bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Metagenomics analysis of the neonatal intestinal resistome
Authors: Leo Stefano , Cetiner Omer F. , Pittet Laure F. , Messina Nicole L. , Jakob William , Falquet Laurent , Curtis Nigel , Zimmermann Petra 
Published: June 2023

IntroductionThe intestinal microbiome forms a major reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Little is known about the neonatal intestinal resistome.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to investigate the intestinal resistome and factors that influence the abundance of ARGs in a large cohort of neonates.MethodsShotgun metagenomics was used to analyse the resistome in stool samples collected at 1 week of age from 390 healthy, term-born neonates who did not receive antibiotics.ResultsOverall, 913 ARGs belonging to 27 classes were identified. The most abundant ARGs were those conferring resistance to tetracyclines, quaternary ammonium compounds, and macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin-B. Phylogenetic composition was strongly associated with the resistome composition. Other factors that were associated with the abundance of ARGs were delivery mode, gestational age, birth weight, feeding method, and antibiotics in the last trimester of pregnancy. Sex, ethnicity, probiotic use during pregnancy, and intrapartum antibiotics had little effect on the abundance of ARGs.ConclusionEven in the absence of direct antibiotic exposure, the neonatal intestine harbours a high abundance and a variety of ARGs.
Elevated serum polyclonal immunoglobulin free light chains in patients with severe asthma
Authors: Basile Umberto , Santini Giuseppe , Napodano Cecilia , Macis Giuseppe , Pocino Krizia , Gulli Francesca , Malerba Mario , Bush Andrew , Adcock Ian M. , Montuschi Paolo 
Published: June 2023

Background: Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of asthma. Free light chains (FLC) can cause inflammation by mast cell antigen-activation. Serum immunoglobulin (Ig) FLC κ, but not λ, were shown elevated in adult males with asthma. We sought to investigate if serum Ig FLC concentrations are affected by asthma severity and their relationships with inflammatory outcomes.Methods: By using immunoassays, we measured serum κ and λ Ig FLCs in 24 severe persistent asthma patients, 15 patients with moderate persistent asthma, 15 steroid-naïve mild persistent asthma patients and 20 healthy control subjects in a cross-sectional observational study. Total and specific serum IgE concentrations, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO), lung function, peripheral blood eosinophils and neutrophils, and C reactive protein (CRP) were also measured.Results: Serum κ FLC concentrations were elevated in severe asthma patients compared mild asthma patients (p &lt; 0.05) and healthy subjects (p &lt; 0.05). Serum λ FLCs were higher in severe asthma patients than in healthy subjects (p &lt; 0.05) and correlated with blood eosinophil counts (percentage, κ: r = 0.51, p = 2.9678−6; λ: r = 0.42, p = 1.7377−4; absolute values, κ: r = 0.45, p = 6.1284−5; λ: r = 0.38, p = 7.8261−4), but not with total or specific serum IgE. In severe asthma patients, serum Ig FLC correlated with serum CRP (κ: r = 0.33; p = 0.003; λ: r = 0.38, p = 8.8305−4) and blood neutrophil cell counts (percentage, κ: r = 0.31; p = 0.008; λ: r = 0.29, p = 0.01; absolute values, κ: r = 0.40; p = 3.9176−4; λ: r = 0.40, p = 4.5479−4), were elevated in subjects with blood eosinophilia (≥300 cells/µL) (n = 13) compared with non-eosinophilic subjects (n = 10) (κ: 19.2 ± 1.2 mg/L versus 12.1 ± 1.3 mg/L, p &lt; 0.001; λ: 27.2 ± 2.6 mg/L versus 16.8 ± 2.5 mg/L, p &lt; 0.01), but were similar in atopic (n = 15) versus nonatopic subjects (n = 9) (κ: p = 0.20; λ: p = 0.80). Serum FLC were negatively correlated with lung function tests, including forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (κ: r = −0.33; p = 0.0034; λ: r = −0.33; p = 0.0035), and FEV1/forced vital capacity ratio (κ: r = −0.33; p = 0.0034; λ: r = −0.33; p = 0.0036).Conclusion: Serum Ig FLCs are elevated in severe asthma adults and might represent new surrogate markers of inflammation. The pathophysiological implications of these findings require further research. This study was approved by the ethics committee of the University Hospital Agostino Gemelli Foundation and Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (approval number P/1034/CE2012).
A flavonoid-rich fraction of Euphorbia peplus attenuates hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and oxidative stress in a type 2 diabetes rat model
Authors: Alruhaimi Reem S. , Mostafa-Hedeab Gomaa , Abduh Maisa Siddiq , Bin-Ammar Albandari , Hassanein Emad H. M. , Kamel Emadeldin M. , Mahmoud Ayman M. 
Published: June 2023

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance (IR) and hyperglycemia. Plants are valuable sources of therapeutic agents for the management of T2D. Euphorbia peplus has been widely used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases, but its beneficial role in T2D has not been fully explored.Methods: The anti-diabetic efficacy of E. peplus extract (EPE) was studied using rats with T2D induced by high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ). The diabetic rats received 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg EPE for 4 weeks.Results: Phytochemical fractionation of the aerial parts of E. peplus led to the isolation of seven known flavonoids. Rats with T2D exhibited IR, impaired glucose tolerance, decreased liver hexokinase and glycogen, and upregulated glycogen phosphorylase, glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase), and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (F-1,6-BPase). Treatment with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg EPE for 4 weeks ameliorated hyperglycemia, IR, liver glycogen, and the activities of carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes. EPE attenuated dyslipidemia, serum transaminases, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and liver lipid accumulation, nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65, and lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide and enhanced antioxidants. All EPE doses upregulated serum adiponectin and liver peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) in HFD/STZ-induced rats. The isolated flavonoids showed in silico binding affinity toward hexokinase, NF-κB, and PPARγ.Conclusion:E. peplus is rich in flavonoids, and its extract ameliorated IR, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, inflammation and redox imbalance, and upregulated adiponectin and PPARγ in rats with T2D.
Age-related transversal changes in craniofacial sutures of the anterior viscerocranium in growing rats
Authors: Gorucu-Coskuner Hande , Al-Yassary Mustafa , Billiaert Kelly , Kiliaridis Stavros , Antonarakis Gregory S. 
Published: June 2023

Objective: To evaluate the dimensional changes that occur in the internasal and nasopremaxillary sutures, and related transverse craniofacial dimensions, of rats from 4 to 38-weeks of age.Methods: Four groups of twelve male Wistar rats were sacrificed at different ages [4-weeks (immature), 16-weeks (adolescent), 26-weeks (young adult), 38-weeks (adult)]. The rats were scanned with a high-resolution micro-computed tomography imaging device with 90 µm voxel size and 45 mm × 45 mm field of view (FOV) to obtain images of the viscreocranium, and with 10 µm voxel size and 5 mm × 5 mm FOV to obtain images of the internasal and left nasopremaxillary sutures. The nasal bone width, transverse width between the nasopremaxillary sutures and interzygomatic width were measured as craniofacial measurements. The endocranial, ectocranial and mean suture widths (cross-sectional area between endocranial and ectocranial borders/suture height), and suture height were measured at 5 frontal planes with 1.2 mm intervals. Outcomes were compared at different ages, and correlation coefficients were used to assess the relationship between craniofacial and suture changes.Results: All transverse craniofacial dimensions increased significantly from 4–16 weeks of age (p &lt; 0.001). After 16-weeks of age, the only significant increase was observed in interzygomatic width (p = 0.02), between 26 and 38 weeks. In both the internasal and nasopremaxillary sutures, the endocranial suture mean widths decreased from 4–16 weeks (p &lt; 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively), but did not show any significant change after 16-weeks of age. The ectocranial internasal suture width decreased from 4–16 weeks (p &lt; 0.001), increased until 26-weeks (p = 0.035), and subsequently decreased (p &lt; 0.001). The nasopremaxillary suture widths decreased from 4–38 weeks to varying degrees in different frontal planes. Except for the internasal ectocranial suture width, all suture measurements were found highly and negatively correlated with the transverse craniofacial dimensions. The height of the sutures increased with time, with the most significant changes occurring between 4 and 16 weeks of age (p &lt; 0.001).Conclusion: Although the internasal and nasopremaxillary endocranial suture widths nearly reach their final widths during adolescence, the changes in the ectocranial and mean suture widths continue into early adulthood. These results may serve as a reference for future studies aiming to evaluate the effects of functional demands on suture development and dimensional changes of the viscerocranium.
The use of tensiomyography in older adults: a systematic review
Authors: Pus Katarina , Paravlic Armin H. , Šimunič Boštjan 
Published: June 2023

Introduction: Aging of skeletal muscles results in a cascade of events negatively affecting muscle mass, strength, and function, leading to reduced mobility, increased risk of falls, disability, and loss of independence. To date, different methods are used to assess muscle mechanical function, tensiomyography (TMG) being one of them. The aim of this review was twofold: to summarize the evidence-based usefulness of tensiomyography in older adults and to establish reference values for the main tensiomyography parameters in older adults.Methods: The PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, and tensiomyography databases were searched from inception until 25 December 2022. Studies investigating older adults (aged 60+ years) that reported tensiomyography-derived parameters such as contraction time (Tc) and/or maximal displacement (Dm) were included. Methodological quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies.Results: In total, eight studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. Tensiomyography has been used on different groups of older adults, including asymptomatic, master athletes, patients with peripheral arterial disease, and patients with end-stage knee osteoarthritis with a mean age of 71.5 ± 5.38 (55.7% male subjects). The most evaluated were leg muscles such as vastus lateralis (VL), gastrocnemius medialis (GM), and biceps femoris (BF). The present review demonstrates that tensiomyography is used to assess neuromuscular function in asymptomatic and diseased older adults. When compared to asymptomatic individuals, power master athletes, knee osteoarthritis patients, and patients diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease have the shortest Tc in BF, VL, and GM muscles, respectively. On the other hand, endurance master athletes showed the longest Tc in all three evaluated muscles. Less mobile, nursing-home residents showed higher Dm in VL and BF, while lower Dm in GM than the asymptomatic group. The knee osteoarthritis group showed the largest Dm in BF and VL while having the smallest Dm in GM.Conclusion: Tensiomyography can serve as a valuable tool for assessing neuromuscular function in older adults. The method is sensitive to muscle composition, architecture, and (pre) atrophic changes of the skeletal muscles and might be responsive to muscle quality changes in aging and diseased populations.Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=402345, identifier CRD42023402345.
Sustainable employability and work engagement: a three-wave study
Authors: Gürbüz Sait , Bakker Arnold B. , Demerouti Evangelia , Brouwers Evelien P. M. 
Published: June 2023

IntroductionThe recent concept of sustainable employability (SE), which refers to being able and enabled to achieve valuable work goals, has lately attracted substantial attention in many developed countries. Although limited cross-sectional studies found that SE in the form of capability set was positively associated with work outcomes, why and through which mechanism SE is related to crucial work outcomes remains still unexplored. Therefore, the present three-wave study aimed to (1) investigate the SE-work outcomes linkage over time, and (2) uncover the psychological pathway between SE and two work outcomes (i.e., task performance and job satisfaction) by proposing work engagement as a mediator.MethodsTo test the mediation process, we approached CentERdata to collect data among a representative sample of 287 Dutch workers. We used a three-wave design with approximately a 2-month time lag.ResultsThe results of bootstrap-based path modeling indicated that SE was a significant predictor of task performance but not job satisfaction over time. Work engagement mediated the relationships between SE and (a) task performance and (b) job satisfaction.DiscussionThese findings suggest that organizations may foster workers’ task performance and job satisfaction by configuring a work context that fosters SE–allowing workers to be able and be enabled to achieve important work goals.
Psychological well-being, mental distress, metabolic syndrome, and associated factors among people living in a refugee camp in Greece: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Knappe Florian , Filippou Konstantinia , Hatzigeorgiadis Antonis , Morres Ioannis D. , Tzormpatzakis Emmanouil , Havas Elsa , Seelig Harald , Colledge Flora , Ludyga Sebastian , Meier Marianne , de Quervain Dominique , Theodorakis Yannis , von Känel Roland , Pühse Uwe , Gerber Markus 
Published: June 2023

BackgroundForcibly displaced people face various challenges and are therefore at higher risk of being affected by mental and physiological distress. The present study aimed to determine levels of psychological well-being, PTSD symptom severity, metabolic syndrome, and associated factors among forcibly displaced people in Greece in response to WHO’s call for evidence-based public health policies and programs for forcibly displaced people.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study among n = 150 (50% women) forcibly displaced people originating from Sub-Sahara Africa and Southwest Asia living in a Greek refugee camp. Self-report questionnaires were used to assess psychological well-being, symptoms of PTSD, depression, generalized anxiety disorder and insomnia, perceived stress, headache, and perceived fitness. Cardiovascular risk markers were assessed to determine metabolic syndrome, and cardiorespiratory fitness was measured with the Åstrand-Rhyming Test of Maximal Oxygen Uptake.ResultsThe prevalence of mental distress and physiological disorders was overall elevated. Only 53.0% of participants rated their psychological well-being as high. Altogether, 35.3% scored above the clinical cut-off for PTSD, 33.3% for depression, 27.9% for generalized anxiety disorder, and 33.8% for insomnia. One in four (28.8%) participants met criteria for metabolic syndrome. While the prevalence of moderate or severe insomnia symptoms and metabolic syndrome differed little from the global population, the risk of being affected by mental distress was markedly increased. In multivariable analysis, higher perceived fitness was associated with higher psychological well-being (OR = 1.35, p = 0.003) and a decreased likelihood for metabolic syndrome (OR = 0.80, p = 0.031). Participants with elevated psychiatric symptoms were less likely to report high psychological well-being (OR = 0.22, p = 0.003) and had increased odds for higher PTSD severity (OR = 3.27, p = 0.034). Increased stress perception was associated with higher PTSD symptoms (OR = 1.13, p = 0.002).ConclusionThere is an elevated risk for mental distress compared to the global population and an overall high mental and physiological burden among people living in a Greek refugee camp. The findings underpin the call for urgent action. Policies should aim to reduce post-migration stressors and address mental health and non-communicable diseases by various programs. Sport and exercise interventions may be a favorable add-on, given that perceived fitness is associated with both mental and physiological health benefits.
Causal relationship between obesity and iron deficiency anemia: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Wang Tingting , Gao Qi , Yao Yuanyuan , Luo Ge , Lv Tao , Xu Guangxin , Liu Mingxia , Xu Jingpin , Li Xuejie , Sun Dawei , Cheng Zhenzhen , Wang Ying , Wu Chaomin , Wang Ruiyu , Zou Jingcheng , Yan Min 
Published: June 2023

BackgroundObservational studies have suggested an association between obesity and iron deficiency anemia, but such studies are susceptible to reverse causation and residual confounding. Here we used Mendelian randomization to assess whether the association might be causal.MethodsData on single-nucleotide polymorphisms that might be associated with various anthropometric indicators of obesity were extracted as instrumental variables from genome-wide association studies in the UK Biobank. Data on genetic variants in iron deficiency anemia were extracted from a genome-wide association study dataset within the Biobank. Heterogeneity in the data was assessed using inverse variance-weighted regression, Mendelian randomization Egger regression, and Cochran's Q statistic. Potential causality was assessed using inverse variance-weighted, Mendelian randomization Egger, weighted median, maximum likelihood and penalized weighted median methods. Outlier SNPs were identified using Mendelian randomization PRESSO analysis and “leave-one-out” analysis.ResultsInverse variance-weighted regression associated iron deficiency anemia with body mass index, waist circumference, trunk fat mass, body fat mass, trunk fat percentage, and body fat percentage (all odds ratios 1.003–1.004, P ≤ 0.001). Heterogeneity was minimal and no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy was found.ConclusionOur Mendelian randomization analysis suggests that obesity can cause iron deficiency anemia.
Interventions to promote medication adherence for chronic diseases in India: a systematic review
Authors: Tolley Abraham , Hassan Refaat , Sanghera Rohan , Grewal Kirpal , Kong Ruige , Sodhi Baani , Basu Saurav 
Published: June 2023

IntroductionCost-effective interventions that improve medication adherence are urgently needed to address the epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in India. However, in low- and middle-income countries like India, there is a lack of analysis evaluating the effectiveness of adherence improving strategies. We conducted the first systematic review evaluating interventions aimed at improving medication adherence for chronic diseases in India.MethodsA systematic search on MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar was conducted. Based on a PRISMA-compliant, pre-defined methodology, randomized control trials were included which: involved subjects with NCDs; were located in India; used any intervention with the aim of improving medication adherence; and measured adherence as a primary or secondary outcome.ResultsThe search strategy yielded 1,552 unique articles of which 22 met inclusion criteria. Interventions assessed by these studies included education-based interventions (n = 12), combinations of education-based interventions with regular follow up (n = 4), and technology-based interventions (n = 2). Non-communicable diseases evaluated commonly were respiratory disease (n = 3), type 2 diabetes (n = 6), cardiovascular disease (n = 8) and depression (n = 2).ConclusionsAlthough the vast majority of primary studies supporting the conclusions were of mixed methodological quality, patient education by CHWs and pharmacists represent promising interventions to improve medication adherence, with further benefits from regular follow-up. There is need for systematic evaluation of these interventions with high quality RCTs and their implementation as part of wider health policy.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022345636, identifier: CRD42022345636.
Prediction model for tibial plateau fracture combined with meniscus injury
Authors: Lv Hongzhi , Li Wenjing , Wang Yan , Chen Wei , Yan Xiaoli , Yuwen Peizhi , Hou Zhiyong , Wang Juan , Zhang Yingze 
Published: June 2023

PurposeTo investigate a prediction model of meniscus injury in patients with tibial plateau fracture.MethodsThis retrospective study enrolled patients with tibial plateau fractures who were treated in the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 1, 2015, to June 30, 2022. Patients were divided into a development cohort and a validation cohort based on the time-lapse validation method. Patients in each cohort were divided into a group with meniscus injury and a group without meniscus injury. Statistical analysis with Student’s t-test for continuous variables and chi square test for categorical variables was performed for patients with and without meniscus injury in the development cohort. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to screen the risk factors of tibial plateau combined with meniscal injury, and a clinical prediction model was constructed. Model performance was measured by examining discrimination (Harrell’s C-index), calibration (calibration plots), and utility [decision analysis curves (DCA)]. The model was validated internally using bootstrapping and externally by calculating their performance in a validation cohort.ResultsFive hundred patients (313 [62.6%] males, 187 [37.4%] females) with a mean age of 47.7 ± 13.8 years were eligible and were divided into development (n = 262) and validation (n = 238) cohorts. A total of 284 patients had meniscus injury, including 136 in the development cohort and 148 in the validation cohort We identified high-energy injuries as a risk factor (OR = 1.969, 95%CI 1.131–3.427). Compared with blood type A, patients with blood type B were more likely to experience tibial plateau fracture with meniscus injury (OR = 2.967, 95%CI 1.531–5.748), and office work was a protective factor (OR = 0.279, 95%CI 0.126–0.618). The C-index of the overall survival model was 0.687 (95% CI, 0.623–0.751). Similar C-indices were obtained for external validation [0.700(0.631–0.768)] and internal validation [0.639 (0.638–0.643)]. The model was adequately calibrated and its predictions correlated with the observed outcomes. The DCA curve showed that the model had the best clinical validity when the threshold probability was 0.40 and 0.82.ConclusionsPatients with blood type B and high-energy injuries are more likely to have meniscal injury. This may help in clinical trial design and individual clinical decision-making.
TIC Reorientation under Electric and Magnetic Fields in Homeotropic Samples of Cholesteric LC with Negative Dielectric Anisotropy
Authors: Oswald Patrick , Poy Guilhem , Ignés-Mullol Jordi 
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we numerically and experimentally show that the director field orientation degeneracy within the Translationally Invariant Configuration (TIC) of a cholesteric liquid crystal under an electric field can be lifted by imposing a magnetic field B→ parallel to the electrodes. The configuration can be either parallel or perpendicular to the magnetic field depending on the values of the sample thickness, pitch, and applied voltage, with two equiprobable orientations in each case. The transition between the parallel and perpendicular orientations has hysteresis, suggesting that it is first order. When B→ is slightly tilted with respect to the electrode plane, the indeterminacy on the TIC orientation is removed when the TIC is directed along B→.