bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transition to Targeted Therapies Improved the Prognosis and Increased the Utilization of Medical Treatments among Patients with Synchronous Metastatic Renal Cell Cancer
Authors: Laru Lauri , Ronkainen Hanna , Vaarala Markku H.
Published: August 2021

Since the introduction of targeted therapies (TTs) for metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC) in 2005, a limited amount of epidemiological data on efficacy of modern drug therapies for synchronous mRCC has been published. We present a comprehensive nationwide cohort including all cases of primarily metastasized renal cell cancer among adults diagnosed between 2005 and 2010, based on data from the Finnish Cancer Registry and patient records from treating hospitals. Applied treatment protocols and survival outcomes were analyzed. A total of 977 patients were included in the analysis; 499 patients were diagnosed between 2005 and 2007 and 478 patients were diagnosed between 2008 and 2010. The median overall survival (OS) was 8.80 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 7.60–10.02). The median OS of the patients diagnosed at the latter era was significantly better (11.1; 95% CI: 8.8–13.4 vs. 7.0; 95% CI: 5.7–8.3 months,

p
≤
0.001

). A total number of 524 (53.8%) patients received drug therapy. Altogether, TTs including tyrosine kinase inhibitors, mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors (mTORi), and vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor covered 331 (63.2%) of first-line treatments, whereas interferon and its combinations with chemotherapy were used for 186 (35.5%) patients. The median OS rates for TT and interferon as first-line therapy groups were 19.9 (16.9–22.8) and 14.9 (12.3–17.4) months, respectively. The OS for patients who did not receive drug therapy after cytoreductive nephrectomy was dismal. We found that the OS estimate of mRCC patients in Finland has improved since the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. However, the prognosis remains poor for frail, elderly patients with an impaired performance status.
On Polynomial Solutions of Pell’s Equation
Authors: Sankari Hasan , Abdo Ahmad
Published: August 2021

Polynomial Pell’s equation is

x

2

−
D

y

2

=
±
1

, where

D

is a quadratic polynomial with integer coefficients and the solutions

X
,
Y

must be quadratic polynomials with integer coefficients. Let

D
=

a

2

x

2

+

a

1

x
+

a

0

be a polynomial in

Z

x

. In this paper, some quadratic polynomial solutions are given for the equation

x

2

−
D

y

2

=
±
1

which are significant from computational point of view.
Rapid Determination of 21 Chinese Domestically Registered Pesticides in Ginseng Using Cleanup Based on Zirconium-Oxide-Modified Silica and Ultrahigh-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Zhang Zhongbei , Lu Zhou , Fang Nan , Hou Zhiguang , Ren Weiming , Li Yueru , Lu Zhongbin
Published: August 2021

In this study, an analytical method was developed for the rapid determination of 21 pesticides used in ginseng cultivation. All pesticides covered by this method have been registered by 2020 in China for use on ginseng. The extracts were cleaned up using zirconium-oxide-modified silica (Z-Sep) and primary secondary amine (PSA). The combination of Z-Sep and PSA provided good recovery for all analytes and the cleanest matrix background out of a number of PSA-based sorbent combinations, as indicated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC). Instrumental analysis was completed in 5 min using the ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The linearity (r > 0.99) for all analytes was satisfactory over the calibration range of 0.002–0.1 μg mL−1. Intraday recoveries (n = 5) at ginseng-spiked levels of 0.02, 0.05, 0.1, and 1 mg kg−1 ranged between 72% and 119%, with the corresponding relative standard deviations (RSDs), were less than 19%, while the interday recoveries (n = 15) ranged between 77% and 103%, and RSDs were less than 22%. Limits of quantitation (LOQs) ranged between 0.02 and 0.05 mg kg−1 for all 21 pesticides. This is a seminal study using Z-Sep for the efficient cleanup of ginseng samples, and it could present a practical method for future monitoring of pesticide residues in ginseng produced in China.
Assessment of Efficacy and Toxicity of Cyclophosphamide Chemotherapy in Canines with Malignant Mammary Tumor: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Suryawanshi R. V.
Published: August 2021

Surgical excision with chemotherapy is a commonly used treatment modality to treat canine mammary tumor (CMT), but it is unclear whether different treatment modalities may have similar efficacies and toxicities. The objective of this clinical study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of cyclophosphamide chemotherapy along with surgical excision of malignant mammary tumor in canines by clinical, haemato-biochemical, radiographical, and histopathological evaluation before and after treatment. Eighteen dogs with malignant mammary tumor, reported to Teaching Veterinary Hospital, were divided into two groups consisting of nine dogs in each group. Group I (n = 9) dogs were treated with surgical excision of malignant mammary tumor alone, and group II (n = 9) was treated with surgical excision of mammary tumor with cyclophosphamide chemotherapy at 50–100 mg/m2 intravenously in weekly doses by three consecutive weeks. In group II, 7 dogs (78%) showed complete regression of tumor after the third dose of cyclophosphamide and showed increase in the quality and survival life and remaining two dogs showed recurrence of tumor after one year. Some dogs showed common adverse reactions such as lethargy, moderate alopecia, vomiting, anorexia, anemia, and haematuria after the third dose of chemotherapy. To conclude, surgical excision combined with cyclophosphamide chemotherapy is an effective protocol for management of malignant mammary tumor in canines with minimal toxicity and it could be possible to increase the quality and survival life of patients.
Analysis of Changes of Intestinal Flora in Elderly Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease and Liver Cancer and Its Correlation with Abnormal Gastrointestinal Motility
Authors: Zhang Weiwei , Zhang Xuelian , Zhang Yanyan , Wu Huanyu , Liu Qiaoling , Zhou Xinyu , Meng Yunxia
Published: August 2021

Objective. To investigate the changes of intestinal flora in elderly patients with Alzheimer’s disease and liver cancer and its correlation with abnormal gastrointestinal motility. Methods. From January 2018 to December 2020, 102 elderly patients with Alzheimer’s disease and liver cancer were selected as the observation group. Eighty-nine healthy patients during the same period were selected as the control group. The two groups of intestinal flora (intestinal microbial diversity) were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and high-throughput sequencing. The two groups of serum motilin (MTL) and gastrin (GAS) levels were measured by the Hitachi automatic biochemical analyzer 7600. Pearson correlation analysis software was used to analyze the relationship between changes in the intestinal flora and gastrointestinal motility in elderly patients with Alzheimer’s disease and liver cancer. Results. The contents of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli in the observation group were lower than those in the control group, and the contents of Escherichia coli, Helicobacter pylori, and Streptococcus were higher than those in the control group. The Chaol index and Shannon index in the observation group were higher than those in the control group. The gastrointestinal motility levels MTL and GAS of the observation group were higher than those of the control group. The results of Pearson correlation analysis showed that the Chaol index and Shannon index of elderly patients with Alzheimer’s disease and liver cancer were positively correlated with MTL and GAS. Conclusion. Elderly patients with Alzheimer’s disease and liver cancer often have changes in the intestinal flora, which are correlated with abnormal gastrointestinal motility. Strengthening the analysis of changes in patients’ intestinal flora can enhance clinical medication knowledge and improve gastrointestinal motility in patients.
Failure Envelopes of Composite Bucket Foundation for Offshore Wind Turbines under Combined Loading with considering Different Scour Depths
Authors: Jing Yuanxu , Wang Yuan , Huang Jingqi , Wang Wei , Luo Lunbo
Published: August 2021

The composite bucket foundation of offshore wind turbines is subjected to a variety of loads in the marine environment, such as horizontal load H, vertical load V, bending moment M, and torque T. In addition, due to the characteristics of its connection section, the water flow around the foundation will produce scour pits of various degrees, reducing the depth of the bucket foundation, which has a nonnegligible impact on the overall stability of the bucket foundation. In this paper, the failure envelope characteristics of different combinations of loads on bucket foundations, including V -H-T, V -M-T, conventional V -H-M, and noncoplanar V -H-M, are numerically investigated with considering different scour depths. The numerical results indicate that the V -H-T, V -M-T, conventional V -H-M, and noncongruent V -H-M failure envelopes gradually shrink inwards with increasing scour depth, and the stability of the composite bucket foundation decreases; the conventional V -H-M failure envelope shows an asymmetry of convexity to the right, and the noncongruent V -H-M failure envelope shows an asymmetry of outward convexity to the left and right. The corresponding mathematical expressions for the failure envelope are obtained through the normalized fitting process, which can be used to evaluate the stability of the bucket foundation based on the relative relationship between the failure envelope and the actual load conditions, which can provide practical guidance for engineering design.
Novel Synthesis of Titanium Oxide Nanoparticles: Biological Activity and Acute Toxicity Study
Authors: Hamed Moaaz T. , Bakr Basant A. , Shahin Yahya H. , Elwakil Bassma H. , Abu-Serie Marwa M. , Aljohani Faizah S. , Bekhit Adnan A.
Published: August 2021

Titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) have been attracting numerous research studies due to their activity; however, there is a growing concern about the corresponding toxicity. Here in the present study, titanium oxide nanoparticles were newly synthesized using propolis extract followed by antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity assay using human cancer cell lines, and acute toxicity study. The physicochemical characterization of the newly synthesized TiO2 NPs had average size = 57.5 nm, PdI = 0.308, and zeta potential = −32.4 mV. Antimicrobial activity assessment proved the superior activity against Gram-positive compared to Gram-negative bacteria and yeast (lowest MIC values 8, 32, and 32, respectively). The newly synthesized TiO2 NPs showed a potent activity against the following human cancer cell lines: liver (HepG-2) (IC50 8.5 µg/mL), colon (Caco-2), and breast (MDA-MB 231) (IC50 11.0 and 18.7 µg/mL). In vivo acute toxicity study was conducted using low (10 mg/kg) and high (1000 mg/kg) doses of the synthesized TiO2 NPs in albino male rats. Biochemistry and histopathology of the liver, kidney, and brain proved the safety of the synthesized TiO2 NPs at low dose while at high dose, there was TiO2 NPs deposit in different vital organs except the cerebral tissue.
A Mountain Summit Recognition Method Based on Improved Faster R‐CNN
Authors: Kong Yueping , Wang Yun , Guo Song , Wang Jiajing
Published: August 2021

Mountain summits are vital topographic feature points, which are essential for understanding landform processes and their impacts on the environment and ecosystem. Traditional summit detection methods operate on handcrafted features extracted from digital elevation model (DEM) data and apply parametric detection algorithms to locate mountain summits. However, these methods may no longer be effective to achieve desirable recognition results in small summits and suffer from the objective criterion lacking problem. Thus, to address these problems, we propose an improved Faster region‐convolutional neural network (R‐CNN) to accurately detect the mountain summits from DEM data. Based on Faster R‐CNN, the improved network adopts a residual convolution block to replace the traditional part and adds a feature pyramid network (FPN) to fuse the features with adjacent layers to better address the mountain summit detection task. The residual convolution is employed to capture the deep correlation between visual and physical morphological features. The FPN is utilized to integrate the location and semantic information in the extracted feature maps to effectively represent the mountain summit area. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed network could achieve the highest recall and precision without manually designed summit features and accurately identify small summits.
Crow Search Algorithm for MEMS Gyroscope Temperature Drift Signal and Processing for Denoising
Authors: Wang Xichen , Cao Huiliang , Duan Xiaomin
Published: August 2021

To solve the problem of micro‐electro‐mechanical system (MEMS) gyroscope noise, this paper presents a variational mode decomposition (VMD) method based on crow search algorithm. First, the signal was decomposed by variational mode decomposition for optimization of crow search algorithm (CSA‐VMD) method. The parameters required by the VMD method (penalty parameter α and decomposition number K) are given by the crow search algorithm, and then the signal is decomposed into the superposition of multiple subsignals, called intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). The sample entropy (SE) corresponding to each IMF is then obtained. By calculating the sample entropy, the noise signal can be divided into pure noise part, mixing part, and temperature drift part. Second, Savitzky–Golay smoothing denoising (SG) is used to filter the mixed noise signal to eliminate the influence of noise. Third, for the filtering of the drift part, the least square support vector machine optimized by the crow search algorithm (CSA‐LSSVM) was used to filter, so as to reduce the effect of temperature drift. Finally, the processed signal is reconstructed to achieve the goal of denoising. Through the results, it can be found that the optimized VMD and LSSVM using CSA algorithm can achieve more effective denoising. After using the method proposed in this paper, the angular random walk value is 1.1175  ∗ 10−4°/h/√Hz, and the bias stability is 0.0017°/h. Compared with the original signal, the two signals are optimized by 98.1% and 98.2%, respectively. It can be seen from the experimental results that the proposed CSA‐VMD method, SG method, and CSA‐LSSVM method can effectively eliminate noise effects.
Naringin and Hesperidin Counteract Diclofenac‐Induced Hepatotoxicity in Male Wistar Rats via Their Antioxidant, Anti‐Inflammatory, and Antiapoptotic Activities
Authors: Hassan Rasha A. , Hozayen Walaa G. , Abo Sree Haidy T. , Al-Muzafar Hessah M. , Amin Kamal A. , Ahmed Osama M.
Published: August 2021

This study is aimed at evaluating the preventive effect and at suggesting the mode of actions of naringin and hesperidin and their combination in diclofenac‐induced hepatotoxicity. Male Wistar rats, intraperitoneally injected with diclofenac sodium (3 mg/kg b.wt/day), were orally treated with naringin (20 mg/kg b.wt/day) and hesperidin (20 mg/kg b.wt/day) and their combination for 4 weeks. The administrations of naringin and hesperidin to diclofenac‐injected rats led to a significant decrease in the elevated serum ALT, AST, LDH, ALP, GGT, total bilirubin, TNF‐α, and IL‐17 levels as well as liver lipid peroxidation and liver p53 and caspase‐3 mRNA expressions. In contrast, serum IL‐4 level, liver GSH content, and liver GPx and SOD activities increased. In association, diclofenac‐induced deleterious histological alterations including hydropic degeneration, cytoplasmic vacuolization, apoptosis, and focal hepatic necrosis of hepatocytes associated with inflammatory cells’ infiltration were remarkably improved by treatments with naringin and hesperidin. In conclusion, naringin, hesperidin, and their combination, which was the most potent, counteract diclofenac‐induced liver injury via antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and antiapoptotic actions. Thus, this study recommends the use of naringin and hesperidin or their combination to resolve the side effects of drugs like diclofenac on the liver.
Parametric Vibration Analysis of a Six‐Degree‐of‐Freedom Electro‐Hydraulic Stewart Platform
Authors: Yuan Xiaoming , Tang Yue , Wang Weiqi , Zhang Lijie
Published: August 2021

Electro‐hydraulic Stewart 6‐DOF platform is a 6‐DOF parallel mechanism combined with the electro‐hydraulic servo control system, which is widely used in the field of construction machinery. In actual working conditions, the flow and pressure pulsation of the hydraulic oil output from the hydraulic leg of the electro‐hydraulic Stewart platform are inevitable, so the equivalent stiffness of the platform leg will change, and the stiffness parameters of the transmission system will change, resulting in vibration, which will affect the accuracy of the platform. This paper considering the fluid unit equivalent stiffness cyclical fluctuations and leg, on the basis of the relationship between hydraulic stiffness, constructs the electric hydraulic Stewart platform machine vibration dynamics equation, fluid coupling parameters of vibration parameters using the method of the multiscale approximate analytic formula of the main resonance and combination resonance are derived, and the system parameters vibration time‐domain response and frequency response under two different poses are discussed. Results show that the system first to six order natural frequency and the first to the sixth order natural frequency and frequency of hydraulic oil equivalent stiffness of the combination of frequency will have an effect on the parameters of the system vibration. In the main resonance, the dominant frequency is mainly the first to sixth order natural frequency of the system; in the combined resonance, the dominant frequency is the combined frequency. Through the parameter vibration analysis of two different positions of the platform, it is concluded that when the platform is in an asymmetric position, each leg of the system is more involved in vibration. This study can provide the reference for the subsequent dynamic optimization and reliability analysis of the electro‐hydraulic Stewart platform.
Cell-Intrinsic Mechanisms of Drug Tolerance to Systemic Therapies in Cancer
Authors: Leonce Camille , Saintigny Pierre , Ortiz-Cuaran Sandra
Published: August 2021

In patients with cancer with metastatic disease, the rate of complete tumor response to systemic therapies is low, and residual lesions persist in the majority of patients due to early molecular adaptation in cancer cells. A growing body of evidence suggests that a subpopulation of drug-tolerant persister cells—a reversible phenotype characterized by reduced drug sensitivity and decreased cell proliferation—maintains residual disease and may serve as a reservoir for resistant phenotypes. The survival of these residual tumor cells can be caused by reactivation of specific signaling pathways, phenotypic plasticity (i.e., transdifferentiation), epigenetic or metabolic reprogramming, downregulation of apoptosis as well as transcriptional remodeling. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms that enable adaptive survival in drug-tolerant cells. We describe the main characteristics and dynamic nature of this persistent state, and highlight the current therapeutic strategies that may be used to interfere with the establishment of drug-tolerant cells, as an alternative to improve objective response to systemic therapies and delay the emergence of resistance to improve long-term survival.
SHP2 Potentiates the Oncogenic Activity of β-Catenin to Promote Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Martin Elisha , Agazie Yehenew M.
Published: August 2021

Previous studies have reported dysregulated cytoplasmic and nuclear expression of the β-catenin protein in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in the absence of Wnt signaling pathway dysregulation. However, the mechanism that sustains β-catenin protein dysregulation independent of Wnt signaling is not understood. In this study, we show that Src homology phosphotyrosyl phosphatase 2 (SHP2) is essential for β-catenin protein stability and for sustaining the cytoplasmic and nuclear pools in TNBC cells. The first evidence for this possibility came from immunofluorescence (IF) and immunoblotting (IB) studies that showed that inhibition of SHP2 induces E-cadherin expression and depletion of cytoplasmic and nuclear β-catenin, which in turn confers adherence junction mediated cell–cell adhesion. We further show that SHP2 promotes β-catenin protein stability by mediating the inactivation of GSK3β through its positive effect on Akt and ERK1/2 activation, which was confirmed by direct pharmacologic inhibition of the PI3K-Akt and the MEK-ERK signaling pathway. Finally, we show that SHP2-stabilized β-catenin contributes to TNBC cell growth, transformation, cancer stem cell (CSC) properties, and tumorigenesis and metastasis. Overall, the findings in this report show that SHP2 mediates β-catenin protein stability to promote TNBC.

Implications:

Data presented in this article demonstrates that SHP2 positively regulates β-catenin protein stability, which in turn promotes triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell transformation, tumorigenesis, and metastasis.
Interleukin-1 and Interleukin-6 Polymorphisms Might Influence Predisposition to Hemorrhagic Cerebral Vascular Diseases: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Lin Jianjian , Zhang Weiqiao , Wang Zhengzhong , Zhao Fei
Published: August 2021

Background: Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6 polymorphisms might influence predisposition to hemorrhagic cerebral vascular diseases, but the results of already published studies regarding relationship between IL-1/IL-6 polymorphisms and hemorrhagic cerebral vascular diseases were still controversial and ambiguous. Objectives: The authors designed this meta-analysis to more precisely estimate the relationship between IL-1/IL-6 polymorphisms and hemorrhagic cerebral vascular diseases by pooling the results of already published related studies. Methods: The authors searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and CNKI for already published studies. Eighteen already published studies were pooled analyzed in this meta-analysis. Results: The pooled meta-analyses’ results showed that distributions of IL-1A rs1800587, IL-1B rs16944, and IL-6 rs1800796 polymorphisms among patients and controls differed significantly. Moreover, distribution of the IL-6 rs1800795 polymorphism among patients and controls from Asians also differed significantly. Further analyses showed similar findings for IL-1A rs1800587, IL-1B rs16944, and IL-6 rs1800796 polymorphisms in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) subgroup. Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggested that IL-1A rs1800587, IL-1B rs16944, and IL-6 rs1800796 polymorphisms might influence susceptibility to hemorrhagic cerebral vascular diseases, especially for aSAH. Moreover, IL-6 rs1800795 might influence susceptibility to hemorrhagic cerebral vascular diseases in Asians.
“Integrating China in the International Consortium for Personalized Medicine”: The Coordination and Support Action to Foster Collaboration in Personalized Medicine Development between Europe and China
Authors: Morsella Alisha , Cadeddu Chiara , Castagna Carolina , Hoxhaj Ilda , Sassano Michele , Wang Chiuhui Mary , Wang Lili , Klessova Svetlana , de Belvis Antonio Giulio , Boccia Stefania , Ricciardi Walter
Published: August 2021

“Integrating China in the International Consortium for Personalized Medicine” (IC2PerMed) is a coordination and support action funded within the Horizon 2020 work program. Following the guidance of the International Consortium for Personalized Medicine (ICPerMed), the project’s overarching aim is to align the European Union and China’s research agendas in the field of personalized medicine (PM) to enable a swift development of PM approaches in the EU with strong leverage upon EU-Chinese collaboration. Living in the CO­VID-19 era, we are witnessing how the challenges imposed by the pandemic all around the globe have been acting as a catalyst for collaborations and knowledge sharing among national health systems worldwide. Given the strong interest on behalf of both Europe and China in the advancement of PM approaches, now more than ever, a cross-border collaboration between the 2 powers can accelerate the effective translation of such innovation to healthcare systems, advance research, and ensure that such change follows the directions toward the path of sustainability. IC2PerMed developments will be led by European and Chinese experts equally assembled into 3 Working Groups: (1) people and organization, (2) innovation and market, and (3) research and clinical studies in PM. This complex and dynamic network of actions thrives on dialog, cooperation, and alignment of research at national and global levels; work in the direction taken by IC2PerMed shall pave the way toward the realization of PM’s full potential, prevent it from becoming a burden for healthcare systems, and, rather, prove that it provides an essential and irreplaceable contribution to their effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability.
Determinants of Caregiver Burden in Early-Onset Dementia
Authors: Chiari Annalisa , Pistoresi Barbara , Galli Chiara , Tondelli Manuela , Vinceti Giulia , Molinari Maria Angela , Addabbo Tindara , Zamboni Giovanna
Published: August 2021

Introduction: Caregivers of patients with early-onset dementia (EOD) experience high levels of burden, which is known to be affected by caregivers’ psychological features as well as by patients’ and caregivers’ demographical and social variables. Although potential clinical, demographical, and social determinants have been separately examined, it is not known how they reciprocally interact. Methods: Ninety-two consecutive patient-caregiver dyads were recruited from the Cognitive Neurology Clinics of Modena, Northern Italy. Caregivers were asked to fill in questionnaires regarding their burden, psychological distress, and family economic status. Data were analyzed with multivariable regression models and then entered in a mediation model. Results: Caregiver burden was positively related to female caregiver sex, spousal relationship to the patient, severity of patient’s behavioral symptoms, diagnostic delay, and financial distress of the family. It was negatively related to disease duration, patient’s education, region of birth, caregiver age, number of caregiver’s days off work, number of offspring, and caregiver perception of patient’s quality of life. While the effect of caregiver age, diagnostic delay, and of proxies of family or social network directly impacted on caregiver’s burden, the effect of patient’s disease duration, being a wife caregiver, financial distress, and number of caregiver’s days off work was entirely mediated by the level of caregiver psychological distress. Conclusions: Both direct actions (such as increasing social networks and shortening diagnostic delay) and indirect actions aimed at reducing psychological distress (such as increasing the number of caregiver’s days off work and financial support) should be planned to reduce caregiver’s burden.
Prognostic and Diagnostic Values of Novel Serum and Urine Biomarkers in Lupus Nephritis: A Systematic Review
Authors: Radin Massimo , Miraglia Paolo , Barinotti Alice , Fenoglio Roberta , Roccatello Dario , Sciascia Savino
Published: August 2021

Introduction: While renal biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosing lupus nephritis (LN), the prognostic and diagnostic role of non-invasive biomarkers for LN is currently debated. Methods: Available studies published in last 5 years (2015–2020) assessing the diagnostic and prognostic value of urinary and/or serological biomarkers in subjects with LN were analyzed in this systematic review. Results: Eighty-five studies were included (comprehending 13,496 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE], 8,872 LN, 487 pediatric LN, 3,977 SLE but no LN, 160 pediatric SLE but no LN and 7,679 controls). Most of the studies were cross-sectional (62; 73%), while 14 (17%) were prospective. In sixty studies (71%), the diagnosis of LN was biopsy-confirmed. Forty-four out of 85 (52%) investigated only serological biomarkers, 29 studies (34%) tested their population only with urinary biomarkers, and 12 (14%) investigated the presence of both. Outcome measures to assess the clinical utility of the analyzed biomarkers were heterogeneous, including up to 21 different activity scores, with the SLEDAI (in 60%) being the most used. Despite some heterogeneity, promising results have been shown for biomarkers such as urinary monocyte chemoattractant protein, urinary adiponectin, and urinary vascular cell adhesion protein 1. Discussion/Conclusion: While serum and urine biomarkers have the potential to improve diagnostic and prognostic pathways in patients with LN, the vast heterogeneity across studies severely limits their applicability in current clinical practice. With the kidney biopsy still representing the gold standard, future efforts should focus on harmonizing study inclusion criteria and outcomes, particularly in clinical trials, in order to improve comparability and facilitate the implementations of available biomarkers into the daily practice.
Bibliometric Analysis of Hidradenitis Suppurativa Publication Trends from Asia and Australasia
Authors: De Devea R. , Thompson Alyssa M. , Seivright Justine , Atluri Swetha , Ederle Amanda , Swigert Anna , Jaros Joanna , Hsiao Jennifer L. , Shi Vivian Y.
Published: August 2021

Introduction: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), once an orphan disease, has gained increased interest world-wide. The most highly cited works in HS are from North America and Europe despite known phenotypic and epidemiological differences globally. Herein, we perform a bibliometric analysis to characterize HS publication trends in Asia and Australasia (AA) over the last decade. Methods: PubMed database was searched to identify HS-related articles and were analyzed for senior authorship, country of origin, article topic, and study design. Results: The search criteria yielded 163 articles from AA. Rapid increase in publications started in 2015 with 75% (123/163) of total articles published in the last half of the decade. Case reports/series were consistently the most published study type yearly and overall (49%, 80/163). Efforts were made to increase high level of evidence publications with both randomized controlled trials from Japan and Turkey including all Asian patients. China, Japan, and India were the leading publishing countries with Australia, Israel, and Turkey increasingly contributing in the last half of the decade. Conclusions: Advancements in HS research are encouraging with increases in publication numbers and diversity; however, more geographical diversity is needed in order to garner a better understanding of the disease and treatment options.
Boys but Not Girls Exposed to Maternal Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Have Unfavorable Fat Distribution
Authors: Antikainen Leena , Jääskeläinen Jarmo , Nordman Henrikki , Voutilainen Raimo , Huopio Hanna
Published: August 2021

Background: Maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and overweight are associated with an increased risk of obesity and the metabolic syndrome in the adult offspring. We studied the influence of maternal GDM on prepubertal children’s body composition and bone mineral biochemistry. Methods: A total of 134 prepubertal Caucasian children (age range 4.4–9.7 years) were studied in a controlled cross-sectional study. Seventy-six children had been exposed to maternal GDM and 58 children born after a normal pregnancy served as controls. The outcome variables were body fat %, android fat %, gynoid fat %, android/gynoid fat ratio, bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), muscle mass, lean mass (LM) and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, ionized calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase concentrations. Results: There were no differences in body fat %, android fat %, BMD, BMC, muscle mass, or LM between the study groups. Gynoid fat % was higher in the GDM than control children (p = 0.03). Android fat %, gynoid fat %, and android/gynoid fat ratio were higher in the GDM boys than control boys (p = 0.046, 0.037, and 0.038) respectively, but no differences were found between the GDM and control girls. Conclusions: Boys exposed to maternal GDM presented with more unfavorable fat distribution than their controls, whereas no difference was found between the girls. Otherwise, the differences in body composition were minimal between prepubertal GDM and control children.
In vitro impact of condensed tannins on the caecal metabolites of chickens
Authors: Dakheel Mohammed Munis , Al-Bedhawi Mohammed Abdalmalek Ali , Al-Mnaser Afnan Ahmed , Woodward Martin John , Mora-Ortiz Marina , Rymer Caroline
Published: August 2021

Tannins are a diverse group of plant phenolic compounds. Condensed tannins (CTs) represent a major subgroup of tannins and were extracted from tilia (Tilia L.) flowers and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) leaves. These extracts were examined for their effects on the metabolic profile of chicken caeca. By using in vitro, a nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR), which was combined with multivariate statistics, the current study was applied for the first time to investigate how three different CT compositions, procyanidins (PC) and/or prodelphinidins (PD) units influenced the metabolic end-products in caecal contents of chickens. In the presence of tannins, glutamate, leucine, lysine, pyroglutamate, phenylalanine, proline, and sarcosine were significantly decreased. CT extracts significantly influenced the fermentation, increasing the concentrations of some fatty acids such as acetate, butyrate, and propionate whereas. In contrast, lactate decreased between the treatments. This study identified the key structural features of CTs that contain either high molar proportions of PD or PC, which might be useful to improve the efficiency of feed utilization in chickens.
Detection of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in wild free-living birds and mammals from the northwest region of São Paulo state, Brazil
Authors: Castiglioni Lilian , Aires Luiz Paulo Nogueira , Ferrari Vinícius Matheus , Murata Fernando Henrique Antunes , Soares Herbert Sousa , Gennari Solange Maria , Machado Juliana Giantomassi , Fracischetti Adriana Santiago , Sartori Ricardo Quitério , Mattos Luiz Carlos de , Brandão Cinara Cássia , Pena Hilda Fátima Jesus
Published: August 2021

Toxoplasmosis is a protozoonosis caused by an obligate intracellular parasite named Toxoplasma gondii, which can infect humans and a large number of homeothermic animal species with worldwide distribution. The present study aimed to detect anti T. gondii antibodies from serological samples of free living wild animals from the northwest region of São Paulo state, Brazil. Thirty-two samples (eight from birds and 24 from mammals) were analyzed by the modified agglutination test (MAT) using 5 cut-off points for birds and 25 for mammals. Seropositivity was observed in 25% (2/8) of birds, including the species Rupornis magnirostris (roadside hawk) and Caracara plancus (southern caracara), and 29.2% (7/24) animals were seropositive among mammals, including one hoary fox (Lycalopex vetulus), two maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus), one black howler monkey (Alouatta caraya), two crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous) and one gray brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira). The results obtained with the present study indicate the exposure to T. gondii of free-living wild animals from the northwest region of São Paulo state and, therefore, that they probably play a role in the transmission and maintenance of T. gondii in the environment they inhabit. Thus, identification of the infection in several animal species in the region indicates the environmental contamination of the area. Studies of this nature may help to understand the importance of the prevention and control of this disease in Brazil.
Morar, crer e trabalhar: a (re)produção das territorialidades camponesas nos assentamentos rurais do sudeste goiano (GO)
Authors: Monteiro Rafael de Melo
Published: August 2021

O objetivo desse artigo é compreender a (re)produção das territorialidades camponesas nos assentamentos rurais do sudeste goiano (GO), com ênfase em continuidades e mudanças políticas, econômicas e culturais. Nosso recorte espacial abrange seis assentamentos: Assentamento João de Deus (Silvânia, 1987), Assentamento São Sebastião (Silvânia, 1997), Assentamento Olga Benário (Ipameri, 2005), Assentamento Madre Cristina (Goiandira, 2009), Assentamento Buriti (Silvânia, 2009) e Assentamento Maria da Conceição (Orizona, 2010). Por meio de uma abordagem qualitativa, conduzimos a pesquisa teórica, a documental e a de campo (centrada em entrevistas semiestruturadas e registro fotográfico), contando com uma amostragem não probabilística. Concluímos que nos assentamentos rurais do sudeste goiano se (re)produzem as formas de vida tradicionais do campesinato (o valor de uso da terra, o trabalho familiar, a ajuda mútua, o catolicismo popular) conjugadas com mudanças políticas, econômicas e culturais que as famílias assentadas vivenciam por meio da territorialidade, como o trabalho em associações, a experiência da luta pela terra e a adesão ao pentecostalismo.
O que é a ciência do espaço em Lefebvre? Desdobrando sua genealogia espacial
Authors: Ramos Élvis Christian Madureira
Published: August 2021

Apesar de muitos trabalhos discutirem as proposições de Lefebvre sobre tópicos como modernidade, capitalismo e revolução urbana, poucas procuram esclarecer muitas de suas ideias que parecem confusas, entre as quais, a que mais importa para os estudos teóricos e empíricos em geografia e nas ciências sociais – a concepção de espaço. Partindo de obras significativas de Lefebvre, este trabalho visa jogar luz na genealogia espacial que ele propõe e que constitui o núcleo de sua ciência do espaço. Com efeito, destacamos que o espaço social lefebvreano é mais que uma coleção ou sistema de objetos e sujeitos, mas um espaço múltiplo e dinâmico, em constantes transformações, justaposições, desdobramentos e contradições.
A necessidade dos estudos geográficos em tempos de pandemia
Authors: Villela Fernando Nadal Junqueira
Published: August 2021

As relações entre os arranjos espaciais dos fenômenos na superfície e suas interações através do tempo sempre fizeram parte dos estudos geográficos. Mais uma vez a Revista Geousp: Espaço e Tempo contribui no conhecimento geográfico com sua nova edição.
Reabilitação anterossuperior com técnica direta em resina composta
Authors: Zanchin Carine , Almeida Leonardo de , Santos Eduardo Benassi dos , Andrade Guilherme Schmitt de , Naufel Fabiana Scarparo , Schmitt Vera Lucia
Published: August 2021

A odontologia sofre constantemente mudanças nos seus padrões de qualidade, porém, sempre devemos lançar mão, independente do procedimento restaurador, da famosa tríade: saúde, função e estética. Objetivo: Este relato de caso tem por finalidade demonstrar a técnica de facetas diretas em resina composta. Materiais e Métodos: Utilizou-se guia de silicone em resina composta de forma direta para reabilitar uma paciente com múltiplos diastemas anterossuperiores. Resultado: A utilização da guia em silicone facilitou a confecção da concha palatina por já ter formato, comprimento e largura preestabelecidos no enceramento diagnóstico. Paciente, jovem, demonstrou bastante entusiasmo após o término do procedimento. Conclusão: ainda na atualidade é possível não utilizar formas invasivas para reabilitações, principalmente nos casos de pacientes jovens.
Superficial dye penetration of two conventional ionomers used as dental fissures sealants
Authors: Malta Marcella C. B. , Andrade Márcia R. T. C. , Marsillac Mirian de W. S. de , Prates Luiz H. M. , Vieira Ricardo de S.
Published: August 2021

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate surface dye penetration of two conventional glass ionomer cements (GIC), one of them a high viscous ionomer. Methods: 20 standard disk samples measuring 2 mm thick and 4 mm in diameter were made for each conventional GIC. The high viscous ionomer was used as the control (Group 1). Samples were embedded in wax and submitted to pH cycling for 7 days simulating a high cariogenic challenge in a kiln (37ºC). All samples were brushed with an extra-soft bristles infant toothbrush to mimic oral hygiene after exposure to a demineralizing solution for 6 hours. The samples were immersed in a 1% methylene blue solution for 2 hours at the end of cycling. The Mann-Whitney Rank Sum Test was used to analyze the difference between the two GIC. Results: All samples disclosed a superficial dye penetration of 0.6 to 1.5 mm depth. There was no statistical d ifference b etween t he G IC t ested ( p = 0.883). Conclusion: Both GIC tested in this study exhibited superficial dye penetration to depths of at least until their superficial third.
Impact of Flow on Prosthesis-Patient Mismatch Following Transcatheter and Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement
Authors: Abbas Amr E. , Ternacle Julien , Pibarot Philippe , Xu Ke , Alu Maria , Rogers Erin , Hahn Rebecca T. , Leon Martin , Thourani Vinod H.
Published: August 2021

Background:

Severe prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) is diagnosed by an indexed effective orifice area <0.65 cm
2
/m
2
, which is derived from stroke volume index. We examined the impact of flow, determined by stroke volume index, on severe PPM following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR).

Methods:

We included SAVR patients from the PARTNER 2A trial (Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valve 2A) and TAVR patients from the PARTNER 2 S3i (Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valve 2 S3i) registry. The primary end point was the separate analysis of all-cause death, cardiac death, and rehospitalization at 5 years. Following TAVR and SAVR, we compared the primary end points between severe versus no-severe PPM in all patients, in low flow (LF), and in normal flow. Multivariable analysis was performed to determine variables associated with the end points.

Results:

Nine hundred fifty-four TAVR and 726 SAVR patients with PPM and flow data were included. Severe PPM following TAVR was significantly lower compared with SAVR in all patients (9% versus 28%,
P
<0.0001), in normal flow (5% versus 8%,
P
=0.04), and in LF (20% versus 42%,
P
<0.0001). Severe PPM was associated with rehospitalization following TAVR (odds ratio, 1.52 [95% CI, 1.01–2.29],
P
=0.0456) and SAVR (odds ratio, 1.51 [95% CI, 1.06–2.16],
P
=0.0237). Severe PPM in LF was independently associated with cardiac death following TAVR (odds ratio, 1.85 [95% CI, 1.06–3.23],
P
=0.0308). Following SAVR, severe PPM in LF and low ejection fraction was associated with increased cardiac death (35.26% versus 12.51%,
P
=0.01) and rehospitalization (37.59% versus 15.46%,
P
=0.006) compared with severe PPM in LF and preserved ejection fraction, respectively. Severe PPM in normal flow was not associated with clinical outcomes despite higher gradients and smaller valves compared with severe PPM in LF.

Conclusions:

Severe PPM is more common following SAVR compared with TAVR. Regardless of the implanted valve size or gradient, severe PPM impacts mortality only in patients with LF following TAVR and LF and low ejection fraction following SAVR. Severe PPM in normal flow is not associated with poor outcomes.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifiers: NCT01314313 and NCT02687035.
Scope and Social Determinants of Food Insecurity Among Adults With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in the United States
Authors: Mahajan Shiwani , Grandhi Gowtham R. , Valero‐Elizondo Javier , Mszar Reed , Khera Rohan , Acquah Isaac , Yahya Tamer , Virani Salim S. , Blankstein Ron , Blaha Michael J. , Cainzos‐Achirica Miguel , Nasir Khurram
Published: August 2021

Background

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) results in high out‐of‐pocket healthcare expenditures predisposing to food insecurity. However, the burden and determinants of food insecurity in this population are unknown.

Methods and Results

Using 2013 to 2018 National Health Interview Survey data, we evaluated the prevalence and sociodemographic determinants of food insecurity among adults with ASCVD in the United States. ASCVD was defined as self‐reported diagnosis of coronary heart disease or stroke. Food security was measured using the 10‐item US Adult Food Security Survey Module. Of the 190 113 study participants aged 18 years or older, 18 442 (adjusted prevalence 8.2%) had ASCVD, representing ≈20 million US adults annually. Among adults with ASCVD, 2968 or 14.6% (weighted ≈2.9 million US adults annually) reported food insecurity compared with 9.1% among those without ASCVD (
P
<0.001). Individuals with ASCVD who were younger (odds ratio [OR], 4.0 [95% CI, 2.8–5.8]), women (OR, 1.2 [1.0–1.3]), non‐Hispanic Black (OR, 2.3 [1.9–2.8]), or Hispanic (OR, 1.6 [1.2–2.0]), had private (OR, 1.8 [1.4–2.3]) or no insurance (OR, 2.3 [1.7–3.1]), were divorced/widowed/separated (OR, 1.2 [1.0–1.4]), and had low family income (OR, 4.7 [4.0–5.6]) were more likely to be food insecure. Among those with ASCVD and 6 of these high‐risk characteristics, 53.7% reported food insecurity and they had 36‐times (OR, 36.2 [22.6–57.9]) higher odds of being food insecure compared with those with ≤1 high‐risk characteristic.

Conclusion

About 1 in 7 US adults with ASCVD experience food insecurity, with more than 1 in 2 adults reporting food insecurity among the most vulnerable sociodemographic subgroups. There is an urgent need to address the barriers related to food security in this population.
Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 and Incident Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality in Middle‐Aged Adults
Authors: Paul Shejuti , Wong Mandy , Akhabue Ehimare , Mehta Rupal C. , Kramer Holly , Isakova Tamara , Carnethon Mercedes R. , Wolf Myles , Gutiérrez Orlando M.
Published: August 2021

Background

Higher circulating fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) associates with greater risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality in older adults. The association of FGF23 with cardiovascular outcomes in younger populations has been incompletely explored.

Methods and Results

We measured C‐terminal FGF23 (cFGF23) and intact FGF23 (iFGF23) in 3151 middle‐aged adults (mean age, 45±4) who participated in the year 20 examination of the CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) study. We used separate Cox proportional hazards models to examine the associations of cFGF23 and iFGF23 with incident CVD and mortality, adjusting models sequentially for sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory factors. A total of 157 incident CVD events and 135 deaths occurred over a median 7.6 years of follow‐up (interquartile range, 4.1–9.9). In fully adjusted models, there were no statistically significant associations of FGF23 with incident CVD events (hazard ratio per doubling of cFGF23: 1.14, 95%CI 0.97,1.34; iFGF23: 0.76, 95%CI 0.57,1.02) or all‐cause mortality (hazard ratio per doubling of cFGF23, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.00–1.38; iFGF23, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.64–1.17). In analyses stratified by CVD subtypes, higher cFGF23 was associated with greater risk of heart failure hospitalization (hazard ratio per doubling of cFGF23, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.18–1.96) but not coronary heart disease or stroke, whereas iFGF23 was not associated with CVD subtypes in any model.

Conclusions

In middle‐aged adults with few comorbidities, higher cFGF23 and iFGF23 were not independently associated with greater risk of CVD events or death. Higher cFGF23 was independently associated with greater risk of heart failure hospitalization.