bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A methodological framework for tackling confounding by indication when assessing the treatment effects of Chinese herbal injections in the real world
Authors: Tan Jing , Liu Chunrong , Li Mingxi , Shang Hongcai , Wang Wen , Li Ling , Xiong Yiquan , Huang Shiyao , Rao Chaolong , Luo Xiaochao , Qi Yana , Wang Jing , Zou Kang , Sun Xin 
Published: February 2022

AbstractAimIn the context of integrative medicine, whether Chinese herbal injections are effective in routine practice has become a question of broad interest. However, confounding by indication (i.e., indication bias) is a prevalent and highly challenging methodological issue when using routinely collected health care data to assess the real‐world effectiveness of Chinese herbal injections.Methods and resultsWe proposed a methodological approach to tackling confounding by indication in assessing the real‐world effectiveness of Chinese herbal injections, incorporating empirical experiences, a literature review and interactive discussions, and a panel of external experts to finally achieve a consensus. This approach consisted of three cohesive steps, including a full understanding of treatment patterns, construction of fair comparisons by identifying appropriate combination treatments and comparators, and using statistical methods to further control for confounding. In the investigation of treatment patterns, we proposed five domains to identify treatment patterns with Chinese herbal injections, and we offered five patterns of combination treatments to characterize how Chinese herbal injections are used in conjunction with other treatments. In constructing fair comparisons, we suggested the use of both nonuse and active comparators; given the diverse combination treatments, we developed six scenarios that may form fair comparisons. In the statistical analysis, we discussed five statistical models for controlling confounding by indication, including their pros and cons. We also included a practical example to illustrate the usefulness of the methodological approach.ConclusionThe proposed approach may serve as an effective tool to guide researchers to reliably assess the effectiveness of Chinese herbal injections in the context of integrative medicine.
Explanatory Cognitive Diagnostic Modeling Incorporating Response Times
Authors: Qiao Xin , Jiao Hong 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThis study proposes explanatory cognitive diagnostic model (CDM) jointly incorporating responses and response times (RTs) with the inclusion of item covariates related to both item responses and RTs. The joint modeling of item responses and RTs intends to provide more information for cognitive diagnosis while item covariates can be used to predict item parameters when item calibration is not feasible in diagnostic assessments or item parameter estimation errors could be too large due to small sample sizes for calibration. In addition, the inclusion of the item covariates allows the evaluation of cognitive theories underlying the test design in item development. Model parameter estimation is explored using the Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method. A Monte Carlo simulation study is conducted to examine the parameter recovery of the proposed model under different simulated conditions in comparison to alternative competing models. Further, the application of the proposed model is illustrated using the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2012 problem‐solving items modeling both item response and RT data. The study results indicate that model parameters can be well recovered using the MCMC algorithm and the explanatory CDM jointly incorporating item responses and RTs with item covariates holds promising applications in digital‐based diagnostic assessments.
Starter feed for carnivorous species as a practical replacement of bloodworms for a vertebrate model organism in ageing, the turquoise killifish Nothobranchius furzeri
Authors: Žák Jakub , Roy Koushik , Dyková Iva , Mráz Jan , Reichard Martin 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe absence of a controlled diet is unfortunate in a promising model organism for ageing, the turquoise killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri Jubb, 1971). Currently captive N. furzeri are fed bloodworms but it is not known whether this is an optimal diet. Replacing bloodworms with a practical dry feed would reduce diet variability. In the present study, we estimated the nutritional value of the diet ingested by wild fish and determined the fish‐body amino acid profile as a proxy for their nutritional requirements. We compared the performance of fish fed four commercial feeds containing 46%–64% protein to that achieved with bloodworms and that of wild fish. Wild fish target a high‐protein (60%) diet and this is supported by their superior performance on high‐protein diets in captivity. In contrast, feeds for omnivores led to slower growth, lower fecundity and unnatural liver size. In comparison to wild fish, a bloodworm diet led to lower body condition, overfeeding and male liver enlargement. Out of the four dry feeds tested, the fish fed Aller matched wild fish in body condition and liver size, and was comparable to bloodworms in terms of growth and fecundity. A starter feed for carnivorous species appears to be a practical replacement for bloodworms for N. furzeri. The use of dry feeds improved performance in comparison to bloodworms and thus may contribute to reducing response variability and improving research reproducibility in N. furzeri research.
The normative dimensions of flood risk management: Two types of flood harm
Authors: Chan Jeffrey Kok Hui , Liao Kuei‐Hsien 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe normative dimensions of flood harm in flood risk management (FRM) have become salient in a milieu of extreme flood events. In this article, two types of flood harm will be discussed. They are namely, risk harm and outcome harm. Whilst risk harm suggests that risk imposition by structural FRM measures is a type of harm that can increase vulnerability and diminish well‐being, outcome harm is manifested in deliberate flooding used to protect certain privileged communities at the expense of harming other less privileged ones. Risk‐imposing parties are required to seek consent for imposing new risks. In contrast, outcome harm as deliberate flooding is far more pernicious and should only be exercised in extreme situations with ample provisions for restitution and recovery. The aim of this article is to foreground and examine these under‐explored notions of flood harm in the FRM discourse and in tandem, to expand the normative dimensions of FRM in a milieu where difficult ethical choices abound.
Geriatric vulnerability and the burden of disability after major surgery
Authors: Gill Thomas M. , Murphy Terrence E. , Gahbauer Evelyne A. , Leo‐Summers Linda , Becher Robert D. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundStrong epidemiologic evidence linking indicators of geriatric vulnerability to long‐term functional outcomes after major surgery is lacking. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between geriatric vulnerability and the burden of disability after hospital discharge for major surgery.MethodsFrom a prospective longitudinal study of 754 nondisabled community‐living persons, aged 70 years or older, 327 admissions for major surgery were identified from 247 participants who were discharged from the hospital from March 1997 to December 2017. The indicators of geriatric vulnerability were ascertained immediately prior to the major surgery or during the prior comprehensive assessment, which was completed every 18 months. Disability in 13 essential, instrumental and mobility activities was assessed each month.ResultsThe burden of disability over the 6 months after major surgery was considerably greater for non‐elective than elective surgery. In multivariable analysis, 10 factors were independently associated with disability burden: age 85 years or older, female sex, Black race or Hispanic ethnicity, neighborhood disadvantage, multimorbidity, frailty, one or more disabilities, low functional self‐efficacy, smoking, and obesity. The burden of disability increased with each additional vulnerability factor, with mean values (credible intervals) increasing from 1.6 (1.4–1.9) disabilities for 0–1 vulnerability factors to 6.6 (6.0–7.2) disabilities for 7 or more vulnerability factors. The corresponding values were 1.2 (0.9–1.5) and 5.9 (5.0–6.7) disabilities for elective surgery and 2.6 (2.1–3.1) and 8.2 (7.3–9.2) disabilities for non‐elective surgery.ConclusionsThe burden of disability after hospital discharge for major surgery increases progressively as the number of geriatric vulnerability factors increases. These factors can be used to identify older persons who are particularly susceptible to poor functional outcomes after major surgery, and a subset may be amenable to intervention, including frailty, low functional self‐efficacy, smoking, and obesity.
Neuroimaging features of angiocentric glioma: A case series and systematic review
Authors: Kurokawa Ryo , Baba Akira , Emile Pinarbasi , Kurokawa Mariko , Ota Yoshiaki , Kim John , Capizzano Aristides , Srinivasan Ashok , Moritani Toshio 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackground and PurposeAngiocentric gliomas (AGs) are epileptogenic low‐grade gliomas in young patients. We aimed to investigate the MRI findings of AGs and systematically review previous publications and three new cases.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Elsevier's abstract and citation database, and Embase databases and included 50 patients with pathologically proven AGs with analyzable preoperative MRI including 3 patients from our institution and 47 patients from 38 publications (median age, 13 years [range, 2‐83 years]; 35 men). Two board‐certified radiologists reviewed all images. The relationships between seizure/epilepsy history and MRI findings were statistically analyzed. Moreover, clinical and imaging differences were evaluated between supratentorial and brainstem AGs.ResultsIntratumoral T1‐weighted high‐intensity areas, stalk‐like signs, and regional brain parenchymal atrophy were observed in 23 out of 50 (46.0%), 10 out of 50 (20.0%), and 14 out of 50 (28.0%) patients, respectively. Intratumoral T1‐weighted high‐intensity areas were observed significantly more frequently in patients with stalk‐like signs (positive, 9/10 vs. negative, 14/40, p = .0031) and regional atrophy (13/14 vs. 10/36, p = .0001). There were significant relationships between the length of seizure/epilepsy history and presence of intratumoral T1‐weighted high‐intensity area (median 3 years vs. 0.5 years, p = .0021), stalk‐like sign (13.5 vs. 1 year, p < .0001), and regional atrophy (14 vs. 0.5 years, p < .0001). Patients with brainstem AGs (n = 7) did not have a seizure/epilepsy history and were significantly younger than those with supratentorial AGs (median, 5 vs. 13 years, p < .0001, respectively).ConclusionsIntratumoral T1‐weighted high‐intensity areas, stalk‐like signs, and regional brain atrophy were frequent imaging features in AG. We also found that affected age was different between supratentorial and brainstem AGs.
Retinoid signaling regulates angiogenesis and blood‐retinal barrier integrity in neonatal mouse retina
Authors: Engelbrecht Eric , Metzler Melissa A. , Sandell Lisa L. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractObjectiveThe neonatal mouse retina is a well‐characterized experimental model for investigating factors impacting retinal angiogenesis and inner blood‐retinal barrier (BRB) integrity. Retinoic acid (RA) is an essential signaling molecule. RA is needed for vasculogenic development in embryos and endothelial barrier integrity in zebrafish retina and adult mouse brain; however, the function of this signaling molecule in developing mammalian retinal vasculature remains unknown. This study aims to investigate the role of RA signaling in angiogenesis and inner BRB integrity in mouse neonatal retina.MethodsRA distribution in the developing neurovascular retina was assessed in mice carrying an RA‐responsive transgene. RA function in retinal angiogenesis was determined by treating C57BL/6 neonatal pups with a pharmacological inhibitor of RA signaling BMS493 or control vehicle. BRB integrity assessed by monitoring leakage of injected tracer into extravascular retinal tissue.ResultsRA signaling activity is present in peripheral astrocytes in domains corresponding to RA activity of the underlying neural retina. RA inhibition impaired retinal angiogenesis and reduced endothelial cell proliferation. RA inhibition also compromised BRB integrity. Vascular leakage was not associated with altered expression of CLDN5, PLVAP, LEF1, or VEcad.ConclusionsRA signaling is needed for angiogenesis and integrity of the BRB in the neonatal mouse retina.
Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma of the submandibular gland: A retrospective analysis of 86 patients
Authors: Liu Shengwen , Lu Hao , Liu Limin , Wu Yifan , Zhu Yun , Xu Wanlin , Yang Wenjun , Zhang Chenping 
Published: February 2022

AbstractObjectivesTo evaluate the prognostic and locoregional metastatic features of carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma of submandibular gland (SMG‐CXPA) and improve the understanding of this uncommon condition.Patients and methodsWe retrospectively reviewed patients who were diagnosed with SMG‐CXPA. The survival data of SMG‐CXPA patients were statistically analyzed using Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier method. The associations between cervical metastasis and clinicopathological parameters were evaluated using chi‐squared test. Additionally, two different histological categories (histological grade and invasiveness) and their combination were evaluated with the Kaplan–Meier method and receiver operating characteristic curves.ResultsIn total, 86 patients were diagnosed: 38 clinically node‐negative, 31 pathologically node‐negative, and 17 node‐positive patients. Clinical tumor stage and histological grade were two independent prognostic factors for SMG‐CXPA. There were significant correlations between sex, tumor size, clinical tumor stage, clinical lymph node stage, histological grade, invasiveness, malignant components, perineural invasion, and no specific criteria exist for the clinical outcome.ConclusionSMG‐CXPA is a high‐grade malignancy with an unfavorable prognosis. Elective neck dissection should be performed in SMG‐CXPA patients with a risk of locoregional metastasis. Histological grade seems to be a more valuable predictor of lymph node involvement than invasiveness.
Non‐Anatomical Arthroscopic All‐Inside Repair of Medial Meniscus Posterior Root Tear to Posterior Cruciate Ligament for Patients with Normal Lower Limb Alignment
Authors: Jiang Jun , Xing Dan , Ni Lei , Chen Jian 
Published: February 2022

ObjectiveTo describe a non‐anatomical arthroscopic all‐inside repair of medial meniscus posterior root tear (MMPRT) to posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) technique for patients with normal lower limb alignment and to evaluate the short‐term clinical and radiologic outcomes.MethodsMMPRT directly to PCL was repaired with all‐inside horizontal mattress suturing technique rather than by the transtibial pullout suture technique or anchor suturing repair technique in 20 Laparade Type II MMPRT patients with normal lower limb alignment during 2018–2019. The clinical and radiological outcomes were evaluated retrospectively for at least 2 years follow‐up. The VAS score, Lysholm score, Tegner activity score were evaluated preoperatively and at the final follow‐up. The status of the medial meniscus posterior root were assessed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) preoperatively and at the final follow‐up.ResultsTwenty patients (mean age 54.5 ± 19.5 years) were included in the present study. The mean follow‐up duration was 32.5 ± 5.8 months. The VAS score was significantly decreased from preoperative 6.5 ± 1.5 to 2.1 ± 1.4 at the final follow‐up (P < 0.01). The mean Lysholm score was significantly improved from 43.7 ± 10.9 preoperatively to 85.7 ± 10.8 (P < 0.01). The median Tegner activity score was improved from 1.0 (range 1–4) to 3.0 (range 2–4, P < 0.01). On MRI, a total of 12 cases (60%) had complete healing, while eight cases (40%) had partial healing.ConclusionNon‐anatomical arthroscopic all‐inside repair of MMPRT to PCL may yield beneficial clinical outcomes and a higher rate of clinical healing in Type II MMPRT patients with normal lower limb alignment. It is an easy and reliable alternative technique to the transtibial pullout suture or anchor suture repair technique.
Abscisic acid‐induced cytoplasmic translocation of constitutive photomorphogenic 1 enhances reactive oxygen species accumulation through the HY5‐ABI5 pathway to modulate seed germination
Authors: Chen Qing‐Bin , Wang Wen‐Jing , Zhang Yue , Zhan Qi‐Di , Liu Kang , Botella José Ramón , Bai Ling , Song Chun‐Peng 
Published: February 2022

AbstractSeed germination is a physiological process regulated by multiple factors. Abscisic acid (ABA) can inhibit seed germination to improve seedling survival under conditions of abiotic stress, and this process is often regulated by light signals. Constitutive photomorphogenic 1 (COP1) is an upstream core repressor of light signals and is involved in several ABA responses. Here, we demonstrate that COP1 is a negative regulator of the ABA‐mediated inhibition of seed germination. Disruption of COP1 enhanced Arabidopsis seed sensitivity to ABA and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. In seeds, ABA induced the translocation of COP1 to the cytoplasm, resulting in enhanced ABA‐induced ROS levels. Genetic evidence indicated that HY5 and ABI5 act downstream of COP1 in the ABA‐mediated inhibition of seed germination. ABA‐induced COP1 cytoplasmic localization increased HY5 and ABI5 protein levels in the nucleus, leading to increased expression of ABI5 target genes and ROS levels in seeds. Together, our results reveal that ABA‐induced cytoplasmic translocation of COP1 activates the HY5‐ABI5 pathway to promote the expression of ABA‐responsive genes and the accumulation of ROS during ABA‐mediated inhibition of seed germination. These findings enhance the role of COP1 in the ABA signal transduction pathway.
Clinical utility of abdominal multidetector CT in 85 goats with suspected abdominal disease
Authors: Stieger‐Vanegas Susanne M. , Caldwell Laurel , Vanegas Jorge A. , McKenzie Erica , Johns Jennifer 
Published: February 2022

AbstractDiagnosing the cause of abdominal disease in goats can be challenging. Clinical history, physical investigation, and laboratory findings do not always allow definitive identification of intra‐abdominal disease or the underlying cause. Multidetector CT (MDCT) has become more readily available and now often replaces or augments other abdominal imaging techniques. The objective of this retrospective, observational, descriptive study was to investigate the clinical utility of MDCT for evaluation of the abdomen in goats with suspected abdominal disease involving the urinary, gastrointestinal, reproductive tracts and abdominal wall. Medical records (1/2009–12/2017) were reviewed for all goats undergoing an abdominal MDCT. Signalment, clinical history, examination and MDCT findings and outcome were recorded and categorized by abdominal organ system and wall lesion. Clinical problems and MDCT findings were compared in the various abdominal categories. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and diagnostic odds ratio (OR) were calculated for MDCT, using clinical examination findings as the reference standard. A total of 85 goats underwent an abdominal MDCT examination. The sensitivity of MDCT for detecting urinary, gastrointestinal, reproductive tract, and abdominal wall abnormalities in goats with clinical problems related to these body systems was high at 94.7 %, 78.3%, 94.1%, and 100%, and the specificity was high at 95.6%, 96.7%, 93.9%, and 100%, respectively. The PPV was 94.7%, 90.0 %, 80.0%, and 100.0%, the NPV was 95.6%, 92.1%, 98.4%, and 100%, and the OR were 387.0, 104.4, 248.0, and infinite. In conclusion, findings supported the use of MDCT as an adjunct diagnostic test for assessing goats with abdominal disease.
Evidence of a decrease in sales of antimicrobials of very high importance for humans in dairy herds after a new regulation restricting their use in Quebec, Canada
Authors: Millar Nikky , Aenishaenslin Cécile , Lardé Hélène , Roy Jean‐Philippe , Fourichon Christine , Francoz David , Paradis Marie‐Ève , Dufour Simon 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIn the province of Quebec, Canada, a new regulation restricting usage of antimicrobials of very high importance for human health (Health Canada: category 1 antimicrobials) in production animals is effective since February 2019. The objective of this study was to estimate changes in AM sales in dairy herds after the implementation of the regulation. Therefore, invoice data were extracted from veterinary software, Vet‐Expert, used by most dairy veterinarians in the province of Quebec, and antimicrobial quantities were transformed in Canadian defined course doses for cattle (DCDbovCA). The sum of antimicrobials sales monthly in each herd was estimated in DCDbovCA from June 2016 to May 2020. To evaluate the herd‐level change in AM sales and the impact of different factors, the number of DCDbovCA by herd from June 2017 to May 2018 (pre‐regulation period) were compared with those of June 2019 to May 2020 (post‐regulation period). Total category 1 AM sales of 3,569 Quebec's herds went from a range of 14,258 to 21,528 DCDbovCA/month to a range of 1,494 to 4,707 DCDbovCA/month after the implementation of the new regulation. Moreover, using data from 3,337 herds, we estimated a mean (95% confidence interval) reduction in 19 DCDbovCA/herd‐year (14.8, 24.2), while the pre‐regulation herd‐level category 1 AM sales was 26 DCDbovCA/herd‐year. This reduction was achieved without evidence of an increase in other antimicrobials. Finally, the veterinary facility associated with the herd was an important determinant of the herd‐level reduction in category 1 antimicrobials. This study was the first to quantify a significant reduction in category 1 AM sales following the implementation of a restrictive regulation in dairy production in Canada. These results demonstrate that such an approach is effective to reduce the sales of a specific category of antimicrobial in animal production.