bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Single-Cell RNA-Sequencing Reveals the Cellular and Genetic Heterogeneity of Skin Scar to Verify the Therapeutic Effects and Mechanism of Action of Dispel-Scar Ointment in Hypertrophic Scar Inhibition
Authors: Li Zhaoyi , Yin Libo , Li Yuanyuan , Cao Yi , Zeng Haifeng
Published: June 2022

Hypertrophic scarring (HS), caused by excessive fibrosis of injured skin, imposes a psychological burden and creates a source of distress that impairs the quality of life of affected individuals. However, the gold standard for HS treatment has not yet been determined due to the complicated and difficult nature of the routines and procedures involved. Previous studies have indicated that the topical application of certain active components found in traditional Chinese medicines shows potential as a therapeutic alternative for scars. Here, single-cell RNA-sequencing was performed to determine cellular heterogeneity and identify marker genes and mechanisms associated with HS. It was found that fibroblasts comprise the largest proportion of HS cell types. The marker genes that were highly expressed in fibroblasts were extracellular matrix (ECM)-related, whereas ECM-receptor interactions and the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signalling pathway were also found to be active. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, which was applied to identify the molecular compounds of Dispel-Scar Ointment (DSO), revealed 74 effective chemical components belonging to 14 types of constituents, such as flavonoids, tanshinones, salvianolic acids, glycosides, and phthalides. Furthermore, in vivo studies using rat scar models showed that the topical application of Salvia miltiorrhiza, Ligusticum chuanxiong, peach kernel, safflower, and motherwort exerted beneficial effects on fibroblasts. DSO promoted scar maturation and reduced scar areas, its efficacy being similar to that of topically applied silicone. Functional studies using immunofluorescence staining, western blotting, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that DSO may target the TGF-β/Smad pathway to inhibit collagen synthesis and promote ECM remodelling. However, further in vitro mechanistic research and single-drug prescription studies may be required to identify the specific effective compound or active ingredient of DSO, which would provide more substantial evidence regarding the potential therapeutic value of traditional herbs in HS.
Effectiveness of GnRH Antagonists and Agonists in Patients with Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Liu Zhenghao , Yang Chunguang , Zeng Xing , Ke Chunjin , Tian Jihua , Wang Zhihua , Hu Zhiquan
Published: June 2022

Objective. To assess the effectiveness of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists and agonists in the treatment of patients with hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (HSPC), thus providing valid data support for their clinical treatment. Methods. We collected 52 and 65 HSPC patients treated with GnRH antagonists and agonists, respectively, in Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College of HUST between May 2019 and April 2021. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels before and after treatment were recorded and analyzed. Further, univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to analyze the influencing factors of PSA control rate in HSPC patients. Results. In patients receiving antagonist, the control rate of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was 54.28% and 88% without and with abiraterone, respectively, and 47.91% and 72% in patients treated using agonist without and with abiraterone. In 32 pairs of patients obtained via propensity score matching, the PSA control rates were 84.38% and 53.13% for those receiving antagonists and agonists, respectively, and 66.67% and 50% for those without abiraterone, respectively. In addition, univariate logistic regression analysis showed that the type of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) drugs and combined use of abiraterone had a significant effect on the control rate of PSA. Further multivariate logistic regression revealed that GnRH antagonists in ADT drugs were risk factors for PSA control rate. Conclusion. The PSA control rate of HSPC patients treated with GnRH antagonist is significantly higher than that of the agonist group, and the use of GnRH antagonist is an independent predictor of PSA control rate.
Structural and Physicomechanical Properties of an Active Film Based on Potato Starch, Silver Nanoparticles, and Rose Apple (Syzygium samarangense) Extract
Authors: Kumar Raj , Gautam Naina , Yadav Shashikant , Venketesh T. , Awol Nasir
Published: June 2022

In the current research work, active films were made from potato starch (PS) and AgNP solution comprising of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and rose apple extract (RE) via the casting method at various concentrations. AgNP solution in the PS matrix significantly altered the physical properties such as opacity, water vapor permeability mechanical property, solubility, and swelling index of the films. The influence of AgNP solution on the properties of the films was deeply examined. The results found that the 15% AgNP solution films exhibited better physicochemical properties. The presence of AgNP solution in the PS matrix significantly improved the properties of active films which is evident from the results of FTIR and SEM. Results show that AgNPs and PS were uniformly mixed and formed continuous and homogenous films without bubbles and cracks. In addition, the AgNP solution in the films significantly improved the antibacterial activity against S. aureus than P. aeruginosa in the films.
The Classification of Folk Culture Based on Multicharacteristics
Authors: Huang Jieguan
Published: June 2022

China is an ancient country with a long history. It is composed of many ethnic groups and has formed a variety of unique folk cultures. China has many cultures where each region has its own cultural forms. The diversity and complexity of the Chinese folk culture are locality intertwined. The folk culture with Chinese characteristics and local characteristics deserves attention. The full integration of folk culture into Chinese modern and contemporary literary works can effectively enhance the cultural connotation of literary works and play a very important role in promoting the development of our country’s culture, and at the same time, it can also stimulate readers’ interest in reading in the later period. Further understanding of modern Chinese folk culture is of unprecedented help. Therefore, this paper takes “the analysis of the characteristics of folk culture in Chinese modern and contemporary literary works” as a research perspective, hoping to more effectively promote the integration of folk culture and Chinese literary works through this research and then promote the coordinated development and improvement of the two.
Immobilization of Urease onto Nanochitosan Enhanced the Enzyme Efficiency: Biophysical Studies and in Vitro Clinical Application on Nephropathy Diabetic Iraqi Patients
Authors: Al-Garawi Zahraa S. , Taha Ali A. , Abd Ahmed N. , Tahir Noor T.
Published: June 2022

Immobilization of enzymes is an effective method for improving the properties and applications of modern enzymes. There are several supports for enzyme immobilization. Because of its unique features, such as inertness and high surface area, chitosan was widely used to immobilize enzymes. Immobilization of urease onto chitosan is a promising approach to treating high urea levels in the blood, however, the immobilization conditions for the best kinetics and enzyme efficiency are still challenging. Herein, we tried to immobilize urease onto nanochitosan (chitosan NPs) through a cross-linker and study the kinetics (km and

v

max

values) and thermodynamics (Ea, ∆H, ∆S, and ∆G) parameters of the enzyme reaction before and after immobilization at different substrate concentration (50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 mg/dl) and incubation temperature (15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40°C) under selected optimum conditions. The immobilized urease chitosan NPs was characterized in our previous work using Fourier transform infrared

infrared

(FTIR), Atomic force

force

microscopy (AFM), and

and

imaged here by scanning electron microscopy

microscopy

(SEM). Results revealed that the highest efficiency % of immobilization (70.38%) was observed at 750 mg/ml chitosan NPs and phosphate buffer pH 7 at 40°C. With an increase of Km value for the immobilized enzyme, however, the efficiency of the enzyme was significantly higher than the free enzyme,

p
<
0.001

. In addition, the activation energy of the reaction catalyzed by the immobilized enzyme was lower than that of the free enzyme, which suggests that the active site geometry of the immobilized enzyme was more favorable to accommodate the substrate and thus required less energy than that of the free enzyme. The reaction was endothermic by means of positive ∆H. The immobilized urease enzyme was in vitro applied to blood samples of Iraq nephropathy diabetic patients (n = 35) to investigate the effect on serum urease activity and urea level compared to healthy volunteers. Interestingly, the activity of serum urease significantly increased after adding the immobilized enzyme and the level of urea significantly decreased (

p
<
0.0001

) by ∼1.5 folds. Thus, applying an immobilized urease

urease

to remove urea from blood could be effective in the blood detoxification or dialysis regeneration system of artificial kidney machines.
Research on Parking Service Optimization Based on Permit Reservation and Allocation
Authors: Xu Duo , Sun Huijun
Published: June 2022

Parking facilities in central urban areas have limited supply, high utilization, and turnover rate, leading to the high parking cost. To draw the issues of parking uncertainty, high search time, and underutilization of parking lots, this study shows the application of permits in parking management. It first analyzes the characteristics and costs of “arrival priority” and “reservation priority” modes, and then, it proposes the parking permit reservation and allocation mode based on “service order optimization” and designs an “ant colony-genetic” algorithm to solve the optimal service order. The numerical example shows that the measures of quantity control and matching optimization are effective in parking management. The parking reservation mode of “service order optimization” has advantages in parking lot utilization rate, service demand quantity, and total parking cost.
Osthole Induces Apoptosis and Caspase-3/GSDME-Dependent Pyroptosis via NQO1-Mediated ROS Generation in HeLa Cells
Authors: Wang Juan , Huangfu Mengjie , Li Xiaojuan , Han Mengjie , Liu Guoxiang , Yu Dan , Zhou Luwei , Dou Tong , Liu Yisa , Guan Xiao , Wei Riming , Chen Xu
Published: June 2022

Osthole is a natural coumarin which has been proved to inhibit growth of cancer cells by inducing cell death, while its mechanism was considered to be just caused by apoptosis. In our study, we found that osthole activated not just apoptosis, but also pyroptosis which is a form of regulated cell death accompanied by loss of cell membrane integrity and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. Caspase-3 is a key protein of apoptosis as well as pyroptosis. The apoptosis and pyroptosis induced by osthole were all inhibited by irreversible caspase-3 inhibitor Z-DEVD-FMK. Meanwhile, knockdown of gasdermin E (GSDME) only reduced the osthole-induced pyroptosis but did not affect the occurrence of apoptosis. Our proteomic analysis revealed that the expression of NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) was decreased in osthole-treated cells. Moreover, NQO1 inhibition by osthole induced the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), as well as apoptosis and pyroptosis. ROS inhibitor N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) not only reduced osthole-induced apoptosis but also reversed its effect on the pyroptosis. Meanwhile, knockdown of NQO1 by si-NQO1 or its inhibitor dicoumarol (DIC) not only enhanced ROS generation but also strengthened the GSDME-mediated pyroptosis. Finally, we demonstrated that osthole inhibited tumor growth and the expression of NQO1 in a HeLa xenograft mode. Similar to the results in vitro, osthole stimulated the activation of caspase-3, PARP, and GSDME in vivo. Taken together, all these data suggested that osthole induced apoptosis and caspase-3/GSDME-mediated pyroptosis via NQO1-mediated ROS accumulation.
Amelioration of Hypertension by Oryeongsan through Improvements of Body Fluid and Sodium Balance: Roles of the Renin-Angiotensin System and Atrial Natriuretic Peptide System
Authors: Ahn You Mee , Kim Hye Yoom , Yoon Jung Joo , Kim Hyun Ju , Lee Yun Jung , Yun Young Gab , Shin Hyeun Kyoo , Cho Kyung Woo , Kang Dae Gill , Lee Ho Sub
Published: June 2022

Oryeongsan (Wulingsan in China and Goreisan in Japan), a formula composed of five herbal medicines, has long been used for the treatment of imbalance of the body fluid homeostasis in Asian countries. However, the mechanism by which Oryeongsan (ORS) improves the impaired body fluid and salt metabolism is not clearly defined. The present study was performed to define the role of the cardiorenal humoral system in the ORS-induced changes in blood pressure and renal function in hypertension. Experiments were performed in normotensive and two-kidney, one-clip hypertensive rats. Changes in the fluid and salt balance were measured in rats individually housed in metabolic cages. Changes in the systemic and local renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and cardiac natriuretic peptide hormone system (NPS) were evaluated. ORS water extract was administered by oral gavage (100 mg/kg daily) for 3 weeks. ORS induced diuresis and natriuresis along with an increase in glomerular filtration rate and downregulation of the Na+/H+ exchanger 3 (NHE3) and aquaporin 2 expression in the renal cortex and medulla, respectively. Furthermore, treatment with ORS significantly decreased systolic blood pressure with contraction of body sodium and water accumulation in hypertensive rats. ORS-induced changes were accompanied by modulation of the RAS and NPS, downregulation of the systemic RAS and cardiorenal expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and angiotensin II subtype 1 (AT1) receptor, and upregulation of the plasma ANP concentration and cardiorenal expression of ANP, ACE2, Mas receptor, and AT2 receptor. These findings indicate that ORS induces beneficial effects on the high blood pressure through modulation of the RAS and NPS of the cardiorenal system, suppression of the prohypertensive ACE-AT1 receptor pathway and NHE3, accentuation of the antihypertensive ACE2-Mas axis/AT2 receptor pathway in the kidney, suppression of the systemic RAS, and elevation of the plasma ANP levels and its synthesis in the heart. The present study provides a biological basis for the use of ORS in the treatment of impaired volume and pressure homeostasis.
Innovation of Ideological and Political Education Management of College Students Based on IOT Big Data Technology in a Wireless Network Environment
Authors: Du Zheng
Published: June 2022

Universities are not only the front line of national ideological and political works but also the gathering place of national talent training, which is of far-reaching significance to the national strategic development, and it is vital to do a good job of ideological and political education in universities for the construction and development of the country. “The university has become a place where wireless network technology can be used. The paper examines the current state of mobile learning in the United States and abroad, explains the principles for developing a mobile ideological and political learning system, designs and studies the system’s overall structure and functional modules, and shows how the system’s application can replace traditional ideological and political learning methods, allowing students to improve their ideological and political abilities using mobile devices.
Health Facts Medication Adherence in Transplantation (H-MAT) Study: A Secondary Analysis of Determinants and Outcomes of Medication Nonadherence in Adult Kidney Transplant Recipients
Authors: Russell Cynthia L. , Gotham Heather J. , Cheng An-Lin , Sahil Suman , Yerram Preethi
Published: June 2022

Aims. To explore the relationship between determinants and posttransplant medication nonadherence (MNA) in adult kidney transplant recipients, and to examine the relationship between posttransplant MNA and clinical outcomes. Methods. Using the World Health Organization’s model, this retrospective, multicenter, correlational study examined the relationship between determinants, posttransplant MNA, and clinical outcomes in 16,671 adult kidney transplant recipients from the Cerner Health Facts national data warehouse. Results. With 12% MNA, those who were nonadherent were more likely to have the social/economic factors of being younger, single, Caucasian versus Hispanic race, have the condition-related factor of mental health/substance use disorder, and have the healthcare system-related factor of government/health maintenance organization/managed care insurance (

p
′
s
<
0.05

). Bivariate correlations indicated both age (OR = 1.006,

p
=
0.01

) and mental health or substance use disorder diagnosis (OR = 1.26,

p
=
0.04

) were significant predictors of MNA. Patients were 0.6% more likely to be medication adherent for each year they increased in age and 26% more likely to be MNA if they were diagnosed with a mental health/substance use disorder. Nonadherent patients were less likely to be readmitted, but more likely to have complications after transplant and medication side effects (

p
′
s
<
0.01

). Conclusions. Using one of the largest samples of adult kidney transplant patients, our findings support the WHO model and move the body of medication adherence intervention research forward by clarifying the importance of focusing interventions not only on the patient but on multilevel determinants. Consistent with previous studies, MNA negatively impacts transplant outcomes.
Design of Customer Churn Early Warning System Based on Mobile Communication Technology Based on Data Mining
Authors: Li Qiang
Published: June 2022

Customer churn is a fundamental problem faced by enterprises and an important factor affecting the operation of enterprises. Due to current market conditions and changing consumer behavior, it analyzes potential customer behavior trends by mining customer behavior data. This allows companies to set targets for looming market changes so that market movements can be predetermined. The rapid development of modern mobile communication technology makes the way of life need more new ways to adapt to the development of the new era. At the same time, with the rapid development of mobile communication technology, information management systems have been widely used. If a large amount of data can support decision-making information through data mining technology, it can drive the process of enterprise decision-making. It conducts purposeful and differentiated retention efforts on these customers. It increases the success rate of high-value customer retention, reduces the likelihood of customer churn, and reduces maintenance costs. It does this to achieve preset goals and minimize losses due to customer exit. This paper proposes and establishes a customer churn early warning system based on data mining. It uses this to find the customer trends behind a large amount of customer data. It uses the decision tree algorithm to participate in the decision-making process of the enterprise with this algorithm model. The RFT model proposed in the experiment and its results show that customer value is a key factor in the decision-making process of a firm. The accuracy rate is about 6% higher than that of the control group using the logistic regression model directly.
A Pulse Rate-Triggered Wearable Device for Critical Assistance
Authors: Tanwar Rohit , Choudhary Shailee Lohmor , Singh Anupam , Manoharan S. , Ghafoor Kayhan Zrar
Published: June 2022

It has always been a concern in elder people that they can die during sleeping due to irregularities in the heart. Mostly, we have seen senior citizens die while sleeping and there is nothing that their families can do. Sometimes they are alone and no one is there to help them in case of emergency. To prevent this helplessness and to overcome this problem we have come up with a life-saving alarm. This device will help save many lives. It will monitor the heartbeat. The life-saving alarm will monitor the heartbeat of a person using a pulse sensor, and in case of any critical condition, it will trigger an alarm and send an emergency notification to the guardian. The device based on the Arduino microcontroller along with the associated GUI is ready and performing well according to the conditions specified. The work is aimed at saving the lives of people by monitoring their heartbeat and informing their guardians in case of a critical condition.
The Characteristics and Training of Professionals in Cancer Prevention and Control: A Survey of the American Society for Preventive Oncology
Authors: Chang Shine , Buist Diana S.M. , Reid Mary , Terry Mary Beth , Trentham-Dietz Amy
Published: June 2022

To secure continuous stewardship in the field of cancer prevention requires in part training the next generation of scientists and practitioners effectively. We characterized members and meeting registrants of the American Society for Preventive Oncology and assessed their career needs using an electronic survey. From 380 valid email addresses, 233 respondents (61%) included 143 physicians and 81 respondents with other doctorates. More than one third worked at cancer centers (36%), while others worked at schools of medicine (25%) and public health (17%) and other institutions and businesses (22%). Among all respondents, 52% reported having at least one mentor but time spent advising by mentors was generally low. Many were less than satisfied with the amount of mentoring received (44%) and 52% reported interest in matching with an American Society for Preventive Oncology mentor. All were interested in grantsmanship training but junior and senior respondents differed in their preference for other topics, reflecting needs that change with career advancement. Other analyses focused on aspects of institutional commitment, which did not differ by type of degree, even after age adjustment. However, by gender and degree, men were completely supported by institutional funds more often than women among non-medical doctorates [age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 3.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.1-9.8] but not among physicians (age-adjusted OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 0.5-3.1). Men were also more often in tenure-track positions than women (age-adjusted OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.1-3.3). In sum, addressing the career development needs of future leaders in the field by providing career and mentoring sessions at annual meetings may help individuals in the field and enrich the discipline overall.
Minority Recruitment in Hereditary Breast Cancer Research
Authors: Hughes Chanita , Peterson Susan K. , Ramirez Amelie , Gallion Kipling J. , McDonald Paige Green , Skinner Celette Sugg , Bowen Deborah
Published: June 2022

Although recruitment of ethnic and racial minorities in medical research has been evaluated in several studies, much less is known about the methods used to recruit these populations to participate in cancer genetics research. This report reviews the resources that have been used to identify and recruit ethnic and racial minorities to participate in hereditary breast cancer research. Overall, hospital-based resources were used most often to identify potential subjects, and active recruitment methods were used most frequently to enroll eligible subjects. This review suggests that there appears to be a finite number of resources and strategies to identify and recruit potential subjects to participate in cancer genetics research; however, options for improving awareness about cancer genetics research among ethnic and racial minorities have not been extensively evaluated. To study ethnic and racial minority participation in cancer genetics research, stronger evaluation components will need to be integrated into research methods. Both observational and experimental studies are needed to determine resources that are most effective for identifying potential subjects who are ethnic and racial minorities and to evaluate the effects of different recruitment strategies on enrollment decisions among these populations.
Diosgenin, a Steroid Saponin of Trigonella foenum graecum (Fenugreek), Inhibits Azoxymethane-Induced Aberrant Crypt Foci Formation in F344 Rats and Induces Apoptosis in HT-29 Human Colon Cancer Cells
Authors: Raju Jayadev , Patlolla Jagan M.R. , Swamy Malisetty V. , Rao Chinthalapally V.
Published: June 2022

Trigonella foenum graecum (fenugreek) is traditionally used to treat disorders such as diabetes, high cholesterol, wounds, inflammation, and gastrointestinal ailments. Recent studies suggest that fenugreek and its active constituents may possess anticarcinogenic potential. We evaluated the preventive efficacy of dietary fenugreek seed and its major steroidal saponin constituent, diosgenin, on azoxymethane-induced rat colon carcinogenesis during initiation and promotion stages. Preneoplastic colonic lesions or aberrant crypt foci (ACF) were chosen as end points. In addition, we assessed the mechanism of tumor growth inhibition of diosgenin in HT-29 human colon cancer cells. To evaluate the effect of the test agent during the initiation and postinitiation stages, 7-week-old male F344 rats were fed experimental diets containing 0% or 1% fenugreek seed powder (FSP) or 0.05% or 0.1% diosgenin for 1 week and were injected with azoxymethane (15 mg/kg body weight). Effects during the promotional stage were studied by feeding 1% FSP or 0.1% diosgenin 4 weeks after the azoxymethane injections. Rats were sacrificed 8 weeks after azoxymethane injection, and their colons were evaluated for ACF. We found that, by comparison with control, continuous feeding of 1% FSP and 0.05% and 0.1% diosgenin suppressed total colonic ACF up to 32%, 24%, and 42%, respectively (P ≤ 0.001 to 0.0001). Dietary FSP at 1% and diosgenin at 0.1% fed only during the promotional stage also inhibited total ACF up to 33% (P ≤ 0.001) and 39% (P ≤ 0.0001), respectively. Importantly, continuous feeding of 1% FSP or 0.05% or 0.1% diosgenin reduced the number of multicrypt foci by 38%, 20%, and 36% by comparison with the control assay (P ≤ 0.001). In addition, 1% FSP or 0.1% diosgenin fed during the promotional stage caused a significant reduction (P ≤ 0.001) of multicrypt foci compared with control. Dietary diosgenin at 0.1% and 0.05% inhibited total colonic ACF and multicrypt foci formation in a dose-dependent manner. Results from the in vitro experiments indicated that diosgenin inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis in the HT-29 human colon cancer cell line in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, diosgenin induced apoptosis in HT-29 cells at least in part by inhibition of bcl-2 and by induction of caspase-3 protein expression. On the basis of these findings, the fenugreek constituent diosgenin seems to have potential as a novel colon cancer preventive agent.
Use of DNA from Human Stools to Detect Aberrant CpG Island Methylation of Genes Implicated in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Belshaw Nigel J. , Elliott Giles O. , Williams Elizabeth A. , Bradburn David M. , Mills Sarah J. , Mathers John C. , Johnson Ian T.
Published: June 2022

Hypermethylation of cytosine residues in the CpG islands of tumor suppressor genes is a key mechanism of colorectal carcinogenesis. Detection and quantification of CpG island methylation in human DNA isolated from stools might provide a novel strategy for the detection and investigation of colorectal neoplasia. To explore the feasibility of this approach, colorectal biopsies and fecal samples were obtained from 32 patients attending for colonoscopy or surgery, who were found to have adenomatous polyps, colorectal cancer, or no evidence of neoplasia. A further 18 fecal samples were obtained from healthy volunteers, with no bowel symptoms. Isolated DNA was modified with sodium bisulfite and analyzed by methylation-specific PCR and combined bisulfite restriction analysis for CpG island methylation of ESR1, MGMT, HPP1, p16INK4a, APC, and MLH1. CpG island methylation was readily detectable in both mucosal and fecal DNA with methylation-specific PCR. Using combined bisulfite restriction analysis, it was established that, in volunteers from whom biopsies were available, the levels of methylation at two CpG sites within ESR1 assayed using fecal DNA were significantly correlated with methylation in DNA from colorectal mucosa. Thus, noninvasive techniques can be used to obtain quantitative information about the level of CpG island methylation in human colorectal mucosa. The methods described here could be applied to a much expanded range of genes and may be valuable both for screening purposes and to provide greater insight into the functional consequences of epigenetic changes in the colorectal mucosa of free-living individuals.
Prediagnostic Levels of Serum Micronutrients in Relation to Risk of Gastric Cancer in Shanghai, China
Authors: Yuan Jian-Min , Ross Ronald K. , Gao Yu-Tang , Qu Yong-Hua , Chu Xin-Di , Yu Mimi C.
Published: June 2022

Data on blood levels of specific carotenoids and vitamins in relation to gastric cancer are scarce. Little is known about the relationship between prediagnostic serum levels of carotenoids other than β-carotene and risk of gastric cancer especially in non-Western populations. Prediagnostic serum concentrations of α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein/zeaxanthin, retinol, α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, and vitamin C were determined on 191 cases and 570 matched controls within a cohort of 18,244 middle-aged or older men in Shanghai, China, with a follow-up of 12 years. High serum levels of α-carotene, β-carotene, and lycopene were significantly associated with reduced risk of developing gastric cancer (all Ps for trend ≤ 0.05); the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for the highest versus the lowest quartile of α-carotene, β-carotene, and lycopene were 0.38 (0.13-1.11), 0.54 (0.32-0.89), and 0.55 (0.30-1.00), respectively. Increased serum level of vitamin C was significantly associated with reduced risk of gastric cancer among men who neither smoked cigarettes over lifetime nor consumed ≥3 drinks of alcohol per day; the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for the second, third, and fourth quartile categories were 0.69 (0.28-1.70), 0.36 (0.14-0.94), and 0.39 (0.15-0.98), respectively, compared with the lowest quartile of vitamin C (P for trend = 0.02). There were no statistically significant relationships of serum levels of β-cryptoxanthin, lutein/zeaxanthin, retinol, α-tocopherol, and γ-tocopherol with gastric cancer risk. The present study implicates that dietary carotenes, lycopene, and vitamin C are potential chemopreventive agents for gastric cancer in humans.
Epidemiology of Male Breast Cancer
Authors: Weiss Joli R. , Moysich Kirsten B. , Swede Helen
Published: June 2022

Breast cancer in men is a rare disease, accounting for ∼1% of all breast cancer cases. Although the epidemiologic literature regarding female breast cancer is extensive, relatively little is known about the etiology of male breast cancer (MBC). This review is intended to summarize the existing body of evidence on genetic and epidemiologic risk factors for breast cancer in men. Overall, the epidemiology of MBC presents similarities with the epidemiology of female breast cancer. Major genetic factors associated with an increased risk of breast cancer for men include BRCA2 mutations, which are believed to account for the majority of inherited breast cancer in men, Klinefelter syndrome, and a positive family history. Suspected genetic factors include AR gene mutations, CYP17 polymorphism, Cowden syndrome, and CHEK2. Epidemiologic risk factors for MBC include disorders relating to hormonal imbalances, such as obesity, testicular disorders (e.g., cryptorchidism, mumps orchitis, and orchiectomy), and radiation exposure. Suspected epidemiologic risk factors include prostate cancer,prostate cancer treatment, gynecomastia, occupational exposures (e.g., electromagnetic fields, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and high temperatures), dietary factors (e.g., meat intake and fruit and vegetable consumption), and alcohol intake.
Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy of Tobacco Counseling by Health Care Providers
Authors: Gorin Sherri Sheinfeld , Heck Julia E.
Published: June 2022

Given the proportion of American adults who smoke, even if health professionals only have a small effect on quit rates, the public health impact of this change could potentially be enormous. Yet, health care providers may differ in their cessation efficacy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate recent rigorous trials of smoking cessation counseling among physicians, nurses, dentists, and teams of providers: (1) to compare providers on the efficacy of cessation and (2)to determine which intervention and study characteristics explain variations in intervention effects. Thirty-seven randomized clinical trials or quasi-experiments (with control groups) of health care provider–delivered smoking cessation interventions, out of over 200 articles that were published between 1990 and 2004 were collected through searches of Medline, CINAHL, PSYCINFO, and dissertation abstracts, as well as hand searches. The outcome modeled was the mean difference between intervention and control groups in the cessation rates using Hedges g. The univariate results revealed that receiving advice from any health care professional produced increases in quit rates. Multivariate analyses of intervention effects on cessation revealed that physicians were most effective, followed by multiprovider teams, dentists, and nurses. The findings suggest that contact with a health care professional will increase cessation; however, additional training in tobacco control for nurses is warranted. Longer-term studies of smoking cessation, particularly among dentists, are necessary.
Estimates of Cancer Incidence in China for 2000 and Projections for 2005
Authors: Yang Ling , Parkin D. Maxwell , Ferlay Jacques , Li Liandi , Chen Yude
Published: June 2022

Knowledge of the incidence of cancer is a fundamental requirement of rational planning and monitoring of cancer control programs. The lack of national-level information systems on health indicators in China means that estimation methods are required. Estimates and projections of national level cancer mortality have been previously made using sample surveys of deaths. Using these mortality data, incidence rates in 2000 and 2005 were estimated by means of the ratio of cancer cases/deaths (by site, age, and sex) in good quality cancer registries in China. A total of 2.1 million cancer cases were estimated for the year 2000 (1.3 million in men, 0.8 million in women), with the most common sites being lung, liver, and stomach in men, and breast, lung, and stomach in women. The total number of new cases is expected to increase by 14.6% by 2005, primarily as a result of population growth and aging. In addition, the rising rates of lung cancer incidence (in both sexes) and breast cancer mean that there will be much greater increases in the number of cases at these two sites (27% for lung cancer in men, 38% for lung and breast cancer in women). These two cancers are now the priorities for cancer prevention, early detection, and therapy in China.
Recreational Physical Activity and Risk of Prostate Cancer in a Large Cohort of U.S. Men
Authors: Patel Alpa V. , Rodriguez Carmen , Jacobs Eric J. , Solomon Laura , Thun Michael J. , Calle Eugenia E.
Published: June 2022

Physical activity has been proposed as a modifiable risk factor for prostate cancer because of its potential effects on circulating hormones such as testosterone and insulin. We examined the association of various measures of physical activity with prostate cancer risk among men in the American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort, a large prospective study of U.S. adults. Information on recreational physical activity was obtained from a self-administered questionnaire completed at cohort enrollment in 1992/1993, as well as from a questionnaire completed as part of an earlier study in 1982. During the 9-year prospective follow-up, 5,503 incident prostate cancer cases were identified among 72,174 men who were cancer-free at enrollment. Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to compute hazard rate ratios (RR) for measures of recreational physical activity and to adjust for potential confounding factors. We observed no difference in risk of prostate cancer between men who engaged in the highest level of recreational physical activity (>35 metabolic equivalent-hours/wk) and those who reported no recreational physical activity at baseline (RR, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.78-1.04; P for trend = 0.31). We also did not observe an association between prostate cancer and recalled physical activity at age 40 or exercise reported in 1982. However, the incidence of aggressive prostate cancer was inversely associated with >35 metabolic equivalent-hours/wk of recreational physical activity compared with that in men who reported no recreational physical activity (RR, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.52-0.92; P for trend = 0.06). Our findings are consistent with most previous studies that found no association between recreational physical activity and overall prostate cancer risk but suggest physical activity may be associated with reduced risk of aggressive prostate cancer.
A Large Population-Based Randomized Controlled Trial to Increase Attendance at Screening for Cervical Cancer
Authors: Eaker Sonja , Adami Hans-Olov , Granath Fredrik , Wilander Erik , Sparén Pär
Published: June 2022

Objective: Although cervical cancer is one of the potentially most preventable malignancies, it is still fairly common. In settings with established screening programs, increased compliance is important for future reduction in cervical cancer incidence, but it is presently unclear how this can be effectively achieved. Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial including all 12,240 women invited to organized screening in Sweden. To increase compliance, three successive interventions were tested: (a) modified invitation versus the standard invitation letter, (b) reminder letter to nonattenders after the first intervention versus no reminder letter, and (c) phone reminder to nonattenders after the reminder letter versus no phone reminder. We analyzed the proportion of women attending screening after each intervention and the cumulative proportion after the interventions as well as the cumulative proportions of cytologic abnormalities. Results: The modified invitation did not increase attendance compared with the standard invitation letter [difference 1.3% 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.3 to 2.9]. In contrast, a reminder letter increased the proportion of women attending with 9.2% (95% CI 7.9–10.5) compared with women who did not receive a reminder letter, and a phone reminder increased the proportion of women attending with 31.4% (95% CI 26.9–35.9). Combinations of modified invitation, written reminder, and phone reminder almost doubled attendance within 12 months, and the number of detected cytologic abnormalities was more than tripled. Conclusion: Simple reminders by mail and phone can drastically increase women's participation in Papanicolaou smear screening and increase the number of detected precursor lesions and thereby save lives.
Training Future Pharmacists at a Minority Educational Institution: Evaluation of the Rx for Change Tobacco Cessation Training Program
Authors: Suchanek Hudmon Karen , Kroon Lisa A. , Corelli Robin L. , Saunders Katherine C. , Spitz Margaret R. , Bates Theodore R. , Liang Dong
Published: June 2022

Objective: To estimate the impact of Rx for Change, an 8-h tobacco cessation training program on pharmacy students' perceived counseling skills, confidence for counseling, and future counseling of patients for tobacco cessation. Methods: Unlinked, pre- and post-training surveys were administered to 142 pharmacy students enrolled at Texas Southern University, a primarily minority and historically black educational institution. Results: Post-training counseling abilities were significantly improved over pretraining values for each of the five key components of tobacco cessation counseling (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, and Arrange), overall counseling abilities, and confidence for counseling (P < 0.001). Racial/ethnic differences in self-reported overall counseling was observed (P = 0.01). Ninety-one percent of participants believed that the training would increase the number of patients whom they counsel for cessation, and 95% believed that it would improve the quality of counseling that they provide. At least 95% of participants believed that the pharmacy profession should be more active in preventing patients from starting smoking and helping patients to stop smoking. Conclusion: The Rx for Change program had a positive impact on perceived abilities and confidence for providing tobacco cessation counseling to patients. While it is important that all current and future health care providers receive specialized tobacco cessation training, it is particularly important for clinicians of racial/ethnic minority backgrounds, who are more likely to practice in geographic areas with a high density of population subgroups at an elevated risk for tobacco-related mortality. In particular, pharmacists, who are uniquely positioned within the community to provide care to all patients, including the medically underserved, must be equipped with the necessary skills to assist patients with quitting.
A Gain of Function TGFB1 Polymorphism May Be Associated With Late Stage Prostate Cancer
Authors: Ewart-Toland Amanda , Chan June M. , Yuan Jinwei , Balmain Allan , Ma Jing
Published: June 2022

Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) is known to exert both positive and negative effects on different stages of tumor formation. Of the TGFβisoforms, TGFβ1 is highly expressed in prostate cancer and leads to tumor promotion and metastasis. Increased expression of TGFβ1 is associated with more aggressive tumors and poor prognosis. Several polymorphisms in TGFB1 have been identified, and two variants in strong linkage disequilibrium, C−509T and T+29C, show increased serum levels. Because of the potential role of TGFB1 variants in prostate cancer and progression, we hypothesized that these two TGFB1 variants would be associated with prostate cancer risk, particularly later, more aggressive stage tumors. To test this, we conducted a nested case-control study of 492 men diagnosed with prostate cancer from the Physicians Health Study and 492 age-matched controls. In this study, cases who were homozygous for the T allele at position −509 had a 2.4-fold increased risk of more advanced stage of prostate cancer [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.03–5.43; P = 0.04]. The T allele frequencies in cases and controls were 32.7% and 31.4%, respectively. The same polymorphism showed a 1.23 nonsignificant odds ratio (OR) for overall prostate cancer risk (95% CI 0.80–1.87). Cases who were homozygous for the C allele at position +29 did not show any significant increase in risk for either total prostate cancer (OR 1.19, 95% CI 0.82–1.74) or advanced stage prostate cancer (OR 1.33, 95% CI 0.66–2.68). The C allele frequency in cases and controls were 39.9% and 38.5%, respectively. Our data suggest that the TGFB1 C−509T variant that affects expression of TGFβ1 may play a role in advanced stage prostate cancer.
Body Mass Index, Leptin and Leptin Receptor Polymorphisms, and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Authors: Skibola Christine F. , Holly Elizabeth A. , Forrest Matthew S. , Hubbard Alan , Bracci Paige M. , Skibola Danica R. , Hegedus Christine , Smith Martyn T.
Published: June 2022

In a population-based case-control study, obesity was associated with elevated odds ratios (ORs) for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), and the two major subtypes, diffuse large cell (DLCL) and follicular lymphoma (FL). Those who were obese (body mass index ≥ 30) were up to three times more likely to develop NHL or its major subtypes than persons with body mass index of 20 to <25. Obesity-related genetic factors including common polymorphisms in the leptin gene (LEP A19G and G-2548A) and its receptor (LEPR Q223R) were investigated in DNA available for 376 patients and 805 controls. Leptin is an adipocyte-derived hormone that regulates food intake and modulates immune and inflammatory responses through its receptor. Among those with the LEP 19G allele, an increased risk estimate was found for all NHL [OR = 1.6, confidence interval (CI) 1.1–2.3], DLCL (OR = 1.6, CI 0.86–3.0), and FL lymphoma (OR = 1.9, CI 0.98–3.6). Gene-gene interaction existed between the −G2548A and LEPR Q223R polymorphisms. Specifically, among those with LEPR 223RR, the risk estimate for NHL was increased in LEP −2548GA (OR = 1.7, CI 0.88–3.1) and LEP −2548AA (OR = 2.3,CI 1.1–4.6) relative to LEP −2548GG genotypes. These results suggest that genetic interactions between leptin and its receptor may promote immune dysfunction associated with obesity and NHL and that the emerging obesity epidemic is consistent with the increasing incidence of NHL in developed countries.
World Trade Center Dust Exposure Promotes Cancer in PTEN-deficient Mouse Prostates
Authors: Wang Lin , Xu Yitian , Zhang Licheng , Kang Kyeongah , Kobryn Andriy , Portman Kensey , Gordon Ronald E , Pan Ping-Ying , Taioli Emanuela , Aaronson Stuart A , Chen Shu-Hsia , Mulholland David J
Published: June 2022

During the 9/11 attacks, individuals were exposed to World Trade Center (WTC) dust which contained a complex mixture of carcinogens. Epidemiologic studies have revealed the increased incidence of prostate and thyroid cancer in WTC survivors and responders. While reports have shown that WTC-dust associates with the increased prevalence of inflammatory-related disorders, studies to date have not determined whether this exposure impacts cancer progression. In this study, we have used genetically engineered mouse (GEM) models with prostate-specific deletion of the PTEN tumor suppressor to study the impact of WTC-dust exposure on deposition of dust particles, inflammation, and cancer progression. In normal C57/BL6 mice, dust exposure increased cellular expression of inflammatory genes with highest levels in the lung and peripheral blood. In normal and tumor-bearing GEM mice, increased immune cell infiltration to the lungs was observed. Pathologic evaluation of mice at different timepoints showed that WTC-dust exposure promoted PI3K-AKT activation, increased epithelial proliferation and acinar invasion in prostates with heterozygous and homozygous Pten loss. Using autochthonous and transplant GEM models of prostate cancer, we demonstrated that dust exposure caused reduced survival as compared with control cohorts. Finally, we used imaging mass cytometry to detect elevated immune cell infiltration and cellular expression of inflammatory markers in prostate tumors isolated from human WTC survivors. Collectively, our study shows that chronic inflammation, induced by WTC dust exposure, promotes more aggressive cancer in genetically predisposed prostates and potentially in patients.

Significance:

We provide the first evidence that exposure to WTC dust promotes prostate cancer progression. These data may impact the diagnoses, clinical management, and treatment of responders who have or will develop cancer.