bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and Safety of Bone-Targeting Radioisotopes in Patients with Bone Metastases: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ye Wanzhong , Fan Yijun , Shen Guoping
Published: September 2021

Background: Radionuclides such as Strontium-89, Samarium-153, and Radium-223 are commonly used for the treatment of bone metastases (BM) and they have shown efficacy in previous studies. The aim of this meta-analysis is to compare the curative performance of different types of radionuclides in patients with BM, and to provide evidence for further future research and clinical practice.Methods: The electronic databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, Wanfang Data, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were searched. Studies using radionuclides therapy to cure patients were included. Pooled overall response rate, occurrence rates of common adverse events, hazard ratio (HR), and their respective 95% confidence interval (CIs) were calculated.Results: A total of 28 articles with 33 studies patients were identified for inclusion in this meta-analysis. The types of radionuclides used in the studies contained 89Sr, 153Sm, 223Ra, 186Re, and 188Re. The overall response rate was 72% [66%, 77%]. The respective overall response rates of 89Sr, 153Sm, and 223Ra were 72% [64%, 79%], 80% [75%, 84%], and 54% [32%, 75%]. In the survival analysis, the pooled HR was 0.85 [0.67, 1.08]. The pooled occurrence rate of leucocyte hematological toxicity of any grade was 5% [2%, 8%]. The pooled occurrence rate of thrombocytopenia of any grade was 7% [5%, 8%]. With regard to anemia, the pooled occurrence rate of any grade was 15% [11%, 19%].Conclusion: The results of this meta-analysis indicate that radionuclides therapy is efficacious in patients, type of radionuclides and history of patients should be considered to prevent potential adverse events.
Maternal Antimüllerian Hormone as a Predictor of Euploid Is Independently Associated With Cumulative Live Birth Rates
Authors: Wu Xiaoling , Zhang Huixia , Niu Wenbin , Xu Jiawei , Jin Haixia , Li Gang
Published: September 2021

Background: Serum antimÜllerian hormone (AMH) level has been reported to be associated with pregnancy rates after assisted reproduction. It is unclear whether AMH levels affect number of euploid blastocysts and cumulative live birth rates (CLBR). The aim of this study was to investigate whether AMH levels are associated with cumulative live birth rates (CLBR) through their relationship with oocyte quality.Methods: A total of 975 consecutive infertile women undergoing 1825 preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) analysis. Serum AMH levels were measured by AMH Gen II assay kit within the 3 months before Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation. Embryos were cultured and biopsied at the blastocyst stage. Results: Among 975 women undergoing PGS analysis. Age, serum AMH and number of oocytes retrieved were significantly and independently related to number of euploid blastocysts available for patients to transfer (P < .001). in patients displaying superior serum AMH levels, cumulative live birth rates (CLBR) were significantly increased independently from age and number of oocytes retrieved (P < .001), and this group with lower AMH levels also showed increased pregnancy loss rates.Conclusions: Serum AMH levels are positively age-independent associated with cumulative live birth rates after all viable embryos are transferred from the first ovarian stimulation cycle. And embryonic euploidy outcome was superior in patients with higher AMH levels. These present findings confirm that serum AMH levels might reflect not only ovarian reserve but also qualitative aspects of oocytes, which will effect the clinical application of PGS.
The Impact of Cancer Treatment “Out-of-Pocket” Costs on the Mental Health of Chemotherapy Patients: A Comparative Study
Authors: Artioli Thiago , Turke Karine Corcione , Sarafyan Aline Hernandez Marquez , Ortolani Beatriz Boos , von Schmadel Ingrid Victoria Maria Biondo Edle , Ferreira Lucas Alves Domiciano , Silva Eduardo Couto , Cruz Isabel Pinho Mariano da , Pagani Julye Tainah de Fatima Seminari , Monteiro Pamela dos Santos , Turke Camille Corcione , Cubero Daniel de Iracema , Sette Cláudia Vaz de Melo , Giglio Auro del
Published: September 2021

Introduction: Anxiety and depression are prevalent comorbidities in cancer patients. Although cancer treatment is funded by the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), economic burden is also borne by patients through out-of-pocket costs. Our study sought to evaluate the impact of out-of-pocket costs of cancer treatment on depression, anxiety and stress levels in cancer patients.Methods: Observational, cross-sectional and analytical study conducted in 2021. Patients undergoing chemotherapy were being treated at tertiary hospital affiliated with the SUS and enrolled in research protocols at research center. To evaluate out-of-pocket costs, we used a socioeconomic questionnaire to identify costs and time spent by patients. Primary outcomes were prevalence of depression and anxiety, as determined by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and prevalence of stress, as determined using a stress thermometer.Results: 195 patients were included. Among included patients, 61% were female, and mean age was 57 years. Patients' median overall out-of-pocket costs was R$ 453.80 (US$ 78.92). Based on the HADS, 62.1% of patients had possible or probable depression/anxiety. There was no correlation between overall out-of-pocket spending and levels of depression/anxiety. However, when stratified by cost-time variables, there was a negative correlation between spending on telephones and HADS (rho = -0.140; P = 0.049) and positive correlations between spending on medications (rho = 0.140; P = 0.05) and time spent purchasing medications (rho = 0.157; P = 0.029) with HADS.Conclusion: Although overall spending was not directly correlated with mental health, specific costs impacted levels of anxiety, depression and stress.
Comparing Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Diabetes Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Arabi Arezo , Naghshtabrizi Behshad , Baradaran Hamid Reza , Moradi Yousef , Asadi-Lari Mohsen
Published: September 2021

Background Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is generally regarded as the treatment option for coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with diabetes. In recent years, with the advent of drug-eluting stents (DES), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was introduced as a suitable alternative for CABG. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event (MACCE) during mid-term period in patients with diabetes treated with 2 revascularization strategies.Methods We achieved this historical cohort study on 750 consecutives patients with diabetes in a single cardiovascular center from July 2009 to March 2012. We included patients with diabetes with positive history of consumption antidiabetics agent or FBS>125 during hospitalization who were revascularized by 2 strategies. We excluded those patients whose follow-up was not possible. ResultsFinally, out of 697 eligible patients, 355 patients underwent a CABG and 342 underwent a PCI: 53 patients were lost to follow-up (27 in CABG and 26 in PCI groups). The mean follow-up time was 900.68 ± 462.03 days in the CABG and 782.60 ± 399.05 in PCI groups. There were 17 (9.13%) cardiac deaths in the CABG group and 8 (4.45%) in the PCI group; this difference was not significant (P = .11). There was 14 (7.58%) cerebrovascular accident in the CABG group and 4 (2.31%) in the PCI group; this difference was significant (P = .04). Moreover, the frequency of the target vessel revascularization in the CABG and PCI groups was 6 (3.32%) and 31 (17.11%) (P < .001), respectively. Myocardial infarction in the CABG group was 5 (2.77%) and 14 (7.86%) in the PCI group (P = .009). Finally, the frequency of MACCE in the CABG and PCI groups was 41(20.70%) and 47(24.16%) respectively; this difference was not statistically significant (P = .195). ConclusionThis study showed that PCI with drug-eluting stent could be a suitable alternative for CABG in revascularization of patients with diabetes.
Energetics of water in the Solar System
Authors: Rao Akshay , Das Abhimanyu , Li Owen , Warsinger David
Published: September 2021

Water is vital for space exploration, from drinking to fuel reformation, and is naturally abundant in the Solar System [1–16]. While in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) requires vastly less energy than transporting resources, the energetics has scarcely been explored besides on Earth and limited analysis on Mars’ vapor. Here, we develop a thermodynamic framework to quantify the energy requirements for resource extraction from 18 water sources on 11 planetary bodies. We find that desalinating saline liquid brines, where available, could be the most energetically favorable option and the energy required to access water vapor can be four to ten times higher than accessing ice deposits. While desalination energetics are highly sensitive to salt concentration, we show that desalination energetics only vary by a factor of 2 with respect to the type of salt present. Additionally, unlike chemical mixtures, the minimum energetics are insensitive to composition in physical mixtures (e.g., ice-regolith and inert vapor mixtures). Additionally, by deriving and computing the equation-of-state for pure water, we extend the least work estimates of atmospheric water harvesting by 94°C lower than previous studies that depend on predetermined databases. The presented approach and data may inform decisions regarding water harvesting, habitation, and resource reformation.
Enhancing grid flexibility under scenarios of a renewable-dominant power system in China
Authors: Lin Jiang , Abhyankar Nikit , He Gang , Liu Xu , Yin Shengfei
Published: September 2021

Renewable energy is poised to play a major role in achieving China's carbon neutrality goal by 2060; however, reliability and flexibility are a big concern of a renewable-dominant power system. Various strategies of enhancing flexibility are under discussion to ensure the reliability of such a system, but no detailed quantitative analysis has been reported yet in China. Here we combine the advantages of a capacity expansion model, SWITCH-China, with a production simulation model, PLEXOS, and analyze flexibility options under different scenarios of a renewable-dominant power system in China. We find that a larger balancing area offers direct flexibility benefits. Regional balancing could reduce the renewable curtailment rate by 5%-7%, compared with a provincial balancing strategy. National balancing could further reduce the power cost by about 16%. However, retrofitting coal power plants for flexible operation would only improve the system flexibility marginally.
Eosinophilic Pneumonia in a Patient With Ulcerative Colitis Treated With Mesalazine: a Case Report
Authors: Hu Yizhou , Chen Yan
Published: September 2021

Background: Mesalazine, also known as mesalamine or 5-ASA, is considered a safe drug and thus widely prescribed for Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Mesalazine was previously recognized as a drug that can rarely cause pneumonia because lacking a sulfa component. Nevertheless, although still a rare complication, more and more cases have been reported nowadays. Case presentation: We describe the case of eosinophilic pneumonia (EP) in a 39-year-old woman with ulcerative colitis during treatment with mesalazine. We discontinued mesalazine after drug-induced EP was identified, and she made a prompt recovery.Conclusions: The diagnosis of EP is readily missed due to the rarity and the pulmonary complications of IBD. Since the treatment of pulmonary complications of IBD and EP varies, it is crucial to differentiate them. A prompt recovery can be expected in patients with EP after discontinuing the causative drug.
Emodin Inhibits the Growth and Invasion and Induces Apoptosis and Autophagy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma via PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Wnt/β-catenin Pathway
Authors: qin binyu , Zeng Zhili , Xu Jianliang , Shangwen Jing , Ye Zeng Jie , Wang Shutang , Wu Yanheng , Peng Gongfeng , Wang Qi , Gu Wenyi , Tang Ying
Published: September 2021

Background: Previous studies reported that emodin extracted from Rheum palmatum L. exerts antiproliferation and antimetastatic effects in a variety of human cancer types. However, the role of emodin in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unknown.Methods: EdU and colony formation assays were performed to evaluate the effects of emodin on proliferation. The mobility capacities of HCC treated with emodin were evaluated using wound healing assay. Transwell invasion and migration assays were performed to evaluate anti-migratory and anti-invasive effects of emodin on HCC. Annexin V-FITC/PI was performed to analyze the apoptosis. PI stain was performed to analyze cell cycle. RNA sequencing technology was used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) induced by emodin in HCC. The impact of emodin on autophagic flux in HepG2 cells was examined by mCherry-GFP-LC3 analysis. Western blot was used to assess the protein expressions of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), autophagy, PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.Results: We found that emodin inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In addition, emodin inhibited cell proliferation, induced S and G2/M phases arrest, and promoted apoptosis in HepG2 cells. The migration and invasion of HepG2 cells were also suppressed by emodin. Enrichment analysis revealed that DEGs involved in cell adhesion, cancer metastasis and cell cycle arrest. Moreover, western blot and bioinformatics analysis indicated that emodin induced autophagy and inhibited the EMT in part through suppression of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. Conclusion: Our study indicated that emodin inhibited cell metastasis in HCC via the crosstalk between autophagy and EMT.
Independent Effects of Kidney Function and Cholesterol Efflux on Cardiovascular Mortality
Authors: Ritsch Andreas , Hunjadi Monika , Stojakovic Tatjana , Zewinger Stephen , Speer Thimoteus , Scherberich Jürgen E. , Silbernagel Guenther , Scharnagl Hubert , Kleber Marcus E. , März Winfried
Published: September 2021

BackgroundImpaired renal function is associated with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. In the general population, HDL-cholesterol is associated with cardiovascular events, which is not true in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This has been attributed to abnormal HDL function in CKD.MethodsIn this study, we analyzed the association between kidney function, cholesterol efflux capacity as one of the major HDL functions and cardiovascular mortality in 2469 patients of the Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health Study who all underwent coronary angiography.ResultsWe found a strong association between cholesterol efflux capacity and kidney function. Additionally, a genetic score of 53 SNPs associated with GRF and the uromodulin SNP rs12917707 was correlated inversely with cholesterol efflux. However, adjustment for eGFR and uromodulin as markers of kidney function did not affect the relationship between cholesterol efflux and cardiovascular mortality.ConclusionsWe suggest that impaired renal function lowers cholesterol efflux, but that this is not mediating the effects of impaired kidney function on cardiovascular mortality. Other mechanisms of low cellular cholesterol efflux may causally be involved in adverse cardiovascular outcomes.Trial registrationThe study was approved by the Ethics Committee at the “Aerztekammer Rheinland-Pfalz” and was performed conform to the declaration of Helsinki (837.255.97 [1394], approved January 8th, 1999).
5-Azacytidine Increases Tanshinone Production in Salvia miltiorrhiza Hairy Roots Through Epigenetic Modulation
Authors: Yang Bo-Cheng , Lee Meng-Shiou , Lin Ming-Kuem , Chang Wen-Te
Published: September 2021

Recent studies have indicated strong connections between epigenetic modulation and secondary metabolites in plants. It is vital to understand the roles of epigenetics in the production of secondary metabolites. In this study, the DNA demethylation agent 5-azacytidine (5-Az) was used on the hairy roots of the medicinal crop Salvia miltiorrhiza to investigate its effect on secondary metabolite production, gene expression, and methylation levels in gDNA and promoter regions. Our results showed that the contents of tanshinones in S. miltiorrhiza hairy roots increased by 1.5 to 5 times, and most genes in the MEP pathway showed an upward trend. According to our NGS analysis, the methylation pattern in the copalyl diphosphate synthase (CPS) promoter was altered, and 51 out of 145 cytosines were demethylated during 5-Az treatment. A total of 36 different transcription factors (TFs) were identified in these demethylation sites. Among these TFs, NF-Y and MYB were frequently found in our results. This is the first report to demonstrate a possible mechanism of DNA methylation participating in tanshinone biosynthesis in S. miltiorrhiza hairy roots by modulating the CPS promoter and TFs.
Recurrence of Lymphedema and Related Characteristics in Discharged Breast Cancer Patients During The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multicenter, Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: PENG Xin , Chen Renwang , Rao Zhenli , Yang Yi , Yan Yunli , Xia Ying , Wang Ting , Wang Jianying , Lu Fang , Pan Hong , Liu Yan , He Qin , Chen Jing
Published: September 2021

BackgroundTo evaluate recurrence of lymphedema and its influencing factors in discharged breast cancer patients with treated lymphedema during the COVID-19 pandemic and to propose feasible improvements. MethodsA multicenter, cross-sectional, hospital-based survey of discharged breast cancer patients was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic in eight first-class hospitals in Wuhan city, China. Norman Questionnaire was used for assessing lymphedema, and multivariable binary logistic regression was performed to risk factors of moderate or severe lymphedema. Difference in living characteristics, anxiety and depression between no or mild group and moderate or severe group were compared. Preference in management of lymphedema were collected. Results 202 valid patients were included. 191 participants reported recurred lymphedema (prevalence: 94.6%, 95%CI 90.5% to 97.3%). 134 of them was mild and 57 were moderate/severe. In the 191 patients, the main symptom was swelling (140, 69.3%) and pain (56, 27.7%). Multivariable regression showed that age (odds ratio, 1.06, 95%CI: 1.02-1.10), radical surgery (OR=4.35, 95%CI: 1.54-12.50) and fully complete radiotherapy (OR=2.62, 95%CI: 1.17-5.87, P=0.019) was associated with the risk of moderate or severe lymphedema. No significant difference in lifestyles was observed but moderate or severe group experienced higher rate of anxiety and depression. patients preferred treatment in hospital and self-care at home equally.Conclusion The high recurrence rate of lymphedema in breast cancer patients with during COVID-19 should draw our great attention, continuous efforts should be made to identify patient at risk of lymphedema and distribute feasible guidance and education for self-management for these patients.
Differential Transcription Profiling in Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cells Between Myasthenia Gravis Patients With or Without Thymoma
Authors: Tang Jingqun , Ye Ziming , Liu Yi , Zhou Mengxiao , qin chao
Published: September 2021

PurposeDefective stem cells have been recognized as being associated with autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune cytopenias and myasthenia gravis (MG). However, the differential gene expression profile of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs) and the molecular mechanisms underlying MG pathogenesis have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the abnormal expression and potential roles and mechanisms of mRNAs in BMMCs among patients with MG with or without thymoma.MethodsTranscription profiling of BMMCs in patients with MG without thymoma (M2) and patients with thymoma-associated MG (M1) was undertaken by using high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq), and disease-related differentially expressed genes were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).ResultsRNA-Seq demonstrated 60 significantly upregulated and 65 significantly downregulated genes in M2 compared with M1. Five disease-related differentially expressed genes were identified and validated by qRT-PCR analysis. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses were performed to predict the functions of aberrantly expressed genes. Recombination activating 1 (RAG1), RAG2, BCL2-like 11, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha isoform and repressor element-1-silencing transcription factor might play roles in MG pathogenesis involving the primary immunodeficiency signaling pathway, signaling pathways regulating pluripotency of stem cells and forkhead box O signaling pathway.ConclusionThe aberrantly expressed genes of BMMCs in M1 or M2 patients demonstrate the underlying mechanisms governing the pathogenesis of MG.
Analysis of Immune Dysfunction and Predictors of Poor Prognosis in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Liu Lei , Zeng Hongmei , Zhang Qifang , Deng Feifei , Bai Hua
Published: September 2021

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a serious disease causing human dementia and social problems. The quality of life and prognosis of AD patients have attracted much attention. The role of chronic immune inflammation in the pathogenesis of AD is becoming more and more important. It is necessary to study the relationship among cognitive dysfunction, abnormal cellular immune function, neuroimaging results and poor prognostic factors in patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 62 hospitalized patients clinical diagnosed with AD who were admitted to our hospital from November 2015 to November 2020. Collect cognitive dysfunction performance characteristics, laboratory test data and neuroimaging data from medical records within 24 hours of admission, including MMSE score, drawing clock test (CTD), blood T lymphocyte subsets, and neutrophils and lymphocyte ratio (NLR), disturbance of consciousness, extrapyramidal symptoms, electroencephalogram (EEG) and head nucleus magnetic spectroscopy (MRS) and other data. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine independent prognostic factors. the modified Rankin scale (mRS) was used to determine whether the prognosis was good. The correlation between drug treatment and prognostic mRS score was tested by the rank sum test. Results: Univariate analysis showed that abnormal cellular immune function, extrapyramidal symptoms, obvious disturbance of consciousness, abnormal EEG, increased NLR, abnormal MRS, and complicated pneumonia were related to the poor prognosis of AD patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the decrease in the proportion of T lymphocytes in the blood after abnormal cellular immune function [OR:2.078, 95%CI :1.156-3.986, P <0.05] was an independent risk factor for predicting the poor prognosis of AD. The number of days of donepezil treatment to improve cognitive function was negatively correlated with mRS score (r= 0.578, P＜0.05). Conclusion: The decrease in the proportion of T lymphocytes may have predictive value for the poor prognosis of AD. It is recommended that the proportion of T lymphocytes <55% is used as the cut-off threshold for predicting the poor prognosis of AD. The early and continuous drug treatment is associated with a good prognosis.
Association between the type of thyroid dysfunction induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors and prognosis in cancer patients
Authors: Baek Han-sang , Jeong Chaiho , Shin Kabsoo , Lee Jaejun , Lim Dong-Jun , Kang Moo Il , Ha Jeonghoon
Published: September 2021

Background

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) cause thyroid immune-related adverse effects (irAEs). However, associations between each type of thyroid immune-related adverse effect (irAE) and the anti-tumor effect of ICI remains unknown. This study aimed to determine the effects of each type of thyroid dysfunction on patient survival.
Methods

Patients who initiated ICI treatment from January 2015 to December 2019 in Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Thyroid dysfunction was classified into four types: newly developed overt or subclinical hypothyroidism, thyrotoxicosis, worsened hypothyroidism, and subclinical hyperthyroidism. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of thyroid dysfunction.
Results

Among the 196 patients, 66 (33.7%) developed thyroid irAEs. There was no significant difference in age, sex, or cancer type between the two groups. The overall survival in patients with thyroid irAEs was significantly higher than that in patients without thyroid irAEs (38 months vs. 13 months, respectively, p = 0.005). After adjusting for confounding factors, the hazard ratio for mortality in the thyroid irAE group compared to the no thyroid irAE group was 0.520 (p = 0.007). Newly developed overt or subclinical hypothyroidism patients showed a significantly lower hazard ratio for morbidity of 0.309 (p = 0.001). Patients with thyrotoxicosis showed a worse hazard ratio for morbidity than those without thyroid irAE, although the difference was not statistically significant.
Conclusions

It was verified that ICI treatment-induced thyroid dysfunction was associated with better survival, even in the real-world practice. Thus, endocrinologists should cooperate with oncologists to monitor patients treated with ICIs.
Quantitative Radiologic analysis and Clinical Outcomes of Urgent EC-IC Bypass for Hemodynamic Compromised Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Jo Hyunjun , Seo Dongwook , Kim Young-Deok , Ban Seung Pil , Kim Tackeun , Kwon Oki , Oh Chang Wan , Sunwoo Leonard , Kim Beom Joon , Han Moon-Ku , Bae Hee-Joon , Lee Si Un , Bang Jae Seung
Published: September 2021

Objective

The treatment of choice for acute ischemic stroke with large vessel occlusion is intra-arterial thrombectomy. The extracranial-to-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass was relatively devaluated; however, recent studies have shown that this surgery can be helpful when performed for a highly selective patient group.
Methods

We analyzed 41 patients who underwent urgent EC-IC bypass at the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital after being selected using strict operation criteria and retrospectively reviewed the effectiveness and safety of the surgery. In particular, quantitative data from perfusion computed tomography images were reconstructed to analyze the changes in pre- and postoperative perfusion status in terms of objective numerical values. We also clinically assessed the patients’ neurological outcome and complication rates.
Results

Immediate postoperatively, the volume of time-to-max (Tmax) > 6 second decreased significantly; it continued to improve significantly until 6 months postoperatively (preoperative, 89 ml; immediate postoperative, 21.5 ml; postoperative 6 months, 10.5 ml). Ischemic core-penumbra mismatch volumes were also significantly improved until 6 months postoperatively (preoperative, 77 ml; immediate postoperative, 21 ml; postoperative 6 months, 5.5 ml). Other perfusion parameters, such as Tmax > 10 s, Tmax > 8 s, and Tmax > 4 s also showed statistically significant improvement. In addition, the patient's neurological condition significantly improved. The surgical complication rate in this study was similar to those in previous studies. The predictors of good postoperative neurological condition were the patient's preoperative condition and perfusion status of the patient immediately postoperatively.
Conclusion

Emergent EC-IC bypass can be useful for patients with acute ischemic stroke with large vessel occlusion ineligible for IAT if surgery is performed well after applying the strict surgical indications.
The Effect of Incubation Temperature On Semen Parameters Before Intra-Uterine Insemination
Authors: Salang Lingling , Seejorn Kanok , Pongsritasana Thanida
Published: September 2021

Objectives

To evaluate the effect of different incubation temperature between room (26–28˚c) and body (37 ˚c) temperature on percentage of progressive sperm motility and the optimal incubation period before intrauterine insemination.
Methods

Seventy-one normal semen samples under WHO 2010 criteria were recruited. All semen was prepared with Density Gradient Centrifugation technique (DGC) and divided into two groups to evaluate sperm motility at 60 min of incubation time. First group: prepared semen was incubated in room temperature (26˚-28˚c) and second group: prepared semen was incubated in body temperature (37°c). Moreover, each group is divided into 4 items for compare sperm motility between both groups in same of incubation time and evaluate the optimal incubation time between the items in the same groups.
Results

Spermatozoa incubated at body temperature had a significantly higher percentage of progressive sperm motility than those incubated at room temperature (89.62 ± 8.02 vs 85.97 ± 9.42; p < 0.01). The optimal incubation time at room temperature was 30 minutes and at body temperature was 60 minutes. These results suggest that spermatozoa incubated at 37°C for 60 minutes were more likely to have better sperm motility functions for IUI.
Conclusion

These results suggest that spermatozoa incubated at 37°C for 60 minutes were more likely to be effective for use in IUI in terms of sperm motility functions.
Production of Transgenic Allium Cepa By Nanoparticles To Resist Aspergillus Niger Infection
Authors: Hussien Eman Tawfik , Hammad Ibtisam Abd El-Ghany , Razik Ashraf Bakry Abdel
Published: September 2021

Transgenic plants are becoming a more powerful tool in modern biotechnology. Genetic engineering was used in biotech-derived products to create genetically modified (GM) plants. Plant bioreactor systems have proven to be extremely effective in the production of disease resistance plants. The onion (Allium cepa, L.) is a common, important perennial vegetable crop grown in Egypt for food and economic value. Onions are susceptible to a variety of fungal infections and diseases. Aspergillus niger is a common onion phytopathogen that causes diseases such as black mould (or black rot), which is a major issue, particularly when exporting onions. A.niger grows between the bulb's outer (dead, flaky) skin and the first fleshy scales, which become water-soaked. Thionin genes produce thionin proteins, which have antimicrobial properties against a variety of phytopathogens, including A. niger. Chitosan nanoparticles act as a carrier for the thionin gene, which allows A. cepa to resist infection by A. niger. Transgenic A. cepa has a high level of resistance to fungal infection. Transgenic A. cepa had a 27 % weight inhibition compared to non-transgenic one, which had a 69 % inhibition. The expressed thionin protein has a 52 % inhibitory effect on A. niger spore germination. All of these findings supported thionin protein's antifungal activity as an antimicrobial peptide. Furthermore, the data presented here demonstrated the efficacy of chitosan nanoparticles in gene transformation. The present study describes the benefits of producing transgenic onion resistance to black rot diseases.
Exploring the Differential Gene of CHOP-Related Factors in Hepatocellular Injury Caused by Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress
Authors: Duan Leng-xin , Guo Man-lin , Ma Xiang-yu , Gong Yu-qing , Li San-qiang
Published: September 2021

Objective: CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) homologous protein (CHOP/DDIT3) is a protein activated by endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). However, the downstream genes of CHOP on liver damage caused by ER-stress have been unclear. Herein, we investigated the potential downstream related factors of CHOP in L-02 cells.Methods and Material: Tunicamycin (TM) was used to induce ER-stress. Short hairpin RNA (shRNA) was used to knocked down CHOP, and the functions of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained from functional annotations. qRT-PCR was employed to validate the expression levels of candidate DEGs.Results: 633 genes were differentially expressed between ERS L-02 cells and normal L-02 cells，and 131 genes were differentially expressed between shRNA-CHOP and shRNA-NC in ERS L-02 cells. By analyze these results, we luckily found 8 genes including Interferon a-inducible protein 27 (IFI27), Lipocalin 2 (LCN2), Chromosome 11 Open Reading Frame 86 (C11orf86), Calmegin (CLGN), Kelch domain- containing 7B (KLHDC7B), Niban Apoptosis Regulator 1 (Niban), T-Cell Receptor Gamma- Chain Constant Region (TARP), Lysosome associated membrane protein 3 (LAMP3) were intimately related to chop. Conclusion: Our study might contribute to better understand how CHOP functions during ER-stress, and these results can expand databases of CHOP in GenBank or others.
Down-Regulating Hexokinase 2 Inhibits Proliferation of Endometrial Stromal Cells Through a Noncanonical Pathway Involving Phosphorylated-STAT1 in Endometriosis
Authors: Hou Shuhui , Lei Shating , Peng Haiyan , Weng Lichun , Lv Siji , Li Mingqing , Zhao Dong
Published: September 2021

Background: Endometriosis is a benign gynecologic disease that causes chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea and infertility and shares several characteristics with malignant tumors, afflicting women of reproductive age. Hexokinase 2 (HK2) plays a pivotal role as the first rate-limiting enzyme in the metabolic glycolysis pathway, and its abnormal elevation in tumors is associated with tumor genesis and metastasis. However, the expression and role of HK2 in endometriosis remain unclear.Methods: We sequenced the primary endometrial stromal cells from patients with endometrioma and adopted immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time PCR and western blot to determine the expression of HK2. Then wound healing assays, cell invasion assays, cell proliferation assays were performed to explore the functions of HK2 in endometrial stromal cells. Furthermore, mice models of endometriosis were recruited to observe the effects of HK2 inhibitors in vivo. Lastly, glycolysis metabolism detection and transcriptome sequencing were carried out in HK2-knockdown endometrial stromal cells to analyze the mechanism of HK2 affecting cell function.Results: Endometriotic stromal cells displayed active glycolysis metabolism and elevated expression of HK2. Downregulating HK2 reduced the migration, invasion and proliferation capacity of endometrial stromal cells. Knockdown of HK2 induced upregulation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) and their phosphorylation to attenuate the proliferation of endometrial stromal cells.Conclusions: HK2 was associated with the migration, invasion and proliferation of endometrial stromal cells, which might provide new insights into the pathogenesis and treatment of endometriosis.
Ezidi Voices: The Communication of COVID-19 Information Amongst a Refugee Community in Rural Australia- a Participatory Study.
Authors: Healey Sunita Joann Rebecca , Ghafournia Nafiseh , Massey Peter D , Taylor Kathryn , Andrich Karinne , Harrison Joy , Bolsewicz Katarzyna
Published: September 2021

Background: There is growing evidence that government health information related to COVID-19 has failed to adequately reach culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations in Australia. People who were refugees are a unique sub-set of the CALD communities and are subject to numerous barriers preventing adequate health care, both pre- and post-migration. The barriers are accentuated during emergencies, such as a pandemic, as a result of an intersection of various social and economic inequalities. The recently resettled Ezidi refugee community in a regional area of Australia is an example of a community sitting at the intersection of various inequities and thus at greater risk from COVID-19. The purpose of this study is to describe the experiences of the Ezidi in a regional area with COVID-19 information and how this has been communicated to and shared within this group; what barriers the community may experience in accessing COVID-19 information; and how the government led COVID-19 information communication could be improved.Methods: This qualitative study was designed to explore the perceptions and views of the Ezidi and service providers regarding COVID-19 messaging. Working within a participatory framework the Multicultural and Refugee Health staff facilitated interviews with four local service providers and ten Ezidi community members, including seven influential leaders. Thematic analysis was employed across individual, pair and group data analysis. Similar categories were grouped into themes. Results: The main findings of the study are: the refugee experience influences the communication of COVID-19 messages; Cultural, social and gender norms influence responses to COVID-19; trusted individuals and service providers are key in community’s uptake of COVID-19 messages; currently available governmental COVID-19 information resources and sharing strategies were found unhelpful and inappropriate; COVID-19 communiqués and message delivery for this regional minority refugee community can be improved. Conclusion: The recently resettled Ezidi community, and likely other similar communities, would benefit from tailored engagement by government organisations, as well as settlement services to improve the communication of COVID-19 health information and reduce related inequities.
Radiographic evaluation of the congruency of the first metatarsophalangeal joint in hallux valgus
Authors: yan li , Tao Xu , Tang Kanglai
Published: September 2021

Background

The congruency of the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint was extremely important for the selection of operating methods and prognosis, while its radiographic evaluation method was relatively lacking. The purpose of this article was to explore the radiographic indicators for evaluating the congruency of the first MTP joint.
Methods

The patients who had X-ray of weightbearing in the outpatient system were selected, excluding patients with trauma, deformity, and history of operation. 183 patients with 245 feet were included. The hallux valgus angle (HVA), distal metatarsal articular angle (DMAA), metatarsophalangeal joint angle (MTPJA), congruency index (CI) and tibial sesamoid position (TSP) were measured and do statistical analysis.
Results

The higher the degree of hallux valgus, the higher the proportion of incongruency of the first MTP joint. Significant differences were found in DMAA, MTPJA and CI between the congruency and incongruency groups of patients with moderate to severe hallux valgus (P < 0.05). The area under curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve for MTPJA and CI was 0.906 and 0.884, the sensitivity and specificity reached 0.791 and 0.862, 0.949 and 0.644, and the critical values were 10.67 and 0.765 respectively. The correlation test indicated that in the congruency group, DMAA and HVA had positive correlation, but MTPJA, CI and HVA had low correlation coefficients. DMAA and HVA were not correlated in the incongruency group, while MTPJA and HVA were significantly positively correlated, and CI and HVA showed a negative correlation (P < 0.05).
Conclusion

MTPJA and CI are indicators that can quantitatively evaluate the congruency of the first MTP joint, taking 10° and 0.765 as the demarcation points respectively. Clinically, the congruency of MTP joint should be considered when choosing operating methods for different degrees of hallux valgus, MTPJA and CI can be used as quantitative evaluation indicators.
Based on Dll4/Notch1 Signaling Pathway to Elucidate the Therapeutic Effect and Mechanism of L-borneolum on Cerebral Ischemic Stroke Rats
Authors: Dong Taiwei , Chen Nian , Ma Rong , Xie Qian , Guo Xiaoqing , Wang Jian
Published: September 2021

Background: The current research progress suggests that a single therapy may not be ideal means for complex cerebral ischemic stoke (CIS). l-Borneolum is the crystallization of fresh leaves of Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC, we have found that l-borneolum plays a best anti-cerebral ischemic effect than d-borneolum or synthetic borneolum. However, the mechanism is needed to be explored in depth. Therefore, based on comprehensive approach that combines molecular docking technology and molecular biology, this stiudy aimed to investigate the potential mechanism of l-borneolum on CIS rats and provide scientific evidence for the treatment of l-borneolum in CIS.Methods: Cerebral ischemic stroke (CIS) rats with permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) were applied to this study. The modified neurological severity scores (mNSS) and Longa neurological function scoring methods were used to assess the neurobehavioral scores. 2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining were used to evaluate pathological changes of cerebral tissue. Ultrastructure of cortical capillary and blood-brain barrier (BBB) in rats were observed by transmission electron microscopy. In addition, the protein expression of Notch1, Dll4, Hey1, Hes1, Hes5, VEGFA and p65 in the cortex of rats were determined by Western blotting (WB). The protein contents of Caspase 3 in the cortex of rats were determined by immunohistochemical method (IHC). Results: l-Borneolum could prolong the resuscitation time, reduce the abnormal increased rectal temperature, improve neurological function in a dose-dependently. Additionally, l-borneolum could significantly alleviate brainstem edema and inflammation, as well as improve the ultrastructure of capillary and BBB in cortex. Moreover, 0.2 g/kg l-borneolum could substantially decrease the protein expressions of Dll4, Notch1, Hes1, Hes5, and VEGFA in the cortex while it decreased the level of Caspase-3 in the cortex of rats. Conclusions: l-Borneolum could repair neurological function by regulating Dll4/Notch1 signaling pathway, l-borneolum might be a good complementary agent for CIS.
Dosimetric Comparison of Passive Scattering and Active Scanning Proton Therapy Techniques Using GATE Simulation
Authors: Asadi Ali , Akhavanallaf Azadeh , Hosseini Seyed Abolfazl , Vosoughi Naser , Zaidi Habib
Published: September 2021

Background: In this study, two proton beam delivery designs, i.e. passive scattering proton therapy (PSPT) and pencil beam scanning (PBS), were quantitatively compared in terms of dosimetric indices. The GATE Monte Carlo (MC) particle transport code was used to simulate the proton beam system; and the developed simulation engines were benchmarked with respect to the experimental measurements.Method: A water phantom was used to simulate system energy parameters using a set of depth-dose data in the energy range of 120-235 MeV. To compare the performance of PSPT against PBS, multiple dosimetric parameters including Bragg peak width (BPW50), peak position, range, peak-to-entrance dose ratio, and dose volume histogram have been analyzed under the same conditions. Furthermore, the clinical test cases introduced by AAPM TG-119 were simulated in both beam delivery modes to compare the relevant clinical values obtained from Dose Volume Histogram (DVH) analysis. Results: The parametric comparison in the water phantom between the two techniques revealed that the value of peak-to-entrance dose ratio in PSPT is considerably higher than that from PBS by a factor of 8%. In addition, the BPW50 in PSPT was increased by a factor of 7% compared to the corresponding value obtained from PBS model. TG-119 phantom simulations showed that the difference of PTV mean dose between PBS and PSPT techniques are up to 1.8 % while the difference of max dose to organ at risks (OARs) exceeds 50%. Conclusion: The results demonstrated that the active scanning proton therapy systems was superior in adapting to the target volume, better dose painting, and lower out-of-field dose compared to passive scattering design.
Astrocyte-Derived TNF-α Activated Platelets Promote Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Regulating RIP1/RIP3/AKT Signaling Pathway
Authors: Li Wei , Liu Dengping , Xu Jiaqi , Zha Jun , Wang Chen , An Jianzhong , Xie Zhanli , Qiao Shigang
Published: September 2021

Ischemic stroke is a type of clinical syndrome caused by disruption of blood flow into the cerebral tissues, and is associated with high disability and mortality rates. Studies have established a pathological role of platelets in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, although the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. In the present study, we induced I/R in a mouse model via middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (MCAO/R), and analyzed the transcriptomic profiles of the ipsilateral and contralateral cortices by RNA-seq. We found that cerebral I/R injury induced platelet invasion and accumulation in the cerebral cortex by stimulating TNF-α secretion from the activated astrocytes in the ischemic region. TNF-α enhanced platelet reactivity through the RIP1/RIP3/AKT pathway. Furthermore, inoculation of TNF-α-stimulated platelets aggravated I/R injury in mice, whereas administration of anti-TNF-α antibodies at the onset of reperfusion alleviated ischemic damage. RNA-seq further showed that AP-1 transcriptionally activated TNF-α in the I/R-injured cortex by directly binding to the promoter region. These findings provide novel insights into the pathological role of platelets induced by reactive astrocyte-derived TNF-α in cerebral I/R injury.
Reference Gene Validation Within the Rat Brain Under Mild Intermittent Ketosis Induced by Supplementation with Medium-Chain Triglycerides
Authors: Schwarz Alexander Pavlovich , Nikitina Veronika Alexandrovna , Krytskaya Darya Uladzimirawna , Shcherbakova Ksenia Pavlovna , Trofimov Alexander Nikolaevich
Published: September 2021

RT-qPCR has become the gold standard in mRNA expression analysis. However, it requires an accurate choice of reference genes for adequate normalization. This work aims to validate the reference genes for qPCR experiments in the brain of rats in the model of mild ketosis established through supplementation with medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) and intermittent fasting. The standard chow of adult Wistar rats was supplemented with MCT oil (2 ml/kg, i.g., during 6 h of fasting) or water (equivolume) for 1 month. The mRNA expression of 9 housekeeping genes (Actb, B2m, Gapdh, Hprt1, Pgk1, Ppia, Rpl13a, Sdha, Ywhaz) in the medial prefrontal cortex, dorsal and ventral hippocampus was measured by RT-qPCR. Using the RefFinder® online tool, we have found that the reference gene stability ranking strongly depended on the analyzed brain region. The most stably expressed reference genes were found to be Ppia, Actb, and Rpl13a in the medial prefrontal cortex; Rpl13a, Ywhaz, and Pgk1 in the dorsal hippocampus; Ywhaz, Sdha, and Ppia in the ventral hippocampus. The B2m was identified as an invalid reference gene in the ventral hippocampus, while Sdha, Actb, and Gapdh were unstable in the dorsal hippocampus. The stabilities of the examined housekeeping genes were lower in the dorsal hippocampus compared to the ventral hippocampus and the medial prefrontal cortex. Thus, the expression stability of reference genes strongly depends on the examined brain regions. The dorsal and ventral hippocampal areas differ in reference genes stability rankings, which should be taken into account in the RT-qPCR experimental design.