bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adjuvant chemotherapy is not a decisive factor in improving the overall survival of pulmonary sarcoma: A population-based study
Authors: Liang Long , Liu Zixuan , Wang Changhui , Xie Shuanshuan 
Published: August 2022

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy on overall survival (OS) for pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSC) and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cohorts and to identify its potential risk factors.MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed by querying the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database for patients diagnosed as having PSC (n=460) and NSCLC (n=140,467) from 2004 to 2015. The demographics, tumor characteristics, treatment modes, and survival were included in the scope of statistical analysis. Confounding factors were controlled by propensity score matching (PSM) analysis. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were performed to compare the effects of adjuvant chemotherapy on OS of the patients in the two cohorts (PSC vs. NSCLC). A multivariable Cox regression model was constructed, and Kaplan–Meier analysis on each variate was applied to predict risk factors associated with OS.ResultsWhen adjuvant chemotherapy approach was applied in the treatment of patients with PSC or adjusted NSCLC, respectively, an improved OS could be observed in the NSCLC cohort (p=0.017). For the entire PSC cohort, 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS were 25.43%, 13.04%, and 6.96%, respectively, compared with 41.96%, 17.39%, and 10.00%, respectively, for the new adjusted NSCLC cohort after PSM, which were statistically significant difference (p&lt;0.001). Multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed on OS covering prognostic factors such as primary site (p=0.036), first malignant indicator (p&lt;0.001), age at diagnosis (p&lt;0.001), marital status at diagnosis (p=0.039), and high school education (p=0.045). Additionally, patients with the following parameters had the worse impact on OS: a poorly differentiated pathology (Grade III/IV, p=0.023), older age (p&lt;0.001), liver or lung metastasis (p=0.004, p=0.029), and the number of lymph nodes removed &lt;4 (p&lt;0.001).ConclusionsAdjuvant chemotherapy did not play a decisive role in improving the OS of PSC, while it was associated with improved OS of NSCLC.
Health-related quality of life in hemoglobinopathies: A systematic review from a global perspective
Authors: Rodigari Francesca , Brugnera Giorgia , Colombatti Raffaella 
Published: August 2022

BackgroundSickle cell disease (SCD) and thalassemia are inherited blood disorders, which can lead to life-threatening events and chronic organ damage. Recent advances in treatments have increased life expectancy, and hemoglobinopathies have become chronic illnesses with social and emotional impairments. Thus, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) assessment has a fundamental role in disease management and treatment, and generic and disease-specific questionnaires are reliable and validated measures to estimate disease burden. The heterogeneous distribution of treatment opportunities worldwide influences physical, social, and emotional disease perception.ObjectivesTo review publications concerning HRQOL for SCD and thalassemia in different areas of the world in order to gather a global perspective of questionnaires used and outcomes evaluated.MethodsA systematic review of the literature was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The Medline databases were searched on 29 September 2021. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) studies of HRQOL assessment in SCD and thalassemia patients by using the PROMIS, the SF-36, the SCSES, the PedsQL-SCD, the PedsQOL generic core scale, the ASCQ-Me, and the TranQoL; and (2) every article type, including non-English studies. We excluded studies that were not limited to SCD or thalassemia and studies that were not specific to hemoglobinopathies, and not consistent with the topic of HRQOL assessment. We did not include the gray literature. A total of 102 out of 124 articles from PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were eligible for inclusion (66 SCD articles and 36 thalassemia articles). The quality of studies was assessed through Critical Appraisal tools for use in JBI Systematic Reviews. Data extraction was conducted using a standardized data collection form (authors, year and country of publication, study design, age and number of patients, HRQOL questionnaires, questionnaire language, and clinical outcomes).ResultsThe evaluation of HRQOL was conducted on all continents, but differences in the worldwide frequency of HRQOL assessment were observed. HRQOL of SCD patients was less investigated in Europe. HRQOL of thalassemia patients was less investigated in South-East Asia and Africa. Generic HRQOL questionnaires (PROMIS, SF-36, and PedsQL) were frequently adopted, while disease-specific ones (ASCQ-Me, SCSES for SCD, and TranQoL for thalassemia) were less used. Translation into local languages has been often performed.ConclusionHealth-related quality of life is a complex outcome that has been increasingly incorporated in clinical research and clinical practice worldwide, although with regional differences. Disease-specific outcomes (pain for SCD and transfusion burden for thalassemia) and healthcare system characteristics, particularly in low-income countries, have an impact on HRQOL and should be considered in healthcare plans.
How zoledronic acid improves osteoporosis by acting on osteoclasts
Authors: Wang Biao , Zhan Yi , Yan Liang , Hao Dingjun 
Published: August 2022

Osteoporosis is called a silent disease, because it is difficult to detect until comprehensive examinations for osteoporosis are performed or osteoporotic fractures occur. Zoledronic acid is currently the first-line anti-osteoporotic drug, with good efficacy and treatment compliance. A major advantage of zoledronic acid is that intravenous zoledronic acid often guarantees a therapeutic effect for up to 1 year after infusion. The reasons why zoledronic acid is effective in improving osteoporosis are that it can inhibit osteoclast differentiation and induce osteoclast apoptosis, thus suppressing bone resorption and increasing bone density. The story between zoledronic acid and osteoclasts has been written long time ago. Both the canonical receptor activator of the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) pathway and the non-canonical Wnt pathway are the main pathways by which zoledronic acid inhibits osteoclast differentiation. Farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPS), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and ferroptosis that was first proposed in 2012, are all considered to be closely associated with zoledronic acid-induced osteoclast apoptosis. Here, we provide a brief review of the recent progress on the study of zoledronic acid and osteoclasts, and hope to elaborate how zoledronic acid improves osteoporosis by acting on osteoclasts.
Effects of Piper sarmentosum Roxb. on hypertension and diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Othman Nur Syakirah , Che Roos Nur Aishah , Aminuddin Amilia , Murthy Jaya Kumar , A. Hamid Adila , Ugusman Azizah 
Published: August 2022

Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are among the most prevalent diseases affecting people from all walks of life. Medicinal herbs have garnered interest as potential agents for the prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus and hypertension due to their multiple beneficial effects.Piper sarmentosumRoxb. (PS) is an edible medicinal plant that has been traditionally used in Asia for treating hypertension and diabetes mellitus. This review is aimed to provide comprehensive information from the literature on the effects of PS on hypertension and diabetes mellitus. A computerized database search was performed on Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science databases with the following set of keywords: Piper sarmentosum AND diabetes mellitus OR diabetic OR diabetes OR hyperglyc*emia OR blood glucose OR HbA1c OR glycated h*emoglobin OR h*emoglobin A1c OR hyperten* OR blood pressure. A total of 47 articles were screened and 14 articles published between the years 1998 until 2021 were included for data extraction, comprising of six articles on antihypertensive and eight articles on antidiabetic effects of PS. These studies consist of twoin vitrostudies and elevenin vivoanimal studies. Meta-analysis of three studies on hypertension showed that PS versus no treatment significantly lowered the systolic blood pressure with mean difference (MD) −39.84 mmHg (95% confidence interval (CI) −45.05, −34.62; p &lt; 0.01), diastolic blood pressure with MD −26.68 mmHg (95% CI −31.48, −21.88; p &lt; 0.01), and mean arterial pressure with MD −30.56 mmHg (95% CI −34.49, −26.63; p &lt; 0.01). Most of the studies revealed positive effects of PS against hypertension and diabetes mellitus, suggesting the potential of PS as a natural source of antidiabetic and antihypertensive agents.
Toxicological safety evaluation of Qin-Zhi-Zhu-Dan formula in rats during the treatment and recovery periods
Authors: Xu Wenxiu , Chen Dan , Zhang Zehan , Liu Shuling , Chen Congai , Sun Chunyan , Ni Wenchao , Kang Xiangdong , Shang Guojiao , Wang Xueqian , Cheng Fafeng , Wang Qingguo 
Published: August 2022

Background: Qinzhi Zhudan Formula (QZZD), optimized from Angong Niuhuang Wan, consists of Radix Scutellariae, Fructus Gardeniae and Pulvis Fellis Suis. We had investigated the neuroprotective effects of QZZD and its active components, and demonstrated that it could treat cerebral ischemia and dementia through multiple pathways and mechanisms. Nevertheless, toxicological data on this formula still remains limited. In the study, we sought to examine the toxicological effects of QZZD during the treatment and recovery periods.Methods: We investigated potential toxicities of QZZD in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats via 28-day gavage administration. SD rats were randomly divided into control group and treatment groups of A (0.5 g/kg/d QZZD), B (1.5 g/kg/d QZZD), and C (5.0 g/kg/d QZZD). The 56-day course includes treatment period (administration with water or QZZD once a day for 28 consecutive days) and recovery period (28 days). The rats received daily monitoring of general signs of toxicity and mortality, as well as weekly determination of body weight and food consumption. Moreover, the complete blood cell count, biochemistry, coagulation, and urine indicators, organ weights, and histopathological report were analyzed respectively at the end of the treatment and recovery periods.Results: There was no death related to the active pharmaceutical ingredients of QZZD during the treatment period. The maximum no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) was 0.5 g/kg/d, which is approximately 16.7 times of the equivalent dose of clinical dose in rats. In group TB (1.5 g/kg/d QZZD) and TC (5.0 g/kg/d QZZD), there were adverse effects of blue coloring of tail skin, weight loss, a significant increase of total bilirubin (TBIL), blackening of liver and kidney in gross examination, hyperplasia of bile duct and karyomegaly of hepatocytes in histopathological examination. Besides, in females rats, the food consumption was reduced, while in male rats, there was decrease in triglycerides (TG) and slight increase in white blood cell (WBC) count and neutrophils. In group TC (5.0 g/kg/d QZZD), the indicators of red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin (HGB) and hematocrit (HCT) were decreased slightly, while the platelet count (PLT) was increased. However, these changes were not considered to be toxicologically significant because they resolved during the recovery period.Conclusion: Overall, QZZD exhibited a good safety profile. The maximum no observed adverse effect level was 0.5 g/kg/d, and no target organs toxicity were identified. The present findings might confirm the safety of QZZD in clinical practices.
Evaluation of therapeutic efficacy, safety and economy of ERCP and LTCBDE in the treatment of common bile duct stones
Authors: Zhang Renjie , Liu Jialin , Li Huizhen , Zeng Qingteng , Wu Shenfeng , Tian Hengyu 
Published: August 2022

Objectives: This study further compared the endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and laparoscopic transcystic common bile duct exploration (LTCBDE) approaches in the treatment of common bile duct stones (CBDS) from the perspective of efficacy, safety and economy.Methods: The therapeutic efficacy and safety of ERCP and LTCBDE approaches were retrospectively compared. Cost-effectiveness analysis of clinical economics was performed to analyze and evaluate the two approaches.Results: There was no significant difference in the success rate of surgery and bile stone residue between ERCP and LTCBDE group. The incidence of postoperative complications in ERCP group was significantly higher than that in the LTCBDE group; while the incidence of pancreatitis in the ERCP group was significantly higher than that in the LTCBDE group. There was no significant difference in biliary infection, bile leakage and sepsis between ERCP and LTCBDE groups. In terms of cost, the costs of surgery and nursing were significantly lower, the costs of treatment and sanitary materials were significantly higher in the ERCP group than that in the LTCBDE group. There was no significant difference in the costs of medical examination, laboratory test, medicine cost and total cost between ERCP group and LTCBDE group. The total length of hospital stay, length of hospital stay before surgery and duration of surgery in the ERCP group were significantly lower than that in the LTCBDE group; there was no significant difference in length of hospital stay after surgery between the ERCP and LTCBDE group. The cost-effectiveness ratio of ERCP group was 34171.25, and the cost-effectiveness of LTCBDE group was 34524.25. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of the two groups was 51415.Conclusion: ERCP and LTCBDE approaches had similar therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of CBDS. The safety of LTCBDE approach is superior to that of ERCP approach for the treatment of CBDS. ERCP approach is more economical in the treatment of CBDS than LTCBDE approach.
Transcriptome response of proliferating muscle satellite cells to thermal challenge in commercial turkey
Authors: Reed Kent M. , Mendoza Kristelle M. , Strasburg Gale M. , Velleman Sandra G. 
Published: August 2022

Thermal stress poses a threat to agricultural systems through increased risk to animal growth, health, and production. Exposure of poultry, especially hatchlings, to extreme temperatures can seriously affect muscle development and thus compromise subsequent meat quality. This study was designed to characterize transcriptional changes induced in turkey muscle satellite cells (SCs) cultured from commercial birds under thermal challenge to determine the applicability of previous results obtained for select research lines. Satellite cells isolated from the pectoralis major muscle of 1-week old commercial fast-growing birds (Nicholas turkey, NCT) and from a slower-growing research line (RBC2) were proliferated in culture at 38°C or 43°C for 72 h. RNAseq analysis found statistically significant differences in gene expression among treatments and between turkey lines with a greater number of genes altered in the NCT SCs suggesting early myogenesis. Pathway analysis identified cell signaling and regulation of Ca2+ as important responses. Expression of the intercellular signaling Wnt genes, particularly Wnt5a and 7a was significantly altered by temperature with differential response between lines. The peripheral calcium channel RYR3 gene was among the genes most highly upregulated by heat stress. Increased expression of RYR3 would likely result in higher resting cytosolic calcium levels and increased overall gene transcription. Although responses in the calcium signaling pathway were similar among the RBC2 and NCT lines, the magnitude of expression changes was greater in the commercially selected birds. These results provide evidence into how SC activity, cellular fate, and ultimately muscle development are altered by heat stress and commercial selection.
Effects of an experimental short-time high-intensity warm-up on explosive muscle strength performance in soccer players: A pilot study
Authors: Patti Antonino , Giustino Valerio , Hirose Norikazu , Messina Giuseppe , Cataldi Stefania , Grigoli Giuseppe , Marchese Alida , Mulè Giuseppe , Drid Patrik , Palma Antonio , Bianco Antonino 
Published: August 2022

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an experimental short-time warm-up consisting of a small number of intermittent high-intensity sprints on explosive muscle strength performance in soccer players and to identify recovery times after performing the sprints. Furthermore, we evaluated the reliability of a smartphone app in jumping performance.Methods: Twenty male soccer players were given the following tests: 1) the counter-movement jump (CMJ) test with the Microgate system, 2) the counter-movement jump (CMJ) test with the MyJump smartphone app, and 3) the handgrip strength test. The experimental short-time high-intensity warm-up was carried out 1 week after test administration. The warm-up consisted of three maximum sprints over 60 m with 120 s of recovery between sprints. Then, the tests were administered again: the vertical jump height (VJH) performances (five trials) were measured 90 s after the last sprint; the handgrip strength performances (three trials) were measured 120 s after the last vertical jump test.Results: The maximum VJH was found in the third trial of the CMJ test, 330 s after the last sprint (p &lt; 0.01), the result closest to the baseline. The lowest VJH was found in the first trial of the CMJ test, 90 s after the last sprint (p &lt; 0.05). Pearson’s analysis between the CMJ test with the Microgate system and the CMJ test with MyJump showed a strong correlation (R = 0.96). Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient showed a substantial concordance (ρc = 0.959) between measures.Conclusion: This experimental short-time warm-up of high-intensity intermittent sprints appears to be a simple, quick, and efficient activity to accelerate soccer players’ optimal performance.
Depressive rumination and heart rate variability: A pilot study on the effect of biofeedback on rumination and its physiological concomitants
Authors: Schumann Andy , Helbing Nadin , Rieger Katrin , Suttkus Stefanie , Bär Karl-Jürgen 
Published: August 2022

ObjectiveRecent studies suggest that lower resting heart rate variability (HRV) is associated with elevated vulnerability to depressive rumination. In this study, we tested whether increases in HRV after HRV-biofeedback training are accompanied by reductions in rumination levels.Materials and methodsSixteen patients suffering from depression completed a 6-week HRV-biofeedback training and fourteen patients completed a control condition in which there was no intervention (waitlist). The training included five sessions per week at home using a smartphone application and an ECG belt. Depressive symptoms and autonomic function at rest and during induced rumination were assessed before and after each of the two conditions. We used a well-established rumination induction task to provoke a state of pervasive rumination while recording various physiological signals simultaneously. Changes in HRV, respiration rate, skin conductance, and pupil diameter were compared between conditions and time points.ResultsA significant correlation was found between resting HRV and rumination levels, both assessed at the first laboratory session (r = -0.43, p &lt; 0.05). Induction of rumination led to an acceleration of heart rate and skin conductance increases. After biofeedback training, resting vagal HRV was increased (p &lt; 0.01) and self-ratings of state anxiety (p &lt; 0.05), rumination (p &lt; 0.05), perceived stress (p &lt; 0.05), and depressive symptoms (QIDS, BDI; both p &lt; 0.05) were decreased. In the control condition, there were no changes in autonomic indices or depressive symptomatology. A significant interaction effect group x time on HRV was observed.ConclusionOur results indicate that a smartphone-based HRV-biofeedback intervention can be applied to improve cardiovagal function and to reduce depressive symptoms including self-rated rumination tendencies.
Detection of infrared light through stimulated four-wave mixing process
Authors: Zhang Wei-Hang , Peng Jing-Yuan , Li En-Ze , Ye Ying-Hao , Zeng Lei , Dong Ming-Xin , Ding Dong-Sheng , Shi Bao-Sen 
Published: August 2022

Infrared optical measurement has a wide range of applications in industry and science, but infrared light detectors suffer from high costs and inferior performance than visible light detectors. Four-wave mixing (FWM) process allows detection in the infrared range by detecting correlated visible light. We experimentally investigate the stimulated FWM process in a hot 85Rb atomic vapor cell, in which a weak infrared signal laser at 1,530 nm induces the FWM process and is amplified and converted into a strong FWM light at 780 nm, the latter can be detected more easily. We find the optimized single- and two-photon detunings by studying the dependence of the frequency of input laser on the generated FWM light. What’s more, the power gain increases rapidly as the signal intensity decreases, which is consistent with our theoretical analysis. As a result, the power gain can reach up to 500 at a signal laser power of 0.1 μW and the number of detected photons increased by a factor of 250. Finally, we experimentally prove that our amplification process can work in a broad band in the frequency domain by exploring the response rate of our stimulated FWM process.
The effect of staged TIP urethroplasty on proximal hypospadias with severe chordee
Authors: Xie Qike , Liu Yuling , Zhao Xiangyou , Huang Junqiang , Chen Chao 
Published: August 2022

BackgroundProximal hypospadias with severe chordee is still a formidable challenge for most pediatric urologists, and the treatment approach remains controversial. Here, we describe a modified two-stage technique to repair proximal hypospadias with severe chordee.MethodsWe retrospectively identified 53 children referred for proximal hypospadias with severe chordee from July 2016 to July 2019, who underwent a two-stage urethroplasty. In group 1, the children were repaired with staged tubularized incised plate (TIP) urethroplasty, while Byars’ two-stage urethroplasty was attempted in group 2. We corrected chordee by releasing all remaining attachments to the corpora after degloving the penis, transceting the urethral plate, and dorsal plication. The mean age of patients in the first stage of surgery was 26.6 months in group 1 and 24.8 months in group 2. Postoperative complications in the two groups included: fistula, urethral stricture, urethral diverticulum, and glanular dehiscence.ResultsA total of 20 cases were repaired with staged TIP urethroplasty (group 1), and 33 cases were repaired with Byars’ two-stage urethroplasty (group 2). The length of follow-up in group 1 was 39.8 ± 10.1 months, and in group 2, it was 38.1 ± 8.7 months (P &gt; 0.05). After the second stage of surgery, 1 case (5%) in group 1 and 11 cases (33.3%) in group 2 developed a urinary fistula (P &lt; 0.05). One case (5%) in group 1 and three cases (9.1%) in group 2 had urethral stricture (P &gt; 0.05). All strictures were cured by repeated dilation, and no patient required reoperation. No cases in group 1 and one case (3%) in group 2 had urethral diverticulum (P &gt; 0.05). There was no residual chordee in both groups. Two cases (10%) in group 1 and 13 cases (39.3%) in group 2 required reoperation (P &lt; 0.05).ConclusionsStaged urethroplasty is appropriate to repair proximal hypospadias with severe chordee. Particularly, staged TIP urethroplasty is a good choice for patients with proximal hypospadias and severe chordee, especially those with better penile development, wider urethral plate, larger glans, and deeper navicular fossa of the urethra.