bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy plus Interval Cytoreductive Surgery with or without Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (NIHIPEC) in the Treatment of Advanced Ovarian Cancer: A Multicentric Propensity Score Study
Authors: Llueca Antoni , Ibañez Maria Victoria , Cascales Pedro , Gil-Moreno Antonio , Bebia Vicente , Ponce Jordi , Fernandez Sergi , Arjona-Sanchez Alvaro , Muruzabal Juan Carlos , Veiga Nadia , Diaz-Feijoo Berta , Celada Cristina , Gilabert-Estelles Juan , Aghababyan Cristina , Lacueva Javier , Calero Alicia , Segura Juan Jose , Maiocchi Karina , Llorca Sara , Villarin Alvaro , Climent Maria Teresa , Delgado Katty , Serra Anna , Gomez-Quiles Luis , Llueca Maria ,   on behalf of Spain GOG and GECOP Working Group
Published: August 2023

Introduction: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is primarily confined to the peritoneal cavity. When primary complete surgery is not possible, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is provided; however, the peritoneum-plasma barrier hinders the drug effect. The intraperitoneal administration of chemotherapy could eliminate residual microscopic peritoneal tumor cells and increase this effect by hyperthermia. Intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy (HIPEC) after interval cytoreductive surgery could improve outcomes in terms of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Materials and Methods: A multicenter, retrospective observational study of advanced EOC patients who underwent interval cytoreductive surgery alone (CRSnoH) or interval cytoreductive surgery plus HIPEC (CRSH) was carried out in Spain between 07/2012 and 12/2021. A total of 515 patients were selected. Progression-free survival (PFS) and OS analyses were performed. The series of patients who underwent CRSH or CRSnoH was balanced regarding the risk factors using a statistical analysis technique called propensity score matching. Results: A total of 170 patients were included in each subgroup. The complete surgery rate was similar in both groups (79.4% vs. 84.7%). The median PFS times were 16 and 13 months in the CRSH and CRSnoH groups, respectively (Hazard ratio (HR) 0.74; 95% CI, 0.58–0.94; p = 0.031). The median OS times were 56 and 50 months in the CRSH and CRSnoH groups, respectively (HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.64–1.20; p = 0.44). There was no increase in complications in the CRSH group. Conclusion: The addition of HIPEC after interval cytoreductive surgery is safe and increases DFS in advanced EOC patients.
The Evolving Role of Cryosurgery in Breast Cancer Management: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Mokbel Kefah , Kodresko Alevtina , Ghazal Heba , Mokbel Ramia , Trembley Jon , Jouhara Hussam
Published: August 2023

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer, accounting for approximately one in eight cancer diagnoses worldwide. In 2020, there were approximately 2.3 million new cases of breast cancer globally, resulting in around 685,000 deaths. Consequently, there is an ongoing need to develop innovative therapeutic approaches that can improve both clinical outcomes and patient quality of life. The use of ultra-low cryogenic temperatures, facilitated by cryogenic media such as liquid nitrogen, has revolutionized the biomedical field and opened up new possibilities for advanced clinical treatments, including cryosurgery. Cryosurgery has demonstrated its feasibility as a minimally invasive technique for destroying breast tumors and eliciting a significant antitumor immune response in the host. This feature sets cryosurgery apart from other ablative techniques. It has been shown to be well tolerated and effective, offering several advantages such as simplicity, the avoidance of general anesthesia, minimal pain, low morbidity, short recovery time, cost-effectiveness, and notably, improved aesthetic outcomes. The reviewed studies indicate that cryosurgery holds promise in the management of early-stage breast cancer and metastatic disease, especially in triple-negative and Her2-positive molecular subtypes in conjunction with checkpoint inhibitors and anti-Her2 antibodies, respectively. Furthermore, the effectiveness of cryosurgery in the management of ductal carcinoma in situ should be investigated as an alternative modality to surgery or surveillance. The minimally invasive nature of cryosurgery has the potential to significantly enhance the quality of life for patients.
Thiazolidinedione Use Is Associated with a Borderline Lower Risk of Multiple Myeloma and a Significantly Lower Risk of Death in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Taiwan
Authors: Tseng Chin-Hsiao
Published: August 2023

Background: Thiazolidinedione (TZD) exerts anti-proliferative effects on multiple myeloma (MM) cells. However, there has not been any human study investigating the risk of MM associated with TZD use. Methods: We used Taiwan’s National Health Insurance database to identify 423,949 patients who had been newly diagnosed with diabetes mellitus between 1999 and 2005. After excluding ineligible patients, 86,999 pairs of patients with and without the use of TZD (rosiglitazone or pioglitazone) that had been matched based on propensity score were selected for a follow-up for MM until 31 December 2011. The hazard ratios for MM were estimated using Cox regression and weighted using a propensity score. Results: After a median follow-up of 4.6 years and 4.7 years in ever users and never users of TZD, 32 and 47 cases were diagnosed with MM, respectively. A 35% lower risk (though not statistically significant) was observed among ever users (hazard ratio 0.652, 95% confidence interval: 0.416–1.023, p = 0.0625). When ever users were divided by the median (15 months) cumulative duration of TZD therapy, the hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for the lower and upper medians were 0.706 (0.394–1.264) and 0.603 (0.346–1.051), respectively. When treated as a continuous variable, the hazard ratio for every 1-month increment of the cumulative duration was 0.980 (95% confidence interval: 0.963–0.997, p = 0.0185). In the age subgroup analysis, a significantly lower risk could be seen in the older age subgroup of ≥65 years (hazard ratio 0.550, 95% confidence interval: 0.305–0.992, p = 0.0468). Additional analyses suggested that there were no interactions between TZD and some medications and between TZD and some clinical diagnoses, and that the use of TZD as a preventive drug for MM might not be cost-effective because a number-needed-to-treat of 5800 was too large. Survival analyses suggested that ever users had a significantly lower risk of death when all patients were analyzed (hazard ratio: 0.84, 95% confidence interval: 0.81–0.87, p < 0.0001 via a log-rank test) or when patients who developed MM were analyzed (hazard ratio: 0.40, 95% confidence interval: 0.19–0.86, p = 0.0153 via a log-rank test). Conclusions: In Taiwanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, TZD use is associated with a borderline lower risk of MM, which is more remarkable in patients aged ≥65 years. Because of the low incidence of MM, the use of TZD for the prevention of MM may not be cost-effective. Patients who have been treated with TZD may have a survival advantage. Future research is required to confirm the findings.
Mast Cells Retard Tumor Growth in Ovarian Cancer: Insights from a Mouse Model
Authors: Meyer Nicole , Hinz Nicole , Schumacher Anne , Weißenborn Christine , Fink Beate , Bauer Mario , von Lenthe Sophie , Ignatov Atanas , Fest Stefan , Zenclussen Ana Claudia
Published: August 2023

Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality rate among female reproductive tract malignancies. A complex network, including the interaction between tumor and immune cells, regulates the tumor microenvironment, survival, and growth. The role of mast cells (MCs) in ovarian tumor pathophysiology is poorly understood. We aimed to understand the effect of MCs on tumor cell migration and growth using in vitro and in vivo approaches. Wound healing assays using human tumor cell lines (SK-OV-3, OVCAR-3) and human MCs (HMC-1) were conducted. Murine ID8 tumor cells were injected into C57BL6/J wildtype (WT) and MC-deficient C57BL/6-KitW-sh/W-sh (KitW-sh) mice. Reconstitution of KitW-sh was performed by the transfer of WT bone marrow-derived MCs (BMMCs). Tumor development was recorded by high-frequency ultrasonography. In vitro, we observed a diminished migration of human ovarian tumor cells upon direct or indirect MC contact. In vivo, application of ID8 cells into KitW-sh mice resulted in significantly increased tumor growth compared to C57BL6/J mice. Injection of BMMCs into KitW-sh mice reconstituted MCs and restored tumor growth. Our data show that MCs have a suppressive effect on ovarian tumor growth and may serve as a new therapeutic target.
Recurrent Glioblastoma: A Review of the Treatment Options
Authors: Vaz-Salgado Maria Angeles , Villamayor María , Albarrán Víctor , Alía Víctor , Sotoca Pilar , Chamorro Jesús , Rosero Diana , Barrill Ana M. , Martín Mercedes , Fernandez Eva , Gutierrez José Antonio , Rojas-Medina Luis Mariano , Ley Luis
Published: August 2023

Glioblastoma is a disease with a poor prognosis. Multiple efforts have been made to improve the long-term outcome, but the 5-year survival rate is still 5–10%. Recurrence of the disease is the usual way of progression. In this situation, there is no standard treatment. Different treatment options can be considered. Among them would be reoperation or reirradiation. There are different studies that have assessed the impact on survival and the selection of patients who may benefit most from these strategies. Chemotherapy treatments have also been considered in several studies, mainly with alkylating agents, with data mostly from phase II studies. On the other hand, multiple studies have been carried out with target-directed treatments. Bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody with anti-angiogenic activity, has demonstrated activity in several studies, and the FDA has approved it for this indication. Several other TKI drugs have been evaluated in this setting, but no clear benefit has been demonstrated. Immunotherapy treatments have been shown to be effective in other types of tumors, and several studies have evaluated their efficacy in this disease, both immune checkpoint inhibitors, oncolytic viruses, and vaccines. This paper reviews data from different studies that have evaluated the efficacy of different forms of relapsed glioblastoma.
Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Prostate Cancer 5-Year Survival: The Role of Health-Care Access and Disease Severity
Authors: El Khoury Christiane J. , Clouston Sean A. P.
Published: August 2023

Introduction: Prostate cancer (PCa) exhibits one of the widest racial and socioeconomic disparities. PCa disparities have also been widely linked to location, as living in more deprived regions was associated with lower healthcare access and worse outcomes. This study aims to examine PCa survival across various USA counties in function of different socioeconomic profiles and discuss the role of potential intermediary factors. Methods: The SEER database linked to county-level SES was utilized. Five-year PCa-specific survival using the Kaplan–Meier method was performed for five racial/ethnic categories in function of SES quintiles. Multilevel Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to assess the relationship between county-level SES and PCa survival. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to examine the role of healthcare utilization and severity. Results: A total of 239,613 PCa records were extracted, and 5-year PCa-specific survival was 94%. Overall, living in counties in the worst poverty/income quintile and the worst high-school level education increased PCa mortality by 38% and 33%, respectively, while the best bachelor’s-level education rates decreased mortality risk by 23%. Associations varied considerably upon racial/ethnic stratification. Multilevel analyses showed varying contributions of individual and area-level factors to survival within minorities. The relationship between SES and PCa survival appeared to be influenced by healthcare utilization and disease stage/grade. Discussion: Racial/ethnic categories responded differently under similar county-level SES and individual-level factors to the point where disparities reversed in Hispanic populations. The inclusion of healthcare utilization and severity factors may provide partial early support for their role as intermediaries. Healthcare access (insurance) might not necessarily be associated with better PCa survival through the performance of biopsy and or/surgery. County-level education plays an important role in PCa decision making as it might elucidate discussions of other non-invasive management options. Conclusions: The findings of this study demonstrate that interventions need to be tailored according to each group’s needs. This potentially informs the focus of public health efforts in terms of planning and prioritization. This study could also direct further research delving into pathways between area-level characteristics with PCa survival.
Theranostic Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy: Things Understood and Not Understood
Authors: Hsu Chao-Yu , Yang Che-Hsueh , Tung Min-Che , Liu Hung-Jen , Ou Yen-Chuan
Published: August 2023

Objective: This study aimed to explore the benefits of theranostic robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (T-RARP) for clinically highly suspicious prostate cancer (PCa) without proven biopsies. Material and Methods: Between February 2016 and December 2020, we included men with clinically highly suspicious PCa in this study. They were assessed to have possible localized PCa without any initial treatments, and were categorized into previous benign biopsies or without biopsies. Furthermore, another group of malignant biopsies with RARP in the same time frame was adopted as the control group. The endpoints were to compare the oncological outcome and functional outcome between malignant biopsies with RARP and T-RARP. p < 0.05 was considered to be significant. Results: We included 164 men with proven malignant biopsies treated with RARP as the control group. For T-RARP, we included 192 men. Among them, 129 were preoperatively benign biopsies, and 63 had no biopsies before T-RARP. Approximately 75% of men in the T-RARP group had malignant pathology in their final reports, and the other 25% had benign pathology. T-RARP provides several oncological advantages, such as a higher initial pathological T stage, lower Gleason grade, and lower odds of positive surgical margins. However, the biochemical recurrence rates were not significantly decreased. From our cohort, T-RARP (odds ratio with 95% confidence interval; erectile recovery: 3.19 (1.84–5.52), p < 0.001; continence recovery: 2.25 (1.46–3.48), p < 0.001) could result in better recovery of functional outcomes than malignant biopsies with RARP. Conclusions: For clinically highly suspicious PCa, T-RARP was able to detect around 75% of PCa cases and preserved their functional outcomes maximally. However, in 25% of men with benign pathology, approximately 6% would have incontinence and 10% would have erectile impairment. This part should be sufficiently informed of the potential groups considering T-RARP.
Impact of Positive-Margin Resection of External Auditory Canal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Komune Noritaka , Kuga Ryosuke , Hongo Takahiro , Kuga Daisuke , Sato Kuniaki , Nakagawa Takashi
Published: August 2023

Background: Positive-margin resection of external auditory canal squamous cell carcinoma (EAC-SCC) is still a major cause of recurrence. The aim of this study is to examine the clinical impact of positive-margin resection of EAC-SCCs. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 40 surgical cases with en bloc temporal bone resection of EAC-SCC at a tertiary referral center from October 2016 to March 2022. Results: Two-year disease-specific, overall, and disease-free survival rates for all 40 cases reviewed were 85.2%, 88.85%, and 76.96%, respectively. En bloc resection with a negative margin significantly improved patient prognosis (p < 0.001). Positive-margin resection was observed in 9/40 cases (22.5%). Insufficient assessment of preoperative images was the cause in two of these cases. Postoperative lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis were observed in cases in which vascular, lymphatic duct or perineural invasion was found on postoperative pathological examination. In addition, three cases in which no vascular, lymphatic duct, or perineural invasion was found exhibited local recurrence during the follow-up period. Of the nine positive-margin resection cases, only two showed no postoperative recurrence. Conclusions: Once positive-margin resections are confirmed, cases might have a high risk of tumor recurrence, even with the addition of postoperative adjuvant chemoradiotherapy.
Corruptive Reprograming of Macrophages into Tumor-Associated Macrophages: The Transcriptional, Epigenetic and Metabolic Basis
Authors: Ahmad Aamir
Published: August 2023

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is an important place with regard to the growth and sustenance of tumor cells [...]
Proteomic Dissection of Exosome Cargo: Progress and Future Perspectives
Authors: Uddin Shahab , Ahmad Aamir
Published: August 2023

The interest in exosomes in cancer research and treatment has increased exponentially in the past few years [...]
Cardiotoxicity Secondary to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in the Elderly: Safety in Real-World Data
Authors: Toribio-García Irene , Olivares-Hernández Alejandro , Miramontes-González José , Posado-Domínguez Luis , Martín García Ana , Eiros Bachiller Rocío , Figuero-Pérez Luis , Garijo Martínez María , Roldán Ruiz Jonnathan , Bellido Hernández Lorena , Fonseca-Sánchez Emilio , Luis Sánchez Pedro , del Barco-Morillo Edel
Published: August 2023

Introduction: Immunotherapy represents a key pillar of cancer treatments, with high response rates and long survival. Its use is increasing, mainly at the expense of the geriatric population due to the ageing of this population. However, despite its benefit, its safety in certain areas such as cardiotoxicity is largely unknown. The aim of this study is to assess the safety of immunotherapy in elderly patients using real-world data. Methods: This is an ambispective study of patients ≥ 70 years old with solid tumours who were treated with immunotherapy at the University Hospital of Salamanca. Cardiotoxicity was assessed using the CTCAEv5.0 criteria. Results: In total, 195 patients were included (76.9% male and 23.1% female), with a mean age of 75 years [70–93]. The percentage of patients with cardiotoxicity was 1.54%; 1.35% of patients with previous heart disease were diagnosed with cardiotoxicity, and 1.65% of those without previous heart disease were diagnosed with cardiotoxicity. The median time from the initiation of treatment until the cardiac event was 45 days [14–96]. The most frequent toxicity was myocarditis in 66.7% of patients, followed by arrhythmias in 33.3% of patients. Conclusions: Immunotherapy is shown to be a safe treatment in elderly cancer patients in terms of cardiotoxicity. The event rate shows no difference between patients with or without cardiac comorbidity.
Gastrointestinal Quality-of-Life Trajectories after Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer—Which Patients Suffer from Persisting Problems?
Authors: Pinkawa Michael
Published: August 2023

Gastrointestinal toxicity, particularly in relation to rectal bleeding, is regarded as the dose-limiting toxicity in radiotherapy for prostate cancer, and it is the most frequent focus of toxicity studies [...]
Evaluating Physiological MRI Parameters in Patients with Brain Metastases Undergoing Stereotactic Radiosurgery—A Preliminary Analysis and Case Report
Authors: van Grinsven Eva E. , de Leeuw Jordi , Siero Jeroen C. W. , Verhoeff Joost J. C. , van Zandvoort Martine J. E. , Cho Junghun , Philippens Marielle E. P. , Bhogal Alex A.
Published: August 2023

Brain metastases occur in ten to thirty percent of the adult cancer population. Treatment consists of different (palliative) options, including stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Sensitive MRI biomarkers are needed to better understand radiotherapy-related effects on cerebral physiology and the subsequent effects on neurocognitive functioning. In the current study, we used physiological imaging techniques to assess cerebral blood flow (CBF), oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) and cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) before and three months after SRS in nine patients with brain metastases. The results showed improvement in OEF, CBF and CMRO2 within brain tissue that recovered from edema (all p ≤ 0.04), while CVR remained impacted. We observed a global post-radiotherapy increase in CBF in healthy-appearing brain tissue (p = 0.02). A repeated measures correlation analysis showed larger reductions within regions exposed to higher radiotherapy doses in CBF (rrm = −0.286, p < 0.001), CMRO2 (rrm = −0.254, p < 0.001), and CVR (rrm = −0.346, p < 0.001), but not in OEF (rrm = −0.004, p = 0.954). Case analyses illustrated the impact of brain metastases progression on the post-radiotherapy changes in both physiological MRI measures and cognitive performance. Our preliminary findings suggest no radiotherapy effects on physiological parameters occurred in healthy-appearing brain tissue within 3-months post-radiotherapy. Nevertheless, as radiotherapy can have late side effects, larger patient samples allowing meaningful grouping of patients and longer follow-ups are needed.
On the Effect of the Nature of Carbon Nanostructures on the Activity of Bifunctional Catalysts Based on Manganese Oxide Nanowires
Authors: Villanueva-Martínez Nicolás Ignacio , Alegre Cinthia , Sebastián David , Orozco Nataly , Lázaro María Jesús
Published: August 2023

Manganese oxide nanowires (MONW) combined with carbon nanostructures were synthesized using three different carbon materials, and their effect on the activity towards Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) and Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) was investigated in alkaline electrolytes. The carbon structures were carbon nanofibers (CNF), multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNT) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Both MONW and carbon nanostructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, N2 physisorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrochemical activity was assessed in a three-electrode cell. Composite MONW/CNF showed the best activity towards ORR, and MONW/rGO exhibited the highest activity towards OER of the series. The addition of the carbon nanostructures to MONW increased the number of electrons transferred in the ORR, indicating a synergistic effect between the carbon and manganese oxide structures due to changes in the reaction pathway. The analysis of Tafel slopes and electrochemical impedance spectroscopies showed that carbons and MONW catalyze different steps of the reactions, which explains the better activity of the composites. This led us to synthesize a MONW/rGO-CNF composite, where rGO-CNF is a hybrid carbon material. Composite MONW/rGO-CNF showed an improved activity towards ORR, close to the benchmark Pt/C catalyst, and activity towards OER, close to MONW/rGO, and better than the benchmark IrO2 catalyst. It also showed remarkable stability in challenging operation conditions.
Repurposing Mining and Metallurgical Waste as Electroactive Materials for Advanced Energy Applications: Advances and Perspectives
Authors: Guo Fenghui , Chen Qian , Liu Zhihao , Cheng Dongle , Han Ning , Chen Zhijie
Published: August 2023

Developing cost-effective electroactive materials for advanced energy devices is vital for the sustainable development of electrochemical energy conversion/storage systems. To reduce the fabrication cost of electroactive materials (electrocatalysts and electrodes), growing attention has been paid to low-cost precursors. Recently, mining and metallurgical waste has been used to design electroactive materials, which shows great economic and environmental benefits. Herein, current achievements in the applications of mining and metallurgical waste-derived electroactive materials in sustainable energy conversion/storage fields (batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, and small-molecule electro-conversion) are comprehensively analyzed. The waste-to-materials conversion methods and materials’ structure–performance relationships are emphasized. In addition, perspectives related to the further development and applications of waste-derived high-performance electroactive materials are pointed out.
Autocrine Factors Produced by Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Response to Cell–Cell Contact Inhibition Have Anti-Tumor Properties
Authors: Chen Jerry P. , Li Rong , Jiang Jean X. , Chen Xiao-Dong
Published: August 2023

Recently, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapies have been questioned as MSCs are capable of both promoting and inhibiting tumorigenesis. Both MSCs and tumor cells replicate to increase their population size; however, MSCs, but not tumor cells, stop dividing when they reach confluence due to cell–cell contact inhibition and then differentiate. We hypothesized that contact inhibition results in the production of effector molecules by confluent MSCs and these effectors are capable of suppressing tumor cell growth. To test this hypothesis, we co-cultured breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) with either confluent or sub-confluent bone-marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs); in addition, we treated various tumor cells with conditioned media (CM) obtained from either confluent or sub-confluent BM-MSCs. The results showed that the growth of tumor cells co-cultured with confluent BM-MSCs or treated with CM obtained from confluent BM-MSCs was inhibited, and this effect was significantly stronger than that seen with tumor cells co-cultured with sub-confluent BM-MSCs or CM obtained from sub-confluent BM-MSCs. Subcutaneous tumor formation was completely prevented by the inoculation of tumor cells mixed with CM. In the future, soluble anti-tumor effectors, produced by confluent MSCs, may be used as cell-free therapeutics; this approach provides a solution to current concerns associated with cell-based therapies.
Pretreatment of Mesenchymal Stem Cells with Electrical Stimulation as a Strategy to Improve Bone Tissue Engineering Outcomes
Authors: Bianconi Santiago , Oliveira Karla M. C. , Klein Kari-Leticia , Wolf Jakob , Schaible Alexander , Schröder Katrin , Barker John , Marzi Ingo , Leppik Liudmila , Henrich Dirk
Published: August 2023

Electrical stimulation (EStim), whether used alone or in combination with bone tissue engineering (BTE) approaches, has been shown to promote bone healing. In our previous in vitro studies, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were exposed to EStim and a sustained, long-lasting increase in osteogenic activity was observed. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that pretreating MSC with EStim, in 2D or 3D cultures, before using them to treat large bone defects would improve BTE treatments. Critical size femur defects were created in 120 Sprague–Dawley rats and treated with scaffold granules seeded with MSCs that were pre-exposed or not (control group) to EStim 1 h/day for 7 days in 2D (MSCs alone) or 3D culture (MSCs + scaffolds). Bone healing was assessed at 1, 4, and 8 weeks post-surgery. In all groups, the percentage of new bone increased, while fibrous tissue and CD68+ cell count decreased over time. However, these and other healing features, like mineral density, bending stiffness, the amount of new bone and cartilage, and the gene expression of osteogenic markers, did not significantly differ between groups. Based on these findings, it appears that the bone healing environment could counteract the long-term, pro-osteogenic effects of EStim seen in our in vitro studies. Thus, EStim seems to be more effective when administered directly and continuously at the defect site during bone healing, as indicated by our previous studies.
Deciphering the Role of p60AmotL2 in Epithelial Extrusion and Cell Detachment
Authors: Cui Weiyingqi , Subramani Aravindh , Fonseca Pedro , Zhang Yumeng , Tong Le , Zhang Yuanyuan , Egevad Lars , Lundqvist Andreas , Holmgren Lars
Published: August 2023

Preserving an accurate cell count is crucial for maintaining homeostasis. Apical extrusion, a process in which redundant cells are eliminated by neighboring cells, plays a key role in this regard. Recent studies have revealed that apical extrusion can also be triggered in cells transformed by oncogenes, suggesting it may be a mechanism through which tumor cells escape their microenvironment. In previous work, we demonstrated that p60AmotL2 modulates the E-cadherin function by inhibiting its connection to radial actin filaments. This isoform of AmotL2 is expressed in invasive breast and colon tumors and promotes invasion in vitro and in vivo. Transcriptionally regulated by c-Fos, p60AmotL2 is induced by local stress signals such as severe hypoxia. In this study, we investigated the normal role of p60AmotL2 in epithelial tissues. We found that this isoform is predominantly expressed in the gut, where cells experience rapid turnover. Through time-lapse imaging, we present evidence that cells expressing p60AmotL2 are extruded by their normal neighboring cells. Based on these findings, we hypothesize that tumor cells exploit this pathway to detach from normal epithelia and invade surrounding tissues.
Parent and Therapist Perceptions of the Feasibility, Acceptability, and Benefits of a Weekly Therapist-Led Massage Program for Extremely Preterm Infants in Neonatal Intensive Care
Authors: McCarty Dana B. , Dusing Stacey C. , Gilbert Alana , LeBlond Kristen D. , Soucie Meredith , O’Shea T. Michael
Published: August 2023

Mothers of extremely preterm infants experience high rates of mental health disorders that impair maternal–infant interaction and lead to worse infant developmental outcomes. Therapist Education and Massage for Parent–Infant Outcomes (TEMPO) is a therapist-led program that standardizes the nature and frequency of parent education through weekly scheduled therapy sessions. Using a family-centered approach, the therapist facilitates positive maternal–infant interactions and massage interventions from birth throughout hospitalization with the goal of improving maternal mental health. This qualitative study presents the results of 19 parent interviews and of a focus group of four TEMPO interventionists to elicit feedback about the program. Overall, parents and therapists viewed the program positively. Parents and therapists valued the focus on parent education and engagement to increase parent competence and bonding opportunities. Both groups acknowledged that infant massage had both infant-centered and parent-centered benefits. One area where parent and therapist views did not align was regarding feasibility of TEMPO. Parents noted multiple logistical challenges to regular NICU visitation, but ultimately agreed that attending weekly therapy sessions was feasible. Therapists noted increased time and effort required of TEMPO and felt that institutional and system-level changes would be necessary to implement weekly parent education as standard of care.
Study on Discharge Characteristics and Microstructural Evolution of PEO Coatings Based on an Al/Ti Tracer Substrate
Authors: Li Guodong , Li Guang , Xia Yuan
Published: August 2023

In this study, samples underwent plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) treatment using Al/Ti tracer substrates for 5, 10, 20, 35, and 55 min. The ionization states were determined using Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES). Microstructural and elemental analyses were conducted using scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS). The structural organization and phase composition of the coatings were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy, respectively. The research findings indicate that the early discharge stage is dominated by discharge within the pre-deposited Al layer, which undergoes gradual oxidation along the thickness direction, while Ti (0.25 wt%) is found on the coating surface. The power increase was 56% of the total increase from min 5 to min 10 of discharge. As discharge time increased, the spectral peaks corresponding to Ti gradually became stronger and were accompanied by gradual enhancement of the crystallinity of the anatase and rutile phases within the coating. The coating surface displayed closed and semi-closed pores in the middle of the discharge. After 55 min of discharge, amorphous SiO2 was observed and Ti content on the coating surface increased to 4.59 wt%.
Effects of Commercial Natural Compounds on Postharvest Decay of Strawberry Fruit
Authors: Rajestary Razieh , Landi Lucia , Romanazzi Gianfranco
Published: August 2023

Gray mold and Rhizopus rot, which is caused by Botrytis cinerea and Rhizopus stolonifer, respectively, are the most destructive forms of postharvest decay of the strawberry fruit. In this work, we tested the effectiveness of the control on the postharvest decay of the strawberry fruit (Fragaria × ananassa Duch cv. ‘Monterey’) following postharvest applications of six commercial natural compounds: chitosan-based coating compound (1% of ‘ChitP’, ‘ChitS’, ‘ChitK’, ‘ChitO’), commercial essential oil (EOs) products based on grapefruit seed extract (0.5% of ‘GraFr’), sweet orange (0.5% of ‘SwOr’), a product that included eugenol, geraniol, and thymol EO, (0.4% of ‘EuGeTh’), an organic compound as humic acid (0.5% w/v of ‘HuAc’), and, lastly, methyl jasmonate plant growth regulator (1% v/v ‘MeJA’). Strawberries were dipped in solution for 30 s and incubated at room temperature (20 ± 0.5 °C) or at cold storage conditions (4 ± 0.5 °C) following 4 days of shelf life at 20 °C. The treatments with ‘ChitP’, ‘ChitS’, and ‘ChitO’ provided ~30%–40% reduction of gray mold in cold storage conditions, while the ‘MeJA’, ‘SwOr’, and ‘GraFr’ with high activities of volatile substances were more effective at controlling gray mold at room temperature. ‘HuAc’, ‘ChitK’, and ‘ChitO’ were more effective at controlling Rhizopus rot in both cold storage (~50%) and room temperature conditions.
A Study on the High-Temperature Molten Salt Corrosion Resistance of Hot-Dip Aluminum/Carburizing Composite Coating on Ti65 Titanium Alloy
Authors: Wang Jiayi , Li Faguo
Published: August 2023

This article presents a new method for preparing a coating on Ti65 titanium alloy using a two-step procedure comprising hot-dipped aluminum and solid carburization. The effects of the carburization on the hot-dipped aluminum coating against the presence of a NaCl deposit at 810 °C were systematically studied. In this article, the microstructure, morphology, phase composition of the coating, and corrosion products were investigated using SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectrometer), and X-ray diffraction. The results indicated that the corrosion resistance of the hot-dip aluminum/carburizing composite coating was not significantly enhanced with the hot-dip aluminum coating. This can be attributed to the formation of TiC and Ti3AlC after carburization, which promoted the formation of loose and unprotected TiO2 in the coating during molten salt corrosion. In addition, the oxidation of the carbon atom into CO2 led to a high concentration of pores in the coating, creating channels for NaCl to penetrate the coating and accelerate the corrosion rate.
Influence of Casein and Milk Phospholipid Emulsifiers on the Digestion and Self-Assembled Structures of Milk Lipids
Authors: Salim Malinda , MacGibbon Alastair K. H. , Nowell Cameron J. , Clulow Andrew J. , Boyd Ben J.
Published: August 2023

Interfacial compositions of fat globules modulate the digestion behaviour of milk triglycerides in the gastrointestinal tract, thereby affecting lipid metabolism and delivery of nutrients. In this study, we aim to understand the impact of emulsifiers on lipid digestibility and the self-assembled liquid crystal structures formed by anhydrous milk fat (AMF) during digestion. AMF was emulsified with casein and milk phospholipids, and digestion was performed in both gastric and small intestinal conditions to account for changes at the oil/water interface following enzymatic digestion in the gastric phase. Small angle X-ray scattering was used to characterise the self-assembled structures of the digestion products, while coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy was utilised to probe changes in lipid distribution at the single droplet level during digestion. Our findings confirmed that emulsifiers play a key role in the digestion of AMF. Milk phospholipids exhibited a protective effect on milk triglycerides against pancreatic lipase digestion by slowing digestion, but this effect was slightly negated in emulsions pre-digested under gastric conditions. The overall types of liquid crystal structures formed after digestion of casein- and milk phospholipids-emulsified AMF were comparable to commercial bovine milk irrespective of gastric pre-treatment. However, emulsification of AMF with milk phospholipids resulted in changes in the microstructures of the liquid crystal phases, suggesting potential interactions between the digested products of the fat globules and milk phospholipids. This study highlights the importance of emulsifiers in regulating lipid digestion behaviour and lipid self-assembly during digestion.
Evaluating User Satisfaction Using Deep-Learning-Based Sentiment Analysis for Social Media Data in Saudi Arabia’s Telecommunication Sector
Authors: Alshamari Majed A.
Published: August 2023

Social media has become common as a means to convey opinions and express the extent of satisfaction and dissatisfaction with a service or product. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia specifically, most social media users share positive and negative opinions about a service or product, especially regarding communication services, which is one of the most important services for citizens who use it to communicate with the world. This research aimed to analyse and measure user satisfaction with the services provided by the Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Mobily, and Zain. This type of sentiment analysis is an important measure and is used to make important business decisions to succeed in increasing customer loyalty and satisfaction. In this study, the authors developed advanced methods based on deep learning (DL) to analyse and reveal the percentage of customer satisfaction using the publicly available dataset AraCust. Several DL models have been utilised in this study, including long short-term memory (LSTM), gated recurrent unit (GRU), and BiLSTM, on the AraCust dataset. The LSTM model achieved the highest performance in text classification, demonstrating a 98.04% training accuracy and a 97.03% test score. The study addressed the biggest challenge that telecommunications companies face: that the company’s services influence customers’ decisions due to their dissatisfaction with the provided services.
Carotenoids and Dermoaesthetic Benefits: Public Health Implications
Authors: Biskanaki Foteini , Kalofiri Paraskevi , Tertipi Niki , Sfyri Eleni , Andreou Eleni , Kefala Vasiliki , Rallis Efstathios
Published: August 2023

Food technology, health, nutrition, dermatology, and aesthetics have focused on colorless carotenoids. Carotenoids are readily bioavailable and have demonstrated various health-promoting actions. This article reviews the recent literature concerning carotenoids with the aim to systematize the scattered knowledge on carotenoids and aesthetics. The applications of carotenoids in health-promoting and nutrient products and their potential health effects are discussed. The carotenoids, particularly phytoene and phytofluene, have the unique ability to absorb ultraviolet radiation. Their distinct structures and properties, oxidation sensitivity, stiffness, aggregation tendency, and even fluorescence in the case of phytofluene, contribute to their potential benefits. A diet rich in carotenoid-containing products can positively impact skin health, overall well-being, and the prevention of various diseases. Future studies should focus on generating more data about phytoene and phytofluene levels in the skin to accurately assess skin carotenoid status. This expanding area of research holds promise for the development of novel applications in the fields of health and cosmetics.
First-Principles Study on the Mechanical Properties of Gd-Doped BCZT Ceramics
Authors: Yue Haojie , Fang Kailing , Guo Kun , Guo Shifeng , Tay Francis Eng Hock
Published: August 2023

Due to their remarkable piezoelectric characteristics, (BaCa)(ZrTi)O3 (BCZT) ceramics exhibit vast potential for being employed in cutting-edge electromechanical apparatus. Extensive experimental studies have been conducted to better meet the practical needs of BCZT-based materials, focusing on their mechanical performance. However, there is a serious lack of research on the theoretical computational aspects. Here, first-principles calculations were utilized to evaluate the mechanical properties of BCZT-xGd ceramics. The structural models were established using the virtual crystal approximation (VCA) method. The investigated compounds demonstrate structural and mechanical strength, as evidenced by their negative formation energies and adherence to the Born stability criteria. Compared to pure BCZT, the substitution of Gd leads to a significant enhancement in the system’s elasticity and stiffness. The BCZT-0.05Gd with B-site doping demonstrates the highest level of Vicker’s hardness (HV), with the noteworthy observation that the inclusion of Gd concomitantly augments its machinability performance. Upon the incorporation of the Gd element, the anisotropic elasticity in the systems gradually transitions into isotropic elasticity, which favors a more uniform stress distribution and consequently reduces sensitivity to the formation and propagation of microcracks. These results indicate that BCZT-xGd exhibits potential for application in electromechanical systems.
Current Design of Mixed-Ligand Complexes of Magnesium(II): Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Thermal Properties and Biological Activity against Mycolicibacterium Smegmatis and Bacillus Kochii
Authors: Nikiforova Marina E. , Yambulatov Dmitriy S. , Nelyubina Yulia V. , Primakov Petr V. , Bekker Olga B. , Majorov Konstantin B. , Shmelev Maxim A. , Khoroshilov Andrey V. , Eremenko Igor L. , Lutsenko Irina A.
Published: August 2023

The interaction of Mg2+ with 2-furoic acid (HFur) and oligopyridines, depending on the synthesis conditions, leads to the formation of mixed-ligand complexes [Mg(H2O)4(phen)]·2HFur·phen·H2O (1), [Mg(NO3)2(phen)2] (2) and [Mg3(Fur)6(bpy)2]·3CH3CN (3); these structures were determined with an SC X-ray analysis. According to the X-ray diffraction data, in complex 1, obtained in ambient conditions, the magnesium cation coordinated four water molecules and one phenanthroline fragment, while in complexes 2 and 3 (synthesized in an inert atmosphere), the ligand environment of the complexing agent was represented by neutral oligopyridine molecules and acid anions. The thermal behavior of 1 and 2 was studied using a simultaneous thermal analysis (STA). The in vitro biological activity of complexes 1–3 was studied in relation to the non-pathogenic Mycolicibacterium smegmatis and the virulent strain Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv.
Study of Magnesium Activation Effect on Pinch-Off Voltage of Normally-Off p-GaN HEMTs for Power Applications
Authors: Giorgino Giovanni , Greco Giuseppe , Moschetti Maurizio , Miccoli Cristina , Castagna Maria Eloisa , Tringali Cristina , Fiorenza Patrick , Roccaforte Fabrizio , Iucolano Ferdinando
Published: August 2023

The role of the magnesium (Mg) doping and its electrical activation on the off-state of p-GaN/AlGaN/GaN HEMTs has been investigated in this work. Firstly, the effect of different Mg doping profiles has been studied via the help of Technology Computer-Aided Design (TCAD) simulations, with the objective of analyzing the band diagrams of the structure. Then, it has been shown how experimental Capacitance–Voltage measurements can be useful to obtain information on the net acceptor concentration in the p-GaN. As a result, devices with an undoped (magnesium-free) GaN gate have been experimentally compared to devices whose p-GaN gate has been activated via a reference annealing process. Finally, results on a device characterized by an improved p-GaN activation have been presented and compared, showing improvements on several parameters of both off- and on-state, thus underlining the key role of the Mg activation process in the overall performances of normally-off GaN HEMTs.
Morphological and Phylogenetic Evidences Reveal Lasiodiplodia chonburiensis and L. theobromae Associated with Leaf Blight in Hevea brasiliensis in Southern Thailand
Authors: Pornsuriya Chaninun , Thaochan Narit , Chairin Thanunchanok , Sunpapao Anurag
Published: August 2023

The rubber tree is an important economic tree in Thailand. Recently, the cultivation of rubber trees in Thailand has suffered from a novel leaf fall disease with diverse symptoms, including leaf spot and leaf blight, resulting in severe leaf defoliation. Fungi from the Lasiodiplodia genus, which causes leaf disease in rubber trees, have not been reported in Thailand. Our research aimed to identify Lasiodiplodia associated with leaf blight disease in Thailand by examining morphological characteristics and completing a multi-gene sequence analysis and pathogenicity test to fulfill Koch’s postulates. The internal transcribed spacer regions, translation elongation factor 1-α, and β tubulin 2 were sequenced for the multi-gene sequence analysis. In total, we recovered 14 isolates with 6 of those isolates. Of the six pathogenetic isolates, LST001, LST002, LYT003, LSrt001, and LSrt002 were determined to be Lasiodiplodia chonburiensis, and isolate LYL005 was determined to be L. theobromae. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of L. chonburiensis and L. theobromae being associated with leaf blight disease in rubber trees in Thailand or elsewhere.
Validated Inventories of Non-Indigenous Species (NIS) for the Mediterranean Sea as Tools for Regional Policy and Patterns of NIS Spread
Authors: Galanidi Marika , Aissi Mehdi , Ali Malek , Bakalem Ali , Bariche Michel , Bartolo Angela G. , Bazairi Hocein , Beqiraj Sajmir , Bilecenoglu Murat , Bitar Ghazi , Bugeja Myra , Carbonell Aina , Castriota Luca , Chalabi Adbdelhafidh , Çinar Melih Ertan , Dragičević Branko , Dulčić Jakov , El-Haweet Alaa Eldin Ahmed , Farrag Mahmoud M. S. , Evans Julian , Galil Bella , Guerin Laurent , Hyams-Kaphzan Orit , Kapedani Rezart , Kamberi Elvis , Livi Silvia , Mačić Vesna , Masse Cécile , Mavrič Borut , Orlando-Bonaca Martina , Ouerghi Atef , Petović Slavica , Png-Gonzalez Lydia , Schembri Patrick J. , Shenkar Noa , Sghaier Yassine Ramzi , Shakman Esmail , Yahyaoui Asma , Yokeş Mehmet Baki , Zenetos Argyro
Published: August 2023

This work presents refined, updated subregional and regional non-indigenous species (NIS) inventories for the Mediterranean Sea, validated by national and taxonomic experts, with species records observed until December 2020. These datasets will be used as the baselines for the implementation of the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme for the Mediterranean (IMAP) and the Mediterranean Quality Status Report 2023. In total, 1006 non-indigenous species have been found in Mediterranean marine and brackish waters. The highest numbers of NIS were observed in Israel, Türkiye, Lebanon and Italy. Approximately 45 species were categorized as data deficient, either due to lack of consensus on their alien status or the validity of their identification. Polychaeta, Foraminifera and macroalgae were the groups with the highest numbers of controversial species. There was a general increase in the yearly rate of new NIS introductions after the late 1990s, which appears to be slowing down in the last decade, but this may be confounded by reporting lags and differential research efforts. Between 1970 and 2020 there has been a steep increase in the proportion of shared species present throughout all four Mediterranean subregions, which are predominantly transported via shipping and recreational boating. While Lessepsian species are gradually spreading westwards and northwards, there is still a considerable invasion debt accumulating in the eastern and central Mediterranean.