bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The cGAS–STING pathway: more than fighting against viruses and cancer
Authors: Bao Terigen , Liu Jia , Leng Jiyan , Cai Lu
Published: December 2021

In the classic Cyclic guanosine monophosphate–adenosine monophosphate (cGAMP) synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway, downstream signals can control the production of type I interferon and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells to promote the activation of pro-inflammatory molecules, which are mainly induced during antiviral responses. However, with progress in this area of research, studies focused on autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammatory conditions that may be relevant to cGAS–STING pathways have been conducted. This review mainly highlights the functions of the cGAS–STING pathway in chronic inflammatory diseases. Importantly, the cGAS–STING pathway has a major impact on lipid metabolism. Different research groups have confirmed that the cGAS–STING pathway plays an important role in the chronic inflammatory status in various organs. However, this pathway has not been studied in depth in diabetes and diabetes-related complications. Current research on the cGAS–STING pathway has shown that the targeted therapy of diseases that may be caused by inflammation via the cGAS–STING pathway has promising outcomes.
Global solution to the compressible non-isothermal nematic liquid crystal equations with constant heat conductivity and vacuum
Authors: Mahmood Tariq , Sun Mei
Published: December 2021

This paper considers the initial-boundary value problem of the one-dimensional full compressible nematic liquid crystal flow problem. The initial density is allowed to touch vacuum, and the viscous and heat conductivity coefficients are kept to be positive constants. Global existence of strong solutions is established for any$H^{2}$H2initial data in the Lagrangian flow map coordinate, which holds for both vacuum and non-vacuum case. The key difficulty is caused by the lack of the positive lower bound of the density. To overcome such difficulty, it is observed that the ratio of$\frac{\rho _{0(y)}}{\rho (t,y)}$ρ0(y)ρ(t,y)is proportional to the time integral of the upper bound of temperature and vector director field, along the trajectory. Density weighted Sobolev type inequalities are constructed for both temperature and director field in terms of$\frac{\rho _{0(y)}}{\rho (t,y)}$ρ0(y)ρ(t,y)and small dependence on their dissipation estimates. Besides this, to deal with cross terms arising due to liquid crystal flow, higher order priori estimates are established by using effective viscous flux.
Differences between health technology assessment topics in high- and middle-income countries: a scoping review
Authors: Ghazinoory Sepehr , Majidi Basireh , Nasri Shohreh , Zandi Mohammad Ehsan , Farrokhi Hosein , Javedani Majid , Barzanouni Majid
Published: December 2021

Background

The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) has encountered different issues and challenges over the last two decades. The main purpose of this research is to review the issues and challenges in high- and middle-income countries through reviewing studies related to the HTA.

Methods

The HTA area literature of different countries was collected from 2009 to 2020 and analyzed using scoping review, based on Scopus and WoS databases.

Results

Given the fact that the HTA is practically done in high- and middle-income countries, the results of reviewing the studies and articles of countries reveal that high-income countries seek to increase the participation of stakeholders and enhance the transparency of processes, policy-making, and regulation of the HTA, as well as the systematization of various participant institutions in this area. Middle-income countries, on the other hand, are mostly involved in raising awareness, training and skill development of HTA-related staff, institutionalizing the concept of HTA, and allocating appropriate resources for effective and safe decision-making in their health system.

Conclusion

The problem of incoordination between stakeholders (participant institutions) in the HTA, and thereby, problems in decision-making were found in many of the studied reports and articles. Thus, one of the useful efforts to be made by different countries to maintain the integrity of this system would be the process of involving all members of this system and the formation of a healthy ecosystem in the HTA.
Movement and dispersal of a habitat specialist in human-dominated landscapes: a case study of the red panda
Authors: Bista Damber , Baxter Greg S. , Hudson Nicholas J. , Lama Sonam Tashi , Weerman Janno , Murray Peter John
Published: December 2021

Background

Habitat specialists living in human-dominated landscapes are likely to be affected by habitat fragmentation and human disturbances more than generalists. But there is a paucity of information on their response to such factors. We examined the effect of these factors on movement patterns of red pandasAilurus fulgens, a habitat and diet specialist that inhabits the eastern Himalaya.

Methods

We equipped 10 red pandas (six females, four males) with GPS collars and monitored them from September 2019 to March 2020 in Ilam, eastern Nepal. We collected habitat and disturbance data over four seasons. We considered geophysical covariates, anthropogenic factors and habitat fragmentation metrics, and employed linear -mixed models and logistic regression to evaluate the effect of those variables on movement patterns.

Results

The median daily distance travelled by red pandas was 756 m. Males travelled nearly 1.5 times further than females (605 m). Males and sub-adults travelled more in the mating season while females showed no seasonal variation for their daily distance coverage. Red pandas were relatively more active during dawn and morning than the rest of the day, and they exhibited seasonal variation in distance coverage on the diel cycle. Both males and females appeared to be more active in the cub-rearing season, yet males were more active in the dawn in the birthing season. Two sub-adult females dispersed an average of 21 km starting their dispersal with the onset of the new moon following the winter solstice. The single subadult male did not disperse. Red pandas avoided roads, small-habitat patches and large unsuitable areas between habitat patches. Where connected habitat with high forest cover was scarce the animals moved more directly than when habitat was abundant.

Conclusions

Our study indicates that this habitat specialist is vulnerable to human disturbances and habitat fragmentation. Habitat restoration through improving functional connectivity may be necessary to secure the long-term conservation of specialist species in a human-dominated landscape. Regulation of human activities should go in parallel to minimize disturbances during biologically crucial life phases. We recommend habitat zonation to limit human activities and avoid disturbances, especially livestock herding and road construction in core areas.
Hand and wrist injuries among collegiate athletes vary with athlete division
Authors: Holoyda Kathleen A. , Donato Daniel P. , Magno-Padron David A. , Simpson Andrew M. , Agarwal Jayant P.
Published: December 2021

Background

The rates, severity and consequences of hand and wrist injuries sustained by National Collegiate Athletic Association athletes are not well characterized. This study describes the epidemiology of hand and wrist injuries among collegiate athletes competing in different divisions.

Methods

The National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program (NCAA-ISP) was accessed from 2004 to 2015 for the following sports: baseball, basketball, football, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, wrestling, field hockey, gymnastics, softball and volleyball. The data were used to identify all hand and wrist injuries, the specific injury diagnosis, mean time loss of activity following injury, and need for surgery following injury. These were then stratified by gender. Descriptive statistics were performed to examine the association between sports, event type and division. Student's t test was used to calculate p-values for independent variables. Chi-Square test was used to calculate odds ratio. P < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

103,098 hand and wrist injuries were reported in in the studied NCAA sports from 2004 to 2015. Male athletes sustained 72,423 injuries (6.01/10,000 athlete exposure) and female athletes sustained 30,675 injuries (4.13/10,000 athlete exposure). Division I athletes sustained significantly more injuries compared to divisions II and III. Overall, 3.78% of hand and wrist injuries required surgical intervention. A significantly higher percentage of division I athletes (both male and female) underwent surgical intervention compared to divisions II and III. The mean time lost due to hand and wrist injury was 7.14 days for all athletes. Division I athletes missed the fewest days due to injury at 6.29 days though this was not significant.

Conclusions

Hand and wrist injuries are common among collegiate athletes. Division I athletes sustain higher rates of injuries and higher surgical intervention rates, while tending to miss fewer days due to injury. Improved characterization of divisional differences in hand and wrist injuries can assist injury management and prevention.
Drift of an ocean bottom electromagnetometer from the Bonin to Ryukyu Islands: estimation of the path and travel time by numerical tracking experiments
Authors: Tada Noriko , Nishikawa Haruka , Ichihara Hiroshi , Watanabe Hiromi Kayama , Kuwatani Tatsu
Published: December 2021

Ocean bottom electromagnetometers (OBEMs) installed on the seafloor around Nishinoshima Island (Bonin Islands) were missing after a December volcanic eruption. In February 2021, one was found on a beach on Iriomote Island (Ryukyu Islands), implying that it drifted westward for 1700 km. The reason(s) for the disappearance of the OBEMs and the path followed by the recovered OBEM while drifting are important information for future ocean bottom observations and seafloor volcanology in general. We conducted particle drifting simulations with and without horizonal eddy diffusion to estimate the possible drift path and duration of the recovered OBEM. Our simulations show that particles arriving at Iriomote Island have a 7–10% probability of having been transported from Nishinoshima; thus, such transport is not a rare occurrence. Transport durations in our simulations varied widely between 140 and 602 days depending on the drift paths. More detailed insight into the path and duration of drift of the OBEM will require further comparison between drifting simulations and growth histories of barnacles attached on the OBEM. A similar drift duration and path was reported for pumices that erupted from Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba submarine volcano (southern Bonin Islands) during 18–21 January 1986 and arrived in the Ryukyu Islands in late May 1986. Such drifting simulations may prove useful for identifying the sources of drift pumices, and thus otherwise undetectable eruptions. Finally, the Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba submarine volcano erupted on 13 August 2021, producing abundant pumice rafts that, based on our results, would likely arrive in the Ryukyu Islands. In fact, the beginning of October 2021, they began to arrive in the Ryukyu Islands.

Graphical Abstract
Mild poikilocapnic hypoxia increases very low frequency haemoglobin oxygenation oscillations in prefrontal cortex
Authors: Gruszecka Agnieszka , Waskow Monika , Malkiewicz Marta A. , Neary J. Patrick , Singh Jyotpal , Teckchandani Taylor , Kratzig Gregory P. , Wszedybyl-Winklewska Magdalena , Frydrychowski Andrzej F. , Rumiński Jacek , Głowacka Natalia , Lass Piotr , Winklewski Pawel J. , Gruszecki Marcin
Published: December 2021

Background

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of mild cerebral hypoxia on haemoglobin oxygenation (HbO2), cerebrospinal fluid dynamics and cardiovascular physiology. To achieve this goal, four signals were recorded simultaneously: blood pressure, heart rate / electrocardiogram, HbO2 from right hemisphere and changes of subarachnoid space (SAS) width from left hemisphere. Signals were registered from 30 healthy, young participants (2 females and 28 males, body mass index = 24.5 ± 2.3 kg/m2, age 30.8 ± 13.4 years).

Results

We analysed the recorded signals using wavelet transform and phase coherence. We demonstrated for the first time that in healthy subjects exposed to mild poikilokapnic hypoxia there were increases in very low frequency HbO2oscillations (< 0.052 Hz) in prefrontal cortex. Additionally, SAS fluctuation diminished in the whole frequency range which could be explained by brain oedema.

Conclusions

Consequently the study provides insight into mechanisms governing brain response to a mild hypoxic challenge. Our study supports the notion that HbO2and SAS width monitoring might be beneficial for patients with acute lung disease.
Long-term survival after esophagectomy with distal pancreatectomy for locally advanced esophageal cancer with pancreatic invasion: a case report
Authors: Kaneko Yoshiki , Hisakura Katsuji , Ogawa Koichi , Akashi Yoshimasa , Ohara Yusuke , Owada Yohei , Enomoto Tsuyoshi , Furuya Kinji , Moue Shoko , Doi Manami , Takahashi Kazuhiro , Shimomura Osamu , Hashimoto Shinji , Sakamoto Noriaki , Maruyama Tsunehiko , Oda Tatsuya
Published: December 2021

Background

The treatment for the locally advanced esophageal cancer invading adjacent organs is controversial. We performed a radical surgery for a patient suffering from lower esophageal cancer with pancreatic invasion, and led to long-term survival.

Case presentation

A 62-year-old man with dysphagia, was endoscopically diagnosed lower esophageal cancer. Abdominal computed tomography shows that the tumor formed a mass with the solitary metastatic abdominal lymph node, which invaded pancreas body and gastric body. He was diagnosed locally advanced esophageal cancer cStage IIIC. As chemoradiotherapy was difficult because of the high risk of gastric mucosal damage, radical esophagectomy with distal pancreatectomy and reconstruction of gastric conduit were performed. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged 16 days after operation. At present, 7 years after surgery, he is still alive with disease-free condition.

Conclusion

Esophagectomy with distal pancreatectomy may be feasible for locally advanced esophageal cancer with pancreatic invasion in terms of curability and long-term survival.
Efficacy and safety of edoxaban tosylate hydrate 15 mg in the prevention of venous thromboembolism in patients with impaired renal function after orthopedic surgery of the lower extremities
Authors: Kinoshita Teruhisa , Otsuka Sayuri , Torii Shota , Tsugeno Yoko , Fukaya Shiori , Sobue Mari , Ishihara Ayumi , Sakakibara Takashi , Takimoto Norio
Published: December 2021

Background

Although not indicated in the USA, edoxaban tosylate hydrate 15 mg is used for venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis after orthopedic surgery of the lower extremities in Japan. However, its efficacy and safety in patients with impaired renal function have not been fully evaluated. We aimed to investigate the intervention’s effectiveness in these patients.

Methods

From 2018 to 2020, patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty, hip fracture surgery, or knee arthroplasty single granule replacement and with renal dysfunction were evaluated. Safety was evaluated according to bleeding occurrence during edoxaban treatment and liver function endpoints. Patients were divided into the 15- and 30-mg oral groups, including 23 patients with impaired renal function and 209 with normal renal function, respectively.

Results

VTE incidence in the 15- and 30-mg groups was 8.7% and 8.6%, respectively; the intergroup difference was insignificant (odds ratio [OR] 0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.22–4.56; p = 1.00). Bleeding did not occur in the 15-mg group and was noted in 9 patients in the 30-mg group during treatment with edoxaban; the intergroup difference was insignificant (p = 1.00). The increase in aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels was 30% in the 15-mg group and 19% in the 30-mg group, with no difference between the groups (p = 0.27). Multivariate analysis showed that the dose of edoxaban was not a significant factor associated with the incidence of VTE (adjusted OR 2.31; 95% CI 0.39–13.8; p = 0.36).

Conclusions

Edoxaban 15 mg in patients with impaired renal function may be as effective as edoxaban 30 mg in patients with normal renal function. However, the number of cases included in this study was small and the power was insufficient; therefore, a study with a larger sample size is desirable.
The “Direct tip injection in occlusive lesions (DIOL)” fashion
Authors: Haraguchi Takuya , Fujita Tsutomu , Kashima Yoshifumi , Tsujimoto Masanaga , Watanabe Tomohiko , Sugie Takuro , Hachinohe Daisuke , Kaneko Umihiko , Kobayashi Ken , Kanno Daitaro , Sato Katsuhiko
Published: December 2021

Background

The successful intervention for peripheral artery disease is limited by complex chronic total occlusions (CTOs). During CTO wiring, without the use of intravascular or extravascular ultrasound, the guidewire position is unclear, except for calcified lesions showing the vessel path. To solve this problem, we propose a novel guidewire crossing with plaque modification method for complex occlusive lesions, named the “Direct tip Injection in Occlusive Lesions (DIOL)” fashion.

Main text

The “DIOL” fashion utilizes the hydraulic pressure of tip injection with a general contrast media through a microcatheter or an over-the-wire balloon catheter within CTOs. The purposes of this technique are 1) to visualize the “vessel road” of the occlusion from expanding a microchannel, subintimal, intramedial, and periadventitial space with contrast agent and 2) to modify plaques within CTO to advance CTO devices safely and easily. This technique creates dissections by hydraulic pressure. Antegrade-DIOL may create dissections which extend to and compress a distal lumen, especially in below-the-knee arteries. A gentle tip injection with smaller contrast volume (1–2 ml) should be used to confirm the tip position which is inside or outside of a vessel. On the other hand, retrograde-DIOL is used with a forceful tip injection of moderate contrast volume up to 5-ml to visualize vessel tracks and to modify the plaques to facilitate the crossing of CTO devices. Case-1 involved a severe claudicant due to right superficial femoral artery occlusion. After the conventional bidirectional subintimal procedure failed, we performed two times of retrograde-DIOL fashion, and the bidirectional subintimal planes were successfully connected. After two stents implantation, a sufficient flow was achieved without complications and restenosis for two years. Case-2 involved multiple wounds in the heel due to ischemia caused by posterior tibial arterial occlusion. After the conventional bidirectional approach failed, retrograde-DIOL was performed and retrograde guidewire successfully crossed the CTO, and direct blood flow to the wounds was obtained after balloon angioplasty. The wounds heeled four months after the procedure without reintervention.

Conclusions

The DIOL fashion is a useful and effective method to facilitate CTO treatment.
Recent trends of copper detection in water samples
Authors: Elkhatat Ahmed M. , Soliman Mariam , Ismail Rim , Ahmed Somaya , Abounahia Nada , Mubashir Shamna , Fouladi Sohila , Khraisheh Majeda
Published: December 2021

Background

Water pollution due to the disposal of heavy metals in water bodies is one of the most global concerns that adversely affect the ecosystem and human health because of their non-biodegradability and potential of accumulation. Copper is one of the most present metals in the environment released mainly from disposing of agricultural fertilizers and pesticides, mining operations, chemical, pharmaceutical, and paper manufacturing industries into stream bodies. The elevated exposure to Cu(II) causes severe toxicity, diabetes, anemia, kidney disorders, liver damage, and death.

Main body

Several researchers developed detection methods and techniques for Cu(II) detection in the different water samples and sources to ensure that Cu(II) concentration falls within the acceptable limit range, including atomic and molecular spectrophotometry, mass spectroscopy, sensors, voltammetry, and chromatography. This review spotlights recent Cu(II) detection trends in water samples, highlighting their detection limits, advantages, and disadvantages.

Conclusion

Based on the water sample, detection limit, method cost, an appropriate analysis can be used. Recent trends of Cu(II) detection in water samples include atomic and molecular spectrophotometry, mass spectroscopy, sensors, voltammetry, and chromatography. The principle, definitions, experimental work, advantages, and disadvantages of each method are discussed and highlighted.
A numerical study on MHD double diffusive nonlinear mixed convective nanofluid flow around a vertical wedge with diffusion of liquid hydrogen
Authors: Patil Prabhugouda Mallanagouda , Kulkarni Madhavarao
Published: December 2021

The present study focuses on double diffusive nonlinear (quadratic) mixed convective flow of nanoliquid about vertical wedge with nonlinear temperature-density-concentration variations. This study is found to be innovative and comprises the impacts of quadratic mixed convection, magnetohydrodynamics, diffusion of nanoparticles and liquid hydrogen flow around a wedge. Highly coupled nonlinear partial differential equations (NPDEs) and boundary constraints have been used to model the flow problem, which are then transformed into a dimensionless set of equations utilizing non-similar transformations. Further, a set of NPDEs would be linearized with the help of Quasilinearization technique, and then, the linear partial differential equations are transformed into a block tri-diagonal system through using implicit finite difference scheme, which is solved using Verga’s algorithm. The study findings were explored through graphs for the fluid velocity, temperature, concentration, nanoparticle volume fraction distributions and its corresponding gradients. One of the important results of this study is that the higher wedge angle values upsurge the friction between the particles of the fluid and the wedge surface. Rising Schmidt number declines the concentration distribution and enhances the magnitude of Sherwood number. Nanofluid’s temperature increases with varying applied magnetic field. The present study has notable applications in the designing and manufacturing of wedge-shaped materials in space aircrafts, construction of dams, thermal systems, oil and gas industries, etc.
Pathological responses and survival outcomes in patients with locally advanced breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy: a single-institute experience
Authors: Shohdy Kyrillus S. , Almeldin Doaa S. , Fekry Madonna A. , Ismail Mahmoud A. , AboElmaaref Nedal A. , ElSadany Esraa G. , Hamza Baher M. , El-Shorbagy Fatma H. , Ali Ahmad S. , Attia Hanaa , Kassem Loay
Published: December 2021

Background

Pathological complete response (pCR) is a surrogate for the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) in locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). We analyzed the predictive clinical factors for pathological responses and survival outcomes in a cohort of Egyptian patients.

Methods

We evaluated the medical records of patients with breast cancer who received NCT in our academic institute. Survival curves were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional models were used for multiple regression analysis.

Results

Our cohort included 368 patients with a median age of 48 years (range 21–70). The median follow-up time was 3 years. The clinical tumor stage (T3–4) represented 58%, with 80% having positive axillary nodes. The luminal subgroup prevailed by 68%. The objective response rate (ORR) reached 78%, and 16% of patients achieved pCR. The clinical node stage and optimal chemotherapy were associated with higher ORR (p = 0.035 and p = 0.001, respectively). Predictors of pCR were clinical T-stage (p = 0.026), high Ki-67 index > 20 (p = 0.05), and receiving optimal chemotherapy (p = 0.014). The estimated 3-year disease free-survival (DFS) was 53%. Receptor status, achieving ORR, and pCR were associated with better DFS with hazard ratios of 0.56, p = 0.008; 0.38, p = 0.04; and 0.28, p = 0.007, respectively.

Conclusions

Luminal tumors still draw benefit from neoadjuvant chemotherapy in terms of clinical response and breast conservative surgery. Treatment escalation to those who did not achieve pCR requires more investigation, given a higher recurrence rate in real-world experience.
Differentiation of malignant from non-malignant portal vein thrombosis in liver cirrhosis: the challenging dilemma
Authors: Hanafy Amr Shaaban , Tharwat Essam Elsayed
Published: December 2021

Background

PVT is an ultrasonographic finding in up to 8% of patients with liver cirrhosis. Once hepatocellular carcinoma has occurred as the final station in liver cirrhosis, the risk of PVT rises to 40%. Benign and malignant PVT can occur in patients with liver cirrhosis, and it is important to differentiate the nature of PVT as it has a great impact on patient’s management and outcome.

Diagnosis

Confirming portal vein thrombosis and extension by abdominal ultrasound, contrast-enhanced USG, CT, or MRI. Malignant criteria of PVT are pulsatile pattern in Doppler and heterogeneous contrast enhancement, which are especially seen at the arterial phase, neovascularity within PVT, portal vein thrombus with a diameter of > 23 mm while in benign thrombus, PV diameter does not exceed 20 mm. Visible hypervascular tumor is in close proximity to PVT.

Conclusion

It is not uncommon to find portal vein thrombosis in patients with liver cirrhosis, despite the fact that malignant variant is the most frequent, but efforts should be gathered to exclude benign PVT which may change the management of the patients dramatically.
Efficacy of the commercial plant products acting against influenza-a review
Authors: Brindha Devi A. , Sarala R.
Published: December 2021

Background

Influenza infection always poses a threat to human and animal health. Vaccines and antiviral drugs are recommended to deal with the situation. The drawback of these remedial agents made the scientist change their focus on an alternative therapy. The anti-influenza effects of plants have been extensively studied, and many pharmaceutical companies have prepared their products on this basis.

Main body

The present review documents the successfully launched anti-influenza commercial products. In specific, it exposes the scientifically validated and evidence-based supporting inhibitory action of influenza and its strains.

Conclusion

This review highlighted the efficacy of the commercial products which effectively combat influenza. It provides a complementary strategy to deal with the worst-case scenario of flu. Meanwhile, to face the emerging strains, brand new products are in great necessity besides prevailing and available drugs.
Evaluation of sexual dysfunction and its predictive factors in female and male patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Azab Mohamed , Abdellatif Maii Abdelraheem , Abdelnaby Mai Mohamed
Published: December 2021

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common disabling joint disease affecting both males and females. Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a common association with RA. The aim of this work was to study the prevalence and predictors of sexual dysfunction in male and female patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Results

The mean age of female patients was 32.1 years and 39.7 years for males. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction was higher in RA female patients than controls, 62.1% versus 41.2% respectively (P ≤ 0.05). The prevalence of global sexual dysfunction was higher in RA male patients than controls, 63.8% versus 47.5% respectively (P ≤ 0.05). Predictors of sexual dysfunction in female RA patients were the number of children, BMI, disease duration, DAS score, HADs-D score, HAQ score, VAS score, joint deformity, and the number of drugs. Predictors of sexual dysfunction in male RA patients were age, disease duration, DAS score, HAQ score, VAS score, and the number of drugs.

Conclusion

SD is prevalent in RA patients. Disease activity, pain, depression, and disturbed quality of life affect nearly all domains of sexual functions in female and male patients.
Arterial Chemotherapy of Oxaliplatin Plus Fluorouracil Versus Sorafenib in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Biomolecular Exploratory, Randomized, Phase III Trial (FOHAIC-1)
Authors: Lyu Ning , Wang Xun , Li Ji-Bin , Lai Jin-Fa , Chen Qi-Feng , Li Shao-Long , Deng Hai-Jing , He Meng , Mu Lu-Wen , Zhao Ming
Published: December 2021

PURPOSE

Interventional hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy of infusional fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (HAIC-FO) displayed an encouraging safety profile and antitumor activity in a previous phase II trial and a propensity-score-matching study involving patients with locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

In this open-label, phase III trial, patients with advanced HCC, previously untreated with systemic therapy, were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive HAIC-FO or sorafenib. The primary end point was overall survival (OS) in the intention-to-treat population. An exploratory model for predicting the efficacy of HAIC-FO on the basis of genomic sequencing was developed.

RESULTS

Between May 2017 and May 2020, 262 patients were randomly assigned. The median tumor size was 11.2 cm (interquartile range, 8.5-13.7 cm). Macrovascular invasion was present in 65.6%, and the percentage of patients with > 50% tumor volume involvement of the liver and/or Vp-4 portal vein tumor thrombosis was 49.2%. At data cutoff (October 31, 2020), median OS was 13.9 months for HAIC-FO and 8.2 for sorafenib (hazard ratio [HR] 0.408; 95% CI, 0.301 to 0.552; P < .001). Tumor downstaging occurred in 16 (12.3% of 130) patients receiving HAIC-FO, including 15 receiving curative surgery or ablation, and finally achieving a median OS of 20.8 months, with a 1-year OS rate of 93.8%. In high-risk subpopulations, OS was significantly longer with HAIC-FO than with sorafenib (10.8 months v 5.7 months; HR 0.343; 95% CI, 0.219 to 0.538; P < .001). A newly developed 15-mutant-gene prediction model identified 83% of patients with response to HAIC-FO. HAIC-FO responders had longer OS than HAIC-FO nonresponders (19.3 months v 10.6 months; HR 0.323; 95% CI, 0.186 to 0.560; P = .002).

CONCLUSION

HAIC-FO achieved better survival outcomes than sorafenib in advanced HCC, even in association with a high intrahepatic disease burden.
Metamorphosis of Twin Screw Extruder-Based Granulation Technology: Applications Focusing on Its Impact on Conventional Granulation Technology
Authors: Rao Rajat Radhakrishna , Pandey Abhijeet , Hegde Aswathi R. , Kulkarni Vijay Induvadan , Chincholi Chetan , Rao Vinay , Bhushan Indu , Mutalik Srinivas
Published: December 2021

In order to be at pace with the market requirements of solid dosage forms and regulatory standards, a transformation towards systematic processing using continuous manufacturing (CM) and automated model-based control is being thought through for its fundamental advantages over conventional batch manufacturing. CM eliminates the key gaps through the integration of various processes while preserving quality attributes via the use of process analytical technology (PAT). The twin screw extruder (TSE) is one such equipment adopted by the pharmaceutical industry as a substitute for the traditional batch granulation process. Various types of granulation techniques using twin screw extrusion technology have been explored in the article. Furthermore, individual components of a TSE and their conjugation with PAT tools and the advancements and applications in the field of nutraceuticals and nanotechnology have also been discussed. Thus, the future of granulation lies on the shoulders of continuous TSE, where it can be coupled with computational mathematical studies to mitigate its complications.
Serum Metabolomics Reveals Dysregulation and Diagnostic Potential of Oxylipins in Tumor-induced Osteomalacia
Authors: Gong Yiyi , Ni Xiaolin , Jin Chenxi , Li Xiang , Wang Yujie , Wang Ou , Li Mei , Xing Xiaoping , Wu Zhihong , Jiang Yan , Xia Weibo
Published: December 2021

Context

Excessive production of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) by a tumor is considered the main pathogenesis in tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO). Despite its importance to comprehensive understanding of pathogenesis and diagnosis, the regulation of systemic metabolism in TIO remains unclear.

Objective

We aimed to systematically characterize the metabolome alteration associated with TIO.

Methods

By means of liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry–based metabolomics, we analyzed the metabolic profile from 96 serum samples (32 from TIO patients at initial diagnosis, pairwise samples after tumor resection, and 32 matched healthy control (HC) subjects). In order to screen and evaluate potential biomarkers, statistical analyses, pathway enrichment and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) were performed.

Results

Metabolomic profiling revealed distinct alterations between TIO and HC cohorts. Differential metabolites were screened and conducted to functional clustering and annotation. A significantly enriched pathway was found involving arachidonic acid metabolism. A combination of 5 oxylipins, 4-HDoHE, leukotriene B4, 5-HETE, 17-HETE, and 9,10,13-TriHOME, demonstrated a high sensitivity and specificity panel for TIO prediction screened by random forest algorithm (AUC = 0.951; 95% CI, 0.827-1). Supported vector machine modeling and partial least squares modeling were conducted to validate the predictive capabilities of the diagnostic panel.

Conclusion

Metabolite profiling of TIO showed significant alterations compared with HC. A high-sensitivity and high-specificity panel with 5 oxylipins was tested as diagnostic predictor. For the first time, we provide the global profile of metabolomes and identify potential diagnostic biomarkers of TIO. The present work may offer novel insights into the pathogenesis of TIO.
Progression of Vertebral Fractures in Patients with Adrenocortical Carcinoma Undergoing Mitotane Therapy
Authors: Cosentini Deborah , Grisanti Salvatore , Hadoux Julien , Libè Rossella , Frigerio Michele , Laganà Marta , Deschamps Frederic , Zamparini Manuel , Lamartina Livia , Pedersini Rebecca , Valsecchi Clara , Maroldi Roberto , Al Ghuzlan Abir , Terzolo Massimo , Gasparotti Roberto , Baudin Eric , Berruti Alfredo
Published: December 2021

Context

Patients with adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) are frequently on mitotane therapy for a long time period. The drug exerts adrenolytic activity requiring glucocorticoid supplementation, which can be potentially detrimental for bone.

Objective

To explore whether mitotane with/without chemotherapy is associated with an increased proportion of morphometric vertebral fractures (VFs) in ACC patients. Secondary objectives were proportion of patients with VF progression, or worsening of the spinal deformity index (SDI) during mitotane therapy; and to explore predictive factors of VF progression and a prognostic role of VF progression.

Methods

Multicenter, retrospective cohort study of patients with ACC who received mitotane alone or in association to chemotherapy, recruited from January 2010 to January 2020 in 2 reference centers in Italy and France.

Results

A significant increase in the frequency of VFs before and after mitotane therapy was seen both in Italian (28.3% vs 47.8%, P = .04) and French (17.8% vs 35.6%, P = .04) series. VF progression was observed in 39.1%, and 28.9% of patients, respectively. Baseline VFs and increased patient body mass index, but not the dose of cortisol supplementation, showed an independent association with VF progression at multivariate analysis. Among the 72 advanced ACC patients, progression of VFs was associated with a poorer survival.

Conclusion

The administration of mitotane with/without chemotherapy in ACC patients impairs bone health independently from cortisol supplementation. Appropriate preventive measures to decrease the fracture risk should be implemented in these patients.
Multiple Perspectives on Recent Trends in Unwanted Fertility in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Casterline John B. , El-Zeini Laila O.
Published: December 2021

The last four decades have witnessed large declines in fertility globally. This study uses data from 78 low- and middle-income countries to examine concurrent trends in unwanted fertility. Three measures of unwanted fertility are contrasted: the conventional unwanted total fertility rate, a proposed conditional unwanted fertility rate, and the percentage of births unwanted. Incidence of unwanted births and prevalence of exposure to unwanted births are both derived from answers to questions on prospective fertility preference, recognized as the most valid and reliable survey measure of preferences. Country-level trends are modeled both historically and with the decline in total fertility, with a focus on regional differentials. Results show that unwanted fertility rates—especially the conditional unwanted fertility rate—have declined substantially in recent decades. By contrast, the percentage of births unwanted has declined less, remaining stable or even increasing: from a birth cohort perspective, declines in unwanted fertility have been far more modest than the increased parental success in avoiding unwanted births. The regional patterns suggest that sub-Saharan Africa has several similarities with other major regions but also some peculiar features, including a recent stall in the decline of unwanted fertility that persists after controlling for the stage of fertility transition.
Machining capacity measurement of an industrial product service system for turning process
Authors: Zhu Q Q , Jiang P Y
Published: December 2021

Machining capacity measurement is of great importance in an industrial product service system for turning processes (TP-iPSS) owing to its roles in TP-iPSS evaluation, accounting, and optimization. In this paper, the concepts of potential machining capacity (MCp), real machining capacity (MCr), and total machining capacity (MCt) are presented. As for a configured TP-iPSS whose lathe is given and determined, MCp is majorly influenced by the lathe's attachments, especially the cutting tool, MCr is majorly correlative with cutting parameters (cutting depth, cutting velocity and feed) and workpiece properties besides parameters of cutting tool. Combining different cutting tool with the TP-iPSS, different MCp and potential machining area ( Ap) can be obtained, then the measurement models of MCp and Ap are established through using multivariate regression analysis, and MCr is calculated with the product of MCp and the ratio of Ap to Ar (real machining area). In addition, MCt in a time interval can be calculated with the sum of MCr in the time interval. Finally, a case is studied to demonstrate the MCp, MCr, and MCt models and their basic applications to TP-iPSS evaluation, accounting, and optimization.
Job rescheduling by exploring the solution space of process planning for machine breakdown/arrival problems
Authors: Wang Y F , Zhang Y , Fuh J Y H
Published: December 2021

In parts manufacturing, rescheduling (revising the affected process plans and schedule) is required when machine breakdown occurs. This paper presents a new rescheduling method by exploring the solution space of process planning. First, the scheduling problem is modelled by integrating a process planning module and a scheduling module. The process planning module employs an optimization approach in which the entire plan solution space is first generated and a search algorithm is then used to find the optimal plan with minimum machining cost, while the scheduling module is based on commonly used heuristics. With an integrator module linking these two modules, a satisfactory plans/schedule solution can be achieved iteratively by modifying the process planning solution space with respect to a scheduling target, e.g. minimizing the number of tardy jobs. Second, a machine breakdown problem is described by two rescheduling events: when a machine breaks down, it is considered to be unavailable; once it is recovered, it is considered as a new machine arrival. These two events are modelled in the process planning solution space of the affected jobs. In this way, rescheduling can be conducted by the integrated system effectively. The proposed rescheduling method has been implemented for the manufacturing of prismatic parts in job shops. An application example and a comparative study are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the presented method.
Multi-Agent Tool Management in the Manufacturing of Aircraft Engines
Authors: D'Addona D , Teti R
Published: December 2021

A Multi-Agent Tool Management System (MATMS) for automatic tool procurement in a supply network was developed and implemented. The MATMS realization involved the engineering design of an agent system that operates in the framework of a negotiation-based multiple-supplier network where an aircraft engine producer (buyer) requires from external tool manufacturers (sellers) the purchase of new cubic boron nitride (CBN) grinding wheels and the performance of dressing operations on worn-out CBN grinding wheels for turbine blade fabrication. The main purpose of the MATMS is the optimized tool management for nickel-based alloy turbine blade grinding while operating in a supply environment made uncertain by external tool manufacturers providing unreliable tool delivery time responses.
Contributions to the smut fungi of Africa. 7. First records of Tilletia brachypodii-ramosi and Ustilago constantineanui
Authors:   Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Denchev Teodor T. , Denchev Cvetomir M. ,   Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Published: December 2021

Two poorly known smut fungi are recorded for the first time from Africa: Tilletia brachypodii-ramosi on Brachypodium retusum (from Morocco) and Ustilago constantineanui on Sporobolus schoenoides (from Algeria). Descriptions and illustrations are provided for these taxa.
The effect of motion games on improving the psychomotor and intellectual performance of children with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disabilities
Authors: MOCANU George-Dănuț , GAVRILA UDREA Maria
Published: December 2021

Introduction. Depressive states and anxiety are common symptoms of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The persons with intellectual disabilities show problems related to the development of basic motor skills, having learning problems compared to normal ones, imbalances between the processes of arousal and inhibition, limited motor ability, difficult understanding of language and motor tasks, difficult concentration, mechanical assimilation etc. Objectives. The study analyzes the effectiveness of structures and motion games, applied in specific activities for children with intellectual disabilities (ID) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Material and Methods. The research involved an experimental group of 5 children with one of these disabilities or their combination (age 10-11 years), included in a training process at the Ion Teodorescu Special Vocational School in Slobozia / Ialomița / Romania and comparing their results with a control group (6 normal children, with an average age of 10 years), between 20.09.2020-10.03.2021. The assessment of the level of psychomotor and intellectual development was made by the Cutout Test, the Cohs Cube Test (light task configurations) and an Attention Flexibility Test (movement to the corners of the room/field depending on the assigned color, counting successful attempts and mistakes). Results and discussion. The obtained results confirm the working hypothesis, so the use of the structures and games proposed in the program contributes to a significant improvement of the psychomotor and intellectual performances of students with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum. Conclusion. espite all these improvements, they cannot approach or equal the reference values of children without problems, falling into the same age category. Keywords: psychomotor skills, adapted physical activities, recovery, children, learning disabilities,
Essential oils utility implications in symptomatic Burning Mouth Syndrome
Authors: PATANO Assunta , DI VENERE Daniela , CECI Sabino , BERATE Pula , CANDREA Sebastian , BABTAN Anida-Maria , AZZOLLINI Daniela , PIRAS Fabio , CURATOLI Luigi , CORRIERO Alberto , VALENTE Francesco , MAGGIORE Maria Elena , MANCINI Antonio , GIOVANNIELLO Delia , NUCCI Ludovica , ELIA Rossella , SIRBU Adina , FEURDEAN Claudia , GALDERISI Andrea , CARDARELLI Fillippo
Published: December 2021

Introduction. Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a clinical condition characterized by the presence of chronic pain in absence of clinically visible lesions of the oral mucosa. The etiology is uncertain and the therapeutic strategies still controversial. The objective of this prospective study is to analyze the efficacy of essential oils-based mouthwashes in the therapy of BMS.
Material and method. This study included 16 patients affected by BMS who were treated with essential oils-based mouthwashes and glucose solution on alternated days for 30 days. Symptomatology was evaluated after 15, 30 and 90 days.
Results and discussions. A the end of the treatment, most of the patients (67%) referred an improvement of symptoms up to complete remission in 90 days.
Conclusions. Based on this study, essential oils-based mouthwashes could represent a valid aid in the treatment of BMS. Further studies are necessary in order to identify effective and standardized therapeutic protocols.
Keywords: Burning Mouth Syndrome; oral rinse; essential oils; therapeutic strategies,
Anti-inflammatory effects of exercise training. A systematic review
Authors: ONU Ilie , IORDAN Daniel-Andrei , CODREANU Corneliu Mircea , MATEI Daniela  , GALACTION Anca-Irina
Published: December 2021

Introduction: The diseases number with a known inflammatory etiology is constantly increasing. Cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, osteoporosis, cancer, asthma, atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes and obesity are associated with chronic low-grade inflammation. There is evidence that individuals who engage in intense physical activity or who exercise regularly, shows changes in biomarkers associated with chronic inflammation. Physical exercise is useful in preventing many diseases, due to improved cardiorespiratory, metabolic, musculoskeletal function. All these improve the immunity and antioxidant capacity, thus reducing the incidence of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases.
Materials and Methods: In this study were included 90 bibliographic sources, of which the title contains the following keywords: exercise - 23, inflammation - 27, anti-inflammatory - 6, IL-6 - 13, IL-10 - 4, myokine - 3, IL-15 - 3, irisin - 6, obesity - 11, chronic inflammation - 7. This study discussed aspects of exercise, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, immunological mechanisms, the dual role of IL-6 cytokine, and the anti-inflammatory effects of physical exercise.
Results: Physical exercise is an efficient clinical tool, that limits chronic inflammation activating the immune system that will increase the level of anti-inflammatory IL-6 myokine. There is a direct relationship between the volume and intensity of exercise and the amount of IL-6 myokine in the blood stream.
Conclusions: These studies contribute significantly to the understanding of the mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory effect of exercise. More studies on chronic low-grade inflammatory diseases are needed to understand their pathophysiology, and that will inspire the specialists improve long-term treatment strategies.
Keywords: physical exercise, chronic low-grade inflammation, anti-inflammatory, IL-6, myokine,