bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Coronary bifurcation lesions treated with double kissing crush technique compared to classical crush technique: serial intravascular ultrasound analysis
Authors: SHAN Shou-jie , YE Fei , LIU Zhi-zhong , TIAN Nai-liang , ZHANG Jun-jie , CHEN Shao-liang 
Published: January 2024

Background
The double kissing (DK) crush technique is a modified version of the crush technique. It is specifically designed to increase the success rate of the final kissing balloon post-dilatation, but its efficacy and safety remain unclear.

Methods
Data were obtained from the DKCRUSH-I trial, a prospective, randomized, multi-center study to evaluate safety and efficacy. Post-procedural and eight-month follow-up intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) analysis was available in 61 cases. Volumetric analysis using Simpson's method within the Taxus stent, and cross-sectional analysis at the five sites of the main vessel (MV) and three sites of the side branch (SB) were performed. Impact of the bifurcation angle on stent expansion at the carina was also evaluated.

Results
Stent expansion in the SB ostium was significantly less in the classical crush group ((53.81±13.51)%) than in the DK crush group ((72.27±11.46)%) (P=0.04). For the MV, the incidence of incomplete crush was 41.9% in the DK group and 70.0% in the classical group (P=0.03). The percentage of neointimal area at the ostium had a tendency to be smaller in the DK group compared with the classical group ((16.4±19.2)% vs. (22.8±27.1)%, P=0.06). The optimal threshold of post-procedural minimum stent area (MSA) to predict follow-up minimum lumen area (MLA) <4.0 mm2 at the SB ostium was 4.55 mm2, yielding an area under the curve of 0.80 (95% confidence interval: 0.61 to 0.92).

Conclusion
Our data suggest that the DK crush technique is associated with improved quality of the final kissing balloon inflation (FKBI) and had smaller optimal cutoff value of post-procedural MSA at the SB ostium.
Association between dyslipidemia and chronic kidney disease: a cross-sectional study in the middle-aged and elderly Chinese population
Authors: LIU Dong-wei , WAN Jia , LIU Zhang-suo , WANG Pei , CHENG Gen-yang , SHI Xue-zhong 
Published: January 2024

Background
Dyslipidemia, a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular disease, is common in patients with kidney disease. Recent studies discerned that dyslipidemias play a critical role in renal damage progression in renal diseases, but the association between dyslipidemias and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the general population remains unknown. Thus, we assessed whether the growing prevalence of dyslipidemia could increase the risk of CKD.

Methods
A total of 4779 middle-aged and elderly participants participated in this study. Dyslipidemias were defined by the 2007 Guidelines in Chinese Adults. Incident CKD was defined as albuminuria and/or reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, <60 ml•min-1•1.73 m-2). Regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between dyslipidemia and albuminuria/reduced eGFR.

Results
Participants with hypercholesterolemia exhibited a greater prevalence of albuminuria and reduced eGFR (10.0% vs. 6.1%, P=0.001; 4.0% vs. 2.4%, P=0.028, respectively). Both hypercholesterolemia and low high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were independently associated with albuminuria (odds ratio (OR) 1.49; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08-2.07 and OR 1.53; 95% CI 1.13-2.09, respectively). The multivariable adjusted OR of reduced eGFR in participants with hypercholesterolemia was 1.65 (95% CI 1.03-2.65). As the number of dyslipidemia components increased, so did the OR of CKD: 0.87 (95% CI 0.65-1.15), 1.29 (95% CI, 0.83-2.01), and 7.87 (95% CI, 3.75-16.50) for albuminuria, and 0.38 (95% CI 0.21-0.69), 1.92 (95% CI 1.14-3.25), and 5.85 (95% CI 2.36-14.51) for reduced eGFR, respectively.

Conclusions
Our findings indicate that dyslipidemias increase the risk of CKD in the middle-aged and elderly Chinese population. Hypercholesterolemia plays an important role in reducing total eGFR. Both low HDL-C and hypercholesterolemia are associated with an increased risk for albuminuria.
Impact of HIV/sexually transmitted infection testing on risky sexual behaviors among men who have sex with men in Langfang, China
Authors: GUO Wei , WU Zun-you , SONG Ai-jun , Katharine Poundstone 
Published: January 2024

Background
Men who have sex with men (MSM) in China remain at high risk for HIV infection, the proportion of reported HIV/AIDS cases that occurred among MSM rose greatly from 2005 to 2011. HIV testing and counseling is a critical HIV prevention strategy among HIV related high-risk population, including MSM in China. This article aimed to assess the association between receiving HIV testing and high-risk sexual behaviors among MSM in Langfang, Hebei Province, China.

Methods
Between September and November 2007, 233 MSM were recruited to receive an HIV testing intervention. Face-to-face interviews were conducted before HIV testing and 3 months later HIV-related risk behaviors were assessed. Serological testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) was performed.

Results
Of the recruited 233 MSM, 200 completed follow-up. Baseline prevalence was 7.8% for HIV, 21.0% for syphilis, 15.8% for gonorrhea, and 5.0% for chlamydia. Multivariate analysis indicated that inconsistent condom use (OR=7.9, 95% CI: 0.9-66.7, P=0.059) and bleeding during anal sex (OR=5.9, 95% CI: 1.3-26.2, P=0.019) were risk factors for HIV infection, and group sex (OR=6.6, 95% CI: 2.2-19.7, P=0.001) was a risk factor for syphilis infection at baseline. At 3 months follow-up, among STI-positive MSM, self-reported anal sex fell from 73.1% to 38.5% (P<0.001); group sex fell from 19.2% to 5.8% (P<0.001); and bleeding during anal sex fell from 23.1% to 5.8% (P<0.001). Among STI-negative MSM, the frequency of one-night stands fell from 32.5% to 17.2% (P <0.001), and oral sex rose from 57% to 78.5% (P <0.001). STI-positive MSM were less likely to engage in anal sex compared to STI-negative MSM (χ2=5.189, P=0.023).

Conclusions
HIV testing is an important intervention strategy among MSM. HIV testing services among MSM need to be scaled up, along with comprehensive, tailored interventions including condom promotion and STI treatment.
Intranasal endoscopic prelacrimal recess approach to maxillary sinus
Authors: ZHOU Bing , HAN De-min , CUI Shun-jiu , HUANG Qian , WANG Cheng-shuo 
Published: January 2024

Background
The inferior turbinate (IT) and nasolacrimal duct (NLD) are often sacrificed while managing the diffuse lesion of maxillary sinus (MS). We report a new approach to MS without ablation of NLD and IT.

Methods
This retrospective study enrolled 19 hospitalized patients (aged from 42 to 68 years) who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery between 2003 and 2008. Twelve patients had inverted papilloma (IP), two had nasal polyps, two had Kubo's postoperative cyst of MS, one had recurrent bone cyst of maxilla, one had dentigerous cyst and one had bleeding of internal maxillary artery secondary to Caldwell-Luc operation respectively. Two IP patients were excluded from this group since the follow-up time was less than 12 months. The NLD was dissected after removing the anterior bony portion of nasal lateral wall. The prelacrimal recess approach (PLRA) to MS was established when IT-NLD flap was raised medially. The flap was repositioned when MS lesion was removed.

Results
All the 17 patients had unilateral lesions. Ten MS IP patients were at the T3 Krouse stage. The follow-up ranged from 7 to 60 months. No recurrence was seen in 16 patients. Only one IP patient had a local recurrence in MS. All of them had no any complications.

Conclusion
The diffuse or severe diseases of MS may be the potential indications for PLRA.
Body temperature control in patients with refractory septic shock: too much may be harmful
Authors: Yang Yan-li , Liu Da-wei , Wang Xiao-ting , Long Yun , Zhou Xiang , Chai Wen-zao 
Published: January 2024

Background
The lowering of body temperature is a common, almost reflexive step in the daily care of septic shock patient. However, the effect of different magnitudes of fever control on the outcome of refractory septic patients with a very poor outcome is controversial and has yet to be explored.

Methods
This prospective trial examined sixty-five refractory septic shock patients with a core temperature higher than 38.5°C. Patients were randomly assigned to a group achieving a “low temperature” range (LT group: 36.0-37.5 °C) or to a group achieving a “high temperature” range (HT group: 37.5-38.3 °C) by physical methods including a water-flow cooling blanket and ice packs. A target core temperature was achieved in 1-2 hours post-treatment, and maintained for 72 hours. Averaged values of core temperature as well as hemodynamic, respiratory, and laboratory variables were analyzed at baseline and during the first 72 hours after fever control.

Results
Thirty-four (52.31%) patients were assigned to the LT group and thirty-one (47.69%) patients were assigned to the HT group. The mean core temperature was significantly lower in the LT group than in the HT group (36.61 vs. 37.85 °C, respectively; P < 0.0001). The average heart rate (HR) (75.5 vs. 91.9 beats/min, respectively; P < 0.0001) and the mean cardiac output (CO) (5.35 vs. 6.45 L/min, respectively; P = 0.002) were also statistically significant lower in the LT group than in the HT group. The averaged serum lactate level was significantly higher in the LT group compared to the HT group (5.59 vs. 2.82 mmol/L, respectively; P=0.008). Fibrinogen and activated partial thromboplatin time were also different between the two groups. The 28 days mortality was significantly higher in the LT group than in the HT group (61.8 vs. 25.8%, respectively; P=0.003). A Cox-regression model analysis showed that mean core temperature during the 72 h period was an independent predictor of 28 days mortality (odds ratio (OR) = 0.42, 95%CI 0.25, 0.6; P=0.001).

Conclusion
Controlling fever to a lower range (36.0-37.5 °C) may be harmful to patients with refractory septic shock by worsening tissue perfusion, compared to controlling it within a higher range (37.5-38.3 °C). An understanding of the mechanisms responsible for these observations requires further investigation.
Montelukast improves air trapping, not airway remodeling, in patients with moderate-to-severe asthma: a pilot study
Authors: GAO Jin-ming , CAI Feng , PENG Min , MA Yi , WANG Bin 
Published: January 2024

Background
Evidence has demonstrated that the distal lung, which includes airways of <2 mm in diameter and lung parenchyma, constitutes an important component of asthma pathology. Cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) are potent proinflammatory mediators and bronchoconstrictors involved in the asthmatic process. Guidelines recommend the leukotriene-modifying agents for asthma treatment. We hypothesized that a leukotriene receptor antagonist with an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and long-acting β2 agonist (LABA) combination would improve small airways function in moderate-to-severe asthmatics evaluated by physiological tests and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) analysis. This study was performed at a tertiary university hospital in Beijing.

Methods
This was a randomized, double-blind, parallel study performed in 38 patients with moderate-to-severe asthma treated with salmeterol/fluticasone (SFC) plus montelukast (SFC+M) or SFC plus placebo over 24 weeks. Small airway function was assessed by physiological studies and HRCT image analysis.

Results
Montelukast significantly improved air trapping as expressed by the residual volume (RV)/total lung capacity (TLC). Over 24 weeks of treatment, RV/TLC was improved by (15.41±6.67)% in patients receiving SFC+M while RV/TLC was decreased by (8.57±10.26)% in patients receiving SFC alone, the difference between the two groups was significant (P=0.02). There was a trend towards a significant difference in forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) in the SFC+M group compared to that in the SFC group ((17.87±8.17)% vs. (12.28±9.20)%, P=0.056). There was no significant change in percentage wall area (WA%) after 24 weeks of add-on treatment with montelukast. Patients receiving SFC+M showed significant improvement in the ratio of CT-determined values at full expiration to those at full inspiration (E/I ratio) (0.894±0.005 vs. 0.871±0.003, P=0.002).

Conclusion
We have shown, using lung function tests and HRCT image technique, that add-on therapy with montelukast improves distal lung function reflected by air trapping, but not airway wall thickness in moderate-to-severe asthma. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00699062)
The WHO near miss criteria are appropriate for admission of critically ill pregnant women to intensive care units in China
Authors: WANG Yong-qing , GE Qing-gang , WANG Jing , NIU Ji-hong , HUANG Chao , ZHAO Yang-yu 
Published: January 2024

Background
Evaluation of the severity of the pregnant women with suitable admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is very important for obstetricians. By now there are no criteria for critically ill obstetric patients admitted to the ICU. In this article, we investigated the admission criteria of critically ill patients admitted to the ICU in order to provide a referral basis of reasonable use of the ICU.

Methods
A retrospective analysis of critically ill pregnant women admitted to the ICU in Perking University Third Hospital in China in the last 6 years (from January 2006 to December 2011) was performed, using acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE-II), Marshall and WHO near miss criteria to assess the severity of illness of patients.

Results
There were 101 critically ill pregnant patients admitted to the ICU. Among them, 25.7% women were complicated with internal or surgical diseases, and 23.8% women were patients of postpartum hemorrhage and 23.8% women were patients of pregnancy-induced hypertension. Sixty-nine cases (68.3%) were administrated with adjunct respiration with a respirator. Sixteen cases (15.8%) required 1-2 types of vasoactive drugs. Fifty-five cases (54.5%) required a hemodynamic monitoring. Seventy-three cases (72.3%) had multiple organ dysfunctions (MODS). The average duration in ICU was (7.5±3.0) days. A total of 12.9%, 23.8% and 74.3% of women were diagnosed as critically ill according to the APACHE-II, Marshall and WHO near miss criteria, respectively. The rate was significantly different according to the three criteria (P<0.01).

Conclusions
The WHO near miss criteria can correctly reflect the severity of illness of pregnant women, and the WHO near miss criteria are appropriate for admission of critically ill pregnant women to ICU in China.
Impaired prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle in Chinese patients with first-episode, medication-naïve schizophrenia
Authors: WANG Zhi-ren , TAN Yun-long , YANG Fu-de , ZHANG Wu-fang , ZOU Yi-zhuang , TAN Shu-ping , SONG Chong-sheng , LI Ying-li , ZHANG Wei-hua , ZHOU Dong-feng 
Published: January 2024

Background
Patients with schizophrenia have prominent abnormality in information processing that can be observed by measures of prepulse inhibition (PPI) of acoustic startle reflex and PPI deficits have been considered as a candidate endophenotypic marker of schizophrenia. However, there has been little information on PPI and related measures in Chinese patients with schizophrenia. The research was to explore the deficits of acoustic startle reflex that might exist in Chinese patients with schizophrenia.

Methods
Startle response to acoustic stimuli, habituation, and PPI were examined in 31 Chinese patients with first-episode, medication-naïve schizophrenia and 30 age- and sex- matched healthy Chinese controls. At the same day of startle testing, psychopathological symptoms of the patients were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).

Results
Compared with healthy controls, patients exhibited the significant reduction in startle response and PPI deficits at 60 milliseconds (ms) intervals (PPI60, P <0.05) but not at 30 or 120 ms intervals. Furthermore, there was a relatively strong correlation between PPI60 (P <0.05) and scores of positive scale of PANSS in patients with schizophrenia.

Conclusion
Our findings confirmed impaired PPI in Chinese patients with schizophrenia and suggested that a relationship between sensorimotor gating deficits and clinical symptoms of patients with schizophrenia might exist.
Curcumin exerts antinociceptive effects by inhibiting the activation of astrocytes in spinal dorsal horn and the intracellular extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling pathway in rat model of chronic constriction injury
Authors: Ji Feng-tao , Liang Jiang-jun , Liu Ling , Cao Ming-hui , Li Feng 
Published: January 2024

Background
Activation of glial cells and the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway play an important role in the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain. Curcumin can alleviate the symptom of inflammatory pain by inhibiting the production and release of interleukin and tumor necrosis factor. However, whether curcumin affects neuropathic pain induced by nerve injury and the possible mechanism involved are still unknown. This study investigated the effects of tolerable doses of curcumin on the activation of astrocytes and ERK signaling in the spinal dorsal horn in rat model of neuropathic pain.

Methods
Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: a control (sham operated) group, and chronic constriction injury groups (to induce neuropathic pain) that were either untreated or treated with curcumin. Thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia thresholds were measured. The distribution and morphological changes of astrocytes were observed by immunofluorescence. Western blotting was used to detect changes in the expression of glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) and phosphorylated ERK.

Results
Injured rats showed obvious mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. The number of GFAP-positive astrocytes, and the fluorescence intensity of GFAP were significantly increased in the spinal dorsal horn of injured compared with control rats. The soma of astrocytes also appeared hypertrophied in injured animals. Expression of GFAP and phosphorylated ERK was also significantly increased in the spinal dorsal horn of injured compared with control rats. Curcumin reduced the injury-induced thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia, the increase in the fluorescence intensity of GFAP and the hypertrophy of astrocytic soma, activation of GFAP and phosphorylation of ERK in the spinal dorsal horn.

Conclusions
Curcumin can markedly alleviate nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain in rats. The analgesic effect of curcumin may be attributed to its inhibition of astrocyte hypertrophy in the spinal dorsal horn and phosphorylation of the ERK signaling pathway.
Association between the rate of the morning surge in blood pressure and cardiovascular events and stroke
Authors: LUO Yu , WANG Yan-li , WU Ying-biao , XU Yao , Head Geoffrey A. , Barry Macgrathy , LIANG Yu-lu 
Published: January 2024

Background
The exaggerated surge in morning blood pressure (BP) that many patients experience upon awakening may be closely related to target organ damage and may be a predictor of cardiovascular complications. However, no previous studies have evaluated the rate of this surge independently of the evening period. It remains unclear whether the rate of increase experienced during the surge is a significant or independent determinant of cardiovascular events.

Methods
We randomly selected 340 ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) patients. All subjects without type 2 diabetes mellitus were divided into two groups: hypertensive group (n=170) and normotensive group (n=170). We analyzed ambulatory blood pressure recordings using a double logistic curve-fitting procedure to determine whether the magnitude of the surge in BP and heart rate (HR) in the morning is related to the level of BP in hypertensive individuals. We evaluated the association between the rate of the morning surge in systolic BP (SBP) and the incidence of myocardial infarction and stroke in normotensive and hypertensive subjects.

Results
Comparisons between hypertensive and normotensive subjects showed that the rates of the morning surges in SBP, mean BP (MBP), and diastolic BP (DBP) were greater in the hypertensive group (P <0.05) than in the normotensive group. The rate of morning surge in BP was found to be correlated with the daytime SBP (r=0.236, P <0.01), the difference between the day and night plateau (r=0.249, P <0.01), and the night SBP (r=-0.160, P <0.05), respectively. After controlling for age, sex, and mean systolic pressure within 24 hours (24 h SBP), the rate of morning surge in SBP was closely correlated with daytime SBP (r=0.463, P<0.001), night SBP (r=-0.173, P<0.05), and the difference between the day and night plateau (r=0.267, P <0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the rate of morning surge in SBP was an independent determinant of myocardial infarction (OR=1.266, 95% CI.= 1.153-1.389, P <0.001) and stroke (OR=1.367, 95% CI=1.174-1.591, P<0.001).

Conclusions
The rate of the morning surge in BP is greater in hypertensive subjects than in normotensive subjects. Daytime SBP may be the best predictor of the rate of morning surge in SBP. The rate of the morning surge in BP is associated with cardiovascular and stroke events.
Elastic fiber regeneration in vitro and in vivo for treatment of experimental abdominal aortic aneurysm
Authors: XIONG Jiang , GUO Wei , WEI Ren , ZUO Shang-wei , LIU Xiao-ping , ZHANG Tao 
Published: January 2024

Background
The pathological characteristics of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) involved the regression of extracellular matrix (ECM) in aortic walls, especially elastic structure in medial layer. As the major structural protein of aorta, elastin contributes to the extensibility and elastic recoil of the vessels. We hypothesized that overexpression of elastin in vessel walls might regenerate the elastic structure of ECM, restore the elastic structure of the aneurysmal wall, and eventually lead to a reduction of aortic diameters (ADs) in an experimental model of AAA.

Methods
Tropoelastin (TE) of Sprague Dawley (SD) rat was synthesized by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and used to construct adneviral vectors containing elastin precursor protein (AdTE-GFP). Cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from aortas of male SD rats were transfected with AdTE-GFP, AdGFP, adenoviral vector (AdNull), and phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Immunofluorescence staining was performed to determine the expression of elastin in transfected cells. The expression of elastic fibers in ECM of VSMCs transfected with AdTE-GFP were detected by fluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) at 1, 3, and 5 days following gene transfer. The AAA vessel walls were infused with AdTE-GFP or an empty AdNull, or PBS directly into the aneurysmal lumen. ADs of the aneurysms were compared in infused aortas. Formation of new elastic fibers in vivo was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin, and elastic von-Giesson staining. Recombinant elastin-GFP in vivo was identified by immunohistochemical staining.

Results
Elastic fibers were increased both in ECM of VSMC and in vessel walls after gene transfer. Histological studies revealed that the AdTE-GFP-transduced aortas had elastic fiber regeneration in the aneurysmal walls. The AdTE-GFP-transduced aortas showed a decreased AD (23.04%±14.49%, P<0.01) in AAA vessel walls.

Conclusions
Elastic fibers have been successfully overexpressed both in vitro and in a rat model of AAA by a technique of gene transfer. The overexpression of elastic fibers within the aneurysmal tissue appeared to reverse the aneurysm dilatation in this model.