bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of Microhook ab Interno Trabeculotomy in Consecutive 36 Eyes with Uveitic Glaucoma
Authors: Sotani Noriyuki , Kusuhara Sentaro , Matsumiya Wataru , Okuda Mina , Mori Sotaro , Sotani Rei , Kim Kyung Woo , Nishisho Ryuto , Nakamura Makoto
Published: June 2022

Microhook trabeculotomy (μLOT), recently developed by Tanito belongs to minimally invasive glaucoma surgery and contributes to intraocular pressure (IOP) control in eyes with glaucoma resistant to medical therapy. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of μLOT for uveitic glaucoma. The medical records of consecutive 36 eyes from 30 patients who underwent μLOT and were followed up over post-operative 1 year were reviewed. The surgical success (IOP = 5–20 mmHg and ΔIOP ≥ 20% with additional anti-glaucoma drugs) was achieved in 67% of eyes at post-operative 12 months. The median IOP significantly decreased from 30.5 mmHg pre-operatively to 15 mmHg at 12 months post-operatively (p = 0.001), and the median glaucoma drug score changed from 5 pre-operatively to 2.5 at 12 months post-operatively (p = 0.301). Intraocular inflammation scores at post-operative 6 weeks did not show a significant worsening as compared to pre-operatively, and 8 (22%) eyes exhibited exacerbation of inflammation during the 12-month follow-up period. Post-operative complications were confirmed in 58% of eyes, but most of them were mild and transient or successfully managed. With its favorable benefit–risk profile, μLOT would be an option worth considering as the first glaucoma surgery for uveitic glaucoma.
Three Days Compared to One Day Per Week of Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose in Mild Gestational Diabetes: A Randomized Trial
Authors: Hong Jesrine Gek Shan , Mohd. Noor Ahmad Firdzaus , Tan Peng Chiong
Published: June 2022

Background: The International Diabetes Federation estimates that 16.2% of livebirths in 2017 were affected by hyperglycemia in pregnancy, with 85.1% due to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Daily blood glucose monitoring compared with alternate day testing in mild GDM is associated with similar pregnancy outcomes. Data are sparse on the ideal frequency for self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) in mild GDM for glycemic control. A higher HbA1c at late pregnancy is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. We sought to evaluate three days compared to one day per week of four-point self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) controlled by lifestyle changes for glycemic control. Methods: This randomized trial was conducted from February–December 2018. A total of 106 women with lifestyle-controlled GDM were randomized to three days (SMBG3) or one day (SMBG1) per week of four-point (fasting and two-hours post-meal) SMBG. The primary outcome was the change in the HbA1c level at recruitment and 36-weeks gestation within and across trial arms. The student t-test was used for between-arm analyses and a paired t-test for within-arm analyses. Results: The HbA1c level through pregnancy increased significantly in both trial arms: mean increase of 0.21% ± 0.26%, p < 0.001 (SMBG3), and 0.19% ± 0.24%, p < 0.001 (SMBG1), but the 0.02% difference across trial arms was not significant (p = 0.79). Maternal weight gain (3.1 ± 2.1 kg vs. 3.3 ± 3.0 kg, p = 0.72), cesarean delivery (24/52 (48%) vs. 23/53 (43%), RR 1.06, 95% CI: 0.69–1.62, p = 0.77), neonatal birthweight (3.1 ± 0.4 kg vs. 3.0 ± 0.4 kg, p = 0.53) and neonatal intensive care unit admission (4/52 (8%) vs. 3/53 (6%), RR 1.36, 95% CI: 0.32–5.78, p = 0.68) were not significantly different for SMBG3 vs. SMBG1, respectively. Other maternal and neonatal secondary outcomes were not significantly different. Conclusion: In mild GDM, three days compared to one day per week showed a similar HbA1c levels change at 36-weeks gestation. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were also not significantly different. Less frequent monitoring of SMBG as a standard of care in mild GDM deserves further study and consideration.
Using TBAg/PHA Ratio for Monitoring TB Treatment: A Prospective Multicenter Study
Authors: Wang Xiaochen , Li Mingwu , Liu Guobiao , Wu Xiaoying , Wan Rong , Hou Hongyan , Wu Shiji , Sun Ziyong , Kuang Haobin , Wang Feng
Published: June 2022

The way to monitor tuberculosis (TB) treatment is extremely lacking in clinical practice. The aim of the study is to assess the role of the TBAg/PHA ratio in the treatment monitoring of TB. TB patients were followed up for 6 months and serial T-SPOT.TB (T-SPOT) assays were performed. In patients with successful treatment outcomes, the ESAT-6 sfc, CFP-10 sfc, and TBAg/PHA ratio all showed a decreased trend after the initiation of treatment. Conversely, PHA sfc showed an increased trend after 2 months of treatment. However, these indicators had moderate performance in distinguishing between before and after 6 months of treatment, and the AUC ranged from 0.702 to 0.839. Notably, the TBAg/PHA ratio in patients without risk factors was of important value in differentiation between before and after treatment. The optimal AUC of TBAg/PHA ratio reached up to 0.890. Patients with unsuccessful treatment outcomes showed persistently high levels of TBAg/PHA ratio. The TBAg/PHA ratio in patients after 6 months of treatment showed a certain potential in distinguishing between patients with successful and unsuccessful treatment outcomes. A further calculation of the TBAg/PHA ratio in T-SPOT assay has potential value in the treatment monitoring of TB, but further confirmation is needed.
Romance Root Suppletion and Cumulative Exponence: Fusion, Pruning, Spanning
Authors: Pomino Natascha , Remberger Eva-Maria
Published: June 2022

This paper discusses verbal stem allomorphy in Romance within the framework of Distributed Morphology (DM). We will present several technical instruments provided by the framework, applying them to an analysis of Romance verbal forms, with a particular focus on stem suppletion with the verb go. We conclude that the best solution to the problem of form–function discrepancies, as they appear in suppletion (but not only), is a spanning approach. This approach operates at Vocabulary Insertion only, without any need for the assumption of further, often critically discussed, morphological processes, such as fusion or pruning.
Sublingual Vaccination with Live Influenza Virus Induces Better Protection Than Oral Immunization in Mice
Authors: Mao Jie , Eom Gi-Deok , Yoon Keon-Woong , Kang Hae-Ji , Chu Ki-Back , Quan Fu-Shi
Published: June 2022

Both sublingual (SL) and oral vaccine administration modalities are convenient, easy, and safe. Here, we have investigated the differences in vaccine efficacy that are induced by oral and sublingual immunization with live influenza virus (A/Hong Kong/1/1968, H3N2) in mice. Intranasally administering a lethal dose of the influenza virus resulted in the deaths of the mice, whereas viral replication in the lungs did not occur upon SL or oral administration. At 30 days post-immunization through the SL or oral route, the mice were intranasally challenge-infected with the lethal dose of the homologous influenza virus. Both SL and oral immunizations with the influenza virus elicited significantly higher levels of virus-specific IgG and IgA antibody responses, as well as HAI titers in the sera. Upon challenge infection, the SL immunization elicited higher levels of pulmonary IgG antibody and CD8+ T cell responses than the oral immunization. Enhanced splenic germinal center B (GC B) and B cell proliferation were also detected from the SL immunization, both of which were significantly greater than those of the oral immunization. Importantly, compared to oral immunization, significantly lessened lung viral loads and bodyweight reductions were observed from the SL immunization and these parameters contributed to prolonging the survival of the immunized mice. These results indicate that both SL and oral administration could be effective routes in inducing protective immunity against influenza virus infection, with SL immunization being the better of the two delivery routes.
Acaricidal Potential and Ecotoxicity of Metallic Nano-Pesticides Used against the Major Life Stages of Hyalomma Ticks
Authors: Zaheer Tean , Kandeel Mahmoud , Abbas Rao Zahid , Khan Shanza Rauf , Rehman Tauseef ur , Aqib Amjad Islam
Published: June 2022

Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) are blood-feeding parasites capable of transmitting diseases to animals (Piroplasmosis) and humans (Congo fever, Lyme disease). The non-judicious use of chemical acaricides has led to the development of acaricide-resistant ticks, making the control of ticks and tick-borne diseases difficult. This study reports the efficacy of magnesium oxide (MgO), iron oxide (Fe2O3), and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) as alternatives to traditional acaricides/pesticides using in vitro tests against major representative stages of Hyalomma ticks. Nanopesticides were chemically synthesized as rods (Fe2O3), stars (ZnO), and spheres (MgO) and were characterized by XRD and SEM analysis. The in vitro bioassays included adult immersion, larval immersion, and larval packet tests. Non-target effects of the nanopesticides were evaluated using snails. The LC90 values of Fe2O3 NPs (4.21, 2.83, 0.89 mg/L) were lowest followed by MgO (4.27, 2.91, 0.93 mg/L) and ZnO (4.49, 3.05, 0.69 mg/L), for the tick adult, larval and egg stages, respectively. Fe2O3 NPs were capable of arresting oviposition and larval hatching in the study ticks in vitro. The snail toxicity experiments revealed minimum to mild off-target effects for all nanopesticides tested. This study is the first to report the comparative efficacy of magnesium, iron, and zinc nanomaterials for toxicity in egg, adult and larval stages of Hyalomma ticks. Further studies of NPs on establishing the efficacy against ticks and safety at host-human-environment interface could lead to promising nanopesticde applications.
Analysis of Types of Skin Lesions and Diseases in Everyday Infectious Disease Practice—How Experienced Are We?
Authors: Skuhala Tomislava , Trkulja Vladimir , Rimac Marin , Dragobratović Anja , Desnica Boško
Published: June 2022

Rashes and skin lesions are a common reason for patient visits to emergency departments and physicians’ offices. The differential diagnosis includes a variety of infectious and non-infectious diseases, some of which can be life-threatening. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the quantity and type of skin lesions among outpatients and inpatients at a tertiary care university-affiliated teaching hospital for infectious diseases over a three-year period to assess disease burden and physicians’ experience in diagnosing skin lesions. Diagnoses (by ICD-10 codes) were classified into three groups: infectious diseases that include skin lesions, non-infectious skin lesions and undiagnosed skin lesions. During the observed period, out of the total of 142,416 outpatients, 14.8% presented with some form of skin lesion. Among them, 68% had skin lesions inherent to infectious disease, 10.8% suffered from non-infectious skin lesions and 21.2% remained with undiagnosed skin lesions. The most common infectious diagnoses were chickenpox, herpes zoster and unspecified viral infections characterized by skin and mucous membrane lesions. The most common non-infectious diagnoses were urticaria and atopic dermatitis. Overall, the most common individual diagnosis (ICD-10 code) was “nonspecific skin eruption” (n = 4448, 21.1%), which was followed by chickenpox and herpes zoster. Among the 17,401 patients hospitalized over the observed period, 13.1% had skin lesion as the main reason for hospitalization, almost all (97.5%) of which were infectious in etiology. The most common diagnoses were cellulitis, erysipelas and herpes zoster. The presented data suggest that the burden of diseases presenting with skin lesions is significant in everyday infectious disease practice, but the overwhelming number of undiagnosed patients implies the need for further education in this area.
Computational AI Models for Investigating the Radiation Shielding Potential of High-Density Concrete
Authors: Amin Muhammad Nasir , Ahmad Izaz , Iqbal Mudassir , Abbas Asim , Khan Kaffayatullah , Faraz Muhammad Iftikhar , Alabdullah Anas Abdulalim , Ullah Shahid
Published: June 2022

Concrete is an economical and efficient material for attenuating radiation. The potential of concrete in attenuating radiation is attributed to its density, which in turn depends on the mix design of concrete. This paper presents the findings of a study conducted to evaluate the radiation attenuation with varying water-cement ratio (w/c), thickness, density, and compressive strength of concrete. Three different types of concrete, i.e., normal concrete, barite, and magnetite containing concrete, were prepared to investigate this study. The radiation attenuation was calculated by studying the dose absorbed by the concrete and the linear attenuation coefficient. Additionally, artificial neural network (ANN) and gene expression programming (GEP) models were developed for predicting the radiation shielding capacity of concrete. A correlation coefficient (R), mean absolute error (MAE), and root mean square error (RMSE) were calculated as 0.999, 1.474 mGy, 2.154 mGy and 0.994, 5.07 mGy, 5.772 mGy for the training and validation sets of the ANN model, respectively. Similarly, for the GEP model, these values were recorded as 0.981, 13.17 mGy, and 20.20 mGy for the training set, whereas the validation data yielded R = 0.985, MAE = 12.2 mGy, and RMSE = 14.96 mGy. The statistical evaluation reflects that the developed models manifested close agreement between experimental and predicted results. In comparison, the ANN model surpassed the accuracy of the GEP models, yielding the highest R and the lowest MAE and RMSE. The parametric and sensitivity analysis revealed the thickness and density of concrete as the most influential parameters in contributing towards radiation shielding. The mathematical equation derived from the GEP models signifies its importance such that the equation can be easily used for future prediction of radiation shielding of high-density concrete.
Increasing the Mechanical Strength and Corrosion Resistance of Aluminum Alloy 7075 via Hydrostatic Extrusion and Aging
Authors: Orłowska Marta , Ura-Bińczyk Ewa , Śnieżek Lucjan , Skudniewski Paweł , Kulczyk Mariusz , Adamczyk-Cieślak Bogusława , Mizera Jarosław
Published: June 2022

The present study investigates the correlation between mechanical properties and resistance to corrosion of hydrostatically extruded aluminum alloy 7075. Supersaturated solid solutionized samples undergo a plastic deformation process, followed by both natural and artificial aging. Furthermore, two types of hydrostatic extrusion are applied to the samples: single-stepped and double-stepped. This process is shown to influence grain refinement and the precipitation process, resulting in changes in the electrochemical properties of the samples. Hydrostatic extrusion combined with aging is shown to cause an increase in mechanical strength ranging from 50 MPa to 135 MPa in comparison to coarse-grained sample subjected to T6 heat treatment. The highest value of tensile strength is obtained for a sample subjected to single-step hydrostatic extrusion followed by natural aging. This strength increase is caused by refinement of the microstructure, in addition to the small size and number of precipitates at the grain boundaries, which are coarsened by artificial aging. Hydrostatic extrusion is also shown to increase resistance to corrosion, with the T6-treated coarse-grained sample being most susceptible to corrosion attack.
A Multi-Objective Teaching–Learning Studying-Based Algorithm for Large-Scale Dispatching of Combined Electrical Power and Heat Energies
Authors: Sarhan Shahenda , Shaheen Abdullah , El-Sehiemy Ragab , Gafar Mona
Published: June 2022

This paper proposes a multi-objective teaching–learning studying-based algorithm (MTLSBA) to handle different objective frameworks for solving the large-scale Combined Heat and Power Economic Environmental Dispatch (CHPEED) problem. It aims at minimizing the fuel costs and emissions by managing the power-only, CHP and heat-only units. TLSBA is a modified version of TLBA to increase its global optimization performance by merging a new studying strategy. Based on this integrated tactic, every participant gathers knowledge from someone else randomly to improve his position. The position is specified as the vector of the design variables, which are the power and heat outputs from the power-only, CHP and heat-only units. TLSBA has been upgraded to include an extra Pareto archiving to capture and sustain the non-dominated responses. The objective characteristic is dynamically adapted by systematically modifying the shape of the applicable objective model. Likewise, a decision-making approach based on the fuzzy concept is used to select the most suitable CHPEED solution for large-scale dispatching of combined electrical power and heat energies. The proposed MTLSBA is assigned to multiple testing of 5-unit, 7-unit and 96-unit systems. It is contrasted with other reported techniques in the literature. According to numerical data, the suggested MTLSBA outperforms the others in terms of effectiveness and robustness indices. For the 5-unit system, the proposed MTLSBA achieves improvement in the fuel costs of 0.6625% and 0.3677% and reduction in the emissions of 2.723% and 7.4669% compared to non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) and strength Pareto evolutionary algorithm (SPEA 2), respectively. For the 7-unit system, the proposed MTLSBA achieves improvement in the fuel costs of 2.927% and 3.041% and reduction in the emissions of 40.156% and 40.050% compared to NSGA-II and SPEA 2, respectively.
A Discrete Representation of the Second Fundamental Form
Authors: Carriazo Alfonso , Fernández Luis M. , Ramírez-de-Arellano Antonio
Published: June 2022

We present a new method to obtain a combinatorial representation for the behaviour of a submanifold isometrically immersed in a Riemannian manifold based on the second fundamental form. We also present several results applying this new way of representation.
Bayesian Information Criterion for Fitting the Optimum Order of Markov Chain Models: Methodology and Application to Air Pollution Data
Authors: Alyousifi Yousif , Ibrahim Kamarulzaman , Othamn Mahmod , Zin Wan Zawiah Wan , Vergne Nicolas , Al-Yaari Abdullah
Published: June 2022

The analysis of air pollution behavior is becoming crucial, where information on air pollution behavior is vital for managing air quality events. Many studies have described the stochastic behavior of air pollution based on the Markov chain (MC) models. Fitting the optimum order of MC models is essential for describing the stochastic process. However, uncertainty remains concerning the optimum order of such models for representing and characterizing air pollution index (API) data. In this study, the optimum order of the MC models for hourly and daily API sequences from seven stations in the central region of Peninsular Malaysia is identified, based on the Bayesian information criteria (BIC), contributing to exploring an adequate explanation of the probabilistic dependence of air pollution. A summary of the statistics for the API was calculated prior to the analysis. The Markov property and the divergence for the empirically estimated transition matrix of an MC sequence are also investigated. It is found from the analysis that the optimum order varies from one station to another. At most stations, for both observed and simulated API data, the second and third orders of the MC models are found to be optimum for hourly API occurrences, while the first-order MC is found to be most fitting for describing the dynamics of the daily API. Overall, fitting the optimum order of the MC model for the API data sequence captured the delay effect of air pollution. Accordingly, we concluded that the air quality standard lies within controllable limits, except for some infrequent occurrences of API values exceeding the unhealthy level.
Dynamic Behavior of an Interactive Mosquito Model under Stochastic Interference
Authors: Liu Xingtong , Tan Yuanshun , Zheng Bo
Published: June 2022

For decades, mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever and Zika have posed serious threats to human health. Diverse mosquito vector control strategies with different advantages have been proposed by the researchers to solve the problem. However, due to the extremely complex living environment of mosquitoes, environmental changes bring significant differences to the mortality of mosquitoes. This dynamic behavior requires stochastic differential equations to characterize the fate of mosquitoes, which has rarely been considered before. Therefore, in this article, we establish a stochastic interactive wild and sterile mosquito model by introducing the white noise to represent the interference of the environment on the survival of mosquitoes. After obtaining the existence and uniqueness of the global positive solution and the stochastically ultimate boundedness of the stochastic system, we study the dynamic behavior of the stochastic model by constructing a series of suitable Lyapunov functions. Our results show that appropriate stochastic environmental fluctuations can effectively inhibit the reproduction of wild mosquitoes. Numerical simulations are provided to numerically verify our conclusions: the intensity of the white noise has an effect on the extinction and persistence of both wild and sterile mosquitoes.
Design, Synthesis and Evaluation of Novel Phorbazole C Derivatives as MNK Inhibitors through Virtual High-Throughput Screening
Authors: Jin Xin , Li Maowei , Qiu Tingting , Yu Rilei , Jiang Tao
Published: June 2022

MNKs (mitogen-activated protein kinase-interacting protein kinases) phosphorylate eIF4E at Ser209 to control the translation of certain mRNAs and regulate the process of cell proliferation, cell migration and invasion, etc. Development of MNK inhibitors would be an effective treatment for related diseases. We used the MarineChem3D database to identify hit compounds targeting the protein MNK1 and MNK2 through high-throughput screening. Compounds from the phorbazole family showed good interactions with MNK1, and phorbazole C was selected as our hit compound. By analyzing the binding mode, we designed and synthesized 29 derivatives and evaluated their activity against MNKs, of which, six compounds showed good inhibition to MNKs. We also confirmed three interactions between this kind of compound and MNK1, which are vital for the activity. In conclusion, we report series of novel MNK inhibitors inspired from marine natural products and their relative structure–activity relationship. This will provide important information for further developing MNK inhibitors based on this kind of structure.
Unusual Ether Lipids and Branched Chain Fatty Acids in Sea Cucumber (Cucumaria frondosa) Viscera and Their Seasonal Variation
Authors: Abuzaytoun Reem , Budge Suzanne M. , Xia Wei , MacKinnon Shawna
Published: June 2022

The sea cucumber, Cucumaria frondosa, is harvested primarily for its muscular bands and body wall. Development of a nutraceutical product based on lipid recovered from its viscera would give commercial value to the entire organism; however, such development requires knowledge of the lipid and fatty acid (FA) profiles of the viscera. Here, we describe the lipid and FA composition of viscera recovered from C. frondosa harvested in coastal waters in the northwest Atlantic, taking into account variation due to harvest season. We found highest lipid content at ~29% in winter, with diacylglyceryl ethers (DAGE) comprising ~55% of the total lipid mass and triacylglycerols (TAG), phospholipids (PL) and monoacylglycerol ethers (MAGE) at 5–25% each. The branched chain FA, 12-methyltetradecanoic acid (12-MTA), represented 42% of total FA mass in DAGE. In summer, lipid content was lower at 24% and TAG was the dominate lipid, with proportions more than double that found in winter (45% vs. 20%); DAGE in summer dropped to ~30% of total lipids. In TAG, 12-MTA was much lower than found in DAGE in winter, at only 10% but eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) content was ~20%, which brought the total EPA% to 28% of total FA—the highest among all three seasons. There was little effect of season on MAGE or PL proportions. These data can help harvesters maximize catch efforts in terms of lipid yield and profile.
Cognitive Dysfunction in Migraineurs
Authors: Qin Tong , Chen Chunfu
Published: June 2022

Background and Objectives: Migraines are one of the most common types of primary headaches in neurology. Many studies to date have investigated cognitive impairment in migraineurs, but the results are inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate the cognitive function of migraineurs and explore the influencing factors. Material and Methods: A total of 117 patients with primary headaches (87 with migraine and 30 with tension-type headache (TTH)) and 30 healthy controls were enrolled. General information and data on headache clinical characteristics, and assessments of headache-related disability, psychological symptoms, and cognitive function were collected for statistical analysis. Results: The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) total score and the scores of visuospatial and executive functions, language, and delayed recall in the migraine and TTH groups were significantly lower than those in the healthy control group (all p < 0.05). The MoCA total score did not correlate with Headache impact test-6, Migraine Disability Assessment Questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, or Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-7 scores in migraineurs (all p > 0.0125). The multiple linear regression analysis showed that age and duration of attack had a major influence on the overall and various fields of cognition in migraineurs. Conclusion: The study confirmed the impairment of cognitive function in patients with migraine and TTH, and found that the duration of attack had an effect on cognitive function in migraineurs.
Surgical Management and Outcomes following Pathologic Hip Fracture—Results from a Propensity Matching Analysis of the Registry for Geriatric Trauma of the German Trauma Society
Authors: Bliemel Christopher , Rascher Katherine , Oberkircher Ludwig , Schlosshauer Torsten , Schoeneberg Carsten , Knobe Matthias , Pass Bastian , Ruchholtz Steffen , Klasan Antonio ,   on behalf of the AltersTraumaRegister DGU
Published: June 2022

Background and Objectives: The outcomes of patients with pathologic hip fractures remain unclear. Data from a large international geriatric trauma registry were analyzed to examine the outcomes of patients with pathologic hip fractures compared with patients with typical osteoporotic hip fractures. Materials and Methods: Data from the Registry for Geriatric Trauma of the German Trauma Society (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Unfallchirurgie (DGU)) (ATR-DGU) were analyzed. All patients treated surgically for osteoporotic or pathologic hip fractures were included in this analysis. Across both fracture types, a 2:1 optimal propensity score matching and multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted. In-house mortality rate and mortality at the 120-day follow-up, as well as mobility after 7 and 120 days, reoperation rate, discharge management from the hospital and readmission rate to the hospital until the 120-day follow-up were analyzed as outcome parameters for the underlying fracture type—pathologic or osteoporotic. Results: A total of 29,541 cases met the inclusion criteria. Of the patients included, 29,330 suffered from osteoporotic fractures, and 211 suffered from pathologic fractures. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed no differences between the two fracture types in terms of mortality during the acute hospital stay, reoperation during the initial acute hospital stay, walking ability after seven days and the likelihood of being discharged back home. Walking ability and hospital readmission remained insignificant at the 120-day follow-up as well. However, the odds of passing away within the first 120 days were significantly higher for patients suffering from pathologic hip fractures (OR: 3.07; p = 0.003). Conclusions: Surgical treatment of pathologic hip fractures was marked by a more frequent use of arthroplasty in per- and subtrochanteric fractures. Furthermore, the mortality rate among patients suffering from pathologic hip fractures was elevated in the midterm. The complication rate, as indicated by the rate of readmission to the hospital and the necessity for reoperation, remained unaffected.
Comparison of Heart and Lung Doses According to Tumor Bed Boost Techniques in Early-Stage Left-Sided Breast Cancer: Simultaneous Integrated Boost versus Sequential Boost
Authors: Kim Myungsoo , Lee Nam Kwon , Lee Suk , Hwang Jinho
Published: June 2022

Background and Objectives: The boost dose to the tumor bed after whole breast irradiation (WBI) can be divided into sequential boost (SEQ) and simultaneous integrated boost (SIB). SIB using modern radiation therapy (RT) techniques, such as volumetric modulated arc therapy, allow the delivery of a highly conformal dose to the target volume and has a salient ability to spare at-risk organs. This study aimed to compare the radiation dose delivered to the heart and lungs according to boost technique and tumor bed location. Materials and Methods: RT planning data of 20 patients with early-stage left-sided breast cancer were used in this study. All patients were treated with volumetric modulated arc therapy after breast-conserving surgery with a sentinel lymph node biopsy. For each patient, two different plans, whole breast irradiation with simultaneous integrated boost (WBI-SIB) and sequential boost after WBI (WBI-SEQ), were generated. To compare the dose received by each organ at risk (OAR), dose-volume histogram data were analyzed. The mean dose (Dmean) and volume of each organ that received x Gy (Vx) were calculated and compared. Results: For the heart, the V10 was lower for the WBI-SIB plan than for the WBI-SEQ plan (5.223 ± 1.947% vs. 6.409 ± 2.545%, p = 0.008). For the left lung, the V5 was lower in the WBI-SIB plan than for the WBI-SEQ plan (27.385 ± 3.871% vs. 32.092 ± 3.545%, p < 0.001). The Dmean for the heart and left lung was lower for the WBI-SIB plan than for the WBI-SEQ plan (heart: 339.745 ± 46.889 cGy vs. 413.030 ± 52.456 cGy, p < 0.001; left lung: 550.445 ± 65.094 cGy vs. 602.270 ± 55.775 cGy, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The WBI-SIB plan delivered lower radiation doses to the heart and left lung than the WBI-SEQ plan in terms of Dmean and low-dose volume in hypofractionated RT of early-stage left-sided breast cancer patients. Furthermore, a large radiation dose per day may be advantageous, considering the radiobiologic aspects of breast cancer. Long-term follow-up data are needed to determine whether the dosimetric advantages of the WBI-SIB plan can lead to clinically improved patient outcomes and reduced late side effects.
Efficient and Accurate Modeling of the Surface Deflection of Thin Layers on Composite Substrates with Applications to Piezoelectric Parameter Measurements
Authors: Voglhuber-Brunnmaier Thomas , Beigelbeck Roman , Schmid Ulrich , Sauter Thilo , You Tiangui , Ou Xin , Jakoby Bernhard
Published: June 2022

The electrical and mechanical response of multilayered structures involving a piezoelectric layer and bull’s eye shaped electrodes is investigated. A boundary element method is employed based on spectral domain Green’s functions. With this method, the electric field distribution is determined first, and the local mechanical displacement in a second step. As will be shown, this allows us to exploit cylindrical symmetry for the electric surface charge distribution, but not for the vertical surface displacements. The effect of substrate bending due to in plane-stress, introduced by the piezoelectric constant d31, and the benefits of using bull’s eye electrode geometries with thick metallic backplates intended to reduce this effect are studied. A rigorous analysis and a largely simplified, but accurate approximation are compared. The application of this technique is demonstrated on a practical example for highly efficient and accurate determination of selected piezoelectric coefficients from surface topography measurements on such structures.
Performance of Dried Blood Spot Samples in SARS-CoV-2 Serolomics
Authors: Jeske Rima , Merle Uta , Müller Barbara , Waterboer Tim , Butt Julia
Published: June 2022

Numerous sero-epidemiological studies have been initiated to investigate the spread and dynamics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). To address the concomitant need for serological high-throughput assays, a bead-based multiplex serology assay, specific for SARS-CoV-2, had been developed. SARS-CoV-2 serolomics allows for measuring antibody responses to almost the entire SARS-CoV-2 proteome in up to 2000 serum samples per day. To enlarge the pool of eligible sample collection methods, we here test the compatibility of serolomics with dried blood spot (DBS)-derived eluates. Antibody levels of nine SARS-CoV-2 antigens, including the nucleocapsid (N) and receptor-binding domain of the spike protein (S1-RBD), were measured in 142 paired DBS and serum samples. The numeric correlation between the two sample types was high, with a Pearson’s r of 0.88 for both S1-RBD and N and intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.93 and 0.92, respectively. Systematically reduced antibody levels in DBS eluates were compensated by lowering the cutoffs for seropositivity accordingly. This enabled the concordant classification of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity, without loss in sensitivity. Antibody levels against accessory SARS-CoV-2 antigens also showed a high concordance, demonstrating that DBS-derived eluates are eligible for SARS-CoV-2 serolomics. DBS cards facilitate the collection of blood samples, as they obviate the need for medically trained personnel and can be shipped at room temperature. In combination with SARS-CoV-2 serolomics, DBS cards enable powerful sero-epidemiological studies, thus allowing for the monitoring of patients and epidemiological analyses in resource-poor settings.
Phylogenomic Analyses and Molecular Signatures Elucidating the Evolutionary Relationships amongst the Chlorobia and Ignavibacteria Species: Robust Demarcation of Two Family-Level Clades within the Order Chlorobiales and Proposal for the Family Chloroherpetonaceae fam. nov
Authors: Bello Sarah , Howard-Azzeh Mohammad , Schellhorn Herb E. , Gupta Radhey S.
Published: June 2022

Evolutionary relationships amongst Chlorobia and Ignavibacteria species/strains were examined using phylogenomic and comparative analyses of genome sequences. In a phylogenomic tree based on 282 conserved proteins, the named Chlorobia species formed a monophyletic clade containing two distinct subclades. One clade, encompassing the genera Chlorobaculum, Chlorobium, Pelodictyon, and Prosthecochloris, corresponds to the family Chlorobiaceae, whereas another clade, harboring Chloroherpeton thalassium, Candidatus Thermochlorobacter aerophilum, Candidatus Thermochlorobacteriaceae bacterium GBChlB, and Chlorobium sp. 445, is now proposed as a new family (Chloroherpetonaceae fam. nov). In parallel, our comparative genomic analyses have identified 47 conserved signature indels (CSIs) in diverse proteins that are exclusively present in members of the class Chlorobia or its two families, providing reliable means for identification. Two known Ignavibacteria species in our phylogenomic tree are found to group within a larger clade containing several Candidatus species and uncultured Chlorobi strains. A CSI in the SecY protein is uniquely shared by the species/strains from this “larger Ignavibacteria clade”. Two additional CSIs, which are commonly shared by Chlorobia species and the “larger Ignavibacteria clade”, support a specific relationship between these two groups. The newly identified molecular markers provide novel tools for genetic and biochemical studies and identification of these organisms.
Attachment of Ferredoxin: NADP+ Oxidoreductase to Phycobilisomes Is Required for Photoheterotrophic Growth of the Cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002
Authors: Li Xiying , Huang Chenhui , Wei Peijun , Zhang Kun , Dong Chunxia , Lan Qing , Zheng Zhenggao , Zhang Zhengdong , Zhao Jindong
Published: June 2022

Two types of cyanobacterial phycobilisomes (PBS) are present: the hemidiscoidal PBS (CpcG-PBS) and the membrane-bound PBS (CpcL-PBS). Both types of PBS have ferredoxin:NADP+ oxidoreductase (FNR) attached to the termini of their rods through a CpcD domain. To date, the physiological significance of the attachment remains unknown. We constructed a mutant (dF338) which contains an FNR lacking the N-terminal CpcD domain in Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002. Isolated CpcG-PBS from dF338 did not contain FNR and the cell extracts of the mutant had a 35 kDa protein cross-reacting to anti-FNR antibodies. dF338 grows normally under photoautotrophic conditions, but little growth was observed under photoheterotrophic conditions. A cpcL (cpcG2) mutant grows extremely slowly under photoheterotrophic conditions while a cpcG (cpcG1) mutant, in which PBS rods could not attach to the cores of the CpcG-PBS, can grow photoheterotrophically, strongly suggesting that the attachment of FNR to CpcL-PBS is critical to photoheterotrophic growth. We show that electron transfer to the plastoquinone pool in dF338 and the cpcL mutant was impaired. We also provide evidence that trimeric photosystem I (PSI) and intact CpcL-PBS with a full-length FNR is critical to plastoquinone reduction. The presence of a NADPH-dehydrogenase (NDH)-CpcL-PBS-PSI trimer supercomplex and its roles are discussed.
Canady Cold Helios Plasma Reduces Soft Tissue Sarcoma Viability by Inhibiting Proliferation, Disrupting Cell Cycle, and Inducing Apoptosis: A Preliminary Report
Authors: Ly Lawan , Cheng Xiaoqian , Murthy Saravana R. K. , Jones Olivia Z. , Zhuang Taisen , Gitelis Steven , Blank Alan T. , Nissan Aviram , Adileh Mohammad , Colman Matthew , Keidar Michael , Basadonna Giacomo , Canady Jerome
Published: June 2022

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are a rare and highly heterogeneous group of solid tumors, originating from various types of connective tissue. Complete removal of STS by surgery is challenging due to the anatomical location of the tumor, which results in tumor recurrence. Additionally, current polychemotherapeutic regimens are highly toxic with no rational survival benefit. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a novel technology that has demonstrated immense cancer therapeutic potential. Canady Cold Helios Plasma (CHCP) is a device that sprays CAP along the surgical margins to eradicate residual cancer cells after tumor resection. This preliminary study was conducted in vitro prior to in vivo testing in a humanitarian compassionate use case study and an FDA-approved phase 1 clinical trial (IDE G190165). In this study, the authors evaluate the efficacy of CHCP across multiple STS cell lines. CHCP treatment reduced the viability of four different STS cell lines (i.e., fibrosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and liposarcoma) in a dose-dependent manner by inhibiting proliferation, disrupting cell cycle, and inducing apoptosis-like cell death.
Evaluation of Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activity of Hydro-Ethanolic Extracts Obtained from Steiractinia aspera Cuatrec
Authors: Gamboa-Carvajal Laura , Jara-Gutiérrez Carlos , Villena Joan , Taborga Lautaro , Martínez Jairo René , Espinoza Luis , Stashenko Elena E.
Published: June 2022

In this work, the antioxidant activity of the hydro-ethanolic extracts of the leaves, flowers, and aerial parts of Steiractinia aspera Cuatrec, both fresh and post-distillation, was evaluated by ABTS+·, FRAP, H2O2 and DPPH assays. The cytotoxic activity was evaluated in MCF-7, MCF-10A and HT-29 cell lines. The hydro-ethanolic extracts were obtained by matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) and ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction (SE). The fresh-leaf MSPD extract had the highest antioxidant activity, and the post-distillation leaf ultrasound-assisted SE extract had the highest cytotoxicity in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line, although not selective, which was evaluated by sulforhodamine B assay. On the other hand, ROS was evaluated by flow cytometry which showed that post-distillation leaf extract is pro-oxidant. Chlorogenic acid, kaempferol-3-glucoside and quercetin were found in the fresh leaves’ extracts, according to HPLC-DAD. PLC-DAD permitted the isolation of p-coumaric acid, E-3-(4-(((E)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) acryloyl) oxy)-3-hydroxyphenyl) acrylic acid and a diglucosylated derivative of ursolic acid, which were analyzed by 1H and 13C NMR. Our results suggest that the fresh leaf extract of Steiractinia aspera Cuatrec has potential use for antioxidant applications.
Phosphorylation of ERK-Dependent NF-κB Triggers NLRP3 Inflammasome Mediated by Vimentin in EV71-Infected Glioblastoma Cells
Authors: Gong Zelong , Gao Xuefeng , Yang Qingqing , Lun Jingxian , Xiao Hansen , Zhong Jiayu , Cao Hong
Published: June 2022

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is a dominant pathogenic agent that may cause severe central nervous system (CNS) diseases among infants and young children in the Asia-pacific. The inflammasome is closely implicated in EV71-induced CNS injuries through a series of signaling pathways. However, the activation pathway of NLRP3 inflammasome involved in EV71-mediated CNS injuries remains poorly defined. In the studies, EV71 infection, ERK1/2 phosphorylation, and activation of NLRP3 are abolished in glioblastoma cells with low vimentin expression by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockdown. PD098059, an inhibitor of p-ERK, remarkably blocks the vimentin-mediated ERK1/2 phosphorylation in EV71-infected cells. Nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 is dependent on p-ERK in a time-dependent manner. Moreover, NLRP3 activation and caspase-1 production are limited in EV71-infected cells upon the caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) administration, an inhibitor of NF-κB, which contributes to the inflammasome regulation. In conclusion, these results suggest that EV71-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome could be activated via the VIM-ERK-NF-κB pathway, and the treatment of the dephosphorylation of ERK and NF-κB inhibitors is beneficial to host defense in EV71-infected CNS.
New Simple and Robust Method for Determination of Polarity of Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) by Means of Contact Angle Measurement
Authors: Cichocki Łukasz , Warmińska Dorota , Łuczak Justyna , Przyjazny Andrzej , Boczkaj Grzegorz
Published: June 2022

The paper presents a new method for evaluating the polarity and hydrophobicity of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) based on the measurement of the DES contact angle on glass. DESs consisting of benzoic acid derivatives and quaternary ammonium chlorides–tetrabutylammonium chloride (TBAC) and benzyldimethylhexadecylammonium chloride (16-BAC)—in selected molar ratios were chosen for the study. To investigate the DESs polarity, an optical goniometer and an ET(30) solvatochromic scale based on Reichardt’s dye were used. The research demonstrated the high accuracy and precision of the developed procedure. The simplicity of the examination and the availability of basic equipment allow for the implementation of the developed method in routine investigations of DESs.
Efficacy of Phytochemicals Derived from Roots of Rondeletia odorata as Antioxidant, Antiulcer, Diuretic, Skin Brightening and Hemolytic Agents—A Comprehensive Biochemical and In Silico Study
Authors: Khursheed Anjum , Ahmad Saeed , Khan Kashif-ur-Rehman , Tousif Muhammad Imran , Aati Hanan Y. , Ovatlarnporn Chitchamai , Rao Huma , Khurshid Umair , Ghalloo Bilal Ahmad , Tabassum Sobia , Basit Abdul
Published: June 2022

Roots of Rondeletia odorata are a rich source of phytochemicals with high antioxidant potential and thus may possess health benefits. This study used the LC-MS technique to identify phytoconstituents in R. odorata roots extract/fractions. Results revealed that n-butanol fraction and ethanolic extract contained total phenolic and flavonoid contents with values of 155.64 ± 0.66 mgGAE/g DE and 194.94 ± 0.98 mgQE/g DE, respectively. Significant potential of antioxidants was observed by DPPH, CUPRAC and FRAP methods while the ABTS method showed moderate antioxidant potential. Maximum % inhibition for urease, tyrosinase and carbonic anhydrase was shown by ethanolic extract (73.39 ± 1.11%), n-butanol soluble fraction (80.26 ± 1.59%) and ethyl acetate soluble fraction (76.50 ± 0.67%) which were comparable with thiourea (standard) (98.07 ± 0.74%), kojic acid (standard) (98.59 ± 0.92%) and acetazolamide (standard) (95.51 ± 1.29%), respectively, while all other extract/fractions showed moderate inhibition activity against these three enzymes. Hemolytic activity was also observed to range from 18.80 ± 0.42 to 3.48 ± 0.69% using the standard (triton X-100) method. In total, 28 and 20 compounds were identified tentatively by LC-MS analysis of ethanolic extract and n-butanol soluble fraction, respectively. Furthermore, molecular docking was undertaken for major compounds identified by LC-MS for determining binding affinity between enzymes (urease, tyrosinase and carbonic anhydrase) and ligands. It was concluded that active phytochemicals were present in roots of R. odorata with potential for multiple pharmacological applications and as a latent source of pharmaceutically important compounds. This should be further explored to isolate important constituents that could be used in treating different diseases.
Genetic Variants in Folate and Cobalamin Metabolism-Related Genes in Pregnant Women of a Homogeneous Spanish Population: The Need for Revisiting the Current Vitamin Supplementation Strategies
Authors: Rodriguez-Carnero Gemma , Lorenzo Paula M. , Canton-Blanco Ana , Mendizabal Leire , Arregi Maddi , Zulueta Mirella , Simon Laureano , Macia-Cortiñas Manuel , Casanueva Felipe F. , Crujeiras Ana B.
Published: June 2022

Polymorphisms of genes involved in the metabolism and transport of folate and cobalamin could play relevant roles in pregnancy outcomes. This study assessed the prevalence of genetic polymorphisms of folate and cobalamin metabolism-related genes such as MTHFR, MTR, CUBN, and SLC19A1 in pregnant women of a homogeneous Spanish population according to conception, pregnancy, delivery, and newborns complications. This study was conducted on 149 nulliparous women with singleton pregnancies. Sociodemographic and obstetrics variables were recorded, and all patients were genotyped in the MTHFR, MTR, CUBN, and SLC10A1 polymorphisms. The distribution of genotypes detected in this cohort was similar to the population distribution reported in Europe, highlighting that more than 50% of women were carriers of risk alleles of the studied genes. In women with the MTHFR risk allele, there was a statistically significant higher frequency of assisted fertilisation and a higher frequency of preeclampsia and preterm birth. Moreover, CUBN (rs1801222) polymorphism carriers showed a statistically significantly lower frequency of complications during delivery. In conclusion, the prevalence of genetic variants related to folic acid and vitamin B12 metabolic genes in pregnant women is related to mother and neonatal outcomes. Knowing the prevalence of these polymorphisms may lead to a personalised prescription of vitamin intake.