bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prognostic implications of systemic immune-inflammation index in patients with bone metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma treated with radiotherapy
Authors: Chen Jingyao , Huang Wenhan , Xu Xiaohong , Fan Shaonan , Zhang Qi , Li Xuan , Zeng Zhaochong , He Jian 
Published: May 2023

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown that systemic inflammation indicators could predict the survival outcomes of patients with malignant tumors receiving various treatments. Radiotherapy, as a crucial treatment modality, effectively alleviates discomfort in patients with bone metastasis (BM) and greatly improves the quality of life for them. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of systemic inflammation index in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with BM treated with radiotherapy.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed clinical data collected from HCC patients with BM who received radiotherapy in our institution between January 2017 and December 2021. The pre-treatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) were derived to determine their relationship with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), using the Kaplan-Meier survival curves. The optimal cut-off value of the systemic inflammation indicators for predicting prognosis was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to ultimately evaluate the factors associated with survival.ResultsThe study included 239 patients with a median 14-month follow-up. The median OS was 18 months (95% confidence interval [CI] = 12.0-24.0) and the median PFS was 8.5 months (95% CI = 6.5-9.5). The optimal cut-off values for the patients were determined by ROC curve analysis as follows: SII =395.05, NLR=5.43 and PLR = 108.23. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values for SII, NLR and PLR in disease control prediction were 0.750, 0.665 and 0.676, respectively. Elevated systemic immune-inflammation index (SII&gt;395.05) and higher NLR (NLR&gt;5.43) were independently associated with poor OS and PFS. In multivariate analysis, Child-Pugh class (P = 0.038), intrahepatic tumor controlled (P = 0.019), SII (P = 0.001) and NLR (P = 0.007) were independent prognostic factors of OS and Child-Pugh class (P = 0.042), SII (P &lt; 0.001) and NLR (P = 0.002) were independently correlated with PFS.ConclusionNLR and SII were associated with poor prognosis in HCC patients with BM receiving radiotherapy and might be considered reliable and independent prognostic biomarkers for HCC patients with BM.
Acupuncture for cancer pain: a scoping review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses
Authors: Zhang Yanji , Zhang Yingrong , Liu Suzhen , Li Bocun , Song Zhe , Han Qi , Wang Chang , Wang Yiwei , Yu Yanxin , Xia Hongjie , Wang Chun , Li Jia 
Published: May 2023

BackgroundDue to the effectiveness and safety, acupuncture, one of the traditional therapies of Chinese medicine, has been widely used in clinical practice globally. A few systematic review or meta-analyses have proved its effectiveness and safety towards patients with cancer pain, while there are no syntheses among those evidence. The aim of this scoping review is to summarize the evidence from systematic reviews of acupuncture for the treatment of cancer pain and evaluate the breadth and methodological quality of these evidence as well.MethodsThe scoping review process was guided by the methodology framework of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA ScR) and “Arkseyand O’Malley six-stage framework”. Electronic searches were carried out in several online databases from inception to Jan 2022. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses that involve any type of acupuncture for patients with cancer pain will be included. A pair of reviewers independently screened full texts. Moreover, review characteristics were extracted, and methodological quality was assessed using the AMSTAR 2 tool.ResultsTwenty-five systematic reviews and meta-analyses were included. Manual acupuncture is the most frequently included types of test group intervention (48%), followed by acupuncture + medicine (28%), and auricular acupuncture (12%). All the reviews have declared that acupuncture is an effective method for cancer pain treatment. Eleven reviews (44%) aiming at evaluating the safety also have confirmed that acupuncture is safe for treating cancer pain. However, most included studies were conducted in China. With certain geographical limitations, the findings were not representative within the region. The results of our review may owe to the synthesis of all kinds of cancer pain, and only 2 reviews described the type of cancer pain in detail.ConclusionsThis scoping review synthesizes and evaluates existing evidence of acupuncture for cancer pain. From this scoping review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses, there are clear recommendations for future studies: expanding the region of research in the world and trying to conduct the study of different types of cancer pain in details as much as possible. Evidences of acupuncture for cancer pain can inform clinical decision-making. Systematic review registrationhttps://inplasy.com/inplasy-2022-1-0073/, identifier INPLASY202210073.
Comparison of a 20 degree and 70 degree tilt test in adolescent myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) patients
Authors: van Campen C. (Linda) M. C. , Rowe Peter C. , Visser Frans C. 
Published: May 2023

IntroductionDuring a standard 70-degree head-up tilt test, 90% of adults with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) develop an abnormal reduction in cerebral blood flow (CBF). A 70-degree test might not be tolerated by young ME/CFS patients because of the high incidence of syncopal spells. This study examined whether a test at 20 degrees would be sufficient to provoke important reductions in CBF in young ME/CFS patients.MethodsWe analyzed 83 studies of adolescent ME/CFS patients. We assessed CBF using extracranial Doppler measurements of the internal carotid and vertebral arteries supine and during the tilt. We studied 42 adolescents during a 20 degree and 41 during a 70 degree test.ResultsAt 20 degrees, no patients developed postural orthostatic tachycardia (POTS), compared to 32% at 70 degrees (p = 0.0002). The CBF reduction during the 20 degree tilt of −27(6)% was slightly less than during the reduction during a 70 degree test [−31(7)%; p = 0.003]. Seventeen adolescents had CBF measurements at both 20 and 70 degrees. The CBF reduction in these patients with both a 20 and 70 degrees test was significantly larger at 70 degrees than at 20 degrees (p &lt; 0.0001).ConclusionsA 20 degree tilt in young ME/CFS patients resulted in a CBF reduction comparable to that in adult patients during a 70 degree test. The lower tilt angle provoked less POTS, emphasizing the importance of using the 70 degree angle for that diagnosis. Further study is needed to explore whether CBF measurements during tilt provide an improved standard for classifying orthostatic intolerance.
Associations between physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness with vascular health phenotypes in older adults: a cross-sectional study
Authors: de Sousa Maria Karolina Ferreira , Silva Raíssa de Melo , Freire Yuri Alberto , Souto Gabriel Costa , Câmara Marcyo , Cabral Ludmila Lucena Pereira , Macêdo Geovani Araújo Dantas , Costa Eduardo Caldas , Oliveira Ricardo Santos 
Published: May 2023

Objective: We investigated the associations between physical activity (PA) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with vascular health phenotypes in community-dwelling older adults.Methods: This cross-sectional study included 82 participants (66.8 ± 5.2 years; 81% females). Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was assessed using accelerometers, and CRF was measured using the distance covered in the 6-min walk test (6MWT). The vascular health markers were as follows: i) arterial function measured as aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) estimated using an automatic blood pressure device; and ii) arterial structure measured as the common carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). Using a combination of normal cIMT and aPWV values, four groups of vascular health phenotypes were created: normal aPWV and cIMT, abnormal aPWV only, abnormal cIMT only, and abnormal aPWV and cIMT. Multiple linear regression was used to estimate the beta coefficients (β) and their respective 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) adjusting for BMI, and medication for diabetes, lipid, and hypertension, sex, age, and blood pressure.Results: Participants with abnormal aPWV and normal cIMT (β = −53.76; 95% CI = −97.73—−9.78 m; p = 0.017), and participants with both abnormal aPWV and cIMT (β = −71.89; 95% CI = −125.46—−18.31 m; p = 0.009) covered less distance in the 6MWT, although adjusting for age, sex and blood pressure decreased the strength of the association with only groups of abnormal aPWV and cIMT covering a lower 6MWT distance compared to participants with both normal aPWV and cIMT (β = −55.68 95% CI = −111.95–0.59; p = 0.052). No associations were observed between MVPA and the vascular health phenotypes.Conslusion: In summary, poor CRF, but not MVPA, is associated with the unhealthiest vascular health phenotype (abnormal aPWV/cIMT) in older adults.
Impact of water stress on the demographic traits and population projection of Colorado potato beetle
Authors: Liu Xia , Yang Hangxin , Niu Fushuai , Sun Hanhan , Li Chao 
Published: May 2023

Introduction: The Colorado potato beetle is one of the famous quarantine pests in China which is extremely destructive to Solanaceae crops and causes serious losses to the potato industry.Methods: In this experiment, the host plant potato was subjected to different degrees of water stress to observe the oviposition selection, growth and development, survival, reproduction and population growth of Colorado potato beetles.Results: The results showed that adult Colorado potato beetles laid more eggs on potato plants suitable for water treatment, but fewer eggs on potato plants treated with water stress. The developmental duration of Colorado potato beetles in light drought treatment was shorter than that in control treatment, and the survival rate was higher than that in control treatment. With the aggravation of water stress, the developmental duration was prolonged, survival rate was decreased, and the number of eggs was decreased. Under different water stress levels, the intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), net reproductive rate (R0), and mean generation time (T) of the Colorado potato beetle population were significantly lower than those of control treatment, but there was no significant difference between light drought and control treatment. The TIMING-MS Chart program was used to predict the population dynamics of Colorado potato beetle for 110 days, which showed the fastest population growth in CK treatments and the slowest in HD treatments. The reduced water content of the leaves also reduces the survival rate of adult Colorado potato beetles. The growth, development, survival, and reproduction of Colorado potato beetles are affected by water stress of host plants. Moderate and heavy droughts have negative effects on the development and reproduction of Colorado potato beetles.Discussion: This information can be used to clarify the impact of water stress on the growth, development and population dynamics of Colorado potato beetle, to provide a theoretical basis for the control of this pest.
A 6-year study on the mortality dynamics of sprouts germinated on Schima superba after a severe ice storm in southern China
Authors: Cao Yonghui , Zhou Benzhi , Wang Xiaoming 
Published: May 2023

IntroductionNatural disturbances modify forest structure by affecting regeneration dynamics and can change main ecosystem functions. An ice storm unusually took place in southern China in early 2008, which caused huge damage to forests. Resprouting of woody plants in a subtropical forest has received little attention. The role of survival time and mortality has been assessed for newsprouts after an ice storm.MethodsIn this study, damage types, in addition to the annual number and mortality rates of sprouts for all tagged and sampled resprouted Chinese gugertree (Schima superba Gardner &amp; Champ.) individuals more than or equal to 4 cm in basal diameter (BD), were monitored. A total of six plots (20 m × 20 m) wererecorded in a subtropical secondary forest dominated by S. superba in Jianglang Mountain, China. This investigation had been conducted for six consecutive years.ResultsThe results showed that the survival rates of the sprouts were dependent on the year they sprouted. The earlier the year they boomed, the lower the mortality. The sprouts produced in 2008 were of the highest vitality and survival rates. Sprouts of the decapitated trees exhibited a better survival rate than those of uprooted or leaning trees. Sprouting position also plays a role in regeneration. Sprouts at the basal trunks of uprooted trees and the sprouts at the upper trunksof the decapitated trees exhibited the lowest mortality. The relationship between the accumulative mortality rate and the average diameter of new sprouts isaffected by damage types.DiscussionWe reported the mortality dynamics of sproutsin a subtropical forest after a rare natural disaster. This information could serve asa reference for the construction of a branch sprout dynamic model ormanagement of forest restoration after ice storms.
Sexuality, fertility, family planning, family life, and partnership in young breast cancer patients: a longitudinal study
Authors: Jäkel Karoline , Richter Diana , Leuteritz Katja , Sender Annekathrin , Hinz Andreas 
Published: May 2023

ObjectivesAdolescent and young adult (AYA) breast cancer patients are often faced with sexuality-related problems. Since healthcare providers are often unfamiliar with problems specific to AYA cancer this topic is too little integrated into routine oncological care. The objective of this study was to analyze sexuality, fertility, family planning, family life, and partnership regarding satisfaction and supportive care needs in AYA breast cancer patients.MethodsA total of 139 AYA breast cancer patients were examined twice, 1 year apart. The patients were asked to complete several questionnaires and to answer multiple questions about satisfaction with sexuality, fertility, family planning, family life, and corresponding supportive care needs in these domains.ResultsWhile the patients were largely satisfied with their family life and partnerships, they were less satisfied with their sexuality and family planning. Only small mean score changes were observed in these variables over the course of a year. Being a parent already and having the possibility of further completing family planning were strongly associated with higher satisfaction and lower supportive care needs in these domains. Satisfaction was generally negatively associated with supportive care needs. Older age was predictive of lower satisfaction with sexuality at follow-up.ConclusionAYA cancer patients deserve special consultations concerning the impact of cancer and treatment on their sexuality and fertility, and it is especially important that women who have yet to complete their family planning be actively offered information and support concerning sexuality and fertility protection before beginning treatment.
Does believing something to be fiction allow a form of moral licencing or a ‘fictive pass’ in understanding others’ actions?
Authors: Thompson Jacqueline , Teasdale Ben , van Emde Boas Evert , Budelmann Felix , Duncan Sophie , Maguire Laurie , Dunbar Robin 
Published: May 2023

IntroductionThe human capacity to engage with fictional worlds raises important psychological questions about the mechanisms that make this possible. Of particular interest is whether people respond differently to fictional stories compared to factual ones in terms of how immersed they become and how they view the characters involved and their actions. It has been suggested that fiction provides us with a ‘fictive pass’ that allows us to evaluate in a more balanced, detached way the morality of a character’s behaviour.MethodsWe use a randomised controlled experimental design to test this.Results and discussionWe show that, although knowing whether a substantial film clip is fact or fiction does not affect how engaged with (‘transported’ by) a troubling story an observer becomes, it does grant them a ‘fictive pass’ to empathise with a moral transgressor. However, a fictive pass does not override the capacity to judge the causes of a character’s moral transgression (at least as indexed by a causal attribution task).
Investigating the impact of online language exchanges on second language speaking and willingness to communicate of Chinese EFL learners: a mixed methods study
Authors: Zhou Anju 
Published: May 2023

IntroductionThe current study aims to investigate the impact of online language exchanges on the speaking skills and willingness to communicate (WTC) of Chinese postgraduate students in an advanced English program. The study compares two intact classes: e-tandem, who communicate with foreign English speakers through the Tandem language exchange application, and conventional, who participate in collaborative speaking tasks inside the class. The study also examines the attitudes and perceptions of the EFL learners toward the online language exchanges.Methods58 Chinese postgraduate students were recruited from a second-year advanced English program and divided into two intact classes: e-tandem and conventional. The e-tandem group used the Tandem language exchange application to communicate with foreign English speakers online, while the conventional group participated in collaborative speaking tasks inside the class. The data were collected through the IELTS speaking module, WTC scale, and semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.ResultsBoth groups showed improvement in their speaking skills and WTC. However, the e-tandem group outperformed the conventional group. The findings indicate that online language exchanges have a positive impact on the speaking skills and WTC of EFL learners. The EFL learners also had positive attitudes and perceptions toward the online language exchanges, although some expressed reservations.DiscussionThe study concludes that online language exchanges can be an effective tool for improving the speaking skills and WTC of EFL learners. The study also suggests that collaborative speaking courses in EFL settings should consider incorporating online language exchanges. However, the study also highlights the need to address the concerns and reservations expressed by some EFL learners regarding online language exchanges. Overall, the study has important pedagogical implications for EFL settings, suggesting that online language exchanges can enhance speaking skills and WTC.
Effectiveness of Illness Management and Recovery program on people with severe mental illnesses: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Goh Yong Shian Shawn , Ow Yong Jenna Qing Yun , Li Amy Ziqiang 
Published: May 2023

BackgroundThe Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) program has been established in response to the challenges faced by people with severe mental illnesses (SMIs). The program emphasizes the self-management of mental health conditions and the achievement of personally meaningful goals. However, reviews on its efficacy remain scarce, especially in recent years.ObjectiveThis review aimed to examine the efficacy of IMR in improving personal-recovery outcomes among people with SMIs.MethodsA search was conducted on seven databases (CINAHL, Embase, ProQuest, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) from inception to February 2022, without limits on the dates and types of publications. Studies were included if they had examined the efficacy of IMR in one or more outcomes, investigated at least one group of participants, and been published in English. The participants were adults (at least 16 years of age) with a formal diagnosis of at least one SMI.ResultsFourteen studies were included in this review, and eight outcomes were examined: personal recovery, global functioning, social functioning, hope, perceived social support, quality of life, substance abuse, and knowledge of mental illness. There is limited evidence on the superiority of IMR to existing treatment plans or other interventions in improving the outcomes of interest among people with SMIs. However, the low attendance rates in many included studies suggest the presence of a threshold of exposure to IMR beyond which its treatment effects could be observed. Suggestions for future IMR implementation are discussed.ConclusionsThe IMR program may serve as an alternative or complementary intervention for people with SMIs, especially with enhanced program exposure and access to resource materials.Systematic review registrationhttps://inplasy.com/inplasy-2022-10-0005/.
Sexual stigmas among lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals with problematic internet use and depression
Authors: Wang Peng-Wei , Chang Yu-Ping , Tsai Ching-Shu , Yen Cheng-Fang 
Published: May 2023

IntroductionSexual stigma causes psychological distress among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals. LGB individuals are more likely to exhibit both problematic Internet use (PIU) and significant depression than are heterosexual individuals. Whether the severities of sexual stigma varied among LGB individuals with various statuses of comorbid PIU and depression warrants study. The present study aimed to investigate the differences in the experiences of familial sexual stigma (FSS), internalized sexual stigma (ISS), and sexual orientation microaggressions (SOMs) among LGB individuals with various statuses of comorbid PIU and depression.MethodsIn total, 1,000 self-identified LGB young adult individuals participated in the study. The level of PIU was assessed using the Chen Internet Addiction Scale, depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale, the experience of FSS was assessed using the Homosexuality-Related Stigma Scale, the experience of ISS was assessed using the Measure of Internalized Sexual Stigma for Lesbians and Gay Men, and the experience of sexual orientation microaggression was assessed using the Sexual Orientation Microaggression Inventory. The differences in the levels of FSS, ISS, and SOMs among the four groups [i.e., the groups with both PIU and depression (comorbid group), only depression, only PIU, and neither PIU nor depression (neither group)] were investigated using multivariate analysis of covariance.ResultsThe results indicated that LGB individuals with comorbid PIU and depression reported higher levels of ISS and SOMs than did those with depression only and PIU only, respectively. Moreover, LGB individuals with PIU or significant depression had higher levels of FSS and SOMs than did those with neither PIU nor depression.DiscussionThe results of this study supported that the experiences of FSS, ISS, and SOMs were significantly associated with various levels of PIU and depression in LGB individuals.