bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychometric properties of Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐5 Disorders‐Clinician Version (SCID‐5‐CV)
Authors: Shabani Amir , Masoumian Samira , Zamirinejad Somayeh , Hejri Maryam , Pirmorad Tahereh , Yaghmaeezadeh Hooman
Published: March 2021

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of Structured Clinical Interview Version for DSM‐5 (R) Clinical Version (SCID‐5‐CV) in a population of patients with psychiatric disorders in Tehran.

Method

The study population included all outpatients and inpatients referred to three psychiatric centers in Tehran, namely Iran Psychiatric Hospital, Rasoul Akram Hospital, and Clinic of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health (Tehran Psychiatric Institute). Inclusion criteria included age between 16 and 70 years, informed consent to study, ability to understand and speak Persian, and no specific physical problems that interfere with the conduct of the interview. Also, exclusion criteria included inability to communicate, mental retardation or dementia, severe symptoms of acute psychosis, and severe restlessness. In addition to demographic questionnaire, Persian version of SCID‐5‐CV was used in this study. Finally, diagnostic validity, test–retest reliability, and inter‐rater reliability were used to evaluate the information.

Results

In terms of the kappa criterion, for all diagnoses except for anxiety disorders, kappa was above 0.4 as a result of agreement above average, but in anxiety disorders with kappa 0.34 there was a moderate agreement between psychiatrist and SCID interviewer reports. Also, according to the psychiatrist's diagnosis as the gold standard, in most diagnoses, except for anxiety disorders, kappa was higher than 0.80, indicating the desirable characteristic of this tool in the diagnosis of disorders. Sensitivity of all diagnoses was higher than 0.80.

Conclusion

According to the findings of the present study, SCID‐5‐CV can be used for diagnostic purposes in psychiatric clinics and hospitals and to evaluate the treatment process of patients. In general, this version is suitable especially the schizophrenia spectrum and other psychiatric disorders; however, using SCID‐5‐CV for anxiety‐related disorders should be done with caution.
Self‐Template Construction of High‐Performance Co, N‐Decorated Carbon Nanotubes from a Novel Cobalt Dicyandiamide Molecule
Authors: Li Jingjing , Chen Shuai , Liu Mengmeng , Li Zhihong , Dong Zhengping , Zhang Fengwei , Zhang Xian‐Ming
Published: March 2021

N‐doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) based composites have shown great prospect in catalysis relevant communities, which are often evolved from commercial CNTs and nitrogenous hybrid precursors. However, the direct fabrication of high‐performance and non‐noble metal uniformly embedded NCNTs from a single molecule level without foreign ions remains a thorny issue. Herein, we firstly report a high surface area and large diameter NCNTs (215.7 m2 g−1, 150 nm) embedded with Co NPs and atomically dispersed CoNx active sites via a facile and self‐template pyrolysis of a novel synthesized cobalt dicyanamide molecule. The resulting Co@NCNTs‐800 catalyst exhibits superior catalytic activity toward nitrobenzene hydrogenation compared to the catalyst prepared from a mixture of dicyandiamide and CoCl2 under mild conditions (>99 % vs. 1.3 % conversion). Furthermore, it also presents a prominent activity and selectivity for the hydrogenation of various nitroaromatics, and possesses the best catalytic performance compared to the existing non‐noble metal‐based heterogeneous catalytic systems.
Photo‐rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors: Critical roles of carbon‐based functional materials
Authors: Wang Liqun , Wen Lei , Tong Yueyu , Wang Sihui , Hou Xinggang , An Xiaodong , Dou Shi Xue , Liang Ji
Published: March 2021

As a clean and renewable energy source, solar energy is a competitive alternative to replace conventional fossil fuels. Nevertheless, its serious fluctuating nature usually leads to a poor alignment with the actual energy demand. To solve this problem, the direct solar‐to‐electrochemical energy conversion and storage have been regarded as a feasible strategy. In this context, the development of high‐performance integrated devices based on solar energy conversion parts (i.e., solar cells or photoelectrodes) and electrochemical energy storage units (i.e., rechargeable batteries or supercapacitors [SCs]) has become increasingly necessary and urgent, in which carbon and carbon‐based functional materials play a fundamental role in determining their energy conversion/storage performances. Herein, we summarize the latest progress on these integrated devices for solar electricity energy conversion and storage, with special emphasis on the critical role of carbon‐based functional materials. First, principles of integrated devices are introduced, especially roles of carbon‐based materials in these hybrid energy devices. Then, two major types of important integrated devices, including photovoltaic and photoelectrochemical‐rechargeable batteries or SCs, are discussed in detail. Finally, key challenges and opportunities in the future development are also discussed. By this review, we hope to pave an avenue toward the development of stable and efficient devices for solar energy conversion and storage.
Functionalization of poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) nanofibrous membranes with antibiofilm compounds
Authors: Geremias Thaise C. , Batistella Marcos A. , Magini Ricardo R. S. , Guelli U. de Souza Selene M. A. , Franco Cesar V. , Barbosa Luiz C. A. , Pereira Ulisses A. , Hinestroza Juan P. , Pimenta Andréa L. , Ulson de Souza Antônio A.
Published: March 2021

The aim of this research was to investigate the activity of functionalized PLGA electrospun membranes in preventing Streptococcus mutans biofilm formation. PLGA nanofibres were functionalized with the additives Melaleuca alternifolia and Coffea canephora essential oils, furan‐2(5H)‐one, and a novel synthetic butyrolactam, in three concentrations (0.002%, 0.004%, and 0.008% w/v). Samples were characterized by SEM, FTIR‐ATR, and GC–MS and exposed to S. mutans cultures. Planktonic growth was determined following a 24‐ and 48‐h incubation period by spectrophotometry and the biofilm formation was evaluated by counting colony forming units. Cytotoxicity of the new biomaterials was assessed by MTS assay, through the quantification of viable placenta‐derived stem cells grown over the functionalized nanofibrous membranes. Observation of the electrospun membranes on SEM images revealed the smooth and bead‐free morphology of the nanofibres. No solvent residues were observed by FTIR‐ATR, but the GC–MS results showed that N,N‐dimethylformamide and dimethylsulfoxide were present as residues in the membranes after functionalization. Functionalization reduced bacterial attachment to membrane surfaces, with best results being obtained for M. alternifolia essential oil, furanone, and butyrolactam. Cytotoxicity results showed that furan‐2(5H)‐one‐functionalized membranes demonstrated no statistically significant difference in the cell viability compared to the control membranes.
Adherence to and determinants of guideline‐recommended biomarker testing and targeted therapy in patients with gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma: Insights from routine practice
Authors: Lau‐Min Kelsey S. , Li Yimei , Eads Jennifer R. , Wang Xiaoliang , Meropol Neal J. , Mamtani Ronac , Getz Kelly D.
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

Anti human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (anti‐HER2) therapy with trastuzumab improves overall survival in patients with advanced, HER2‐positive gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA) and is now incorporated into national guidelines. However, little is known about adherence to and determinants of timely HER2 testing and trastuzumab initiation in routine practice.

METHODS

The authors performed a cross‐sectional study of patients who had advanced GEA diagnosed between January 2011 and June 2019 in a nationwide electronic health record‐derived database. The annual prevalences of both timely HER2 testing (defined within 21 days after advanced diagnosis) and timely trastuzumab initiation (defined within 14 days after a positive HER2 result) were calculated. Log‐binomial regressions estimated adjusted prevalence ratios comparing timely HER2 testing and trastuzumab initiation by patient and tumor characteristics.

RESULTS

In total, the cohort included 6032 patients with advanced GEA of whom 1007 were HER2‐positive. Between 2011 and 2019, timely HER2 testing increased from 22.4% to 44.5%, whereas timely trastuzumab initiation remained stable at 16.3%. No appreciable differences in timely testing or trastuzumab initiation were noted by age, sex, race, or insurance status. Compared with patients who had metastatic disease at diagnosis, patients who had early stage GEA who did not undergo surgery were less likely to receive timely HER2 testing and trastuzumab initiation (testing prevalence ratio, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.64‐0.75; treatment prevalence ratio, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.18‐0.56), as were patients with early stage disease who subsequently developed a distant recurrence (testing prevalence ratio, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.47‐0.65; treatment prevalence ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.24‐1.55).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with advanced GEA, guideline‐recommended HER2 testing and anti‐HER2 therapy remain underused. Uptake may improve with universal HER2 testing regardless of stage.
Workflow scheduling using particle swarm optimization and gray wolf optimization algorithm in cloud computing
Authors: Arora Neeraj , Banyal Rohitash K.
Published: March 2021

Cloud computing is one of the emerging technologies in computer science in which services are provided through the internet on‐demand. Workflow scheduling is considered to be an NP‐hard problem and has a significant issue in the cloud environment. Finding the polynomial‐time solutions for workflow scheduling problem is difficult with most of the existing algorithms designed for traditional computing platforms. Some existing meta‐heuristics algorithms proposed for workflow scheduling problem are stuck in the local optimal solution and fails to give the global optimal solution. In this article, a hybrid of particle swarm optimization and gray wolf optimization, named the PSO‐GWO algorithm, is proposed for workflow scheduling. The proposed algorithm was tested to reduce the total executing cost (TEC) and total execution time (TET) of the dependent tasks in the cloud computing environment. The proposed algorithm takes advantage of both the standard PSO and GWO algorithms and does not stick in the local optimal solution. The experiment results show that the PSO‐GWO outperformed compared with the standard PSO and GWO algorithm in TEC and TET.
Hypoxic colorectal cancer‐derived extracellular vesicles deliver microRNA‐361‐3p to facilitate cell proliferation by targeting TRAF3 via the noncanonical NF‐κB pathways
Authors: Li Jie , Yang Peng , Chen Fangyu , Tan Yuqian , Huang Changzhi , Shen Hengyang , Peng Chaofan , Feng Yifei , Sun Yueming
Published: March 2021

Background

Hypoxic tumour microenvironment (TME) is a key regulator in cancer progression. However, the communications between hypoxic cells and other components in TME during colorectal cancer (CRC) progression via extracellular vesicles (EVs) remain unclear.

Methods

High‐throughput sequencing was employed to detect aberrantly expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in hypoxic EVs. Quantitative real‐time PCR was used to confirm and screen preliminarily candidate miRNAs. The effects of EVs derived from hypoxia (<1% O2) and miR‐361‐3p on CRC growth were assessed using CCK‐8 assays, colony formation assays, EdU assays, flow cytometric assays and mouse xenograft. Then, the specific mechanisms of miR‐361‐3p were investigated by RNA immunoprecipitation, luciferase reporter assay, Western blot, chromatin immunoprecipitation, immunohistochemistry and rescue experiments.

Results

The level of miR‐361‐3p expression was remarkably elevated in hypoxic EVs and can be transferred to CRC cells. Functional experiments exhibited that hypoxic EVs facilitated cell growth and suppressed cell apoptosis by transferring miR‐361‐3p of CRC. Hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α induced the elevation of miR‐361‐3p levels in hypoxic EVs. Upregulated miR‐361‐3p in CRC inhibited cell apoptosis and facilitated cell growth by directly targeting TNF receptor‐associated factor 3, which consequently activated the noncanonical NF‐κB pathway. Moreover, the high expression of circulating exosomal miR‐361‐3p was correlated to worse prognosis of CRC patients.

Conclusions

Altogether, the abnormality of exosomal miR‐361‐3p derived from hypoxia acts vital roles in the regulation of CRC growth and apoptosis and can be an emerging prognostic biomarker and a therapeutic target for CRC patients.
Projection of budgetary savings to US state Medicaid programs from reduced nursing home use due to an Alzheimer's disease treatment
Authors: Lam Jenny , Jun Hankyung , Cho Sang Kyu , Hanson Mark , Mattke Soeren
Published: March 2021

Introduction

The approval of a disease‐modifying Alzheimer's disease (AD) treatment could provide relief to US state budgets that were hit hard by the COVID‐19 pandemic, as mostly Medicare would cover treatment cost, whereas Medicaid would see savings from reduced nursing home use.

Methods

We project savings from 2021 to 2040 with a simulation model from the perspective of state Medicaid programs.

Results

Assuming a 40% and 22% relative reduction of disease progression rates with treatment, Medicaid would avoid payments of $186.2 and $93.5 billion for around 1.11 and 0.57 million nursing home patient‐years, respectively. The savings correspond to a 5.06% and 2.49%, respectively, relative reduction of Medicaid spending on nursing home care. Higher per capita savings were projected for older states, those with higher Medicaid payment rates, those with more nursing home residents covered by Medicaid, and those with a lower federal contribution.

Discussion

States stand to realize substantial savings from a potential AD treatment. A state's health system preparedness to handle the large number of patients will influence the actual magnitude of the savings and how fast they will accrue.
Phylogenetic and developmental analyses indicate complex functions of calcium‐activated potassium channels in zebrafish embryonic development
Authors: Silic Martin R. , Black Maya M , Zhang GuangJun
Published: March 2021

Background

Calcium‐activated potassium channels (KCa) are a specific type of potassium channel activated by intracellular calcium concentration changes. This group of potassium channels plays fundamental roles ranging from regulating neuronal excitability to immune cell activation. Many human diseases such as schizophrenia, hypertension, epilepsy, and cancers have been linked to mutations in this group of potassium channels. Although the KCa channels have been extensively studied electrophysiologically and pharmacologically, their spatiotemporal gene expression during embryogenesis remains mostly unknown.

Results

Using zebrafish as a model, we identified and renamed 14 KCa genes. We further performed phylogenetic and syntenic analyses on vertebrate KCa genes. Our data revealed that the number of KCa genes in zebrafish was increased, most likely due to teleost‐specific whole‐genome duplication. Moreover, we examined zebrafish KCa gene expression during early embryogenesis. The duplicated ohnologous genes show distinct and overlapped gene expression. Furthermore, we found that zebrafish KCa genes are expressed in various tissues and organs (somites, fins, olfactory regions, eye, kidney, and so on) and neuronal tissues, suggesting that they may play important roles during zebrafish embryogenesis.

Conclusions

Our phylogenetic and developmental analyses shed light on the potential functions of the KCa genes during embryogenesis related to congenital diseases and human channelopathies.
Spatial familial networks to infer demographic structure of wild populations
Authors: McFarlane Samantha , Manseau Micheline , Wilson Paul J.
Published: March 2021

In social species, reproductive success and rates of dispersal vary among individuals resulting in spatially structured populations. Network analyses of familial relationships may provide insights on how these parameters influence population‐level demographic patterns. These methods, however, have rarely been applied to genetically derived pedigree data from wild populations.

Here, we use parent–offspring relationships to construct familial networks from polygamous boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in Saskatchewan, Canada, to inform recovery efforts. We collected samples from 933 individuals at 15 variable microsatellite loci along with caribou‐specific primers for sex identification. Using network measures, we assess the contribution of individual caribou to the population with several centrality measures and then determine which measures are best suited to inform on the population demographic structure. We investigate the centrality of individuals from eighteen different local areas, along with the entire population.

We found substantial differences in centrality of individuals in different local areas, that in turn contributed differently to the full network, highlighting the importance of analyzing networks at different scales. The full network revealed that boreal caribou in Saskatchewan form a complex, interconnected familial network, as the removal of edges with high betweenness did not result in distinct subgroups. Alpha, betweenness, and eccentricity centrality were the most informative measures to characterize the population demographic structure and for spatially identifying areas of highest fitness levels and family cohesion across the range. We found varied levels of dispersal, fitness, and cohesion in family groups.

Synthesis and applications: Our results demonstrate the value of different network measures in assessing genetically derived familial networks. The spatial application of the familial networks identified individuals presenting different fitness levels, short‐ and long‐distance dispersing ability across the range in support of population monitoring and recovery efforts.
A Kinetic Photometric Assay for the Quantification of the Open‐Chain Content of Aldoses
Authors: Kalaus Hubert , Reichetseder Alexander , Scheibelreiter Verena , Rudroff Florian , Stanetty Christian , Mihovilovic Marko D.
Published: March 2021

Aldoses exist predominantly in the cyclic hemiacetal form, which is in equilibrium with the open‐chain aldehyde form. The small aldehyde content hampers reactivity when chemistry addresses the carbonyl moiety. This low concentration of the available aldehyde is generally difficult to ascertain. Herein, we demonstrate a new kinetic determination of the (minute) open‐chain content (OCC) of aldoses. This kinetic approach exploits the aldehyde‐selectivity of 2‐aminobenzamidoxime (ABAO), which furnishes a strongly UV‐active adduct. Simple formation curves can be measured in a photometer or plate reader for high‐throughput screening. Under pseudo‐first order kinetics, these curves correlate with a prediction model yielding the relative OCC. The OCCs of all parent aldoses (pentoses and hexoses) were determined referencing against the two tetroses with exceptionally high OCCs and were in very good agreement with literature data. Additionally, the assay was extended towards higher‐carbon sugars with unknown OCC and also applied to rationalise a lack of reactivity observed in a recent synthetic investigation.
A Review and Recent Developments in Full‐Spectrum Photocatalysis using ZnIn2S4‐Based Photocatalysts
Authors: Song Yanyan , Zhang Jiyun , Dong Xianhui , Li Haidong
Published: March 2021

Nowadays, photocatalytic technology is considered as one of the most efficient methods to solve the problem of the global energy shortage and the pollution of the environment. Among these outstanding photocatalysts, metal sulfide‐based semiconductors have attracted wide attention because of their good chemical stability, simple synthesis method, and relatively narrow bandgaps. ZnIn2S4 (ZIS), as a layered structure ternary metal chalcogenide and a rising material star, has made exciting breakthroughs in the past decades. Recently, studies have shown that a rich variety of ZIS composite nanostructures are developed. This review summarizes the recent advances and development in the design and improvement of ZIS and ZIS‐based photocatalysts in full‐spectrum photocatalytic applications. Furthermore, the applications of ZIS‐based photocatalysts are discussed, such as in photocatalytic hydrogen production, CO2 reduction, degradation of pollutants, and photocatalytic selective organic transformations under ultraviolett (UV), visible (Vis), and near‐infrared (NIR) light irradiation. In the end, a brief summary and perspectives on the challenges and future directions in the area of ZIS and ZIS‐based photocatalysts are also provided.
Design and tailoring of advanced catalytic process for light alkanes upgrading
Authors: Chen Wenyao , Duan Xuezhi , Zhou Xinggui , Chen De
Published: March 2021

The wide and huge reservation of shale gas around the world has drastically altered the global energy and chemicals market, boosting the productions of hydrocarbons and their derivatives by providing massive light alkanes at low cost. Direct conversion of alkanes into the value‐added chemicals remains energy‐intensive and requires harsh reaction conditions due to its ultrahigh CH bond strength. Hence, the quest of alternative reaction pathway for alkane conversion into target product with high yield under mild conditions for a long‐term operation emerges as the key technique of shale gas utilization. In this review, we summarize important progresses in the catalytic conversions of light alkanes with emphases on the design and preparation of novel heterogeneous catalysts, as well as the development of advanced processes in the recent 10 years. The perspectives of potential areas for future study are also provided.

image
Rational design on photo(electro)catalysts for artificial nitrogen looping
Authors: Li Mengying , Liu Xiaoqing , Wang Liqun , Hou Feng , Dou Shi Xue , Liang Ji
Published: March 2021

Nitrogen, one of most important elements on the Earth, plays an essential role in shaping the modern society. The natural nitrogen looping, however, is insufficient to satisfy the high demand of the large‐scale human activities. To achieve a more sustainable and efficient utilization of nitrogen, artificial nitrogen looping by photo(electro)catalytic processes has been considered as a feasible strategy. In this context, the rational design on the high‐performance catalysts for nitrogen looping becomes increasingly important and urgent. On this basis, herein, we provide a timely review on the recent progress, achievements, and essential challenges for the artificial nitrogen looping process, mainly including photo(electro)catalytic transformations among dinitrogen, ammonia, gaseous nitrogen oxides, nitrate, and so on. Especially, the photo(electro)catalysts used in various reactions involved in nitrogen looping, including nitrogen reduction reaction, nitrogen oxidation reaction, ammonia oxidation reaction, ammonia decomposition reaction, etc., are systematically introduced. Finally, we hope that this review will help us deepen the understanding of nitrogen looping‐related photo(electro)catalysts, and further pave a way toward the sustainable development on energy and environment.

image
Ethylene treatment of “Maekawa‐Jiro” persimmon affects peel characteristics and consequently, enables boil‐peeling
Authors: Murakami Satoru , Yamaguchi Kazuki , Hashimoto Nozomi
Published: March 2021

In a previous study, we reported that ethylene treatment facilitated boil‐peeling in persimmons and in several other fruits; however, the mechanism underlying the facilitating effect of ethylene was not examined in detail. Thus, in this study, we investigated the effect of ethylene treatment on the peel characteristics of persimmons, that facilitated boil‐peeling, using chemical, genomic, and histochemistry analyses. The results of the study showed that the ethylene‐related genes, DK‐ACS1 and DK‐ACO2, and the pectinase‐active gene DKPG were not expressed, even though a minor increase in ethylene generation was observed after ethylene treatment. Conversely, significant accumulation of toluidine blue O and ruthenium red dyes were observed in the sarcocarp and exocarp of the fruits, indicating an increase in the quantity of polysaccharides, including pectic substances, at the site. The results also indicate that the increased cellulase activity observed in the pericarp of the fruits may be due to the aging of the fruits, and not necessarily as a result of ethylene treatment. Furthermore, ethylene treatment increased the quantity of polysaccharides, including pectic substances, directly below the pericarp, which caused the dissolution of the site, resulting in peeling. This study provides new insights on the effect of ethylene on boil‐peeling in persimmons and provides a foundation for future research studying the effect of heat treatment in the peeling of fruits or tomato.
The chemical composition and heavy metal content of sesame oil produced by different methods: A risk assessment study
Authors: Kheirati Rounizi Somayeh , Akrami Mohajeri Fateme , Moshtaghi Broujeni Hamdollah , Pourramezani Fatemeh , Jambarsang Sara , Kiani Hossein , Khalili Sadrabad Elham
Published: March 2021

The oil was extracted from sesame seed with two extraction methods. Traditional (Ardeh oil) and industrial method (cold pressing method: virgin and refined sesame oil) oil extraction was studied to compare the quality and heavy metal content of extracted oils. The chemical properties (fatty acid composition, peroxide, anisidine, acid values, and TOTOX) and heavy metal contents were investigated. The Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Hazard Index (HI) of heavy metal intakes were calculated. The results demonstrated that the predominant fatty acid in oil samples was oleic, linoleic, palmitic, and stearic acids. It was indicated the peroxide, anisidine, acid values, and TOTOX of oil samples were as the order of Ardeh oil > virgin sesame oil > refined sesame oil. The reduction pattern of Pb > Zn >Cu > Cd >As was reported in sesame seed. Although the oil refining had been greatly reduced the Pb of oil sample, but it had yet been much higher than the permissible levels set by Codex Alimentarius. The HQ and HI of all heavy metals were less than one, but they were higher in Ardeh oil compared to others. It is necessary to monitor the presence of heavy metal contaminants and the quality of imported sesame seeds prior to oil preparation.
Breast cancer rate after oophorectomy: A Prospective Danish Cohort Study
Authors: Koch Trine , Jørgensen Jeanette Therming , Christensen Jane , Dehlendorff Christian , Priskorn Lærke , Simonsen Mette K. , Duun‐Henriksen Anne Katrine , Andersen Zorana J. , Juul Anders , Bräuner Elvira V. , Hickey Martha
Published: March 2021

The association between oophorectomy and risk of breast cancer in the general population is uncertain. The aim of our study was to determine the breast cancer rate in women from the general population after oophorectomy (performed before/after menopause), and whether this varies by use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), hysterectomy, body mass index (BMI) and shift work. The study included 24 409 female nurses (aged ≥45 years) participating in the Danish Nurse Cohort. Nurses were followed from cohort entry until date of breast cancer, death, emigration or end of follow‐up at 31 December 2018, whichever came first. Poisson regression with log‐transformed person‐years as the offset examined the association between oophorectomy and breast cancer (all ages and stratified by menopausal status at time of oophorectomy). The potential modifying effect of HRT use, hysterectomy, BMI and shift work on the associations was estimated. During 502 463 person‐years of follow‐up, 1975 (8.1%) nurses were diagnosed with breast cancer. Bilateral oophorectomy was associated with a reduced breast cancer rate compared to nurses with preserved ovaries, adjusted rate ratio (95% confidence interval): 0.79 (0.64; 0.99). Similar associations (magnitude and direction) were detected for unilateral oophorectomy and when stratifying according to menopausal status at time of oophorectomy, but without statistical significance. Unilateral and bilateral oophorectomy is associated with a reduced breast cancer rate in women from the general population. This association is not modified by use of HRT, hysterectomy, BMI or shift work.
N‐glycan fingerprint predicts alpha‐fetoprotein negative hepatocellular carcinoma: A large‐scale multicenter study
Authors: Huang Chenjun , Fang Meng , Feng Huijuan , Liu Lijuan , Li Ya , Xu Xuewen , Wang Hao , Wang Ying , Tong Lin , Zhou Lin , Gao Chunfang
Published: March 2021

Alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP)‐negative hepatocellular carcinoma (ANHCC) patients account for more than 30% of the whole entity of HCC patients and are easily misdiagnosed. This three‐phase study was designed to find and validate new ANHCC N‐glycan markers which identified from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and noninvasive detection. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of N‐glycan biosynthesis and degradation related genes were screened from TCGA database. Serum N‐glycan structure abundances were analyzed using N‐glycan fingerprint (NGFP) technology. Totally 1340 participants including ANHCC, chronic liver diseases and healthy controls were enrolled after propensity score matching (PSM). The Lasso algorithm was used to select the most significant N‐glycan structures abundances. Three machine learning models [random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM) and logistic regression (LR)] were used to construct the diagnostic algorithms. All 13N‐glycan structure abundances analyzed by NGFP demonstrated significant and was enrolled by Lasso. Among the three machine learning models, LR algorithm demonstrated the best diagnostic performance for identifying ANHCC in training cohort (LR: AUC: 0.842, 95%CI: 0.784‐0.899; RF: AUC: 0.825, 95%CI: 0.766‐0.885; SVM: AUC: 0.610, 95%CI: 0.527‐0.684). This LR algorithm achieved a high diagnostic performance again in the independent validation (AUC: 0.860, 95%CI: 0.824‐0.897). Furthermore, the LR algorithm could stratify ANHCC into two distinct subgroups with high or low risks of overall survival and recurrence in follow‐up validation. In conclusion, the biomarker panel consisting of 13N‐glycan structures abundances using the best‐performing algorithm (LR) was defined and indicative as an effective tool for HCC prediction and prognosis estimate in AFP negative subjects.
Introducing longitudinal cumulative dose to describe chemotherapy patterns over time: Case study of a colon cancer trial
Authors: Webster‐Clark Michael , Keil Alexander P. , Sanoff Hanna K. , Stürmer Til , Westreich Daniel , Lund Jennifer L.
Published: March 2021

Adjuvant chemotherapy regimens take months to complete. Despite this, studies evaluate chemotherapy adherence via measures assessed at the end of treatment (eg, number of patients missing any dose, relative dose intensity [RDI]). This approach ignores information like the timing of treatment delays. We propose longitudinal cumulative dose (LCD) to integrate impacts of dose reductions, missed doses and dose delays over time. We obtained data from the 2246 participants in the MOSAIC trial randomized to FOLFOX (all three agents) or 5‐FU/LV (only 5‐fluorouracil and leucovorin). We evaluated proportions of patients stopping treatment early and reducing, missing or delaying a dose in each arm for each chemotherapy agent at each cycle. We calculated LCD, the fraction of the final standard dose a participant reached by a given day, for each participant and each agent and compared it over time and at 24 weeks between treatment arms. Participants randomized to FOLFOX were more likely to stop treatment, reduce doses, miss doses or delay cycles; these differences increased over time. Median LCD for oxaliplatin in the FOLFOX arm at 24 weeks was 77%. The LCD for 5‐fluorouracil differed between arms (FOLFOX arm median: 81%; 5‐FU/LV arm median: 96%). Visualizing LCD highlighted the timing of deviations from standard administration in a way RDI could not, with major differences in 5‐fluorouracil LCD across treatment arms beginning after the sixth dose. Further evaluation of LCD and its impacts on clinical outcomes may clarify mechanisms for heterogeneous patient outcomes.
Classification of high‐grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia by p16ink4a, Ki‐67, HPV E4 and FAM19A4/miR124‐2 methylation status demonstrates considerable heterogeneity with potential consequences for management
Authors: Vink Frederique J. , Dick Stèfanie , Heideman Daniëlle A. M. , De Strooper Lise M. A. , Steenbergen Renske D. M. , Lissenberg‐Witte Birgit I. ,   DNTP Group, Floore Arno , Bonde Jesper H. , Oštrbenk Valenčak Anja , Poljak Mario , Petry Karl U. , Hillemanns Peter , van Trommel Nienke E. , Berkhof Johannes , Bleeker Maaike C. G. , Meijer Chris J. L. M.
Published: March 2021

High‐grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2 and CIN3) represents a heterogeneous disease with varying cancer progression risks. Biomarkers indicative for a productive human papillomavirus (HPV) infection (HPV E4) and a transforming HPV infection (p16ink4a, Ki‐67 and host‐cell DNA methylation) could provide guidance for clinical management in women with high‐grade CIN. This study evaluates the cumulative score of immunohistochemical expression of p16ink4a (Scores 0‐3) and Ki‐67 (Scores 0‐3), referred to as the “immunoscore” (IS), in 262 CIN2 and 235 CIN3 lesions derived from five European cohorts in relation to immunohistochemical HPV E4 expression and FAM19A4/miR124‐2 methylation in the corresponding cervical scrape. The immunoscore classification resulted in 30 lesions within IS group 0‐2 (6.0%), 151 lesions within IS group 3‐4 (30.4%) and 316 lesions within IS group 5‐6 (63.6%). E4 expression decreased significantly from CIN2 to CIN3 (P < .001) and with increasing immunoscore group (Ptrend < .001). Methylation positivity increased significantly from CIN2 to CIN3 (P < .001) and with increasing immunoscore group (Ptrend < .001). E4 expression was present in 9.8% of CIN3 (23/235) and in 12.0% of IS group 5‐6 (38/316). Notably, in a minority (43/497, 8.7%) of high‐grade lesions, characteristics of both transforming HPV infection (DNA hypermethylation) and productive HPV infection (E4 expression) were found simultaneously. Next, we stratified all high‐grade CIN lesions, based on the presumed cancer progression risk of the biomarkers used, into biomarker profiles. These biomarker profiles, including immunoscore and methylation status, could help the clinician in the decision for immediate treatment or a “wait and see” policy to reduce overtreatment of high‐grade CIN lesions.
Identification of known and novel familial cancer genes in Swedish colorectal cancer families
Authors: Helgadottir Hafdis T. , Thutkawkorapin Jessada , Rohlin Anna , Nordling Margareta , Lagerstedt‐Robinson Kristina , Lindblom Annika
Published: March 2021

Identifying new candidate colorectal cancer (CRC) genes and mutations are important for clinical cancer prevention as well as in cancer care. Genetic counseling is already implemented for known high‐risk variants; however, the majority of CRC are of unknown causes. In our study, 110 CRC patients in 55 Swedish families with a strong history of CRC but unknown genetic causes were analyzed with the aim of identifying novel candidate CRC predisposing genes. Exome sequencing was used to identify rare and high‐impact variants enriched in the families. No clear pathogenic variants were found in known CRC predisposing genes; however, potential pathogenic variants in novel CRC predisposing genes were identified. Over 3000 variants with minor allele frequency (MAF) <0.01 and Combined Annotation Dependent Depletion (CADD) > 20 were seen aggregating in the CRC families. Of those, 27 variants with MAF < 0.001 and CADD>25 were considered high‐risk mutations. Interestingly, more than half of the high‐risk variants were detected in three families, suggesting cumulating contribution of several variants to CRC. In summary, our study shows that despite a strong history of CRC within families, identifying pathogenic variants is challenging. In a small number of families, few rare mutations were shared by affected family members. This could indicate that in the absence of known CRC predisposing genes, a cumulating contribution of mutations leads to CRC observed in these families.
A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled pilot study of the comparative effects of dienogest and the combined oral contraceptive pill in women with endometriosis
Authors: Mehdizadeh Kashi Abolfazl , Niakan Gelareh , Ebrahimpour Majid , Allahqoli Leila , Hassanlouei Babak , Gitas Georgios , Alkatout Ibrahim
Published: March 2021

Objective

To compare the effects of dienogest and a combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP) after laparoscopic surgery on pain and quality of life in women with severe endometriosis.

Methods

A randomized double‐blind pilot study was conducted from March 2018 to March 2020 in women with severe endometriosis confirmed by laparoscopic surgery. A total of 108 patients who had undergone laparoscopic surgery received dienogest, COCP, or placebo daily for 6 months. Primary and secondary outcomes were compared between the three groups.

Results

Treatment with dienogest or COCP was associated with improved self‐reported pain after 6 months of treatment, as evidenced by significantly lower scores for pelvic pain and dyspareunia compared with placebo (P < 0.05). Significant differences in overall quality of life score were observed over 6 months in the dienogest, COCP, and placebo groups (mean difference 22.00, 23.45, and 6.45 points, respectively; P < 0.001). Post‐hoc analysis revealed a significant difference in overall quality of life score between the placebo group and the dienogest (P < 0.001) and COCP groups (P = 0.004).

Conclusion

Postoperative administration of dienogest or COCP reduced endometriosis‐associated pain and improved quality of life in women with severe endometriosis.

Clinical trials registration: https://en.irct.ir/trial/43070.
Pattern of non‐communicable diseases during pregnancy and their effect on feto‐maternal outcome: A prospective observational study
Authors: Kumari Neha , Kathirvel Soundappan , Arora Aashima , Jain Vanita , Sikka Pooja
Published: March 2021

Objective

To assess patterns of non‐communicable diseases (NCDs) and pregnancy outcomes of women in a tertiary care hospital.

Methods

This was a prospective observational study, conducted over 1 year. All NCDs in women who delivered or aborted were studied. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were noted.

Results

In all, 1003 NCDs occurred in 894 women. Chronic hypertension was the commonest, involving 309 (30.8%) women. Others included cardiovascular (159, 15.9%), neurological (142, 14.2%), endocrine (115, 11.5%), autoimmune (76, 7.6%), chronic kidney (48, 4.8%), and chronic respiratory (43, 4.3%) diseases, psychiatric disorders (38, 3.8%), cancers (20, 2.0%), and chronic liver disease (18, 1.8%). Most (599, 67.0%) were diagnosed before pregnancy and 145 (16.2%), 81 (9.1%), and 69 (7.7%) were diagnosed in the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively. Maternal deaths occurred in 6 (0.7%) women and near miss in 19 (2.1%) women. Only 9 (1.5%) women with NCD diagnosed before pregnancy had maternal near miss or death, compared with 16 (5.4%) diagnosed during pregnancy (P < 0.001). Of live births, 281 (35.3%) were low birth weight, 49 (6.1%) were very low birth weight, and 24 (3.0%) were extremely low birth weight.

Conclusion

Chronic hypertension was the commonest NCD, which along with cardiovascular and neurological disorders constituted around 60% of all NCDs. One‐third of NCDs were initially diagnosed during pregnancy. Maternal morbidity was lower if NCDs were diagnosed before pregnancy.
WillCOVID‐19‐related economic worries superimpose health worries, reducing nonpharmaceutical intervention acceptance in Germany? A prospective pre‐registered study
Authors: Rosman Tom , Kerwer Martin , Steinmetz Holger , Chasiotis Anita , Wedderhoff Oliver , Betsch Cornelia , Bosnjak Michael
Published: March 2021

Nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPI) such as stay‐at‐home orders aim at curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus, SARS‐COV‐2. In March 2020, a large proportion of the German population supported such interventions. In this article, we analyse whether the support for NPI dwindle with economic worries superimposing virus‐related worries in the months to follow. We test seven pre‐registered1hypotheses using data from the German COSMO survey (Betsch, Wieler, Habersaat, et al. 2020), which regularly monitors behavioural and psychological factors related to the pandemic. The present article covers the period from March 24, 2020 to July 7, 2020 (Ntotal = 13,094), and, in addition, includes a validation study providing evidence for the reliability and validity of the corresponding COSMO measures (N = 612). Results revealed that virus‐related worries decreased over time, whereas economic worries remained largely constant. Moreover, the acceptance of NPIs considerably decreased over time. Virus‐related worries were positively associated with acceptance of NPIs, whereas this relationship was negative regarding economic worries (albeit smaller and less consistent). Unexpectedly, no interactions between virus‐related worries and economic worries were found. We conclude that individual differences in virus‐related and economic threat perceptions related to COVID‐19 play an important role in the acceptance of NPIs.
Pro‐angiogenic decellularized vessel matrix gel modified by silk fibroin for rapid vascularization of tissue engineering scaffold
Authors: Fu Qiang , Xia Bin , Huang Xiang , Wang Fuping , Chen Zhongmin , Chen Guobao
Published: March 2021

Current pro‐angiogenic methods in the fields of tissue engineering always aim to enrich the vascular network but neglect to provide an appropriate environment for cells, which may lead to incomplete endothelium or thrombosis. Decellularized matrix gels derived from specific tissue are expected to be suitable for targeted tissue regeneration because they preserve the biochemical properties of the native tissue. Decellularized vascular matrix gel (DVMG) has shown promise for rapid vascularization. However, DVMG is difficult to directly apply due to its weak mechanical properties and rapid degradation. In this work, silk fibroin (SF) was introduced to the DVMG to improve the physical properties of the hybrid scaffolds. The performances of the SF/DVMG scaffolds were characterized, and the results showed that SF effectively improved the overall mechanical properties of the scaffold and decreased the degradation rate. SF/DVMG scaffolds also showed good cell growth promotion effects in vitro. After the scaffolds were subcutaneously implanted in the dorsa of rats, more CD34‐positive endothelial cells were expressed in the DVMG‐containing scaffolds, and the number of vascular loops significantly increased compared to that of the pure SF scaffold control. The development of DVMG creates more possibilities for the rapid vascular network generation of clinically engineered scaffolds.
Joint Associations of Prevalent Radiographic Vertebral Fracture and Abdominal Aortic Calcification With Incident Hip, Major Osteoporotic, and Clinical Vertebral Fractures
Authors: Schousboe John T , Langsetmo Lisa , Szulc Pawel , Lewis Joshua R , Taylor Brent C , Kats Allyson M , Vo Tien N , Ensrud Kristine E
Published: March 2021

Prevalent vertebral fractures (PVFx) and abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) are both associated with incident fractures and can be ascertained on the same lateral spine images, but their joint association with incident fractures is unclear. Our objective was to estimate the individual and joint associations of PVFx and AAC with incident major osteoporotic, hip, and clinical vertebral fractures in 5365 older men enrolled in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) Study, using Cox proportional hazards and Fine and Gray subdistribution hazards models to account for competing mortality. PVFx (Genant SQ grade 2 or 3) and 24-point AAC score were ascertained on baseline lateral spine radiographs. Self-reports of incident fractures were solicited every 4 months and confirmed by review of clinical radiographic reports. Compared with men without PVFx and AAC-24 score 0 or 1, the subdistribution hazard ratio (SHR) for incident major osteoporotic fracture was 1.38 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13–1.69) among men with AAC-24 score ≥2 alone, 1.71 (95% CI 1.37–2.14) for men with PVFx alone, and 2.35 (95% CI 1.75–3.16) for men with both risk factors, after accounting for conventional risk factors and competing mortality. Wald statistics showed improved prediction model performance by including both risk factors compared with including only AAC (chi-square = 17.3, p < .001) or including only PVFx (chi-square = 8.5, p = .036). Older men with both PVFx and a high level of AAC are at higher risk of incident major osteoporotic fracture than men with either risk factor alone. Assessing prevalent radiographic vertebral fracture and AAC on the same lateral spine images may improve prediction of older men who will have an incident major osteoporotic fracture, even after accounting for traditional fracture risk factors and competing mortality. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
The competition and cooperativity of hydrogen/halogen bond and π‐hole bond involving the heteronuclear ethylene analogues
Authors: Shen Shaojie , Jing Xinyue , Zhang Xueying , Li Xiaoyan , Zeng Yanli
Published: March 2021

The noncovalent interactions involving heteronuclear ethylene analogues H2CEH2(E = Si, Ge and Sn) have been studied by the Møller–Plesset perturbation theory to investigate the competition and cooperativity between the hydrogen/halogen bond and π‐hole bond. H2CEH2has a dual role of being a Lewis base and acid with the region of π‐electron accumulation above the carbon atom and the region of π‐electron depletion (π‐hole) above the E atom to participate in the NCX···CE (X = H and Cl) hydrogen/halogen bond and CE···NCY (Y = H, Cl, Li and Na) π‐hole bond, respectively. When HCN/ClCN interacts with H2CEH2by two sites, the strength of hydrogen bond/halogen bond is stronger than that of π‐hole bond. The π‐hole bond becomes obviously stronger when the metal substituent of YCN (Y = Li and Na) interacting with H2CEH2, showing the character of partial covalent, its strength is much greater than that of hydrogen/halogen bond. In the ternary complexes, both hydrogen/halogen bond and π‐hole bond are simultaneously strengthened compared to those in the binary complexes, especially in the systems containing alkali metal.