bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic efficacy of a combination of the Chinese thyroid imaging reporting and data system and shear wave elastography in detecting category 4a and 4b thyroid nodules
Authors: Li Huizhan , Xue Jiping , Zhang Yanxia , Miao Junwang , Jing Liwei , Kang Chunsong 
Published: June 2023

ObjectivesDifferential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TIRADS) category 4a and 4b nodules can be difficult using conventional ultrasonography (US). The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of a combination of the Chinese-TIRADS (C-TIRADS) and shear wave elastography (SWE) in detecting malignant nodules among category 4a and 4b thyroid nodules.MethodsAmong 409 thyroid nodules in 332 patients that we included in this study, 106 thyroid nodules were diagnosed as category 4a and 4b using C-TIRADS. We used SWE to measure the maximum Young’s modulus (Emax) values of category 4a and 4b thyroid nodules. We calculated the diagnostic efficacy of only the C-TIRADS, only SWE, and a combination of C-TIRADS with SWE, and compared these, while taking the pathology results as the gold standard.ResultsThe area under the ROC curve (AUC), sensitivity, and accuracy values of the combination of C-TIRADS and SWE (0.870, 83.3%, and 84.0%, respectively) were all higher when compared with the values of only the C-TIRADS (0.785, 68.5%, and 78.3%, respectively) or only SWE (0.775, 68.5%, and 77.4%, respectively) in the diagnosis of category 4a and 4b thyroid nodules.ConclusionIn this study, we found that the combination of C-TIRADS and SWE significantly improved the diagnostic efficacy in detecting malignant nodules among category 4a and 4b thyroid nodules, and this could provide a reference for further use of this combination by clinicians for diagnosis and treatment.
Captopril challenge test in the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism: consistency between 1- and 2- h sampling
Authors: Liu Xinyu , Guo Chao , Bian Jin , Hao Sufang , Lou Ying , Zhang Huimin , Zhou Xianliang , Cai Jun , Ma Wenjun 
Published: June 2023

ObjectiveTo examine the consistency of plasma aldosterone concentration at 1 and 2 h in the captopril challenge test (CCT) and to explore the possibility of replacing 2-h aldosterone concentration with 1-h aldosterone concentration for diagnosis of primary aldosteronism (PA).MethodsThis retrospective analysis included a total of 204 hypertensive patients suspected of having PA. Subjects received oral captopril challenge at 50 mg (25 mg if the systolic blood pressure was &lt;120 mmHg), and plasma aldosterone concentration and direct renin concentration were measured at 1 and 2 h afterward (chemiluminescence immunoassay Liaison® DiaSorin, Italy). Sensitivity and specificity were used to reflect the diagnostic performance of 1-h aldosterone concentration using 2-h aldosterone concentration (11 ng/dl as the cutoff) as the reference. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was also conducted.ResultsAmong the 204 included patients [median age of 57.0 (48.0–61.0) years, 54.4% men], a diagnosis of PA was established in 94 patients. Aldosterone concentration in the patients with essential hypertension was 8.40 (interquartile range 7.05–11.00) ng/dl at 1 h and 7.65 (5.98–9.30) ng/dl at 2 h (P &lt; 0.001). In patients with PA, aldosterone concentration was 16.80 (12.58–20.50) ng/dl at 1 h and 15.55 (12.60–20.85) ng/dl at 2 h (P &gt; 0.999). At a cutoff of 11 ng/dl, the sensitivity and specificity of using 1-h aldosterone concentration to diagnose PA were 87.2% and 78.2%, respectively. A higher cutoff of 12.5 ng/ml increased specificity to 90.0% but decreased sensitivity to 75.5%. A lower cutoff of 9.3 ng/ml increased sensitivity to 97.9% but decreased specificity to 65.4%.ConclusionsWhen diagnosing PA with CCT, 1-h aldosterone concentration could not be used to replace 2-h aldosterone concentration.
Extraordinary concentrations of local endemism associated with arid-land springs
Authors: Fensham Roderick J. , Ponder Winston F. , Souza Valeria , Stevens Lawrence E. 
Published: June 2023

Introduction: While the biodiversity value of springs is recognised, it has not been systematically compiled. The aim of the current study is to highlight the extraordinary endemism associated with the isolated habitat of arid-land springs at three locations in two continents.Methods: The habitat endemism of the eukaryote species associated with the aquatic and terrestrial habitats at Ash Meadows in the USA, Byarri in Australia and Cuatro Ciénegas in Mexico was assembled based on their geographic distribution.Results: The currently-known aquatic and semi-aquatic endemic species number 27 at Ash Meadows, 31 at Byarri and 34 at Cuatro Ciénegas. Terrestrial endemic species are represented by two species at Ash Meadows, five at Byarri and 26 at Cuatro Ciénegas. The terrestrial endemics are associated with the scalded areas surrounding the springs impregnated with soda and gypsum. The persistence of the endemics is astonishing given that the wetlands represent tiny islands of habitat (216 small wetlands over 40 km2 in the case of Byarri).Discussion: A key factor for the persistence and radiation of endemic species is the stability and permanence of the wetlands over evolutionary time-scales. Genetic evidence indicates the presence of both paleo-endemics, species that persisted in spring wetlands as relics of previous mesic climates; and neo-endemics that have dispersed from more mesic environments and subsequently radiated in the spring wetlands as distinct forms. The former evolved from their relatives greater than 106 ya and the latter less than 106 ya. The concentration of endemic species in and around arid-land springs is among the highest concentrations of endemic organisms specialised to a particular habitat and substantiates the paramount conservation significance of desert springs.
Spatiotemporally anthropogenic PM2.5- and O3-related health economic losses via weather normalization technique and hierarchical policies in Chinese cities
Authors: Guo Jinyuan , Wang Teng , Li Fei , Qu Zhiguang , Yan Jingjing , Kong Shaojie 
Published: June 2023

IntroductionWith the promulgation of air pollution control policies, there are still many cities where the PM2.5 concentration exceeds 35 μg/m3, and O3 pollution is increasingly apparent.MethodsThe spatio-temporal evolution and differentiation characteristics of PM2.5 and O3 pollution were explored, and then compound pollution hotspot urban agglomerations were screened out. A weather normalization technique was used to identify the driving amount, the influence of meteorological factors, and the anthropogenic emissions quantitatively, on pollution in hotspot urban agglomeration. Furthermore, the health and economic losses due to PM2.5 and O3 in hot cities in 2015–2020 were quantified. Finally, a natural break-point classification method was used to establish the health loss rating systems for PM2.5 and O3.Results and DiscussionThe results showed the following: (1) From 2015 to 2020, 78%, 72%, 69%, 58%, 50%, and 41% of the annual mean PM2.5 concentration had exceeded 35 μg/m3, respectively, and 17%, 18%, 31%, 33%, 30%, and 17% of the annual mean O3 concentration exceeded 160 μg/m3, respectively, in 337 cities in China. (2) From 2015 to 2020, the health losses caused by PM2.5 and O3 were ranked as follows: Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH; 1968, 482 people) &gt; Shandong Peninsula (SDP; 1,396, 480 people) &gt; Central Plains (CP; 1,302, 314 people) &gt; Yangtze River Delta (YRD; 987, 306 people) &gt; Triangle of Central China (TC; 932, 275 people) &gt; Guanzhong Plain (GZP; 869, 189 people). (3) The average economic losses associated with public health of the PM2.5 and O3 were ranked as follows: BTH (2.321 billion, 3.218 billion RMB, 1 RMB = 0.0.1474 USD on 20 January 2023) &gt; SDP (1.607, 2.962 billion RMB) &gt; YRD (1.075, 1.902 billion RMB) &gt; TC (1.016 billion, 1.495 billion RMB) &gt; CP (1.095, 1.453 billion RMB) &gt; GZP (0.69, 0.828 billion RMB). Therefore, combining hot pollution factors, the regional characteristics of the priority control areas, and the national 14th 5-Year Plan, targeted control countermeasures were proposed.
Variants in JAZF1 are associated with asthma, type 2 diabetes, and height in the United Kingdom biobank population
Authors: DeWan Andrew T. , Cahill Megan E. , Cornejo-Sanchez Diana M. , Li Yining , Dong Zihan , Fabiha Tabassum , Sun Hao , Wang Gao , Leal Suzanne M. 
Published: June 2023

Background: Asthma, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and anthropometric measures are correlated complex traits that all have a major genetic component.Objective: To investigate the overlap in genetic variants associated with these complex traits.Methods: Using United Kingdom Biobank data, we performed univariate association analysis, fine-mapping, and mediation analysis to identify and dissect shared genomic regions associated with asthma, T2D, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC).Results: We found several genome-wide significant variants in and around the JAZF1 gene that are associated with asthma, T2D, or height with two of these variants shared by the three phenotypes. We also observed an association in this region with WC when adjusted for BMI. However, there was no association with WC when it was not adjusted for BMI or weight. Additionally, only suggestive associations between variants in this region and BMI were observed. Fine-mapping analyses suggested that within JAZF1 there are non-overlapping regions harboring causal susceptibility variants for asthma, T2D, and height. Mediation analyses supported the conclusion that these are independent associations.Conclusion: Our findings indicate that variants in the JAZF1 are associated with asthma, T2D, and height, but the associated causal variant(s) are different for each of the three phenotypes.
Integrative profiling analysis reveals prognostic significance, molecular characteristics, and tumor immunity of angiogenesis-related genes in soft tissue sarcoma
Authors: Liu Binfeng , Li Chenbei , Feng Chengyao , Wang Hua , Zhang Haixia , Tu Chao , He Shasha , Li Zhihong 
Published: June 2023

BackgroundSoft tissue sarcoma (STS) is a class of malignant tumors originating from mesenchymal stroma with a poor prognosis. Accumulating evidence has proved that angiogenesis is an essential hallmark of tumors. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of comprehensive research exploring the association of angiogenesis-related genes (ARGs) with STS.MethodsThe ARGs were extracted from previous literature, and the differentially expressed ARGs were screened for subsequent analysis. Next, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and Cox regression analyses were conducted to establish the angiogenesis-related signature (ARSig). The predictive performance of the novel ARSig was confirmed using internal and external validation, subgroup survival, and independent analysis. Additionally, the association of the ARSig with the tumor immune microenvironment, tumor mutational burden (TMB), and therapeutic response in STS were further investigated. Notably, we finally conducted in vitro experiments to verify the findings from the bioinformatics analysis.ResultsA novel ARSig is successfully constructed and validated. The STS with a lower ARSig risk score in the training cohort has an improved prognosis. Also, consistent results were observed in the internal and external cohorts. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, subgroup survival, and independent analysis further indicate that the novel ARSig is a promising independent prognostic predictor for STS. Furthermore, it is proved that the novel ARSig is relevant to the immune landscape, TMB, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy sensitivity in STS. Encouragingly, we also validate that the signature ARGs are significantly dysregulated in STS, and ARDB2 and SRPK1 are closely connected with the malignant progress of STS cells.ConclusionIn sum, we construct a novel ARSig for STS, which could act as a promising prognostic factor for STS and give a strategy for future clinical decisions, immune landscape, and personalized treatment of STS.
CD38 marks the exhausted CD8+ tissue-resident memory T cells in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Reolo Marie J. Y. , Otsuka Masayuki , Seow Justine Jia Wen , Lee Joycelyn , Lee Yun Hua , Nguyen Phuong H. D. , Lim Chun Jye , Wasser Martin , Chua Camillus , Lim Tony K. H. , Leow Wei Qiang , Chung Alexander , Goh Brian K. P. , Chow Pierce K. H. , DasGupta Ramanuj , Yeong Joe Poh Sheng , Chew Valerie 
Published: June 2023

IntroductionDespite recent advances in immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the overall modest response rate underscores the need for a better understanding of the tumor microenvironment (TME) of HCC. We have previously shown that CD38 is widely expressed on tumor-infiltrating leukocytes (TILs), predominantly on CD3+ T cells and monocytes. However, its specific role in the HCC TME remains unclear.MethodsIn this current study, we used cytometry time-of-flight (CyTOF), bulk RNA sequencing on sorted T cells, and single-cell RNA (scRNA) sequencing to interrogate expression of CD38 and its correlation with T cell exhaustion in HCC samples. We also employed multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) for validating our findings.ResultsFrom CyTOF analysis, we compared the immune composition of CD38-expressing leukocytes in TILs, non-tumor tissue-infiltrating leukocytes (NIL), and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). We identified CD8+ T cells as the dominant CD38-expressing TILs and found that CD38 expression was significantly higher in CD8+ TRM in TILs than in NILs. Furthermore, through transcriptomic analysis on sorted CD8+ TRM from HCC tumors, we observed a higher expression of CD38 along with T cell exhaustion genes, including PDCD1 and CTLA4, compared to the circulating memory CD8 T cells from PBMC. This was validated by scRNA sequencing that revealed co-expression of CD38 with PDCD1, CTLA4, and ITGAE (CD103) in T cells from HCC tumors. The protein co-expression of CD38 and PD-1 on CD8+ T cells was further demonstrated by mIHC on HCC FFPE tissues, marking CD38 as a T cell co-exhaustion marker in HCC. Lastly, the higher proportions of CD38+PD-1+ CD8+ T cells and CD38+PD-1+ TRM were significantly associated with the higher histopathological grades of HCC, indicating its role in the aggressiveness of the disease.ConclusionTaken together, the concurrent expression of CD38 with exhaustion markers on CD8+ TRM underpins its role as a key marker of T cell exhaustion and a potential therapeutic target for restoring cytotoxic T cell function in HCC.
Lysis profile and preference of Myxococcus sp. PT13 for typical soil bacteria
Authors: Yang Yi , Tao Hong , Ma Wenwen , Wang Nana , Chen Xiaolin , Wang Wenhui 
Published: June 2023

IntroductionMyxococcus sp. PT13 is a wild strain with multiple predatory properties that prey on multiple model microorganisms preserved in the laboratory. However, the lysis spectrum of PT13 on typical soil bacteria and its driving effect on soil microecosystems are still unclear.MethodsIn this study, the lawn predation method was used to determine the predation diameter of 62 typical soil bacteria by myxobacteria PT13 and analyze their lysis spectra.Results and DiscussionThe results showed that PT13 had a predation diameter greater than 15 mm against typical soil microorganisms such as Aeromonas, Bacillus, Brevibacterium, Fictibacillus, Glutamicibacter, Herbaspirillum, and Leifsonia and had an outstanding lysis effect but a significant preference (p &lt; 0.05). Absolute high-throughput sequencing results showed that PT13 predation drove the microcosmic system composed of 16 bacterial genera, with a significant decrease in the Shannon index by 11.8% (CK = 2.04, D = 1.80) and a significant increase in the Simpson index by 45.0% (CK = 0.20, D = 0.29). The results of principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) showed that myxobacterial addition significantly disturbed the microcosmic microbial community structure (ANOSIM, p &lt; 0.05). LEfSe analysis showed that the relative and absolute abundances (copy numbers) of Bacillus, Pedobacter, Staphylococcus, Streptomyces and Fictibacillus decreased significantly very likely due to myxobacterial predation (p &lt; 0.05). However, the predatory effect of PT13 also increased the relative or absolute abundances of some species, such as Sphingobacterium, Paenarthrobacter, Microbacterium, and Leifsonia. It can be concluded that PT13 has a broad-spectrum lysis spectrum but poor cleavage ability for Streptomyces, and the interaction between complex microorganisms limits the predation effect of PT13 on some prey bacteria. This in turn allows some prey to coexist with myxobacteria. This paper will lay a theoretical foundation for the regulation of soil microecology dominated by myxobacteria.
Impact of renal tubular Cpt1a overexpression on the kidney metabolome in the folic acid-induced fibrosis mouse model
Authors: Cuevas-Delgado Paula , Miguel Verónica , Rupérez Francisco J. , Lamas Santiago , Barbas Coral 
Published: June 2023

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by the progressive and irreversible deterioration of kidney function and structure with the appearance of renal fibrosis. A significant decrease in mitochondrial metabolism, specifically a reduction in fatty acid oxidation (FAO) in tubular cells, is observed in tubulointerstitial fibrosis, whereas FAO enhancement provides protection. Untargeted metabolomics offers the potential to provide a comprehensive analysis of the renal metabolome in the context of kidney injury.Methodology: Renal tissue from a carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1a (Cpt1a) overexpressing mouse model, which displays enhanced FAO in the renal tubule, subjected to folic acid nephropathy (FAN) was studied through a multiplatform untargeted metabolomics approach based on LC-MS, CE-MS and GC-MS analysis to achieve the highest coverage of the metabolome and lipidome affected by fibrosis. The expression of genes related to the biochemical routes showing significant changes was also evaluated.Results: By combining different tools for signal processing, statistical analysis and feature annotation, we were able to identify variations in 194 metabolites and lipids involved in many metabolic routes: TCA cycle, polyamines, one-carbon metabolism, amino acid metabolism, purine metabolism, FAO, glycerolipids and glycerophospholipids synthesis and degradation, glycosphingolipids interconversion, and sterol metabolism. We found several metabolites strongly altered by FAN, with no reversion induced by Cpt1a overexpression (v.g. citric acid), whereas other metabolites were influenced by CPT1A-induced FAO (v.g. glycine-betaine).Conclusion: It was implemented a successful multiplatform metabolomics approach for renal tissue analysis. Profound metabolic changes accompany CKD-associated fibrosis, some associated with tubular FAO failure. These results highlight the importance of addressing the crosstalk between metabolism and fibrosis when undertaking studies attempting to elucidate the mechanism of CKD progression.
Big Five personality predict epilepsy diagnosis in 7  years
Authors: Kang Weixi 
Published: June 2023

ObjectiveRecently, there is growing interest in investigating how personality traits could predict a subsequent diagnosis of various diseases. Regarding epilepsy, there is only preliminary evidence based on cross-sectional studies linking personality traits to epilepsy, hence, emphasizing the need for longitudinal studies. The aim of the current study is to assess if the Big Five personality traits can predict the risk of an epilepsy diagnosis.MethodsThe current study analyzed data from 17,789 participants who participated in Understanding Society: the UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS) at Wave 3 (collected between 2011 and 2012) and Wave 10 (collected between 2018 and 2019). The mean age was 47.01 (SD = 16.31) years and were 42.62% male. Two binary logistic regressions were used by including age, monthly income, highest educational qualification, legal marital status, residence, and standardized personality traits scores at Wave 3 as predictors for a clinical diagnosis of epilepsy at Wave 10 for males and females, respectively.ResultsThere were 175 participants (0.98%) with epilepsy and 17,614 participants (99.02%) without epilepsy at Wave 10. Results of the binary regression analyses revealed that Neuroticism is positively related to the risk of an epilepsy diagnosis in males (OR = 1.32,p = 0.04, 95% CI [1.01, 1.71]) but not in females 7  years after Wave 3 at Wave 10. However, other personality traits including Agreeableness, Openness, Conscientiousness, and Extraversion were not significant predictors of epilepsy diagnosis.ConclusionThese findings suggested that personality traits might enhance our understanding of psychophysiological associations in epilepsy. Neuroticism might be a relevant factor that should be taken into account in epilepsy education and treatment. Moreover, sex differences must be taken into account.
Assessment of precision and reliability of a novel computerized heterophoria test
Authors: Wang Yuwen , Zheng Fuhao , Zhou Fengchao , Song E. 
Published: June 2023

PurposeTo assess the precision and reliability of a novel computerized heterophoria test (CHT).MethodsOne hundred and three subjects aged 20 to 48 (27.37 ± 5.15) were recruited from Wenzhou Medical University. All subjects with corrected spectacles were examined with CHT and a prism-neutralized objective cover test (POCT) in a randomized order. They were then re-examined with CHT within 1 week. Their heterophoria was measured at three different distances (3 m, 0.77 m and 0.4 m); the average was recorded after three consecutive measurements. Inter-examiner repeatability, intra-examiner repeatability of CHT and agreement between CHT and POCT were evaluated.ResultsThere was no significant difference among repeated measurements using CHT (all p &gt; 0.05). The difference between POCT and CHT was statistically significant at three distances (all p &lt; 0.001). However, the mean absolute difference was 1.20△, 1.93△, and 2.41△, all of which were significantly smaller than the permissible range of error (4△) at three different distances (all p &lt; 0.001).ConclusionThe CHT demonstrated excellent inter- and intra-examiner repeatability, as well as good correlation with POCT. The differences between CHT and POCT were within the permissible range of error, indicating that CHT could provide a precise and reliable measurement for clinical applications.