bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A comparison of jade moxibustion and traditional moxibustion in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Yin Yue , Chen Lusheng , Wang Xiangyun , Fang Jing , Zhao Ling , Shen Xueyong
Published: August 2023

Background:

This study was developed to compare the relative clinical efficacy of traditional moxibustion and Jade moxibustion in an effort to define the most effective approaches to treating knee osteoarthritis.

Methods:

In total, 94 patients were randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to the traditional moxibustion (TM) and Jade moxibustion (JM) groups. For JM, a jade kneepad was preheated for 3 minutes via electrification, with the jade in the kneepad being pressed onto acupoints when reaching an initial temperature of 46°C. For patients in the TM group, moxa cones were applied to acupoints for treatment. In total, 12 treatments were performed for patients in each group, with treatment being conducted 3 times per week. Study outcomes included 36-item short-form health survey and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index knee stiffness scores. In addition, serum levels of osteoarthritis-related cytokines were measured.

Results:

Overall, 89/94 patients completed this study, including 44 and 45 in the TM and JM groups, respectively. The 36-item short-form health survey physical functioning at weeks 12 and 24 (P = .033, 0.001), role-physical at weeks 4 and 24 (P = .030, 0.014), and role-emotional at week 4 (P = .045) were the only scores to differ significantly between the TM and JM groups. Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index stiffness scores in the JM groups improved significantly relative to baseline at weeks 4, 8, 12, and 24 (all P < .01). The scores in the TM group differed significantly at all time points relative to baseline (all P < .01), with no differences between groups (all P > .05). Serum Interleukin-2 levels were lower in both groups (all P < .01). Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 only differed significantly for patients treated via JM (P < .05, P < .01), with the same also being true for Interleukin-1β and Interleukin-8 in the TM group (all P < .01). No significant differences in other cytokines were observed, nor did they differ significantly between groups (all P > .05).

Conclusion:

These results suggest that JM treatment can improve knee osteoarthritis patient quality of life, alleviating joint stiffness and restoring joint function with a level of efficacy comparable to TM.
CT perfusion imaging parameters and serum miR-106a-5p predict short- and long-term prognosis in acute cerebral infarction patients after intravenous thrombolysis
Authors: Du Juan , Guo Guocai , Du Wei
Published: August 2023

Background:

Some microRNAs have been found to be abnormal in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI) after intravenous thrombolysis. This study aimed to measure the expression of miR-106a-5p in ACI patients before and after thrombolytic treatment, and to investigate the prognostic value of miR-106a-5p and computed tomography perfusion imaging (CTPI) parameters in ACI patients receiving thrombolysis.

Methods:

The levels of serum miR-106a-5p were detected by quantitative real-time PCR in 78 ACI patients before thrombolysis, 24 hours after thrombolysis, and 3 months (90 days) after onset. The correlation of miR-106a-5p with continuous variables were analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis. The association of miR-106a-5p and CTPI parameters with prognosis of patients receiving thrombolysis was evaluated by logistic regression analysis. The accuracy and thresholds of miR-106a-5p and CTPI parameters for discriminating patients with unfavorable prognosis after thrombolysis were assessed by receiver operating characteristic analysis.

Results:

Serum miR-106a-5p expression was decreased in ACI patient after thrombolysis. Then, significant correlations of miR-106a-5p with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and CTPI parameters were found. Moreover, miR-106a-5p, cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral blood volume (CBV), which are 2 CTPI parameters, were independently correlated with short- and long-term prognosis after thrombolysis. Furthermore, miR-106a-5p, CBF and CBV revealed good accuracy in predicting the prognosis of patients after thrombolysis, and their combination showed the best accuracy.

Conclusion:

Thrombolysis downregulates miR-106a-5p in ACI patients, and miR-106a-5p, CBF and CBV have considerable potentials to predict short- and long-term prognosis in ACI patients receiving intravenous thrombolysis.
How to process synovial fluid samples of gouty arthritis and extract its exosomes for subsequent cytokine analysis
Authors: Li Shaowei , Zhang Shudan , Chen Zhihuang , Zhang Xianxian , Ou Rui , Wei Song , Liu Yingwan , Xu Yiwen , Chen Kaixin , Chen Zhouyi , Shu Xinnong
Published: August 2023

Background:

The comparative analysis of ultracentrifugation (UC) and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based precipitation for the isolation of exosomes in gouty arthritis synovial fluid (GASF) is rarely reported, and it is not known whether different isolation methods can influence subsequent cytokine analysis.

Methods:

GA patients were enrolled during a 1-year period from May 2021 to May 2022. Morphology, particle number, size, purity, protein concentration, and biomarker proteins of GASF-derived exosomes in both extraction methods were observed using transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracer analysis, bicinchoninic acid assay, and Western blotting. An ELISA-based assay platform was used to detect the cytokines in exosomes using Meso Scale Discovery.

Results:

Thirty-two cases of fresh GASF were taken and randomly divided between the UC group (n = 16) and the PEG group (n = 16). Transmission electron microscopy images and nanoparticle tracer analysis results showed round vesicles measuring 100 nm on average. The protein expressions of TSG101, CD63, and CD81 in exosomes of the 2 groups were measured via Western blotting. The number and protein concentration of GASF-derived exosome particles from the PEG group were significantly higher than that of the UC group (P < .001). However, in the purity estimation, the UC group reflected significantly higher exosomes extractability (P < .01). Expression of IL-6 and IL-8 in the GASF-derived exosomes were higher in the UC group (P < .05), showing a median of 3.31 (interquartile range, IQR: 0.84–13.16) pg/mL, and a median of 2.87 (IQR: 0.56–13.17) pg/mL, respectively; moreover, IL-1β was mostly undetectable in the PEG group.

Conclusion:

The UC method was found to yield exosomes of a higher purity, albeit at a lower quantity but with more abundant inflammatory cytokines; whereas the opposite was the case for the PEG group. The chemical precipitation method might not be suitable in terms of extracting GASF-derived exosomes for inflammation and immunity studies.
End-of life medical spending and care pathways in the last 12 months of life: A comprehensive analysis of the national claims database in France
Authors: Nze Ossima Arnaud , Szfetel Daniel , Denoyel Bénédicte , Beloucif Omar , Texereau Joelle , Champion Louis , Vié Jean François , Durand-Zaleski Isabelle
Published: August 2023

Background:

To inform policy makers on efficient provision of end-of-life care, we estimated the 12-month medical expenditures of French decedents in 2015.

Methods:

We estimated total medical expenditures by service type and diagnosis category, and analyzed care pathways for breast cancer, dementia, chronic obstructive lung disease.

Results:

501,121 individuals died in 2015, 59% of whom were in a hospital at the time of death. The aggregated spending totaled 9% of total health expenditures, a mean of €28,085 per capita, 44% of which was spent during the last 3 months of life. Hospital admissions represented over 70% of total expenditures; 21.3% of the population used hospital palliative care services in their last year of life. Analyses performed on breast cancer, dementia and lung disease found that differences in care pathways markedly influenced spending and were not simply explained by patients characteristics.

Conclusion:

Diagnoses and care trajectories, including repeated hospital stays, are the main drivers of the last year of life expenditures. Our data suggests that early identification of patients requiring palliative care and community-based end-of-life service delivery is feasible and could better support patients, families and caregivers with constant or reduced costs.
Increased transferase ratio is associated with adverse cardio-cerebral events in patients with unstable angina: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Lv Dong , Guo Yanfu , Li Xia , Zhang Li
Published: August 2023

To investigate the prognostic role of the elevated aspartate and alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) ratio in patients with unstable angina (UA). In this observational study, all patients with UA undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention at our center from January 2019 to December 2020 were examined. Clinical presentations, laboratory parameters, and procedural characteristics were collected. The primary endpoint was a composite of major adverse cardio-cerebral events (MACCE), such as death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, and target vessel revascularization. In total, 1123 eligible UA patients were enrolled in the present study (mean age 62.3 years; 54.5% of male). Patients in the upper tertile of the AST/ALT ratio were older, had more extensive coronary stenosis, and had poor nutritional status (P < .05). Meanwhile, the cumulative incidence of MACCE at 13 months of follow-up increased in a stepwise manner and across the tertile of the AST/ALT ratio, predominantly driven by target vessel revascularization (both log-rank P < .001). Importantly, the AST/ALT ratio was associated with MACCE in a multivariate analysis that was adjusted for potential covariates (hazard ratio 1.72, 95% confidence interval 1.48–1.99, P < .01). The optimal cutoff point of the AST/ALT ratio to predict MACCE was 1.29 (area under the curve 0.77, 95% confidence interval 0.69–0.84, P < .001), with sensitivity and specificity of 77.5% and 65.1%, respectively. The increased AST/ALT ratio, especially when above 1.29, is associated with MACCE in patients with UA undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.
Anomaly originated flexor digitorum superficialis muscle of the small finger: A case report
Authors: Lee Young-Keun
Published: August 2023

Rationale:

We present a clinical case of flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) muscle belly of the small finger originating from the palm of a patient undergoing carpal tunnel surgery with a literature review.

Patients concern:

A 28-year-old right-handed woman visited our hospital with a chief complaint of a continuous tingling sensation and weakness in the right hand, which began after the volar side of her wrist was crushed by a machine during work 2 weeks prior. The patient complained of a continuous tingling sensation in the thumb, index, and middle fingers. The patient had a positive result on Tinel test of the median nerve of the wrist. As electromyography and nerve conduction velocities showed signs of severe injury in the right median nerve, exploration and carpal tunnel release were planned.

Diagnosis:

Carpal tunnel release was performed under regional anesthesia using the classical open approach. The median nerve in the distal forearm and distal portion of the flexor retinaculum appeared to be narrowed and compressed. An anomalous muscle originating from the flexor retinaculum is also observed.

Intervention:

The FDS muscle of the small finger was excised at the flexor retinaculum and musculotendinous junction and sutured to the flexor digitorum profundus tendon.

Outcome:

At the 37-month follow-up, the patient did not experience any tingling sensation or weakness. She showed excellent range of motion of the right small finger. The grip strength was 20 kg on both the right and left sides. Quick disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand score was 2.3.

Conclusion:

Asymptomatic small finger FDS muscle anomalies can occur, as demonstrated in this case study. Thus, physicians should familiarize themselves with small finger FDS muscle anomalies during interactions with patients to facilitate future treatments of patient complaints related to the hand, as well as wrist laceration or trauma requiring hand exploration.
Addressing desaturation in a tracheal stenosis patient using the transnasal humidified rapid-insufflation ventilatory exchange technique during tracheostomy: A case report
Authors: Lee Sou Hyun , Cho Eunyoung , Park Ji Hoon , Lee Jae Yun , Hong Ji Hee , Han Hyeji
Published: August 2023

Rationale:

Transnasal humidified rapid-insufflation ventilatory exchange (THRIVE) is used in tracheostomy but not in cases of airway obstruction. This case report explores the use of THRIVE for managing airway obstruction during tracheostomy in patients with subglottic and tracheal stenosis, thereby addressing the current knowledge gap and exploring its potential for airway management.

Patient concerns:

A 63-year-old female with subglottic and tracheal stenoses underwent tracheostomy. Multiple attempts to establish a patent airway were unsuccessful, and oxygen saturation dropped to 56%.

Diagnosis:

Endotracheal tube was directed toward the tracheal wall, causing airway obstruction.

Interventions:

THRIVE was administered to the patient. Subsequently, the tube position was adjusted to enhance ventilation.

Outcomes:

The patient’s oxygen saturation increased to 99%. The postoperative complications, including subcutaneous emphysema, pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium, resolved. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 9.

Lessons:

THRIVE could be considered a temporary measure to enhance oxygenation before initiating a definitive treatment strategy.
Reversible splenial lesion syndrome type II in youth mimicking acute ischemic stroke like onset: A case report
Authors: Li Yan , Wang Zhengyang , Lai Sijia , Li Manfei , Liang Huihui , Qin Hui , Wang Kaihua
Published: August 2023

Background:

Reversible splenial lesion syndrome (RESLES) is a newly recognized syndrome. Its typical pathologic findings is a reversible progress correlated with transiently reduced diffusion lesion in the splenium of the corpus callosum. The common clinical symptoms include mildly altered states consciousness, delirium, and seizure.

Methods:

We presented a 21-year-old patient with signs of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), including symptoms of weakness on the right upper limb and aphasia, lasting 50 minutes until he was taken to the emergency. He just had a cough 20 days ago.

Results:

An elevated level of white blood cell count, neutrophil count, monocyte count, protein of cerebrospinal fluid was found in laboratory examinations. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed distinct lesions involving white matter in the splenium of the corpus callosum and frontal-parietal cortex on both cerebral hemispheres. Digital subtraction angiography examination was also unremarkable. The patient recovered to baseline within 4 days. We treated the patient with glucocorticoid, antiviral drugs, butylphthalide, and dehydrating drugs. In addition, the follow-up brain magnetic resonance imaging scan showed reduced lesions. AIS-like symptoms did not occur during a 30-day follow-up period.

Conclusion:

This patient with reversible splenial lesion syndrome type II exhibited AIS-like symptoms, which was uncommon on clinical. This case extends the recognized clinical phenotypes for this disorder.
Identification of immunogenic cell death-related subtypes used for predicting survival and immunotherapy of endometrial carcinoma through a bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Liu Zhen , Luo Yongjin , Su Linhong , Hu Xiaoxia
Published: August 2023

Immunogenic cell death (ICD) is a unique phenomenon that can trigger comprehensive, adaptive immune responses through damage-associated molecular patterns, offering a promising avenue for tumor immunotherapy. However, the role of ICD-related genes and their correlation with endometrial carcinoma (EC), the most prevalent gynecologic malignancy, remains unclear. This study examined genetic, transcriptional, and clinical data of EC obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas database. Unsupervised clustering analysis was utilized to identify distinct ICD clusters based on the expression of ICD-related genes. Regarding the different clusters, their survival analysis, assessment of the immune microenvironment, immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoint analysis, and tumor mutation burden analysis were performed. Furthermore, an ICD risk signature was established using univariate Cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator analysis. The Chi-square test was employed to investigate the relationship between the ICD score and clinical features. Multiple computational analytical tools were used to assess immune annotation, somatic mutations, tumor mutation burden, and response to immunotherapy and chemotherapy drugs in different ICD score groups. Two ICD clusters were identified, indicating that the ICD-high cluster was associated with improved prognosis, abundant immune cell infiltration, and enrichment of pathways related to immunologic activation. Moreover, the ICD risk signature showed predictive value for the immune microenvironment, immunotherapy response, chemotherapy susceptibility, and prognosis in EC. Our findings offer novel insights into personalized treatment strategies for EC patients.
Discovering potential pathways between type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy: A big data analysis of the South Korean National Sample Cohort
Authors: Kim Yoojoong , Hyun Changwan , Lee Minhyeok
Published: August 2023

Diabetes mellitus, a prevalent metabolic disorder, is associated with a multitude of complications that necessitate vigilant management post-diagnosis. A notable complication, diabetic retinopathy, could lead to intense ocular injury, including vision impairment and blindness, due to the impact of the disease. Studying the transition from diabetes to diabetic retinopathy is paramount for grasping and halting the progression of complications. In this study, we examine the statistical correlation between type 2 diabetes mellitus and retinal disorders classified elsewhere, ultimately proposing a comprehensive disease network. The National Sample Cohort of South Korea, containing approximately 1 million samples and primary diagnoses based on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision classification, was utilized for this retrospective analysis. The diagnoses of both conditions displayed a statistically significant correlation with a chi-square test value of P < .001, and the t test for the initial diagnosis date also yielded a P < .001 value. The devised network, comprising 27 diseases and 142 connections, was established through statistical evaluations. This network offers insight into potential pathways leading to diabetic retinopathy and intermediary diseases, encouraging medical researchers to further examine various risk factors associated with these connections.
Identification and validation of a genetic risk signature associated with prognosis in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma patients
Authors: Lian Meiqin , Feng Yueyuan , Wu Zhenyu , Zheng Zhonghong , Liu Huanhuan , Li Jian , Yu Huixia , Lian Changlin
Published: August 2023

Clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common subtype of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which exhibits great variability in the prognosis of patients. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is a persistent state triggered by disruption of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis, which has been shown to control multiple pro-tumor-associated pathways in malignant cells while dynamically reprogramming immune cell function. This study aimed to identify ERS-related genetic risk signatures (ERSGRS) to ameliorate survival prediction in ccRCC patients. In this study, we adopted differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and constructed ERSGRS with independent prognostic significance by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. After separation of patients based on risk score, survival analysis showed that low-risk patients had longer overall survival (OS) than high-risk patients, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis confirmed the strong predictive ability of ERSGRS. Meanwhile, the tumor microenvironment (TME) of the high-risk group demonstrated an immunosuppressive phenotype, with more infiltration of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and macrophages. The TME in the low-risk group had a stronger potential for anti-tumor immunity. Overall, the ERSGRS could be a valuable predictive tool for ccRCC prognosis.
Telomere maintenance genes-derived prognosis signature characterizes immune landscape and predicts prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Zou Jianjun , Chu Shidong , Bao Qingfu , Zhang Yiyun
Published: August 2023

Telomere dysfunction has been identified as a biological marker of cancer progression in several types of cancer, including Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC). This study aimed to characterize the telomere maintenance genes (TMG)-related signature in prognosis and treatment response in HNSCC. The transcriptome and clinical data of HNSCC were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus databases, respectively. Non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) was used to identify molecular subtypes derived from TMG. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed to analyze the differentially expressed pathways between subtypes, and a risk score model derived from TMG was established. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to evaluate inter-group prognostic features, and the correlation between TMG-derived molecular subtypes and risk score model with immune infiltration, immunotherapy, and chemosensitivity was assessed. Two HNSCC subtypes were identified based on 59 TMG-related genes, which exhibit significant heterogeneity in prognosis, immune cell infiltration, and treatment response. Additionally, a TMG-derived risk signature containing 9 genes was developed to assess the prognosis of HNSCC patients. The signature had significant predictive ability for HNSCC prognosis and was significantly correlated with immune cell infiltration and immunotherapy response. A nomogram integrating the risk signature, N stage and radiotherapy was constructed to predict 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) of HNSCC patients, which had better performance than other prognostic models and included TMG-derived risk score, radiotherapy, and N stage. This study identified TMG-derived molecular subtypes in HNSCC and developed a novel prognostic score model, highlighting the potential value of TMG in HNSCC prognosis and immunotherapy.
High hemodynamic stresses induce aneurysms at internal carotid artery bends
Authors: Guo Hao , Yang Song-Tao , Wang Ji-Wei , Li Hui , Gao Bu-Lang , Li Cong-Hui
Published: August 2023

To investigate the role of hemodynamic stresses in initiating cerebral aneurysms at bends of internal carotid artery (ICA). Sixty-one patients with 68 aneurysms at ICA bends were retrospectively enrolled as the experiment group. Among the 61 patients, 30 normal ICAs without aneurysms were chosen as the control. All patients had 3-dimensional angiography and CFD analysis. The bending angle was significantly (P < .0001) smaller in the experiment than control group (131.2º ± 14.9º vs 150.3º ± 9.5º). The dynamic pressure, shear stress, vorticity magnitude and strain rate were the least at direct flow impinging center where the total pressure was very high. The dynamic stress, shear stress, strain rate and gradients of total pressure except for gradient 1 were significantly (P < .05) greater at the aneurysm site than at all the other sites. The total pressure at the aneurysm site was greater (P < .05) than at 1 lateral location and at the distal area but smaller (P < .05) than at the proximal area. The dynamic pressure, shear stress, strain rate and gradient of total pressure at the aneurysm site were significantly (P < .001) greater than on the aneurysm dome. The hemodynamic stresses were all significantly (P < .01) greater at the aneurysm site in the experiment group than at the site corresponding to the aneurysm in the control group. Aneurysms at the ICA bends are caused by direct flow impingement and increased hemodynamic stresses, and smaller arterial bending angles result in abnormally enhanced hemodynamic stresses to initiate an aneurysm near the flow impingement area.
Bibliometric analysis of acupuncture for headache from 1974 to 2022: A scoping literature review based on international database
Authors: Yue Jin-Huan , Li Ang , Cui Xuan , Sun Xu-Chen , Li Xiao-Ling , Yang Xu , Liu Xiao , Cao Dan-Na , Zhao Wei-Wei , Yang Guan-Hu , Golianu Brenda , Wang Yang , Han Sheng-Wang , Zhang Qin-Hong
Published: August 2023

This study aimed to investigate the research hotspots and global trends of acupuncture in the treatment of headaches from 1974 to 2022. The Web of Science core collection database and literature related to acupuncture for headache treatment were retrieved. The CiteSpace (version 5.1.R8) and VOSviewer (version 1.6.19) software perform collaborative network analysis on the information of countries, academic institutions, authors, and co-occurrence network analysis on keywords, co-cited journals, and references. A total of 841 studies were included. Overall, the number of publications has increased over the past 5 decades. We identified and analyzed the countries, institutions, authors, and journals that were most active in the domain of acupuncture treatment for headaches. The most productive countries were the United States and China. Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine was the most productive institution and Linde Klaus was the most productive author. Cephalalgia was the most productive and co-cited journal, whereas Lancet had the highest impact factor. The research hotspots mainly focus on headache, migraine, tension headache, electroacupuncture, and acupuncture. Research trends have mainly focused on acupuncture therapy and its curative effects, migraine without aura, paroxysmal migraine, and the mechanism of acupuncture treatment. The main research hotspots and frontier trends were the therapeutic effect and mechanism of acupuncture for headaches. The mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of headache mainly focused on the neural mechanism by multimodal MRI.
Fatalistic beliefs, self-care, and HbA1c in Mexican men with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Mendoza-Catalán Geu , Figueroa-Perea Juan Guillermo , Gallegos-Cabriales Esther C. , Salazar-González Bertha Cecilia , Onofre-Rodríguez Dora Julia , González-Ramírez Javier
Published: August 2023

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between fatalistic beliefs, self-care, and glycemic control among Mexican men with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This is a cross-sectional study in men diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus from 18 to 59 years of age from the Northeast of Mexico. Fatalistic beliefs, self-care, medication adherence, and HbA1C were evaluated. Patients were divided into glycemic control (<7% HbA1c) and without glycemic control (>7% HbA1c). Tests were performed to compare 2 independent groups, Student’s t and U Mann Whitney. Correlation tests and multiple linear regression models were also performed. For statistical analysis, the SPSS v27 program was used. Forty-nine percent of the men had glycemic control (<7% HbA1c). Fatalistic beliefs were negatively correlated with self-care and medication adherence, but not with HbA1c. In multiple linear regression models, fatalistic beliefs were a negative predictor of self-care and medication adherence. In the model for HbA1c, the pessimism subdimension and self-care were the predictors. Fatalistic beliefs negatively affect self-care compliance and medication adherence, while the pessimism subdimension was related to the increase in HbA1c.
Systemic immune-inflammation index: A new marker in differentiation of different thyroid diseases
Authors: Vural Selahattin , Muhtaroğlu Ali , Güngör Mert
Published: August 2023

Inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of many cancer types and is associated with thyroid malignancy. The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) is a new inflammation marker that can be calculated from routine complete blood count (CBC). This study investigated the association between SII, a marker derived from routine CBC, and different thyroid diseases. The objective was to determine if this simple inflammation marker can distinguish between benign and malignant thyroid diseases. The medical records of all patients who underwent surgical treatment for thyroid disease between January 2018 and January 2022 were systematically evaluated. The routine preoperative CBC parameters’ demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were recorded. A total of 241 patients were included in the study, and the patients were grouped as having multinodular goiter (n = 125), lymphocytic thyroiditis (n = 44), and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) (n = 73) according to pathological results. The SII was defined as the ratio of the total count of neutrophils × platelets divided by the lymphocyte count. Subgroup analysis of patients was performed according to the presence of follicular variant or thyroiditis, micro or macro carcinoma, or bilaterality of the tumor. The SII level was significantly higher in the PTC group than in the lymphocytic thyroiditis and multinodular goiter groups (P < .001). When we grouped the patients according to the presence of PTC as benign or malignant, the optimum cutoff point for SII level was found 654.13, with 73.8% sensitivity and 72.3% specificity from ROC analysis. In the subgroup analysis of patients with PTC, the SII level was similar according to the clinicopathological characteristics of the tumor. The differential diagnosis of thyroid diseases is important for patient management. We found that preoperative SII levels were significantly elevated in patients with PTC compared to those with benign thyroid disorders, and this simple marker can be used for the differentiation of benign and malignant thyroid disease.
A preliminary study on the assessment of pain using figures among patients administered with dental local anesthesia for mandibular third molar extraction
Authors: Matsuda Shinpei , Yoshida Hisato , Yoshimura Hitoshi
Published: August 2023

The aim of this study was to clarify or determine any possible association between pain reports with a visual analogue scale (VAS) and a figures based scale. This research was a preliminary study aimed at developing a new pain scale without any verbal description. Healthy Japanese patients aged 20 to 39 years who received anesthetic injections for mandibular third molar extraction at our department were enrolled. Regarding pain from dental local anesthetic injections, we recorded figures selected by participants (among options of a circle, triangle, square, bar, and cross), and VAS scores. Overall, 29 men and 31 women participated in the study. Pain caused by local dental anesthesia tended to remind both men and women of the triangle among the suggested figures. Furthermore, patients who chose a cross also reported higher VAS scores than those who chose other figures. Acute pain caused by local dental anesthesia was associated with triangles, and patients who selected a cross were associated with higher VAS scores. The results of this study provide clinicians with important information for dental practice, and could prove useful in developing new pain scales.
Bioinformatic analysis the expression and clinical significance of CDRT15 in cholangiocarcinoma using TCGA database
Authors: Yu Tianyang , Zhang Tiezhao , Zhao Luwen , Li Kefan , Li Jian , Yu Aijun
Published: August 2023

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a common and lethal malignant tumor originating from bile duct epithelial cells. Various tumor biomarkers have been used for its clinical screening, such as carbohydrate antigen 19-9 and carcinoembryonic antigen. This study aimed to demonstrate the value of associated genes—CMT1A duplicated region transcript 15 (CDRT15) for prognosis of CCA by integrated bioinformatics analysis. We obtained CDRT15 expression data and clinical information on patients with CCA from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Then, we processed the data by differentially expressed gene analysis, gene set enrichment analysis, statistical analysis, etc. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis was aimed to explore the function of gene-related proteins. Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis was used to analyze the correlation between CDRT15 and immune cells. Finally, we constructed the nomogram to predict the prognosis of patients with CCA. The analysis of data in The Cancer Genome Atlas database revealed that CDRT15 was overexpressed in CCA tissues. We performed the interrelation analysis of immune infiltration, showing that CDRT15 are mainly associated with the immune/inflammatory response. ROC curve showed that CDRT15 can be a diagnostic marker of CCA. Subsequently, the prognostic analysis showed that the high expression of CDRT15 was correlated with the poor OS, and patients with high CDRT15 expression may have a poor prognosis. CDRT15 is more highly expressed in CCA, thus we identified that CDRT15 could be an efficient biomarker for patients. CDRT15 expression was negatively correlated with prognosis of CCA. CDRT15 may be involved in the immune infiltration process of CCA.
How to implement minimally invasive duodenum-preserving total pancreatic head resection for patients with pancreatic head lesions: A retrospective study
Authors: Liu Xueqing , Hu Zixuan , Zhou Xinbo , Qin Jianzhang , Xing Zhongqiang , Liang Yunfei , Duan Jiayue , Liu Jia , Liu Jianhua
Published: August 2023

Laparoscopic duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (LDPPHR) has been widely reported. However, due to the challenges involved in performing total pancreatic head resection during operation, there are few studies reporting it. Between November 2016 and October 2022, we performed laparoscopic duodenum-preserving total pancreatic head resection (LDPPHRt) on 64 patients in the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University. Perioperative data of the patients such as age, gender, body mass index, operation time, blood loss, and postoperative hospital stay were collected and analyzed. This study included 40 women and 24 men aged 41.4 ± 15.7 years. All patients completed the surgery, and none of the patients underwent laparotomy. The average operation time was 275 (255, 310) min. The average postoperative hospital stay was 12 (10, 16) days. The rate of occurrence of pancreatic fistula was 10.9% (7/64), and that of the biliary fistula was 9.4% (6/64). One of the patients underwent cholangiojejunostomy 3 months after the operation due to painless jaundice and bile duct dilatation. By dissecting the space between the pancreatic head and duodenum, the posterior pancreatic duodenal arterial arch and the surface vascular network of the common bile duct (CBD) can be preserved. This ensures the success of LDPPHRt and avoids postoperative complications in the absence of intraoperative image guidance.
A bibliometric analysis of exosomes in sepsis from 2004 to 2022
Authors: Li Yuanyuan , Wang Weina , Zhang Bo , Li Lili , Zhou Dengfeng
Published: August 2023

The study aims to summarize topical and frontier issues in sepsis and exosomes and provide advice and resources for researchers working in related disciplines. Publications on exosomes in sepsis from 2004 to 2022 were extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection database. VOSviewer 1.6.18 and CiteSpace 6.1.3 were used to conduct the bibliometric analysis. The number of publications on exosomes in sepsis showed a rapidly rising trend globally. China and the United States were the most published countries. Shanghai Jiao Tong University is the most prolific institution. Frontiers in Immunology was one of the journals with the highest number of papers. Journal of Immunology was the most co-cited journal. Ping Wang was the most productive author. Clotilde Thery was the author who has been cited the most times among co-cited authors. Singer m, 2016, Jama-j am med assoc was the most co-cited reference. “Mesenchymal stem cells derived exosomes,” “microRNAs,” “apoptosis,” and “immunomodulatory therapy” are the current research hot spots and frontiers. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the current status and trends in sepsis and exosomal research. Researchers working in this area will benefit from the hot spots and trends of exosomes in sepsis discovered through this study.
Research attitudes, knowledge, experiences, and barriers among health science students at King Khalid University, Southwest of Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Alsabaani Abdullah A. , Asiri Ashwaq Y. , Al-Hassan Wajan Ali , Alghamdi Ebtihal Ahmed , Asiri Fatimah Yahya , Habtar Ghada Faisal , Mahmood Syed Esam
Published: August 2023

Research is a systematic process to achieve new knowledge, science, or invention. Training in health research is an important part of medical education. This study aimed to evaluate the attitudes, knowledge, experiences, and barriers related to research among the health science students at King Khalid University, Abha. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 632 health science students of different colleges of King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia. From each study level, approximately 25% of the total number of students was selected using a systematic random sampling method. Tests for associations between different scale items and the type of college were used. The majority of students were mainly aged between 20 to 25 years and were males. Statistically significant differences in age distribution among the colleges (P < .05) were found. Regarding students attitudes towards research, 80.5% of the students agreed that research gives them a better understanding of the world. About 79.6% of the total students agreed that every physician, dentist, and pharmacist should be familiar with the scientific methods of research. Statistical significant differences were found in attitudes toward research among different colleges (P < .05). Overall 56.3% of the students recorded a positive attitude regarding research. Only 2.8% of the students had a good knowledge level regarding research and 66.5% had a poor knowledge level. Considering research experience, 50.9% of the overall students self-reported that they did research during their undergraduate phase. About 22% of the students recorded a high experience level regarding research, 41.9% had a moderate level and 36.9% had a low level of experience. Lack of research experience was the most commonly recorded barrier (80.5%) followed by lack of training on how to do research (72.7%). Training on research and adequate support in student research activities at the undergraduate level may help to reduce the identified barriers to research.
Nalmefene combined noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation in Chinese patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease coupled with type II respiratory failure: A meta-analysis
Authors: He Jie , Luo Wei , Mei Yang , Xu Yu , Ding Shilin
Published: August 2023

Background:

Nalmefene is an opioid system modulator with antagonist activity at the μ and δ receptors and partial agonist activity at the κ receptor. Previous studies have suggested that nalmefene could improve respiratory function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, there is no comprehensive systematic review published regarding the clinical efficacy of nalmefene.

Methods:

We explored the following electronic bibliographic databases: EMBASE, Web of Science, PubMed, Wanfang, and Chinese national knowledge infrastructure. To collect data from randomized controlled trials on the therapy of COPD coupled with type II respiratory failure and nalmefene + noninvasive ventilator treatment. The retrieved articles were screened to determine the final inclusion criteria and to extract relevant data, such as the clinical efficacy rate, pulmonary function, blood gas analysis, and adverse reactions. In our study, we used relative risk and weighted mean deviation, as well as a 95% confidence interval for describing nalmefene effectiveness and safety while treating COPD with type II respiratory failure.

Results:

The outcomes of the meta-analysis demonstrated that the clinical efficacy rate of the nalmefene + noninvasive ventilation group was higher than that of the naloxone + noninvasive ventilation and noninvasive ventilation groups. Moreover, the improvement indices of pH value, partial pressure and saturation of blood oxygen, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, and pulmonary function of the nalmefene + noninvasive ventilation group were better than those of the noninvasive ventilation group, and there was no increase in the occurrence of adverse drug reactions.

Conclusion:

Nalmefene combined with noninvasive ventilation can significantly improve the blood gas index and lung function in patients with COPD combined with type II respiratory failure.
Effects of sitting balance training with a wedge on sitting pressure and verticality in young adults: A randomized crossover trial
Authors: Sawa Kota , Ishigami Keisuke , Miyamoto Takuya , Tamura Miko
Published: August 2023

Background:

In sensory-motor rehabilitation, sitting-balance training using a wedge may enable optimal postural control. The efficacy and mechanism of achieving lateral adaptation to the sitting pressure and postural vertical are unclear.

Methods:

We included 20 healthy participants in a single-blind, randomized crossover trial conducted over 1 day. Sitting pressure was measured while the postural vertical was assessed. The initial training required maximally and laterally inclining the trunk to the left or right, with or without a wedge, 60 times in 2 minutes (0.25 Hz). A repeated-measures 2-way analysis of variance with Bonferroni post hoc analysis was used, and a P value < .05 considered statistically significant.

Results:

After wedge-adaptation training, the pressure on the weight-bearing surface in the postural vertical position increased only on the left side (P < .05). The directional and variability errors of the subjective postural vertical with eyes open and subjective postural vertical were within the range of normative values on verticality.

Conclusion:

Wedge-adaptation during sitting training affected sitting pressure and verticality. Therefore, there is potential for future rehabilitation interventions using sitting training with a wedge in individuals with balance disorders.
Effects of high-intensity interval training with an eccentric hamstring exercise program in futsal players: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Gómez Elena Muñoz , Atef Hady , Elsayed Shereen Hamed , Zakaria Hoda M. , Navarro Miguel Pérez , Sulé Elena Marqués
Published: August 2023

Background:

Physiotherapy protocols based on high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or eccentric hamstring exercises like Nordic Curl (NC) have been scarcely studied in futsal players. The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a HIIT combined with an NC exercise program versus a HIIT-only program in futsal players.

Methods:

Twenty-one futsal players were divided into (1) HIIT + NC group (n = 11, mean age = 21.55 [4.25]); and (2) HIIT group (n = 10, mean age = 20.90 [1.29]). The HIIT + NC group performed a HIIT circuit combined with 3 sets of 10 NC repetitions for 4 weeks, while the HIIT group performed the same protocol without NC exercise. Body mass index, intermittent work performance, vertical jump performance without and with arms, isometric strength of quadriceps and hamstrings, and the isometric hamstrings/quadriceps (H/Q) ratio, were assessed before and after the interventions.

Results:

The HIIT + NC group and the HIIT group showed a significant improvement in intermittent work performance after the intervention (P = .04 and P = .01, respectively). Also, both groups showed a trend of increasing quadriceps and hamstring isometric strength, although no significant changes were found (P > .05). In addition, neither the HIIT + NC protocol nor the HIIT protocol was sufficient to yield changes in body mass index nor to improve the vertical jump performance (P > .05).

Conclusion:

Both an isolated HIIT protocol and HIIT in combination with NC exercise improved intermittent work performance in futsal players. The present study’s findings may guide futsal players’ physical preparation and injury prevention programs.
The predictive role of laboratory parameters in cardiovascular risk assessment in obese
Authors: Kaya Abdulkadir , Gamsizkan Zerrin , Kaya Nursel , Davran Fatih
Published: August 2023

The significance of cardiovascular diseases in mortality is indisputable. It is well-established that cardiovascular diseases are more prevalent among individuals with obesity. This study aimed to determine the predictive value of easily accessible hematological and biochemical parameters in assessing cardiovascular risk among obese patients. The study was designed as an observational retrospective. Department of Family Medicine, study was carried out between 25/06/2022 to 30/10/2022. The data of 439 obese patients were analyzed retrospectively. Using the online Heart Score system, the patients were classified into low, medium, high, and very high cardiovascular risk categories. The hemogram and certain biochemistry values of the patients at the time of admission were examined. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were conducted to discriminate cardiovascular risk classes based on laboratory values. Markers with high diagnostic value, including a high area under the curve (AUC) value, sensitivity, and specificity, were presented. Significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of age, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, glucose, HbA1c, hemoglobin, platelet count, neutrophil (NEU) count, and platelet-lymphocyte ratio parameters (P < .05). The white blood cell count and NEU count of patients in the high-risk groups were found to have significantly higher AUC values compared to the moderate-risk group (AUC values of .737 and .779, respectively). The white blood cell and NEU parameters were found to have a positive predictive value in estimating the degree of cardiovascular risk. These parameters can potentially serve as biomarkers in identifying individuals at high risks for cardiovascular diseases.