bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Automatic image-based tracking of gadolinium-filled balloon wedge catheters for MRI-guided cardiac catheterization using deep learning
Authors: Neofytou Alexander Paul , Kowalik Grzegorz Tomasz , Vidya Shankar Rohini , Huang Li , Moon Tracy , Mellor Nina , Razavi Reza , Neji Radhouene , Pushparajah Kuberan , Roujol Sébastien 
Published: September 2023

IntroductionMagnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a promising alternative to standard x-ray fluoroscopy for the guidance of cardiac catheterization procedures as it enables soft tissue visualization, avoids ionizing radiation and provides improved hemodynamic data. MRI-guided cardiac catheterization procedures currently require frequent manual tracking of the imaging plane during navigation to follow the tip of a gadolinium-filled balloon wedge catheter, which unnecessarily prolongs and complicates the procedures. Therefore, real-time automatic image-based detection of the catheter balloon has the potential to improve catheter visualization and navigation through automatic slice tracking.MethodsIn this study, an automatic, parameter-free, deep-learning-based post-processing pipeline was developed for real-time detection of the catheter balloon. A U-Net architecture with a ResNet-34 encoder was trained on semi-artificial images for the segmentation of the catheter balloon. Post-processing steps were implemented to guarantee a unique estimate of the catheter tip coordinates. This approach was evaluated retrospectively in 7 patients (6M and 1F, age = 7 ± 5 year) who underwent an MRI-guided right heart catheterization procedure with all images acquired in an orientation unseen during training.ResultsThe overall accuracy, specificity and sensitivity of the proposed catheter tracking strategy over all 7 patients were 98.4 ± 2.0%, 99.9 ± 0.2% and 95.4 ± 5.5%, respectively. The computation time of the deep-learning-based segmentation step was ∼10 ms/image, indicating its compatibility with real-time constraints.ConclusionDeep-learning-based catheter balloon tracking is feasible, accurate, parameter-free, and compatible with real-time conditions. Online integration of the technique and its evaluation in a larger patient cohort are now warranted to determine its benefit during MRI-guided cardiac catheterization.
Exome sequencing improves genetic diagnosis of congenital orofacial clefts
Authors: Yan Shujuan , Fu Fang , Li Ru , Yu Qiuxia , Li Fucheng , Zhou Hang , Wang You , Huang Ruibin , Ma Chunling , Guo Fei , Wang Dan , Yang Xin , Han Jin , Lei Tingyin , Li Dongzhi , Liao Can 
Published: September 2023

Objective:This retrospective study aims to evaluate the utility of exome sequencing (ES) in identifying genetic causes of congenital orofacial clefts (OFCs) in fetuses with or without other structural abnormalities, and to further explore congenital OFCs genetic causes.Methods:The study enrolled 107 singleton pregnancies diagnosed with fetal OFCs between January 2016 and May 2022, and categorized them into two groups: isolated cleft lip and/or palate (CL/CP) and syndromic CL/CP. Cases with positive karyotyping and chromosomal microarray analysis results were excluded. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on eligible fetuses and their parents. Monogenic variants identified by ES and perinatal outcomes were recorded and evaluated during postnatal follow-up.Results:Clinically significant variants were identified in 11.2% (12/107) of fetuses, with no significant difference in detection rate between the isolated CL/CP group and the syndromic CL/CP group (8/83, 9.6% vs. 4/24, 16.7%,p= 0.553). Additionally, sixteen (16/107, 15.0%) fetuses had variants of uncertain significance. We identified 12 clinically significant variations that correlated with clinical phenotypes in 11 genes from 12 fetuses, withCHD7being the most frequently implicated gene (n = 2). Furthermore, we observed a significant difference in termination rates and survival rates between the isolated CL/CP and syndromic CL/CP groups (41.0% vs. 70.8% and 56.6% vs. 20.8%,p &lt;0.05 for both).Conclusion:Based on our findings, it is clear that ES provides a significant increase in diagnostic yield for the molecular diagnosis of congenital OFCs, thereby substantially improving the existing prenatal diagnostic capabilities. This study also sheds light on seven novel pathogenic variants, broadening our understanding of the genetic underpinnings of OFCs and expanding the disease spectrums of relevant genes.
Increased lipocalin-2 expression in pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis
Authors: Galaris Apostolos , Fanidis Dionysios , Tsitoura Eliza , Kanellopoulou Paraskevi , Barbayianni Ilianna , Ntatsoulis Konstantinos , Touloumi Katerina , Gramenoudi Sofia , Karampitsakos Theodoros , Tzouvelekis Argyrios , Antoniou Katerina , Aidinis Vassilis 
Published: September 2023

IntroductionIdiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive interstitial lung disease with dismal prognosis. The underlying pathogenic mechanisms are poorly understood, resulting in a lack of effective treatments. However, recurrent epithelial damage is considered critical for disease initiation and perpetuation, via the secretion of soluble factors that amplify inflammation and lead to fibroblast activation and exuberant deposition of ECM components. Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) is a neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) that has been suggested as a biomarker of kidney damage. LCN2 has been reported to modulate innate immunity, including the recruitment of neutrophils, and to protect against bacterial infections by sequestering iron.MethodsIn silico analysis of publicly available transcriptomic datasets; ELISAs on human IPF patients' bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALFs); bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis and LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice: pulmonary function tests, histology, Q-RT-PCR, western blot, and FACS analysis.Results and discussionIncreased LCN2 mRNA expression was detected in the lung tissue of IPF patients negatively correlating with respiratory functions, as also shown for BALF LCN2 protein levels in a cohort of IPF patients. Increased Lcn2 expression was also detected upon BLM-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis, especially at the acute phase correlating with neutrophilic infiltration, as well as upon LPS-induced ALI, an animal model characterized by neutrophilic infiltration. Surprisingly, and non withstanding the limitations of the study and the observed trends, Lcn2−/− mice were found to still develop BLM- or LPS-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis, thus questioning a major pathogenic role for Lcn2 in mice. However, LCN2 qualifies as a surrogate biomarker of pulmonary inflammation and a possible indicator of compromised pulmonary functions, urging for larger studies.
Menopausal hormone therapy and risk of dementia: health insurance database in South Korea-based retrospective cohort study
Authors: Yuk Jin-Sung , Lee Jin San , Park Joong Hyun 
Published: September 2023

IntroductionMenopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is used to alleviate the symptoms associated with menopause, despite the lack of recommendations for MHT in preventing dementia. Recent nationwide studies have explored the association between MHT and dementia risk, but the findings remain limited. This study aims to investigate the association between MHT and the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and non-AD dementia using national population data from Korea.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study using data from the National Health Insurance Service in Korea between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2019. Women over 40 years were eligible for this study and classified into the MHT or non-MHT groups. The MHT group consisted of women who used Tibolone (TIB), combined estrogen plus progestin by the manufacturer (CEPM), estrogen, combined estrogen plus progestin by a physician (CEPP), and transdermal estrogen during menopause. We compared the risk of dementia between the MHT and non-MHT groups.ResultsThe study included 1,399,256 patients, of whom 387,477 were in the MHT group, and 1,011,779 were in the non-MHT group. The median duration of MHT was 23 months (range: 10–55 months). After adjusting for available confounders, we found that different types of MHT had varying effects on the occurrence of dementia. TIB (HR 1.041, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.072) and oral estrogen alone (HR 1.081, 95% CI 1.03–1.134) were associated with a higher risk of AD dementia. In contrast, there was no difference in the risk of AD dementia by CEPM (HR 0.975, 95% CI 0.93–1.019), CEPP (HR 1.131, 95% CI 0.997–1.283), and transdermal estrogen (HR 0.989, 95% CI 0.757–1.292) use. The use of TIB, CEPM, and oral estrogen alone increased the risk of non-AD dementia (HR 1.335, 95% CI 1.303–1.368; HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.21–1.292; and HR 1.128, 95% CI 1.079–1.179; respectively), but there was no risk of non-AD dementia in the other MHT groups (CEPP and topical estrogen).ConclusionOur findings indicate that MHT has varying effects on the incidence of AD and non-AD dementia. Specifically, TIB, CEPM, and oral estrogen alone increase the risk of non-AD dementia, while transdermal estrogen is not associated with dementia risk. It is essential to consider the type of MHT used when assessing the risk of dementia in women.
Disparity of smell tests in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Silin , Jiang Zhihui , Zhao Jing , Li Zhensheng , Li Ruixin , Qiu Yunyi , Peng Hua 
Published: September 2023

BackgroundThere are discrepancies of olfactory impairment between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. Olfactory deficits may be a potential marker for early and differential diagnosis of AD. We aimed to assess olfactory functions in patients with AD and other neurodegenerative disorders, to further evaluate the smell tests using subgroup analysis, and to explore moderating factors affecting olfactory performance.MethodsCross-sectional studies relating to olfactory assessment for both AD and other neurodegenerative disorders published before 27 July 2022 in English, were searched on PubMed, Embase and Cochrane. After literature screening and quality assessment, meta-analyses were conducted using stata14.0 software.ResultsForty-two articles involving 12 smell tests that evaluated 2,569 AD patients were included. It was revealed that smell tests could distinguish AD from mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Lewy body disease (LBD), depression, and vascular dementia (VaD), but not from diseases such as frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Our finding indicated that in discriminating AD from MCI, the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) was most frequently used (95%CI: −1.12 to −0.89), while the Brief Smell Identification Test (B-SIT), was the most widely used method in AD vs. LBD group. Further subgroup analyses indicated that the methods of smell test used contributed to the heterogeneity in olfactory threshold and discrimination scores in group AD vs. MCI. While the moderating variables including age, MMSE scores, education years in AD vs. LBD, were account for heterogeneity across studies.ConclusionOur finding suggests smell tests have potential value in early differential diagnosis of AD. UPSIT and its simplified variant, B-SIT, are widely used methods in the analyses.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php? RecordID = 357970 (PROSPERO, registration number CRD42022357970).
Dual production of polyhydroxyalkanoates and antibacterial/antiviral gold nanoparticles
Authors: Paxinou Alexandra , Marcello Elena , Vecchiato Vittoria , Erman Lara , Wright Edward , Noble Brendon , McCormick Adele , Basnett Pooja 
Published: September 2023

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been explored for their use in medicine. Here, we report a sustainable, and cost-effective method to produce AuNPs using a bacterial strain such as Pseudomonas mendocina CH50 which is also known to be a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) producer. A cell-free bacterial supernatant, which is typically discarded after PHA extraction, was used to produce spherical AuNPs of 3.5 ± 1.5 nm in size as determined by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) analysis. The AuNPs/PHA composite coating demonstrated antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus 6538P, and antiviral activity, with a 75% reduction in viral infectivity against SARS-CoV-2 pseudotype virus.
HSP27 induced glaucomatous damage in mice of young and advanced age
Authors: Erb Clivia , Reinehr Sabrina , Theiss Carsten , Dick H. Burkhard , Joachim Stephanie C. 
Published: September 2023

IntroductionAge-related diseases such as glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness, are having an upward trend due to an aging society. In glaucoma, some patients display altered antibody profiles and increased antibody titers, for example against heat shock protein 27 (HSP27). An intravitreal injection of HSP27 leads to glaucoma-like damage in rats. We now aimed to investigate if aged mice are more prone to this damage than younger ones.MethodsWe intravitreally injected HSP27 into young (1–2 months) and aged (7–8 months) mice to compare glaucomatous damage. Respective age-matched controls received PBS. Not injected eyes served as naive controls.ResultsOptical coherence tomography 4 weeks after injection showed no changes in retinal thickness in all groups at both ages. Cell counts and RT-qPCR revealed a significant reduction in RGC numbers in HSP27 mice at both ages. Comparing aged and young HSP27 mice, no differences in Rbpms and Pou4f1 (RGCs) expression was detected, while the Tubb3 expression (neuronal cells) was significantly upregulated in aged HSP27 animals. Neither microglia/macrophages nor (resident) microglia counts revealed significant differences in HSP27 mice at both ages. Nevertheless, increased relative Iba1 and Tmem119 expression was detected in young and aged HSP27 mice. Aged HSP27 mice displayed a significantly lower Iba1 expression than young ones, whereas Cd68 levels were upregulated. A larger GFAP+ area and an upregulation of GFAP expression in HSP27 animals of both ages indicated a macrogliosis. Also, elevated Il1b and Nos2 expression levels were observed in young and aged HSP27 mice. However, only Il1b levels were upregulated when comparing 7–8 months to 1–2 months old animals. A larger HSP25+ area was seen in aged HSP27 animals, while Hspb2 expression levels were downregulated in both HSP27 groups. The aged HSP27 group displayed an upregulated Hspb2 expression compared to young mice. Furthermore, a higher optic nerve degeneration score was noted in young and aged HSP27 groups.DiscussionThese findings indicate that an intravitreal injection of HSP27 led to RGC loss accompanied by inflammation. Age-dependent effects (7–8 months vs. 1–2 months) were not very prominent. The results suggest a potential role of extracellular HSP27 in the development of glaucoma.
Pertinence of glioma and single nucleotide polymorphism of TERT, CCDC26, CDKN2A/B and RTEL1 genes in glioma: a meta-analysis
Authors: Wu Yaqi , Zhou Jun , Zhang Jun , Tang Zhijian , Chen Xi , Huang Lulu , Liu Shengwen , Chen Hong , Wang Yu 
Published: September 2023

BackgroundPrevious genetic-epidemiological studies considered TERT (rs2736100), CCDC26 (rs4295627), CDKN2A/B (rs4977756) and RTEL1 (rs6010620) gene polymorphisms as the risk factors specific to glioma. However, the data samples of previous genetic-epidemiological studies are modest to determine whether they have definite association with glioma.MethodThe study paid attention to systematically searching databases of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science (WoS), Scopus, Cochrane Library and Google Scholars. Meta-analysis under 5 genetic models, namely recessive model (RM), over-dominant model (O-DM), allele model (AM), co-dominant model (C-DM) and dominant model (DM) was conducted for generating odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). That was accompanied by subgroup analyses according to various racial groups. The software STATA 17.0 MP was implemented in the study.Result21 articles were collected. According to data analysis results, in four genetic models (AM, RM, DM and C-DM) TERT gene rs2736100 polymorphism, CCDC26 gene rs4295627 polymorphism, CDKN2A/B gene rs4977756 polymorphism and RTEL1 gene rs6010620 polymorphisms increased the risk of glioma in Caucasians to different degrees. In Asian populations, the CCDC26 gene rs4295627 polymorphism and CDKN2A/B gene rs4977756 polymorphism did not exhibit a relevance to the risk of glioma. It is suggested to cautiously explain these results as the sample size is small.ConclusionThe current meta-analysis suggested that the SNP of TERT (rs2736100), CCDC26 (rs4295627), CDKN2A/B (rs4977756) and RTEL1 (rs6010620) genes in glioma might increase risk of glioma, but there are ethnic differences. Further studies evaluating these polymorphisms and glioma risk are warranted.
Development of an in vivo murine model of perineural invasion and spread of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
Authors: de Lima Priscila O. , Broit Natasa , Huang Johnson D. , Lim Jae H. , Gardiner Damien J. , Brown Ian S. , Panizza Benedict J. , Boyle Glen M. , Simpson Fiona 
Published: September 2023

IntroductionCutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (cSCCHN) can metastasize by invading nerves and spread toward the central nervous system. This metastatic process is called perineural invasion (PNI) and spread (PNS). An in vivo sciatic nerve mouse model is used for cSCCHN PNI/PNS. Here we describe a complementary whisker pad model which allows for molecular studies investigating drivers of PNI/PNS in the head and neck environment.MethodsA431 cells were injected into the whisker pads of BALB/c Foxn1nu and NSG-A2 mice. Tumor progression was monitored by bioluminescence imaging and primary tumor resection was performed. PNI was detected by H&amp;E and IHC. Tumor growth and PNI were assessed with inducible ablation of LOXL2.ResultsThe rate of PNI development in mice was 10%-28.6%. Tumors exhibited PNI/PNS reminiscent of the morphology seen in the human disease. Our model’s utility was demonstrated with inducible ablation of LOXL2 reducing primary tumor growth and PNI.DiscussionThis model consists in a feasible way to test molecular characteristics and potential therapies, offers to close a gap in the described in vivo methods for PNI/PNS of cSCCHN and has uses in concert with the established sciatic nerve model.
Association between marijuana use and kidney stone: a cross-sectional study of NHANES 2009 to 2018
Authors: Di Xingpeng , Xiang Liyuan , Wang Menghua , Wei Xin 
Published: September 2023

Objective: The purpose of this investigation is to determine whether regular marijuana use is related to history of kidney stones in the US population.Methods: Data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2009 to 2018. Kidney stone and marijuana use data were collected from self-report questionnaires. Multivariate logistic regression and multiple sensitivity analyses were applied to examine the relationship between marijuana usage and kidney stones.Results: There are approximately 26.04% of the US population have admitted to using marijuana in their lifetime. Compared with none regular users, those with a higher frequency of marijuana use were more males, more non-Hispanic races, lower than high school education, overweight, no recreational activity, without diabetes mellitus, and more coronary heart disease. After adjusting for potential confounders, multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that marijuana use was inversely correlated to kidney stones in males (Odds ratio [OR] = 0.72, 95% Confidence interval [CI] = 0.54–0.97). One to seven times/week regular consumption of marijuana was associated with kidney stones in males (OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.43–0.89). Sensitivity analyses validated the robustness of our outcomes.Conclusion: Our findings revealed that regular marijuana male users were inversely associated with kidney stones. Marijuana use one to six times/week was inversely related to the risk of kidney stones in males. Further studies are required to explore the dose and type associations of marijuana with kidney stones.
The participation of clinical pharmacists in the treatment of patients with central nervous system infection can improve the effectiveness and appropriateness of anti-infective treatments: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Cheng Jie , Dang ChuanDong , Li Xiao , Wang JianJun , Huang Xin , Li Yan , Cui XueYan 
Published: September 2023

Background: Central nervous system infection (CNSI) treatment in hospital neurosurgery emphasizes the importance of optimizing antimicrobial therapy. Timely and appropriate empiric antibiotic treatment is critical for managing patients with bacterial meningitis.Objectives: To evaluate the activities of clinical pharmacists in the anti-infective treatment of patients with CNSI in neurosurgery.Method: A single-center retrospective cohort study was carried out from January 2021 to March 2023 at a tertiary teaching hospital in China. The study sample included a group that received pharmacy services and a group that did not. In the pharmacy services group, the anti-infective treatment plan was led and developed by pharmacists. Pharmaceutical care, including medication therapy and all CNSI treatment regimens, was administered in daily unit rounds by pharmacists. Baseline demographics, treatment outcomes, and rational use of antibiotics were compared between the two groups, and the impact of a antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) program was evaluated.Results: Of the 306 patients assessed according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 151 patients were included, and 155 patients were excluded due to abnormal data and missing information on antibiotic costs or antimicrobial use. Eventually, 73 were included in the pharmacy services group and 78 in the group without pharmacist participation. The antibiotic use density (AUD) of the pharmacy services group decreased from 167.68 to 127.63 compared to the group without pharmacist participation. After the pharmacist services, the AUD for linezolid decreased from 9.15% to 5.23% and that for miscellaneous agents decreased from 17.91% to 6.72%. The pharmacy services group had better improvement (p &lt; 0.05) and a significantly higher score for the rational use of antibiotics (p &lt; 0.05) than the group without pharmacist participation.Conclusion: The clinical pharmacist services evaluation results demonstrated an essential role of clinical pharmacist-led AMS programs in the effective and appropriate use of anti-infective treatments in neurosurgery with patients with CNSI.