bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development and evaluation of the Acromegaly Symptom Diary
Authors: Martin Susan , Bender Randall H. , Krasner Alan , Marmon Tonya , Monahan Michael , Nelson Lauren 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Background
Patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures are important to consider when evaluating treatments, yet there are no PRO measures for patients with acromegaly that have been developed in accordance with US Food and Drug Administration guidance. Acromegaly is a rare, chronic condition caused by hypersecretion of growth hormone. Disease activity is monitored by measurement in serum of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I. The objectives of this research were to develop the Acromegaly Symptom Diary (ASD), establish a scoring algorithm, and evaluate the psychometric measurement properties of the ASD.

Methods
Semistructured interviews consisting of concept elicitation and cognitive debriefing components were conducted with 16 adult participants with acromegaly. The concept elicitation component identified symptoms important to individuals with acromegaly. The cognitive debriefing component gathered information about the participants’ experience with each proposed item of the ASD, their thought process for answering each question, and their interpretation of the items. The psychometric properties of the draft ASD were then evaluated using data from the ACROBAT Evolve (NCT03792555; n = 13) and ACROBAT Edge (NCT03789656; n = 47) clinical trials.

Results
The 16 participants from the interviews described ongoing symptoms, with the most frequently reported being joint pain (n = 13) and fatigue (n = 12), followed by swelling (n = 8), headache (n = 7), and mood swings (n = 6), and were able to interpret and understand the ASD items and had no issues with the 24-hour recall period. From data collected in the clinical studies, the psychometric properties of internal consistency (0.91 − 0.80), test-retest reliability with item-level and total ASD scores (> 0.70), baseline construct validity (r ≥ |0.38|) across scales, and responsiveness to change (r = 0.52–0.56) were supported for the ASD. The proposed preliminary threshold range to characterize a meaningful change from the patients’ perspective for the ASD total is a 4- to 6-point change for improvement or worsening out of a total score of 70.

Conclusion
These findings provide qualitative and quantitative evidence to support the ASD as fit for the purpose of evaluating the symptom experience of patients with acromegaly in clinical trials.
Efficacy and tolerability of psychostimulants for symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in preschool children: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Chiu Hsien-Jane , Sun Cheuk-Kwan , Cheng Yu-Shian , Wang Ming Yu , Tzang Ruu-Fen , Lin Feng-Li , Cheng Ying-Chih , Chung Weilun 
Published: February 2023

Abstract

Background
There was no previous meta-analysis investigating the efficacy/tolerability of psychostimulants for symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in preschool children.

Methods
Databases including PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, ScienceDirect, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from inception to March 2022 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on therapeutic efficacy of psychostimulants against ADHD symptoms in preschool children (age ≤6 years) compared with placebos. Primary outcomes were (a) changes in ADHD symptoms evaluated by validated rating scales from parents’/teacher’s observation, or (b) post-intervention improvements in neuropsychological performance. Secondary outcomes were risks of adverse events.

Results
Meta-analysis of nine eligible trials including 544 preschool children (mean age=4.86 years, female=11.98%, median treatment duration=4.33 weeks) supported the efficacy of psychostimulants against global symptoms from observations of parents (Hedges’ g=0.6152, p<0.0001) and teachers (Hedges’ g=0.6563, p=0.0039). Efficacy of psychostimulants was also noted against symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity, especially the latter (i.e., main symptoms in preschool children). Moreover, male gender, older age, and longer treatment duration were associated with better efficacy. Regarding adverse events, only the risk of poor appetite was higher in the psychostimulant group (odds ratio [OR]=2.39). However, the qualities of evidence were low to very low, indicating potential discrepancy between the true and estimated effect.

Conclusions
Our results showed that psychostimulants might be beneficial for preschool children with ADHD, especially hyperactivity/impulsivity from teachers’ observation, with tolerable side effects. Nevertheless, the true magnitude of the effect needs to be confirmed with more research due to low to very low certainty of the evidence.
Risk of Tract Seeding Following Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy for Brain Tumors
Authors: Haskell-Mendoza Aden P. , Srinivasan Ethan S. , Lerner Emily C. , Edwards Ryan M. , Schwalb Allison M. , Jackson Joshua D. , Hardigan Andrew A. , Vaios Eugene J. , Fecci Peter E. 
Published: February 2023

BACKGROUND:
The management of intracranial oncological disease remains a significant challenge despite advances in systemic cancer therapy. Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) represents a novel treatment for local control of brain tumors through photocoagulation with a stereotactically implanted laser fiber. Because the use of laser interstitial thermal therapy continues to increase within neurosurgery, characterization of LITT is necessary to improve outcomes.

OBJECTIVE:
To quantify the risk of tumor seeding along the laser fiber tract in patients receiving LITT for primary or metastatic brain tumors at a high-volume treatment center.

METHODS:
We retrospectively reviewed all patients receiving LITT from 2015 to 2021 at our medical center. Patients with biopsy-confirmed tumors were included in this study. Tract seeding was identified as discontinuous, newly enhancing tumor along the LITT tract.

RESULTS:
Fifty-six patients received LITT for biopsy-confirmed tumors from 2015 to 2021, with tract seeding identified in 3 (5.4%). Twenty-nine (51.8%) patients had gliomas, while the remainder had metastases, of which lung was the most common histology (20 patients, 74%). Tract seeding was associated with ablation proceeding inward from superficial tumor margin closest to the cranial entry point (P = .03). Patients with tract seeding had a shorter median time to progression of 1.1 (0.1-1.3) months vs 4.2 (2.2-8.6) months (P = .03).

CONCLUSION:
Although the risk of tract seeding after LITT is reassuringly low, it is associated with decreased progression-free survival. This risk may be related to surgical technique or experience. Follow-up radiosurgery to the LITT tract has the potential to prevent this complication.
Contribution of High-Intensity Interval Exercise in the Fasted State to Fat Browning: Potential Roles of Lactate and β-Hydroxybutyrate
Authors: KIM SUJIN , PARK DONG-HO , LEE SANG-HYUN , KWAK HYO-BUM , KANG JU-HEE 
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT

Purpose
Fat browning contributes to energy consumption and may have metabolic benefits against obesity; however, the potential roles of lactate and β-hydroxybutyrate (β-HB) in fat browning remain unclear. We investigated the roles of a single bout of aerobic exercise that increases lactate and β-HB levels in the fasted state on the regulation of fat browning in rats and humans.

Methods
Male Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to 24-h fasting and/or a single bout moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (40 min): sedentary (CON), exercise (ND-EX), fasting (FAST), and exercise + fasting (F-EX). Adult men (n = 13) were randomly assigned into control with food intake (CON), exercise with intensity at onset of blood lactate accumulation in the fasted state (F-OBLA), and high-intensity interval exercise in the fasted state (F-HIIE) until each participant expended 350 kcal of energy. For evaluating the effects of exercise intensity in rats, we conducted another set of animal experiment, including groups of sedentary fed control, fasting control, and exercise with moderate-intensity or HIIE for 40 min after a 24-h fasting.

Results
Regardless of fasting, single bout of exercise increases the concentration of lactate and β-HB in rats, but the exercise in the fasted state increases the β-HB level more significantly in rats and humans. F-EX-activated fat browning (AMPK–SirT1–PGC1α pathway and PRDM16) and thermogenic factor (UCP1) in white fat of rats. In rats and humans, exercise in the fasted state increased the blood levels of fat browning–related adipomyokines. In particular, compared with F-OBLA, F-HIIE more efficiently increases free fatty acid as well as blood levels of fat browning adipomyokines in humans, which was correlated with blood levels of lactate and β-HB. In rats that performed exercise with different intensity, the higher plasma lactate and β-HB levels, and higher expression of p-AMPK, UCP1, and PRDM16 in white adipose tissue of HIIE group than those of moderate-intensity group, were observed.

Conclusions
A single bout of aerobic exercise in the fasted state significantly induced fat browning–related pathways, free fatty acid, and adipomyokines, particularly F-HIIE in human. Although further evidence for supporting our results is required in humans, aerobic exercise in the fasted state with high intensity that increase lactate and β-HB may be a modality of fat browning.
Erythropoietin as banned substance in professional sports: effects on maximal aerobic capacity, endurance and detection methods - a review
Authors: Aghadi Artur , Dybała Ewelina , Cuber Iwona , Mazurek Magdalena , Białowąs Edyta 
Published: February 2023

Introduction and purpose: Erythropoietin (Epo) and its analogs used as performance-enhancing substance and are considered doping and are therefore forbidden in sports, however the scientific evidence behind doping is frequently weak. We aimed to determine the effects erythropoietin on maximal aerobic capacity(VO₂ max), endurence and to present direct detection methods.
State of knowledge: Erythropoietin is a glycoprotein cytokine. During cellular hypoxia, Epo is secreted mainly by the kidneys, it stimulates bone marrow production of red blood cells. To compensate for normal red cell turnover, low levels of Epo are constantly secreted in sufficient quantities. In addition to anemia and chronic lung disease, cellular hypoxia can result in elevated levels of Epo. VO₂ max is the peak volume of oxygen that a person can consume during exercise. Essential for breathing, oxygen is inhaled by the lungs and converted into energy, which then fuels human cells and expels carbon dioxide in the exhaled breath. This allows the body to manage more efficiently aerobic workouts that involve a large amount of oxygen intake, such as running, swimming or other cardio exercises.
Conclusions: Current data from PubMed indicate a significant relationship between Epo overuse and endurance in professional sports. That is one of the most important reasons to pay attention to the effects of EPO and new detection methods.
Biological treatment and exercise as an alternative to typical rheumatoid arthritis therapy: pathophysiology and effects
Authors: Aghadi Artur , Brzuszkiewicz Kinga , Dybała Edyta , Cuber Iwona , Mazurek Magdalena , Białowąs Edyta , Piekarska Małgorzata , Kasperski Radosław 
Published: February 2023

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease of unknown etiology that mainly affects the joints, but extra-articular symptoms may also occur. The global prevalence of RA is approximately 5 cases per 1,000 adults[1]. A better understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease in the treatment of RA has led to the development of more effective treatments. Current drugs include glucocorticoids (GCs) and synthetic and biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Apart from these, the most commonly used analgesics are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). BLMPs work by targeting specific molecules involved in the inflammatory process, not just symptom relief.
Purpose: To review the currently available PubMed data on biologics and exercise for RA and their mechanisms in the context of disease pathophysiology and future prospects.
Brief description of the state of knowledge: BLMPs are a necessary alternative in patients who have not achieved the treatment goal for 6 months or have experienced side effects during treatment with conventional disease-modifying drugs. We also analyzed the effect of exercise on the course of RA.
Conclusions: The introduction of bDMARDs has opened a new era in the treatment of diseases such as RA. However, due to the difficult access to this form of therapy, side effects, contraindications to currently used drugs, and increasingly well-known mechanisms, there is also a need to constantly search for new solutions. A growing body of evidence in recent years suggests that regular physical activity has a positive effect on various aspects of RA, including disease-related outcomes, mental well-being, and cardiovascular health. Also in this non-pharmacological field, further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind these effects.
Third molars: not so NICE? risk factors for distal caries in mandibular second molars
Authors: Treifi Amir , Cooper Jessica , Yates Julian 
Published: February 2023

UK guidelines currently advise against the prophylactic removal of mandibular third molars. However, growing evidence shows that asymptomatic impacted mandibular third molars may contribute to the formation of distal caries in mandibular second molars. Patients should be made aware that these guidelines do not necessarily prevent the potential development of decay or loss of mandibular second molars. A retrospective review, over 6 months, analysed the incidence and evaluated the risk for developing caries on the distal aspect of mandibular second molars, in patients referred for assessment of impacted third molars. Distal caries in the mandibular second molar was present in 24.1% of cases. Of these patients, 9% demonstrated caries bilaterally. In those who developed distal caries in the mandibular second molar, 76% of adjacent third molars demonstrated mesio-angular impaction, 91% of third molars were partially erupted, and 95% of third molars were either touching or in close proximity to the ACJ of the second molar tooth. The prophylactic removal or coronectomy of mesio-angluar or horizontally impacted third molars that are partially erupted and closely related to the ACJ of mandibular second molars may result in improved long-term patient outcomes. CPD/Clinical Relevance: The prophylactic removal or coronectomy of certain third molars may result in improved long-term patient outcomes.
Calidad de vida asociada con polifarmacia en personas con lesiones cutáneas crónicas
Authors: de Almeida Eliane Ferreira , Goulart Jéssica , Moraes Juliano Teixeira , Lanza Fernanda Moura , Cortez Daniel Nogueira 
Published: February 2023

Objetivo: Analizar la asociación entre el uso de polifarmacia y la calidad de vida de personas con lesiones cutáneas crónicas. Método: Estudio transversal con una muestra conformada por 146 personas afectadas por lesiones cutáneas crónicas, vinculadas con la atención primaria de salud. La recolección de datos se realizó entre julio de 2017 y febrero de 2018. La información se recopiló mediante un cuestionario sociodemográfico y el cuestionario Cardiff Wound Impact Schedule (CWIS). Resultados: Hubo predominio de hipertensión arterial sistémica en 86 personas (58,9%) y de diabetes mellitus en 50 (34,2%). La etiología de la lesión cutánea predominante fue vasculogénica (38,4%), y se identificó polifarmacia en el 46,7% de los pacientes. En el cuestionario CWIS, el dominio con el puntaje promedio más bajo fue el bienestar (promedio de 46,2±17,9). Hubo asociación estadísticamente significativa (p<0.05) entre polifarmacia y las siguientes variables: dominio de “síntomas físicos/vida diaria", dominio de “vida social” y “autosatisfacción con la calidad de vida". Conclusión: La polifarmacia está asociada con un detrimento en la calidad de vida de personas con lesiones cutáneas crónicas. Por lo tanto, los profesionales de la salud que trabajan en la atención primaria deberían considerar la terapia farmacológica en sus planes de atención, coordinar con asistencia médica y farmacéutica la elaboración de estrategias de monitoreo de los riesgos que involucran la polifarmacia, y evaluar sus impactos en la calidad de vida. Conflicto de interés: Ninguno.
Global Village: Get Ready for Bauma
Authors: Harry Rachelle 
Published: February 2023

ON APRIL 8-14, THE CONSTRUCTION VEHICLE WORLD WILL DESCEND ON MUNICH FOR THE WORLD'S LARGEST CONSTRUCTION TRADE FAIR - BAUMA. THIS YEAR ORGANIZERS ARE CONFIDENTLY PREDICTING VISITOR NUMBERS WILL EXCEED 600,000 FOR THE FIRST TIME. BUT HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY MAKE SENSE OF IT ALL? THE ANSWER LIES OVER THE NEXT 75 PAGES, WHICH WILL GUIDE YOU TO THE VERY BEST NEW VEHICLES AND COMPONENTS ON DISPLAY. SEE YOU IN GERMANY! IN THE RUN-UP TO THE MAIN EVENT, EXHIBITION DIRECTOR MAREILE KÄSTNER EXPLAINS HOW THE CONSTRUCTION TRADE FAIR WILL HELP TO ADDRESS TOPICAL ISSUES SUCH AS DIGITIZATION AND THE SKILLS SHORTAGE - AND WHY ALL ATTENDEES SHOULD VISIT THE SELFIE TOWER!
Particle image velocimetry for flow analysis in mechanical artificial heart valves
Authors: Castellini P. , Pinotti M. , Scalise L. 
Published: February 2023

Red blood cell damage (hemolysis) and thromboemblism are the main complications associated to the implantation of mechanical artificial heart valves.
In the last decades a great number of in vitro studies have been conducted to improve the design and to understand the transvalvular flow patterns under steady state and pulsatile conditions. Steady state tests are useful to study the flow established upstream and downstream the valve prosthesis in the moment of the peak flow rate.
In the present study, Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique was employed to visualise the flow patterns in a precommercial model of bi-leaflet mechanical heart valve prosthesis in a steady state flow. PIV technique and a convenient test rig have provided good conditions to investigate the whole flowfield upstream and downstream the valve.
Calculating of optical path length in inhomogeneous media - An alternative method
Authors: Puchalski J. 
Published: February 2023

An alternative method for calculating of optical path length in inhomogeneous media is presented. This method may be used with the three component and the four component ray-trace schemes considered ealier2,3.The method is based on a series expansion of the refractive index of the medium for second ray-trace scheme divided by the third optical direction cosine as a function of six suitable ray-trace parameters from a given, three adjacent Runge-Kutta points.
A comparison with previous method which was applied for the three component ray-trace scheme is made.
Validation of risk prediction for outcomes of severe community-acquired pneumonia among under-five children in Amhara region, Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Anteneh Zelalem Alamrew , Arega Hunegnaw Enyew , Mihretie Kebadnew Mulatu 
Published: February 2023

Background
Globally there are over 1,400 cases of pneumonia per 100,000 children every year, where children in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa are disproportionately affected. Some of the cases develop poor treatment outcome (treatment failure or antibiotic change or staying longer in the hospital or death), while others develop good outcome during interventions. Although clinical decision-making is a key aspect of the interventions, there are limited tools such as risk scores to assist the clinical judgment in low-income settings. This study aimed to validate a prediction model and develop risk scores for poor outcomes of severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP).

Methods
A cohort study was conducted among 539 under-five children hospitalized with SCAP. Data analysis was done using R version 4.0.5 software. A multivariable analysis was done. We developed a simplified risk score to facilitate clinical utility. Model performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and calibration plot. Bootstrapping was used to validate all accuracy measures. A decision curve analysis was used to evaluate the clinical and public health utility of our model.

Results
The incidence of poor outcomes of pneumonia was 151(28%) (95%CI: 24.2%-31.8%). Vaccination status, fever, pallor, unable to breastfeed, impaired consciousness, CBC abnormal, entered ICU, and vomiting remained in the reduced model. The AUC of the original model was 0.927, 95% (CI (0.90, 0.96), whereas the risk score model produced prediction accuracy of an AUC of 0.89 (95%CI: 0.853–0.922. Our decision curve analysis for the model provides a higher net benefit across ranges of threshold probabilities.

Conclusions
Our model has excellent discrimination and calibration performance. Similarly, the risk score model has excellent discrimination and calibration ability with an insignificant loss of accuracy from the original. The models can have the potential to improve care and treatment outcomes in the clinical settings.
Using machine learning to improve our understanding of COVID-19 infection in children
Authors: Piparia Shraddha , Defante Andrew , Tantisira Kelan , Ryu Julie 
Published: February 2023

Purpose
Children are at elevated risk for COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) infection due to their social behaviors. The purpose of this study was to determine if usage of radiological chest X-rays impressions can help predict whether a young adult has COVID-19 infection or not.

Methods
A total of 2572 chest impressions from 721 individuals under the age of 18 years were considered for this study. An ensemble learning method, Random Forest Classifier (RFC), was used for classification of patients suffering from infection.

Results
Five RFC models were implemented with incremental features and the best model achieved an F1-score of 0.79 with Area Under the ROC curve as 0.85 using all input features. Hyper parameter tuning and cross validation was performed using grid search cross validation and SHAP model was used to determine feature importance. The radiological features such as pneumonia, small airways disease, and atelectasis (confounded with catheter) were found to be highly associated with predicting the status of COVID-19 infection.

Conclusions
In this sample, radiological X-ray films can predict the status of COVID-19 infection with good accuracy. The multivariate model including symptoms presented around the time of COVID-19 test yielded good prediction score.
Refractory Malignant Eosinophilic Colitis Leading to Ischemic Colitis
Authors: Awad Christina , Bailes Benjamin , Horn Christian , Patel Anish 
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACT
Eosinophilic colitis (EC) is the most uncommon disease within the spectrum of eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders. Currently, there are no well-established diagnostic criteria and no approved Food and Drug Administration therapies. We discuss a case of a 30-year-old man with refractory malignant EC leading to ischemic colitis. The patient was tried on multiple therapies, including a combination therapy of benralizumab and vedolizumab, which were unsuccessful. Unfortunately, the patient ultimately required a total proctocolectomy. More studies need to be performed to treat patients with severe refractory cases of EC.