bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Xanthine oxidase inhibitors are associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease
Authors: Saito Hirotaka , Tanaka Kenichi , Iwasaki Tsuyoshi , Oda Akira , Watanabe Shuhei , Kanno Makoto , Kimura Hiroshi , Shimabukuro Michio , Asahi Koichi , Watanabe Tsuyoshi , Kazama Junichiro James 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAs previous studies have reported finding an association between hyperuricemia and the development of cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease, hyperuricemia is thought to be an independent risk factor for hypertension and diabetic mellitus. However, we have not been able to determine whether the use of xanthine oxidase inhibitors can reduce cardiovascular disease. The present study used the longitudinal data of the Fukushima Cohort Study to investigate the relationship between the use of xanthine oxidase inhibitors and cardiovascular events in patients with cardiovascular risks. During the 3-year period between 2012 and 2014, a total of 2724 subjects were enrolled in the study and followed. A total of 2501 subjects had hypertension, diabetic mellitus, dyslipidemia, or chronic kidney disease, and were identified as having cardiovascular risks. The effects of xanthine oxidase inhibitor use on the development of cardiovascular events was evaluated in these patients using a time to event analysis. During the observational periods (median 2.7 years), the incidence of cardiovascular events was 20.7 in subjects with xanthine oxidase inhibitor and 11.2 (/1000 person-years, respectively) in those without. Although a univariate Cox regression analysis showed that the risk of cardiovascular events was significantly higher in subjects administered xanthine oxidase inhibitors (HR = 1.87, 95% CI 1.19–2.94, p = 0.007), the risk was significantly lower in subjects administered a xanthine oxidase inhibitor after adjustment for covariates (HR = 0.48, 95% CI 0.26–0.91; p = 0.024) compared to those without. Xanthine oxidase inhibitor use was associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with cardiovascular risk factors.
Hyoid kinematic features for poor swallowing prognosis in patients with post-stroke dysphagia
Authors: Lee Woo Hyung , Lim Min Hyuk , Seo Han Gil , Oh Byung-Mo , Kim Sungwan 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIdentification of prognostic factors for swallowing recovery in patients with post-stroke dysphagia is crucial for determining therapeutic strategies. We aimed at exploring hyoid kinematic features of poor swallowing prognosis in patients with post-stroke dysphagia. Of 122 patients who experienced dysphagia following ischemic stroke, 18 with poor prognosis, and 18 age- and sex-matched patients with good prognosis were selected and retrospectively reviewed. Positional data of the hyoid bone during swallowing were obtained from the initial videofluoroscopic swallowing study after stroke onset. Normalized hyoid profiles of displacement/velocity and direction angle were analyzed using functional regression analysis, and maximal or mean values were compared between the good and poor prognosis patient groups. Kinematic analysis showed that maximal horizontal displacement (P = 0.031) and velocity (P = 0.034) in forward hyoid motions were significantly reduced in patients with poor prognosis compared to those with good prognosis. Mean direction angle for the initial swallowing phase was significantly lower in patients with poor prognosis than in those with good prognosis (P = 0.0498). Our study revealed that reduced horizontal forward and altered initial backward motions of the hyoid bone during swallowing can be novel kinematic features indicating poor swallowing prognosis in patients with post-stroke dysphagia.
Nationwide incidence and treatment pattern of retinopathy of prematurity in South Korea using the 2007–2018 national health insurance claims data
Authors: Hong Eun Hee , Shin Yong Un , Bae Gi Hwan , Choi Young Jin , Ahn Seong Joon , Sobrin Lucia , Hong Rimkyung , Kim Inah , Cho Heeyoon 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe aim of this study is to investigate the nationwide incidence and treatment pattern of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in South Korea. Using the population-based National Health Insurance database (2007–2018), the nationwide incidence of ROP among premature infants with a gestational age (GA) < 37 weeks (GA < 28 weeks, GA28; 28 weeks ≤ GA < 37 weeks; GA28-37) and the percentage of ROP infants who underwent treatment [surgery (vitrectomy, encircling/buckling); retinal ablation (laser photocoagulation, cryotherapy)] were evaluated. We identified 141,964 premature infants, 42,300 of whom had ROP, with a nationwide incidence of 29.8%. The incidence of ROP in GA28 group was 4.3 times higher than in GA28-37 group (63.6% [2240/3522] vs 28.9% [40,060/138,442], p < 0.001). As for the 12-year trends, the incidence of ROP decreased from 39.5% (3308/8366) in 2007 to 23.5% (2943/12,539) in 2018. 3.0% of ROP infants underwent treatment (25.0% in GA28; 1.7% in GA28-37); 0.2% (84/42,300) and 2.9% (1214/42,300) underwent surgery and retinal ablation, respectively. The overall percentage of ROP infants who underwent treatment has decreased from 4.7% in 2007 to 1.8% in 2018. This first Korean nationwide epidemiological study of ROP revealed a decreased incidence of ROP and a decreased percentage of ROP infants undergoing conventional treatment during a 12-year period.
Improving prognostic performance in resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma using radiomics and deep learning features fusion in CT images
Authors: Zhang Yucheng , Lobo-Mueller Edrise M. , Karanicolas Paul , Gallinger Steven , Haider Masoom A. , Khalvati Farzad 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAs an analytic pipeline for quantitative imaging feature extraction and analysis, radiomics has grown rapidly in the past decade. On the other hand, recent advances in deep learning and transfer learning have shown significant potential in the quantitative medical imaging field, raising the research question of whether deep transfer learning features have predictive information in addition to radiomics features. In this study, using CT images from Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients recruited in two independent hospitals, we discovered most transfer learning features have weak linear relationships with radiomics features, suggesting a potential complementary relationship between these two feature sets. We also tested the prognostic performance for overall survival using four feature fusion and reduction methods for combining radiomics and transfer learning features and compared the results with our proposed risk score-based feature fusion method. It was shown that the risk score-based feature fusion method significantly improves the prognosis performance for predicting overall survival in PDAC patients compared to other traditional feature reduction methods used in previous radiomics studies (40% increase in area under ROC curve (AUC) yielding AUC of 0.84).
Cannabis compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory activity in vitro in COVID-19-related inflammation in lung epithelial cells and pro-inflammatory activity in macrophages
Authors: Anil Seegehalli M. , Shalev Nurit , Vinayaka Ajjampura C. , Nadarajan Stalin , Namdar Dvora , Belausov Eduard , Shoval Irit , Mani Karthik Ananth , Mechrez Guy , Koltai Hinanit 
Published: January 2021

AbstractCannabis sativa is widely used for medical purposes and has anti-inflammatory activity. This study intended to examine the anti-inflammatory activity of cannabis on immune response markers associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) inflammation. An extract fraction from C. sativa Arbel strain (FCBD) substantially reduced (dose dependently) interleukin (IL)-6 and -8 levels in an alveolar epithelial (A549) cell line. FCBD contained cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG) and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), and multiple terpenes. Treatments with FCBD and a FCBD formulation using phytocannabinoid standards (FCBD:std) reduced IL-6, IL-8, C–C Motif Chemokine Ligands (CCLs) 2 and 7, and angiotensin I converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression in the A549 cell line. Treatment with FCBD induced macrophage (differentiated KG1 cell line) polarization and phagocytosis in vitro, and increased CD36 and type II receptor for the Fc region of IgG (FcγRII) expression. FCBD treatment also substantially increased IL-6 and IL-8 expression in macrophages. FCBD:std, while maintaining anti-inflammatory activity in alveolar epithelial cells, led to reduced phagocytosis and pro-inflammatory IL secretion in macrophages in comparison to FCBD. The phytocannabinoid formulation may show superior activity versus the cannabis-derived fraction for reduction of lung inflammation, yet there is a need of caution proposing cannabis as treatment for COVID-19.
Baseline monocyte and its classical subtype may predict efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor in cancers
Authors: Shao Yilin , Lin Shuchen , Zhang Ping , Zhang Jian , Ji Dongmei , Tao Zhonghua , Hu Xichun 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: Programmed death 1 (PD-1)/ programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor is one of the most popular immune therapies. Biomarkers for predicting response are highly needed, but no biomarkers are widely used till now.
Patients and methods: From February 2018 to April 2019, pan-cancer patients treated with PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor as a single agent in our center were included. The benefit group included patients with partial response, complete response and stable disease, while the patients with progressive disease were classified into the nonbenefit group, according to the RECIST 1.1 criteria. Baseline peripheral blood was sampled to determine absolute monocyte count (AMC) and/or classical monocyte frequency (CMF) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Then, the association of the above-mentioned two biomarkers with response or progression-free survival (PFS) was evaluated.
Results: In total, 107 patients enrolled in the present study. The nonbenefit group had significantly larger number of AMC than benefit group (P&lt;0.001), and patients with higher AMC had decreased PFS time (P=0.001). Of 39 patients tested for CMF, the nonbenefit group had significantly higher CMF than benefit group (P=0.002), and patients with higher CMF had significantly decreased PFS time (P=0.002). The sensitivity of AMC and CMF was 87.9% and 85.7%, respectively, and the specificity was 44.9% and 61.1%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed high baseline CMF and AMC were both significantly associated with decreased PFS time.
Conclusion: Baseline CMF and baseline AMC can be potential pan-cancer biomarkers to predict efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, especially in the PD-L1 subgroup.
The effect of strontium ranelate on titanium particle-induced periprosthetic osteolysis regulated by WNT/β-catenin signaling in vivo and in vitro
Authors: Wang Bolun , Guo Haohui , Geng Tianxiang , Sun Kening , Zhang Liang , Lu Zhidong , Jin Qunhua 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Aseptic loosening following periprosthetic osteolysis is the primary complication that limits the lifetime of total joint arthroplasty (TJA). The wear particles trigger a chronic inflammation response in the periprosthetic tissue and turn over the bone balance to bone resorption. The present study aimed to investigate the possible effect and mechanism of strontium ranelate (SR), a clinically safe drug for osteoporosis, on particle-induced periprosthetic osteolysis. Thirty-six female C57BL/6j mice underwent tibial Ti-nail implantation to establish an animal model of aseptic loosening. After 12 weeks, micro-CT results showed that strontium ranelate could inhibit periprosthetic bone resorption. In vitro, Ti particles were used to stimulate RAW264.7 cell line to collect conditioned medium, and co-culture MC3T3-E1 cell line with conditioned medium to establish a cell model of aseptic loosening. The results of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) detection, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry demonstrated that strontium ranelate could regulate the expression of OPG/RANKL, promote differentiation and mineralization, and inhibit apoptosis in osteoblasts. Moreover, we revealed that SR’s exerted its therapeutic effect by down-regulating sclerostin, thereby activating the Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway. Therefore, this research suggests that strontium ranelate could be a potential drug for the prevention and treatment of particle-induced aseptic loosening post-TJA.
Correlation of zinc finger protein 2, a prognostic biomarker, with immune infiltrates in liver cancer
Authors: Sun Lei , Lin Yaru , Wang Guichun , Zhang Lin , Hu Liangchang , Lu Zhong 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Purpose: The expression and clinical value of zinc finger protein 2 gene (ZIC2) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were analyzed by mining gene information from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases.
Methods: Gene chip data sets were retrieved from GEO and TCGA and screened for differentially expressed genes in HCC. Gene expression profile interaction analysis (GEPIA) and Kaplan–Meier curves were used to analyze the relationship between differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and survival and prognosis in patients with HCC. Moreover, the Genecards database was used to extract ZIC2-related proteins and to analyze the physiological process of protein enrichment. Furthermore, the relationships between ZIC2 gene and tumor cell immune invasion and that between immune cell infiltration and the 5-year survival rate were studied using the tumor immune evaluation resource (TIMER) database.
Results: Datasets from GEO and TCGA revealed that ZIC2 was differentially expressed in HCC tissues and normal tissues (P&lt;0.05). High ZIC2 expression was associated with overall survival (OS) and progress-free survival in HCC patients. Overall, 25 ZIC2 related proteins, including Gli3, PRKDC, and rnf180 were identified and protein enrichment analysis indicated these were associated with four types of cell components, six types of cell functions, and eight types of biological processes. ZIC2 was positively correlated with immune infiltration cells in patients with HCC, and higher expression of ZIC2 mRNA CD4+T cells is associated with a better 5-year survival.
Conclusion: ZIC2 gene may be used as an immune response marker in liver cancer to predict the prognosis of HCC.
Mitochondria-related core genes and TF-miRNA-hub mrDEGs network in breast cancer
Authors: Yan Li-rong , Wang Ang , Lv Zhi , Yuan Yuan , Xu Qian 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: Mitochondria-nuclear cross-talk and mitochondrial retrograde regulation are involved in the genesis and development of breast cancer (BC). Therefore, mitochondria can be regarded as a promising target for BC therapeutic strategies. The present study aimed to construct regulatory network and seek the potential biomarkers of BC diagnosis and prognosis as well as the molecular therapeutic targets from the perspective of mitochondrial dysfunction. Methods: The microarray data of mitochondria-related encoding genes in BC cell lines were downloaded from GEO including GSE128610 and GSE72319. GSE128610 was treated as test set and validation sets consisted of GSE72319 and TCGA tissue samples, intending to identify mitochondria-related differentially expressed genes (mrDEGs). We performed enrichment analysis, PPI network, hub mrDEGs and overall survival analysis and constructed transcription factor (TF)-miRNA-hub mrDEGs network. Results: A total of 23 up-regulated and 71 down-regulated mrDEGs were identified and validated in BC cell lines and tissues. Enrichment analyses indicated that mrDEGs were associated with several cancer-related biological processes. Moreover, 9 hub mrDEGs were identified and validated in BC cell lines and tissues. Finally, 5 hub coregulated mrDEGs, 21 miRNAs and 117 TFs were used to construct TF-miRNA-hub mrDEGs network. MYC associated zinc finger protein (MAZ), heparin binding growth factor (HDGF) and Sp2 transcription factor (SP2) regulated 3 hub mrDEGs. Hsa-mir-21-5p, hsa-mir-1-3p, hsa-mir-218-5p, hsa-mir-26a-5p and hsa-mir-335-5p regulated 2 hub mrDEGs. Overall survival analysis suggested that the up-regulation of fibronectin 1 (FN1), as well as the down-regulation of discoidin domain receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (DDR2) correlated with unfavorable prognosis in BC. Conclusion: TF-miRNA-hub mrDEGs had instruction significance for the exploration of BC etiology. The hub mrDEGs such as FN1 and DDR2 were likely to regulate mitochondrial function and be novel biomarkers for BC diagnosis and prognosis as well as the therapeutic targets.
Studying chromosome biology with single-molecule resolution in Xenopus laevis egg extracts
Authors: Cameron George , Yardimci Hasan 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Cell-free extracts from Xenopus laevis eggs are a model system for studying chromosome biology. Xenopus egg extracts can be synchronised in different cell cycle stages, making them useful for studying DNA replication, DNA repair and chromosome organisation. Combining single-molecule approaches with egg extracts is an exciting development being used to reveal molecular mechanisms that are difficult to study using conventional approaches. Fluorescence-based single-molecule imaging of surface-tethered DNAs has been used to visualise labelled protein movements on stretched DNA, the dynamics of DNA–protein complexes and extract-dependent structural rearrangement of stained DNA. Force-based single-molecule techniques are an alternative approach to measure mechanics of DNA and proteins. In this essay, the details of these single-molecule techniques, and the insights into chromosome biology they provide, will be discussed.
Evolution of superclusters and supercluster cocoons in various cosmologies
Authors: Einasto J. , Hütsi G. , Suhhonenko I. , Liivamägi L. J. , Einasto M. 
Published: January 2021

Aims. We investigate the evolution of superclusters and supercluster cocoons (basins of attraction), and the effect of cosmological parameters on the evolution.
Methods. We performed numerical simulations of the evolution of the cosmic web for different cosmological models: the Λ cold dark matter (LCDM) model with a conventional value of the dark energy (DE) density, the open model OCDM with no DE, the standard SCDM model with no DE, and the hyper-DE HCDM model with an enhanced DE density value. We find ensembles of superclusters of these models for five evolutionary stages, corresponding to the present epoch z = 0, and to redshifts z = 1, 3, 10, and 30. We used the diameters of the largest superclusters and the number of superclusters as percolation functions to describe the properties of the ensemble of superclusters in the cosmic web. We analysed the size and mass distribution of superclusters in models and in real samples based on the Sloan Digital Sky Survey.
Results. In all models, the numbers and volumes of supercluster cocoons are independent of the cosmological epochs. The supercluster masses increase with time and the geometrical sizes in comoving coordinates decrease with time for all models. The LCDM, OCDM, and HCDM models have almost similar percolation parameters. This suggests that the essential parameter, which defines the evolution of superclusters, is the matter density. The DE density affects the growth of the amplitude of density perturbations and the growth of masses of superclusters, but significantly weaker. The HCDM model has the highest speed of the growth of the density fluctuation amplitude and the largest growth of supercluster masses during the evolution. The geometrical diameters and the numbers of HCDM superclusters at high threshold densities are larger than for the LCDM and OCDM superclusters. The SCDM model has about twice as many superclusters as other models, and the SCDM superclusters have smaller diameters and lower masses.
Conclusions. We find that supercluster embryos form at very early cosmological epochs and that the evolution of superclusters occurs mainly inside their cocoons. The evolution of superclusters and their cocoons as derived from density fields agress well with the evolution found from velocity fields.
Reconstruction of Orbital Exenteration Defects with Cheek Rotation Flaps: Indications, Technique, Complications, Rehabilitation, and Survival
Authors: Baum Sven Holger , Mohr Christopher 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe objective of this study was to examine the role of cheek rotation flaps in the reconstruction of orbital defects after exenteration. From January 2000 to August 2018, patients undergoing orbital exenteration and reconstruction with cheek rotation flaps were enrolled in this retrospective study. All patients were evaluated for wound complications, orbital rehabilitation, tumor relapse, and survival. Thirty patients completed the study. Fourteen complications allocated to 11 patients were assessed. The most common complications were seroma (13%), temporary facial nerve weakness (13%), and partial necrosis of the flap (10%). A major complication occurred in a total of two patients (7%), so that surgical correction was necessary. Eleven patients had a relapse; 15 patients died as part of the follow-up. Fifteen patients were treated with facial prostheses. The overall survival rate was 61% after 1 year and 42% after 5 years. Follow-up periods ranged from 6 to 95 months. Cheek rotation flap reconstruction after exenteration is a reliable method with a low rate of major complications. It is indicated when an approach to the parotid gland or the neck region is necessary because of suspected lymph node metastasis and in elderly patients because of their skin's laxity. It can be performed as primary or secondary reconstruction. Good esthetic results can be achieved, especially after endosseous implantation.
Platelet-Rich Fibrin Enhances Surgical Wound Healing in Total Laryngectomy
Authors: Reksodiputro Mirta H. , Hutauruk Syahrial M. , Widodo Dini W. , Fardizza Fauziah , Mutia Dita 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAutologous growth factor (AGF) is a cytokine that has gained medical research interest because it helps improve and accelerate the wound healing process. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is the latest generation of platelet concentrate that can be obtained through a simple procedure known as AGF referencing. One of the most common complications of total laryngectomy (TL) is pharyngocutaneous fistula. To prevent this complication, health care providers must closely monitor the postoperative wound healing process.This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of PRF application in enhancing wound healing after TL. A randomized controlled trial was conducted in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia, from June 2019 to December 2019. We included 20 patients who underwent TL for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. They were divided into two groups (10 patients who received applied autologous PRF around the esophageal stoma during TL and another 10 patients as the control). These patients were observed for 2 weeks postoperatively. In the bivariate analysis performed using the chi-square test, the pain threshold and edema of postoperative wounds in the PRF-treated group demonstrated significant differences compared with those in the control group. PRF application in TL enhanced the postoperative wound healing process, especially with regard to edema and pain.