bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long-term survival after definitive proton beam therapy for oligorecurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a case report
Authors: Ishikawa Yojiro , Suzuki Motohisa , Yamaguchi Hisashi , Seto Ichiro , Machida Masanori , Takagawa Yoshiaki , Jingu Keiichi , Kikuchi Yasuyuki , Murakami Masao 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Background
Radical esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma has improved survival, but the rate of recurrence is high. Patients of recurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after failure of chemotherapy have a poor prognosis. We herein report the achievement of long-term survival after definitive proton beam therapy for oligorecurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after failure of chemotherapy.

Case presentation
A 60-year-old Japanese man was diagnosed as having squamous cell carcinoma of the lower thoracic esophagus (cT2N0M0, stage IIA). He underwent two courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil, and esophagectomy with three-field lymphadenectomy was performed. Microscopic findings after resection showed two lymph node metastases (ypT2N1M0, stage IIB). Five months after resection, a computed tomography scan revealed a solitary liver metastasis in the S4 area. He underwent three courses of chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil; however, positron emission tomography revealed two lymph node metastases. Surgeons recommended second-line chemotherapy, but the patient refused chemotherapy and requested proton beam therapy. We performed proton beam therapy without chemotherapy for the liver metastasis and lymph node metastases, with total doses of 79.2 and 60 Gy relative biological effectiveness, respectively, according to the tumor location. An acute side effect of grade 1 dermatitis occurred after proton beam therapy, but there was no acute or late complication of more than grade 2. The patient remains in complete remission 5 years after treatment without surgery or chemotherapy.

Discussion and conclusions
Proton beam therapy exerted a curative effect on oligorecurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. This is the first report on the achievement of long-term survival after definitive proton beam therapy for oligorecurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
Pathobiology of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza viruses in naturally infected Galliformes and Anseriformes in France during winter 2015–2016
Authors: Gaide Nicolas , Lucas Marie-Noëlle , Delpont Mattias , Croville Guillaume , Bouwman Kim M. , Papanikolaou Andreas , van der Woude Roosmarijn , Gagarinov Iwan A. , Boons Geert-Jan , De Vries Robert P. , Volmer Romain , Teillaud Angélique , Vergne Timothée , Bleuart Céline , Le Loc’h Guillaume , Delverdier Maxence , Guérin Jean-Luc 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIn late 2015, an epizootic of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5Nx) was registered in Southwestern France, including more than 70 outbreaks in commercial poultry flocks. Phylogenetic analyses suggested local emergence of H5 viruses which differed from A/goose/Guangdong/1/1996 clade 2.3.4.4b lineage and shared a unique polybasic cleavage site in their hemagglutinin protein. The present work provides an overview of the pathobiological picture associated with this epizootic in naturally infected chickens, guinea fowls and ducks. Upon necropsy examination, selected tissues were sampled for histopathology, immunohistochemistry and quantitative Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction. In Galliformes, HPAIVs infection manifested as severe acute systemic vasculitis and parenchymal necrosis and was associated with endothelial expression of viral antigen. In ducks, lesions were mild and infrequent, with sparse antigenic detection in respiratory and digestive mucosae and leukocytes. Tissue quantifications of viral antigen and RNA were higher in chickens and guinea fowls compared to duck. Subsequently, recombinant HA (rHA) was generated from a H5 HPAIV isolated from an infected duck to investigate its glycan-binding affinity for avian mucosae. Glycan-binding analysis revealed strong affinity of rHA for 3’Sialyl-LacNAc and low affinity for Sialyl-LewisX, consistent with a duck-adapted virus similar to A/Duck/Mongolia/54/2001 (H5N2). K222R and S227R mutations on rHA sequence shifted affinity towards Sialyl-LewisX and led to an increased affinity for chicken mucosa, confirming the involvement of these two mutations in the glycan-binding specificity of the HA. Interestingly, the rHA glycan binding pattern of guinea fowl appeared intermediate between duck and chicken. The present study presents a unique pathobiological description of the H5 HPAIVs outbreaks that occurred in 2015–2016 in Southwestern France.
DIPPAS: a deep image prior PRNU anonymization scheme
Authors: Picetti Francesco , Mandelli Sara , Bestagini Paolo , Lipari Vincenzo , Tubaro Stefano 
Published: February 2022

AbstractSource device identification is an important topic in image forensics since it allows to trace back the origin of an image. Its forensics counterpart is source device anonymization, that is, to mask any trace on the image that can be useful for identifying the source device. A typical trace exploited for source device identification is the photo response non-uniformity (PRNU), a noise pattern left by the device on the acquired images. In this paper, we devise a methodology for suppressing such a trace from natural images without a significant impact on image quality. Expressly, we turn PRNU anonymization into the combination of a global optimization problem in a deep image prior (DIP) framework followed by local post-processing operations. In a nutshell, a convolutional neural network (CNN) acts as a generator and iteratively returns several images with attenuated PRNU traces. By exploiting straightforward local post-processing and assembly on these images, we produce a final image that is anonymized with respect to the source PRNU, still maintaining high visual quality. With respect to widely adopted deep learning paradigms, the used CNN is not trained on a set of input-target pairs of images. Instead, it is optimized to reconstruct output images from the original image under analysis itself. This makes the approach particularly suitable in scenarios where large heterogeneous databases are analyzed. Moreover, it prevents any problem due to the lack of generalization. Through numerical examples on publicly available datasets, we prove our methodology to be effective compared to state-of-the-art techniques.
circPTPN4 regulates myogenesis via the miR-499-3p/NAMPT axis
Authors: Cai Bolin , Ma Manting , Zhou Zhen , Kong Shaofen , Zhang Jing , Zhang Xiquan , Nie Qinghua 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Background
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel class of endogenous ncRNA, which widely exist in the transcriptomes of different species and tissues. Recent studies indicate important roles for circRNAs in the regulation of gene expression by acting as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs). However, the specific role of circRNAs in myogenesis is still poorly understood. In this study, we attempted to systematically identify the circRNAs involved in myogenesis and analyze the biological functions of circRNAs in chicken skeletal muscle development.

Results
In total, 532 circRNAs were identified as being differentially expressed between pectoralis major (PEM) and soleus (SOL) in 7-week-old Xinghua chicken. Among them, a novel circRNA (novel_circ_002621), generated by PTPN4 gene, was named circPTPN4 and identified. circPTPN4 is highly expressed in skeletal muscle, and its expression level is upregulated during myoblast differentiation. circPTPN4 facilitates the proliferation and differentiation of myoblast. Moreover, circPTPN4 suppresses mitochondria biogenesis and activates fast-twitch muscle phenotype. Mechanistically, circPTPN4 can function as a ceRNA to regulate NAMPT expression by sponging miR-499-3p, thus participating in AMPK signaling.

Conclusions
circPTPN4 functions as a ceRNA to regulate NAMPT expression by sponging miR-499-3p, thus promoting the proliferation and differentiation of myoblast, as well as activating fast-twitch muscle phenotype.
Triatoma williami in intradomiciliary environments of urban areas in Mato Grosso State, Brazil: domiciliation process of a wild species?
Authors: Martins Mirian Francisca , de Moraes Sinara Cristina , Oliveira Jader , dos Santos Janaina Cipriana , Santos-Silva Ludier Kesser , Galvão Cleber 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Background
Triatomines in Latin America are natural Chagas disease (ChD) vectors. Triatomine domiciliation is one of the main factors increasing the occurrence risk of this disease in humans. There are 66 triatomine species in Brazil, with three genera of significant epidemiological importance—Panstrongylus, Rhodnius, and Triatoma. Among the Triatoma species, Triatoma williami, a wild species, has been reported in Goiás, Mato Grosso, and Mato Grosso do Sul. In the Barra do Garças, Mato Grosso, the invasion by triatomines has been reported, with T. williami being the most common species. This study aimed to survey triatomine fauna and determine the Trypanosoma cruzi natural infection rates in triatomines in the urban area of Barra do Garças, Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Methods
Triatomine specimens were sampled by passive surveillance or active search by agents combating endemic diseases from 2019 to 2020. A parasitological feces diagnosis was performed to detect the presence of T. cruzi after the specimens were identified. Concerning T. cruzi identification, molecular diagnosis and genetic sequencing were performed to determine the strain, also called discrete typing units (DTUs).

Results
The 211 triatomines were collected, distributed in specimens of T. williami (84.4%), P. geniculatus (3.3%), P. diasi (1.4%), and R. neglectus (10.9%). Two colonies of T. williami were found through morphological analyses. These insects were sampled inside domiciles in an urban area neighboring Jardim Pitaluga (15° 51′57.7″ N, 052° 16′ 04.5 E). The records were sampled in September 2019 and January 2021. The rate of natural infection by T. cruzi was 39.4%. Two T. williami specimens from the sampled colonies were positive for the T. cruzi strain DTU IV.

Conclusions
This is the first time that T. williami has been confirmed in an urban area of Barra do Garças, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Further studies are needed for a clearer understanding of the ecology of this species for prevention and control mechanisms since its sampled specimens had a high rate of natural infection by T. cruzi.

Graphical Abstract
Social exclusion, thwarted belongingness, and perceived burdensomeness: construct validity and psychometric properties of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire among patients with sexually transmitted infections in Shanghai, China
Authors: Gong Ruijie , Wang Suping , Ji Yucheng , Li Zhile , Chang Ruijie , Zhang Shuxian , Yu Xiaoyue , Xu Chen , Cai Yong , Ni Yang 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Background
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a serious public health problem worldwide. Patients with STIs have a high rate of psychosocial problems and may perceive unmet interpersonal needs, which is considered a proximal and sufficient cause of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The present study examined the construct validity and psychometric properties of the 15-item Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire among patients with STIs in Shanghai, China.

Methods
We recruited 910 patients with STIs (438 males and 472 females; mean age = 38.72, standard deviation [SD] = 13.034) from the Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital using accidental sampling. Baseline descriptive statistics were calculated using R 4.0.0, and a latent variable model was developed using Mplus 7.4.

Results
The construct validity results supported a latent variable measurement model with three distinct but related constructs (thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and social exclusion) (p < 0.001, χ2/df = 2.475, root mean square error of approximation = 0.057, comparative fit index = 0.931, Tucker–Lewis index = 0.916, standardized root mean residual = 0.044). The Cronbach’s α and McDonald’s ω values were 0.849 and 0.767 for the total scale, 0.888 and 0.889 for perceived burdensomeness, 0.764 and 0.777 for social exclusion, and 0.892 and 0.893 for thwarted belongingness. Interpersonal needs were significantly associated with low self-esteem (r = 0.539), loneliness (r = 0.573), depression (r = 0.338), entrapment (r = 0.420), defeat (r = 0.579), and low perceived social support (r = 0.424).

Conclusions
This was the first study to highlight social exclusion as a distinct but related dimension of interpersonal needs. This finding indicates that patients with STIs perceive high social exclusion. Therefore, health providers should consider the psychological status of these patients and implement strategies to support their integration into society.
Comparison of Ex-PRESS implantation versus trabeculectomy combined with phacoemulsification in primary open-angle glaucoma: a retrospective in vivo confocal microscopy study
Authors: Zhang Yuqiao , He Beiting , Zhang Yulin , Zeng Jin , Chen Yanlei , Niu Yongyi , Yu Honghua , Qin Yongjie , Zhang Hongyang 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Background
To compare the efficacy of Ex-PRESS implantation versus trabeculectomy combined with phacoemulsification.

Methods
A retrospective 12-month study on patients with coincident primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and cataract. The patients underwent combined phacoemulsification and Ex-PRESS implant (Phaco-ExPRESS, n = 35) or phacotrabeculectomy (Phaco-Trab, n = 35). The morphological structures of the filtering bleb were examined by slit-lamp, anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM). Complete success was defined as postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) < 18 mmHg without the use of anti-glaucoma medication. Qualified success was defined as postoperative IOP < 18 mmHg with or without anti-glaucoma medications. The data were collected preoperatively and postoperatively at 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months.

Results
No significant difference in the variables such as age, IOP and perimetry was found between the groups of Phaco-ExPRESS and Phaco-Trab. At the one-year postoperative visit for filtering blebs, Phaco-ExPRESS increased the mean area of epithelial microcysts significantly from 0.10 ± 0.05 to 0.20 ± 0.09 μm2 per μm2, while Phaco-Trab decreased the mean area significantly from 0.08 ± 0.04 to 0.04 ± 0.06 μm2 per μm2. Notably, the hyperreflective dots detected by IVCM decreased by 84.9% in Phaco-ExPRESS but increased by 36.3% in Phaco-Trab. The hyperreflective dots were further identified as neutrophil- and monocyte-like cells. The number of these cells were negatively correlated with the microcysts area (r =  − 0.7, P < 0.01) but positively associated with the grade of connective tissue (r = 0.5, P < 0.01). By creating different microstructural changes in the filtering blebs, Phaco-ExPRESS produced a higher complete success rate (84.9% vs. 41.2%, P < 0.01) and significant decrease in the number of anti-glaucoma medications (P < 0.01) when compared with those in Phaco-Trab. However, the qualified success showed no significant difference between the two groups (100.0% vs. 91.2%, P = 0.24).

Conclusions
At the one-year follow-up, Phaco-ExPRESS generated better filtering bleb with larger area of microcysts, looser connective tissues, and less inflammation than that of Phaco-Trab, providing adequate IOP control and less IOP-lowering medications. These findings indicate that Phaco-ExPRESS could be more preferred than Phaco-Trab for the treatment of patients with coincident POAG and cataract.
Machine and cognitive intelligence for human health: systematic review
Authors: Chen Xieling , Cheng Gary , Wang Fu Lee , Tao Xiaohui , Xie Haoran , Xu Lingling 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBrain informatics is a novel interdisciplinary area that focuses on scientifically studying the mechanisms of human brain information processing by integrating experimental cognitive neuroscience with advanced Web intelligence-centered information technologies. Web intelligence, which aims to understand the computational, cognitive, physical, and social foundations of the future Web, has attracted increasing attention to facilitate the study of brain informatics to promote human health. A large number of articles created in the recent few years are proof of the investment in Web intelligence-assisted human health. This study systematically reviews academic studies regarding article trends, top journals, subjects, countries/regions, and institutions, study design, artificial intelligence technologies, clinical tasks, and performance evaluation. Results indicate that literature is especially welcomed in subjects such as medical informatics and health care sciences and service. There are several promising topics, for example, random forests, support vector machines, and conventional neural networks for disease detection and diagnosis, semantic Web, ontology mining, and topic modeling for clinical or biomedical text mining, artificial neural networks and logistic regression for prediction, and convolutional neural networks and support vector machines for monitoring and classification. Additionally, future research should focus on algorithm innovations, additional information use, functionality improvement, model and system generalization, scalability, evaluation, and automation, data acquirement and quality improvement, and allowing interaction. The findings of this study help better understand what and how Web intelligence can be applied to promote healthcare procedures and clinical outcomes. This provides important insights into the effective use of Web intelligence to support informatics-enabled brain studies.
Simulating employment and fiscal effects of public investment in high-quality universal childcare in the UK
Authors: De Henau Jerome 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThis paper simulates the likely fiscal and employment effects of a vast public annual investment programme of free universal high-quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) services in the UK. It examines the extent to which it would pay for itself fiscally for different scenarios of pay increases. Investing in high-quality universal ECEC benefits all children by improving their life chances, especially for those living in lower income families. It also generates larger employment effects than other more typical investment policies such as construction projects and fosters gender equality in employment: not only it provides many high-quality jobs for women, it also allows many mothers to improve their lifetime earnings prospects by freeing up their childcare constraints. This in turn has beneficial fiscal revenue effects for the government. Estimations of annual public expenditure for a system of highly qualified and well-paid childcare staff with low child-to-staff ratios are performed, with universal coverage for all pre-school children aged 6 months to 4.5 years. Labour demand and matching supply effects are also simulated using input–output methods, for different take-up rates of the programme. A microsimulation tool is used to calculate increases in household income and tax liabilities and decreases in social security benefits spending. This results in a net annual funding requirement of between 28 and 39% of the gross investment. Two funding methods are then explored: raising taxation in a progressive way and recouping the cost over time from persistent mothers’ increased earnings. The former would entail a net additional contribution by the richest 20% of households of at most 0.4% of their income; the latter would require 21 to 31 years to offset the programme on average, which is within a typical working life-course following a first child’s birth, of 35 years.
Positive end-expiratory pressure setting based on transpulmonary pressure during robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy: an observational intervention study
Authors: Nakazawa Koichi , Kodaira Ami , Matsumoto Rika , Matsushita Tomoko , Yoshikawa Ryotaro , Ishida Yusuke , Uchino Hiroyuki 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Background
In robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP), concerns include the formation of atelectasis and reduced functional residual capacity. The present study aimed to examine the feasibility of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) setting based on transpulmonary pressure (Ptp) as well as the effects of incremental PEEP on respiratory mechanics, blood gases, cerebral oxygenation (rSO2), and hemodynamics.

Methods
Fourteen male patients who were scheduled to receive RALP were recruited. Patients received mechanical ventilation (tidal volume of 6 mL kg−1) and were placed in Trendelenburg position with positive-pressure capnoperitoneum. PEEP levels were increased from 0 to 15 cmH2O (5 cmH2O per increase) every 30 min. PEEP levels were assessed where end-expiratory Ptp levels of ≥0 cmH2O were achieved (PtpEEP0). Airway pressure, esophageal pressure, cardiac index, and blood gas and rSO2 values were measured after 30 min at each PEEP step and respiratory mechanics were calculated.

Results
With increasing PEEP levels from 0 to 15 cmH2O or PtpEEP0, the values of PaO2 and respiratory system compliance increased, and the values of driving pressure decreased. The median PEEP level associated with PtpEEP0 was 15 cmH2O. Respiratory system compliance values were higher at PtpEEP0 than those at PEEP5 (P = 0.02). Driving pressure was significantly lower at PtpEEP0 than at PEEP5 (P = 0.0036). The cardiac index remained unchanged, and the values of rSO2 were higher at PtpEEP0 than at PEEP0 (right; P = 0.0019, left; P = 0.036).

Conclusions
PEEP setting determined by transpulmonary pressure can help achieve higher respiratory system compliance values and lower driving pressure without disturbing hemodynamic parameters.
Efficiency of femoral nerve block for recovery after primary total knee arthroplasty
Authors: Tekgül Zeki Tuncel , Bilgin Mehmet Uğur , Kayalı Cemil 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundFemoral nerve block (FNB) is a suitable option for pain management and recovery after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). It is usually used along with a multimodal analgesia protocol. The major disadvantage of FNB is the risk of quadriceps muscle strength loss. This study aims to compare the efficiency of the FNB with two different concentrations of bupivacaine for recovery after TKA. We primarily aim to provide adequate analgesia with a lower concentration of bupivacaine (0.125%) rather than the usual concentration (0.25%). Secondarily, we aim to compare the degree of motor block, opioid consumption, and ambulation time between the groups. The study was conducted as randomized, controlled, and double-blind. Sixty three patients were randomized into three groups: G125 (n:21) received FNB with 20ml of 0,125% bupivacaine, G25 (n:21) received 10ml of 0,25% bupivacaine and GCont (n:21) received no block.ResultsFor GCont, pain scores were significantly higher at 2nd, 6th, 12th, and 24th hours postoperatively, total opioid consumption was higher (G125: 75 mg, G25: 0 mg, GCont: 280 mg,p< 0.001) and first opioid demand time was earlier (G125: 12th hour, G25:21st hour GCont:2nd hour,p: 0.002). First knee flexion time and ambulation time were also delayed for GCont. G25 had lower scores for quadriceps muscle strength (manual test at 6th hour, G25: 3/5, G125: 4/5, GCont:5/5,p< 0.001) compared to other groups.ConclusionsG125 had lower quadriceps muscle strength loss compared to the G25; earlier ambulation and flexion times, low opioid consumption, and low pain scores compared to the control group. In this respect, we believe the femoral nerve block with 0.125% bupivacaine proves to be a suitable option for analgesia with the potential of maintaining enough muscle strength for recovery after TKA.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.govProtocol Registration and Results System, NCT03623230. Registered 09 August 2018, athttps://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03623230