bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ultrasound Characteristics of Cystadenofibromas
Authors: Zheng Xinying , Lyu Guorong , Shen Xiaoling , Hu Maiguo 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Cystadenofibromas (CAFs) are relatively rare benign ovarian tumors. This study was to describe the ultrasound (US) findings of CAFs. Preoperative US information of 86 CAFs was retrospectively collected. To better illustrate their characteristic, 173 cystadenomas (CADs), 103 borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs), and 129 cystadenocarcinomas (CACs) were recruited as match groups. Besides morphology evaluation, tumors were categorized by the Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System US system. Higher-risk stratification in CAFs was more often being seen than CADs (63% of CAFs classified as Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System 4 or 5 vs 35% in CADs). Cystadenofibromas more commonly appeared as unilocular or multilocular solid than CADs. Solid components presented in 59% of CAFs and papillary projections presented in 45%. More CAFs contained solid components and papillary projections than CADs (P < 0.0001). When compared with BOTs and CACs, less CAFs contained solid components (P < 0.017 and P < 0.0001). However, no significant difference was found in CAFs versus BOTs or CACs about the presence of papillary projections. Shadowing was identified in 58% of CAFs; however, in CADs, BOTs, and CACs, the proportion was 2%, 11%, and 11%, respectively. Presence of shadowing in CAFs was noticeably more than CADs, BOTs, and CACs (P < 0.017 or P < 0.0001). Similar to CADs, most CAFs were avascular (76%) and without ascites (99%), which were significantly different from BOTs and CACs. We concluded that the sonographic markers for CAFs that differ from malignant were presence of shadowing, avascular, and absence of ascites.
Preoperative Evaluation of Central Lymph Nodes in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Using High-Resolution Ultrasound and Shear-Wave Elastography
Authors: Liu Ying , Li Sheng , Yun Miao , Lin Xi , Lin Yidi , Long Xingzhang , Zhou Jianhua , Liu Longzhong 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The aim of this study was to discuss the diagnostic value of high-resolution ultrasound and virtual touch tissue imaging quantification (VTIQ) for distinguishing metastatic and benign central lymph nodes (CLNs) in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. This retrospective study involved 86 pathologically proven benign lymph nodes (LNs) and 118 metastatic LNs in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. We analyzed the sonographic features of CLNs (size, shape, distribution, hilum, echogenicity, cystic change, calcification, vascularity, shear-wave velocity [SWV]). The prevalence of sonographic features and the SWV was compared between metastatic and benign CLNs. The size, shape, margin, distribution, presence of hilum, echogenicity, calcification, and vascularity were significantly different between benign and metastatic CLNs (P < 0.05 for all). The mean maximum SWV for malignant CLNs was 3.139 ± 0.408 m/s, whereas that of benign CLNs was 2.418 ± 0.369 m/s (P < 0.05). The cutoff point of the SWV for differentiating benign and malignant LNs was 2.675 m/s. Logistic regression analysis showed that round or irregular shape, aggregation or fusion, calcification, and VTIQ value greater than 2.675 m/s of CLNs were independent risk factors for malignancy, with an odds ratio of 5.77, 3.05, 3.23, and 62.85, respectively. High-resolution ultrasound and VTIQ can provide valuable information for distinguishing metastatic from benign CLNs.
Evaluation of the Effects of Topical Application of Chlorhexidine, Ozone, and Metronidazole on Palatal Wound Healing: A Histopathological Study
Authors: Acikan Izzet , Sayeste Erjeng , Bozoglan Alihan , Artas Gokhan , Isayev Abulfaz , Kirtay Mustafa , Ozercan Ibrahim Hanifi , Yaman Ferhan , Dundar Serkan , Icen Veysel 
Published: December 2021

Abstract:
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of chlorhexidine, metronidazole, and ozone application on the healing of palatal wounds in diabetic rats. A defect in the form of a 4 mm-diameter wound was created on the palatal mucosa of 84 adult female Wistar albino rats, which were randomly divided into 4 groups: control, chlorhexidine, metronidazole, and ozone groups. The animals were euthanized after 3, 6, and 10 days, and wound closure was histologically assessed. On day 3, polymorphonuclear leukocytes were significantly higher in the control group than in the chlorhexidine and ozone groups (P < 0.05). Fibrosis was higher in the ozone group than in the control and chlorhexidine groups (P < 0.05). Vascular endothelial growth factor was higher in the metronidazole and ozone groups than in the control group (P< 0.05). On day 6, the quantity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes was higher in the control, metronidazole, and chlorhexidine groups than in the ozone group (P < 0.05). Vascular endothelial growth factor was higher in the ozone group than in the control, chlorhexidine, and metronidazole groups (P < 0.05). On day 10, Vascular endothelial growth factor was higher in the control, chlorhexidine, and metronidazole groups than in the ozone group (P < 0.05). The authors concluded that the use of chlorhexidine, ozone, and metronidazole pastes resulted in enhanced wound healing, as determined histologically.
The authors suggest that ozone supplementation can be an alternative therapy to chlorhexidine in impaired wound healing in diabetes mellitus.
Can Lumbar Puncture Be Safely Deferred in Patients With Mild Presumed Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension?
Authors: Vosoughi Amir R. , Margolin Edward A. , Micieli Jonathan A. 
Published: December 2021

Background:
Lumbar puncture (LP) is considered an essential component of the diagnosis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and ruling out IIH mimics, such as meningeal inflammation and neoplastic disease. Such mimics are unlikely in patients who are systemically well and fit the clinical demographic of IIH. It is important to take into account the risks of performing a LP as patients commonly experience mild adverse effects and infrequently more serious ones including psychological distress. LP can also be difficult to obtain in some health care settings, requiring inpatient admission. We examined the clinical course of a subset of presumed patients with IIH with mild vision loss and papilledema to determine whether LP can be safely deferred in this group.

Methods:
This was a retrospective study looking at the clinical characteristics, final visual outcome, and diagnosis of patients with presumed IIH and papilledema determined by clinical examination who did not undergo LP. The inclusion criteria included i) no symptoms suspicious for systemic infectious/neoplastic/inflammatory processes, ii) no secondary causes of raised intracranial pressure seen on magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance venography, iii) optical coherence tomography (OCT)-RNFL thickness ≤300 µm, and iv) automated mean deviation (MD) ≤ −5.00 dB v) at least one follow-up visit.

Results:
A total of 132 eyes of 68 patients (66 female and 2 male) were included in the study. The mean ± SD age was 31.4 ± 10.2 years, and body mass index was 35.1 ± 6.8 kg/m2. Systemic symptoms included headache (n = 47), pulsatile tinnitus (n = 28), transient visual obscurations (n = 10), and diplopia (n = 2). Presenting logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity was 0.020 ± 0.090, automated MD was −2.23 ± 1.38 dB, and OCT RNFL thickness was 150.8 ± 48.4 µm. Patients were followed for a mean number of 63.3 ± 78.3 weeks. No additional cause of intracranial hypertension was discovered, and all patients remained systemically well. Two patients were started on acetazolamide, and 31 patients lost at least some weight. There was a significant improvement in the automated MD (−1.73 ± 1.74 dB; P < 0.001) and OCT RNFL thickness (128.1 ± 38.6 µm; P < 0.001) at final follow-up. Seventy-six eyes of 38 patients were considered to have resolved papilledema at the final follow-up.

Conclusions:
Some patients with presumed IIH may not be able to undergo LP because of patient factors such as refusal, failed attempts, or the environment in which neuro-ophthalmologists practice. This study suggests that it may be acceptable to defer LP for patients with suspected IIH who are under the care of a neuro-ophthalmologist with experience in diagnosing and managing IIH. These patients should be systemically well, in a typical demographic for IIH patients, have mild optic disc edema, and preserved visual function. Patients should be informed about the controversial nature of this decision.
A phylogeny-aware GWAS framework to correct for heritable pathogen effects on infectious disease traits
Authors: Nadeau Sarah , Thorball Christian W. , Kouyos Roger , Günthard Huldrych F. , Böni Jürg , Yerly Sabine , Perreau Matthieu , Klimkait Thomas , Rauch Andri , Hirsch Hans H. , Cavassini Matthias , Vernazza Pietro , Bernasconi Enos , Fellay Jacques , Mitov Venelin , Stadler Tanja ,   the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS)
Published: December 2021

AbstractInfectious diseases are a unique challenge for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) because pathogen, host, and environmental factors can all affect disease traits. Previous GWAS have successfully identified several human genetic variants associated with HIV-1 set point viral load (spVL), among other important infectious disease traits. However, these GWAS do not account for potentially confounding or extraneous pathogen effects that are heritable from donor to recipient in transmission chains. We propose a new method to consider the full genome of each patient’s infecting pathogen strain, remove strain-specific effects on a trait based on the pathogen phylogeny, and thus better estimate the effect of human genetic variants on infectious disease traits. In simulations, we show our method can increase GWAS power to detect truly associated host variants when pathogen effects are highly heritable, with strong phylogenetic correlations. When we apply our method to HIV-1 subtype B data from the Swiss HIV Cohort Study, we recover slightly weaker but qualitatively similar signals of association between spVL and human genetic variants in the CCR5 and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene regions compared to standard GWAS. Our simulation study confirms that based on the estimated heritability and selection parameters for HIV-1 subtype B spVL, standard GWAS are robust to pathogen effects. Our framework may improve GWAS for other diseases if pathogen effects are even more phylogenetically correlated amongst individuals in a cohort.
Digital exclusion predicts worse mental health among adolescents during COVID-19
Authors: Metherell Thomas E. , Ghai Sakshi , McCormick Ethan M. , Ford Tamsin J. , Orben Amy 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundSocial isolation is strongly associated with poor mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing social restrictions disrupted young people’s social interactions and resulted in several periods during which school closures necessitated online learning. We hypothesise that digitally excluded young people would demonstrate greater deterioration in their mental health than their digitally connected peers during this time.MethodsWe analysed representative mental health data from a sample of UK 10–15-year-olds (N = 1387); Understanding Society collected the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in 2017-19 and thrice during the pandemic (July 2020, November 2020 and March 2021). We employed cross-sectional methods and longitudinal latent growth curve modelling to describe trajectories of adolescent mental health for participants with and without access to a computer or a good internet connection for schoolwork.OutcomesAdolescent mental health had a quadratic trajectory during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the highest mean Total Difficulties score around December 2020. The worsening and recovery of mental health during the pandemic was greatly pronounced among those without access to a computer, although we did not find evidence for a similar effect among those without a good internet connection.InterpretationDigital exclusion, as indicated by lack of access to a computer, is a tractable risk factor that likely compounds other adversities facing children and young people during periods of social isolation.FundingBritish Psychological Society; School of the Biological Sciences, University of Cambridge; NIHR Applied Research Centre; Medical Research Council; Economic and Social Research Council; and Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge.
Faecal incontinence is associated with an impaired rectosigmoid brake and improved by sacral neuromodulation
Authors: Lin Anthony Y. , Varghese Chris , Paskaranandavadivel Niranchan , Seo Sean , Du Peng , Dinning Phil , Bissett Ian P. , O’Grady Greg 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackground and aimsThe rectosigmoid brake, characterized by retrograde cyclic motor patterns on high-resolution colonic manometry has been postulated as a contributor to the maintenance of bowel continence. Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) is an effective therapy for faecal incontinence, but its mechanism of action is unclear. This study aims to investigate the colonic motility patterns in the distal colon of patients with faecal incontinence, and how these are modulated by SNM.MethodsA high-resolution fibre-optic colonic manometry catheter, containing 36 sensors spaced at 1-cm intervals, was positioned in patients with faecal incontinence undergoing Stage 1 SNM. One hour of pre-meal and post-meal recordings were obtained followed by pre- and post-meal recordings with suprasensory SNM. A 700-kcal meal was given. Data were analysed to identify propagating contractions.ResultsFifteen patients with faecal incontinence were analysed. Patients had an abnormal meal response (fewer retrograde propagating contractions compared to controls; p=0.027) and failed to show a postmeal increase in propagating contractions (mean 17 ± 6/h pre-meal vs 22 ± 9/h post-meal, p = 0.438). Compared to baseline, SNM significantly increased the number of retrograde propagating contractions in the distal colon (8 ± 3/h pre-meal vs 14 ± 3/h pre-meal with SNM, p = 0.028). Consuming a meal did not further increase the number of propagating contractions beyond the baseline upregulating effect of SNM.ConclusionThe rectosigmoid brake was suppressed in this cohort of patients with faecal incontinence. SNM may exert a therapeutic effect by modulating this rectosigmoid brake.What You Need to KnowBackground and contextThe rectosigmoid brake, characterized by retrograde propagating motility patterns, has been postulated to contribute to the maintenance of continence. The mechanisms of action of sacral neuromodulation remain inadequately understood and may include modulation of the rectosigmoid brake.New findingsWe found that patients with faecal incontinence had an impaired rectosigmoid brake, characterized by a reduced frequency of colonic motor patterns in response to a meal. Rectosigmoid brake activity was upregulated by sacral neuromodulation.LimitationsThis was a small cohort of patients with heterogenous faecal incontinence subtypes.ImpactAttenuation of the rectosigmoid brake is a biomarker of faecal incontinence. Rectosigmoid brake responses offer a therapeutic target to evaluate and refine sacral neuromodulation protocols.Lay summaryPatients with faecal incontinence had an attenuated rectosigmoid brake, characterised by fewer postprandial retrograde propagating contractions in the distal colon, however, the rectosigmoid brake function was improved by sacral neuromodulation.
Polymethylation Scores for Prenatal Maternal Smoke Exposure Persist Until Age 15 and Are Detected in Saliva in the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Cohort
Authors: Blostein Freida A. , Fisher Jonah , Dou John , Schneper Lisa , Ware Erin B. , Notterman Daniel A. , Mitchell Colter , Bakulski Kelly M. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractPrenatal maternal smoking is associated with low birthweight, neurological disorders, and asthma in exposed children. DNA methylation signatures can function as biomarkers of prenatal smoke exposure. However, the robustness of these DNA methylation signatures across child ages, genetic ancestry groups, or tissues is not clear. Using coefficients from a meta-analysis of prenatal maternal smoke exposure and DNA methylation in newborn cord blood, we created polymethylation scores of saliva DNA methylation from children at ages 9 and 15 in the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing study. In the full sample at age 9 (n=753), prenatal maternal smoke exposure was associated with a 0.51 (95%CI: 0.35, 0.66) standard deviation higher polymethylation score. The direction and magnitude of the association was consistent in European and African genetic ancestry samples. In the full sample at age 15 (n=747), prenatal maternal smoke exposure was associated with a 0.48 (95%CI: 0.32, 0.63) standard deviation higher polymethylation score, and the association was attenuated among the European and Admixed - Latin genetic ancestry samples. The polymethylation score classified prenatal maternal smoke exposure accurately (AUC age 9=0.77, age 15=0.76). Including the polymethylation score increased the AUC of base model covariates by 5 (95% CI: (2.1, 7.2)) percentage points, while including a single candidate site in the AHRR gene did not (P-value=0.19). Polymethylation scores for prenatal maternal smoking were portable across genetic ancestries and more accurate than an individual DNA methylation site. DNA polymethylation scores from saliva samples could serve as robust and practical clinical biomarkers of prenatal maternal smoke exposure.
TREATMENT COSTS FOR COVID-19 PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL FROM SERBIA
Authors: Sazdanovic Predrag S. , Milisavljevic Slobodan , Milovanovic Dragan R. , Jankovic Slobodan M. , Baskic Dejan , Ristic Dragana Ignjatovic , Zecevic Dejana Ruzic , Lucic Aleksandra Tomic , Djordjevic Natasa , Jovanovic Danijela , Stojkovic Andjelka , Lazarevic Tatjana , Cvetkovic Milica Begovic , Kostic Marina J. 
Published: December 2021

ABSTRACTIntroductionAim of our study was to identify total costs of COVID-19 inpatients treatment in an upper-middle income country from Southeast Europe.MethodsThis retrospective, observational cost of illness study was performed from National Health Insurance Fund perspective and included a cohort of 118 males and 78 females admitted to COVID-19 ward units of a tertiary center, during the first wave of epidemics.ResultsThe median of total costs in the non-survivors’ subgroup (n=43) was 3279.16 Euro (4023.34, 355.20, 9909.61) which is higher than in the survivors (n=153) subgroup 747.10 Euro (1088.21, 46.71, 3265.91). The odds ratio of Charlson Comorbidity Index total score and every 100-Euros increase of patient’s total hospital treatment costs for fatal outcome were 1.804 (95% confidence interval 1.408-2.311, p<0.001) and 1.050 (1.029-1.072, p<0.001), respectively.ConclusionsDirect medical treatment costs for COVID-19 inpatients represent significant economic burden. The link between increased costs and unfavorable final outcome should be further explored.
Interpreting dN/dS under different selective regimes in cancer evolution
Authors: Pérez-Figueroa Andrés , Posada David 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe standard relationship between the dN/dS statistic and the selection coefficient is contingent upon the computation of the rate of fixation of non-synonymous and synonymous mutations among divergent lineages (substitutions). In cancer genomics, however, dN/dS is typically calculated by including mutations that are still segregating in the cell population. The interpretation of dN/dS within sexual populations has been shown to be problematic. Here we used a simple model of somatic evolution to study the relationship between dN/dS and the selection coefficient in the presence of deleterious, neutral, and beneficial mutations in cancer. We found that dN/dS can be used to distinguish cancer genes under positive or negative selection, but it is not always informative about the magnitude of the selection coefficient. In particular, under the asexual scenario simulated, dN/dS is insensitive to negative selection strength. Furthermore, the relationship between dN/dS and the positive selection coefficient depends on the mutation detection threshold, and, in particular scenarios, it can become non-linear. Our results warn about the necessary caution when interpreting the results drawn from dN/dS estimates in cancer.
Designing anti-predator training to maximize learning and efficacy assessments
Authors: Greggor Alison L. , Masuda Bryce M. , Sabol Anne C. , Swaisgood Ronald R. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractDespite the growing need to use conservation breeding and translocations in species’ recovery, many attempts to reintroduce animals to the wild fail due to predation post-release. Released animals often lack appropriate behaviours for survival, including anti-predator responses. Anti-predator training—a method for encouraging animals to exhibit wariness and defensive responses to predators—has been used to help address this challenge with varying degrees of success. The efficacy of anti-predator training hinges on animals learning to recognize and respond to predators, but learning is rarely assessed, or interventions miss key experimental controls to document learning. An accurate measure of learning serves as a diagnostic tool for improving training if it otherwise fails to reduce predation. Here we present an experimental framework for designing anti-predator training that incorporates suitable controls to infer predator-specific learning and illustrate their use with the critically endangered Hawaiian crow, ‘alalā (Corvus hawaiiensis). We conducted anti-predator training within a conservation breeding facility to increase anti-predator behaviour towards a natural predator, the Hawaiian hawk, ‘io (Buteo solitaries). In addition to running live-predator training trials, we included two control groups, aimed at determining if responses could otherwise be due to accumulated stress and agitation, or to generalized increases in fear of movement. We found that without these control groups we may have wrongly concluded that predator-specific learning occurred. Additionally, despite generations in human care that can erode anti-predator responses, ‘alalā showed unexpectedly high levels of predatory wariness during baseline assessments. We discuss the implications of a learning-focused approach to training for managing endangered species that require improved behavioural competence for dealing with predatory threats, and the importance of understanding learning mechanisms in diagnosing behavioural problems.