bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predicting the unexpected total fertilization failure in conventional in vitro fertilization cycles: What is the role of semen quality?
Authors: Jiang Xiaoming , Cai Jiali , Liu Lanlan , Liu Zhenfang , Chen Jinhua , Yang Chao , Chen Kaijie , Yang Xiaolian , Geng Jie , Ma Caihui , Lian Shuiyan , Xu Li , Ren Jianzhi 
Published: February 2023

Background: Male and female gametes factors might contribute to the total fertilization failure (TFF). In first in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles, decision-making of insemination protocol was mainly based on semen quality for the contribution of female clinical characteristics to TFF remained obscure. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the role of semen quality in predicting unexpected TFF.Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort analysis was performed on 19539 cycles between 2013 and 2021. Two algorithms, a Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) and an Extreme Gradient Boosting (Xgboost) were used to create models with cycle characteristics parameters. By including semen parameters or not, the contribution of semen parameters to the performance of the models was evaluated. The area under the curve (AUC), the calibration, and the net reclassification index (NRI) were used to evaluate the performance of the models.Results: The prevalence of TFF were .07 (95%CI:0.07-0.08), and .08 (95%CI:0.07-0.09) respectively in the development and validation group. Including all characteristics, with the models of LASSO and Xgboost, TFF was predicted with the AUCs of .74 (95%CI:0.72-0.77) and .75 (95%CI:0.72-0.77) in the validation group. The AUCs with models of LASSO and Xgboost without semen parameters were .72 (95%CI:0.69-0.74) and .73 (95%CI:0.7-0.75). The models of LASSO and Xgboost with semen parameters only gave the AUCs of .58 (95%CI:0.55-0.61) and .57 (95%CI:0.55-0.6). For the overall validation cohort, the event NRI values were −5.20 for the LASSO model and −.71 for the Xgboost while the non-event NRI values were 10.40 for LASSO model and 0.64 for Xgboost. In the subgroup of poor responders, the prevalence was .21 (95%CI:0.18-0.24). With refitted models of LASSO and Xgboost, the AUCs were .72 (95%CI:0.67-0.77) and .69 (95%CI:0.65-0.74) respectively.Conclusion: In unselected patients, semen parameters contribute to limited value in predicting TFF. However, oocyte yield is an important predictor for TFF and the prevalence of TFF in poor responders was high. Because reasonable predicting power for TFF could be achieved in poor responders, it may warrant further study to prevent TFF in these patients.
Diversity of arterial cell and phenotypic heterogeneity induced by high-fat and high-cholesterol diet
Authors: Wen Jieqi , Ling Rongsong , Chen Ruiyue , Zhang Siyan , Dai Yarong , Zhang Tingtao , Guo Fanyu , Wang Qingxin , Wang Guixin , Jiang Yizhou 
Published: February 2023

Lipid metabolism disorder is the basis of atherosclerotic lesions, in which cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is the main factor involved with the atherosclerotic development. A high-fat and high-cholesterol diet can lead to this disorder in the human body, thus accelerating the process of disease. The development of single-cell RNA sequencing in recent years has opened the possibility to unbiasedly map cellular heterogeneity with high throughput and high resolution; alterations mediated by a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet at the single-cell transcriptomic level can be explored with this mean afterward. We assessed the aortic arch of 16-week old Apoe−/− mice of two control groups (12 weeks of chow diet) and two HFD groups (12 weeks of high fat, high cholesterol diet) to process single-cell suspension and use single-cell RNA sequencing to anatomize the transcripts of 5,416 cells from the control group and 2,739 from the HFD group. Through unsupervised clustering, 14 cell types were divided and defined. Among these cells, the cellular heterogeneity exhibited in endothelial cells and immune cells is the most prominent. Subsequent screening delineated ten endothelial cell subsets with various function based on gene expression profiling. The distribution of endothelial cells and immune cells differs significantly between the control group versus the HFD one. The existence of pathways that inhibit atherosclerosis was found in both dysfunctional endothelial cells and foam cells. Our data provide a comprehensive transcriptional landscape of aortic arch cells and unravel the cellular heterogeneity brought by a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet. All these findings open new perspectives at the transcriptomic level to studying the pathology of atherosclerosis.
Qualitative and quantitative studies on two commercial specifications of Polygonatum odoratum
Authors: Nan Yi , Liang Haizhen , Pang Xu , Zheng Wei , Shi Yuhao , Chen Xiaojuan , Zhang Jie , Song Juan , Ma Baiping 
Published: February 2023

The rhizoma of Polygonatum odoratum (PO) is used to treat yin injuries of the lung and stomach in traditional Chinese medicine. The chemical constituents of this herb are steroidal saponins, homoisoflavanones, and alkaloids. Xiangyuzhu (XPO) and Guanyuzhu (GPO) are available in the market as two specifications of the commodity. Nonetheless, systematic research on the identification and comparison of chemical constituents of these two commercial specifications is yet lacking. Herein, an integrated method combing ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadruple time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS) with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-charged aerosol detection (UHPLC-CAD) was employed for the comprehensively qualitative and quantitative analyses of PO. A total of 62 compounds were identified by UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS, among which 13 potential chemical markers were screened out to distinguish two commercial specifications. Subsequently, the absolute determination method for polygodoraside G, polygonatumoside F, and timosaponin H1 was established and validated by UHPLC-CAD. The contents of the three compounds were 13.33–236.24 μg/g, 50.55–545.04 μg/g, and 13.34–407.83 μg/g, respectively. Furthermore, the ratio of timosaponin H1/polygodoraside G could be applied to differentiate the two specifications. Samples with a ratio &lt;2 are considered XPO and &gt;5 are considered GPO. Therefore, the above results provide a valuable means for the quality control of PO.
Differences in clinical features and gut microbiota between individuals with methamphetamine casual use and methamphetamine use disorder
Authors: He Li , Yang Bao-Zhu , Ma Yue-Jiao , Wen Li , Liu Feng , Zhang Xiao-Jie , Liu Tie-Qiao 
Published: February 2023

BackgroundThe transition from methamphetamine (MA) casual use (MCU) to compulsive use is enigmatic as some MA users can remain in casual use, but some cannot. There is a knowledge gap if gut microbiota (GM) play a role in differing MCU from MA use disorder (MUD). We aimed to investigate the clinical features and GM differences between individuals with MCU and MUD.MethodWe recruited two groups of MA users –MCU and MUD – and matched them according to age and body mass index (n=21 in each group). Participants were accessed using the Semi-Structured Assessment for Drug Dependence and Alcoholism, and their fecal samples were undergone 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing. We compared the hosts’ clinical features and GM diversity, composition, and structure (represented by enterotypes) between the two groups. We have identified differential microbes between the two groups and performed network analyses connecting GM and the clinical traits.ResultCompared with the casual users, individuals with MUD had higher incidences of MA-induced neuropsychiatric symptoms (e.g., paranoia, depression) and withdrawal symptoms (e.g., fatigue, drowsiness, and increased appetite), as well as stronger cravings for and intentions to use MA, and increased MA tolerance. The GM diversity showed no significant differences between the two groups, but four genera (Halomonas, Clostridium, Devosia, and Dorea) were enriched in the individuals with MUD (p&lt;0.05). Three distinct enterotypes were identified in all MA users, and Ruminococcus-driven enterotype 2 was dominant in individuals with MUD compared to the MCU (61.90% vs. 28.60%, p=0.03). Network analysis shows that Devosia is the hub genus (hub index = 0.75), which is not only related to the counts of the MUD diagnostic criteria (ρ=0.40; p=0.01) but also to the clinical features of MA users such as reduced social activities (ρ=0.54; p&lt;0.01). Devosia is also associated with the increased intention to use MA (ρ=0.48; p&lt;0.01), increased MA tolerance (ρ=0.38; p=0.01), craving for MA (ρ=0.37; p=0.01), and MA-induced withdrawal symptoms (p&lt;0.05).ConclusionOur findings suggest that Ruminococcus-driven enterotype 2 and the genera Devosia might be two influential factors that differentiate MA casual use from MUD, but further studies are warranted.
Natural history of isolated abdominal aortic dissection: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Wu Jinlin , Wu Yanfen , Li Fei , Zhuang Donglin , Cheng Yunqing , Chen Zerui , Yang Jue , Liu Jie , Li Xin , Fan Ruixin , Sun Tucheng 
Published: February 2023

ObjectivesIsolated abdominal aortic dissection (IAAD) is extremely rare, with its optimal treatment and intervention timing remaining poorly understood. We aimed to study the natural history of IAAD and facilitate better clinical decision.MethodsConsecutive patients admitted to our institution from January 2016 to April 2021 were enrolled and followed up prospectively. All-cause death was taken as the primary endpoint.ResultsA total of 68 patients with IAAD were included. The mean age at presentation was 61.2 ± 14.8 (Range: 26.0, 93.0) years and 55 (80.9%) were male. A total of 38 (55.9%) patients were treated conservatively, 27 (39.7%) received endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), and 3 (4.4%) underwent open surgery. After a mean follow-up of 2.4 years (Range: 0.1, 5.5), 9 (13.2%) patients died, 8 of whom (21.0%) were treated conservatively and 1 EVAR (3.7%). Compared with EVAR/open surgery, patient treated conservatively had a much worse survival (p = 0.043). There was no significant difference between different IAAD aortic sizes regarding mortality (p = 0.220). Patients with completely thrombosed false lumen fared improved survival rate, followed by partial thrombosis and patency, respectively, although not significantly (p = 0.190). No significant difference was observed between male and female concerning survival rate (p = 0.970). Patients without symptoms had a significantly improved survival (p = 0.048).ConclusionOn the basis of patients’ preference and surgeons’ experience, a more aggressive treatment regimen for IAAD should be considered, with EVAR being the first choice, especially for those with persistent symptoms and patent false lumen, regardless of sex, age, or aortic size.
Renal outcomes of rivaroxaban compared with warfarin in Asian patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: A nationwide population-based cohort study
Authors: Lee So-Ryoung , Choi Eue-Keun , Park Sang-Hyun , Han Kyung-Do , Oh Seil , Abdelgawwad Khaled , Lip Gregory Y. H. 
Published: February 2023

BackgroundFurther studies are needed to expand the evidence for the association of rivaroxaban with a lower risk of adverse renal outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) as compared with warfarin, especially in Asians.ObjectivesTo determine whether there are differences in adverse renal outcomes between rivaroxaban and warfarin-treated AF patients.MethodsUsing the Korean nationwide claims database partly linked to laboratory results, patients with AF who initiated warfarin or rivaroxaban from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2017 were identified. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to balance the baseline characteristics of the two groups. The primary outcome (kidney failure) was defined as the need for maintenance dialysis or having kidney transplantation. For the exploratory analysis in a subset of patients with baseline and follow-up laboratory results, the composite of renal outcomes, including estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) lower than 15 ml/min/1.73 m2 at follow-up measurement, starting dialysis, or having kidney transplantation, ≥ 30% decline in eGFR, doubling of serum creatinine level, and acute kidney injury (AKI) were evaluated. The two groups were compared using Cox proportional hazards regression in the weighted population.ResultsWe identified 30,933 warfarin users and 17,013 rivaroxaban users (51% of low dose rivaroxaban). After IPTW, the mean age was 70 years, and the mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 3.9 in both groups. During a median follow-up of 0.93 (interquartile ranges 0.23–2.10) years, weighted incidence rates of kidney failure for warfarin and rivaroxaban were 0.83 and 0.32 per 100 person-years, respectively. Compared with the warfarin group, the rivaroxaban group was associated with a lower risk of kidney failure (hazard ratio [HR] 0.389, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.300–0.499, p &lt; 0.001). In patients with preexisting chronic kidney disease or eGFR ≤ 60 ml/min/1.73 m2, rivaroxaban was more beneficial than warfarin in reducing the risk of kidney failure. For the composite of five renal outcomes in the exploratory analysis, the rivaroxaban group showed a lower risk than warfarin (HR 0.798, 95% CI 0.713–0.892, p &lt; 0.001).ConclusionRivaroxaban was associated with lower risks of renal adverse outcomes than warfarin in Korean patients with AF.
Evaluating parental experiences in using technology for remote learning to teach students with special needs during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Sankoh Alfred , Hogle Jared , Payton Melinda , Ledbetter Karen 
Published: February 2023

BackgroundThe 2020–2021 school year shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic brought an unprecedented burden on parents, especially those with special needs children. Parents with children with special needs were left to assist their children with remote learning at home using technology for the first time. These students with special needs were used to face-to-face and one-to-one classroom learning by skilled educators but are now left to be educated by their parents.ObjectiveThis study explored parents’ experiences assisting their special needs children with remote learning for the first time, using technology at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodA transcendental (descriptive) phenomenology was undertaken to explore the experiences of nine participants, recruited from two school divisions in Manitoba, Canada, on their child’s education and the challenges they experienced during remote learning from home. A purposive sampling technique was used, and data were collected through telephone interviews.ResultsEight out of nine parents reported a negative experience with remote learning. Four major themes emerged after the data analysis: participants’ fear and anxiety during remote learning, difficulty maintaining routines during remote learning, students’ behavioral issues and mental health changes during remote learning, and lack of home support during remote learning. Furthermore, results indicated that integrating technology in remote learning for students with special needs was ineffective.ConclusionThis study suggests poor communication between parents and teachers, and parents’ desire to be involved in planning remote learning for students with special needs during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown was not met. This study also suggests that schools failed to meet students’ IEPs during remote learning. Furthermore, this study highlights that remote learning for special-needs students is inappropriate without educational assistance.
Association between serum carcinoembryonic antigen and cardiometabolic risks: Implication for cardiometabolic prevention
Authors: Chang Chia-Hao , Weng Hsu-Huei , Lin Yu-Chih , Lin Chia-Ni , Huang Tung-Jung , Chen Mei-Yen 
Published: February 2023

BackgroundSerum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a biomarker commonly used to detect colorectal cancer. CEA levels are affected by many factors, including cardiometabolic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and diabetes. Cardiometabolic diseases and cancer share a similar pathological inflammatory pathway, which correlates with an unhealthy lifestyle. Hence, establishing an adequate CEA cut-off value might be a valuable reference for developing precision healthcare programs for cardiometabolic disease prevention. This study aimed to investigate the association between cardiometabolic risks and serum CEA and the underlying factors.MethodsA community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted between March and December 2021 on the western coast of Taiwan. Lifestyle data were assessed using a structured questionnaire. The cardiometabolic biomarkers, serum CEA, urine malondialdehyde, and 1-hydroxypyrene were quantified by the central laboratory of the collaborating hospital. Chi-square and binary multivariable logistic regression implemented in R version 4.0.2 were used to identify factors defining the risk of high serum CEA levels.ResultsA total of 6,295 adult residents without cancer-related diseases completed the study. The mean age was 48.6 (SD = 16.4) years, 56% were female, 32% had metabolic syndrome, and 23% and 10% had CVDs and diabetes, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression showed that age ≥ 65 years, male sex, alcohol consumption, smoking, infrequent use of dental floss, fewer remaining teeth, CVDs, diabetes, and oxidative stress were significantly associated with serum CEA ≥ 3 ng/mL. The discriminatory performance of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.75 (0.73–0.76), showing that this model was suitable for distinguishing high CEA levels.ConclusionOur findings highlight the importance of understanding cardiometabolic diseases, unhealthy lifestyles, and oxidative stress, which contribute to high serum CEA. This study demonstrates that CEA, a well-known tumor marker, can help the early detection and prevention of cardiometabolic diseases via personalized lifestyle modification.
Analysis of social–Psychological factors and financial incentives in demand response and residential energy behavior
Authors: Chen Chien-fei , Xu Xiaojing , Cao Zhuolin , Mockus Audris , Shi Qingxin 
Published: February 2023

Introduction: Demand response programs are promising approaches to balance supply and demand and reduce or shift peak hour loads. However, the impacts of residents’ behavioral patterns and social–psychological factors on these programs are poorly understood.Method: We used an extended model of the theory of planned behavior to understand how social–psychological factors, demographics, and household characteristics influence the demand response behaviors (i.e., adjusting A/C and shifting the time of use) of 826 US residents who participated in our study.Results: We found that low-income households (43.7%) reported as more likely to respond to the behavior of raising A/C thermostat settings when no one is home compared to higher-income residents. Thermal comfort needs (β = 0.34) and participants’ age (β = 0.02) increased the financial incentives requested to accept higher A/C temperatures while someone is home. Thermal comfort needs (β = 0.36) and energy-saving habits (β = −0.11) are the significant predictors of increased incentives requested for higher A/C temperatures when no one is home. Older adults request higher financial incentives for shifting washer and dryer usage than younger residents. Finally, attitudes toward energy saving are the strongest predictor of electricity curtailment behavioral intention, followed by perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, cost and environmental concerns, and energy-saving habits.Discussion: This finding suggests the potential of social–psychological variables in shaping energy consumption behaviors. This study provides insights for designing effective demand response programs and broadly analyzing energy behavioral patterns.
The abdominal aortic aneurysm-related disease model based on machine learning predicts immunity and m1A/m5C/m6A/m7G epigenetic regulation
Authors: Tian Yu , Fu Shengjie , Zhang Nan , Zhang Hao , Li Lei 
Published: February 2023

Introduction: Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are among the most lethal non-cancerous diseases. A comprehensive analysis of the AAA-related disease model has yet to be conducted.Methods: Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was performed for the AAA-related genes. Machine learning random forest and LASSO regression analysis were performed to develop the AAA-related score. Immune characteristics and epigenetic characteristics of the AAA-related score were explored.Results: Our study developed a reliable AAA-related disease model for predicting immunity and m1A/m5C/m6A/m7G epigenetic regulation.Discussion: The pathogenic roles of four model genes, UBE2K, TMEM230, VAMP7, and PUM2, in AAA, need further validation by in vitro and in vivo experiments.
Galectins can serve as biomarkers in COVID-19: A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Behnoush Amir Hossein , Khalaji Amirmohammad , Alemohammad Seyedeh Yasaman , Kalantari Amirali , Cannavo Alessandro , Dimitroff Charles J. 
Published: February 2023

BackgroundGalectins are an eleven-member class of lectins in humans that function as immune response mediators and aberrancies in their expression are commonly associated with immunological diseases. Several studies have focused on galectins as they may represent an important biomarker and a therapeutic target in the fight against COVID-19. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the usefulness of clinical assessment of circulating galectin levels in patients with COVID-19.MethodsInternational databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase were systematically used as data sources for our analyses. The random-effect model was implemented to calculate the standardized mean difference (SMD) and a 95% confidence interval (CI).ResultsA total of 18 studies, comprising 2,765 individuals, were identified and used in our analyses. We found that Gal-3 is the most widely investigated galectin in COVID-19. Three studies reported significantly higher Gal-1 levels in COVID-19 patients. Meta-analysis revealed that patients with COVID-19 had statistically higher levels of Gal-3 compared with healthy controls (SMD 0.53, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.96, P=0.02). However, there was no significant difference between severe and non-severe cases (SMD 0.45, 95% CI -0.17 to 1.07, P=0.15). While one study supports lower levels of Gal-8 in COVID-19, Gal-9 was measured to be higher in patients and more severe cases.ConclusionOur study supports Gal-3 as a valuable non-invasive biomarker for the diagnosis and/or prognosis of COVID-19. Moreover, based on the evidence provided here, more studies are needed to confirm a similar diagnostic and prognostic role for Gal-1, -8, and -9.