bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physical energies for the management of genitourinary syndrome of menopause: An overview of a systematic review and network meta‐analysis
Authors: Sarmento Ayane Cristine Alves , de Araújo Santos Camargo Juliana Dantas , de Freitas Cijara Leonice , Medeiros Kleyton Santos , Costa Ana Paula Ferreira , Gonçalves Ana Katherine
Published: December 2023

Background

Energy‐based devices (laser and radiofrequency) have been used to treat genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM).

Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of physical energy use in managing GSM symptoms.

Search Strategy

Five databases were searched from inception to December 2022. Language restrictions were not imposed.

Selection Criteria

We included all Cochrane and non‐Cochrane systematic reviews with or without meta‐analyses that described postmenopausal women with symptoms of GSM treated with physical energy.

Data Collection and Analysis

We performed a network meta‐analysis using frequentist methods to calculate standardized mean differences (SMDs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Methodological and reporting quality were assessed using the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR 2).

Main Results

Nine reviews were included in the overview, six of which were meta‐analyses. Four randomized controlled trials, representing 218 participants and nine different study arms, met the criteria for inclusion in our component network meta‐analysis. Confidence in review findings was low in six reviews and critically low in three. Our network meta‐analysis results showed that premarin (SMD 2.60, 95% CI 7.76–3.43), conjugated estrogens (SMD 2.13, 95% CI 1.34–2.91), carbon dioxide laser (SMD 1.71, 95% CI 1.10–2.31), promestriene (SMD 1.41, 95% CI 0.59–2.24), and vaginal lubricant (SMD 1.37, 95% CI 0.54–2.20) were more effective than sham for reducing sexual dysfunction, with a consequent increase in Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Two studies showed a high risk of bias, owing to a lack of blinding.

Conclusion

Several gaps in the use of physical energy for managing GSM still need to be addressed. The small number of blind clinical trials made the results fragile.
Few‐shot segmentation for esophageal OCT images based on self‐supervised vision transformer
Authors: Wang Cong , Gan Meng
Published: December 2023

Automatic segmentation of layered tissue is the key to optical coherence tomography (OCT) image analysis for esophagus. While deep learning technology offers promising solutions to this problem, the requirement for large numbers of annotated samples often poses a significant obstacle, as it is both expensive and challenging to obtain. With this in mind, we introduced a self‐supervised segmentation framework for esophageal OCT images. In particular, the proposed method employs a masked autoencoder (MAE) for self‐supervised training and constructs the segmentation network by integrating a pretrained vision transformer (ViT) encoder with an attentive transformer decoder. In this case, the segmentation network has the potential to accomplish the few‐shot, or the more aggressive one‐shot segmentation, and achieve high‐quality segmentation performance. Experimental results on both a self‐collected mouse esophageal dataset and a public human esophageal OCT dataset confirm the advantages and practical significance of the proposed method.
Isomerism of CH2SO: Accurate structural, energetic, and spectroscopic characterization
Authors: Puzzarini Cristina , Ye Hexu , Alessandrini Silvia
Published: December 2023

A recent work [Ye et al. Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 2023, 525, 1158] on the gas‐phase formation of t‐HC(O)SH, already detected in the interstellar medium, pointed out that the trans form of HC(S)OH is a potential candidate for astronomical observations. Prompted by these results, the family of isomers has been investigated from an energetic point of view using a double‐hybrid density functional in combination with a partially augmented triple‐zeta basis set. This preliminary study showed that the most stable species of the family are the cis and trans forms of HC(O)SH and HC(S)OH. For their structural and spectroscopic characterization, a composite scheme based on coupled cluster (CC) calculations that incorporates up to the quadruple excitations and accounts for the extrapolation to the complete basis set limit and core correlation effects has been employed. This approach opens to the prediction of rotational constants with an accuracy of 0.1%. A hybrid scheme, based on harmonic frequencies computed using the CC singles, doubles and a perturbative treatment of triples method (CCSD(T)) in conjunction with a quadruple‐zeta basis set, allowed us to obtain fundamental vibrational frequencies with a mean absolute error of about 1%.
Validity of the diagnostic criteria from the Asian Working Group for Cachexia in advanced cancer
Authors: Sakaguchi Tatsuma , Maeda Keisuke , Takeuchi Tomoko , Mizuno Ai , Kato Ryoko , Ishida Yuria , Ueshima Junko , Shimizu Akio , Amano Koji , Mori Naoharu
Published: December 2023

Background

Recently, the Asian Working Group for Cachexia (AWGC) published a consensus statement on diagnostic criteria for cachexia in Asians. We aimed to validate the criteria in adult patients in Japan with advanced cancer.

Methods

We conducted a single‐institution retrospective cohort study between April 2021 and October 2022. The AWGC criteria include chronic comorbidities and either a weight loss of >2% over 3–6 months or a body mass index (BMI) of <21 kg/m2. In addition, any of the following items were required: anorexia as a subjective symptom, decreased grip strength as an objective measurement and an elevated C‐reactive protein (CRP) level as a biomarker. We used the cut‐off value of grip strength of 28/18 kg for male/female individuals and CRP level of 5 mg/L.

Results

Of the 449 consecutive patients, 85 of those who could not be evaluated because of end‐of‐life or refractory symptoms (n = 41) or missing data (n = 44) were excluded from the primary analysis. The prevalence of the AWGC‐defined cachexia was 76% (n = 277), and the median survival time (MST) for all patients was 215 (95% confidence interval [CI] 145–270) days. The prevalence of the following criteria was significantly higher in patients with cachexia than in those without cachexia: a BMI of <21 kg/m2 (65% vs. 15%, P < 0.001), a weight loss of >2% in 6 months (87% vs. 14%, P < 0.001), anorexia (75% vs. 47%, P < 0.001), a grip strength of <28 kg in male individuals (63% vs. 28%, P < 0.001) and CRP level of >5 mg/L (85% vs. 56%, P < 0.001). Overall survival was significantly shorter in patients with cachexia than in those without cachexia (MST 157 days, 95% CI 108–226 days vs. MST 423 days, 95% CI 245 days to not available, P = 0.0023). The Cox proportional hazards analysis showed that best supportive care (hazard ratio [HR] 2.91, P ≤ 0.001), lung cancer (HR 1.67, P = 0.0046), an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status score of ≥3 (HR 1.58, P = 0.016), AWGC‐defined cachexia (HR 1.56, P = 0.015), an age of ≥70 years (HR 1.53, P = 0.0070), oedema (HR 1.31, P = 0.022) and head/neck cancer (HR 0.44, P = 0.023) were found to be the significant predictors for mortality.

Conclusions

We demonstrated that AWGC‐defined cachexia has a significant prognostic value in advanced cancer.
Amine and nitramine functionalization of imidazole‐triazine and triazole‐triazine skeletons: Exploring for potential multipurpose energetic materials
Authors: Yadav Abhishek Kumar , Jujam Manojkumar , Ghule Vikas D. , Dharavath Srinivas
Published: December 2023

A series of five and six‐membered C‐C bonded energetic materials (2–7) based on a combination of imidazole‐triazine and triazole‐triazine backbones were designed, synthesized, and characterized using NMR, IR, Mass spectrometry, and TGA‐DSC studies. Further, the structure of compound 4 was supported by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. All the newly synthesized energetic compounds exhibit good density, excellent thermal stability, good detonation performance, and low mechanical sensitivity toward impact and friction. Among all, the nitrate salt 4 exhibits balanced properties, including high density (1.80 g cm−3), excellent thermal stability (254°C), good detonation velocity (8178 m s−1), and low sensitivity towards impact and friction. The facile synthetic feasibility, thermal stability, energetic performance, and insensitivity of all the molecules suggest they can be used as an insensitive secondary explosive in various defense and civilian applications.
PrEP initiation and discontinuation among transgender women in the United States: a longitudinal, mixed methods cohort study
Authors: Cooney Erin E. , Saleem Haneefa T. , Stevenson Meg , Aguayo‐Romero Rodrigo A. , Althoff Keri N. , Poteat Tonia C. , Beckham S. Wilson , Adams Dee , Radix Asa E. , Wawrzyniak Andrew J. , Cannon Christopher M. , Schneider Jason S. , Haw J. Sonya , Rodriguez Allan E. , Mayer Kenneth H. , Beyrer Chris , Reisner Sari L. , Wirtz Andrea L. ,   American Cohort to Study HIV Acquisition Among Transgender Women (LITE) Study Group
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Transgender women in the United States experience high HIV incidence and suboptimal Pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) engagement. We sought to estimate PrEP initiation and discontinuation rates and characterize PrEP discontinuation experiences among a prospective cohort of transgender women.

Methods

Using a sequential, explanatory, mixed‐methods design, 1312 transgender women at risk for HIV acquisition were enrolled from March 2018 to August 2020 and followed through July 2022 (median follow‐up 24 months; interquartile range 15–36). Cox regression models assessed predictors of initiation and discontinuation. In‐depth interviews were conducted among 18 participants, including life history calendars to explore key events and experiences surrounding discontinuations. Qualitative and quantitative data were integrated to generate typologies of discontinuation, inform meta‐inferences and facilitate the interpretation of findings.

Results

21.8% (n = 286) of participants reported taking PrEP at one or more study visits while under observation. We observed 139 PrEP initiations over 2127 person‐years (6.5 initiations/100 person‐years, 95% CI: 5.5–7.7). Predictors of initiation included identifying as Black and PrEP indication. The rate of initiation among those who were PrEP‐indicated was 9.6 initiations/100 person‐years (132/1372 person‐years; 95% CI: 8.1–11.4). We observed 138 PrEP discontinuations over 368 person‐years (37.5 discontinuations/100 person‐years, 95% CI: 31.7–44.3). Predictors of discontinuation included high school education or less and initiating PrEP for the first time while under observation. Four discontinuation typologies emerged: (1) seroconversion following discontinuation; (2) ongoing HIV acquisition risk following discontinuation; (3) reassessment of HIV/STI prevention strategy following discontinuation; and (4) dynamic PrEP use coinciding with changes in HIV acquisition risk.

Conclusions

PrEP initiation rates were low and discontinuation rates were high. Complex motivations to stop using PrEP did not consistently correspond with HIV acquisition risk reduction. Evidence‐based interventions to increase PrEP persistence among transgender women with ongoing acquisition risk and provide HIV prevention support for those who discontinue PrEP are necessary to reduce HIV incidence in this population.
Respiratory torque teno virus load at emergency department visit predicts intensive care unit admission of SARS‐CoV‐2 infected patients
Authors: Feghoul Linda , Caillault Amandine , Peyrony Olivier , Salmona Maud , Nere Marie‐Laure , Delaugerre Constance , Azoulay Elie , Chevret Sylvie , LeGoff Jérôme
Published: December 2023

Accurate prediction of COVID‐19 severity remains a challenge. Torque teno virus (TTV), recognized as a surrogate marker of functional immunity in solid organ transplant recipients, holds the potential for assessing infection outcomes. We investigated whether quantifying TTV in nasopharyngeal samples upon emergency department (ED) admission could serve as an early predictor of COVID‐19 severity. Retrospective single‐center study in the ED of Saint‐Louis Hospital in Paris, France. TTV DNA was quantified in nasopharyngeal swab samples collected for SARS‐CoV‐2 testing. Among 295 SARS‐CoV‐2 infected patients, 92 returned home, 160 were admitted to medical wards, and 43 to the intensive care unit (ICU). Elevated TTV loads were observed in ICU patients (median: 3.02 log copies/mL, interquartile range [IQR]: 2.215–3.825), exceeding those in discharged (2.215, [0; 2.962]) or hospitalized patients (2.24, [0; 3.29]) (p = 0.006). Multivariate analysis identified diabetes, obesity, hepatitis, fever, dyspnea, oxygen requirement, and TTV load as predictors of ICU admission. A 2.91 log10 copies/mL TTV threshold independently predicted ICU admission. Nasopharyngeal TTV quantification in SARS‐CoV‐2 infected patients is linked to the likelihood of ICU admission and might reflect respiratory immunosuppression.
Characteristics of spring Mongolian cyclones in the recent 70 years: Background circulations and weather influences
Authors: Wang Jing , Chen Lei , Li Shuanglin
Published: December 2023

Based on the fifth‐generation reanalysis (ERA5) data of the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), spring Mongolian cyclones were examined from 1950 to 2023. Then, based on the feature parameters of activity path information, machine learning method (k‐means) is used to classify the trajectories of spring Mongolian cyclone. Subsequently, the atmospheric circulation configurations of the three categories of Mongolian cyclones and their influence on the weather in China verify the reasonability of the classification method. Specifically: (1) eastward moving type, affecting Inner Mongolia and Northeast China (Clus‐1). The circulation background of the Clus‐1 cyclone displays a broad negative geopotential height anomaly centre over East Asia; (2) northeastward moving type, affecting northeast part of Northeast China (Clus‐2). The circulation background of the Clus‐2 cyclones shows a “positive–negative–positive” distribution of circulation anomalies in the European Plain, Lake Baikal and the Sea of Japan; (3) southeastward moving type, this type can move to the south of China (Clus‐3). The circulation background of the Clus‐3 cyclones is opposite to that of the Clus‐2 cyclones. The three categories of Mongolian cyclones will cause dust weather and strong winds in different regions of China, mainly affecting Inner Mongolia and Northeast China.
Poor prognosis of young male patients with stage III colorectal cancer: A multicenter retrospective study
Authors: Okamoto Kazuaki , Sasaki Kazuhito , Nozawa Hiroaki , Murono Koji , Emoto Shigenobu , Yamauchi Shinichi , Sugihara Kenichi , Ishihara Soichiro
Published: December 2023

Background and Objectives

The number of young patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) is increasing. However, sex‐dependent differences in the prognosis of young CRC remain unknown.

Methods

We investigated patients aged <70 years with stage III CRC treated between January 2000 and December 2010 in 24 Japanese referral hospitals. Patients were divided into subgroups by age of 50 years (early‐onset and late‐onset groups) and sex, and clinical characteristics and survival outcomes were compared. Risk factors associated with poor survival outcomes were also analyzed.

Results

Among 4758 consecutive patients, 771 (16%) were <50 years. Regardless of sex, there were more patients with rectal cancer and treated with adjuvant chemotherapy in the early‐onset group. Among males, tumors in the early‐onset group were poorly differentiated (p < 0.001), and patients were diagnosed at an advanced N stage (p = 0.010). Among females, there were more patients with left‐sided cancer in the early‐onset group (p < 0.001). Relapse‐free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were worse in the early‐onset group than in the late‐onset group (5‐year RFS rates: 58% and 63%, p = 0.024; 5‐year OS rates: 76% and 81%, p = 0.041, respectively), while there were no age‐dependent differences in the survival outcomes of female CRC patients. A multivariate analysis identified age <50 years as one of the independent risk factors associated with poor RFS in male stage III CRC patients (p = 0.032)

Conclusions

Young male patients with stage III CRC showed poorer survival outcomes than their older counterparts. Therefore, age‐ and sex‐related differences in the incidence of CRC recurrence need to be considered.
lncRNA UCA1 promotes tumor progression by targeting SMARCD3 in cervical cancer
Authors: An Lanfen , Dong Kejun , Chi Shuqi , Wei Sitian , Zhang Jun , Yu Zhicheng , Zhang Qian , Zhang Tangansu , Cheng Shuangshuang , Shi Rui , Jin Zhishan , Zhou Xing , Zhao Yingchao , Wang Hongbo
Published: December 2023

Long noncoding RNA urothelial carcinoma associated 1 (UCA1) has been identified as a key molecule in human cancers. However, its functional implications remain unspecified in the context of cervical cancer (CC). This research aims to identify the regulatory mechanism of UCA1 in CC. UCA1 was identified through microarray and confirmed through a quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Proteins that bind with UCA1 were recognized using RNA pull‐down assays along with RNA immunoprecipitation. Ubiquitination assays and coimmunoprecipitation were performed to explore the molecular mechanisms of the SWI/SNF‐related, matrix‐associated, actin‐dependent regulator of chromatin, subfamily d, member 3 (SMARCD3) downregulated in CC. The effects of UCA1 and SMARCD3 on the progression of CC were investigated through gain‐ and loss‐of‐function assays and xenograft tumor formation in vivo. In this study, UCA1 was found to be upregulated in CC cells as well as in human plasma exosomes for the first time. Functional studies indicated that UCA1 promotes CC progression. Mechanically, UCA1 downregulated the SMARCD3 protein stabilization by promoting SMARCD3 ubiquitination. Taken together, we revealed that the UCA1/SMARCD3 axis promoted CC progression, which could provide a new therapeutic target for CC.
Long‐term immune response to Omicron‐specific mRNA vaccination in mice, hamsters, and nonhuman primates
Authors: Wu Yi , Wu Namei , Jia Xiaoying , Wu Yan , Zhang Xinghai , Liu Yang , Hou Yuxia , Shen Yanqiong , Li Entao , Wang Wei , Wang Yucai , Chiu Sandra
Published: December 2023

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) Omicron and its subvariants (such as BQ.1, XBB and the latest variants, including XBB.1.16, EG.5, and BA.2.86), as the dominant variants, currently account for almost all new infections in the world due to their high transmissibility and immune escape ability. Omicron‐specific mRNA vaccines showed great potential to protect against Omicron infections. However, whether the vaccine could provide long‐term protection is unknown. Toward this goal, we evaluated the immunogenicity of a preclinical Omicron (BA.1)‐specific mRNA vaccine (SOmicron‐6P) in different animal models. SOmicron‐6P induced the highest levels of antibody titers at 1–2 weeks in different animals after the second dose. Even 9 months after the immunization, we observed modest neutralizing activity against Omicron subvariants in macaques. In addition, immunological memory cells can be rapidly reactivated upon stimulation. SOmicron‐6P at concentrations higher than 10 μg effectively protected hamsters from BA.1 challenge 253 days after the first immunization, which could be attributed to the reactivation of immune systems. In addition, the toxicity tests conducted in rats revealed a highly favorable biosafety profile for SOmicron‐6P, even at high dosages. Our data suggest that the Omicron‐specific mRNA vaccine is highly effective and safe in animal models and provides long‐term immunologic protection against SARS‐CoV‐2 Omicron infections.
Application of geometric shape‐based CT field‐of‐view extension algorithms in an all‐digital positron emission tomography/computed tomography system
Authors: Hu Tianjiao , Li Bingxuan , Yang Jigang , Zhang Bo , Fang Lei , Liu Yuqing , Xiao Peng , Xie Qingguo
Published: December 2023

Background

Computed tomography (CT)‐based positron emission tomography (PET) attenuation correction (AC) is a commonly used method in PET AC. However, the CT truncation caused by the subject's limbs outside the CT field‐of‐view (FOV) leads to errors in PET AC.

Purpose

In order to enhance the quantitative accuracy of PET imaging in the all‐digital DigitMI 930 PET/CT system, we assessed the impact of FOV truncation on its image quality and investigated the effectiveness of geometric shape‐based FOV extension algorithms in this system.

Methods

We implemented two geometric shape‐based FOV extension algorithms. By setting the data from different numbers of detector channels on either side of the sinogram to zero, we simulated various levels of truncation. Specific regions of interest (ROI) were selected, and the mean values of these ROIs were calculated to visually compare the differences between truncated CT, CT extended using the FOV extension algorithms, and the original CT. Furthermore, we conducted statistical analyses on the mean and standard deviation of residual maps between truncated/extended CT and the original CT at different levels of truncation. Subsequently, similar data processing was applied to PET images corrected using original CT and those corrected using simulated truncated and extended CT images. This allowed us to evaluate the influence of FOV truncation on the images produced by the DigitMI 930 PET/CT system and assess the effectiveness of the FOV extension algorithms.

Results

Truncation caused bright artifacts at the CT FOV edge and a slight increase in pixel values within the FOV. When using truncated CT data for PET AC, the PET activity outside the CT FOV decreased, while the extension algorithm effectively reduced these effects. Patient data showed that the activity within the CT FOV decreased by 60% in the truncated image compared to the base image, but this number could be reduced to at least 17.3% after extension.

Conclusion

The two geometric shape‐based algorithms effectively eliminate CT truncation artifacts and restore the true distribution of CT shape and PET emission data outside the FOV in the all‐digital DigitMI 930 PET/CT system. These two algorithms can be used as basic solutions for CT FOV extension in all‐digital PET/CT systems.
Performance of elastic x‐ray shield made by embedding Bi2O3 particles in porous polyurethane
Authors: Maeda Tatsuya , Hayashi Hiroaki , Ando Miku , Kobayashi Daiki , Nishigami Rina , Asahara Takashi , Goto Sota , Lee Cheonghae , Yamashita Kazuta , Higashino Kosaku , Konishi Takeshi , Murakami Shuichi , Maki Motochika
Published: December 2023

Background

Many healthcare institutions have guidelines concerning the usage of protective procedures, and various x‐ray shields have been used to reduce unwanted radiation exposure to medical staff and patients when using x‐rays. Most x‐ray shields are in the form of sheets and lack elasticity, which limits their effectiveness in shielding areas with movement, such as the thyroid. To overcome this limitation, we have developed an innovative elastic x‐ray shield.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explain the methodology for developing and evaluating a novel elastic x‐ray shield with sufficient x‐ray shielding ability. Furthermore, valuable knowledge and evaluation indices are derived to assess our shield's performance.

Methods

Our x‐ray shield was developed through a process of embedding Bi2O3 particles into porous polyurethane. Porous polyurethane with a thickness of 10 mm was dipped into a solution of water, metal particles, and chemical agents. Then, it was air‐dried to fix the metal particles in the porous polyurethane. Thirteen investigational x‐ray shields were fabricated, in which Bi2O3 particles at various mass thicknesses (ranging from 585 to 2493 g/m2) were embedded. To determine the performance of the shielding material, three criteria were evaluated: (1) Dose Reduction Factor (), measured using inverse broad beam geometry; (2) uniformity, evaluated from the standard deviation () of the x‐ray image obtained using a clinical x‐ray imaging detector; and (3) elasticity, evaluated by a compression test.

Results

The elastic shield with small pores, containing 1200 g/m2 of the metal element (Bi), exhibited a well‐balanced performance. The was approximately 80% for 70 kV diagnostic x‐rays. This shield's elasticity was −0.62 N/mm, a loss of only 30% when compared to porous polyurethane without metal. Although the non‐uniformity of the x‐ray shield leads to poor shielding ability, it was found that the decrease in the shielding ability can be limited to a maximum of 6% when the shield is manufactured so that the of the x‐ray image of the shield is less than 10%.

Conclusions

It was verified that an elastic x‐ray shield that offers an appropriate reduction in radiation exposure can be produced by embedding Bi2O3 particles into porous polyurethane. Our findings can lead to the development of novel x‐ray shielding products that can reduce the physical and mental stress on users.
Detrusor nerve radiofrequency ablation (DENERA): Experimental study of safety and efficacy in an ovine model
Authors: Ghoniem Gamal , Mao Rongwei , Csuka David Alexander , Farhan Bilal , Souccar Sami
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The subtrigonal perivesical nerve plexus contains a large proportion of the bladder's innervation. A transurethral radiofrequency ablation approach has successfully denervated this region to alleviate overactive bladder symptoms, with some urothelial heat injury. We report a novel transvaginal RFA device (DENERA) and assess its feasibility and efficacy in denervating the perivesical nerve plexus of in vivo sheep.

Methods

In 14 adult female in vivo sheep, pulsed radiofrequency energy was applied transvaginally for three cycles of 4 min, maintaining the tissue temperature at 45°C, with 30 s of rest between each cycle. The control group (n = 4) was sacrificed without ablation, and various groups were sacrificed 1 week (n = 3), 4 weeks (n = 4), and 12 weeks (n = 3) after ablation. The bladder subtrigones were harvested then analyzed with H&E, S100, and TH immunostaining to quantify their neural density and neural vacuolization.

Results

The ablation procedure increased the neural vacuolization the most at 1 week and decreased the neural density the most at 4 weeks, with both variables displaying a significant change followed by a slight rebound towards baseline at 12 weeks. The H&E analysis showed that the needles penetrated deep into the subtrigonal detrusor muscle. The sheep recovered from the procedure with no complications or damage in the bladder wall or urothelium.

Conclusions

This study shows that one DENERA treatment can cause subtrigonal denervation with some rebound afterwards and no complications. DENERA may become a promising OAB treatment option that can ablate the perivesical plexus without harming the urothelium.
A Nitsche‐based cut finite element solver for two‐phase Stefan problems
Authors: Tchinda Ngueyong Ismaël , Urquiza José Manuel , Martin Dave
Published: December 2023

We present a cut finite element method based on ghost penalty stabilization technique for solving two‐phase Stefan problems. The essential interfacial constraints are weakly enforced using the symmetric variant of Nitsche's method. To track the interface efficiently, the level‐set technique is employed and the front location is updated at each time step by solving a transport equation. Because this is a convection problem, we utilize the continuous interior penalty method to stabilize the finite element formulation. According to the Stefan condition, the normal velocity of the interface is proportional to the jump in the interfacial flux. To accurately approximate this quantity, we use a recent post‐processing technique that combines a ghost penalty regularization and the domain integral method on cut elements. We validate our algorithm with several numerical examples that demonstrate optimal convergence.
Nonlocal strain gradient‐based nonlinear dynamics of sinusoidal impulsive actuated porous/piezoelectric multilayer energy nanoharvesters
Authors: Fan Fan , Sahmani Saeid , Safaei Babak
Published: December 2023

The applications of nanoelectromechanical systems integrating simultaneously the mechanical and electrical functionalities at nanoscale have been gotten wider in the last decade. The main objective of this exploration is to analyze the small scale‐dependent nonlinear dynamical feedback of multilayer energy nanoharvesters containing a graded porous passive core coated by piezoelectric facesheets under a sinusoidal impulsive external actuation. For this purpose, the technique of meshless collocation is constructed at the same time the nonlocal stress and strain gradient tensors without any necessary background meshes and integration procedure. It is found that by taking the nonlocal stress tensor into account, the average of extremum points of maximum lateral deflection increases from to , and from to for simply supported and clamped multilayer nanoharvesters, respectively. On the contrary, through considering the strain gradient tensor, the average of extremum values of the maximum lateral deflection reduces from to for the simply supported nanoharvester, and from to for the clamped one.

Highlights

Development a third‐order shear flexible nonlocal strain gradient (NSG)‐based plate‐type nanoharvester model

Incorporating the role of nonlocal stress and strain gradient tensors in nonlinear dynamics of nanoharvesters

Time‐histories of achieved voltage of sinusoidal impulsive loaded plate‐type nanoharvesters

Influence of porosity on the NSG‐based nonlinear dynamic performance.
Durability of glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic polypropylene composite bars under the coupling effect of seawater and sea sand concrete environment and sustained bending
Authors: Dong Shaoce , Qi Xiao , Tian Jingwei , Zhou Ping , Li Chenggao , Xian Guijun
Published: December 2023

The long‐term interfacial shear strength (IFSS) and flexural strength of GFPP bars under the coupling effect of bending and immersion in the simulated seawater and sea sand concrete (SWSC) solution were studied by an acceleration experiment. Three temperatures and three bending stress levels (0%, 9.8%, and 29.4% of the maximum flexural strain of GFPP bars) were used to accelerate the experiment. Results indicate that the degradation of mechanical properties of GFPP bars is relatively sensitive to the immersion temperature. Low bending stress did not accelerate the degradation of GFPP bars compared with unbent GFPP bars while high bending stress dramatically accelerated the degradation. Microscopic tests found there is corrosion of glass fibers and debonding between glass fibers and polypropylene but no obvious chain breaks of polypropylene occurred. Based on the Arrhenius theory, long‐term stable retention rates of the IFSS of GFPP bars with zero and low bending stress immersed in the simulated SWSC solution are 42.4% and 52.3%.

Highlights

Low‐stressed GFPP bars degraded similarly or even slower than unbent GFPP bars.

GFPP bars degraded mainly due to interfacial debonding and fiber corrosion.

Long‐term IFSS of GFPP bars under a coupling effect was predicted.
Evolution and chemical diversity of the volatile compounds in Salvia species
Authors: Wang Feiyan , Huang Yanbo , Hou Zuoni , Chen Yue , Lou Ganggui , Qi Zhechen , Zhang Xiaodan , Dennis Mans , Zhang Lei , Wei Yukun , Yang Dongfeng
Published: December 2023

Introduction

The plant essential oils are composed of volatile compounds and have significant value in preventing and treating neurological diseases, anxiety, depression, among others. The genus Salvia has been shown to be an important medicinal resource, especially the aerial parts of genus Salvia, which are rich in volatile compounds; however, the chemical diversity and distribution patterns of volatile compounds in Salvia species are still unknown.

Objective

The work is performed to analyse the chemical diversity and distribution patterns of volatile compounds in genus Salvia.

Methods

The genomic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) were used to explore the evolution and chemical diversity of Salvia volatile compounds. Initially, the genetic relationship of genus Salvia was revealed by phylogenetic tree that was constructed based on SNPs. And then, GC–MS was applied to explore the chemical diversity of volatile compounds.

Results

The results indicated that the volatile compounds were mainly monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, and aliphatic compounds. The genomic SNPs divided species involved in this work into four branches. The volatile compounds in the first and second branches were mainly sesquiterpenoids and monoterpenoids, respectively. Species in the third branch contained more aliphatic compounds and sesquiterpenoids. And those in the fourth branch were also rich in monoterpenoids but had relatively simple chemical compositions.

Conclusion

This study offered new insights into the phylogenetic relationships besides chemistry diversity and distribution pattern of volatile compounds of genus Salvia, providing theoretical guidance for the investigations and development of secondary metabolites.
Global quantitative proteomic analysis of aged mouse hippocampus
Authors: Huang He , van Waardenberg Ashley J. , Graham Mark E. , Anggono Victor , Widagdo Jocelyn
Published: December 2023

Understanding the molecular changes associated with the aged brain forms the basis for developing potential strategies for slowing cognitive decline associated with normal aging. Focusing on the hippocampus, a critical brain region involved in learning and memory, we employed tandem mass tag methodology to investigate global proteomic changes that occur in advanced‐aged (20‐month) versus young (3‐month) C57BL/6 male mice. Our analysis revealed the upregulation of 236 proteins in the old hippocampal proteome, including those enriched within several age‐related processes, such as the adaptive immune response and molecular metabolic pathways, whereas downregulated proteins (88 in total) are mainly involved in axonogenesis and growth cone‐related processes. Categorizing proteins by cell‐type enrichment in the brain identified a general upregulation of proteins preferentially expressed in microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. In contrast, proteins with neuron‐specific expression displayed an overall age‐related downregulation. By integrating our proteomic with our previously published transcriptomic data, we discovered a mild but significant positive correlation between mRNA and protein expression changes in the aged hippocampus. Therefore, this proteomic data is a valuable additional resource for further understanding age‐related molecular mechanisms.
Preliminary validation of the Cognitive Affective Mindfulness Scale–Revised in cancer populations
Authors: Snyder Stella , Secinti Ekin , Chinh Kelly , Wu Wei , Johns Shelley A. , Mosher Catherine E.
Published: December 2023

Objective

A brief, valid, and comprehensive measure of mindfulness is needed for cancer populations. This study examined the factor structure, internal consistency, construct validity, and measurement invariance of the 10‐item Cognitive Affective Mindfulness Scale‐Revised (CAMS‐R) in patients with cancer.

Methods

Patients with breast, gastrointestinal, lung, or prostate cancer (N = 404, 50% stage IV cancer, 51% women) were recruited from academic and public clinics in Indianapolis, IN. Patients completed the CAMS‐R and other psychological measures at one time point. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the dimensionality of the CAMS‐R. Internal consistency and construct validity were also assessed. Measurement invariance was examined for gender, cancer type, and cancer stage.

Results

CFA showed that the original CAMS‐R structure with four first‐order factors (attention, present focus, awareness, and acceptance) and one second‐order factor (mindfulness) had a reasonable fit (RMSEA = 0.09, CFI = 0.95, SRMR = 0.04). Internal consistency was excellent (α = 0.90). The CAMS‐R total score showed significant positive associations with several subscales of a widely used mindfulness questionnaire and self‐compassion (rs = 0.61–0.66) and significant negative associations with anxiety, depressive symptoms, rumination, psychological inflexibility, and avoidant coping (rs = −0.35–0.58). Measurement invariance testing indicated that the CAMS‐R was invariant across populations of varying genders, cancer types, and stages.

Conclusions

Findings provide preliminary support for using the CAMS‐R in cancer populations. Future research should assess the responsiveness of the CAMS‐R to intervention.
Pulmonary functions, nasal symptoms, and quality of life in patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD)
Authors: Gut Guy , Bar‐Yoseph Ronen , Hanna Moneera , Brandl Noa , Alisha Irit , Rizik Suha , Pollak Mordechai , Hakim Fahed , Amirav Israel , Bentur Lea , Gur Michal
Published: December 2023

Background

Several factors may influence quality of life (QOL) for patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). We aimed to evaluate the association between pulmonary functions, nasal symptoms and QOL in PCD patients.

Methods

A prospective single center study. Patients performed spirometry, whole body plethysmography, forced oscillation technique (FOT), lung clearance index (LCI), 6‐min walk test (6MWT), and filled two questionnaires: a specific PCD QOL questionnaire (PCD‐QOL) and Sino‐nasal outcome test (SNOT‐22) questionnaire, assessing symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis and health related QOL.

Results

Twenty‐seven patients (56% females), age 19.4 ± 10.5 years were included; their, FEV1 was 74.6 ± 22.7%, and RV/TLC was (157.3 ± 39.3% predicted). Health perception and lower respiratory symptoms domains of PCD‐QOL had the lowest score (median [IQR]: 50 [33.3−64.6] and 57.1 [38.9−72.2], respectively). FOT parameters correlated with several PCD‐QOL domains. R5 z‐score (indicating total airway resistance) and AX z‐score (indicating airway reactance) correlated negatively with physical domain (r = −0.598, p = .001, and r = −0.42, p = .03, respectively); R5 z‐score also correlated negatively with hearing domain (r = −0.57, p = .002). R5‐20 z‐score (indicating small airway resistance) correlated negatively with role domain (r = −0.49, p = .03). SNOT‐22 score correlated negatively with several PCD‐QOL domains (lower respiratory symptoms r = −0.77, p < .001; physical r = −0.72, p < .001; upper respiratory symptoms r = −0.66, p < .001). No correlations were found between spirometry values, LCI, 6MWT, and PCD‐QOL.

Conclusions

FOT suggested small airway dysfunction, and correlated negatively with several PCD‐QOL domains. Nasal symptoms had strong negative correlations with PCD‐QOL. Larger longitudinal studies will further elucidate factors affecting QOL in PCD.
Palivizumab prophylaxis in preterm infants and subsequent wheezing/asthma: 10‐year follow‐up study
Authors: Kato Masahiko , Mochizuki Hiroyuki , Kama Yuichi , Kusuda Satoshi , Okada Kenji , Yoshihara Shigemi , Furuya Hiroyuki , Simões Eric A. F. ,   Scientific Committee for Elucidation of Infantile Asthma (SCELIA)
Published: December 2023

Background

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes not only infantile recurrent wheezing but also the development of asthma. To investigate whether palivizumab, an anti‐RSV monoclonal antibody, prophylaxis given to preterm infants during the first RSV season reduces the incidence of subsequent recurrent wheezing and/or development of asthma, at 10 years of age.

Methods

We conducted an observational prospective multicenter (52 registered hospitals in Japan) case‐control study in preterm infants with a gestational age between 33 and 35 weeks followed for 6 years. During the 2007−2008 RSV season, the decision to administer palivizumab was made based on standard medical practice (SCELIA study). Here, we followed these subjects until 10 years of age. Parents of study subjects reported the patients' physician's assessment of recurrent wheezing/asthma, using a report card and a novel mobile phone‐based reporting system using the internet. The relationship between RSV infection and asthma development, as well as the relationship between other factors and asthma development, were investigated.

Results

Of 154 preterm infants enrolled, 113 received palivizumab during the first year of life. At 10 years, although both recurrent wheezing and development of asthma were not significantly different between the treated and untreated groups, maternal smoking with aeroallergen sensitization of the patients was significantly correlated with physician‐diagnosed asthma.

Conclusions

In contrast to the prior study results at 6 years, by 10 years palivizumab prophylaxis had no impact on recurrent wheezing or asthma, but there was a significant correlation between maternal passive smoking with aeroallergen sensitization and development of asthma by 10 years of age.
Based on PI‐RADS v2.1 combining PHI and ADC values to guide prostate biopsy in patients with PSA 4−20 ng/mL
Authors: Huang Hua , Liu Zihao , Ma Yuan , Shao Yuan , Yang Zhen , Duan Dengyi , Zhao Yang , Wen Simeng , Tian Jing , Liu Yang , Wang Zeyuan , Yue Dan , Wang Yong
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The study aimed to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of prostate health index (PHI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in predicting prostate cancer (PCa) and construct a nomogram for the prediction of PCa and clinically significant PCa (CSPCa) in Prostate Imaging‐Reporting and Data System (PI‐RADS) three lesions cohort.

Methods

This study prospectively enrolled 301 patients who underwent multiparametric magnetic resonance (mpMRI) and were scheduled for prostate biopsy. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was performed to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of each predictor. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to ascertain hidden risk factors and constructed nomograms in PI‐RADS three lesions cohort.

Results

In the whole cohort, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of PHI is relatively high, which is 0.779. As radiographic parameters, the AUC of PI‐RADS and ADC values was 0.702 and 0.756, respectively. The utilization of PHI and ADC values either individually or in combination significantly improved the diagnostic accuracy of the basic model. In PI‐RADS three lesions cohort, the AUC for PCa was 0.817 in the training cohort and 0.904 in the validation cohort. The AUC for CSPCa was 0.856 in the training cohort and 0.871 in the validation cohort. When applying the nomogram for predicting PCa, 50.0% of biopsies could be saved, supplemented by 6.9% of CSPCa being missed.

Conclusion

PHI and ADC values can be used as predictors of CSPCa. The nomogram included PHI, ADC values and other clinical predictors demonstrated an enhanced capability in detecting PCa and CSPCa within PI‐RADS three lesions cohort.
Power to identify exposure‐response relationships in phase IIa pulmonary tuberculosis trials with multi‐dimensional bacterial load modeling
Authors: Koele Simon E. , Dorlo Thomas P. C. , Upton Caryn M. , Aarnoutse Rob E. , Svensson Elin M.
Published: December 2023

Adequate power to identify an exposure‐response relationship in a phase IIa clinical trial for pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is important for dose selection and design of follow‐up studies. Currently, it is not known what response marker provides the pharmacokinetic‐pharmacodynamic (PK‐PD) model more power to identify an exposure‐response relationship. We simulated colony‐forming units (CFU) and time‐to‐positivity (TTP) measurements for four hypothetical drugs with different activity profiles for 14 days. The power to identify exposure‐response relationships when analyzing CFU, TTP, or combined CFU + TTP data was determined at 60 total participants, or with 25 out of 60 participants in the lowest and highest dosing groups (unbalanced design). For drugs with moderate bactericidal activity, power was low (<59%), irrespective of the data analyzed. Power was 1.9% to 29.4% higher when analyzing TTP data compared to CFU data. Combined analysis of CFU and TTP further improved the power, on average by 4.2%. For a drug with a medium‐high activity, the total sample size needed to achieve 80% power was 136 for CFU, 72 for TTP, and 68 for combined CFU + TTP data. The unbalanced design improved the power by 16% over the balanced design. In conclusion, the power to identify an exposure‐response relationship is low for TB drugs with moderate bactericidal activity or with a slow onset of activity. TTP provides the PK‐PD model with more power to identify exposure‐response relationships compared to CFU, and combined analysis or an unbalanced dosing group study design offers modest further improvement.
Direct Laser Writing Dry Lithography of High‐Resolution Micro‐/Nanostructures in AgSb4Te Thin Film for Tunable Perfect Absorber
Authors: Chen Lei , Yao Jinhan , Wei Tao , Hu Jing , Cheng Miao , Liu Qianqian , Wang Ruirui , Ling Yun , Li Wanfei , Liu Bo
Published: December 2023

Direct laser writing is promising for fabrication of functional structures due to its high speed, low cost, and facile operation. However, high resolution is difficult to be implemented due to wet development‐induced structural collapse. Ag‐doped Sb4Te thin film is proposed for high‐resolution direct laser writing dry lithography. The crystalline structures and binding environment of AgSb4Te thin films are investigated. The dry lithographic characteristics suggest that the developing selectivity of exposed to as‐deposited film is as high as 17 under CHF3/O2 gas and the minimum linewidth of patterns can reach 80 nm via adjusting grating period. Developing selectivity mechanism is ascribed to exposure induced phase separation along with generation of Sb component and Ag7Te4 phases. The Sb component can be readily etched due to the lack of Ag atom protection and then etching of residual Ag7Te4 phase is further promoted while the uniformly distributed Ag atoms in as‐deposited film restrain its etching. In addition, nanohole array is fabricated onto AgSb4Te thin films and tunable absorbance can be realized by adjusting pattern period and phase‐change process. This work may provide a useful guide for the investigation of direct laser writing lithography mechanism and functional device fabrication.
Ferroptosis: Potential opportunities for natural products in cancer therapy
Authors: Nie Anzheng , Shen Chaozan , Zhou Zheng , Wang Juan , Sun Bao , Zhu Chunsheng
Published: December 2023

Cancer cells often exhibit defects in the execution of cell death, resulting in poor clinical outcomes for patients with many cancer types. Ferroptosis is a newly discovered form of programmed cell death characterized by intracellular iron overload and lipid peroxidation in the cell membrane. Increasing evidence suggests that ferroptosis is closely associated with a wide variety of physiological and pathological processes, particularly in cancer. Notably, various bioactive natural products have been shown to induce the initiation and execution of ferroptosis in cancer cells, thereby exerting anticancer effects. In this review, we summarize the core regulatory mechanisms of ferroptosis and the multifaceted roles of ferroptosis in cancer. Importantly, we focus on natural products that regulate ferroptosis in cancer cells, such as terpenoids, polyphenols, alkaloids, steroids, quinones, and polysaccharides. The clinical efficacy, adverse effects, and drug–drug interactions of these natural products need to be evaluated in further high‐quality studies to accelerate their application in cancer treatment.