Diagnostic Accuracy of Computerized Bowel Sound Analysis with Non-Invasive Devices for Irritable Bowel Syndrome:A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective To assess the diagnostic accuracy of bowel sound analysis for irritable bowel syndrome(IBS)with a systematic review and meta-analysis.Methods We searched MEDLINE,Embase,the Cochrane Library,Web of Science,and IEEE Xplore databases until September 2023.Cross-sectional and case-control studies on diagnostic accuracy of bowel sound analysis for IBS were identified.We estimated the pooled sensitivity,specificity,positive likelihood ratio,negative likeli-hood ratio,and diagnostic odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval(CI),and plotted a summary receiver operat-ing characteristic curve and evaluated the area under the curve.Results Four studies were included.The pooled diagnostic sensitivity,specificity,positive likelihood ratio,nega-tive likelihood ratio,and diagnostic odds ratio were 0.94(95%CI,0.87‒0.97),0.89(95%CI,0.81‒0.94),8.43(95%CI,4.81‒14.78),0.07(95%CI,0.03‒0.15),and 118.86(95%CI,44.18‒319.75),respectively,with an area under the curve of 0.97(95%CI,0.95‒0.98).Conclusions Computerized bowel sound analysis is a promising tool for IBS.However,limited high-quality data make the results'validity and applicability questionable.There is a need for more diagnostic test accuracy studies and better wearable devices for monitoring and analysis of IBS.

Investigating the therapeutic efficacy of psilocybin in advanced cancer patients: A comprehensive review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Psilocybin,a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain species of mushrooms,is known for its effects on anxiety and depression.It has recently gained increasing interest for its potential therapeutic effects,particularly in patients with advanced cancer.This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the effects of psilocybin on adult patients with advanced cancer.AIM To investigate the therapeutic effect of psilocybin in patients with advanced cancer.METHODS A comprehensive search of electronic databases was conducted in PubMed,Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials,and Google Scholar for articles published up to February 2023.The reference lists of the included studies were also searched to retrieve possible additional studies.RESULTS A total of 7 studies met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review,comprising 132 participants.The results revealed significant improvements in quality of life,pain control,and anxiety relief following psilocybin-assisted therapy,specifically results on anxiety relief.Pooled effect sizes indicated statistically significant reductions in symptoms of anxiety at both 4 to 4.5 months[35.15(95%CI:32.28-38.01)]and 6 to 6.5 months[33.06(95%CI:28.73-37.40)].Post-administration compared to baseline assessments(P<0.05).Additionally,patients reported sustained improvements in psychological well-being and existential distress fo-llowing psilocybin therapy.CONCLUSION The findings provided compelling evidence for the potential benefits of psilocybin-assisted therapy in improving quality of life,pain control,and anxiety relief in patients with advanced cancer.

Carbocysteine as Adjuvant Therapy in Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in Patients without Underlying Chronic Conditions: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: This study aims to systematically examine the existing evidence regarding the clinical benefits of carbocysteine as an adjunctive treatment in acute bronchopulmonary and otorhinological processes. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources: An electronic search was conducted across PubMed, Cochrane Library, clinicaltrials.gov, and the European Clinical Trial Register, with the search dated to May 2023. Bibliographic references from other literature reviews and meta-analyses were also reviewed. The search was limited to randomized clinical trials published in any language and year. It was completed by cross-checking the references of the located articles. Methods: Inclusion criteria covered studies assessing systemic or inhaled carbocysteine, regardless of dosing regimen. Concomitant medication use was acceptable if balanced between intervention and control groups. Authors independently extracted data, resolving disagreements through consensus. Methodological quality assessment relied on critical reading of each study. Dichotomous variables were analyzed using odds ratio (OR), and a final effect size was calculated. Statistical significance was established when confidence intervals did not cross the neutral value. Heterogeneity was assessed via the X2 test and I2 index. Results: Out of 318 initially identified studies, 4 met inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis for poor general condition yielded an OR of 0.45 in favor of intervention, p = 0.013, with non-significant heterogeneity. Cough events showed a percentage of 15.8% for carbocysteine vs. 27.2% for placebo. On the seventh day, expectoration rates were 18.37% for carbocysteinevs 33.3% for placebo. Conclusions: The observed clinical benefits align with carbocysteine’s mucoactive and muco-regulatory properties, complemented by anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions. Carbocysteine stands out among mucolytic agents. In the context of persistent infectious diseases, the study emphasizes the need for further exploration of carbocysteine’s therapeutic potential as an adjunctive treatment for acute respiratory infections. These findings underscore its significance in the evolving landscape of respiratory healthcare.

Prevalence of Latent Tuberculosis Infection [LTBI] in Prison Officers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This study aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the LTBI prevalence in prison officers worldwide. A systematic search was performed in PubMed, WoS, Embase, and BVS, including all articles related to LTBI prevalence and risk factors. After critical evaluation and qualitative synthesis of the identified articles, a meta-analysis was used. Five studies carried out between 2012 and 2022 were included, with a total sample size of 1718 prison officers. The overall LTBI prevalence was 50% [95% confidence interval [CI]: 48% - 52%;n = 816], with high heterogeneity between studies. Smoking [OR = 1.76;CI 95% = 1.26 - 2.46] and males [OR = 2.08;CI 95% = 1.31 - 3.31] were positively related to a higher LTBI prevalence among prison officers. Thus, preventive measures and the rapid and accurate diagnosis of new cases should be emphasized to ensure tuberculosis control, especially among risk groups such as prison officers.

Iron and ferritin effects on intensive care unit mortality:A metaanalysis

BACKGROUND The effect of serum iron or ferritin parameters on mortality among critically ill patients is not well characterized.AIM To determine the association between serum iron or ferritin parameters and mortality among critically ill patients.METHODS Web of Science,Embase,PubMed,and Cochrane Library databases were searched for studies on serum iron or ferritin parameters and mortality among critically ill patients.Two reviewers independently assessed,selected,and abstracted data from studies reporting on serum iron or ferritin parameters and mortality among critically ill patients.Data on serum iron or ferritin levels,mortality,and demographics were extracted.RESULTS Nineteen studies comprising 125490 patients were eligible for inclusion.We observed a slight negative effect of serum ferritin on mortality in the United States population[relative risk(RR)1.002;95%CI:1.002-1.004].In patients with sepsis,serum iron had a significant negative effect on mortality(RR=1.567;95%CI:1.208-1.925).CONCLUSION This systematic review presents evidence of a negative correlation between serum iron levels and mortality among patients with sepsis.Furthermore,it reveals a minor yet adverse impact of serum ferritin on mortality among the United States population.

A Meta-Analysis of the Prognostic and Clinicopathological Significance of circZFR in Human Gastrointestinal Cancers

Background: Studies of gastrointestinal (GIT) cancers have shown that circZFR could be involved in the development and progression of various GIT cancers. However, small sample sizes limit the clinical significance of these studies. Here, a meta-analysis was conducted to ascertain the actual involvement of circZFR in the development and prognosis of GIT cancers. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched up to December 31, 2023. Hazard ratios (HRs) or odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled to evaluate the association between circZFR expression and overall survival (OS). Publication bias was measured using the funnel plot and Egger’s test. Results: 10 studies having 659 participants were enrolled for meta-analysis. High circZFR expression was associated with poor OS (HR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.20, 1.70). High circZFR expression also predicted larger tumor size (OR = 4.38, 95% CI 2.65, 7.25), advanced clinical stage (OR = 5.33, 95% CI 3.10, 9.16), and tendency for distant metastasis (OR = 2.89, 95% CI: 1.62, 5.11), but was not related to age, gender, and histological grade. Conclusions: In summary, high circZFR expression was associated with poor OS, larger tumor size, advanced stage cancer and tendency for distant metastasis. These findings suggested that circZFR could be a prognostic marker for GIT cancers.

Meta-analysis of transarterial chemoembolization combined with cryoablation vs transarterial chemoembolization alone for≥5 cm hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)ranks sixth globally in cancer incidence and third in mortality rates.Unfortunately,over 70% of HCC patients forego the opportunity for curative surgery or liver transplantation due to inadequate physical examinations,poor physical condition,and limited organ availability upon diagnosis.Clinical guidelines endorse transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)as the frontline treatment for intermediate to advanced-stage HCC.Cryoablation(CRA)is an emerging local ablative therapy increasingly used in HCC management.Recent studies suggest that combining CRA with TACE offers complementary and synergistic effects,potentially improving long-term survival rates.However,the superiority of combined TACE+CRA therapy over TACE alone for HCC lesions equal to or exceeding 5 cm requires further investigation.AIM To compare the efficacy and safety of TACE combined with CRA vs TACE alone in the treatment of HCC with a diameter of≥5 cm.METHODS PubMed,EMBASE,Cochrane Library,CNKI,Wanfang,and VIP databases were searched to retrieve all relevant studies on TACE and CRA up to July 2022.Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software.RESULTS After screening according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,6 articles were included,including 2 randomized controlled trials and 4 nonrandomized controlled trials,with a total of 575 patients included in the meta-analysis.The results showed that the objective response rate[odds ratio(OR)=2.56,95%confidence interval(CI):1.66-3.96,P<0.0001],disease control rate(OR=3.03,95%CI:1.88-4.89,P<0.00001),1-year survival rate(OR=3.79,95%CI:2.50-5.76,P<0.00001),2-year survival rate(OR=2.34,95%CI:1.43-3.85,P=0.0008),and 3-year survival rate(OR=3.34,95%CI:1.61-6.94,P=0.001)were all superior to those of the control group;the postoperative decrease in alpha-fetoprotein value(OR=295.53,95%CI:250.22-340.85,P<0.0001),the postoperative increase in CD4 value(OR=10.59,95%CI:8.78-12.40,P<0.00001),and the postoperative decrease in CD8 value(OR=6.47,95%CI:4.44-8.50,P<0.00001)were also significantly higher than those in the TACE-alone treatment group.CONCLUSION Compared with TACE-alone treatment,TACE+CRA combined treatment not only improves the immune function of HCC patients with a diameter of≥5 cm,but also enhances the therapeutic efficacy and long-term survival rate,without increasing the risk of complications.Therefore,TACE+CRA combined treatment may be a more recommended treatment for patients with HCC with a diameter of≥5 cm.

Mechanism of imipenem-induced mental disorder: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Imipenem is a highly effective carbapenem antibiotic,which is widely used in the treatment of many serious bacterial infections.At the same time,it can also cause some adverse reactions,mental abnormalities are the most concerned central nervous system adverse reactions.Different patients respond differently to imipenem,and the effect of imipenem on psychiatric disorders is unclear.Therefore,meta-analysis summarizing the results of multiple previous studies can provide stronger evidence support for clinical guidelines to guide clinical rational use of imipenem to minimize risks.After reviewing the literature published between 2003 and 2017,seven controlled trials with a total of 550 patients were included,with 273 and 277 patients in the control and experimental groups,respectively.The sample size of the study ranged from a minimum of 30 cases to a maximum of 61 cases.Patients in the experimental group were treated with imipenem while the control group was treated with conventional drugs.Meta-analysis showed that the incidence of mental disorders in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group(odds ratio=3.66,95%confidence interval:1.11-12.11,P=0.030);however,there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(odds ratio=0.05,95%confidence interval:0.00 to 0.10,P=0.060).Funnel diagrams showed that the scattered points of each study were symmetrical and distributed in an inverted funnel shape;therefore,there was no publication bias.CONCLUSION Imipenem can cause mental disorders in patients.However,the low quality of the included literature may have affected the final results.Therefore,it is necessary to conduct a high-quality randomized controlled study with multiple samples to further confirm the mechanism of imipenem-induced mental disorders and provide effective guidance for clinical treatment.

Determining future high speed rail review topics through bibliometric analysis

As High Speed Rail(HSR)has proliferated globally,so has a related research field dedicated to exploring and addressing its unique issues.Yet,studies to understand and classify the HSR research domain are limited.This paper addresses the gap,using bibliometric analysis to identify future research areas and 20 candidate topics for literature review based on keyword analysis through VOSviewer.Article and review papers related to HSR published in the last 20 years(2003-2022)were retrieved from Scopus,and then analyzed to determine the split in knowledge between languages,the collaboration between countries and institutions,highly productive and cited journals,and research topics which have and have not been reviewed.Approximately 30%of the search results were published exclusively in Chinese,highlighting the importance of extending the evaluation to cover both languages.This is a novel aspect of the work,which has enabled the recognition of potential knowledge gaps.It is recommended that future reviews incorporate works in both languages,possibly through international collaboration.Institutions in China and other countries that are strong collaborators have been identified,as well as relevant,highly cited journals.

Meta analysis of the efficacy of western medicine combined with Qiliqiangxin capsule versus western medicine alone in the treatment of chronic heart failure

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy of conventional Western medicine combined with Qiliqiangxin capsule and western medicine alone in the treatment of chronic heart failure, and to prove that Qiliqiangxin capsule combined treatment has more advantages, providing reference for clinical decision-making in the treatment of chronic heart failure. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of conventional Western medicine treatment and Western medicine combined with Qiliqiangxin capsule in the treatment of chronic heart failure were searched in databases such as PubMed, Embase, Webofscience, CNKI, WanFang, VIP, and CBM. The bias risk assessment was conducted using the RCT tool recommended by Cochrane, and then the meta-analysis was performed using RevMan5.4 and Stata17 software. Compare the efficacy evaluation of cardiac function, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), cardiac stroke output (SV), 6-minute walking test (6MWT), and N-terminal proBNP in the conventional western medicine combined with Qiliqiangxin capsule group (hereinafter referred to as the treatment group) and the conventional western medicine group (hereinafter referred to as the control group). Results: A total of 20 RCTs meeting the criteria were included, including 2953 patients, including 1508 in the treatment group and 1445 in the control group. The results of meta-analysis showed that the treatment group had significantly better cardiac function evaluation, LVEF, LVEDD, SV, 6MWT, and NT-proBNP improvement than the control group. Its central functional efficacy evaluation (OR=2.09,95% CI: 1.71-2.55, P<0.001), LVEF (WMD=7.05,95% CI: 5.30-8.79, P<0.00001), LVEDD (WMD=6.73, 95% CI: 3.18-10.29, P=0.0002), SV (WMD=6.73, 95% CI: 3.18-10.29, P=0.0002), 6MWT (SMD=0.70,95% CI: 0.54-0.87, P<0.00001), NT-proBNP (SMD=-1.95,95% CI: -2.5 2 to 1.38 (P<0.0001), with statistically significant differences. Conclusion: Conventional western medicine combined with Qiliqiangxin capsule can significantly improve the clinical efficacy of heart failure, improve LVEF, LVEDD, SV, and NT-proBNP index, and improve exercise tolerance. It is worth using for reference in the treatment.

Vericiguat treatment of heart failure: A systematic review and metaanalysis

BACKGROUND Heart failure(HF),an end-stage manifestation of various cardiac diseases,poses an enormous economic and health burden on society.Vericiguat may be an effective drug in the treatment of HF.AIM To explore by meta-analysis the efficacy and safety of Vericiguat in treating chronic heart failure.METHODS Databases,including PubMed,EMBASE,Web of Science,and Cochrane Library,were searched to collect all published randomized controlled trials(RCTs)on Vericiguat treatment of chronic heart failure from the earliest electronic records to those published in March 2023.Two investigators independently screened the literature according to inclusion and exclusion criteria,evaluated the quality of the studies,and extracted valid data before conducting a meta-analysis using RevMan5.4.RESULTS Four RCTs with 5919 patients were included,and the meta-analysis showed that treatment with 10 mg Vericiguat reduced the incidence of the primary endpoint(a composite of cardiovascular mortality and first heart-failure-related hospital-ization)in patients with chronic heart failure compared to placebo[relative risk(RR)=0.91,95%confidence interval(CI):0.85–0.98,P=0.01],and reduced the incidence of heart-failure-related hospitalization(RR=0.92,95%CI:0.84–1.00,P=0.05).However,for the incidence of cardiovascular and all-cause death,there were no significant differences between the Vericiguat and placebo groups.In addition,the two groups did not show significant differences in blood pressure,heart rate,and Kansas Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire physical limitation score.In terms of safety,10 mg Vericiguat did not increase the risk of adverse effects in patients with chronic heart failure.Vericiguat may increase the risk of symp-tomatic hypotension(RR=1.17,95%CI:0.98–1.39,P=0.08)and syncope(RR=1.18,95%CI:0.90–1.55,P=0.24),but not significantly.CONCLUSION Vericiguat(10 mg)was more effective than placebo in treating patients with chronic heart failure and had a better safety profile.

Literature Review, Meta-Analysis, and Mega-Analysis in Ecological and Agricultural Sciences

Literature review is an important component in any scientific research. In ecological and agricultural sciences, many studies have been conducted over years. With accumulation of scientific studies and published papers, it is critical to summarize and evaluate these previous research findings. Different literature review methods have been applied, including traditional qualitative literature review, quantitative meta-analysis, and more recently, mega-analysis, or meta-meta-analysis. Here we briefly describe these different approaches and draw attention to the recent development of data synthesis. Several case studies were used to illustrate the application of these methods in the ecological and agricultural sciences.

Comparison of external treatment of Acupuncture and moxibustion and intervention of Chinese and Western Medicine on postoperative pain of hemorrhoids:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of postoperative pain of hemorrhoids compared with traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine.Methods CNKI,PubMed,Cochrane Library,Science Direct,Wan Fang,VIP,CBM,WOS,Bailian Yun Library and other databases were systematically retrieved from January 1,2017 to October 31,2022 for clinical randomized controlled trials of acupuncture versus traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine for postoperative pain in hemorrhoids.The two evaluators independently retrieved,sifted through literature and extracted data for inclusion in a randomized controlled trial of acupuncture for the treatment of hemorrhoid pain that matched the study.Literature quality assessment was performed using RevMan5.4 for meta-analysis.Results A total of 540 related literature articles were retrieved,of which 139 were from CNKI,104 from Wan Fang,26 from VIP,7 from PubMed,9 from Cochrane Library,35 from WOS,173 from CMB,1 from Science Direct and 46 from the Bailian Yun Library,Screening resulted in inclusion of 10 RCTs including 870 patients.Meta analysis showed no statistically significant difference between the degree of pain in 2 hours[MD=-0.01,95%CI(-0.23,0.24),P=0.95].And it showed that the total effective rate of the two groups was[RR=1.14,95%CI(1.06,1.24),P=0.001],intervention for 2 days pain degree was[MD=0.41,95%CI(0.13,0.69),P=0.004],the length of hospital stay was[SMD=1.10,95%CI(0.73,1.48),P<0.00001],the incidence of adverse reaction was[RR=0.15,95%CI(0.03,0.79),P=0.03],the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion Drug treatment is effective quickly,analgesia effect is better than acupuncture in early treatment,but the effect is not lasting.Acupuncture treatment is slow to start but the effects of acupuncture will gradually become apparent at a later stage.However,due to the poor quality of collection,multicenter,large sample size and double-blind randomized controlled trials are still needed.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Control Trials to Check Role of Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs as Protective Factor in Alzheimer Disease Subjects

Background: Alzheimer’s disease is the major neurodegenerative disease, affecting more than two third cases of dementia in the world. NSAIDs are widely used anti-inflammatory analgesic agents representing 7.7% of worldwide prescriptions of which 90% are in patients over 65 years old. Based on mixed findings observed by different RCTs, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to develop a better understanding of the protective role of Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in AD. Methods: Database search was Pubmed, WebScience, and Embase. RCTs investigating the effect of NSAIDs on AD or test scores assessing cognitive function in people without AD at baseline were included. Three indicators were MMSE Score, ADAS-cog score, and CDR-sob. 10 studies were included in the present Meta-analysis. Results: For the ADAS-cog score, the pooled effect size was -0.31 with 95% CI -0.06 to 0.02, which was statistically significant (p = 0.03). MMSE score difference, the pooled effect size was -0.06 with 95% CI -0.22 to 0.10, which was statistically insignificant (p-value = 0.47). For the MMSE average score, the pooled effect size was -0.002 with 95% CI -0.03 to 0.07, which was statistically insignificant (p-value = 0.87). For the CDR-sob score difference, the pooled effect size calculated using the random effect model was -0.06 with 95% CI -0.39 to 0.05 which was statistically insignificant (p = 0.14). For CDR-sob average score, the pooled effect size calculated using the random effect model was 0.21 with 95% CI -0.09 to 0.51, which was statistically insignificant (p-value = 0.17). Conclusion: Present Meta-analysis shows that NSAIDs in general are not effective in the treatment of AD. They also have no protective effect against the development of AD on their sustained use.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs as Protective Factor in Alzheimer’s Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocol

Introduction: NSAIDs inhibit COX-2, which is responsible for regulating neurons leading to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease affecting the geriatric population, as it affects more than two third cases of dementia in the sphere. Results obtained from experimental and observational studies were unclear regarding the protective role of NSAIDs in AD, therefore this justifies the need for meta-analysis. Methods: Database search was PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase. Experimental studies and Observational studies investigating the effect of NSAIDs on AD. For experimental studies indicators used were MMSE score, ADAS-cog score, CDR-sob score, NPI score, and Hazard ratio. Similarly for Observational studies, Odds Ratio and Relative Risk are used. Results: As this is the study protocol, therefore it is not possible to write the results of the study in the study protocol. There is a total of 06 (MMSE, ADAS-cog, CDR-sob, HR, RR, and OR) indicators used in the study, so 06 results will be obtained showing the pooled effect size which will indicate the use of NSAIDs as a protective factor for Alzheimer’s disease. Discussion: The present systematic review will improve the understanding of the relative efficacies of NSAIDs in AD and possibly guide clinical practices by providing the current best evidence on the efficacy of various regimens of NSAIDs in the management of AD subjects. Conclusion: Conclusion can be drawn only after the final meta-analysis using three study design (RCT, Cohort and Case-control study designs) and six indicators.

Is Escalated Radiation Dose in Definitive Chemoradiotherapy Better for Inoperable Esophageal Carcinoma? A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the survival benefits between different total radiation doses in definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) for inoperable esophageal carcinoma (EC) based on modern radiotherapy techniques. Methods: A systematic review was performed by searching the databases of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Web of Science. All studies published prior to November 30, 2022, comparing radiation dose and disease-related outcomes in EC patients. The hazard ratio (HR) and odds ratio (OR) were used to describe the risk of outcomes and toxicities. Results: Seven prospective trials involving 1124EC patients were enrolled for analyses. The results revealed that the effect on overall survival (HR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.85 - 1.16, P = 0.94), local progression-free survival (HR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.58 - 1.17, P = 0.29), local regional progression-free survival (HR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.76 - 1.17, P = 0.61), progression-free survival (HR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.71 - 1.13, P = 0.35) was similar in the high-dose and standard-dose groups. Additionally, a high radiation dose exhibited a potential disadvantage in respiratory toxicities when compared with a standard dose (4.8% vs 2.2%, OR 2.11, P = 0.06). Conclusions: The efficacy of the HD group (≥60 Gy) and the SD group (approximately 50 Gy) for inoperable local advanced EC was similar. However, the HD group exhibited a high radiation dose exhibited a potential disadvantage in respiratory toxicities when compared with a standard dose. Simultaneously, the final results of several ongoing prospective trials regarding the optimal radiation dose in dCRT are awaited.

Integrating Ontology-Based Approaches with Deep Learning Models for Fine-Grained Sentiment Analysis

Although sentiment analysis is pivotal to understanding user preferences,existing models face significant challenges in handling context-dependent sentiments,sarcasm,and nuanced emotions.This study addresses these challenges by integrating ontology-based methods with deep learning models,thereby enhancing sentiment analysis accuracy in complex domains such as film reviews and restaurant feedback.The framework comprises explicit topic recognition,followed by implicit topic identification to mitigate topic interference in subsequent sentiment analysis.In the context of sentiment analysis,we develop an expanded sentiment lexicon based on domainspecific corpora by leveraging techniques such as word-frequency analysis and word embedding.Furthermore,we introduce a sentiment recognition method based on both ontology-derived sentiment features and sentiment lexicons.We evaluate the performance of our system using a dataset of 10,500 restaurant reviews,focusing on sentiment classification accuracy.The incorporation of specialized lexicons and ontology structures enables the framework to discern subtle sentiment variations and context-specific expressions,thereby improving the overall sentiment-analysis performance.Experimental results demonstrate that the integration of ontology-based methods and deep learning models significantly improves sentiment analysis accuracy.

Hot spot tracking of f lood remote sensing research over the past 22 years:abibliometric analysis using CiteSpace

Background,aim,and scope In the context of climate change,extreme precipitation and resulting f looding events are becoming increasingly severe.Remote sensing technologies are advantageous for monitoring such disasters due to their wide observation range,periodic revisit capabilities,and continuous spatial coverage.These tools enable real-time and quantitative assessment of f lood inundation.Over the past 20 years,the field of remote sensing for f loods has seen significant advancements.Understanding the evolution of research hotspots within this field can offer valuable insights for future research directions.Materials and methods This study systematically analyzes the development and hotspot evolution in the field of f lood remote sensing,both domestically and internationally during 2000—2021.Data from CNKI(China National Knowledge Infrastructure)and WOS(Web of Science)databases are utilized for this analysis.Results(1)A total of 1693 articles have been published in this field,showing a stable growth trend post-2008.Significant contributors include the Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing Normal University,Wuhan University,the Italian National Research Council,and National Aeronautics and Space Administration.(2)High-frequency keywords from 2000 to 2021 include“remote sensing”“f lood”“model”“classification”“GIS”“climate change”“area”,and“MODIS”.(3)The most prominent keywords were“GIS”(8.65),“surface water”(7.16),“remote sensing”(7.07),“machine learning”(6.52),and“sentinel-2”(5.86).(4)Thirteen cluster labels were identified through clustering,divided into three phases:2000—2009(initial exploratory stage),2010—2014(period of rapid development),and 2015—2021(steady development of remote sensing for f loods and related disasters).Discussion The field exhibits strong phase-based development,with research focuses shifting over time.From 2000 to 2009,emphasis was on remote sensing image application and f lood model development.From 2010 to 2014,the focus shifted to accurate interpretation of remote sensing images,multispectral image applications,and long time series detection.From 2015 to 2021,research concentrated on steady development,leveraging large datasets and advanced data processing techniques,including improvements in water body indices,big data fusion,deep learning,and drone monitoring.Early on,SAR data,known for its all-weather capability,was crucial for rapid f lood hazard extraction and f lood hydrological models.With the rise of high-quality optical satellites,optical remote sensing has become more prevalent,though algorithm accuracy and efficiency for water body index methods still require improvement.Conclusions Data sources and methodologies have evolved from early reliance on radar data to the current exploration of optical image fusion and multi-source data integration.Algorithms now increasingly employ deep learning,super image elements,and object-oriented methods to enhance f lood identification accuracy.Recent studies focus on spatial and temporal changes in f looding,risk identification,and early warning for climate change-related f looding,including glacial melting and lake outbursts.Recommendations and perspectives To enhance monitoring accuracy and timeliness,UAV technology should be further utilized.Strengthening multi-source data fusion and assimilation is crucial,as is analyzing long-term f lood disaster sequences to better understand their mechanisms.

A Robust Framework for Multimodal Sentiment Analysis with Noisy Labels Generated from Distributed Data Annotation

Multimodal sentiment analysis utilizes multimodal data such as text,facial expressions and voice to detect people’s attitudes.With the advent of distributed data collection and annotation,we can easily obtain and share such multimodal data.However,due to professional discrepancies among annotators and lax quality control,noisy labels might be introduced.Recent research suggests that deep neural networks(DNNs)will overfit noisy labels,leading to the poor performance of the DNNs.To address this challenging problem,we present a Multimodal Robust Meta Learning framework(MRML)for multimodal sentiment analysis to resist noisy labels and correlate distinct modalities simultaneously.Specifically,we propose a two-layer fusion net to deeply fuse different modalities and improve the quality of the multimodal data features for label correction and network training.Besides,a multiple meta-learner(label corrector)strategy is proposed to enhance the label correction approach and prevent models from overfitting to noisy labels.We conducted experiments on three popular multimodal datasets to verify the superiority of ourmethod by comparing it with four baselines.

Therapy of Rituximab in Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy with Nephrotic Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of rituximab(RTX) in the treatment of idiopathic membranous nephropathy(IMN) with nephrotic syndrome with a systematic review and meta-analysis.Methods Pub Med, Embase, Cochrane Library and Clinical Trials(December 2016) were searched to identify researches investigating the treatment of RTX in adult patients with biopsy-proven IMN. Complete remission(CR) or partial remission was regarded as effective therapy, and the cumulated remission rate was calculated.Results Seven studies involved 120 patients(73% were men) were included in our systematic review and metaanalysis. All were prospective observation cohort studies or matched-cohort studies, mainly came from two medical centers, and one study was multi-centric(four nephrology units in northern Italy). The creatinine clearance was more than 20 ml/(min·1.73 m2) and persistent proteinuria higher than 3.5 g/d for at least 6 months. All patients received treatment previously [44(36.7%) had immunosuppressive treatment]. In 12-and 24-month, 56%(95%CI, 0.47-0.65) and 68%(95%CI, 0.41-0.87) patients could reach remission, while 15%(95%CI, 0.09-0.23) and 20%(95%CI, 0.12-0.32) patients could reach CR. The reduction in proteinuria was gradual and obvious, paralleled with upward trend of serum albumin level and decreasing serum cholesterol level. Renal functions were stable. Relapses happened in 24 months were around 8%. RTX related adverse events were mild and were mostly infusion-related reactions.Conclusions RTX treatment in IMN was efficient, well tolerated and safe. More than 60% patients can reach partial remission or CR in 24 months, and relapse is rare. Adverse events of RTX are mostly infusion-related reactions and generally mild.