bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Angiotensin Receptor Blockade and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Early Stage Lung Cancer
Authors: Maloney Lauren , Tormoen Garth , Latour Emile , Chen Yiyi , Rice Douglas , Grossblatt-Wait Alison , Nabavizadeh Nima , Thomas Charles , Young Kristina , Walker Joshua , Holland John , Grossberg Aaron 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
BackgroundStereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) demonstrates excellent local control in early stage lung cancer, however a quarter of patients develop recurrence or distant metastasis. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) supports metastasis and treatment resistance, and angiotensin receptor blockade (ARB) indirectly suppresses TGF-β signaling. This study investigates whether patients taking ARBs while undergoing SBRT for early stage lung cancer exhibited improved overall survival (OS) or recurrence free survival (RFS) compared to patients not taking ARBs. MethodsThis was a single institution retrospective analysis of 272 patients treated with SBRT for early stage lung cancer between 2009-2018. Patient health data was abstracted from the electronic medical record. OS and RFS were assessed using Kaplan-Meier method. Log-rank test was used to compare unadjusted survival between groups. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs). ResultsOf 247 patients analyzed, 24 (10%) patients took ARBs for the duration of radiotherapy. There was no difference in mean age, median tumor diameter, or median biologic effective dose between patients taking ARBs or not. Patients taking ARBs exhibited increased OS (ARB=96.7 mo.; no ARB= 43.3 mo.; HR=0.25 [95% CI: 0.10 to 0.62, P = .003]) and increased RFS (median RFS, ARB=64.3 mo.; No ARB=35.1 mo.; HR=0.26 [95% CI: 0.10 to 0.63, P = .003]). These effects were not seen in patients taking angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or statins. ConclusionsARB use while undergoing SBRT for early stage lung cancer may increase OS and RFS, but ACEI use does not show the same effect.
Does Vein-first Lobectomy Control Postoperative Circulating Tumor Cells in Lung Cancer?: a Retrospective Observational Study
Authors: Sawabata Noriyoshi , Nakane Shigeru , Yoshikawa Daiki , Watanabe Takashi , Kawaguchi Takeshi , Kushibe keiji 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background: Vein-first dissecting lobectomy in lung cancer surgery is speculated to limit the amount of circulating tumor cells. We aimed to assess the clinical significance and prognostic impact of Vein-first dissecting lobectomy according to changes in circulating tumor cell status throughout the perioperative period.Methods: Among patients with pulmonary nodule who underwent surgery, we extracted and evaluated patients who underwent lobectomy for lung cancer and had underwent circulating tumor cell testing before and immediately after the completion of lobectomy. The primary evaluation item was the detection rate of postoperative circulating tumor cell according to the sequence of pulmonary vessel processing. The secondary evaluation items were the 2-year recurrence-free survival and overall survival rates according to the status of Vein-first dissecting lobectomy and postoperative circulating tumor cell. Results: Between June 2014 and June 2018, 302 patients with pulmonary nodule underwent surgery, among them we selected 86 patients who underwent lobectomy for lung cancer and had circulating tumor cell testing done before and immediately after the completion of lobectomy. The circulating tumor cell identification rates in the postoperative period were 54.4% (37/68) and 66.7% (12/18) (p=0.8) in vein-first dissecting lobectomy group and no-vein-first dissecting lobectomy group, respectively. The mean postoperative circulating tumor cell count was not significantly different between the vein-first dissecting lobectomy and no-vein-first dissecting lobectomy groups (3.0 ± 3.6 vs 3.2 ± 5.0, p=0.8). The 2-year recurrence-free survival and overall survival rates were also not significantly different. However, the presence of circulating tumor cell after surgery was a predictor of recurrence.Conclusions: Although the detection of circulating tumor cell after surgery is a predictor of cancer recurrence, no significant difference was observed in the status of postoperative circulating tumor cell s between vein-first dissecting lobectomy and no- vein-first dissecting lobectomy groups in lung cancer surgery.
Porphyromonas gingivalis induces entero-hepatic metabolic derangements with alteration of gut microbiota in a type 2 diabetes mouse model
Authors: Kashiwagi Yoichiro , Aburaya Syunsuke , Sugiyama Naoyuki , Narukawa Yuki , Sakamoto Yuta , Takahashi Masatomo , Uemura Hayato , Yamashita Rentaro , Tominaga Syotaro , Hayashi Satoko , Nozaki Takenori , Yamada Satoru , Izumi Yoshihiro , Kashiwagi Atsunori , Bamba Takeshi , Ishihama Yasushi , Murakami Shinya 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Periodontal infection is thought to generate systemic inflammation, thus aggravating diabetes. Furthermore, orally administered periodontal pathogens may directly alter the gut microbiota. To elucidate this, using an obese db/db diabetes mice, orally treated with Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), we screened for Pg-specific peptides in intestinal fecal specimens and examined whether Pg localization affected the intestinal microbiota profile altering gut metabolite levels. Finally, we screened whether deterioration of fasting hyperglycemia was related to changes in intrahepatic glucose metabolism, using proteome and metabolome analyses. As results; (1) Oral Pg treatment aggravated both fasting and postprandial hyperglycemia (P < 0.05) with a significant (P < 0.01) increase in dental alveolar bone resorption. (2) Pg-specific peptides were identified in fecal specimens after oral Pg treatment and intestinal Pg profoundly altered gut microbiome profiles at the phylum, family, and genus levels. Prevotella showed the largest increase in abundance. Furthermore, Pg-treatment significantly altered intestinal metabolite levels. (3) Fasting hyperglycemia was associated with increases in gluconeogenesis-related enzyme and metabolite levels without changes in proinflammatory cytokine expressions and insulin resistance. This work reveals that oral Pg administration induced gut microbiota changes, leading to entero-hepatic metabolic derangements, thereby aggravating hyperglycemia in an obese type 2 diabetes mouse model.
Arterial spin labeling: Adaptive thresholding for epileptogenic zone detection in MRI-negative epilepsy
Authors: Gajdoš Martin , Říha Pavel , Kojan Martin , Doležalová Irena , Mutsaerts Henk-Jan , Petr Jan , Rektor Ivan 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Drug-resistant epilepsy is a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, mainly in patients with negative MRI findings. State-of-the-art imaging methods complement standard epilepsy protocols with new information and help to epileptologists to increase reliability of their decisions. In this study, we investigate if arterial spin labeling (ASL) perfusion MRI can help localizing the epileptogenic zone (EZ). To that end, we developed an image processing method to detect the EZ as an area with hypoperfusion relative to the contralateral unaffected side, using subject-specific thresholding of the asymmetry index in ASL images. We demonstrated three thresholding criteria (minimal product criterion, minimal distance criterion, and elbow criterion) on 29 patients with MRI-negative epilepsy (age 32.98 ± 10.4 years). The minimal product criterion showed optimal results in terms of positive predictive value (mean 0.12 and 0.22) and true positive rate (mean 0.71 and 1.82). Additionally, we found high accuracy in determining the EZ side (mean 0.86 and 0.73 out of 1.00). In conclusion, the ASL can be easily incorporated to the standard presurgical MR protocol and it provides an additional benefit in EZ localization.
Perinatal events associated with birth asphyxia and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in a middle-income country: A multicenter, observational study.
Authors: Kitsommart Ratchada , Thamwiriyakul Nirucha , Asawakitipong Rawee , Taesiri Usakorn , Wongsinin Thananjit , Paes Bosco 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background: Risk factors for neonatal encephalopathy differ across high- and low-income countries. Evidence of demographic characteristics and factors associated with perinatal hypoxia of infants who are at-risk for HIE in Southeast Asia is needed. Our primary objective was to investigate the intrapartum characteristics of infants ≥32 weeks’ gestational age (GA) born with low Apgar scores. Secondary objectives were to determine perinatal hypoxic events, and the characteristics and outcomes of infants ≥35 weeks GA with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Methods: A multicenter, retrospective, study was conducted. Individual charts were reviewed of infants with 5-minute Apgar scores ≤5 who were admitted to 4 tertiary centers in Thailand over 5 years. Events associated with perinatal hypoxia and outcomes were extracted. Variables were compared using chi-square, Fisher-exact test, two-independent sample t tests, ANOVA and Mann-Whitney. Data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics version 18.0. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Among 120235 infants, 454 had 5-mintue Apgar scores ≤5 (average: 3.8 per 1000 live births). The estimated frequency of HIE in ≥32 weeks’ GA infants was 1.5 per 1000 livebirths. Ninety-seven percent of the mothers’ received antenatal care. After exclusions, 316 infants and 314 mothers comprised the final sample. Common intrapartum complications were abnormal fetal heart rate (38.5%) and meconium-stained amniotic fluid (19.1%). Infants ≥35 weeks GA had mean ± standard deviation (SD) birthweight of 3003.4 ± 590.5 g; 10% were small-for-GA. Among ≥35 weeks GA infants with HIE, 42% had metabolic acidosis, 53% experienced sentinel, hypoxic perinatal events and advanced resuscitation was instituted in 92%. The severity of encephalopathy was reported in 99% of subjects. Eighty-five infants (62.5%) met all eligibility criteria for therapeutic hypothermia (TH) and 48 (56.5% of eligible infants) received treatment. The overall mortality rate was 29.4%.Conclusion: Maternal and intrapartum characteristics of infants at-risk for perinatal asphyxia in Thailand were comparable to reports from high-income countries. To improve recruitment for TH in middle-income, South-East Asian countries, strategies to raise HIE awareness among practitioners and more simplified TH eligible criteria are warranted to encourage timely transfer to referral centers for treatment.
Association Between Cervical Dysplasia and Female Genital Schistosomiasis Diagnosed by Genital PCR in Zambian Women
Authors: Rafferty Hannah , Sturt Amy , Phiri Comfort Rutty , Webb Emily , Mudenda Maina , Mapani Joyce , Corstjens Paul , Dam Govert Van , Schaap Ab , Ayles Helen , Hayes Richard , Lieshout Lisette Van , Hansingo Isaiah , Bustinduy Amaya L. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background: Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is a neglected tropical gynaecological disease that affects millions of women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). FGS is caused by Schistosoma (S.) haematobium, a parasitic carcinogen involved in the pathogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder. Cervical cancer incidence and mortality are highest in SSA, where pre-cancerous cervical dysplasia is often detected on screening with visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA). No studies have evaluated the association between VIA positivity and FGS diagnosed by genital PCR. Methods: Women were recruited from the BILHIV study in Zambia, which compared genital self-sampling to provider obtained cervicovaginal-lavage for the diagnosis of FGS in women aged 18-31. FGS was defined as positive Schistosoma DNA from any genital PCR. Urogenital schistosomiasis diagnostics included urine circulating anodic antigen, urine microscopy and portable colposcopy. Participants were offered cervical cancer screening using VIA at Livingstone Central Hospital. Associations of PCR confirmed FGS and other diagnostics with VIA positivity were assessed using multivariable logistic regression.Results: VIA results were available from 237 BILHIV participants. A positive Schistosoma PCR in any genital specimen was detected in 14 women (5.9%), 28.6% (4/14) of these women had positive VIA compared to 9.0% (20/223) without PCR evidence of schistosome infection. Schistosoma PCR positivity in any genital specimen was strongly associated with VIA positivity (OR: 6.08, 95% CI: 1.58-23.37, P=0.02). Conclusions: This is the first study to find an association between FGS and positive VIA, a relationship that may be causal. Further longitudinal studies are needed.
Performance of the DLPNO-CCSD and Recent DFT Methods in the Calculation of Isotropic and Dipolar Contributions to 14N Hyperfine Coupling Constants of Nitroxide Radicals
Authors: Gromov Oleg 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
In the present study, the performance of a set of density functionals: BP86, PBE, OLYP, BEEF, PBEpow, TPSS, SCAN, PBEGXPBE, M06L, MN15L, B3LYP, PBE0, mPW1PW, B97, BHandHLYP, mPW1PW, HSE06, B98, TPSS0, PBE1KCIS, SCAN0, M06, M06-2X, MN15, CAM-B3LYP, ωB97x, B2PLYP, and the B3LYP/N07D and PBE/N07D schemes in the calculation of the 14N anisotropic hyperfine coupling (HFC) constants of a set of 23 nitroxide radicals is evaluated. The results are compared with those obtained with the DLPNO-CCSD method and experimental HFC values. Harmonic contribution to the 14N HFC vibrational correction was calculated at the revPBE0/def2-TZVPP level and included in the evaluation. With the vibrational correction, the DLPNO-CCSD method yielded HFC values in good agreement with the experiment (MAD = 0.3 G for the dipole-dipole contribution and MAD = 0.8 G for the contact coupling contribution). The best DFT results are obtained using the M06 functional with mean absolute deviation (MAD) = 0.2 G for the dipole-dipole contribution and MAD = 0.7 G for the contact coupling contribution. In general, vibrational correction significantly improved most DFT functionals' performance but did not change its overall ranking.
Periodicity in Extreme Weather in the ‘Maritime Region’ of Eastern North America
Authors: Walsh Carling Ruth , Patterson R. Timothy 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Spectral and wavelet analysis were used to identify trends and cycles in extreme temperature and precipitation events based on historical data (~100-150 years) from six climate stations within the “Maritime Region” of eastern North America. Many statistically significant climate cycles were identified using both spectral and Morlet wavelet analyses at each of these locations for both extreme high and low temperature and precipitation (rain, snow) data, with periodicities typically ranging from ~ 2–30 years. To assess potential drivers of these cyclical extreme weather events, the records of these events were compared, using cross wavelet analysis, to the climate indices of several teleconnections, including the 11-year Schwabe solar cycle, Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, North Atlantic Oscillation, Arctic Oscillation, El Niño Southern Oscillation and the Quasi–Biennial Oscillation. It was found that the 11-year solar cycle had the strongest influence over extreme temperature and precipitation in this region, whereas the remaining oscillations, with the exception the Quasi–Biennial Oscillation, exhibited complex interactions with one another, characterized a variety of both positive and negative modulating effects. The Quasi–Biennial Oscillation was found to drive high–frequency oscillations in extreme weather, particularly extreme precipitation. Overall, the findings of this study indicate that extreme weather events in this region have not substantially increased or decreased in number over time, but have been predominantly influenced by several cyclic climate phenomena.
The clinical efficacy of novel vacuum suction ureteroscopic lithotripsy in the treatment of upper ureteral calculi
Authors: zhang LvWen , Song Yan , Fei Xiang 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
This study investigated the clinical efficacy of a novel vacuum suction ureteroscopic approach in the treatment of upper ureteral calculi. A total of 160 patients with impacted upper ureteral calculi were included in this study. 50 patients underwent rigid ureteroscopic lithotripsy, 54 patients underwent flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy, and 56 patients underwent vacuum suction ureteroscopic lithotripsy. The operative time, length of hospitalization, stone-free rate, complication rate and total treatment cost were compared among the three groups. Subgroup analysis was performed based on the stone diameter over and below 1.5 cm. Compared with the other two groups, the vacuum suction ureteroscopy group had higher stone-free rate at 3–5 days (90.0% vs. 61.9% vs. 55.6%, P < 0.05) and 1 month (96.4% vs. 77.7% vs. 74.0%, P < 0.05) postoperatively. In subgroup analysis, the stone-free rate of the vacuum suction ureteroscopy group was significantly higher when the stone diameter was > 1.5 cm at 1 month postoperatively ( P < 0.05); however, there were no differences in postoperative complications.( P > 0.05). In conclusion, the novel vacuum suction ureteroscopic lithotripsy has significantly improved the stone-free rate especially in complicated cases; however the complication and cost was not increased.
E-cigarette Aerosols Versus Cigarette Smoke: Harm Reduction in Levels of Harmful and Potentially Harmful Constituents and Cytotoxicity
Authors: Wu Zehong , Xu Jing , Xu Te , Li Xinduo , Luo Quan , Luo An , Huang Yilan , Jiang Xingtao 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background: Worldwide adoption of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has increased exponentially over the past decade due to the perception that they may represent a safer alternative to conventional cigarettes (CS) and as an effort to reduce smoking-related diseases. Various types of e-cigarettes from different brands have been emerged in the market with different design and quality. However, whether the safety risks of e-cigarettes held ﻿the trends toward positive changes need to be further certified by more scientific evidence. Methods: A systematic comparison study on the selected harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) levels, including carbonyls, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and metals in aerosols of two typical commercially available e-cigarettes and one cigarette smoke (CS) in Chinese market were proceeded, together with their cytotoxicity on Jukart, CNE-1, HONE1, Hep-2 cell lines by CCK-8 and colony formation assays. Results: The results showed that the levels of vast majority HPHCs in e-cigarette aerosols are either undetected or obviously lower than those in CS, which indicating the exposure to HPHCs was markedly reduced in the tested e-cigarettes. The CCK-8 and colony formation assay also indicated that the TPM extracts of e-cigarette aerosols also exhibited much weaker cytotoxicity than CS. Conclusion: The comparison of HPHCs levels in e-cigarette aerosols revealed that the use of e-cigarettes could lead to a significant reduction in exposure to harmful substances compared to CS. In tandem, the potential cytotoxicity of e-cigarettes on cell levels also showed potential for improvement compared to smoking. However, more attention needs to be paid to the differences in safety risks between different brands of e-cigarettes.
The attainment of herd immunity with reduced risk of contact infection in modelling
Authors: Law Kian Boon , Peariasamy Kalaiarasu M , Ibrahim Hishamshah , Abdullah Noor Hisham 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
The risk of contact infection among susceptible individuals in a randomly mixed population can be reduced by the presence of immune individuals and this concept is referred to as herd immunity1–3. The conventional susceptible-infectious-recovered (SIR) model does not feature a reduced risk of susceptible individuals in the transmission dynamics of infectious disease, therefore violates the fundamental of herd immunity4. Here we show that the reduced risk of contact infection among susceptible individuals in the SIR model can be attained by incorporating the proportion of susceptible individuals (model A) or the inverse of proportion of recovered individuals (model B) in the force of infection of the SIR model. We simulated the conventional SIR model and both new SIR models under the exact condition with a basic reproduction ratio of 3.0 and an expected herd immunity threshold of 0.667 (66.7%). All three models performed likewise at the initial stage of an epidemic. In the conventional SIR model, the epidemic continued until 94.0 % of the population had been infected and recovered, way above the threshold for eradication and control of the epidemic. Both models A and B simulated the epidemic waning when 66.7% and 75.6% of the population had been infected, as a result of the herd effect. As a result, model A provides a better framework for modelling vaccine-induced herd or population immunity, while model B provides a better framework for modelling infection-induced herd or population immunity. Our results demonstrate how the new modelling framework overcomes the drawback of the conventional SIR model and attain the effect of herd immunity in modelling outputs, which is important for modelling infectious disease in a randomly mixed population, especially for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Efficacy, Mechanism, and Safety of Herbal Medicine for Respiratory Disease Induced by Particulate Matter: a Protocol for a Scoping Review
Authors: Leem Jungtae , Kim Yohwan , Kim Kwan-Il 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background: Particulate matter (PM) is an important environmental risk factor in the initiation and exacerbation of respiratory disease. Various herbal medicines have exhibited a reduction in symptoms of respiratory diseases induced by PM in animal models; however, their efficacy, mechanism, and safety have not been reviewed. This review will evaluate the efficacy, safety, and mechanism of action of herbal medicines in respiratory diseases caused by PM. Methods:We will follow the scoping review framework developed by Arksey and O’Malley. MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials will be searched for relevant English-language publications, and only peer-reviewed, controlled comparative in-vivo/in-vitro studies examining the effects of herbs in animal models of respiratory disease induced by PM will be included. The basic characteristics, research method, possible mechanism, and results will be extracted. The primary outcome will be pulmonary function; secondary outcomes will be inflammatory markers, reactive oxygen species, histology and mechanisms, and adverse events. Two researchers will independently perform the study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. RevMan software (version 5.3) will be used for the quantitative data synthesis. When appropriate, data will be pooled for meta-analysis using fixed or random effects models; otherwise, evidence will be summarized qualitatively. Ethics and Dissemination: Ethical approval is not required because individual patient data will not be included. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications or conference presentations.Registration number: This review protocol has been registered with the Open Science Framework on February 12, 2021 (https://osf.io/s7uvk/)