bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Machine learning algorithms to estimate 10-Year survival in patients with bone metastases due to prostate cancer: toward a disease-specific survival estimation tool
Authors: Anderson Ashley B. , Grazal Clare , Wedin Rikard , Kuo Claire , Chen Yongmei , Christensen Bryce R. , Cullen Jennifer , Forsberg Jonathan A. 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background
Prognostic indicators, treatments, and survival estimates vary by cancer type. Therefore, disease-specific models are needed to estimate patient survival. Our primary aim was to develop models to estimate survival duration after treatment for skeletal-related events (SREs) (symptomatic bone metastasis, including impending or actual pathologic fractures) in men with metastatic bone disease due to prostate cancer. Such disease-specific models could be added to the PATHFx clinical-decision support tool, which is available worldwide, free of charge. Our secondary aim was to determine disease-specific factors that should be included in an international cancer registry.

Methods
We analyzed records of 438 men with metastatic prostate cancer who sustained SREs that required treatment with radiotherapy or surgery from 1989–2017. We developed and validated 6 models for 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, and 10-year survival after treatment. Model performance was evaluated using calibration analysis, Brier scores, area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC), and decision curve analysis to determine the models’ clinical utility. We characterized the magnitude and direction of model features.

Results
The models exhibited acceptable calibration, accuracy (Brier scores < 0.20), and classification ability (AUCs > 0.73). Decision curve analysis determined that all 6 models were suitable for clinical use. The order of feature importance was distinct for each model. In all models, 3 factors were positively associated with survival duration: younger age at metastasis diagnosis, proximal prostate-specific antigen (PSA) < 10 ng/mL, and slow-rising alkaline phosphatase velocity (APV).

Conclusions
We developed models that estimate survival duration in patients with metastatic bone disease due to prostate cancer. These models require external validation but should meanwhile be included in the PATHFx tool. PSA and APV data should be recorded in an international cancer registry.
Understanding the lived experience of lung cancer: a European social media listening study
Authors: Rodrigues Ana , Chauhan Jyoti , Sagkriotis Alexandros , Aasaithambi Sathyaraj , Montrone Michele 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background
Social media platforms are increasingly being used by stakeholders to generate, access, and share health-related information and experiences. Lung cancer is the most common cancer, impacting > 2 million patients globally. This observational study utilized a social listening approach to analyze social media trends and gain insights into stakeholder perceptions of lung cancer.

Methods
This social media study retrospectively collated data from open access blogs, forums, and social networking sites. Social media posts were collected between June 2019–May 2020 from 14 European countries. Using social media aggregator tools, posts comprising lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer-specific terms were extracted. Manual and automated relevancy algorithms filtered the extracted information to provide the relevant dataset. This contextualized dataset was further mined to generate the final data for analysis.

Results
Of 1360 conversations analyzed, 42% were generated by patients/caregivers and 14% by healthcare professionals (HCPs). A majority of patients were 51–70 years old (approximately 50%) and 91% (n = 500/550) had late-stage cancer. Treatment (35%) and disease awareness (30%) were among the most discussed topic of the patient journey. Although the overall treatment sentiment was neutral, chemotherapy was the treatment type with the highest associated negative sentiment (28%); fewer negative sentiments were associated with immunotherapy (9%) and targeted therapy (2%), due to perceptions of longer survival outcomes and fewer side effects. In conversations that discussed clinical endpoints, “survivability” and “overall survival” (47 and 30%, respectively; n = 539) were most frequently mentioned by stakeholders. HCPs mostly used technical terms, whereas patients and caregivers used colloquial terms such as “getting rid of cancer”. Emotional wellness was identified to have a huge impact on quality of life in lung cancer. Delay or treatment cancellations due to COVID-19, lack of effective treatments and funding, and lack of empathy by physicians emerged as the key unmet needs among patients/caregivers.

Conclusions
Social listening proved to be an effective tool to explore stakeholders’ perceptions and their key unmet needs, typically not available in published literature or databases, and provides HCPs with valuable insights into the distress, doubts, and needs of lung cancer patients and caregivers.
Expert perspectives on the introduction of Triple Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (TACTs) in Southeast Asia: a Delphi study
Authors: de Haan Freek , Boon Wouter P. C. , Amaratunga Chanaki , Dondorp Arjen M. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractBackgroundTriple Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (TACTs) are being developed as a response to artemisinin and partner drug resistance in Southeast Asia. However, the desirability, timing and practical feasibility of introducing TACTs in Southeast Asia is subject to debate. This study systematically assesses perspectives of malaria experts towards the introduction of TACTs as first-line treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Southeast Asia.MethodsA two-round Delphi study was conducted. In the first round, 53 malaria experts answered open-ended questions on what they consider the most important advantages, disadvantages, and implementation barriers for introducing TACTs in Southeast Asia. In the second round, the expert panel rated the relevance of each statement on a 5-point Likert scale.ResultsMalaria experts identified 15 advantages, 15 disadvantages and 13 implementation barriers for introducing TACTs in Southeast Asia in the first round of data collection. In the second round, consensus was reached on 13 advantages (8 perceived as relevant, 5 as not-relevant), 12 disadvantages (10 relevant, 2 not-relevant), and 13 implementation barriers (all relevant). Advantages attributed highest relevance related to the clinical and epidemiological rationale of introducing TACTs. Disadvantages attributed highest relevance related to increased side-effects, unavailability of fixed-dose TACTs, and potential cost increases. Implementation barriers attributed highest relevance related to obtaining timely regulatory approval, timely availability of fixed-dose TACTs, and generating global policy support for introducing TACTs.ConclusionsThe study provides a structured oversight of malaria experts’ perceptions on the major advantages, disadvantages and implementation challenges for introducing TACTs in Southeast Asia, over current practices of rotating ACTs when treatment failure is observed. The findings can benefit strategic decision making in the battle against drug-resistant malaria.
TV, computer, tablet and smartphone use and autism spectrum disorder risk in early childhood: a nationally-representative study
Authors: Melchior Maria , Barry Katharine , Cohen David , Plancoulaine Sabine , Bernard Jonathan Y. , Milcent Karen , Gassama Malamine , Gomajee Ramchandar , Charles Marie-Aline 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background
Screen media use in early childhood has largely increased in recent years, even more so during the COVID-19 epidemic, and there is much discussion regarding its influence on neurodevelopment, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Methods
We examined the relationship between use of TV, computer, tablet and smartphone at age 2 years and risk of ASD assessed in telephone-based questionnaires among 12,950 children participating in the nationally representative ELFE (‘Etude Longitudinale Française sur les Enfants’) birth cohort study in France.

Results
In inverse-probability weighted (IPW) multinomial regression analyses, children’s weekly or daily screen media use was associated with an increased likelihood of an intermediate risk of ASD (IPW-controlled OR for weekly use:1.07, 95% CI 1.02—1.12; IPW-controlled OR for daily use:1.05, 95% CI 1.02—1.08) but inversely associated with a high risk (IPW-controlled OR for weekly use: 0.60, 95% CI 0.50—0.73; IPW-controlled OR for daily use: 0.75, 95% CI 0.62—0.91), as ascertained by the M-CHAT. This was confirmed when studying TV as well as computer/tablet exposure separately.

Conclusions
Overall, our nationally-representative study conducted among a large sample of 2-year-old children, indicates a complex relationship between screen exposure and ASD risk.
Effects of different intensities of intermittent pneumatic soft-tissue compression on bone defect repair
Authors: Diwu Weilong , Hu Gang , Zhou Minghao , Bi Long , Yan Ming , Wei Hongbo , Fan Junjun 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background
To estimate the effects of different intensities of intermittent pneumatic soft-tissue compression on bone defect repair in an animal model.

Methods
Five mm radial bone defect in length was made in 64 mature New Zealand rabbits and all animals randomly assigned into four groups: Group A (control group without compression), Group B (5–7 kPa intensity), Group C (8–10 kPa intensity) and Group D (11–13 kPa intensity). On the fourth day after surgery, their legs were intermittently pneumatic compressed for 4 weeks. The stimulation lasted 30 min every day and the frequency of compression was 15 Hz. New bone formation in 4 groups was evaluated by gross observation, X-ray, Micro-CT, and histological staining at 2 and 4 weeks after surgery.

Result
There was more new bony callus in the bone defect in group C than in other groups by gross observation and X-ray radiography at 2 and 4 weeks. The Micro-CT results showed more new bony callus, bone trabecula and higher bone mineral density in group C. Fluorescent labeling results showed the speed of new bone formation in Group C was faster than that in other groups, among which the control group had the slowest speed of new bone formation. The result of histology had shown that the trabeculae in bone callus in group C had a regular form, the trabeculae were wide and had a more become osteoblast around them.

Conclusion
The intermittent pneumatic soft-tissue compression can accelerate new bone formation of bone defects and the optimal intensity is 8–10 kPa for repairing the rabbit radial bone defect.
The modern Russian pharmaceutical market: consumer attitudes towards distance retailing of medicines
Authors: Lobuteva Liudmila , Lobuteva Alisa , Zakharova Oksana , Kartashova Oxana , Kocheva Natalia 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background
In Russia, remote retail trade of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines was legalised. According to statistics as of April 2020, consumer demand in the categories of “online pharmacies” increased by 803%.

Methods
The study was conducted in two stages by cross-sectional method using a structured questionnaire in the central region of Russia: 1st stage - July-August 2020; 2nd stage - February-March 2021. The results of the study were obtained using qualitative (method of discussions in focus groups) and quantitative methods (survey) of sociological research, logical and statistical analysis. The representativeness of the data was ensured by a sufficient sample size including 1194 consumers (with confidence probability = 0.95 and confidence interval ≤ 0.05).

Results
The number of respondents fully supporting the legalisation of online trade in medicines increased. Consumer attitudes towards online commerce depend on the age group of the respondents. 1.5 times more respondents over 46 years (12.1%) are strongly against distance selling of medicines compared to survey participants aged 18 to 25 years (7.8%). Six months after the first survey, no respondent strongly opposed the sale of prescription medicines through the internet, whereas in the first survey half of consumers held this view. The percentage of respondents who considered pharmaceutical counselling when purchasing medicines online as extremely important decreased by a factor of 4 over time (10.9%) M (08.2020) = 3.66 (0.992); M (03. 2021) = 3.17 (0.981) t = 7.66 (p < 0.05). Consumers consider accessibility for people with disabilities (80.3%) to be the most significant advantage of distance selling medicines.

Conclusion
Consumer demand for the purchase of medicines online will grow as this type of sale has undeniable advantages. However, some risks remain when buying medicines online.
Pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma: clinical features and prognosis
Authors: Zheng Quan , Zhou Jian , Li Guangchen , Man Shulei , Lin Zhangyu , Wang Tengyong , Chen Boran , Lin Feng 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background
Pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma is a kind of rare benign pulmonary tumor with potential malignancy. The clinical features, risk factors for prognosis, and optimal treatment have not been identified yet. This study aimed to investigate the clinical features and prognosis of pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma.

Methods
We retrospectively performed a review of pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma patients in West China Hospital from 2009 to 2019. The basic characteristics, treatment regimens, operation detail, postoperative variables, and follow-up time were recorded for each case. Differences in features between patients undergoing lobectomy and segmentectomy were compared. We also performed a case review and summarized reported clinical features in former studies.

Results
Altogether 61 pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma patients were retrospectively reviewed. Fifty-six patients were female and 5 were male. The patients’ median age was 51 (23-73). Seven (11.48%) patients had smoking history. Twenty tumors were located in the right lung [upper lobe (n = 7), middle (n = 2), and lower (n = 11)] and 41 in the left [upper (n = 12) and lower (n = 29)]. The median tumor size was 2 (0.9-7) cm. Thirty-six (59.02%) patients underwent sublobectomy (segmentectomy or wedge resection) whereas 25 (40.98%) underwent lobectomy. All patients recovered uneventfully, and no perioperative mortality was identified. Sublobectomy showed a trend towards reduced chest tube duration and shorter postoperative hospital stays compared with lobectomy.

Conclusions
The findings showed good prognosis of pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma and proved its benign characteristics. Sublobectomy showed advanced efficacy regarding chest tube duration and postoperative hospital stay compared with lobectomy.
Using affected embryos to establish linkage phase in preimplantation genetic testing for thalassemia
Authors: Ou Zhanhui , Deng Yu , Liang Yunhao , Chen Zhiheng , Sun Ling 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background
This study aimed to evaluate the ability of next-generation sequencing (NGS) to conduct preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) for thalassemia using affected embryos.

Methods
This study included data from 36 couples who underwent PGT for thalassemia without probands and relative pedigrees. NGS results were compared with prenatal diagnosis results.

Results
Thirty-six couples (29 α-thalassemia and 7 β-thalassemia) underwent 41 PGT cycles (31 α-thalassemia and 10 β-thalassemia). Analysis using NGS produced conclusive results for all biopsied blastocysts (100%, 217/217). One hundred and sixty (73.7%, 160/217) were unaffected by thalassemia. Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy revealed that 112 (70.0%, 112/160) were euploid. Single blastocysts were transferred into the uteri of 34 women (53 frozen embryo transfer [FET] cycles). Thirty-two cycles resulted in clinical pregnancies, with a clinical pregnancy rate of 60.1% (32/53) per FET cycle. Twenty-two cycles (22 couples) resulted in 23 live births, with a live birth rate of 43.4% (23/53; 3 cycles were ongoing pregnancies). All 25 embryos’ prenatal diagnosis results and/or thalassemia gene analyses after delivery were concordant with the NGS-PGT results. Seven embryos (21.9%, 7/32) were miscarried before 12 weeks’ gestation, and the abortion villus in four showed a normal karyotype and thalassemia results consistent with the NGS-PGT results. Aborted fetus samples from 3 cycles were not available because the pregnancy lasted less than 5 weeks.

Conclusion
NGS can be used to conduct PGT for thalassemia using affected embryos as a reference.

Trial registration
Retrospectively registered.
Improvement of 1,3-propanediol production from crude glycerol by co-cultivation of anaerobic and facultative microbes under non-strictly anaerobic conditions
Authors: Sun Yaqin , Liang Lingyun , Zheng Yafeng , Han Jindong , Xiu Zhilong 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background
Natural microbial consortia could efficiently produce 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO), a most promising bulk biochemical derived from glycerol that can be used as a monomer in the synthesis of polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT). While natural microbial communities are made up of a diverse range of microbes with frequently unknown functions, the construction of synthetic microbial consortia allows for the creation of more defined systems with lower complexity.

Results
In this study, the synthetic microbial consortia were constructed by combining facultative microbes of Klebsiella pneumoniae DUT2 (KP) and/or Escherichia coli DUT3 (EC) cultures with the strictly anaerobic microbe of Clostridium butyricum DUT1 (CB) cultures under micro-aerobic conditions. The function of EC and KP during the fermentation process was to deplete oxygen and create an anaerobic environment for CB. Furthermore, KP competes with CB for the consumption of crude glycerol and the production of 1,3-PDO. The interaction of commensalism and competition resulted in the construction of synthetic microbial consortia capable of efficiently converting crude glycerol to 1,3-PDO even under micro-aerobic conditions. In a batch fermentation, the synthetic CB:KP co-culture at an initial abundance ratio of 92.5:7.5, yielded a maximum 1,3-PDO concentration of 52.08 g/L, with a yield of 0.49 g/g and a productivity of 1.80 g/(L.h), which increased by 10%, 9%, and 12%, respectively, when compared to the CB mono-culture under strictly anaerobic conditions. The final 1,3-PDO concentration, yield, and productivity by the synthetic CB:KP consortia increased by 16%, 19%, and 84%, respectively, when compared to the KP mono-culture. At an initial abundance ratio of 85:7.5:7.5, the synthetic CB:KP:EC co-culture achieved the highest 1,3-PDO flux of 49.17%, while 7.43%, 5.77%, 3.15% 4.24%, and 2.13% of flux was distributed to butyric acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, ethanol, and succinic acid pathways. In a fed-batch fermentation, the synthetic CB:KP:EC co-culture demonstrated a maximum 1,3-PDO concentration of 77.68 g/L with a yield of 0.51 g/g which is 30% and 13% higher than the production by the CB mono-culture at 0.02 vvm (nitrogen volume/culture volume/min) N2 supply. The initial abundance of CB, which is guaranteed to be at least 85%, enables efficient 1,3-PDO production from crude glycerol via the development of synthetic microbial consortia.

Conclusion
The synthetic microbial consortia demonstrated excellent performance on 1,3-propanediol production under micro-aerobic conditions through the interaction of commensalism and competition. The experimental results demonstrated the potential benefit of using synthetic microbial consortia to produce 1,3-propanediol from crude glycerol.
Utility of biomarkers in predicting complications and in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19
Authors: Ali Noman , Kapadia Nazir Najeeb , Aymen Dure , Baig Noor 
Published: April 2022

Objectives: To determine the association between the laboratory biomarkers (C-reactive protein (CRP), Ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Procalcitonin, and D-dimer) with complications and in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients.
Methods: This single-center, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Emergency Medicine of Aga Khan University Hospital from April 01, 2020, to July 31, 2020. Descriptive statistics were presented as Mean±SD and Median along with Range. The frequencies and percentages were calculated for all categorical variables. Univariate and multivariate analysis was carried out to evaluate the significant association between the laboratory biomarkers and in-hospital mortality.
Results: A total of 310 adult COVID positive patients were included. The most common complication was acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (37.1%), followed by myocardial injury (MI) (10.7%), deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (0.6%), and pulmonary embolism (PE) (0.3%). In-hospital mortality was 15.2%. In univariate analysis, it was observed that increased values of all biomarkers were significantly associated with the prediction of in-hospital mortality using binary logistic regression analysis (OR > 1.0, P <0.05). In multivariate analysis, increased levels of LDH and D-dimer at admission were significantly associated with increased odds of mortality (P <0.05).
Conclusion: Serum CRP, ferritin, Procalcitonin, LDH, and D-dimer levels at the time of admission can predict complications like ARDS and MI and also predict mortality in COVID-19 infection. Serum LDH and D-dimer are the best amongst them for predicting mortality.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.5.5165
How to cite this:Ali N, Kapadia NN, Aymen D, Baig N. Utility of biomarkers in predicting complications and inhospital mortality in patients with COVID-19. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(5):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.5.5165
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.