bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of Pseudomonas spp. and Acinetobacter spp. from clinical samples at Jimma medical center, Ethiopia
Authors: Sewunet Tsegaye , Asrat Daniel , Woldeamanuel Yimtubezinash , Aseffa Abraham , Giske Christian G. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionPseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) can cause difficult-to-treat infections. We characterized molecular epidemiology of ceftazidime-resistant P. aeruginosa and carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii at a tertiary hospital in Ethiopia.Materials and methodsNon-fermenting gram-negative bacilli (n = 80) isolated from admitted patients were subjected for species identification by MALDI-TOF. Pseudomonas species resistant to ceftazidime or meropenem, and Acinetobacter species resistant to meropenem, or imipenem were selected for whole genome sequencing. DNA extracted with EZ1 Advanced XL instrument (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) was sequenced on Illumina (HiSeq2500) using libraries prepared by NEXTRA-kits (Illumina). Raw reads were assembled using SPAdes 3.13.0, and assembled genomes were used to query databases for resistome profile and sequence types.ResultAmong Pseudomonas species isolated, 31.7% (13/41), and 7.3% (3/41) were non-susceptible to ceftazidime, and meropenem, respectively. Carbapenem-resistance was 56.4% (22/39) among Acinetobacter species. Moreover, 92% (12/13) of Pseudomonas species non-susceptible to ceftazidime and/or meropenem, and 89.4% (17/19) of Acinetobacter species encoded multiple resistance genes for at least three classes of antimicrobials. The prevalent β - lactamase genes were blaOXA–486 (53.8%, 7/13), blaCTX–M–15 (23.0%, 3/13) among Pseudomonas, and blaGES–11 (57.8%, 11/19) among Acinetobacter. The blaOXA–51-like β - lactamase, blaOXA–69 (63.1%, 12/19) was the most prevalent carbapenemase gene among Acinetobacter isolates. Single isolates from both P. aeruginosa, and A. baumannii were detected with the blaNDM–1. Sequence type (ST)1 A. baumannii and ST274 P. aeruginosa were the prevalent sequence types. A cgMLST analysis of the ST1 A. baumannii isolates showed that they were closely related and belonged to the international clonal complex one (ICC1). Similarly, ST274 P. aeruginosa isolates were clonally related.ConclusionThe prevalence of MDR isolates of Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter spp. was high. A. baumannii isolates were clonally spreading in the admission wards at the hospital. Emergence of blaNDM–1 in the intensive care, and surgical wards of the hospital is a severe threat that requires urgent intervention.
Comparison of molecular and MALDI-TOF MS identification and antifungal susceptibility of clinical Fusarium isolates in Southern China
Authors: Guo Penghao , Chen Jianlong , Tan Yiwei , Xia Li , Zhang Weizheng , Li Xiaojie , Jiang Yujie , Li Ruiying , Chen Chunmei , Liao Kang , Peng Yaqin 
Published: September 2022

BackgroundFusarium species are opportunistic causative agents of superficial and disseminated human infections. Fast and accurate identification and targeted antifungal therapy give help to improve the patients’ prognosis.ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for Fusarium identification, and investigate the epidemiology and antifungal susceptibility profiles of clinical Fusarium isolates in Southern China.MethodsThere were 95 clinical Fusarium isolates identified by DNA sequencing of translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1α) and MALDI-TOF MS, respectively. Antifungal susceptibility testing of isolates was performed by broth microdilution according to the CLSI approved standard M38-A3 document.ResultsSeven species complexes (SC) with 17 Fusarium species were identified. The most prevalent SC was the F. solani SC (70.5%, 67/95), followed by the F. fujikuroi SC (16.8%, 16/95). F. keratoplasticum within the F. solani SC was the most prevalent species (32.6%, 31/95). There were 91.6% (87/95) of isolates identified by MALDI-TOF MS at the SC level. In most of species, amphotericin B and voriconazole showed lower MICs compared to itraconazole and terbinafine. The F. solani SC showed higher MICs to these antifungal agents compared to the other SCs. There were 10.5% (10/95) of strains with high MICs for amphotericin B (≥8 μg/ml), terbinafine (≥32 μg/ml) and itraconazole (≥32 μg/ml) simultaneously, mostly focusing on F. keratoplasticum (9/10).ConclusionMALDI-TOF MS exhibited good performance on the identification of Fusarium strains at the SC level. The F. solani SC was the most prevalent clinical SC in Southern China. The MICs varied significantly among different species or SCs to different antifungal agents.
Potential antagonistic relationship of fgf9 and rspo1 genes in WNT4 pathway to regulate the sex differentiation in Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus)
Authors: Zhang Jiankang , Xia Xueping , Zhu Ying , Lian Zitong , Tian Haifeng , Xiao Hanbing , Hu Qiaomu 
Published: September 2022

Farmed chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) was an important distinctive economically amphibian that exhibited male-biased sexual size dimorphism. Fgf9 and rspo1 genes antagonize each other in Wnt4 signal pathway to regulate mammalian gonadal differentiation has been demonstrated. However, their expression profile and function in A. davidianus are unclear. In this study, we firstly characterized fgf9 and rspo1 genes expression in developing gonad. Results showed that fgf9 expression level was higher in testes than in ovaries and increased from 1 to 6 years while rspo1 expression was higher in ovaries than in testes. In situ hybridization assay showed that both fgf9 and rspo1 genes expressed at 62 dpf in undifferentiated gonad, and fgf9 gene was mainly expressed in spermatogonia and sertoli cells in testis while strong positive signal of rspo1 was detected in granular cell in ovary. During sex-reversal, fgf9 expression was significantly higher in reversed testes and normal testes than in ovaries, and opposite expression pattern was detected for rspo1. When FH535 was used to inhibit Wnt/β-catenin pathway, expression of rspo1, wnt4 and β-catenin was down-regulated. Conversely, expression of fgf9, dmrt1, ftz-f1 and cyp17 were up-regulated. Furthermore, when rspo1 and fgf9 were knocked down using RNAi technology, respectively. We observed that female biased genes were down regulated in ovary primordial cells after rspo1 was knocked down, while the opposite expression profile was observed in testis primordial cells after fgf9 was knocked down. These results suggested that fgf9 and rspo1 played an antagonistic role to regulate sex differentiation in the process of the gonadal development and provided a foundation for further functional characterizations. The data also provided basic information for genome editing breeding to improve the Chinese giant salamander farming industry.
Neighborhood characteristics and dementia symptomology among community-dwelling older adults with Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Alhasan Dana M. , Lohman Matthew C. , Hirsch Jana A. , Miller Maggi C. , Cai Bo , Jackson Chandra L. 
Published: September 2022

BackgroundNeuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs) lead to myriad poor health outcomes among individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Prior studies have observed associations between the various aspects of the home environment and NPSs, but macro-level environmental stressors (e.g., neighborhood income) may also disrupt the neuronal microenvironment and exacerbate NPSs. Yet, to our knowledge, no studies have investigated the relationship between the neighborhood environment and NPSs.MethodsUsing 2010 data among older adults with AD collected from a sample of the South Carolina Alzheimer’s Disease Registry, we estimated cross-sectional associations between neighborhood characteristics and NPSs in the overall population and by race/ethnicity. Neighborhood measures (within a 1/2-mile radius of residence) came from the American Community Survey and Rural Urban Commuting Area Code. We categorized median household income into tertiles: &lt; $30,500, $30,500–40,000, and &gt; $40,000, and rurality as: rural, small urban, and large urban. Residential instability was defined as the percent of residents who moved within the past year. NPSs were defined using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire that included the composite measure of all 12 domains. Adjusting for age, sex/gender, race/ethnicity, and caregiver educational attainment, we used negative binomial regression to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for NPSs by neighborhood characteristics.ResultsAmong 212 eligible participants, mean age was 82 ± 8.7 years, 72% were women, and 55% non-Hispanic (NH)-Black. Individuals with AD living in &lt; $30,500 vs. &gt; $40,000 income neighborhoods had a 53% (PR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.06–2.23) higher prevalence of NPSs while individuals living in rural vs. large urban neighborhoods had a 36% lower prevalence of NPSs (PR = 0.64; 95% CI = 0.45–0.90), after adjustment. We did not observe an association between residential instability and NPSs (PR = 0.92; 95% CI = 0.86–1.00); however, our estimates suggested differences by race/ethnicity where NH-White older adults living in residential instable areas had lower NPSs (PR = 0.89; 95% CI = 0.82–0.96) compared to NH-Black older adults (PR = 0.96; 95% CI = 0.86–1.07).DiscussionAcross racial/ethnic groups, individuals with AD had more symptomology when living in lower income areas. Pending replication, intervention efforts should consider resource allocation to high-need neighborhoods (e.g., lower income), and studies should investigate underlying mechanisms for this relationship.
Short-term spinal cord stimulation is an effective therapeutic approach for herpetic-related neuralgia—A Chinese nationwide expert consensus
Authors: Sun Wuping , Jin Yi , Liu Hongjun , Yang Dong , Sun Tao , Wang Yaping , Fan Yinghui , Fan Xiaochong , Jin Xiaohong , Wan Li , Gu Ke , Feng Zhiying , Liu Yiming , Mao Peng , Song Tao , Dequan Wang , Xiong Donglin , Luan Guoming , Wang Xiaoping , Fan Bifa , Xiao Lizu 
Published: September 2022

PurposeShort-term spinal cord stimulation (st-SCS) has been widely used to treat herpetic-related neuralgia (HN) in China for several years, but is still heavily debated as it has no strong evidence in clinical application. Therefore, a questionnaire survey among the Chinese pain specialist workgroup of the Chinese Neuromodulation Society and Chinese Medical Doctor Association was carried out to achieve a consensus about the clinical use of st-SCS for HN treatment.MethodsThe contents of the questionnaire include basic information about doctors (hospital level, work experience, training, procedure numbers, etc.), efficacy, indications, and contraindications of st-SCS, operation conditions, and preoperative preparation of st-SCS, and the prospect of the st-SCS procedure. Initially, the survey was conducted on 110 experts who have practiced the st-SCS procedure from all over the provinces in China. Finally, valuable data was calculated from the 110 questionnaires excluding the doctors with &lt;1 year of experience of st-SCS, &lt;10 cases of procedures per year, and no standard training in SCS technique.ResultsBased on the 110 questionnaires, it is estimated that 5,000 to 10,000 cases of electrical stimulation are carried out nationwide each year. Sixty-nine valid questionnaires acquired from senior pain physicians were more valuable and specialized in the efficacy, indications, and contraindications of st-SCS for HN. It was commonly agreed (97.10%) that the HN patients with &lt;3 months will obtain good effectiveness (patient satisfaction rate ≥50%). Almost all (98.55%) agreed that st-SCS can be used in SHN patients, there was a common agreement (72.46%) that AHN patients are an indication of st-SCS, and more than half agreement (53.62%) that st-SCS may be fit for early PHN (3–6 months). A common agreement (79.71%) was achieved that more than half of HN patients had the experience of nerve block or nerve pulsed RF. A similarly large number of experts 57/69 (82.61%) agreed that an 80% paresthesia coverage should be achieved at the test stimulation and 57/69 (82.61%) agreed that the treatment of st-SCS need be persistent for 1–2 weeks.ConclusionsEarly HN patients can get an effective outcome from the treatment of st-SCS and maybe the indication of st-SCS. Moreover, standardized training for pain physicians and basic research and clinical studies are warranted.
Risk of dementia or cognitive impairment in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Luping , Sang Bowen , Zheng Zuyan 
Published: September 2022

ObjectivesTo investigate whether non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) increases the risk of dementia or cognitive impairment.MethodsA systematic search of the literature in the PubMed, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases was conducted, covering the period from the inception of each database to 22 May 2022. Statistical analysis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the risk of cognitive impairment or dementia based on data extracted from each article was performed using Stata software v. 16.0. The quality of this study was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for assessing the quality of cohort and case-control studies and the American Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) methodology checklist for assessing the quality of cross-sectional studies. Funnel plots and the Egger's test were used to assess publication bias.ResultsWe included 7 studies comprising 891,562 individuals from 6 countries, which were published between 2020 and 2022. The pooling analysis showed that a history of NAFLD was associated with cognitive impairment [odds ratio (OR) = 1.44; 95% CI: 1.17–1.78; heterogeneity (I2) = 0%; P = 0.001]. A history of NAFLD was not associated with an increased risk of all-cause dementia (OR = 1.03; 95% CI: 0.97–1.09; I2 = 84.7%; P = 0.341) or Alzheimer disease (OR = 0.95; 95% CI: 0.83–1.09; I2 = 61.0%; P = 0.489). In contrast, NAFLD was associated with an obvious reduction of the risk of vascular dementia (OR = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.79–0.98; I2 = 0.0%; P = 0.020). In the subgroup analysis, male and female patients with NAFLD showed an equal risk of dementia or cognitive impairment. The risk of dementia or cognitive impairment in the cross-sectional study (OR = 1.49; 95% CI: 1.19–1.88; I2 = 0.0%; P = 0.001) was slightly higher than that in the retrospective cohort (OR = 1.03; 95% CI: 0.97–1.09; I2 = 84.3%; P = 0.294).ConclusionsNAFLD was associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment and a decreased risk of vascular dementia. More studies are needed to clarify the pathophysiological mechanism underlying the association between NAFLD and dementia or cognitive impairment.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/#recordDetails, identifier: CRD42022334492.
Altered gray matter structural covariance networks in drug-naïve and treated early HIV-infected individuals
Authors: Li Ruili , Gao Yuxun , Wang Wei , Jiao Zengxin , Rao Bo , Liu Guangxue , Li Hongjun 
Published: September 2022

BackgroundWhile regional brain structure and function alterations in HIV-infected individuals have been reported, knowledge about the topological organization in gray matter networks is limited. This research aims to investigate the effects of early HIV infection and combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) on gray matter structural covariance networks (SCNs) by employing graph theoretical analysis.MethodsSixty-five adult HIV+ individuals (25–50 years old), including 34 with cART (HIV+/cART+) and 31 medication-naïve (HIV+/cART–), and 35 demographically matched healthy controls (HCs) underwent high-resolution T1-weighted images. A sliding-window method was employed to create “age bins,” and SCNs (based on cortical thickness) were constructed for each bin by calculating Pearson's correlation coefficients. The group differences of network indices, including the mean nodal path length (Nlp), betweenness centrality (Bc), number of modules, modularity, global efficiency, local efficiency, and small-worldness, were evaluated by ANOVA and post-hoc tests employing the network-based statistics method.ResultsRelative to HCs, less efficiency in terms of information transfer in the parietal and occipital lobe (decreased Bc) and a compensated increase in the frontal lobe (decreased Nlp) were exhibited in both HIV+/cART+ and HIV+/cART– individuals (P &lt; 0.05, FDR-corrected). Compared with HIV+/cART– and HCs, less specialized function segregation (decreased modularity and small-worldness property) and stronger integration in the network (increased Eglob and little changed path length) were found in HIV+/cART+ group (P &lt; 0.05, FDR-corrected).ConclusionEarly HIV+ individuals exhibited a decrease in the efficiency of information transmission in sensory regions and a compensatory increase in the frontal lobe. HIV+/cART+ showed a less specialized regional segregation function, but a stronger global integration function in the network.
Associations of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio with intracranial and extracranial atherosclerotic stenosis
Authors: Xie Yu , Liu Zhenxing , Dan Bitang , Zou Li , Zhang Lei , Zhang Renwei , Li Huagang , Cai Qi , Aiziretiaili Nadire , Ren Shanling , Liu Yumin 
Published: September 2022

BackgroundNeutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been shown to be an important inflammatory maker. This study aims to investigate the association of NLR with intracranial and extracranial atherosclerotic stenosis.MethodsWe retrospectively recruited patients who underwent digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for evaluating intracranial/extracranial stenosis in the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from January 2017 to October 2021. Clinical characteristics, DSA data, blood routine, and lipid profile were recorded. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association of NLR and intercranial/extracranial atherosclerotic stenosis in three aspects: distribution of stenosis, whether the stenosis is symptomatic, and degree of stenosis.ResultsA total of 1,129 patients were included in our analysis, with a median age of 62 y (interquartile range 55–68), and a median admission NLR of 2.39 (interquartile range 1.84–3.42). A total of 986 patients presented intracranial and/or extracranial atherosclerotic stenosis. Increased NLR were associated with intracranial stenosis [odds ratio (OR), 1.54; 95% CI, 1.27–1.85; p &lt; 0.001], extracranial stenosis (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.25–1.96; p &lt; 0.001), and combined intracranial/extracranial stenosis (OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.28–2.03; p &lt; 0.001). After adjustment of potential factors, higher NLR were independently associated with symptomatic stenosis (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.05–1.27; p = 0.003) and degree of stenosis (OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.17–1.49; p &lt; 0.001). Compared with the first quartile NLR, the second, third, and fourth quartiles NLR were independent risk factors for symptomatic stenosis and stenosis degree (both p for trend &lt;0.001).ConclusionIncreased NLR is an important factor associated with both intracranial and extracranial atherosclerotic stenosis. Patients with symptomatic intracranial/extracranial atherosclerotic stenosis or a more severe degree of stenosis presented elevated NLR levels.
Validation of a cloud-based tele-stroke system reliability in determining national institutes of health stroke scale scores for acute ischemic stroke screening in the emergency department
Authors: Saban Mor , Moskovitz Anner , Ohanyan Sona , Reznik Anna , Ribo Marc , Sivan-Hoffmann Rotem 
Published: September 2022

Background and purposeThe National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is the most recommended tool for objectively quantifying the impairment caused by a suspected stroke. Nevertheless, it is mainly used by trained neurologists in the emergency department (ED). To bring forward the NIHSS to the pre-hospital setting, a smartphone-based Telestroke system was developed. It captures the full NIHSS by video, transmits it off-line, and enables assessment by a distant stroke physician. We aimed to compare the reliability of an NIHSS score determined by a neurologist from afar, using the platform with a standard NIHSS assessment performed in the emergency departments.MethodsA multi-center prospective study was conducted in two centers (Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, and Rambam, Israel). Patients admitted to the ED with suspected stroke had a neurological exam based on the NIHSS, while being recorded by the system. A skilled neurologist rated the NIHSS according to the videos offline. The results were compared with the NIHSS score given by a neurologist at the bedside.ResultsA total of 95 patients with suspected stroke were included. The overall intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.936 (0.99 in VdH and 0.84 in Rambam), indicating excellent and good reliability, respectively.ConclusionRemote stroke assessment based on the NIHSS, using videos segments collected by a dedicated platform, installed on a standard smartphone, is a reliable measurement as compared with the bedside evaluation.
Time trends in the incidence of essential tremor: Evidences from UK and France primary care data
Authors: Antonazzo Ippazio Cosimo , Conti Sara , Rozza Davide , Fornari Carla , Eteve-Pitsaer Caroline , Paris Claire , Gantzer Laurène , Valentine Dennis , Mantovani Lorenzo Giovanni , Mazzaglia Giampiero 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionAlthough essential tremor (ET) is considered a common adult movement disorder, evidence on its incidence is still scant. This study aims at estimating ET incidence in two European countries, namely, the UK and France.MethodsIncident cases of ET were identified within the Health Improvement Network (THIN®) database between 1st January 2014 and 31 December 2019. Yearly crude and standardized incidence rates (IR) were estimated across the study period for both countries. Poisson regression models were built to assess temporal trends in IRs and differences between sexes and age classes.ResultsIn total, 4,970 and 4,905 incident cases of ET were identified in the UK and France, respectively. The yearly average crude IR (per 100,000 person-years) was 18.20 (95%CI: 15.09–21.32) in UK and 21.42 (17.83–25.00) in France, whereas standardized ones were 19.51 (18.97–20.01) and 19.50 (18.97-20.05). Regression analyses showed slightly increasing trends in both countries, higher incidence among males, and a significant increase with age. Yearly average IR increased from 3.96 (0.95–6.97) and 5.28 (1.12–9.44) in subjects aged &lt;20 years to 49.27 (26.29–72.24) and 51.52 (30.19–72.86) in those aged &gt;80 year in UK and France.ConclusionsStandardized ET incidence was comparable in the UK and France, showing a slight increase in both countries, reporting a higher value among people aged 60 years and older. This study outlines the need to conduct future studies to estimate the burden of ET in terms of disease control and healthcare resource utilization.