bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High platelet distribution width is an independent risk factor of postoperative pneumonia in patients with type A acute aortic dissection
Authors: Xie Xi , Yan Danyang , Liu Xin , Wang Yanjie , Deng Ying , Yao Run , Li Ning 
Published: September 2022

BackgroundPlatelet distribution width (PDW), as a widely applied and reliable marker of platelet activation, was associated with adverse outcomes in cardiovascular diseases. However, there is little literature on the relationship between PDW and postoperative pneumonia in patients with type A acute aortic dissection (AAAD).MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, we collected consecutive patients who underwent emergency surgery for AAAD at Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from January 1, 2014 and June 30, 2020. Patients were divided into three tertiles on the basis of the PDW. The independent effect of the PDW on postoperative pneumonia was evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analysis, and smooth curve fitting was performed to visualize the linear relationship between PDW and the risk of postoperative pneumonia in patients with AAAD.ResultsA total of 210 patients with AAAD were enrolled and the overall incidence of postoperative pneumonia was 25.24% (n = 53). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that PDW was positively associated with the risk of postoperative pneumonia (OR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.02–1.13, P &lt; 0.05) after adjusting the confounders. Compared with the lowest PDW tertile, the risk of postoperative pneumonia increased by 1.21-fold in the medium PDW tertile (OR: 2.21, 95% CI: 0.73–6.72) and by 3.16-fold in the highest PDW tertile (OR: 4.16, 95% CI: 1.40–12.33). A straight-line relationship was observed between PDW and postoperative pneumonia risk in smoothing spline fitting.ConclusionOur findings indicate that high PDW is an independent risk factor of postoperative pneumonia in patients with AAAD. Preoperative PDW may serve as an available indicator of pneumonia, which helps identify AAAD patients with a high risk of postoperative pneumonia.
Sensitivity of boundary layer schemes in simulating the asymmetric rainfall of landfalling typhoon Lekima (2019)
Authors: Duan Jingjing , Yu Zifeng , Hu Bo , Zhen Yan , Cheung Kevin K. W. , Li Yubin , Cai Zhiying 
Published: September 2022

A group of control (CTL) plus ten sensitivity numerical experiments have been conducted to investigate the sensitivity of planetary boundary layer (PBL) schemes in simulating the asymmetric precipitation distribution of typhoon Lekima (2019) during landfall. The simulated track and intensity are quite sensitive to the choice of the PBL scheme. In CTL that applies the Mellor–Yamada Nakanishi and Niino (MYNN) PBL and the surface layer scheme, the observed eyewall replacement 6 h prior to landfall and the asymmetric precipitation during landfall have been simulated well. However, in the PBL1 experiment that applies the Yonsei University (YSU) PBL scheme and the Revised Mesoscale Model version 5 (MM5) Monin–Obukhov surface layer scheme, no double eyewall is simulated. PBL1 and the other sensitivity experiments also simulate more axisymmetric precipitation distribution. PBL1 simulates intensification just before landfall, sustains intensity longer after landfall, but then dissipates quite rapidly. Such differences from CTL are due to larger enthalpy flux, higher PBL height (which is almost unchanged in CTL), and eddy diffusivity extending more into the free atmosphere in PBL1. These factors lead to outward expansion of the radius of maximum wind, larger radial inflow, larger axisymmetric tangential wind in the boundary layer, and larger updrafts in the eyewall. After landfall, larger momentum flux and larger friction velocity in PBL1 enable the more rapid dissipation. The intensification before landfall in PBL1 makes the axisymmetric component stronger. Asymmetry developed in the outer eyewall, and PBL1 was less successful in simulating the eyewall replacement that affects the degree of rainfall asymmetry. These results indicate that the model PBL schemes largely influence the simulated tropical cyclone (TC) intensity and structure including asymmetric rainfall distribution during landfall.
Students’ game addiction caused by multi-constructs and multi-dimensions: Self-controls, cognitive biases and opportunistic behaviours
Authors: Sumiyana Sumiyana , Pratiwi Inggit D. E. , Hadi Caraka , Utami Evy Rahman , Saputra Muhammad Adlin 
Published: September 2022

PurposeThis study investigates some extant research concentrating on student self-regulation to play online games addictively. Then, it proposes a new design to explain game addiction caused by students’ cognitive biases according to three contested approaches: self-control or self-regulation, cognitive distortion, and opportunistic behaviour. Moreover, it separates each contested approach in detail.Research methodologyThis research generalises research subjects with specific qualities and characteristics according to the researchers’ provisions. It selects the population with specific attributes: self-control, cognitive bias, opportunistic behaviour, habits and addiction to online games. Then, this study distributes bilingual questionnaires to the respondents throughout Indonesia. Finally, it tests these research hypotheses, splits them according to each model, and avoids perfect-collinearity among the constructs.OriginalityThis research creates a new design incorporating three contested models of students’ addiction to games. The authors argue that online game addiction is due to students’ weak self-control, cognitive distortion, and opportunistic behaviours. The first perspective suggests that students play games addictively because of their low self-control in managing their tasks and enjoying leisure time. Secondly, this research deals with students playing the game due to their cognitive distortions: embodiment, stereotype, and heuristic biases. Finally, the third perspective explains students’ addiction to games because of their probable attitudes and behaviours: indeterminism, escapism, and adverse selection.FindingsThis research finds that each contested model could explain students’ tendencies to be addicted to playing online games. The authors conclude that multi-constructs and multi-dimensions explain students’ tendency to play games addictively in all three contested models. Moreover, this research infers that students’ habits and addictive behaviours are due to the number of games available on social media and the internet. This availability would likely damage academic habits, behaviours, culture and environment. Meanwhile, educational systems cannot stop the emergence and alterations of some new games. Finally, this study innovates the multi-paradigm for teachers’ counselling guidance.ImplicationsThis study’s findings imply a need for students’ behavioural therapy to be conducted by academic counsellors who are careful of the causal factors of multi-constructs and multi-dimensions. Then, it argues that the different causal factors impact the need for different cognitive therapies. Moreover, it explains that equal treatment for these students addicted to games would make them more stressed. Then, academic counsellors developing healing and wellness programmes should mitigate these students with a specific trait from the subdimensions of each construct.
The effect of Chinese herbal formulas combined with metformin on modulating the gut microbiota in the amelioration of type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Xu Yunxi , Zheng Shuyu , Jiang Shui , Chen Junyu , Zhu Xiaofang , Zhang Ya 
Published: September 2022

To assess and analyse the effectiveness and safety of combined Chinese herbal formula (CHF) and metformin treatment in the modulation of the gut microbiota in the amelioration of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM), all publications addressing the effect of this combination treatment on the quantitative alterations in the gut microbiota and glucose parameters were collected. Rob tool in the Cochrane handbook was performed to evaluate the methodological quality of all included studies. Relevant information and statistics were abstracted and synthesized in Review Manager 5.4 to evaluate the efficacy of combination treatment. Sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses were used to analyse the sources of heterogeneity. Publication bias analyses were performed by Stata software to assess the robustness and quality of the outcomes. As a result, a total of 12 eligible RCTs with 1307 T2DM participants from 7 electronic databases were included. Combined CHF with metformin treatment showed better efficacies than metformin monotherapy in regulating the structure of the gut microbiota, characterized by increased Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Bacteroidetes and decreased Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus, and Saccharomyces along with better decreases in glycated haemoglobin, fasting plasma glucose, 2-hour postprandial blood glucose, fasting insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. Subgroup analyses further analysed the effect of metformin doses and CHF classifications on controlling hyperglycaemia and altering the gut microbiota. In conclusion, our meta-analysis suggested that combined CHF with metformin treatment is promising for the modulation of the gut microbiota along with ameliorating hyperglycemia in T2DM patients. Importantly, more well-designed RCTs are needed to validate the outcomes and verify the treatment value for clinical purposes.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021291524, identifier CRD42021291524.
A dual input single output non-isolated DC-DC converter for multiple sources electric vehicle applications
Authors: Karthikeyan B , Sundararaju K , Palanisamy R , Manivasagam R , Hossain Ismail , Bajaj Mohit , Shouran Mokhtar , Abdul samad Bdereddin , Kamel Salah 
Published: September 2022

There is a need to design DC-DC converters capable of handling high voltages and that employ single-stage conversion to integrate renewable energy resources, such as solar photovoltaic cells and fuel cells, for electric vehicle applications. This paper elucidates the design and analysis of a dual input single output non-isolated Cuk-derived converter with a high step-up ratio. The proposed converter can effectively handle two different energy resources that have different electrical characteristics. It makes use of one common inductor between the dual input port, which reduces the passive components and the circuit volume required. The maximum efficiency that can be achieved by this converter is 95.72%, with two main switches and one diode in the circuit. This study involved a detailed analysis of the proposed converter in continuous current operation mode. A continuous current with reduced ripple in the output improves a fuel cell’s operating life-span. The efficacy of the proposed converter is verified through simulation and validated by constructing a 200 W, real-time, scaled-down prototype model.
Cross-talk between necroptosis-related lncRNAs to construct a novel signature and predict the immune landscape of lung adenocarcinoma patients
Authors: Wu Jie , Song Dingli , Zhao Guang , Chen Sisi , Ren Hong , Zhang Boxiang 
Published: September 2022

Background: As a new style of cell death, necroptosis plays a crucial role in tumor immune microenvironment. LncRNAs have been identified to act as competitive RNAs to influence genes involved in necroptosis. Therefore, we aim to create a signature based on necroptosis-related lncRNAs to predict the prognosis and immune landscape of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients in this study.Methods: TCGA database was used to acquire RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) data and clinical information for 59 lung normal samples and 535 lung adenocarcinoma samples. The Pearson correlation analysis, univariate cox regression analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) cox regression were performed to construct the prognostic NRlncRNAs signature. Then we used Kaplan-Meier (K-M) analysis, time-dependent ROC curves, univariate and multivariate cox regression analysis, and nomogram to validate this signature. In addition, GO, KEGG, and GSVA were analyzed to investigate the potential molecular mechanism. Moreover, we analyzed the relationship between our identified signature and immune microenvironment, TMB, and some clinical characteristics. Finally, we detected the expression of the six necroptosis-related lncRNAs in cells and tissues.Results: We constructed a NRlncRNAs signature consisting of six lncRNAs (FRMD6-AS1, LINC01480, FAM83A-AS1, FRMD6-AS1, MED4-AS1, and LINC01415) in LUAD. LUAD patients with high risk scores had lower chance of survival with an AUC of 0.739, 0.709, and 0.733 for 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year respectively. The results based on GO, KEGG, and GSVA enrichment analysis demonstrated that NRlncRNAs signature-related genes were mainly correlated with immune pathways, metabolic-and cell growth-related pathways, cell cycle, and apoptosis. Moreover, the risk score was correlated with the immune status of LUAD patients. Patients with higher risk scores had lower ESTIMATE scores and higher TIDE scores. The risk score was positively correlated with TMB. LINC01415, FRMD6-AS1 and FAM83A-AS1 were significantly overexpressed in lung adenocarcinoma, while the expression levels of MED4-AS1 and LINC01480 were lower in lung adenocarcinoma.Conclusion: Overall, an innovative prognostic signature based on NRlncRNAs was developed for LUAD through comprehensive bioinformatics analysis, which can act as a predictor of immunotherapy and may provide guidance for clinicians.
Blau syndrome: Lessons learned in a tertiary care centre at Chandigarh, North India
Authors: Kumrah Rajni , Pilania Rakesh Kumar , Menia Nitin Kumar , Rawat Amit , Sharma Jyoti , Gupta Anju , Vignesh Pandiarajan , Jindal Ankur Kumar , Rikhi Rashmi , Agarwal Aniruddha , Gupta Vishali , Singh Surjit , Suri Deepti 
Published: September 2022

ObjectivesBlau syndrome (BS) is a rare autoinflammatory disease characterized by arthritis, dermatitis, and granulomatous uveitis in early childhood. The study presents the clinical experience of patients with BS at a tertiary care centre in Chandigarh, North India.MethodsAnalysis of the clinical profile of patients of BS with NOD2 gene mutations under follow-up was carried out.ResultsDiagnosis of BS was genetically confirmed in 11 patients (10 children and one adult; six male and five female patients) from 10 families. The median age of onset of symptoms was 12 months (range, 4 months–4 years), while the age at diagnosis ranged from 2.3 to 26 years. The classic triad of arthritis, dermatitis, and uveitis was present in 6/11 (54.5%) patients. The frequency of arthritis, dermatitis, and uveitis was 100%, 81.8%, and 72.7%, respectively. The median age at diagnosis of ocular symptoms was 4 years (range, 2–26 years). Family history was noted in six families. Renal involvement was observed in two children. All patients in our cohort had the R334W variant in NOD2 gene. An asymptomatic carrier sibling with R334W mutation was identified in one family. Methotrexate was used as a first-line agent in all children. Adalimumab, which was commenced in five patients with uveitis, resulted in significant improvement in four patients. The total follow-up duration of the present cohort is 1,063.8 patient-months.ConclusionsThe possibility of BS should always be considered in patients with arthritis and early ocular involvement. Uveitis is often progressive and refractory to currently available therapies. Systemic involvement appears to remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality.
Evaluation of retina and microvascular changes in the patient with Parkinson’s disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Deng Yu , Jie Chuanhong , Wang Jianwei , Liu Ziqiang , Li Yuanyuan , Hou Xiaoyu 
Published: September 2022

BackgroundParkinson’s disease (PD) is a multifaceted neurodegenerative disease. The optic nerve, as a window into the central nervous system (CNS), is known to be an important part of the CNS and can be detected non-invasively. With the widespread availability of optical coherence tomography (OCT) devices, an increasing number of studies have paid attention to the neuropathological disorders in the retina of PD patients in recent years. However, it is still controversial whether OCT can be used as a complementary tool for PD diagnosis.MethodsThis review is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42022301258. The Embase, PUBMED, and The Cochrane Library databases were independently retrieved by 2 investigators to identify relevant papers published from 1 January 2017 to 24 January 2022. These studies used OCT or OCTA to evaluate the difference in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, ganglion cell layer(GCL) thickness, macula thickness, Cup and disk area superficial retinal capillary plexus (SCP), and deep retinal capillary plexus(DCP). The standard mean difference (SMD) with the 95% confidence interval (CI) was pooled for continuous outcomes.ResultsIn total, 26 studies had been enrolled in this meta-analysis with a total number of 2,790 eyes, including 1,343 eyes from the PD group along with 1,447 eyes from the HC group. The results revealed that the RNFL thickness (SMD: −0.53; 95%CI, −0.71∼−0.35; P &lt; 0.00001), GCL thickness (SMD: −0.43; 95%CI, −0.66 to −0.19; P = 0.0003), macula thickness (SMD: −0.22; 95%CI, −0.22 to −0.11; P &lt; 0.0001) were significantly thinner in patients with PD. The SCP (SMD: −0.61; 95%CI, −1.31to −0.10; P = 0.02) was significantly lower in PD patients. The DCP (SMD: −0.48; 95%CI, −1.02 to −0.06; P = 0.08) is lower in PD patients, but the difference was statistically insignificant.ConclusionRetinal nerve fiber layer thickness, GCL thickness, macular thickness, and SVD of PD patients are lower than those of healthy control. OCT and OCTA could detect morphological retinal changes in PD and might be objective and reproducible auxiliary tools to assist clinician diagnosis.Systematic review registration[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/], identifier [CRD42022301258].
Potential limitations in systematic review studies assessing the effect of the main intervention for treatment/therapy of COVID-19 patients: An overview
Authors: Mohseni Mahsa , Ameri Hosein , Arab-Zozani Morteza 
Published: September 2022

BackgroundAlthough several studies have assessed the safety, efficacy, and effectiveness of interventions in treating the COVID-19, many of them have limitations that can have an immense impact on their results. This study aims to assess the potential limitations in systematic reviews (SRs) that evaluate the effect of interventions on the treatment of the COVID-19.MethodsPubMed, Scopus, and Web of Sciences (WOS) databases were searched from inception to January 1, 2022. All systematic reviews investigated the effectiveness, efficacy, safety, and outcome of the main intervention (Favipiravir, Remdesivir, Hydroxychloroquine, Ivermectin, Lopinavir/Ritonavir, or Tocilizumab) for the treatment of COVID-19 patients and reported the potential limitations of the included studies. We assessed the quality of the included studies using the Quality Assessment Tool (QAT) for review articles. We conducted a content analysis and prepared a narrative summary of the limitations.ResultsForty-six studies were included in this review. Ninety one percent of the included studies scored as strong quality and the remaining (9%) as moderate quality. Only 29.7% of the included systematic reviews have a registered protocol. 26% of the included studies mentioned a funding statement. The main limitations of the included studies were categorized in 10 domains: sample size, heterogeneity, follow-up, treatment, including studies, design, definitions, synthesis, quality, and search.ConclusionVarious limitations have been reported in all the included studies. Indeed, the existence of limitations in studies can affect their results, therefore, identifying these limitations can help researchers design better studies. As a result, stronger studies with more reliable results will be reported and disseminated. Further research on COVID-19 SRs is essential to improve research quality and also, efficiency among scientists across the world.
Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived brain organoids as potential human model system for chemotherapy induced CNS toxicity
Authors: Scholz Sophie , Lewis Karyn , Saulich Frederik , Endres Matthias , Boehmerle Wolfgang , Huehnchen Petra 
Published: September 2022

Neurotoxic phenomena are among the most common side effects of cytotoxic agents. The development of chemotherapy-induced polyneuropathy (CIPN) is a well-recognized adverse reaction in the peripheral nervous system, while changes of cognitive functions (post-chemotherapy cognitive impairment (PCCI)) are more diffuse and have only recently drawn scientific interest. PCCI in patients most often displays as short-term memory loss, reduced multitasking ability or deficits in language. Not least, due to a lack of preclinical human model systems, the underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood, and treatments are missing. We thus investigated whether induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived brain organoids can serve as a human model system for the study of chemotherapy induced central nervous system toxicity. We robustly generated mature brain organoids from iPSC-derived neuronal precursor cells (NPC), which showed a typical composition with 1) dividing NPCs forming ventricle like structures 2) matured neurons and 3) supporting glial cells closer to the surface. Furthermore, upon stimulation the brain organoids showed functional signaling. When exposed to increasing concentrations of paclitaxel, a frequently used chemotherapy drug, we observed time dependent neurotoxicity with an EC50 of 153 nM, comparable to a published murine model system. Histological analysis after paclitaxel exposure demonstrated dose dependent apoptosis induction and reduced proliferation in the organoids with further Western blot analyses indicating the degradation of neuronal calcium sensor one protein (NCS-1) and activation of Caspase-3. We could also provide evidence that paclitaxel treatment negatively affects the pool of neuronal and astrocyte precursor cells as well as mature neurons. In summary our data suggests that human iPSC derived brain organoids are a promising preclinical model system to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying PCCI and to develop novel prevention and treatment strategies.