promising effect on Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but the underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. The retrosplenial cortex (RSC) is one of the earliest brain regions affected in AD, and changes in its functional connectivity (FC) are reported to underlie disease-associated memory impairment. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of acupuncture on FC with the RSC in patients with AD.MethodsDemographic data, neuropsychological assessments, and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were collected from 14 AD patients and 14 normal controls (NCs) matched by age, sex, and educational level at baseline. After the baseline MRI scan, acupuncture stimulation on the Taichong (LIV3) and Hegu (LI4) points was performed for 3 min. Then, another 10 min of fMRI data were acquired after the needle was withdrawn. A dataset that included 100 healthy participants was also included to construct a reliable FC map of the RSC. Two sets of regions of interest (ROIs) in the RSC were selected to assess the sustained effect of acupuncture on FC with the RSC in AD patients and NCs.ResultsTwo sets of RSC ROI-based analyses demonstrated robust positive connectivity with the hippocampus (HPC). Furthermore, multiple brain regions, including the bilateral thalamus, bilateral posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), bilateral subcallosal cingulate gyrus (SCG), bilateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and right precuneus, showed decreased FC with the RSC in the AD group and increased FC with the RSC in the NC group after acupuncture compared to that at baseline. Acupuncture also specifically elicited increased FC between the RSC and the HPC as well as between the RSC and the parahippocampal gyrus in AD patients and decreased FC between the RSC and the visual cortices in NCs. Additionally, diminished FC with the RSC was correlated with neuropsychological scale scores in the AD group before acupuncture treatment.ConclusionThese findings confirm and extend previous studies suggesting that acupuncture at Taichong (LIV3) and Hegu (LI4) can exert bidirectional and benign regulatory effects on RSC connectivity in AD patients.
Prognostic significance of programmed cell death 1 expression on CD8+T cells in various cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wan Zhiyong , Cui Meng , Yang Jia , Liao Dan , Chen Junliang , Li Fanmin , Xiang Yin , Cui Zhiwei , Yang Yang 
Published: January 2025

BackgroundIncreased PD-1 expression on CD8+ T cells is considered as a hallmark for T-cell exhaustion, and is thought to be related to the prognosis of cancer patients. However, discrepant results have made it difficult to apply PD-1+CD8+T cells and tumor prognosis to clinical practice. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate its prognostic value in human cancers.MethodsPRISMA reporting guidelines were strictly followed for conducting the current meta-analysis. The PubMed, Web of Science, Embase databases were searched from inception to November 2024. The pooled Hazard Ratio (HR) along with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of each article were combined for the associations of PD-1+CD8+ T cells with overall survival (OS), progression- free survival (PFS) and disease-free survival(DFS). Subgroup analyses were performed for area, specimen type, cancer type, treatment, detected method and cancer stage.ResultsA total of 20 studies (23 cohorts, 3086 cancer patients) were included in our study. The expression PD-1+CD8+ T cells in cancer patients tended to predict poor overall survival (OS) (HR: 1.379, 95%CI: 1.084-1.753, p= 0.009), and unfavorable disease-free survival(DFS) (HR: 1.468, 95%CI: 0.931-2.316, p=0.099), though it did not reach statistical significance. Begg’s and Egger’s test demonstrated that no obvious publication bias was exist.ConclusionsHigh PD-1 expression on CD8+ T cells is associated with worse survival outcomes, which can be potentially used as a prognostic marker of malignant tumor.
Efficacy and safety of hemoporfin photodynamic therapy in treating port-wine stains in Chinese children: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Xu Jing , Li Hongxin 
Published: January 2025

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to explore the efficacy and safety of hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether mediated photodynamic therapy (HMME-PDT) in treating children with port-wine stains (PWS).MethodLiterature related to the topic was searched in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and China Science Technology Journal Database online databases. The quality of the literature was evaluated using the Effective Public Health Practice Project. The I2 statistic was used to evaluate the consistency of the results.ResultsA total of 19 papers were included. Meta-analysis showed that more than half of the children (56.3%) achieved efficacy I (improvement ≥ 60%). 17% of children achieved efficacy II (improvement ≥ 75%). Regardless of whether the outcome variable was efficacy I or efficacy II, the therapeutic efficacy in children with PWS aged 0–3 years was superior to those aged 3–6 and 6–18 years, and children who underwent a treatment course of ≥3 sessions showed better outcomes compared to those who have only 1 or 2 sessions. After treatment with HMME-PDT, better efficacy was seen in the PWS of the face and neck and pink/red PWS. Additionally, almost all children with PWS treated with HMME-PDT developed edema (99.9%), more than half presented purpura (67.6%), some developed crust (30.8%) and hyperpigmentation (15.0%), and a few occurred scar (2.4%) and hypopigmentation (1.4%).ConclusionAfter HMME-PDT treatment, more than half of the pediatric patients showed an improvement of ≥60%, and no serious adverse reaction events occurred. This study demonstrated that HMME-PDT possessed promising therapeutic efficacy in children with PWS, suggesting that HMME-PDT could be considered a recommended treatment strategy for pediatric PWS. However, future development of standardized assessment guidelines and comparative studies are needed to validate the aforementioned conclusions.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/#loginpage, PROSPERO (CRD42024592367).
Theta transcranial alternating current stimulation over the prefrontal cortex enhances theta power and working memory performance
Authors: Debnath Ranjan , Elyamany Osama , Iffland Jona Ruben , Rauh Jonas , Siebert Michael , Andraes Elisa , Leicht Gregor , Mulert Christoph 
Published: January 2025

IntroductionTranscranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a promising tool for modulating brain oscillations. This study investigated whether 5 Hz tACS could modulate neural oscillations in the prefrontal cortex and how this modulation impacts performance in working memory (WM) tasks.MethodIn two sessions, 28 healthy participants received 5 Hz tACS or sham stimulation over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) while performing tasks with high and low WM loads. Resting-state EEG was recorded before and after stimulations for 5 minutes. EEG power was measured at electrodes surrounding the stimulation site.ResultsThe results showed that tACS significantly improved reaction time (RT) compared to sham stimulation. This effect was task-specific, as tACS improved RT for hit responses only in high WM load trials, with no impact on low-load trials. Moreover, tACS significantly increased EEG power at 5 Hz and in the theta band compared to pre-stimulation levels.DiscussionThese findings demonstrate that tACS applied over left DLPFC modulates post-stimulation brain oscillations at the stimulation sites – known as tACS after-effects. Furthermore, the results suggest that 5 Hz tACS enhances response speed by elevating task-related activity in the prefrontal cortex to an optimal level for task performance.ConclusionIn summary, the findings highlight the potential of tACS as a technique for modulating specific brain oscillations, with implications for research and therapeutic interventions.