bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
PD-1 expression on uveal melanoma induces tumor proliferation and predicts poor patient survival
Authors: Jiang Zhongming , Yan Yuexiang , Dong Juan , Duan Lingling 
Published: July 2020

Introduction: Uveal melanoma is one of the most common primary intraocular malignant tumors with poor prognosis and limited treatments. Programmed cell death receptor-1 (PD-1) blockade represents the primary treatment strategy of immune checkpoint inhibition; however, there is a lack of studies on whether PD-1 expression in primary (ocular) uveal melanoma affects tumor progression. Methods: PD-1 expression in 82 cases of primary (ocular) uveal melanoma was detected by immunohistochemistry. The clinical significance of PD-1 expression was evaluated using univariate and multivariate analysis. PD-1 overexpression and knockdown studies were conducted in C918 and Mum-2B cell lines to analyze the effect of PD-1 expression on tumor cell proliferation and intracellular cell signaling transduction. real-time qPCR (RT-qPCR) and western blot analysis were performed to investigate the gene expression level. CCK8 assays were performed to examine the cell proliferation ability. Results: High expression of primary (ocular) intratumor PD-1 was associated with poor patient survival. Moreover, PD-1 expression was correlated with the largest tumor diameter. PD-1 expression and optic nerve invasion were independent prognostic risk factors. PD-1 overexpression in uveal melanoma cell lines promoted tumor cell proliferation, while knockdown of PD-1 inhibited cell proliferation capacity. Conclusion: Our study established the role of PD-1 in the progression of uveal melanoma and provided a new potential treatment selection for uveal melanoma.
Intercarpal ligamentoplasty for scapholunate dissociation: comparison of two techniques
Authors: Athlani Lionel , Pauchard Nicolas , Dautel Gilles 
Published: July 2020

We modified our original surgical technique of scapholunate intercarpal ligamentoplasty for treating chronic scapholunate dissociation. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes in patients treated by the same surgical team with the original method and the modified method over two different time periods. Nineteen patients with a mean age of 40 years were treated with the original method (mean follow-up of 34 months, range 12–54), and 21 patients with a mean age of 38 years were treated with the modified method (mean follow-up of 27 months, range 13–40). In both groups, we found a significant improvement in pain levels, grip strength, functional scores in terms of QuickDASH and Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation, and radiographic scapholunate gap and scapholunate angle after surgery. There were no significant differences between the two groups in outcome measures except the scapholunate gap, which was significantly better controlled by the modified procedure. Between the immediate postoperative period and the last follow-up, there was a significant increase in the scapholunate gap and scapholunate angle after the original method, while there only a small increase after the modified method. We conclude that both versions of the scapholunate intercarpal ligamentoplasty yield satisfactory clinical and radiological results in the short to mid-term. The modified method makes the triquetral surgical step easier and seems to better optimize the tension across the ligamentoplasty, thus maintaining the intercarpal correction. Level of evidence: III
A Digital Lifestyle Program in Outpatient Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Hilmarsdóttir Eva , Sigurðardóttir Árún K. , Arnardóttir Ragnheiður Harpa 
Published: July 2020

Background: Lifestyle is important in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study’s aim was to investigate whether a healthy-lifestyle-supporting smartphone application could affect treatment outcomes at an endocrinology outpatient clinic. Methods: Consecutively invited patients were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group after age and gender stratification. In addition to standard care, intervention group participants used a smartphone application to access a lifestyle program (SidekickHealth) through which they received personalized recommendations and education about healthy lifestyles. Tests at baseline and every other month for six months included body weight and blood tests for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and blood lipids, as well as questionnaires about distress related to diabetes, health-related quality of life, depression, and anxiety. Statistics included comparisons both within and between groups. Results: A total of 37 patients (23 women) were included, whereof 30 finished, 15 in each group (19% dropout); the average age was 51.2 ± 10.6 (25-70) years. No significant differences emerged between groups, but within the intervention group, there was a significant decrease in HbA1c from 61 ± 21.4 to 52.7 ± 15.2 mmol/mol, in disease-specific distress from 19.5 ± 16.5 to 11.7 ± 13.4, and in anxiety symptoms from 5.4 ± 4.0 to 4.1 ± 3.8. No significant changes occurred within the control group. The application usage was most frequent during the first months and differed interpersonally. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the SidekickHealth digital lifestyle program could potentially enhance outpatient treatment in T2DM, in terms of both glycemic control and psychological well-being but larger confirmative studies are needed.
Clinically Relevant Molecular Biomarkers for Use in Human Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review
Authors: Convill James G. , Tawy Gwenllian F. , Freemont Anthony J. , Biant Leela C. 
Published: July 2020

Objective Biomarkers in osteoarthritis (OA) could serve as objective clinical indicators for various disease parameters, and act as surrogate endpoints in clinical trials for disease-modifying drugs. The aim of this systematic review was to produce a comprehensive list of candidate molecular biomarkers for knee OA after the 2013 ESCEO review and discern whether any have been studied in sufficient detail for use in clinical settings. Design MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched between August 2013 and May 2018 using the keywords “knee osteoarthritis,” “osteoarthritis,” and “biomarker.” Studies were screened by title, abstract, and full text. Human studies on knee OA that were published in the English language were included. Excluded were studies on genetic/imaging/cellular markers, studies on participants with secondary OA, and publications that were review/abstract-only. Study quality and bias were assessed. Statistically significant data regarding the relationship between a biomarker and a disease parameter were extracted. Results A total of 80 studies were included in the final review and 89 statistically significant individual molecular biomarkers were identified. C-telopeptide of type II collagen (CTXII) was shown to predict progression of knee OA in urine and serum in multiple studies. Synovial fluid vascular endothelial growth factor concentration was reported by 2 studies to be predictive of knee OA progression. Conclusion Despite the clear need for biomarkers of OA, the lack of coordination in current research has led to incompatible results. As such, there is yet to be a suitable biomarker to be used in a clinical setting.
Cardiorespiratory fitness and survival following cancer diagnosis
Authors: Fardman Alexander , Banschick Gabriel D , Rabia Razi , Percik Ruth , Fourey Dana , Segev Shlomo , Klempfner Robert , Grossman Ehud , Maor Elad 
Published: July 2020

AbstractAimsData on the association of cardiorespiratory fitness with survival of cancer patients are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the association between midlife cardiorespiratory fitness and survival after a subsequent cancer diagnosis.MethodsWe evaluated 19,134 asymptomatic self-referred adults who were screened in preventive healthcare settings. All subjects were free of cardiovascular disease and cancer at baseline and completed a maximal exercise stress test. Fitness was categorised into age-specific and sex-specific quintiles according to the treadmill time and dichotomised to low (quintiles 1–2) and high fitness groups.ResultsThe mean age was 50 ± 8 years and 72% were men. During a median follow-up of 13 years (interquartile range 7–16) 517 (3%) died. Overall, 1455 (7.6%) subjects developed cancer with a median time to cancer diagnosis of 6.4 years (interquartile range 3–10). Death from the time of cancer diagnosis was significantly lower among the high fitness group (Plog rank = 0.03). Time-dependent analysis showed that subjects who developed cancer during follow-up were more likely to die (P &lt; 0.001). The association of cancer with survival was fitness dependent such that in the lower fitness group cancer was associated with a higher risk of death, whereas among the high fitness group the risk of death was lower (hazard ratio 20 vs. 15; Pfor interaction = 0.047). The effect modification persisted after applying a 4-year blanking period between fitness assessment and cancer diagnosis (Pfor interaction = 0.003).ConclusionHigher midlife cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with better survival among cancer patients. Our findings support fitness assessment in preventive healthcare settings.
Differences in adaptive and maladaptive psychosocial responses to chronic pain among adults with varying physical activity levels
Authors: Cary Miranda A , Gyurcsik Nancy C 
Published: July 2020

Aim: Chronic pain is a global public health problem that detrimentally impacts people’s health and well-being. Physical activity is beneficial and a recommended self-management strategy for adults living with chronic pain. Yet, many of them struggle to meet the public health recommendation of 150+ minutes/week of moderate–vigorous physical activity. Identifying modifiable factors related to physical activity participation is needed. Adaptive (i.e., self-regulatory efficacy to overcome pain and related barriers [SRE-pain], psychological flexibility) and maladaptive (i.e. pain anxiety) responses were the modifiable factors examined in the present study. The purpose was to investigate whether adults living with chronic pain who were sufficiently active, insufficiently active or inactive significantly differed in their adaptive and maladaptive responses to chronic pain. Methods: Adults with self-reported chronic pain for 6+ months ( N = 318) completed an online survey that measured physical activity, psychological flexibility, SRE-pain and pain anxiety. Sufficiently active ( n = 139), insufficiently active ( n = 91) and inactive ( n = 88) groups were identified. Results: A significant multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) ( p < .001) with univariate follow-up tests illustrated that the sufficiently active individuals reported the highest psychological flexibility and SRE-pain compared to insufficiently active and inactive individuals ( p’s < .001). Overall, sufficiently active participants responded the most adaptively and least maladaptively to their pain, followed by the insufficiently active. Inactive participants responded the most maladaptively. Conclusion: Identifying differences in adaptive and maladaptive responses to pain highlights possible modifiable factors to target in future physical activity intervention research that focuses on improving chronic pain self-management.
Ascorbate as Prophylaxis and Therapy for COVID-19—Update From Shanghai and U.S. Medical Institutions
Authors: Cheng Richard Z , Kogan Mikhail , Davis Devra 
Published: July 2020

Background No validated treatments have been identified for the COVID-19 pandemic virus; several are currently in randomized clinical trials. Diagnostic instruments are rapidly evolving. Symptoms range from those of a common cold to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), to sepsis arising from the flood of inflammatory bacterial and viral pathogens in the blood. Mortality generally arises from cytokine storms of uncontrolled inflammation, oxidative injury, and damage to the alveolar-capillary barrier, with secondary bacterial infection. To address the indisputably urgent need for therapeutics for COVID-19, a specialized interdisciplinary medical panel convened in Shanghai in March 2020 to consider all relevant clinical and experimental evidence on the possible utility of intravenous (IV) ascorbate in the treatment of COVID-19-related ARDS. Methods The panel convened multidisciplinary medical experts and reviewed all relevant in vitro, in vivo, clinical studies and randomized controlled trials on IV ascorbate and issued a consensus report on 23 March 2020 noting that substantial differences in serum concentrations of ascorbate are achieved through IV administration in contrast with the oral route. Findings The Shanghai panel, and a parallel medical group in Guangzhou, are advising the use of high-dose IV ascorbate for the treatment of ARDS, along with other supportive therapies, including Vitamin D and zinc. We report preliminary progress in using this treatment for 50 consecutive cases treated in Shanghai hospitals, consistent with earlier reports from a meta-analysis of the use of IV ascorbate to treat sepsis. We provide an instructive clinical anecdote regarding a single family where one elderly member with cardiac and other major comorbidities developed and survived ARDS-related sepsis following daily treatments that included 15 g of IV ascorbate. None of her adult caregivers who had ingested between 2 and 10 g of ascorbate daily developed COVID-19.
Comparison of Measurements of Implant Stability by Two Different Radio Frequency Analysis Systems: An In Vitro Study
Authors: Koyuncuoglu Cenker Zeki , Demir Becen 
Published: July 2020

Aim: To compare and evaluate the implant stability quotient (ISQ) measurements by two different radio frequency analysis (RFA) machines, Osstell Mentor and PenguinRFA. Materials and Methods: Twenty bone-level implants (3.7 × 10 mm2) were placed on a bovine bone in this in vitro study. The ISQ measurements were performed with the PenguinRFA and Osstell Mentor machines using the multipeg of the Penguin system. The measurements were repeated three times for each direction and an average ISQ value was calculated. The results were averaged (mean ± SD) and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated to assess the relationship between the measurements. Result: The mean ISQ values for the Osstell and Penguin machines were 77.60 + 2.11 and 78.05 + 2.04, respectively. The ICC was 0.958. The ISQ values obtained from the Osstell and Penguin machines were significantly compatible ( P < .05). Conclusion: Both of the RFA devices provided similar and reliable ISQ measurements.
Hand Sanitizer an Alternative to Hand Washing—A Review of Literature
Authors: Singh Pallavi , Potlia Ipshita , Malhotra Shitanshu , Dubey Himangi , Chauhan Himanshu 
Published: July 2020

Aim: COVID-19 is a new illness and a big threat to global health. No specific antiviral agents are available for its treatment. The finest approach to manage this threat is to clean our hands properly. Washing hands under running water is a better way to stop the spread of infections than using a hand sanitizer. The aim of the study is to show that washing hands is efficacious than using a dab of alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Materials and Methods: A search was performed using three databases, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar published from 2010 to 2019. The keywords for the survey were “hand-washing,” “hand sanitizer,” and “effective.” After the relevant articles were found, the critical appraisal was made to select those that were suitable for the systematic review. The inclusion criteria of the study were surveys, clinical studies, no sample size restrictions, and only English papers. Any conference abstracts, case reports, and unpublished data were excluded from this study. Results: On the basis of the keywords, 22 relevant articles were found, and of those, 17 articles were selected for the systematic review. Conclusion: This study evaluated that washing hands with soap and water are more practical and efficacious than using the sanitizer on greasy and soiled hands. An alcohol-based sanitizer, if used correctly and in appropriate volume, can disseminate certain type of micro-organisms.
Dynamic capabilities: The role of board monitoring and managerial incentives
Authors: Asija Aman , Ringov Dimo 
Published: July 2020

Research on the nature and value of firms’ dynamic capabilities has produced contradictory propositions and findings. Scholars have argued that contingency theorizing has the potential to improve our understanding, as the context in which dynamic capabilities are deployed may affect their value. Drawing on agency theory, we propose that corporate governance mechanisms play a significant role in determining the value of firms’ dynamic capabilities. In particular, we develop theoretical propositions about the differential effect of two corporate governance mechanisms—board monitoring and managerial incentives—on the value of dynamic capabilities in the form of complex codified routines, on one hand, and simple rules, on the other hand, at different levels of environmental dynamism. JEL CLASSIFICATION: L21; L22; D80; G34
Serum periostin reflects dynamic hyperinflation in patients with asthma
Authors: Asano Takamitsu , Ohbayashi Hiroyuki , Ariga Mitsue , Furuta Osamu , Kudo Sahori , Ono Junya , Izuhara Kenji 
Published: July 2020

IntroductionDynamic hyperinflation (DH) is sometimes observed and is associated with impaired daily life activities of asthma. We assessed the relationship between DH and asthma biomarkers (blood eosinophil, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and serum periostin) in patients with asthma.MethodsFifty patients with stable asthma were prospectively recruited and underwent blood test,FeNOmeasurement, spirometry and metronome-paced tachypnoea (MPT) test to assess DH. In MPT tests, inspiratory capacity (IC) was measured at baseline and after 30 s of MPT with breathing frequencies of 20, 30 and 40 breaths·min−1. DH was assessed by the decline of IC from baseline, and maximal IC reduction ≥10% was considered as positive DH.ResultsThirty patients (60%) showed positive DH. Patients with positive DH showed higher serum periostin levels (107.0±30.7 ng·mL−1) than patients with negative DH (89.7±23.7) (p=0.04). Patients in Global Initiative for Asthma treatment steps 4–5 (n=19) showed higher serum periostin levels (p=0.01) and more severe IC reduction after MPT (p<0.0001) than patients in steps 1–3 (n=31). Maximal IC reduction after MPT was significantly correlated with asthma control test score (r=−0.28, p=0.05), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (r=−0.56, p<0.0001), and serum periostin levels (r=0.41, p=0.003).ConclusionSerum periostin may have the possibility to reflect DH in patients with stable asthma.
Patients with chronic migraine without history of medication overuse are characterized by a peculiar white matter fiber bundle profile
Authors: Coppola Gianluca , Di Renzo Antonio , Tinelli Emanuele , Petolicchio Barbara , Di Lorenzo Cherubino , Parisi Vincenzo , Serrao Mariano , Calistri Valentina , Tardioli Stefano , Cartocci Gaia , Caramia Francesca , Di Piero Vittorio , Pierelli Francesco 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
We investigated intracerebral fiber bundles using a tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) analysis of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data to verify microstructural integrity in patients with episodic (MO) and chronic migraine (CM).

Methods
We performed DTI in 19 patients with MO within interictal periods, 18 patients with CM without any history of drug abuse, and 18 healthy controls (HCs) using a 3 T magnetic resonance imaging scanner. We calculated diffusion metrics, including fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusion (AD), radial diffusion (RD), and mean diffusion (MD).

Results
TBSS revealed no significant differences in the FA, MD, RD, and AD maps between the MO and HC groups. In comparison to the HC group, the CM group exhibited widespread increased RD (bilateral superior [SCR] and posterior corona radiata [PCR], bilateral genu of the corpus callosum [CC], bilateral posterior limb of internal capsule [IC], bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculus [LF]) and MD values (tracts of the right SCR and PCR, right superior LF, and right splenium of the CC). In comparison to the MO group, the CM group showed decreased FA (bilateral SCR and PCR, bilateral body of CC, right superior LF, right forceps minor) and increased MD values (bilateral SCR and right PCR, right body of CC, right superior LF, right splenium of CC, and right posterior limb of IC).

Conclusion
Our results suggest that chronic migraine can be associated with the widespread disruption of normal white matter integrity in the brain.
Long-time follow up of physical activity level among older adults with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Lange Elvira , Gjertsson Inger , Mannerkorpi Kaisa 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Physical activity and exercise are acknowledged as important parts in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, long-term maintenance of exercise is known to be difficult. The aim of this study was to evaluate change in physical activity and physical fitness after four years in older adults with RA who had previously participated in exercise with person-centred guidance compared to controls.

Method
A follow-up study was performed where older adults (> 65 years) who had participated in a randomized controlled trial where they were allocated to either exercise with person-centred guidance or home-based, light-intensity exercise (controls) were invited to one visit and assessed with performance-based test, blood-sampling and self-reported questionnaires. Forty-seven out of 70 older adults accepted participation, 24 from the exercise group and 23 from the control group. Comparisons of the result with baseline values were performed and explanatory factors for increase of physical activity were examined with logistic regression.

Results
The result show that there was no significant difference in weekly hours of physical activity when groups where compared. However, participants in the exercise group rated significantly increased weekly hours of physical activity after four years (p = 0.004) when compared to baseline. Higher levels of fatigue, BMI and physical activity, at baseline were negatively associated with increased physical activity after four years. There was no significant difference in change of physical fitness between the groups. Within group analysis showed that the control group reported increased pain (p = 0.035), fatigue (p = 0.023) increased number of tender joints (p = 0.028) higher disease activity (p = 0.007) and worsening of global health (p = 0.004) when compared to baseline while the exercise group remained at the same level as at baseline.

Conclusion
These results indicate that introducing moderate- to high intensity exercise with person-centred guidance might favor increased physical activity after four years in older adults with RA. Previous partaking in moderate- to high intensity exercise might also be protective against increased disease activity, pain and fatigue over time.