bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regorafenib for Taiwanese patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma after sorafenib failure: Impact of alpha‐fetoprotein levels
Authors: Hsu Po‐Yao , Cheng Tzu‐Sheng , Chuang Shih‐Chang , Chang Wen‐Tsan , Liang Po‐Cheng , Hsu Cheng‐Ting , Wei Yu‐Ju , Jang Tyng‐Yuan , Yeh Ming‐Lun , Huang Ching‐I , Lin Yi‐Hung , Wang Chih‐Wen , Hsieh Ming‐Yen , Hou Nai‐Jen , Hsieh Meng‐Hsuan , Tsai Yi‐Shan , Ko Yu‐Min , Lin Ching‐Chih , Chen Kuan‐Yu , Dai Chia‐Yen , Lin Zu‐Yau , Chen Shinn‐Cherng , Huang Jee‐Fu , Chuang Wan‐Long , Huang Chung‐Feng , Yu Ming‐Lung
Published: November 2021

Background and Aims

Regorafenib has demonstrated its survival benefit for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) patients in a phase III clinical trial. We aimed to assess the efficacy and tolerability of regorafenib and the predictors of treatment outcomes in Taiwanese patients.

Methods

We analyzed the survival, best overall response, predictors of treatment outcomes, and safety for uHCC patients who had tumor progression on sorafenib therapy and received regorafenib as salvage therapy between March 2018 and November 2020.

Results

Eighty‐six patients with uHCC were enrolled (median age, 66.5 years; 76.7% male). The median regorafenib treatment duration was 4.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.6–4.6). The most frequently reported adverse events were hand‐foot skin reaction (44.2%), diarrhea (36.0%), and fatigue (29.1%). No unpredictable toxicity was observed during treatment. The median overall survival (OS) with regorafenib was 12.4 months (95% CI, 7.8–17.0) and the median progression‐free survival (PFS) was 4.2 months (95% CI, 3.7–4.7). Of 82 patients with regorafenib responses assessable, 4 patients (4.9%) achieved a partial response, and 33 (40.2%) had stable disease, leading to a disease control rate (DCR) of 45.1% (n = 37). Patients possessing baseline AFP < 400 ng/ml exhibited a markedly longer median OS, median PFS, and higher DCR compared with their counterparts (15.7 vs. 8.1 months, 4.6 vs. 3.7 months, 60.9% vs. 27.5%, respectively). Despite possessing high baseline AFP levels, patients with early AFP response (>10% reduction at 4 weeks or >20% reduction at 8 weeks after regorafenib administration) exhibited comparable treatment outcomes to those with baseline AFP < 400 ng/ml.

Conclusions

The results of this real‐world study verified the tolerability and efficacy of regorafenib treatment for uHCC patients who failed prior sorafenib therapy, especially for those with lower baseline AFP levels or with early AFP response.
Development and initial validation of the conspicuous behaviour orientation scale
Authors: Shaikh Shayan , Gummerum Michaela
Published: November 2021

The primary goal of this research was to develop and validate the conspicuous behaviour orientation scale, a novel measure that captures an individual's propensity to adopt behaviours that signal social prestige. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis in Study 1 (N = 423) identified two primary factors describing conspicuous behaviour orientation: Conspicuous altruism and conspicuous consumption. In a separate sample (N = 203), Study 2 confirmed the factor structure of the conspicuous behaviour orientation scale by demonstrating concurrent validity with measures of conspicuous donation behaviour, altruism, status consumption, and materialism. The construct validity was evaluated in Study 3 by correlating the present scale with the HEXACO model of personality (N = 410). Findings support that the 10‐item conspicuous behaviour orientation scale is a useful instrument to measure susceptibility towards costly signalling behaviour to enhance interpersonal relationships with relevant others. In essence, the results of these studies provide strong initial evidence for the reliability and validity of the conspicuous behaviour orientation scale. We conclude this paper with theoretical and applied implications of the proposed scale.
Three New Hydroxyphenylacetic Acid Derivatives and A New Alkaloid from Endophytic Fungus Mortierella sp. in Epimedium acuminatum Franch. and Their Antibacterial Activity
Authors: Huang Ze‐Diao , Wang Wen‐Jing , Han Xiao‐Le , Yang Xiao‐Long
Published: November 2021

Three new hydroxyphenylacetic acid derivatives, stachylines E‐G (1–3), and a new alkaloid, mortieridinone (4), along with six known compounds (5–10), were isolated from endophytic fungus Mortierella sp. in Epimedium acuminatum Franch. Their structures were determined by their spectroscopic analyses and by comparison with the literature data. Compounds 7 and 10 showed selective antibacterial activity against tested multidrug‐resistant bacteria with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 25 to 3.13 μg/mL.
Novel lysine‐specific histone demethylase 1 inhibitor in acute myeloid leukaemia transformed from essential thrombocythaemia
Authors: Hodges Samantha , Cooney Julian
Published: November 2021

Background

While progress continues in the understanding of molecular abnormalities in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), with some specific targeted therapies now available, it remains commonly fatal in the elderly. Leukaemic evolution and transformation from myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) may be associated with increased numbers of mutations in the genes associated with myeloid neoplasm and the prognosis in such patients is invariably dismal. Targeting of intracellular enzymes associated with integral cellular function has advanced understanding and promises improvements in treatments.

Case

We report impressive prolonged response to therapy in a case of secondary AML, arising from essential thrombocythaemia (ET). The trial agent, the oral lysine‐specific histone demethylase 1 (LSD1) inhibitor Bomedemstat (IMG‐7289) was well tolerated. In addition to suppressing the malignant clone, these blasts showed differentiation to monocytes morphologically as well as by surface markers seen on flow cytometry. Bomedemstat has efficacy in the treatment of myelofibrosis and may have a special role in treatment of specific AML subtypes, including secondary leukaemias arising from MPN as seen.

Conclusion

We report a case of an older adult with secondary AML transformed from ET, with a remarkable response to LSD1 inhibition with Bomedemstat, with prolonged reduction in blasts demonstrating differentiation to monocytes.
Root disease and fungal populations in organic crops under different tillage–cropping systems
Authors: Fernandez Myriam R. , Abdellatif Lobna , Lokuruge Prabhath , Schellenberg Michael P. , Lupwayi Newton Z.
Published: November 2021

There has been a steady expansion in organic production in the Canadian Prairies because of higher consumer demand. Thus, increasing the sustainability of organic systems would be important. An organic trial was conducted in the semi‐arid Prairies (2010–2015) with two tillage intensities (low vs. high) in a simplified [spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–forage pea (Pisum sativum L.) green manure (GM)] and a diversified (spring wheat–oilseed–pulse–GM) rotation. In 2013–2015, the impact of these systems on root rot was examined on spring wheat, pulses, and GM crops. Several Fusarium spp. were more abundant in GM and pulses than spring wheat, suggesting that they could be a source of inoculum, especially of F. avenaceum (Fr.:Fr.) Sacc. (teleomorph Gibberella avenacea Cook), for Fusarium diseases in cereals including Fusarium head blight. Under different environments, tillage–rotation systems had an impact on root disease and fungal populations, some of which have biocontrol capabilities. There was no difference among systems for root rot in forage pea, while the low tillage‐diversified rotation had the lowest root rot in spring wheat but was associated with more Fusarium spp. For all crops, most Fusaria were not associated with root rot severity. Cochliobolus sativus (Ito & Kurib.) Drechs. ex Dast. [anamorph Bipolaris sorokiniana (Sacc.) Shoemaker] accounted the most for root rot in spring wheat and was favored by intensive tillage and simplified rotations. The Shannon diversity index (H') of fungal species in spring wheat was higher in the diversified rotation under both tillage intensities than when spring wheat alternated with GM in the simplified rotation, especially under high tillage. In forage pea, H' was higher than in spring wheat, but did not differ among tillage–rotation systems.
Versatile Pendant Polymer for Selective Charge Carrier Transport via Controlling the Supramolecular Self‐Assembly
Authors: Lim Jihyun , Kim Min‐Sung , Jang Woongsik , Park Jin Kuen , Wang Dong Hwan
Published: November 2021

Invited for this month′s cover is the group of Jin Kuen Park and Dong Hwan Wang at two different universities in South Korea. The image shows how the supramolecular interaction between pendant polymers can play a role in controlling the electronic properties in perovskite‐based electronics such as solar cells and photodetectors. The Full Paper itself is available at 10.1002/cssc.202101785.
Performance analysis and reliability estimation of five‐level rectifier
Authors: Barwar Manish Kumar , Sahu Lalit Kumar , Bhatnagar Pallavee , Gupta Krishna Kumar , Chander Allamsetty Hema
Published: November 2021

Multilevel rectifiers (MLRs) have been gaining popularity in a variety of applications due to their many advantages over two‐level rectifiers such as reduced voltage stress on power switches, much better harmonic profile of the input waveform, reduced dv/dt stress, possibility of fault tolerant operation, and so on. The use of higher number of semiconductor devices which are relatively more prone to faults plays a crucial role in determining the reliability of the system. In recent literature the performance analysis of the MLR in terms of cost, efficiency, reliability, and voltage stress has been majorly ignored. A five‐level rectifier topology with self‐voltage balancing capability has been implemented in this paper. The implemented topology has the capability to maintain the unity power factor (UPF) in all operating conditions. The in‐depth performance analysis in terms of reliability, efficiency and cost has been carried out to establish the suitability of the implemented topology for real‐time applications. In addition, the effect of various parameters on reliability has also been investigated. The MLR topology has been validated through experimentation. A qualitative and quantitative comparison of the proposed work with state‐of‐art has also been presented.
Impact of COVID‐19 pandemic on acute heart failure admissions and mortality: a multicentre study (COV‐HF‐SIRIO 6 study)
Authors: Kubica Jacek , Ostrowska Małgorzata , Stolarek Wioleta , Kasprzak Michał , Grzelakowska Klaudyna , Kryś Jacek , Kubica Aldona , Adamski Piotr , Podhajski Przemysław , Navarese Eliano Pio , Anielska‐Michalak Edyta , Brycht Oliwia , Curzytek Andrzej , Dudek Aneta , Gromadziński Leszek , Grzelakowski Paweł , Kamiński Leszek , Kleinrok Andrzej , Kostkiewicz Marcin , Koziński Marek , Król Paweł , Kulawik Tomasz , Minczew Gleb , Mindykowski Marcin , Pawlak Agnieszka , Prokopczuk Janusz , Skonieczny Grzegorz , Sobkowicz Bożena , Sowiński Sergiusz , Stankala Sebastian , Szymański Paweł , Wester Andrzej , Wilczewski Przemysław , Bartuś Stanisław , Budaj Andrzej , Gąsior Mariusz , Gruchała Marcin , Drożdż Jarosław , Jaguszewski Miłosz , Jankowski Piotr , Legutko Jacek , Lesiak Maciej , Leszek Przemysław , Mitkowski Przemysław , Nessler Jadwiga , Tomaszuk‐Kazberuk Anna , Tycińska Agnieszka , Zdrojewski Tomasz , Kaźmierczak Jarosław
Published: November 2021

Aims

The coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has changed the landscape of medical care delivery worldwide. We aimed to assess the influence of COVID‐19 pandemic on hospital admissions and in‐hospital mortality rate in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) in a retrospective, multicentre study.

Methods and results

From 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2020, a total of 101 433 patients were hospitalized in 24 Cardiology Departments in Poland. The number of patients admitted due to AHF decreased by 23.4% from 9853 in 2019 to 7546 in 2020 (P < 0.001). We noted a significant reduction of self‐referrals in the times of COVID‐19 pandemic accounting 27.8% (P < 0.001), with increased number of AHF patients brought by an ambulance by 15.9% (P < 0.001). The length of hospital stay was overall similar (7.7 ± 2.8 vs. 8.2 ± 3.7 days; P = not significant). The in‐hospital all‐cause mortality in AHF patients was 444 (5.2%) in 2019 vs. 406 (6.5%) in 2020 (P < 0.001). A total number of AHF patients with concomitant COVID‐19 was 239 (3.2% of AHF patients hospitalized in 2020). The rate of in‐hospital deaths in AHF patients with COVID‐19 was extremely high accounting 31.4%, reaching up to 44.1% in the peak of the pandemic in November 2020.

Conclusions

Our study indicates that the COVID‐19 pandemic led to (i) reduced hospital admissions for AHF; (ii) decreased number of self‐referred AHF patients and increased number of AHF patients brought by an ambulance; and (iii) increased in‐hospital mortality for AHF with very high mortality rate for concomitant AHF and COVID‐19.
Trends in survival of Swedish men and women with heart failure from 1987 to 2014: a population‐based case–control study
Authors: Björck Lena , Basic Carmen , Lundberg Christina E. , Sandström Tatiana Zverkova , Schaufelberger Maria , Rosengren Annika
Published: November 2021

Aims

To compare trends in short‐term and long‐term survival of patients with heart failure (HF) compared with controls from the general population.

Methods and results

We used data from the Swedish National Inpatient Registry to identify all patients aged ≥18 years with a first recorded diagnosis of HF between 1 January 1987 and 31 December 2014 and compared them with controls matched on age and sex from the Total Population Register. We included 702 485 patients with HF and 1 306 183 controls. In patients with HF aged 18–64 years, short‐term (29 days to 6 months) and long‐term mortality (>11 years) decreased from 166 and 76.6 per 1000 person‐years in 1987 to 2000 to 99.6 and 49.4 per 1000 person‐years, respectively, in 2001 to 2014. During the same period, mortality improved marginally, in those aged ≥65 years: short‐time mortality from 368.8 to 326.2 per 1000 person‐years and long‐term mortality from 219.6 to 193.9 per 1000 person‐years. In 1987–2000, patients aged <65 years had more than three times higher risk of dying at 29 days to 6 months, with an hazard ratio (HR) of 3.66 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.46–3.87], compared with controls (P < 0.0001) but substantially higher in 2001–2014 with an HR of 11.3 (95% CI 9.99–12.7, P < 0.0001). HRs for long‐term mortality (6–10 and >11 years) increased moderately from 2.49 (95% CI 2.41–2.57) and 3.16 (95% CI 3.07–3.24) in 1987–2000 to 4.35 (95% CI 4.09–4.63) and 4.11 (95% CI 3.49–4.85) in 2001–2014, largely because survival among controls improved more than that among patients with HF (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Absolute survival improved in HF patients aged <65 years, but only marginally so in those aged ≥65 years. Compared with controls, both short‐term and long‐term relative risk of dying increased, especially in younger patients with HF.
A silicon nitride ion sensitive field effect transistor‐based immunosensor for determination of urinary albumin
Authors: Saengdee Pawasuth , Thanapitak Surachoke , Ongwattanakul Songpol , Srisuwan Awirut , Pankiew Apirak , Thornyanadacha Nutthaphat , Chaisriratanakul Woraphan , Jeamsaksiri Wutthinan , Promptmas Chamras
Published: November 2021

The development of an immunosensor‐based biosensor to detect the human serum albumin (HSA) was developed as a low‐cost and label‐free electrical detection through silicon nitride ion‐sensitive field‐effect transistor (Si3N4‐ISFET). This sensor was functionalized using 3‐Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). The silanized Si3N4‐ISFET surface was covalently linked with antibody against HSA (Anti‐HSA) via glutaraldehyde (GA) to function as an HSA immunosensor for detection of HSA. The interaction between HSA and Anti‐HSA on this device is monitored by changing of the gate potential at a constant drain current of 50 μA. The relationship between HSA concentration and the gate potential change of HSA immunosensor is linear up to 500 μg/ml with a detection limit of 5 μg/ml. This HSA immunosensor offers a good precision in both intra‐ and inter‐assay with a relative standard deviation of 6.61%, 7.48%, 10.69%, and 9.67%, 13.16%, 15.52% for 100, 200, and 400 μg/ml. The average percentage of recovery assay for the concentration of 32.1, 102.1, and 202.1 μg/ml is 96.55%. This sensor also provides its satisfactory selectivity when testing with Bence Jones protein solution. In addition, the results that was done by this HSA immunosensor is similar to the conventional method using immunoturbidimetric detection with a linear regression of 0.99; n = 40 with a paired sample t‐test of <0.01. Thus, this HSA immunosensor could be applied to urinary microalbumin detection because of its simplicity and satisfactory correlation value.
Ant colony‐based strategy to mitigate the pilot contamination problem in multicell massive multiple‐input multiple‐output systems
Authors: Belhabib Abdelfettah , Zeroual Abdelouhab , Hassani Moha M'Rabet
Published: November 2021

Due to its ability to serve a large number of the user equipments (UEs), massive multiple‐input multiple‐output (mMIMO) technology has been elected to meet the requirement of the upcoming new five‐generation systems. Despite its advantages, mMIMO is still obstructed by the pilot contamination (PC) problem, which is birth from, simultaneously, reusing the same orthogonal pilot sequences (OPSs) across several cells. Due to the scarcity of the OPSs, it is necessary to properly allocate the available OPSs to the UEs. Specifically, the available OPSs should be assigned to the UEs while the severity of the PC problem, between the UEs that employ the same pilot sequences, remains as small as possible. To reach that goal, we have employed the ant colony‐based optimization (ACO) algorithm to find the best pattern in which the severity of the PC problem is reduced among all the UEs. In a nutshell, a graph that sizes the strength of the PC among the UEs is constructed; therefore, the ACO algorithm is employed to connect every two UEs that causes to each other the highest influence of the PC, therefore, the UEs are, successively, assigned with the available OPSs where the severity of the PC is significantly reduced.
Highly Efficient Capacitive Deionization Enabled by NiCo4MnO8.5 Electrodes
Authors: Wang Wei , Liu Zhenzhen , Zhang Zehao , Li Haibo
Published: November 2021

The shortage of fresh water resources is one of the major challenges facing this planet. Capacitive deionization (CDI) techniques that are deemed to be highly efficient and require low capital cost have attracted widespread attention in the last few decades. In this work, the cubic ternary metal oxides NiCo4MnO8.5 (Ni–Co–Mn–O) are synthesized by facile hydrothermal method for enhanced symmetrical CDI. Electrochemical measurements illustrate that the Ni–Co–Mn–O possesses low internal resistance and ion diffusion impedance. As a result, the salt removal capacity of the Ni–Co–Mn–O electrode increases from 26.84 to 65.61 mg g−1 by varying the voltage from 0.8 to 1.4 V in 1.0 × 10−2 m NaCl solution, while the charge efficiency stabilizes at ≈80%. After 20 cycles, the capacitance retained is 64.27%, which is due to the irreversibility of Co2+/Co3+ and Mn2+/Mn3+ and the release of Ni3+ from the Ni–Co–Mn–O electrode after long desalination/salination cycles.
Hurricane Florence (2018): Long duration single‐ and dual‐Doppler observations and wind retrievals during landfall
Authors: Biggerstaff Michael I. , Alford A. Addison , Carrie Gordon D. , Stevenson Jeffrey A.
Published: November 2021

A ground‐based C‐band Shared Mobile Atmospheric Research and Teaching (SMART) polarimetric radar and the National Weather Service WSR‐88D radar near Wilmington, North Carolina simultaneously observed Hurricane Florence (2018) as it made landfall as a category 1 hurricane. The slow translation of Florence allowed for more than 30 hr of data collection before, during and after the tropical cyclone came ashore. Nearly 26 hr of three‐dimensional wind retrievals every 6–10 min were constructed from the radar observations, providing an unprecedented view of the evolution of rainbands, the inner core and the eyewall of Hurricane Florence. This article describes the radar data, the procedures used for automated quality control, data processing and the wind retrievals that have been constructed. The location of the data and wind retrieval archive is given. These data can be used to study the dynamics and rainfall of Hurricane Florence, to quantify the impact of winds on the natural and built environment, to validate numerical simulations of the tropical cyclone, and as an educational resource for courses in radar and tropical meteorology.
Prospective analysis of serum prolactin levels, clinical symptomatology and sexual functions in patients with schizophrenia switched to paliperidone palmitate 3‐monthly from paliperidone palmitate 1‐monthly: Preliminary findings of the first 3 months
Authors: Karslioğlu Ersin Hatice , Kolcu Zeynep , Karslioğlu Nisa İrem , Çayköylü Ali
Published: November 2021

Objective

Long‐acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics were developed to improve adherence to schizophrenia treatment. Paliperidone palmitate (PP) has two LAI forms: Monthly (PP1M) and three‐monthly (PP3M). PP3M shows less difference in Peak‐to‐Trough drug concentration levels. This could be related to a lower incidence of hyperprolactinemia, which may negatively affect adherence. We aimed to compare prolactin levels and investigate relationships between prolactin levels, symptomatology and sexual function in patients with schizophrenia after switching from PP1M to PP3M.

Methods

Twenty‐five patients were enrolled. The sociodemographic data form, the Positive and Negative Syndromes Scale (PANSS) and the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) were used. Morning blood samples were drawn to determine prolactin levels.

Results

Prolactin level (p < 0.001), the total score and arousal sub‐score of ASEX (respectively; p = 0.015, p = 0.020) and the total score and positive scale of PANSS (respectively; p = 0.017, p = 0.021) were decreased on the 90th day (±15 days).

Conclusions

After switching to PP3M, the decreases in prolactin levels and potentially related sexual side effects was statistically significant. There may be a difference between two formulations of the same drug in terms of side effects, and there is a need for prospective follow‐up studies with larger samples.
Pulmonary disease diagnosis using African vulture optimized weighted support vector machine approach
Authors: Manickam Muruganantham , Siva Rathinavelayutham , Prabakeran Saravanan , Geetha Kannan , Indumathi Varadharajan , Sethukarasi Thirumaaran
Published: November 2021

Pulmonary disease is a kind of disease that affects the lungs and other parts of the respiratory system and is mainly caused by smoking, asbestos, secondhand smoke, and other forms of air pollutants. Several types of pulmonary diseases are emphysema, fibrosis, pneumothorax, asthma, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and so on. Pulmonary diseases are otherwise known as lung disorders and respiratory diseases. Pulmonary diseases are predicted by several methods using x‐ray images and CT scan images. Some of the recent works predict only a specific disease, and optimal prediction is not yet achieved. Hence, we proposed a novel method known as African vulture optimization (AVO) algorithm‐based weighted support vector machine approach (w‐SVM). The proposed method in this article predicts emphysema, fibrosis, pneumothorax, and normal kinds from the NIH chest x‐ray dataset. The X‐images are preprocessed after data acquisition to obtain the desired size and to remove undesirable noise. The preprocessed images are then sent into the SVM for feature extraction, and the AVO is used to improve the SVM so that a kernel function may be obtained. The proposed w‐SVM effectively predicts the emphysema, fibrosis, pneumothorax, and normal classes from the dataset. The experimental analyses are conducted and compared with existing works and concluded that the proposed work outperforms other approaches in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and Matthews's correlation coefficient, prediction time, and modeling time.
Removing dynamic distortions from laser speckle flowgraphy using Eigen‐decomposition and spatial filtering
Authors: Lu Yiming , Wang Ruikang K.
Published: November 2021

Laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG) has been widely used in the investigation of blood flows in ophthalmology. However, the dynamic changes of the ocular optics can impose artificial contrasts to the LSFG, corrupting the detection of both retinal vasculature and blood pulsation at the posterior segment of the human eye. In this study, we propose to use Eigen‐decomposition method to separate the spatially and temporally varying speckle patterns from the static tissues. Spatial filtering is further applied to remove the distortion‐correlated modulation of the speckle patterns. We experimentally show that with the proposed method, the integrity of blood vessels is significantly improved and the distortions in pulse waveforms can be well corrected.
Risk of Osteonecrosis of the Jaw Under Denosumab Compared to Bisphosphonates in Patients With Osteoporosis
Authors: Everts-Graber Judith , Lehmann Daniel , Burkard John-Patrik , Schaller Benoît , Gahl Brigitta , Häuselmann HansJörg , Studer Ueli , Ziswiler Hans-Rudolf , Reichenbach Stephan , Lehmann Thomas
Published: November 2021

Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a rare but serious adverse event associated with antiresorptive treatment. There is little evidence regarding the incidence of ONJ among patients with osteoporosis who are treated with denosumab versus bisphosphonates (BPs). The aim of this study was to determine the risk of ONJ in a real-world population. Subjects who underwent at least one dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) examination were included in the osteoporosis register of the Swiss Society of Rheumatology between January 1, 2015, and September 30, 2019. Statistical analyses included incidence rates, rate ratios, and hazard ratios for ONJ, considering sequential therapies and drug holidays as covariates. Among 9956 registered patients, 3068 (89% female, median age 69 years [63 to 76]) were treated with BPs or denosumab for a cumulative duration of 11,101 and 4236 patient-years, respectively. Seventeen cases of ONJ were identified: 12 in patients receiving denosumab at the time of ONJ diagnosis and 5 in patients receiving oral or intravenous BP therapy. The diagnosis of ONJ was confirmed by independent and blinded maxillofacial surgeons, using the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons case definition of ONJ. The incidence of ONJ per 10,000 observed patient-years was 28.3 in patients receiving denosumab and 4.5 in patients with BP-associated ONJ, yielding a rate ratio of 6.3 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.1 to 22.8), p < 0.001. Nine of 12 patients who developed ONJ during denosumab treatment had been pretreated with BPs, but none of the 5 patients with BP-related ONJ had previously received denosumab. The risk of ONJ was higher in patients receiving denosumab therapy compared with BPs (hazard ratio 3.49, 95% CI 1.16 to 10.47, p = 0.026). Previous BP therapy before switching to denosumab may be an additional risk factor for ONJ development. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Aberrant expression profiles and bioinformatic analysis of CAF‐derived exosomal miRNAs from three moderately differentiated supraglottic LSCC patients
Authors: Wu Chunping , Wang Mei , Huang Qiang , Guo Yang , Gong Hongli , Hu Chunyan , Zhou Liang
Published: November 2021

Background

Aberrant expression of exosomal miRNAs has emerged as a research hotspot. However, no studies have been conducted on the dysregulation of exosomal miRNAs derived from cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in supraglottic laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SLSCC).

Methods

Cancer‐associated fibroblasts and paired normal fibroblasts (NFs) from SLSCC patients were cultured, and exosomes in the culture supernatants were collected and identified. Exosomal miRNA expression was compared in each pair of CAFs and NFs by next‐generation sequencing, and expression of selected exosomal miRNAs was validated by reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR. Four online bioinformatic algorithms predicted the potential target genes of aberrantly expressed miRNAs, while gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment and network analysis identified downstream target genes and their interactions.

Results

Three pairs of CAFs and NFs were successfully cultured and purified. CAF‐derived exosomal miRNAs were mostly downregulated and included miR‐656‐3p, miR‐337‐5p, miR‐29a‐3p and miR‐655‐3p; however, some, including miR‐184‐3p, miR‐92a‐1‐5p, miR‐212‐3p and miR‐3135b, were upregulated. Bioinformatics analysis revealed involvement of these miRNAs in biological processes, cellular components and molecular functions. KEGG analysis revealed the top 30 pathways involvement in cancer initiation and progression and in cell cycle regulation. An interaction network showed miR‐16‐5p, miR‐29a‐3p, miR‐34c‐5p, miR‐32‐5p and miR‐490‐5p as the top five miRNAs and CCND1, CDKN1B, CDK6, PTEN and FOS as the top five target genes.

Conclusions

SLSCC patients showed aberrant expression of CAF‐derived exosomal miRNAs. The top five miRNAs and their target genes may jointly constitute a carcinogenic tumour microenvironment and act as biomarkers for SLSCC intervention.
Associations of gender, race, and ethnicity with disparities in short‐term adverse outcomes after pancreatic resection for cancer
Authors: Pastrana Del Valle Jonathan , Mahvi David A. , Fairweather Mark , Wang Jiping , Clancy Thomas E. , Ashley Stanley W. , Urman Richard D. , Whang Edward E. , Gold Jason S.
Published: November 2021

Background

Several studies have identified disparities in pancreatic cancer treatment associated with gender, race, and ethnicity. There are limited data examining disparities in short‐term adverse outcomes after pancreatic resection for cancer. The aim of this study is to evaluate associations of gender, race, and ethnicity with morbidity and mortality after pancreatic resection for malignancy.

Methods

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement database was retrospectively reviewed. The χ2 test and Student's t‐test were used for univariable analysis and hierarchical logistic regression for multivariable analysis.

Results

Morbidity and major morbidity after pancreaticoduodenectomy are associated with male gender, Asian race, and Hispanic ethnicity, whereas 30‐day mortality is associated with the male gender. Morbidity and major morbidity after distal pancreatectomy are associated with the male gender. Morbidity after pancreaticoduodenectomy is independently associated with male gender, Asian race, and Hispanic ethnicity; major morbidity is independently associated with male gender and Asian race, and mortality is independently associated with Hispanic ethnicity.

Conclusions

Gender, race, and ethnicity are independently associated with morbidity after pancreaticoduodenectomy for cancer; gender and race are independently associated with major morbidity; and ethnicity is independently associated with mortality. Further studies are warranted to determine the basis of these associations.
Outcomes of Gender‐Affirming Voice and Communication Modification for Transgender Individuals
Authors: Chadwick Keith A. , Coleman Rachel , Andreadis Katerina , Pitti Mary , Rameau Anaïs
Published: November 2021

Objectives

Transgender individuals' voices are closely related to gender identity. A primary goal of gender‐affirming voice modification is to help individuals alter their voices to improve gender congruence; however, there is a paucity of research to support this approach. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of a 12‐week gender‐affirming voice and communication modification program.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods

A retrospective consecutive case series of transgender women enrolled in a voice and communication modification program was performed. Demographics, Trans Woman Voice Questionnaire (TWVQ), fundamental frequency (F0), and frequency range were collected before and after the program. A Wilcoxon signed‐rank test assessed changes in outcomes. Spearman's rank‐order correlation coefficients quantified associations between self‐reported outcomes and acoustic measures.

Results

A total of 16 trans women individuals were enrolled. The mean age was 31.5 years. After program completion, TWVQ improved 20.4 points, F0 increased 26.5 Hz (spontaneous speech) and 25.7 Hz (reading), and the range increased 24.7 Hz (spontaneous speech) and 0.1 Hz (reading). None of the changes in acoustic measures significantly correlated with improvement in TWVQ scores in the cohort.

Conclusion

Trans women experience improvements in self‐reported outcomes and changes in acoustic measures after completing a gender‐affirming voice and communication modification program. Individuals may experience significant improvement in subjective outcomes despite small changes in acoustic measures and vice versa.

Level of Evidence

4 (case series) Laryngoscope, 132:1615–1621, 2022
Dose Dependent Effects of Fructose and Glucose on de novo Palmitate and Glycerol Synthesis in an Enterocyte Cell Model
Authors: Steenson Simon , Shojaee‐Moradie Fariba , Lovegrove Julie A. , Umpleby A. Margot , Jackson Kim G. , Fielding Barbara A.
Published: November 2021

Scope

Fructose exacerbates post‐prandial hypertriacylglycerolaemia; perhaps partly due to increased enterocyte de novo lipogenesis (DNL). It is unknown whether this is concentration‐dependent or if fructose has a greater effect on lipid synthesis than glucose. Dose‐dependent effects of fructose and glucose on DNL and de novo triacylglycerol (TAG)‐glycerol synthesis are investigated in a Caco‐2 cell model.

Methods and Results

Caco‐2 cells are treated for 96 h with 5, 25, or 50 mM fructose or glucose, or 12.5 mM fructose/12.5 mM glucose mix. DNL is measured following addition of [13C2]‐acetate to apical media. Separately, [13C6]‐fructose and [13C6]‐glucose are used to measure DNL and de novo TAG‐glycerol synthesis. DNL from [13C2]‐acetate is detected following all treatments, with greater amounts in intracellular than secreted (media) samples (all p < 0.05). DNL from [13C6]‐fructose and [13C6]‐glucose is also measurable. Intracellular synthesis is concentration‐dependent for both glucose (p = 0.003) and fructose (p = 0.034) tracers and is higher with 25 mM glucose than 25 mM fructose (p = 0.025). DNL from fructose and glucose is <1%, but up to 70% of de novo TAG‐glycerol is synthesized from glucose or fructose.

Conclusion

Fructose is not a major source of DNL in Caco‐2 cells but contributes substantially to de novo TAG‐glycerol synthesis.
Study of osteogenic potential of electrospun PCL incorporated by dendrimerized superparamagnetic nanoparticles as a bone tissue engineering scaffold
Authors: Khalili Mahsa , Keshvari Hamid , Imani Rana , Sohi Alireza Naderi , Esmaeili Elaheh , Tajabadi Maryam
Published: November 2021

Nanotechnology plays a promising role in biomedical applications, particularly tissue engineering. Recently, the application of magnetic scaffolds and pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) exposure has been considered in bone tissue regeneration. In this study, 3rd generation dendrimer‐modified superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (G3‐SPIONs) are synthesized and characterized. Magnetic polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers are prepared by incorporating G3‐SPIONs within the electrospinning process, and physicochemical characteristics, as well as cytocompatibility and cell attachment, are assessed. Eventually, the osteogenic differentiation ability of adipocyte‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) cultured on the magnetic scaffold with and without PEMF exposure was investigated by measurement of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and calcium content. The expression of specific bone markers was studied using the real‐time PCR method. According to the results, G3‐SPIONs with mean size and zeta potential of 17.95 ± 3.57 nm and 22.7 mV, respectively, shows high‐saturation magnetization (57.75 emu/g). Adding G3‐SPIONs to PCL significantly decreases nanofibers size to 495 ± 144 nm and improves cell attachment and growth. The ADMSCs cultured on the G3‐SPION‐PCL scaffold in the presence of osteogenic media (OM) and exposure to PEMF expressed the highest Osteocalcin and Runx2 and showed higher calcium content as well as ALP activity. It can be concluded that the synthesized G3‐SPION incorporated PCL nanofibers serve as a promising magnetic scaffold for bone regeneration. Also, utilizing the magnetic scaffold in the presence of OM and PEMF provides a synergistic effect toward osteogenic differentiation of ADMSCs.
Morbidity and health care use among siblings of children with cancer: A population‐based study
Authors: Desai Aditi , Sutradhar Rinku , Lau Cindy , Lee Douglas S. , Nathan Paul C. , Gupta Sumit
Published: November 2021

Background

Childhood cancer impacts the entire family unit. We sought to investigate its impact on the long‐term physical health outcomes of siblings of children with cancer.

Procedure

Pediatric cancer patients diagnosed in Ontario, Canada between 1988 and 2016 were linked to biological siblings. Sibling cases were matched to population controls based on sex, age, geographic location, and number of other children in the family. After individual linkage to health services data, we compared several outcomes between sibling cases and controls: (a) physical health conditions (such as diabetes, hypertension, and death); (b) acute health care use (hospitalization, low‐ and high‐acuity emergency department [ED] visits); and (c) preventive health care use (periodic health checkups, influenza vaccinations). Cox proportional hazards, recurrent event, or logistic regression models were used as appropriate.

Results

We identified 8529 sibling cases and 30,364 matched controls (median age at index: 6 years, median age at last follow‐up 17 years). Compared to controls, siblings were at increased risk of hypertension (hazard ratio [HR] 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–2.9; p = .01), had higher rates of low‐ and high‐acuity ED visits (rate ratio 1.1; 95% CI 1.1–1.2; p < .001), and increased risk of hospitalization (HR 1.1; 95% CI 1.1–1.2; p < .001). Sibling cases were also more likely to receive preventive health care (p < .05).

Conclusion

Increased risk of hypertension, high‐acuity ED visits, and hospitalizations suggest that siblings may experience poorer health compared to controls. Counseling families about this potential increased risk and long‐term follow‐up of siblings to monitor their physical health may be justified.
Alternative alkali fluoride post‐deposition treatment under elemental sulfur atmosphere for high‐efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se2‐based solar cells
Authors: Tsoulka Polyxeni , Crossay Alexandre , Arzel Ludovic , Harel Sylvie , Barreau Nicolas
Published: November 2021

Up to now, what we know about the impact of alkali post‐deposition treatment (PDT) on Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGSe) absorber thin films is largely based on treatments performed in selenium atmosphere and only few studies have addressed the critical role of the chalcogen atmosphere during the PDT. The present study deals with an innovative process of alkali fluoride PDT under elemental sulfur atmosphere on co‐evaporated Cu(In,Ga)Se2 absorbers. With the aim to understand the effects of different the incorporated alkali element incorporated during the PDT, we investigate four different PDTs: CsF, NaF/RbF, RbF, and In + RbF—all under sulfur atmosphere. The treated absorbers are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Our results show that for CIGSe compositions close to stoichiometry, forming a slightly Cu‐poor CIGSe at the surface during the PDT is beneficial. Cu(In,Ga)Se2/RbF(S) and Cu(In,Ga)Se2/In + RbF(S) exhibit the higher photoluminescence response probably due to decreased surface recombination. The quasi‐Fermi‐level splitting is in good agreement with the observed Voc difference between the treated and reference samples. The electronic properties of the Cu(In,Ga)Se2/In + RbF(S)‐based solar cells show a significantly improved performance with high Voc and FF.
A comparative study of Higgs boson production from vector-boson fusion
Authors: Buckley A. , Chen X. , Cruz-Martinez J. , Ferrario Ravasio S. , Gehrmann T. , Glover E. W. N. , Höche S. , Huss A. , Huston J. , Lindert J. M. , Plätzer S. , Schönherr M.
Published: November 2021

Abstract

The data taken in Run II at the Large Hadron Collider have started to probe Higgs boson production at high transverse momentum. Future data will provide a large sample of events with boosted Higgs boson topologies, allowing for a detailed understanding of electroweak Higgs boson plus two-jet production, and in particular the vector-boson fusion mode (VBF). We perform a detailed comparison of precision calculations for Higgs boson production in this channel, with particular emphasis on large Higgs boson transverse momenta, and on the jet radius dependence of the cross section. We study fixed-order predictions at next-to-leading order and next-to-next-to-leading order QCD, and compare the results to NLO plus parton shower (NLOPS) matched calculations. The impact of the NNLO corrections on the central predictions is mild, with inclusive scale uncertainties of the order of a few percent, which can increase with the imposition of kinematic cuts. We find good agreement between the fixed-order and matched calculations in non-Sudakov regions, and the various NLOPS predictions also agree well in the Sudakov regime. We analyze backgrounds to VBF Higgs boson production stemming from associated production, and from gluon-gluon fusion. At high Higgs boson transverse momenta, the ∆yjj and/or mjj cuts typically used to enhance the VBF signal over background lead to a reduced efficiency. We examine this effect as a function of the jet radius and using different definitions of the tagging jets. QCD radiative corrections increase for all Higgs production modes with increasing Higgs boson pT, but the proportionately larger increase in the gluon fusion channel results in a decrease of the gluon-gluon fusion background to electroweak Higgs plus two jet production upon requiring exclusive two-jet topologies. We study this effect in detail and contrast in particular a central jet veto with a global jet multiplicity requirement.
Instability of supersymmetric black holes via quantum phase transitions
Authors: Anabalón Andrés , Astefanesei Dumitru , Gallerati Antonio , Trigiante Mario
Published: November 2021

Abstract

In this paper we prove that the four-dimensional hyperbolic supersymmetric black holes can be unstable in the canonical ensemble. To this end, we work with an infinite class of $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 supergravity theories interpolating between all the single dilaton truncations of the SO(8) gauged $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 8 supergravity. Within these models, we study electrically charged solutions of two different kinds: supersymmetric hairy and extremal non-supersymmetric Reissner-Nordström black holes. We consider these solutions within the same canonical ensemble and show that, for suitable choices of the parameters defining the $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 model, the supersymmetric solution features a higher free energy than the non-supersymmetric one. In the absence of additional selection rules, this would imply an instability of the supersymmetric configuration, hinting towards a possible supersymmetry breaking mechanism.
Probing neutrino dipole portal at COHERENT experiment
Authors: Dasgupta Arnab , Kang Sin Kyu , Kim Jihn E.
Published: November 2021

Abstract

Motivated by the first observation of coherent-elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering at the COHERENT experiment, we confront the neutrino dipole portal giving rise to the transition of the standard model neutrinos to sterile neutrinos with the recently released CENNS 10 data from the liquid argon as well as the CsI data of the COHERENT experiment. Performing a statistical analysis of those data, we show how the transition magnetic moment can be constrained for the range of the sterile neutrino mass between 10 keV and 40 MeV.
Deriving “potential target values” of PCDD/F in animal feed: the role of livestock at the interface between feed and food chain
Authors: Abud Clariget Maria José , Kowalczyk Janine , Wobst Birgit
Published: November 2021

Linking derivation of potential target values of PCDD/Fs in animal feed with risk assessment for consumer protection is a challenge when tolerable weekly intake (TWI) and transfer factors from feed to food are considered. Generally, maximum values for feed and food are set separately without considering the feed and the food producing animal as an important factor along the food chain from farm to fork. Levels of contaminants in feed can accumulate in animals and their products effect consumers at the end of the food chain. Hence, the process of setting legal maximum levels of contaminants should account for transfer from feed consumed by food producing animals into animal products for human consumption. Here, we calculated potential target values of PCDD/F in feed to ensure that animal products such as milk from dairy cows, eggs from laying hens and pork and pork products from fattening pigs are safe for human consumption. In our approach, we calculated potential target values of PCDD/Fs in animal feed using transfer factors for PCDD/F-TEQs from feed to milk fat, eggs fat, and fat in pork and pork products, taking into account the tolerable weekly intake derived by European Food Safety  Authority. We assumed equal proportions of WHO-PCDD/F-TEQ and WHO-PCB-TEQ in feed. Potential target values of PCDD/F in feed are expressed as the quantity of toxicologically evaluated PCDD/Fs, expressed in WHO toxic equivalents (WHO2005-PCDD/F-TEQ) per kg feed with 12% moisture. In the current approach, derived values would be 10–54 times lower than the current legal maximum level of 0.75 ng WHO2005-PCDD/F-TEQ per kg feed (12% moisture), according to Directive 2002/32/EC as amended.