bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Epiglottis calcification: forgotten cause of dysphagia in elderly population
Authors: Seth Namdev , Varshney Dushyant , Verma Saumya 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Background
Dysphagia is a relatively common clinical issue in elderly population with numerous causes, which are divided into oropharyngeal and substernal categories. Most of the causes of dysphagia can be diagnosed easily with clinical and radiological examinations. However, we encountered a rare cause of dysphagia in an elderly patient, which can be missed easily during diagnostic workup, that entity is epiglottis calcification.

Case presentation
A 91-year-old male presented with complaints of recurrent aspirations and difficulty in swallowing. Physical examination revealed no abnormalities in the oral cavity, pharynx and nose. Flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopic examination was performed, which mildly swollen and posteriorly moved epiglottis with limited mobility during swallowing. Computed tomography scan of the larynx revealed significant asymmetric amorphous calcification of the free edge of the aryepiglottic, pharyngoepiglottic, and epiglottis folds.

Conclusions
Although dysphagia is a common problem in elderly, it has serious complications such as recurrent aspirations, pneumonia and nutritional deficiency. One of the rare causes of dysphagia in elderly is epiglottic calcifications, which impairs its flexibility and the functionality, and may predispose to difficulty in swallowing and recurrent aspirations.
Oral microbiome dysbiosis and gastrointestinal diseases: a narrative review
Authors: Elghannam Maged Tharwat , Hassanien Moataz Hassan , Ameen Yosry Abdelrahman , Turky Emad Abdelwahab , ELattar Gamal Mohammed , ELRay Ahmed Aly , ELTalkawy Mohammed Darwish 
Published: May 2024

AbstractMouth is the gateway to the total body wellness. Accordingly, oral microbiome influences overall health of an individual. Oral microbiome plays a key role in shaping up the host’s health profile. Obvious differences have been reported between patients with gastrointestinal diseases and healthy controls. The oral and gut microbiome profiles are well-segregated due to the oral–gut barrier. However, the oral microbiota can translocate to the intestinal mucosa in conditions of the oral–gut barrier dysfunction. Oral bacteria can disseminate to the distal gut via enteral or hematogenous routes. The translocation of oral microbes to the gut may give rise to a variety of gastrointestinal diseases including Helicobacter-induced diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, and colorectal cancer. Understanding the role of the oral-to-gut microbial translocation in the pathogenesis will contribute to precise diagnosis and effective treatment. In this review, we aim to highlight the role of oral microbiota dysfunction in various gastrointestinal disorders.
Process simulation, optimization, and cost analysis of a proposed sulfur recovery unit by applying modified Claus technology
Authors: Medhat Ahmed , Shehata Walaa , Gad Fatma , Bhran Ahmed 
Published: May 2024

AbstractRemoving sour gas from any suitable gas sweetening technology in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner is a major challenge. This paper discusses how to safely and economically dispose of small amounts of acid gases resulting from the amine sweetening process. A two-stage Claus desulfurization unit was studied and simulated to treat acid gases resulting from natural gas sweetening operations in Ras Gharib oil fields (Egypt). These acid gases are used as feedstock for the proposed plant to produce a valuable product, such as elemental sulfur, which is used as a raw material in many industries. Although many sulfur recovery techniques are available for various conditions and applications, the Claus process is a critical and widely used method for recovering elemental sulfur from gaseous hydrogen sulfide. This work represents the potential benefits of treating acid gases with high hydrogen sulfide content. In addition, operational variables that could affect sulfur production and sulfur recovery efficiency of the studied Claus unit were studied and optimized. Aspen HYSYS simulation software (version 9) was used to evaluate the economic aspects and optimize the operational parameters of the unit for producing sulfur from acid background gases. The results showed that the maximum sulfur production was achieved at a catalytic converter reactor temperature of 270 °C and 210 °C for the first and second catalytic reactor, respectively, with an air flow rate of 933.3 kg mol/h. The economic study of the proposed desulfurization unit showed that the Claus unit would be economically acceptable with an expected return on investment of approximately 10% and an average payback period of 10 years. Moreover, the introduced plant has a positive impact on the environment by reducing the concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the gas from 69.58 to 0.16%.
Influence of intercostal muscles contraction on sonographic evaluation of lung sliding: a physiological study on healthy subjects
Authors: Biasucci Daniele Guerino , Cina Alessandro , Sandroni Claudio , Moscato Umberto , Dauri Mario , Vetrugno Luigi , Cavaliere Franco 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Objectives
To investigate the following: (a) effects of intercostal muscle contraction on sonographic assessment of lung sliding and (b) inter-rater and intra-observer agreement on sonographic detection of lung sliding and lung pulse.

Methods
We used Valsalva and Muller maneuvers as experimental models in which closed glottis and clipped nose prevent air from entering the lungs, despite sustained intercostal muscles contraction. Twenty-one healthy volunteers underwent bilateral lung ultrasound during tidal breathing, apnea, hyperventilation, and Muller and Valsalva maneuvers. The same expert recorded 420 B-mode clips and 420 M-mode images, independently evaluated for the presence or absence of lung sliding and lung pulse by three raters unaware of the respiratory activity corresponding to each imaging.

Results
During Muller and Valsalva maneuvers, lung sliding was certainly recognized in up to 73.0% and up to 68.7% of imaging, respectively, with a slight to fair inter-rater agreement for Muller maneuver and slight to moderate for Valsalva. Lung sliding was unrecognized in up to 42.0% of tidal breathing imaging, and up to 12.5% of hyperventilation imaging, with a slight to fair inter-rater agreement for both. During apnea, interpretation errors for sliding were irrelevant and inter-rater agreement moderate to perfect. Even if intra-observer agreement varied among raters and throughout respiratory patterns, we found it to be higher than inter-rater reliability.

Conclusions
Intercostal muscles contraction produces sonographic artifacts that may simulate lung sliding. Clinical studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis. We found slight to moderate inter-rater agreement and globally moderate to almost perfect intra-observer agreement for lung sliding and lung pulse.

Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov registration number.
NCT 02386696.
Using the wavelet transform for seismic wave impedance inversion
Authors: Fu Zhiguo , Yin Cheng , Chen Tiansheng , Ji Yuxin , Liao Juan 
Published: May 2024

Model-based inversion technology has become one of the necessary technologies in the seismic exploration industry. It is frequently used to estimate many subsurface attributes, i.e., velocity, impedance, attenuation, etc. It is important to note that the accuracy of model-based inversion relies on the precision of the initial model, which suffers from insufficiency of low-frequency information in seismic data. Enhancing the high-frequency content and accuracy of low frequencies in the initial model can improve solution accuracy. Conventional initial models fail to adequately represent the high-frequency details of lateral geologic variations and to capture low-frequency components accurately. We develop a wavelet transform solution for this problem. Initially, we demonstrate that seismic records approximate the wavelet transform of logarithmic impedance. Consequently, we use the wavelet inverse transform to reconstruct the mid- and high-frequency information of seismic impedance, highlighting the detailed spatial variations. Furthermore, we apply kriging interpolation, based on subspace interpolation principles, using well impedance and seismic record waveforms to derive the low-frequency impedance from the scale inverse transform. Wavelet transform theory ensures a perfect match between the low- and high-frequency components in the inversion result. The frequency components of the inversion result are balanced, with no deficiencies or redundancies within the seismic data’s high cutoff frequency band. Thus, our method of initial model building is a type of inversion method. In addition, this method is simple and efficient because fast convolution processing can be performed. Model experiments and practical data inversions confirm the method’s feasibility and its ability to enhance resolution.
Phase III Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of Donepezil for Treatment of Cognitive Impairment in Breast Cancer Survivors After Adjuvant Chemotherapy (WF-97116)
Authors: Rapp Stephen R. , Dressler Emily V. , Brown W. Mark , Wade James L. , Le-Lindqwister Nguyet , King David , Rowland Kendrith M. , Weaver Kathryn E. , Klepin Heidi D. , Shaw Edward G. , Lesser Glenn J. 
Published: May 2024

PURPOSE To test efficacy of donepezil, a cognitive enhancer, to improve memory in breast cancer survivors who report cancer-related cognitive impairment 1-5 years postchemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Adult female BCS exposed to ≥4 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy 1-5 years before enrollment who reported cancer-related cognitive impairment were eligible. Participants, enrolled at sites affiliated with the Wake Forest NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) Research Base, were randomly assigned to receive 5 mg of donepezil once daily for 6 weeks titrated to 10 mg once daily for 18 weeks or placebo. Cognition and self-report cognitive functioning was assessed at baseline, 12, 24 (end of intervention), and 36 (washout) weeks postrandomization. Mixed-effects repeated measures analysis of covariance models were used to assess treatment differences in immediate recall (primary outcome) on the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R) and other cognitive domains (secondary outcomes) with covariates of treatment, time, time by treatment interaction, baseline outcome level, age stratification, and an unstructured covariance matrix to account for within participant correlation over time. RESULTS Two hundred seventy-six BCS from 87 NCORP practices (mean age, 57.1, standard deviation [SD], 10.5) who were at a mean of 29.6 months (SD, 14.2) postchemotherapy were randomly assigned to donepezil (n = 140) or placebo (n = 136). At 24 weeks, treatment groups did not differ on HVLT-R scores (donepezil mean = 25.98, placebo = 26.50, P = .32). There were no statistically significant differences between treatments at 12, 24, or 36 weeks for attention, executive function, verbal fluency, processing speed, or self-reported cognitive functioning. Endocrine therapy and menopausal status did not affect results. CONCLUSION BCS 1-5 years after completing chemotherapy with documented memory problems, randomly assigned to 24 weeks of 5-10 mg of donepezil once daily, did not perform differently at the end of treatment on tests of memory, other cognitive functions, or subjective functioning than those randomly assigned to placebo.
Spontaneous and Treatment-Related Changes of Serum Calcitonin in Medullary Thyroid Cancer: Long-Term Experience in a Patient With Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2B
Authors: Réti Zsuzsanna , Tabák Ádám Gy. , Garami Miklós , Kalina Ildikó , Kiss Gergely , Sápi Zoltán , Tóth Miklós , Tőke Judit 
Published: May 2024

PURPOSE Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in MEN2B syndrome is associated with germline RET mutation. Patients harboring de novo mutations are usually diagnosed at more advanced disease stages. We present a young woman with Met918Th mutation diagnosed with stage IV MTC at age 10 years. METHODS The disease progressed despite total thyroidectomy and multiple surgical interventions for cervical lymph node recurrences, leading to distant metastases in the fifth year after the initial diagnosis. Subsequently, she underwent five different types of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatments. The 17-year disease course was divided into periods defined by four surgical interventions and sequential treatment intervals with four multikinase (sunitinib, vandetanib, cabozantinib, and lenvatinib) and one RET-selective TKI (selpercatinib). Tumor growth for different phases of spontaneous development and drug treatment intervals was characterized by changes in serial log-transformed calcitonin measurements (n = 114). RESULTS Three operations (one for calcitonin-producing adrenal pheochromocytoma) were associated with drops in calcitonin levels. All of the nonselective TKIs were stopped due to adverse effects. As reflected by the negative calcitonin doubling rate, the best treatment response was observed with selpercatinib, which was associated with an initial large drop followed by a decreasing calcitonin trajectory over 514 days without any major side effects. CONCLUSION This case of MEN2B medullary thyroid cancer with long-term survival presents how the effectiveness of different treatment modalities can be estimated using log-transformed calcitonin levels. Furthermore, our experience supports the view that serial calcitonin measurements may be more sensitive than radiological follow-up in advanced MTC. Our patient also represents a new case of rarely reported calcitonin-producing pheochromocytomas.
A Scoping Review of the Epidemiology, Management, and Outcomes of Golf-Related Fractures
Authors: Chen Bin , Williamson Tom , Murray Andrew , Zhou Haibin , Clement Nicholas 
Published: May 2024

AbstractGolf is a popular sport; however, there is a paucity of data in relation to golf-associated fractures, and the rate and timing of returning to golf. The aim of this review is to describe golf-associated fractures, including epidemiology, management, and timing of returning to golf following treatment. A literature search was performed using MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. Data were extracted and summarized in a narrative synthesis. A total of 436 articles were identified with an initial search of which 58 met the inclusion criteria. Twelve anatomical sites of golf swing-related fractures were identified, of which 10 sites were specific for stress fractures. The most common sites of golf swing-related stress fractures were the ribs followed by the hook of hamate. There was a common theme of delay to diagnosis, being initially assigned to a soft tissue injury. Most golfers with swing-related stress fractures were able to return to golf with the exception of osteoporotic associated vertebral stress fractures. Timing of returning to golf was between 4 and 12 months for most of the golfers with stress fractures following conservative management. Operative intervention was an option of hook of hamate nonunion, following a stress fracture, and tibial shaft stress fractures. Golf equipment-related fractures were not rare and were associated with major trauma and in some cases associated with significant persistent morbidity. Golf-related stress fractures commonly involve the ribs and hook of hamate; knowledge of this may aid in early diagnosis and appropriate treatment when symptomatic golfers are encountered. Although golf is a noncontact sport, fractures associated with golf equipment can be life changing, and safety training guidelines should be established.
Effect of schizophrenia and substance use disorder on depressive symptoms and stressful life events
Authors: Karabanowicz Ewa , Tyburski Ernest Marek , Lutkiewicz Karolina , Radziwiłłowicz Wioletta 
Published: May 2024

Aim of the studyThe main aim of this study was to examine the mutual effect of schizophrenia and substance use disorder on depression and stress level.Subject or material and methodsThe sample comprised a total of 184 participants, including 51 patients with schizophrenia (S), 45 with dual diagnosis (DD), 44 with substance use disorder (SUD) and 44 healthy controls (HC). The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale were used to measure depressive symptom severity, while the Social Readjustment Rating Scale was used for the assessment of stressful life events.ResultsWe found a greater main effect of substance use disorder relative to schizophrenia on the severity of depression symptoms and stressful life events. In addition, the observed significant interaction effect for stressful life events suggested that SUD patients experienced their greatest number while HC reported the fewest such incidents. Interestingly, significant links between stressful life events and depressive symptoms emerged in both SUD patients and HC. What is more, disease duration and exacerbations were significantly associated with depressive symptoms in DD and S patients.DiscussionThis study demonstrated the effect of schizophrenia and substance use disorders on depressive symptoms and the severity of stress. The relationship between stressful life events and depressive symptom severity was also investigated.ConclusionsCompared to schizophrenia, substance use disorder has a stronger effect on the presence of depression symptoms and the occurrence of stressful life events. The factors modifying depression symptom severity in both schizophrenia groups differ from those found in SUD patients and HC.
Ethnographic Investigations into Medical Violence in Nepali Healthcare Facilities
Authors: Dahal Kapil Babu 
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Violence is not an inherent byproduct of human relationships, but conflicts are. The factors and circumstances that lead to tension and conflicts between health seekers and Nepali medical establishments and staff members who work there are examined in this article. Development: Embedded with relevant literature review, through the analysis of qualitative information, this part of the article is developed into four different sections. The first part deals with the context of the medical consultations that result in the development of a problematic relationship. This is followed by the examination of different types of violence, confrontations, and protests that emerge through such relationships. The implications of swelling medical promises and consequent heightened expectations are analyzed in the third part whereas the fourth part highlights how the typical medical practices that exist in Nepali hospitals itself is increasing the possibility of confrontations and violence. Conclusions: The frequent occurrence of tussles and medical violence in both public and private hospitals in Nepal suggests that they can happen in any hospital, irrespective of ownership. There is always a communication gap between the service providers and the patient party because of the esoteric nature of medicine. Conflict and violence towards service providers can also thrive in the context of a differential explanatory model of the two sides. The mounting animosity also signals a decline in trust between healthcare providers and seekers in Nepal.
High-accuracy fiber Bragg grating inclinometer
Authors: Cao Yujia , Wu Xi , Teng Yuntian , Qiu Liansong 
Published: May 2024

Inclination monitoring plays a significant role in research on deformation monitoring of slopes, inclination monitoring of bridges, earthquake monitoring, and other areas of monitoring. Existing electromagnetic signal-based inclinometers face practical issues such as difficulty adapting to harsh environments, poor large-scale networking capabilities, and unstable signal transmission. Hence, what we believe to be a novel inclinometer based on fiber sensing principles is proposed. The sensor employs suspension sensing based on the plumb principle, using bearings to overcome mechanical friction caused by rigid fixation between the mass block and the cantilever, thereby improving sensitivity and accuracy of the sensor. Key structural parameters of the sensor were optimized and simulated, followed by fabrication of the sensor and performance test on an inclination test platform. Experimental results indicate that, within a measurement range of ±9∘, the sensor exhibited a sensitivity of 305.2 pm/°, a resolution of approximately 3.3×10−4∘, an accuracy of 2%, a repeatability error of 1.9%, and favorable creep resistance stability for long-term measurement, thus addressing the requirements for slope deformation monitoring.
Joint effect of abnormal systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) levels and diabetes on cognitive function and survival rate: A population-based study from the NHANES 2011–2014
Authors: Chen Wanying , Sun Xinyue , Han Jiaxin , Wu Xiaoyu , Wang Qingfan , Li Mengmeng , Lei Xiangyu , Wu Yixuan , Li Zhiheng , Luo Guogang , Wei Meng 
Published: May 2024

Objective
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the combination of abnormal systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) levels and hyperglycemia increased the risk of cognitive function decline and reduced survival rate in the United States.

Methods
This cross-sectional study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database from 2011–2014 and enrolled 1,447 participants aged 60 years or older. Restricted cubic splines (RCS), linear regression and kaplan-meier(KM) curve were employed to explore the combined effects of abnormal SII and hyperglycemia on cognitive function and survival rate, and subgroup analysis was also conducted.

Results
The RCS analysis revealed an inverted U-shaped relationship between lgSII levels and cognitive function. Linear regression analysis indicated that neither abnormal SII nor diabetes alone significantly contributed to the decline in cognitive function compared to participants with normal SII levels and blood glucose. However, when abnormal SII coexisted with diabetes (but not prediabetes), it resulted to a significant decline in cognitive function. After adjusting for various confounding factors, these results remained significant in Delayed Word Recall (β:-0.76, P<0.05) and Digit Symbol Substitution tests (β:-5.02, P<0.05). Nevertheless, these results showed marginal significance in Total Word Recall test as well as Animal Fluency test. Among all subgroup analyses performed, participants with both abnormal SII levels and diabetes exhibited the greatest decline in cognitive function compared to those with only diabetes. Furthermore, KM curve demonstrated that the combination of abnormal SII levels and diabetes decreased survival rate among participants.

Conclusion
The findings suggest that the impact of diabetes on cognitive function/survival rate is correlated with SII levels, indicating that their combination enhances predictive power.