bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of continuous positive airway pressure on plasma fibrinogen levels in obstructive sleep apnea patients: a systemic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Lin Juan , Hu Suxian , Shi Yonghong , Lu Fang , Luo Wen , Lin Yihua 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Objective: Fibrinogen has been implicated to play a role in the pathophysiology of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Many studies have evaluated the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on plasma fibrinogen levels in OSA patients. However, results from different reports were not consistent. To assess the effect of CPAP treatment on plasma fibrinogen levels of patients with OSA, a meta-analysis was performed.
Methods: A systematic search of Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane, Wanfang Database and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure was performed. Data were extracted, and then weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model.
Results: Twenty-two studies involving 859 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Combined data showed that plasma fibrinogen concentrations decreased after CPAP therapy (WMD = −0.38 g/l, 95% CI [−0.54 to −0.22 g/l], P&lt;0.001). In the subgroup analyses by therapy duration, plasma fibrinogen concentrations declined significantly in the long-term (≥1 month) CPAP therapy subgroup (WMD = −0.33 g/l, 95% CI [−0.49 to −0.16 g/l], P&lt;0.001) but not in the short-term (&lt;1 month) CPAP therapy subgroup (WMD = −0.84 g/l, 95% CI [−1.70 to 0.03 g/l], P=0.058). Moreover, in patients with long-term CPAP therapy duration, plasma fibrinogen levels decreased with good CPAP compliance (≥4 h/night) (WMD = −0.37 g/l, 95% CI [−0.55 to −0.19 g/l], P&lt;0.001) but not with poor CPAP compliance (&lt;4 h/night) (WMD = 0.12 g/l, 95% CI [−0.09 to 0.33 g/l], P=0.247).
Conclusion: Long-term CPAP treatment with good compliance can reduce the plasma fibrinogen levels in patients with OSA.
The regulatory effect of 6-TG on lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA ceRNA network in triple-negative breast cancer cell line
Authors: Zhang Daoyu , An Xinglan , Yu Hao , Li Ziyi 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent and recurring cancer types that leads to deaths in women. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is difficult to treat due to the lack of therapeutic targets. Many studies have focused on identifying drugs for use as alternative treatments for breast cancer. Thioguanine (6-TG) exerts antitumor effects in cancer. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that competitive endogenous ribonucleic acids (ceRNAs) are involved in cancer processes. However, the mechanism by which 6-TG regulates lncRNA–miRNA–mRNAs has not been elucidated. We evaluated the antitumor effect of 6-TG in MDA-MB-231 cells and comprehensively analyzed the RNA-Seq data of MDA-MB-231 cells treated with 6-TG. Our results showed that most tumor pathways were blocked by 6-TG. The hub genes were FN1, FLNA, FLNB, VCL, GSN, MYH10, ACTN4, KDR and EREG, and they were all down-regulated after 6-TG treatment. The coexpression network consisted of 18 microRNAs (miRNAs), 9 long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and 20 mRNAs. Hsa-mir-16-5p and Hsa-mir-335-5p targeted the greatest number of mRNAs in the network. These molecules could bind to PAX8-AS1 and eliminate the inhibition of target mRNA expression. We showed that PAX8-AS1 is the main lncRNA affected by 6-TG and that PAX8-AS1 regulates the hub genes in tumor pathways by competitively binding with miR-16-5p and miR-335-5p.
An image denoising algorithm based on adaptive clustering and singular value decomposition
Authors: Li Ping , Wang Hua , Li Xuemei , Zhang Caiming 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSelf‐similarity, a prior of natural images, has attracted much attention. The attribute means that low‐rank group matrices can be constructed from similar image patches. For low‐rank approximation denoising methods based on singular value decomposition (SVD) the ability to accurately construct group matrices with noise and handle singular values are keys. Here, combining image priors, a two‐stage clustering method to adaptively construct group matrices is designed. The method is anti‐noise, that is, when noise levels are high, these matrices are more accurate than that constructed by other algorithms. Then, according to the significance of singular values and singular vectors, singular vectors of the low‐rank estimations are corrected so that the residual noise in the low‐rank estimations is further suppressed. For back projection , the authors use the original noise level and the residual image to adaptively determine projection parameters and new noise levels . So, authors' back projection can provide a good foundation for authors' two‐stage denoising methods, better remove noise and preserve image details. Experimental results show that compared with the existing state‐of‐the‐art denoising algorithms, the proposed algorithm achieves competitive denoising performances in terms of quantitative metrics and preserving details. Especially with the increase of noise, the competitiveness of authors' algorithms is gradually enhanced.
Bilateral attention network for semantic segmentation
Authors: Wang Dongli , Li Nanjun , Zhou Yan , Mu Jinzhen 
Published: January 2021

AbstractEnhancing network feature representation capabilities and reducing the loss of image details have become the focus of semantic segmentation task. This work proposes the bilateral attention network for semantic segmentation. The authors embed two attention modules in the encoder and decoder structures . Specifically, high‐level features of the encoder structure integrate all channel maps through dense channel relationships learned by the channel correlation coefficient attention module. The positively correlated channels promote each other, and the negatively correlated channels suppress each other. In the decoder structure, low‐level features selectively emphasize the edge detail information in the feature map through the position attention module. The feature expression of semantic segmentation is improved by feature fusion of the two attention modules to obtain more accurate segmentation results . Finally, to verify the effectiveness of the model, the authors conduct experiments on the PASCAL VOC 2012 and Cityscapes scene analysis benchmark data sets and achieve a mean intersection‐over‐union of 74.92% and 66.63%, respectively.
Die akute kalzifizierende Periarthritis als Differentialdiagnose des Gelenkempyems an der Hand
Authors: Illg Claudius , Schäfer Ruth Christine , Daigeler Adrien , Krauss Sabrina 
Published: January 2021

Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund Die akute kalzifizierende Periarthritis wird bedingt durch Hydroxylapatit-Ablagerungen in den periartikulären Weichteilen. Die Symptomatik ähnelt der eines Gelenkempyems, was die hohe Rate an Fehldiagnosen erklärt.
Patienten Vorgestellt werden die Fälle eines 45- und eines 46-jährigen Patienten mit plötzlicher Schwellung, Rötung, Funktionseinschränkung und Schmerzen an der Hand. Radiologisch konnten periartikuläre Kalzifizierungen an den betroffenen Grundgelenken dargestellt werden.
Ergebnisse Bei beiden Patienten bildete sich die Symptomatik unter konservativer Therapie innerhalb weniger Tage vollständig zurück.
Schlussfolgerung Die akute kalzifizierende Periarthritis sollte als Differentialdiagnose des Gelenkempyems an der Hand, insbesondere bei fehlendem adäquatem Trauma, bedacht werden. Die konservative Therapie mit Ruhigstellung und Einnahme von Antiphlogistika führt in der Regel rasch zu einer kompletten Remission.
Classical Psychedelics as Therapeutics in Psychiatry – Current Clinical Evidence and Potential Therapeutic Mechanisms in Substance Use and Mood Disorders
Authors: Mertens Lea J. , Preller Katrin H. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractClassical psychedelics, primarily psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), have been used and extensively studied in Western medicine as part of substance-assisted psychotherapy in the 1950s and 1960s. Modern clinical research is currently gaining momentum and provides new evidence for the safety and efficacy of classical psychedelics (primarily psilocybin, but also LSD and ayahuasca) in the treatment of different psychiatric conditions, including substance use and mood disorders.In this review article, we outline common pathological mechanisms of substance use disorders (SUD) and unipolar depression. Next, the current literature on the effects of psychedelics is summarized in order to generate hypotheses regarding their potential therapeutic mechanisms of action in treating these psychiatric conditions. Finally, we review and discuss clinical trials published since 2011 investigating the effects of psychedelics in SUD and depression.While results from those modern clinical trials are promising, most of them do not meet the methodological requirements to allow firm conclusions on the clinical efficacy of psychedelics. Larger, blinded, randomized controlled trials (RCT) with clearly defined patient groups and well-defined primary endpoints are needed. Additionally, the therapeutic mechanisms of classical psychedelics are currently unknown. This review presents hypotheses derived from preclinical and human studies that need to be tested in future trials to better understand the clinical potential of psychedelic substances in modern psychiatry.
Women's Experiences of Diagnosis and Treatment of Early Menopause and Premature Ovarian Insufficiency: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Johnston-Ataata Kate , Flore Jacinthe , Kokanović Renata 
Published: January 2021

AbstractEarly menopause (EM) and premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) affect an estimated 10% of women and can precipitate a wide range of physiological and personal impacts. Receiving a diagnosis of EM/POI and navigating treatment can be complex experiences for women; however, qualitative research exploring these aspects of the condition is limited. Our study aimed to increase understanding of women's lived experiences of EM/POI encompassing its medical, social, and emotional dimensions. We conducted narrative interviews with 30 women aged 28 to 51 years with spontaneous and iatrogenic EM/POI and menopausal symptoms resulting from ovarian suppression therapy, and analyzed transcripts thematically. This article examines the prominent and under-researched themes of women's experiences of navigating “diagnosis” and treatment. Diagnosis emerged as a complex and changeable process wherein women had to negotiate a diagnosis of spontaneous EM/POI and grasp the meaning and probability of iatrogenic EM/POI. Navigating treatment entailed further complexity as women grappled with the risks and efficacy of hormonal and non-hormonal medications. The findings underline the intricacies of EM/POI as a biomedical phenomenon and highlight the need for health practitioners to recognize and respond to the challenges women face in coming to terms with the condition and managing its embodied effects.
Effect of Prolonged Hypothermic Cardiopulmonary Bypass, Heparin, and Protamine on Platelet: A Small-Group Study
Authors: Epstein Danny , Vishnepolsky Andrey , Bolotin Gil , Atweh Nardeen , Bonstein Lilach , Lehavi Amit 
Published: January 2021

AbstractCardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with platelet dysfunction (PD), an important cause of postoperative bleeding. The etiology of PD is not completely understood. We mapped the platelets' function during CPB to determine the etiology of PD. Platelets activation, measured by procaspase activating compound-1 and P-selectin expression (CD62P), after activation by adenosine diphosphate and thrombin receptor activator peptide, were decreased by protamine. Changes during CPB were insignificant. Platelet-leukocyte aggregation was increased by CPB but not by protamine. Platelet apoptosis marker, annexin V, was increased by protamine. Changes during CPB were insignificant. Our findings demonstrate that protamine given after CPB plays a central role in PD and count decrease.
Cerebral Toxocariasis as a Cause of Epilepsy: A Pediatric Case
Authors: Bossi Grazia , Bruno Raffaele , Novati Stefano , Maserati Roberta , Mussati Georgia , Gorone Mariasole Prevedoni , Nepita Edoardo Vecchio , Regalbuto Corrado , Gola Gioia , Simoncelli Anna Maria , Bruno Antonella , Musso Paola , Clerici Edoardo , Marseglia Gian Luigi 
Published: January 2021

AbstractToxocarosis is the consequence of human infection by Toxocara spp. larvae and is one of the most common ascarioses, not only in developing countries, but also in the European region, where its prevalence reaches 14%. Due to their particular behavior, children are at higher risk of this parasitic infection, whose clinical features depend on the localization of the Toxocara larvae. Neurotoxocariasis is very uncommon in children and may take different forms depending on the underlying physiopathologic process: immune reaction against the parasite antigens, vasculitis, treatment complications, or, very rarely, brain localization of Toxocara spp. larvae. The association between neurotoxocariasis and the onset of childhood epilepsy has been postulated but is still debated. Moreover, a Toxocara spp. abscess causing epileptic seizures in children has been rarely described, especially in western countries. Hereby we present a 9-year-old patient with a new diagnosis of epilepsy definitely secondary to brain abscess due to the localization of Toxocara canis larvae. Diagnosis was confirmed by neuroimaging and serological test. The successful treatment with albendazole and steroids was documented with a close and long-term clinical and neuroradiological follow-up. Our experience confirms that every case of cryptogenetic epilepsy in children deserves a neuroimaging study and, in case of cystic images, Toxocara serology is mandatory to avoid further unnecessary invasive diagnostic investigations and to set the specific drug therapy.
Does the 45 mm Size Cutoff for Ascending Aortic Replacement Predict Better Early Outcomes in Bicuspid Aortic Valve?
Authors: Li Yi-Jia , Ma Wei-Guo , Qi Yue , Zhu Jun-Ming , Yang Ya , Sun Li-Zhong 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background The aim of this study is to test if the newly proposed 45 mm size criterion for ascending aortic replacement (AAR) in bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) is predictive of improved early outcomes.
Methods Data of 306 BAV patients with an aortic diameter of ≥45 mm undergoing AVR alone or with AAR were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into groups of AVR + AAR (n = 220) and AVR only (n = 86) based on if surgery was performed according to the 45 mm criterion. End point was early adverse events, including 30-day and in-hospital mortality, cardiac events, acute renal failure, stroke, and reoperation for bleeding. Cox regression was used to assess if conformance to 45 mm criterion could predict fewer early adverse events.
Results AVR + AAR group had significantly higher postoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (0.59 ± 0.09 vs. 0.55 ± 0.11, p = 0.006) and longer cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time (128 vs. 111 minutes, p = 0.002). Early adverse events occurred in 45 patients (14.7%), which was more prevalent in the AVR-only group (22.1% vs. 11.8%, p = 0.020). Conformance to the 45 mm criterion predicted lower rate of early adverse events (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.53, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.28–0.98, p = 0.042). After adjustment for gender, age, AAo diameter, sinuses of Valsalva diameter, preoperative LVEF, Sievers subtypes, BAV valvulopathy, and CPB and cross-clamp times, conformance to the 45 mm size criterion still predicted lower incidence of early adverse events (HR: 0.37, 95% CI: 0.15–0.90, p = 0.028).
Conclusions This study shows that conformance to 45 mm size cutoff for preemptive AAR during aortic valve replacement in patients with BAV was not associated with increased risk for adverse events and may improve early surgical outcomes.
The Role of Lifestyle Intervention in the Prevention and Treatment of Gestational Diabetes
Authors: Moholdt Trine , Hayman Melanie , Shorakae Soulmaz , Brown Wendy J. , Harrison Cheryce L. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractObesity during pregnancy is associated with the development of adverse outcomes, including gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). GDM is highly associated with obesity and independently increases the risk of both complications during pregnancy and future impaired glycemic control and risk factors for cardiovascular disease for both the mother and child. Despite extensive research evaluating the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions incorporating diet and/or exercise, there remains a lack of definitive consensus on their overall efficacy alone or in combination for both the prevention and treatment of GDM. Combination of diet and physical activity/exercise interventions for GDM prevention demonstrates limited success, whereas exercise-only interventions report of risk reductions ranging from 3 to 49%. Similarly, combination therapy of diet and exercise is the first-line treatment of GDM, with positive effects on maternal weight gain and the prevalence of infants born large-for-gestational age. Yet, there is inconclusive evidence on the effects of diet or exercise as standalone therapies for GDM treatment. In clinical care, women with GDM should be treated with a multidisciplinary approach, starting with lifestyle modification and escalating to pharmacotherapy if needed. Several key knowledge gaps remain, including how lifestyle interventions can be optimized during pregnancy, and whether intervention during preconception is effective for preventing the rising prevalence of GDM.
Multiple Regression Modeling for Age Estimation by Assessment and Comparison of Spheno-Occipital Synchondrosis Fusion and Cervical Vertebral Maturation Stages
Authors: Belgin Ceren Aktuna , Bayrak Seval , Orhan Kaan , Ankarali Handan 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Objectives The aim of this study was (1) to evaluate the relationship between spheno-occipital synchondrosis (SOS) fusion stages, cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) stages, and clivus sizes with chronological age on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images, and (2) to compare these methods for accurate age estimation using regression analysis.
Methods The CBCT images of 200 individuals (102 females and 98 males) were included in the study. The SOS fusion stages and CVM stages were evaluated. The width and length of the clivus were measured. The effects of SOS fusion stages, CVM stages, clivus width, and clivus length on age estimation were evaluated by univariate tests and the effects of coexistence with ANCOVA and regression model. Spearman rank correlation analysis was also used to investigate the relationship between the SOS fusion stage, CVM stage, clivus width, and clivus length.
Results The SOS stages, CVM stages, and clivus width were not shown statistically significant differences between the sexes (p-values = 0.205, 0.162, and 0.277, respectively), whereas clivus length was significantly longer in males (42.9 ± 4.26 mm) than in females (41.04 ± 3.74 mm). Multiple regression analysis showed 80% success when all parameters (SOS fusion stages, CVM stages, clivus width, and clivus length) were taken into consideration.
Conclusion In conclusion, with the use of CVM stages and SOS fusion stages together, an accurate and reliable age estimation can be obtained in forensic medicine.
Optic Nerve Gliomas
Authors: Wladis Edward J. , Adamo Matthew A. , Weintraub Lauren 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Objectives To describe the diagnostic and management features of optic nerve gliomas.
Design Literature review.
Results Optic nerve gliomas are generally benign in the pediatric age group although they are usually malignant and aggressive in adults. As such, the mechanisms by which these lesions are diagnosed, the systemic implications, the goals of intervention, and the nature of therapeutic management all differ between these tumors.
Conclusions This article addresses these lesions and discusses the diagnostic and therapeutic paradigms by which they may be approached.
Molecular Mechanisms of Hepatoblastoma
Authors: Zhang Yi , Solinas Antonio , Cairo Stefano , Evert Matthias , Chen Xin , Calvisi Diego F. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractHepatoblastoma (HB) is the predominant primary liver tumor in children. While the prognosis is favorable when the tumor can be resected, the outcome is dismal for patients with progressed HB. Therefore, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for HB is imperative for early detection and effective treatment. Sequencing analysis of human HB specimens unraveled the pivotal role of Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation in this disease. Nonetheless, β-catenin activation alone does not suffice to induce HB, implying the need for additional alterations. Perturbations of several pathways, including Hippo, Hedgehog, NRF2/KEAP1, HGF/c-Met, NK-1R/SP, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR cascades and aberrant activation of c-MYC, n-MYC, and EZH2 proto-oncogenes, have been identified in HB, although their role requires additional investigation. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on HB molecular pathogenesis, the relevance of the preclinical findings for the human disease, and the innovative therapeutic strategies that could be beneficial for the treatment of HB patients.
Assessing the Role of Minimal Medial Tissue Release during Navigation-Assisted Varus Total Knee Arthroplasty Based on the Degree of Preoperative Varus Deformity
Authors: Toyooka Seikai , Masuda Hironari , Nishihara Nobuhiro , Miyamoto Wataru , Kobayashi Takashi , Kawano Hirotaka , Nakagawa Takumi 
Published: January 2021

AbstractWe assessed the impact of a minimal medial soft-tissue release with complete peripheral osteophyte removal on the ability to attain manual preresection deformity correction during navigation-assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for varus osteoarthritis. We included 131 TKAs for 109 patients with medial compartment predominant osteoarthritis. The steps for achieving minimal medial soft-tissue release were performed as follows: (1) elevation of a periosteal sleeve to 5-mm distal to the joint line and (2) complete removal of peripheral osteophytes. The evaluation criteria of this study were as follows: (1) age, (2) height, (3) weight, (4) body mass index (BMI), (5) sex, (6) the preoperative femorotibial mechanical angle in the neutral position before medial release and (7) the mechanical angle in maximum manual valgus stress after the two-step medial-release procedure (measured on the navigation screens). Multiple regression analysis of the criteria was performed to determine the degree of varus deformity that allowed neutral alignment but required extensive medial release. The femorotibial mechanical angle in the neutral position before medial release and sex correlated with the mechanical angle in maximum manual valgus stress on the navigation screen after medial release (r = 0.72, p < 0.001). Based on the regression formula, the maximum degree of preoperative varus deformity that allowed neutral alignment by the minimum medial-release procedure was 5.3 degrees for males and 9.1 degrees for females. The magnitude of deformity which has an impact on the ability to correct varus deformity (by minimal soft-tissue release and complete osteophyte removal) was clarified. If the preoperative degree of varus deformity was within 5.3 degrees for males and 9.1 degrees for females, an extensive medial release was not required to obtain neutral alignment.