bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and safety of low-dose corticosteroids combined with leflunomide for progressive IgA nephropathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Dongxu , Xia Bowen , Zhang Xin , Liang Pu , Hu Xiaopeng 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background and objective
The effectiveness of immunosuppressive and corticosteroid treatments for Immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy (IgAN) remains thoroughly evaluated. We undertook a meta-analysis to investigate the efficacy and safety of low-dose corticosteroids plus leflunomide for progressive IgA nephropathy.

Methods
Eligible studies were obtained from PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. We also searched the references of the included studies. Our protocol followed the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) checklist. Eligibility criteria were defined using a PICOS framework.

Results
Our study included three articles presenting 342 patient cases. Findings revealed that low-dose corticosteroids combined with the leflunomide group were effective in relieving urine protein excretion (UPE) [mean difference (MD) = -0.35, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.41 to -0.30, P < 0.00001] compared with the full-dose corticosteroids group. Regarding serum creatinine (SCr), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), complete remission rate, and overall response rate, there was no difference between the groups (p > 0.05). Regarding safety, low-dose corticosteroids combined with leflunomide significantly reduced the risk of serious adverse events [odds ratio (OR): 0.11, 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.91, P = 0.04]. Besides, no significant differences were observed between the two groups in the incidence of respiratory infection, abnormal liver function, diarrhea, herpes zoster, alopecia, pruritus, insomnia, pneumonia, diabetes, and urinary tract infection (P > 0.05).

Conclusions
Low-dose corticosteroids combined with leflunomide are a safe and effective treatment for progressive IgA nephropathy.

Trial registration
The PROSPERO registration number is CRD42022361883.
Knowledge, practice and associated factors towards intravenous cannula-related infection prevention among nurses working at Northwest Amhara Regional State Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals, Ethiopia
Authors: Dessalegn Alemwork , Ali Mohammed Seid , Yohannes Senay , Tamir Yeshimebet , Mulatu Sileshi , Zewdie Ashenafi 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackgroundIntravenous cannula-related infections are one of the leading causes of healthcare-associated infections. It leads to morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. Nurses play a significant role in the prevention of these infections. Whereas in Ethiopia, there is limited information and published studies done on nurses’ knowledge, practice, and associated factors and also most of other available studies done only the magnitude it lack associated factors. The purpose of this study was to assess nurses’ knowledge, practice, and associated factors toward intravenous cannula-related infection prevention.MethodsAn institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Northwest Amhara Regional State Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals on May 1-30/2022. By using single population proportion formula the sample size was determined; we used a 50% proportion value (0.05), and 95% Confidence Interval 5% margin of error. A simple random sampling method was used to select 423 nurses. The data were collected by using structured pretested self-administered questionnaires. Then coded, and enter into epi-data version 4.6 and exported into the statistical package for social science version 23 for cleaning and analyzing the data. Data were presented by texts, tables, and figures. A binary logistic regression model was used to assess the association between variables. Based on the adjusted odds ratio, variables having ap-value less than 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval were used to state associated with the outcome variables.ResultsA total of 412 nurses participated in this study with 97.4% response rate. The participants had good knowledge and practice in proportions of (54. 9%) and (53. 4%) respectively.Being male, working wards/units, having training, and a higher educational level were factors that were significantly associated to having good knowledge. Working wards/units, having good knowledge, training, and access to guidelines were significantly associated with performing good practice.ConclusionThe finding of this study revealed that nearly half of the nurses had poor knowledge and practice in intravenous cannula-related infection prevention. As a result, hospital administrators and other concerned stakeholders better to prepare and ensure that guidelines are available, provide training, and develop the educational levels of nurses.
Three-dimensional visualization of thyroid ultrasound images based on multi-scale features fusion and hierarchical attention
Authors: Mi Junyu , Wang Rui , Feng Qian , Han Lin , Zhuang Yan , Chen Ke , Chen Zhong , Hua Zhan , luo Yan , Lin Jiangli 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
Ultrasound three-dimensional visualization, a cutting-edge technology in medical imaging, enhances diagnostic accuracy by providing a more comprehensive and readable portrayal of anatomical structures compared to traditional two-dimensional ultrasound. Crucial to this visualization is the segmentation of multiple targets. However, challenges like noise interference, inaccurate boundaries, and difficulties in segmenting small structures exist in the multi-target segmentation of ultrasound images. This study, using neck ultrasound images, concentrates on researching multi-target segmentation methods for the thyroid and surrounding tissues.

Method
We improved the Unet++ to propose PA-Unet++ to enhance the multi-target segmentation accuracy of the thyroid and its surrounding tissues by addressing ultrasound noise interference. This involves integrating multi-scale feature information using a pyramid pooling module to facilitate segmentation of structures of various sizes. Additionally, an attention gate mechanism is applied to each decoding layer to progressively highlight target tissues and suppress the impact of background pixels.

Results
Video data obtained from 2D ultrasound thyroid serial scans served as the dataset for this paper.4600 images containing 23,000 annotated regions were divided into training and test sets at a ratio of 9:1, the results showed that: compared with the results of U-net++, the Dice of our model increased from 78.78% to 81.88% (+ 3.10%), the mIOU increased from 73.44% to 80.35% (+ 6.91%), and the PA index increased from 92.95% to 94.79% (+ 1.84%).

Conclusions
Accurate segmentation is fundamental for various clinical applications, including disease diagnosis, treatment planning, and monitoring. This study will have a positive impact on the improvement of 3D visualization capabilities and clinical decision-making and research in the context of ultrasound image.
The effect of trans-provincial immediate reimbursement for healthcare expenses on inequity in the utilization of healthcare services for migrants
Authors: Zhou Mei , Zhang Longwei , Liang Yunjia , Chen Yuxiao 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
Improving the accessibility of public services for migrants is an important endeavor to promote equity in economic and social development. As a response to the large-scale movement of migrants and the fragmentation of China’s health insurance system, the Chinese Government has launched a policy of trans-provincial immediate reimbursement for healthcare expenses. The present study hopes to examine the effect of immediate reimbursement policy on the utilization of healthcare services for migrants in China.

Methods
This study used two waves of data from the China Migrants Dynamic Survey (CMDS) collected in 2013 and 2017, with the sample comprising 13,540 individuals. We constructed a difference-in-differences (DID) model to investigate the impact of the policy on the utilization of healthcare services for migrants. Meanwhile, we also analyzed the heterogeneity of the policy effect by grouping the samples by industry, gender, income, and education level.

Results
The results found that the trans-provincial immediate reimbursement significantly promoted the probability of migrants’ utilization of quality healthcare services (average treatment effect on the treated = 0.072, p < 0.05). Heterogeneity analyses revealed that the policy effect was more pronounced among higher-income and better-educated migrants. In addition, the policy effect was more significant for female migrants, and the benefits were more marked for migrants in high-risk industries.

Conclusions
The trans-provincial immediate reimbursement policy has improved the inequity of healthcare services utilization among migrants as a whole; however, within the migrants, inequity still exists. More attention should also be paid to low-income or low-education groups in future policy design.
Kynurenine in IDO1high cancer cell-derived extracellular vesicles promotes angiogenesis by inducing endothelial mitophagy in ovarian cancer
Authors: Ying Xiang , Zheng Xiaocui , Zhang Xiaoqian , Yin Yujia , Wang Xipeng 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
Mitophagy, a prominent cellular homeostasis process, has been implicated in modulating endothelial cell function. Emerging evidence suggests that extracellular vesicles (EVs) participate in intercellular communication, which could modulate tumor angiogenesis, a hallmark of ovarian cancer (OC) progression. However, the underlying mechanisms through how EVs regulate endothelial mitophagy associated with tumor angiogenesis during OC development remain obscure.

Methods
The effect of cancer cell-derived EVs on endothelial mitophagy and its correlation with tumor angiogenesis and OC development were explored by in vitro and in vivo experiments. Multi-omics integration analysis was employed to identify potential regulatory mechanisms of cancer cell-derived EVs on endothelial mitophagy, which is involved in tumor angiogenesis associated with OC development. These insights were then further corroborated through additional experiments. An orthotopic OC mouse model was constructed to assess the antiangiogenic and therapeutic potential of the Indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase-1 (IDO1) inhibitor.

Results
Cancer cell-derived EVs promoted tumor angiogenesis via the activation of endothelial mitophagy, contributing to the growth and metastasis of OC. The aberrantly high expression of IDO1 mediated abnormal tryptophan metabolism in cancer cells and promoted the secretion of l-kynurenine (L-kyn)-enriched EVs, with associated high levels of L-kyn in EVs isolated from both the tumor tissues and patient plasma in OC. EVs derived from IDO1high ovarian cancer cells elevated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD +) levels in endothelial cells via delivering L-kyn. Besides, IDO1high ovarian cancer cell-derived EVs upregulated sirt3 expression in endothelial cells by increasing acetylation modification. These findings are crucial for promoting endothelial mitophagy correlated with tumor angiogenesis. Notably, both endothelial mitophagy and tumor angiogenesis could be suppressed by the IDO1 inhibitor in the orthotopic OC mouse model.

Conclusions
Together, our findings unveil a mechanism of mitophagy in OC angiogenesis and indicate the clinical relevance of EV enriched L-kyn as a potential biomarker for tumorigenesis and progression. Additionally, IDO1 inhibitors might become an alternative option for OC adjuvant therapy.

Graphical Abstract
Changes in effective connectivity during the visual-motor integration tasks: a preliminary f-NIRS study
Authors: Wang Wenchen , Li Haimei , Wang Yufeng , Liu Lu , Qian Qiujin 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
Visual-motor integration (VMI) is an essential skill in daily life. The present study aimed to use functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technology to explore the effective connectivity (EC) changes among brain regions during VMI activities of varying difficulty levels.

Methods
A total of 17 healthy participants were recruited for the study. Continuous Performance Test (CPT), Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult Version (BRIEF-A), and Beery VMI test were used to evaluate attention performance, executive function, and VMI performance. Granger causality analysis was performed for the VMI task data to obtain the EC matrix for all participants. One-way ANOVA analysis was used to identify VMI load-dependent EC values among different task difficulty levels from brain network and channel perspectives, and partial correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between VMI load-dependent EC values and behavioral performance.

Results
We found that the EC values of dorsal attention network (DAN) → default mode network (DMN), DAN → ventral attention network (VAN), DAN → frontoparietal network (FPN), and DAN → somatomotor network (SMN) in the complex condition were higher than those in the simple and moderate conditions. Further channel analyses indicated that the EC values of the right superior parietal lobule (SPL) → right superior frontal gyrus (SFG), right middle occipital gyrus (MOG) → left SFG, and right MOG → right postcentral gyrus (PCG) in the complex condition were higher than those in the simple and moderate conditions. Subsequent partial correlation analysis revealed that the EC values from DAN to DMN, VAN, and SMN were positively correlated with executive function and VMI performance. Furthermore, the EC values of right MOG → left SFG and right MOG → right PCG were positively correlated with attention performance.

Conclusions
The DAN is actively involved during the VMI task and thus may play a critical role in VMI processes, in which two key brain regions (right SPL, right MOG) may contribute to the EC changes in response to increasing VMI load. Meanwhile, bilateral SFG and right PCG may also be closely related to the VMI performance.
Myocardial infarction due to coronary embolism after mechanical aortic valve replacement: a case report
Authors: Kus Mukan Kagan , Karaagac Anil , Bozkurt Burak , Ceylan Ufuk Sadik , Kaplan Mehmet 
Published: March 2024

AbstractProsthetic valve thrombosis (PVT) in aortic valve and its complication coronary embolism is a very rare condition. Diagnosis and treatment process is challenging. We present a young patient with acute myocardial infarction who underwent mechanical aortic valve replacement (AVR) operation one month earlier. Percutaneous coronary intervention was performed and it was succesful. Transeasophageal ecocardiography (TEE) was performed. Thrombus was seen on the mechanical aortic valve and thrombolytic therapy was initiated. Control TEE was performed and there was no signs of thrombi. The patient was discharged healthfully with anticoagulant and antiaggregan.
Updates on mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Zhong Michael Z. , Peng Thomas , Duarte Mariana Lemos , Wang Minghui , Cai Dongming 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease in the United States (US). Animal models, specifically mouse models have been developed to better elucidate disease mechanisms and test therapeutic strategies for AD. A large portion of effort in the field was focused on developing transgenic (Tg) mouse models through over-expression of genetic mutations associated with familial AD (FAD) patients. Newer generations of mouse models through knock-in (KI)/knock-out (KO) or CRISPR gene editing technologies, have been developed for both familial and sporadic AD risk genes with the hope to more accurately model proteinopathies without over-expression of human AD genes in mouse brains. In this review, we summarized the phenotypes of a few commonly used as well as newly developed mouse models in translational research laboratories including the presence or absence of key pathological features of AD such as amyloid and tau pathology, synaptic and neuronal degeneration as well as cognitive and behavior deficits. In addition, advantages and limitations of these AD mouse models have been elaborated along with discussions of any sex-specific features. More importantly, the omics data from available AD mouse models have been analyzed to categorize molecular signatures of each model reminiscent of human AD brain changes, with the hope to guide future selection of most suitable models for specific research questions to be addressed in the AD field.
A comparison of methods for detecting DNA methylation from long-read sequencing of human genomes
Authors: Sigurpalsdottir Brynja D. , Stefansson Olafur A. , Holley Guillaume , Beyter Doruk , Zink Florian , Hardarson Marteinn Þ. , Sverrisson Sverrir Þ. , Kristinsdottir Nina , Magnusdottir Droplaug N. , Magnusson Olafur Þ. , Gudbjartsson Daniel F. , Halldorsson Bjarni V. , Stefansson Kari 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
Long-read sequencing can enable the detection of base modifications, such as CpG methylation, in single molecules of DNA. The most commonly used methods for long-read sequencing are nanopore developed by Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) and single molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing developed by Pacific Bioscience (PacBio). In this study, we systematically compare the performance of CpG methylation detection from long-read sequencing.

Results
We demonstrate that CpG methylation detection from 7179 nanopore-sequenced DNA samples is highly accurate and consistent with 132 oxidative bisulfite-sequenced (oxBS) samples, isolated from the same blood draws. We introduce quality filters for CpGs that further enhance the accuracy of CpG methylation detection from nanopore-sequenced DNA, while removing at most 30% of CpGs. We evaluate the per-site performance of CpG methylation detection across different genomic features and CpG methylation rates and demonstrate how the latest R10.4 flowcell chemistry and base-calling algorithms improve methylation detection from nanopore sequencing. Additionally, we show how the methylation detection of 50 SMRT-sequenced genomes compares to nanopore sequencing and oxBS.

Conclusions
This study provides the first systematic comparison of CpG methylation detection tools for long-read sequencing methods. We compare two commonly used computational methods for the detection of CpG methylation in a large number of nanopore genomes, including samples sequenced using the latest R10.4 nanopore flowcell chemistry and 50 SMRT sequenced samples. We provide insights into the strengths and limitations of each sequencing method as well as recommendations for standardization and evaluation of tools designed for genome-scale modified base detection using long-read sequencing.
A single session of a beach volleyball exergame did not improve state anxiety level in healthy adult women
Authors: de Oliveira Vinnycius Nunes , Viana Ricardo Borges , de Freitas João Victor Rosa , Rodrigues Mila Alves Matos , Andrade Marilia Santos , Vancini Rodrigo Luiz , Weiss Katja , Knechtle Beat , de Lira Claudio Andre Barbosa 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis study evaluated the acute effect of the exergame Kinect Sports® beach volleyball on state anxiety level in adult women. Thirty healthy adult women (age: 21 [4] years, body mass: 54.70 [19.50] kg, height: 1.61 ± 0.05 m, and body mass index: 21.87 [5.76] kg/m2, data are expressed as median [interquartile range] and as the mean ± standard deviation) were assigned to play an exergame of beach volleyball in singleplayer mode session (intervention session) for ~ 30 min using the Xbox 360 Kinect® or remained seated (control session). State anxiety was evaluated before and after the intervention and control sessions through the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. State anxiety obtained in both sessions (exergame and control) was classified as intermediate before (median: 36.00 [IQR: 4.75] and mean = 38.73 ± 7.23, respectively) and after (mean: 34.86 ± 6.81 and mean: 37.66 ± 8.44, respectively). Friedman test found no time significant effect on state anxiety of the sessions (χ2 [3] = 6.45, p-value = 0.092, Kendall’s W = 0.07 “trivial”). In conclusion, the present study showed that there were no significant differences in the state anxiety level after an acute session of the exergame beach volleyball.
A posteriori error estimation for model order reduction of parametric systems
Authors: Feng Lihong , Chellappa Sridhar , Benner Peter 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis survey discusses a posteriori error estimation for model order reduction of parametric systems, including linear and nonlinear, time-dependent and steady systems. We focus on introducing the error estimators we have proposed in the past few years and comparing them with the most related error estimators from the literature. For a clearer comparison, we have translated some existing error bounds proposed in function spaces into the vector space $${\mathbb {C}}^n$$

C

n

and provide the corresponding proofs in $$\mathbb C^n$$

C
n

. Some new insights into our proposed error estimators are explored. Moreover, we review our newly proposed error estimator for nonlinear time-evolution systems, which is applicable to reduced-order models solved by arbitrary time-integration solvers. Our recent work on multi-fidelity error estimation is also briefly discussed. Finally, we derive a new inf-sup-constant-free output error estimator for nonlinear time-evolution systems. Numerical results for three examples show the robustness of the new error estimator.
Chemical structure elucidation and functional activities comparison of two polysaccharides purified from Citrus reticulata Blanco peels
Authors: Li Xiaojun , Chen Jiang , Yin Yuan , Xiao Shijun , Zhang Rui , Yang Yang , Li Le , Xu Hairong , Zhang Xue , Hu Pei 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
The Citrus reticulata Blanco peels have been widely adopted as functional food or nutraceuticals for thousands of years. In our study, two polysaccharides from the C. reticulata Blanco peels were obtained and named as CRP-WA and CRP-02A, respectively. After characterization by monosaccharide composition, methylation and NMR, chemical structures of CRP-WA and CRP-02A were elucidated.

Results
As a result, CRP-WA with Mw of 32.8 kDa was an arabinogalactan polysaccharide composed of (β1 → 3) (β1 → 3,6)-D-Galp, (β1 → 4)-D-Manp and (β1 → 4)-D-Glcp units in the backbone. The CRP-02A with Mw of 70.5 kDa was an arabinogalacturonan type pectin formed by (α1 → 4) (α1 → 3,4)-D-GalpA units in the backbone. Moreover, the surface morphologies and rheological properties of CRP-WA and CRP-02A were quite different from each other. Both of these two polysaccharides possessed good antioxidant activities and immunoregulatory effects on RAW 264.7 cells, in which CRP-02A behaved remarkable antioxidant feature, whereas CRP-WA showed relatively high immunoregulatory activity.

Conclusion
Our study will provide fundamental information for C. reticulata Blanco-based nutritional foods development.

Graphical Abstract