bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THERMODYNAMICALLY STABLE PHASES OF THE Ag9GaSe6 – Ag8GeSe6 SYSTEM AT T<600 K AND THEIR PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
Authors: Moroz Mykola , Demchenko Pavlo , Prohorenko Myroslava , Soliak Ludmila , Prohorenko Serhii , Reshetnyak Oleksandr
Published: August 2022

The synthesis of thermodynamically stable phases of the Ag9GaSe6–Ag8GeSe6 (І) system at T<600 K were performed in the electrochemi­cal cells (ECCs): (−) С | Ag | SЕ | R(Ag+) | PЕ | С (+), where C is graphite, Ag is the left (negative) electrode, SE is the purely Ag+ ion conducting solid electrolyte (Ag2GeS3-glass), PE is the right (positive) electrode, and R(Ag+) is the region of PE that contact with SE. PEs of ECCs were prepared from finely ground non-equilibrium mixtures of the compounds (Ag9GaSe6)1–х and (Ag8GeSe6)х, х=0.05, 0.1, 0.2, … , 0.9. Shifted from the left electrode to the R(Ag+) region for thermodynamic reasons Ag+ ions acted as the nucleation centers for the equilibrium phases of the x compositions, that is as the catalysts for reconstruction of the metastable mixtures of ternary compounds.

The reproducibility of the EMF vs T dependences in the heating-cooling cycles is a result of the completion of reconstruction in the R(Ag+) region. Experimental dependences EMF vs T of ECCs with PE of mixtures of compounds indicated x, ECCs with PE of the Ag9GaSe6 and Ag8GeSe6 compounds are charac­terized by several discrete linear regions with different temperature intervals and functional dependences on temperature. The equations of the temperature dependences of the partial Gibbs energies of Ag-component in alloys for each discrete section of the specific x=0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0 were established for the first time and values of the standard partial functions  were calculated. The bypass lines drawn through the points of EMF values of the cells at T=const for arbitrarily selected temperatures 298 K, 341 K, 395 K, 445 K, and 495 K in the range 280-500 K determine the phase composition of the equilibrium T-x space of (I) as: a solid solution based on compound Ag17GaGeSe12 in the range of 0.25≤x≤0.75, solid solutions based on the compounds (Ag9GaSe6)1–х for 0≤х≤0.15 and (Ag8GeSe6)х for 0.83≤х≤1, and two two-phase sections in the ranges 0.15≤x≤0.25 and 0.73≤x≤0.77. Some parameters of the crystal structure, the values of the total and ionic components of conductivity, the transfer numbers in the range of 290–380 K, and the integral va­lues of the standard thermodynamic functions of the Ag17GaGeSe12 compound were established for the first time.
Gestión desbordada: solicitudes de asilo en Estados Unidos y los mecanismos de espera allende sus fronteras
Authors: Miranda Bruno , Silva Hernández Aída
Published: August 2022

The article analyzes the production of border waiting spaces generated by the U.S. asylum policy through the metering and the Migrant Protection Protocols. These mechanisms are understood as part of a migration management repertoire that hasturned several Latin American borders into waiting “buffer-territories.”The analysis focuses on migration contention and waiting in Tijuana, Baja California, and Central American and Haitian asylum seekers arriving at theborder from 2016. The research was carried out using a qualitative approach and specialized bibliographic review. The findings show how the two mechanisms articulate with each other and, together with the indefinite extension of waiting imposed by COVID-19, suggestsa sort of preamble to the cessation of the right of asylum in the United States.
A fatal case of culture-negative late prosthetic mitral valve endocarditis
Authors: Küçük Uğur , Alkan Sevil , Barutçu Ahmet
Published: August 2022

Prosthesis valve dehiscence is one of the most serious complications of prosthetic valves. Despite the improvements in medical and surgical treatments, prosthesis valve dehiscence has high mortality. Due to fatality rates, the early diagnosis and treatment of these patients is required. In this case report, we presented a patient with severe mitral deficiency and acute heart failure following mechanical mitral prosthesis valve dehiscence secondary to culture-negative endocarditis.
Coexistence of carbon monoxide intoxication and COVID-19
Authors: Akça Hatice Şeyma , Atik Dilek , Köse Fulya
Published: August 2022

Introduction
This case report aimed to report two patients admitted to the emergency department with a preliminary diagnosis of carbon monoxide intoxication and was diagnosed with COVID-19 during their follow-up.
Case 1
A 73-year-old female patient presented with weakness and shortness of breath complaints to the emergency department. Carboxyhemoglobin (COhgb) reached 36.2 %. Atypical pneumonic infiltration with peripheral and central patchy consolidations in the zones in hemothorax images from computerized tomography. The patient was tested positive for COVID-19 after a PCR test. The COhgb values of the patient reached 16 % after 3 h. Then, it dropped to 3.0 % after 8 h.
Case 2
A 77-year-old male patient presented with shortness of breath and nausea complaints to the emergency department. COhgb (carboxyhemoglobin) reached 30%. Emphysematous changes in the lung parenchyma and increased peribronchial densities in the lobes were shown in computed tomography. The patient was tested positive for COVID-19 after a PCR test. The COhgb values of the patient reached 13 after 3 h. It dropped to 2.4 after 8 h.
Conclusion
Carbon monoxide intoxication is a significant public health problem with a high probability of death. Detailed studies and meta-analyses are needed to affect the prognosis of COVID-19 disease.
Isolated dorsal dislocation of the 5th carpometacarpal joint; a missed injury
Authors: Aygün Ümit , Yazıcı Alikemal
Published: August 2022

Introduction: 5th carpometacarpal (CMC) joint dislocations of the wrist region are very rare and easily overlooked injuries. In this type of injury, which causes serious functional problems in the hand if not treated appropriately, closed methods are generally used in the treatment. In this study, we present a case with fracture-dislocation of the 5th CMC joint.
Case: Fracture-dislocation of the 5th CMC joint of a 25-year-old patient who was admitted to the emergency department due to wrist pain was not noticed. The diagnosis was made during the follow-up of the patient, and the joint was reduced with closed method and fixed with a K wire. No serious problems were encountered in the patient's controls.
Conclusion: Undiagnosed 5th CMC joint dislocation disrupts the transverse and longitudinal arches of the hand, so the patient has a weak and painful gripping function. Radiological findings may be unclear on anterior-posterior and lateral views, and additional images may be obtained if in doubt.
DETERMINANTS OF PREGNANCY ANEMIA IN SEWENA DISTRICT EAST BALE ZONE SOUTH EASTERN ETHIOPIA, 2021
Authors: Gebru Tilaye , Amare Afework , Tasew Alelign , Hussen Abduljewad
Published: August 2022

Background: Pregnant women's anemia is one of the most common public health issues in developing countries, including Ethiopia. According to a WHO report from 2014, anemia affects approximately 56 million pregnant women worldwide. Methods: A facility-based unmatched case-control study was used on 343 pregnant women. Data was gathered using a pre-tested structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. The strength of the association was measured using adjusted odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval, and statistical significance was declared using a P-value < 0.05. Results: Consumption of tea immediately after meal (AOR: 6.523, 95 % CI :1.314-32.377), prolonged menstrual bleeding >8 days (AOR:7.052 95 % CI:(2.107-23.608), undernutrition AOR: 0.277 95% CI :(083,920) and maternal age 20-30 years (AOR: 6.279 95 % CI :1.190-33.147) were determinants of Anemia.
Quaking but not parkin is the major tumor suppressor in 6q deleted region in glioblastoma
Authors: Aksoy Yasar Fatma Betul , Shingu Takashi , Zamler Daniel B. , Zaman Mohammad Fayyad , Chien Derek Lin , Zhang Qiang , Ren Jiangong , Hu Jian
Published: August 2022

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a high-grade, aggressive brain tumor with dismal median survival time of 15 months. Chromosome 6q (Ch6q) is a hotspot of genomic alterations, which is commonly deleted or hyper-methylated in GBM. Two neighboring genes in this region, QKI and PRKN have been appointed as tumor suppressors in GBM. While a genetically modified mouse model (GEMM) of GBM has been successfully generated with Qk deletion in the central nervous system (CNS), in vivo genetic evidence supporting the tumor suppressor function of Prkn has not been established. In the present study, we generated a mouse model with Prkn-null allele and conditional Trp53 and Pten deletions in the neural stem cells (NSCs) and compared the tumorigenicity of this model to our previous GBM model with Qk deletion within the same system. We find that Qk but not Prkn is the potent tumor suppressor in the frequently altered Ch6q region in GBM.
Pyroptosis in periodontitis: From the intricate interaction with apoptosis, NETosis, and necroptosis to the therapeutic prospects
Authors: Xu Xiaohui , Zhang Tingwei , Xia Xuyun , Yin Yuanyuan , Yang Sihan , Ai Dongqing , Qin Han , Zhou Mengjiao , Song Jinlin
Published: August 2022

Periodontitis is highly prevalent worldwide. It is characterized by periodontal attachment and alveolar bone destruction, which not only leads to tooth loss but also results in the exacerbation of systematic diseases. As such, periodontitis has a significant negative impact on the daily lives of patients. Detailed exploration of the molecular mechanisms underlying the physiopathology of periodontitis may contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies for periodontitis and the associated systematic diseases. Pyroptosis, as one of the inflammatory programmed cell death pathways, is implicated in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Progress in the field of pyroptosis has greatly enhanced our understanding of its role in inflammatory diseases. This review first summarizes the mechanisms underlying the activation of pyroptosis in periodontitis and the pathological role of pyroptosis in the progression of periodontitis. Then, the crosstalk between pyroptosis with apoptosis, necroptosis, and NETosis in periodontitis is discussed. Moreover, pyroptosis, as a novel link that connects periodontitis with systemic disease, is also reviewed. Finally, the current challenges associated with pyroptosis as a potential therapeutic target for periodontitis are highlighted.
Efficacy and safety of hybutimibe in combination with atorvastatin for treatment of hypercholesteremia among patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk equivalent: A multicenter, randomized, double-blinded phase III study
Authors: Qi Litong , Chen Jiyan , Li Xiaodong , Qi Xiaoyong , Ding Chunhua , Chen Xiaoping , Gu Xiang , Xiao Wenliang , Zhao Shuiping , Dong Yugang , Zheng Mingqi , Huang Kai , Tang Liangqiu , Guo Xiaomei , Wang Fang , Fu Guosheng , Li Junxia , Huo Yong
Published: August 2022

Background

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of hybutimibe plus atorvastatin for lipid control in hypercholesterolemia patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk equivalent.

Methods

In this double-blind phase III study, we 1:1 randomly assigned 255 hypercholesterolemia patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease to receive hybutimibe plus atorvastatin or placebo plus atorvastatin. The primary endpoint was the rate of change of plasma low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) level at 12 weeks from baseline. The secondary endpoints were plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), non-HDL-C, apoprotein (Apo) B, and 2-, 4-, 8-, and 12-week Apo A1 levels change rate and rates of change of plasma LDL-C levels at 2, 4, and 8 weeks from baseline.

Results

From April 2016 to January 2018, 128 in the hybutimibe plus atorvastatin group and 125 in the atorvastatin group were included in modified intention-to-treat (mITT) analysis. After 12 weeks of treatment, LDL-C level changed from 2.61 mmol/L (±0.30) at baseline to 2.18 mmol/L (±0.45) in the hybutimibe plus atorvastatin group and from 2.58 (±0.31) mmol/L to 2.40 (± 0.46) mmol/L in the atorvastatin group (P < 0.0001), in mITT. The change rate in the hybutimibe plus atorvastatin group was significantly higher than that in the atorvastatin group (P < 0.0001); the estimated mean rates of change were −16.39 (95% confidence interval: −19.04, −13.74) and −6.75 (−9.48, −4.02), respectively. Consistently, in per-protocol set (PPS) analysis, the rate of change of LDL-C in the hybutimibe plus atorvastatin group was significantly higher than that in atorvastatin group. Significant decreases in the change rates of non-HDL-C, TC, and Apo B at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks (all P < 0.05) were observed for hybutimibe plus atorvastatin, while the differences were not significant for HDL-C, TG, and Apo-A1 (all P > 0.05). During the study period, no additional side effects were reported.

Conclusions

Hybutimibe combined with atorvastatin resulted in significant improvements in LDL-C, non-HDL-C, TC, and Apo B compared with atorvastatin alone. The safety and tolerability were also acceptable, although additional benefits of hybutimibe plus atorvastatin were not observed compared with atorvastatin alone in HDL-C, TG, and Apo-A1.
Left ventricular ejection fraction and cardiac biomarkers for dynamic prediction of cardiotoxicity in early breast cancer
Authors: Posch Florian , Niedrist Tobias , Glantschnig Theresa , Firla Saskia , Moik Florian , Kolesnik Ewald , Wallner Markus , Verheyen Nicolas , Jost Philipp J. , Zirlik Andreas , Pichler Martin , Balic Marija , Rainer Peter P.
Published: August 2022

Background/Purpose

This study aims to quantify the utility of monitoring LVEF, hs-cTnT, and NT-proBNP for dynamic cardiotoxicity risk assessment in women with HER2+ early breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant/adjuvant trastuzumab-based therapy.

Materials and methods

We used joint models of longitudinal and time-to-event data to analyze 1,136 echocardiography reports and 326 hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP measurements from 185 women. Cardiotoxicity was defined as a 10% decline in LVEF below 50% and/or clinically overt heart failure.

Results

Median pre-treatment LVEF was 64%, and 19 patients (10%) experienced cardiotoxicity (asymptomatic n = 12, during treatment n = 19). The pre-treatment LVEF strongly predicted for cardiotoxicity (subdistribution hazard ratio per 5% increase in pre-treatment LVEF = 0.68, 95%CI: 0.48–0.95, p = 0.026). In contrast, pre-treatment hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP were not consistently associated with cardiotoxicity. During treatment, the longitudinal LVEF trajectory dynamically identified women at high risk of developing cardiotoxicity (hazard ratio per 5% LVEF increase at any time of follow-up = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.2–0.65, p = 0.005). Thirty-four patients (18%) developed an LVEF decline ≥ 5% from pre-treatment to first follow-up (“early LVEF decline”). One-year cardiotoxicity risk was 6.8% in those without early LVEF decline and pre-treatment LVEF ≥ 60% (n = 117), 15.9% in those with early LVEF decline or pre-treatment LVEF < 60% (n = 65), and 66.7% in those with early LVEF decline and pre-treatment LVEF < 60% (n = 3), (Gray’s test p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Cardiotoxicity risk is low in two thirds of women with HER2+ early breast cancer who have pre-treatment LVEF ≥ 60% and no early LVEF decline > 5% during trastuzumab-based therapy. The longitudinal LVEF trajectory but not hs-cTnT or NT-proBNP allows for a dynamic assessment of cardiotoxicity risk in this setting.
Computational approaches to alleviate alarm fatigue in intensive care medicine: A systematic literature review
Authors: Chromik Jonas , Klopfenstein Sophie Anne Ines , Pfitzner Bjarne , Sinno Zeena-Carola , Arnrich Bert , Balzer Felix , Poncette Akira-Sebastian
Published: August 2022

Patient monitoring technology has been used to guide therapy and alert staff when a vital sign leaves a predefined range in the intensive care unit (ICU) for decades. However, large amounts of technically false or clinically irrelevant alarms provoke alarm fatigue in staff leading to desensitisation towards critical alarms. With this systematic review, we are following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) checklist in order to summarise scientific efforts that aimed to develop IT systems to reduce alarm fatigue in ICUs. 69 peer-reviewed publications were included. The majority of publications targeted the avoidance of technically false alarms, while the remainder focused on prediction of patient deterioration or alarm presentation. The investigated alarm types were mostly associated with heart rate or arrhythmia, followed by arterial blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and respiratory rate. Most publications focused on the development of software solutions, some on wearables, smartphones, or headmounted displays for delivering alarms to staff. The most commonly used statistical models were tree-based. In conclusion, we found strong evidence that alarm fatigue can be alleviated by IT-based solutions. However, future efforts should focus more on the avoidance of clinically non-actionable alarms which could be accelerated by improving the data availability.

Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021233461, identifier: CRD42021233461.
Audiovisual narrative, re-enactment, and historical education: Hospitals in the Spanish Civil War
Authors: Hernàndez-Cardona Francesc Xavier , Feliu-Torruella Maria , Sospedra-Roca Rafael , Boj-Cullell Isabel
Published: August 2022

The audiovisual narrative is a widely used resource in the presentation of diverse historical content. Historical recreation, thanks to its ability to generate images of the past, when combined with the use of emerging digital technologies (CGI, computer-generated imagery), allows optimization of audiovisual narratives that present images and contexts of the past and its heritage. From a perspective of promoting historical thought, high school and higher education students can take part in initiatives of historical recreation (in the key to service learning). This process allows its incorporation into the production of educational history products, which can be reapplied in formal and non-formal teaching–learning spaces. The experience developed by the DIDPATRI group (Heritage Didactics) of the University of Barcelona (2017–2021), based on projects set in the health problems of the Spanish Civil War, has generated guidelines for the development of a digital audiovisual narrative of didactic character based on activities of historical recreation and service learning in contexts of public history and archeology.
Potential cellular endocrinology mechanisms underlying the effects of Chinese herbal medicine therapy on asthma
Authors: Meng Zeyu , Chen Huize , Deng Chujun , Meng Shengxi
Published: August 2022

Asthma is a complex syndrome with polygenetic tendency and multiple phenotypes, which has variable expiratory airflow limitation and respiratory symptoms that vary over time and in intensity. In recent years, continuous industrial development has seriously impacted the climate and air quality at a global scale. It has been verified that climate change can induce asthma in predisposed individuals and that atmospheric pollution can exacerbate asthma severity. At present, a subset of patients is resistant to the drug therapy for asthma. Hence, it is urgent to find new ideas for asthma prevention and treatment. In this review, we discuss the prescription, composition, formulation, and mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine monomer, traditional Chinese medicine monomer complex, single herbs, and traditional Chinese patent medicine in the treatment of asthma. We also discuss the effects of Chinese herbal medicine on asthma from the perspective of cellular endocrinology in the past decade, emphasizing on the roles as intracellular and extracellular messengers of three substances—hormones, substances secreted by pulmonary neuroendocrine cells, and neuroendocrine-related signaling protein—which provide the theoretical basis for clinical application and new drug development.
Evolution trend and promotion potential of environmental efficiency of dairy farming in china from the perspective of “club convergence”
Authors: Xu Jiabin , Wang Jingjing , Wang Hongye , Li Cuixia
Published: August 2022

There are differences in resource endowments, environmental regulations, and production functional areas among different regions in China, which makes dairy farming have certain heterogeneity and imbalance in pollution control, which is mainly reflected in the differences in the environmental efficiency of dairy farming among regions. By analyzing the convergence trend of the dairy farming environment in different regions and scales, it is helpful to predict the potential of improving environmental efficiency, and promote the high-quality development of dairy farming. Based on the dairy farming data of 27 provinces (cities and districts) in China from 2004 to 2019, the SBM model of unexpected output was used to measure the environmental efficiency of dairy farming on different scales. It was found that there were certain differences in the environmental efficiency of dairy farming in China. The overall environmental efficiency of dairy farming showed a “U" evolution trend, including small-scale, medium-scale, and large-scale. The average values of their environmental efficiency were 0.6859, 0.6930, and 0.6855 respectively, and the environmental efficiency of medium-scale dairy farming was the best. The convergence analysis of environmental efficiency showed that there was a conflict between the traditional σ convergence and β convergence results. However, the club convergence showed that the environmental efficiency of small-scale dairy farming converged in general, which could be further divided into two club convergence. The environmental efficiency of medium-scale and large-scale dairy farming did not converge in general but did converge in four different clubs, respectively. Taking the highest environmental efficiency value in the “club” as the reference, the potential to improve the environmental efficiency of dairy farming in different sizes was calculated. The prediction results showed that the gap between the actual value and the potential value was narrowing. It is expected that the potential to improve the environmental efficiency of dairy farming in China will remain above 10% in the next 10–20 years. Based on the above studies, this paper put forward some policy suggestions, such as changing the development direction of dairy farming, changing scale expansion to structural upgrading, implementing differentiated environmental efficiency improvement strategies, narrowing the efficiency gap between regions, paying attention to the input-output structure of factors, and improving the efficiency of breeding environment from the perspective of “eating” and " emission ".
Increasing the risk of severe wildfires in San Dimas, Durango, Mexico caused by fire suppression in the last 60 years
Authors: Cerano-Paredes Julián , Iniguez Jose M. , González-Castañeda José L. , Cervantes-Martínez Rosalinda , Cambrón-Sandoval Víctor H. , Esquivel-Arriaga Gerardo , Nájera-Luna Juan A.
Published: August 2022

To sustainably manage forests, it is important to understand the historical fire regimes including the severity, frequency, seasonal timing of fires as well as the relationship between climate and fire in order to develop management plans that mimic and/or complements the natural disturbance pattern. The objectives of this study were to reconstruct the natural fire regime within aPinus lumholtziisite in order to understand the fire regimes within this forest type as well as adjacent high timber value mixed-pine forests where historical fire regimes are not available due to past timber harvesting activities. Using 36 fire-scarred trees, we reconstructed the historical fire regimes in San Dimas, Durango, México for the last 238 years. We found a pattern of frequent fires but an absence of fire since 1962, with most fires (98%) being recorded in the spring season. The lack of fire for over six decades within these historically frequent fire forests could result in high fuel accumulation. Such conditions in combination with increasing temperatures and aridity in the region could increase the risk of high severity wildfires that could jeopardize the sustainability of these forests and the human communities that these forests support.
“I was forced into it”: The continued violation of widows from the Luo community of Kenya through sexual cleansing rituals
Authors: Munala Leso , Mwangi Esther , Harris Margaret , Okunna Nene , Yewhalawork Bethlehem , Ong'ombe Maureen
Published: August 2022

Sexual cleansing is part of the social transition process for widows to become eligible to remarry after the death of her husband. This ritual is conducted to cleanse the widow of evil spirits resulting from the death of her husband. This qualitative study explored the sexual cleansing ritual in the Luo community in southwest Kenya. This paper aims to examine the widows' perceptions of the social constructs surrounding the practice of the sexual cleansing ritual that maintains its continued existence in this community. Twenty-seven face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with widows who had undergone sexually cleansing. Data was analyzed using conventional content analysis. Three main themes emerged in the exploration of the social construction of the sexual cleansing ritual of widows. The findings therein highlight the precarious situation of widows and the need for social support services for women who have been sexually cleansed.
CDKN2A-mediated molecular subtypes characterize the hallmarks of tumor microenvironment and guide precision medicine in triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Cheng Tianyi , Wu Yingyi , Liu Zhiyu , Yu Yi , Sun Shixue , Guo Min , Sun Baoqing , Huang Chen
Published: August 2022

Currently, breast cancer (BRCA) has become the most common cancer in the world, whose pathological mechanism is complex. Among its subtypes, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has the worst prognosis. With the increasing number of diagnosed TNBC patients, the urgent need of novel biomarkers is also rising. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A) has recently emerged as a key regulator associated with ferroptosis and cuproptosis (FAC) and has exhibited a significant effect on BRCA, but its detailed mechanism remains elusive. Herein, we conducted the first converge comprehensive landscape analysis of FAC-related gene CDKN2A in BRCA and disclosed its prognostic value in BRCA. Then, an unsupervised cluster analysis based on CDKN2A-correlated genes unveiled three subtypes, namely cold-immune subtype, IFN-γ activated subtype and FTL-dominant subtype. Subsequent analyses depicting hallmarks of tumor microenvironment (TME) among three subtypes suggested strong association between TNBC and CDKN2A. Given the fact that the most clinically heterogeneous TNBC always displayed the most severe outcomes and lacked relevant drug targets, we further explored the potential of immunotherapy for TNBC by interfering CDKN2A and constructed the CDKN2A-derived prognostic model for TNBC patients by Lasso-Cox. The 21-gene–based prognostic model showed high accuracy and was verified in external independent validation cohort. Moreover, we proposed three drugs for TNBC patients based on our model via targeting epidermal growth factor receptor. In summary, our study indicated the potential of CDKN2A as a pioneering prognostic predictor for TNBC and provided a rationale of immunotherapy for TNBC, and offered fresh perspectives and orientations for cancer treatment via inducing ferroptosis and cuproptosis to develop novel anti-cancer treatment strategies.
SIRGs score may be a predictor of prognosis and immunotherapy response for esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma
Authors: OuYang Li-Ying , Deng Zi-Jian , You Yu-Feng , Fang Jia-Ming , Chen Xi-Jie , Liu Jun-Jie , Li Xian-Zhe , Lian Lei , Chen Shi
Published: August 2022

Background

Esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma (EGJA) is a special malignant tumor with unknown biological behavior. PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors have been recommended as first-line treatment for advanced EGJA patients. However, the biomarkers for predicting immunotherapy response remain controversial.

Methods

We identified stromal immune-related genes (SIRGs) by ESTIMATE from the TCGA-EGJA dataset and constructed a signature score. In addition, survival analysis was performed in both the TCGA cohort and GEO cohort. Subsequently, we explored the differences in tumor-infiltrating immune cells, immune subtypes, immune-related functions, tumor mutation burden (TMB), immune checkpoint gene expression, immunophenoscore (IPS) between the high SIRGs score and low SIRGs score groups. Finally, two validation cohorts of patients who had accepted immunotherapy was used to verify the value of SIRGs score in predicting immunotherapy response.

Results

Eight of the SIRGs were selected by LASSO regression to construct a signature score (SIRGs score). Univariate and multivariate analyses in the TCGA and GEO cohort suggested that SIRGs score was an independent risk factor for the overall survival (OS) and it could increase the accuracy of clinical prediction models for survival. However, in the high SIRGs score group, patients had more immune cell infiltration, more active immune-related functions, higher immune checkpoint gene expression and higher IPS-PD1 and IPS-PD1-CTLA4 scores, which indicate a better response to immunotherapy. The external validation illustrated that high SIRGs score was significantly associated with immunotherapy response and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can improve OS in patients with high SIRGs score.

Conclusion

The SIRGs score may be a predictor of the prognosis and immune-therapy response for esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma.
The usefulness of liquid-based cytology for endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition of solid pancreatic masses
Authors: Itonaga Masahiro , Ashida Reiko , Kitano Masayuki
Published: August 2022

Liquid-based cytology (LBC) is used primarily for cervical cytology, although it is also used for analyzing liquid samples such as urine and ascites specimens, as well as fine needle aspiration material, such as those obtained from breast and thyroid. The usefulness of the LBC method for endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) of solid pancreatic masses was recently reported. The LBC method can produce multiple pathological slides and can be applied to immunocytochemistry and genetic analyses. In this article, we review the usefulness of LBC for EUS-TA of solid pancreatic masses.
Complete genome sequencing of a Tequintavirus bacteriophage with a broad host range against Salmonella Abortus equi isolates from donkeys
Authors: Liu Wenhua , Han Letian , Song Peng , Sun Huzhi , Zhang Can , Zou Ling , Cui Jiaqi , Pan Qiang , Ren Huiying
Published: August 2022

Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar abortus equi (S. Abortus equi) is the most common cause of abortion in mares. It has recently been found to cause abortion in donkeys more frequently in China. A novel virulent bacteriophage vB_SabS_Sds2 (hereafter designated as Sds2) was isolated from the feces of donkeys using a S. Abortus equi strain as a host. Phage Sds2 had an isometric polyhedral head and an uncontracted long tail, belonging to the Tequintavirus, Markadamsvirinae, Demerecviridae, Caudovirales. The genome of phage Sds2 was 114,770 bp, with a GC content of 40.26%. The genome contained 160 open reading frames (ORFs), and no ORFs were associated with pathogenicity, drug resistance, or lysogenization by sequence analysis. Both genome annotation and phylogenetic analysis indicated that phage Sds2 was highly similar to T5-like bacteriophages. Phage Sds2 could lyse 100% (30/30) of S. Abortus equi strains, 25.3% (24/95) of other serotypes of Salmonella strains, and 27.6% (8/29) of Escherichia coli strains using the double-layer agar plate method. The in vitro test showed that phage Sds2 had high bactericidal activity against S. Abortus equi at a wide range of MOIs. The in vivo test indicated that phage Sds2 had an inhibitory effect on abortion in mice challenged with S. Abortus equi. In general, phage Sds2 is a novel lytic phage with a wide host range and has the potential to prevent abortion caused by S. Abortus equi.
Construction of a redox-related gene signature for overall survival prediction and immune infiltration in non-small-cell lung cancer
Authors: Miao Ti-wei , Yang De-qing , Gao Li-juan , Yin Jie , Zhu Qi , Liu Jie , He Yan-qiu , Chen Xin
Published: August 2022

Background: An imbalance in the redox homeostasis has been reported in multiple cancers and is associated with a poor prognosis of disease. However, the prognostic value of redox-related genes in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear.

Methods: RNA sequencing data, DNA methylation data, mutation, and clinical data of NSCLC patients were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases. Redox-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were used to construct the prognostic signature using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis. Kaplan–Meier survival curve and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were applied to validate the accuracy of the gene signature. Nomogram and calibration plots of the nomogram were constructed to predict prognosis. Pathway analysis was performed using gene set enrichment analysis. The correlations of risk score with tumor stage, immune infiltration, DNA methylation, tumor mutation burden (TMB), and chemotherapy sensitivity were evaluated. The prognostic signature was validated using GSE31210, GSE26939, and GSE68465 datasets. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to validate dysregulated genes in NSCLC.

Results: A prognostic signature was constructed using the LASSO regression analysis and was represented as a risk score. The high-risk group was significantly correlated with worse overall survival (OS) (p < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) at the 5-year stage was 0.657. The risk score was precisely correlated with the tumor stage and was an independent prognostic factor for NSCLC. The constructed nomogram accurately predicted the OS of patients after 1-, 3-, and 5-year periods. DNA replication, cell cycle, and ECM receptor interaction were the main pathways enriched in the high-risk group. In addition, the high-risk score was correlated with higher TMB, lower methylation levels, increased infiltrating macrophages, activated memory CD4+ T cells, and a higher sensitivity to chemotherapy. The signature was validated in GSE31210, GSE26939, and GSE68465 datasets. Real-time PCR validated dysregulated mRNA expression levels in NSCLC.

Conclusions: A prognostic redox-related gene signature was successfully established in NSCLC, with potential applications in the clinical setting.
X-ray perception: Animal studies of sensory and behavioral responses to X-rays
Authors: Mantraratnam Vaishnavi , Bonnet Jorge , Rowe Caleb , Janko Daniel , Bolding Mark
Published: August 2022

Since their discovery in 1895, many studies have been conducted to understand the effect of X-rays on neural function and behavior in animals. These studies examined a range of acute and chronic effects, and a subset of studies has attempted to determine if X-rays can produce any sensory responses. Here we review literature on animal behavioral responses to X-rays from 1895 until 2021 to assess the evidence for detection of X-rays by sensory receptors in animals. We focus on the changes in appetitive and consummatory behavior, radiotaxis, behavioral arousal, and olfactory responses to X-rays that have been reported in the literature. Taken together, the reviewed literature provides a large body of evidence that X-rays can induce sensory responses in a wide variety of animals and also suggests that these responses are mediated by known sensory receptors. Furthermore, we postulate the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the most biologically active byproduct of X-rays, as a key mediator of sensory receptor responses to X-rays.
An EEG study of human trust in autonomous vehicles based on graphic theoretical analysis
Authors: Xu Tao , Dragomir Andrei , Liu Xucheng , Yin Haojun , Wan Feng , Bezerianos Anastasios , Wang Hongtao
Published: August 2022

With the development of autonomous vehicle technology, human-centered transport research will likely shift to the interaction between humans and vehicles. This study focuses on the human trust variation in autonomous vehicles (AVs) as the technology becomes increasingly intelligent. This study uses electroencephalogram data to analyze human trust in AVs during simulated driving conditions. Two driving conditions, the semi-autonomous and the autonomous, which correspond to the two highest levels of automatic driving, are used for the simulation, accompanied by various driving and car conditions. The graph theoretical analysis (GTA) is the primary method for data analysis. In semi-autonomous driving mode, the local efficiency and cluster coefficient are lower in car-normal conditions than in car-malfunction conditions with the car approaching. This finding suggests that the human brain has a strong information processing ability while facing predictable potential hazards. However, when it comes to a traffic light with a car malfunctioning under the semi-autonomous driving mode, the characteristic path length is higher for the car malfunction manifesting a weak information processing ability while facing unpredictable potential hazards. Furthermore, in fully automatic driving conditions, participants cannot do anything and need low-level brain function to take emergency actions as lower local efficiency and small worldness for car malfunction. Our results shed light on the design of the human-machine interaction and human factor engineering on the high level of an autonomous vehicle.
Clustered event related spectral perturbation (ERSP) feature in right hand motor imagery classification
Authors: Zhang Zhongjie , Koike Yasuharu
Published: August 2022

A technology that allows humans to interact with machines more directly and efficiently would be desirable. Research on brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) provides the possibility for computers to understand human thoughts in a straightforward manner thereby facilitating communication. As a branch of BCI research, motor imagery (MI) techniques analyze the brain signals and help people in many aspects such as rehabilitation, clinical applications, entertainment, and system controlling. In this study, an imagery experiment consisting of four kinds of right-hand movements (gripping, opening, pronation, and supination) was designed. Then a novel feature, namely, clustered feature was proposed based on the event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP) calculated from the EEG signal. Based on the selected features, two classical classifiers (support vector machine and linear discriminant classifier) were trained, achieving an acceptable accurate result (80%, on average).
Alterations of brain activity in multiple system atrophy patients with freezing of gait: A resting-state fMRI study
Authors: Cheng Yilin , Yang Huaguang , Liu Weiyin Vivian , Wen Zhi , Chen Jun
Published: August 2022

Background

Freezing of gait (FOG) in multiple system atrophy (MSA) is characterized by a higher risk of falls and a reduced quality of life; however, the mechanisms underlying these effects have yet to be identified by neuroimaging. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in functional network when compared between MSA patients with and without freezing.

Methods

Degree centrality (DC) based on the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was computed in 65 patients with MSA and 36 healthy controls. Brain regions with statistically different DC values between groups were selected as seed points for a second seed-based functional connectivity (FC) analysis. The relationships between brain activity (DC and FC alterations) and the severity of freezing symptoms were then investigated in the two groups of patients with MSA.

Results

Compared to MSA patients without FOG symptoms (MSA-nFOG), patients with MSA-FOG showed an increased DC in the left middle temporal gyrus but a reduced DC in the right superior pole temporal gyrus, left anterior cingulum cortex, left thalamus, and right middle frontal gyrus. Furthermore, in patients with MSA-FOG, the DC in the left thalamus was negatively correlated with FOG scores. Using the left thalamus as a seed, secondary seed-based functional connectivity analysis revealed that patients with MSA-FOG commonly showed the left thalamus-based FC abnormalities in regions related to cognition and emotion. In contrast to the patients with MSA-nFOG, patients with MSA-FOG showed an increased FC between the left thalamus and the left middle temporal gyrus (MTG), right inferior parietal lobule (IPL), bilateral cerebellum_8, and left precuneus.

Conclusion

Freezing of gait is associated with centrality of the impaired thalamus network. Abnormal FC between the thalamus and left MTG, right IPL, bilateral cerebellum_8, and left precuneus was involved in FOG. These results provide new insight into the pathophysiological mechanism of FOG in MSA.
Analysis of prognosis and treatment decisions for patients with second primary lung cancer following esophageal cancer
Authors: Li Jin-luan , Li Hui , Wu Qian , Zhou Han , Li Yi , Li Yong-heng , Li Jiancheng
Published: August 2022

Introduction

As the long-term prognosis of esophageal cancer (EC) is improving, concerns of a second primary malignancy (SPM) have increased. However, research on lung cancer as the SPM after EC is limited. Therefore, we aimed to explore the prognostic factors and clinical treatment decisions of patients with second primary lung cancer following esophageal cancer (SPLC-EC).

Materials and methods

We identified the data of 715 patients with SPLC-EC from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database during 1975 to 2016. We established a nomogram through Cox regression modelling to predict the prognosis of patients with SPLC-EC. We determined the association between factors and cancer-specific mortality using the Fine-Gray competing risk model. Then, we performed survival analysis to evaluate the benefits of different treatment methods for overall survival (OS).

Results

The multivariate analysis indicated that sex, insurance recode, age, surgery and chemotherapy 0for first primary malignancy (FPM), primary site, stage, and surgery for SPM were independent prognostic factors for OS. Using concordance indices for OS, the nomogram of our cohort showed a higher value than the SEER historic-stage nomogram (0.8805 versus 0.7370). The Fine-Gray competing risk model indicated that surgery for FPM and SPM was the independent prognostic factor for EC-specific mortality (P=0.016, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.532) and LC-specific mortality (p=0.016, HR=0.457), respectively (p<0.001). Compared to the patient group having distant metastasis, patients with localized and regional metastasis benefitted from undergoing surgery for SPM (P<0.001, P<0.001, respectively). For patients without surgery for SPM, radiotherapy (P<0.001) and chemotherapy (P<0.001) could improve OS.

Conclusions

Surgery remains the mainstay for managing SPLC-EC, especially for localized and regional tumors. However, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are recommended for patients who cannot undergo surgery. These findings can have implications in the treatment decision-making for patients with SPLC-EC.
Expression and clinical significance of Cathepsin K and MMPs in invasive non-functioning pituitary adenomas
Authors: Liu Hongyan , Zhang Saichun , Wu Ting , Lv Zhaohui , Ba Jianming , Gu Weijun , Mu Yiming
Published: August 2022

Background

Cathepsin K (CTSK) is a protease that degrades type I collagen and extracellular matrix, thereby contributing to bone resorption and tumor invasion. Some pituitary adenomas (PAs) could invade the sphenoid sinus (SS) and cavernous sinus (CS).

Purpose

This retrospective cohort study aimed to study the expression of tumoral biomarkers (CTSK, MMP9, MMP2, TIMP2, and PTTG1) and evaluate their clinical significance in non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) with different invasion patterns.

Methods

We assessed the expression levels of candidate invasion-specific protein biomarkers CTSK, MMP9, MMP2, TIMP2, and PTTG1 by immunohistochemical staining in paraffin-embedded NFPA tumor tissues. Variations in staining intensity were analyzed in cases with SS and CS invasion and non-invasive NFPAs.

Results

We found that the levels of CTSK were higher in PA cases with SS invasion than that in PA cases with CS invasion (95.57 ± 31.57 vs. 65.29 ± 29.64, P < 0.001), and the expression of MMP9 and MMP2 was higher in CS-invasive cases than that in SS-invasive cases (145.02 ± 49.25 vs. 111.80 ± 51.37, P = 0.002, and 138.67 ± 52.06 vs. 108.30 ± 41.70, P = 0.002). Multiple Cox regression demonstrated that higher CTSK expression (P=0.011), subtotal resection (P<0.001), invasion (P=0.037), and larger tumor diameter (P=0.001) were independent risk factors for recurrence. A positive correlation was observed between CTSK expression and tumor size (r=0.671, p<0.001). There was no significant difference in TIMP2 and PTTG1 levels between CS-and SS-invasive cases (97.42± 39.80 vs. 102.10± 43.22, P = 0.58 and 13.89 ± 4.59 vs. 12.56 ± 3.96, P = 0.14).

Conclusion

Our data indicated that CTSK has the potential as a marker for SS invasion of PAs, whereas MMP9 and MMP2 may be markers for CS invasion. And CTSK may play an important role in tumor relapse.
Primary erythromelalgia mainly manifested by hypertensive crisis: A case report and literature review
Authors: Feng Shuo , He Zhanwen , Que Liping , Luo Xiangyang , Liang Liyang , Li Dongfang , Qin Lijun
Published: August 2022

Background

Primary erythrocytic (PEM) is a rare autosomal dominant single gene disease. Most of the changes of gene loci can be found by whole exon gene sequencing, and the clinical symptoms and patient survival can be improved by specific site-to-site drug treatment. The other manifestations of this patient population are not remarkable. After the application of common drugs, the toxicity and side effects can be limiting. In addition to other common clinical manifestations, we found that the only unique manifestation of this patient was hypertensive crisis. Following multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment (MDT), we decided to first control hypertension to alleviate the acute and critical patients. However, after controlling the hypertensive crisis, we unexpectedly found that the clinical symptoms of the patients had been significantly improved. Therefore, we concluded that the use of antihypertensive drugs can treat erythematous limb pain with the clinical manifestation of hypertensive crisis. Here, we describe a typical PEM disease, primary clinical features, diagnosis and treatment.

Methods

Medical records of an 8-year-old boy with PEM were analyzed retrospectively, which included clinical characteristics, follow-up information, and SCN9A (Sodium Voltage-Gated Channel Alpha Subunit 9) gene analysis.

Results

The 8-year-old boy had complained of abnormal paresthesia in his feet and ankles with burning sensation and pain for 2 years. The skin of both lower legs was red and underwent ichthyosis and lichenification. Genetic analysis confirmed the existence of a SCN9A gene mutation. The symptoms were gradually improved by treating with intravenous drip and oral administration of nitroglycerin to slow his heart rhythm.

Conclusion

Primary erythrocytic is characterized by skin ulceration, redness, elevated temperature, and severe burning pain primarily in both lower extremities. PEM can be diagnosed by genetic analysis. As this case demonstrates, treating with nitroglycerin as the drug of choice to control the hypertensive crisis significantly improved the symptoms of PEM and hypertension in this patient.