bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Renal Venous Stasis Index Reflects Renal Congestion and Predicts Adverse Outcomes in Patients With Heart Failure
Authors: Ohara Himika , Yoshihisa Akiomi , Horikoshi Yuko , Ishibashi Shinji , Matsuda Mitsuko , Yamadera Yukio , Sugawara Yukiko , Ichijo Yasuhiro , Hotsuki Yu , Watanabe Koichiro , Sato Yu , Misaka Tomofumi , Kaneshiro Takashi , Oikawa Masayoshi , Kobayashi Atsushi , Takeishi Yasuchika 
Published: March 2022

BackgroundIt has been recently reported that the renal venous stasis index (RVSI) assessed by renal Doppler ultrasonography provides information to stratify pulmonary hypertension that can lead to right-sided heart failure (HF). However, the clinical significance of RVSI in HF patients has not been sufficiently examined. We aimed to examine the associations of RVSI with parameters of cardiac function and right heart catheterization (RHC), as well as with prognosis, in patients with HF.MethodsWe performed renal Doppler ultrasonography, echocardiography and RHC in hospitalized patients with HF (n = 388). RVSI was calculated as follows: RVSI = (cardiac cycle time-venous flow time)/cardiac cycle time. The patients were classified to three groups based on RVSI: control group (RVSI = 0, n = 260, 67%), low RVSI group (0 &lt; RVSI ≤ 0.21, n = 63, 16%) and high RVSI group (RVSI &gt; 0.21, n = 65, 17%). We examined associations of RVSI with parameters of cardiac function and RHC, and followed up for cardiac events defined as cardiac death or worsening HF.ResultsThere were significant correlations of RVSI with mean right atrial pressure (mRAP; R = 0.253, P &lt; 0.001), right atrial area (R = 0.327, P &lt; 0.001) and inferior vena cava diameter (R = 0.327, P &lt; 0.001), but not with cardiac index (R = −0.019, P = 0.769). During the follow-up period (median 412 days), cardiac events occurred in 60 patients. In the Kaplan–Meier analysis, the cumulative cardiac event rate increased with increasing RVSI (log-rank, P = 0.001). In the multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis, the cardiac event rate was independently associated with RVSI (high RVSI group vs. control group: hazard ratio, 1.908; 95% confidence interval, 1.046–3.479, P = 0.035).ConclusionRVSI assessed by renal Doppler ultrasonography reflects right-sided overload and is associated with adverse prognosis in HF patients.
Surgery for Primary Cardiac Tumors in Children: Successful Management of Large Fibromas
Authors: Qian Tao , Wu Zhongshi , Yang Yifeng , Xie Li , Yin Ni , Lu Ting , Huang Can , Yang Hui 
Published: March 2022

BackgroundPediatric primary cardiac tumors (PCTs) are rare. Its clinical features and prognoses are not well defined. The management of asymptomatic patients with cardiac fibromas remains controversial.ObjectiveWe aimed to examine our experience in surgical resection of pediatric PCT, with specific focuses on the management of large fibromas.MethodsThis study included all the children who underwent surgical resection of PCT in our institution between December 2008 and June 2021. The last follow-up was performed between June 1st and August 26th, 2021. Kaplan–Meier method was used to estimate the postoperative survival, freedom from reoperation, event-free survival, and also related risk factors. The tumor volume and volume index (volume divided by body surface area) were measured for cardiac fibromas.ResultsOf the 39 patients with median operative age of 9.5 [interquartile range (IQR): 1.2–16.5] years, 35 (89.7%) had benign tumors (fibromas for 15, myxomas for 13, and others for 7). The length and volume of fibromas were independent of age and symptoms (Ps &gt; 0.05). The fibroma volume index was negatively correlated with age (P = 0.039), with a mean value of 105 ± 70 ml/m2. Of the 15 patients with fibromas, 5 were asymptomatic, 4 received partial resection, 4 required transmural resection, and 4 presented postoperative left ventricular (LV) dysfunction (ejection fraction &lt;50%). During the median follow-up period of 3.1 years and maximum of 12.5 years, adverse events included 2 early and 1 late death, 4 reoperations, 4 tumor recurrences, and 1 LV dysfunction lasting over one year. The 8-year survival, freedom from reoperation, and event-free survival rates were 90.4, 81.8, and 64.2%, respectively. Malignant tumor (P &lt; 0.001) was associated with more adverse events. Transmural resection (P = 0.022) and larger tumor volume index than LV end-diastolic volume (P = 0.046) were risk factors for LV dysfunction following fibromas resection.ConclusionPediatric surgery for PCT can be performed with low mortalities and few adverse events. The size of cardiac fibroma in children relatively decreases with the increase of age. Larger tumor volume index than LV end-diastolic volume index and transmural tumor resection predicts postoperative LV dysfunction.
Association Between Serum Aldehydes and Hypertension in Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Authors: Zhu Yongjian , Liu Mingjing , Fu Wanrong , Bo Yacong 
Published: March 2022

BackgroundExposure to ambient pollutants and chemicals were found to be associated with increased risk of hypertension. However, the relationship between the increased aldehyde exposure and hypertension are still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the potential associations of serum aldehydes levels with prevalent hypertension.MethodsA total of 1,733 U.S. adults with data on hypertension outcome and serum aldehydes measurement from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013–2014 were included. The serum levels of aldehydes were measured via an automated analytical method using solid phase microextraction gas chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Multivariate logistic regression models were adopted to assess the associations between six selected aldehydes exposure (benzaldehyde, butyraldehyde, heptanaldehyde, hexanaldehyde, isopentanaldehyde, and propanaldehyde) and prevalence of hypertension.ResultsThe mean age was 48.0 ± 16.7 years and an approximately equivalent of sex distribution was observed (female 49.9%). There seems to be a numerically higher level of hexanaldehyde in participants with hypertension when compared to participants without hypertension (2.6 ± 3.9 ng/mL vs. 2.3 ± 1.1 ng/mL). After adjusting for potential confounders, the odds ratio (OR) for hypertension was 2.15 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.33–3.51] in participants from the highest quartile of serum hexanaldehyde concentration in comparison to those from the lowest quartile. Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses showed generally similar results.ConclusionIn summary, current evidence suggested that increased serum hexanaldehyde level was positively associated with prevalent hypertension in U.S. adults.
Responses of Tropical Background State and ENSO Behaviors to Mid-Holocene Forcing Simulated by PMIP3 and PMIP4 Models
Authors: Song Meng-Er , Chen Lin 
Published: March 2022

The mid-Holocene (MH), a period about 6,000 years ago, provides an opportunity to understand climate change in response to orbital forcing change. Numerical model simulation is an effective tool through which we can study the climate change in the MH, although the climate in the MH can be partly inferred from proxy data. As the Paleoclimate Model Inter-comparison Project phase 4 (PMIP4) recently released the latest simulations for different past climate scenarios, we investigated tropical climate changes, including both the basic state and interannual variability, and tried to find out whether the PMIP phase 3 (PMIP3) and PMIP4 results can be reconciled. Almost all the modelling results show that the inter-hemisphere contrast was enhanced over the tropical Pacific, with warmer and wetter condition on the northern side of the equator and an intensified cross-equatorial flow in the MH than at present, and the annual cycle of the sea-surface temperature (SST) during the MH was reduced. Such background mean state changes arose from the seasonal changes of the solar incident radiation in the MH. In addition to the consistent changes in background mean state changes, some El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) features, such as the seasonal phase locking feature and periodicity, show consistent changes across the PMIP3 and PMIP4 models, that is, both suites of models exhibit no marked difference in the MH with respect to present-day simulations. In contrast, the modeling results show only agreement on the sign of the ENSO amplitude change (i.e., decrease in the ENSO amplitude in the MH), while the range of reduction varied with model and region. Additionally, the occurrence probability of central Pacific El Niño events increases in the MH, whereas the significance is quite marginal. The modeled changes in the mean state and ENSO serve as a test bed for studying tropical climate system’s response to natural warming, which may provide some insights into understanding climate changes in response to the current anthropogenic warming.
The Association Between Thyroid Diseases and Alzheimer’s Disease in a National Health Screening Cohort in Korea
Authors: Kim Ji Hee , Lee Heui Seung , Kim Yoo Hwan , Kwon Mi Jung , Kim Joo-Hee , Min Chan Yang , Yoo Dae Myoung , Choi Hyo Geun 
Published: March 2022

ObjectivesThyroid dysfunction is linked to an increased risk of cognitive impairment. However, studies on the relationships between thyroid diseases and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have reported conflicting results. We investigated the associations between several thyroid diseases and AD in a nested case-control study.MethodsA total of 1,977 participants with AD were identified by claims data from 2002-2015 among a random sample of half a million people in the Korean National Health Insurance database. We recruited 16,473 age- and sex-matched (1:4 ratio) control participants and applied conditional logistic regression to estimate the relationships between thyroid diseases and AD, with adjustments for potential confounders, such as basic demographics, lifestyle factors, and various medical conditions or comorbidities.ResultsThe prevalence rates of hypothyroidism (odds ratio [OR]=1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.00-1.30), thyroiditis (OR=1.22, 95% CI=1.05-1.40), and hyperthyroidism (OR=1.13, 95% CI=1.01-1.28) were significantly higher in participants with AD than in control participants after adjustment for confounders.ConclusionIn this large national sample, we found significant relationships between several thyroid diseases and AD. Despite of the need for further investigation, these findings could better support to appreciate the pathophysiology of AD.
Correlation Between Changes in Environmental Temperature and Performance of High-Discharge Lithium-Polymer Batteries
Authors: Choi Jaehun , Park Heesung 
Published: March 2022

Electric vehicles (EVs) have been developed to solve environmental problems and the depletion of energy resources, and batteries have been used as their main energy source. The battery used in this study was a lithium polymer battery with the same chemical structure as lithium-ion. The use of a solid electrolyte has advantages, such as lack of leakage of electrolyte, high density per size, and convenient shape design. In this study, we analyzed the heat generation and performance characteristics of EV batteries through experiments on changes in environmental temperature. There is a difference in the heat generation depending on the discharge rate, and the performance characteristics of the battery improves as the environmental temperature rises. In the experiment, the battery discharge performance and heat generation were meaningful at 40°C environmental temperature, the worst battery discharge performance and heat generation at −30°C environmental temperature were 25.1 W (1 C), 81.0 W (2 C), and 151.5 W (3 C). In this study, the heat generation and performance characteristics of the battery were analyzed according to the change in the environmental temperature and discharge rate of the battery. We proposed a relationship between heat generation and environmental temperature in terms of discharge rate. The relationship is significant in designing thermal management system for battery powered devices.
Impact of Land-Use Changes on Soil Properties and Carbon Pools in India: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Padbhushan Rajeev , Kumar Upendra , Sharma Sheetal , Rana D. S. , Kumar Rajkishore , Kohli Anshuman , Kumari Priyanka , Parmar Brajendra , Kaviraj Megha , Sinha Abhas Kumar , Annapurna K. , Gupta Vadakattu V. S. R. 
Published: March 2022

Land-use changes (LUC), primarily due to deforestation and soil disturbance, are one of the major causes of soil quality degradation and greenhouse gas emissions. Effects of LUC on soil physicochemical properties and changes in soil quality and land use management strategies that can effectively restore soil carbon and microbial biomass levels have been reported from all over the world, but the impact analysis of such practices in the Indian context is limited. In this study, over 1,786 paired datasets (for meta-analysis) on land uses (LUs) were collected from Indian literature (1990–2019) to determine the magnitude of the influence of LUC on soil carbon, microbial biomass, and other physical and chemical properties at three soil depths. Meta-analysis results showed that grasslands (36.1%) lost the most soil organic carbon (SOC) compared to native forest lands, followed by plantation lands (35.5%), cultivated lands (31.1%), barren lands (27.3%), and horticulture lands (11.5%). Our findings also revealed that, when compared to forest land, the microbial quotient was lower in other LUs. Due to the depletion of SOC stock, carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2 eq) emissions were significantly higher in all LUs than in forest land. Results also showed that due to the conversion of forest land to cultivated land, total carbon, labile carbon, non-labile carbon, microbial biomass carbon, and SOC stocks were lost by 21%, 25%, 32%, 26%, and 41.2%, respectively. Changes in soil carbon pools and properties were more pronounced in surface (0–15 cm) soils than in subsurface soils (15–30 cm and 30–45 cm). Restoration of the SOC stocks from different LUs ranged from a minimum of 2% (grasslands) to a maximum of 48% (plantation lands). Overall, this study showed that soil carbon pools decreased as LUC transitioned from native forestland to other LUs, and it is suggested that adopting crop-production systems that can reduce CO2 emissions from the intensive LUs such as the ones evaluated here could contribute to improvements in soil quality and mitigation of climate change impacts, particularly under Indian agro-climatic conditions.
Preoperative Breast Immune Prognostic Index as Prognostic Factor Predicts the Clinical Outcomes of Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
Authors: Chen Li , Kong Xiangyi , Huang Shaolong , Su Zhaohui , Zhu Mengliu , Fang Yi , Zhang Lin , Li Xingrui , Wang Jing 
Published: March 2022

ObjectiveThis study aims at investigating the potential prognostic significance of the breast immune prognostic index (BIPI) in breast cancer patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT).MethodsThe optimal cutoff value was calculated through the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). The correlations between BIPI and clinicopathologic characteristics were determined by the chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to estimate the survival probability, and the log-rank test was used to analyze the differences in the survival probability among patients. The univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to screen the independent prognostic factors. A prognostic nomogram for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) was built on the basis of the multivariate analyses. Furthermore, the calibration curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to assess the predictive performance of the nomogram.ResultsAll enrolled patients were split into three subgroups based on the BIPI score. The mean DFS and OS of the BIPI score 0 group and BIPI score 1 group were significantly longer than those of the BIPI score 2 group (42.02 vs. 38.61 vs. 26.01 months, 77.61 vs. 71.83 vs. 53.15 months; p &lt; 0.05). Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that BIPI was an independent prognostic factor for patients’ DFS and OS (DFS, hazard ratio (HR): 6.720, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.629–27.717; OS, HR: 8.006, 95% CI: 1.638–39.119). A nomogram with a C-index of 0.873 (95% CI: 0.779–0.966) and 0.801 (95% CI: 0.702–0.901) had a favorable performance for predicting DFS and OS survival rates for clinical use by combining immune scores with other clinical features. The calibration curves at 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival suggested a good consistency between the predicted and actual DFS and OS probability. The DCA demonstrated that the constructed nomogram had better clinical predictive usefulness than only BIPI in predictive clinical applications of 5-year DFS and OS prognostic assessments.ConclusionsThe patients with low BIPI score have better prognoses and longer DFS and OS. Furthermore, the BIPI-based nomogram may serve as a convenient prognostic tool for breast cancer and help in clinical decision-making.
TIGIT Blockade Exerts Synergistic Effects on Microwave Ablation Against Cancer
Authors: Chen Yaping , Huang Hao , Li Yuan , Xiao Wenlu , Liu Yingting , Chen Rongzhang , Zhu Yulan , Zheng Xiao , Wu Changping , Chen Lujun 
Published: March 2022

BackgroundCombination immunotherapy based on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has shown great success in the treatment of many types of cancers and has become the mainstream in the comprehensive treatment of cancers. Ablation in combination with immunotherapy has achieved tremendous efficacy in some preclinical and clinical studies. To date, our team proved that ablation in combination with ICIs was a promising antitumor therapeutic strategy for the liver metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC). Moreover, we found that the expression of T cell immunoglobulin and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif domain (TIGIT) expression was up-regulated after microwave ablation (MWA), indicating that TIGIT was involved in immunosuppression, and the combination of MWA and TIGIT blockade represented a potential clinical treatment strategy.MethodsIn the present study, we examined the expression of TIGIT using a preclinical mouse model treated with MWA. Moreover, we evaluated the antitumor functions of MWA alone or in combination with TIGIT blockade by monitoring tumor growth and survival of the mice. Besides, we also detected the numbers of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and effector molecules of CD8+ T cells using flow cytometry. Finally, we analyzed the single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from the MWA and MWA plus anti-TIGIT groups.ResultsThe expression of TIGIT in various immune cells was up-regulated after MWA, and the addition of TIGIT blockade to MWA prolonged survival and delayed tumor growth in the MC38 tumor model. Taken together, our findings showed that TIGIT blockade in combination with MWA significantly promoted the expansion and functions of CD8+ TILs and reshaped myeloid cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) using flow cytometry and scRNA-seq analysis.ConclusionsTIGIT blockade in combination with MWA was a novel treatment strategy for the liver metastasis of CRC, and this combination therapy could reprogram the TME toward an antitumor environment.
Risk Factors for Mortality in Anti-NMDAR, Anti-LGI1, and Anti-GABABR Encephalitis
Authors: Zhong Rui , Chen Qingling , Zhang Xinyue , Zhang Hanyu , Lin Weihong 
Published: March 2022

ObjectiveWe aimed to investigate the mortality rate and identify the predictors of death in patients with anti-NMDAR, anti-LGI1, and anti-GABABR encephalitis.MethodsPatients with anti-NMDAR, anti-LGI1, and anti-GABABR encephalitis were recruited from the Neurology Department of the First Hospital of Jilin University from March 2015 to November 2021. The primary outcome variable was a binary variable of death vs. survival. The potential risk factors for mortality were evaluated. The mortality rates were determined, and the independent predictors of death were identified using multivariable logistic regression analysis.ResultsA total of 100 hospitalized patients with anti-NMDAR, anti-LGI1, or anti-GABABR encephalitis were included in the final analysis. Fifteen patients (15%) died during a median follow-up period of 18 months. The mortality rates were 10% for anti-NMDAR encephalitis, 2.8% for anti-LGI1 encephalitis, and 41.7% for anti-GABABR encephalitis. The multivariable analysis results showed that older age at onset [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.017, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.009–1.136; p = 0.023] was independently associated with an increased risk of death. Antibody type was also associated with mortality. Patients with anti-GABABR encephalitis had 13.458-fold greater odds of dying than patients with anti-LGI1 encephalitis (adjusted OR = 13.458, 95% CI = 1.270–142.631; p = 0.031).ConclusionThe general mortality rate of anti-NMDAR, anti-LGI1, and anti-GABABR encephalitis was 15%. Age at onset and type of autoimmune encephalitis antibody were independent predictors of death in these patients.
Acupuncture for Atraumatic Shoulder Conditions: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wang Yi , Xu Yan , Peng Yu , Liao Shichuan , Dai Guogang , Li Tao 
Published: March 2022

IntroductionShoulder pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders among adults and is caused by a variety of shoulder conditions. The popularity of different acupuncture methods in the nonsurgical treatment of shoulder pain has recently increased. However, evidence regarding the efficacy of acupuncture for shoulder pain is inconsistent, and there is a lack of supporting evidence regarding the overall efficacy of different acupuncture methods for shoulder pain.Methods and AnalysisA systematic review will be conducted to assess the effectiveness of a wide range of acupuncture techniques for atraumatic shoulder conditions. The PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, Ovid MEDLINE, Chinese Biomedical Literature, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and Chongqing VIP databases will be searched to identify eligible studies. Studies will be selected according to preset inclusion and exclusion criteria and relevant data will be extracted from the final included studies. The heterogeneity, risk of bias, publication bias and evidence quality of the studies will be assessed, and a subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis will be performed.Systematic Review RegistrationPROSPERO registration number CRD42021249625.