bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combined Analysis of RNA Sequence and Microarray Data Reveals a Competing Endogenous RNA Network as Novel Prognostic Markers in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Authors: Duan Weicheng , Wang Kang , Duan Yijie , Chen Xiuyi , Chu Xufeng , Hu Ping , Xiong Bo
Published: April 2021

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a highly aggressive cancer with short survival time. Unbalanced competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) have been shown to participate in the tumor pathogenesis and served as biomarkers for the clinical prognosis. However, the comprehensive analyses of the ceRNA network in the prognosis of MPM are still rarely reported. In this study, we obtained the transcriptome data of the MPM and the normal samples from TCGA, EGA, and GEO databases and identified the differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs, lncRNAs, and miRNAs. The functions of the prognostic genes and the overlapped DEmRNAs were further annotated by the multiple enrichment analyses. Then, the targeting relationships among lncRNA–miRNA and miRNA–mRNA were predicted and calculated, and a prognostic ceRNA regulatory network was established. We included the prognostic 73 mRNAs and 13 miRNAs and 26 lncRNAs into the ceRNA network. Moreover, 33 mRNAs, three miRNAs, and seven lncRNAs were finally associated with prognosis, and a model including seven mRNAs, two lincRNAs, and some clinical factors was finally established and validated by two independent cohorts, where CDK6 and SGMS1-AS1 were significant to be independent prognostic factors. In addition, the identified co-expressed modules associated with the prognosis were overrepresented in the ceRNA network. Multiple enrichment analyses showed the important roles of the extracellular matrix components and cell division dysfunction in the invasion of MPM potentially. In summary, the prognostic ceRNA network of MPM was established and analyzed for the first time and these findings shed light on the function of ceRNAs and revealed the potential prognostic and therapeutic biomarkers of MPM.
Contralateral Regional Recurrence in Lateralized or Paramedian Early-Stage Oral Cancer Undergoing Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy—Comparison to a Historic Elective Neck Dissection Cohort
Authors: Mahieu Rutger , den Toom Inne J. , Boeve Koos , Lobeek Daphne , Bloemena Elisabeth , Donswijk Maarten L. , de Keizer Bart , Klop W. Martin C. , Leemans C. René , Willems Stefan M. , Takes Robert P. , Witjes Max J. H. , de Bree Remco
Published: April 2021

Introduction: Nowadays, two strategies are available for the management of the clinically negative neck in early-stage (cT1-2N0) oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC): elective neck dissection (END) and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). SLNB stages both the ipsilateral and the contralateral neck in early-stage OSCC patients, whereas the contralateral neck is generally not addressed by END in early-stage OSCC not involving the midline. This study compares both incidence and hazard of contralateral regional recurrences (CRR) in those patients who underwent END or SLNB.

Materials and Methods: A retrospective multicenter cohort study, including 816 lateralized or paramedian early-stage OSCC patients, staged by either unilateral or bilateral END (n = 365) or SLNB (n = 451).

Results: The overall rate of occult contralateral nodal metastasis was 3.7% (30/816); the incidence of CRR was 2.5% (20/816). Patients who underwent END developed CRR during follow-up more often than those who underwent SLNB (3.8 vs. 1.3%; p = 0.018). Moreover, END patients had a higher hazard for developing CRR than SLNB patients (HR = 2.585; p = 0.030). In addition, tumor depth of invasion was predictive for developing CRR (HR = 1.922; p = 0.009). Five-year disease-specific survival in patients with CRR was poor (42%) compared to patients in whom occult contralateral nodal metastases were detected by SLNB or bilateral END (88%), although not statistically different (p = 0.066).

Conclusion: Our data suggest that SLNB allows for better control of the contralateral clinically negative neck in patients with lateralized or paramedian early-stage OSCC, compared to END as performed in a clinical setting. The prognosis of those in whom occult contralateral nodal metastases are detected at an earlier stage may be favorable compared to those who eventually develop CRR, which highlights the importance of adequate staging of the contralateral clinically negative neck.
The Prenatal Origin of Childhood Leukemia: Potential Applications for Epidemiology and Newborn Screening
Authors: Marcotte Erin L. , Spector Logan G. , Mendes-de-Almeida Daniela P. , Nelson Heather H.
Published: April 2021

Childhood leukemias are heterogeneous diseases with widely differing incident rates worldwide. As circulating tumors, childhood acute leukemias are uniquely accessible, and their natural history has been described in greater detail than for solid tumors. For several decades, it has been apparent that most cases of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) initiate in utero. Circumstantial evidence in support of this contention includes the young age of onset and high rate of concordance among identical twins. “Backtracking” of leukemic somatic mutations, particularly gene translocations, to cord blood and dried blood spots collected during the perinatal period has provided molecular proof of prenatal leukemogenesis. Detection of a patient's leukemia translocation in easily accessible birth samples, such as dried blood spots, is straightforward with the knowledge of their idiosyncratic breakpoints. However, to translate these findings into population-based screening and leukemia prevention requires novel methods able to detect translocations at all possible breakpoints when present in a low frequency of cells. Several studies have attempted to screen for leukemic translocations, mainly the common ETV6-RUNX1 translocation, in cord blood samples from healthy children. Most studies have reported finding translocations in healthy children, but estimates of prevalence have varied widely and greatly exceed the incidence of leukemia, leading to concerns that technical artifact or contamination produced an artificially inflated estimate of translocation prevalence at birth. New generation techniques that capture the presence of these translocations at birth have the potential to vastly increase our understanding of the epidemiology of acute leukemias. For instance, if leukemic translocations are present at birth in a far higher proportion of children than eventually develop acute leukemia, what are the exposures and somatic molecular events that lead to disease? And could children with translocations present at birth be targeted for prevention of disease? These questions must be answered before large-scale newborn screening for leukemia can occur as a public health initiative. Here, we review the literature regarding backtracking of acute leukemias and the prevalence of leukemic translocations at birth. We further suggest an agenda for epidemiologic research using new tools for population screening of leukemic translocations.
Machine Learning for Mortality Prediction in Pediatric Myocarditis
Authors: Chou Fu-Sheng , Ghimire Laxmi V.
Published: April 2021

Background:Pediatric myocarditis is a rare disease. The etiologies are multiple. Mortality associated with the disease is 5–8%. Prognostic factors were identified with the use of national hospitalization databases. Applying these identified risk factors for mortality prediction has not been reported.

Methods:We used the Kids' Inpatient Database for this project. We manually curated fourteen variables as predictors of mortality based on the current knowledge of the disease, and compared performance of mortality prediction between linear regression models and a machine learning (ML) model. For ML, the random forest algorithm was chosen because of the categorical nature of the variables. Based on variable importance scores, a reduced model was also developed for comparison.

Results:We identified 4,144 patients from the database for randomization into the primary (for model development) and testing (for external validation) datasets. We found that the conventional logistic regression model had low sensitivity (~50%) despite high specificity (>95%) or overall accuracy. On the other hand, the ML model struck a good balance between sensitivity (89.9%) and specificity (85.8%). The reduced ML model with top five variables (mechanical ventilation, cardiac arrest, ECMO, acute kidney injury, ventricular fibrillation) were sufficient to approximate the prediction performance of the full model.

Conclusions:The ML algorithm performs superiorly when compared to the linear regression model for mortality prediction in pediatric myocarditis in this retrospective dataset. Prospective studies are warranted to further validate the applicability of our model in clinical settings.
Research on the Species Difference of the Hepatotoxicity of Medicine Based on Transcriptome
Authors: Xu Ziying , Kang Qianjun , Yu Zihui , Tian Lichun , Zhang Jingxuan , Wang Ting
Published: April 2021

In recent years, several drugs have been withdrawn from use by regulatory bodies owing to hepatotoxicity; therefore, studies on drug-induced liver injury (DILI) are being actively pursued. Most studies evaluating DILI use rats or mice as animal models to determine drug toxicity; however, the toxicity of a drug can vary between rats or mice. These inconsistencies in in vivo studies among different animal models affect the extrapolation of experimental results to humans. Thus, it is particularly important to choose the most suitable animal model to determine drug hepatotoxicity owing to the genomic differences between rats and mice resulting from evolution. In this study, genome-wide transcriptome analysis was used to explore hepatotoxicity caused by differences in species. Our findings provide the preclinical basis to further study the mechanisms of drug hepatotoxicity and aid in the selection of animal models to determine drug safety. We used murine models (Sprague-Dawley and Wistar rats, ICR and Kunming mice) in this study and by using transcriptome sequencing with the differentially expressed genes in rat and mouse livers as the entry point, we explored the mechanism of oxidative stress and the difference in gene expression in the lipid-metabolism pathway between rats and mice. The clinically established hepatotoxic drugs, fructus psoraleae and acetaminophen were used to validate our study. Using pathological studies, we confirmed that oxidative stress in mice was more serious than that in rats, and that Kunming mice were more suited for the study of oxidative stress-related DILI. The validity of our findings was further verified based on gene expression. Thus, our study could serve as a valuable reference for the evaluation of potential preclinical hepatotoxicity. Moreover, it could be used in the prediction and early diagnosis of drug-induced liver injury caused by traditional Chinese medicine or synthetic drugs, thereby providing a new avenue for drug-toxicity studies.
β-Caryophyllene Ameliorates MSU-Induced Gouty Arthritis and Inflammation Through Inhibiting NLRP3 and NF-κB Signal Pathway: In Silico and In Vivo
Authors: Li Wan-Yang , Yang Fan , Chen Ji-Hua , Ren Guo-Feng
Published: April 2021

Gouty arthritis serves as an acute reaction initiated by the deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals around the joints. In this study, the anti-inflammatory effects of phytochemical β-caryophyllene on MSU crystal-induced acute gouty arthritis in vivo and in silico were explored. Through bioinformatics methods and molecular docking, it screened the specific influence pathway of β-caryophyllene on gout. Certain methods including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, western blotting, and immunohistochemical staining were adopted to quantify. β-caryophyllene significantly reduced inflammation and function of ankle joints in MSU Crystals-induced gouty arthritis rats, while decreasing serum cytokine levels. Furthermore, it inhibited the expressions of NLRP3, Caspase-1, ASC, TLR4, MyD88, p65, and IL-1β in the synovial tissue so as to reduce inflammation and protect ankle joints’ function. A new research approach in which β-caryophyllene treatment to acute attacks of gout is provided through the research results.
Emodin Alleviates Severe Acute Pancreatitis-Associated Acute Lung Injury by Inhibiting the Cold-Inducible RNA-Binding Protein (CIRP)-Mediated Activation of the NLRP3/IL-1β/CXCL1 Signaling
Authors: Xu Qiushi , Wang Mengfei , Guo Haoya , Liu Huanhuan , Zhang Guixin , Xu Caiming , Chen Hailong
Published: April 2021

Objective: Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) can lead to acute lung injury (ALI). This study investigated the therapeutic effect of emodin and its molecular mechanisms in a rat model of SAP-ALI.

Methods: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the groups: Control (CON), SAP (SAP), emodin (EMO), and C23 (C23). The latter three groups of rats were induced for SAP-ALI by retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate into the biliary-pancreatic duct and were treated with vehicle, emodin or C23, respectively. One day post induction, their pancreatic and lung injury was assessed by histology and arterial blood gas analysis. In vitro, rat alveolar macrophages (NR8383 cells) were treated with recombinant rat CIRP in the presence or absence of TAK242 (a TLR4 inhibitor), C23 or emodin. The CIRP-mediated activation of the NLRP3/IL-1β/CXCL1 signaling in rat lungs and NR8383 cells was determined. Similarly, the role of IL-1β in the CIRP-induced CXCL1 expression was investigated.

Results: Emodin treatment significantly reduced inflammation and tissue damages in the pancreatic and lung tissues in rats with SAP-ALI, accompanied by decreasing serum amylase, CIRP and IL-1β levels and improving lung function. Furthermore, emodin significantly mitigated the SAP-up-regulated CIRP expression in the pancreatic islets and lung tissues, and attenuated the SAP-activated NF-κB signaling, NLRP3 inflammasome formation and CXCL1 expression in lung resident macrophages as well as neutrophil infiltration in the lungs of rats. In addition, treatment with CIRP significantly activated the NF-κB signaling and NLRP3 inflammasome formation and induced IL-1β and CXCL1 expression and pyroptosis in NR8383 cells, which were abrogated by TAK242 and significantly mitigated by C23 or emodin. Moreover, CIRP only induced very lower levels of CXCL1 expression in IL-1β-silencing NR8383 cells and treatment with IL-1β induced CXCL1 expression in NR8383 cells in a dose and time-dependent manner.

Conclusion: Emodin may inhibit the CIRP-activated NLRP3/IL-1β/CXCL1signaling to decrease neutrophil infiltration and ameliorate the SAP-ALI in rats.
Face Cooling During Swimming Training in Tropical Condition
Authors: Riera Florence , Monjo Roland , Coudevylle Guillaume R. , Meric Henri , Hue Olivier
Published: April 2021

The aim of this study was to test the effect of face cooling with cold water (1.2 ± 0.7°C) vs. face cooling with neutral water (28.0 ± 3.0°C) during high-intensity swimming training on both the core temperature (Tco) and thermal perceptions in internationally ranked long-distance swimmers (5 men’s and 3 women’s) during 2 randomized swimming sessions. After a standardized warm-up of 1,200 m, the athletes performed a standardized training session that consisted of 2,000 m (5 × 400 m; start every 5’15”) at a best velocity then 600 m of aerobic work. Heart rate (HR) was continuously monitored during 5 × 400 m, whereas Tco, thermal comfort (TC), and thermal sensation (TS) were measured before and after each 400 m. Before and after each 400 m, the swimmers were asked to flow 200 mL of cold water (1.2°C) or neutral (22°C) water packaged in standardized bottles on their face. The swimmers were asked don’t drink during exercise. The velocity was significantly different between cold water and neutral water (p < 0.004 – 71.58 m.min–1 ± 2.32 and 70.52 m.min–1 ± 1.73, respectively). The Tco was increased by ±0.5°C at race pace, under both face cooling conditions with no significant difference. No significant changes were noted in mean HR (i.e., 115 ± 9 and 114 ± 15 bpm for NW and CW, respectively). TC was higher with Cold Cooling than Neutral Cooling and TS was lower with Cold cooling compared with Neutral cooling. The changes in perceptual parameters caused by face cooling with cold water reflect the psychological impact on the physical parameters. The mean velocity was less important with face cooling whereas the heat rate and Tco were the same in the both conditions. The mechanism leading to these results seems to involve brain integration of signals from physiological and psychological sources.
Effects of Self-Compassion Training on Work-Related Well-Being: A Systematic Review
Authors: Kotera Yasuhiro , Van Gordon William
Published: April 2021

Self-compassion, sharing some commonalities with positive psychology 2.0 approaches, is associated with better mental health outcomes in diverse populations, including workers. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is heightened awareness of the importance of self-care for fostering mental health at work. However, evidence regarding the applications of self-compassion interventions in work-related contexts has not been systematically reviewed to date. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to synthesize and evaluate the utility of self-compassion interventions targeting work-related well-being, as well as assess the methodological quality of relevant studies. Eligible articles were identified from research databases including ProQuest, PsycINFO, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. The quality of non-randomized trials and randomized controlled trials was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the Quality Assessment Table, respectively. The literature search yielded 3,387 titles from which ten studies met the inclusion criteria. All ten studies reported promising effects of self-compassion training for work-related well-being. The methodological quality of these studies was medium. All ten studies recruited workers in a caring field and were mostly conducted in Western countries. The Self-Compassion Scale or its short-form was used in almost all instances. Findings indicate that self-compassion training can improve self-compassion and other work-related well-being outcomes in working populations. However, in general, there is need for greater methodological quality in work-related self-compassion intervention studies to advance understanding regarding the applications and limitations of this technique in work contexts. Furthermore, future studies should focus on a broader range of employee groups, including non-caring professions as well as individuals working in non-Western countries.
Retrospective Analysis of Psychological Factors in COVID-19 Outbreak Among Isolated and Quarantined Agricultural Students in a Borneo University
Authors: Muhamad Assikin Bin , Pang Nicholas Tze Ping , Salvaraji Loganathan , Rahim Syed Sharizman Syed Abdul , Jeffree Mohammad Saffree , Omar Azizan
Published: April 2021

Introduction:Much has been known about the psychological issues that can emerge in people who are quarantined and unable to move freely. The COVID-19 pandemic has no contrast from previous outbreaks like SARS and MERS regarding their ensuing worries and boosted anxiety levels. This article seeks to examine the unique psychological changes that occur in students who have been quarantined inside a university campus and assess sociodemographic factors associated with certain psychological factors.

Methodology:The data was collected from students in an Agricultural Campus. In the first phase, the factor structure of the modified National Index Psychological Wellness (NIPW) was acceptable, and to establish statistical parameters for validation an exploratory factor analysis was done. In the second phase, IndependentT-tests, ANOVA, and Hierarchical Multiple regression were performed. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0.

Result/Discussion:A total of 46 male and 76 female students enrolled in this study. The Bartlett's test of sphericity was significant (p< 0.001) and the Kaiser–Mayer–Olkin measure of sampling adequacy for the AUDIT-M was 0.901. The Cronbach's alpha of the entire modified NIPW was 0.657 which suggests reasonable internal consistency and subscales between 0.913 and 0.924. Raw scores of 12 positive items were higher for the quarantined group except for “I can do daily routines,” “I understand what happens,” and “I understand the action that is performed is fair.” Raw mean scores of eight negative scoring items were higher in the quarantined group, except for “I feel angry” (2.88 vs. 2.89 for non-quarantined group). There were statistically significant differences between year groups for the questions “I understand what happens,” “I understand the action that is performed is fair,” and “I think everyone is good.”

Conclusion:Movement control orders or compulsory quarantine orders can be distressing and may cause understandable psychological sequelae. Holistic management of a quarantine center that addresses the needs and health of an individual student will give a positive impact on psychological wellness. Quarantining facilities can be a place of positivity, allowing people to live a shared experience together, provide peer support for each other, and give each other hope.
Availability of Illegal Drugs During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Western Germany
Authors: Scherbaum Norbert , Bonnet Udo , Hafermann Henning , Schifano Fabrizio , Bender Stefan , Grigoleit Torsten , Kuhn Jens , Nyhuis Peter , Preuss Ulrich W. , Reymann Gerhard , Schneider Udo , Shibata Jo , Specka Michael
Published: April 2021

Background: In response to the COVID-19-pandemic, a lockdown was established in the middle of March 2020 by the German Federal Government resulting in drastic reduction of private and professional traveling in and out of Germany with a reduction of social contacts in public areas.

Research Questions: We seek evidence on whether the lockdown has led to a reduced availability of illegal drugs and whether subjects with substance-related problems tried to cope with possible drug availability issues by increasingly obtaining drugs via the internet, replacing their preferred illegal drug with novel psychoactive substances, including new synthetic opioids (NSO), and/or by seeking drug treatment.

Methods: A questionnaire was anonymously filled in by subjects with substance-related disorders, typically attending low-threshold settings, drug consumption facilities, and inpatient detoxification wards from a range of locations in the Western part of Germany. Participants had to both identify their main drug of abuse and to answer questions regarding its availability, price, quality, and routes of acquisition.

Results: Data were obtained from 362 participants. The most frequent main substances of abuse were cannabis (n = 109), heroin (n = 103), and cocaine (n = 75). A minority of participants reported decreased availability (8.4%), increased price (14.4%), or decreased quality (28.3%) of their main drug. About 81% reported no change in their drug consumption due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown. A shift to the use of novel psychoactive substances including NSO were reported only by single subjects. Only 1–2% of the participants obtained their main drug via the web.

Discussion: Present findings may suggest that recent pandemic-related imposed restrictions may have not been able to substantially influence either acquisition or consumption of drugs within the context of polydrug users (including opiates) attending a range of addiction services in Germany.
Integrated Modelling to Support Analysis of COVID-19 Impacts on London's Water System and In-river Water Quality
Authors: Dobson Barnaby , Jovanovic Tijana , Chen Yuting , Paschalis Athanasios , Butler Adrian , Mijic Ana
Published: April 2021

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, citizens of the United Kingdom were required to stay at home for many months in 2020. In the weeks before and months following lockdown, including when it was not being enforced, citizens were advised to stay at home where possible. As a result, in a megacity such as London, where long-distance commuting is common, spatial and temporal changes to patterns of water demand are inevitable. This, in turn, may change where people's waste is treated and ultimately impact the in-river quality of effluent receiving waters. To assess large scale impacts, such as COVID-19, at the city scale, an integrated modelling approach that captures everything between households and rivers is needed. A framework to achieve this is presented in this study and used to explore changes in water use and the associated impacts on wastewater treatment and in-river quality as a result of government and societal responses to COVID-19. Our modelling results revealed significant changes to household water consumption under a range of impact scenarios, however, they only showed significant impacts on pollutant concentrations in household wastewater in central London. Pollutant concentrations in rivers simulated by the model were most sensitive in the tributaries of the River Thames, highlighting the vulnerability of smaller rivers and the important role that they play in diluting pollution. Modelled ammonia and phosphates were found to be the pollutants that rivers were most sensitive to because their main source in urban rivers is domestic wastewater that was significantly altered during the imposed mobility restrictions. A model evaluation showed that we can accurately validate individual model components (i.e., water demand generator) and emphasised need for continuous water quality measurements. Ultimatly, the work provides a basis for further developments of water systems integration approaches to project changes under never-before seen scenarios.
What Is Albinism?
Authors: Egbeto Ista A. , Richmond Jillian M.
Published: April 2021

Albinism is a genetic disorder that results in decreased production of a pigment called melanin in the skin, hair, and eyes, resulting in light color or no color. There are several genetic mutations that cause albinism. This condition occurs throughout the world; it affects 1 in 20,000 Americans and is more common in other parts of the world, such as in Zimbabwe, Africa, where 1 in 1,000 people have some form of albinism. Currently there is no cure for albinism, however it can be managed using sunscreen, protective clothing, eyeglasses, magnifying glasses, or eye surgery for eye abnormalities. The impact of this condition on people’s lives can be devastating, so it is important to foster a positive and tolerant environment to promote the emotional and mental well-being of those who are affected.
Pecking Behavior in Conventional Layer Hybrids and Dual-Purpose Hens Throughout the Laying Period
Authors: Rieke Lorena , Spindler Birgit , Zylka Isabel , Kemper Nicole , Giersberg Mona Franziska
Published: April 2021

To avoid the killing of surplus male layer chickens, dual-purpose hybrids are suggested as an alternative approach. These strains may offer additional advantages compared to conventional laying hens, for instance, a lower tendency to develop injurious pecking behavior. The aim of this study was to assess the behavior, with focus on pecking behavior, of conventional layers (Lohmann Brown plus, LB+) and dual-purpose hens (Lohmann Dual, LD). About 1,845 hens per strain with intact beaks were housed in four stable compartments in aviary systems. Video-based scan sampling of general behaviors and continuous observations of pecking behavior were carried out between 25 and 69 weeks of life. With the exception of “dustbathing” and “scratching,” hybrid × time during the laying period affected all of the observed general behaviors [F(2, 89)= 3.92–10.81,P< 0.001–0.05]. With increasing age, the LB+ hens performed more general pecking, more locomotion and less comfort and sitting behavior. General pecking and comfort behavior did not change over time in the LD hens, whereas inactive behaviors increased with age. During continuous observations, a significant hybrid x period interaction was found for all forms of pecking behavior [F(2, 89)= 4.55–14.80,P< 0.001–0.05]. The LB+ hens showed particularly more severe feather pecking (SFP), which increased with age. In contrast, SFP remained exceptionally low in the LD hens throughout production. Therefore, dual-purpose hybrids should be considered as an alternative to both avoid the killing of surplus male chickens and the development of SFP in laying hen production.
Consideraciones sobre la terapia de pareja: a propósito de un caso
Authors: Villegas Manuel , Mallor Pilar
Published: April 2021

En este artículo se presenta una concepción de la terapia de pareja en la que se tienen en cuenta no sólo los aspectos interactivos o relacionales, sino también los personales o individuales. Los primeros afectan más bien a la dimensión estructural de simetría o asimetría respecto a la posición de poder que ocupa cada uno de los miembros de la pareja. Los segundos tienen que ver con la dimensión estructural de complementariedad, en referencia a los recursos que cada uno de ellos aporta a la relación. De este modo se trabajan aquellos aspectos que inciden globalmente sobre la problemática de la pareja. Se ilustra la exposición de este planteamiento con el análisis exhaustivo del proceso de terapia de una pareja.
La utilización de recursos analógicos como mediadores en el trabajo emocional
Authors: Pubill María José
Published: April 2021

Los recursos analógicos tanto de naturaleza verbal como no verbal son poderosos instrumentos para facilitar el trabajo emocional en psicoterapia. Acompañan en la elaboración de las experiencias traumáticas, y ayudan en el cierre de las mismas. Constituyen mediadores muy adecuados para la exploración del mundo emocional, gracias a su carácter sugestivo y polivalente.
Utilidad clínica de la autobiografía
Authors: Maganto Mateo Carmen , Ibáñez Aguirre Carmelo
Published: April 2021

La autobiografía es una técnica clínica cualitativa y semiestructurada que puede ser utilizada en distintos momentos del proceso diagnóstico-terapéutico. Constituye un valioso punto de partida de donde extraer contenidos significativos con los que trabajar terapéuticamente. Se explica la riqueza de contenido que ofrece en el proceso de evaluación, su aportación al autonocimiento del paciente y la interpretación que el propio individuo hace de sus experiencias pasadas. El tratamiento que gira en torno a la autobiografía y se apoya en ella, promueve interacciones entre terapeuta-paciente que permiten reelaboraciones y nuevas formulaciones autobiográficas que irán, poco a poco, recogiendo los cambios operados en el proceso de evaluación-intervención terapéutica. El paralelismo entre la tarea de contar verbalmente en las entrevistas lo que le ocurre y narrarlo de forma escrita se irá completando durante el tratamiento con el debido “feedback”. Ambas formas de comunicación comparten aspectos comunes y están llamadas a complementarse.
Las arteterapias: nuevos enfoques terapéuticos
Authors: Presta Monia
Published: April 2021

En este artículo se abordan la historia, el concepto y método de la arteterapia. Se consideran igualmente los diferentes enfoques y finalidades a través del psicoanálisis, la fenomenología, la terapia gestalt, la rehabilitación cognitiva y funcional, desde una perspectiva integradora, así como las diversas modalidades de expresión: dramática, musical, plástica. Se indican diversos ámbitos de aplicación en la educación, rehabilitación, prevención, intervención terapéutica y social en sus diversos formatos individual o grupal.
Intento de suicidio y búsqueda de sensaciones en adolescentes
Authors: Palacios Delgado Jorge Raúl , Sánchez Torres Berenise , Andrade Palos Patricia
Published: April 2021

En los últimos años el intento de suicidio ha aumentado en los adolescentes mexicanos convirtiéndose en un problema de salud pública. La investigación ha demostrado que las variables de personalidad se asocian con este comportamiento. Los objetivos de la presente investigación fueron describir el intento de suicidio, determinar las diferencias en la búsqueda de sensaciones entre los adolescentes que han y no han intentado suicidarse y conocer la asociación entre la búsqueda de sensaciones y la letalidad. Se seleccionó una muestra de 550 jóvenes, 260 hombres y 290 mujeres, entre 14 y 23 años, estudiantes de bachillerato de la Ciudad de México. Para medir la búsqueda de sensaciones se utilizó una nueva escala que mide este constructo. El intento de suicidio se midió a través de un cuestionario sobre conducta suicida. Se igualó la muestra por sexo y edad, con la finalidad de que quedaran grupos equivalentes. Los resultados mostraron diferencias entre hombres y mujeres en el intento de suicidio. Los jóvenes que han intentado quitarse la vida, presentan mayor búsqueda de sensaciones que los jóvenes que no lo han intentado. Asimismo se mostró una relación significativa entre el deseo de morir y la búsqueda de sensaciones.
REFLEXIONES EN TORNO AL SUICIDIO: desestabilizando una construcción discursiva reduccionista
Authors: Velasco Salles María del Mar , Pujal i Llombart Margot
Published: April 2021

Nuestro trabajo gira en torno al cuestionamiento de los discursos de producción de conocimiento sobre el suicidio, inscritos principalmente dentro del campo de saber positivista de la psiquiatría y de la sociología desde una mirada psicosocial. Pretendemos problematizar la noción convencional del suicidio introduciendo la subjetividad como categoría analítica y política; y centrándonos en los procesos de subjetivación, desde una perspectiva foucaultiana.
El modelo de valencia de hipnosis despierta: modelo atractivo y eficiente
Authors: Fernández Jose
Published: April 2021

Aunque tradicionalmente la hipnosis se ha asociado a relajación, se argumenta que tal asociación tiene que ver con una concepción de la hipnosis ya superada. Así, los métodos de inducción de hipnosis pueden buscar la relajación o la activación, indistintamente, siendo la variable clave a la hora de elegir entre unos u otros su utilidad terapéutica. Se expone la importancia que las expectativas y la motivación tienen tanto en la explicación de los procesos implicados en la hipnosis, como en las respuestas de afrontamiento que las personas ponen en marcha en su vida cotidiana. Se explica el protocolo de aplicación del Modelo de Valencia de Hipnosis Despierta (MVHD) como método terapéutico eficiente de conectar los unos con las otras.
Experimento breve para medir el cambio emocional en grupo de duelo
Authors: Magaña Loarte Marisa , Villacieros Durbán Marta , Bermejo Higuera Carlos , Carabias Maza Rosa
Published: April 2021

En los grupos de duelo uno de los factores fundamentales es el trabajo con las emociones ya que constituyen un lugar privilegiado para la expresión y el alivio de las mismas. Objetivo: estudio piloto para recoger la posible variación emocional tras una sesión de grupo de duelo. Método: participaron 55 voluntarios que asistieron a un taller de grupos de duelo en el contexto de unas Jornadas de Duelo. Se utilizó un diseño pre-experimental con medidas pre y post intervención sin grupo control y utilizando una imagen facial neutra como base de la medida. Los resultados obtenidos sugieren que la atribución de emociones a una imagen neutra se puede utilizar en grupos de duelo para medir distribución y cambio emocional.
Teoría general de sistemas y psicología humanista: una aproximación
Authors: Krippner Stanley , Ruttenber Jamer , Engelman Suzanne R. , Granger Dennis L.
Published: April 2021

La Psicología Humanista aparece como reacción a los paradigmas restrictivos del Conductismo y el Psicoanálisis. Sin embargo, la Psicología Humanista no ha generado todavía un marco conceptual y metodológico consistente para el desarrollo y evaluación de modelos, métodos, investigación, teorías y terapias. Además no existe una estructura suficientemente común para la traducción y la comunicación de los hallazgos clínicos y de sus intuiciones conceptuales. La Teoría General de Sistemas ofrece una metodología amplia, basada en las ciencias naturales, que puede servir para clarificar y comunicar muchos de los aspectos de la Psicología Humanista. Este artículo señala las perspectivas filosóficas comunes de la Teoría General de Sistemas en términos de alternativas a la Psicología Humanista e indica las aportaciones de la Psicología Humanista que pueden relacionarse con la Teoría General de Sistemas.
Ellagic Acid Resensitizes Gemcitabine-Resistant Bladder Cancer Cells by Inhibiting Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Gemcitabine Transporters
Authors: Wu Ying-Si , Ho Jar-Yi , Yu Cheng-Ping , Cho Chun-Jung , Wu Chia-Lun , Huang Cheng-Shuo , Gao Hong-Wei , Yu Dah-Shyong
Published: April 2021

Gemcitabine (GCB) resistance is a major issue in bladder cancer chemoresistance, but its underlying mechanism has not been determined. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been shown to be comprehensively involved in GCB resistance in several other cancer types, but the direct connection between EMT and GCB remains unclear. This study was designed to elucidate the mechanism of EMT-related GCB resistance in bladder cancer and identify a potential phytochemical to modulate drug sensitivity. The biological effects of ellagic acid (EA) or its combined effects with GCB were compared in GCB-resistant cells and the GCB-sensitive line in terms of cell viability, apoptosis, motility, and in vivo tumorigenicity. The molecular regulation of EMT-related GCB resistance was evaluated at both the mRNA and protein expression levels. Our results indicated that TGF-β/Smad induced the overactivation of EMT in GCB-resistant cells and reduced the expression of GCB influx transporters (hCNT1 and hENT1). Moreover, ellagic acid (EA) inhibited the TGF-β signaling pathway both in vitro and in vivo by reducing Smad2, Smad3, and Smad4 expression and thereby resensitized GCB sensitivity. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that TGF-β/Smad-induced EMT contributes to GCB resistance in bladder cancer by reducing GCB influx and also elucidate the novel mechanisms of EA-mediated inhibition of TGF-β/Smad-induced EMT to overcome GCB resistance. Our study warrants further investigation of EA as an effective therapeutic adjuvant agent for overcoming GCB resistance in bladder cancer.
Evaluation of SSTR2 Expression in SI-NETs and Relation to Overall Survival after PRRT
Authors: Elf Anna-Karin , Johanson Viktor , Marin Ida , Bergström Anders , Nilsson Ola , Svensson Johanna , Wängberg Bo , Bernhardt Peter , Elias Erik
Published: April 2021

(1) Purpose: Small intestinal neuroendocrine tumors (SI-NETs) often present with distant metastases at diagnosis. Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) with radiolabeled somatostatin analogues is a systemic treatment that increases overall survival (OS) in SI-NET patients with stage IV disease. However, the treatment response after PRRT, which targets somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2), is variable and predictive factors have not been established. This exploratory study aims to evaluate if SSTR2 expression in SI-NETs could be used to predict OS after PRRT treatment. (2) Methods: Using a previously constructed Tissue Micro Array (TMA) we identified tissue samples from 42 patients that had received PRRT treatment during 2006–2017 at Sahlgrenska University hospital. Immunohistochemical expression of SSTR2, Ki-67 and neuroendocrine markers synaptophysin and Chromogranin A (CgA) were assessed. A retrospective estimation of 177Lu-DOTATATE uptake in 33 patients was performed. Data regarding OS and non-surgical treatment after PRRT were collected. Another subgroup of 34 patients with paired samples from 3 tumor sites (primary tumor, lymph node and liver metastases) was identified in the TMA. The SSTR2 expression was assessed in corresponding tissue samples (n = 102). (3) Results: The patients were grouped into Low SSTR2 or High SSTR2 groups based upon on levels of SSTR2 expression. There was no significant difference in 177Lu-DOTATATE uptake between the groups. The patients in the Low SSTR2 group had significantly longer OS after PRRT than the patients in the High SSTR2 group (p = 0.049). PRRT treated patients with low SSTR2 expression received less additional treatment compared with patients with high SSTR2 expression. SSTR2 expression did not vary between tumor sites but correlated within patients. (4) Conclusion: The results from the present study suggest that retrospective evaluation of SSTR2 expression in resected tumors cannot be used to predict OS after PRRT.
Functional Genomic Analyses of the 21q22.3 Locus Identifying Functional Variants and Candidate Gene YBEY for Breast Cancer Risk
Authors: Shidal Chris , Shu Xiang , Wu Jie , Wang Jifeng , Huang Shuya , Long Jirong , Bauer Joshua A. , Ping Jie , Guo Xingyi , Zheng Wei , Shu Xiao-Ou , Cai Qiuyin
Published: April 2021

We previously identified a locus at 21q22.3, tagged by the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs35418111, being associated with breast cancer risk at a genome-wide significance level; however, the underlying causal functional variants and gene(s) responsible for this association are unknown. We performed functional genomic analyses to identify potential functional variants and target genes that may mediate this association. Functional annotation for SNPs in high linkage disequilibrium (LD, r2 > 0.8) with rs35418111 in Asians showed evidence of promoter and/or enhancer activities, including rs35418111, rs2078203, rs8134832, rs57385578, and rs8126917. These five variants were assessed for interactions with nuclear proteins by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Our results showed that the risk alleles for rs2078203 and rs35418111 altered DNA-protein interaction patterns. Cis-expression quantitative loci (cis-eQTL) analysis, using data from the Genotype-Tissue Expression database (GTEx) European-ancestry female normal breast tissue, indicated that the risk allele of rs35418111 was associated with a decreased expression of the YBEY gene, a relatively uncharacterized endoribonuclease in humans. We investigated the biological effects of YBEY on breast cancer cell lines by transient knock-down of YBEY expression in MCF-7, T47D, and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Knockdown of YBEY mRNA in breast cancer cell lines consistently decreased cell proliferation, colony formation, and migration/invasion, regardless of estrogen receptor status. We performed RNA sequencing in MDA-MB-231 cells transfected with siRNA targeting YBEY and subsequent gene set enrichment analysis to identify gene networks associated with YBEY knockdown. These data indicated YBEY was involved in networks associated with inflammation and metabolism. Finally, we showed trends in YBEY expression patterns in breast tissues from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA); early-stage breast cancers had elevated YBEY expression compared with normal tissue, but significantly decreased expression in late-stage disease. Our study provides evidence of a significant role for the human YBEY gene in breast cancer pathogenesis and the association between the rs35418111/21q22.3 locus and breast cancer risk, which may be mediated through functional SNPs, rs35418111 and rs2078203, that regulate expression of YBEY.
Comparison of Oncologic Outcomes between Transduodenal Ampullectomy and Pancreatoduodenectomy in Ampulla of Vater Cancer: Korean Multicenter Study
Authors: Hong Seung-Soo , Han Sung-Sik , Kwon Wooil , Jang Jin-Young , Kim Hee-Joon , Cho Chol-Kyoon , Ahn Keun-Soo , Yang Jae-Do , Park Youngmok , Min Seog-Ki , Moon Ju-Ik , Roh Young-Hoon , Lee Seung-Eun , Park Joon-Seong , Kim Sang-Geol , Jeong Chi-Young , Heo Jin-Seok , Hwang Ho-Kyoung
Published: April 2021

This study used multicenter data to compare the oncological safety of transduodenal ampullectomy (TDA) with that of pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PPPD) in early ampulla of Vater (AoV) cancer. Data for patients who underwent surgical resection for AoV cancer (pTis–T2 stage) from January 2000 to September 2019 were collected from 15 institutions. The clinicopathologic characteristics and survival outcomes were compared between the PPPD and TDA groups. A total of 486 patients were enrolled (PPPD, 418; TDA, 68). The oncologic behavior in the PPPD group was more aggressive than that in the TDA group at all T stages: larger tumor size (p = 0.034), advanced T stage (p < 0.001), aggressive cell differentiation (p < 0.001), and more lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.002). Five-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) did not differ between the two groups when considering all T stages or only the Tis+T1 group. Among T1 patients, PPPD produced significantly better DFS (PPPD vs. TDA, 84.8% vs. 66.6%, p = 0.040) and superior OS (PPPD vs. TDA, 89.1% vs. 68.0%, p = 0.056) than TDA. Lymph node dissection (LND) in the TDA group did not affect DFS or OS (TDA + LND vs. TDA-only, DFS, p = 0.784; OS, p = 0.870). In conclusion, PPPD should be the standard procedure for early AoV cancer.
A Novel Multidrug-Resistant Cell Line from an Italian Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Patient
Authors: Peraldo-Neia Caterina , Massa Annamaria , Vita Francesca , Basiricò Marco , Raggi Chiara , Bernabei Paola , Ostano Paola , Casorzo Laura , Panero Mara , Leone Francesco , Cavalloni Giuliana , Aglietta Massimo
Published: April 2021

Chemotherapy resistance is a relevant clinical issue in tumor treatment, in particular in biliary tract carcinoma (BTC), for which there are no effective therapies, neither in the first nor in the second line. The development of chemoresistant cell lines as experimental models to investigate the mechanisms of resistance and identify alternative druggable pathways is mandatory. In BTC, in which genetics and biological behavior depend on the etiology, ethnicity, and anatomical site of origin, the creation of models that better recapitulate these characteristics is even more crucial. Here we have established and characterized an intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) cell line derived from an Italian patient, called 82.3. Cells were isolated from a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) and, after establishment, immunophenotypic, biological, genetic, molecular characteristics, and tumorigenicity in vivo in NOD/SCID mice were investigated. 82.3 cells exhibited epithelial morphology and cell markers (EPCAM, CK7, and CK19); they also expressed different cancer stem markers (CD44, CD133, CD49b, CD24, Stro1, PAX6, FOXA2, OCT3/4), α–fetoprotein and under anchorage-independent and serum-free conditions were capable of originating cholangiospheres. The population doubling time was approximately 53 h. In vitro, they demonstrated a poor ability to migrate; in vivo, 82.3 cells retained their tumorigenicity, with a long latency period (16 weeks). Genetic identity using DNA fingerprinting analysis revealed 16 different loci, and the cell line was characterized by a complex hyperdiploid karyotype. Furthermore, 82.3 cells showed cross-resistance to gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin; in fact, their genetic profile showed that 60% of genes (n = 168), specific for drug resistance and related to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, were deregulated in 82.3 cells compared to a control iCCA cell line sensitive to chemotherapeutics. RNA sequencing analysis revealed the enrichment for genes associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), vasculature development, and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, underlining an aggressive phenotype. In conclusion, we have created a new iCCA cell line of Caucasian origin: this could be exploited as a preclinical model to study drug resistance mechanisms and to identify alternative therapies to improve the prognosis of this tumor type.