bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
CircRNAs in BALF exosomes and plasma as diagnostic biomarkers in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by severe pneumonia
Authors: Sun He , Gao Wei , Chen Rongzhang , Chen Si , Gu Xia , Wang Feilong , Li Qiang 
Published: August 2023

BackgroundThe transcriptomic studies targeting circular RNAs (circRNAs) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) exosomes of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients caused by severe pneumonia have rarely been reported. This study aimed to screen and validate abnormally expressed circRNAs in exosomes from BALF of patients with ARDS caused by severe pneumonia and then evaluate the diagnostic values of these circRNAs for ARDS.MethodBALF was collected from four patients with ARDS caused by severe pneumonia and four healthy subjects. CircRNA expression profile was obtained by microarray analysis in BALF exosomes of the discovery cohort. The differentially expressed circRNAs in BALF exosomes were verified by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and underwent competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network construction and functional enrichment analysis.ResultsA total of 629 circRNAs were differentially expressed in BALF exosomes between ARDS patients and healthy subjects. Nine differentially expressed circRNAs were validated by RT-qPCR, and seven were consistent with the results of microarray analysis. CeRNA network analysis was performed for hsa_circRNA_002809, hsa_circRNA_042882, and hsa_circRNA_104034. Functional enrichment analysis showed that the target genes were mainly associated with hypoxia-induced damage, inflammatory response, and the HIF-1 signaling pathway. Hsa_circRNA_042882 and hsa_circRNA_104034 can be regarded as promising diagnostic biomarkers for patients with ARDS caused by severe pneumonia, with remarkable sensitivity and specificity of the area under the curve of 0.8050 and 1 or 0.835 and 0.799, respectively.ConclusionThis study obtained circRNA expression profiles of ARDS patients, and hsa_circRNA_042882 and hsa_circRNA_104034 were regarded as promising diagnostic biomarkers for patients with ARDS caused by severe pneumonia.
Sacubitril/valsartan versus valsartan in regressing myocardial fibrosis in hypertension: a prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded endpoint clinical trial protocol
Authors: Lee Vivian , Zheng Qishi , Toh Desiree-Faye , Pua Chee Jian , Bryant Jennifer A. , Lee Chi-Hang , Cook Stuart A. , Butler Javed , Díez Javier , Richards A. Mark , Le Thu-Thao , Chin Calvin W. L. 
Published: August 2023

BackgroundDiffuse interstitial myocardial fibrosis is a key common pathological manifestation in hypertensive heart disease (HHD) progressing to heart failure (HF). Angiotensin receptor–neprilysin inhibitors (ARNi), now a front-line treatment for HF, confer benefits independent of blood pressure, signifying a multifactorial mode of action beyond hemodynamic regulation. We aim to test the hypothesis that compared with angiotensin II receptor blockade (ARB) alone, ARNi is more effective in regressing diffuse interstitial myocardial fibrosis in HHD.MethodsRole of ARNi in Ventricular Remodeling in Hypertensive LVH (REVERSE-LVH) is a prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded endpoint (PROBE) clinical trial. Adults with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) according to Asian sex- and age-specific thresholds on cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging are randomized to treatment with either sacubitril/valsartan (an ARNi) or valsartan (an ARB) in 1:1 ratio for a duration of 52 weeks, at the end of which a repeat CMR is performed to assess differential changes from baseline between the two groups. The primary endpoint is the change in CMR-derived diffuse interstitial fibrosis volume. Secondary endpoints include changes in CMR-derived left ventricular mass, volumes, and functional parameters. Serum samples are collected and stored to assess the effects of ARNi, compared with ARB, on circulating biomarkers of cardiac remodeling. The endpoints will be analyzed with reference to the corresponding baseline parameters to evaluate the therapeutic effect of sacubitril/valsartan vs. valsartan.DiscussionREVERSE-LVH will examine the anti-fibrotic potential of sacubitril/valsartan and will offer mechanistic insights into the clinical benefits of sacubitril/valsartan in hypertension in relation to cardiac remodeling. Advancing the knowledge of the pathophysiology of HHD will consolidate effective risk stratification and personalized treatment through a multimodal manner integrating complementary CMR and biomarkers into the conventional care approach.Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier, NCT03553810.
A holo-spectral EEG analysis provides an early detection of cognitive decline and predicts the progression to Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Chu Kwo-Ta , Lei Weng-Chi , Wu Ming-Hsiu , Fuh Jong-Ling , Wang Shuu-Jiun , French Isobel T. , Chang Wen-Sheng , Chang Chi-Fu , Huang Norden E. , Liang Wei-Kuang , Juan Chi-Hung 
Published: August 2023

AimsOur aim was to differentiate patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) from cognitively normal (CN) individuals and predict the progression from MCI to AD within a 3-year longitudinal follow-up. A newly developed Holo-Hilbert Spectral Analysis (HHSA) was applied to resting state EEG (rsEEG), and features were extracted and subjected to machine learning algorithms.MethodsA total of 205 participants were recruited from three hospitals, with CN (n = 51, MMSE &gt; 26), MCI (n = 42, CDR = 0.5, MMSE ≥ 25), AD1 (n = 61, CDR = 1, MMSE &lt; 25), AD2 (n = 35, CDR = 2, MMSE &lt; 16), and AD3 (n = 16, CDR = 3, MMSE &lt; 16). rsEEG was also acquired from all subjects. Seventy-two MCI patients (CDR = 0.5) were longitudinally followed up with two rsEEG recordings within 3 years and further subdivided into an MCI-stable group (MCI-S, n = 36) and an MCI-converted group (MCI-C, n = 36). The HHSA was then applied to the rsEEG data, and features were extracted and subjected to machine-learning algorithms.Results(a) At the group level analysis, the HHSA contrast of MCI and different stages of AD showed augmented amplitude modulation (AM) power of lower-frequency oscillations (LFO; delta and theta bands) with attenuated AM power of higher-frequency oscillations (HFO; beta and gamma bands) compared with cognitively normal elderly controls. The alpha frequency oscillation showed augmented AM power across MCI to AD1 with a reverse trend at AD2. (b) At the individual level of cross-sectional analysis, implementation of machine learning algorithms discriminated between groups with good sensitivity (Sen) and specificity (Spec) as follows: CN elderly vs. MCI: 0.82 (Sen)/0.80 (Spec), CN vs. AD1: 0.94 (Sen)/0.80 (Spec), CN vs. AD2: 0.93 (Sen)/0.90 (Spec), and CN vs. AD3: 0.75 (Sen)/1.00 (Spec). (c) In the longitudinal MCI follow-up, the initial contrasted HHSA between MCI-S and MCI-C groups showed significantly attenuated AM power of alpha and beta band oscillations. (d) At the individual level analysis of longitudinal MCI groups, deploying machine learning algorithms with the best seven features resulted in a sensitivity of 0.9 by the support vector machine (SVM) classifier, with a specificity of 0.8 yielded by the decision tree classifier.ConclusionIntegrating HHSA into EEG signals and machine learning algorithms can differentiate between CN and MCI as well as also predict AD progression at the MCI stage.
Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) v2018: differential diagnostic value of ADC values for benign and malignant nodules with moderate probability (LR-3)
Authors: Chen Xue , Cai Quanyu , Xia Jinju , Huang Huan , Li Zhaoxing , Song Kairong , Jia Ningyang , Liu Wanmin 
Published: August 2023

ObjectiveTo evaluate the usefulness of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in differentiating between benign and malignant LR-3 lesions classified by Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System 2018 (LI-RADS v2018).MethodsRetrospectively analyzed 88 patients with liver nodules confirmed by pathology and classified as LR-3 by LI-RADS. All patients underwent preoperative contrast-enhanced MR examination, and the following patient-related imaging features were collected: tumor size,nonrim APHE, nonperipheral “washout”, enhancing “capsule”, mild-moderate T2 hyperintensity, fat in mass, restricted diffusion, and nodule-in-nodule architecture. We performed ROC analysis and calculated the sensitivity and specificity.ResultsA total of 122 lesions were found in 88 patients, with 68 benign and 54 malignant lesions. The mean ADC value for malignant and benign lesions were 1.01 ± 0.15 × 103 mm2/s and 1.41 ± 0.31 × 103 mm2/s, respectively. The ADC value of malignant lesions was significantly lower than that of benign lesions, p &lt; 0.0001. Compared with other imaging features, ADC values had the highest AUC (AUC = 0.909), with a sensitivity of 92.6% and a specificity of 74.1% for the differentiation of benign and malignant lesions.ConclusionsADC values are useful for differentiating between benign and malignant liver nodules in LR-3 classification, it improves the sensitivity of LI-RADS in the diagnosis of HCC while maintaining high specificity, and we recommend including ADC values in the standard interpretation of LI-RADSv2018.
Clinical evaluation of the three-dimensional printed strut-type prosthesis combined with autograft reconstruction for giant cell tumor of the distal femur
Authors: Tan Linyun , Li Ye , Hu Xin , Lu Minxun , Zhang Yuqi , Gan Yuxiong , Tu Chongqi , Min Li 
Published: August 2023

ProposeThis study aimed to describe the design and surgical techniques of a three-dimensional (3D) printed strut-type prosthesis with a porous titanium surface for distal femur giant cell tumors of bone (GCTB) and evaluate the short-term clinical outcomes.MethodsFrom June 2018 to January 2021, 9 consecutive patients with grade I or II GCTB in the distal femur underwent extended intralesional curettage followed by 3D-printed strut-type prosthesis combined with autograft reconstruction were retrospectively reviewed to assess their clinical and radiographic outcomes.ResultsAll patients were followed up for 30.8 ± 7.5 months (18–42 months) after surgery. The mean affected subchondral bone percentage and the mean subchondral bone thickness before surgery was 31.8% ± 9.6% (range, 18.2% ~50.2%) and 2.2 ± 0.8 mm (range, 1.2-4.0 mm), respectively. At the final follow-up, all the patients were alive without local recurrence; no postoperative complications were observed. Patients had significant improvements in postoperative MSTS-93 score [(26.7 ± 2.4) vs. (18.8 ± 3.7), P &lt; 0.05], and ROM [(122.8° ± 9.1°) vs. (108.3° ± 6.1°), P &lt; 0.05] compared with their preoperative statuses. Furthermore, the mean subchondral bone thickness has increased to 10.9 ± 1.3 mm (range, 9.1-12.1 mm).Conclusion3D-printed strut-type prosthesis combined with autograft reconstruction provides acceptable early functional and radiographic outcomes in patients with grade I or II GCTB in distal femur due to the advantages of the prosthesis such as good biocompatibility, osseointegration capacity, and subchondral bone protection. If our early outcomes can be further validated in studies with more patients and sufficient follow-up, this method may be evaluated as an alternative for the treatment of grade I or II GCTB in the distal femur.
Comparison of first-line treatment with CHOP versus ICED in patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma eligible for upfront autologous stem cell transplantation
Authors: Kim Seok Jin , Jo Jae-Cheol , Yoon Dok Hyun , Yang Deok-Hwan , Yoon Sang Eun , Lee Gyeong-Won , Kong Jee Hyun , Park Yong , Kang Ka-Won , Lee Ho-Sup , Oh Sung Yong , Shin Ho-Jin , Lee Won Sik , Choi Yoon Seok , Jeong Seong Hyun , Kim Min Kyoung , Kang Hye Jin , Yi Jun Ho , Lim Sung-Nam , Yhim Ho-Young , Do Young Rok , Yun Hwan Jung , Eom Hyeon-Seok , Lee Mark Hong , Suh Cheolwon , Kim Won Seog 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionUpfront autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has been recommended for patients who are newly diagnosed with peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), and CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone), an anthracycline-based chemotherapy has been the frontline chemotherapy for PTCL. However, it is not clear whether anthracycline-based chemotherapies such as CHOP could be standard induction therapy for PTCL.MethodsWe conducted a randomized phase II study to compare CHOP with fractionated ifosfamide, carboplatin, etoposide, and dexamethasone (ICED) for patients eligible for ASCT. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) and secondary endpoints included objective response rate, overall survival (OS), and safety profiles.ResultsPatients were randomized into either CHOP (n = 69) or ICED (n = 66), and the characteristics of both arms were not different. PTCL-not otherwise specified (NOS, n = 60) and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL, n = 53) were dominant. The objective response rate was not different between CHOP (59.4%) and ICED (56.1%), and the 3-year PFS was not different between CHOP (36.7%) and ICED (33.1%). In AITL patients, CHOP was favored over ICED whereas ICED was associated with more cytopenia and reduced dose intensity. Patients who received upfront ASCT after achieving complete response to CHOP or ICED showed 80% of 3-year OS.DiscussionIn summary, our study showed no therapeutic difference between CHOP and ICED in terms of response and PFS. Thus, CHOP might remain the reference regimen especially for AITL based on its better outcome in AITL, and upfront ASCT could be recommended as a consolidation of complete response in patients with PTCL.
Changes in sleep quality of children with epilepsy and anxiety of their caregivers after COVID-19 infection: a case-series report
Authors: Li Dan , Shi Yongjing , Wang Bo , Zhou Jing , Wang Xueying , Huang Shaoping , Yang Lin 
Published: August 2023

ObjectiveTo study the changes in epileptic seizures and sleep quality in children with epilepsy (CWE) and the changes in anxiety of their caregivers after infection with COVID-19.MethodsOutpatients and inpatients of CWEs were selected as subjects and a questionnaire survey was used to carry out this case-series study. The demographic information of the CWEs and their caregivers, information about epilepsy, and information about the vaccination, infection, and treatment of COVID-19 were collected. The changes in sleep quality of CWEs and the changes in anxiety of their caregivers were assessed by the Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) and Caregiver Anxiety Scale (CAS). Risk factors affecting sleep habits in CWEs and caregiver anxiety were further analyzed by one-way analysis of variance.ResultsA total of 312 children were included in the study. Among them, 134 patients (42.9%) were female. The average age of the children was 9.30 ± 3.88 years, and the duration of epilepsy was 4.59 ± 3.36 years. A total of 221 of the 312 children were infected with COVID-19, and all the infected children developed fever, which lasted for 1.71 ± 1.13 days. 10 children were satisfied with controlled seizures for more than 1 year and relapsed after COVID-19 infection (4.2%), 4 cases (3.6%) with increased seizures, and 8 children with reduced seizures (7.7%), 17 children (7.7%) had no change in seizures, and 182 children (82.3%) remained seizure-free after the COVID-19 infection. The average sleep time of the CWEs was 9.25 ± 1.04 h and the average total score of the CSHQ was 37.25 ± 5.19, among which 44 cases (14.1%) had more than 41 points. As the result of the CAS, 16 of them (5.13%) scored above 50 and the average total score was 31.49 ± 8.09. The control of seizures, age of onset, types of anti-seizure medicines (ASMs), and seizure duration were risk factors affecting sleep quality. Accordingly, the score of CAS was significantly lower when there was more than one caregiver who cared for the CWE.ConclusionsCOVID-19 infection did not cause an increase in seizures in CWEs, nor did it worsen their sleep quality of them or aggravate the anxiety of their caregivers.
Kinematic analysis and process optimization of root-cutting systems in field harvesting of garlic based on computer simulation technology
Authors: Yu Zhaoyang , Yang Mingjin , Hu Zhichao , Gu Fengwei , Peng Baoliang , Zhang Yanhua , Yang Ke 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionRoot cutting is an important process in garlic field harvesting but is the weakest link in the full mechanization of garlic production. To improve the current situation of technological backwardness and poor operational quality of mechanized garlic root-cutting in the main garlic-producing regions of China, this study combined the physical characteristics and agronomic requirements of garlic plants, and proposed an innovative floating root-cutting technology for garlic combine harvesters that enables the top alignment of bulb, adaptive profiling floating of cutter, and embedded cutting of roots.MethodsThrough the kinematic analysis of the floating cutting process, the coordinate equations of the initial contact point of the bulb, the mathematical model of the floating displacement of the cutting component. Using computer simulation techniques, the dynamic simulation study of the floating cutting process was carried out in the rigid-flexible coupling numerical simulation model of root-cutting mechanism and garlic plant. The influence law of garlic conveying speed, extension spring preload force and stiffness on the floating displacement of the cutting component and the angular velocity of swing arm reset and its formation causes were analyzed by a single-factor simulation test. The key operating parameters of the root-cutting mechanism were optimized through the computerized virtual orthogonal test and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation.Results and discussionThe significance of the factors affecting the floating cutting performance decreased in the following order: extension spring preload force, garlic conveying speed and extension spring stiffness. The optimal parameter combination of the root cutting mechanism obtained from the optimization were as follow: extension spring preload force was 16 N, garlic conveying speed was 0.8 m/s, and extension spring stiffness was 215 N/m. Tests conducted with the optimal parameter combination yielded a root excision rate of 92.72%, which meets the requirements of Chinese garlic field harvesting quality. This study provides computer simulation optimization methods for the optimal design of the root-cutting mechanism, and also provides technical and equipment support for the full mechanization of garlic production in China.
L’étalon monétaire et la stabilisation économique
Authors: Hart Albert Gailord 
Published: August 2023

The currency standard and economic stabilization.
What type of standard best ensures economic stabilization — a gold standard or a composite commodity standard ? Arguments for and against gold , and a rise in gold’s dollar price. A composite commodity standard seems preferable : a basket of goods — raw materials mostly — whose overall price was guaranteed bu the monetary authorities would enable the price level to be stabilized while allowing relative price movements to lake place. Moreover cyclical fluctuations in commodity producers’ income, and in world output of raw materials would also be evened out. The composite commodity standard might be administered by an International Commodity Corporation which would buy and sell baskets of goods at fixed prices with funds provided by the IMF in exchange for commodity certificates. The IMF could in turn sell these certificates to the U. S. Federal Reserve thus linking the commodity standard to the dollar and giving the commodity producers the same sort of fixed price guarantee as the gold producers. Appendix on technical details.
Dynamique économique et stabilisation économique
Authors: Bayer Hans 
Published: August 2023

Economic dynamics and economic stabilization.
The article deals with the relation between cyclical fluctuations, economic evolution and economic structures. The hidden forces behind economic fluctuations are uncertainty, imperfect knowledge, immobility of capital, lags, etc. The historical tendencies of economic evolution are the concentration of industry, the development of heterogeneous properly (e. g. share capital), the ageing of national economies, the tendency towards social inertia. These historical tendencies support the hidden forces of economic fluctuations in generating crises and depressions ; other historical tendencies (e. g. the development of cooperation) offset them. But the precise cause of a given crisis or depression is different in each case.
The dynamic stabilization of the economy calls for a policy that deals with the structure of the economy (i. e. that reinforces some historical tendencies and counterbalances others), instead of merely seeking to control cyclical fluctuations (e. g. through social security or unemployment insurance). A policy of economic stabilization requires an integrated economy. The author describes some policy principles of an integrated economy necessary for free, constructive competition.
La comptabilité sociale et les modèles de politique
Authors: Schouten Dirk Bernard Joseph , Lips J. 
Published: August 2023

Social accounting and policy models.
Social accounting has three objects : to show if the aims of economic policy have been reached ; to show if the instruments of economic policy have been used ; to indicate the causal relations between economic flows.
The fulfillment of the first object requires information on the key variables of the economy : incomes, consumption and Saving by social groups (at least wage-earners and entrepreneurs), the price-level, private and public investment, the national product, the level of employment, the balance of payments surplus or deficit. Two equalities relate these variables : value in period
1 X price index X volume index = value in period 2. ; value of national input = value of national output.
The instruments of economic policy may be subdivided into those which have a direct, and those which have an indirect effect. Some key variables may be used as instruments of direct control ; when they are, indirect effects are also induced. A free society generally favours instruments of indirect control-moslly monetary and fiscal. Hence the need for detailed information on financial variables : nel income, amortization, direct taxes, income transfers, long and short term capital transactions, active and inactive funds.
Knowledge of causal relations is necessary if the full effect of government measures is to be analyzed. The article studies a budget model similar to that used by the Netherlands Central Planning Bureau, for short term forecasts ; it contains «functional » relationships (e. g. between supply and demand on the markets of commodities, exports and imports, and labour ) ; «institutional » relationships (e. g. between the flow of lax receipts and the flow of income ) ; and certain equalities (e. g. between wages, labour costs and output per worker). Two budgets are established : a «prognosis » showing what thê situation would be if economic policy remained unchanged, and a «plan » showing what it would be in the event of new policy measures.