bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Zerumbone‐induced reactive oxygen species‐mediated oxidative stress re‐sensitizes breast cancer cells to paclitaxel
Authors: Li Jutao , Wang Lingying , Sun Yuxin , Wang Zhe , Qian Ye , Duraisamy Vidhya , Antary Tawfiq M. Al
Published: March 2022

Chemotherapy is an effective approach for cancer therapy when plant‐derived sensitizers are combined with chemotherapeutics. Zerumbone, a natural phytochemical, has been documented to have various pharmacological roles. Here, we evaluated the chemosensitization potential of zerumbone in a breast cancer cell line in vitro. Zerumbone‐induced cytotoxicity in MCF‐7 cells was assessed by 3‐[4,5‐dimethylthiazole‐2‐yl]‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT)‐based metabolic analysis. Reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐mediated mitochondrial membrane alterations, DNA damage, and apoptotic morphological changes were measured by fluorescence microscopy methods. A biochemical assay was employed to analyze Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and antioxidant levels. Apoptotic marker expression levels were investigated by immunoblotting. MTT assay revealed that zerumbone significantly enhanced paclitaxel (PTX)‐induced cell death in breast cancer cells in a concentration‐dependent manner. Furthermore, our study demonstrated that zerumbone (15 μM) significantly enhanced ROS when combined with PTX (1 μM) treatment. Additionally, we observed that zerumbone enhanced the impairment of mitochondrial membrane potential and oxidative DNA damage, thereby inducing apoptosis in combination with PTX. Western blot analysis indicated that zerumbone significantly upregulated BAX, caspase‐7, and caspase‐9 expression and decreased BCL‐2 expression, thereby inducing proapoptotic protein‐mediated cell death combined with PTX. The prooxidant properties of zerumbone potentially resensitize breast cancer cells to PTX by enhancing intracellular ROS‐mediated oxidative stress.
Get insight into the cause of death distribution and epidemiology of penile squamous cell carcinoma: A population‐based study
Authors: Zhan Xiangpeng , Chen Luyao , Jiang Ming , Fu Bin
Published: March 2022

Background

Penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) survival had no significant improvement since 1990 in the United States. This study aims to get insight into the changing trend and distribution of death causes of PSCC. The epidemiology of PSCC is also investigated.

Methods

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) (1992–2018) database is utilized to get patients diagnosed with penile squamous cell carcinoma. The trend of incidence, distribution of age, changing trend and distribution of death cause, and survival outcome are analyzed for all PSCC patients and each race.

Results

Three thousand four hundred and twenty‐three male patients with PSCC are enrolled in our study. The age‐adjusted incidence rate of the white has a slight increase (Annual percent change [APC] = 0.647%). American Indian/Alaska Native men have the highest average annual incidence, while Asian /Pacific Islander men have the lowest. PSCC patients aged 70–80 are the most common, and patients over 80 years have the highest 3‐year (50%) and 5‐year (63.93%) mortality rate. Non‐cancer disease, especially circulatory system disease, is the most common cause of death, whereas the proportion of patients who died of PSCC significantly increased from 21.17% (1992–2001) to 41.3% (2012–2017) in PSCC patients (p < 0.001). These results have not changed significantly when we only focus on primary PSCC without previous malignant tumors. Hispanics are shown better overall survival than non‐Hispanic White and non‐ Hispanic Black men. (p < 0.001) No statistical differences in cancer‐specific survival are observed (p = 0.15).

Conclusion

The current study provides essential initial data regarding the presentation and clinical outcomes of PSCC patients. Notably, non‐cancer disease, especially circulatory system disease, is the more common cause of death than PSCC. However, the proportion of patients who died of penile squamous cell carcinoma has a relatively significant increase in recent years. The increasing trends in the advanced stage of PSCC patients might account for this change.
Extrafollicular proliferation of B‐blasts: Morphologic correlate to Spikevax‐induced lymphadenopathy
Authors: Tzankov Alexandar , Rössle Matthias
Published: March 2022

A 30‐year‐old male developed a PET‐positive left‐sided cervical lymphadenopathy that was suspected representing metastasis of a known right‐sided papillary thyroid cancer. First‐dose‐application of Spikevax three weeks ago was neither reflected, nor reported to the pathologists. Diagnostic lymphadenectomy was performed showing extrafollicular proliferation of B‐blasts, likely attributable to the vaccine application.
Hedycaryol – Central Intermediates in Sesquiterpene Biosynthesis, Part II
Authors: Xu Houchao , Dickschat Jeroen S.
Published: March 2022

The known sesquiterpenes that arise biosynthetically from hedycaryol are summarised. Reasonings for the assignments of their absolute configurations are discussed. The analysis provided here suggests that reprotonations at the C1=C10 double bond of hedycaryol are directed toward C1 and generally lead to 6–6 bicyclic compounds, while reprotonations at the C4=C5 double bond occur at C4 and result in 5–7 bicyclic compounds. Read more in the Review by H. Xu and J. S. Dickschat (DOI: 10.1002/chem.202200405).
Selenocarbamates As a Prodrug‐Based Approach to Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibition
Authors: Angeli Andrea , Ferraroni Marta , Capperucci Antonella , Tanini Damiano , Costantino Gabriele , Supuran Claudiu T.
Published: March 2022

A study on the activity of selenocarbamates as a novel chemotype acting as carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) inhibitors is reported. Undergoing CA‐mediated hydrolysis, selenocarbamates release selenolates behaving as zinc binding groups and effectively inhibiting CAs. A series of selenocarbamates characterised by high molecular diversity and complexity have been studied against different human CA isoforms such as hCA I, II, IX and XII. Selenocarbamates behave as masked selenols with potential biological applications as prodrugs for CAs inhibition‐based strategies. X‐ray studies provided insights into the binding mode of this novel class of CA inhibitors.
Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Tolerability of Letermovir Following Single‐ and Multiple‐Dose Administration in Healthy Japanese Subjects
Authors: Asari Kazuhiko , Ishii Mikio , Yoshitsugu Hiroyuki , Wakana Akira , Fancourt Craig , Yoon Esther , Furihata Kenichi , McCrea Jacqueline B. , Stoch S. Aubrey , Iwamoto Marian
Published: March 2022

Letermovir is a human cytomegalovirus terminase inhibitor for the prophylaxis of cytomegalovirus infection and disease in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. The pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of letermovir were assessed in healthy Japanese subjects in 2 phase 1 trials: trial 1—single ascending oral doses (240, 480, and 720 mg) and intravenous (IV) doses (240, 480, and 960 mg), and trial 2—multiple oral doses (240 and 480 mg once daily for 7 days). Following administration of oral single and multiple doses, letermovir was absorbed with a median time to maximum plasma concentration of 2 to 4 hours, and concentrations declined in a biphasic manner with a terminal half‐life of ≈10 to 13 hours. The post absorption plasma concentration–time profile of letermovir following oral administration was similar to the profile observed with IV dosing. There was minimal accumulation with multiple‐dose administration. Letermovir exposure in healthy Japanese subjects was ≈1.5‐ to 2.5‐fold higher than that observed in non‐Japanese subjects. Based on the population pharmacokinetic analysis, weight differences primarily accounted for the higher exposures observed in Asians. Letermovir was generally well tolerated following oral and IV administration to healthy Japanese subjects.
Design of a contact‐force controller including airframe's velocity and acceleration feedback controllers for one‐degree‐of‐freedom propeller‐driven systems
Authors: Nishii Yuki , Yashiro Daisuke , Yubai Kazuhiro , Komada Satoshi
Published: March 2022

Contact‐force control of propeller‐driven systems achieves aerial tasks that require contact motions with objects. Conventional contact‐force controllers for propeller‐driven systems utilize a contact‐force feedback controller. Although the feedback gain should be high to achieve high target tracking performance, a high gain causes a large overshoot. This paper therefore proposes a novel contact‐force controller which utilizes an airframe's velocity and an airframe's acceleration. An estimated acceleration and an estimated velocity of the airframe are fed back to the contact‐force controller. A rotor angular velocity is utilized to estimate the acceleration. The validity of the proposed controller is verified through frequency analysis, simulation, and experiment.
Expanding the Scope of Pnictogen‐Assisted Cyclophane Self‐Assembly
Authors: Shear Trevor A. , Mayhugh Jacob T. , Zocchi Luca J. , Demachkie Isabella S. , Trubenstein Henry J. , Zakharov Lev N. , Johnson Darren W.
Published: March 2022

Cyclophanes are a fundamentally interesting class of compounds that host a wide range of unique and emergent properties. However, synthesis of complex and/or functionalized cyclophanes can often suffer from harsh reaction conditions, long reaction times, and sometimes low yields using stepwise methods. We have previously reported an efficient, high‐yielding, metalloid‐directed self‐assembly method to prepare disulfide, thioether, and hydrocarbon cyclophanes and cages that feature mercaptomethyl‐arenes as starting materials. Herein, we report the synthesis of 21 new disulfide and thioether assemblies that expand this high yielding self‐assembly method to a wide breadth of macrocycles and cages with diverse structures. Remarkably, the high‐yielding, efficient syntheses still proceed under dynamic covalent control using electron‐deficient, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, spiro, and even short alkenyl/alkynyl substrates.
Impact of high and low concentration of fly ash amended soil on physico‐chemical properties of biodiesel produced from Jatropha curcas
Authors: Mohan Sumedha , Raj Seema
Published: March 2022

In the prevailing era of stagnating crude oils, depleting fossil fuel reserves and ever rising demand, vegetable oils that are non‐edible serve as a viable alternative to fossil fuels. Being renewable, they can be easily produced, are available in abundance, give carbon dioxide free emissions and hold tremendous potential to be transesterified to produce biodiesel. The non‐edible Jatropha curcas oil is a significant source for biodiesel production as it is easily grown and is cost‐effective. However, mass‐scale production is still a milestone to be reached for its practical usage. Herein, it was aimed to optimize the best composition of the base material by varying fly ash and soil concentrations for increased biodiesel efficiency from Jatropha in an extensive 5‐year study. The significance of fly ash in soil was understood by performing a series of physico‐chemical analysis of biodiesel prepared from Jatropha seed oil grown in different compositions of fly ash amended soil. It was observed that base material II plant gave 350 g seeds and 157 ml of seed oil in third year, whereas, the base material III plants gave 250 g seeds and 94 ml seed oil. Additionally, correlation analysis showed that seed yield, Jatropha oil extracted, and biodiesel production was positively correlated with percent metal uptake by plants from base materials. The addition of 25% fly ash with soil enhanced the yield of seeds and the quality of biodiesel produced in accordance with the American Standards of Testing and Materials (ASTM) which proves sustainable energy production.
Comparative characterization and sensory significance of volatile compounds in Rosa roxburghii Tratt fruit from five geographic locations in Guizhou, China
Authors: Huang Mingzheng , Li Tingting , Hardie W. James , Tang Weiyuan , Li Xin
Published: March 2022

Rosa roxburghii Tratt (Chestnut rose) is native to China where it is cultivated for its strongly aromatic hips (pseudo fruits); locally known as cili. Increasing interest in cili for food and beverage products prompted an evaluation of its aroma compounds and the influence of geographic source. Accordingly, the volatile compounds in cili from five locations in Guizhou province were analysed by headspace‐solid‐phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. Sixty‐seven volatile compounds were identified. Principal component analysis distinguished three sample groups by geographic source. The aroma of cili juice from each location was characterized by quantitative descriptive analysis using six odour descriptors. Cili aroma was predominantly sweet/fruity, floral and green, but geographic source significantly influenced the intensity of the sweet/fruity and floral notes. Odour activity analyses indicated that 40 volatile compounds contribute appreciably to the aroma of cili. Of those compounds, only ten esters, two aldehydes, one alcohol and one aromatic compound were common to all regional samples. Those findings extend the range of volatiles detected in cili. These results identify those that are present in odour active amounts and provide the first evidence of the impact of geographic source on the aroma and flavour of cili.
First discovery of Wuchiapingian (Late Permian) foraminiferal fauna from the Zhari Namco area, central Lhasa Block, Tibet, and their palaeogeographic implications
Authors: Ju Qi , Zhang Yi‐chun , Qiao Feng , Xu Hai‐peng
Published: March 2022

A new foraminiferal fauna is reported from the upper part of the Xiala Formation in the Zhari Namco section in the central Lhasa Block, which contains three species of fusulines and 26 species of small foraminifers. The presence of Reichelina and Codonofusiella in the fauna suggests a Wuchiapingian age. A review of the Lopingian faunas in several localities in the Lhasa Block indicates that this block was under a shallow marine environment during the Lopingian, rather than an uplifted terrestrial environment as previously recognized. The Lopingian palaeobiogeography as well as the sequences of the Lhasa Block differs greatly from the adjacent South Qiangtang, Karakorum and South Pamir blocks, and the Tethys Himalaya region of the Indian Plate. It further suggests that the Lhasa Block was separated from the South Qiangtang Block in the north by the Bangong‐Nujiang Ocean and the Tethys Himalaya area in the south by the Neotethys Ocean during the Lopingian time. Furthermore, the dissimilarity of the Guadalupian and Lopingian strata and faunas between the Lhasa and Karakorum blocks and similarity between the Lhasa and Tengchong blocks, may suggest that the Lhasa and Tengchong blocks were linked together during the Permian.
Integrin subunit beta 8 contributes to lenvatinib resistance in HCC
Authors: Hou Wei , Bridgeman Bryan , Malnassy Greg , Ding Xianzhong , Cotler Scott J. , Dhanarajan Asha , Qiu Wei
Published: March 2022

Lenvatinib is a multikinase inhibitor approved as a first‐line therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the development of drug resistance is common, and the underlying mechanisms governing this resistance are largely unknown. In this study, we established two lenvatinib‐resistant (LR) HCC cell lines and identified integrin subunit beta 8 (ITGB8) as a critical contributor to lenvatinib resistance in HCC. The elevated expression of ITGB8 was observed in LR HCC cells. Furthermore, silencing of ITGB8 reversed lenvatinib resistance in vitro and in vivo, whereas ectopic expression of ITGB8 in lenvatinib‐sensitive parental HCC cells exhibited increased resistance to lenvatinib. Mechanistically, ITGB8 regulated lenvatinib resistance through an HSP90‐mediated stabilization of AKT and enhanced AKT signaling. In support of this model, either an AKT inhibitor MK‐2206 or an HSP90 inhibitor 17‐AAG resensitized LR HCC cells to lenvatinib treatment. Conclusion: Collectively, our results establish a crucial role of ITGB8 in lenvatinib resistance, and suggest that targeting the ITGB8/HSP90/AKT axis is a promising therapeutic strategy in patients with HCC exhibiting lenvatinib resistance.
The role of nutrition‐sensitive agriculture combined with behavioral interventions in childhood growth in Ethiopia: An adequacy evaluation study
Authors: Mekonnen Tefera Chane , Tadesse Sisay Eshete , Dawed Yeshimebet Ali , Cherie Nigus , Abebe Hunegnaw , Shumye Getachew , Mohammed Foziya , Hussien Ahmed
Published: March 2022

Objective

The study aimed to investigate the role of nutrition‐sensitive and specific interventions along with nutrition education on child stunting during the first 1000 days in Ethiopia.

Methods

An adequacy evaluation study was used to see changes between the baseline and end‐line data after following for 1 year. A sample of 170 mother‐child pairs who had a 1‐year followed up was used to detect differences. We performed structural equation modeling to elucidate changes in feeding behaviors, socioeconomic status, water, sanitation and hygiene on child linear growth. Furthermore, the independent effect of covariates on child linear growth was handled using a general linear model.

Results

A total of 170 and 270 mother‐child dyads were interviewed at baseline and end‐line surveys, respectively. After about 1 year of intervention, the annual rate of stunting prevalence declined from 29.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 18.6, 42.7) to 16.4% (95% CI = 10.7, 24.2). There was a significant change in the mean of length‐for‐age Z‐score which changed from −1.18 to −0.45 (P < .034). Adjusting for the different constructs of the health belief model, child sex, age, feeding behaviors, and dietary diversity, one egg consumption per day was responsible for the most significant variability explained (36%) for stunting reduction.

Conclusions

Sustainable access to egg consumption for children below 2 years experienced a substantial reduction in childhood stunting. A combination of nutrition‐sensitive agricultural and direct nutrition interventions along with behavioral‐based education is a sustainable strategy in reducing and preventing child growth from faltering in the early life stages.
Numerical study of the wake induced by a porous disk under deflected inflow
Authors: Guezmir Sihème , Mataoui Amina , Guerri Ouahiba
Published: March 2022

This study examines the wake of a porous disk that generates a velocity deficit equivalent to that of a wind turbine. Three‐dimensional unsteady numerical simulations based on the finite volume method are performed. The URANS‐SST (k–ω) model is applied for the turbulence closure. Two investigations are carried out in this study: (i) the influence of the disk porosity on the wake, for porosities values (p) ranging from 0 to 0.55 in the case of a perpendicular flow; and (ii) the influence of the yaw angle on the wake deviation, for yaw angles ranging from 5° to 30°. Good agreements with the available experimental data are obtained for the mean x‐velocity component. The results confirm that wake length increases as porosity decreases. For nonporous disks, most part of the fluid is deflected toward the mast and above the disk. The y‐velocity contours highlight two contra‐rotating vortices in the vicinity of the disk. In both cases (nonporous and porous disks), a high turbulent kinetic energy is obtained near the disk area, with a higher maximum value for the nonporous disk.
High‐fidelity compression for high‐throughput photoacoustic microscopy systems
Authors: Zafar Mohsin , Manwar Rayyan , Avanaki Kamran
Published: March 2022

Photoacoustic microscopic images can assist specialists in disease diagnosis by providing vascular information. However, the size of such data is usually extremely large (ie, gigabytes), and thus, a real‐time, efficient compression method can facilitate easy storage and transportation of these images. We have implemented multiple data compression methods in LabVIEW with a high compression ratio and execution times below the repetition rate of the pulsed laser. The qualitative and quantitative results of ex vivo and in vivo imaging with compression showed near‐identical images to uncompressed images, with significantly smaller size.
Efficacy of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound in detection of type II endoleak after abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Zhao Xiaoning , Liu Yong , Sun Mingyan , Wang Yingying
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of conventional contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in detection of type II endoleak after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR).

Methods

From January 2015 to April 2018, 205 patients underwent EVAR were included. CEUS and computed tomography angiography (CTA) were performed at 1‐month follow‐up postoperatively to detect type II endoleak. CEUS was performed at 3‐ and 6‐month follow‐up to evaluate the development of type II endoleak. The diameter extension of type II endoleak increased greater than 5 mm was defined as enlarge group, and that increased less than 5 mm was defined as stable group. The difference of arrival time (AT) of contrast agent, maximum cross‐sectional area (MCSA) of contrast agent and the blood flow velocity (BFV) of the abnormal blood around the stent graft were compared.

Results

At 1‐month after EVAR, 65 cases of endoleak were detected by CEUS, including 25 cases of type I, 30 cases of type II endoleak and 10 cases of type III endoleak. Among them, 50 cases were also detected by CTA. The diameter extension of 12 cases of type II endoleak increased greater than 5 mm, and that of eight cases increased less than 5 mm. The average AT of the enlarge group was significantly shorter than that of the stable group, while the MCSA of contrast agent and the BFV were significantly higher than that of the stable group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

CEUS has predictive value for the natural outcome of type II endoleak.
Opportunities to implement manureshed management in the Iowa, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania swine industry
Authors: Meinen Robert J. , Spiegal Sheri , Kleinman Peter J. A. , Flynn K. Colton , Goslee Sarah C. , Mikesell Robert E. , Church Clinton , Bryant Ray B. , Boggess Mark
Published: March 2022

The U.S. swine industry is diverse, but opportunities exist to strategically improve manure management, especially given much of the industry's vertical integration. We investigate opportunities for improving manureshed management, using swine production examples in Iowa, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania as a lens into historical trends and the current range of management conditions. Manure management reflects regional differences and the specialized nature of hog farms, resulting in a large range of land bases required to assimilate manure generated by these operations. Selected representative farm scenarios were evaluated on an annual basis; farm‐level manuresheds were largest for Pennsylvania sow farms and smallest for North Carolina nursery farms. Compared with nitrogen‐based manuresheds, phosphorus‐based manuresheds were up to 12.5 times larger. Technology advancements are needed to promote export of concentrated nutrients, especially phosphorus, from existing “source” manuresheds to suitable croplands. The industry is dynamic, as revealed by historical analysis of the siting of hog barns in Pennsylvania, which are currently trending toward the north and west where there is greater isolation to prevent the spread of disease and a larger land base to assimilate manure. Industry expansion should focus on locating animals in nutrient “sink” areas.
Theme and variation in the evolution of insect sex determination
Authors: Laslo Mara , Just Josefine , Angelini David R.
Published: March 2022

The development of dimorphic adult sexes is a critical process for most animals, one that is subject to intense selection. Work in vertebrate and insect model species has revealed that sex determination mechanisms vary widely among animal groups. However, this variation is not uniform, with a limited number of conserved factors. Therefore, sex determination offers an excellent context to consider themes and variations in gene network evolution. Here we review the literature describing sex determination in diverse insects. We have screened public genomic sequence databases for orthologs and duplicates of 25 genes involved in insect sex determination, identifying patterns of presence and absence. These genes and a 3.5 reference set of 43 others were used to infer phylogenies and compared to accepted organismal relationships to examine patterns of congruence and divergence. The function of candidate genes for roles in sex determination (virilizer, female‐lethal‐2‐d, transformer‐2) and sex chromosome dosage compensation (male specific lethal‐1, msl‐2, msl‐3) were tested using RNA interference in the milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus. None of these candidate genes exhibited conserved roles in these processes. Amidst this variation we wish to highlight the following themes for the evolution of sex determination: (1) Unique features within taxa influence network evolution. (2) Their position in the network influences a component's evolution. Our analyses also suggest an inverse association of protein sequence conservation with functional conservation.
Comparative evaluation of 1% melatonin gel in the treatment of intrabony defect: A randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Gonde Noopur P. , Rathod Surekha R. , Kolte Abhay P.
Published: March 2022

Background

The present study aims to evaluate and compare the efficacy of locally delivered 1% melatonin gel as an adjunct to non‐surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) in treatment of intrabony defect in Stage III periodontitis, clinically, and radiographically using cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Methods

This split‐mouth clinical trial randomly allotted 44 bilateral intrabony defect (in 22 patients) into two groups where Group I was treated with NSPT with locally delivered placebo gel while Group II was treated with NSPT with 1% melatonin gel. The intrabony defect fill measured from cemento‐enamel junction (CEJ)‐base of the defect (BD), and the difference in the measurement values of CEJ‒BD from baseline to 6 months denoting the bone fill and bone volume evaluated at 6 months using CBCT were the primary outcome measures. Secondary outcome measures were change in probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), plaque index, and modified sulcus bleeding index recorded at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months.

Results

Both the study groups showed improvements in assessed parameters, however, a significant gain in intrabony defect fill was observed in Group II (1.46 ± 0.58) as compared with Group I (0.50 ± 0.38) and change in bone volume for Group I was 21.4645 ± 8.8980 mm3 and for Group II was 51.8418 ± 30.2329 mm3 with P < 0.0001.The mean reduction in PD and gain in CAL was 3.90 ± 0.78 and 2.94 ± 0.80 in Group II and in Group I it was 3.23 ± 0.90 and 1.96 ± 0.80 (P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

The use of 1% melatonin gel as an adjunct to NSPT is more beneficial in achieving better clinical and radiographic outcome at 6 months which indicates that adjunct use of melatonin gel to NSPT as a local drug delivery is preferred when compared with NSPT and placebo gel alone.
Factors associated with disease‐free and abdominal recurrence‐free survival in abdominopelvic and retroperitoneal sarcomas
Authors: Bredbeck Brooke C. , Delaney Lia D. , Kathawate Varun G. , Harter Cameron A. , Wilkowski Jodi , Chugh Rashmi , Cuneo Kyle C. , Dossett Lesly A. , Sabel Michael S. , Angeles Christina V.
Published: March 2022

Background and Objectives

Retroperitoneal and abdominopelvic sarcomas are rare heterogeneous malignancies. The only therapy proven to improve disease‐free survival (DFS) is R0/R1 surgical resection. We sought to analyze whether additional factors such as radiation and systemic therapy were associated with DFS and abdominal recurrence‐free survival (RFS).

Methods

Retrospective review of adults (≥18) with resectable abdominopelvic and retroperitoneal sarcomas who underwent intent‐to‐cure surgery at a high‐volume tertiary referral center between 1998 and 2015. The main outcome measures were DFS and abdominal RFS.

Results

Overall, 159 patients met the criteria for inclusion. Median follow‐up was 4.8 years (range 0.1–18.9 years). The most common histology was liposarcoma (49%). Systemic therapy was administered to 48% of patients and was not associated with improved outcomes. The neoadjuvant radiotherapy group (11%) had improved adjusted DFS (5.46 years, 95% CI [3.68, 7.24] vs. 3.1 years, 95% CI [2.48, 3.73]) and abdominal RFS (6.14 years, 95% CI [4.38, 7.89] vs. 3.22 years, 95% CI [2.61, 3.84]). The adjuvant radiotherapy group (19%) had no improvement.

Conclusions

In a cohort of patients undergoing resection for retroperitoneal or abdominopelvic sarcoma, neoadjuvant radiation improved DFS and abdominal RFS. A follow‐up of over three years was needed to appreciate a difference in outcomes.
The role of pain and socioenvironmental factors on posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in traumatically injured adults: A 1‐year prospective study
Authors: Webb E. Kate , Ward Richard T. , Mathew Abel S. , Price Matthew , Weis Carissa N. , Trevino Colleen M. , deRoon‐Cassini Terri A. , Larson Christine L.
Published: March 2022

Approximately 20% of individuals who experience a traumatic injury will subsequently develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Physical pain following traumatic injury has received increasing attention as both a distinct, functionally debilitating disorder and a comorbid symptom related to PTSD. Studies have demonstrated that both clinician‐assessed injury severity and patient pain ratings can be important predictors of nonremitting PTSD; however, few have examined pain and PTSD alongside socioenvironmental factors. We postulated that both area‐ and individual‐level socioeconomic circumstances and lifetime trauma history would be uniquely associated with PTSD symptoms and interact with the pain–PTSD association. To test these effects, pain and PTSD symptoms were assessed at four visits across a 1‐year period in a sample of 219 traumatically injured participants recruited from a Level 1 trauma center. We used a hierarchal linear modeling approach to evaluate whether (a) patient‐reported pain ratings were a better predictor of PTSD than clinician‐assessed injury severity scores and (b) socioenvironmental factors, specifically neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage, individual income, and lifetime trauma history, influenced the pain–PTSD association. Results demonstrated associations between patient‐reported pain ratings, but not clinician‐assessed injury severity scores, and PTSD symptoms, R2(fvm) = .65. There was a significant interaction between neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and pain such that higher disadvantage decreased the strength of the pain–PTSD association but only among White participants, R2(fvm) = .69. Future directions include testing this question in a larger, more diverse sample of trauma survivors (e.g., geographically diverse) and examining factors that may alleviate both pain and PTSD symptoms.
Gemcitabine Versus Docetaxel Plus Cisplatin as Induction Chemotherapy in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Authors: Chen Qian , Li Shan
Published: March 2022

Objectives

To compare tumor volume reduction after induction chemotherapy (IC) with gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GP) and docetaxel plus cisplatin (DP) and to evaluate the influence on subsequent radiotherapy in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Study Design

Retrospective clinical study.

Methods

Patients who received GP or DP IC followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) were retrospectively enrolled. Propensity score matching (PSM) was adopted to control the balance between the GP and DP groups.

Results

A total of 41 patients treated with GP and 53 patients treated with DP were enrolled. After matching, 33 sub‐pairs of 66 patients were generated in the post‐PSM cohort. As compared with DP, GP was superior in its gross tumor volume of the nasopharynx (GTVnx) reduction (28.88% vs. 18.73%; P = .014) but equivalent in its gross tumor volume of the lymph nodes (GTVnd) reduction (37.58% vs. 29.79%; P = .229). Univariate and multivariate analyses confirmed that the chemotherapy regimen was an independent factor associated with the reduction in GTVnx (P = .011). The GP group exhibited advantages in the dosimetric parameters of the planning target volume of high‐risk volume and low‐risk volume (PTV1 and PTV2), lenses, temporal lobes, and parotid glands. Univariate and multivariate analyses confirmed that chemotherapy regimen was an independent factor associated with the dosimetric parameters of PTV1, PTV2, lenses, temporal lobes, and parotid glands.

Conclusion

GP regimen achieves a greater GTVnx reduction than DP regimen and has an advantage in the dosimetry of subsequent CCRT.

Level of Evidence

3 Laryngoscope, 132:2379–2387, 2022
Effects of soaking and thermal treatment on nutritional quality of three varieties of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) from Madagascar
Authors: Ravoninjatovo Mboahangy , Ralison Charlotte , Servent Adrien , Morel Gilles , Achir Nawel , Andriamazaoro Herimihamina , Dornier Manuel
Published: March 2022

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of soaking and thermal treatment on proteins, anthocyanins, α‐galactosides (stachyose, raffinose), tannins and inositol hexaphosphate (IP6), under different conditions, of three Phaseolus vulgaris L. varieties from Madagascar; and evaluate correlation with surface/volume ratio. Overall, dry matter, antinutrients and anthocyanins were impacted by the process, however proteins were not. Depending on varieties and operating conditions, soaking or thermal treatment led to up to 59% losses for dry matter, 73% for tannins, 99% for IP6, 92% for total α‐galactosides and 100% for anthocyanins. In certain cases, the process increased dry basis concentration of α‐galactosides probably through hydrolysis phenomena from precursors. A positive correlation between the surface/volume ratio of common beans and decrease of tannins and α–galactosides was highlighted. A global antinutritional indicator was used along with the dry matter to evaluate the best conditions to subside all antinutrients and limit the loss of nutrients, combining soaking and thermal treatment. These conditions were soaking (30°C) for 1 h followed by heat treatment at 65°C with 1/5 seed‐to‐water ratio during 2 h. Appropriate soaking/thermal treatment of common dry bean is crucial to reduce antinutrients and limit nutrient loss.
Corrosion behavior of a newly developed high strength aluminum alloy with high magnesium content under simulated seawater environment
Authors: Lv Xiaodan , Liu Shuhui , Xie Hui , Cao Qingmin , Zhang Chengdong , Chen Fanwei , Liu Bin
Published: March 2022

AMg61 (Al‐6.2% Mg), a novel form of high‐strength, high‐magnesium‐content aluminum alloy, has been developed for specific maritime engineering in recent years, while its corrosion behavior in seawater is still unknown. Therefore, the corrosion behavior of AMg61 in the simulated seawater was investigated herein, using a weight‐loss test and different electrochemical measurements. In addition, corrosion morphology and chemical contents were characterized by metallography, scanning electron microscopy, and energy‐dispersive spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that intergranular corrosion and microcracks developed first in the second phase of AMg61, followed by pitting corrosion. The matrix of AMg61, on the other hand, exhibited a uniform and exfoliation corrosion. The corrosion rate gradually decreased over time.
Mass spectrometry‐based metabolomic analysis as a tool for quality control of natural complex products
Authors: Mattoli Luisa , Gianni Mattia , Burico Michela
Published: March 2022

Metabolomics is an area of intriguing and growing interest. Since the late 1990s, when the first Omic applications appeared to study metabolite's pool (“metabolome”), to understand new aspects of the global regulation of cellular metabolism in biology, there have been many evolutions. Currently, there are many applications in different fields such as clinical, medical, agricultural, and food. In our opinion, it is clear that developments in metabolomics analysis have also been driven by advances in mass spectrometry (MS) technology. As natural complex products (NCPs) are increasingly used around the world as medicines, food supplements, and substance‐based medical devices, their analysis using metabolomic approaches will help to bring more and more rigor to scientific studies and industrial production monitoring. This review is intended to emphasize the importance of metabolomics as a powerful tool for studying NCPs, by which significant advantages can be obtained in terms of elucidation of their composition, biological effects, and quality control. The different approaches of metabolomic analysis, the main and basic techniques of multivariate statistical analysis are also briefly illustrated, to allow an overview of the workflow associated with the metabolomic studies of NCPs. Therefore, various articles and reviews are illustrated and commented as examples of the application of MS‐based metabolomics to NCPs.
Limbic Serotonergic Plasticity Contributes to the Compensation of Apathy in Early Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Prange Stéphane , Metereau Elise , Maillet Audrey , Klinger Hélène , Schmitt Emmanuelle , Lhommée Eugénie , Bichon Amélie , Lancelot Sophie , Meoni Sara , Broussolle Emmanuel , Castrioto Anna , Tremblay Léon , Krack Paul , Thobois Stéphane
Published: March 2022

Background

De novo Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with apathy exhibit prominent limbic serotonergic dysfunction and microstructural disarray. Whether this distinctive lesion profile at diagnosis entails different prognosis remains unknown.

Objectives

To investigate the progression of dopaminergic and serotonergic dysfunction and their relation to motor and nonmotor impairment in PD patients with or without apathy at diagnosis.

Methods

Thirteen de novo apathetic and 13 nonapathetic PD patients were recruited in a longitudinal double‐tracer positron emission tomography cohort study. We quantified the progression of presynaptic dopaminergic and serotonergic pathology using [11C]PE2I for dopamine transporter and [11C]DASB for serotonin transporter at baseline and 3 to 5 years later, using linear mixed‐effect models and mediation analysis to compare the longitudinal evolution between groups for clinical impairment and region‐of‐interest‐based analysis.

Results

After the initiation of dopamine replacement therapy, apathy, depression, and anxiety improved at follow‐up in patients with apathy at diagnosis (n = 10) to the level of patients without apathy (n = 11). Patients had similar progression of motor impairment, whereas mild impulsive behaviors developed in both groups. Striato‐pallidal and mesocorticolimbic presynaptic dopaminergic loss progressed similarly in both groups, as did serotonergic pathology in the putamen, caudate nucleus, and pallidum. Contrastingly, serotonergic innervation selectively increased in the ventral striatum and anterior cingulate cortex in apathetic patients, contributing to the reversal of apathy besides dopamine replacement therapy.

Conclusion

Patients suffering from apathy at diagnosis exhibit compensatory changes in limbic serotonergic innervation within 5 years of diagnosis, with promising evidence that serotonergic plasticity contributes to the reversal of apathy. The relationship between serotonergic plasticity and dopaminergic treatments warrants further longitudinal investigations. © 2022 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Equilibrium stability analysis of hyperbolic shallow water moment equations
Authors: Huang Qian , Koellermeier Julian , Yong Wen‐An
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we analyze the stability of equilibrium manifolds of hyperbolic shallow water moment equations. Shallow water moment equations describe shallow flows for complex velocity profiles which vary in vertical direction and the models can be seen as extensions of the standard shallow water equations. Equilibrium stability is an important property of balance laws that determines the linear stability of solutions in the vicinity of equilibrium manifolds, and it is seen as a necessary condition for stable numerical solutions. After an analysis of the hyperbolic structure of the models, we identify three different stability manifolds based on three different limits of the right‐hand side friction term, which physically correspond to water‐at‐rest, constant‐velocity, and bottom‐at‐rest velocity profiles. The stability analysis then shows that the structural stability conditions are fulfilled for the water‐at‐rest equilibrium and the constant‐velocity equilibrium. However, the bottom‐at‐rest equilibrium can lead to instable modes depending on the velocity profile. Relaxation toward the respective equilibrium manifolds is investigated numerically for different models.
Retinal fundus image superresolution generated by optical coherence tomography based on a realistic mixed attention GAN
Authors: Tian Chunhao , Yang Jian , Li Peng , Zhang Shaochong , Mi Shengli
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is widely used to diagnose retinal diseases. However, due to the limited resolution of OCT imaging systems, the quality of fundus images displayed is not satisfactory, which hinders the diagnosis of patients by ophthalmologists. This is an inevitable problem of OCT imaging systems, but few people have given attention to it. We attempt to solve this problem through deep learning methods.

Methods

In this paper, we propose a single‐image superresolution (SISR) model that is based on a generative adversarial network (GAN) for restoring low‐resolution (LR) OCT fundus images to high‐resolution (HR) counterparts. To obtain more realistic images, we craft the training data set by obtaining the real blur kernels of the LR images instead of using the bicubic interpolation kernel. The baseline of our generator is similar to that of an enhanced superresolution generative adversarial network (ESRGAN), but we creatively propose a mixed attention block (MAB). In contrast to other superresolution (SR) tasks, to adapt to the characteristics of OCT imaging systems, our network can reconstruct LR images with different upscaling factors in the height and width directions.

Results

The results of qualitative and quantitative experiments prove that our model is capable of reconstructing retinal fundus images clearly and accurately.

Conclusions

We propose a new GAN model for enhancing the quality of displayed OCT retinal fundus images and achieve state‐of‐the‐art results.
Access to chronic pain services for adults from Minority Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom: A scoping review protocol
Authors: Leach Emily , Ndosi Mwidimi , Ambler Helen , Park Sophie , Lewis Jennifer
Published: March 2022

Background

Chronic pain services in the United Kingdom are required to provide services which meet the diverse needs of patients, but little is known about the access and use of these services by Minority Ethnic groups. This protocol describes a scoping review that aims to assess whether adults who access secondary and tertiary chronic pain services are representative of the UK population.

Methods

A scoping review will be conducted, comprising comprehensive searches of the literature using EMBASE, MEDLINE and CINAHL databases, and grey literature for records that address the study aims. Studies that meet the eligibility criteria will report on: (i) access to chronic pain services in secondary and/or tertiary care in the United Kingdom, (ii) by adults and, (iii) state the ethnicity of the involved participants within the demographics. Both qualitative and quantitative methodologies will be included to draw broad conclusions of what the cumulative evidence says on this topic. Publication dates are limited to between 2004 and 2021 as demographic data from studies published during this period best represent the UK population recorded in the 2011 UK census. The screening and selection process will be conducted by four reviewers and data will be extracted by one reviewer. A descriptive synthesis of the extracted data will be performed.

Discussion

This scoping review will be among the first to explore whether the current adult population of those with chronic pain who are accessing chronic pain services in secondary and/or tertiary care across the United Kingdom are representative of the UK Minority Ethnic population.
Consecutively fused single‐, double‐, and triple‐expanded helicenes
Authors: Zheng Wei , Ikai Tomoyuki , Oki Kosuke , Yashima Eiji
Published: March 2022

We report the quantitative, chemoselective, and diastereospecific formation of the defect‐free C‐shaped single and S‐ and M‐shaped consecutively fused double‐ and triple‐expanded homochiral helicenes (all‐right (P) or all‐left (M) handed), in which two and three expanded helicene subunits were exclusively fused together in a helically winding manner, respectively, through the trifluoroacetic acid‐promoted intramolecular multistep cascade alkyne benzannulations of anthracene‐based cyclization precursors composed of a large number of complicated dynamic stereoisomers due to axial chirality. The resulting racemic expanded helicenes were all separated into enantiomers by chiral chromatography and showed intense circular dichroism and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) with the absorption and luminescence dissymmetry factors of up to 1.5 × 10−2 and 0.94 × 10−2, respectively. Moreover, the triple‐expanded helicene showed the highest CPL brightness (255 M−1·cm−1) among all the reported CPL‐active carbo‐ and heterohelicenes and ‐helicenoids. The helicity inversion barriers remarkably increased with the increasing number of incorporated helicene subunits, and the racemization of the triple‐expanded helicene was completely suppressed even at 80°C, providing the first example of an optically active expanded helicene with a static helical chirality.

Key Points

Defect‐free synthesis of single‐, double‐, and triple‐expanded helicenes with C‐, S‐, and M‐shaped fully conjugated helical ladder structures, respectively.

Quantitative and chemoselective acid‐catalyzed diastereospecific multistep cascade cyclizations.

Circularly polarized luminescence of configurationally stable optically pure expanded helicenes.