bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Esophageal cancer in an adult with congenital esophageal stenosis: a case report
Authors: Fujiwara Yushi , Kitagami Hidehiko , Kikkawa Tomohiro , Sakashita Keita , Kusumi Takaya , Nishida Yasunori 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
Congenital esophageal stenosis (CES) is a rare condition. We encountered a case of esophageal cancer that developed in an adult with persistent CES. Although many studies have investigated the therapeutic outcomes and performed surveillance for symptoms after treatment for CES, few have performed long-term surveillance or reported on the development of esophageal cancer. We report this case because it is extremely rare and has important implications.

Case presentation
A 45-year-old woman with worsening dysphagia was transferred to our hospital. The patient was diagnosed with CES at 5 years of age and underwent surgery at another hospital. The patient underwent esophageal dilatation for stenosis at 36 years of age. Esophagoscopy performed at our hospital revealed a circumferential ulcerated lesion and stenosis 15–29 cm from the incisors. Histological examination of the biopsy specimen revealed squamous cell carcinoma. Computed tomography (CT) revealed abnormal circumferential wall thickening in parts of the cervical and almost the entire thoracic esophagus. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography-CT revealed increased uptake in the cervical and upper esophagus. No uptake was observed in the muscular layers of the middle or lower esophagus. Based on these findings, the patient was diagnosed with clinical stage IVB cervical and upper esophageal cancer (T3N1M1 [supraclavicular lymph nodes]). The patient underwent a total esophagectomy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The esophagus was markedly thickened and tightly adhered to the adjacent organs. Severe fibrosis was observed around the trachea. Marked thickening of the muscular layer was observed throughout the esophagus; histopathological examination revealed that this thickening was due to increased smooth muscle mass. No cartilage, bronchial epithelium, or glands were observed. The carcinoma extended from the cervical to the middle esophagus, oral to the stenotic region. Finally, we diagnosed the patient with esophageal cancer developing on CES of the fibromuscular thickening type.

Conclusions
Chronic mechanical and chemical irritations are believed to cause cancer of the upper esophagus oral to a persistent CES, suggesting the need for long-term surveillance that focuses on residual stenosis and cancer development in patients with CES.
Serum adropin level in wet-type age-related macular degeneration
Authors: Saeedi-Maleki Zahra , Javadzadeh Alireza , Brumandpur Fariborz , Ghorbanihaghjo Amir , Khanzadeh Shokoufeh , Mousavi Farideh 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Our objective was to compare the serum Adropin levels between patients with wet-type Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and otherwise healthy individuals.

Method
The study included 45 patients with wet-type AMD and 45 individuals without age-related macular degeneration. Patients with co-morbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, and a previous history of visual impairment; were excluded. FBS, Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), lipid profile, and serum Adropin level were checked.

Results
The mean serum Adropin level of patients with wet-type AMD was significantly lower than the control group (P-value < 0.001). Also, the mean High-sensitivity C-reactive protein ( hsCRP) level and High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) were significantly higher in wet-type AMD patients (P-value = 0.031 and < 0.001 respectively).

Conclusions
In our study, wet-type AMD was associated with a lower level of serum Adropin. Because of Adropin involvement in glucose metabolism and age-related changes, it may have a role in the pathogenesis of AMD, but it requires more investigations at the molecular level to elucidate its function.
Non-contrast short MRI surveillance for HCC screening: the study protocol of the SMS-HCC prospective multicenter study
Authors: van de Braak Céline , Willemssen François E. J. A. , de Man Rob A. , van der Lugt Aad , Uyl-de Groot Carin A. , Bos Daniel , Dwarkasing Roy S. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) comprises 75 to 85% of all primary liver cancers. Current guidelines recommend a biannual HCC surveillance using ultrasound (US) for high-risk patients. However, due to its low sensitivity for detection of early-stage HCC lesions, there is an urgency for more sensitive surveillance tools. Here, we describe the potential of a short MRI surveillance (SMS) protocol for HCC, including axial T1-weighted in-out phase, fat-saturated T2-weighted, and diffusion-weighted sequences. In this prospective, multicenter, patient cohort study, patients will be recruited from existing HCC surveillance cohorts of six medical centers in The Netherlands. Surveillance patients who undergo biannual US, will be invited for SMS on the same day for 3 years. In case of a suspicious finding on either US or SMS, patients will be invited for a full MRI liver protocol including gadolinium-based contrast agent intravenous injection within 2 weeks. To our knowledge, this will be the first study to perform a head-to-head comparison with a paired US-MRI design. We hypothesize that the sensitivity of SMS for detection of early-stage HCC will be higher than that of US leading to improved survival of surveillance patients through timely HCC diagnosis. Furthermore, we hypothesize that the SMS-HCC protocol will prove cost-effective.Relevance statement The US sensitivity for detecting early-stage HCC has been reported to be less than 50%. We expect that the proposed SMS will detect at least twice as many early-stage HCC lesions and therefore prove to be cost-effective.Key points• The low sensitivity of US necessitates better imaging tools for HCC screening.• This is the first study with a paired US-MRI design.• This design will allow a head-to-head comparison in both diagnostics and patient-acceptance.• We expect that SMS can contribute to a higher survival rate.
Graphical Abstract
Sirtuin-1 level and gene polymorphisms in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Nageeb Rania S. , Fawzy Amal , Ateya Marwa Abdel-Monem , Talaat Aliaa 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) may affect multiple sclerosis (MS) disease. This study aimed to investigate the level of serum SIRT1, mRNA expression and genetic polymorphisms in Egyptian MS sufferers. Also, to assess its role as a possible biomarker in predicting the risk of MS and to evaluate the association between its levels and disability of MS. Measurement of SIRT1, serum level, mRNA expression level and genotyping for sirtuin-1 gene polymorphisms in 240 Egyptian subjects; 120 MS sufferers and 120 healthy control subjects.

Results
There was a significant diminishment of level of serum sirtuin-1, and sirtuin-1 mRNA expression in MS sufferers compared to control subjects. Different sirtuin-1 single nucleotide polymorphism frequencies were statistically significant in MS sufferers compared to the control subjects. Moreover, a negative correlation of serum level of sirtuin-1 in MS sufferers with MS disease duration, disability according to Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score, cholesterol, and triglyceride serum levels. Regarding the sirtuin-1 gene polymorphisms in MS sufferers, the rs7895833 GG genotype had significant higher cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels than the GA and AA genotypes and that the rs7069102 GG genotype had a higher LDL level than the CG and CC genotypes while the rs2273773 TT genotype was significantly associated with cholesterol, and LDL levels than the TC and CC genotypes. No significant difference was detected in EDSS score comparing different sirtuin-1 genotypes among MS sufferers. In MS sufferers, rs7895833 G allele can be independently associated with cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL levels. rs7069102 C allele can be independently associated with LDL level. With regard to rs2273773, T allele, it can be independently associated with cholesterol and LDL levels.

Conclusion
There was a significant association between different sirtuin-1 gene polymorphisms and dyslipidemia which may modulate the course of MS disease. Furthermore, serum sirtuin-1 level can be considered as a possible predictor of disability in multiple sclerosis sufferers.
A simple and effective VIGS system facilitates the control of citrus canker by silencing CsLOB1
Authors: Wang Chunqing , Ma Zhimin , Zhou Jinhuan , Li Jiaxin , Cao Peng , Song Chenhu , Li Chuxin , Wang Xinliang , Bin Yu , Zhou Changyong , Song Zhen 
Published: March 2024

AbstractVirus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is a powerful technology for molecular characterization of gene functions in plants and has the potential to prevent and control plant diseases. Unfortunately, VIGS in many woody perennials such as citrus are severely hindered because they have a long juvenile period and are recalcitrant to infection compared to herbaceous plants. Here, we report the development of a simple and effective VIGS system based on citrus leaf blotch virus (CLBV), a virus endemic in most citrus-producing countries but showing no symptoms in most citrus varieties. By Agrobacterium-mediated vacuum-infiltration (AVI), pCLBV201-su245 and pCLBV201-pds391 triggered efficient gene silencing (85%) and silencing phenotypes began to appear at 30 days post infiltration/inoculation (dpi), a similar period for achieving that on herbaceous plants. Moreover, the silencing phenotypes could still be observed four years post inoculation. Further, pCLBV201-lob369 was constructed to silence the gene lateral organ boundaries1 (lob1), encoding a key factor for susceptibility to citrus canker that caused by Xanthomonas citri ssp. citri (Xcc). The resistance evaluation results showed that the lesion area, disease index, and bacterial content in the pCLBV201-lob369 treatment group were decreased by 64%, 14%, and 67%, respectively. This work provides a simple and effective VIGS system for citrus which has the potential to be used for diseases control.
Endoscopic endonasal approach for skull base chordoma
Authors: Youssef Ahmed , Morsi Haitham , Bazak Remon , Ibrahim Ahmed Aly , Farhoud Ahmed , Agamy Mohamed M. 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
Chordoma is a rare slow-growing malignant bone tumor that arises from embryonic notochordal remnants in the axial skeleton. Clival chordomas have a high propensity for extension through the skull base and a high proclivity for recurrence. Recently, resection of skull base chordomas through the endoscopic transnasal approach has become the standard way of managing these lesions with the new advancements in neuronavigation and reconstructive techniques in skull base surgery.

Methods
It is a retrospective study of all patients with clival chordoma that were operated upon using endoscopic endonasal resection at the Main Alexandria University Hospital during the period from March 2008 to April 2013. The extent of surgical resection was assessed intraoperatively and confirmed by the postoperative MRI study performed 8–12 weeks, 6 months, and yearly after the surgery.

Results
Twelve patients with clival chordoma were managed by endoscopic transnasal resection. Gross total resection confirmed by postoperative MRI was achieved in four cases, subtotal resection in six cases, and partial resection in two cases of clival chordoma. In cases where gross total resection was not achieved, residual tumors were adherent to vital neurovascular structures as confirmed with the utilization of an intraoperative imaging navigation device. A study of postoperative complications and possible recurrence was done for all cases.

Conclusions
The findings of this study highlight the significance of gross total resection as a major determinant for preventing the recurrence of chordoma. Our findings also support the validity of the endoscopic approach for the management of clival chordoma especially when the approach is tailored based on the site and extent of the tumor.
Effects of Overweight on Risk of Thyroid Nodules in Children and Adolescents: The Fukushima Health Management Survey
Authors: Ohira Tetsuya , Nagao Masanori , Hayashi Fumikazu , Shimura Hiroki , Suzuki Satoru , Yasumura Seiji , Takahashi Hideto , Suzuki Satoshi , Iwadate Manabu , Hosoya Mitsuaki , Sakai Akira , Ishikawa Tetsuo , Furuya Fumihiko , Suzuki Shinichi , Yokoya Susumu , Ohto Hitoshi , Kamiya Kenji 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Context
Examining how overweight/obesity impacts thyroid nodule development in children and adolescents by sex and age allows speculation on the mechanism.

Objective
We examined whether overweight/obesity in children and adolescents is associated with thyroid nodule development by sex and age.

Methods
Approximately 300 000 participants who underwent thyroid ultrasonography in the Fukushima Health Management Survey after a nuclear accident were enrolled. Those without nodules in the initial 2 examinations (1-3 and 4-5 years postaccident) were prospectively assessed for nodule development in the third examination (6-7 years postaccident) relative to baseline overweight status, with an average follow-up of 4.2 years. This was a population-based prospective cohort study. The first and second thyroid examinations involved 299 939 and 237 691 participants, respectively, excluding those with thyroid nodules. After the third examination, 184 519 participants were finalized for analysis. Multivariable adjusted odds ratios of new detected thyroid nodules for overweight participants were compared with normal-weight participants.

Results
New thyroid nodules were detected in 660 participants. Being overweight was positively associated with thyroid nodules. The adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) of thyroid nodules for overweight participants compared with other participants was 1.27 (1.04-1.57). Additionally, the multivariable adjusted odds ratios for overweight males and females were 1.21 and 1.32, respectively, and those for different age groups (0-9, 10-14, and 15-19 years) ranged from 1.17 to 1.75.

Conclusion
Being overweight was associated with thyroid nodules in children and adolescents, mostly adolescent females, regardless of their proximity to the nuclear power plant.
Clinical and Metabolic Characterization of Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Within the First Year Postpartum
Authors: Knudsen Laura Løftgaard , Knorr Sine , Prange Susanne Kastberg , Wolff Charlotte , Nørgaard Helle , Torp Anne Mette , Madsen Lene Ring , Mortensen Lene , Thomsen Henrik Holm , Sørensen Lars Peter , Ovesen Per Glud , Fuglsang Jens , Kampmann Ulla 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Context
Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have an increased risk of long-term complications, including impaired glucose metabolism, type 2 diabetes (T2DM), cardiovascular disease, and obesity. In current clinical practice, a 1 size fits all approach to GDM is applied, although heterogeneity among women with GDM has been recognized.

Objective
To give the most adequate preventive care and postpartum (PP) guidance, we aimed to make a metabolic characterization and identify subgroups of women with previous GDM within the first year PP.

Methods
In this prospective cohort study, we collected data in gestational week 34-38, at 3 months, and 1 year PP on women with GDM who participated in a PP follow-up program in Central Region Denmark from April 2019 to December 2022.

Results
In total, 1270 women were included in the program in late pregnancy. Of the 768 women participating in either the oral glucose tolerance test 3 months PP (n = 545) or the 1-year follow-up (n = 493) or both (n = 261), 608 (79.2%) were normoglycemic, 137 (17.8%) had prediabetes, 20 (2.6%) had T2DM, and 3 (.4%) had developed T1DM. More than 40% of the women gained weight in the first year PP compared with their pregestational weight.

Conclusion
Our study shows that 20.8% of women with GDM who volunteered to participate in a clinical follow-up program developed prediabetes or diabetes (T1DM and T2DM) within the first year PP. The GDM diagnosis encompasses a heterogenetic group of women and a deeper characterization may provide an opportunity for a more personalized risk assessment to prevent the progression to T2DM.
Service Quality Implications of Long Periods of Consecutive Working Days: An Empirical Study of Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing Teams
Authors: Miedaner Felix , Kuntz Ludwig , Eilermann Kerstin , Roth Bernhard , Scholtes Stefan 
Published: March 2024

Problem definition: We examine the effects of prolonged consecutive working days without breaks on care quality and explore its association with daily staffing levels in neonatal intensive care nursing teams. Academic/practical relevance: Healthcare organizations typically base staffing guidelines on safe daily metrics like nurse-to-patient ratios. However, in response to unforeseen demand spikes or staff shortages, managers often depend on staff working additional consecutive days to bridge staffing gaps. This approach, although addressing immediate staffing needs, can inadvertently impact care quality and safety, potentially undermining the benefits of higher staffing levels. Methodology: Using longitudinal data from 62 German neonatal units, we analyze the effect of nursing teams’ consecutive working days on the time from admission to full enteral feeding for 847 low-birth-weight babies, considering nurse-to-patient ratios and patient complexity. Results: Longer consecutive working periods harmfully affect care quality, especially during staffing shortages. The detrimental impact on days with low staffing is particularly pronounced in patients with less complex medical needs. Limiting the team-average number of consecutive working days to two days would have reduced the time to full enteral feeding in our study by 6.4%. Shifting from half a day less to half a day more than the average number of consecutive working days has an impact equal to 20% of the difference in time taken to reach full enteral feeding between low- and high-birth-weight babies. Managerial implications: Limiting consecutive working days could significantly improve intensive care outcomes. Management should monitor consecutive working days alongside daily staffing levels. Policy makers should consider introducing limits on the number of consecutive working days for intensive care nurses. Funding: This work was supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research in Germany [Grant 01GY1152]. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2022.0021 .
The Impact of a Short-Selling-Friendly Environment on Board Composition
Authors: Kang Ribuga , Kang Jingoo 
Published: March 2024

This study examines how short selling influences board composition following a tradition in the strategy literature emphasizing the role of the external environment on firms’ strategies. We predict that a short-selling-friendly environment has a negative effect on the number of outside directors, which is supported by our firm and year fixed effect difference-in-differences analysis. We find that the negative effect of a short-selling-friendly environment becomes stronger when outside directors have a larger network and are busy. Furthermore, we investigate the moderating effect of chief executive officer (CEO) influence on the board and find that the negative effect is more pronounced when the CEO serves as the board chair and when the nominating committee is more nonindependent. Our research identifies a novel determinant of board composition and addresses the endogeneity issue in board composition literature. Funding: This work was supported by the Sogang University Research Grant of 202210048.01. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2022.16506 .
Effect of gamma-irradiation on the photoluminescence of silver-doped lithium triborate glass
Authors: Adamiv Volodymyr , Burak Yaroslav , Volodko Natalia , Dutchak Ulyana , Izo Taras , Teslyuk Ihor , Luchechko Andriy 
Published: March 2024

Optical-luminescence properties, including absorption spectra, photoluminescence
excitation spectra, and changes in photoluminescence spectra after
irradiation with γ-rays in the dose range of
1–3 Gy, were measured for novel LiB3O5:Ag dosimeter glass. A clear dependence
of the intensity of the photoluminescence (PL), with a maximum of
approximately 300 nm, on the dose value when excited by light
with λexc=220nm was observed. The mechanism of PL in γ-irradiated LiB3O5:Ag glass is proposed to be a consequence
of radiation annihilation with the emission of relaxed exciton-like
electronic excitations with the participation of impurity defects (Ag0) in the glass structure. Considering
that LiB3O5 has an effective atomic number of Zeff=7.39, which is the closest to Zeff=7.42 of human body tissue, LiB3O5:Ag glass can be very promising for γ-dosimetry in medical practice during
radiation therapy of patients with cancer. The presence of lithium
Li(6) and boron B(10) isotopes increases the sensitivity of LiB3O5:Ag glass to neutrons, which is promising
for the manufacture of individual neutron dosimeters for applications
in a new field of radiation therapy–neutron therapy.
Differentiation of acanthamoeba keratitis from other non-acanthamoeba keratitis: Risk factors and clinical features
Authors: Alreshidi Shaker Osaywid , Vargas José Manuel , Ahmad Khabir , Alothman Ahmed Yousef , Albalawi Eman D. , Almulhim Abdulmohsen , Alenezi Saad Hamdan , ALBalawi Hani Basher , Alali Naif Mamdouh , Hashem Faris , Aljindan Mohanna 
Published: March 2024

Introduction
Infectious Keratitis is one of the most common ocular emergencies seen by ophthalmologists. Our aim is to identify the risk factors and clinical features of Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK).

Methods
This retrospective chart review study was conducted at King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and included all the microbial keratitis cases, male and female patients of all ages. The main outcome is the differentiation between various microbial keratitis types.

Results
We included 134 consecutive eyes of 126 persons. We had 24 cases of acanthamoeba keratitis, 22 bacterial keratitis, 24 fungal keratitis, 32 herpetic keratitis, and 32 bacterial co-infection. Contact lens wear was found in 33 eyes (24.6%). Among acanthamoeba keratitis patients, 73% were ≤ 39 years of age, and 73% were females (P <0.001). Also, in AK cases, epithelial defect was found in all cases (100%), endothelial plaques were found in 18 eyes (69.2%), 12 cases had radial keratoneuritis (46.2%), and ring infiltrate was found in 53.8% of AK cases.

Conclusions
We determined the factors that increase the risk of acanthamoeba infection and the clinical characteristics that help distinguish it from other types of microbial keratitis. Our findings suggest that younger females and patients who wear contact lenses are more likely to develop acanthamoeba keratitis. The occurrence of epitheliopathy, ring infiltrate, radial keratoneuritis, and endothelial plaques indicate the possibility of acanthamoeba infection. Promoting education on wearing contact lenses is essential to reduce the risk of acanthamoeba infection, as it is the most significant risk factor for this infection.