bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Persistent Proatlantal Intersegmental Artery(PPIA):Are Consideration Based On MSCTA
Authors: Qin Xiao , Yang Xinju , Mao Yi , Wang Shunan 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Background
Persistent proatlantal intersegmental artery (PPIA) is a rare permanent carotid-basilar anastomosis. Multi-slice spiral CT Angiography (MSCTA) has become the primary non-invasive imaging technique for evaluating cephalic and cervical vascular anatomy.
Purpose
To investigate the MSCTA imaging characteristics of PPIA and its clinical values, and then to provide a new classification method based on posterior circulation blood supply.
Material and Methods
The imaging and clinical data of 11 patients with PPIA diagnosed by MSCTA through combined head and neck scanning were analyzed retrospectively.
Results
The incidence of PPIA was 0.01%. Classification according to the starting position of PPIA revealed 2 cases (18.2%) of type I and 9 cases (81.8%) of type II. When classified according to the blood supply of posterior circulation, type 1 of PPIA had 4 cases (36.4%), type 2 had 4 cases (36.4%), type 3 had 1 case (9.1%), and type 4 had 2 cases (18.2%). Among the 11 PPIA patients, there were 11 cases of ipsilateral vertebral artery absence, 3 cases of contralateral vertebral artery dysplasia, 1 case of contralateral vertebral artery absence, 2 cases of persistent artery dysplasia, and 2 cases of basilar artery dysplasia. Additionally, there were 2 patients with aneurysms, 1 patient with cerebral infarction, and 1 patient with Pulmonary Arteriovenous Fistula (PAVF).
Conclusion
The new classification of PPIA is more conducive to evaluating posterior circulation blood supply and providing a more comprehensive imaging evaluation for interventional and surgical procedures. MSCTA can accurately diagnose PPIA and reduce the rate of missed diagnoses of other vascular diseases.
Pulmonary Lymphangiomatosis – insights into an ultra-rare disease
Authors: Polke Markus , Polke Nilab , Piel Stella , Brunnemer Eva , Wälscher Julia , Buschulte Katharina , Warth Arne , Heussel Claus Peter , Eichinger Monika , Frankenstein Lutz , Eichhorn Martin , Miliauskas Skaidrius , Herth Felix J.F. , Kreuter Michael 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary lymphangiomatosis (PL) is an ultrarare disease characterized by diffuse infiltration of the lung, pleura and/or mediastinum by abnormal lymphatic proliferation. Consented diagnostic or treatment approaches are not established. We therefore aimed to collect data on diagnostics and treatments in a cohort of patients with PL from a tertiary center for rare lung diseases.
METHODS: Clinical, radiological and outcome data from PL patients were collected retrospectively.
RESULTS: 12patients were diagnosed between 1996 and 2022 in our center. PL was diagnosed more commonly in female (58%), never smokers (75%) and younger patients (mean age 42 years). Main clinical symptoms comprised haem- and chyloptysis (58%) and dyspnea on exertion (83%). Pulmonary function was mostly restrictive (mean VC 59%) with impaired DLCO (mean 65%). Radiological assessment mainly showed mediastinal involvement (83%), and pleural effusion (67%), pleural thickening (67%) and bronchial wall thickening (67%) while interstitial changes were rare. Diagnosis was confirmed by surgical or transbronchial cryobiopsy. 8 patients were treated with sirolimus, 3 of these combined with a surgical intervention and in one case surgical intervention was necessary 9 month after initiation of sirolimus. Clinical and radiological improvement was demonstrated for all patients treated with sirolimus. 1 patient received a lung transplant due disease progression. Survival rates were 90 % after a mean follow up of at least 3 months.
CONCLUSION: This case series illustrates the variability of the clinical presentation of PL. Among our patients, those treated with sirolimus showed significant clinical, functional and radiological improvement. However, further investigation is needed to understand the pathogenesis of lymphangiomatosis in order to establish therapeutic approaches.
Impact of systematic screening for social determinants of health in a level IV neonatal intensive care unit
Authors: Lagatta Joanne , Hoffman Caitlin , Harris Melissa , Acharya Krishna , Malnory Margaret , Cohen Susan 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether screening for social determinants of health (SDoH) in a level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) could uncover additional family needs.
Methods: Secondary analysis of a prospective study in a level IV NICU. Participants filled out the Protocol for Responding to and Assessing Patients’ Assets, Risks and Experiences (PRAPARE) tool, which includes economic, housing, transportation, and safety questions. Questionnaires were completed via secure tablet; the research team notified social workers of reported needs. Illness and demographic characteristics were compared between families who did and did not report resource needs. Manual chart review assessed subsequent response to reported SDoH needs.
Results: Of 319 respondents, 61(19%) reported resource needs. Of 61 families, 88% received repeat social work encounter to re-assess for resources; 59% received new resource referrals.
Conclusions: Systematic SDoH screening can identify needs throughout the NICU stay, even among families already connected to social work support.
Association between adherence to diabetes diet and glycemic control among type 2 diabetes mellitus adult patients attending diabetes clinics in selected hospitals, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a health facility based unmatched case-control study.
Authors: Eyob Mahlet , Egata Gudina , Desalegn Yakob , Ahmed Abdurezak 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Background
Suboptimal adherence to diabetes diet can drive the occurrence of diabetes complications. However, the association between adherence to diabetes diet and glycemic control was limited to non-analytical surveys and fasting blood sugar determinationin in low-income countries. This study was aimed to assess the association between adherence to diabetes diet and glycemic control among adult type 2 DM patients on follow-up in selected hospitals, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Methods
Hospital-based unmactched case-control study was conducted among 156 diabetes patients ( 104 controls and 52 cases ) from May to September 2022. Data were collected using pretested structured questionnaire .Blood sugar level was tested using HgA1c test. Cases were patients with HgA1c < 7% while controls had HgA1c ≥ 7%. Descriptive statistics was used to describe all relevant data. Binary logistic regression analysis was done to assess the association between glycemic control and adherence to diabetes diet and other predictors. Adjusted odds ratios alongside 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated to measure the strength of association between response and explanatory variables at p-value less than 0.05.
Results
A total of 156 type 2 diabetes patients were enrolled in this study. The mean (± SD) age of respondents was 52.65(± 9.94) and 51.04 (± 10.84) years among cases and controls respectively. In multivariable analysis, poor adherence to diabetes diet [(adjusted odds ratio(AOR) = 3.89,95%CI:(1.58,9.54)] and diabetes medication [(AOR = 3.74,95% CI:(1.42,9.85)], lack of dietary education [(AOR = 4.97,95% CI:(1.56,15.87)], patient’s income level of ≤ 2500 Ethiopian birr (ETB) [(AOR = 3.17,95%CI:(1.24,8.07)], presence of diabetes comorbidities [(AOR = 4.78,95%CI:(1.37,16.71)] and diabetes complications [(AOR = 5.11,95%CI:( (1.60,15.87)] were significant determinants of poor glycemic control.
Conclusion
Poor dietary and medication -adherence ,lack of dietary education, low economic status, presence of comorbidities ,and diabetes complications were determinants of poor glycemic control. Thus, health care providers should design appropriate interventions in line with modifiable determinants of poor glycemic control.
Risk Stratification in Colorectal Cancer: Nomograms Utilizing Inflammatory Factors and Immunological Hematological Indicators
Authors: Tang Jiadai , Xiang Mengying , Xiong Guangrui , Liao Yedan , Shen Xin , Li Rong , Zhang Ke , Li Zhengting , Xia Tingrong , Xie Lin 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Background Cancer-associate inflammation and immunological hematological indicators could regard as contributing factors to promote for the progression of solid tumors. Methods This study aimed to construct nomograms with inflammatory factors and immunological hematological parameters to predict the prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC). Results The training cohort had a 66.25% prediction rate for distant metastasis. Nomograms were created to predict distant metastasis, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS) using clinicopathologic features, inflammatory factors, and immunologic hematological indicators as baseline, and the consistency index (C index) scores of the three nomograms were 0.791 (95% CI, 0.745–0.838), 0.752 (95% CI, 0.699–0.806), and 0.687 (95% CI, 0.647–0.726) respectively. The consistency index (C index) scores for the three nomograms were 0.791 (95% CI, 0.745–0.838), 0.752 (95% CI, 0.699–0.806), and 0.687 (95% CI, 0.647–0.726), respectively. Calibration graphs demonstrated a good correlation between predicted and actual prognostic rates. Decision curve analysis (DCA) curves demonstrated that the predictive models had potential for clinical application. Subgroup analyses showed that the nomograms were favorable prognostic indicators for stage I-IV CRC patients(P < 0.05). Conclusion Single or combined hematological indicators are easy to obtain, feasible, and of high prognostic predictive values, so the nomograms constructed on the basis of cancer-associate inflammatory factors and immunological hematological indicators had good accuracies in predicting distant metastasis, OS and PFS in CRC patients, which could help clinicians to conduct risk stratification in CRC patients and assist in treatment decision-making, achieve better oncological outcomes ultimately.
Risk factors for recurrent urinary tract infections after endoscopic incision of ureterocele in infant
Authors: Wang Jinbin , Gao Qiang , Liu Qi , Tang Jiaxiang , Yang Binyi , Yu Jiabin , Sun Nianfeng , Zhao Yining , Geng Hongquan , Chen Zhoutong , Fang Xiaoliang , Lu Hongting 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Objectives
Much dispute encompasses the treatment of ureterocele. Generally, in patients with ureterocele, endoscopic incision (EI) is recommended to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs) or progressive hydronephrotic complications and preserve renal function. To clarify the impact of EI for ureterocele as an initial procedure, focusing on end points of postoperative recurrent febrile UTIs and need for second surgery.
Patients and Methods:
Between December 2006 and December 2019 primary EI was performed in 80 consecutive patients with ureterocele. We retrospectively investigated patient preoperative radiological and clinical data and postoperative radiological and clinical outcomes.
Results
All 80 patients who underwent EI were identified and included in our study, and EI was conducted at an average of 4.6 (IQR 2.5 to 8.5) months. Twenty-nine patients with ureterocele had postoperative recurrent febrile UTIs during the follow-up of 36 months, and 22 out of 29 patients were recommended secondary intervention. Initial recurrent febrile UTIs in most child occurred < 12 months after EI, the recurrent febrile UTIs-free rate after EI was 63.75%. The risk factor for recurrent febrile UTIs was VUR on postoperative VCUG, antibiotic prophylaxis treatment might be beneficial in preventing recurrent febrile UTIs after EI.
Conclusion
EI is optimal for instant ureterocele decompression, and it avoids a complete reconstruction in most patients. However, it is not a definitive approach in cases with postoperative VUR. Our study determined the critical period and risk factor for recurrent febrile UTIs after EI for the treatment of ureterocele.
Comparative diagnostic efficacy of shear wave and transient elastography in predicting the risk of esophagogastric varices and histological staging in patients with primary biliary cholangitis
Authors: Zhang Yuan , Meng Fankun , Hu Xing , Zhang Tieying , Han Xue , Han Jing , Ge Huiyu 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Background
This study aimed to compare the diagnostic efficacy of shear wave elastography (SWE) with that of transient elastography (TE) in predicting the risk of esophagogastric varices and histological staging in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC).
Methods
This single-center prospective study enrolled 77 patients with PBC diagnosed by liver biopsy following SWE and TE. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed for SWE-liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and TE-LSM to assess their diagnostic efficacy for histological staging ≥ stage 2, ≥ stage 3, and = stage 4. The diagnostic efficacy and accuracy of SWE-LSM were compared with those of the Baveno VI criteria for detecting esophagogastric varices. Additionally, the impact of different laboratory parameters on SWE-LSM was analyzed.
Results
We evaluated 77 patients (median age, 52 years (range: 16 − 75 years), 66 females). ROC curves constructed using TE-LSM and SWE-LSM demonstrated similar diagnostic efficacy for histological staging ≥ stage 2 (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.824 vs 0.823 for TE-LSM and SWE-LSM, respectively, p = 0.9764), ≥ stage 3 (AUC: 0.918 vs 0.907 for TE-LSM and SWE-LSM, respectively, p = 0.6443), and = stage 4 (AUC: 0.907 vs 0.902 for TE-LSM and SWE-LSM, respectively, p = 0.8763). Additionally, while there was no significant difference in the diagnostic efficacy between the two methods for detecting esophagogastric varices (95% confidence interval: -0.0366 − 0.287, p = 0.1296), SWE had a slightly higher diagnostic accuracy than TE (61.8% vs 76.4%). Transaminases and bilirubin levels had little influence on SWE-LSM.
Conclusion
SWE exhibited comparable performance to TE in predicting the risk of esophagogastric varices and histological staging.
Exploiting Question-Answer framework with multi-GRU to detect Adverse Drug Reaction on social media
Authors: Luo Jiao-huang , Yang Ai-hua 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) stand out as a pressing challenge in public health and a critical aspect of drug discovery. The dilemma arises from the inherent impossibility of conducting a comprehensive evaluation of a drug before its market release, constrained by the limitations in scale and duration of clinical trials. Therefore, the post-marketing detection of ADRs in a timely and accurate manner becomes imperative. Adding to the complexity, a multitude of tweets harbor concealed information about adverse drug reactions, creating difficulties due to their concise, sporadic, and noisy content. To solve the problem, we regard ADR detection as a question-answer problem and introduces an innovative neural network framework with multiple GRU layers designed for extracting ADR-related information from tweets. The Von Mises–Fisher distribution (vMF distribution) is applied to derive keyword vectors through tweet sampling. An attention mecha-nism is employed to enhance the interaction between these keyword vectors and the word sequences within tweets. The credibility of word sequences is systematically evaluated based on the reliability of answer factors. To address concerns related to background information and training speed, we propose a quality assurance mechanism utilizing a GRU network due to its straightforward structure and efficient training capabilities. As a result of the training process, word sequences are mapped to a low-latitude vector space, generating corresponding answers. Experimental results obtained from two Twitter ADR datasets affirm that our Question-Answer Mechanism, leveraging multi-GRU architecture, significantly improves the accuracy of ADR detection in tweets. Our method achieved F1-scores of 81.3% and 73.3% on the two datasets, respectively, while consistently maintaining a higher recall.
The Influence of Body Mass Index on Efficacy and Outcomes of Percutaneous Transforaminal Endoscopic Surgery (PTES) for the Treatment of Lumbar Degenerative Diseases: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Zhuang Chenyang , Xu Yun , Qian Cheng , Lin Hong , Gu Yutong 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Background
To investigate and quantify the influence of body mass index (BMI) on the efficacy and outcomes of percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic surgery (PTES), a novel minimally invasive surgical technique in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH).
Methods
A total of 55 patients suffering from single-level LDH with or without high iliac crest, scoliosis or calcification, who underwent PTES in our department from January 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to BMI. The operative events of two groups including X-ray projection, operation time, blood loss and length of stay were compared. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used to evaluate the clinical efficacy and outcomes of the surgery. Differences in complications and recurrences between two groups were also analyzed.
Results
55 patients were divided into obese and nonobese groups according to their BMI (33.03 vs 23.07). There was no significant difference in X-ray projection (times), operation time (mins), blood loss (mL) and length of stay (days) between two groups (7/5–11 vs 5/5–10, 58.17 ± 9.20 vs 53.65 ± 10.06, 6.41 ± 1.43 vs 5.50 ± 2.45, 3.17 ± 1.44 vs 2.96 ± 0.53, P > 0.05). Both groups demonstrated a significant decrease in ODI (12.01 ± 3.57% vs 67.16 ± 9.25%, 13.92 ± 4.24% vs 68.10 ± 9.27%, P < 0.05) and VAS (0.10 ± 0.48 vs 8.38 ± 0.94, 0.22 ± 0.56 vs 8.38 ± 0.86) at 24 months after the operation compared with which at the preoperative status. No significant difference in the improvement of the clinical outcomes was found between the two groups in ODI or VAS (P > 0.05).
Conclusions
With the simple orientation, easy puncture and reduced steps, PTES is an effective and safe method to both obese and normal patients with LDH.
Seed Availability and Bird Occurrence in Freshly Drilled Onion and Carrot Fields in Brazil
Authors: Santos Gustavo Souza , Casallanovo Fábio , Cione Ana Paola , Artal Mariana Coletty , Felici José Paulo , Paniago Mario del Giudice , von Blanckenhagen Felix , Vallon Martin , Ludwigs Jan-Dieter , Farrelly Eamonn , Kragten Steven , Maul Jonathan D. 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Agricultural landscapes in Brazil provide habitat to various bird species, some of which may be exposed to pesticide-treated seeds that have not been fully incorporated into the soil during drilling. Understanding the dynamics and interactions between birds and freshly drilled fields is crucial for developing sustainable farming practices that balance agricultural food production with wildlife conservation. This study investigated the presence and abundance of birds and the availability of pesticide-treated seeds in four onion fields and seven carrot fields in the Brazilian State of Minas Gerais. Bird surveys were conducted using scan sampling and point count methods to observe diversity and behavior before and after crop drilling. For carrot and onion fields, the study found that seed incorporation rates varied according to the distance from the field edges, with close to the edge having lower rates. In carrot fields, bird monitoring showed a decrease in observed species and individuals on the day of drilling, with an increase in bird sightings after drilling. In onion fields, similar trends were observed, with the species composition changing after drilling and a significant decrease in species abundance on the day of drilling. None of the species found foraging in the field after drilling were granivorous or omnivorous. These findings indicated that carrot and onion fields offer limited food sources for granivore bird species due to high seed incorporation rates and intensive seedbed preparation. The research suggests that freshly drilled carrot and onion fields are generally unattractive to foraging birds, with low seed exposure and a reduced likelihood of contact with pesticides applied as a seed treatment.
Impact of Sociodemographic Disparities on Sarcopenia, Telomere Length, and Mortality in Patients with Liver Disease in the US Population
Authors: Kezer Camille , Kassmeyer Blake , Lennon Ryan , Rattan Puru , Kamath Patrick , Shah Vijah , Simonetto Douglas 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Background & Aims: Sarcopenia is common in patients with liver disease and both sarcopenia and short telomeres are associated with mortality, however their relationship in patients with liver disease remains unknown.
Methods: A cohort of 16,072 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999-2006 was analyzed. Liver disease was defined by aminotransferases and classified into etiology-based categories. Sarcopenia was defined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. All analyses were conducted separately on each multiple imputation data set and combined via Rubin’s rules. P-values for group comparisons were calculated by testing logistic regression parameter estimates. Cox proportional hazards regression was used for mortality analysis with mortality data available until 2015.
Results:Sarcopenia was present in 9.5% of patients with liver disease. Age, race, income, education, physical inactivity, and certain medical comorbidities were associated with sarcopenia. Patients with liver disease and sarcopenia had significantly shorter telomeres than patients with liver disease without sarcopenia when unadjusted for age. The interaction between telomere length and sarcopenia was significantly associated with all-cause mortality.
Conclusions: The implications of telomere length on all-cause mortality in patients with liver disease varied by age and sarcopenia status. Shorter telomeres appear to be more highly associated with increased mortality in older patients without sarcopenia.
Electromechanical response and numerical analysis of d31 piezoelectric macro-fiber composite based on microscopic characterisation
Authors: Liu Jianjun , Xu Guosheng , Gu Shanmao 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

We establish a representative volume element (RVE) model and investigate the electromechanical coupling between the electric and mechanical fields in d31 piezoelectric macro-fiber composite (MFC) through numerical simulation methods. The average equivalent performance parameters characterization of d31 MFC is formulated by following the finite element homogenization methodology previously proposed for shear d15 MFC. When varying the direction of RVE constraints, the distribution of various physical fields (with a focus on stress, strain, electric displacement, electric field intensity, potential, and polarization field) is significantly affected. When the RVE is subjected to unidirectional constraints only, the distribution of each physical field is relatively uniform. However, when it is simultaneously subjected to constraints from two directions, there are significant differences in the variations of each physical field, exhibiting a non-uniform distribution. Based on the constitutive relationship of d31 MFC provided in the reference framework, the equivalent performance parameters of d31 MFC are evaluated in the RVE when the volume fraction of piezoceramic ranges from 20–80%. Specifically, the effects of interdigital electrodes and flexible substrates on the effective elastic modulus, piezoelectric coefficient, and dielectric coefficient are analyzed. These researches provide theoretical support for the preparation of d31 MFC with different performance parameters.