bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Differential diagnosis of isolated calf muscle vein thrombosis and gastrocnemius hematoma by high-frequency ultrasound
Authors: SU Li-ya , GUO Fa-jin , XU Guang , HAN Xiu-jie , SUN Chang-kun , ZHANG Zheng , JING Qing-hong 
Published: January 2024

Background
Differential diagnosis of isolated calf muscle vein thrombosis (ICMVT) and gastrocnemius hematoma is essential for early identification of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of high-frequency color Doppler ultrasound for differential diagnosis of ICMVT and gastrocnemius hematoma.

Methods
A retrospective case series of 35 ICMVT (M:F, 21:14; mean age (64.5±10.6) years) and 23 gastrocnemius hematoma (M:F, 16:7; mean age (75.4±11.8) years) patients with bilateral/unilateral lower limb pain was conducted between January 2006 and September 2012. Characteristics and the morphology of high-frequency color Doppler ultrasonography of the lower limb deep vein, great saphenous vein, calf muscles, skin, and soft tissue were examined.

Results
ICMVT hypoechoic signals were characterized by long, tube-like masses on longitudinal sections and oval masses on transverse sections, with apparent muscle thrombosis boundaries, distal and proximal venous connections, and, often, lower limb DVT. Gastrocnemius hematoma hypoechoic signals were characterized by large volumes, enhanced posterior hematoma echo, hyperechoic muscle boundaries, no hematoma blood flow, and no DVT, and clear differences in trauma/exercise- and oral anticoagulant-induced hematomas were readily apparent. According to the measurement, the ratio of long diameter/transverse diameter (D/T) in ICMVT patients was about less than 2.0, whereas in gastrocnemius hematoma patients the ratio was more than 2.0. Early stage isoechoic and hypoechoic signals were detected with gradually increasing ovular anechoic areas. Partial muscle fibers in the hematoma due to muscle fractures were apparent.

Conclusion
High-frequency color Doppler ultrasound was found to be a sensitive and reliable method for differential diagnosis of ICMVT and gastrocnemius hematoma due to trauma and exercise or prolonged oral anticoagulant use.
Closed patella fracture combined with cruciate ligament injury: a case control study
Authors: LI Han , WANG Wei , LIU Yue-ju , CHEN Wei , ZHANG Qi , LI Xu , ZHU Lian , ZHANG Ying-ze 
Published: January 2024

Background
Patellar fracture and cruciate ligament injury are a common consequence of traumatic knee injury. Patellar fracture combined with cruciate ligament injury is rarely reported, although the mechanisms of two things are similar. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of closed patella fracture combined with cruciate ligament injury.

Methods
From 2012 March 1 to June 30, magnetic resonance images of 60 patients with unilateral closed patellar fracture were studied in our institution. The mean age of the patients at presentation was 40.2 years (range, 13-64 years) and 48 patients were men. First, patients were divided according to the cause of injury. Twenty-eight patients had highenergy trauma from a falling injury or motor vehicle accident, and 32 patients had low-energy trauma resulting from a tumbling injury. Second, according to the fracture pattern, 31 patients had a transverse fracture and 29 patients had a comminuted fracture.

Results
We found seven cases of closed patellar fracture combined with cruciate ligament injury among 60 patients, including two cases of a completely ruptured posterior cruciate ligament, two with a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament, and three with a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament. The percentage of this combined injury was 11.6% (7/60). The incidence of a combined injury of the cruciate ligament with a comminuted fracture (6/29, 20.7%) was significantly higher than that with a transverse fracture (1/31, 3.2%, P <0.05). The most common mechanism of injury in patellar fracture combined with cruciate ligament injury was high-energy trauma from road traffic accidents (94%), whereas in the patellar fracture alone, it was tumbling (62%). The incidence of combined injury with high-energy trauma (6/28, 21.4%) was significantly higher than that with low-energy trauma (1/32, 3.1%, P <0.05).

Conclusions
These data suggest that high-energy trauma often results in a comminuted patellar fracture, which is often combined with cruciate ligament injury. Traffic accidents are the main risk factor for this combined injury. Understanding the relationship between patellar fracture and cruciate ligament injury for diagnosis and treatment is important.
Factors associated with delayed intracerebral hemorrhage after superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery bypass in steno-occlusive cerebrovascular diseases
Authors: Mao Zhiqi , Li Meng , Li William A. , Yu Xinguang 
Published: January 2024

Background
Intra-cerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a devastating complication that can result from superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) bypass in patients undergoing treatment for steno-occlusive cerebrovascular disease (CVD). There is a clinical need to find the possible risk factors to prevent ICH, as it is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity. The aim of the study was to investigate the factors associated with delayed ICH after STA-MCA bypass in patients with steno-occlusive CVDs.

Methods
We retrospectively analyzed the records of 163 patients seen from 2002 to 2011 with STA-MCA bypass for steno-occlusive cerebrovascular diseases at the Department of Neurosurgery, Xuan Wu Hospital, Beijing. Demographic and clinical data, including age, gender, vascular risk factors, preoperative syndrome, preoperative National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), ipsilateral ischemic lesions, classification of steno-occlusive CVDs, donor branches of STA, graft patency, postoperative hypertension, and postoperative-increased MCA velocity were recorded and analyzed. Binary Logistic regression served to identify factors associated with delayed ICH after STA-MCA bypass.

Results
We identified 8 (4.9%) patients with delayed ICH after STA-MCA bypass. Patients with hypertension, preoperative stroke, ipsilateral ischemic lesions, postoperative hypertension and postoperative-increased MCA velocity were significantly more prone to experiencing delayed ICH after STA-MCA bypass. Logistic regression analysis shows ipsilateral ischemic lesions, postoperative hypertension, and postoperative-increased MCA velocity remained independent predictors for delayed ICH after STA-MCA bypass.

Conclusion
Despite the varied associated factors in patients with steno-occlusive CVDs, ipsilateral ischemic lesions, postoperative hypertension, and postoperative-increased MCA velocity could be associated with delayed ICH after STA-MCA bypass.
Thirty-day outcome of carotid artery stenting in Chinese patients: a single-center experience
Authors: JIAO Li-qun , SONG Gang , LI Shen-mao , MIAO Zhong-rong , ZHU Feng-shui , JI Xun-ming , YIN Guo-yang , CHEN Yan-fei , WANG Ya-bing , MA Yan , LING Feng 
Published: January 2024

Background
Carotid artery stenting (CAS) as a competing treatment modality has had to adhere to limits to gain widespread acceptance in some studies. This study analyzed the clinical data of 1700 consecutive patients after CAS to retrospectively evaluate the 30-day outcome of CAS for internal carotid artery stenosis in a Chinese population.

Methods
Medical records of 1700 patients who underwent CAS at Xuanwu Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University between January 2001 and August 2012 were reviewed. Postoperative 30-day complication rates were analyzed and compared with those of other studies. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with perioperation myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and death.

Results
The overall 30-day rate of MI, stroke, and death after CAS was 2.53%. In univariate analysis, patients who were symptomatic, had a neurological deficit (modified Rankin score (mRS) ≥3; P=0.001), and who were not taking statins experienced a significantly increased rate of MI, stroke, and death (P=0.017). In multivariate Logistic regression analysis, the presence of symptoms (odds ratio (OR)=2.485; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.267-4.876; P=0.008) and a neurological deficit (mRS ≥3) (OR=3.025; 95% CI=1.353-6.763; P=0.007) were independent risk factors for perioperative MI, stroke, and death.

Conclusions
According to this single-center experience, CAS may effectively prevent and treat carotid artery stenosis that would otherwise lead to stroke. Being symptomatic and having a neurological deficit (mRS ≥3) increased the risk of perioperative MI, stroke, and death.
Fasudil hydrochloride hydrate, a Rho-kinase inhibitor, ameliorates hepatic fibrosis in rats with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Zhou Hong , Fang Caixia , Zhang Lihui , Deng Yonggui , Wang Mian , Meng Fengling 
Published: January 2024

Background
Hyperglycemia may accelerate liver fibrosis. Currently, there is no effective treatment for liver fibrosis induced by type 2 diabetes. The study aim was to investigate whether RhoA/Rho kinase (ROCK) pathway is involved in liver fibrosis in the rats with type 2 diabetes and define the protective effects of fasudil on livers.

Methods
A rat model of type 2 diabetes was established by high fat diet combined with streptozotocin (30 mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection). Animals were randomly assigned to 3 groups: control rats, untreated diabetic rats that received vehicle and fasudil-treated diabetic rats that received ROCK inhibitor fasudil hydrochloride hydrate (10 mg/kg per day, intraperitoneal injection, for 14 weeks). The morphological features of liver were observed by HE staining. Accumulation of collagen in livers was determined by Masson staining and the measurement of hydroxyproline. The mRNA expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), type-I, and type-III procollagen was assessed with real-time polymerase chain reaction. The phosphorylation of myosin phosphatase target subunit-1 (MYPT1) and the protein levels of TGFβ1 and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were evaluated by Western blotting.

Results
Compared with control rats, untreated diabetic rats showed higher values of collagen and hydroxyproline in livers (P <0.01), the phosphorylation of MYPT1 and the protein levels of TGFβ1 and α-SMA were increased (P <0.01), and the mRNA expression of TGFβ1, CTGF, type-I, and type-III procollagen was upregulated (P <0.01); compared with untreated diabetic rats, treatment with fasudil signifcantly reduced values of collagen and hydroxyproline (P <0.01), and decreased the phosphorylation of MYPT1 and the levels of TGFβ1 and α-SMA (P <0.01), concomitant with the downregulation of TGFβ1/CTGF, type-I, and type-III procollagen mRNA expression (P <0.01).

Conclusions
Fasudil ameliorates liver fibrosis in rats with type 2 diabetes at least partly by inhibiting TGFβ1/CTGF pathway and α-SMA expression. Inhibition of RhoA/ROCK may be a novel therapeutic target for liver fibrosis in diabetic non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
Prevention and treatment of viral respiratory infections by traditional Chinese herbs
Authors: Wang Xiaoguang , Liu Zejing 
Published: January 2024

Objective
This review focuses on current knowledge of traditional Chinese herbs on prevention and treatment of viral respiratory infections, especially caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndromes (SARS) virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza viruses.

Data sources
The data used in this review were obtained from PubMed and CNKI up to May 2013. Terms of Chinese herbs and infections of respiratory tract were used in the search.

Study selection
Articles related that Chinese herbs preventing and treating infections in respiratory tract were retrieved and reviewed. The risk of bias of included studies was assessed by the method in the “Cochrane Handbook of Systematic Reveiws of Interventionsand studies” with high risk of bias were excluded. Four criteria for selections were set as following: randomized controlled trial, particular effective compound or derivative, reproducible result and animal test.

Results
Infectious respiratory tract diseases cause most mortality among infectious illnesses around the world. As traditional medicines, Chinese herbs have been widely used to deal with diseases for centuries and have been proved effective in practice. The administration of some Chinese herbs stimulates, suppresses or regulates the activity of immune system, thus protecting the respiratory tract or relieving infections of pathogens. Many herbs have remarkable antiviral effects, therefore they are used as substitutes of antimicrobial drugs. Based on the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, mix-using herbs provide a synergistic benefit on preventing and healing respiratory tract infections. Many commercial herbal medicines containing one or more compounds have been successfully applied to prevent and treat viral infections of respiratory tract clinically.

Conclusions
Traditional Chinese herbs could directly inhibit pathogens infecting respiratory tract, or coordinate the activity of immune system to avoid or relieve infections. With the emergence of antidrug pathogens or new variants, Chinese herbs give strong evidence to protect human health.
Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNAs as a survival predictor in nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Ke Kengjian , Wang Haiyun , Fu Sha , Zhang Zichen , Duan Liping , Liu Dabo , Ye Jin 
Published: January 2024

Background
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is one of the most important factors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) endemic areas. Transcription of EBV-encoded non-polyadenylated RNAs (EBERs) are presented in most of NPC tumors. Exploring EBERs as a prognostic marker for NPC might further be informative about the biology and the progression of the disease. The aim of this study was to analyze the role of EBV latency in the clinical management of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), by detecting EBERs.

Methods
RNA in situ hybridization (ISH) for detecting EBERs was carried out on 908 NPC tumor tissues. Overall survival (OS) curves were analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox proportional-hazards regression models.

Results
The median follow-up time was 70 months (1-120 months). Eight hundred and sixteen (89.9%) from a total of 908 consecutive NPC cases were found to be EBV-EBER positive. EBER-ISH staining revealed nuclear localization in NPC cells. In the Kaplan-Meier analysis for OS, high EBER expression levels in NPC patients were statistically significant positive prognostic factors for survival (log-rank, P=0.022), especially in adults aged 17-40 years (P=0.023) and in those with advanced stage disease (log-rank, P=0.002). Cox proportional-hazards regression model analysis showed that the EBER expression level was an independent risk factor for OS (hazard ratio 0.724, P=0.005).

Conclusions
EBERs were frequently detected in NPC tumor tissues, and high-level EBER expression correlated with good prognosis in NPC patients, especially in adult patients and in those with advanced stage disease. EBER may serve as a potential prognostic predictor in NPC.
Current attitudes toward organ donation after cardiac death in northwest China
Authors: Pan Xiaoming , Liu Linjuan , Xiang Heli , Ding Chenguang , Ren Li , Xue Wujun 
Published: January 2024

Background
People's attitude toward organ donation after cardiac death (DCD) has not come to an agreement in different countries and regions. Influenced by the local culture in China for thousands of years, the general public has different ideas about this issue. The purpose of this study was to investigate the current attitudes trend and characteristics of transplantation with organs donated after cardiac death in northwest China.

Methods
This largest single-center cohort study was performed by an interview or by telephone using a questionnaire. The family members of potential DCD donors were recruited from the First Affiliated Hospital, medical college of Xi'an Jiaotong University located in a metropolitan area of northwest China. The 12-item attitude questionnaire was specifically developed from the literature review with coordinator, physician, and donor's family feedback. The participants were asked to rate the queries on a 5-point Likert intensity scale.

Results
The 174 participants included 56 (32.2%) women and 118 (67.8%) men. Most people were aged between 41 and 50 years (n=63, 36.2%), 31 and 40 years (n=59, 33.9%), and less than 30 years (n=36, 20.7%). The top five attitudes of participants were the best person to suggest organ donation to a family was ranked as the DCD coordinator of Red Cross Organization (RCO, n=160, 92%), donor is a hero (n=143, 82.2%), honor to be a donor's family member (n=136, 78.2%), improved relationship with colleagues (n=124, 71.3%), and with recipient after donation (n=123, 70.7%). The best person to suggest organ donation to a family was ranked as the coordinator of RCO (n=160, 92%), doctor unrelated to transplantation (n=104, 59.8%), social worker (n=36, 20.7%), and doctor related to transplantation (n=25, 14.4%). The top two reasons for non-consent to donation were that the family insisted on intact body after patient death and did not want to have surgery again (n=51, 41.5%), and feared that they would be misunderstood by neighbors, relatives, and friends about donation (n=28, 22.8%).

Conclusions
This study revealed initial attitudes toward DCD in China. Some data afford insight into the decision-making procedure. The concerns of potential DCD donors and their families may help professionals provide better interventions in the future.
Ezrin promotes invasion and migration of the MG63 osteosarcoma cell
Authors: Zhang Jian , Zuo Jianhong , Lei Mingsheng , Wu Song , Zang Xiaofang , Zhang Chaoyue 
Published: January 2024

Background
Evidence shows that ezrin plays an important role in the development of some human malignancies. But the mechanism by which ezrin may affect tumor cell invasion and metastasis remains unclear.

Methods
In this study, the expression of ezrin was verified in osteosarcoma (OS) cells and tissues by comparison with normal bone cells and tissues using Western blotting. OS-MG63 were transfected with pcDNA3.1-ezrin or pGenesil-1/shRNA-ezrin and the stably transfected cells were selected with G418 to yield the ezrin cell line. The OS-MG63 tumor cells were delivered by tail vein to female BALB/c to develop pulmonary metastasis model in vivo. Ezrin was identified as a direct target of miR-183 via a luciferase reporter carrying the 3′-untranslated region of ezrin. Migration assays and invasion assays were done with the transwells. Signaling pathway was studied by Western blotting and/or inhibitor.

Results
Ectopic overexpression of ezrin in OS cell line MG63 promoted tumor cell invasion and migration. Consistent with this, knockdown of ezrin inhibited tumor cell invasion and migration. Similar results were obtained in the experimental metastasis model in vivo. We identified ezrin as a direct target of miR-183. What is more, ectopic expression of ezrin could induce the expression of N-cadherin and enhance the activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling.

Conclusion
Collectively, these results suggest that ezrin as a direct target of miR-183 promotes the aggressiveness of OS via increased N-cadherin and activating ERK signaling.
Efficacy and safety of first-line chemotherapy plus bevacizumab in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis
Authors: Ming Wang , Xiaofeng Zheng , Xiaojiao Ruan , Bailiang Ye , Long Cai , Feizhuan Lin , Jinfu Tu , Feizhao Jiang , Shaotang Li 
Published: January 2024

Background
What benefits and toxicities patients acquire from the use of bevacizumab combined with first-line chemotherapy remains controversial. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of first-line chemotherapy plus bevacizumab in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Methods
Several databases, including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library, were searched up to April 30, 2013. Eligible studies were only randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) with a direct comparison between mCRC patients treated with and without bevacizumab. Overall risk ratio (RR), hazard ratio (HR), odds ratio (OR), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated employing fixed or random-effects models depending on the heterogeneity of the included trials.

Results
Six RCTs, including 1582 patients in chemotherapy plus bevacizumab group and 1484 patients in chemotherapy-alone group, were included. Overall, the addition of bevacizumab to first-line chemotherapy increased overall response rate (ORR) by 4.5%, prolonged both progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), and increased the rate of total Grades 3 or 4 adverse events (G3/4AEs) by 6.9%. Significant differences were found in ORR (RR=1.22 (95% CI 1.01-1.46), P=0.03), PFS (HR=0.60 (95% CI 0.47-0.77), P<0.0001), OS (HR=0.83 (95% CI 0.70-0.97), P=0.02), and any G3/4AEs (OR=1.56 (95% CI 1.29-1.89), P<0.00001).

Conclusion
Bevacizumab is a valuable addition to the current first-line chemotherapy regimens used in patients with mCRC, because of conferring a significant improvement in ORR, PFS, and OS, even though it increased adverse events.
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging findings in children with myocarditis
Authors: Liu Guiying , Yang Xi , Su Ying , Xu Jimin , Wen Zhaoying 
Published: January 2024

Background
Myocarditis is a common, potentially life-threatening disease that presents a wide rang of symptoms in children, as an important underlying etiology of other myocardial diseases such as dilated and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. The incidence of nonfatal myocarditis is probably greater than that of the one actually diagnosed, which is the result of the challenges of establishing the diagnosis in standard clinical settings. Currently, no single clinical or imaging finding confirms the diagnosis of myocarditis with absolute certainty. Historically, clinical exam, electrocardiogram (ECG), serology and echocardiography had an unsatisfactory diagnostic accuracy in myocarditis. Endomyocardial biopsy remains as a widely accepted standard, but may not be suitable for every patient, especially for those with less severe disease. Our aim was to find the changes in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging of children with myocarditis diagnosed by clinical criteria.

Methods
We studied 25 children (18 male, 7 female; aged from 5–17 years) with diagnosed myocarditis by clinical criteria. CMR included function analyses, T2-weighted imaging, T1-weighted imaging before and after i.v. gadolinium injection (early gadolinium enhancement (EGE) and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE)).

Results
The T2 ratio was elevated in 21 children (84%, 11 in anterolateral (44%), 5 in inferolateral (20%), and 5 in septum (20%)), EGE was present in 9 children (36%, 3 in anterolateral (12%), 4 in inferolateral (20%), and 2 in septum (8%)), and LGE was present in 5 children (20%, 2 in anterolateral (8%), 1 in inferolateral (4%), 1 in septum (4%), and 1 in midwall of left ventricular (LV) wall). In 9 children (36%), two (or more) out of three sequences (T2, EGE, LGE) were abnormal.

Conclusions
The CMR findings in children with clinically diagnosed myocarditis vary within the groups, including regional or global myocardial signal increase in T2-weighted images, EGE and LGE in T1-weighted images. The T2 ratio elevation is the most common CMR finding. Children with mild cardiac symptoms may also appear serious myocardial injuries.