bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding ureteropelvic junction obstruction: how far have we come?
Authors: Costigan Caoimhe S. , Rosenblum Norman D.
Published: April 2023

Congenital anomalies of the urinary tract are a major cause of chronic kidney disease in both adults and children. Ureteropelvic junction obstruction, usually detected as urinary tract dilatation in utero, is one of the most common forms of CAKUT. As antenatal ultrasound technology advances and screening becomes more widespread, increasing numbers of infants with this UPJO will be detected. Management of these infants presents a clinical conundrum, as distinguishing mild benign cases from those who may develop severe renal impairment is challenging. Herein we propose that an understanding of normal developmental and pathological mechanisms involved in UPJO is important in the armamentarium for tackling this challenging condition.
Surgical management of chronic calcific deposit resembling tendon sheath infection in the index finger: A rare case report and literature review
Authors: Guo Deming , Yang Jingjing , Liu Xiaoning
Published: April 2023

Background

Calcific tendonitis rarely occurs in the fingers, and it is easily misdiagnosed. Herein we describe the case of a patient with multiple calcific lesions within the flexor digitorum superficialis and the extensor digitorum tendons of the distal interphalangeal joints of the right index finger, and the surgical treatment of those lesions.

Case presentation

The patient was a 66-year-old man who reported pain and swelling in his right index finger for one year. He was diagnosed with chronic calcific tendonitis based on his symptoms and radiology images. He was successfully treated surgically, and histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis. After one month, the patient had healed well, and there was no recurrence.

Conclusions

This is the first report of a patient suffering from chronic calcific tendonitis in a finger who failed conservative treatment and was successfully treated with surgery. The outcome demonstrates that surgical debridement can yield a good outcome in patients with chronic calcific tendonitis.
Case report: Circulating tumor DNA technology displays temporal and spatial heterogeneity in Waldenström macroglobulinemia during treatment with BTK inhibitors
Authors: Zhu Jingjing , Zhu Xinyu , Xie Fengyang , Ding Yi , Lu Huina , Dong Yan , Li Ping , Fu Jianfei , Liang Aibin , Zeng Yu , Xiu Bing
Published: April 2023

Background: Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare subtype of B-cell lymphoma. Rituximab-based combination therapy and Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors have greatly improved the prognosis of WM. Despite the high response rate and good tolerance of BTK inhibitors in treatment of WM, a proportion of patients still experience disease progression.

Case presentation: We report a 55-year-old man with relapsed WM. The patient achieved partial remission after six courses of CHOP chemotherapy and multiple plasma exchanges in initial treatment. He was admitted to the hospital with abdominal distension, and was diagnosed with relapsed WM and subsequently started on zanubrutinib. Disease progression and histological transformation occurred during treatment. We performed liquid biopsies on transformed plasma, tumor tissue and ascites at the same time and found high consistency between ascites and tissues. Moreover, we detected resistance mutations of BTK inhibitors (BTK, PLCG2) in ascites that were not detected in plasma or tissue. Eventually, the patient died during the 15-month follow-up after relapse.

Conclusion: We describe a rare case of WM transformation to DLCBCL treated with chemoimmunotherapy and BTK inhibition. We analyzed tumor DNA obtained at different anatomic sites and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) derived from plasma and ascites specimens, with apparent significant temporal and spatial heterogeneity. The case specifically highlights the clinical value of ctDNA of ascites supernatant from WM patients, which is a more convenient and relatively noninvasive method compared with traditional invasive tissue biopsy.
Numerical Investigation of Distributed Speed Feedback Control of Turbulent Boundary Layer Excitation Curved Plates Radiation Noise
Authors: Wei Dapeng , Liu Bilong , Kang Ludi
Published: April 2023

The control of decentralized velocity feedback on curved aircraft plates under turbulent boundary layer excitations is numerically investigated in this paper. Sixteen active control units are set on the plate to reduce the vibration and sound radiation of the plate. The computational results from the two methods are compared to verify the accuracy of the numerical model. The plate kinetic energy and the radiated sound power under turbulent boundary layer and control unit excitations are analyzed. The influences of control unit distribution, plate thickness and curvature on radiated sound are discussed. Unlike a flat plate, the control of the lower-order high radiation modes of a curved plate under TBL excitations is critical since these modes predominate the sound radiations. The control of these modes, however, is sensitive to the ratio of the stiffness associated with the membrane tensions to the stiffness associated with the bending forces. This ratio implies that the plate curvature and the thickness play an important role in the control effect. When the plate is thinner and the radius is smaller, the control is less effective.
Hyperspectral Technique for Detection of Peanut Leaf Spot Disease Based on Improved PCA Loading
Authors: Guan Qiang , Zhao Dongxue , Feng Shuai , Xu Tongyu , Wang Haoriqin , Song Kai
Published: April 2023

Leaf spot disease is a dangerous disease that affects peanut growth, and its severity can significantly impact peanut yield. Hyperspectral-based disease detection technology is a popular non-destructive technique due to its high efficiency, objectivity, and accuracy. In this study, peanut leaf spectra at different levels of severity of leaf spot disease were collected in Liaoning Province, China, in mid-August. This study analyzed the differences in wavelengths using mean spectral reflectance and sensitivity. Using improved principal component analysis loading (I-PCA loading) based on the contribution weight assignment approach, we identified three feature wavelengths of 570 nm, 671 nm, and 750 nm. We evaluated the ability of these feature wavelengths to detect the severity of leaf spot disease using k-nearest neighbor (KNN), support vector machine (SVM), and back-propagation (BP) neural network classifiers. Our experimental results showed that our improved PCA loading method achieved higher classification accuracy with fewer wavelengths than the seven commonly used feature selection methods. Among these classifiers, the SVM achieved the highest accuracy, with an overall accuracy (OA) of 96.88% and a Kappa of 95.81%. Therefore, our proposed method can accurately detect the severity of peanut leaf spot disease and provide scientific and technical support for accurately managing peanut crops.
The Impact of Rotational Pasture Management for Farm-Bred Fallow Deer (Dama dama) on Fodder Quality in the Context of Animal Welfare
Authors: Kulik Mariusz , Tajchman Katarzyna , Lipiec Antoni , Bąkowski Maciej , Ukalska-Jaruga Aleksandra , Ceacero Francisco , Pecio Monika , Steiner-Bogdaszewska Żaneta
Published: April 2023

Extensive breeding of farmed cervids, similarly to other livestock, affects the vegetation of grasslands in different seasons. For this reason, the impact of the rotational grazing of fallow deer on the chemical and species composition of the pasture sward was assessed, along with the possibility of using these animals for grasslands conservation. The species composition of the pastures was analysed through the botanical-weight method. A quality index and mineral concentration test by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry were used to evaluate the feed. The highest proportion of valuable grasses, such as Dactylis glomerata, Poa pratensis and Lolium perenne, was recorded in the summer pens (65.7–66.1%), while the smallest proportion was recorded in the control area (46.1%). The estimated yield potential was relatively large, from 5.74 to 7.02 t ha−1 dry matter. The lowest total protein content occurred in the control area in the spring and autumn. The summer pens, including the sown one, had a better fodder quality, depending on the species composition. All pens were characterised by a high production potential and similar floristic composition, without the participation of undesirable plant species, which confirms the hypothesis that, under extensive grazing conditions, fallow deer can be used for grassland conservation.
Enteric Methane Emissions Prediction in Dairy Cattle and Effects of Monensin on Methane Emissions: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Marumo Joyce L. , LaPierre P. Andrew , Van Amburgh Michael E.
Published: April 2023

Greenhouse gas emissions, such as enteric methane (CH4) from ruminant livestock, have been linked to global warming. Thus, easily applicable CH4 management strategies, including the inclusion of dietary additives, should be in place. The objectives of the current study were to: (i) compile a database of animal records that supplemented monensin and investigate the effect of monensin on CH4 emissions; (ii) identify the principal dietary, animal, and lactation performance input variables that predict enteric CH4 production (g/d) and yield (g/kg of dry matter intake DMI); (iii) develop empirical models that predict CH4 production and yield in dairy cattle; and (iv) evaluate the newly developed models and published models in the literature. A significant reduction in CH4 production and yield of 5.4% and 4.0%, respectively, was found with a monensin supplementation of ≤24 mg/kg DM. However, no robust models were developed from the monensin database because of inadequate observations under the current paper’s inclusion/exclusion criteria. Thus, further long-term in vivo studies of monensin supplementation at ≤24 mg/kg DMI in dairy cattle on CH4 emissions specifically beyond 21 days of feeding are reported to ensure the monensin effects on the enteric CH4 are needed. In order to explore CH4 predictions independent of monensin, additional studies were added to the database. Subsequently, dairy cattle CH4 production prediction models were developed using a database generated from 18 in vivo studies, which included 61 treatment means from the combined data of lactating and non-lactating cows (COM) with a subset of 48 treatment means for lactating cows (LAC database). A leave-one-out cross-validation of the derived models showed that a DMI-only predictor model had a similar root mean square prediction error as a percentage of the mean observed value (RMSPE, %) on the COM and LAC database of 14.7 and 14.1%, respectively, and it was the key predictor of CH4 production. All databases observed an improvement in prediction abilities in CH4 production with DMI in the models along with dietary forage proportion inclusion and the quadratic term of dietary forage proportion. For the COM database, the CH4 yield was best predicted by the dietary forage proportion only, while the LAC database was for dietary forage proportion, milk fat, and protein yields. The best newly developed models showed improved predictions of CH4 emission compared to other published equations. Our results indicate that the inclusion of dietary composition along with DMI can provide an improved CH4 production prediction in dairy cattle.
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Detects Myocardial Abnormalities in Naturally Infected Dogs with Chronic Asymptomatic Chagas Disease
Authors: Matthews Derek J. , Fries Ryan C. , Jeffery Nicholas D. , Hamer Sarah A. , Saunders Ashley B.
Published: April 2023

Trypanosoma cruzi infection causes inflammation and fibrosis, resulting in cardiac damage in dogs. The objectives of this study were to describe cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in naturally infected dogs with chronic Chagas disease and the frequency of abnormalities for CMR and cardiac diagnostic tests. Ten asymptomatic, client-owned dogs seropositive for T. cruzi were prospectively enrolled in an observational study evaluating echocardiography, ECG (standard and ambulatory), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and CMR. Standard ECG measurements (3/10) and cTnI concentration (1/10) outside the reference range were uncommon. Ambulatory ECG abnormalities were documented more frequently (6/10 dogs) than with standard ECG and included ventricular arrhythmias (4), supraventricular premature beats (3), second-degree atrioventricular block (2), and sinus arrest (1). Echocardiographic abnormalities were documented in 6/10 dogs including mildly increased left ventricular internal dimension in diastole (1) and decreased right ventricular (RV) systolic function based on reductions in tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (3) and RV S’ (4). Abnormalities were detected with CMR in 7/10 dogs including delayed myocardial enhancement in 5 of which 2 also had increased extracellular volume, abnormal wall motion in 5, and loss of apical compact myocardium in 1. In conclusion, CMR abnormalities were common, and the results of this study suggest CMR can provide useful information in dogs with T. cruzi infection and may support naturally infected dogs for future clinical investigation as an animal model for Chagas disease.
A Comparison of the Effects of Raw and Processed Amaranth Grain on Laying Hens’ Performance, Egg Physicochemical Properties, Blood Biochemistry and Egg Fatty Acids
Authors: Kianfar Ruhollah , Di Rosa Ambra Rita , Divari Neda , Janmohammadi Hossein , Hosseintabar-Ghasemabad Babak , Oteri Marianna , Gorlov Ivan Fedorovich , Slozhenkina Marina Ivanovna , Mosolov Aleksandr Anatolievich , Seidavi Alireza
Published: April 2023

In order to investigate the effects of using different levels of either raw or processed amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus chlorostachys) grain on performance productivity, egg physicochemical properties, blood biochemistry and egg fatty acids, a trial was conducted using 168 Hy-line W-36 laying hens (67 week of age) in a completely randomized design with seven treatments and six replications of four birds for eight weeks. The trial treatments included the control group receiving no amaranth and the test groups receiving 5, 10 and 15% of raw or autoclaved (120 °C for 5 min) amaranth grain based on dry matter. The results showed that the use of processed amaranth up to the level of five and ten percent of the diet compared to raw amaranth resulted in a better performance than the control group (p < 0.05). The consumption of amaranth decreased blood glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride of trial birds without having a negative effect on their health and blood antioxidant status (p < 0.05). The use of different forms of amaranth in diets of laying hens had no negative effects on the physicochemical properties of eggs and led to the production of eggs with reduced yolk cholesterol and triglyceride; however, the omega-6 content in eggs and the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 increased (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the use of amaranth grain at low levels in the diet of laying hens can enhance the health of the bird and the production of quality and useful eggs.
Population Genetic Analysis of Six Chinese Indigenous Pig Meta-Populations Based on Geographically Isolated Regions
Authors: Zhang Lige , Zhang Songyuan , Zhan Fengting , Song Mingkun , Shang Peng , Zhu Fangxian , Li Jiang , Yang Feng , Li Xiuling , Qiao Ruimin , Han Xuelei , Li Xinjian , Liu Gang , Wang Kejun
Published: April 2023

The diversification of indigenous pig breeds in China has resulted from multiple climate, topographic, and human cultural influences. The numerous indigenous pig breeds can be geographically divided into six meta-populations; however, their genetic relationships, contributions to genetic diversity, and genetic signatures remain unclear. Whole-genome SNP data for 613 indigenous pigs from the six Chinese meta-populations were obtained and analyzed. Population genetic analyses confirmed significant genetic differentiation and a moderate mixture among the Chinese indigenous pig meta-populations. The North China (NC) meta-population had the largest contribution to genetic and allelic diversity. Evidence from selective sweep signatures revealed that genes related to fat deposition and heat stress response (EPAS1, NFE2L2, VPS13A, SPRY1, PLA2G4A, and UBE3D) were potentially involved in adaptations to cold and heat. These findings from population genetic analyses provide a better understanding of indigenous pig characteristics in different environments and a theoretical basis for future work on the conservation and breeding of Chinese indigenous pigs.
AFM Indentation on Highly Heterogeneous Materials Using Different Indenter Geometries
Authors: Kontomaris Stylianos Vasileios , Stylianou Andreas , Chliveros Georgios , Malamou Anna
Published: April 2023

Hertzian mechanics is the most frequently used theory for data processing in Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) indentation experiments on soft biological samples, due to its simplicity and significant scientific results previously published. For instance, using the Hertz model, it has been proven that there are significant differences in the mechanical properties of normal and cancerous tissues and that cancer cells’ invasive properties are correlated with their nanomechanical properties. However, many scientists are skeptical regarding the applicability of the Hertz theory to biological materials, as they are highly heterogeneous. The main critical question to be addressed is “what do we calculate” when fitting the force-indentation data to Hertz equations. Previous studies have shown that when using cylindrical, parabolic, or conical indenters, the fitting parameter is the average Young’s modulus. In this paper, it is demonstrated that it is also valid to fit equations derived from Hertzian mechanics to force-indentation data when testing soft, heterogeneous samples for any indenter geometry. The fitting factor calculated through this approach always represents the average Young’s modulus for a specific indentation depth. Therefore, Hertzian mechanics can be extended to soft heterogeneous materials, regardless of the indenter’s shape.
The Multifaceted Role of Glutathione S-Transferases in Health and Disease
Authors: Mazari Aslam M. A. , Zhang Leilei , Ye Zhi-Wei , Zhang Jie , Tew Kenneth D. , Townsend Danyelle M.
Published: April 2023

In humans, the cytosolic glutathione S-transferase (GST) family of proteins is encoded by 16 genes presented in seven different classes. GSTs exhibit remarkable structural similarity with some overlapping functionalities. As a primary function, GSTs play a putative role in Phase II metabolism by protecting living cells against a wide variety of toxic molecules by conjugating them with the tripeptide glutathione. This conjugation reaction is extended to forming redox sensitive post-translational modifications on proteins: S-glutathionylation. Apart from these catalytic functions, specific GSTs are involved in the regulation of stress-induced signaling pathways that govern cell proliferation and apoptosis. Recently, studies on the effects of GST genetic polymorphisms on COVID-19 disease development revealed that the individuals with higher numbers of risk-associated genotypes showed higher risk of COVID-19 prevalence and severity. Furthermore, overexpression of GSTs in many tumors is frequently associated with drug resistance phenotypes. These functional properties make these proteins promising targets for therapeutics, and a number of GST inhibitors have progressed in clinical trials for the treatment of cancer and other diseases.
Relationship between Swimming Velocity and Trunk Twist Motion in Short-Distance Crawl Swimming
Authors: Hyodo Hiroki , Koga Daiki , Sengoku Yasuo , Wada Tadashi
Published: April 2023

This study aimed to estimate the trunk twist angle from the shoulder and hip rotation angles in short-distance crawl swimming and to elucidate the twist motion of the relationship between the trunk and the rotation angular velocity in response to changes in swimming speed. Swimming speed during the experimental trials was computed from the subject’s best times in the 50 and 100 m crawl swims. Wireless self-luminous LED markers were attached to seven locations on the body. The actual coordinate values of the LED markers were obtained using 18 cameras for underwater movements and 4 on the water for above-water movements. A comparison of the rate of change between trials revealed a high correlation (r = 0.722, p < 0.01) between the twist angle and shoulder rotation angular velocity in the Push phase. In the same phase, a high correlation (r = 0.748, p < 0.01) was also found between the twist angle and the angular velocity of hip rotation. These results suggest that swimmers increase the twist angle of their trunks to obtain a higher swimming speed.
Genome–Environment Interactions and Psychiatric Disorders
Authors: Peedicayil Jacob
Published: April 2023

Environmental factors are known to interact with the genome by altering epigenetic mechanisms regulating gene expression and contributing to the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders. This article is a narrative review of how the major environmental factors contribute to the pathogenesis of common psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder this way. The cited articles were published between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2022 and were obtained from PubMed and Google Scholar. The search terms used were as follows: gene or genetic; genome; environment; mental or psychiatric disorder; epigenetic; and interaction. The following environmental factors were found to act epigenetically on the genome to influence the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders: social determinants of mental health, maternal prenatal psychological stress, poverty, migration, urban dwelling, pregnancy and birth complications, alcohol and substance abuse, microbiota, and prenatal and postnatal infections. The article also discusses the ways by which factors such as drugs, psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy, and physical exercise act epigenetically to alleviate the symptoms of psychiatric disorders in affected patients. These data will be useful information for clinical psychiatrists and those researching the pathogenesis and treatment of psychiatric disorders.
Innovative Therapy Combining Neck Muscle Vibration and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Association with Conventional Rehabilitation in Left Unilateral Spatial Neglect Patients: HEMISTIM Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Millot Sarah , Beis Jean-Marie , Pierret Jonathan , Badin Marina , Sabau Verginia , Bensoussan Laurent , Paysant Jean , Ceyte Hadrien
Published: April 2023

Unilateral spatial neglect (USN) rehabilitation requires the development of new methods that can be easily integrated into conventional practice. The aim of the HEMISTIM protocol is to assess immediate and long-term recovery induced by an innovative association of left-side neck-muscle vibration (NMV) and anodal transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on the ipsilesional posterior parietal cortex during occupational therapy sessions in patients with left USN. Participants will be randomly assigned to four groups: control, Left-NMV, Left-NMV + sham-tDCS or Left-NMV + anodal-tDCS. NMV and tDCS will be applied during the first 15 min of occupational therapy sessions, three days a week for three weeks. USN will be assessed at baseline, just at the end of the first experimental session, after the first and third weeks of the protocol and three weeks after its ending. Our primary outcome will be the evolution of the functional Catherine Bergego Scale score. Secondary outcome measures include five tests that investigate different neuropsychological aspects of USN. Left NMV, by activating multisensory integration neuronal networks, might enhance effects obtained by conventional therapy since post-effects were shown when it was combined with upper limb movements. We expect to reinforce lasting intermodal recalibration through LTP-like plasticity induced by anodal tDCS.
Identification of Simulated Damage in Prestressed Anchorage Using Admittance-Based Active Sensing Technique
Authors: Nguyen Chi-Thien , Nguyen Thanh-Truong , Nguyen Trung-Hau , Le Ba-Tung , Truong Tran-De-Nhat , Ho Duc-Duy , Huynh Thanh-Canh
Published: April 2023

This study examined the feasibility of the admittance-based method for detecting simulated damage in the bearing plate of a prestressed anchorage. The proposed method utilized the PZT (lead zirconate titanate) interface technique to acquire a strong admittance response from the anchorage. Firstly, the numerical feasibility of the method was demonstrated by detecting the presence of fatigue cracks and preload changes in a fixed–fixed beam-like structure. Next, the experimental verification was carried out using a lab-scale prestressed anchorage model. A PZT interface prototype was designed and surface-mounted on the bearing plate. The admittance response of the PZT interface was measured before and after the simulated damage cases of the bearing plate. Afterwards, a statistical damage metric, root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) was used to quantify the change in the admittance spectrum and identify the damage’s presence. It was shown that the experimental admittance response was consistent with the numerical simulation result in the same effective frequency band. Both the numerical and experimental results showed clear shifts in the admittance spectrum due to structural damage. The simulated damages in the bearing plate were successfully identified by the RMSD evaluation metric.
Indoor Airflow Dynamics in Compartmentalized Pneumology Units Equipped with Variable-Thickness MERV-13 Filters
Authors: Araújo Alves Camilo Gustavo , Junior José Tadeu C. , Da Silva Neto Francisco Bernardino , Anjos Gustavo R. , Dos Santos Moisés Dantas , Peixoto de Oliveira Gustavo
Published: April 2023

Infection containment in the post-pandemic scenario became a top priority for healthcare engineering control staffers, especially in pneumology sectors, where the treatment of airborne infectious diseases is frequent. In Brazil, where COVID-19 left a long record of casualties, there is a lack of information on the influence of filtration systems on the maintenance of regulated operational conditions for indoor comfort in hospital environments. This paper has the following objectives: to study arrangements of filtering systems in hospital acclimatization ducts; to verify how filtering characteristics could compromise safety regulations for airflow in hospital environments; and to identify airflow stagnation points that might favor suspended viral concentrations and increase contamination risks. We used the computational fluid dynamics STAR-CCM+© software to perform numerical simulations of different cases of indoor airflow in a model corresponding to a sector of the Lauro Wanderley University Hospital (João Pessoa city, Brazil). We concluded that standards for maximum velocity are reachable despite thinner or thicker filters affecting the spread of the air. In this way, acclimatization systems are limited by a tradeoff between regulation and protection. Our findings are relevant to future technological development, interventions, safety strategies amidst contamination scenarios, and new filtration arrangements in hospital environments.
Ibrutinib Inhibits BTK Signaling in Tumor-Infiltrated B Cells and Amplifies Antitumor Immunity by PD-1 Checkpoint Blockade for Metastatic Prostate Cancer
Authors: Deng Gengguo , He Jiannan , Huang Qunxiong , Li Tengcheng , Huang Zhansen , Gao Shuntian , Xu Jinbin , Wang Tiantian , Di Jinming
Published: April 2023

Metastatic prostate cancer (PCa) remains incurable and causes considerably diminished overall survival. Despite significant progress in pharmacotherapy, the disease prognosis remains unchanged. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated effectiveness in treating various advanced malignancies, but their efficacy in metastatic PCa is relatively limited. Previous studies have confirmed the immunosuppressive role of tumor-infiltrating B cells (TIL-Bs) in the PCa microenvironment, which accounts for their poor immunogenic potency. In this study, we demonstrated that an oral kinase agent, ibrutinib, strongly potentiated anti-PD-1 checkpoint blockade efficacy and successfully controlled tumor growth in a murine orthotopic PCa model constructed using a metastatic and hormone-independent cell line (RM-1). We identified close relationships between TIL-Bs, Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK), and immunosuppressive molecules by bioinformatics and histological analysis. An in vitro study showed that a low dose of ibrutinib significantly inhibited B cell proliferation and activation as well as IL-10 production through the BTK pathway. Moreover, ibrutinib-treated B cells promoted CD8+ T cell proliferation and inhibitory receptor (IR) expression. However, the same dose of ibrutinib was insufficient to induce apoptosis in cancer cells. An in vivo study showed that ibrutinib monotherapy failed to achieve tumor regression in murine models but decreased B cell infiltration and inhibited activation and IL-10 production. More importantly, CD8+ T cell infiltration increased with high IR expression. Ibrutinib synergized with anti-PD-1 checkpoint blockade enormously improved antitumor immunity, thereby reducing tumor volume in the same scenario. These data set the scene for the clinical development of ibrutinib as an immunogenic trigger to potentiate anti-PD-1 checkpoint blockade for metastatic PCa immunotherapy.
Regression and Eradication of Triple-Negative Breast Carcinoma in 4T1 Mouse Model by Combination Immunotherapies
Authors: Nahar Saifun , Huang Yue , Nagy Bethany A. , Zebala John A. , Maeda Dean Y. , Rudloff Udo , Oppenheim Joost J. , Yang De
Published: April 2023

Triple-negative breast carcinoma (TNBC) is one of the most aggressive types of solid-organ cancers. While immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy has significantly improved outcomes in certain types of solid-organ cancers, patients with immunologically cold TNBC are afforded only a modest gain in survival by the addition of ICB to systemic chemotherapy. Thus, it is urgently needed to develop novel effective therapeutic approaches for TNBC. Utilizing the 4T1 murine model of TNBC, we developed a novel combination immunotherapeutic regimen consisting of intratumoral delivery of high-mobility group nucleosome binding protein 1 (HMGN1), TLR2/6 ligand fibroblast-stimulating lipopeptide (FSL-1), TLR7/8 agonist (R848/resiquimod), and CTLA-4 blockade. We also investigated the effect of adding SX682, a small-molecule inhibitor of CXCR1/2 known to reduce MDSC trafficking to tumor microenvironment, to our therapeutic approach. 4T1-bearing mice responded with significant tumor regression and tumor elimination to our therapeutic combination regimen. Mice with complete tumor regressions did not recur and became long-term survivors. Treatment with HMGN1, FSL-1, R848, and anti-CTLA4 antibody increased the number of infiltrating CD4+ and CD8+ effector/memory T cells in both tumors and draining lymph nodes and triggered the generation of 4T1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in the draining lymph nodes. Thus, we developed a potentially curative immunotherapeutic regimen consisting of HMGN1, FSL-1, R848, plus a checkpoint inhibitor for TNBC, which does not rely on the administration of chemotherapy, radiation, or exogenous tumor-associated antigen(s).
What Affects Treatment Underuse in Multiple Myeloma in the United States: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Cytryn Rose , Bickell Nina , Yagnik Radhi , Jagannath Sundar , Lin Jenny J.
Published: April 2023

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematologic malignancy. African Americans are more likely than Whites to be diagnosed with and die of MM, but they experience the same survival times in clinical trials, suggesting that differences in survival may be attributed to differences in receipt of treatment or differences in access to new treatments. We undertook this study to identify the reasons and needs underlying disparities in treatment among patients diagnosed with MM. Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews in 2019–2020 with patients diagnosed with MM between 2010 and 2014 who were identified as eligible for transplant and maintenance therapy and having experienced delays in or underuse of treatment for MM. Underuse was defined as the lack of a particular treatment that the patient was eligible to receive, not being transplanted if eligible, and/or not receiving maintenance therapy. Underuse included patients’ decision to delay harvest or autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) for the time being and return to the decision in the future. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Four investigators independently coded transcripts through inductive analysis to assess reasons for treatment decisions. Results: Of the 29 patients interviewed, 68% experienced treatment underuse: 21% self-identified as African American, 5% as Hispanic, 10% as mixed race, 57% as White, and 16% as Asian. There were no racial differences in reasons for underuse or delay. Themes relating to treatment underuse included: perceived pros and cons of treatment, including potential harm or lack thereof in delaying treatment; physician recommendations; and personal agency. Conclusion: Patients’ decision making, delays, and underuse of MM treatment are influenced by social, personal, medical, and contextual factors. Patients consider their relationship with their physician to be one of the most significant driving forces in their decisions and treatment plans.
Significance of the Surgical Treatment with Lymph Node Dissection for Neuroendocrine Tumors of Thymus
Authors: Ose Naoko , Funaki Soichiro , Kanou Takashi , Kimura Toru , Fukui Eriko , Morii Eiichi , Shintani Yasushi
Published: April 2023

Background: Neuroendocrine tumors of a thymus (NETTs) are rare, accounting for approximately 2–5% of all thymic epithelial tumors, and have a poor prognosis due to frequent lymph nodes or distant metastasis. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinicopathological background and outcomes of 40 patients who underwent resection or surgical biopsy with histologically diagnosed NETTs from 1986 to 2022. Results: The most common pathological type was atypical carcinoid. Surgical resection was performed in 35 patients, with lymph node dissection in 33 and surgical biopsy in five. The overall survival (OS) rate for all patients was 81.4% and 52.3% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. The 2-year survival rate was 20% for the biopsy group, which was significantly worse than that of the resected group (p < 0.001). The relapse-free survival rates were 61.7% and 37.6% at 5 and 10 years, respectively, in 34 patients with complete resection. The univariate analysis revealed better the OS rate in the resected cases but with no significant differences between histological grade, lymph node metastasis, tumor size, or Ki67 index. Conclusions: Surgical complete resection is considered to improve prognosis regardless of histologic type. NETTs frequently develop lymph node metastasis, thus, lymph node dissection seems necessary for complete resection.
Regulated Arginine Metabolism in Immunopathogenesis of a Wide Range of Diseases: Is There a Way to Pass between Scylla and Charybdis?
Authors: Starikova Eleonora A. , Rubinstein Artem A. , Mammedova Jennet T. , Isakov Dmitry V. , Kudryavtsev Igor V.
Published: April 2023

More than a century has passed since arginine was discovered, but the metabolism of the amino acid never ceases to amaze researchers. Being a conditionally essential amino acid, arginine performs many important homeostatic functions in the body; it is involved in the regulation of the cardiovascular system and regeneration processes. In recent years, more and more facts have been accumulating that demonstrate a close relationship between arginine metabolic pathways and immune responses. This opens new opportunities for the development of original ways to treat diseases associated with suppressed or increased activity of the immune system. In this review, we analyze the literature describing the role of arginine metabolism in the immunopathogenesis of a wide range of diseases, and discuss arginine-dependent processes as a possible target for therapeutic approaches.
Interstitial Cells of Cajal and Enteric Nervous System in Gastrointestinal and Neurological Pathology, Relation to Oxidative Stress
Authors: López-Pingarrón Laura , Almeida Henrique , Soria-Aznar Marisol , Reyes-Gonzales Marcos C. , Rodríguez-Moratinos Ana B. , Muñoz-Hoyos Antonio , García Joaquín J.
Published: April 2023

The enteric nervous system (ENS) is organized into two plexuses—submucosal and myenteric—which regulate smooth muscle contraction, secretion, and blood flow along the gastrointestinal tract under the influence of the rest of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are mainly located in the submucosa between the two muscle layers and at the intramuscular level. They communicate with neurons of the enteric nerve plexuses and smooth muscle fibers and generate slow waves that contribute to the control of gastrointestinal motility. They are also involved in enteric neurotransmission and exhibit mechanoreceptor activity. A close relationship appears to exist between oxidative stress and gastrointestinal diseases, in which ICCs can play a prominent role. Thus, gastrointestinal motility disorders in patients with neurological diseases may have a common ENS and central nervous system (CNS) nexus. In fact, the deleterious effects of free radicals could affect the fine interactions between ICCs and the ENS, as well as between the ENS and the CNS. In this review, we discuss possible disturbances in enteric neurotransmission and ICC function that may cause anomalous motility in the gut.
The Importance of Periodic Dental Control in the Oral Health Status of Elderly Patients
Authors: Janto Michael , Iurcov Raluca , Daina Cristian Marius , Venter Alina Cristiana , Suteu Corina Lacramioara , Sabau Monica , Badau Dana , Daina Lucia Georgeta
Published: April 2023

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the status of the elderly patient with oral pathology, comparing two groups of elderly patients, from the point of view of presentation for periodic dental control (regular and irregular). In carrying out the study, the following parameters were analyzed: the epidemiological profile of the group of patients; associated chronic diseases; dental hygiene; the accessibility of, and attendance at, dental health services; quality of life; and dental clinical diagnosis. Of the 120 elderly patients included in the study, only 25% present regularly for dental checkups. Increasing age leads to a reduction in the share of patients who regularly present themselves for dental checkups, and patients with higher education and those with higher incomes regularly visit the dentist. Associated chronic diseases are found in both groups; patients with regular checkups have a statistically significantly lower drug consumption for dental pain in the last month compared to those who present irregularly for checkups. A better achievement of dental hygiene is observed in patients who regularly see the dentist. It is alarming that we find patients (10% among those who do not visit the dentist regularly) who do not use a toothbrush and toothpaste, and approximately 40% of the patients enrolled in the study do not know which toothpaste they use. Approximately 40% of the interviewed patients indicate a lack of money as the main reason for attending the dentist only when necessary. Difficult access is mentioned by 10% of the group of patients who regularly visit the dentist and who come from rural areas. The reasons for visiting the dentist are different in the two groups: patients who regularly visit the dentist request caries treatment or prosthetic work, or they present with dental bleeding; patients with irregular checkups especially request emergency services such as toothache treatment, assistance with denture problems, and tooth extractions. When undergoing odontal and endodontic examination, 60% of the respondents who go to the dentist as required suffer from periodontal disease, and 50% of them suffer from class I and II edentation. The results of the study demonstrated that elderly patients who regularly attend periodic dental checkups have better self-reported and dentist-confirmed oral health status.
The Photochemical Stability of PbI2 and PbBr2: Optical and XPS and DFT Studies
Authors: Zhidkov Ivan S. , Akbulatov Azat F. , Poteryaev Alexander I. , Kukharenko Andrey I. , Rasmetyeva Alexandra V. , Frolova Lyubov A. , Troshin Pavel A. , Kurmaev Ernst Z.
Published: April 2023

We investigated the photochemical stability of PbX2 (X = I and Br) halides by optical and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The optical absorbance displayed a strong reduction for PbI2 with light soaking and permanent behavior for PbBr2. The XPS survey spectra showed a sharp drop in the I:Pb ratio for PbI2 from 1.63 to 1.14 with exposure time from 0 to 1000 h while for PbBr2, it remains practically unchanged (1.59–1.55). The measurements of the XPS Pb 4f and Pb 5d spectra have shown the partial photolysis of PbI2 with the release of metallic lead whereas PbBr2 demonstrated remarkable photochemical stability. According to the density functional theory (DFT), calculations of the metal and iodide vacancy formation energies for PbBr2 are higher than for PbI2 which confirms the better stability to light soaking. The high photochemical stability of PbBr2 means that it can be used as excess under MAPbBr3 perovskite synthesis to improve not only the power conversion efficiency but also stability to light soaking.
Mesogenic Units Containing Polymer Electrolytes for Light and Safe Batteries
Authors: Zhang Lei , Li Yuchao , Wang Shi , Wang Qian
Published: April 2023

As the core component of solid-state lithium-ion batteries (SSLIBs), the bottleneck of solid-state electrolyte is to achieve fast lithium-ion transport, high electrochemical stability, and mechanical flexibility. Polymer electrolytes offer the possibility of constructing solid-state electrolytes with the above features due to their excellent molecular designability. This preview highlights novel mesogenic (or liquid crystal)-containing polymer electrolytes (MPEs) exhibiting a combination of high ionic conductivity, high electrochemical stability, and mechanical flexibility. Insights into such MPEs enabling light and safe SSLIBs are also discussed.
Study of Motion Sickness Model Based on fNIRS Multiband Features during Car Rides
Authors: Ren Bin , Guan Wanli , Zhou Qinyu
Published: April 2023

Motion sickness is a common physiological discomfort phenomenon during car rides. In this paper, the functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technique was used in real-world vehicle testing. The fNIRS technique was utilized to model the relationship between changes in blood oxygenation levels in the prefrontal cortex of passengers and motion sickness symptoms under different motion conditions. To enhance the accuracy of motion sickness classification, the study utilized principal component analysis (PCA) to extract the most significant features from the test data. Wavelet decomposition was used to extract the power spectrum entropy (PSE) features of five frequency bands highly related to motion sickness. The correlation between motion sickness and cerebral blood oxygen levels was modeled by a 6-point scale calibration for the subjective evaluation of the degree of passenger motion sickness. A support vector machine (SVM) was used to build a motion sickness classification model, achieving an accuracy of 87.3% with the 78 sets of data. However, individual analysis of the 13 subjects showed a varying range of accuracy from 50% to 100%, suggesting the presence of individual differences in the relationship between cerebral blood oxygen levels and motion sickness symptoms. Thus, the results demonstrated that the magnitude of motion sickness during the ride was closely related to the change in the PSE of the five frequency bands of cerebral prefrontal blood oxygen, but further studies are needed to investigate individual variability.
Spatial Variability of Albedo and Net Radiation at Local Scale Using UAV Equipped with Radiation Sensors
Authors: Lindroth Anders
Published: April 2023

Energy balance closure is an important feature in studies of ecosystem exchanges of energy and greenhouse gases using the eddy covariance method. Previous analyses show that this is still a problem with imbalances in the order of 0.6–0.7 to full closure (for only a few sites). It has been suggested that mesoscale transport processes that are not captured by the eddy covariance measurements are the main reason behind the closure problem. So far, very little action has been taken to investigate another potential cause of the problem, namely, the role of spatial variation in net radiation at the scale of typical flux footprints. The reason for this knowledge gap is mainly due to the lack of suitable methods to perform such investigations. Here, we show that such measurements can be performed with an unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with radiation sensors. A comparison using a reference radiometer on a fixed mast with a hovering UAV equipped with pyranometers for incoming and outgoing shortwave radiation and an infrared thermometer for surface temperature measurements shows that incoming and outgoing shortwave radiation can be measured with a standard error of 7.4 Wm−2 and 1.8 Wm−2, respectively. An application of the system was made over a five-year-old forest flux site in Sweden. Here, the net longwave radiation was estimated from the measured surface temperature and the calculated incoming longwave radiation. The results show that during the mission around noon on a clear day, distinct ‘hotspots’ existed over the plantation with the albedo varying between 15.5 and 17.9%, the surface temperature varying between 22.2 and 25.5 °C and the net radiation varying between 330 and 380 Wm−2. These variations are large enough to have a significant impact on the energy balance closure problem. Our conclusion is that we now have the tools to investigate the spatial variability of the radiation regime over flux sites and that this should be given more attention in the future.
Effect of the Red-Edge Band from Drone Altum Multispectral Camera in Mapping the Canopy Cover of Winter Wheat, Chickweed, and Hairy Buttercup
Authors: Akumu Clement E. , Dennis Sam
Published: April 2023

The detection and mapping of winter wheat and the canopy cover of associated weeds, such as chickweed and hairy buttercup, are essential for crop and weed management. With emerging drone technologies, the use of a multispectral camera with the red-edge band, such as Altum, is commonly used for crop and weed mapping. However, little is understood about the contribution of the red-edge band in mapping. The aim of this study was to examine the addition of the red-edge band from a drone with an Altum multispectral camera in improving the detection and mapping of the canopy cover of winter wheat, chickweed, and hairy buttercup. The canopy cover of winter wheat, chickweed, and hairy buttercup were classified and mapped with the red-edge band inclusively and exclusively using a random forest classification algorithm. Results showed that the addition of the red-edge band increased the overall mapping accuracy of about 7%. Furthermore, the red-edge wavelength was found to better detect winter wheat relative to chickweed and hairy buttercup. This study demonstrated the usefulness of the red-edge band in improving the detection and mapping of winter wheat and associated weeds (chickweed and hairy buttercup) in agricultural fields.