bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Acupuncture-Related Therapies for Parkinson's Disease: A Meta-Analysis and Qualitative Review
Authors: Wen Xiaopeng , Li Kunbin , Wen Hao , Wang Qian , Wu Zhiyuan , Yao Xianli , Jiao Bing , Sun Pingge , Ge Shuqi , Wen Chenyang , Lu Liming 
Published: July 2021

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the effects of the combination of acupuncture-related therapies with conventional medication compared with conventional medication in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).Methods: A literature search within eight databases [including Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Biology Medicine (CBM), VIP, and Wanfang Database] was performed covering a time frame from their inception to August 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing acupuncture-related therapies combined with conventional medication vs. conventional medication in patients with PD were eligible. Two authors independently assessed the risk of bias. Assessments were performed with the total and subscales scores of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), 39-item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39), the dosage of Madopar, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD). Data were analyzed by adopting the Cochrane Collaboration's RevMan 5.4 (Review Man, Copenhagen, Denmark); and mean effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals were estimated. Tests for heterogeneity were used to assess differences in treatment effects across different types of acupuncture used.Results: Sixty-six trials met the inclusion criteria, of which 61 trials provided data for the meta-analysis. We defined high-quality articles as those with a low risk of bias in four or more domains; and only 10 (15.15%) articles were of high quality. Compared with the controls, acupuncture-related therapies with conventional medication achieved a benefit in the primary outcomes of UPDRS (motor subscore: −3.90, −4.33 to −3.49, P &lt; 0.01; total score: −7.37 points, −8.91 to −5.82, P &lt; 0.001; activities of daily living subscore: −3.96, −4.96 to −2.95, P &lt; 0.01). For the subgroup difference test among the effects of different acupuncture methods, significant differences existed in outcomes with the UPDRS-III, UPDRS-I, UPDRS-IV, and PDQ-39 scores and Madopar dosage, while non-significant differences existed with the UPDRS-total, UPDRS-II, HAMD, and MMSE scores.Conclusions: Acupuncture-related therapies combined with conventional medication may benefit individuals with PD. Our review findings should be considered with caution because of the methodological weaknesses in the included trials. Future, large randomized trials of acupuncture-related therapies for PD with high methodological quality are warranted.Systematic Review Registration: Identifier CRD42021228110.
Distinctive Association of the Functional Connectivity of the Posterior Cingulate Cortex on Memory Performances in Early and Late Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment Patients
Authors: Kang Dong Woo , Wang Sheng-Min , Um Yoo Hyun , Na Hae-Ran , Kim Nak-Young , Lee Chang Uk , Lim Hyun Kook 
Published: July 2021

BackgroundAttempts have been made to explore the biological basis of neurodegeneration in the amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) stage, subdivided by memory performance. However, few studies have evaluated the differential impact of functional connectivity (FC) on memory performances in early- and late-MCI patients.ObjectiveThis study aims to explore the difference in FC of the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) among healthy controls (HC) (n= 37), early-MCI patients (n= 30), and late-MCI patients (n= 35) and to evaluate a group-memory performance interaction against the FC of PCC.MethodsThe subjects underwent resting-state functional MRI scanning and a battery of neuropsychological tests.ResultsA significant difference among the three groups was found in FC between the PCC (seed region) and bilateral crus cerebellum, right superior medial frontal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, and left middle cingulate gyrus (Monte Carlo simulation-correctedp&lt; 0.01; clusterp&lt; 0.05). Additionally, the early-MCI patients displayed higher FC values than the HC and late-MCI patients in the right superior medial frontal gyrus, cerebellum crus 1, and left cerebellum crus 2 (Bonferroni-correctedp&lt; 0.05). Furthermore, there was a significant group-memory performance interaction (HCvs. early MCIvs. late MCI) for the FC between PCC and bilateral crus cerebellum, right superior medial frontal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, and left middle cingulate gyrus (Bonferroni-correctedp&lt; 0.05).ConclusionThese findings contribute to the biological implications of early- and late-MCI stages, categorized by evaluating the impairment of memory performance. Additionally, comprehensively analyzing the structural differences in the subdivided amnestic MCI (aMCI) stages could deepen our understanding of these biological meanings.
Clinical Determinants of Disease Progression in Patients With Beta-Sarcoglycan Gene Mutations
Authors: Marchetti Giulia Bruna , Valenti Luca , Torrente Yvan 
Published: July 2021

Background: Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy 2E (LGMD 2E), recently renamed as autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy-4 (LGMDR4), is characterized by the lack of beta-sarcoglycan, normally expressed in skeletal muscles and cardiomyocytes. We hypothesized that progressive respiratory and left ventricular (LV) failure in LGMDR4 could be associated with the age and interrelated phenomena of the disease's natural history.Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of the records of 26 patients with LGMDR4. Our primary objective was to compare the rates of decline among creatine phosphokinase (CPK) values, pulmonary function test (PFT) measures, and echocardiographic estimates and to relate them to patients' age.Results: The rates of decline/year of CPK, PFTs, and LV function estimates are significatively bound to age, with the LV ejection fraction (EF) being the strongest independent variable describing disease progression. Moreover, the rate of decline of CPK, PFTs, and LV differed in patients grouped according to their genetic mutations, demonstrating a possible genotype–phenotype correlation. The parallel trend of decline in CPK, PFT, and EF values demonstrates the presence in LGMDR4 of a simultaneous and progressive deterioration in muscular, respiratory, and cardiac function.Conclusions: This study expands the current knowledge regarding the trend of CPK values and cardiac and respiratory impairment in patients with LGMDR4, to optimize the monitoring of these patients, to improve their quality of life, and to provide clinical indices capable of quantifying the effects of any new gene or drug therapy.
Does Intensive Training of Attention Influence Cognitive Fatigability in Patients With Acquired Brain Injury?
Authors: Holmqvist Anna , Bartfai Aniko , Markovic Gabriela , Möller Marika C. 
Published: July 2021

Research ObjectivesImpairments in attention and the speed of information processing are central to the experience of cognitive fatigue in patients with acquired brain injury (ABI). Attention may be improved through intensive training in a rehabilitation setting. The aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility of reducing cognitive fatigability (CF) using attention training and to explore the effect of two different approaches to attention training.DesignRandomised controlled study in a rehabilitation setting.Participants59 patients (age 19–59 years) with mild to moderate stroke or traumatic brain injury in the early (&lt;4 month) phase.InterventionsPatients were randomly assigned to intensive specific training with Attention Process Training (APT) or Activity-Based Attention Training (ABAT) for 3–5 days per week for a period of 5–6 weeks with a total of 20 h, in addition to traditional interdisciplinary rehabilitation.Main Outcome MeasureCF was conceptualised as performance decline in terms of an increased number of incorrect responses between the first and the last quintiles of the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT). A negative result was defined as fatigability. The evaluator of fatigability was blinded to treatment.ResultsAt baseline, there were no differences between the groups in age, education, reasoning, anxiety or depression. After training, a significant treatment effect was found (p= 0.020), as the APT-group, but not the ABAT-group, had improved. However, after controlling for baseline differences regarding CF on the PASAT-f, the difference was no longer significant.ConclusionThe results indicate that cognitive training might be a feasible method for reducing CF through attention training and that patients with high levels of CF benefit most from attention training. The type of intervention provided, whether specific or activity-based attention training, appears to be of less importance, as there was no treatment effect after controlling for the baseline level of CF. Future studies are required to confirm the validity of the findings.
Association of Biomarker Discrepancy and Treatment Decision, Disease Outcome in Recurrent/Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Lu Yujie , Tong Yiwei , Chen Xiaosong , Shen Kunwei 
Published: July 2021

BackgroundBiomarker discrepancy between primary and recurrent/metastatic breast cancer is well known, however its impact on prognosis and treatment after relapse is still unclear. Current study aims to evaluate biomarkers discrepancy between primary and recurrent/metastatic lesions as well as to investigate its association with following treatment pattern and disease outcome.Patients and methodsWe retrospectively included consecutive breast cancer patients undergoing surgery in our center from Jan. 2009 to Dec. 2016 and reported disease recurrence. Patients with re-biopsy and paired biomarkers statuses on primary and recurrent/metastatic lesions were further analyzed. Kappa test was used to analyze the concordance rate of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) status. Post-recurrence survival (PRS) was compared between subgroups by Kaplan-Meier curve. Cox regression model was applied to identify impact factors for PRS.ResultsA total of 156 patients were finally included, of whom 70 and 86 had loco-regional and distant recurrence, respectively. Concordance rates of ER, PR and HER2 were 83.3%, 66.7%, and 97.1%, respectively, which was similarly distributed among different recurrent sites (all P &gt; 0.05). Primary ER-positivity (vs ER-negativity, P = 0.014) and loco-regional recurrence (vs distant metastasis, P = 0.001) were independently associated with superior PRS, while patients with visceral metastasis (P &lt; 0.001) had the worst disease outcome. Hormone receptor/HER2 status discrepancy was observed in 28 patients. Fifteen of them changed systemic treatment based on biomarker statuses of recurrent lesion, however, their PRS was not improved compared to those 13 patients who continued the same treatment according to primary biomarkers statuses (P = 0.298).ConclusionBiomarker discrepancy was observed between primary and recurrent/metastatic breast cancer lesions and had certain influence on treatment strategies after relapse. However, its impact on disease outcome wasn’t established in the current study, which deserves further evaluation.
Tocilizumab in COVID-19: Factors Associated With Mortality Before and After Treatment
Authors: Sarabia De Ardanaz Luis , Andreu-Ubero Jose M. , Navidad-Fuentes Miriam , Ferrer-González Miguel Ángel , Ruíz del Valle Victor , Salcedo-Bellido Inmaculada , Barrios-Rodríguez Rocío , Cáliz-Cáliz Rafael , Requena Pilar 
Published: July 2021

Tocilizumab (TCZ) has been administered in SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia but the factors associated with mortality before and after treatment remain unclear. Cox regression models were used to estimate the predictors of time to death in a cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 receiving TCZ. In addition, the mean differences between discharged and deceased patients in laboratory parameters measured before and 3, 6 and 9 days after TCZ administration were estimated with weighted generalized estimation equations. The variables associated with time to death were immunosuppression (Hazard Ratio-HR 3.15; 95% confidence interval-CI 1.17, 8.51), diabetes mellitus (HR 2.63; 95% CI 1.23–5.64), age (HR 1.05; 95% CI 1.02–1.09), days since diagnosis until TCZ administration (HR 1.05, 95% CI 1.00–1.09), and platelets (HR 0.27; 95% CI: 0.11, 0.69). In the post-TCZ analysis and compared to discharged patients, deceased patients had more lactate dehydrogenase (p = 0.013), troponin I (p = 0.013), C-reactive protein (p = 0.013), neutrophils (p = 0.024), and fewer platelets (p = 0.013) and lymphocytes (p = 0.013) as well as a lower average PaO2/FiO2 ratio. In conclusion, in COVID-19 diagnosed patients receiving TCZ, early treatment decreased the risk of death, while age, some comorbidities and baseline lower platelet counts increased that risk. After TCZ administration, lower platelet levels were again associated with mortality, together with other laboratory parameters.
Oxyresveratrol Modulates Genes Associated with Apoptosis, Cell Cycle Control and DNA Repair in MCF-7 Cells
Authors: Radapong Sarayut , Chan Kelvin , Sarker Satyajit D. , Ritchie Kenneth J. 
Published: July 2021

Oxyresveratrol (OXY) is a small molecule phytochemical which has been reported to have important biological function. The aim of this study was to elucidate the gene expression and biological pathways altered in MCF-7, breast cancer cells following exposure to OXY. The cytotoxicity to different cancer cell lines was screened using MTT assay and then whole gene expression was elucidated using microarray. The pathways selected were also validated by quantitative PCR analysis, fluorometric and western blot assay. A total of 686 genes were found to have altered mRNA expression levels of two-fold or more in the 50 μM OXY-treated group, while 2,338 genes were differentially expressed in the 100 µM-treated group. The relevant visualized global expression patterns of genes and pathways were generated. Apoptosis was activated through mitochondria-lost membrane potential, caspase-3 expression and chromatin condensation without DNA damage. G0/G1 and S phases of the cell cycle control were inhibited dose-dependently by the compound. Rad51 gene (DNA repair pathway) was significantly down-regulated (p &lt; 0.0001). These results indicate that OXY moderates key genes and pathways in MCF-7 cells and that it could be developed as a chemotherapy or chemo-sensitizing agent.
Structural and Functional Brain Abnormalities in Internet Gaming Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Comparative Meta-Analysis
Authors: Gao Xinyu , Zhang Mengzhe , Yang Zhengui , Wen Mengmeng , Huang Huiyu , Zheng Ruiping , Wang Weijian , Wei Yarui , Cheng Jingliang , Han Shaoqiang , Zhang Yong 
Published: July 2021

Background: Patients with Internet gaming disorder (IGD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have high comorbidity but it is still unknown whether these disorders have shared and distinctive neuroimage alterations.Objective: The aim of this meta-analysis was to identify shared and disorder-specific structural, functional, and multimodal abnormalities between IGD and ADHD.Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted for whole-brain voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies comparing people with IGD or ADHD with healthy controls. Regional gray matter volume (GMV) and fMRI differences were compared over the patient groups and then a quantitative comparison was performed to find abnormalities (relative to controls) between IGD and ADHD using seed-based d mapping meta-analytic methods.Result: The meta-analysis contained 14 IGD VBM studies (contrasts covering 333 IGDs and 335 HCs), 26 ADHD VBM studies (1,051 patients with ADHD and 887 controls), 30 IGD fMRI studies (603 patients with IGD and 564 controls), and 29 ADHD fMRI studies (878 patients with ADHD and 803 controls). Structurally, VBM analysis showed disorder-specific GMV abnormality in the putamen among IGD subjects and orbitofrontal cortex in ADHD and shared GMV in the prefrontal cortex. Functionally, fMRI analysis discovered that IGD-differentiating increased activation in the precuneus and shared abnormal activation in anterior cingulate cortex, insular, and striatum.Conclusion: IGD and ADHD have shared and special structural and functional alterations. IGD has disorder-differentiating structural alterations in the putamen and ADHD has alterations in the orbitofrontal cortex. Disorder-differentiating fMRI activations were predominantly observed in the precuneus among IGD subjects and shared impairing function connection was in the rewards circuit (including ACC, OFC, and striatum).
Synoptic Overview of Exotic Acacia, Senegalia and Vachellia (Caesalpinioideae, Mimosoid Clade, Fabaceae) in Egypt
Authors: Hassan Rania A. , Hamdy Rim S. 
Published: July 2021

For the first time, an updated checklist of Acacia, Senegalia and Vachellia species in Egypt is provided, focusing on the exotic species. Taking into consideration the retypification of genus Acacia ratified at the Melbourne International Botanical Congress (IBC, 2011), a process of reclassification has taken place worldwide in recent years. The review of Acacia and its segregates in Egypt became necessary in light of the available information cited in classical works during the last century. In Egypt, various taxa formerly placed in Acacia s.l., have been transferred to Acacia s.s., Acaciella, Senegalia, Parasenegalia and Vachellia. The present study is a contribution towards clarifying the nomenclatural status of all recorded species of Acacia and its segregate genera. This study recorded 144 taxa (125 species and 19 infraspecific taxa). Only 14 taxa (four species and 10 infraspecific taxa) are indigenous to Egypt (included now under Senegalia and Vachellia). The other 130 taxa had been introduced to Egypt during the last century. Out of the 130 taxa, 79 taxa have been recorded in literature. The focus of this study is the remaining 51 exotic taxa that have been traced as living species in Egyptian gardens or as herbarium specimens in Egyptian herbaria. The studied exotic taxa are accommodated under Acacia s.s. (24 taxa), Senegalia (14 taxa) and Vachellia (13 taxa). Identification keys for the studied genera, generic groups and species have been provided using different taxonomic criteria. For each taxon, the validated name with the first citation followed by relevant Egyptian citations, typification, synonyms, distinctive features, origin, ecology (when available), utilisation and selected specimens are provided. The study revealed the presence of 22 newly recorded taxa in Egypt. Additionally, a list of excluded, unvalidated and unresolved names is given.
Le bacille du rouget, Erysipelothrix Rhusiopathiae. Son rôle pathogène pour l’agneau
Authors: Nicolas J. A. , Pestre-Alexandre Madeleine , Chauchef Simone 
Published: July 2021

Les auteurs rappellent le rôle pathogène du bacille du rouget chez de nombreuses espèces (porc, mouton, volailles, homme) et sa présence, comme commensal, chez d'autres (poissons, crustacés, insectes).
Des observations portant sur cinquante-neuf troupeaux montrent le polymorphisme des infections chez l'agneau et l’importance des pertes économiques qu'elles provoquent.
Les arthrites sont de loin les manifestations cliniques les plus fréquentes et nécessitent une vaccination annuelle des mères. Les septicémies, avec ou sans diarrhée, sont moins répandues, mais peuvent provoquer de 20 à 30 p. 100 de mortalité. Les avortements et les méningites sont plus rares mais témoignent de la polyvalence du pouvoir pathogène du bacille du rouget.
Les systèmes de datation dans l’Est de l’Afrique du Nord à la fin de l’Antiquité et à l’époque byzantine
Authors: Duval Noël 
Published: July 2021

The chronological Systems in the Eastern part of North Africa in late Antiquity and in the Byzantine period
The author resumes, bringing it up to date, the enquiry submitted by him to the 3rd Congress of Epigraphy in 1957. Contrary to Mauretania, the Eastern part of North Africa had no chronological system of its own. Consequently it used consular dating, as the rest of Empire generally did — although very moderately, especially in the epitaphs — up to the arrival of Vandals, and next sporadically in that part of Numidia which was handed back to the Empire. As early as the capture of Carthage in 429, Vandals adopted the regnal year. Yet the latter was usually left anonymous under Genserie, or disguised by its being styled “Carthaginian era”, which secondarily remained under the next reigns. Following the Byzantine reconquest, Justinian in 537 imposed to the whole Empire dating by regnal year and indiction, although retaining consular date. It can be verified that under this reign the emperor is unevenly mentionned in regnal dates, which after him remain rare and are eventually superseded by indiction and mention of the ruling emperor, both on coins and epitaphs. As for consulate, it appears only once in an official deed, a very late one (636). Indiction is by far the most common system (several thousands epitaphs). There is no reason for thinking that in Africa it could have antedated the reconquest, which it also outlives in the few late dated christian inscriptions from XIth century Tripolitania and Kairouan.
Les idées politiques d’Héraclite d’Éphèse
Authors: Frère Jean 
Published: July 2021

Heraclitos of Ephesos’s idea on politics have always been neglected. However, when bringing a certain number of fragments together, one can distinctly define is hierarchical conception of an ideal and lasting city.
1° A political leader single handely guided by moderation.
2° The philosopher, highly contemplating Unity.
3° Some aristoi constantly on a war footing and fighting.
4° Some didaskaloi (priests or poets) whose knowledge is extensive but more or less illusory.
5° Lastly, a numerous and working populace eager for riches and refractory to all paideia.
L’influence des poètes dans les inscriptions funéraires latines païennes d’Italie
Authors: Siat Jeannine 
Published: July 2021

Latin funeral inscriptions draw a considerable deal of inspiration from poets’ works.
They use rather few literal quotations, but are imbued with poetry. Word associations, similes and metaphors, belief in the Parcae and in Fate, the evocation of the beyond and of pain are all derived from poets. A main source of inspiration is Virgil.
The study of poetical traces in funeral inscriptions gives a clue to the cultural bakground of the literate classes in the early centuries of the Empire in Italy.
Chatbot Layanan Akademik Menggunakan K-Nearest Neighbor
Authors: Nugraha Kristian Adi , Sebastian Danny 
Published: July 2021

Perusahaan atau institusi yang bergerak di bidang pelayanan publik pasti memiliki layanan customer service untuk menjawab pertanyaan dari konsumen. Namun perusahaan atau institusi dengan skala menengah ke bawah seringkali tidak sanggup untuk menyediakan karyawan khusus untuk menangani pekerjaan tersebut, sehingga pekerjaan tersebut dirangkap oleh karyawan di posisi lain. Chatbot dapat digunakan untuk menyelesaikan permasalahan yang berkaitan dengan layanan tanya jawab, khususnya bagi perusahaan atau institusi yang tidak memiliki sumber daya khusus untuk menangani pekerjaan tersebut. Dengan adanya chatbot, pertanyaan-pertanyaan konsumen yang bersifat redundan dapat ditangani secara otomatis. Pada penelitian ini, penulis membangun sistem chatbot untuk layanan tanya jawab seputar kegiatan akademik dengan menggunakan metode K-Nearest Neighbor. Berdasarkan hasil pengujian yang telah dilakukan, sistem dapat memberikan nilai akurasi sebesar 53.48% untuk nilai K = 3.