bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Abnormal metabolic connectivity in default mode network of right temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Wang Xiaoyang , Lin Dandan , Zhao Chunlei , Li Hui , Fu Liyuan , Huang Zhifeng , Xu Shangwen 
Published: March 2023

AimsTemporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a common neurological disorder associated with the dysfunction of the default mode network (DMN). Metabolic connectivity measured by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Computed Tomography (18F-FDG PET) has been widely used to assess cumulative energy consumption and provide valuable insights into the pathophysiology of TLE. However, the metabolic connectivity mechanism of DMN in TLE is far from fully elucidated. The present study investigated the metabolic connectivity mechanism of DMN in TLE using 18F-FDG PET.MethodParticipants included 40 TLE patients and 41 health controls (HC) who were age- and gender-matched. A weighted undirected metabolic network of each group was constructed based on 14 primary volumes of interest (VOIs) in the DMN, in which Pearson’s correlation coefficients between each pair-wise of the VOIs were calculated in an inter-subject manner. Graph theoretic analysis was then performed to analyze both global (global efficiency and the characteristic path length) and regional (nodal efficiency and degree centrality) network properties.ResultsMetabolic connectivity in DMN showed that regionally networks changed in the TLE group, including bilateral posterior cingulate gyrus, right inferior parietal gyrus, right angular gyrus, and left precuneus. Besides, significantly decreased (P &lt; 0.05, FDR corrected) metabolic connections of DMN in the TLE group were revealed, containing bilateral hippocampus, bilateral posterior cingulate gyrus, bilateral angular gyrus, right medial of superior frontal gyrus, and left inferior parietal gyrus.ConclusionTaken together, the present study demonstrated the abnormal metabolic connectivity in DMN of TLE, which might provide further insights into the understanding the dysfunction mechanism and promote the treatment for TLE patients.
Characteristics of culprit intracranial plaque without substantial stenosis in ischemic stroke using three-dimensional high-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Tian Xia , Shi Zhang , Wang Zhen , Xu Bing , Peng Wen-Jia , Zhang Xue-Feng , Liu Qi , Chen Shi-Yue , Tian Bing , Lu Jian-Ping , Shao Cheng-Wei 
Published: March 2023

Background and aimsWe aim to analyze the difference in quantitative features between culprit and non-culprit intracranial plaque without substantial stenosis using three-dimensional high-resolution vessel wall MRI (3D hr-vw-MRI).MethodsThe patients with cerebral ischemic symptoms of the unilateral anterior circulation were recruited who had non-stenotic intracranial atherosclerosis (&lt;50%) confirmed by computed tomographic angiographic (CTA) or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). All patients underwent 3D hr-vw MRI within 1 month after symptom onset. 3D hr-vw-MRI characteristics, including wall thickness, plaque burden, enhancement ratio, plaque volume and intraplaque hemorrhage, and histogram features were analyzed based on T2-, precontrast T1-, and post-contrast T1-weighted images. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to identify key determinates differentiating culprit and non-culprit plaques and to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsA total of 150 plaques were identified, of which 133 plaques (97 culprit and 36 non-culprit) were in the middle cerebral artery, three plaques (all culprit) were in the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) and 14 (11 culprit and three non-culprit) were in the internal carotid artery (ICA). Of all the quantitative parameters analyzed, plaque volume, maximum wall thickness, minimum wall thickness, plaque burden, enhancement ratio, coefficient of variation of the most stenotic site, enhancement ratio of whole culprit plaque in culprit plaques were significantly higher than those in non-culprit plaques. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found that plaque volume [OR, 1.527 (95% CI, 1.231–1.894); P &lt; 0.001] and enhancement ratio of whole plaque [OR, 1.095 (95% CI, 1.021–1.175); P = 0.011] were significantly associated with culprit plaque. The combination of the two features obtained a better diagnostic efficacy for culprit plaque with sensitivity and specificity (0.910 and 0.897, respectively) than each of the two parameters alone.Conclusion3D hr-vw MRI features of intracranial atherosclerotic plaques provided potential values over prediction of ischemic stroke patients with non-stenotic arteries. The plaque volume and enhancement ratio of whole plaque of stenosis site were found to be effective predictive parameters.
A longitudinal assessment of appetite loss and nutritional care among postoperative patients in Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Tu Huu , Ta Nguyet Thi , Dang Anh Kim , Nguyen Tham Thi , Dam Vu Anh Trong , Latkin Carl A. , Ho Cyrus S. H. , Ho Roger C. M. 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundPost-operative appetite loss is an important complication affecting surgical outcomes. It has been estimated that nearly 60% of patients having gastrointestinal or major elective surgeries suffer from malnutrition. Appetite refers to the physical desire for food appetite, and losing appetite after surgery may result in a decrease in body weight, impairment of intestinal absorption and eventually, malnutrition among postoperative patients. This study aims to assess appetite status and other relevant factors among abdominal postoperative patients in Vietnam.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on 169 abdominal postoperative patients from June 1st to August 30th, 2016 at Hanoi Medical University Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam. Appetite score was computed by using the Council on Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire (CNAQ). This study used GEE to account for the potential correlation of outcomes of the longitudinal assessment, assuming an independent correlation structure.ResultsThe primary and secondary outcome measures: highest average appetite score was recorded in the preoperative day and the score declined throughout seven-day duration. Patients who were female, under general anesthetics and being under open surgery tended to get lower appetite scores. The majority of patients had moderate to good appetite in both the preoperative day and seven days post-operation.ConclusionWomen should receive more care and help in regaining their appetite after surgery. Treatment for appetite loss through non-pharmaceutical measures should be prioritized. Interventions that increase the appetite of patients after abdominal surgery should be targeted on patients being under general anesthetic as well as open surgery and be undertaken with caution.
Association of prognostic nutritional index with risk of contrast induced nephropathy: A meta-analysis
Authors: Chang Wei-Ting , Sun Cheuk-Kwan , Wu Jheng-Yan , Huang Po-Yu , Liu Ting-Hui , Chang Ying-Jen , Lin Yao-Tsung , Kang Fu-Chi , Hung Kuo-Chuan 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundAlthough prognostic nutritional index (PNI) has been frequently applied in patients with malignancy or those during postoperative recovery, whether it is also an optimal indicator of the risk of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients receiving coronary angiography remains uncertain. This meta-analysis aimed at investigating the clinical association of PNI with the risk of CIN in patients receiving coronary angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention.MethodsEmbase, Medline, Cochrane Library, and Google scholar were searched for studies until January 2023. The relationship between CIN risk and PNI (i.e., low vs. high) (primary outcome) as well as other variables (secondary outcomes) were analyzed using a random-effects model.ResultsOverall, 10 observational studies with 17,590 patients (pooled incidence of CIN: 18%) were eligible for analysis. There was a higher risk of CIN in patients with a low PNI compared to those with a high PNI [odd ratio (OR) = 3.362, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.054 to 5.505, p &lt; 0.0001, I2 = 89.6%, seven studies, 12,972 patients, certainty of evidence: very low]. Consistently, a lower PNI was noted in patients with CIN compared to those without (Mean difference = −5.1, 95% CI: −6.87 to −3.33, p &lt; 0.00001, I2 = 96%, eight studies, 15,516 patients, certainty of evidence: very low). Other risks of CIN included diabetes and hypertension, while male gender and the use of statins were associated with a lower risk of CIN. Patients with CIN were older, had a higher creatinine level, and received a higher contrast volume compared to those without. On the other hand, pre-procedural albumin, estimated glomerular filtration rate, ejection fraction, hemoglobin, lymphocyte ratio were found to be lower in patients with CIN than in those without.ConclusionThis meta-analysis highlighted an inverse association of PNI with the risk of CIN, which required further studies for verification.Systematic review registration[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/], identifier [CRD42023389185].
Machine learning driven prediction of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea following endonasal skull base surgery: A multicentre prospective observational study
Authors:   CRANIAL Consortium
Published: March 2023

BackgroundCerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea (CSFR) is a common complication following endonasal skull base surgery, a technique that is fundamental to the treatment of pituitary adenomas and many other skull base tumours. The CRANIAL study explored CSFR incidence and related risk factors, particularly skull base repair techniques, via a multicentre prospective observational study. We sought to use machine learning to leverage this complex multicentre dataset for CSFR prediction and risk factor analysis.MethodsA dataset of 865 cases - 725 transsphenoidal approach (TSA) and 140 expanded endonasal approach (EEA) - with cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea as the primary outcome, was used. Relevant variables were extracted from the data, and prediction variables were divided into two categories, preoperative risk factors; and repair techniques, with 6 and 11 variables respectively. Three types of machine learning models were developed in order to predict CSFR: logistic regression (LR); decision tree (DT); and neural network (NN). Models were validated using 5-fold cross-validation, compared via their area under the curve (AUC) evaluation metric, and key prediction variables were identified using their Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) score.ResultsCSFR rates were 3.9% (28/725) for the transsphenoidal approach and 7.1% (10/140) for the expanded endonasal approach. NNs outperformed LR and DT for CSFR prediction, with a mean AUC of 0.80 (0.70-0.90) for TSA and 0.78 (0.60-0.96) for EEA, when all risk factor and intraoperative repair data were integrated into the model. The presence of intraoperative CSF leak was the most prominent risk factor for CSFR. Elevated BMI and revision surgery were also associated with CSFR for the transsphenoidal approach. CSF diversion and gasket sealing appear to be strong predictors of the absence of CSFR for both approaches.ConclusionNeural networks are effective at predicting CSFR and uncovering key CSFR predictors in patients following endonasal skull base surgery, outperforming traditional statistical methods. These models will be improved further with larger and more granular datasets, improved NN architecture, and external validation. In the future, such predictive models could be used to assist surgical decision-making and support more individualised patient counselling.
The state of cancer research in fragile and conflict-affected settings in the Middle East and North Africa Region: A bibliometric analysis
Authors: Sater Zahi Abdul , Farhat Theresa , Elsayed Mohamed N. , Youssef Yara , Husain Marium , Kaddoura Malak , Jaber Lubna , Mukherji Deborah , Taher Ali 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundCancer represents a disproportionate burden in LMICs, especially conflict-affected countries in the MENA region. Research output on cancer fails to match the growing burden in the region. This bibliometric study aims to examine the status and trends of cancer research in fragile and conflict-affected settings in the MENA region from 2000 to 2021, while also incorporating economic and demographic indicators as additional factors of analysis.MethodsThe Web of Science databases were searched for publications related to cancer research in Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Syria, and Yemen from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2021. The retrieved publications were screened based on preset eligibility criteria and the final list was analyzed using the Bibliometrix Package in R to generate the annual scientific production and citations, journals, institutions, authors, collaborations, keywords, and title co-occurrence. Each country’s annual scientific production was analyzed against its annual GDP per capita.ResultsA total of 4,280 documents met the inclusion criteria in this research. The annual number of publications revealed a significant increase over the past 20 years. These publications were mostly published in international journals that had impact factors rated in the 3rd or 4th quartiles. The overall contribution of researchers from Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings (FCS) to cancer research was 6.5% of the MENA cancer research productivity, despite comprising around 23% of the total MENA region’s population. Lebanon had the highest publication productivity at the country level, followed by Iraq and Syria. GDP per capita was not significantly correlated with cancer research across the countries under investigation. At the institutional level, the American University of Beirut was the most prolific institution and had the highest number of collaborations and the widest range of cooperative partners. Most first authors were male researchers. There is an interest in cancer expression, prevalence, diagnosis, and management in terms of commonly researched topics.ConclusionThis study underscores the need for a concerted effort to improve cancer research outcomes in FCS, which can be achieved through targeted research, increased investment in research infrastructure and capacity-building initiatives, and greater regional and global collaboration.
Immunotherapy combined with rh-endostatin improved clinical outcomes over immunotherapy plus chemotherapy for second-line treatment of advanced NSCLC
Authors: Huang Hongxiang , Zhong Peiyuan , Zhu Xie , Fu Silv , Li Siling , Peng Sujuan , Liu Yangyang , Lu Zhihui , Chen Li 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundDespite the fact that numerous clinical and preclinical studies have demonstrated the synergistic effects of combining antiangiogenic or chemotherapy with immunotherapy, no data have been found to indicate that combination therapy is more effective and safer as second-line therapy.MethodsWe retrospectively compared the effectiveness and safety of ICIs plus rh-endostatin to ICIs plus chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The evaluation indicators of this study were progression-free survival (PFS), safety profile, objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and 1-year overall survival (OS).ResultsThe median PFS with immunotherapy plus rh-endostatin (IE) was 7.10 months (95% CI, 4.64 to 9.56) versus 5.13 months (95% CI, 4.29 to 5.97) with immunotherapy plus chemotherapy (IC) (HR, 0.56; 95%CI, 0.33 to 0.95). Treatment-related adverse events of grade 3 or 4 occurred in 7.5% of the IE group versus 25.0% of the IC group. The ORR in the IE group was 35.0% versus 20.8% in the IC group (P = 0.137), and the DCR in the IE group was 92.5% versus 77.1% in the IC group (P = 0.049). The 1-year OS rate for the IE group was 69.4%, which was higher than the 61.4% of the IC group.ConclusionOur study showed that ICI therapy combined with endostatin therapy exhibits high efficacy and safety, suggesting that such a combination might be a viable treatment option for patients with pre-treated NSCLC in the future.
Extracellular vesicles secreted from bone metastatic renal cell carcinoma promote angiogenesis and endothelial gap formation in bone marrow in a time-dependent manner in a preclinical mouse model
Authors: Takeda Masashi , Sakamoto Hiromasa , Shibasaki Noboru , Fukui Tomohiro , Magaribuchi Toshihiro , Sumiyoshi Takayuki , Utsunomiya Noriaki , Sawada Atsuro , Goto Takayuki , Kobayashi Takashi , Ueda Koji , Yamasaki Toshinari , Ogawa Osamu , Akamatsu Shusuke 
Published: March 2023

IntroductionBone is a major metastatic site of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Recently, it is well recognized that bone metastatic tumor cells remodel bone marrow vasculature. However, the precise mechanism underlying cell-cell communication between bone metastatic RCC and the cells in bone marrow remains unknown. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) reportedly play crucial roles in intercellular communication between metastatic tumor cells and bone marrow. Therefore, we conducted the current study to clarify the histological alteration in vascular endothelium in bone marrow induced by EVs secreted from bone metastatic RCC cells as well as association between angiogenesis in bone marrow and bone metastasis formation.Materials and methodsWe established a bone metastatic RCC cell line (786-O BM) by in vivo selection and observed phenotypic changes in tissues when EVs were intravenously injected into immunodeficient mice. Proteomic analysis was performed to identify the protein cargo of EVs that could contribute to histological changes in bone. Tissue exudative EVs (Te-EVs) from cancer tissues of patients with bone metastatic RCC (BM-EV) and those with locally advanced disease (LA-EV) were compared for in vitro function and protein cargo.ResultsTreatment of mice with EVs from 786-O BM promoted angiogenesis in the bone marrow in a time-dependent manner and increased the gaps of capillary endothelium. 786-O BM EVs also promoted tube formation in vitro. Proteomic analysis of EVs identified aminopeptidase N (APN) as a candidate protein that enhances angiogenesis. APN knockdown in 786-O BM resulted in reduced angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. When parental 786-O cells were intracardially injected 12 weeks after treatment with786-O BM EVs, more bone metastasis developed compared to those treated with EVs from parental 786-O cells. In patient samples, BM-EVs contained higher APN compared to LA-EV. In addition, BM-EVs promoted tube formation in vitro compared to LA-EVs.ConclusionEVs from bone metastatic RCC promote angiogenesis and gap formation in capillary endothelium in bone marrow in a time-dependent manner.
The role of CXCL12 axis in pancreatic cancer: New biomarkers and potential targets
Authors: Roberto Michela , Arrivi Giulia , Di Civita Mattia Alberto , Barchiesi Giacomo , Pilozzi Emanuela , Marchetti Paolo , Santini Daniele , Mazzuca Federica , Tomao Silverio 
Published: March 2023

IntroductionChemokines are small, secreted peptides involved in the mediation of the immune cell recruitment. Chemokines have been implicated in several diseases including autoimmune diseases, viral infections and also played a critical role in the genesis and development of several malignant tumors. CXCL12 is a homeostatic CXC chemokine involved in the process of proliferation, and tumor spread. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive tumors, that is still lacking effective therapies and with a dramatically poor prognosis.MethodWe conducted a scientific literature search on Pubmed and Google Scholar including retrospective, prospective studies and reviews focused on the current research elucidating the emerging role of CXCL12 and its receptors CXCR4 – CXCR7 in the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer.ResultsConsidering the mechanism of immunomodulation of the CXCL12-CXCR4-CXCR7 axis, as well as the potential interaction with the microenvironment in the PDAC, several combined therapeutic approaches have been studied and developed, to overcome the “cold” immunological setting of PDAC, like combining CXCL12 axis inhibitors with anti PD-1/PDL1 drugs.ConclusionUnderstanding the role of this chemokine’s axis in disease initiation and progression may provide the basis for developing new potential biomarkers as well as therapeutic targets for related pancreatic cancers.
Caryopteris odorata and its metabolite coumarin attenuate characteristic features of cardiometabolic syndrome in high-refined carbohydrate-high fat-cholesterol-loaded feed-fed diet rats
Authors: Ahmed Mobeen Ghulam , Mehmood Malik Hassan , Mehdi Shumaila , Farrukh Maryam 
Published: March 2023

Caryopteris odorata (D. Don) B.L. Robinson (Verbenaceae family) is an aromaric shrub traditionally used to treat diabetes and related pathologies (diabetic foot ulcer), cancer/tumors, wound healing, and inflammation. It is enriched with flavonoids and phenolics like coumarins, quercetin, gallic acid, coumaric acid, stigmasterol, α-tocopherol, and iridoids. C. odorata has been reported as having α-glucosidase, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant properties. Its effectiveness in preventing cardiometabolic syndrome has not yet been assessed. This study aims to investigate the potential efficacy of C. odorata and coumarin for characteristic features of cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS), including obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and hypertension by using high-refined carbohydrate-high fat-cholesterol (HRCHFC)-loaded feed-fed rats. Chronic administration of C. odorata and coumarin for 6 weeks revealed a marked attenuation in body and organ weights, with a consistent decline in feed intake compared to HRCHFC diet fed rats. The test materials also caused a significant reduction in the blood pressure (systolic, diastolic, and mean) and heart rate of HRCHFC-diet fed rats. Improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity tests were also observed in test material administered rats compare to only HRCHFC-diet fed rats. C. odorata and coumarin-treated animals produced a marked decline in serum FBG, TC, TG, LFTs, and RFTs, while an increase in serum HDL-C levels was noticed. C. odorata and coumarin also significantly modulated inflammatory biomarkers (TNFα, IL-6), adipokines (leptin, adiponectin, and chemerin), and HMG-CoA reductase levels, indicating prominent anti-inflammatory, cholesterol-lowering, and anti-hyperglycemic potential. Administration of C. odorata and coumarin exhibited a marked improvement in oxidative stress markers (CAT, SOD, and MDA). Histopathological analysis of liver, heart, kidney, pancreas, aorta, and fat tissues showed a revival of normal tissue architecture in C. odorata and coumarin-treated rats compared to only HRCHFC-diet fed rats. These results suggest that C. odorata and coumarin possess beneficial effects against the characteristic features of CMS (obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia) in HRCHFC feed-administered rats. These effects were possibly mediated through improved adipokines, glucose tolerance, and insulin sensitivity, the attenuation of HMG-CoA reductase and inflammatory biomarkers, and modulated oxidative stress biomarkers. This study thus demonstrates a rationale for the therapeutic potential of C. odorata and coumarin in CMS.