bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improvement in near-infrared absorbance attenuation by using nanometer black silicon composited with gold nanoparticles
Authors: Mi Guanyu , Lv Jian , Que Longcheng , Tan Cheng , Huang Jian , Liu Zhongyuan , Zhao Lintong
Published: June 2023

In order to solve the problem of near-infrared (NIR) absorbance attenuation of silicon, a method of preparing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on the micro–nano-structured black silicon (B-Si) is proposed. In this study, the local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of AuNPs excited by a light field is used to achieve B-Si materials with broad spectrum and high absorption. The results show that nanometer B-Si composited with 25-nm AuNPs has an average absorption of 98.6% in the spectral range of 400–1100 nm and 97.8% in the spectral range of 1100–2500 nm. Compared with ordinary B-Si, the absorption spectrum is broadened from 400–1100 nm to 400–2500 nm, and the absorption is increased from 90.1 to 97.8% at 1100–2500 nm. It is possible to use the B-Si materials in the field of NIR-enhanced photoelectric detection and micro-optical night vision imaging due to the low cost, high compatibility, and reliability.
HB5 aptamer-tagged graphene oxide for co-delivery of doxorubicin and silibinin, and highly effective combination therapy in breast cancer
Authors: Shahidi Maryamsadat , Haghiralsadat Bibi Fatemeh , Abazari Omid , Hemati Mahdie , Dayati Parisa , Jaliani Hossein Zarei , Motlagh Najmeh Sadat Hosseini , Naghib Seyed Morteza , Moradi Ali
Published: June 2023

Using a chemotherapeutic agent, such as doxorubicin (DOX), with a natural agent, such as silibinin (Sili), is highly valuable to minimize systemic toxicity. However, Sili and DOX face disadvantages, such as low aqueous solubility and poor bioavailability. Here, we have engineered a drug delivery cargo by decorating carboxylated graphene oxide (cGO) with an aptamer, HB5, for simultaneous delivery of DOX and Sili as a combination therapy against MCF-7 and SK-BR-3 breast cancer cells. The resulting Apt-cGO displayed a typical sheet-like nanostructure with a broad surface. The maximum entrapment efficiency was 70.42% and 84.22% for Sili and DOX, respectively. When the Apt-cGO-DOX-Sili nanocomposites were selectively taken up by breast cancer cells, the interaction between cGO and drugs was cleaved, causing releasing both Sili and DOX into the tumor cells, respectively. Compared to free drugs, Apt-cGO-DOX-Sili nanocomposites displayed higher cytotoxicity in vitro. Apt-cGO-DOX-Sili nanocomposites potentially suppressed some cancer cell survival signals. They accelerated cell apoptosis and increased Rb levels as well as reduced Akt, mTOR, NF-κB, and CDK2 levels. In conclusion, the developed Apt-cGO-DOX-Sili can be suggested as a simple and efficient drug delivery approach for breast chemotherapy.
Probiotic and technological characterization of selected Lactobacillus strains isolated from different egyptian cheeses
Authors: Zommara Mohsen , El-Ghaish Shady , Haertle Thomas , Chobert Jean-Marc , Ghanimah Mohamed
Published: June 2023

Background

Fresh milk and natural environmental conditions are used to produce traditional cheeses. Such cheeses are produced by dozens of different types of microbes. Non-starter lactobacilli are the most responsible genus of lactic acid bacteria exhibiting key technological and health promoting traits. The purpose of this study is to isolateLactobacillusbacteria from conventional Egyptian cheeses and analyse their probiotic potential and technological properties.

Results

Lactobacillusisolates (33 isolates) were isolated from different Egyptian cheeses. Our results revealed that 18.18% of the isolates were fast-acidifying, 30.3% were medium-acidifying and 51.5% were slow-acidifying isolates. The results of autolytic activity showed that 24.3% of the isolates were good autolysis, 33.3% were fair autolysis, while 42.4% were poor autolysis. Fifteen isolates produced exopolysaccharides, while 9 isolates exhibited antimicrobial activities againstLactobacillus bulgaricus340. All the isolates were resistant to pH 3 for 3 h except isolate No. 15 (MR4). The growth rate of the isolates ranged from 42.25 to 85.25% at 0.3% bile salts after 3 h of incubation. The surviving percentage of theLactobacillusisolates decreased with increasing incubation time or the percentage of bile salts greater than 0.3%. All the isolates grew after incubation in artificial gastric and intestinal fluids. The auto-aggregation of 15 isolates ranged from 43.13 to 72.77%.Lacticaseibacillus paracaseiBD3,Lactiplantibacillus plantarumBR4 andLimosilactobacillus fermentumMR2 were sensitive to the majority of the tested antibiotics and showed good bile salt hydrolase activity.

Conclusion

L. paracaseiBD3,L. plantarumBR4 andL. fermentumMR2 were isolated from Egyptian cheeses and showed probiotic and technological characterization, which are valuable for their practical application as starters, adjunct and protective cultures in cheese making.
Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the polygalacturonase gene family in sweetpotato
Authors: He Peiwen , Zhang Jingzhen , Lv Zunfu , Cui Peng , Xu Ximing , George Melvin Sidikie , Lu Guoquan
Published: June 2023

Background

Polygalacturonase (PG), a crucial enzyme involved in pectin degradation, is associated with various plants’ developmental and physiological processes such as seed germination, fruit ripening, fruit softening and plant organ abscission. However, the members of PG gene family in sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) have not been extensively identified.

Results

In this study, there were 103 PG genes identified in sweetpotato genome, which were phylogenetically clustered into divergent six clades. The gene structure characteristics of each clade were basically conserved. Subsequently, we renamed these PGs according to their locations of the chromosomes. The investigation of collinearity between the PGs in sweetpotato and other four species, contained Arabidopsis thaliana, Solanum lycopersicum, Malus domestica and Ziziphus jujuba, revealed important clues about the potential evolution of the PG family in sweetpotato. Gene duplication analysis showed that IbPGs with collinearity relationships were all derived from segmental duplications, and these genes were under purifying selection. In addition, each promoter region of IbPG proteins contained cis-acting elements related to plant growth and development processes, environmental stress responses and hormone responses. Furthermore, the 103 IbPGs were differentially expressed in various tissues (leaf, stem, proximal end, distal end, root body, root stalk, initiative storage root and fibrous root) and under different abiotic stresses (salt, drought, cold, SA, MeJa and ABA treatment). IbPG038 and IbPG039 were down-regulated with salt, SA and MeJa treatment. According to the further investigation, we found that IbPG006, IbPG034 and IbPG099 had different patterns under the drought and salt stress in fibrous root of sweetpotato, which provided insights into functional differences among these genes.

Conclusion

A total of 103 IbPGs were identified and classified into six clades from sweetpotato genome. The results of RNA-Seq and qRT-PCR suggested that IbPG006, IbPG034 and IbPG099 might play a significant role in tissue specificity as well as drought and salt stress responses, which showed valuable information for further functional characterization and application of the IbPGs.
Functional characterization of nine critical genes encoding rate-limiting enzymes in the flavonoid biosynthesis of the medicinal herb Grona styracifolia
Authors: Xie Chunzhu , Zhan Ting , Huang Jinqin , Lan Jun , Shen Lingling , Wang Hongbin , Zheng Xiasheng
Published: June 2023

Grona styracifolia is a photophilous legume that contains abundant flavonoids with multiple pharmacological activities, which is used to cure urethral and biliary calculus in China for thousands of years. The authentication of the rate-limiting enzymes involved in the flavonoids biosynthesis pathway enabled a better understanding of the molecular aspect of quality formation and modulation of this medicinal herb. In this study, the chemical distribution characteristics and content of flavonoids in different tissues of Grona styracifolia were analyzed using ultraperormance liquid chromatography coupled with Q-TOF mass spectrometry and showed that active flavonoids were primarily synthesized and stored in the leaves. Subsequently, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq)-based transcriptome profiling of the different tissues revealed that the flavonoids biosynthesis in the leaves was the most active. Meanwhile, 27 full-length transcripts inferred encoding vital enzymes involved in the flavonoids biosynthesis were preliminarily excavated. Finally, four CHSs, four CHIs, and one FNSII were successfully characterized by heterologous expression, which involved in three rate-limiting steps of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway. In conclusion, these results laid a foundation for further investigation of the molecular mechanism of the biosynthesis and modulation of active flavonoids in Grona styracifolia.
Young adults with colon cancer: clinical features and surgical outcomes
Authors: Wang Chao , Gan Lin , Gao Zhidong , Shen Zhanlong , Jiang Kewei , Ye Yingjiang
Published: June 2023

Background

The clinicopathological features, surgical outcomes, and long-term survival of patients with young-onset colon cancer (≤ 40 years old) remain controversial.

Methods

The clinicopathologic and follow-up data of patients aged < 40 years with colon cancer between January 2014 and January 2022 were reviewed. The primary objectives were clinical features and surgical outcomes. Long-term survival was investigated as a secondary objective.

Results

Seventy patients were included in the study, and no significant rising trend (Z=0, P=1) of these patients was observed over the 8-year study period. Stage IV disease was accompanied by more ulcerative or infiltrating type (84.2% vs. 52.9%, P=0.017) and lymphovascular or perineural invasion (64.7% vs. 25.5%, P=0.003) than stage I–III disease. After a median follow-up time of 41 months (range 8–99 months), the 1-, 3-, and 5-year estimated overall survival (OS) rates were 92.6%, 79.5%, and 76.4%, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 79.6%, 71.7%, and 71.7%, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression showed that M+ stage (hazard ratio [HR], 3.942; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.176–13.220, P=0.026) was the only independent risk factor affecting OS. Meanwhile, tumor deposits (HR, 4.807; 95% CI, 1.942–15.488, P=0.009), poor differentiation (HR, 2.925; 95% CI, 1.012–8.454, P=0.047), and M+ stage (HR, 3.540; 95% CI, 1.118–11.202, P=0.032) independently affected PFS.

Conclusions

The differences in the clinical features, surgical outcomes, and long-term survival between young adults and elderly colon cancer patients need further investigation.
The impact of HIV and ART exposure during pregnancy on fetal growth: a prospective study in a South African cohort
Authors: Mtintsilana Asanda , Norris Shane A. , Dlamini Siphiwe N. , Nyati Lukhanyo H. , Aronoff David M. , Koethe John R. , Goldstein Jeffrey A. , Prioreschi Alessandra
Published: June 2023

Background

In utero exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and antiretroviral (ART) is associated with adverse birth outcomes, which are often attributed to alterations in placental morphology. This study used structural equation models (SEMs) to examine the impact of HIV and ART exposure on fetal growth outcomes and whether these associations are mediated by placental morphology in urban-dwelling Black South African women.

Methods

This prospective cohort study included pregnant women living with HIV (WLWH, n = 122) and not living with HIV (WNLWH, n = 250) that underwent repeated ultrasonography during pregnancy, and at delivery, to determine fetal growth parameters in Soweto, South Africa. The size and the velocity of fetal growth measures (i.e., head and abdominal circumference, biparietal diameter, and femur length) were calculated using the Superimposition by Translation and Rotation. Placenta digital photographs taken at delivery were used to estimate morphometric parameters and trimmed placental weight was measured. All WLWH were receiving ART for the prevention of vertical transmission of HIV.

Results

A trend towards a lower placental weight and significantly shorter umbilical cord length was reported in WLWH compared to their counterparts. After sex stratification, umbilical cord length was significantly shorter in males born to WLWH than in male fetuses born to WNLWH (27.3 (21.6–32.8) vs. 31.4 (25.0–37.0) cm, p = 0.015). In contrast, female fetuses born to WLWH had lower placental weight, birth weight (2.9 (2.3–3.1) vs. 3.0 (2.7–3.2) kg), and head circumference (33 (32–34) vs. 34 (33–35) cm) than their counterparts (all p ≤ 0.05). The SEM models showed an inverse association between HIV and head circumference size and velocity in female fetuses. In contrast, HIV and ART exposure was positively associated with femur length growth (both size and velocity) and abdominal circumference velocity in male fetuses. None of these associations appeared to be mediated via placental morphology.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that HIV and ART exposure directly affects head circumference growth in females and abdominal circumference velocity in male fetuses; but may improve femur length growth in male fetuses only.
Development and validation of the attitude towards Surrogacy Scale in a polish sample
Authors: Lutkiewicz Karolina , Bieleninik Łucja , Jurek Paweł , Bidzan Mariola
Published: June 2023

Background

Surrogacy is one of the options in reproductive medicine that raises a lot of ethical, legal and psychological controversy. Surveying attitudes toward surrogacy plays an important role in building awareness of this phenomenon in the society, which may help eliminate its stigma. In this study authors aimed to develop and validate a scale to assess the attitudes towards surrogacy.

Methods

In this study cross-sectional design was implemented. Development process of the Attitude towards Surrogacy Scale (ATSS) included items development based on literature reviews, other existing questionnaires, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and reliability analysis using internal consistence coefficients. A pilot study using adult members of the public was conducted after consultation with the Expert Advisory Panel Board. The final survey, which was used in this study, consisted of 24 items, which were organized into the four subscales: general opinion on surrogacy and its social context (7 items), financing and legalizing surrogacy (8 items), the acceptance of surrogacy (4 items), and attitudes towards the intended parents and children born through surrogacy (5 items). 442 individuals participated in this study.

Results

The final version of Attitude towards Surrogacy Scale (ATSS) consists of 15 items, grouped in three subscales. Final version of the ATSS showed that the three-factor model indicated an acceptable model fit: Chi-square = 320.46, p < 0.01, df = 87, CFI = 0.94, TLI = 0.92, RMSEA = 0.078 (90% C.I.: 0.070–0.086), SRMR = 0.040 Reliability was assessed by calculating the McDonald's omega that ranged from 0.74 for the Surrogacy ethical context subscale to 0.94 for the overall ATSS score.

Conclusion

ATSS was developed to measure general attitude toward surrogacy with satisfying psychometric properties. The analysis of socio-demographic variables with ATSS showed that the most significant predictor of the general attitude towards surrogacy, and three aspects of surrogacy was being a religious person (profess a Catholic religion or profess another religion).
ABPEPserver: a web application for documentation and analysis of substitutants
Authors: Pataskar Abhijeet , Montenegro Navarro Jasmine , Agami Reuven
Published: June 2023

Background

Cancer immunotherapy is implemented by identifying antigens that are presented on the cell surface of cancer cells and illicit T-cell response (Schumacher and Schreiber, Science 348:69–74, 2015; Waldman et al., Nat Rev Immunol 20:651–668, 2020; Zhang et al., Front Immunol 12:672,356, 2021b). Classical candidates of such antigens are the peptides resulting from genetic alterations and are named “neoantigen" (Schumacher and Schreiber, Science 348:69–74, 2015). Neoantigens have been widely catalogued across several human cancer types (Tan et al., Database (Oxford) 2020;2020b; Vigneron et al., Cancer Immun 13:15, 2013; Yi et al., iScience 24:103,107, 2021; Zhang et al., BMC Bioinformatics 22:40, 2021a). Recently, a new class of inducible antigens has been identified, namely Substitutants, that are produced as a result of aberrant protein translation (Pataskar et al., Nature 603:721–727, 2022).

Main

Catalogues of Substitutant expression across human cancer types, their specificity and association to gene expression signatures remain elusive for the scientific community's access. As a solution, we present ABPEPserver, an online database and analytical platform that can visualize a large-scale tumour proteomics analysis of Substitutant expression across eight tumour types sourced from the CPTAC database (Edwards et al., J Proteome Res 14:2707–2713, 2015). Functionally, ABPEPserver offers the analysis of gene-association signatures of Substitutant peptides, a comparison of enrichment between tumour and tumour-adjacent normal tissues, and a list of peptides that serve as candidates for immunotherapy design. ABPEPserver will significantly enhance the exploration of aberrant protein production in human cancer, as exemplified in a case study.

Conclusion

ABPEPserver is designed on an R SHINY platform to catalogue Substitutant peptides in human cancer. The application is available at https://rhpc.nki.nl/sites/shiny/ABPEP/. The code is available under GNU General public license from GitHub (https://github.com/jasminesmn/ABPEPserver).
Attenuated post-movement beta rebound reflects psychomotor alterations in major depressive disorder during a simple visuomotor task: a MEG study
Authors: Xia Yi , Hua Lingling , Dai Zhongpeng , Han Yinglin , Du Yishan , Zhao Shuai , Zhou Hongliang , Wang Xiaoqin , Yan Rui , Wang Xumiao , Zou HaoWen , Sun Hao , Huang YingHong , Yao ZhiJian , Lu Qing
Published: June 2023

Background

Psychomotor alterations are a common symptom in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). The primary motor cortex (M1) plays a vital role in the mechanism of psychomotor alterations. Post-movement beta rebound (PMBR) in the sensorimotor cortex is abnormal in patients with motor abnormalities. However, the changes in M1 beta rebound in patients with MDD remain unclear. This study aimed to primarily explore the relationship between psychomotor alterations and PMBR in MDD.

Methods

One hundred thirty-two subjects were enrolled in the study, comprising 65 healthy controls (HCs) and 67 MDD patients. All participants performed a simple right-hand visuomotor task during MEG scanning. PMBR was measured in the left M1 at the source reconstruction level with the time–frequency analysis method. Retardation factor scores and neurocognitive test performance, including the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), the Making Test Part A (TMT-A), and the Verbal Fluency Test (VFT), were used to measure psychomotor functions. Pearson correlation analyses were used to assess relationships between PMBR and psychomotor alterations in MDD.

Results

The MDD group showed worse neurocognitive performance than the HC group in all three neurocognitive tests. The PMBR was diminished in patients with MDD compared to HCs. In a group of MDD patients, the reduced PMBR was negatively correlated with retardation factor scores. Further, there was a positive correlation between the PMBR and DSST scores. PMBR is negatively associated with the TMT-A scores.

Conclusion

Our findings suggested that the attenuated PMBR in M1 could illustrate the psychomotor disturbance in MDD, possibly contributing to clinical psychomotor symptoms and deficits of cognitive functions.
Identifying patient subgroups with different trends of patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) after elective knee arthroplasty
Authors: Golinelli Davide , Grassi Alberto , Sanmarchi Francesco , Tedesco Dario , Esposito Francesco , Rosa Simona , Rucci Paola , Amabile Marilina , Cosentino Monica , Bordini Barbara , Fantini Maria Pia , Zaffagnini Stefano
Published: June 2023

Background

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly being used to assess the effectiveness of elective total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, little is known about how PROMs scores change over time in these patients. The aim of this study was to identify the trajectories of quality of life and joint functioning, and their associated demographic and clinical features in patients undergoing elective TKA.

Methods

A prospective, cohort study was conducted, in which PROMs questionnaires (Euro Quality 5 Dimensions 3L, EQ-5D-3L, and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Patient Satisfaction, KOOS-PS) were administered to patients at a single center undergoing elective TKA before surgery, and at 6 and 12 months after surgery. Latent class growth mixture models were used to analyze the patterns of change in PROMs scores over time. Multinomial logistic regression was used to investigate the association between patient characteristics and PROMs trajectories.

Results

A total of 564 patients were included in the study. The analysis highlighted differential patterns of improvement after TKA. Three distinct PROMs trajectories were identified for each PROMs questionnaire, with one trajectory indicating the most favorable outcome. Female gender appears to be associated with a presentation to surgery with worse perceived quality of life and joint function than males, but also more rapid improvement after surgery. Having an ASA score greater than 3 is instead associated with a worse functional recovery after TKA.

Conclusion

The results suggest three main PROMs trajectories in patients undergoing elective TKA. Most patients reported improved quality of life and joint functioning at 6 months, which then stabilized. However, other subgroups showed more varied trajectories. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and to explore the potential clinical implications of these results.
Needle tract seeding of a sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma in a biopsy tract: a case report
Authors: Kawai Masafumi , Miwa Shinji , Yamamoto Norio , Hayashi Katsuhiro , Takeuchi Akihiko , Igarashi Kentaro , Taniguchi Yuta , Araki Yoshihiro , Yonezawa Hirotaka , Nojima Takayuki , Tsuchiya Hiroyuki
Published: June 2023

Background

A sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma (SEF) is an uncommon tumor of the deep soft tissue. An SEF has been described as a low-grade tumor with high local recurrence and metastatic rates. Generally, in bone and soft tissue tumors, a resection of the biopsy route is recommended; however, there is limited evidence with respect to the dissemination of the tumor tissue during a needle biopsy.

Case presentation

A mass in the right pelvic cavity, with no symptoms, was observed in a 45-year-old woman during a gynecological examination. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a multilocular mass with calcification in the pelvic cavity. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an iso-signal intensity on T1 weighted images and hypo- and iso-signal intensity on T2 weighted images. The CT-guided core needle biopsy was performed using a dorsal approach, and the biopsy diagnosis was a low-grade spindle cell tumor. The tumor was excised using an anterior approach. The tumor tissue comprised spindle cells and epithelioid cells with irregular nuclei, and the immunohistological analysis was positive for vimentin and epithelial membrane antigen, which was consistent with a diagnosis of sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma. Five years after the surgery, the MRI showed a tumor recurrence in the subcutaneous tissue of the right buttock, which was consistent with the needle biopsy tract. The patient underwent a tumor excision, and the resected tumor was similar to the primary tumor.

Conclusions

The recurrent tumor was excised with a surgical margin, and the tumor specimen had the histological features of a sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma. It was difficult to investigate the association of the core needle biopsy with the tumor recurrence because the approach of the biopsy tract is usually same as that used in a tumor excision. However, the present case indicated the tumor may recur in the biopsy tract of a soft tissue sarcoma. Surgeons should be aware of the possibility of disseminating tumor tissues in a needle biopsy.
Ankle-foot orthoses among children with cerebral palsy: a cross-sectional population-based register study of 8,928 children living in Northern Europe
Authors: Stockman Jessica , Eggertsdóttir Guðbjörg , Gaston Mark S. , Jeglinsky-Kankainen Ira , Hollung Sandra Julsen , Nordbye-Nielsen Kirsten , von Rosen Philip , Alriksson-Schmidt Ann I.
Published: June 2023

Background

Cerebral palsy (CP) is an umbrella term where an injury to the immature brain affects muscle tone and motor control, posture, and at times, the ability to walk and stand. Orthoses can be used to improve or maintain function. Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are the most frequently used orthoses in children with CP. However, how commonly AFOs are used by children and adolescents with CP is still unknown. The aims of this study were to investigate and describe the use of AFOs in children with CP in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Scotland, and Denmark, and compare AFO use between countries and by gross motor function classification system (GMFCS) level, CP subtype, sex, and age.

Method

Aggregated data on 8,928 participants in the national follow-up programs for CP for the respective countries were used. Finland does not have a national follow-up program for individuals with CP and therefore a study cohort was used instead. Use of AFOs were presented as percentages. Logistic regression models were used to compare the use of AFOs among countries adjusted for age, CP subtype, GMFCS level, and sex.

Results

The proportion of AFO use was highest in Scotland (57%; CI 54–59%) and lowest in Denmark (35%; CI 33–38%). After adjusting for GMFCS level, children in Denmark, Finland, and Iceland had statistically significantly lower odds of using AFOs whereas children in Norway and Scotland reported statistically significantly higher usage than Sweden.

Conclusion

In this study, the use of AFOs in children with CP in countries with relatively similar healthcare systems, differed between countries, age, GMFCS level, and CP subtype. This indicates a lack of consensus as to which individuals benefit from using AFOs. Our findings present an important baseline for the future research and development of practical guidelines in terms of who stands to benefit from using AFOs.
Risk factors and predictive model for pulmonary complications in patients transferred to ICU after hepatectomy
Authors: Wang Bin , Liang HanSheng , Zhao HuiYing , Shen JiaWei , An YouZhong , Feng Yi
Published: June 2023

Objective

Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) seriously harm the recovery and prognosis of patients undergoing surgery. However, its related risk factors in critical patients after hepatectomy have been rarely reported. This study aimed at analyzing the factors related to PPCs in critical adult patients after hepatectomy and create a nomogram for prediction of the PPCs.

Methods

503 patients’ data were collected form the Peking University People’s Hospital. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors to derive the nomogram. Nomogram’s discriminatory ability was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), and calibration was assessed using the Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test and calibration curve.

Results

The independent risk factor for PPCs are advanced age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.026; P = 0.008), higher body mass index (OR = 1.139; P < 0.001), lower preoperative serum albumin level (OR = 0.961; P = 0.037), and intensive care unit first day infusion volume (OR = 1.152; P = 0.040). And based on this, we created a nomogram to predict the occurrence of PPCs. Upon assessing the nomogram’s predictive ability, the AUC for the model was 0.713( 95% CI: 0.668–0.758, P<0.001). The Hosmer–Lemeshow test (P = 0.590) and calibration curve showed good calibration for the prediction of PPCs.

Conclusions

The prevalence and mortality of postoperative pulmonary complications in critical adult patients after hepatectomy are high. Advanced age, higher body mass index, lower preoperative serum albumin and intensive care unit first day infusion volume were found to be significantly associated with PPCs. And we created a nomogram model which can be used to predict the occurrence of PPCs.
Pure testicular choriocarcinoma with gastrointestinal metastasis and paraneoplastic symptoms: a case report
Authors: Namavari Negin , Taheri Lohrasb , Hooshmand Farhang , Dousthaghi Mohammad H. , Rahmanian Vahid
Published: June 2023

Background

Pure testicular choriocarcinoma is a rare type of non-seminomatous germ cell tumor extremely poor prognostic with the tendency to bleed at the metastatic site. At the time of the diagnosis, 70% of patients have metastatic lesions. Depending on the site of the metastasis, symptoms vary. Gastrointestinal involvement is seen in less than 5% of cases, mostly in the duodenum.

Case presentation

We present a 47 years old male with testicular choriocarcinoma involving the jejunum, lung, liver, and kidney presenting with acute abdominal pain, melena, and dyspnea with some paraneoplastic symptoms. The patient had increased, severe and constant pain in the right lower quadrant for the previous four days. Additionally, he was complaining of nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and a history of melena for the last 10 days. Dyspnea on exertion, hemoptysis, and dry cough were the symptoms he was suffering from, for almost one year. The patient’s general appearance was pale, ill, and thin with 10 kg of weight loss during the last some months. The computed tomography (CT) scan reported multiple metastatic lesions in both liver lobes and the left kidney. Pathologic study of the samples of small bowel lesions showed metastatic choriocarcinoma. Following the patient had been referred to an oncologist to start the chemotherapy regime. Finally, the patient has expired after 40 days of his first admission.

Conclusions

Testicular choriocarcinoma is a rare but fatal malignancy among young men. Gastrointestinal metastases are infrequent involvement represented by melena and acute abdominal pain, obstruction, and mass. Physicians should consider it as a differential diagnosis for acute abdomen and gastrointestinal bleeding causation.
Artificial intelligence in the diagnosis of dental diseases on panoramic radiographs: a preliminary study
Authors: Zhu Junhua , Chen Zhi , Zhao Jing , Yu Yueyuan , Li Xiaojuan , Shi Kangjian , Zhang Fan , Yu Feifei , Shi Keying , Sun Zhe , Lin Nengjie , Zheng Yuanna
Published: June 2023

Background

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been introduced to interpret the panoramic radiographs (PRs). The aim of this study was to develop an AI framework to diagnose multiple dental diseases on PRs, and to initially evaluate its performance.

Methods

The AI framework was developed based on 2 deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs), BDU-Net and nnU-Net. 1996 PRs were used for training. Diagnostic evaluation was performed on a separate evaluation dataset including 282 PRs. Sensitivity, specificity, Youden’s index, the area under the curve (AUC), and diagnostic time were calculated. Dentists with 3 different levels of seniority (H: high, M: medium, L: low) diagnosed the same evaluation dataset independently. Mann-Whitney U test and Delong test were conducted for statistical analysis (ɑ=0.05).

Results

Sensitivity, specificity, and Youden’s index of the framework for diagnosing 5 diseases were 0.964, 0.996, 0.960 (impacted teeth), 0.953, 0.998, 0.951 (full crowns), 0.871, 0.999, 0.870 (residual roots), 0.885, 0.994, 0.879 (missing teeth), and 0.554, 0.990, 0.544 (caries), respectively. AUC of the framework for the diseases were 0.980 (95%CI: 0.976–0.983, impacted teeth), 0.975 (95%CI: 0.972–0.978, full crowns), and 0.935 (95%CI: 0.929–0.940, residual roots), 0.939 (95%CI: 0.934–0.944, missing teeth), and 0.772 (95%CI: 0.764–0.781, caries), respectively. AUC of the AI framework was comparable to that of all dentists in diagnosing residual roots (p > 0.05), and its AUC values were similar to (p > 0.05) or better than (p < 0.05) that of M-level dentists for diagnosing 5 diseases. But AUC of the framework was statistically lower than some of H-level dentists for diagnosing impacted teeth, missing teeth, and caries (p < 0.05). The mean diagnostic time of the framework was significantly shorter than that of all dentists (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The AI framework based on BDU-Net and nnU-Net demonstrated high specificity on diagnosing impacted teeth, full crowns, missing teeth, residual roots, and caries with high efficiency. The clinical feasibility of AI framework was preliminary verified since its performance was similar to or even better than the dentists with 3–10 years of experience. However, the AI framework for caries diagnosis should be improved.
Clinical outcomes of teeth adjacent to the site of mandibulotomy or mandibulectomy in patients with head and neck cancer: results from a multidisciplinary mono-institutional head and neck tumor board
Authors: Castagnola Raffaella , Rupe Cosimo , Gioco Gioele , Almadori Giovanni , Galli Jacopo , Tagliaferri Luca , Cassano Alessandra , Gallenzi Patrizia , Lajolo Carlo
Published: June 2023

Introduction

The aim of this case series was to evaluate the necrosis of teeth adjacent to the site of mandibulotomy or mandibulectomy in a cohort of patients suffering from head and neck cancers.

Methods

Fourteen patients who underwent segmental mandibulectomy or paramedian mandibulotomy for oral, oropharynx or major salivary gland cancer and a total of 23 teeth were included in this case series. Twelve patients underwent adjuvant head and neck radiotherapy. Cold sensitivity pulp testing and/or electric pulp testing were performed on teeth at the margin of mandibulectomy and on teeth adjacent to mandibulotomy after surgery. A “positive” response was considered the healthy state, and “negative” was considered the diseased state of the tooth.

Results

The 10 patients who underwent mandibulotomy had 12 teeth with a negative response. The 4 patients treated by mandibulectomy had two positive and three negative responses to cold and electric pulp tests. Fifteen out of 23 teeth (65.2%) showed a negative response to sensitivity testing.

Conclusions

Tooth necrosis seems to be a common event after mandibulectomy and mandibulotomy.

Clinical Relevance

To avoid post-surgery complications, performing root canal therapy before surgery on the teeth adjacent to the surgical site could be an appropriate strategy.
Evaluation of the chemical, physical, and biological properties of a newly developed bioceramic cement derived from cockle shells: an in vitro study
Authors: Wannakajeepiboon Monthip , Sathorn Chankhrit , Kornsuthisopon Chatvadee , Santiwong Busayarat , Wasanapiarnpong Thanakorn , Linsuwanont Pairoj
Published: June 2023

Background

Tricalcium silicate is the main component of commercial bioceramic cements that are widely used in endodontic treatment. Calcium carbonate, which is manufactured from limestone, is one of the substrates of tricalcium silicate. To avoid the environmental impact of mining, calcium carbonate can be obtained from biological sources, such as shelled mollusks, one of which is cockle shell. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the chemical, physical, and biological properties of a newly developed bioceramic cement derived from cockle shell (BioCement) with those of a commercial tricalcium silicate cement (Biodentine).

Methods

BioCement was prepared from cockle shells and rice husk ash and its chemical composition was determined by X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. The physical properties were evaluated following the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9917-1;2007 and 6876;2012. The pH was tested after 3 h to 8 weeks. The biological properties were assessed using extraction medium from BioCement and Biodentine on human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) in vitro. The 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-2 H-tetrazolium hydroxide assay was used to evaluate cell cytotoxicity following ISO 10993-5;2009. Cell migration was examined using a wound healing assay. Alizarin red staining was performed to detect osteogenic differentiation. The data were tested for a normal distribution. Once confirmed, the physical properties and pH data were analyzed using the independent t-test, and the biological property data were analyzed using one way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparisons test at a 5% significance level.

Results

The main components of BioCement and Biodentine were calcium and silicon. BioCement’s and Biodentine’s setting time and compressive strength were not different. The radiopacity of BioCement and Biodentine was 5.00 and 3.92 mmAl, respectively (p < 0.05). BioCement’s solubility was significantly higher than Biodentine. Both materials exhibited alkalinity (pH ranged from 9 to 12) and demonstrated > 90% cell viability with cell proliferation. The highest mineralization was found in the BioCement group at 7 days (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

BioCement exhibited acceptable chemical and physical properties and was biocompatible to human dental pulp cells. BioCement promotes pulp cell migration and osteogenic differentiation.
Characteristics of Kenyan women using HIV PrEP enrolled in a randomized trial on doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis for sexually transmitted infection prevention
Authors: Oware Kevin , Adiema Lydia , Rono Bernard , Violette Lauren R. , McClelland R. Scott , Donnell Deborah , Scoville Caitlin W. , Odoyo Josephine , Baeten Jared M. , Bukusi Elizabeth , Stewart Jenell
Published: June 2023

Introduction

The global incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has been rapidly increasing over the past decade, with more than one million curable STIs being acquired daily. Young women in sub-Saharan Africa have a high prevalence and incidence of both curable STIs and HIV. The use of doxycycline as a prophylaxis to prevent STIs is promising; however, clinical trials, to date, have only been conducted among men who have sex with men (MSM) in high-income settings. We describe the characteristics of participants enrolled in the first trial to determine the efficacy of doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to reduce STI incidence among women taking daily, oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Methods

This is an open-label 1:1 randomized clinical trial on the efficacy of doxycycline PEP compared with standard of care (e.g., quarterly STI screening and treatment) to reduce incident bacterial STIs – Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Treponema pallidum – among Kenyan women aged ≥18 and ≤30 years. All were also taking HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). We describe the baseline characteristics, STI prevalence, and STI risk perception of participants.

Results

Between February 2020 and November 2021, 449 women were enrolled. The median age was 24 years (IQR 21–27), the majority were never married (66.1%), 370 women (82.4%) reported having a primary sex partner, and 33% had sex with new partners in the three months prior to enrolment. Two-thirds (67.5%, 268 women) did not use condoms, 36.7% reported transactional sex, and 43.2% suspected their male partners of having sex with other women. Slightly less than half (45.9%, 206 women) were recently concerned about being exposed to an STI. The prevalence of STIs was 17.9%, with C. trachomatis accounting for the majority of infections. Perceived risk of STIs was not associated with the detection of an STI.

Conclusion

Young cisgender women using HIV PrEP in Kenya and enrolled in a trial of doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis had a high prevalence of curable STIs and represent a target population for an STI prevention intervention.
Differential molecular pathway expression according to chemotherapeutic response in ovarian clear cell carcinoma
Authors: Yin Min , Lu Chunli , Zhou Huimei , Liu Qian , Yang Jiaxin
Published: June 2023

Objective

Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) is a distinct entity from epithelial ovarian cancer. The prognosis of advanced and recurrent disease is very poor due to resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. Our aim was to explore the molecular alterations among OCCC patients with different chemotherapeutic responses and to obtain insights into potential biomarkers.

Methods

Twenty-four OCCC patients were included in this study. The patients were divided into two groups based on the relapse time after the first-line platinum-based chemotherapy: the platinum-sensitive group (PS) and the platinum-resistant group (PR). Gene expression profiling was performed using NanoString nCounter PanCancer Pathways Panel.

Results

Gene expression analysis comparing PR vs. PS identified 32 differentially expressed genes: 17 upregulated genes and 15 downregulated genes. Most of these genes are involved in the PI3K, MAPK and Cell Cycle-Apoptosis pathways. In particular, eight genes are involved in two or all three pathways.

Conclusion

The dysregulated genes in the PI3K, MAPK, and Cell Cycle-Apoptosis pathways identified and postulated mechanisms could help to probe biomarkers of OCCC platinum sensitivity, providing a research basis for further exploration of targeted therapy.

Graphic abstract
Feeding back of individual genetic results in Botswana: mapping opportunities and challenges
Authors: Kasule Mary , Matshaba Mogomotsi , Wonkam Ambroise , de Vries Jantina
Published: June 2023

Purpose

We explored the views of Botswana stakeholders involved in developing, implementing and applying ethical standards for return of individual study results from genomic research. This allowed for mapping opportunities and challenges regarding actionability requirements that determine whether individual genomic research results should be fed back.

Methods

Using in-depth interviews, this study explored the views of sixteen (16) stakeholders about the extent, nature and timing of feedback of individual genomic research findings, including incidental findings that arise in the context of African genomics research. Coded data was analyzed through an iterative process of analytic induction to document and interpret themes.

Results

Overall, respondents were of the view that feedback of actionable individual genomic results was an important outcome that could benefit participants. However, a number of themes surfaced that pointed to opportunities and challenges that exist in Botswana that could help in planning for feeding back of individual genomic results that were mapped. Some of the opportunities cited by the respondents included the existence of good governance; democracy and humanitarianism; universal healthcare system; national commitment to science; research and innovation to transform Botswana into a knowledge-based economy; and applicable standard of care which could promote actionability. On the other hand, contextual issues like the requirement for validation of genomic research results in accredited laboratories, high cost of validation of genomic results, and linkage to care, as well as lack of experts like genomic scientists and counselors were considered as challenges for return of individual results.

Conclusion

We propose that decisions whether and which genomic results to return take into consideration contextual opportunities and challenges for actionability for return of results in a research setting. This is likely to avoid or minimize ethical issues of justice, equity and harm regarding actionability decisions.
Family physicians’ experiences with an innovative, community-based, hybrid model of in- person and virtual care: a mixed-methods study
Authors: Fitzsimon Jonathan , Patel Kush , Peixoto Cayden , Belanger Christopher
Published: June 2023

Background

Rural, remote, and underserved communities have often struggled to provide adequate access to family physicians. To bridge this gap in Renfrew County, a large, rural region in Ontario, Canada, a community- based, hybrid care model was implemented, combining virtual care from family physicians and in-person care from community paramedics. Studies have demonstrated the clinical and cost effectiveness of this model but its acceptability to physicians has not been examined. This study investigates the experiences of participating family physicians.

Methods

A mixed-methods study, combining physician questionnaire response data and qualitative thematic analysis of focus group interview data.

Results

Data was collected from n = 17 survey respondents and n = 9 participants in two semi-structured focus groups (n = 4 and n = 5 respectively). Physicians reported high satisfaction, driven by skills development and patient gratitude, and felt empowered to reduce ED visits, care for unattached patients, and address simple medical needs. However, physicians found it difficult to provide continuous care and were sometimes unfamiliar with local healthcare resources.

Conclusion

This study found that a hybrid model of in-person and virtual care from family physicians and community paramedics was associated with positive physician experiences in two main areas: clinical impacts, especially avoiding unnecessary ED visits, and physician satisfaction with the service. Potential improvements for this hybrid model were identified, and include better support for patients with complex needs, and more information about local health-system services. Our findings should be of interest to policymakers and administrators seeking to improve access to care through a hybrid model of in-person and virtual care.