bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Idiopathic cocoon abdomen with congenital colon malrotation: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Zhou Hui , Xu Jinling , Xie Xingwang , Han Jiantao 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
Cocoon abdomen is a relatively rare abdominal disease characterized by the total or partial encasement of the small intestinal by a dense fibro-collagenous membrane.

Case presentation
We reported an unusual case of idiopathic cocoon abdomen with congenital colon malrotation. Laparotomy and sac release were performed on the patient. The patient was no recurrence 6 months after operation. A literature review was also performed.

Conclusion
Preoperative diagnosis of abdominal cocoon is difficult. A careful history, physical examination and appropriate radiology may be helpful in making a definitive diagnosis. If conservative treatment can’t relieve symptoms effectively, surgery is currently considered to be important in the management of this disease.
Role of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and 18F-2-fluorodeoxy sorbitol (FDS) in autoimmune hypophysitis: a case report
Authors: Kong Ziren , Wang Yu , Ma Wenbin , Cheng Xin 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
Autoimmune hypophysitis is a rare disease characterized by the infiltration of lymphocytic cells into the pituitary gland. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and 18F-2-fluorodeoxy sorbitol (FDS) positron emission tomography (PET) are well-established and emerging techniques, respectively, which may aid in the diagnosis and classification of autoimmune hypophysitis.

Case presentation
Here, we report a 40-year-old female diagnosed with central diabetes insipidus and multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies, and MRI revealed homogeneous signals in the pituitary gland as well as thickened in the pituitary stalk. FDG PET localized the pituitary and pituitary stalk lesions and displayed an SUVmax of 5.5. FDS, a sensitive radiotracer for bacterial infections but remains unproven under aseptic inflammation, also demonstrated elevated radioactivity, with an SUVmax of 1.1 at 30 min and 0.73 at 120 min. Transnasal biopsy suggested a diagnosis of autoimmune hypophysitis, and the patient displayed radiological and clinical improvement after treatment with glucocorticoids and hormone replacement.

Conclusions
Autoimmune hypophysitis can display elevated FDG uptake, which aids in the localization of the lesions. In addition to revealing bacterial infection specifically, FDS can also accumulate under autoimmune conditions, suggesting that it could serve as a potential radiotracer for both bacterial and aseptic inflammation.

Trial registration
The patient was enrolled in study NCT02450942 (clinicaltrials.gov, Registered May 21, 2015).
Content validation of the EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL with advanced cancer patients and health care professionals from palliative care services in Chile
Authors: Rojas-Concha Leslye , Hansen Maiken Bang , Petersen Morten Aagaard , Groenvold Mogens 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
The assessment of patients’ quality of life (QOL) is essential when evaluating the outcome of palliative care; however, no instruments have been validated for measuring symptoms and QOL in patients receiving palliative care in Chile. We aimed to investigate the content validity of the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 15 Palliative Care (QLQ-C15-PAL), replicating the methods used previously to shorten the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30) for use among patients in palliative care.

Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted from October to November 2017 in four palliative care services. Patients with advanced cancer and health care professionals (HCPs) were invited to individual interviews to determine the relevance, appropriateness and relative importance of the 30 items of the QLQ-C30 for evaluating the outcome of palliative care, and whether relevant additional issues should be included.

Results
A total of 48 patients and 35 HCPs participated. The most important dimensions selected were pain, physical functioning, sleeping difficulties, emotional functioning, nausea/vomiting, fatigue, social functioning, lack of appetite, role functioning and constipation. Qualitative data identified important additional issues not covered by the questionnaire such as satisfaction with care, emotions and psychological support, as well as linguistic issues in the dyspnea and constipation items.

Conclusions
The EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL showed good content validity in the assessment of symptoms and QOL of advanced cancer patients; therefore, we recommend the use of this questionnaire in palliative care in Chile. Dyspnea and constipation items were revised by the EORTC group. More research is needed to add a social dimension for a comprehensive assessment of patients’ QOL.
Association between obesity and abnormal Papanicolau(Pap) smear cytology results in a resource-poor Nigerian setting
Authors: Okoro Silas Onyemaechi , Ajah Leonard Ogbonna , Nkwo Peter Onubiwe , Aniebue Uzochukwu U. , Ozumba Benjamin Chukwuma , Chigbu Chibuike Ogwuegbu 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
Though obesity is associated with some malignancies, its association with cervical cancer is still inconclusive. This study was aimed at determining if there was an association between obesity and cervical epithelial cell abnormalities (CEA).

Methods
This was a cross-sectional comparative study of obese and non-obese women at the Cervical Cancer Screening Clinic, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu between January, 2012 and June, 2013. The participants whose body mass index (BMI) were ≥ 30 kg/m2 were classified as obese (200 women) while those whose BMI were < 30 kg/m2 were classified as non-obese (200 women) and the two groups were consecutively recruited at the ratio of 1:1. Pap smear cytology, random blood sugar (RBS) and human immune-deficiency virus (HIV) screening was done for all the participants. Data was analyzed with SPSS version 20. Categorical variables were analyzed using McNemar’s test and Chi-squared test. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the influence of socio-demographic characteristics on cervical epithelial cell abnormalities. The level of significance was set at ≤0.05.

Results
Among the obese women, 152(76%) had negative for intra-epithelial lesion or malignancy (NILM) while 48(24%) had cervical epithelial cell abnormalities (CEA). Also 182(91%) non-obese women had NILM while the remaining 18(9%) had CEA. The prevalence of CEA among all the study participants was 16.5%. There was an association between obesity and CEA[OR (95%CI) = 1.353(1.013–1.812); P-value = 0.04].CEA were significantly more common among women who were 40 years and above and single/separated women as well as widows (P-value = < 0.05).

Conclusion
There was an association between obesity and CEA. This underscores the need for a positive behavioural change among women in order to stem the tide of this public health problem.
Modified Pulsatillae decoction inhibits DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in vitro and in vivo via IL-6/STAT3 pathway
Authors: Huangfu Shaohua , Dou Renjie , Zhong Sixia , Guo Mengjie , Gu Chunyan , Jurczyszyn Artur , Yang Ye , Jiang Bin 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundUlcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the colon and rectum, which is positively correlated with the occurrence of IBD-related colorectal cancer (IBD-CRC). Conventional therapies based on drugs such as corticosteroids, mesalamine, and immunosuppression have serious side effects. Pulsatillae decoction (PD) served as a classical prescription for the treatment of colitis in China, has been shown to exert prominent curative effects and good safety. Based on clinical experience and our amelioration, we added an extra herb into this classical prescription, but its therapeutic effect on UC and the underlying mechanism are still unclear.ResultsWe first found the curative effect of modified PD on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-incubated NCM460 cells. Then C57BL/6 mice were administered DSS to induce UC to evaluate the therapeutic of modified PD. The results showed that modified PD alleviated the inflammatory injury, manifested in body weight, colon length, and disease activity index, with histological analysis of colon injury. Transcriptomic sequencing indicated that modified PD treatment downregulated the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway, and reduced the levels of p-NF-κB, IL-1β and NLRP3, which were confirmed by western blot.ConclusionsCollectively, our results indict that modified PD could efficiently relieve clinical signs and inflammatory mediators of UC, providing evidence of the anti-colitis effect of modified PD, which might provide novel strategies for therapeutic intervention in UC, which may be applied to the prevention of IBD-CRC.
Parents’ and nurses’ ideal collaboration in treatment-centered and home-like care of hospitalized preschool children – a qualitative study
Authors: Sundal Hildegunn , Vatne Solfrid 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
The hospitalization of children requires collaboration between parents and nurses in partnerships. This study examines parents’ and nurses’ experiences of ideal collaboration in treatment-centered and home-like care of hospitalized preschool children.

Methods
This qualitative study is part of a larger study of 12 parents and 17 nurses who were responsible for 11 hospitalized children. Data collection took place at a Norwegian general paediatric unit, and the data were gathered from observations of and qualitative interviews with the parents and nurses. The analysis was conducted in six steps, in alignment with Braun and Clarke.

Results
Two essential themes emerged from the analysis. (1) Treatment-centered care focuses on the following tasks in building relationships – gaining trust, securing – gaining voluntariness, distracting and comforting, and securing and gaining voluntariness. The purpose of treatment-centered care is to perform diagnostic procedures and offer treatment. (2) Home-like care, the purpose of which is to manage a child’s everyday situations in an unfamiliar environment, focuses on the following tasks: making familiar meals, maintaining normal sleeping patterns, adjusting to washing and dressing in new situations, and normalizing the time in between. From this pattern, we chose two narratives that capture the essence of ideal collaboration between parents and nurses.

Conclusion
The ideal collaboration between nurses and parents is characterized by flexibility and reciprocity, and is based on verbal and action dialogues. In treatment-centered care, parent-nurse collaboration was successful in its flow and dynamic, securing the children’s best interests. Meanwhile, the achievement of the children’s best interest within home-like care varied according to the level of collaboration, which in turn was related to the complexity of the children’s everyday situations.
Using intervention mapping to develop an occupational advice intervention to aid return to work following hip and knee replacement in the United Kingdom
Authors: Coole Carol , Baker Paul , McDaid Catriona , Drummond Avril 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
There are increasing numbers of total hip replacements (THR) and total knee replacements (TKR) being performed in patients of working age. Providing patients undergoing TKR and THR with return to work advice might facilitate return to work. The aim of this paper is to report on the process used to systematically develop an occupational advice intervention to be delivered in hospital for those undergoing arthroplasty.

Methods
The six-step Intervention Mapping (IM) approach to development, implementation and evaluation of a theory and evidence-based interventions was followed. This paper reports on the development of the intervention covered by steps 1 to 4 of the IM process. Steps 1–3 gathered data on current practice and barriers to change using a mixed methods approach (cohort study of patients undergoing THR or TKR, stakeholder interviews, survey of practice, evidence synthesis) and provided a theoretical framework for intervention development. Step 4 used information from steps 1–3 in combination with a Delphi consensus process to develop the intervention and the associated tools and materials to facilitate its delivery.

Results
The final intervention identified included a number of core principles including: early patient identification; delivery of key information to patients and their employers; assessment and support by a member of the orthopaedic team; procedures for escalation based on patient need; mechanisms to support communication; and training and support for the clinical teams delivering care. A total of 13 patient and 20 staff performance objectives as delivery requirements, were supported by a range of tools, roles and training resources. The intervention addressed outcomes based at the individual and interpersonal levels of the ecological model.

Conclusions
Following the IM approach resulted in a structured and justified occupational intervention for delivery in secondary care for patients undergoing total hip and knee replacement. The feasibility of the intervention will subsequently be tested alongside further investigation to establish its effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.
Age-dependent effects of body mass index across the adult life span on the risk of dementia: a cohort study with a genetic approach
Authors: Karlsson Ida K. , Lehto Kelli , Gatz Margaret , Reynolds Chandra A. , Dahl Aslan Anna K. 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
While a high body mass index (BMI) in midlife is associated with higher risk of dementia, high BMI in late-life may be associated with lower risk. This study combined genetic designs with longitudinal data to achieve a better understanding of this paradox.

Methods
We used longitudinal data from 22,156 individuals in the Swedish Twin Registry (STR) and 25,698 from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). The STR sample had information about BMI from early adulthood through late-life, and the HRS sample from age 50 through late-life. Survival analysis was applied to investigate age-specific associations between BMI and dementia risk. To examine if the associations are influenced by genetic susceptibility to higher BMI, an interaction between BMI and a polygenic score for BMI (PGSBMI) was included in the models and results stratified into those with genetic predisposition to low, medium, and higher BMI. In the STR, co-twin control models were applied to adjust for familial factors beyond those captured by the PGSBMI.

Results
At age 35–49, 5 units higher BMI was associated with 15% (95% CI 7–24%) higher risk of dementia in the STR. There was a significant interaction (p = 0.04) between BMI and the PGSBMI, and the association present only among those with genetic predisposition to low BMI (HR 1.38, 95% CI 1.08–1.78). Co-twin control analyses indicated genetic influences. After age 80, 5 units higher BMI was associated with 10–11% lower risk of dementia in both samples. There was a significant interaction between late-life BMI and the PGSBMI in the STR (p = 0.01), but not the HRS, with the inverse association present only among those with a high PGSBMI (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.52–0.94). No genetic influences were evident from co-twin control models of late-life BMI.

Conclusions
Not only does the association between BMI and dementia differ depending on age at BMI measurement, but also the effect of genetic influences. In STR, the associations were only present among those with a BMI in opposite direction of their genetic predisposition, indicating that the association between BMI and dementia across the life course might be driven by environmental factors and hence likely modifiable.
C-type natriuretic peptide stimulates osteoblastic proliferation and collagen-X expression but suppresses fibroblast growth factor-23 expression in vitro
Authors: Chen Wei Xia , Liu Hui Hui , Li Rui Xue , Mammadov Goshgar , Wang Jing Jing , Liu Fei Fei , Samadli Sama , Wu Yang Fang , Zhang Dong Dong , Luo Huang Huang , Hu Peng 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
The effects of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23 appear to oppose each other during the process of bone formation, whereas few studies exist on the interaction between CNP and FGF-23. The main objective of the present study is to probe whether CNP is directly responsible for the regulation of osteoblast or via antagonizing FGF-23.

Methods
Osteoblasts were cultured in the absence or presence of CNP (0, 10, and 100 pmol/L) for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h, respectively.

Results
The findings of the present study indicated that: (1) CNP significantly stimulated osteoblastic proliferation and collagen (Col)-X expression; (2) both osteoblastic (osteocalcin, procollagen type I carboxy-terminal propeptide, total alkaline phosphatase and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase) and osteolytic (tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase and cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen) bone turnover biomarkers were up-regulated by CNP in osteoblasts; (3) FGF-23 mRNA and protein were significantly down-regulated at 24 h by CNP in osteoblasts, but the expression of FGF receptor-1/Klotho had no significant change.

Conclusions
CNP stimulates osteoblastic proliferation and Col-X expression via the down-regulation of FGF-23 possibly in vitro. However, the specific mechanisms of the interaction between CNP and FGF-23 in osteoblasts are still unclear according to our findings. A further study on osteoblasts cultured with CNP and FGF-23 inhibitor will be undertaken in our laboratory.
Histopathology of COVID-19 pneumonia in two non-oncological, non-hospitalised cases as a reliable diagnostic benchmark
Authors: Scendoni Roberto , Marchesani Francesca , Cannovo Nunzia , Fedeli Piergiorgio , Cingolani Mariano 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn lung cancer patients infected with COVID-19, pathological features are not easy to distinguish. This report presents detailed histopathological findings in two non-neoplastic subjects whose out-of-hospital deaths were caused by COVID-19 infection. These ‘pure’ cases differ in the time of presentation of symptoms, the phase of lung anatomopathological patterns (acute lung injury versus diffuse alveolar damage) and the mechanism of death. The results provide a valid diagnostic benchmark for evaluating the evolution of COVID-19 pneumonia.
The use of machine learning in rare diseases: a scoping review
Authors: Schaefer Julia , Lehne Moritz , Schepers Josef , Prasser Fabian , Thun Sylvia 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
Emerging machine learning technologies are beginning to transform medicine and healthcare and could also improve the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases. Currently, there are no systematic reviews that investigate, from a general perspective, how machine learning is used in a rare disease context. This scoping review aims to address this gap and explores the use of machine learning in rare diseases, investigating, for example, in which rare diseases machine learning is applied, which types of algorithms and input data are used or which medical applications (e.g., diagnosis, prognosis or treatment) are studied.

Methods
Using a complex search string including generic search terms and 381 individual disease names, studies from the past 10 years (2010–2019) that applied machine learning in a rare disease context were identified on PubMed. To systematically map the research activity, eligible studies were categorized along different dimensions (e.g., rare disease group, type of algorithm, input data), and the number of studies within these categories was analyzed.

Results
Two hundred eleven studies from 32 countries investigating 74 different rare diseases were identified. Diseases with a higher prevalence appeared more often in the studies than diseases with a lower prevalence. Moreover, some rare disease groups were investigated more frequently than to be expected (e.g., rare neurologic diseases and rare systemic or rheumatologic diseases), others less frequently (e.g., rare inborn errors of metabolism and rare skin diseases). Ensemble methods (36.0%), support vector machines (32.2%) and artificial neural networks (31.8%) were the algorithms most commonly applied in the studies. Only a small proportion of studies evaluated their algorithms on an external data set (11.8%) or against a human expert (2.4%). As input data, images (32.2%), demographic data (27.0%) and “omics” data (26.5%) were used most frequently. Most studies used machine learning for diagnosis (40.8%) or prognosis (38.4%) whereas studies aiming to improve treatment were relatively scarce (4.7%). Patient numbers in the studies were small, typically ranging from 20 to 99 (35.5%).

Conclusion
Our review provides an overview of the use of machine learning in rare diseases. Mapping the current research activity, it can guide future work and help to facilitate the successful application of machine learning in rare diseases.
Antibody targeting tumor-derived soluble NKG2D ligand sMIC reprograms NK cell homeostatic survival and function and enhances melanoma response to PDL1 blockade therapy
Authors: Basher Fahmin , Dhar Payal , Wang Xin , Wainwright Derek A. , Zhang Bin , Sosman Jeffrey , Ji Zhe , Wu Jennifer D. 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
Melanoma patients who have detectable serum soluble NKG2D ligands either at the baseline or post-treatment of PD1/PDL1 blockade exhibit poor overall survival. Among families of soluble human NKG2D ligands, the soluble human MHC I chain-related molecule (sMIC) was found to be elevated in melanoma patients and mostly associated with poor response to PD1/PDL1 blockade therapy.

Methods
In this study, we aim to investigate whether co-targeting tumor-released sMIC enhances the therapeutic outcome of PD1/PDL1 blockade therapy for melanoma. We implanted sMIC-expressing B16F10 melanoma tumors into syngeneic host and evaluated therapeutic efficacy of anti-sMIC antibody and anti-PDL1 antibody combination therapy in comparison with monotherapy. We analyzed associated effector mechanism. We also assessed sMIC/MIC prevalence in metastatic human melanoma tumors.

Results
We found that the combination therapy of the anti-PDL1 antibody with an antibody targeting sMIC significantly improved animal survival as compared to monotherapies and that the effect of combination therapy depends significantly on NK cells. We show that combination therapy significantly increased IL-2Rα (CD25) on NK cells which sensitizes NK cells to low dose IL-2 for survival. We demonstrate that sMIC negatively reprograms gene expression related to NK cell homeostatic survival and proliferation and that antibody clearing sMIC reverses the effect of sMIC and reprograms NK cell for survival. We further show that sMIC/MIC is abundantly present in metastatic human melanoma tumors.

Conclusions
Our findings provide a pre-clinical proof-of-concept and a new mechanistic understanding to underscore the significance of antibody targeting sMIC to improve therapeutic efficacy of anti-PD1/PDL1 antibody for MIC/sMIC+ metastatic melanoma patients.