bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and Structure‐Activity Relationship Studies of Novel Aryl Sulfonamides and Their Activity against Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Azevedo‐Barbosa Helloana , Ferreira‐Silva Guilherme Álvaro , do Vale Bianca Pereira , Hawkes Jamie Anthony , Ionta Marisa , Carvalho Diogo Teixeira
Published: October 2022

A series of structural analogs of aryl sulfonamide hybrid compounds were synthesised and their cytotoxic activity was evaluated against three human breast cancer cell lines (MCF‐7, MDA‐MB‐231 and Hs 578T). The compounds were designed through electronic, hydrophobic and steric modifications using the chemical structure of N‐{4‐[(2‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxy‐5‐propylphenyl)sulfamoyl]phenyl}acetamide (referred to as compound 7) as a starting point to then assess a structure‐activity relationship (SAR) study. From the data generated, we observed that compounds 9, 10 and 11 (which have modifications in the substituents of the aryl sulfonamide), efficiently reduced the cell viability of MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐231 cell cultures. Based on initial data, we selected compounds 10 and 11 for further investigations into their antiproliferative and/or cytotoxic profile against MDA‐MB‐231 cells, and we noted that compound 10 was the most promising compound in the series. Compound 10 promoted morphological changes and altered the dynamics of cell cycle progression in MDA‐MB‐231 cells, inducing arrest in G1/S transition. Taken together, these results show that the dihydroeugenol‐aryl‐sulfonamide hybrid compound 10 (which has an electron withdrawing nitro group) displays promising antiproliferative activity against MDA‐MB‐231 cell lines.
Evaluation of Potential Racial Disparities inCYP2C19‐Guided P2Y12Inhibitor Prescribing After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Cavallari Larisa H. , Limdi Nita A. , Beitelshees Amber L. , Lee James C. , Duarte Julio D. , Franchi Francesco , Tuteja Sony , Giri Jay , Empey Philip E. , Kreutz Rolf P. , Skaar Todd C. , Allen John M. , Coons James C. , Gong Yan , McDonough Caitrin W. , Stevenson James M. , Thomas Cameron D. , Johnson Julie A. , Stouffer George A. , Angiolillo Dominick J. , Lee Craig R. ,   the IGNITE Network
Published: October 2022

Black patients suffer worse outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) than White patients. Inequities in antiplatelet prescribing may contribute to this health disparity. We compared P2Y12inhibitor prescribing by race followingCYP2C19genotyping to guide antiplatelet therapy selection after PCI. Patients from 9 sites that performed clinicalCYP2C19genotyping after PCI were included. Alternative therapy (e.g., prasugrel or ticagrelor) was recommended forCYP2C19no‐function allele carriers, in whom clopidogrel is predicted to be less effective. The primary outcome was choice of P2Y12inhibitor (clopidogrel vs. alternative therapy) based on genotype. Of 3,342 patients included, 2,448 (73%) were White, and 659 (20%) were Black. More Black than White patients had a no‐function allele (34.3% vs. 29.7%,P = 0.024). At hospital discharge following PCI, 44.2% of Black and 44.0% of White no‐function allele carriers were prescribed alternative therapy. At the time of the last follow‐up within 12 months, numerically fewer Black (51.8%) than White (56.7%) no‐function allele carriers were prescribed alternative therapy (P = 0.190). However, the difference was not significant after accounting for other factors associated with P2Y12inhibitor selection (odds ratio 0.79, 95% confidence interval 0.58–1.08). Alternative therapy use did not differ between Black (14.3%) and White (16.7%) patients without a no‐function allele (P = 0.232). Among real‐world patients who receivedCYP2C19testing after PCI, P2Y12inhibitor prescribing rates did not differ between Black and White patients. Our data suggest an absence of racial disparity in genotype‐guided antiplatelet prescribing among patients receivingCYP2C19testing.
Another Step Toward Qualification of Pediatric Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Models to Facilitate Inclusivity and Diversity in Pediatric Clinical Studies
Authors: Small Ben G. , Johnson Trevor N. , Rowland Yeo Karen
Published: October 2022

Robust prediction of pharmacokinetics (PKs) in pediatric subjects of diverse ages, ethnicities, and morbidities is critical. Qualification of pediatric physiologically‐based pharmacokinetic (P‐PBPK) models is an essential step toward enabling precision dosing of these vulnerable groups. Twenty‐two manuscripts involving P‐PBPK predictions and corresponding observed PK data (e.g., area under the curve and clearance) for 22 small‐molecule compounds metabolized by CYP (3A4, 1A2, and 2C9), UGT (1A9 and 2B7), FMO3, renal, non‐renal, and complex routes were identified; ratios of mean predicted/observed (P/O) PK parameters were calculated. Seventy‐eight of 115 mean predicted PK parameters were within 0.8 to 1.25‐fold of observed data, 98 within 0.67 to 1.5‐fold, 109 within 2‐fold, and only 6 P/O ratios were outside of these bounds. A set of 12 CYP3A4‐metabolized compounds and a set of 6 metabolized by other enzymes, CYP1A2 (1 compound), CYP2C9 (2 compounds), UGT1A9 (1 compound) and UGT2B7 (2 compounds) had 56 of 59 and 22 of 25 mean P/O ratios, respectively, that fell within the > 0.5 and < 2.0‐fold boundaries. For compounds covering renal, non‐renal, complex, and FM03 routes of elimination, 29 of 31 mean P/O ratios fell within the 0.67 to 1.5‐fold bounds, including 4 of 5 P/O ratios from newborns. P‐PBPK modeling and simulation is a strategic component of the complement of precision dosing methods and has a vital role to play in dose adjustment in vulnerable pediatric populations, such as those with disease or in different ethnic groups. Qualification of such models is an essential step toward acceptance of this methodology by regulators.
Factors associated with the use of oral health services in Peruvian children under the age of 12 years
Authors: Torres‐Mantilla José Diego , Newball‐Noriega Edda E.
Published: October 2022

Objectives

To determine the prevalence and factors associated with the use of oral health services in Peruvian children under 12 years of age.

Material and Methods

A secondary analysis of 2019 Demographic and Family Health Survey was conducted. The sample consisted of 40,751 children. The main variable was the use of dental services (attended/not attended) in the last 6 months, and the independent variables were gender, age, area of residence, wealth quintile, health insurance coverage, information received on oral health care, age, and educational level of the caregivers. Analyses of absolute and relative frequencies, differences in proportions, and multivariate analysis using generalized linear models were performed.

Results

The dental service utilization prevalence during the last 6 months was 31%. Correlation was found with urban area residents (PRa = 0.945; 95% CI: 0.904–0.988), the Jungle geographical domain (PRa = 0.926; 95% CI: 0.877–0.977), the highest wealth quintile (PRa = 1.323; 95% CI: 1.232–1.421), the higher education level of the caregiver (PRa = 1.375; 95% CI: 1.231–1.536), affiliation with the Public Health Insurance (PRa = 1.112; 95% CI: 1.069–1.158), and the condition of having received information on oral health care (PRa = 2.355; 95% CI: 2.263–2.245) with respect to their baseline variables.

Conclusions

Several socio‐demographic factors were correlated with the use of oral health services in Peruvian children under 12 years of age and the percentage of their use was low. Information on oral health care had a more significant impact on both, the population from the highest wealth quintile and the highest educational attainment.
Responses of spring wheat growth to climate change in different climatic regions of northwest China
Authors: Yang Yang , Cai Dihua , Zhao Hong , Ma Yihao , Wang Heling , Wang Runyuan
Published: October 2022

This study aimed to assess the impact of climate change on spring wheat production and to provide more accurate projections by directly investigating the effect of climate change on crop development and yield. Based on ground observation data from 1981 (1986 Dingxi) to 2020 in four case areas in northwest China, and the relationships among spring wheat growth, yield, and climate factors were analyzed and determined. The results showed that the extreme arid (Dunhuang) and semiarid regions (Dingxi) tend to be warmer and wetter, whereas arid regions (Wuwei) and semihumid regions (Linxia) tend to be warmer and drier. Correlation analysis indicated that yield of spring wheat in Wuwei, Dingxi, and Linxia Stations increased significantly. The decrease in the number of days (≥30 °C) during the growth period at Wuwei resulted in a significant yield increase in the past 40 years. At Dingxi, yield increased over the last 35 years due to the significant increases in precipitation during growth, the number of grains per panicle, and thousand‐grain weight, and the decrease in infertile spikelets. Further increase in global temperature and changes in future precipitation patterns will likely affect spring wheat production in northwest China.
Eating disorder risk in rural US adolescents: What do we know and where do we go?
Authors: Hahn Samantha L. , Burnette C. Blair , Borton Kelley A. , Mitchell Carpenter Lisa , Sonneville Kendrin R. , Bailey Beth
Published: October 2022

Adolescence is a vulnerable period for the development of eating disorders, but there are disparities in eating disorder risk among adolescents. One population that may be at increased risk but is vastly understudied, is adolescents residing in rural regions within the United States. Rural communities face many mental and physical health disparities; however, the literature on rural adolescent eating disorder risk is nearly nonexistent. In this paper we summarize the scant literature on disordered eating and eating disorder risk and prevalence among rural US adolescents. We also detail eating disorder risk factors that may have unique influence in this population, including socioeconomic status, food insecurity, healthcare access, body image, and weight stigma. Given the presence of numerous eating disorder risk factors, we speculate that rural adolescents may be a particularly vulnerable population for eating disorders and we propose critical next steps in research for understanding eating disorder risk among the understudied population of rural adolescents.

Public Significance

Rural adolescents may be at increased risk for eating disorders due to disproportionate burden of known risk factors, though this relationship remains understudied. We present a summary of the literature on prevalence and unique risk factors, proposing that this may be a high‐risk population. We detail next steps for research to understand eating disorder risk in this population to inform future prevention, identification, and treatment efforts needed in this community.
Guidelines for mouse and human DC generation
Authors: Lutz Manfred B. , Ali Shafaqat , Audiger Cindy , Autenrieth Stella E. , Berod Luciana , Bigley Venetia , Cyran Laura , Dalod Marc , Dörrie Jan , Dudziak Diana , Flórez‐Grau Georgina , Giusiano Lucila , Godoy Gloria J. , Heuer Marion , Krug Anne B. , Lehmann Christian H. K. , Mayer Christian T. , Naik Shalin H. , Scheu Stefanie , Schreibelt Gerty , Segura Elodie , Seré Kristin , Sparwasser Tim , Tel Jurjen , Xu Huaming , Zenke Martin
Published: October 2022

This article is part of the Dendritic Cell Guidelines article series, which provides a collection of state‐of‐the‐art protocols for the preparation, phenotype analysis by flow cytometry, generation, fluorescence microscopy, and functional characterization of mouse and human dendritic cells (DC) from lymphoid organs and various non‐lymphoid tissues. This article provides protocols with top ticks and pitfalls for preparation and successful generation of mouse and human DC from different cellular sources, such as murine BM and HoxB8 cells, as well as human CD34+ cells from cord blood, BM, and peripheral blood or peripheral blood monocytes. We describe murine cDC1, cDC2, and pDC generation with Flt3L and the generation of BM‐derived DC with GM‐CSF. Protocols for human DC generation focus on CD34+ cell culture on OP9 cell layers for cDC1, cDC2, cDC3, and pDC subset generation and DC generation from peripheral blood monocytes (MoDC). Additional protocols include enrichment of murine DC subsets, CRISPR/Cas9 editing, and clinical grade human DC generation. While all protocols were written by experienced scientists who routinely use them in their work, this article was also peer‐reviewed by leading experts and approved by all co‐authors, making it an essential resource for basic and clinical DC immunologists.
Seismic performance analysis of a concrete filled steel tubes arch bridge: A parametric study
Authors: Zhang Xuhui , Zhang Qinghui , Sun Hao , Ke Wen , Ma Lin , Men Lijuan
Published: October 2022

Numerical method is widely used in bridge seismic performance analysis, but the diversity and complexity structures increase trouble in the modeling process. This article presents a systematic, universal, and flexible bridge numerical modeling method, and the seismic performance of a concrete filled steel tubes arch bridge is studied. The geometric/attribute model involves structural/stiffness equivalence, and the bridge parametric modeling strategy combined commercial computer‐aided design language of software MATLAB and ANSYS. Data exchange in different fields and rapid reconstruction of numerical model are realizing. Finally, the vibration mode, deformation and internal force of the bridge under seismic load are studied. The results indicating that the proposed parametric model formed a complete data transfer process, and the bridge model can be rapidly modifying and reconstructing. The numerical calculation efficiency is greatly improved because of the structure element is employed instead of solid element. The displacement and internal force of arch rib are mainly controlling by lateral load under horizontal uni‐input, and the combined horizontal and vertical load should be considering in seismic design. The leaning angle and width‐span ratio of transverse braces are considered to improve the seismic performance of bridges.
Raw sunflower seed shell particles as a green adsorbent for the adsorption of synthetic organic dyes from wastewater
Authors: Mousavi Seyed Hossein , Samakchi Soha , Kianfar Masoumeh , Zahmatkesh Mahlagha , Zohourtalab Arezoo
Published: October 2022

In this work, raw sunflower seed shell particles (RSSSP) as a green adsorbent were used to remove disperse red 1 (DR1), crystal violet (CV), and malachite green (MG), and methylene blue (MB) dyes from synthetic wastewater. Various analyzes, including fourier transform infrared, field‐emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis, were performed, which determined the morphology, particle size, surface area, and pore size of RSSSP. The effect of environmental factors on the adsorption ability of the RSSSP was investigated in detail. The results of this study showed that RSSSP has high adsorption efficiency toward organic dyes, and was comparable with other natural and synthetic adsorbents. The results showed that Freundlich isotherm and pseudo‐second‐order models describe the adsorption of the dye onto RSSSP. Additionally, the maximum adsorption capacity of DR1, CV, MG, and MB onto RSSSP was found to be 85, 81, 120, and 98 mg/g, respectively. Furthermore, the calculated thermodynamic parameters showed that the adsorption process of the studied dyes was exothermic. In addition, the RSSSP can be used in several adsorption–desorption cycles. The calculated efficiency for textile wastewater based on the COD test is 90% using RSSSP. Finally, the RSSSP could be used as an efficient low‐cost adsorbent for the adsorption of industrial dyes from wastewater.
Experiences from COVID‐19 vaccination in patients with epilepsy
Authors: Yang Li , He Jiaxiu , Song Zhi , Zhen Wen , Chen Ru , Zhang Cheng , Yang Heng , Liu Ding
Published: October 2022

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the safety of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) vaccination in patients with epilepsy (PWE) and their willingness to undergo vaccination.

Methods

This study was a survey the survey questionnaire, which included general, epilepsy‐specific, and COVID‐specific questions, was completed by patients of the outpatient clinic and hospital ward at The Third Xiangya Hospital in 2021.

Results

A total of 120 valid questionnaires were returned. Eighty‐nine of 120 responders (74.2%) were not vaccinated, and 31 (25.8%) were vaccinated against COVID‐19. Of the 31 vaccinated PWE, one (3.2%) had worsening of seizures and four (12.9%) had adverse reactions that were characteristic of the COVID‐19 vaccine. The other 26 patients (83.9%) reported no adverse reactions, Moreover, there was no significant difference between the 18 PWE with well‐controlled seizures and the 13 PWE with poorly‐controlled seizures. Of the 89 unvaccinated PWE, 69.7% (62/89) were willing to receive the COVID‐19 vaccine, 28.1% (25/89) were unsure, and 2.2% (2/89) declined to be vaccinated.

Significance

Among PWE, few adverse reactions occurred following the COVID‐19 vaccination. Most PWE were willing to receive the COVID‐19 vaccine. COVID‐19 vaccination is safe for PWE.
Hydrogen storage in graphene nanoplatelet incorporated silicon oxycarbides
Authors: Chauhan Pawan K. , Vidhukiran Venkataraman , Jyothis Surendran , Sujith Ravindran
Published: October 2022

Highly porous materials having high specific surface areas are strong candidate materials for hydrogen storage by physisorption. However, the development of suitable adsorbents for hydrogen storage having chemical stability is still a challenge. Micro and mesoporous silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) ceramics due to their excellent chemical stability can overcome this constraint. Contrary with our expectations, the addition of graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) to SiOC ceramics resulted in a lower gravimetric density. A maximum gravimetric storage density of 1.58 wt.% was observed at 6 bar after adding 0.3 wt.% of GNP, whereas the pristine SiOC ceramic showed a gravimetric capacity of 2.07 wt.% at 6 bar. We have proposed a theoretical framework to quantify these phenomena in line with the existing structural model. We show that the addition of GNP results in an increase in the size of the silica nanodomain leading to an overall reduction in hydrogen uptake. Furthermore, we hypothesize that the addition of GNP beyond 3 wt.% could lead to an increase in the coordination of mixed bonds in the interface and subsequent loss of porosity in the composite. Our study confirms that the pore sizes are crucial in determining the hydrogen uptake in these composites.
“I don't know how they think this is possible”: Work‐life of academic parents during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Mollet Amanda L. , Wolf‐Wendel Lisa E.
Published: October 2022

This exploratory qualitative study focused on understanding the work‐life experiences of academic parents during the COVID‐19 pandemic. We provide multiple theoretical and policy implications to engage during and beyond the pandemic while ending with a challenge: how can the lessons learned from the pandemic inform the development of more equitable and inclusive work‐life policies that support healthy work‐life success for all faculty?
A cross‐sectional study of the impact of COVID‐19 pandemic on the physical activity of Jordanian population
Authors: Awadi Sajeda , Khamees Almu'atasim , Almdallal Walaa , Alzoubi Mai , Talafha Lana , Alsheikh Ahmad M. , Faiyoumi Baha Aldin , Al‐Zoubi Raed M. , Al Zoubi Mazhar S.
Published: October 2022

Background

Since the declaration of the COVID‐19 pandemic on 11th March 2020, the public health recommendations have applied lockdowns and restrictions to limit the spread of the disease. These measures determined outdoor activities and access to many forms of exercise.

Objective

The primary objective of this study was to examine the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the physical activity (PA) of the Jordanian population.

Methods

A cross‐sectional online survey was designed using Google Forms services and distributed on social media platforms during the first two weeks of November 2020 to evaluate the exercise activity changes during the COVID‐19 pandemic in the study population. In this research, we included those who perform any form of physical activity (n = 1103). The data collected were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 (IBM SPSS Corp, SPSS Statistics ver. 26, USA). The categorical variables were summarized as frequencies and proportions and were compared using the Chi‐square. For all analyses, P‐value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

A total of 1103 out of 2,511 (43.9%) respondents who participated in the survey were physically exercising during the COVID‐19 pandemic. 41.8% were exercising at an irregular frequency, while 21.5% were exercising daily, 16.8% were exercising three to five times a week, and 19.9% were exercising once or twice a week. Moreover, 282 (25.6%) respondents started doing some form of exercise during the pandemic. Those significantly were less than 18‐year‐old, male gender, were single, were non‐smokers, and had a diploma or bachelor's degree in a health‐related major. These changes in the level of exercise have been attributed by 57.8% of respondents to the health aspects where they realized the importance of exercising in strengthening the immune system against diseases, including COVID‐19.

Conclusion

The current study showed that lockdown, due to the COVID‐19 pandemic, had a positive impact on the healthy lifestyle of the Jordanian population which was attributed to their feeling of the importance of sports practice on the immune system and the availability of time for those activities. However, the younger and individuals were more aware of the importance of these practices which highlights the importance of considering other age groups in future studies of healthy behaviors.
The validation of converting pyrite ash-contaminated soil into End-of-Waste by the High-Performance Solidification/Stabilization process application
Authors: Scanferla Petra , Calgaro Loris , Quaresmini Roberto , Zambon Martino , Pellay Roberto , Ferrari Giorgio , Marcomini Antonio
Published: October 2022

One of the major challenges to establishing more sustainable management strategies than landfill disposal of metals-contaminated soils is the lack of End-of-Waste (EoW) criteria defined at the European and national levels. Another limitation stems from the scarcity of information on industrial-scale applications of treatment technologies able to obtain safe and reusable materials from such contaminated waste. In this context, the High-Performance Solidification/Stabilization process was applied for the full-scale remediation of pyrite ash-contaminated soil (ca. 24 000 m3), and a dedicated sampling and analytical protocol was developed and implemented to verify if the treated material obtained complied with the general EoW criteria established by article 6 of the Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC. The results of the leaching, ecotoxicological, and mechanical tests carried out on representative samples of the treated soil showed that this material (ca. 19 000 m3) could be classified as EoW and thus was deemed reusable both in-situ as filler for the excavation and ex-situ as road construction material. These results improve the knowledge of the performance of a state-of-the-art technique for the treatment of metals-contaminated soil. Furthermore, the developed monitoring plan can support future assessments on the compliance of materials obtained from contaminated soil with the general EoW criteria. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:961–969. © 2022 SETAC
Assessment of the EarlyCDT‐Lung test as an early biomarker of lung cancer in ever‐smokers: A retrospective nested case‐control study in two prospective cohorts
Authors: Wu Wendy Yi‐Ying , Haider Zahra , Feng Xiaoshuang , Heath Alicia K. , Tjønneland Anne , Agudo Antonio , Masala Giovanna , Robbins Hilary A. , Huerta José‐María , Guevara Marcela , Schulze Matthias B. , Rodriguez‐Barranco Miguel , Vineis Paolo , Tumino Rosario , Kaaks Rudolf , Fortner Renée T. , Sieri Sabina , Panico Salvatore , Nøst Therese Haugdahl , Sandanger Torkjel M. , Braaten Tonje , Johansson Mattias , Melin Beatrice , Johansson Mikael
Published: October 2022

The EarlyCDT‐Lung test is a blood‐based autoantibody assay intended to identify high‐risk individuals for low‐dose computed tomography lung cancer screening. However, there is a paucity of evidence on the performance of the EarlyCDT‐Lung test in ever‐smokers. We conducted a nested case‐control study within two prospective cohorts to evaluate the risk‐discriminatory performance of the EarlyCDT‐Lung test using prediagnostic blood samples from 154 future lung cancer cases and 154 matched controls. Cases were selected from those who had ever smoked and had a prediagnostic blood sample <3 years prior to diagnosis. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the association between EarlyCDT‐Lung test results and lung cancer risk. Sensitivity and specificity of the EarlyCDT‐Lung test were calculated in all subjects and subgroups based on age, smoking history, lung cancer stage, sample collection time before diagnosis and year of sample collection. The overall lung cancer odds ratios were 0.89 (95% CI: 0.34‐2.30) for a moderate risk EarlyCDT‐Lung test result and 1.09 (95% CI: 0.48‐2.47) for a high‐risk test result compared to no significant test result. The overall sensitivity was 8.4% (95% CI: 4.6‐14) and overall specificity was 92% (95% CI: 87‐96) when considering a high‐risk result as positive. Stratified analysis indicated higher sensitivity (17%, 95% CI: 7.2‐32.1) in subjects with blood drawn up to 1 year prior to diagnosis. In conclusion, our study does not support a role of the EarlyCDT‐Lung test in identifying the high‐risk subjects in ever‐smokers for lung cancer screening in the EPIC and NSHDS cohorts.
COVID‐19 vaccinations in pregnancy: Save mother and baby from COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Sunder Amala , Alqatari Huda Merza , Taha Omer E. , Keshta Mohamed S. , Bughamar Fatima Khalid , Darwish Basma
Published: October 2022

Objective

The current study investigated the immune response of maternal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) vaccination and vertical transmission of anti–severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins.

Study design

This retrospective study included pregnant women in Bahrain Defense Force Hospital from March 2021 to September 2021 who were vaccinated with Sinopharm or Pfizer/BioNTech. Testing of anti‐N and ‐S levels from paired samples of maternal and umbilical cord blood was performed at the time of delivery. The immune response to vaccination, association with maternal and fetal factors, and vertical transmission of antibodies were studied.

Results

The current study included 79 pregnant women. The median gestational age for those vaccinated with Sinopharm was 28 weeks and those vaccinated with Pfizer was 31 weeks, with 100% of the vaccinated population generating antibodies and showing vertical transmission. The anti‐N and ‐S titers and interval frequencies varied in both vaccinations. The anti‐N and ‐S and transfer ratio statistically correlated with maternal age, gestational age at delivery, latency period, and birth weight of the neonates differently in both vaccines. In addition, the peak level of antibodies and transfer ratios varied.

Conclusion

Although variations are exhibited in both types of vaccination, the vaccinated pregnant population generated a significant level of anti‐N and ‐S and showed vertical transmission.
Effects of water–nitrogen coupling on soil water and nitrogen, photosynthesis, yield and water use of lettuce under different application rates of poly‐γ‐glutamic acid
Authors: Liu Lu , Shi Wenjuan , Pang Linna
Published: October 2022

As an environmentally friendly, super water‐absorbable agent and fertilizer synergist, the influences of poly‐γ‐glutamic acid (γ‐PGA) on soil N and crop photosynthesis are still not well understood. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of water–nitrogen coupling on soil water and nitrogen content, photosynthesis, yield and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) of lettuce under different γ‐PGA application rates. In this study, there were three factors and four levels: γ‐PGA with four application levels of 0, 1, 2 and 4 g kg−1; the rates of urea were 0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 g kg−1; and the irrigation amounts were 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% of the lettuce water requirement (ETc). The results showed that within 8 days after sowing, the soil water and nitrogen (NO3−‐N and NH4+‐N) content increased with increasing γ‐PGA application rates. The amount of irrigation water and nitrogen application had an effect on IWUE, net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and stomatal conductance (Gs). Lettuce yield was significantly correlated with Pn, Gs and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) by path analysis. Moreover, the P2N2W3 treatment (γ‐PGA 2 g kg−1, nitrogen 0.2 g kg−1 and 80% ETc) was the most suitable treatment to obtain the highest lettuce yield and IWUE.
Hsa_circ_0005529 promotesZEB1expression by regulating miR‐873‐5p and enhancing proliferation, invasion, and migration in gastric cancer cell lines
Authors: Su Xiaobao , Zhou Rui , Wu Yingjie , Zhang Yixin , Yu Yu , Lu Mengxiao
Published: October 2022

Background

Gastric cancer is a relatively common tumor. As circular RNAs (circRNAs) are documented to modulate proliferation and metastasis in various cancers, we evaluated the functions of circRNAs, in particular, hsa_circ_0005529, in gastric cancer cells.

Methods

Levels of hsa_circ_0005529 and miR‐873‐5p were examined by qRT‐PCR, and the presence of hsa_circ_0005529 was confirmed by RNase R treatment. CCK‐8, wound‐healing, and Transwell assays were used to assess proliferation, migration, and invasion, respectively, while Western blotting was used to determine levels of zinc finger E‐box‐binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) and dual‐luciferase reporter assays to examine relationships between hsa_circ_0005529 and miR‐873‐5p.

Results

hsa_circ_0005529 was strongly expressed in gastric cancer where it stimulated tumorigenic behavior. Furthermore, hsa_circ_0005529 was shown to promoteZEB1expression by sponging miR‐873‐5p, an inhibitor ofZEB1expression.

Conclusion

Our research showed that hsa_circ_0005529 promoted tumorigenic behavior in gastric cancer cells by adsorbing miR‐873‐5p to modulateZEB1levels. This suggests that hsa_circ_0005529 may be useful as a biomarker and target for diagnosing and treating gastric cancer.
Neonatal screening for isovaleric aciduria: Reducing the increasingly high false‐positive rate in Germany
Authors: Murko Simona , Aseman Asra Dadkhah , Reinhardt Friederike , Gramer Gwendolyn , Okun Jürgen Günther , Mütze Ulrike , Santer René
Published: October 2022

Newborn screening (NBS) for isovaleric acidemia (IVA) is performed by flow injection tandem mass spectrometry quantifying C5 carnitines (C5). Isovalerylcarnitine, however, is isomeric with pivaloylcarnitine which can be present in blood due to maternal use of pivaloylester‐containing antibiotics, available in Germany since late 2016. During a 36‐month period (January 19–December 21), all newborns screened in Hamburg with a C5 above cutoff (NeoGram®: 0.50 μmol/L or Neobase®2: 0.45 μmol/L) were included in the study. As a second‐tier test, a simple ultra performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS/MS) method was developed to differentiate the C5 isomers pivaloyl‐, 2‐methylbutyryl‐, isovaleryl‐, and valerylcarnitine. Out of 156 772 newborns tested, one turned out to have genetically proven IVA while 99 were false positive (C5: 0.5–8.2 μmol/L) due to the presence of pivaloylcarnitine. These cases have increased year by year and show local clusters. Retrospective analysis of another 39 cases from 287 206 neonates tested at the NBS center in Heidelberg with C5 elevation (0.9–10.6 μmol/L) but clinical and biochemical exclusion of IVA yielded evidence of pivaloylcarnitine in all cases. Inclusion of a second‐tier test into NBS significantly reduces the high and increasing false‐positive rate of IVA screening. This avoids further diagnostic steps, prevents unnecessary stress and anxiety of parents in a remarkably high number of cases. If Hamburg data of 2021 are extrapolated to all of Germany, one can assume around 800 (1‰) false‐positive cases in comparison to an average of two classic IVA cases per year. Unless licensing of pivaloylester‐containing drugs for use during pregnancy is reconsidered, a second‐tier test for C5 determination is indispensable.
Foaming properties are improved by interactions between brewer's spent grain proteins and carrageenans in aqueous solution
Authors: Proaño Janina Lissette , Pérez Adrián Alejandro , Drago Silvina Rosa
Published: October 2022

BACKGROUND

Foaming properties and macromolecular interactions in solution among brewer's spent grain proteins (CP) and iota and lambda carrageenans (i‐CG and l‐CG, respectively) as a function of aqueous medium pH (2–6) and protein‐polysaccharide ratio, RCP:CG (1:1, 2:1 and 4:1), were studied. At these conditions, the CP colloidal stability was favored by the formation of soluble electrostatic complexes with CG. Fluorescence (intrinsic and extrinsic) spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering techniques, including particle size and ζ‐potential analysis, were applied to know the phase behavior of the biopolymer systems. The bubbling method was used to produce foams, and the foam expansion (%) and half‐life time (t1/2) were determined.

RESULTS

Both CG promoted an increased Trp fluorescence emission depending on the pH, suggesting conformational changes in CP. The CG in mixed systems produced a significant decrease in the extrinsic fluorescence intensity, mainly at low pH values, highlighting a reduction in CP surface hydrophobicity. At the examined pH range, the ζ‐potential values for mixed‐systems were negative, and their magnitudes were intermediate between CP and CG, revealing the associative electrostatic nature of biopolymer interactions, which were dependent on the RCP:CG. The particle size analysis confirmed the formation of soluble electrostatic complexes in solution. Finally, using i‐CG at pH 2 or 3 and 2:1 RCP:CG, the best foaming properties for mixed systems were observed.

CONCLUSION

The formation of electrostatic complexes with a compact assembly among biopolymers, high negative net charge, and colloidal stability convert the CP‐CG mixed solutions into promising biopolymer systems for food foams production. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Supplement of Caulerpa lentillifera polysaccharide by pre‐prandial gavage and free feeding demonstrates differences to prevent obesity and gut microbiota disturbance in mice
Authors: You Ying , Song Haoran , Wang Linlin , Liu Zhengqi , Guo Xiaoming , Ai Chunqing , Song Shuang , Zhu Beiwei
Published: October 2022

BACKGROUND

Caulerpa lentillifera has received extensive attention regarding expansion of its farming and increasing consumption. In our previous study, the structure of C. lentillifera polysaccharide (CLP) was elucidated. However, little information is available about its health effects. In this study, the anti‐obesity effect of CLP was investigated by using a high‐fat diet‐induced obese mice model with two different supplementation methods.

RESULTS

In vitro simulated digestion results showed that CLP significantly decreased the lipid digestibility and induced the lipid droplets aggregation in the intestinal stage to inhibit the absorption of lipids. As revealed by 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing and non‐targeted metabolomics, supplement of CLP by both pre‐prandial gavage and free feeding patterns effectively prevented mice obesity via ameliorating intestinal flora disturbance and regulating bile acids circulation metabolism. Of note was that CLP administration had no effect on short‐chain fatty acids production, suggesting the anti‐obesity effect was uncorrelated with their production. Moreover, pre‐prandial administration of CLP had a better anti‐obesity effect in lowering body weight and serum lipid levels, but the free feeding resulted in a higher α‐diversity of gut microbiota.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study indicate that CLP could be a potential anti‐obesity nutraceutical and that pre‐prandial supplement of CLP may be a better intake method to exhibit its hypolipidemic effect. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
The Use of Dissemination and Implementation to Improve Multimodal Analgesia in Head and Neck Surgery
Authors: Shnayder Yelizaveta , Baumanis Maraya M. , Brown Adam , Reese Adam , Bur Andrés M. , Kakarala Kiran , Sykes Kevin J.
Published: October 2022

Objectives

To optimize the delivery of multimodal analgesia to patients undergoing major head and neck oncologic surgeries.

Methods

Pilot study included patients enrolled to receive either scheduled acetaminophen and as‐needed opioids (control group) or scheduled acetaminophen, gabapentin, ketorolac, and as‐needed opioids (experimental group). RCT, a hybrid type 1 effectiveness‐implementation pragmatic trial, was designed to test the effectiveness of the intervention. Arm A received scheduled acetaminophen and as‐needed opioids. Arm B received scheduled gabapentin, ketorolac, a regional nerve block at the free tissue donor site, scheduled acetaminophen and as‐needed opioids.

Results

Pilot: Thirty‐one patients undergoing major head and neck surgery were enrolled. Mean MMEs administered in control group (n = 15) was 251.60 mg (SD = 224.57 mg); mean MMEs in Experimental group (n = 16) was 195.78 mg (SD = 131.08 mg), p = 0.401. LOS was 8.0 days in control versus 7.0 days in experimental group (p = 0.054).

RCT: Interim analysis for safety and futility was planned during trial's design after 30 patients (n = 14 Arm A, and n = 16 Arm B). Mean MMEs administered were 135.1 mg in Arm A, (SD = 86.0 mg) versus mean MME of 51.3 mg in Arm B (SD = 43.3 mg, (p < 0.05)). Given clear superiority results, the trial was prematurely terminated. Functional pain scores, LOS, and complications were similar between the arms (p > 0.05). Variability of mean MME was compared before and after implementation of the management protocols: SD in RCT#1 was 181.46 mg versus 124.6 mg in RCT#2.

Conclusion

Multimodal analgesia significantly reduced the need for opioids in patients undergoing major head and neck surgery.

Level of Evidence

1, Randomized Clinical Trial Laryngoscope, 133:S1–S11, 2023
Validation of a three‐dimensional printed pediatric middle ear model for endoscopic surgery training
Authors: Stramiello Joshua Anthony , Wong Stephanie J. , Good Raquel , Tor Alice , Ryan Justin , Carvalho Daniela
Published: October 2022

Objective

The purpose of this study is to assess the anatomical appropriateness of a three‐dimensional (3D) printed pediatric middle ear model with a replaceable middle ear unit as an endoscopic ear surgery (EES) simulator.

Methods

Single‐blinded, prospective, proof‐of‐concept study conducted in a simulation operative suite. A simulator was developed through segmentation of source images and multi‐material 3D printing. Subjects were asked to point to seven anatomical sites before and after a short anatomy presentation of a human middle ear photograph. They also filled out a survey about the feasibility of the model. Outcome variables included survey scores, pre‐anatomy lesson (PreAL) and post‐anatomy lesson (PostAL) quiz scores.

Results

There were 24 participants (19 residents, 1 fellow, and 4 attendings), none with self‐reported proficiency in EES. The PreAL mean score was 4.42 and PostAL quiz mean score was 5.32 (average improvement of 43% [CI = 17%–70%]; p = .003). The higher the level of training, the higher the PreAL scores (0.55 points per year of training; p = .004). The subspecialty (otology, other, in‐training) was also associated with the PreAL scores (p = .004). Total survey score means were 22.8 (out of 30).

Conclusion

The results of our study suggest that our model has adequate anatomical high fidelity to mimic a real, pediatric temporal bone for EES. As 3D printing technologies continue to advance, the quality of ear models has the potential to provide improved surgical training for pediatric EES.

Level of Evidence

4
A Porous Gelatin Methacrylate‐Based Material for 3D Cell‐Laden Constructs
Authors: Bova Lorenzo , Maggiotto Federico , Micheli Sara , Giomo Monica , Sgarbossa Paolo , Gagliano Onelia , Falcone Dario , Cimetta Elisa
Published: October 2022

3D constructs are fundamental in tissue engineering and cancer modeling, generating a demand for tailored materials creating a suitable cell culture microenvironment and amenable to be bioprinted. Gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) is a well‐known functionalized natural polymer with good printability and binding motifs allowing cell adhesion; however, its tight micropores induce encapsulated cells to retain a non‐physiological spherical shape. To overcome this problem, blended GelMa is here blended with Pluronic F‐127 (PLU) to modify the hydrogel internal porosity by inducing the formation of larger mesoscale pores. The change in porosity also leads to increased swelling and a slight decrease in Young's modulus. All blends form stable hydrogels both when cast in annular molds and bioprinted in complex structures. Embedded cells maintain high viability, and while Neuroblastoma cancer cells typically aggregate inside the mesoscale pores, Mesenchymal Stem Cells stretch in all three dimensions, forming cell–cell and cell–ECM interactions. The results of this work prove that the combination of tailored porous materials with bioprinting techniques enables to control both the micro and macro architecture of cell‐laden constructs, a fundamental aspect for the development of clinically relevant in vitro constructs.
Seq2Morph: A deep learning deformable image registration algorithm for longitudinal imaging studies and adaptive radiotherapy
Authors: Lee Donghoon , Alam Sadegh , Jiang Jue , Cervino Laura , Hu Yu‐Chi , Zhang Pengpeng
Published: October 2022

Purpose

To simultaneously register all the longitudinal images acquired in a radiotherapy course for analyzing patients’ anatomy changes for adaptive radiotherapy (ART).

Methods

To address the unique needs of ART, we designed Seq2Morph, a novel deep learning‐based deformable image registration (DIR) network. Seq2Morph was built upon VoxelMorph which is a general‐purpose framework for learning‐based image registration. The major upgrades are (1) expansion of inputs to all weekly cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCTs) acquired for monitoring treatment responses throughout a radiotherapy course, for registration to their planning CT; (2) incorporation of 3D convolutional long short‐term memory between the encoder and decoder of VoxelMorph, to parse the temporal patterns of anatomical changes; and (3) addition of bidirectional pathways to calculate and minimize inverse consistency errors (ICEs). Longitudinal image sets from 50 patients, including a planning CT and 6 weekly CBCTs per patient, were utilized for network training and cross‐validation. The outputs were deformation vector fields for all the registration pairs. The loss function was composed of a normalized cross‐correlation for image intensity similarity, a DICE for contour similarity, an ICE, and a deformation regularization term. For performance evaluation, DICE and Hausdorff distance (HD) for the manual versus predicted contours of tumor and esophagus on weekly basis were quantified and further compared with other state‐of‐the‐art algorithms, including conventional VoxelMorph and large deformation diffeomorphic metric mapping (LDDMM).

Results

Visualization of the hidden states of Seq2Morph revealed distinct spatiotemporal anatomy change patterns. Quantitatively, Seq2Morph performed similarly to LDDMM, but significantly outperformed VoxelMorph as measured by GTV DICE: (0.799±0.078, 0.798±0.081, and 0.773±0.078), and 50% HD (mm): (0.80±0.57, 0.88±0.66, and 0.95±0.60). The per‐patient inference of Seq2Morph took 22 s, much less than LDDMM (∼30 min).

Conclusions

Seq2Morph can provide accurate and fast DIR for longitudinal image studies by exploiting spatial‐temporal patterns. It closely matches the clinical workflow and has the potential to serve both online and offline ART.
Novel magnetic embolic MRI imageable particles with anticancer drug release for transcatheter arterial embolization and magnetic ablation
Authors: Bekaroğlu Maide Gökçe , Nurili Fuad , Caymaz İsmail , Baş Ahmet , İşçi Sevim
Published: October 2022

The aim of the study is to prepare embolic hydroxyl ethyl cellulose (HEC)–polyvinyl prolidone (PVP)–magnetic particles suitable for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) procedures, drug delivery, and magnetic hyperthermia. Two different sizes (microsized and nanosized) of iron oxide particles were used to prepare the embolic particles to investigate the embolization and drug delivery properties. Iron oxides were linked with PVP via bridging flocculation process, then outermost layer of the linked particles was coated with HEC in order to load drugs to particles and reach size requirements for a successful TACE procedure. Size of each particle was calibrated to the range that allows easy injections through microcatheters (40–500 μm). The results showed that the size of the final embolic particles reached around 70 μm with 82 W/g specific absorption rate (SAR) values for nano‐iron oxide particles and 45 μm with 77 W/g SAR values for micro‐iron oxide particles, which are quite suitable for TACE applications. Furthermore, an anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) was successfully loaded onto these particles in order to achieve localized chemotherapy at the tumor site. Particles produced in this study, loaded DOX successfully and prolonged drug release time, performed similarly to pure DOX at higher concentration treatments against human breast cancer cell lines, were heatable under applied alternating magnetic fields. In addition, in vivo embolization studies performed using a rabbit renal embolization model, indicated that these particles were easily delivered through microcatheters and were able to embolize the target.
GRASPNET: Fast spatiotemporal deep learning reconstruction of golden‐angle radial data for free‐breathing dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Jafari Ramin , Do Richard Kinh Gian , LaGratta Maria Divina , Fung Maggie , Bayram Ersin , Cashen Ty , Otazo Ricardo
Published: October 2022

The purpose of the current study was to develop a deep learning technique called Golden‐angle RAdial Sparse Parallel Network (GRASPnet) for fast reconstruction of dynamic contrast‐enhanced 4D MRI acquired with golden‐angle radial k‐space trajectories. GRASPnet operates in the image‐time space and does not use explicit data consistency to minimize the reconstruction time. Three different network architectures were developed: (1) GRASPnet‐2D: 2D convolutional kernels (x,y) and coil and contrast dimensions collapsed into a single combined dimension; (2) GRASPnet‐3D: 3D kernels (x,y,t); and (3) GRASPnet‐2D + time: two 3D kernels to first exploit spatial correlations (x,y,1) followed by temporal correlations (1,1,t). The networks were trained using iterative GRASP reconstruction as the reference. Free‐breathing 3D abdominal imaging with contrast injection was performed on 33 patients with liver lesions using a T1‐weighted golden‐angle stack‐of‐stars pulse sequence. Ten datasets were used for testing. The three GRASPnet architectures were compared with iterative GRASP results using quantitative and qualitative analysis, including impressions from two body radiologists. The three GRASPnet techniques reduced the reconstruction time to about 13 s with similar results with respect to iterative GRASP. Among the GRASPnet techniques, GRASPnet‐2D + time compared favorably in the quantitative analysis. Spatiotemporal deep learning enables reconstruction of dynamic 4D contrast‐enhanced images in a few seconds, which would facilitate translation to clinical practice of compressed sensing methods that are currently limited by long reconstruction times.