bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neoadjuvant BRAF and MEK inhibitor therapy elicits pathological complete response in stage IIIA non‐small cell lung cancer harboring BRAF V600E mutation: A case report
Authors: Huang Zhicheng , Wang Yadong , Li Bowen , Xu Yuan , Huang Guanghua , Song Yang , Li Ji , Song Lan , Wang Jinhua , Wang Rongxi , Liang Naixin , Li Shanqing 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIn recent years, significant improvement has been made in the management of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), primarily driven by advances in targeted therapy and immunotherapy. Research on neoadjuvant targeted therapy has also experienced considerable development, primarily directed towards NSCLC harboring epidermal growth factor receptor or anaplastic lymphoma kinase mutations. Nevertheless, there remains a dearth of studies investigating neoadjuvant targeted therapy in the context of BRAF (V‐Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B) V600E mutant NSCLC. Herein, we describe the clinical trajectory of a stage IIIA NSCLC patient who underwent a two‐month course of neoadjuvant targeted therapy comprising BRAF and MEK (mitogen‐activated extracellular signal‐regulated kinase) inhibitors prior to surgical intervention, and subsequent postoperative evaluation unveiled a pathological complete response. The case reported here indicates the efficacy and safety of combining BRAF and MEK inhibitors as neoadjuvant targeted therapy in BRAF V600E‐mutant NSCLC and suggests the potential viability of such a therapeutic modality in improving treatment outcomes in this subset of NSCLC.
The effect of irrigation solution temperature and novel heat‐treated rotary files on apical debris extrusion and canal preparation time
Authors: Al Omari Taher , Atmeh Amre R. , Algahtani Fahda N. , Dkmak Alaa , Albanna Rami Haitham Issa , Tabnjh Abedelmalek 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThis study aimed to compare apical debris extrusion and canal preparation time with ProTaper Gold (PTG) and ProTaper Ultimate (PTU) files at different temperatures. Mesio‐buccal roots of 60 mandibular first molars were distributed into six groups depending on the file type (PTG, PTU) and irrigation solution temperature (20, 37, 45°C). During instrumentation, extruded debris were collected and weighed to measure the mass in milligrams. The canal preparation time was recorded in seconds. ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post‐hoc tests were used for analysis. The amount of debris extrusion was significantly higher in PTU, which was affected by the irrigation solution temperature (p < 0.05). The difference in canal preparation time was not significant between the two file systems, however, it was significant between the different temperatures (p = 0.001). Both file systems had shorter canal preparation times at 20°C. The irrigation solution temperature could influence the debris extrusion and time of canal preparation.
How do entrepreneurs influence their social environment? A bibliometric analysis and editorial
Authors: Gorgievski Marjan J. , Schmitt Antje , Costa Sílvia Fernandes , Batra Safal 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThis article introduces the special issue on how entrepreneurs influence their social environment. The purpose of this special issue is to illustrate recent research exploring some of the unresolved questions relating to and uncovering connections between entrepreneurs' characteristics, actions, and experiences with their social environment. First, we report the results of a bibliometric analysis of articles addressing how entrepreneurs influence their immediate business environment (N = 873), the immediate private environment (N = 813), and the broader societal environment (N = 2,380). Second, we describe the seven articles in this special issue, which encompass a range of theoretical frameworks, research designs, and methodologies. We believe that the research featured in this special issue offers meaningful contributions to existing knowledge and will stimulate future research into examining the boundary conditions and psychological mechanisms that potentially explain the complex effects of entrepreneurs' experiences, characteristics, and behavior on different stakeholders and entities in their proximal and distal environments.
Herpetofauna diversity from late Holocene wetlands of northeastern Argentina
Authors: Escobar Guillermo , Zaracho Víctor , Cuaranta Pedro , Barboza Carolina , Píccoli Carolina , Luna Carlos A. , Gallego Oscar F. , Monferran Mateo D. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe palaeofauna of the Quaternary is mostly known from the mammals' record, while the herpetofauna is less represented. In the same way, in northeastern Argentina reptile fossils records are scarce, usually represented by preliminary communications. This paper focuses on the study of herpetofauna remains from the Isla El Disparito archaeological site. The faunal materials collected at the site revealed an increase in taxonomic diversity related to the Quaternary herpetofauna in the IED site, with over 50% of the bone remains represented by anurans and at least six recognized squamates taxa. The purpose of this study is to properly identify these new records of herpetofauna remains from northeastern Argentina during the Holocene as well as to provide a dichotomous key of postcranial remains for identifying extant squamates taxa in other Quaternary sites from Argentina. The identified squamate assemblage includes the lizard Ophiodes sp., the snake families Typhlopidae, Dipsadidae, Viperidae and undetermined colubroids, along with anuran bone remains (Anura indet. and ?Hylidae). Additionally, the findings contribute to a better understanding of the herpetological assemblage in Argentina, providing insights into the composition of South American squamates during the Quaternary.
Exploring Stability Within Kinship Care From the Perspective of Kinship Carer Advocates
Authors: Rowlson Esther , Shabbar Fatin 
Published: July 2024

ABSTRACTKinship care is increasingly recognised as an important care option within the Australian out‐of‐home care (OOHC) system. However, kinship carers face multifaceted challenges that set them apart from other carers within the system and internationally. Through the lens of kinship carer advocates, this research explores factors that contribute to placement stability in kinship care. Advocates offer a unique perspective on the interface between the child protection system and the carers that has not been explored before. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 South Australian kinship carer advocates to gain insights into their perspectives. Findings of this research highlight the need to recognise kinship care as a unique alternative within OOHC, engaging with three overarching themes: stability in an ecological system of care, bridging support gaps to achieve placement stability, and recognising instability in kinship care. In the context of these three themes, advocates emphasised priority to implement trauma‐informed, whole of family support frameworks to further promote stability within kinship placements. However, the concept of stability, often framed as uninterrupted continuity of care arrangement, came under examination and scrutiny in light of these research findings, encouraging further research in this area.
Preoperative short‐course radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy and PD‐1 inhibitor administration for locally advanced rectal cancer: A study protocol of a randomized phase II/III trial (STELLAR II study)
Authors: Zhang Wenjue , Tang Yuan , Wei Lichun , Liu Shixin , Wang Wenling , Chi Yihebali , Wang Ying , Kang Wenyan , Huang Wenting , Deng Feiyan , Li Haoyue , Ma Huiying , Jiang LiMing , Ding Zhen , Feng Lingling , Li Yexiong , Chen Yinggang , Zhou Haitao , Hu Chen , Jin Jing 
Published: July 2024

AbstractAimFor patients with locally advanced rectal cancer, previous STELLAR studies have shown that a new adjuvant treatment paradigm of short‐course radiotherapy followed by neoadjuvant chemotherapy can achieve pathological complete response rates superior to those of standard care; however, the 3‐year DFS is inferior to neoadjuvant concurrent radiotherapy. Recent studies have shown that immune checkpoint inhibitors may improve the prognosis of rectal cancer and have good synergy with radiotherapy. Therefore, neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors after a short course of radiotherapy has the potential to further improve complete response rates and prognosis.MethodThe STELLAR II study is a multicentre, open label, two‐arm randomized, phase II/III trial of short‐course radiotherapy followed by neoadjuvant chemotherapy concurrent with immunotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer. A total of 588 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) will be randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. The experimental group will receive short‐course radiotherapy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy in combination with sindilizumab, while the control group will receive short‐course radiotherapy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Both groups will subsequently receive either total rectal mesenteric resection or a watch & wait (W&W) strategy. The phase II primary endpoint is the complete remission rate, and the secondary endpoints include grade 3–4 adverse events, perioperative complications, R0 resection rate, overall survival, local recurrence rate, distant metastasis rate and quality of life score. A seamless phase II/III randomized controlled design will be used to investigate the effectiveness and safety of the TNT strategy with the addition of immunotherapy. The trial opened, and the first patient was recruited on 31 August 2022. Trial registration number and date of registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05484024, 29 July 2022.DiscussionThe STELLAR II trial will prospectively evaluate the efficacy of TNT treatment strategies that incorporate immune checkpoint inhibitors. The trial will yield important information to guide routine management of patients with local advanced rectal cancer.
Multi‐class brain tumor classification system in MRI images using cascades neural network
Authors: Jayachandran A. , Anisha N. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractBrain tumor segmentation from MRI is a challenging process that has positive ups and downs. The most crucial step for detection and treatment to save the patient's life is earlier diagnosis and classification of brain tumor (BT) with higher accuracy prediction. One of the deadliest cancers, malignant brain tumors is now the main cause of cancer‐related death due to their extreme severity. To evaluate the tumors and help patients receive the appropriate treatment according to their classifications, it is essential to have a thorough understanding of brain diseases, such as classifying BT. In order to resolve the problem of low segmentation accuracy caused by an imbalance of model design and sample category in the process of brain tumor segmentation. In this research work, Multi‐Dimensional Cascades Neural Network (MDCNet) is developed for multi‐class BT classification. It is divided into two steps. In stage 1, an enhanced shallow‐layer 3D locality net is used to conduct BT localization and rough segmentation on the preprocessed MRIs. It is also advised to use a unique circular inference module and parameter Dice loss to lower the uncertain probability and false positive border locations. In step 2, in order to compensate for mistakes and lost spatial information of a single view, morphological traits are investigated using a multi‐view 2.5D net composed of three 2D refinement subnetworks. The suggested method outperforms the traditional model in segmentation, yielding an accuracy of 99.67%, 98.16%, and 99.76% for the three distinct datasets.
Cellular senescence mediates retinal ganglion cell survival regulation post‐optic nerve crush injury
Authors: Yao Yao , Bin Xin , Xu Yanxuan , Chen Shaowan , Chen Si , Yuan Xiang‐Ling , Cao Yingjie , Ng Tsz Kin 
Published: July 2024

AbstractTraumatic optic neuropathy refers to optic nerve (ON) injury by trauma, including explosion and traffic accident. Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death is the critical pathological cause of irreversible visual impairment and blindness in ON injury. We previously investigated the patterns of 11 modes of cell death in mouse retina post‐ON injury. Here we aimed to identify additional signalling pathways regulating RGC survival in rodents post‐ON injury. RNA sequencing analysis identified the upregulation of inflammation and cellular senescence‐related genes in retina post‐ON injury, which were confirmed by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence analyses. Increased expression of senescence‐associated β‐galactosidase (SA‐βgal) in RGCs and activation of microglia were also found. Transforming growth factor‐β receptor type II inhibitor (LY2109761) treatment suppressed p15Ink4b and p21Cip1 protein and SA‐βgal expression and promoted RGC survival post‐ON injury with decreasing the expression of cell death markers in retina. Consistently, senolytics (dasatinib and quercetin) treatments can promote RGC survival and alleviate the reduction of ganglion cell complex thickness and pattern electroretinography activity post‐ON injury with reducing SA‐βgal, p15Ink4b, p21Cip1, microglial activation and cell death marker expression. In summary, this study revealed the activation of cellular senescence in rodent retina post‐ON injury and contribute to RGC survival regulation. Targeting cellular senescence can promote RGC survival after ON injury, suggesting a potential treatment strategy for traumatic optic neuropathy.
What Happens to Frailty in the First Year After Lung Transplantation?
Authors: Fuller Louise Mary , Whitford Helen M. , Robinson Rebecca , Cristiano Yvie , Steward Ranjana , Poulsen Megan , Paul Eldho , Snell Greg 
Published: July 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundFrailty is prevalent in lung transplant (LTx) candidates, but the impact and subsequent frailty trajectory is unclear. This study aimed to investigate frailty over the first year after LTx.MethodPost‐LTx recipients completed a thrice weekly 12‐week directly supervised exercise rehabilitation program. Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS) was used to assess frailty. Primary outcome was 6‐Minute Walk Distance (6MWD) measured at pre‐LTx, prerehabilitation, postrehabilitation, and 1 year post‐LTx.Results106 of 139 recruited participants underwent LTx: mean age 58 years, 48% male, 52% with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Mean (± SD) frailty scores pre‐LTx and 1 year post‐LTx were 5.54 ± 2.4 and 3.28 ±1.5. Mean 6MWD improved significantly for all: prerehabilitation 326 m (SD 116), versus postrehabilitation 523 m (SD 101) (p < 0.001) versus 1 year 512 m (SD 120) (p < 0.001). There were significant differences between an EFS > 7 (frail) and EFS ≤ 7 (not frail) for 6MWD, grip strength (GS), anxiety, and depression. Postrehabilitation, there were no significant differences in 6MWD, GS, anxiety, or depression while comparing EFS > 7 versus ≤ 7. At 1 year, there was a significant difference in depression but not 6MWD, GS, or anxiety between those EFS ≤ 7 and > 7 (p = 0.017).ConclusionParticipants in a structured post‐LTx rehabilitation program improved in functional exercise capacity (6MWD), GS, depression, and anxiety. For frail participants exercise capacity, depression, anxiety, and GS were well managed in rehabilitation with no significant differences between those who were not frail. Pre‐LTx frailty may be reversible post‐LTx and should not be an absolute contraindication to LTx.
Examining the Influence of a General Surgery Resident's Transplant Experience on Their Pursuit of Transplant Surgery Fellowship
Authors: Yilma Mignote , Brown Audrey E. , Harvey Jalen , Stahl Christopher C. , Quillin Ralph C , Syed Shareef M. , Cortez Alexander R. ,   the US Resident OPerative Experience (ROPE) Consortium
Published: July 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundTransplant surgery has historically been a less desirable fellowship among general surgery graduates. Limited work has been done to understand factors associated with residents’ interest in transplantation. Using a multi‐institutional cohort, we examined how the resident experience on transplant surgery may influence their decision to pursue transplant fellowship.MethodsIndividual demographics, program characteristics, and transplant‐specific case logs were collected for graduates from 2010 to 2020 at 20 general surgery residency programs within the US Resident OPerative Experience (ROPE) Consortium. Residents who pursued transplant surgery fellowship were compared to those who went directly into practice or pursued a non‐transplant fellowship.ResultsAmong 1342 general surgery graduates, 52 (3.9%) pursued abdominal transplant fellowship. These residents completed more transplant (22 vs. 9), liver (14 vs. 9), pancreas (15 vs. 11), and vascular access operations (38 vs. 30) compared to residents who did not pursue transplant fellowship (all p < 0.05). Multivariable logistic regression found that residents underrepresented in medicine were three times more likely (95% CI 1.54–6.58, p < 0.01) and residents at a program co‐located with a transplant fellowship six times more likely (95% CI 1.95–18.18, p < 0.01) to pursue transplant fellowship. Additionally, a resident's increasing total transplant operative volume was associated with an increased likelihood of pursuing a transplant fellowship (OR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.09–1.14, p < 0.01).ConclusionThe findings from this multi‐institutional study demonstrate that increased exposure to transplant operations and interaction within a transplant training program is associated with a resident's pursuit of transplant surgery fellowship. Efforts to increase operative exposure, case participation, and mentorship may optimize the resident experience and promote the transplant surgery pipeline.
The Impact of Ipsilateral Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator in Axillary Intra‐Aortic Balloon Pump Support as Bridge to Heart Transplantation
Authors: Isath Ameesh , Hirani Rahim , Levine Avi , Lanier Gregg M. , Iqbal Aroubah , Shimamura Junichi , Gass Alan L. , Spielvogel David , Kai Masashi , Ohira Suguru 
Published: July 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe axillary artery (AX) access for intra‐aortic balloon pump (IABP) as a bridge to heart transplant (HT) allows mobility while awaiting a suitable donor. As end‐stage heart failure patients often have an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) on the left side, the left AX approach may be avoided due to the perception of difficult access and proximity of two devices. We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of patients bridged to HT with a left‐sided AX IABP with or without ipsilateral ICDs.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed HT candidates at our institution supported by left‐sided axillary IABP from November 2019 to February 2024, dividing them into two groups based on the presence (Group ICD, n = 48) or absence (Group No‐ICD, N = 19) of an ipsilateral left‐sided ICD. The exposure time was defined as the time from skin incision to the beginning of anastomoses of a Dacron graft.ResultsTechnical success was achieved in 100% of the cohort, with median exposure times for AX access similar between groups (ICD, 12 [7.8, 18.2] vs. No ICD, 11 [7, 19] min; p = 0.75). The rate of procedural adverse events, such as significant access site bleeding and ipsilateral limb ischemia, did not significantly differ between both groups. Device malfunction rates were comparable (ICD, 29.2% vs. No ICD, 15.8%; p = 0.35). Posttransplant, in‐hospital mortality, severe primary graft dysfunction, and stroke rates were comparable in both groups.ConclusionThe presence of an ipsilateral left‐sided ICD does not adversely impact the procedural efficacy, complication rates, or posttransplant outcomes of left‐sided AX IABP insertion in HT candidates.
Clinical factors influencing the success rate of radioiodine treatment for Graves' disease
Authors: He Meiwen , Pan Limeng , Li Yifan , Wang Yue , Zhong Xing , Du Yijun , Pan Tianrong 
Published: July 2024

AbstractAimsTo investigate the impact of various clinical factors associated with Graves' disease on the success rate of radioiodine (RAI) therapy for Graves' disease within 3 years, and to determine the optimal range of iodine dosage per unit volume that yields the highest cure rate for Graves' disease within 1 year.Materials and MethodsThis retrospective study included patients diagnosed with Graves' disease who underwent RAI therapy at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University between October 2012 and October 2022. The cumulative success rate was analysed using the Kaplan–Meier method. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were employed to evaluate factors associated with successful treatment of Graves' disease. Outcomes were categorized as either success or failure for all patients.ResultsOverall, 1994 patients were enrolled in this study, including 594 (29.8%) male and 1399 (70.2%) female patients. The success and failure groups comprised 1645 (82.4%) and 349 patients (17.6%), respectively, after a 3‐year follow‐up period. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that sex, antithyroid drug (ATD) use before RAI therapy, age, thyroid receptor antibody (TRAb) levels, iodine dose, thyroid mass, and early ATD use before RAI therapy were independent influencing factors for Graves' disease cure.ConclusionsWe found that female patients and those with TRAbs ≥31.83 IU/L and thyroid mass ≥ 73.42 g had a lower cure rate. Therefore, thyroid size, disease severity, and duration of disease should be comprehensively considered when making treatment decisions and iodine dose selection in clinical practice.
Patterns of methylation and transcriptional plasticity during thermal acclimation in a reef‐building coral
Authors: Guerrero Leslie , Bay Rachael 
Published: July 2024

AbstractPhenotypic plasticity can buffer organisms against short‐term environmental fluctuations. For example, previous exposure to increased temperatures can increase thermal tolerance in many species. Prior studies have found that acclimation to higher temperature can influence the magnitude of transcriptional response to subsequent acute thermal stress (hereafter, “transcriptional response modulation”). However, mechanisms mediating this gene expression response and, ultimately, phenotypic plasticity remain largely unknown. Epigenetic modifications are good candidates for modulating transcriptional response, as they broadly correlate with gene expression. Here, we investigate changes in DNA methylation as a possible mechanism controlling shifts in gene expression plasticity and thermal acclimation in the reef‐building coral Acropora nana. We find that gene expression response to acute stress is altered in corals acclimated to different temperatures, with many genes exhibiting a dampened response to heat stress in corals pre‐conditioned to higher temperatures. At the same time, we observe shifts in methylation during both acclimation (11 days) and acute heat stress (24 h). We observed that the acute heat stress results in shifts in gene‐level methylation and elicits an acute transcriptional response in distinct gene sets. Further, acclimation‐induced shifts in gene expression plasticity and differential methylation also largely occur in separate sets of genes. Counter to our initial hypothesis no overall correlation between the magnitude of differential methylation and the change in gene expression plasticity. We do find a small but statistically significant overlap in genes exhibiting both dampened expression response and shifts in methylation (14 genes), which could be candidates for further inquiry. Overall, our results suggest transcriptional response modulation occurs independently from methylation changes induced by thermal acclimation.