bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prediction and Modeling of Neuropsychological Scores in Alzheimer’s Disease Using Multimodal Neuroimaging Data and Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Hojjati Seyed Hani , Babajani-Feremi Abbas ,   the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: January 2022

Background: In recent years, predicting and modeling the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) based on neuropsychological tests has become increasingly appealing in AD research.Objective: In this study, we aimed to predict the neuropsychological scores and investigate the non-linear progression trend of the cognitive declines based on multimodal neuroimaging data.Methods: We utilized unimodal/bimodal neuroimaging measures and a non-linear regression method (based on artificial neural networks) to predict the neuropsychological scores in a large number of subjects (n = 1143), including healthy controls (HC) and patients with mild cognitive impairment non-converter (MCI-NC), mild cognitive impairment converter (MCI-C), and AD. We predicted two neuropsychological scores, i.e., the clinical dementia rating sum of boxes (CDRSB) and Alzheimer’s disease assessment scale cognitive 13 (ADAS13), based on structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) biomarkers.Results: Our results revealed that volumes of the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus and the average fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET of the angular gyrus, temporal gyrus, and posterior cingulate outperform other neuroimaging features in predicting ADAS13 and CDRSB scores. Compared to a unimodal approach, our results showed that a bimodal approach of integrating the top two neuroimaging features (i.e., the entorhinal volume and the average FDG of the angular gyrus, temporal gyrus, and posterior cingulate) increased the prediction performance of ADAS13 and CDRSB scores in the converting and stable stages of MCI and AD. Finally, a non-linear AD progression trend was modeled to describe the cognitive decline based on neuroimaging biomarkers in different stages of AD.Conclusion: Findings in this study show an association between neuropsychological scores and sMRI and FDG-PET biomarkers from normal aging to severe AD.
“Emergency Room Evaluation and Recommendations” (ER2) Tool for the Screening of Older Emergency Department Visitors With Major Neurocognitive Disorders: Results From the ER2 Database
Authors: Beauchet Olivier , Cooper-Brown Liam A. , Lubov Joshua , Allali Gilles , Afilalo Marc , Launay Cyrille P. 
Published: January 2022

Purpose: The Emergency Room Evaluation and Recommendation (ER2) is an application in the electronic medical file of patients visiting the Emergency Department (ED) of the Jewish General Hospital (JGH; Montreal, Quebec, Canada). It screens for older ED visitors at high risk of undesirable events. The aim of this study is to examine the performance criteria (i.e., sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value [PPV], negative predictive value [NPV], positive likelihood ratio [LR+], negative likelihood ratio [LR-] and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUROC]) of the ER2 high-risk level and its “temporal disorientation” item alone to screen for major neurocognitive disorders in older ED visitors at the JGH.Methods: Based on a cross-sectional design, 999 older adults (age 84.9 ± 5.6, 65.1% female) visiting the ED of the JGH were selected from the ER2 database. ER2 was completed upon the patients' arrival at the ED. The outcomes were ER2's high-risk level, the answer to ER2's temporal disorientation item (present vs. absent), and the diagnosis of major neurocognitive disorders (yes vs. no) which was confirmed when it was present in a letter or other files signed by a physician.Results: The sensitivities of both ER2's high-risk level and temporal disorientation item were high (≥0.91). Specificity, the PPV, LR+, and AROC were higher for the temporal disorientation item compared to ER2's high-risk level, whereas a highest sensitivity, LR-, and NPV were obtained with the ER2 high-risk level. Both area under the receiver operating characteristic curves were high (0.71 for ER2's high-risk level and 0.82 for ER2 temporal disorientation item). The odds ratios (OR) of ER2's high-risk level and of temporal disorientation item for the diagnosis of major neurocognitive disorders were positive and significant with all OR above 18, the highest OR being reported for the temporal disorientation item in the unadjusted model [OR = 26.4 with 95% confidence interval (CI) = 17.7–39.3].Conclusion: Our results suggest that ER2 and especially its temporal disorientation item may be used to screen for major neurocognitive disorders in older ED users.
Indirect Flow Diversion for Off-Centered Bifurcation Aneurysms and Distant Small-Vessel Aneurysms, a Retrospective Proof of Concept Study From Five Neurovascular Centers
Authors: Schob Stefan , Brill Richard , Siebert Eberhard , Sponza Massimo , Schüngel Marie-Sophie , Wohlgemuth Walter Alexander , Götz Nico , Mucha Dirk , Gopinathan Anil , Scheer Maximilian , Prell Julian , Bohner Georg , Gavrilovic Vladimir , Skalej Martin 
Published: January 2022

Background: Treatment of cerebral aneurysms using hemodynamic implants such as endosaccular flow disruptors and endoluminal flow diverters has gained significant momentum during recent years. The intended target zone of those devices is the immediate interface between aneurysm and parent vessel. The therapeutic success is based on the reduction of aneurysmal perfusion and the subsequent formation of a neointima along the surface of the implant. However, a subset of aneurysms–off-centered bifurcation aneurysms involving the origin of efferent branches and aneurysms arising from peripheral segments of small cerebral vessels–oftentimes cannot be treated via coiling or implanting a hemodynamic implant at the neck level for technical reasons. In those cases, indirect flow diversion–a flow diverter deployed in the main artery proximal to the parent vessel of the aneurysm–can be a viable treatment strategy, but clinical evidence is lacking in this regard.Materials and Methods: Five neurovascular centers contributed to this retrospective analysis of patients who were treated with indirect flow diversion. Clinical data, aneurysm characteristics, anti-platelet medication, and follow-up results, including procedural and post-procedural complications, were recorded.Results: Seventeen patients (mean age: 60.5 years, range: 35–77 years) with 17 target aneurysms (vertebrobasilar: n = 9) were treated with indirect flow diversion. The average distance between the flow-diverting stent and the aneurysm was 1.65 mm (range: 0.4–2.4 mm). In 15/17 patients (88.2%), perfusion of the aneurysm was reduced immediately after implantation. Follow-ups were available for 12 cases. Delayed opacification (OKM A3: 11.8%), reduction in size (OKM B1-3: 29.4%) and occlusion (D1: 47.1%) were observable at the latest investigation. Clinically relevant procedural complications and adverse events in the early phase and in the late subacute phase were not observed in any case.Conclusion: Our preliminary data suggest that indirect flow diversion is a safe, feasible, and effective approach to off-centered bifurcation aneurysms and distant small-vessel aneurysms. However, validation with larger studies, including long-term outcomes and optimized imaging, is warranted.
Neural Suppression Elicited During Motor Imagery Following the Observation of Biological Motion From Point-Light Walker Stimuli
Authors: Grazia Alice , Wimmer Michael , Müller-Putz Gernot R. , Wriessnegger Selina C. 
Published: January 2022

Introduction: Advantageous effects of biological motion (BM) detection, a low-perceptual mechanism that allows the rapid recognition and understanding of spatiotemporal characteristics of movement via salient kinematics information, can be amplified when combined with motor imagery (MI), i.e., the mental simulation of motor acts. According to Jeannerod’s neurostimulation theory, asynchronous firing and reduction of mu and beta rhythm oscillations, referred to as suppression over the sensorimotor area, are sensitive to both MI and action observation (AO) of BM. Yet, not many studies investigated the use of BM stimuli using combined AO-MI tasks. In this study, we assessed the neural response in the form of event-related synchronization and desynchronization (ERD/S) patterns following the observation of point-light-walkers and concordant MI, as compared to MI alone.Methods: Twenty right-handed healthy participants accomplished the experimental task by observing BM stimuli and subsequently performing the same movement using kinesthetic MI (walking, cycling, and jumping conditions). We recorded an electroencephalogram (EEG) with 32 channels and performed time-frequency analysis on alpha (8–13 Hz) and beta (18–24 Hz) frequency bands during the MI task. A two-way repeated-measures ANOVA was performed to test statistical significance among conditions and electrodes of interest.Results: The results revealed significant ERD/S patterns in the alpha frequency band between conditions and electrode positions. Post hoc comparisons showed significant differences between condition 1 (walking) and condition 3 (jumping) over the left primary motor cortex. For the beta band, a significantly less difference in ERD patterns (p &lt; 0.01) was detected only between condition 3 (jumping) and condition 4 (reference).Discussion: Our results confirmed that the observation of BM combined with MI elicits a neural suppression, although just in the case of jumping. This is in line with previous findings of AO and MI (AOMI) eliciting a neural suppression for simulated whole-body movements. In the last years, increasing evidence started to support the integration of AOMI training as an adjuvant neurorehabilitation tool in Parkinson’s disease (PD).Conclusion: We concluded that using BM stimuli in AOMI training could be promising, as it promotes attention to kinematic features and imitative motor learning.
Preferences for Renal Cell Carcinoma Pharmacological Treatment: A Discrete Choice Experiment in Patients and Oncologists
Authors: Fernández Ovidio , Lázaro-Quintela Martín , Crespo Guillermo , Soto de Prado Diego , Pinto Álvaro , Basterretxea Laura , Gómez de Liaño Alfonso , Etxaniz Olatz , Blasco Sara , Gabás-Rivera Clara , Aceituno Susana , Palomar Virginia , Polanco-Sánchez Carlos 
Published: January 2022

IntroductionThe purpose of this investigation was to explore patients’ and oncologists’ preferences for the characteristics of a pharmacological regimen for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC).Material and MethodsCross-sectional observational study based on a discrete choice experiment (DCE) conducted in Spain. A literature review, a focus group with oncologists and interviews with patients informed the DCE design. Five attributes were included: progression survival gain, risk of serious adverse events (SAEs), health-related quality of life (HRQoL), administration mode, and treatment cost. Preferences were analyzed using a mixed-logit model to estimate relative importance (RI) of attributes (importance of an attribute in relation to all others), which was compared between aRCC patients and oncologists treating aRCC. Willingness to pay (WTP, payer: health system) for a benefit in survival or in risk reduction and maximum acceptable risk (MAR) in SAEs for improving survival were estimated from the DCE. Subgroup analyses were performed to identify factors that influence preference.ResultsA total of 105 patients with aRCC (77.1% male, mean age 65.9 years [SD: 10.4], mean time since RCC diagnosis 6.3 years [SD: 6.1]) and 67 oncologists (52.2% male, mean age 41.9 years [SD: 8.4], mean duration of experience in RCC 10.2 years [SD: 7.5]) participated in the study. The most important attribute for patients and oncologists was survival gain (RI: 43.6% vs. 54.7% respectively, p&lt;0.05), followed by HRQoL (RI: 35.5% vs. 18.0%, respectively, p&lt;0.05). MAR for SAEs was higher among oncologists than patients, while WTP (for the health system) was higher for patients. Differences in preferences were found according to time since diagnosis and education level (patients) or length of professional experience (oncologists).ConclusionPatients’ and oncologists’ preferences for aRCC treatment are determined mainly by the efficacy (survival gain) but also by the HRQoL provided. The results of the study can help to inform decision-making in the selection of appropriate aRCC treatment.
An 11-Gene Signature Based on Treatment Responsiveness Predicts Radiation Therapy Survival Benefit Among Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Shen Junjie , Yan Derui , Bai Lu , Geng Ruirui , Zhao Xulun , Li Huijun , Dong Yongfei , Cao Jianping , Tang Zaixiang , Liu Song-bai 
Published: January 2022

PurposeWe developed a strategy of building prognosis gene signature based on clinical treatment responsiveness to predict radiotherapy survival benefit in breast cancer patients.Methods and MaterialsAnalyzed data came from the public database. PFS was used as an indicator of clinical treatment responsiveness. WGCNA was used to identify the most relevant modules to radiotherapy response. Based on the module genes, Cox regression model was used to build survival prognosis signature to distinguish the benefit group of radiotherapy. An external validation was also performed.ResultsIn the developed dataset, MEbrown module with 534 genes was identified by WGCNA, which was most correlated to the radiotherapy response of patients. A number of 11 hub genes were selected to build the survival prognosis signature. Patients that were divided into radio-sensitivity group and radio-resistant group based on the signature risk score had varied survival benefit. In developed dataset, the 3-, 5-, and 10-year AUC of the signature were 0.814 (CI95%: 0.742–0.905), 0.781 (CI95%: 0.682–0.880), and 0.762 (CI95%: 0.626–0.897), respectively. In validation dataset, the 3- and 5-year AUC of the signature were 0.706 (CI95%: 0.523–0.889) and 0.743 (CI95%: 0.595–0.891). The signature had higher predictive power than clinical factors alone and had more clinical prognosis efficiency. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the identified genes were mainly enriched in immune-related processes. Further immune estimated analysis showed the difference in distribution of immune micro-environment between radio-sensitivity group and radio-resistant group.ConclusionsThe 11-gene signature may reflect differences in tumor immune micro-environment that underlie the differential response to radiation therapy and could guide clinical-decision making related to radiation in breast cancer patients.
Neonates in the Intensive Care Unit: Maternal Health-Related Quality of Life and Depression After Term and Preterm Births
Authors: Mautner Eva , Stern Christina , Avian Alexander , Deutsch Maria , Schöll Wolfgang , Greimel Elfriede 
Published: January 2022

Background/Objective: To examine maternal physical and mental health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and depression after early and late preterm and term births in the early postpartum period.Method: In a prospective pilot study, three groups of women whose newborns had to be treated in the neonatal ward during the immediate postpartum period were established and compared with each other: 20 women with extremely to very preterm birth, 20 with moderate to late preterm birth and 20 women with term birth. All participants completed the Short Form-12 Health Survey (SF-12) to measure HRQoL, and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) to detect depressive symptoms combined with independently developed questions to evaluate anxiety and psychological distress.Results: Maternal psychological HRQoL was significantly worse in the very preterm birth group compared to moderate to late preterm birth (p &lt; 0.001) and full-term birth groups (p = 0.004). There were no differences between the birth groups in depressive symptoms (p = 0.083), anxiety (p = 0.238), perceived stress (p = 0.340) and the general psychological distress values (p = 0.755). In the EPDS, the depression screening instrument 30 to 65% were beyond the cut-off-value to detect major depression.Conclusions: During the early postpartum period, an extensive medical care focussing on acute stress, HRQoL parameters and depression may be a good step to improving maternal well-being.
Association Between Nonselective Beta-Blocker Use and Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B Without Cirrhosis and Decompensation
Authors: Cheng He-Yun , Lin Hsiu C. , Lin Hsiu L. , Uang Yow S. , Keller Joseph J. , Wang Li H. 
Published: January 2022

Background: Nonselective beta-blockers (NSBBs) can reduce the incidence or mortality of certain types of cancers, and NSBBs exert a protective effect on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis. However, the potential preventive effect of NSBBs has not yet been investigated in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who have a high HCC risk regardless of the presence of underlying cirrhosis.Aim: This study evaluated the association between NSBB use and HCC incidence in patients with CHB without cirrhosis and decompensation.Methods: From the 2000 Longitudinal Generation Tracking Database, we enrolled patients who were newly diagnosed as having CHB from January 2001 to December 2011 and then followed them up for at least 5 years. To estimate the causal effect of NSBBs on the time-to-event outcomes of HCC, a marginal Cox proportional hazards model was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).Results: After adjustment, no significant benefit of HCC risk reduction was observed between the NSBB users and nonusers (adjusted HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.52–1.31). The cumulative defined daily dose (cDDD) analysis revealed no significant dose correlation among the three groups [adjusted HR (95% CI): 1.08, (0.56–2.05), 0.54 (0.17–1.77), and 0.76 (0.40–1.42) in the &lt;90 cDDD, 90 to &lt;180 cDDD, and ≥180 cDDD groups, respectively]. Duration-dependent associations were not observed. Multivariable stratified analysis results demonstrated that HCC risk markedly decreased in the patients aged &gt;55 years (adjusted HR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.25–0.96; p = 0.04).Conclusion: NSBB did not significantly prevent HCC in the patients with CHB infection without cirrhosis and decompensation. This study provided one of valuable results that it is not clinically required to use NSBBs as recommended chemoprevention for HCC in high-risk patients who have CHB.
Cementation of Sand With Enzyme-Induced Carbonate Precipitation (EICP) Using Concrete-Extracted Calcium
Authors: He Jia , Mao Xunyu , Zhou Yundong , Tang Qiang 
Published: January 2022

Calcium carbonate precipitation and crystallization induced by urease enzyme to solidify soil is known as biocement technology. The uses of waste and cheap materials can make this technology more cost-effective and practical for applications. In this study, calcium ions were obtained by dissolving waste concretes in acidic liquid. Sand columns were treated by enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) with either concrete-extracted calcium or reagent calcium for comparison. Compressive strengths, calcium carbonate contents, and microscopic analysis on the treated sand were carried out. It was found that the compressive strength of the former could reach 833 kPa in the dry state and 204 kPa in the wet state after 5 times of EICP treatment, both of which were higher than that of the latter. The calcium carbonate contents could reach 2–3% after 3–5 times of treatment. Based on the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) analyses, the crystal type of calcium carbonate produced in sand was calcite. The comparative results showed that the treatment effect using concrete-extracted calcium was similar or better than that using reagent calcium.
The Role of Satisfaction With Job and Cognitive Trauma Processing in the Occurrence of Secondary Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Medical Providers Working With Trauma Victims
Authors: Gurowiec Piotr Jerzy , Ogińska-Bulik Nina , Michalska Paulina , Kȩdra Edyta , Skarbalienė Aelita 
Published: January 2022

Introduction: As an occupational group, medical providers working with victims of trauma are prone to negative consequences of their work, particularly secondary traumatic stress (STS) symptoms. Various factors affect susceptibility to STS, including work-related and organizational determinants, as well as individual differences. The aim of the study was to establish the mediating role of cognitive trauma processing in the relationship between job satisfaction and STS symptoms among medical providers.Procedure and Participants: Results were obtained from 419 healthcare providers working with victims of trauma (218 nurses and 201 paramedics). Three questionnaires, namely the Secondary Traumatic Stress Inventory, Work Satisfaction Scale, and Cognitive Trauma Processing Scale, were used in the study, as well as a survey developed for this research. Correlational and mediation analyses were applied to assess relations between variables.Results: The results showed significant links between STS symptoms and both job satisfaction and cognitive processing of trauma. Three cognitive coping strategies play the intermediary role in the relationship between job satisfaction and symptoms of secondary traumatic stress. However, this role varies depending on preferred strategies.Conclusion: Nurses and paramedics are significantly exposed to the occurrence of STS. Thus, it is important to engage health care providers in activities aimed at preventing and reducing symptoms of STS.
Let's End HepC: Modelling Public Health Epidemiological Policies Applied to Hepatitis C in Spain
Authors: Lopes Henrique , Baptista-Leite Ricardo , Franco Diogo , Serra Miguel A. , Escudero Amparo , Martín-Moreno José M. 
Published: January 2022

Background: The WHO has defined international targets toward the elimination of hepatitis C by 2030. Most countries cannot be on track to achieve this goal unless many challenges are surpassed. The Let's End HepC (LEHC) tool aims to contribute to the control of hepatitis C. The innovation of this tool combines the modelling of public health policies (PHP) focused on hepatitis C with epidemiological modelling of the disease, obtaining a unique result that allows to forecast the impact of policy outcomes. The model was applied to several countries, including Spain.Methods: To address the stated objective, we applied the “Adaptive Conjoint Analysis” for PHP decision-making and Markov Chains in the LEHC modelling tool. The tool also aims to be used as an element of health literacy for patient advocacy through gamification mechanisms and country comparability. The LEHC project has been conducted in several countries, including Spain. The population segments comprised in the project are: People Who Inject Drugs (PWID), prisoners, blood products, remnant population.Results: A total of 24 PHP related to hepatitis C were included in the LEHC project. It was identified that Spain had fully implemented 14 of those policies to control hepatitis C. According to LEHC's model forecast, the WHO's Hepatitis C elimination goal on reducing the number of patients living with Hepatitis C to 10% can be achieved in Spain by 2026 if current policies are maintained. The model estimates that the total population in Spain, by 2026, is expected to comprise 26,367 individuals living with hepatitis C. Moreover, if the 24 PHP considered for this study are fully implemented in Spain, the elimination goal may be achieved in 2024, with 29,615 individuals living with hepatitis C by that year.Conclusion: The findings corroborate the view that Spain has set great efforts in directing PHP toward Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) elimination by 2030. However, there is still room for improvement, namely in further implementing 10 of the 24 PHP considered for the LEHC project. By maintaining the 14 PHP in force, the LEHC model estimates the HCV elimination in the country by 2026, and by 2024 if further measures are employed to control the disease.