bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nuchal Skinfold Thickness in Pediatric Brain Tumor Patients
Authors: Peng Junxiang , Boekhoff Svenja , Eveslage Maria , Bison Brigitte , Sowithayasakul Panjarat , Friedrich Carsten , Müller Hermann L. 
Published: December 2021

BackgroundSevere obesity and tumor relapse/progression have impact on long-term prognosis in pediatric brain tumor patients.MethodsIn a cross-sectional study, we analyzed nuchal skinfold thickness (NST) on magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI) follow-up monitoring as a parameter for assessment of nuchal adipose tissue in 177 brain tumor patients (40 World Health Organization (WHO) grade 1–2 brain tumor; 31 grade 3–4 brain tumor; 106 craniopharyngioma), and 53 healthy controls. Furthermore, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio, caliper-measured skinfold thickness, and blood pressure were analyzed for association with NST.ResultsCraniopharyngioma patients showed higher NST, BMI, waist-to-height ratio, and caliper-measured skinfold thickness when compared to other brain tumors and healthy controls. WHO grade 1–2 brain tumor patients were observed with higher BMI, waist circumference and triceps caliper-measured skinfold thickness when compared to WHO grade 3–4 brain tumor patients. NST correlated with BMI, waist-to-height ratio, and caliper-measured skinfold thickness. NST, BMI and waist-to-height ratio were associated with increased blood pressure. In craniopharyngioma patients with hypothalamic involvement/lesion or gross-total resection, rate and degree of obesity were increased.ConclusionsNST could serve as a novel useful marker for regional nuchal adipose tissue. NST is highly associated with body mass and waist-to-height ratio, and easily measurable in routine MRI monitoring of brain tumor patients.
Effects of Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components on the Prognosis of Endometrial Cancer
Authors: Yang Xiao , Li Xingchen , Dong Yangyang , Fan Yuan , Cheng Yuan , Zhai Lirong , Zhang Shuyi , Zhou Jingyi , Wang Jianliu 
Published: December 2021

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on the prognosis of endometrial cancer (EC) and to identify key components of MetS associated with EC.MethodsA total of 506 patients surgically diagnosed with EC were analyzed in this study. These patients were diagnosed with EC in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the People’s Hospital of Peking University between 2010 and 2016. The follow-up time was cut off at December 2019. MetS was characterized based on standards provided by the Chinese Diabetes Society in 2004.ResultsAmong the 506 EC patients analyzed, 153 patients were diagnosed with MetS. MetS patients were more likely to be older and postmenopausal. MetS was positively related to tumor grade, stage, LNM, LVSI, and MI. The univariate analysis showed that MetS was closely related to the OS (HR = 2.14; P = 0.032) and RFS (HR = 1.80; P = 0.045) of EC patients. K–M analysis also indicated that EC patients with MetS had shorter OS and RFS than EC patients without MetS. More specifically, patients that had ≥3 components showed a worse outcome compared with patients only having 0 or 1–2 components (P &lt;0.05). In the multivariate-adjust model, after adjusting for age, histotype, tumor grade, and stage, HDL-C was found to be associated with increased risk of death related to EC (HR = 2.2, P = 0.034). However, MetS did not significantly correlate with this. ROC analysis revealed that the area under the ROC curve of combined factors (HDL-C + grade + stage) was better than traditional stage or grade at 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates. From this, a nomogram based on HDL-C, grade, and stage was constructed to predict survival of EC patients. Calibration curve analysis and decision curve analysis (DCA) showed the nomogram we constructed could better predict the survival of EC patients.ConclusionMetS is closely related to poor prognosis in EC patients. The prevalence of individual MetS components increase with worse outcomes in EC patients. A nomogram based on HDL-C, grade, and stage has good ability to predict survival of EC patients.
Blood Glucose Level, Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Maternal Birth Season: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Yang Dongjian , Qiu Jingbo , Qin An , Chen Lei , Yang Ya , Huang Zhen , Qian Jieyan , Zhu Wei 
Published: December 2021

BackgroundPrevious evidence indicates that birth season is associated with type 2 diabetes in adults. However, information on the association of birth with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is lacking. The present study explores the association between birth seasonality and GDM in East China.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study was conducted at the International Peace Maternal and child health hospital between 2014 and 2019. A total of 79, 292 pregnant women were included in the study after excluding participants with previous GDM, stillbirth, polycystic ovary syndrome, and lack of GDM laboratory records. The multivariate logistic regression model was employed to estimate the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval. After log transformation of blood glucose level, the percentage change and 95% confidence interval were estimated by a multivariate linear model.ResultsThe risk of GDM among pregnant women born in spring, autumn, and winter was not significantly different compared to that among participants born in summer. Pregnant women born in autumn had significantly higher 1-hour postprandial blood glucose (PBG-1h) and 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (PBG-2h) levels than pregnant women born in summer. Compared to pregnant women born in August, the PBG-1h level of pregnant women born in October, November, and December increased significantly, whereas the PBG-2h levels of pregnant women born in November and December increased significantly.ConclusionPregnant women born in autumn exhibit higher postprandial blood glucose levels during pregnancy than in those born in summer. The findings provide evidence that exposure to seasonal changes in early life may influence blood glucose metabolism during pregnancy.
CO2 Storage Potential Reconnaissance of the Newly Identified Red Beds of Hazlehurst in the Southeastern United States
Authors: Cao Ruoshi , Knapp James , Bikkina Prem , Esposito Richard 
Published: December 2021

The states of Georgia and South Carolina emitted ∼100 million tons (Mt) of CO2 in 2019 from point sources. Integration and interpretation of subsurface data enabled identification of a previously unrecognized, regionally extensive, and thick (up to 450 m) sedimentary sequence—the Red beds of Hazlehurst (RbH)—as a potential saline reservoir for CO2 storage in the southeastern United States. Based on the renewed stratigraphic framework and structural interpretation of the RbH interval, we analyzed detailed well logs and the depositional environments to provide reconnaissance-level regional scale estimations of the storage resource. The volumetric results suggest the effective storage area (∼85,000 km2) has a maximum resource potential for 390 gigatons (Gt) of anthropogenic CO2. Petrophysical measurements suggest the permeability of RbH ranges from 0.001 to 48 mD, and the porosity ranges from 11.1 to 18.4%. Residual/capillary trapping and solubility trapping act as the main trapping mechanisms for long term storage and prevent vertical migration of CO2 into the shallow freshwater aquifers. Due to the heterogeneity observed in geophysical logs and the scarcity of well penetrations, future data collection is needed to characterize the storage aquifer and confining aquitards of a site-specific system at this stage.
CSF-Neurofilament Light Chain Levels in NMDAR and LGI1 Encephalitis: A National Cohort Study
Authors: Nissen Mette Scheller , Ryding Matias , Nilsson Anna Christine , Madsen Jonna Skov , Olsen Dorte Aalund , Halekoh Ulrich , Lydolph Magnus , Illes Zsolt , Blaabjerg Morten 
Published: December 2021

Background and ObjectivesThe two most common autoimmune encephalitides (AE), N-methyl-D-Aspartate receptor (NMDAR) and Leucine-rich Glioma-Inactivated 1 (LGI1) encephalitis, have been known for more than a decade. Nevertheless, no well-established biomarkers to guide treatment or estimate prognosis exist. Neurofilament light chain (NfL) has become an unspecific screening marker of axonal damage in CNS diseases, and has proven useful as a diagnostic and disease activity marker in neuroinflammatory diseases. Only limited reports on NfL in AE exist. We investigated NfL levels at diagnosis and follow-up in NMDAR and LGI1-AE patients, and evaluated the utility of CSF-NfL as a biomarker in AE.MethodsPatients were included from the National Danish AE cohort (2009-present) and diagnosed based upon autoantibody positivity and diagnostic consensus criteria. CSF-NfL was analyzed by single molecule array technology. Clinical and diagnostic information was retrospectively evaluated and related to NfL levels at baseline and follow-up. NMDAR-AE patients were subdivided into: idiopathic/teratoma associated or secondary NMDAR-AE (post-viral or concomitant with malignancies/demyelinating disease).ResultsA total of 74 CSF samples from 53 AE patients (37 NMDAR and 16 LGI1 positive) were included in the study. Longitudinal CSF-NfL levels was measured in 21 patients. Median follow-up time was 23.8 and 43.9 months for NMDAR and LGI1-AE respectively. Major findings of this study are: i) CSF-NfL levels were higher in LGI1-AE than in idiopathic/teratoma associated NMDAR-AE at diagnosis; ii) CSF-NfL levels in NMDAR-AE patients distinguished idiopathic/teratoma cases from cases with other underlying etiologies (post-viral or malignancies/demyelinating diseases) and iii) Elevated CSF-NfL at diagnosis seems to be associated with worse long-term disease outcomes in both NMDAR and LGI1-AE.DiscussionCSF-NfL measurement may be beneficial as a prognostic biomarker in NMDAR and LGI1-AE, and high CSF-NfL could foster search for underlying etiologies in NMDAR-AE. Further studies on larger cohorts, using standardized methods, are warranted.
Pharmacomicrobiology of Methotrexate in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Gut Microbiome as Predictor of Therapeutic Response
Authors: Yan Huanhuan , Su Rui , Xue Hongwei , Gao Chong , Li Xiaofeng , Wang Caihong 
Published: December 2021

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disabling autoimmune disease with invasive arthritis as the main manifestation and synovitis as the basic pathological change, which can cause progressive destruction of articular cartilage and bone, ultimately leading to joint deformity and loss of function. Since its introduction in the 1980s and its widespread use in the treatment of RA, low-dose methotrexate (MTX) therapy has dramatically changed the course and outcome of RA treatment. The clinical use of this drug will be more rational with a better understanding of the pharmacology, anti-inflammatory mechanisms of action and adverse reaction about it. At present, the current clinical status of newly diagnosed RA is that MTX is initiated first regardless of the patients’ suitability. But up to 50% of patients could not reach adequate clinical efficacy or have severe adverse events. Prior to drug initiation, a prognostic tool for treatment response is lacking, which is thought to be the most important cause of the situation. A growing body of studies have shown that differences in microbial metagenomes (including bacterial strains, genes, enzymes, proteins and/or metabolites) in the gastrointestinal tract of RA patients may at least partially determine their bioavailability and/or subsequent response to MTX. Based on this, some researchers established a random forest model to predict whether different RA patients (with different gut microbiome) would respond to MTX. Of course, MTX, in turn, alters the gut microbiome in a dose-dependent manner. The interaction between drugs and microorganisms is called pharmacomicrobiology. Then, the concept of precision medicine has been raised. In this view, we summarize the characteristics and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of MTX and highlight the interaction between gut microbiome and MTX aiming to find the optimal treatment for patients according to individual differences and discuss the application and prospect of precision medicine.
Comparison of C-Reactive Protein in Dried Blood Spots and Saliva of Healthy Adolescents
Authors: Plank Anne-Christine , Maschke Janina , Rohleder Nicolas , Fasching Peter A. , Beckmann Matthias W. , Kornhuber Johannes , Eichler Anna , Moll Gunther H. , Kratz Oliver 
Published: December 2021

Background/AimDetermining C-reactive protein (CRP) by non-invasive methods is of great interest for research addressing inflammation in young people. However, direct comparisons of such methods applied in children and adolescents are lacking so far. This study aimed to evaluate the association between CRP measured in dried blood spots (DBS CRP) and in saliva (sCRP), two less invasive alternatives to venipuncture, in 12- to 14-year-old adolescents. To evaluate the validity of both measurements in the context of biobehavioral studies, the potential of DBS CRP and sCRP to discriminate between defined BMI subgroups was assessed.Materials and MethodsCRP levels in DBS and saliva collected from 87 healthy adolescents (M = 13.25 years, SD = 0.30, 51.7% females) were determined using high sensitive CRP ELISA for serum and salivary CRP ELISA, respectively. Characteristics and correlation of both measurements were assessed for the total sample and for three subgroups classified by BMI percentile ranges (A: ≤ 25; B: 26–74; C: ≥ 75).ResultsIn the total sample, DBS CRP and sCRP were significantly associated (r = 0.59, p &lt; 0.001). Splitting the sample into BMI-dependent subgroups revealed similarly strong associations of DBS CRP with sCRP for all three groups (A: r = 0.51; B: r = 0.61; C: r = 0.53). However, comparing the mean CRP values per BMI subgroup, one-way ANOVA reported significant differences for DBS CRP, but not for sCRP mean values.ConclusionsThe significant correlation of DBS CRP with sCRP was independent of the investigated BMI range groups, yet BMI-dependent distinction was only provided by DBS CRP mean values. Overall, our results suggest that DBS CRP is likely to reflect systemic inflammation more precisely. Salivary CRP can be alternatively determined in studies with adolescents when conditions require it, given the oral health status is assessed. Considering that DBS CRP and sCRP share only 35% of common variance, further studies should examine their specific validity.
B Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Reveal Residual B Cell Activity in Kidney Graft Recipients Undergoing Pre-Transplant Desensitization
Authors: Cucchiari David , Tubita Valeria , Rovira Jordi , Ramirez-Bajo Maria J. , Banon-Maneus Elisenda , Lazo-Rodriguez Marta , Hierro-Garcia Natalia , Borràs Francesc E. , Ventura-Aguiar Pedro , Piñeiro Gastón J. , Martorell Jaume , Peri Lluís , Musquera Mireia , Hertig Alexandre , Oppenheimer Federico , Campistol Josep M. , Diekmann Fritz , Revuelta Ignacio 
Published: December 2021

Background: Living-donor kidney transplant (LDKT) recipients undergoing desensitization for Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-incompatibility have a high risk of developing antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR). The purpose of the study is to evaluate if residual B cell activity after desensitization could be estimated by the presence of circulating B cell-derived extracellular vesicles (BEVs).Methods: BEVs were isolated by Sepharose-based size exclusion chromatography and defined as CD19+ and HLA-II+ extracellular vesicles. We analyzed stored serum samples from positive crossmatch LDKT recipients before and after desensitization at first post-transplant biopsy and at 12-month protocol biopsy (n = 11). Control groups were formed by hypersensitized patients who were not submitted to desensitization (n = 10) and by low-risk recipients (n = 9). A prospective validation cohort of 11 patients also included the analysis of B cells subpopulations in recipients' blood and lymph nodes recovered upon graft implantation, along with BEVs analysis before and after desensitization.Results: We found out that CD19+ and HLA-II+BEVs dropped significantly after desensitization and relapse in patients who later developed ABMR was evident. We validated these findings in a proof-of-concept prospective cohort of 6 patients who received the same desensitization protocol and also in a control group of 5 LDKT recipients. In these patients, B cell subpopulations were also studied in recipients' blood and lymph nodes that were recovered before the graft implantation. We confirmed the significant drop in BEVs after desensitization and that this paralleled the reduction in CD19+cells in lymph nodes, while in peripheral blood B cells, this change was almost undetectable.Conclusions: BEVs reflected B cell residual activity after desensitization and this could be a valid surrogate of humoral alloreactivity in this setting.
Safety and Efficacy of Endovascular Treatment for Progressive Stroke in Patients With Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion
Authors: Wang Yinxu , Ke Yingbing , Wang Lingling , Wu Qing , Zhou Jing , Tan Xiaolin , Liu Jiazuo , Geng Wanjie , Cheng Daoyou , Liu Zongtao , Yu Yinquan , Song Jiaxing , Qiu Zhongming , Li Fengli , Luo Weidong , Yang Jie , Zi Wenjie , Wang Xiaoming , Yuan Zhengzhou 
Published: December 2021

Background and Purpose: It is unknown the benefit of endovascular therapy (EVT) for progressive stroke in patients with basilar artery occlusion (BAO). The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of EVT with standard medical therapy (SMT) in a population of BAO patients with progressive stroke.Methods: The EVT for Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion Study (BASILAR) is a national prospective registry of consecutive patients with acute BAO within 24 h of symptom onset. According to the applied therapy, all patients were divided into SMT and EVT groups. Subsequently, the EVT group was divided into early (≤6 h) and late groups (&gt;6 h) according to the time window. The efficacy outcome was favorable functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score ≤ 3) at 90 days. The safety outcomes included mortality within 90 days and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) after EVT.Results: The EVT cohort presented more frequently with a favorable functional outcome (adjusted odds ratio, 5.49; 95% confidence interval, 2.06–14.61, p = 0.01) and with a decreased mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 0.3; 95% confidence interval, 0.17–0.54, p &lt; 0.001). What's more, EVT still safe (P = 0.584, P = 0.492, respectively) and effective (P = 0.05) in patients with progressive stroke when the treatment time window exceeds 6 h.Conclusions: EVT was more effective and safer than SMT for progressive stroke in patients with BAO. Besides, EVT remains safe and effective in patients with progressive stroke when the treatment time window exceeds 6 h. Predictors of desirable outcome in progressive stroke patients undergoing EVT included lower baseline NIHSS score, higher baseline pc-ASPECTs, successful recanalization and shorter puncture to recanalization time.
Sleep in Children With Pallister Killian Syndrome: A Prospective Clinical and Videopolysomnographic Study
Authors: Fetta Anna , Di Pisa Veronica , Ruscelli Martina , Soliani Luca , Sperti Giacomo , Ubertiello Sara , Ricci Emilia , Mainieri Greta , Rocca Alessandro , Mancardi Maria Margherita , Giordano Lucio , Pruna Dario , Vignoli Aglaia , Provini Federica , Cordelli Duccio Maria 
Published: December 2021

Objectives: Pallister-Killian syndrome (PKS) is a rare genetic disorder with multi-organ involvement caused by mosaic tetrasomy of chromosome 12p. Although many caregivers report the presence of impaired sleep in their children, there are no clear data in the literature on this issue and no systematic study has ever been performed. With this study, we aimed to characterize the features of sleep in Pallister-Killian syndrome and identify the possible influence of clinical and demographic features. Moreover, our aim was to verify the effectiveness of conventional screening questionnaires in this particular group of patients.Methods: We prospectively enrolled 14 patients aged 1–17 years in collaboration with PKS Kids Italia ONLUS. The Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC) questionnaire was administered to caregivers. Then, video polysomnography (VPSG) of at least 24 h was performed and results were compared with a same-aged control group.Results: A total of 92% of patients had abnormal SDSC scores, extremely high in the “disorder of initiating and maintaining sleep” (DIMS) and “sleep breathing disorders” (SBD) subscales. VPSG showed a significantly impaired macrostructure in PKS patients, with a higher Arousal Index (p &lt; 0.00001) and percentage of time spent in N3 (p &lt; 0.00001), and reduced Sleep Efficiency (p = 0.0006). After dividing both PKS and controls into two groups based on median age, some peculiarities emerged: the younger group had higher Awakenings Index (p = 0.0207) and percentage of time spent in N1 (p = 0.015) while the older group showed higher time in bed (TIB) (p = 0.0485), compared with controls. Due to poor compliance, the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) was evaluated only for 10 PKS children, being significantly increased (p = 0.0427) compared with controls. SBD subscale scores in SDSC were significantly related to AHI values in VPSG (p = 0.0099).Conclusions: This study constitutes the first attempt to describe the sleep pattern in PKS. Despite small numbers due to the rarity of the syndrome, our VPSG results confirm the high prevalence of sleep disorders (SDs) in these patients. It is therefore essential to investigate and treat them. The SDSC scale is a good screening tool for early detection also in these patients, with particular sensitivity in detecting breathing disorders.