bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Status of deep learning for EEG-based brain–computer interface applications
Authors: Hossain Khondoker Murad , Islam Md. Ariful , Hossain Shahera , Nijholt Anton , Ahad Md Atiqur Rahman
Published: January 2023

In the previous decade, breakthroughs in the central nervous system bioinformatics and computational innovation have prompted significant developments in brain–computer interface (BCI), elevating it to the forefront of applied science and research. BCI revitalization enables neurorehabilitation strategies for physically disabled patients (e.g., disabled patients and hemiplegia) and patients with brain injury (e.g., patients with stroke). Different methods have been developed for electroencephalogram (EEG)-based BCI applications. Due to the lack of a large set of EEG data, methods using matrix factorization and machine learning were the most popular. However, things have changed recently because a number of large, high-quality EEG datasets are now being made public and used in deep learning-based BCI applications. On the other hand, deep learning is demonstrating great prospects for solving complex relevant tasks such as motor imagery classification, epileptic seizure detection, and driver attention recognition using EEG data. Researchers are doing a lot of work on deep learning-based approaches in the BCI field right now. Moreover, there is a great demand for a study that emphasizes only deep learning models for EEG-based BCI applications. Therefore, we introduce this study to the recent proposed deep learning-based approaches in BCI using EEG data (from 2017 to 2022). The main differences, such as merits, drawbacks, and applications are introduced. Furthermore, we point out current challenges and the directions for future studies. We argue that this review study will help the EEG research community in their future research.
bSRWPSO-FKNN: A boosted PSO with fuzzy K-nearest neighbor classifier for predicting atopic dermatitis disease
Authors: Li Yupeng , Zhao Dong , Xu Zhangze , Heidari Ali Asghar , Chen Huiling , Jiang Xinyu , Liu Zhifang , Wang Mengmeng , Zhou Qiongyan , Xu Suling
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an allergic disease with extreme itching that bothers patients. However, diagnosing AD depends on clinicians’ subjective judgment, which may be missed or misdiagnosed sometimes.

Methods

This paper establishes a medical prediction model for the first time on the basis of the enhanced particle swarm optimization (SRWPSO) algorithm and the fuzzy K-nearest neighbor (FKNN), called bSRWPSO-FKNN, which is practiced on a dataset related to patients with AD. In SRWPSO, the Sobol sequence is introduced into particle swarm optimization (PSO) to make the particle distribution of the initial population more uniform, thus improving the population’s diversity and traversal. At the same time, this study also adds a random replacement strategy and adaptive weight strategy to the population updating process of PSO to overcome the shortcomings of poor convergence accuracy and easily fall into the local optimum of PSO. In bSRWPSO-FKNN, the core of which is to optimize the classification performance of FKNN through binary SRWPSO.

Results

To prove that the study has scientific significance, this paper first successfully demonstrates the core advantages of SRWPSO in well-known algorithms through benchmark function validation experiments. Secondly, this article demonstrates that the bSRWPSO-FKNN has practical medical significance and effectiveness through nine public and medical datasets.

Discussion

The 10 times 10-fold cross-validation experiments demonstrate that bSRWPSO-FKNN can pick up the key features of AD, including the content of lymphocytes (LY), Cat dander, Milk, Dermatophagoides Pteronyssinus/Farinae, Ragweed, Cod, and Total IgE. Therefore, the established bSRWPSO-FKNN method practically aids in the diagnosis of AD.
Brain-protective mechanisms of autophagy associated circRNAs: Kick starting self-cleaning mode in brain cells via circRNAs as a potential therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative diseases
Authors: Basri Rabea , Awan Faryal Mehwish , Yang Burton B. , Awan Usman Ayub , Obaid Ayesha , Naz Anam , Ikram Aqsa , Khan Suliman , Haq Ijaz ul , Khan Sadiq Noor , Aqeel Muslim Bin
Published: January 2023

Altered autophagy is a hallmark of neurodegeneration but how autophagy is regulated in the brain and dysfunctional autophagy leads to neuronal death has remained cryptic. Being a key cellular waste-recycling and housekeeping system, autophagy is implicated in a range of brain disorders and altering autophagy flux could be an effective therapeutic strategy and has the potential for clinical applications down the road. Tight regulation of proteins and organelles in order to meet the needs of complex neuronal physiology suggests that there is distinct regulatory pattern of neuronal autophagy as compared to non-neuronal cells and nervous system might have its own separate regulator of autophagy. Evidence has shown that circRNAs participates in the biological processes of autophagosome assembly. The regulatory networks between circRNAs, autophagy, and neurodegeneration remains unknown and warrants further investigation. Understanding the interplay between autophagy, circRNAs and neurodegeneration requires a knowledge of the multiple steps and regulatory interactions involved in the autophagy pathway which might provide a valuable resource for the diagnosis and therapy of neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we aimed to summarize the latest studies on the role of brain-protective mechanisms of autophagy associated circRNAs in neurodegenerative diseases (including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and Friedreich’s ataxia) and how this knowledge can be leveraged for the development of novel therapeutics against them. Autophagy stimulation might be potential one-size-fits-all therapy for neurodegenerative disease as per considerable body of evidence, therefore future research on brain-protective mechanisms of autophagy associated circRNAs will illuminate an important feature of nervous system biology and will open the door to new approaches for treating neurodegenerative diseases.
Profiling consumers with an environmentally sustainable and healthy diet: The case of Spanish households
Authors: Gutiérrez-Villar Belén , Melero-Bolaños Rosa , Montero-Simo Maria Jose , Araque-Padilla Rafael A.
Published: January 2023

Our diet has substantial implications not only for our health but also for the environment. However, the two dimensions are not comparable, even though consumers often associate them with their purchasing choices. Promoting more sustainable diets requires a better knowledge of household profiles considering the healthy and organically sustainable character of the food purchased. Previous studies have approached the analysis of consumer profiles separately, differentiating both dimensions without clear conclusion regarding the variables that make up these profiles. In this study, we looked for household profiles by cross-referencing the organic nature of the products consumed (environmental sustainability) with their degree of processing (healthfulness) in Spain. The results show that the most sustainable products are consumed in tiny municipalities (less than 2,000 inhabitants). In contrast, less sustainable products are consumed in high-income, single-family households or households with small children. The person responsible for the purchase is working or between 39 and 45 years old. In conclusion, our study shows that socio-demographic variables are statistically significant in identifying household profiles with sustainable diets.
The effect of 12 weeks of combined training on hepatic fat content and metabolic flexibility of individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Protocol of an open-label, single-center randomized control trial
Authors: Huang Wei , Ruan Weiqi , Huo Cuilan , Lin Yanyu , Wang Tian , Dai Xiangdi , Zhai Haonan , Ma Jiasheng , Zhang Jingyi , Lu Jin , Zhuang Jie
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Metabolic flexibility (MetF) is the capacity of an organism to oxidate substrate according to substrate availability or demand. The mismatch of substrate availability and oxidation may cause ectopic fat accumulation in the muscle and the liver. The objectives of the study are to examine the effect of 12 weeks of combined exercise on hepatic fat reduction and investigate metabolites related to MetF before and after the high-fat diet between individuals with NAFLD and healthy control with an active lifestyle.

Methods

This study is an open-label, single-center trial randomized controlled clinical study plus a cross-sectional comparison between individuals with NAFLD and healthy control. Individuals with NAFLD were allocated into two groups receiving resistance training (RT) combined with high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT). Anthropometric indicators, clinical blood markers about glucose, lipid metabolism, and hepatic fat content (HFC) were assessed before and after the intervention. The metabolomics was also used to investigate the discrepant metabolites and mechanisms related to MetF.

Discussion

Metabolic flexibility reflects the capacity of an organism to switch the oxidation substrates flexibly, which is associated with ectopic fat accumulation. Our study aimed to explore the discrepant metabolites related to MetF before and after a high-fat diet between individuals with NAFLD and healthy control. In addition, the study also examined the effectiveness of RT combined with HIIT or MICT on hepatic fat reduction and quantificationally analyzed the metabolites related to MetF before and after the intervention. Our results provided a perspective on fatty liver-associated metabolic inactivity.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov: ChiCTR2200055110; Registered 31 December 2021, http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx.
A review on the chemical constituents and pharmacological efficacies of Lindera aggregata (Sims) Kosterm
Authors: Lv Yangbin , Zou Yanfang , Zhang Xindan , Liu Bingrui , Peng Xin , Chu Chu
Published: January 2023

Lindera aggregata (Sims) Kosterm. (L. aggregata), which belongs to the genus Lindera in the family Lauraceae, is widely distributed in Asia and the temperate, tropical regions of North America. Its roots and leaves have been used for thousands of years as traditional Chinese medicine and/or functional food. To further explore its underlying nutritional value, this review provided a comprehensive insight into chemical constituents and pharmacological effects on L. aggregata. The phytochemical investigation of different parts of L. aggregata led to the identification of up to 349 components belonging to sesquiterpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, essential oils, and other compounds. Among them, sesquiterpenoids, flavonoids, and alkaloids are assessed as representative active ingredients of L. aggregata. A wide variety of pharmacological effects of L. aggregata, such as anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-oxidant, have been proved in vitro and in vivo. In summary, this review aims to provide a scientific basis and reference for further research and utilization of L. aggregata and lay the foundation for developing functional foods with potential active ingredients for the prevention and management of related diseases.
Mediterranean diet during pregnancy and infant neurodevelopment: A prospective birth cohort study
Authors: Dai Fei-cai , Wang Peng , Li Qiong , Zhang Lei , Yu Li-jun , Wu Lin , Tao Rui-xue , Zhu Peng
Published: January 2023

Background

Embryonic neural development is associated with intrauterine nutritional status. However, few cohort studies estimated the relationship between maternal dietary patterns during pregnancy and offspring's early neurodevelopment.

Objective

To examine the impact of the Mediterranean diet (MD) during pregnancy on infant neurodevelopment, including the potential mediating role of cord blood metabolites.

Methods

Among 1,471 mother–child pairs in a prospective birth cohort study in Hefei, China, we investigated the associations between maternal MD score [calculated based on a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ)] and child neurodevelopment at infancy [assessed using Ages and Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition (ASQ-3)]. The cord blood metabolic markers (including C-peptide, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglycerides) were measured.

Results

The MD score was negatively associated with communication domain developmental delays in infants [relative risk (RR) with 95% CI: 0.34 (0.16, 0.72)]. Compared with girls, boys born from mothers with lower MD scores during pregnancy were inclined to the failure of the communication domain [RRs with 95% CI for boys: 0.34 (0.14, 0.84); for girls: 0.26 (0.06, 1.18)]. Mediation analysis showed that the association between the maternal MD score and failure of communication domain mediated by C-peptide was 19.4% in boys but not in girls.

Conclusion

Adhering to the MD during pregnancy was associated with a decreased risk of poor neurodevelopment, possibly mediated by lower levels of cord blood C-peptide.
Characteristics of the gut microbiome in esports players compared with those in physical education students and professional athletes
Authors: Kulecka Maria , Fraczek Barbara , Balabas Aneta , Czarnowski Paweł , Zeber-Lubecka Natalia , Zapala Barbara , Baginska Katarzyna , Glowienka Maria , Szot Monika , Skorko Maciek , Kluska Anna , Piatkowska Magdalena , Mikula Michał , Ostrowski Jerzy
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Esports is a category of competitive video games that, in many aspects, may be similar to traditional sports; however, the gut microbiota composition of players has not been yet studied.

Materials and methods

Here, we investigated the composition and function of the gut microbiota, as well as short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and amino acids, in a group of 109 well-characterized Polish male esports players. The results were compared with two reference groups: 25 endurance athletes and 36 healthy students of physical education. DNA and metabolites isolated from fecal samples were analyzed using shotgun metagenomic sequencing and mass spectrometry, respectively. Physical activity and nutritional measures were evaluated by questionnaire.

Results

Although anthropometric, physical activity and nutritional measures differentiated esports players from students, there were no differences in bacterial diversity, the Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio, the composition of enterotype clusters, metagenome functional content, or SCFA concentrations. However, there were significant differences between esports players and students with respect to nine bacterial species and nine amino acids. By contrast, all of the above-mentioned measures differentiated professional athletes from esports players and students, with 45 bacteria differentiating professional athletes from the former and 31 from the latter. The only species differentiating all three experimental groups was Parabacteroides distasonis, showing the lowest and highest abundance in esports players and athletes, respectively.

Conclusion

Our study confirms the marked impact of intense exercise training on gut microbial structure and function. Differences in lifestyle and dietary habits between esports players and physical education students appear to not have a major effect on the gut microbiota.
Case Report: Perivascular epithelioid tumors of the gastrointestinal tract
Authors: Yan Hui , Zhang Shuhui , Ba Ying , Li Kun , Gao Guoling , Li Yanmin , Zhang Yan , Liu Chengxia , Shi Ning
Published: January 2023

Background

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor of the gastrointestinal tract (GI PEComa) is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm. GI PEComa is mostly observed in the colon and has a marked middle-aged female predominance. PEComa has no typical clinical or imaging manifestations or endoscopic characteristics. Therefore, the diagnosis of this disease mostly relies on pathological findings. HMB-45 is a sensitive immune marker of PEComa.

Case presentation

We reported a case of a middle-aged female with sigmoid colon PEComa. To exclude carcinogenesis, the large basal polyp in the sigmoid colon was removed by endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). Immunohistochemistry analysis results showed that this lesion expressed HMB-45, which is a characteristic melanin marker of PEComa. Finally, the lesion was diagnosed as sigmoid colon PEComa. At the time of submission of this report, surgical resection was the primary treatment for PEComa. Though the characteristics of tumor biology and clinical behavior in PEComa are not clear, the boundary is clear, and the tumor can be completely removed. However, close follow-up is required after the surgery because of the lesion’s undetermined benign and malignant nature.

Conclusion

The present case study emphasizes the importance of pathological diagnosis. Therefore, upon finding gastrointestinal polyps with a mucosal ulcer under endoscopy, the GI PEComa diagnosis should be considered. It is necessary to detect the characteristic melanin markers of PEComa. Due to the rarity of these cases, challenges are faced in diagnosing and treating PEComa.
USP6-associated soft tissue tumors with bone metaplasia: Clinicopathologic and genetic analysis and the identification of novel USP6 fusion partners
Authors: Zhang Yahan , Qiu Yan , Zhang Xianliang , He Xin , Chen Chen , Chen Min , Zhang Hongying
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Among those tumors with consistent USP6 rearrangement, some arise from soft tissue and show bone metaplasia, including myositis ossificans (MO), fibro-osseous pseudotumor of digits (FOPD), soft tissue aneurysmal bone cyst (ST-ABC) and fasciitis ossificans (FO). These lesions are easily confused with malignancies because they show a rapid growth rate and brisk mitoses. Here, we aim to clarify the clinicopathologic and genetic characteristics of this entity and analyze the correlations among the different subtypes in one of the largest cohorts.

Materials and Methods

The clinicopathologic features of 73 cases of MO, FOPD, ST-ABC and FO diagnosed at West China Hospital, Sichuan University from January 2010 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Forty-three undecalcified samples were analyzed by systematic genetic studies, including fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Sanger sequencing and next-generation-based sequencing were performed.

Results

This series included 40 males and 33 females aged 2 to 80 years old (median: 31 years). FOPD occurred in extremal soft tissue, while lower extremities (38/58, 65.5%) were the most commonly involved lesions in the other three subgroups. Histologically, proliferative myofibroblasts/fibroblasts with varying degrees of osteoid tissue were present. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) results indicated that 22 cases (22/27, 81.5%) were positive for USP6 rearrangement, and 5 cases were negative. Among those cases with positive FISH results, 18 underwent reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) detection that successfully detected common USP6 fusion types. Thirteen cases showed COL1A1::USP6 fusion, one showed MYH9::USP6 fusion, and 4 were negative for common fusion types. Next-generation-based sequencing technology was performed on two lesions with negative RT–PCR results and novel fusion partners SNHG3 and UBE2G1 were discovered.

Conclusions

Our findings revealed that COL1A1 is the most common fusion partner in this entity, unlike primary aneurysmal bone cysts and nodular fasciitis. Notably, we believed that FO may demonstrate more similar clinicopathologic and genetic manifestations with MO/FOPD and ST-ABC instead of nodular fasciitis for involving lower limbs most frequently and showing recurrent COL1A1::USP6 fusion. Additionally, this study also found two novel USP6 fusion partners, which further expanded our knowledge of this neoplastic spectrum.
Different meaning of the mean heart dose between 3D-CRT and IMRT for breast cancer radiotherapy
Authors: Prunaretty Jessica , Bourgier Celine , Gourgou Sophie , Lemanski Claire , Azria David , Fenoglietto Pascal
Published: January 2023

Background

Previous studies in 2D and in 3D conformal radiotherapy concludes that the maximal heart distance and the mean heart dose (MHD) are considered predictive of late cardiac toxicities. As the use of inverse-planned intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is increasing worldwide, we hypothesized that this 3D MHD might not be representative of heart exposure after IMRT for breast cancer (BC).

Methods

Patients with left-sided BC and unfavorable cardiac anatomy received IMRT. Their treatment plan was compared to a virtual treatment plan for 3D conformal radiotherapy with similar target volume coverage (study A). Then, a second 3D conformal treatment plan was generated to achieve equivalent individual MHD obtained by IMRT. Then the heart and left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery exposures were analyzed (study B). Last, the relationship between MHD and the heart volume or LAD coronary artery volume receiving at least 30Gy, 40Gy and 45Gy in function of each additional 1Gy to the MHD was assessed (study C).

Results

A significant decrease of heart and LAD coronary artery exposure to high dose was observed with the IMRT compared with the 3D conformal radiotherapy plans that both ensured adequate target coverage (study A). The results of study B and C showed that 3D MHD was not representative of similar heart substructure exposure with IMRT, especially in the case of high dose exposure.

Conclusions

The mean heart dose is not a representative dosimetric parameter to assess heart exposure following IMRT. Equivalent MHD values following IMRT and 3DRT BC treatment do not represent the same dose distribution leading to extreme caution when using this parameter for IMRT plan validation.
High-dose cytarabine monotherapy is superior to standard-dose cytarabine- based multiagent sequential treatment cycle for consolidation treatment in adult (14-59 years) AML patients according to European Leukemia Net 2022 risk stratification
Authors: Wang Xiaoyu , Liu Dan , Chen Erling , Wang Li , Zhao Na , Zhou Li , Tong Juan , Xue Lei , Zhang Lei , Geng Liangquan , Tang Baolin , Liu Huilan , Liu Xin , Zheng Changcheng
Published: January 2023

Introduction

We firstly investigate based on 2022 European Leukemia Net (ELN) risk stratification, whether standard-dose cytarabine based multiagent sequential chemotherapy (SDMSC) is more beneficial than high-dose cytarabine (HDAC) monotherapy in consolidation for the survival of adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients.

Methods

One hundred and eighty-three AML patients with complete remission (CR) were evaluated.

Results and discussion

The 3-year relapse rate was 33.4% in the HDAC group and 50.5% in the SDMSC group (p=0.066). The 3-year overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) rates in the HDAC group (69.2%, 60.7%) were significantly higher than that in the SDMSC group (50.8%, 42.1%) (p=0.025, 0.019). For patients in the intermediate risk group, the 3-year OS and EFS rates in the HDAC group (72.5%, 56.7%) were higher than that in the SDMSC group (49.1%, 38.0%) (p=0.028, 0.093). This study indicates that for young adult AML patients, HDAC consolidation achieves a higher long-term survival than SDMSC, especially for patients in the intermediate-risk group according to the 2022 ELN risk stratification.
Digital image analysis using video microscopy of human-derived prostate cancer vs normal prostate organoids to assess migratory behavior on extracellular matrix proteins
Authors: Marr Kendra D. , Ignatenko Natalia A. , Warfel Noel A. , Batai Ken , Cress Anne E. , Pollock Grant R. , Wong Ava C. , Lee Benjamin R.
Published: January 2023

The advent of perpetuating living organoids derived from patient tissue is a promising avenue for cancer research but is limited by difficulties with precise characterization. In this brief communication, we demonstrate via time-lapse imaging distinct phenotypes of prostate organoids derived from patient material– without confirmation of cellular identity. We show that organoids derived from histologically normal tissue more readily spread on a physiologic extracellular matrix (ECM) than on pathologic ECM (p<0.0001), while tumor-derived organoids spread equally on either substrate (p=0.2406). This study is an important proof-of-concept to defer precise characterization of organoids and still glean information into disease pathology.
A pan-cancer analysis of the prognostic and immunological roles of matrix metalloprotease-1 (MMP1) in human tumors
Authors: Mao Shuai , Xia Anliang , Tao Xuewen , Ye Dingde , Qu Jiamu , Sun Meiling , Wei Haowei , Li Guoqiang
Published: January 2023

Objective

Cancer remains the leading killer of human health worldwide. It has been shown that matrix metalloproteinase-1(MMP1) is related to poor prognosis in cancers such as BRCA, CESC and COAD. However, systematic pan-cancer analysis about the prognostic and immunological roles of MMP1 has not been explored. Here, the purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic and immunological roles of MMP1 in pan-cancer and confirm cancer-promoting effect in pancreatic cancer.

Methods

In our study, bioinformatics were first used to analyze data from multiple databases. Then, several bioinformatics tools were utilized to investigate the role of MMP1 in 33 tumor types. Finally, molecular biology experiments were carried out to prove the cancer-promoting effect of MMP1 in pancreatic cancer.

Results

MMP1 expression was higher in tumor tissues than in control tissues in most tumor types. High expression of MMP1 was associated with poor overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in some tumor types. Further analysis of MMP1 gene mutation data showed that MMP1 mutations significantly influenced the prognosis of STAD. In addition, MMP1 expression was closely related to cancer-associated fibroblast (CAFs) infiltration in a variety of cancers and played an important role on immune infiltration score, tumor mutational burden (TMB) and microsatellite instability (MSI). Gene Ontology enrichment analysis indicated that these 20 genes were mainly related to extracellular structure organization/extracellular matrix organization/extracellular matrix disassembly/collagen metabolic process in the enriched biological processes. Finally, molecular biology experiments confirmed the cancer-promoting effect of MMP1 in pancreatic cancer.

Conclusions

Our pan-cancer analysis comprehensively proved that MMP1 expression is related with clinical prognosis and tumor immune infiltration, and MMP1 can become a prognostic and immunological biomarker.
Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy for acquired resistance to EGFR therapy in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Chicas-Sett Rodolfo , Castilla Martinez Juan , Hernández Blanquisett Abrahan , Zafra Juan , Pastor-Peidro Jorge
Published: January 2023

The advent of targeted therapy has transformed the treatment paradigm and survival of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with driver mutations. The development of acquired resistances during treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) impedes a prolonged survival in many patients. This fact is leading to the use of locally ablative therapies such as stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) to counter these resistances. SABR is a non-invasive treatment that can be delivered in multiple locations and has already proven effective in oligometastatic disease. Clinical evidence suggests that the combination of SABR with TKIs prolongs progression-free survival (PFS) in metastatic NSCLC patients with mutations in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), with international guidelines recommending their use in unfavorable scenarios such as oligoprogressive disease. In this publication, we have reviewed the available evidence on EGFR-TKIs resistance mechanisms and the combination of SABR with TKI in metastatic NSCLC with EGFR mutations. We also describe the utility and clinical recommendations of this combination in oligometastatic and oligoprogressive disease.
Renal cell carcinoma of different pathological types in bilateral native kidneys of a kidney transplant recipient: A case report and literature review
Authors: Yi Cheng , You Xiangyun , Sha Ang , Zhang Zhen , Yu Junfeng , Guo Xiaolin , Hu Henglong
Published: January 2023

Patients after kidney transplantation have a much higher risk of developing malignant tumors than the general population. And the native kidney is an organ relatively susceptible to malignant tumors after renal transplantation. However, the simultaneous development of bilateral renal tumors is very rare; especially the bilateral native kidneys harbor different pathological types of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We report a case of a patient who developed malignant tumors in both native kidneys nearly 19 years after renal transplantation. This patient underwent bilateral laparoscopic radical nephrectomy, and postoperative pathological examination showed clear cell RCC on the left native kidney and papillary RCC on the right one. And the early detection and surgical treatment resulted in a good prognosis. The literature related to the diagnosis and treatment of bilateral RCC after renal transplantation is also reviewed.
Analysis of the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of triple-positive breast cancer and HER2-positive breast cancer—A retrospective study
Authors: Ma Dongxu , Yang Qing , Yin Ke , Shi Peng , Chen Xiao , Dong Tianyi , Shang Xingchen , Tian Xingsong
Published: January 2023

Background

Adjuvant chemotherapy and targeted therapy have become standard postoperative therapeutic modalities for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer(HER2-positive,HR-negative), including triple-positive breast cancer(HER2-positive,HR-positive). However, these two types of breast cancer differ in terms of pathogenesis. This article analyzes these two types of breast cancer by comparing their prognoses.

Methods

The clinicopathological characteristics of 135 patients, including 60 patients with triple-positive breast cancer and 75 patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, were analyzed to compare the disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of the two groups over a 5-year period. A multifactorial Cox risk model was constructed by grouping age, menstrual status, maximum tumor diameter, number of lymph node metastases, pathological staging, and Ki-67 staining results. All statistical data were analyzed in detail using SPSS25.0 statistical software.

Results

The 5-year OS rates of patients with breast cancer in the triple-positive and HER2-positive groups were 96.7% and 82.7%, respectively, and the 5-year DFS rates were 90% and 73.3%, respectively. The Cox results revealed that molecular staging was an independent factor affecting recurrent metastasis and survival of breast cancer patients (hazard ratio [HR] =2.199, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.296-8.266; HR = 9.994, 95% CI, 2.019-49.465).

Conclusion

The 5-year DFS and OS rates were significantly better in the triple-positive group than in the HER2-positive group. Subgroups received different prognosis for different chemotherapy regimens. Breast cancer patients should be treated according to the risk of recurrence with symptomatic treatment and precise regulation.
Radiation pneumonitis following Yttrium-90 radioembolization: A Korean multicenter study
Authors: Kim Hyo-Cheol , Kim Gyoung Min
Published: January 2023

Objective

To report the incidence of radiation pneumonitis after radioembolization.

Methods

In this retrospective study, from May 2009 to July 2021, 782 consecutive patients underwent radioembolization in two institutes. Medical internal radiation dose dosimetry and partition dosimetry were used for glass and resin Yttrium-90-labeled microspheres (90Y-microspheres), respectively. Medical records and radiological findings were retrospectively evaluated with emphasis on the symptomatic radiation pneumonitis.

Results

Of the 732 patients with lung shunt study and follow-up, 13 (1.8%) had symptomatic radiation pneumonitis and six patients died due to radiation pneumonitis. Of the 721 patients whose lung doses were calculated, 10 patients who were treated with glass (n = 5) and resin (n = 5) 90Y-microspheres had radiation pneumonitis. No significant statistical difference between glass and resin 90Y-microspheres (p = 0.304) was noted in terms of radiation pneumonitis incidence. Among the patients with radiation pneumonitis, all five patients treated with glass 90Y-microspheres had estimated lung doses > 29 Gy, whereas five patients treated with resin 90Y-microspheres had relatively wide range of lung dose reaching much lower value (13.21Gy).

Conclusion

The present study suggests that radiation pneumonitis after radioembolization may occur even though the manufacturer’s instructions are followed.
Case report: Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency in three patient cases from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Abukhaled Musaad , Alrakaf Laila , Aldhalaan Hesham , Al Yamani Suad
Published: January 2023

Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency is an ultra-rare and often severe neurometabolic disorder resulting from variants in the dopa decarboxylase (DDC) gene. A timely diagnosis is critical to prevent secondary complications, promote development, and optimize outcomes from future innovative treatment options, such as gene therapy. This article describes three patients with AADC deficiency managed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). All three patients had homozygous variants within the DDC gene, including one novel gene variant (c.245G > A, p.Arg82Glu), and presented with symptoms from birth. In all cases, a diagnostic delay was observed owing to non-specific signs and symptoms, a lack of disease awareness among primary care physicians, and delays associated with outsourcing of genetic tests. All three patients were managed by a multidisciplinary team at a specialist tertiary center. Clinical outcomes for all three cases were poor, with one patient passing away at 3 years of age and the other two patients continuing to experience substantial disability and poor quality of life. There is an urgent need to raise awareness and improve diagnostic testing for rare diseases such as AADC deficiency in the KSA in order to improve outcomes, particularly as innovative disease-targeting therapies become available.
Retrospective analysis of longitudinal melanonychia: A Chinese experience
Authors: Lyu Anqi , Hou Yinglong , Wang Qiying
Published: January 2023

Objective

We aimed to analyze the clinical and histopathologic characteristics of longitudinal melanonychia (LM), explore the differences between adults and children, and propose some recommendations.

Methods

Data on pigmentation, lentigo, subungual melanoma (SUM), and nail matrix nevus (NMN) were acquired for comparison.

Results

Lesions on thumbs in the children’s group were significantly fewer (p = 0.006) than in adults. Lesions on little fingers in children were more than in adults; the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.025). The widths of bands in adults were wider than in children (p < 0.001), and the duration and width were positively correlated (r = 0.474). There was more pigmentation in adults than in children; the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.005). NMN was reported in 56.1% children and 34.3% adults; the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.005). Adults had six SUM cases, whereas none in children; the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.006). The recurrence rate in adults was significantly higher than in children (p = 0.019).

Conclusion

The widths of bands increase with the course, indicating that LM may be progressive. The four pathological types have different distributions with age, and each type requires different treatment. The lower recurrence rate in children suggests that LM needs diagnosis and appropriate treatment as soon as possible.
Impact of muscle mass on the prognosis of liver transplantation for infants with biliary atresia
Authors: Lledín María D. , Parrón-Pajares Manuel , Morais Ana , Hernández-Oliveros Francisco , Botella-Carretero Jose I. , Hierro Loreto
Published: January 2023

Background

Sarcopenia in adult cirrhotic patients is associated with increased morbidity and mortality whereas in children it is still being studied. Anthropometric variables in cirrhotic children are not reliable for assessing muscle mass as they may be altered by ascites, edema, and organomegaly. Measuring the area of the psoas showed good correlation with muscle mass in adults. We aimed to study in cirrhotic infants undergoing liver transplantation the association of the psoas area with liver transplant prognosis as well as with several analytical and anthropometric parameters used to evaluate nutritional status.

Methods

Retrospective cohort of 29 infants with cirrhosis due to biliary atresia who underwent abdominal CT scan as a pre-transplant study. We measured the psoas muscle index (PMI) at L4-L5 since it best correlates with muscle mass in pediatric patients. As there are no validated cut-off points to define sarcopenia in children under one year of age, PMI was recorded as a continuous variable and correlated with different prognostic, clinical, and analytical variables. The SPSS 17.0 package was used for statistical analysis and a P < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

29 infants (10 boys, 19 girls) were studied. 62% were Caucasian and the rest were South American. The mean age at CT scan was 8.5 months (range 3–15 months). There was a negative correlation between PMI and days of admission prior to liver transplant, previous infections, and bone fractures. Among the analytical parameters, cholinesterase, albumin, and prealbumin correlated positively with PMI (P < 0.05). No relationship was observed with anthropometric parameters: weight, height, BMI, brachial perimeter, or bioimpedance. During surgery, patients with lower PMI had a greater need for plasma transfusion, and in the immediate postoperative period, there was a longer stay in intensive care, more days of mechanical ventilation, and more days of hospital admission (P < 0.05). On the contrary, no relationship was found with other complications: bleeding, re-interventions, biliary leaks, rejection, thrombosis, re-transplantation, or infections.

Conclusions

The decrease in muscle mass is associated with increased morbidity in infants with biliary atresia undergoing liver transplantation. Muscle mass in these patients cannot be adequately assessed with anthropometric measurements commonly used in the clinic.
Fetal–neonatal exposure to antibiotics and NEC development: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Klerk Daphne H. , van Avezaath Lisanne K. , Loeffen Erik A. H. , Hulscher Jan B. F. , Kooi Elisabeth M. W.
Published: January 2023

Background

Fetal and neonatal exposure to antibiotics may contribute to the development of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm infants. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigate whether exposure to third trimester maternal antibiotics (MAB) and/or prolongation of empirical antibiotics (PEAB) are associated with NEC development in preterms.

Method

We included observational and randomized controlled studies, including those on preterm or very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, from MEDLINE and EMBASE, published between 1990 and June 2021. Exposure was defined as third trimester MAB and/or PEAB. The two reviewers independently performed study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment.

Results

Three cohort studies compared third trimester MAB with no antibiotics. MAB was associated with lower NEC incidence, unadjusted pooled odds ratio (OR) is 0.57 (95% CI: 0.35–0.93). Twelve cohort studies showed that PEAB was associated with an increased risk of NEC. Ten observational cohort studies show an unadjusted OR of 2.72 (1.65–4.47), and two case–control studies show an unadjusted mean difference of 2.31 (0.94–3.68). Moderate to substantial heterogeneity was observed but decreased in studies with low risk of bias and large sample size.

Conclusion

Evidence suggests an association between MAB and decreased risk of NEC and an association between PEAB and increased risk of NEC. Further studies should confirm these associations and explore causality.

Systematic Review Registration

identifier [CRD42022304937].
Neuroregeneration of injured peripheral nerve by fraction B of catfish epidermal secretions through the reversal of the apoptotic pathway and DNA damage
Authors: Al-Arbeed Taiba A. , Renno Waleed M. , Al-Hassan Jassim M.
Published: January 2023

Introduction: Crush injuries occur from acute traumatic nerve compression resulting in different degrees of neural damage leading to permanent functional deficits. Recently, we have shown that administration of Fraction B (FB) derived from catfish epidermal secretions accelerates healing of damaged nerve in a sciatic nerve crush injury, as it ameliorates the neurobehavioral deficits and enhances axonal regeneration, as well as protects spinal neurons and increases astrocytic activity and decreasing GAP-43 expression. The present study aimed to investigate the role of FB treatment on the apoptotic pathway in the neuroregeneration of the sciatic nerve crush injury.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into five groups: (I) SHAM, (II) CRUSH, (III) CRUSH + (1.5 mg/kg) FB, (IV) CRUSH + (3 mg/kg) FB, and (V) CRUSH + (4.5 mg/kg) FB. Rats underwent sciatic nerve crush surgery, followed by treatment with FB administered intraperitoneally (IP) daily for two weeks and then sacrificed at the end of the fourth week.

Results: FB improved the recovery of neurobehavioral functions with a concomitant increase in axonal regeneration and neuroprotective effects on spinal cord neurons following crush injury. Further, FB enhanced Schwann cells (SCs) proliferation with a significant increase in myelin basic protein expression. FB-treated animals demonstrated higher numbers of neurons in the spinal cord, possibly through ameliorating oxidative DNA damage and alleviating the mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway by inhibiting the release of cytochrome c and the activation of caspase-3 in the spinal cord neurons.

Conclusion: FB alleviates the neurodegenerative changes in the lumbar spinal cord neurons and recovers the decrease in the neuronal count through its anti-apoptotic and DNA antioxidative properties.
Molecular characterization based on tumor microenvironment-related signatures for guiding immunotherapy and therapeutic resistance in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Jie Yamin , Wu Jianing , An Dongxue , Li Man , He Hongjiang , Wang Duo , Gu Anxin , E Mingyan
Published: January 2023

Background: Although the role of tumor microenvironment in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has been explored in a number of studies, the value of TME-related signatures in immunotherapy has not been comprehensively characterized.

Materials and Methods: Consensus clustering was conducted to characterize TME-based molecular subtypes using transcription data of LUAD samples. The biological pathways and immune microenvironment were assessed by CIBERSORT, ESTIMATE, and gene set enrichment analysis. A TME-related risk model was established through the algorithms of least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) and stepwise Akaike information criterion (stepAIC).

Results: Four TME-based molecular subtypes including C1, C2, C3, and C4 were identified, and they showed distinct overall survival, genomic characteristics, DNA methylation pattern, immune microenvironment, and biological pathways. C1 had the worst prognosis and high tumor proliferation rate. C3 and C4 had higher enrichment of anti-tumor signatures compared to C1 and C2. C4 had evidently low enrichment of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) signature and tumor proliferation rate. C3 was predicted to be more sensitive to immunotherapy compared with other subtypes. C1 is more sensitive to chemotherapy drugs, including Docetaxel, Vinorelbine and Cisplatin, while C3 is more sensitive to Paclitaxel. A five-gene risk model was constructed, which showed a favorable performance in three independent datasets. Low-risk group showed a longer overall survival, more infiltrated immune cells, and higher response to immunotherapy than high-risk group.

Conclusion: This study comprehensively characterized the molecular features of LUAD patients based on TME-related signatures, demonstrating the potential of TME-based signatures in exploring the mechanisms of LUAD development. The TME-related risk model was of clinical value to predict LUAD prognosis and guide immunotherapy.
Biomechanics of the lead straight punch and related indexes between sanda fighters and boxers from the perspective of cross-border talent transfer
Authors: Liu Yang , Li Lei , Yan Xianliang , He Xinseng , Zhao Bin
Published: January 2023

Objective: To bridge the technical gaps in reserve athletes in China’s national boxing program and to rapidly improve the overall level of boxing, the Wushu Sports Administration Center of the General Administration of Sports of China has sent outstanding Sanda players to boxing events through cross-border talent transfer. This was done to widely improve the strengths and resources in various fields to prepare for the Tokyo Olympic Games. In view of this, we analyzed and compared differences in biomechanical parameters of the lead straight punch and index of force developments of the lower extremities between Sanda and boxing. The results provide information and insights to bridge the technical gaps in cross-border talent transfer from Sanda to boxing.

Methods: We employed a Vicon infrared 3D motion capture system, two Kistler platforms, a Kistler target, and a synchronous instrument. Eleven boxers and sixteen Sanda athletes were recruited, and their lead straight punch techniques were compared and analyzed. Three indexes of punch velocity, six indexes of strength measurement, and four indexes of lower extremity strength were analyzed.

Results: Significant differences in the peak punch velocity and contact velocity were found between the two groups. Furthermore, significant differences were noted in the peak impulse, peak strength, relative strength, and the rate of force development (RFD). Among the kinetics indexes of lower limbs, the front leg strength index was higher in the boxing group than in the Sanda group, namely the RFD index and RFD/body mass.

Conclusion: Based on the disparity in the effects of the lead straight punch and biomechanical parameters of both lower extremities, we can conclude that, compared to the boxers, most Sanda athletes lack standard punching technique. Therefore, it is advised that coaches and practitioners carefully consider selecting Sanda athletes with higher technical standards of punching.
Danger signals in traumatic hemorrhagic shock and new lines for clinical applications
Authors: Dufour-Gaume Frédérique , Frescaline Nadira , Cardona Venetia , Prat Nicolas J.
Published: January 2023

Hemorrhage is the leading cause of death in severe trauma injuries. When organs or tissues are subjected to prolonged hypoxia, danger signals—known as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs)—are released into the intercellular environment. The endothelium is both the target and a major provider of damage-associated molecular patterns, which are directly involved in immuno-inflammatory dysregulation and the associated tissue suffering. Although damage-associated molecular patterns release begins very early after trauma, this release and its consequences continue beyond the initial treatment. Here we review a few examples of damage-associated molecular patterns to illustrate their pathophysiological roles, with emphasis on emerging therapeutic interventions in the context of severe trauma. Therapeutic intervention administered at precise points during damage-associated molecular patterns release may have beneficial effects by calming the inflammatory storm triggered by traumatic hemorrhagic shock.