bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Daily blood pressure variability in relation to neurological functional outcomes after acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Zhu Yuan , Wu Minghua , Wang Huihui , Zheng Yawei , Zhang Siqi , Wang Xintong , Wang Shana , Fang Zhuyuan 
Published: January 2023

BackgroundPrior research has shown inconclusive findings regarding the relationship between blood pressure variability (BPV) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and functional outcomes. Most research has examined the connection between short-term BPV during the early 24–72 h after the occurrence of ischemic stroke and functional prognosis. We sought to determine the relationship between daily BPV at 7 days of commencement and functional outcomes during the 3 months following AIS.MethodsAltogether, 633 patients with AIS admitted within 72 h of commencement were enrolled. AIS was defined as the time from the onset of symptoms to 7 days. Throughout this period, blood pressure (BP) was recorded twice daily (casual BP cuffs). The daily BPV, with standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variation (CV), was calculated and matched to the functional results. The adverse outcome was characterized as a modified Rankin scale (mRS)≥3, which comprised the recurrence of stroke, clinical intracranial bleeding, and death.ResultsIn total, 633 participants were included, and the incidence of adverse outcomes was 14.06% (89/633). There was a significant positive correlation between daily BPV and adverse outcomes but not between mean BP and risk. Smooth curve fitting revealed a U-shaped connection between the mean BP and adverse clinical outcomes. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed an independent correlation between daily BPV and an adverse outcome in the top vs. bottom quartile of systolic BPV (odds ratio [OR] = 2.4, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17–4.96, P = 0.018 for SD; OR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.17–4.93, P = 0.017 for CV) during a 3-month follow-up period. Identical results have been reported for diastolic BPV.ConclusionIrrespective of BP level, elevated daily systolic BPV and diastolic BPV in AIS were associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes within 3 months. We also discovered a U-shaped association between the mean BP and adverse clinical outcomes. These findings suggested that BPV should be a risk factor for adverse outcomes after ischemic stroke, which provided new insight into BP management strategy.
BSMM-Net: Multi-modal neural network based on bilateral symmetry for nasopharyngeal carcinoma segmentation
Authors: Zhou Haoyang , Li Haojiang , Chen Shuchao , Yang Shixin , Ruan Guangying , Liu Lizhi , Chen Hongbo 
Published: January 2023

IntroductionAutomatically and accurately delineating the primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tumors in head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images is crucial for patient staging and radiotherapy. Inspired by the bilateral symmetry of head and complementary information of different modalities, a multi-modal neural network named BSMM-Net is proposed for NPC segmentation.MethodsFirst, a bilaterally symmetrical patch block (BSP) is used to crop the image and the bilaterally flipped image into patches. BSP can improve the precision of locating NPC lesions and is a simulation of radiologist locating the tumors with the bilateral difference of head in clinical practice. Second, modality-specific and multi-modal fusion features (MSMFFs) are extracted by the proposed MSMFF encoder to fully utilize the complementary information of T1- and T2-weighted MRI. The MSMFFs are then fed into the base decoder to aggregate representative features and precisely delineate the NPC. MSMFF is the output of MSMFF encoder blocks, which consist of six modality-specific networks and one multi-modal fusion network. Except T1 and T2, the other four modalities are generated from T1 and T2 by the BSP and DT modal generate block. Third, the MSMFF decoder with similar structure to the MSMFF encoder is deployed to supervise the encoder during training and assure the validity of the MSMFF from the encoder. Finally, experiments are conducted on the dataset of 7633 samples collected from 745 patients.Results and discussionThe global DICE, precision, recall and IoU of the testing set are 0.82, 0.82, 0.86, and 0.72, respectively. The results show that the proposed model is better than the other state-of-the-art methods for NPC segmentation. In clinical diagnosis, the BSMM-Net can give precise delineation of NPC, which can be used to schedule the radiotherapy.
Investigating an alternative sustainable low-enriched uranium target for the manufacture of 99Mo using MCNP6.2 modelling with CINDER90
Authors: Raposio Robert , Braoudakis George , Rosenfeld Anatoly , Thorogood Gordon , Bedwell-Wilson Juniper 
Published: January 2023

Introduction: Current fission-based methods of 99Mo production use targets that are based on high output without taking into consideration the amount of radioactive waste produced. We examine the idea of using a low enriched target (&lt;20%) to reduce the amount of nuclear and chemical wastes produced by the manufacture of 99Mo via fission of uranium-based targets.Methods: MCNP6.2 was used to model targets of 20%, 10%, 7%, 3%, and 1% enrichment for 99Mo output and sustainability.Results and Discussion: The 1% enriched target at the lowest density of 0.2 g/cm3 of UO2 was found to have the highest sustainability score at 6 days irradiation but it had a low 99Mo output. On the other hand, the highest output target was found to be 20% enriched with a density of 8.0 g UO2/cm3 with an irradiation time of 20 days. Target security and safeguards concerns were modelled and found to be of minimal concern.
Protein restriction during lactation causes transgenerational metabolic dysfunction in adult rat offspring
Authors: Vargas Rodrigo , Martins Isabela Peixoto , Matiusso Camila Cristina Ianoni , Casagrande Raiana Aparecida , Zara Camila Benan , Huppes de Souza Anna Carolina , Horst William Pereira , Sieklicki Taina Cristine , Becker Tania Cristina Alexandrino , Lucredi Naiara Cristina , Comar Jurandir Fernando , Malta Ananda , Mathias Paulo Cezar de Freitas 
Published: January 2023

IntroductionProtein restriction during lactation can induce metabolic dysfunctions and has a huge impact on the offspring’s phenotype later in its life. We tested whether the effects of a maternal low-protein diet (LP) in rats can be transmitted to the F2 generation and increase their vulnerability to dietary insults in adulthood.MethodsFemale Wistar rats (F0) were fed either a low-protein diet (LP; 4% protein) during the first 2 weeks of lactation or a normal-protein diet (NP; 23% protein). The female offspring (F1 generation) were maintained on a standard diet throughout the experiment. Once adulthood was reached, female F1 offspring from both groups (i.e., NP-F1 and LP-F1) were bred to proven males, outside the experiment, to produce the F2 generation. Male F2 offspring from both groups (NP-F2 and LP-F2 groups) received a standard diet until 60 days old, at which point they received either a normal fat (NF; 4.5% fat) or a high fat diet (HF; 35% fat) for 30 days.ResultsAt 90 days old, LPNF-F2 offspring had increased lipogenesis and fasting insulinemia compared to NPNF-F2, without alteration in insulin sensitivity. HF diet caused increased gluconeogenesis and displayed glucose intolerance in LPHF-F2 offspring compared to LPNF-F2 offspring. Additionally, the HF diet led to damage to lipid metabolism (such as steatosis grade 3), higher body weight, fat pad stores, and hepatic lipid content.DiscussionWe concluded that an F0 maternal protein restricted diet during lactation can induce a transgenerational effect on glucose and liver metabolism in the F2 generation, making the offspring’s liver more vulnerable to nutritional injury later in life.
The effects of L-carnitine supplementation on glycemic markers in adults: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis
Authors: Zamani Mohammad , Pahlavani Naseh , Nikbaf-Shandiz Mahlagha , Rasaei Niloufar , Ghaffarian-Ensaf Rasool , Asbaghi Omid , Shiraseb Farideh , Rastgoo Samira 
Published: January 2023

Background and aimsHyperglycemia and insulin resistance are concerns today worldwide. Recently, L-carnitine supplementation has been suggested as an effective adjunctive therapy in glycemic control. Therefore, it seems important to investigate its effect on glycemic markers.MethodsPubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane databases were searched in October 2022 for prospective studies on the effects of L-carnitine supplementation on glycemic markers. Inclusion criteria included adult participants and taking oral L-carnitine supplements for at least seven days. The pooled weighted mean difference (WMD) was calculated using a random-effects model.ResultsWe included the 41 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (n= 2900) with 44 effect sizes in this study. In the pooled analysis; L-carnitine supplementation had a significant effect on fasting blood glucose (FBG) (mg/dl) [WMD = −3.22 mg/dl; 95% CI, −5.21 to −1.23;p= 0.002;I2= 88.6%,p&lt; 0.001], hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (%) [WMD = −0.27%; 95% CI, −0.47 to −0.07;p= 0.007;I2= 90.1%,p&lt; 0.001] and homeostasis model assessment-estimate insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) [WMD = −0.73; 95% CI, −1.21 to −0.25;p= 0.003;I2= 98.2%,p&lt; 0.001] in the intervention compared to the control group. L-carnitine supplementation had a reducing effect on baseline FBG ≥100 mg/dl, trial duration ≥12 weeks, intervention dose ≥2 g/day, participants with overweight and obesity (baseline BMI 25–29.9 and &gt;30 kg/m2), and diabetic patients. Also, L-carnitine significantly affected insulin (pmol/l), HOMA-IR (%), and HbA1c (%) in trial duration ≥12 weeks, intervention dose ≥2 g/day, and participants with obesity (baseline BMI &gt;30 kg/m2). It also had a reducing effect on HOMA-IR in diabetic patients, non-diabetic patients, and just diabetic patients for insulin, and HbA1c. There was a significant nonlinear relationship between the duration of intervention and changes in FBG, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR. In addition, there was a significant nonlinear relationship between dose (≥2 g/day) and changes in insulin, as well as a significant linear relationship between the duration (weeks) (coefficients = −16.45,p= 0.004) of intervention and changes in HbA1C.ConclusionsL-carnitine could reduce the levels of FBG, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: CRD42022358692.
Effect of freezing-thawing on the quality changes of large yellow croaker treated by low-salt soaking during frozen storage
Authors: Bao Hongli , Zhang Jinsen , Li Mingao , Chen Yi , Mao Chunyan , Yang Jing , Gao Yuanpei , Deng Shanggui 
Published: January 2023

IntroductionThe production of the large yellow croaker has seasonal and regional characteristics, which is typically preserved on ice, possibly leading to its deterioration in a short time. Therefore, in this study, we focused on the effect of temperature fluctuation on the quality changes of the large yellow croaker during frozen storage.MethodsIn this experiment, the large yellow croaker was soaked in a low-salt solution, and physical and chemical properties, water-holding capacity, color, and protein characteristics of the muscle were investigated after repeated freeze–thaw (F–T) cycles and frozen storage.Results and discussionThe results show the deterioration of muscle quality of large yellow croaker after low-salt treatment was lower than that of the salt-free soaking group. The salting treatment significantly (P &lt; 0.05) enhanced the yield of large yellow croaker, which was 24.3% greater than the salt-free soaking group after 6 weeks of frozen storage. The microstructure of the salted muscle was more stable and maintained its cellular structure after F–T cycles and frozen storage. The b* value of the salt-free soaking group increased from b* value of the low-salt soaking group decreased from acceptable range. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis indicates the content of 17 kDa peptide decreased in the low-salt soaking group, and the peptides at 21 and 24 kDa increased during frozen storage. The results of the present study provide guidance for the optimal processing, transport, and storage of large yellow croaker, but the effect of salting on lipid oxidation and protein oxidation requires further study.
Weight loss in children undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation within the first 100 days: Its influencing factors and impact on clinical outcomes
Authors: Yan Mei , Pan Jian , Huang Jie , Liu Changwei , Xia Xiaona , Zhu Ting , Wan Yuanyuan , Fang Yongjun , Tang Weibing 
Published: January 2023

Purpose/ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the nutritional status of children subjected to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) in the first 100 days. Objectives were to clarify the effect of weight loss on clinical outcomes, and to analyze factors influencing weight loss.MethodsEighty pediatric patients receiving alloHSCT were enrolled in the study. Body mass index (BMI) z-scores and weight for age (WFA) z-scores were collected. A multivariate regression model was set up to investigate factors affecting weight loss. Post-transplant clinical outcomes relative to weight loss on 100 days after transplantation were analyzed.ResultsAt admission, eight patients (10%) were underweight, the number had increased to 23 (30.67%) by 100 days post-HSCT. On day + 100, only nutrition screening tool for childhood cancer (SCAN) scores ≥ 3 (OR: 4.474, 95% CI: 1.215, 16.472; P = 0.024) and acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) (OR: 9.915, 95% CI: 3.302, 29.771; P &lt; 0.001) were regarded as significant influencing factors of weight loss. The Weight loss ≥ 5% group was associated with longer hospital stays (P = 0.001), greater cost of inpatient treatment (P = 0.001), and a higher incidence of 100-day re-admission and intensive care unit (ICU) transfer (P = 0.03 and P = 0.033, respectively). Cumulative number of fever days (P = 0.023) and antibiotic use (P = 0.007) also increased significantly. The Weight loss ≥ 5% group had a significantly lower one-year overall survival rate compared with the Weight loss &lt; 5% group (P = 0.015).ConclusionPediatric patients’ nutritional status declined significantly after HSCT. Weight loss within the first 100 days influenced short-term clinical outcomes and one-year overall survival.
Psychological distress and quality of life in breast cancer survivors with taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy: A scoping review
Authors: Schwab Lauren , Visovsky Constance 
Published: January 2023

PurposeThis review provides an assessment of psychological distress (depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms) and the impact on quality of life in breast cancer survivors with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy induced by taxane-based chemotherapy.MethodsThe databases PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and PsychInfo were searched for publications about psychological distress symptoms in breast cancer survivors with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy from taxane chemotherapy and the impact on quality of life.ResultsOnly eight studies were identified that addressed psychological distress symptoms in BCS with CIPN treated with taxane chemotherapy and the impact of these symptoms on QOL. Of these studies, a majority reported increased symptoms of psychological distress (depressive symptoms and/or anxiety symptoms) in BCS with CIPN. Researchers found that the persistent nature of CIPN and severity of symptoms resulted in decreased QOL.ConclusionsThis review highlighted a notable lack of research on psychological distress (depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms) in BCS with CIPN. Furthermore, there was a gap in knowledge in how this psychological distress impacts QOL in this population. Further research is needed to better understand the extent that BCS with CIPN experience symptoms of psychological distress and the impact on QOL. This research would enable researchers to develop interventions focused on decreasing and potentially preventing these symptoms in BCS with CIPN treated with taxane chemotherapy, thereby decreasing the impact on QOL.
Radiotherapy for keratoacanthoma of facial skin: A case report and review of literature
Authors: Jia Xiaojing , Ge Ying , Wang Hongyong , Ma Yan 
Published: January 2023

BackgroundKeratoacanthoma (KA) is a benign tumor that arises from the infundibulum of hair follicles. However, some researchers believe that KA is a subtype of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or a borderline tumor. There are two types of KA: single-type and multiple-type. Surgical resection is the first-line treatment for KA. The treatment options for patients with large lesions who are not surgical candidates are limited. We present a case of single-type KA patients with basic diseases and large lesions that were untreatable surgically, but the lesions essentially disappeared after radiotherapy. No recurrences were discovered during the two-year follow-up.Case DescriptionA 62-year-old male patient was admitted to the dermatology department of our hospital in June 2020 due to the discovery of a red papule on the right face two months prior, with occasional itching, which increased gradually. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of KA. Due to the large lesions and underlying diseases, he was transferred to our radiotherapy department for radiotherapy after consultation. Since the surface of the lesion is uneven and close to the corner of the eye, we adopted intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) at the beginning of radiotherapy. Following the reduction of the lesion, superficial electron beam and added a bolus with thickness of 5mm on the surface of the lesion was continued. The target dose: 42Gy/21 fractions (6MV X-ray, 22Gy; 2Gy/fraction; a total of 11 fractions, 6MeV electron beam, 20Gy; 2Gy/fraction; a total of 10 fractions). By the end of radiotherapy, the patient’s facial tumor was dry and subsided. The facial tumor subsided significantly two years after radiotherapy, and the damaged skin on the face recovered to a flat shape.ConclusionsThe treatment experience of this case shows that IMRT combined with superficial electron beam radiotherapy may be an effective treatment for single-type KA patients with basic diseases and large lesions that are not suitable for surgery, and it is worth further study.
Tissue mechanics modulate PCNP expression in oral squamous cell carcinomas with different differentiation
Authors: Zhang Leyang , Guo Dingcheng , Shen Junjie , Zheng Yayuan , Zhai Junkai , Li Ruiping , He Dengqi , Zhang Baoping 
Published: January 2023

BackgroundPEST-containing nuclear protein (PCNP), a novel zinc finger protein, participates in cell cycle regulation. Previous studies have confirmed that PCNP plays a role in mediating cellular development and invasion in a variety of cancer types. However, the relationship between PCNP expression and the occurrence and development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) requires further exploration. In this study, we used biological atomic force microscopy to examine the histomorphological and mechanical properties of OSCC to explore the relationship between PCNP expression and differentiation of OSCC.MethodsSeventy-seven OSCC samples with varying degrees of differentiation were selected for hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry, and cellular mechanical measurement. The expression of PCNP and the mechanical properties such as stiffness and roughness of the tissue interface in OSCC samples were investigated. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve was utilized to assess the relationship of PCNP expression with patient survival.ResultsThe level of PCNP was significantly higher in well-differentiated OSCC than in moderately and poorly differentiated OSCC (P &lt; 0.001). High expression of PCNP was specifically associated with higher tumor differentiation, lack of lymph node metastasis, and lower tumor node metastasis stage (all P &lt; 0.05). Patients with high PCNP expression had a higher survival rate than those with low PCNP expression. The average variation of stiffness within a single tissue ranged from 347 kPa to 539 kPa. The mean surface roughness of highly, moderately, and poorly differentiated OSCC and paraneoplastic tissues were 795.53 ± 47.2 nm, 598.37 ± 45.76 nm, 410.16 ± 38.44 nm, and 1010.94 ± 119.07 nm, respectively. Pearson correlation coefficient demonstrated a positive correlation between PCNP expression and tissue stiffness of OSCC (R = 0.86, P &lt; 0.001).ConclusionThe expression of PCNP was positively correlated with patient survival, tumor differentiation, and mechanical properties of tissue interfaces. PCNP is a potential biomarker for the early diagnosis and staging of OSCC. Furthermore, determination of the mechanical properties of the tissue interface could provide further useful information required for the detection and differentiation of OSCC.
MXRA8 is an immune-relative prognostic biomarker associated with metastasis and CD8+ T cell infiltration in colorectal cancer
Authors: Tan Lulu , Fu Daan , Liu Feng , Liu Jia , Zhang Yang , Li Xin , Gao Jinbo , Tao Kaixiong , Wang Guobin , Wang Lin , Wang Zheng 
Published: January 2023

BackgroundColorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Tumor metastasis and CD8+ T cell infiltration play a crucial role in CRC patient survival. It is important to determine the etiology and mechanism of the malignant progression of CRC to develop more effective treatment strategies.MethodsWe conducted weighted gene co‐expression network analysis (WGCNA) to explore vital modules of tumor metastasis and CD8+ T cell infiltration, then with hub gene selection and survival analysis. Multi-omics analysis is used to explore the expression pattern, immunity, and prognostic effect of MXRA8. The molecular and immune characteristics of MXRA8 are analyzed in independent cohorts, clinical specimens, and in vitro.ResultsMXRA8 expression was strongly correlated with tumor malignancy, metastasis, recurrence, and immunosuppressive microenvironment. Furthermore, MXRA8 expression predicts poor prognosis and is an independent prognostic factor for OS in CRC.ConclusionMXRA8 may be a potential immunotherapeutic and prognostic biomarker for CRC.