bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of microencapsulated sodium butyrate, probiotics and short chain fructooligosaccharides in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: a study protocol of a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Gąsiorowska Anita , Romanowski Marek , Walecka-Kapica Ewa , Kaczka Aleksandra , Chojnacki Cezary , Padysz Milena , Siedlecka Marta , Bierła Joanna B. , Steinert Robert E. , Cukrowska Bożena 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disease in the pathogenesis of which the gut dysbiosis may play an important role. Thus, probiotics, prebiotics or microbiota metabolites such as butyric acid are considered to be an effective therapy in IBS, however still there is no trials presented efficacy of these three biotic components delivered to the patient simultaneously. This study aims to evaluate the effects of the combined formulation comprising sodium butyrate, probiotics and short chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOS) on the severity of clinical IBS symptoms and the quality of patients’ life (IBS-QOL).
Methods
This is randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial included adults with IBS diagnosed according Rome IV criteria. Patients will be randomized in ratio 1:1 into the intervention group receiving a preparation of 300 mg of colon-targeted microencapsulated sodium butyrate, the mixture of Lactobacillus strains (L. rhamnosus and L. acidophilus) and Bifidobacterium strains (B. longum, B. bifidum, B. lactis) and 64mg of scFOS or into the control group receiving placebo containing maltodextrin. After 12 weeks of intervention the primary outcome will measure changes in IBS symptoms with the use of IBS-Symptom Severity Score (IBS-SSS), IBS-Global Improvement Scale (IBS-GIS), IBS-Adequate Relief (IBS-AR), and IBS-QOL. The secondary outcomes will be: type of stools, symptoms assessed in a patients’ diary, adverse events, anthropometric and nutritional measurements, levels of inflammatory cytokines.
Discussion
The findings will provide the first evidence for the use of a combination of three biotic compounds in IBS.
Trial registration:
The study was registered in the clinicaltrials.gov registry under the number NCT05013060.
Predictors and prognostic factors for tuberculous meningitis diagnosis by culture, modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining, and Xpert MTB/RIF in China
Authors: Wang Ting , Li Meng-yan , Cai Xin-Shan , Cheng Qiu-sheng , Li Ze , Wang Hong-hao , Liu Ting-ting , zhao Gang 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background: Diagnostics [culture, modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining (MZN), and Xpert MTB/RIF nucleic acid amplification] currently available for tuberculous meningitis (TBM), the deadliest form of tuberculosis, have strengths and weaknesses. The predictors and prognostic factors of the methods should indicate the most appropriate methods for individual situations and to improve patient survival.Methods: We included 292 TBM patients: 63 definite TBM, 66 probable TBM, and 163 possible TBM. Their clinical medical history, imaging, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture, MZN, and Xpert MTB/RIF results were compared. TBM predictors and prognostic factors for the methods were explored using binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curves of logistic regression prediction models.Results: Low-glucose levels (<2.2 mmol/L) were most closely correlated with culture-positive patients. High diagnostic scores were most closely correlated with MZN-staining-positive and Xpert-MTB/RIF-positive patients. When predicting culture-positivity with diagnostic score and glucose level combined, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.795 (95%CI: 0.714-0.875, p < 0.001), with 64.0% sensitivity and 81.9% specificity. When predicting MZN-staining-positivity with diagnostic score and CSF protein combined, AUC was 0.818 (95%CI: 0.770-0.865, p < 0.001) (81.80% sensitivity and 67.20% specificity). When predicting Xpert MTB/RIF-positivity with diagnostic score, AUC was 0.874 (95%CI: 0.833-0.915, p < 0.001) (81.00% sensitivity and 81.60% specificity). Advanced age was the most relevant factor in all TBM groups. Conclusion: Low CSF glucose was associated with positive cultures and patient suitability for culture testing. Higher diagnostic scores were associated with positive Xpert MTB/RIF and the suitability of this test. Older TBM patients had poor prognoses and require more attention.
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for urinary tract stones in pediatric patients: our 11 years of experience
Authors: Öncel Halil Ferat , Salar Remzi , Bahçeci Tuncer 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Purpose
To reveal the efficacy of ESWL in pediatric patients and determine factors that will increase the success rate of this procedure.
Materials and Methods
The files of patients aged 16 years and under who underwent ESWL at our clinic between January 2010 and December 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Age, gender, stone area, stone localization, number of sessions, energy and frequency used, complete stone-free status, and secondary intervention requirement were recorded. The absence of stone fragments or the presence of fragments smaller than 3 mm in imaging after ESWL was considered as success.
Results
This study included 433 pediatric patients. The mean age of the patients was calculated as 12.02 ± 4.67 (range, 1–16) years. The most important factors affecting the number of residual stones were stone localization (p = 0.045) and size (p < 0.0001). When stone localization was compared according to patient age, the patients with a higher age were found to have a significantly higher rate of stones in the proximal ureter than in the lower calyx of the kidney (p = 0.045) and renal pelvis (p = 0.048).
Conclusion
Based on our 11-year pediatric ESWL experience in our clinic, our stone-free rate increased compared to the first years we started to perform this procedure. Despite advances in laser breaker technology and micro and ultra-thin endoscopic instruments developed for stone intervention, ESWL can still be safely performed as the first choice in stones smaller than 20 mm.
Abnormalities of the endometrium persist despite adequate progesterone supplementation in the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Authors: Baracat Maria Candida P , Simões Ricardo S. , Simões Manuel Jesus , Caldeira Priscilla Lopes , Maciel Gustavo Arantes Rosa , Azziz Ricardo , Baracat Edmund C , Soares-Junior Jose Maria 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Objective: To study the influence of metabolic factors on the action of progesterone on the endometrium of women with PCOS. Methods: A prospective open-label clinical trial. Participants were recruited from an outpatient reproductive endocrinology clinic at an academic tertiary medical care center from 2014 to 2020. To assess the sole effect of progesterone (P4) on the endometrium we studied amenorrheic (cycles> 90 days) women with PCOS (n=23), comparing them to healthy eumenorrheic control women ( n=13). All subjects underwent an endometrial biopsy (EB) in the follicular phase of the first study cycle. They were then treated with micronized P4 (400 mg/day x 10 days intravaginally) from days 14-28 of the cycle, and a second EB was performed between days 20-24 of the cycle (second phase). EB samples were analyzed under light microscopy for histomorphometric analysis.Results: The surface and glandular epithelia were thicker in PCOS subjects than one in controls (p<0.023) in first phase. The endometrium of PCOS women in second phase demonstrated an uniform surface epithelium with less leukocyte infiltration and absence of apoptotic figures compared to control group. The The thickness of the surface epithelium in the second phase of PCOS group correlated positively with the percentage of free testosterone and bioavailable testosterone. The thicknesses of glandular epithelium of the same group correlated negatively with BMI. The number of stromal cells increased with insulin levels. Conclusion: Histomorphometric abnormalities of the endometrium persisted despite what appears to be adequate P4 supplementation in PCOS. The clinical impact of these abnormalities, what factors (hormonal, metabolic, genetic) may underlie this persistent abnormality. Whether higher doses or different routes of P4 administration required, remains to be determined.Clinical Trials: NCT05062135
Multi-Scale Adaptive Weighted Network for Polarization Computational Imaging Super-Resolution
Authors: Xu Guoming , Wang Jie , Zhang Lei , Ma Jian , Wang Yong , Liu Jiaqing 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Due to the pixel limit of the polarization imaging detector and the object detection conditions, the spatial resolution of the object polarization image in actual imaging detection applications is generally low. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been introduced to image super-resolution (SR). However, these methods rarely explore the internal connections between local spatial components and multi-scale feature maps in different receptive fields. To this end, we propose a multi-scale adaptive weighted network (MSAWN) for polarization computational imaging super-resolution to gain superior reconstruction performance. Computational imaging methods centered on information acquisition and interpretation can obtain high-resolution images that are superior to imaging systems. Specifically, we use a limited amount of memory and computational power even with multi-scale information and multi-level polarization. Secondly, a spatial pyramid structure based on space-channel attention mechanism is designed to effectively adjust the feature weight of polarization information. Thirdly, we adopt an adaptive weight unit to reduce redundant network branches and parameters. Particularly, we introduce an innovative reconstruction layer with inputs coming from multiple paths by mean of sub-pixel convolution. The experimental results show that the proposed method achieves better reconstruction accuracy and visual effect, and the objective evaluation indexes such as PSNR and SSIM are significantly improved.
Effect of Postoperative Oral Intake Status on Sarcopenia Six Months after Esophageal Cancer Surgery
Authors: Hijikata Nanako , Ishikawa Aiko , Matsuda Satoru , Kawakami Michiyuki , Muraoka Kaori , Ando Makiko , Mayanagi Shuhei , Irino Tomoyuki , Kawakubo Hirofumi , Kitagawa Yuko , Tsuji Tetsuya 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Purpose: In patients with esophageal cancer, skeletal muscle mass has been reported to decrease progressively after surgery and be independently associated with a poor prognosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate perioperative changes in dysphagia, oral intake status, and nutritional status and identify factors related to sarcopenia six months after esophagectomy.Methods: A total of 134 patients who underwent radical resection for thoracic esophageal cancer between March 2016 and July 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. The diagnosis of sarcopenia was made by CT taken six months postoperatively using the cut-off criteria of skeletal muscle index (SMI) <52.4 cm2/m2 for male and SMI <38.5 cm2/m2 for female patients. As factors related to postoperative sarcopenia, dysphagia, oral intake status, nutritional status, and physical function were extracted from the medical records. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify perioperative risk factors related to sarcopenia six months after surgery.Results: Of the 134 patients, 34.3% were judged to be unable to start oral intake on swallowing assessment. At discharge, 30.6% received tube feeding with or without oral intake. In the non-oral intake group on swallowing assessment, a significantly higher proportion of patients received tube feeding at discharge (p=0.014). Preoperative BMI, postoperative handgrip strength, and tube feeding at discharge were independent risk factors for sarcopenia six months after esophagectomy in male patients.Conclusions: Oral intake status at discharge is significantly related to postoperative sarcopenia in patients with esophageal cancer. Identifying high-risk groups might allow early detection of malnutrition and provision of appropriate care.
Variation and reason analysis of groundwater hydrochemical characteristics in Beiluhe Basin, Qinghai–Tibet Plateau during a freezing–thawing period
Authors: Liu Zejun , Fang Yahong , Hu Haiyang , Wang Wei 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Groundwater in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) is mainly distributed in the active layer. Rising temperatures and human activities have influenced the hydrogeochemical characteristics of the QTP in recent years. This study investigates the hydrochemistry and stable isotope (δ18O and δD) variations of the groundwater in the Beiluhe Basin, which is located in the QTP of China, during a freezing–thawing period of the active layer. Results show the chemical types of the groundwater are mainly HCO3 • Cl–Na • Ca • Mg, which are converted to Cl • HCO3–Na • Ca • Mg during the freezing period of the active layer. At different stages of the freezing–thawing period of the active layer, evaporation, concentration, and rock weathering control the chemical composition of the groundwater in this region. The main ion ratio coefficients of groundwater and the saturation indices of related minerals in groundwater indicate that halite, dolomite, and calcite control the relevant chemical components of water in the study area. The stable isotopic results show that δ18O and δD fluctuations in the lake water and the groundwater are mainly affected by groundwater runoff, temperature, and evaporation. This study provides the scientific basis for groundwater evolution and utilization in high-altitude areas.
Modification and Validation of an mHealth App Quality Assessment Methodology for International Use: Cross-sectional and eDelphi Studies
Authors: Woulfe Fionn , Fadahunsi Kayode Philip , O'Grady Michael , Chirambo Griphin Baxter , Mawkin Mala , Majeed Azeem , Smith Simon , Henn Patrick , O'Donoghue John 
Published: July 2022

Background
Over 325,000 mobile health (mHealth) apps are available to download across various app stores. However, quality assurance in this field of medicine remains relatively undefined. Globally, around 84% of the population have access to mobile broadband networks. Given the potential for mHealth app use in health promotion and disease prevention, their role in patient care worldwide is ever apparent. Quality assurance regulations both nationally and internationally will take time to develop. Frameworks such as the Mobile App Rating Scale and Enlight Suite have demonstrated potential for use in the interim. However, these frameworks require adaptation to be suitable for international use.

Objective
This study aims to modify the Enlight Suite, a comprehensive app quality assessment methodology, to improve its applicability internationally and to assess the preliminary validity and reliability of this modified tool in practice.

Methods
A two-round Delphi study involving 7 international mHealth experts with varied backgrounds in health, technology, and clinical psychology was conducted to modify the Enlight Suite for international use and to improve its content validity. The Modified Enlight Suite (MES) was then used by 800 health care professionals and health care students in Ireland to assess a COVID-19 tracker app in an online survey. The reliability of the MES was assessed using Cronbach alpha, while the construct validity was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis.

Results
The final version of the MES has 7 sections with 32 evaluating items. Of these items, 5 were novel and based on consensus for inclusion by Delphi panel members. The MES has satisfactory reliability with a Cronbach alpha score of .925. The subscales also demonstrated acceptable internal consistency. Similarly, the confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated a positive and significant factor loading for all 32 items in the MES with a modestly acceptable model fit, thus indicating the construct validity of the MES.

Conclusions
The Enlight Suite was modified to improve its international relevance to app quality assessment by introducing new items relating to cultural appropriateness, accessibility, and readability of mHealth app content. This study indicates both the reliability and validity of the MES for assessing the quality of mHealth apps in a high-income country, with further studies being planned to extrapolate these findings to low- and middle-income countries.
What Works Where and How for Uptake and Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Pathology: Review of Theories for a Realist Evaluation
Authors: King Henry , Wright Judy , Treanor Darren , Williams Bethany , Randell Rebecca 
Published: July 2022

Background
There is increasing interest in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in pathology to increase accuracy and efficiency. To date, studies of clinicians’ perceptions of AI have found only moderate acceptability, suggesting the need for further research regarding how to integrate it into clinical practice.

Objective
The aim of the study was to determine contextual factors that may support or constrain the uptake of AI in pathology.

Methods
To go beyond a simple listing of barriers and facilitators, we drew on the approach of realist evaluation and undertook a review of the literature to elicit stakeholders’ theories of how, for whom, and in what circumstances AI can provide benefit in pathology. Searches were designed by an information specialist and peer-reviewed by a second information specialist. Searches were run on the arXiv.org repository, MEDLINE, and the Health Management Information Consortium, with additional searches undertaken on a range of websites to identify gray literature. In line with a realist approach, we also made use of relevant theory. Included documents were indexed in NVivo 12, using codes to capture different contexts, mechanisms, and outcomes that could affect the introduction of AI in pathology. Coded data were used to produce narrative summaries of each of the identified contexts, mechanisms, and outcomes, which were then translated into theories in the form of context-mechanism-outcome configurations.

Results
A total of 101 relevant documents were identified. Our analysis indicates that the benefits that can be achieved will vary according to the size and nature of the pathology department’s workload and the extent to which pathologists work collaboratively; the major perceived benefit for specialist centers is in reducing workload. For uptake of AI, pathologists’ trust is essential. Existing theories suggest that if pathologists are able to “make sense” of AI, engage in the adoption process, receive support in adapting their work processes, and can identify potential benefits to its introduction, it is more likely to be accepted.

Conclusions
For uptake of AI in pathology, for all but the most simple quantitative tasks, measures will be required that either increase confidence in the system or provide users with an understanding of the performance of the system. For specialist centers, efforts should focus on reducing workload rather than increasing accuracy. Designers also need to give careful thought to usability and how AI is integrated into pathologists’ workflow.
Influential factors on oral health status of the elderly Iranians: A Path analysis
Authors: Fartash Tolou Azadeh , Jadidfard Mohammad Pooyan , Ghasemi Hadi , Boroumand Farzaneh , Namdari Mahshid , Khoshnevisan Mohammad H. 
Published: July 2022

Objectives: This study aimed at assessing the influential factors on oral health status of the elderly Iranian population (65 to 74 years of age) by using Path analysis.
Methods: This study was conducted on 7,521 elderly individuals participating in the Iranian National Oral Health Survey in 2012. After data collection process, initially decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index as well as functional health (FH) index were evaluated in this study by using clinical data. The socio-economic status (SES), insurance type (IT), dental attendance pattern (DAP), reason of attendance (R of A), tooth cleaning (TC), and nutritional pattern (NP) were evaluated according to responses provided to the questions in the questionnaire by participant. Path analysis was applied to analyze the patterns between these variables and DMFT and FH index.
Results: The participants’ mean DMFT was 26.6±8.03, and the median FH was 0 (0.10). Path analysis revealed that seniors with higher SES, and having a dental insurance with greater coverage had a direct effect on more regular DAP, and indirect effect on improvement of FH and reduction in DMFT index. More regular DAP had a direct effect on improvement of FH, and reduction of DMFT index. Also, NP with lower risk of caries had a direct effect on improvement of FH and reduction of DMFT index.
Conclusion: Out of all the evaluated factors, IT, SES, DAP, and NP demonstrated to be particularly important and significantly affecting DMFT and FH indices in the elderly population. Out of all aforementioned factors, IT in low SES individuals was more important for obtaining required oral healthcare services. Apparently, seniors’ oral health is absolutely in need of special attention with particular focus on providing access to early prevention and care.
Diversity and Colonization of Endophytic Actinomycetes in some Medicinal Plants: Review
Authors: Alzahrani Kholoud , Jastaniah Samyah , Amasha Reda , M. Aly Magda 
Published: July 2022

The diversity of culturable endophytic actinomycetes related to plants and especially medicinal plants are isolated and characterized. The increased colonization and distribution of endophytic actinomycetes in plants have been reported in many studies. Endophytic actinomycetes belong to different genera are distributed in plants species such as Streptomyces, which is the dominant genus, Micromonospora, Microbispora, Nocardiopsis, Rhodococcus and Nocardia. Moreover, there are many novel strains had been described belong to these genera. Endophytic actinomycetes seem to contribute with plant development and displaying beneficial traits that can be exploited in plant maintenance, substances supplements, protection and defense. Colonization of endophytic actinomycetes in plant tissues are largely influenced by plant species and the environmental factors surrounding the host plants such as soil pH, water content, rainfall, soil salinity, and temperatures. Some endophytic actinomycetes may occur in low numbers and sometimes in localized positions within the plant. Thus, this review summarizes an aspect of the diversity and colonization of endophytic actinomycetes, including their mechanism of action, importance, and isolation and identification methods.
A descriptive study of Cephalic and prosopic anthropometric indices in one-day-old infants in Imam Ali and Kamali Hospital, Karaj
Authors: Kermanian Fatemeh , Tavakol Marzieh , Beiranvand Nasim , Mahakizadeh Simin 
Published: July 2022

Objective: There is no published literature about the types of head and face shapes in the Alborz newborns. Therefore, we designed this study to report these important regional data.
Methods: Head length, head width, face length, face width, prosopic and cephalic indices were made on 150 newborns (75 males and 75 females) with a view to establish the criterion of cephalometry for this age group in Iran. A special emphasis was given to delivery mode in this study.
Results: There was no significant difference in cephalic and prosopic indices between two groups (female: p=0.46; male: p=0.43). Brachycephalic type was dominant and dolicocephalic type was rare in male and female neonates. There was no significant difference in head shape between two groups. Hypereuriprosopic and hyperleptoprosopic were dominant and rare types, respectively, in newborns without significant difference between two groups.
Conclusion: The head and face indices in the newborn infants born by cesarean section were not significantly different from vaginal delivery group. However, the role of nutrition and climate could not be ruled out.