bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hysteroscopic metroplasty for the treatment of the dysmorphic uterus: A SWOT analysis
Authors: Carrera Maria , Alonso Luis , Domínguez Jose Antonio , Alcázar Juan Luis , Carugno Jose , Moratalla Enrique , Pérez Milán Federico , Caballero Miguel
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Dysmorphic uterus or T-shaped uterus is an increasingly frequent diagnosis among the infertile population that has been associated to worse reproductive results. Hysteroscopic metroplasty is a safe and simple procedure that can improve the reproductive outcomes in this group of patients, although the benefits of this procedure remains controversial due to the lack of adequate scientific evidence.

Objective

To analyze the hysteroscopic metroplasty using the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) methodology.

Data sources

An electronic search from inception each database up to December 2021 including the following databases was conducted: PubMed-MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar.

Methods of study selection

Studies reporting outcomes of patients undergoing hysteroscopic metroplasty were included.

Tabulation

Not applicable

Integration and Results

Clinical evidence from the included studies suggests an improvement in reproductive results after performing hysteroscopic metroplasty especially in women with recurrent pregnancy loss and previous infertility, but all of them have relevant methodological limitations. For this reason, benefits, risks and alternatives of this intervention should be considered with caution.

Conclusions

Evidence from published data shows a probable association between dysmorphic uterus and poor reproductive outcomes. Hysteroscopic metroplasty in patients with dysmorphic uterus could improve pregnancy outcomes, but there is need of properly designed prospective controlled studies to determine the benefits of this technique.
Large pneumothorax following thoracic and lumbar tumor surgery: Risk factors and management strategies
Authors: Lou Yan , Zhang Yunyan , Wang Zhongzhao , Zhao Chenglong , Li Zhenxi , Huang Quan , Tang Hao , Xiao Jianru
Published: January 2023

Objective

Large pneumothorax is a rare but dangerous complication following thoracic and lumbar tumor surgery. There is little discussion about the features of large pneumothorax following spinal tumor surgery. The purpose of this study was to analyze the characteristics of postoperative pneumothorax, identify factors related to large pneumothorax, and propose a management algorithm for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Methods

Included in this retrospective study were 118 patients who developed pneumothorax after receiving thoracic and lumbar tumor surgery between January 2015 and October 2021. A measurement of lung compression ≥20% on chest CT or x-ray was defined as large pneumothorax, and potential risk factors for large pneumothorax were identified by univariate analysis.

Results

Spinal tumor history and intraoperative blood loss were risk factors for large pneumothorax. The common symptoms of postoperative pneumothorax were chest pain, chest tightness and dyspnea. The mean longest transverse diameter of tumors was 6.63 ± 2.4 cm. En bloc resection was performed in 70 patients, with a mean operation time of 6.9 ± 2.5 h and mean intraoperative blood loss of 1771 ± 1387 ml. The most common pathologies were chondrosarcoma, giant cell tumors of bone, and neurogenic tumors.

Conclusion

During surgery, an artificial dura mater patch and a prolene suture can be used to repair the pleural and lung defects. We recommend chest CT as the preferred method for identifying postoperative pneumothorax. If a patient presents severe dyspnea, a large pneumothorax or concurrent pleural effusion, application of chest drainage is strongly recommended.
Ultrasound-guided microwave ablation for benign thyroid nodules results in earlier and faster nodule shrinkage in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis than in those with normal thyroid function
Authors: Chen Yihao , Liu Weizong , Jin Chunchun , Xu Xiaohong , Xu Lifeng , Lu Jianghao , Zheng Jing , Sun Xiangmei , Feng Jiaping , Chen Sihan , Li Zhengyi , Gong Xuehao
Published: January 2023

Objectives

Given that the histological features of the thyroid parenchyma in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) differ from those of the normal thyroid gland, HT may affect the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided microwave ablation (MWA) for benign thyroid nodules (BTNs). The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of MWA for the treatment of BTNs in patients with both BTNs and HT and those with BTNs and normal thyroid function, based on changes in the volume reduction ratio (VRR) of the BTNs.

Methods

Patients who had achieved a VRR ≥50% after MWA for BTN (July 2020–June 2021), followed up for 12 months, and their data were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

A total of 213 nodules were identified in 185 patients, including 167 in the “BTN” group and 46 in the “BTN + HT” group. A comparison of the fitting curves for VRR–follow-up time revealed that the VRR increased with time after MWA, although the relationship was nonlinear. Piece-wise linear regression model analysis of the threshold effect of VRR and follow-up time in the two groups indicated that the inflection point of the “BTN” group occurred at 2.1 months: VRR increased fastest within 2.1 months of MWA (rate of change: 32.9% per month; P < 0.001), following which the rate of change was slower and maintained at 1.0% per month (P = 0.006). In the “BTN + HT” group, the inflection point occurred 1.5 months after MWA, with the most significant increase occurring in this period (rate of change: 41.5% per month; P < 0.001), followed by a rate of 2.8% per month (P < 0.001) after 1.5 months.

Conclusions

The relationship between VRR and follow-up time for ultrasound-guided MWA for BTN is nonlinear and exhibits a threshold effect. The current results indicated that the VRR in both groups increased before and after the inflection point, although the rate of change was greater before than after the inflection point. The inflection point occurs earlier in patients with BTN + HT than in those with BTN yet normal thyroid function, and this difference may be related to the “oven effect” involved in the development of HT.
A multicenter, retrospective study of cardiac disease in Borzoi dogs
Authors: Sykes K. Tess , Wesselowski Sonya , Saunders Ashley B. , Tjostheim Sonja S. , Potter Brianna M. , Gelzer Anna R. M. , Katz Natalie , Ward Jessica L. , Karlin Emily T. , Markovic Lauren E. , Magee Aliya N. , Abbott Jonathan A. , Kadotani Saki , Menciotti Giulio
Published: January 2023

Borzoi are large, relatively uncommon sighthounds anecdotally reported to suffer from sudden death. This multicenter retrospective cohort study aimed to describe the sample of Borzoi presenting to veterinary cardiologists for evaluation, with records searched from 14 centers across a study period of up to 20 years. The study sample was comprised of 152 client-owned Borzoi, with dogs most commonly presenting for pre-breed screening in 87/152 (52%), followed by evaluation of an arrhythmia in 28/152 (18%). Of the 131/152 (86%) dogs that had an echocardiogram performed, 85/131 (65%) were structurally normal, with 40/85 (47%) structurally normal dogs having trace or mild atrioventricular valve regurgitation. Tricuspid valve dysplasia was the most commonly diagnosed congenital cardiac disease (n = 6). Myxomatous mitral valve disease (n = 12) and dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 13) were diagnosed at similar frequencies, though 92% of valve disease cases were mild. Only 48/152 (32%) Borzoi had a diagnostic electrocardiogram (ECG) and/or a Holter monitor for arrhythmia screening. Despite this, ventricular arrhythmias were identified during the entirety of the available cardiac evaluation including diagnostic ECG, contemporaneous ECG monitoring during the echocardiogram, and/or Holter monitor in 25/131 (19%) dogs in which an echocardiographic diagnosis was available. Of these 25 Borzoi, 76% had minimal or no structural cardiac disease identified, and five had a family history of sudden death. A sudden death outcome was reported in 3/55 (5%) Borzoi with long-term outcome data available. In conclusion, Borzoi commonly have trace or mild atrioventricular valve insufficiencies, and may develop ventricular arrhythmias and dilated cardiomyopathy.
The Integration of Primary Care and Public Health in Medical Students’ Training Based on Social Accountability and Community-Engaged Medical Education
Authors: Punzalan Jaime Kristoffer , Guingona Monserrat , Punzalan Mary Germeyn , Cristobal Fortunato , Frahsa Annika , Liwanag Harvy Joy
Published: January 2023

Objectives: Primary care and public health comprise the bedrock of health systems, but their divergence has produced two groups of practitioners either focused on individual health or population health. We explored how primary care and public health were integrated in medical students’ training in Zamboanga Peninsula, Philippines.

Methods: Our qualitative study reviewed community health plans in two municipalities and thematically analyzed the perspectives of medical students, faculty, alumni, and community stakeholders through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews.

Results: Integration began by operationalizing a curriculum requiring medical students to serve rural communities during most of their training—a departure from the conventional, hospital-based medical education in the Philippines. The medical students’ community immersion provided opportunities for integrating primary care and public health activities that influenced their personal orientations and the health situation in communities. Integration continued after training as alumni found themselves serving as primary care and public health practitioners in the region.

Conclusion: Social accountability and community-engaged medical education provided the foundation for medical students to integrate primary care and public health in practice to respond to local needs.
“Train the Trainers” Program to Improve Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions About Organ Donation in the European Union and Neighbouring Countries: Pre- and Post- Data Analysis of the EUDONORGAN Project
Authors: Peralta Patricia , Istrate Melania , Ballesté Chloe , Manyalich Martí , Valero Ricard ,   the EUDONORGAN Consortium
Published: January 2023

EUDONORGAN, a European Union-funded project to improve organ and tissue donation, included a blended-based “Train the Trainers” program, which was implemented with the support of an international consortium from Croatia, Italy, Slovenia, and Spain. The web-based training included seven modules for which medical aspects, educational tips, and practical activities were scored using a 5-point Likert scale. The overall mean scores of satisfaction were higher than 4 for each module, without significant differences between HCPs and OKPs. In the face-to-face training survey similar scores above 4 were obtained for most items. Knowledge acquisition improved significantly in both HCPs and OKPs, as well as in transplant/donor coordinators, medical doctors, registered nurses, anesthesiologists/intensivists, and intensive care nurses. Improvements in attitudes and perceptions regarding organ donation were also observed, particularly among HCPs. In the accomplishment of the learning process, a successful pass mark of 95% was obtained. The “Train the Trainers” program was associated with an improvement in learning and attitudes of healthcare and non-healthcare professionals for the benefit of organ and tissue donation.
Altered Feedback-Related Negativity in Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Abe Satoshi , Onoda Keiichi , Takamura Masahiro , Nitta Eri , Nagai Atsushi , Yamaguchi Shuhei
Published: January 2023

Introduction: Feedback-related negativity (FRN) is electrical brain activity related to the function of monitoring behavior and its outcome. FRN is generated by negative feedback input, such as punishment or monetary loss, and its potential is distributed maximally over the frontal-central part of the skull. Our previous study demonstrated that FRN latency was delayed and that the amplitude was increased in patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD). As mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is considered to be a prodromal stage of AD, we speculated that FRN would also be altered in MCI, as in AD. The aim of this study is to examine whether MCI patients showed changes in FRN during a gambling task. Methods: Thirteen MCI patients and thirteen age-matched healthy elderly individuals participated in a simple gambling task and underwent neuro-psychological assessments. The participants were asked to choose one out of two options and randomly received positive or negative feedback to their response. An EEG was recorded during the task, and FRN was obtained by subtracting the positive feedback-related activity from the negative feedback-related activity. Results: The reaction time to probe stimuli was comparable in the two groups. The group comparisons revealed that the FRN amplitude was significantly larger for the MCI group than for the healthy elderly (F(1,24) = 6.4, ηp2 = 0.22, p = 0.019), but there was no group difference in the FRN latency. The FRN amplitude at the frontocentral electrode positively correlated with the mini-mental state examination score (Spearman’s rhopartial = 0.41, p = 0.043). The finding of increased FRN amplitude in MCI was consistent with the previous finding in AD. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that monitoring dysfunction might also be involved in the prodromal stage of dementia.
Sialyl LewisX/A and Cytokeratin Crosstalk in Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Pascoal Carlota , Carrascal Mylène A. , Barreira Daniela F. , Lourenço Rita A. , Granjo Pedro , Grosso Ana R. , Borralho Paula , Braga Sofia , Videira Paula A.
Published: January 2023

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) encompasses multiple entities and is generally highly aggressive and metastatic. We aimed to determine the clinical and biological relevance of Sialyl-Lewis X and A (sLeX/A)—a fucosylated glycan involved in metastasis—in TNBC. Here, we studied tissues from 50 TNBC patients, transcripts from a TNBC dataset from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and a primary breast cancer cell line. All 50 TNBC tissue samples analysed expressed sLeX/A. Patients with high expression of sLeX/A had 3 years less disease-free survival than patients with lower expression. In tissue, sLeX/A negatively correlated with cytokeratins 5/6 (CK5/6, which was corroborated by the inverse correlation between fucosyltransferases and CK5/6 genes. Our observations were confirmed in vitro when inhibition of sLeX/A remarkably increased expression of CK5/6, followed by a decreased proliferation and invasion capacity. Among the reported glycoproteins bearing sLeX/A and based on the STRING tool, α6 integrin showed the highest interaction score with CK5/6. This is the first report on the sLeX/A expression in TNBC, highlighting its association with lower disease-free survival and its inverse crosstalk with CK5/6 with α6 integrin as a mediator. All in all, sLeX/A is critical for TNBC malignancy and a potential prognosis biomarker and therapeutic target.
Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia Post Cytotoxic Therapy—Retrospective Analysis of the Patients Treated in Poland from 2005 to 2022
Authors: Czogała Małgorzata , Czogała Wojciech , Pawińska-Wąsikowska Katarzyna , Książek Teofila , Bukowska-Strakova Karolina , Sikorska-Fic Barbara , Łaguna Paweł , Skalska-Sadowska Jolanta , Wachowiak Jacek , Rodziewicz-Konarska Anna , Moj-Hackemer Małgorzata , Kałwak Krzysztof , Muszyńska-Rosłan Katarzyna , Krawczuk-Rybak Maryna , Fałkowska Anna , Drabko Katarzyna , Kozłowska Marta , Irga-Jaworska Ninela , Bobeff Katarzyna , Młynarski Wojciech , Tomaszewska Renata , Szczepański Tomasz , Chodała-Grzywacz Agnieszka , Karolczyk Grażyna , Mycko Katarzyna , Badowska Wanda , Zielezińska Karolina , Urasiński Tomasz , Bartoszewicz Natalia , Styczyński Jan , Balwierz Walentyna , Skoczeń Szymon
Published: January 2023

Acute P./myeloid leukemia post cytotoxic therapy (AML-pCT) is rare complication of cancer treatment in childhood. The objective of the study was to identify clinical characteristics and provide an analysis of the outcomes in pediatric AML-pCT. We retrospectively analyzed the data of 40 children with AML-pCT, treated from 2005 to 2020 within the Polish Pediatric Leukemia and Lymphoma Study Group. The most common primary malignancies were acute lymphoblastic leukemia (32.5%) and brain tumors (20%). The median latency period was 2.9 years (range: 0.7–12.9). Probabilities of overall (OS), event-free (EFS), and relapse-free survival (RFS) in the whole cohort were 0.49 ± 0.08, 0.43 ± 0.08, and 0.64 ± 0.10, respectively. Significant improvements in outcomes were observed in patients treated from 2015–2022 (two induction cycles followed by stem cell transplantation—SCT in 69% of patients) compared to 2005–2014 (four induction cycles followed by SCT in 49% of patients). The probability of EFS increased from 0.30 ± 0.10 to 0.67 ± 0.12 (p = 0.07) and RFS increased from 0.46 ± 0.11 to 1.0 (p = 0.01). The poorest outcome (OS and EFS 0.25 ± 0.20) was in AML post brain tumor, mainly due to deaths from toxicities. To conclude, treatment results achieved in patients with AML-pCT treated from 2015–2022, with two induction cycles followed by immediate SCT, were better than those reported by other authors, and comparable to the results in de novo AML.
The Combination of ATM and Chk1 Inhibitors Induces Synthetic Lethality in Colorectal Cancer Cells
Authors: Tozaki Yuri , Aoki Hiromasa , Kato Rina , Toriuchi Kohki , Arame Saki , Inoue Yasumichi , Hayashi Hidetoshi , Kubota Eiji , Kataoka Hiromi , Aoyama Mineyoshi
Published: January 2023

Genetic abnormalities induce the DNA damage response (DDR), which enables DNA repair at cell cycle checkpoints. Although the DDR is thought to function in preventing the onset and progression of cancer, DDR-related proteins are also thought to contribute to tumorigenesis, tumor progression, and drug resistance by preventing irreparable genomic abnormalities from inducing cell death. In the present study, the combination of ataxia telangiectasia-mutated serine/threonine kinase (ATM) and checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) inhibition exhibited synergistic antitumor effects and induced synergistic lethality in colorectal cancer cells at a low dose. The ATM and Chk1 inhibitors synergistically promoted the activation of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 by decreasing the phosphorylation levels of T14 and Y15. Furthermore, the combined treatment increased the number of sub-G1-stage cells, phospho-histone H2A.X-positive cells, and TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling-positive cells among colon cancer cells, suggesting that the therapy induces apoptosis. Finally, the combined treatment exhibited a robust antitumor activity in syngeneic tumor model mice. These findings should contribute to the development of new treatments for colorectal cancer that directly exploit the genomic instability of cancer cells.
An Update of G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Signaling and Its Deregulation in Gastric Carcinogenesis
Authors: Yan Huan , Zhang Jing-Ling , Leung Kam-Tong , Lo Kwok-Wai , Yu Jun , To Ka-Fai , Kang Wei
Published: January 2023

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) belong to a cell surface receptor superfamily responding to a wide range of external signals. The binding of extracellular ligands to GPCRs activates a heterotrimeric G protein and triggers the production of numerous secondary messengers, which transduce the extracellular signals into cellular responses. GPCR signaling is crucial and imperative for maintaining normal tissue homeostasis. High-throughput sequencing analyses revealed the occurrence of the genetic aberrations of GPCRs and G proteins in multiple malignancies. The altered GPCRs/G proteins serve as valuable biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognostic prediction, and pharmacological targets. Furthermore, the dysregulation of GPCR signaling contributes to tumor initiation and development. In this review, we have summarized the research progress of GPCRs and highlighted their mechanisms in gastric cancer (GC). The aberrant activation of GPCRs promotes GC cell proliferation and metastasis, remodels the tumor microenvironment, and boosts immune escape. Through deep investigation, novel therapeutic strategies for targeting GPCR activation have been developed, and the final aim is to eliminate GPCR-driven gastric carcinogenesis.
Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha: Implications of Anesthesia on Cancers
Authors: Tseng Wei-Cheng , Lai Hou-Chuan , Huang Yi-Hsuan , Chan Shun-Ming , Wu Zhi-Fu
Published: January 2023

Cancer remains a major public health issue and a leading cause of death worldwide. Despite advancements in chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy, surgery is the mainstay of cancer treatment for solid tumors. However, tumor cells are known to disseminate into the vascular and lymphatic systems during surgical manipulation. Additionally, surgery-induced stress responses can produce an immunosuppressive environment that is favorable for cancer relapse. Up to 90% of cancer-related deaths are the result of metastatic disease after surgical resection. Emerging evidence shows that the interactions between tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME) not only play decisive roles in tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis but also have profound effects on therapeutic efficacy. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), a pleiotropic cytokine contributing to both physiological and pathological processes, is one of the main mediators of inflammation-associated carcinogenesis in the TME. Because TNF-α signaling may modulate the course of cancer, it can be therapeutically targeted to ameliorate clinical outcomes. As the incidence of cancer continues to grow, approximately 80% of cancer patients require anesthesia during cancer care for diagnostic, therapeutic, or palliative procedures, and over 60% of cancer patients receive anesthesia for primary surgical resection. Numerous studies have demonstrated that perioperative management, including surgical manipulation, anesthetics/analgesics, and other supportive care, may alter the TME and cancer progression by affecting inflammatory or immune responses during cancer surgery, but the literature about the impact of anesthesia on the TNF-α production and cancer progression is limited. Therefore, this review summarizes the current knowledge of the implications of anesthesia on cancers from the insights of TNF-α release and provides future anesthetic strategies for improving oncological survival.
Combined Hyperthermia and Re-Irradiation in Non-Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review
Authors: Kim Ji-Young , Zschaeck Sebastian , Debus Jürgen , Weykamp Fabian
Published: January 2023

Purpose: This systematic literature review summarizes clinical studies and trials involving combined non-ablative hyperthermia and re-irradiation in locoregionally recurrent cancer except breast cancer. Methods: One database and one registry, MEDLINE and clinicaltrials.gov, respectively, were searched for studies on combined non-ablative hyperthermia and re-irradiation in non-breast cancer patients. Extracted study characteristics included treatment modalities and re-irradiation dose concepts. Outcomes of interest were tumor response, survival measures, toxicity data and palliation. Within-study bias assessment included the identification of conflict of interest (COI). The final search was performed on 29 August 2022. Results: Twenty-three articles were included in the final analysis, reporting on 603 patients with eight major tumor types. Twelve articles (52%) were retrospective studies. Only one randomized trial was identified. No COI statement was declared in 11 studies. Four of the remaining twelve studies exhibited significant COI. Low study and patient numbers, high heterogeneity in treatment modalities and endpoints, as well as significant within- and across-study bias impeded the synthesis of results. Conclusion: Outside of locoregionally recurrent breast cancer, the role of combined moderate hyperthermia and re-irradiation can so far not be established. This review underscores the necessity for more clinical trials to generate higher levels of clinical evidence for combined re-irradiation and hyperthermia.
Performance of Radiomics in Microvascular Invasion Risk Stratification and Prognostic Assessment in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Bodard Sylvain , Liu Yan , Guinebert Sylvain , Kherabi Yousra , Asselah Tarik
Published: January 2023

Background: Primary liver cancer is the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death. Advances in phenomenal imaging are paving the way for application in diagnosis and research. The poor prognosis of advanced HCC warrants a personalized approach. The objective was to assess the value of imaging phenomics for risk stratification and prognostication of HCC. Methods: We performed a meta-analysis of manuscripts published to January 2023 on MEDLINE addressing the value of imaging phenomics for HCC risk stratification and prognostication. Publication information for each were collected using a standardized data extraction form. Results: Twenty-seven articles were analyzed. Our study shows the importance of imaging phenomics in HCC MVI prediction. When the training and validation datasets were analyzed separately by the random-effects model, in the training datasets, radiomics had good MVI prediction (AUC of 0.81 (95% CI 0.76–0.86)). Similar results were found in the validation datasets (AUC of 0.79 (95% CI 0.72–0.85)). Using the fixed effects model, the mean AUC of all datasets was 0.80 (95% CI 0.76–0.84). Conclusions: Imaging phenomics is an effective solution to predict microvascular invasion risk, prognosis, and treatment response in patients with HCC.
Unraveling the Complex Interconnection between Specific Inflammatory Signaling Pathways and Mechanisms Involved in HIV-Associated Colorectal Oncogenesis
Authors: Damane Botle Precious , Mulaudzi Thanyani Victor , Kader Sayed Shakeel , Naidoo Pragalathan , Savkovic Suzana D. , Dlamini Zodwa , Mkhize-Kwitshana Zilungile Lynette
Published: January 2023

The advancement of HIV treatment has led to increased life expectancy. However, people living with HIV (PLWH) are at a higher risk of developing colorectal cancers. Chronic inflammation has a key role in oncogenesis, affecting the initiation, promotion, transformation, and advancement of the disease. PLWH are prone to opportunistic infections that trigger inflammation. It has been documented that 15–20% of cancers are triggered by infections, and this percentage is expected to be increased in HIV co-infections. The incidence of parasitic infections such as helminths, with Ascariasis being the most common, is higher in HIV-infected individuals. Cancer cells and opportunistic infections drive a cascade of inflammatory responses which assist in evading immune surveillance, making them survive longer in the affected individuals. Their survival leads to a chronic inflammatory state which further increases the probability of oncogenesis. This review discusses the key inflammatory signaling pathways involved in disease pathogenesis in HIV-positive patients with colorectal cancers. The possibility of the involvement of co-infections in the advancement of the disease, along with highlights on signaling mechanisms that can potentially be utilized as therapeutic strategies to prevent oncogenesis or halt cancer progression, are addressed.
Deep Learning-Based Classification and Targeted Gene Alteration Prediction from Pleural Effusion Cell Block Whole-Slide Images
Authors: Ren Wenhao , Zhu Yanli , Wang Qian , Jin Haizhu , Guo Yiyi , Lin Dongmei
Published: January 2023

Cytopathological examination is one of the main examinations for pleural effusion, and especially for many patients with advanced cancer, pleural effusion is the only accessible specimen for establishing a pathological diagnosis. The lack of cytopathologists and the high cost of gene detection present opportunities for the application of deep learning. In this retrospective analysis, data representing 1321 consecutive cases of pleural effusion were collected. We trained and evaluated our deep learning model based on several tasks, including the diagnosis of benign and malignant pleural effusion, the identification of the primary location of common metastatic cancer from pleural effusion, and the prediction of genetic alterations associated with targeted therapy. We achieved good results in identifying benign and malignant pleural effusions (0.932 AUC (area under the ROC curve)) and the primary location of common metastatic cancer (0.910 AUC). In addition, we analyzed ten genes related to targeted therapy in specimens and used them to train the model regarding four alteration statuses, which also yielded reasonable results (0.869 AUC for ALK fusion, 0.804 AUC for KRAS mutation, 0.644 AUC for EGFR mutation and 0.774 AUC for NONE alteration). Our research shows the feasibility and benefits of deep learning to assist in cytopathological diagnosis in clinical settings.
Prognostic Prediction for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Ascites: Role of Albumin-Bilirubin (ALBI) Grade and Easy (EZ)-ALBI Grade
Authors: Liao Jia-I , Ho Shu-Yein , Liu Po-Hong , Hsu Chia-Yang , Huang Yi-Hsiang , Su Chien-Wei , Hou Ming-Chih , Huo Teh-Ia
Published: January 2023

Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) often have co-existing ascites, which is a hallmark of liver decompensation. The albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade and EZ (easy)-ALBI grade are used to assess liver functional reserve in HCC, but the predictive accuracy of these two models in HCC patients with ascites is unclear. We aimed to determine the prognostic role of ALBI and EZ-ALBI grades in these patients. A total of 4431 HCC patients were prospectively enrolled and retrospectively analyzed. Independent prognostic predictors were identified by the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. Of all patients, 995 (22.5%) patients had ascites. Grade 1, 2, and 3 ascites were found in 16%, 4%, and 3% of them, respectively. A higher ascites grade was associated with higher ALBI and EZ-ALBI scores and linked with decreased overall survival. In the Cox multivariate analysis, serum bilirubin level > 1.1 mg/dL, creatinine level ≥ 1.2 mg/dL, α-fetoprotein ≥ 20 ng/mL, total tumor volume > 100 cm3, vascular invasion, distant metastasis, poor performance status, ALBI grade 2 and 3, EZ-ALBI grade 2 and 3, and non-curative treatments were independently associated with increased mortality (all p < 0.05) among HCC patients with ascites. The ALBI and EZ-ALBI grade can adequately stratify overall survival in both the entire cohort and specifically in patients with ascites. Ascites is highly prevalent and independently predict patient survival in HCC. The ALBI and EZ-ALBI grade are feasible markers of liver dysfunction and can stratify long-term survival in HCC patients with ascites.
Development of Density Control Technology for Improving Medical Radiation Shielding Performance of Waste Marble Powder Mixture
Authors: Kim Seon-Chil
Published: January 2023

The marble used at construction sites creates a large amount of sludge after processing. Because waste marble has a high calcium oxide content, it is often used as a concrete mix building material. In this study, the use of waste sludge in the fabrication of radiation shields was investigated for medical shielding applications. A shielding sheet was produced by mixing a polymer and waste marble powder. A method for improving the density of the shielding sheet was developed to improve the shielding performance. To improve the density of the shielding sheet using the WMP mixture, the gap between particles was narrowed by making the WMP particles small and by mixing in a material with a proven shielding effect, such as bismuth oxide. In addition, a stirring defoaming process was used to reduce the voids between particles, and we presented a method to control the density by processing the WMP at a high temperature of 1200 °C. The experimental results revealed that the waste marble powder exhibited the highest shielding effect when mixed with radiation shielding materials such as bismuth oxide. The reduction of voids and the size of the particles used in preparing the shielding sheet proved to be effective in reducing the gap between the particles, resulting in an improvement of shielding of approximately 15% to 20%. The investigated shielding material based on waste marble powder was shown to be effective in shielding low-dose radiation.
Diplosphaera elongata sp. nova: Morphology and Phenotypic Plasticity of This New Microalga Isolated from Lichen Thalli
Authors: Chiva Salvador , Bordenave César Daniel , Gázquez Ayelén , Barreno Eva
Published: January 2023

Lichen phycobiomes have recently emerged as a source of biodiversity and new species of microalgae. Although in the genus Diplosphaera free-living microalgae are common, numerous strains belonging to this genus have frequently been recognized or isolated from lichen thalli. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of the strain Diplosphaera sp. ASUV135, isolated from a lichen thallus, has been carried out using an integrative taxonomic approach. The SSU and nuclear-encoding ITS rDNA, as well as the chloroplast rbcL gene, were sequenced and analyzed to ascertain its taxonomic position and phylogenetic relationships within the genus Diplosphaera. This strain was also analyzed by light, confocal and transmission microscopy for morphological and ultrastructural characterization. The phenotypic plasticity in this strain was also confirmed by changes in its morphology under different growth conditions, as well as those of modulated Chlorophyll a fluorescence emissions, to understand its photosynthetic functioning. Our results pointed out that this strain represents a new taxon within the genus Diplosphaera (Prasiola group), described here as Diplosphaera elongate sp. nova. This study also provides tools for future research on organisms with high phenotypic plasticity by using molecular, morphological, ultrastructural and physiological approaches.
Distribution of Freshwater Alien Animal Species in Morocco: Current Knowledge and Management Issues
Authors: Taybi Abdelkhaleq Fouzi , Mabrouki Youness , Piscart Christophe
Published: January 2023

This work presents currently available knowledge on alien species (AS) found in the inland waters of Morocco. The objective is to provide an updated list of alien species and identify the main introduction pathways and possible threats to native biodiversity. The dataset was built from an extensive literature search supplemented by our own research work (published or in progress). The main areas harboring xenodiversity in Moroccan freshwaters correspond to protected areas (e.g., Ramsar Site and SIBE). These areas are currently home to 41 confirmed AS belonging to different taxonomic groups. Fish are the most abundant taxonomic group with 21 species, followed by molluscs (7 species) and arthropods (7 species). The presence of 15 more species was also noticed but considered doubtful. Almost half of these AS were introduced intentionally. They correspond to restocking programs and are likely the most serious threat to native biodiversity through predation, competition, and hybridization. Commercial activities around aquarium and ornamental species appear as the second source favoring colonization by AS. Implementing protective regulations regarding the import of exotic species in Morocco appears very urgent to protect local native diversity. In addition, detecting and monitoring the expansion of AS within the colonized areas and studies improving biological and ecological knowledge seem crucial to mitigate their possible impacts on native communities and preserve Moroccan freshwater ecosystems.
Fast Marching Techniques for Teaming UAV’s Applications in Complex Terrain
Authors: Garrido Santiago , Muñoz Javier , López Blanca , Quevedo Fernando , Monje Concepción A. , Moreno Luis
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we present a study on coverage missions carried out by UAV formations in 3D environments. These missions are designed to be applied in tracking and search and rescue missions, especially in the case of accidents. In this manner, the presented method focuses on the path planning stage, the objective of which is to compute a convenient trajectory to completely cover a certain area in a determined environment. The methodology followed uses a Gaussian mixture to approximate a probability of containment distribution along with the Fast Marching Square (FM2) as path planner. The Gaussians permit to define a zigzag trajectory that optimizes the path. Next, a first 2D geometric path perpendicular to the Voronoi diagram of the Gaussian distribution is calculated, obtained by skeletonization. To this path, the height above the ground is added plus the desired flight height to make it 3D. Finally, the FM2 method for formations is applied to make the path smooth and safe enough to be followed by UAVs. The simulation experiments show that the proposed method achieves good results for the zigzag path in terms of smoothness, safety and distance to cover the desired area through the formation of UAVs.
Thermodynamic Assessment of the Effects of Intermittent Fasting and Fatty Liver Disease Diets on Longevity
Authors: Öngel Melek Ece , Yildiz Cennet , Başer Özge , Yilmaz Bayram , Özilgen Mustafa
Published: January 2023

Organisms uptake energy from their diet and maintain a highly organized structure by importing energy and exporting entropy. A fraction of the generated entropy is accumulated in their bodies, thus causing ageing. Hayflick’s entropic age concept suggests that the lifespan of organisms is determined by the amount of entropy they generate. Organisms die after reaching their lifespan entropy generation limit. On the basis of the lifespan entropy generation concept, this study suggests that an intermittent fasting diet, which means skipping some meals without increasing the calories uptake in the other courses, may increase longevity. More than 1.32 million people died in 2017 because of chronic liver diseases, and a quarter of the world’s population has non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. There are no specific dietary guidelines available for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases but shifting to a healthier diet is recommended as the primary treatment. A healthy obese person may generate 119.9 kJ/kg K per year of entropy and generate a total of 4796 kJ/kg K entropy in the first 40 years of life. If obese persons continue to consume the same diet, they may have 94 years of life expectancy. After age 40, Child–Pugh Score A, B, and C NAFLD patients may generate 126.2, 149.9, and 272.5 kJ/kg K year of entropy and have 92, 84, and 64 years of life expectancy, respectively. If they were to make a major recommended shift in their diet, the life expectancy of Child–Pugh Score A, B, and C patients may increase by 29, 32, and 43 years, respectively.
A New Type in TRNSYS 18 for Simulation of Borehole Heat Exchangers Affected by Different Groundwater Flow Velocities
Authors: Antelmi Matteo , Turrin Francesco , Zille Andrea , Fedrizzi Roberto
Published: January 2023

Heating ventilating air-conditioning (HVAC) systems have been increasingly widespread in Italy: they can exploit renewable energies, are energy efficient systems, do not directly consume fossil fuels, and in the post-pandemic era, have also been subject to incentive processes by the Italian government. In South Tyrol, subject to harsh climates in both the winter and summer seasons, ground-source heat pump (GSHP) systems can be an excellent solution for the air conditioning of buildings. Unfortunately, too often, the design of HVAC systems with borehole heat exchangers (BHEs) is not adequate, and therefore, an innovative and expeditious numerical solution is proposed. A new numerical element (named Type285), written in Fortran code, was developed for TRNSYS 18 and able to implement the main features of BHEs and the surrounding aquifer. Type285 was compared with numerical models present in the literature (using hydrogeological software such as MODFLOW) and validated with the experimental data. The demonstration of the exchanged energy increase between the BHE and subsoil due to the increase in the groundwater flow velocity was carried out and evaluated. The choice to simulate BHE in TRNSYS using Type285 can be a fast and advantageous solution for HVAC system design.
Stealthy Cyberattacks Detection Based on Control Performance Assessment Methods for the Air Conditioning Industrial Installation
Authors: Możaryn Jakub Filip , Frątczak Michał , Stebel Krzysztof , Kłopot Tomasz , Nocoń Witold , Ordys Andrzej , Ozana Stepan
Published: January 2023

This paper aims to study the workflow of the detection centre of stealthy attacks on industrial installations that generate an increase in energy consumption. Such long-lasting, undetected attacks on industrial facilities make production more expensive and less competitive or damage the installation in the long term. We present the concept of the remote detection system of cyberattacks directed at maliciously changing the controlled variable in an industrial process air conditioning system. The monitored signals are gathered at the PLC-controlled installation and sent to the remote detection system, where the discrepancies of signals are analysed based on the Control Performance Assessment indices. The results of performed tests prove the legitimacy of the adopted approach.
Statistical Optimization of E-Scooter Micro-Mobility Utilization in Postal Service
Authors: Ayözen Yunus Emre
Published: January 2023

New-generation technologies on vehicles provide many advantages in terms of cost, time, and the environment in the transportation, logistics, freight, and delivery service sectors. This study aimed to measure the effect of using e-scooter vehicles in mail delivery on the energy cost and delivery time in Turkey. Considering the number of test drives in e-scooter applications of potential regions, the amount of energy consumption and driving time data were used. The number of test drives for each e-scooter was assumed as a package or postal delivery amount. The methodology of this study consisted of measuring the effect of input parameters on output variables using the linear response optimization regression method and minimizing the amount of energy consumed and delivery time. The nine input variables and two output variables based on the test drive were analyzed in this study. The distance to the delivery address, region where the delivery address was located, and temperature were found to be statistically significant predictors of the amount of energy required for delivery. The statistical significance levels of time zone, distance, temperature, rainfall, and region factors were calculated as 0.053, 0.001, 0.0033, 0.044, and 0.042, respectively. Driver age, data time zone, distance, wind speed, and delivery region factors affected the time required for delivery with an e-scooter. The statistical significance levels of these factors were calculated as 0.02, 0.001, 0.001, 0.043, and 0.001, respectively. Additionally, N (p; 0.042), NE (p; 0.030), and W (p; 0.057) wind directions directly influenced the delivery time. SE (p; 0.017) was the only wind direction that statistically significantly affected energy consumption. The objective functions were estimated by calculating the optimum values of the input parameters for the minimum energy consumption and delivery time. The optimum values of both input and output variables were calculated based on the desirability values of the optimization models, which were in the optimum solution set. The average data of the optimum values of the objective functions were computed as 2.83 for the number of tests and TRY 0.021 (per 0.098 km) for the energy cost required for delivery. The necessity of using e-scooters, which are more environmentally friendly, economical, and time-saving than traditional delivery vehicles, in postal delivery service is among the prominent suggestions of this study.
Effects of Long-Term Application of Earthworm Bio-Organic Fertilization Technology on Soil Quality and Organo-Mineral Complex in Tea Garden
Authors: Li Huan , Zhou Yang , Mei Huiling , Li Jianlong , Chen Xuan , Huang Qiwei , Li Xinghui , Tang Jinchi
Published: January 2023

Soil quality is crucial for plant productivity and environmental quality sustainability. Applying bio-organic fertilizer to achieve sustainable agriculture has become popular. Tea garden soil which had been fertilized for 12 years was chosen for the study, and soil quality and microaggregate composition were studied. The results showed that earthworm bio-organic fertilizer treatment could increase the indicators of soil’s physical and chemical properties such as total carbon and total nitrogen in soil. Bio-organic fertilization technology could significantly increase the number and activity of soil microorganisms, and upgrade soil enzyme activity which was related to soil nutrients. Specifically, the activities of urease in soil were markedly enhanced due to the implication of bio-organic fertilizer. Additionally, SR-FTIR analysis revealed that clay minerals were connected as nuclei with the capacity to bind carbon, and that this interaction was aided by organic fertilization. Specifically, the replacement of chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer can improve the ability of clay minerals and iron/aluminum/silicon oxides to protect aliphatic groups, polysaccharides and proteins. In conclusion, continuous organic amendments initialize a positive feedback loop for the maintenance of the organic–mineral complex in soils, which can contribute to enhanced soil organic carbon (SOC) storage. These results confirmed the feasibility of organic fertilizer for soil quality improvement in tea plantation ecosystems.
Exogenous Indole-3-Acetic Acid Production and Phosphate Solubilization by Chlorella vulgaris Beijerinck in Heterotrophic Conditions
Authors: Bispo Rafaela Leticia Brito , Ceccato-Antonini Sandra Regina , Takita Marco Aurélio , Rosa-Magri Marcia Maria
Published: January 2023

The role of soil-borne microalgae in the edaphic ecosystem is barely known, especially concerning their plant-growth-promoting traits, although they are used as biofertilizers. In this study, a microalgal strain isolated from soil cultivated with maize was evaluated as an exogenous producer of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in potato dextrose broth—PD—and sugarcane molasses, with or without tryptophan, and phosphate solubilizer (in ‘National Botanical Research Institute’s phosphate’—NBRIP—medium with tricalcium phosphate)with plant-growth-promoting traits, under heterotrophic conditions. The species of microalga was identified, by sequencing the ITS region in the rDNA and the morphological characteristics, as Chlorella vulgaris. Its growth was significantly higher in the PD medium, with slower growth in molasses. The addition of tryptophan did not influence the growth of C. vulgaris in either medium, but it increased the production of IAA, mainly in the PD medium, to 265 µg mL−1. The microalga grew in the medium with insoluble phosphate, releasing phosphorus into the medium (30 mg L−1 after 72 h). This is the first study on the application of C. vulgaris as a phosphate solubilizer. More studies should be performed on C. vulgaris as a prospective plant-growth-promoting microorganism, besides its ability to produce exogenous IAA, and further investigations should be conducted on developing inexpensive culture media.