bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Health-related quality of life in Thai patients with chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Chantrakul Ratthanan , Sripongpun Pimsiri , Pattarapuntakul Tanawat , Chamroonkul Naichaya , Kongkamol Chanon , Phisalprapa Pochamana , Kaewdech Apichat 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background
Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) significantly impacts the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but remains underexplored in the Thai population. Health state utilities (HSU) are indicators reflecting HRQoL which serve as fundamental inputs for economic evaluation analyses. This study aimed at assessing differences in HRQoL across five CHB stages in Thai patients, including non-cirrhotic CHB, compensated cirrhosis, decompensated cirrhosis, early-/intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and advanced-/terminal-stage HCC.

Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study to collect HRQoL data from patients with CHB at five stages. The study included patients with CHB who were followed up at a super-tertiary care centre between March 2021 and February 2022. The participants completed the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire and provided demographic data. Disease stage and relevant data were obtained from medical records. HSU and Euroqol-visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) scores, calculated using Thai-specific conversion coefficients, were assessed.

Results
Among 422 patients, 236 did not have cirrhosis, 92 had compensated cirrhosis, 13 had decompensated cirrhosis, 55 had early-/intermediate-stage HCC, and 26 had advanced-/terminal-stage HCC. The HSU scores for non-cirrhotic, compensated cirrhosis, decompensated cirrhosis, early-/intermediate-stage HCC and advanced-/terminal-stage HCC were 0.95 ± 0.08, 0.89 ± 0.16, 0.79 ± 0.19, 0.89 ± 0.12 and 0.52 ± 0.39, respectively. Similarly, the EQ-VAS scores for various CHB stages were 83.56 ± 12.90, 80.48 ± 13.03, 68.76 ± 17.40, 79.00 ± 14.38 and 62.92 ± 20.62, respectively. A significant correlation (r = 0.469, P &lt; 0.001) was observed between the HSU and EQ-VAS scores. The disease progression led to a notable HSU decline, particularly in the advanced-/terminal-stage HCC group (regression coefficient: –0.436, P &lt; 0.001). The EQ-VAS scores indicated reduced quality of life in advanced liver disease.

Conclusions
Later CHB stages compromise the HRQoL. Decompensated cirrhosis and advanced-/terminal-stage HCC profoundly affect physical health and quality of life, whereas patients with compensated cirrhosis and early-/intermediate-stage HCC report better HRQoL.
Common gastrointestinal symptoms and their impact on psychological state and quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a cross-sectional multicenter study in China
Authors: Wang Shuo , Tan Cheng , Liu Chuan , Liu Zhongchun , Jiang Changqing , Shi Jie , Wu Kaichun , Dong Weiguo 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Objective
To explore the impact of common gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms on psychological symptoms, sleep quality, and quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods
A unified questionnaire was developed to collect clinical data on the mental psychology and quality of life of IBD patients from 42 hospitals in 22 provinces in P. R. China from September 2021 to May 2022. The general clinical characteristics, psychological symptoms, sleep quality, and quality of life of IBD patients with different numbers of GI symptoms were analyzed by descriptive statistical analysis.

Results
A total of 2,478 IBD patients were finally analysed in this study, including 365 without GI symptoms (14.7%), 752 with single symptoms (30.4%), 841 with double symptoms (33.9%), and 520 with three symptoms (21.0%). Compared with patients without GI symptoms, patients with only simple abdominalgia or diarrhea or hematochezia showed significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression and worse quality of life (all P &lt; 0.05). Compared with asymptomatic patients, patients with double symptoms (e.g. abdominalgia plus hematochezia, diarrhea plus hematochezia, abdominalgia plus diarrhea) and patients with three symptoms (abdominalgia, diarrhea, and hematochezia) showed significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression and worse sleep quality and quality of life (all P &lt; 0.05).

Conclusion
Compared with IBD patients without gastrointestinal symptoms, patients with gastrointestinal symptoms were more likely to experience anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and poorer quality of life.
Instant duodenal decompression after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography can effectively reduce the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis and hyperamylasemia
Authors: Bi Yu-Zhen , Yan Si-Jia , Zhou Li-Min , Sun Yan , Zhang Jun 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background
Post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) is significantly influenced by the reflux of duodenal fluid. While gastrointestinal decompression represents a fundamental approach in acute pancreatitis management, the effectiveness of immediate duodenal decompression following ERCP to prevent PEP remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the impact of immediate duodenal decompression after ERCP on reducing the incidence of hyperamylasemia and PEP.

Methods
This retrospective study encompassed patients with native papilla who underwent therapeutic ERCP for choledocholithiasis at the Department of Gastroenterology, Chun’an Branch of Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital (Zhejiang, China) between January 2020 and June 2023. Based on the immediate placement of a duodenal decompression tube post-ERCP, patients were categorized into two groups: the duodenal decompression group and the conventional procedure group. Primary outcomes included the incidence of PEP and hyperamylasemia.

Results
A total of 195 patients were enrolled (94 in the duodenal decompression group and 101 in the conventional procedure group). Baseline clinical and procedural characteristics exhibited no significant differences between the two groups. PEP occurred in 2 patients (2.1%) in the duodenal decompression group, in contrast to 11 patients (10.9%) in the conventional procedure group (Risk difference [RD] 8.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.7%–16.5%, P = 0.014). Hyperamylasemia was observed in 8 patients (8.5%) in the duodenal decompression group, compared to 20 patients (19.8%) in the conventional procedure group (RD 11.3%; 95% CI 1.4%–21.0%; P = 0.025). Patients with PEP in both groups showed improvement after receiving active treatment. No severe cases of PEP occurred in either group, and no serious adverse events related to duodenal catheter decompression were reported.

Conclusion
Immediate duodenal decompression following ERCP demonstrates an effective reduction in the incidence of hyperamylasemia and PEP.
Efficacy and safety of EUS-guided coil embolization in combination with cyanoacrylate injection versus conventional endoscopic cyanoacrylate injection in the treatment of gastric varices with spontaneous portosystemic shunts
Authors: Chen Dawei , Fu Sunya , Shen Ruiwei 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background
Gastric varices (GV) with spontaneous portosystemic shunts (SPSS) pose considerable risks and challenges for administering endoscopic cyanoacrylate (CYA) injection. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of EUS-guided coil embolization in combination with CYA injection compared to conventional endoscopic CYA injection for managing GV with SPSS.

Methods
This retrospective analysis included patients with SPSS treated with either EUS-guided coil embolization in combination with CYA injection or conventional CYA injection for gastric variceal bleeding at Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital (Zhejiang, China) between January 2018 and March 2023. Patient demographics, procedural details, and follow-up results were reviewed.

Results
The study evaluated 57 patients: 21 in the combined treatment group undergoing EUS-guided coil embolization in combination with CYA injection and 36 in the conventional group receiving conventional endoscopic CYA injection. Both cohorts achieved a 100% technical success rate. The mean volume of CYA used was significantly lower in the combined group (1.64 ± 0.67 mL) than in the conventional group (2.38 ± 0.72 mL; P &lt; 0.001). Early GV rebleeding rates did not differ significantly between the groups; in contrast, the combined treatment group exhibited a considerably lower incidence of late GV rebleeding than the conventional group (4.8% vs 27.8%, P = 0.041).

Conclusions
EUS-guided coil embolization in combination with CYA injection demonstrated superiority over conventional endoscopic CYA injection in reducing late GV rebleeding in treating GV with SPSS.
Why Destroy a Synagogue? A Reflection on Hitler’s Metaphysical Antisemitism
Authors: Meng Michael 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
This article explores the possible metaphysical aspects of Hitler’s antisemitism by asking a basic question: Why did the Nazis, if motivated solely or at least largely by racial hatred, attack and destroy Jewish religious sites, above all synagogues? The answer the article gives, a speculative one, is that Hitler’s antisemitism expresses a hatred of life and death that has deep roots in Western history, roots that can be traced most directly to the hatred of life and death expressed by Christianity and, specifically, to the hatred expressed by one of Christianity’s most hate-filled theologians, Martin Luther. Hence, the article offers a comparative interpretation of Hitler and Luther’s antisemitism in two main sections. A final section reflects on the difficulty of understanding antisemitism, hatred and violence and thus concludes with Primo Levi’s claim that in Auschwitz there is no answer, there is no why (Hier ist kein Warum).
Abstracts BMAS Summer School 2023—2nd Bone Marrow Adiposity Society Summer School Meeting 2023
Authors: Palmisano Biagio , Tencerova Michaela 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Fat is the main component of an adult bone marrow and constitutes the so-called bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT). Marrow adipocytes, which are the fat cells in the bone marrow, become more abundant with age, and may influence the whole-body metabolism. In osteoporotic patients, the amount of BMAT has an inverse correlation with the amount of bone mass. In people with anorexia nervosa that lose weight after the reduction of peripheral adipose tissues, BMAT expands. Although bone marrow adipocytes are increasingly recognized as a target for therapy, there is still much to learn about their role in skeletal homeostasis, metabolism, cancer, and regenerative treatments. The Bone Marrow Adiposity Society (BMAS), established in 2017, aims to enhance the understanding of how BMAT relates to bone health, cancer, and systemic metabolism. BMAS is committed to training young scientists and organized the second edition of the BMAS Summer School, held on September 4–6, 2023, as a virtual event.
Joint Moments of Higher Order Derivatives of CUE Characteristic Polynomials I: Asymptotic Formulae
Authors: Keating Jonathan P , Wei Fei 
Published: April 2024

AbstractWe derive explicit asymptotic formulae for the joint moments of the $n_{1}$-th and $n_{2}$-th derivatives of the characteristic polynomials of Circular Unitary Ensemble random matrices for any non-negative integers $n_{1}, n_{2}$. These formulae are expressed in terms of determinants whose entries involve modified Bessel functions of the first kind. We also express them in terms of two types of combinatorial sums. Similar results are obtained for the analogue of Hardy’s $Z$-function. We use these formulae to formulate general conjectures for the joint moments of the $n_{1}$-th and $n_{2}$-th derivatives of the Riemann zeta-function and of Hardy’s $Z$-function. Our conjectures are supported by comparison with results obtained previously in the number theory literature.
What Is the Economic Benefit of Annual COVID-19 Vaccination From the Adult Individual Perspective?
Authors: Bartsch Sarah M , O’Shea Kelly J , Weatherwax Colleen , Strych Ulrich , Velmurugan Kavya , John Danielle C , Bottazzi Maria Elena , Hussein Mustafa , Martinez Marie F , Chin Kevin L , Ciciriello Allan , Heneghan Jessie , Dibbs Alexis , Scannell Sheryl A , Hotez Peter J , Lee Bruce Y 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background
With coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination no longer mandated by many businesses/organizations, it is now up to individuals to decide whether to get any new boosters/updated vaccines going forward.

Methods
We developed a Markov model representing the potential clinical/economic outcomes from an individual perspective in the United States of getting versus not getting an annual COVID-19 vaccine.

Results
For an 18–49 year old, getting vaccinated at its current price ($60) can save the individual on average $30–$603 if the individual is uninsured and $4–$437 if the individual has private insurance, as long as the starting vaccine efficacy against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is ≥50% and the weekly risk of getting infected is ≥0.2%, corresponding to an individual interacting with 9 other people in a day under Winter 2023–2024 Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant conditions with an average infection prevalence of 10%. For a 50–64 year old, these cost-savings increase to $111–$1278 and $119–$1706 for someone without and with insurance, respectively. The risk threshold increases to ≥0.4% (interacting with 19 people/day), when the individual has 13.4% preexisting protection against infection (eg, vaccinated 9 months earlier).

Conclusions
There is both clinical and economic incentive for the individual to continue to get vaccinated against COVID-19 each year.
A comparison of strategies for identifying patients at risk for carbapenem-resistant or extended β-lactam-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Wangchinda Walaiporn , Kaye Keith S , Patel Twisha S , Albin Owen R , Saravolatz Louis , Petrie Joshua G , Pogue Jason M 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Objectives
To assess risk factors for carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CR) and extended-β-lactam-resistant P. aeruginosa (EBR) infection/colonization, and to develop and compare tools for predicting isolation of CR and EBR from clinical cultures.

Methods
This retrospective study analysed hospitalized patients with positive P. aeruginosa cultures between 2015 and 2021. Two case–control analyses were performed to identify risk factors and develop scoring tools for distinguishing patients with CR versus carbapenem-susceptible (CS) P. aeruginosa and EBR versus CS P. aeruginosa. The performance of institutionally derived scores, externally derived scores and the presence/absence of key risk factors to predict CR and EBR were then compared.

Results
A total of 2379 patients were included. Of these, 8.3% had a positive culture for CR, 5.0% for EBR and 86.7% for CS P. aeruginosa. There was substantial overlap in risk factors for CR and EBR. Institutional risk scores demonstrated modestly higher area under the ROC curve values than external scores for predicting CR (0.67 versus 0.58) and EBR (0.76 versus 0.70). Assessing the presence/absence of ≥1 of the two strongest predictors (prior carbapenem use or CR isolation within 90 days) was slightly inferior to scoring tools for predicting CR, and comparable for predicting EBR.

Conclusions
Clinicians concerned about CR in P. aeruginosa should consider the likelihood of EBR when making treatment decisions. A simple approach of assessing recent history of CR isolation or carbapenem usage performed similarly to more complex scoring tools and offers a more pragmatic way of identifying patients who require coverage for resistant P. aeruginosa.
Effects of dietary forage neutral detergent fiber and rumen degradable starch ratios on chewing activity, ruminal fermentation, ruminal microbes and nutrient digestibility of Hu sheep fed a pelleted total mixed ration
Authors: Zhang Zhian , Wang Li , Li Qinwu , Li Fei , Ma Zhiyuan , Li Fadi , Wang Zongli , Chen Liang , Yang Xu , Wang Xinji , Yang Guo 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Pelleted total mixed ration (P-TMR) feeding, which has become a common practice in providing nutrition for fattening sheep, requires careful consideration of the balance between forage neutral detergent fiber (FNDF) and rumen degradable starch (RDS) to maintain proper rumen functions. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of the dietary FNDF/RDS ratio (FRR) on chewing activity, ruminal fermentation, ruminal microbes, and nutrient digestibility in Hu sheep fed a P-TMR diet. This study utilized eight ruminally cannulated male Hu sheep, following a 4 × 4 Latin square design with 31 d each period. Diets consisted of four FRR levels: 1.0 (high FNDF/RDS ratio, HFRR), 0.8 (middle high FNDF/RDS ratio, MHFRR), 0.6 (middle low FNDF/RDS ratio, MLFRR), and 0.4 (low FNDF/RDS ratio, LFRR). Reducing the dietary FRR levels resulted in a linear decrease in ruminal minimum pH and mean pH, while linearly increasing the duration and area of pH below 5.8 and 5.6, as well as the acidosis index. Sheep in the HFRR and MHFRR groups did not experience subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA), whereas sheep in another two groups did. The concentration of total volatile fatty acid and the molar ratios of propionate and valerate, as well as the concentrate of lactate in the rumen linearly increased with reducing dietary FRR, while the molar ratio of acetate and acetate to propionate ratio linearly decreased. The degradability of NDF and ADF for alfalfa hay has a quadratic response with reducing the dietary FRR. The apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber linearly decreased when the dietary FRR was reduced. In addition, reducing the dietary FRR caused a linear decrease in OTUs, Chao1, and Ace index of ruminal microflora. Reducing FRR in the diet increased the percentage of reads assigned as Firmicutes, but it decreased the percentage of reads assigned as Bacteroidetes in the rumen. At genus level, the percentage of reads assigned as Prevotella, Ruminococcus, Succinivibrio, and Butyrivibrio linearly decreased when the dietary FRR was reduced. The results of this study demonstrate that the dietary FRR of 0.8 is crucial in preventing the onset of SARA and promotes an enhanced richness of ruminal microbes and also improves fiber digestibility, which is a recommended dietary FRR reference when formulating P-TMR diets for sheep.
Quantitation of hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) and metabolites in blood from DUID cases
Authors: Kronstrand Robert , Roman Markus , Green Henrik , Truver Michael T 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) was first reported in the EU in May 2022. HHC has three chiral carbon atoms, but only (6aR,9R,10aR)-HHC (9R-HHC) and (6aR,9S,10aR)-HHC (9S-HHC) have been encountered in HHC products. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a method for the quantitative analysis of 9R-HHC, 9S-HHC, 11-OH-9R-HHC, 9R-HHC-COOH, 9S-HHC-COOH and 8-OH-9R-HHC. In addition, an objective was to investigate the immunochemical cross-reactivity. Blood samples from driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) cases screened positive for cannabis using enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) and confirmed negative for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 11-hydroxy-THC and THC-COOH were reanalyzed with a newly validated HHC method to investigate the presence of HHC and metabolites. The LC–MS-MS method was validated for matrix effects, lower limit of quantification (LLOQ), calibration model, precision, bias and autosampler stability. Cross-reactivity on an ELISA method was investigated separately for 9R-HHC-COOH and 9S-HHC-COOH at a concentration range between 5 and 200 ng/mL. The cross-reactivity was found to be 120% for 9R-HHC-COOH and 48% for 9S-HHC-COOH. In the LC–MS-MS method, 9R-HHC-COOH, 9S-HHC-COOH and 11-OH-9R-HHC showed matrix effects &lt;25% at both concentrations, while 8-OH-9R-HHC, 9R-HHC and 9S-HHC matrix effects exceeded 25% at both concentrations but showed good precision (&lt;10% for both inter and intra day) and low bias (&lt;6%) in the further validation. The LLOQ was investigated and established at 0.2 ng/mL for all analytes except the carboxylated metabolites that had an LLOQ of 2.0 ng/mL. The upper LOQ was 20 and 200 ng/mL, respectively. Reanalysis of cases (n = 145) confirmed HHC and metabolites in 32 cases (22%). It was determined that the major metabolite in blood after administration of HHC was 9R-HHC-COOH followed by 11-OH-9R-HHC and that presumptive positive cases are caught by the routine ELISA screening for cannabis.
Automated extraction and LC–MS-MS analysis of 11-nor-9-carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinol isomers and prevalence in authentic urine specimens
Authors: Karas Larissa K , Patterson Courtney , Fuller Zachary J , Karschner Erin L 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
11-Nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THCCOOH) is the most frequently detected illicit drug metabolite in the military drug testing program. An increasing number of specimens containing unresolved Δ8-THCCOOH prompted the addition of this analyte to the Department of Defense drug testing panel. A method was developed and validated for the quantitative confirmation of the carboxylated metabolites of Δ8- and Δ9-THC in urine samples utilizing automated pipette tip dispersive solid-phase extraction and analysis by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS-MS). Analytes were separated isocratically over an 8.5-min runtime and detected on an MS-MS equipped with an electrospray ionization source operated in negative mode. A single point calibrator (15 ng/mL) forced through zero demonstrated linearity from 3 to 1,000 ng/mL. Intra- and inter-day precision were ≤9.1%, and bias was within ±14.1% for Δ8-THCCOOH and Δ9-THCCOOH. No interferences were found after challenging the method with different over-the-counter drugs, prescription pharmaceuticals, drugs of abuse and several cannabinoids and cannabinoid metabolites, including Δ10-THCCOOH. Urine specimens presumptively positive by immunoassay (n = 2,939; 50 ng/mL Δ9-THCCOOH cutoff) were confirmed with this analytical method. Δ8-THCCOOH and Δ9-THCCOOH were present together above the 15 ng/mL cutoff in 33% of specimens. However, nearly one-third of the specimens analyzed were positive for Δ8-THCCOOH only. This manuscript describes the first validated automated extraction and confirmation method for Δ8- and Δ9-THCCOOH in urine that provides adequate analyte separation in urine specimens with extreme isomer abundance ratios.
Extensive evaluation of a new LC–MS-MS method to quantify monofluoroacetate toxin in the kidney
Authors: Langston James , Stump Samuel , Filigenzi Michael , Tkachenko Andriy , Guag Jake , Poppenga Robert , Rumbeiha Wilson K 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Monofluoroacetate is a highly lethal toxin that causes death by inhibiting cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. The heart and brain are the primary target organs. Acute death is attributed to cardiac fibrillation and/or convulsions. Although it occurs naturally in some plants, a major source of animal intoxication is access to sodium monofluoroacetate (NaMFA) pesticide, which continues to be a concern in the USA and around the world despite restricted use in some countries including the USA. There are also concerns about misuse of this pesticide for malicious poisoning. Currently, a tissue-based diagnostic method for NaMFA intoxication in animals is lacking. There is a critical need by the veterinary diagnostic community for a simple, sensitive and reliable tissue-based diagnostic test to confirm NaMFA poisoning in animals. We have developed and extensively evaluated a sensitive novel liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry method suitable for this purpose. The limits of detection and limits of quantitation are 1.7 and 5.0 ng/g, respectively. The accuracy and precision met or exceeded expectations. The method performance was verified using the incurred kidney obtained from animal diagnostic cases. This novel kidney-based method is now available for clinical use and can help with diagnostic purposes, including detecting potential issues related to animal foods.