bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Grower perceptions and adoption of IPM and non-Bt refuge in field corn: a survey in North and South Carolina
Authors: Bryant Tim B , Greene Jeremy K , Reisig Dominic , Reay-Jones Francis P F
Published: January 2024

Production of field corn in the southeastern United States is often impacted by a number of insect pests. However, surveys to assess stakeholder perception of the relative importance of insect pests and adopted management decisions for these pests have not been extensively reported in the region. A survey was conducted in North and South Carolina to address deficiencies in our knowledge about how corn producers perceive insect pests, implement management and insect resistance strategies, and understand and implement integrated pest management (IPM). The survey indicated that stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), were the most commonly managed insect pests in field corn. For transgenic corn expressing insecticidal toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) (Berliner), the rate of resistance management (i.e., planting of non-Bt corn refuge) implemented (59%) by growers was higher than previously reported. The majority of grower respondents identified ear development as the most critical corn growth stage for managing stink bugs (52%), with the most commonly reported management strategy being applications of insecticide at the economic threshold. Growers also reported understanding the concepts of IPM and implementing it in field corn. Assessing the adoption of preventative approaches, such as Bt corn and insecticide seed treatments, and strategies to manage insect resistance, in the case of Bt corn in particular, is critical for tailoring research and Extension efforts to protect the durability of these management tactics.
Social media as a tool to understand the distribution and ecology of elusive mammals
Authors: Phakoago Makabudi V , Maloney Shane K , Kamerman Peter R , Meyer Leith C R , Weyer Nora M , Fuller Andrea
Published: January 2024

Comparatively little is known about the distribution and ecology of Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) and Temminck’s Ground Pangolin (Smutsia temminckii). Both are elusive species that are normally nocturnal, solitary, and fossorial. Formally collected records have been used to map the distribution of these species, and social media records provide a tool to gather information on their distribution and ecology. We obtained 680 photographs and videos of aardvarks and 790 of ground pangolins in southern Africa from publicly available posts on Facebook and Instagram (2010–2019). The images provide new insights into the distribution, activity, drinking, and predation—and confirm that aardvarks are more diurnally active when they are in poor body condition. Social media can provide useful supplementary information for understanding of elusive mammals. These “soft” data can be applied to other species.
Whole-brain traumatic controlled cortical impact to the left frontal lobe: Magnetic resonance image-based texture analysis
Authors: Alanezi Saleh T , Almutairi Waleed M , Cronin Michelle , Gobbo Oliviero , O’Mara Shane M , Sheppard Declan , O’Connor William T , Gilchrist Michael D , Kleefeld Christoph , Colgan Niall
Published: January 2024

This research assesses the capability of texture analysis (TA) derived from high-resolution (HR) T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging to identify primary sequelae following 1–5 hours of controlled cortical impact mild or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) to the left frontal cortex (focal impact) and secondary (diffuse) sequelae in the right frontal cortex, bilateral corpus callosum, and hippocampus in rats. The TA technique comprised first-order (histogram-based) and second-order statistics (including gray-level co-occurrence matrix, gray-level run length matrix, and neighborhood gray-level difference matrix). Edema in the left frontal impact region developed within 1 hour and continued throughout the 5-hour assessments. The TA features from HR images confirmed the focal injury. There was no significant difference among radiomics features between the left and right corpus callosum or hippocampus from 1 to 5 hours following a mild or severe impact. The adjacent corpus callosum region and the distal hippocampus region (s), showed no diffuse injury 1–5 hours after mild or severe TBI. These results suggest that combining HR images with TA may enhance detection of early primary and secondary sequelae following TBI.
Conversion of the CG specific M.MpeI DNA methyltransferase into an enzyme predominantly methylating CCA and CCC sites
Authors: Albert Pál , Varga Bence , Ferenc Györgyi , Kiss Antal
Published: January 2024

We used structure guided mutagenesis and directed enzyme evolution to alter the specificity of the CG specific bacterial DNA (cytosine-5) methyltransferase M.MpeI. Methylation specificity of the M.MpeI variants was characterized by digestions with methylation sensitive restriction enzymes and by measuring incorporation of tritiated methyl groups into double-stranded oligonucleotides containing single CC, CG, CA or CT sites. Site specific mutagenesis steps designed to disrupt the specific contacts between the enzyme and the non-substrate base pair of the target sequence (5′-CG/5′-CG) yielded M.MpeI variants with varying levels of CG specific and increasing levels of CA and CC specific MTase activity. Subsequent random mutagenesis of the target recognizing domain coupled with selection for non-CG specific methylation yielded a variant, which predominantly methylates CC dinucleotides, has very low activity on CG and CA sites, and no activity on CT sites. This M.MpeI variant contains a one amino acid deletion (ΔA323) and three substitutions (N324G, R326G and E305N) in the target recognition domain. The mutant enzyme has very strong preference for A and C in the 3′ flanking position making it a CCA and CCC specific DNA methyltransferase.
Enhancing circuit stability under growth feedback with supplementary repressive regulation
Authors: Stone Austin , Rijal Sadikshya , Zhang Rong , Tian Xiao-Jun
Published: January 2024

The field of synthetic biology and biosystems engineering increasingly acknowledges the need for a holistic design approach that incorporates circuit-host interactions into the design process. Engineered circuits are not isolated entities but inherently entwined with the dynamic host environment. One such circuit-host interaction, ‘growth feedback’, results when modifications in host growth patterns influence the operation of gene circuits. The growth-mediated effects can range from growth-dependent elevation in protein/mRNA dilution rate to changes in resource reallocation within the cell, which can lead to complete functional collapse in complex circuits. To achieve robust circuit performance, synthetic biologists employ a variety of control mechanisms to stabilize and insulate circuit behavior against growth changes. Here we propose a simple strategy by incorporating one repressive edge in a growth-sensitive bistable circuit. Through both simulation and in vitro experimentation, we demonstrate how this additional repressive node stabilizes protein levels and increases the robustness of a bistable circuit in response to growth feedback. We propose the incorporation of repressive links in gene circuits as a control strategy for desensitizing gene circuits against growth fluctuations.
Automated segmentation of ablated lesions using deep convolutional neural networks: A basis for response assessment following laser interstitial thermal therapy
Authors: Haskell-Mendoza Aden P , Reason Ellery H , Gonzalez Ariel T , Jackson Joshua D , Sankey Eric W , Srinivasan Ethan S , Herndon James E , Fecci Peter E , Calabrese Evan
Published: January 2024

Background

Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) of intracranial tumors or radiation necrosis enables tissue diagnosis, cytoreduction, and rapid return to systemic therapies. Ablated tissue remains in situ, resulting in characteristic post-LITT edema associated with transient clinical worsening and complicating post-LITT response assessment.

Methods

All patients receiving LITT at a single center for tumors or radiation necrosis from 2015 to 2023 with ≥9 months of MRI follow-up were included. An nnU-Net segmentation model was trained to automatically segment contrast-enhancing lesion volume (CeLV) of LITT-treated lesions on T1-weighted images. Response assessment was performed using volumetric measurements.

Results

Three hundred and eighty four unique MRI exams of 61 LITT-treated lesions and 6 control cases of medically managed radiation necrosis were analyzed. Automated segmentation was accurate in 367/384 (95.6%) images. CeLV increased to a median of 68.3% (IQR 35.1–109.2%) from baseline at 1–3 months from LITT (P = 0.0012) and returned to baseline thereafter. Overall survival (OS) for LITT-treated patients was 39.1 (9.2–93.4) months. Lesion expansion above 40% from volumetric nadir or baseline was considered volumetric progression. Twenty-one of 56 (37.5%) patients experienced progression for a volumetric progression-free survival of 21.4 (6.0–93.4) months. Patients with volumetric progression had worse OS (17.3 vs 62.1 months, P = 0.0015).

Conclusions

Post-LITT CeLV expansion is quantifiable and resolves within 6 months of LITT. Development of response assessment criteria for LITT-treated lesions is feasible and should be considered for clinical trials. Automated lesion segmentation could speed the adoption of volumetric response criteria in clinical practice.
Should I stay or should I go? Trafficking of plant extra-nuclear transcription factors
Authors: Marathe Sarika , Grotewold Erich , Otegui Marisa S
Published: January 2024

At the heart of all biological processes lies the control of nuclear gene expression, which is primarily achieved through the action of transcription factors (TFs) that generally contain a nuclear localization signal (NLS) to facilitate their transport into the nucleus. However, some TFs reside in the cytoplasm in a transcriptionally inactive state and only enter the nucleus in response to specific signals, which in plants include biotic or abiotic stresses. These extra-nuclear TFs can be found in the cytosol or associated with various membrane systems, including the endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane. They may be integral proteins with transmembrane domains or associate peripherally with the lipid bilayer via acylation or membrane-binding domains. Although over 30 plant TFs, most of them involved in stress responses, have been experimentally shown to reside outside the nucleus, computational predictions suggest that this number is much larger. Understanding how extra-nuclear TFs are trafficked into the nucleus is essential for reconstructing transcriptional regulatory networks that govern major cellular pathways in response to biotic and abiotic signals. Here, we provide a perspective on what is known on plant extranuclear-nuclear TF retention, nuclear trafficking, and the post-translational modifications that ultimately enable them to regulate gene expression upon entering the nucleus.
Cytokinin: From autoclaved DNA to two-component signaling
Authors: Argueso Cristiana T , Kieber Joseph J
Published: January 2024

Since its first identification in the 1950s as a regulator of cell division, cytokinin has been linked to many physiological processes in plants, spanning growth and development and various responses to the environment. Studies from the last two and one-half decades have revealed the pathways underlying the biosynthesis and metabolism of cytokinin and have elucidated the mechanisms of its perception and signaling, which reflects an ancient signaling system evolved from two-component elements in bacteria. Mutants in the genes encoding elements involved in these processes have helped refine our understanding of cytokinin functions in plants. Further, recent advances have provided insight into the mechanisms of intracellular and long-distance cytokinin transport and the identification of several proteins that operate downstream of cytokinin signaling. Here, we review these processes through a historical lens, providing an overview of cytokinin metabolism, transport, signaling, and functions in higher plants.
The end game(s) of photosynthetic carbon metabolism
Authors: Sharkey Thomas D
Published: January 2024

The year 2024 marks 70 years since the general outline of the carbon pathway in photosynthesis was published. Although several alternative pathways are now known, it is remarkable how many organisms use the reaction sequence described 70 yrs ago, which is now known as the Calvin–Benson cycle or variants such as the Calvin–Benson–Bassham cycle or Benson–Calvin cycle. However, once the carbon has entered the Calvin–Benson cycle and is converted to a 3-carbon sugar, it has many potential fates. This review will examine the last stages of photosynthetic metabolism in leaves. In land plants, this process mostly involves the production of sucrose provided by an endosymbiont (the chloroplast) to its host for use and transport to the rest of the plant. Photosynthetic metabolism also usually involves the synthesis of starch, which helps maintain respiration in the dark and enables the symbiont to supply sugars during both the day and night. Other end products made in the chloroplast are closely tied to photosynthetic CO2 assimilation. These include serine from photorespiration and various amino acids, fatty acids, isoprenoids, and shikimate pathway products. I also describe 2 pathways that can short circuit parts of the Calvin–Benson cycle. These final processes of photosynthetic metabolism play many important roles in plants.
A charged existence: A century of transmembrane ion transport in plants
Authors: Blatt Michael R
Published: January 2024

If the past century marked the birth of membrane transport as a focus for research in plants, the past 50 years has seen the field mature from arcane interest to a central pillar of plant physiology. Ion transport across plant membranes accounts for roughly 30% of the metabolic energy consumed by a plant cell, and it underpins virtually every aspect of plant biology, from mineral nutrition, cell expansion, and development to auxin polarity, fertilization, plant pathogen defense, and senescence. The means to quantify ion flux through individual transporters, even single channel proteins, became widely available as voltage clamp methods expanded from giant algal cells to the fungus Neurospora crassa in the 1970s and the cells of angiosperms in the 1980s. Here, I touch briefly on some key aspects of the development of modern electrophysiology with a focus on the guard cells of stomata, now without dispute the premier plant cell model for ion transport and its regulation. Guard cells have proven to be a crucible for many technical and conceptual developments that have since emerged into the mainstream of plant science. Their study continues to provide fundamental insights and carries much importance for the global challenges that face us today.
America's racial framework of superiority and Americanness embedded in natural language
Authors: Lee Messi H J , Montgomery Jacob M , Lai Calvin K
Published: January 2024

America's racial framework can be summarized using two distinct dimensions: superiority/inferiority and Americanness/foreignness. We investigated America's racial framework in a corpus of spoken and written language using word embeddings. Word embeddings place words on a low-dimensional space where words with similar meanings are proximate, allowing researchers to test whether the positions of group and attribute words in a semantic space reflect stereotypes. We trained a word embedding model on the Corpus of Contemporary American English—a corpus of 1 billion words that span 30 years and 8 text categories—and compared the positions of racial/ethnic groups with respect to superiority and Americanness. We found that America's racial framework is embedded in American English. We also captured an additional nuance: Asian people were stereotyped as more American than Hispanic people. These results are empirical evidence that America's racial framework is embedded in American English.
Optimal timing of surgical intervention for penile fracture: a narrative review of the modern literature
Authors: Bernstein Ari P , Shayegh Nader , Piraino Javier , Ziegelmann Matthew
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Penile fracture is traditionally considered a surgical emergency warranting immediate repair with the goal to maximize long-term erectile function and minimize penile curvature. Nonetheless, consensus on the optimal timing for penile fracture repair remains to be elucidated and is the subject of continued research efforts.

Objectives

This review aims to summarize the contemporary literature pertaining to optimal timing of penile fracture repair and associated outcomes.

Methods

We queried PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar for relevant articles published between 2012 and 2022 to evaluate the most recent literature on the queried topic of early vs delayed intervention for penile fracture. All examined review articles were published within the last decade but may have included analyses of studies published prior to 2012. Reference lists of articles and reviews were manually reviewed to identify additional relevant articles.

Results

We identified 16 articles that met inclusion criteria: 12 primary articles and 4 systematic reviews or meta-analyses. Importantly, definitions of early and delayed intervention varied greatly among studies, making quantitative comparison challenging. In summary, 6 primary studies and 2 systematic review articles favored early intervention. There were also 6 primary studies and 2 systematic review articles suggesting equivocal outcomes between early and delayed repair. No articles demonstrated improved outcomes with delayed repair relative to early intervention.

Conclusion

Surgical intervention for penile fracture remains the gold standard, with superior long-term sexual and functional outcomes when compared with conservative management. Optimal timing of penile fracture repair remains to be elucidated with data limited by low incidence, resulting in small case series and a lack of randomized controlled trials. Nonetheless, recent data suggest that a brief delay in surgical intervention for patients presenting with penile fractures does not affect long-term sexual and functional outcomes.
Investigation of protective effect of resveratrol and coenzyme Q10 against cyclophosphamide-induced lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress and DNA damage in rats
Authors: Akbel Erten , Kucukkurt Ismail , Ince Sinan , Demirel Hasan Huseyin , Acaroz Damla Arslan , Zemheri-Navruz Fahriye , Kan Fahriye
Published: January 2024

It is seen that cyclophosphamide, which is used in treating many diseases, especially cancer, causes toxicity in studies, and its metabolites induce oxidative stress. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of resveratrol and Coenzyme Q10, known for their antioxidant properties, separately and together, against oxidative stress induced by cyclophosphamide. In this study, 35 Wistar albino male rats were divided into five groups. Groups; Control group, cyclophosphamide (CP) group (CP as 75 mg kg i.p. on day 14), coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) + CP group (20 mg/kg i.p. CoQ10 + 75 mg kg i.p. CP), resveratrol (Res) + CP group (20 mg/kg i.p. Res + 75 mg/kg i.p. CP), CoQ10 + Res + CP group (20 mg/kg i.p Res + 20 mg/kg i.p CoQ10 and 75 mg/kg i.p.CP). At the end of the experiment, the cholesterol, creatinine and urea levels of the group given CP increased, while a decrease was observed in the groups given Res and CoQ10. Malondialdehyde level was high, glutathione level, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were decreased in the blood and all tissues (liver, kidney, brain, heart and testis) of the CP given group. DNA damage and histopathological changes were also observed. In contrast, Res and CoQ10, both separately and together, reversed the CP-induced altered level and enzyme activities and ameliorated DNA damage and histopathological changes. In this study, the effects of Res and CoQ10 against CP toxicity were examined both separately and together.
Flightless beetles crossed the Pacific Ocean: phylogeny and biogeography of the intertidal genus Diaulota Casey (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae)
Authors: Ahn Kee-Jeong , Song Jeong-Hun , Lee Jae-Seok
Published: January 2024

The North Pacific distribution of coastal staphylinids may be explained as the result of either dispersal or vicariance. The intertidal rove beetle genus Diaulota is a submarine group that occurs on the Pacific coasts of the Northern Hemisphere. We performed a phylogenetic analysis of Diaulota using molecular characters (3241 bp) to investigate their biogeographic history and patterns. The data were analysed by parsimony, Bayesian, and maximum likelihood methods. Model-based analyses showed the same pattern of Diaulota species relationships, but parsimony analysis resulted in different species relationships for the unresolved clade B. Biogeographical analyses suggested that the common ancestor of Diaulota occurred widely along the East Asian coast with repeated dispersal to the north-eastern Pacific from the north-western Pacific. According to the reconstruction of the ancestral areas, both dispersal (seven events) and vicariance (four events) were important in shaping its current distribution. Although most species underwent stepwise colonization from East Asia via Kamchatka and Alaska to North America along the coast, a single lineage (Diaulota fulviventris and Diaulota harteri) crossed the Pacific Ocean directly from the north-western Pacific to the north-eastern Pacific, possibly via sea surface currents.
Safety and Efficacy of Reduced-Dose Versus Full-Dose Alteplase for Acute Pulmonary Embolism: A Multicenter Observational Comparative Effectiveness Study*
Authors: Melamed Roman , Tierney David M. , Xia Ranran , Brown Caitlin S. , Mara Kristin C. , Lillyblad Matthew , Sidebottom Abbey , Wiley Brandon M. , Khapov Ivan , Gajic Ognjen
Published: January 2024

OBJECTIVES:

Systemic thrombolysis improves outcomes in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) but is associated with the risk of hemorrhage. The data on efficacy and safety of reduced-dose alteplase are limited. The study objective was to compare the characteristics, outcomes, and complications of patients with PE treated with full- or reduced-dose alteplase regimens.

DESIGN:

Multicenter retrospective observational study.

SETTING:

Tertiary care hospital and 15 community and academic centers of a large healthcare system.

PATIENTS:

Hospitalized patients with PE treated with systemic alteplase.

INTERVENTIONS:

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

Pre- and post-alteplase hemodynamic and respiratory variables, patient outcomes, and complications were compared. Propensity score (PS) weighting was used to adjust for imbalances of baseline characteristics between reduced- and full-dose patients. Separate analyses were performed using the unweighted and weighted cohorts. Ninety-eight patients were treated with full-dose (100 mg) and 186 with reduced-dose (50 mg) regimens. Following alteplase, significant improvements in shock index, blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and supplemental oxygen requirements were observed in both groups. Hemorrhagic complications were lower with the reduced-dose compared with the full-dose regimen (13% vs. 24.5%, p = 0.014), and most were minor. Major extracranial hemorrhage occurred in 1.1% versus 6.1%, respectively (p = 0.022). Complications were associated with supratherapeutic levels of heparin anticoagulation in 37.5% of cases and invasive procedures in 31.3% of cases. The differences in complications persisted after PS weighting (15.4% vs. 24.7%, p = 0.12 and 1.3% vs. 7.1%, p = 0.067), but did not reach statistical significance. There were no significant differences in mortality, discharge destination, ICU or hospital length of stay, or readmission after PS weighting.

CONCLUSIONS:

In a retrospective, PS-weighted observational study, when compared with the full-dose, reduced-dose alteplase results in similar outcomes but fewer hemorrhagic complications. Avoidance of excessive levels of anticoagulation or invasive procedures should be considered to further reduce complications.
Midlife symptoms and household stress are associated with fingernail cortisol
Authors: Rulu Peteneinuo , Bertone-Johnson Elizabeth R. , Kamilar Jason , Dhall Meenal , Sievert Lynnette Leidy
Published: January 2024

Objective

This study investigates menopausal symptoms, household stressors, and ethnopolitical problems in relation to stress markers, including chronic stress measured by fingernail cortisol, perceived stress measured by the Perceived Stress Scale, and acute stress measured by blood pressure.

Methods

Data from 151 women aged 40 to 55 years were collected from four regions in Nagaland, India, using opportunity sampling. A structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic and lifestyle variables. Symptoms were grouped into emotional instability, vasosomatic symptoms, mood disturbances, and aches and pains using principal component analysis in a previous study, and stress markers included fingernail cortisol, perceived stress, and blood pressure. Community-level, household-level, and midlife symptoms were included to ascertain stressors from different sources.

Results

Our results revealed a significant positive association between a composite measure of emotional instability and stress assessed by fingernail cortisol (β = 0.46, P < 0.001). In addition, there was a positive association between mood disturbances and fingernail cortisol (β = 0.24, P < 0.05). This relationship persisted after controlling for body mass index, socioeconomic status, and menopausal status. In addition, household problems were positively associated with fingernail cortisol (β = 0.25, P = 0.01).

Conclusions

These findings highlight the potential health impacts of the psychosocial stress response associated with domestic stressors such as financial strain and concerns about children and health.
Surgical Site Infection Prevention Using “Strike Teams”: The Experience of an Academic Colorectal Surgical Department
Authors: Hatharaliyadda Buddhi , Schmitz Michelle , Mork Anne , Osman Fauzia , Heise Charles , Safdar Nasia , Pop-Vicas Aurora
Published: January 2024

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are healthcare-acquired infections with substantial morbidity. Surgical site infection persist because of low adherence to prevention bundles comprising multiple infection control elements. We propose the “Strike Team” as an implementation strategy to improve adherence and reduce SSI in colorectal surgery. At an academic medical center, a multidisciplinary Strike Team met monthly to review colorectal SSI cases, audit and discuss barriers to adherence to SSI prevention bundle, and propose actionable feedback. The latter was shared with frontline clinicians by the Strike Team's surgical leaders in everyday practice. Colorectal SSI rates and bundle adherence data were disseminated quarterly via the hospital intranet and reviewed with surgeons at departmental meetings. Trends in adherence and SSI rates were analyzed by regression analysis using a time series model. While the Strike Team was active, adherence to antibiotic prophylaxis, maintenance of normoglycemia, and standardized intraoperative skin preparation significantly increased (p < .05). There was a trend toward statistically significant reduction in SSI (p = .07), although it was not maintained once the Strike Team activity was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Colorectal SSI prevention requires a resource-intensive, multidisciplinary approach with numerous strategies to improve adherence to infection control bundles, as illustrated by our SSI Strike Team experience.
Does Rounding Order Bias Discharge Efficiency? Predictors of Discharge Timing on an Academic Urology Service
Authors: Paul Charles J. , Erickson Bradley A. , Nepple Kenneth G. , Tracy Chad R.
Published: January 2024

No previous works have analyzed whether the order in which surgical teams see patients on morning rounds affects discharge efficiency at teaching hospitals. We obtained perioperative urologic surgery timing data at our academic institution from 2014 to 2019. We limited the analysis to routine postoperative day 1 discharges. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine whether various hospital and patient factors were associated with discharge timing. We analyzed 1,494 patients. Average discharge order time was 11:22 a.m. and hospital discharge 1:24 p.m. Univariate regression revealed earlier discharge order time for patients seen later in rounds by 4 minutes per sequential room cluster (p = .013) and by 12 minutes per cluster when excluding short-stay patients. Multivariate analysis revealed discharge order placement did not vary significantly by rounding order. However, time of hospital discharge did (p < .001), likely due to speed of discharge in the designated short-stay units. Attending physician was the most consistent predictor in variations of discharge timing, with statistical significance across all measured outcomes. Patients seen later in rounding progression received earlier discharge orders, but this relationship does not remain in multivariate modeling or translate to earlier discharge. These findings have helped guide quality improvement efforts focused on discharge efficiency.
Interferon gamma in the pathogenesis of hypertension − recent insights
Authors: Benson Lance N. , Mu Shengyu
Published: January 2024

Purpose of review

The mounting body of evidence underscores the pivotal role of interferon gamma (IFNγ) in the pathogenesis of hypertension, prompting exploration of the mechanisms by which this cytokine fosters a pro-inflammatory immune milieu, subsequently exacerbating hypertension. In this review, we delve into recent preclinical and clinical studies from the past two years to elucidate how IFNγ participates in the progression of hypertension.

Recent findings

IFNγ promotes renal CD8+ T cell accumulation by upregulating tubular PDL1 and MHC-I, intensifying cell-to-cell interaction. Intriguingly, a nucleotide polymorphism in LNK, predisposing towards hypertension, correlates with augmented T cell IFNγ production. Additionally, anti-IFNγ treatment exhibits protective effects against T cell-mediated inflammation during angiotensin II infusion or transverse aortic constriction. Moreover, knockout of the mineralocorticoid receptor in T cells protects against cardiac dysfunction induced by myocardial infarction, correlating with reduced IFNγ and IL-6, decreased macrophage recruitment, and attenuated fibrosis. Interestingly, increased IFNγ production correlates with elevated blood pressure, impacting individuals with type 2 diabetes, nondiabetics, and obese hypertensive patients.

These revelations spotlight IFNγ as the critical mediator bridging the initial phase of blood pressure elevation with the sustained and exacerbated pathology. Consequently, blocking IFNγ signaling emerges as a promising therapeutic target to improve the management of this ‘silent killer.’
Early prediction of distant metastasis in patients with uterine cervical cancer treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy by deep learning using pretreatment [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography
Authors: Wu Kuo-Chen , Chen Shang-Wen , Hsieh Te-Chun , Yen Kuo-Yang , Chang Chao-Jen , Kuo Yu-Chieh , Chang Ruey-Feng , Chia-Hung Kao
Published: January 2024

Objectives

A deep learning (DL) model using image data from pretreatment [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F] FDG)-PET or computed tomography (CT) augmented with a novel imaging augmentation approach was developed for the early prediction of distant metastases in patients with locally advanced uterine cervical cancer.

Methods

This study used baseline [18F]FDG-PET/CT images of newly diagnosed uterine cervical cancer patients. Data from 186 to 25 patients were analyzed for training and validation cohort, respectively. All patients received chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and follow-up. PET and CT images were augmented by using three-dimensional techniques. The proposed model employed DL to predict distant metastases. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to measure the model’s predictive performance.

Results

The area under the ROC curves of the training and validation cohorts were 0.818 and 0.830 for predicting distant metastasis, respectively. In the training cohort, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 80.0%, 78.0%, and 78.5%, whereas, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for distant failure were 73.3%, 75.5%, and 75.2% in the validation cohort, respectively.

Conclusion

Through the use of baseline [18F]FDG-PET/CT images, the proposed DL model can predict the development of distant metastases for patients with locally advanced uterine cervical cancer treatment by CRT. External validation must be conducted to determine the model’s predictive performance.
Long-term assessment of clinical parameters and positron emission tomography parameters in predicting recurrence in uterine cervical cancer patients receiving definitive chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Onal Cem , Guler Ozan Cem , Torun Nese , Reyhan Mehmet
Published: January 2024

Objective

The objective of this study was to assess the prognostic value of clinical factors and metabolic parameters measured using fluorodeoxyglucose PET (FDG-PET/CT) in predicting disease recurrence, as well as distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), and overall survival (OS) in patients with uterine cervical cancer who received definitive chemoradiotherapy.

Methods

The clinical data and FDG-PET parameters, including standardized uptake value (SUV), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) of 194 patients with biopsy-confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of cervical cancer were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to ascertain prognostic factors associated with DMFS, LRFS, and OS.

Results

With a median follow-up of 12.5 years, 96 patients (49.5%) presented with disease recurrence, at a median of 9.9 months after chemoradiotherapy. Patients who experienced recurrence had significantly higher values for all FDG-PET parameters compared to patients who did not. In multivariate regression analysis, lymph node metastasis, MTV, and SUVmean were significantly correlated with distant metastasis, while local recurrence was only predicted by SUVmax. Lymph node metastasis, high MTV, SUVmean, and TLG predicted shorter DMFS, while only the primary tumor SUVmax predicted LRFS. Age, regional nodal metastasis, and higher MTV independently predicted shorter OS in multivariate analysis.

Conclusion

We found that metabolic parameters derived from FDG-PET/CT could serve as surrogates for disease recurrence in patients with cervical cancer who were treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy. Patients at high risk of distant metastasis could be defined using SUVmean and MTV, and for local recurrence, by using SUVmax.
Free mebrofenin clearance
Authors: Parker J. Anthony , Tahir Muhammad M. , Whitmarsh Suzanne R. , Sarwar Ammar
Published: January 2024

Objectives

To determine if three new simplified equations for measurement of free mebrofenin clearance give similar results to the equations defined by Ekman et. al., and to evaluate the properties of all four methods. Regional mebrofenin clearance has been used to predict future remnant liver function and liver failure after regional liver therapy, such as partial hepatic resection.

Methods

The means, standard deviations, and correlations of the free mebrofenin clearance measured by the Ekman method and the three simplified methods were compared in a consecutive series of 26 studies in 20 patients. The fractional change in the blood and free mebrofenin activities were compared, and integrals of normalized blood and free mebrofenin (“effective times”) were compared.

Results

The average percent free mebrofenin clearance for the Ekman and the first, second and third simplified methods were 13.62 ± 2.88%/min, 12.98 ± 2.97%/min, 12.52 ± 2.81%/min and 15.03 ± 2.27%/min, respectively. The correlations of the new methods with Ekman were 0.97, 0.93 and 0.93. The fractional changes during the measurement interval for the blood and free mebrofenin activities were 0.381 ± 0.065 and 0.329 ± 0.062, difference 0.052, P < 0.5. The integrals of normalized blood and free mebrofenin activities were 2.566 ± 0.160 min and 2.661 ± 0.158 min, difference of 0.094 min and P < 0.05.

Conclusions

The results of the three new methods were similar to the Ekman method. The first simplified method was identified as the lead method for clinical validation in a larger population.
68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT for in-vivo mapping of CXCR4 receptors as potential radiotheranostic targets in soft tissue and bone sarcoma: preliminary results
Authors: Jena Santosh Ranjan , Watts Ankit , Aggarwal Piyush , Bachhal Vikas , Kaur Harneet , Dhingra Kirti , Singh Harmandeep , Bal Amanjit , Singh Baljinder
Published: January 2024

Objective

To evaluate the diagnostic utility of 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT for in vivo imaging of CXCR4 receptors in soft tissue/bone sarcoma.

Methods

Ten (7M: 3F; mean age = 24.7 ± 14.2 years) consecutive patients with clinical and radiological evidence of bone/soft tissue sarcoma were recruited prospectively whole body 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT imaging was performed at 60-min after tracer administration. After performing standard CT, PET acquisition from head to toe was done (3 min/bed position) in a caudocranial direction. PET/CT data was reconstructed and SUVmax, SUVmean values, target-to-background ratio (TBR) and active tumor volume (cc) were computed for the tracer avid lesions. Histopathological and IHC analysis was performed on the surgically excised primary tumors. CXCR4 receptors’ intensity was evaluated by visual scoring.

Results

The mean SUVmax and SUVmean values in the primary tumors were 4.80 ± 1.0 (3.9–7.7) and 2.40 ± 0.60 (0.9–4.0). The mean TBR and tumor volume (cc) were 1.84 ± 1.3 and 312.2 ± 285. Diagnosis of osteosarcoma in 7, chondrosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma and synovial sarcoma in 1 patient each was confirmed on HP analysis. Distant metastatic lesions were seen in 3/10 patients. Nuclear CXCR4 receptors’ positivity was seen in 5, cytoplasmic in 4 and both pattern seen in 1 patient. The mean CXCR4 receptors’ intensity was found to be 7.6 ± 2. The highest SUVmax value of 7.7 was observed in the patient having both cytoplasmic and nuclear CXCR4 expression. SUVmax was found to be poorly correlated (r = 0.441) with CXCR4 expression.

Conclusion

68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT detects CXCR4 receptors over-expressed in sarcoma, its radio-theranostics potential needs detailed evaluation.
Evaluation of the effect of PET/CT Fluorodeoxyglucose inclusion on mortality and survival in operated thymoma patients
Authors: Agaoglu Sanli Bahar , Duman Elif , Gulmez Bariş , Aguloglu Nurşin , Yazgan Serkan , Ceylan Kenan Can , Ucvet Ahmet
Published: January 2024

Purpose

In recent years, the use of fluorodeoxyglucose PET-computed tomography (PET-CT) has become widespread to evaluate the diagnosis, metabolism, stage and distant metastases of thymoma. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the connection of malignancy potential, survival and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) measured by PET-CT before surgery according to the histological classification of the WHO in patients operated for thymoma. In addition, the predictive value of the Glasgow prognostic score (GPS) generated by C-reactive protein (CRP) and albumin values on recurrence and survival was investigated and its potential as a prognostic biomarker was evaluated.

Methods

Forty-five patients who underwent surgical resection for thymoma and were examined with PET-CT in the preoperative period between January 2010 and January 2022 were included in the study. The relationship between WHO histological classification, tumor size and SUVmax values on PET-CT according to TNM classification of retrospectively analyzed corticoafferents were evaluated. Preoperative albumin and CRP values were used to determine GPS.

Results

The cutoff value for SUVmax was found to be 5.65 in the patients and the overall survival rate of low-risk (<5.65) and high-risk (>5.65) patients was compared according to the SUVmax threshold value (5.65) and found to be statistically significant. In addition, the power of PET/CT SUVmax value to predict mortality (according to receiver operating characteristics analysis) was statistically significant (P = 0.048). Survival expectancy was 127.6 months in patients with mild GPS (O points), 96.7 months in patients with moderate GPS (1 point), and 25.9 months in patients with severe GPS (2 points).

Conclusion

PET/CT SUVmax values can be used to predict histological sub-type in thymoma patients, and preoperative SUVmax and GPS are parameters that can provide information about survival times and mortality in thymoma patients.
The added diagnostic value of 18F-FDG PET/CT radiomic analysis in multiple myeloma patients with negative visual analysis
Authors: An Shuxian , Huang Gan , Yu Xiaofeng , Liu Jianjun , Chen Yumei
Published: January 2024

Purpose

A small number of patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM) by bone marrow aspiration reported as being disease-free on 18F-FDG PET/CT. We aim to evaluate the diagnostic value of radiomics approach in patients with MM who were negative by visual analysis.

Materials and methods

Thirty-three patients judged negative by visual analysis were assigned to the MM group. Contemporaneous 31 disease-free patients served as the control group. 70% of the whole data set was used as training set (23 from MM group and 22 from control group) and 30% as testing set (10 from MM group and 9 from control group). Axial skeleton volumes were automatically segmented and high-dimensional imaging features were extracted from PET and CT. The unsupervised machine learning method was used to filter and reduce the dimensions of the extracted features. Random forest was used to construct the prediction model and then validated with 10-fold cross-validation and evaluated on the independent testing set.

Results

One thousand seven hundred two quantitative features were extracted from PET and CT. Of those, three first-order and one high-order imaging features were uncorrelated. With the cross-validation on the training group, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and area under the curve of random forest were 0.850, 0.792, 0.818 and 0.894, respectively. On the independent testing set, the accuracy of the model was 0.850 and the area under the curve was 0.909.

Conclusion

Radiomic analysis based on 18F-FDG PET/CT using machine learning model provides a quantitative, objective and efficient mechanism for diagnosing patients with MM who were negative by visual analysis.
Immunotherapy for transplantation of hepatocellular carcinoma: the next frontier in adjunctive therapy
Authors: Tabrizian Parissa , Zeitlhoefler Marcus , Hassan Ahmed Talaat , Marino Rebecca
Published: January 2024

Purpose of review

The increasing success of liver transplantation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) drives an ever-evolving search for innovative strategies to broaden eligible patients’ pools. Recent advances in immuno-oncology have turned the spotlight on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). This review offers an updated overview of ICIs in liver transplantation for HCC, exploring neoadjuvant and adjuvant approaches and addressing unanswered questions on safety, patients’ selection, and response predictors.

Recent findings

ICIs have transitioned from being a last-chance therapeutic hope to becoming an integral cornerstone in the treatment of advanced HCC, holding great promise as a compelling option not only to downstage patients for transplantation but also as an alternative strategy in addressing posttransplantation disease recurrence. Despite ongoing refinements in immunotherapeutic agents, the complex molecular pathways involved emphasize the need for a comprehensive approach to integrate immunotherapy in liver transplantation.

Initial concerns about graft rejection, with ICIs as a bridging therapy to liver transplantation, were successfully addressed using adequate immunosuppressants strategies and minimized with a sufficient washout period. Post-liver transplantation disease recurrence remains challenging, requiring a balance between effective therapy and preserving graft function. Emphasis should be placed on clinical trials validating the risk-benefit ratio of ICIs for liver transplantation, guiding appropriate patients’ selection, and establishing clear management pathways.
Eye Tracking to Assess the Functional Consequences of Vision Impairment: A Systematic Review
Authors: Nieboer Ward , Ghiani Andrea , de Vries Ralph , Brenner Eli , Mann David L.
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND

Eye tracking is a promising method for objectively assessing functional visual capabilities, but its suitability remains unclear when assessing the vision of people with vision impairment. In particular, accurate eye tracking typically relies on a stable and reliable image of the pupil and cornea, which may be compromised by abnormalities associated with vision impairment (e.g., nystagmus, aniridia).

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to establish the degree to which video-based eye tracking can be used to assess visual function in the presence of vision impairment.

DATA SOURCES

A systematic review was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases, encompassing literature from inception to July 2022.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, PARTICIPANTS, AND INTERVENTIONS

Studies included in the review used video-based eye tracking, included individuals with vision impairment, and used screen-based tasks unrelated to practiced skills such as reading or driving.

STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS

The included studies were assessed for quality using the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology assessment tool. Data extraction and synthesis were performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

RESULTS

Our analysis revealed that five common tests of visual function were used: (i) fixation stability, (ii) smooth pursuit, (iii) saccades, (iv) free viewing, and (v) visual search. The studies reported considerable success when testing individuals with vision impairment, yielding usable data from 96.5% of participants.

LIMITATIONS

There was an overrepresentation of conditions affecting the optic nerve or macula and an underrepresentation of conditions affecting the anterior segment or peripheral retina.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS OF KEY FINDINGS

The results offer promise for the use of eye tracking to assess the visual function of a considerable proportion of those with vision impairment. Based on the findings, we outline a framework for how eye tracking can be used to test visual function in the presence of vision impairment.