bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ALB-dNLR Score Predicts Mortality in Coronary Artery Disease Patients After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Xiu Wen-Juan , Yang Hai-Tao , Zheng Ying-Ying , Wu Ting-Ting , Hou Xian-Geng , Jiang Zhi-Hui , Yang Yi , Ma Yi-Tong , Xie Xiang 
Published: March 2022

BackgroundThe influence of the albumin/derived neutrophil and lymphocyte ratio (ALB-dNLR) on the outcomes of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is not known. Here, we aimed to determine the association between the ALB-dNLR score and post-PCI CAD patient outcomes.MethodsA total of 6,050 patients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University were enrolled between January 2008 and December 2016. These patients were divided into three groups according to their ALB-dNLR scores (0 points, n = 1,121; 1 point, n = 3,119; 2 points, n = 1,810). Mortality after PCI [all-cause (ACM) and cardiac (CM)] was taken as the primary endpoint. The prognostic value of the ALB-dNLR score was determined with the Cox proportional hazard model after adjustment for covariates.ResultsThe ACM and CM rates differed among participants in the three groups (P = 0.007 and P = 0.034, respectively). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that the ALB-dNLR score independently predicted both ACM [1 point vs. 0 points, HR = 1.249 (95% CI: 0.79–1.774), P = 0.215; 2 points vs. 0 points, HR = 1.777 (95% CI: 1.239–2.549), P = 0.002] and CM [1 point vs. 0 points, HR = 1.294 (95% CI: 0.871–1.922), P = 0.202; 2 points vs. 0 points, HR = 1.782 (95% CI: 1.185–1.782), P = 0.027]. We also found that among male patients in the three groups, both ACM and CM rates differed (P = 0.006 and P = 0.017, respectively). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that the ALB-dNLR score independently predicted both ACM [1 point vs. 0 points, HR = 1.237 (95% CI: 0.806–0.330), P = 0.330; 2 points vs. 0 points, HR = 1.790 (95% CI: 1.159–2.764), P = 0.009] and CM [1 point vs. 0 points HR = 1.472 (95% CI: 0.892–2.430), P = 0.130; 2 points vs. 0 points, HR = 1.792 (95% CI: 1.182–3.289), P = 0.009].ConclusionThe ALB-dNLR score is a credible predictor for mortality in patients with CAD who have undergone PCI.
Formulation of Dry Powders for Inhalation Comprising High Doses of a Poorly Soluble Hydrophobic Drug
Authors: Tarara Thomas E. , Miller Danforth P. , Weers Audrey E. , Muliadi Ariel , Tso Jerry , Eliahu Avi , Weers Jeffry G. 
Published: March 2022

Spray-dried formulations of a hydrophobic, crystalline drug, GDC-A, were prepared using the suspension-PulmoSphere™ technology. Increases in drug loading resulted in decreases in the primary particle size distribution and increases in tapped density. This enabled fine particle doses of up to 25 mg to be achieved with a portable dry powder inhaler from a size three capsule. The powders were physically and chemically stable, with no changes in physical form or degradants observed during processing or on storage in an open configuration at 40°C for 1 month. The potential benefits of the suspension-based spray drying process relative to solution-based spray drying in terms of stability, lung targeting, and safety/tolerability are discussed.
Development and Validation of a 7-Gene Inflammatory Signature Forecasts Prognosis and Diverse Immune Landscape in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Nai Aitao , Ma Feng , He Zirui , Zeng Shuwen , Bashir Shoaib , Song Jian , Xu Meng 
Published: March 2022

Background: Inflammatory responses are strongly linked with tumorigenesis and cancer development. This research aimed to construct and validate a novel inflammation response–related risk predictive signature for forecasting the prognosis of patients with LUAD.Methods: Differential expression analysis, univariate Cox, LASSO, and multivariate Cox regression analyses of 200 inflammatory response–related genes (IRRG) were performed to establish a risk predictive model in the TCGA training cohort. The performance of the IRRG model was verified in eight GEO datasets. GSEA analysis, ESTIMATE algorithms, and ssGSEA analysis were applied to elucidate the possible mechanisms. Furthermore, the relationship analysis between risk score, model genes, and chemosensitivity was performed. Last, we verified the protein expression of seven model genes by immunohistochemical staining or Western blotting.Results: We constructed a novel inflammatory response–related 7-gene signature (MMP14, BTG2, LAMP3, CCL20, TLR2, IL7R, and PCDH7). Patients in the high-risk group presented markedly decreased survival time in the TCGA cohort and eight GEO cohorts than the low-risk group. Interestingly, multiple pathways related to immune response were suppressed in high-risk groups. The low infiltration levels of B cell, dendritic cell, natural killer cell, and eosinophil can significantly affect the unsatisfactory prognosis of the high-risk group in LUAD. Moreover, the tumor cells’ sensitivity to anticancer drugs was markedly related to risk scores and model genes. The protein expression of seven model genes was consistent with the mRNA expression.Conclusion: Our IRRG prognostic model can effectively forecast LUAD prognosis and is tightly related to immune infiltration.
Development and Validation of a Multimorbidity Index Predicting Mortality Among Older Chinese Adults
Authors: Luo Yan , Huang Ziting , Liu Hui , Xu Huiwen , Su Hexuan , Chen Yuming , Hu Yonghua , Xu Beibei 
Published: March 2022

ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop and validate a multimorbidity index using self-reported chronic conditions for predicting 5-year mortality risk.MethodsWe analyzed data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) and included 11,853 community-dwelling older adults aged 65–84 years. Restrictive association rule mining (ARM) was used to identify disease combinations associated with mortality based on 13 chronic conditions. Data were randomly split into the training (N = 8,298) and validation (N = 3,555) sets. Two multimorbidity indices with individual diseases only (MI) and disease combinations (MIDC) were developed using hazard ratios (HRs) for 5-year morality in the training set. We compared the predictive performance in the validation set between the models using condition count, MI, and MIDC by the concordance (C) statistic, the Integrated Discrimination Improvement (IDI), and the Net Reclassification Index (NRI).ResultsA total of 13 disease combinations were identified. Compared with condition count (C-statistic: 0.710), MIDC (C-statistic: 0.713) showed significantly better discriminative ability (C-statistic: p = 0.016; IDI: 0.005, p &lt; 0.001; NRI: 0.038, p = 0.478). Compared with MI (C-statistic: 0.711), the C-statistic of the model using MIDC was significantly higher (p = 0.031), while the IDI was more than 0 but not statistically significant (IDI: 0.003, p = 0.090).ConclusionAlthough current multimorbidity status is commonly defined by individual chronic conditions, this study found that the multimorbidity index incorporating disease combinations showed supreme performance in predicting mortality among community-dwelling older adults. These findings suggest a need to consider significant disease combinations when measuring multimorbidity in medical research and clinical practice.
Anti-thyroglobulin Antibodies as a Possible Risk Factor for Graves' Disease After Radioiodine Treatment for Toxic Nodular Goiter: Case Report
Authors: Rouiller Nathalie , Nicod Lalonde Marie , Sykiotis Gerasimos P. 
Published: March 2022

BackgroundThe manifestation of Graves' disease (GD) in patients treated with radioactive iodine (RAI) for hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules (RAI-induced GD or post-RAI GD) remains a long-standing challenge in radionuclide therapy. Known risk factors for post-RAI GD include preexisting subclinical hyperthyroidism, positive thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies (TPOAb), positive TSH receptor autoantibodies (TRAb) or otherwise undiagnosed GD. However, these risk factors are not present in all patients with post-RAI GD, and therefore it cannot always be predicted in a reliable manner if a given patient has a high risk for RAI-induced GD or not.Case PresentationWe describe the case of a 64 year-old woman known for hyperthyroidism due to toxic nodular goiter; she was treated initially with carbimazole, and then, due to recurrence, underwent RAI treatment. Three months later, symptomatic hyperthyroidism persisted. Diagnosis of new-onset GD was made based on typical ultrasound findings and newly-positive TRAb. Our patient had only positive thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) before RAI treatment, whereas TPOAb were negative.ConclusionsIn the literature, TgAb have never been reported as a possible risk factor for RAI-induced GD. The present case suggests that the assessment for pre-existing autoimmunity in patients considering RAI for hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules should probably also include TgAb.
Clinical and Laboratory Features of PCR-Confirmed and Clinically Suspected COVID-19 Pediatric Patients: A Single Hospital-Based Experience During the First COVID-19 Wave in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Eldin Nashwa M. B. , Saleh Maysa , Labib Bahaaeldin , Othman Marwa , Chacko Lalu , Mae Daphne , Elnour Lamiaa , Al-Rifai Rami H. 
Published: March 2022

ObjectiveThis study investigated clinical and laboratory differences between confirmed (RT-PCR-positive) and clinically suspected (RT-PCR-negative) COVID-19 pediatric patients, and explored factors associated with disease severity at presentation and duration of hospitalization.MethodsMedical charts of COVID-19-confirmed and clinically suspected pediatric patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in Abu Dhabi were reviewed. Sociodemographic information and clinical and laboratory outcomes were retrieved and analyzed.ResultsBetween 1 April to 30 June, 2020, 173 patients (mean age: 3.6 ± SD 3.2 years) presented with respiratory symptoms. Of them, 18.0% had confirmed contact with COVID-19 cases, 66.5% had symptoms for ≤3 days, and 86.7% were with moderate to severe disease. Twenty-eight (16.1%) patients tested positive while the rest (83.8%) tested negative in RT-PCR. COVID-19-confirmed and clinically suspected patients were statistically similar (p &gt; 0.05) in all sociodemographic data, disease severity, and vital signs except residence status (89.3% vs. 58.6% were residents, respectively, p = 0.002) and contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases (82.1% vs. 5.5%, respectively, p &lt; 0.001). Fever (100 and 91.0%) and cough (100 and 95.9%) were the most common symptoms in both confirmed and clinically suspected COVID-19 patients. All patients were statistically comparable in mean white blood cell and platelet counts and hemoglobin concentration, except in mean concentration of neutrophils (higher in clinically suspected, p = 0.019). C-reactive protein was two times higher in clinically suspected compared to confirmed patients (p = 0.043). Lymphocyte (OR: 1.31, p &lt; 0.001), LDH (OR: 1.01, p = 0.001), D-dimer (OR: 1.92, p &lt; 0.001), and ferritin levels after 24–36 h (OR: 9.25, p &lt; 0.05), and SGPT (OR: 1.04, p &lt; 0.05) were all associated with disease severity. Elevated ferritin (&gt;300 μg/L) after 24–36 h was the only correlated factor with disease severity (aOR: 17.38, p &lt; 0.05). Confirmed compared with clinically suspected patients (aOR: 4.00, 95% CI: 2.92–5.10) and children with moderate compared with mild disease (aOR: 5.87, 95% CI: 1.08–32.06) had longer hospitalization.ConclusionIn pediatric patients with negative RT-PCR, COVID-19 is still suspected based on clinical symptoms and epidemiological data. A tentative diagnosis can be made based on a thorough examination, and proper medical management can be initiated promptly.
Da-Chai-Hu-Tang Protects From Acute Intrahepatic Cholestasis by Inhibiting Hepatic Inflammation and Bile Accumulation via Activation of PPARα
Authors: Xu Shihao , Qiao Xi , Peng Peike , Zhu Ziyi , Li Yaoting , Yu Mengyuan , Chen Long , Cai Yin , Xu Jin , Shi Xinwei , Proud Christopher G. , Xie Jianling , Shen Kaikai 
Published: March 2022

Cholestasis is caused by intrahepatic retention of excessive toxic bile acids and ultimately results in hepatic failure. Da-Chai-Hu-Tang (DCHT) has been used in China to treat liver and gallbladder diseases for over 1800 years. Here, we demonstrated that DCHT treatment prevented acute intrahepatic cholestasis with liver injury in response to α-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) not to bile duct ligation (BDL) induced-extrahepatic cholestasis. ANIT (80 mg/kg) increased serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), direct bilirubin (DBiL), total bilirubin (TBiL), and total bile acids (TBA) which was attenuated by DCHT treatment in a dose-dependent manner. DCHT treatment at high dose of 1.875 g/kg restored bile acid homeostasis, as evidenced by the recovery of the transcription of genes implicated in bile acid biosynthesis, uptake and efflux. DCHT treatment (1.875 g/kg) reversed ANIT-evoked disordered glutathione homeostasis (as determined by GSH/GSSG ratio) and increased in the mRNA levels for Il6, Il1b and Tnfa associated with liver inflammation. Using network pharmacology-based approaches, we identified 22 putative targets involved in DCHT treatment for intrahepatic cholestasis not extrahepatic cholestasis. In addition, as evidenced by dual-luciferase reporter assays, compounds from DCHT with high affinity of PPARα increased luciferase levels from a PPARα-driven reporter. PPARα agonist fenofibrate was able to mimic the cytoprotective effect of DCHT on intrahepatic cholestasis, which was abolished by the PPARα antagonist GW6471. KEGG enrichment and western blot analyses showed that signaling axes of JNK/IL-6/NF-κB/STAT3 related to PPARα might be the principal pathway DCHT affects intrahepatic cholestasis. Taken together, the present study provides compelling evidence that DCHT is a promising formula against acute intrahepatic cholestasis with hepatotoxicity which works via PPARα activation.
BDNF and Cortisol in the Diagnosis of Cocaine-Induced Depression
Authors: Fonseca Francina , Mestre-Pinto Joan Ignasi , Rodríguez-Minguela Rocío , Papaseit Esther , Pérez-Mañá Clara , Langohr Klaus , Barbuti Margherita , Farré Magí , Torrens Marta ,   NEURODEP GROUP
Published: March 2022

BackgroundMajor depressive disorder (MDD) and cocaine use disorder (CUD) are related with disability and high mortality rates. The assessment and treatment of psychiatric comorbidity is challenging due to its high prevalence and its clinical severity, mostly due to suicide rates and the presence of medical comorbidities. The aim of this study is to investigate differences in brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cortisol plasmatic levels in patients diagnosed with CUD-primary-MDD and CUD-induced-MDD and also to compare them to a sample of MDD patients (without cocaine use), a sample of CUD (without MDD), and a group of healthy controls (HC) after a stress challenge.MethodsA total of 46 subjects were included: MDD (n = 6), CUD (n = 15), CUD-primary-MDD (n = 16), CUD-induced-MDD (n = 9), and 21 HC. Psychiatric comorbidity was assessed with the Spanish version of the Psychiatric Research Interview for Substance and Mental Disorders IV (PRISM-IV), and depression severity was measured with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Patients were administered the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) before and after the biological measures, including BDNF, and cortisol levels were obtained.ResultsAfter the TSST, Cohen's d values between CUD-primary-MDD and CUD-induced-MDD increased in each assessment from 0.19 post-TSST to 2.04 post-90-TSST. Pairwise differences among CUD-induced-MDD and both MDD and HC groups had also a large effect size value in post-30-TSST and post-90-TSST. In the case of the BDNF concentrations, CUD-primary-MDD and CUD-induced-MDD in post-90-TSST (12,627.27 ± 5488.09 vs.17,144.84 ± 6581.06, respectively) had a large effect size (0.77).ConclusionResults suggest a different pathogenesis for CUD-induced-MDD with higher levels of cortisol and BDNF compared with CUD-primary-MDD. Such variations should imply different approaches in treatment.
Case Report: Diagnosis of Primary Klebsiella pneumoniae in Cervical Spine by Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing
Authors: Li Tao , Gao Qile , Guo Chaofeng , Li Yanbing 
Published: March 2022

IntroductionSpinal infection is a disease that affects the intervertebral disks or adjacent paravertebral tissue in the vertebral body. There are few reports of spinal infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae. Cervical spine infection by K. pneumoniae especially preoperative is extremely rare. Nowadays, metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has led to the accurate and timely diagnoses of numerous infectious diseases.Case PresentationWe described a case of a 64-year-old woman, with a chief complaint of neck, shoulder, and upper limb pain for 10 days. The patient had symptoms of abscess compression before surgery, and inflammatory indicators such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT) were significantly elevated. The patient's imaging suggested cervical infectious lesions, and the patient had no symptoms of tuberculosis poisoning, and the blood samples associated with tuberculosis were negative. The patient was diagnosed with cervical suppurative infection before surgery. For the patient who failed conservative treatment and had abscess compression, we performed anterior cervical surgery to remove the lesion at an early stage and collected intraoperative specimens for culture and mNGS. Postoperative antibiotic treatment was adjusted according to the etiology and drug sensitivity.ConclusionThis case suggests that the clinical symptoms of K. pneumoniae infection are not typical and the imaging examination lacks specificity. When the clinical diagnosis of etiology is not clear or there are symptoms such as abscess compression, early surgical specimens can be collected for culture and mNGS to identify the pathogen, and postoperative sensitive antibiotics can be used to continue treatment. This helps to identify the cause as early as possible, treat it effectively early, relieve symptoms, prevent complications, and keep the spine stable.
Long COVID Through a Public Health Lens: An Umbrella Review
Authors: Nittas Vasileios , Gao Manqi , West Erin A. , Ballouz Tala , Menges Dominik , Wulf Hanson Sarah , Puhan Milo Alan 
Published: March 2022

Objectives: To synthesize existing evidence on prevalence as well as clinical and socio-economic aspects of Long COVID.Methods: An umbrella review of reviews and a targeted evidence synthesis of their primary studies, including searches in four electronic databases, reference lists of included reviews, as well as related article lists of relevant publications.Results: Synthesis included 23 reviews and 102 primary studies. Prevalence estimates ranged from 7.5% to 41% in non-hospitalized adults, 2.3%–53% in mixed adult samples, 37.6% in hospitalized adults, and 2%–3.5% in primarily non-hospitalized children. Preliminary evidence suggests that female sex, age, comorbidities, the severity of acute disease, and obesity are associated with Long COVID. Almost 50% of primary studies reported some degree of Long COVID-related social and family-life impairment, long absence periods off work, adjusted workloads, and loss of employment.Conclusion: Long COVID will likely have a substantial public health impact. Current evidence is still heterogeneous and incomplete. To fully understand Long COVID, well-designed prospective studies with representative samples will be essential.
A systematic analysis of SAP Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software implementation as accounting software in New Zealand organisations
Authors:   , Sahni Komal Nagpal 
Published: March 2022

In this era of information technology, computerisation, and automation, Accounting Information Systems (AIS) have become the foundation of every organisation. Previous studies explain that AIS is an integrated system providing financial and non-financial services. Thus, companies use the larger versions of enterprise resource planning system (ERP) software packages to integrate AIS into one application. The leading global AIS in the market are System Application and Product in Processing (SAP), Oracle, and Microsoft. This study focuses on SAP as an AIS because it is the market leader and owns more than fifty percent of the global market, as reported by various studies. SAP provides benefits to organisations. It helps in the transfer of data across organisations, despite the challenges confronted during implementation. Therefore, this study's primary focus is on understanding potential benefits, and challenges New Zealand (NZ) companies faced in SAP implementation, and the subsequent strategies to overcome those challenges. This study adopted interpretive research with an inductive approach. It was qualitative and was based on primary data collection through semi-structured interviews. The collected data was analysed using thematic analysis. The SAP potential benefits, and challenges in implementation, and coping mechanisms were reflected through themes using thematic analysis. The research findings disclosed potential benefits from implementing SAP software for NZ companies, namely, productivity of organisations, benefits to the users, real-time data, and stable and secured system. Additionally, findings unveil various SAP implementation challenges, including change management challenges, inadequate project management, technical challenges, knowledge challenges, and organisational challenges. Lastly, the results suggest the coping mechanisms to overcome SAP implementation challenges include training and education, legacy systems, top management support, allocation of adequate resources, and expert implementation team. This study provides a rich insight into the complex and challenging nature of the implementation process and the potential benefits the company might receive from implementing SAP in NZ. The research adds to the existing body of knowledge regarding SAP implementation in NZ companies; and contributes to the ability to assist organisations in their implementation efforts; and empowers project managers, SAP end-users, support-users, and implementers for better management of the inherent intricacy of the implementation process.
derecho al agua
Authors: Orsolini Hugo 
Published: March 2022

El 10 de diciembre del año 1948, la Asamblea General de Naciones Unidas, mediante Resolución 217 A(III), aprobó la Declaración Universal de los Derechos Humanos, incorporando todos los derechos básicos del ser humano, a excepción -curiosamente- de su derecho al agua potable. Fue necesario esperar más de 60 años, para que el 28 de julio del año 2010, a través de la Resolución 64/292, la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas reconociera explícitamente el derecho humano al agua y al saneamiento. También escuchamos en los últimos años -en particular en oportunidad de actos eleccionarios- discursos políticos que incorporaban elegantes expresiones reafirmando el derecho el agua, aunque sin aportar siquiera una propuesta “rápida” de cómo garantizar tal derecho, y mucho menos de las herramientas jurídicas para su protección. En el presente trabajo, se hace mención a los riesgos de las enfermedades hídricas; a las referencias históricas de los derechos humanos, y en particular, del derecho al agua y al saneamiento en la provincia de Santa Fe; y la histórica ausencia de una política en tal sentido; al agua para consumo humano como principal objetivo de la Política Hídrica propuesta; las garantías del derecho al agua, y una propuesta básica de Ordenamiento Jurídico para contar con tales garantías.