bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the Protective Efficacy of Approved COVID-19 Vaccines Against Various Mutants
Authors: Li Chaonan , Guo Yikai , Fang Zhongbiao , Zhang Haiyan , Zhang Yanjun , Chen Keda
Published: April 2022

The outbreak of COVID-19 (caused by SARS-CoV-2) has posed a significant threat to global public health security because of its high pathogenicity and infectivity. To date, the pathogenic mechanism of this novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is still unclear, and there is no effective treatment. As one of the most effective strategies to prevent viral infection, vaccines have become a research hotspot. Based on the current understanding of SARS-CoV-2, the research and development of its vaccines cover almost all forms of current vaccine research, including inactivated vaccines, recombinant protein vaccines, viral vector vaccines, and nucleic acid vaccines. Moreover, with the spread of the new mutant virus, it is necessary to evaluate the protection rate of previous administered vaccines. This article reviews the candidate targets, vaccine types, research and development status, progress of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, and the effectiveness of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 mutants (B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1, B.1.617.2, and B.1.1.529) induced by these vaccines, to provide a reference for follow-up research and prevention.
Roles Played by Stress-Induced Pathways in Driving Ethnic Heterogeneity for Inflammatory Skin Diseases
Authors: Jamerson Taylor A. , Li Qinmengge , Sreeskandarajan Sutharzan , Budunova Irina V. , He Zhi , Kang Jian , Gudjonsson Johann E. , Patrick Matthew T. , Tsoi Lam C.
Published: April 2022

Immune-mediated skin conditions (IMSCs) are a diverse group of autoimmune diseases associated with significant disease burden. Atopic dermatitis and psoriasis are among the most common IMSCs in the United States and have disproportionate impact on racial and ethnic minorities. African American patients are more likely to develop atopic dermatitis compared to their European American counterparts; and despite lower prevalence of psoriasis among this group, African American patients can suffer from more extensive disease involvement, significant post-inflammatory changes, and a decreased quality of life. While recent studies have been focused on understanding the heterogeneity underlying disease mechanisms and genetic factors at play, little emphasis has been put on the effect of psychosocial or psychological stress on immune pathways, and how these factors contribute to differences in clinical severity, prevalence, and treatment response across ethnic groups. In this review, we explore the heterogeneity of atopic dermatitis and psoriasis between African American and European American patients by summarizing epidemiological studies, addressing potential molecular and environmental factors, with a focus on the intersection between stress and inflammatory pathways.
RSV Prevention in All Infants: Which Is the Most Preferable Strategy?
Authors: Esposito Susanna , Abu Raya Bahaa , Baraldi Eugenio , Flanagan Katie , Martinon Torres Federico , Tsolia Maria , Zielen Stefan
Published: April 2022

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes a spectrum of respiratory illnesses in infants and young children that may lead to hospitalizations and a substantial number of outpatient visits, which result in a huge economic and healthcare burden. Most hospitalizations happen in otherwise healthy infants, highlighting the need to protect all infants against RSV. Moreover, there is evidence on the association between early-life RSV respiratory illness and recurrent wheezing/asthma-like symptoms As such, RSV is considered a global health priority. However, despite this, the only prevention strategy currently available is palivizumab, a monoclonal antibody (mAb) indicated in a subset of preterm infants or those with comorbidities, hence leaving the majority of the infant population unprotected against this virus. Therefore, development of prevention strategies against RSV for all infants entering their first RSV season constitutes a large unmet medical need. The aim of this review is to explore different immunization approaches to protect all infants against RSV. Prevention strategies include maternal immunization, immunization of infants with vaccines, immunization of infants with licensed mAbs (palivizumab), and immunization of infants with long-acting mAbs (e.g., nirsevimab, MK-1654). Of these, palivizumab use is restricted to a small population of infants and does not offer a solution for all-infant protection, whereas vaccine development in infants has encountered various challenges, including the immaturity of the infant immune system, highlighting that future pediatric vaccines will most likely be used in older infants (>6 months of age) and children. Consequently, maternal immunization and immunization of infants with long-acting mAbs represent the two feasible strategies for protection of all infants against RSV. Here, we present considerations regarding these two strategies covering key areas which include mechanism of action, “consistency” of protection, RSV variability, duration of protection, flexibility and optimal timing of immunization, benefit for the mother, programmatic implementation, and acceptance of each strategy by key stakeholders. We conclude that, based on current data, immunization of infants with long-acting mAbs might represent the most effective approach for protecting all infants entering their first RSV season.
Species Identification of Larval Fish in Hawaiian Waters Using DNA Barcoding
Authors: Xing Bingpeng , Wang Chunguang , Wu Qiong , Wang Yanguo , Chen Xiaoyin , Sun Rouxin , Zhang Zhilan , Xiang Peng
Published: April 2022

Taxonomic information is important to fisheries management and conservation. In this study, we collected 95 specimens of larval fish from Hawaiian waters and a total of 92 mitochondrial COI barcode sequences were obtained, representing 20 species, 18 genera and 12 families. The determined average Kimura-2-parameter distances within species, genera, families, and orders were 0.72%, 25.99%, 26.30%, and 27.50%, respectively, and the mean interspecific distance was found to be 36-fold higher than the mean intraspecific distance. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that individuals belonging to the same species were clustered together and could be clearly distinguished. The findings of this study can make a valuable contribution to our knowledge of the diversity and dispersal of larval fish in Hawaiian waters.
Nanostructure and Nanomechanics of Prorocentrum donghaiense and Their Changes Under Nitrogen Limitation by Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: He Liyan , Yu Zhiming , Zhu Jianan , Cao Xihua , Song Xiuxian
Published: April 2022

In this paper, atomic force microscopy was employed to study the harmful algal bloom species Prorocentrum donghaiense for the first time. Cells were immobilized in pores of polycarbonate membrane to keep moist and to acquire images of P. donghaiense at different scales. Typical ultrastructures, such as knob-like spines and valve pores, were observed on cell surfaces. These structures had similar characteristics to those observed on scanning electron microscopy images. Moreover, the height and spacing of typical nanostructure, and nanomechanical parameters such as adhesion and elasticity, were also quantified by AFM. Additionally, the changes in cell surface nanostructure and nanomechanical characteristics under nitrogen limitation were further studied. Compared with the cells under normal culture conditions, the cell surface roughness and adhesion decreased, and the elastic modulus increased for cells under nitrogen limitation. Potential changes in the ability of P. donghaiense cells to perform normal physiological functions are reflected by changes in cell surface parameters, including cell surface roughness, cell surface adhesion, and cell surface elasticity. The results of this study reveal how P. donghaiense responds to changes in the external environment under approximately physiological conditions from the perspective of changes in cell surface nanostructures and nanomechanical characteristics and provide a new understanding of its cell biology.
Study of the Hydration Temperature Field in the Hinge Seal Layer for a Large-Volume UHPC Arch Base
Authors: Yang Jun , Wang Jieyun , Luo Chao , Ding Yaxi , Fan Yonghui
Published: April 2022

For large arch bridges, the sealing hinge layer at the arch footing is critical to the long-term performance and durability of the structure. This study investigated the temperature distribution of the sealing hinge layer inside a large UHPC arch seat during the hydration process in a natural environment, based on a design of a 600-m-span reinforced concrete rigid skeleton arch bridge. A certain suggestion for the design of a large-volume UHPC layer was proposed through the consideration of temperature and age effects of the thermal field solid finite element analysis of early-age UHPC hydration heat. The results show that UHPC has a hydration induction period of 10 h and reaches the peak temperature of 69°C in 20 h. Then, the hydration heat is gradually released in 70 h after pouring. The maximum temperature difference between the core and surface reaches 40°C. The results also show that the early temperature field and heat release rate of UHPC are affected by initial temperature. The actual heat release of some materials of UHPC components at 75 h is equivalent to that at 300 h, and the minimum effective age was found close to 100 h, where the heat release reaches 0.25 of the total heat release. A simplified algorithm for the spatially time-varying non-linear temperature field of the UHPC sealing hinge layer under the influence of temperature and age is proposed, which provides a simple calculation method for the temperature control of the UHPC arch seat during the hydration process in real projects.
Prognostic Significance of the Albumin to Fibrinogen Ratio in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients
Authors: Xia Wenkai , Kuang Meisi , Li Chenyu , Yao Xiajuan , Chen Yan , Lin Jie , Hu Hong
Published: April 2022

Background

Albumin to fibrinogen ratio (AFR) is a demonstrated predictor of mortality in various diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of AFR to predict mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 212 incident PD patients from January 2010 to December 2017 and followed them until December 2019. We used receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis to determine the optimal cut-off point for AFR at baseline to predict overall and cardiovascular mortality during the follow-up period. Kaplan-Meier curve and Cox regression analysis were applied to evaluate the association between AFR and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.

Results

The optimal threshold for AFR to predict mortality was 8.48. A low AFR was strongly correlated with worse all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in PD patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that elevated AFR was an independent marker predicting reduced all-cause and cardiovascular mortality (HR 2.41, 95% CI 1.11–5.22, P = 0.026; and HR 2.18, 95% CI 1.21–3.95, P = 0.010, respectively).

Conclusions

Patients with a high AFR had reduced all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. AFR is a potential prognostic biomarker in PD patients.
Effects of Altitude on the Digestion Performance, Serum Antioxidative Characteristics, Rumen Fermentation Parameters, and Rumen Bacteria of Sanhe Heifers
Authors: Zhang Xinyu , Huang Shuai , Li Shengli , Wang Wei
Published: April 2022

The production efficiency of dairy cows is affected by altitude, with lower efficiency reported at higher altitudes. However, only a few studies have investigated the digestion performance, serum antioxidative characteristics, rumen fermentation performance, and rumen bacteria of Sanhe heifers at different altitudes. Therefore, in this study, we explored the effects of altitude on these aspects of Sanhe heifers. We evaluated the effects of altitude on the apparent digestibility of nutrients, serum antioxidative characteristics, rumen fermentation parameters, and rumen bacteria in Sanhe heifers. Twenty Sanhe heifers from the same herd and managed with the same practice were used. However, the heifers were from two regions in China: 10 were fed in Hulunbuir City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (119°57′E, 47°17′N; approximately 700 m altitude, named LA) and 10 were fed in Lhasa City, Tibet Autonomous Region (91°06′E, 29°36′N; approximately 3,750 m altitude, named HA). The dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), and DMI/ADG ratio were higher (p < 0.05) in LA than in HA heifers, whereas the apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, ether extract, and crude proteins were higher (p < 0.05) in the HA group. Compared with LA heifers, the HA heifers showed decreased (p < 0.05) serum concentrations of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase and increased serum concentration of hydrogen peroxide (p < 0.05). Altitude did not significantly affect the volatile fatty acid concentration in the rumen, but HA presented a lower acetate-to-propionate ratio than LA. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing data showed that altitude significantly affected the rumen microbial composition. At the phylum level, the HA heifers presented a lower relative abundance of Actinobacteria (p < 0.05) and higher relative abundance of Spirochaetae (p < 0.05) than the LA heifers. The correlation analysis revealed that the operational taxonomic units belonging to the genusPrevotella_1were correlated (p < 0.05) with altitude and DMI. The results indicate that altitude can influence the apparent digestibility of nutrients, serum antioxidant capacity, rumen fermentation, and rumen bacteria composition of Sanhe heifers. The study provides insights into the adaptation mechanism of Sanhe heifers to high-altitude areas.
Identification of Alzheimer’s Disease Molecular Subtypes Based on Parallel Large-Scale Sequencing
Authors: Ma Meigang , Liao Yuhan , Huang Xiaohua , Zou Chun , Chen Liechun , Liang Lucong , Meng Youshi , Wu Yuan , Zou Donghua
Published: April 2022

The incidence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is constantly increasing as the older population grows, and no effective treatment is currently available. In this study, we focused on the identification of AD molecular subtypes to facilitate the development of effective drugs. AD sequencing data collected from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were subjected to cluster sample analysis. Each sample module was then identified as a specific AD molecular subtype, and the biological processes and pathways were verified. The main long non-coding RNAs and transcription factors regulating each “typing pathway” and their potential mechanisms were determined using the RNAInter and TRRUST databases. Based on the marker genes of each “typing module,” a classifier was developed for molecular typing of AD. According to the pathways involved, five sample clustering modules were identified (mitogen-activated protein kinase, synaptic, autophagy, forkhead box class O, and cell senescence), which may be regulated through multiple pathways. The classifier showed good classification performance, which may be useful for developing novel AD drugs and predicting their indications.
The Cytoarchitecture of the Tectal-Related Pallium of Squirrelfish, Holocentrus sp.
Authors: Demski Leo S. , Beaver Joel A.
Published: April 2022

The squirrelfish, which live in visually complex coral reefs, have very large eyes and a special dual-system “day and night vision” retina. They also have atypical expansions of brain areas involved in processing visual information. The midbrain tectum sends information via diencephalic relay to two enlarged dorsal telencephalic regions. The latter include a superficial dorsal/lateral “cortex-like area” of small to medium-sized cells [area dorsalis telencephali, pars lateralis-dorsal region (dorsal segment); Dld1] which projects to an underlying dorsocentral region of relatively large cells (the area dorsalis telencephali, pars centralis-dorsal region; Dcd) which in turn reconnects with the tectum. Additionally, the cerebellum is also involved in this pathway. The hypertrophied pallial regions, termed the tectal-related pallium (TRP), most likely exert major influences on a variety of visually-related sensorimotor systems. This research aimed at better establishing the cellular structures and possible connections within the TRP. Nissl and rapid Golgi staining, biotinylated dextran amine tracing and cell-filling, and electron microscopy were used in this study. For gross observation of the pallial areas and plotting of the study sites, a mini-atlas of transverse and horizontal sections was constructed. This research better documented the known cellular elements of the TRP and defined two novel cell types. Species differences in the TRP may be related to possible differences in behavior and ecology.
Advancing Peripheral Nerve Graft Transplantation for Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury Repair
Authors: Kjell Jacob , Svensson Mikael
Published: April 2022

Peripheral nerves have a propensity for axon growth and regeneration that the central nervous system lacks (CNS). However, CNS axons can also grow long distances if introduced to a graft harvested from a peripheral nerve (PNGs), which is the rationale for using PNGs as repair strategy for injuries of the spinal cord. From a clinical perspective, PNGs provide interesting possibilities with potential to repair the injured spinal cord. First, there are numerous options to harvest autologous grafts associated with low risk for the patient. Second, a PNG allow axons to grow considerable distances and can, by the surgical procedure, be navigated to specific target sites in the CNS. Furthermore, a PNG provides all necessary biological substrates for myelination of elongating axons. A PNG can thus be suited to bridge axons long distances across an injury site and restore long tracts in incomplete SCI. Experimentally, locomotor functions have been improved transplanting a PNG after incomplete injury. However, we still know little with regard to the formation of new circuitries and functional outcome in association to when, where, and how grafts are inserted into the injured spinal cord, especially for sensory functions. In this perspective, we discuss the advantages of PNG from a clinical and surgical perspective, the need for adding/repairing long tracts, how PNGs are best applied for incomplete injuries, and the unexplored areas we believe are in need of answers.
Enteric Glial Cells in Immunological Disorders of the Gut
Authors: Liu Chang , Yang Jing
Published: April 2022

Enteric glial cells (EGCs) are one of the major cell types of neural crest lineage distributed in the gastrointestinal tract. EGCs represent an integral part of the enteric nervous system (ENS) and significantly outnumber ENS neurons. Studies have suggested that EGCs would exert essential roles in supporting the survival and functions of the ENS neurons. Notably, recent evidence has begun to reveal that EGCs could possess multiple immune functions and thereby may participate in the immune homeostasis of the gut. In this review article, we will summarize the current evidence supporting the potential involvement of EGCs in several important immunological disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, and autoimmune enteropathy. Further, we highlight critical questions on the immunological aspects of EGCs that warrant future research attention.
Exogenous Ketones and Lactate as a Potential Therapeutic Intervention for Brain Injury and Neurodegenerative Conditions
Authors: Omori Naomi Elyse , Woo Geoffrey Hubert , Mansor Latt Shahril
Published: April 2022

Metabolic dysfunction is a ubiquitous underlying feature of many neurological conditions including acute traumatic brain injuries and chronic neurodegenerative conditions. A central problem in neurological patients, in particular those with traumatic brain injuries, is an impairment in the utilization of glucose, which is the predominant metabolic substrate in a normally functioning brain. In such patients, alternative substrates including ketone bodies and lactate become important metabolic candidates for maintaining brain function. While the potential neuroprotective benefits of ketosis have been recognized for up to almost a century, the majority of work has focused on the use of ketogenic diets to induce such a state, which is inappropriate in cases of acute disease due to the prolonged periods of time (i.e., weeks to months) required for the effects of a ketogenic diet to be seen. The following review seeks to explore the neuroprotective effects of exogenous ketone and lactate preparations, which have more recently become commercially available and are able to induce a deep ketogenic response in a fraction of the time. The rapid response of exogenous preparations makes their use as a therapeutic adjunct more feasible from a clinical perspective in both acute and chronic neurological conditions. Potentially, their ability to globally moderate long-term, occult brain dysfunction may also be relevant in reducing lifetime risks of certain neurodegenerative conditions. In particular, this review explores the association between traumatic brain injury and contusion-related dementia, assessing metabolic parallels and highlighting the potential role of exogenous ketone and lactate therapies.
Imaging Genetic Based Mediation Analysis for Human Cognition
Authors: Chen Tingan , Mandal Abhishek , Zhu Hongtu , Liu Rongjie
Published: April 2022

The brain connectome maps the structural and functional connectivity that forms an important neurobiological basis for the analysis of human cognitive traits while the genetic predisposition and our cognition ability are frequently found in close association. The issue of how genetic architecture and brain connectome causally affect human behaviors remains unknown. To seek for the potential causal relationship, in this paper, we carried out the causal pathway analysis from single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data to four common human cognitive traits, mediated by the brain connectome. Specifically, we selected 942 SNPs that are significantly associated with the brain connectome, and then estimated the direct and indirect effect on the human traits for each SNP. We found out that a majority of the selected SNPs have significant direct effects on human traits and discussed the trait-related brain regions and their implications.
Modeling the Repetition-Based Recovering of Acoustic and Visual Sources With Dendritic Neurons
Authors: Dellaferrera Giorgia , Asabuki Toshitake , Fukai Tomoki
Published: April 2022

In natural auditory environments, acoustic signals originate from the temporal superimposition of different sound sources. The problem of inferring individual sources from ambiguous mixtures of sounds is known as blind source decomposition. Experiments on humans have demonstrated that the auditory system can identify sound sources as repeating patterns embedded in the acoustic input. Source repetition produces temporal regularities that can be detected and used for segregation. Specifically, listeners can identify sounds occurring more than once across different mixtures, but not sounds heard only in a single mixture. However, whether such a behavior can be computationally modeled has not yet been explored. Here, we propose a biologically inspired computational model to perform blind source separation on sequences of mixtures of acoustic stimuli. Our method relies on a somatodendritic neuron model trained with a Hebbian-like learning rule which was originally conceived to detect spatio-temporal patterns recurring in synaptic inputs. We show that the segregation capabilities of our model are reminiscent of the features of human performance in a variety of experimental settings involving synthesized sounds with naturalistic properties. Furthermore, we extend the study to investigate the properties of segregation on task settings not yet explored with human subjects, namely natural sounds and images. Overall, our work suggests that somatodendritic neuron models offer a promising neuro-inspired learning strategy to account for the characteristics of the brain segregation capabilities as well as to make predictions on yet untested experimental settings.
Mechanotransduction: Exploring New Therapeutic Avenues in Central Nervous System Pathology
Authors: Rocha Daniela Nogueira , Carvalho Eva Daniela , Relvas João Bettencourt , Oliveira Maria José , Pêgo Ana Paula
Published: April 2022

Cells are continuously exposed to physical forces and the central nervous system (CNS) is no exception. Cells dynamically adapt their behavior and remodel the surrounding environment in response to forces. The importance of mechanotransduction in the CNS is illustrated by exploring its role in CNS pathology development and progression. The crosstalk between the biochemical and biophysical components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) are here described, considering the recent explosion of literature demonstrating the powerful influence of biophysical stimuli like density, rigidity and geometry of the ECM on cell behavior. This review aims at integrating mechanical properties into our understanding of the molecular basis of CNS disease. The mechanisms that mediate mechanotransduction events, like integrin, Rho/ROCK and matrix metalloproteinases signaling pathways are revised. Analysis of CNS pathologies in this context has revealed that a wide range of neurological diseases share as hallmarks alterations of the tissue mechanical properties. Therefore, it is our belief that the understanding of CNS mechanotransduction pathways may lead to the development of improved medical devices and diagnostic methods as well as new therapeutic targets and strategies for CNS repair.
Unhealthy Dieting During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Opinion Regarding the Harmful Effects on Brain Health
Authors: Rentería Iván , García-Suárez Patricia Concepción , Moncada-Jiménez José , Machado-Parra Juan Pablo , Antunes Barbara Moura , Lira Fabio Santos , Jiménez-Maldonado Alberto
Published: April 2022

Since 2020, the world has been suffering from a pandemic that has affected thousands of people regardless of socio-economic conditions, forcing the population to adopt different strategies to prevent and control the advance of the disease, one of which is social distancing. Even though social distancing is a safe strategy to reduce the spread of COVID-19, it is also the cause of a rising sedentary behavior. This behavior develops an excess of fat tissue that leads to metabolic and inflammatory disruption related to chronic diseases and mental health disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and sleep issues. Furthermore, the adoption of dietary patterns involving the consumption of ultra-processed foods, higher in fats and sugars, and the reduction of fresh and healthy foods may play a role in the progress of the disease. In this perspective, we will discuss how an unhealthy diet can affect brain function and, consequently, be a risk factor for mental health diseases.
Transfer RNA-Derived Small RNAs: Novel Regulators and Biomarkers of Cancers
Authors: Fu Bi-Fei , Xu Chao-Yang
Published: April 2022

Transfer RNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) are conventional non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) with a length between18 and 40 nucleotides (nt) playing a crucial role in treating various human diseases including tumours. Nowadays, with the use of high-throughput sequencing technologies, it has been proven that certain tsRNAs are dysregulated in multiple tumour tissues as well as in the blood serum of cancer patients. Meanwhile, data retrieved from the literature show that tsRNAs are correlated with the regulation of the hallmarks of cancer, modification of tumour microenvironment, and modulation of drug resistance. On the other side, the emerging role of tsRNAs as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis is promising. In this review, we focus on the specific characteristics and biological functions of tsRNAs with a focus on their impact on various tumours and discuss the possibility of tsRNAs as novel potential biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis.
A Retrospective Study of First-Line Therapy Involving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Patients With Poor Risk Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Jo Hyunji , Hong Joohyun , Kim Hongsik , Kim Hye Ryeon , Kwon Ghee Young , Kang Kyung A. , Park Sung Yoon , Kim Chan Kyo , Park Byung Kwan , Chung Jae Hoon , Song Wan , Kang Minyong , Sung Hyun Hwan , Jeon Hwang Gyun , Jeong Byong Chang , Seo Seong Il , Jeon Seong Soo , Lee Hyun Moo , Park Se Hoon
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Patients with International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium (IMDC) poor risk metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) rarely respond to first-line tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) including sunitinib, and carries a very poor prognosis. In recent years, combination therapy involving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated superior efficacy to sunitinib in poor risk disease.

Materials and Methods

In a retrospective study using a cancer chemotherapy registry, 206 consecutive patients with mRCC in the first-line setting were identified between Oct 2019 and Dec 2020. Sixty-one patients had a poor risk mRCC, and were treated with TKI monotherapy (n=36), nivolumab plus ipilimumab (n=16), or pembrolizumab plus axitinib (n=9). Endpoints included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), response rate (RR), and safety.

Results

Patients’ median age was 61 years and the median number of risk factors was 3 (range, 3-5). During a median 23.0 months of follow-up, the median OS was 24.3 months with ICI-based combinations and 14.8 months with TKI monotherapy, and the median PFS periods were 9.3 months and 3.4 months, respectively. An objective response occurred in 60% of the patients receiving ICI-based combinations and in 19% of those receiving TKI monotherapy (P=0.001). In the multivariate regression model, number of IMDC risk factors and the ICI-based combination therapy were independent prognostic factors for PFS. All-causality grade 3 or 4 adverse events were 44% for ICI-based combinations and 50% for TKI monotherapy.

Conclusions

Among patients with poor risk mRCC, first-line ICI-based therapy showed significantly longer OS and PFS, as well as a higher RR, than TKI monotherapy.
The Difference and Significance of Parietal Pleura Invasion and Rib Invasion in Pathological T Classification With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Wu Lei-Lei , Li Chong-Wu , Li Kun , Qiu Li-Hong , Xu Shu-Quan , Lin Wei-Kang , Ma Guo-Wei , Li Zhi-Xin , Xie Dong
Published: April 2022

Objective

This study was to explore the difference and significance of parietal pleura invasion and rib invasion in pathological T classification with non-small cell lung cancer.

Methods

A total of 8681 patients after lung resection were selected to perform analyses. Multivariable Cox analysis was used to identify the mortality differences in patients between parietal pleura invasion and rib invasion. Eligible patients with chest wall invasion were re-categorized according to the prognosis. Cancer-specific survival curves for different pathological T (pT) classifications were presented.

Results

There were 466 patients considered parietal pleura invasion, and 237 patients served as rib invasion. Cases with rib invasion had poorer survival than those with the invasion of parietal pleura (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]= 1.627, P =0.004). In the cohort for parietal pleura invasion, patients with tumor size ≤5cm reached more satisfactory survival outcomes than patients with tumor size >5cm (unadjusted HR =1.598, P =0.006). However, there was no predictive difference in the cohort of rib invasion. The results of the multivariable analysis revealed that the mortality with parietal pleura invasion plus tumor size ≤5cm were similar to patients with classification pT3 (P =0.761), and patients for parietal pleura invasion plus tumor size >5cm and pT4 had no stratified survival outcome (P =0.809). Patients identified as rib invasion had a poorer prognosis than patients for pT4 (P =0.037).

Conclusions

Rib invasion has a poorer prognosis than pT4. Patients with parietal pleura invasion and tumor size with 5.1-7.0cm could be appropriately up-classified from pT3 to pT4.
Non-Coding RNAs Implicated in the Tumor Microenvironment of Colorectal Cancer: Roles, Mechanisms and Clinical Study
Authors: Wu Zhaoxu , Ju Qiang
Published: April 2022

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. The morbidity and mortality rates have been increasing all over the world. It is critical to elucidate the mechanism of CRC occurrence and development. However, tumor microenvironment (TME) includes immune cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, cytokines, chemokines and other components that affect the progression of CRC and patients’ prognosis. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs) without protein-coding ability have been shown to engage in tumor microenvironment-mediated angiogenesis and metastasis. Therefore, clarifying the mechanism of ncRNAs regulating the microenvironment is very important to develop the therapeutic target of CRC and improve the survival time of patients. This review focuses on the role and mechanism of ncRNAs in the CRC microenvironment and puts forward possible clinical treatment strategies.
Let's (Not) Talk About Pain: Mothers' and Fathers' Beliefs Regarding Reminiscing About Past Pain
Authors: Pavlova Maria , Kennedy Madison , Lund Tatiana , Jordan Abbie , Noel Melanie
Published: April 2022

Children's memories for past pain set the stage for their future pain experiences. Parent-child reminiscing about pain plays a key role in shaping children's pain memories. Parental beliefs about the functions of reminiscing are associated with parental reminiscing behaviors. To date, no studies have investigated parental beliefs regarding the functions of reminiscing about past pain or the associations between parental beliefs and reminiscing about past pain. This study aimed to fill these gaps. One-hundred and seven parents (52% fathers) of young children were asked about their beliefs regarding reminiscing about past pain. Interview data were first analyzed using inductive reflexive thematic analysis. A coding scheme was created based on the generated themes to quantitatively characterize parental beliefs. Parents also reminisced with their children about unique past events involving pain. Parent-child reminiscing narratives were coded to capture parent reminiscing behaviors. Inductive reflexive thematic analysis generated three major themes representing parental beliefs regarding reminiscing about past pain: “reminiscing to process past pain,” “reminiscing as a learning tool,” and “avoiding reminiscing about past pain.” Parents who endorsed avoiding reminiscing used fewer optimal reminiscing elements (i.e., open-ended questions) when reminiscing about past painful experiences with children. Parents who endorsed reminiscing to process past pain used more emotion-laden language when reminiscing about past pain. Mothers and fathers of boys and girls endorsed the reminiscing functions to a similar degree. Parents of older, vs. younger, children endorsed reminiscing to process past pain to a greater degree. Developmental considerations and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.
Obesity and Maternal-Placental-Fetal Immunology and Health
Authors: Monaco-Brown Meredith , Lawrence David A.
Published: April 2022

Obesity rates in women of childbearing age is now at 29%, according to recent CDC reports. It is known that obesity is associated with oxidative stress and inflammation, including disruptions in cellular function and cytokine levels. In pregnant women who are obese, associated placental dysfunction can lead to small for gestational age (SGA) infants. More frequently, however, maternal obesity is associated with large for gestational age (LGA) newborns, who also have higher incidence of metabolic disease and asthma due to elevated levels of inflammation. In addition, anthropogenic environmental exposures to “endocrine disrupting” and “forever” chemicals affect obesity, as well as maternal physiology, the placenta, and fetal development. Placental function is intimately associated with the control of inflammation during pregnancy. There is a large amount of literature examining the relationship of placental immunology, both cellular and humoral, with pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. Cells such as placental macrophages and NK cells have been implicated in spontaneous miscarriage, preeclampsia, preterm birth, perinatal neuroinflammation, and other post-natal conditions. Differing levels of placental cytokines and molecular inflammatory mediators also have known associations with preeclampsia and developmental outcomes. In this review, we will specifically examine the literature regarding maternal, placental, and fetal immunology and how it is altered by maternal obesity and environmental chemicals. We will additionally describe the relationship between placental immune function and clinical outcomes, including neonatal conditions, autoimmune disease, allergies, immunodeficiency, metabolic and endocrine conditions, neurodevelopment, and psychiatric disorders.
A Short Review of All-Dielectric Topological Photonic Crystals
Authors: Wang Hai-Xiao , Jiang Jian-Hua
Published: April 2022

Topological photonics is an emergent field at the cross of photonics and topological physics which opens our eyes to novel topological phenomena and versatile photonic effects. Photonic crystals (PhCs) are the optical analogs of conventional crystals that have proven to be an excellent photonic platform to explore topological physics. Here, we present a brief review of the all-dielectric topological PhCs by focusing on several prominent milestones of topological phases, such as the Su-Schrieffer–Heeger model, topological insulators, topological semimetals, and higher order topological phases. For each topological phase, the topological invariants and the intriguing topological properties as well as the potential applications are discussed. We conclude with the current challenge and the prospect of all-dielectric topological PhCs.
Ionic Liquid (EmimAc)-Water Mixture Confined in Nanoporous Glass Matrices Studied With High-Resolution Neutron Spectroscopy
Authors: Frielinghaus H. , Fomina M. , Hayward D. , Dubey P. S. , Jaksch S. , Falus P. , Fouquet P. , Fruhner L. , Holderer O.
Published: April 2022

We report on the structure and diffusion behaviour of the various constituent molecules in ionic liquid (IL) mixtures under confinement in nanoporous glasses. X-Ray diffraction measurements indicate that the ions adopt a lamellar arrangement under confinement. Furthermore, using selective deuteration in combination with high resolution neutron spectroscopy reveals how the dynamics and the activation energy of the IL is affected by different confinement conditions (pore sizes 50 Å and 135 Å) and different temperatures (265 and 318 K). With different deuteration schemes we could separate the different motions of acetate and water. The confinement leads to distortions of the domains, which gives more room for diffusion. In the smaller pores, the stronger distortion gives even more room such that the hydrogen bonds between acetate and water seem to be even stronger than in bulk and weaker confinement. The results are discussed in the context of previous measurements on dry samples.
Aging of the Peritoneal Dialysis Membrane
Authors: Krediet Raymond T.
Published: April 2022

Long-term peritoneal dialysis as currently performed, causes structural and functional alterations of the peritoneal dialysis membrane. This decay is brought about by the continuous exposure to commercially available glucose-based dialysis solutions. This review summarizes our knowledge on the peritoneum in the initial phase of PD, during the first 2 years and the alterations in function and morphology in long-term PD patients. The pseudohypoxia hypothesis is discussed and how this glucose-induced condition can be used to explain all peritoneal alterations in long-term PD patients. Special attention is paid to the upregulation of hypoxia inducing factor-1 and the subsequent stimulation of the genes coding for glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1) and the growth factors transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), plasminogen growth factor activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). It is argued that increased pseudohypoxia-induced expression of GLUT-1 in interstitial fibroblasts is the key factor in a vicious circle that augments ultrafiltration failure. The practical use of the protein transcripts of the upregulated growth factors in peritoneal dialysis effluent is considered. The available and developing options for prevention and treatment are examined. It is concluded that low glucose degradation products/neutral pH, bicarbonate buffered solutions with a combination of various osmotic agents all in low concentration, are currently the best achievable options, while other accompanying measures like the use of RAAS inhibitors and tamoxifen may be valuable. Emerging developments include the addition of alanyl glutamine to the dialysis solution and perhaps the use of nicotinamide mononucleotide, available as nutritional supplement.
Associations Between Autism Symptomatology, Alexithymia, Trait Emotional Intelligence, and Adjustment to College
Authors: Davidson Denise , Morales Dakota
Published: April 2022

It has been asserted that the socio-emotional challenges associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be explained, in part, by the higher rates of alexithymia in individuals with autism. Alexithymia refers to difficulties in identifying one’s own emotional states and describing those states to others. Thus, one goal of the present study was to examine levels of alexithymia in relation to ASD symptomatology and trait emotion intelligence (EI). Trait EI is a multifaceted concept that captures emotional competencies and behavioral dispositions A second goal was to assess whether alexithymia, ASD symptomatology and trait EI served as significant predictors of adjustment to college, including academic, social, and personal-emotional adjustment. In addition to keeping with the spectrum nature of autism, our research strategy allowed us to capture those students who may not have received a formal diagnosis of ASD but report symptoms that can be indicative of ASD. This includes women, who are less likely to receive a diagnosis of ASD even when ASD symptomatology is present. The results of the study showed that students reporting higher levels of ASD symptomatology also reported significantly higher levels of alexithymia and lower trait emotional intelligence (trait EI) than those with less or no symptomatology. Alexithymia was also negatively related to trait EI, and both alexithymia and ASD symptomatology were found to be significant predictors of trait EI. However, only trait EI was a significant predictor of adjustment to college and only for social adjustment. These findings suggest that support programs that develop trait EI skills may improve the college experience for students with ASD, regardless of alexithymia or ASD symptomatology.
Movement Synchrony Over Time: What Is in the Trajectory of Dyadic Interactions in Workplace Coaching?
Authors: Erdös Tünde , Jansen Paul
Published: April 2022

Background

Coaching is increasingly viewed as a dyadic exchange of verbal and non-verbal interactions driving clients' progress. Yet, little is known about how the trajectory of dyadic interactions plays out in workplace coaching.

Method

This paper provides a multiple-step exploratory investigation of movement synchrony (MS) of dyads in workplace coaching. We analyzed a publicly available dataset of 173 video-taped dyads. Specifically, we averaged MS per session/dyad to explore the temporal patterns of MS across (a) the cluster of dyads that completed 10 sessions, and (b) a set of 173 dyadic interactions with a varied number of sessions. Additionally, we linked that pattern to several demographic predictors. The results indicate a differential downward trend of MS.

Results

Demographic factors do not predict best fitting MS curve types, and only client age and coach experience show a small but significant correlation.

Discussion

We provide contextualized interpretations of these findings and propose conceptual considerations and recommendations for future coaching process research and practice.
Development and Validation of the Online Interaction Scale in Organizational Context
Authors: Liu Xin , Zhao Chenhui , Chen Zimeng , Wang Qing
Published: April 2022

The evolution of Web 2.0 and social networks has led to the increased use of enterprise social media platforms (ESMP), making online interactions more common in organizations. However, few studies have researched online interactions in organizational context. This study addressed this gap using two research phases: a qualitative phase and a quantitative phase. The qualitative study phase identified two dimensions of online interaction: employee–employee online interaction and employee–platform online interaction. The employee–employee online interaction assessed responsiveness and suitability. The employee–platform online interaction assessed usefulness, applicability, and ease of use. The quantitative study phase applied a proposed conceptual framework derived from the qualitative study to create and validate measures for a new online interaction scale. This was done using a systematic scale development process. Measuring online interaction can help drive future quantitative research, providing an instrumental basis for further exploring the scientific management practice elements that govern employee psychology and behavior in cyberspace.