bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Six Air Pollutants Associated With Increased Risk of Thyroid Nodules: A Study of 4.9 Million Chinese Adults
Authors: Zhang Yunjing , Wang Kai , Qin Wei , Jin Cheng , Song Yiqing , Jia Peng , Wang Shengfeng , Song Yongfeng , Ning Yi , Li Liming 
Published: December 2021

BackgroundThyroid nodules has become a significant public health issue worldwide with a rapidly increasing prevalence. However, its association with outdoor air pollution remains poorly understood. We aim to investigate the relationship between six outdoor air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, and O3) and the risk of thyroid nodules.MethodsWe utilized a database including 4,920,536 participants who attended the annual physical examinations in the Meinian HealthCare Screening Center in 157 Chinese cities in 2017. City-specific concentrations of six pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, and O3) from 2015 to 2017 were estimated based on the China’s National Urban Air Quality Real Time Publishing Platform. Thyroid nodule was measured with ultrasound. Multivariable Logistic regression was used to examine the associations between air pollutants and thyroid nodules with adjustment for age, sex, education, smoking, body mass index, fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, urine iodine, gross domestic product, and thyroid stimulating hormone. We conducted stratified analyses to investigate potential effect modification by sex, age, and urine iodine groups.ResultsApproximately 38% of the participants (1,869,742) were diagnosed with thyroid nodules. Each of the six air pollutants was significantly and linearly associated with the risk for thyroid nodules. The adjusted odds ratios [95% CI] for every increase of 10 μg/m3 for PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, and O3 were 1.062 [1.061, 1.064], 1.04 [1.03, 1.04], 1.10 [1.09, 1.10], 1.11 [1.11, 1.12], and 1.151 [1.149, 1.154], respectively; The odds ratio for each increase of 1 mg/m3 for CO was 1.50 [1.49 to 1.52]. Furthermore, these associations were significantly higher in the participants who were men, younger, or having lower urine iodine level (p &lt;0.001).ConclusionThe six air pollutants may contribute to the high prevalence of thyroid nodules in China.
A Decoupling Analysis of the Crop Water Footprint Versus Economic Growth in Beijing, China
Authors: Huang Kai , Wang Mengqi , Zhou Zhongren , Yu Yajuan , Bi Yixing 
Published: December 2021

Beijing, the capital of China, is experiencing a serious lack of water, which is becoming a main factor in the restriction of the development of the social economy. Due to the low economic efficiency and high consumption proportion of agricultural water use, the relationship between economic growth and agricultural water use is worth investigating. The “decoupling” index is becoming increasingly popular for identifying the degree of non-synchronous variation between resource consumption and economic growth. However, few studies address the decoupling between the crop water consumption and agricultural economic growth. This paper involves the water footprint (WF) to assess the water consumption in the crop production process. After an evaluation of the crop WF in Beijing, this paper applies the decoupling indicators to examine the occurrence of non-synchronous variation between the agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) and crop WF in Beijing from 1981 to 2013. The results show that the WF of crop production in 2013 reduced by 62.1% compared to that in 1980 — in total, 1.81 × 109 m3. According to the decoupling states, the entire study period is divided into three periods. From 1981 to 2013, the decoupling states represented seventy-five percent of the years from 1981 to 1992 (Period I) with a moderate decoupling degree, more than ninety percent from 1993 to 2003 (Period II) with a very strong decoupling degree and moved from non-decoupling to strong decoupling from 2004 to 2013 (Period III). Adjusting plantation structure, technology innovation and raising awareness of water-saving, may promote the decoupling degree between WF and agricultural GDP in Beijing.
Role of the CBX Molecular Family in Lung Adenocarcinoma Tumorigenesis and Immune Infiltration
Authors: Zhang Chun , Chang Lisha , Yao Yizhen , Chao Ce , Ge Zhongchun , Fan Chengfeng , Yu Hualin , Wang Bin , Yang Jingsong 
Published: December 2021

Background: The members of the Chromobox (CBX) family are important epigenetic regulatory molecules with critical biological roles in many tumors. However, no study has analyzed or verified their role in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).Methods: UALCAN and Oncomine databases were used to analyze CBX expression in LUAD, and the cBioPortal database was used to analyze CBX genetic variations. The Kaplan-Meier plotter and UALCAN databases were used to identify molecules with prognostic value. Gene Ontology pathway, receiver operating characteristic curves, and tumor-infiltrating immune cell analyses were used to clarify the biological function of the CBX hub molecules. Paired tumor samples and lung adenocarcinoma cell lines were collected for molecular functional assays to validate the results of the bioinformatics analysis.Results: CBX3/5 may have a cancer-promoting effect and its expression is associated with a poor patient prognosis, while CBX7 shows an opposite trend. CBX3/5/7 can regulate signaling pathways, regulate tumor immune cell infiltration, and has diagnostic value. Molecular biology experiments show that CBX3/5 is highly expressed in LUAD patients; in vitro it promotes the proliferation and migration of the LUAD cell line and can regulate the expression of the corresponding cytokines. CBX7 has opposite effects.Conclusion: Our bioinformatics analysis and subsequent experimental verification confirmed the CBX family members acted as hub signaling molecules in LUAD. The results provide new potential targets for the diagnosis and treatment of this cancer.
The Impact of Age Difference on the Efficacy and Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wang Jiting , Tong Yue , Li Duo , Li Jun , Li Yaling 
Published: December 2021

ObjectiveThis meta-analysis compared the efficacy and safety of five kinds of COVID-19 vaccines in different age groups (young adults and older adults), aiming to analyze the difference of adverse events (AEs) rate and virus geometric mean titer (GMT) values between young and older people, in order to find a specific trend, and explore the causes of this trend through meta-analysis.MethodMeta-analysis was used to analyze the five eligible articles. The modified Jadad scoring scale was used to evaluate the quality of eligible literature with a scoring system of 1 to 7. The primary endpoint of the effectiveness index was GMT. The primary endpoints of the safety index were the incidence of local AEs and systemic AEs. Stata 12.0 software was used for meta-analysis. Revman 5.0 software was used to map the risk of publication bias, and Egger’s test was used to analyze publication bias.ResultsThe GMT values of young adults were higher than older adults (SMD = 1.40, 95% CI (0.79, 2.02), P&lt;0.01). There was a higher incidence of local and systemic AEs in young people than in the elderly (OR = 1.10, 95% CI (1.08, 1.12), P&lt;0.01; OR = 1.18, 95% CI (1.14, 1.22), P&lt;0.01).ConclusionThe immune effect of young people after being vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines was better than that of the elderly, but the safety was worse than that of old people, the most common AEs were fever, rash, and local muscle pain, which were tolerable for young people. As the AEs of the elderly were lower, they can also be vaccinated safely; the reason for the low level of GMT in the elderly was related to Immunosenescence. The vaccine tolerance of people of different ages needs to be studied continuously.
Pure Red Cell Aplasia and Other Haematological Diseases Associated With Thymoma: A Case Series and Systematic Review
Authors: Yen Chih-Chieh , Huang Wei-Li , Li Sin-Syue , Chen Ya-Ping , Tseng Yau-Lin , Yen Yi-Ting , Chu Chang-Yao , Hsu Ya-Ting , Chen Tsai-Yun 
Published: December 2021

Background: Thymoma-associated haematological diseases (HDs), such as pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) and Good's syndrome, are extremely rare, and due to the paucity of large-scale studies, the characteristics, remission after thymectomy, and long-term evaluation remain undetermined.Methods: We retrospectively assessed patients with thymoma and associated HDs from Jan 2005 to Dec 2020. All patients received thymectomy and/or additional treatments for HDs. A comparison with thymoma-associated myasthenic gravis (MG), and a systematic review from PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase were conducted.Results: In the median follow-up of 56 months, 130 patients were enrolled. Patients with thymoma-associated MG (n = 46) and HDs [n = 8; PRCA (n = 5), PRCA and Good's syndrome (n = 2) and autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (n = 1)] were evaluated. Patients with MG had a significantly higher remission rate after thymectomy (50 vs. 17%; p = 0.0378) as compared to those with other autoimmune diseases. Two of seven patients with PRCA experienced remission with thymectomy alone, and an additional two patients achieved remission with thymectomy plus immunosuppressive therapy (IST). In the systematic review, 60 studies (case reports, n = 46; case series including the present study, n = 14) were evaluated. Forty-four percent of patients were diagnosed with PRCA after thymoma, and 61% achieved remission with thymectomy plus IST; however, Good's syndrome was unaffected.Conclusions: Our study indicates that patients with thymoma-associated autoimmune diseases other than MG have a lower remission rate than those with MG. Remission of thymoma-associated PRCA can be achieved by thymectomy and IST. This study provides insight into extremely rare but puzzling autoimmune manifestations.
Global Burden and Changing Trend of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative MSM: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zheng Yang , Ying Meike , Zhou Yuqing , Lin Yushi , Ren Jingjing , Wu Jie 
Published: December 2021

Background: The disease burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in HIV-positive and HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM) is changing. We aim to provide an updated comprehensive estimate of HCV prevalence and incidence among the HIV-positive and HIV-negative MSM population at the country, regional, and global levels and their changing trends over time.Methods: PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and conference databases were searched and eligible records on the prevalence and incidence of HCV antibodies were selected and pooled via a random-effects model. Meta-regression was performed to demonstrate the association between the pooled rates and study year.Results: A total of 230 articles reporting 245 records from 51 countries with 445,883 participants and 704,249 follow-up person-years were included. The pooled prevalence of HCV in MSM was 5.9% (95% CI: 5.1–6.8), with substantial differences between countries and regions. Low- and lower-middle-income countries (12.3 and 7.0%) manifested a larger disease burden than high- and upper-middle-income countries (5.8 and 3.8%). HCV prevalence in HIV-positive MSM was substantially higher than in HIV-negative MSM (8.1 vs. 2.8%, p &lt; 0.001). The pooled incidence of HCV was 8.6 (95% CI: 7.2–10.0) per 1,000 person-years, with an increasing trend over time, according to meta-regression (p &lt; 0.05).Conclusion: Global HCV prevalence in MSM varies by region and HIV status. Behavior counseling and regular HCV monitoring are needed in HIV-positive subgroups and high-risk regions. Given the upward trend of HCV incidence and sexual risk behaviors, there is also a continued need to reinforce risk-reduction intervention.Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO, identifier CRD42020211028; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/.
Association Between Ambient Air Pollutants Exposure and Preterm Birth in Women Who Underwent in vitro Fertilization: A Retrospective Cohort Study From Hangzhou, China
Authors: Shi Wenming , Jiang Meiyan , Kan Lena , Zhang Tiantian , Yu Qiong , Wu Zexuan , Xue Shuya , Fei Xiaoyang , Jin Changbo 
Published: December 2021

Objectives: Exposure to air pollutants has been linked to preterm birth (PTB) after natural conception. However, few studies have explored the effects of air pollution on PTB in patients who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF). We aimed to investigate the association between ambient air pollutants exposure and PTB risk in IVF patients.Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 2,195 infertile women who underwent IVF treatment from January 2017 and September 2020 in Hangzhou Women's Hospital. Totally 1,005 subjects who underwent a first fresh embryo(s) transfer cycle were analyzed in this study. Residential exposure to ambient six air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, CO, O3) during various periods of the IVF timeline were estimated by satellite remote-sensing and ground measurement. Cox proportional hazards models for discrete time were used to explore the association between pollutants exposure and incident PTB, with adjustment for confounders. Stratified analyses were employed to explore the effect modifiers.Results: The clinical pregnancy and PTB rates were 61.2 and 9.3%, respectively. We found that PM2.5 exposure was significantly associated with an increased risk of PTB during 85 days before oocyte retrieval [period A, adjusted hazard ratio, HR=1.09, 95%CI: 1.02–1.21], gonadotropin start to oocyte retrieval [period B, 1.07 (1.01–1.19)], first trimester of pregnancy [period F, 1.06 (1.01–1.14)], and the entire IVF pregnancy [period I, 1.07 (1.01–1.14)], respectively. An interquartile range increment in PM10 during periods A and B was significantly associated with PTB at 1.15 (1.04–1.36), 1.12 (1.03–1.28), and 1.14 (1.01–1.32) for NO2 during period A. The stratified analysis showed that the associations were stronger for women aged &lt;35 years and those who underwent two embryos transferred.Conclusions: Our study suggests ambient PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 exposure were significantly associated with elevated PTB risk in IVF patients, especially at early stages of IVF cycle and during pregnancy.
Combining Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation With Tai Chi to Improve Dual-Task Gait Performance in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Liao Ying-Yi , Liu Mu-N , Wang Han-Cheng , Walsh Vincent , Lau Chi Ieong 
Published: December 2021

Introduction: Engaging in a secondary task while walking increases motor-cognitive interference and exacerbates fall risk in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Previous studies have demonstrated that Tai Chi (TC) may improve cognitive function and dual-task gait performance. Intriguingly, with emerging studies also indicating the potential of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in enhancing such motor-cognitive performance, whether combining tDCS with TC might be superior to TC alone is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of combining tDCS with TC on dual-task gait in patients with MCI.Materials and Methods: Twenty patients with MCI were randomly assigned to receive either anodal or sham tDCS, both combined with TC, for 36 sessions over 12 weeks. Subjects received 40 min of TC training in each session. During the first 20 min, they simultaneously received either anodal or sham tDCS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Outcome measures included dual-task gait performance and other cognitive functions.Results: There were significant interaction effects between groups on the cognitive dual task walking. Compared to sham, the anodal tDCS group demonstrated a greater improvement on cadence and dual task cost of speed.Conclusion: Combining tDCS with TC may offer additional benefits over TC alone in enhancing dual-task gait performance in patients with MCI.Clinical Trial Registration: [www.ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [TCTR20201201007].
Associations of the Disrupted Functional Brain Network and Cognitive Function in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis: A Graph Theory-Based Study of Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Zhang Die , Chen Yingying , Wu Hua , Lin Lin , Xie Qing , Chen Chen , Jing Li , Wu Jianlin 
Published: December 2021

Objective: Cognitive impairment (CI) is a common neurological complication in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Brain network analysis based on graph theory is a promising tool for studying CI. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the changes of functional brain networks in patients on MHD with and without CI by using graph theory and further explore the underlying neuropathological mechanism of CI in these patients.Methods: A total of 39 patients on MHD (19 cases with CI and 20 without) and 25 healthy controls (HCs) matched for age, sex, and years of education were enrolled in the study. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and T1-weighted high-resolution anatomical data were obtained, and functional brain networks for each subject were constructed. The brain network parameters at the global and regional levels were calculated, and a one-way analysis of covariance was used to compare the differences across the three groups. The associations between the changed graph-theory parameters and cognitive function scores in patients on MHD were evaluated using Spearman correlation analysis.Results: Compared with HCs, the global parameters [sigma, gamma, and local efficiency (Eloc)] in both patient groups decreased significantly (p &lt; 0.05, Bonferroni corrected). The clustering coefficient (Cp) in patients with CI was significantly lower than that in the other two groups (p &lt; 0.05, Bonferroni corrected). The regional parameters were significantly lower in the right superior frontal gyrus, dorsolateral (SFGdor) and gyrus rectus (REC) of patients with CI than those of patients without CI; however the nodal local efficiency in the left amygdala was significantly increased (all p &lt; 0.05, Bonferroni corrected). The global Cp and regional parameters in the three brain regions (right SFGdor, REC, and left amygdala) were significantly correlated with the cognitive function scores (all FDR q &lt; 0.05).Conclusion: This study confirmed that the topology of the functional brain network was disrupted in patients on MHD with and without CI and the disruption of brain network was more severe in patients with CI. The abnormal brain network parameters are closely related to cognitive function in patients on MHD.
Misreporting of Energy Intake From Food Records Completed by Adolescents: Associations With Sex, Body Image, Nutrient, and Food Group Intake
Authors: Jones Louise , Ness Andy , Emmett Pauline 
Published: December 2021

Background and Objectives:A healthy diet during adolescence is important for growth and pubertal development. Assessing the diet of adolescents may be challenging as the behavioural factors and food habits which impact on what they eat may also affect how they report dietary intake. This study assesses factors associated with the misreporting of dietary intake.Methods:Adolescents (n= 4,844; average age 13.8 years) from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) completed a 3-day diet record. Misreporting was estimated using an individualised method, and adolescents were categorised by reporting status. Foods were categorised as core and noncore foods to evaluate diet quality. Body composition measurements were recorded at a research clinic. Information on dieting, weight concern, family socioeconomic status, and parental BMI were collectedviaquestionnaires. Binary logistic regression was performed, in boys and girls separately, to investigate factors associated with underreporting of dietary intake.Results:Girls were much more likely than boys to be dissatisfied with their weight and to diet, but showed similar levels of underreporting (~67%). In adjusted regression analysis underreporters (UR) were more likely to be overweight or obese: OR in boys 2.8 (95% CI 1.7–4.8) and in girls 2.2 (95% CI 1.5–3.2). Dissatisfaction with weight and dieting were positively associated, and perception of being underweight negatively associated with underreporting in boys. Perception of being overweight, dieting, and exact age were positively associated with underreporting in girls. UR obtained a greater percentage of energy from protein and a smaller percentage of energy from fat; they reported greater intake of core foods and lower intakes of non-core foods than plausible reporters.Conclusion:A large proportion of adolescents underreported their dietary energy intake. This was associated with their body weight status and body image and had a differential effect on their estimated food and macronutrient intakes. Assessment of misreporting status is essential when collecting and interpreting dietary information from adolescents.
Circular RNA CircPVT1 Inhibits 5-Fluorouracil Chemosensitivity by Regulating Ferroptosis Through MiR-30a-5p/FZD3 Axis in Esophageal Cancer Cells
Authors: Yao Wenjian , Wang Jianjun , Meng Fanruo , Zhu Zibo , Jia Xiangbo , Xu Lei , Zhang Quan , Wei Li 
Published: December 2021

BackgroundCircPVT1 is demonstrated to promote cancer progression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the role and potential functional mechanisms of circPVT1 in regulating 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) chemosensitivity remain largely unknown.MethodsESCC cells resistant to 5-FU were induced with continuous increasing concentrations of 5-FU step-wisely. A cell counting kit-8 assay was used to analyze the viability of ESCC cells. LDH release assay kit was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity. RT-qPCR was used to assess the expression level of non-coding RNAs and cDNAs. Luciferase was used to confirm the interaction between non-coding RNAs and targets. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of downstream signaling proteins. Flow cytometry and ferroptosis detection assay kit were utilized to measure the ferroptosis of ESCC cells.ResultsCircPVT1 was significantly upregulated in ESCC cells resistant to 5-FU. Knockdown of circPVT1 enhanced the 5-FU chemosensitivity of ESCC cells resistant to 5-FU by increasing cytotoxicity and downregulating multidrug-resistant associated proteins, including P-gp and MRP1. Luciferase assay showed that circPVT1 acted as a sponge of miR-30a-5p, and Frizzled3 (FZD3) was a downstream target of miR-30a-5p. The enhanced 5-FU chemosensitivity by circPVT1 knockdown was reversed with miR-30a-5p inhibitor. Besides, the increased 5-FU chemosensitivity by miR-30a-5p mimics was reversed with FZD3 overexpression. Furthermore, knockdown of circPVT1 increased ferroptosis through downregulating p-β-catenin, GPX4, and SLC7A11 while miR-30a-5p inhibition and FZD3 overexpression reversed the phenotype by upregulating p-β-catenin, GPX4, and SLC7A11.ConclusionsThese results suggested a key role for circPVT1 in ESCC 5-FU-chemosensitivity in regulating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and ferroptosis via miR-30a-5p/FZD3 axis, which might be a potential target in ESCC therapy.