bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Kidney Biopsy in Patients With Monoclonal Gammopathy: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Nie Sheng , Wang Mengyi , Wan Qijun , Kong Yaozhong , Ou Jun , Jia Nan , Zhang Xiaodong , Luo Fan , Liu Xiaoting , Wang Lin , Cao Yue , Chen Ruixuan , Zhao Mingpeng , Chan David Yiu Leung , Wang Guobao 
Published: May 2021

Objectives: To analyze the clinical characteristics and renal pathological manifestations of patients with monoclonal gammopathy (MG) and kidney injury.Methods: This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study conducted at four tertiary hospitals in China. The study population comprised patients with MG admitted from January 1 2013 to December 31 2020. Hospitalization records, laboratory data, and kidney biopsy reports of all patients were collected from the electronic hospital information systems. The study outcomes included kidney disease progression and major hemorrhagic complications after kidney biopsy.Results: We identified 1,164 patients with MG, 782 (67.2%) of whom had underlying kidney injury. Of 101 patients who underwent kidney biopsy, 16 had malignant neoplasms. Amyloid nephropathy was the most common finding (n = 34, 33.7%), followed by membranous nephropathy (n = 18, 17.8%) and membranoproliferative nephritis (n = 8, 7.9%). Among 85 patients with non-malignant hematologic conditions who underwent kidney biopsy, 43 had MG of renal significance (MGRS) related lesions and 42 had MG-unrelated lesions. The risk of kidney disease progression was higher in patients with kidney injury than in patients without kidney injury.Conclusion: Among patients with MG and kidney injury, only 12.9% underwent kidney biopsy and more than 40% of these patients had MG-unrelated lesions. A kidney biopsy is safe and essential to maximize the possibility of correct diagnosis for patients with clinically suspected MG of renal significance (MGRS).
Glycosylation at Asn254 Is Required for the Activation of the PDGF-C Protein
Authors: Hu Wenjie , Zhang Ruting , Chen Wei , Lin Dongyue , Wei Kun , Li Jiahui , Zhang Bo , Li Xuri , Tang Zhongshu 
Published: May 2021

Platelet-derived growth factor C (PDGF-C) is a member of the PDGF/VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) family, which includes proteins that are well known for their mitogenic effects on multiple cell types. Glycosylation is one of the most important forms of posttranslational modification that has a significant impact on secreted and membrane proteins. Glycosylation has many well-characterized roles in facilitating protein processing and contributes to appropriate folding, conformation, distribution, and stability of proteins that are synthesized intracellularly in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus. Although the general process and functions of glycosylation are well documented, there are most likely others yet to be discovered, as the glycosylation of many potential substrates has not been characterized. In this study, we report that the PDGF-C protein is glycosylated at three sites, including Asn25, Asn55, and Asn254. However, we found that mutations at any of these sites do not affect the protein expression or secretion. Similarly, disruption of PDGF-C glycosylation had no impact on its progression through the ER and Golgi apparatus. However, the introduction of a mutation at Asn254 (N254 A) prevents the activation of full-length PDGF-C and its capacity for signaling via the PDGF receptor. Our findings reveal that glycosylation affects PDGF-C activation rather than the protein synthesis or processing. This study characterizes a crucial modification of the PDGF-C protein, and may shed new light on the process and function of glycosylation.
Is There Any Association Between Neurodegenerative Diseases and Periodontitis? A Systematic Review
Authors: Alvarenga María Olimpia Paz , Frazão Deborah Ribeiro , Matos Isabella Gomes de , Bittencourt Leonardo Oliveira , Fagundes Nathália Carolina Fernandes , Rösing Cassiano Kuchenbecker , Maia Lucianne Cople , Lima Rafael Rodrigues 
Published: May 2021

Background: Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of progressive disorders that affect the central nervous system (CNS) such as Alzheimer, Parkinson, and multiple sclerosis. Inflammation plays a critical role in the onset and progression of these injuries. Periodontitis is considered an inflammatory disease caused by oral biofilms around the tooth-supporting tissues, leading to a systemic and chronic inflammatory condition. Thus, this systematic review aimed to search for evidence in the association between neurodegenerative disorders and periodontitis.Methods: This systematic review was registered at International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under the code CRD 42016038327. The search strategy was performed in three electronic databases and one gray literature source—PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and OpenGrey, based on the PECO acronym: observational studies in humans (P) in which a neurodegenerative disease was present (E) or absent (C) to observe an association with periodontitis (O). The Fowkes and Fulton checklist was used to critically appraise the methodological quality and the risk of bias of individual studies. The quality of evidence was assessed by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE).Results: From 534 articles found, 12 were included, of which eight were case–control, three were cross-sectional, and one was a cohort, giving a total of 3,460 participants. All the included studies reported an association between some neurodegenerative diseases and periodontitis and presented a low risk of bias. According to the GRADE approach, the level of evidence of probing pocket depth was considered very low due to the significant heterogeneity across the studies' upgrading imprecision and inconsistency.Conclusions: Although all the included studies in this review reported an association between neurodegenerative diseases and periodontitis, the level of evidence was classified to be very low, which suggests a cautious interpretation of the results.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging Correlates of Concussion Related Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Gonzalez Angelica C. , Kim Minseon , Keser Zafer , Ibrahim Lamya , Singh Sonia K. , Ahmad Mohammed J. , Hasan Omar , Kamali Arash , Hasan Khader M. , Schulz Paul E. 
Published: May 2021

Introduction: Cognitive impairment after concussion has been widely reported, but there is no reliable imaging biomarker that predicts the severity of cognitive decline post-concussion. This study tests the hypothesis that patients with a history of concussion and persistent cognitive impairment have fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) values from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) that are specifically associated with poor performance on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).Methods: Fifty-three subjects (19 females) with concussions and persistent cognitive symptoms had MR imaging and the MoCA. Imaging was analyzed by atlas-based, whole-brain DTI segmentation and FLAIR lesion segmentation. Then, we conducted a random forest-based recursive feature elimination (RFE) with 10-fold cross-validation on the entire dataset, and with partial correlation adjustment for age and lesion load.Results: RFE showed that 11 DTI variables were found to be important predictors of MoCA scores. Partial correlation analyses, corrected for age and lesion load, showed significant correlations between MoCA scores and right fronto-temporal regions: inferior temporal gyrus MD (r = −0.62, p = 0.00001), middle temporal gyrus MD (r = −0.54, p = 0.0001), angular gyrus MD (r = −0.48, p = 0.0008), and inferior frontal gyrus FA (r = 0.44, p = 0.002).Discussion: This is the first study to demonstrate a correlation between MoCA scores and DTI variables in patients with a history of concussion and persistent cognitive impairment. This kind of research will significantly increase our understanding of why certain persons have persistent cognitive changes after concussion which, in turn, may allow us to predict persistent impairment after concussion and suggest new interventions.
Comparison of Long-Term Outcomes of Monotherapy and Polytherapy in Seizure-Free Patients With Epilepsy Following Antiseizure Medication Withdrawal
Authors: Wang Yuxuan , Xia Li , Li Rong , Li Yudan , Li Jingyi , Zhou Qin , Pan Songqing 
Published: May 2021

Objective: The objectives of this study were to compare the risk and timing of seizure relapse in seizure-free patients with epilepsy following the withdrawal of monotherapy or polytherapy and to identify relevant influencing factors.Methods: Patients who had achieved at least a 2-year seizure remission and started the withdrawal of antiseizure medication (ASM) were enrolled in this study. All patients were followed for at least 3 years or until seizure relapse. According to the number of ASMs at the time of withdrawalwas about twice than that, patients were divided into two groups: monotherapy group and polytherapy group. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to compare the recurrence risk of the two groups. Univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to analyze potential confounding variables between patients treated with monotherapy and polytherapy.Results: A total of 188 patients (119 males and 69 females) were included. The average prescribed daily dose of most ASMs at the time of withdrawal was moderate or low (30–50% defined daily dose). The recurrence of most patients (89.2%) occurred within the first 3 years after withdrawal. The recurrence risk in patients treated with polytherapy at the time of withdrawal was about twice than that of the monotherapy group [p = 0.001, hazard ratio (HR) = 2.152, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.350–3.428]. Multivariate analysis showed that patients treated with polytherapy were significantly older at seizure onset [p = 0.024, odd ratio (OR) = 1.027, 95% CI = 1.004–1.052] and had a significantly longer duration of epilepsy before treatment (p = 0.004, OR = 1.009, 95% CI = 1.003–1.015) compared to patients in the monotherapy group. In addition, a history of perinatal injury was found to be an independent risk factor of seizure relapse in patients with ASM withdrawal.Conclusion: The average prescribed daily dose of most ASMs at the time of withdrawal was moderate or low. Patients who received polytherapy at the time of withdrawal, particularly those with later seizure onset age and longer epilepsy duration before treatment, had a higher recurrence risk after ASMs withdrawal compared to patients treated with monotherapy.
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma at CT: A Combined Nomogram Model to Preoperatively Predict Cancer Stage and Survival Outcome
Authors: Cen Chunyuan , Liu Liying , Li Xin , Wu Ailan , Liu Huan , Wang Xinrong , Wu Heshui , Wang Chunyou , Han Ping , Wang Siqi 
Published: May 2021

ObjectivesTo construct a nomogram model that combines clinical characteristics and radiomics signatures to preoperatively discriminate pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in stage I-II and III-IV and predict overall survival.MethodsA total of 135 patients with histopathologically confirmed PDAC who underwent contrast-enhanced CT were included. A total of 384 radiomics features were extracted from arterial phase (AP) or portal venous phase (PVP) images. Four steps were used for feature selection, and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to build radiomics signatures and combined nomogram model. Performance of the proposed model was assessed by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves and decision curve analysis (DCA). Kaplan-Meier analysis was applied to analyze overall survival in the stage I-II and III-IV PDAC groups.ResultsThe AP+PVP radiomics signature showed the best performance among the three radiomics signatures [training cohort: area under the curve (AUC) = 0.919; validation cohort: AUC = 0.831]. The combined nomogram model integrating AP+PVP radiomics signature with clinical characteristics (tumor location, carcinoembryonic antigen level, and tumor maximum diameter) demonstrated the best discrimination performance (training cohort: AUC = 0.940; validation cohort: AUC = 0.912). Calibration curves and DCA verified the clinical usefulness of the combined nomogram model. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that overall survival of patients in the predicted stage I-II PDAC group was longer than patients in stage III-IV PDAC group (p&lt;0.0001).ConclusionsWe propose a combined model with excellent performance for the preoperative, individualized, noninvasive discrimination of stage I-II and III-IV PDAC and prediction of overall survival.
Body Composition Parameters May Be Prognostic Factors in Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinoma Treated by Radical Nephroureterectomy
Authors: Pan Yulong , Chen Zeyu , Yang Lanqing , Wang Xingyuan , Yi Zeng , Zhou Liang , Chen Yongjiang , Yang Lu , Zhuo Hui , Bao Yige , Wei Qiang 
Published: May 2021

ObjectiveThis study assessed the association between body composition and prognosis of patients with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) patients treated by radical nephroureterectomy.MethodsWe retrospectively collected baseline data on age, sex, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, diabetes, and tumor-related factors. Computed tomography (CT) scans were performed to measure body composition parameters such as muscle attenuation (MA), total abdominal muscle area (TAMA), visceral fat area (VFA), intermuscular fat area (IMF), and lateral/posterior perirenal fat thickness (L/P PNF), visceral fat density (VD), and subcutaneous fat density (SD). Patient follow-up was conducted via telephone or in the clinic. The endpoints of follow-up were all-cause death, local progression or distant metastasis. Survival analysis was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and risk factors associated with prognosis were identified using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard analyses.ResultsAmong the 273 UTUC patients (median age, 68 years) enrolled in our study, 102 had a BMI &gt; 24.0, 100 suffered from diabetes, and 120 had hypertension. A large proportion of patients (189) had high grade tumors. Across all patients, 1- and 3-year rates for overall survival were 86.45% and 75.55%; local progression-free survival, 92.11% and 89.67%; and distant metastasis-free survival, 85.23% and 80.17%. Based on the Cox regression analysis, MA, IMF, TAMA, TPA, TPT, APT, SMI and PMI significantly reduced the risk of local progression (p &lt; 0.05), while PPNF = 1 point reduced the risk of distant metastasis (p &lt; 0.05). Overall survival was significantly associated with MA, TAMA, and SMI (p &lt; 0.05).ConclusionOur findings illustrate that body composition parameters can act as independent predictors of prognosis in UTUC patients who underwent RNU. These results can help improve stratification of patients and optimize postoperative treatment.
Comparison of the Efficacy of S-1 Plus Oxaliplatin or Capecitabine Plus Oxaliplatin for Six and Eight Chemotherapy Cycles as Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients With Stage II-III Gastric Cancer After D2 Resection
Authors: Yu Yuanyuan , Zhang Zicheng , Meng Qianhao , Ma Yue , Fan Xiaona , Sun Jie , Wang Guangyu 
Published: May 2021

ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy with six or eight cycles of S-1 plus oxaliplatin (SOX) or Capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (XELOX) after D2 resection of GC.Design and participantsWe collected 470 cases of patients with TNM stage II and III GC who underwent D2 gastrectomy in the Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital from January 2007 to December 2017 and received six or eight cycles of SOX or XELOX regimen. This study was designed to evaluate the prognosis of patients receiving six or eight cycles of SOX or XELOX chemotherapy and identify the appropriate number of chemotherapy cycles.ResultsAmong the 470 study participants [340 (72.3%) males; median age, 50 years (range, 24-76 years)], 355 and 115 received XELOX or SOX regimen chemotherapy, respectively. The number of 152 patients included in this study who received 6 and 8 cycles of chemotherapy in stage II and stage III without considering chemotherapy regimens were 125 and 27. The median DFS was, respectively, 14.9 months and 26.8 months (P = 0.08), the median OS was, respectively, 30.2 months and 30.8 months (P = 0.5), the difference was not statistically significant. Comprehensive survival analysis of XELOX and SOX group showed no significant difference for DFS (P = 0.29) and OS (P = 0.61). The total number of stage III GC patients who received six and eight cycles of chemotherapy was 92 and 19, respectively. The median DFS of patients who received six and eight cycles of chemotherapy was 14.6 and 23.2 months (P = 0.3), respectively. The median OS of patients who received six and eight cycles of chemotherapy was 26 and 30.6 months (P = 0.9), respectively. Comprehensive analysis of DFS (P=0.73) and OS (P=0.6) shows no difference between the XELOX group SOX groups. Subgroup analysis revealed significant differences in the gender (P = 0.05) and histological classification (P &lt; 0.05) distribution.ConclusionRegardless of the XELOX regimen or the SOX regimen, similar survival benefits are observed in patients receiving six or eight chemotherapy cycles irrespective of the regimen used. The XELOX and SOX regimens are well tolerated in patients undergoing D2 resection of GC.
Clinical and Objective Cognitive Measures for the Diagnosis of Cognitive Frailty Subtypes: A Comparative Study
Authors: Ruan Qingwei , Zhang Weibin , Ruan Jian , Chen Jie , Yu Zhuowei 
Published: May 2021

BackgroundCognitive frailty (CF) includes reversible and potentially reversible subtypes; the former is known as concurrent physical frailty (PF) and pre-mild cognitive impairment subjective cognitive decline (pre-MCI SCD), whereas the latter is known as concurrent PF and MCI. The diagnoses of pre-MCI SCD and MCI are based on clinical criteria and various subjective cognitive decline questionnaires. Heterogeneous assessment of cognitive impairment (CI) results in significant variability of CI, CF, and their subtype prevalence in various population-based studies.ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare the classification differences in CI and CF subtypes from PF and normal cognition by applying clinical and objective cognitive criteria. Clinical criteria comprised Fried PF and clinical MCI criteria combined with the SCD questionnaire, whereas objective criteria comprised Fried PF and objective cognitive criteria based on the norm-adjusted six neuropsychological test scores.MethodsOf the 335 volunteers (age ≥ 60 years) in this study, 191 were diagnosed with CI based on clinical cognitive diagnosis criteria, and 144 were identified as robust normal based on objective cognitive assessment from the community-dwelling older adult cohort. Individuals with clinical CI, including 94 with MCI and 97 with pre-MCI SCD, were reclassified into different z-score-derived MCI, pre-MCI SCD, and normal subgroups based on objective cognitive criteria. The classification diagnostic accuracy of normal cognition, PF, pre-MCI, MCI, CF, and CF subtypes based on clinical and objective criteria was compared before and after adjusting for age, sex, and education level.ResultsThe reclassification of objective assessments indicated better performance than that of clinical assessments in terms of discerning CI severity among different subgroups before adjusting for demographic factors. After covariate adjustment, clinical assessments significantly improved the ability to cognitively discriminate normal individuals from those with pre-MCI SCD and MCI but not the z-score-derived pre-MCI SCD and MCI groups from the robust normal group. Furthermore, the adjustment did not improve the ability to discriminate among individuals with reversible CF from those with potentially reversible CF and pre-MCI only SCD from MCI only SCD.ConclusionsObjective criteria showed better performance than clinical criteria in the diagnosis of individuals with CI or CF subtypes. Rapid clinical cognitive screening in combination with normative z-scores criteria is cost effective and sustainable in clinical practice.
Traffic Noise Annoyance in the Population of North Mexico: Case Study on the Daytime Period in the City of Matamoros
Authors: Zamorano-González Benito , Pena-Cardenas Fabiola , Velázquez-Narváez Yolanda , Parra-Sierra Víctor , Vargas-Martínez José Ignacio , Monreal-Aranda Oscar , Ruíz-Ramos Lucía 
Published: May 2021

Aim: The presence of noise in urban environments is rarely considered a factor that causes damage to the environment. The primary generating source is transportation means, with vehicles being the ones that affect cities the most. Traffic noise has a particular influence on the quality of life of those who are exposed to it and can cause health alterations ranging from annoyance to cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to describe the relationship between the traffic noise level and the perceived annoyance in the inhabitants of a city on the Northern Border of Mexico. The work carried out in a city represents the vulnerability characteristics: economic, social, and migratory of its sizable portion of the inhabitants. Due to that, it is impossible to identify precisely the number of residents as the number of vehicles in circulation.Methods: The streets and avenues with an annual average daily traffic of more than 1,000 vehicles were considered for the measurement of traffic noise. The equipment used was a vehicle gauge with non-invasive speed radar; type I integrating sound level meters, with their respective gauges and tripods. A questionnaire was applied to people living within 250 m of the streets and avenues in which the noise was measured.Results: The noise measurement found a parameter of LAeq estimated for 12 h during the day, exceeding 70 dBA. The data received from the questionnaire were statistically tested by using Pearson's correlation tests. A total number of 2,350 people were participated, of whom 1,378 were women (58.6%) and 972 were men (41.4%). The age of participants is ranged from 18 to 75 years. The overall perception of traffic noise annoyance identified that 1,131 participants (48.1%) responded “Yes” as they considered the noise annoying. Participants who responded “No” as well as those who responded “Do not know” resulted in a total of 1,219 people (51.9%).Conclusion: The results show that the population is desensitized to traffic noise and does not perceive it as an annoyance. The flow of vehicles and the type of vehicles are the significant factors for the propagation and increase in the traffic noise levels. Women present a considerable appreciation of traffic noise perception instead of younger people who demonstrate a higher tolerance to high-level exposure. This reflects the lack of information of the population around the noise problem and its effects.