bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determinants of health-related quality of life worsening in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at one year
Authors: Liang Lirong , Lin Yingxiang , Yang Ting , Zhang Hong , Li Jie , Wang Chen 
Published: January 2024

Background
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and has been the leading cause of death in China. Patients with COPD have significant decrements in their healthrelated quality of life (HRQL). It is necessary to identify the factors involved in worsening HRQL in order to improve the HRQL of COPD patients. However, evidence from longitudinal studies is limited. The aim of the study was to evaluate the determinants of the deterioration of HRQL in patients with COPD.

Methods
At baseline, a total of 491 patients with stable COPD received comprehensive assessments, including psychosocial and clinical variables, six minutes walk distance (6MWD), dyspnea grade measured by the 5-grade Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnea scale, anxiety and depression measured by the hospital anxiety and depression scale and HRQL measured by St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Patients were then monitored monthly for 12 months to document COPD exacerbations. At the end of the study period, the SGRQ values were reassessed. A 1-year change in SGRQ total score ≥4 was defined as a deterioration of the HRQL and as the outcome. A total of 450 patients completed the 12-month follow-up and were analyzed in the present study.

Results
The age (mean±SD) was (65.0±10.6) years and 68.7% of subjects were men. The deterioration of the HRQL was 26.4%. In multivariate Logistic regression, independent and graded associations were found between the baseline MRC dyspnoea grade and the deterioration of HRQL (P=0.012), OR 3.03 (95% CI 1.11–8.24) for patients with MRC dyspnoea grade ≥4 versus patients with MRC dyspnoea grade =1. Similarly, the number of exacerbations during the follow-up was independently and gradually increased with the deterioration of HRQL (P <0.001), OR 3.03 (95% CI 1.9–5.6) for the participants with exacerbations ≥3 versus participants with no exacerbation. The 6MWD evaluated by quartiles was negatively associated with the deterioration of HRQL with borderline statistical significance.

Conclusion
MRC dyspnea grade and the number of exacerbations impair the HRQL of patients with COPD.
Combined therapy with methylprednisolone and ulinastatin in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Authors: SHU Ya-qing , YANG Yu , WANG Yu-ge , DAI Yong-qiang , XIAO Li , QIU Wei , LU Zheng-qi , WU Ai-ming , RUAN Heng-fang , HU Xue-qiang 
Published: January 2024

Background
Our previous study had demonstrated that ulinastatin (UTI) had a neuroprotective effect in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Methylprednisolone has been recommended to be a standard drug in multiple sclerosis (MS) therapies. The present study was to investigate the protective effects of UTI combined methylprednisolone in EAE.

Methods
Mice were divided into a UTI treatment group, a methylprednisolone treatment group, a combined treatment group with UTI and methylprednisolone, a normal saline treatment group, and a normal control group. EAE mice were induced in groups receiving different combined treatments, or respective monotherapies. Demyelination was evaluated by Solochrome cyanin staining. 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′- phosphodiesterase (CNP)/ myelin basic protein (MBP)/ the precursor form of nerve growth factor (proNGF)/p75/ inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) proteins in cerebral cortex of EAE were detected by Western blotting.

Results
The combined treatment group had a lower clinical score ( 0.61±0.06) and demyelinating score (1.33±0.33) than the groups with normal saline (clinical score: 1.39±0.08, P <0.001; demyelinating score: 2.75±0.49, P <0.05) or monotheraphies. Compared with the saline treated EAE group, UTI combined methylprednisolone significantly increased expressions of CNP (1.14±0.06 vs. 0.65±0.04, P <0.001), MBP (1.28±0.14 vs. 0.44±0.17, P <0.001), and decreased expressions of proNGF (1.08±0.10 vs. 2.32±0.12, P <0.001), p75 (1.13±0.13 vs. 2.33±0.17, P <0.001), and iNOS (1.05±0.31 vs. 2.17±0.13, P <0.001) proteins in EAE. Furthermore, UTI combined methylprednisolone could significantly upregulate MBP (1.28±0.14 vs. 1.01±0.15, P <0.05) expression and downregulate iNOS (1.05±0.31 vs. 1.35±0.14, P <0.05) expression compared to methylprednisolone treatment EAE group. And proNGF expression was significantly lower in combined treatment (1.08±0.10) than that in UTI (1.51±0.24, P <0.05) or methylprednisolone (1.31±0.04, P <0.05) treatment group.

Conclusion
Combination treatment of UTI with methylprednisolone was shown to protect EAE, suggesting that combination therapy is a potential novel treatment in MS.
Impact of prosthesis-patient mismatch on survival after mitral valve replacement: a systematic review
Authors: Zhang Jian-feng , Wu Yi-cheng , Shen Wei-feng , Kong Ye 
Published: January 2024

Objective
To determine whether the prosthesis-patient mismatch has a deleterious impact on survival after mitral valve replacement.

Data sources
A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Embase, and ScienceDirect was carried out. References and cited papers of relevant articles were also checked.

Study selection
All articles published after January 1980 was initially considered. Non-English and non-human studies, case reports, and reviews were excluded from the initial search. References and cited papers of relevant articles were also checked.

Results
A total of 8 retrospective cohort studies were identified for this review. The overall incidence of prosthesis-patient mismatch (<1.3 to <1.2 cm2/m2) after mitral valve replacement ranged from 3.7% to 85.9% (moderate prosthesis-patient mismatch (0.9 to 1.2 cm2/m2) in 37.4% to 69.5%, severe prosthesis-patient mismatch (<0.9 cm2/m2) in 8.7% to 16.4%). Four studies demonstrated an association of prosthesis-patient mismatch with reduced long-term survival, but the other four studies found no significant deleterious impact of prosthesis-patient mismatch after mitral valve replacement. No definite conclusion could be derived from these conflicting results.

Conclusions
Current evidence is insufficient to derive a definite conclusion whether mitral prosthesis-patient mismatch affects long-term survival because of the biases and confounding factors that interfere with late clinical outcomes. Good-quality prospective studies are warranted to evaluate the impact of mitral prosthesis-patient mismatch after mitral valve replacement in the future.
Age-related differences in the biological parameters of vertebral cancellous bone from Chinese women
Authors: JIANG Rui , LIU Guo-min , BAI Hao-tian , WANG Tian-bin , WU Han , JIA Yun-yan , LUO Yun-gang 
Published: January 2024

Background
With aging, the human fracture risk gradually increase. This is mainly due to the corresponding changes of the biomechanical parameters of human bone presents with aging. We measured the microstructural parameters of lumbar bone from women in several age groups by micro-computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy. We observed changes in lumbar cancellous bone mineral density and in biomechanical parameters with aging to elucidate the relationship between age and risk of fracture. We provide theoretical support for human pathology, fracture risk increased with age and the individualized of each age group.

Methods
Thirty-two fresh L3 vertebral bodies were donated from 32 women, aged 20-59 years and were divided into four age groups: 20 to 29 years (group A); 30 to 39 years (group B); 40 to 49 years (group C); and 50 to 59 years (group D). Conventional lumbar separation was performed by removing soft tissue and subsidiary structures, leaving only the vertebral body. The vertebral body was cut into halves along the median sagittal plane, maintaining the upper and lower end-plates of each half, and used for biomechanical, morphological, and density measurements.

Results
Comparing group A to B, the rod-like trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) decreased; the trabecular spacing (Tb.Sp) increased; the plate-like Tb.Th decreased; bone mineral density, tissue mineral density, bone volume fraction, and bone surface fraction decreased, and the elastic modulus and the ultimate stress decreased (all changes P <0.05). Similar significant (P < 0.05) trends were obtained when comparing group C to D. With aging, the collagen cross-linking capacity declined, the thickness of the collagen fibrils was variable (ranging from almost the same to loose, sparse, or disordered), and the finer collagen fibrils between the thick filaments were disorganized.

Conclusions
In women aged 20 to 59 years, the rod-like and plate-like Tb.Th of the vertebral body decreased, while Tb.Sp increased. Additionally, the density, elastic modulus, and ultimate stress of the cancellous bone decreased with age. These associated changes in bone microstructure, density, and biomechanics with age may lead to an increasing risk of osteoporosis and fracture.
Biphasic insulin aspart 30 improved glycemic control in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes poorly controlled on oral glucose-lowering drugs: a subgroup analysis of the A1chieve study
Authors: Chen Liming , Xing Xiaoyan , Lei Minxiang , Liu Jie , Shi Yongquan , Li Pengqiu , Qin Guijun , Li Chengjiang , Li Yukun , Wang Qing , Gao Tianshu , Hu Ling , Wang Yangwei , Yang Wenying 
Published: January 2024

Background
The effectiveness and safety of initiating biphasic insulin aspart 30 in patients who were poorly controlled on oral glucose-lowering drugs were studied in randomized controlled trials, while results from clinical practice remain limited. This subgroup analysis was to provide such findings from a large-scale non-interventional study.

Methods
A1chieve was a multinational, prospective, open-label, non-interventional, 24-week study in patients with type 2 diabetes initiating insulin analogues in 28 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. After physician had taken the decision to use this insulin, any patient with type 2 diabetes who was not treated with or who had started the study insulin within 4 weeks before inclusion was eligible. Patients were treated with study insulin alone or in combination with oral glucose-lowering drugs. Data on adverse drug reactions, hypoglycemia and glycemic control were collected at baseline, week 12 and 24. This is a report of a Chinese subgroup analysis from the A1chieve study.

Results
Totally, 4 100 patients constituted this subgroup. No serious adverse drug reactions were reported. Rates of total, major, nocturnal hypoglycemic events (events/patient per year) were 1.47, 0.10, 0.31 at baseline and 1.35, 0.00, 0.22 at week 24, respectively. Glycemic control was improved as measured by hemoglobin A1c (mean 9.3% to 7.0%, reduction -2.3%), fasting plasma glucose (mean 10.2 to 6.8 mmol/L, reduction -3.5 mmol/L) and postprandial plasma glucose (mean 14.4 to 8.8 mmol/L, reduction -5.6 mmol/L), all P <0.001. Change in mean body weight was +0.3 kg (P <0.001).

Conclusion
In this subgroup analysis of the A1chieve study, biphasic insulin aspart 30 improved glycemic control with low risk of hypoglycemia.
Influence of sinomenine on protein profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from ankylosing spondylitis patients: a pharmacoproteomics study
Authors: Huang Zhi-xiang , Tan Jin-hui , Li Tian-wang , Deng Wei-ming , Qiu Ke-wei , Liao Ze-tao , Zeng Zhao-qiu 
Published: January 2024

Background
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a common inflammatory rheumatic disease which lacks satisfactory treatment so far. Sinomenine (SIN) is an alkaloid and has recently been utilized in treating multiple rheumatic diseases including AS in China, but its exact mechanism remains to be explored. This study investigated the alteration of proteome in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from AS patients.

Methods
Thirty AS patients were enrolled in this study. PBMCs from each AS patient were cultured in medium with or without SIN respectively. Then PBMCs proteins from both groups were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and analyzed by mass spectrometry (MS). Two differentially expressed proteins were then chosen to be verified using Western blotting.

Results
Seven proteins, including α-synuclein (SNCA), calmodulin (CALM), acidic leucine-rich nuclear phosphoprotein 32 family member A (ANP32A), chloride intracellular channel protein 1 (CLIC1), guanine nucleotide-binding protein G(I)/G(S)/G(T) subunit beta-1 (GNB1), gelsolin (GSN) and histone H2B type 1-M (HISTH2BM) were over-expressed, while coronin-1A (CORO1A) was under-expressed in the SIN-treated PBMCs. Further bioinformatics search indicated that the changes of SNCA, ANP32A and CLIC1 pertained to apoptosis, while changes of GSN and CORO1A were associated with both apoptosis and inhibition of immunological function. Subsequently GSN and CORO1A were selected to validate by Western blotting and the results were consistent with those of 2-DE.

Conclusion
There were 8 differentially expressed proteins in the SIN-treated PBMCs, which might shed some light on the mechanism of SIN in the treatment of AS.
Effect of long intermittent hemodialysis on improving dialysis adequacy of maintenance hemodialysis patients
Authors: DAI Wen-di , ZHANG Dong-liang , CUI Wen-ying , LIU Wen-hu 
Published: January 2024

Background
With the increase in hemodialysis (HD) patients, the blood dialysis patient’s quality of life (QoL) and long-term survival are still a challenge for clinicians. Recent studies have found that most of the HD patients have sleep disorders, which have a certain correlation with long-term survival and QoL. But there are few studies of Chinese in this field. This study aimed to investigate whether increasing the dialysis dose can improve sleep quality, so we treated HD patients on long intermittent hemodialysis (LIHD).

Methods
Forty patients who were treated by conventional HD at the Beijing Friendship Hospital Blood Purification Center were offered the option of LIHD. The patients’ laboratory data, medication use, and questionnaire answers were analyzed. Conventional HD was delivered thrice weekly with 4 hours per treatment, and LIHD was delivered thrice weekly with 8 hours per treatment. The study lasted 6 months. Questionnaires included sleep quality survey and QoL SF-36; the former includes the Athens Insomnia Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS).

Results
After conversion to LIHD the dialysis efficiency (K
t/V) significantly increased than before (P <0.05) and clearance rate of urea nitrogen also increased from 67 to 78% (P <0.01). After conversion, median values for Hb increased from 108.95 to 126.55 g/L (P <0.01); albumin increased from 38.85 to 40.05 g/L (P <0.01). Phosphorus decreased from 2.69 to 1.54 mmol/L (P <0.01), but there was no alteration in blood calcium; phosphorus and calcium-phosphate product levels were under more control, but parathyroid hormone (iPTH) level did not change after conversion to LIHD. After conversion, blood pressure (BP) was better controlled than before and the mean number of antihypertensive drugs prescribed declined from 2.9 to 0.5 (P <0.01). There was a significant reduction in the use of erythropoietin-stimulating agent of 5250 U/w (P <0.01). Sleep quality significantly improved in the 2 months after conversion to LIHD, and the PSQI score decreased from 10.80 to 5.45 and the ESS score decreased from 12.05 to 5.30 (P <0.01). However, sleep quality started to decline after 2 months on LIHD. QoL SF-36 score increased from 410.92 to 592.53 (P <0.01).

Conclusion
LIHD offers an effective improvement in dialysis adequacy for Chinese maintenance HD patients, but it improves sleep quality only briefly which may be related to loss of serum calcium and parathyroid dysfunction.
High expression of follicle stimulating hormone receptor in testicular tissue of idiopathic azoospermic patients with severe spermatogenic defects
Authors: Liquan Wang , Hefeng Huang , Fan Jin , Caiyun Zhou , Yuli Qian , Jianhua Chen 
Published: January 2024

Background
Follicle stimulating hormone is necessary for normal reproduction in men. The biochemical actions of follicle stimulating hormone result from binding to the follicle stimulating hormone receptor in the plasma membrane of Sertoli cells. Here, we investigated the expression of the follicle stimulating hormone receptor in different testicular histological phenotypes of patients with idiopathic azoospermia.

Methods
Fifty-seven cases of idiopathic azoospermia were classified into three groups according to the results of testicular biopsy: patients with hypospermatogenesis, patients with maturation arrest, and patients with Sertoli cell-only syndrome. Thirteen azoospermic patients identified by testicular biopsy as being capable of completing spermatogenesis acted as the control group. Immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction were performed in each case, and the serum hormone level was also measured in all patients.

Results
The serum follicle stimulating hormone level in patients with Sertoli cell-only syndrome was significantly higher than in patients with hypospermatogenesis, maturation arrest, and complete spermatogenesis (P<0.01). The serum follicle stimulating hormone level in patients with maturation arrest was significantly higher than in patients with hypospermatogenesis and complete spermatogenesis (P<0.05). There was no difference in serum follicle stimulating hormone levels in patients with hypospermatogenesis and complete spermatogenesis. The follicle stimulating hormone receptor expression level of testicular samples with Sertoli cell-only syndrome was significantly higher than in those with hypospermatogenesis, maturation arrest, and complete spermatogenesis (P<0.05), but no significant difference was observed among hypospermatogenesis, maturation arrest, and complete spermatogenesis testicular samples.

Conclusions
Different serum follicle stimulating hormone levels and follicle stimulating hormone receptor expression were found in the different testicular histology phenotypes in azoospermic patients. Differential follicle stimulating hormone receptor expression in testicular tissue of patients with idiopathic azoospermia may be associated with the degree of spermatogenesis.
Central tendon splitting combined with SutureBridge double-row technique as a surgical treatment for insertional Achilles tendinopathy
Authors: LIN Yuan , WANG Zhi-wei , ZHANG Bo , PAN Jiang , QU Tie-bing , HAI Yong 
Published: January 2024

Background
Surgical treatment of insertional Achilles tendinopathy should be considered when a variety of conservative measures fail. To achieve a satisfactory outcome, thorough debridement of the Achilles tendon is critical, besides excision of the bursitis and the calcaneal exostosis. Central tendon-splitting provides straightforward access to the calcified or degenerative tissue within the Achilles tendon. For Achilles tendon reconstruction if detachment is present, several surgical techniques have been reported. Controversy surrounds the technique can provide maximum security for reattachment of the Achilles tendon. The SutureBridge double-row construct, initially used in rotator cuff repair, is probably a good choice.

Methods
Ten consecutive patients with insertional Achilles tendinopathy underwent tendon reattachment using the SutureBridge technique through a central tendon-splitting approach. We retrospectively evaluated the surgical outcomes, which included pre- and postoperative visual analog scale (VAS), postoperative Maryland Foot Score (MFS), postoperative range of motion of the affected ankle, and related complications. Follow-up was performed in the outpatient department.

Results
One patient was lost to follow-up. Nine patients (two male and seven female; 12 feet) were reviewed with a minimum follow-up of six months (range 6-30 months). The postoperative VAS pain scores were markedly lower than the preoperative scores. Postoperative MFS was 92.1±8.0 (range 74-100). No intra- or postoperative complications were found, except for one case of delayed healing incision. At last follow-up, all affected ankles achieved their normal range of motion, and patients were able to resume daily activities without any assistive device.

Conclusions
Although a randomized control trial with a larger sample may be necessary to compare the central tendonsplitting combined with the SutureBridge technique with other techniques, our results confirmed that it was a promising alternative for treatment of insertional Achilles tendinopathy.
Spontaneous brain activity in chronic smokers revealed by fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuation analysis: a resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging study
Authors: Shuilian Chu , Dan Xiao , Shuangkun Wang , Peng Peng , Teng Xie , Yong He , Chen Wang 
Published: January 2024

Background
Nicotine is primarily rsponsible for the highly addictive properties of cigarettes. Similar to other substances, nicotine dependence is related to many important brain regions, particular in mesolimbic reward circuit. This study was to further reveal the alteration of brain function activity during resting state in chronic smokers by fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (fALFF) based on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), in order to provide the evidence of neurobiological mechanism of smoking.

Methods
This case control study involved twenty healthy smokers and nineteen healthy nonsmokers recruited by advertisement. Sociodemographic, smoking related characteristics and fMRI images were collected and the data analyzed.

Results
Compared with nonsmokers, smokers showed fALFF increased significantly in the left middle occipital gyrus, left limbic lobe and left cerebellum posterior lobe but decreases in the right middle frontal gyrus, right superior temporal gyrus, right extra nuclear, left postcentral gyrus and left cerebellum anterior lobe (cluster size >100 voxels). Compared with light smokers (pack years ≤20), heavy smokers (pack years >20) showed fALFF increased significantly in the right superior temporal gyrus, right precentral gyrus, and right occipital lobe/cuneus but decreased in the right/left limbic lobe/cingulate gyrus, right/left frontal lobe/sub gyral, right/left cerebellum posterior lobe (cluster size >50 voxels). Compared with nonsevere nicotine dependent smokers (Fagerström test for nicotine dependence, score ≤6), severe nicotine dependent smokers (score >6) showed fALFF increased significantly in the right/left middle frontal gyrus, right superior frontal gyrus and left inferior parietal lobule but decreased in the left limbic lobe/cingulate gyrus (cluster size >25 voxels).

Conclusions
In smokers during rest, the activity of addiction related regions were increased and the activity of smoking feeling, memory, related regions were also changed. The resting state activity changes in many regions were associated with the cumulative amount of nicotine intake and the severity of nicotine dependence.