bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Coevolutionary analysis of the Philopteroides Mey, 2004 (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera) parasitizing bulbuls (Passeriformes: Pycnonotidae)
Authors: Ren Mengjiao , Gustafsson Daniel R. , Tian Chunpo , Grossi Alexandra A. , Liu Zhixiao , Zou Fasheng 
Published: March 2023

IntroductionAvian head lice comprise a diverse group of distantly related genera of lice that exhibit a strongly convergent morphology. Due to their lack of free-living stages, their strong morphological adaptations to living on the host’s head, and the limited opportunities for transfer between hosts during mating or nesting, the lateral transmission of head lice between non-conspecific hosts may be presumed to be restricted. Despite this, many species of head lice are ostensibly host generalists. We here examine lice of the head louse genus Philopteroides Mey, 2004, from bulbuls (Passeriformes: Pycnonotidae).MethodsWe use two different methods, ParaFit and Jane, to get insights on the co-evolutionary history of Philopteroides species and their bulbul hosts. Jane was run with a variation of event costs.ResultsOur phylogenetic analysis indicate that several morphologically cryptic species can be found in this group, most of which appear to be host specific. However, co-phylogenetic analyses indicate that host-switching has been common in the history of these lice, and co-speciation events have been rarer than expected. Moreover, lowest-cost co-evolutionary reconstructions under a variety of event costs are indistinguishable from random. An expanded dataset with more Philopterus-complex lice was found to be evenly balanced between host-switching and co-speciation events.DiscussionThe transfer of avian head lice between host species is poorly understood, but evidently fairly common. Several potential routes are discussed, but direct evidence is missing. Potentially, the presence of multiple bulbul species at fruiting trees may be an important factor in this transfer. However, such transfer routes also do not explain why Philopteroides lice on bulbuls appear to be distinct from those of other hosts. Moreover, as many of the species recovered in our analysis are morphologically indistinguishable, cryptic speciation appears to be common in this group.
LMNA-related muscular dystrophy: Identification of variants in alternative genes and personalized clinical translation
Authors: Cesar Sergi , Coll Monica , Fiol Victoria , Fernandez-Falgueras Anna , Cruzalegui Jose , Iglesias Anna , Moll Isaac , Perez-Serra Alexandra , Martínez-Barrios Estefanía , Ferrer-Costa Carles , Olmo Bernat del , Puigmulè Marta , Alcalde Mireia , Lopez Laura , Pico Ferran , Berrueco Rubén , Brugada Josep , Zschaeck Irene , Natera-de Benito Daniel , Carrera-García Laura , Exposito-Escudero Jessica , Ortez Carlos , Nascimento Andrés , Brugada Ramon , Sarquella-Brugada Georgia , Campuzano Oscar 
Published: March 2023

Background: Laminopathies are caused by rare alterations in LMNA, leading to a wide clinical spectrum. Though muscular dystrophy begins at early ages, disease progression is different in each patient. We investigated variability in laminopathy phenotypes by performing a targeted genetic analysis of patients diagnosed with LMNA-related muscular dystrophy to identify rare variants in alternative genes, thereby explaining phenotypic differences.Methods: We analyzed 105 genes associated with muscular diseases by targeted sequencing in 26 pediatric patients of different countries, diagnosed with any LMNA-related muscular dystrophy. Family members were also clinically assessed and genetically analyzed.Results: All patients carried a pathogenic rare variant in LMNA. Clinical diagnoses included Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD, 13 patients), LMNA-related congenital muscular dystrophy (L-CMD, 11 patients), and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy 1B (LGMD1B, 2 patients). In 9 patients, 10 additional rare genetic variants were identified in 8 genes other than LMNA. Genotype-phenotype correlation showed additional deleterious rare variants in five of the nine patients (3 L-CMD and 2 EDMD) with severe phenotypes.Conclusion: Analysis f known genes related to muscular diseases in close correlation with personalized clinical assessments may help identify additional rare variants of LMNA potentially associated with early onset or most severe disease progression.
Damage-associated molecular patterns and sensing receptors based molecular subtypes in malignant pleural mesothelioma and implications for immunotherapy
Authors: Liu Zheng , Wan Rui , Bai Hua , Wang Jie 
Published: March 2023

ObjectivesMalignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is characterized as an incredibly aggressive form of cancer with a dismal diagnosis and a dearth of specific biomarkers and therapeutic options. For MPM patients, the effectiveness of immunotherapy may be influenced by damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP)-induced immunogenic cell death (ICD).The objective of this work is to create a molecular profile associated with DAMPs to categorize MPM patients and predict their prognosis and response to immunotherapy.MethodsThe RNA-seq of 397 patients (263 patients with clinical data, 57.2% male, 73.0% over 60 yrs.) were gathered from eight public datasets as a training cohort to identify the DAMPs-associated subgroups of MPMs using K-means analysis. Three validation cohorts of patients or murine were established from TCGA and GEO databases. Comparisons were made across each subtype’s immune status, gene mutations, survival prognosis, and predicted response to therapy.ResultsBased on the DAMPs gene expression, MPMs were categorized into two subtypes: the nuclear DAMPs subtype, which is classified by the upregulation of immune-suppressed pathways, and the inflammatory DAMPs subtype, which is distinguished by the enrichment of proinflammatory cytokine signaling. The inflammatory DAMPs subgroup had a better prognosis, while the nuclear DAMPs subgroup exhibited a worse outcome. In validation cohorts, the subtyping system was effectively verified. We further identified the genetic differences between the two DAMPs subtypes. It was projected that the inflammatory DAMPs subtype will respond to immunotherapy more favorably, suggesting that the developed clustering method may be implemented to predict the effectiveness of immunotherapy.ConclusionWe constructed a subtyping model based on ICD-associated DAMPs in MPM, which might serve as a signature to gauge the outcomes of immune checkpoint blockades. Our research may aid in the development of innovative immunomodulators as well as the advancement of precision immunotherapy for MPM.
Microstructures, absorption and adhesion evolution of FeCoCr/silicone resin coatings at elevated temperature
Authors: Yuan Dachao , Chen Zhiyong , Cai Changwei , Yang Bolin , Wang Yujie , Chen Zhihong 
Published: March 2023

Heat-resistant magnetic microwave absorption coatings are vital important for the stealth safety of apparatus working at elevated temperature or electromagnetic compatibility of high density/power electronic devices. In this work, we proposed a heat-resistant coating with nanocrystalline FeCoCr micropowders as the absorbents and silicone resin as the matrix. The evolution of microstructure, absorption and adhesion of FeCoCr/silicone resin coatings were investigated after heat treatment at 400°C. The results show that the roughness of FeCoCr powders slightly increased due to the formation of nanoparticles, while their crystalline phase maintained body-centered cubic structure with grain size increasing from 10.8 nm to 18.1 nm after heat treatment. The saturated magnetization and coercivity of FeCoCr powders also increased after heat treatment. The adhesion of FeCoCr/silicone resin coatings exhibited sharp increase with the extension of heat treatment time, i.e., from 7.59 MPa at room temperature to 11.78 MPa after heat treatment at 400°C for 10 h; this phenomenon occurred due to the condense of FeCoCr-resin interfaces. The complex permittivity of the coating was reduced after heat treatment, while the complex permeability increased; this gave rise to enhancement of microwave absorption and showed the working potential of the FeCoCr/silicone resin coatings at elevated temperature.
Effect of vitamin D status on adult COVID-19 pneumonia induced by Delta variant: A longitudinal, real-world cohort study
Authors: Huang Hua , Zheng Jiawei , Liu Yan , Zhou Qunhe , Peng Denggao 
Published: March 2023

ObjectiveThe effect of vitamin D status on adult COVID-19 pneumonia induced by Delta variant remains to be further explored.MethodsA longitudinal, real-world cohort study was performed. Artificial intelligence (AI) was used to identify and measure pneumonia lesions. All cases with pneumonia were divided into the vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and control groups according to serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration. Lesion dynamics were observed within six time periods after the onset of pneumonia.ResultsA total of 161 cases were included, of which 101 (63%) were male and 46 (29%) presented with pneumonia. The median age and baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were 37 years and 21 ng/ml, respectively. Age, fibrinogen, and SARS-CoV-2 IgG titer on admission were independent predictors for the onset of pneumonia. After the onset of pneumonia, patients in the VDD group (n = 18) had higher percentage of fever (33 vs. 7.1%; p = 0.04) than those in the control group (n = 28); the interval of pneumonia resolution was longer (28 vs. 21 days; p = 0.02); lesions progressed more rapidly (p = 0.01) within 3 to 7 days and improved more slowly (p = 0.007) within more than 28 days; notably, simultaneous interleukin-6 (18.7 vs. 14.6 pg/ml; p = 0.04) levels were higher, and cycle thresholds for N gene (22.8 vs. 31.3; p = 0.04) and ORF1ab gene (20.9 vs. 28.7; p = 0.03) were lower within 3 to 7 days.ConclusionVitamin D status may have effects on the progression and resolution, but not the onset of Delta variant-induced pneumonia in adults. Computed tomography image diagnosis system based on AI may have promising applications in the surveillance and diagnosis of novel SARS-CoV-2 variant-induced pneumonia.
Abnormal intra- and inter-network functional connectivity of brain networks in early-onset Parkinson’s disease and late-onset Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Zhou Fan , Tan ChangLian , Song Chendie , Wang Min , Yuan Jiaying , Liu Yujing , Cai Sainan , Liu QinRu , Shen Qin , Tang Yuqing , Li Xu , Liao Haiyan 
Published: March 2023

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to look into the altered functional connectivity of brain networks in Early-Onset Parkinson’s Disease (EOPD) and Late-Onset Parkinson’s Disease (LOPD), as well as their relationship to clinical symptoms.MethodsA total of 50 patients with Parkinson’ disease (28 EOPD and 22 LOPD) and 49 healthy controls (25 Young Controls and 24 Old Controls) were admitted to our study. Employing independent component analysis, we constructed the brain networks of EOPD and Young Controls, LOPD and Old Controls, respectively, and obtained the functional connectivity alterations in brain networks.ResultsCerebellar network (CN), Sensorimotor Network (SMN), Executive Control Network (ECN), and Default Mode Network (DMN) were selected as networks of interest. Compared with their corresponding health controls, EOPD showed increased functional connectivity within the SMN and ECN and no abnormalities of inter-network functional connectivity were found, LOPD demonstrated increased functional connectivity within the ECN while decreased functional connectivity within the CN. Furthermore, in LOPD, functional connectivity between the SMN and DMN was increased. The functional connectivity of the post-central gyrus within the SMN in EOPD was inversely correlated with the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale Part III scores. Age, age of onset, and MMSE scores are significantly different between EOPD and LOPD (p &lt; 0.05).ConclusionThere is abnormal functional connectivity of networks in EOPD and LOPD, which could be the manifestation of the associated pathological damage or compensation.
LVIS-within-enterprise double-stent technique with coil embolization in the treatment of patients with acutely ruptured intracranial vertebrobasilar artery-dissecting aneurysms
Authors: Wu Qiaowei , Meng Yuxiao , Chen Aixia , Xu Shancai , Wang Chunlei , Ji Zhiyong , Qi Jingtao , Yuan Kaikun , Shao Jiang , Shi Huaizhang , Wu Pei 
Published: March 2023

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of the low-profile visualized intraluminal support (LVIS)-within-enterprise double-stent technique for patients with acutely ruptured intracranial vertebrobasilar artery-dissecting aneurysms (ari-VBDAs).MethodsA total of 30 patients with ari-VBDAs who underwent reconstructive treatment using LVIS-within-enterprise double-stent technique with coil embolization between January 2014 and May 2022 were retrospectively enrolled. Patients' characteristics and clinical and imaging outcomes were reviewed. The functional outcomes were assessed using the modified Rankin scale (mRS).ResultsA total of 34 ari-VBDAs were identified, including seven (20.6%) basilar artery aneurysms and 27 (79.4%) vertebral artery aneurysms. All aneurysms were successfully treated in the acute phase. In total, six (20.0%) patients experienced in-hospital serious adverse events, including two deaths (6.7%). The median clinical follow-up time of the remaining 28 patients was 20.0 (IQR, 7.3–40.8) months. The incidences of dependency or death (mRS score of 3–6) at discharge and at the last follow-up were 16.7% and 14.3%, respectively. Aneurysm rebleeding occurred in one (3.3%) patient periprocedurally. In total, three (10.0%) patients had ischemic events, one of which occurred during the periprocedural period and two occurred during follow-up. A total of two patients (6.7%) underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Imaging follow-up was available for 14 patients at the median of 12.0 (IQR, 7.0–12.3) months, with a complete occlusion rate of 93.3% (14/15). In total, one patient experienced parent artery occlusion, and no aneurysm was recanalized.ConclusionLVIS-within-enterprise double-stent technique with coil embolization for the treatment of patients with ari-VBDAs could be performed with a good safety profile and high technical success rate. The rate of complete aneurysm occlusion during follow-up seemed to be satisfactory.
Unexpected cardiorespiratory findings postictally and at rest weeks prior to SUDEP
Authors: Lamrani Yassine , Tran Thi Phuoc Yen , Toffa Dènahin Hinnoutondji , Robert Manon , Bérubé Arline-Aude , Nguyen Dang Khoa , Bou Assi Elie 
Published: March 2023

IntroductionMechanisms underlying sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) are unclear, but autonomic disorders are thought to play a critical role. However, those dysfunctions have mainly been reported in the peri-ictal context of generalized tonic–clonic seizures. Here, we explored whether heart rate variability (HRV), heart rate (HR), and breathing rate (BR) changes could be observed perictally during focal seizures with or without impaired awareness as well as interictally to assess the risk of SUDEP. We report the case of a 33-year-old patient with drug-resistant bilateral temporal lobe epilepsy who died at home probably from an unwitnessed nocturnal seizure (“probable SUDEP”).MethodsIctal and interictal HRV as well as postictal cardiorespiratory analyses were conducted to assess autonomic functions and overall SUDEP risk. The SUDEP patient was compared to two living male patients from our local database matched for age, sex, and location of the epileptic focus.ResultsInterictal HRV analysis showed that all sleep HRV parameters and most awake HRV parameters of the SUDEP patient were significantly lower than those of our two control subjects with bitemporal lobe epilepsy without SUDEP (p &lt; 0.01). In two focal with impaired awareness seizures (FIAS) of the SUDEP patient, increased postictal mean HR and reduced preictal mean high frequency signals (HF), known markers of increased seizure severity in convulsive seizures, were seen postictally. Furthermore, important autonomic instability and hypersensitivity were seen through fluctuations in LF/HF ratio following two seizures of the SUDEP patient, with a rapid transition between sympathetic and parasympathetic activity. In addition, a combination of severe hypopnea (202 s) and bradycardia (10 s), illustrating autonomic dysfunction, was found after one of the SUDEP patient’s FIAS.DiscussionThe unusual cardiorespiratory and HRV patterns found in this case indicated autonomic abnormalities that were possibly predictive of an increased risk of SUDEP. It will be interesting to perform similar analyses in other SUDEP cases to see whether our findings are anecdotal or instead suggestive of reliable biomarkers of high SUDEP risk in focal epilepsy, in particular focal with or without impaired awareness seizures.
Clinical features of minor hallucinations in different phenotypes of Parkinson’s disease: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Wang Yaxi , Li Dongfeng , Chen Yaning , Zhu Sha , Jiang Xu , Jiang Yinyin , Gu Ruxin , Shen Bo , Zhu Jun , Pan Yang , Yan Jun , Zhang Li 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundMinor hallucinations (MHs) are the most common psychiatric symptom associated with Parkinson’s disease (PDPsy), but little is known about their characteristics in different motor phenotypes, especially postural instability gait difficulty (PIGD). The aim of this study was to explore the clinical features of MHs in different subtypes of PD.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 213 patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) were recruited, and the data obtained included comprehensive demographics, motor subtypes, clinical scale scores, and MH contents. Motor subtypes were classified as tremor-dominant (TD), PIGD or indeterminate according to Stebbins’ method.ResultsA total of 213 PD patients were included: 90 (42.3%) TD patients, 98 (46.0%) PIGD patients and 25 (11.7%) indeterminate. In total, 70 (32.9%) patients experienced MHs. Compared to patients with the TD phenotype, we found that patients with the PIGD phenotype had more severe motor and nonmotor symptoms. They also had a higher incidence of visual illusions (VIs) and a shorter MH latency.ConclusionOur study demonstrated that compared to patients with the TD phenotype, patients with the PIGD phenotype had a higher incidence of MHs, especially VIs, which may lead to a higher incidence of visual hallucinations (VHs). They also had a shorter latency of MHs than patients with the TD phenotype, suggesting an earlier onset of MHs and a worse prognosis.
Comparison of differential metabolites in brain tissue of aged marmosets and serum of elderly patients after prolonged anesthesia
Authors: Zhang Fengwei , Mao Haoli , Zhu Jiao , Zhou Ren , Zhang Lei , Jiang Hong 
Published: March 2023

ObjectiveTo compare the differential metabolites in the brain tissue of aged marmosets after long-term anesthesia (≥ 6 h) and the serum of elderly patients by metabolomics methods.MethodsSix aged marmosets (≥ 8 years old) were divided into two groups: anesthesia and control. The aged monkeys in the anesthesia group were induced with 6–8% sevoflurane and 100% oxygen (2 l/min) for 1–2 min and maintained with 1.5–2.5% sevoflurane and 100% oxygen (2 l/min) for 6 h. In the control group (n = 3), anesthesia was only induced under the same conditions for 1–2 min. The prefrontal cortex tissues of the two groups of aged marmosets were collected for metabolomics detection. Twenty-nine elderly patients (≥ 65 years old) who had undergone surgical anesthesia for more than 6 h were enrolled. Serum samples were collected before and on the first day after surgery for metabolomics analysis. Differential metabolites were compared between human serum and marmoset brain tissue.ResultsThe changes in lactate and xanthurenic acid in the serum of elderly patients were consistent with those in the brain tissue of aged marmoset monkeys, that is, lactate was up-regulated and xanthurenic acid was down-regulated. However, serum levels of 5-methylterahydrofolic acid and leucine were down-regulated in elderly patients after anesthesia. In contrast, 5-methylterahydrofolic acid and leucine levels were up-regulated in the prefrontal cortex of aged marmosets compared with control marmosets. Furthermore, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and pentose phosphate pathway were both significantly enriched in the prefrontal cortex of aged marmosets and serum of elderly patients after surgery.ConclusionThe changes of serum metabolites in elderly patients are not exactly the same as the metabolic changes of brain tissues in aged marmosets. The metabolic changes in serum lactate and xanthurenic acid levels can reflect brain tissue metabolism. The enrichment pathways of differential metabolites in the serum of elderly patients and the brain tissue of aged marmosets were partially the same.
Impact of intravenous vitamin C as a monotherapy on mortality risk in critically ill patients: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials with trial sequential analysis
Authors: Hung Kuo-Chuan , Chuang Min-Hsiang , Chen Jen-Yin , Hsu Chih-Wei , Chiu Chong-Chi , Chang Ying-Jen , Lee Chia-Wei , Chen I-Wen , Sun Cheuk-Kwan 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundThis meta-analysis aimed at investigating the pooled evidence regarding the effects of intravenous vitamin C (IVVC) on mortality rate in critically ill patients.MethodsDatabases including Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched from inception to October, 2022 to identify RCTs. The primary outcome was the risk of overall mortality. Subgroup analyses were performed based on IVVC dosage (i.e., cut-off value: 100 mg/kg/day or 10000 mg/day). Trial sequential analysis (TSA) was used to examine the robustness of evidence.ResultsA total of 12 trials including 1,712 patients were analyzed. Although meta-analysis demonstrated a lower risk of mortality in patients with IVVC treatment compared to those without [risk ratio (RR): 0.76, 95% CI: 0.6 to 0.97, p = 0.02, I2 = 36%, 1,711 patients), TSA suggested the need for more studies for verification. Moreover, subgroup analyses revealed a reduced mortality risk associated with a low IVVC dosage (RR = 0.72, p = 0.03, 546 patients), while no beneficial effect was noted with high IVVC dosage (RR = 0.74, p = 0.13, I2 = 60%, 1,165 patients). The durations of vasopressor [mean difference (MD): −37.75 h, 404 patients) and mechanical ventilation (MD: −47.29 h, 388 patients) use were shorter in the IVVC group than those in the controls, while there was no significant difference in other prognostic outcomes (e.g., length of stay in intensive care unit/hospital) between the two groups.ConclusionAlthough intravenous vitamin C as a monotherapy reduced pooled mortality, durations of vasopressor use and mechanical ventilation, further research is required to support our findings and to identify the optimal dosage of vitamin C in the critical care setting.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42022371090.