bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
STEPWISE management of uncontrolled hypertension in primary care: A cluster randomised controlled trial
Authors: Kilic Birsen , Biermans Marion C.J. , Bots Michiel L. , Wel Mark van der , de Grauw Wim J.C. , Rutten Frans H. , Hollander Monika 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Uncontrolled hypertension is common and a major health problem because it increases the risk of cardiovascular events. We aim to assess whether a stepwise work-up management strategy for patients with uncontrolled hypertension in primary care would result in better blood pressure control compared to usual care.
Methods
A pragmatic, cluster-randomised controlled trial (cRCT). General practitioners (GPs) from 22 practices (10 intervention arm; 12 usual care) recruited 106 patients aged 18-80 years who had an office blood pressure (BP) >140/90 mmHg and were prescribed three or more antihypertensive drugs from different therapeutic classes for three or more months in an adequate dose. This study was conducted between October 2018 and June 2021.
The intervention was a stepwise approach comprising of (i) 24-hour blood pressure measurements, (ii) dedicated attention on intake of blood pressure raising compounds, (iii) on lifestyle and on compliance to and (iv) optimalisation of medication, and (v) referral to specialist care, when appropriate. The control group received usual care. Primary outcome was the difference in 24-hours systolic BP between intervention and usual care measured at 8 months after baseline.
Results
Neither 24-hour nor office systolic BP 8 months after baseline did significantly differ between intervention and usual care arm: 136.9 mmHg versus 132.6 mmHg (p=0.15) and 146.1 mmHg versus 147.6 mmHg (p = 0.51), respectively. No significant differences across groups were seen in number of prescribed BP lowering medication: 2.98 versus 3.11, or controlled hypertension after 8 months: 22% versus 28%.
Conclusions
Our results are compatible with the notion that a pragmatic but structured stepwise treatment of uncontrolled hypertension does not result in lower 24 hour or office BP values as compared to usual primary care.
Trial registration: NTR7304 (www.trialregister.nl/trial/7099)
LncRNA SERPINB9P1 mitigates cerebral injury induced by oxygen‒glucose deprivation/reoxygenation by interacting with HSPA2
Authors: Lv Miao , Song Xiaoxiao , Wang Weitao , Li Jiale , Chen Jiewen , Huang Xiaolan , Su Li , Gu Lian 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Dysregulation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) is implicated in the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke (IS). However, the molecular mechanism of the lncRNA SERPINB9P1 in IS remains unclear. Our study aimed to explore the role and molecular mechanism of the lncRNA SERPINB9P1 in IS. This study revealed downregulation of the lncRNA SERPINB9P1 in the peripheral blood of IS patients, which was corroborated by the GSE140275 dataset. Furthermore, high lncRNA SERPINB9P1 expression was associated with lower National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores and favorable outcome. Clinically, lncRNA SERPINB9P1 expression was correlated with inflammation and coagulation parameters in IS patients. Furthermore, lncRNA SERPINB9P1 silencing inhibited cell viability, induced apoptosis and inflammatory response under oxygen–glucose deprivation/reperfusion ; however, these effects were reversed upon its overexpression.Additionally, Chromatin Isolation by RNA Purification and mass spectrometry (CHIRP-MS) and western blot confirmed that the lncRNA SERPINB9P1was involved in the pathological process of IS through binding to heat shock protein 2 (HSPA2). HSPA2 was upregulated in IS patients, and its protein interaction network was significantly enriched in IS-related pathways. In conclusion, the lncRNA SERPINB9P1 may ameliorate neurological injury in IS patients by interacting with the HSPA2 protein and engaging in IS-related pathways, providing new insights into treatment strategies for IS.
A nomogram for predicting aldosterone-renin ratio in patients with hypertension
Authors: Li Xuehan , Yang Yulu , Liu Changhu , Wu Jiacheng , Huang Jianwu , chen Hao , Wang Yalei , Qiu Zhihua , Zhou Zihua 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background: It’s necessary to assess activity of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system(RAAS) in patients with hypertension by means of orthostatic aldosterone-renin ratio(ARR) which is demanding and not available to those primary hospitals. A novel and portable prediction tool is highly desirable to distinguish abnormal ARR in those patients and guide hypertension therapy to some degree.
Methods: Clinical characteristics and laboratory data of 1,212 patients with hypertension were collected for modeling and randomly divided into a training cohort (865 of 1,212, 70%) and an internal validation cohort (347 of 1,212, 30%). Then, predictors for ARR were extracted to construct a nomogram model based on regression analysis of the training set. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC), calibration plots and decision curve analyses (DCA) were applied to evaluate the model.
Conclusions: Five predictors were adopted to the nomogram including Na-K ratio, gender, serum chloridion(Cl-), estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR) and urinary pH. Based on this nomogram, the area under the curve(AUC) was 0.756 (95% CI: 0.71-0.80, p < 0.05) in the training set and 0.725 (95% CI: 0.64-0.81, p < 0.05) in the validation set. The calibration curves exhibited great agreement between the predictive risk of the model and the actual risk and the DCA also showed good clinical benefit.
Conclusion: We have firstly developed a novel nomogram to predict abnormal ARR in hypertensive individuals based on routine biochemical variables.
Finite element analysis of the influence of perioral force on alveolar ridge healing in areas missing maxillary anterior teeth
Authors: Li An-Ke , He Yan-Ting , Li Xuan , Han Cheng-Yuan , Dong Jian-Yong , Zhang Kai-Qi , Cui Jun 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Objective
To study the biomechanical changes induced by differences in perioral force in patients with missing anterior maxillary teeth at rest via finite element analysis (FEA).
Methods
Using conical beam CT (CBCT) images of a healthy person, models of the complete maxillary anterior dental region (Model A) and maxillary anterior dental region with a missing left maxillary central incisor (Model B) were constructed. The labial and palatine alveolar bone and tooth surface of the bilateral incisor and cusp regions were selected as the application sites, the resting perioral force was applied perpendicular to the tissue surface, and the changes in maxillary stress and displacement after the perioral force was simulated were analyzed.
Results
Compared with those of Model A, the labial alveolar bone in the missing tooth area of Model B exhibited obvious stress concentration and displacement under the action of perioral force.
Conclusion
At rest, perioral force, especially the soft tissue pressure of the lip, has an adverse effect on alveolar ridge healing in areas with missing maxillary anterior teeth.
Unraveling the influence of Indoxyl Sulfate and apixaban in drug metabolism and elimination: Is sex a major player?
Authors: burtey stephane , Pina-Beltran Blanca , Poitevin Stephane , Dimitrov Daniel , Rodriguez Julio Saez , giot matthieu , Peinado Jorge , Zdrahal Zbynek , Potesil David , Putska Vaclav , McKay Nathalie 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is associated with heightened risk of thrombosis. Prescription of anticoagulants is key to manage it; however, CKD patients have shown an increased risk of bleeding under anticoagulation therapy compared to non-CKD patients. We hypothesized that the accumulation of uremic toxins, particularly of indoxyl sulfate (IS) could modify drug metabolism. Our intoxication model shows that higher doses of IS and apixaban accumulate in the plasma of female mice as a result of expression differences in efflux transporters and cytochromes in the liver, ileum and kidneys, when compared to males. Furthermore, we found that accumulation of apixaban in females contributes to increased bleeding. q-RT PCR analysis of liver samples revealed elevated Sult1a1 but reduced Abcg2 and Cyp3a11 in female mice, while in the kidneys the expression rates of Oat1 and Oat3 were respectively lower and higher than those observed in males, potentially affecting drug clearance. Whole proteomics liver analysis confirmed the previous mRNA results at the protein level and revealed that sex had a major influence in regulating both coagulation and drug metabolism pathways. Thus, our findings underline the need for inclusive clinical and preclinical trials to accurately reflect sex-specific metabolic variations, and to consider CKD-specific changes to optimize dosing, minimize side effects, and improve patient outcomes.
Ethnic Group Differences in Economic Stress and Out-Group Prosocial Behaviors During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Cultural Process Model
Authors: Carlo Gustavo , Davis Alexandra N , Torres Marixza , Sanders Heidi , Cruz Lynda J. 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

The goal of the current study was to examine intervening culture and family related mechanisms in the links between pandemic-related economic stress and young adults’ ethnic out-group prosocial behaviors. Participants were 467 young adults (mean age = 22.58, range = 19-27 years old) from across the U.S. (50.1% female; 55.7% identified White as their racial group, 20.3% Black/African American, 12.2% Asian American, 8.0% identified as other, including Latino/a participants who did not identify as White). Participants completed online measures of their experiences with economic stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, their ethnic identity, identification with filial piety as a culture value, and their own tendencies to engage in six forms of out-group prosocial behaviors. The results demonstrated indirect links between economic stress and multiple forms of out-group prosocial behaviors via ethnic identity and filial piety as well as direct links between economic stress and ethnic identity and out-group prosocial behaviors. Interestingly, there were ethnic group differences that emerged in the direct paths such that economic stress was a particularly strong predictor of prosocial behaviors for ethnic majority participants, and ethnic identity was stronger for ethnic minority participants. Discussion will explore ethnic differences in these associations as well as the role of cultural and family values as important mechanisms in the links between pandemic-related economic stress and out-group prosocial behaviors.
WITHDRAWN: Comparison of Upper Arm Ports and Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Authors: Xiao Maofang , Li Jia , Xiao Caiqiong , Hu Wen , Fan Yuying , Qin Huiying 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Objective
To compare upper arm ports (UAPs) and peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer in terms of complications and health economics.
Methods
A randomized controlled trial was conducted with a total of 126 patients. The patients were randomly assigned to the experimental group (UAP) or the control group (PICC). The outcomes were observed from the day of placement until extubation. Demographic data, data related to catheter placement, and the placement effects were collected and analyzed using SPSS 25.0.
Results
Catheters were successfully inserted in 123 out of the 126 patients (61 in the experimental group and 62 in the control group). Compared with the control group, the experimental group had a lower incidence of complications after placement (21.3% vs. 54.8%, P < 0.001). This included lower incidences of catheter dislodgement (0% vs. 21.0%, P < 0.001), catheter occlusion (1.6% vs. 12.9%, P = 0.032), wound oozing (4.9% vs. 33.9%, P < 0.001), and medical adhesive-related skin injury (4.9% vs. 14.9%, P = 0.025). Additionally, the severity of both wound oozing (P < 0.001) and medical adhesive-related skin injury (P = 0.014) was lower in the experimental group. Although the surgical costs were higher in the experimental group, when considering overall healthcare costs and health outcomes, the net benefits became equal between the two groups after 2.8 months. Beyond this point, the net benefits of the experimental group surpassed those of the control group, with the difference increasing as the dwell time of the catheter increased.
Conclusion
Compared with PICCs, UAPs resulted in lower incidences of complications post-placement including wound oozing, medical adhesive-related skin injury, catheter dislodgement, and catheter occlusion. Meanwhile, UAPs showed superior cost-effectiveness. Thus, UAPs are recommended for clinical application as a preferred choice over PICCs.
Trial registration.
This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov. (ChiCTR2100044272, registered on 14 March 2021).
LncRNA GUSBP11/miR-28-5p/PAQR7 axis regulates the phosphorylation of E-cadherin and N-cadherin on the migration of papillary thyroid carcinoma cells
Authors: Shi Ji , Xiang Yuan , Liu Yi-Meng , Guo Hong-Shan , Li Han-Ning , Liao Xing-Hua 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Papillary thyroid carcinoma represents the most prevalent form of thyroid cancer, exhibiting the lowest degree of malignancy. It constitutes approximately 85% of all thyroid cancer cases. This cancer type can manifest at any age but is predominantly observed in children or young women under the age of 40. The aberrant expression of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA) has been identified as a crucial factor in the pathogenesis of this disease. Our analysis of existing databases revealed that lncRNA GUSBP11 and the membrane progesterone receptor PAQR7 are significantly overexpressed in thyroid cancer, demonstrating a notable positive correlation between them. However, RNA sequencing analysis indicated the absence of a direct relationship between these molecules. Through a comprehensive pooled analysis across multiple studies, we discovered a direct link between miR-28-5p and both lncRNA GUSBP11 and mRNA PAQR7, which were found to be significantly downregulated in thyroid cancer cases. This research endeavors to lay a novel foundation for the development of targeted therapy for thyroid cancer, focusing on the interaction between lncRNA, miRNA, and mRNA.
Finger Dissection Open Radical Prostatectomy Offers Equal Early Functional Results with Robotic Prostatectomy in the Robotic Era: A Comparative Study
Authors: Atik Yavuz Tarik , Gul Deniz , Cimen Haci Ibrahim , Erdik Anil , Uysal Burak , Kose Osman , Saglam Hasan Salih 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Apical dissection is a crucial step of radical prostatectomy (RP) for postoperative functional outcomes. Robot-assisted laparoscopic RP (RALRP) represents a good visualization for this stage and bleeding during ligation of dorsal vein complex (DVC) is a challenging problem in open RP (ORP). In our study, the results of finger dissection technique in open RP were evaluated and compared with RALRP.
METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 184 patients who underwent RP for clinically localized prostate cancer. Blunt finger dissection technique performed for ligation of DVC in ORP and patients were divided into two groups according to the surgical method (Group 1:RALRP; Group 2:FD-ORP – Finger dissection-ORP). The primary outcomes were continence status and erectile functions. Demographics, operative outcomes, preoperative and postoperative oncological data were also recorded.
RESULTS: Ninety-two patients in each group were enrolled in the study. Demographics and preoperative data were similar. Also, there is no difference between groups in terms of operation time, blood loss, transfusion rates, hospitalization time, and peri- and postoperative complications (p>0.05). Urethral catheterization time was higher in FD-ORP (median day 14 vs. 21, p<0.001). Continence rates (82.6% vs. 89.1%, p=0.439) and erectile functions (mean IIEF: 10.62 vs. 11.34, p=0.107) showed no significant difference between FD-ORP and RALRP in the first year after surgery.
CONCLUSION: Finger dissection of the DVC during ORP is a simple and feasible technique that provides the correct plane on the urethra, resulting in better apical dissection with effective hemostasis. Although it shows similar early functional results as RALRP, more research is needed.
Diagnostic value of perineal neck length, interleukin-6, and fetal fibronectin in preterm birth
Authors: Lu Jianfeng , Lu Juefei , Zhang Xiaoli , Mu Ling , Luo Weiming , Zhang Xiaolei 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to explore the diagnostic value of perineal neck length, vaginal secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and fetal fibronectin (fFN) in preterm birth and their relationship with maternal vaginal flora.
METHODS:A total of 180 patients with threatened preterm birth admitted to our hospital from January 2021 to February 2023 were selected. All patients underwent perineal neck length measurement and vaginal secretion IL-6 and fFN testing. The occurrence of preterm birth was observed, and the clinical data, perineal cervical length, and vaginal secretion IL-6 and fFN levels of patients with and without preterm birth were analyzed.
RESULTS:The length of the perineal cervix in patients with premature birth was (23.30±9.11) mm, which was significantly shorter than that in patients with premature birth (P &lt; 0.05). In addition, the levels of IL-6 and fFN in vaginal secretions of patients with premature birth were (145.54±44.17) pg/ml and (80.44±26.43) μg/L respectively, which were significantly higher than those of patients with non-premature birth (p＜0.05).
CONCLUSION: Perineal neck length, vaginal secretion IL-6 level and fFN level have good predictive value for preterm birth. Furthermore, there was a correlation between these factors and the vaginal microbiota index.
Reproducibility and stability of deep inspiration breath hold and free breath in breast radiotherapy based on real-time 3-dimensional optical surface imaging system
Authors: Wu Junxiang , Yang Feng , Li Jie , Wang Xianliang , Yuan Ke , Xu Lipeng , Wu Fan , Tang Bin , Orlandini Lucia Clara 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
The aim of this study was to evaluate the inter-fraction reproducibility and intra-fraction stability of breast radiotherapy using deep-inspiration breath hold (DIBH) and free breathing (FB) based on an optical surface imaging system (OSIS).
Methods
Seventeen patients (510 breath-hold sessions) treated using a field-in-field (FiF) technique and twenty patients (600 breath-free sessions) treated with a volume-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) technique were included in this retrospective study. All the patients were positioned with the guidance of CBCT and OSIS, and also monitored with OSIS throughout the whole treatment session. Eight setup variations in three directions were extracted from the treatment reports of OSIS for all sessions and were subsequently manually introduced to treatment plans, resulting in a total of 296 perturbed plans. All perturbed plans were recalculated, and the dose volume histograms (DVH) for the target and organs at risk (OAR) were analyzed.
Results
The OSIS and CBCT for both DIBH and FB treatments showed a good agreement of less than 0.12 cm in each direction. The intra-fraction setup errors during DIBH were − 0.06 ± 0.07 cm, 0.12 ± 0.15 cm, and 0.12 ± 0.12 cm in the lateral, longitudinal, and vertical directions, respectively; for FB, the errors were − 0.02 ± 0.12 cm, 0.08 ± 0.18 cm, and 0.14 ± 0.20 cm, respectively. For the target, DIBH plans were more sensitive to positioning errors; the mean deviations in D95 for CTV were 39.78 Gy-40.17 Gy for DIBH and 38.46 Gy-40.52 Gy for FB, respectively. For the OARs, the mean deviations—V10, V20, and Dmean to the heart; V5, V20, and Dmean to the ipsilateral lung; and Dmean to the breast—were lower for the FB plan compared with the DIBH plan.
Conclusion
SGRT can be an important tool for inter-fraction patient positioning and intra-fraction patient respiratory motion management in DIBH and FB breast cancer radiotherapy. The FB technology has greater possibility for the undercoverage of the target volume, while DIBH technology is more likely to result in increases in dose to organs at risk, especially the lung, heart, and breast. Furthermore, the tolerance of optical surface imaging systems could be reduced, indicating a potential method to reduce the dose delivery uncertainty caused by the patient’s respiratory motion.
Inactivation of the conserved protease LonA increases production of xylanase and amylase in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Wang Biwen , Kes Mariah B.M.J. , Saparoea Anna C.H. van den Berg van , Dugar Gaurav , Luirink Joen , Hamoen Leendert W. 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Bacillus subtilis is widely used for industrial enzyme production due to its capacity to efficiently secrete proteins. However, secretion efficiency of enzymes varies widely, and optimizing secretion is crucial to make production commercially viable. Previously, we have shown that overexpression of the xylanase XynA lowers expression of Clp protein chaperones, and that inactivation of CtsR, which regulates and represses clp transcription, increases the production of XynA. In the current study, we examined whether the same is the case for overexpression of the α-amylase AmyM from Geobacillus stearothermophilus by B. subtilis, and why XynA shows a different timing of secretion compared to AmyM.
Results
Transcriptome analyses revealed that B. subtilis cells overexpressing AmyM exhibited a distinct profile compared to XynA overexpressing cells, however there were also similarities and in both cases expression of CtsR controlled genes was downregulated. In contrast to XynA, inactivation of CtsR did not improve AmyM production. Upregulation of other protein chaperones, including GroEL/ES and DnaJ/K, by inactivating their transcriptional repressor HrcA, had almost no effect on XynA yields and in fact considerably lowered that of AmyM.
Despite using the same promoter, the production of XynA peaks well before AmyM reaches its optimal secretion rate. Transcriptome and ribosome profiling indicated that this is neither related to transcription nor to translation regulation. We show that the reduced secretion in the stationary phase is partially due to the activity of secreted proteases, but also due to the activity of the intracellular protease LonA. The absence of this protein resulted in a 140 % and 20 % increased production for XynA and AmyM, respectively.
Conclusions
The combination of transcriptome and ribosome profiling offered important information to determine at which cellular level production bottlenecks occurred. This helped us to identify LonA protease as an important factor influencing enzyme production yields in B. subtilis.