bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CORRELATION BETWEEN SOCIAL SUPPORT AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE ELDERLY IN PRAWIRODIRJAN SUB-DISTRICT YOGYAKARTA
Authors:   Faculty of Medicine, Kristen Duta Wacana Yogyakarta Christian University Indonesia, Deodatus Aditya J , Sigilipoe Mitra A ,   Faculty of Medicine, Kristen Duta Wacana Yogyakarta Christian University Indonesia, Widagdo The Maria Meiwati ,   Faculty of Medicine, Kristen Duta Wacana Yogyakarta Christian University Indonesia
Published: April 2022

Background: The largest percentage elderly population in Indonesia in 2017 was in the province of Yogyakarta (13.81%). Increased life expectancy leads to changes in population, namely the higher percentage of elderly people. The increased number of elderly makes efforts to improve the quality of life of the elderly become important. Objective: To assess the correlation between social support and the quality of life of the elderly in the Prawirodirjan Sub-district, Gondomanan District, Yogyakarta Municipality. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with a sample of 50 people. Measurement of social support was done using the MOS Social Support Survey questionnaire. Measurements for quality of life was done using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Data was analysed using Pearson correlation analysis. Results: Respondents were 50 people consisting of 10 men (20.0%) and 40 women (80.0%). Age of respondents ranged from 60-81 years. The statistical analysis results showed significant correlations between social support (MOS Social Support Survey) and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) in the Physical Health (r=0,771, p= 0,001), Psychological (r=0,550, p=0,001), Social Relationship (r= 0,664, p=0,001), Environment (r= 0,455, p = 0,001). Conclusion: There is a significant correlation between social support (MOS Social Support Survey) and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) in the elderly living in Prawirodirjan Sub-district, Gondomanan District, Yogyakarta Municipality
Silent Myocardial Infarction in Hypereosinophilic Syndrome Overlapped with JAK2-Mediated Essential Thrombocytosis: A Case Report
Authors: Reaz Shams , Jafari Christianne
Published: April 2022

A 61-year-old male with chronic cough, paraesthesia of the extremities, and sinusitis presented for acute worsening of symptoms despite initial treatment with antibiotics and prednisone. Emergency department evaluation revealed mild elevated troponin without ECG changes in absence of coronary symptoms, but markedly elevated eosinophil count and an abnormal chest CT. A nuclear stress test revealed basal and inferoseptal dyskinesis with fixed apical defect. Left heart catheterisation revealed multiple coronary stenosis requiring intervention. Further extensive work-up confirmed a diagnosis of hypereosinophilic syndrome complicated with respiratory, cardiac, gastroenterological, and neurological involvement. The patient was initially treated with a high dose of intravenous steroid and hydroxyurea. Flow cytometry revealed negative FIP1L1-PDGFRA gene rearrangement, but was positive for JAK2 V617F mutation and perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies/cytoplasmic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, indicating possible overlap of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.
ON INTERDISCIPLINARY COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ANALOGICAL FEEDBACK/ASSESSMENT MODELS APPLIED IN BLENDED LEARNING VERSUS COMPUTER AIDED LEARNING USING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS
Authors:   Banha University, Banha, Egypt., Mustafa Hassan M. H.
Published: April 2022

This paper provides educationalists as well as researchers in computer science and engineering with a study of an interdisciplinary challenging pedagogical issue. More specifically, the presented study resulted in a set of interesting findings that originated from adopted realistic Artificial Neural Network (ANNs) modeling, which is associated with two educational analogical feedback/assessment processes. This piece of research considers comparative analysis and evaluation study of an educational phenomenon issue for two diverse teaching/learning methodologies namely :{ Blended Learning (BL) and Computer Aided Learning (CAL)}. More precisely, the introduced issue of this work addresses the two summative and formative assessment processes applied in educational field practice. Accordingly, this issue is concerned mainly with the modeling of two practical field case studies considering the two items of educational feedback/assessment. In other words, assessment is used in many ways in education, a great deal of attention is now given to its use in helping teaching and learning, described as the two performance assessment items (summative and formative). These are defined as: assessment for learning (A f L), or formative assessment, and assessment of learning (AO L), or summative assessment. It is noticed that (AO L), is focused on which is used to summarize what students know or can do at certain times in order to report achievement and progress. Herein, two parametric factor values of ANN (gain, and learning rate factors), have been considered for the two suggested instructional methodologies. That is considered in order to compare, analyze, and evaluate dynamically two items of academic performance namely: (Academic achievement outcome & Learning convergence time) for both methodologies. Interestingly, the running realistic ANN computer modeling for different numbers of neurons -that are contributing to the learning process- results in an investigative, comprehensive, and innovative systematic analysis of individual students’ differences. Finally, after performing a perceptive evaluation comparing two case studies of obtained experimental field results, two interesting findings have been concluded. Firstly, while comparing computed sets of statistical parameters, associated with the presented instructional methodologies (CAL & BL). That resulted in the observed analogy between both sets. Secondly, in the context of Feedback/Assessment performance, regarding both (BL& CAL); either Formative or Summative feedback /assessments, have been observed to be well analogous to each other.
The Roles of Non-Coding RNAs in Radiotherapy of Gastrointestinal Carcinoma
Authors: Li Jie , Sun Juan , Liu Zhen , Zeng Ziyang , Ouyang Siwen , Zhang Zimu , Ma Mingwei , Kang Weiming
Published: April 2022

Radiotherapy (RT), or radiation therapy, has been widely used in clinical practice for the treatment of local advanced gastrointestinal carcinoma. RT causes DNA double-strand breaks leading to cell cytotoxicity and indirectly damages tumor cells by activating downstream genes. Non-coding RNA (including microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), and circular RNAs) is a type of RNA that does not encode a protein. As the field of ncRNAs increasingly expands, new complex roles have gradually emerged for ncRNAs in RT. It has been shown that ncRNAs can act as radiosensitivity regulators in gastrointestinal carcinoma by affecting DNA damage repair, cell cycle arrest, irradiation-induced apoptosis, cell autophagy, stemness, EMT, and cell pyroptosis. Here, we review the complex roles of ncRNAs in RT and gastrointestinal carcinoma. We also discuss the potential clinical significance and predictive value of ncRNAs in response to RT for guiding the individualized treatment of patients. This review can serve as a guide for the application of ncRNAs as radiosensitivity enhancers, radioresistance inducers, and predictors of response in RT of gastrointestinal carcinoma.
Circulating Exosomal miR-181b-5p Promoted Cell Senescence and Inhibited Angiogenesis to Impair Diabetic Foot Ulcer via the Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2/Heme Oxygenase-1 Pathway
Authors: Wang Shaohua , Shi Min , Zhou Jing , Wang Wenjing , Zhang Yuanyuan , Li Yongjun
Published: April 2022

Endothelial cell dysfunction is the main contributing factor of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). Circulating exosomes have been found to play an important role in many processes, such as cell senescence and angiogenesis. However, the underlying roles and mechanism of circulating exosomes in the onset and progression of DFU remain unclear. In this study, we isolated exosomes from the plasma of patients with DFU (DFU-Exos) and non-diabetic foot wounds (NDF-Exos). DFU-Exos promoted cell senescence and inhibited tube formation in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs), unlike NDF-Exos. Several datasets suggest that miR-181b-5p expression might be enriched in exosomes from DFU; this was verified using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). We also found that miR-181b-5p, which was taken up by HUVECs, promoted cell senescence and inhibited tube formation. Dual luciferase reporter assay, qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining confirmed that miR-181b-5p could negatively regulate nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) expression by binding to its 3′ UTR, thus further suppressing heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression. In addition, NRF2 and HO-1 inhibitors could also rescue the effects of senescence and tube formation exerted by miR-181b-5p inhibitor. In vivo experiments showed that exosomes isolated from HUVECs which inhibited miR-181b-5p expression promoted angiogenesis to further restore the capacity of wound healing. In conclusion, this study indicated that circulating exosomal miR-181b-5p promoted cell senescence and inhibited angiogenesis to impair wound healing in DFU by regulating the NRF2/HO-1 pathway.
The Relationship Between the Distribution of Water and Salt Elements in Arid Irrigation Areas and Soil Salination Evolution
Authors: Lian Haidong , Sun Zhaojun , Xu Cundong , Gu Fengyou
Published: April 2022

Long periods of surface water irrigation and water and salt movement have slow and continuous influence on the evolution of soil salinization in a closed hydrogeological unit of arid irrigation areas. It is of more application value to study the evolution process of soil salinization from the perspective of regional medium and long terms in the regional scale for the sustainable development of irrigated areas. In this study, the spatial–temporal evolution of soil salinization and dominant factors for soil salination, and the relationship between soil salination and the groundwater buried depth were studied through spatial interpolation and statistical analysis with long-time observed data of a closed hydrogeological unit in the Jingtaichuan Electric-Lifting Irrigation Area in Gansu Province, China. The results showed that from 2001 to 2016, the soil salt content, the groundwater mineralization, and the surface irrigated water amount in the study area enhanced slowly, while the groundwater buried depth decreased; the salinization degree in the study area was increasing slowly; there was a positive correlation between the soil salt content and the groundwater mineralization, while a negative correlation existed between the soil salt content and either the surface irrigated water amount or the groundwater buried depth; the groundwater buried depth had the strongest impact on the spatial distribution of the soil salt content; the increase rate of the soil salt content lowered as the groundwater buried depth increased, which met the logarithmic relationship; soil salination was actively developed in regions with a low groundwater buried depth below 2.5 m, and soil salinization became evident in regions with a groundwater buried depth below 5 m; 15.0 m was a critical groundwater buried depth that caused the increase or the decrease in the soil salt content. The research results provide a new way to predict the development trend of soil salinization in the medium and long terms and provide a theoretical basis for the development of salinization prevention and control measures in irrigated areas, which is of great significance to maintaining a harmonious soil and water environment in irrigated areas.
Single-Cell RNA Sequencing of Human Corpus Cavernosum Reveals Cellular Heterogeneity Landscapes in Erectile Dysfunction
Authors: Fang Dong , Tan Xiao-Hui , Song Wen-Peng , Gu Yang-Yang , Pan Jian-Cheng , Yang Xiao-Qing , Song Wei-Dong , Yuan Yi-Ming , Peng Jing , Zhang Zhi-Chao , Xin Zhong-Cheng , Li Xue-Song , Guan Rui-Li
Published: April 2022

Purpose

To assess the diverse cell populations of human corpus cavernosum in patients with severe erectile dysfunction (ED) at the single-cell level.

Methods

Penile tissues collected from three patients were subjected to single-cell RNA sequencing using the BD Rhapsody™ platform. Common bioinformatics tools were used to analyze cellular heterogeneity and gene expression profiles from generated raw data, including the packages Seurat, Monocle, and CellPhoneDB.

Results

Disease-related heterogeneity of cell types was determined in the cavernous tissue such as endothelial cells (ECs), smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, and immune cells. Reclustering analysis of ECs identified an arteriole ECs subcluster and another one with gene signatures of fibroblasts. The proportion of fibroblasts was higher than the other cell populations and had the most significant cellular heterogeneity, in which a distinct subcluster co-expressed endothelial markers. The transition trajectory of differentiation from smooth muscle cells into fibroblasts was depicted using the pseudotime analysis, suggesting that the expansion of corpus cavernosum is possibly compromised as a result of fibrosis. Cell-cell communications among ECs, smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, and macrophages were robust, which indicated that inflammation may also have a crucial role in the development of ED.

Conclusions

Our study has demonstrated a comprehensive single-cell atlas of cellular components in human corpus cavernosum of ED, providing in-depth insights into the pathogenesis. Future research is warranted to explore disease-specific alterations for individualized treatment of ED.
Development of a Routine Screening Method for the Microplastic Mass Content in a Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent
Authors: Goedecke Caroline , Eisentraut Paul , Altmann Korinna , Elert Anna Maria , Bannick Claus G. , Ricking Mathias , Obermaier Nathan , Barthel Anne-Katrin , Schmitt Thomas , Jekel Martin , Braun Ulrike
Published: April 2022

Graphical Abstract
miR-582 Suppresses the Proliferation of B-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (BCP-ALL) Cells and Protects Them From Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity
Authors: Li Xinxin , Zhang Yufei , He Fei , Gao Dan , Che Bo , Cao Xiuli , Huang Siyong , Zheng Minhua , Han Hua
Published: April 2022

B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) is a malignancy characterized by the aberrant accumulation of immature B-cell precursors in bone marrow and other lymphoid organs. Although several intrinsic regulatory signals participating in BCP-ALL have been clarified, detailed intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms that regulate BCP-ALL progression have not been fully understood. In the current study, we report that miR-582 is downregulated in BCP-ALL cells compared with normal B cells. Forced overexpression of miR-582 attenuated BCP-ALL cell proliferation and survival. We found that miR-582 overexpression disturbed the mitochondrial metabolism of BCP-ALL cells, leading to less ATP but more ROS production. Mechanistically, we identified PPTC7 as a direct target of miR-582. MiR-582 overexpression inhibited the activity of CoQ10, which is downstream of PPTC7 and played an important positive regulatory role in mitochondrial electron transportation. Finally, we found that overexpression of miR-582 upregulated the expression of immune checkpoint molecule CD276 and reduced NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity against BCP-ALL cells. CD276 blockade significantly increased NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity against miR-582-overexpressing BCP-ALL cells. Together, our research demonstrates that miR-582 acts as a negative regulator of BCP-ALL cells by reducing proliferation and survival, but protects BCP-ALL cells from NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity, suggesting that miR-582 may be a new therapeutic biomarker for BCP-ALL with CD276 blocker.
Brain Cells Release Calreticulin That Attracts and Activates Microglia, and Inhibits Amyloid Beta Aggregation and Neurotoxicity
Authors: Reid Kyle M. , Kitchener Emily J. A. , Butler Claire A. , Cockram Tom O. J. , Brown Guy C.
Published: April 2022

Calreticulin is a chaperone, normally found in the endoplasmic reticulum, but can be released by macrophages into the extracellular medium. It is also found in cerebrospinal fluid bound to amyloid beta (Aβ). We investigated whether brain cells release calreticulin, and whether extracellular calreticulin had any effects on microglia and neurons relevant to neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. We found that microglia release nanomolar levels of calreticulin when inflammatory-activated with lipopolysaccharide, when endoplasmic reticulum stress was induced by tunicamycin, or when cell death was induced by staurosporine, and that neurons release calreticulin when crushed. Addition of nanomolar levels of extracellular calreticulin was found to chemoattract microglia, and activate microglia to release cytokines TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β, as well as chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2. Calreticulin blocked Aβ fibrillization and modified Aβ oligomerization, as measured by thioflavin T fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy. Extracellular calreticulin also altered microglial morphology and proliferation, and prevented Aβ-induced neuronal loss in primary neuron-glial cultures. Thus, calreticulin is released by microglia and neurons, and acts: as an alarmin to recruit and activate microglia, as an extracellular chaperone to prevent Aβ aggregation, and as a neuroprotectant against Aβ neurotoxicity.
Cytokine Based Immunotherapy for Cancer and Lymphoma: Biology, Challenges and Future Perspectives
Authors: Atallah-Yunes Suheil Albert , Robertson Michael J.
Published: April 2022

Cytokines regulate both the innate and adaptive immune responses to cancer. Although antitumor activity has been seen for several cytokines in preclinical models, they have had limited success as single therapeutic agents in clinical trials of cancer immunotherapy. However, the possible combinations of cytokines with other immune therapeutics and the advancement in genetic engineering, synthetic biology and cellular and immune therapy has led to the revival of interest in cytokines as anticancer agents. This article will review several immunostimulatory cytokines with anticancer activity, focusing on the those that have been studied in treatment of lymphoma and highlighting recent advances of potential clinical relevance.
Rapid Disease Control in First-Line Therapy-Resistant Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid and Bullous Pemphigoid with Omalizumab as Add-On Therapy: A Case Series Of 13 Patients
Authors: Alexandre Marina , Bohelay Gérôme , Gille Thomas , Le Roux-Villet Christelle , Soued Isaac , Morin Florence , Caux Frédéric , Grootenboer-Mignot Sabine , Prost-Squarcioni Catherine
Published: April 2022

The role of IgE autoantibodies has been demonstrated in the pathogenesis of bullous pemphigoid for many years. Recently, omalizumab (OMZ), a humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody that depletes total serum IgE, has been used off-label in a few case series of bullous pemphigoids demonstrating a rapid efficacy and allowing significant improvements or complete remission as add-on therapy in first-line treatment-resistant patients. Herein, we report the largest retrospective study to evaluate OMZ effectiveness in patients with subepidermal autoimmune blistering diseases. Our series included 13 patients from a single center with bullous pemphigoid or mucous membrane pemphigoid, of whom 7 had mucous membrane involvement. OMZ was added to the unchanged immunosuppressive therapies. Detailed clinical and immunological data during the first year were collected, notably for specific anti-BP180-NC16A IgE and IgG, and the median total follow-up was 30 months (range: 3–81). Our series demonstrated that OMZ induced a significant improvement in pruritus, urticarial score, and daily blister count on day 15, allowing disease control to be achieved in a 1-month median time and complete remission (CR) in a 3-month median time in 85% of these patients previously in therapeutic impasse. At the end of the follow-up, 31% of patients achieved CR on minimal therapy after OMZ weaning without relapses, and 54% achieved CR on OMZ continuation with a minimal dose of concomitant treatment. Two patients experienced therapeutic failure (15%). At baseline, clinical variables reflecting activity were significantly positively correlated with eosinophil blood count, total IgE serum level, specific anti-BP180 IgE and IgG. While baseline anti-BP180 IgG and specific anti-BP180 IgE were significantly positively correlated, only the two patients who experienced a therapeutic failure with OMZ did not fit with this correlation, demonstrating elevated levels of anti-BP180 IgG with no measurable BP180-specific IgE. Follow-up of immunological variables demonstrated a rapid decrease of eosinophilia towards normalization, whereas a slower decline towards negativation was observed over 1 year for anti-BP180 IgG and anti BP180 IgE in patients who responded to OMZ. This case series demonstrated that OMZ is a rapidly effective biologic therapy for refractory bullous pemphigoid and mucous membrane pemphigoid, permitting rapid disease control and reduction of concomitant therapeutics.
Epigenetic Alterations and Inflammation as Emerging Use for the Advancement of Treatment in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Yang Shuo , Huang Yang , Zhao Qi
Published: April 2022

Lung cancer remains one of the most common malignancies in the world. Nowadays, the most common lung cancer is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), namely, adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell lung carcinoma. Epigenetic alterations that refer to DNA methylation, histone modifications, and noncoding RNA expression, are now suggested to drive the genesis and development of NSCLC. Additionally, inflammation-related tumorigenesis also plays a vital role in cancer research and efforts have been attempted to reverse such condition. During the occurrence and development of inflammatory diseases, the immune component of inflammation may cause epigenetic changes, but it is not always certain whether the immune component itself or the stimulated host cells cause epigenetic changes. Moreover, the links between epigenetic alterations and cancer-related inflammation and their influences on the human cancer are not clear so far. Therefore, the connection between epigenetic drivers, inflammation, and NSCLC will be summarized. Investigation on such topic is most likely to shed light on the molecular and immunological mechanisms of epigenetic and inflammatory factors and promote the application of epigenetics in the innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for NSCLC.
Lessons From the Western Atlantic Lionfish Invasion to Inform Management in the Mediterranean
Authors: Ulman Aylin , Ali Fadilah Z. , Harris Holden E. , Adel Mohammad , Mabruk Sara A. A. Al , Bariche Michel , Candelmo Allison C. , Chapman Jennifer K. , Çiçek Burak Ali , Clements Kaylin R. , Fogg Alexander Q. , Frank Stacy , Gittings Stephen R. , Green Stephanie J. , Hall-Spencer Jason M. , Hart Jim , Huber Summer , Karp Philip E. , Kyne Fabian C. , Kletou Demetris , Magno Lauryn , Rothman Shevy B. S. , Solomon Jennifer N. , Stern Nir , Yildiz Taner
Published: April 2022

Major invasions of Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans and P. miles) are underway in the Western Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. While the establishment of lionfish in the Western Atlantic is perhaps the most well-studied marine fish invasion to date, the rapidly expanding invasion in the Mediterranean is more recent and has received less attention. Here we review and synthesize successes and failures from two decades of lionfish management in the Western Atlantic to give policy recommendations for their management in the Mediterranean. Two failed approaches that were attempted multiple times in the Western Atlantic and that we advise against are (1) feeding lionfish to native fish to promote predation and (2) implementing bounty programs to incentivize lionfish harvest. Broadly, the most important management lessons that we recommend include (1) conducting routine removals by spearfishing with scuba, which can effectively suppress local abundances of lionfish; (2) encouraging the development of recreational and commercial lionfish fisheries, which can promote long-term, sustainable lionfish population control; and, (3) engaging local communities and resource users (e.g., with lionfish removal tournaments), which can concurrently achieve multiple objectives of promoting lionfish removals, market-development, research, and public education. Managers in the Western Atlantic often needed to adapt current conservation policies to enable lionfish removals in areas where spearfishing with scuba was otherwise prohibited for conservation purposes. The risk of abusing these policies was mitigated through the use of gear restrictions, diver trainings, and through participatory approaches that integrated scuba divers and stakeholder organizations in lionfish research and management. Our review of policies and practices in the Mediterranean Sea found that many of our recommended lionfish management approaches are not being done and indicate potential opportunities to implement these. We expect and fully recommend that work continues towards multinational cooperation to facilitate regional coordination of research, control, and management efforts with respect to the Mediterranean lionfish invasion. As with other major biological invasions, lionfish are unconstrained by political borders and their control will require rapid and strategic management approaches with broad cooperation among and between governments and stakeholders.
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Profiling of the COMMD Gene Family in Four Bivalve Molluscs
Authors: Chen Xiaomei , Hu Naina , Lian Shanshan , Li Luoan , Sun Fengzhi , Zhang Lingling , Wang Shi , Bao Zhenmin , Hu Jingjie
Published: April 2022

The COMMD (copper metabolism gene MuRR1 domain) gene family, highly conserved among multicellular eukaryotic organisms, plays important roles in a variety of biological processes, ranging from copper homeostasis, ionic transport, protein trafficking, NF-κB-mediated transcription, and cell proliferation. However, systematic identification, spatiotemporal expression, and stress-responsive patterns of COMMD genes remain obscure in molluscs. Here, we analyzed the characteristics of the COMMD gene family in four bivalve molluscs based on both genome and extensive transcriptomic resources. Firstly, we investigated the genomic signatures, functional domains, and phylogenetic relationships, and ten single-copy members were identified in Yesso scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis), Zhikong scallop (Chlamys farreri), Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas), and dwarf surf clam (Mulinia lateralis), respectively. Strong purifying selection was revealed for COMMD4. Higher expressions of most COMMDs were observed in the hepatopancreas, besides which a different tissue preference of COMMDs’ expression was found among four bivalves. Moreover, in the dwarf surf clam, the responses of COMMD members under stresses were found more sensitive in the hepatopancreas than in the gill, and MlCOMMD9 and MlCOMMD4 might be the good candidate stress indicator genes respectively for copper ion stress and V. Anguillarum infection. Our study would contribute to a better understanding for the evolution of the COMMD gene family and provide valuable information for their innate immune roles in bivalve molluscs.
Band Gaps and Vibration Attenuation Characteristics Analysis in Homogeneous Beam Coupled With Periodic Oscillators Based on the Method of Reverberation-Ray Matrix
Authors: Tang Li , Yao Xiongliang , Wu Guoxun , Wang Chuanlong
Published: April 2022

A periodic beam-oscillators coupling system is proposed as a physical model in this paper for analyzing the dynamic characteristics of periodic support beams and low-frequency flexural wave vibration of slender stiffened plate structures. The dispersion relation of flexural wave in the infinite long homogeneous beam coupled with periodic oscillators is calculated using the method of reverberation-ray matrix combined with the Bloch theorem. The accuracy and effectiveness of the method of reverberation-ray matrix in analyzing the band gaps and vibration characteristics of the homogeneous beam coupled with periodic oscillators are verified by the numerical results of the finite long homogeneous beam coupled with periodic oscillators. Both the analytical and numerical results show the existences of flexural wave band gaps in the homogeneous beam coupled with periodic oscillators, in which the propagation of the flexural waves is prohibited and flexural wave vibration is significantly suppressed. Furthermore, the effects of structural and material parameters on the flexural wave band gaps characteristics are respectively investigated. The flexural wave band gaps can be adjusted and optimized manually by adjusting structural and material parameters, which can be applied to vibration and noise control design of periodic support beams and slender stiffened plate structures.
ASPM Is a Prognostic Biomarker and Correlates With Immune Infiltration in Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma and Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Deng Tingting , Liu Yang , Zhuang Jialang , Tang Yizhe , Huo Qin
Published: April 2022

Background

Abnormal spindle microtubule assembly (ASPM) is a centrosomal protein and that is related to a poor clinical prognosis and recurrence. However, the relationship between ASPM expression, tumor immunity, and the prognosis of different cancers remains unclear.

Methods

ASPM expression and its influence on tumor prognosis were analyzed using the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER), UALCAN, OncoLnc, and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) databases. The relationship between ASPM expression and tumor immunity was analyzed using the TIMER and GEPIA databases, and the results were further verified using qPCR, western blot, and multiplex quantitative immuno fluorescence.

Results

The results showed that ASPM expression was significantly higher in most cancer tissues than in corresponding normal tissues, including kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC), kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma (KIRP), liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC), lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD), and breast invasive carcinoma (BRCA). ASPM expression was significantly higher in late-stage cancers than in early-stages cancers (e.g., KIRC, KIRP, LIHC, LUAD, and BRCA; p < 0.05), demonstrating a possible role of ASPM in cancer progression and invasion. Moreover, our data showed that high ASPM expression was associated with poor overall survival, and disease-specific survival in KIRC and LIHC (p < 0.05). Besides, Cox hazard regression analysis results showed that ASPM may be an independent prognostic factor for KIRC and LIHC. ASPM expression showed a strong correlation with tumor-infiltrating B cells, CD8+ T cells, and M2 macrophages in KIRC and LIHC.

Conclusions

These findings demonstrate that the high expression of ASPM indicates poor prognosis as well as increased levels of immune cell infiltration in KIRC and LIHC. ASPM expression may serve as a novel prognostic biomarker for both the clinical outcome and immune cell infiltration in KIRC and LIHC.
A Review of the Correlation Between Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutation Status and 18F-FDG Metabolic Activity in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Jiang Maoqing , Zhang Xiaohui , Chen Yan , Chen Ping , Guo Xiuyu , Ma Lijuan , Gao Qiaoling , Mei Weiqi , Zhang Jingfeng , Zheng Jianjun
Published: April 2022

PET/CT with 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (18F-FDG) has been proposed as a promising modality for diagnosing and monitoring treatment response and evaluating prognosis for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The status of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation is a critical signal for the treatment strategies of patients with NSCLC. Higher response rates and prolonged progression-free survival could be obtained in patients with NSCLC harboring EGFR mutations treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) when compared with traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy. However, patients with EGFR mutation treated with TKIs inevitably develop drug resistance, so predicting the duration of resistance is of great importance for selecting individual treatment strategies. Several semiquantitative metabolic parameters, e.g., maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG), measured by PET/CT to reflect 18F-FDG metabolic activity, have been demonstrated to be powerful in predicting the status of EGFR mutation, monitoring treatment response of TKIs, and assessing the outcome of patients with NSCLC. In this review, we summarize the biological and clinical correlations between EGFR mutation status and 18F-FDG metabolic activity in NSCLC. The metabolic activity of 18F-FDG, as an extrinsic manifestation of NSCLC, could reflect the mutation status of intrinsic factor EGFR. Both of them play a critical role in guiding the implementation of treatment modalities and evaluating therapy efficacy and outcome for patients with NSCLC.
A Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase Inhibitor, FK866, Suppresses the Growth of Anaplastic Meningiomas and Inhibits Immune Checkpoint Expression by Regulating STAT1
Authors: Deng Yuxuan , Hu Boyi , Miao Yazhou , Wang Jing , Zhang Shaodong , Wan Hong , Wu Zhen , Lv Yifan , Feng Jie , Ji Nan , Park Deric , Hao Shuyu
Published: April 2022

Anaplastic meningioma is classified as a World Health Organization (WHO) grade III tumor and shows a strong tendency to recur. Although the incidence of anaplastic meningioma is low, the high rate of recurrence and death still makes treatment a challenge. A proteomics analysis was performed to investigate the differentially expressed proteins between anaplastic meningiomas and fibrous meningiomas by micro-LC-MS/MS. The key metabolic enzyme nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) showed upregulated expression in anaplastic meningiomas. However, targeting NAMPT to treat anaplastic meningiomas has not been reported. In vitro, NAMPT inhibitor -FK866 reduced the viability of anaplastic meningiomas by inducing cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. Intriguingly, the NAMPT inhibitor -FK866 decreased the protein expression of immune checkpoints PD-L1 and B7-H3 by down-regulating the STAT1 and p-STAT1 expression in vitro. Furthermore, FK866 suppressed the growth of anaplastic meningiomas in an in vivo xenograft model. The expression of Ki-67 and immune checkpoint proteins (PD-L1 and B7-H3) showed significant differences between the group treated with FK866 and the control group treated with DMSO. In conclusion, the expression of NAMPT, which plays a crucial role in energy metabolism, was upregulated in anaplastic meningiomas. The NAMPT inhibitor -FK866 significantly suppressed the growth of anaplastic meningiomas in vitro and in vivo. More strikingly, FK866 potently inhibited immune checkpoint protein (PD-L1 and B7-H3) expression by regulating STAT1 in vitro and in vivo. Our results demonstrated that NAMPT inhibitors could potentially be an effective treatment method for patients suffering from anaplastic meningiomas.
Comparative Genomic Analysis Reveals Genetic Variations in Multiple Primary Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Chinese Population
Authors: Liang Jinxiao , Wang Yinjie , Cai Lei , Liu Jinshi , Yan Junrong , Chen Xin , Wu Xiaoying , Chen Qixun
Published: April 2022

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common and lethal malignant tumors. The incidence of malignant transformation of esophageal mucosa increases greatly due to long-term exposure to factors such as smoking, drinking, and poor eating habits. Furthermore, multiple primary tumors could occur synchronously or asynchronously in the upper aerodigestive tract, especially in the esophagus, adding difficulty to the treatment of ESCC. Genetic mutations are important during the malignant transformation from normal mucosa to esophageal cancer, but the underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we used whole-exome sequencing (WES) to profile genetic variations in physiologically normal mucosa (PNM) and ESCC tumors, as well as PNM of non-ESCC subjects. We found significant differences in mutation frequencies of NOTCH1 and NOTCH2, copy number variations (CNVs) at both gene and chromosomal arm levels, and cancer-related HIPPO, WNT, and NRF2 signaling pathways between ESCC tumors and normal mucosa. Our analysis of both primary tumors and paired PNM in bifocal ESCC revealed three different primary tumor evolution modes, and the most common mode exhibited a complete genomic divergence in all the samples from the same patient. Furthermore, the mutation frequency of TP53 was significantly higher in ESCC cases than that in non-ESCC cases. Overall, our results provide important evidence for further elucidating the mechanisms of genetic mutations underlying the cause of ESCC.
An Update on Neurosurgical Management of Primary CNS Lymphoma in Immunocompetent Patients
Authors: Scheichel Florian , Pinggera Daniel , Popadic Branko , Sherif Camillo , Marhold Franz , Freyschlag Christian Franz
Published: April 2022

Primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSL) are rare CNS tumors that harbor a conspicuously longer diagnostic delay compared to other malignant brain tumors. The gold standard for diagnosis is stereotactic biopsy to acquire tissue for histopathological analysis and therefore neurosurgery plays a central role when reducing the diagnostic period is mandated. However, histopathological diagnosis could be complicated if the patient was preoperatively exposed to corticosteroids. Besides the histopathological result, diagnosis of a PCNSL also requires full diagnostic workup to exclude cerebral metastatic disease of a systemic lymphoma. Most reviews of PCNSL discuss recent advancements in systemic treatment options from an (neuro-)oncologic viewpoint, whereas our intention was to discuss the optimization of the diagnostic period and therefore describe current standards of imaging, summarizing the diagnostic workup, discussing the surgical workup and future diagnostic prospects as well as the influence of preoperative corticosteroid therapy to reduce the diagnostic delay of PCNSL patients.
Risk Factors for Resistance to Intravenous Immunoglobulin Treatment and Coronary Artery Abnormalities in a Chinese Pediatric Population With Kawasaki Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Liu Jie , Huang Yanyun , Chen Cheng , Su Danyan , Qin Suyuan , Pang Yusheng
Published: April 2022

Background

The factors predicting high-risk Kawasaki disease (KD) remain unclear. Therefore, we aimed to determine the risk factors for resistance to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment and coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) development in a Chinese pediatric population with high-risk KD.

Methods

We compared the performances of 11 scoring systems that have been reported to predict IVIG resistance among patients with KD hospitalized from January 2013 through August 2021. Patients were risk-stratified based on the optimal scoring system. The association of baseline characteristics with IVIG treatment resistance and CAA development was investigated within the high-risk group of KD.

Results

In total, 346 pediatric patients with KD were included, of whom 63 (18.2%) presented with IVIG resistance. The Kobayashi score and five Chinese scoring system scores (Tang et al., Yang et al., Lan et al., Liping et al., and Wu et al.) were significantly higher in the IVIG non-responsive KD group than in the IVIG responsive KD group, and the results of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves analysis were observed to be highest in the Xie Liping scoring system for IVIG resistance (area under the curve, 0.650). Especially, 87 (25.1%) patients comprised the high-risk KD group based on this optimal scoring system (≥5 points). IVIG resistance was significantly associated with the total bilirubin-to-albumin ratio (B/A ratio) [odds ratio, 7.427; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.022–53.951]. The area under the ROC was 0.703 (95% CI: 0.586–0.821), and the cutoff point was 0.383, which indicated a sensitivity and specificity for predicting treatment resistance of 58% and 80%, respectively. The serum albumin level (odds ratio, 1.401; 95% CI: 1.049–1.869) and Z score of the left main coronary artery (odds ratio, 9.023; 95% CI: 1.070–76.112) were independent predictors of CAA development.

Conclusions

In the Chinese pediatric population with KD, the Xie Liping scoring system is the most appropriate method for identifying high-risk patients, and IVIG resistance could be predicted based on the B/A ratio. Serum albumin level and Z score of the left main coronary artery at baseline were warning indicators for CAA development. More intensified or adjunctive therapies and close follow-up should be considered for high-risk patients with these risk factors.
Case Report: Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma After Cardiac Transplantation due to Anthracycline-Induced Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Xin Ning , Chunyan Cao , You Zhou , Lu Peng , Runming Jin , Fen Zhou
Published: April 2022

Anthracycline is a first-line chemotherapy drug used to treat childhood acute leukemia, which may cause cardiac toxicity including common arrhythmia, valve disease, pericardial effusion, and even rare cardiomyopathy and cardiac failure. We reported a 2-year-old boy who was treated irregularly for acute lymphoblastic leukemia with daunorubicin. After 26 months, his left ventricular ejection fraction decreased to 40% and progressively decreased to 20–30%. Then he successfully received a heart transplant and the myocardium was confirmed with dilated cardiomyopathy. Eight months after cardiac transplantation, he was admitted again for left neck mass and was diagnosed with monomorphic diffuse large B cell lymphoma associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection by biopsy. We present this case to highlight the importance of standard chemotherapy of daunorubicin, clinical prevention, and monitoring of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in acute lymphoblastic leukemia children to ensure their good prognosis and long-term life quality.
Effects of Levetiracetam on the Serum C-Reactive Protein in Children With Epilepsy: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhou You-Feng , Huang Yan , Liu Guang-Hua
Published: April 2022

This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effect of levetiracetam on serum C-reactive protein (CRP) in children with epilepsy. Articles published up to April 15, 2021 were searched from Google Scholar databases, PubMed, Science Direct, Springer, Wiely, NIH and Baidu Scholar databases to analyzed the difference of serum CRP in epilepsy children compared to healthy controls, and the effect of levetiracetam on serum CRP in children with epilepsy was also assessed. All the included studies met the inclusion criteria. 103 publications were selected and eight articles were included in this study with sample size n = 246. The serum CRP level in childhood epilepsy was significantly higher than the healthy controls (pooled standardized mean difference (SMD): 6.930, 95% CI: 2.716–11.143, z = 3.22, p < 0.01). A significant level of between-study heterogeneity was found (τ2 = 17.911, Chi2 = 148.67, df = 3, p < 0.01, I2 = 98.0%). Besides, serum CRP level was significantly decreased by the treatment of levetiracetam in childhood epilepsy (pooled SMD: 3.505, 95% CI: 1.638–5.373, z = 3.68, p < 0.01). A significant level of between-study heterogeneity was found (τ2 = 4.346, Chi2 = 97.17, df = 4, p < 0.01, I2 = 95.9%). The funnel plot showed there was no significant publication bias in the meta-analysis. Serum CRP levels are upregulated in childhood epilepsy and reduced by levetiracetam in children with epilepsy.
Effectiveness of Prophylactic Use of Hepatoprotectants for Tuberculosis Drug-Induced Liver Injury: A Population-Based Cohort Analysis Involving 6,743 Chinese Patients
Authors: Chen Qin , Hu Airong , Ma Aixia , Jiang Feng , Xiao Yue , Chen Yanfei , Huang Ruijian , Yang Tianchi , Zhou Jifang
Published: April 2022

Background: Tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury (TB-DILI) is a common and potentially severe adverse drug reaction leading to treatment interruption and treatment failure. The real-world preventive effectiveness of hepatoprotective agents for DILI is not well described. The aim of the study was to evaluate the patterns of prophylactic therapies in real-world settings and risks of DILI among adult TB patients without known risk factors for DILI.

Methods: This is a population-based retrospective cohort study of patients receiving first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs in the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) TB registry linked to the Ningbo Regional Health Care Database (NRHCD) between 2015 and 2020. The primary exposure was any use of chemopreventive agents including silymarin and/or glycyrrhetinic acid during the 30-day period prior to TB diagnosis (index date). The main outcome measure was the occurrence of newly onset DILI following TB treatment. Eligible patients were followed until the earliest of any DILI, treatment discontinuation, death, or end of the study period (30 June 2020). Marginal structural competing risk models and Cox models via inverse probability treatment weights using high-dimensional propensity scores were used to estimate subdistribution hazard risks (SHR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for DILI risks, with adjustment for age, sex, TB-related characteristics, and comorbidities.

Results: We identified a cohort of 6,743 adult patients with TB (mean age of 47.1 [SD 18.7] years; 65.80% male), of whom 2,886 (42.8%) patients received hepatoprotective agents. A total of 895 DILI events and 111 all-cause death events without DILI were observed over a median follow-up of 367 days post-TB diagnosis. The incidence rates of composite outcomes combining DILI and all-cause mortality were 248.9 and 222.3 per 1,000 person-years in the hepatoprotective agent exposed and unexposed groups (relative hazard ratio 1.35, 95% CI 1.11–1.64), respectively. The incidence rates of DILI were 223.7 and 196.1 per 1,000 person-years in the hepatoprotective agent exposed and unexposed groups (relative hazard ratio 1.38, 95% CI 1.12–1.71), respectively. Patients with any chemopreventive agent use had comparable liver function changes as evidenced by laboratory tests.

Conclusion: A non-trivial number of adult patients received chemopreventive agents for TB-DILI. However, prophylactic utilization of hepatoprotective agents was not associated with a reduction in TB-DILI risks.