bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Repeatability and Reproducibility of a Quantitative Assessment of the Retinal Vascular Network Fractal Dimension Measured With Swept-source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Healthy Eyes
Authors: Haddad Déa , Arnould Louis , Baudin Florian , Gabrielle Pierre-Henry , Sarossy Marc , Bron Alain M. , Aliahmad Behzad , Creuzot-Garcher Catherine
Published: February 2021

Background: To evaluate the repeatability and reproducibility of the retinal vascular network fractal dimension (FD) measured from swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) images of healthy eyes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken with young healthy volunteers who had no reported cardiac risk factors or ocular disease history. For each participant, three SS-OCTA images (12×12 mm) were acquired using the Cirrus Plex Elite 9000 (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jena, Germany) by two ophthalmologists. The data from one eye per participant were retained for analysis. Automated segmentation was obtained from both the superficial and deep capillary plexuses. Fractal box-counting analyses were performed. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and the coefficient of variation (CV) were used as measures for repeatability and reproducibility. Results: A total of 43 eyes of healthy volunteers were included. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) age was 30 ± 6.2 years. The mean retinal vascular network FD was 1.693 in the superficial and 1.694 in the deep vascular layer in our healthy cohort. For repeatability, the ICC was 0.722 (95% CI, 0.541–0.839) in the superficial capillary plexus and 0.828 (95% CI, 0.705–0.903) in the deep capillary plexus. For reproducibility, the ICC was 0.651 (95% CI, 0.439–0.795) and 0.363 (95% CI, 0.073–0.596) at the superficial and deep capillary plexus, respectively. The CV for each observer was less than 5% in the two plexuses.Conclusions: In this study, the retinal vascular network FD provided new repeatability and reproducibility quantitative data using SS-OCTA with healthy participants.
Interplay of Transcription Factor 7-Like-2 Polymorphisms with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a Ghanaian Population
Authors: Obirikorang Christian , Adu Evans Asamoah , Acheampong Emmanuel , Anto Enoch Odame , Quaye Lawrence , Amoah Brodrick Yeboah , Annani-Akollor Max Efui , Kwakye Aaron Siaw , Fokuoh Foster , Appiah Michael , Nyarko Eric Nana Yaw , Aidoo Freeman , Adua Eric , Afrifa-Yamoah Ebenezer , Balmer Lois , Wang Wei
Published: February 2021

Background

Type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have been strongly associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TCF7L2 gene. This study investigated the interplay between rs12255372 and rs7903146 with T2DM in a Ghanaian population.
Methods

A case-control design was used for this study. A total of 106 T2DM patients and 110 apparently healthy control participants were selected. Basic data collected included body mass index, blood pressure and socio-demographics. Fasting blood samples were collected and used for serum lipid analysis, HbA1c, glucose estimation and DNA extraction. Common and allele-specific primers were designed for genotyping using the Modified Tetra-Primer Amplification assay. Associations were evaluated using logistic regression models.
Results

The rs7903146 risk variant was significantly associated with 2.16 vs 4.06 increased odds for T2DM in patients < 60 years vs ≥ 60 years. Both rs7903146 and rs12255372 were significantly associated with increased odds of T2DM in women, overweight/obese; negative T2DM family history and low-HDL-C. In a multivariate model, rs7903146 but not rs12255372 was significantly associated with 2.18, 5.01 and 2.25 increased odds of T2DM, under the codominant, recessive and additive model, respectively (p < 0.05). Haplotype analysis showed that rs7903146 and rs12255372 SNPs are weakly associated (D’=0.021; r2 = 0.0001).
Conclusion

The association between rs7903146 and rs12255372 with T2DM looks to be more highly associated in a subgroup- women and those without T2DM family history, yet have cardiometabolic risk.
Identification of potential pathogenic genes causing occipitalization of the atlas
Authors: Jia Shanhang , Duan Wanru , Xin Zong , Zhang Boyan , Jian Qiang , Wei Chen , Chen Zan
Published: February 2021

Background

Occipitalization of the atlas (AO) is among the most common congenital or environmental malformations of the craniovertebral region, the rate of incidence of which ranges from 0.08%-2.76% in the general population. The fundamental pathogenic mechanisms and molecular etiology remain largely unknown..
Results

Rare variants were detected in two genes (MEOX1 and MYO18B) with reported association with vertebral malformations, especially in AO. Through the use of a functional prediction tool, Meta-SVM, and genotype-phenotype analysis of 101 candidate genes related to vertebral segmentation abnormalities, TNS1 was identified as having the greatest probability of being associated with AO, followed by FGFR2, AGAP1, TBX2, LRP5, and TONSL. GO-BP and KEGG analyses were then performed on the candidate genes, the results indicating that Fanconi anemia-related genes may drive vertebral malformation in AO patients..
Conclusions

The present study analyzed the WES profile of a cohort of Chinese AO patients and identified 6 novel genes potentially associated with AO, extending the spectrum of known mutants contributing to this disorder. Furthermore, functional gene enrichment analysis provided fresh insight into the Fanconi anemia related pathway and etiology of AO.
Stage-differentiated modelling of DNA methylation landscapes uncovers salient biomarkers and prognostic signatures in colorectal cancer progression
Authors: Muthamilselvan Sangeetha , Raghavendran Abirami , Palaniappan Ashok
Published: February 2021

Background: Aberrant DNA methylation acts epigenetically to skew the gene transcription rate up or down, with causative roles in the etiology of cancers. However research on the role of DNA methylation in driving the progression of cancers is limited. In this study, we have developed a comprehensive computational framework for the stage-differentiated modelling of DNA methylation landscapes in colorectal cancer (CRC), and unravelled significant stagewise signposts of CRC progression. Methods: The methylation β - matrix was derived from the public-domain TCGA data, converted into M-value matrix, annotated with AJCC stages, and analysed for stage-salient genes using multiple approaches involving stage-differentiated linear modelling of methylation patterns and/or expression patterns. Differentially methylated genes (DMGs) were identified using a contrast against controls (adjusted p-value <0.001 and |log fold-change of M-value| >2). These results were filtered using a series of all possible pairwise stage contrasts (p-value <0.05) to obtain stage-salient DMGs. These were then subjected to a consensus analysis, followed by Kaplan–Meier survival analysis to evaluate the impact of methylation patterns of consensus stage-salient biomarkers on disease prognosis.Results: We found significant genome-wide changes in methylation patterns in cancer cases relative to controls agnostic of stage. Our stage-differentiated analysis yielded the following stage-salient genes: one stage-I gene (FBN1), one stage-II gene (FOXG1), one stage-III gene (HCN1) and four stage-IV genes (NELL1, ZNF135, FAM123A, LAMA1). All the biomarkers were hypermethylated, indicating down-regulation and signifying a CpG island Methylator Phenotype (CIMP) manifestation. A significant prognostic signature consisting of FBN1 and FOXG1 survived all the steps of our analysis pipeline, and represents a novel early-stage biomarker. Conclusions: We have designed a workflow for stage-differentiated consensus analysis, and identified stage-salient diagnostic biomarkers and an early-stage prognostic biomarker panel. Our studies further yield a novel CIMP-like signature of potential clinical import underlying CRC progression.
Identification of a stemness-related prognostic model in Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by Weighted gene co-expression network analysis
Authors: Huang Xiao-Yan , Qin Wen-Tao , Su Qi-Sheng , Qiu Cheng-Cheng , Liu Ruo-Chuan , Xie Shan-Shan , Hu Yang , Zhu Shang-Yong
Published: February 2021

Objective: Aim of this study was to identify the stemness-related genes in Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Methods: The RNA-seq data of PADC were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases. mRNA expression base-index (mRNAsi) and epigenetically regulated mRNAsi (EREG-mRNAsi) of PADC were evaluated. The mRNAsi-based gene sets in PADC were identified by Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Functional Enrichment Analyses were performed with key genes. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and the Cox proportional hazards model were used to evaluate the prognostic value of the key genes. Prognosis-associated hub genes were applied to establish nomograms. The receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) and concordance index (C-index) were utilized to assess the discrimination and accuracy of the nomogram. Finally, these results were validated in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: 36 key genes associate with mRNAsi were screened via WGCNA. Next a five-gene signature compromised TPX2, NCAPH, UBE2C, CCNB2, CEP55. Based on the expression of the signature, the PADC patients were classify patients into high- and low-risk groups. Cox regression analysis revealed that the high-risk group was significantly positive with overall survival (OS). Moreover, the nomogram has better sensitivity and specificity for predicting the OS. And the ROC, C-index indicated good performance of the prognostic signature in the TCGA and GEO dataset. Conclusion: Prognostic model associated with cancer stem cells (CSCs) reliably predict OS in PADC. this might be beneficial for the treatment of PADC patients.
Understanding the Spatially Explicit Distribution of Regional Tree Species Using Multi-Seasonal Sentinel-1&2 Imagery within Google Earth Engine
Authors: Xie Bo , Cao Chunxiang , Xu Min , Bashir Barjeece , Chen Yiyu , Duerler Robert S. , Wang Kaimin
Published: February 2021

Background Accurate information on tree species is much in demand for forestry management and further investigations on biodiversity and forest ecosystem services. Over regional or large areas, discriminating tree species at high resolution is deemed challenging by lack of representative features and computational power. Methods A novel methodology to delineate the explicit spatial distribution of dominated six tree species (Pinus, Quercus, Betula, Populus, Larch, and Apricot) and one residual class using the analysis-ready large volume multi-sensor imagery within Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform is demonstrated and used to map a 10 m classification with detail analysis of spatial pattern for an area covering over 90,000 km 2 between 41° N and 45° N. Random Forest (RF) algorithm built into GEE was used for tree species mapping, together with the multi-temporal features extracted from Sentinel-1/2 and topographic imagery data. The composition of tree species in natural forests and plantations in city and county-level were performed in detail afterwards. Results The proposed model achieved a reliable overall agreement (77.5%, 0.71 kappa), and the detailed analysis on the spatial distributing of targeted species indicated that the plantations (Pinus, Populus, Larch, and Apricot) outnumber natural forests (Quercus and Betula) by 6%, and they were mainly grown in the northern and southern regions, respectively. Moreover, Arhorchin had the largest total forest area of over 4,500 km 2 , while Hexingten and Aohan ranked first in natural forest and plantation area, and the class proportion of the number of tree species in Karqin and Ningcheng was more balanced. Conclusions It is our belief that combined multi-source information of the machine learning algorithm within cloud platforms is beneficial to map a reliable spatial tree species over large areas on a fine scale. High-resolution tree species information based on online tools could be more easily considered for practical forestry management and further studies on forest ecosystems.
Tubular PAN/CNC Thin Film Nanocomposite (TFN) Pressure Retarded Osmosis (PRO) Membrane: Fabrication and Preliminary Evaluation in Desalination Process
Authors: PASAOGLU Mehmet Emin , KOYUNCU Ismail
Published: February 2021

The aim of this work is to fabricate tubular nanocellulose-based nanofiber pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) by electrospinning. The PRO process requires high performance, high flux, high rejection and resistant membranes under harsh conditions. Because conventional phase-inversion membranes are not sufficient to perform the required water flux. Because of this reason, alternative membrane fabrication methods need to be develop. Recently, lots of studies are carried out to fabricate strong enough nanofiber pressure retarded osmosis membranes which are resistant higher pressure pressure while providing high flux and high rejection rates. In this study, cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) added PAN nanocomposite nanofiber PRO membranes successfully fabricated by tailor made electrospinning equipment. According to the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), FT-IR, Dynamic Mechanical Analysis, Porometer and Contact Angle analysis results, it is concluded that PAN and CNC provided a complete mixture and the addition of CNC increased the mechanical strength in the PAN membranes which is the crucial phenomena in PRO applications.In this study, the newly fabricated membrane achieves a higher PRO water flux of 405.38 LMH with using a 1 M NaCl and a DI as feed water. The corresponding salt flux is found as 2.10 gMH which is higher than our previous study (Pasaoglu et al., 2020). The selectivity of the reversed flux represented by the ratio of the water flow to the reversed salt flux (Jw/ Js) was able to be kept as high as 193.03 L/g for PRO operation.As far as we know, the performance of the work developed membrane in this study has shawn better performance than all PRO membranes reported in the literature previously.
Green Cardamom Plus Low Calorie Diet Can Decrease Inflammatory Genes Expression Among Obese Women With Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome, A Double Blind Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Cheshmeh Sahar , Ghayyem Maysa , Khamooshi Firoozeh , Heydarzadeh Neda , Hojati Niloofar , Mosaieby Elaheh , Moradi Shima , Pasdar Yahya
Published: February 2021

PurposePolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of endocrine disorder and infertility among womenin which is related with low grade inflammation. Therefore, this current randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlledclinical trial assessed the effects of green cardamom supplementation on inflammatory markers and gene expressionamong obese women with PCOS.MethodsWe included 194 obese PCOS women that gave all of them low calorie diet. These subjects were randomlydivided in two studied groups including intervention with 3 g/day green cardamom (n=99) and placebo groups (n=95).Anthropometric indices, androgen hormones, and inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-α), Interleukin6 (IL-6), and C- reactive protein (CRP)) were assessed before and after four months intervention. Their TNF-α, IL-6,and CRP genes expression level were measured using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)method.ResultsAnthropometric indices were improved in both two studied groups (P<0.001). Among androgen hormonesluteinizing hormone, androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone were significantly decreased (P<0.001), as wellas, follicle-stimulating hormone was significantly increased (P<0.001) in the green cardamom group. Our findingsshowed that TNF-α, IL-6, and CRP serum were significantly decreased after the intervention with green cardamomplus low calorie diet (P<0.001). In addition, the expression level of TNF-α and CRP genes were significantly decreasedin intervention groups (P<0.001).ConclusionsThis present study support the beneficial anti-inflammatory effect of green cardamom on theinflammatory status in the PCOS women.Level of evidenceLevel I, randomized clinical trialTrial registrationThis trial was registered with the Iranian Clinical Trials Registry (registration number:IRCT20200608047697N1). 1 August, 2020; https://www.irct.ir/trial/48748
Optimal Transport-Based Early Detection of Mild Cognitive Impairment Patients Based on Magnetic Resonance Images
Authors: Liu Ziyu , Johnson Travis , Shao Wei , Zhang Min , Zhang Jie , Huang Kun
Published: February 2021

BackgroundTo help clinicians provide timely treatment and delay disease progress, it is crucial to identifydementia patients during the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) stage and stratify these MCI patients into earlyand late MCI stages before they progress to alzheimer's disease (AD). In the process of diagnosing MCI andAD in living patients, brain scans are regularly collected using neuroimaging technologies such as computedtomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or positron emission tomography (PET). These brainscans measure the volume and molecular activity within the brain resulting in a very promising avenue todiagnose patients early in a non-invasive manner.MethodsWe have developed an optimal transport based transfer learning model to discriminate betweenearly and late MCI. Combing this transfer learning model with bootstrap aggregation strategy, we overcomethe over-tting problem and improve model stability and prediction accuracy.ResultsWith the transfer learning methods that we have developed, we outperform the current state of theart MCI stage classication frameworks and show that it is crucial to leverage alzheimer's disease and normalcontrol subjects to accurately predict early and late stage cognitive impairment.ConclusionsOur method is the current state of the art based on benchmark comparisons. This method is anecessary technological stepping stone to widespread clinical usage of MRI based early detection of AD.
The characteristics and nomogram for primary lung lepidic adenocarcinoma
Authors: Tang Hui , Wang Yingyi , Bai Chunmei
Published: February 2021

Background

Lepidic adenocarcinoma (LPA) is an infrequent subtype of invasive pulmonary adenocarcinoma (ADC). However, the clinicopathological features and prognostic factors of LPA have not been elucidated. We undertook a retrospective population-based analysis to examine the clinicopathological features of LPA, and construct nomograms predicting long-term survival of LPA patients.

Methods

Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database of 4087 LPA patients diagnosed between 2005 and 2014 were retrospectively analyzed and compared with non-LPA pulmonary ADC to explore the clinicopathological and prognosis features of LPA. All patients included in our study were histologically confirmed. Those with multiple primary tumors in their lifetime, unknown survival data, unknown tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, and unknown information including age, race, and marital status were excluded. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were performed to identify independent survival predictors for further nomogram development. The nomograms were internally and externally validated for concordance index and calibration plots as well as decision curve analysis.

Results

Compared with non-LPA pulmonary ADC patients, those with LPA exhibited unique clinicopathological features, including more elderly and female patients, smaller tumor size, lesser pleural invasion, lower histological grade and stage. Multivariate analyses showed that age, sex, marital status, primary tumor size, pleural invasion, histological grade, stage, primary tumor surgery, and chemotherapy were independently associated with overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients with LPA, while race was the only independent prognostic factor for OS, not for CSS. The nomograms showed good accuracy comparing with actual observed results and demonstrated improved prognostic capacity than TNM stage.

Conclusions

Patients with LPA are more common in older age and female. The smaller tumor size, lower histological grade and stage are the clinicopathological features of LPA which may indicate a good prognosis. The constructed nomograms accurately predict the long-term survival of LPA patients.
Livelayer: A Semi-Automatic Software Program for Segmentation of Layers and Diabetic Macular Edema in Optical Coherence Tomography Images
Authors: Montazerin Mansooreh , Sajjadifar Zahra , Pour Elias Khalili , Riazi-Esfahani Hamid , Mahmoudi Tahereh , Rabbani Hossein , Movahedian Hossein , Dehghani Alireza , Akhlaghi Mohammadreza , Kafieh Rahele
Published: February 2021

Given the capacity of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) imaging to display symptoms of a wide variety of eye diseases and neurological disorders, the need for OCT image segmentation and the corresponding data interpretation is latterly felt more than ever before. In this paper, we wish to address this need by designing a semi-automatic software program for applying reliable segmentation of 8 different macular layers as well as outlining retinal pathologies such as diabetic macular edema. The software accommodates a novel graph-based semi-automatic method, called “Livelayer” which is designed for straightforward segmentation of retinal layers and fluids. This method is chiefly based on Dijkstra’s Shortest Path (SPF) algorithm and the Live-wire function together with some preprocessing operations on the to-be-segmented images. The software is indeed suitable for obtaining detailed segmentation of layers, exact localization of clear or unclear fluid objects and the ground truth, demanding far less endeavor in comparison to a common manual segmentation method. It is also valuable as a tool for calculating the irregularity index in deformed OCT images. The amount of time (seconds) that Livelayer required for segmentation of ILM, IPL-INL, OPL-ONL was much less than that for the manual segmentation, 5s for the ILM (minimum) and 15.57s for the OPL-ONL (maximum). The unsigned errors (pixels) between the semi-automatically labeled and gold standard data was on average 2.7, 1.9, 2.1 for ILM, IPL-INL, OPL-ONL, respectively. The Bland-Altman plots indicated perfect concordance between the Livelayer and the manual algorithm and that they could be used interchangeably. The repeatability error was around one pixel for the OPL-ONL and < 1 for the other two. The dice scores for comparing the two algorithms and for obtaining the repeatability on segmentation of fluid objects were at acceptable levels.
Fertility and Sperm Quality of 1- and 2-year-Old Native Ganders Used for Natural Mating and Artificial Insemination
Authors: BOZ Mehmet Akif , BAŞ Hatice , SARICA Musa , ERENSOY Kadir
Published: February 2021

In the present study, the fertility rate and egg-hatching results from either natural mating or artificial insemination using 1- and 2-year-old domestic Turkish geese were compared. Sperm quality traits of 1- and 2-year-old ganders used for mating were determined. The study comprised 72 two-year-old females, 12 one-year-old, and 12 two-year-old ganders at the beginning of the laying period. Thirty-six female geese were mated naturally (18 with 1-year-old ganders, 18 with 2-year-old ganders); the remaining 36 were artificially inseminated (18 with 1-year-old ganders, 18 with 2-year-old ganders). Twenty-four ganders were separated into groups (12 for natural mating; 12 for artificial insemination). The male-to-female ratio in both mating protocols was 1:3. The geese were housed during the laying period in a natural and artificially ventilated house under natural lighting (increased day length). Quality traits, such as semen volume, sperm concentration, sperm quality factor (SQF), sperm motility, and some sperm morphological properties were determined. Fertility was higher in the groups containing 2-year-old ganders than in those using 1-year-old ganders (P < 0.05). The effect of insemination on semen volume, sperm concentration, SQF, sperm motility, total live sperm, normal sperm, macrocephalus sperm, and dead sperm was determined to be significant (P < 0.05). As a result, there is a need to improve the egg production and broody behavior traits of domestic Turkish geese. In addition, the use of 2-year-old geese in artificial insemination is appropriate and will contribute positively to the breeding and selection process.
Sublobar Resection Versus Ablation for Stage I Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Li Yong , Yang Fang , Huang Ya-Yong , Wang Tao
Published: February 2021

BackgroundStage I non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) can be treated by both ablation and sublobar resection (SR). This meta-analysis was therefore designed to better compare the relative safety and efficacy of these two approaches to treating stage I NSCLC.Materials and MethodsRelevant studies published through November 2020 in the Cochrane Library, Embase, and PubMed databases were identified for analyses which were conducted with RevMan v5.3. ResultsIn total, 816 potentially relevant articles were identified, of which 8 were ultimately included in the final meta-analysis. Patients in the SR group exhibited a signficantly lower pooled local recurrence (LR) rate (5.0% vs. 25.4%, P < 0.0001), although pooled distant recurrence (DR) rates were similar in both groups (25.7% vs. 23.1%, P = 0.75). The pooled hazard ratio (HR) for overall survival (OS) (HR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.13-1.33, P < 0.00001), progression-free survival (PFS) (HR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.15-1.55, P = 0.0002), and cancer-specific survival (CSS) (HR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.15-1.70, P = 0.0009) all indicated better survival outcomes among patients that underwent HR treatment, while pooled complication rates were similar in both groups (27.7% vs. 43.8%, P = 0.27). Patients that underwent ablation exhibited significantly shorter pooled post-operative hospitalization relative to those in the SR group (MD: 5.93; 95% CI: 0.78-11.07, P = 0.02). No evidence of publication bias was detected through funnel plot analyses.Conclusions﻿SR treatment of stage I NSCLC patients was associated with a lower LR rate and longer survival as compared to ablation.
Polyaniline as a Sacrificing Template for the Synthesis of Ultra-small Co3O4 Nanoparticles for the Sensitive and Selective Detection of Methotrexate (MTX)
Authors: Qureshi Irum Naz , Tahira Aneela , Aljadoa Khoulwod , Alsalme Ali M. , Al-Othman Asma A. , Nafady Ayman , Kasry Amal , Ibupoto Zafar Hussain
Published: February 2021

The successful monitoring of the anticancer drugs using nanostructured materials is very important but very challenging task. Beside this, uniform and ultra-small size of metal oxide nanoparticles is highly needed in order to enhance the catalytic activity which could result into the development of sensitive and selective electrochemical sensors for methotrexate (MTX). For this purpose, we have used a simple approach involving the polyaniline (PANI) as a sacrificing template for the growth of uniform and ultra-small Co3O4 nanoparticles by hydrothermal method. The structure, shape, composition and phase purity were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform Infrared (FTIR) techniques. The average size of Co3O4 nanoparticles was below 50 nm. The cubic crystallography is confirmed for the Co3O4 nanoparticles. The electrochemical properties of PANI assisted Co3O4 nanoparticles for MTX drug was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) in Britton–Robinson buffer (BRB) of pH 3.5. The PANI assisted Co3O4 nanoparticles were found highly sensitive for the MTX drug and exhibited a linear range from 5-75µM of MTX and limit of detection for the modified electrode was estimated 1.98µM. The proposed electrochemical sensor is low cost, simple, highly sensitive and selective towards MTX detection. The synthetic methodology using the conducting polymer as a sacrificing template for the growth of controlled and ultra-small Co3O4 nanoparticles can be utilized for the wide range of electrochemical applications.
Effect of n-3 Ployunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation on Pregnancy Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Hao Yingying , Sun Xiaoshi , Wen Ningning , Li Hong
Published: February 2021

Background: The goal of this study was to review relevant studies in order to determine the effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) supplementation on pregnancy outcomes based on eligible randomized controlled trails (RCTs). Method: Qualified studies were searched by keywords in PubMed, Cochrane and Embase. Studies from other pertinent sources were also reviewed, RCT studies published before January 2021 were reviewed. For each study, we assessed and synthesized the outcomes by relative risk (RR) or weighted mean difference (WMD) combined with 95% confidence interval (95% CI).Result: We included 29 studies with 5623 patients. Compared with the control group, n-3 PUFA significantly decreased the incidence of preterm delivery (PD) (RR: 0.898, 95%CI: 0.819~0.984), low birthweight (RR: 0.797, 95%CI: 0.655~0.970), and preeclampsia (RR: 0.814, 95%CI: 0.687~0.966); increased the birth weight (WMD: 99.340, 95%CI: 10.503~188.177) and birth length (WMD: 0.449, 95%CI: 0.236~0.663). There was no significant difference in PIH, IUIG, early PD, anti-hypertensive therapy, gestational diabetes and head circumference at birth between the two groups.Conclusion: The available evidence shows that n-3 PUFA is not beneficial in reducing the incidence of maternal pregnancy outcomes such as gestational diabetes mellitus and hypertension, but it is beneficial to neonatal health.
Study on Mechanical Property and Biocompatibility in Vitro of 3D Printing Tantalum- Niobium Alloy Implants.
Authors: Li Huiling , Zhang Jian , Yao Zhigang , Huang Junhui
Published: February 2021

tooth defects or deletions. Tantalum (Ta) has been widely used in the biomedical field, but its application in artificial dental implants is rarely reported. In this study, Tantalum-Niobium alloy (TaNb40) implant prepared by 3D printing—SLS was used as the research subject. Its mechanical properties in vitro and the biocompatibility by utilizing human Oral Mucosa Fibroblasts (hOMF) were studied. Results: The mechanical property test results were that the Tensile Strength, Yield Strength, Elongation, and Vickers hardness of TaNb40 implant was 548 ± 50MPa, 420 ± 30MPa, 40%, and 425HV, respectively, manifesting the two indicators met the requirements of dental metal implant, and had good mechanical properties of wear resistance and not easy to brittle fracture. The cytocompatibility test showed that TaNb40 did not inhibit cell proliferation and produce cell cycle arrest. The cytotoxicity grade was 1, there was almost no metal ion release in the culture medium, and the surface had fine cell early adhesion, which met the requirements of biomedical materials. Conclusion: The TaNb40 prepared by domestic 3D printing—SLS has excellent mechanical properties and cytocompatibility in vitro, which is expected to replace the Titanium metal implant prepared by the traditional casting method, having a leading significance for the formation of implants with independent intellectual property rights.
NEDD4L Regulates the Proliferation and Metastasis of Non-small-cell Lung Cancer by Mediating CPNE1 Ubiquitination
Authors: Zhang Ruochen , Zeng Yuanyuan , Zhang Weijie , Li Yue , Zhou Jieqi , Zhang Yang , Wang Anqi , Lv Yantian , Zhu Jianjie , Liu Zeyi , Huang Jian-an
Published: February 2021

High expression of CPNE1 is positively correlated with the occurrence, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), suggesting that CPNE1 may be an effective target for the treatment of NSCLC. No direct role of post-translational modification of CPNE1 in NSCLC has been reported. This study confirms that CPNE1 is degraded by two pathways: the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and the autophagy-lysosome pathway. CPNE1 binds with the ubiquitin molecule via its K157 residue. Moreover, we determine that the ubiquitin ligase NEDD4L can mediate the ubiquitination of CPNE1 and promote its degradation. In addition, we find that NEDD4L knockout promotes the proliferation and metastasis of NSCLC cells by regulating CPNE1. This study aims to further investigate the mechanism of CPNE1 ubiquitination in the occurrence and development of NSCLC and provide a new potential target for NSCLC treatment.
Clinicopathological and prognostic evaluations of anorectal cancer after fecal diversion for patients with Crohn's disease
Authors: Kuroki Hirosuke , Sugita Akira , Koganei Kazutaka , Tatsumi Kenji , Futatsuki Ryo , Nakao Eiichi , Obara Nao , Arai Katsuhiko
Published: February 2021

Purpose: Colorectum diversion with a proximal stoma is often the preferred surgical approach in patients with Crohn's disease-related anorectal lesions or refractory colitis. To date, few studies have assessed the incidence and prognosis of cancer in the diverted anorectal segments. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of anorectal cancer associated with Crohn's disease following fecal diversion.Methods: This was a retrospective study based on medical records of patients diagnosed with Crohn's disease between 1999 and 2020. It was conducted at Yokohama Municipal Citizen's Hospital. Patients diagnosed with anorectal cancer following fecal diversion were identified, and their prognosis was the primary outcome measure.Results: Among 1,615 patients, 232 patients (14%) underwent colorectum diversion. Of those 232 patients, 12 were diagnosed with anorectal cancer following fecal diversion, nine were diagnosed with advanced cancer, 10 underwent abdominoperineal resection, and eight died. The overall five-year survival rate in patients diagnosed with anorectal cancer following fecal diversion was 20%. Conclusion: Crohn's disease-associated anorectal cancer following fecal diversion was challenging to diagnose early, and patients had a poor prognosis even after curative resection. Early abdominoperineal resection may be considered for patients with Crohn's disease who cannot benefit from cancer screening and surveillance due to difficulty accessing the anorectal stricture via endoscopy.
Clinical Significance of Prognostic Alternative Splicing Signature in Tumor Immune Environment and Immune Therapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Xu Qianhui , Xu Hao , Deng Rongshan , Li Nanjun , Mu Ruiqi , Qi Zhixuan , Shen Yunuo , Wang Zijie , Wen Jingchao , Zhao Jiaxin , Weng Di , Huang Wen
Published: February 2021

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks the sixth prevalent tumors with high mortality globally. Alternative splicing (AS) drives protein diversity, the imbalance of which might act an important factor in tumorigenesis. We aimed to construct of AS-based prognostic signature and elucidate the role in tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and immunotherapy in HCC.Methods: To determine the prognosis-related AS events, univariate Cox regression analysis was performed, followed by the development of prognostic signatures. The prognosis predictive ability of risk signature was validated and a predictive nomogram was constructed. To uncover the context of TIME in HCC, ESTIMATE R package, ssGSEA algorithm and CIBERSORT method and TIMER database exploration were performed. And the correlation of AS events with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB)-related genes was analyzed.Results: A total of 3294 AS events associated with survival of HCC patients were screened. Based on splicing subtypes, we then constructed eight AS prognostic signature with robust prognostic predictive accuracy. Furthermore, a quantitative nomogram exhibited robust validity in prognostic prediction of HCC. Besides, the consolidated signature was significantly correlated with TIME diversity and ICB-related genes. Finally, the splicing regulatory network uncovered the potential functions of splicing factors (SFs) in HCC.Conclusion: Herein, the AS events may contribute novel and robust indicators for the prognostic prediction of HCC. The AS-SF networks could open up new approach for investigation of potential regulatory mechanisms. And we revealed the pivotal player of AS events in context of TIME and immunotherapy, contributing to clinical decision-making and personalized prognosis monitoring of HCC.
All-Dielectric Meta-optics for High-Efficiency Independent Amplitude and Phase Manipulation
Authors: Raeker Brian , Zheng Hanyu , Zhou You , Kravchenko Ivan , Valentine Jason , Grbic Anthony
Published: February 2021

Metasurfaces, composed of subwavelength scattering elements, have demonstrated remarkable control over the transmitted amplitude, phase, and polarization of light. However, manipulating the amplitude upon transmission has required loss if a single metasurface is used. Here, we describe high-efficiency independent manipulation of the amplitude and phase of a beam using two lossless phase-only metasurfaces separated by a distance. With this configuration, we experimentally demonstrate optical components such as combined beam-forming and splitting devices, as well as those for forming complex-valued, three-dimensional holograms. The compound meta-optic platform provides a promising approach for achieving high performance optical holographic displays and compact optical components, while exhibiting a high overall efficiency.
Strategies for the Implementation of an Electronic Fracture Risk Assessment Tool in Long Term Care: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Bai Yuxin , McArthur Caitlin , Ioannidis George , Giangregorio Lora , Straus Sharon , Papaioannou Alexandra
Published: February 2021

Background: Older adults in long-term care (LTC) homes experience high rates of fractures, which are detrimental to their quality of life. The purpose of this study is to identify and make recommendations on knowledge translation interventions to implementing an evidence-based Fracture Risk Clinical Assessment Protocol (CAP) in LTC. Methods: Following the Behaviour Change Wheel framework, we conducted focus group interviews with 32 LTC stakeholders (e.g. LTC physicians) to identify barriers and facilitators, suggest intervention options, and discuss whether the identified interventions were feasible. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic content analysis. Results: The intervention themes that met the APEASE criteria were minimizing any increase in workload, training on CAP usage, education for residents and families, and persuasion through stories. Other intervention themes identified were culture change, resident-centred care, physical restructuring, software features, modeling in training, education for staff, social rewards, material rewards, public benchmarking, and regulations. Conclusions: To implement the Fracture Risk CAP in LTC, KT interventions centred around minimizing any increase in workload, training on CAP usage, providing education for residents and families, and persuading through stories may be used. Results from this work will improve identification and management of LTC residents at high fracture risk and could inform the implementation of guidelines for other conditions in LTC homes.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Related Renal Cell Carcinoma: a Retrospective Study of 19 Cases
Authors: Zhang Mengmeng , Zhu Zhiqiang , xue wenrui , liu Hui , Zhang Yu
Published: February 2021

Purpose: We aimed to investigate basic information, clinical findings, treatments for tumor, pathology and outcomes of HIV-positive patients diagnosed renal cell carcinoma(RCC). Patients and Methods: We collected 19 patients from 2012 to 2020 who diagnosed RCC with HIV- positive. A retrospective analyze was performed on their hospitalization course and tumor related parameters, including basic information, clinical findings, HIV associated datas, pathology, treatments for tumor and outcomes.Results: In our study, patients were diagnosed RCC at the median age 51. Males took a great part(17 males,89%) in all patients, while only 2 females were diagnosed. The median CD4+ T-lymphocyte cell count was 462 cells/ul when diagnosed RCC(range from 111 cells/ul to 1536 cells/ul). 11 patients diagnosed RCC and HIV infection at the same time, who may have high viral load and low CD4+ T-lymphocyte cell count. 8 patients accepted a median HAART for 30 months(range from 11 months to 108months) prior to diagnosis of RCC. All the patients performed operations successfully, and 4 of them performed partial nephrecotomy. Only 1 patient was identified with chromophobe cell carcinoma, 1 with partially clear cell and partialy papillary carcinoma, and 17 with clear cell carcinoma. 2 of the patients with Fuhrman grade2-3 accepted cytokine therapy with IL-2 and IFN-α. 2 patients died of lung metastasis one year and six months after surgery respectively, even though 1 patient accepted full dose targeted therapy (Sorafenib) for 3 months, and one refused adjuvant therapy. The remaining 17 patients are still alive at a median follow-up of 34 months, however 1 patient live with lung and brain metastases at last follow-up of 3 years after surgery.Conclusions: RCC Patients with HIV-positive were similar to general population in terms of clinical characters, treatment measures, and pathology. RCC patients with HIV- positive seemed like to obey the same clinical practice guideline as in general population. The outcomes of HIV-positive patients with partial nephrectomy are not inferior to patients with radical nephrectomy. Further more experience in targeted therapy and immunal therapy( PD-1/ PD-L1 inhibitors) needs to be learned.
Quantitative Proteomic Analysis Shows Involvement of the p38 MAPK Pathway in Bovine Parainfluenza Virus Type 3 Replication
Authors: Li Liyang , Li Pengfei , Chen Ao , Li Hanbing , Liu Zhe , Yu Liyun , Hou Xilin
Published: February 2021

Bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 (BPIV3) infection often causes respiratory tissue damage and immunosuppression and results in bovine respiratory disease complex. Bovine respiratory disease complex is one of the major diseases in dairy cattle and causes huge economical losses every year. The pathogenetic and immunoregulatory mechanisms involved in the process of BPIV3 infection, however, remain unknown. Proteomics is a powerful tool for high-throughput identification of proteins and has been widely used to understand how viruses interact with host cells. In the present study, we report a proteomic analysis to investigate the whole cellular protein alterations of MDBK cells infected with BPIV3. To investigate the invasion process of BPIV3 and the immune response mechanism of MDBK cells, isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation analysis (iTRAQ) and Q-Exactive mass spectrometry-based proteomics were performed. The differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) involved in the BPIV3 invasion process in MDBK cells were identified, annotated, and quantitated. A total of 116 proteins, which included 74 upregulated proteins and 42 downregulated proteins, were identified as DEPs between the BPIV3-infected and the mock-infected groups. These DEPs included corresponding proteins related to inflammatory response, immune response, and lipid metabolism. These results might provide some insights for understanding the pathogenesis of BPIV3. Fluorescent quantitative PCR and western blotting analysis showed results consistent with those of iTRAQ identification. Interestingly, the upregulated protein MKK3 was associated with the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. The results of proteomics analysis indicated BPIV3 infection could activate the p38 MAPK pathway to promote virus replication.
Debridement and Corpectomy Via Single Posterior Approach to Treat Pyogenic Spondylitis after Vertebral Augmentation
Authors: Zhang Shuai , Wang Song , Wang Qing , Yang Jin , Xu Shuang
Published: February 2021

Background Infection after VA often limits the daily activities of patients and even threatens their life. Operation has become an indispensable choice for such patients. sPVRIF may be one of the effective treatments if the patient suffers from intolerable severe pain, neurological deficits, and damage to spinal stability. This study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy of treatment of PSVA with sPVRIF. Methods The study was performed on 19 patients with PSVA who underwent VA at 4 hospitals in the region between January 2010 and July 2020. Nineteen patients were included. Among them, 16 patients underwent sPVRIF to treat the PSVA.Results A total of 2267 patients underwent VA at 4 hospitals in the region. Of the 19 patients with postoperative PSVA, suppurative spondylitis was misdiagnosed as an osteoporotic vertebral fracture in 4 patients and they underwent VA. Besides osteoporosis, 18 patients had other comorbidities.The average interval between the first surgery and the diagnosis of PSVA was 96.4 days. Of the 19 patients, 16 received surgical treatment.Among the patients undergoing surgery, one died of refractory septic shock after the surgery, and one died of prostate cancer. The surgical time was 175.0±16.8min, and the intraoperative blood loss was 465.6±166.0 mL.Fourteen patients recovered from the infection.Pathogenic microorganisms were cultured in 12 patients. Conclusion PSVA is an extremely serious complication that can even threaten the life of the patients.sPVRIF may be one of the effective treatments if the patient suffers from intolerable severe pain, neurological deficits, and damage to spinal stability.
Screening Potential Prognostic Factors for gastric carcinoma and Indicators for Tumor Microenvironment Remodeling in Female and Male patients Based on TCGA Data Mining
Authors: Hai Xinghua , Liu Fang , Jin Li , Wang Xiaoyu , Pang Yan , Li Huanan , Zhang Wei , Luo Xiongfei , Sun Qing
Published: February 2021

Background: The tumour microenvironment (TME) is closely involved in the genesis and development of gastric carcinoma (GC). However, few studies have investigated the impact of sex on the dynamic modulation of immune and stromal components in the TME. Methods: In this review, we employed the CIBERSORT and ESTIMATE algorithms to analyse the ratio of tumour-infiltrating immune cells (TICs) and the number of immune and stromal components in 130 female and 218 male GC cases from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. COX regression analysis and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were conducted to analyse the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Results: The results showed that the Fc fragment of IgG receptor IIa (FCGR2A) in females and GDNF family receptor alpha 1 (GFRA1) in males were predictive factors by intersection analysis of univariate COX and PPI. Moreover, FCGR2A was negatively correlated with the survival of female patients, while GFRA1 was positively related to the survival of male patients. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) demonstrated that genes in the FCGR2A high expression group were primarily enriched in the antigen processing and presentation pathway, while genes in the GFRA1 low expression group were primarily enriched in the cell cycle and DNA replication pathway. Furthermore, CIBERSORT analysis of the proportion of TICs demonstrated that M2 macrophages were positively correlated with FCGR2A expression. B cells, T cells, monocytes and macrophages were positively related to GFRA1 expression. Conclusions The levels of FCGR2A and GFRA1 might be utilized to outline the prognosis of female and male GC patients, respectively. The results of this study demonstrate the impact of sex on tumour progression and may facilitate the development of therapeutics for GC patients.