bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on Factors Affecting the Risk of Ischemic Cerebrovascular Disease in Postmenopausal Women Based on the Social-Ecological Model
Authors: Yang Chun-Jun , Wang Dong-Mei , Wang Tong , Song Ying
Published: February 2022

Objective
Based on the social-ecological model, this study aimed to comprehensively explore factors affecting the risk of ischemic cerebrovascular disease (ICVD) in postmenopausal women to provide theoretical bases for further prevention and intervention for postmenopausal women.
Methods
Postmenopausal women who underwent medical examinations in one health-checkup agency in Tianjin from May 2015 to October 2015 were enrolled in this study. The ICVD 10-year Risk Assesment Form developed by the research team of the National "Tenth Five-Year Plan" research project was used to assess the factors affecting the risk of ICVD. Based on the social-ecological model, multiple types of scales were used to comprehensively explore the factors associated with ICVD in postmenopausal women.
Results
300 valid questionnaires were obtained, with an effective rate of 92.0%. The maximum age of the subjects was 74 years old, the minimum age was 44 years old, and the average age was 62.06 ± 7.09 years old. Among them, 58.67% of the subjects only obtained high-school diploma, 32.67% obtained college or university diploma, 90.33% were retirees, 95.33% were married, 92.33% experienced the natural menopause, 93.33% lived in urban or suburban areas, and 1.00% had a history of breast cancer. Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that monthly income, parity, exposure to second-hand or third-hand smoke, easy access to healthy food, physical activities, depression, Type D personality, social support and environmental factors were associated with the risk of ICVD in postmenopausal women (P < 0.05). Among them, easy access to healthy food (OR = 0.242), social support (OR = 0.861) and environmental factors (OR = 0.866) were the protective factors from ICVD. Parity (OR = 3.795), exposure to second-hand or third-hand smoke (OR = 2.886), depression (OR = 1.193), and Type D personality (OR = 1.148) were risk factors of ICVD.
Conclusions
For postmenopausal women, in the future, in addition to prevention and management of the conventional risks, the conditions of their mentality and social support should be paid attention to, at the same time, and if they can, try to choose a good community environment to live in, which could better reduce the incidence and mortality of ICVD in postmenopausal women.
Efficacy of Different Intensities of Aquatic Exercises in Remyelination and Neuronal Plasticity Using Cuprizone Model in Male Wistar Rats
Authors: Begum Zareena , Subramanian Vijayalakshmi , Raghunath Gunapriya , Gurusamy Karthikeyan , Rajagopalan Vijayaraghavan , Sivanesan Senthilkumar
Published: February 2022

Background: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Exercises as a remedy to this disorder are not widely understood. This study focuses on the effects of exercise and the addition of a preconditioning exercise program (Cn) on demyelination.Aim and Objectives: To study and determine the neuroprotective and remyelination effects of a preconditioning exercise program and different intensities of aquatic exercises on demyelination induced by oral administration of cuprizone (Cup).Materials and methods: Six groups of animals, each containing six rats were taken. Group I, II, and III were control, negative control (Cup), and treated with Methylprednisolone (MP) respectively. Group IV and V were treated with low (LIE) and high-intensity exercises (HIE) respectively. Group VI was treated with preconditioning exercise (Cn)+HIE. LIE included free swimming for 40 min and high-intensity exercise (HIE) included an addition of a resistance of 9% body weight and same as LIE for 5 weeks. Preconditioning (Cn) was achieved by free swimming for 40 min for 3 weeks before cuprizone administration.Results: Cn+HIE showed a positive outcome similar to MP group with p-value <0.001 taken as statistical significance. This group showed improved areas of remyelination in histopathology and improved myelin basic protein (MBP) and reduced glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression in corpus callosum and improved gene expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus region. All data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA using Sigma plot 13.Conclusion: Therefore, high-intensity exercises with general fitness show positive effects in demyelination.
Can Ecological Groups Be Classified Quantitatively? A Model-Based Evaluation Of The Ecological Grouping Of Benthic Polychaete Species
Authors: Lee GiSeop , Cho HongYeon , Kim Sunyoung , Yoon SangPil , Park Sohyun
Published: February 2022

The ecological groups (EGs) of polychaetes are used in the management and evaluation of fishing ground environments. Based on the current EGs announced by the National Institute of Fisheries Science, this study used representative classification models to analyze the differences between the classified EGs and compare the performance and characteristics of the classification models. The classification models included agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC), adaptive boosting decision tree (ABDT), and convolutional neural network (CNN). The elliptical parameters (EPs) of the 2D distribution of data points (species abundance vs. total organic carbon) were used in the AHC and ABDT models. The CNN model used the 2D kernel density images. The accuracies of each classification model under the maximum fit condition were 39%, 91%, and 88%, respectively. The validation accuracies of the verifiable ABDT and CNN models were 63% and 66% (leave-one-out validation) and 57% and 65% (7:3 hold-out validation), respectively. The ABDT model using EPs is useful for additional analyses (such as for habitat succession patterns) because it is easy to analyze structurally, whereas the CNN model yields high overall classification performance. As field observation data and various characteristic information are added in the future, each model will require periodic updates.
Neighborhood disadvantage and biological aging biomarkers among breast cancer patients
Authors: Shen Jie , Fuemmeler Bernard , Sheppard Vanessa , Bear Harry , Song Renduo , Chow Wong-Ho , Zhao Hua
Published: February 2022

Living in a disadvantaged neighborhood is associated with adverse clinical outcomes among breast cancer patients, but the underlying pathway is still unclear. Limited evidence has suggested that accelerated biological aging may play an important role. In this study, using a sub-sample of 906 women with newly diagnosed breast cancer at M.D. Anderson, we examined whether levels of selected markers of biological aging (e.g., allostatic load, telomere length, and global DNA methylation) were affected by neighborhood disadvantage. The Area Deprivation Index (ADI) was used to determine the neighborhood disadvantage. Based on the median ADI at the national level, the study population was divided into low and high ADI groups. Overall, breast cancer patients from the high ADI group were more likely to be younger and non-Hispanic Black than those from the low ADI group (P < 0.001, respectively). They also more likely to have higher grade and poorly differentiated breast tumors (P = 0.029 and 0.019, respectively). For the relationship with markers, compared to the low ADI group, high ADI group had higher median levels of allostatic load (P = 0.046) and lower median levels of global DNA methylation (P < 0.001). Compared to their counterparts, those from the high ADI group were 20% more likely to have increased allostatic load and 51% less likely to have increased levels of global DNA methylation. In summary, we observed that levels of allostatic load and global DNA methylation are influenced by neighborhood disadvantage among breast cancer patients.
Progesterone limits the tumor-promoting effects of the beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin via non-nuclear receptors
Authors: Sarkar Moumita , Sharma Harsh , Singh Parminder , Ranu Ranbala , Sharma Ravi Datta , Agrawal Usha , Pal Rahul
Published: February 2022

Background Beta-hCG can be detected in post-menopausal women, who also demonstrate an increased cancer risk. Whether ovarian hormones mediate cytotoxic effects on beta-hCG-responsive tumor cells, whether beta-hCG exerts enhanced pro-tumorigenic effects in the absence of ovarian steroids, and whether steroid administration can have restorative effects on tumor molecular profiles and progression, remain unaddressed. Methods The effect of ovarian steroids on the proliferation, viability and apoptosis of beta-hCG responsive LLC1 tumor cells were assessed. Involvement of nuclear/non-nuclear steroid receptors was evaluated by assessing presence and employing receptor antagonists, by cAMP measurements, and by assessing MAP kinase activation. LLC1 tumor cells were implanted in female non-transgenic mice, in beta-hCG transgenic mice and in ovariectomized beta-hCG transgenic mice; progesterone was additionally administered to the latter two groups. Tumor volumes were measured, and RNA-seq, qPCR and immunohistochemistry were employed to characterize tumor molecular profiles. TCGA databases for lung adenocarcinoma, colon adenocarcinoma and glioblastoma were probed with human orthologs of newly-identified genes to reveal clinically-relevant associations, with a focus on the post-menopausal state. Results Ovarian steroids demonstrated anti-tumor effects in vitro; progesterone caused tumor cell apoptosis via non-nuclear receptors and the phosphorylation of p38. Beta-hCG, particularly in absence of the ovaries (a mimic of the post-menopausal state), constituted an aggravated pro-tumorigenic signal for implanted LLC1 tumor cells. Progesterone dampened aggravated tumor growth in ovariectomized mice. RNA-seq on excised tumors identified genes associated with enhanced beta-hCG-mediated tumor growth in ovariectomized mice, as well as with the anti-tumor effects of progesterone. TCGA analysis revealed correlations between the expression of several newly-identified, progesterone-influenced genes (and of intra-tumoral beta-hCG) and poor patient prognosis, specifically in post-menopausal women. Conclusion This study describes a previously-unidentified interplay between progesterone and beta-hCG in the regulation of tumorigenesis. Murine tumor-associated gene signatures, combined with queries on aggressive human tumors reveal, for the first time, that beta-hCG acts as an additionally potent pro-tumorigenic signal when the ovaries are quiescent. Associations of progesterone-influenced genes (and intra-tumoral beta-hCG) with prognosis were revealed. Intra-tumoral / extra-tumoral beta-hCG may be a useful prognostic indicator in post-menopausal women with cancer, and progesterone may constitute a potential therapeutic in such cases.
Relative risks associated with Women’s Quality of life suffering from Metabolic, Reproductive and Psychological complications of PCOS: a comparative cross-sectional study.
Authors: Ishaq Sumira , Rizwani Ghazala H. , Fatima Sakina , Shareef Huma , Anser Humaira , Jamil Subia
Published: February 2022

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a multifactorial endocrine disorder in young women. Physical appearance, menstrual irregularities, and infertility are viewed as the sole causes of mental distress that affects quality of life. Methods: It was a comprehensive cross-sectional study that targeted women of reproductive age who visited the Abbasi Shaheed hospital's gynecology, obstetrics, and endocrinology departments in Karachi, Pakistan; aimed to compare health hazards associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and how they affect patients' quality of life (QOL) in Karachi, Pakistan. According to inclusion criteria; around 450 patients were included. PCOS patients' quality of life was assessed using the Short Form-12 questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics was applied on collected data; Pearson’s chi square test with a p-value of <0.05 indicating statistically significance was used to determine the association among various risk factor with PCOS along with QOL. Results: All patients showed the main indications of PCOS, like obesity (n = 360, 80%), acne (n = 268. 59.55%), hirsutism (n = 279, 62%), and irregular menstruation (n = 324, 72%). 274 (60.88%) patients had multiple cysts of >10 mm in diameter as per sonographic results. It was also found that Patients with PCOS showed a high occurrence of health hazards including hypertension (n = 98, 21.77%), diabetes mellitus (n =123, 27.33%), sleep apnea (n = 252, (56%), infertility (n = 135, (30%), high cholesterol level (n = 82, 18.22%) and hyperandrogenism (n = 279, 62%); this lead us to further investigate the relative risks associated with PCOS and a comparative study between 50 PCOS and Non-PCOS women was carried out. The majority of patients had low QOL scores (n = 370, or 82.21 percent), with depression being the leading cause. It was noticed that PCOs patients with diabetes, hypertension, lipid imbalance and most of all obese are more inclined to develop health related risk from these disorders; additionally, this risk is doubled for patients having poor self-esteem (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: It was found that depression, and poor self-esteem as a result of metabolic and reproductive complication are interrelated with low QOL in PCOS patients; emphasizing on the need of revising the management strategies and psychological health valuation of women with PCOS.
Effect of Police Action on Low-Barrier Substance Use Disorder Service Utilization
Authors: Weisenthal Karrin , Kimmel Simeon D. , Kehoe Jessica , Larochelle Marc R. , Walley Alexander Y. , Taylor Jessica L.
Published: February 2022

Background: Police action can increase risky substance use patterns by people who use drugs (PWUD), but it is not known how increased police presence affects utilization of low-barrier substance use disorder bridge clinics. Increased police presence may increase or decrease treatment-seeking behavior. We examined whether Operation Clean Sweep (OCS), a two-week police action in Boston, MA, affected visit volume in BMC’s low-barrier buprenorphine bridge clinic.Methods: In this retrospective cohort, we used segmented regression to investigate whether the increased police presence during OCS was associated with changes in bridge clinic visits. We used General Internal Medicine (GIM) clinic visit volume as a negative control. We examined visits during the 6 weeks prior, 2 weeks during, and 4 weeks after OCS (June 18-Sept 11, 2019). Results: Bridge clinic visits were 2.8 per provider-session before, 2.0 during, and 3.0 after OCS. The mean number of GIM clinic visits per provider session before OCS was 7.0, 6.8 during, and 7.0 after OCS. In adjusted segmented regression models for bridge clinic visits, there was a non-significant level increase (0.6434, P=0.17) and significant decrease in slope (0.0995, P=0.045) during OCS. After OCS completed, there was a significant level increase (1.4425, P=0.003) and slope increase (0.1406, P=0.0066) in visits (P=0.01940). There was no significant change in GIM clinic volume during the study period. Conclusions: The increased policing during OCS was associated with a significant decrease in bridge clinic visits. Following the completion of OCS, there was a significant increase in clinic visits, suggesting pent-up demand for a life-saving treatment.
Severe Rashes Associated With Immunotherapy and Gene Mutations in a Patient With Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Ye Yanghui , Zheng Song
Published: February 2022

Background: Pancreatic cancer is a high-risk malignant tumor, and is traditionally treated with chemotherapy. However, the curative effect of traditional treatment is very poor, and new treatment methods are being explored. Sintilimab is a fully human IgG4 monoclonal antibody; it can bind to PD-1, block the interaction of PD-1 with its ligands, and can improve the survival of cancer patients.Case presentation: A male metastatic pancreatic cancer patient with SMAD4 and TSC2 mutations, who had undergone three lines of systemic chemotherapy, developed severe rashes after 12 cycles of taking sintilimab combined with S-1. Considering the relationship between sintilimab and the rashes, he discontinued taking the drug, and his condition improved. Although sintilimab has shown good safety and manageable toxicity in immunotherapy, the patient in the present case developed severe rashes after 12 cycles of taking sintilimab combined with S-1. Conclusions: Although few people have reported a severe rash caused by sintilimab, patients with SMAD4 and TSC2 mutations may more likely to develop severe rashes. We hope the case attracts the attention of oncologists.
Combined modality treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer in a woman with Bloom like syndrome: A case report and review of the literature
Authors: dhia syrine ben , Warcoin² Mathilde , Rodrigues Manuel , Noret Aurélien , Beddok¹ Arnaud , Weber Nina , Lyonnet Dominique Stoppa , Scher¹ Nathaniel , dhia syrine ben , dhia syrine ben
Published: February 2022

Background: The oncological management of patients with DNA repair deficiency is challenging for the team in charge because of the potential high sensitivity to treatments and the lack of clear recommendations in the literature. Case presentation: We report the case of a 46-year-old woman with Bloom like syndrome affected with locally advanced cervical cancer. She was treated with induction chemotherapy and radical radiation therapy concurrent with chemotherapy (carboplatin and paclitaxel). She was able to complete treatment but grade III toxicities were observed. Conclusion: In the absence of consensus regarding the appropriate screening protocol or treatments for patients with DNA deficiency disease, patient management requires multidisciplinary approach and close monitoring for acute and late toxicities.
Bilateral Lower Limb Ischemia and Gangrene with Dapagliflozin: Case Report
Authors: Mahmoud Hesham B. , Sultan El-zahraa M.Esmat , Algbay Abdulaziz Zien
Published: February 2022

Background: Dapagliflozin, sodium- glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, is recently introduced in the heart failure treatment plan. Urinary tract infection and Fournier’s gangrene are the most known serious adverse events of dapagliflozin. Case presentation: We came across this case with bilateral lower limb ischemia in a patient with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Dapagliflozin was discontinued and new lines of treatment were started. Conclusions: It is appeared that dapagliflozin could be associated with serious risk of toe ischemia/infection, thus patients received dapagliflozin should be closely monitored.
Severe Pneumonia With Thrombocytopenia Caused By Chlamydia Psittaci: A Case And Literature Review
Authors: Shi Zhaokun , Wang Lu , Chen Wei , Du Xianjin , Zhan Liying
Published: February 2022

Background: Severe pneumonia caused by Chlamydia psittaci is a rare infectious disease associated with living environment. The causes of thrombocytopenia were infection, leukemia, idiopathic thrombocytopenia and many other factors. The determination of platelet parameters could reflect the compensatory situation of bone marrow and provide a basis reason of thrombocytopenia identification. Case presentation: Based on the patient’s symptoms, exposure history, computerized tomography（CT）and next-generation sequencing, a preliminary diagnosis of the patient were made, at the same time other infections are excluded. We reported a case of severe pneumonia with severe thrombocytopenia caused by Chlamydia psittaci. During the treatment, he was diagnosed as parrot fever and secondary immune thrombocytopenia. Anti-infection and rising platelet with Doptelet treatment were in effect. The presence of high fever, feeling faint, gastrointestinal symptoms, images of chest CT and platelet reduction, Chlamydia psittaci might be considered as a priority reason of this case, other infections and hematology disorders excluded.Conclusion: This is the first reported case of Chlamydia psittaci-induced thrombocytopenia associated with bone marrow changes and treatment. The efficacy of mokexin in the treatment of thrombocytopenia may be further generalized.
Recurrent Ovarian Cancer in BRCAness Phenotype: A Treatment Challenge
Authors: Caeiro Cláudia , Leão Inês , Oliveira Inês Calvinho , Sousa Isabel , André Teresa
Published: February 2022

Background:Ovarian cancer is a leading cause of female death from gynecologic malignancies. The relapse rate is high after platinum-based therapy, with the effectiveness of subsequent treatment lines decreasing over time. Recent data suggest the benefit of maintenance therapy with niraparib in platinum-sensitive recurrent disease.Case presentation:Herein is reported a case series of five women with advanced ovarian cancer and BRCAness phenotype who responded favorably, and in some cases with long-term response, to maintenance therapy with niraparib. Toxicities were as expected and generally manageable. Two patients developed grade 2/3 hematological toxicity, which resolved with treatment suspension and subsequent dose reductions, and one patient reported a rare skin toxicity while responding to full-dose niraparib treatment, which was controlled with photoprotection and sunscreen.Discussion and conclusions:This case series highlights the role of PARP1/2 inhibitors as a new standard of care as maintenance therapy for recurrent platinum-sensitive high-grade ovarian cancer, irrespective of BRCA status.
Secondary Central Nervous System Lymphoma presenting as Fever of Unknown Origin
Authors: Bliven Sean Patrick , Narkhede Mayur
Published: February 2022

Background: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is a form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that routinely presents with systemic “B” symptoms including fever of unknown origin. After systemic treatment, patients can relapse with secondary central nervous system lymphoma. These patients typically present with neurological symptoms and not systemic “B” symptoms.Case presentation: We describe the case of a woman in her fifties that presented with fever of unknown origin as her initial presenting symptom of relapsed isolated secondary central nervous system lymphoma. MR brain showed parenchymal lymphomatous involvement compatible with CNS lymphoma. Her fevers resolved after central nervous system targeted chemotherapy with associated improvement on imaging.Conclusion: Isolated central nervous system lymphoma (primary or secondary) can lead to fever of unknown origin. We recommend evaluation for CNS recurrence among patients with lymphoma that present with fever of unknown origin.
Primary Yolk Sac Tumor of Endometrium: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Shi Su-sheng , Cheng Hao , Song Yan
Published: February 2022

Yolk sac tumor (YST) of the endometrium is very rare, only< 40 cases have been reported in the English literature. We here describe a case of primary endometrial YST and discuss the clinic-pathological features with a literature review. A 66-year-old Chinese woman presented with abnormal vaginal bleeding for 15 days and uterine mass for three days. The pre-operative alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level was 9652.0 ng/ml, while other serum tumor markers including carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), neuron specific enolase (NSE) and β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG) were 40.2 ng/ml, 29.19 ng/ml, and 27.7 mIU/ml, respectively. Pelvic ultrasound imaging revealed a 7.1×6.6×6.0 cm mass in the endometrial cavity. The patient underwent total abdominal hysterectomy, salpingo-oophorectomy and partial omental resection. The morphologic and immunohistochemical pattern (CK+++, SALL4+++, AFP++, focal HNF1β+, focal GPC-3+) was consistent with a primary YST of the endometrium and the final pathologic stage was IVb based on FIGO staging. The post-operative AFP level was 5193.0 ng/ml (five days after the operation). Primary endometrial YST is extremely rare. It should be differentially diagnosed from other uterine malignancies. Complete surgical staging combined with chemotherapy may have a better survival impact on endometrial YST.
Recognition of Geothermal Surface Manifestations: A Comparison of Machine Learning and Deep Learning
Authors: Xiong Yongzhu , Zhu Mingyong , Li Yongyi , Huang Kekun , Chen Yankui , Liao Jingqing
Published: February 2022

Geothermal surface manifestations (GSMs) are direct clues towards hydrothermal activities of a geothermal system in the subsurface and significant indications for geothermal resource exploration. It is essential to recognize various GSMs for potential geothermal energy exploration. However, there is a lack of work to fulfill this task using deep learning (DL), which has achieved unprecedented computer vision and image interpretation successes. This study aims to explore the feasibility and performance of using a DL model to conduct recognition of GSMs with photographs. An image dataset for GSM recognition named JYU-GSM was created by downloading images from the Internet, preprocessing, and labeling manually with high quality. The dataset consists of seven types of the GSMs, i.e., warm spring, hot spring, geyser, fumarole, mud pot, hydrothermal alteration, crater lake, and one type of none GSM, including 500 images of different photographs of each type. It was divided into training, testing, and validation subsets according to a certain ratio. The recognition results of the GoogLeNet model were compared with those of three machine learning (ML) algorithms, i.e., Support Vector Machine (SVM), Decision Tree (DT), and K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), by using the assessment metrics of overall accuracy (OA), overall F1 score (OF) and computational time (CT) for training and testing the models. The results show that the GoogLeNet model using transfer learning (GSM-Net) has significant advantages of accuracy and performance over the three ML classifiers with the highest OA, 91.25% for the validation and 88.25% for the test, the biggest OF, 0.91 for validation, and 0.88 for the test; and the fastest CT of 1.98 s (25.25 fps) and 1.71 s (29.24 fps) for validation and test, respectively. On the contrary, the three ML classifiers perform poorly for this task due to their low OA, small OF, and long CT. The test OA is 49.00%, 26.00% and 20.25%; the test OF is 0.49, 0.26 and 0.17; and the test CT is 7.71 s (6.49 fps), 6.75 s (7.41 fps) and 64.58 s (0.77 fps) for SVM, DT and KNN, respectively. It suggests that deep learning with a pretrained network be a feasible and preferred method to classify GSMs. However, traditional ML models need to optimize algorithms to be competent for the task. Hopefully, this study provides a reference paradigm to help promote further research on the geothermal field to use state-of-the-art deep learning.
Some results concerning block Toeplitz matrices
Authors: Khan Muhammad Ahsan
Published: February 2022

Given A,B,C, and D, block Toeplitz matrices, we will prove the necessary and sufficient condition for AB − CD = 0, and AB − CD to be a block Toeplitz matrix. In addition, with respect to change of basis, the characterization of normal block Toeplitz matrices with entries from the algebra of diagonal matrices is also obtained.
Design Optimization and Parameter Estimation of a PEMFC Using Nature-Inspired Algorithms
Authors: Blanco-Cocom Luis , Botello-Rionda Salvador , Ordoñez L. C. , Valdez S. Ivvan
Published: February 2022

Numerical simulation of a Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) requires an adequate model and precise parameters for reproducing their operational performance quantified by the polarization curve. Bio-inspired algorithms are well-suited for estimating unknown parameters; nevertheless, the simulator is stressed by inputting thousands of randomly-generated parameters. As a consequence, they require a robust numerical model. Once the model with the proper parameters reproduces the experimental data, it is applicable for optimizing the PEMFC. This article proposes a reformulation of a macro-homogeneous mathematical model by analyzing its relation with singularly perturbed differential equations to provide higher numerical stability to the solutions. This formulation introduces a boundary value problem instead of the usual initial value problem. Hence, we propose an assembly of the proper numerical methods for solving this version of the problem. Then, we introduce optimization problems for parameter estimation and design optimization; three bio-inspired algorithms solve the first. The most consistent of them is applied to optimize the PEMFC design by maximizing its performance or minimizing the platinum mass loading, highly related to the cost. To the best of our knowledge, there is no other research for optimizing the cell design, neither its performance nor its cost, using numerical simulation and optimization. The results are validated as follows: a) Comparing experimental polarization curves with the simulation with the parameters estimated by bio-inspired algorithms. b) Comparing a base design's performance with the optimized for maximum performance, and c) comparing a base design with the optimized for minimum platinum mass loading.
Prognosis for metastatic colorectal cancer patients achieving complete response after systemic chemotherapy
Authors: Manabe Takahiro , Takii Yasumasa , Oyanagi Hidehito , Nogami Hitoshi , Maruyama Satoshi
Published: February 2022

Purpose: Despite marked recent advances in chemotherapy, few reports have focused on the prognosis for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) achieving complete response (CR) after systemic chemotherapy. This study investigated the clinical course of mCRC patients achieving CR and evaluated the role of CR in chemotherapy.Methods: This retrospective study searched a prospectively maintained database at the author’s institute to identify medical records for mCRC patients achieving CR after systematic chemotherapy from January 2007 to March 2020.Results: The search yielded 23 patients with confirmed CR to systemic chemotherapy. Median time to CR from treatment initiation was 6.8 months. Maintenance chemotherapy was continued for 22 of 23 patients. Median duration of maintenance chemotherapy was 11.1 months. Disease progression occurred for 17 (73.9%) patients at a median 48.1-month follow-up. Median progression-free survival was 26.6 months. Median overall survival was 91.7 months.Conclusions: Patients with CR to chemotherapy had a high probability of disease progression, but a relatively long-term prognosis. Treatment strategies after achievement of CR should be based an understanding of the high potential that tumor cells will remain. Use of maintenance chemotherapy after achievement of CR is still unclear, the recent data do not demonstrate a negative impact for continuing maintenance chemotherapy after CR.
The SARS-CoV-2 host cell membrane fusion protein TMPRSS2 is a tumor suppressor and its downregulation promotes antitumor immunity and immunotherapy response in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Wang Xiaosheng , Liu Zhixian , Zhang Zhilan , Feng Qiushi
Published: February 2022

BackgroundTMPRSS2, a key molecule for SARS-CoV-2 invading human host cells, has an association with cancer. However, its association with lung cancer remains unexplored. ResultsIn five lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) genomics datasets, we explored associations between TMPRSS2 expression and immune signatures, tumor progression phenotypes, and clinical prognosis in LUAD by the bioinformatics approach. We found that TMPRSS2 expression levels correlated negatively with the enrichment levels of both immune-stimulatory and immune-inhibitory signatures, while they correlated positively with the ratios of immune-stimulatory/immune-inhibitory signatures. It indicated that TMPRSS2 levels had a stronger negative correlation with immune-inhibitory than with immune-stimulatory signatures. TMPRSS2 downregulation correlated with increased proliferation, stemness, genomic instability, tumor progression, and worse survival in LUAD. We further validated that TMPRSS2 was downregulated with tumor progression in the LUAD dataset we collected. In vitro and in vivo experiments verified the association of TMPRSS2 deficiency with increased tumor cell proliferation and invasion and antitumor immunity in LUAD. Moreover, in vivo experiments demonstrated that TMPRSS2-knockdown tumors were more sensitive to BMS-1, an inhibitor of PD-1/PD-L1. ConclusionsTMPRSS2 is a tumor suppressor, while its downregulation is a positive biomarker of immunotherapy in LUAD. Our data provide a link between lung cancer and pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Current Aspects in Early Diagnosis of Cardiotoxic Complications of Drug Therapy in Oncology: A Literature Review
Authors: Gimatdinova Geliya Rifkatovna , Danilova O.E. , Davydkin I.L. , Khairetdinov R.K. , Rogozina L.A.
Published: February 2022

This analysis presents literature data, derived from open authoritative medical sources, dealing with current methods for earliest diagnosis of cardiotoxic complications, especially in the period of their subclinical manifestations. Opportunities and difficulties of diagnosing these complications are studied using the methods suggested, at the stage of sub-clinical myocardial dysfunction. The analysis results are presented in the form of a comparison chart covering positive aspects as well as the challenges occurring in real clinical practice. The current imaging methods showing the heart tissue condition and myocardial competence, characterize the relevant parameters more accurately. In addition to that, they enable to detect minimal changes as compared with standard 3D-echocardiography with the analysis of left ventricular ejection fraction. Therefore, many more new methods for studying cardiotoxicity should be implemented in real clinical practice.
The Efficacy of Brentuximab Vedotin in Relapsed/Refractory Classical Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Quality of Life: Results of a Multi-Center Observational Prospective Study in the Context of Real Clinical Practice
Authors: Ionova T.I. , Amdiev A.A. , Andrievskikh M.I. , Baryakh E.A. , Vasil’ev E.V. , Volkov M.V. , Volodicheva E.M. , Ivanov V.V. , Kaverina O.V. , Kaplanov K.D. , Klitochenko T.Yu. , Kurakin V.I. , Lazareva D.G. , Larionova O.G. , Lepik K.V. , Lysenko I.B. , Melnichenko V.Ya. , Minullina R.I. , Mironov O.V. , Misyurina E.N. , Mikhailova N.B. , Mochkin N.E. , Nikitina Tatyana Pavlovna , Petrova T.S. , Porfirieva N.M. , Rukavitsyn O.A. , Samoilova A.A. , Safin R.N. , Simashova P.I. , Smirnova E.G. , Trenina N.A. , Fadeeva N.V. , Khusainova G.N. , Chang V.L. , Shelekhova T.V. , Sherstnev D.G.
Published: February 2022

Aim. To study the quality of life and symptoms, to assess the clinical effect and treatment safety in relapsed/refractory classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma (r/r cHL) patients treated with brentuximab vedotin (BV) as > 3rd-line therapy in the context of real clinical practice. Materials & Methods. The study enrolled 62 r/r cHL patients after the second- and subsequent-line chemotherapies, who are either ineligible for autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) at the time of their enrollment into the study or after the failure of high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) with auto-HSCT. The median age was 31 years; 46.8 % of patients were women. The patients received BV 1.8 mg/kg intravenously every 3 weeks. Clinical parameters, quality of life, and symptoms were assessed prior to BV therapy and in 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 months after therapy onset. The RAND SF-36 form was used to assess the quality of life, and the ESAS-R tool was applied to report on symptoms. Results. Objective response was observed in 68.3 % of patients, 40 % out of them showed complete response. The median progression-free survival was 10.6 months (95% confidence interval 7.4-12.9 months). Safety profile corresponded to the published data. Adverse events of grade 3/4 were identified in 1.6 % of patients. In the period of 15 months after therapy onset, quality of life improvement or stabilization was reported based on all the scales of RAND SF-36 (GEE, p < 0.001), and symptom relief was shown based on ESAS-R total score (GEE, p < 0.001). Conclusion. In the context of real clinical practice, BV appeared to be effective in r/r cHL patients either after the second- or subsequent-line chemotherapies or after the failure of HDCT with auto-HSCT. The study demonstrated that BV was well tolerated by the patients. BV therapy contributes to the improvement of r/r cHL patients’ quality of life. Positive changes in quality of life and symptoms on BV therapy testify to its patient-assessed efficacy and safety.
Las ciencias sociales en el desarrollo de procesos de innovación tecnológica
Authors: Betancur Arias Juan Diego
Published: February 2022

En la actualidad, las ciencias sociales siguen conservado una mesura para incorporarse de forma creativa a las acciones sostenibles que permiten el desarrollo de actividades de desarrollo técnico, tecnológico e innovador. Esta cuestión ha hecho que el gap entre conocimiento, ciencia social y desarrollo de la innovación no se encuentre lo suficientemente articulado como para brindar cambios dosificados a la economía social, la innovación cultural y el desarrollo tecnológico y sus sistemas conexos.
Liouvillian solutions in the problem of rolling of a heavy homogeneous ball on a surface of revolution
Authors:   Lomonosov Moscow State University, Kuleshov Alexander S. , Solomina Darya V. ,   Lomonosov Moscow State University
Published: February 2022

The problem of rolling without sliding of a homogeneous ball on a fixed surface under the action of gravity is a classical problem of nonholonomic system dynamics. Usually, when considering this problem, following the E. J. Routh approach it is convenient to define explicitly the equation of the surface, on which the ball’s centre is moving. This surface is equidistant to the surface, over which the contact point is moving. From the classical works of E. J. Routh and F. Noether it was known that if the ball rolls on a surface such that its centre moves along a surface of revolution, then the problem is reduced to solving the second order linear differential equation. Therefore it is interesting to study for which surface of revolution the corresponding second order linear differential equation admits Liouvillian solutions. To solve this problem it is possible to apply the Kovacic algorithm to the corresponding second order linear differential equation. In this paper we present our own method to derive the corresponding second order linear differential equation. In the case when the centre of the ball moves along the ellipsoid of revolution we prove that the corresponding second order linear differential equation admits a liouvillian solution.
Response of runoff and suspended load to climate change and reservoir construction in the Lancang River
Authors: Sun Lixia , Sun Zhilin , Li Zongyu , Zheng Haolei , Li Cheng , Xiong Wenhua
Published: February 2022

With the operation of six cascade reservoirs, the flow regime and sediment discharge of the Lancang River have changed greatly. The changes of runoff and suspended load have attracted extensive attention. The hydrological data of Gajiu and Yunjinghong stations in Lancang River from 1964 to 2019 were analyzed by using wavelet analysis, double mass curve and abrupt change analysis. The temporal trends in runoff and suspended load were evaluated. Results revealed that the reduction of suspended load was much more profound than the change of runoff. There was a slight downward trend in annual runoff due to climate change. After the completion of Xiaowan and Nuozhadu reservoirs, the proportion of runoff in flood season decreased by 22.64 and 30.75%, respectively. Wavelet analysis was used to reveal the characteristics of runoff evolution. With the operation of reservoirs, suspended load showed abrupt changes in 1993 and 2008. The amount of suspended load during 2009–2019 decreased by 95.47–98.78% compared with that before the reservoir construction. This paper presents the latest quantitative study on the temporal variation of runoff and suspended load since the completion of Xiaowan and Nuozhadu reservoirs, which is of great importance for guiding the operation of reservoirs and maximizing the value of the whole Lancang-Mekong River basin.
New Trends in 1,4-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions. Thermodynamic Control Synthesis
of Model 2'-(isoquinolin-1-yl)-spiro[oxindole-3,3'-pyrrolines]
Authors: Jaber Areej M. , Zahra Jalal A. , Sabri Salim S. , Khanfar Monther A. , Awwadi Firas F. , El-Abadelah Mustafa M.
Published: February 2022

Background:

A direct synthesis of functionalized spiro[oxindole-3,3'-pyrrolines] is
achieved via thermodynamic control (~60 oC), three-component 1,4-dipolar cycloaddition
reaction involving 3-phenylimidazo[5,1-a]isoquinoline, dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, and
N-alkylisatins.

Methods:

Conversely, this one-pot reaction furnished, upon conduction at 25–38 oC, the expected
1,3-oxazepino[7,6-b]indoles as the main kinetic control products. The calculated energy
of the optimized molecular structures of model spiro-oxindole and its isomeric oxazepinoindole
indicate that spiro-oxindole is more stable by 76.1 kJ/mol.

Results:

The structures of the synthesized spiro adducts were evidenced from NMR and MS
spectral data and further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Characteristic features
of the spiro-oxindoles are displaced in their 13C-spectra as diagnostic signals at ~53 and ~70 ppm assigned, respectively,
to the spiro carbon-3 and sp3 CH-2' of the pyrroline ring.

Conclusion:

This unprecedented thermally induced pathway in 1,4-dipolar cycloaddition, utilizing imidazo[5,1-
a]isoquinoline and related congeners, would serve as a new route towards the synthesis of spiro[oxindole-3,3'-
pyrrolines], a class of diverse biological activities. An insight into the thermodynamic control pathway is presented.
Pan-Cancer Analysis of Histone Methyltransferase KMT2D with Potential
Implications for Prognosis and Immunotherapy in Human Cancer
Authors: Luo Guangcheng , Chen Guoning , Chen Peijie , Zhou Jianwen
Published: February 2022

Background:

Pan-cancer analysis is an efficient tool to obtain a panoramic view of cancer-
related genes and identify their oncogenic processes, facilitating the development of new therapeutic
targets. Lysine methyltransferase 2D (KMT2D), acting as a major enhancer coactivator for
mammalian cells, is one of the most frequently mutated genes across various cancer types and is
considered an oncogene and a rationale for epigenetic therapeutic targets.

Objective:

This study was designed to explore the potential role of KMT2D in human cancer
through a pan-cancer analysis.

Methods:

The expression of KMT2D was assessed in normal tissues and cell lines, and pancancers
from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE), and
Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTE) datasets were used to explore its correlation with prognosis,
immune cell infiltration, tumor mutation burden, microsatellite instability, and mismatch repair.

Results:

KMT2D expression was heterogeneous across different cancer types. Increased KMT2D
indicated a worse prognosis in adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), brain lower-grade glioma (LGG),
and mesothelioma (MESO), while patients with high KMT2D expression showed better outcomes
in renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC). Moreover, KMT2D expression was positively correlated with
immune cell infiltration and negative tumor mutation burden in multiple cancers. In addition, a
significant correlation between KMT2D and immune checkpoint-related genes or mismatch repair
genes was identified.

Conclusions:

These findings support the hypothesis that KMT2D is not only a potential biomarker
for prognosis and immunotherapy response prediction but also an essential immune regulator in
human cancer.
Network Pharmacology Research Indicates that Wu-Mei-Wan Treats Obesity by Inhibiting Th17 Cell Differentiation and Alleviating Metabolic Inflammation
Authors: Huang Panpan , Chen Guang , Cheng Zhe , Xiong Xinyu , Wu Fan , Zhao Yan , Dong Ruolan , Jiang Shujun , Fang Ke
Published: February 2022

Background:

Wu-Mei-Wan (WMW), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, has a good effect on the treatment of obesity and has been proven helpful to promote the metabolism of adipose tissue. However, its underlying mechanism remains to be studied. This study aims to explore the potential pharmacological mechanism of WMW in the treatment of obesity.

Methods:

Network pharmacology was used to sort out the relationship between WMW putative targets and obesity-related drug targets or disease targets, which indicated the mechanism of WMW in treating obesity from two aspects of clinical drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and obesity-related diseases. Databases such as Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP), PubChem, DrugBank, DisGeNET, and Genecards were used to collect information about targets. String platform was used to convert the data into gene symbol of “homo sapiens”, and perform gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. With the Human Protein Reference Database (HPRD) as background data, Cytoscape 3.6.0 software was used to construct a new protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Mechanism diagrams of key pathways were obtained from the KEGG database. AutoDock Vina software was used to conduct molecular docking verification.

Results:

The number of targets in the overlap between WMW putative targets and obesity-related drug targets accounted for more than 50% of the latter, and HTR3A, SLC6A4, and CYP3A4 were core targets. In obesity-related disease targets-WMW putative targets PPI network, the Th17 cell differentiation pathway, and the IL-17 signaling pathway were key pathways, and the 1st module and the 7th module were central function modules that were highly associated with immunity and inflammation. Molecular docking verified that STAT3, TGFB1, MMP9, AHR, IL1B, and CCL2 were core targets in the treatment of WMW on obesity.

Conclusion:

WMW has similar effects on lipid and drug metabolism as the current obesity-related drugs, and is likely to treat obesity by inhibiting Th17 cell differentiation and alleviating metabolic inflammation.
Corrigendum to: Application of Two New Feature Fusion Networks to Improve Realtime
Prostate Capsula Detection
Authors: Wu Shixiao , Guo Chengcheng , Wang Xinghuan
Published: February 2022

We apologize for the error that occurred in the online version of the article. Table 3 was missing in the article entitled “Application
of Two New Feature Fusion Networks to Improve Real-time Prostate Capsula Detection” in “Current Medical Imaging”,
2021; 17(9): 1128-36 [1].

The original article can be found online at https://www.eurekaselect.com/article/113786

Original: Table 3 was missing. Corrected: Table 3 has been added.