bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stiffness, elasticity, resilience, density as clinical interpretation of physical properties of liver tissue
Authors: Borsukov A. V. , Venidiktova D. Yu. , Smirnova A. D. , Yakusheva M. A. 
Published: November 2023

Objective. Evaluation of a single vector of ultrasound assessment of changes in the liver parenchyma, taking into account the correct use of such physical concepts as stiffness, elasticity, elasticity, density.Material and methods. On the basis of the Problem Research Laboratory ‘Diagnostic Research and Minimally Invasive Technologies’ a study was conducted with the participation of 112 patients of a multidisciplinary hospital. Multiparametric ultrasound examination (B-mode, quantitative liver steatometry, 2D shear wave elastography, complex format ‘liver protocol’) was performed by ultrasound doctors (n = 24) of the following groups: half-a-year residents in the specialty ‘ultrasound diagnostics’ (n = 9; 37.6%), doctors working in a multidisciplinary hospital of a medical organization of the regional center with work experience up to 5 years (n = 4; 16.6%), 6–10 years (n = 4; 16.6%), 11–20 years old (n = 3; 12.6%), 21 years or more (n = 4; 16.6%), of which 1 (4.2%) professor, 1 (4.2%) doctor of medical sciences, 3 (12.5%) candidates of medical sciences. An analysis of the protocols of ultrasound examination was carried out.Results.The correct description of changes in the liver according to B-mode data, quantitative steatometry, 2D shear wave elastography and ‘liver protocol’ correct formulations were given by 9 (37.5%) specialists. In all cases, most of the correct protocols were provided by doctors from groups of 6–10 years of experience and 21 years of experience or more.Conclusions. In the community of specialists in ultrasound diagnostics there is no agreement on a correct and uniﬁed approach to the description of diffuse liver changes using multiparametric ultrasound. To increase the level of knowledge, complex multidisciplinary interaction is necessary in the format of scientiﬁc and educational programs organized jointly with specialists in the ﬁeld of medical physics.
Prevalence and prognostic significance of main metabolic risk factors in primary biliary cholangitis: a retrospective cohort study of 789 patients
Authors: Zhao Dan-Tong , Yan Hui-Ping , Han Ying , Zhang Wei-Ming , Zhao Yan , Liao Hui-Yu 
Published: November 2023

BackgroundMetabolic risk factors in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) have not been well described in China. Additionally, it is unclear whether these factors have an impact on the prognosis of PBC patients. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of main metabolic risk factors in PBC, and to evaluate their prognostic values for liver-related outcomes.MethodsA cohort of 789 PBC patients was retrospectively studied between July 2008 and September 2019 by investigating the main metabolic risk factors and analyzing liver-related outcomes.ResultsAt presentation, 271 (34.3%) patients had concomitant hyperlipidemia, 126 (16.0%) had hypertension, 94 (11.9%) had type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and 17 (2.2%) had nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Hyperlipidemia was found to be associated with the lower risk of liver-related death [P&lt;0.0001, hazard ratio (HR): 0.397, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.268–0.588] and adverse outcomes (P&lt;0.0001, HR: 0.487, 95% CI:0.367–0.646), while hypertension was noted as a risk factor for liver-related death (P=0.001, HR: 1.788, 95% CI:1.268–2.521) and adverse outcomes (P=0.014, HR: 1.417, 95% CI:1.074–1.869). Moreover, age ≥ 55 years old (P=0.005) and cirrhosis (P&lt;0.0001) had superimposition effects on hypertension as a risk factor for liver-related death, while only cirrhosis (P&lt;0.0001) had an effect on hypertension as a risk factor for adverse outcomes. Additionally, anti-sp100 was associated with adverse outcomes (P=0.013) in PBC patients with hypertension in univariate Cox regression analysis.ConclusionHyperlipidemia, hypertension, and T2DM were found as main metabolic risk factors in PBC in China. Hyperlipidemia indicated a benign clinical outcome of PBC, while hypertension indicated a poor outcome of PBC. Older age and cirrhosis had superimposition effects on hypertension for liver-related poor outcomes. Anti-sp100 might be associated with adverse outcomes, especially in PBC patients with hypertension.
Efficacy and safety of the innovative monoclonal antibodies in adults with generalized myasthenia gravis: a Bayesian network analysis
Authors: Chen Huiru , Qiu Youjia , Yin Ziqian , Wang Zilan , Tang Yanbing , Ni Hanyu , Lu Jiaye , Chen Zhouqing , Kong Yan , Wang Zhong 
Published: November 2023

BackgroundA series of clinical trials support the effectiveness of monoclonal antibodies for generalized myasthenia gravis (MG) compared to the placebo, but the priority among drugs remains unclear. Therefore, we conduct a frequentist network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare the relative effects of different drugs for generalized MG.MethodsPubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and clinicaltrials.gov were systematically searched for eligible studies up to 1 June 2023. The primary outcome was efficacy (Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living [MG-ADL] score and Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis [QMG] score) and safety (adverse events [AEs]). Mean difference (MD) and risk ratio (RR) with their 95% credible intervals (95%CrIs) were used to show the effect size of continuous and categorical variables, respectively. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.ResultsThirteen studies involving 1167 individuals were identified for NMA. For efficacy outcomes, belimumab, efgartigimod, mezagitamab 600mg, and nipocalimab 60mg/kg were inferior to rozanolixzumab 7mg/kg (MD ranged from 2 to 3.69) and rozanolixzumab 10mg/kg (MD ranged from 2.04 to 3.72) in MG-ADL score, and rozanolixzumab had the highest rank probability (83%) according to the subjective surface under the curve ranking area (SUCRA). For QMG score, batoclimab 340mg (MD ranged from 4.32 to 8.52) and batoclimab 680mg (MD ranged from 4.11 to 9.31) were more effective than placebo and other monoclonal antibodies except for rozanolixzumab, with the highest SUCRA value (93% and 97% respectively). For safety outcomes, belimumab achieved the highest SUCRA value (89.8%) with significant statistical difference compared to rozanolixzumab 7mg/kg (RR 0.08, 95%CrI 0.01 to 0.94) and rozanolixzumab 10mg/kg (RR 0.08, 95%CrI 0.01 to 0.86).ConclusionWhile all monoclonal antibodies were superior to the placebo, rozanolixzumab and batoclimab might be the most effective for generalized MG. However, rozanolixzumab was associated with higher incidence of AEs. Given the limitations inherent in indirect comparisons, further head-to-head and extensive observational studies are necessary to confirm our findings.Systematic review registrationhttps://inplasy.com/?s=202370112, identifier 202370112.
Cost items in melanoma patients by clinical characteristics and time from diagnosis
Authors: Buja Alessandra , Cozzolino Claudia , Zanovello Anna , Geppini Ruggero , Miatton Andrea , Zorzi Manuel , Manfredi Mariagiovanna , Bovo Emanuela , Del Fiore Paolo , Tropea Saveria , dall’Olmo Luigi , Rossi Carlo Riccardo , Mocellin Simone , Rastrelli Marco , Rugge Massimo 
Published: November 2023

BackgroundCosts related to the care of melanoma patients have been rising over the past few years due to increased disease incidence as well as the introduction of innovative treatments. The aim of this study is to analyse CMM cost items based on stage at diagnosis, together with other diagnostic and prognostic characteristics of the melanoma.MethodsAnalyses were performed on 2,647 incident cases of invasive CMM that were registered in 2015 and 2017 in the Veneto Cancer Registry (RTV). Direct melanoma-related costs per patient were calculated for each year ranging from 2 years before diagnosis to 4 years after, and were stratified by cost items such as outpatient services, inpatient drug prescriptions, hospital admissions, hospice admissions, and emergency room treatment. Average yearly costs per patient were compared according to available clinical-pathological characteristics. Lastly, log-linear multivariable analysis was performed to investigate potential cost drivers among these clinical-pathological characteristics.FindingsOverall, the average direct costs related to melanoma are highest in the first year after diagnosis (€2,903) and then decrease over time. Hospitalization costs are 8 to 16 times higher in the first year than in subsequent years, while the costs of outpatient services and inpatient drugs decrease gradually over time. When stratified by stage it is observed that the higher expenditure associated with more advanced stages of CMM is mainly due to inpatient drug use.ConclusionThe results of the present study show that grouping patients according to tumour characteristics can improve our understanding of the different cost items associated with cutaneous malignant melanoma. CMM patients experience higher costs in the first year after diagnosis due to higher hospitalization and outpatient services. Policy makers should consider overall and stage-specific annual costs when allocating resources for the management of CMM patients.
Effects of “Football and Nutrition for Health” program on body composition, physical fitness, eating behaviours, nutritional knowledge, and psychological status among 7 to 10 years school children
Authors: Morgado Micaela C. , Sousa Mónica , Coelho André B. , Vale Susana , Costa Júlio A. , Seabra André 
Published: November 2023

IntroductionNoncommunicable diseases and obesity are between the major health threat due to consumption of unhealthy foods and limited time spent on physical activities, a situation of particular concern among children. Since children spend most of their time at school, this study intends to investigate the effect of a school intervention program, which combines recreational football and nutrition education, on body composition, physical fitness, physical activity, blood pressure and heart rate, eating behaviours, nutritional knowledge, and psychological status in elementary school children.MethodsA total of 67 children, between 7 and 10 years old, were allocated into three groups: the Football Group (FG) which held 2 weekly sessions of 60 min of recreational football, the Nutrition and Football Group (NFG) which held 2 sessions per week of 60 min of recreational football plus 60 min of nutritional education and the Control Group (CG) which maintained its usual curriculum. The intervention lasted 12 weeks. All measurements were collected before and after the intervention.ResultsIntervention groups significantly (p &lt; 0.05) improved BMI Z-score, rest heart rate, horizontal jump and shuttle test, physical activity level, and psychosocial health. The NFG group significantly decreased (p &lt; 0.05) waist-to-height ratio and blood pressure, and significantly increased (p &lt; 0.05) nutritional knowledge, fruit, and fish consumption. While FG significantly decreased (p &lt; 0.05) the percentage of fat mass and significantly increased (p &lt; 0.05) muscle mass and performance in the 20 m sprint.DiscussionThe results have shown to improve nutritional status, explosive strength, aerobic and neuromuscular fitness, as well as increase the level of physical activity. The nutritional education sessions contributed to increase nutritional knowledge and to improve the consumption of healthy food groups in a ludic-educational way. The “Football and Nutrition for Health” program was able to induce short-term improvements in several health markers, highlighting the role of the school curriculum in children's health.
The platinum coordination complex inhibits cell invasion-migration and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition by altering the TGF-β-SMAD pathway in colorectal cancer
Authors: Abdulla Maha-Hamadien , Alzailai Aminah Ahmad , Vaali-Mohammed Mansoor-Ali , Ahmad Rehan , Fatima Sabiha , Zubaidi Ahmed , Traiki Thamer bin , Mahmood Amer , Hamoud Alrashoudi Reem , Khan Zahid 
Published: November 2023

Introduction: There is a steady increase in colorectal cancer (CRC) incidences worldwide; at diagnosis, about 20 percent of cases show metastases. The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway is one of the critical pathways that influence the expression of cadherins allowing the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is involved in the progression of the normal colorectal epithelium to adenoma and metastatic carcinoma. The current study aimed to investigate the impact of a novel coordination complex of platinum (salicylaldiminato) PT(II) complex with dimethyl propylene linkage (PT-complex) on TGF-β and EMT markers involved in the invasion and migration of the human HT-29 and SW620 CRC cell lines.Methods: Functional study and wound healing assay showed PT-complex significantly reduced cell motility and the migration and invasion of CRC cell lines compared to the untreated control. Western blot performed in the presence and absence of TGF-β demonstrated that PT-complex significantly regulated the TGF-β-mediated altered expressions of EMT markers.Results and Discussion: PT-complex attenuated the migration and invasion by upregulating the protein expression of EMT-suppressing factor E-cadherin and suppressing EMT-inducing factors such as N-Cadherin and Vimentin. Moreover, PT-complex significantly suppressed the activation of SMAD3 in both CRC cell lines. Further, the microarray data analysis revealed differential expression of genes related to invasion and migration. In conclusion, besides displaying antiproliferative activity, the PT complex can decrease the metastasis of CRC cell lines by modulating TGF-β-regulated EMT markers. These findings provide new insight into TGF-β/SMAD signaling as the molecular mechanism involved in the antitumoral properties of novel PT-complex.
Smoking may compromise physical function long before it kills you
Authors: Glei Dana A. , Weinstein Maxine 
Published: November 2023

IntroductionAlthough prior research has demonstrated an association between smoking and worse physical function, most of those studies are based on older people and do not evaluate whether the age-related increase in physical limitations differs by smoking history. We quantify how the magnitude of the smoking differential varies across age.MethodsThis cohort study comprised a national sample of Americans aged 20–75 in 1995–1996, who were re-interviewed in 2004–2005 and 2013–2014. Our analysis was restricted to respondents who completed the self-administered questionnaires at Wave 1 (N = 6,325). Follow-up observations for those respondents were included if they completed the self-administered questionnaires at Wave 2 (N = 3,929) and/or Wave 3 (N = 2,849). The final analysis sample comprised 13,103 observations over a follow-up period of up to 19 years (1995–2014). We used a linear mixed model to regress physical limitations on smoking status at baseline adjusted for sex, age, race, socioeconomic status, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, and obesity with an interaction between age and smoking to test whether the age pattern of physical limitations differed by smoking history. Additional models incorporated measures of smoking duration and intensity.ResultsIn the fully-adjusted model, smokers exhibited a steeper age-related increase in physical limitations than never smokers. Thus, the disparities in physical limitations by smoking status widened with age but were evident even at young ages. The estimated differential between heavy smokers and never smokers rose from 0.24 SD at age 30 to 0.49 SD at age 80. At younger ages, heavy smokers who quit recently fared worse than current light smokers and not much better than current heavy smokers.DiscussionWe know smoking is bad for our health, but these results reveal that differences in physical limitations by smoking history are evident even at ages as young as 30. Physical limitations that emerge early in life are likely to have an especially large impact because they can jeopardize health for decades of remaining life. Smoking probably will not kill you at young age, but it may compromise your physical function long before it kills you. Just do not do it.
Season of delivery and risk of venous thromboembolism during hospitalization among pregnant women
Authors: Li Qian , Wang Hongfei , Wang Huafang , Deng Jun , Cheng Zhipeng , Lin Wenyi , Zhu Ruiqi , Chen Shi , Guo Jinrong , Li Huarong , Chen Yong , Yuan Xiaowei , Dai Shulan , Tian Yan , Xu Yanyan , Wu Ping , Zhang Fan , Wang Xiaojiang , Tang Liang V. , Hu Yu 
Published: November 2023

BackgroundSeasons were found to be related to the occurrences of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in hospitalized patients. No previous study has explored whether seasons were associated with VTE risk in pregnant women. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between the season of delivery and VTE risk during hospitalization among pregnant women.MethodsThis is a multi-center retrospective cohort study of pregnant women. Participants were those who delivered at seven designated sites in Hubei Province, China, during the period from January 2017 to December 2022. They were categorized according to their season/month of delivery. Information on new-onset VTE during hospitalization was followed.ResultsApproximately 0.28% (104/37,778) of the pregnant women developed new-onset VTE during hospitalization for delivery. After adjustment, compared with participants in the spring group, participants in the summer, autumn, and winter groups had an increased risk of VTE during hospitalization. The ORs were 2.59 [1.30, 5.15], 2.83 [1.43, 5.60], and 2.35 [1.17, 4.75] for the summer, autumn, and winter groups, respectively. Pregnant women in the combined group (summer + autumn + winter) had an increased risk of VTE during hospitalization than those in the spring group (OR, 2.59 [1.39, 4.85]). By restricting the analyses among pregnant women without in vitro fertilization, gestational diabetes mellitus, and preterm, the results still remained robust. Compared with participants who delivered in March, April, and May, participants who delivered in June, July, September, November, December, and February had a higher risk of VTE during hospitalization.ConclusionThis study demonstrated that pregnant women who delivered in summer, autumn, and winter had an increased VTE risk during hospitalization compared with those who delivered in spring.
Regional ADC values of the morphologically normal canine brain
Authors: Carisch Lea , Lindt Blanca , Richter Henning , Del Chicca Francesca 
Published: November 2023

IntroductionDiffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging is increasingly available for investigation of canine brain diseases. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of normal canine brains is reported only in small numbers of subjects. The aim of the study was to investigate the ADC of different anatomical regions in the morphologically normal brain in a large population of canine patients in clinical setting. Additionally, possible influence on the ADC value of patient-related factors like sex, age and body weight, difference between the left and right side of the cerebral hemispheres, and between gray and white matter were investigated.MethodsBrain magnetic resonance studies including diffusion-weighted images of dogs presented at the Vetsuisse Faculty-University Zurich between 2015 and 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. Only morphologically normal brain magnetic resonance studies of dogs presented with neurological signs or non-neurological signs were included. Apparent diffusion coefficient values of 12 regions of interest (ROIs) in each hemisphere and an additional region in the cerebellar vermis were examined in each dog.ResultsA total of 321 dogs (including 247 dogs with neurological signs and 62 dogs with non-neurological signs) of various breeds, sex and age were included. Apparent diffusion coefficient significantly varied among most anatomical brain regions. A significantly higher ADC was measured in the gray [median 0.79 (range 0.69–0.90) × 10−3 mm2/s] compared to the white matter [median 0.70 (range 0.63–0.85) × 10−3 mm2/s]. No significant differences were found between the left and right cerebral hemispheres in most of the regions, neither between sexes, different reproductive status, and not consistently between body weight groups. Age was correlated first with a decrease from dogs &lt;1 year of age to middle-age (⩾3 to &lt;8 years) dogs and later with an increase of ADC values in dogs ⩾8 years.DiscussionApparent diffusion coefficient values of 25 ROIs were described in 321 morphologically normal canine brains in clinical setting. Apparent diffusion coefficient differences depending on the brain anatomical region are present. Apparent diffusion coefficient differences among age classes are present, likely consistent with brain maturation and aging. The described data can be a reference for future studies in clinical settings on the canine brain.
The first report of polymorphisms of the prion protein gene (PRNP) in Pekin ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domestica)
Authors: Jeong Min-Ju , Wang Zerui , Zou Wen-Quan , Kim Yong-Chan , Jeong Byung-Hoon 
Published: November 2023

BackgroundPrion diseases have been extensively reported in various mammalian species and are caused by a pathogenic prion protein (PrPSc), which is a misfolded version of cellular prion protein (PrPC). Notably, no cases of prion disease have been reported in birds. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the prion protein gene (PRNP) that encodes PrP have been associated with susceptibility to prion diseases in several species. However, no studies on PRNP polymorphisms in domestic ducks have been reported thus far.MethodTo investigate PRNP polymorphisms in domestic ducks, we isolated genomic DNA from 214 Pekin duck samples and sequenced the coding region of the Pekin duck PRNP gene. We analyzed genotype, allele, and haplotype distributions and linkage disequilibrium (LD) among the SNPs of the Pekin duck PRNP gene. In addition, we evaluated the effects of the one non-synonymous SNP on the function and structure of PrP using the PROVEAN, PANTHER, SNPs &amp; GO, SODA, and AMYCO in silico prediction programs.ResultsWe found five novel SNPs, c.441 T &gt; C, c.495 T &gt; C, c.582A &gt; G, c.710C &gt; T(P237L), and c.729C &gt; T, in the ORF region of the PRNP gene in 214 Pekin duck samples. We observed strong LD between c.441 T &gt; C and c.582A &gt; G (0.479), and interestingly, the link between c.495 T &gt; C and c.729C &gt; T was in perfect LD, with an r2 value of 1.0. In addition, we identified the five major haplotype frequencies: TTACC, CTGCC, CTACC, CCGCT, and CTATC. Furthermore, we found that the non-synonymous SNP, c.710C &gt; T (P237L), had no detrimental effects on the function or structure of Pekin duck PrP. However, the non-synonymous SNP had deleterious effects on the aggregation propensity and solubility of Pekin duck PrP compared with wildtype Pekin duck PrP.ConclusionTo the best of our knowledge, this study is the first report on the genetic characteristics of PRNP SNPs in Pekin ducks.