bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and Associated Factors of Sarcopenia in Thai Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
Authors: Gumtorntip Wanitcha , Phinyo Phichayut , Kasitanon Nuntana , Louthrenoo Worawit 
Published: January 2025

Background/Objectives
Sarcopenia associates with poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to determine prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The HRQoL between RA patients with and without sarcopenia also was compared.

Methods
This cross-sectional study recruited RA patients, aged ≥20 years, at Chiang Mai University Hospital between May and November 2023. Their skeletal muscle mass (bioelectrical impedance analysis), grip strength (hand dynamometer), and physical performance (gait speed test) were evaluated. Sarcopenia was defined according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. Patient characteristics, disease activity, physical disability (HAQ-DI), HRQoL (SF-36), nutrition (mini nutrition assessment), and medications were recorded.

Results
Of 299 patients (89.0% female; age 61.3 ± 11.6 years; disease duration 13.9 ± 8.6 years), 37.5% had sarcopenia (27.4% severe sarcopenia). In multivariable analysis, body mass index (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 1.46/1 unit decrease [1.27, 1.68], p < 0.001), disease duration (1.89/10 years increase [1.27, 2.83], p = 0.002), deformity of hands/feet (3.80 [1.50, 9.61], p = 0.005), mini nutritional assessment score (1.21/1 score decrease [1.04, 1.40], p = 0.012), and high C-reactive protein (CRP) (1.94 [1.02, 3.69], p = 0.044) were independent factors associated with sarcopenia. There was no relationship between sarcopenia and disease activity (DAS-28-ESR or CRP) or medication use. RA patients with sarcopenia had higher HAQ score than those without, but potentially lower scores in physical function domain of SF-36 with adjusted mean difference of 0.2 (95% confidence interval 0.03, 0.32, p = 0.022) and −5.9 (−12.24, 0.38, p = 0.066), respectively.

Conclusions
About one third of the Thai RA patients in this center had sarcopenia. Low body mass index, long disease duration, joint deformity, malnutrition, and high CRP were independent factors associated with sarcopenia. Sarcopenia affects physical capabilities and the physical function domain of the HRQoL.
Salivary β2-Microglobulin, Na+, and Cortisol Levels, and Salivary Glands' Uptakes in Sialoscintigraphy in Sjögren Disease
Authors: Inokuma Shigeko , Ishida Makoto , Uchida Yoshitaka 
Published: January 2025

Objective
For early diagnosis and inquiry into the pathophysiology of Sjögren disease (SjD), salivary secretion and component levels, and salivary glands' uptakes in sialoscintigraphy were examined, in this cross-sectional study.

Methods
Patients who visited our hospital with suspected SjD between April 2016 and March 2020 were checked for unstimulated salivary secretion and β2-microglobulin, Na+, and cortisol levels in saliva. The patients who showed any abnormal salivary test results underwent sialoscintigraphy; the uptakes in the parotid, submandibular, and thyroid glands were compared using paired t test.

Results
Sixty-five patients (female/male 51/14, 64.5 ± 13.7 years) were checked for saliva. The secretion was 0.39 ± 0.43 mL/min. The component levels were 1.98 ± 1.45 mg/dL for β2-microglobulin (n = 61), 15.9 ± 15.3 mEq/L for Na+ (n = 61), and 0.20 ± 0.18 μg/dL for cortisol (n = 56). A significant negative correlation was observed between the secretion and each component level. A significant positive correlation was found between the 2 out of the 3 component levels. Sialoscintigraphy of 52 patients showed significantly lower uptake in the submandibular glands than in the parotid glands (submandibular/parotid ratio: 0.51 ± 0.36, left; 0.54 ± 0.39, right). The total uptake in the 4 salivary glands was lower, but not significantly, than that in the thyroid gland.

Conclusions
In patients with suspected SjD, a decreased salivary secretion correlated with a high level of any of β2-microglobulin, Na+, and cortisol; the 2 of the 3 levels correlated positively. Sialoscintigraphy showed that the submandibular glands were involved to a greater extent than the parotid glands were. The total salivary gland uptake may be lower than that in thyroid.
High-Resolution Free-Breathing Chemical-Shift-Encoded MRI for Characterizing Lymph Nodes in the Upper Abdomen
Authors: Maatman Ivo T. , Maas Marnix C. , Ypma Sjoerd , Block Tobias K. , van den Elshout Rik , Veltien Andor , Smit Ewoud J. , Hermans John J. , Scheenen Tom W.J. 
Published: January 2025

Objectives
Accurate lymph node (LN) staging is crucial for managing upper abdominal cancers. Ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO)–enhanced magnetic resonance imaging effectively distinguishes healthy and metastatic LNs through fat/water and

-weighted imaging. However, respiratory motion artifacts complicate detection of abdominal LNs. This study evaluates if a free-breathing radial stack-of-stars acquisition can match or outperform Cartesian reference scans to visualize LNs and depict uptake of USPIO nanoparticles.

Materials and Methods
Five volunteers with USPIO and 20 patients without USPIO were scanned using radial stack-of-stars, Cartesian dual-echo, and fat-saturated Cartesian multiecho sequences for fat/water imaging and

estimation. Reconstructed images from radial and Cartesian patient data underwent qualitative comparison by 2 radiologists. LNs were identified in all fat/water images, LN short-axis sizes were measured, and relaxation rates were analyzed using linear correlations and Bland-Altman plots.

Results
Radial imaging provided better image quality than the Cartesian reference standard, according to both readers. Substantially, more LNs were identified in radial compared with Cartesian datasets (349 vs 202). Median short-axis diameters showed a significant difference, measuring 2.7 mm (interquartile range [IQR]: 2.7–4.6 mm) for radial images and 4.5 mm (IQR: 3.7–5.6 mm) for Cartesian images (P < 0.0001). Relaxation rates measured in radial data showed a significant linear correlation with the Cartesian reference (Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.90 with P < 0.0001). Bland-Altman plots indicated a slight bias with a mean difference (MD) of 3.9 s−1 and limits of agreement at MD ± 16.4 s−1.

Conclusions
This work presents a promising magnetic resonance imaging method to depict upper abdominal LNs and to visualize their USPIO uptake. Instead of multiple Cartesian breath-hold scans, all relevant contrasts and parameters are obtained from a single free-breathing radial acquisition. The proposed method yielded higher image quality and more sensitive detection of small LNs.

value analysis showed a strong linear correlation with the reference, albeit with minimal biases.
Genomic analysis of surgical patients to identify patients at risk for postoperative sepsis and surgical site infection
Authors: Ahmed Kaleem S. , Christensen Mathias A. , Bonde Alexander , Wei Wei-Qi , Khan Atlas , Pacheco Jennifer , Roy-Puckelwartz Megan , McCarthy Robert J. , Alam Hasan B. , Sillesen Martin 
Published: January 2025

BACKGROUND
Early and accurate diagnosis of sepsis and the ensuing organ dysfunction remain a challenge in the postoperative setting. Susceptibility to infections, as well as the subsequent immunological response, are driven to some extent by the genetic predisposition of the patient. The purpose of this study was to identify novel genetic variants associated with postoperative sepsis (POS) and surgical site infections (SSIs).

METHODS
We conducted genome-wide association studies for POS and SSIs in the Electronic Medical Records and Genomics Network database. All patients with surgical and genomic information in Electronic Medical Records and Genomics were identified. Patients with a new diagnosis of sepsis/SSIs after surgery were classified as cases, and those without as controls. Analyses were performed using PLINK 2.0's logistic regression function. A p value of <5 × 10−8 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS
A total of 59,755 participants were included in the analysis. Genetic regions on chromosomes 9 and 14 reached statistical significance for POS (p < 5 × 10−8). The most significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were rs9413988 (p = 5.59 × 10−12) on chromosome 9 and rs35407594 (p = 1.43 × 10−10) on chromosome 14. The rs9413988 region is downstream to the phosphoglucomutase 5 pseudogene (PGM5P2) and Zn-regulated GTPase metalloprotein activator 1F (ZNGF1) and likely plays a role in transcription regulation, while rs35407594 corresponds to the olfactory receptor gene family, OR11. Similar SNPs were also associated with SSIs.

CONCLUSION
We have identified two genetic regions containing SNPs associated with POS and SSIs. These findings provide new avenues for investigation, which may help identify and guide point-of-care management for at-risk patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Prognostic and Epidemiological; Level III.
Automating excellence: A breakthrough in emergency general surgery quality benchmarking
Authors: Perkins Louis A. , Mou Zongyang , Masch Jessica , Harris Brandon , Liepert Amy E. , Costantini Todd W. , Haines Laura N. , Berndtson Allison , Adams Laura , Doucet Jay J. , Santorelli Jarrett E. 
Published: January 2025

BACKGROUND
Given the high mortality and morbidity of emergency general surgery (EGS), designing and implementing effective quality assessment tools is imperative. Currently accepted EGS risk scores are limited by the need for manual extraction, which is time-intensive and costly. We developed an automated institutional electronic health record (EHR)–linked EGS registry that calculates a modified Emergency Surgery Score (mESS) and a modified Predictive OpTimal Trees in Emergency Surgery Risk (POTTER) score and demonstrated their use in benchmarking outcomes.

METHODS
The EHR-linked EGS registry was queried for patients undergoing emergent laparotomies from 2018 to 2023. Data captured included demographics, admission and discharge data, diagnoses, procedures, vitals, and laboratories. The mESS and modified POTTER (mPOTTER) were calculated based off previously defined variables, with estimation of subjective variables using diagnosis codes and other abstracted treatment variables. This was validated against ESS and the POTTER risk calculators by chart review. Observed versus expected (O:E) 30-day mortality and complication ratios were generated.

RESULTS
The EGS registry captured 177 emergent laparotomies. There were 32 deaths (18%) and 79 complications (45%) within 30 days of surgery. For mortality, the mean difference between the mESS and ESS risk predictions for mortality was 3% (SD, 10%) with 86% of mESS predictions within 10% of ESS. The mean difference between the mPOTTER and POTTER was −2% (SD, 11%) with 76% of mPOTTER predictions within 10% of POTTER. Observed versus expected ratios by mESS and ESS were 1.45 and 1.86, respectively, and for mPOTTER and POTTER, they were 1.45 and 1.30, respectively. There was similarly good agreement between automated and manual risk scores in predicting complications.

CONCLUSION
Our study highlights the effective implementation of an institutional EHR-linked EGS registry equipped to generate automated quality metrics. This demonstrates potential in enhancing the standardization and assessment of EGS care while mitigating the need for extensive human resources investment.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Prognostic and Epidemiologic Study; Level IV.
Luteimonas salinilitoris sp. nov., isolated from the shore soil of saline lake in Tibet of China
Authors: Zhang Xuan , Liao You-Jun , Liu Zi-Xuan , Wang Rui , Liu Hong-Can , Zheng Yan-Yan , Zhou Yu-Guang , Yu Ya-Jing , Xue Lu , Li Ai-Hua 
Published: January 2025

Five aerobic, Gram-stain-negative bacterial strains, designated as C3-2-a3T, B3-2-R+30, C3-2-a4, C3-2-M3 and C3-2-M8, were isolated from the coastal soil of LungmuCo Lake in the Tibet Autonomous Region, PR China. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA genes and genomes indicated that these isolates belonged to the genus Luteimonas and showed a high similarity to Luteimonas suaedae LNNU 24178T (99.01%), Luteimonas endophytica RD2P54T (98.80%) and Luteimonas salinisoli SJ-92T (97.67%). The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between strain C3-2-a3T and related reference strains Luteimonas suaedae LNNU 24178T, Luteimonas endophytica RD2P54T and Luteimonas salinisoli SJ-92T were 91.89, 83.11 and 83.86% and 46.90, 26.90 and 28.20%, respectively. All values were below the thresholds for delineating species, supporting their classification as novel species of the genus Luteimonas. The genomic DNA G+C content of strains C3-2-a3T was 68.39%. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and two unidentified phospholipids. The predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8 (Q-8), aligning with the characteristics of members of the genus Luteimonas. The major fatty acids (>10.0%) of strain C3-2-a3T were identified as iso-C11 :  0, iso-C15 :  0, iso-C16 : 0 and iso-C17 : 1
ω9c. Based on the results of phenotypic, physiological, chemotaxonomic and genotypic characterizations, we propose that the isolates represent a novel species of genus Luteimonas, for which the name Luteimonas salinilitoris sp. nov is proposed. The type strain is C3-2-a3T (=CGMCC 1.14507T=KCTC 8642T).
RISKS ASSESSMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES AMONG HIV/AIDS PATIENTS RECEIVING ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY AT UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL OF BUTARE CHUB
Authors: Charles Nshimiyimana , Patrick Nemeyimana , Fabrice Uwumuremyi , Valens Karenzi , Pierre Bakunzibake , Emmy Mugisha 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTThis study assessed the risks of cardiovascular diseases among HIV/AIDS patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) at the University Teaching Hospital of Butare (CHUB) in southern Rwanda. A cross-sectional design was employed from January to February 2021. A sample of 199 participants was systematically selected, including HIV-positive patients on ART and a control group. Blood samples were analyzed for lipid profiles using standard spectrophotometric procedures. The study adhered to strict ethical considerations, including informed consent and participant confidentiality. Data analysis was performed using SPSS, with a p-value of ≤0.05 considered statistically significant. Results indicated demographic disparities, with 66% female participants and 72% on first-line ART. Triglyceride levels showed 42% within normal ranges, 26% borderline high, and 32% hypertriglyceridemia. For high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), 61.3% were normal, 19.3% classified as low-risk, and 19.3% had hypercholesterolemia. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) results revealed 87.6% within normal ranges, 7.3% borderline high, and 8% with hypercholesterolemia. Total cholesterol analysis is ongoing. Ethical approval was obtained, though the study faced challenges such as a limited sample size and movement restrictions due to COVID-19. Despite limitations, the findings highlight the importance of monitoring lipid profiles in HIV/AIDS patients on ART to reduce cardiovascular risks and inform clinical interventions.
Crosslinker-freein situhydrogel induces self-aggregation of human dental pulp stem cells with enhanced antibacterial activity
Authors: Lee Sang Jin , Wu Zhenzhen , Huang Mengyu , Liang Chao , Huang Ziqi , Siyuan Chen , Rajasekar Vidhyashree , Abdalla Mohamed Mahmoud , Nah Haram , Heo Dong Nyoung , Kwon Il Keun , Cho Min-Jai , Kim Seong Jun , Sohn Seil , Kim Su-Hwan , Sugimura Ryohichi , Yiu Cynthia Kar Yung 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTRecently, injectable hydrogels have garnered significant attention in tissue engineering due to their controlled flowability, strong plasticity, adaptability, and good biocompatibility. However, research on readily injectablein situ-forming hydrogels capable of forming functional three-dimensional (3D) tissue condensations remains limited. This study explores the development and evaluation of a carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCTS) / oxidized hyaluronic acid (oHA) hydrogel incorporated with silver sulfadiazine (AgSD) for tissue engineering applications with inherent antibacterial activity. Through physicochemical analysis, the optimal formulation of CMCTS/oHA hydrogels was established. The hydrogel demonstrated excellent injectability, enabling minimally invasivein situdelivery.In vitrocytotoxicity assays identified 0.1% AgSD as the optimal concentration, supporting cell proliferation while exhibiting antimicrobial efficacy againstS. mutansandE. faecalis.In vivostudies revealed complete hydrogel degradation and good biocompatibility, with no adverse tissue reactions. The hydrogel’s ability to form 3D cell aggregates and support tissue regeneration underscores its potential for future 3D tissue engineering applications. Consequently, the injectable CMCTS/oHA/AgSD hydrogel developed in this study holds significant potential for application in a wide range of bioengineering fields, including antibacterial substance delivery systems and 3D tissue engineering, indicating potential for future clinical application.
Tetralone-ABA enhances winter cold acclimation, reduces deacclimation, and delays budbreak in V. vinifera and V. hybrid grapevines
Authors: Wang Hongrui , Pan Yue , Londo Jason P. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractClimate change-related acute winter freezes and unseasonal false springs have become significant and predictable risks for grape growers across North America and Eurasia. Novel strategies to enhance resilience during the dormant season, particularly by improving bud cold hardiness and delaying budbreak, are urgently needed for the sustainability of grape and wine production. In this study, we evaluated a synthetic abscisic acid (ABA) analog, tetralone-ABA (ABA-1102), as a sprayable product for inducing these traits in three grapevine cultivars: ‘Riesling’, ‘Cayuga White’, and their progeny, ‘Aravelle’. We determined that post-harvest foliar application of tetralone-ABA promoted early leaf senescence, induced cultivar-specific bud cold hardiness enhancement during cold acclimation, slowed deacclimation under controlled and field conditions, and delayed budbreak in spring without affecting growing season phenology, physiology or harvest yield. Transcriptomic analysis of during deacclimation assays suggests that tetralone-ABA’s effect on delaying deacclimation may result from its suppression of the activation of growth-related pathways under growth-permissive conditions. Detailed investigations of these pathways indicate that tetralone-ABA may have modulated critical biological processes such as cell wall remodeling, sugar metabolism, and ABA signaling. Overall, this study provides novel insights into the genetic control of grapevine deacclimation, highlights ABA’s role in grapevine dormant season physiology, and demonstrates tetralone-ABA’s potential as a promising tool for improving dormant season viticulture resilience, offering a new strategy to protect grapevines against the increasing threats posed by climate change.
A fetal oncogene NUAK2 is an emerging therapeutic target in glioblastoma
Authors: Jo Hanhee , Dalvi Aneesh , Yang Wenqi , Morozova Elizabeth , Munoz Sarah , Glasgow Stacey M. 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTGlioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is the most prevalent and highly malignant form of adult brain cancer characterized by poor overall survival rates. Effective therapeutic modalities remain limited, necessitating the search for novel treatments. Neurodevelopmental pathways have been implicated in glioma formation, with key neurodevelopmental regulators being re- expressed or co-opted during glioma tumorigenesis. Here we identified a serine/threonine kinase, NUAK family kinase 2 (NUAK2), as a fetal oncogene in mouse and human brains. We found robust expression of NUAK2 in the embryonic brain that decreases throughout postnatal stages and then is re-expressed in malignant gliomas. However, the role of NUAK2 in GBM tumorigenesis remains unclear. We demonstrate that CRIPSR-Cas9 mediated NUAK2 deletion in GBM cells results in suppression of proliferation, while overexpression leads to enhanced cell growth in bothin vitroandin vivomodels. Further investigation of the downstream biological processes dysregulated in the absence of NUAK2 reveals that NUAK2 modulates extracellular matrix (ECM) components to facilitate migratory behavior. Lastly, we determined that pharmaceutical inhibition of NUAK2 is sufficient to impede the proliferation and migration of malignant glioma cells. Our results suggest that NUAK2 is an actionable therapeutic target for GBM treatment.
Actin and vimentin jointly control cell viscoelasticity and compression stiffening
Authors: Conboy James P. , Lettinga Mathilde G. , Boukany Pouyan E. , MacKintosh Fred C. , Koenderink Gijsje H. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractThe mechanical properties of cells are governed by the cytoskeleton, a dynamic network of actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Understanding the individual and collective mechanical contributions of these three different cytoskeletal elements is essential to elucidate how cells maintain mechanical integrity during deformation. Here we use a custom single-cell rheometer to identify the distinct contributions of actin and vimentin to the viscoelastic and nonlinear elastic response of cells to uniaxial compression. We used mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) isolated from wild type (WT) and vimentin knockout (vim -/-) mice in combination with chemical treatments to manipulate actin polymerization and contractility. We show through small amplitude oscillatory measurements and strain ramp tests that vimentin, often overlooked in cellular mechanics, plays a role comparable to actin in maintaining cell stiffness and resisting large compressive forces. However, actin appears to be more important than vimentin in determining cellular energy dissipation. Finally we show by comparing wild type and enucleated cells that compression stiffening originates from the actin and vimentin cytoskeleton, while the nucleus appears to play little role in this. Our findings provide insight into how cytoskeletal networks collectively determine the mechanical properties of cells, providing a basis to understand the role of the cytoskeleton in the ability of cells to resist external as well as internal forces.Significance statementA cell’s response to mechanical stress is largely governed by the actin and vimentin cytoskeletal networks, but their relative contribution to cell viscoelasticity and response to large deformations are poorly characterized.We reveal that actin and vimentin networks have an almost equal contribution to cellular stiffness and the cell’s ability to strain-stiffen under uniaxial compression.This work underscores the cytoskeleton’s central role in cellular mechanics and the mechanical synergy between the cytoskeletal networks, providing a framework for understanding how cellular components coordinate to maintain structural integrity and respond to different mechanical environments.