bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diffuse pattern, orbital invasion, perineural invasion and Ki-67 are associated with nodal metastasis in patients with eyelid sebaceous carcinoma
Authors: Gu Xiang , Xie Minyue , Luo Yingxiu , Song Xin , Xu Shiqiong , Fan Xianqun 
Published: January 2022

BackgroundMetastasis dominates the prognosis of eyelid sebaceous carcinoma (SC). This study aimed to explore risk factors for nodal metastasis and develop a nomogram to predict nodal metastasis in patients with eyelid SC.MethodsA retrospective case–control study was performed, comprising 320 patients with eyelid SC. Cox analyses were employed to investigate predictors of metastasis-free survival (MFS), and a nomogram was established and validated by the bootstrap method.ResultsForty patients (12.5%) developed nodal metastasis during a median follow-up of 48.0 months, and the median period between the initial treatment and first nodal metastasis was 18.5 months (range 6.0–80.0 months). The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year nodal metastasis rates were 5.5%, 12.5% and 15.4%, respectively. Diffuse pattern (HR: 4.34, 95% CI 1.75 to 10.76, p=0.002), orbital invasion at presentation (HR: 3.22, 95% CI 1.42 to 7.33, p=0.005), perineural invasion (HR: 3.24, 95% CI 1.11 to 9.49, p=0.032) and high Ki-67 percentage (HR: 1.03, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.05, p<0.001) were identified as independent risk factors for nodal metastasis. A nomogram that integrated these four factors had a C-index of 0.785, demonstrating a strong power in predicting nodal metastasis of eyelid SC.ConclusionsWe identified risk factors for nodal metastasis and developed a nomogram to provide individualised estimates of nodal metastasis for eyelid SC patients and guide postoperative management. This nomogram contained clinicopathological factors besides the T category of the TNM staging system and suggesting great clinical value.
Longitudinal changes of early motor and cognitive symptoms in progressive supranuclear palsy: the OxQUIP study
Authors: Pereira Marta F , Buchanan Tim , Höglinger Günter U , Bogdanovic Marko , Tofaris George , Prangnell Simon , Sarangmat Nagaraja , FitzGerald James J , Antoniades Chrystalina A 
Published: January 2022

BackgroundProgressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a rare neurodegenerative condition characterised by a range of motor and cognitive symptoms. Very little is known about the longitudinal change in these symptoms over time. Moreover, the effectiveness of clinical scales to detect early changes in PSP is still a matter of debate.ObjectiveWe aimed to determine longitudinal changes in PSP features using multiple closely spaced follow-up time points over a period of 2 years.Methods28 healthy control and 28 PSP participants, with average time since onset of symptoms of 1.9 years, were prospectively studied every 3 months for up to 24 months. Changes from baseline scores were calculated at each follow-up time point using multiple clinical scales to identify longitudinal progression of motor and cognitive symptoms.ResultsThe Montreal Cognitive Assessment, but not the Mini-Mental State Examination, detected cognitive decline at baseline. Both scales revealed poor longitudinal sensitivity to clinical change in global cognitive symptoms. Conversely, the Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson’s disease Rating Scale – part III and the PSP Rating Scale (PSPRS) reliably detected motor decline less than 2 years after disease onset. The ‘Gait/Midline’ PSPRS subscore consistently declined over time, with the earliest change being observed 6 months after baseline assessment.ConclusionWhile better cognitive screening tools are still needed to monitor cognitive decline in PSP, motor decline is consistently captured by clinical rating scales. These results support the inclusion of multiple follow-up time points in longitudinal studies in the early stages of PSP.
Prospective cohort study of topical versus general anaesthesia for flexible bronchoscopy
Authors: Feng Di , Gu Ye , Liu Li , Shen Lei , Shi Hong 
Published: January 2022

Abstract

Background
Topical anaesthesia (TA) and general anaesthesia (GA) are performed for flexible bronchoscopy (FB) worldwide. However, few studies have compared the two anaesthesia methods in terms of perioperative discomforts.

Methods
648 patients undergoing FB were recruited in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, a specialised medical centre in China, from January 2019 to December 2019. The patients underwent FB under TA or GA. The TA group received 1% lidocaine by nasal route, and the GA group received total intravenous anaesthesia. The level of perioperative discomfort and patient satisfaction were assessed. The investigators were blind to the group allocation.

Results
Finally, 239 patients received TA and 182 patients received GA. The basic demographic properties were comparable between two groups. There were no significant differences in terms of sore throat, 61.5% in TA group vs 57.1% in GA group. However, there was a significant difference in terms of postoperative nausea and vomiting (34.3% in TA group vs 56.6% in GA group), and dizziness (37.7% in TA group vs 78% in GA group). There was a significant difference in terms of total complication scores (17.2 ± 5.1 in TA group vs 7.7 ± 4.3 in GA group) and satisfaction degree of patients (2.6 ± 1.1 in TA group vs 4.3 ± 0.8 in GA group).

Conclusions
Compared with TA, GA significantly reduced the total complication scores of perioperative discomforts and improved the satisfaction score of patients for FB.

Trial registration number
This clinical trial was registered with www.chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR1800019971).
Consolidation mechanism of high-water-content slurry during vacuum preloading with prefabricated vertical drains
Authors: Sun Hong-lei , He Zi-li , Pan Kun , Lu Jing-ling , Pan Xiao-dong , Shi Li , Geng Xue-yu 
Published: January 2022

Vacuum preloading combined with prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) has been widely used to improve soft clayey soil deposits. However, the consolidation deformation of high-water-content slurry under vacuum pressure is still not fully understood. In this study, the displacement field of the slurry during vacuum preloading was directly observed using the particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique. The test results showed that the displacement field of the slurry could be divided into three different zones that reflect distinct consolidation patterns. In zones I and III, the slurry was predominantly compressed along the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively, whereas in zone II, compression occurred in both vertical and horizontal directions. In particular, the slurry elements in zones I and II underwent horizontal extension prior to horizontal compression. The study also visualized the boundary of the soil column and provided an equation for the relation between soil column thickness and consolidation time, which could provide a reference for the theoretical consolidation calculations related to soil columns.
Antibiotic use in commercial broiler chicken farming and its consequential resistance development in root colonizing bacteria of carrot grown in manure-applied soils in a middle-income country
Authors: Dandeniya Warshi S. , Herath Erandi M. , Lowe Ayesh M. , Kasinthar Mathaniga , Jinadasa Rasika N. , Vidanarachchi Janak K. , Samarakone Thusith S. 
Published: January 2022

Broiler chicken litter (BCL) is a cheap manure for vegetable crops in developing countries. Extensive antibiotic use in poultry production could increase antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) in manure and eventually in crop root microbiome. We investigated the prevalence of ARB in BCL from medium- and large-scale farms (n = 33) and in carrot (Daucus carota) grown in BCL-applied soils in Sri Lanka. All the BCL samples contained aerobic bacteria resistant to 10 μg·mL−1 of oxytetracycline or enrofloxacin. The abundance of ARB determined by viable plate-count method ranged from 0.05% to 30.10% of aerobic bacterial population. Soil from two fields applied with BLC for 3 yr (short history, SH) and 10 yr (long history, LH) were treated with BCL (10%, w/w) and oxytetracycline (10 and 100 mg·kg−1) in a pot experiment alongside an unamended control. Adding BCL and oxytetracycline had a significant (P < 0.05) effect on the abundance of oxytetracycline-resistant epiphytic and endophytic bacteria (EEB) in carrot roots at harvest. Both total and oxytetracycline-resistant EEB increased significantly (P < 0.05) with the application of BCL to LH soil but not to SH soil. Carrot sold at retailed markets (n = 30) contained epiphytic bacteria resistant to 1 μg·mL−1 oxytetracycline (4.13 ± 0.207 log10CFU·g−1 dry carrot). High minimum inhibitory concentrations for oxytetracycline (≥128 μg·mL−1) were observed in 83% and 50% of ARB isolates obtained from BCL (n = 18) and carrot (n = 24), respectively. Results confirmed that BCL acts as a carrier of ARB, and continuous application of BCL to soil increased the prevalence of ARB among EEB in carrot.
BRAF Inhibitors Reprogram Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts to Drive Matrix Remodeling and Therapeutic Escape in Melanoma
Authors: Liu Tianyi , Zhou Linli , Xiao Yao , Andl Thomas , Zhang Yuhang 
Published: January 2022

Abstract

The tumor stroma and its cellular components are known to play an important role in tumor response to treatment. Here, we report a novel resistance mechanism in melanoma that is elicited by BRAF inhibitor (BRAFi)–induced noncanonical activation of nuclear β-catenin signaling in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF). Treatment with BRAFi leads to an expanded CAF population with increased β-catenin nuclear accumulation and enhanced biological properties. This CAF subpopulation is essential for melanoma cells to proliferate and acquire resistance to BRAFi/MEK inhibitors (MEKi). Mechanistically, BRAFi induces BRAF-CRAF heterodimerization and subsequent activation of ERK signaling in CAFs, leading to inactivation of the β-catenin destruction complex. RNA-seq identified periostin (POSTN) as a major downstream effector of β-catenin in CAFs. POSTN compensates for the loss of β-catenin in CAFs and mediates melanoma cell BRAFi/MEKi resistance. In melanoma cells, POSTN activates phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling and subsequently reactivates the ERK pathway that was inhibited by BRAFi/MEKi. Collectively, these data underscore the role of BRAFi-induced CAF reprogramming in matrix remodeling and therapeutic escape of melanoma cells.

Significance:
β-Catenin activation in cancer-associated fibroblasts in response to BRAF inhibitors stimulates POSTN secretion to promote resistance in cancer cells, revealing POSTN as a potential matrix target in cancer therapy.
Plasma Metabolomics and Breast Cancer Risk over 20 Years of Follow-up among Postmenopausal Women in the Nurses' Health Study
Authors: Brantley Kristen D. , Zeleznik Oana A. , Rosner Bernard , Tamimi Rulla M. , Avila-Pacheco Julian , Clish Clary B. , Eliassen A. Heather 
Published: January 2022

Abstract

Background:
Metabolite profiles provide insight into biologic mechanisms contributing to breast cancer development. We explored the association between prediagnostic plasma metabolites (N = 307) and invasive breast cancer among postmenopausal women in a nested case–control study within the Nurses' Health Study (N = 1,531 matched pairs).

Methods:
Plasma metabolites were profiled via LC/MS-MS using samples taken ≥10 years (distant, N = 939 cases) and &lt;10 years (proximate, N = 592 cases) before diagnosis. Multivariable conditional logistic regression was used to estimate ORs and 95% confidence intervals (CI) comparing the 90th to 10th percentile of individual metabolite level, using the number of effective tests (NEF) to account for testing multiple correlated hypotheses. Associations of metabolite groups with breast cancer were evaluated using metabolite set enrichment analysis (MSEA) and weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA), with adjustment for the FDR.

Results:
No individual metabolites were significantly associated with breast cancer risk. MSEA showed negative enrichment of cholesteryl esters at the distant timepoint [normalized enrichment score (NES) = −2.26; Padj = 0.02]. Positive enrichment of triacylglycerols (TAG) with &lt;3 double bonds was observed at both timepoints. TAGs with ≥3 double bonds were inversely associated with breast cancer at the proximate timepoint (NES = −2.91, Padj = 0.03).

Conclusions:
Cholesteryl esters measured earlier in disease etiology were inversely associated with breast cancer. TAGs with many double bonds measured closer to diagnosis were inversely associated with breast cancer risk.

Impact:
The discovered associations between metabolite subclasses and breast cancer risk can expand our understanding of biochemical processes involved in cancer etiology.
Implementing Strategies at the Workplace Level to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening Uptake in Argentina: A Controlled Interrupted Time-series Study
Authors: Bardach Ariel Esteban , Pichon-Riviere Andres , Gibbons Luz , Alonso Juan Pedro , Virgilio Sacha Alexis , Belizán María , Comolli Mariana , González Lucas Angel 
Published: January 2022

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is the third most common neoplasm. The immunochemical fecal occult blood test (iFOBT) is recommended for screening. The worksite setting has great potential to deliver preventive interventions. We aimed to design and evaluate the feasibility and potential impact of a multicomponent strategy in a workplace [Internal Revenue Agency of the Province of Buenos Aires (ARBA from its acronym in Spanish “Agencia de Recaudación de Buenos Aires”) in Argentina].

We used a quasi-experimental research design, a controlled interrupted time-series (ITS). The study involved: (i) a preintervention period (July 2015–September 2018); and (ii) an intervention period (October 2018–February 2019). We used semi-structured interviews and focus groups to design the intervention and to ensure feasibility and implementability. We fitted segmented linear regression models to evaluate changes in the monthly rates per 10,000 tests done in ARBA employees and controlling for the proportion of tests done in non-ARBA workers. A total of 1,552 ARBA employees aged 50 or more participated. Overall, iFOBT mean uptake rates were 16 times higher in the intervened during the five-month intervention period, remaining statistically significant after adjusting by the proportion of tests done in the control group (P &lt; 0.001). The effect was higher in women aged 50 to 59 years. Activities were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A multifaceted workplace-based intervention proved to be feasible and acceptable to increase the uptake of colorectal cancer screening in employees of Argentina. Achieving high implementation rates requires building a healthy relationship with the partner organization, adding their values and views, and establishing agreed-upon mechanisms.

Prevention Relevance:
Employee-facing multifaceted worksite cancer screening interventions are a valuable means to increase knowledge and utilization of workers. The controlled ITS showed that colorectal cancer screening mean uptake rates were 16 times higher in the intervened versus the control population during the intervention period, particularly among women aged 50 to 75.
Comparative Safety and Effectiveness of Sotalol Versus Dronedarone After Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Wharton John Marcus , Piccini Jonathan P. , Koren Andrew , Huse Samuel , Ronk Christopher J. 
Published: January 2022

Background
Atrial tachyarrhythmias are common after atrial fibrillation ablation, so adjunctive antiarrhythmic drug therapy is often used. Data on the effectiveness and safety of dronedarone and sotalol after AF ablation are limited. Here, we compared health outcomes of patients who underwent an ablation and were treated with dronedarone versus sotalol.

Methods and Results
A comparative analysis of propensity score–matched retrospective cohorts was performed using Merative™ (formerly IBM) MarketScan Research Databases. Patients treated with dronedarone after atrial fibrillation ablation were matched 1:1 to patients treated with sotalol between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2017. Outcomes of interest included cardiovascular hospitalization, proarrhythmia, repeat ablation, and cardioversion. This study was exempt from institutional review board review. Among 37 589 patients who underwent atrial fibrillation ablation, 2230 were treated with dronedarone and 3986 with sotalol after ablation. Propensity‐score matching resulted in 2224 patients receiving dronedarone matched 1:1 to patients receiving sotalol. Risk of cardiovascular hospitalization was lower with dronedarone versus sotalol at 3 months (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.73 [95% CI: 0.61–0.87]). 6 months (aHR, 0.73 [95% CI: 0.62–0.85] and 12 months after ablation (aHR, 0.79 [95% CI: 0.69–0.90]). Risk of repeat ablation and cardioversion generally did not differ between the 2 groups. A lower risk of proarrhythmia was associated with dronedarone versus sotalol at 3 months (aHR, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.66–0.89]), 6 months (aHR, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.70–0.91]), and 12 months (aHR, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.75–0.95]) after ablation.

Conclusions
These data suggest that dronedarone may be a more effective and safer alternative after ablation than sotalol.
Neurology Trainee Attitudes Toward Neurointervention: Results From an International Survey
Authors: Das Saurav , Mokin Maxim , Sheth Sunil A. , Jagolino‐Cole Amanda , Jadhav Ashutosh P. , Ortega‐Gutiérrez Santiago , White Robin Novakovic , Al‐Mufti Fawaz , Hassan Ameer E. , Nguyen Thanh N. , Fifi Johanna T. , Narayanan Sandra , Masoud Hesham E. , Zaidat Osama , Linfante Italo , Grotta James , Nogueira Raul G. , Liebeskind David S. , Liang Conrad 
Published: January 2022

BackgroundThe rapidly changing treatment landscape for large vessel occlusion acute ischemic stroke, now more than ever, has added to the complexity of emergent decision making and the demand for neurointerventionists. Ensuring exposure of neurology trainees to neurointervention and the availability of well‐defined pathways for those interested in this career is crucial. Here we report the results from our large survey of neurology trainee attitudes toward neurointervention training.MethodsAn online survey targeting trainee impressions on the current state of vascular neurology, neurocritical care, and neurointervention training was conducted as a mandatory requirement for trainee registration in the Society for Vascular and Interventional Neurology Break meeting in April 2020. Quantitative results are reported in proportions, and qualitative results are described. Chi‐square test was used to determine association between categorical variables.ResultsOf the 725 respondents from 49 countries who participated in this conference, 450 (62%) were trainees. A total of 30% of trainees did not have access to neurointervention training, and 40% believed that neurology residency, vascular neurology, or neurocritical care fellowship do not adequately prepare them for a career in neurointervention. A total of 237/321 (73%) trainees whose institutional neurointervention practice included neurologists or a mix of subspecialty backgrounds including a neurologist had an opportunity to spend elective time in a neurology–angiography suite compared with 49/89 (55%) if the institutional neurointervention practice consisted of neurosurgeons or radiologists alone (P=0.001). A total of 49% of trainees each preferred the introduction of a mandatory or an elective neurointervention module during residency. A total of 60% of trainees preferred no to minimal exposure at the medical student level.ConclusionsThis international survey of trainees reinforces the existing gap in neurointervention exposure for neurology trainees. Inclusion of neurointervention faculty that come from a neurology training background and exposure to neurointervention will be crucial to support trainees interested in a neurointervention career pathway.
Pretrial Theta Band Activity Affects Context-dependent Modulation of Response Inhibition
Authors: Wendiggensen Paul , Ghin Filippo , Koyun Anna Helin , Stock Ann-Kathrin , Beste Christian 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
The ability to inhibit a prepotent response is a crucial prerequisite of goal-directed behavior. So far, research on response inhibition has mainly examined these processes when there is little to no cognitive control during the decision to respond. We manipulated the “context” in which response inhibition has to be exerted (i.e., a controlled or an automated context) by combining a Simon task with a go/no-go task and focused on theta band activity. To investigate the role of “context” in response inhibition, we also examined how far theta band activity in the pretrial period modulates context-dependent variations of theta band activity during response inhibition. This was done in an EEG study applying beamforming methods. Here, we examined n = 43 individuals. We show that an automated context, as opposed to a controlled context, compromises response inhibition performance and increases the need for cognitive control. This was also related to context-dependent modulations of theta band activity in superior frontal and middle frontal regions. Of note, results showed that theta band activity in the pretrial period, associated with the right inferior frontal cortex, was substantially correlated with context-dependent modulations of theta band activity during response inhibition. The direction of the obtained correlation provides insights into the functional relevance of a pretrial theta band activity. The data suggest that pretrial theta band activity reflects some form of attentional sampling to inform possible upcoming processes signaling the need for cognitive control.
Unified Coding of Spectral and Temporal Phonetic Cues: Electrophysiological Evidence for Abstract Phonological Features
Authors: Monahan Philip J. , Schertz Jessamyn , Fu Zhanao , Pérez Alejandro 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Spoken word recognition models and phonological theory propose that abstract features play a central role in speech processing. It remains unknown, however, whether auditory cortex encodes linguistic features in a manner beyond the phonetic properties of the speech sounds themselves. We took advantage of the fact that English phonology functionally codes stops and fricatives as voiced or voiceless with two distinct phonetic cues: Fricatives use a spectral cue, whereas stops use a temporal cue. Evidence that these cues can be grouped together would indicate the disjunctive coding of distinct phonetic cues into a functionally defined abstract phonological feature. In English, the voicing feature, which distinguishes the consonants [s] and [t] from [z] and [d], respectively, is hypothesized to be specified only for voiceless consonants (e.g., [s t]). Here, participants listened to syllables in a many-to-one oddball design, while their EEG was recorded. In one block, both voiceless stops and fricatives were the standards. In the other block, both voiced stops and fricatives were the standards. A critical design element was the presence of intercategory variation within the standards. Therefore, a many-to-one relationship, which is necessary to elicit an MMN, existed only if the stop and fricative standards were grouped together. In addition to the ERPs, event-related spectral power was also analyzed. Results showed an MMN effect in the voiceless standards block—an asymmetric MMN—in a time window consistent with processing in auditory cortex, as well as increased prestimulus beta-band oscillatory power to voiceless standards. These findings suggest that (i) there is an auditory memory trace of the standards based on the shared [voiceless] feature, which is only functionally defined; (ii) voiced consonants are underspecified; and (iii) features can serve as a basis for predictive processing. Taken together, these results point toward auditory cortex's ability to functionally code distinct phonetic cues together and suggest that abstract features can be used to parse the continuous acoustic signal.