bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of “needle sensation” and the real-time changes in autonomic nervous system activity during acupuncture analgesia
Authors: Liu Zehua , Huang Jinglei , Yan Dingshang , Liang Sha , Zhao Shatong , Zhang Mengzhen , Li Zhongwen , Jiang Chuliang , Yin Xiang , Zhang Yingjun , Hou Tianshu , Feng Min 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionAcupuncture analgesia (AA) is widely used in clinical practice. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) may be an important pathway for acupuncture signal transduction. However, real-time changes in autonomic function during AA and the effect of “needle sensation” remain unclear.MethodsWe established a human pain model in healthy adults and randomly assigned 128 participants to the model, sham acupuncture, and acupuncture groups in a 1:1:2 ratio. Heart rate variability (HRV), including total power (TP), low-frequency power (LF), high-frequency power (HF), ratio of LF to HF (LF/HF), standard deviation of the normal-normal intervals (SDNN), and root mean square of successive interval differences (RMSSD), were used to assess autonomic function. The visual analog scale (VAS) and efficiency were used to assess the analgesic effect of acupuncture. The Massachusetts General Hospital acupuncture sensation scale (MASS) was used to indicate the intensity of the needle sensation. Anxiety levels were also measured. Finally, the correlation of MASS with HRV, VAS, and anxiety levels was analyzed.ResultsVAS decreased after 10 min of needling and 5 min after needle withdrawal in the acupuncture group compared with those in the model group (p = 0.038, p = 0.020). The efficacy rates were 82.0, 50.0, and 61.3% in the acupuncture, model, and sham groups, respectively. These represent significant differences between the acupuncture group and the model and sham acupuncture groups (p &lt; 0.001 in each case). No differences were observed between the model and sham acupuncture groups. HF, TP, SDNN, and RMSSD were all increased in the acupuncture group compared with those in the model group (p = 0.045, p = 0.041, p = 0.002, p = 0.006, respectively). No differences were observed in the sham acupuncture group compared to the model group (p = 0.632, p = 0.542, p = 0.093, p = 0.222, respectively). The LF and LF/HF did not differ among all three groups. A positive correlation was observed between MASS and RMSSD2, LF2, RMSSD4, TP4, VAS5, and anxiety levels.ConclusionAA was associated with enhanced vagal activity. The intensity of needle sensation was positively correlated with vagal and sympathetic nerve activities. Acupuncture is an effective means of regulating autonomic function, and needle sensation may be an important modulator.
Case report: Isolated eyelid metastasis of ccRCC 5 years after receiving radical nephrectomy
Authors: Yin Huaqi , Du Zheng , Zhang Jiuwen , Ma Yongkang , Zhao Shiming , Yang Tiejun 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionThe most common sites of clear cell renal cell carcinoma(ccRCC) metastasis are the lung, bones, liver and brain; eyelid metastasis is a rare occurrence.Case presentationWe report a case of ccRCC metastasis to the left eyelid after radical nephrectomy, and remission after sunitinib treatment.ConclusionsAlthough the probability of eyelid metastasis rate is very low, tumor metastasis to the eyelid skin is possible after radical nephrectomy. Therefore, any rash like changes on the skin during the review procedure cannot be ignored by the physician.
Preoperative prediction for early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma using machine learning-based radiomics
Authors: Mao Bing , Ren Yajun , Yu Xuan , Liang Xinliang , Ding Xiangming 
Published: March 2024

ObjectiveTo develop a contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) based radiomics model using machine learning method and assess its ability of preoperative prediction for the early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).MethodsA total of 297 patients confirmed with HCC were assigned to the training dataset and test dataset based on the 8:2 ratio, and the follow-up period of the patients was from May 2012 to July 2017. The lesion sites were manually segmented using ITK-SNAP, and the pyradiomics platform was applied to extract radiomic features. We established the machine learning model to predict the early recurrence of HCC. The accuracy, AUC, standard deviation, specificity, and sensitivity were applied to evaluate the model performance.Results1,688 features were extracted from the arterial phase and venous phase images, respectively. When arterial phase and venous phase images were employed correlated with clinical factors to train a prediction model, it achieved the best performance (AUC with 95% CI 0.8300(0.7560-0.9040), sensitivity 89.45%, specificity 79.07%, accuracy 82.67%, p value 0.0064).ConclusionThe CECT-based radiomics may be helpful to non-invasively reveal the potential connection between CECT images and early recurrence of HCC. The combination of radiomics and clinical factors could boost model performance.
Efficacy of turmeric in the treatment of oral mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer after radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wu Chiu-Feng , Wu Hui-Juan , Shih Chia-Lung , Yeh Tzu-Pei , Ma Wei-Fen 
Published: March 2024

BackgroundOral mucositis is a major complication for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients after radiotherapy or chemotherapy. A meta-analysis was performed to assess the efficacy of turmeric in the treatment of oral mucositis in HNC patients.MethodsRandomized controlled trials investigating our topic were included in the meta-analysis. The clinical outcomes considered were the severity of oral mucositis, pain level, and weight loss.ResultsA total of eight articles that met our inclusion criteria were included in our meta-analysis. At the 3-week follow-up visit, the turmeric group showed significantly lower grades of oral mucositis compared to the control group (p = 0.03). When compared to the placebo group, a significant difference in the degree of oral mucositis was observed at the 4-(p = 0.03) and 6-week (p &lt; 0.00001) follow-up visits. No significant difference in pain levels was observed between the turmeric and control groups at any of the follow-up visits. However, a significant improvement in pain levels for the turmeric group when compared with the placebo group was observed only at the 6-week follow-up visit (p = 0.006). Interestingly, a significant improvement in pain levels was observed for the turmeric group at the 2-, 4-, 5-, and 6-week follow-up visits (p &lt; 0.05) when compared to the non-placebo group. The turmeric group showed less weight loss than the control group at the final follow-up visit (p = 0.03).conclusionOur meta-analysis showed that using turmeric may be effective in improving both the severity of oral mucositis and pain levels in HNC patients who have received radiotherapy or radiochemotherapy. In addition, the turmeric group experienced less weight loss.
Acute exposure to ultraviolet radiation targets proteins involved in collagen fibrillogenesis
Authors: Platt Christopher I. , Stewart-McGuinness Callum , Eckersley Alexander , Wilkins Loren , Sherratt Michael J. 
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Exposure to chronic, low-dose UV irradiation (UVR) can lead to premature ageing of the skin. Understanding which proteins are affected by acute UVR and photo-dynamically produced reactive oxygen species (ROS) could help to inform strategies to delay photoageing. Conventional biochemical analyses can be used to characterize UVR/ROS-induced damage on a protein-by-protein basis and we have previously shown using SDS-PAGE that collagen I and plasma fibronectin are respectively resistant and susceptible to physiological doses of UVR. The aim of this study was to screen a complex proteome for UVR-affected proteins.Methods: This study employed a sensitive mass spectrometry technique (peptide location fingerprinting: PLF) which can identify structure associated differences following trypsin digestion to characterize the impact of UVR exposure on purified collagen I and tissue fibronectin and to identify UVR-susceptible proteins in an ECM-enriched proteome.Results: Using LC/MS-MS and PLF we show that purified mature type-I collagen is resistant to UVR, whereas purified tissue fibronectin is susceptible. UV irradiation of a human dermal fibroblast-deposited ECM-enriched proteome in vitro, followed by LC/MS-MS and PLF analysis revealed two protein cluster groups of UV susceptible proteins involved in i) matrix collagen fibril assembly and ii) protein translation and motor activity. Furthermore, PLF highlighted UV susceptible domains within targeted matrix proteins, suggesting that UV damage of matrix proteins is localized.Discussion: Here we show that PLF can be used to identify protein targets of UVR and that collagen accessory proteins may be key targets in UVR exposed tissues.
Mobile health for mental health support: a survey of attitudes and concerns among mental health professionals in Poland over the period 2020-2023
Authors: Dominiak Monika , Gędek Adam , Antosik Anna Z. , Mierzejewski Paweł 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionMobile health (mHealth) has emerged as a dynamic sector supported by technological advances and the COVID-19 pandemic and have become increasingly applied in the field of mental health.AimThe aim of this study was to assess the attitudes, expectations, and concerns of mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychotherapists, towards mHealth, in particular mobile health self-management tools and telepsychiatry in Poland.Material and methodsThis was a survey conducted between 2020 and 2023. A questionnaire was administered to 148 mental health professionals, covering aspects such as telepsychiatry, mobile mental health tools, and digital devices.ResultsThe majority of professionals expressed readiness to use telepsychiatry, with a peak in interest during the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by a gradual decline from 2022. Concerns about telepsychiatry were reported by a quarter of respondents, mainly related to difficulties in correctly assessing the patient’s condition, and technical issues. Mobile health tools were positively viewed by professionals, with 86% believing they could support patients in managing mental health and 74% declaring they would recommend patients to use them. Nevertheless, 29% expressed concerns about the effectiveness and data security of such tools. Notably, the study highlighted a growing readiness among mental health professionals to use new digital technologies, reaching 84% in 2023.ConclusionThese findings emphasize the importance of addressing concerns and designing evidence-based mHealth solutions to ensure long-term acceptance and effectiveness in mental healthcare. Additionally, the study highlights the need for ongoing regulatory efforts to safeguard patient data and privacy in the evolving digital health landscape.
The impact of health beliefs and trust in health information sources on SARS-CoV-2 vaccine uptake
Authors: Alzahrani Sami Hamdan 
Published: March 2024

BackgroundHealth beliefs may mediate the relationship between trust and vaccination decisions, as confidence in online health information has expanded quickly. However, little is known about how health attitudes and trust in health information affect COVID-19 vaccine intention. This study aimed to assess the effect of health beliefs and trust in information sources on the willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine among the general public in Saudi Arabia.MethodsThis study was designed and carried out at the Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Selected items were extracted from the Saudi Residents’ Intention to Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19 (SRIGVAC) survey. They were categorized and validated into constructs of a health belief model (the perceived threat of COVID-19, vaccine-related benefits, barriers, and safety concerns) and trust in health information (from online platforms and health authorities/providers). Regression analysis and parallel mediation were used to assess the predictors of vaccination intentions.ResultsBased on the responses of 3,091 participants, vaccine-related barriers and safety concerns negatively influenced vaccination intention, whereas vaccine benefits and the perceived threat of COVID-19 were positively correlated with vaccination intention. Trust in online health information had a direct relationship with intentions (β = 0.09, p &lt; 0.0001) as well as indirect relationships through the perceived benefits (β = 0.095), the perceived barriers (β = −0.029), and the perceived safety concerns toward the vaccine (β = −0.010). The relationship between the willingness to vaccinate and trust in authentic information was fully mediated by all domains of health beliefs, with indirect coefficients of 0.004, 0.310, −0.134, and −0.031 for the perceived threat, vaccine benefits, barriers, and safety concerns, respectively.ConclusionThe relationship between the willingness to vaccinate and trust in authentic information was fully mediated by all domains of health beliefs. Vaccine coverage in Saudi Arabia can be optimized by targeting the health beliefs of the general public.
Relation of poverty with treatment-seeking behavior and antibiotic misuse among UTI patients in Pakistan
Authors: Hussain Iltaf , Shukar Sundus , Subhan Arshad Muhammad , Rasool Muhammad Fawad , Chang Jie , Fang Yu 
Published: March 2024

ObjectiveThe current study aimed to assess the relation between multi-dimension poverty, treatment-seeking behavior, and antibiotic misuse among urinary tract infection (UTI) patients.MethodA cross-sectional approach was utilized to recruit patients who had a history of UTI in the previous month from two provinces of Pakistan. The treatment-seeking behavior and antibiotic misuse data were collected on a self-developed questionnaire, whereas the poverty data were collected on a modified multi-dimension poverty index (MPI). Descriptive statistics were applied to summarize the data. The logistic regression analysis was carried out to assess the association of multi-dimension poverty with patient treatment-seeking behavior and antibiotic misuse.ResultsA total of 461 participants who had UTI symptoms in the previous month were recruited. Most of the participants in the severely deprived stage treated the UTI (p &lt; 0.001); however, there was a high proportion of the participants who consulted with friends and family for UTI treatment (p &lt; 0.001). The patients with deprivation status (deprived and severely deprived) were less associated with formal consultation. The poorer subgroups were less likely to practice antibiotic course completion.ConclusionThe current study highlighted that poverty plays an important role in antibiotic misuse. Poorer subgroups were associated with informal consultations and the incompletion of the antibiotic course. Further studies are needed to explore the potential role of poverty in treatment-seeking behavior and antibiotic misuse.
The hair tales of women of color in Northern Manhattan: a qualitative analysis
Authors: Vilfranc Chrystelle L. , Houghton Lauren C. , Tsui Felice , Barrett Emily , Llanos Adana A. M. , Pennell Kurt , Walker Desiree A. H. , Martinez Micaela , Morton Beaumont , Shepard Peggy , Terry Mary Beth , McDonald Jasmine A. 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionExposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as phthalates, can negatively impact maternal and child health, contributing to impaired fetal growth, preterm birth, and pregnancy complications, as well as increased downstream risks of cardiometabolic disease and breast cancer. Notably, women of color (WOC) are the largest consumers of personal care products, which are a common source of EDC exposure.MethodsThe Let's Reclaim Our Ancestral Roots (Let's R.O.A.R) Pilot Study developed an educational intervention delivered during pregnancy to promote reduced use of phthalate-containing hair care products (HCPs). This mixed-methods study included: (1) a quantitative analysis and (2) a qualitative analysis of the educational sessions and the semi-structured focus groups to evaluate the factors that influenced the hair care practices and product choices of WOC at various stages of life, including their current pregnancy (hereafter referred to as the hair journey). During the sessions, participants learned about EDCs (with a focus on phthalates), the unequal burden of exposure for WOC, adverse implications of exposure, and exposure reduction strategies. Focus group sessions provided insight into participants' hair journeys from childhood to the current pregnancy and explored factors during their hair product selection process. All sessions were transcribed and imported into NVivo Version 12 for coding and thematic analysis.ResultsA total of 46 individuals were enrolled in the study, and 31 participated in an educational session. This current work synthesizes the qualitative analysis of this study. We identified two important life stages (before and after gaining agency over hair care practices and product choices) and three dominant themes related to HCP use: (1) products that impacted the hair journey, which involved all mentions of hair products, (2) factors that influenced the hair journey, which included individuals or entities that shaped participants' hair experiences, and (3) the relationship between hair and sense of self, where sense of self was defined as the alignment of one's inner and outer beauty.ConclusionThe themes intersected and impacted the participants' hair journey. Cultural integration was a sub-theme that overlapped within the dominant themes and participants discussed the effect of traditions on their hair experiences.
Determinants of animal disease and nontherapeutic antibiotic use on smallholder livestock farms
Authors: Emes Eve , Kagambèga Assèta , Dione Michel 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionReducing nontherapeutic antibiotic use (ABU) in livestock animals has been identified as an important way of curbing the growth of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). However, nontherapeutic ABU may be important for managing animal disease. In order to reduce nontherapeutic ABU, farmers may need to implement other complementary interventions to safeguard animal health and minimize risk. We should therefore investigate if nontherapeutic ABU is associated with better animal health outcomes before advocating to reduce it. We should also investigate non-antibiotic factors which protect animal health and can make nontherapeutic use less necessary, as well as factors which can encourage farmers to improve their antibiotic stewardship.MethodsThe study investigated these questions using data from the AMUSE survey, which is designed to evaluate knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to AMR in smallholder livestock farms. The sample included 320 animal herds from 216 smallholder livestock farms in Burkina Faso, with livestock species including poultry, small ruminants, and cattle. The determinants of the occurrence of animal disease and nontherapeutic ABU were investigated using binary logistic regression.ResultsResults revealed that nontherapeutic ABU was positively associated with animal disease, although the potential reverse causality of this relationship should be investigated further. Going primarily to a public veterinarian for animal health services, and having a higher level of formal education, were negatively associated with the occurrence of disease. Going primarily to a community animal health worker was positively associated with using antibiotics nontherapeutically, whereas going primarily to a public veterinarian was negatively associated with this outcome. Having an animal health professional (of any kind) provide diagnosis and treatment was positively associated with nontherapeutic antibiotic use for goats and sheep.DiscussionThese findings support the expansion of education access and public veterinary services as a way to encourage better antibiotic stewardship while guarding against any animal health risks associated with doing so. They also highlight that animal health professionals other than public veterinarians may prioritize animal health outcomes over antibiotic stewardship goals.
Revisiting the genotypes of Theileria equi based on the V4 hypervariable region of the 18S rRNA gene
Authors: Nehra Anil Kumar , Kumari Ansu , Moudgil Aman Dev , Vohra Sukhdeep 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionEquine theileriosis, an economically important disease that affects horses and other equids worldwide, is caused by a tick-borne intracellular apicomplexan protozoa Theileria equi. Genotyping of T. equi based on the 18S rRNA gene revealed the presence of two, three, four or five genotypes. In previous published reports, these genotypes have been labelled either alphabetically or numerically, and there is no uniformity in naming of these genotypes. The present study was aimed to revisit the phylogeny, genetic diversity and geographical distribution of T. equi based on the nucleotide sequences of the V4 hypervariable region of the 18S rRNA gene available in the nucleotide databases.MethodsOut of 14792 nucleotide sequences of T. equi available in the GenBank™, only 736 sequences of T. equi containing the complete V4 hypervariable region of the 18S rRNA gene (&gt;207 bp) were used in multiple sequence alignment. Subsequently, a maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree was constructed based on the Kimura 2-parameter model (K2+I).ResultsThe phylogenetic tree placed all the sequences into four distinct clades with high bootstrap values which were designated as T. equi clades/ genotypes A, B, C and D. Our results indicated that the genotype B of Nagore et al. and genotype E of Qablan et al. together formed the clade B with a high bootstrap value (95%). Furthermore, all the genotypes probably originated from clade B, which was the most dominant genotype (52.85%) followed by clades A (27.58%), and C (9.78%) and D (9.78%). Genotype C manifested a comparatively higher genetic diversity (91.0-100% identity) followed by genotypes A (93.2-99.5%), and B and D (95.7-100%). The alignment report of the consensus nucleotide sequences of the V4 hypervariable region of the 18S rRNA gene of four T. equi genotypes (A-D) revealed significant variations in one region, between nucleotide positions 113-183, and 41 molecular signatures were recognized. As far as geographical distribution is concerned, genotypes A and C exhibited far-extending geographical distribution involving 31 and 13 countries of the Asian, African, European, North American and South American continents, respectively. On the contrary, the genotypes B and D exemplified limited distribution with confinement to 21 and 12 countries of Asian, African and European continents, respectively. Interestingly, genotypes A and C have been reported from only two continents, viz., North and South America. It was observed that genotypes A and C, and B and D exhibit similar geographical distribution.DiscussionThe present study indicated the presence of only four previously described T. equi genotypes (A, B, C and D) after performing the molecular analyses of all available sequences of the complete V4 hypervariable region of the 18S rRNA gene of T. equi isolates in the GenBank™.