bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Endoscopic Versus Surgical Therapy for Early Esophagogastric Junction Adenocarcinoma Based on Lymph Node Metastasis Risk: A Population-Based Analysis
Authors: Ye Hua , Chen Ping , Wang Yi-Fan , Cai Xiu-Jun 
Published: December 2021

BackgroundIn this study, we aimed to compare the prognosis and lymph node metastasis (LNM) risk in patients with early-stage esophagogastric junction (EGJ) adenocarcinoma after endoscopic treatment (ET) or radical surgery.MethodsWe collected data from eligible patients based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2004 and 2016. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine independent predictors of LNM (examination of at least 16 lymph nodes). Cox regression analysis and propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis were subsequently utilized to compare the overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) of patients treated with ET or radical surgery.ResultsIn total, 3708 patients were identified. Among them, 856 patients had greater than or equal to 16 examined lymph nodes (LNs) (LNE≥16). The LNM rates were 18.8% in all patients 8.3% in T1a patients and 24.6% in T1b patients. Independent predictors of LNM were submucosal invasion, tumor size ≥3cm and decreasing differentiation (P&lt;0.05). The LNM rate decreased to approximately 5.3% in T1b tumors with well differentiation and tumor size &lt;3cm. However, the LNM incidence increased to 17.9% or 33.3% in T1a tumors with poor differentiation or with both tumor size≥3cm and poor differentiation. Cox regression analysis demonstrated CSS was not significantly different in early-stage EGJ adenocarcinoma patients undergoing ET and those treated with radical surgery (HR= 1.004, P=0.974), which were robustly validated after PSM analysis. Moreover, subgroup analysis stratified by T1a and T1b showed similar results.ConclusionsThe findings of this study indicated ET as an alternative to radical surgery in early EGJ adenocarcinoma.
ITGA5 Predicts Dual-Drug Resistance to Temozolomide and Bevacizumab in Glioma
Authors: Shi Ying , Wu Mengwan , Liu Yuyang , Hu Lanlin , Wu Hong , Xie Lei , Liu Zhiwei , Wu Anhua , Chen Ling , Xu Chuan 
Published: December 2021

AimsAnti-angiotherapy (Bevacizumab) is currently regarded as a promising option for glioma patients who are resistant to temozolomide (TMZ) treatment. But ongoing clinical research failed to meet therapeutic expectations. This study aimed to explore the pivotal genetic feature responsible for TMZ and Bevacizumab resistance in glioma patients.MethodsWe downloaded the transcriptomic and methylation data of glioma patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA), and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases and grouped these patients into resistant and non-resistant groups based on their clinical profiles. Differentially expressed genes and pathways were identified and exhibited with software in R platform. A TMZ-resistant cell line was constructed for validating the expression change of the candidate gene, ITGA5. An ITGA5-overexpressing cell line was also constructed to investigate its biological function using the CCK8 assay, Western blot, periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) staining, and transcriptional sequencing.ResultsChange of the cell morphology and polarity was closely associated with TMZ mono-resistance and TMZ/Bevacizumab dual resistance in glioma patients. The expression level of ITGA5 was effective in determining drug resistance and the outcome of glioma patients, which is regulated by methylation on two distinct sites. ITGA5 was augmented in TMZ-resistant glioma cells, while overexpressing ITGA5 altered the cell-promoted TMZ resistance through enhancing vascular mimicry (VM) formation correspondingly.ConclusionsBoth the epigenetic and transcriptional levels of ITGA5 are effective in predicting TMZ and Bevacizumab resistance, indicating that ITGA5 may serve as a predictor of the treatment outcomes of glioma patients.
Adding Concurrent Chemotherapy Significantly Improves the Survival of Stage II-IVb Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients Treated With Concurrent Anti-EGFR Agents
Authors: Yu Zi-Kun , Chen Xu-Yin , Liu Si-Han , Liu You-Ping , You Rui , Huang Pei-Yu 
Published: December 2021

ObjectiveAnti-EGFR Targeted agents were found to be capable of modulating the antitumor immunity in head and neck cancer and become more and more frequently used in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC). We aimed to explore whether adding concurrent chemotherapy influences the survival outcome of patients with stage II-IVb NPC treated with concurrent anti-EGFR agents and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and explore other prognostic factors for the patients.Materials and MethodsA total of 656 stage II-IVb NPC patients treated with concurrent anti-EGFR agents plus IMRT between January 2011 and November 2015 were enrolled. Firstly, from these patients, a well-balanced cohort of 302 patients who received concurrent chemotherapy was created by matching potential prognostic factors. Furthermore, for all 656 stage II-IVb NPC patients, univariate and multivariate analyses of overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) were conducted to identify prognostic factors and to confirm the findings from the matching cohort.ResultsCompared with concurrent anti-EGFR agents alone, combining concurrent cisplatin and anti-EGFR agents significantly improved the OS (5-year 94.7% versus 84.3%, P=0.012) and PFS (5-year 82.0% versus 71.7%, P=0.039) of NPC patients with more severe hematologic toxicity and mucositis. The independent prognostic factors identified by multivariate analysis of OS and PFS included concurrent chemotherapy, epstein-barr virus(EBV) status and clinical stage. Patients treated without induction chemotherapy (IC) may achieve more benefits from the addition of concurrent chemotherapy to concurrent anti-EGFR agents.ConclusionsFor stage II-IVb NPC patients treated with concurrent anti-EGFR agents, the addition of concurrent chemotherapy can significantly improve the survival outcome.
Evaluation of the Efficacy of PARP Inhibitors in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wu Kan , Liang Jiayu , Shao Yanxiang , Xiong Sanchao , Feng Shuyang , Li Xiang 
Published: December 2021

Background: Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors have breakthrough designations for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). We performed a meta-analysis of current clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of PARP inhibitors in mCRPC patients based on their genetic status.Methods: On August 2020, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science were searched for phase II/III clinical studies on PARP inhibitors in mCRPC patients. Data were extracted independently by two investigators and analyzed using Review Manager software version 5.3. Primary endpoints included overall response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS).Results: Nine clinical trials were identified and analyzed for the clinical benefit of PARP inhibitors in mCRPC patients (n = 1,219). Pooled analyses demonstrated that PARP inhibitors could provide a significant improvement of ORR and PFS in patients with homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) when compared with non-HRD patients. Within the HRD subgroup, BRCA mutation patients achieved significantly higher ORR [odds ratio (OR): 9.97, 95% confidence interval (CI): 6.08–16.35] and PFS rates at 12 months (OR: 3.23, 95% CI: 1.71–6.10) when compared with BRCA wild-type patients. Furthermore, patients harboring HRD without BRCA mutations have a higher objective response after PARP inhibitor treatment compared with non-HRD patients.Conclusion: PARP inhibitor is an effective treatment option for mCRPC patients with mutations in genes related to the HR DNA repair pathway when compared with non-HRD patients. In addition to BRCA mutations, other HRD-related gene aberrations may also be used as novel biomarkers to predict the efficacy of PARP inhibitors.
Abnormalities in Electroencephalographic Microstates Among Adolescents With First Episode Major Depressive Disorder
Authors: He Yuqiong , Yu Qianting , Yang Tingyu , Zhang Yaru , Zhang Kun , Jin Xingyue , Wu Shuxian , Gao Xueping , Huang Chunxiang , Cui Xilong , Luo Xuerong 
Published: December 2021

Background: Recent studies have reported changes in the electroencephalograms (EEG) of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, little research has explored EEG differences between adolescents with MDD and healthy controls, particularly EEG microstates differences. The aim of the current study was to characterize EEG microstate activity in adolescents with MDD and healthy controls (HCs).Methods: A total of 35 adolescents with MDD and 35 HCs were recruited in this study. The depressive symptoms were assessed by Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), and the anxiety symptoms were assessed by Chinese version of DSM-5 Level 2-Anxiety-Child scale. A 64-channel EEG was recorded for 5 min (eye closed, resting-state) and analyzed using microstate analysis. Microstate properties were compared between groups and correlated with patients' depression scores.Results: We found increased occurrence and contribution of microstate B in MDD patients compared to HCs, and decreased occurrence and contribution of microstate D in MDD patients compared to HCs. While no significant correlation between depression severity (HAMD score) and the microstate metrics (occurrence and contribution of microstate B and D) differing between MDD adolescents and HCs was found.Conclusions: Adolescents with MDD showed microstate B and microstate D changes. The obtained results may deepen our understanding of dynamic EEG changes among adolescents with MDD and provide some evidence of changes in brain development in adolescents with MDD.
Gut Microbial Profile Is Associated With the Severity of Social Impairment and IQ Performance in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Chen Zilin , Shi Kai , Liu Xin , Dai Yuan , Liu Yuqi , Zhang Lingli , Du Xiujuan , Zhu Tailin , Yu Juehua , Fang Shuanfeng , Li Fei 
Published: December 2021

Background and Objective: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a heterogeneous set of neurodevelopmental disorders with diverse symptom severity and comorbidities. Although alterations in gut microbiota have been reported in individuals with ASD, it remains unclear whether certain microbial pattern is linked to specific symptom or comorbidity in ASD. We aimed to investigate the associations between gut microbiota and the severity of social impairment and cognitive functioning in children with ASD.Methods: A total of 261 age-matched children, including 138 children diagnosed with ASD, 63 with developmental delay or intellectual disability (DD/ID), and 60 typically developing (TD) children, were enrolled from the Shanghai Xinhua Registry. The children with ASD were further classified into two subgroups: 76 children diagnosed with ASD and developmental disorder (ASD+DD) and 62 with ASD only (ASD-only). The gut microbiome of all children was profiled and evaluated by 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing.Results: The gut microbial analyses demonstrated an altered microbial community structure in children with ASD. The alpha diversity indices of the ASD+DD and ASD-only subgroups were significantly lower than the DD/ID or TD groups. At the genus level, we observed a decrease in the relative abundance of Prevotella. Simultaneously, Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium were significantly increased in ASD compared with DD/ID and TD participants. There was a clear correlation between alpha diversity and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) total score for all participants, and this correlation was independent of IQ performance. Similar correlations with the CARS total score were observed for genera Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, and Oscillospira. However, there was no single genus significantly associated with IQ in all participants.Conclusions: Specific alterations in bacterial taxonomic composition and associations with the severity of social impairment and IQ performance were observed in children with ASD or ASD subgroups, when compared with DD/ID or TD groups. These results illustrate that gut microbiota may serve as a promising biomarker for ASD symptoms. Nevertheless, further investigations are warranted.
Estimating COVID Risk During a Period of Pandemic Decline
Authors: Inglis Timothy J. J. , McFadden Benjamin , Macali Anthony 
Published: December 2021

Background: Many parts of the world that succeeded in suppressing epidemic coronavirus spread in 2020 have been caught out by recent changes in the transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2. Australia's early success in suppressing COVID-19 resulted in lengthy periods without community transmission. However, a slow vaccine rollout leaves this geographically isolated population vulnerable to leakage of new variants from quarantine, which requires internal travel restrictions, disruptive lockdowns, contact tracing and testing surges.Methods: To assist long term sustainment of limited public health resources, we sought a method of continuous, real-time COVID-19 risk monitoring that could be used to alert non-specialists to the level of epidemic risk on a sub-national scale. After an exploratory data assessment, we selected four COVID-19 metrics used by public health in their periodic threat assessments, applied a business continuity matrix and derived a numeric indicator; the COVID-19 Risk Estimate (CRE), to generate a daily spot CRE, a 3 day net rise and a seven day rolling average. We used open source data updated daily from all Australian states and territories to monitor the CRE for over a year.Results: Upper and lower CRE thresholds were established for the CRE seven day rolling average, corresponding to risk of sustained and potential outbreak propagation, respectively. These CRE thresholds were used in a real-time map of Australian COVID-19 risk estimate distribution by state and territory.Conclusions: The CRE toolkit we developed complements other COVID-19 risk management techniques and provides an early indication of emerging threats to business continuity.
Gender Modifies the Association of Cognition With Age-Related Hearing Impairment in the Health and Retirement Study
Authors: Yuan Jing , Sang Shuping , Pham Jessica , Kong Wei-Jia 
Published: December 2021

Introduction: Despite growing recognition of hearing loss as a risk factor for late life cognitive disorders, sex and gender analysis of this association has been limited. Elucidating this is one means to advocate for holistic medicine by considering the psychosocial attributes of people. With a composite Gender Score (GS), we aimed to assess this among aging participants (50+) from the 2016 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) cohort.Methods: The GS was derived from gender-related variables in HRS by factor analyses and logistic regression, ranging from 0 (toward masculinity) to 100 (toward femininity). GS tertiles were also used to indicate three gender types (GS tertile 1: lower GS indicates masculinity; GS tertile 2: middle GS indicates androgyny; GS tertile 3: higher GS indicates femininity). Univariate followed by multiple logistic regressions were used to estimate the Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of cognitive impairment (assessed by adapted Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status) from hearing acuity, as well as to explore the interactions of sex and gender with hearing acuity. The risk of cognitive impairment among hearing-impaired participants was assessed using multivariable models including sex and gender as exposure variables.Results: Five variables (taking risks, loneliness, housework, drinking, and depression) were retained to compute the GS for each participant. The distribution of GS between sexes partly overlapped. After adjusting for confounding factors, the OR for cognitive impairment associated with hearing impairment was significantly higher (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.26, 2.15), and this association was not modified by female sex (OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.46, 1.27), but by androgynous gender (OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.24, 0.81). In the multivariable models for participants with hearing impairment, androgynous and feminine gender, as opposed to female sex, was associated with lower odds of cognitive impairment (OR of GS tertile 2 = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.41, 0.84; OR of GS tertile 3 = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.41, 0.87; OR of female sex = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.57, 1.08).Conclusions: Hearing impairment was associated with cognitive impairment among older people, and this association may be attenuated by a more feminine GS.
University Students' Self-Medication Practices and Pharmacists' Role: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Hail, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alshammari Farhan , Alobaida Ahmed , Alshammari Abdulhadi , Alharbi Atheer , Alrashidi Adel , Almansour Asma , Alremal Amal , Khan Kashif Ullah 
Published: December 2021

Background: Self-medication is an important issue for health authorities around the world. It is also a common practice among university students.Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of and reasons for self-medication among university students.Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional community based survey design was adopted for the current study. All the students enrolled in Hail University, Saudi Arabia were selected to include in the study. Data was collected from February to April 2020 using a validated questionnaire and were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics, Version 22.0. Using convenient sampling technique, the total sample size calculated was 370 participants. A descriptive analysis was performed. Chi-square test and binary logistic regression was used for analyzing the data where statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05.Results: A total of 373 participants completed the questionnaire. The response rate was 84%. The overall prevalence of self-medication among the students was 98.2%. Of the 373 participants, 40.8% were men, and 59.2% were women. Furthermore, 56% were in fields other than health sciences, 23.1% were in preparatory foundation courses, and 20.9% were from the health and medical sciences. The most frequent medical condition that led to self-medication was headaches (92.85%), followed by coughs (37.5%), colic (31.9%) and influenza (30.3%). On univariate analysis, it is revealed that for both abdominal colic [OR 0.54 (0.34–0.86), p = 0.01] and constipation [OR 0.57 (0.32–1.02), p 0.05], female gender was observed significantly with low prevalence than male. However, for influenza, the self-medication prevalence [OR 1.86 (1.19–2.91), p = 0.006] observed was significantly higher in female participants than male. A significant association (p = 0.011) between the self-medication factors and gender was shown in the current study results.Conclusion: An alarming prevalence of self-medication among the students was recorded. Health care providers can increase awareness of the issue by educating individuals about the harmful effects of irresponsible self-medication.
Consideraciones sobre el rol del pastoralismo móvil en el proceso de urbanización en el sur del Levante durante el Bronce Antiguo
Authors: Cismondi Ezequiel 
Published: December 2021

El proceso de urbanización en el sur del Levante implicó cambios significativos en las poblaciones sedentarias de la región durante el Bronce Antiguo. Asimismo, se observan modificaciones en el registro arqueológico de las zonas áridas habitadas por pastores móviles, aparentemente vinculado a la aparición de mercados urbanos. Se cree que el desarrollo de las economías pastoriles estuvo relacionado con las nuevas condiciones económicas, lo que habría estimulado el desarrollo de intercambios de bienes. El objetivo central de este estudio es analizar la influencia que tuvieron los asentamientos urbanos sudlevantinos en las poblaciones móviles de las regiones áridas, y viceversa, especialmente en relación con la participación de estas últimas en las redes de intercambio, necesarias para que se lleve a cabo la “revolución urbana”. Para ello, revisamos el registro arqueológico de algunos sitios asociados a grupos pastoriles para luego proponer algunas consideraciones respecto a las influencias mutuas entre las poblaciones móviles y las urbes. Consideramos que el rol de los pastores fue relevante, ya que los intercambios que se gestaron posibilitaron la acumulación de los bienes necesarios para el proceso de urbanización.
Structural validity of the physical fitness test battery
Authors: Palevych S. , Kirpenko V. , Piddubny A. , Bozhko S. , Tzymbaliyk Z. , Anthonny Martinez Velez Michael , Anibal Martinez Velez Federico , Armando Moreta Vinueza Jorge , Antonio Martinez Leon Federico 
Published: December 2021

Purpose: of the study was to examine the validity of the Army Combat Fitness Test tests on a sample of air defense personnel in the Ukrainian Ground Forces.
Material and methods. The respondents to this study were 271 air defense servicemen of the ground forces aged 18 to 40 years (73 cadets of the Ivan Kozhedub Kharkiv National Air Force University and 198 military personnel). The structural validity was evaluated using a confirmatory factor analysis.
Results. Compliance was achieved with the two-factor model obtained in the course of exploratory factor analysis, as evidenced by the following indixes: χ2 (8, Critical N = 465.29) = 10.43; χ2 / df = 1.303; Non-Normed Fit Index = 0.98; Normed Fit Index = 0.97; Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.035 (90 Percent Confidence Interval for Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = (0.0; 0.088), Comparative Fit Index = 0.99. In addition, all factor loadings were statistically significant at the p < 0.01 level, that indicates that these two factors were well designed at every stage. Correlation between factors was weak, which confirms the discriminant validity of the test. The significant correlation found between the items and the overall test score confirmed the validity of the test.
Conclusions. It was found that Army Combat Fitness Test is a suitable tool for evaluating the physical fitness condition of air defense personnel into the Ground Forces. The dilemmas about the possible use of Army Combat Fitness Test for all age groups of military personnel regardless of gender require further study.
INFORMATION SUPPORT FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN EFFECTIVE CONTRACT AT THE UNIVERSITY
Authors: Алисултанова Э. Д. , Моисеенко Н. А. , Бериев И. Р. , Тарамов А-Г. А. 
Published: December 2021

В статье рассматриваются актуальные проблемы информационного сопровождения ведения эффективных контрактов в высших учебных заведениях с целью совершенствования системы оплаты труда педагогических работников. Проводится анализ программнотехнического обеспечения автоматизированной системы подачи эффективного контракта для преподавателей и сотрудников. В ходе исследования определены структурные элементы разрабатываемого веб-приложения и схема их взаимодействия.
The article discusses topical problems of information support for maintaining effective contracts in higher educational institutions in order to improve the system of remuneration of teachers. The analysis of the software and hardware of the automated system for filing an effective contract for teachers and staff. In the course of the study, the structural elements of the developed web application and the scheme of their interaction were determined.