bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gut Microbiome Changes in Captive Plateau Zokors (Eospalax baileyi)
Authors: Liu Daoxin , Song Pengfei , Yan Jingyan , Wang Haijing , Cai Zhenyuan , Xie Jiuxiang , Zhang Tongzuo
Published: February 2021

Wild-caught animals must cope with drastic lifestyle and dietary changes after being induced to captivity. How the gut microbiome structure of these animals will change in response receives increasing attention. The plateau zokor ( Eospalax baileyi), a typic subterranean rodent endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, spends almost the whole life underground and is well adapted to the environmental pressures of both plateau and underground. However, how the gut microbiome of the plateau zokor will change in response to captivity has not been reported to date. This study compared the microbial community structure and functions of 22 plateau zokors before (the WS group) and after being kept in captivity for 15 days (the LS group, fed on carrots) using the 16S rRNA gene via high-throughput sequencing technology. The results showed that the LS group retained 973 of the 977 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in the WS group, and no new OTUs were found in the LS group. The dominant bacterial phyla were Bacteroides and Firmicutes in both groups. In alpha diversity analysis, the Shannon, Sobs, and ACE indexes of the LS group were significantly lower than those of the WS group. A remarkable difference ( P < 0.01) between groups was also detected in beta diversity analysis. The UPGMA clustering, NMDS, PCoA, and Anosim results all showed that the intergroup difference was significantly greater than the intragroup difference. And compared with the WS group, the intragroup difference of the gut microbiota in the LS group was much larger, which failed to support the assumption that similar diets should drive convergence of gut microbial communities. PICRUSt revealed that although some functional categories displayed significant differences between groups, the relative abundances of these categories were very close in both groups. Based on all the results, we conclude that as plateau zokors enter captivity for a short time, although the relative abundances of different gut microbiota categories shifted significantly, they can maintain almost all the OTUs and the functions of the gut microbiota in the wild. So, the use of wild-caught plateau zokors in gut microbial studies is acceptable if the time in captivity is short.
Learning (not) to be different: The value of vulnerability in trusted and safe identity work spaces
Authors: Corlett Sandra , Ruane Meadbh , Mavin Sharon
Published: February 2021

This paper explores how senior executives learn (not) to be different in Action Learning Set spaces (ALSS) as part of a business school Executive Education programme. We take a relational social constructionist approach in an empirical study and analyse senior executives’ narratives. This illuminates how executives co-construct action learning set spaces of openness, honesty, confidentiality and challenge and engage in relational processes of learning, vulnerability and identity work. In doing so executives learn to be different in relation to dominant discourses and norms of what it means to be a leader or manager which is personified through claims of vulnerability in the education context. Executives make sense of and work through learning to be comfortable with being uncomfortable, practising learning over time in a ‘safe enough’ space. We offer insights into identity work spaces, as leaders reconceptualise vulnerability as positive and as strength and how claiming vulnerability can defuse the power of fear and negative connotations often associated with vulnerability. With agency, executives express feeling better equipped to decide how and when to be different (vulnerability) or not be different (invulnerability) in their organisations. Practically we extend consciousness to the value of vulnerability for leader and manager identity and learning.
Unpopularity and cultural power in the age of Netflix: New questions for cultural studies’ approaches to television texts
Authors: Lotz Amanda D.
Published: February 2021

Although Internet-distributed television bears much in common with the television long studied and theorized using cultural studies-based approaches to analysis, several of its features profoundly deviate from earlier television norms and require reassessment and adaptation of theoretical frames. This article focuses on the issue of textual popularity in relation to these services and identifies key challenges to using the same frames of cultural power that have been used for studying television in the past. The underlying problem of audience fragmentation does not originate with streaming services, but this profound contextual change, in concert with industrial aspects that further distinguish internet-distributed television from television’s past norms, must be addressed. The article concludes by identifying several ways the cultural power of streaming services can be investigated despite the challenges that emerging norms of Internet-distributed video provide. This article is based on a paper presented at the Media in Transition symposium (Utrecht, June 28, 2018), in the Industries and Infrastructures panel organised by Judith Keilbach. Also published in this issue of ECS are Vicki Mayer, ‘From peat to Google power: communications infrastructures and structures of feeling in Groningen’ and Jennifer Holt & Michael Palm, ‘More than a number: the telephone and the history of digital identification’.
‘It’s like having one more family member’: Private hospitality, affective responsibility and intimate boundaries within refugee hosting networks
Authors: Monforte Pierre , Maestri Gaja , d’Halluin Estelle
Published: February 2021

Since 2015, the notion of hospitality has been a guiding principle and a key demand for individuals and organisations that provide direct support to refugees in Europe. Through a set of interviews conducted with volunteers active in the Refugees Welcome movement in Britain, France and Italy, this article explores the motivations and experiences of individuals who practise (private) hospitality by hosting refugees in their homes. Looking specifically at the ‘responsibility’ that emerges from the practice of hosting, we show that the experience of private hospitality is based on narratives stressing feelings of love and family-like relations, and thus creates the expectation of an affective connection between the host and the guest. We maintain that this process is highly ambivalent as it risks creating and reproducing everyday intimate bordering processes.
Gangs and social media: A systematic literature review and an identification of future challenges, risks and recommendations
Authors: Fernández-Planells Ariadna , Orduña-Malea Enrique , Feixa Pàmpols Carles
Published: February 2021

Gang literature increasingly reflects the importance of social media in gang lifestyle, as gang members adopt new communicative practices. Yet, because of the multifaceted nature of online gang activity and the diversity of methodologies employed, a general overview of research outcomes is not easily achieved. This article seeks to remedy this by analysing academic studies of gang use of social media. A systematic literature review was conducted in Scopus and Google Scholar databases, which led to the identification of 73 publications. We then undertook a content analysis of each publication using an exhaustive evaluation model, comprising 20 variables and 71 categories. A bibliometric analysis was also performed to determine the structural characteristics of the research community that generates these publications. Our results point to an emerging universe of publications with different themes, methods, samples and ethical protocols. The challenges, risks and recommendations for future social media research with youth street groups are identified.
The demise of #NSFW: Contested platform governance and Tumblr’s 2018 adult content ban
Authors: Sybert Jeanna
Published: February 2021

On December 3, 2018, Tumblr announced that it would ban sexually explicit content from the platform, drawing immediate backlash from users. The ensuing discord on the site is conceptualized here as contested platform governance, or a conflict between users and ownership, in which not only are a platform’s policies and features challenged, but also its core values, identity, and/or purposes are put into question. By examining 238 Tumblr posts, this analysis identifies the unique ways users combatted the ban and (re)inscribed community values, while also contesting the owners’ legitimacy to govern the platform. Holding implications for the site’s long-term survival, such conflicts capture a critical moment in which the boundaries of power between users and ownership are challenged and, possibly, transformed. By examining Tumblr’s Not Safe For Work (NSFW) ban through the lens of platform governance, this study offers insight into how power and its limits are negotiated online.
Transparency as metajournalistic performance: The New York Times’ Caliphate podcast and new ways to claim journalistic authority
Authors: Perdomo Gabriela , Rodrigues-Rouleau Philippe
Published: February 2021

Transparency is increasingly touted as a strategic tool for elevating journalistic authority. Despite this push, literature has overlooked how transparency can be utilized for authority purposes in audiovisual artefacts. In this paper, we conduct a qualitative thematic analysis of The New York Times’ podcast Caliphate to examine how transparency is strategically weaponized to stake a claim to journalistic authority. Based on the premise that transparency is a metajournalistic performance – a type of journalism about journalism that is performative in acting on people’s perception of journalistic authority – we identify three of those metajournalistic performances in the podcast: Revealing the journalistic process, Constructing the reporter’s persona and Reaffirming the journalistic culture. Together, they exhibit a form of self-celebratory transparency that strategically performs boundary-setting, definitional control and legitimization functions, in a bid to impress audiences and have them recognize the journalistic authority of the Caliphate reporters and The Times. We conclude with the implications of these strategic performances of transparency. First, how it can be used by reporters to reinstate verticality over audiences. Second, how the journalistic culture (norms, values, practices, etc.) can be transparently projected outward (to the public) or inward (to the journalist themself) to elevate authority – a new concept for journalism studies. Third, how metajournalistic performances of transparency may reveal power dynamics within the journalistic field.
How to tackle variations in elite interviews: Access, strategies, and power dynamics
Authors: Li Lantian
Published: February 2021

Existing work on elite interviewing methods falls short in two ways: first, there is no systematic comparison between the practices of interviewing different elite groups; second, most reflections are confined to Anglo-American contexts. To address these gaps, I reflect on how to tackle variations in elite interviews by analyzing my experience conducting over 150 interviews with a diverse set of elite stakeholders in a Chinese high-tech sector. I aim to make two arguments. First, the elite interviewee’s sphere of influence—national or local—is crucial to shaping interview access and power dynamics. Two distinct reference modes are compared: formal national networks and informal local connections, with university professors and government officials as gatekeepers, respectively. Second, to carve out a space for meaningful engagement with an informant, researchers need to adopt different positioning strategies according to the elite interviewee’s identity: a trustworthy, policy-oriented scholar for political elites; a neutral, non-profit stakeholder for economic elites; and, a perceptive, well-informed sociologist for professional elites.
Numerical study of the anti-penetration performance of sandwich composite armor containing ceramic honeycomb structures filled with aluminum alloy
Authors: Zhu Hongwei , Zhao Changfang
Published: February 2021

The aim of this work was to study the anti-penetration effect of sandwich composite armor with ceramic honeycomb structures filled with aluminum alloy under the impact of high-speed projectiles. The finite element software ABAQUS was used to conduct numerical simulation research on the process of a standard 12.7-mm projectile penetrating sandwich composite armor. The armor-piercing projectile model was simplified as a rigid body. The numerical simulation models were applied to three different sandwich composite armor structures (A, B, and C), each with a total armor thickness of 25 mm. The penetration resistance of the three kinds of composite armor was studied. We obtained velocity curves for the rigid projectile penetrating the different structures. The failure forms and penetration resistance characteristics of the three composite armor structures adopted in this paper were analyzed. In addition, the velocity reduction ratio is proposed as an index to evaluate the penetration resistance performance of the armor. The simulation results revealed decreasing rates of projectile speed in the structures A, B, and C of 69.6%, 91.1%, and 100%, respectively. The third composite armor (structure C) designed here has excellent penetration resistance and can block the penetration of a high-speed (818m/s) rigid projectile. This study can provide some reference for the application of laminated armor material in anti-penetration protection structures.
A routing-benefited deployment approach combining static and dynamic layouts for underwater optical wireless networks
Authors: Shen Zhongwei , Yin Hongxi , Liang Yanjun , Maao Rigele , Jing Lianyou
Published: February 2021

A routing-benefited deployment algorithm combining static and dynamic layouts is proposed, and its comprehensive performance evaluation is given in this article. The proposed routing-benefited deployment algorithm is intended to provide a suitable network deployment and subsequent data transmission approach for underwater optical networking and communication. Static nodes are anchored for long-term monitoring, and movable nodes can adjust their depths based on the virtual force and move with the variation of area-of-interest changing. Then, nodes begin to collect data that they can monitor and transmit to sink nodes. Here, the underwater wireless optical communication model is described to actualize the real environment, and the vector-based forwarding protocol is particularly considered to compare the impact of different deployment algorithms on routing. It is shown by simulation experiment results that routing-benefited deployment algorithm outperforms several existing traditional virtual force deployment algorithms in terms of coverage, lifetime, energy consumption balance, packet-loss rate, and time-delay.
Botulinum Toxin A and B Improve Perfusion, Increase Flap Survival, Cause Vasodilation, and Prevent Thrombosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Controlled Animal Studies
Authors: Goldberg Steven H. , Gehrman Max D. , Graham Jove H.
Published: February 2021

Background:

A systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control animal model studies will help clarify the vascular effects of botulinum toxin (BTX).

Methods:

Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were used to identify all animal case-control studies published before September 13, 2020, evaluating the vascular effects of BTX. Primary parameters included the following: perfusion, flap survival, arterial and venous dilation, and arterial and venous thrombosis.

Results:

Thirty-six studies with 1032 animals met the systematic review inclusion criteria. Twenty-nine studies had quantifiable data for statistical analysis. Statistically significant increases in perfusion with BTX over saline were detected within 1 day and sustained up to 8 weeks. The following represent weighted mean data from the meta-analysis. The administration of BTX has a 26% increase in both random pattern and pedicled flap survival area over controls. Botulinum toxin causes vasodilation. Botulinum toxin increases vessel diameter in arteries by 40% and in veins by 46% compared with saline controls. The administration of BTX reduces thrombosis by 85% in arteries and by 79% in veins compared with saline controls. Vascular effects were consistent across both BTX-A and BTX-B serotypes, multiple animal species, and various doses. No clear relationships between vascular effects and BTX pretreatment time were identified.

Conclusions:

Perivascular BTX administration intraoperatively or as a chemical delay pretreatment several days before surgery in multiple animal species and models shows multiple changes to the vascular system. Extrapolation of lessons learned from this systematic review and meta-analysis of animal models could expand research and clinical use of BTX in human vascular disease and surgery.
Whose Voices? Whose Knowledge? A Feminist Analysis of the Value of Key Informant Interviews
Authors: Lokot Michelle
Published: February 2021

Key informant interviews are a stalwart of qualitative research, particularly policy-focused research. So ubiquitous is this research method that it is sometimes taken for granted that key informants indeed have important knowledge and value. This commentary interrogates the emphasis that is sometimes placed on key informant interviews over other qualitative research methods, asking important questions including: why are these informants “key,” and who says they are “key”? This article uses a feminist lens to analyze key informant interviews, suggesting that the power and privilege surrounding key informants might inadvertently lead to key informant interviews being less participatory and more infused with vested interests than researchers might admit. Within the hierarchy of research methods, key informant interviews may be positioned as producing more valuable knowledge because of the status and expertise of the person being interviewed. Their “expert” status may lead to assumptions that key informants understand and represent their communities. This article draws attention to the gendered consequences of prioritizing the knowledge of key informants, contrasting this with feminist perspectives on knowledge production which value the voices and perspectives of “ordinary” community members. This article also points to the methodological advantages which power-holders benefit from when they participate in key informant interviews compared to focus group discussions or surveys, advocating for greater community voice (especially women’s voice) through in-depth interviews with “ordinary” women and increased critical analysis of the limits of key informant interviews.
Is There a Place for Theoretical Frameworks in Qualitative Research?
Authors: Garvey Casey M. , Jones Rachel
Published: February 2021

Qualitative research proceeds from the position that there is no one observable reality. Researchers utilizing qualitative methods build findings inductively, from raw data to a conceptual understanding. Theoretical frameworks may be utilized to guide qualitative analyses by suggesting concepts and relationships to explore. The framework may provide a sense of the story emerging from the analyses. And concurrently, the rich description provided by the analyses may allow the framework to be more deeply appreciated. However, there is a risk that using a theoretical framework may stifle inductive reasoning or result in findings incongruent to the data. The following is a discussion of the application of a theoretical framework in a qualitative study. This study, guided by the Common-Sense Model, explores the choice to undergo treatment for Hepatitis C Virus among veterans. Examples from the analyses are provided to facilitate discussion on the utilization of a theoretical framework. Techniques to optimize the use of a theoretical framework, as well as mitigate risks of such use, are presented. When utilized alongside rigorous data analyses and introspection, a theoretical framework may serve as a valuable tool to navigate data in qualitative research.
Wear of sprag clutch wedge in overrun state under high temperature condition
Authors: Li Jia , Yan Hongzhi , Lin Minghao , Cai Mengkai , Hu Xuan
Published: February 2021

A formula is proposed based on Archard’s wear model to calculate wedge wear depth in a positive continuous engagement (PCE)-type sprag clutch with double-disc inner cam wedge in the overrun state. Methods to solve for the equation parameters are proposed. Using a sprag clutch with an M50 steel wedge as an example, wedge wear depth variation over time under high temperatures was analyzed. An easy-to-clamp wedge was designed and a high-temperature abrasion testing machine was used to test the wedge. The worn surface profile was observed using a three-dimensional profiler and the wedge wear depth was obtained. The effects of lubrication, temperature and speed on wear were analyzed using mixed-level orthogonal experimental design. Results show that the theoretical values are consistent with test values. Therefore, the model can be used to calculate wear accurately for the overrunning sprag clutch. Lubrication affects wear depth significantly, whereas temperature has a smaller effect and speed has very little influence. Within the experimental scope, when the temperature increased by 1°C, the wear depth increased by approximately 0.0145 μm and when the speed increased by approximately 1 time/minute, the wear depth increased by 0.00854 μm. These results provide theoretical support for optimal sprag clutch design.
Claiming Martin Luther King, Jr. for the right: The Martin Luther King Day holiday in the Reagan era
Authors: Polletta Francesca , Maresca Alex
Published: February 2021

The article traces how American conservatives laid claim to the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. We focus on a key moment in that process, when Republicans in the early 1980s battled other Republicans to establish King’s birthday as a federal holiday and thereby distinguish a conservative position on racial inequality from that associated with southern opposition to civil rights. The victory was consequential, aiding the New Right’s efforts to roll back gains on affirmative action and other race-conscious policies. We use the case to explore the conditions in which political actors are able to lay claim to venerated historical figures who actually had very different beliefs and commitments. The prior popularization of the figure makes it politically advantageous to identify with his or her legacy but also makes it possible to do so credibly. As they are popularized, the figure’s beliefs are made general, abstract, and often vague in a way that lends them to appropriation by those on the other side of partisan lines. Such appropriation is further aided by access to a communicative infrastructure of foundations, think tanks, and media outlets that allows political actors to secure an audience for their reinterpretation of the past.
Does inflammatory bowel disease have different characteristics according to stage of adolescence?
Authors: Szántó Kata Judit , Balázs Tamás , Schrempf Dóra Mihonné , Farkas Klaudia , Molnár Tamás
Published: February 2021

Background:

There is a lack of data about demographic and treatment characteristics of adolescent patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this retrospective, epidemiological study was to evaluate characteristics and therapeutic features of Hungarian adolescents with IBD.

Methods:

We analysed the social security databases of the National Health Insurance Fund. Adolescent patients with IBD for whom data from 2009 to 2016 were observable in the database were enrolled. Patients aged 14 to 17 years and 18 to 21 years were defined as middle and late adolescent patients.

Results:

The incidences of IBD were 20.12 per 100,000 middle adolescent patients and 29.72 per 100,000 late adolescent patients. Admission to gastroenterology department was higher in both groups compared with admissions to surgery department. Mesalazine was used by a high proportion of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis patients. Rates of corticosteroid use were similar in both groups, with a tendency to decrease over time. The need for biologic agents was higher in the middle adolescent patients. The proportion of patients in the middle adolescent group who received anti-TNF therapy showed an increasing tendency.

Conclusion:

Our data suggest differences in the treatment strategies of gastroenterologists for these age groups. The greater need of anti-TNF therapy among the middle adolescent group indicates that adolescent patients before the transition to adult care may have a more severe disease phenotype. We expect that a strategy of early, effective treatment will significantly ameliorate the subsequent disease course, which is manifested in adult care.
The value of qualitative muscle MRI in the diagnostic procedures of myopathies: a biopsy-controlled study in 191 patients
Authors: Lehmann Urban Diana , Mohamed Mohamed , Ludolph Albert C. , Kassubek Jan , Rosenbohm Angela
Published: February 2021

Background and aims:

The role of muscle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnostic procedures of myopathies is still controversially discussed. The current study was designed to analyze the status of qualitative muscle MRI, electromyography (EMG), and muscle biopsy in different cases of clinically suspected myopathy.

Methods:

A total of 191 patients (male: n = 112, female: n = 79) with suspected myopathy who all received muscle MRI, EMG, and muscle biopsy for diagnostic reasons were studied, with the same location of biopsy and muscle MRI (either upper or lower extremities or paravertebral muscles). Muscle MRIs were analyzed using standard rating protocols by two different raters independently.

Results:

Diagnostic findings according to biopsy results and genetic testing were as follow: non-inflammatory myopathy: n = 65, inflammatory myopathy (myositis): n = 51, neurogenic: n = 18, unspecific: n = 23, and normal: n = 34. The majority of patients showed myopathic changes in the EMG. Edema, atrophy, muscle fatty replacement, and contrast medium enhancement (CM uptake) in MRI were observed across all final diagnostic groups. Only 30% of patients from the myositis group ( n = 15) showed CM uptake.

Discussion and conclusion:

The study provides guidance in the definition of the impact of muscle MRI in suspected myopathy: despite being an important diagnostic tool, qualitative MRI findings could not distinguish different types of neuromuscular diagnostic groups in comparison with the gold standard histopathologic diagnosis and/or genetic testing. The results suggest that neither muscle edema nor gadolinium enhancement are able to secure a diagnosis of myositis. The current results do not support qualitative MRI as aiding in the diagnostic distinction of various myopathies. Quantitative muscle MRI is, however, useful in the diagnostic procedure of a suspected neuromuscular disease, especially with regard to assessing progression of a chronic myopathy by quantification of the degree of atrophy and fatty replacement and in exploring patterns of muscle group involvements in certain genetic myopathies.
Off-label use of intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke: a critical appraisal of randomized and real-world evidence
Authors: Tsivgoulis Georgios , Kargiotis Odysseas , De Marchis Gianmarco , Kohrmann Martin , Sandset Else Charlotte , Karapanayiotides Theodore , Sousa Diana Aguiar de , Sarraj Amrou , Safouris Apostolos , Psychogios Klearchos , Vadikolias Konstantinos , Leys Didier , Schellinger Peter D. , Alexandrov Andrei V.
Published: February 2021

Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) represents the only systemic reperfusion therapy able to reverse neurological deficit in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Despite its effectiveness in patients with or without large vessel occlusion, it can be offered only to a minority of them, because of the short therapeutic window and additional contraindications derived from stringent but arbitrary inclusion and exclusion criteria used in landmark randomized controlled clinical trials. Many absolute or relative contraindications lead to disparities between the official drug label and guidelines or expert recommendations. Based on recent advances in neuroimaging and evidence from cohort studies, off-label use of IVT is increasingly incorporated into the daily practice of many stroke centers. They relate to extension of therapeutic time windows, and expansion of indications in co-existing conditions originally listed in exclusion criteria, such as use of alternative thrombolytic agents, pre-treatment with antiplatelets, anticoagulants or low molecular weight heparins. In this narrative review, we summarize recent randomized and real-world data on the safety and efficacy of off-label use of IVT for AIS. We also make some practical recommendations to stroke physicians regarding the off-label use of thrombolytic agents in complex and uncommon presentations of AIS or other conditions mimicking acute cerebral ischemia. Finally, we provide guidance on the risks and benefits of IVT in numerous AIS subgroups, where equipoise exists and guidelines and treatment practices vary.
The importance of FcRn in neuro-immunotherapies: From IgG catabolism, FCGRT gene polymorphisms, IVIg dosing and efficiency to specific FcRn inhibitors
Authors: Dalakas Marinos C. , Spaeth Peter J.
Published: February 2021

The neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) binds endogenous IgG and protects it from lysosomal degradation by transporting it back to the cell surface to re-enter the circulation, extending the serum IgG life span. FcRn plays a role in the function of IVIg because the supraphysiological IgG levels derived from IVIg administrations saturate the FcRn allowing the endogenous IgG to be degraded, instead of being recycled, resulting in high levels of infused IgG ensuring IVIg efficiency. New data in myasthenia gravis patients suggest that the that the Variable Number of Tandem 3/2 (VNTR3/2) polymorphisms in FCGRT, the gene that encodes FcRn, may affect the duration of infused IgG in the circulation and IVIg effectiveness. This review addresses these implications in the context of whether the FCGRT genotype, by affecting the half-life of IVIg, may also play a role in up to 30% of patients with autoimmune neurological diseases, such as Guillain–Barré syndrome, CIDP or Multifocal Motor Neuropathy, who did not respond to IVIg in controlled trials. The concern is of practical significance because in such patient subsets super-high IVIg doses may be needed to achieve high IgG levels and ensure efficacy. Whether FCGRT polymorphisms affect the efficacy of other therapeutic monoclonal antibodies by influencing their distribution clearance and pharmacokinetics, explaining their variable effectiveness, is also addressed. Finally, the very promising effect of monoclonal antibodies that inhibit FcRn, such as efgartigimod, rozanolixizumab and nipocalimab, in treating antibody-mediated neurological diseases is discussed along with their efficacy in the IgG4 subclass of pathogenic antibodies and their role in the blood–brain barrier endothelium, that abundantly expresses FcRn.
Fibronectin urothelial gene expression as a new reliable biomarker for early detection of local toxicity secondary to adjuvant intravesical therapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer
Authors: Di Maida Fabrizio , Scalici Gesolfo Cristina , Tellini Riccardo , Mari Andrea , Sanfilippo Chiara , Lambertini Luca , Grosso Antonio Andrea , Carini Marco , Minervini Andrea , Serretta Vincenzo
Published: February 2021

Background:

A marker of urothelial damage could be helpful for early detection and monitoring of local toxicity due to intravesical therapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between fibronectin (FN) gene expression in bladder washings and local toxicity secondary to adjuvant intravesical therapy.

Materials and methods:

Patients undergoing adjuvant intravesical therapy for NMIBC and age-matched healthy patients were enrolled. Real time polymerase chain reaction was performed to analyze FN expression in bladder washings. Local toxicity was classified as: 0–1 mild (no medical therapy), 2 moderate (medical therapy and/or instillation postponed), 3 severe (discontinuation of therapy).

Results:

Seventy-two patients and 21 controls entered the study. A useful pellet was obtained in 58 patients and 18 controls. Intravesical Bacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG), Epirubicin and Mitomycin C was offered to 69%, 13.8% and 17.2% of patients respectively. Compared with healthy controls (FN = 1.0 fold), overall median FN expression before adjuvant intravesical therapy was 1.73 fold [interquartile range (IQR) 0.8–2.3], while during therapy median FN expression increased to 3.41 (IQR: 1.6–6.1) fold. Considering 40 intermediate and high-risk patients undergoing intravesical BCG, median FN expression before adjuvant treatment was 1.92 [(IQR: 1.0–2.7) fold, increasing up to 4.1 (IQR: 1.9–6.6) during therapy. In more detail, FN increased during BCG therapy, showing a median expression of 4.22 (IQR: 2.2–5.5) and 6.16 (IQR: 2.6–8.7) fold in presence of grade 2 and 3 toxicity respectively, while remaining more or less stable in asymptomatic patients. After receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, FN value of 3.6 fold resulted, corresponding to 75% sensitivity and 69% specificity to predict grade 2–3 toxicity events (area under the curve 0.74, 95% confidence interval 0.63–0.85, p = 0.001).

Conclusion:

Our study validated the correlation between FN expression and urothelial damage. BCG seems to induce a urothelial activation with FN overexpression during adjuvant intravesical therapy. Grade of toxicity was related to FN expression.
Impact of the corticosteroid indication and administration route on overall survival and the tumor response after immune checkpoint inhibitor initiation
Authors: Gaucher Louis , Adda Leslie , Séjourné Alice , Joachim Camille , Chaby Guillaume , Poulet Claire , Liabeuf Sophie , Gras-Champel Valérie , Masmoudi Kamel , Moreira Aurélie , Bennis Youssef , Batteux Benjamin
Published: February 2021

Background:

Based on their indications, systemic corticosteroids appear to negatively affect clinical outcomes in immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-treated patients. There are few data on the influence of topical and inhaled corticosteroids on the ICIs’ effectiveness.

Methods:

In a single-center study, we retrospectively investigated the impact of systemic corticosteroids according to their indication [an immune-related adverse event (irAE) or another indication] on overall survival (OS) and the tumor response in all consecutive patients after initiation of ipilimumab, nivolumab or pembrolizumab over a 9-year period. The impacts of topical and inhaled corticosteroids were also examined.

Results:

Three hundred and seventy-two patients were included. The mean ± standard deviation age was 64.0 ± 12.1 years. The most frequently prescribed ICI was nivolumab (in 58.3% of the patients) and the most frequent indications were lung cancer (44.6%) and melanoma (29.6%). Systemic corticosteroid use for an irAE did not have a negative impact on OS [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] 1.04 (0.56–1.95), p = 0.902] or the best overall tumor response [adjusted odds ratio (OR) (95% CI) 1.69 (0.52–6.56), p = 0.413], while systemic corticosteroid use for another indication was associated with shorter OS [adjusted HR (95% CI) 1.34 (1.05–2.03), p = 0.046] and a poor best overall tumor response [adjusted OR (95% CI) 2.04 (1.07–5.80), p = 0.039] with a cumulative dose cut-off of 3215 mg prednisolone equivalent (specificity 71.4%; sensitivity 65.3%) and a time cut-off of 132 days (specificity 71.4%; sensitivity 89.8%). The use of topical corticosteroids was associated with a longer OS; this was probably due to dermatological irAEs. Inhaled corticosteroid use did not influence OS.

Conclusion:

Systemic corticosteroid use for an irAE does not impact OS or the tumor response, whereas use for other indications (themselves often associated with a worse prognosis) does. Topical and inhaled steroids do not have a negative impact on OS.
Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Bermond–Vorst Alexithymia Questionnaire: An Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling Study
Authors: Wang Zhihao , Wang Ting , Goerlich Katharina S. , Pitliya Riddhi J. , Bermond Bob , Aleman André , Xu Pengfei , Luo Yuejia
Published: February 2021

The Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20) has been widely used to assess alexithymia. The Bermond–Vorst Alexithymia Questionnaire (BVAQ) assesses two additional features of alexithymia—the affective factors of emotionalizing and fantasizing, which are not included in the TAS-20. However, there is currently no Chinese version of the BVAQ. Here, the authors collected data from 439 college students (293 females, aged 17–27, mean ± SD = 20.25 ± 1.88) to evaluate the psychometric properties for a Chinese BVAQ translation. Exploratory structural equation modeling and confirmatory factor analysis provided satisfactory validity and acceptable reliability for a six-factor first-order solution of a 35-item Chinese BVAQ. This adaptation retained the five original BVAQ factors (identifying, analyzing, verbalizing, emotionalizing, and fantasizing) and further specified the factor of identifying (successful identifying and unsuccessful identifying feelings). The authors also found a two-factor second-order model of cognitive and affective components for alexithymia in the Chinese population. Higher correlations with the TAS-20 were observed for identifying, analyzing, and verbalizing feelings (0.34 ∼ 0.61) relative to fantasizing and emotionalizing (0.02 ∼ −0.05). These results support the construct validity of the adaptation. This work provides a reliable and valid Chinese adaptation of the BVAQ.
Antifungal and Antiaging Evaluation of Aerial Part Extracts of Thymelaea hirsuta (L.) Endl
Authors: Amari Nesrine Ouda , Razafimandimby Bienvenue , Auberon Florence , Azoulay Stephane , Fernandez Xavier , Berkani Abdellah , Bouchara Jean-Philippe , Landreau Anne
Published: February 2021

In western Algeria, Thymelaea hirsuta aerial parts are traditionally used topically for the treatment of human skin infections. For a better knowledge of its biological activities, this study aimed at evaluating the in vitro antifungal activity and antiaging properties of several extracts of the aerial parts by in vitro assays. Antifungal activity was investigated by using the reference microbroth dilution method (National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards) against the dermatophytes ( Microsporum audouinii, Nannizzia gypsea, Trichophyton interdigitale, and Trichophyton rubrum) and the yeast ( Candida albicans). Antiaging (inhibition of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhyorazyl radical scavenging and tyrosinase, lipoxygenase, elastase, and hyaluronidase activities) assays were performed in 96-well plates. All the extracts of T. hirsuta exhibited antifungal activity against M. audouinii, T. rubrum, and C. albicans, while no activity was found against N. gypsea and T. interdigitale. The highest activity was observed on M. audouinii for the aqueous leaf (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] of 8 µg/mL) and stem extracts (MIC = 31 µg/mL) and the methanolic leaf extract (MIC = 8 µg/mL). Additionally, some marked morphological alterations were observed on M. audouinii hyphae with all aqueous extracts. Concerning antiage bioassays, the major activity was found against hyaluronidase for the aqueous and methanolic extracts from leaves and the methanolic extract from flowers. Analysis of this last extract by high-performance liquid chromatography, electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance, allowed us to identify daphnoretin and daphnetin as major components of this extract, and, therefore, responsible for the antiaging activity. In conclusion, this study provides additional experimental data supporting the traditional use of T. hirsuta extracts on some cutaneous dermatophytosis, as well as new perspectives on the potential use of T. hirsuta to ensure better healing of the skin.
Identification of Targets and Active Components of Yiqi SanJie Formula Against Lung Neoplasms Based on Network Pharmacology Analysis and Molecular Docking
Authors: Zhou Tian-jiao , Liu Jun-feng , Wang Ping , Hu An-na , Chen Lin-lin , Zan Jun-feng
Published: February 2021

Yiqi Sanjie formula (YQSJF) is mainly applied clinically for the treatment of lung neoplasms. The purpose of this study was to explore the pharmacodynamics of the active components of YQSJF and the mechanism of therapeutic effects in the treatment of lung neoplasm diseases based on network pharmacology. The network of component-target, target-pathway, and pathway-disease of YQSJF was constructed by using Cytoscape software. According to the screening result, 37 key components, 57 important targets, and 866 candidate pathways were obtained. The enrichment analysis results indicated that YQSJF might play a therapeutic role in lung cancer by regulating several signaling pathways, such as the PI3K-AKT, non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, and apoptosis pathways. There were 53 intersection genes between YQSJF and the lung cancer gene, 52 common genes, and 11 key targets, including CASP8, CASP9, AR, ESR1, PTGS2, NOS3, PGR, TGFB1, PPARG, RELA, and NOS2, screened by using Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) analysis. These could be the potential therapeutic targets of YQSJF against lung cancer. Enrichment analysis of the intersection gene pathways revealed 10 major functional pathways, including the VEGF, apoptosis, and IL-17 signaling pathways. The molecular docking results showed the potential regulating activity of kaempferol against AR, pelargonidin against PGR, and baicalein against both PTGS2 and AR. In conclusion, combinational network pharmacology analysis results indicated that YQSJF might present its efficacy of alleviating lung neoplasm symptoms through multiple targets in a synergetic way.
Exploring polypharmacy phenomenon in newly diagnosed relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis: a cohort ambispective single-centre study
Authors: Zanghì Aurora , D’Amico Emanuele , Lo Fermo Salvatore , Patti Francesco
Published: February 2021

Aims:

We aimed to examine the frequency of polypharmacy in a large cohort of patients at the time of diagnosis of relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and to explore its effects on discontinuation of first disease-modifying treatment (DMT) using survival analysis.

Methods:

This was a cohort ambispective single-centre study. We enrolled RRMS patients starting their first DMT between 1st January 2013 and 31st December 2015. According to the number of medicines prescribed (except DMTs), we divided the patients into three groups: no-poly RRMS, minor-poly RRMS (from one to three medications), and major-poly RRMS (more than three medications).

Results:

A total of 392 RRMS patients were enrolled (mean age 41.1). The minor-poly RRMS group included 61 patients (15.6%) and the major-poly RRMS group included 112 (28.6%). Individuals in these groups were older and had higher median body mass index (BMI) than patients in the no-poly RRMS group ( p < 0.05). Upon multinomial regression analysis, older age at onset was associated with minor and major polypharmacy (OR 1.050, CI 1.010–1.093, p = 0.015 and OR 1.063, CI 1.026–1.101, p = 0.001, respectively) and higher BMI was associated with major polypharmacy (OR 1.186, CI 1.18–1.29, p = 0.001). The rates of discontinuation of first DMT were similar among the three groups (50.7% for no-Poly RRMS, 50.8% for minor-Poly RRMS, and 53.3% for major-Poly RRMS, p = 0.264). At log-Rank test, there were no differences among the three groups ( p = 0.834).

Conclusion:

Polypharmacy was more common in older RRMS patients with high BMI.
Association between the handgrip strength and the isokinetic muscle function of the elbow and the knee in asymptomatic adults
Authors: Ostolin Thatiane Lopes Valentim Di Paschoale , Gonze Bárbara de Barros , de Oliveira Vieira Wesley , de Oliveira André Luiz Silva , Nascimento Matheus Bibian , Arantes Rodolfo Leite , Romiti Marcello , Sperandio Evandro Fornias , Dourado Victor Zuniga
Published: February 2021

Background:

The handgrip strength is a practical, valid, reliable, low-cost tool that presents strong correlations with several health conditions. However, handgrip strength may be inaccurate to prospectively predict the variability of muscular function since the decrease in muscular strength over the years varies according to a muscular group or between upper and lower limbs. Our hypothesis is that the handgrip strength cannot explain the variance of muscle function prospectively.

Purpose:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the cross-sectional and prospective association between handgrip strength and isokinetic muscle function of the knee and elbow in 780 asymptomatic adults.

Methods:

In a sample of 780 adults, we obtained handgrip strength and elbow and knee muscle function (for both flexion and extension at 60°/s and 300°/s) using, respectively, a hydraulic dynamometer and an isokinetic dynamometer. In a cross-sectional analysis, we analyzed the data obtained from baseline assessment. Then, we calculated the absolute change as a result of the variation data between the baseline and the 1-year follow-up assessment of each participant. The correlations were analyzed using Pearson or Spearman coefficients. We used multivariate models to investigate the association between handgrip strength and isokinetic muscle function.

Results and Discussion:

The cross-sectional correlations were significantly moderate-to-strong ( r = 0.41–0.71, p < 0.01), but became weak-to-moderate ( r = 0.26–0.34, p < 0.01) prospectively. In the cross-sectional analysis, the handgrip strength was selected as a strong predictor for isokinetic variables (∆ R2 = 0.171–0.583, p < 0.05) as expected. Although handgrip strength was also selected as a significant predictor in prospective analysis, it explained only a little variance in isokinetic muscle function of the knee (∆ R2 = 0.7–0.117, p < 0.05). Regarding the predictive models for the elbow, handgrip strength was not selected prospectively.

Conclusion:

The 1-year absolute change of the handgrip strength cannot explain the variance of the isokinetic muscle function. Thus, specific measures are required for assessing muscle function in epidemiological studies.
Mixed large and small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and endometrioid carcinoma of the endometrium with high microsatellite instability: A case report and literature review
Authors: Inoue Kotaro , Kai Kentaro , Sato Shimpei , Nishida Haruto , Hirakawa Koji , Nasu Kaei , Narahara Hisashi
Published: February 2021

A 65-year-old, gravida 3, para 2 Japanese woman was referred to our hospital for symptomatic thickening of the endometrial lining. Endocervical and endometrial cytology revealed an adenocarcinoma. The endometrial biopsy specimen was mixed, with a glandular part diagnosed as endometrioid carcinoma and a solid part diagnosed as high-grade mixed large and small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (L/SCNEC). She underwent extra-fascial hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, complete pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy, and omentectomy (FIGO IIIB, pT3b pN0 M0). She currently has no deleterious germline mutation, but high tumor mutation burden and high microsatellite instability (MSI) were identified. She underwent six cycles of platinum-based frontline chemotherapy and achieved complete remission. Immune checkpoint blockade therapy is a promising second-line therapy for MSI-high solid tumors. However, the MSI or mismatch repair (MMR) status of endometrial L/SCNEC remains unclear in the literature. Universal screening for MSI/MMR status is needed, particularly for a rare and aggressive disease.