bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predictive Value of Ultrasound Doppler Parameters in the Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Response of Breast Cancer: Prospective Comparison with Magnetic Resonance and Mammography
Authors: Conz Livia , Jales Rodrigo Menezes , Dória Maira Teixeira , Meloni Isabelle , Lyrio Carla Andries Cres , Menossi Carlos , Derchain Sophie , Sarian Luis Otavio 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is a treatment option for breast cancer patients who allows for the assessment of tumor response during treatment. This information can be used to adjust treatment and improve outcomes. However, the optimal imaging modalities and parameters for assessing tumor response to NACT are not well established.
Methods: This study included 173 breast cancer patients who underwent NACT. Patients were imaged with ultrasound, mammography, and MRI at baseline, after two cycles of NACT, and before breast surgery. Ultrasound parameters included lesion morphology, Doppler variables, and elastography measurements. Mammography and MRI were evaluated for the presence of nodules and tumor dimensions. The pathological response to NACT was determined using the residual cancer burden (RCB) classification.
Results: The ultrasound parameter with the highest power for predicting pathological complete response (PCR) was shear wave elastography (SWE) maximum speed inside the tumor at baseline. For nonluminal tumors, the end diastolic velocity measured by ultrasound after two cycles of NACT showed the highest predictive value for pCR. Similarly, SWE maximum speed after two cycles of NACT had the highest discriminating power for predicting RCB-III in luminal tumors, while the same parameter measured at baseline was most predictive for nonluminal tumors.
Conclusions: This study provides evidence that mid-treatment Doppler ultrasound and other imaging modalities can be used to predict the response to NACT in breast cancer patients. Functional parameters, such as blood flow velocities and SWE measurements, demonstrated superior predictive value for PCR, while morphological parameters had limited value. These findings have implications for personalized treatment strategies and may contribute to improved outcomes in the management of breast cancer.
Initial Results with [18F]FAPI-74 PET/CT in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Authors: Mori Yuriko , Kramer Vasko , Novruzov Emil , Mamlins Eduards , Röhrich Manuel , Fernández René , Amaral Horacio , Soza-Ried Cristian , Monje Barbara , Sabbagh Eduardo , Florenzano Matías , Giesel Frederik L. , Undurraga Álvaro 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic fibrosing interstitial lung disease with a poor prognosis.68Ga-labelled FAP ligands exhibited highly promising results due to the crucial role of activated fibroblasts in fibrosis imaging of the lung. However,18F-labelled FAP ligands might provide qualitatively much higher imaging results with accompanying economic benefits due to large-scale production. Thus, we sought to investigate the potential of [18F]FAPI-74 prospectively in a small patient cohort.Methods: Eight patients underwent both [18F]FAPI-74-PET/CT and HRCT scans and were then compared with a control group without any fibrosing pulmonary disease. The tracer uptake of fibrotic lung areas was analyzed in synopsis with radiological, and clinical parameters.Results: We observed a positive correlation of the fibrotic active volume, Hounsfield scale as well as vital and diffusing capacity of the lung.Conclusion: The initial results confirm our assumption that [18F]FAPI-74 offers a viable non-invasive assessment method for pulmonary fibrotic changes of patients with IPF.
Validating accurate placement of non-wire localization markers in non- palpable breast tumors using breast CT: a feasibility study
Authors: Wasser Martin , Coopmans Laurent , Kolditz Daniel , Dijkstra Jouke , Wetzl Matthias , Voormolen Nora , Hage Jos van der 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

Background
Dedicated photon-counting breast CT is an emerging imaging technology for imaging the breast without the need for compression of the breast and with a radiation dose comparable to that of mammography. In this study, we assessed the feasibility of using breast CT to confirm the accurate placement of localization markers in nonpalpable breast tumors before breast-conserving surgery.
Methods
We first evaluated the artifacts caused by 5 different metallic markers in 2 different phantoms and applied a computer algorithm to effectively remove the beam hardening artifacts. Next, we tested the potential of dedicated photon-counting breast CT combined with the artifact-removing algorithm to assess accurate marker placement in 5 patients with nonpalpable breast tumors.
Results
In the phantoms, all markers caused beam-hardening artifacts, but the computer algorithm successfully removed them. In the patients, the correct placement of the markers was visualized with breast CT and confirmed postsurgery, as all markers and tumors were present in the surgical specimen.
Conclusion
Dedicated photon-counting breast CT is an effective modality for demonstrating accurate placement of localization markers.
A robust artificial intelligence method detects almost non-reactive Non-stress pattern: What we expect?
Authors: Zhu Caixia , Li Zhuyu , Wang Xietong , Xu Bin , Guo Xiaohui , Huang Jingwan , Liu Bin , Li Hongyan , Kong Yan , Yang Xiaobo , Du Jingyu , Wang Zilian , Chen Haitian 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Objective
To compare interpretation of prenatal non-stress (NST) pattern between obstetricians and artificial intelligence (AI), and to determine the degree of agreement of AI system.
Methods
One thousand records of prenatal NST pattern with 20 to 30 minutes were interpreted using AI system, as well as visual interpretation of five obstetricians, to explore the agreement and accuracy of AI system. Weighted kappa was used to assess reliability of AI for interpretation of prenatal NST pattern.
Results
A total of 967 cases enroll in this study. Moderate agreement (kappa, 0.48) was found among the five obstetricians for FHR pattern during antepartum period. The AI system recognized NST pattern like obstetricians, with a moderate kappa coefficient of agreement of 0.42. When AI was used to assess the strong consistent set of inter-obstetricians, the agreement was high (kappa, 0.75). AI could identify major non-reactive NST pattern, with high sensitivity of 91.67%. A concordant identification was observed 71.76% of preterm cases and 66.05% of term cases.
Conclusion
Based on the visual interpretation of obstetricians, AI was excellent for antepartum FHR monitoring interpretation, regardless gestational age. Further, AI showed a competitive ability to identify non-reactive NST pattern and the potential avoidance of unnecessary clinical intervention.
Effect of Different Exercise Modalities on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis
Authors: Peng Yang , Xue Yaqi , Zhang Litian , Ba Yi , Jin Gang 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

Physical exercise intervention can significantly improve the liver of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, but it is unknown which exercise mode has the best effect on liver improvement in NAFLD patients. Therefore, we systematically evaluated the effect of exercise therapy on liver and blood index function of NAFLD patients through network meta-analysis(NMA). Through systematic retrieval of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, EBSCO, and CNKI(National Knowledge Infrastructure), two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies by means of databases from inception to December 2022. The NMA was performed using the inconsistency model. A total of 42 studies, 2070 NAFLD patients were included: aerobic training(n = 779), resistance training(n = 159), high-intensity interval training(n = 160), aerobic training + resistance training(n = 96). The results indicate that aerobic training + resistance training could significantly improve Serum total cholesterol (TC) (Surface under the cumulative ranking curve(SUCRA) = 71.7), Triglyceride(TG)(SUCRA = 96.8), Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol(LDL-C)(SUCRA = 86.1) in patients with NAFLD including triglycerides. Aerobic training is the best mode to improve ALT(SUCRA = 83.9) and High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (SUCRA = 72.3). Resistance training is the best mode to improve aspartate transaminase (AST) (SUCRA = 81.7). Taking various benefits into account, we believe that the best modality of exercise for NAFLD patients is aerobic training + resistance training. In our current network meta-analysis, these exercise methods have different effects on the six indicators of NAFLD, which provides some reference for further formulating exercise prescription for NAFLD patients.
Long-Term Outcomes of Hyperadrenergic Orthostatic Hypotension
Authors: Castro Robert Alexander , Vernetti Patricio Millar , Biaggioni Italo , Raj Satish R. , Kaufmann Horacio , Shibao Cyndya A. 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Purpose
Hyperadrenergic orthostatic hypotension is a subtype of orthostatic hypotension associated with elevated norepinephrine levels upon standing. Our previous study found that this subtype is characterized by less severe autonomic impairment compared to orthostatic hypotension with normal or low norepinephrine levels. However, long-term outcomes have not been determined. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the all-cause mortality and phenoconversion over 7 years.
Methods
In this prospective observational study, 92 patients with orthostatic hypotension were recruited from the Vanderbilt Autonomic Dysfunction Center. 34 patients with upright norepinephrine levels above 600 pg/mL were included in the hyperadrenergic cohort and 58 composed the orthostatic hypotension cohort. Both cohorts were followed for 7 years while assessing all-cause mortality and phenoconversion to neurodegenerative autonomic disorders.
Results
Hyperadrenergic patients showed an exaggerated orthostatic increase in norepinephrine to 938 ± 305 pg/mL upon head up tilt despite presenting with impaired autonomic reflexes. The 7-year mortality rate was 35% in the hyperadrenergic cohort compared to 22% in orthostatic hypotension (p = 0.01). The hyperadrenergic cohort had a greater phenoconversion rate to multiple system atrophy (p = 0.04), whereas the orthostatic hypotension cohort had greater phenoconversion to Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.
Conclusions
Despite having less severe autonomic impairment, our data suggests that hyperadrenergic orthostatic hypotension has worse clinical outcomes than neurogenic orthostatic hypotension. Patients with hyperadrenergic orthostatic hypotension require careful monitoring, given that this condition may be associated with negative outcomes.
Causal relationship between obesity and spinal stenosis: two-sample Mendelian randomisation
Authors: deng guang-hua , Wang Hong , Tan Zhe , Chen Rong 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Objective To investigate the causal relationship between obesity and spinal stenosis using Mendelian randomisation (MR).
Methods Genetic loci independently associated with obesity and spinal stenosis in people of European origin were selected as instrumental variables using pooled data from large-scale genomewide association studies (GWAS). Three MR analyses, MR-Egger, Weighted median and Inverse Variance Weighting (IVW), were used to investigate the causal relationship between obesity and spinal stenosis. Heterogeneity and multiplicity tests were performed, and sensitivity analyses were performed using the "leave-one-out" method to explore the robustness of the results.
Results The IVW results showed an OR (95% CI) of 1.12 (1.03–1.22), p = 0.010, indicating a causal relationship between obesity and the occurrence of spinal stenosis. And no heterogeneity and multiplicity were found by the test and sensitivity analysis also showed robust results.
Conclusion In this study, genetic data were analysed and explored using two-sample MR analysis, and the results showed that there is a causal relationship between obesity and the occurrence of spinal stenosis, and that there is a need to include more samples for the study.
Deciphering biomarker related to 12 programmed cell death to predict prognosis and response to immunotherapy in lung squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Jiang Zhansheng , Dao Chenghuan , Wang Jiahe , Zhu Mingyu , Liu Fangchao , Zhao Yangyang , Li Jiayue , Yang Yinli , Pan Zhanyu 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

Background Different programmed cell death (PCD) plays different roles in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). We integrated twelve programmed cell death patterns, investigated the expression patterns of PCD-related genes to identify promising PCD-related biomarkers. Methods Twelve PCD patterns (apoptosis, pyroptosis, necroptosis, cuproptosis, entotic cell death, autophagy-dependent cell death, netotic cell death, parthanatos, ferroptosis, lysosome-dependent cell death, oxeiptosis and alkaliptosis) were analyzed for model construction, resulting in 1388 PCD-related genes. We explored the expression changes of PCD-related genes in LUSC patients from TCGA database, and constructed a combined prognostic signature by Cox regression analysis and LASSO Cox regression analysis. The independent prognostic performance of the gene signature was evaluate based on consensus clustering, univariate and multivariate Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier survival. The GEO dataset was used for validation. Finally, we investigated the role of the immune microenvironment in different prognosis groups. Results We constructed a network of seven PCD-related genes (FGA, CHEK2, PTGIS, CSF2, STXBP1, NACC2, TFR2). Utilized these 7-gene network to establish a cell death index (CDI) and grouped patients using the median of CDI. We found that LUSC patients with low CDI had a better prognosis. More importantly, CDI was associated with tumor microenvironment components according to integrated analysis, and the response to immunotherapy in the low CDI group was better than that in the high CDI group. Conclusion Our study identified 7-gene network based on PCD to establish a new model of CDI to predict the clinical prognosis of LUSC patients. We proposed that CDI may serve as a new biomarker to predict the prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy in LUSC.
Sedimentary microfacies and reservoir quality of the Nubian sandstone Formation, southern Gulf of Suez province, Egypt
Authors: Aziz Emad A. Abd El 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

The present work considered a combination study between analysis of core petrophysics and sedimentary microfacies to estimate the reservoir quality of the studied Nubian sandstone reservoir in Saqqara oil field. The SEM observation of the studied Nubian reservoir displays quartz, feldspars and detrital clays are the dominant framework grains. Patchy dolomite, pyrite, kaolinite and illite are the common authigenic components. Euhedral syntaxial quartz overgrowths are relatively less common. Generally, all the samples are well cemented with relatively close grain packing and poorly developed primarly intergranular porosity. Most of the samples are fine grained and moderately to well sorted. Point counted porosity ranged from nil to 34%. The studied reservoir sequence could be sub divided into two reservoir rock types (RRTs). RRT1 is the best rock type forming the most upper parts of the Nubian Formation which composed from well sorted, fine grained, moderately cemented sandstone with minor primary intergranular porosity, minor dispersed pore filling detrital clay matrix, minor poorly crystallized illite and highly fractured framework feldspar grains. Whereas the RRT2 composed from moderately sorted, fine grained, well cemented with rare primary intergranular porosity, common dispersed pore filling detrital clay matrix and kaolinite plates, well crystallized hairy-like illites locally replace clay matrix. The petrophysical properties of the Nubian sandstone are more affected by significant quantities of Kaolinite and locally patchy siderite that are the main factors in reducing point counted porosity. RRT1 represent the best reservoir quality which has fair to excellent horizontal permeability (1.9–2719 md), poor to good porosity (7.3–19%), tight to good reservoir quality index RQI (0.69–1.98 µm), tight to very good flow zone indicator FZI (3.21–10.52 µm). Whereas the RRT2 is the tightest reservoir rock type, it is composed of quartzwackes microfacies and has fair to good porosity (1.7–16.6%), tight to very good horizontal permeability (0.01–560 md), tight to good RQI and FZI values (0.02–0.86 µm and 0.66–6.07 µm, respectively.
Long-term Outcomes of Treatment Patterns and Survival for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Over than 70 Years: A Multicenter Analysis of 726 Cases
Authors: Li Kexun , Nie Xin , Li Changding , He Wenwu , Lu Simiao , Liu Kun , Wang Chenghao , Du Kunyi , Li Jialong , Wang Kangning , Ni Kunhan , Jiang Longlin , Chen Junqiang , Xiao Zefen , Han Yongtao , Peng Lin , Wang Qifeng , Leng Xuefeng 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Purpose: The main focus of this study is to investigate the impact of esophagectomy on the survival of elderly patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in East Asia. Our team conducted this study to investigate whether comprehensive treatment based on surgery is suitable for elderly patients with ESCC and whether it provides an overall survival (OS) benefit.
Methods: To conduct this research, we collected data from two databases: the Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute Esophageal Cancer Case Management Database (SCCH-ECCM Database) and the department of radiation oncology multicenter database. A retrospective analysis was performed on ESCC patients aged 70 years or older, who underwent either esophagectomy or received radiotherapy/chemotherapy between January 2009 and December 2017. The patients were categorized into two groups: the upfront surgery group (referred to as the S group) and the non-surgery group (referred to as the NS group).
Results: The median follow-up period was 60.8 months. The S group exhibited a median overall survival (OS) of 41.9 months (95% CI, 35.2-48.5), whereas the NS group demonstrated a significantly lower median OS of only 24.0 months (95% CI, 19.8-28.3). The survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years in the S group were 84%, 54%, and 40% respectively. Conversely, the NS group had lower survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years, which were 72%, 40%, and 30%, respectively (HR, 0.689; 95% CI, 0.559-0.849; P＜0.0001). However, after employing propensity score matching (PSM), we did not observe a significant difference in OS between the two groups (HR, 0.871; 95% CI, 0.649–1.167; P=0.352).
Conclusion: For ESCC patients aged 70 years or older, our findings suggest that upfront esophagectomy does not significantly improve overall survival compared to non-surgical treatment involving radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy.
Sex-specific vocal repertoire in the Fragile X mouse model of autism
Authors: Giua Gabriele , Iezzi Daniela , Caceres-Rodriguez Alba , Strauss Benjamin , Chavis Pascale , Manzoni Olivier 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background: Pup-dam ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) are essential to cognitive and socio-emotional development. In autism and Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), disruptions in pup-dam USV communication hint at a possible connection between abnormal early developmental USV communication and the later emergence of communication and social deficits.
Methods: Here, we gathered USVs from PND 10 FXS pups during a short period of separation from their mothers, encompassing animals of all possible genotypes and both sexes (i.e., Fmr1-/y vs. Fmr1+/y males and Fmr1+/+, +/-, and -/- females). This allowed comparing the influence of sex and gene dosage on pups’ communication capabilities. Leveraging DeepSqueak and analyzing vocal patterns, intricate vocal behaviors such as call structure, duration, frequency modulation, and temporal patterns were examined.
Results: The results show that FMRP-deficient pups of both sexes display an increased inclination to vocalize when separated from their mothers, and this behavior is accompanied by significant sex-specific changes in the main features of their USVs as well as in body weight. Moreover, analysis of the vocal repertoire and syntactic usage revealed that Fmr1 gene silencing primarily alters the USVs’ qualitative composition in males.
Conclusions: These findings highlight the interplay between Fmr1 gene dosage and sex in influencing communication during infancy.
A high-efficient capture-based NGS approach for comprehensive analysis of mitochondrial transcriptom
Authors: Wang Zhenni , Zhou Kaixiang , Yuan Qing , Chen Dongbo , Hu Xi'e , Xie Fanfan , Liu Yang , Xing Jinliang 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
The transcription of mitochondrial genome is pivotal for maintenance of mitochondrial functions, and deregulated mitochondrial transcriptome contributes to various pathological changes. Despite substantial progress has been achieved in uncovering the transcriptional complexity of the nuclear transcriptome, many unknowns and controversies remain for the mitochondrial transcriptome, partially owing to the lack of high-efficient mitochondrial RNA (mtRNA) sequencing and analysis approach.
Methods
Here, we first comprehensively evaluated the influence of essential experimental protocols, including strand-specific library construction, two RNA enrichment strategies and optimal rRNA depletion, on accurately profiling mitochondrial transcriptome in whole transcriptome sequencing (WTS) data.
Results
Based on these insights, we developed a high-efficient approach specifically suitable for targeted sequencing of whole mitochondrial transcriptome, termed capture-based mtRNA seq (CAP), in which strand-specific library construction and optimal rRNA depletion was applied. Compared with WTS, CAP has a great decrease of required data volume, without affecting the sensitivity and accuracy of detection. In addition, CAP also characterized the unannotated mt-tRNA transcripts whose expression level is below the detection limits of conventional WTS. As a proof-of-concept characterization of mtRNAs, the transcription initiation sites and mtRNA cleavage ratio were accurately identified in CAP data. Moreover, CAP had a very reliable performance in plasma and single-cell samples, highlighting its wide application.
Conclusions
All together, the present study has established a high-efficient pipeline for targeted sequencing of mtRNAs, which may pave the way toward functional annotation of mtRNAs and mtRNA-based diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in various diseases.
Accurate Identification of Micro-scale Urban Functional Zones from the Perspective of Spatial Dialectic
Authors: Zhang Changfan 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
With the advancement of global urbanization, accurate identification of urban functional zones has become a crucial task for the high-quality development of cities. Traditional methods that rely on POI data are insufficient to accurately identify micro-scale urban functional zones. Thus, this study proposes a novel method for identifying urban functional zones based on VOI (Volume of Interest) data and applies it to a small region in Hong Kong for comparative research. Subsequently, the identification accuracy of the two methods is assessed using a confusion matrix and the Kappa Coefficient. The results show that the VOI data contains richer and more comprehensive urban spatial information compared to POI data, enabling a superior representation of connections and influences among different zones within cities. The study can be applied to analyse micro-scale urban functional zones in other cities, providing a new perspective for the in-depth research.