bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Two novel prehabilitation apps to help patients stop smoking and risky drinking prior to hip and knee arthroplasty
Authors: Tønnesen Hanne , Raffing Rie , Lauridsen Susanne Vahr , Lauritzen Jes Bruun , Elholm Anne Marie Halmø , Jensen Helle Sæderup , Espinosa Peter , Jansson Karl Åke , Berman Anne H. , Fernández-Valencia Jenaro , Muñoz-Mahamud Ernesto , Santiñà Manuel , Combalia Andrés 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Purpose
Daily smoking or risky drinking increases the risk of complications after surgery by ~50%. Intensive prehabilitation aimed at complete cessation reduces the complication rate but is time-consuming. The purpose of this study was to carry out preoperative pilot tests (randomized design) of the feasibility (1A) and validation (1B) of two novel prehabilitation apps, habeat® (Ha-app) or rehaviour® (Re-app).

Methods
Patients scheduled for hip or knee arthroplasty with daily smoking, risky drinking, or both were randomised to one of the two apps. In part 1A, eight patients and their staff measured feasibility on a visual analog scale (VAS) and were interviewed about what worked well and the challenges requiring improvement. In part 1B, seven patients and their staff tested the improved apps for up to two weeks before validating the understanding, usability, coverage, and empowerment on a VAS and being interviewed.

Results
In 1A, all patients and staff returned scores of ≥5 for understanding the apps and mostly suggested technical improvements. In 1B, the scores varied widely for both apps, with no consensus achieved. Two of four patients (Ha-app) and one-third of the patients (Re-app) found the apps helpful for reducing smoking, but without successful quitting. The staff experienced low app competencies among patients and high time consumption. Specifically, patients most often needed help for the Ha-app, and the staff most often for Re-app; however, the staff reported the Re-app dashboard was more user-friendly. Support and follow-up from an addiction specialist staff member were suggested to complement the apps, thereby increasing the time consumption for staff.

Conclusions
This pilot study to test prototype apps generated helpful feedback for the app developers. Based on the patient and staff comments, multiple improvements in functionality seem required before scaling up the evaluation for effect on prehabilitation and postoperative complications.
Deep learning–based scan range optimization can reduce radiation exposure in coronary CT angiography
Authors: Demircioğlu Aydin , Bos Denise , Demircioğlu Ender , Qaadan Sahar , Glasmachers Tobias , Bruder Oliver , Umutlu Lale , Nassenstein Kai 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Objectives
Cardiac computed tomography (CT) is essential in diagnosing coronary heart disease. However, a disadvantage is the associated radiation exposure to the patient which depends in part on the scan range. This study aimed to develop a deep neural network to optimize the delimitation of scan ranges in CT localizers to reduce the radiation dose.

Methods
On a retrospective training cohort of 1507 CT localizers randomly selected from calcium scoring and angiography scans and acquired between 2010 and 2017, optimized scan ranges were delimited by two radiologists in consensus. A neural network was trained to reproduce the scan ranges and was tested on two randomly selected and independent validation cohorts: an internal cohort of 233 CT localizers (January 2018–June 2020) and an external cohort from a nearby hospital of 298 CT localizers (July 2020–December 2020). Localizers where a bypass surgery was visible were excluded. The effective radiation dose to the patient was simulated using a Monte Carlo simulation. Scan ranges of radiographers, radiologists, and the network were compared using an equivalence test; likewise, the reduction in effective dose was tested using a superior test.

Results
The network replicated the radiologists’ scan ranges with a Dice score of 96.5 ± 0.02 (p < 0.001, indicating equivalence). The generated scan ranges resulted in an effective dose reduction of 10.0% (p = 0.002) in the internal cohort and 12.6% (p < 0.001) in the external cohort compared to the scan ranges delimited by radiographers in clinical routine.

Conclusions
Automatic delimitation of the scan range can result in a radiation dose reduction to the patient.

Clinical relevance statement
Fully automated delimitation of the scan range using a deep neural network enables a significant reduction in radiation exposure during CT coronary angiography compared to manual examination planning. It can also reduce the workload of the radiographers.

Key Points
• Scan range delimitation for coronary computed tomography angiography could be performed with high accuracy by a deep neural network.
• Automated scan ranges showed a high agreement of 96.5% with the scan ranges of radiologists.
• Using a Monte Carlo simulation, automated scan ranges reduced the effective dose to the patient by up to 12.6% (0.9 mSv) compared to the scan ranges of radiographers in clinical routine.

Graphical abstract
On-treatment risk model for predicting treatment response in advanced renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Guer Melis , Janitzky Andreas , Schostak Martin 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Purpose
The field of immunotherapy combinations for advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC) has been expanded in recent years. However, the treatment response varies widely among individual patients. It is still a challenge to predict oncological outcome in clinical practice. We assessed the impact of an activated immune system reflected by changes in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and the early onset of treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) on the treatment response.

Methods
In this retrospective analysis of 57 aRCC patients, CRP kinetics based on previous descriptions of CRP flare-response, CRP response or CRP non-response, and the TRAEs, which occurred within a month after therapy initiation, were obtained for this study. According to logistic regression analysis of both factors, we stratified the patients into risk groups: the presence of CRP flare-response/response and early onset of TRAE (low-risk group); the presence of a single factor (intermediate-risk group); and without both factors (high-risk group).

Results
Ten patients (17%) experienced primary disease progression. No progressive disease was observed in the low-risk group, while 60% (n = 6/10) of the high-risk group showed a primary disease progression. Significantly, an increased risk of disease progression was observed by patients without CRP response and TRAEs (p < 0.001).

Conclusion
The present analysis displays the predictive value of the on-treatment risk model based on CRP kinetics and the early onset of TRAEs, which can be easy to implement in clinical practice to optimize the treatment monitoring.
Prediction of Coral Sea tropical cyclone power and latitude of maximum intensity using climate indices
Authors: Miller John G. , da Silva Guilherme Vieira , Strauss Darrell 
Published: August 2023

AbstractTropical cyclone (TC) wind power, often highly destructive, can be quantified using the power dissipation index (PDI) and in this study, the PDIs for Coral Sea TC tracks, as well as the latitude of maximum intensity (LMI) were investigated for correlation with climatological indices. Multiple linear regression with collinearity removed and an overall Pearson correlation of 0.7 or above was used for this. The results for all tracks showed that three indices dominated for PDI: Niño 4 Sea Surface Temperature (SST), the Dipole Mode Index (DMI) and the Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO). Coral Sea TC tracks clustered by maximum windspeed-weighted locations were then examined: For cluster 1 (located more south-east), the additional influence of the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) was apparent, whilst for cluster 2 (located more north-west), the same indices dominated as for the all-tracks model. For LMI, four indices were identified: the Indian Ocean East SST Anomaly (DMI E), the MJO, the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) and the SAM. Only TCs clustered in the northeast of Australia had a valid model for LMI, with correlation 0.8, using three indices: DMI E, DMI and the SOI. Overall, raised Niño 4 SST combined with a negative DMI and low MJO amplitude were shown to predict large increases in TC power, whilst a combination of increasing DMI E temperature anomaly with a positive SOI moves LMI equator-wards. The models compiled in this study identified the most significant climatic indices and successfully predicted TC power dissipation and LMI.
Better early outcome with enhanced recovery total hip arthroplasty (ERAS-THA) versus conventional setup in randomized clinical trial (RCT)
Authors: Götz Julia , Maderbacher Günther , Leiss Franziska , Zeman Florian , Meyer Matthias , Reinhard Jan , Grifka Joachim , Greimel Felix 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Introduction
Numbers of total hip arthroplasty (THA) are steadily rising and patients expect faster mobility without pain postoperatively. The aim of enhanced recovery after Surgery (ERAS) programs in a multidisciplinary setup was to keep pace with the needs of quality and quantity of surgical THA-interventions and patients’ expectations.

Methods
194 patients undergoing THA procedures were investigated after single-blinded randomization to ERAS (98) or conventional setup group (96). Primary outcome variable was mobilization measured with the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) in seconds. Secondary outcome variables were floor count and walking distance in meters as well as rest, mobilization and night pain on a numerous rating scale (NRS). All variables were recorded preoperatively and daily until the sixth postoperative day. To assess and compare clinical outcome and patient satisfaction, the PPP33-Score and PROMs were used.

Results
No complications such as thromboembolic complications, fractures or revisions were recorded within the first week postoperatively in either study group. Compared to the conventional group, the ERAS group showed significantly better TUG (p < 0.050) and walking distance results after surgery up to the sixth, and floor count up to the third postoperative day. On the first and second postoperative day, ERAS patients showed superior results (p < 0.001) in all independent activity subitems. Regarding the evaluation of pain (NRS), PPP33 and PROMS, no significant difference was shown (p > 0.050).

Conclusion
This prospective single-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial was able to demonstrate excellent outcome with comparable pain after ERAS THA versus a conventional setup. Therefore, ERAS could be used in daily clinical practice.
Anxiety and physical impairment in patients with central vestibular disorders
Authors: Padovan Lena , Becker-Bense Sandra , Flanagin Virginia L. , Strobl Ralf , Limburg Karina , Lahmann Claas , Decker Julian , Dieterich Marianne 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Background
There is increasing evidence for close interrelations between vestibular and emotional brain networks. A study in patients with bilateral peripheral vestibulopathy (BVP) showed relatively low vertigo-related anxiety (VRA), despite high physical impairment. The current working hypothesis proposes the integrity of the peripheral vestibular system as a prerequisite for development of VRA. Here we contribute by evaluating VRA and vestibular-related handicap in central vestibular disorders.

Methods
Of 6396 patients presenting in a tertiary vertigo centre, 306 were identified with four clear central vestibular disorders: pure cerebellar ocular motor disorder (COD; 61), cerebellar ataxia (CA; 63), atypical parkinsonian syndromes (APS; 28), vestibular migraine (VM; 154). Their results of the Vertigo Handicap Questionnaire (VHQ), with its subscales for anxiety and handicapped activity, were compared to those of 65 BVP patients. Postural instability was measured on a force-plate. Multivariate linear regression was used to adjust for patient demographics.

Results
Patients with chronic central vestibular disorders (COD, CA, APS) had relatively low VRA levels comparable to those in BVP, independent of increased handicapped activity or postural instability. Only VM patients showed significantly higher VRA, although their activity impairment and postural instability were lowest. No significant differences within chronic central vestibular disorders were found for VRA and subjective activity impairment.

Conclusions
Subjective and objective vestibular-related impairment are not necessarily correlated with vestibular-related anxiety in central vestibular disorders. Our findings rather support the hypothesis that, in addition to an intact peripheral, an intact central vestibular system could also serve as a prerequisite to develop specific VRA.
Combined measure of salivary alpha-synuclein species as diagnostic biomarker for Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Angius Fabrizio , Mocci Ignazia , Ercoli Tommaso , Loy Francesco , Fadda Laura , Palmas Maria Francesca , Cannas Giada , Manzin Aldo , Defazio Giovanni , Carta Anna R. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractParkinson’s disease (PD) diagnosis is still vulnerable to bias, and a definitive diagnosis often relies on post-mortem neuropathological diagnosis. In this regard, alpha-synuclein (αsyn)-specific in vivo biomarkers remain a critical unmet need, based on its relevance in the neuropathology. Specifically, content changes in αsyn species such as total (tot-αsyn), oligomeric (o-αsyn), and phosphorylated (p-αsyn) within the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral fluids (i.e., blood and saliva) have been proposed as PD biomarkers possibly reflecting the neuropathological outcome. Here, we measured the p-αsyn levels in the saliva from 15 PD patients along with tot-αsyn, o-αsyn and their ratios, and compared the results with those from 23 healthy subjects (HS), matched per age and sex. We also calculated the optimal cutoff values for different αsyn species to provide information about their capability to discriminate PD from HS. We found that p-αsyn was the most abundant alpha-synuclein species in the saliva. While p-αsyn concentration did not differ between PD and HS when adjusted for total salivary proteins, the ratio p-αsyn/tot-αsyn was largely lower in PD patients than in HS. Moreover, the concentration of o-αsyn was increased in the saliva of PD patients, and tot-αsyn did not differ between PD and HS. The ROC curves indicated that no single αsyn form or ratio could provide an accurate diagnosis of PD. On the other hand, the ratio of different items, namely p-αsyn/tot-αsyn and o-αsyn, yielded more satisfactory diagnostic accuracy, suggesting that the combined measure of different species in the saliva may show more promises as a diagnostic means for PD.
Laparoscopic vs open repair for primary midline ventral hernia: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Schjøth-Iversen Line , Sahakyan Mushegh A. , Lai Xiaoran , Refsum Arne 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Background
The optimal operative treatment for umbilical and epigastric hernia, i.e., primary midline ventral hernia (PMVH), is debatable. The most common techniques are the primary suture and open repair with mesh, while laparoscopic approach using intraperitoneally placed onlay mesh (IPOM) is less frequent. The aim of this study was to examine the outcomes of IPOM in PMVH. Perioperative results, recurrence, pain, and functional status were studied.

Methods
This single-center prospective cohort study included consecutive patients with PMVH operated between September 2006 and December 2015. Systematic follow-up was conducted 6 months and 2 and 5 years postoperatively.

Results
Seven hundred fifty-four patients underwent PMVH repair. Open repair without mesh, open repair with mesh, and IPOM were performed in 251 (34.9%), 273 (38%), and 195 (27.1%) patients, respectively. In the unmatched cohort, the incidence of postoperative complications was similar except postoperative seroma, which was more frequent after IPOM. The latter was also associated with longer length of stay. Open repair with mesh was associated with significantly lower recurrence compared with open repair without mesh and IPOM (5.2 vs 18.2 vs 13.8%, p=0.001, respectively). No differences were seen between the groups in terms of visual analog scale used for registering postoperative pain. These observations persisted after applying propensity score matching. In the multivariable analysis, open repair without mesh and IPOM significantly correlated with recurrence.

Conclusions
In PMVH, open repair with mesh is associated with lower recurrence compared with open repair without mesh and IPOM. Pain, postoperative complications (except for seroma), and functional status are similar.
Quantization to speedup approximate nearest neighbor search
Authors: Peng Hao 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe quantization-based approaches not only are the effective methods for solving the problems of approximate nearest neighbor search, but also effectively reduce storage space. However, many quantization-based approaches usually employ fixed nprobes to the search process for each query. This will lead to extra query consumption. Additionally, we observed that as the number of points in each cluster center of product quantization increases, the query cost also increases. To address this issue, we propose an acceleration strategy based on the IVF-HNSW framework to further speed up the query process. This strategy involves introducing an adaptive termination condition for queries and reducing the number of data points accessed by building HNSW results. Through extensive experiments, we have shown that our proposed method significantly accelerates the nearest neighbor search process.
Failure mechanism of boulder-embedded slope under excavation disturbance and rainfall
Authors: Yu Xiang , Zhao Tao , Gong Bin , Tang Chun’an 
Published: August 2023

AbstractDue to the uneven weathering of rocks, boulders can exist inside a slope, making the deformation and failure mechanism of the slope very complex. By analyzing the failure characteristics of a boulder-embedded slope under alternating excavation and rainfall, two classical instability modes are proposed, i.e., boulder instability and soil instability. For the soil instability, three failure processes may occur, including the sliding surface above the boulder, the sliding surface below the boulder, and the sliding surface intersecting the boulder. Meanwhile, the interaction between soil and boulder can also vary during different failure phases. Furthermore, the slope sliding deformation, failure mechanism, and soil-boulder interaction are investigated by on-site monitoring and numerical simulation. The results show that the boulders play an anti-sliding role and block the formation of deep sliding surface, resulting in the shallow soil instability and local large deformation of the studied slope. Besides, during the slope sliding deformation, three failure processes of the soils appear one after another, and the soils may slide along the bottom or top of the boulders because of the hindering effect of the boulders.
Effects of intensive rehabilitation on functioning in patients with mild and moderate Charcot–Marie-Tooth disease: a real-practice retrospective study
Authors: Ferraro Francesco , Calafiore Dario , Curci Claudio , Fortunato Francesco , Carantini Irene , Genovese Filippo , Lucchini Giuseppe , Merlo Andrea , Ammendolia Antonio , de Sire Alessandro 
Published: August 2023

AbstractCharcot–Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease is one of the most common inherited neuropathies and can lead to progressive muscular weakness, pes cavus, loss of deep tendon reflexes, distal sensory loss, and gait impairment. There are still no effective drugs or surgical therapies for CMT, and supportive treatment is limited to rehabilitative therapy and surgical treatment of skeletal deformities. Many rehabilitative therapeutic approaches have been proposed, but timing and cadence of rehabilitative intervention are not clearly defined, and long-term follow-up is lacking in literature. The aim of this real-practice retrospective study was to assess the effectiveness of an intensive neurorehabilitation protocol on muscle strength and functioning in CMT patients. We analyzed data of patients with diagnosis of mild to moderate CMT. The rehabilitation program lasted 2–4 h a day, 5 days a week, for 3 weeks and consisted of manual treatments, strengthening exercises, stretching, core stability, balance and resistance training, aerobic exercises, and tailored self-care training. Data were collected at baseline (T0), after treatment (T1), and at the 12-month mark (T2) in terms of the following outcome measures: muscle strength, pain, fatigue, cramps, balance, walking speed, and ability. We included 37 CMT patients with a median age of 50.72 ± 13.31 years, with different forms: demyelinating (n = 28), axonal (n = 8), and mixed (n = 1). After intensive rehabilitation treatment, all outcomes significantly improved. This improvement was lost at the 1-year mark. Taken together, these findings suggest that an intensive rehabilitation program improves short-term symptoms and functional outcomes in a cohort of inpatients affected by mild to moderate CMT.
The effect of corticosteroids, antibiotics, and anticoagulants on the development of post-COVID-19 syndrome in COVID-19 hospitalized patients 6 months after discharge: a retrospective follow up study
Authors: Davelaar John , Jessurun Naomi , Schaap Gerko , Bode Christina , Vonkeman Harald 
Published: August 2023

AbstractTo assess the effect of pharmacotherapeutic interventions commonly employed in the management of COVID-19 hospitalized patients on the development of post-COVID-19 syndrome. This study employed two distinct databases, the Medisch Spectrum Twente (MST) clinical database comprising electronic health records of COVID-19 patients hospitalized at MST, and the Post-COVID cohort database which contains follow-up information on the same patients. These databases were integrated to establish the potential relationship between the administration of corticosteroids, antibiotics, or anticoagulants during hospitalization and the occurrence of post-COVID-19 syndrome after a 6-month interval following discharge. A total of 123 patients who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 infection were included in this study. Among these patients, 33 (26.8%) developed post-COVID-19 syndrome which persisted even 6 months after hospital discharge. Multivariate analysis revealed that patients who received treatment with corticosteroids had a significantly lower likelihood (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.11–0.90) of developing post-COVID-19 syndrome, while no significant association was observed for treatment with antibiotics (OR 1.26, 95% CI 0.47–3.39) or anticoagulants (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.18–1.71). The findings of this study indicate that corticosteroids exert a significant protective effect against the development of post-COVID-19 syndrome in patients who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 infection. Although a trend towards a protective effect of anticoagulants was observed, it did not reach statistical significance. On the contrary, patients treated with antibiotics were shown to have increased chances of developing post-COVID-19 syndrome, although this effect was also not statistically significant.