bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Epigenetic Effects of Benzene in Hematologic Neoplasms: The Altered Gene Expression
Authors: Spatari Giovanna , Allegra Alessandro , Carrieri Mariella , Pioggia Giovanni , Gangemi Sebastiano
Published: May 2021

Benzene carcinogenic ability has been reported, and chronic exposure to benzene can be one of the risk elements for solid cancers and hematological neoplasms. Benzene is acknowledged as a myelotoxin, and it is able to augment the risk for the onset of acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, aplastic anemia, and lymphomas. Possible mechanisms of benzene initiation of hematological tumors have been identified, as a genotoxic effect, an action on oxidative stress and inflammation and the provocation of immunosuppression. However, it is becoming evident that genetic alterations and the other causes are insufficient to fully justify several phenomena that influence the onset of hematologic malignancies. Acquired epigenetic alterations may participate with benzene leukemogenesis, as benzene may affect nuclear receptors, and provoke post-translational alterations at the protein level, thereby touching the function of regulatory proteins, comprising oncoproteins and tumor suppressor proteins. DNA hypomethylation correlates with stimulation of oncogenes, while the hypermethylation of CpG islands in promoter regions of specific tumor suppressor genes inhibits their transcription and stimulates the onset of tumors. The discovery of the systems of epigenetic induction of benzene-caused hematological tumors has allowed the possibility to operate with pharmacological interventions able of stopping or overturning the negative effects of benzene.
Therapeutic Silencing of BCL-2 Using NK Cell-Derived Exosomes as a Novel Therapeutic Approach in Breast Cancer
Authors: Kaban Kübra , Hinterleitner Clemens , Zhou Yanjun , Salva Emine , Kantarci Ayse Gülten , Salih Helmut R. , Märklin Melanie
Published: May 2021

Overexpression of the anti-apoptotic protein BCL-2 is frequently observed in multiple malignancies, including about 85% of patients with estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer. Besides being studied as a prognostic marker, BCL-2 is investigated as a therapeutic target in ER+ breast cancer. Here, we introduce a new exosome-based strategy to target BCL-2 using genetically modified natural killer (NK) cells. The NK cell line NK92MI was lentivirally transduced to express and load BCL-2 siRNAs (siBCL-2) into exosomes (NKExos) and then evaluated for its potential to treat ER+ breast cancer. Transfected NK92MI cells produced substantial levels of BCL-2 siRNAs, without substantially affecting NK cell viability or effector function and led to loading of siBCL-2 in NKExos. Remarkably, targeting BCL-2 via siBCL-2 NKExos led to enhanced intrinsic apoptosis in breast cancer cells, without affecting non-malignant cells. Together, our prototypical results for BCL-2 in breast cancer provide proof of concept for a novel strategy to utilize NKExos as a natural delivery vector for siRNA targeting of oncogenes.
A Rare Variant in ERF (rs144812092) Predisposes to Prostate and Bladder Cancers in an Extended Pedigree
Authors: Cannon-Albright Lisa Anne , Teerlink Craig Carl , Stevens Jeff , Huang Franklin W. , Sipeky Csilla , Schleutker Johanna , Hernandez Rolando , Facelli Julio , Agarwal Neeraj , Trump Donald L.
Published: May 2021

Pairs of related bladder cancer cases who belong to pedigrees with an excess of bladder cancer were sequenced to identify rare, shared variants as candidate predisposition variants. Candidate variants were tested for association with bladder cancer risk. A validated variant was assayed for segregation to other related cancer cases, and the predicted protein structure of this variant was analyzed. This study of affected bladder cancer relative pairs from high-risk pedigrees identified 152 bladder cancer predisposition candidate variants. One variant in ERF (ETS Repressing Factor) was significantly associated with bladder cancer risk in an independent population, was observed to segregate with bladder and prostate cancer in relatives, and showed evidence for altering the function of the associated protein. This finding of a rare variant in ERF that is strongly associated with bladder and prostate cancer risk in an extended pedigree both validates ERF as a cancer predisposition gene and shows the continuing value of analyzing affected members of high-risk pedigrees to identify and validate rare cancer predisposition variants.
Targeting CSF1R Alone or in Combination with PD1 in Experimental Glioma
Authors: Przystal Justyna M. , Becker Hannes , Canjuga Denis , Tsiami Foteini , Anderle Nicole , Keller Anna-Lena , Pohl Anja , Ries Carola H. , Schmittnaegel Martina , Korinetska Nataliya , Koch Marilin , Schittenhelm Jens , Tatagiba Marcos , Schmees Christian , Beck Susanne C. , Tabatabai Ghazaleh
Published: May 2021

Glioblastoma is an aggressive primary tumor of the central nervous system. Targeting the immunosuppressive glioblastoma-associated microenvironment is an interesting therapeutic approach. Tumor-associated macrophages represent an abundant population of tumor-infiltrating host cells with tumor-promoting features. The colony stimulating factor-1/ colony stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF-1/CSF1R) axis plays an important role for macrophage differentiation and survival. We thus aimed at investigating the antiglioma activity of CSF1R inhibition alone or in combination with blockade of programmed death (PD) 1. We investigated combination treatments of anti-CSF1R alone or in combination with anti-PD1 antibodies in an orthotopic syngeneic glioma mouse model, evaluated post-treatment effects and assessed treatment-induced cytotoxicity in a coculture model of patient-derived microtumors (PDM) and autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) ex vivo. Anti-CSF1R monotherapy increased the latency until the onset of neurological symptoms. Combinations of anti-CSF1R and anti-PD1 antibodies led to longterm survivors in vivo. Furthermore, we observed treatment-induced cytotoxicity of combined anti-CSF1R and anti-PD1 treatment in the PDM/TILs cocultures ex vivo. Our results identify CSF1R as a promising therapeutic target for glioblastoma, potentially in combination with PD1 inhibition.
A Novel Three-Gene Score as a Predictive Biomarker for Pathologically Complete Response after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Oshi Masanori , Angarita Fernando A. , Tokumaru Yoshihisa , Yan Li , Matsuyama Ryusei , Endo Itaru , Takabe Kazuaki
Published: May 2021

Although triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) typically responds better to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) compared to the other subtypes, a pathological complete response (pCR) is achieved in less than half of the cases. We established a novel three-gene score using genes based on the E2F target gene set that identified pCR after NAC, which showed robust performance in both training and validation cohorts (total of n = 3862 breast cancer patients). We found that the three-gene score was elevated in TNBC compared to the other subtypes. A high score was associated with Nottingham histological grade 3 in TNBC. Across multiple cohorts, high-score TNBC enriched not only E2F targets but also G2M checkpoint and mitotic spindle, which are all cell proliferation-related gene sets. High-score TNBC was associated with homologous recombination deficiency, high mutation load, and high infiltration of Th1, Th2, and gamma-delta T cells. However, the score did not correlate with drug sensitivity for paclitaxel, 5-fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin in TNBC human cell lines. High-score TNBC was significantly associated with a high rate of pCR not only in the training cohort but also in the validation cohorts. High-score TNBC was significantly associated with better survival in patients who received chemotherapy but not in patients who did not receive chemotherapy. The three-gene score is associated with a high mutation rate, immune cell infiltration, and predicts response to NAC in TNBC.
Immunotherapy for Chordoma and Chondrosarcoma: Current Evidence
Authors: Traylor Jeffrey I. , Pernik Mark N. , Plitt Aaron R. , Lim Michael , Garzon-Muvdi Tomas
Published: May 2021

Chordomas and chondrosarcomas are rare but devastating neoplasms that are characterized by chemoradiation resistance. For both tumors, surgical resection is the cornerstone of management. Immunotherapy agents are increasingly improving outcomes in multiple cancer subtypes and are being explored in chordoma and chondrosarcoma alike. In chordoma, brachyury has been identified as a prominent biomarker and potential molecular immunotherapy target as well as PD-1 inhibition. While studies on immunotherapy in chondrosarcoma are sparse, there is emerging evidence and ongoing clinical trials for PD-1 as well as IDH inhibitors. This review highlights potential biomarkers and targets for immunotherapy in chordoma and chondrosarcoma, as well as current clinical evidence and ongoing trials.
Reflector-Guided Localisation of Non-Palpable Breast Lesions: A Prospective Evaluation of the SAVI SCOUT® System
Authors: Wazir Umar , Kasem Iham , Michell Michael J. , Suaris Tamara , Evans David , Malhotra Anmol , Mokbel Kefah
Published: May 2021

Wire-guided localisation (WGL) has been the mainstay for localising non-palpable breast lesions before excision. Due to its limitations, various wireless alternatives have been developed. In this prospective study, we evaluate the role of radiation-free wireless localisation using the SAVI SCOUT® system at the London Breast Institute. A total of 72 reflectors were deployed in 67 consecutive patients undergoing breast conserving surgery for non-palpable breast lesions. The mean interval between deployment and surgery for the therapeutic cases was 18.8 days (range: 0–210). The median deployment duration was 5 min (range: 1–15 min). The mean distance from the lesion was 1.1 mm (median distance: 0; range: 0–20 mm). The rate of surgical localisation and retrieval of the reflector was 98.6% and 100%, respectively. The median operating time was 28 min (range: 15–55 min) for the therapeutic excision of malignancy and 17 min (range: 15–24) for diagnostic excision. The incidence of reflector migration was 0%. Radial margin positivity in malignant cases was 7%. The median weight for malignant lesions was 19.6 g (range: 3.5–70 g). Radiologists and surgeons rated the system higher than WGL (93.7% and 98.6%, respectively; 60/64 and 70/71). The patient mean satisfaction score was 9.7/10 (n = 47, median = 10; range: 7–10). One instance of signal failure was reported. In patients who had breast MRI after the deployment of the reflector, the MRI void signal was <5 mm (n = 6). There was no specific technique-related surgical complication. Our study demonstrates that wire-free localisation using SAVI SCOUT® is an effective and time-efficient alternative to WGL with excellent physician and patient acceptance.
Targeting Reactive Oxygen Species Metabolism to Induce Myeloma Cell Death
Authors: Caillot Mélody , Dakik Hassan , Mazurier Frédéric , Sola Brigitte
Published: May 2021

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a common hematological disease characterized by the accumulation of clonal malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow. Over the past two decades, new therapeutic strategies have significantly improved the treatment outcome and patients survival. Nevertheless, most MM patients relapse underlying the need of new therapeutic approaches. Plasma cells are prone to produce large amounts of immunoglobulins causing the production of intracellular ROS. Although adapted to high level of ROS, MM cells die when exposed to drugs increasing ROS production either directly or by inhibiting antioxidant enzymes. In this review, we discuss the efficacy of ROS-generating drugs for inducing MM cell death and counteracting acquired drug resistance specifically toward proteasome inhibitors.
Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen-4 in Colorectal Cancer: Another Therapeutic Side of Capecitabine
Authors: Derakhshani Afshin , Hashemzadeh Shahryar , Asadzadeh Zahra , Shadbad Mahdi Abdoli , Rasibonab Farnaz , Safarpour Hossein , Jafarlou Vahid , Solimando Antonio Giovanni , Racanelli Vito , Singh Pankaj Kumar , Najafi Souzan , Javadrashid Darya , Brunetti Oronzo , Silvestris Nicola , Baradaran Behzad
Published: May 2021

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) is an inhibitory immune checkpoint that can be expressed in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. This immune checkpoint can attenuate anti-tumoral immune responses and facilitate tumor growth and metastasis. Although capecitabine is an effective chemotherapeutic agent for treating CRC, its effect on the tumoral CTLA-4 expression remains unclear. In the current research, we applied the GSE110224 and GSE25070 datasets to characterize CTLA-4 expression in CRC patients. Then, we analyzed CTLA-4 expression in CRC samples, HT-29, HCT-166, and SW480 cell lines using real-time PCR. Our bioinformatic results have highlighted the overexpression of CTLA-4 in the CRC tissues compared to the adjacent non-tumoral tissues. Our in vitro studies have indicated that SW480 cells can substantially overexpress CTLA-4 compared to HT-29 and HCT 116 cells. In addition, capecitabine can remarkably downregulate the expression of CTLA-4 in SW480 cells. Collectively, capecitabine can inhibit the expression of CTLA-4 in CRC cells and might bridge the immunotherapy approaches with chemotherapy.
Mapping of Metabolic Heterogeneity of Glioma Using MR-Spectroscopy
Authors: Franco Pamela , Huebschle Irene , Simon-Gabriel Carl Philipp , Dacca Karam , Schnell Oliver , Beck Juergen , Mast Hansjoerg , Urbach Horst , Wuertemberger Urs , Prinz Marco , Hosp Jonas A. , Delev Daniel , Mader Irina , Heiland Dieter Henrik
Published: May 2021

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) delivers information about the non-invasive metabolic landscape of brain pathologies. 1H-MRS is used in clinical setting in addition to MRI for diagnostic, prognostic and treatment response assessments, but the use of this radiological tool is not entirely widespread. The importance of developing automated analysis tools for 1H-MRS lies in the possibility of a straightforward application and simplified interpretation of metabolic and genetic data that allow for incorporation into the daily practice of a broad audience. Here, we report a prospective clinical imaging trial (DRKS00019855) which aimed to develop a novel MR-spectroscopy-based algorithm for in-depth characterization of brain lesions and prediction of molecular traits. Dimensional reduction of metabolic profiles demonstrated distinct patterns throughout pathologies. We combined a deep autoencoder and multi-layer linear discriminant models for voxel-wise prediction of the molecular profile based on MRS imaging. Molecular subtypes were predicted by an overall accuracy of 91.2% using a classifier score. Our study indicates a first step into combining the metabolic and molecular traits of lesions for advancing the pre-operative diagnostic workup of brain tumors and improve personalized tumor treatment.
Rely on Each Other: DNA Binding Cooperativity Shapes p53 Functions in Tumor Suppression and Cancer Therapy
Authors: Timofeev Oleg , Stiewe Thorsten
Published: May 2021

p53 is a tumor suppressor that is mutated in half of all cancers. The high clinical relevance has made p53 a model transcription factor for delineating general mechanisms of transcriptional regulation. p53 forms tetramers that bind DNA in a highly cooperative manner. The DNA binding cooperativity of p53 has been studied by structural and molecular biologists as well as clinical oncologists. These experiments have revealed the structural basis for cooperative DNA binding and its impact on sequence specificity and target gene spectrum. Cooperativity was found to be critical for the control of p53-mediated cell fate decisions and tumor suppression. Importantly, an estimated number of 34,000 cancer patients per year world-wide have mutations of the amino acids mediating cooperativity, and knock-in mouse models have confirmed such mutations to be tumorigenic. While p53 cancer mutations are classically subdivided into “contact” and “structural” mutations, “cooperativity” mutations form a mechanistically distinct third class that affect the quaternary structure but leave DNA contacting residues and the three-dimensional folding of the DNA-binding domain intact. In this review we discuss the concept of DNA binding cooperativity and highlight the unique nature of cooperativity mutations and their clinical implications for cancer therapy.
High Monocyte Count and Expression of S100A9 and S100A12 in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Are Associated with Poor Outcome in Patients with Metastatic Prostate Cancer
Authors: Åberg Anna-Maja , Bergström Sofia Halin , Thysell Elin , Tjon-Kon-Fat Lee-Ann , Nilsson Jonas A. , Widmark Anders , Thellenberg-Karlsson Camilla , Bergh Anders , Wikström Pernilla , Lundholm Marie
Published: May 2021

Increasing evidence indicates calcium-binding S100 protein involvement in inflammation and tumor progression. In this prospective study, we evaluated the mRNA levels of two members of this family, S100A9 and S100A12, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in a cohort of 121 prostate cancer patients using RT-PCR. Furthermore, monocyte count was determined by flow cytometry. By stratifying patients into different risk groups, according to TNM stage, Gleason score and PSA concentration at diagnosis, expression of S100A9 and S100A12 was found to be significantly higher in patients with metastases compared to patients without clinically detectable metastases. In line with this, we observed that the protein levels of S100A9 and S100A12 in plasma were higher in patients with advanced disease. Importantly, in patients with metastases at diagnosis, high monocyte count and high levels of S100A9 and S100A12 were significantly associated with short progression free survival (PFS) after androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). High monocyte count and S100A9 levels were also associated with short cancer-specific survival, with monocyte count providing independent prognostic information. These findings indicate that circulating levels of monocytes, as well as S100A9 and S100A12, could be biomarkers for metastatic prostate cancer associated with particularly poor prognosis.
Clinical and Molecular Features of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Mutation Positive Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Patients Treated with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs): Predictive and Prognostic Role of Co-Mutations
Authors: Bironzo Paolo , Reale Maria Lucia , Sperone Tessa , Tabbò Fabrizio , Caglio Andrea , Listì Angela , Passiglia Francesco , Di Maio Massimo , Righi Luisella , Bussolino Federico , Scagliotti Giorgio V. , Novello Silvia
Published: May 2021

Background: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) show variable efficacy in epidermal growth factor receptor mutation-positive (EGFR+) NSCLC patients, even in patients harbouring the same mutation. Co-alterations may predict different outcomes to TKIs. Methods: We retrospectively analysed all consecutive EGFR+ advanced NSCLC treated with first-line TKIs at our Institutions. NGS with a 22 genes clinical panel was performed on diagnostic specimens. PD-L1 expression was also evaluated. Results: Of the 106 analysed specimens, 59 showed concomitant pathogenic mutations. No differences in OS (mOS 22.8 vs. 29.5 months; p = 0.088), PFS (mPFS 10.9 vs. 11.2 months; p = 0.415) and ORR (55.9% vs. 68.1%; p = 0.202) were observed comparing patients without and with co-alterations. Subgroup analysis by EGFR mutation type and TKIs generation (1st/2nd vs. 3rd) did not show any difference too. No correlations of PD-L1 expression levels by co-mutational status were found. Significant associations with presence of co-alterations and younger age (p = 0.018) and baseline lymph nodes metastases (p = 0.032) were observed. Patients without concomitant alterations had a significant higher risk of bone progression (26.5% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.011). Conclusions: Pathogenic co-alterations does not seem to predict survival nor efficacy of EGFR TKIs in previously untreated advanced NSCLC.
Chroma Enhancement in CIELAB Color Space Using a Lookup Table
Authors: Azetsu Tadahiro , Suetake Noriaki
Published: May 2021

In this study, we present a method of chroma enhancement in the CIELAB color space and compare it with that in the RGB color space. Color image enhancement using the CIELAB color space has the disadvantage that the color gamut problem occurs because the conversion to the RGB color space is necessary to display the image. However, since the CIELAB color space is based on human visual perception, the quality of the resulting images is expected to be higher than that of the RGB color space. In the method using the CIELAB color space, we introduce a lookup table to reduce the calculation costs. Experiments comparing image enhancement results obtained from two color spaces are performed using several digital images.
Correlation of MRI-Lesion Targeted Biopsy vs. Systematic Biopsy Gleason Score with Final Pathological Gleason Score after Radical Prostatectomy
Authors: Wenzel Mike , Preisser Felix , Wittler Clarissa , Hoeh Benedikt , Wild Peter J. , Tschäbunin Alexandra , Bodelle Boris , Würnschimmel Christoph , Tilki Derya , Graefen Markus , Becker Andreas , Karakiewicz Pierre I , Chun Felix K. H. , Kluth Luis A , Köllermann Jens , Mandel Philipp
Published: May 2021

Background: The impact of MRI-lesion targeted (TB) and systematic biopsy (SB) Gleason score (GS) as a predictor for final pathological GS still remains unclear. Methods: All patients with TB + SB, and subsequent radical prostatectomy (RP) between 01/2014-12/2020 were analyzed. Rank correlation coefficient predicted concordance with pathological GS for patients’ TB and SB GS, as well as for the combined effect of SB + TB. Results: Of 159 eligible patients, 77% were biopsy naïve. For SB taken in addition to TB, a Spearman’s correlation of +0.33 was observed regarding final GS. Rates of concordance, upgrading, and downgrading were 37.1, 37.1 and 25.8%, respectively. For TB, a +0.52 correlation was computed regarding final GS. Rates of concordance, upgrading and downgrading for TB biopsy GS were 45.9, 33.3, and 20.8%, respectively. For the combination of SB + TB, a correlation of +0.59 was observed. Rates of concordance, upgrading and downgrading were 49.7, 15.1 and 35.2%, respectively. The combined effect of SB + TB resulted in a lower upgrading rate, relative to TB and SB (both p < 0.001), but a higher downgrading rate, relative to TB (p < 0.01). Conclusions: GS obtained from TB provided higher concordance and lower upgrading and downgrading rates, relative to SB GS with regard to final pathology. The combined effect of SB + TB led to the highest concordance rate and the lowest upgrading rate.
Ecological and Economic Context of Managing Enterprises That Are Particularly Harmful to the Environment and the Well-Being of Society
Authors: Włodarczyk Aneta , Mesjasz-Lech Agata
Published: May 2021

The ecological and economic context determine the management goals of a modern enterprise, which are in line with the growing concern about the well-being of society caused by the effects of enterprises’ activities that are particularly harmful to the environment. This increases the need to search for new tools that will have the capacity to generate information supporting the decision-making process in the area of enterprise management in terms of ecological, economic, and social goals. For these reasons, synthetic measures of development were constructed on the basis of the set of diagnostic variables describing various aspects of sustainable development in the case. Based on the environmental synthetic indicators, it has been possible to point out the Polish voivodeships, in which enterprises that are particularly harmful to the environment were able to reduce the emissions of dust and gaseous pollutants in the 2005–2019 period. These changes were often accompanied by an increase in the production of energy from renewable sources and increasing the supply of plants with devices to contain gaseous and dust pollutants. Moreover, the comparison of positioning the voivodeships in the rankings according to social, economic, and environmental synthetic measures shows that the reduction of the negative impact of energy-intensive enterprises on the environment has been associated with higher the position of the voivodeship in the ranking connected with the health of its inhabitants. It has been also seen that the largest pool of funds was allocated to the voivodeships that need them the most, as these voivodeships were low in the ranking with respect to the degree of the reduction of dust and gaseous emissions by enterprises that are particularly harmful to the environment. The results for regression analysis indicated at the existence of the inter-temporal relationships between the well-being of society and the environmental–economic effects of enterprises’ activities. It was noticed that increasing the possibilities of financing investments in low-emission development of the region, including the modernization of enterprises in terms of decreasing dust and gaseous pollutant emissions and reducing their energy consumption, has a significant impact on the improvement of well-being of society with a one-year lag. In contrast to other studies that mainly refer to the environmental and economic effects of managing enterprises that are particularly harmful to the environment, this paper focuses on the social aspect of the change in the health of the population connected with the emissions of pollutants. A novel approach based on the set of three multi-criteria synthetic measures is proposed to assess the environmental, economic, and social activities of enterprises in individual voivodeships in Poland in the long 2005–2019 period.
Foundations—A New Journal Dedicated to Fundamental Research
Authors: Bohner Martin
Published: May 2021

Fundamental or basic research is the cornerstone of building knowledge in science [...]
Métis Women’s Experiences in Canadian Higher Education
Authors: Scott Bryanna
Published: May 2021

In Canada, there are three groups of Aboriginal people, also referred to as Indigenous peoples, and these include the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. Although often thought of collectively, each has its distinct history, culture, and perspectives. The Métis people are mixed-culture people stemming from a long history of Indigenous people and European settlers intermixing and having offspring. Furthermore, the living history representing mixed ancestry and family heritage is often ignored, specifically within higher education. Dominant narratives permeate the curriculum across all levels of education, further marginalizing the stories of Métis people. I explore the experiences of Métis women in higher education within a specific region in Canada. Using semi-structured interview questions and written narratives, I examine the concepts of identity, institutional practices, and reconciliation as described by Métis women. Results assist in providing a voice to the Métis women’s experiences as they challenge and resist colonial narratives of their culture and expand upon a new vision of Métis content inclusion in higher education as reconciliation.
A Genome-Wide Association Study for Hypertensive Kidney Disease in Korean Men
Authors: Kim Hye-Rim , Jin Hyun-Seok , Eom Yong-Bin
Published: May 2021

Hypertension is one of the major risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD), and the coexistence of hypertension and CKD increases morbidity and mortality. Although many genetic factors have been identified separately for hypertension and kidney disease, studies specifically focused on hypertensive kidney disease (HKD) have been rare. Therefore, this study aimed to identify loci or genes associated with HKD. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted using two Korean cohorts, the Health Examinee (HEXA) and Korean Association REsource (KARE). Consequently, 19 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were found to be significantly associated with HKD in the discovery and replication phases (p < 5 × 10−8, p < 0.05, respectively). We further analyzed HKD-related traits such as the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at the 14q21.2 locus, which showed a strong linkage disequilibrium (LD). Expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis was also performed to determine whether HKD-related SNPs affect gene expression changes in glomerular and arterial tissues. The results suggested that the FANCM gene may affect the development of HKD through an integrated analysis of eQTL and GWAS and was the most significantly associated candidate gene. Taken together, this study indicated that the FANCM gene is involved in the pathogenesis of HKD. Additionally, our results will be useful in prioritizing other genes for further experiments.
Stress, Burnout, and Resilience among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Emergency: The Role of Defense Mechanisms
Authors: Di Giuseppe Mariagrazia , Nepa Gianni , Prout Tracy A. , Albertini Fabrizio , Marcelli Stefano , Orrù Graziella , Conversano Ciro
Published: May 2021

The experience of working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 healthcare crisis has presented a cumulative traumatic experience that affects healthcare professionals’ well-being. Psychological resources such as resilience and adaptive defense mechanisms are essential in protecting individuals from severe stress and burnout. During September 2020, 233 healthcare workers responded to an online survey to test the impact of demographic variables, COVID-19 exposure, and psychological resources in determining stress and burnout during the COVID-19 emergency. Frontline workers reported higher scores for stress, emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization (p < 0.001) as compared to colleagues working in units not directly serving patients with COVID-19. Mature defensive functioning was associated with resilience and personal accomplishment (r = 0.320; p < 0.001), while neurotic and immature defenses were related to perceived stress and burnout. Stress and burnout were predicted by lower age, female gender, greater exposure to COVID-19, lower resilience, and immature defensive functioning among healthcare professionals (R2 = 463; p < 0.001). Working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic appears to provoke greater stress and burnout. On the other hand, resilience and adaptive defense mechanisms predicted better adjustment. Future reaction plans should promote effective programs offering support for healthcare workers who provide direct care to patients with COVID-19.
The “Healthcare Workers’ Wellbeing (Benessere Operatori)” Project: A Picture of the Mental Health Conditions of Italian Healthcare Workers during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Di Mattei Valentina , Perego Gaia , Milano Francesca , Mazzetti Martina , Taranto Paola , Di Pierro Rossella , De Panfilis Chiara , Madeddu Fabio , Preti Emanuele
Published: May 2021

During the last year, the COVID-19 outbreak put all the healthcare workers around the world at risk of physical and psychological sequelae. The general purpose of the present study was to assess the mental health of Italian healthcare workers during the COVID-19 outbreak and to identify high-risk groups. Here, we present results from the baseline assessment of the “Healthcare workers’ wellbeing (Benessere Operatori)” project on a sample of 1055 healthcare workers. Participants completed the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, the Insomnia Severity Index, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Healthcare workers who worked in COVID wards reported higher levels of anxiety, insomnia, post-traumatic stress, anger, and burnout, compared to those reported by the healthcare workers who worked in non-COVID wards. Moreover, nurses, both in COVID and non-COVID wards, were at higher risk of experiencing psychological distress compared to other groups of healthcare workers. These findings highlight the importance of implementing targeted psychological interventions for healthcare workers operating in COVID wards and nurses, who seem to be the most vulnerable categories.
Perception and Acceptance of People with Disabilities by Employers and Co-Workers
Authors: Grześkowiak Alicja , Załuska Urszula , Kozyra Cyprian , Kwiatkowska-Ciotucha Dorota
Published: May 2021

The perception of people with disabilities is crucial for their full inclusion and in order that they might stay economically active. The measurement tools used should be resistant to the demographic or professional characteristics of the research participants. The article attempts to test this resistance for one of the most popular tools measuring the perception of people with disabilities in everyday life—the Attitudes to Disability Scale (ADS) test developed by the WHOQOL Group. Another issue raised in the article is the acceptance of people with various types of disabilities in terms of their possible employment. We checked the differentiation of acceptance among employers from different countries. This article uses representative samples of respondents from two studies—the CATI research (2019) on samples of Polish employers and co-workers, and the CAWI research (2021) on samples of employers from Poland and Finland. The analysis methods used included confirmatory factor analysis, nested models and nonparametric analysis of variance. The research confirmed the resistance of the ADS scale to respondents’ characteristics, and found no differences for nested models constructed for groups based on categorical variables characterizing the respondents. As for acceptance of various types of disability in the workplace, significant differences were found in the statements of employers from Poland and Finland.
Direct and Inverse Correlates of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among School-Age Autistic Boys
Authors: Bitsika Vicki , Sharpley Christopher F.
Published: May 2021

Young people with autism are often bullied at school, a potential direct correlate of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This may be compounded by their difficulties in social interaction. Alternately, some of these young people may develop ‘coping strategies’ against bullying that may have an inverse association with PTSD. As a vulnerable population for PTSD, a sample of 71 young males with autism were surveyed for their self-reported experiences of being bullied at school, their coping strategies for dealing with this bullying, and their own evaluations of the severity of two of the key diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Their mothers also provided a rating of the severity of the three major diagnostic criteria for autism for these boys. Over 80% of this sample had been bullied, and there was a significant direct correlation between this and PTSD score, and between their mother-rated severity of the boys’ social interaction difficulties, but also a significant inverse correlation between their coping strategies and PTSD score. There were differences in these relationships according to whether the boys attended elementary or secondary school. These findings hold implications for the identification, assessment and support of autistic youth at risk of PTSD.
Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Quality of Dying in Long-Term Care Scale (QoD-LTC) for Spanish Nursing Homes
Authors: Puente-Fernández Daniel , Jimeno-Ucles Rosel , Mota-Romero Emilio , Roldán Concepción , Froggatt Katherine , Montoya-Juárez Rafael
Published: May 2021

Background: There is a need for instruments that can evaluate the psychosocial quality of dying in nursing homes. The aim of this study was to adapt and validate the Quality of Dying in Long-Term Care scale (QoD-LTC) to the Spanish context. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Fourteen nurses from 7 facilities in southern Spain assessed 153 residents who died in the centers; validity, reliability, and feasibility were evaluated. Results: The Spanish version consists of 11 items with acceptable reliability (α = 0.681). Three factors model was validated by principal components analysis. A mean of 180.62 (SD = 86.66) seconds is needed to fill it in. An inter-observer 0.753 (95% CI: 0.391–0.900, p< 0.001) and intra-observer 0.855 (95% CI: 0.568–0.951 p = 0.001) reliability were observed. Weak correlation was observed; positive with mono-item question (0.322) and negative with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) with a value of (−0.321) and Integrated Palliative outcome scale (IPOS) with a value of (−0.252). Conclusions: The QoD-LTC scale presents an adequate factorial structure, internal consistency, and feasibility to evaluate psychosocial quality of dying in nursing homes. It can be used as a quality indicator.
Space-Time Dependence of Emotions on Twitter after a Natural Disaster
Authors: Garske Sonja I. , Elayan Suzanne , Sykora Martin , Edry Tamar , Grabenhenrich Linus B. , Galea Sandro , Lowe Sarah R. , Gruebner Oliver
Published: May 2021

Natural disasters can have significant consequences for population mental health. Using a digital spatial epidemiologic approach, this study documents emotional changes over space and time in the context of a large-scale disaster. Our aims were to (a) explore the spatial distribution of negative emotional expressions of Twitter users before, during, and after Superstorm Sandy in New York City (NYC) in 2012 and (b) examine potential correlations between socioeconomic status and infrastructural damage with negative emotional expressions across NYC census tracts over time. A total of 984,311 geo-referenced tweets with negative basic emotions (anger, disgust, fear, sadness, shame) were collected and assigned to the census tracts within NYC boroughs between 8 October and 18 November 2012. Global and local univariate and bivariate Moran’s I statistics were used to analyze the data. We found local spatial clusters of all negative emotions over all disaster periods. Socioeconomic status and infrastructural damage were predominantly correlated with disgust, fear, and shame post-disaster. We identified spatial clusters of emotional reactions during and in the aftermath of a large-scale disaster that could help provide guidance about where immediate and long-term relief measures are needed the most, if transferred to similar events and on comparable data worldwide.
Oral Health Status of 12-Year-Old Hani Children in the Yunnan Province of China: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Chen Jieyi , Zhou Ni , Xu Biao , Li Yuexiao , Zhang Shinan , Chu Chunhung
Published: May 2021

Background: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the oral health status of Hani 12-year-old children in Yunnan, a province in Southwest China. Method: This study employed a multistage sampling method to recruit children from local primary schools. Two calibrated dentists examined the status of dental caries, gingival bleeding and dental fluorosis by adopting the diagnosis criteria recommended by the World Health Organization. A self-administrated questionnaire was distributed. The chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression were conducted. Results: This study invited 480 Hani children, and recruited 413 children (52% boys) (response rate: 86%). The dental caries prevalence was 52%, and the caries experience associated with the mean (standard deviation) decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) score was 1.10 (1.46). Gingival bleeding was diagnosed in 252 children (61%), and dental fluorosis was found in two children (0.5%). The results of the regression model indicated the prevalence of dental caries were associated with sugary snacking habits (p = 0.002). The prevalence of gingival bleeding was related to the mother’s education level as well as the child’s monthly pocket money (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Dental caries and gingival bleeding were prevalent among 12-year-old Hani children in the Yunnan province in China. Dental fluorosis was uncommon.
The Acute Effect of Magnesium Supplementation on Endothelial Function: A Randomized Cross-Over Pilot Study
Authors: Murphy Caitríona , Byrne Jennifer , Keogh Jennifer B. , Headland Michelle L. , Clifton Peter M.
Published: May 2021

Magnesium (Mg) deficiency might be a catalyst in the process of endothelial dysfunction, an early event in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to determine the acute effect of an oral Mg supplement as compared to control on endothelial function assessed by flow-mediated dilatation (FMD). Nineteen participants (39 years, body mass index (BMI) 22.9 kg/m2) completed this randomized cross-over study. Blood pressure (BP) and FMD were measured and blood samples were taken before participants drank 200 mL water, with or without an over the counter Mg supplement (450 mg and 300 mg for men and women). Measurements were repeated at 60 and 120 min. There was a statistically significant two-way interaction between treatment and time on serum Mg (p = 0.037). A difference of −0.085 mm in FMD was observed 60-min post drink in the control group, as compared to baseline FMD, and no difference was observed in the supplement group as compared to baseline. Despite the non-significant interaction between treatment and time on FMD, once adjusted for baseline, the difference seen in the control group and the lack of change in the supplement group at 60 min post-drink suggests that Mg might attenuate the reduction in FMD post-prandially.
Discrimination and Health: The Mediating Effect of Acculturative Stress
Authors: Urzúa Alfonso , Caqueo-Urízar Alejandra , Henríquez Diego , Williams David R.
Published: May 2021

There is not much evidence on the effects of south–south migration and its consequences on physical and mental health. Our objective was to examine the mediating role of Acculturative Stress in the association between ethnic discrimination and racial discrimination with physical and mental health. This research is a non-experimental, analytical, cross-sectional study. A total of 976 adult Colombian migrants living in Chile were interviewed. We used the Everyday Discrimination Scale, the acculturative stress scale, and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-12) for health status; we found that racial and ethnic discrimination had a negative effect on physical and mental health. In the simultaneous presence of both types of discrimination, racial discrimination was completely absorbed by ethnic discrimination, the latter becoming a total mediator of the effect of racial discrimination on mental and physical health. Our findings are consistent with the literature, which suggests that there are various types of discrimination which, individually or in their intersectionality, can have negative effects on health.
Research on Optimization of Healthcare Waste Management System Based on Green Governance Principle in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Liu Ziyuan , Liu Tianle , Liu Xingdong , Wei Aijing , Wang Xiaoxue , Yin Ying , Li You
Published: May 2021

At present, strategies for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic have made significant and strategic strides; however, and the large quantities of healthcare treatment waste have become another important “battlefield”. For example, in Wuhan, the production rate of healthcare waste in hospitals, communities, temporary storage, and other units was much faster than the disposal rate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Improving the efficiency of healthcare waste transfer and treatment has become an important task for government health and environmental protection departments at all levels. Based on the situation of healthcare waste disposal in Wuhan during the critical period of the pandemic, this paper analyzes and studies green governance principles and summarizes the problems that exist in the current healthcare waste management system. Through the establishment of temporary storage facilities along transit routes, digital simulation and bionic experiments were carried out in the Hongshan District of Wuhan to improve the efficiency of healthcare waste transfer. Furthermore, this study discusses the coordination and cooperation of government, hospitals, communities, and other departments in the healthcare waste disposal process and provides guiding suggestions for healthcare waste disposal nationwide in order to deal with potential risks and provide effective references in all regions.
Cognitive Neuroscience Methods in Enhancing Health Literacy
Authors: Piwowarski Mateusz , Gadomska-Lila Katarzyna , Nermend Kesra
Published: May 2021

The aim of the article is to identify the usefulness of cognitive neuroscience methods in assessing the effectiveness of social advertising and constructing messages referring to the generally understood health promotion, which is to contribute to the development of health awareness, and hence to health literacy. The presented research has also proven useful in the field of managing the processes that improve the communication between the organization and its environment. The researchers experimentally applied cognitive neuroscience methods, mainly EEG measurements, including a metric which is one of the most frequently used to measure the reception of advertising messages, i.e., frontal asymmetry. The purpose of the study was to test cognitive responses as expressed by neural indices (memorization, interest) to the reception of an advertisement for the construction of a hospice for adults. For comparative purposes, a questionnaire survey was also conducted. The research findings have confirmed that there are significant differences in remembering the advertisement in question by different groups of recipients (women/men). They also indicate a different level of interest in the advertisement, which may result from different preferences of the recipients concerning the nature of ads. The obtained results contribute to a better understanding of how to design advertising messages concerning health, so that they increase the awareness of the recipients’ responsibility for their own health and induce specific behavior patterns aimed at supporting health-related initiatives, e.g., donating funds for building hospices or performing preventive tests. In this respect, the study findings help improve the organizations’ communication with their environment, thus enhancing their performance. The study has also confirmed the potential and innovativeness of cognitive neuroscience methods as well as their considerable possibilities for application in this field.