bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Quality of Life in Patients with Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw Following Reconstructive and Restorative Surgery
Authors: Polyakov Kirill Arturovich , Popova Sofia Vladimirovna , Shamanaeva Liudmila Sergeevna , Ivanov Sergei Yurievich , Petruk Pavel Sergeevich , Ivanyushko Tatiana Petrovna
Published: December 2021

Recently, numerous articles have been published describing atypical lesions of the jaw bones related to treatment with medications based on phosphorus or analogs of its compounds, particularly bisphosphonates. Goal: To conduct a comparative analysis of the quality of life after radical surgery of the jaw in patients with medication-related osteonecrosis. A total of 82 patients were interviewed, of which 39 (47.6%) patients were in the control group (conservative treatment) and 43 (52.4%) patients in the main group had radical surgical treatment. The mean age of patients in both groups was 66.8 ± 10.03 years. Treatment of patients in the control group in terms of conventional conservative protocol included the local application of 0.05% chlorhexidine solution 1–2 times a day, antibacterial therapy (clindamycin—150 mg 4 times daily for 7 days) and NSAIDs (nimesulide). Patients in the main group (n = 43) underwent segmental resection of the jaw. Thirty days and then 6 months after the treatment, all patients were asked to assess the intensity of pain using a numerical scale, where 0 = no pain, 5 = moderate pain and 10 = the most severe pain imaginable, and to fill in the SF-36 Quality of Life Questionnaire. Results: An analysis of the results obtained with the Numeric Pain Rating Scale demonstrated that the mean pain intensity before treatment was 8.9 points in the control group, and 9.7 in the main group. These values were indicative of “unbearable pain”. After treatment (30 days), the pain score in the control group decreased and amounted to 4.1, which is evidence of the persistence of “moderate pain” in patients. In patients who underwent segmental jaw resection, the mean pain intensity was 0.5. There was no relationship with gender, but there was a direct relationship between the intensity of the pain and the stage of the process (CI = 95%). The SF-36 quality of life questionnaire showed that in the control group, who were treated conservatively, bodily pain (BoP) decreased from a score of 91.2 to 34.3, and the mental health score increased from 34.2 before treatment to 36.3 after treatment, which indicates the persistence of discomfort. The remaining parameters improved after treatment, but no complete recovery was achieved. Before radical surgery, the main group of patients also had a high level of bodily pain (95.2), but after surgery this decreased to 12.4. The remaining parameters also showed a significant difference before and after radical surgery, indicating a positive trend. Radical surgery allows us to improve the quality of life of patients, thereby confirming that surgical volume is a secondary aspect if there is no relapse after the treatment.
Load Classification: A Case Study for Applying Neural Networks in Hyper-Constrained Embedded Devices
Authors: Agiollo Andrea , Omicini Andrea
Published: December 2021

The application of Artificial Intelligence to the industrial world and its appliances has recently grown in popularity. Indeed, AI techniques are now becoming the de-facto technology for the resolution of complex tasks concerning computer vision, natural language processing and many other areas. In the last years, most of the the research community efforts have focused on increasing the performance of most common AI techniques—e.g., Neural Networks, etc.—at the expenses of their complexity. Indeed, many works in the AI field identify and propose hyper-efficient techniques, targeting high-end devices. However, the application of such AI techniques to devices and appliances which are characterised by limited computational capabilities, remains an open research issue. In the industrial world, this problem heavily targets low-end appliances, which are developed focusing on saving costs and relying on—computationally—constrained components. While some efforts have been made in this area through the proposal of AI-simplification and AI-compression techniques, it is still relevant to study which available AI techniques can be used in modern constrained devices. Therefore, in this paper we propose a load classification task as a case study to analyse which state-of-the-art NN solutions can be embedded successfully into constrained industrial devices. The presented case study is tested on a simple microcontroller, characterised by very poor computational performances—i.e., FLOPS –, to mirror faithfully the design process of low-end appliances. A handful of NN models are tested, showing positive outcomes and possible limitations, and highlighting the complexity of AI embedding.
Executive Functions and Deafness: Results in a Group of Cochlear Implanted Children
Authors: De Giacomo Andrea , Murri Alessandra , Matera Emilia , Pompamea Francesco , Craig Francesco , Giagnotti Francesca , Bartoli Roberto , Quaranta Nicola
Published: December 2021

Objects: This study aimed to evaluate the Executive Function (EF) domains in a group of profoundly deaf children treated with cochlear implant (CI) in comparison to normal hearing (NH) children. The secondary aim was to evaluate the influence exerted by the age at cochlear implant activation on EFs. Materials and Methods: 32 children were enrolled into two groups: group A of 17 CI users with a mean age of 8.78 years and group B of 15 NH subjects with a mean age of 7.99 years (SD + 2.3). All subjects were tested using the following tests: the subtests for working memory of the neuropsychological evaluation battery for the developmental age (Batteria di valutazione neuropsicologica per l’età evolutive), inhibition and control of the impulsive response—CAF, and the tower of London test. Results: No children with CIs scored within the normal range in the tests administered for the evaluation of EF domains. The same scores were significantly lower when compared with scores obtained by NH children. Children with younger age at CI activation showed better executive performances in planning, working memory (backward digit span), and cognitive flexibility (categorical fluency). Conclusion: The results of this study highlight that cochlear implantation plays a role in improving hearing and consequently influences the development of EFs in deaf children.
Fitness Analysis and Transcriptome Profiling Following Repeated Mild Heat Stress of Varying Frequency in Drosophila melanogaster Females
Authors: Gruntenko Nataly E. , Karpova Evgenia K. , Babenko Vladimir N. , Vasiliev Gennady V. , Andreenkova Olga V. , Bobrovskikh Margarita A. , Menshanov Petr N. , Babenko Roman O. , Rauschenbach Inga Yu.
Published: December 2021

Understanding how repeated stress affects metabolic and physiological functions in the long run is of crucial importance for evaluating anthropogenic pressure on the environment. We investigated fertility, longevity and metabolism in D. melanogaster females exposed to short-term heat stress (38 °C, 1 h) repeated daily or weekly. Daily stress was shown to cause a significant decrease in both fertility and longevity, as well as in body mass and triglyceride (fat) content, but a significant increase in trehalose and glucose content. Weekly stress did not affect longevity and carbohydrate metabolism but resulted in a significant decrease in body mass and fat content. Weekly stress did not affect the total level of fertility, despite sharp fertility drops on the exact days of stressing. However, stressing insects weekly, only in the first two weeks after eclosion, caused a significant increase in the total level of fertility. The analysis of differentially expressed genes in the fat bodies and adjacent tissues of researched groups with the use of RNA-Seq profiling revealed changes in signal pathways related to proteolysis/digestion, heat shock protein 23, and in the tightly linked stress-inducible humoral factor Turandot gene network.
Effects of Exercise during Pregnancy on Postpartum Depression: A Systematic Review of Meta-Analyses
Authors: Marconcin Priscila , Peralta Miguel , Gouveia Élvio R. , Ferrari Gerson , Carraça Eliana , Ihle Andreas , Marques Adilson
Published: December 2021

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a public health issue. Exercise is a nonpharmacologic alternative to deal with PPD. This study conducted a systematic review of previous meta-analyses and an exploratory pooled analysis regarding the effects of exercise on depressive symptoms among women during the postpartum period. We searched for previous meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials on PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus, date of inception to 31 May 2021. The methodological quality was assessed using the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR2) instrument. We pooled the standardised mean differences from the selected studies. Of the 52 records screened, five were included. The results revealed a significant moderate effect of exercise on depressive symptoms among women during the postpartum period (SMD = −0.53; 95% CI: −0.80 to −0.27, p < 0.001). The pooled effect of the five meta-analyses established that exercise had a significant, small effect on depressive symptoms (SMD = −0.41; 95% CI: −0.50 to −0.32, p < 0.001). Our study indicates that exercise is effective in reducing PPD symptoms. Compared with traditional control approaches (psychosocial and psychological interventions), exercise seems have a superior effect on PPD symptoms. The implications of the present synthesis of past meta-analytical findings to guide health policies and research are discussed.
On-Site Biolayer Interferometry-Based Biosensing of Carbamazepine in Whole Blood of Epileptic Patients
Authors: Bian Sumin , Tao Ying , Zhu Zhoule , Zhu Peixi , Wang Qiqin , Wu Hemmings , Sawan Mohamad
Published: December 2021

On-site monitoring of carbamazepine (CBZ) that allows rapid, sensitive, automatic, and high-throughput detection directly from whole blood is of urgent demand in current clinical practice for precision medicine. Herein, we developed two types (being indirect vs. direct) of fiber-optic biolayer interferometry (FO-BLI) biosensors for on-site CBZ monitoring. The indirect FO-BLI biosensor preincubated samples with monoclonal antibodies towards CBZ (MA-CBZ), and the mixture competes with immobilized CBZ to bind towards MA-CBZ. The direct FO-BLI biosensor used sample CBZ and CBZ-horseradish peroxidase (CBZ-HRP) conjugate to directly compete for binding with immobilized MA-CBZ, followed by a metal precipitate 3,3′-diaminobenzidine to amplify the signals. Indirect FO-BLI detected CBZ within its therapeutic range and was regenerated up to 12 times with negligible baseline drift, but reported results in 25 min. However, Direct FO-BLI achieved CBZ detection in approximately 7.5 min, down to as low as 10 ng/mL, with good accuracy, specificity and negligible matric interference using a high-salt buffer. Validation of Direct FO-BLI using six paired sera and whole blood from epileptic patients showed excellent agreement with ultra-performance liquid chromatography. Being automated and able to achieve high throughput, Direct FO-BLI proved itself to be more effective for integration into the clinic by delivering CBZ values from whole blood within minutes.
Local Biomarkers Involved in the Interplay between Obesity and Breast Cancer
Authors: Holm Jonas Busk , Rosendahl Ann H. , Borgquist Signe
Published: December 2021

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, which is the most common cancer in women worldwide (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer). Furthermore, breast cancer patients with obesity have an impaired prognosis. Adipose tissue is abundant in the breast. Therefore, breast cancer develops in an adipose-rich environment. During obesity, changes in the local environment in the breast occur which are associated with breast cancer. A shift towards a pro-inflammatory state is seen, resulting in altered levels of cytokines and immune cells. Levels of adipokines, such as leptin, adiponectin, and resistin, are changed. Aromatase activity rises, resulting in higher levels of potent estrogen in the breast. Lastly, remodeling of the extracellular matrix takes place. In this review, we address the current knowledge on the changes in the breast adipose tissue in obesity associated with breast cancer initiation and progression. We aim to identify obesity-associated biomarkers in the breast involved in the interplay between obesity and breast cancer. Hereby, we can improve identification of women with obesity with an increased risk of breast cancer and an impaired prognosis. Studies investigating mammary adipocytes and breast adipose tissue in women with obesity versus women without obesity are, however, sparse and further research is needed.
Mental Health and Adherence to COVID-19 Protective Behaviors among Cancer Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An International, Multinational Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Kassianos Angelos P. , Georgiou Alexandros , Kyprianidou Maria , Lamnisos Demetris , Ļubenko Jeļena , Presti Giovambattista , Squatrito Valeria , Constantinou Marios , Nicolaou Christiana , Papacostas Savvas , Aydin Gökçen , Chong Yuen Yu , Chien Wai Tong , Cheng Ho Yu , Ruiz Francisco J. , Garcia-Martin Maria B. , Obando Diana , Segura-Vargas Miguel A. , Vasiliou Vasilis S. , McHugh Louise , Höfer Stefan , Baban Adriana , Neto David Dias , Silva Ana Nunes da , Monestès Jean-Louis , Alvarez-Galvez Javier , Blarrina Marisa Paez , Montesinos Francisco , Salas Sonsoles Valdivia , Őri Dorottya , Kleszcz Bartosz , Lappalainen Raimo , Ivanović Iva , Gosar David , Dionne Frederick , Merwin Rhonda M. , Chatzittofis Andreas , Konstantinou Evangelia , Economidou Sofia , Gloster Andrew T. , Karekla Maria , Constantinidou Anastasia
Published: December 2021

A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted during the first COVID-19 wave, to examine the impact of COVID-19 on mental health using an anonymous online survey, enrolling 9565 individuals in 78 countries. The current sub-study examined the impact of the pandemic and the associated lockdown measures on the mental health, and protective behaviors of cancer patients in comparison to non-cancer participants. Furthermore, 264 participants from 30 different countries reported being cancer patients. The median age was 51.5 years, 79.9% were female, and 28% had breast cancer. Cancer participants reported higher self-efficacy to follow recommended national guidelines regarding COVID-19 protective behaviors compared to non-cancer participants (p < 0.01). They were less stressed (p < 0.01), more psychologically flexible (p < 0.01), and had higher levels of positive affect compared to non-cancer participants. Amongst cancer participants, the majority (80.3%) reported COVID-19, not their cancer, as their priority during the first wave of the pandemic and females reported higher levels of stress compared to males. In conclusion, cancer participants appeared to have handled the unpredictable nature of the first wave of the pandemic efficiently, with a positive attitude towards an unknown and otherwise frightening situation. Larger, cancer population specific and longitudinal studies are warranted to ensure adequate medical and psychological care for cancer patients.
Ginkgolide B Regulates CDDP Chemoresistance in Oral Cancer via the Platelet-Activating Factor Receptor Pathway
Authors: Kawasaki Kohei , Kasamatsu Atsushi , Ando Toshiaki , Saito Tomoaki , Nobuchi Takafumi , Nozaki Ryunosuke , Iyoda Manabu , Uzawa Katsuhiro
Published: December 2021

The platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFR) is a key molecule that participates in intracellular signaling pathways, including regulating the activation of kinases. It is involved in cancer progression, but the detailed mechanism of its chemosensitivity is unknown. The purpose of the current study was to elucidate the mechanism regulating cisplatin (CDDP) sensitivity through PAFR functions in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We first analyzed the correlation between PAFR expression and CDDP sensitivity in seven OSCC-derived cell lines based upon cell viability assays. Among them, we isolated 2 CDDP-resistant cell lines (Ca9-22 and Ho-1-N-1). In addition to conducting PAFR-knockdown (siPAFR) experiments, we found that ginkgolide B (GB), a specific inhibitor of PAFR, enhanced both CDDP chemosusceptibility and apoptosis. We next evaluated the downstream signaling pathway of PAFR in siPAFR-treated cells and GB-treated cells after CDDP treatment. In both cases, we observed decreased phosphorylation of ERK and Akt and increased expression of cleaved caspase-3. These results suggest that PAFR is a therapeutic target for modulating CDDP sensitivity in OSCC cells. Thus, GB may be a novel drug that could enhance combination chemotherapy with CDDP for OSCC patients.
Interleukin (IL)-9 Supports the Tumor-Promoting Environment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Patrussi Laura , Capitani Nagaja , Baldari Cosima T.
Published: December 2021

Interleukin (IL)-9 is a soluble factor secreted by immune cells into the microenvironment. Originally identified as a mediator of allergic responses, IL-9 has been detected in recent years in several tumor niches. In solid tumors, it mainly promotes anti-tumor immune responses, while in hematologic malignancies, it sustains the growth and survival of neoplastic cells. IL-9 has been recently implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying its contribution to this complex neoplasia are still unclear. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of IL-9 in the tumor microenvironment, with a focus on its role in the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
The Summarized Assessment of Endothelin A Receptor Expression in Renal Transplant Compartments Associated with Antibody-Mediated Rejection
Authors: Banasik Mirosław , Kuriata-Kordek Magdalena , Donizy Piotr , Nowańska Katarzyna , Wiśnicki Krzysztof , Letachowicz Krzysztof , Zmonarski Sławomir , Kamińska Dorota , Mazanowska Oktawia , Dawiskiba Tomasz , Janczak Dariusz , Hałoń Agnieszka , Kepinska Marta , Uchmanowicz Bartosz , Zachciał Justyna , Tukiendorf Andrzej , Krajewska Magdalena
Published: December 2021

The occurrence of anti-endothelin A receptor antibodies may be useful in diagnosis of transplant damage. We noticed that the presence of the endothelin A receptor (ETA receptor) in biopsy compartments is yet to be defined. We decided therefore to analysed the presence and relevance of the ETA receptor in biopsy to define the cause. Our study aims to evaluate the expression of ETA receptors in renal recipients after a biopsy due to the worsening of transplant function. Methods: The expression of ETA receptors was analyzed in renal transplant biopsies using the immunohistochemical method. The evaluation of ETA receptors was performed on paraffin sections. ETA receptor expression was analyzed in four compartments of renal transplant biopsies: glomeruli; vessels; tubular epithelium; and interstitium. The assessment was presented using a three-step scale (0: lack of expression; 1: mild to moderate immunoreactivity; 2: high expression). The results of each compartment from a single biopsy were summarized and assessed in the context of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). Results: We analyzed 156 patients who had a renal allograft biopsy after renal transplantation. For each patient, we created a summarized ETA receptor expression score. The summarized ETA receptor expression score analysis showed statistically significant differences in patients with and without AMR. In addition, we noticed that patients with AMR had a significantly higher mean summarized expression of ETA receptor score of 3.28 ± 1.56 compared to patients who had a biopsy for other reasons with a mean summarized ETA receptor expression score of 1.47 ± 1.35 (p < 0.000001). ROC analysis of the ETA receptor expression score for detecting AMR status showed that the most appropriate cut-off for the test of the chosen binary classifier is between 2 and 3 of the summarized ETA receptor expression score. Conclusions: The expression of endothelin A receptors in renal transplant compartments may be associated with antibody-mediated rejection. The positive ETA receptor staining might be a vital feature in the diagnosis of damage in AMR. The summarized ETA receptor expression score seems to be an exciting diagnostic tool in transplant injury assessment.
Remarkable Effects of Urbanization on Forest Landscape Multifunctionality in Urban Peripheries: Evidence from Liaoyuan City in Northeast China
Authors: Han Jinghui , Dong Yulin , Ren Zhibin , Du Yunxia , Wang Chengcong , Jia Guangliang , Zhang Peng , Guo Yujie
Published: December 2021

Forest landscape multifunctionality (FLM) provides multiple benefits, such as climate regulation, water storage, and biodiversity maintenance. However, the external factors limiting FLM have not been fully identified, although addressing them could contribute to sustainable development. The present study aimed to identify and quantify the role of urbanization as an external factor that affects FLM. To this end, impervious area changes in Liaoyuan, China, were observed from 2000 to 2018, and 10 buffer zones at 500 m intervals were established outside the city. Within each buffer zone, we analyzed changes in forest landscape functions, including habitat maintenance, carbon sequestration, and water yield, as well as changes in the multifunctionality of their composition. The urbanization of Liaoyuan was significant in 2000–2018. The functions of the forest landscape became stronger and more stable as they were located further away from the urban edge. We refer to this pattern as the gradient effect of urbanization. Specifically, urbanization affected the investigated functions at a distance of 1000–2500 m. The FLM showed a more significant gradient effect of urbanization. The impact distance of urbanization on the FLM increased from 3000 m in 2000 to over 5000 m in 2018. This impact distance increased significantly whenever urbanization strengthened significantly (i.e., in 2005–2010 and 2015–2018). These findings are instructive for forest and urban managers working to achieve multiple Sustainable Development Goals.
Developmental Effects of (Pre-)Gestational Diabetes on Offspring: Systematic Screening Using Omics Approaches
Authors: Shashikadze Bachuki , Flenkenthaler Florian , Stöckl Jan B. , Valla Libera , Renner Simone , Kemter Elisabeth , Wolf Eckhard , Fröhlich Thomas
Published: December 2021

Worldwide, gestational diabetes affects 2–25% of pregnancies. Due to related disturbances of the maternal metabolism during the periconceptional period and pregnancy, children bear an increased risk for future diseases. It is well known that an aberrant intrauterine environment caused by elevated maternal glucose levels is related to elevated risks for increased birth weights and metabolic disorders in later life, such as obesity or type 2 diabetes. The complexity of disturbances induced by maternal diabetes, with multiple underlying mechanisms, makes early diagnosis or prevention a challenging task. Omics technologies allowing holistic quantification of several classes of molecules from biological fluids, cells, or tissues are powerful tools to systematically investigate the effects of maternal diabetes on the offspring in an unbiased manner. Differentially abundant molecules or distinct molecular profiles may serve as diagnostic biomarkers, which may also support the development of preventive and therapeutic strategies. In this review, we summarize key findings from state-of-the-art Omics studies addressing the impact of maternal diabetes on offspring health.
Four-Way Decomposition of Effect of Alcohol Consumption and Body Mass Index on Lipid Profile
Authors: Gao Chaonan , Yu Wenhao , Zhao Xiangjuan , Li Chunxia , Fan Bingbing , Lv Jiali , Wei Mengke , He Li , Su Chang , Zhang Tao
Published: December 2021

Background: Both obesity and alcohol consumption are strongly associated with dyslipidemia; however, it remains unclear whether their joint effect on lipid profiles is through mediation, interaction, or a combination of the two. Methods: In total, 9849 subjects were selected from the 2009 panel of China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS). A four-way decomposition method was used to validate the pathways of drinking and body mass index (BMI) on lipids (total cholesterol, TC; triglyceride, TG; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-C; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, HDL-C; apolipoprotein A, APO-A; and apolipoprotein B, APO-B). Results: According to four-way decomposition, the total effects of drinking on lipids were found to be statistically significant, except for LDL-C. The components due to reference interaction were 0.63, 0.48, 0.60, −0.39, −0.30, and 0.20 for TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C, APO-A and APO-B, respectively (p < 0.05 for all). The effect size of pure indirect effect and mediated interaction were 0.001~0.006 (p > 0.05 for all). Further, linear regression models were used to examine the effect of BMI on lipid profiles in drinkers and non-drinkers. The associations of BMI and lipids were higher in all drinkers than in non-drinkers (0.069 versus 0.048 for TC, 0.079 versus 0.059 for TG, 0.057 versus 0.037 for LDL-C, −0.045 versus −0.029 for HDL-C, −0.024 versus −0.011 for APO-A and 0.026 versus 0.019 for APO-B, p interaction <0.05 for all). Conclusions: The joint effect of alcohol consumption and obesity on lipid profiles is through interaction rather than mediation. Alcohol consumption amplifies the harmful effect of BMI on lipid profiles. Greater attention should be paid to lipid health and cardiovascular risk in obese individuals regarding alcohol consumption. For obese individuals, we do not recommend alcohol consumption.
Immunology and Immunotherapy of Endometriosis
Authors: Maksym Radosław B. , Hoffmann-Młodzianowska Marta , Skibińska Milena , Rabijewski Michał , Mackiewicz Andrzej , Kieda Claudine
Published: December 2021

Endometriosis is one of the most common gynecological and systemic diseases, with a remarkable immune background. Patients suffer from pain and fertility reduction. Due to the distinct immune component, an immunotherapeutic approach may gain importance in the future. In endometriosis, shifts in the cell fractions of the immune system are well known. Moreover, hypoxia concomitant with inflammation causes a disturbed immune response. The removal of endometriosis has a therapeutic effect, normalizes the immune disorders, and remains the most effective causative treatment in terms of pain and infertility. A key issue is whether a similar effect can be achieved for fertility with non-invasive immunotherapy where surgery is inadvisable or cannot be performed for various reasons. Numerous immunotherapy trials, including vaccines, were conducted on animals only, although the research is encouraging. Among the promising methods of non-specific immunotherapy is the administration of an ethiodized oil contrast. Moreover, due to the significant successes of immunotherapy in oncology, the possibility of immunotherapy affecting NK cells has been postulated. NK cells are responsible for the surveillance and apoptosis of ectopic cells. Expanding the arsenal of endometriosis treatment by immunotherapy is promising due to the significant contribution of immunological factors and the limitations of current treatment methods.
The Identikit of Patient at Risk for Severe COVID-19 and Death: The Dysregulation of Renin-Angiotensin System as the Common Theme
Authors: Sarzani Riccardo , Allevi Massimiliano , Giulietti Federico , Di Pentima Chiara , Re Serena , Giordano Piero , Spannella Francesco
Published: December 2021

Since the first months of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, several specific physiologic traits, such as male sex and older age, or health conditions, such as overweight/obesity, arterial hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes mellitus, have been found to be highly prevalent and associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes in hospitalized patients. All these cardiovascular morbidities are widespread in the population and often coexist, thus identifying a common patient phenotype, characterized by a hyper-activation of the “classic” renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and mediated by the binding of angiotensin II (Ang II) to the type 1-receptor. At the same time, the RAS imbalance was proved to be crucial in the genesis of lung injury after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, where angiotensin-converting-enzyme-2 (ACE2) is not only the receptor for SARS-CoV-2, but its down-regulation through internalization and shedding, caused by the virus binding, leads to a further dysregulation of RAS by reducing angiotensin 1-7 (Ang 1-7) production. This focused narrative review will discuss the main available evidence on the role played by cardiovascular and metabolic conditions in severe COVID-19, providing a possible pathophysiological link based on the disequilibrium between the two opposite arms of RAS.
When More Means Less: The Prognosis of Recurrent Acute Myocardial Infarctions
Authors: Plakht Ygal , Gilutz Harel , Shiyovich Arthur
Published: December 2021

Recurrent acute myocardial infarctions (AMI) are common and associated with dismal outcomes. We evaluated the clinical characteristics and the prognosis of AMI survivors according to the number of recurrent AMIs (ReAMI) and the time interval of events (TI). A retrospective analysis of patients who survived following hospitalization with an AMI throughout 2002–2017 was conducted. The number of ReAMIs for each patient during the study period was recorded and classified based on following: 0 (no ReAMIs), 1, 2, ≥3. Primary outcome: all-cause mortality up to 10 years post-discharge from the last AMI. A total of 12,297 patients (15,697 AMI admissions) were analyzed (age: 66.1 ± 14.1 years, 68% males). The mean number of AMIs per patient was 1.28 ± 0.7; the rates of 0, 1, 2, ≥3 ReAMIs were 81%, 13.4%, 3.6% and 1.9%, respectively. The risk of mortality increased in patients with greater number of AMIs, HR = 1.666 (95% CI: 1.603–1.720, p < 0.001) for each additional event (study group), attenuated following adjustment for potential confounders, AdjHR = 1.135 (95% CI: 1.091–1.181, p < 0.001). Increased risk of mortality was found with short TI (<6-months), AdjHR = 2.205 (95% CI: 1.418–3.429, p < 0.001). The risk of mortality following AMI increased as the number of ReAMIs increased, and the TI between the events shortened. These findings should guide improved surveillance and management of this high-risk group of patients (i.e., ReAMI).
MET Gene Dysregulation as a Promising Therapeutic Target in Lung Cancer—A Review
Authors: Terlecka Paulina , Krawczyk Paweł , Grenda Anna , Milanowski Janusz
Published: December 2021

Several molecular abnormalities in the MET gene have been identified, including overexpression, amplification, point mutations, and “skipping mutation” in exon 14. Even though deregulated MET signaling occurs rarely in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), it possesses tumorigenic activity. Since the discovery of the significant role played by MET dysregulations in resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR TKI), many clinical trials have been focused on mechanisms underlying this acquired resistance. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies are being considered in the personalized therapy of NSCLC patients carrying MET abnormalities. First, MET kinase inhibitors (tepotinib and capmatinib) have been shown to be effective in the first and subsequent lines of treatment in NSCLC patients with “skipping mutations” in exon 14 of MET gene. In this article, the authors show the role of MET signaling pathway alterations and describe the results of clinical trials with MET inhibitors in NSCLC patients.
Magnolol Induces the Extrinsic/Intrinsic Apoptosis Pathways and Inhibits STAT3 Signaling-Mediated Invasion of Glioblastoma Cells
Authors: Yueh Po-Fu , Lee Yuan-Hao , Fu Chun-Yu , Tung Chun-Bin , Hsu Fei-Ting , Lan Keng-Li
Published: December 2021

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common form of malignant brain tumor, with poor prognosis; the efficacy of current standard therapy for GBM remains unsatisfactory. Magnolol, an herbal medicine from Magnolia officinalis, exhibited anticancer properties against many types of cancers. However, whether magnolol suppresses GBM progression as well as its underlying mechanism awaits further investigation. In this study, we used the MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide) assay, apoptosis marker analysis, transwell invasion and wound-healing assays to identify the effects of magnolol on GBM cells. We also validated the potential targets of magnolol on GBM with the GEPIA (Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis) and Western blotting assay. Magnolol was found to trigger cytotoxicity and activate extrinsic/intrinsic apoptosis pathways in GBM cells. Both caspase-8 and caspase-9 were activated by magnolol. In addition, GEPIA data indicated the PKCδ (Protein kinase C delta)/STAT3 (Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) signaling pathway as a potential target of GBM. Magnolol effectively suppressed the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of STAT3 in GBM cells. Meanwhile, tumor invasion and migration ability and the associated genes, including MMP-9 (Matrix metalloproteinase-9) and uPA (Urokinase-type plasminogen activator), were all diminished by treatment with magnolol. Taken together, our results suggest that magnolol-induced anti-GBM effect may be associated with the inactivation of PKCδ/STAT3 signaling transduction.
Comparative Study on the Corrosion Resistance of 6061Al and SiC3D/6061Al Composite in a Chloride Environment
Authors: Yu Liang , Hao Shuangshuang , Nong Xiaodong , Cao Xiuling , Zhang Chen , Liu Yuan , Yan Yulong , Jiang Yanli
Published: December 2021

Interface problems and the destruction of the continuity of the oxide film in the Al matrix usually reduce the corrosion resistance of the material. In this paper, the corrosion resistance of Al matrix composites (AMCs) was improved by introducing the silicon carbide skeletons (SiC3D) obtained with polymer replica technology. SiC3D/6061Al was fabricated by infiltrating molten 6061Al alloy in the oxidized SiC3D using the low-pressure casting method. The corrosion resistance performances of 6061Al and SiC3D/6061Al in NaCl solution were studied by electrochemical, neutral salt spray corrosion (NSS), and salt leaching (SL) tests. Results show corrosion resistance of SiC3D/6061Al is higher than that of 6061Al alloys by open circuit potential (OCP), potentio-dynamic polarization (PDP), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests. However, NSS and SL tests show the corrosion resistance of SiC3D/6061Al is lower than that of 6061Al alloy. The reason is a corrosion resistant and anti-oxidation network macrostructure with large interface recombination, few concentrated interfaces, and a small specific area that formed in SiC3D/6061Al. SiC3D cannot damage the continuity of the Al2O3 passivating film, and the network macrostructure greatly improves the corrosion resistance performance.
Alternative Materials for the Enrichment of Biogas with Methane
Authors: Bałys Mieczysław , Brodawka Ewelina , Jodłowski Grzegorz Stefan , Szczurowski Jakub , Wójcik Marta
Published: December 2021

Carbonaceous adsorbents have been pointed out as promising adsorbents for the recovery of methane from its mixture with carbon dioxide, including biogas. This is because of the fact that CO2 is more strongly adsorbed and also diffuses faster compared to methane in these materials. Therefore, the present study aimed to test alternative carbonaceous materials for the gas separation process with the purpose of enriching biogas in biomethane and to compare them with the commercial one. Among them was coconut shell activated carbon (AC) as the adsorbent derived from bio-waste, rubber tire pyrolysis char (RPC) as a by-product of waste utilization technology, and carbon molecular sieve (CMS) as the commercial material. The breakthrough experiments were conducted using two mixtures, a methane-rich mixture (consisting of 75% CH4 and 25% CO2) and a carbon dioxide-rich mixture (containing 25% CH4 and 75% CO2). This investigation showed that the AC sample would be a better candidate material for the CH4/CO2 separation using a fixed-bed adsorption column than the commercial CMS sample. It is worth mentioning that due to its poorly developed micropore structure, the RPC sample exhibited limited adsorption capacity for both compounds, particularly for CO2. However, it was observed that for the methane-rich mixture, it was possible to obtain an instantaneous concentration of around 93% CH4. This indicates that there is still much potential for the use of the RPC, but this raw material needs further treatment. The Yoon–Nelson model was used to predict breakthrough curves for the experimental data. The results show that the data for the AC were best fitted with this model.
Sleep Quality Improvement Enhances Neuropsychological Recovery and Reduces Blood Aβ42/40 Ratio in Patients with Mild–Moderate Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Huang Haihua , Li Mingqiu , Zhang Menglin , Qiu Jiang , Cheng Haiyan , Mou Xin , Chen Qinghong , Li Tina , Peng Jun , Li Benyi
Published: December 2021

Background and objectives: Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain degeneration and is associated with a high prevalence of sleep disorders. Amyloid β peptide-42/40 (Aβ42/40) and Tau-pT181 are the core biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid and blood. Accumulated data from studies in mouse models and humans demonstrated an aberrant elevation of these biomarkers due to sleep disturbance, especially sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). However, it is not clear if sleep quality improvement reduces the blood levels of Ab42/40 ratio and Tau-pT181 in Alzheimer’s disease patients. Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, a longitudinal analysis was conducted on 64 patients with mild–moderate cognition impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer’s disease accompanied by SDB. Another 33 MCI cases without sleep-disordered breathing were included as the control group. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score system. Neuropsychological assessments were conducted using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), 24-h Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD-24), and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) scoring systems. Aβ42, Aβ40, and Tau-pT181 protein levels in blood specimens were measured using ELISA assays. All patients received donepezil treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. SDB was managed with continuous pressure ventilation. Results: A significant correlation was found among PSQI, HRSD-24, HAMA, Aβ42/40 ratio, and Tau-pT181 level in all cases. In addition, a very strong and negative correlation was discovered between education level and dementia onset age. Compared to patients without SDB (33 non-SD cases), patients with SDB (64 SD cases) showed a significantly lower HRSD-24 score and a higher Aβ42/40 ratio Tau-pT181 level. Sleep treatment for patients with SDB significantly improved all neuropsychological scores, Aβ42/40 ratio, and Tau-pT181 levels. However, 11 patients did not completely recover from a sleep disorder (PSQI > 5 post-treatment). In this subgroup of patients, although HAMA score and Tau-pT181 levels were significantly reduced, MoCA and HRSD-24 scores, as well as Aβ42/40 ratio, were not significantly improved. ROC analysis found that the blood Aβ42/40 ratio held the highest significance in predicting sleep disorder occurrence. Conclusions: This is the first clinical study on sleep quality improvement in Alzheimer’s disease patients. Sleep quality score was associated with patient depression and anxiety scores, as well as Aβ42/40 ratio and Tau-pT181 levels. A complete recovery is critical for fully improving all neuropsychological assessments, Aβ42/40 ratio, and Tau-pT181 levels. Blood Aβ42/40 ratio is a feasible prognostic factor for predicting sleep quality.
Fatigue Behavior of Al 7075-T6 Plates Repaired with Composite Patch under the Effect of Overload
Authors: Bachir Bouiadjra Bel Abbes , Mohammed S. M. A. K. , Benyahia Faycal , Albedah Abdulmohsen
Published: December 2021

Repair of aeronautical structures by composite patch bonding has shown its effectiveness in several studies during the last few decades. This repair technique leads to a retardation in the propagation of repaired cracks via load bridging across the patch throughout the adhesive layer, interfacing it with the repaired structure. The purpose of this study is to analyze the behavior of patch-repaired cracks present in thin plates made of aluminum alloy 7075-T6 and subjected to a single tensile overload. The sequence of application of overload on the fatigue behavior was also studied. Fatigue tests were conducted on Al 7075-T6 notched specimens where crack growth and number of cycles to failure were monitored for different patching/overload scenarios. A detailed fractographic study was performed on failed specimens to analyze the micromechanical behavior of the crack growth related to each scenario. The obtained results showed that the application of the overload before bonding the patch leads to an almost infinite fatigue life of the repaired plates.
Migration and Aggregation Behavior of Nickel and Iron in Low Grade Laterite Ore with New Additives
Authors: Wang Yuanbo , Nie Chaoqun , Li Bo , Wei Yonggang
Published: December 2021

This study focused on the preparation of high-grade ferronickel concentrate, the behavior of efficient migration and the polymerization of ferronickel particles during reduction roasting, by adding calcium fluoride and a ferronickel concentrate to low-grade laterite ore from Yunnan. The effects of temperature, holding time, reductant content, ferronickel concentrate content and magnetic field intensity on the preparation of the ferronickel concentrate were studied and the optimum conditions were determined as follows: 30% ferronickel concentrate (metal Ni-4.68%, metal Fe-45.0%), 8% coal, 7% calcium fluoride, reduction temperature of 1250 °C, reduction time of 60 min and the intensity of magnetic separation is 150 mT. The proportion of nickel and iron in ferronickel concentrate was 88.7% (metal Ni-8.62%, metal Fe-80.1%), and the recovery efficiency of nickel and iron are 98.8% and 82.4%, respectively. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy indicated that ferronickel-concentrate, as an activating agent, improved the aggregation effect of ferronickel particles. The efficient migration and polymerization of ferronickel particles in the ore significantly increased the size of the ferronickel particles with additives, therefore a high-grade ferronickel concentrate was prepared, and the reduction and recovery efficiency of laterite nickel ore was improved.
Distribution and Associated Factors of Hepatic Iron—A Population-Based Imaging Study
Authors: Maier Lisa , von Krüchten Ricarda , Lorbeer Roberto , Filler Jule , Nattenmüller Johanna , Thorand Barbara , Koenig Wolfgang , Rathmann Wolfgang , Bamberg Fabian , Schlett Christopher L. , Peters Annette , Rospleszcz Susanne
Published: December 2021

Hepatic iron overload can cause severe organ damage; therefore, an early diagnosis and the identification of potential risk factors is crucial. We aimed to investigate the sex-specific distribution of hepatic iron content (HIC) in a population-based cohort and identify relevant associated factors from a panel of markers. We analyzed N = 353 participants from a cross-sectional sample (KORA FF4) who underwent whole-body magnetic resonance imaging. HIC was assessed by single-voxel spectroscopy with a high-speed T2-corrected multi-echo technique. A large panel of markers, including anthropometric, genetic, and laboratory values, as well as behavioral risk factors were assessed. Relevant factors associated with HIC were identified by variable selection based on LASSO regression with bootstrap resampling. HIC in the study sample (mean age at examination: 56.0 years, 58.4% men) was significantly lower in women (mean ± SD: 39.2 ± 4.1 s−1) than in men (41.8 ± 4.7 s−1, p < 0.001). Relevant factors associated with HIC were HbA1c as well as prediabetes for men and visceral adipose tissue as well as age for women. Hepatic fat, alcohol consumption, and genetic risk score for iron levels were associated with HIC in both sexes. In conclusion, there are sex-specific associations of HIC with markers of body composition, glucose metabolism, and alcohol consumption.
Exhaled Metabolite Patterns to Identify Recent Asthma Exacerbations
Authors: van Bragt Job J. M. H. , Principe Stefania , Hashimoto Simone , Versteeg D. Naomi , Brinkman Paul , Vijverberg Susanne J. H. , Weersink Els J. M. , Scichilone Nicola , Maitland-van der Zee Anke H.
Published: December 2021

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that can lead to exacerbations, defined as acute episodes of worsening respiratory symptoms and lung function. Predicting the occurrence of these exacerbations is an important goal in asthma management. The measurement of exhaled breath by electronic nose (eNose) may allow for the monitoring of clinically unstable asthma and exacerbations. However, data on its ability to perform this is lacking. We aimed to evaluate whether eNose could identify patients that recently had asthma exacerbations. We performed a cross-sectional study, measuring exhaled breath using the SpiroNose in adults with a physician-reported diagnosis of asthma. Patients were randomly divided into a training (n = 252) and validation (n = 109) set. For the analysis of eNose signals, principal component (PC) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were performed. LDA, based on PC1-4, reliably discriminated between patients who had a recent exacerbation from those who had not (training receiver operating characteristic (ROC)–area under the curve (AUC) = 0.76,95% CI 0.69–0.82), (validation AUC = 0.76, 95% CI 0.64–0.87). Our study showed that, exhaled breath analysis using eNose could accurately identify asthma patients who recently had an exacerbation, and could indicate that asthma exacerbations have a specific exhaled breath pattern detectable by eNose.
Wearable Metamaterial Dual-Polarized High Isolation UWB MIMO Vivaldi Antenna for 5G and Satellite Communications
Authors: Alhawari Adam R. H. , Saeidi Tale , Almawgani Abdulkarem Hussein Mohammed , Hindi Ayman Taher , Alghamdi Hisham , Alsuwian Turki , Awwad Samer A. B. , Imran Muhammad Ali
Published: December 2021

A low-profile Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna showing dual polarization, low mutual coupling, and acceptable diversity gain is presented by this paper. The antenna introduces the requirements of fifth generation (5G) and the satellite communications. A horizontally (4.8–31 GHz) and vertically polarized (7.6–37 GHz) modified antipodal Vivaldi antennas are simulated, fabricated, and integrated, and then their characteristics are examined. An ultra-wideband (UWB) at working bandwidths of 3.7–3.85 GHz and 5–40 GHz are achieved. Low mutual coupling of less than −22 dB is achieved after loading the antenna with cross-curves, staircase meander line, and integration of the metamaterial elements. The antennas are designed on a denim textile substrate with εr = 1.4 and h = 0.5 mm. A conductive textile called ShieldIt is utilized as conductor with conductivity of 1.8 × 104. After optimizing the proposed UWB-MIMO antenna’s characteristics, it is increased to four elements positioned at the four corners of a denim textile substrate to be employed as a UWB-MIMO antenna for handset communications, 5G, Ka and Ku band, and satellite communications (X-band). The proposed eight port UWB-MIMO antenna has a maximum gain of 10.7 dBi, 98% radiation efficiency, less than 0.01 ECC, and acceptable diversity gain. Afterwards, the eight-ports antenna performance is examined on a simulated real voxel hand and chest. Then, it is evaluated and compared on physical hand and chest of body. Evidently, the simulated and measured results show good agreement between them. The proposed UWB-MIMO antenna offers a compact and flexible design, which is suitably wearable for 5G and satellite communications applications.