bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Classification of Alzheimer’s Disease Based on Abnormal Hippocampal Functional Connectivity and Machine Learning
Authors: Zhu Qixiao , Wang Yonghui , Zhuo Chuanjun , Xu Qunxing , Yao Yuan , Liu Zhuyun , Li Yi , Sun Zhao , Wang Jian , Lv Ming , Wu Qiang , Wang Dawei 
Published: February 2022

ObjectiveAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive deterioration of memory and cognition. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has been implicated as a prodromal phase of AD. Although abnormal functional connectivity (FC) has been demonstrated in AD and MCI, the clinical differentiation of AD, MCI, and normal aging remains difficult, and the distinction between MCI and normal aging is especially problematic. We hypothesized that FC between the hippocampus and other brain structures is altered in AD and MCI, and that measurement of abnormal FC could have diagnostic utility for the classification of different AD stages.MethodsElderly adults aged 60–85 years were assigned to AD, MCI, or normal control (NC) groups based on clinical criteria. Functional magnetic resonance scanning was completed by 119 subjects. Five dimension reduction/classification methods were applied, using hippocampus-derived FC strengths as input features. Classification performance of the five dimensionality reduction methods was compared between AD, MCI, and NC groups.ResultsFCs between the hippocampus and left insula, left thalamus, cerebellum, right lingual gyrus, posterior cingulate cortex, and precuneus were significantly reduced in AD and MCI. Support vector machine learning coupled with sparse principal component analysis demonstrated the best discriminative performance, yielding classification accuracies of 82.02% (AD vs. NC), 81.33% (MCI vs. NC), and 81.08% (AD vs. MCI).ConclusionHippocampus-seed-based FCs were significantly different between AD, MCI, and NC groups. FC assessment combined with widely used machine learning methods can improve AD differential diagnosis, and may be especially useful to distinguish MCI from normal aging.
Case Report: Successful Mechanical Thrombectomy in a Newborn With Basilar Artery Occlusion
Authors: Stracke Christian Paul , Meyer Lukas , Schwindt Wolfram , Ranft Alexander , Straeter Ronald 
Published: February 2022

BackgroundNeonatal stroke remains a rare condition that has not yet been assessed in the field of endovascular treatment.CaseWe present the first case report of a successful mechanical thrombectomy in a newborn with a basilar occlusion the treatment was 14 hours after birth. Complete reperfusion of the basilar artery was achieved after the two thrombectomy maneuvers with stent retrievers. Imaging follow-up proved patency of the target vessel and at day 30, the patient showed no neurologic deficits.ConclusionsMechanical thrombectomy appears to be technically feasible and can be an individual option in selected cases to treat stroke in neonates with proven persistent proximal cerebral artery occlusion.
Free-Breathing, Non-Gated Heart-To-Brain CTA in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Feasibility Study on Dual-Source CT
Authors: Liu Jiabin , Wang Chen , Li Qing , Duan Xianggong , Zhu Xiaolian , Wang Jiahong , Du Xiangying , Lu Jie , Li Kuncheng 
Published: February 2022

PurposeTo validate the feasibility of free-breathing, non-gated, high-pitch heart-to-brain computed tomography arteriography (CTA) in acute ischemic stroke and the capability of non-gated heart-to-brain CTA in showing cardiac anatomy.Materials and MethodsThe study protocol was approved by the institutional medical ethics review board. Free-breathing, non-gated, high-pitch heart-to-brain CTA was performed on patients with acute ischemic stroke referred for multimodal CT using a third-generation dual-source CT. Patients scheduled for ECG-triggered heart-to-brain CTA served as controls. Quantitative and/or qualitative image quality of the four cardiac chambers, left atrial appendage, interventricular and interatrial septa, carotid arteries, and coronary arteries were evaluated and compared between the two groups.ResultsFree-breathing, non-gated, high-pitch heart-to-brain CTA was performed on 30 patients with acute ischemic stroke, whereas the control group included 31 cases. There is no significant difference in the image quality of CTAs between the two groups at cardiac chambers and carotid arteries. The image quality of coronary arteries also showed no significant difference between the two groups. The mean dose length products of CTA in the two groups were 129.1 ± 30.5 mGy cm and 121.6 ± 30.3 mGy cm, respectively. Cardiac abnormality can be shown in patients with acute ischemic stroke.ConclusionIt is feasible to use free-breathing, non-gated, high-pitch heart-to-brain CTA with dual-source CT in acute ischemic stroke for cardiac etiology screening.
On Therapeutic Plasma Exchange Against Severe COVID-19-Associated Pneumonia: An Observational Clinical Study
Authors: Cegolon Luca , Einollahi Behzad , Panahi Yunes , Imanizadeh Sina , Rezapour Mohammad , Javanbakht Mohammad , Nikpouraghdam Mohammad , Abolghasemi Hassan , Mastrangelo Giuseppe 
Published: February 2022

BackgroundThere is a risk of novel mutations of SARS-CoV-2 that may render COVID-19 resistant to most of the therapies, including antiviral drugs and vaccines. The evidence around the application of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) for the management of critically ill patients with COVID-19 is still provisional, and further investigations are needed to confirm its eventual beneficial effects.AimsTo assess the effect of TPE on the risk of mortality in patients with COVID-19-associated pneumonia, using three statistical procedures to rule out any threats to validity.MethodsWe therefore carried out a single-centered retrospective observational non-placebo-controlled trial enrolling 73 inpatients from Baqiyatallah Hospital in Tehran (Iran) with the diagnosis of COVID-19-associated pneumonia confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) on nasopharyngeal swabs and high-resolution computerized tomography chest scan. These patients were broken down into two groups: Group 1 (30 patients) receiving standard care (corticosteroids, ceftriaxone, azithromycin, pantoprazole, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir), and Group 2 (43 patients) receiving the above regimen plus TPE (replacing 2 l of patients' plasma by a solution, 50% of normal plasma, and 50% of albumin at 5%) administered according to various time schedules. The follow-up time was 30 days and all-cause mortality was the endpoint.ResultsDeaths were 6 (14%) in Group 2 and 14 (47%) in Group 1. However, different harmful risk factors prevailed among patients not receiving TPE rather than being equally split between the intervention and control group. We used an algorithm of structural equation modeling (of STATA) to summarize a large pool of potential confounders into a single score (called with the descriptive name “severity”). Disease severity was lower (Wilkinson rank-sum test p &lt; 0.001) among patients with COVID-19 undergoing TPE (median: −2.82; range: −5.18; 7.96) as compared to those not receiving TPE (median: −1.35; range: −3.89; 8.84), confirming that treatment assignment involved a selection bias of patients according to the severity of COVID-19 at hospital admission. The adjustment for confounding was carried out using severity as the covariate in Cox regression models. The univariate hazard ratio (HR) of 0.68 (95%CI: 0.26; 1.80; p = 0.441) for TPE turned to 1.19 (95%CI: 0.43; 3.29; p = 0.741) after adjusting for severity.ConclusionsIn this study sample, the lower mortality observed among patients receiving TPE was due to a lower severity of COVID-19 rather than the TPE effects.
Endothelial Function and Postprandial Glucose Control in Response to Test-Meals Containing Herbs and Spices in Adults With Overweight/Obesity
Authors: Huang Yudai , Tsai Meng-Fu , Thorat Rajrajeshwari Sunil , Xiao Di , Zhang Xuhuiqun , Sandhu Amandeep K. , Edirisinghe Indika , Burton-Freeman Britt M. 
Published: February 2022

ObjectivesHerbs and Spices (H/S) contain bioactive compounds with purported health benefits. This study investigated the effect of H/S intake on indicators of vascular and metabolic health over 24 h using a test-meal challenge paradigm in adults with overweight or obesity.MethodsIn a randomized, single-blinded, 4-arm, 24 h, multi-sampling, crossover clinical trial, adults (n = 25) aged 36.6 ± 3.1 years with BMI 28.5 ± 0.6 kg/m2 (mean ± SEM) consumed a high-fat, high-carbohydrate challenge meal (~810 kcal) with salt/pepper only (control) or control with one of three different H/S combinations: Italian herb (rosemary, basil, thyme, oregano, and parsley), cinnamon, or pumpkin pie spice mix (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice) on four separate visits at least 3 days apart. Meals provided 35% of subjects' energy to maintain weight and ~1 g H/S per 135 kcal of the meal. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and blood samples were collected at 0, 1, 2, 4, 5.5, 7, and 24 h for endpoint analysis (additional blood draw at 0.5 h for insulin/glucose). Mixed-model analysis of repeated measures via PROC MIXED PC-SAS 9.4 was performed on the primary outcome (FMD) and secondary outcome variables. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03926442).ResultsItalian herb and pumpkin spice meals significantly increased %FMD at 24 h compared to the control meal (P = 0.048 and P = 0.027, respectively). The cinnamon meal reduced postprandial glycemia (Δ) compared to control (P = 0.01), and pumpkin pie spice mix and cinnamon meals reduced postprandial insulin at 0.5 h compared to the control meal (P = 0.01 and P = 0.04, respectively). IL-6 and triglycerides increased in response to all meals (Time, P &lt; 0.0001) but were not significantly different between meals.ConclusionsThe test-meal challenge study design coupled with multiple sampling over 24 h provides insights into time-course bioactivity of H/S on vascular function and metabolic indices in overweight/obese adults.Clinical Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT03926442.
Study on Appropriate Rectal Volume for External Irradiation in Patients With Cervical Cancer
Authors: Wu Yanjiao , Liu Chunmei , Wang Wenyan , Tian Lei , Xiao Zhiqing , Wang Yanqiang , Guo Han , Xue Xiaoying 
Published: February 2022

ObjectiveTo investigate the appropriate rectal volume for external irradiation of cervical cancer.MethodsA retrospective study of 143 patients with cervical cancer who underwent external radiotherapy from January 2017 to September 2020 was conducted. Average rectum volumes and the cumulative dose (V30, V40, V50, D2cc) to organs at risk (bladder, rectum, and small bowel) during radiotherapy were evaluated using the treatment planning system. Rates of radiation cystitis and radiation proctitis were assessed.ResultsThe median follow-up was 48 months, and the included patients had a median age of 53 years. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on their average rectum volume: Group A: &lt;40 ml; Group B: 40–70 ml; and Group C: ≥70 ml. V30 and V40 in the rectum bladder and small bowel were highest in Group A (mean ± SD standard deviation), but V50 and D2cc in the rectum and bladder were highest in Group C (mean ± SD). Patients in Group B had the lower incidence of both radiation cystitis and radiation proctitis. (p&lt;0.05).ConclusionsFor external irradiation in patients with cervical cancer, a rectum volume of 40–70 ml seems most appropriate, whereas &gt;70 ml increases the risk of severe radiation cystitis and radiation proctitis, and &lt;40 ml increases the risk of mild radiation cystitis and mild radiation proctitis.
Evaluation of Local Pediatric Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest and Emergency Services Response
Authors: McKenzie Kate , Cameron Saoirse , Odoardi Natalya , Gray Katelyn , Miller Michael R. , Tijssen Janice A. 
Published: February 2022

BackgroundSurvival after pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is poor. Paramedic services provide critical interventions that impact survival outcomes. We aimed to describe local pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (POHCA) events and evaluate the impact of the paramedic service response to POHCA.MethodsThe Canadian Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium and corresponding ambulance call records were used to evaluate deviations from best practice by paramedics for patients aged 1 day to &lt;18 years who had an atraumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest between 2012 and 2020 in Middlesex-London County. Deviations were any departure from protocol as defined by Middlesex-London Paramedic Services.ResultsFifty-one patients were included in this study. All POHCA events had at least one deviation, with a total of 188 deviations for the study cohort. Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was achieved in 35.3% of patients and 5.8% survived to hospital discharge. All survivors developed a new, severe neurological impairment. Medication deviations were most common (n = 40, 21.3%) followed by process timing (n = 38, 20.2%), vascular access (n = 27, 14.4%), and airway (n = 27, 14.4%). A delay in vascular access was the most common deviation (n = 25, 49.0%). The median (IQR) time to epinephrine administration was 8.6 (5.90–10.95) min from paramedic arrival. Cardiac arrests occurring in public settings had more deviations than private settings (p = 0.04). ROSC was higher in events with a deviation in any circulation category (p = 0.03).ConclusionPatient and arrest characteristics were similar to other POHCA studies. This cohort exhibited high rates of ROSC and bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation but low survival to hospital discharge. The study was underpowered for its primary outcome of survival. The total deviations scored was low relative to the total number of tasks in a resuscitation. Epinephrine was frequently administered outside of the recommended timeframe, highlighting an important quality improvement opportunity.
Steroid Treatment in Macular Edema: A Bibliometric Study and Visualization Analysis
Authors: Lin Yu , Ren Xiang , Chen Danian 
Published: February 2022

The use of steroids to treat macular edema (ME) is a research hotspot in ophthalmology. We utilized CiteSpace and VOSviewer software to evaluate the Web of Science Core Collection publications and to build visualizing maps to describe the research progress in this topic. There were 3,252 publications for three decades during 1988–2021. The number of studies was low during the first 14 years but has risen consistently in the following two decades. The average publications per year were only 4.8 during 1988–2002, which jumped to 113 per year during 2003–2012, and 227 per year during 2013–2021. These publications came from 83 countries/regions, with the United States, Germany, and Italy leading positions. Most studies were published in Investigative Ophthalmology Visual Science, and Ophthalmology was the most cited journal. We found 9,993 authors, with Bandello F having the most publications and Jonas JB being the most frequently co-cited. According to our research, the most popular keyword is triamcinolone acetonide (TA). Macular edema, diabetic macular edema (DME), retinal vein occlusion (RVO), dexamethasone (DEX), fluocinolone acetonide (FA), and some other keywords were commonly studied in this field. In conclusion, the bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive overview of steroid hotspots and developmental tendencies in the macular edema study. While anti-VEGF therapy is the first-line treatment for DME and RVO-induced macular edema, steroids implant is a valid option for these DME patients not responding to anti-VEGF therapy and non-DME patients with macular edema. Combined therapy with anti-VEGF and steroid agents is vital for future research.
Long-Term Cardiac Damage Associated With Abdominal Irradiation in Mice
Authors: Wang Zhaojia , Jia Ziheng , Zhou Zandong , Zhao Xiaotong , Wang Feng , Zhang Xu , Tse Gary , Li Guangping , Liu Yang , Liu Tong 
Published: February 2022

Aims: Irradiation is an effective treatment for tumors but has been associated with cardiac dysfunction. However, the precise mechanisms remain incompletely elucidated. This study investigated the long-term cardiac damage associated with abdominal irradiation and explored possible mechanisms.Methods and Results: Wild-type C57BL6/J mice were divided into two groups: untreated controls (Con) and treatment group receiving 15 Gy of abdominal gamma irradiation (AIR). Both groups received normal feeding for 12 months. The AIR group showed reductions in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), fractional shortening (FS), left ventricular end-diastolic internal diameter (LVID; d), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LV Vol. diastolic volume (LV Vol; d) and mitral transtricuspid flow late diastolic filling velocity (MV A). It also showed increased fibrosis, reduced conduction velocity and increased conduction heterogeneity. Non-targeted metabolomics showed the differential metabolites were mainly from amino acid metabolism. Further KEGG pathway annotation and enrichment analysis revealed that abnormalities in arginine and proline metabolism, lysine degradation, d-arginine and d-ornithine metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, and arginine biosynthesis.Conclusion: Abdominal irradiation causes long-term damage to the non-irradiated heart, as reflected by electrical and structural remodeling and mechanical dysfunction associated with abnormal amino acid biosynthesis and metabolism.
Conditioning to Enhance the Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Experimental Pain in Healthy Volunteers
Authors: Proulx-Bégin Léa , Herrero Babiloni Alberto , Bouferguene Sabrina , Roy Mathieu , Lavigne Gilles J. , Arbour Caroline , De Beaumont Louis 
Published: February 2022

ObjectiveIn this proof-of-concept study we sought to explore whether the combination of conditioning procedure based on a surreptitious reduction of a noxious stimulus (SRPS) could enhance rTMS hypoalgesic effects [i.e., increase heat pain threshold (HPT)] and augment intervention expectations in a healthy population.MethodsForty-two healthy volunteers (19–35 years old) were enrolled in a randomized crossover-controlled study and were assigned to one of two groups: (1) SRPS and (2) No SRPS. Each participant received two consecutive sessions of active or sham rTMS over the M1 area of the right hand on two visits (1) active, (2) sham rTMS separated by at least one-week interval. HPT and the temperature needed to elicit moderate heat pain were measured before and after each rTMS intervention on the right forearm. In the SRPS group, conditioning consisted of deliberately decreasing thermode temperature by 3°C following intervention before reassessing HPT, while thermode temperature was held constant in the No SRPS group. Intervention expectations were measured before each rTMS session.ResultsSRPS conditioning procedure did not enhance hypoalgesic effects of rTMS intervention, neither did it modify intervention expectations. Baseline increases in HPT were found on the subsequent intervention session, suggesting variability of this measure over time, habituation or a possible “novelty effect.”ConclusionUsing a SRPS procedure in healthy volunteers did not enhance rTMS modulating effects on experimental pain sensation (i.e., HPT). Future studies are therefore needed to come up with a conditioning procedure which allows significant enhancement of rTMS pain modulating effects in healthy volunteers.
Incorporating Baseline Outcome Data in Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis of Non-randomized Studies
Authors: Syrogiannouli Lamprini , Wildisen Lea , Meuwese Christiaan , Bauer Douglas C. , Cappola Anne R. , Gussekloo Jacobijn , den Elzen Wendy P. J. , Trompet Stella , Westendorp Rudi G. J. , Jukema J. Wouter , Ferrucci Luigi , Ceresini Graziano , Åsvold Bjørn O. , Chaker Layal , Peeters Robin P. , Imaizumi Misa , Ohishi Waka , Vaes Bert , Völzke Henry , Sgarbi Josè A. , Walsh John P. , Dullaart Robin P. F. , Bakker Stephan J. L. , Iacoviello Massimo , Rodondi Nicolas , Del Giovane Cinzia 
Published: February 2022

BackgroundIn non-randomized studies (NRSs) where a continuous outcome variable (e.g., depressive symptoms) is assessed at baseline and follow-up, it is common to observe imbalance of the baseline values between the treatment/exposure group and control group. This may bias the study and consequently a meta-analysis (MA) estimate. These estimates may differ across statistical methods used to deal with this issue. Analysis of individual participant data (IPD) allows standardization of methods across studies. We aimed to identify methods used in published IPD-MAs of NRSs for continuous outcomes, and to compare different methods to account for baseline values of outcome variables in IPD-MA of NRSs using two empirical examples from the Thyroid Studies Collaboration (TSC).MethodsFor the first aim we systematically searched in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane from inception to February 2021 to identify published IPD-MAs of NRSs that adjusted for baseline outcome measures in the analysis of continuous outcomes. For the second aim, we applied analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), change score, propensity score and the naïve approach (ignores the baseline outcome data) in IPD-MA from NRSs on the association between subclinical hyperthyroidism and depressive symptoms and renal function. We estimated the study and meta-analytic mean difference (MD) and relative standard error (SE). We used both fixed- and random-effects MA.ResultsTen of 18 (56%) of the included studies used the change score method, seven (39%) studies used ANCOVA and one the propensity score (5%). The study estimates were similar across the methods in studies in which groups were balanced at baseline with regard to outcome variables but differed in studies with baseline imbalance. In our empirical examples, ANCOVA and change score showed study results on the same direction, not the propensity score. In our applications, ANCOVA provided more precise estimates, both at study and meta-analytical level, in comparison to other methods. Heterogeneity was higher when change score was used as outcome, moderate for ANCOVA and null with the propensity score.ConclusionANCOVA provided the most precise estimates at both study and meta-analytic level and thus seems preferable in the meta-analysis of IPD from non-randomized studies. For the studies that were well-balanced between groups, change score, and ANCOVA performed similarly.