bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Post‐prostatectomy Magnetic Resonance‐guided Radiotherapy on a 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Integrated Linear Accelerator: Feasibility, Toxicity, and Preliminary Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Poon Darren M. C. , Yuan Jing , Wong Oi Lei , Yang Bin , Tse Mei Yan , Fung Yan Yee , Chiu Sin Ting , Lin Wai Chi , Cheung Kin Yin , Chiu George , Yu Siu Ki 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTIntroductionThis study aimed to prospectively investigate magnetic resonance (MR)‐guided radiotherapy (MRgRT) for post‐prostatectomy prostate cancer and report preliminary clinical outcomes.MethodsAll included patients underwent salvage or adjuvant adaptive MRgRT on a 1.5T MR integrated linear accelerator (MR‐LINAC). Gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicities were assessed. The primary endpoint was the progression‐free survival (PFS) rate estimated by Kaplan‐Meier (KM) survival analysis. A progression event was defined as the first occurrence of biochemical failure, radiological progression, or death. Secondary endpoints were biochemical failure‐free survival (bFFS) rate, radiological PFS (rPFS) rate, and ≥G2 adverse events.ResultsThirty post‐prostatectomy patients were enrolled and followed (median follow‐up: 32.0 months; 3.0–48.1 months). Three patients had biochemical failure during follow‐up. One patient developed pelvic node metastases. All patients were alive. The estimated PFS rates were 96.4% (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 89.8%–100.0%) at 2 years and 78.8% (95%CI: 61.3%–100%) at 3 years. The estimated bFFS rates were 96.4% (95%CI: 89.8%–100%) /86.6%(95%CI: 73.4%–100%) at 2/3 years, respectively. The corresponding rPFS rates were 100% at 2 years and 92.3% (95%CI: 78.9%–100%) at 3 years, respectively. There was only one acute G2 GI adverse event (1/30, 3.33%) of abdominal pain occurred. Two late G2 events (one rectal bleeding and one urinary frequency) were scored (2/30, 6.67%). No ≥G3 events were observed.ConclusionOur findings suggest the feasibility, excellent patient tolerance, and encouraging efficacy of post‐prostatectomy MRgRT, extending our knowledge of the clinical outcomes of MRgRT and serving as a benchmark for future investigation.
The house is coming from inside the call
Authors: Summers Lachlan 
Published: December 2024

AbstractYou are reading the first sentence of this essay. In fact, outside of this abstract and a brief introduction, there are only first sentences in this essay, all collected from anthropology monographs and articles. Anthropology is a promiscuous discipline, but there are only about half a dozen ways to begin an anthropology essay. I collect sentences into their tropes, organize the sentences within those tropes, then arrange those tropes among one another, so this text reads like an opening to an anthropology essay, despite being composed entirely of openings to anthropology essays. I'd like to say I got the idea from Christian Marclay's film, The Clock, a memento mori whose 24‐hour narrative is driven by excerpts of movies that feature timepieces, but it probably came from a YouTube montage of Nicholas Cage screaming “Fuck” 40 times in 40 seconds. The expectations of academic realism as a genre transform this essay from archive to narrative: the text itself is theoretical, geographic, and historical nonsense, but it consolidates as an essay through the academic readers’ (your) efforts to suture discrepancies into cohesion. If this essay makes any sense, it's due to a magic trick realism performs on us. This might be worth thinking about whenever we read something that makes sense.
Impact of COVID‐19 on paediatric care in Japan: Analysis of national health insurance claims data
Authors: Ohnishi Takuma , Kinoshita Mari , Narumi Satoshi 
Published: December 2024

AbstractAimTo quantify the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on paediatric care use compared to adult care and identify affected subdomains.MethodsData from the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan (NDB) for six fiscal years (FY2016‐2021) were analysed. Pre‐pandemic (FY2016‐FY2019) and pandemic years (FY2020, FY2021) were compared to delineate changes in medical services for paediatric and adult patients. Virtually all individuals who received medical care in Japan during this period were included.ResultsIn FY2019, healthcare utilisation by the paediatric population (under 15 years) accounted for 24% of 245 million first outpatient visits, 7% of 1.2 billion follow‐up visits, and 2.6% of 297 million patient‐days hospitalisations. In FY2020, outpatient visits of those aged 0–4 years decreased by 44% (first visit) and 24% (follow‐up visit) compared to FY2019, and hospitalisations decreased by 47%, with the largest declines observed in community medical institutions across all age groups.ConclusionThe COVID‐19 pandemic led to a substantial reduction in paediatric healthcare utilisation in Japan, varying by age and type of care. These findings may inform the rational allocation of healthcare resources during public health emergencies.
Single‐port robotic transanal minimally invasive surgery (SPR‐TAMIS): another giant leap forward?
Authors: Ferrari Davide , Peponis Thomas , Violante Tommaso , Cheng Jyi Ng , Perry William R. , Larson David W. , Behm Kevin T. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractAimMinimally invasive transanal platforms are now the standard of care for select low‐risk rectal tumours. However, existing platforms come with persistent technical challenges. The da Vinci SP Surgical System™ offers a new alternative designed to work effectively in narrow spaces. This technology has the potential to enhance the feasibility and proximal extent of complex transanal resections. This study aimed to describe the morbidity and technical success in patients undergoing single‐port robotic transanal minimally invasive surgery (SPR‐TAMIS). Secondary outcomes include rates of local recurrence.MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on all patients who underwent SPR‐TAMIS at our institution between February 2019 and December 2023.ResultsThe study included 31 patients (19 men, 12 women) with a mean age of 61 ± 13.3 years. The average tumour distance from the anal verge was 10 cm. Thirty patients completed SPR‐TAMIS, with one patient requiring conversion to robotic sigmoidectomy due to location in the mid‐sigmoid colon. The mean operating time was 106 ± 42 min. Twenty‐eight out of 30 patients underwent full‐thickness excision and all but two were successfully closed. All specimens were resected intact, and margins were negative in 93.5% of cases. The average tumour size was 13 ± 34 cm2, with 13 lesions classified as adenomas and 16 as adenocarcinomas. All patients who did not undergo associated procedures were discharged on the day of surgery. Two patients experienced 30‐day morbidity. At a mean follow‐up of 18 months (± 13), no local or systemic recurrences were identified.ConclusionSPR‐TAMIS for excision of low‐risk rectal tumours is associated with high rates of technical success and low 30‐day morbidity. Further research is needed to compare SPR‐TAMIS with other techniques to determine potential advantages over current transanal platforms.
Acute pilonidal abscess: Prospective nationwide audit in the Netherlands
Authors: Huurman Eleonora A. , den Otter A. A. Sophie , de Raaff Christel A. L. , van den Berg Rosaline , Baart Sara J. , Wijnhoven Bas P. L. , Schouten Ruben , Furnée Edgar J. B. , Smeenk Robert M. , Toorenvliet Boudewijn R. ,   the PITS Collaborative Study Group
Published: December 2024

AbstractAimThe aim of this study was to assess Dutch surgical practice and outcomes for acute pilonidal abscess.MethodPatients with pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) who underwent surgical treatment between 1 March 2020 and 1 March 2021 at 36 participating hospitals were included in a prospective observational cohort study. For the present study, only patients with an acute abscess were included for analysis. Outcomes included symptoms, wound healing, time to resume daily activities and complications. Follow‐up was 1 year and included questionnaires on recurrent abscesses, symptomatic chronic PSD, quality of life and patient‐reported experience measures.ResultsOf 681 included patients, 208 presented with an acute pilonidal abscess. Incision and drainage (I&D) was performed in 205 of these patients (99%). The wound healing rate after I&D was 42.2% at the outpatient clinic, with a median time to closure of 43 days. The complication rate was 4.4%. One‐year questionnaires were completed by 158 out of 205 patients (77.1%). Fifteen patients (7.3%) had a recurrent abscess within 1 year. The symptomatic chronic PSD rate was 8.8%.ConclusionOf all the patients presenting with PSD in this prospective national study cohort, 30% had a pilonidal abscess. Incision and drainage showed a low complication rate but successful wound healing in less than half of the patients. The study showed that 91.2% of patients did not undergo additional surgical treatment for symptomatic chronic PSD within 1 year of follow‐up.
An Unusual, Symmetric Rash on Both Forearms in a 94‐Year‐Old Patient A Clinicopathological Challenge and Diagnostic Pitfall
Authors: Forster Anna‐Maria , Muehleisen Beda 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT
Trichophyton rubrum (T. rubrum), an anthropophilic ectothrix dermatophyte usually causes minor skin infection confined to the stratum corneum of the epidermis, to nails and the hair in immunocompetent persons. Life‐threatening invasive dermatophyte infections are rare and mainly reported in immunosuppressed patients such as organ transplant recipients. We herein present an extraordinary case of a symmetric bilateral invasive T. rubrum infection on both forearms in a 94‐year‐old male patient, histomorphologically mimicking cutaneous blastomycosis. Invasive T. rubrum with atypical large round spore‐like organisms resembling Blastomyces dermatitidis (B. dermatitidis) is common diagnostic pitfall but has never been reported in the setting of a concomitant systemic anti PD‐1 checkpoint‐inhibitor treatment. Correct diagnosis of atypical Blastomyces‐like T. rubrum based on morphology and staining characteristics alone can be challenging and emphasizes the need for confirmation via culture or PCR‐testing.
Do bigger farms suffer less from corruption? Anti‐corruption efforts and the recovery of livestock production
Authors: Rakhmetov Rustam , Herzfeld Thomas 
Published: December 2024

AbstractA transparent and reliable business environment, free from corruption, is essential for agricultural development. However, the impact of corruption control on productive activities remains ambiguous. While corruption can facilitate transactions in an overly regulated environment, its control is also crucial for creating transparency and fostering economic progress. This paper examines how different organizational farm structures respond to corruption control in a long‐term dynamic specification. Using a unique dataset of an objective corruption control measure and livestock production at the subnational level in Kazakhstan and Russia, the analysis reveals that the relationship between production growth and corruption control is non‐linear and differs across household farms, peasant farmers and agricultural enterprises. We find peasant farms exhibit superior average growth in regions with stronger corruption control than other farm structures in regions with weaker corruption control. Conversely, enterprises report lower production growth in regions with intensified anti‐corruption measures in the short run, yet they eventually benefit from stronger corruption control in the long run. Livestock production by small household producers positively correlates with anti‐corruption initiatives, but this association wanes over time. This paper unravels the intricate dynamics surrounding corruption control and different business structures, shedding light on the multifaceted nature of their interrelationship.
Investing like conglomerates? When local governments diversify beyond public services
Authors: Bailey Warren , Fan Jianchao , Liu Jing , Zhou Yinggang 
Published: December 2024

AbstractWe examine government decision‐making by studying Chinese local government financing vehicles (LGFVs), an often‐criticized funding and investment channel. We find an inverted U‐shaped relationship between LGFV diversification and subsequent local economic growth confirmed by identification using policy and regulatory events. The inverted U‐shape is stronger when local economic development or government indebtedness is higher. The degree of diversification reflects career concerns and decision‐making biases of local political leaders. Thus, bad economic outcomes follow when local governments venture beyond public services, borrow aggressively and invest in too many businesses. Our findings echo the empirical literature on corporate conglomerates.
A Decade of Evolution: Examining the Dynamics of Academic Profession Internationalisation in China
Authors: Shu Jun , Tian Lin 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTAcademic profession internationalisation is an important engine to promote higher education internationalisation, which can be analysed across four dimensions: international academic activities, cross‐cultural concepts and contents, internationalisation attitudes and internationalisation knowledge and skills. The comparative analysis of the survey data between 2013 and 2023 reveals the trends and changes of academic profession internationalisation in China. In terms of international academic activities, international research activities remains a top priority for faculty; regarding cross‐cultural concepts and contents, there has been limited progress in integrating domestic academic activities with international concepts and contents over the past decade; with respect to internationalisation attitudes, faculty members demonstrate a strong and persistent willingness to engage in internationalisation; concerning internationalisation knowledge and skills, there has been a notable improvement in internationalisation content knowledge, particularly evident in faculty's proficiency in foreign language communication.
Peak width of skeletonized mean diffusivity as a marker of small vessel disease in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis
Authors: Lee Dong Ah , Lee Ho‐Joon , Kim Sung Eun , Park Kang Min 
Published: December 2024

AbstractObjectiveWhite matter abnormalities in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and hippocampal sclerosis (HS) are well known. Peak width of skeletonized mean diffusivity (PSMD) is a novel marker for quantifying white matter integrity that may reflect small vessel disease. In this study, we aimed to quantify the extent of white matter damage in patients with TLE and HS by using PSMD.MethodsWe enrolled 52 patients with TLE with HS and 54 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was performed using a 3‐T magnetic resonance imaging scanner. We measured PSMD using DTI findings and compared PSMD between patients with TLE with HS and healthy controls. We also evaluated the correlation between PSMD and clinical factors in patients with TLE and HS.ResultsPSMD differed significantly between healthy controls and patients with TLE and HS, and it was higher in the patients (2.375 × 10−4 mm2/s vs. 2.108 × 10−4 mm2/s, p < .001). Furthermore, PSMD in the ipsilateral hemisphere of the HS was higher than in the contralateral hemisphere of the HS (2.472 × 10−4 mm2/s vs. 2.258 × 10−4 mm2/s, p = .040). PSMD was positively correlated with age (r = .512, p < .001) and age at seizure onset (r = .423, p = .002) in patients with TLE and HS.SignificancePatients with TLE and HS had higher PSMD values than healthy controls, and PSMD was positively correlated with age. These findings provide evidence of white matter damage probably due to small vessel disease in patients with TLE and HS and support the feasibility of PSMD as a promising imaging marker for epileptic disorders.
Did Joseph Conrad have juvenile myoclonic epilepsy?
Authors: Wolf Peter , Hein Dieter 
Published: December 2024

AbstractJoseph Conrad's epilepsy is well documented but has received little attention as he had convulsive seizures only in childhood and adolescence. The type of epilepsy has never been discussed. His biography reveals that his condition was decidedly neuropsychiatric with depression, a suicidal attempt, and prominent signs of frontal lobe dysfunction, as is seen typically in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. This diagnosis is supported by a congruent family history and probable lifelong myoclonic seizures including reflex myocloni that were misunderstood as nervosity. It is impressive to see how he disciplined himself to become a great writer against the odds of neuropsychological impairment.
Genetic Analysis and Reproductive Interventions for Two Rare Families Affected by Severe Haemophilia A
Authors: Yuan Shimin , Hu Liang , Zhong Juanfang , Hu Xiao , Zhao Xiaomeng , Wan Zhenxing , Zeng Sicong , He Wen‐Bin , Gu Feng , Wang Sheng‐Peng , Lu Guangxiu , Lin Ge , Du Juan 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundHaemophilia A (HA) is a rare bleeding disorder caused by variants in F8. Although traditional mutational analyses have identified numerous pathogenic variants, the aetiology of HA in certain patients remains unclear. Furthermore, female patients with severe HA are rare.AimTo investigate the molecular defects underlying severe HA in two patients and provide personalised reproductive interventions for their families.MethodsTwo patients diagnosed with severe HA without other clinical phenotypes were enrolled in the study. A combination of whole‐exome sequencing, real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and long‐read sequencing (LR‐sequencing) was performed to reveal the molecular defects of them, followed by the application of different reproductive intervention strategies.ResultsProband 1, a 29‐year‐old man with FVIII activity of 0.8%, did not exhibit common F8 variants, including Inv1 or Inv22, in the coding region. However, he carried a rare maternal novel inversion on ChrX:154148973_154170321, spanning approximately 21.345 Kbp, with breakpoints in introns 13 and 14 of F8. Finally, the couple of Proband 1 opted for assisted reproductive technology using preimplantation genetic testing and successfully conceived. Proband 2, a 20‐year‐old female with severe HA and FVIII activity of 0.6%, carried inv22 of F8. Further investigation combining whole exome sequencing (WES) and pedigree analysis revealed that she carried a maternal cross‐deletion encompassing exons 1–22 of F8, FUNDC2, BRCC3 and CLIC2, along with a de novo missense variant c.5852T>C (p.Leu1951Ser) on her paternal X‐chromosome. Chromosome X‐inactivation (XCI) analysis demonstrated a highly skewed inactivation of the maternal X chromosome, with a ratio of 98:2. Subsequently, prenatal diagnosis confirmed that the third child in this family did not carry any of the F8 variants present in Proband 2.ConclusionOur findings provide novel insights into the genetic aetiology of HA and emphasise the importance of a definitive diagnosis in guiding genetic counselling and personalised reproductive interventions for affected individuals and their families.
Circulating and hepatic levels of growth differentiation factor 15 in patients with metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease
Authors: Werge Mikkel Parsberg , Grandt Josephine , Thing Mira , Hetland Liv Eline , Rashu Elias Badal , Jensen Anne‐Sofie Houlberg , Junker Anders Ellekær , Richter Michael Martin , Møller Søren , Bendtsen Flemming , Harder Lea Mørch , Mazzoni Gianluca , Viuff Birgitte Martine , Hvid Henning , Prada‐Medina Cesar Augusto , Jørgensen Sebastian Beck , Bendtsen Kristian Moss , Kildegaard Jonas , Vyberg Mogens , Serizawa Reza , Galsgaard Elisabeth Douglas , Wewer Albrechtsen Nicolai Jacob , Gluud Lise Lotte 
Published: December 2024

AbstractAimIncreased growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) may reflect impaired metabolic health and an inflammatory state in metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). We investigated the role of GDF15 in histologically verified MASLD in a meal test (discovery) cohort (n = 20) and a prospective (validation) cohort with 2 years of follow‐up (n = 276).MethodsParticipants were evaluated clinically and histologically in both cohorts. Fibrosis severity was classified as no/mild (F0/F1) or significant (F2–4). Plasma GDF15 was measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays and the SOMAScan platform. Hepatic GDF15 mRNA expression was analyzed by RNA in situ hybridization and bulk RNA‐sequencing. In addition, we used data from public single‐nucleus RNA‐sequencing datasets.ResultsIn both cohorts, plasma GDF15 was increased in MASLD compared with healthy controls (p < 0.0001) with the highest levels in patients with significant fibrosis (area under the curve 0.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76–0.91). The GDF15 levels were unaffected by a standardized meal and there was no difference in peripheral or hepatic venous concentrations. After 2 years, the increase in GDF15 levels was reduced in patients treated with glucagon‐like peptide receptor agonists (GLP‐1‐RA) compared to patients receiving lifestyle advice (−28%; 95% CI, −44 to −8; p = 0.01). Plasma GDF15 was associated with circulating insulin‐like growth factor 1 and related proteins. Hepatic GDF15 mRNA was mainly expressed in hepatocytes and in cholangiocytes in fibrotic areas and was increased in MASLD (p = 0.02) with the highest expression in the group with steatohepatitis (p = 0.009).ConclusionsIncreased hepatic and circulating GDF15 are found in MASLD. Treatment with GLP‐1‐RA may reduce GDF15, possibly reflecting beneficial metabolic and inflammatory effects.
The Effect of Alignment on the Listening and Speaking Continuation Task
Authors: Zhang Yang , Wang Yanxin , He Lianzhen , Li Qidi , Chen Yuchu 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTThis study aims to examine the effect of alignment on the listening and speaking continuation task (LSCT). A total of 47 Chinese L2 English learners were recruited as participants for the study. They were divided into two groups and were instructed to complete two separate continuation tasks with different input languages (English and Chinese). The scripts of oral continuation performed by the participants were analyzed from four aspects: word frequency, accuracy, fluency, and complexity. The results indicated that the effect of alignment exists in LSCT, especially in terms of lexicon and accuracy. When conducting English LSCT, participants tended to use more frequently the words that appeared in the audio story and paid more attention to the morphological characteristics of words, and participants achieved higher accuracy when the input language was English. However, there was no significant difference in terms of fluency and complexity between English and Chinese LSCT.