bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Esketamine infusion therapy: A promising alternative in the treatment of chronic endometriosis-associated pain
Authors: de Koning Rozemarijn , van Dulken Florine , Brinkert Willem , Dahan Albert , Jansen Frank Willem , Blikkendaal Mathijs , Twijnstra Andries 
Published: August 2024

Introduction: Esketamine infusion therapy is currently used to reduce the process of sensitization in patients with chronic pain syndromes. Given its anti-inflammatory, anti-depressive, and analgesic properties, this drug could be effective to treat chronic endometriosis-associated pain as well. The aim of this study was (1) to provide an overview of the available literature and (2) to present the results of our retrospective cohort study on the efficacy of esketamine infusion therapy to alleviate pain symptoms in this cohort. Methods: PubMed and EMBASE were searched to select publications on this topic. For our retrospective cohort study, all patients with chronic endometriosis-associated pain that underwent esketamine infusion therapy between January 2010 and 2023 in the Isala hospital in Zwolle, the Netherlands, were reviewed. Results: PubMed and EMBASE identified no publications on this topic, except our own case report. Retrospective analysis of 17 patients (who underwent 57 esketamine infusions in total) revealed a positive effect in 64.7% of patients. Overall the treatment was considered save and well-tolerated. Currently, eight patients continue to receive esketamine infusion therapy, others underwent endometriosis surgery ( n = 2), switched pain treatment ( n = 1), or were non-responders ( n = 6). Conclusions: Esketamine infusion therapy could be a potential and a viable option to treat chronic endometriosis-associated pain in patients who are resistant to current treatment options. Our findings encourage to conduct future studies, including randomized trials. This is the first cohort study to report outcomes on the efficacy of esketamine infusion therapy for women with chronic endometriosis-associated pain.
Changes in work and adequacy of financial resources during COVID-19 among people with systemic sclerosis: A Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network study
Authors: Adams Claire , Nassar Elsa-Lynn , Carrier Marie-Eve , Kwakkenbos Linda , Henry Richard S , Virgili-Gervais Gabrielle , Hu Sophie , Bartlett Susan J , Fortuné Catherine , Gietzen Amy , Gottesman Karen , Guillot Geneviève , Hudson Marie , Lawrie-Jones Amanda , Lewis Nancy , Malcarne Vanessa , Mayes Maureen D , Patten Scott B , Richard Michelle , Sauvé Maureen , Varga John , Welling Joep , Wojeck Robyn , Mouthon Luc , Benedetti Andrea , Thombs Brett D ,   on behalf of the SPIN Investigators
Published: August 2024

Introduction/objective: We investigated (1) work status changes during COVID-19, (2) financial resource adequacy, (3) preferences for work requirements (e.g. remote, workplace, mixed) and (4) work requirements versus preferences, among people with systemic sclerosis. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of participants in the Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network COVID-19 Cohort, which enrolled participants from the ongoing Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network Cohort and externally in April 2020. In August 2022, participants completed questions on work status, financial well-being using the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Financial Well-Being Scale, work requirements and work requirement preferences. Results: A total of 298 participants with systemic sclerosis were included. Mean age was 58.6 years (SD = 11.4). There were 101 (34%) participants working at the start of the pandemic and still working in August 2022, 179 (60%) not working at the start of the pandemic and still not working, 10 (3%) who stopped working after April 2020 and 8 (3%) who started working. Mean financial well-being did not change from April 2020 to August 2022 (difference: 0.2 points; 95% confidence interval: −1.1 to 0.7). Working participants (N = 109) preferred flexible work requirements (N = 34, 31%) or working entirely remotely (N = 32, 29%), but most were required to work entirely at a workplace (N = 35, 32%) or combined workplace and remotely with a fixed schedule (N = 31, 28%). Conclusion: Work status and financial well-being did not change substantively among people with systemic sclerosis during the pandemic. Flexible work policies may support people with systemic sclerosis to work.
Improving Access to Intracranial Volume Measurements for Clinical Use: Open-Source Method using Computed Tomography
Authors: Surapaneni Akhil , Frommer Sarah A. , Harshbarger Raymond 
Published: August 2024

Introduction: Three-dimensional measurements of intracranial volume (ICV) can guide clinical management of brain and skull disorders. However, widespread clinical access is limited by the scarcity of software methods for analyzing CT scans, which are more available than MRI images, and the inaccessibility of proprietary and expensive commercial software. The presented method can calculate ICV from CT scans, using an open-source software, 3D Slicer. Methods: The open-source workflow was optimized with a data-driven approach to find the optimal parameters for ICV accuracy. The accuracy of the open-source method was determined by comparing it to commercial and proprietary software with CT scans of pediatric hydrocephalic macrocephaly patients with craniosynostosis undergoing total vault reconstruction (N = 5 patients,15 scans). Results: An open-source pipeline that combines an initial semi-automatic segmentation of a coronal CT reconstruction with a fully automatic segmentation minimizes the ICV error. The open-source method shows excellent agreement with both the commercial and proprietary software methods (R2 = 0.998 and 95% confidence interval of best-fit line slope: [0.986; 1.047], [0.985;1.066] respectively). The mean percent difference of ICV measurements of the open-source software from the commercial software was −0.56% [95% CI: −1.08%, −0.028%] and from the proprietary software was −0.07% [95% CI: −1.26%, 1.1%]. The mean percent difference of ICV measurements of the commercial software from the proprietary software was 0.36% [95% Confidence Interval: −0.61%, 1.32%]. Conclusions: This is the first study comparing an open-source method for measuring ICV with commercial and proprietary options. A high degree of fidelity was found, confirming this open-source method as a viable option for clinicians who are looking to incorporate ICV measurements into their practice.
Disability in cluster headache is more than attack frequency - results from and validation of the English version of the Cluster Headache Impact Questionnaire (CHIQ)
Authors: Kamm Katharina , Straube Andreas , Burish Mark , Ruscheweyh Ruth 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Background
Cluster headache (CH) is associated with high disability. The Cluster Headache Impact Questionnaire (CHIQ) is a short, disease-specific disability questionnaire first developed and validated in German. Here, we validated the English version of this questionnaire.

Methods
The CHIQ was assessed together with nonspecific headache-related disability questionnaires in CH patients from a tertiary headache center and an American self-help group.

Results
155 active episodic and chronic CH patients were included. The CHIQ showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.91) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.93, n = 44). Factor analysis identified a single factor. Convergent validity was shown by significant correlations with the Headache Impact Test™ (HIT-6™, ρ = 0.72, p < 0.001), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS depression: ρ = 0.53, HADS anxiety: ρ = 0.61, both p
< 0.001), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10, ρ = 0.61, p < 0.001) and with CH attack frequency (ρ = 0.29, p < 0.001). Chronic CH patients showed the highest CHIQ scores (25.4 ± 7.9, n = 76), followed by active episodic CH and episodic CH patients in remission (active eCH: 22.2 ± 8.7, n = 79; eCH in remission: 14.1 ± 13.1, n = 127; p < 0.001). Furthermore, the CHIQ was graded into 5 levels from “no to low impact” to “extreme impact” based on the patients’ perception. Higher CHIQ grading was associated with higher attack and acute medication frequency, HIT-6™, HADS and PSS scores.

Conclusion
The English version of the CHIQ is a reliable, valid, and disease-specific patient-reported outcome measure to assess the impact of headaches on CH patients.
Secondary azoospermia after a successful natural pregnancy: a primary prospective study
Authors: Elahwany Amr , Alahwany Hisham , Torad Hesham , Ramzy David , Aboelkomsan Elshaimaa Ahmed Fahmy , GamalEl Din Sameh Fayek 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Background
To date, there is a lack of studies conducted on males with secondary azoospermia as a potential cause of male infertility who had previously fathered children through natural conception. The current study aims to investigate the potential causes of secondary azoospermia as a presentation of male infertility as well as the prognostic factors that can impact sperm retrieval rate (SRR) while undergoing microdissection testicular sperm extraction (microTESE).

Results
Thirty two patients were recruited from the andrology outpatient clinic from August 2023 till January 2024. The mean age of the patients was sixty-two years old. All patients had varicoceles. Twenty seven patients (84%) had palpable varicocele grade 2 and 3 on both sides. Further multivariate logistic regression analysis of the significant factors in the univariate regression revealed that younger age (OR 0.7, 95% C.I. 0.7-1.0, p = 0.03) and having a history of coronary artery disease (CAD) were predictable factors for negative TESE outcome (OR 123.1, 95% C.I. 3.2-4748.5, P = 0.01).

Conclusion
It appears that the etiopathogenesis of secondary azoospermia are multifactorial. Varicocele and CAD are major factors to be considered. Future studies should be implemented deploying larger pools of patients suffering from the same condition to affirm the findings of this primary study.
Complications of new-onset atrial fibrillation in critically ill COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU): a meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Tao , Gui Ping , Wang Bo 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Background
COVID-19 infections can result in severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) requiring admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Cardiovascular manifestation or exacerbation of cardiovascular diseases could be another complication. Cardiac arrhythmias including New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation (NOAF), have been observed in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infections. In this analysis, we aimed to systematically compare the complications associated with NOAF in critically ill COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU.

Methods
MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, the Cochrane database, http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov, Google Scholar and Mendeley were searched for relevant publications based on COVID-19 patients with NOAF admitted to the ICU. Complications including in-hospital mortality, ICU mortality, patients requiring mechanical ventilation, acute myocardial infarction, acute kidney injury, renal replacement therapy and pulmonary embolism were assessed. This is a meta-analysis and the analytical tool which was used was the RevMan software version 5.4. Risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to represent the data post analysis.

Results
In critically ill COVID-19 patients with NOAF admitted to the ICU, the risks of ICU mortality (RR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.07 – 1.80; P = 0.01), in-hospital mortality (RR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.20 – 2.04; P = 0.001), patients requiring mechanical ventilation (RR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.04 – 1.66; P = 0.02) were significantly higher when compared to the control group without AF. Acute myocardial infarction (RR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.31 – 1.81; P = 0.00001), the risk for acute kidney injury (RR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.11 – 1.55; P = 0.002) and patients requiring renal replacement therapy (RR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.60 – 2.09; P = 0.00001) were also significantly higher in patients with NOAF.

Conclusions
Critically ill COVID-19 patients with NOAF admitted to the ICU were at significantly higher risks of developing complications and death compared to similar patients without AF.
Evolving through multiple, co-existing pressures to change: a case study of self-organization in primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
Authors: Thille Patricia , Tobin Anastasia , Evans Jenna M. , Katz Alan , Russell Grant M 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Background
Primary care is often described as slow to change. But conceptualized through complexity theory, primary care is continually changing in unpredictable, non-linear ways through self-organization processes. Self-organization has proven hard to study directly. We aimed to develop a methodology to study self-organization and describe how a primary care clinic self-organizes over time.

Methodology
We completed a virtual case study of an urban primary care clinic from May-Nov 2021, applying methodological insights from actor-network theory to examine the complexity theory concept of self-organization. We chose to focus our attention on self-organization activities that alter organizational routines. Data included fieldnotes of observed team meetings, document collection, interviews with clinic members, and notes from brief weekly discussions to detect actions to change clinical and administrative routines. Adapting schema analysis, we described changes to different organizational routines chronologically, then explored intersecting changes. We sought feedback on results from the participating clinic.

Findings
Re-establishing equilibrium remained challenging well into the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary care clinic continued to self-organize in response to changing health policies, unintended consequences of earlier adaptations, staff changes, and clinical care initiatives. Physical space, technologies, external and internal policies, guidelines, and clinic members all influenced self-organization. Changing one created ripple effects, sometimes generating new, unanticipated problems. Member checking confirmed we captured most of the changes to organizational routines during the case study period.

Conclusions
Through insights from actor-network theory, applied to studying actions taken that alter organizational routines, it is possible to operationalize the theoretical construct of self-organization. Our methodology illuminates the primary care clinic as a continually changing entity with co-existing and intersecting processes of self-organization in response to varied change pressures.
Only repeatedly elevated IgG4 levels in primary sclerosing cholangitis may distinguish a particular patient phenotype
Authors: Kalthoff Sandra , Wolniak Caroline , Lutz Philipp , Strassburg Christian P. , Langhans Bettina , Dold Leona 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Background
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic liver disease leading to inflammation with scaring and strictures of bile ducts, which can lead to liver cirrhosis. A subtype of PSC characterized by high serum IgG4 (sIgG4) levels has been reported to be associated with poor outcomes, but the exact role and the longitudinal development of sIgG4 levels in PSC progression remains to be clarified. The aim of this study was to investigate if subsequent analysis of sIgG4 levels allows the identification of the PSC phenotype with high sIgG4.

Methods
sIgG4 values were repeatedly analysed in a well-characterized European PSC cohort of 110 individuals. Biochemical parameters, clinical endpoints, death and liver transplantation were compared between PSC subgroups.

Results
12.7% (n = 14) of PSC patients showed increased sIgG4 levels (PSC-IgG4). The values normalized in 57.1% (n = 8; PSC-IgG4norm) during follow-up measurements, whereas the values remained permanently elevated in 42.9% (n = 6; PSC-IgG4const). Serum values of AP and γGT were significantly higher in PSC-IgG4const compared to PSC-IgG4norm at final blood sampling. Furthermore, mean age at PSC diagnosis was markedly lower in PSC-IgG4const compared to PSC-IgG4norm.

Conclusions
This is the first study analyzing longitudinal development of sIgG4 in PSC. Our data indicate that only sequential determination of sIgG4 levels allow to accurately distinguish between the PSC phenotype with high sIgG4 and PSC with low sIgG4.

Graphical abstract
Health-economic evaluation of orthogeriatric co-management for patients with pelvic or vertebral fragility fractures
Authors: Henken Espen , König Hans-Helmut , Becker Clemens , Büchele Gisela , Friess Thomas , Jaensch Andrea , Rapp Kilian , Rothenbacher Dietrich , Konnopka Claudia 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Background
Orthogeriatric co-management (OGCM) addresses the special needs of geriatric fracture patients. Most of the research on OGCM focused on hip fractures while results concerning other severe fractures are rare. We conducted a health-economic evaluation of OGCM for pelvic and vertebral fractures.

Methods
In this retrospective cohort study, we used German health and long-term care insurance claims data and included cases of geriatric patients aged 80 years or older treated in an OGCM (OGCM group) or a non-OGCM hospital (non-OGCM group) due to pelvic or vertebral fractures in 2014–2018. We analyzed life years gained, fracture-free life years gained, healthcare costs, and cost-effectiveness within 1 year. We applied entropy balancing, weighted gamma and two-part models. We calculated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves.

Results
We included 21,036 cases with pelvic (71.2% in the OGCM, 28.8% in the non-OGCM group) and 33,827 with vertebral fractures (72.8% OGCM, 27.2% non-OGCM group). 4.5–5.9% of the pelvic and 31.8–33.8% of the vertebral fracture cases were treated surgically. Total healthcare costs were significantly higher after treatment in OGCM compared to non-OGCM hospitals for both fracture cohorts. For both fracture cohorts, a 95% probability of cost-effectiveness was not exceeded for a willingness-to-pay of up to €150,000 per life year or €150,000 per fracture-free life year gained.

Conclusion
We did not obtain distinct benefits of treatment in an OGCM hospital. Assigning cases to OGCM or non-OGCM group on hospital level might have underestimated the effect of OGCM as not all patients in the OGCM group have received OGCM.
Development and validation of an artificial intelligence model for predicting de novo distant bone metastasis in breast cancer: a dual-center study
Authors: Zhang Wen-hai , Tan Yang , Huang Zhen , Tan Qi-xing , Zhang Yue-mei , Wei Chang-yuan 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Objective
Breast cancer has become the most prevalent malignant tumor in women, and the occurrence of distant metastasis signifies a poor prognosis. Utilizing predictive models to forecast distant metastasis in breast cancer presents a novel approach. This study aims to utilize readily available clinical data and advanced machine learning algorithms to establish an accurate clinical prediction model. The overall objective is to provide effective decision support for clinicians.

Methods
Data from 239 patients from two centers were analyzed, focusing on clinical blood biomarkers (tumor markers, liver and kidney function, lipid profile, cardiovascular markers). Spearman correlation and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression were employed for feature dimension reduction. A predictive model was built using LightGBM and validated in training, testing, and external validation cohorts. Feature importance correlation analysis was conducted on the clinical model and the comprehensive model, followed by univariate and multivariate regression analysis of these features.

Results
Through internal and external validation, we constructed a LightGBM model to predict de novo bone metastasis in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values of this model in the training, internal validation test, and external validation test1 cohorts were 0.945, 0.892, and 0.908, respectively. Our validation results indicate that the model exhibits high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, making it the most accurate model for predicting bone metastasis in breast cancer patients. Carcinoembryonic Antigen, creatine kinase, albumin-globulin ratio, Apolipoprotein B, and Cancer Antigen 153 (CA153) play crucial roles in the model’s predictions. Lipoprotein a, CA153, gamma-glutamyl transferase, α-Hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and creatine kinase are positively correlated with breast cancer bone metastasis, while white blood cell ratio and total cholesterol are negatively correlated.

Conclusion
This study successfully utilized clinical blood biomarkers to construct an artificial intelligence model for predicting distant metastasis in breast cancer, demonstrating high accuracy. This suggests potential clinical utility in predicting and identifying distant metastasis in breast cancer. These findings underscore the potential prospect of developing economically efficient and readily accessible predictive tools in clinical oncology.
The influence of hospital services on patient satisfaction in OPDs: evidence from the transition to a digital system in South Punjab, Pakistan
Authors: Kanwel Shahida , Ma Zhiqiang , Li Mingxing , Hussain Abid , Erum Naila , Ahmad Saif 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Background
Pakistani’s health services delivery system has been rarely evaluated regarding patient satisfaction. This study examined the performance of the Pakistani health system from the perspective of doctor services (DS), digital payment system (DPS), nurses’ services (NS), laboratory services (LS), pharmacy services (PHS), registration services (RS), physical services (environmentally and tangible) and doctor-patient communication (DPC) about patient satisfaction. A random sampling technique was adopted for data collection.

Methodology
The Social Science Statistical Package (SPSS), analysis of moment structures (AMOS), and structural equation modeling were used to analyze the data for reliability, validity, correlations, and descriptive findings. The 879 responses were used for study analysis.

Results
The study revealed that patient satisfaction was found to be significantly affected positively by LS, PHS, DS, NS, and DPS, while DPC, RS, and PF were impacted non-significantly. Consequently, there is a considerable communication gap in the doctor-patient interaction, and Pakistan's healthcare system is confronted with a shortage of physical infrastructure and challenges in the digital system.

Conclusion
Furthermore, the insufficient emphasis on registration services necessitates immediate action to improve the entire patient experience and satisfaction. Identifying these shortcomings has the potential to result in a healthcare system that is more efficient and focused on the needs of the patients.