bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The prevalence of anemia among human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals in East Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Getu Fasil , Aynalem Melak , Walle Muluken , Enawgaw Bamlaku 
Published: May 2023

Background:
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients face several hematological abnormalities. Of these abnormalities, anemia is the most common one. Africa has a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, especially in the East and South African region, which is heavily affected by the virus. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of anemia among patients with HIV/AIDS in East Africa.

Methods:
This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted based on the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis. PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Dove Press, Cochrane Online, and African journals online were searched systematically. The quality of the included studies was assessed by 2 independent reviewers using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Data were extracted into an Excel sheet and then exported to STATA version 11 for analysis. A random-effect model was fitted to estimate the pooled prevalence and Higgins I
2 test statistics were done to test the heterogeneity of studies. Funnel plots analysis and Egger-weighted regression tests were done to detect publication bias.

Results:
The pooled prevalence of anemia among HIV/AIDS patients in East Africa was 25.35% (95% CI: 20.69–30.03%). A subgroup analysis by highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) status showed that the prevalence of anemia among HAART naive HIV/AIDS patients was 39.11% (95% CI: 29.28–48.93%) whereas the prevalence among HAART experienced was 36.72% (95% CI: 31.22–42.22%). A subgroup analysis by the study population showed that the prevalence of anemia among adult HIV/AIDS patients was 34.48% (95% CI: 29.52–39.44%) whereas the pooled prevalence among children was 36.17% (95% CI: 26.68–45.65%).

Conclusion:
This systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that anemia is among the most common hematological abnormalities in HIV/AIDS patients in East Africa. It also underscored the importance of taking diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic measures for the management of this abnormality.
Case report of a patient with Erdheim-Chester disease presenting with neuro-endocrine symptoms and negative for BRAF mutation
Authors: Lu Liuze , Zhou Jing , Yan Xu , Jin Rihua , Deng Shuanglin , Lu Weiwen , Chen Dawei 
Published: May 2023

Rationale:
Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare progressive disease affecting multiple systems. It has recently been recognized as a neoplastic disease following the discovery of activating mutations in the MAPK pathway. There are several striking signs of ECD, such as the long bone involvement, as well as the hairy kidney appearance on computed tomography scan. It is rare for ECD to manifest neurological symptoms. Central nervous system involvement is a strong prognostic factor and independent predictor of death. ECD is characterized by the overproduction and accumulation of foamy histiocytes and Touton’s giant cells in various tissues and organs. ECD is a multisystem disorder in which any organ may be affected.

Patient concerns:
This case report describes a 57-year-old woman with headaches and ataxia as the first clinical manifestation, without characteristic bone pain, but with delayed enuresis. In addition to the renal involvement, this patient had rarer splenic involvement.

Diagnoses:
The imaging presentation of this patient was similar to that of a “multiple meningiomas”. A combination of clinical, imaging and pathology for the diagnosis of ECD.

Interventions:
Patients were given INF-α therapy.

Outcomes:
Fortunately, the patient responded well to INF-α treatment.

Lessons:
ECD patient with neuro-endocrine symptoms.
Case Report: Multiple Sclerosis Presenting as Unilateral Gaze-Evoked Nystagmus
Authors: Tsai Ping-Feng , Chen Ying-Jen 
Published: May 2023

ABSTRACT

Significance
Unilateral gaze-evoked nystagmus is a rare neurologic finding that is largely diagnosed in connection with ischemic stroke. Gazed-evoked nystagmus is also a rare initial presentation of multiple sclerosis.

Purpose
This study aimed to report a rare presentation of gaze-evoked nystagmus, in a patient with multiple sclerosis and review the mechanism underlying the gaze-evoked nystagmus.

Case Report
A 32-year-old man who presented with one-week history of diplopia. Neurologic examination revealed right-sided gaze-evoked nystagmus and right-sided ataxia. Lab test revealed positive for oligoclonal bands. Contrast brain MRI revealed multiple hyperintense T2 lesions including a hyperintense patch at the right inferior cerebellar peduncle. A diagnosis of multiple sclerosis was made. The patient received methylprednisolone 500 mg intravenously for 14 days. The diplopia and gaze-evoked nystagmus resolved and remained stable 2 months later.

Conclusions
Our case demonstrates that damage to the inferior cerebellar peduncle may result in ipsilesional gaze-evoked nystagmus and ipsilesional ataxia, in contrast to ipsilesional gaze-evoked nystagmus and contralesional ataxia.
Causal Beliefs About and Perceptions of Illness in Persons Experiencing Schizophrenia and in Close Relatives of Such Individuals: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Villani Murielle V. , Kovess-Masféty Viviane 
Published: May 2023

Background:
The cause to which persons experiencing schizophrenia attribute their illness influences emotional and adjustment variables. This is also true for close relatives (CRs), who are important players in the affected individual’s environment and whose mood can influence the person’s day-to-day life or treatment adherence. Recent literature has highlighted a need to further explore the impact of causal beliefs on different aspects of recovery as well as on stigma.

Aims:
The objective of this study was to explore causal beliefs about the illness and their relationship to other illness perceptions and stigma among persons experiencing schizophrenia and their CRs.

Methods:
Twenty French individuals experiencing schizophrenia and 27 CRs of individuals with schizophrenia answered the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, which investigates probable causes of an illness and other illness perceptions, and the Stigma Scale. A semi-structured interview was used to collect information about diagnosis, treatment, and access to psychoeducation.

Results:
The individuals with schizophrenia identified fewer causal attributions than the CRs. They were more likely to endorse psychosocial stress and family environment as probable causes, while CRs mostly favored genetic explanations. We found significant relationships between causal attributions and most negative perceptions of the illness, including components of stigma, in both samples. Among CRs, having received family psychoeducation was strongly correlated with viewing substance abuse as a probable cause.

Conclusions:
Relationships between causal beliefs about illness and perceptions of illness both in individuals experiencing schizophrenia and in CRs of such individuals should be explored further with harmonized and detailed tools. Assessing causal beliefs about schizophrenia as a framework for psychiatric clinical practice could prove useful for all those involved in the recovery process.
Two Year Comparison of Sagittal Synostosis Morphometric Outcomes Following Open Posterior Expansion Versus Endoscopic Strip Craniectomy with Helmet Molding Performed before Four Months of Age
Authors: Chen Leah , Mercan Ezgi , Massenburg Benjamin B. , Hopper Richard A. , Susarla Srinivas , Lee Amy , Ellenbogen Richard G. , Birgfeld Craig B. 
Published: May 2023

BACKGROUND:
Open middle and posterior cranial vault expansion (OPVE) or endoscopic (ES) strip craniectomy are two surgical techniques for normalization of head shape in isolated sagittal synostosis. This study aims to compare two-year cranial morphometrics after these two approaches.

METHODS:
We performed morphometric analysis on preoperative (t0), immediately post-operative (t1) and 2-year (t2) postoperative CT scans of patients who underwent OPVE or ES prior to 4 months of age. Perioperative data and morphometrics were compared between the two groups and age-matched controls.

RESULTS:
Nineteen patients were included in the ES cohort, 19 age-matched patients in the OPVE cohort, and 57 as controls. Median surgery time and blood transfusion volume were less for the ES approach (118 min; 0cc) compared to OPVE (204 min; 250cc). Anthropometric measurements after OPVE were closer normal controls at t1 compared to ES, but the skull shapes were comparable at t2. In the mid-sagittal plane, anterior vault was higher after OPVE at t2 compared to both ES and controls, but the posterior length was shorter and closer to controls than the ES cohort. Cranial volumes were like controls for both cohorts at t2. There was no difference in complication rate.

CONCLUSIONS:
Both OPVE and ES techniques result in normalization of cranial shape in patients with isolated sagittal synostosis after two years with minimal morphometric differences. Family decision-making between the two approaches should be based on age at presentation, avoidance of blood transfusion, scar pattern, and availability of helmet molding and not on expected outcome.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:
III
COVID-19 in people with HIV in the Netherlands, the ATHENA cohort study
Authors: Wit Ferdinand WNM , Reiss Peter , Rijnders Bart , Rokx Casper , Roukens Anna , Brinkman Kees , van der Valk Marc 
Published: May 2023

Objectives:
We investigated occurrence of and risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes in PWH in the Netherlands.

Design:
Ongoing prospective nationwide HIV cohort study.

Methods:
COVID-19 diagnoses and outcomes with other relevant medical information were prospectively collected from electronic medical records in all HIV treatment centers in the Netherlands, from the start of the COVID-19 epidemic until 31 December 2021. Risk factors for COVID-19 related hospitalization and death were investigated using multivariable logistic regression, including demographics, HIV-related factors, and comorbidities.

Results:
The cohort comprises 21,289 adult PWH, median age 51.2 years, 82% male, 70% were of Western origin, 12.0% were of sub-Saharan African and 12.6% Latin American / Caribbean origin, 96.8% had HIV-RNA <200 copies/mL, median CD4 count 690 (IQR 510–908) cells/mm3. Primary SARS-CoV-2 infections were registered in 2,301 individuals, of whom 157 (6.8%) required hospitalization and 27 (1.2%) ICU admission. Mortality rates were 13% and 0.4% amongst hospitalized and non-hospitalized individuals, respectively. Independent risk factors for severe outcomes (COVID-19-related hospitalization and death) were higher age, having multiple comorbidities, a CD4 count <200 cells/mm3, uncontrolled HIV replication and prior AIDS diagnosis. Migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean were at increased risk of severe outcomes independently of other risk factors.

Conclusions:
In our national cohort of PWH, risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes was increased in individuals with uncontrolled HIV replication, low CD4 count and prior AIDS diagnosis, independently of general risk factors like higher age, comorbidity burden and migrants originating from non-Western countries.
Injury Trends aboard U.S. Navy Vessels: A 50-year analysis of Mishaps at Sea
Authors: Benham Derek A. , Vasquez Matthew C. , Kerns Jakob , Checchi Kyle D. , Mullinax Ross , Edson Theodore D. , Tadlock Matthew D. 
Published: May 2023

Abstract

Background
Maritime activities have been associated with unique dangers to civilian and military sailors. We performed a retrospective cohort study analyzing injury mechanisms and clinical outcomes of casualties onboard U.S. Naval ships to determine common injury mechanisms, trends, and outcomes. We hypothesized there would be a downward trend of injuries and fatalities on U.S. Naval ships during the study period via a retrospective cohort study.

Methods
All mishaps recorded by the Naval Safety Command aboard active service U.S. Naval ships from 1970 through 2020 were reviewed. Only mishaps resulting in injury or fatality were included. Over time, injury mechanisms and casualty incidence rates were trended and compared based on medical capabilities. Ships without surgical capabilities were categorized as Role 1, and those with surgical capabilities as Role 2.

Results
3127 total casualties were identified and analyzed, with 1048 fatalities and 2079 injuries. The injury mechanisms associated with the highest mortality included electrocution, blunt head trauma, fall from height, man overboard and explosion. There was a decrease in the trend of mishaps resulting in casualties, fatalities, and injuries over the 50-year study period. The mortality rate for select severe injury mechanisms was higher on Role 1 capable platforms, compared to Role 2 (0.334 vs 0.250, p < .05).

Conclusions
Casualty incidences decreased over 50 years. However, mortality still remains high for certain mechanisms no matter the operational platform. Furthermore, Role 1 capable vessels have a higher overall mortality rate for severe injuries compared to Role 2. The authors propose training, process improvement, and technology-related solutions to improve outcomes on Role 1 capable naval vessels.

Level of Evidence
Prognostic and Epidemiological; Level III
Comprehensive Analysis of Molecular Characteristics, Clinical Signifificance, and Cancer Immune Interactions of Patients by Anoikis-Related Genes in LUAD Combined with Single-cell Data
Authors: Yu Weijie , Miao Zhoulin , Ainiwaer Julaiti , Qiao Bingzhang , Jumai Kawuli , Sheyhidin Ilyar 
Published: May 2023

BackgroundLung adenocarcinoma(LUAD) is the most prevalent subtype of lung cancer today. There is a close relationship between Anoikis related genes(ARGs) and tumor prognosis, drug susceptibility, and tumor microenvironment(TME).MethodWe calculated differential expression genes using downloaded Anoikis genes and selected genes of prognostic value. Consensus clustering analysis was used and characterized between different clusters. Differences between the different groups were also explored. Risk scores and Nomogram with predictive prognostic functions were established. Immune status and drug sensitivity were also assessed between different risk groups. Single-cell data were downloaded to compare the expression profiles of selected genes, and immunohistochemical results of selected genes were also downloaded to corroborate the reliability of the manuscript.ResultTwo clusters were identified on the basis of related gene expression. We analyzed the survival time, functional enrichment between the two groups and found significant differences between the two clusters. Significant relationships were found between the different clusters and clinical variables. group B had a significantly lower KM curve than group A, as well as a significant enrichment in multiple tumor functions. A risk score with prognostic value was established. The risk score was found to have a high predictive value for prognosis and was an independent prognostic factor. Combined with clinical variables, a Nomogram was established and found to be an accurate predictor of patient prognosis. There were significant differences in immune status between the different risk groups. Patients in the low-risk group were significantly better treated than those in the high-risk group. Finally single cell data confirmed the expression of the selected genes. Also, the immunohistochemical results helped us to confirm the selected genes have increased expression in tumor tissue.ConclusionIn conclusion, this paper reveals the role of ARGs and immune status, drug susceptibility, and prediction of prognosis in LUAD. Also, an accurate prognostic prediction model was established based on genetic.
Controlled expression of avian migratory fattening influences innate immune responses
Authors: Tobolka Marcin , Zielińska Zuzanna , Fusani Leonida , Huber Nikolaus , Maggini Ivan , Pola Gianni , Marasco Valeria 
Published: May 2023

AbstractWhile immunity is frequently suppressed when birds engage in strenuous migratory flights, whether and how immunity changes during the rapid accumulation of energy stores in preparation for migration remains largely unknown. Here, we induced pre-migratory fattening through controlled changes of daylight in common quailsCoturnix coturnixand regularly assessed changes in a marker of constitutive innate immunity (Leukocyte Coping Capacity or LCC) and measures of body composition (lean and fat mass). LCC responses were highest in the mid-fattening phase and lowest when fattening was completed. At mid-fattening, we also found that the birds that kept a higher proportion of lean mass (i.e. accumulated less fat) had the highest LCC peaks. Our results indicate that migratory birds undergo rapid immunological changes as they accumulate energy stores for migration and propose that this could be due to competing or trade-off processes between metabolic remodelling and innate immune system function.Summary statementImmunity is vital when migrating to new environments. It is costly and competivite to other physiological processes. Here we bring new evidence on this process in migratory birds.
Stanniocalcin 2 (STC2) is a potent biomarker of hepatocellular carcinoma with its expression being augmented in Nrf1α-deficient cells, but diminished in Nrf2-deficient cells
Authors: Bu Qiqi , Deng Yangxu , Wang Qing , Deng Rongzhen , Hu Shaofan , Pei Zhigang , Zhang Yiguo 
Published: May 2023

AbstractFor insights into the fact that liver-specific knockout of Nrf1 leads to development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and spontaneous hepatoma, we previously found that loss of Nrf1α (i.e., a full-length isoform encoded byNfe2l1) promotes HepG2-derived tumor growth in xenograft mice, but malgrowth of the xenograft tumor is significantly suppressed by knockout of Nrf2 (encoded byNfe2l2). The mechanism underlying such marked distinctions in their pathologic phenotypes remains elusive, however, to date. Herein, we mined the transcriptome data of liver cancer from the TCGA database to establish a prognostic model of liver cancer and then calculated the predicted risk score of each cell line. The results indicated that knockout of Nrf1α significantly increased the risk score in HepG2 cells, whereas the risk score was reduced by knockout of Nrf2. Of note, stanniocalcin 2 (STC2, a biomarker of liver cancer, that is up-expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues with a reduction in the overall survival ratio of those patients) was augmented inNrf1αNrf2α-/-cells, but diminished in Nrf2-/-cells. Thereby, it is inferable that STC2 is likely involved in mediating the distinction betweenNrf1αNrf2α-/-and Nrf2-/-. Further investigation revealed that HIF1A is an upstream regulator of STC2 in caNrf2ΔN, rather thanNrf1αNrf2α-/-, cells, and regulation of STC2 and HIF1A inNrf1αNrf2α-/-is determined by Nrf2, but the regulation of STC2 by Nrf2 may be independent on HIF1A. In turn, STC2 can regulate Nrf2 via the putative calcium-mediated Keap1-p62 signaling so to form a feedback regulatory loop. Such potential function of STC2 was further corroborated by a series of experiments combined with transcriptomic sequencing. The results unraveled that STC2 manifests as a dominant tumor-promoter, because the STC2-leading increases in clonogenicity of hepatoma cells and malgrowth of relevant xenograft tumor were almost completely abolished inSTC2-/-cells. Together, these demonstrate that STC2 could be paved as a novel potent therapeutic target, albeit as a diagnostic marker, for hepatocellular carcinoma.
The fate of intracoelomic acoustic transmitters in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)post-smolts and wider considerations for casual factors driving tag retention and mortality in fishes
Authors: Lawrence M.J. , Wilson B.M. , Reid G.M. , Hawthorn C. , English G. , Black M. , Leadbeater S. , McKindsey C.W. , Trudel M. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractAcoustic telemetry is a widely used method in assaying behavioural dynamics in fishes. Telemetry tags are often surgically implanted in the coelom of the animal and are assumed to have minimal rates of post-release mortality and tag shedding. However, fish are capable expelling tags and mortalities do occur following release, with the mechanism(s) underlying these effects not well understood. The purpose of this research was to address causal factors underlying tagging mortality and tag expulsion in fishes. We conducted an empirical assessment of tag retention and post-surgical mortality rates in post-smolt Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fitted with a dummy acoustic tag over a 92 day monitoring period. This was complimented with a meta-analysis of factors affecting tag retention and post-surgical mortality rates in the wider literature. Post-smolt salmon exhibited low rates of mortality following tag implantation (≤ 5.1%) but had high rates of tag expulsion (54.8%) and impaired growth and a foreign body response was evident. The meta-analysis showed that mortality was generally low across all studies (12.4%) and was largely unaffected by model cofactors. Tag retention rates were high among the studies investigated here (86.7%) and had a weak negative relationship with tag:body mass ratios. Our results suggest that while mortality is often low among tagging studies, including this one, caution must be exercised in assessing stationary tags as they may represent an expelled tag rather than a mortality event. Our results also indicate that tag dimensions are not nearly important as the tag:body mass ratio.
Overcoming the speed limit of four‐way DNA branch migration with bulges in toeholds
Authors: Smith Francesca , Sengar Aditya , Stan Guy‐Bart V. , Ouldridge Thomas E. , Stevens Molly , Goertz John , Bae Wooli 
Published: May 2023

AbstractDynamic DNA nanotechnology involves the use of DNA strands to create programmable reaction networks and nanodevices. The key reaction in dynamic DNA nanotechnology is the exchange of DNA strands between different molecular species, which is achieved through three-way and four-way DNA exchange reactions. While both of these reactions have been widely used to build reaction circuits, the four-way exchange reaction has traditionally been slower and less efficient than the three-way reaction. In this paper, we describe a new mechanism to optimise the kinetics of the four-way DNA exchange reaction by adding bulges to the toeholds of the four-way DNA complexes involved in the reaction. These bulges facilitate an alternative branch migration mechanism and destabilise the four-way DNA junction, increasing the branch migration rate and unbinding rate of the four-way exchange reaction, bringing it closer to the kinetics of the three-way reaction. This new mechanism has the potential to expand the field of dynamic DNA nanotechnology by enabling efficient four-way DNA exchange reactions for in vivo applications.