bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Radiation-induced eosinophil increase ratio predicts patient outcomes in non-small celllung cancer
Authors: Wang Nuo-Han , Zhang Xin , Sui Jiang-Dong , Wang Ying , Wu Yong-Zhong , Lei Qian-Qian , Tu Hong-Lei , Yang Li-Na , Liu Yun-Chang , Yang Meng-Qi , Yang Hao-Nan , Li Dan , Lei Zheng 
Published: October 2022

Background and purposeRadiotherapy (RT) is a double-edged sword in regulating immune responses. This study aimed to investigate the impact of thoracic RT on circulating eosinophils and its association with patient outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Materials and methodsThis retrospective study included 240 patients with advanced NSCLC treated with definitive thoracic RT from January 2012 to January 2020. Statistics included Kaplan-Meier analysis of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), multivariate Cox analyses to identify significant variables, and Spearman’s correlation to qualify the relationship between dose-volume histogram (DVH) parameters and EIR.ResultsAbsolute eosinophil counts (AECs) showed an increasing trend during RT and an obvious peak in the 1st month after RT. Thresholds of eosinophil increase ratio (EIR) at the 1st month after RT for both OS and PFS were 1.43. Patients with high EIR above 1.43 experienced particularly favorable clinical outcomes (five-year OS: 21% versus 10%, P&lt;0.0001; five-year PFS: 10% versus 8%, P=0.014), but may not derive PFS benefit from the addition of chemotherapy to RT. The higher a patient’s EIR, the larger the potential benefit in the absence of chemotherapy. DVH parameters including heart mean dose and heart V10 were negatively associated with EIR. None of these DVH parameters was correlated with the clinical outcomes.ConclusionEIR may serve as a potential biomarker to predict OS and PFS in NSCLC patients treated with RT. These findings require prospective studies to evaluate the role of such prognostic marker to identify patients at risk to tailor interventions.
Rivaroxaban in heart failure patients with left ventricular thrombus: A retrospective study
Authors: Zhang Qian , Zhang Zhongfan , Zheng Haikuo , Qu Ming , Li Shouping , Yang Ping , Si Daoyuan , Zhang Wenqi 
Published: October 2022

Background: The role of rivaroxaban in patients with heart failure (HF) combined with left ventricular (LV) thrombus remains unknown in current guideline-directed anticoagulant therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact on clinical outcomes of rivaroxaban compared to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in patients with HF combined with LV thrombus.Methods: We retrospectively extracted clinical, echocardiographic and follow-up data of HF patients (all classifications) admitted at China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University from January 2017 to June 2021. A total of 198 patients with HF were identified with LV thrombus by echocardiography, 78 of them were managed with VKAs, 109 with rivaroxaban.Results: The median follow-up was 17.0 months (interquartile range: 6.0–24.0 months). High rates of major cardiovascular adverse events (MACEs) were observed in both the rivaroxaban and VKAs groups (49.5% vs. 57.7%). However, rivaroxaban versus VKAs observed a decrease in MACEs (adjusted HR:0.636; 95%CI:0.418–0.970; p = 0.035) and systemic embolism (4.6% vs. 12.8%; adjusted HR:0.318; 95%CI:0.108–0.933; p = 0.037; Gray’s test p = 0.041) but was not found to have a benefit with regard to LV thrombus resolution (59.6% vs. 70.6%; adjusted HR: 1.303; 95% CI:0.898–1.890; p = 0.163; Gray’s test p = 0.073). Additionally, there was no significant between-group difference in the rate of International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH) bleeding events.Conclusion: Our data found that in populations with HF combined with LV thrombus, the overall prognosis in both the rivaroxaban and VKAs groups was catastrophic. Although rivaroxaban improved the prognosis to some extent, a considerable need remains for new treatments to improve their clinical course.
A study on green synthesis, characterization of chromium oxide nanoparticles and their enzyme inhibitory potential
Authors: Zainab  , Ahmad Shujaat , Khan Idrees , Saeed Khalid , Ahmad Hanif , Alam Aftab , Almehmadi Mazen , Alsaiari Ahad Amer , Haitao Yu , Ahmad Manzoor 
Published: October 2022

The conventional chemical methods of nanoparticles synthesis have been effectively replaced by nanoparticle synthesis mediated by plants. The current study describes the environmental friendly synthesis of chromium oxide nanoparticles (Cr2O3 NPs) using Erythrophleum guineense plant extract. The synthesis of Cr2O3 NPs was validated by UV/VIS spectroscopy, Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The appearance of the Sharpe peak at 460 nm in the UV/Vis spectrum and the colour change caused by surface plasma resonance confirmed the formation of Cr2O3 NPs. The EDX spectrum of Cr2O3 nanoparticles revealed the presence of carbon, oxygen, and chromium, while SEM analysis revealed an irregular round morphology (with a size below 400 nm). In addition, XRD studies suggested their crystalline nature by the characteristic peaks at 34° and 36° and 42° (2Ɵ), respectively. The green synthesized Cr2O3 NPs showed promise as in-vitro cholinesterase inhibitor at tested concentrations (62.5–1,000 μg/ml), with IC50 values of 120 and 100 μg/ml against Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), respectively. The results suggested that the green synthesized Cr2O3 NPs could be used in the future to stop enzyme from working and for other biological activities.
The effect of a low dose hydrogen-oxygen mixture inhalation in midlife/older adults with hypertension: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Liu Boyan , Jiang Xue , Xie Yunbo , Jia Xiubin , Zhang Jiashuo , Xue Yazhuo , Qin Shucun 
Published: October 2022

Objective: To explore the effect of a low-dose hydrogen–oxygen (H2-O2) mixture inhalation in midlife/older adults with hypertension.Methods: This randomized, placebo-controlled trial included 60 participants with hypertension aged 50–70 years who were randomly divided into Air group (inhaled placebo air) or H2-O2 group [inhaled H2-O2 mixture (66% H2/33% O2)]. Participants in both groups were treated 4 h per day for 2 weeks. Four-limb blood pressure and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure were monitored before and after the intervention, and levels of plasma hormones related to hypertension were determined.Results: A total of 56 patients completed the study (27 in the Air group and 29 in the H2-O2 group). The right and left arm systolic blood pressure (SBP) were significantly decreased in H2-O2 group compared with the baseline levels (151.9 ± 12.7 mmHg to 147.1 ± 12.0 mmHg, and 150.7 ± 13.3 mmHg to 145.7 ± 13.0 mmHg, respectively; all p &lt; 0.05). Meanwhile, the H2-O2 intervention significantly decreased diastolic nighttime ambulatory blood pressure by 2.7 ± 6.5 mmHg (p &lt; 0.05). All blood pressures were unaffected in placebo group (all p &gt; 0.05). When stratified by age (aged 50–59 years versus aged 60–70 years), participants in the older H2-O2 group showed a larger reduction in right arm SBP compared with that in the younger group (p &lt; 0.05). In addition, the angiotensin II, aldosterone, and cortisol levels as well as the aldosterone-to-renin ratio in plasma were significantly lower in H2-O2 group compared with baseline (p &lt; 0.05). No significant differences were observed in the Air group before and after the intervention.Conclusion: Inhalation of a low-dose H2-O2 mixture exerts a favorable effect on blood pressure, and reduces the plasma levels of hormones associated with hypertension on renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and stress in midlife/older adults with hypertension.
Calycosin attenuates renal ischemia/reperfusion injury by suppressing NF-κB mediated inflammation via PPARγ/EGR1 pathway
Authors: Zhang Ningxin , Guan Chen , Liu Zengying , Li Chenyu , Yang Chengyu , Xu Lingyu , Niu Meng , Zhao Long , Zhou Bin , Che Lin , Wang Yanfei , Xu Yan 
Published: October 2022

Renal ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) is a leading and common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI), and inflammation is a critical factor in ischemic AKI progression. Calycosin (CAL), a major active component of Radix astragali, has been reported to have anti-inflammatory effect in multiple organs. However, whether CAL can alleviate renal IRI and its mechanism remain uncertain. In the present study, a renal IRI model is established by bilateral renal pedicles occlusion for 35 min in male C57BL/6 mice, and the effect of CAL on renal IRI is measured by serum creatinine and pathohistological assay. Hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) stimulated human renal tubular epithelial cells HK-2 were applied to explore the regulatory mechanisms of CAL. Luciferase reporter assay and molecular docking were applied to identify the CAL’s target protein and pathway. In the mice with renal IRI, CAL dose dependently alleviated the renal injury and decreased nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) mediated inflammatory response. Bioinformatics analysis and experiments showed that early growth response 1 (EGR1) increased in mice with renal IRI and promoted NF-κB mediated inflammatory processes, and CAL dose-dependably reduced EGR1. Through JASPAR database and luciferase reporter assay, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) was predicted to be a transcription factor of EGR1 and repressed the expression of EGR1 in renal tubular epithelial cells. CAL could increase PPARγ in a dose dependent manner in mice with renal IRI and molecular docking predicted CAL could bind stably to PPARγ. In HK-2 cells after H/R, CAL increased PPARγ, decreased EGR1, and inhibited NF-κB mediated inflammatory response. However, PPARγ knockdown by siRNA transfection abrogated the anti-inflammation therapeutic effect of CAL. CAL produced a protective effect on renal IRI by attenuating NF-κB mediated inflammatory response via PPARγ/EGR1 pathway.
A retrospective study of Pupingqinghua prescription versus Lianhuaqingwen in Chinese participants infected with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants
Authors: Dong Yidan , Zhai Wei , Fang Bangjiang , Liu Chenyang , Yuan Suyun , Wang Youhua , Song Qixiang , Li Hai , Chen Bin , Cui Dan , Wang Jun , Wu Qiong , Zhou Chang , Zhou Maolin , Li Shuchun , Zhuang Xu , Xu Qingrong , Zheng Yu , Wu Yingen , Zheng Junhua , Cao Min 
Published: October 2022

Background:Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) seriously endangers global public health. Pupingqinghua prescription (PPQH) is an herbal formula from traditional Chinese medicine used for treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of PPQH in Chinese participants infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.Methods:A total of 873 SARS-CoV-2 (Omicron)-infected patients were included. Among them, the patients were divided into the PPQH group (653 cases) and LHQW group (220 cases) according to different medications. The effectiveness indicators (hematological indicators, Ct values of novel Coronavirus nucleic acid tests, and viral load-shedding time) and safety indicators (liver and kidney function and adverse events) were analyzed.Results:There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between the PPQH group and the LHQW group, except the gender; After the treatment, the levels of IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, NK cells, and INF-α of the patients in the PPQH group showed a downward trend (p&lt; 0.05); The viral load shedding time was 5.0 (5.0, 7.0) in the PPQH group and 5.0 (4.0, 7.0) in the LHQW group; both PPQH and LHQW can shorten the duration of symptoms of fever, cough, and sore throat. The re-positive rate of COVID-19 test was 1.5 % in the PPQH group and 2.3 % in the LHQW group. In terms of safety, the levels of γ-GTT decreased significantly (p&lt; 0.01); gastrointestinal reaction was the primary adverse reaction, and the reaction rate was 4.7 % in the PPQH group and 9.5 % in the LHQW group.Conclusion:PPQH can shorten the length of hospital stay and improve clinical symptoms of patients with SARS-COV-2 (Omicron), and it also has a good safety profile.
Comorbid epilepsy and depression—pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic drug interactions
Authors: Miziak Barbara , Czuczwar Stanisław J. , Pluta Ryszard 
Published: October 2022

Background: Major depressive disorder may be encountered in 17% of patients with epilepsy and in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy its prevalence may reach 30%. This indicates that patients with epilepsy may require antidepressant treatment.Purpose: Both pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic interactions between antiepileptic (antiseizure) and antidepressant drugs have been reviewed. Also, data on the adverse effects of co-administration of antiepileptic with antidepressant drugs have been added. This article was submitted to Neuropharmacology, a section of the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology.Methods: The review of relevant literature was confined to English-language publications in PUBMED databases. Table data show effects of antidepressants on the seizure susceptibility in experimental animals, results of pharmacodynamic interactions between antiepileptic and antidepressant drugs mainly derived from electroconvulsions in mice, as well as results concerning pharmacokinetic interactions between these drugs in clinical conditions.Conclusion: Antidepressant drugs may exert differentiated effects upon the convulsive threshold which may differ in their acute and chronic administration. Animal data indicate that chronic administration of antidepressants could reduce (mianserin, trazodone) or potentiate the anticonvulsant activity of some antiepileptics (fluoxetine, reboxetine, venlafaxine). There are also examples of neutral interactions (milnacipran).
Magnetic resonance T1ρ quantification of human brain at 5.0 T: A pilot study
Authors: Liu Yuanyuan , Wang Wenxin , Zheng Yijia , Wang Haifeng , Zheng Hairong , Liang Dong , Zhu Yanjie 
Published: October 2022

MR quantitative T1ρ mapping has gained increasing attention due to its capability to study low-frequency motional processes and chemical exchange in biological tissues. At ultra-high fields, the chemical exchange and proton diffusion in biological tissues should be more prominent. In this study, for the first time, we aim to test the feasibility of brain T1ρ mapping at 5.0 T MR scanner and compare the T1ρ values estimated using 3.0 T and 5.0 T scanners. Preliminary experimental results show that 5.0 T achieves T1ρ-weighted images with a higher signal-to-noise ratio than those acquired at 3.0T. The SNR benefit at 5.0 T is more obvious in high-resolution imaging. The T1ρ quantifications at 5.0 T are: Corpus callosum (67.4 ± 1.9 ms), Corona radiate (71.5 ± 1.8 ms), Superior frontal gyrus (67.6 ± 2.5 ms), Putamen (58.9 ± 1.2 ms), Centrum semiovale (84.0 ± 6.3 ms). Statistical analysis results indicate that the T1ρ values at 5.0 T show no significant difference with those obtained at 3.0 T (all p &gt; 0.05). The interfield agreements in terms of T1ρ values between 3.0 T and 5.0 T were substantial (all ICCs &gt;0.7). The coefficients of variation for T1ρ measurements from 3.0 T to 5.0 T were all less than 6.50% (2.28%–6.32%).
Effect of crystal-photodetector interface extraction efficiency on Cerenkov photons’ detection time
Authors: Trigila Carlotta , Roncali Emilie 
Published: October 2022

Using Cerenkov photons to improve detector timing resolution in time-of-flight positron emission tomography scanners is promising since they constitute most of the signal rising edge. The main challenge in using Cerenkov light is its low yield per photoelectric interaction, which requires optimizing their complex optical transport in the detector. Monte Carlo simulations unlock information unavailable through benchtop measurements and help better understand the Cerenkov photon behavior. Although the first Cerenkov photons are emitted forward, part of the early triggering signal is lost due to poor light extraction at the crystal-photodetector interface. In addition, the electron path in the crystal, that determines the Cerenkov photon direction, is tortuous due to multiple scattering, causing the Cerenkov photons emitted after a few scatters to no longer be forward-directed. In this context, the transit time spread in the crystal, highly dependent on the detector geometry, plays a crucial role in the photon detection time. In this work, we performed optical simulations in bismuth germanium oxide using 511 keV gamma with GATE to investigate the optical photons extraction when modifying the index of refraction at the crystal-photodetector interface and the crystal aspect ratio. The mean detection time of the first, second, and third detected optical and Cerenkov photon separately was studied as a function of the total number of Cerenkov detected per event. For each configuration, we calculated the expected mean detection time using the probability of detection. Thinner crystals led to lower expected detection times due to the reduced transit time in the crystal. Reducing the refractive index discontinuity at the crystal-photodetector interface decreased all configurations expected mean detection time values. We showed that it not only improves the optical photons (scintillation and Cerenkov) detection efficiency at the photodetector face but directly ameliorates the probability of detecting the fastest one, reducing the effect of thicker materials and of losing the first detected photon information, both crucial to reduce the detector timing resolution. Thanks to their prompt emission and directionality at emission, Cerenkov photons represent the first detected optical photon in most configurations but increasing their detection efficiency is crucial to detect the fastest one.
Chest CT scan for the screening of air anomalies at risk of pulmonary barotrauma for the initial medical assessment of fitness to dive in a military population
Authors: Bonnemaison Brieuc , Castagna Olivier , de Maistre Sébastien , Blatteau Jean-Éric 
Published: October 2022

Introduction: The presence of intra-pulmonary air lesions such as cysts, blebs and emphysema bullae, predisposes to pulmonary barotrauma during pressure variations, especially during underwater diving activities. These rare accidents can have dramatic consequences. Chest radiography has long been the baseline examination for the detection of respiratory pathologies in occupational medicine. It has been replaced since 2018 by the thoracic CT scan for military diving fitness in France. The objective of this work was to evaluate the prevalence of the pulmonary abnormalities of the thoracic CT scan, and to relate them to the characteristics of this population and the results of the spirometry.Methods: 330 records of military diving candidates who underwent an initial assessment between October 2018 and March 2021 were analyzed, in a single-center retrospective analysis. The following data were collected: sex, age, BMI, history of respiratory pathologies and smoking, treatments, allergies, diving practice, results of spirometry, reports of thoracic CT scans, as well as fitness decision.Results: The study included 307 candidates, mostly male, with a median age of 25 years. 19% of the subjects had abnormal spirometry. We identified 25% of divers with CT scan abnormalities. 76% of the abnormal scans were benign nodules, 26% of which measured 6 mm or more. Abnormalities with an aerial component accounted for 13% of the abnormal scans with six emphysema bullae, three bronchial dilatations and one cystic lesion. No association was found between the presence of nodules and the general characteristics of the population, whereas in six subjects emphysema bullae were found statistically associated with active smoking or abnormal spirometry results.Conclusion: The systematic performance of thoracic CT scan in a young population free of pulmonary pathology revealed a majority of benign nodules. Abnormalities with an aerial component are much less frequent, but their presence generally leads to a decision of unfitness. These results argue in favor of a systematic screening of aeric pleuro-pulmonary lesions during the initial assessment for professional divers.
Eight weeks of dry dynamic breath-hold training results in larger spleen volume but does not increase haemoglobin concentration
Authors: Yang Kun , Wang Wen-Bin , Yu Ze-Hua , Cui Xiao-Lan , Yu Zhang-Biao , Jiang Yi , Gou Jin-Fei , Du Meng-Meng 
Published: October 2022

Purpose: It has previously been reported that repeated exposure to hypoxia increases spleen size and haemoglobin (HGB) level and recent reports on the effect apnoea has on spleen size and haematological parameters are contradictory. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effect apnoea training has on spleen size and haematological parameters.Methods: The breath-holding (BH) group was comprised of 12 local student-athletes with no BH exercise experience who performed BH jogging and BH jumping rope dynamic apnoea protocols, five times weekly for 8 weeks. The BH event duration was progressively increased as the apnoea tolerance of the athletes improved (20 to 35 s). The same training task was performed by the control group (n = 10) without BH. Spleen sizes were measured with an ultrasound system and a complete blood cell analysis was performed on the median cubital venous blood.Results: Spleen volume in the BH group increased from 109 ± 13 ml to 136 ± 13 ml (p &lt; 0.001), and bulky platelets decreased from 70.50 ± 5.83 to 65.17 ± 5.87 (p = 0.034), but no changes were recorded for erythrocytes (p = 0.914), HGB (p = 0.637), PLTs (p = 0.346) and WBC (p = 0.532). No changes were recorded for the control group regarding spleen size or haematological parameters.Conclusion: Eight weeks of dry dynamic apnoea training increased spleen size and decreased the number of circulating bulky platelets in the athletes who were assessed in this study. However, the baseline RBC counts and HGB levels of the athletes were not altered by the training programme.