bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MiR‐134‐5p targeting XIAP modulates oxidative stress and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes under hypoxia/reperfusion‐induced injury
Authors: Lu Min , Qin Xinglei , Yao Jungong , Yang Yuanyuan , Zhao Minghu , Sun Lin
Published: August 2020

MicroRNA‐134‐5p (MiR‐134‐5p) has been proposed as a promising novel biomarker for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the biological role of miR‐134‐5p in ischemic cardiomyocytes has been little disclosed yet. Expression of miR‐134‐5p and X‐linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) was detected using RT‐qPCR and western blot. Oxidative stress and cell apoptosis were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays, 3‐(4, 5‐dimethylthiazole‐2‐y1)‐2, 5‐biphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay, flow cytometry, western blot, and terminal‐deoxynucleoitidyl transferase‐mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL). The interaction between miR‐134‐5p and XIAP was confirmed by luciferase reporter assay. Expression of miR‐134‐5p was upregulated in serum of AMI patients and hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)‐induced cardiomyocytes (AC16 and HCM). MiR‐134‐5p downregulation could inhibit H/R‐mediated release of lactic dehydrogenase enzyme (LDH) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and promote superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐PX) levels. Meanwhile, cell viability was increased, while the apoptosis rate and TUNEL positive cells were inhibited by miR‐134‐5p downregulation in H/R‐treated AC16 and HCM cells. Mechanically, XIAP was downregulated and targeted by miR‐134‐5p in H/R‐induced cardiomyocytes in vitro. Overexpression of XIAP inhibited oxidative stress and cell apoptosis in H/R‐treated AC16 and HCM cells, which was similar to miR‐134‐5p knockdown. Moreover, downregulation of XIAP could partially reverse the effect of miR‐134‐5p knockdown in H/R‐induced cardiomyocytes. Knockdown of miR‐134‐5p protected cardiomyocytes from H/R‐induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in vitro through targeting XIAP.
Role of prophylactic and therapeutic red blood cell exchange in pregnancy with sickle cell disease: Maternal and perinatal outcomes
Authors: Yılmaz Baran Şafak , Kozanoğlu İlknur , Korur Aslı , Doğan Durdağ Gülşen , Kalaycı Hakan , Alemdaroğlu Songül , Asma Süheyl , Kılıçdağ Esra Bulgan , Boğa Can
Published: August 2020

Background and Aim

The incidence of fetomaternal complications during pregnancy is high for women with sickle cell disease (SCD), which is the most common hematologic genetic disorder worldwide. Prophylactic red blood cell exchange (pRBCX) has been shown to be efficient, safe, and feasible for preventing complications. The aim of this study was to observe maternal, perinatal, and neonatal outcomes of pregnancies in which pRBCX was.

Method

This was a single‐center, retrospective, cross‐sectional study, which recruited 46 consecutive adult pregnant women with SCD between January 2012 and June 2019. Obstetric features, SCD‐related complications, and fetomaternal outcomes were compared between the 27 patients who received prophylactic exchange and the 19 who did not (therapeutic exchange was performed in 7 and was not performed in 12 cases).

Results

Painful crises, preeclampsia, and preterm birth rates were significantly higher in the group that did not receive prophylactic exchange (control group; P = .001, P = .024, and P = .027, respectively). There was one maternal mortality in the control group (P = .41). Incidence of adverse fetal or maternal complications was significantly higher in the control group (P = .044 and P = .007, respectively).

Conclusions

Our center's experience over a 7.5‐year period, as described above, demonstrates that pRBCX in SCD affects the course of pregnancy positively by ameliorating negative fetomaternal outcomes.
HOXB‐AS1 accelerates the tumorigenesis of glioblastoma via modulation of HOBX2 and HOBX3 at transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels
Authors: Bi Yongyan , Mao Yuhang , Su Zuopeng , Du Jiarui , Ye Liping , Xu Fulin
Published: August 2020

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most universal and invasive brain tumor among adults. Increasing studies have reported that long noncoding RNAs play vital roles in regulating downstream molecules at the transcriptional or posttranscriptional level in tumor progression. The purpose of the current research was to inquire the modulation mechanism by which homeobox B cluster antisense RNA 1 (HOXB‐AS1) functioned in GBM. Our study first discovered the lifted expression of HOXB‐AS1 and its nearby genes HOXB2 and HOXB3 in GBM and the positive relationship between HOXB‐AS1 and HOXB2 or HOXB3. Loss‐of‐function assays and in vivo study detected that silencing of HOXB‐AS1, HOXB2, or HOXB3 restrained the proliferation and induced the apoptosis in GBM. In addition, mechanism experiments demonstrated that HOXB‐AS1 recruited interleukin enhancer‐binding factor 3 (ILF3) to regulate HOXB2 and HOXB3 expression at the transcriptional level, and HOXB‐AS1 sponged miR‐186‐5p to modulate HOXB2 and HOXB3 expression at posttranscriptional level. Finally, the regulatory mechanism of HOXB‐AS1 in GBM was certified through rescue experiments. Our results indicated that HOXB‐AS1 boost the HOXB2 or HOXB3 expression at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. We detected the HOXB‐AS1‐ILF3‐HOXB2/HOXB3 axis and HOXB‐AS1‐miR‐186‐5p‐HOXB2/HOXB3 axis driving the GBM progression, which might generate more effective diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for patients with GBM.
Sorafenib as second‐line treatment option after failure of lenvatinib in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Tomonari Tetsu , Sato Yasushi , Tanaka Hironori , Tanaka Takahiro , Taniguchi Tatsuya , Sogabe Msasahiro , Okamoto Koichi , Miyamoto Hiroshi , Muguruma Naoki , Takayama Tetsuji
Published: August 2020

Background and Aim

Currently, there is no molecular‐targeted agent that has demonstrated evidence of efficacy in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (u‐HCC) who have developed resistance to treatment with lenvatinib (LEN). In this real‐world study, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect and safety of sorafenib (SOR) in patients with u‐HCC after progression on treatment with LEN.

Methods (Patients) and Results

A total of 13 patients with u‐HCC (12 males and 1 female), who were treated with SOR after progression on LEN, were enrolled in this retrospective study. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated via contrast‐enhanced computerized tomography at 8 weeks after the initiation of SOR therapy according to modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (mRECIST) and RECIST. According to mRECIST, the objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 15.3% (2/13) and 69.2% (9/13), respectively. According to RECIST, the ORR and DCR were 0% (0/13) and 69.2% (9/13), respectively. The median progression‐free survival was 4.1 months. The median albumin‐bilirubin scores did not deteriorate significantly at 4, 6, and 8 weeks after initiation of SOR, compared with the scores at the baseline. The most frequent grade 1 or 2 adverse events (AEs) were palmar–plantar erythrodysesthesia, fatigue, diarrhea, and hypertension. There was no incidence of grade 3 AEs.

Conclusion

Treatment with SOR may be effective for u‐HCC after failure on LEN and may not worsen the liver reserve.
Ionic liquid promoted green synthesis of new pyridazino benzazepine derivatives: Evaluation of antioxidant activity
Authors: Dehbandi Behnam , Hossaini Zinatossadat , Mirjafari Zohreh , Zardoost Mohammad Reza
Published: August 2020

In this research, we investigated preparation of pyridazino benzazepine derivatives in high yields via the domino and one‐pot reaction of isatoic anhydride, N‐methylimidazole, alkyl bromides, activated acetylenic compounds, and hydrazine in ionic liquid as green media at 80°C. Also, antioxidation property of some prepared pyridazino benzazepines due to having pyridazin and benzazepine core is investigated by employing of trapping diphenyl‐picrylhydrazine radical and ability of ferric reduction experiment. Our procedure has a few benefits relative to reported method such as good rate of reaction, product with high efficiency, and simple separation of product from mixture of reaction.
Fabry disease in India: A multicenter study of the clinical and mutation spectrum in 54 patients
Authors: Nampoothiri Sheela , Yesodharan Dhanya , Bhattacherjee Amrita , Ahamed Hisham , Puri Ratna Dua , Gupta Neerja , Kabra Madhulika , Ranganath Prajnya , Bhat Meenakshi , Phadke Shubha , Radha Rama Devi Akella , Jagadeesh Sujatha , Danda Sumita , Sylaja Padmavathy Narayana , Mandal Kausik , Bijarnia‐Mahay Sunita , Makkar Ravinder , Verma Ishwar Chander , Dalal Ashwin , Ramaswami Uma
Published: August 2020

Fabry disease (FD) is a treatable X linked lysosomal storage disorder with a wide phenotypic spectrum. There is a scarcity of published data on the burden of FD in India. This study evaluates the clinical and molecular spectrum of Indian patients with FD. In this multicentric study involving 10 tertiary referral centers in India, we analyzed the clinical course and genotype of 54 patients from 37 families. Family screening identified 19 new patients (35%) from 12 index cases. Then, 33 GLA gene variants were identified in 49/54 (90.7%) which included 11 novel and 22 known pathogenic variants. Of the 54 patients in our cohort, 40 patients had “classical” and 10 patients had a “nonclassical” presentation. The symptoms and signs included kidney dysfunction in 38/54 (70.3%), neuropathic pain in 34/54 (62.9%), left ventricular hypertrophy in 22/49 (44.8%) and stroke in 5/54 (9.2%). Female heterozygotes were 10/54 (18.5%) of whom 2 were index cases. There was a significant delay in reaching the diagnosis of 11.7 years. Enzyme replacement therapy was initiated in 28/54 (51.8%) patients with significant improvement of neuropathic pain and gastrointestinal symptoms. This study highlights the clinical presentation and mutational spectrum of FD in India and suggests that family screening and screening of high‐risk groups (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, idiopathic chronic renal failure and cryptogenic stroke) could be the most cost‐effective strategies for early identification of FD.
Novel T2 Mapping for Evaluating Cervical Cancer Features by Providing Quantitative T2 Maps and Synthetic Morphologic Images: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Li Shujian , Liu Jie , Zhang Feifei , Yang Meng , Zhang Zanxia , Liu Jingjing , Zhang Yong , Hilbert Tom , Kober Tobias , Cheng Jingliang , Zhu Jinxia
Published: August 2020

Background

The application value of T2 mapping in evaluating cervical cancer (CC) features remains unclear.

Purpose

To investigate the role of T2 values in evaluating CC classification, grade, and lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) in comparison to apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and to compare synthetic T2‐weighted (T2W) images calculated from T2 values to conventional T2W images for CC staging.

Study Type

Retrospective.

Population

Sixty‐three patients with histopathologically confirmed CC.

Field Strength/Sequence

3T, conventional T2W turbo spin‐echo, diffusion‐weighted echo‐planar, and accelerated T2 mapping sequence.

Assessment

T2 and ADC values between different pathological features of CC were compared. The diagnostic accuracies of conventional and synthetic T2W images in staging were also compared.

Statistical Tests

Parameters were compared using an independent t‐test, Wilcoxon signed‐rank test, and the chi‐square test. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed.

Results

The T2 values varied significantly between well/moderately differentiated and poorly differentiated tumors ([92.8 ± 9.5 msec] vs. [83.8 ± 9.5 msec], P < 0.05) and between LVSI‐positive and LVSI‐negative CC ([82.2 ± 8.2 msec] vs. [93.9 ± 9.1 msec], P < 0.05). The ADC values showed a significant difference for grade ([0.76 ± 0.10 × 10−3 mm2/s] vs. [0.65 ± 0.11 × 10−3 mm2/s], P < 0.05) and no difference for LVSI status ([0.71 ± 0.11× 10−3 mm2/s] vs. [0.73 ± 0.12× 10−3 mm2/s], P = 0.472). There was no significant difference in T2 and ADC values between squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma (P = 0.378 and P = 0.661, respectively). In MRI staging, the conventional and synthetic T2W images resulted in a similar accuracy (71% vs. 68%, P = 0.698).

Data Conclusion

The accelerated T2 mapping sequence may facilitate grading and staging of CC by providing quantitative T2 maps and synthetic T2W images in one acquisition. T2 values may be superior to ADC in predicting LVSI.

Level of Evidence

2

Technical Efficacy Stage

2 J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2020;52:1859–1869.
PET/MRI in Cervical Cancer: Associations Between Imaging Biomarkers and Tumor Stage, Disease Progression, and Overall Survival
Authors: Shih I‐Lun , Yen Rouh‐Fang , Chen Chi‐An , Cheng Wen‐Fang , Chen Bang‐Bin , Chang Yu‐Hsuan , Cheng Mei‐Fang , Shih Tiffany Ting‐Fang
Published: August 2020

Background

Positron emission tomography (PET)/MRI biomarkers have been shown to have prognostic significance in patients with cervical cancer. Their associations with progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) merit further investigation.

Purpose

To evaluate the association between PET/MRI biomarkers and tumor stage, PFS, and OS in patients with cervical cancer.

Study Type

Prospective cohort study.

Population

In all, 54 patients with newly diagnosed cervical cancer and measurable tumors (>1 cm) were included in the image analysis.

Field Strength/Sequence

3.0T integrated PET/MRI including diffusion‐weighted echo‐planar imaging (b = 50 and 1000 s/mm2) and [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose PET.

Assessment

Two radiologists measured the minimum and mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCmin and ADCmean), maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) of the primary tumors.

Statistical Tests

A Mann–Whitney U‐test was used to evaluate the association between the imaging biomarkers and tumor stage. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the relationships between the imaging biomarkers and survival.

Results

In advanced tumors (T ≥ 1b2, M1, stage ≥ IB3), ADCmin was significantly lower and MTV, TLG, MTV/ADCmin, and TLG/ADCmin were significantly higher (P values between <0.001 and 0.036). In N1 tumors, ADCmin was significantly lower and MTV and MTV/ADCmin were significantly higher (P values between 0.005 and 0.016). In survival analysis, SUVmax was an independent predictor of PFS (hazard ratio [HR] = 4.57, P < 0.05), and ADCmin was an independent predictor of OS (HR = 0.02, P < 0.05). In subgroup analysis of patients with different stages, MTV/ADCmin was a predictor of PFS in stage I disease (P = 0.003), ADCmin (P = 0.038), and MTV (P = 0.020) in stage II, SUVmax (P = 0.006), and TLG (P = 0.006) in stage IV; and ADCmin was a predictor of OS in stage III disease (P = 0.008).

Data Conclusion

PET/MRI biomarkers of cervical cancer are associated with tumor stage and survival. SUVmax and ADCmin are independent predictors of PFS and OS, respectively.

Level of Evidence

1

Technical Efficacy

3
Noncontrast MR Lymphography in Secondary Lower Limb Lymphedema:
Authors: Cellina Michaela , Martinenghi Carlo , Panzeri Marta , Soresina Massimo , Menozzi Andrea , Daniele Gibelli , Oliva Giancarlo
Published: August 2020

Background

Invasive imaging techniques have been applied for lymphedema (LE) assessment; noncontrast MR lymphography (NCMLR) has potential as an alternative, but its performance is not known in secondary lower limb LE.

Purpose

To assess the role of NCMRL for the classification and characterization of secondary lower limb LE.

Study Type

Retrospective.

Population

Fifty adults with clinically diagnosed secondary LE.

Field Strength/Sequence

1.5T, 3D T2‐weighted turbo spin‐echo, 3D T2‐weighted turbo spin‐echo short tau inversion recovery.

Assessment

Three radiologists assessed the following characteristics on NCMRL: honeycomb pattern, dermal thickening, muscular abnormalities, distal dilated lymphatics, inguinal lymph node number, appearance of iliac lymphatic trunks. An LE grading based on the MR images was assigned. The relationship between imaging findings and clinical staging was evaluated, as well as between dermal backflow at lymphoscintigraphy and MR staging, and between the limb swelling duration and peripheral lymphatics dilatation.

Statistical Tests

Pearson's correlation test and Cramer's V coefficient were computed to measure the strength of association. The Mann–Whitney test was used to compare the limb swelling duration between patients with and without dilated distal vessels. Agreement among raters was assessed through Kendall's W coefficient of correlation.

Results

Clinical stage and the MR grading were correlated, with Cramer's V coefficient of 1 for reader 1 (P < 0.05), 0.846 for reader 2 (P < 0.05), and 0.912 (P < 0.05) for reader 3; agreement between interraters was very good (W = 0.0.75; P = 0.05). A honeycomb pattern (P < 0.05), dermal thickening (P < 0.001), muscular abnormalities (P < 0.05), iliac lymphatic trunks appearance (P < 0.05), distal dilated vessels (P < 0.05), and lymph nodes number (P < 0.05) were significantly correlated with LE clinical stage. Dermal backflow at lymphoscintigraphy was described in 10 (20%) patients and showed a significant correlation with the MR grading (P < 0.05).

Data Conclusion

These preliminary results suggest that NCMRL may provide information useful for the staging and management of patients affected by secondary lower limb LE.

Level of Evidence 4

Technical Efficacy Stage 2

J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2021;53:458–466.
Clinical usefulness of fully automated chemiluminescent immunoassay for quantitative antibody measurements in COVID‐19 patients
Authors: Soleimani Reza , Khourssaji Mehdi , Gruson Damien , Rodriguez‐Villalobos Hector , Berghmans Mathilde , Belkhir Leila , Yombi Jean‐Cyr , Kabamba‐Mukadi Benoît
Published: August 2020

Since December 2019, we have been in the battlefield with a new threat to the humanity, known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), characterized by viral pneumonia. It may be asymptomatic or cause various symptoms, ranging from flu‐like symptoms to acute respiratory distress syndrome and eventually death. At present, the only reliable test for COVID‐19 diagnosis is quantitative reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction. Assessing the immune response against SARS‐CoV‐2 could increase the detection sensitivity of infected population. Hereby, we report the performances of a fully automated chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) on 276 serum samples. One hundred samples obtained from COVID‐19 negative subjects (COVID‐19 free) were analyzed to evaluate the diagnostic specificity of antibody (Ab) detection. Thereafter, 176 samples obtained from 125 patients with confirmed COVID‐19 (COVID‐19 patients) were selected to assess the diagnostic sensitivity of the CLIA. All samples were analyzed on MAGLUMI 800 platform. All COVID‐19 free samples had Ab levels below the cutoff values. Hence, the diagnostic specificity was estimated at 100% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 96.3‐100.0; positive predictive value = 100%). By the 18th day from the onset of symptoms, we reached an optimal diagnostic sensitivity (more than 95.0%) In fact, the diagnostic sensitivity increased over time and between 15 and 25 days after symptoms onset, reached 95.5% (95% CI = 84.9‐99.2). The new automated CLIA analyzer appeared to be a robust and reliable method to measure specific Ab against COVID‐19 at high throughput. Our data suggest that combining Ab and nucleic acid detection could increase diagnostic sensitivity.
Can Phase Angle in Newborns at Neonatal Intensive Care Units Be an Indicator of Mortality and Prognosis?
Authors: Coradine Andréa Vieira Pereira , Lima Mônica Nunes , Sarquis Ana Lúcia
Published: August 2020

Background

The bioelectrical impedance (BI) phase angle (PA), analyzed directly through BI analysis (BIA), is determined by tissue cellularity, representing a direct measure of cellular stability and, for this reason, has been studied and considered as an indicator of prognosis and nutrition status in adults and children.

Objective

We aimed to determine if PA can be an indicator of mortality and prognosis in newborns admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Methods

Transversal study conducted at a public NICU in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. All newborns, preterm and term, were considered eligible for the study if admission to the NICU occurred by the first hour of life. The Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology II, as well as the Perinatal Extension version, were developed to assess the risk of mortality for all newborns, measured within 12 hours of admission. BIA measurements were conducted using the tetrapolar BioScan Maltron 916, with single‐frequency (50 kHz) tetrapolar BI. PA was calculated as the arc tangent: (Xc/R) x 180°/π.

Results

BIA was measured during the first 24 hours of admission for all newborns (n = 93), repeated between 24 and 48 hours (n = 79) and again after 7 days (n = 55), always when possible. PA measurements decreased in the first 48 hours in premature newborns, particularly among those who died. The premature newborns also showed a significant decrease from the first to the last PA measurement (P = .001). In addition, whereas full‐term newborns showed an increase of PA at 1 week of life, preterm infants continued to have a decrease in values. For preterm newborns, PA measurements decreased and more sharply so for those who died. This result should be viewed with caution given the small number of deaths, but it should be investigated to understand the role of PA in the prognosis of NICU newborns.

Conclusions

The absolute value of PA during the first 24 hours of life was not a good marker for severity or mortality. However, the decrease of PA between different moments of evaluation was a good marker of severity. The decrease of PA in the first 48 hours in premature newborns, and that when the decrease is more pronounced, may be indicative of mortality. The difference in PA values between these newborns is probably a significant variable for mortality and prognosis and not a cutoff value.
The systematical detection and structure characterization of vanadium‐oxygen species in low concentration solutions by surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy experiments and density functional theory calculations
Authors: Wang Weijia , Zhang Xiaolin , Wu Shishi , Xu Bolian , Li Shuchao , He Lirong , Li Xiaohong , Chen Zhaoxu , Fan Yining , Vellaisamy A. L. Roy
Published: August 2020

Vanadium–oxygen species are very harmful to the environment and human health, and also some vanadium–oxygen species have good biological and biomedical effects to human beings. Thus, the study of vanadium–oxygen species is very significant. The types of V–O species are very complex. So far, however, the various structures of V–O species cannot be identified clearly. In this work, the surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was used to study vanadium–oxygen species in aqueous solution directly. The SERS spectra with high enhancement factor (EF) and detail information were obtained by the enhancement substrates such as gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), Ag mirror, the Au‐deposited Pt electrodes, and rough Au electrodes. The structures of vanadium‐oxygen species in solutions with different concentration and pH had been well‐characterized firstly by the combination of SERS experiments with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. This work will promote the basic study of the V–O species, and it is also a promotion for the SERS and analytical chemistry.
Bio‐probing with nonresonant surface‐enhanced hyper‐Raman scattering excited at 1,550 nm
Authors: Heiner Zsuzsanna , Madzharova Fani , Živanović Vesna , Kneipp Janina
Published: August 2020

The two‐photon excited process of surface‐enhanced hyper‐Raman scattering (SEHRS) provides advantages for studies of complex biological samples, yet suitable SEHRS nanoprobes and labels, as well as experimental conditions, must be established. Here, SEHRS spectra of the four reporter molecules (2‐naphthalenethiol [2‐NAT], para‐aminothiophenol (pATP), para‐nitrothiophenol (pNTP), and crystal violet), as well as the two antidepressant drugs (desipramine and imipramine) were obtained at an excitation wavelength of 1,550 nm using different citrate‐stabilized gold nanoparticles and silver nanoparticles, and under conditions that permit experiments with living cultured cells. As the results suggest, the short‐wave infrared laser excitation and the hyper‐Raman scattered light (corresponding to wavelengths > 775 nm) match the plasmonic properties of the employed gold and silver nanoaggregates, as well as the requirements regarding the viability of the cells. The two‐photon excited spectra of three types of SEHRS labels containing 2‐NAT as reporter inside macrophage cells show that molecules in the cellular environment can also be observed. The possibility to use short‐wave infrared excitation with gold nanostructures has important implications for the utilization of SEHRS in bio‐probing.
The impact of sarcopenia on oncologic abdominal wall reconstruction
Authors: Bailey Chad M. , Schaverien Mark V. , Garvey Patrick B. , Liu Jessie , Butler Charles E. , Mericli Alexander F.
Published: August 2020

Background and Objectives

Sarcopenia is an objective measure of patient frailty and is a predictor of adverse surgical outcomes. We hypothesized that sarcopenia is associated with increased surgical site occurrence (SSO) and hernia occurrences in patients undergoing oncologic abdominal wall reconstruction.

Methods

Consecutive patients who underwent abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR) for an abdominal wall ablative defect at a single center from 2005 to 2015 were evaluated. The total psoas index (TPI) was used to define sarcopenia. The primary endpoint of the study was hernia occurrence; (SSO) was a secondary outcome measure.

Results

Eighty‐six patients met the inclusion criteria. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that sarcopenia increased the risk of hernia more than threefold, trending toward significance (OR = 3.3; 95% CI: 0.69‐15.4; P = .13). Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that preoperative radiotherapy (OR = 4.8, 95% CI: 1.4‐16; P = .01) and obesity (OR = 4.9, 95% CI: 1.5‐16.3; P =.009) were independent predictors of developing an SSO.

Conclusions

Sarcopenia, as defined by TPI, is correlated with hernia occurrence, but not SSO. These findings emphasize the importance of preoperative fitness and nutritional optimization and provide useful information for preoperative counseling and risk stratification.
Determination of trace polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water and milk using solid‐phase extraction packed with graphene/chitosan composite aerogel prior to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
Authors: Gao Yuanji , Qin Yunan , Xiong Feng , Zhao Lijuan
Published: August 2020

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, ubiquitous compounds that result from incomplete combustion or pyrolysis of natural and man‐made combustion sources, can adversely affects human health due to their well‐known toxicity. This paper demonstrates the significant potential of graphene/chitosan composite aerogels as solid‐phase extraction sorbents for efficient polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon extraction and material for the highly sensitive analysis in environmental samples using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry in selective ion monitoring mode. Under the optimal condition, samples spiked with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were determined at the pg/mL level in different aqueous sample matrices, including tap water, river water, and milk. The results showed that the prepared aerogels have excellent adsorption capability for 16 target analytes. The limits of detection ranged from 1.7 to 8.8 pg/mL. The recoveries of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons spiked in river water ranged from 85.9 to 113%, with relative standard deviations of 1.1–6.6%. The sorbent was reused for multiple polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon extractions using a single solid‐phase extraction cartridge in the concentration range of 10–2000 pg/mL. The method provides excellent correlation coefficients over 0.9990. These results indicate the capability of this method to determine trace polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in any water matrix.
Prospective Longitudinal Evaluation of Point‐of‐Care Lung Ultrasound in Critically Ill Patients With Severe COVID‐19 Pneumonia
Authors: Alharthy Abdulrahman , Faqihi Fahad , Abuhamdah Mohamed , Noor Alfateh , Naseem Nasir , Balhamar Abdullah , Al Saud Ahad Alhassan Al Saud Bin Abdulaziz , Brindley Peter G. , Memish Ziad A. , Karakitsos Dimitrios , Blaivas Michael
Published: August 2020

Objectives

To perform a prospective longitudinal analysis of lung ultrasound findings in critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19).

Methods

Eighty‐nine intensive care unit (ICU) patients with confirmed COVID‐19 were prospectively enrolled and tracked. Point‐of‐care ultrasound (POCUS) examinations were performed with phased array, convex, and linear transducers using portable machines. The thorax was scanned in 12 lung areas: anterior, lateral, and posterior (superior/inferior) bilaterally. Lower limbs were scanned for deep venous thrombosis and chest computed tomographic angiography was performed to exclude suspected pulmonary embolism (PE). Follow‐up POCUS was performed weekly and before hospital discharge.

Results

Patients were predominantly male (84.2%), with a median age of 43 years. The median duration of mechanical ventilation was 17 (interquartile range, 10–22) days; the ICU length of stay was 22 (interquartile range, 20.2–25.2) days; and the 28‐day mortality rate was 28.1%. On ICU admission, POCUS detected bilateral irregular pleural lines (78.6%) with accompanying confluent and separate B‐lines (100%), variable consolidations (61.7%), and pleural and cardiac effusions (22.4% and 13.4%, respectively). These findings appeared to signify a late stage of COVID‐19 pneumonia. Deep venous thrombosis was identified in 16.8% of patients, whereas chest computed tomographic angiography confirmed PE in 24.7% of patients. Five to six weeks after ICU admission, follow‐up POCUS examinations detected significantly lower rates (P < .05) of lung abnormalities in survivors.

Conclusions

Point‐of‐care ultrasound depicted B‐lines, pleural line irregularities, and variable consolidations. Lung ultrasound findings were significantly decreased by ICU discharge, suggesting persistent but slow resolution of at least some COVID‐19 lung lesions. Although POCUS identified deep venous thrombosis in less than 20% of patients at the bedside, nearly one‐fourth of all patients were found to have computed tomography–proven PE.
The Family Impact of Having a Child with a Tracheostomy
Authors: Johnson Romaine F. , Brown Ashley , Brooks Rebecca
Published: August 2020

Objectives

Measure the quality of life among families with children with tracheostomies.

Methods

We performed a prospective cross‐sectional analysis of families with children with tracheostomies utilizing the PedQL Family Impact Module—a validated quality of life assessment. We determined if scores were impacted by demographics using regression analysis. We also compared the tracheostomy sample's scores to a previously published cohort of children with severe cerebral palsy and birth defects that required home nursing or nursing home placement using the student's t‐test. We determined the effect size of the difference between the two groups using the Cohen's d test.

Results

Ninety‐eight families are included in the study. The average (SD) age of tracheostomy placement was 1.6 (3.5) years. The population was 60% (59/98) male and 39% (38/98) Hispanic. The principal reason for tracheostomy was due to respiratory failure (76 out of 98; 78%). The mean (SD) total Family Impact score was 76 (19). The lowest domain score was daily activity problems, mean (SD) = 67 (30) followed by worry (mean = 69, SD = 24). The lowest question score was, “I worry about my child's future,” mean (SD) = 52 (37). When compared to the comparison group of medically fragile children, the scores were statistically similar except for communication totals where tracheostomy patients reported superior scores (78.3 vs. 62.9, 95% CI, −26 to −4.8, P = .005, Cohen's d = −0.66).

Conclusion

The presence of a tracheostomy is associated with QOL scores like other medically fragile children.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 131:911–915, 2021
Cerebrospinal Fluid Levels of Kininogen‐1 Indicate Early Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Markaki Ioanna , Bergström Sofia , Tsitsi Panagiota , Remnestål Julia , Månberg Anna , Hertz Ellen , Paslawski Wojciech , Sorjonen Kimmo , Uhlén Mathias , Mangone Graziella , Carvalho Stephanie , Rascol Olivier , Meissner Wassilios G. , Magnin Eloi , Wüllner Ullrich , Corvol Jean‐Christophe , Nilsson Peter , Svenningsson Per
Published: August 2020

Background

Cognitive impairment is common in patients with PD. Core markers of Alzheimer's dementia have been related also to PD dementia, but no disease‐specific signature to predict PD dementia exists to date.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate CSF markers associated with cognition in early PD.

Methods

A high‐throughput suspension bead array examined 216 proteins in CSF of 74 PD patients in the AETIONOMY project. Cognitive function was assessed with Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of the Neuropsychological Status, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Mini‐Mental State Examination.

Results

Of 69 patients with complete data, 34 had high (≥90) and 35 had low Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of the Neuropsychological Status total score (<90). Of 14 proteins in CSF that differed in levels between groups, increased kininogen‐1, validated with several antibodies, was independently associated with lower Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of the Neuropsychological Status and Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores after adjustment for confounders.

Conclusions

Kininogen‐1 levels in CSF may serve as a marker of cognitive impairment in PD. © 2020 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Frequency and spectrum of actionable pathogenic secondary findings in Taiwanese exomes
Authors: Kuo Chieh‐Wen , Hwu Wuh‐Liang , Chien Yin‐Hsiu , Hsu Ching , Hung Miao‐Zi , Lin I‐Lin , Lai Feipei , Lee Ni‐Chung
Published: August 2020

Background

Exome sequencing has recently become more readily available, and more information about incidental findings has been disclosed. However, data from East Asia are scarce. We studied the application of exome sequencing to the identification of pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants in the ACMG 59 gene list and the frequency of these variants in the Taiwanese population.

Methods

This study screened 161 Taiwanese exomes for variants from the ACMG 59 gene list. The identified variants were reviewed based on information from different databases and the available literature and classified according to the ACMG standard guidelines.

Results

We identified seven pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants in eight individuals, with five participants with autosomal recessive variants in one allele and three participants with autosomal dominant variants. Approximately 1.86% (3/161) of the Taiwanese individuals had a reportable pathogenic/likely pathogenic variant as determined by whole‐exome sequencing (WES), which was comparable to the proportions published previously in other countries. We further investigated the high carrier rate of rare variants in the ATP7B gene, which might indicate a founder effect in our population.

Conclusion

This study was the first to provide Taiwanese population data of incidental findings and emphasized a high carrier rate of candidate pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants in the ATP7B gene.
Assisting people with SMI via community support, resources
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: August 2020

Providing access to community resources, such as housing, food, a crisis call line or the support of someone with lived experiences, is important in addressing the needs of individuals with serious mental illness, suggested presenters at an Aug. 12 webinar sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and presented by the National Council for Behavioral Health.
Small population with BH disorders impacts rising HC costs
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: August 2020

Individuals with both behavioral health conditions and physical conditions account for an enormous impact on health care costs, despite very little to no treatment for their mental health or substance use disorder conditions, according to a recent national analysis of health care claims data.
APA adopts new resolution to address pandemic challenges
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: August 2020

The American Psychological Association (APA) earlier this month adopted a new resolution calling for a population health approach and emphasizing the role of psychology in addressing the broad‐ranging harms of systemic racism, a disrupted economy and a mental health crisis with a disproportionate impact on marginalized populations, according to officials.
Experiencing childhood trauma ages body, brain faster
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: August 2020

Children who suffer trauma from abuse or violence early in life show biological signs of aging faster than children who have never experienced adversity, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. The study examined three different signs of biological aging — early puberty, cellular aging and changes in brain structure — and found that trauma exposure was associated with all three, according to an APA Aug. 3 news release.
A 100Gbps all‐optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing based on discrete Haar wavelet transform for radio over fiber system
Authors: Sreedevi P , Vijayakumar N
Published: August 2020

All‐optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OOFDM) for a radio over fiber system (RoF) using discrete Haar wavelet transform (DHWT) is proposed and investigated for 100Gbps system. The system makes use of passive optical couplers to generate orthogonal symbols based on DHWT. Phase preemphasis technique is incorporated to minimize high peak average power ratio, which in turn minimizes the nonlinear effects of the system. Simulation set up of 25 × 4Gbps all‐optical OFDM is compared with that of the existing systems. Results of the proposed system are on a par with that of the conventional OFDM‐RoF systems employing discrete fourier transform.
Overview of the Saudi National Mental Health Survey
Authors: Al‐Subaie Abdullah S. , Al‐Habeeb AbdulHameed , Altwaijri Yasmin A.
Published: August 2020

Objectives

To present background information for the Saudi National Mental Health Survey (SNMHS) on the Saudi mental healthcare delivery system and previous epidemiological research on the prevalence and treatment of mental disorders in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Methods

Archival information and the results of a literature review are presented.

Results

KSA is the largest sovereign nation in the Middle East and the largest free market economy in the Middle East and North Africa. A national mental health policy has been in existence since 2006, but mental health spending still is less than in most other high‐income countries. The Ministry of Health has recently begun developing a new healthcare system based on a patient‐centered model of care that will integrate care of mental disorders with care of physical disorders. Previous epidemiological research on mental disorders in KSA has been limited, making the SNMHS important for policy planning purposes to obtain accurate estimates of prevalence, treatment, and barriers to treatment.

Conclusions

The SNMHS will provide valuable information for policy planning purposes on the burden of untreated mental disorders in KSA and barriers to treatment.
Adaptive baseline fitting for MR spectroscopy analysis
Authors: Wilson Martin
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Accurate baseline modeling is essential for reliable MRS analysis and interpretation—particularly at short echo‐times, where enhanced metabolite information coincides with elevated baseline interference. The degree of baseline smoothness is a key analysis parameter for metabolite estimation, and in this study, a new method is presented to estimate its optimal value.

Methods

An adaptive baseline fitting algorithm (ABfit) is described, incorporating a spline basis into a frequency‐domain analysis model, with a penalty parameter to enforce baseline smoothness. A series of candidate analyses are performed over a range of smoothness penalties, as part of a 4‐stage algorithm, and the Akaike information criterion is used to estimate the appropriate penalty. ABfit is applied to a set of simulated spectra with differing baseline features and experimentally acquired 2D MRSI—both at a field strength of 3 Tesla.

Results

Simulated analyses demonstrate metabolite errors result from 2 main sources: bias from an inflexible baseline (underfitting) and increased variance from an overly flexible baseline (overfitting). In the case of an ideal flat baseline, ABfit is shown to correctly estimate a highly rigid baseline, and for more realistic spectra a reasonable compromise between bias and variance is found. Analysis of experimentally acquired data demonstrates good agreement with known correlations between metabolite ratios and the contributing volumes of gray and white matter tissue.

Conclusions

ABfit has been shown to perform accurate baseline estimation and is suitable for fully automated routine MRS analysis.
Recovery kinetics of creatine in mild plantar flexion exercise using 3D creatine CEST imaging at 7 Tesla
Authors: Kumar Dushyant , Nanga Ravi Prakash Reddy , Thakuri Deepa , Wilson Neil , Cember Abigail , Martin Melissa Lynne , Zhu Dan , Shinohara Russell T. , Qin Qin , Hariharan Hari , Reddy Ravinder
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Two‐dimensional creatine CEST (2D‐CrCEST), with a slice thickness of 10‐20 mm and temporal resolution (τRes) of about 30 seconds, has previously been shown to capture the creatine‐recovery kinetics in healthy controls and in patients with abnormal creatine‐kinase kinetics following the mild plantar flexion exercise. Since the distribution of disease burden may vary across the muscle length for many musculoskeletal disorders, there is a need to increase coverage in the slice‐encoding direction. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of 3D‐CrCEST with τRes of about 30 seconds, and propose an improved voxel‐wise ‐calibration approach for CrCEST.

Methods

The current 7T study with enrollment of 5 volunteers involved collecting the baseline CrCEST imaging for the first 2 minutes, followed by 2 minutes of plantar flexion exercise and then 8 minutes of postexercise CrCEST imaging, to detect the temporal evolution of creatine concentration following exercise.

Results

Very good repeatability of 3D‐CrCEST findings for activated muscle groups on an intraday and interday basis was established, with coefficient of variance of creatine recovery constants (τCr) being 7%‐15.7%, 7.5%, and 5.8% for lateral gastrocnemius, medial gastrocnemius, and peroneus longus, respectively. We also established a good intraday and interday scan repeatability for 3D‐CrCEST and also showed good correspondence between τCr measurements using 2D‐CrCEST and 3D‐CrCEST acquisitions.

Conclusion

In this study, we demonstrated for the first time the feasibility and the repeatability of the 3D‐CrCEST method in calf muscle with improved correction to measure creatine‐recovery kinetics within a large 3D volume of calf muscle.
A new contact detection method for arbitrary dilated polyhedra with potential function in discrete element method
Authors: Liu Lu , Ji Shunying
Published: August 2020

Contact detection significantly affects the computational efficiency of discrete element simulations, especially for irregularly shaped elements. The dilated polyhedron is constructed by the Minkowski sum of a dilated sphere and a core convex polyhedron. One of the greatest advantages of using the dilated polyhedron in contact detection lies in its ability to be solved by calculating the nearest distance between corresponding core polyhedra. The approximate envelope function (AEF) of a dilated polyhedron is formed by the weighted summation of the second‐order dilated function of the polyhedral and spherical functions. The AEF can be used to represent the element in the optimization model for the contact center. Geometric calculations are then employed for the contact points on the core polyhedron, whereupon the contact detection is solved. The accuracy and stability of the proposed method by a 3‐D Voronoi tessellation are validated using analytical solutions and previously published simulation results. The efficiency tests show that the speedup of the CPU‐based multithread algorithm can reach 14 on a desktop. The direct shear test of the Voronoi shaped ballast is analyzed by this method. The shear stress under different vertical pressure is compared with previously published experimental and simulated results.
Family resilience and flourishment: Well‐being among children with mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders
Authors: Herbell Kayla , Breitenstein Susan M. , Melnyk Bernadette Mazurek , Guo Jinhong
Published: August 2020

Approximately 20% of children and adolescents in the United States are affected by mental, emotional, and behavioral (MEB) disorders. Child flourishment and family resilience contribute to healthy family development, including the promotion of child MEB wellbeing. Identifying factors that promote child flourishment and family resilience are critical. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and parenting factors associated with family resilience and child flourishment among children aged 6–17 years with MEB disorders. This was a secondary analysis of the 2016–2017 National Survey of Children's Health. The sample consisted of parents and their children (n = 1,900, weighted n = 5,375,670). Data were weighted to be representative of the US population and analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear regression. We found that only 6.3% of children aged 6–17 with an MEB were optimally flourishing. Parental aggravation was negatively associated with child flourishment, and parental coping was positively associated with child flourishment. In total, 66.5% of families with children exhibited resilience. Parental coping and availability of parental emotional support were positively associated with family resilience. Potential interventions that leverage study findings include parent training to increase parental emotional regulation (e.g., increase frustration tolerance, coping skills) and family navigation services to increase parental support (e.g., emotional support, coping skills) through the child's treatment trajectory. Overall, this study provides evidence of a disparity in flourishment in America's youth with MEB disorders, and despite this adversity, families are resilient.
A case of symmetric lipomatosis of the tongue arising in a patient with alcoholic liver cirrhosis presenting with macroglossia
Authors: Murayama Atsushi , Kuroda Takashi , Shudo Atsushi , Kang Yangsun
Published: August 2020

Symmetric lipomatosis of the tongue (SLT) is a non‐epithelial benign tumor with symmetrical adipose hyperplasia in bilateral tongue margins. SLT is a rare disease that is suggested to be associated with abnormalities in fat metabolism. The patient was a 66‐year‐old male with his history of alcoholic who had a large mass on the bilateral tongue margins. The tumor was resected under general anesthesia. Histopathological findings showed that the adipose tissue lacked a capsule and extended to the muscle tissue. SLT was diagnosed because lipomas with indistinct histopathological boundaries appeared on both sides of the tongue.