bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cervical disc prostheses need a variable center of rotation for flexion / extension below disc level, plus a separate COR for lateral bending above disc level to more closely replicate in-vivo motion: MRI-based biomechanical in-vivo study
Authors: Muhlbauer Manfred K. , Tomasch Ernst , Sinz Wolfgang , Trattnig Siegfried , Steffan Hermann 
Published: March 2022

AbstractBackgroundCervical disc prostheses are used to preserve motion after discectomy, but they should also provide a near-physiological qualitative motion pattern. Nevertheless, they come in many completely different biomechanical concepts. This caused us to perform an in-vivo MR-based biomechanical study to further investigate cervical spine motion with the aim to gain new information for improving the design of future cervical arthroplasty devices.MethodsFifteen healthy volunteers underwent MRI-investigation (in order to avoid radiation exposure) of their cervical spines from C3 to C7; for each segment centers of rotation (COR) for flexion / extension were determined from 5 different positions, and CORs for lateral bending from 3 different positions. The motion path of the COR is then described and illustrated in relation to the respective COR for maximum flexion / extension or lateral bending, respectively, and the findings are translated into implications for a better biomechanical prosthesis-design.ResultsThe COR for flexion / extension does not remain constant during motion. The CORs for the respective motion intervals were always found at different positions than the COR for maximum flexion /extension showing that the COR moves both along the x- and the y-axis throughout flexion / extension. For lateral bending a completely independent COR was found above disc-level.ConclusionFlexion / extension is not a simple circular motion. Disc prostheses need a variable COR for flexion / extension below disc level with the capability to move both along the x- and the y-axis during motion, plus a second completely independent COR for lateral bending above disc level to closely replicate in-vivo motion. These findings are important for improving the biomechanical design of such devices in the future.
Investigation of geometric deformations of the lumbar disc during axial body rotations
Authors: Xu Haoxiang , Wen Wangqiang , Zhang Zepei , Bai Jianqiang , Kou Bowen , Miao Jun 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background
Quantitative data on in vivo vertebral disc deformations are critical for enhancing our understanding of spinal pathology and improving the design of surgical materials. This study investigated in vivo lumbar intervertebral disc deformations during axial rotations under different load-bearing conditions.

Methods
Twelve healthy subjects (7 males and 5 females) between the ages of 25 and 39 were recruited. Using a combination of a dual fluoroscopic imaging system (DFIS) and CT, the images of L3–5 segments scanned by CT were transformed into three-dimensional models, which matched the instantaneous images of the lumbar spine taken by a double fluorescent X-ray system during axial rotations to reproduce motions. Then, the kinematic data of the compression and shear deformations of the lumbar disc and the coupled bending of the vertebral body were obtained.

Results
Relative to the supine position, the average compression deformation caused by rotation is between + 10% and − 40%, and the shear deformation is between 17 and 50%. Under physiological weightbearing loads, different levels of lumbar discs exhibit similar deformation patterns, and the deformation patterns of left and right rotations are approximately symmetrical. The deformation patterns change significantly under a 10 kg load, with the exception of the L3–4 disc during the right rotation.

Conclusion
The deformation of the lumbar disc was direction-specific and level-specific during axial rotations and was affected by extra weight. These data can provide new insights into the biomechanics of the lumbar spine and optimize the parameters of artificial lumbar spine devices.
The temporal relation between pain and fatigue in individuals receiving treatment for chronic musculoskeletal pain
Authors: Yamada Keiko , Adams Heather , Ellis Tamra , Clark Robyn , Sully Craig , Lariviere Christian , Sullivan Michael JL 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background
Numerous investigations have revealed significant relations between pain and fatigue in individuals with persistent pain conditions. However, the direction of influence between pain and fatigue remains unclear. Shortcomings of design and analytic approaches used in previous research limit the nature of conclusions that can be drawn about possible causal or directional relations between pain and fatigue. The present study investigated the temporal relation between changes in pain and changes in fatigue in individuals with musculoskeletal pain enrolled in a 10-week behavioral activation intervention. On the basis of previous findings, it was hypothesized that analyses would support a bi-directional relation between pain and fatigue.

Methods
The study sample consisted of 104 individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain participating in a 10-week standardized rehabilitation intervention. Measures of pain intensity and fatigue were completed pre-, mid-, and post-treatment. The three-wave data panel permitted examination of the direction of influence between pain and fatigue through the course of the intervention. A random-intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) was used to examine the temporal relation between pain and fatigue.

Results
Consistent with previous research, cross-sectional analyses of pre-treatment data revealed significant correlations between measures of pain and fatigue. Significant reductions in pain and fatigue were observed through the course of treatment (d = 0.33 and d = 0.66, p < .001, respectively). RI-CLPM revealed that pain severity predicted later fatigue (pre to mid-treatment standardized path coefficient (β) = 0.55, p = 0.02; mid to post-treatment β = 0.36, p = 0.001); however, fatigue did not predict later pain severity.

Conclusions
Discussion addresses the processes that might underlie the temporal relation between pain and fatigue. Clinical implications of the findings are also discussed.
Staged correction trajectory with hexapod external fixator for the satisfactory reduction of long bone shaft fracture
Authors: Liu Yanshi , Wang Fei , Liu Kai , Cai Feiyu , Zhang Xingpeng , Li Hong , Zhang Tao , Yusufu Aihemaitijiang 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Backgroud
When the reduction of long bone shaft fracture fragments is performed by a hexapod external fixator, the collision and interference between bony ends often results in an incomplete reduction and a time-consuming procedure. The purpose of this study was to present and determine the clinical effectiveness of staged correction trajectory with hexapod external fixator in the reduction of a long bone shaft fracture.

Methods
A total of 57 patients with tibial shaft fractures treated by hexapod external fixator were retrospectively analyzed from June 2016 to February 2020. Thirty-one cases (Group I) underwent a conventional one-step reduction trajectory from June 2016 to July 2018. Starting in September 2018, the other twenty-six patients (Group II) underwent staged correction trajectory (three key points reduction trajectory of “distraction-derotation-reduction”). The demographic data, residual deformities before and after correction, number of repeated X-rays after the first postoperative X-ray, duration of deformity correction process, and external fixation time were analyzed. Johner-Wruhs criteria were used to evaluate the final clinical outcomes.

Results
All the 57 patients achieved satisfactory fracture reduction and bone union. There were no significant differences between the two groups in demographic data, residual deformities before and after correction, external fixation time, and final clinical outcomes (p > 0.05). The average number of repeated X-rays after the first postoperative X-ray and mean duration of deformity correction process in Group II (1.3 times, 2.9 days) were all less than those in Group I (2.3 times, 5.1 days) (p < 0.05).

Conclusion
Compared with the conventional one-step reduction trajectory, there is no differences in final clinical outcomes, but the staged correction trajectory provides less repeated X-rays and shorter reduction process duration.
An evaluation of the efficacy of a four-grade fat infiltration classification method, presented for the first time in literature
Authors: Yazici Alikemal , Yerlikaya Tuba , Oniz Adile 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background
The deficiency of the commonly used 3-grade fat infiltration system is discussed by comparing it with the 4-grade fat infiltration system, newly presented to the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a semi-quantitative simplified 4-grade fat infiltration measurement system, described for the first time in literature, through comparison with the existing simplified 3-grade fat infiltration system in the prediction of lumbar disc herniation.

Methods
The study included 51 patients diagnosed with lumbar disc hernia and 50 healthy individuals as the control group. The patients were evaluated in respect of fat infiltration of the right and left lumbar multifidus and erector spina muscles on axial magnetic resonance imaging slices passing through the centre of the disc at L3-S1 level using the 3 and 4-grade fat infiltration measurement systems.

Results
The 3-grade fat infiltration system was found to be insufficient in the prediction of lumbar disc herniation (p > 0.05) and the 4-grade fat infiltration system was determined to be effective in the prediction of lumbar disc herniation (p < 0.001).

Conclusion
The 4-grade fat infiltration system was seen to be more effective than the 3-grade fat infiltration system in the determination of the level of fat infiltration in the paraspinal muscles and the prediction of lumbar disc herniation. The 4-grade fat infiltration system is a more effective semi-quantitative grading system which can be used instead of the simplified 3-grade system.
Does the incorporation of strontium into calcium phosphate improve bone repair? A meta-analysis
Authors: Yan Ming-Dong , Ou Yan-Jing , Lin Yan-Jun , Liu Rui-Min , Fang Yan , Wu Wei-Liang , Zhou Lin , Yao Xiu , Chen Jiang 
Published: March 2022

AbstractBackgroundThe application of calcium phosphate (CaP)-based bone substitutes plays an important role in periodontal regeneration, implant dentistry and alveolar bone reconstruction. The incorporation of strontium (Sr) into CaP-based bone substitutes appears to improve their biological properties, but the reported in vivo bone repair performance is inconsistent among studies. Herein, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the in vivo performance of Sr-doped materials.MethodsWe searched PubMed, EMBASE (via OVIDSP), and reference lists to identify relevant animal studies. The search, study selection, and data extraction were performed independently by two investigators. Meta-analyses and sub-group analyses were conducted using Revman version 5.4.1. The heterogeneity between studies were assessed by I2. Publication bias was investigated through a funnel plot.ResultsThirty-five studies were finally enrolled, of which 16 articles that reported on new bone formation (NBF) were included in the meta-analysis, covering 31 comparisons and 445 defects. The overall effect for NBF was 2.25 (95% CI 1.61–2.90, p < 0.00001, I2 = 80%). Eight comparisons from 6 studies reported the outcomes of bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV), with an overall effect of 1.42 (95% CI 0.65–2.18, p = 0.0003, I2 = 75%). Fourteen comparisons reported on the material remaining (RM), with the overall effect being -2.26 (95% CI − 4.02 to − 0.50, p = 0.0009, I2 = 86%).ConclusionsOur study revealed that Sr-doped calcium phosphate bone substitutes improved in vivo performance of bone repair. However, more studies are also recommended to further verify this conclusion.
Comprehensive characterization of m6A methylation and its impact on prognosis, genome instability, and tumor microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Yin Tengfei , Zhao Lang , Yao Shukun 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA regulation was recently reported to be important in carcinogenesis and cancer development. However, the characteristics of m6A modification and its correlations with clinical features, genome instability, tumor microenvironments (TMEs), and immunotherapy responses in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not been fully explored.

Methods
We systematically analyzed the m6A regulator-based expression patterns of 486 patients with HCC from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases, and correlated these patterns with clinical outcomes, somatic mutations, TME cell infiltration, and immunotherapy responses. The m6A score was developed by principal component analysis to evaluate m6A modifications in individual patients.

Results
M6A regulators were dysregulated in HCC samples, among which 18 m6A regulators were identified as risk factors for prognosis. Three m6A regulator-based expression patterns, namely m6A clusters, were determined among HCC patients by m6A regulators with different m6A scores, somatic mutation counts, and specific TME features. Additionally, three distinct m6A regulator-associated gene-based expression patterns were also identified based on prognosis-associated genes that were differentially expressed among the three m6A clusters, showing similar properties as the m6A regulator-based expression patterns. Higher m6A scores were correlated with older age, advanced stages, lower overall survival, higher somatic mutation counts, elevated PD-L1 expression levels, and poorer responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors. The m6A score was validated as an independent and valuable prognostic factor for HCC.

Conclusion
M6A modification is correlated with genome instability and TME in HCC. Evaluating m6A regulator-based expression patterns and the m6A score of individual tumors may help identify candidate biomarkers for prognosis prediction and immunotherapeutic strategy selection.
Physiological changes and symptoms associated with short-term exposure to electromagnetic fields: a randomized crossover provocation study
Authors: Huang Po-Chang , Chiang Jui-chin , Cheng Ya-Yun , Cheng Tain-Junn , Huang Chien-Yuan , Chuang Ya-Ting , Hsu Ti , Guo How-Ran 
Published: March 2022

AbstractBackgroundThe biological association between electromagnetic fields (EMF) and idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to EMF (IEI-EMF) has not been established. To assess the physiological changes and symptoms associated with exposure to EMF, we conducted a randomized crossover provocation study.MethodsWe recruited 58 individuals with IEI-EMF (IEI-EMF group) and 92 individuals without IEI-EMF (control group). In a controlled environment, all participants received EMF signals mimicking those from mobile phone base stations in a randomized sequence under the blinded condition. During the course, participants reported their symptoms and whether they perceived EMF, and we monitored their physiological parameters, including blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and HR variability.ResultsThe IEI-EMF and control groups reported similar frequencies of symptoms during both the provocation and sham sessions. No participant could accurately identify the provocation. In both groups, physiological parameters were similar between the two sessions. The control group, but not the IEI-EMF group, had elevated HR when they perceived EMF exposure.ConclusionsNo symptoms or changes in physiological parameters were found to be associated with short-term exposure to EMF, and no participant could accurately detect the presence of EMF. Moreover, the participants in the control group, but not those in the IEI-EMF group, had elevated HR when they perceived EMF.
lncRNA USP30-AS1 sponges miR-765 and modulates the progression of colon cancer
Authors: Li Chengren , Liang Xu , Liu Yongguang 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background
The incidence and mortality of colon cancer is increasing recently. It is necessary to identify effective biomarkers for the progression and prognosis of colon cancer. To assess the potential of lncRNA USP30-AS1 (USP30-AS1) in serving as the biomarker of colon cancer and unearth the underlying mechanism.

Methods
There were 123 colon cancer patients enrolled. The expression of USP30-AS1 was evaluated with PCR in tissue and cell samples. The clinical significance of USP30-AS1 was assessed with a series of statistical methods, while the CCK8 and Transwell assay were conducted to estimate its biological effect on the colon cancer cellular processes. In mechanism, the interaction of USP30-AS1 with miR-765 was evaluated with the dual-luciferase reporter assay.

Results
In colon cancer tissues, the USP30-AS1 downregulation and the miR-765 upregulation were observed, and there was a negative correlation between the USP30-AS1 expression level and the miR-765 expression level. The downregulation of USP30-AS1 related to the malignant progression and served as an adverse prognostic indicator of colon cancer. The overexpression of USP30-AS1 dramatically suppressed colon cancer cellular processes, which was alleviated by miR-765.

Conclusions
USP30-AS1 predicts the malignancy and prognosis of colon cancer patients. USP30-AS1 suppressed the progression of colon cancer through modulating miR-765.
CSF-1-induced DC-SIGN+ macrophages are present in the ovarian endometriosis
Authors: Xiaocui Li , Wei Hong , Yunlang Cai , Zhenzhen Zheng , Min An 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background
Researchers have found that macrophages are the predominant cells in the peritoneal fluid (PF) of endometriosis patients. CSF-1 has been found to accumulate in the lesions and PF of endometriosis patients, and CSF-1 induces THP-1-derived macrophages to polarize toward a CD169+ DC-SIGN+ phenotype. Does the cytokine CSF-1 induce monocytes to differentiate into macrophages with a DC-SIGN+ phenotype in endometriosis?

Methods
The level of CSF-1 in the endometrium of control subjects, and the eutopic, and ectopic endometrium of endometriosis patients was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT–PCR) and was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the PF of control and endometriosis patients. CSF-1 expression was examined with a MILLIPLEX MAP Mouse Cytokine/Chemokine Magnetic Bead Panel. DC-SIGN+ macrophages were detected by immunohistochemical staining of tissues and flow cytometric analysis of the PF of control subjects (N = 25) and endometriosis (N = 35) patients. The phenotypes and biological activities of CSF-1 -induced macrophages were compared in an in vitro coculture system with peripheral blood lymphocytes from control subjects.

Results
In this study, we found that the proportion of DC-SIGN+ CD169+ macrophages was higher in the abdominal immune microenvironment of endometriosis patients. CSF-1 was primarily secreted from ectopic lesions and peritoneum in mice with endometriosis. In addition, CSF-1 induced the polarization of macrophages toward a DC-SIGN+ CD169+ phenotype; this effect was abolished by the addition of an anti-CSF-1R antibody. CSF-1 induced the generation of DC-SIGN+ macrophages, leading to a depressed status of peripheral blood lymphocytes, including a high percentage of Treg cells and a low percentage of CD8+ T cells. Similarly, blockade with the anti-CSF-1R antibody abrogated this biological effect.

Conclusions
This is the first study on the role of DC-SIGN+ macrophages in the immune microenvironment of endometriosis. Further study of the mechanism and biological activities of CSF-1-induced DC-SIGN+ macrophages will enhance our understanding of the physiology of endometriosis.

Graphical Abstract
A novel insight into mechanism of derangement of coagulation balance: interactions of quantum dots with coagulation-related proteins
Authors: Zhang Lingyan , Wu Yingting , Luo Xingling , Jia Tianjiang , Li Kexin , Zhou Lihong , Mao Zhen , Huang Peili 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background
Quantum dots (QDs) have gained increased attention for their extensive biomedical and electronic products applications. Due to the high priority of QDs in contacting the circulatory system, understanding the hemocompatibility of QDs is one of the most important aspects for their biosafety evaluation. Thus far, the effect of QDs on coagulation balance haven’t been fully understood, and limited studies also have yet elucidated the potential mechanism from the perspective of interaction of QDs with coagulation-related proteins.

Results
QDs induced the derangement of coagulation balance by prolonging the activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time as well as changing the expression levels of coagulation and fibrinolytic factors. The contact of QDs with PTM (prothrombin), PLG (plasminogen) and FIB (fibrinogen) which are primary coagulation-related proteins in the coagulation and fibrinolysis systems formed QDs-protein conjugates through hydrogen-bonding and hydrophobic interaction. The affinity of proteins with QDs followed the order of PTM > PLG > FIB, and was larger with CdTe/ZnS QDs than CdTe QDs. Binding with QDs not only induced static fluorescence quenching of PTM, PLG and FIB, but also altered their conformational structures. The binding of QDs to the active sites of PTM, PLG and FIB may promote the activation of proteins, thus interfering the hemostasis and fibrinolysis processes.

Conclusions
The interactions of QDs with PTM, PLG and FIB may be key contributors for interference of coagulation balance, that is helpful to achieve a reliable and comprehensive evaluation on the potential biological influence of QDs from the molecular level.