bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Head-to-head comparison of Sonazoid and SonoVue in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma for patients at high risk
Authors: Huang Jiayan , Gao Ling , Li Jiawu , Yang Rui , Jiang Zhenpeng , Liao Min , Luo Yan , Lu Qiang 
Published: March 2023

ObjectivesTo compare the diagnostic efficacy of SonoVue-enhanced and Sonazoid-enhanced ultrasound (US) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients at high risk.MethodsBetween August 2021 and February 2022, participants at high risk for HCC with focal liver lesions were enrolled and underwent both SonoVue- and Sonazoid-enhanced US. Vascular-phase and Kupffer phase (KP) imaging features of contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) were analyzed. The diagnostic performance of both contrast agent-enhanced US according to the CEUS liver imaging reporting and data system (LI-RADS) and the modified criteria (using KP defect instead of late and mild washout) were compared. Histopathology and contrast-enhanced MRI/CT were used as reference standards.ResultsIn total, 62 nodules, namely, 55 HCCs, 3 non-HCC malignancies and 4 hemangiomas, from 59 participants were included. SonoVue-enhanced US had comparable sensitivity to Sonazoid-enhanced US for diagnosing HCC [80% (95% confidential interval (CI): 67%, 89.6%) versus 74.6% (95% CI: 61%, 85.3%), p = 0.25]. Both SonoVue and Sonazoid-enhanced US achieved a specificity of 100%. Compared with CEUS LI-RADS, the modified criteria with Sonazoid did not improve sensitivity for HCC diagnosis [74.6% (95% CI: 61%, 85.3%) versus 76.4% (95% CI: 63%, 86.8%), p = 0.99].ConclusionsSonazoid-enhanced US had comparable diagnostic performance to SonoVue-enhanced US for patients with HCC risk. KP did not considerably improve the diagnostic efficacy, whereas KP defects in atypical hemangioma may be pitfalls in diagnosing HCC. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to further validate the conclusions in the present study.
Moderation of parental socioeconomic status on the relationship between birth health and developmental coordination disorder at early years
Authors: Tran Huynh-Truc , Tseng Yu-Ting , Chen Shuya , Wu Sheng K. , Li Yao-Chuen 
Published: March 2023

ObjectiveThis study investigated whether parental SES moderates the effect of birth health on Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) in preschool children.MethodsOne hundred and twenty-two children aged 4 to 6 years were enrolled in the study. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children --2nd Edition (MABC-2) test was used to assess the motor coordination of children. They were preliminarily categorized into either the DCD (&lt;=16th percentile, n = 23) or typically developing (TD) group (&gt;16th percentile, n = 99) based on the testing results. All children in the DCD group were further confirmed to meet other diagnostic criteria of the DSM-V using the intellectual test and parental questionnaires. Moderation analysis was conducted using the PROCESS macro for SPSS, and 95% confidence intervals with a bootstrap procedure were calculated to identify the significant moderating effect.ResultsMaternal education (unstandardized coefficient = 0.6805, SE = 0.3371, p &lt; 0.05) and maternal employment status (unstandardized coefficient = 0.6100, SE = 0.3059, p &lt; 0.05) were found to moderate the relationship between birth length and the probability of having DCD. Moreover, the relationship between birth weight and the probability of having DCD was moderated by the annual household income (unstandardized coefficient = −0.0043, SE = 0.0022, p &lt; 0.05).ConclusionThe lower maternal education level and maternal unemployment strengthened the negative relationship between birth length and the probability of having DCD. Additionally, the negative relationship between birth weight and the probability of having DCD was statistically significant in high annual household salaries.
Two novel heterozygote mutations of ATM in a Chinese family with dystonia-dominant ataxia telangiectasia and literature review
Authors: Liu Zhi-Jun , Wang Ya-Ling , Xu Yan 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundAtaxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is an autosomal recessive disorder with high clinical heterogeneity. A-T may present in complicated variable forms, including classic A-T and milder form of AT. Contrary to the classic A-T, the milder form does not present the cardinal features of A-T such as ataxia and telangiectasia. A few ATM mutations have been reported in variant A-T cases manifesting isolated generalized or segmental dystonia without any signs of classical A-T.MethodsAn A-T pedigree with predominant dystonia was collected. Genetic testing was performed by targeted panel of genes involved in movement disorders. The candidate variants were further confirmed by Sanger sequencing. We then reviewed previously published literatures of genetically confirmed A-T cases with predominant dystonia and summarized the clinical characteristics of dystonia-dominant A-T.ResultsTwo novel ATM mutations, p.I2683T and p.S2860P, were identified in the family. The proband presented isolated segmental dystonia without any signs of ataxia and telangiectasias. We reviewed the literatures and found that the patients with dystonia-dominant A-T tend to have a later-onset and slower progression of the disease.ConclusionTo our knowledge, this is the first report of A-T patient with predominant dystonia in China. Dystonia may appear as one of the predominant manifestations or initial symptom of A-T. Early ATM genetic testing should be considered for those patients with predominant dystonia, despite without accompanying ataxia or telangiectasia.
Antibiotic consumption and antimicrobial resistance in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: A single-center experience
Authors: Sokolović Dragana , Drakul Dragana , Vujić‐Aleksić Vesna , Joksimović Bojan , Marić Siniša , Nežić Lana 
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance and the rapid spread of multiresistant bacteria represent one of the main public health problem in limited resources countries. This issue is significantly worsening since the COVID-19 pandemic due to the unreasonably increased antibiotics prescription to patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of this study was to examine whether COVID-19 pandemic (2020, 2021) was associated with increased antibiotic consumption in inpatient and outpatient settings in the middle size urban region (Republic of Srpska/Bosnia and Herzegovina) in comparison to period before the pandemic (2019). Additionally, we aimed to determine antimicrobial resistance and the presence of multiresistant bacteria in the regional hospital (“Saint Apostol Luka” Hospital Doboj) in 2021.Methodology: The consumption of antibiotics in inpatient was calculated as Defined Daily Dose per one hundred of patient-days. The consumption of antibiotics in outpatient was calculated as Defined Daily Dose per thousand inhabitants per day. Resistance of bacteria to antibiotics is expressed as a rates and density for each observed antibiotic. The rate of resistance was calculated as a percentage in relation to the total number of isolates of individual bacteria. The density of resistance of isolated bacteria against a specific antibiotic was expressed as the number of resistant pathogens/1000 patient days.Results: Antibiotic consumption in hospital setting registered during 2019, 2020 and 2021 was as follows: carbapenems (meropenem: 0.28; 1.91; 2.33 DDD/100 patient-days, respectively), glycopeptides (vancomycin: 0.14; 1.09, 1.54 DDD/100 patient-days, respectively), cephalosporins (ceftriaxone: 6.69; 14.7; 14.0 DDD/100 patient-days, respectively) and polymyxins (colistin: 0.04; 0.25; 0.35 DDD/100 bed-days, respectively). Consumption of azithromycin increased drastically in 2020, and dropped significantly in 2021 (0.48; 5.61; 0.93 DDD/100 patient-days). In outpatient setting, an increase in the consumption of oral forms of azithromycin, levofloxacin and cefixime, as well as parenteral forms of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone, was recorded. In 2021, antimicrobial resistance to reserve antibiotics in hospital setting was as follows: Acinetobacter baumanii to meropenem 66.0%, Klebsiella spp to cefotaxime 67.14%, Pseudomonas to meropenem 25.7%.Conclusion: Recent COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increased antibiotic consumption in inpatient and outpatient settings, with characteristic change of pattern of azithromycin consumption. Also, high levels of antimicrobial resistance to reserve antibiotics were registered in hospital setting with low prevalence of identified pathogen-directed antimicrobial prescription. Strategies toward combat antimicrobial resistance in the Doboj region are urgently needed.
Protective effects of extracts from Acer truncatum leaves on SLS-induced HaCaT cells
Authors: Fan Yanxiao , Gu Ronghui , Zhang Ruifei , Wang Miaomiao , Xu Heran , Wang Min , Long Chunlin 
Published: March 2023

Introduction:A. truncatum Bunge (Sapindaceae or formerly Aceraceae) is a tall deciduous tree native to China. Traditionally, the leaves of A. truncatum are decocted and used by Chinese Mongolians, Koreans, and Tibetans to treat skin itching, dry cracks, and other skin ailments, which indicates A. truncatum leaves may have a potential inhibitory effect on various skin inflammations.Methods: To examine the protective effect against skin inflammations of A. truncatum leaf extract (ATLE), an in vitro dermatitis model was established using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SLS)-induced HaCaT cells. The anti-inflammatory effect of ATLE was evaluated by analyzing cell viability, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels.Results: Orthogonal experiments showed that the pretreatment with ATLE can reduce the IL-6 levels, PGE2 levels, and apoptosis increased in SLS-stimulated HaCaT cells, which indicates that ATLE has positive efficacy for dermatitis. Furthermore, three flavonoid compounds kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rhamnoside, quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, kaempferol-3,7-di-O-α-L-rhamnoside, and 1,2,3,4,6-Penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucopyranose (PGG) were isolated and identified. Among them, kaempferol-3,7-di-O-α-L-rhamnoside was isolated from this plant for the first time. These compounds have been proven to have an anti-inflammatory effect. They may contribute to the efficacy of A. truncatumin treating skin inflammation.Discussion: The results revealed that ATLE has the potential to be used as an additive in various skin care products to prevent skin inflammations and may be incorporated in formulations for topical application as a therapeutic approach against dermatitis.
Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: A systematic literature review of published case reports and disproportionality analysis based on the FAERS database
Authors: Xia Shuang , Gong Hui , Wang Yi-kun , Liu Ling , Zhao Yi-chang , Guo Lin , Zhang Bi-kui , Sarangdhar Mayur , Noguchi Yoshihiro , Yan Miao 
Published: March 2023

Background: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) has been reported with ICIs but limited to case reports. The clinical features of PJP with ICIs remain mostly unknown. This study aims to investigate the association of PJP with ICIs and describe clinical features.Methods: Reports of PJP recorded in FAERS (January 2004–December 2022) were identified through the preferred term “Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia”. Demographic and clinical features were described, and disproportionality signals were assessed through the Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR) and Information Component (IC), using traditional chemotherapy and targeted therapy as comparators, and adjusting signals by excluding contaminant immunosuppressive drugs and pre-existing diseases. A systematic literature review was conducted to describe clinical features of published PJP reports with ICIs. Bradford Hill criteria was adopted for global assessment of the evidence.Results: We identified 677 reports of PJP associated with ICIs, in which 300 (44.3%) PJP cases with fatal outcome. Nivolumab (IC025 2.05), pembrolizumab (IC025 1.88), ipilimumab (IC025 1.43), atezolizumab (IC025 0.36), durvalumab (IC025 1.65), nivolumab plus ipilimumab (IC025 1.59) have significant signals compared to other drugs in FAERS database. After excluding pre-existing diseases and immunosuppressive agents which may increase susceptibility of PJP, the signals for PJP associated with nivolumab, pembrolizumab, durvalumab, nivolumab plus ipilimumab remained robust (IC025 &gt; 0). When compared to other anticancer regimens, although all ICIs showed a lower disproportionate signal for PJP than chemotherapy, nivolumab (IC025 0.33, p &lt; 0.001), pembrolizumab (IC025 0.16, p &lt; 0.001), both PD-1 inhibitors, presented a higher signal for PJP than targeted therapy. Male gender (IC025 0.26, p &lt; 0.001) and age &gt;65 years (IC025 0.38, p &lt; 0.001) were predominant in PJP cases associated with across all ICIs. In literature, 15 PJP cases associated with ICIs were reported in 10 published case reports. 12 of 15 (80.0%) of cases received PD-1 inhibitors before PJP was diagnosed.Conclusion: By the combined analysis of post-marketing data from FAERS and published case reports, we identified ICIs may be associated with PJP, especially in males aged &gt;65years. After accounting for confounders, PD-1 inhibitors emerged with a robust disproportionality signal when compared to PD-L1/CTLA-4 inhibitors as well as targeted therapy. Further research is warranted to validate our findings.
Investigating the effect of dehydromiltirone on septic AKI using a network pharmacology method, molecular docking, and experimental validation
Authors: Chen Sijia , Wang Yanzhe , Liu Yuyuan , Bai Linnan , Li Fengqin , Wu Yue , Xie Xinmiao , Zhang Nan , Zeng Chuchu , Zhang Ling , Wang Xiaoxia 
Published: March 2023

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a severe and frequent complication of sepsis that occurs in intensive care units with inflammation and rapid decline in renal function as the main pathological features. Systemic inflammation, microvascular dysfunction, and tubule injury are the main causes of sepsis-induced AKI (SI-AKI). The high prevalence and death rate from SI-AKI is a great challenge for clinical treatment worldwide. However, in addition to hemodialysis, there is no effective drug to improve renal tissue damage and alleviate the decline in kidney function. We conducted a network pharmacological analysis of Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM), a traditional Chinese medicine, which is widely used for the treatment of kidney disease. Then, we combined molecular docking and a dynamics simulation to screen for the active monomer dehydromiltirone (DHT) that has therapeutic effects on SI-AKI and investigated its potential mechanism of action through experimental validation. The components and targets of SM were obtained by searching the database, and 32 overlapping genes were screened by intersection analysis with AKI targets. GO and KEGG data showed that the functions of a common gene were closely related to oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and apoptosis. The molecular docking results combined with molecular dynamics simulations provide evidence for a binding model between DHT and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), both of which are mainly driven by van der Waals interactions and a hydrophobic effect. In vivo, we found that mice pretreated with an intraperitoneal injection of DHT (20 mg/kg/d) for 3 days ameliorated CLP surgery-induced renal function loss and renal tissue damage and inhibited inflammatory mediators IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and MCP-1 production. In vitro, the DHT pretreatment decreased LPS-induced expression of COX2, inhibited cell death and oxidative stress, alleviated mitochondrial dysfunction, and restrained apoptosis in HK-2 cells. Our research indicates that the renal preventive effect of DHT is related to maintaining mitochondrial dynamic balance, restoring mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, and inhibiting cell apoptosis. The findings in this study provide a theoretical basis and a novel method for the clinical therapy of SI-AKI.
Establishment of an assistive diagnostic model for schizophrenia with oxidative stress biomarkers
Authors: Wang Shuying , Yuan Xiuxia , Pang Lijuan , Song Peilun , Jia Rufei , Song Xueqin 
Published: March 2023

Objective: In this study, alterations in oxidative stress-related indicators were evaluated in drug-naïve, first-episode schizophrenia (SCZ) patients, and the effectiveness of blood serum glucose, superoxide dismutase (SOD), bilirubin in the objective assistive diagnosis of schizophrenia was explored.Materials and methods: We recruited 148 drug-naïve, first-episode SCZ patients and 97 healthy controls (HCs). Blood biochemical indexes including blood glucose, SOD, bilirubin and homocysteine (HCY) in participants were measured, the indexes were compared between patients with SCZ and HCs. The assistive diagnostic model for SCZ was established on the basis of the differential indexes.Results: In SCZ patients, the blood serum levels of glucose, total (TBIL), indirect bilirubin (IBIL) and homocysteine (HCY) were significantly higher than those in HCs (p &lt; 0.05), and the serum levels of SOD were significantly lower than those in HCs (p &lt; 0.05). There was a negative correlation between SOD with the general symptom scores and total scores of PANSS. After risperidone treatment, the levels of uric acid (UA) and SOD tended to increase in patients with SCZ (p = 0.02, 0.19), and the serum levels of TBIL and HCY tended to decrease in patients with SCZ (p = 0.78, 0.16). The diagnostic model based on blood glucose, IBIL and SOD was internally cross-validated, and the accuracy was 77%, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.83.Conclusion: Our study demonstrated an oxidative state imbalance in drug-naïve, first-episode SCZ patients, which might be associated with the pathogenesis of the disease. Our study proved that glucose, IBIL and SOD may be potential biological markers of schizophrenia, and the model based on these markers can assist the early objective and accurate diagnosis of schizophrenia.
Human umbilical cord blood cells suffer major modification by fixatives and anticoagulants
Authors: Danusso Roberta , Rosati Riccardo , Possenti Luca , Lombardini Elena , Gigli Francesca , Costantino Maria Laura , Ferrazzi Enrico , Casagrande Giustina , Lattuada Debora 
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Developing techniques for the tagless isolation of homogeneous cell populations in physiological-like conditions is of great interest in medical research. A particular case is Gravitational Field-Flow Fractionation (GrFFF), which can be run avoiding cell fixation, and that was already used to separate viable cells. Cell dimensions have a key role in this process. However, their dimensions under physiological-like conditions are not easily known since the most diffused measurement techniques are performed on fixed cells, and the fixation used to preserve tissues can alter the cell size. This work aims to obtain and compare cell size data under physiological-like conditions and in the presence of a fixative.Methods: We developed a new protocol that allows the analysis of blood cells in different conditions. Then, we applied it to obtain a dataset of human cord blood cell dimensions from 32 subjects, comparing two tubes with anticoagulants (EDTA and Citrate) and two tubes with different preservatives (CellRescue and CellSave). We analyzed a total of 2071 cells by using confocal microscopy via bio-imaging to assess dimensions (cellular and nuclear) and morphology.Results: Cell diameter measured does not differ when using the different anticoagulants, except for the increase reported for monocyte in the presence of citrate. Instead, cell dimensions differ when comparing anticoagulants and cell preservative tubes, with a few exceptions. Cells characterized by high cytoplasm content show a reduction in their size, while morphology appears always preserved. In a subgroup of cells, 3D reconstruction was performed. Cell and nucleus volumes were estimated using different methods (specific 3D tool or reconstruction from 2D projection).Discussion: We found that some cell types benefit from a complete 3D analysis because they contain non-spherical structures (mainly for cells characterized by poly-lobated nucleus). Overall, we showed the effect of the preservatives mixture on cell dimensions. Such an effect must be considered when dealing with problems highly dependent on cell size, such as GrFFF. Additionally, such information is crucial in computational models increasingly being employed to simulate biological events.
Sex modifies the renal consequences of high fructose consumption introduced after weaning
Authors: Monteiro Letícia Maria , Barbosa Celine Farias , Lichtenecker Débora Conte Kimura , Argeri Rogério , Gomes Guiomar Nascimento 
Published: March 2023

After lactation, many children consume fructose-rich processed foods. However, overconsumption of these foods can predispose individuals to non-communicable chronic diseases, which can have different repercussions depending on the sex. Thus, we evaluated the effects of fructose overload introduced after weaning on the renal function of young rats of both sexes.Methods: After weaning, male and female offspring of Wistar rats were assigned to drink water (the male/water and female/water groups) or 20% D-fructose solution (male/fructose and female/fructose groups). Food and water or fructose solution was offered ad libitum. Rats were evaluated at 4 months. Parameters analyzed: blood pressure, body weight, triglyceride levels, glomerular filtration rate, sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium excretion, macrophage infiltration, and eNOS and 8OHdG expression in renal tissue. CEUA-UNIFESP: 2757270117.Results: Fructose intake affected the blood pressure, body weight, and plasma triglyceride in all rats. Glomerular filtration rate was significantly reduced in males that received fructose when compared to that of the control group. Sodium and potassium excretion decreased in all fructose-treated rats; however, the excreted load of these ions was significantly higher in females than in males. In the female control group, calcium excretion was higher than that of the male control group. Fructose overload increased magnesium excretion in females, and also increased macrophage infiltration and reduced eNOS expression in both males and females.Conclusion: Fructose overload introduced after weaning caused metabolic and renal changes in rats. Renal function was more affected in males; however, several significant alterations were also observed in the female-fructose group.