bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancement of the Tumor Suppression Effect of High-dose Radiation by Low-dose Pre-radiation Through Inhibition of DNA Damage Repair and Increased Pyroptosis
Authors: Wei Xinfeng , Yi Junxuan , Zhang Citong , Wang Mingwei , Wang Rui , Xu Weiqiang , Zhao Mingqi , Zhao Mengdie , Yang Teng , Wei Wei , Jin Shunzi , Gao Hui
Published: April 2024

Radiation therapy has been a critical and effective treatment for cancer. However, not all cells are destroyed by radiation due to the presence of tumor cell radioresistance. In the current study, we investigated the effect of low-dose radiation (LDR) on the tumor suppressive effect of high-dose radiation (HDR) and its mechanism from the perspective of tumor cell death mode and DNA damage repair, aiming to provide a foundation for improving the efficacy of clinical tumor radiotherapy. We found that LDR pre-irradiation strengthened the HDR-inhibited A549 cell proliferation, HDR-induced apoptosis, and G2 phase cell cycle arrest under co-culture conditions. RNA-sequencing showed that differentially expressed genes after irradiation contained pyroptosis-related genes and DNA damage repair related genes. By detecting pyroptosis-related proteins, we found that LDR could enhance HDR-induced pyroptosis. Furthermore, under co-culture conditions, LDR pre-irradiation enhances the HDR-induced DNA damage and further suppresses the DNA damage-repairing process, which eventually leads to cell death. Lastly, we established a tumor-bearing mouse model and further demonstrated that LDR local pre-irradiation could enhance the cancer suppressive effect of HDR. To summarize, our study proved that LDR pre-irradiation enhances the tumor-killing function of HDR when cancer cells and immune cells were coexisting.
Mid-term results of “off-label” use of the Endurant stentgraft in patients with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms
Authors: Özdemir-van Brunschot Denise Michelle Danielle , Holzhey David , Botsios Spiridon
Published: April 2024

Objectives

EVAR is the preferred treatment modality for patients with an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm with suitable anatomy. Each manufacturer of aortic stentgrafts has specific anatomic requirements. In some patients, it is not possible to adhere to the instructions for use, but alternative treatment is also not possible. In these patients, EVAR can be performed outside instructions for use.

Methods

In this study, all consecutive patients in whom an Endurant II or IIS stentgraft was used between 1 January and 31 December were reviewed. We compared the two patient groups in whom this stentgrafts was used outside and inside instructions for use. Patients with planned adjuvant therapy, for example, chimney procedure or iliac side branches, were excluded.

Results

In 74 of 178 (41.6%) patients, the instructions for use were not adhered. The main reason was pathology of the aortic neck. There were more patients with type IA endoleak, this difference was borderline significant ( p = .06). There were more patients with limb occlusion in the early postoperative period, but at the end of the follow-up period, the incidence was comparable. Aneurysm-related mortality and all-cause mortality were comparable in both groups.

Conclusion

In this study, real-life experience with the Endurant II and IIS stentgraft is described. Non-adherence with instructions for use was associated with a higher risk of endoleak type IA ( p = .06). In the early postoperative period, there were more patients with limb occlusion; this finding was not observed anymore at the end of the follow-up period.
The Contrafatto Affair: Law, Judicial Risk, and Consent
Authors: Johnson Sharon P
Published: April 2024

In Paris, France on October 15, 1827, 28-year old Sicilian priest Joseph Contrafatto was sentenced for raping 5-year old Hortense Le Bon. This article frames the rhetorical strategies of the prosecution and defense using Robert Cover’s notion of judicial innovation, developed in his Justice Accused. Both sides based their arguments on articles 331 and 332 of the Criminal code. The Contrafatto Affair was an extraordinary case for rape legislation; it was among the first if not the first trial in France when a perpetrator of attentat à la pudeur avec violence (violent, indecent assault), was sentenced and found guilty when the prosecution used the argument of la violence morale (a type of coercion or abuse of an individual’s trust or naivety) when the victim suffered no physical signs of violence. Later, la violence morale and the requirement of consent became constitutive parts of the rape statutes by 1853 (for children) and 1857 (for adults), which this article develops through contextualizing law, rhetoric, and interpretation. The background of the trial provides an overview of certain procedures and protocols of 19th-century France. An examination of the jurisprudence related to attentat à la pudeur sans violence (non-violent, indecent assault, art. 331), attentat à la pudeur avec violence and la violence morale will highlight how forward-looking and risky the prosecution’s arguments were in his interpretation of article 332.
The concurrent validity and reliability of the My Jump Lab smartphone app for the real-time measurement of vertical jump performance
Authors: Şentürk Deniz , Yüksel Oğuzhan , Akyildiz Zeki
Published: April 2024

The present study had two main objectives: (i) to assess the concurrent validity and agreement of real-time measurement of counter-movement jump (CMJ) height using the My Jump Lab (MJL) mobile application in comparison to a force plate and (ii) to evaluate the intra-session reliability and agreement of the force plate and the MJL application. This cross-sectional investigation involved 36 recreationally active, healthy men (mean age = 22.2 ± 2.9 years) who performed five CMJ repetitions on the force plate with a 2-min rest period. Their jump heights were concurrently recorded using both the force plate and the MJL application. The high validity between the two methods intraclass correlation coefficient >0.984) was observed for all cases. There was a nearly perfect correlation ( r = 0.968, p = 0.001, in all cases) between the force plate and MJL application, with very good agreement and a mean difference of 1.016 cm (95% confidence interval: −1.229 to −0.803 cm). High intra-session reliability was observed in the force platform (SEM, 0.42 cm; CV, 1.21%; MDC, 1.5; SWC, 1.12), and MJL (SEM, 0.43 cm; CV, 1.23%; MDC, 1.20; SWC, 1.17). The results demonstrate that the MJL application is a valid and reliable tool for measuring jump performance in real-time and assessing CMJ height.
In era of immunotherapy: the value of trastuzumab beyond progression in patients with trastuzumab-resistant HER2-positive advanced or metastatic gastric cancer
Authors: Wang Hui , Nie Caiyun , Xu Weifeng , Li Jing , Gou He , Lv Huifang , Chen Beibei , Wang Jianzheng , Liu Yingjun , He Yunduan , Zhao Jing , Chen Xiaobing
Published: April 2024

Background:

For patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-positive advanced or metastatic gastric cancer who have progressed on first-line trastuzumab therapy, the clinical value of the continuous use of trastuzumab beyond progression (TBP) is controversial.

Objectives:

The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and explore new treatment strategies of TBP for patients with trastuzumab-resistant HER2-positive advanced or metastatic gastric cancer in the era of cancer immunotherapy.

Design:

Retrospective analysis.

Methods:

Patients with HER2-positive advanced or metastatic gastric cancer who have failed first-line treatment based on trastuzumab-targeted therapy from June 2019 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and safety. Survival curves of patients were estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method and compared using the log-rank test.

Results:

In all, 30 patients received TBP with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or anti-angiogenic therapy, and the other 26 patients received treatment of physician’s choice without trastuzumab. The median PFS in the TBP and non-TBP population was 6.0 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.8–8.2] and 3.5 (95% CI = 2.2–4.8) months, respectively ( p = 0.038), and the median OS was 12.3 (95% CI = 10.4–14.2) and 9.0 (95% CI = 6.6–11.4) months ( p = 0.008). The patients who received TBP treatment had more favorable PFS and OS than the non-TBP population. In the TBP group, patients who received trastuzumab plus chemotherapy and immunotherapy had higher ORR (40.0% versus 16.7%), DCR (90.0% versus 50.0%), and showed a significant improvement in PFS (7.0 versus 1.9 m) compared to TBP with chemotherapy alone. Subgroup analysis suggested that patients with male, HER2 positive with immunohistochemistry score 3+ and PFS of first-line treatment less than 6 months had a greater benefit from TBP. The incidence of Grade 3–4 adverse events in the TBP and non-TBP groups was 43.3% and 38.5%.

Conclusion:

The continuous use of TBP improves PFS and OS in patients with trastuzumab-resistant HER2-positive advanced or metastatic gastric cancer with well-tolerated toxicity. In the era of immunotherapy, TBP combined with chemotherapy and immunotherapy may further enhance the clinical benefit and provide a new treatment strategy.

Trial registration:

This study is a retrospective study, which does not require clinical registration.
Sexual (Double) Standards Revisited: Similarities and Differences in the Societal Evaluation of Male and Female Sexuality
Authors: Weber Marcel , Friese Malte
Published: April 2024

Past research has been inconclusive regarding the continued existence of the sexual double standard (SDS)—that is, differential expectations and evaluations of sexual activity for men (rewarded for sexual activity) and women (punished for sexual activity). Here, we present the similarities and differences (S&D) model of sexual standards, which significantly qualifies the traditional SDS by highlighting both similarities and differences between standards applied to women and men. Across two samples (student/community sample, crowdsourcing sample; Ntotal = 342) and seven sexual outcomes, high sexual activity was rated more favorably in men than in women (replicating previous research), and the opposite was true for low sexual activity (extending previous research). Importantly, moderate (not extremely low or high) sexual activity was rated most favorably in both genders, suggesting similar and curvilinear intragender trajectories. These findings illustrate a distinctly different perspective on male and female sexuality and open avenues for new research.
Averting the Old Age Crisis in Fiji: Policy, Providence, and the Crisis of Livelihood
Authors: Plange Nii-K , Alam Mumtaz
Published: April 2024

This article investigates the livelihood condition and income security concerns of Fijian seniors, retirees, and older persons, with a particular emphasis on the services provided by the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF). The report focuses on essential components of Fiji’s society and economy, such as population aging, retirement provisions, and the FNPF’s role. It also investigates the potential and conditions of poverty in the country, notably the poverty and health crisis among the elderly. The data for the study is gathered using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methodologies. A questionnaire survey is administered to 439 retirees, 45% of whom are female and 55% of whom are male. In-depth interviews and focus group sessions are also done to acquire a better understanding of the challenges and requirements of the elderly. Desk research is used to analyses numerous records received from the FNPF, publicly accessible yearly reports, and Department of Social Welfare pertinent resources on social services. The study highlights the FNPF’s general services to assure efficiency in financial obligation to pensioners, as well as the crucial relevance of economic stability for pensioners based on their monthly pension receipts. The data analysis and conversations shed light on the issues that Fijian retirees confront and potential areas for improvement in the FNPF’s services. Finally, the article emphasizes the importance of increased support and targeted measures to address the livelihood challenges of Fijian pensioners. The study’s findings can help policymakers and stakeholders devise effective methods to ensure the well-being and financial security of the country’s aging population.
“Guarding Our National Volleyball Sheroes Against Social Media Malice”: Exploring the Rejection-Identification Process Among Chinese Women’s National Volleyball Team Fans
Authors: Huang Yangkun , Gao Yuan , Yang Jiayu
Published: April 2024

Sports-related online abuse has evolved into an inevitable issue and even those athletes and teams honored as national icons cannot be exceptional. This study explores how exposure to abusive content on social media affects sports fans’ behavior. More specifically, the researchers draw from social psychology and exam the rejection-identification model with fans’ team identity and hate for rival teams as parallel competitive mediators in the context of online abuse in sports. Using a sample comprising 917 fans of the Chinese Women’s National Volleyball Team (CWV), the study suggested that exposure to online abuse is linked to a decrease in fans’ intention to create content and advocate for their teams on social media. However, the identification with their idol and hatred towards the opposing groups are evidenced to buffer negative behavioral impacts, revealing an effective psychological mechanism among fans. These findings shed light on the dual psycho-behavioral impacts of online abuse on sports fans and provide practical implications for addressing online incivility and mitigating its toxic effects on sports communication and management.
Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease: A Case Report of Prolonged Fever and Lymphadenopathy in a Young Girl
Authors: Anini Ezat Mohammed , AlBaik Taha Mahmoud , Ibrahim Ahmed Tayseer , AbuKaresh Nasim Afif , Albandak Maram , Alshalaldeh Rafat , Natsheh Motaz , Abunejma Fawzy M.
Published: April 2024

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) is a benign and self-limited disorder that usually presents with regional cervical lymphadenopathy and fever. We report a case of a 12-year-old female who complained of fever, night sweating, significant weight loss, and tender right cervical lymph node enlargement for 2 months. A full workup including laboratory tests and imaging studies, an excisional biopsy, and histopathological analysis were done, and the diagnosis of KFD was confirmed. The patient was treated with analgesia and oral prednisolone, resulting in good improvement. A high degree of clinical suspicion is imperative for physicians, given the rarity of the disease and the associated diagnostic challenges.
Breast Pain Differential: Mondor’s Disease of the Breast
Authors: Seemann LaRae L. , Ardon Tina , Bowie Rebecca A. , Bullock Kati C. , Clapp Adrianna D. M.
Published: April 2024

Breast pain is a common concern among women in primary care clinics. A rare cause of breast pain is Mondor’s disease (MD), which can present as an acute, painful, erythematous, cord-like induration on the breast or anterior chest wall. The disorder is caused by sclerosing superficial thrombophlebitis of the anterolateral thoracoabdominal wall veins. There does not appear to be a racial or ethnic propensity for this condition; however, it is important to understand that it may be more difficult to see in darker skin types (Fitzpatrick skin types IV-VI) and requires close attention on physical exam. The cause of MD is poorly understood but may be related to direct trauma, strenuous exercise, or hormone changes. We review a case of a 54-year-old woman who presented with an anterior chest wall palpable cord, better visualized with adequate lighting and skin traction, ultimately diagnosed as MD based on clinical findings and imaging studies. Mondor’s disease often resolves spontaneously with supportive care, as in this patient’s case; however, clinicians should be aware of this rare cause of breast pain and its association with hypercoagulable state, vasculitis, and breast cancer.
Item-Specific Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Characterization of Patients With Medial Meniscus Root Tear
Authors: Graham Benjamin C. , Weiss-Laxer Nomi S. , Haider Mohammad N. , Marzo John M.
Published: April 2024

Background:

Most studies regarding medial meniscus posterior root tear (MMPRT) report total Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) subscale values as important patient-reported outcomes, but there are few symptom-specific characterizations of patients with MMPRT.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

The purpose of this study was to characterize the prevalence and severity of symptoms and functional limitations among patients with MMPRT based on item-level KOOS responses. It was hypothesized that patients with MMPRT would show similar symptoms to those of other meniscal tear types, with items from the KOOS pain subscale forming a majority of the most severe and prevalent symptoms.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

The records of 1466 patients with medial meniscus root tear between January 2017 and December 2021 at a single institution were reviewed. KOOS subscale scores and item-specific responses from initial evaluation were collected for each patient. Each KOOS item was scored on a scale from 1 (none/least severe) to 5 (extreme/most severe). Median and mean item-level responses were calculated and ranked in order of most to least severe. For statistical analysis, item-level prevalence rates were calculated as the proportion of patients reporting at least mild symptoms and ranked from most to least prevalent.

Results:

Included were 61 patients with MMPRT verified on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The most severe items according to item-level KOOS response were as follows: awareness of knee problem (mean, 4.62 [95% CI, 4.47-4.78]), difficulty jumping (mean, 4.06 [95% CI, 3.73-4.39]), difficulty twisting or pivoting (mean, 4.04 [95% CI, 3.76-4.32]), difficulty kneeling (mean, 3.98 [95% CI, 3.65-4.31]), and modification of lifestyle (mean, 3.94 [95% CI, 3.69-4.20]). The most prevalent items were knee stiffness later in the day, pain going up- or downstairs, difficulty ascending stairs, difficulty getting in and out of the car, difficulty twisting or pivoting, awareness of knee problem, and modification of lifestyle, with all patients reporting at least mild symptoms for each. Of the 11 most severe and prevalent symptoms, 8 came from the KOOS-Pain item-specific responses.

Conclusion:

Pain-related items made up a majority of the most severe and most prevalent symptoms as identified by the item-specific KOOS responses. However, meniscal symptoms commonly seen in other tear types, such as clicking and knee stiffness, were still quite prevalent in patients with MMPRT.
Epidemiology of Musculoskeletal Injuries in Tennis Players During the French Open Grand Slam Tournament From 2011 to 2022
Authors: Montalvan Bernard , Guillard Vincent , Ramos-Pascual Sonia , van Rooij Floris , Saffarini Mo , Nogier Alexis
Published: April 2024

Background:

The epidemiology of musculoskeletal injuries at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and US Open tennis tournaments has been investigated in recent studies; however, there is no published literature on the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries at the French Open.

Purpose:

To describe the incidence, location, and type of musculoskeletal injuries in tennis players during the French Open tournament from 2011 to 2022.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods:

A review was performed of all injuries documented by a multidisciplinary medical team during the French Open from 2011 to 2022. All musculoskeletal injuries that occurred during the main draw of the female and male singles or doubles matches were included. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Injury locations were grouped into regions as well as into upper limb, trunk, and lower limb.

Results:

In total, there were 750 injuries in 687 tennis players, resulting in a mean of 62.5 injuries per tournament; however, there were no obvious trends in injury incidence over the time frame evaluated. The number of injuries in female and male players was similar (392 vs 358, respectively). The most common injury regions were the thigh/hip/pelvis (n = 156), ankle/foot (n = 114), and spine (n = 103). The most common injury types were muscle-related (n = 244), tendon-related (n = 207), and joint-related (n = 163), and the most affected muscles were the adductors (n = 45), rectus abdominis (n = 38), and lumbar muscles (n = 25).

Conclusion:

Over the 12-year period from 2011 to 2022 female and male players experienced similar numbers of musculoskeletal injuries, with most injuries occurring in the lower limbs compared with the upper limbs and trunk.
Classification of the Os Calcis Subtalar Morphology in Symptomatic Flexible Pediatric Pes Planus Deformity Using Weightbearing CT and Distance Mapping
Authors: Barbero Agustin , Efrima Ben , Ovadia Joshua , Indino Cristian , Maccario Camilla , Usuelli Federico Giuseppe
Published: April 2024

Introduction/Purpose:

The etiology of symptomatic pediatric pes planus (PP) deformity is unclear. Reduced os calcis subtalar joint (OCST) anterior facet morphology has been suggested to result in less support to the talar head and a higher propensity to develop PP deformity. Weightbearing computed tomography (WBCT) and distance mapping (DM) offer new opportunities to investigate PP deformity in general and the OCST specifically. The purpose of this study is to investigate the OCST morphology using DM and to classify PP subtalar subtypes with DM using Bruckner's A-D classification system.

Methods:

Forty feet in 25 patients in a national referral center were evaluated for symptomatic PP deformity that failed nonoperative treatment. A WBCT scan was performed as part of the preoperative evaluation. Visualization of the distance distribution between the articulating surfaces of the subtalar joint was based on a DM technique. Intra- and interobserver agreement of the subtalar morphology was assessed using Bruckner’s classification system.

Results:

The mean age was 10.7 ± 1.4 years. The following mean ± SD and median ± ranges were semiautomatically measured for this group: Meary angle −21 ± 8, calcaneal inclination 15 ± 4 degrees, talar coverage angle 39 (range 32.6-49) degrees, and hindfoot moment-arm 16 ± 5 mm. Classifying subtalar morphology using DM yielded an excellent intra- and interobserver agreement. The individual percentages of each individual subtype were calculated: type A 5%, type B 48%, type C 4%, and type D in 44%.

Conclusion:

This study demonstrated excellent intraobserver and interobserver agreement in classifying the OCST using DM. A higher prevalence of types B and D was observed compared to types A and C in this PP cohort Distance mapping representation of 4 types of os calcis according to Buckner’s Classification System. (A) Type A, demonstrated in the axial view (right foot). (B) Type B, demonstrated in the axial view (right foot). (C) Type C, demonstrated in the axial view (right foot). (D) Type D, demonstrated in the axial view (left foot)
Improved Survival Rates with Fixed Bearing Total Ankle Arthroplasty
Authors: Nadeau Elizabeth K. , Ottofaro Trevor D. , Morningstar Joshua L. , Gross Christopher E. , Scott Daniel
Published: April 2024

Introduction/Purpose:

With increasing total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) being performed and a plethora of new survivorship data available, an updated literature review is needed to better understand the impact of different types of implants on the outcomes of TAA. The purpose of this study is to compare the outcomes of fixed vs mobile bearing TAAs in the literature.

Methods:

A comprehensive search of MEDLINE for all articles published between 2004 and 2023 was conducted with a minimum two-year mean follow-up. Two reviewers evaluated each study to determine whether it was eligible for inclusion and abstracted the data of interest. Meta-analytic pooling of group results across studies was performed, examining implant survival and component failure. Seventy-three implant groups met inclusion criteria (only 3rd and 4th generation implants), composed of STAR (20), Salto (mobile bearing) (10), Salto Talaris (11), Hintegra (8), Zimmer (6), INBONE II (6), INBONE I (4), Infinity (4), Cadence (4). 41 groups (56.2%) were implanted with mobile bearing devices, and 32 (43.8%) with fixed bearing implants. In total, 6498 subjects were included, with a mean age of 61.77 years and a mean BMI of 28.5 kg/m2. At a mean follow-up of 62.2 months, the overall reoperation rate was 21.13% and the metal component revision rate was 10.16%.

Results:

The mean follow-up of mobile bearing TAA studies (N =41) was 77.8 (range 24-188.4) months, and that of fixed bearing studies (N =32) was 45.3 (range 24-85.2) months. Multivariate analysis of bearing type, controlling for follow-up duration, found fixed bearing implants had statistically significantly higher metal component survival rates (fixed=96.1%, mobile=87.9%, p=.001); however, there were no statistically significant differences in rates of reoperation (fixed=17.0%, mobile=24.8%, p=.768). When examining specifically tibial and talar component failure rates, there was no statistically significant difference between bearing type (fixed tibial=1.46%, mobile tibial=2.95%, p=.472) (fixed talar=2.19%, mobile talar=2.79%, p=.966). Overall implant survival rates at one, two, five, and ten years were 96.4%, 96.0%, 92.7%, and 79.4%, respectively, and did not differ by bearing type (Table 1).

Conclusion:

Implant survival was statistically significantly better for 3rd and 4th generation fixed bearing TAAs as compared to mobile bearing TAAs, controlling for length of follow-up. There was no statistically significant difference in total reoperation rate. This suggests that fixed bearing implants may offer improved implant survival compared to mobile bearing implants, though further research is needed to confirm these findings.
Long-term outcomes after haploidentical stem cell transplantation for hematologic malignancies
Authors: Saengboon Supawee , Ciurea Stefan , Popat Uday , Ramdial Jeremy , Bashir Qaiser , Alousi Amin , Chen Julianne , Rondon Gabriela , Olson Amanda , Im Jin , Hosing Chitra , Shpall Elizabeth , Champlin Richard , Srour Samer A.
Published: April 2024

The introduction of posttransplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy)–based graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis lead to significant improvements in haploidentical stem cell transplantation (haplo-SCT) outcomes over the past decade. We retrospectively assessed long-term outcomes of patients who had their first haplo-SCT between February 2009 and March 2019. Long-term survivors were defined as patients who were alive and disease-free at 2 years after transplant. Three hundred thirty-five patients with a median age of 48 years (range, 18-72) were identified. Of these, 142 patients were disease-free and alive at 2 years after transplant. The 4-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for all study patients were 42% and 47%, respectively. With a median follow-up of 52 months for the long-term survivor group, the 4-year PFS and OS were 94% and 96%, respectively. The 4-year cumulative incidence of relapse and non-relapse mortality (NRM) were 2.9% and 3.3%, respectively. Age ≥55 years was the only predictive factor in multivariate analysis for inferior PFS (hazard ratio [HR], 3.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21-9.60; P = .020) and OS (HR, 3.31; 95% CI, 1.08-10.18; P = .037). Thirteen patients (9%) died in the long-term survivor group, only 2 of whom died of relapsed disease. Secondary primary malignancy was the most frequent cause of NRM (n = 4), followed by infection (n = 2). For haplo-SCT with PTCy–based GVHD prophylaxis, our findings suggest an excellent long-term survival for patients who were disease-free and alive at 2 years after transplant. Late relapses were rare, and age was the only predictive factor for long-term outcomes.
Impact of patient demographics and neighborhood socioeconomic variables on clinical trial participation patterns for NHL
Authors: Nze Chijioke , Andersen Clark R. , Ayers Amy A. , Westin Jason , Wang Michael , Iyer Swaminathan , Ahmed Sairah , Pinnix Chelsea , Vega Francisco , Nguyen Lynne , McNeill Lorna , Nastoupil Loretta J. , Zhang Kehe , Bauer Cici X. , Flowers Christopher R.
Published: April 2024

Prior studies have demonstrated that certain populations including older patients, racial/ethnic minority groups, and women are underrepresented in clinical trials. We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) seen at MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) to investigate the association between trial participation, race/ethnicity, travel distance, and neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES). Using patient addresses, we ascertained nSES variables on educational attainment, income, poverty, racial composition, and housing at the census tract (CT) level. We also performed geospatial analysis to determine the geographic distribution of clinical trial participants and distance from patient residence to MDACC. We examined 3146 consecutive adult patients with NHL seen between January 2017 and December 2020. The study cohort was predominantly male and non-Hispanic White (NHW). The most common insurance types were private insurance and Medicare; only 1.1% of patients had Medicaid. There was a high overall participation rate of 30.5%, with 20.9% enrolled in therapeutic trials. In univariate analyses, lower participation rates were associated with lower nSES including higher poverty rates and living in crowded households. Racial composition of CT was not associated with differences in trial participation. In multivariable analysis, trial participation varied significantly by histology, and participation declined nonlinearly with age in the overall, follicular lymphoma, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) models. In the DLBCL subset, Hispanic patients had lower odds of participation than White patients (odds ratio, 0.36; 95% confidence interval, 0.21-0.62; P = .001). In our large academic cohort, race, sex, insurance type, and nSES were not associated with trial participation, whereas age and diagnosis were.
Clonal hematopoiesis and inflammation in the vasculature: CHIVE, a prospective, longitudinal clonal hematopoiesis cohort and biorepository
Authors: Shannon Morgan L. , Heimlich J. Brett , Olson Sydney , Debevec Ariana , Copeland Zachary , Kishtagari Ashwin , Vlasschaert Caitlyn , Snider Christina , Silver Alexander J. , Brown Donovan , Spaulding Travis , Bhatta Manasa , Pugh Kelly , Stockton Shannon S. , Ulloa Jessica , Xu Yaomin , Baljevic Muhamed , Moslehi Javid , Jahangir Eiman , Ferrell P. Brent , Slosky David , Bick Alexander G. , Savona Michael R.
Published: April 2024

Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) is an age-associated phenomenon leading to an increased risk of both hematologic malignancy and nonmalignant organ dysfunction. Increasingly available genetic testing has made the incidental discovery of CH clinically common yet evidence-based guidelines and effective management strategies to prevent adverse CH health outcomes are lacking. To address this gap, the prospective CHIVE (clonal hematopoiesis and inflammation in the vasculature) registry and biorepository was created to identify and monitor individuals at risk, support multidisciplinary CH clinics, and refine taxonomy and standards of practice for CH risk mitigation. Data from the first 181 patients enrolled in this prospective registry recapitulate the molecular epidemiology of CH from biobank-scale retrospective studies, with DNMT3A, TET2, ASXL1, and TP53 as the most commonly mutated genes. Blood counts across all hematopoietic lineages trended lower in patients with CH. In addition, patients with CH had higher rates of end organ dysfunction, in particular chronic kidney disease. Among patients with CH, variant allele frequency was independently associated with the presence of cytopenias and progression to hematologic malignancy, whereas other common high-risk CH clone features were not clear. Notably, accumulation of multiple distinct high-risk clone features was also associated with cytopenias and hematologic malignancy progression, supporting a recently published CH risk score. Surprisingly, ∼30% of patients enrolled in CHIVE from CH clinics were adjudicated as not having clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential, highlighting the need for molecular standards and purpose-built assays in this field. Maintenance of this well-annotated cohort and continued expansion of CHIVE to multiple institutions are underway and will be critical to understanding how to thoughtfully care for this patient population.
Postinfusion PD-1+ CD8+ CAR T cells identify patients responsive to CD19 CAR T-cell therapy in non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Denlinger Nathan , Song No-Joon , Zhang Xiaoli , Jeon Hyeongseon , Peterson Chelsea , Wang Yi , Reynolds Kelsi , Bolz Robert M. , Miao Jessica , Song Chunhua , Wu Dayong , Chan Wing Keung , Bezerra Evandro , Epperla Narendranath , Voorhees Timothy J. , Brammer Jonathan , Kittai Adam S. , Bond David A. , Sawalha Yazeed , Sigmund Audrey , Reneau John C. , Rubinstein Mark P. , Hanel Walter , Christian Beth , Baiocchi Robert A. , Maddocks Kami , Alinari Lapo , Vasu Sumithira , de Lima Marcos , Chung Dongjun , Jaglowski Samantha , Li Zihai , Huang Xiaopei , Yang Yiping
Published: April 2024

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has revolutionized treatment for relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Robust biomarkers and a complete understanding of CAR T-cell function in the postinfusion phase remain limited. Here, we used a 37-color spectral flow cytometry panel to perform high dimensional single-cell analysis of postinfusion samples in 26 patients treated with CD28 costimulatory domain containing commercial CAR T cells for NHL and focused on computationally gated CD8+ CAR T cells. We found that the presence of postinfusion Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)+ CD8+ CAR T cells at the day 14 time point highly correlated with the ability to achieve complete response (CR) by 6 months. Further analysis identified multiple subtypes of CD8+ PD-1+ CAR T cells, including PD-1+ T cell factor 1 (TCF1)+ stem-like CAR T cells and PD-1+ T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 (TIM3)+ effector-like CAR T cells that correlated with improved clinical outcomes such as response and progression-free survival. Additionally, we identified a subset of PD-1+ CD8+ CAR+ T cells with effector-like function that was increased in patients who achieved a CR and was associated with grade 3 or higher immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome. Here, we identified robust biomarkers of response to CD28 CAR T cells and highlight the importance of PD-1 positivity in CD8+ CAR T cells after infusion in achieving CR.
The carbon footprint of as-needed budesonide/formoterol in mild asthma: apost hocanalysis
Authors: Hatter Lee , Holliday Mark , Eathorne Allie , Bruce Pepa , Pavord Ian D. , Reddel Helen K. , Hancox Robert J. , Papi Alberto , Weatherall Mark , Beasley Richard
Published: April 2024

Introduction

The use of pressurised metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) and asthma exacerbations necessitating healthcare reviews contribute substantially to the global carbon footprint of healthcare. It is possible that a reduction in carbon footprint could be achieved by switching patients with mild asthma from salbutamol pMDI reliever-based therapy to inhaled corticosteroid-formoterol dry powder inhaler (DPI) reliever therapy, as recommended by the Global Initiative for Asthma.

Methods

Thispost hocanalysis included all 668 adult participants in the Novel START trial, who were randomised 1:1:1 to treatment with as-needed budesonide/formoterol DPI, as-needed salbutamol pMDI or maintenance budesonide DPI plus as-needed salbutamol pMDI. The primary outcome was carbon footprint of asthma management, expressed as kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (kgCO2e) per person-year. Secondary outcomes explored the effect of baseline symptom control and adherence (maintenance budesonide DPI arm only) on carbon footprint.

Results

As-needed budesonide/formoterol DPI was associated with 95.8% and 93.6% lower carbon footprint compared with as-needed salbutamol pMDI (least-squares mean 1.1versus26.2 kgCO2e; difference −25.0, 95% CI −29.7 to −20.4; p<0.001) and maintenance budesonide DPI plus as-needed salbutamol pMDI (least-squares mean 1.1versus17.3 kgCO2e; difference −16.2, 95% CI −20.9 to −11.6; p<0.001), respectively. There was no statistically significant evidence that treatment differences in carbon footprint depended on baseline symptom control or adherence in the maintenance budesonide DPI arm.

Conclusions

The as-needed budesonide/formoterol DPI treatment option was associated with a markedly lower carbon footprint than as-needed salbutamol pMDI and maintenance budesonide DPI plus as-needed salbutamol pMDI.
Promoting the restoration of China’s marine ecology and the governance of marine disaster prevention and reduction
Authors: Huang Lansong , Wei Xuezhi , Wang Quansheng
Published: April 2024

The oceans are a treasure trove of natural resources and an essential regulator of the global climate. Still, due to economic development and human activities in recent years, these ecosystems have suffered varying degrees of degradation, so the restoration of marine ecosystems is essential. At the same time, states should strengthen the synergy of marine disaster prevention and mitigation efforts and jointly defend against the impact of maritime disasters on human lives, property, and climate change. On June 28–29, 2023, the Forum on Restoration of Marine Ecological Environment Protection, Disaster Prevention, and Mitigation was held in Qingdao’s West Coast New Area. The forum adopted a combination of “online and offline.” Nearly 150 experts and scholars in marine-related environmental protection, disaster prevention, and mitigation from organizations, universities, and research institutes across multiple countries attended the event.
Assessing potential sustainability benefits of micromobility: a new data driven approach
Authors: Comi Antonio , Polimeni Antonio
Published: April 2024

Promoting the shift from private cars to micromobility (e.g., bike, e-bike, scooter) can represent a valuable action to improve city sustainability and liveability. Micromobility can help to replace trips by individual private cars (e.g., daily short round trips) as well as to improve coverage and accessibility of transit services, and, subsequently, to reduce the traffic impacts (e.g., pollutant emissions). It can be seen as a potential solution to move people more efficiently in urban areas, as well as to push people towards a more active mobility behaviour, contributing to the well-being goals. In this context, the paper, rather than inferring the users’ propensity to change their travel mode, proposes a methodology to identify car trips that can be considered the most compatible with micromobility. Estimation of the potential demand (e.g., the upper level of car trips that could be replaced by micromobility) is carried out by exploiting the opportunity offered by floating car data (FCD) for characterising car trips. Its goodness is therefore evaluated through an application to a real case study (i.e., the city of Trani, Apulia Region, Southern Italy), divided into seventy traffic zones, and where a FCD dataset of about 5,200 trips was available. The FCD allowed the car trips to be characterised (e.g., origin and destination, path features) instead of using the traditional surveys. The results indicate that a significant share of daily car trips can be substituted (i.e., the most compatible) by micromobility (31% of car round trips in the case study), with considerable potential environmental gains (traffic emission reduction; less than 21% of total emissions from private cars). Results can be of interest to local authorities in integrating micromobility in urban mobility planning and promoting new sustainable transport alternatives, as well as to transport companies for designing new appeal services. The developed methodology is parametric and uses easy-to-obtain data available worldwide; thus, it can be easily transferred to other city contexts.
Comparative transcriptomic analysis delineates adaptation strategies of Rana kukunoris toward cold stress on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
Authors: Zhang Tao , Jia Lun , Niu Zhiyi , Li Xinying , Men Shengkang , Jiang Lu , Ma Miaojun , Wang Huihui , Tang Xiaolong , Chen Qiang
Published: April 2024

Background

Cold hardiness is fundamental for amphibians to survive during the extremely cold winter on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. Exploring the gene regulation mechanism of freezing-tolerant Rana kukunoris could help us to understand how the frogs survive in winter.

Results

Transcriptome of liver and muscle of R. kukunoris collected in hibernation and spring were assisted by single molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing technology. A total of 10,062 unigenes of R. kukunoris were obtained, and 9,924 coding sequences (CDS) were successfully annotated. Our examination of the mRNA response to whole body freezing and recover in the frogs revealed key genes concerning underlying antifreeze proteins and cryoprotectants (glucose and urea). Functional pathway analyses revealed differential regulated pathways of ribosome, energy supply, and protein metabolism which displayed a freeze-induced response and damage recover. Genes related to energy supply in the muscle of winter frogs were up-regulated compared with the muscle of spring frogs. The liver of hibernating frogs maintained modest levels of protein synthesis in the winter. In contrast, the liver underwent intensive high levels of protein synthesis and lipid catabolism to produce substantial quantity of fresh proteins and energy in spring. Differences between hibernation and spring were smaller than that between tissues, yet the physiological traits of hibernation were nevertheless passed down to active state in spring.

Conclusions

Based on our comparative transcriptomic analyses, we revealed the likely adaptive mechanisms of R. kukunoris. Ultimately, our study expands genetic resources for the freezing-tolerant frogs.
The effects of multi-colour light filtering glasses on human brain wave activity
Authors: Boere Katherine , Krigolson Olave E.
Published: April 2024

The prevalence of electronic screens in modern society has significantly increased our exposure to high-energy blue and violet light wavelengths. Accumulating evidence links this exposure to adverse visual and cognitive effects and sleep disturbances. To mitigate these effects, the optical industry has introduced a variety of filtering glasses. However, the scientific validation of these glasses has often been based on subjective reports and a narrow range of objective measures, casting doubt on their true efficacy. In this study, we used electroencephalography (EEG) to record brain wave activity to evaluate the effects of glasses that filter multiple wavelengths (blue, violet, indigo, and green) on human brain activity. Our results demonstrate that wearing these multi-colour light filtering glasses significantly reduces beta wave power (13–30 Hz) compared to control or no glasses. Prior research has associated a reduction in beta power with the calming of heightened mental states, such as anxiety. As such, our results suggest that wearing glasses such as the ones used in this study may also positively change mental states, for instance, by promoting relaxation. This investigation is innovative in applying neuroimaging techniques to confirm that light-filtering glasses can induce measurable changes in brain activity.
Plastid phylogenomics and fossil evidence provide new insights into the evolutionary complexity of the ‘woody clade’ in Saxifragales
Authors: Jia Linbo , Wang Shuying , Hu Jinjin , Miao Ke , Huang Yongjiang , Ji Yunheng
Published: April 2024

Background

The “woody clade” in Saxifragales (WCS), encompassing four woody families (Altingiaceae, Cercidiphyllaceae, Daphniphyllaceae, and Hamamelidaceae), is a phylogenetically recalcitrant node in the angiosperm tree of life, as the interfamilial relationships of the WCS remain contentious. Based on a comprehensive sampling of WCS genera, this study aims to recover a robust maternal backbone phylogeny of the WCS by analyzing plastid genome (plastome) sequence data using Bayesian inference (BI), maximum likelihood (ML), and maximum parsimony (MP) methods, and to explore the possible causes of the phylogenetic recalcitrance with respect to deep relationships within the WCS, in combination with molecular and fossil evidence.

Results

Although the four WCS families were identically resolved as monophyletic, the MP analysis recovered different tree topologies for the relationships among Altingiaceae, Cercidiphyllaceae, and Daphniphyllaceae from the ML and BI phylogenies. The fossil-calibrated plastome phylogeny showed that the WCS underwent a rapid divergence of crown groups in the early Cretaceous (between 104.79 and 100.23 Ma), leading to the origin of the stem lineage ancestors of Altingiaceae, Cercidiphyllaceae, Daphniphyllaceae, and Hamamelidaceae within a very short time span (∼4.56 Ma). Compared with the tree topology recovered in a previous study based on nuclear genome data, cytonuclear discordance regarding the interfamilial relationships of the WCS was detected.

Conclusions

Molecular and fossil evidence imply that the early divergence of the WCS might have experienced radiative diversification of crown groups, extensive extinctions at the genus and species levels around the Cretaceous/Paleocene boundary, and ancient hybridization. Such evolutionarily complex events may introduce biases in topological estimations within the WCS due to incomplete lineage sorting, cytonuclear discordance, and long-branch attraction, potentially impacting the accurate reconstruction of deep relationships.
Association between serum calcium and prognosis in patients with acute ischemic stroke in ICU: analysis of the MIMIC-IV database
Authors: Wu Caijiao , Li Xiaorong , Li Jiaxing , Huo Ruiling , Zhao Huihan , Ying Yanping
Published: April 2024

Background

While serum Ca has proven to be a reliable predictor of mortality across various diseases, its connection with the clinical outcomes of ischemic stroke (IS) remains inconclusive. Our research aimed to explore the relationships between serum total Ca (tCa) and serum ionized Ca (iCa) and mortality among acute IS (AIS) patients.

Methods

We gathered data from 1773 AIS patients in the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care Database IV, including baseline demographic data, comorbidities, vital signs, laboratory-based data, and scoring systems. Endpoints for the study encompassed 30-d, 90-d, and 365-d all-cause mortalities. Employing restricted cubic spline Cox regression, we explored potential nonlinear relationships between admission serum iCa and tCa levels and mortality. Participants were categorized into four groups based on serum iCa and tCa quartiles. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was then conducted to evaluate the independent association of iCa and tCa quartiles with all-cause mortality.

Results

The restricted cubic spline revealed a U-shaped association between iCa and 30-d and 90-d mortality (P<0.05), while the relationship between iCa and 365-d mortality was linear (P<0.05). After adjusting for confounders, multivariable Cox analysis demonstrated that the lowest serum iCa level quartile was independently associated with increased risks of 30-d, 90-d, and 365-d mortality. Similarly, the highest serum iCa level quartile was independently associated with increased risks of 30-d and 90-d mortality, but not 365-d mortality. Notably, serum tCa level showed no association with increased risks of 30-d, 90-d, and 365-d mortality.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that serum iCa, rather than tCa, is linked to ischemic stroke prognosis. Both high and low serum iCa levels are associated with poor short-term prognosis, while only low serum iCa is associated with poor long-term prognosis in AIS patients.