bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Helicobacter pylori infection in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Dayem Aya M.M.A. , Afify Sara A. , Mohamed Haitham S.E. 
Published: February 2023

Context
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent condition defined by chronic respiratory symptoms and difficult airflow caused by airway and/or alveolar disorders. Helicobacter pylori infection is a chronic stomach inflammation, which dramatically changes the gastric immune reaction, potentially leading to systemic consequences.

Aims
The study’s goal was to identify the effect of H. pylori infection in the severity of COPD.

Settings and design
Ain Shams University Hospital, a case–control observational study.

Patients and methods
The current study involved 40 patients who were diagnosed as COPD and 40 individuals as healthy controls with matched age and sex. All participants were evaluated by clinical assessment, chest radiograph, H. pylori stool Ag test, and spirometry with pre-bronchodilator and post-bronchodilator test.

Statistical analysis used
To compare quantitative variables unpaired t test was used and for qualitative variables χ
2 test was used.

Results

H. pylori test results in patients and controls showed that 27 (67.5%) and 24 (60.0%) individuals were seropositive without significance between them. Seropositive H. pylori between the stages of COPD were 50% in the mild stage, 70% in the moderate stage, 70% in the severe stage, and 80% in the very severe stage, with no significant difference regarding the relation between the of H. pylori infection and severity of COPD.

Conclusion
There is high incidence of H. pylori infection in COPD patients and may have a role in the initiation and worsening of COPD in predisposed patients without significant relation between H. pylori and severity of COPD.
Treatment with fluvoxamine in nonhospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 patients
Authors: Ibrahim Mohammed A. , Shehta Mohammed 
Published: February 2023

Context
Fluvoxamine may have a potential immune-regulatory action and a therapeutic role in severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection that may prevent progression and/or hospitalization.

Aims
Trial that compared fluvoxamine versus placebo in nonhospitalized adults with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (mild and moderate coronavirus disease 2019 cases).

Settings and design
This is a double-blinded, randomized clinical trial.

Patients and methods
The study enrolled 162 cases with positive PCR assay for SARS-CoV-2 infection and who were symptomatic within 7 days of the first dose of study medication.

Statistical analysis
The demographic, clinical, and laboratory data gathered together will be tabulated and statistically analyzed. The statistical analysis of data was carried out using Excel and the SPSS programs statistical package for AQ8 Social Sciences, version 17. Quantitative data were described as median (minimum–maximum). An analysis of the data was carried out to test statistically significant differences between groups. Quantitative data were presented as mean±SD and the Student’s t test was used to compare between two groups.

Results
In all, 162 patients completed the study; 72 patients were of mild severity; 90 patients were moderate cases and each group was randomized to receive fluvoxamine or placebo besides standard care. In the mild group, no significant difference was recorded while slight significance exists in the moderate severity group.

Conclusions
Fluvoxamine may have an added value besides the current standard care in reducing the need for hospitalization in outpatient cases, especially pneumonic ones; however, more larger studies are needed.
Pulmonary changes among asymptomatic smokers using high-resolution computed tomography and pulmonary function tests
Authors: Ali Ahmed Abd Al-Rahman , Elhabashy Mahmoud M. , Serag Dena M. , Abo Koura Walaa G.E. , El Dahdouh Sami S.A. 
Published: February 2023

Objective
To detect pulmonary changes among asymptomatic smokers using an inspiratory and expiratory high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and pulmonary function tests (PFT). Pulmonary changes associated with smoking are now an increasing public health concern. Computed tomography, especially HRCT, is the best choice for visualizing lung morphology.

Patients and methods
The study was a cohort study conducted at Shebeen Chest Hospital from January 2019 to January 2021. The study was carried out on 120 adult males; 80 of them were asymptomatic smokers and 40 matched healthy nonsmokers served as the control group. All underwent routine chest radiograph, PA view, HRCT (inspiratory, expiratory) film, and PFTs in the form of forced expiratory vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume after 1 s (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, mean forced expiratory flow, and peak expiratory flow. Comparison between the two groups was done according to HRCT and PFT.

Result
There was significant difference between inspiratory and expiratory HRCT regarding air trapping between cases. Inspiratory air trapping was present in 4% while expiratory air trapping was present in 18%. There was highly significant difference between cases and controls regarding emphysema and bronchial thickening, subpleural line. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding FVC, forced expiratory flow 25–75, and FEV1/FVC, while there was a significant difference between them regarding PFT pattern results (P<0.05).

Conclusion
HRCT is the most sensitive imaging modality for diagnosing early emphysema in asymptomatic smokers. HRCT of the lung can detect lung abnormalities noninvasively.
HIV-related pulmonary manifestations among Egyptian patients
Authors: Zaki Zeinab M. , Khalil Magdy M. , Wagih Khaled M. , Ezzelregal Hieba G. 
Published: February 2023

Context
After description of the new first case of AIDS in 1981, the HIV pandemic expanded very rapidly to become a great global public health problem with wide health, economic, social, and developmental consequences that have not been seen with any other disease. Globally, there have been gains across the HIV testing and treatment cascade. The greatest contributor to the illness and deaths in persons infected with HIV is pulmonary disease.

Aims
The aim was to study the pattern of respiratory manifestations in HIV-infected patients among a sample of Egyptians.

Settings and design
A prospective, observational study.

Patients and methods
This study recruited 121 HIV patients with respiratory system involvement admitted to Abbassia Fever Hospital or Abbassia Chest Hospitals between December 2017 and March 2020. Clinical assessment included demographic data, history of chest symptoms, and comorbidities and local and general examination. Chest imaging was requested/reviewed, and procedures were performed as required. Laboratory assessment included CD4 count, and microbiological examinations of sputum and pleural fluid if found.

Statistical analysis used
SPSS program (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) software, version 18.0.

Results
Of the participants 62 % have been receiving or previously received antiretroviral treatment. Cough was the most frequent symptom in 91.7%. Pleural collection was the most frequent radiological finding on chest radiology in 23% of patients. Tuberculosis was commonly a concomitant infection in 29.7% of patients. CD4 count ranged from 16 to 450 cells/mm3. The diagnosis of PJP and multidrug resistance tuberculosis was highly significantly associated with low CD4 count (P<0.01).

Conclusion
HIV infection is associated with a wide range of respiratory manifestations with infectious complications representing the majority of them. Low CD4 count, receiving antiretroviral treatment, and the source of HIV infection (sexual or intravenous drug abuse) are documented as risk factors for respiratory involvement in HIV patients.
Asthma prevalence among medical students of jazan university, saudi arabia
Authors: Hakami Abdulrahman Mohammed , Yassin Abuobaida , Bajoned Meshal , Maashi Reem , Zila Amna , Dilyh Nuha , Dilyh Samar , Ezzi Fatima , Madkhali Maha 
Published: February 2023

Background
Both adults and children experience bronchial asthma, which is the most common chronic respiratory condition. The prevalence of asthma varies widely by geography and age, with its prevalence ranging from 0.2 to 21.0% in adults. However, there are no data on the prevalence of asthma among adults in the Jazan Region, which is located in the southern part of Saudi Arabia.

Objective
To assess the prevalence of asthma among medical students in Jazan University, Jazan Region of Saudi Arabia.

Methods
In this cross-sectional study, the prevalence of asthma was determined using a modified and translated International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire. Adult students of health-related colleges at Jazan University constituted the target population in the region.

Results
There were 1210 responders, which included 654 (54.0%) males and 556 (46.0%) females. In total, 761 (62.9%) students (35.3% men) resided in rural areas, whereas 449 (37.1%) students resided in urban areas. Additionally, 20.2% of students experienced life-long wheezing. During the previous 12 months, 218 (18%) and 191 (15.8%) students experienced exercise-induced wheezing and nonexercise-induced wheezing, respectively. Furthermore, 188 (15.5%) students had a medical history of asthma, and the prevalence of asthma did not differ significantly between males and females (P=0.412). A physician confirmed that 13.7% of the participants had asthma.

Conclusion
Our results demonstrated a high frequency of asthma among the medical students of Jazan University in the Jazan Region. Asthma diagnosis was predicted using an identifiable questionnaire and without using physiological measures and laboratory factors.
Amblyopia in patients with intermittent exotropia
Authors: Mohan Kanwar , Sharma Suresh Kumar 
Published: February 2023

Aims:
The aim was to report the incidence and types of amblyopia in a large series of patients with intermittent exotropia at a single institution.

Materials and Methods:
The medical records of consecutive patients 4–30 years of age diagnosed with intermittent exotropia at our institution between January 2000 and December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed for amblyopia.

Results:
A total of 2,058 patients diagnosed with intermittent exotropia during the study met the inclusion criteria. Of these patients, 40 (2%) had amblyopia and were the participants of this study. The mean patient age was 10.6 ± 4.2 years. Amblyopia was anisometropic in 35 (87%) patients and strabismic in 5 (13%) patients. Of the 35 patients with anisometropic amblyopia, 29 (83%) had spherical anisometropia and 6 (17%) had astigmatic anisometropia. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of patients and the mean anisometropia between patients with spherical anisomyopic and anisohyperopic amblyopia, and also between those with astigmatic anisomyopic and anisohyperopic amblyopia. There was no relation between the type of intermittent exotropia and anisometropic amblyopia. None of the patients with strabismic amblyopia had spherical or astigmatic anisometropia but had a preference for fixation with the nonamblyopic eye. There was no statistically significant difference in near and distance deviations between patients with anisometropic and strabismic amblyopia, and between those with anisomyopic and anisohyperopic amblyopia.

Conclusions:
Amblyopia was observed in 2% of our patients with intermittent exotropia. It was spherical anisometropic in a large majority of patients and strabismic in a few.
To determine knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding diabetic retinopathy among diabetic patients in a multispecialty hospital
Authors: Palsule Aratee C. , Kulkarni Aditi A. , Gadre Vaijayanti , Joshi Devika 
Published: February 2023

Context:
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is an important complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). DR accounts for 4.8% of the cases of blindness throughout the world.

Aims:
To assess the patients' awareness about DR and their attitude and practice patterns in a tertiary care system in urban Maharashtra.

Subjects and Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital, Pune, Maharashtra from March 2019 to April 2020 after approval from institutional review board. Patients older than 18 years and who were diagnosed with type II DM were included. Data were entered into Excel and analyzed using the SPSS software version 20.

Results:
Only 28% of diabetic patients had good knowledge of DR, 82.5% were found to have positive attitude toward DR screening, and 27% had scored good in the practice score category. A significant association was found between DR knowledge with level of education (P ≤ 0.001).

Conclusions:
Better knowledge of DR influences a positive practice patterns in patients with diabetes. Onus lies on the healthcare professionals, particularly physicians as they are the first point of contact.
Quality of life in patients with glaucoma using the Glaucoma Quality of Life-15 Questionnaire
Authors: Kumar Mukesh , Parveen Shafia , Chauhan Lokesh 
Published: February 2023

Purpose:
The purpose of this study is to measure the quality of life (QoL) in patients with glaucoma using the Glaucoma QoL-15 (GQL-15) questionnaire.

Methods:
A cross-sectional study with a prospective enrollment of glaucoma patients was conducted. A total of 308 patients were participated in the study. Informed consent was obtained before the administration of the GQL-15 questionnaire. The QoL was assessed using an orally administered GQL-15 questionnaire. Patients' QoL was assessed based on their age, gender, visual field (VF) defect, severity of glaucoma, laterality of disease, history of previous glaucoma surgery, and the number of antiglaucoma medications (AGMs) they were taking. Participants were divided into mild, moderate, and severe glaucoma depending on the severity of VF defects using the Hodapp–Anderson–Parrish grading system.

Results:
A total of 308 glaucoma patients were interviewed. The mean age of participants was 57.7 ± 12.9 years; 173 (56.1%) of them were female. The average mean deviation (MD) of the patients was 7.8 ± 4.8 dB. There were 135 (43.8%) patients with mild, 122 (39.6%) with moderate, and 51 (16.6%) with severe glaucoma. In total, 114 (37%) patients had unilateral glaucoma, whereas 138 (44.4%) patients had previous glaucoma surgery. Sixty-two (22.1%) patients did not take any AGM. The correlation coefficient between VF MD and QoL was 0.7, which was significant at 0.01 level (two-tailed).

Conclusion:
The findings of this study demonstrated that the severity of VF defects has a negative impact on patient's QoL.
Experimental study on the accuracy of non-invasive temperature measurement by magnetic resonance in microwave ablation
Authors: Guo Rui , Wang Xianjian , Liu Jie , Chen Jin , Chen Jian , Lin Qingfeng , Yan Yuan , Liang Ping , Lin Zhengyu 
Published: February 2023

Aims:
This study aimed to explore the accuracy of non-invasive temperature measurement based on proton resonance frequency (PRF) phase subtraction in microwave ablation (MWA).

Methods and Material:
The signal change of the agar phantom during the ablation process was monitored by the gradient echo sequence under 1.5 T superconducting magnetic resonance imagining (MRI), and the temperature change was converted by the phase subtraction method of the PRF, which was compared with the temperature measured using an optical fiber.

Statistical Analysis Used:
SPSS software version 22.0 was used for data processing, and the independent sample t-test was used for comparative analysis. P < 0.05 indicated statistical significance.

Results:
The maximum error between the MRI temperature measurement and the standard value was 3.61°C, whereas the minimum and average errors were 0.01°C and 1.19°C ± 0.78°C, respectively.

Conclusions:
The temperature measurement technology, which is based on the PRF phase method, has good accuracy in MRI-guided MWA.
MBNL1 and MRTF-A form a positive feedback loop in regulating the migration of esophageal cancer cells
Authors: Liang Chen , Chang Zheng , Luo Ying , Xu Yao , Chen Ao , Zhang Tongcun 
Published: February 2023

Background:
Esophageal cancer is a serious human health threat with increasing incidence and poor prognosis. This study explored the effects and mechanisms of MBNL1 and MRTF-A in the migration of esophageal cancer cells.

Materials and Methods:
The analysis of relevant sequencing data showed the impact of MBNL1 expression on esophageal cancer. Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to explore the expression levels MBNL1 and MRTF-A. Wound healing and Transwell invasion assays evaluated cancer cell migration. Molecular mechanisms were explored by RNA immunoprecipitation and luciferase and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays.

Results:

MBNL1 is highly expressed in esophageal cancer and associated with poor prognosis. MBNL1 promotes the migration of esophageal KYSE150 cancer cells by stabilizing MRTF-A mRNA. Moreover, MRTF-A activates transcription of the MBNL1 promoter, resulting in the upregulation of MBNL1 expression.

Conclusions:
MBNL1 may be an important regulator of metastasis and a factor associated with poor prognosis in esophageal cancer. Positive feedback regulation between MBNL1 and MRTF-A may be a potential therapeutic target for interrupting esophageal cancer migration. Generally, our results provide a theoretical basis for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of esophageal cancer cell migration.
Microwave ablation combined with I125 seed implantation for treatment of residual lesions of liver cancer after TACE
Authors: Zhang Hao , Wang Jiajia , Li Wei , Liu Shifeng , Li Zixiang , Hu Xiaokun 
Published: February 2023

Context:
To compare the efficacy and safety of microwave ablation (MWA) versus MWA combined with I125 seed implantation for the treatment of post-transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) residual lesions of primary liver cancer.

Methods:
A total of 38 patients with post-TACE residual lesions of liver cancer only received MWA, whereas 33 patients received combined treatment of MWA with I125 seed implantation. Enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) was performed for review at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment to observe and compare the short-term efficacy and complications between the two groups.

Results:
The tumor complete response (CR) rate of the MWA group after treatment was 55.3% (21/38) and that of the MWA + I125 group was 81.8% (27/33), indicating a significantly higher value than that of the MWA group (P < 0.05). There was no difference in the minor complications between the two groups, and no serious complications were recorded.

Conclusions:
MWA combined with I125 seed implantation for the treatment of post-TACE residual lesions of primary liver cancer is safe and effective, and its efficacy is better than that of the simple MWA treatment.
Efficacy, safety, and prognostic factors of apatinib plus platinum doublet chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Xu Jianping , Liu Xiaoyan , Yang Sheng , Shi Yuankai 
Published: February 2023

Background:
Anti-angiogenesis drugs are applicable in treating advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, the related data regarding apatinib, a Chinese domestic anti-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) production, are limited. Therefore, this study explored the efficacy and safety of apatinib plus platinum doublet chemotherapy in treating patients with advanced NSCLC.

Methods:
Twenty-four patients with advanced NSCLC were retrospectively enrolled. All patients received platinum doublet chemotherapy combined with apatinib 250 mg daily. The objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events were analyzed.

Results:
Zero (0.0%), seven (29.2%), 11 (45.8%), and six (25.0%) patients had partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), and progressed disease (PD), respectively, resulting in an ORR of 29.2% and a DCR of 75.0%. The median PFS was 12.6 months (95% CI: 3.9–21.3 months) with a 1-year PFS of 56.1%, and the median OS was 18.3 months (95% CI: 13.0–23.5 months) with a 1-year OS of 73.9%. Age ≤60 years (P = 0.034), ECOG performance score 1 (vs. 2; P = 0.005), and first-line treatment (vs. second or higher line treatment; P = 0.043) correlated with longer PFS. The most common treatment-related adverse events included fatigue (83.3%), nausea (79.2%), myelosuppression (70.8), and vomiting (66.7%), while most of them were mild and manageable. Only four (16.6%) patients witnessed grade 3–4 myelosuppression.

Conclusion:
Apatinib plus platinum doublet chemotherapy is effective and well-tolerated in treating patients with advanced NSCLC; moreover, reduced ECOG PS and lower lines of treatment relate to its better efficacy.
Effectivity of involved-field radiotherapy for recurrent brain metastasis in patients with small-cell lung cancer
Authors: Wang Yu , Song JiXiang , Li Wanhu , Zeng Haiyan , Liu Ning , Zhu Shouhui , Yuan Shuanghu , Hu Xudong 
Published: February 2023

Objectives:
To investigate the outcome difference of whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) and involved-field radiotherapy (IFRT) in limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) patients with recurrent brain metastases (BMs) after prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI).

Methods:
A retrospective analysis was carried out in 68 LS-SCLC patients who underwent WBRT or IFRT owing to the occurrence of recurrent BMs after PCI from 2009 to 2020.

Results:
The median overall survival (OS) of all patients was 11.43 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 9.39–13.48 months]. In the paired comparison of OS, the IFRT group had a significantly longer survival time than the WBRT group in all patients [17.80 months vs. 8.47 months; hazard ratio (HR), 0.393, 95% CI, 0.213–0.728; P = 0.002] and 46 matched patients (18.23 months vs. 8.73 months; HR, 0.411, 95% CI, 0.195–0.865; P = 0.019). In terms of the intra-cranial progression-free survival (iPFS), there was no significant difference between the WBRT group and IFRT group before matching (5.93 months vs. 7.30 months; HR, 0.644, 95% CI, 0.373–1.112; P = 0.111); similarly, no statistical difference was detected between the WBRT group and IFRT group after matching (5.33 months vs. 8.10 months; HR, 0.623, 95% CI, 0.323–1.199; P = 0.152). Meanwhile, of the 41 patients with symptoms, 27 cases (65.9%) had symptom relief, showing tolerable toxicity without unexpected toxicity during the observation.

Conclusions:
Compared with WBRT, IFRT exhibits better survival benefits for LS-SCLC patients with recurrent BMs after PCI. Re-irradiation for BMs exhibits advantages of symptom relief and tolerable side effects.