bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Knowledge, Awareness and the Willingness to accept the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine among mothers of under-five children in Lagos, Nigeria
Authors: Ojomo Qudus A. , Babalola Rahmotallah M. , Lawal Aminat O. , Udemba Jacintha C. 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background of the study: In October 2021, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended the use of RTS, S/AS01 malaria vaccine among children in sub-Saharan Africa and in other regions with moderate to high P. falciparum malaria transmission. This study aimed to investigate the willingness to receive RTS, S malaria vaccine as well as the knowledge and awareness of this vaccine among mothers of children under five years of age in Lagos, Nigeria. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional survey comprising structured questionnaires administered to mothers of children under the age of five attending immunization clinics in selected local government areas of Lagos, Nigeria (Alimosho, Ikeja, Kosofe, Ikorodu and Surulere). The study was conducted between February and May, 2023. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of the likelihood of receiving the RTS, S malaria vaccine. A total of 395 mothers completed the survey. Results: The awareness of the RTS, S malaria vaccine among mothers of under-five children is fairly low (48%) in Lagos. However, more than two-thirds of the mothers (84.8%) were willing to accept the RTS, S malaria vaccine for their children. Surprisingly, mothers who are undecided on the possibility for the vaccine to infect their children with malaria were nine (9) times likely to accept the RTS/S malaria vaccine compared to those who are certain that the vaccine would not infect their children with malaria (OR = 9.075, 95CI% = 01.275–64.581, p = 0.028). Moreover, mothers that are aware of the RTS/S malaria vaccine (OR = 3.033, 95CI% = 1.366 –, 6.735, p < 0.05) are three (3) times more likely to accept the vaccine compared to those that are not aware of the vaccine. Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed the urgent need to increase awareness about the RTS, S malaria vaccine and assure mothers of under-five children of its safety. There is also a need for the Nigerian government to secure a large number of malaria vaccine doses since a majority of the mothers believe that the vaccine should be included in routine immunization.
Association of Maternal Serum Vitamin A Levels in the First Trimester with the Risk of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: A Prospective Cohort Study of Chinese Women
Authors: Ren Qinqin , Wang Yijin , Wang Yang , Yuan Hui , Liu Yao , Wei Yuanhuan , Sun Ruifang , Yang Hongguang , Tian Ping , Yang Jianjun , Deng Guifang 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Objectives
To examine the association of serum vitamin A concentrations in early pregnancy with the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in Chinese women.
Methods
This prospective cohort study was conducted in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Shenzhen Nanshan People’s Hospital from 2019 to 2020. Serum vitamin A concentrations were measured during the first trimester (the first 6–13 weeks) of pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes were recorded in the hospital information system. Serum vitamin A concentrations were categorised into the following quintiles: ≤ 0.57 µmol/L, 0.57–0.63 µmol/L, 0.63–0.69 µmol/L, 0.69–0.82 µmol/L, and > 0.82 µmol/L. The participants with serum vitamin A concentrations in the lowest quintile were used as the reference group. Statistical analysis was performed using multivariate logistic regression.
Results
One thousand and seventy-seven singleton mothers were recruited as participants. After multivariable adjustment, it was found that serum vitamin A concentrations > 0.82 µmol/L and within a safe range were associated with a decreased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (odds ratio [OR]: 0.50; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.31–0.81). In addition, compared with participants with serum vitamin A concentrations in the lowest quintile, those of participants with serum vitamin A concentrations in the highest quintile had a decreased risk of low birth weight (LBW) (OR: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.07–0.96). Moreover, after adjustment and compared with participants with serum vitamin A concentrations in the lowest quintile, those with serum vitamin A concentrations in the fourth quintile had a decreased risk of small for gestational age (OR: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.12–0.82). Furthermore, compared with participants with vitamin A concentrations ≤ 0.57 µmol/L, participants with vitamin A concentrations > 0.82 µmol/L had an increased risk of emergency caesarean section (OR: 2.31; 95% CI: 1.26–4.26).
Conclusion
During the first trimester, maternal serum vitamin A concentrations > 0.82 µmol/L and within a safe range were found to be associated with a reduced risk of GDM and LBW. However, an increase in serum vitamin A concentrations was found to be associated with an increase in the risk of emergency caesarean section.
METTL2B m3C RNA Transferase: Oncogenic Role in Ovarian Cancer Progression and its Link to the Tumor Immune Microenvironment
Authors: Meng Yizi , Meng Yimei , Zheng Hui , Huo Jinru , Li Peiling , Shan Yanhong , He Jin 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Aberrant expression of N3-methylcytidine methyltransferase 2B (METTL2B) has been observed in various human malignancies, including those of the prostate, liver, breasts, and bladder. However, its role in ovarian cancer (OC) remains largely unexplored. This research preliminarily investigated METTL2B expression in OC and elucidated the associated molecular mechanisms.
Methods
We utilized three publicly available cancer-related databases (Genotype-Tissue Expression, Gene Expression Omnibus, and The Cancer Genome Atlas) to identify gene signatures in patients with OC and normal individuals with a specific focus on METTL2B. The role of METTL2B in OC was evaluated using patient survival data, and its impact on oncogenic behaviors in both cell and animal models, including growth potential, migration, invasion, and the tumor microenvironment, was examined. This assessment was conducted using bioinformatics tools such as Gene Set Cancer Analysis, GeneMANIA, and Tumor Immune Single-cell Hub 2. Additionally, the association between drug sensitivity and METTL2B expression was analyzed using CellMiner.
Results
METTL2B expression was significantly elevated in OC, highlighting its potential clinical value in the diagnosis and prognosis of OC. Patients with lower METTL2B expression exhibited favorable survival. Furthermore, METTL2B knockdown significantly disrupted oncogenic behaviors in OC cell lines by suppressing the mTOR/AKT signaling pathway. Additionally, bioinformatics-based Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses suggested a close correlation between METTL2B and immune responses.
Conclusions
Our research confirmed the upregulation of METTL2B in OC, suggesting its oncogenic function and association with immune infiltration. These findings highlight the significant clinical value of METTL2B in the diagnosis and prognosis of OC.
Laparoscopic-Assisted abdominal small incision for management of adnexal mass during pregnancy: an academic institution study
Authors: Li Menghui , Zhang Zhiqiang , Mu Boran 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of Laparoscopic-Assisted abdominal small incision for the management of adnexal masses during pregnancy.
Design: Retrospective case series.
Setting: University-based tertiary-care hospital.
Patients: 12 pregnant women with an adnexal mass during the second-trimester.
Interventions: Laparoscopic-Assisted Minimally invasive surgery with abdominal small incision.
Measurements and Main results: Surgical and obstetric outcomes were evaluated. 1. The median age was 28.5 years (range, 25-40 years), all procedures were done during the second trimester, the mean gestation week was 16 weeks (range, 12-17weeks) at operation. 2. The mean operational time was 130 minutes (range, 45-200 minutes). The median blood loss was 10ml (range, 5-200ml). The mean decrease of hemoglobin was 12g/L (range, 2-35g/L). The mean onset of flatus was 24h (range, 22-56h). The mean hospital stay was 5.5days (range, 2-7days). 3. 13 ovarian cysts and 1 mesosalpinx cyst were sent to histopathological diagnosis and the most common diagnosis is corpus luteum cyst. Cystectomy was performed for all women. 4. All patients had an uneventful recovery. The median gestation at delivery was 39.5weeks (range, 33-41 weeks), and the median birth weight was 3,227.5 g (range, 1465-4,300 g). 5. The median follow-up time was 3.5 years (range, 0.5-7years). All babies were healthy.
Conclusion: Based on these initial findings, laparoscopic-Assisted abdominal small incision appears to be a safe and technically feasible alternative to multiport laparoscopic surgery for patients with adnexal mass during pregnancy.
Investigation of thiol-disulfide homeostasis in active ulcerative colitis
Authors: Ülfer Gözde , Akbaş Enver , Çakıcı Çağrı 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background/Aims:
This research sought to explore thiol-disulfide parameters among individuals in ulcerative colitis (UC) and determine the utility of such parameters as novel prognostic inflammatory markers.
Materials and Method
The study included 35 patients diagnosed with active UC via colonoscopy, constituting the case group, and 35 individuals without abnormal colonoscopy findings or acute/chronic illnesses, comprising the control group. Serum levels of native thiol, total thiol, and disulfide, as well as disulfide-native thiol and disulfide-total thiol ratios, were compared between the case and healthy control groups. These measurements were conducted using the automated spectrophotometric method.
Results
The measurements of total thiol, native thiol, and disulfide did not show statistically significant differences between the groups (p > 0.05). However, the disulfide-total thiol (%) ratio (p < 0.05) and the disulfide-native thiol (%) ratio (p < 0 .05) were notably higher in the case group compared to the controls. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was utilized to evaluate the accuracy of both the disulfide-total thiol (%) ratio and the disulfide-native thiol (%) ratio in diagnosing UC, yielding an area under the curve of 0.68 for both parameters.
Conclusion
The results revealed a significant elevation in disulfide-native thiol (%) ratio and disulfide-total thiol (%) ratio, indicating that the balance of thiol-disulfide homeostasis was impaired, shifting toward disulfide, in the presence of UC due to oxidative stress and tissue inflammation.
Comparison of early clinical efficacy of percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal lumbar decompression and single-level lumbar intervertebral fusion in the treatment of lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis with lumbar spinal stenosis
Authors: Zhang Zhezhe , Zhang Zuxue , Li Pengfei , Song Youxin 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
The clinical efficacy of decompression alone with and without fusion in the treatment of lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis (LDS) with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) remains controversial, and this article compares the efficacy of percutaneous transforaminal lumbar discectomy (PTED) with that of lumbar decompression fusion in the treatment of LDS with LSS.
Method
From August 2018 to December 2020, 54 consecutive patients were diagnosed with LSS with DLS at our institution, 26 were treated with PTED, and 28 underwent single-segment lumbar fusion surgery. All patients were followed up for at least 1 year after surgery. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and modified Macnab’s criteria.
Results
The mean age was 65.81 ± 8.04 years in the PTED group and 63.29 ± 4.60 years in the decompression fusion group. At 1 year postoperatively, the VAS and ODI scores of patients in both groups showed significant improvement compared with the preoperative scores (p < 0.05), with no significant difference between the two groups eventually. At 3 and 6 months postoperatively, the ODI values of patients in both groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05), and the postoperative recovery was faster in the PTED group than in the decompression fusion group. According to the modified Macnab criteria, the excellent rates were 92.31% and 92.86% in the PTED group and the decompression fusion group, respectively. And the operative time, blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, off-bed time and complication rate were significantly shorter in the PTED group. There was no significant difference in preoperative radiological parameters between the two groups. At the last follow-up, there was no significant difference in the slippage rate between the two groups.
Conclusion
The advantages of the PTED group over the decompression fusion group are faster postoperative recovery, less bleeding, and less trauma.There was no significant difference in the short-term clinical outcomes between the two groups, and the long-term outcomes and complications still need to be further explored and validated.
Clinical Features and Establishment of a Recurrence Prediction Model in Early Ovarian Clear Cell Carcinoma Patients
Authors: Cai Yuhan , Gao Yan , Fan Yiming , Wu Yu , Guo Hongyan 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to summarize the clinical characteristics of early-stage ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) patients and establish a predictive model for recurrence.
Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical, pathological, and prognostic data of 129 early-stage OCCC patients treated at Peking University Third Hospital from January 2010 to June 2023. Clinical and pathological features of these patients were compared and summarized. Prognostic factors related to recurrence were explored, and a recurrence prediction model was established through nomogram.
Results The average age of patients was 54.38±8.66 years, with 110 cases (85.2%) in Stage I. The majority underwent comprehensive staging surgery (124 cases). Most patients exhibited positive expressions of NapsinA (92%) and HNF1β (98.9%). Immunohistochemical features were consistent with OCCC diagnosis, with negative expressions of ER (81.3%), PR (86%), and WT1 (94.2%). Among the 129 patients, 18 experienced recurrence, and 5 were lost to follow-up. The median progression-free survival (PFS) for recurrent patients was 16.5 months (range: 3-59 months). Significant prognostic factors associated with PFS were identified through univariate and multivariate analyses, including tumor FIGO stage, preoperative lower limb thrombosis, comprehensive staging surgery, age at diagnosis, parity, and menopausal status. A nomogram was constructed based on these variables to establish a recurrence prediction model. The AUC values for predicting the 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year recurrence were 0.831, 0.765, and 0.759, respectively, all exceeding 0.5.
Conclusion This study provides a comprehensive summary of the clinical and pathological characteristics of early-stage OCCC patients, explores prognostic factors related to recurrence and establishes a reliable recurrence prediction model. The model may serve as a reference for clinical counseling, treatment decision-making, and follow-up of early-stage patients who desire fertility sparing.
Risk of coimmunisation of hepatitis B-exposed children with unprotective antibodies based on machine learning algorithms
Authors: Liao Huiming , Li Yan , Li Yinzhi , Huang Sini , Gao Chenqian , Kong Jingjing , Liu Qi , Xia Jianhong 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The Guangdong Province Information Management System for Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B was utilized in this study's data collection to build and evaluate machine learning (ML)-based algorithms for predicting the likelihood that children exposed to hepatitis B will develop unprotective antibodies following combined immunization.
METHODS: The information reported by all midwifery institutions in 13 prefectures and cities was selected. Data reported in the Information Management System for Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B in Guangdong Province between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021, were divided at random into a training cohort and a validation cohort (7:3). We developed predictive models for the production of unprotective antibodies in hepatitis B-exposed children after co-immunisation using six machine learning (ML) techniques including multilayer perceptron model (MLP), support vector machine (SVM), K-nearest neighbor algorithm (KNN), random forest (RF), decision tree (DT), and naive bayes (NBC). Decision Curve Analysis and Area Under the Curve (AUC-ROC) curves were used to assess and contrast the various prediction models (DCA).
CONCLUSION: It was discovered that the RandomForest model was a more powerful algorithm in terms of prediction. The model was created to assist with risk assessments in the future for children exposed to hepatitis B who do not have protective antibodies following co-immunization.
Predicting duration of surgery in hip and knee arthroplasty with machine learning: Operational factors are important.
Authors: Nejad Mohammad Chavosh , Matthiesen Rikke Vestergaard , Dukovska-Popovska Iskra , Jakobsen Thomas , Johansen John 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are among the most common surgeries in the healthcare system which highly consume hospital resources. An accurate prediction of the duration of surgery (DOS) can improve operating room scheduling and subsequently enhance hospital resource allocation efficiency. Currently, hospitals generally rely on historical data average or surgeons’ experience for DOS prediction which are prone to inaccuracy and personal bias. Besides, not enough attention has been paid to DOS prediction for these surgeries in the literature. This paper aims to develop machine learning (ML) models to predict surgery duration for patients undergoing hip and knee arthroplasty based on clinical and operational factors. Clinical and operational factors (n = 3,233) were extracted from Aalborg University Hospital’s database from 2017 to 2020. Three ML models (Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Multilayer Perceptron, and Support Vector Machine) were developed and their performances were evaluated and compared with a baseline model. XGBoost demonstrated the best performance among all models (Mean Absolute Error = 12.86, Root Mean Squared Error = 16.67, Buffer Accuracy = 68.73). Furthermore, all models performed better than the baseline model. Analyzing feature importances indicated that the surgeon, temporal factors, and surgery type are the most contributing factors for predicting DOS. To conclude, machine learning models can improve the accuracy of DOS prediction for TKA and THA surgeries compared to the current methods. As an ensemble learning method, XGBoost can better deal with health data complexities related to DOS. Besides medical features, operational factors have a significant contribution to predicting DOS.
Facilitators and Barriers in Managing Elderly Chronic Heart Failure Patients in Primary Care: A Qualitative Study of Medical Personnel’s Perspectives Using the Socio-Ecological Model
Authors: Lou Yan , Zhang Min , Zou Yun , Zhao Le , Chen Yangfan , Qiu Yongzhen 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Primary care has been identified as a key factor in facilitating timely diagnosis and effective management of congestive chronic heart failure (CHF) in older patients. Understanding the current status of CHF management in community health care can therefore be effective in reducing the disease burden of CHF.
Objectives
The aim of this study was to evaluate the existing state of CHF services offered by healthcare facilities and to identify the primary obstacles faced by community medical personnel in China.
Methods
In this interpretive study, the social ecological model (SEM) was employed to facilitate interviews conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. Each participant underwent an interview lasting between 45 and 60 minutes. Thematic analysis was utilized for data analysis.
Results
This study incorporated a cohort of 30 participants. Facilitators and barriers were identified within the five domains of the SEM. (1) individual level: medical staff lack knowledge and experience in CHF management while patients’ weak health awareness. (2) interpersonal level: insufficient support from the patients’ family and lack of trust in community hospitals and health workers. (3) organizational level: inadequate medical knowledge and training programs for medical staff, shortage of medical staff and weak teamwork and few health promotion channels. (4) community level: Lack of regular screening and follow-up, medical equipment and an information technology-assisted monitoring system. (5) public policy level: lack of policy support, funding subsidies, national guidelines adapted to the local context and low medical insurance reimbursement rate.
Conclusion
There are many impediments to chronic disease management in the community, so it is vital to improve public understanding of CHF, as well as to improve the quality of community health equipment and services, to improve reciprocal referral mechanisms between hospitals and the community, and to develop policies on chronic disease management for chronic older people.
Identification of Safe Trocar Insertion Sites Guided by Ultrasonography to Minimize Epigastric Vessel Injuries in Pediatric Laparoscopic Procedures Pediatric Laparoscopy and Epigastric Vessel Safety
Authors: Bilir Cemal , Öcal Zeynep Ayvat 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Objective:
This study aims to predict the location of epigastric vessels on the abdominal surface in pediatric patients using doppler ultrasonography and to identify safe trocar entry in laparoscopic surgery
Methods:
This study involved 90 pediatric patients who underwent color doppler ultrasound evaluation of the deep epigastric vessels before laparoscopic surgery. The deep epigastric vessels were identified at 5 equidistant levels between the xiphoid process and the symphysis pubis. Bilateral measurements of the distance of the epigastric vessels from the midline were taken at each level. Predictive analysis utilized a linear mixed model with maximum likelihood estimation.
Results:
The mean distances of the deep epigastric vessels to the midline at different levels in the abdominal region were 6.18 ± 0.7 cm at the right pubic symphysis, 4.64 ± 0.6 cm from the umbilicus, and 3.21 ± 0.5 cm at the level of the xiphoid. On the left, it was 6.46 ± 0.69 cm from the pubic symphysis, 4.64 ± 0.6 cm from the umbilicus, and 3.19 ± 0.5 cm at the level of the xiphoid.
Conclusion:
Significant variation in the distance of deep epigastric vessels from the midline in pediatric patients was observed, with no significant differences between male and female children. Consistent with the existing literature, the findings identify relatively safe avascular areas for lateral trocar placement in the pediatric population.