bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization combined with lenvatinib and camrelizumab in patients with BCLC-defined stage C hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Wu Juan , Zeng Jia , Wang Huiwen , Huo Zhuoni , Hou Xunbo , He Dongfeng 
Published: October 2023

ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness and safety of combining transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with lenvatinib and camrelizumab in patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage C hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 141 patients with BCLC stage C HCC: 57 were treated with TACE combined with lenvatinib plus camrelizumab (T + L + C), 41 were treated with TACE combined with camrelizumab (T + C), and 43 were treated with TACE (TACE). The primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary outcomes were the objective response rate (ORR) and adverse events (AEs). Factors that affected survival were identified via Cox regression analysis.ResultsComparison of the three groups revealed a significant difference in the median overall survival (mOS), 19.8 months (95% CI 15.7–23.9) in the T + L + C combined group vs 15.7 (95% CI 13.1–18.3) months in the T + C combined group vs 9.4 (95% CI 6.2–12.5) months in the TACE group (P &lt; 0.001). The median progression-free survival (mPFS) was significantly better in the T + L + C combination group than in the T + C combination group and the TACE group [11.4 (95% CI 7.6–15.3) months vs 8.4 (95% CI 6.2–10.5) months vs 4.8 (95% CI 3.2–6.3) months, respectively, P &lt; 0.001)]. The objective response rate (ORR) (57.9%) and the disease control rate (DCR) (75.4%) patients in the combined T + L + C group were higher than those in the other two groups. More patients in the combined T + L + C group experienced AEs, with 16 (28.1%) patients experiencing AEs of grade 3 or higher.ConclusionsIn patients with BCLC stage C HCC, those receiving the T + L + C combination demonstrated a superior survival benefit and acceptable safety profile compared patients receiving either TACE or the T + C combination.
5,7-Dimethoxycoumarin ameliorates vincristine induced neuropathic pain: potential role of 5HT3 receptors and monoamines
Authors: Usman Muhammad , Malik Hurmat , Tokhi Ahmed , Arif Mehreen , Huma Zilli , Rauf Khalid , Sewell Robert D. E. 
Published: October 2023

Vincristine is the drug of choice for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Despite its significant anticancer effects, it causes dose-dependent neuropathy, leading to compulsive dose reduction. The available drugs used for vincristine-induced neuropathic pain (VINP) have a range of safety, efficacy, and tolerability issues prompting a search for new therapies. 5,7-Dimethoxycoumarin (5,7-DMC) also known as citropten, is a natural coumarin found in the essential oils of citrus plants such as lime, lemons, and bergamots, and it possesses both antidepressant and anti-inflammatory effects. This study was designed to investigate the possible analgesic and antiallodynic effects of 5,7-DMC in a murine model of VINP. Vincristine was administered to groups of BALB/c male mice (0.1 mg/kg intraperitoneally) once daily for 14 days to induce VINP. Thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia were quantified using the tail immersion test and von Frey filament application method. The levels of monoamine neurotransmitters and vitamin C in frontal cortical, striatal and hippocampal tissues, as well as the TNF-α level in plasma, were quantified using high performance liquid chromatography and ELISA respectively. On day 15 of the protocol, acute treatment with 5,7-DMC clearly reversed VINP thermal hyperalgesia, mechanical static allodynia, mechanical dynamic allodynia, and cold allodynia. The activity of 5,7-DMC against hyperalgesia and allodynia was inhibited by pretreatment with ondansetron but not naloxone, implicating a 5-HT3 receptor involvement. VINP vitamin C levels were restored by 5,7-DMC in the frontal cortex, and changes in serotonin, dopamine, adenosine, inosine and hypoxanthine levels caused by vincristine were reversed either fully or partially. Additionally, the vincristine-induced rise in hippocampal serotonin, dopamine, inosine and striatal serotonin was appreciably reversed by 5,7-DMC. 5,7-DMC also reversed the vincristine-induced increase in the plasma level of TNF-α. In negating the changes in the levels of some neurotransmitters in the brain caused by vincristine, 5,7-DMC showed stronger effects than gabapentin. It was concluded that, there is a potential role of 5-HT3 receptors and monoamines in the amelioration of VINP induced by 5,7-DMC, and the use of this compound warrants further investigation.
Fabrication and optimization of phospholipids-based phase separation in-situ gel loaded with BMP-2 nanosized emulsion for bone defect
Authors: Alissa Mohammed , Hjazi Ahmed , Abusalim Ghadah S. , Aloraini Ghfren S. , Alghamdi Suad A. , Rizg Waleed Y. , Hosny Khaled M. , Bukhary Deena M. , Alkharobi Hanaa 
Published: October 2023

Introduction: The health, development, and/or survival of a newborn can be impacted by congenital abnormalities such as cleft lip (CLP) and palate, one of alveolar bone defects that emerge thru pregnancy. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study is to use phospholipids-based phase separation in-situ gel (PPSG) in combination with bone morphogenetic protein-2 nanoemulsion (BMP-2-NE) to aid repairing alveolar bone defects.Methods: To investigate how formulation parameters, such as the concentrations of BMP-2 aqueous solution, LauroglycolTM FCC, and Labrafac PG oil, affect NE qualities including droplet size and stability index, an l-optimal co-ordinate exchange statistical design was opted. Injectable PPSG with the best NE formulation was tested for viscosity characteristics, gel strength, water absorption, and in-vitro BMP-2 release. In rabbits, the percentage of BMP-2 that was still in the maxilla after 14 days was assessed.Results: Collected results revealed that the droplet size and stability index of optimal NE were discovered to be 68 2.0 nm and 96 1.3%, respectively. When mixed with water, optimal BMP-2 NE loaded PPSG became viscous and reached a gel strength of 41 s, which is adequate for injectable in-situ gels. In comparison to BMP-2 solution loaded in-situ gel, the in-vivo studies indicated that the newly created BMP-2 NE loaded PPSG produced a sustained and controlled release of BMP-2 that continued for 336 h (14 days). Further, 8% of the BMP-2 was still entrapped and not completely dissolved after 14 days, thus, created formulation allowed a higher percentage of BMP-2 to remain in rabbits’ maxilla for longer time.Conclusion: PPSG that has been loaded with BMP-2 NE may therefore be a promising, fruitful, and less painful paradigm for the noninvasive therapy of CLP with significant effect and extended release.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of loratadine combined with montelukast for the treatment of allergic rhinitis
Authors: Wang Huan , Ji Qing , Liao Chao , Tian Li 
Published: October 2023

Background: Loratadine and montelukast are clinical first-line drugs in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR). However, there is no clear evidence of the efficacy of loratadine combined with montelukast in the treatment of AR. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the loratadine-montelukast combination on AR.Methods: In this meta-analysis, searches were conducted on PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). The search terms included loratadine, montelukast, allergic rhinitis, and clinical trials. Meta-analyses were conducted using Rev Man 5.3 and Stata 15 statistical software.Results: A total of 23 studies with 4,902 participants were enrolled. For the primary outcome, pooled results showed that loratadine-montelukast can significantly reduce total nasal symptom scores (TNSS), when compared with loratadine (SMD, −1.00; 95% CI, −1.35 to −0.65, p &lt; 0.00001), montelukast (SMD, −0.46; 95% CI, −0.68 to −0.25, p &lt; 0.0001), or placebo (SMD, −0.93; 95% CI, −1.37 to −0.49, p &lt; 0.00001). For secondary outcomes, pooled results showed that compared with loratadine, loratadine-montelukast can significantly improve nasal congestion, nasal itching, nasal sneezing, nasal rhinorrhea, and rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaires (RQLQ). Compared with montelukast, loratadine-montelukast can significantly improve nasal itching, and nasal sneezing. Compared with placebo, loratadine-montelukast can significantly improve nasal congestion, and RQLQ.Conclusion: Loratadine-montelukast combination is superior to loratadine monotherapy, montelukast monotherapy, or placebo in improving AR symptoms. Therefore, loratadine-montelukast combination can be an option for patients with moderate-severe AR or poorly response to monotherapy.Systematic review registration number: clinicaltrials.gov, identifier CRD42023397519.
Energy calibration through X-ray absorption of the DECAL sensor, a monolithic active pixel sensor prototype for digital electromagnetic calorimetry and tracking
Authors: Fasselt Lucian , Allport Philip Patrick , Benhammadi Seddik , Bosley Robert Ross , Dopke Jens , Flynn Samuel , Gonella Laura , Guerrini Nicola , Issever Cigdem , Nikolopoulos Kostas , Kopsalis Ioannis , Philips Peter , Price Tony , Sedgwick Iain , Villani Giulio , Warren Matt , Watson Nigel , Weber Hannsjörg , Winter Alasdair , Wilson Fergus , Worm Steven , Zhang Zhige 
Published: October 2023

In calorimetry, the predominant detection principle is to measure the energy deposited by particles within a shower initiated by an incident particle. An alternative concept is a sampling calorimeter where the highly granular active layers rather measure the number of secondary particles in the shower by detecting hits through binary readout similar to sensors for tracking applications. In this context, the DECAL sensor is a fully-depleted monolithic active pixel sensor prototype with reconfigurable readout for digital electromagnetic calorimetry and tracking. Its 64 × 64 pixels with a pitch of 55 µm are fabricated in a modified TowerJazz 180 nm CMOS imaging process using a 25 µm epitaxial silicon layer. The readout at 40 MHz is configurable in counting hits in the sensor grouped as either 64 strips or 4 pads. In this article, we present the energy calibration of this sensor using a gamma source of americium-241 as well as X-ray fluorescence at various wavelengths. The uniformity of the pixel responses is shown, allowing the summation of counts across all pixels. By that, two standalone energy calibration methods are developed that describe the X-ray absorption in the energy range of 4–60 keV and agree with each other. The signal pulse height is related to the absorbed photon energy with a 5.54 ± 0.37 mV/keV scale which corresponds to a conversion gain of cg = 19.95 ± 1.32 μV/e−. The relative energy resolution for photon absorption is found to be σE/E = 11.8 ± 3.0%. The absolute counts observed with the DECAL sensor agree with expectations and substantiate the assumption of a fully depleted epitaxial layer. The understanding of the photon absorption is an important input for further development of the sensor towards a multi-layer calorimeter.
Barriers and facilitators influencing hearing help-seeking behaviors for adults in a peri-urban community in South Africa: a preventive audiology study
Authors: Mtimkulu Thobekile Kutloano , Khoza-Shangase Katijah , Petrocchi-Bartal Luisa 
Published: October 2023

ObjectiveThis study aims to examine the barriers and facilitators to accessing ear and hearing care experienced by adults with hearing impairment in a developing South African context.MethodsA total of 23 participants were recruited through purposive sampling from an audiology department of a public hospital in peri-urban South Africa. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted to capture a broad range of perspectives. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis.ResultsSocio-economic factors acted as the primary barrier while structural and health system factors were the main facilitator in influencing participants' journeys toward hearing help-seeking.ConclusionHelp-seeking decisions made by adults with hearing impairment are impacted by numerous factors. Individual, providers, and environmental factors combine to play a significant role in resolving ear and hearing complaints. Socio-economic and healthcare level gaps reveal the inequalities that affect help-seekers, which, therefore, need to be addressed. The provision of equitable audiology services within hearing health policy is critical for the prevention of severe consequences of hearing impairment. Plans to implement universal healthcare through the National Health Insurance (NHI) by the South African government must include the universal access to preventive audiology services.
The mediation effect analysis of nurse’s mental health status and burnout under COVID-19 epidemic
Authors: Liu Fuzhi , Zhao Yanyan , Chen Yangjia , Tu Zhuote 
Published: October 2023

AimThe objective of this study is to investigate the mental health status of nurses during the outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia. Additionally, we aim to analyze the relationship between anxiety, depression, and burnout among nurses. The findings will provide a scientific basis for promoting the psychological health of nurses.MethodsUsing a cross-sectional study, nurses in Quanzhou in May 2020 completed a general information questionnaire, the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Data analysis was conducted using structural equation model.Results372 questionnaires were returned, with a response rate of 92.5%. The prevalence of anxiety and depression among the participants were 45.2 and 41.4%, respectively. The prevalence of severe burnout among nurses was found to be 7.3%. There was a correlation between nurses’ anxiety, depression, and job burnout. The correlation coefficients between anxiety and job burnout, depression and job burnout, and anxiety and depression were found to be statistically significant (p &lt; 0.001). Depression plays a mediating role between anxiety and jod burnout (0.584/1.413, 41.3%).ConclusionThe COVID-19 epidemic has resulted in moderate to high levels of job burnout among nurses. In this context, depression has been found to play a mediating role in the relationship between anxiety and job burnout. It is imperative for hospital administrators to prioritize the mental health of nurses and the provide necessary support to ensure their well-being.
Impact of task constraints on a 3D visuomotor tracking task in virtual reality
Authors: Baillet Héloïse , Burin-Chu Simone , Lejeune Laure , Le Chénéchal Morgan , Thouvarecq Régis , Benguigui Nicolas , Leconte Pascale 
Published: October 2023

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of different task constraints on the participants’ adaptation when performing a 3D visuomotor tracking task in a virtual environment.Methods: Twenty-three voluntary participants were tested with the HTC Vive Pro Eye VR headset in a task that consisted of tracking a virtual target moving in a cube with an effector controlled with the preferred hand. Participants had to perform 120 trials according to three task constraints (i.e., gain, size, and speed), each performed according to four randomized conditions. The target-effector distance and elbow range of movement were measured.Results: The results showed an increase in the distance to the target when the task constraints were the strongest. In addition, a change in movement kinematics was observed, involving an increase in elbow amplitude as task constraints increased. It also appeared that the depth dimension played a major role in task difficulty and elbow amplitude and coupling in the tracking task.Conclusion: This research is an essential step towards characterizing interactions with a 3D virtual environment and showing how virtual constraints can facilitate arm’s involvement in the depth dimension.
Plastrum testudinis Ameliorates Oxidative Stress in Nucleus Pulposus Cells via Downregulating the TNF-α Signaling Pathway
Authors: Zhang Peng , He Jiahui , Gan Yanchi , Shang Qi , Chen Honglin , Zhao Wenhua , Shen Gengyang , Jiang Xiaobing , Ren Hui 
Published: October 2023

Background Plastrum testudinis (PT), a widely used traditional Chinese medicine, exerts protective effects against bone diseases such as intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Despite its effectiveness, the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of PT on IDD remain unclear. Methods In this study, we used a comprehensive strategy combining bioinformatic analysis with experimental verification to investigate the possible molecular mechanisms of PT against IDD. We retrieved targets for PT and IDD, and then used their overlapped targets for protein–protein interaction (PPI) analysis. In addition, we used Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses to investigate the anti-IDD mechanisms of PT. Moreover, in vivo and in vitro experiment validations including hematoxylin–eosin (HE) and safranine O-green staining, senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) assay, cell immunofluorescence staining, intracellular ROS measurement and Western blot analysis were performed to verify bioinformatics findings. Results We identified 342 and 872 PT- and IDD-related targets (32 overlapping targets). GO enrichment analysis yielded 450 terms related to oxidative stress and inflammatory response regulation. KEGG analysis identified 48 signaling pathways, 10 of which were significant; the TNF-α signaling pathway had the highest p-value, and prostaglandin G/H synthase 2 (PTGS2), endothelin-1 (EDN1), TNF-α, JUN and FOS were enriched in this pathway. Histopathological results and safranin O/green staining demonstrated that PT attenuated IDD, and SA-β-gal assay showed that PT ameliorated nucleus pulposus cell (NPC) senescence. An ROS probe was adopted to confirm the protective effect of PT against oxidative stress. Western blot analyses confirmed that PT downregulated the protein expression of PTGS2, EDN1, TNF-α, JUN and FOS in the TNF-α signaling pathway as well as cellular senescence marker p16, proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL6), while PT upregulated the expression of NPC-specific markers including COL2A1 and ACAN in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report that PT alleviates IDD by downregulating the protein expression of PTGS2, EDN1, TNF-α, JUN and FOS in the TNF-α signaling pathway and upregulating that of COL2A1 and ACAN, thus suppressing inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in NPCs.
On accelerating the convergence of the successive approximations method
Authors: Cătinaş Emil 
Published: October 2023

In a previous paper of us, we have shown that no q-superlinear convergence to a fixed point \(x^\ast\) of a nonlinear mapping \(G\) may be attained by the successive approximations when \(G^\prime(x^\ast)\) has no eigenvalue equal to 0. However, high convergence orders may be attained if one considers perturbed successive approximations.We characterize the correction terms which must be added at each step in order to obtain convergence with q-order 2 of the resulted iterates.
The Crest factor for trigonometric polynomials. Part I: Approximation theoretical estimates
Authors: Jetter K. , Pfander G. , Zimmermann G. 
Published: October 2023

The Chebyshev norm of a degree n trigonometric polynomial is estimated against a discrete maximum norm based on equidistant sampling points where, typically, oversampling rather than critical sampling is used.
The bounds are derived from various methods known from classical Approximation Theory.
These estimates are of fundamental importance for the design of efficient OFDM in communication systems.
On the arclength of trigonometric interpolants
Authors: Prestin Jürgen , Quak Ewald 
Published: October 2023

As pointed out recently by Strichartz [5], the arclength of the graph \(\Gamma(S_N(f))\) of the partial sums \(S_N(f)\) of the Fourier series of a jump function \(f\) grows with the order of \(\log N\).In this paper we discuss the behaviour of the arclengths of the graphs of trigonometric interpolants to a jump function. Here the boundedness of the arclengths depends essentially on the fact whether the jump discontinuity is at an interpolation point or not.
In addition convergence results for the arclengths of interpolants to smoother functions are presented.
Phelps type duality results in best approximation
Authors: Cobzaş Ştefan 
Published: October 2023

The aim of the present paper is to show that many Phelps type
duality result, relating the extension properties of various
classes of functions (continuous, linear continuous, bounded
bilinear, Hölder-Lipschitz) with the approximation properties
of some annihilating spaces, can be derived in a unitary and
simple way from a formula for the distance to the kernel of a
linear operator, extending the well-known distance formula to
hyperplanes in normed spaces. The case of spaces \(c_0\) and
\(l^\infty\) is treated in details.
الحماية المعيارية للجينوم البشري
Authors: مطير مهدي , عبدالامير حسام 
Published: October 2023

الحماية القانونية للجينوم البشري هي قضية أخلاقية تتعلق بمستقبل الوجود البشري. بعد الكشف عن الخريطة الجينية البشرية، ازدادت الممارسات العلمية والبحوث المتعلقة بالجينوم البشري، وخاصة التطبيقات السلبية للهندسة الوراثية التي تنتهك حقوق الإنسان الأساسية، لا سيما الحق في كرامة الإنسان، وتشكل تحديات حقيقية لوجود وتنوع أجيال الحاضر والمستقبل. لذلك ، فإن وجود قواعد قانونية على المستويين الوطني والدولي ضرورة مطلقة لحظر هذه التهديدات وترتيب المسؤولية المدنية والجنائية لمن ينتهكها.