bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Early economic modeling of magnetic resonance image-guided high intensity focused ultrasound compared to radiotherapy for pain palliation of bone metastases
Authors: Simões Corrêa Galendi Julia , Yeo Sin Yuin , Grüll Holger , Bratke Grischa , Akuamoa-Boateng Dennis , Baues Christian , Bos Clemens , Verkooijen Helena M. , Shukri Arim , Stock Stephanie , Müller Dirk 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionMagnetic Resonance Image-guided High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (MR-HIFU) is a non-invasive treatment option for palliative patients with painful bone metastases. Early evidence suggests that MR-HIFU is associated with similar overall treatment response, but more rapid pain palliation compared to external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). This modelling study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of MR-HIFU as an alternative treatment option for painful bone metastases from the perspective of the German Statutory Health Insurance (SHI).Materials and methodsA microsimulation model with lifelong time horizon and one-month cycle length was developed. To calculate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), strategy A (MR-HIFU as first-line treatment or as retreatment option in case of persistent pain or only partial pain relief after EBRT) was compared to strategy B (EBRT alone) for patients with bone metastases due to breast, prostate, or lung cancer. Input parameters used for the model were extracted from the literature. Results were expressed as EUR per quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and EUR per pain response (i.e., months spent with complete or partial pain response). Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (PSA) were performed to test the robustness of results, and a value of information analysis was conducted.ResultsCompared to strategy B, strategy A resulted in additional costs (EUR 399) and benefits (0.02 QALYs and 0.95 months with pain response). In the base case, the resulting ICERs (strategy A vs. strategy B) are EUR 19,845/QALY and EUR 421 per pain response. Offering all patients MR-HIFU as first-line treatment would increase the ICER by 50% (31,048 EUR/QALY). PSA showed that at a (hypothetical) willingness to pay of EUR 20,000/QALY, the probability of MR-HIFU being cost-effective was 52%. The expected value of perfect information (EVPI) for the benefit population in Germany is approximately EUR 190 Mio.ConclusionAlthough there is considerable uncertainty, the results demonstrate that introducing MR-HIFU as a treatment alternative for painful bone metastases might be cost-effective for the German SHI. The high EVPI indicate that further studies to reduce uncertainty would be worthwhile.
Is preoperative ultrasound tumor size a prognostic factor in endometrial carcinoma patients?
Authors: Ambrosio Marco , Raffone Antonio , Alletto Andrea , Cini Chiara , Filipponi Francesco , Neola Daniele , Fabbri Matilde , Arena Alessandro , Raimondo Diego , Salucci Paolo , Guerrini Manuela , Travaglino Antonio , Paradisi Roberto , Mollo Antonio , Seracchioli Renato , Casadio Paolo 
Published: September 2022

ObjectiveWe aimed to assess the prognostic value of preoperative ultrasound tumor size in EC through a single center, observational, retrospective, cohort study.MethodsMedical records and electronic clinical databases were searched for all consecutive patients with EC, preoperative ultrasound scans available to ad hoc estimate tumor size, and a follow-up of at least 2-year, at our Institution from January 2010 to June 2018. Patients were divided into two groups based on different dimensional cut-offs for the maximum tumor diameter: 2, 3 and 4 cm. Differences in overall survival (OS), disease specific survival (DSS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were assessed among the groups by using the Kaplan–Meier estimator and the log-rank test.Results108 patients were included in the study. OS, DSS and PFS did not significantly differ between the groups based on the different tumor diameter cut-offs. No significant differences were found among the groups sub-stratified by age, BMI, FIGO stage, FIGO grade, lymphovascular space invasion status, myometrial invasion, lymph nodal involvement, histotype, and adjuvant treatment.ConclusionsPreoperative ultrasound tumor size does not appear as a prognostic factor in EC women.
Risk factors and predictive nomograms for early death of patients with pancreatic cancer liver metastasis: A large cohort study based on the SEER database and Chinese population
Authors: Zhang Haidong , Dong Hui , Pan Zheng , Du Xuanlong , Liu Shiwei , Xu Wenjing , Zhang Yewei 
Published: September 2022

BackgroundThe liver is the most common organ for distant metastasis of pancreatic cancer, and patients with pancreatic cancer liver metastases (PCLM) often die in a short period of time. As such, the establishment of an effective nomogram to predict the probability of early death (survival time ≤3 months) in PCLM patients is of considerable significance.MethodsPatients diagnosed with PCLM in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) database between 2010 and 2015 were included for model construction and internal validation. A data set was obtained from the Chinese population for external validation. Risk factors that contributed to all-cause and cancer-specific early death were determined by means of univariable and multivariable logistic regression. The accuracy of the nomogram was verified by means of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and the true consistency of the model was assessed by calibration curves. The clinical applicability of the model was evaluated by means of decision curve analysis (DCA).ResultsA total of 12,955 patients were included in the present study, of whom 7,219 (55.7%) experienced early death and 6,973 (53.8%) patients died of PCLM. Through multivariable logistic regression analysis, 11 risk factors associated with all-cause early death and 12 risk factors associated with cancer-specific early death were identified. The area under the curves (AUCs) for all-cause and cancer-specific early death were 0.806 (95% CI: 0.785- 0.827) and 0.808 (95% CI: 0.787- 0.829), respectively. Internal validation showed that the C-indexes of all-cause and cancer-specific early death after bootstrapping (5,000 re-samplings) were 0.805 (95% CI: 0.784-0.826) and 0.807 (95% CI: 0.786-0.828), respectively. As revealed by the calibration curves, the constructed nomograms exhibited good consistency. The decision curve analysis (DCA) indicated the nomograms had significant clinical applicability.ConclusionIn the present study, reliable nomograms were developed for predicting the early death probability in patients with PCLM. Such tools can help clinicians identify high-risk patients and develop individualized treatment plans as early as possible.
Prevalence of hypertension and related risk factors among children and adolescents at three separate visits: A large school-based study in China
Authors: Hu Jia , Ding Ziyao , Han Di , Hai Bo , Lv Huiling , Yin Jieyun , Shen Hui , Gu Aihua , Yang Haibing 
Published: September 2022

ObjectiveWe aimed to demonstrate characteristics of hypertension at three separate visits and its risk factors among children and adolescents based on a large school-based study in China.Materials and methodsBased on a large-scale ongoing monitoring program conducted in Suzhou, China, 59,679 children and adolescents aged 7–17 years from 60 public schools were enrolled during 2020 to 2021. Height, weight, and blood pressure (BP) were measured. Additional BP would be measured for hypertensive students at least 2 weeks later. Confirmed hypertension was defined as simultaneously BP meeting above or equal to 95th percentile for age, sex, and height at three separate visits. Odds ratio (ORs), and 95% CIs were calculated by logistic regression to identify risk factors for hypertension.ResultsPrevalence of hypertension at three separate visits were 20.4, 6.3, and 3.1%, respectively. Prevalence of confirmed isolated systolic hypertension, isolated diastolic hypertension, and systolic and diastolic hypertension were 1.9, 0.3, and 0.9%, respectively. Hypertension prevalence for stages 1 and 2 were 2.6 and 0.6%. Different hypertension prevalence were found among various age and gender groups. Boys [OR, 1.137 (95% CI, 1.033–1.251)], high age [OR, 3.326 (95% CI, 2.950–3.751)], urban residents [OR, 1.579 (95% CI, 1.417–1.760)], high-socioeconomic status [OR, 1.156 (95% CI, 1.039–1.286)] and body mass index category including overweight [1.883 (95% CI, 1.665–2.129)], obesity [4.049 (95% CI, 3.625–4.523)], and thinness [OR, 0.457 (95% CI, 0.306–0.683)] were associated with confirmed hypertension.ConclusionA single BP measurement would overestimate hypertension prevalence, about 3% Chinese children were hypertensive, early, and effective intervention around risk factors for hypertension should be taken.
Exosomes in the f ield of reproduction: A scientometric study and visualization analysis
Authors: Shen Yifeng , You Yaodong , Zhu Kun , Fang Chunyan , Chang Degui , Yu Xujun 
Published: September 2022

Background: The diagnostic capabilities of exosomes in the field of reproductive biomedicine have attracted much attention. The aim of this scientometric study was to statistically and qualitatively assess the knowledge structure, hot issues, and research trends of papers about exosomes in the field of reproduction using visualization methods.Methods: The Web of Science Core Collection was searched for studies on exosomes in the field of reproduction. We performed bibliometric and visual analyses using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and Microsoft Excel.Results: After database search, 1,011 articles were included, with number of studies being published every year continually increasing. These publications came from 61 nations or regions, with the US having the highest number. The University of Queensland was the main institution in which the research was conducted. The journal Placenta contained the highest number studies. There were 5,247 authors in total. Carlos Salomon had the highest number of papers with co-citations. Exosomes, extracellular vesicles, pregnancy, microRNAs, preeclampsia, placenta, microvesicles, gene expression, biomarkers, and first trimester were the most frequently used terms.Conclusion: Exosome research is booming in reproductive biomedicine. Future studies will likely focus on exosomes as biomarkers in gamete formation and fertilization, pregnancy, and cancers associated with reproduction. In addition to focusing on fundamental research, we should concentrate on the application of the results and the investigation of exosomes in infertile patients.
The Efficacy and Safety of Roxadustat for Anemia in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wang Lijun , Yin Heng , Yang Liling , Zhang Fenglian , Wang Song , Liao Dan 
Published: September 2022

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global public health problem, and anemia is a common complication in CKD patients. Roxadustat (FG-4592) is an oral hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) stabilizer. Roxadustat has been shown in studies to keep up with and increase hemoglobin better than placebo or erythropoietin. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy and safety of roxadustat.Methods: We searched CBM, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang Database, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science for randomized controlled trials of roxadustat for the treatment of anemia in CKD patients. The papers were screened using rigorous criteria and their quality was assessed using the Cochrane 5.1.0 assessment manual for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). RevMan 5.3 was used to extract and synthesize data for meta-analysis.Results: There were 8 RCTs (7 articles) in all, and 1,364 patients with chronic kidney disease anemia were involved. The overall quality of the studies included was satisfactory. The meta-analysis findings revealed that roxadustat can considerably enhance hemoglobin, transferrin, and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) in both dialysis-dependent (DD) and non-dialysis-dependent (NDD) patients: Hemoglobin (Hb): DD: [SMD = 0.23, 95% CI (0.01, 0.44), p = 0.04], NDD: [SMD = 2.08, 95% CI (1.23, 2.93) p &lt; 0.000001]; transferrin: DD: [SMD = 0.78, 95% CI (0.24, 1.32), p = 0.004], NDD: [SMD = 1.37, 95% CI (0.76, 1.98), p &lt; 0.0001]; TIBC: DD [SMD = 0.97, 95% CI (0.64, 1.29), p &lt; 0.00001], NDD [SMD = 1.34, 95% CI (0.9, 1.78), p &lt; 0.00001]. After roxadustat therapy, patients’ serum iron levels were considerably higher in the dialysis group than in the control group, but there was no significant change in the NDD group [SMD = 0.42, 95% CI (0.27, 0.57), p &lt; 0.00001]. In the NDD group, hepcidin, ferritin, and transferrin saturation (TSAT) were significantly reduced after roxadustat treatment: Hepcidin [SMD = −1.59, 95% CI (−2.69, −0.49), p = 0.005], ferritin [SMD = −0.51, 95% CI (−0.72, 0.3) p &lt; 0.00001], TSAT [SMD = −0.41, 95% CI (−0.62, 0.2), p &lt; 0.0001]. In terms of safety, adverse events (AE) [SMD = 1.08, 95% CI (0.98, 1.18) p = 0.11] and serious adverse events (SAE) [SMD = 1.32, 95% CI (0.97, 1.9) p = 0.08] were not significantly different between the two groups.Conclusion: Roxadustat can improve anemia in NDD patients with chronic kidney disease, and its short-term safety was comparable to that of the comparison group.
Saponins from Panax notoginseng ameliorate steroid resistance in lupus nephritis through regulating lymphocyte-derived exosomes in mice
Authors: Chen Jia , Zhou Qingyun , Lu Ying 
Published: September 2022

Lupus nephritis (LN) is the most common and severe type of organ damage and an important primary disease in end-stage renal failure in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Clinical guidelines recommend steroid treatment, but steroid resistance has become a major factor leading to treatment failure and affecting prognosis. Our previous study demonstrated that Saponins from Panax Notoginseng (Panax ginseng saponins, PNS) could reverse steroid resistance of lymphocytes by downregulating P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression and provide renal protection in LN mice, but the mechanism by which lymphocytes transmit these related messages to renal lamina propria cells is not clear. Therefore, we further elucidated this mechanism through holistic experiments. In this study, low-dose methylprednisolone (0.8 mg/kg/day, MP) was used to induce a steroid-resistant lupus nephritis (SR-LN) mouse model in weeks one to four, and a therapeutic steroid dosage (MP 12 mg/kg/day) or a combined PNS (PNS 100 mg/kg/day) treatment was administered from week five to eight. Lymphocyte-derived exosomes (Lyme-Exos) were isolated from the spleens of mice and injected into untreated homozygous LN mice for 14 days via the tail vein. At the end of the experiment, the efficacy and mechanism of action of different groups of Lyme-Exos on LN mice were observed. The results revealed that exogenously injected Lyme-Exos were effectively taken up by the kidney and affected the progression of kidney disease. Steroid-resistant lymphocyte-derived exosomes intervented with PNS significantly downregulated the levels of silent information regulator-related enzyme 1 (Sirt1), multidrug resistance gene 1 (MDR1), and P-gp in the renal cortex and glomerular endothelial cells (GECs); reduced serum autoantibody [antinuclear antibody (ANA) and anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA)] levels and inflammatory markers (WBC, PCR, and PCT); improved renal function; and attenuated urinary microalbumin excretion. Additionally, renal histopathological damage (HE staining) and fibrosis (Masson staining) were improved, and immune complex (IgG) deposition and membrane attack complex (C5b-9) production were significantly reduced; the gene levels of inflammatory factors (INF-γ, MCP-1, IL-8, IL-17, vWF, VCAM-1, IL-1β, IL-6, PTX3) in the renal cortex were downregulated. Taken together, this study showed that PNS may alleviate steroid resistance in GEC by interfering with steroid-resistant Lyme-Exos to ameliorate LN progression, which will likely provide insights into developing a new LN treatment.
Effects and mechanisms of 6-hydroxykaempferol 3,6-di-O-glucoside-7-O-glucuronide from Safflower on endothelial injury in vitro and on thrombosis in vivo
Authors: Wang Li-Wei , He Jiang-Feng , Xu Hai-Yan , Zhao Peng-Fei , Zhao Jie , Zhuang Cong-Cong , Ma Jian-Nan , Ma Chao-Mei , Liu Yong-Bin 
Published: September 2022

Background: The florets of Carthamus tinctorius L. (Safflower) is an important traditional medicine for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. However, its bioactive compounds and mechanism of action need further clarification.Objective: This study aims to investigate the effect and possible mechanism of 6-hydroxykaempferol 3,6-di-O-glucoside-7-O-glucuronide (HGG) from Safflower on endothelial injury in vitro, and to verify its anti-thrombotic activity in vivo.Methods: The endothelial injury on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation followed by reoxygenation (OGD/R). The effect of HGG on the proliferation of HUVECs under OGD/R was evaluated by MTT, LDH release, Hoechst-33342 staining, and Annexin V-FITC apoptosis assay. RNA-seq, RT-qPCR, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot experiments were performed to uncover the molecular mechanism. The anti-thrombotic effect of HGG in vivo was evaluated using phenylhydrazine (PHZ)-induced zebrafish thrombosis model.Results: HGG significantly protected OGD/R induced endothelial injury, and decreased HUVECs apoptosis by regulating expressions of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) at both transcriptome and protein levels. Moreover, HGG reversed the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, and reduced the release of IL-6 after OGD/R. In addition, HGG exhibited protective effects against PHZ-induced zebrafish thrombosis and improved blood circulation.Conclusion: HGG regulates the expression of HIF-1α and NF-κB, protects OGD/R induced endothelial dysfunction in vitro and has anti-thrombotic activity in PHZ-induced thrombosis in vivo.
The efficacy of mesalazine on nonspecific terminal ileal ulcers: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Li Junrong , Ling Fangmei , Guo Di , Zhao Jinfang , Cheng Ling , Chen Yidong , Xu Mingyang , Zhu Liangru 
Published: September 2022

Background: Nonspecific terminal ileal ulcers are one of the common ulcerative diseases in terminal ileum. However, the studies about treatment efficacy are scarce. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of mesalazine in the treatment of this disease.Methods: Eighty-two patients with nonspecific terminal ileal ulcers who sought outpatient medical treatment in the Division of Gastroenterology, Wuhan Union Hospital, from April 2016 to January 2019 were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group took mesalazine orally, 4.0 g/d, once a day for 3 months. The control group was followed up without special intervention. The primary endpoint was the endoscopic remission rate at the 6th and 12th month. Secondary endpoints included the clinical remission rate at the 1st, 6th and 12th month and adverse events (ChiCTR1900027503).Results: About the endoscopic efficacy, the remission rate of the experimental group and control group was 73.2 versus 61.0% at the 6th month (RR = 1.20, 95%CI 0.88∼1.63, p = 0.24) and 87.8 versus 78.0% at the 12th month (RR = 1.13, 95%CI 0.92∼1.37, p = 0.24). About the clinical efficacy, the remission rate was 70.3 versus 43.8% at the 1st month (RR = 1.61, 95%CI 1.03∼2.51, p = 0.03), 83.8 versus 68.8% at the 6th month (RR = 1.22, 95%CI 0.93∼1.60, p = 0.14) and 91.9 versus 81.3% at the 12th month (RR = 1.13, 95%CI 0.93∼1.37, p = 0.34). During follow-up, no patients were diagnosed with Crohn’s disease or intestinal tuberculosis, and no patients developed significant complications.Conclusion: For patients with nonspecific terminal ileal ulcers, there is no disease progression over a short term. In addition, there is no significant difference in clinical or endoscopic efficacy between patients who received mesalazine and patients who are followed up without special intervention.
Experimental and population balance model interpretation of foam physics in porous media
Authors: Zhao Jing , He Yanfeng , Yang Jun 
Published: September 2022

Foam has been used as an effective displacing fluid for gas mobility control in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and subsurface remediation. In this study, a series of core flooding experiments are performed on cores with a wide permeability ranging from 3.3 to 2749 mD to evaluate the impact of foam quality and permeability on foam performance. It is found that the steady-state foam mobility control factor is related to permeability in a non-linear, non-monotonic manner. A full physics, mechanistic foam model is proposed by incorporating a novel flowing foam fraction relation grounded-up from pore-level observations, and a new kinetic expression of foam coalescence rate by oil based on pinch-off foam rupture mechanism into the population-balance framework of Almajid et al. (Advances in Water Resources, 2021, 150: 103877). The proposed model is applied to match foam flow experimental results in the absence and in the presence of oil. Results show that our model captures the high-quality and low-quality foam regimes observed in previous oil-free foam flow experiments. Within the medium permeability range, in the absence of oil, lower gas mobility is observed in the lower permeability core due to faster foam film thinning at higher capillary pressure, while in the presence of residual oil, the difference in foam mobility fades away due to the insignificant impact of capillary pressure on the stability of pseudoemulsion films.
Potential Anticarcinogenic Effects From Plasma of Older Adults After Exercise Training: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Peres Alessandra , Branchini Gisele , Marmett Bruna , Nunes Fernanda Bordignon , Romão Pedro R.T. , Olean-Oliveira Tiago , Minuzzi Luciele , Cavalcante Mateus , Elsner Viviane , Lira Fabio Santos , Dorneles Gilson Pires 
Published: September 2022

Aim: To evaluate the impact of exercise training plasma on in vitro prostate cancer cell viability and proliferation.Methods: PC3 prostate cancer cells were incubated with plasma obtained from young men with high and low physical fitness (PF) (high PF, n = 5; low PF, n = 5) and with the plasma collected from institutionalized older adults (n = 8) before and after multimodal exercise training. Cell viability and proliferation, mitochondria membrane polarization, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and apoptosis were evaluated after the cell treatment with plasma. Systemic cytokines were evaluated in the plasma of institutionalized older adults submitted to an exercise training protocol.Results: Plasma from high-PF men lowers both cell viability and proliferation after the incubation time. PC3 cells also presented lower cell viability and diminished rates of cell proliferation after the incubation with post-training plasma samples of the older adults. The incubation of PC3 cells with post-training plasma of older adults depolarized the mitochondrial membrane potential and increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production. Post-training plasma did not change apoptosis or necrosis rates in the PC3 cell line. Multimodal exercise training increased the plasma levels of IL-2, IL-10, IFN-α, and FGF-1 and decreased TNF-α concentrations in institutionalized older adults.Conclusion: Adaptations in blood factors of institutionalized older adults may alter cell viability and proliferation by targeting mitochondrial ROS in a prostate cancer cell line.