bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adding a piece to the puzzle of Latin American blood donors and the potential risk of Trypanosoma cruzi transmission in Germany
Authors: Ullrich Julian , Guertler Lutz , Quenzel Ernst , Weinauer Franz , Rößler Dieter , Kalus Ulrich , Pruß Axel , Albajar-Viñas Pedro , Pritsch Michael 
Published: October 2022

IntroductionChagas disease (CD) is caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) infection and has become a global health concern due to population mobility, as well as non-vectorial transmission routes. Several countries outside Latin America (LA) have reported transfusion-associated transmission, but equivalent studies in Germany are lacking. This study aims to collect first data on the risk of transfusion associated transmission as well as LA blood donors originating from CD endemic countries in GermanyMaterials and methodsA total of 305 blood donors who were assumed to be at risk for T. cruzi infection were retrospectively (267) as well as prospectively (38) selected at German blood donation sites in Bavaria and Berlin, and all retrospectively as well as 27 prospectively selected were serologically screened. Prospective study subjects additionally filled out a questionnaire.ResultsAll samples tested seronegative for T. cuzi specific antibodies. Prospectively enrolled study subjects all had high socio-economic status including good education. Knowledge regarding CD was limited but willingness to donate frequently was high. Blood donation rates from donors born in LA countries seem to increase from 2015.DiscussionAlthough no transfusion associated T. cruzi infection has been documented in Germany, it has likely already happened unnoticed, or will do in the near future. Performing risk-adapted serology-based blood donor screenings in Germany could avoid transfusion-associated transmission events as well as contribute to active case detection. Moreover, larger, and ongoing studies are needed to increase the evidence base as well as end the neglect of CD in Germany.
Metabolic syndrome as a common comorbidity in adults with hypothalamic dysfunction
Authors: Xu Zhuoran , Ke Xiaoan , Yuan Xianxian , Wang Linjie , Duan Lian , Yao Yong , Deng Kan , Feng Feng , You Hui , Lian Xin , Wang Renzhi , Yang Hongbo , Pan Hui , Lu Lin , Zhu Huijuan 
Published: October 2022

ObjectiveHypothalamic dysfunction (HD) results in various endocrine disorders and is associated with an increased risk of metabolic comorbidities. This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics and metabolic abnormalities of adults with HD of various causes.MethodsThis study retrospectively reviewed adults with HD treated at our center between August 1989 and October 2020. Metabolic characteristics of patients were compared to those of age-, sex-matched lean, and body mass index (BMI)-matched controls.ResultsTemperature dysregulation (61.0%) was the most common hypothalamic physiological dysfunction. At least one anterior pituitary hormone deficiency was observed in 50 patients (84.7%), with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism being the most frequently observed. Metabolic syndrome was confirmed in 31 patients (52.5%) and was significantly more prevalent in those with panhypopituitarism or overweight/obesity. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) was significantly more common in patients with HD than in both lean and BMI-matched controls (P &lt; 0.001 and P = 0.030, respectively). Considering the components of MetS, elevated fasting glucose levels were significantly more common in patients with HD than in BMI-matched controls (P = 0.029). Overweight/obesity and panhypopituitarism were significant risk factors for MetS in the multivariate analysis on patients with HD. Moreover, in the multivariate analysis on patients and BMI-matched control, HD was a significant risk factor of MetS (P=0.035, OR 2.919) after adjusted for age, sex and BMI.ConclusionsTemperature dysregulation and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism are the most common physiological and endocrine dysfunctions, respectively. MetS and unfavorable metabolic profiles were prevalent in adults with HD. HD was a significant risk factor of MetS after adjusted for BMI.
Highly sensitive ultra-thin optical CO2 gas sensors using nanowall honeycomb structure and plasmonic nanoparticles
Authors: Elrashidi Ali , Traversa Enrico , Elzein Basma 
Published: October 2022

The carbon dioxide highly sensitive ultra-thin optical sensor using plasmonic nanoparticles distributed uniformly on the nanowall honeycomb structure with a footprint in the millimeter range is presented in this work. The zinc oxide (ZnO) honeycomb nanowall structure is grown by the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method. Moreover, the performance of the fabricated structure as a gas nanosensor is simulated using the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method in the visible and near-infrared regions. A graphene layer is mounted on the top of the nanowall, and then, plasmonic nanoparticles are distributed on the nanowall sides. Furthermore, the effect of gas concentration on the pressure and consequently on the dielectric constant of the gas are also illustrated in this article. Red-shift in the absorption has been noticed with different refractive indices and intensity sensitivities. The obtained refractive index sensitivity of the proposed nano optical sensor is 874 nm/RIU, and the intensity sensitivity is 5,174 RIU−1 with the figure of merit of 12.5 and quality factor (Q-factor) of 281 at a carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration of 5,500 ppm. Finally, the absorbed power of the incident light is calculated using different polarization angles, from 10° to 80° with a step10°.
Definition of immune molecular subtypes with distinct immune microenvironment, recurrence, and PANoptosis features to aid clinical therapeutic decision-making
Authors: Qiang Sufeng , Fu Fei , Wang Jianjun , Dong Chunyan 
Published: October 2022

Objective: Cervical cancer poses a remarkable health burden to females globally. Despite major advances in early detection and treatment modalities, some patients still relapse. The present study proposed a novel immune molecular classification that reflected distinct recurrent risk and therapeutic responses in cervical cancer.Methods: We retrospectively collected two cervical cancer cohorts: TCGA and GSE44001. Consensus clustering approach was conducted based on expression profiling of recurrence- and immune-related genes. The abundance of immune cells was inferred via five algorithms. Immune functions and signatures were quantified through ssGSEA. Genetic mutations were analyzed by maftools package. Immunotherapeutic response was inferred via tumor mutation burden (TMB), Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE), and Submap methods. Finally, we developed a LASSO model for recurrence prediction.Results: Cervical cancer samples were categorized into two immune subtypes (IC1, and IC2). IC2 exhibited better disease free survival (DFS), increased immune cell infiltration within the immune microenvironment, higher expression of immune checkpoints, higher activity of immune-relevant pathways (APC co-inhibition and co-stimulation, inflammation-promoting, MHC class I, IFN response, leukocyte and stromal fractions, macrophage regulation, and TCR Shannon), and higher frequencies of genetic mutations. This molecular classification exhibited a remarkable difference with existing immune subtypes, with diverse PANoptosis (pyroptosis, apoptosis and necroptosis) features. Patients in IC2 were more likely to respond to immunotherapy and targeted, and chemotherapeutic agents. The immune subtype-relevant signature was quantified to predict patients’ recurrence risk.Conclusion: Altogether, we developed an immune molecular classification, which can be utilized in clinical practice to aid decision-making on recurrence management.
Comprehensive characterization of extracellular matrix-related genes in PAAD identified a novel prognostic panel related to clinical outcomes and immune microenvironment: A silico analysis with in vivo and vitro validation
Authors: Chen Xu , Yuan Qihang , Liu Jifeng , Xia Shilin , Shi Xueying , Su Yuxin , Wang Zhizhou , Li Shuang , Shang Dong 
Published: October 2022

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a vital component of the tumor microenvironment, which interplays with stromal and tumor cells to stimulate the capacity of cancer cells to proliferate, migrate, invade, and undergo angiogenesis. Nevertheless, the crucial functions of ECM-related genes (ECMGs) in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) have not been systematically evaluated. Hence, a comprehensive evaluation of the ECMGs is required in pan-cancer, especially in PAAD. First, a pan-cancer overview of ECMGs was explored through the integration of expression profiles, prognostic values, mutation information, methylation levels, and pathway-regulation relationships. Seven ECMGs (i.e. LAMB3, LAMA3, ITGB6, ITGB4, ITGA2, LAMC2, and COL11A1) were identified to be hub genes of PAAD, which were obviously up-regulated in PAAD and considerably linked to tumor stage as well as prognosis. Subsequently, patients with PAAD were divided into 3 clusters premised on ECMG expression and ECM scores. Cluster 2 was the subtype with the best prognosis accompanied by the lowest ECM scores, further verifying ECM’s significant contribution to the pathophysiological processes of PAAD. Significant differences were observed for oncogene and tumor suppressor gene expression, immune microenvironment, and chemotherapy sensitivity across three ECM subtypes. After applying a variety of bioinformatics methods, a novel and robust ECM-associated mRNA-lncRNA-based prognostic panel (ECM-APP) was developed and validated for accurately predicting clinical outcomes of patients with PAAD. Patients with PAAD were randomly categorized into the train, internal validation, and external validation cohorts; meanwhile, each patient was allocated into high-risk (unfavorable prognosis) and low-risk (favorable prognosis) populations premised on the expression traits of ECM-related mRNAs and lncRNAs. The discrepancy in the tumor mutation burden and immune microenvironment might be responsible for the difference in prognoses across the high-risk and low-risk populations. Overall, our findings identified and validated seven ECMGs remarkably linked to the onset and progression of PAAD. ECM-based molecular classification and prognostic panel aid in the prognostic assessment and personalized intervention of patients with PAAD.
Changes towards stable good somatic condition and increased gonad investment of Norwegian spring-spawning herring (Clupea harengus) after 2005 are linked to extended feeding period
Authors: Homrum Eydna í , Óskarsson Guðmundur J. , Ono Kotaro , Hølleland Sondre , Slotte Aril 
Published: October 2022

Norwegian spring spawning herring (Clupea harengus) migrate from spawning areas on the Norwegian shelf in February-March to feeding areas in the Norwegian Sea in April-August, returning to wintering areas in northern Norwegian waters from September onwards when feeding ceases. After around 2005 the Norwegian Sea has become warmer and here we address recent changes in migration, somatic condition and gonad development of herring related to these changes. Analyses were based on combined Norwegian, Icelandic and Faroese data on fishery (~81% of total commercial catch) and biological parameters from an extensive material of individual fish (n = 310749) during the period 1994-2019. Fishery data demonstrated large-scale changes in herring distribution over the study period. This was further supported by spatiotemporal modelling of body growth, somatic condition, gonad development and concurrent centre of gravity changes of the sampled fish. After 2005 the population showed a clear tendency of being distributed farther south-westwards in the Norwegian Sea during feeding and returning to wintering areas later in the year. This tendency increased with age, and with body length and somatic condition within age groups. Moreover, the somatic condition increased for all age groups from the early 2000s towards stable high levels after 2005, mainly due to extra weight gained from extended feeding into the autumn. Length at age decreased continuously during 2003-2010 for all age groups, suggesting impact of density dependent limiting factors but also that the environmental shift may have led to immediate poorer feeding conditions early in the year. Hence, extra energy from extended autumn feeding was rather invested into gonad weights tending to increase over the study period. Mechanisms behind the observed changes are likely linked to spatial and seasonal changes in zooplankton abundance. Overall, zooplankton production possibilities along the frontal areas in the south-western part of the Norwegian Sea have likely increased after the general environmental shift. This also includes a change towards increased probabilities of an additional second generation of some copepods developing in warmer waters, facilitating a prolonged feeding period for herring.
Effect of chronic lung diseases on mortality of prevariant COVID-19 pneumonia patients
Authors: Kilic Hatice , Arguder Emine , Karalezli Aysegul , Unsal Ebru , Guner Rahmet , Kayaslan Bircan , Hasanoglu İmran , Ates İhsan , Civak Musa , Akpınar Esmehan , Parlak Ebru , Sadi Filiz , Kocaman Yasin , Günay Sibel , Metan Esra , Er Mukremin , Dalkıran Aynil , Hezer Habibe , Ergüden Hülya , Hancıoğlu Zeynep , Kalem Ayşe , Eser Fatma , Aypak Adalet , Akıncı Esragül , Karahmetoğlu Selma , Gemcioglu Emin , Kalkan Emra , İnan Osman , Yilmaz Abdulrezzak , Güler Bagdagul , Çopuroğlu Esra , Turan İşil , Gökmen Derya , Hayme Serhat , Surel Aziz Ahmet 
Published: October 2022

BackgroundThe aim of the study is to assess the effect of chronic lung disease on mortality in patients hospitalized with the diagnosis of prevariant COVID-19 Pneumonia compared to patients without chronic lung disease.Research design and methodsA cohort of 1,549 patients admitted to the pandemic clinic with a COVID-19 Pneumonia diagnosis was analyzed. Group 1 and Group 2 were compared in terms of the treatment they received, admission to intensive care, mortality and follow-up parameters.ResultsThe patient group with COVID-19 and lung disease consisted of 231 participants (14.91%) (Group 1). The patient group with COVID-19 but without lung disease had 1,318 participants (85.19%). Group 1 cases were found to receive more oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation than Group 2 cases (p ≤ 0.001), Following univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses, it was determined that patients with chronic lung disease had a 25.76% higher mortality risk [OR: 25.763, 95% CI (Lower-Upper) (2.445–271.465), p = 0.007].ConclusionIt was found that chronic lung disease contributed significantly to mortality in this study. Among chronic lung diseases, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), lung cancer and interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) were shown to be more effective than other chronic lung diseases in patients with prevariant COVİD-19 population.
Altered stability of brain functional architecture after sleep deprivation: A resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study
Authors: Huang Nao-Xin , Gao Zhu-Ling , Lin Jia-Hui , Lin Yan-Juan , Chen Hua-Jun 
Published: October 2022

Background and aimsResting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies using static and dynamic functional connectivity (FC) approaches have revealed brain dysfunction resulting from sleep deprivation (SD). The effects of SD on the stability of brain functional architecture remain unclear. This study investigated the functional stability (FS) changes induced by SD and its association with neurocognitive alterations.Materials and methodsIn this study, we recruited 24 healthy women. All participants underwent two sessions of resting-state fMRI scanning and neurocognitive assessment. The assessments included the Digit Symbol Test, Digit Span Test, Trail-Making Test (TMT), and Complex Figure Test (CFT). Participants completed one session under rested wakefulness (RW) and one session after SD for 24 h. To estimate dynamic FC, we used the sliding window approach; and then, to characterize the FS of each voxel, we measured dynamic FC concordance over time. We used a paired t-test to identify differences in FS between RW and SD. To examine the relationship between these changes in FS and alterations in neurocognitive performance, we conducted Spearman’s correlation analyses.ResultsSD affected the performance of the Digit Symbol Test, Digit Span Test, and CFT. Compared with RW, subjects with SD exhibited decreased FS in the bilateral anterior and posterior cingulate gyrus and medial frontal gyrus, right superior frontal gyrus, and cerebellum posterior lobe, while they exhibited increased FS in the bilateral precentral/postcentral gyrus and supplementary motor area, right parahippocampal gyrus and fusiform gyrus, left inferior occipital gyrus, and bilateral cerebellum anterior lobe. After SD, FS changes in the right parahippocampal gyrus and fusiform gyrus were correlated with altered performance in the Digit Symbol Test and CFT.ConclusionOur findings showed that the stability of the brain’s functional architecture could be altered by SD. This stability alteration may correspond to multiple neurocognitive domain changes.
Effects of a 12-week whole-grain or refined wheat intervention on plasma acylcarnitines, bile acids and signaling lipids, and association with liver fat: A post-hoc metabolomics study of a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Gijbels Anouk , Schutte Sophie , Esser Diederik , Wopereis Suzan , Gonzales Gerard Bryan , Afman Lydia A. 
Published: October 2022

BackgroundWe previously showed that whole-grain wheat (WGW) consumption had beneficial effects on liver fat accumulation, as compared to refined wheat (RW). The mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear.ObjectiveIn this study, we investigated the effects of WGW vs. RW consumption on plasma metabolite levels to explore potential underlying mechanisms of the preventive effect of WGW consumption on liver fat accumulation.MethodsTargeted metabolomics of plasma obtained from a concluded 12-week double-blind, randomized controlled trial was performed. Fifty overweight or obese men and women aged 45–70 years with mildly elevated levels of plasma cholesterol were randomized to either 98 g/d of WGW or RW products. Before and after the intervention, a total of 89 fasting plasma metabolite concentrations including acylcarnitines, trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), choline, betaine, bile acids, and signaling lipids were quantified by UPLC-MS/MS. Intrahepatic triglycerides (IHTG) were quantified by 1H-MRS, and multiple liver markers, including circulating levels of β-hydroxybutyrate, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), γ-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT), serum amyloid A (SAA), and C-reactive protein, were assessed.ResultsThe WGW intervention increased plasma concentrations of four out of 52 signaling lipids—lysophosphatidic acid C18:2, lysophosphatidylethanolamine C18:1 and C18:2, and platelet-activating factor C18:2—and decreased concentrations of the signaling lipid lysophosphatidylglycerol C20:3 as compared to RW intervention, although these results were no longer statistically significant after false discovery rate (FDR) correction. Plasma concentrations of the other metabolites that we quantified were not affected by WGW or RW intervention. Changes in the above-mentioned metabolites were not correlated to change in IHTG upon the intervention.ConclusionPlasma acylcarnitines, bile acids, and signaling lipids were not robustly affected by the WGW or RW interventions, which makes them less likely candidates to be directly involved in the mechanisms that underlie the protective effect of WGW consumption or detrimental effect of RW consumption on liver fat accumulation.Clinical trial registration[www.ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT02385149].
Peripheral absolute eosinophil count identifies the risk of serious immune-related adverse events in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Wu Yan , Li Dapeng , Wu Mengyao , Yang Ying , Shen Meng , Chen Kai 
Published: October 2022

BackgroundImmune-related adverse events (irAEs) have drawn a lot of attention lately as a result of the predominance of immunotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the clinical evidence for irAEs in real life is limited. In this paper, the occurrence of irAEs in Chinese NSCLC patients was examined, and possible risk factors for the emergence of severe irAEs were discovered.MethodsOur retrospective investigation assessed the occurrence of adverse events (AEs) and prognosis of 213 patients who received immunotherapy for NSCLC. Using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models, the association between clinicopathological traits and the incidence of severe irAEs was investigated. To assess the prognostic impact of irAEs, survival data was analyzed.ResultsAmong the 213 NSCLC patients, 122 (57.3%) had irAEs of any grade, and 38 (17.8%) had high-grade (grade 3-5) AEs. Baseline peripheral absolute eosinophil count (AEC) (HR 6.58, 95% CI: 1.5-28.8, P=0.012) was found to be an independent predictor of high-grade irAEs by multivariate analysis. The survival analysis revealed that patients with severe irAEs had worse OS (15.7 vs. 20.8 months, 95% CI: 11.6-19.8 vs. 16.0-25.5, P=0.026).ConclusionAccording to our findings, the peripheral absolute eosinophil count (AEC) is a reliable indicator of severe irAEs in NSCLC. Serious irAEs that occur in patients often reflect poor prognoses. In the future, high-grade irAEs should receive more attention.
Combined clinical features and MRI parameters for the prediction of VEGFR2 in hepatocellular carcinoma patients
Authors: Zhang Laizhu , Cheng Chunxiao , Li Binghua , Chen Jun , Peng Jin , Cao Yajuan , Yue Yang , Mai Xiaoli , Yu Decai 
Published: October 2022

PurposeTo develop a prediction model for estimating the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients using clinical features and the contrast-enhanced MRI Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS).MethodsA total of 206 HCC patients were subjected to preoperative contrast-enhanced MRI, radical resection, and VEGFR2 immunohistochemistry labeling. The intensity of VEGFR2 expression was used to split patients into either the positive group or the negative group. For continuous data, the Mann-Whitney U test was employed, and for categorical variables, the χ2 test was utilized.ResultsVEGFR2-positivity was identified in 41.7% (86/206) of the patients. VEGFR2-positive HCCs were confirmed by higher serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, larger tumor dimensions (either on MRI or upon final pathology), and a higher LI-RADS score (all p &lt; 0.001). LI-RADS scores and AFP levels were independent predictors for high VEGFR2 expression. These two parameters were used to establish a VEGFR2-positive risk nomogram, which was validated to possess both good discrimination and calibration. The area under the curve was 0.830 (sensitivity 83.6%, specificity 72.5%) and the mean absolute error was 0.021. The threshold probabilities ranged between 0.07 and 0.95, and usage of the model contributed net benefits.ConclusionA nomogram including clinical features and contrast-enhanced MRI parameters was developed and was demonstrably effective at predicting VEGFR2 expression in HCC patients.