bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The efficacy and safety of acupuncture in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Chen Peiwen , Zhong Xin , Dai Yunkai , Tan Meiao , Zhang Gaochuan , Ke Xuehong , Huang Keer , Zhou Zunming 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Background:
The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of acupuncture treatment (AT) or acupuncture plus conventional medicine (CM) versus CM alone using a meta-analysis of all published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods:
Eight databases were searched independently from inception to April 30, 2020. RCTs were included if they contained reports on the use acupuncture or the use of acupuncture combined with CM and compared with the use of CM. Summary odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to calculate the overall clinical efficacy. Secondary outcomes, namely aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and body mass index, were calculated by mean difference with 95% CIs.

Results:
After the final screening, 8 RCTs with 939 patients were included. This meta-analysis showed that AT was superior to CM in improving overall clinical efficacy (OR = 3.19, 95% CI: 2.06–4.92, P
< .00001). In addition, AT plus CM could significantly improve overall clinical efficacy compared to treatment with CM alone (OR = 5.11, 95% CI: 2.43–10.75, P
< .0001). Moreover, the benefits were also demonstrated in other outcomes, including alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol indexes. However, AT plus CM could not decrease body mass index levels in comparison with CM. The safety profile of Acupuncture therapy was satisfactory. Taichong, Zusanli, Fenglong, and Sanyinjiao were major acupoints on NAFLD treatment.

Conclusion:
Acupuncture may be effective and safe for treatment of NAFLD. However, due to insufficient methodological quality and sample size, further high-quality studies are needed.
Comparison of the outcomes between laparoscopic surgery and conventional open surgery in treating patients with stage II endometrial carcinoma
Authors: Liu Ya , Jin Yunfeng , Lu Yuemei , Zhong Xiaorong , Lu Hong 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Background:
Endometrial carcinoma is a prevalent form of cancer. In fact, its incidence ranks fourth among European and North American females. Moreover, it is the most common gynecological malignant disease. Laparotomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, total abdominal hysterectomy, etc were common methods adopted in conventional open surgery. Recent developments in laparoscopic surgery (LPS) has made it more effective. The present study aims to compare the outcomes between LPS and a conventional open surgical procedure to treat stage II endometrial carcinoma patients.

Methods:
A comprehensive search will be conducted on Cochrane library, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and China National of Knowledge Infrastructure to collect LPS and conventional open surgery in treating stage II endometrial carcinoma. The search will consider all articles published since the inception of the databases till July 2021. A pair of scholars will perform independent screening of the literature and extracted data to evaluate the bias risk in the selected studies. Afterwards, RevMan5.3 software will be used to conduct a meta-analysis.

Conclusion:
This study will conduct a meta-analysis to compare the clinical efficacy of LPS and conventional open surgery in the treatment of stage II endometrial carcinoma.
Global trends and performances of Mediterranean diet
Authors: Pan Ciming , Jiang Nan , Cao Beiling , Dong Changwu 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Background:
The Mediterranean diet (MD) is an ancient eating habit that is believed to contribute to a healthy lifestyle. Unsurprisingly, research on the MD is growing rapidly as people pay more attention to health preservation and prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of chronic diseases. Previous reviews focused more on the effects of MD on a particular disease which has enhanced its significance in the medicine field. However, few studies have attempted to provide a comprehensive summary and analysis of this topic. This study evaluates the global research trends of scientific outputs related to MD from multiple perspectives, using a bibliometric analysis and visualization tool (CiteSpace software) to scientifically analyze the knowledge from the literature.

Methods:
The core collection database of Web of Science was used to retrieve the bibliographic records related to MD from 1984 to March 30, 2021. CiteSpace was used to generate and analyze visual representations of the complex data input, including number of publications, research performances in journals, authors, institutions, countries and co-occurrence networks of keywords and co-citation references.

Results:
Overall, the number of MD publications has shown a significant upward trend since 2012. Nutrients and American Journal of Clinical Nutrition contained the most articles related to MD, indicating that they were important platforms for related research. Martinez-gonzalez Ma and Estruch Ramon are the authors with the highest number of publications related to MD, and it is noteworthy that these 2 authors have close cooperation in this field. The countries with the most publications are Spain and the United States, and the institutions with the most publications are Univ Navarra, Inst Salud Carlos III. The main research disciplines are “Mediterranean diet,” “risk,” “cardiovascular disease,” “adherence,” “obesity,” “coronary heart disease,” “diet,” “health,” “physical activity” and “risk factor”. Estruch R's 2013 study on cerebrovascular disease and Tricopoulou A's 2003 mortality study were cited 881 cases for 437 times, respectively, showing the importance of these 2 articles in this field.

Conclusion:
The current global trends of MD research as well as people's increasing awareness of healthcare and healthy lifestyle imply that MD research is expected to become increasingly popular with further breakthroughs.
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder with active replication of hepatitis B virus and seropositive anti-aquaporin-4 antibody
Authors: Lei Jiaying , Wang Hong 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Rationale:
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) associated with active replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is rare. High-dose corticosteroids are the mainstay treatment of NMOSD; however, these may cause reactivation of viral replication in patients with stable HBV which may lead to liver damage. Therefore, care should be placed in corticosteroid use in patients with NMOSD and HBV infection.

Patient concerns:
Herein, we report the case of a 31-year-old woman with NMOSD and HBV infection who was seropositive for anti-aquaporin-4 antibody. The stable and HBV carrier status of the patient led to the deferment of antiviral and hepatoprotective agents in early treatment. However, liver function impairment was detected during follow-up, with an improvement in the best-corrected visual acuity.

Diagnoses:
The patient was diagnosed with NMOSD with active replication of HBV and seropositive anti-aquaporin-4 antibody considering the medical history and ancillary examinations.

Interventions:
To manage NMOSD, intravenous high-dose methylprednisolone (20 mg/kg d) was administered for 5 days which was gradually tapered to oral steroids. However, liver function impairment was observed during follow-up; therefore, anti-HBV drugs (entecavir) and hepatoprotective drugs (bicyclol or polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholine) were administered.

Outcomes:
A marked improvement was observed in the patient's best-corrected visual acuity after 4 weeks of treatment. However, follow-up examinations revealed liver function damage which necessitated administration of antiviral and hepatoprotective drugs. Liver function normalized after 1 month.

Lesson:
This case underscores the importance of preventive treatment of liver protection in patients with HBV infection prior to or simultaneous with glucocorticoid therapy and furthermore, there is an urgent need to develop authoritative guidelines regulating corticosteroid use in the treatment of patients with HBV infection.
The effectiveness and safety of Chuna manual therapy adjuvant to Western medicine in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Kim Kwan-Il , Lee Beom-Joon , Jung Hee-Jae 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Background
In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management, greater emphasis has been placed on symptomatic improvement and enhanced quality of life in patients. Manual therapy among respiratory rehabilitation programs has received much attention recently, with the publication of numerous studies. In South Korea, a method known as Chuna Manual Therapy (CMT) has been applied in the management of COPD patients and in clinical practice, but the clinical basis for safety and effectiveness is yet to be established. Therefore, rigorously designed randomized controlled trials are required. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of assessing the add-on effect and safety of CMT administered with standard Western medicine therapy for the treatment of COPD.

Methods
This is a randomized, single-blind, single-center clinical pilot trial. Patients with COPD receiving standard drug therapy are randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20) at a 1:1 ratio. The experimental group receives CMT adding to the standard medical therapy once a week for 8 weeks. The control group receives only the standard drug treatment. The trial is conducted with an outcome assessor and statistician blinding. The primary outcome is the 6-minute walk test. The secondary outcomes include the pulmonary function test, the Modified Medical Research Council, visual analog scale for dyspnea, COPD assessment test, quality of life using the St. George's respiratory questionnaire, EuroQOL five dimensions questionnaire, and Korean pattern identification questionnaire. Adverse events are also be evaluated.

Conclusions
The results of this study will provide the feasibility of a large-scale clinical trial to establish high-quality clinical evidence of CMT for COPD.

Trial registration
Korean Clinical Trial Registry (http://cris.nih.go.kr; registration number: KCT0006119).
Efficacy of erzhu jiedu recipe on hepatitis B cirrhosis with hyperalphafetoproteinemia
Authors: Chen Tian-Yang , Mai Jing-Yin , Zhang Ping , Xue Jian-Hua , He Sheng-Li , Xi Jun , Chen Jian-Jie , Cheng Yang 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Background:
Hepatitis B cirrhosis with hyperalphafetoproteinemia is the intermediate stage of liver cirrhosis progressing to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), there is no effective way to treat precancerous lesions of liver in modern medicine. In recent decades, clinical and experimental evidence shows that Chinese medicine (CM) has a certain beneficial effect on Hepatitis B Cirrhosis. Therefore, this trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a CM erzhu jiedu recipe (EZJDR) for the treatment of Hepatitis B Cirrhosis with Hyperalphafetoproteinemia.

Methods:
We designed a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. A total of 72 patients of Hepatitis B Cirrhosis with hyperalphafetoproteinemia were randomized in 2 parallel groups. Patients in the control group received placebo granules similar to the EZJDR. In the EZJDR group, patients received EZJDR twice a day, after meals, for 48 weeks. The primary efficacy measures were changes in serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and alpha-fetoprotein alloplasm (AFP-L3); The secondary indicators of efficacy are changes in liver function indicators, HBV-DNA level; Liver stiffness measurement (LSM); Hepatic portal vein diameter; T lymphocyte subgroup indexes during treatment. All data will be recorded in case report forms and analyzed by Statistical Analysis System software. Adverse events will also be evaluated.

Results:
The results showed that EZJDR can significantly inhibit the levels of AFP and AFP-L3 in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis and hyperalphafetoproteinemia and have good security.

Ethics and dissemination:
The study protocol was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Shuguang Hospital, affiliated with University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai (NO.2018-579-08-01).

Trial registration:
This trial was registered on Chinese Clinical Trial Center (NO.ChiCTR1800017165).
Risk of acute kidney injury among patients with carbon monoxide poisoning
Authors: Huang Tai-Lin , Tung Min-Che , Lin Cheng-Li , Chang Kuang-Hsi 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
There is a lack of evidence supporting the association between carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and acute kidney injury (AKI). Hence, the present study aimed to evaluate the association between CO poisoning and AKI.
From 2000 to 2011, we identified patients diagnosed with CO poisoning from the inpatient claims data. Patients aged below 20 years, who had a history of chronic kidney disease or end-stage renal disease before the index date and had incomplete medical information were excluded. Control patients without CO poisoning were randomly selected from all National Health Insurance beneficiaries, and the same exclusion criteria were used. The control group was frequency matched to patients with CO poisoning based on age, sex, and year of CO poisoning diagnosis. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were conducted to assess the effects of CO poisoning on the risk of AKI. The hazard ratios and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated in the models.
Compared with the control cohort, patients with severe CO poisoning were 3.77 times more likely to develop AKI (95% CI = 2.20-6.46), followed by those with less severe CO poisoning (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.21, 95% CI = 1.61-3.03).
The findings of this nationwide study suggest an increased risk of AKI in patients with CO poisoning.
Analysis of changes in the volume of edema around brain contusions and the influencing factors
Authors: Liu Hai-Bing , Xu Wei-Ming , Wang Shou-Sen , Wei Liang-Feng , Hong Jing-Fang , Wang Cheng , Xian Liang 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI), a common neurosurgical condition, has well-known treatment guidelines. However, the mechanisms underlying the varying severity of brain edema secondary to TBI are largely unknown, leading to controversial treatments.
This study seeks to measure edema volumes around brain contusions in different regions, analyze factors related to differences in edema volume and provide a theoretical basis for brain edema treatment.
Data from 113 brain contusion patients treated at the Department of Neurosurgery of Fuzhou General Hospital from January 2017 to November 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. Based on computed tomography (CT) data, the patients were divided into the venous group (brain contusion in regions with large cortical veins, n = 47) and the nonvenous group (brain contusions in other regions, n = 66). Here, 3D Slicer software was used to calculate the brain contusion volume on the first CT obtained after injury and the brain contusion volume and its surrounding edema on the 5th day after injury. The brain contusion volume to surrounding edema volume ratio was calculated, and the number of patients who showed brain contusion progression requiring surgery was determined. Hematocrit (Hct), fibrinogen (Fg), and d-dimer levels within 6 hours and on the 5th day after admission were also compared.
Patients in the venous group had a significantly increased percentage of area with edema around the brain contusion compared with patients in the nonvenous group (P < .05), and the 2 groups showed no significant difference in the number of patients with brain contusion progression or surgical treatment (P > .05) or Hct, Fg, or d-dimer (D-D) levels. For all patients, Hct, Fg, and D-D levels within 6 hours after admission were significantly different from those on the 5th day (P < .05 for all).
Cortical venous obstruction may be the most important factor influencing edema around brain contusions. The Fg level decreased slightly, and the D-D level increased to its peak rapidly after mild-moderate TBI. This change was followed by a gradual increase in the former and a gradual decrease in the latter.
Acupuncture treatment of glaucoma based on radar plots
Authors: Liu Yu , Li Zhangxin , Gao Ruixin , Wang Wei , Cao Tingting , Ma Suhong 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackground:Glaucoma is the second most blinding eye disease in the world. Currently, lowering the intraocular pressure through various methods is the main treatment of glaucoma. Acupuncture has been effectively and safely used in the treatment of glaucoma. However, the evidence for the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of glaucoma is controversial, leading to inconsistent findings from systematic evaluations at abroad and home. Therefore, this protocol aims to provide a multivariate evaluation on the quality of evidences from current systematic reviews (SRs) and/or meta-analyzes (MAs) of acupuncture in the treatment of glaucoma, and literature quality, thus providing an intuitive and reliable evidence synthesis and basis for clinical decision making.Methods:MAs/SRs about the acupuncture treatment of glaucoma will be searched online, including Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang Database (WF), Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Library. Two investigators will independently screen literatures according to inclusion and exclusion criteria and extract data. A multivariate evaluation of the included literature will be performed by depicting radar plots in 6 aspects as follows: Year of publication, study type, SRs assessment through the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2), literature quality assessment through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA), homogeneity, and publication bias. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation evidence quality assessment tool will be used to grade and evaluate the quality of outcome indicators of the included literatures.Results:This study will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.Conclusion:We would like to provide a visual and scientific approach for clinical decision making of acupuncture treatment of glaucoma through a accessible and useful assessment of systematic reviews.
Nasal packing with Merocel in a glove finger after endoscopic endonasal reduction of medial blowout fracture
Authors: Kim Ji Hwan , Lee Jun Yong , Lee Joo-Yeon , Shim Woo Sub , Wee Jee Hye , Jung Hahn Jin 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
After endoscopic endonasal reduction (EER) for medial blowout fracture (BOF), nasal packing may be necessary for sustaining the reduced orbital contents. This study aimed to introduce a new packing technique using Merocel in a glove finger.
We retrospectively reviewed 131 patients with a mean age of 42.2 years (range, 13–80 years), who underwent EER for medial BOF, followed by a postoperative nasal packing of Merocel in a glove finger, between March 2016 and December 2019. Sex, age, side and cause of trauma, pre-operative diplopia and enophthalmos, duration from the occurrence of trauma to surgery, postoperative diplopia, enophthalmos, complications like sinusitis, and revision surgery were evaluated.
The most common cause of injury was physical assault in 47 cases and a fall or slip event in 34. Pre-operatively 22 patients had diplopia and 1 patient had enophthalmos. Mean duration after trauma to the surgery was 13.2 days (range, 1–29 days). The mean operative time was 34.1 minutes (range, 10–70 minutes). Four weeks after operation, the nasal packing was removed at an outpatient clinic, with minimal pain, discomfort, and bleeding and no evidence of infection or inflammation. A computed tomography scan performed at 3 months postoperatively showed no re-bulging. The computed tomography image of 1 patient showed frontal sinus haziness; the patient had a headache and underwent endoscopic sinus surgery for symptomatic relief. Three patients had diplopia and 1 had enophthalmos at final follow-up. No other major postoperative complications were noted.
Merocel in a glove finger packing technique proved itself to be safe and effective after EER for medial BOF.
Vertebral artery hypoplasia as an independent risk factor of posterior circulation atherosclerosis and ischemic stroke
Authors: Dinç Yasemin , Özpar Rifat , Emir Büşra , Hakyemez Bahattin , Bakar Mustafa 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Vertebral artery hypoplasia (VAH) is a frequent anatomical variation of vertebral arteries, with emerging evidence suggesting that it contributes to posterior circulation ischemia. However, the relationship between VAH and ischemic stroke remains unknown. Hence, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of VAH in patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke who were followed up in a neurology clinic and to determine if it can potentially be a risk factor for atherosclerotic stenosis in vertebrobasilar circulation.
This retrospective study included 609 patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke between January 1, 2019 and January 1, 2020. Demographic of patients, risk factors, radiological and clinical characteristics were evaluated.
Posterior circulation was very common in patients with VAH, and the most common locations of atherosclerotic stenosis were V1 and V4 segments of the vertebral artery and the middle segment of basilar artery. Analysis of the risk factors for atherosclerotic stenosis in patients with posterior circulation acute ischemic stroke suggested that VAH was an independent risk factor.
Findings of the study suggest that VAH pre-disposes atherosclerotic stenosis in vertebrobasilar circulation, although its mechanism remains unknown. Hemodynamic parameters associated with atherosclerosis could not be measured in vivo. Thus, to better understand the underlying mechanism, conducting studies that examine blood flow parameters with high-resolution magnetic resonance angiography in patients diagnosed with acute cerebral ischemia patients with VAH is warranted.