bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Accuracy of lingual straight-wire orthodontic treatment with passive self-ligating brackets and square slot: a retrospective study
Authors: Scisciola Fabrizio , Palone Mario , Scuzzo Giuseppe , Scuzzo Giacomo , Huanca Ghislanzoni Luis T. , Lombardo Luca 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Objectives
To investigate the accuracy of torque, tip and rotation and linear intra-arch movements yielded by passive self-ligating lingual straight-wire appliances with brackets featuring square slots.

Materials and methods
Twenty-five adult Caucasian patients (16 females and 9 males; mean age 26.5 ± 4.3 years) with Class I or mild Class II head-to-head malocclusion were orthodontically treated via passive lingual self-ligating straight-wire appliances (ALIAS, Ormco, Orange, CA) with no extraction. Records were retrospectively analysed, and digital models of pre-treatment (T0), planned (T1) and achieved (T2) phase were acquired for both arches in each patient via an intraoral scanner (Medit I500 (iScan Medit, Seoul, Korea). VAM software (Vectra, Canfield Scientific, Fairfield, NJ, USA) was used to measure both angular values (torque, tip and rotation) and linear intra-arch widths (between canines, first and second premolars and first and second molars). Measurements were obtained for all the movements investigated for each tooth group (incisors, canines, premolars and molars), by arch (maxillary and mandibular) and for both arches at T0, T1 and T2. The accuracy of angular values was compared using Student's t-test against a hypothetical 100%, and among the various tooth groups by post-hoc tests. Transverse linear measurements were investigated by means of the non-parametric Friedman test. The significance threshold was set at 0.05.

Results
The mean accuracy of angular values was 77.25 ± 7.71% for torque, 78.41 ± 6.17% for tip and 77.99 ± 6.58% for rotation. In all cases, however, there was a significant difference between planned and achieved movements, and accuracy was significantly lower than the hypothetical 100% for all tooth groups, individual arches and dentition (p < 0.001). For intra-arch diameters, the greatest accuracy values were found for the anterior sectors (83.54 ± 5.19% for the maxillary inter-canine distance) and the lowest for the posterior sectors (67.28% for the maxillary inter-second molar distance).

Conclusion
Straight-wire lingual treatment with passive self-ligating appliances featuring with square slot displayed excellent clinical accuracy, albeit with statistical accuracy decreasing antero-posteriorly.
A case of alpha-fetoprotein-positive thymic small cell carcinoma: a case report
Authors: Kobayashi Masao , Funaki Soichiro , Fukui Eriko , Morii Eiichi , Shintani Yasushi 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
An alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-positive neuroendocrine tumor of the thymus is a rare thoracic malignancy. Few cases of AFP-positive thymic large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma have been reported, with no known previous report of an AFP-positive thymic small cell carcinoma. We encountered a patient with an AFP-positive small cell carcinoma and report here the clinical course.

Case presentation
A 40-year-old man was transferred to our hospital for a large anterior mediastinal tumor and showed an elevated serum AFP level. Computed tomography-guided biopsy results led to diagnosis of small cell carcinoma. Induction chemoradiotherapy was performed before surgery because of pulmonary artery invasion. The response to Induction chemoradiotherapy varied among sites, with the main tumor showing shrinkage and the metastasis site growth. This discrepancy suggested a histologic type unresponsive to or cancer cells potentially resistant to chemotherapy, thus a surgical re-biopsy was performed and histological findings revealed AFP-positive small cell carcinoma. Additional chemotherapy was performed, though could not control cancer progression, and the patient died 8 months after the first medical examination.

Conclusions
Our present clinical experience indicates the importance of histological examination for determining AFP-positive anterior mediastinal tumor treatment. Although AFP-positive neuroendocrine tumor of the thymus is relatively rarer than germ cell carcinoma, differential diagnosis with use of a histological examination should be considered because of the potentially poorer prognosis. The present clinical findings for an AFP-positive neuroendocrine tumor of the thymus case are considered useful for establishing an optimal treatment strategy in the future.
Multifunctional nanozyme-reinforced copper-coordination polymer nanoparticles for drug-resistance bacteria extinction and diabetic wound healing
Authors: Zhao Jiahui , Xu Tengfei , Sun Jichao , Yuan Haitao , Hou Mengyun , Li Zhijie , Wang Jigang , Liang Zhen 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

Background
Drug-resistant bacterial infections in chronic wounds are a persistent issue, as they are resistant to antibiotics and can cause excessive inflammation due to generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). An effective solution would be to not only combat bacterial infections but also scavenge ROS to relieve inflammation at the wound site. Scaffolds with antioxidant properties are attractive for their ability to scavenge ROS, and there is medical demand in developing antioxidant enzyme-mimicking nanomaterials for wound healing.

Methods
In this study, we fabricated copper-coordination polymer nanoparticles (Cu-CPNs) through a self-assembly process. Furthermore, ε-polylysine (EPL), an antibacterial and cationic polymer, was integrated into the Cu-CPNs structure through a simple one-pot self-assembly process without sacrificing the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-mimicking activity of Cu-CPNs.

Results
The resulting Cu-CPNs exhibit excellent antioxidant propertiesin mimicking the activity of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase and allowing them to effectively scavenge harmful ROS produced in wound sites. The in vitro experiments showed that the resulting Cu-CPNs@EPL complex have superior antioxidant properties and antibacterial effects. Bacterial metabolic analysis revealed that the complex mainly affects the cell membrane integrity and nucleic acid synthesis that leads to bacterial death.

Conclusions
The Cu-CPNs@EPL complex has impressive antioxidant properties and antibacterial effects, making it a promising solution for treating drug-resistant bacterial infections in chronic wounds. The complex’s ability to neutralize multiple ROS and reduce ROS-induced inflammation can help relieve inflammation at the wound site.

Graphical Abstract
Schematic illustration of the ROS scavenging and bacteriostatic function induced by Cu-CPNs@EPL nanozyme in the treatment of MRSA-infected wounds.
Does the painDETECT questionnaire identify impaired conditioned pain modulation in people with musculoskeletal pain? – a diagnostic accuracy study
Authors: Bittencourt Juliana Valentim , Leivas Eduardo Gallas , de Sá Ferreira Arthur , Nogueira Leandro Alberto Calazans 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
People with neuropathic-like symptoms had more unfavourable pain features than people with nociceptive. Moreover, deficient conditioned pain modulation is common in people with neuropathic-like symptoms. PainDETECT questionnaire have been used to assess the central sensitisation sign and symptoms. However, whether the painDETECT questionnaire can identify the conditioned pain modulation's impairment is still unknown. Therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the painDETECT questionnaire in detecting the impairment of conditioned pain modulation in people with musculoskeletal pain.

Methods
We conducted a diagnostic accuracy comparing the painDETECT questionnaire (index method) with the cold pressor test, the psychophysical test used to assess the conditioned pain modulation (reference standard). We determined diagnostic accuracy by calculating sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and likely hood ratios.

Results
We retrospectively enrolled 308 people with musculoskeletal pain in outpatient departments. Most participants were female (n 20 = 220, 71.4%) and had a mean age of 52.2 (± 15.0) years. One hundred seventy-three (56.1%) participants were classified as nociceptive pain, 69 (22.4%) as unclear, and 66 (21.4%) as neuropathic-like symptoms. According to the cold pressor test, 60 (19.4%) participants presented impairment of conditioned pain modulation. The cutoff point of 12 of the painDETECT questionnaire showed values of diagnostic accuracy below 70% compared to the cold pressor test, except for a negative predictive value [76.9 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 71.7 to 81.5]. The cutoff point 19 showed high specificity (78.6%, 95% CI 73.0 to 83.5), high negative predictive value (80.5%, 95% CI 78.1 to 82.7), and accuracy of 67.5% compared to the cold pressor test.

Conclusion
The painDETECT questionnaire seems valuable for ruling out people with musculoskeletal pain and impairment of conditioned pain modulation.
MR-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy for drug-resistant lesional epilepsy: a single-center experience
Authors: Niu Hongchuan , Li Kai , Liang Xiaoning , Kong Desheng , Li Zongze , Sun Fengqiao , Liu Xianzeng , Xu Zongsheng , Wei Xuejiao , Lan Shuang , Lu Changyu 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
To describe and report the efficacy and safety of MR-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRgLITT) in the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy.

Methods
A retrospective review of all MRgLITT procedures in our hospital was performed. All procedures were performed using a surgical laser ablation system. Demographic and outcome data were compiled and analyzed.

Results
A total of 19 patients underwent MRgLITT procedures from June 2021 to November 2021. The average age at surgery was 18.1 years (3–61.4 years). The average length of hospitalization post-surgery was 4.95 days (4–7 days). Surgical substrates included 8 patients with hypothalamic hamartomas, 5 with medial temporal lobe epilepsy, 3 with deep focal cortical dysplasia, 1 with tuberous sclerosis, 1 with a cavernous malformation, and 1 with Lennox–Gastaut syndrome who underwent anterior corpus callosotomy. Complications occurred in three patients. After an average follow-up of 1 year, 6 patients were seizure-free (Engel I, 31.6%), 1 had significant seizure control (Engel II, 5.3%), 7 had seizure control (Engel III, 36.8%), and 5 had no improvement in their seizures (Engel IV, 26.3%). Fisher’s exact tests did not reveal statistical significance for the association between Engel class outcome and epileptic disease.

Conclusion
This study confirmed that MRgLITT, as a method for treating drug-resistant epilepsy, is minimally invasive, safe, and efficient and that it can reduce the incidence of surgery-related complications.
Current therapeutic strategies for acute kidney injury
Authors: Negi Shigeo , Wada Tatsuya , Matsumoto Naoya , Muratsu Jun , Shigematsu Takashi 
Published: September 2023

AbstractAcute kidney injury (AKI) is an emerging public health problem worldwide and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The high mortality rate can be attributed to the lack of pharmacological therapies to prevent and treat AKI. Renal replacement therapy (RRT) plays a pivotal role in the treatment of patients with severe AKI. However, the mortality rate of patients with AKI requiring RRT exceeds 50%. Although studies on RRT for AKI have begun to resolve some of the associated problems, many issues remain to be addressed. Notably, the optimal timing of the initiation of RRT for AKI is still being debated. Recently, new therapeutic strategies for AKI have been developed. Angiotensin II and recombinant alkaline phosphatase treatment are expected to improve the clinical outcomes of patients with distributive and vasodilatory shock. Moreover, mitochondrial-targeted agents have been developed for the treatment of patients with AKI. This review is focused on the optimal timing of RRT for AKI and the new pharmacological interventions and therapies for AKI.
Sphenopalatine ganglion block with or without greater occipital nerve block for treatment of obstetric post-dural puncture headache after spinal anesthesia: randomized controlled trial
Authors: Elshafei Amr Shaaban , Mowafy Sherif M. S. 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
Conservative treatments of post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) may be unsuccessful, and the relief that is provided is frequently insufficient. This study aimed to meticulously explore the analgesic efficacy of the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) block when administered alone or in conjunction with the greater occipital nerve block (GONB) for the purpose of treating PDPH and with the aid of transcranial Doppler (TCD) to evaluate the cerebral hemodynamics before and after the block.
This study was conducted on 63 women with post-partum PDPH randomized into the following: control group (Group C = 21 participants), received conservative management; SPG block group (Group S = 21 participants), received conservative management with SPG block; and combined nerve and ganglion block group (Group NAG = 21 participants), received conservative management with SPG block and ultrasound guided GONB. Visual analog score (VAS), modified Lybecker score, and transcranial Doppler (TCD) measures were used to determine PDPH severity at 0 (baseline), 1, 6, and 24 h. Additionally, the three groups’ needs for EBP were noted.

Results
VAS and modified Lybecker scores at 1, 6, and 24 h were statistically significantly lower in S and NAG groups compared to the control group with no statistically significant difference between S and NAG groups. With TCD, the mean velocity (MV) was significantly lower at 1, 6, and 24 h compared to baseline reading in both S and NAG groups. Also, the pulsatility index (PI) was statistically higher at 1, 6, and 24 h compared to baseline readings in S and NAG groups. There was no statistically significant difference regarding the need for EBP.

Conclusions
In terms of headache relief or the need for EBP, there is no difference between individual SPG block or combined SPG block and GONB in the treatment of PDPH.
Evaluation of thyromental height test as a single anatomical measure for prediction of difficult laryngoscopy: a prospective observational study
Authors: Bhiwal Anil Kumar , Sharma Charu , Tripathi Anuj , BK Aakansha , Choudhary Vidhu , Gupta Sunanda 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
Preoperative airway assessment is essential to predict difficult airway so that adequate planning could be made to secure the airway. Various airway tests have been devised to improve diagnostic accuracy but none of the tests individually have proven to be adequate. Recently, a new airway predictor thyromental height test (TMHT) appears to be a more accurate predictor of difficult laryngoscopy than the existing anatomical measurements. The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of the TMHT and compare it with various screening tests to determine whether TMHT can prove to be a more comprehensive and accurate test for predicting difficult laryngoscopy. Total 150 patients aged > 18 years of either sex with American Society of Anaesthesiologist physical status I—III scheduled for elective surgery under general anaesthesia requiring tracheal intubation were included in this prospective observational study. All patients were subjected to a preoperative airway assessment test including TMHT, modified Mallampati test, upper lip bite test, interincisior gap, thyromental distance and sternomental distance. Intraoperatively direct laryngoscopy was done and the grading of laryngoscopic view was done according to CL.

Results
The preoperative data and CL grading were used to evaluate the accuracy of TMHT and compared the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value with other tests.
Twenty six (17.33%) patients had difficult laryngoscopy and 18 patients (12%) required bougie/stylet to facilitate intubation. TMHT had the highest sensitivity (76.92%), specificity (98.38%), PPV (90.90%), NPV (95.31%) and accuracy (94.67%) when compared to other tests.

Conclusions
TMHT is a simple bedside test with higher sensitivity and specificity for predicting difficult laryngoscopy as compared to other screening tests.Future study should be done to define ethinicity, race, age groups and gender specific cut off values of TMHT for accurate validation of prediction in difficult laryngoscopy.
Plasma Metanephrines Yield Fewer False-Positive Results Than Urine Metanephrines in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: King Thomas F J , Mok Yingjuan , Dacay Lily Mae , Wong Hang Siang , Hsu Pon Poh , Tan Alvin , Wong Kang Min , Saffari Seyed Ehsan , Lenders Jacques W M , Puar Troy H 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

Context
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with increased nocturnal sympathetic activity. In OSA patients, elevations in metanephrines may lead to false-positive tests when evaluating for pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma (PPGL).

Objective
To evaluate whether morning plasma metanephrines would lead to fewer false-positive results than 24-hour urinary metanephrines in OSA patients.

Methods
Patients undergoing polysomnography for suspected OSA were recruited. Plasma free and 24-hour urinary metanephrines were measured by HPLC-MS/MS. Patients with elevated levels had repeat measurements, abdominal imaging, and follow-up to diagnose or exclude a PPGL.

Results
Seventy-six patients completed polysomnography and biochemical testing; 68 (89.5%) patients had OSA, of whom 19 (27.9%) had elevated plasma and/or urinary metanephrines. On follow-up, one patient had a bladder paraganglioma, while PPGL was excluded in the remaining patients. OSA patients had more false-positive urinary metanephrines (17 of 67, 25.4%) than plasma metanephrines (2 of 67, 3.0%), P &lt; .01, and this was more common in severe OSA (13 of 34, 38.2%), compared to moderate/mild OSA (4 of 33, 12.1%), P &lt; .01. Both plasma and urinary metanephrines decreased after treatment with continuous positive airway pressure. On multivariable analysis, severe OSA, obesity, and family history of hypertension were positive predictors for false-positive urinary metanephrines in patients with suspected OSA.

Conclusion
In OSA patients, plasma metanephrines are less likely to yield false-positive results for the diagnosis of PPGL than 24-hour urinary metanephrines. In patients with suspected OSA, obesity, or a family history of hypertension, plasma metanephrines may be the preferred first-line test to avoid unnecessary anxiety or follow-up.
SYNTACTIC EXPRESSIVENESS IN DESCRIBING THE AILMENTS OF YOUNG CHARACTERS IN THE NOVEL TURN OFF SPELLING BY EVA NEMESH’S
Authors: Akhmetzyanova Elvina I. , Ibragimova Elmira R. 
Published: September 2023

The relevance of the study is determined by several facts: firstly, in recent years, the interest of linguists in studying the expressiveness and emotionality of a child’s oral and written speech has enhanced; secondly, in modern teenage prose, which is part of the school curriculum, descriptions of children’s health defects and ailments are increasing; thirdly, consideration of expressiveness manifestation in the text at the syntactic level contributes to a better understanding of the ideological content of the work.
The purpose of the study is to identify the main syntactic means of expressing expressiveness in modern children’s and youth prose, highlighting the ailments of child characters, and to determine their meaning based on the material of Eva Nemesh’s novel Turn Off Spelling.
The scientific novelty of the study consists in the fact that the ways of expressing emotionality and evaluation when describing the ailments of young character in a work of modern Russian prose addressed to children are considered for the first time.
Results. The current research describes the frequency syntactic means of expressiveness in the description of childhood ailments in E. Nemesh’s novel Turn Off Spelling. It was found that, when creating an asymmetric syntactic drawing, a children’s author refers to such expressive constructions as inverse word arrangement (32%), repetitions and its varieties (5%), segmentation (13%) and parcellation (22%), as well as to rhetorical constructions – 15% (rhetorical questions, exclamations, addresses and question-exclamation forms) and to ellipsis (2%). The expressive potential of the specific composition of sentences is considered (complex sentences – 41%, simple sentences – 59%), special attention to single-compound verb-type sentences is paid (27%).
ALLUSION AS ONE OF THE FORMS OF SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHARACTERS OF THE SERIES (BASED ON THE CONTENT OF THE SPANISH TELEVISION SERIES EL PUEBLO)
Authors: Akipova Yulia A. 
Published: September 2023

The article deals with the research of the speech features of the characters of the Spanish television series and also the analysis of the stylistic means of the development of speaker’s character according to his verbal behavior.
The relevance of the study is conditioned by the interest in creating allusions and their functional significance as linguistic units with rich cultural meanings, and their pragmatic impact in characters’ speech.
The aim of the research lies in distinguishing the role of allusions in creating the speech character of a speaker and their significance as a cultural and semantic form of speech.
We used several methods, i.e., continuous sampling, systematization of the language units due to the definite criteria, component analysis, descriptive and cognitively-discursive approach.
The article is based on the language material of the Spanish television series El Pueblo (The Settlement). The object of studying is its characters’ speech; the subject of studying is allusion as a stylistic method and its functions in verbal component of the audio-visual text.
According to the problem of study, the list of words and word-combinations was compounded for being analyzed due to the criteria.
Based on analysis and classification of the content we have got the statistic data. It was identified that 50% of the cases under analysis are allusive proper nouns, that clarifies that allusions reveal the information in compressed form, giving an opportunity for further profound and multiple interpretation.
Upon conducting the research we came to a conclusion that there is a great variety of allusions on the characters and popular facts of the Spanish culture in the series El Pueblo, and their functions are not only aesthetic, expressive and educative, but forming the personality and the sense of each character.