bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and validation of tumor‐size‐stratified prognostic nomograms for patients with uterine sarcoma: A SEER database analysis
Authors: Cao Shiyu , Liao Xianzhen , Xu Kekui , Xiao Haifan , Shi Zhaohui , Zou Yanhua , Li Can , Hu Yingyun , Yan Shipeng
Published: July 2022

Background

Tumor‐size‐stratified analysis on the prognosis of uterine sarcoma is insufficient. This study aimed to establish the tumor‐size‐stratified nomograms to predict the 3‐ and 5‐year overall survival (OS) of patients with uterine sarcoma.

Methods

The data analyzed in this study were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. We collected data from patients with uterine sarcoma diagnosed between 2004 and 2015. According to the median tumor size of 7.8 cm, the enrolled patients were divided into two tumor size (TS) groups: TS <7.8 cm and TS ≥7.8 cm. Patients in each group were randomly divided into the training and validation cohorts with a ratio of 7:3. Chi‐square test was used to compare differences between categorical variables. Multivariate Cox regression models were used to identify significant predictors. We calculated the concordance index (C‐index) and the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) to validate the nomograms.

Results

Compared with TS <7.8 cm group, TS ≥7.8 cm group had more patients of 45–64 years group, higher black race prevalence, higher proportion of myometrium tumor, higher stage, and higher grade; In the TS <7.8 cm training cohort, six variables (age, race, marital status, tumor primary site, stage, and grade) were identified as significantly associated with OS in multivariate analysis. However in the TS ≥7.8 cm training cohort, only four variables (surgery on primary site, tumor size, stage, and grade) were significantly identified; The C‐index of two nomograms were 0.80 and 0.73 in training cohorts, respectively, and the AUC values for 3‐ and 5‐year OS predictions in training cohorts were all above 0.80. Similar results were observed in validation cohorts.

Conclusions

This study found that the significant prognostic factors were different between two tumor size groups of uterine sarcoma patients. The tumor‐size‐stratified nomograms, which we constructed and validated, might be useful to predict the probability of survival for patients with uterine sarcoma.
Potential Chemoprevention of Paeoniflorin in Colitis‐Associated Colorectal Cancer by Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking, and In Vivo Experiment
Authors: Si Xiao‐Li , Wang Yan , Song Bo‐Ni , Zhang Yan , Yang Qing‐Xia , Li Zhi , Luo Yan‐Ping , Duan Yong‐Qiang , Ma Xing‐Ming , Zhang Yan‐Ying
Published: July 2022

Chronic inflammation plays a positive role in the development and progression of colitis‐associated colorectal cancer (CAC). Medicinal plants and their extracts with anti‐inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties may be an effective treatment and prevention strategy for CAC. This research aimed to explore the potential chemoprevention of paeoniflorin (PF) for CAC by network pharmacology, molecular docking technology, and in vivo experiments. The results showed that interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) is a key target of PF against CAC. In the CAC mouse model, PF increased the survival rate of mice and decreased the number and size of colon tumors. Moreover, reduced histological score of colitis and expression of Ki‐67 and PCNA were observed in PF‐treated mice. In addition, the chemoprevention mechanisms of PF in CAC may be associated with suppression of the IL‐6/STAT3 signaling pathway and the IL‐17 level. This research provides experimental evidence of potential chemoprevention strategies for CAC treatment.
Multi‐objective optimization of drainage‐plates in wave‐plate mist eliminators using experiment and data‐driven modelling for lower water loss and energy requirement
Authors: Tang Ya , Xu Yuting , He Chang , Shu Yidan , Zhang Bing Jian , Chen Qing Lin
Published: July 2022

Wave‐plate mist eliminators are widely employed as gas–liquid separation devices to prevent the liquid escaping from thermal power plants or other cooling towers. In this study, the wave‐plate mist eliminator with drainage plates was numerically analyzed and the effects between geometrical variables on two objectives, namely, pressure drop (ΔP) and separation efficiency (η), were revealed. Plate spacing, width, and length, as well as the relative position of the drainage plate, were thoroughly investigated. A combined strategy was developed for multi‐objective optimization of the wave‐plate mist eliminator by integrating computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation, response surface methodology (RSM), non‐dominated sorting genetic algorithm‐II (NSGA‐II), and a technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method. The results demonstrated that the relative position of drainage plates has a greater impact on the overall performance, whereas the width of drainage plates has the minimum effect. With the implementation of NSGA‐II and the TOPSIS method, an optimal solution for the design of the mist eliminator was obtained. After comparing with the baseline case, the optimized case presents promising characteristics with high separation efficiency (enhanced by 3.6%~9.06%) and a low energy consumption coefficient (reduced by 72.30% at η = 45%).
Min‐max kurtosis stratum mean: An improved K‐means cluster initialization approach for microarray gene clustering on multidimensional big data
Authors: Pandey Kamlesh Kumar , Shukla Diwakar
Published: July 2022

Microarray gene clustering is a big data application that employs the K‐means (KM) clustering algorithm to identify hidden patterns, evolutionary relationships, unknown functions and gene trends for disease diagnosis, tissue detection and biological analysis. The selection of initial centroids is a major issue in the KM algorithm because it influences the effectiveness, efficiency and local optima of the cluster. The existing initial centroid initialization algorithm is computationally expensive and degrades cluster quality due to the large dimensionality and interconnectedness of microarray gene data. To deal with this issue, this study proposed the min‐max kurtosis stratum mean (MKSM) algorithm for big data clustering in a single machine environment. The MKSM algorithm uses kurtosis for dimension selection, mean distance for gene relationship identification, and stratification for heterogeneous centroid extraction. The results of the presented algorithm are compared to the state‐of‐the‐art initialization strategy on twelve microarray gene datasets utilizing internal, external and statistical assessment criteria. The experimental results demonstrate that the MKSMKM algorithm reduces iterations, distance computation, data comparison and local optima, and improves cluster performance, effectiveness and efficiency with stable convergence.
Population Pharmacokinetics of Vericiguat in Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction: An Integrated Analysis
Authors: Trujillo Maria E. , Arrington Leticia , Patel Yogesh , Passarell Julie , Wenning Larissa , Blaustein Robert O. , Armstrong Paul W. , Meyer Michaela , Becker Corina , Gheyas Ferdous
Published: July 2022

Vericiguat, a novel stimulator of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), is indicated for the treatment of patients following a hospitalization for heart failure or need for outpatient intravenous diuretics, with symptomatic chronic heart failure and ejection fraction less than 45%. Pharmacokinetic (PK) data from the phase II trial SOCRATES‐REDUCED (Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Stimulator in Heart Failure Study) and the phase III trial VICTORIA (Vericiguat Global Study in Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction) were used to characterize vericiguat PK. A total of 8,092 concentration records from 2,321 participants (362 from SOCRATES‐REDUCED and 1,959 from VICTORIA) were utilized for the development of the population PK model. The final PK model was a one‐compartment model with first‐order absorption and linear elimination. Baseline body weight and time‐varying body weight were identified as statistically significant covariates affecting apparent clearance (CL/F) and volume of distribution, respectively. Age, sex, race, bilirubin, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and albumin did not affect vericiguat PK. Baseline disease‐related factors, such as left ventricular ejection fraction, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, and N‐terminal pro B‐type natriuretic peptide, also did not influence vericiguat PK. Since vericiguat is a titrated drug, the impact of vericiguat PK on the titration to and maintenance of the target dose in VICTORIA was assessed. The distribution of steady‐state doses in VICTORIA was similar across CL/F quartiles, suggesting that the ability to reach and maintain dosing at the target 10‐mg dose was not related to vericiguat exposure.
An Artificial Photosystem of Metal‐Insulator‐CTF Nanoarchitectures for Highly Efficient and Selective CO2 Conversion to CO
Authors: Tian Jinjin , Zhang Jinpeng , Xu Bin , Chen Qiaoshan , Huang Guocheng , Bi Jinhong
Published: July 2022

It is of pivotal significance to explore robust photocatalysts to promote the photoreduction of CO2 into solar fuels. Herein, an intelligent metal‐insulator‐semiconductor (MIS) nano‐architectural photosystem was constructed by electrostatic self‐assembly between cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) insulator‐capped metal Ni nanoparticles (NPs) and covalent triazine‐based frameworks (CTF‐1). The metal‐insulator‐CTF composites unveiled a substantially higher CO evolution rate (1254.15 μmol g−1 h−1) compared with primitive CTF‐1 (1.08 μmol g−1 h−1) and reached considerable selectivity (98.9 %) under visible‐light irradiation. The superior photocatalytic CO2 conversion activity over Ni‐CTAB‐CTF nanoarchitecture could be attributed to the larger surface area, reinforced visible‐light response, and CO2 capture capacity. More importantly, the Ni‐CTAB‐CTF nanoarchitecture endowed the photoexcited electrons on CTF‐1 with the ability to tunnel across the thin CTAB insulating layer, directionally migrating to Ni NPs and thereby leading to the efficient separation of photogenerated electrons and holes in the photosystem. In addition, isotope‐labeled (13CO2) tracer results verified that the reduction products come from CO2 rather than the decomposition of the photocatalysts. This study opens a new avenue for establishing a highly efficient and selective artificial photosystem for CO2 conversion.
Employing simplified resistance–inductance–capacitance equivalent circuits to analyze and confirm a gallium nitride‐based current linear regulator for laser diode controls
Authors: Pai Kai‐Jun
Published: July 2022

In this study, a gallium nitride (GaN)‐based current linear regulator (GBCLR) was developed and implemented to control 450 nm laser diodes, and the laser beams could be concentrated by the fiber optic cable. The GBCLR consisted of a GaN high‐electron‐mobility transistor (HEMT) and wide‐bandwidth operational amplifiers. When using the GBCLR, the driving current of the laser diode can be operated in either continuous constant‐current mode for a continuous‐wave laser or pulse‐width modulation mode to achieve a short‐pulsed time laser. In the high‐frequency pulse‐width modulation mode of the GBCLR, the parasitic elements of the GaN HEMT, laser diodes, and printed circuit board must be evaluated because they can cause the gate–source voltage to overshoot and influence the laser operating current; however, few studies have analyzed these phenomena. This study adopted the complex equivalent circuits of the GaN HEMT and laser diode to establish a complete GBCLR simulation schematic with the same physical configurations and packages; thus, the GBCLR simulation circuit was able to obtain the critical simulation waveform, and the unknown parasitic element parameters could be inferred for the GBCLR design. However, the complete equivalent circuit of the GBCLR was quite complex; therefore, this study proposed a new simplified model and method to demonstrate that this method was practicable. Finally, a GBCLR prototype was developed, and the critical experimental waveforms were measured to verify the simulations and analyses.
The neurobiological reward system and binge eating: A critical systematic review of neuroimaging studies
Authors: Leenaerts Nicolas , Jongen Daniëlle , Ceccarini Jenny , Van Oudenhove Lukas , Vrieze Elske
Published: July 2022

Objective

Changes in reward processing are hypothesized to play a role in the onset and maintenance of binge eating (BE). However, despite an increasing number of studies investigating the neurobiological reward system in individuals who binge eat, no comprehensive systematic review exists on this topic. Therefore, this review has the following objectives: (1) identify structural and functional changes in the brain reward system, either during rest or while performing a task; and (2) formulate directions for future research.

Methods

A search was conducted of articles published until March 31, 2022. Neuroimaging studies were eligible if they wanted to study the reward system and included a group of individuals who binge eat together with a comparator group. Their results were summarized in a narrative synthesis.

Results

A total of 58 articles were included. At rest, individuals who binge eat displayed a lower striatal dopamine release, a change in the volume of the striatum, frontal cortex, and insula, as well as a lower frontostriatal connectivity. While performing a task, there was a higher activity of the brain reward system when anticipating or receiving food, more model‐free reinforcement learning, and more habitual behavior. Most studies only included one patient group, used general reward‐related measures, and did not evaluate the impact of comorbidities, illness duration, race, or sex.

Discussion

Confirming previous hypotheses, this review finds structural and functional changes in the neurobiological reward system in BE. Future studies should compare disorders, use measures that are specific to BE, and investigate the impact of confounding factors.

Public Significance Statement

This systematic review finds that individuals who binge eat display structural and functional changes in the brain reward system. These changes could be related to a higher sensitivity to food, relying more on previous experiences when making decisions, and more habitual behavior. Future studies should use a task that is specific to binge eating, look across different patient groups, and investigate the impact of comorbidities, illness duration, race, and sex.
Assessing cognitive flexibility in anorexia nervosa using eye tracking: A registered report
Authors: Dann Kelly M. , Veldre Aaron , Hay Phillipa , Touyz Stephen , Andrews Sally
Published: July 2022

Objective

Cognitive flexibility research in anorexia nervosa (AN) has primarily focused on group differences between clinical and control participants, but research in the general population utilizing the mixed pro‐ anti‐saccade flexibility task has demonstrated individual differences in trait anxiety are a determinant of switching performance, and switching impairments are more pronounced for keypress than saccadic (eye‐movement) responses. The aim of the current research is to explore trait anxiety and differences in saccadic and keypress responding as potential determinants of performance on flexibility tasks in AN.

Method

We will compare performance on the mixed pro‐ anti‐saccade paradigm between female adult participants with a current diagnosis of AN and matched control participants, observing both saccadic and keypress responses while controlling for trait anxiety (State ‐ Trait Anxiety Inventory) and spatial working memory (Corsi Block Tapping Test). Associations with eating disorder‐related symptoms (Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire), flexibility in everyday life (Eating Disorder Flexibility Index), and the Clinical Perfectionism Questionnaire will also be assessed.

Results

Data which controls for individual differences in trait anxiety and assesses flexibility at both the task‐ and response‐set level may be used to more accurately understand differences in performance on cognitive flexibility tasks by participants with AN.

Discussion

Clarifying the effects of trait anxiety on flexibility, and differences between task‐ and response‐set switching may advance our understanding of how cognitive flexibility relates to flexibility in everyday life and improve translation to therapeutic approaches.

Public significance statement

This research will compare performance on a flexibility task between participants with anorexia nervosa (AN) and controls while observing their eye‐movements to examine whether trait anxiety and type of response (eye‐movement and keypress) are associated with performance. This data may improve our understanding of why participants with AN perform more poorly on cognitive flexibility tasks, and how poor cognitive flexibility relates to eating disorder‐related issues with flexibility in everyday life.
Synthesis of Fungal Cell Wall Oligosaccharides and Their Ability to Trigger Plant Immune Responses
Authors: Chaube Manishkumar A. , Trattnig Nino , Lee Du‐Hwa , Belkhadir Youssef , Pfrengle Fabian
Published: July 2022

Oligosaccharide fragments of fungal cell wall glycans are important molecular probes for studying both the biology of fungi and fungal infections of humans, animals, and plants. The fungal cell wall contains large amounts of various polysaccharides that are ligands for pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), eliciting an immune response upon recognition. Towards the establishment of a glycan array platform for the identification of new ligands of plant PRRs, tri‐, penta‐, and heptasaccharide fragments of different cell wall polysaccharides were prepared. Chito‐ and β‐(1→6)‐gluco‐oligosaccharides were synthesized by automated glycan assembly (AGA), and α‐(1→3)‐ and α‐(1→4)‐gluco‐oligosaccharides were synthesized in solution using a recently reported highly α‐selective glycosylation methodology. Incubation of plants with the synthesized oligosaccharides revealed i) length dependence for plant activation by chito‐oligosaccharides and ii) β‐1,6‐glucan oligosaccharides as a new class of glycans capable of triggering plant activation.
Recent Advances on Electrochemical Sensors Based on Electroactive Bacterial Systems for Toxicant Monitoring: A Minireview
Authors: Haddour Naoufel , Azri Yamina Mounia
Published: July 2022

In recent years, there have been advancements in the development of bacterial electrochemical sensors for toxicity monitoring, especially through utilization of electroactive bacteria. Accordingly, this mini review summarizes the recent advances in the design of bacterial‐based electrochemical sensors with a specific discussion of main methodologies used for preparation of bioelectrodes based on electroactive bacteria. Additionally, current trends in the design of efficient and high performing bacterial electrochemical sensors for toxicity monitoring are presented. An overview of the most relevant findings and challenges of this technology for practical are provided and might serve as a general outlook for planning further research.
What we can do about Autism and Eating Disorder comorbidity
Authors: Tchanturia Kate
Published: July 2022

Objective

We are pleased to introduce this special issue about Autism and Feeding and Eating Disorders, representing reflections on this complex comorbidity.

Method

Contributions focussed on several main themes: (1) the definition and assessment of autism and eating disorder (ED) comorbidity; (2) the brain imaging findings of similarities and differences between autism and EDs; (3) sensory systems and interoception; (4) comorbidity across the age spectrum and (5) improving treatment outcomes in ED and autism comorbidity.

Results

The papers in this issue highlight the importance of research, screening and practical adaptations in the field of ED and autism comorbidity. Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition with several strengths and weaknesses. When patients present with this comorbidity, it is important that their ED is treated which requires careful adaptation and tailoring for people with autism.

Discussion

This special issue is an attempt to facilitate further research and stimulate collaborations between all of the stakeholders, particularly clinicians who have expertise in autism and clinicians working in the field of ED. We have included diverse themes from international researchers conducting qualitative and quantitative studies, providing research evidence to inform treatment modifications for this complex comorbidity.
Frost cracking dictated landslide distribution in response to temperature change since Last Glacial Maximum across the Eastern Qilian Mountains
Authors: Geng Haopeng , Hong Yang , Milledge David G. , Pan Baotian , Guo Yu
Published: July 2022

Temperature‐dependent frost cracking is a major weathering process that dominates sediment supply and hillslope erosion by reducing shear strength and conditioning slopes to be more failure‐prone in cold mountain regions. Landslides are a common erosional process in such landscapes. The linkage between these two processes has been proposed but many of the mechanisms remain to be investigated. In this study we compile a landslide inventory in the Eastern Qilian Mountains including 2482 rockfalls and 5373 elongate transport zone footprints. We use a widely accepted frost cracking model to explore this weathering process as a mechanism of paleoclimate control on the modern landslide distribution. The results show that landslides concentrate in a narrow altitudinal range and that this elevation dependence varies with slope aspect. Based on the paleoclimate record, we calculate the time‐averaged frost cracking intensity (Fci) since Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and adopt different parameters for two slope aspects. We find that time averaged Fci is a good predictor of the landslide elevation distribution for both aspects. We then introduce two slope‐based landslide initiation and runout models (i.e., SHALRUN and FCIRUN) to examine the relative roles of slope versus temperature in determining the landslide probability in space. The FCIRUN model, which incorporates Fci as a measure of sediment supply, consistently outperforms the SHALRUN model. This result suggests that frost cracking determines the pattern of landslide initiation, although topography still controls their runout path. Our study highlights the potential of introducing Fci into slope‐based landslide prediction models to improve model skill in identifying hazardous areas (e.g., rockfall) across weathering‐limited landscapes like the Qilian Mountains.
Low‐latency selective encryption scheme for scalable extension of high‐efficiency video coding
Authors: Faragallah Osama S. , Sallam Ahmed I. , Alajmi Masoud , El‐sayed Hala S.
Published: July 2022

This article presents a selective encryption (SE) chaotic video stream cipher for the scalable extended high‐efficiency video coding (SHVC) bitstream. The proposed SHVC SE uses a logistic map (LM) for enciphering the motion vector difference (MVD), discrete cosine transform (DCT) coefficients and delta quantization parameter (dQP) sign bits. The SHVC SE chaotic video stream cipher is proposed to secure the most sensitive bits of the SHVC while keeping the video format compliance feature. Also, this paper presents a performance analysis for the proposed SHVC SE and the AES in CFB operation mode. Experimental results illustrate the main feature of using the LM in the proposed SHVC SE, which is lower latency encoding time for the SHVC SE chaotic video stream cipher than using the AES in CFB operation mode. Security investigations are performed on the proposed SHVC SE for ensuring the robustness of the ciphered SHVC digital video against unauthorized attacks.
The role of investor sentiment in forecasting housing returns in China: A machine learning approach
Authors: Cepni Oguzhan , Gupta Rangan , Onay Yigit
Published: July 2022

This paper analyzes the predictive ability of aggregate and disaggregate proxies of investor sentiment, over and above standard macroeconomic predictors, in forecasting housing returns in China, using an array of machine learning models. We find that our new aligned investor sentiment index has greater predictive power for housing returns than the principal component analysis (PCA)‐based sentiment index, used earlier in the literature. Moreover, shrinkage models utilizing the disaggregate sentiment proxies do not result in forecast improvement indicating that aligned sentiment index optimally exploits information in the disaggregate proxies of investor sentiment. Furthermore, when we let the machine learning models to choose from all key control variables and the aligned sentiment index, the forecasting accuracy is improved at all forecasting horizons, rather than just the short‐run as witnessed under standard predictive regressions. This result suggests that machine learning methods are flexible enough to capture both structural change and time‐varying information in a set of predictors simultaneously to forecast housing returns of China in a precise manner. Given the role of the real estate market in China's economic growth, our result of accurate forecasting of housing returns has important implications for both investors and policymakers.
Guanaco colonisation of Tierra del Fuego Island from mainland Patagonia: Walked, swam, or by canoe?
Authors: Franklin William L.
Published: July 2022

Addressed here is the biogeographical‐vexing question of why the guanaco (Lama guanicoe) is the only large mammal on the big island of Tierra del Fuego, answered by comparing alternative colonisation hypotheses. A multidisciplinary examination was conducted into the archaeological, ecological, evolutionary, geographical, genomic, glacial and zoological past, plus distribution of native terrestrial vertebrates in the Patagonia of southern South America. Notable disparities exist between main Patagonia (2.5 species/10,000 km2) compared with Tierra del Fuego (1.8). In the similar‐sized area of mainland Patagonia just north of the Strait of Magellan there are 12 reptiles, 7 amphibians and 34 mammals = 53 total species; Tierra del Fuego has 13. Despite being the size of Switzerland and only 3.1 km from the mainland, Tierra del Fuego has no species of snakes, salamanders, frogs or turtles, only one lizard, one toad, nine small mammals, one carnivore and one ungulate, the Guanaco. An innovative proposal is made contrary to traditional thinking: Tierra del Fuego has relatively few native‐terrestrial vertebrates because they were decimated by major tephra‐ash fallout (2 to >15 cm) from the Holocene 7750 YBP (years before present) Hudson volcano, the biggest and most destructive eruption in Patagonia during the past 10,000 years that eradicated indigenous peoples, most terrestrial vertebrates and all Guanacos. Neither terrestrial vertebrates nor man were replenished from the adjacent mainland for 1000 years because the Strait of Magellan was a complete biogeographical barrier. Guanacos on Tierra del Fuego have lower genetic diversity compared with the mainland, suggesting it is a younger population. Empirical evidence and pivotal events of Patagonia's prehistory support one of three hypotheses: guanacos were introduced to Tierra del Fuego by early Holocene, guanaco‐dependent, indigenous peoples from the mainland who repopulated Tierra del Fuego utilising the newly invented, skilfully crafted, seaworthy bark canoe (Appendix S1–Resumen en Español).
Voxel‐based diktiometry: Combining convolutional neural networks with voxel‐based analysis and its application in diffusion tensor imaging for Parkinson's disease
Authors: Estudillo‐Romero Alfonso , Haegelen Claire , Jannin Pierre , Baxter John S. H.
Published: July 2022

Extracting population‐wise information from medical images, specifically in the neurological domain, is crucial to better understanding disease processes and progression. This is frequently done in a whole‐brain voxel‐wise manner, in which a population of patients and healthy controls are registered to a common co‐ordinate space and a statistical test is performed on the distribution of image intensities for each location. Although this method has yielded a number of scientific insights, it is further from clinical applicability as the differences are often small and altogether do not permit for a high‐performing classifier. In this article, we take the opposite approach of using a high‐performing classifier, specifically a traditional convolutional neural network, and then extracting insights from it which can be applied in a population‐wise manner, a method we call voxel‐based diktiometry. We have applied this method to diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) analysis for Parkinson's disease (PD), using the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative database. By using the network sensitivity information, we can decompose what elements of the DTI contribute the most to the network's performance, drawing conclusions about diffusion biomarkers for PD that are based on metrics which are not readily expressed in the voxel‐wise approach.
Causal relationships between inflammatory factors and multiple myeloma: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Wang Qiangsheng , Shi Qiqin , Lu Jiawen , Wang Zhenqian , Hou Jian
Published: July 2022

Changes in serum inflammatory factors occur throughout the onset and multiple myeloma (MM) progression, the feedback loops make it harder to distinguish between causes and effects. In the present study, we performed a bidirectional summary‐level Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to elucidate the causal relationships of C‐reactive protein (CRP) and inflammatory regulators with MM. Summary‐level data of genetic variants associated with inflammation were extracted from two genome‐wide association studies (GWASs) on CRP and human cytokines, while data on MM was from large meta‐analyses of GWASs among 372 617 UK Biobank participants. The inverse‐variance weighted (IVW) method was used as the primary MR analysis and MR‐Egger, weighted median, and MR‐pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR‐PRESSO) were used as the sensitivity analyses. Our results suggested that higher levels of monocyte‐specific chemokine‐3 (IVW estimate odds ratio [ORIVW] per SD genetic cytokines change: 1.24; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03‐1.49; P = .02), vascular endothelial growth factor (1.14, 1.03‐1.27; P = .02), interleukin‐10 (1.33, 1.01‐1.75; P = .04) and interleukin‐7 (1.24, 1.03‐1.48; P = .02) were associated with increased risk of MM, while lower levels of tumor necrosis factor‐β (0.84, 0.74‐0.92; P < .001) was strongly associated with an increased risk of MM. And conversely, genetically predicted MM was related to increased levels of interleukin‐17 (IVW estimate β: 0.051, 95% CI: 0.018‐0.085; P = 2.7 × 10−3). Besides, we observed no such significant associations for other inflammatory factors in our study. Overall, our study provides genetic evidence on the relationships of CRP and systemic inflammatory regulators with MM. Targeted interventions of specific inflammatory factors may have implications to alleviate MM cancer risk.
Risk factors for Bakri balloon tamponade failure in the management of postpartum hemorrhage
Authors: Xu Tian‐yi , Fu Qin
Published: July 2022

Objective

To predict risk factors for Bakri balloon tamponade (BBT) failure in the management of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH).

Methods

The data of 599 patients who underwent BBT were retrospectively analyzed from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2021 in a tertiary hospital in Shanghai, East China. The patients were divided into the failure group and the success group. Failure was defined as the inability to control bleeding, which required surgical interventions. Maternal characteristics, PPH characteristics, PPH management approaches, and maternal complications were compared between the groups. The independent predictors of BBT failure were analyzed by logistic regression analysis.

Results

The overall success rate of BBT was 83.0% (497/599). The blood loss before and after balloon insertion in the failure group was significantly greater than that in the success group. Of the 102 failures, B‐Lynch suture was performed in one patient, uterine artery embolization was performed in 99 patients (with one failure), and total hysterectomy was performed in three patients. Some risk factors, including twin gestation (odds ratio [OR] 9.68), placenta accreta spectrum with/without placenta previa (OR 4.45), estimated blood loss at least 1135 ml at balloon insertion (OR 3.35), multiparous (OR 2.72), and in vitro fertilization‐embryo transfer (OR 2.00) were strongly associated with BBT failure.

Conclusion

BBT seemed to be a less effective tool in the management of PPH due to placenta accreta spectrum with/without placenta previa and twin gestation.
Lower gastrointestinal function after surgery for deep endometriosis: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Dior Uri P. , Reddington Charlotte , Cheng Claudia , Levin Gabriel , McInerney Carmel , Moss Alan , Healey Martin
Published: July 2022

Objective

To prospectively compare long‐term lower gastrointestinal function before and after laparoscopic surgery for deep endometriosis (DE).

Methods

In this prospective observational study we followed 149 patients with confirmed DE who were treated surgically. Patients completed the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Anal Incontinence Symptoms and Quality of Life Module (ICIQ‐B) before surgery, and 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery. Bowel pattern, bowel control, and bowel impact on quality of life summary scores were compared before and after surgery.

Results

Bowel pattern score showed an increasing improvement at all time points after surgery, from a mean pre‐operation score of 4.8 ± 2.0 to 4.4 ± 1.8 at 6 weeks, 4.2 ± 1.8 at 6 months, and 4.2 ± 1.2 at 12 months. Bowel impact on quality of life significantly improved from pre‐surgery mean score of 5.5 ± 6.0 to 4.2 ± 5.5 at 6 weeks and 4.4 ± 5.4 at 6 months. Direct lower gastrointestinal endometriosis involvement and worse initial function were associated with larger improvements in scores following surgery.

Conclusions

Lower gastrointestinal function significantly improved after surgical treatment of DE. Further research is needed to confirm our findings and to better characterize the sub‐groups of patients for whom surgery will have a beneficial effect on their bowel function.
Unintended pregnancy and associated risk factors among college students in the 31 provinces/ municipalities of China
Authors: Liang Haixu , Hu Zhenchao
Published: July 2022

Synopsis

Differences exist in unintended pregnancy rates among Chinese students of different genders, majors, school locations, ethnic groups, and ages. Non‐Han ethnicity was the strongest factor.
A rare case of pyoderma gangrenosum occurring at the site of laparoscopic port following laparoscopic radical nephrectomy
Authors: Ogasawara Takuto , Fukuta Fumimasa , Fujita Miri , Tachiki Hitoshi , Shindo Tetsuya , Kato Junji , Uhara Hisashi , Masumori Naoya
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare dermatological disease associated with underlying inflammatory conditions.

Case presentation

A 59‐year‐old man was diagnosed with right renal cancer cT1aN0M0 and laparoscopic right radical nephrectomy was performed. Five days after surgery, he had a high‐grade fever, surgical site flare, and severe pain. At first, we diagnosed surgical site infection and wound dehiscence. Despite treatment for infection, his general condition and dermatological symptoms did not improve. Thereafter, a dermatologist advised us to perform a skin biopsy and blood culture examinations. Finally, the man was diagnosed with pyoderma gangrenosum according to the pathology of the skin biopsy and negative blood culture. After both intravenous administration of predonisolone and a topical corticosteroid, the high‐grade fever and dermatological symptoms improved greatly.

Conclusion

Although pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare disease, we should bear in mind the disease since the treatment strategy is completely different from that for surgical site infection.
A hydrogel platform for co‐delivery of immunomodulatory proteins for pancreatic islet allografts
Authors: Medina Juan D. , Barber Graham F. , Coronel Maria M. , Hunckler Michael D. , Linderman Stephen W. , Quizon Michelle J. , Ulker Vahap , Yolcu Esma S. , Shirwan Haval , García Andrés J.
Published: July 2022

Type 1 diabetes (T1D), an autoimmune disorder in which the insulin‐producing β‐cells in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas are destroyed, afflicts over 1.6 million Americans. Although pancreatic islet transplantation has shown promise in treating T1D, continuous use of required immunosuppression regimens limits clinical islet transplantation as it poses significant adverse effects on graft recipients and does not achieve consistent long‐term graft survival with 50%–70% of recipients maintaining insulin independence at 5 years. T cells play a key role in graft rejection, and rebalancing pathogenic T effector and protective T regulatory cells can regulate autoimmune disorders and transplant rejection. The synergy of the interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) and Fas immunomodulatory pathways presents an avenue for eliminating the need for systemic immune suppression by exploiting IL‐2's role in expanding regulatory T cells and leveraging Fas ligand (FasL) activity on antigen‐induced cell death of effector T cells. Herein, we developed a hydrogel platform for co‐delivering an analog of IL‐2, IL‐2D, and FasL‐presenting microgels to achieve localized immunotolerance to pancreatic islets by targeting the upregulation of regulatory T cells and effector T cells simultaneously. Although this hydrogel provided for sustained, local delivery of active immunomodulatory proteins, indefinite allograft survival was not achieved. Immune profiling analysis revealed upregulation of target regulatory T cells but also increases in Granzyme B‐expressing CD8+ T cells at the graft site. We attribute the failed establishment of allograft survival to these Granzyme B‐expressing T cells. This study underscores the delicate balance of immunomodulatory components important for allograft survival – whose outcome can be dependent on timing, duration, modality of delivery, and disease model.
Association between relational mobility, brain structure, and prosociality in adolescents
Authors: Yamada Junko , Shou Qiulu , Miyazaki Atsushi , Matsuda Tetsuya , Takagishi Haruto
Published: July 2022

Trust plays a vital role in human society. Previous studies have suggested that trust comprises general trust and caution. General trust is a belief that others, in general, are trustworthy, and caution is a belief in the importance of vigilance in dealing with others. Adolescence is a critical period for establishing these psychological traits. It is a period of physical and mental development, and the social environment during this period influences adolescents' psychology, including their brain structures. In this study, we focus on relational mobility as a socio‐environmental factor that influences the development of adolescents' psychology and the brain. Relational mobility refers to the degree of freedom to choose and replace social relationships and consists of two subfactors (the degree of freedom to choose and replace social relationships and the number of opportunities to meet new people). Accordingly, we analyzed each subfactor separately. Results showed that the degree of freedom to choose and replace social relationships was only negatively associated with caution and left posterior superior temporal gyrus (pSTG) volume in adolescents. Furthermore, the effect of the freedom to choose and replace social relationships on caution was significantly relevant to the left pSTG volume. In contrast, the degree of opportunities to meet new people was associated with neither general trust nor caution, whereas it was positively associated with the right supramarginal gyrus volume. This study suggests that the social environment during adolescence influences brain structures related to prosociality.
Comparative vegetative anatomy of three Elaeocarpus species from the Western Ghats, Southern India
Authors: Yuvarani Seenu , Karthik Shanmugam , Koshila Ravi Ravichandran , Muthukumar Thangavelu
Published: July 2022

The vegetative anatomy of Elaeocarpus angustifolius Blume, Elaeocarpus tuberculatus Roxb., and Elaeocarpus variabilis Zmarzty were investigated to illustrate anatomical variations. Plant materials were free‐hand sectioned using a razor blade and stained with different staining solutions. The maceration technique was used to assess stomatal characteristics. Elaeocarpus leaves have abaxial epidermis with paracytic stomata and curved anticlinal walls in E. angustifolius, straight walls in other two species. Trichomes were absent in E. angustifolius.hav Mesophyll dorsiventral, midvein cortex contains starch grains, and vascular tissues enclosed by thick‐walled sclerenchymatous cells. The petioles of all the three species possess unicellular epidermal hairs, collenchymatous hypodermis, and cortex containing druses and crystals, and vascular tissue enclosed by sclerenchymatous fibers. Water‐storage cells are absent in petioles of E. angustifolius. Anatomical features of Elaeocarpus stem include epidermal hairs, epidermis covered by thin cuticle, the collenchymatous hypodermis and vascular integrity with entire cylinder enclosed by sclerenchymatous fibers. Pith contains water‐storage cells. Starch grains absent in the pith cells of E. tuberculatus. The roots of Elaeocarpus possess unicellular root hairs, cortex 12–14 layered in E. tuberculatus and E. variabilis and 10–12 layerd E. angustifolius, Endodermis O‐thickened and pericycle single‐layered in all the examined Elaeocarpus species. Vascular bundles are arranged radially. Lignin deposition occurred in stellar region of roots. Water‐storage cells present in the stelar regions of E. variabilis. The study revealed significant anatomical differences between the three Elaeocarpus species and most of these anatomical features may be used as markers for the identification of these species.

Research Highlights

Comparative anatomy of three south Indian Elaeocarpus was studied.

Leaf mesophyll layers varied in all the Elaeocarpus species.

Crystals was present in petiole of all examined Elaeocarpus species.

Starch grains was absent in stems of E. tubercuatus, but present in E. variabilis.

Water‐storage cells observed in stellar region of E. variabilis.
New and convergent synthesis of erdafitinib
Authors: Xu Zhiyong , Wang Han , Jiang Shun , Lu Sheng , Mao Yongjun
Published: July 2022

A new and convergent synthetic route of erdafitinib on a 20 g scale has been developed, from the commercially available chemicals quinoxalin‐2‐ol, 4‐bromo‐1‐methyl‐1H‐pyrazole, and 2‐bromo‐1,1‐dimethoxyethane. The key intermediate 3,5‐dimethoxyphenyl‐isopropylethane‐1,2‐diamine (17) was prepared from 2‐bromo‐1,1‐dimethoxyethane in 89% yield over two steps and 98.8% purity. Erdafitinib was obtained from 7‐bromo‐2‐(1‐methyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl) quinoxaline (8) and 17 in 89% yield and 99.4% purity. There are seven steps in this convergent synthesis route and the overall yield is 54%.
β‐Cyclodextrin‐catalyzed synthesis, characterization, and bacterial evaluation of spirochromanone‐linked 1,2,3‐triazole and spirochromanone conjugates containing bis‐1,2,3‐triazoles
Authors: Madhuri Eluri Venkata Lakshmi , Sarasija Madderla , Ashok Dongamanti
Published: July 2022

Spirochromanone linked 1,2,3‐triazoles and spirochromanone conjugates containing bis‐1,2,3‐triazoles were synthesized for the first time and are evaluated for possible anti‐bacterial activity. In this work, preparation of triazole moieties mediated by a catalytic amount of β‐cyclodextrin starting from propargylated spirochromanone is reported. The approach involves a simple, efficient click chemistry method, inexpensive phase transfer catalyst, and uses a green solvent. Though the activity is less promising, it paves a route for preparation of Spirochromanone linked 1,2,3‐triazoles and spirochromanone conjugates containing bis‐1,2,3‐triazoles, where structural modification can possibly result in compounds with better activity. All the compounds were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and mass spectral studies.
Synthesis, characterization, biological evaluation, and computational study of benzimidazole hybrid thiosemicarbazide derivatives
Authors: Acharya Prachi T. , Bhavsar Zeel A. , Jethava Divya J. , Rajani Dhanji P. , Pithawala Edwin , Patel Hitesh D.
Published: July 2022

The antimicrobial, anti‐tubercular, antimalarial, and antioxidant properties of a series of benzimidazole hybrid thiosemicarbazide derivatives (7a–o) were investigated in vitro. IR, 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR, and ESI‐MS spectra were used to describe and elucidate the synthesized compounds. The majority of the compounds studied have excellent antibacterial and antioxidant properties. In addition, an in silico investigation was conducted. By calculating ADME‐Tox descriptors, all freshly synthesized molecules were shown to have outstanding pharmacokinetic properties, indicating that these derivatives could be used as a basis for the development of some novel active drugs. A SAR (structure–activity relationship) was also briefly described
Synthesis of N‐acetyl‐l‐aspartyl‐l‐glutamic acid; [3H]NAAG
Authors: Kriegelstein Michal , Marek Aleš
Published: July 2022

[3H]NAAG, N‐acetyl‐l‐aspartyl‐l‐glutamic acid, has been widely used as a substrate in glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII) reactions, either to determine the inhibitory constants at 50% inhibition (IC50) of novel compounds or to measure GCPII activities in different tissues harvested from various disease models. The importance of [3H]NAAG, combined with its current commercial unavailability, prompted the development of a reliable eight‐step synthetic procedure towards [3H2]NAAG starting from commercially available pyroglutamate. Pure [3H]NAAG of high molar activity (49.8 Ci/mmol) and desired stereochemistry was isolated in high radiochemical yield (67 mCi) and radiochemical purity (>99%). The identity was confirmed by mass spectrometry and co‐injection with unlabeled reference.