bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hepatic Artery Anomalies and Its Impact in Patients Undergoing Pancreaticoduodenectmy. A Comparative Study from Kashmir Valley
Authors: Hassan Nayeem UI , Hassan Yaqoob , Ahmad Prince Ajaz , Shah Omar Javed , Bhat Mohamad Younis 
Published: September 2022

Background:
Pancreaticoduodenectomy provides the only opportunity to cure resectable and borderline pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. This is linked to a high rate of morbidity and mortality, especially when combined with hepatic artery anomalies. The goal of this study was to analyse the spectrum and impact of hepatic artery anomalies on intraoperative and postoperative variables, and oncologic outcomes in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Materials and Methods:
All patients with resectable periampullary or pancreatic head tumours who underwent pancreaticoduodenectmy (PD) were included. Patients were divided into two groups using computer-generated random numbers; Group A included patients who had pancreaticoduodenectmy (PD) with normal hepatic artery anatomy and Group B included patients with aberrant hepatic artery anatomy. The data was collected and analysed using SPSS 22.

Results:
Among the 238 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 177(74.36%) participants were included in Group A (Normal hepatic artery anatomy) and 61 (25.36%) in Group B (Aberrant hepatic artery anatomy). The mean age of patients in Group A was 51.3 ± 8.63 years while it was 50.6 ± 8.09 years in Group B. The difference in gender, BMI, pre-operative haemoglobin, bilirubin and albumin between two groups was statistically insignificant (P value >0.05). The difference in mean operative time of Group A 230.9(168–390) minutes and Group B 319.6(200–620) minutes was statistically significant (p-value <0.001). The mean blood loss in Group A (511.5 120.18 ml) was significantly lower than in Group B (623.6 127.06 ml) (P ≤ 0.001). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of post-operative pancreatic fistula, delayed gastric emptying, wound infection, atelectasis, hospital stay, peri-operative mortality, positive resection margins, and mean lymph node yield.

Conclusion:
Patients with hepatic artery anomalies who undergo pancreaticoduodenectomy have significantly more operative blood loss. This could be due to the procedure’s complexity and lengthy operative time. There were no differences between the two groups in terms of postoperative morbidity, oncological outcome, or mortality.
Clinicopathological Features of Pancytopenia in Adults and the Role of Bone Marrow Study in Etiological Categorization
Authors: Bhuyan Abhinab , Hazarika Prabir , Deka Rasadhar 
Published: September 2022

Background and Objectives:
Pancytopenia is a combination of anemia (with a reduction of the red blood cell count), leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Leukopenia is usually mainly due to a reduction in the neutrophil count although the number of other granulocytes, monocytes, and lymphocytes are often also reduced. Pancytopenia is a manifestation of many serious and life-threatening diseases. This study was undertaken to evaluate the clinicopathological features of pancytopenia and the role of bone marrow study for etiological categorization.

Settings and Design:
This is a cross-sectional observational study conducted in a tertiary referral center of north east India, for a period of 1 year (from August 2020 to July 2021).

Materials and Methods:
Proper history taking and clinical examination were done for all patients attending with hemoglobin <10 mg/dL, total leukocyte count <3000 cells/cmm, and platelet count <1 lakh/cmm. The investigations done were peripheral blood smear examination with Leishman stain, special staining, as well as specific biochemical and radiological investigations as per requirement in cases; bone marrow aspiration (under all aseptic precaution); and bone marrow trephine biopsy (under all aseptic precaution). The results are presented in tables and compared with similar studies.

Results:
A total of 42 cases of pancytopenia were evaluated. The age group of 18–20 years was the most commonly affected. Male-to-female ratio was 1.33:1. All the patients presented with generalized weakness and pallor, and a large portion also with abdominal discomfort, hepatomegaly, and splenomegaly. Anisocytosis and macrocytosis were the most common peripheral blood smear findings. Vitamin B12 level was decreased in 75% of all the evaluated cases (15 of 20 cases). Bone marrow was hypercellular in most of the cases (80.95%) followed by hypocellular marrow (14.29%). Megaloblastic erythroid hyperplasia was the most common abnormality found in bone marrow. Megaloblastic anemia was the most common etiology followed by hypoplastic/aplastic anemia. A significant portion (7.14%) also showed bone marrow involvement by myeloma. One case of involvement by metastatic tumor was found.

Conclusions:
Most cases of pancytopenia were due to megaloblastic anemia and so easily curable. The bone marrow study is essential to evaluate a case of pancytopenia to know the exact etiology for proper management.
Sociodemographic Profile of Mono Rifampicin-Resistant (RR) Cases Among Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients, Erbil, Iraq, 2015–2020
Authors: Abdullah Sharmeen Qadr Faqi 
Published: September 2022

Background:
Rifampicin-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (RR-PTB) remains a global health burden. The spread of RR Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a threat to treatment and control of tuberculosis.

Objective:
This study aimed to assess the rate of RR-PTB and further determine the factors associated with it.

Materials and Methods:
This study was achieved in April and May 2022. Data were collected, reviewed, and analyzed from archived records of patients who had been tested using Xpert MTB/RIF assay at the Chest and Respiratory Disease Specialized Centre in Erbil City from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2020.

Results:
A total of 1236 medical records of patients who tested for drug resistance using GeneXpert were included in this retrospective data analysis study. Overall, GeneXpert positive results were reported in 196 cases (15.9%) which denote confirmed cases of tuberculosis by the GeneXpert test in the period 2015–2020. From the total confirmed patients, twenty-one cases (21,10.7%) were found to be RR-PTB. The highest prevalence of RR-PTB according to gender, age range, category of patients, and prevalence of HIV status was as follows: male (11; 52.4%), 18–28 years (9; 42.9%), relapse (13; 61.9%), and HIV positivity (12; 57.1%), respectively. The differences in distribution of the rifampicin resistance concerning the aforementioned demography were as follows: gender: nonsignificant, age range: not significant, relapse: significant (P ≤ 0.05), HIV positivity: highly significant (P ≤ 0.01).

Conclusion:
This study reported the prevalence rate of rifampicin-resistant M. tuberculosis was 10.7% among confirmed TB patients. HIV-positive and previous TB treatment history were significantly associated with high RR-PTB. This result showed that GeneXpert assay is a convenient tool for the early diagnosis of rifampicin-resistant M. tuberculosis.
The severity of clinical symptoms and paranasal sinuses CT-scan finding in COVID-19 patients in Kirkuk Province
Authors: Dalloo Fadya Lutfi Dawood , Shukur Mahmood Shakir , Taha Ali Omar 
Published: September 2022

Introduction:
COVID-19, first detected in Wuhan, China in December 2019, fast spread across the globe, causing a pandemic affecting many countries around the world.

Objectives:
The aim of this study was to assess the severity of clinical features and paranasal sinuses computed tomography (CT)-scan findings in COVID-19 patients and find the relationship between smoking and severity of COVID-19 symptoms.

Materials and Methods:
A cross-sectional study was achieved on a cohort of 399 patients, who clinically suffer from COVID-19 symptoms. The collected data for those patients included COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, presence of the IgG and IgM antigens, and paranasal sinuses CT-scan images.

Results:
This was a cross-sectional study of 399 patients infected with COVID-19. The mean age of the patients was 39 ± 11 years. Approximately 53.6% of them were males, whereas 46.4% were females. 55.6% of them performed CT scan for sinuses. 28.6% of the patients were with severe clinical features. 51.1% of them were smoking. 77.4% of them were of positive PCR, 57.9% positive IgG, and 86.7% positive IgM. 27.8% of patients were of the age group of 40–49 years. There was a significant association between the severity of COVID infection and age group. There was a significant association between the severity of COVID infection and sinus CT-scan findings. There was a significant association between the severity of COVID infection and positive PCR. There was a significant association between the severity of COVID infection and positive IgM. There was a significant association between smoking and sinus CT-scan findings.

Conclusion:
At the time of COVID infection, the severity of infection ranged from mild to moderate. More severe infection with COVID-19 associated with significant finding in sinus CT scan in patients at age group 50–59 years, and sinus also more severe COVID infection associate with positive CT scan finding that occur more in smocking patients.
Role of Carotid Ultrasound in the Evaluation of Atherosclerotic Changes in Beta Thalassemia Major Patients
Authors: Alshammary Ahmed Abdul-Mohsin , Al-Fetlawi Sabih Salih , Aljanabi Zena Abdalameer 
Published: September 2022

Background:
Iron overload in beta thalassemia patients may lead to the alteration of arterial structures together with hyperlipidemia and other risk factors that may lead to the atherosclerotic changes and thickening of carotid arteries. Carotid ultrasound is easy, noninvasive, and rapid test that can detect atherosclerotic changes by the assessment of carotid intima-media thickness, which is a structural marker of atherosclerosis, and it correlates well with vascular risk factors and its relation with stroke and coronary artery disease.

Aim:
The aim was to evaluate the role of carotid ultrasound in the assessment of atherosclerotic changes in iron-overloaded beta thalassemia major patients.

Patients and Methods:
This is a case–control study done in Babylon Gynecology and Children Teaching Hospital from July 1 to December 31, 2018 on 60 patients with beta thalassemia major and 30 normal children as a control group. Their age ranges from 3 to 14 years old. Carotid ultrasound examination was done on all patients and the control group.

Results:
In this study, carotid intima-media thickness was significantly higher in patients than in controls (P < 0.001). Carotid intima-media thickness significantly increases in patients with beta thalassemia major with increasing duration of blood transfusion (P < 0.001), with increasing serum ferritin (P = 0.004), and with increasing serum cholesterol (P < 0.001). The study also showed no correlation between body mass index and blood pressure with carotid intima-media thickness.

Conclusion:
Carotid ultrasound is useful in the assessment of carotid intima-media thickness, which is a marker of atherosclerosis and has a strong positive correlation with markers of iron overload and hyperlipidemia.
PLOD1 contributes to proliferation and glycolysis in hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating E2F1
Authors: Chen Jian , You Xing , Zhou Luke , Yang Jie , Xie Hui , Liu Lin , Li Youwei 
Published: September 2022

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of procollagen-lysine 1,2-oxoglutarate 5-dioxygenase 1 (PLOD1) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Methods: HCC cells were subjected to loss of function assays via transfection with siRNA targeting PLOD1. Colony formation and cell counting kit 8 (CCK8) were used to determine cell proliferation. Cell cycle was evaluated by flow cytometry while extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) levels, glucose consumption, and lactate production were determined to investigate aerobic glycolysis.
Results: PLOD1 was significantly up-regulated in HCC tissues and cells compared to normal tissues and cells (p < 0.001). Silencing of PLOD1 significantly repressed cell proliferation (p < 0.001) and induced cell cycle arrest in HCC at the G1 phase. ECAR levels, glucose consumption, and lactate production in HCC were reduced by knockdown of PLOD1. Loss of PLOD1 down-regulated the expression of E2F1, while over-expression of E2F1 attenuated PLOD1 knockdown-induced decreases in cell viability, glucose consumption, and lactate production in HCC.
Conclusion: Knockdown of PLOD1 inhibits cell proliferation and aerobic glycolysis in HCC via down-regulation of E2F1. Thus, PLOD1 may help in developing an effective strategy for the management of liver cancer.
Network pharma cology and GEO chip based elucidation of mechanisms underlying the use of Yi Tieqing for prevention and treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting
Authors: Xun Shining , Jiao Mingna , Li Jia , Xiaqing Xiaqing , Zhang Afen , He Huali , Zou Junbo , Duan Chongzhen , Zhang Xiaofei 
Published: September 2022

Purpose: To investigate the mechanism(s) involved in the use of Yi Tieqing for the prevention and treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), using network pharmacology and GEO chip.
Methods: The chemical constituents and functional targets of five traditional Chinese medicines in Yi Tieqing were obtained by searching TCMSP database. The PONV disease targets were identified through DisGeNET, GeneCards and DrugBank databases, and differential expression genes of the GEO database chip (GSE7762) were mined. From the intersections of the component targets and disease targets, the core targets of drugs and diseases were obtained. The core targets were investigated in R language using GO-biological process and KEGG enrichment analyses, and their biological activities were verified via molecular docking. Finally, the severity and incidence of PONV in control and treatment groups were determined and compared.
Results: A total of 254 bioactive components and 301 related potential targets were obtained from the TCMSP database. There were 2092 related targets in PONV, and 6 intersecting targets were obtained from Venn diagram. The results of GO biological process and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the incidence of PONV was strongly correlated with the negative regulation of response to wounding and nervous system. Clinical results showed that from 24 – 48 h (T2) after operation, the severity and incidence of PONV in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Yi Tieqing alleviates PONV through multi-components, multi-targets, and multi-pathways.
Effect of taspine hydrochloride on KGF signal pathway in skin wound healing in rats
Authors: Zhang Xiaojun , Liu Jiadong 
Published: September 2022

Purpose: To investigate the effect of taspine hydrochloride and the regulatory involvement of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signal on skin wound healing in rats.
Methods: Wound model rats were assigned to 3 groups (n = 15 each): untreated control, taspine hydrochloride high-dose treatment, and taspine hydrochloride low-dose treatment groups. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and keratinocyte growth factor receptor (KGFR) were determined using qPCR, while immunoblot assay was used to assess protein levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and other inflammatory factors.
Results: There were significantly down-regulated levels of KGF, KGFR, TGF-β1, VEGF, EGF, HGF, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in control group on the first day, relative to high- and low-dose taspine hydrochloride treatment groups (p < 0.05). Wound repair took more time in control rats than in the 2 taspine HCL-treatment rats. However, healing time was significantly shorter in rats given higher level of taspine HCL (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Taspine hydrochloride down-regulates the high expression of FGF and inhibits inflammatory response in rats with skin trauma. Moreover, it accelerates skin wound healing. These findings support the clinical application of taspine hydrochloride for skin wound healing.
Effect of the of remazolam toluenesulfonate and IPACK on postoperative rehabilitation and sedation in elderly patients undergoing knee arthroplasty
Authors: Zhan Linsen , Xu Xiaofeng , Zhang Yunfeng , Huang Gang , Li Dong , Lan Yunping 
Published: September 2022

Purpose: To investigate the effect of the combination of remazolam toluenesulfonate and infiltration between the popliteal artery and capsule of the knee (IPACK) on the rehabilitation and sedation of elderly patients undergoing knee arthroplasty.
Methods: A total of 84 elderly patients who underwent knee arthroplasty in Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University between January 2021 and December 2021 were given IPACK in combination with adductor canal block under ultrasound guidance. Forty (40) patients were given anesthesia with propofol + sufentanil + cis-benzene sulfonic acid atracurium (control group), while 44 patients received anesthesia with remazolam toluenesulfonate + sufentanil + cis-benzene sulfonic acid atracurium (study group). Various clinical indices in the patients were assessed
Results: Relative to control, there were significantly lower visual analog scale (VAS) scores at 6 and 12 h after operation, lower frequency of post-operation pumping with PCA pump, lower frequency of remedial analgesia within 48 h after operation (p < 0.05). Moreover, the time taken for spontaneous recovery of breathing, recovery time, and extubation time were similar in the two groups (p > 0.05). The muscle strength of quadriceps femoris of the affected knee joint was higher in the study group than in the control group at 12, 24, and 48 h, after operation (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The combination of remazolam toluenesulfonate with IPACK effectively alleviate pain in elderly patients undergoing knee arthroplasty and improves sedation without increasing cognitive dysfunction. This treatment strategy has potentials for further investigation for possible large-scale application.
Correlation between childhood tuberculosis and abundance of T cell gene transcription and impaired T cell function
Authors: Zhang, Xiaopeng , Jia Zhiyi , Wang Lingzhi , Shao Mingyu 
Published: September 2022

Purpose: To investigate the relationship amongst childhood tuberculosis, abundance of T cell gene transcription and impairment of T cell function.
Methods: A total of 329 pediatric patients treated for tuberculosis in Central Hospital of Zibo, Zibo, China from 2017 to 2019 were enrolled in the study. Among them, 167 cases of tuberculosis-hospitalized children were assigned to the TB group. Additionally, 162 well- and adequately-treated patients with a previous history of tuberculosis were selected as the control group. The abundance of continuous gene transcripts in the peripheral blood of the children was analyzed. The RNA profiles were analyzed via microarray, while interferon (IFN) level was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The T cell proliferation was determined by thymidine assay.
Results: Within 6 months of the commencement of treatment, the differentially expressed transcripts returned the expression in children in the control group. The abundance of Talipes equinovarus, atrial septal defect, robin sequence, and the persistence of the left superior vena cava (TARP) gene transcription in the TB group was lower than in the control group on days 30, 120 and 180 (p < 0.05), while IL1R2 gene transcription abundance in the TB group was higher than in the control group on days 30, 120 ,180 (p < 0.05). The proliferation of T cells and IFNγ in tuberculosis children (TB group) were lower than in healthy controls (p < 0.05). In this study, a total of 129 genes were found to have significant differences in expression, and hence it is speculated that changes in RNA abundance altered the immune pathway.
Conclusion: The reduced abundance of T cell gene transcription and renovated T cell function in children with tuberculosis are related to acquired immunodeficiency. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis in children.
HOXC10 promotes nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell proliferation and migration by regulating PI3K/AKT pathway
Authors: Wu Liping , Qian Guohong , Zheng Yuqing , Zheng Huizhen 
Published: September 2022

Purpose: To evaluate the role of homeobox C10 (HOXC10) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).
Methods: Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assays were conducted to determine NPC cell proliferation. Cell migration and invasion were assessed using a Transwell assay, while western blot was used to investigate the mechanism of action involved in HOXC10- mediated NPC.
Results: HOXC10 levels were significantly elevated in NPC cells (p < 0.001). Over-expression of HOXC10 significantly increased NPC cell viability (p < 0.05) and proliferation. However, silencing HOXC10 reduced NPC cell proliferation. HOXC10 knockdown suppressed NPC cell migration and invasion. NPC expression of phosphorylated phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (AKT) proteins were up-regulated after HOXC10 over-expression but were down-regulated upon silencing HOXC10 (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: HOXC10 knockdown reduces NPC cell proliferation and metastasis by inactivating PI3K/AKT pathway, and therefore, can potentially be developed for the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Icariin protects myocardial cells in spontaneously hypertensive rats by inhibiting mitochondrial and endopla smic reticulum stress related pathways
Authors: Li Wen , Li Luhong , Guan Siyu 
Published: September 2022

Purpose: To investigate the protective effect of icariin (ICA) on myocardial cells in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), and the mechanism involved.
Methods: Twenty-four SPF-grade, 12-week-old SHRs were randomly assigned to model group and ICA group, with 12 rats/group. There were 12 Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats (aged 12 weeks) in the control group. Rats in ICA group were given ICA suspension (40 mg/kg) through gavage, daily for 3 months, while model rats were given equivalent volume of double distilled water (in place of ICA suspension) via gavage for 12 weeks. Blood pressure, cardiac function, left ventricular (LV) mass index, myocardial morphology and apoptosis-related protein levels were determined and compared among the four groups.
Results: The myocardial cells were hypertrophic and disorderly arranged, with widened intercellular spaces. Besides, there were increases in protein expression levels of p53, caspase 3, Bok, Bax, GRP78, p-PERK, ATF-4, CHOP and DR5, while Bcl-2 protein was down-regulated. In contrast, the levels of these indicators in the ICA group were significantly better than those in the model group (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: ICA reduces blood pressure in rats, but improves cardiac function and cardiomyocyte morphology by decreasing apoptosis in cardiomyocytes through down-regulation of mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related apoptosis pathways. Thus, icariin may be suitable for the treatment of hypertension; however, clinical trials need to be undertaken first.