bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Photodynamic therapy for stage I and II non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Chhatre Sumedha , Murgu Septimiu , Vachani Anil , Jayadevappa Ravishankar 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
We analyzed mortality (all-cause and lung cancer-specific) and time to follow-up treatment in stage I and II non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT) compared with ablation therapy and radiation therapy.
From Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked data, patients diagnosed with stage I and II NSCLC between 2000 and 2015 were identified. Outcomes were mortality (overall and lung cancer-specific) and time to follow-up treatment. We analyzed mortality using Cox proportional hazard models. We used generalized linear model to assess time to follow-up treatment (PDT and ablation groups). Models were adjusted for inverse probability weighted propensity score.
Of 495,441 NSCLC patients, 56 with stage I and II disease received PDT (mono or multi-modal), 477 received ablation (mono or multi-modal), and 14,178 received radiation therapy alone. None from PDT group had metastatic disease (M0) and 70% had no nodal involvement (N0). Compared with radiation therapy alone, PDT therapy was associated with lower hazard of overall (hazard ratio = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.39-0.80), and lung cancer-specific mortality (hazard ratio = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.43-0.97). Unadjusted mean time to follow-up treatment was 70days (standard deviation = 146) for PDT group and 67 days (standard deviation = 174) for ablation group. Compared with ablation, PDT was associated with an average increase of 125days to follow-up treatment (P = .11).
Among stage I and II NSCLC patients, PDT was associated with improved survival, compared with radiation alone; and longer time to follow-up treatment compared with ablation. Currently, PDT is offered in various combinations with surgery and radiation. Larger studies can investigate the efficacy and effectiveness of these combinations.
Diversity of academic general medicine
Authors: Takahashi Noriyuki , Matsuhisa Takaharu , Takahashi Kunihiko , Ban Nobutaro 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Although research in general medicine is diverse, it has not been compared with research in a different medical specialty. The study aim was to understand the characteristics of research produced at Japanese university departments of general medicine and published in English-language journals, via comparison with another academic specialty, cardiology.
In this cross-sectional study, a nationwide survey of the official websites of 82 university-affiliated medical schools in Japan was conducted in April 2020 to identify the heads of general medicine departments. We then surveyed the research output of these individuals in terms of original article output and research field diversity for journals listed in the Web of Science Core Collection of journals from 2010 to 2019. A similar survey of cardiology department publications was also conducted to provide a reference for intergroup comparisons and analysis of covariance.
The analysis included 128 researchers from 78 general medicine departments and 96 researchers from 81 cardiology departments. The dominant research field of general medicine was general and internal medicine; that of cardiology was cardiac/cardiovascular systems. Data stratification by research field showed that general medicine researchers published significantly more articles than researchers in cardiology, a field that contains relatively few researchers. Furthermore, a comparison of individual researchers with the same number of published articles showed that researchers in general medicine departments published across a significantly wider range of fields than those in cardiology.
This is the first study to describe the research characteristics of general medicine university departments in Japan through comparison with research in a different academic specialty. General medicine researchers in Japan comprise a heterogeneous group that mainly publishes research on general and internal medicine. Some general medicine researchers take a multidisciplinary approach to research and publishing.
Comparing the efficacy and safety of short-term spinal cord stimulation and pulsed radiofrequency for zoster-related pain
Authors: Xue Song , Yang Wen-jie , Cao Zhen-xin , Sun Tao 
Published: March 2022

Abstract

Background:
Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) is a commonly used method for the treatment of zoster-related pain in the clinic. However, PRF therapy has a high recurrence rate and many adverse reactions. Recent studies have shown that short-term spinal cord stimulation (stSCS) can effectively alleviate zoster-related pain. Due to the lack of evidence, it is unclear whether stSCS is superior to PRF in the efficacy of treating zoster-related pain.

Objective:
This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of stSCS and PRF for zoster-related pain.

Methods:
We searched seven electronic databases from the establishment of the database to January 2021. Related randomized controlled trials were included in this meta-analysis. After extracting the data and evaluating the methodological quality of the included trials, the outcome indicators were statistically analyzed by using RevManV.5.3.

Results:
This meta-analysis included 6 trials with a total of 509 patients. Compared with PRF group, stSCS group showed lower pain intensity (standardized mean difference=-0.83, 95%CI [-1.37, -0.30], P=.002), better sleep quality (mean difference=-1.43, 95%CI [-2.29, -0.57], P=.001), lower pain rating index scores, and less incidence of adverse events (RR=0.32, 95%CI [0.12, 0.83], P<.05). However, the efficacies of PRF and stSCS for treating postherpetic neuralgia were consistent in the response rate (RR= 1.10, 95% CI [0.82, 1.48], P=.51) and the complete remission rate (RR=1.05, 95% CI [0.66, 1.68], P=.84).

Conclusions:
In this study, stSCS showed a better analgesic effect and higher safety than PRF. Our meta-analysis results suggested that stSCS may be a feasible and safe invasive treatment for zoster-related pain. However, high-quality, randomized controlled trials with large sample sizes are needed to further verify our conclusions.
Effect of different physical activity training methods on epilepsy
Authors: Zhang Chen Qi , Li Hong Yan , Wan Yong , Bai Xue Yang , Gan Lu , Sun Hong Bin 
Published: March 2022

Abstract

Background:
Over the past few decades, people with epilepsy were advised not to engage in sports based on the fear that sporting activity may cause injuries, potentially induce seizures, and have a negative effect on disease course. However, in recent years, numerous studies have indicated a positive role of physical exercise in reducing the frequency of seizures and improving health condition of patients with epilepsy. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of different physical exercise programs on the symptomatology and health condition of individuals with epilepsy and provide guidance for selecting the optimal modality of physical exercise for patients with epilepsy via a meta-analysis of available literature.

Methods:
A literature search was carried out in MEDLINE via PubMed, Cochrane Library, EBSCO, Embase, China National Knowledge (CNKI), and Wan fang databases to gather relevant data about different physical exercise modalities and epilepsy. We will use Endnote X9 software for studies selection and Stata16.0 software for the data analysis.

Results:
This present study aimed to provide the most up to date evidence and recommendations for clinicians and epilepsy patients to choose an optimal type of exercise.

Conclusion:
Aerobic exercise and resistance exercises both had a positive effect on epilepsy patients. Persons with epilepsy should be encouraged to participate in sports activities.
INPLASY registration number: INPLASY202220070.
Intergroup conflict: origins, dynamics and consequences across taxa
Authors: De Dreu Carsten K. W. , Triki Zegni 
Published: April 2022

Although uniquely destructive and wasteful, intergroup conflict and warfare are not confined to humans. They are seen across a range of group-living species, from social insects, fishes and birds to mammals, including nonhuman primates. With its unique collection of theory, research and review contributions from biology, anthropology and economics, this theme issue provides novel insights into intergroup conflict across taxa. Here, we introduce and organize this theme issue on the origins and consequences of intergroup conflict. We provide a coherent framework by modelling intergroup conflicts as multi-level games of strategy in which individuals within groups cooperate to compete with (individuals in) other groups for scarce resources, such as territory, food, mating opportunities, power and influence. Within this framework, we identify cross-species mechanisms and consequences of (participating in) intergroup conflict. We conclude by highlighting crosscutting innovations in the study of intergroup conflict set forth by individual contributions. These include, among others, insights on how within-group heterogeneities and leadership relate to group conflict, how intergroup conflict shapes social organization and how climate change and environmental degradation transition intergroup relations from peaceful coexistence to violent conflict.
This article is part of the theme issue ‘Intergroup conflict across taxa’.
Evolution of warfare by resource raiding favours polymorphism in belligerence and bravery
Authors: Mullon Charles , Lehmann Laurent 
Published: April 2022

From protists to primates, intergroup aggression and warfare over resources have been observed in several taxa whose populations typically consist of groups connected by limited genetic mixing. Here, we model the coevolution between four traits relevant to this setting: (i) investment into common-pool resource production within groups (helping); (ii) proclivity to raid other groups to appropriate their resources (belligerence); and investments into (iii) defense and (iv) offense of group contests (defensive and offensive bravery). We show that when traits coevolve, the population often experiences disruptive selection favouring two morphs: ‘Hawks’, who express high levels of both belligerence and offensive bravery; and ‘Doves’, who express neither. This social polymorphism involves further among-traits associations when the fitness costs of helping and bravery interact. In particular, if helping is antagonistic with both forms of bravery, coevolution leads to the coexistence of individuals that either: (i) do not participate into common-pool resource production but only in its defense and appropriation (Scrounger Hawks) or (ii) only invest into common pool resource production (Producer Doves). Provided groups are not randomly mixed, these findings are robust to several modelling assumptions. This suggests that inter-group aggression is a potent mechanism in favouring within-group social diversity and behavioural syndromes.
This article is part of the theme issue ‘Intergroup conflict across taxa’.
Correlates of individual participation in boundary patrols by male chimpanzees
Authors: Massaro Anthony P. , Gilby Ian C. , Desai Nisarg , Weiss Alexander , Feldblum Joseph T. , Pusey Anne E. , Wilson Michael L. 
Published: April 2022

Group territory defence poses a collective action problem: individuals can free-ride, benefiting without paying the costs. Individual heterogeneity has been proposed to solve such problems, as individuals high in reproductive success, rank, fighting ability or motivation may benefit from defending territories even if others free-ride. To test this hypothesis, we analysed 30 years of data from chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in the Kasekela community, Gombe National Park, Tanzania (1978–2007). We examined the extent to which individual participation in patrols varied according to correlates of reproductive success (mating rate, rank, age), fighting ability (hunting), motivation (scores from personality ratings), costs of defecting (the number of adult males in the community) and gregariousness (sighting frequency). By contrast to expectations from collective action theory, males participated in patrols at consistently high rates (mean ± s.d. = 74.5 ± 11.1% of patrols,n= 23 males). The best predictors of patrol participation were sighting frequency, age and hunting participation. Current and former alpha males did not participate at a higher rate than males that never achieved alpha status. These findings suggest that the temptation to free-ride is low, and that a mutualistic mechanism such as group augmentation may better explain individual participation in group territorial behaviour.This article is part of the theme issue ‘Intergroup conflict across taxa’.
Screening of plasma IL-6 and IL-17 in Bangladeshi lung cancer patients
Authors: Shill Manik Chandra , Biswas Bisshojit , Islam Moriam , Rima Sharmin Sultana , Ferdausi Farhana Afrin , Chowdhury Qamruzzaman , Reza Hasan Mahmud , Bepari Asim Kumar 
Published: March 2022

AbstractCancer is the second leading cause of death globally, where most cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Lung cancer is the most prevalent in men and the third most prevalent in women among all cancer types. Globally, 1.8 million new lung cancer cases were recorded in 2012, which increased to 2 million in 2018. Cancer disease burden can be diminished, and life expectancy profoundly increases when diagnosis and prognosis are made at an earlier stage. Although biopsy is the gold standard in cancer diagnosis, it is invasive, inconvenient, and expensive. Liquid biopsy, which identifies cancer biomarkers in blood, is an active area of cancer research. Recent evidence suggests that interleukins (ILs), a class of cytokines involved in diverse cellular processes such as inflammation, growth, and proliferation, play critical roles in cancer initiation, progression, and resistance to therapy. Interestingly, many studies found the association of plasma IL-6 and IL-17 levels with lung cancer prognosis. In this study, we analyzed plasma levels of IL-6 and IL-17 in lung cancer patients and healthy volunteers. We have also studied the demographic and medical records of the participants. Among the participants, 42.9% and 57.1% were female in the control group and the disease group, respectively. The age of the participants was 22-65 years, with a mean of 46.5 (SD, ± 19.7) years. Plasma IL-6 levels were strikingly different between healthy volunteers (mean ± SEM, 0.97 ± 0.15 pg/mL) and patients (mean ± SEM, 7.42 ± 1.45 pg/mL). Notably, the range was narrow in the control group (0.32-2.10 pg/mL) but wide in the disease group (0.42-23.20 pg/mL). Plasma IL-17 levels were slightly lower in the disease group (mean ± SEM, 9.40 ± 2.82 pg/mL) compared to the control group (mean ± SEM, 12.40 ± 4.41 pg/mL), although the difference was not statistically significant. Intriguingly, the mean IL-17 value reduced dramatically with chemotherapy, and further reduction occurred with radiotherapy in lung cancer patients. Together, our study supports the use of plasma IL-6 and IL-7 levels as prognostic markers in lung cancer.
Optimal epidemic control under uncertainty: trade-offs between information collection and other actions
Authors: Flaig Julien , Houy Nicolas 
Published: March 2022

AbstractBackgroundRecent epidemics and measures taken to control them – through vaccination or other actions – have highlighted the role and importance of uncertainty in public health. There is generally a trade-off between information collection and other uses of resources. Whether this trade-off is solved explicitly or implicitly, the concept of value of information is central in order to inform policy makers in an uncertain environment.MethodWe use a deterministic SIR disease emergence and transmission model with vaccination that can be administered as one or two doses. The disease parameters and vaccine characteristics are uncertain. We study the trade-offs between information acquisition and two other measures: bringing vaccination forward, and acquiring more vaccine doses. To do this, we quantify the expected value of perfect information (EVPI) under different constraints faced by public health authorities,i.e. the time of the vaccination campaign implementation and the number of vaccine doses available.ResultsWe discuss the appropriateness of different responses under uncertainty. We show that in some cases, vaccinating later or with less vaccine doses but more information about the epidemic and the efficacy of control strategies may bring better results than vaccinating earlier or with more doses and less information respectivelyConclusionIn the present methodological paper, we show in an abstract setting how clearly defining and treating the trade-off between information acquisition and the relaxation of constraints can improve public health decision making.HighlightsUncertainties can seriously hinder epidemic control, but resolving them is costly. Thus there are trade-offs between information collection and alternative uses of resources.We use a generic SIR model with vaccination and a value of information framework to explore these trade-offs.We show in which cases vaccinating later with more information about the epidemic and the efficacy of control measures may be better – or not – than vaccinating earlier with less information.We show in which cases vaccinating with less vaccine doses and more information about the epidemic and the efficacy of control measures may be better – or not – than vaccinating with more doses and less information.
Systematic literature review examining the mere-measurement effect of patient reported measures: the interaction of emotional valence and frequency of exposure as an independent factor in patient change
Authors: Long Preston , Ritschl Valentin , Otto Lisa , Rogge Alize , Koppert Linetta , Huberts Anouk , Stamm Tanja 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe use of patient-reported outcome (PROs) have become increasingly commonplace across many healthcare settings over the past two decades. The value of PROs is now acknowledged by healthcare providers and patients alike. However, to date, little is known about the best practices for formulating PRO measures (PROMS), but even more specifically, the effect had on the responding patients as a result of item word choice, emotional valence, or frequency of use. That is, 1) does the positive or negative wording of items affect the patient’s perspective on the latent variable, 2) is there a degree of subliminal influence or measurement effects on their behaviour resulting from exposure to PROs, and finally, 3) is such an effect amplified with repeated exposure?
Understanding Barriers toward Interventions for Childhood Obesity in Minority Communities: A Rapid Review
Authors: Colvin Kenya M. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractBackgroundIt is well documented that racial/ethnic minorities have higher attrition rates from pediatric weight manage programs than their white counterparts. This review aimed to identify barriers facing minority families when seeking to complete weight management programs for their children to develop strategies to keep these families engaged. Maintaining engagement through program completion could improve health outcomes and overall quality of life for minority children.MethodsEligible studies were identified through searching PubMed, PsychINFO and CENTRAL databases. Articles had to focus on reasons for attrition from pediatric weight management among minority groups to be included. We extracted data on attrition from each study and narratively summarized the results.ResultsFrom the 302 articles screened, five met the inclusion criteria. Four of the five studies predicted attrition factors from attendance or past survey data. Only one study surveyed parents to identify potential barriers. Among these studies, most sociodemographic factors analyzed had no significant effect on early dropout. Program structure, logistical barriers, and parental negative self and child body image were all identified as predictors of attrition.ConclusionMore studies need to directly investigate why minority families discontinue weight management treatments early. Directly interviewing or surveying parents to ascertain their concerns can lead to the development of programs that retain and better meet the needs of these groups.
Adherence to and enforcement of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) for COVID-19 prevention in Nigeria, Rwanda, and Zambia: A mixed-methods analysis
Authors: Solomon Hiwote , Thea Donald M. , Galea Sandro , Sabin Lora L. , Lucey Daniel R. , Hamer Davidson H. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractIntroductionIn the early parts of the COVID-19 pandemic, non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) were implemented worldwide, including in sub-Saharan Africa, to prevent and control SARS-CoV-2 transmission. This mixed-methods study examines adherence to and enforcement of NPIs implemented to curb COVID-19 in Nigeria, Rwanda, and Zambia, leading up to the 10,000th case of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 in each country. Additionally, we aim to evaluate the relationship between levels and changes of NPIs over time and changes in COVID-19 cases and deaths.MethodsThis mixed-methods analysis utilized semi-structured interviews and a quantitative dataset constructed using multiple open data sources, including the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker. To understand potential barriers and facilitators in implementing and enforcing NPIs qualitative data were collected from those involved in the COVID-19 response and analyzed using NVivo. Quantitative results were analyzed using descriptive statistics, plots, ANOVA, and post hoc Tukey.ResultsIndividual indicator scores varied with the COVID-19 response in all three countries. Nigeria had sustained levels of strict measures for containment and closure NPIs, while in Rwanda there was substantial variation in NPI score as it transitioned through the different case windows for the same measures. Zambia implemented moderate stringency throughout the pandemic using gathering restrictions and business/school closure measures but maintained low levels of strictness for other containment and closure measures. Rwanda had far more consistent and stringent measures compared to Nigeria and Zambia. Rwanda’s success in implementing COVID-related measures was partly due to strong enforcement and having a population that generally obeys its government.ConclusionVarious forces either facilitated or hindered adherence and compliance to COVID-19 control measures. This research highlights important lessons, including the need to engage communities early and create buy-in, as well as the need for preparation to ensure that response efforts are proactive rather than reactive when faced with an emergency.