bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Health-related quality of life disparities among Hispanic/Latinx patients with nephrolithiasis
Authors: Flores Alec R. , Abedi Garen , Girgiss Carol B. , Berger Jonathan H. , Penniston Kristina L. , Li Shuang , Friedlander David F. , Bechis Seth K. , Sur Roger L. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractIt is documented that Hispanic/Latinx kidney stone formers have inferior health-related quality of life (HRQoL) compared to the general population. We hypothesized that socioeconomic factors drive HRQoL disparities. Specifically, we sought to determine if medical insurance type is associated with HRQoL disparities among Hispanic/Latinx stone formers. This was a prospective cohort observational study of patients with kidney stones across the University of San Diego Health Care System. Patients enrolled from June 2018 to August 2020 completed a validated Wisconsin Stone Quality of Life questionnaire (WISQoL). Patient characteristics and self-reported HRQoL were compared between Hispanic/Latinx and non-Hispanic/Latinx stone formers using MANCOVA and ordinal logistic regression. Matched group comparisons were performed based on age, gender, body mass index, stone symptoms, and insurance type using MACOVA. A total of 270 patients were enrolled (Hispanic/Latinx n = 88; non-Hispanic/Latinx n = 182). Hispanic/Latinx stone formers had higher rates of public insurance at baseline (p < 0.001) with significantly lower HRQoL [social impact (p = 0.007)]. However, a matched cohort comparison demonstrated no differences. On multivariate analysis, private insurance increased the likelihood of having higher HRQoL (OR 2.21, p = 0.021), while stone symptoms (OR = 0.06, p < 0.001) and emergency department visits (OR = 0.04, p = 0.008) decreased chances of higher HRQoL. Ethnicity was not a significant factor in HRQoL scores on multivariate analysis. Our analysis suggests that differences in HRQoL among Hispanic/Latinx stone formers may be primarily driven by socioeconomic factors as opposed to clinical or racial differences. Specifically, source of insurance appears to have significant effect on HRQoL in this ethnic group.
Real world impact of added FFR-CT to coronary CT angiography on clinical decision-making and patient prognosis – IMPACT FFR study
Authors: Becker Leonie M. , Peper Joyce , Verhappen Bram J. L. A. , Swart Laurens A. , Dedic Admir , van Dockum Willem G. , van der Ent Martin , Royaards Kees-Jan , Niezen André , Hensen Jan-Hein J. , van Kuijk Jan-Peter , Mohamed Hoesein Firdaus A. A. , Leiner Tim , Bruning Tobias A. , Swaans Martin J. 
Published: March 2023

Abstract

Objectives
The addition of CT-derived fractional flow reserve (FFR-CT) increases the diagnostic accuracy of coronary CT angiography (CCTA). We assessed the impact of FFR-CT in routine clinical practice on clinical decision-making and patient prognosis in patients suspected of stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods
This retrospective, single-center study compared a cohort that received CCTA with FFR-CT to a historical cohort that received CCTA before FFR-CT was available. We assessed the clinical management decisions after FFR-CT and CCTA and the rate of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) during the 1-year follow-up using chi-square tests for independence. Kaplan–Meier curves were used to visualize the occurrence of safety outcomes over time.

Results
A total of 360 patients at low to intermediate risk of CAD were included, 224 in the CCTA only group, and 136 in the FFR-CT group. During follow-up, 13 MACE occurred in 12 patients, 9 (4.0%) in the CCTA group, and three (2.2%) in the FFR-CT group. Clinical management decisions differed significantly between both groups. After CCTA, 60 patients (26.5%) received optimal medical therapy (OMT) only, 115 (51.3%) invasive coronary angiography (ICA), and 49 (21.9%) single positron emission CT (SPECT). After FFR-CT, 106 patients (77.9%) received OMT only, 27 (19.9%) ICA, and three (2.2%) SPECT (p < 0.001 for all three options). The revascularization rate after ICA was similar between groups (p = 0.15). However, patients in the CCTA group more often underwent revascularization (p = 0.007).

Conclusion
Addition of FFR-CT to CCTA led to a reduction in (invasive) diagnostic testing and less revascularizations without observed difference in outcomes after 1 year.

Key Points
• Previous studies have shown that computed tomography–derived fractional flow reserve improves the accuracy of coronary computed tomography angiography without changes in acquisition protocols.
• This study shows that use of computed tomography-derived fractional flow reserve as gatekeeper to invasive coronary angiography in patients suspected of stable coronary artery disease leads to less invasive testing and revascularization without observed difference in outcomes after 1 year.
• This could lead to a significant reduction in costs, complications and (retrospectively unnecessary) usage of diagnostic testing capacity, and a significant increase in patient satisfaction.
Female breast cancer subtypes in the Romagna Unit of the Emilia-Romagna cancer registry, and estimated incident cases by subtypes and age in Italy in 2020
Authors: Crocetti Emanuele , Ravaioli Alessandra , Giuliani Orietta , Bucchi Lauro , Vattiato Rosa , Mancini Silvia , Zamagni Federica , Vitali Benedetta , Balducci Chiara , Baldacchini Flavia , Falcini Fabio 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study was to estimate the Italian burden of incident breast cancer (BC) by subtypes, according to the distribution of hormonal receptor (HR) status and expression of human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2).

Methods
Female breast cancers incidence in the Romagna Unit of the Emilia-Romagna registry (n. 10,711) were grouped into: HR+ /HER2–, HR+ /HER2+ , HR–/HER2+ , HR–/HER2– and missing, and by age: < 50, 50–69 and 70+ years. Data were compared with other published Italian population-bases series before using them for national estimates. We used national and regional numbers of expected breast cancers published by the Italian network of cancer registries considering the age- and geographic-specific variation of the Italian population.

Results
Overall, 70.7% of incident BC cases are expected to be HR+ /HER2-, 8.5% HR+ /HER2+ , 7.5% HR-/HER2-, 4.1% HR-/HER2+ and 9.3% missing. The global ranking is similar across age-groups but with age-specific differences. The proportion of missing was around 3-times lower than in the other Italian published population-based series and similar to the SEER one. In Italy, are estimated 38,841 HR+ /HER2- breast cancer cases, 4665 HR+ /HER2+ , 4098 HR-/HER2-, 2281 HR-/HER2+ , and 5092 not specified. Numbers by age-group were provided.

Conclusions
The present estimates relied on high-quality population-based data and provide a clinically relevant information on the burden of breast cancer subtypes. These data will support the planning of therapy needs for oncologists, decision-makers, and all other stakeholders.
Psychische Belastung und deren Einflussfaktoren bei Überlebenden von malignen ovariellen Keimzell- oder Keimstrangstromatumoren – eine Analyse der AGO-CORSETT-Datenbank
Authors: Bossart M. , Plett H. , Krämer B. , Braicu E. , Czogalla B. , Klar M. , Singer S. , Mayr D. , Staebler A. , du Bois A. , Kommoss S. , Link T. , Burges A. , Heitz F. , Grube M. , Trillsch F. , Harter P. , Wimberger P. , Buderath P. , Hasenburg A. 
Published: March 2023

Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund
Keimstrangstroma(SCST)- und Keimzelltumoren (MOGCT) sind seltene ovarielle Neoplasien, die häufig bei Jugendlichen oder prämenopausalen Patientinnen auftreten. Die Prognose ist in allen Stadien gut, weshalb psychisches Wohlbefinden, Lebensqualität, Fertilitätserhalt und Kinderwunsch zu relevanten Themen der Langzeitüberlebenden werden.

Ziel der Arbeit
Untersuchung der Prävalenz der fertilitätserhaltenden Therapie bei Patientinnen mit ovariellen Keimstrangstromatumoren und Keimzelltumoren und die Erfassung von Zusammenhängen mit Angst, Depression, Lebensqualität und Sexualität nach Therapie.

Material und Methoden
Die Current-Ovarian-geRM-cell-and-Sex-Cord-stromal-Tumour-Treatment-strategies(CORSETT)-Studie ist eine multizentrische, retro- und prospektiv beobachtende Kohortenstudie der Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Gynäkologische Onkologie (AGO) der Deutschen Krebsgesellschaft. Patientinnen nach Keimstrangstroma- oder Keimzelltumorbehandlung wurden gebeten, Fragebögen zu beantworten (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS], Sexual Activity Questionnaire [SAQ], European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire [EORTC QLQ-C30]). Im Fokus dieser Analyse standen der Stellenwert der fertilitätserhaltenden Operation sowie die Ausprägung und potenziellen Zusammenhänge mit Sexualität, Lebensqualität, Schmerz, Angst und Depressivität.

Ergebnisse
Von 355 eingeschlossenen Patientinnen hatten 152 Patientinnen die Fragebögen ausgefüllt und wurden in die Analysen eingeschlossen. 85 Patientinnen hiervon (56 %) wurden fertilitätserhaltend operiert. 34 % der Patientinnen hatten klinisch relevante Angst und Depressivität. Patientinnen nach fertilitätserhaltender Operation waren signifikant häufiger sexuell aktiv, hatten mehr sexuelles Verlangen und litten seltener unter Angst und Depressivität als Patientinnen ohne fertilitätserhaltende operative Therapie. Das Ausmaß von Angst und Depressivität korrelierte mit dem Schmerzniveau, unabhängig vom zeitlichen Abstand zur Krebsdiagnose.

Diskussion
Die fertilitätserhaltende operative Therapie sollte, wann immer onkologisch vertretbar, den Patientinnen mit SCST und MOGCT angeboten werden, um den Krebsüberlebenden bestmögliche Lebensqualität zu ermöglichen. Ein wiederholtes Screening auf Angst, Depressivität, Schmerzen und Probleme in der Sexualität sollte anhand von standardisierten Fragebögen bei allen Patientinnen durchgeführt werden.
Serum CA724 has no diagnostic value for gastrointestinal tumors
Authors: Cao Huiru , Zhu Liuming , Li Lin , Wang Wei , Niu Xiaoping 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Objective
This study aimed to explore the predictive values of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen (CA) 199, CA125 and CA724 in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal tumors.

Methods
Among patients treated for gastrointestinal tumors at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College between December 2020 and March 2022, 572 patients were reviewed as the tumor group, and 700 healthy subjects from the physical examination center of the same hospital were reviewed as the control group. We evaluated the correlation between serum CEA, CA199, CA125, CA724 levels and pathological features in 572 patients with gastrointestinal tumors.The levels of serum CEA, CA199, CA125 and CA724 were compared between the two groups, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of these markers alone and in combination.

Results
Serum CEA level was correlated with tumor stage and metastasis, and CA199 was correlated with tumor stage, lymph node involvement and metastasis. CA125 and CA724 have no correlation with tumor pathological features. The levels of serum CEA, CA199 and CA125 were significantly increased in the tumor group compared with the control group, while serum CA724 levels did not significantly differ between groups (p > 0.05). In addition, in patients with gastric cancer (GC), esophageal cancer (EC), pancreatic cancer (PC), gallbladder cancer (GBC) or colorectal cancer (CRC), the serum CEA, CA199 and CA125 levels were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). However, serum CA724 levels were increased only in CRC patients (p < 0.05). ROC curve evaluation results showed that while CA199, CA125 and CA724 alone had poor diagnostic efficacy in the tumor group, CEA was better. Specifically, CEA had better diagnostic efficacy in GC, PC, GBC and CRC; additionally, CA199 and CA125 had better diagnostic efficacy in PC. However, CA724 showed no diagnostic value in the tumor group and the single gastrointestinal tumor group. For diagnosis with multiple-marker combinations, CEA + CA199 + CA125 had the best diagnostic performance (AUC = 0.776, AUC = 0.650, AUC = 0.896, AUC = 0.840, AUC = 0.793) in the GC, EC, PC, GBC and CRC groups, and the sensitivity of multiple-marker combined detection was better than that of single-marker detection.

Conclusions
Serum CA724 has no diagnostic value for gastrointestinal tumors, and it cannot evaluate the pathological status of tumors. Serum CEA has excellent diagnostic efficacy in GC, PC, GBC and CRC, and its expression level is related to tumor stage and metastasis. Additionally, CA199 and CA125 have good diagnostic efficacy in PC. Among them, CA199 level was related to tumor stage, lymph node involvement and metastasis, and CA125 level was not related to pathological status. In addition, the multiple-marker combination CEA + CA199 + CA125 has the best diagnostic efficacy in GC, EC, PC, GBC and CRC.
Expiratory-gated Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) does not Further Augment Heart Rate Variability During Slow Breathing at 0.1 Hz
Authors: Szulczewski Mikołaj Tytus , D’Agostini Martina , Van Diest Ilse 
Published: March 2023

AbstractAs cardiac vagal control is a hallmark of good health and self-regulatory capacity, researchers are seeking ways to increase vagally mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV) in an accessible and non-invasive way. Findings with transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) have been disappointing in this respect, as its effects on vmHRV are inconsistent at best. It has been speculated that combining taVNS with other established ways to increase vmHRV may produce synergistic effects. To test this idea, the present study combined taVNS with slow breathing in a cross-over design. A total of 22 participants took part in two sessions of breathing at 6 breaths/min: once combined with taVNS, and once combined with sham stimulation. Electrical stimulation (100 Hz, 400 µs) was applied during expiration, either to the tragus and cavum conchae (taVNS) or to the earlobe (sham). ECG was recorded during baseline, 20-minutes of stimulation, and the recovery period. Frequentist and Bayesian analyses showed no effect of taVNS (in comparison to sham stimulation) on the root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats, mean inter-beat interval, or spectral power of heart rate variability at a breathing frequency of 0.1 Hz. These findings suggest that expiratory-gated taVNS combined with the stimulation parameters examined here does not produce acute effects on vmHRV during slow breathing.
Chitosan Schiff base electrospun fabrication and molecular docking assessment for nonleaching antibacterial nanocomposite production
Authors: Ali Eman AboBakr , Abo-Salem Heba M. , Arafa Amany A. , Nada Ahmed A. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractIn this work, new chitosan derivative nanofibers that exhibit antibacterial properties were successfully fabricated. The two CS Schiff base derivatives (CS-APC and CS-2APC) were prepared by incorporating 4-amino antipyrine moiety in two different ratios, followed by a reductive amination to obtain the corresponding derivatives CS-APCR and CS-2APCR. Spectral analyses were used to confirm the chemical structure. The molecular docking evaluation of CS-APC, CS-APCR, and CS was conducted on DNA topoisomerase IV, thymidylate kinase and SARS-CoV-2 main protease (3CLpro) active sites. CS-APCR showed a well-fitting into the three enzyme active sites with docking score values of  − 32.76,  − 35.43 and  − 30.12 kcal/mol, respectively. The nanocomposites of CS derivatives were obtained by electrospinning the blends of CS-2APC and CS-2APCR with polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) at 20 kV. The morphology of the nanofibers was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that fiber diameters were significantly decreased when CS-2APC and CS-2APCR were incorporated into pure PVP to reach 206–296 nm and 146–170 nm, respectively, compared to 224–332 nm for pure PVP. The derivatives of CS and their nanofibers with PVP were found to have antibacterial activities against two strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Data revealed that CS-2APC nanofibers showed antibacterial activity to the two strains of E. coli less than CS-2APCR nanofibers.
Design, implementation, and evaluation of an online supported peer feedback module to enhance students’ argumentative essay quality
Authors: Noroozi Omid , Banihashem Seyyed Kazem , Biemans Harm J. A. , Smits Mattijs , Vervoort Mariëtte T.W. , Verbaan Caro-Lynn 
Published: March 2023

AbstractWe know little to what extent peer feedback strategies can be applied on a large scale in higher education for complex tasks. This study aimed to design, implement, and evaluate an online-supported peer feedback module for large-scale use to enhance higher education students’ argumentative essay writing performance. To do this, 330 students from five different courses at bachelor and master levels followed the online supported peer feedback module. In this module, students were asked to write an argumentative essay about a controversial issue, provide peer feedback for two peers, and revise their original essays based on the received feedback. Three types of data including original essay (pre-test) data, peer feedback data, and revised essay (post-test) data collected. Students also filled out the learning satisfaction questionnaire at the end of the module. The findings showed that the suggested online-supported peer feedback module was effective in improving students’ argumentative essay quality in all courses at the bachelor and master levels. The findings also showed there is a difference in the level of students’ satisfaction with the module among the courses and between the education levels. The findings of this study provide insights into and add value to the scalability of online peer feedback tools for argumentative essay writing in different contexts. Based on the findings, recommendations for future studies and educational practice are provided.
Quantifying heterogeneity in ecohydrological partitioning in urban green spaces through the integration of empirical and modelling approaches
Authors: Stevenson Jamie Lee , Birkel Christian , Comte Jean-Christophe , Tetzlaff Doerthe , Marx Christian , Neill Aaron , Maneta Marco , Boll Jan , Soulsby Chris 
Published: March 2023

AbstractUrban green spaces (UGS) can help mitigate hydrological impacts of urbanisation and climate change through precipitation infiltration, evapotranspiration and groundwater recharge. However, there is a need to understand how precipitation is partitioned by contrasting vegetation types in order to target UGS management for specific ecosystem services. We monitored, over one growing season, hydrometeorology, soil moisture, sapflux and isotopic variability of soil water under contrasting vegetation (evergreen shrub, evergreen conifer, grassland, larger and smaller deciduous trees), focussed around a 150-m transect of UGS in northern Scotland. We further used the data to develop a one-dimensional model, calibrated to soil moisture observations (KGE’s generally > 0.65), to estimate evapotranspiration and groundwater recharge. Our results evidenced clear inter-site differences, with grassland soils experiencing rapid drying at the start of summer, resulting in more fractionated soil water isotopes. Contrastingly, the larger deciduous site saw gradual drying, whilst deeper sandy upslope soils beneath the evergreen shrub drained rapidly. Soils beneath the denser canopied evergreen conifer were overall least responsive to precipitation. Modelled ecohydrological fluxes showed similar diversity, with median evapotranspiration estimates increasing in the order grassland (193 mm) < evergreen shrub (214 mm) < larger deciduous tree (224 mm) < evergreen conifer tree (265 mm). The evergreen shrub had similar estimated median transpiration totals as the larger deciduous tree (155 mm and 128 mm, respectively), though timing of water uptake was different. Median groundwater recharge was greatest beneath grassland (232 mm) and lowest beneath the evergreen conifer (128 mm). The study showed how integrating observational data and simple modelling can quantify heterogeneities in ecohydrological partitioning and help guide UGS management.
Moral autonomy of patients and legal barriers to a possible duty of health related data sharing
Authors: Vedder Anton , Spajić Daniela 
Published: March 2023

AbstractInformed consent bears significant relevance as a legal basis for the processing of personal data and health data in the current privacy, data protection and confidentiality legislations. The consent requirements find their basis in an ideal of personal autonomy. Yet, with the recent advent of the global pandemic and the increased use of eHealth applications in its wake, a more differentiated perspective with regards to this normative approach might soon gain momentum. This paper discusses the compatibility of a moral duty to share data for the sake of the improvement of healthcare, research, and public health with autonomy in the field of data protection, privacy and medical confidentiality. It explores several ethical-theoretical justifications for a duty of data sharing, and then reflects on how existing privacy, data protection, and confidentiality legislations could obstruct such a duty. Consent, as currently defined in the General Data Protection Regulation – a key legislative framework providing rules on the processing of personal data and data concerning health – and in the recommendation of the Council of Europe on the protection of health-related data – explored here as soft-law – turns out not to be indispensable from various ethical perspectives, while the requirement of consent in the General Data Protection Regulation and the recommendation nonetheless curtails the full potential of a duty to share medical data. Also other legal grounds as possible alternatives for consent seem to constitute an impediment.
Does IRS Monitoring Matter for the Cost of Bank Loans?
Authors: Bermpei Theodora , Kalyvas Antonios Nikolaos , Wolfe Simon 
Published: March 2023

AbstractWe show that IRS monitoring exerts a significantly negative effect on the cost of syndicated loans. A one standard deviation increase in the probability of an IRS audit decreases loan spreads by around nine basis points. We also find that this effect is stronger for borrowers with better lending relationships and credible access to public markets. These results indicate that IRS monitoring could increase the bargaining power of borrowers and restrain banks from extracting informational rents from their lending relationships. Thus, they provide a novel insight into how IRS monitoring could lower the cost of financing from the banking system.