bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Elective nodal irradiation versus involved-field irradiation for stage Ⅱ-Ⅳ cervical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients undergoing definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy: a retrospective propensity study with eight-year survival outcomes
Authors: Wang Jianing , Wu Yajing , Zhang Wei , Chen Yujia , Liu Qing , Jing Shaowu , Zhang Jiandong , Wu Fengpeng , Wang Jun , Qiao Xueying 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background
Definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (dCCRT) is suggested as the standard treatment for cervical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (CESCC). This retrospective propensity study compared the eight-year survival outcomes and acute treatment toxicities of these patients treated with elective nodal irradiation (ENI) versus involved-field irradiation (IFI).
Materials and Methods
Patients with stage Ⅱ-Ⅳ CESCC treated with dCCRT at the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2020 were enrolled in the study. All the patients were restaged according to the American Joint Commission (AJCC) 8th edition criteria. The propensity score matching (PSM) was used to minimize the effects of treatment selection bias and potential confounding factors including sex, age, ECOG score, clinical T stage (cT), clinical N stage (cN), clinical TNM stage (cTNM) and radiation dose between the ENI group and IFI group. Survival and the prognostic factors were evaluated.
Results
The 131 eligible patients underwent ENI (60 patients, 45.8%) or IFI (71 patients, 54.2%). The median follow-up time was 91.1 months (range, 23.8–182.0 months) for all the patients. The median OS, 1-, 3-, 5-, and 8-year OS rates were 44.4 months, 87.8%, 55.1%, 38.3%, and 27.2%, respectively. After PSM, there were 49 patients in each group. The median OS, 1-, 3-, 5-, and 8-year OS rates for ENI and IFI group were 32.0 months, 83.7%, 48.5%, 38.5% and 31.1% versus 45.2 months, 89.8%, 52.5%, 37.5%, 26.1%, respectively (P = 0.966; HR 0.99, 95%CI 0.61–1.61). Similar locoregional control was obtained in both groups. The tendency of leukocytopenia and neutropenia was higher in ENI than in IFI (59.2% versus 38.8%; P = 0.068 and 30.6% versus 14.3%; P = 0.089) at the end of dCCRT.
Conclusion
Cervical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients undergoing definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy has a satisfactory prognosis with organ conservation. The involved-field irradiation might be a better alternative owing to similar overall survival outcomes and local control with less toxicity of myelosuppression.
Validating the Well-being of Older People (WOOP) instrument in China
Authors: Liu Runhua , Mao Zhuxin , Yang Zhihao 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Introduction:
So far, generic health related quality of life (HRQoL) has been used for estimating utility value, which then be used for calculating quality adjust life years (QALY). HRQoL measures may not capture many of the relevant and important aspects of quality of life other than health. Well-being of older people (WOOP) was first developed in the Netherlands to measure the well-being of older people; this study aims to validate this new measure in China.
Methods:
Between July and August 2022, a cross-sectional study was conducted in a convenient sample of 500 older people in Southwestern China. Consented older people reported their demographic information and the simplified Chinese version of WOOP measure using paper and pencil. The acceptability of WOOP was examined by percent of missing responses. Then, using the data without any missing responses, we examined the acceptability, item responses distributions, pairwise spearman correlations, exploratory factor analysis and known-group validity of WOOP.
Results:
Among the nine items, three of them had more than 10% of missing responses. The response distributions of 9 items in WOOP were overall good without signs of ceiling effects and floor effects. There was not high correlations among WOOP items. A two-factor EFA model suggested WOOP items can be categorized into either internal wellbeing or external wellbeing. Good known-group validity results were found reported.
Discussion:
Some WOOP items may not be easily understood by a small proportion of rural residents. Other results suggested WOOP to be valid instrument for measuring the well-being of elderly in China. The availability of WOOP enables the measurement of wellbeing related utility.
Cardiac Point-of-Care Ultrasound and Multi-Disciplinary Improvement Opportunities in Acute Systolic Heart Failure Management in a Pediatric Emergency Center
Authors: Scott Camille , Alade Kiyetta , Leung Stephanie , Morrison A. Ruthie , Riley Alan F. 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background: Cardiac Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has the ability to rapidly assess function and identify systolic heart failure (HF), an often-missed diagnosis. POCUS has the potential to expedite medical intervention, improving overall outcomes. There have been limited studies describing pediatric emergency center (EC) utilization of cardiac POCUS and its impact on outcomes in pediatric patients.
Methods: Authors performed a retrospective chart review at a tertiary children's hospital to identify all patients admitted from the EC to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) with acute systolic HF between January 2017 and August 2019. Outcome measures included EC length of stay (LOS), CICU LOS, and time until first IV HF medicine was administered.
Results: A total of 21 patients and 24 encounters meeting criteria were identified. Cardiac POCUS agreed with standard echocardiography in 8 of 9 cases. Patients who had a cardiac POCUS in the EC seemed more likely to receive their first dose of intravenous heart failure medication while in the Emergency Center (70% vs 43%). There was a trend towards significance, but it did not reach statistical significance (p=0.1). EC and CICU LOS were not significantly different between POCUS and non-POCUS groups.
Conclusion: Cardiac POCUS has the potential to have a valuable role in the early diagnosis of acute systolic HF in children. However, early diagnosis by POCUS did not translate into shorter EC or CICU LOS. This pilot data serves as a baseline for efforts to promote earlier clinical recognition of acute HF and more efficient collaboration between clinical services.
Multiple potentially toxic elements in urban gardens from a Brazilian industrialized city
Authors: Lange Camila Neves , Freire Bruna Moreira , Monteiro Lucilena Rebelo , de Jesus Tatiane Araújo , Reis Roberta Albino , Nakazato Gerson , Kobayashi Renata Katsuko Takayama , Batista Bruno Lemos 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Urban agriculture should be promoted as long as the food produced is safe for consumption. Located in the metropolitan region of São Paulo-Brazil, Santo André has intense industrial activities and more recently an increasing stimulus to urban gardening. One of the potential risks associated to this activity is the presence of potentially toxic elements (PTEs). In this study, the concentration of PTEs (As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Ni, Mo, Pb, Sb, Se, V and Zn) was evaluated by soil (n=85) and soil amendments (n=19) in urban gardens from this municipality. Only barium was above regulatory limits in agricultural soil, although enrichment of all elements was observed. A multivariate statistical approach was applied and indicated two groups of elements with strong influence of the petrochemical complex located in this region. However, carcinogenic, and non-carcinogenic risks were not observed. Soil amendments were identified as a possible source of contamination for Ba, Zn and Pb and for pathogenic bacteria. Besides that, the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance suggests some soil management practices are necessary.
Incidence and risk factors of hypertriglyceridemia in males with human immunodeficiency virus who are treated with combination antiretroviral therapy: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Yu Xian-dong , Huang Huihuang , Jiao Yanmei , Li Jing , Fan Xing , Zhang Dawei , Wang Fu-sheng 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background
Hypertriglyceridemia is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis and vascular inflammation even when low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels are normal. However, few cohort studies have been conducted in males with a higher prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia and higher susceptibility to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related deterioration of arterial structure and function. Our objective was to investigate the incidence of hypertriglyceridemia during treatment with combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in males with HIV and explore its related risk factors.
Methods
In this retrospective study, we included 309 males living with HIV (median age 31 years [interquartile range 26–42.5]) who initiated cART treatment in our hospital from January 2013 to December 2018. We collected follow-up data on serum triglycerides and other related information as of June 31, 2021. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the related risk factors.
Results
In 666.7 person-years, hypertriglyceridemia occurred in 140 patients (triglyceride ≥ 2.3 mmol/L [200 mg/dL]), and the incidence rate was 21.0 per 100 person-years (The lamivudine [3TC] + tenofovir disoproxil fumarate [TDF] + efavirenz [EFV] regimen accounted for 77.0%.). Multiple Cox regression analysis showed that baseline CD4/CD8 ratio < 0.20 (hazard ratio [HR], 2.705 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.381–5.296]; P = 0.004}, body mass index (BMI) ≥ 24.0 kg/m2 (HR, 1.768 [95% CI: 1.225–2.552]; P = 0.002), borderline high triglyceride at baseline (HR, 3.457 [95% CI: 2.162–5.527]; P < 0.001), and 3TC + zidovudine (AZT) + EFV regimen (HR, 2.702 [95% CI: 1.593–4.581]; P < 0.001), or 3TC + TDF + lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) regimen (HR, 4.349 [95% CI: 2.664–7.102]; P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for hypertriglyceridemia.
Conclusion
During the course of cART treatment, the incidence of hypertriglyceridemia in males with HIV was high. The main risk factors influencing its occurrence are a low baseline CD4/CD8 ratio, overweight and obesity, and the use of AZT or LPV/r in the cART regimen.
Polyethyleneimine coated MXene quantum dots improve cotton tolerance to Verticillium dahliae by maintaining ROS homeostasis
Authors: Qiu Ping , Li Jiayue , Zhang Lin , Chen Kun , Shao Jianmin , Zheng Baoxin , Yuan Hang , Hu Qin , Ming Yuqing , Liu Shiming , Long Lu , Gu Jiangjiang , Zhang Xianlong , Lindsey Keith , Gao Wei , Wu Honghong , Zhu Longfu 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Verticillium dahliae is a soil-borne hemi-biotrophic fungal pathogen and inflicts major losses in agricultural production worldwide. Although the pathogenicity of the fungus and plant immunity have been extensively studied, how cotton leaf necrosis is induced by defoliating strains of V. dahliae is poorly understood. In this study, reference-grade genomes were determined for two representative V. dahliae isolates: V991, which is defoliating and aggressive, and 1cd3-2, which is non-defoliating and has weak pathogenicity. Transcriptome analysis showed that cotton resistance to V. dahliae mainly depends on cell wall structure or physical barrier generation in the early stage of infection (3-9 days post inoculation, dpi). However, a large number of pathogenic factors could be detected from 12 dpi and accumulated quickly in cotton stems, accompanied by the burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leaf necrosis and defoliation. A V991 specific virulence gene SP3 was identified through comparative genome analysis and found to be highly expressed after colonization. Knock-out of SP3 clearly attenuated pathogenicity, with less ROS produced. These results indicate that disease symptoms in cotton may be due to abnormal immune activation and excessive ROS induced by the pathogen. To further investigate this, Polyethyleneimine coated MXene quantum dots (PEI-MQDs), a type of nano material that possesses the ability to remove ROS in vitro, were used. Cotton seedlings maintain ROS homeostasis with enhanced peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities after exogenous treatment with PEI-MQDs and show significant tolerance to V. dahliae isolate V991. Our results suggest that excessive ROS and constitutive immune activation in cotton induced by the defoliating strain of V. dahliae is responsible for disease symptoms such as leaf necrosis, and PEI-MQDs application improve cotton tolerance to V. dahliae by maintaining ROS homeostasis.
An epidemiological study on quality of life of beta-thalassaemia major children &amp; its correlates in Kolkata, West Bengal
Authors: Biswas Bijit , Naskar Narendra Nath , Basu Keya , Dasgupta Aparajita , Basu Rivu , Paul Bobby 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background & objectives: Quality of life (QoL) of thalassaemic children is likely to be impaired in comparison to their healthy counterparts. Knowledge of attributes affecting QoL of thalassaemic children may help to find out the key areas of interventions to improve it. Thus, the current study was envisioned to find out QoL of beta-thalassaemia major (β-TM) children and its various correlates.
Methods: An institution-based observational study, cross-sectional in design, was conducted in the thalassaemia unit of Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India, between May 2016 and April 2017. In the study period, 328 β-TM children and their caregivers were interviewed using a structured schedule.
Results: In the final multivariable logistic regression model, thalassaemic children who were residing in an urban area [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 3.8 (1.8-7.9)], had mothers with higher educational level (middle and above) [AOR: 2.1 (1.1-4.0)], working parents [AOR: 2.7 (1.2-6.3)], no family history of thalassaemia [AOR: 3.5 (1.6-8.0)], received less number of blood transfusion in the previous year (<12) [AOR: 2.1 (1.1-4.2)], higher pre-transfusional haemoglobin (Hb) level [AOR: 1.7 (1.1-2.6)], no transfusion-transmitted infections [AOR: 2.8 (1.5-5.2)], higher body mass index z-score [AOR: 1.6 (1.1-2.2)] and higher caregivers’ care-related QoL (CarerQoL) score (>5) [AOR: 3.2 (1.6-6.2)] were more likely to have favourable QoL (Peds4QL score >54.3).
Interpretation & conclusions: QoL of the study participants was significantly correlated with their caregiver’s CarerQoL, mother’s educational level, parent’s working status, place of residence, family history of the disease, blood transfusion frequency, pre-transfusional Hb level and nutritional and comorbidity status.
An analysis on influencing factors of irrigation water effective utilization coefficient – A case study of Jiangsu province, China
Authors: Ju Yan , Xing Yang , Dong Azhong , Qi Fei , Hou Miao , Zhang Wenye 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
The irrigation water effective utilization coefficient (IWEUC) is a critical indication of agricultural water use efficiency. To improve water-saving potential, the inter-annual variation of IWEUC from 2014 to 2021 in Jiangsu Province was analyzed. Taking consideration of natural factors, planting structure, management levels, and water-saving engineering, the primary influencing factors of IWEUC were investigated through principal component analysis. The results revealed that IWEUC in Jiangsu Province was higher than the annual national level and showed an insignificant increasing trend. IWEUC and its trend were negatively correlated with irrigation district size. Water-saving irrigation areas had an extremely significant impact on IWEUC (P &lt; 0.01). The positive load of water-saving engineering investment was rated first. Furthermore, economic and water-saving benefits for different irrigation district scales based on the TOPSIS model were evaluated. Despite restricted government support, the economic gains for large irrigation districts were superior to those for small irrigation districts. In the past decade, agricultural water declined while agricultural water conservation rose. The completion of integrated agricultural water pricing reform, as well as the improvement of water-saving engineering and optimization of management level, had a significant beneficial influence on IWEUC. Jiangsu's IWEUC has been efficiently implemented, and provides guidelines in other regions.
Interaction of TiO2 nanoparticles with the C. vulgaris: oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation and lipid amount
Authors: Sezer Mesut , Tanatti N. Pınar , Şengil İsmail Ayhan 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Nanoparticles are widely used in many industries such as food and cosmetics. With increasing use, its spread to environmental environments is also increasing. Microalgae have an important place in the uptake of nanoparticles into the food chain. In this study, the effect of TiO2 nanoparticle on antioxidant enzyme activity, malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, chlorophyll-a and total lipid amount in C. vulgaris microalgae has been investigated. As a result of the dose study, while the superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase enzyme activities decreased, the amount of MDA, H2O2 and chlorophyll-a increased. Depending on the times at different light:dark ratios, both an increase and a decrease occurred in the SOD, APX enzyme activity and the amount of MDA, H2O2. There was an increase in the amount of chlorophyll-a. In the time study, while the SOD and APX enzyme activities increased, the amount of MDA and H2O2 decreased. The amount of chlorophyll-a increased. In the total lipid study, the total lipid amount in the group with nano TiO2 increased compared to the control group. At the same time, C18:2 T (linoleic acid) has been found as fatty acid methyl ester in both groups.
The highly efficient simultaneous removal of Pb2+ and methylene blue induced by the release of endogenous active sites of montmorillonite
Authors: Luan Jingde , Zhao Chen , Zhai Qian , Liu Wengang , Ke Xin , Liu Xiaoyang 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
The inherent periodic structure of montmorillonite limits the adsorption capacity of its endogenous active units such as Si-O tetrahedron and Al-O octahedron for pollutants. The high-intensity ultrasound method was used to release these active units and the layer-by-layer assembly was adopted to prepare carbon@chitosan@montmorillointe microsphere adsorbent (C@CS@Mt) to give full play to the adsorption capacity of montmorillonite. The montmorillonite nanosheet exhibited good hole-making ability, resulting in high surface area, pore volume and pore diameter of microspheres. Benefitting from the release of active sites in Si-O tetrahedron and Al-O octahedron of montmorillonite nanosheets, the adsorption capacity of C@CS@Mt was significantly improved. The maximum adsorption capacities of Pb2+ and methylene blue (MB) reached 884.19 mg·g−1 and 326.21 mg·g−1, respectively. The simultaneous adsorption experiments indicated that the occupation of active sites by Pb2+ caused the observed decrease of MB adsorption capacity. The theoretical calculations indicated that Pb was preferentially adsorbed by active adsorption units due to strong electron donating ability in comparison to MB. As an active unit, Si-O tetrahedron exhibited stronger adsorption capacity for cationic dyes than Al-O octahedron due to both the large electronegativity and lower adsorption binding energy.
Fouling reduction in nanofiltration membranes in the treatment of municipal sewage – effect of coagulant type used for prior chemically enhanced primary treatment
Authors: Fida Sadia , Haydar Sajjad , Zeeshan Muhammad 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
The limiting factor in wide-scale application of membranes for wastewater treatment is membrane fouling. Coagulation has emerged as an effective technique for fouling control. In this research, municipal wastewater was treated using a two-stage treatment. In stage-1, chemically enhanced primary treatment (CEPT) was rendered using an optimum dose of two coagulants, i.e. alum, ferric chloride and a 1:1 mix of both. The optimum doses for coagulants were determined using a jar test. In stage-2, a nanofiltration (NF) membrane was used to further treat the effluent from stage-1. In CEPT, the 1:1 mixture of coagulants showed maximum removals, i.e. 75–77% for the total suspended solids and 73–75% for the chemical oxygen demand (COD). Stage-2 provided 85–95% removals for turbidity (0.88 nephelometric turbidity units), COD (41 mg/L), total dissolved solids (101 mg/L), hardness (11 mg/L as CaCO3), chlorides (80 mg/L), and heavy metals (copper [0.03 mg/L] and lead [0.02 mg/L]). The operational time of the NF membrane was 46 min, 55 min and 70 min using alum, ferric chloride, and mix (1:1), respectively. Significant reduction was observed in membrane fouling for 1:1 mixture of coagulants. The effluent met the US Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for non-potable reuse.
Lifestyle and Dietary Patterns as Risk Factors for Osteoporosis:
A Literature Review
Authors: Tayyem Reema , Abuhijleh Haya , Al-Khammash Amal 
Published: October 2022

Background:
Osteoporosis is a major public health concern and is highly prevalent
worldwide. There is increasing evidence about the importance of nutrition to this chronic condition.

Aim:
In this literature review, we aim to show the association between dietary patterns and the
risk of developing osteoporosis.

Methods:
We reviewed and reported over 90 research papers published in Google scholar and
ScienceDirect between 1981 and 2020 that investigated a connection between nutrient intake, dietary
patterns and lifestyle and the risk of developing osteoporosis.

Conclusion:
Bone health is usually supported by nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium,
magnesium, vitamin K and vitamin D. Healthy dietary patterns with high intakes of fruits
and vegetables showed protective effects against osteoporosis. Physical activity and exercise also
showed beneficial effects in protecting BMD. Other factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption,
pregnancy and lactation, and body mass index are all associated with osteoporosis risk. On
the other hand, existing research shows that western dietary patterns ,including processed high
protein diets, sugar, candy, soft drinks, pizza, French fries, and refined grains, are associated with
low bone mineral density (BMD) and a high risk of fractures. Besides all that, it has been reported
that postmenopausal women tend to be primarily prone to osteoporosis, and this is mainly due
to hormonal insufficiencies.
Therapeutic Potential of Stable Organosulfur Compounds of Aged Garlic
Authors: Rani Vibha , Sharma Kumkum 
Published: October 2022

Abstract:Aged garlic extract (AGE) is an odorless derivative of garlic prepared by extracting garlic cloves in an aqueous solution for twenty months. During the process of aging, reactive organosulfur compounds such as allicin present in garlic are converted to their stable isoforms such as S- Allyl cysteine. The unstable organo sulfurs in garlic (Allium sativum L.) have been reported to cause problems in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract with an extremely pungent odor to attain its therapeutic potential. But these pharmacologically safer sulfur compounds of AGE have been studied and reported to have exceptional therapeutic potential in human health and various diseases. SAllyl cysteine (SAC), Diallyl disulfide (DADS), Diallyl trisulfide (DATS), S-allyl-mercaptocysteine (SAMC), are the most studied organosulfur compounds in in-vitro as well as in-vivo research. Biomedical research suggests that these phytoconstituents exhibit antioxidant, cardioprotective, cancer preventive, neuroprotective, immunomodulatory, antilipidemic, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, and antiobesity effects. The therapeutic potential of aged garlic extract has been found to be extensively beneficial in these conditions, and provide a vast future in biomedical chemistry, herbdrug synergy and drug designing. The purpose of this review is to provide a mechanistic understanding of various organosulfur compounds of AGE in human health and disease based on data provided in the literature.