bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Antimicrobial susceptibility of Gram-negative bacteria causing intra-abdominal infections in China: SMART China 2011
Authors: Hui Zhang , Qiwen Yang , Meng Xiao , Minjun Chen , Badal Robert E. , Yingchun Xu 
Published: January 2024

Background

The Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends program monitors the activity of antibiotics against aerobic and facultative Gram-negative bacilli (GNBs) from intra-abdominal infections (IAIs) in patients worldwide.

Methods
In 2011, 1 929 aerobic and facultative GNBs from 21 hospitals in 16 cities in China were collected. All isolates were tested using a panel of 12 antimicrobial agents, and susceptibility was determined following the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines.

Results
Among the Gram-negative pathogens causing IAIs, Escherichia coli (47.3%) was the most commonly isolated, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (17.2%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10.1%), and Acinetobacter baumannii (8.3%). Enterobacteriaceae comprised 78.8% (1521/1929) of the total isolates. Among the antimicrobial agents tested, ertapenem and imipenem were the most active agents against Enterobacteriaceae, with susceptibility rates of 95.1% and 94.4%, followed by amikacin (93.9%) and piperacillin/tazobactam (87.7%). Susceptibility rates of ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, and cefepime against Enterobacteriaceae were 38.3%, 38.3%, 61.1%, and 50.8%, respectively. The leastactive agent against Enterobacteriaceae was ampicillin/sulbactam (25.9%). The extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) rates among E. coli, K. pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, and Proteus mirabilis were 68.8%, 38.1%, 41.2%, and 57.7%, respectively.

Conclusions
Enterobacteriaceae were the major pathogens causing IAIs, and the most active agents against the study isolates (including those producing ESBLs) were ertapenem, imipenem, and amikacin. Including the carbapenems, most agents exhibited reduced susceptibility against ESBL-positive and multidrug-resistant isolates.
Heliox as a driving gas to atomize inhaled drugs on acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a prospective clinical study
Authors: Xiao Yongjiu , Su Longxiang , Han Bingchao , Zhang Xin , Xie Lixin 
Published: January 2024

Background
Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is a common condition, which affects not only the quality of life of patients but also their prognosis. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of an inhaled salbutamol sulfate solution and an inhalation suspension of the glucocorticoid budesonide that were atomized with heliox to treat patients with AECOPD.

Methods
Twenty-three patients with AECOPD were divided into a treatment group (He/O2=70%/30%) and a control group (N2/O2=70%/30%). The salbutamol sulfate and budesonide were administered by inhalation twice a day for 7 days. Vital signs, arterial blood gas levels, pulmonary function and the levels of serum myostatin (sMSTN) were measured and lung vibration imaging was performed.

Results
We found that the PaO2 and PaCO2 values were not significantly different between the two groups at the various time points (P >0.05). There were also no significant differences in any of the parameters of pulmonary function between the two groups. However, after baseline correction, the increase rate of the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), the forced vital capacity (FVC), and the maximum minute ventilation (MVV) appeared to be significantly increased at some time points compared with the baseline (before treatment) in both groups (P <0.05). Although the values of quantitative lung distribution (QLD) for different regions and the levels of sMSTN were slightly different between the two groups, the repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that there were no significant differences between the two groups or within any group (P >0.05).

Conclusion
Although the use of heliox as a driving gas can improve symptoms and benefit patients with AECOPD, the heliox treatment group did not have significant differences in arterial blood gases, lung function, lung vibration response imaging or the levels of sMSTN compared with the control group. (Chinese Clinical Trial Register Center ChiCTRTRC-00000273)
Effect of fixing distal radius fracture with volar locking palmar plates while preserving pronator quadratus
Authors: Jian Fan , Kai Chen , Hui Zhu , Bo Jiang , Feng Yuan , Xiaozhong Zhu , Jiong Mei , Guangrong Yu 
Published: January 2024

Background
L-shaped incision of pronator quadratus (PQ) muscle along its radial and distal borders was always taken for distal radius fractures reduction and internal fixation. Repair of the PQ muscle was always recommended at the end of operation for some instructive reasons. But repair of PQ is not satisfied because of poor quality of muscle and fascial tissues which may cause pain or impede forearm pronation and supination for post-operative scarring around PQ. Inserting the locking palmar plate to pass under the pronator quadratus muscle and the locking screws are inserted through miniincisions in pronator quadratus in some patients with distal radius fractures is a reasonable technique which can preserve the pronator quadratus. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the clinical effects after volar plating of the distal radius fractures while preserving the pronator quadratus and pronator quadratus repair.

Methods
Between September 2010 and April 2012, 65 patients (42 males and 23 females; aged 20-68 years and a mean age of 42.5 years) with distal radius fracture underwent open reduction and internal fixation using the volar locking palmar plates (Depuy or Smith companies). The patients were classified as 23A-2 through 23C-3 according to the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) classifications. All surgeries were completed by the same trained team. The volar locking palmar plates of distal radius performed with preserving pronator quadratus group involved 30 patients including 19 males and 11 females and performed with pronator quadratus repair group involved 35 patients including 23 males and 12 females. We compared the two groups for wrist pain, forearm range of motion, grip strength, perioperative complications and wrist functional recovery score.

Results
The minimum follow-up for the whole cohort was one year. The differences between the two groups were significant with regard to wrist pain, forearm range of motion, grip strength and wrist function at 1, 2, and 6 weeks postoperatively, but insignificant at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. No significant differences were found in the perioperative complications and radiographs postoperatively.

Conclusions
Preservation of the pronator quadratus muscle is a satisfactory method for the treatment of majority of the fractures of the distal radius with volar locking palmar plates, as this technique can yield better early wrist function and shorten the rehabilitation.
Intermittent hypoxia with or without hypercapnia is associated with tumorigenesis by decreasing the expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor and miR-34a in rats
Authors: Zhang Jing , Guo Xu , Shi Yanwei , Ma Jing , Wang Guangfa 
Published: January 2024

Background
Very recent studies revealed that obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a contributor of the increased incidence and mortality of cancer in humans, but mechanisms of how OSA promotes tumorigenesis remains largely unknown. We investigated whether intermittent hypoxia with and without hypercapnia plays a role in tumorigenesis.

Methods
First, Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats (12 weeks old) were subjected to different hypoxia exposures: intermittent hypoxia and intermittent hypoxia with hypercapnia; continuous hypoxia and normal air. The systemic application of chronic fast rate hypoxia with or without hypercapnia mimicked severe OSA patients with apnoea/hypopnea index equivalent to 60 events per hour. Then routine blood tests were performed and the levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and miR-34a were examined.

Results
In contrast to intermittent hypoxia with hypercapnia, both intermittent hypoxia and continuous hypoxia treatments caused significantly higher levels of haematology parameters than normoxia treatments. Compared to normoxia, intermittent hypoxia with hypercapnia exposure resulted in substantial decrease of serum BDNF and, miR-34a in the lower brainstem, while less pronounced results were found in intermittent hypoxia and continuous hypoxia exposure.

Conclusions
The exposure of intermittent hypoxia with or without hypercapnia, mimicking the situations in severe OSA patients, was associated with, or even promoted tumorigenesis.
X-ray image characteristics and related measurements in the ankles of 118 adult patients with Kashin-Beck disease
Authors: Yi Zeng , Zongke Zhou , Bin Shen , Jing Yang , Pengde Kang , Xuan Zhou , Ling Zou , Fuxing Pei 
Published: January 2024

Background

Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) is a chronic, degenerative osteoarthropathy that causes severe skeletal deformation. Although many researchers have proven that almost all KBD patients who showed an increaseing proximo-distal gradient had radiographic abnormalities of the ankle, few detailed description of radiographic changes in the ankles of patients with KBD has been reported, especially for variable measurements of ankle changes. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the radiographic characteristics of the ankles of adult KBD patients.

Methods
One hundred and eighteen adult KBD patients from september to October 2010 in Rongtang county in China were examined with lateral radiographs of the right ankle. The morphological abnormalities in the talus, calcaneus, navicular bone, distal tibia, and joint space were analyzed, and the calcaneus length, height, length-height ratio, tuber angle, front angle, plantar angle, and distal tibia anteroposterior (AP) length were measured using Riepert's method.

Results
Eighty-one patients (68.6%) had abnormal ankle radiographs; 72 (88.9%) patients had talus changes, 69 (85.2%) patients had calcaneus changes, 28 (34.6%) patients had navicular bone changes, and 48 (59.2%) patients had distal tibia changes. For 118 KBD patients, the average calcaneus length was 7.4 cm, height was 4.3 cm, and the length-height ratio was 1.7. The calcaneus tuber angle was 28.2°, front angle was 38.0° and the plantar angle was 74.2°. The distal tibia anteroposterior length was 4.05 cm. Compared with 50 normal adults (control group), significant differences were found for the calcaneus length, the calcaneus length-height ratio, and the distal tibia AP length.

Conclusions
Patients with KBD have characteristic abnormalities on ankle radiographs; talus depression and deformity, calcaneus shortening deformity, and distal tibia deformity with AP length widening were the most typical changes.
Effect of poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) on scar formation after glaucoma filtration surgery
Authors: DU Li-qun , YANG Hong-ling , WU Xin-yi , WANG Shen-guo , LI Yun 
Published: January 2024

Background
Glaucoma filtering surgery (GFS) is the most common procedure performed in the treatment of glaucoma. Although antiscarring agents help prevent postsurgical scarring and improve glaucoma surgical outcomes, they may be associated with an increased incidence of severe and potentially blinding complications. Poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PDLLA/GA) is a bioresorbable polymer, which can be prepared with a large range of physical, mechanical, and biological properties and has been widely used in medicine, including as an absorbable suture and a drug carrier and especially as a scaffold in tissue engineering. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of PDLLA/GA on scar formation after glaucoma filtration surgery (GFS).

Methods
Forty-eight New Zealand white rabbits were divided into two groups randomly and GFS was performed on the right eye of each. PDLLA/GA membranes were put under the sclera flap for evaluation. GFS with no membrane inserted served as control. Clinical evaluations of intraocular pressure (IOP) and the presence of a filtration bleb were performed at intervals (3 days, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 20, and 24 weeks) postoperatively. At each time point, three eyes per group were excised to observe histological changes such as inflammation and scar formation and the expression of collagen type IV, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1). The expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) mRNA was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

Results
The lower IOP level and an effective bleb were maintained for a long time after GFS in the PDLLA/GA group. The histological analysis showed less inflammation and scar formation, weaker expression of collagen type IV and PCNA, more intense MMP-9 and TIMP-1, slightly elevated ratio of MMP-9 and TIMP-1, and a smaller increase in CTGF mRNA postoperatively in the PDLLA/GA group but less than the control group (P <0.05).

Conclusion
PDLLA/GA membranes may be promising for preventing fibrosis after GFS.
Prediction of H7N9 epidemic in China
Authors: Zhang Zhaojie , Xia Yao , Lu Yi , Yang Jingchao , Zhang Luwen , Su Hui , Lin Lili , Wang Guoling , Wang Tongmei , Lin Shao , Guo Zhongmin , Lu Jiahai 
Published: January 2024

Background
In March 2013, human cases of infection with a novel A (H7N9) influenza virus emerged in China. The epidemic spread quickly and as of 6 May 2013, there were 129 confirmed cases. The purpose of this study was to analyze the epidemiology of the confirmed cases, determine the impacts of bird migration and temperature changes on the H7N9 epidemic, predict the future trends of the epidemic, explore the response patterns of the government and propose preventive suggestions.

Methods
The geographic, temporal and population distribution of all cases reported up to 6 May 2013 were described from available records. Risk assessment standard was established by analysing the temperature and relative humidity records during the period of extensive outbreak in three epidemic regions in eastern China, including Shanghai, Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces. Risk assessment maps were created by combining the bird migration routes in eastern China with the monthly average temperatures from May 1993 to December 2012 nationwide.

Results
Among the confirmed cases, there were more men than women, and 50.4% were elderly adults (age >61 years). The major demographic groups were retirees and farmers. The temperature on the days of disease onset was concentrated in the range of 9°C-19°C; we defined 9°C-19°C as the high-risk temperature range, 0°C-9°C or 19°C-25°C as medium risk and <0°C or >25°C as low risk. The relative humidity on the days of disease onset ranged widely from 25% to 99%, but did not correlate with the incidence of infection. Based on the temperature analysis and the eastern bird migration routes, we predicted that after May, the high-risk region would move to the northeast and inland, while after September, it would move back to north China.

Conclusions
Temperature and bird migration strongly influence the spread of the H7N9 virus. In order to control the H7N9 epidemic effectively, Chinese authorities should strengthen the surveillance of migrating birds, increase poultry and environmental sampling, improve live poultry selling and husbandry patterns and move from a “passive response pattern” to an “active response pattern” in focused preventive measures.
Association of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide with the severity of coronary artery disease in patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction
Authors: Wu Naqiong , Ma Fenglian , Guo Yuanlin , Li Xiaoling , Liu Jun , Qing Ping , Xu Ruixia , Zhu Chenggang , Jia Yanjun , Liu Geng , Dong Qian , Jiang Lixin , Li Jianjun 
Published: January 2024

Backround
N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a reliable predictor in acute coronary artery disease (CAD). Little is known about patients with stable CAD, especially Chinese patients with CAD. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of NT-proBNP levels with the severity of CAD in patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction.

Methods
A total of 658 consecutive patients were divided into two groups based on angiograms: CAD group (n=484) and angiographic normal control group (n=174). The severity of CAD was evaluated by modified Gensini score, and its relationship with NT-proBNP was analyzed.

Results
The prevalence of risk factors such as age, male gender, diabetes mellitus (DM), dyslipidemia, smoking, and family history of CAD in the CAD group were higher than that in the control group. In multivariate regression model analysis, age, gender, and DM were determinants of the presence of CAD. NT-pro BNP was found to be an independent predictor for CAD (OR:1.66 (95% CI: 1.06-2.61), P <0.05). In a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, an NT-proBNP value of 641.15 pmol/L was identified as a cut-off value in the diagnosis or exclusion of CAD (area under curve (AUC)=0.56, 95% CI: 0.51-0.61). Furthermore, NT-proBNP was positively correlated with Gensini score (r=0.14, P <0.001) in patients with CAD.

Conclusion
NT-proBNP was an independent predictor for Chinese patients with CAD, suggesting that the NT-proBNP level might be associated with the presence and the severity of CAD.
Pioglitazone inhibits the expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in rat mesangial cells
Authors: WANG Shan , YE Shan-dong , SUN Wen-jia , HU Yuan-yuan 
Published: January 2024

Background
Oxidative Stress and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) play a vital role in renal fibrosis. Pioglitazone can protect kidney but the underlying mechanisms are less clear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of pioglitazone on oxidative stress and whether the severity of oxidative stress was associated with the phosphorylation level of p38MAPK.

Methods
Rat mesangial cells were cultured and randomly assigned to control group, high glucose group and pioglitazone group. After 48-hour exposure, the supernatants and cells were collected. The protein levels of p22phox, p47phox, phosphorylated p38MAPK, total p38MAPK were measured by Western blotting. The gene expressions of p22phox, p47phox were detected by RT-PCR. The levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined by flow cytometry. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and maleic dialdehyde (MDA) in the supernatant were determined respectively.

Results
Compared with the control group, the expression levels of p22phox, p47phox, phospho-p38 and ROS significantly increased, activity of SOD decreased in high glucose group, while the level of MDA greatly increased (P <0.01). Pioglitazone significantly suppressed p22phox, p47phox expressions and oxidative stress induced by high glucose. The expressions of p22phox, p47phox, phospho-p38MAPK and ROS generation were markedly reduced after pioglitazone treatment (P <0.05). The activity of SOD in the the supernatant increased (P <0.05), while the level of MDA decreased greatly by pioglitazone (P <0.05). The level of oxidative stress was associated with the phosphorylation level of p38MAPK (P <0.01).

Conclusion
Pioglitazone can inhibit oxidative stress through suppressing NADPH oxidase expression and p38MAPK phosphorylation.
Inhibition of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ in steroidinduced adipogenic differentiation of the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of rabbit using small interference RNA
Authors: Wang Yisheng , Li Jinfeng , Liu Ming , Zhao Guoqiang , Hao Lanyu , Li Yuebai 
Published: January 2024

BackgroundSteroids inhibit osteogenic differentiation and decrease bone formation while concomitantly inducing adipose deposition in osteocytes. This leads to the fatty degeneration and necrosis of bone cells commonly seen in osteonecrosis of the femoral head. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) is an adipogenic transcription factor linked to the development of this disease and responsible for inducing adipogenesis over osteogenesis in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). The aim of this study was to assess whether adipogenic differentiation could be suppressed, and thus osteogenic potential retained, by inhibiting PPARγ expression in BMSCs.MethodsCells from the bone marrow of New Zealand rabbits were treated with 10-7mol/L dexamethasone and infected with one of three small interference RNA (siRNA) adenovirus vectors (S1, S2, and S3) or non-targeting control siRNA (Con) and compared with dexamethasone-treated (model) and untreated (normal) cells. Cells were grown for 21 days and stained with Sudan III for adipocyte formation. At various time points, cells were also assessed for changes in PPARγ, osteocalcin (OC), Runx2, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and triglyceride (TG) content.ResultsDexamethasone-treated model and control groups showed a significant increase in fatty acid-positive staining, which was inhibited in cells treated with PPARγ siRNA-treated, similar to normal untreated cells. All three siRNA groups significantly inhibited PPARγ mRNA and protein, adipocyte number, and TG content compared with the dexamethasonetreated model and control groups, matching that seen in normal cells. OC and Runx2 mRNA and protein, as well as ALP activity, were significantly higher in cells treated with siRNA against PPARγ, similar to that seen in the normal cells. These osteogenic markers were significantly lower in the dexamethasone-treated cell cultures.ConclusionsThe siRNA adenovirus vector targeting PPARγ can efficiently inhibit steroid-induced adipogenic differentiation in rabbit BMSCs and retain their osteogenic differentiation potential.
Prognostic value of lymph node ratio in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma after chemoradiotherapy
Authors: YU Yue , WANG Xiao-lei , XU Zhen-gang , FAN Cheng-cheng , LI Qing 
Published: January 2024

Background
Lymph node ratio (LNR) has recently been reported as a potential prognostic marker in many malignant diseases. We aimed to analyze the potential prognostic effect of LNR on hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC) after neoadjuvant therapy in our institution.

Methods
We performed a retrospective study of 279 patients with HPSCC who underwent radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy followed by neck dissection between November 1965 and December 2008. Patients were divided into four groups according to quartiles based on LNR.

Results
The mean LNR was 10.4% (range 0-100%, median 4.3%). Males and advanced clinical N classification significantly increased the LNR (P=0.014 and P <0.001, respectively). Compared with those with LNR <0.14, LNR ≥0.14 was associated with reduced overall, disease-specific and disease-free survival (all at P <0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that LNR is an independent predictor of prognosis.

Conclusion
Our results suggest that LNR is a strong predictor of HPSCC after chemoradiotherapy.