bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preoperative Platelet Count Correlates With Postoperative Perineural Invasion on Specimen in Patients Treated With Radical Prostatectomy
Authors: Wang Fangming , Liu Fei , Liang Jing , Yang Feiya , Xing Nianzeng
Published: June 2022

Objective

It has been reported that perineural invasion (PNI) after radical prostatectomy (RP) is associated with unfavorable prostate cancer (PCa) prognosis. However, the clinicopathological factors especially hematological parameters that influenced PNI remain unknown. Our aim was to explore the relationship between clinicopathological parameters and PNI in patients who underwent RP.

Methods

A total of 348 patients with PCa who underwent RP at our center between 2018 and 2021 were consecutively collected. We divided them into non-PNI and PNI groups based on PNI status and compared clinicopathological characteristics including hematological parameters between non-PNI and PNI groups. The association of clinicopathological parameters including whole blood parameters, age, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, diabetes mellitus, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), ISUP (International Society of Urological Pathology) grade, pathological stage T (pT), and neoadjuvant hormonal therapy (NHT) with PNI was determined by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

Results

The pathological results of the RP specimen consisted of 254 (73.0%) patients with PNI and 94 (27.0%) cases without PNI. The level of PSA, percentages of advanced pT and grade, positive surgical margin rate, and vessel carcinoma embolus rate were significantly higher in the PNI group when compared with non-PNI counterpart (p = 0.007, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). Among the whole blood parameters, only platelet count and plateletcrit were significantly different [216 (178.8–252.0) vs. 200.5 (173.5–236.5), p = 0.04; 0.0021 (0.0018–0.0025) vs. 0.0020 (0.0017–0.0023), p = 0.008, respectively]. Univariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that platelet, ISUP, and pT were all positively correlated with the presence of PNI (T3 vs. T1, odds ratio (OR) = 2.029, p = 0.020; OR = 1.697, p < 0.001; OR = 3.836, p < 0.001). In the stepwise multivariate regression analysis, the association between platelet and PNI remained significant (T2 vs. T1, OR = 2.171, 95% CI: 1.082–4.354, p = 0.029; T3 vs. T1, OR = 2.595, 95% CI: 1.259–5.349, p = 0.010) after adjusting for confounding factors including age, BMI, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, PSA, ISUP, pT, and NHT.

Conclusions

The study first revealed that platelet count rather than other whole blood parameters was independently associated with the presence of PNI in patients with PCa, suggesting that platelets might play an essential role in PCa aggressiveness.
Vitamin D Exerts Significant Antitumor Effects by Suppressing Vasculogenic Mimicry in Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Bajbouj Khuloud , Al-Ali Abeer , Shafarin Jasmin , Sahnoon Lina , Sawan Ahmad , Shehada Ahmed , Elkhalifa Walaaeldin , Saber-Ayad Maha , Muhammad Jibran Sualeh , Elmoselhi Adel B. , Guraya Salman Y. , Hamad Mawieh
Published: June 2022

Background

Numerous clinical and experimental observations have alluded to the substantial anti-neoplastic role of vitamin D in breast cancer (BC), primarily by inducing apoptosis and affecting metastasis. Tumor progression and resistance to chemotherapy have been linked to vasculogenic mimicry (VM), which represents the endothelial-independent formation of microvascular channels by cancer cells. However, the effect of vitamin D on VM formation in BC has not been thoroughly investigated. This study examined the impact of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol), the active form of vitamin D, on the expression of major factors involved in BC migration, invasion, and VM formation.

Experimental Methods

Publicly available transcriptomic datasets were used to profile the expression status of the key VM markers in vitamin D-treated BC cells. The in silico data were validated by examining the expression and activity of the key factors that are involved in tumor progression and MV formation in hormone-positive MCF-7 and aggressive triple‐negative MDA-MB-231 BC cells after treatment with calcitriol.

Results and Discussions

The bioinformatics analysis showed that tumor VM formation-enriched pathways were differentially downregulated in vitamin D-treated cells when compared with control counterparts. Treatment of BC cells with calcitriol resulted in increased expression of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs 1 and 2) and decreased content and gelatinolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs 2 and 9). Furthermore, calcitriol treatment reduced the expression of several pro-MV formation regulators including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), tumor growth factor (TGF-β1), and amphiregulin. Eventually, this process resulted in a profound reduction in cell migration and invasion following the treatment of BC cells with calcitriol when compared to the controls. Finally, the formation of VM was diminished in the aggressive triple‐negative MDA-MB-231 cancer cell line after calcitriol treatment.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrate that vitamin D mediates its antitumor effects in BC cells by inhibiting and curtailing their potential for VM formation.
Transcriptional Regulation of ING5 and its Suppressive Effects on Gastric Cancer
Authors: Zheng Hua-chuan , Xue Hang , Wu Xin , Xu Hai-lan , Zhao En-hong , Cui Zheng-guo
Published: June 2022

ING5 targets histone acetyltransferase or histone deacetylase complexes for local chromatin remodeling. Its transcriptional regulation and suppressive effects on gastric cancer remain elusive. Luciferase assay, EMSA, and ChIP were used to identify the cis-acting elements and trans-acting factors of the ING5 gene. We analyzed the effects of SAHA on the aggressive phenotypes of ING5 transfectants, and the effects of different ING5 mutants on aggressive phenotypes in SGC-7901 cells. Finally, we observed the effects of ING5 abrogation on gastric carcinogenesis. EMSA and ChIP showed that both SRF (−717 to −678 bp) and YY1 (−48 to 25bp) interacted with the promoter of ING5 and up-regulated ING5 expression in gastric cancer via SRF-YY1-ING5-p53 complex formation. ING5, SRF, and YY1 were overexpressed in gastric cancer, (P<0.05), and associated with worse prognosis of gastric cancer patients (P<0.05). ING5 had positive relationships with SRF and YY1 expression in gastric cancer (P<0.05). SAHA treatment caused early arrest at S phase in ING5 transfectants of SGC-7901 (P<0.05), and either 0.5 or 1.0 μM SAHA enhanced their migration and invasion (P<0.05). The wild-type and mutant ING5 transfectants showed lower viability and invasion than the control (P<0.05) with low CDC25, VEGF, and MMP-9 expression. Gastric spontaneous adenocarcinoma was observed in Atp4b-cre; ING5f/f, Pdx1-cre; ING5f/f, and K19-cre; ING5f/f mice. ING5 deletion increased the sensitivity of MNU-induced gastric carcinogenesis. ING5 mRNA might be a good marker of gastric carcinogenesis, and poor prognosis. ING5 expression was positively regulated by the interaction of SRF-YY1-ING5-p53 complex within the ING5 promoter from −50 bp upstream to the transcription start site. ING5 deletion might contribute to the tumorigenesis and histogenesis of gastric cancer.
Associations of Prior Chronic Use of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and Glucocorticoids With Cachexia Incidence and Survival
Authors: Olaechea Santiago , Gilmore Anne , Alvarez Christian , Gannavarapu Bhavani S. , Infante Rodney , Iyengar Puneeth
Published: June 2022

Background

Cachexia is an inflammatory and metabolic syndrome of unintentional weight loss through depletion of muscle and adipose tissue. There is limited knowledge of how chronic use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and glucocorticoids affect cachexia development. The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between prior long-term use of NSAIDs or glucocorticoids with cachexia incidence and post-diagnosis weight loss progression in a retrospective cancer patient cohort.

Methods

Of 3,802 lung or gastrointestinal cancer patient records, 3,180 comprised our final cohort. Patient demographic information, tumor qualities, medication histories, and comorbidities were assessed. Cachexia was defined as having developed prior to oncologic treatment. Statistical evaluations included categorical, multivariate logistic regression, and log-rank survival analyses. Development of substantial post-diagnosis weight loss was calculated and interpreted for patients without cachexia at diagnosis.

Results

Chronic prior use of any NSAID or glucocorticoid medication was associated with approximate absolute and relative reductions in cachexia incidence at diagnosis of 10 and 25 percent (P<0.0001). In multivariate analyses, NSAID medications demonstrated a 23 percent reduction in cachexia incidence likelihood (OR=0.770; 95% CI=0.594, 0.998; P=0.0481). Patients without cachexia at diagnosis were significantly more likely to develop substantial post-diagnosis weight loss from pre-diagnosis use groups of glucocorticoids (OR= 1.452; 95% CI=1.065, 1.979; P=0.0183) or NSAIDs (OR=1.411; 95% CI=1.082, 1.840; P=0.011).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest a protective effect of prior anti-inflammatory medications, primarily NSAIDs, against manifestations of the cachexia phenotype at cancer diagnosis. These observations support further exploration of potential therapeutic benefits from anti-inflammatory medications early in cancer management.
SARS-CoV-2 M Protein Facilitates Malignant Transformation of Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Nguyen Hoai-Nga Thi , Kawahara Marie , Vuong Cat-Khanh , Fukushige Mizuho , Yamashita Toshiharu , Ohneda Osamu
Published: June 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread faster due to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, which carry an increased risk of infecting patients with comorbidities, such as breast cancer. However, there are still few reports on the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the progression of breast cancer, as well as the factors and mechanisms involved. In the present study, we investigated the impact of SARS-CoV-2 proteins on breast cancer cells (BCC). The results suggested that SARS-CoV-2 M protein induced the mobility, proliferation, stemness and in vivo metastasis of a triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell line, MDA-MB-231, which are involved in the upregulation of NFκB and STAT3 pathways. In addition, compared to MDA-MB-231 cells, the hormone-dependent breast cancer cell line MCF-7 showed a less response to M protein, with the protein showing no effects of promoting proliferation, stemness, and in vivo metastasis. Of note, coculture with M protein-treated MDA-MB-231 cells significantly induced the migration, proliferation, and stemness of MCF-7 cells, which are involved in the upregulation of genes related to EMT and inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, SARS-CoV-2 infection might promote the ability of aggressive BCC to induce the malignant phenotypes of the other non-aggressive BCC. Taken together, these findings suggested an increased risk of poor outcomes in TNBC patients with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which required a long-term follow-up. In addition, the inhibition of NFκB and STAT3 signaling pathways is considered as a promising candidate for the treatment of worsen clinical outcomes in TNBC patients with COVID-19.
Remedial Aspect of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Against Serratia Marcescens and Enterococcus Faecalis
Authors: Djearamane Sinouvassane , Loh Zhe Chi , Lee Jun Jie , Wong Ling Shing , Rajamani Ranjithkumar , Luque Priscy Alfredo , Gupta Piyush Kumar , Liang Sharolynne Xiao Tong
Published: June 2022

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have been widely used in biomedical applications due to their high biocompatibility and low toxicity to humans. The present work aimed to investigate the antibacterial effects of different concentrations of ZnO NPs on two opportunistic pathogens, Serratia marcescens and Enterococcus faecalis. The surface interaction between nanoparticles and bacterial cell wall, and the subsequent morphological alterations on the bacterial surface, were examined through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope. The energy dispersive X-ray analysis was used to confirm the elemental composition of ZnO NPs and the cellular accumulation of ZnO NPs in bacteria. The growth-inhibitory test demonstrated a dose-dependent growth inhibitory effect of ZnO NPs against both the test bacteria, as the higher concentration of nanoparticles caused the higher bacterial growth inhibition. The results showed that ZnO NPs caused a higher growth inhibition (63.50 ± 2.50%) on the Gram-positive bacterium E. faecalis compared to the Gram-negative bacterium S. marcescens (51.27 ± 4.56%). Fourier transform infrared spectrum revealed the possible involvement of hydroxyl, carboxyl, amides, methylene, and phosphate groups from the biomolecules of bacterial cell wall such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and phospholipids in the interaction of ZnO NPs on bacterial cell surface. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis showed the higher accumulation of ZnO NPs in E. faecalis than S. marcescens analogous to the bacterial growth inhibition. Scanning electron microscopy images confirmed the antibacterial properties of ZnO NPs, showing the loss of integrity of cell membrane and distortion of bacterial cells. Hence, the potential of ZnO NP as an antibacterial agent against S. marcescens and E. faecalis has been confirmed.
The Effectiveness of Duloxetine for Knee Osteoarthritis: An Overview of Systematic Reviews
Authors: Zhou Qinxin , Chen Jixin , Yu Weijie , Yang Kun , Guo Tianci , Niu Puyu , Ye Yuntian , Liu Aifeng
Published: June 2022

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) has become a public health problem. Several systematic reviews (SRs) have reported that duloxetine may be an effective treatment for improving pain and depressive symptoms in patients with KOA.

Aim: To evaluate the available results and provide scientific evidence for the efficacy and safety of duloxetine for KOA.

Methods: A comprehensive search strategy was conducted across eight databases from inception to 31 December 2021. Two researchers independently selected eligible studies, collected data and evaluated those included SRs’ quality. For assessing methodological quality, the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2) was employed. Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews (ROBIS) was used to assess the risk of bias. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) was utilized for assessing reporting quality. In addition, the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to determine primary outcome indicators’ evidence quality.

Results: Totally 6 SRs were contained in this overview. After assessment based on AMSTAR 2, ROBIS, and PRISMA, unsatisfactory results in terms of methodological quality, risk of bias as well as reporting quality, were obtained. Limitations included a search of grey literature, the reasons for selecting the study type, an excluded study list and the specific reasons, reporting bias assessment, and reporting of potential sources of conflict of interest. According to the GRADE results, the evidence quality was high in 0, moderate in 5, low in 19, and very low in 36. Limitations were the most commonly downgraded factor, followed by publication bias and inconsistency.

Conclusion: Duloxetine may be an effective treatment for improving pain and depressive symptoms in KOA patients with acceptable adverse events. However, due to the low quality of the available evidence, the original study design and the quality of evidence from SRs should be further improved, so as to provide strong scientific evidence for definitive conclusions.

Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO; (http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/), identifier (CRD42021289823).
Exposed Rock Reduces Tree Size, but Not Diversity
Authors: Li Jie , Zhang Lianjin , Li Yuanfa
Published: June 2022

Karst made up of limestone is widely considered a “Noah’s ark” of biodiversity. Rock and soil substrates comprise two different site types in karst terrain, although both can support dense forests. However, it is unclear whether and how the presence of exposed rock affects forest diversity and tree size. We established a 2.2 ha plot (200 × 110 m) in an old-growth oak forest (> 300 years) in karst terrain in southwestern China. We classified the plot into rock and soil components; we analyzed plant diversity and tree size in each component using species diversity indices (richness, number of individuals, Shannon–Wiener index, and Pielou evenness index), stand spatial structure parameters, diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height (TH), and tree basal area (BA). We also analyzed the distributional patterns of species at the sites using non-metric multidimensional scaling, then assessed the effects of abiotic environmental variables on diversity and tree size using redundancy analysis. Our results indicated that both site types (i.e., rock and soil) had similar overall species diversity; trees and shrubs were largely distributed at random within the study site. Tree size was evenly differentiated in the community, and trees were dominant, particularly on soil. Trees on rock were in a status of medium mixture, whereas shrubs on rock were highly mixed. The opposite trend was observed for trees and shrubs growing on soil. The DBH, TH, and BA were smaller in trees growing on rock than in trees growing on soil. Abiotic environmental variables had varying effects on the diversity and size of trees at the two site types; they only explained 21.76 and 14.30% of total variation, respectively. These results suggest that exposed rock has the effect of reducing tree size, but not diversity, thus highlighting the important role of rock in maintaining diversity; moreover, the results imply that karst microhabitats may mitigate the impacts of topography on tree diversity and growth. Greater attention should be focused on exposed rock in the conservation and management of karst forests and the restoration of degraded forest ecosystems.
Genomic Differentiation and Demographic Histories of Two Closely Related Salicaceae Species
Authors: Hou Zhe , Li Ang
Published: June 2022

Populus alba (P. alba) and Populus davidiana (P. davidiana) are important plant species for answering a variety of issues on species evolution due to their wide distribution and ability to adapt to a variety of environments and climates. Even though P. alba and P. davidiana belong to ecologically and economically important forest trees in the Northern Hemisphere, little is known about their genomic landscape and genome divergence during speciation. We re-sequenced 20 and 19 members of P. davidiana and P. alba, respectively, and found that the Dxy value between P. alba and P. davidiana was 0.2658, whereas the FST values were 0.2988, indicating that the genetic divergence was fairly clear. Populus davidiana and P. alba diverged from the ancestor in the middle Pleistocene, c. 0.80 Ma (95% HPD: 0.79–0.81 Ma). The population sizes of P. davidiana increased ~20,000 years ago after a considerable long-term decline following divergence. However, after differentiation, the effective population size of P. alba expanded slightly before experiencing a long-term bottleneck effect. According to the expectation of allopatric speciation, we found a significant number of genomic differentiation sites in both species' speciation events, and the majority of these genomic differentiation regions can be attributed to neutral evolutionary processes. Nevertheless, the regions with extreme divergence exist in abundance, indicating that natural selection has had an impact. Positive selection can be found in highly differentiated regions, while long-term balancing selection traits can be easily observed in low differentiated regions. According to these findings, climate differences over the Quaternary, as well as variance in linked selection and recombination, all contributed significantly to genomic divergence during allopatric speciation of the two aspens.
ARRMA: An Integrative Theoretical and Mathematical Model of Assumed and Actual Dyadic Behavior
Authors: Malloy Thomas E.
Published: June 2022

In dyadic interaction, do people share a common interpersonal reality? Each assumes the probable response of the other, observes the other’s actual response, and assess the veracity of assumptions. Interpersonal theory stipulates that one’s response invites a similar (e.g., smiling elicits smiling) or a dissimilar (e.g., dominance evokes submission) reciprocal response. Members’ assumptions may be congruent or incongruent with the other’s actual response. A model called ARRMA integrates this dyadic interplay by linking three conceptually and mathematically related phenomena: AssumedReciprocity, Reciprocity, and MetaperceptionAccuracy. Typically studied independently, mathematical derivations reveal the necessity of considering their simultaneity. The theoretical logic of minimal ARRMA models at the individual (i.e., in multiple dyads) and dyadic (i.e., specific dyads) levels are developed, and are then generalized to the full ARRMA at each level. Also specified are statistical methods for estimating ARRMA parameters. ARRMA models shared and idiosyncratic interpersonal realities in dyads.
Impact of Critical Success Factors on Project Success Through the Mediation of Knowledge Creation
Authors: Naseer Saira , Abbass Kashif , Asif Muhammad , Hashmi Hammad Bin Azam , Naseer Sidra , Achim Monica Violeta
Published: June 2022

Several factors affect health project success. This research aims to examine the impact of critical success factors on health project success and show how the essential factors of success interact with knowledge creation to impact health project success. The self-administered questionnaire was distributed to collect data from 246 managers, supervisors and zonal supervisors of DHQ hospital Attock and PIMS hospital Islamabad. The analysis was done using Smart PLS to understand the effect of exogenous variables over endogenous variables and the impact of mediating variables between two constructs. The results show that all critical success factors (MGTRF, DRF, CRF, PMRF, CLRF) are significantly affecting project success, in addition, tacit knowledge creation mediate the association between critical success factors and project success. In contrast, explicit knowledge creation does not mediate the relationship between critical success factors and project success. This study intends to expand the theoretical understanding of process improvement by providing practical insights into the impact of strategies used by project managers to develop new knowledge by capturing explicit and implicit information. This study also reinforces past findings and increases awareness about using knowledge creation to gain a competitive advantage in the health sector.
The Interactive Factors Contributing to Fear of Death
Authors: Rezapour Mahdi
Published: June 2022

Despite the importance of the topic of death, a limited comprehensive statistical analysis conducted highlighting the complex association between fear of death and various variables. Thus, this study is conducted to account for the possible complexity by considering all interaction terms after reducing the dimensionality of a dataset by means of recursive feature elimination, followed by the removal of the multi-collinear variables. The results highlighted, for instance, although being married, older and female offset the negative associations of fear of death, their impacts are multiplicative. Also, those who think cryonics is desirable are associated with higher fear of death. For instance, while belief in cryonics is positively associated with fear of death, its association varies depending on the trouble that individuals experience that someday they would not be alive and their marital status.
Arthroscopic Treatment of Intraosseous Ganglion Cysts of the Carpus
Authors: Teng Xiao-Feng , He Xin-Kun , Chen Hong , Ruan Jian
Published: June 2022

Objective

To investigate the application and the clinical efficacy of wrist arthroscopy in the treatment of carpal intraosseous ganglion cysts (IGCs).

Methods

A retrospective case study method was adopted to analyze the clinical data of 28 patients with carpal IGCs admitted to the Sixth Hospital of Ningbo from April 2012 to January 2019. A hypodensity in the bone was shown by X-ray before the operation, with hypodensity and cystic change in the bone being confirmed by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Arthroscopic open window of the wrist, cystectomy, and autologous iliac bone graft implantation were conducted. Regular postoperative X-ray combined with CT follow-ups were conducted to observe the healing after bone implantation. Patients were followed up regularly and assessed by the Modified Mayo Wrist Score in four aspects of the postoperative pain, wrist mobility, grip, and function to provide an objective overall assessment of the therapeutic outcome.

Results

All 28 patients were followed up for 8–16 months, with an average follow-up duration of 10 months. After the operation, pain disappeared completely for 25 patients, and 3 cases showed significant improvement. All cases were pathologically confirmed as ganglion cysts and had first-stage bony healing after bone grafting with an average healing time of 10.8 weeks. The grip returned to normal for all patients, and wrist flexion and extension were the same as the healthy wrist for 25 patients, with a Modified Mayo Wrist Score of excellent in 19 cases and good in 9 cases. No recurrence was observed.

Conclusion

In patients with symptomatic carpal IGCs, the application of arthroscopic open window, cystectomy, and autologous bone graft implantation could achieve satisfactory clinical therapeutic effects.
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Surgical Treatment for Klippel–Feil Syndrome
Authors: Ding Linyao , Wang Xin , Sun Yu , Zhang Fengshan , Pan Shengfa , Chen Xin , Diao Yinze , Zhao Yanbin , Xia Tian , Li Weishi , Zhou Feifei
Published: June 2022

Background

Recently, there have been some reports on surgical treatment for Klippel–Feil syndrome, but the prevalence and risk factors of surgery have not been well evaluated. This study sought to find the prevalence and potential risk factors of surgical treatment.

Methods

A retrospective radiographic review of 718 Klippel–Feil syndrome patients seen at Peking University Third Hospital from January 2010 to October 2017 was performed. Parameters included age, gender, deformity, cervical instability, Samartzis classification, and surgical treatment. Based on the surgical treatment they received, patients were divided into a surgery group and a non-surgery group. Prevalence and possible risk factors of surgical treatment were assessed.

Results

A total of 718 Klippel–Feil syndrome patients, including 327 men and 391 women, with an average age of 46.8 years were enrolled. According to the Samartzis classification scheme, 621 cases (86.5%) were classified as type I, 48 cases (6.7%) were classified as type II, and 49 cases (6.8%) were classified as type III, respectively. The most commonly fused segments were C2–3 (54.9%) and C5–6 (9.3%). Of all 718 patients, 133 (18.5%) patients underwent surgical treatment, mainly via the posterior approach (69.9%). The clinical factors included age, gender, deformity, instability, and Samartzis classification. Men were more likely to require surgical treatment (p < 0.001). Patients with instability (p < 0.001) or patients with deformity (p = 0.004) were also more likely to undergo surgery. All three of these variables were included in the binary regression analysis. Finally, gender (p < 0.001) and unstable joints (p < 0.001) were identified to be independently associated with surgical treatment. Gender was the most important risk factor with men being 2.39 times more likely to have surgical treatment, while patients with instability were 2.31 times more likely to receive surgery.

Conclusion

The prevalence of patients with Klippel–Feil syndrome requiring surgery was 18.5%, with the majority undergoing posterior cervical surgery. Gender and instability were indemnified as independent risk factors leading to surgical treatment.
Risk Factors of Ischemia Reperfusion Injury After PCI in Patients with Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction and its Influence on Prognosis
Authors: Zhang Li , Wang Lingqing , Tao Luyuan , Chen Changgong , Ren Shijia , Zhang Youyou
Published: June 2022

Purpose

To explore the risk factors of ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and its influence on prognosis.

Methods

The clinical data of 80 patients with STMEI undergoing PCI in our hospital from June 2020 to June 2021 were collected. According to whether IRI occurred after PCI, STMEI patients were divided into IRI group and non-IRI group. The basic information, clinical characteristics, examination parameters and other data of all patients were collected, and the prognosis of the two groups was observed. Risk factors were analyzed by fitting binary Logistic regression model. The survival prognosis was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier survival curve.

Results

Logistic regression analysis showed that type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), pre-hospital delay time (PHD) and door-to-balloon expansion time (DTB) were the influencing factors of IRI in patients with STMEI (p < 0.05). MACE occurred in 11 cases (32.35%) in the IRI group and 13 cases (28.26%) in the non-IRI group. Log-rank test showed p = 0.503, indicating no statistically significant difference.

Conclusion

T2DM, PHD and DTB were the influencing factors of IRI in patients with STMEI, and IRI will not reduce the prognosis of patients.
Direct and Indirect Factors Influencing Cat Outcomes at an Animal Shelter
Authors: Kilgour R. J. , Flockhart D. T. T.
Published: June 2022

Animal shelters play a vital role for pets, such as transitioning animals between homes, from outdoor communities into homes, caring for unadoptable and community animals, and providing a breadth of veterinary and welfare services. The goal of shelters is to move cats to their appropriate outcome as quickly as possible, which for many animals, is to rehome them as quickly as possible through adoption. Therefore, the ability to identify pre-existing factors, particularly those occurring outside the walls of the shelter, which result in specific outcomes is vital. In this study, we used structural equation modeling to test four hypotheses addressing how to predict cat outcome from a shelter in Washington, D.C. We developed four hypotheses that described how cat outcomes could be predicted, based on four general factors: (1) The characteristics of the cats; (2) The location of origin; (3) The type and date of intake; (4) The length of stay. Using 4 years of data from the Humane Rescue Alliance in Washington, D.C., we found support for each of our hypotheses. Additionally, we tested and found support for a global model, which comprised an amalgamation of our all our predictors. From the global model, we can conclude that many factors are at play in predicting cat outcomes in this shelter and very likely in many others as well. Critically, these factors are interconnected, indicating, for example, that cat characteristics mediate the influence of intake location on outcome type. Furthermore, our study highlights the importance of incorporating influences beyond the shelter when attempting to understand cat outcomes. Therefore, to modify cat outcomes most efficiently, such as increasing adoption probabilities, our results show that efforts may be most effective when incorporating multiple factors.
Are Hair Cortisol Levels of Humans, Cats, and Dogs from the Same Household Correlated?
Authors: Wojtaś Justyna , Garbiec Aleksandra , Karpiński Mirosław , Skowronek Patrycja , Strachecka Aneta
Published: June 2022

Human–animal interactions and the emotional relationship of the owner with the pet are the subjects of many scientific studies and the constant interest of not only scientists but also pet owners. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the hair cortisol levels of dogs, cats, and their owners living in the same household. The owners were asked to complete a questionnaire concerning the frequency of their interactions with pets and emotional relationship with each of their cats and each of their dogs. The study involved 25 women who owned at least one dog and at least one cat. In total, 45 dogs and 55 cats from 25 households participated in the study. The average level of hair cortisol of the owners was 4.62 ng/mL, of the dogs 0.26 ng/mL, and in the hair of cats 0.45 ng/mL. There was no significant correlation between the hair cortisol level of the owner and dog or the owner and the cat and between dogs and cats living together. A significant positive correlation was observed between the hair cortisol level in the owner and the pet, for dogs in which the owner performs grooming treatments once a week and for cats which are never kissed. Although our study did not find many significant correlations, studies using other stress markers might have yielded different results.
Enhanced Oxidative DNA-Damage in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients via the TXNIP/TRX Axis
Authors: Oberacker Tina , Fritz Peter , Schanz Moritz , Alscher Mark Dominik , Ketteler Markus , Schricker Severin
Published: June 2022

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an effective method of renal replacement therapy, providing a high level of patient autonomy. Nevertheless, the long-term use of PD is limited due to deleterious effects of PD fluids to the structure and function of the peritoneal membrane leading to loss of dialysis efficacy. PD patients show excessive oxidative stress compared to controls or chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients not on dialysis. Therefore, defense systems against detrimental events play a pivotal role in the integrity of the peritoneal membrane. The thioredoxin-interacting-protein (TXNIP)/thioredoxin (TRX) system also plays a major role in maintaining the redox homeostasis. We hypothesized that the upregulation of TXNIP negatively influences TRX activity, resulting in enhanced oxidative DNA-damage in PD patients. Therefore, we collected plasma samples and human peritoneal biopsies of healthy controls and PD patients as well. Using ELISA-analysis and immunohistochemistry, we showed that PD patients had elevated TXNIP levels compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, we demonstrated that PD patients had a reduced TRX activity, thereby leading to increased oxidative DNA-damage. Hence, targeting the TXNIP/TRX system as well as the use of oxidative stress scavengers could become promising therapeutic approaches potentially applicable in clinical practice in order to sustain and improve peritoneal membrane function.
An Intelligent Optimization Back-Analysis Method for Geomechanical Parameters in Underground Engineering
Authors: Li Jianhe , Sun Weizhe , Su Guoshao , Zhang Yan
Published: June 2022

The geomechanical parameters in underground engineering are usually difficult to determine, which can pose great obstacles in underground engineering. A novel displacement back-analysis method is proposed to determine the geomechanical parameters in underground engineering. In this method, the problem of geomechanical parameter determination is converted into an optimization problem, regarding the geomechanical parameters as the optimization parameters, and the error between the calculated results and the field measurement information as the optimization objective function. The grasshopper optimization algorithm (GOA), which offers excellent global optimization performance, and the Gaussian process regression (GPR) machine learning, offering powerful fitting ability, are combined to address the time-consuming numerical calculations. Furthermore, the proposed method is combined with the 3D numerical calculation software FLAC3D to form the GOA-GPR-FLAC3D method, which can be used in the displacement back-analysis of geomechanical parameters in underground engineering. The results of a case study show that the proposed method can greatly improve computational efficiency while ensuring high precision compared with the GOA. When applied to the Tai’an Pumped Storage Power Station, this method can obtain more accurate results compared with the GOA under the same evaluation times and is more suitable for the back-analysis of rock parameters in underground engineering.
The Various Forms of Cow Manure Waste as Adsorbents of Heavy Metals
Authors: Mulyani Oviyanti , Joy Benny , Kurnia Dikdik
Published: June 2022

In recent years, the application of cow manure waste as an adsorbent of heavy metals in water and soil has increased. The analysis of the most effective adsorbents from cow manure as materials that can reduce heavy metals, while being low-cost and easy to produce, is important in the agricultural field. This study investigated adsorbents from cow manure, such as compost, biochar and humic acid, and analyzed the capability of the adsorption mechanisms of Cr, Pb and Cd. The experiments were performed as a function of pH, adsorbent dose, initial metal ion concentration, and contact time. To investigate the mechanism of the adsorption process, the Langmuir and Freundlich models were used. The results showed that the optimum conditions of Cr, Cd and Pb ions were achieved by compost, biochar and humic acid with 83–99% removal. An adsorption isotherm model for compost, biochar and humic acid generally followed the Langmuir and Freundlich models. This study ranks the different forms of cow manure waste in the following order based on their ease of production, high adsorption capacity, and low cost: biochar > compost > humic acid.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Investigation of CuFe2O4 for the Degradation of Dyes under Visible Light
Authors: Oliveira Thayane Portela , Rodrigues Samuel Filgueiras , Marques Gleison Neres , Viana Costa Rayssa Cristina , Garçone Lopes Charlyanne Gabriela , Aranas Clodualdo , Rojas Alex , Gomes Rangel José Hilton , Oliveira Marcelo Moizinho
Published: June 2022

The CuFe2O4 photocatalysts were synthesized by the solution combustion synthesis method, followed by heat treatment at a temperature range of 400 to 1100 °C. Later, they were characterized for application in the photodegradation of synthetic dyes under visible radiation. The X-ray diffraction results showed the presence of cubic and tetragonal phases of CuFe2O4 and secondary phases of Fe2O3 and CuO, at low temperatures. The infrared spectrum profile confirms the formation of the phases pointed out in the XRD. For most specimens, the scanning electron microscopy examination revealed a morphology similar to porous flakes and a quasi-spherical shape. On the other hand, samples heat-treated at 1100 °C displayed a plate-like morphology. The specimens’ band gap ranged from 1.49 to 1.58 eV, indicating that the material is a semiconductor. Regarding the photocatalytic efficiency, the 400 °C heat-treated samples showed better activity when the visible irradiation was used over the green malachite and rhodamine B dyes. The solution degradation rates on the first and former dyes were 56.60% and 84.30%, respectively.
Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Gerhard Ertl on the Occasion of His 85th Birthday
Authors: Wacławek Stanisław , Kudelski Andrzej , Lauterbach Jochen A. , Dionysiou Dionysios D.
Published: June 2022

This Special Issue (SI) is dedicated to Professor Gerhard Ertl on his eighty-fifth birthday [...]
Splitting Opaque, Brittle Materials with Dual-Sided Thermal Stress Using Thermal-Controlled Fracture Method by Microwave
Authors: Cheng Xiaoliang , He Zongyang , Wang Hailong , Wang Yang
Published: June 2022

The thermal-controlled fracture method has been increasingly focused upon in the high-quality splitting of advanced brittle materials due to its excellent characteristics related to the fact that it does not remove material. For opaque, brittle materials, their poor fracture quality and low machining capacity resulting from their single-sided heat mode is a bottleneck problem at present. This work proposed the use of dual-sided thermal stress induced by microwave to split opaque, brittle materials. The experimental results indicate that the machining capacity of this method is more than twice that of the single-sided heat mode, and the fracture quality in splitting opaque, brittle materials was significantly improved by dual-sided thermal stress. A microwave cutting experiment was carried out to investigate the distribution characteristic of fracture quality by using different workpiece thicknesses and processing parameters. A dual-sided thermal stress cutting model was established to calculate the temperature field and thermal stress field and was used to simulate the crack propagation behaviors. The accuracy of the simulation model was verified using temperature measurement experiments. The improvement mechanism of the machining capacity and fracture quality of this method was revealed using the fracture mechanics theory based on calculation results from a simulation. This study provides an innovative and feasible method for cutting opaque, brittle materials with promising fracture quality and machining capacity for industrial application.
Nomogram and Carotid Risk Score for Predicting Moderate or High Carotid Atherosclerosis among Asymptomatic Elderly Recycling Volunteers
Authors: Hsiao Cheng-Lun , Chen Pei-Ya , Hsu Po-Jen , Lin Shinn-Kuang
Published: June 2022

Carotid atherosclerosis is associated with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. We explored an appropriate method for selecting participants without ischemic cerebrovascular disease but with various comorbidities eligible for a carotid ultrasound. This was a retrospective subgroup analysis of the carotid plaque burden from a previous study involving a vascular and cognitive survey of 956 elderly recycling volunteers (778 women and 178 men; mean age: 70.8 years). We used carotid ultrasound to detect the carotid plaque and computed the carotid plaque score (CPS). A moderate or high degree of carotid atherosclerosis (MHCA) was defined as CPS > 5 and was observed in 22% of the participants. The CPS had positive linear correlations with age, systolic blood pressure, and fasting glucose. We stratified the participants into four age groups: 60–69, 70–74, 75–79, and ≥80 years. Multivariable analysis revealed that significant predictors for MHCA were age, male sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, and a nonvegetarian diet. Coronary artery disease and advanced age were the two strongest predictors. We chose the aforementioned seven significant predictors to establish a nomogram for MHCA prediction. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve in internal validation with 10-fold cross-validation and the classification accuracy of the nomogram were 0.785 and 0.797, respectively. We presumed people who have a ≥50% probability of MHCA warranted a carotid ultrasound. A flowchart table derived from the nomogram addressing the probabilities of all models of combinations of comorbidities was established to identify participants who had a probability of MHCA ≥ 50% (corresponding to a total nomogram score of ≥15 points). We further established a carotid risk score range from 0 to 17 comprising the seven predictors. A carotid risk score ≥ 7 was the most optimal cutoff value associated with a probability of MHCA ≥ 50%. Both total nomogram score ≥ 15 points and carotid risk score ≥ 7 can help in the rapid identification of individuals without stroke but who have a ≥50% probability of MHCA—these individuals should schedule a carotid ultrasound.
Early Response and Clinical Efficacy of a Mouthwash Containing Chlorhexidine, Anti Discoloration System, Polyvinylpyrrolidone/Vinyl Acetate and Sodium DNA in Periodontitis Model: A Triple-Blind Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Lorusso Felice , Tartaglia Gianluca , Inchingolo Francesco , Scarano Antonio
Published: June 2022

Polyvinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate (PVP/VA) is a molecule with increased adhesion capacity, and can be associated in the bacterial plaque control with sodium DNA, a natural anti-aging molecule able to improve gingival trophism. The aim of the study is to test at two weeks the antimicrobial and antiplaque properties, subjects affected by chronic periodontitis, showed by a mouthwash containing Chlorhexidine (CHX) 0.2% with Anti Discoloration System (ADS), PVP-VA, and Sodium DNA in comparison with a placebo mouthwash. A single center randomized controlled trial was conducted on a total of fifty-four (54) subjects. In the test Group (n = 27) patients were treated by a 0.2% Chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash with ADS, PVP-VA, and Sodium DNA, while a placebo mouthwash was used in the control Group (B). The full mouth plaque score (FMPS), full mouth bleeding score (FMBS), and gingival index (GI) were assessed at baseline, and at 1 and 2 weeks after treatment. FMPS score recorded at baseline (V2) was 52.7 ± 9.2 in the Group Test and 58.2 ± 6.1 in the Group Control (p > 0.05). After 1 week (V3), FMPS was 13.3 ± 5.6 in the Group Test and 18.7 ± 4.3 in the Group Control (p < 0.05), while at V4 (2 weeks), FMPS was 14.2 ± 4.1 in the Group Test and 20.3 ± 5.2 in the Group Control (p < 0.05). FMBS score recorded at baseline (V2) was 46.7 ± 8.7 in the Group Test and 49.2 ± 6.2 in the Group Control (p > 0.05). After 1 week (V3), FMBS was 12.7 ± 4.2 in the test Group Test and 18.5 ± 5.9 in the control Group Control (p < 0.05), while after 2 weeks (V4), it was 13.1 ± 3.2 in the Group Test and 19.8 ± 4.9 Group Control (p < 0.05). This trial has clinically showed the efficacy of a new formulation of chlorhexidine mouthwash in reducing bacterial plaque and gingival inflammation. A significant reduction of inflammation and bleeding scores was found in periodontal patients treated by a mouthwash containing CHX 0.2% with ADS, PVP-VA, and Sodium DNA compared to those treated with a placebo mouthwash.
Modified Predictive Direct Torque Control ASIC with Multistage Hysteresis and Fuzzy Controller for a Three-Phase Induction Motor Drive
Authors: Sung Guo-Ming , Tung Li-Fen , Huang Chong-Cheng , Huang Hong-Yuan
Published: June 2022

This paper proposes a modified predictive direct torque control (MPDTC) application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) with multistage hysteresis and fuzzy controller to address the ripple problem of hysteresis controllers and to have a low power consumption chip. The proposed MPDTC ASIC calculates the stator’s magnetic flux and torque by detecting three-phase currents, three-phase voltages, and the rotor speed. Moreover, it eliminates large ripples in the torque and flux by passing through the modified discrete multiple-voltage vector (MDMVV), and four voltage vectors were obtained on the basis of the calculated flux and torque in a cycle. In addition, the speed error was converted into a torque command by using the fuzzy PID controller, and rounding-off calculation was employed to decrease the calculation error of the composite flux. The proposed MDMVV switching table provides 294 combined voltage vectors to the following inverter. The proposed MPDTC scheme generates four voltage vectors in a cycle that can quickly achieve DTC function. The Verilog hardware description language (HDL) was used to implement the hardware architecture, and an ASIC was fabricated with a TSMC 0.18 μm 1P6M CMOS process by using a cell-based design method. Measurement results revealed that the proposed MPDTC ASIC performed with operating frequency, sampling rate, and dead time of 10 MHz, 100 kS/s, and 100 ns, respectively, at a supply voltage of 1.8 V. The power consumption and chip area of the circuit were 2.457 mW and 1.193 mm × 1.190 mm, respectively. The proposed MPDTC ASIC occupied a smaller chip area and exhibited a lower power consumption than the conventional DTC system did in the adopted FPGA development board. The robustness and convenience of the proposed MPDTC ASIC are especially advantageous.