bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound for prediction of residual tumor size in early breast cancer within the ADAPT subtrials
Authors: Graeser Monika , Schrading Simone , Gluz Oleg , Strobel Kevin , Herzog Christopher , Umutlu Lale , Frydrychowicz Alex , Rjosk-Dendorfer Dorothea , Würstlein Rachel , Culemann Ralph , Eulenburg Christine , Adams Jascha , Nitzsche Henrik , Prange Anna , Kümmel Sherko , Grischke Eva-Maria , Forstbauer Helmut , Braun Michael , Potenberg Jochem , von Schumann Raquel , Aktas Bahriye , Kolberg-Liedtke Cornelia , Harbeck Nadia , Kuhl Christiane K. , Nitz Ulrike 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
Prediction of histological tumor size by post-neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was evaluated in different breast cancer subtypes.

Methods
Imaging was performed after 12-week NAT in patients enrolled into three neoadjuvant WSG ADAPT subtrials. Imaging performance was analyzed for prediction of residual tumor measuring ≤10 mm and summarized using positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values.

Results
A total of 248 and 588 patients had MRI and ultrasound, respectively. Tumor size was over- or underestimated by < 10 mm in 4.4% and 21.8% of patients by MRI and in 10.2% and 15.8% by ultrasound. Overall, NPV (proportion of correctly predicted tumor size ≤10 mm) of MRI and ultrasound was 0.92 and 0.83; PPV (correctly predicted tumor size > 10 mm) was 0.52 and 0.61. MRI demonstrated a higher NPV and lower PPV than ultrasound in hormone receptor (HR)-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive and in HR−/HER2+ tumors. Both methods had a comparable NPV and PPV in HR−/HER2− tumors.

Conclusions
In HR+/HER2+ and HR−/HER2+ breast cancer, MRI is less likely than ultrasound to underestimate while ultrasound is associated with a lower risk to overestimate tumor size. These findings may help to select the most optimal imaging approach for planning surgery after NAT.

Trial registration
Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01815242 (registered on March 21, 2013), NCT01817452 (registered on March 25, 2013), and NCT01779206 (registered on January 30, 2013).
Evaluation on immediate analgesic efficacy and safety of Kai-Hou-Jian spray (children’s type) in treating sore throat caused by acute pharyngitis and tonsillitis in children: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Ma Yan-ning , Zhong Cheng-liang , Hu Si-yuan , Cai Qiu-han , Guo Sheng-xuan 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundAcute pharyngitis and tonsillitis are common respiratory diseases for which children seek medical care. Their main clinical manifestation is sore throat which interferes with patients’ quality of life. However, there is no proven effective or safe method to treat it. It is necessary to find an excellent strategy to reduce sore throat and reduce the burden of acute illness. We designed the randomized controlled trial with the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to determine the clinical positioning of Kai-Hou-Jian spray (children’s type) (KHJS) through evidence-based research. This trial aims to evaluate the immediate analgesic efficacy of KHJS on sore throat caused by acute pharyngitis and tonsillitis (wind-heat syndrome/heat exuberance in lung and stomach syndrome) in children and to observe its safety.Methods/designThis is a prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial. It will include 240 children with acute pharyngitis/tonsillitis from 7 study sites across China. All participants are randomly assigned to two parallel treatment groups, one with KHJS and the other with placebo sprays, for 5 consecutive days. The primary outcome is the time of analgesic onset. Secondary outcomes include duration of analgesic effect, area under time curve of 0–3 h Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (WBS) score (AUC0-3 h), rate of analgesic onset, rate of disappearance of sore throat, changes of WBS score (in days), effective rate of pharyngeal signs, and effective rate of TCM syndrome. The incidence of adverse events during the trial is the primary safety outcome. In addition, vital signs and laboratory tests before and after medication are monitored.DiscussionTo our knowledge, this will be the first clinical trial to explore the immediate analgesic efficacy of a Chinese patent medicine spray for acute pharyngitis/tonsillitis induced sore throat in children in a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, parallel-group, placebo-controlled manner. Not only might it prove the efficacy and safety of KHJS in the treatment of sore throat caused by acute pharyngitis/tonsillitis in children, but it might also provide evidence for the treatment of acute sore throat with Chinese herbal medicine.Trial registrationA multicenter, randomized, double-blind, very low-dose, parallel controlled trial for the immediate analgesic effect and safety of Kai-Hou- Jian spray (children's type) in the treatment of sore throat caused by acute pharyngitis and tonsillitis in children. Chinese Clinical Trial RegistryChiCTR2000031599. Registered on 5 April 2020
Timing of antiretroviral therapy for HIV-infected patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis: study protocol of a multi-center prospective randomized controlled trial
Authors: He Xiao-Qing , Huang Yin-Qiu , Zeng Yan-Ming , Qin Yuan-Yuan , Tang Sheng-Quan , Xu Xiao-Lei , Harypursat Vijay , Lu Yan-Qiu , Liu Min , Yuan Jing , Chen Yao-Kai 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
Cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) is an important opportunistic infection (OI) occurring mainly in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and has the potential to cause severe visual impairment and blindness among AIDS patients. Subsequent to the adoption and implementation of widespread antiretroviral therapy (ART), the prognosis of AIDS-associated CMVR has been substantially improved. Nevertheless, the equivocal clinical evidence as regards the optimal timing for ART initiation in patients with an established CMVR diagnosis is required. We therefore designed the present study in order to investigate the optimal timing for ART initiation in AIDS/CMVR patients.

Methods
This will be a prospective, randomized controlled trial to be performed at 17 hospitals in mainland China. A total of 300 participants with CMVR will be randomly assigned to an early ART initiation group (ART initiation within 2 weeks after anti-CMV therapy), or a deferred ART initiation group (initiation of ART more than 2 weeks after anti-CMV therapy) at a 1:1 ratio. All participants will receive 48 weeks of follow-up after anti-CMV therapy initiation. Our primary outcome will be the incidence of visual loss (to a visual acuity worse than 20/40 or 20/200) in the two groups during the 48-week follow-up period. Secondary outcomes will include changes in HIV virological suppression and serum CD4+ T-cell counts, the incidence of mortality, retinitis progression (movement of the peripheral border of a CMV lesion ≥ ½ disc diameter, or occurrence of a new CMV lesion), retinal detachment, immune recovery uveitis (IRU), and other OIs and adverse events between the two study groups during the 48 weeks of follow-up.

Discussion
The study aims to investigate the optimal timing for ART initiation in AIDS/CMVR patients. We hope to be able to extract robust clinical evidence for use in optimal AIDS/CMVR management should our trial be successful.

Trial registration
This research was registered as one of the twelve clinical trials under the name of a general project “A study for precision diagnosing and treatment strategies in difficult-to-treat AIDS cases and HIV-infected patients with highly fatal or highly disabling opportunistic infections”, ChiCTR1900021195. Registered on 1 February 2019, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=35362.
High-elevational occurrence of two tick species, Ixodes ricinus and I. trianguliceps, at their northern distribution range
Authors: De Pelsmaeker Nicolas , Korslund Lars , Steifetten Øyvind 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
During the last decades a northward and upward range shift has been observed among many organisms across different taxa. In the northern hemisphere, ticks have been observed to have increased their latitudinal and altitudinal range limit. However, the elevational expansion at its northern distribution range remains largely unstudied. In this study we investigated the altitudinal distribution of the exophilic Ixodes ricinus and endophilic I. trianguliceps on two mountain slopes in Norway by assessing larval infestation rates on bank voles (Myodes glareolus).

Methods
During 2017 and 2018, 1325 bank voles were captured during the spring, summer and autumn at ten trapping stations ranging from 100 m to 1000 m.a.s.l. in two study areas in southern Norway. We used generalized logistic regression models to estimate the prevalence of infestation of both tick species along gradients of altitude, considering study area, collection year and season, temperature, humidity and altitude interactions as extrinsic variables, and host body mass and sex as intrinsic predictor variables.

Results
We found that both I. ricinus and I. trianguliceps infested bank voles at altitudes up to 1000 m.a.s.l., which is a substantial increase in altitude compared to previous findings for I. ricinus in this region. The infestation rates declined more rapidly with increasing altitude for I. ricinus compared to I. trianguliceps, indicating that the endophilic ecology of I. trianguliceps may provide shelter from limiting factors tied to altitude. Seasonal effects limited the occurrence of I. ricinus during autumn, but I. trianguliceps was found to infest rodents at all altitudes during all seasons of both years.

Conclusions
This study provides new insights into the altitudinal distribution of two tick species at their northern distribution range, one with the potential to transmit zoonotic pathogens to both humans and livestock. With warming temperatures predicted to increase, and especially so in the northern regions, the risk of tick-borne infections is likely to become a concern at increasingly higher altitudes in the future.

Graphical Abstract
Computed tomography versus fluoroscopic guided-sacroiliac joint injection: a prospective comparative study
Authors: Bessar Ahmed A. A. , Arnaout Mohamed M. , Basha Mohammad Abd Alkhalik , Shaker Shady E. , Elsayed Ashraf E. , Bessar Manar Awad 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
There are limited data discussing long-term pain relief and comparability of different image-guided sacroiliac joint (SIJ) injection. This study compared CT and fluoroscopic-guided SIJ injections regarding statistically and clinically significant differences in numeric pain reduction, radiation doses, and patient’s satisfaction.

Methods
A prospective study conducted on 52 patients who met specific inclusion criteria of SIJ pain. A mixture of 1 ml of 40 mg methylprednisolone acetate diluted in 2 ml of lidocaine 2% was injected under either CT or fluoroscopic guidance. Numeric rating score (NRS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were assessed and recorded for each patient before procedure and one-week, and one-, three-, six-, and 12-months after procedure. The results were compared between both groups.

Results
Analysis of NRS one-month post-procedure showed a significant decrease from baseline in both groups: 12.5% in CT group (p = 0.002) and 9.5% in fluoroscopic group (p = 0.006). No significant difference in NRS between two groups at one- and three-months post-procedure (p = 0.11 and 0.1, respectively). There was a significant difference in NRS between two groups at six- and 12-months post-procedure (p = 0.001 and < 0.0001, respectively). Comparison of ODI at six-month post-procedure revealed that both groups had a statistically significant improvement (p < 0.0001). There was a significant difference in ODI between two groups at six-months post-procedure (p = 0.01).

Conclusions
CT-guided SIJ injection compares favorably with fluoroscopic guidance and offers statistically and clinically significant long-term pain relief. The use of dose reduction protocol in CT is important for decreasing the radiation dose.
Research on task assignment to minimize travel cost for spatio-temporal crowdsourcing
Authors: Pan Qingxian , Pan Tingwei , Dong Hongbin , Gao Zhaolong 
Published: March 2021

AbstractOnline task assignment is one of the core research issues of spatio-temporal crowdsourcing technology. The current researches on minimizing travel cost all focus on the scenario of two objectives (task requesters and workers). This paper proposes a two-stage framework (GH) based on Greedy algorithm and Hungarian algorithm for three-objective online task assignment to minimize travel cost. In order to further optimize the efficiency and average travel cost, this paper proposes GH-AT (Adaptive Threshold) algorithm based on GH algorithm, and redesigns the Hungarian algorithm into the sHungarian algorithm. sHungarian algorithm has lower time complexity than Hungarian algorithm. sHungarian algorithm is not only suitable for the problem studied in this paper, but also for all task assignment problems with constraints. Compared with Greedy algorithm, GH-AT algorithm has lower travel cost and higher total utility. In terms of the number of matches, GH-AT is slightly lower than Greedy algorithm. In terms of time cost, GH-AT algorithm is higher than Greedy algorithm, but much lower than GH algorithm.
Some fractional Hermite–Hadamard-type integral inequalities with s-$(\alpha,m)$-convex functions and their applications
Authors: Liu R. N. , Xu Run 
Published: March 2021

AbstractUnder the new concept ofs-$(\alpha,m)$(α,m)-convex functions, we obtain some new Hermite–Hadamard inequalities with ans-$(\alpha,m)$(α,m)-convex function. We use these inequalities to estimate Riemann–Liouville fractional integrals with second-order differentiable convex functions to enrich the Hermite–Hadamard-type inequalities. We give some applications to special means.
Effects of masks on the transmission of infectious diseases
Authors: Han Lili , Pan Qiuhui , Kang Baolin , He Mingfeng 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIn the present paper, based on the conditions that asymptomatic virus carriers are contagious and all symptomatic infected individuals wear masks, we study the impact of wearing masks in the susceptible and the asymptomatic virus carriers on the spread of infectious diseases by developing a differential equation model. At first, we give the existence, uniqueness, boundedness, and positivity of the solution as well as the basic reproduction number $R_{0}$

R
0

for the established model. Then, for two cases of wearing masks in the susceptible and the asymptomatic virus carriers where the proportion of wearing masks is fixed and the proportion of wearing masks changes with time, the results of the numerical simulation are shown in a series of pictures, and quantitative description of effects of the proportion of the population wearing masks, the protective effect of masks, and the time when they start wearing masks on the epidemic is given. Our results show that under the situation that the proportion of wearing masks is positively related to the confirmed new cases and new deaths, though the proportion will be close to 1 during the high incidence of patients, the effect on controlling the spread of such infectious diseases is far worse than the case of always maintaining a relatively higher proportion (≥0.66) of wearing masks.
Does health literacy affect the uptake of annual physical check-ups?: Results from the 2017 US health information national trends survey
Authors: Lee Hee Yun , Kim Sooyoung , Neese Jessica , Lee Mi Hwa 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
Little is known about how health literacy is linked to physical check-ups. This study aimed to examine the levels of physical check-ups (self-reported check-ups within the last year) by age group (those aged 18–59 years and those aged = ≥ 60 years) and the role of health literacy regarding physical check-ups in the United States.

Methods
Data for the study were obtained from the 2017 Health Information National Trends Survey. The original sample included 3,285 respondents, but only 3,146 surveys were used for this study. Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Services Use guided this study, and a binomial logistic regression model was conducted using Stata 12.0 software package.

Results
While 82.0 % of the older group had an annual check-up, 67.3 % of the younger group had one. Both groups had similar ratios for health literacy-related item reporting. Study results show that annual check-up was positively associated with confidence in getting health information, having health insurance, and having a primary doctor for both age groups. However, getting a regular check-up was negatively associated with frustration while searching for information among the younger group. In comparison, it was positively associated with difficulty understanding information for the older group.

Conclusions
To increase annual physical check-ups, health literacy-related interventions should be developed and address the barriers most associated with health check-ups. One way of addressing this barrier is to improve communication from healthcare professionals to consumers through the use of easy-to-understand explanations appropriate for the consumer.
Prevalence of pathogenic Klebsiella pneumoniae based on PCR capsular typing harbouring carbapenemases encoding genes in Uganda tertiary hospitals
Authors: Ssekatawa Kenneth , Byarugaba Denis K. , Nakavuma Jesca L. , Kato Charles D. , Ejobi Francis , Tweyongyere Robert , Eddie Wampande M. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen that has been implicated as one of commonest cause of hospital and community acquired infections. The K. pneumoniae infections have considerably contributed to morbidity and mortality in patients with protracted ailments. The capacity of K. pneumoniae to cause diseases depends on the presence of an array virulence factors. Coexistence and expression of virulence factors and genetic determinants of antibiotic resistance complicates treatment outcomes. Thus, emergence of pathogenic MDR K. pneumoniae poses a great threat to the healthcare system. However, the carriage of antibiotic resistance among pathogenic K. pneumoniae is yet to be investigated in Uganda. We sought to investigate the carbapenem resistance profiles and pathogenic potential based on capsular serotypes of K. pneumoniae clinical isolates.

Methods
This was a cross sectional study involving use of archived Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates collected between January and December, 2019 at four tertiary hospitals in Uganda. All isolates were subject to antimicrobial susceptibility assays to determine phenotypic antibiotic resistance, pentaplex PCR to detect carbapenemases encoding genes and heptaplex PCR to identify capsular serotypes K1, K2, K3, K5, K20, K54 and K57.

Results
The study found an overall phenotypic carbapenem resistance of 23.3% (53/227) and significantly higher genotypic resistance prevalence of 43.1% (98/227). Over all, the most prevalent gene was blaOXA-48-like (36.4%), followed by blaIMP-type (19.4%), blaVIM-type (17.1%), blaKPC-type (14.0%) and blaNDM-type (13.2%). blaVIM-type and blaOXA-48-like conferred phenotypic resistance in all isolates and 38.3% of isolates that harbored them respectively. Capsular multiplex PCR revealed that 46.7% (106/227) isolates were pathogenic and the predominantly prevalent pathotype was K5 (18.5%) followed by K20 (15.1%), K3 (7.1%), K2 (3.1%) and K1 (2.2%). Of the 106 capsular serotypes, 37 expressed phenotypic resistance; thus, 37 of the 53 carbapenem resistant K. pneumoniae were pathogenic.

Conclusion
The high prevalence of virulent and antibiotic resistant K. pneumoniae among clinical isolates obtained from the four tertiary hospital as revealed by this study pose a great threat to healthcare. Our findings underline the epidemiological and public health risks and implications of this pathogen.
Efficacy of the combination of modern medicine and traditional Chinese medicine in pulmonary fibrosis arising as a sequelae in convalescent COVID-19 patients: a randomized multicenter trial
Authors: Lu Zhen-Hui , Yang Chun-Li , Yang Gai-Ge , Pan Wen-Xu , Tian Li-Guang , Zheng Jin-Xin , Lv Shan , Zhang Shao-Yan , Zheng Pei-Yong , Zhang Shun-Xian 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to a significant number of mortalities worldwide. COVID-19 poses a serious threat to human life. The clinical manifestations of COVID-19 are diverse and severe and 20% of infected patients are reported to be in a critical condition. A loss in lung function and pulmonary fibrosis are the main manifestations of patients with the severe form of the disease. The lung function is affected, even after recovery, thereby greatly affecting the psychology and well-being of patients, and significantly reducing their quality of life.

Methods
Participants must meet the following simultaneous inclusion criteria: over 18 years of age, should have recovered from severe or critical COVID-19 cases, should exhibit pulmonary fibrosis after recovery, and should exhibit Qi-Yin deficiency syndrome as indicated in the system of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The eligible candidates will be randomized into treatment or control groups. The treatment group will receive modern medicine (pirfenidone) plus TCM whereas the control group will be administered modern medicine plus TCM placebo. The lung function index will be continuously surveyed and recorded. By comparing the treatment effect between the two groups, the study intend to explore whether TCM can improve the effectiveness of modern medicine in patients with pulmonary fibrosis arising as a sequelae after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Discussion
Pulmonary fibrosis is one of fatal sequelae for some severe or critical COVID-19 cases, some studies reveal that pirfenidone lead to a delay in the decline of forced expiratory vital capacity, thereby reducing the mortality partly. Additionally, although TCM has been proven to be efficacious in treating pulmonary fibrosis, its role in treating pulmonary fibrosis related COVID-19 has not been explored. Hence, a multicenter, parallel-group, randomized controlled, interventional, prospective clinical trial has been designed and will be conducted to determine if a new comprehensive treatment for pulmonary fibrosis related to COVID-19 is feasible and if it can improve the quality of life of patients.
Trial registration: This multicenter, parallel-group, randomized controlled, interventional, prospective trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2000033284) on 26th May 2020 (prospective registered).