bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison between short-segment versus long-segment screw fixation in osteopenic and osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures in thoracolumbar junction with myelopathy
Authors: NOH Chan Yang , Park Jin Hoon 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Purpose Osteopenic and osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) is a prevalent clinical problem, particularly in the elderly. Management of this condition often requires surgical intervention involving screw fixation of vertebral bodies. However, the optimal extent of screw fixation remains a topic of debate among neurosurgeons. This retrospective study compared the clinical outcomes, radiographic results, and complication rates between short-segment and long-segment screw fixation in patients with OVCF at the thoracolumbar junction (TLJ) and with myelopathic symptoms due to a spinal cord-compressing lesion.
Methods A total of 48 patients with OVCFs at the TLJ and myelopathic symptoms and who underwent either short-segment (two-level) or long-segment (>2 levels) screw fixation were studied. Clinical outcomes comprised Visual Analog Scale (VAS)score, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, Frankel scale, and modified Japanese Orthopedic Association score.
Results Both groups showed postoperative improvement in VAS scores, with no significant difference. However, postoperative improvement in Frankel scale (p=0.01) and ECOG performance status (p<0.01) was significantly greater in the short-segment versus long-segment fixation group. Conversely, long-segment fixation produced superior preservation of the postoperative correction angle (p=0.02). There were no significant differences in overall complication rates, including mechanical failure, between the two groups.
Conclusion Short-segment screw fixation provides comparable clinical outcomes to long-segment fixation in the management of OVCFs with myelopathic symptoms. It is also noteworthy that short-segment screw fixation is not predisposed to instrument failure. These findings suggest that short-segment screw fixation may be a viable option for many patients with OVCFs, depending on clinical condition.
Transarterial embolization of gastroduodenal peptic ulcer bleeding: a single-center study of safety and efficacy
Authors: Ozen Cihan , Al-Hashimi Muhanad , Stender Mogens Tornby , Thorlacius-Ussing Ole , Larsen Anders Christian 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Objectives
To investigate the safety and efficacy of transarterial embolization (TAE) in patients with bleeding gastroduodenal peptic ulcers with an emphasis on prophylactic TAE (pTAE).
Methods
This retrospective cohort study was conducted from 1 January 2010 to 30 June 2022. The primary outcome was rebleeding rate after TAE. Secondary outcomes were frequency and severity of complications, 30-day mortality rate, and overall survival.
Results
87 patients were included. The overall rebleeding rate after TAE was 13/87 (15%). The rebleeding rate was non-significantly higher in the therapeutic TAE (tTAE) group (31%) when compared to the pTAE group (12%). Minor complications were observed in 14/87 patients (16%) and severe complications were observed in 6/87 patients (7%). The complication rate did not differ between the tTAE and pTAE groups. The 30-day overall mortality rate was 19/87 (22%). The 30-day mortality rate was non-significantly higher in the tTAE-group (31%) when compared to the pTAE group (20%). Of the 19 mortalities within 30-days, three were considered procedure-related. The overall median survival rate was 21 months (95% CI: 9.8–31). A non-significant higher median survival of 46.7 months (95% CI 1.2–74.9) was observed in the tTAE group when compared to 20.5 months (95% CI 7.1–29.1) in the pTAE group.
Conclusion
TAE is safe and efficient but is associated with a high 30-day mortality rate and poor overall survival owing to a high burden of comorbidity and disease-related rather than TAE-related complications. Further studies are needed to clarify the gain and selection criteria for pTAE.
Association between Depressive Symptoms and the Risk of Cancer in Middle-Aged and Older Chinese Adults：a population-based cohort study
Authors: Zhang Xinyan , Li Yuxiang 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

IMPORTANCE Depressive symptoms may heighten the risk of cancer, however, little evidence is available on the association of depressive symptoms and cancer in China.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between depressive symptoms and risk of cancer among middle-aged and older Chinese adults.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This study was based on data collected by the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Our cohort included 7,090 middle-aged and older Chinese adults with no cancer diagnosis at baseline. Information on depressive symptoms and cancer were collected at four waves of CHARLS investigations conducted in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2018 and 2020, respectively.
EXPOSURE Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Chinese version of the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Participants scoring ≥12 on CES-D at all four waves of investigations were classified as persistent depressive.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURE Follow-up ended when the participant reported a physician diagnosis of cancer or death or when the study period ended (September 30, 2023).
RESULTS Of the 7,090 individuals, 3,672 (51.8%) were female and 5,687(80.2%) were 45-60 years old. During the seven years of follow-up, 156 new cancer cases were identified. Persistent depressive symptoms were independently associated with an increased risk of cancer (adjusted HR: 2.27; 95%CI: 1.5-3.45) after adjusting for potential confounding factors. The association between persistent depressive symptoms and cancer was not moderated by sociodemographic characteristics.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The presence of depressive symptoms was significantly associated with the risk of cancer among middle-aged and older Chinese adults. Future risk management and preventive services of cancer should consider incorporating screening and providing psychosocial therapies for the elder population to identify and ameliorate depressive symptoms.
Mobile phone-based computer-aided chest X-ray detects TB as well as trained radiologists
Authors: Desita Zerubabel , Tadesse Temesgen , Bohlbro Anders Solitander , Sifna Armando , Fekadu Hikma , Bizuneh Segenet , Srid Sruti , Robert Dennis , Tadepalli Manij , Wejse Christian , Schön Thomas , Rudolf Frauke 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background: Chest radiography (CXR) is the most common imaging modality used to diagnose pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). Accurate computer-aided detection (CAD) CXR software may aid physicians in low-resource, high tuberculosis (TB) endemic settings where radiologists are scarce.
Methods: A retrospective pilot study comparing the assessment of humans and CAD was conducted on analogue CXRs from Guinea-Bissau and Ethiopia with the objective of comparing the interpretation of CXRs regarding PTB by CAD (qXR, Qure.ai) with that of two experienced Ethiopian radiologists (A and B). To improve the applicability of this method in low-resource settings, an analysis was performed on images of CXRs taken by mobile phones. Two reference standards were applied: final TB diagnosis by clinical or laboratory findings (i.e., GeneXpert (GX)-confirmed TB).
Results: We included 498 CXRs. Radiologist A identified 50, radiologist B identified 99, and the software identified 81 as indicative of TB. The overall area under the curve (AUC) for the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the software was 0.84 for GX-confirmed cases. At the prechosen cut-off value of 0.5, the sensitivity of CAD CXR was 76.5%, and the specificity was 85.9%. Radiologist A’s assessments were 64.7% sensitive and 91.9% specific, while radiologist B´s assessments were 76.5% sensitive and 82.3% specific for GX-confirmed cases. The agreement regarding TB-related findings between the radiologists combined (k=0.45) and each radiologist and the software (k=0.56) was moderate.
Conclusion: Our study revealed that CAD CXR performs comparably to experienced radiologists in diagnosing TB even when it is applied to analogue CXRs photographed by mobile phones.
Trial registration: PACTR201611001838365
L-fuzzy two-way concept-cognitive learning based on residuated implication from a divergent viewpoint
Authors: Pang Jinzhong , Chen Minghao , Xu Weihua , Zhang Biao 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Concept-cognitive learning (CCL) is a critical problem in cognitive science and artificial intelligence. In particular, the cognitive results obtained via L-fuzzy concept-cognitive learning (LF-CCL) contain more comprehensive information derived from arbitrary cognitive clues and formal context. LF-CCL, as an effective concept cognitive strategy for discovering knowledge, has garnered significant attention. However, existing research on LF-CCL faces several challenges: rigid cognitive pathways and insufficient cognitive flexibility. Hence, to enhance the flexibility and evolutionary ability of LF-CCL, this paper proposes a novel L-fuzzy two-way concept-cognitive learning strategy (LF-DCCL) based on residuated implications from a divergent viewpoint. Specifically, divergent viewpoints are introduced to LF-CCL to enhance the knowledge evolution ability of the cognitive strategy. The LF-DCCL strategy, different from the existing LF-CCL strategy, primarily focuses on the two-way evolution of L-fuzzy knowledge granules rather than the transformation of L-fuzzy information granules. Moreover, the corresponding algorithms are designed to enable knowledge acquisition via LF-DCCL in massive datasets. At the same time, our theoretical analysis has proven that different cognitive learning strategies will produce similar cognitive results after multiple iterations of use. Similar to human cognitive logic, the results obtained from continuous learning and deep reflection on given information, based on specific cognitive circumstances and capabilities, are inherently limited and describable. Finally, we demonstrate the effectiveness and flexibility of the proposed strategy through case analysis and experiments on different datasets, thereby interpreting and facilitating the understanding of LF-DCCL.
Analysis of Solar-Powered NPK Soil Monitor with Dual Battery Auto Switching Battery Capability
Authors: Perdana Doan , Aditya Bagus , Khoirurozikin Misbahul 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

This study enhancing the Nitrogen (N), Phosporus (P), and Potassium (K) monitored devices with auto switching battery capability, which are used on agricultural land by embedding the device probe on agricultural land during the plant growth process. Therefore, the device requires a good battery management system so that it can provide power to the device continuously so that the data taken will not experience a shortage or loss of data due to a malfunctioning device power supply source so that the device can work properly. In this research, a switching battery system has been implemented to provide a continuous source of power supply without any interrupted power supply source and can maintain the battery better because the battery is used alternately. Based on the accuracy testing of the voltage sensor and system performance testing, it is proven that the automatic switching battery system is able to provide advantages in terms of battery management. From the testing results, the accuracy testing of the voltage sensor is 78%-80% compared to the multimeter EZREN type DT-9205A as a reference. Furthermore, for the battery charging time testing, where if using the formula is battery capacity divided by charging efficiency, the charging time is 5.69 hours, while the realization at the time of testing takes 8-10 hours.
Targeting NMDAR2A: Esketamine's Impact on BV2 Microglial Pro-inflammatory Polarization
Authors: Li Hui , Zhang Xiaoyuan , Luo Yushan , Hu Wen , Tian Bin , Ren Yimin , Zou Xiaohua 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

The polarization of microglia to the pro-inflammatory phenotype plays a crucial role in the initiation and progression of neuroinflammatory diseases, primarily owing to the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines that exacerbate damage within the central nervous system (CNS). Investigating the mechanisms underlying the inhibition of microglial pro-inflammatory polarization could be the potential targets for the prevention of neuroinflammatory diseases. The activation of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors can mediate the over-activation and toxicity of microglia. Due to the unique structure of NMDA receptors, it has different subtypes and perform distinct functions. Our study indicates that Esketamine, a non-competitive antagonist of NMDAR, can up-regulate the phosphorylated Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-Tropomyosin-related kinase receptor B (TrkB) signaling pathway by inhibiting the 2A subtype of NMDA receptors, attenuates LPS-induced pro-inflammatory polarization of BV2 microglia and reduces the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, the NMDAR2B subtype does not appear to be involved in this process.
The Dual Influence of Adrenaline may be Effective in the Treatment of Grade 3 and 4 Cancers with a Synergistic Effect with Chemotherapy
Authors: Shafaroudi Majid Malekzadeh , Rezaei Nourollah , Noori Abbas , Teymouri Manouchehr , Zarei Hooman , Akhtari Javad , kenari Saeed Abedian , Shafaroudi Ali Malekzadeh 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Objective(s): The present study investigated the impact of physiological and pharmacological concentrations of epinephrine alone and together with a β-adrenergic receptor antagonist (propranolol) on the proliferation/migration rate, substrate-adhesion ability, and viability of two slowing-growing brain glioblastoma (U87) and fast-growing gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cell lines.
Materials and Methods: The cells were treated with epinephrine in a 16 µM (physiological) – 256 µM (pharmacological) concentration range and combined with 75 µM propranolol. The cell proliferation/migration rate was determined using scratch wound healing assay at 12 h and 24 h post-treatment. The substrate-adhesion ability was examined using a plate-and-wash assay after detaching the cells with EDTA/trypsin solution and incubating the cells with the drug treatments for 15 and 30 min. The cell viability was assessed using the trypan blue dye exclusion method with hemocytomer count.
Results: The results showed that epinephrine had a dual effect; enhancing the proliferation/migration, adhesion, and viability of both cells at physiological concentrations while suppressing the mentioned features at pharmacological concentrations. Propranolol served antagonistic activity, especially at the low doses of epinephrine.
Conclusion: The study suggests that combination therapy with epinephrine and propranolol can shift the cancer cell growth and metastasis-promoting features of epinephrine toward cancer cell eradication for both slowing-growing U87 and Fast-growing AGS cells.
Impact of Frailty on Per Oral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) Outcomes: A National Database Analysis
Authors: Nawaz Ahmad , Hussain Azhar , Khaliq Aisha , Chaar Abdelkader , Kumar Vishnu , Subedi Abinash , Aswath Ganesh , Singh Kelita , John Savio , Yang Dennis , Hasan Muhammad Khalid , Khan Hafiz 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Introduction
Frailty remains an important risk factor for increased morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing various surgical interventions. The impact of frailty on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) is not well established. We aim to determine the association between frailty and clinical outcomes in patients hospitalized for POEM procedure.
Methods
We conducted a cohort study using data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) for the years 2017 to 2019. Adult patients who underwent POEM following hospitalization were identified using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) diagnostic codes. The Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS) was used to classify patients as Frail or Non-Frail. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to compare outcomes between study groups. Discharge weights were applied to provide national estimates for total hospital expenses.
Results
Among 1,735 POEM patients, 220 (12.68%) patients were frail. Frail patients had higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) compared to non-frail patients. In terms of systemic adverse events, frail patients had more cardiovascular (2.27% vs 0.00%, p < .01), thoracic (13.64% vs 2.97%, p < .01), and infectious (18.18% vs 2.64%, p < 0.01) adverse events compared to non-frail patients. The number of patients requiring TPN was higher in frail (13.64 vs 1.32, p < 0.01) compared to non-fail patients. After adjusting for confounders, frail patients were more likely to require TPN [OR 13.49 (95% CI 2.00-91.25)], had higher incidence of infectious [OR 17.38 (95% CI 5.22–57.91)] and thoracic [OR 5.75 (95% CI 1.75–18.92)] adverse events as well as increased LOS [OR 6.56 (95% CI 3.64–9.47)] when compared to non-frail patients.
Conclusion
Frailty in patients undergoing POEM is associated with a higher risk of systemic adverse events, need for TPN, longer hospital stays, higher healthcare cost, and increased in-hospital mortality. These findings emphasize the importance of frailty assessments in clinical decision-making for patients undergoing POEM.
Quantitative Assessment of Facial Expression Asymmetry in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Irani Atefeh , Park Kye Won , Sedaghati Farnaz , Grundy Michael , Mirian Maryam S. , Hosseini Reshad , Moradi Hadi , McKeown Martin J. 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Hypomimia, characterized by reduced facial expression, is a cardinal feature of Parkinson's Disease (PD). However, unlike limb asymmetry in PD, facial asymmetry has been less explored. Here, we explore possible subtle hemihypomimia in PD using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and image processing techniques. After video preprocessing facial expression videos from 102 PD subjects and 97 healthy controls (HCs), asymmetry index values across facial landmarks were calculated for each frame. Dynamic features were extracted and used in machine learning models to differentiate between PD and HCs, achieving 91.4% accuracy. PD subjects showed greater facial asymmetry, particularly around the eyebrows (P = 0.01) and mouth (P = 0.04), and those with asymmetric limb Parkinsonism exhibited less facial mobility on the more affected side (P = 0.001). These findings support the presence of facial expression asymmetry in PD, particularly during expressions of happiness, and suggest its potential as a clinical digital biomarker.
Identification of Crucial Genes Associated with Ferroptosis in COPD via Comprehensive Bioinformatics Analysis and the Relevant Experimental Validation
Authors: Yang Qi , Gao Chencheng , Wang Fang , Wang Guoqiang , Lin Hongqiang , Sun Weihan , Qi Mingran 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by partially reversible airway obstruction, with high mortality and disability rates. Smoking is the primary risk factor for COPD. Ferroptosis is a novel form of cell death characterized by iron-mediated lipid peroxidation induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in the Fenton reaction. Recent studies have shown that ferroptosis in airway epithelial cells may be involved in and mediate the pathogenesis of COPD. This study aimed to identify and validate key genes associated with ferroptosis in COPD via bioinformatics methods.
Methods: Four microarray datasets (GSE10006, GSE20257, GSE11906, and GSE11784) were downloaded from the GEO database. Differential gene expression analysis was conducted separately for each dataset via the limma package in R, resulting in a set of 132 overlapping differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) was employed to identify key gene modules associated with COPD. String analysis, Cytoscape, functional enrichment analysis, and construction of protein‒protein interaction (PPI) networkswere utilized to identify hub genes.We subsequently generated a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to predict the risk of COPD occurrence. Concurrently, we conducted differential expression analysis of ferroptosis-related genes across three datasets and identified ferroptosis-related hub genes (FRHGs) that overlapped with pivotal genes related to ferroptosis. These FRHGs were validated via the GSE11784 dataset, followed by validation via in vitro cell experiments (westernblotting, quantitative PCR). Finally, we analyzed immune cell infiltration and performed consistent clustering analysis on the basis of gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) scores.
Results: We identified four potential hub genes associated with ferroptosis in COPD (NQO1, AKR1C3, GPX2, and CBR1), identifying new therapeutic targets for clinical treatment and diagnosis. Additionally, on the basis of these four FRHGs, we found that acetaminophen and glycidamide were highly relevant drug targets.
Conclusion: This study identified 4 FRHGs as potential biomarkers for COPD diagnosis and treatment. We predict COPD occurrence through bioinformatics analysis and various machine learning algorithms. Moreover, cell experiments revealed significant upregulation trends of the FRHGs identified in this study in COPD disease models, suggesting new avenues for clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies.
Effect investigation of content of chain extender and sepiolite nanoparticles on properties of castor oil-derived water-based polyurethane coating
Authors: Sardari Azam , Alvani Ali Asghar Sabbagh , Ghaffarian Seyed Reza , Souri Fatemeh , Darvishi Reza 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

In our previous work, reported for the first time the synthesis three types of castor oil-based polyols using a short, eco-friendly and high-efficiency method. The obtained polyol from the reaction of the epoxidized castor oil in the presence of catalyst γ-alumina and the saponified castor oil with potassium hydroxide, named PSCOEq, was used to synthesize water-based polyurethane (WPU). The effect of different contents of PSCOEq (20–60 wt%) on the properties of WPU were studied. In this study, sample WPU with 40% PSCOEq which has the lowest particle size and poly dispersity index (PDI) was selected and used to investigate the effect of the content of chain extender on WPU properties. WPUs with different contents of chain extender (1–5 wt%) were investigated in terms of particle size, PDI, molecular weight, viscosity, and water absorption. WPU with 1 wt.% chain extender exhibited the highest molecular weight, while it had the lowest particle size, PDI, viscosity, and water absorption. It was found that WPUs with 1, 2 wt.% chain extender are not stable. WPUs with 4, 5 wt.% chain extender have a minimum particle size and minimum PDI. Considering the lower amount of water absorption in WPU with 4% chain extender compared to 5%, this sample was selected for reaction with different contents of surface-modified sepiolite nanoparticles (1–5 wt%). ATR-FTIR spectra confirmed the successful surface modification of sepiolite nanoparticles and the formation of chemical bonds between WPU chains and modified nanoparticles. WPUs containing nanoparticles were evaluated in terms of particle size, PDI, molecular weight, viscosity, water absorption, hardness, adhesion, and Tg and characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA). The introduction of nanoparticles leads to the improvement of hardness, adhesion, thermal resistance, and also an increase in Tg. By increasing the amount of nanoparticles from 1% to 5 wt%, particle size and viscosity of WPU dispersion increase continuously.