bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Conventional versus high-voltage, long-term pulse Radiofrequency of ganglion impar in perineal pain with advanced rectal cancer: A Randomized, Double-Blind Controlled Trial
Authors: Li Qin , Wang Huaiming , Zhong Bo , Zhang Taomei , Wang Zhiqiang , Tao Ping , Zhang Hongwei , Zhang Aimin 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Objective Advanced rectal cancer is a common cause of perineal pain and research on the use of radiofrequency therapy for the treatment of this pain is limited. In the present study, we aimed to compare the effectiveness and safety of conventional radiofrequency (CRF) and high-voltage long-term pulsed radiofrequency (H-PRF) of radiofrequency therapy in the management of perineal pain in advanced rectal cancer.
Methods A total of 72 patients with advanced rectal cancer experiencing perineal pain were enrolled and randomly assigned to either the group CRF or H-PRF in a double-blind trial. The primary focus was on assessing perineal pain using NRS scores at various time points. Secondary outcomes included the duration of maintaining a sitting position, depression scores, sleep quality, consumption of Oral Morphine Equivalent and Pregabalin, and the incidence of perineal numbness.
Results A total of 57 patients (28 patients in the group CRF and 29 patients in the H- group H-PRF) were investigated. At all observation time points postoperatively, both groups of patients exhibited significant reductions in pain, enhancements in depression, improvements in sleep quality, and increased duration of sitting compared to their baseline measurements (P＜0.05). During the 3 months and 6 months follow-up period, the group CRF exhibited significant reduction in pain, improvement in depression, sleep quality, and increased the time of keeping a sitting position compared with the group H-PRF. (P＜0.05). The consumption of oral morphine equivalent and Pregabalin as well as the incidence of perineal numbness were not significantly different between groups (P>0.05).
Conclusion Our results demonstrate that application of CRF and H-PRF in ganglion impar to reduce perineal pain and improve the quality of life of patients with advanced rectal cancer is safe and effective. However, the long-term effect of CRF is better compared with that of H-PRF.
Trial registration This study was registered was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2200061800, 07/02/2022).
Polarised human alveolar epithelia enable identification of dichloroacetate as an effective drug against respiratory viruses
Authors: de Iturrate Paula Martínez , Hernaez Bruno , Santos Patricia de los , García-Gómez Alba , Sánchez-Cruz Alonso , Hernández-Sánchez Catalina , Rivas Luis , Val Margarita del , Rial Eduardo 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Respiratory viral infections are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the lack of chemotherapeutical tools to fight emerging viruses and the need to focus on preclinical models that better recapitulate the human disease. We performed a comparative analysis of inhibitors of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, involved in the virus-induced metabolic reprogramming, since strategies aimed to cellular targets should serve to combat diverse viruses and hamper the development of resistance. Tests were performed in two human cell lines, MRC5 lung fibroblasts and Huh7 hepatoma cells, and showed that the inhibitors had markedly different effects on energy metabolism and in antiviral activity. Thus, dichloroacetate (DCA) had a potent antiviral activity against HCoV-229E in MRC5 but not in Huh7 cells, implying that the screening model appears to be more critical than previously assumed. DCA was then tested in polarized human alveolar epithelia in air-liquid interface, a 3D model to study respiratory infections. DCA reduced the viral progeny of HCoV-229E, SARS-CoV-2 and the respiratory syncytial virus by 2–3 orders of magnitude, being effective even when applied once infection had been established. Although DCA has previously been shown to be effective against other viruses, suggesting it could be a broad-spectrum antiviral, our experiments reinforce the need to use physiologically appropriate disease models to screen antiviral compounds.
Analysis of clinical features, biochemical and inflammatory indexes in patients with acute pancreatitis
Authors: Han Minghua , Jiang Jun , Huang Lei 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory process unpredictability occurring in the pancreas, imposing a substantial burden on healthcare systems. Herein,Exploring the clinical characteristics of patients with acute pancreatitis, biochemical tests and the role of inflammatory indexes in the disease, to predict the prognosis of acute pancreatitis.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data, biochemical and inflammatory indexes of 116 patients with acute pancreatitis diagnosed in Puren Hospital affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology. They were divided into non-severe group and severe group. Counting data were expressed as rate (%), X2 test was used, and measurement data were expressed as mean±standard deviation. Comparison between the two groups was performed by t test, and comparison between the mean of more than two samples was performed by a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).P<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was performed according to the inflammatory indexes of the two groups, and the area under the curve (AUC) and the cut-off value (CUT-OFF) are calculated respectively.
Results: The mean age of patients in the severe group was older, and the proportion of underlying diseases was higher. The biochemical and inflammatory indexes in the severe group were higher than those in the non-severe group (P < 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) and CUT-OFF value (cut-off) were obtained by ROC curve analysis of the inflammatory indexes of white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil count (NEUT), hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), procalcitonin (PCT) and interleukin-6 (IL-6).
Conclusion: Elderly patients with acute pancreatitis accompanied by underlying diseases are more likely to develop into severe disease. In severe patients, biochemical tests are obviously abnormal and inflammatory indexes are increased or even excessive, which is helpful to judge the condition and prognosis of patients with acute pancreatitis.
Monsoon Hysteresis reveals Atmospheric Memory
Authors: Katzenberger Anja , Levermann Anders 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Within Earth’s climate system the ocean, cryosphere and vegetation exhibit hysteresis behaviour such that their state depends on their past and not merely on their current boundary conditions. The atmosphere’s fast mixing time scales were thought to inhibit the necessary memory effect for such multistability. Here we show that moisture accumulation within the atmospheric column generates hysteresis in monsoon circulation independent of oceanic heat storage and yields two stable atmospheric states for the same boundary conditions. Hysteresis is shown in observational data, reproduced in a general circulation model where it increases with decreasing oceanic memory and then reproduced in a mathematical formulation of the moisture-advection feedback. Thus moisture accumulation can generate bistability through an atmospheric memory that carries information across time scales much longer than those typical for mixing. This has implications for the future evolution of monsoon rainfall that is crucial for the agricultural productivity currently feeding more than two billion people.
DCE-MRI Based Machine Learning Predictor for HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: A Feasibility and Validation Multicenter Study
Authors: Kong Chunli , Lin Guihan , Chen Weiyue , Cheng Xue , Liu Shuang , Shen Di , Ding Jiayi , Hui Junguo , Chen Minjiang , Xia Shuiwei , Xu Min , Peng Zhiyi , Ji Jiansong 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Background
Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status of breast cancer plays a critical role in guiding clinical treatment. We aimed to develop and validate a predictive model for HER2 status using preoperative dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI).
Methods
A total of 570 patients (282, 121 and 167 patients for training, internal and external test sets, respectively) with pathologically confirmed breast cancer and known HER2 status were recruited. A total of 851 radiomics features for each patient were extracted from preoperative DCE-MRI images. VarianceThreshold, SelectKBest and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression were applied to identify the optimal predictive features. Logistic regression was adopted to incorporate the Rad-score and clinical predictors into a nomogram. The performance of the nomogram was evaluated by area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), calibration curve and decision curve. Additionally, gene expression analysis based on the Cancer Image Archive database was conducted to validate the biological interpretability of the model.
Results
Twenty-three radiomics features were selected to calculate the Rad-score. The Rad-score, along with breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS) parameter, were independent predictors for HER2 status and were incorporated into the predictive model. The combined model achieved AUCs of 0.881, 0.883, and 0.798 in the training, internal and external test sets, respectively. Calibration curves demonstrated well agreement between the model predictions and actual HER2 status. Decision curve analysis further confirmed the clinical utility of the model. Differentially expressed genes between HER2-positive and HER2-negative patients were primarily involved in signaling pathways such as PI3K-AKT, endocrine resistance, and p53.
Conclusions
The combined model, which incorporated the Rad-score and BI-RADS, representing a potential and efficient alternative tool to evaluate HER2 status in breast cancer.
Impact of Smoking on Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Treatment Outcomes in Patients with Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with High PD-L1 Expression: A Real-World Observational Study
Authors: Kuo Yu-Chu , Cheng Wen-Chien , Chen Hsu-Yuan , Chen Chia-Hung , Liao Wei-Chih , Hsia Te-Chun , Tu Chih-Yen , Chen Hung-Jen 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Background
Smoking history is increasingly recognized as a potential prognostic indicator for immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) efficacy in metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the findings of most studies have not reached statistical significance. Furthermore, no studies have evaluated the impact of smoking specifically on non-squamous cell NSCLC with high programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression (≥ 50%).
Materials and Methods
Patients with stage IIIB to IV non-squamous cell NSCLC without epidermal growth factor receptor/anaplastic lymphoma kinase mutations and ≥ 50% PD-L1 expression were retrospectively recruited from August 2017 to December 2022. The enrolled patients were categorized into two groups based on their smoking status: smokers or nonsmokers.
Results
The final analysis included 53 patients, comprising 36 smokers and 17 nonsmokers. The partial response rates to ICI treatment were significantly higher in smokers (75.0%) than in nonsmokers (17.6%; p < 0.001). The median progression-free survival (PFS) was not reached in smokers, which is longer than the 1.4 months in nonsmokers (p < 0.001). Smokers also had a longer overall survival (OS) than nonsmokers (not reached vs. 8.1 months, p = 0.006). Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that smoking independently predicted better PFS (p < 0.001) and OS (p = 0.003) in patients with non-squamous NSCLC with high PD-L1 expression receiving ICI therapy.
Conclusions
Our findings underscore the significant role of smoking in treatment outcomes among patients with non-squamous NSCLC with high PD-L1 expression undergoing ICI therapies. Smoking serves as an independent predictor of improved PFS and OS.
Network externality, environmental regulation and firms' technology strategy choice: An evolutionary game analysis in a competitive market
Authors: Ma Shengbiao , Li Shoude 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Compared with existing literature, the feature of this article is to investigate the mechanism of influence between the choice of firms' production technology strategy choice (green-tech or dirty-tech) and the environmental tax rate set by government in a competitive market exhibiting network externality. By applying evolutionary game analysis, it is shown that if the environmental tax rate very high or very low, thefirms would extensively select dirty-tech, while if the environmental tax rate is moderate, the firms prefer to select green-tech. At the evolutionary stable point, the fraction of the population of firms adopting green-tech (dirty-tech) increases (decreases) not only with improvement in the strength of network externality but also with the magnitude of the green-tech innovation. Besides, the social welfare increases with the increase of the strength of network externality. Specially, when the strength of network externality is constant, the social welfare exhibits an inverted-U shape under the effect of the magnitude of the green-tech innovation.
Prognostic factors for gastric cancer patients aged ≥ 85 years
Authors: Endo Shunji , Higashida Masaharu , Furuya Kei , Yano Shuya , Okada Toshimasa , Yoshimatsu Kazuhiko , Fujiwara Yoshinori , Ueno Tomio 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Background
As gastric cancer patients aged ≥ 85 years have a short life expectancy and often die from other diseases such as pneumonia, indications for surgery are controversial. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the prognostic factors of elderly patients with gastric cancer who are candidates for curative gastrectomy.
Methods
Among 114 patients aged ≥ 85 years with gastric cancer at our hospital between 2010 and 2019, prognostic factors were examined using the Cox proportional hazards model in 76 patients excluding those with cStage IVB or endoscopic submucosal dissection. We also analyzed the factors of pneumonia death.
Results
cStage was I/IIA/IIB/III/IVA in 37/6/14/14/5 patients, respectively. Treatment included distal gastrectomy in 28 patients, total gastrectomy in 6, local resection in 9, others in 3, and no surgery in 30. In univariate analyses of overall survival, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status, physiological score of Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and morbidity (POSSUM), Onodera's prognostic nutritional index, cStage, and treatment were prognostic factors. In a multivariate analysis, POSSUM physiological score, cStage, treatment method {no surgery vs distal gastrectomy: hazard ratio (HR) 5.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.33–14.3}, (total gastrectomy vs distal gastrectomy: HR 4.26, 95% CI 1.22–14.9) were independent prognostic factors. In univariate analyses of pneumonia-specific survival, treatment (total gastrectomy vs distal gastrectomy: HR 6.98, 95% CI 1.18–41.3) was the only prognostic factor.
Conclusions
The prognosis of distal gastrectomy was better than that of non-surgery even in patients aged ≥ 85 years. However, total gastrectomy was considered to be avoidable due to the high rate of postoperative pneumonia death.
Implantable Collamer Posterior Chamber Intraocular Lenses: Effectiveness, Safety and Perioperative problems in a sample of Lebanese population
Authors: Ghoch Marie Line , Romanos Marianne , Hallit Souheil , Schakkal Alexandre 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Background:
The Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) has gained recognition in refractive surgery for its stability and ability to achieve reversible refractive outcomes.
Aim:
Our study seeks to assess the safety and efficacy of the ICL with a central hole for vision correction procedures within the Lebanese population. Through this investigation, we aim to enhance our understanding of ICLs and their applicability in refractive surgeries, thus contributing valuable insights to the existing body of knowledge in this field.
Methods:
We conducted a prospective cohort study spanning two years. The study included 116 eyes of 58 patients who underwent surgical implantation of the Visian ICL V4c model. The participants were patients aged between 20 and 45 years, with a stable history of refraction and a medical history of myopia ranging from −2.00 to −20.0 diopters (D) and cylinder up to 3 D. Refractive outcomes, intraocular pressure, and corneal endothelial cell were evaluated one year and two years post operatively.
Results:
During the two years of follow-up, we observed a significant decrease in the UDVA (uncorrected distance visual acuity), CDVA (corrected distance visual acuity), SPH (sphere), CYL (cylinder), and SPH EQ (sphere equivalent). However, there was no variation in the IOP (intraocular pressure) recorded, and the ECC (endothelial cell count) remained stable during the first year following the surgery, but decreased slightly during the second year. Furthermore, we found that an increase in the anterior chamber depth value is associated with a decrease in ECC loss. Importantly, no complications were noted during the two years of postoperative follow-up.
Conclusion:
The implantation of the ICL is a safe and effective treatment for myopic astigmatism, improving visual acuity without complications.
SARS-CoV-2 Infection Related Hyperglycemia during hospitalization and three months post-discharge
Authors: Hosseini Mohsen , Rashid Rabeet , Homayoun Khadije , Hemmatabadi Mahboobeh , Ghaderkhani Sara , Sohrabi Marjan , Salami Arezoo , Ghiasvand Fereshteh 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Hyperglycemia or diabetes mellitus during COVID-19 has always been a great concern and heralds severe forms of the disease, we also don’t know whether this condition will continue as diabetes mellitus even after convalescence. For this purpose we conducted a study to investigate this condition and factors related to it in hospitalized patients and even three months post-discharge we followed them up. We gathered data from 202 patients that fulfilled our inclusion criteria, among them 100 patients were hyperglycemic. Patients in hyperglycemic status experienced significantly longer duration of hospitalization than normoglycemic patients and significantly showed more severe forms of the disease. During their follow up three months post-discharge for the investigation of glycemic status, 46 out of 97 patients were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and have been taking anti-diabetic drugs while 29 patients only had normal glycemic status.
Transplantaion of Parabacteroides distasonis mitigated Aβ-associated changes in APP/PS1 mice via gut-brain interactions by attenuating neuroinflammation
Authors: Jiang jingwen , He Yixi , Pan Hong , Xu Nanjie , Tan Yuyan , Sun dingya , Chen Shengdi 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Background:
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a neuropathological condition marked by cognitive deterioration and chronic neuroinflammation. Previous investigations have unveiled a strong correlation between the gut microbiota and the progression of AD. In this study, our objective is to probe the effects of Parabacteroides distasonis (P.distasonis), previously found to be conspicuously diminished in AD patients, on the APP/PS1 mice model.
Methods:
To assess the impact of orally administered P.distasonis on gut microbiota and metabolites, we utilized 16s rDNA sequencing and GC-MS to analyze gut composition and short-chain fatty acids in APP/PS1 mice after one month of P.distasonis gavage. To investigate the effects of P.distasonis administration over a six-month period on APP/PS1 mice, we evaluated cognitive function using novel object recognition and Y-maze tests, assessed intestinal barrier integrity and AD-related pathological features with immunofluorescence, and analyzed immune cell subpopulations in intestine, blood, spleen, and brain tissues via flow cytometry. The Luminex assay was employed to detect inflammatory cytokine secretion in the same regions.
Results:
One-month oral administration of P.distasonis modulated the gut microbiota, elevated butyrate levels. Six-month oral administration of P.distasonis improved cognitive function in APP/PS1 mice, reducing Aβ deposition and inhibiting glial cell proliferation. It also amplified Treg cells within the gut, concomitant with the decreased Th1 proliferation and intestinal inflammation. Additionally, we observed the migration of peripheral CD4+ T cells to the brain through chemotaxis, accompanied by an increase in Treg cells and higher levels of anti-inflammatory factors such as IL-10 and TGF-β in the brain. Collectively, these multifaceted effects contributed to the alleviation of neuroinflammation.
Conclusion:
These findings underscore the potential of transplanting P.distasonis in alleviating AD-related pathology, suggesting a role for gut microbiota in neuroinflammation attenuation.
Comparative metabolomics revealed the effect of high altitude on the metabolic pattern of Polygonum viviparum L
Authors: Wei Na , Ci Don , Dai Yanna 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
As a main medicinal plants in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Polygonum viviparum L. could improve a range of disease. However, the effects of altitude changes in affecting the metabolic compositions in Polygonum viviparum L. was still unclear. Presently, we deployed comparative metabolomics analysis to investigate the metabolic variations in Polygonum viviparum L. from high and low altitudes (NQ and SN). We found that the medicinal activity and accumulation of bioactive metabolites in Polygonum viviparum L. were closely correlated with the region altitude. High altitude induced dramatic changes in metabolic compositions of Polygonum viviparum L.. And a variety of flavonoids, soluble sugar, amino acids and lipids were highly accumulated in Polygonum viviparum L. from high altitude region. The accumulation of these metabolites was mainly associated with the UVB exposure, which explained the adaptive mechanisms of Polygonum viviparum L. to numerous abiotic stresses represented by hypoxia and UV exposure at high altitude region. Additionally, Arachidonic acid, Stearidonic acid and Procyanidin B2 were identified as the hub upregulated metabolites that contributed to the medicinal value in Polygonum viviparum L. under NQ condition. And these metabolites could affect the expression level of numerous genes involved in hypoxia-related diseases and immune system, demonstrating the higher medicinal value of Polygonum viviparum L. from high altitude. Overall, our metabolic profiles gain insight into the effects of altitude in altering the medicinal value of Polygonum viviparum L., thus contributed to the usage of such medicinal plants in improving diseases in high altitude region.