bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic value of new combination of methylated Septin9 with LMR in adenomatous polyps and stage I to IV colorectal cancer
Authors: Qu Qingyun , Sun Qian
Published: April 2023

Purpose To explore the diagnostic value of tumor markers, inflammatory indicators and methylated Septin9 gene (mSEPT9) alone and combination in adenomatous polyps and stage I to IV colorectal cancer (CRC).
Methods Data of mSEPT9, blood routine inflammatory indicators (NLR, LMR, MPV/PC), tumor markers (CEA, CA125, CA19-9) and pathological stage from 420 patients with CRC, 61 patients with adenomatous polyps and 175 healthy people from 2018 to 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted for the assessment of diagnostic accuracy, and statistical data were processed by SPSS 26.0 software.
Results The levels of NLR, CEA and CA19-9 in CRC group were significantly higher than those in healthy group, with statistical significance (P < 0.05). The levels of LMR and mSEPT9 in healthy group, polyps group and CRC group were decreased gradually, with statistical among all groups (P < 0.05). With the progressive of CRC from stage I to IV, the LMR levels and Ct value of mSEPT9 decreased gradually, and mSEPT9 in stage I/II, III and IV groups was significantly different (P < 0.05). The sensitivity of mSEPT9 increased gradually with the progression of stage, from 56.1% in stage I to 100% in stage IV. MSEPT9 was the most valuable single indicator in the diagnosis of CRC, and its sensitivity, specificity and AUC were 70.0%, 94.3% and 0.830, respectively. LMR was the most valuable single indicator in the diagnosis of adenomatous polyps, and its sensitivity, specificity and AUC were 78.7%, 57.1% and 0.732, respectively. MSEPT9 combined with LMR was the most valuable combination in the diagnosis of CRC and adenomatous polyps, and its sensitivity, specificity and AUC were 82.3% and 82.0%, 90.3% and 54.9%, 0.917 and 0.759, respectively.
Conclusions The new combination of mSEPT9 with LMR showed the best diagnostic value in the whole process of CRC occurrence and development, it should be used as the first choice for high-risk population screening, adjuvant diagnosis of CRC and disease staging.
Acidosis-mediated increase in IFN-γ-induced PD-L1 expression on cancer cells as an immune escape mechanism in solid tumors
Authors: Knopf Philipp , Stowbur Dimitri , Hoffmann Sabrina H.L. , Hermann Natalie , Maurer Andreas , Buchner Valentina , Poxleitner Marilena , Tako Bredi , Sonanini Dominik , Krishnamachary Balaji , Sinharay Sanhita , Fehrenbacher Birgit , Gonzalez-Menendez Irene , Kramer Daniela , Schaller Martin , Forchhammer Stephan , Bhujwalla Zaver , Quintanilla-Martinez Leticia , Schulze-Osthoff Klaus , Pagel Mark D. , Fransen Marieke F. , Martins André F. , Pichler Bernd J. , Ghoreschi Kamran , Kneilling Manfred
Published: April 2023

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer therapy, yet the efficacy of these treatments is often limited by the heterogeneous and hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME) of solid tumors. In the TME, PD-L1 expression on cancer cells is mainly regulated by IFN-γ, which induces T cell exhaustion and enables tumor immune evasion. In this study, we demonstrate that acidosis, a common characteristic of solid tumors, significantly increases IFN-γ-induced PD-L1 expression on aggressive cancer cells, thus promoting immune escape. Using preclinical models, we found that acidosis enhances the genomic expression and phosphorylation of STAT1, and the translation of STAT1 mRNA by eukaryotic initiation factor 4F (elF4F), resulting in an increased PD-L1 expression. We observed this effect in murine and human anti-PD-L1-responsive tumor cell lines, but not in anti-PD-L1-nonresponsive tumor cell lines. In vivo studies fully validated our in vitro findings and revealed that neutralizing the acidic extracellular tumor pH by sodium bicarbonate treatment suppresses IFN-γ-induced PD-L1 expression and promotes immune cell infiltration in responsive tumors and thus reduces tumor growth. However, this effect was not observed in anti-PD-L1-nonresponsive tumors. In vivo experiments in tumor-bearing IFN-γ-/- mice validated the dependency on immune cell-derived IFN-γ for acidosis-mediated cancer cell PD-L1 induction and tumor immune escape. Thus, acidosis and IFN-γ-induced elevation of PD-L1 expression on cancer cells represent a previously unknown immune escape mechanism that may serve as a novel biomarker for anti-PD-L1/PD-1 treatment response.These findings have important implications for the development of new strategies to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy in cancer patients.
Imaging Pattern and Features of Esophageal Cancer at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Tertiary Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Cross Sectional Study
Authors: Feyisa Jilcha Diribi , Addissie Adamu , Kantelhardt Eva Johanna , Zingeta Girum Tessema , Getachew Assefa , Abebe Endashaw , Misgana Girma Mulisa , Seife Edom , Aseffa Mathewos
Published: April 2023

Background Different modalities of imaging are used for the diagnosis, staging, treatment decision-making, assessment of treatment response, and post-treatment surveillance of esophageal cancer. However, there is limited knowledge of the imaging patterns and features of esophageal cancer in Ethiopia. This study assessed the imaging patterns and features of esophageal cancer at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Tertiary Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from February 27, 2018 to February 28, 2019 to examine the imaging tests of patients. The results of these imaging tests were analyzed to observe patterns and features such as the size, location and structures affected by the tumor, as well as the involvement of lymph nodes and metastasis sites.Result This study recruited 230 esophageal cancer patients and found that 97% of them underwent endoscopy, 96% underwent chest CT scan, 62.2% underwent barium swallow imaging, and 93% underwent abdominopelvic ultrasonography scanning. The most common primary tumor site was the lower thoracic region, with a mean mass length of 6.9 cm. Endoscopic evaluation revealed that 79.1% of patients had a mass, with exophytic mass being the most frequent feature. Additionally, the most commonly invaded organ was the aorta (occurring in 45.2% of cases), while 96 (41.7%) of patients had lymph node involvement and 119 (51.7%) had distant metastases to other organs.Conclusion Chest CT, endoscopy, barium swallow, and AUS were the most commonly used imaging modalities for esophageal cancer in Ethiopia. The lower thoracic region was the primary tumor site, and there was frequent lymph node and distant metastases. The study also highlighted the limitations of the setup, as none of the patients were able to benefit from EUS and 18F-FDG PET technology.
Data-driven extraction of hadron radii
Authors: Binosi Daniele
Published: April 2023

We describe the statistical Schlessinger Point Method. Grounded in analytic function theory, this method returns an objective assessment of the information contained in any data under consideration, which is independent of assumptions about underlying dynamics, and thus free from practitioner-induced bias. As a test to its robust nature and versatility, we apply it to a fully data-driven extraction of the proton, pion, and deuteron radii.
Preparation and characterization of cotton fiber fragments from model textile waste via mechanical milling and enzyme degradation
Authors: Wang Siyan , Egan Jeannie , Salmon Sonja
Published: April 2023

Rather than landfilling or incineration, value exists in textile wastes that should be recovered. Cotton is a major component of apparel and other textile materials that could find new value by extracting it from textile waste in the form of cotton fiber fragments (CFFs). To explore this potential, CFF properties were analyzed and compared after producing them from model undyed and fiber reactive dyed textile waste fabrics by mechanical milling or enzymatic degradation. Characterization methods included scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy (OM), fiber quality analysis (FQA), degree of polymerization (DP), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Enzyme-treated undyed CFFs exhibited distinct properties of flattened fiber fragment dimensions, a more uniform fiber length distribution compared to other CFFs, a DP comparable to solvent-spun regenerated cellulose fibers from cotton, the highest crystallinity of all CFFs tested, greater hydrophobicity than milled cotton reference material, and better thermal stability than milled reference cotton. The effects of mono-functional and bi-functional reactive dyes on enzyme degradation behavior and final product characteristics were also evaluated and discussed. Both dyed and undyed CFFs show good potential for being utilized in diverse applications. This analysis of the properties of partially degraded cotton fibers provides a necessary technical foundation for promoting CFF recycling for use in applications such as composites and regenerated fibers, and provides insights on the mechanism by which cotton disintegrates in the presence of enzymes to potentially inspire new strategies for dyeing cotton that takes a designed for recycling perspective into account.
Influence of methane flow ratios on the structural and mechanical properties of Ti doped diamond-like carbon films
Authors: Lee Wei-Hsiang , Hu Chih-Chung , Su Yin-Tung Alber , Wang Bo-Yuan , Chang Ho , Hsu Chun Yao
Published: April 2023

Diamond-like carbon films with Ti dopant (Ti-DLC) are synthesized by reactive magnetron sputtering using a pure Ti metal target. This study determines the effect of methane flow ratios [Rm=CH4/(Ar + CH4), ranging from 4 to 12%] on the surface morphology, microstructure, mechanical properties and cermet cutting tool inserts features of Ti-DLC films. The GIXRD diffraction spectrum for Ti-DLC film depicts an amorphous structure. There are peaks for nano-crystalline TiC at 2θ values of 35.88o, 41.52o and 60.14o, which respectively correspond to the (111), (200) and (220) planes of the face centered cubic structure. The characteristic binding energy of C 1s, Ti 2p and O 1s for Ti-DLC film is determined using a high-resolution XPS spectra. Increasing Rm flow ratio (reducing Ti metal doping) increases the intensity of the Raman spectrum because there is an increased sp2-C (sp2/sp3 ratio) site fraction for DLC components. The experimental results show that the hardness of the DLC film increases from 11.07 GPa to 14.76 GPa as the Rm flow ratio is increased from 4% to 12%. The adhesive strength of the Ti-DLC film coating is measured using a scratch test and shows that the film adheres well to the substrate. The Ti-DLC films are coated onto cutter inserts for the dry milling of an Inconel 718 workpiece and the results show that all coated tools have a significantly longer tool life than uncoated tools.
The influence of Y-shaped emitter structural parameters on its hydraulic performance
Authors: Li Chaoxi , Li Zhiqin , Du Peisen , Ma Juanjuan
Published: April 2023

A In this paper, a Y-shaped labyrinth channel emitter is proposed to explore the influence of the waist arc’s angle(α) and crown-to-chord ratio(a:b) on the hydraulic performance of its was investigated. Numerical simulation using CFD software for fluid dynamics to obtain the pressure ~ flow relationship’s curve and slope and flow field diagram, compare and analyze the slope of pressure ~ flow curve, design flow and flow field diagram of the emitter with different waist arc’s angle and crown-to-chord ratio.Research shows that, (1) When the waist arc’s angle of Y-shaped emitter is 90°, and the crown-to-chord ratio is 6:30, the slope of curve is close to the triangular channel emitter currently commonly used, which has same cross-sectional size and runner length. (2) Keep the crown-to-chord ratio unchanged, with the increase of waist arc’s angle, the slope of curve and the design flow are reduced, the pressure drop ratio before and after the water flow through the low-speed vortex area increases, and the hydraulic performance of emitter is improved. (3) The smaller the crown-to-chord ratio, the weaker the influence of waist arc’s angle on the design flow and hydraulic performance. (4) Keep the waist arc’s angle unchanged, with the decrease of crown-to-chord ratio,the slope of curve and the design flow are reduced, the vortex strength inside the emitter channel increases, and the hydraulic performance is improved; (5) The bigger the waist arc’s angle, the weaker the influence of crown-to-chord ratio on the design flow and hydraulic performance, even no effect. (6) When the Y-shaped emitter is close to the pressure ~ flow curve’s slope of the commonly used triangular channel emitter, the hydraulic performance of the two is similar, the former can increase the runner width by 25% compared to the latter, or shorten the runner length by 44.3%.
PTCH1 and CTNNB1 emerge as pivotal predictors of resistance to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in ER+/HER2- breast cancer
Authors: Ozcan Gulnihal
Published: April 2023

Background Endeavors in molecular characterization of breast cancer paved the way to endocrine therapies in ER+/HER2- breast cancer, increasing response rates. Despite that, taxane-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy is still a cornerstone for breast-conserving surgery and complete tumor resection in locally advanced cancers with high recurrence risk. Nonetheless, chemoresistance risk is high. Therefore, predicting unresponsiveness to chemotherapy is a significant task to prevent futile toxicities in patients. Despite several multi-gene assays being used for this purpose, their development as prognostic assays limits predictive strength, leading to discordant results. Moreover, high costs impediment their use in developing countries. For global health equity, robust predictors that can be cost-effectively incorporated into routine clinical management are essential.Methods To identify robust predictors in ER+/HER2- breast cancer, we performed comprehensive profiling and gene set enrichment analysis in 5 GEO datasets. To validate the potential predictors we performed ROC analysis, KM-survival analysis and Cox Proportional Hazards Regression in two validation cohorts. To compare predictive power of potential predictors with the genes in the benchmark signatures we performed gene correlation and signature analysis in TCGA dataset.Results Gene expression and gene set enrichment analysis revealed 63 upregulated genes and the enrichment of CTNNB1-related oncogenic signatures in non-responsive patients. We validated the upregulation and predictive strength of 18 genes, all exhibiting higher predictive powers for residual disease and higher specificities for ER+/HER2- breast cancers compared to one of the benchmark multi-gene assays. Cox Proportional Hazards Regression in three different treatment arms (neoadjuvant chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, and no systemic treatment) put forth PTCH1 and CTNNB1 as key predictors, with hazard ratios over 1.5, and 1.6 respectively in the univariate and multivariate models.Conclusions Our results strongly suggest that PTCH1 and CTNNB1 can be used as robust and cost-effective predictors in developing countries to guide decisions on chemotherapy in ER+/HER2- breast cancer patients with a high risk of recurrence. The dual function of PTCH1 as a multidrug efflux pump and a hedgehog receptor, and the active involvement of CTNNB1 in breast cancer strongly indicate that PTCH1 and CTNNB1 can be potential drug targets to overcome chemoresistance in ER+/HER2- breast cancer patients.
IoT-based Monitoring and Control System for Hydroponic Cultivation: A Comprehensive Study
Authors: Thakur Pooja , Malhotra Manisha , Bhagat R. M.
Published: April 2023

In this study, we provide an IoT-based approach for observing and managing a hydroponic system. A multitude of sensors is built into the system to assess important factors like temperature, humidity, nutrient levels, pH, and water levels. These sensors are linked to a microcontroller or single-board computer, which gathers and sends the data to a platform that is situated in the cloud for archival and analysis. A web or mobile application allows users to remotely access the data and manage the system. The system also features automated control that modifies humidity, temperature, and nutrient levels according to sensor data and predetermined criteria. The suggested system provides an all-inclusive and effective approach for regulating and monitoring hydroponic systems, and it is easily adaptable to various hydroponic conditions and systems. We show our suggested system's utility and viability through experiments and results.
Reactivity of Alloxydim herbicide: Force and Reaction Electronic flux profiles
Authors: Villaverde Juan J. , Sandín-España Pilar , Alonso-Prados José L. , Alcamí Manuel , Lamsabhi Al Mokhtar
Published: April 2023

The reaction force profile and the electronic reaction flux concepts were explored for the herbicide alloxydim and some of its derivatives at B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level of theory. The exploration was achieved by rotating the oxime bond which is the most reactive region of the molecule. The main objective is to understand how the rotation of this bond influences the properties of the molecule and induces an electronic reorganization. The results show that the rotation of the dihedral angle triggers alloxydim to go through three transition states. The first step of the transformation begins by the rupture of the hydrogen bond and is characterized by a pronounced structural reorganization. In the last step of the process the electronic reorganization is more important.
Baryon resonance studies via meson photoproduction in the LEPS2/BGOegg experiment
Authors: HASHIMOTO Toshikazu
Published: April 2023

We present differential cross sections and photon beam asymmetries of photoproduction reactions of η mesons in the center-of-mass energy of 1.82 < W < 2.32 measured in LEPS2/BGOegg experiment. A bump structure is observed W ∼ 2.2 GeV in the differential cross section at cos θηc.m. < −0.6. This structure suggests the existence of the nucleon resonances which have a large s¯s component. For the first time, we measured the photon beam asymmetries for the total energies above 2.1 GeV.
BamA Targeted Design of Antimicrobial Peptides with High Efficacy and Low Toxicity
Authors: Yang Li , Luo Minghe , Liu Zhou , Li Yuepeng , Wang Yuanqiang
Published: April 2023

The emerging of superbugs has led to an urgent need for novel antibiotics. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) characterized with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, reduced resistance, and immune stimulation, show application prospects in combating drug-resistant microorganisms. In this study, computational techniques were used to design BamA targeted AMPs. Designed AMPs were then synthesized and investigated for their antibacterial activities, mechanisms, and stability. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations revealed that both the designed AMPs of 11pep and D-11pep could polymerize the β1, β9, β15, and β16 chains of BamA, leading to faulty folding of outer membrane proteins and resulting in antibacterial effects. Further antibacterial studies showed that 11pep and D-11pep have broad-spectrum activity, and D-11pep exhibiting more potent antibacterial action against resistant Gram-negative bacteria with MICs of 16 μg/mL, 8 μg/mL and 32 μg/mL against carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli, carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, respectively, and lower resistance induction. Mechanism investigation of 11pep and D-11pep showed that, both peptides could disrupt the bacterial outer membrane, which was consistent with the molecular dynamics simulations, and D-11pep is more stable and less toxic than 11pep. Results in this study indicate that rational design of AMPs targeted BamA, and the D-amino acid replacement strategy are useful tactics to develop drug-resistant bacteria AMPs.
Network pharmacology prediction and molecular docking-based strategy to explore the potential mechanism of RSG and Phellodendron against HPV infection
Authors: Xu Lin , Li Shanshan , Zhao ruihua , Sun Weiwei , Li Haixia
Published: April 2023

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a double-stranded circular DNA virus that mainly infects the human epidermis and mucosal squamous epithelium. We aimed to explore the mechanism of the Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae (RSG) and Phellodendron compound in the treatment of HPV by network pharmacology and molecular docking.
Methods: Potential targets and active compounds of RSG and Phellodendron, as well as HPV-related targets, were retrieved from public databases. First, the key targets were obtained by intersection of the differentially expression genes (DEGs) between HPV (+)and HPV (-)tissue samples from GSE3292 dataset and top 10 proteins from protein-protein interaction (PPI) network according to Degree. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) of key targets was analyzed. Subsequently, immune microenvironmentwas explored by CIBERSORT algorithm. The competing endogenouse RNA (ceRNA) network of key targets was created. Lastly, molecular docking was performed to predict the binding activityof active ingredients with key targets.
Results: A total of 37 bioactive ingredients of RSG and Phellodendron, and 59 RSG and Phellodendron-HPV-related targets were screened. GSEA showed (ESR1, EGFR and PTEN) were associated with PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. Immune infiltration analysis showed that CD8 T cells were found more abundant in the HPV (+) groups. Moreover, lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network containing 20 nodes (3 key targets, 13 miRNAs and 4 lncRNAs) and 29 edges was constructed. Finally, molecular docking suggested that quercetin combined well with EGFR and PTEN, and palmatine had the strong affinity with ESR1.
Conclusion: 3 key targets (ESR1, EGFR and PTEN) and 2 bioactive ingredients (quercetin and palmatine) were successfully identified for RSG and Phellodendron against HPV, which provided theoretical basis for the clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine compound and the molecular mechanism of human papillomavirus infection.
Causal relationship between Human Gut Microbiome and Bone Mineral Density: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Li baizhi , Zou Luolan , Chen Mutong , Liao Muchun , Gong Zhenqi , Cheng Runzi , Ma Zhiyan , Zheng Qing , Wang Huaiming
Published: April 2023

Various recent studies have shown a link between the gut microbiome and bone mineral density (BMD). Whether the link represents a causative relationship, however, remains unclear. This study aims to thoroughly investigate the causal effects of the gut microbiome on BMD and pinpoint which particular gut microbe taxa have causal effects on BMDs at different specific skeletal sites. Based on summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS), a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study was carried out to examine the effects of the gut microbiome at five taxonomic ranks (phylum, class, order, family, and genus) on BMDs at five skeletal sites (total body BMD [TB-BMD], femoral neck BMD [FN-BMD], forearm BMD [FA-BMD], heel BMD [H-BMD], lumbar spine BMD [LS-BMD]). After Bonferroni correction, a negative causal effect of the genus Eisenbergiella was shown exclusively on H-BMD (inverse variance weighted (IVW): β = -0.037, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.055, -0.018, P = 0.0001). On the contrary, the genus Oscillibacter had a positive causal effect exclusively on H-BMD (IVW: β = 0.029, 95% CI = 0.013, 0.044, P = 0.0003). At other skeletal sites, only nominal causal effects were observed. The reliability of these findings was strengthened by our following several sensitivity studies. A reverse MR analysis was conducted, which showed no reverse causation between H-BMD and the beforementioned two genera, Eisenbergiella and Oscillibacter. These findings show insights into the pathophysiology of low BMD and the association between the gut microbiome and bone health.
Disrupted white matter network connectivity associated with cognitive declines in psychogenic erectile dysfunction
Authors: Feng Sitong , Dong Linrui , Yan Bin , Zheng Sisi , Feng Zhengtian , Li Kuangshi , Jia Hongxiao , Ning Yanzhe
Published: April 2023

Increasing neuroimaging studies have demonstrated abnormalities of cerebral structural changes in psychogenic erectile dysfunction (pED). Despite the abnormal brain changes involving cognitive processing in pED, pED patients suffer from cognitive dysfunction by screening in standard neurocognitive tests remain elusive. This study aimed to explore the alterations of structural brain networks associated with cognitive impairments in pED. We firstly used different machine learning methods to probe discriminative brain maps between 40 pED patients and 33 healthy controls (HCs) for diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data. Then, we identified the important features of pED patients to analyze the abnormal structural brain networks in association with cognitive functions compared to HCs. From 26896 features of DTI data, 24 important features were identified by K-Nearest Neighbor classification with a satisfactory accuracy (78%). According to the results of the machine learning analysis, we found that pED patients showed higher FA values between left transverse temporal sulcus and left supramarginal gyrus (p = 0.001, Bonferroni corrected), and lower FA values between left suborbital sulcus and left para-hippocampal part of the medial occipito-temporal gyrus in ED patients than HCs (p < 0.001, Bonferroni corrected). Furthermore, the increased FA between left transverse temporal sulcus and left supramarginal gyrus was observed to be negatively associated with erectile dysfunction (p < 0.001) and impaired delayed memory (p = 0.028). Overall, our findings provide new insights into white matter network alterations associated with impaired cognitive functions in pED, which may provide a potential biomarker for treating pED.
Explore the prognostic characteristics of immunogenic cell death- related genes in colon carcinoma based on multi-constraint canonical correlation analysis
Authors: Xiong Xinyi , Cao Qian , Tang Jiangnan , He Lan , Shi Hongjian , Zhou Fangliang , He Yingchun
Published: April 2023

The prognosis for colon carcinoma is poor, it is a highly aggressive tumor, and its early symptoms are subtle. Hence, the need for more colon cancer prognostic indicators is urgent. Many long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known to actively contribute to the detection, prognosis, and treatment of tumors. On the other hand, immunogenic cell death (ICD) is vital for the prevention of tumors. This study seeks to research the mechanism of action of ICD-related lncRNAs in colon cancer and integrate ICD-related genes with lncRNAs. In order to investigate ICD-related lncRNAs, this research suggests a multi-constraint canonical correlation analysis. The prognostic model of the most significant lncRNAs is also constructed and verified in this paper using univariate and Lasso-Cox regression. In this study, colon cancer samples are split into high-risk and low-risk groups based on the model's risk score, and the impact of the model is assessed using the TCGA queue and the GEO queue, respectively. Also, we thoroughly examined the parallels and discrepancies in immune infiltration, functional enrichment, and medication sensitivity across the two risk groups. In conclusion, the ICD-related lncRNAs risk model developed in this research can serve as a guide for predicting the prognosis and therapeutic sensitivity of colon cancer patients.
Survival and predictors of mortality among HIV-infected adults after initiation of Anti-Retroviral Therapy in Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Argaw Girum Shibeshi , Gelaye Proffessor Kasahun Alemu , Lakew Ayenew Molla , Aragaw Fnatu Mamo , Chekol Yazachew Moges , Tesfie Tigabu Kidie , Gelaw Negalign Byadge
Published: April 2023

Background: Human immune deficiency virus (HIV) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. It can lead to AIDS, which results in gradual deterioration and failure of the immune system. As the immune system becomes compromised, the patient becomes highly susceptible to life-threatening infection which ends with early death. Even though antiretroviral therapy (ART) significantly decreases mortality as a whole, the rate of death is still the highest, especially in the first and second years of ART initiation.
Objectives: To assess the survival and predictors of mortality among HIV-infected adults after initiation of anti-retroviral therapy in Jigjiga Governmental Hospitals, Eastern Ethiopia.
Method: Institution-based Retrospective follow-up study was employed among ART patients from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2021. Data were cleaned and entered in Epi-data version 3.1 and exported to STATA 14 for further analysis. Kaplan–Meier and Log-Rank tests were applied to compare survival differences among categories of different variables. In bi-variable analysis, p-values < 0.20 were included in a multivariable analysis. A multivariate Cox regression model was used to measure the risk of death & identify the significant predictors of death. Variables that p-value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant predictors of mortality.
Result in this study 466(53.34%) participants were male and 552(65.56 %) were urban residents about 91(10.81%) have died with an overall incidence rate of 3.92 (95% CI (2.4–5.4)) per 100-person year of observation. The overall survival probability of the study group was 83.97%. In the multivariable Cox regression analysis, baseline WHO stage III/IV (AHR=2.42(1.43-4.09)) have no caregiver (AHR=2.23; 95% CI (1.16-4.29)), being bedridden functional status (AHR=2.18; 95% CI (1.01-4.72)), and poor last known adherence level (AHR=4.23; 95%CI (2.39-7.47)) were found to be significant predictors of mortality.
Conclusion: the incidence of death was relatively high, especially in the second year of ART start. Baseline clinical WHO stage Ⅲ/Ⅳ, bedridden functional status at enrolment, and absence of caregiver, poor level of recent adherence was found to be independent predictors of mortality. Patients with these risk factors need special attention and are crucial to reducing the rate of mortality.
Esophageal cancer-derived exosomes imbalance Tfh/Tfr cell ratio in the tumor immune microenvironment via EXO-PDL1 to promote immunosuppression
Authors: Li Zijie , Zhang Yuehua , Hao He , Lv Tingting , Zhang Xiaokuan , Chen Lu , Qi Yuying , Wang Zhiyu
Published: April 2023

Background: Esophageal cancer (EC) is a deadly malignancy. Exosomal programmed death ligand 1 (EXO-PDL1) induces immune escape to promote tumor progression. Furthermore, the imbalance between follicular helper T cells (Tfh) and follicular regulatory T cells (Tfr) numbers is related to the progression of many malignant tumors. However, the role of the EC-derived EXO-PDL1 in Tfh/Tfr ratio is unknown.
Methods: Tfh and Tfr numbers in samples obtained from 45 patients with EC and 33 healthy donors (HD) were determined using flow cytometry. Exosomes were isolated using differential centrifugation from patients’ plasma and PDL1 expression on exosomes was tested using ELISA. Exosomes were cultured in vitro for Tfh and Tfr cells expansion assays. CD4+ T cells were isolated, stimulated, and cultured in vitro with exosomes to evaluate the levels, phenotypes, and functions of Tfh and Tfr cells.
Results: In patients with EC, the proportion of Tfh cells was lower than that in HD (P<0.001) whereas the proportion of Tfr cells was higher than that in HD (P<0.001). Patients with EC also showed a significantly lower ratio of Tfh/Tfr cells and a higher level of EXO-PDL1 than HD did (P<0.001). Additionally, a negative correlation was noted between EXO-PDL1 and Tfh/Tfr (R=-0.74, P<0.05). EC cell derived EXO-PDL1 inhibited the expansion of Tfh cells and enhanced the percentage of CTLA4+Tfh cells. Moreover, the levels of IL-21 and IFN-γ decreased, whereas IL-10 level was increased in response to EC cell derived EXO-PDL1. EXO-PDL1 promoted the expansion and suppressive functions of Tfr cells, the increased percentages of CTLA4+ Tfr cells and ICOS+ Tfr cells were accompanied with higher levels of IL-10, IFN-γ, and IL-21. Finally, EC derived exosomes promoted the imbalance of Tfh/Tfr ratio via the EXO-PDL1.
Conclusions: Patients with EC have imbalanced Tfh/Tfr ratio, which is attributed to EC-derived EXO-PDL1. Our results suggest a novel mechanism of EXO-PDL1-mediated immunosuppression in EC. Thus, inhibiting EXO-PDL1 to restore Tfh/Tfr cell balance may provide new therapeutic approaches in EC treatment.
Analysis of the optimal ratio of heat-insulating materials on the surface of heat-resistant rings in high ground temperature roadways
Authors: Deng Hongwei , ran chunzhen
Published: April 2023

The problem of heat damage in deep mine has become a hot issue in deep mining, and the research of reasonable and efficient heat barrier structure and better performance heat insulation materials can reduce the influence of high temperature environment to some extent. Firstly, based on the principle of heat transfer, we designed an overall coupled thermal barrier ring based on the analysis of the heat transfer mechanism of the surrounding rocks and carried out an in-depth analysis of the main factors of the structure, and developed a lightweight and durable thermal insulation material by mixing a high proportion of tailing with the solid waste conditions of the mine. Secondly, orthogonal tests were carried out to test the thermal parameters of different ratios of insulation materials, and the optimal horizontal ratio was obtained based on various analysis methods and consideration of the priority of each factor: 60 parts of tailings, 10% of glass beads, 2 parts of foaming agent, 15 parts of cement, and1% of cementitious materials with polyantelic acid water reducing agent. The study shows that the composite surrounding rock thermal barrier ring designed for the working conditions and the optimal ratio of surface insulation materials obtained from orthogonal test analysis can realize active cooling, create a comfortable environment for underground operation while saving costs, and also provide suggestions of measures for the management of thermal environment in the prominent thermal hazard mine.
Effect of Support on Palladium Catalyst for Aqueous Phase Hydrogenation of Maleic Acid to Succinic Acid
Authors: Ye Bin , Sun Siming , Wang Hui , Huang Huijiang , Rehman Moeez ur , Sun Xinyi , Xu Yan , Zhao Yujun
Published: April 2023

The synthesis of succinic acid (SA), one of the monomers for producing Poly (butylene succinate), which is a type of biodegradable plastic, has become a crucial and even bottleneck technology for the industry's development. Herein, the Pd-based catalysts were prepared with amorphous TiO2, CeO2 and ZrO2 as the supports and applied in maleic acid (MA) hydrogenation to SA in aqueous phase at a low temperature about 60 oC. It was found that the activity of Pd/CeO2 catalysts is significantly higher than that of Pd/TiO2 and Pd/ZrO2 catalysts. The strong interaction between Pd and CeO2 inhibited the agglomeration of Pd during the reduction and reaction process, leading to the highest Pd dispersion among the three catalysts. The exposure of more active sites for the adsorption of H2 endows it high activity in the process of MA hydrogenation to SA.
Detection of gut microflora and enzymes using metagenomics and metaproteomics in silkworm, Bombyx mori
Authors: Mohanraj Ponnusamy , Mahalingam C Aruchamy , Karthikeyan Chinnan Velmurugan , Balachandar Dananjeyan , Ramanathan Babu
Published: April 2023

Background Microorganisms living in insect gut plays a crucial role in the adaptation, growth and development of the insect hosts. The identification and molecular analysis of insect gut microbes will enable us to develop novel strategies for industrial product development, effective utilization of by products and facilitate us with the best pest management practices. In our present study, we employed a culture independent metagenomic approach in conjunction with metaproteomic profiling to enumerate the gut microbes in pure races and cross breeds of silkworm, Bombyx mori L.Results The phylogenetic analysis showed that the gut microflora was majorly grouped into four bacterial classes: Gamma Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Cocci and Bacilli. Two novel proteins in both silkworm races were identified and an additional three proteins were found to be differentially expressed between the races.Conclusions Silkworm undergoes radical morphological variations upon metamorphosis and a key challenge in studying gut microflora is the ability to access different genomes and the corresponding protein profiles. The results presented in this study may help to bridge the gap between the unknowns of silkworm gut microbiota and their importance in the silkworm gut ecosystem.
Low expression of Ki-67/MIB-1 labeling index in IDH wild type glioblastoma predicts prolonged survival independently by MGMT methylation status
Authors: Tini Paolo , Yavoroska Mariya , Mazzei Maria Antonietta , Miracco Clelia , Pirtoli Luigi , Tomaciello Miriam , Marampon Francesco , Minniti Giuseppe
Published: April 2023

Purpose The Ki−67/MIB−1 labeling index (LI) is clinically used to differentiate between high and low-grade gliomas, while its prognostic value remains questionable. Glioblastoma (GBM) expressing wild-type isocitrate dehydrogenase IDHwt, a relatively common malignant brain tumor in adults, is characterized by a dismal prognosis. Herein, we have retrospectively investigated the prognostic role of Ki−67/MIB−1-LI in a large group of IDHwt GBMMethods One hundred nineteen IDHwt GBM patients treated with surgery followed by Stupp’s protocol in our Institution between January 2016 and December 2021 were selected. A cut-off value for Ki−67/MIB−1-LI was used with minimal p-value based approach.Results A multivariate analysis showed that Ki−67/MIB−1-LI expression < 15% significantly correlated with a longer overall survival (OS), independently from the age of the patients, Karnofsky performance status scale, extent of surgery and O6-methylguanine (O6-MeG)-DNA methyltransferase promoter methylation status.Conclusions Among others studies focused on Ki−67/MIB−1-LI, this is the first observational study showing a positive correlation between OS of IDHwt GBM patients and Ki−67/MIB−1-LI that we propose as a new predictive marker in this subtype of GBM
Impact of Body Mass Index on postoperative pain and opioïd administration after pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC)
Authors: Tidadini Fatah , Trilling Bertrand , Quesada Jean-Louis , Abba Julio , Foote Alison , Faucheron Jean-Luc , Arvieux Catherine
Published: April 2023

BACKGROUND Intraperitoneal aerosol spray chemotherapy (PIPAC) is a new surgical technique, developed for the treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC). In this retrospective observational study we assessed the impact of body mass index (BMI) on postoperative pain and opioid consumption.METHODS We analysed pain scores after 100 PIPAC procedures with either oxaliplatin or doxorubicin-cisplatin performed in 49 patients with PC between July 2016 and September 2020. The patients were divided into 4 groups (BMI < 18.5, 18.5 ≥ BMI < 25, 25 ≥ BMI ≤ 29.9 and BMI ≥ 30). Pain was self-rated on a visual analogue scale (VAS) from 0 to 10.RESULTS Univariate logistic regression analysis identified oxaliplatin to be associated with moderate to severe pain (VAS 4–10 at 8h D1) before (OR [95% CI]; 3.75[1.33–10.54]; p = 0.012) and after adjustment (OR [95% CI]; 4.13[1.41–12.11] p = 0.010) on BMI. The level of pain appeared significantly different between the treatment groups (median 2.5[0; 5] vs 0[0; 2.5] p = 0.0017) irrespective of BMI (p = 0.46 and p = 0.226). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified moderate to severe pain and synchronous PC to be associated with greater use of opioids (OR [95% CI]: 3.91 [1.24–12.32]) and (OR [95% CI]: 5.16 [1.71–15.58]; respectively. Opioids were administered after 45 procedures (45%) and was comparable between the treatment groups. Opioid administration and length-of-stay were similar among BMI bands.CONCLUSION We conclude that BMI is not related to postoperative pain or opioid use and that moderate to severe pain and synchronous PC are factors associated with requiring opioïds.
Neoadjuvant short-course radiotherapy followed by consolidation chemotherapy versus long-course chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer: comparison of overall response rates
Authors: Amariyil Adila , Pathy Sushmita , Sharma Atul , Kumar Sunil , Pramanik Raja , Bhoriwal Sandeep , Pandey RM
Published: April 2023

Background Management of locally advanced rectal cancer is evolving with current emphasis on the addition of chemotherapy to short course radiotherapy regimen. In this study, we primarily aimed to analyse the difference in overall response rates between the experimental regimen of short-course radiotherapy and sequential chemotherapy and standard long-course CTRT in patients of locally advanced rectal cancer.Methods 33 patients of locally advanced rectal cancer were randomized to a standard long-course CTRT arm and SCRT followed by a sequential chemotherapy arm. Patients in the standard arm received 45Gy in 25 fractions over five weeks with concurrent oral capecitabine while patients in the experimental arm received 25Gy in 5 fractions over 1 week followed by 3 cycles of CAPOX chemotherapy. Clinical and radiological response assessment was conducted after the completion of neoadjuvant treatment, right before surgery.Results Radiological tumour regression showed a statistically non-significant trend favouring the experimental arm (rates of complete tumour regression 35.7% versus 23.1%). Pathological tumour regression rates also showed a trend favouring the experimental arm with a pCR rate of 30% versus 20% in the CTRT arm. a higher number of patients in the short-course arm experimental arm experienced grade 3 diarrhoea, whereas acute skin toxicity was seen only in the CTRT arm. Short-course radiotherapy was tolerated with fewer treatment interruptions compared to CTRT.Conclusions Short-course radiotherapy followed by three cycles of CAPOX chemotherapy is comparable to long-course CTRT in terms of tumour response. This is a better alternative regimen with fewer treatment interruptions in a resource-limited setting.
Changes and Comparison of drug resistance surveillance in lower respiratory tract specimens from adult isolates before and during the COVID-19 epidemic
Authors: Yindi Zhou , Gao Dongmei
Published: April 2023

The aim of this paper is to study the changes in the resistance and distribution of pathogenic bacteria isolated from adult lower respiratory tract specimens from our hospital during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic.Antimicrobial susceptibility testing is used for adult lower respiratory tract isolates from 2017 to 2022 using automated micro-broth dilution and Kirby-Bauer methods.The top six pathogens isolated in our hospital from 2017 to 2022 were A.baumannii, K.pneumoniae, P.aeruginosa and S.aureus,E.coli and S.maltophilia. The numbers of strains increased from 1041 in 2017 to 1799 in 2022, antibacterial drug resistance rates also changed. There is decline in the number of ESBLs-producing strains.
The rate of isolation of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB)decreased to75%、52.1%、61.5%、61.8%、36.8% and 51.6% respectively. Although the number of detected strains of K.pneumoniae increased, the isolation rate of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae（CRKP）showed a decreasing trend with 12.6%、20.3%、28.3%、17.7%、9.8% and 13.8%, respectively.
The Carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa（CRPA）also increased from 32 strains in 2017 to 67 strains in 2022，but did not increase isolation rates, The separation rate for 2019 is 26.4% and 17.7% in 2020. The isolation rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) showed a decreasing trend during the COVID-19 epidemic, with 58.1%、41.3%、44.0%、34.1%、32.2% and 31.3%, respectively.During the COVID-19 epidemic, the spread of the pathogenic bacteria within the hospital was interrupted by measures such as reducing outings, wearing masks, nucleic acid testing , sanitary environment disinfection and blocking control. The detection rate of ESBLs, CRKP, CRAB and CRPA in adult lower respiratory tract specimens has been generally decreasing, and the detection rate of MRSA has been gradually decreasing.The rate of CRPA did not increase.
PICLS with human cells - first high-throughput screening method with human assay identifies novel longevity compounds including 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol that increase chronological lifespan
Authors: Alfatah Mohammad , Zhang Yizhong , Cheng Trishia , Naaz Arshia , Eisenhaber Frank
Published: April 2023

Gerontology research on anti-aging interventions with drugs could be an answer to age-related diseases, aiming at closing the gap between lifespan and healthspan. Here, we present two methods for assaying chronological lifespan in human cells: 1) a version of the classical outgrowth assay with quantitative assessment of surviving cells and 2) a version of the PICLS method (propidium iodide fluorescent-based measurement of cell death). Both methods are fast, simple to conduct, cost-effective, produce quantitative data for further analysis and can be used with diverse human cell lines. Whereas the first method is ideal for validation and testing the post-intervention reproductive potential of surviving cells, the second method has true high-throughput screening potential. The new technologies were validated with known anti-aging compounds (2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol and rapamycin). Using the HTS method, we screened a library of 162 chemical entities and identified three novel anti-aging compounds that extend the cellular longevity of human cells.