Tag: pubmed

Sci Rep. 2024 Nov 21;14(1):28860. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-79650-2.

ABSTRACT

Recent research has demonstrated a relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and gastrointestinal cancers, but the causality of these associations remains uncertain. This investigation sought to elucidate whether there is a potential causal relationship between the intake of fruits and vegetables and the risk of gastrointestinal cancers. Employing two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR), this research explored the causative influence of consuming fruits (fresh and dried) and vegetables (salads/raw and cooked) on the susceptibility to gastrointestinal cancers. The UK Medical Research Council-Integrative Epidemiology Unit (MRC-IEU) provided the summary statistics for these exposure variables, while the summary statistics for outcome data came from four other data sources. Univariable and multivariable MR were performed using inverse variance-weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, weighted media (WM), and Lasso model methods. Besides, multiple methods were employed for sensitivity analyses to guarantee the robustness of the findings, including MR-Egger intercept, Cochran’s Q test, and MR-PRESSO. Furthermore, the Phenoscanner V2 database was employed to identify possible confounders. The main analysis of univariable MR found that dried fruit consumption provided protection against pancreatic and oral cavity/pharyngeal cancers. However, this correlation becomes non-significant when potential confounders such as smoking, drinking, and body mass index (BMI) are accounted for. Furthermore, neither univariate nor multivariate MR analyses revealed enough data to prove a causal relationship between the intake of fresh fruit, vegetables (including salad/raw and cooked), and gastrointestinal cancers. There is insufficient evidence for a causal association between the consumption of fruits and vegetables and the occurrence of gastrointestinal cancers. Further empirical research is needed to corroborate these dietary factors’ role in the etiology of gastrointestinal cancers.

PMID:39572657 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-024-79650-2

Sci Rep. 2024 Nov 21;14(1):28906. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-80135-5.

ABSTRACT

Expansive soils have a high tendency for volume change in case of fluctuations in moisture content, potentially causing significant damage to light structures, particularly road pavements. This paper investigates the influence of waste paper sludge ([Formula: see text]) as an alternative sustainable stabilizer on the volume change behavior of expansive road subgrade soils of different origins. For this purpose, [Formula: see text] was added to the expansive soils at ratios of 3%, 6%, 9%, 12%, and 15% by dry weight of the soils. A series of Atterberg’s limit, swelling, shrinkage, compaction, and consolidation tests were performed on pure soils and soil specimens with [Formula: see text] to attain a comprehensive understanding of the role that [Formula: see text] plays in the volume change behavior of expansive soils. The experimental test results showed that the addition of [Formula: see text] led to a considerable decrease in the plasticity and swell-shrink potentials of subgrade soils. The consolidation settlement of expansive road subgrades was also reduced to some extent with [Formula: see text]. Moreover, the statistical analysis of the test data indicated a significant relationship among different swelling-shrinkage parameters. The experimental results presented here suggest that the [Formula: see text] may be a cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and sustainable stabilizer to reduce the volume change sensitivity of expansive road subgrade soils.

PMID:39572644 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-024-80135-5

Sci Rep. 2024 Nov 21;14(1):28822. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-79435-7.

ABSTRACT

The preparation of sintered NdFeB magnets is complex, time-consuming, and costly. Data-driven machine learning methods can enhance the efficiency of material synthesis and performance optimization. Traditional machine learning models based on mathematical and statistical principles are effective for structured data and offer high interpretability. However, as the scale and dimensionality of the data increase, the computational complexity of models rises dramatically, making hyperparameter tuning more challenging. By contrast, neural network models possess strong nonlinear modeling capabilities for handling large-scale data, but their decision-making and inferential processes remain opaque. To enhance interpretability of neural network, we collected 1,200 high-quality experimental data points and developed a multi-head attention regression model by integrating an attention mechanism into the neural network. The model enables parallel data processing, accelerates both training and inference speed, and reduces reliance on feature engineering and hyperparameter tuning. The coefficients of determination for remanence and coercivity are 0.97 and 0.84, respectively. This study offers new insights into machine learning-based modeling of structure-property relationships in materials and has potential to advance the research of multimodal NdFeB magnet models.

PMID:39572633 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-024-79435-7

Sci Rep. 2024 Nov 21;14(1):28910. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-68690-3.

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study is to utilize optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) techniques for the purpose of identifying abnormalities in retinal and conjunctival vascular density among patients afflicted with renal hypertension. From October 2022 to October 2023, a cohort of sixteen patients diagnosed with renal hypertension (RH), comprising a total of 32 eyes, was selected from the Department of Nephrology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University. Concurrently, a group of sixteen healthy individuals, carefully matched in characteristics, was recruited from volunteers at the Ophthalmology Research Center and designated as the healthy controls (HCs) group. Optical coherence tomography angiography was employed to assess and examine the superficial vascular plexus (SVP) and deep vascular plexus (DVP) of the macular retina in both eyes. Subsequently, a comparative analysis was conducted between the two groups, focusing on the superficial and deep retinal microvessels (MIR), macrovascular (MAR), and total microvascular (TMI). The present study employed the central annuli segmentation method (C1-C6), the hemispheric segmentation method (SL, IL, SR, IR), and the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (S, I, L, R) to evaluate deviations in retinal blood vessel density. The investigation aimed to examine the association between blood vessel density and TMI in conjunctival capillaries. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in macular retinal vascular density was observed between the two groups based on the OCTA data. Specifically, in SVP, the density of TMI, MIR, and MAR in the RH group was significantly lower compared to the HCs group (p < 0.05). Additionally, the deep density of TMI and MIR in DVP of the RH group was significantly lower than that of the HCs group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, using the hemispheric segmentation method, both the superficial and deep retina showed a significant reduction in the density of SL, SR and IL regions (p < 0.05). In the ETDRS method, there was a significant decrease in superficial and deep retinal S, I, and L in the RH group (p < 0.05). When applying the central annuli segmentation methods, the RH group exhibited a significant decrease in the superficial retinal C1-3 region (p < 0.05) and a noticeable reduction in the deep retina in the C1-4 region (p < 0.05). Furthermore, a higher positive likelihood ratio was observed in the deep SL and superficial C2 region. There was a positive correlation between conjunctival capillary density and the region of TMI in depth. The results of the OCTA investigation revealed a significant disparity in the density of superficial and deep retinal blood vessels between RH group and the HCs group. Additionally, a notable correlation was observed between the depth of TMI and the density of conjunctival capillaries. These findings highlight the potential of retinal OCTA as a valuable tool for early detection and image-assisted diagnosis of retinopathy progression in patients with RH.

PMID:39572632 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-024-68690-3

Sci Rep. 2024 Nov 21;14(1):28818. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-78910-5.

ABSTRACT

This paper studied the spatial distribution and influencing factors of heavy metals (HMs) such as Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cd and As in the soil of Linzhou County in the Lhasa River basin. By collecting 504 surface soil samples, using descriptive statistics, Kriging interpolation and geoaccumulation index methods, combined with the geographic detector model, the spatial distribution characteristics of soil HMs content and its interaction with 19 environmental factors were systematically analyzed.The results showed that the content of heavy metals in the soil in this area was generally higher than the background value of soil in Lhasa, especially Cd and As, which showed strong spatial heterogeneity, suggesting the existence of specific pollution sources.Although the average HMs content was lower than the soil pollution risk screening value, the As, Cd, Pb and Zn contents at some sampling points exceeded the standard, indicating a high pollution risk in some local areas.The spatial distribution of HMs was uneven, with high-value areas of Pb, Zn and Cd mainly concentrated in the west, Cu concentrated in the northwest, while high-value areas of Cr and Ni were similar, mainly concentrated in the west and central regions. Correlation analysis and geodetector models revealed that traffic pollution and soil texture characteristics were the main environmental factors affecting the spatial variation of soil HMs content, and the distance from national highways and urban roads had a particularly significant relationship with Sc and TK.The study provided a scientific basis for the prevention and control of HMs pollution in soil in high-altitude and cold areas, and recommends targeted environmental management and restoration measures.

PMID:39572627 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-024-78910-5

Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2024 Nov 8;92:106150. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2024.106150. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune, inflammatory, and disabling disease that is subject to research, with the aspects of its pathogenesis awaiting clarification. It is essential to predict the prognosis of the disease and find the responsible mechanisms and molecules to become a treatment option. In this regard, researching the impact of Interleukin 34, with its immunomodulatory properties, on the clinicoradiological activity effect of MS and determining its role, if any, may be guiding.

METHODS: The study included 52 MS patients who underwent lumbar puncture at the diagnosis stage, and dimethyl fumarate treatment was initiated in these patients. During a one-year prospective follow-up, CSF IL-34 levels of 26 patients with clinical and/or radiological activity and 26 patients without activity were evaluated for prediction of disease activity. Additionally, CSF IL-34 levels of 26 control patients who underwent lumbar puncture due to pseudotumor cerebri but were not diagnosed with this disorder and whose CSF examinations were normal and were compared with MS patients. Our study also included the Immunoglobulin G index and investigated its relationship with IL-34.

RESULTS: The IL-34 level was higher in the MS patient group compared to the control group. No significant difference was identified between MS patient groups with and without clinical and/or radiological activity. A weak correlation without statistical significance was found between IL-34 and the IgG index.

CONCLUSION: The IL-34 level did not correlate with clinical and radiological activity in MS patients. However, the high IL-34 level observed in the patient group in comparison with the control group may be significant for MS pathogenesis. Furthermore, IL-34 may be a useful biomarker candidate for MS diagnosis, similar to the IgG index.

PMID:39571220 | DOI:10.1016/j.msard.2024.106150

Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2024 Nov 12;92:106172. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2024.106172. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: It is still unclear whether patients with progressive MS (PMS) present a distinct pattern of cognitive impairment (CI) and different trajectories of cognitive and clinical decline compared to patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) with similar age. In addition, the role of reserve (cognitive and cerebral) in cognitive decline in the different forms of MS is not fully understood, and some studies suggest that its effects reduce in the progressive forms.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the trajectories of cognitive decline in RRMS and PMS patients with similar age, also evaluating the predictive power of baseline clinical and MRI features on cognitive outcomes at follow-up.

METHODS: Fifty-four patients were enrolled (30 PMS, 24 RRMS) and underwent brain MRI (3T – FreeSurfer and Spinal Cord Toolbox), clinical examination (Expanded Disability Status Scale – EDSS; Timed 25-Foot Walk Test – T25FW; and the Nine Hole Peg Test – 9HPT) and neuropsychological evaluation (Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests – BRBN, Tower of London (TOL) test and Boston Naming Test at baseline (time 1) and after 4 years (time 2). We also evaluated cognitive and brain reserve. We defined CI as the presence of impairment in >1 domain.

RESULTS: At baseline (time 1), 37.2 % of the individuals presented CI and 52.4 % at time 2, which was more frequent in the PMS group. There was also a higher frequency of impairment in the visual memory and Information Processing Speed (IPS) cognitive domains in the PMS group in both study times. However, there were no major statistical differences between RMS/PMS groups in the evolution of clinical, cognitive and neuroimaging variables after 4 years of follow-up, except for a worse verbal memory decline (p = 0.040) and corpus callosum atrophy (p = 0.014) in PMS group. For EDSS worsening, the best predictive factor was the spinal cord area (β = -0.428), and for T25FW, the striatum volume (β = -0.467). For cognitive deterioration, striatum volume and cortical thickness were the best predictors. We found a protective effect of cognitive reserve on the decline of the domains of planning (β = 0.601) and IPS (β = 0.482) for the overall sample and the PMS group (β = 0.498 and β = 0.468, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: We found cognitive deterioration after four years of follow-up in RRMS and PMS groups. Nevertheless, there were no major differences between these groups (with similar age, education and disease duration) in the trajectories of clinical, cognitive and neuroimaging variables during this 4-year period. We observed a protective effect of cognitive reserve in the overall sample and the PMS group.

PMID:39571219 | DOI:10.1016/j.msard.2024.106172

Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol). 2024 Oct 29;37:103670. doi: 10.1016/j.clon.2024.103670. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: We aimed to evaluate the treatment outcomes and associated prognostic factors in breast cancer (BC) patients who had bone-only oligometastatic disease (OMD) and we tried to determine the subgroup that would benefit most from stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 47 patients with a total of 63 lesions with bone-only oligometastatic BC who underwent SABR for all bone lesions between July 2013 and March 2022. Cases with bone-only metastatic disease with up to 5 metastatic lesions that can be safely treated with SABR were included in this study. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 23.0 software (SPSS, Chicago, IL).

RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 34 months. The 2- and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 90% and 66%, and the progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 49% and 29%, respectively. The local control rate in the SABR-treated foci was 85%. In multivariate analysis, OMD state (genuine vs. induced), de-novo OMD state (synchronous vs. metachronous), and histology (luminal vs. HER-2 enriched) were prognostic for OS. Molecular subtype switch was observed in 21 (42%) patients, and 0% PFS was observed in 5 years in patients with phenotypic discordance. SABR was well tolerated and there were no ≥grade 4 acute or late toxicities.

CONCLUSION: Our study showed that in patients with bone-only OMD, in HER2-enriched subtypes with genuine & de-novo & synchronous OMD, SABR should be strongly considered for all metastatic foci, especially if there is phenotypic discordance in the primary tumor and metastasis.

PMID:39571205 | DOI:10.1016/j.clon.2024.103670

Aging Dis. 2024 Nov 14. doi: 10.14336/AD.2024.1094. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Hutchison-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a rare genetic disease caused by a mutation in LMNA, the gene encoding A-type lamins, leading to premature aging with severely reduced life span. HGPS is characterized by growth deficiency, subcutaneous fat and muscle issue, wrinkled skin, alopecia, and atherosclerosis. Patients also develop a bone phenotype with reduced bone mineral density, osteolysis and striking demineralization of long bones. To further clarify the tissue modifications in HGPS, we characterized bone mineralization in the Lmna^G609G/G609G progeria mouse model. Femurs from 8-week-old mice and humeri from 15-week-old mice were analyzed using quantitative backscattered electron imaging to assess bone mineralization density distribution, osteocyte lacunae sections and structural bone histomorphometry. Tissue sections were stained with Giemsa and Goldner trichrome for histologic evaluation. Bone tissue from Lmna^+/+ and Lmna^G609G/G609G mice had similar mineral content at 3 different bone sites with specific tissue ages. The osteocyte lacunae features were not statistically different, but more empty lacunae were found in Lmna^G609G/G609G at both animal ages. Bone histomorphometry and histology demonstrated decreased bone volume per tissue volume in primary (8W: -23%, p=0.001; 15W: -38%, p=0.002) and secondary spongiosa (8W: -36%, p=0.001; 15W: -49 %, ns), as well as growth plate dysplasia with thinner unmineralized resting and proliferative zones in the Lmna^G609G/G609G mice versus controls (8W: -18%, p=0.006; 15W: -25%, p=0.001). Overall, the Lmna^G609G/G609G mouse develops chondrodysplasia with reduced trabecular bone volume. Mineral content findings at several tissue sites and ages suggest that bone dysplasia results from impaired bone formation with normal bone turnover.

PMID:39571160 | DOI:10.14336/AD.2024.1094

JMIR Hum Factors. 2024 Nov 21;11:e57771. doi: 10.2196/57771.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The exponential growth of telehealth is revolutionizing health care delivery, but its evaluation has not matched the pace of its uptake. Various forms of assessment, from single-item to more extensive questionnaires, have been used to assess telehealth and digital therapeutics and their usability. The most frequently used questionnaire is the “Telehealth Usability Questionnaire” (TUQ). The use of the TUQ is limited by its restricted availability in languages other than English and its feasibility.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to create a translated German TUQ version and to derive a short questionnaire for patients-“Telehealth Usability and Perceived Usefulness Short Questionnaire for patients” (TUUSQ).

METHODS: As a first step, the original 21-item TUQ was forward and back-translated twice. In the second step, 13 TUQ items were selected for their suitability for the general evaluation of telehealth on the basis of expert opinion. These 13 items were surveyed between July 2022 and September 2023 in 4 studies with patients and family members of palliative care, as well as patients with chronic autoimmune diseases, evaluating 13 health care apps, including digital therapeutics and a telehealth system (n1=128, n2=220, n3=30, and n4=12). Psychometric exploratory factor analysis was conducted.

RESULTS: The analysis revealed that a parsimonious factor structure with 2 factors (“perceived usefulness in health care” and “usability”) is sufficient to describe the patient’s perception. Consequently, the questionnaire could be shortened to 6 items without compromising its informativeness.

CONCLUSIONS: We provide a linguistically precise German version of the TUQ for assessing the usability and perceived usefulness of telehealth. Beyond that, we supply a highly feasible shortened version that is versatile for general use in telehealth, mobile health, and digital therapeutics, which distinguishes between the 2 factors “perceived usefulness in health care” and “usability” in patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00030546; https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00030546.

PMID:39571151 | DOI:10.2196/57771