bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Surgical Outcomes of Patients with Benign Spinal Tumors: Insights from A Prospective Quasi Experimental Study
Authors: Tapas Sarker  , Mohammad Humayun Rashid  , S M Noman Khaled Chowdhury  , Syeda Asfiya Ara  , Mohammad Sanaullah  , Ansar Uddin Ahmed  , Mahfujul Quader  , Sirajul Munir Ohi  , Saumen Sarker  , Abul Hasan Md Touhidur Reza  , Md Motasimul Hasan  , Shahnewaj Chowdhury  , Narayan Dhar  , Majed Sultan  
Published: October 2024

Background: Spinal tumor is one of the causes of back pain, sensory motor deficit and bowel bladder dysfunction. Evaluation of postoperative mortality, morbidity and outcomes after resection of spinal cord tumors is critical to the practice of evidencebased medicine. Hence, it is important to carefully examine surgical outcomes at an institutional level. Objectives: The aim of the study was to describe the results of benign spinal tumor after surgical treatment according to location. Materials & Method: This quasi-experimental study was conducted in the Department of Neurosurgery, Chittagong Medical College and Hospital for a period of 12 months. Twenty eight cases of benign spinal tumor underwent surgical treatment were enrolled in the study. Average hospital stay from surgery to discharge was 12-15 days. Postoperative neurological outcome in Frankel’s grade and bowel bladder involvement were assessed from 1st POD to 3rd month after surgery and data were recorded at 7th POD, 1st month and 3rd month after surgery. Collected data were analyzed by using SPSS-23. Results: Among the 28 cases, 15 were men and 13 were women. The mean age was 36.19 (±14.29) years and age range was 15 to 62 years. Twenty three (82.14%) patients improved by at least one Frankel grade and remaining five (17.86%) patients maintained their preoperative Frankel grade. Out of eight (28.6%) cases with absent bowel bladder dysfunction before surgery six (75%) recovered within three months. Postoperative deterioration was not observed in any of the included case. Ten (35.7%) patients had excellent outcome (having Frankel grade E with normal bowel bladder control) and 18 patients (64.3%) had good/fair outcome (partial recovery or clinically insignificant recovery) after 3 months. Age, gender and location (axial and sagittal) of benign spinal tumor were not found to have significant variation of neurological outcome. Conclusion: Majority of patients irrespective of the location (axial/sagittal) of the tumor had a favorable clinical outcome three months after the operation.
Bang. J Neurosurgery 2024; 13(2): 130-139
Pure Spinal Epidural Cavernous Hemangioma: A Rare Cause of Thoracic Myelopathy
Authors: Sukriti Das  , Md Mamunur Rashid  , Saiful Islam  , Shamit Barua  , Md Motasimul Hasan  
Published: October 2024

Cavernous hemangiomas mostly occur in intracranial structures but they also may occur in the spine very rarely. Even if found, spinal hemangiomas are commonly vertebral origin and solely epidural hemangiomas not originating from the vertebral bone are very rare. Our case is a 65-year-old man presented to us with progressive paraparesis from six months with motor power 3/5 in both lower extremities. The pathology was total epidural spinal hemangioma at D9-10 vertebral level with typical myelopathy like presentation.
Bang. J Neurosurgery 2024; 13(2): 149-151
Segmentation methods for quantifying X-ray Computed Tomography based biomarkers to assess hip fracture risk: a systematic literature review
Authors: Falcinelli Cristina , Cheong Vee San , Ellingsen Lotta Maria , Helgason Benedikt 
Published: October 2024

BackgroundThe success of using bone mineral density and/or FRAX to predict femoral osteoporotic fracture risk is modest since they do not account for mechanical determinants that affect bone fracture risk. Computed Tomography (CT)-based geometric, densitometric, and finite element-derived biomarkers have been developed and used as parameters for assessing fracture risk. However, to quantify these biomarkers, segmentation of CT data is needed. Doing this manually or semi-automatically is labor-intensive, preventing the adoption of these biomarkers into clinical practice. In recent years, fully automated methods for segmenting CT data have started to emerge. Quantifying the accuracy, robustness, reproducibility, and repeatability of these segmentation tools is of major importance for research and the potential translation of CT-based biomarkers into clinical practice.MethodsA comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed up to the end of July 2024. Only segmentation methods that were quantitatively validated on human femurs and/or pelvises and on both clinical and non-clinical CT were included. The accuracy, robustness, reproducibility, and repeatability of these segmentation methods were investigated, reporting quantitatively the metrics used to evaluate these aspects of segmentation. The studies included were evaluated for the risk of, and sources of bias, that may affect the results reported.FindingsA total of 54 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The analysis of the included papers showed that automatic segmentation methods led to accurate results, however, there may exist a need to standardize reporting of accuracy across studies. Few works investigated robustness to allow for detailed conclusions on this aspect. Finally, it seems that the bone segmentation field has only addressed the concept of reproducibility and repeatability to a very limited extent, which entails that most of the studies are at high risk of bias.InterpretationBased on the studies analyzed, some recommendations for future studies are made for advancing the development of a standardized segmentation protocol. Moreover, standardized metrics are proposed to evaluate accuracy, robustness, reproducibility, and repeatability of segmentation methods, to ease comparison between different approaches.
Antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of silver nanoparticles stabilized with C-phycocyanin against drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Chegini Zahra , Shariati Aref , Alikhani Mohammad Yousef , Safaiee Maliheh , Rajaeih Shahin , Arabestani Mohammadreza , Azizi Mehdi 
Published: October 2024

BackgroundBiofilms are bacterial communities that can protect them against external factors, including antibiotics. In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were formed by modifying AgNPs with C-phycocyanin (Ag-Pc) to inhibit the growth of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CR P. aeruginosa) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and destroy biofilm of these bacteria.MethodsThe AgNPs were prepared with the green synthesis method, and Pc was used to stabilize the AgNPs. The Ag-Pc’s antibacterial and antibiofilm effects were evaluated using the Microbroth dilution method and microtiter plate assay. The inhibitory effect of Ag-Pc on the expression of biofilm-related genes was evaluated by real-time PCR. Moreover, the MTT assay was used to assess the Ag-Pc toxicity.ResultsThe Ag-Pc minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 7.4 μg/mL for CR P. aeruginosa and MRSA. Pc did not show antibacterial effects against any of the strains. Ag-Pc suppressed biofilm formation and destroyed matured biofilm in both bacteria more efficiently than the AgNPs (P&lt; 0.05). The expression of all genes was not significantly reduced in the presence of synthesized nanoparticles. Finally, the MTT assay results did not show toxicity against a murine fibroblast cell line (L929) at MIC concentration.ConclusionThe present study showed the promising potential of Pc for improving the antibacterial and antibiofilm function of AgNPs and inhibiting drug-resistant bacteria. Therefore, Ag-Pc nanoparticles can be considered a promising therapeutic approach for the managing of the bacterial biofilm.
Predicting long-term risk of sudden cardiac death with automatic computer-interpretations of electrocardiogram
Authors: Järvensivu-Koivunen Minna , Kallonen Antti , van Gils Mark , Lyytikäinen Leo-Pekka , Tynkkynen Juho , Hernesniemi Jussi 
Published: October 2024

BackgroundComputer-interpreted electrocardiogram (CIE) data is provided by almost all commercial software used to capture and store digital electrocardiograms. CIE is widely available, inexpensive, and accurate. We tested the potential of CIE in long-term sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk prediction.MethodsThis is a retrospective of 8,568 consecutive patients treated for acute coronary syndrome. The primary endpoint was five-year occurrence of SCDs or equivalent events (SCDs aborted by successful resuscitation or adequate ICD therapy). CIE statements were extracted from summary statements and measurements made by the GE Muse 12SL algorithm from ECGs taken during admission. Three supervised machine learning algorithms (logistic regression, extreme gradient boosting, and random forest) were then used for analysis to find risk features using a random 70/30% split for discovery and validation cohorts.ResultsFive-year SCD occurrence rate was 3.3% (n = 287). Regardless of the used ML algorithm, the most significant risk ECG risk features detected by the CIE included known risk features such as QRS duration and factors associated with QRS duration, heart rate–corrected QT time (QTc), and the presence of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). Risk score formed by using most significant CIE features associated with the risk of SCD despite adjusting for any clinical risk factor (including left ventricular ejection fraction). Sensitivity of CIE data to correctly identify patients with high risk of SCD (over 10% 5-year risk of SCD) was usually low, but specificity and negative prediction value reached up to 96.9% and 97.3% when selecting only the most significant features identified by logistic regression modeling (p-value threshold &lt;0.01 for accepting features in the model). Overall, CIE data showed a modest overall performance for identifying high risk individuals with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values ranging between 0.652 and 0.693 (highest for extreme gradient boosting and lowest for logistic regression).ConclusionThis proof-of-concept study shows that automatic interpretation of ECG identifies previously validated risk features for SCD.
Attitudes toward mathematics and virtual teaching of students in the context of COVID-19: validation and reliability of instruments
Authors: Schmitt-Cerna Isis , Ramírez-Olascuaga Maritza , Arhuis-Inca Wendy , Ipanaqué-Zapata Miguel , Arhuis-Inca Sarai Raquel , Bazalar-Palacios Janina 
Published: October 2024

BackgroundThere are few instruments to assess attitudes toward mathematics and virtual teaching; Likewise, there are methodological limitations to study this phenomenon in high school students. The present study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the instruments of attitudes toward mathematics and the perception of virtual teaching during COVID-19 in high school students in Peru.MethodsA total of 400 students participated. The research utilized exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to evaluate the attitudes mathematics and the perception of virtual teaching instruments’ structure, and assessed reliability through Cronbach’s Alpha (α), Ordinal Alpha (ordinal α), and Omega (Ω) indicators.ResultsExploratory factor analysis showed that Model 2, with factor loadings above 0.40, was the most suitable for both instruments. This model demonstrated acceptable fit indices (CFI and TLI &gt; 0.90; RMSEA and SRMR &lt;0.08) and internal consistency (α, ordinal α, and Ω &gt; 0.60). Furthermore, confirmatory factor analysis validated a five-dimensional structure for attitudes toward mathematics and a six-dimensional structure for perceptions of virtual teaching.ConclusionBoth instruments are valid and reliable for assessing these attitudes and perceptions within the context of virtual education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Strengthening mathematical skills through targeted research and interventions is essential to addressing pandemic-induced gaps.
Comparing silicon mineral species of different crystallinity using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Ellerbrock Ruth H. , Stein Mathias , Schaller Jörg 
Published: October 2024

In soils, various solid silica (Si) species exhibit different weathering behaviors and surface reactivities, which are among other characteristics related to the crystallinity of the silicate tetrahedral network. Amorphous species exhibit faster weathering and generally possess a larger specific surface area in comparison to crystalline species. However, the characterization of these different species is commonly based on wet chemical extraction methods, which lack selectivity. While Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) in the mid-infrared range can differentiate between short-range ordered aluminosilicates (SROAS) and pure amorphous silica (ASi), few systematic studies are found on the IR spectral features that distinguish solid Si species by crystallinity. This study aims to identify FTIR absorption bands that can differentiate Si species based on their crystallinity. Our data clearly indicate that ASi can be distinguished from very crystalline silica (quartz) and sea sand. The absorption band at approximately 800 cm−1 in the FTIR spectra allows determining the degree of crystallinity of the studied ASi species since the band becomes smaller and the band maximum shifted toward lower wavenumbers with increasing degree of crystallinity. Hence, FTIR spectra may be used to differentiate certain Si species in complex samples like soils, allowing the estimation of weatherability and surface reactivity of those species.
Adsorption characteristics of As(III) by schwertmannite: new findings in mineral-phase transformation and microbial effects
Authors: Li Hao , Song Wenjie , Li Zhichao , Wang Wei , He Jiang , Lü Changwei 
Published: October 2024

The amount of As(III) adsorbed and the interfacial process are closely associated with the phase transformation of Schwertmannite (SCH). At present, studies on the adsorption characteristics of As(III) on SCH and the accompanying phase transformation process, especially the related mechanisms under the mediation of iron-reducing bacteria (FeRB) and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), are limited in existing literature. With the help of continuous characterization, the adsorption behavior of As(III) on SCH was explored, as well as the transformation processes of SCH during these processes. The findings revealed that the SCH, synthesized by the KMnO4 oxidation and ethanol modification methods, exhibited excellent physical adsorption capacity for As(III) due to their increasing specific surface area and porosity. At room temperature (20°C), the saturation adsorption capacities of As(III) by M-SCH and Y-SCH reached 62.69 and 58.62 mg/g, respectively. Moreover, the generation and phase transformation of As(III)-bearing ferrihydrite were observed within a 60-min timeframe. It is the first time this phenomenon has been observed in such a short time, which is presumed to be an intermediate stage in the transformation of SCH into goethite. Furthermore, both FeRB and SRB could enhance the adsorption capacity of SCH for As(III). Comparatively, SRB has a more substantial impact on SCH’s phase transformation. These insights are valuable for the practical application of SCH in treating As(III) pollution.
Prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer with intravesical Bacillus Calmette–Guérin immunotherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Huang Jiaguo , Lin Li , Mao Dikai , Hua Runmiao , Guan Feifei 
Published: October 2024

BackgroundThe predictive accuracy of the preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) on the prognosis of patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with intravesical Bacillus Calmette–Guérin immunotherapy (BCG) after transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT) remains unknown. Therefore, the current study performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the relationship between preoperative NLR and the prognosis of patients with NMIBC with intravesical BCG immunotherapy.MethodsFor this systematic review and meta-analysis, articles were retrieved from PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase databases from their inception to 14 May 2024. The role of NLR in predicting recurrence and progression in NMIBC was determined using pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsSeven articles were included in this meta-analysis, involving 4,187 patients. An elevated NLR was significantly associated with recurrence (HR = 2.67, 95% CI = 1.34–5.32, P &lt; 0.001) and progression (HR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.13–2.60, P = 0.004) in patients with NMIBC with intravesical BCG immunotherapy.ConclusionThis meta-analysis demonstrated that elevated preoperative NLR levels were significantly associated with recurrence and disease progression in patients with NMIBC who underwent intravesical BCG immunotherapy after TURBT.Systematic review registrationhttps://inplasy.com/inplasy-2024-7-0058/, identifier 202470058.
Correlation between obstructive sleep apnea and weight-adjusted-waist index: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Zhang Mengye , Weng Xiaolu , Xu Jing , Xu Xue 
Published: October 2024

BackgroundObesity is recognized as a prominent factor in the pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The weight-adjusted-waist index (WWI) has emerged as a novel metric for assessing adiposity. The study aimed to investigate the potential correlation between WWI and OSA.MethodsIn this study, a cross-sectional analysis was conducted on the data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) during the period from 2013 to 2020. To examine the correlation between WWI and OSA, multivariate logistic regression, smooth curve fitting, subgroup analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were employed.ResultsAmong the total 18,080 participants, 9,050 were categorized as having OSA. It was observed that as the quartile range of WWI increased, there was a gradual rise in the prevalence of OSA (37.4% vs. 50.3% vs. 55.1% vs. 57.5%, p &lt; 0.001). Logistic regression analyses demonstrated a significant positive correlation between WWI and the risk of OSA, even after accounting for potential confounders (OR = 1.314, 95% = 1.223, 1.411). Subgroup analysis further revealed a stronger correlation between OSA and WWI among individuals with normal weight, those under 50 years old, and those engaging in moderate physical activities. Smooth curve fitting identified a positive non-linear correlation, with an inflection point at 11.678. ROC analysis indicated that WWI (AUC = 0.664) can serve as a more robust predictor for OSA compared to BMI and waist circumference.ConclusionThis study provides evidence that elevated levels of WWI are correlated with an increased risk of OSA, indicating the potential utility as predictive indicators for OSA.
Immediate modulatory effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on patients with Parkinson’s disease: a crossover self-controlled fMRI study
Authors: Fu Chengwei , Hou Xiaoyan , Zheng Chunye , Zhang Yue , Gao Zhijie , Yan Zhaoxian , Ye Yongsong , Liu Bo 
Published: October 2024

BackgroundPrevious studies have evaluated the safety and efficacy of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the mechanism underlying the effect of taVNS on PD remains to be elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of taVNS in PD patients.MethodsThis crossover self-controlled study included 50 PD patients. Each patient underwent three sessions of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) under three conditions: real taVNS, sham taVNS, and no taVNS intervention. We analyzed whole-brain amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) from preprocessed fMRI data across different intervention conditions. ALFF values in altered brain regions were correlated with clinical symptoms in PD patients.ResultsForty-seven participants completed the study and were included in the final analysis. Real taVNS was associated with a widespread decrease in ALFF in the right hemisphere, including the superior parietal lobule, precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, middle occipital gyrus, and cuneus (voxel p &lt; 0.001, GRF corrected). The ALFF value in the right superior parietal lobule during real taVNS was negatively correlated with the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale Part III (r = −0.417, p = 0.004, Bonferroni corrected).ConclusionTaVNS could immediately modulate the functional activity of brain regions involved in superior parietal lobule, precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, middle occipital gyrus, and cuneus. These findings offer preliminary insights into the mechanism of taVNS in treating PD and bolster confidence in its long-term therapeutic potential. TaVNS appears to reduce ALFF values in specific brain regions, suggesting a potential modulation mechanism for treating PD.
Improvements in upper extremity isometric muscle strength, dexterity, and self-care independence during the sub-acute phase of stroke recovery: an observational study on the effects of intensive comprehensive rehabilitation
Authors: K. Řasová , P. Martinková , M. Vařejková , B. Miznerova , J. Hlinovská , D. Hlinovský , D. Iskendri , L. Lebdušková , R. Vojíková , J. Zakouřilová , J. Běhounek , V. Musil , T. Philipp 
Published: October 2024

BackgroundStroke often impairs upper extremity motor function, with recovery in the sub-acute phase being crucial for regaining independence. This study examines changes in isometric muscle strength, dexterity, and self-care independence during this period, and evaluates the effects of a comprehensive intensive rehabilitation (COMIRESTROKE).MethodsIndividuals in sub-acute stroke recovery and age- and sex-matched controls were assessed for pre- and post-rehabilitation differences in primary outcomes (grip/pinch strength, Nine Hole Peg Test [NHPT], Action Research Arm Test [ARAT]). COMIRESTROKE’s effects on primary and secondary outcomes (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS], Modified Rankin Scale [MRS], Functional Independence Measure [FIM]) were evaluated. Outcomes were analyzed for dominant and non-dominant limbs, both regardless of impairment and with a focus on impaired limbs.ResultsFifty-two individuals with stroke (NIHSS 7.51 ± 5.71, age 70.25 ± 12.66 years, 21.36 ± 12.06 days post-stroke) and forty-six controls participated. At baseline, individuals with stroke showed significantly lower strength (dominant grip, key pinch, tip-tip pinch, padj &lt; 0.05), higher NHPT scores (padj &lt; 0.05), and lower ARAT scores (padj &lt; 0.001). COMIRESTROKE led to improvements in dominant key pinch, non-dominant tip-tip pinch, NHPT, and both dominant and non-dominant ARAT (padj &lt; 0.05). Notably, non-dominant key pinch improved significantly when considering only impaired hands. Pre- and post-test differences between groups were significant only for ARAT (both limbs), even after adjustment (padj &lt; 0.05). All secondary outcomes (NIHSS, MRS, FIM) showed significant improvement post-COMIRESTROKE (padj &lt; 0.001).ConclusionIndividuals with stroke exhibit reduced muscle strength and dexterity, impairing independence. However, comprehensive intensive rehabilitation significantly improves these functions. Data are available from the corresponding author upon request and are part of a sub-study of NCT05323916.