bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multidisciplinary treatment of esophageal cancer: The role of active surveillance after neoadjuvant chemoradiation
Authors: Triantafyllou Tania , Wijnhoven Bas
Published: July 2020

The optimal treatment of esophageal cancer is still controversial. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by radical esophagectomy is a standard treatment. Morbidity after esophagectomy however is still considerable and has an impact on patients' quality of life. Given a pathologic complete response rate of approximately 30% in patients after neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by surgery, active surveillance has been introduced as a new alternative approach. Active surveillance involves regular clinical response evaluations in patients after neoadjuvant therapy to detect residual or recurrent disease. As long as there is no suspicion of disease activity, surgery is withheld. Esophagectomy is reserved for patients presenting with an incomplete response or resectable recurrent disease. Active surveillance after neoadjuvant treatment has been previously applied in other types of malignancy with encouraging results. This paper discusses its role in esophageal cancer.
Genotype–phenotype correlation at codon 1740 of SETD2
Authors: Rabin Rachel , Radmanesh Alireza , Glass Ian A. , Dobyns William B. , Aldinger Kimberly A. , Shieh Joseph T. , Romoser Shelby , Bombei Hannah , Dowsett Leah , Trapane Pamela , Bernat John A. , Baker Janice , Mendelsohn Nancy J. , Popp Bernt , Siekmeyer Manuela , Sorge Ina , Sansbury Francis Hugh , Watts Patrick , Foulds Nicola C. , Burton Jennifer , Hoganson George , Hurst Jane A. , Menzies Lara , Osio Deborah , Kerecuk Larissa , Cobben Jan M. , Jizi Khadijé , Jacquemont Sebastien , Bélanger Stacey A. , Löhner Katharina , Veenstra‐Knol Hermine E. , Lemmink Henny H. , Keller‐Ramey Jennifer , Wentzensen Ingrid M. , Punj Sumit , McWalter Kirsty , Lenberg Jerica , Ellsworth Katarzyna A. , Radtke Kelly , Akbarian Schahram , Pappas John
Published: July 2020

The SET domain containing 2, histone lysine methyltransferase encoded by SETD2 is a dual‐function methyltransferase for histones and microtubules and plays an important role for transcriptional regulation, genomic stability, and cytoskeletal functions. Specifically, SETD2 is associated with trimethylation of histone H3 at lysine 36 (H3K36me3) and methylation of α‐tubulin at lysine 40. Heterozygous loss of function and missense variants have previously been described with Luscan‐Lumish syndrome (LLS), which is characterized by overgrowth, neurodevelopmental features, and absence of overt congenital anomalies. We have identified 15 individuals with de novo variants in codon 1740 of SETD2 whose features differ from those with LLS. Group 1 consists of 12 individuals with heterozygous variant c.5218C>T p.(Arg1740Trp) and Group 2 consists of 3 individuals with heterozygous variant c.5219G>A p.(Arg1740Gln). The phenotype of Group 1 includes microcephaly, profound intellectual disability, congenital anomalies affecting several organ systems, and similar facial features. Individuals in Group 2 had moderate to severe intellectual disability, low normal head circumference, and absence of additional major congenital anomalies. While LLS is likely due to loss of function of SETD2, the clinical features seen in individuals with variants affecting codon 1740 are more severe suggesting an alternative mechanism, such as gain of function, effects on epigenetic regulation, or posttranslational modification of the cytoskeleton. Our report is a prime example of different mutations in the same gene causing diverging phenotypes and the features observed in Group 1 suggest a new clinically recognizable syndrome uniquely associated with the heterozygous variant c.5218C>T p.(Arg1740Trp) in SETD2.
Gelatin supports with immobilized laccase as sustainable biocatalysts for water treatment
Authors: Harguindeguy Marine , Antonelli Claire , Belleville Marie‐Pierre , Sanchez‐Marcano José , Pochat‐Bohatier Céline
Published: July 2020

Millimeter‐size beads of gelatin are manufactured by dripping process to give enzyme supports qualified for micropollutants biodegradation in alternative wastewater treatment. The bead diameter is dependent on the tip diameter, the gelatin solution viscosity and the swelling of polymer chains in the collecting bath. Chemical crosslinking was performed with glutaraldehyde using optimal concentration to give mechanical and thermal properties suitable for application in stirred reactor in aqueous medium. Laccases from Trametes versicolor are grafted on the gelatin beads with glutaraldehyde. Sixty percentage of the initial enzymatic activity, evaluated by the oxidation of 2′‐Azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid)diammonium salt (ABTS) is maintained after 10 successive cycles of reaction. Thermal stability at 60°C of immobilized biocatalysts is improved when compared to free enzymes (45% vs 10% of relative activity after 6 h of incubation). The simplicity of the procedure to form gelatin beads and their properties make them promising bio‐based and biodegradable support for enzyme immobilization.
Designing of phosphorous based highly functional dendrimeric macromolecular resin as an effective coating material for carbon steel in NaCl: Computational and experimental studies
Authors: Dagdag Omar , El Harfi Ahmed , El Gana Lahoucine , S. Safi Zaki , Guo Lei , Berisha Avni , Verma Chandrabhan , Ebenso Eno E. , Wazzan Nuha , El Gouri Mustapha
Published: July 2020

Objective of this study is to develop a highly effective and durable phosphorus based epoxy resin as anticorrosive coating material for carbon steel in 3% NaCl medium. The hexaglycidyl N,N′,N″‐tris (4,4′‐ethylene dianiline) phosphoramide (HGTEDPA) was characterized using spectral methods. The anticorrosive formulation (HGTEDPA‐MDA) was synthesized using HGTEDPA curing with 4,4′‐methylenedianiline (MDA). The formulation (HGTEDPA‐MDA) coated steel specimens were exposed to UV radiation for a specific durable (189 days) and durability of the formulation was tested along with its inhibition effectiveness. The anticorrosive property of the formulation was evaluated using electrochemical (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization (PDP)) methods. Results showed that HGTEDPA‐MDA coating improved the corrosion resistance value even after exposing 180 days to the UV radiation. PDP study suggested that HGTEDPA‐MDA before and after UV radiations acted as mainly anodic and cathodic type of inhibitor, respectively. The EIS and PDP results were corroborated with density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamic simulations (MDS) methods and a reasonable good agreement was observed. DFT study revealed that HGTEDPA‐MDA interacts with the metallic surface using donor–acceptor interactions. MDS study revealed that HGTEDPA‐MDA spontaneously interacts with steel surface and adsorb using horizontal orientation.
Polydopamine modified ammonium polyphosphate modified shape memory water‐borne epoxy composites with photo‐responsive flame retardant property
Authors: Zhu Shanwen , Wang Wenjun , MD Islam Zahidul , Fu Yaqin , Dong Yubing
Published: July 2020

Shape memory epoxy (SMEP) is a high performance shape memory polymer; however, is extremely flammable which severely restricts its applications. In this work, a novel polydopamine modified ammonium polyphosphate (PDA@APP) flame retardant was prepared to improve the flame retardant and enrich the response method of SMEP. Through flame retardancy test confirmed that the flame retarding properties of the PDA@APP/WEP composites significantly improved than the APP/WEP composites, the limiting oxygen index (LOI) values of the APP/SMEP and the PDA@APP/SMEP samples increased by 29.8% and 32.2%, respectively. Moreover, the PDA@APP/WEP composites had excellent light response shape‐memory performance. Interestingly, the PDA@APP/WEP treated polyester fabric exhibited excellent light crease recovery performance and excellent flame retardant property. This work develops a new method for fabric crease recovery and will help broaden the application of WEP and its composites.
Characterization of individuals with selected muscular dystrophies from the expanded pilot of the Muscular Dystrophy Surveillance, Tracking and Research Network (MD STARnet) in the United States
Authors: Wallace Bailey , Smith K. Tiffany , Thomas Shiny , Conway Kristin M. , Westfield Christina , Andrews Jennifer G. , Weinert Richard O. , Do Thuy Quynh N. , Street Natalie ,   the Muscular Dystrophy Surveillance, Tracking, and Research Network (MD STARnet)
Published: July 2020

Introduction

Data on muscular dystrophies (MDs), a heterogeneous group of heritable diseases hallmarked by progressive muscle deterioration, are scarce.

Objective

We describe cross‐sectional sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of individuals with congenital, distal, Emery‐Dreifuss, facioscapulohumeral, limb‐girdle, myotonic, or oculopharyngeal MD.

Methods

The study was conducted in four sites (Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, and 12 western New York counties) as a pilot expansion of the Muscular Dystrophy Surveillance, Tracking and Research Network, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MDs were detected in healthcare facilities and administrative data sources using International Classification of Disease codes. Our sample contains 1,723 individuals with a MD diagnosis and a healthcare encounter between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2011.

Results and Conclusions

Individuals were mostly non‐Hispanic and white. Median ages ranged from 9.2 to 66.0 years. Most (98%) had health insurance. The proportion of individuals who were disabled or unable to work increased with age (range: 8.6–46.4%). People with limb‐girdle MD aged ≥18 years were more likely to be nonambulatory (range: 24.5–44.7%). The percentages of individuals with documented clinical interventions during the surveillance period were low. The most common cause of death was respiratory causes (46.3–57.1%); an ICD‐10 code for MD (G71.1 or G71.0) was reported for nearly one‐half. Our findings show wide variability in sociodemographic and clinical characteristics across MDs.
The fantasy of the populist disease and the educational cure
Authors: Sant Edda , Brown Tony
Published: July 2020

The populist turn has produced contrasting conceptions of education. Research has suggested that individuals educated to university level are unlikely to support populist discourses. Meanwhile, populism is often understood as a social illness or disease that needs to be cured through education. This article argues that both populist and anti‐populist discourses are fantasies in which education comprises an ideological grip. In the populist fantasy, education is perceived as being ideologically controlled by the elite. In the anti‐populist fantasy, education is seen as being inherently emancipatory, liberating us from irrationalism and economic inequality. The article concludes not by showing how these ideological alternatives might be reconciled, but by suggesting that we can only proceed by creating new discursive landscapes where emancipatory education can be understood differently.
Molecular tools and applications of Euglena gracilis: From biorefineries to bioremediation
Authors: Khatiwada Bishal , Sunna Anwar , Nevalainen Helena
Published: July 2020

Euglena gracilis is a promising source of commercially important metabolites such as vitamins, wax esters, paramylon, and amino acids. However, the molecular tools available to create improved Euglena strains are limited compared to other microorganisms that are currently exploited in the biotechnology industry. The complex poly‐endosymbiotic nature of the Euglena genome is a major bottleneck for obtaining a complete genome sequence and thus represents a notable shortcoming in gaining molecular information of this organism. Therefore, the studies and applications have been more focused on using the wild‐type strain or its variants and optimizing the nutrient composition and cultivation conditions to enhance the production of biomass and valuable metabolites. In addition to producing metabolites, the E. gracilis biorefinery concept also provides means for the production of biofuels and biogas as well as residual biomass for the remediation of industrial and municipal wastewater. Using Euglena for bioremediation of environments contaminated with heavy metals is of special interest due to the strong ability of the organism to accumulate and sequester these compounds. The published draft genome and transcriptome will serve as a basis for further molecular studies of Euglena and provide a guide for the engineering of metabolic pathways of relevance for the already established as well as novel applications.
Different strategies, distinguished cooperation efficiency, and brain synchronization for couples: An fNIRS‐based hyperscanning study
Authors: Tang Yun , Liu Xin , Wang Chenbo , Cao Miao , Deng Shining , Du Xiujuan , Dai Yuan , Geng Shujie , Fan Yun , Cui Lijuan , Li Fei
Published: July 2020

Introduction

Individuals may employ different strategies when cooperating with others. For example, when two participants are asked to press buttons simultaneously, they may press the buttons as quickly as possible (immediate response strategy) or press them in a delayed pattern (delayed response strategy). Despite recognition of interpersonal brain synchronization (IBS) as a fundamental neural mechanism of cooperation, it remains unclear how various strategies influence cooperative behavior and its neural activities.

Methods

To address this issue, 43 married couples were recruited to complete a button‐press cooperative task, during which IBS was recorded by functional near‐infrared spectroscopy hyperscanning.

Results

Behavioral results showed that couples who adopted a delayed response strategy performed better than those who adopted an immediate response strategy and those without any obvious strategy, and a new measure (cooperation coefficient) was used to index the level of cooperation. In addition, stronger IBS in the right frontal cortex was observed in the delayed response condition. The greater couples’ perceived parenting stress, the more likely they were to perform well in tasks and the stronger their brain synchronization, since they tended to choose the delayed response strategy.

Conclusion

The delayed response strategy may better unify dyad partners’ response modes, trigger synchronized psychological processes, and enable their brains to become synchronized. The study extends understanding of cooperation by comparing the contributions of different strategies underlying cooperative behavior with corresponding neural evidence.
High throughput screening setup of a scale‐down device for membrane chromatography‐aggregate removal of monoclonal antibodies
Authors: Stein Dominik , Thom Volkmar , Hubbuch Jürgen
Published: July 2020

In biopharmaceutical process development, resin‐based high throughput screening (HTS) is well known for overcoming experimental limitations by permitting automated parallel processing at miniaturized scale, which results in fast data generation and reduced feed consumption. For membrane adsorber (MA), HTS solutions have so far only been available to a partial extent. Three case studies were performed with the aim of aligning HTS applications for MAs with those established for column chromatography: Process parameter range determination, mechanistic modeling (MM), and scalability. In order to exploit the MA typically features, such as high mass transfer and easy scalability, for scalable high throughput process development, a scale‐down device (SDD) for MA was developed. Its applicability is confirmed for a monoclonal antibody aggregate removal step. The first case study explores the experimental application of the SDD developed. It uses bind and elute mode and variations of pH and salt concentration to obtain process operation windows for ion‐exchange MAs Sartobind® S and Q. In the second case study, we successfully developed a mechanistic model based on parameters obtained from the SDD–HTS setup. The results proved to validate the use of the SDD developed for parameter estimation and thus model‐based process development. The third case study shows the transferability and scalability of data from the SDD–HTS setup using both a direct scale factor and MM. Both approaches show good applicability with a deviation below 20% in the prediction of 10% dynamic breakthrough capacity and reliable scale‐up from 0.42 to 800 ml.
Large granular lymphocyte leukemia serum and corresponding hematological parameters reveal unique cytokine and sphingolipid biomarkers and associations with STAT3 mutations
Authors: Olson Kristine C. , Moosic Katharine B. , Jones Marieke K. , Larkin Paige M. K. , Olson Thomas L. , Toro Mariella F. , Fox Todd E. , Feith David J. , Loughran Thomas P.
Published: July 2020

Large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukemia is a rare hematological disorder with expansion of the T‐cell or natural killer (NK) cell lineage. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) exhibits somatic activating mutations in 30%‐40% of LGL leukemia cases. Transcriptional targets of STAT3 include inflammatory cytokines, thus previous studies have measured cytokine levels of LGL leukemia patients compared to normal donors. Sphingolipid metabolism is a growing area of cancer research, with efforts focused on drug discovery. To date, no studies have examined serum sphingolipids in LGL leukemia patients, and only one study compared a subset of cytokines between the T‐LGL and NK‐LGL subtypes. Therefore, here, we included both LGL leukemia subtypes with the goals of (a) measuring serum sphingolipids for the first time, (b) measuring cytokines to find distinctions between the subtypes, and (c) establishing relationships with STAT3 mutations and clinical data. The serum analyses identified cytokines (EGF, IP‐10, G‐CSF) and sphingolipids (SMC22, SMC24, SMC20, LysoSM) significantly different in the LGL leukemia group compared to normal donors. In a mixed STAT3 mutation group, D661Y samples exhibited the highest mean corpuscular volume (MCV) values. We explored this further by expanding the cohort to include larger groups of single STAT3 mutations. Male D661Y STAT3 samples had lower Hgb and higher MCV compared to wild type (WT) or Y640F counterparts. This is the first report examining large groups of individual STAT3 mutations. Overall, our results revealed novel serum biomarkers and evidence that D661Y mutation may show different clinical manifestation compared to WT or Y640F STAT3.
Long‐term overall survival and toxicities of ABVD vs BEACOPP in advanced Hodgkin lymphoma: A pooled analysis of four randomized trials
Authors: André Marc P. E. , Carde Patrice , Viviani Simonetta , Bellei Monica , Fortpied Catherine , Hutchings Martin , Gianni Alessandro M. , Brice Pauline , Casasnovas Olivier , Gobbi Paolo G. , Zinzani Pier Luigi , Dupuis Jehan , Iannitto Emilio , Rambaldi Alessandro , Brière Josette , Clément‐Filliatre Laurianne , Heczko Marian , Valagussa Pinuccia , Douxfils Jonathan , Depaus Julien , Federico Massimo , Mounier Nicolas
Published: July 2020

Purpose

We explored the potential overall survival (OS) benefit of bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cyclophosphamide, vincristine (Oncovin), procarbazine, and prednisone (BEACOPP) over doxorubicin (Adriamycin), bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) in a pooled analysis of four randomized trials.

Patients and methods

Primary objective was to evaluate the OS impact of BEACOPP using individual patient data. Secondary objectives were progression‐free survival (PFS), secondary cancers, and use of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT).

Results

About 1227 patients were included. The 7‐year OS was 84.3% (95% CI 80.8‐87.2) for ABVD vs 87.7% (95% CI 84.5‐90.2) for BEACOPP. Two follow‐up periods were identified based on survival curves and hazard ratio (HR) over time. For the first 18 months, there was no difference. For the second period of ≥18 months, ABVD patients had a higher death risk (HRABVD vs BEACOPP = 1.59; 95% CI 1.09‐2.33). A Cox model stratified by trial and evaluating the effect of treatment and International Prognostic Index (IPI) score as fixed effects showed that both were statistically significant (treatment, P = .0185; IPI score, P = .0107). The 7‐year PFS was 71.1% (95% CI 67.1‐74.6) for ABVD vs 81.1% (95% CI 77.5‐84.2) for BEACOPP (P < .001). After ABVD, 25 secondary cancers (4.0%) were reported with no myelodysplasia (MDS)/acute myeloid leukemia (AML) compared to 36 (6.5%) after BEACOPP, which included 13 patients with MDS/AML. Following ABVD, 86 patients (13.8%) received ASCT vs 39 (6.4%) for BEACOPP.

Conclusions

This analysis showed a slight improvement in OS for BEACOPP and confirmed a PFS benefit. Frontline use of BEACOPP instead of ABVD increased secondary leukemia incidence but halved the requirement for ASCT.
Disparities in cancer‐related healthcare among people with intellectual disabilities: A population‐based cohort study with health insurance claims data
Authors: Cuypers Maarten , Tobi Hilde , Huijsmans Cornelis A. A. , van Gerwen Lieke , ten Hove Michiel , van Weel Chris , Kiemeney Lambertus A. L. M. , Naaldenberg Jenneken , Leusink Geraline L.
Published: July 2020

Background

Concerns have been raised about the accessibility and quality of cancer‐related care for people with intellectual disabilities (ID). However, there is limited insight into cancer incidence and the utilization of cancer care at the ID population level to inform targeted cancer control strategies. Therefore, we aimed to examine differences in the utilization of cancer‐related care between people with and without ID, identified through diagnostic codes on health insurance claims.

Methods

In a population‐based cohort study, Dutch individuals of all ages who received residential care through the Chronic Care Act due to an ID (n = 65 183) and an age and sex‐matched sample of persons without ID (1:2 ratio), who were cancer‐free at enrollment in 2013 were followed through 2015. Incidence rates (IRs) of newly started cancer care and IR ratios (IRRs) with 95% CIs were used to compare groups. Separate analyses were performed per cancer type.

Results

Individuals with ID received less cancer‐related care than individuals without (IRR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.62‐0.66). Differences increased with age and were larger for females than for males. Utilization of care for cancers within the national screening program (female breast, cervical, and colon cancer) was lower for people with ID compared to people without ID.

Conclusion

Cancer may be underdiagnosed and/or undertreated in people with ID, or cancer is truly less prevalent in this population. In particular, the differences detected between males and females with ID, and the potential underutilization of national screening programs, require urgent follow‐up investigations.
Five‐Step Enantioselective Synthesis of Islatravir via Asymmetric Ketone Alkynylation and an Ozonolysis Cascade
Authors: Patel Niki R. , Huffman Mark A. , Wang Xiao , Ding Bangwei , McLaughlin Mark , Newman Justin A. , Andreani Teresa , Maloney Kevin M. , Johnson Heather C. , Whittaker Aaron M.
Published: July 2020

A 5‐step enantioselective synthesis of the potent anti‐HIV nucleoside islatravir is reported. The highly efficient route was enabled by a novel enantioselective alkynylation of an α,β‐unsaturated ketone, a unique ozonolysis‐dealkylation cascade in water, and an enzymatic aldol‐glycosylation cascade.
Pd‐Catalyzed Transfer of Difluorocarbene for Three Component Cross‐Coupling†
Authors: Xu Zhi‐Wei , Zhang Wei , Lin Jin‐Hong , Jin Chuan‐Ming , Xiao Ji‐Chang
Published: July 2020

Summary of main observation and conclusion

Outstanding accomplishments have been achieved in the chemistry of difluorocarbene, but transition‐ metal‐catalyzed transfer of difluorocarbene for coupling remains a challenging task. Herein, we describe a Pd‐catalyzed coupling of difluorocarbene with two aryl carbon centers to give difluoromethylenation products, which cannot be obtained by any previous difluorocarbene‐transformation method.
The effect of chemotherapy on survival in patients with nonmetastatic male breast cancer: A population‐based observational study
Authors: Pan Hong , Zhang Kai , Wang Ming , Ling Lijun , Wang Shui , Zhou Wenbin
Published: July 2020

Background

Male breast cancer is a rare malignant disease, accounting for <1% of all breast cancers. The treatment of male breast cancer is mainly extrapolated from the enormous literature and clinical experience in women. The objective of the current study was to assess the relationship between adjuvant chemotherapy and survival in a large population‐based cohort of patients with early‐stage male breast cancer.

Methods

Men with invasive stage I to stage III breast cancer were identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cancer database from 1990 to 2014. The effect of chemotherapy on survival was determined using multivariable Cox regression.

Results

Of 2713 male patients enrolled, 1817 (66.9%) did not receive chemotherapy. Age, T classification, N classification, tumor grade, and progesterone receptor (PR) status were found to be strong predictors of chemotherapy administration. Chemotherapy was associated with a significant 26% reduction in all‐cause mortality (P < .001) and a marginally significant 21% reduction in breast cancer–specific mortality (P = .085). For men with PR‐negative breast cancer, use of chemotherapy was associated with improved breast cancer–specific survival (hazards ratio [HR], 0.50; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.28‐0.91 [P = .023]) and overall survival (HR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.37‐0.77 [P = .001]). However, chemotherapy did not improve the breast cancer–specific survival for all men with PR‐positive tumors (P = .959); it was associated with improved overall survival (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.66‐0.92 [P = .004]) for men with PR‐positive stage II and stage III breast cancer.

Conclusions

Chemotherapy should be considered for men with PR‐negative, nonmetastatic breast cancer and PR‐positive, stage II and stage III breast cancer.
Chinese expert consensus on the clinical diagnosis and treatment of advanced breast cancer (2018)
Authors: Xu Binghe , Hu Xichun , Feng Jifeng , Geng Cuizhi , Jin Feng , Li Hongyuan , Li Man , Li Qing , Liao Ning , Liu Donggeng , Liu Jian , Liu Qiang , Lu Jinsong , Liu Zhenzhen , Ma Fei , Ouyang Quchang , Pan Yueyin , Shen Kunwei , Sun Tao , Teng Yuee , Tong Zhongsheng , Wang Biyun , Wang Haibo , Wang Shulian , Wang Shusen , Wang Tao , Wang Xiang , Wang Xiaojia , Wang Yongsheng , Wang Zhonghua , Wu Jiong , Yan Min , Yang Junlan , Yin Yongmei , Yuan Peng , Zhang Jin , Zhang Pin , Zhang Qingyuan , Zheng Hong
Published: July 2020

Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor among women in the world. In 2005, there were approximately 272,000 new cases diagnosed and more than 70,000 deaths from breast cancer in China. Of the patients who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer each year, approximately 3% to 10% have distant metastases at the time of diagnosis. Of those who have early stage disease at diagnosis, from 30% to 40% will develop advanced breast cancer. The 5‐year survival rate for patients with advanced breast cancer is only 20%, and the median overall survival (OS) is 2 to 3 years. Although advanced breast cancer is still difficult to cure, physicians can relieve clinical symptoms, improve quality of life, and further prolong survival through the development of new drugs and the optimization model of treatment. Patients with advanced breast cancer have their own preferences in the choice of treatment options. Moreover, there is no standard recommendation for the treatment of refractory breast cancer after multiline therapy. To offer a reference for clinicians, a Chinese expert group has analyzed, summarized, and discussed related research data on the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of inoperable, locally advanced breast cancer and recurrent or metastatic breast cancer and has developed the Chinese expert consensus on the clinical diagnosis and treatment of advanced breast carcinoma (2018).
Use of high‐resolution full‐field optical coherence tomography and dynamic cell imaging for rapid intraoperative diagnosis during breast cancer surgery
Authors: Yang Houpu , Zhang Shuwei , Liu Peng , Cheng Lin , Tong Fuzhong , Liu Hongjun , Wang Siyuan , Liu Miao , Wang Chaobin , Peng Yuan , Xie Fei , Zhou Bo , Cao Yingming , Guo Jiajia , Zhang Yuanyuan , Ma Yingteng , Shen Danhua , Xi Peng , Wang Shu
Published: July 2020

Background

Although traditional intraoperative assessments (ie, frozen sections) may lower reoperation rates in patients with breast cancer, time/tissue limitations and accuracy concerns have discouraged their routine clinical use. Full‐field optical coherence tomography (FFOCT) and dynamic cell imaging (DCI) are novel optical imaging techniques offering rapid histologic approximations that are unfettered by requisite handling steps. This study was conducted to determine the feasibility and diagnostic utility of FFOCT and DCI in examining breast and lymph node specimens during breast cancer surgery.

Methods

FFOCT and DCI were applied to normal and cancerous breast tissue, benign breast lesions, and resected axillary lymph nodes. The tissues were then subjected to conventional processing and staining (hematoxylin‐eosin) for purposes of comparison.

Results

A total of 314 specimens, including 173 breast biopsies (malignant, 132; benign/normal, 41) and 141 resected lymph nodes (tumor‐positive, 48; tumor‐negative, 93), were obtained from 158 patients during breast surgery for prospective imaging evaluations. In breast cancer diagnosis, the minimum sensitivities (FFOCT, 85.6%; DCI, 88.6%) and specificities of optical imaging (FFOCT, 85.4%; DCI, 95.1%) were high, although they diverged somewhat in nodal assessments (FFOCT sensitivity, 66.7%; FFOCT specificity, 79.6%; DCI sensitivity, 83.3%; DCI specificity, 98.9%).

Conclusions

These timely and tissue‐sparing optical imaging techniques proved highly accurate in diagnosing breast cancer and nodal metastasis. They compare favorably with routine histologic sections and demonstrate their promise in this setting.
Nomogram predicting survival as a selection criterion for postmastectomy radiotherapy in patients with T1 to T2 breast cancer with 1 to 3 positive lymph nodes
Authors: Tang Yu , Zhang Yu-Jing , Zhang Na , Shi Mei , Wen Ge , Cheng Jing , Wang Hong-Mei , Liu Min , Wang Xiao-Hu , Guo Qi-Shuai , Wu Hong-Fen , Ma Chang-Ying , Jin Jing , Liu Yue-Ping , Song Yong-Wen , Fang Hui , Ren Hua , Wang Shu-Lian , Li Ye-Xiong
Published: July 2020

Background

The role of postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) in women with pT1‐T2N1 breast cancer is controversial. The authors developed a nomogram that was predictive for overall survival (OS) and identified patients who derived no benefit from PMRT.

Methods

The authors retrospectively evaluated 4869 patients with pT1‐T2N1 breast cancer who were treated with mastectomy between 2000 and 2014 in 11 Chinese hospitals. Rates of locoregional recurrence and distant metastasis were calculated using competing risk analysis, and disease‐free survival and OS rates were calculated using the Kaplan‐Meier method. Based on the risk factors identified from Cox regression analysis in 3298 unirradiated patients, a nomogram predicting OS was developed. The benefit of PMRT was evaluated in different risk groups stratified by the nomogram model.

Results

After a median follow‐up of 65.9 months, the 5‐year OS, disease‐free survival, locoregional recurrence, and distant metastasis rates were 93.3%, 84.3%, 5.2%, and 8.3%, respectively. A total of 1571 patients (32.3%) underwent PMRT. On multivariable analyses, PMRT was found to increase OS significantly (hazard ratio, 0.61; P = .002). An OS prediction nomogram evaluated the effect of age; tumor location; tumor size; positive lymph node ratio; estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status; and treatment with trastuzumab. Based on nomogram scores, the entire patient cohort was classified into 3 risk groups. PMRT significantly improved the OS of patients in the intermediate‐risk (P < .001) and high‐risk groups (P = .004), but not in the low‐risk group (P = .728).

Conclusions

The authors developed a nomogram that is predictive of OS among women with pT1‐T2N1 breast cancer after mastectomy. This nomogram may help to select a subgroup of patients with a good prognosis who will not benefit from PMRT.
Progress in breast cancer research amid the COVID‐19 gloom
Authors: Khuri Fadlo R. , O’Regan Ruth M.
Published: July 2020

These 7 articles from high‐quality Chinese academic medical centers focused on breast cancer present evidence of the growing expertise in this area in the most populous nation in the world. In addition to articles on risk stratification and prognosis at various stages of breast cancer, of particular interest is a study of high‐resolution full‐field optical coherence tomography and dynamic cell imaging for rapid intraoperative diagnosis during breast cancer surgery. This study demonstrates that these timely and tissue‐sparing optical imaging techniques are highly accurate in diagnosing breast cancer and nodal metastasis and compare favorably with routine histologic sections, but it is important to supplement the data in a future cohort involving breast‐conserving surgery.
Identification of regenerative processes in neonatal spinal cord injury in the opossum (Monodelphis domestica): A transcriptomic study
Authors: Wheaton Benjamin J. , Sena Johnny , Sundararajan Anitha , Umale Pooja , Schilkey Faye , Miller Robert D.
Published: July 2020

This study investigates the response to spinal cord injury in the gray short‐tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica). In opossums spinal injury early in development results in spontaneous axon growth through the injury, but this regenerative potential diminishes with maturity until it is lost entirely. The mechanisms underlying this regeneration remain unknown. RNA sequencing was used to identify differential gene expression in regenerating (SCI at postnatal Day 7, P7SCI) and nonregenerating (SCI at Day 28, P28SCI) cords +1d, +3d, and +7d after complete spinal transection, compared to age‐matched controls. Genes showing significant differential expression (log2FC ≥ 1, Padj ≤ 0.05) were used for downstream analysis. Across all time‐points 233 genes altered expression after P7SCI, and 472 genes altered expression after P28SCI. One hundred and forty‐seven genes altered expression in both injury ages (63% of P7SCI data set). The majority of changes were gene upregulations. Gene ontology overrepresentation analysis in P7SCI gene‐sets showed significant overrepresentations only in immune‐associated categories, while P28SCI gene‐sets showed overrepresentations in these same immune categories, along with other categories such as “cell proliferation,” “cell adhesion,” and “apoptosis.” Cell‐type–association analysis suggested that, regardless of injury age, injury‐associated gene transcripts were most strongly associated with microglia and endothelial cells, with strikingly fewer astrocyte, oligodendrocyte and neuron‐related genes, the notable exception being a cluster of mostly downregulated oligodendrocyte‐associated genes in the P7SCI + 7d gene‐set. Our findings demonstrate a more complex transcriptomic response in nonregenerating cords, suggesting a strong influence of non‐neuronal cells in the outcome after injury and providing the largest survey yet of the transcriptomic changes occurring after SCI in this model.
The strong substructure and feature attention mechanism for image semantic segmentation
Authors: Zhang Yuhang , Ren Hongshuai , Yang Wensi , Wang Yang , Ye Kejiang , Xu Cheng‐Zhong
Published: July 2020

Semantic segmentation is a hot topic in computer vision and various deep learning networks are designed to achieve higher accuracy on that by fully exploring the capability of neural networks. This paper aims to address the issue and proposes the substructures with novelty for popular networks. Meanwhile, we present a cross‐channel structure, which simultaneously reduces parameter while the kernel size becomes larger. After that, to overcome the weakness of insufficient dataset which refers to satellite image data, we propose a feature attention mechanism with generative adversarial network to enhance the images' features. We show the recognition result on the satellite image dataset with a large picture. This paper evaluates substructures on the PASCAL VOC2012 dataset and improves the mIOU from 74.68% to 88.15%.
Prepare for increased depression, anxiety in youth due to COVID‐19 lockdown
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: July 2020

Based on prior research on isolation and loneliness, children and adolescents are more likely to have high rates of depression, and, probably, anxiety, even after the enforced isolation resulting from the COVID‐19 pandemic ends, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The longer enforced isolation continues, the greater the possibility of an increase in these disorders. The message to clinicians is that preventive and early intervention services should be offered where possible now, and that they should be prepared for these increases in the future.
Predictive ability of perennial ryegrass spaced‐plant nurseries for turfgrass and seed production swards in Minnesota
Authors: Heineck Garett C. , Ehlke Nancy J. , Watkins Eric
Published: July 2020

Turf‐type perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) success depends on adequate turfgrass quality and economical seed yield. In most breeding programs, spaced plants are the initial unit of selection in which observations of related individuals dictate the selection of superior germplasm for further testing. Therefore, spaced plants must be predictive of seed production and turfgrass growing environments. This study investigated the effectiveness of standard (three plants m−2) and competitive (23 plants m−2) spaced‐plant nurseries as selection environments with respect to two sward environments as well as applying a novel image analysis technique for several key traits. Seed production, turfgrass, and the two spaced‐plant growing environments were tested at two locations in Minnesota. Turfgrass quality traits were measured in 2017 and 2018 and seed production traits were measured in 2018. Automated image analysis was able to predict the traditional visual scoring values at both locations for crown rust (Puccinia coronata f.sp. lolii) severity [Pearson's correlation (rp) > 0.79, P < .001], winter injury (rp > 0.89, P < .001), and turfgrass texture (rp > 0.88, P < .001). Increasing the competition among spaced plants altered the plant phenotype and improved accuracy for vegetative biomass, crown rust severity, seed yield, and, at one location, turfgrass quality. There was no benefit of increasing competition for several traits such as genetic color, fertile tillers, and spikelet number. Although the competitive design was not useful for all traits, pragmatically, the competitive design used less space and often made measurements and observations easier for bunch‐type grasses.
An Electrochemical Beckmann Rearrangement: Traditional Reaction via Modern Radical Mechanism
Authors: Tang Li , Wang Zhi‐Lv , He Yan‐Hong , Guan Zhi
Published: July 2020

Abstract: Electrosynthesis as a potential means of introducing heteroatoms into the carbon framework is rarely studied. Herein, the electrochemical Beckmann rearrangement, i. e. the direct electrolysis of ketoximes to amides, is presented for the first time. Using a constant current as the driving force, the reaction can be easily carried out under neutral conditions at room temperature. Based on a series of mechanistic studies, a novel radical Beckmann rearrangement mechanism is proposed. This electrochemical Beckmann rearrangement does not follow the trans‐migration rule of the classical Beckmann rearrangement.
When assessment defines the content—understanding goals in between teachers and policy
Authors: Mølstad Christina Elde , Prøitz Tine S. , Dieude Alessandra
Published: July 2020

Education policy development internationally reflect a widespread expansion of learning outcome orientation in policy, curricula and assessment. In this paper, teachers’ perceptions about their work are explored, as goals and assessment play a more prominent role driven by the introduction of a learning outcomes‐oriented system. This is investigated through interviews of Norwegian teachers and extensive policy analysis of Norwegian policy documents. The findings indicate that the teachers are finding ways to negotiate and adjust to the language in the policies investigated in this study. Furthermore, the findings show that the teachers have developed their professional language according to the policies. The teachers referred to their self‐made criteria and goal sheets as central tools in explicating what is to be learned. In many ways, the tools for assessment, thus determine the content of education as well as what is valued in the educational system.
Compression therapy for leg oedema in patients with heart failure
Authors: Urbanek Tomasz , Juśko Maciej , Kuczmik Wacław B.
Published: July 2020

The presence of chronic heart failure (CHF) results in a significant risk of leg oedema. Medical compression (MC) treatment is one of the basic methods of leg oedema elimination in patients with chronic venous disease and lymphedema, but it is not routinely considered in subjects with CHF‐related swelling. In the study, an overview of the current knowledge related to the benefits and risk of using MC in the supportive treatment of leg oedema in CHF patients is presented. The available studies dedicated the comprehensive management of leg swelling using MC in CHF patients published in the English language literature till December 2019 were evaluated in term of the treatment efficacy and safety. In studies performed on CHF populations, manual lymphatic drainage, MC stocking, multilayer bandaged, as well as intermittent pneumatic compression or electric calf stimulations were used. The current evidence is based on non‐randomized studies, small study cohorts, as well as very heterogenous populations. The use of the intermittent pneumatic compression in CHF patients significantly increases the right auricular pressure and mean pulmonary artery pressures as well as decreases systemic vascular resistance in most patients without the clinical worsening. The transient and rapid increase in the human atrial natriuretic peptide, after an application of the MC stocking in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II patients was observed without clinical exacerbation. An application of the multilayer bandages in NYHA classes III and IV patients lead a significant increase in the right arterial pressure and lead to transient deterioration of the right and the left ventricular functions. In the manual lymphatic drainage study, aside from expected leg circumference reduction, no clinical worsening was observed. In a pilot study performed in a small cohort of CHF patients, electrical calf stimulation use resulted in a reduction in the lean mass of the legs without cardiac function worsening. The use of local leg compression can be considered stable CHF patients without decompensated heart function for both CHF‐related oedema treatment and for treatment of the concomitant diseases leading to leg swelling occurrence. The use of MC in more severe classes of CHF (NYHA III and IV) should be the subject of future clinical studies to select the safest and most efficient compression method as well as to select the patients who benefit most from this kind of treatment.
ZSF1 rat as animal model for HFpEF: Development of reduced diastolic function and skeletal muscle dysfunction
Authors: Schauer Antje , Draskowski Runa , Jannasch Anett , Kirchhoff Virginia , Goto Keita , Männel Anita , Barthel Peggy , Augstein Antje , Winzer Ephraim , Tugtekin Malte , Labeit Siegfried , Linke Axel , Adams Volker
Published: July 2020

Aims

The prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is still increasing, and so far, no pharmaceutical treatment has proven to be effective. A key obstacle for testing new pharmaceutical substances is the availability of suitable animal models for HFpEF, which realistically reflect the clinical picture. The aim of the present study was to characterize the development of HFpEF and skeletal muscle (SM) dysfunction in ZSF1 rats over time.

Methods and results

Echocardiography and functional analyses of the SM were performed in 6‐, 10‐, 15‐, 20‐, and 32‐week‐old ZSF1‐lean and ZSF1‐obese. Furthermore, myocardial and SM tissue was collected for molecular and histological analyses. HFpEF markers were evident as early as 10 weeks of age. Diastolic dysfunction, confirmed by a significant increase in E/e′, was detectable at 10 weeks. Increased left ventricular mRNA expression of collagen and BNP was detected in ZSF1‐obese animals as early as 15 and 20 weeks, respectively. The loss of muscle force was measurable in the extensor digitorum longus starting at 15 weeks, whereas the soleus muscle function was impaired at Week 32. In addition, at Week 20, markers for aortic valve sclerosis were increased.

Conclusions

Our measurements confirmed the appearance of HFpEF in ZSF1‐obese rats as early as 10 weeks of age, most likely as a result of the pre‐existing co‐morbidities. In addition, SM function was reduced after the manifestation of HFpEF. In conclusion, the ZSF1 rat may serve as a suitable animal model to study pharmaceutical strategies for the treatment of HFpEF.
Higher‐mode force response in multi‐story strongback‐braced frames
Authors: Simpson Barbara G.
Published: July 2020

Strongback‐braced frames employ an essentially elastic steel truss, or strongback, that distributes demands more uniformly to delay or prevent story mechanisms. Because inertial forces are no longer limited by the formation of a story mechanism, strongback‐braced frames can exhibit large elastic force demands, particularly in the higher modes. This paper characterizes the higher‐mode force response of strongback‐braced frames. Four‐story archetypes were designed using nonlinear dynamic analyses to incorporate higher‐mode force demands into the design process. The response of the archetypes was compared with that of reference buckling‐restrained braced frames that were allowed to form story mechanisms. The force demands in the strongback were then described using equivalent‐static forces to represent the inertial forces induced by the higher modes. Force demands in the strongback arise from a yielding first‐mode ‘pivoting’ and elastic higher‐mode ‘bending’ response. These higher‐mode force demands are elastic, ill‐constrained by the strength of the yield mechanism, and depend significantly on the choice of ground motion record used for the analysis. In remaining elastic in the higher modes, the strongback distributes demands more uniformly and mitigates the formation of story mechanisms. Consequently, design and analysis methods for strongback‐braced frames need to include estimates for these near‐elastic higher‐mode force demands.