bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Almost 24000 Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 by Sex and Severity During the First 12 Months of the Pandemic in Yazd, the Central City of Iran
Authors: Namayandeh Seyedeh Mahideh , Dehghan HamidReza , Lotfi MohammadHassan , Khajehaminian Mohammad Reza , Hosseini Saeed , Bahrevar Vali , Jarrahi AliAkbar , Majidpour Fatemeh 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
This study was designed and implemented to analyze and establish documents related to the above cases in the first to third COVID-19 epidemic waves for the use of researchers and doctors during and after the epidemic. The current case series study was conducted on 24563 thousand hospitalized COVID-19 patients by examining their clinical characteristics within a one-year period from the beginning of the pandemic on 02.22.2020 to 02.14.2021, which included the first to the third waves, based on gender and severity of COVID-19. The mean age of the participants was 56 ± 20.71, and 51.8% were male. Out of a total of 24563 thousand hospitalized COVID-19 patients until February 2021, there were 2185 mortalities (9.8%) and 2559 cases of severe COVID-19 (13.1%). The median duration of hospitalization was 13 days for patients with severe cases of COVID-19 (IQR-7-23). The rate of hospital mortality was higher in severe (37.8%) than in non-severe (4.8%) cases of COVID-19, While the risk of severe cases increased significantly in the third and early fourth waves (HR=1.672, 95% CI: 1.48-1.89, P<0.001). Also, the risk of contracting severe COVID-19 increased significantly in patients aged ≥ 65 years old (HR=2.1, 95%CI: 1.1.93-2.72, P<0.001). As shown by the results, the rates of hospital mortality (9.3% vs. 8.5%) and severe cases of COVID-19 (13.6% vs. 12.5%) were higher among men than women (P<0.01). In our study, the mortality rate and severity of COVID-19 were within the scope of global studies. Men experienced higher severity and mortality than women. The was a significantly higher prevalence of old age and underlying diseases in individuals with severe COVID-19. Our data also showed that patients with a previous history of COVID-19 had a more severe experience of COVID-19, while most of these patients were also significantly older and had an underlying disease.
Evaluation of preoperative calculation methods of osteotomy size in ankylosing spondylitis with thoracolumbar or lumbar kyphosis
Authors: Cheng Jie , Zhang Shuwen , Sheng Weibin 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background
To evaluate the accuracy of different preoperative calculation methods of osteotomy size in ankylosing spondylitis with thoracolumbar or lumbar kyphosis and analyze its clinical significance.
Methods
Twenty-two cases of AS patients with thoracolumbar or lumbar kyphosis, from January 2015 to December 2018, who underwent one-level SPO surgery in our hospital, were retrospectively reviewed. The sagittal parameters were measured at pre-operation and last follow up using Surgimap software, and theoretical values of sagittal parameters were calculated according to pre-operative PI. The osteotomy angles of different methods were measured using Surgimap software. Paired t test was used to for the statistical analysis.
Results
The mean follow-up time of all patients was 30.00±3.56 months. The osteotomy sites were located at T12 in 3 cases, L1 in 6 cases, L2 in 9 cases, and L3 in 4 cases. Compared to pre-operative sagittal parameters, post-operative PT, SS, LL, and SVA were significantly improved (P<0.05). Compared to the OVA (46.57±2.32°), there was a significantly larger angle predicted by Surgimap method (53.80±9.79°), CAM-HA method (56.61±8.58°), and HP-HA method (60.07±13.58°), respectively (P<0.05). But no significant difference was found between the postoperative osteotomy angle and those of SFA method (51.24±12.14°) and FBI method (48.08±12.49°) (P>0.05).
Conclusion
For AS patients with thoracolumbar or lumbar kyphosis, the SFA method, FBI method, and Surgimap method can be used to predict the osteotomy angle precisely, however, considering the rationality of parameter settings and the operability, SFA method is relatively more suitable for such population.
Effect of a 3-month L-carnitine supplementation and resistance training program on circulating markers and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Olek Robert A. , Samborowska Emilia , Wisniewski Piotr , Wojtkiewicz Pawel , Wochna Krystian , Zielinski Jacek 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background: Higher circulating levels of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), which is a metabolite that can be produced by the gut microbiota from L-carnitine (LC), have been associated with bone mineral density (BMD). Because, LC supplementation can improve bone density and microstructural properties in animal models, this study aimed to examine the effects of 12 weeks of LC supplementation on BMD and selected blood markers involved in bone metabolism of postmenopausal women participating in a resistance training program.
Methods: Twenty-seven postmenopausal women, who had not been treated for osteoporosis, with a total T-score above -3.0 and no diet differences completed 12 weeks of resistance training. The participants’ diets were supplemented with either 1 g of LC-L-tartrate and 3 g of leucine per day (LC group) or 4 g of leucine per day as a placebo (PLA group), in a double-blind fashion.
Results: After the intervention in the LC group, plasma total carnitine and serum decorin levels were higher than the corresponding preintervention values (p = 0.040 and p = 0.042, respectively). Moreover, plasma TMAO and serum SPARC levels were higher in the LC group than the corresponding preintervention values in the PLA group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.030, respectively). No changes in the BMD were observed after 3 months of the intervention.
Conclusions: Administration of LC increased plasma TMAO levels and appeared to affect signaling molecules, as indicated by the increase in the resting SPARC and decorin levels, with no significant modification in the BMD.
Trial registration: Retrospectively registered at the ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05120011).
Trends in Emergency Department Visits and Surgeries Due to Traumatic Brain Injury During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Finland
Authors: Jäntti Saara , Ponkilainen Ville , Kuitunen Ilari , Uimonen Mikko , Luoto Teemu , Mattila Ville M. 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background
We aim to evaluate the changes in the incidence of TBI, trauma craniotomies, and craniectomies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Finland.
Methods
This retrospective register study was conducted at three Finnish hospitals. We retrieved the numbers of emergency department (ED) visits, inpatient admissions, and trauma craniotomies and craniectomies due to TBI in the adult population from 2017 to 2020.We calculated the incidences per 100 000 inhabitants and compared the year 2020 to the reference years (2017-2019) by incidence rate ratios (IRR) with 95% confidence intervals.
Results
The incidence of TBI-related ED visits during the study period compared to the reference years started to decrease in March 2020 (IRR 0.86, CI: 0.73-1.02), and the lowest incidence was seen in April 2020 (IRR 0.83, CI: 0.68-1.01). The incidence of ED visits showed a second decrease in December (IRR 0.80, CI: 0.67-0.96). The incidence of concussion decreased during the national lockdown in March (IRR 0.80, CI 0.66-0.97).
Conclusions
The incidence of ED visits due to TBI decreased after the declaration of national lockdown in spring 2020 and showed a second decrease during regional restrictions in December. In addition, the incidence of neurosurgically treated TBI decreased during restaurant restrictions in the spring.
Development and clinical validation of a microfluidic-based platform for CTC enrichment and downstream molecular analysis
Authors: Cai Songhua , Deng Youjun , Wang Zhe , Zhu Junyu , Huang Chujian , Du Longde , Wang Chunguang , Yu Xiangyang , Liu Wenyi , Yang Chenglin , Wang Lixu , Ma Kai , Huang Rui , Zhou Xiaoyu , Zou Heng , Zhang Wenchong , Huang Yan , Li Zhi , Qin Tiaoping , Xu Tao , Guo Xiaotong , Yu Zhentao , Wang Zhe 
Published: September 2022

AbstractCirculating tumor cells (CTCs) are shed from primary or metastatic tumors into the peripheral blood circulation which carry a wealth of information for cancer diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. However, most of current CTCs isolation and detection methods provide only cancer cell counting information which is far from meeting clinical needs. In addition to the numbers of CTCs, the target proteins and gene mutations carried by CTCs can also be used for clinical diagnosis, disease monitoring and therapeutic selection. In this work, we develop a novel microfluidic-based CTCs separation and enrichment platform that enables the extraction of CTCs information, including cell number, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) subtypes, protein expression levels, and target gene mutations. The platform offers a high CTCs recovery rate (> 85%), high CTCs purification (∼104enrichment) and intact viable CTCs for downstream analysis. This platform can successfully enrich tumor cells from a 4 mL blood sample within 15 minutes. CTCs were detected in clinical samples from cancer patients with a detection rate of 95.8%. Furthermore, the CTCs subtypes (epithelial, mesenchymal or mix type), the expression levels of selected proteins (PD-L1, HER2, VEGF), and the target mutations in selected genes (EGFR, KRAS, BRAF) could also be directly analyzed by immunofluorescence and digital PCR for clinical utility. PD-L1 expression detected in the CTCs was consistent with the immunohistochemical results. This microfluidic-based CTCs enrichment platform and downstream molecular analysis provide a possible alternative to tissue biopsy for precision cancer management, especially for patients whose tissue biopsies are unavailable.
Linear stability of homogeneous and quasi-homogeneous N-body problem by symmetry groups
Authors: Li Yingli 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Motivated by Xia-Zhou's recent work on applying symmetry groups to the N-body problem, we will study relative equilibria of the equilateral triangle and the square configurations under $\alpha$-homogeneous and quasi-homogeneous potentials with this method. After linearizing the corresponding second order equations, with appropriate coordinate transformations, we study the linear stability of the relative equilibria by decomposing each $2n\times 2n$ matrix into a series of $2\times 2$ matrices.
The New Technique in Hemorrhoid Disease: A Combination of Laser Hemorrhoidoplasty and Ferguson Hemorrhoidectomy
Authors: Yanar Fatih , Abbasov Aykhan , Ilhan Burak , Ozcınar Beyza , Yanar Hakan 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to evaluate the early and long-term results of the three surgical methods (Ferguson hemorrhoidectomy, laser hemorrhoidoplasty, and combined method) of hemorrhoidal disease.
Methods
Between January 2018 and January 2020, 154 consecutive patients diagnosed with symptomatic grade II-III hemorrhoid disease were treated with Ferguson hemorrhoidectomy (FH group), laser hemorrhoidoplasty (LHP group), or combined (FH + LHP group) method. Patients were evaluated in terms of duration of surgery, recovery time of symptoms, postoperative pain, early and late complications, and recurrence.
Results
Postoperative pain scores on the 6th, 12th, 24th hours, and 7th day were significantly lower in the LHP group compared to other groups (p < 0.001). Upon development of postoperative perianal thrombosis in 2 patients of the LHP group, one patient underwent thrombectomy and the other patient underwent medical treatment. In the FH group, reoperation and hemostasis are done for bleeding on the postoperative 6th day in 1 patient, and a foley catheter was applied due to urinary retention in 1 patient. Two anal fissures were seen in postoperative one month in the FH group and recovered with medical treatment and sitz bath. There were two hemorrhoid disease recurrences the median follow-up period of 24 (12–36) months in the LHP group only.
Conclusion
In patients with multiple hemorrhoid packages with both grade 2 and also grade 3 disease, the combined method can be better used safely and effectively, despite relatively higher pain scores, and prolonged operation time compared to the LHP method but considering rare complications and recurrences.
Do Human Capital and Governance Thresholds Matter for the Environmental Impact of Fdi?: the Evidence From Mena Countries
Authors: Taşdemir Fatma , Özçelik Seda Ekmen 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
This paper studies whether foreign direct investment (FDI)-CO2 emissions relationship may change depending on the data-driven estimated threshold levels for the country characteristics (CC) including human capital and governance in a sample of 13 Middle East and North Africa (MENA) economies during the 1996–2019 period. Our results strongly suggest that endogenously estimated CC thresholds matter for the impact of FDI on CO2 emissions. The pollution haven hypothesis which maintains that FDI is associated with higher levels of pollution, appears to be valid for economies with weak CC. In addition to this, the pollution halo argument suggesting FDI lowers the emissions appears to be hold in countries with strong CC. The results in this study may indicate that policies aiming to improve human capital and governance may be expected not only to increase the economic benefits of FDI in terms of growth but also mitigate the negative environmental impacts of FDI in the MENA region.
JEL Classification: C13, C33, F21, F30, O50, Q56.
The Effect of Using Task-based Activities on Reading Comprehension Skill among Iranian Intermediate Pre-university Students
Authors: Hosseiny Mohammad 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Within the framework of Task-based Language Teaching / Learning, it is believed that since learners work to complete a task, they have abundant opportunity to interact. Such interaction is thought to facilitate language acquisition as learners have to work to understand each other and to express their own meaning. The research study reported herein was designed to investigate the effects of using task-based activities on reading comprehension skill among Iranian intermediate pre-university students. To this end, sixty male EFL participants from pre-university level in Hamedan were selected and assigned to two groups (experimental and control) on the basis of their performance on the Oxford Placement Test as pre-test. Then, the subjects in experimental group underwent practice on reading passages through using different kinds of task-based activities during a one-month period. During the treatment, the experimental group participants had the opportunity to produce output (use language) through negotiation based on doing task-based activities both orally and in written form. The control group did not produce but answered some cliché comprehension exercises (true/false, multiple-choice items). They received some placebo activities with no treatment. Both groups were exposed to the same passages but did different tasks. At the end of the experimental period, the subjects in the two groups were given the post-test of reading comprehension. The raw scores were submitted to a series of t-tests. The results showed that using task-based activities during treatment period contributed significantly to the performance on reading comprehension in experimental group. In addition, the experimental group showed significant difference in their general language proficiency. Further studies are needed to investigate the impact of other task-based criteria on reading comprehension skill as well as speaking, writing and also listening comprehension by changing the type of elicitation instruments, the time of experimental treatment and the subjects’ proficiency level.
Relationship between prior entrepreneurship exposure and entrepreneurial intention among secondary school learners in Gauteng, South Africa
Authors: Malebana Mmakgabo Justice , Mothibi Nkosinathi Henry 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of prior entrepreneurship exposure on entrepreneurial intention and its antecedents. Data were collected from 349 secondary school learners in Mamelodi, Gauteng province of South Africa using a cross-sectional survey. The results revealed that prior entrepreneurship exposure in the form of current business ownership, prior start-up experience, entrepreneurial role models in the family, among friends, and knowing other entrepreneurs have no significant effect on entrepreneurial intention and its antecedents. Prior start-up experience, knowledge of successful entrepreneurs, and entrepreneurship education had a significant positive relationship with entrepreneurial intention. Prior start-up experience and knowledge of successful entrepreneurs were positively related to attitude towards entrepreneurship and subjective norms. Knowledge of successful entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship education had a significant positive relationship with perceived behavioural control. Additionally, a significant positive relationship was found between entrepreneurship education and subjective norms.
Quality of Life Evaluation in Saudi Arabian Pediatric Patients with Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases Receiving Subcutaneous IgG Infusions at Home
Authors: Al-Saud Bandar , AlRumayyan Nora , Alfattani Areej , Awwad Sawsan Abu , Saud Dema Al , Mohammed Reem , Albuhairi Sultan , Elshorbagi Sahar , Balhareth Sakra , Al-Dhekri Hasan , Arnaout Rand , De Vol Edward , Al-Mousa Hamoud 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background and aims

Subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIG) home infusion is widely used as an alternative to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). The aim of this study is to determine the quality of life in primary immunodeficiency (PID) patient’s after switching to home based SCIG.

Methods

Prospective open-label, single center study. Quality of life (QoL) was determined using a validated Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) (HealthActCHQ, Boston, MA, USA) in Arabic at baseline, 3 and 6 months after switching from IVIG to SCIG.

Results

From July 2018 to August 2021, 29 patients were recruited and 25 patient’s data were available for analysis: 15 females and 10 males. The median age was 5 years old (Range 0–14 years). The patient’s diagnoses were 11 severe combined immunodeficiency, 3 combined immunodeficiency, 2 agammaglobulinemia, 2 Omenn syndrome, 2 immunodysregulation, 2 hyper-IgE syndrome, 1 common variable immunodeficiency, 1 bare lymphocyte syndrome, and 1 chronic granulomatous disease. The median time on IVIG was 57 months (Range 3–125 months). The baseline mean serum IgG trough levels was 8.8 g/L ± 2.1. The mean serum IgG level was significantly higher on SCIG at 11.7 ± 2.3 and 11.7 ± 2.5 at 3 months and 6 months respectively. The QoL score showed a significant improvement in the child’s global health at 3 and 6 months compared to baseline (P-value 0.001 and 0.001 respectively) and a significant improvement in the child general health in the 3 and 6 months compared to the baseline (P-value 0.01 and 0.03 respectively).

Conclusions

This is the first study in an Arab population showing improvement in the QoL for PID patients after switching from hospital based IVIG to home based SCIG.
Safety of oral Molnupiravir administration for hospitalized elderly COVID-19 patients aged 80 years old or older
Authors: Gonda Kenji , Suzuki Kouichi , Kono Koji , Takenoshita Seiichi 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Objective: The number of elderly people with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is increasing. To reduce the risk of progression of COVID-19, Molnupiravir, an oral small molecule antiviral prodrug that is active against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, was administered. The targets of administration were 29 elderly people aged over 80 years old (median 87 years old, range 80-100). We evaluated the efficacy and safety of treatment with Molnupiravir; oral administration was started within 24 hours after the onset of signs or symptoms in hospitalized elderly patients with at least one confirmed risk factor for severe COVID-19.Molnupiravir (800 mg) was administered twice daily for 5 days.
Results: There were no deaths within 28 days, and the treatment was effective. Adverse events occurred in only 55% of the target patients within 7 days after oral administration, but only nausea was observed, and no serious side effects were observed; thus, the drug could be safely administered to elderly patients. Early treatment with Molnupiravir reduced the risk of death in elderly individuals at risk for COVID-19.
TRN: ISRCTN79981540, Registration date: 15/07/2022
MicroRNA expression profile in TSC cell lines and the impact of mTOR inhibitor
Authors: Pawlik Bartłomiej , Grabia Szymon , Smyczyńska Urszula , Fendler Wojciech , Dróżdż Izabela , Liszewska Ewa , Jaworski Jacek , Kotulska Katarzyna , Jóźwiak Sergiusz , Młynarski Wojciech , Trelińska Joanna 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the potential implication of microRNA on tuberous sclerosis (TSC) pathogenesis by performing microRNA profiling on cell lines silencing TSC1 or TSC2 genes using qPCR panels, before and after incubation with rapamycin. (Qiagen). Significant differences in expression were observed between samples before and after rapamycin treatment in 19 miRNAs in TSC1, five miRNAs in TSC2 and seven miRNAs in controls. Of six miRNAs dysregulated before rapamycin treatment in the TSC1 group, three normalized after treatment (miR-21-3p, miR-433-3p, let-7g-3p). Of three miRNAs dysregulated before rapamycin incubation in TSC2 group, one normalized after treatment (miR-1224-3p). Of the miRNAs dysregulated before rapamycin treatment in TSC1 and TSC2 group, two did not normalize after treatment (miR-33a-3p, miR-29a-3p). The results of the possible targets indicated that there are four common genes with seed regions susceptible to the regulation by those miRNAs: ZBTB20, PHACTR2, PLXNC1 and ATP1B4. Our data show no changes in mRNA expression of these targets before rapamycin treatment. These data suggest that miRNA may play a pivotal role in TSC pathogenesis. Some may serve as biomarkers of treatment efficacy. The variability of miR-29a-3p and miR-33a-3p after rapamycin treatment and the lack of changes in their downstream regulatory targets suggests that they might be mTOR independent.