bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stratification of COPD patients towards personalized medicine: reproduction and formation of clusters
Authors: van Zelst Cathelijne M. , Goossens Lucas M. A. , Witte Jan A. , Braunstahl Gert-Jan , Hendriks Rudi W. , Rutten-van Molken Maureen P. M. H. , Veen Johannes C. C. M. in’t 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background
The global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease (GOLD) 2020 emphasizes that there is only a weak correlation between FEV1, symptoms and impairment of the health status of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Various studies aimed to identify COPD phenotypes by cluster analyses, but behavioral aspects besides smoking were rarely included.

Methods
The aims of the study were to investigate whether (i) clustering analyses are in line with the classification into GOLD ABCD groups; (ii) clustering according to Burgel et al. (Eur Respir J. 36(3):531–9, 2010) can be reproduced in a real-world COPD cohort; and (iii) addition of new behavioral variables alters the clustering outcome. Principal component and hierarchical cluster analyses were applied to real-world clinical data of COPD patients newly referred to secondary care (n = 155). We investigated if the obtained clusters paralleled GOLD ABCD subgroups and determined the impact of adding several variables, including quality of life (QOL), fatigue, satisfaction relationship, air trapping, steps per day and activities of daily living, on clustering.

Results
Using the appropriate corresponding variables, we identified clusters that largely reflected the GOLD ABCD groups, but we could not reproduce Burgel’s clinical phenotypes. Adding six new variables resulted in the formation of four new clusters that mainly differed from each other in the following parameters: number of steps per day, activities of daily living and QOL.

Conclusions
We could not reproduce previously identified clinical COPD phenotypes in an independent population of COPD patients. Our findings therefore indicate that COPD phenotypes based on cluster analysis may not be a suitable basis for treatment strategies for individual patients.
Current methods for studying metastatic potential of tumor cells
Authors: Bouchalova Pavla , Bouchal Pavel 
Published: December 2022

AbstractCell migration and invasiveness significantly contribute to desirable physiological processes, such as wound healing or embryogenesis, as well as to serious pathological processes such as the spread of cancer cells to form tumor metastasis. The availability of appropriate methods for studying these processes is essential for understanding the molecular basis of cancer metastasis and for identifying suitable therapeutic targets for anti-metastatic treatment. This review summarizes the current status of these methods: In vitro methods for studying cell migration involve two-dimensional (2D) assays (wound-healing/scratch assay), and methods based on chemotaxis (the Dunn chamber). The analysis of both cell migration and invasiveness in vitro require more complex systems based on the Boyden chamber principle (Transwell migration/invasive test, xCELLigence system), or microfluidic devices with three-dimensional (3D) microscopy visualization. 3D culture techniques are rapidly becoming routine and involve multicellular spheroid invasion assays or array chip-based, spherical approaches, multi-layer/multi-zone culture, or organoid non-spherical models, including multi-organ microfluidic chips. The in vivo methods are mostly based on mice, allowing genetically engineered mice models and transplant models (syngeneic mice, cell line-derived xenografts and patient-derived xenografts including humanized mice models). These methods currently represent a solid basis for the state-of-the art research that is focused on understanding metastatic fundamentals as well as the development of targeted anti-metastatic therapies, and stratified treatment in oncology.
Which trap is best? Alternatives to outdoor human landing catches for malaria vector surveillance: a meta-analysis
Authors: Eckert Jordan , Oladipupo Seun , Wang Yifan , Jiang Shanshan , Patil Vivek , McKenzie Benjamin A. , Lobo Neil F. , Zohdy Sarah 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background
Human landing catches (HLC) are an entomological collection technique in which humans are used as attractants to capture medically relevant host-seeking mosquitoes. The use of this method has been a topic of extensive debate for decades mainly due to ethical concerns. Many alternatives to HLC have been proposed; however, no quantitative review and meta-analysis comparing HLC to outdoor alternative trapping methods has been conducted.

Methods
A total of 58 comparisons across 12 countries were identified. We conducted a meta-analysis comparing the standardized mean difference of Anopheles captured by HLC and alternative traps. To explain heterogeneity, three moderators were chosen for analysis: trap type, location of study, and species captured. A meta-regression was fit to understand how the linear combination of moderators helped in explaining heterogeneity. The possibility of biased results due to publication bias was also explored.

Results
Random-effects meta-analysis showed no statistically significant difference in the mean difference of Anopheles collected. Moderator analysis was conducted to determine the effects of trap type, geographical location of study, and the species of Anopheles captured. On average, tent-based traps captured significantly more Anopheles than outdoor HLC (95% CI: [− .9065, − 0.0544]), alternative traps in Africa captured on average more mosquitoes than outdoor HLC (95% CI: [− 2.8750, − 0.0294]), and alternative traps overall captured significantly more Anopheles gambiae s.l. than outdoor HLC (95% CI: [− 4.4613, − 0.2473]) on average. Meta-regression showed that up to 55.77% of the total heterogeneity found can be explained by a linear combination of the three moderators and the interaction between trap type and species. Subset analysis on An. gambiae s.l. showed that light traps specifically captured on average more of this species than HLC (95% CI: [− 18.3751, − 1.0629]). Publication bias likely exists. With 59.65% of studies reporting p-values less than 0.025, we believe there is an over representation in the literature of results indicating that alternative traps are superior to outdoor HLC.

Conclusions
Currently, there is no consensus on a single “magic bullet” alternative to outdoor HLC. The diversity of many alternative trap comparisons restricts potential metrics for comparisons to outdoor HLC. Further standardization and specific question-driven trap evaluations that consider target vector species and the vector control landscape are needed to allow for robust meta-analyses with less heterogeneity and to develop data-driven decision-making tools for malaria vector surveillance and control.
Inequalities in the use of insecticide-treated nets by pregnant women in Ghana, 2011 and 2017
Authors: Budu Eugene , Okyere Joshua , Mensah Felix , Azure Simon Agongo , Seidu Abdul-Aziz , Ameyaw Edward Kwabena , Ahinkorah Bright Opoku 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background
Pregnant women and children are the most vulnerable group of people usually affected by malaria. The use of insecticide-treated nets is one of the proven interventions for mitigating malaria and its associated deaths in endemic regions, including Ghana. Meanwhile, there is limited evidence on the extent of inequality in insecticide-treated nets use by pregnant women in Ghana. This study assessed the inequalities in insecticide-treated nets use by pregnant women in Ghana.

Methods
Data from the 2011 and 2017 versions of the Ghana Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys were used. The 2019 updated World Health Organization (WHO) HEAT software (version 3.1) was used for all analyses. Four equity stratifiers were employed to disaggregate insecticide-treated nets use by pregnant women in Ghana. These are economic status, level of education, place of residence, and sub-national region. Four measures were used to compute inequality namely Difference (D), Population Attributable risk (PAR), Population Attributable Fraction (PAF) and Ratio (R).

Results
The analyses indicated a rise in pregnant women’s insecticide-treated nets use from 32.6% in 2011 to 49.7% in 2017. Except sub-national region, all the factors showed mild inequality in insecticide-treated nets use. For instance, with respect to the economic status of pregnant women, only a slight inequality was exhibited by one of the simple measures in both 2011 (R = 0.3; 95% UI = 0.2–0.6) and 2017 (R = 0.5; 95% UI = 0.3–0.7). Marginal inequality in insecticide-treated nets use was noted in 2011 (R = 0.6; 95% UI = 0.5–0.9) and 2017 (R = 0.8; 95% UI = 0.6–0.9) for level of education. In the same vein, slight inequality was realized with respect to place of residence in 2011 (R = 0.4; 95% UI = 0.3–0.6) and 2017 (R = 0.6; 95% UI = 0.5–0.7). For sub-national region, both simple (D = 50.5; 95% UI = 30.7–70.4) and complex (PAF = 91.3; 95% UI = 72.3–110.3) measures demonstrated substantial inequality in 2011. In the case of 2017, considerable inequality in insecticide-treated nets use occurred (D = 58; 95% UI = 42.2–73.8, PAF = 51.9; 95% UI = 36.2–67.6).

Conclusion
In conclusion, insecticide-treated nets utilization by pregnant Ghanaian women increased between 2011 and 2017. The findings show that Ghana’s Ministry of Health in collaboration with anti-malarial non-governmental organizations must review patterns of insecticide-treated nets distribution and intensify advocacy among educated pregnant women, those in urban settings and the rich, to assuage the magnitude of inequality.
Automated classification of time-activity-location patterns for improved estimation of personal exposure to air pollution
Authors: Chatzidiakou Lia , Krause Anika , Kellaway Mike , Han Yiqun , Li Yilin , Martin Elizabeth , Kelly Frank J. , Zhu Tong , Barratt Benjamin , Jones Roderic L. 
Published: December 2022

AbstractBackgroundAir pollution epidemiology has primarily relied on measurements from fixed outdoor air quality monitoring stations to derive population-scale exposure. Characterisation of individual time-activity-location patterns is critical for accurate estimations of personal exposure and dose because pollutant concentrations and inhalation rates vary significantly by location and activity.MethodsWe developed and evaluated an automated model to classify major exposure-related microenvironments (home, work, other static, in-transit) and separated them into indoor and outdoor locations,sleeping activityand five modes of transport (walking, cycling, car, bus, metro/train) with multidisciplinary methods from the fields of movement ecology and artificial intelligence. As input parameters, we used GPS coordinates, accelerometry, and noise, collected at 1 min intervals with a validated Personal Air quality Monitor (PAM) carried by 35 volunteers for one week each. The model classifications were then evaluated against manual time-activity logs kept by participants.ResultsOverall, the model performed reliably in classifying home, work, and other indoor microenvironments (F1-score>0.70) but only moderately well for sleeping and visits to outdoor microenvironments (F1-score=0.57 and 0.3 respectively). Random forest approaches performed very well in classifying modes of transport (F1-score>0.91). We found that the performance of the automated methods significantly surpassed those of manual logs.ConclusionsAutomated models for time-activity classification can markedly improve exposure metrics. Such models can be developed in many programming languages, and if well formulated can have general applicability in large-scale health studies, providing a comprehensive picture of environmental health risks during daily life with readily gathered parameters from smartphone technologies.
Gold nanoparticle delivery to solid tumors: a multiparametric study on particle size and the tumor microenvironment
Authors: Izci Mukaddes , Maksoudian Christy , Gonçalves Filipa , Aversa Lucia , Salembier Robbe , Sargsian Ara , Pérez Gilabert Irati , Chu Tianjiao , Rios Luci Carla , Bolea-Fernandez Eduardo , Nittner David , Vanhaecke Frank , Manshian Bella B. , Soenen Stefaan J. 
Published: December 2022

AbstractNanoparticle (NP) delivery to solid tumors remains an actively studied field, where several recent studies have shed new insights into the underlying mechanisms and the still overall poor efficacy. In the present study, Au NPs of different sizes were used as model systems to address this topic, where delivery of the systemically administered NPs to the tumor as a whole or to tumor cells specifically was examined in view of a broad range of tumor-associated parameters. Using non-invasive imaging combined with histology, immunohistochemistry, single-cell spatial RNA expression and image-based single cell cytometry revealed a size-dependent complex interaction of multiple parameters that promoted tumor and tumor-cell specific NP delivery. Interestingly, the data show that most NPs are sequestered by tumor-associated macrophages and cancer-associated fibroblasts, while only few NPs reach the actual tumor cells. While perfusion is important, leaky blood vessels were found not to promote NP delivery, but rather that delivery efficacy correlated with the maturity level of tumor-associated blood vessels. In line with recent studies, we found that the presence of specialized endothelial cells, expressing high levels of CD276 and Plvap promoted both tumor delivery and tumor cell-specific delivery of NPs. This study identifies several parameters that can be used to determine the suitability of NP delivery to the tumor region or to tumor cells specifically, and enables personalized approaches for maximal delivery of nanoformulations to the targeted tumor.
Graphical Abstract
Product variety and regulation avoidance in the sale of new tobacco products: findings from a point-of-sale survey in Indonesia
Authors: Bigwanto Mouhamad , Muhammad Fathi , Widad Sarah Muthia , Yudha Laksmana 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background
Since the imposition of the 2018 excise tax, new tobacco products (electronic nicotine delivery system, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches) have been considered legal, and their sale has grown rapidly in Indonesia. This study aims to assess the variety of new tobacco products available on the market and evaluate the point-of-sale (POS) environment.

Methods
Data collection was carried out by 12 trained surveyors between March 7 and 13, 2022, in three provinces that had the most e-cigarette users: Yogyakarta, East Kalimantan, and Jakarta. All the vape stores with a Google rating of 4.5 stars or higher and a minimum of 100 reviews were included. In addition to vape stores, the nearest retail stores were included. The data collected included information about available products, product displays, and whether the POS followed tobacco-control measures, such as health warnings and smoke-free regulations.

Results
A total of 27 vape stores and 35 retail stores were observed. The available liquid volumes ranged from 15 to 100 ml, with nicotine levels from 3 to 50 mg. No stores sold flavorless products, and all the products were sold without pictorial health warnings (PHWs). Most of the vape stores (92.6%) reported selling products that used cartoon images or public figures, and most (96.3%) allowed customers to use the products inside the store. Five vape stores and four retail stores reported that they did not require customers to undergo an identity-verification process to buy products. More than half (55.6%) of the vape stores and 46.6% of the retail stores reported that they were located less than 500 m from a school.

Conclusion
The available products were widely varied, and they were easy to access through online and offline stores. The new tobacco products had successfully avoided several tobacco-control measures, including smoke-free regulations and the appearance of PHWs on the products. The government needs to impose regulations sufficient to prevent youth from consuming new tobacco products.
Focal HDR brachytherapy boost to stereotactic radiotherapy (fBTsRT) for prostate cancer: a phase II randomized controlled trial
Authors: Belliveau C. , Barkati M. , Delouya G. , Taussky D. , Beauchemin M. C. , Lambert C. , Beaulieu L. , Beliveau-Nadeau D. , Nicolas B. , Carrier J. F. , Vigneault E. , Ménard C. 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background
For patients with a higher burden of localized prostate cancer, radiation dose escalation with brachytherapy boosts have improved cancer control outcomes at the cost of urinary toxicity. We hypothesize that a focal approach to brachytherapy boosts targeting only grossly visualized tumor volumes (GTV) combined with stereotactic radiotherapy will improve quality of life (QoL) outcomes without compromising cancer control.

Methods
150 patients with intermediate or high-risk prostate cancer will be enrolled and randomized 1:1 in a cohort multiple randomized clinical trial phase 2 design. Patients are eligible if planned for standard-of-care (SOC) high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy boost to radiotherapy (RT) with GTVs encompassing < 50% of the prostate gland. Those randomly selected will be offered the experimental treatment, consisting of focal HDR brachytherapy boost (fBT) of 13–15 Gy in 1 fraction followed by stereotactic radiotherapy (sRT) 36.25-40 Gy in 5 fractions to the prostate (+/− 25 Gy to the elective pelvis) delivered every other day. The primary endpoint is to determine if fBTsRT is superior to SOC by having fewer patients experience a minimally important decline (MID) in urinary function as measured by EPIC-26 at 1 and 2 years. Secondary endpoints include rates of toxicity measured by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), and failure-free survival outcomes.

Discussion
This study will determine whether a novel approach for the treatment of localized prostate cancer, fBTsRT, improves QoL and merits further evaluation.
Trial registration This trial was prospectively registered in ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT04100174 as a companion to registry NCT03378856 on September 24, 2019.
Novel intraoperative near-infrared imaging strategy to identify abnormalities in the anterior mediastinum
Authors: Singhal Sonia , Azari Feredun , Caponetti Gabriel C. , Kennedy Gregory T. 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThoracic surgeons are frequently asked to biopsy suspicious tissues in the anterior mediastinum to discriminate between a reactive versus malignant pathology such as lymph nodes. The most common benign cause of a mediastinal lymph node is a reactive lymph node from a prior infection or inflammatory process such as post-COVID or granulomatous disease. The most common malignant cause is a lymphoproliferative disorder but also metastatic disease from neck, breast and other regional cancers. Biopsies in this location are challenging because they are far from the trachea and the sternum is a barrier to most diagnostic procedures. Thus, a surgical biopsy is frequently required and a common procedure for Thoracic surgeons. Technically, identifying these lesions can be challenging, particularly for small lesions or those in patients with high body mass index. In order to improve contrast between diseased tissue in the anterior mediastinum and surrounding adipose tissue, we have been studying near-infrared imaging during surgery using indocyanine green (ICG) to give contrast to the abnormal tissues and to avoid an unnecessary extended resection. We developed a modified technique to give ICG to a patient during a biopsy in the anterior mediastinum to specifically highlight abnormal tissues. As a proof-of-principle, we present a case of a young woman with a suspicious 2 cm mediastinal lymph node that required surgical biopsy.
Carer burden in rare inherited diseases: a literature review and conceptual model
Authors: Sandilands Kerry , Williams Angela , Rylands Angela J. 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background
Carers of people living with rare diseases report heavy burden and a plethora of unmet needs. A previous parental supportive care needs framework has described the needs of parents of children living with rare diseases, but it is not specific to rare inherited diseases (RIDs) and does not include non-parental carers. We conducted a targeted literature review to: (1) ascertain the burden/supportive care needs of informal carers of people living with RIDs, (2) understand the burden/supportive care needs unique to these carers, and (3) develop a conceptual model based on the findings.

Methods
A targeted literature review searching Embase and Medline between 2000 and 2020 was conducted to identify journal articles describing the burden/supportive care needs of all types of informal carers of people living with RIDs. Thematic analysis was conducted on the articles to develop a conceptual model.

Results
After screening and quality appraisal, 31 journal articles were analysed, representing 70 RIDs (including bleeding, bone, central nervous system, multisystem and inherited metabolic disorders). Most articles (74%) focused on parent carer samples. The conceptual model has three overarching domains, encompassing 13 themes: (1) Living with Rare Inherited Disease (Being a Carrier of Rare Disease, Carer Perceptions, Disease Severity); (2) Carer Needs/Burden (Social/Community, Well-being, Information, Practical); and (3) Carer Coping Strategies (Acceptance, Support Systems, Gratitude and Hope, Faith, Quest for Knowledge, Establish a Routine). Our conceptual model uniquely describes carers’ transmission guilt, clinically relevant depression and anxiety, worry about future family members living with the RID, and challenging decisions about having more children. Carers often implemented psychological, structural, practical, and social coping strategies to manage their burdens.

Conclusions
The identified burdens underscore the need for the provision of information and social support to these carers. Future research should focus on the (1) potential mediators/moderators of carers’ burden, (2) needs of carers within the wider family including siblings and grandparents, (3) needs of carers of adults living with RIDs, including spouses and children, and (4) biopsychosocial effect on carers living with a RID themselves. Our conceptual model offers a potential tool for healthcare professionals to utilise during the provision of support to carers.