bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Translation and psychometric properties of the Mandarin Chinese version of the COVID-19 Impact Scale in college students
Authors: Zhang Qing , Liu Yahui , Yang Jinxin , Liu Chengwei , Yin Haoyu
Published: October 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant long psychological impacts that require a novel measurement tool to capture the changes in such impacts. To this end, the COVID-19 Impact Scale (CIS) was developed as an instrument to evaluate psychological responses associated with the pandemic, and has shown evidence of a one-factor structure. The CIS was initially created using an Korea University students sample, and has since been translated and validated in Turkish. A total of 504 College students, aged 17–25, took part in the study from two universities in Jinan, located in Shandong Province, Eastern China, via an online survey platform. They were administered the Chinese versions of the following self-report instruments: Mandarin Chinese CIS, Fear of COVID-19 Scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 and Satisfaction With Life Scale. Moreover, a sample of 86 participants who provided their contact information and agreed to participate in the second-round survey were asked to reassess using the Mandarin Chinese CIS after a period of 3 weeks following the initial testing. Results showed that Mandarin Chinese CIS had good internal consistency and test–retest reliability. Additionally, the Mandarin Chinese CIS presented good criterion validity and estimates of convergent validity and incremental validity. In confirmatory factor analysis, the one-factor model showed an acceptable fit after incorporating correlations between error terms. Our findings suggest that the Mandarin Chinese CIS is a reliable and valid self-report tool that demonstrates robust psychometric properties and acceptable construct validity when used with a Chinese university students.
Associations of intrinsic capacity, fall risk and frailty in old inpatients
Authors: Shen Shanshan , Xie Yanhong , Zeng Xingkun , Chen Lingyan , Guan Huilan , Yang Yinghong , Wu Xiushao , Chen Xujiao
Published: October 2023

Introduction

This study explored the associations of intrinsic capacity (IC), fall risk, and frailty in geriatric inpatients.

Methods

A total of 703 hospitalized patients aged 75 years or older were recruited for this retrospective observational study from Zhejiang Hospital using a comprehensive geriatric assessment. The IC composite score was constructed from the scores of the Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination, Short Physical Performance Battery, Short Form Mini Nutritional Assessment, 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale, and self-reported hearing and vision impairment. Adverse outcomes were recorded as the fall risk and frailty using the Morse Fall Scale and the Clinical Frailty Scale. Spearman’s correlation coefficient analyses and multivariate logistic regression models were used to explore the associations between IC, high fall risk, and frailty.

Results

Declined IC composite scores were associated with increased risks of falls [odds ratio (OR) = 0.64, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.57–0.72] and frailty (OR = 0.45, 95%CI: 0.37–0.54) among older hospitalized patients after adjusting for the related potential confounders. In addition, decreased cognitive, vitality, locomotion, and psychological scores were associated with increased adverse health conditions, with ORs ranging from 0.26 to 0.70. Vision impairment was observed to increase the risk of frailty (OR = 0.42, 95%CI: 0.23–0.76) after adjusting for the related potential confounders.

Discussion

This study indicated that declined IC was associated with fall risk and frailty in older inpatients. Further prospective studies are needed to explore the longitudinal associations between baseline IC and subsequent risk of falls and frailty.
Dynamic variations in and prediction of COVID-19 with omicron in the four first-tier cities of mainland China, Hong Kong, and Singapore
Authors: Ni Xiaohua , Sun Bo , Hu Zengyun , Cui Qianqian , Zhang Zhuo , Zhang Hua
Published: October 2023

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic, which began in late 2019, has resulted in the devastating collapse of the social economy and more than 10 million deaths worldwide. A recent study suggests that the pattern of COVID-19 cases will resemble a mini-wave rather than a seasonal surge. In general, COVID-19 has more severe impacts on cities than on rural areas, especially in cities with high population density.

Methods

In this study, the background situation of COVID-19 transmission is discussed, including the population number and population density. Moreover, a widely used time series autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model is applied to simulate and forecast the COVID-19 variations in the six cities. We comprehensively analyze the dynamic variations in COVID-19 in the four first-tier cities of mainland China (BJ: Beijing, SH: Shanghai, GZ: Guangzhou and SZ: Shenzhen), Hong Kong (HK), China and Singapore (SG) from 2020 to 2022.

Results

The major results show that the six cities have their own temporal characteristics, which are determined by the different control and prevention measures. The four first-tier cities of mainland China (i.e., BJ, SH, GZ, and SZ) have similar variations with one wave because of their identical “Dynamic COVID-19 Zero” strategy and strict Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs). HK and SG have multiple waves primarily caused by the input cases. The ARIMA model has the ability to provide an accurate forecast of the COVID-19 pandemic trend for the six cities, which could provide a useful approach for predicting the short-term variations in infectious diseases.Accurate forecasting has significant value for implementing reasonable control and prevention measures.

Conclusions

Our main conclusions show that control and prevention measures should be dynamically adjusted and organically integrated for the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the mathematical models are proven again to provide an important scientific basis for disease control.
Impact of senolytic treatment on immunity, aging, and disease
Authors: Lorenzo Erica C. , Torrance Blake L. , Haynes Laura
Published: October 2023

Cellular senescence has been implicated in the pathophysiology of many age-related diseases. However, it also plays an important protective role in the context of tumor suppression and wound healing. Reducing senescence burden through treatment with senolytic drugs or the use of genetically targeted models of senescent cell elimination in animals has shown positive results in the context of mitigating disease and age-associated inflammation. Despite positive, albeit heterogenous, outcomes in clinical trials, very little is known about the short-term and long-term immunological consequences of using senolytics as a treatment for age-related conditions. Further, many studies examining cellular senescence and senolytic treatment have been demonstrated in non-infectious disease models. Several recent reports suggest that senescent cell elimination may have benefits in COVID-19 and influenza resolution and disease prognosis. In this review, we discuss the current clinical trials and pre-clinical studies that are exploring the impact of senolytics on cellular immunity. We propose that while eliminating senescent cells may have an acute beneficial impact on primary immune responses, immunological memory may be negatively impacted. Closer investigation of senolytics on immune function and memory generation would provide insight as to whether senolytics could be used to enhance the aging immune system and have potential to be used as therapeutics or prophylactics in populations that are severely and disproportionately affected by infections such as the elderly and immunocompromised.
Food security in ASEAN: progress, challenges and future
Authors: Sundram Pushpanathan
Published: October 2023

This article examines the progress, challenges and future of food security in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the fragility of ASEAN food systems, exacerbating existing challenges and vulnerabilities. With a focus on addressing the pressing issue of ensuring sufficient, affordable, and nutritious food for its growing population, the article explores the multifaceted challenges of food security faced by ASEAN. It emphasizes the need for an integrated approach to address the impact of climate change, investment in rural infrastructure and agricultural research, and the promotion of sustainable and inclusive agriculture for ASEAN’s long-term food security. It also underscores the importance of collaboration with international partners and organizations to leverage expertise and resources. Overall, this article calls to action policymakers, stakeholders and external partners to collectively work toward achieving food security and sustainable development in the region.
Curcumin nanoparticles as a natural antioxidant and antimicrobial preservative against foodborne pathogens in processed chicken fingers
Authors: Morsy Mohamed K. , Al-Dalain Sati Y. , Haddad Moawiya A. , Diab Mohamed , Abd-Elaaty Elsayed M. , Abdeen Ahmed , Ibrahim Samah F. , Shukry Mustafa , Banatean-Dunea Ioan , Fericean Liana , Ghamry Heba I. , El-Sayed Amal , Abdelaziz Manal , Kadhim Noor , Elsabagh Rasha
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Curcumin has highly antimicrobial and antioxidant activities but has poor bioavailability and low solubility in water. The current study aimed to assess curcumin nanoparticles (Curcumin-NPs) antibacterial and antioxidant efficacy against some pathogens in chicken fingers at 4 °C/27 days.

Methods

Curcumin-NPs with particle sizes of 80 ± 2 nm were synthesized using a planetary ball-mill and chitosan-gelatin nanoparticle (CS-G-NPs) solution and then placed into chicken fingers at three concentrations, (2, 5, and 10 μg g−1). The physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity, and antibacterial capacity were evaluated.

Results and discussion

Curcumin-NPs showed high phenolic content (67.48 mg GAE g−1) and antioxidant activity (22.47 μg ml−1) at 10 μg g−1 compared to other concentrations and curcumin bulk. Curcumin-NPs showed noticeably greater antibacterial ability (in vitro) against S. aureus (18 mm), E. coli (15 mm), and B. cereus (13 mm). In challenge studies, Curcumin-NPs effectively inhibited the three inoculated pathogens ~3–4 log CFU g−1; in vivo; in chicken fingers kept for up to 27 days, compared to the control. In curcumin-NPs chicken samples, the contents of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N) compared to the control were substantially lower (27 days). TEM analysis provided an estimate of the antibacterial mechanism of Curcumin-NPs. The findings demonstrated that Curcumin-NPs at 10 μg g−1 were more successful in reducing microbial load in chicken fingers as well as improving quality parameters, enhancing shelf life, and reducing lipid oxidation in poultry meat products.
Evaluation of the efficacy of humic acids to counteract the toxic effects of aflatoxin B1 in turkey poults
Authors: Maguey-González Jesús Adonai , Nava-Ramírez María de Jesús , Gómez-Rosales Sergio , Ángeles María de Lourdes , Solís-Cruz Bruno , Hernández-Patlán Daniel , Merino-Guzmán Rubén , Hernandez-Velasco Xochitl , Hernández-Ramírez Juan Omar , Loeza Ileana , Senas-Cuesta Roberto , Latorre Juan D. , Vázquez-Durán Alma , Du Xiangwei , Méndez-Albores Abraham , Hargis Billy M. , Téllez-Isaías Guillermo
Published: October 2023

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of humic acid (HA) from worm compost as an adsorbent for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in turkey poults. The experiment involved the inclusion of 0.25% (w/w) HA in the diet of turkey poults consuming aflatoxin-contaminated feed (250 ng AFB1/g). A total of 350 1-day-old female Nicholas-700 turkey poults were randomly allocated to five equal groups: negative control (basal diet); positive control (basal diet + 250 ng AFB1/g; HA (basal diet + 0.25% HA); HA + AFB1 (basal diet + HA + 250 ng AFB1/g); and zeolite + AFB1 (basal diet + 0.25% zeolite + 250 ng AFB1/g). Each group had seven replicates of 10 poults (n = 70). The impact of HA addition was evaluated in terms of performance parameters, relative organ weights, liver histological lesions, and serum biochemical and hematological constituents. In general, the addition of HA improved body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), and feed conversion rate (FCR). Furthermore, HA effectively mitigated the toxic effects caused by AFB1 in the majority of the analyzed variables. The results indicated that HA effectively counteracted the AFB1-induced toxic effects in turkey poults. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that HA is capable of removing AFB1 from the contaminated diet.
Health and Economic Benefits of Air Pollution Reductions in Vietnam During 2020–2021
Authors: Hoang Le Tu , Duc Vu Tri , Ngoc Vo Van Duc , Truong Ngo Xuan , Thanh Nguyen Thi Nhat , Trang Phan Thi Thu , Saksena Sumeet , Nhung Nguyen Thi Trang
Published: October 2023

Objectives: This paper explores the potential reduction in the number of deaths and the corresponding economic benefits in Vietnam that could have arisen from the decreased in concentrations of particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

Methods: Using Global Exposure Mortality Models, we estimated the potential health and economic benefits on people aged 25 and above across Vietnam’s 63 provinces. The counterfactual scenario assumed reducing PM2.5 and NO2 concentrations to levels observed during the two COVID-19 epidemic waves in 2021 with national lockdowns and activity restrictions.

Results: In 2019, PM2.5 concentrations ranged from 12.8 to 40.8 μg/m3 while NO2 concentrations ranged between 2.9 and 36.98 μg/m3. The reduced levels of PM2.5 and NO2 resulted in 3,807 (95% CI: 2,845–4,730) and 2,451 (95% CI: 2,845–4,730) avoided deaths of adults aged 25 and above due to non-injury-related causes, respectively. Considering that every prevented death represents potential tangible and intangible cost savings, reduced levels of PM2.5 and NO2 concentrations during COVID-19 restrictions would have resulted in economic benefits of $793.0 million (95% CI: 592.7–985.4) and $510.6 million (95% CI: 381.3–634.9), respectively.

Conclusion: The COVID-19 lockdown led to decreased PM2.5 and NO2 concentrations, benefiting health and economy in Vietnam. Our findings highlight the potential advantages of implementing air quality control policies in the country.
Assessing the Ecological Conversion Efficiency of Chub Mackerel, Somber japonicus, in Wild Conditions Based on an In Situ Enriched Simulation Method
Authors: Sun Xin , Yu Miao , Tang Qisheng , Sun Yao
Published: October 2023

Understanding the ecological conversion efficiency of a fish species can be used to estimate the potential impact of the marine food web and accordingly provides scientific advice to ecosystem-based fishery management. However, only laboratory experiments may limit the accuracy of determining this index. In this study, food ingestion and ecological conversion efficiency of wild chub mackerel (Somber japonicus), a typical marine pelagic fish, were determined with gastric evacuation method in laboratory and in situ enriched simulation conditions. Additionally, the effect of temperature and body weight on ecological conversion efficiency was further estimated based on the 2D interpolation method. The results showed that, at 25.1 °C, the ecological conversion efficiency determined in-lab (35.31%) was significantly higher than in situ (23.85%). Moreover, the interpolation model estimated that with an increase in temperature (10–27 °C), the ecological conversion efficiency initially decreased, followed by an increase when the temperature reached 18 °C, but the ecological conversion efficiency generally decreased against the body weight at each temperature. The findings of this study enhanced the understanding of the energy budget of chub mackerel and also provided an efficient method for the determination of wild fishes that are difficult to sample in situ and domesticate in the laboratory.
Rat Grimace Scale as a Method to Evaluate Animal Welfare, Nociception, and Quality of the Euthanasia Method of Wistar Rats
Authors: Domínguez-Oliva Adriana , Olmos-Hernández Adriana , Hernández-Ávalos Ismael , Lecona-Butrón Hugo , Mora-Medina Patricia , Mota-Rojas Daniel
Published: October 2023

Refinement of experimental procedures in animal research has the objective of preventing and minimizing pain/distress in animals, including the euthanasia period. This study aimed to evaluate pain associated with six methods of euthanasia in Wistar rats (injectable, inhalational, and physical), by applying the Rat Grimace Scale (RGS), comparing the scores, and determining the method with the highest score that might indicate pain for laboratory rodents. Sixty adult male and female Wistar rats were used and assigned to six treatments: pentobarbital, CO2, decapitation, isoflurane, ketamine + xylazine, and ketamine + CO2. Video recording to assess the RGS scores was performed in four events: basal: 24 h before the procedure; Ti1: three minutes before the procedure; Ti2: during the application of the euthanasia method; and Ti3: immediately after the application until LORR. The main findings of this study showed that, during Ti2, decapitation and ketamine + xylazine had the highest scores (0.6 ± 0.26 and 0.6 ± 0.16, respectively) (p < 0.0001), while at Ti3, CO2 (0.9 ± 0.18) and isoflurane (1.2 ± 0.20) recorded the highest scores (p < 0.0001). According to the present results, decapitation and ketamine + xylazine elicited short-term acute pain, possibly due to tissue damage caused by both methods (injection and guillotine). In contrast, isoflurane’s RGS scores recorded during Ti3 might be associated with nociception/pain due to the pungency of the drug or to the pharmacological muscle relaxant effect of isoflurane. Further research is needed to establish a comprehensive study of pain during euthanasia, where RGS could be used minding the limitations that anesthetics might have on facial expression.
Monitoring Endangered and Rare Wildlife in the Field: A Foundation Deep Learning Model Integrating Human Knowledge for Incremental Recognition with Few Data and Low Cost
Authors: Mou Chao , Liang Aokang , Hu Chunying , Meng Fanyu , Han Baixun , Xu Fu
Published: October 2023

Intelligent monitoring of endangered and rare wildlife is important for biodiversity conservation. In practical monitoring, few animal data are available to train recognition algorithms. The system must, therefore, achieve high accuracy with limited resources. Simultaneously, zoologists expect the system to be able to discover unknown species to make significant discoveries. To date, none of the current algorithms have these abilities. Therefore, this paper proposed a KI-CLIP method. Firstly, by first introducing CLIP, a foundation deep learning model that has not yet been applied in animal fields, the powerful recognition capability with few training resources is exploited with an additional shallow network. Secondly, inspired by the single-image recognition abilities of zoologists, we incorporate easily accessible expert description texts to improve performance with few samples. Finally, a simple incremental learning module is designed to detect unknown species. We conducted extensive comparative experiments, ablation experiments, and case studies on 12 datasets containing real data. The results validate the effectiveness of KI-CLIP, which can be trained on multiple real scenarios in seconds, achieving in our study over 90% recognition accuracy with only 8 training samples, and over 97% with 16 training samples. In conclusion, KI-CLIP is suitable for practical animal monitoring.
Cognitive Functions in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome with Emphasis on Executive Functions and Decision-Making
Authors: Zhao Lei , Zhao Yanyan , Su Dongmei , Lv Zhi , Xie Fei , Hu Panpan , Porter Kierstin L. A. , Mazzei Isabella , Chin Jaeson D. , Wang Yongsheng , Fang Yujiang
Published: October 2023

Background: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) have cognitive dysfunction in many aspects, however, these patients’ decision-making function remains unclear. In this study, the Game of Dice Task (GDT) was used to investigate the function of decision making in patients with OSAS. Methods: 30 participants with moderate to severe OSAS and 27 participants with no or mild OSAS diagnosed by sleep breathing monitor were selected from June 2021 to March 2022. Risky decision making was tested through the GDT with known risk probability. General demographic information and background cognitive functions, such as the overall cognitive functioning and executive functioning, were tested to establish baseline data. Results: There were no significant differences in gender, age, and years of education between the two groups. During the GDT, the moderate to severe OSAS group opted for the safety option at a statistically significant lower rate when compared to the no or mild OSAS group (7.53 ± 4.43 vs. 10.26 ± 4.26, p = 0.022). The moderate to severe OSAS group utilized the higher risk option than the group with no or mild OSAS (10.47 ± 4.43 vs. 7.74 ± 4.26, p = 0.022). The utilization rate of negative feedback in the moderate and severe OSAS group was lower than that in the no or mild OSAS group (7.50, 52.50 vs. 28.57, 100.00, p = 0.001). At the end of the GDT, the moderate and severe OSAS group was more likely to have negative total assets than the patients with no or mild OSAS (−1846.67 ± 2587.20 vs. 300.00 ± 1509.97, p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis shows that there is a negative correlation between the selection of risk options and negative feedback utilization in the GDT. Conclusion: Patients with moderate and severe OSAS displayed impaired decision-making throughout the study. Impaired decision-making is related to executive processes and may be caused by diminished prefrontal cortex functioning. However, the functions of memory, attention, language, abstraction, and orientation are relatively retained.
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of Primary Motor Cortex over Multiple Days Improves Motor Learning of a Complex Overhand Throwing Task
Authors: Pantovic Milan , Albuquerque Lidio Lima de , Mastrantonio Sierra , Pomerantz Austin S. , Wilkins Erik W. , Riley Zachary A. , Guadagnoli Mark A. , Poston Brach
Published: October 2023

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied to the primary motor cortex (M1) improves motor learning in relatively simple motor tasks performed with the hand and arm. However, it is unknown if tDCS can improve motor learning in complex motor tasks involving whole-body coordination with significant endpoint accuracy requirements. The primary purpose was to determine the influence of tDCS on motor learning over multiple days in a complex over-hand throwing task. This study utilized a double-blind, randomized, SHAM-controlled, between-subjects experimental design. Forty-six young adults were allocated to either a tDCS group or a SHAM group and completed three experimental sessions on three consecutive days at the same time of day. Each experimental session was identical and consisted of overhand throwing trials to a target in a pre-test block, five practice blocks performed simultaneously with 20 min of tDCS, and a post-test block. Overhand throwing performance was quantified as the endpoint error. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to obtain motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) from the first dorsal interosseus muscle to quantify changes in M1 excitability due to tDCS. Endpoint error significantly decreased over the three days of practice in the tDCS group but not in the SHAM group. MEP amplitude significantly increased in the tDCS group, but the MEP increases were not associated with increases in motor learning. These findings indicate that tDCS applied over multiple days can improve motor learning in a complex motor tasks in healthy young adults.
Social Interaction Is Less Rewarding in Adult Female than in Male Mice
Authors: Granza Anna E. , Amaral Inês M. , Monteiro Diogo G. , Salti Ahmad , Hofer Alex , El Rawas Rana
Published: October 2023

(1) Background: Positive social relationships are essential for mental and physical health. However, not all individuals experience social interaction as a rewarding activity. (2) Methods: Social interaction reward in mice can be assessed by social conditioned place preference (CPP). The aim of this study is to investigate sex-dependent differences in the neurological underpinnings underlying social versus non-social phenotypes, using adult male and female C57BL/6J mice. (3) Results: Adult female mice expressed significantly less social reward than males from the same strain. Accordingly, pairs of male mice spent more time interacting as compared to female pairs. Subsequently, we analyzed neuropeptides previously reported to be important regulators of social behavior such as oxytocin, vasopressin, and orexin, in addition to Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (αCaMKII), shown to be involved in social reward. Levels of neuropeptides and αCaMKII were comparable between males and females in all investigated regions. Yet, a significant negative correlation was found between endogenous oxytocin expression and social reward in female pairs. (4) Conclusions: Sex differences in the prevalence of many mental health disorders might at least in part be due to sex differences in social reward. Therefore, more research is needed to unravel the candidate(s) underlying this behavioral difference.
A Comprehensive Primer on Radiation Oncology for Non-Radiation Oncologists
Authors: Beddok Arnaud , Lim Ruth , Thariat Juliette , Shih Helen A. , El Fakhri Georges
Published: October 2023

Background: Multidisciplinary management is crucial in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Multidisciplinary teams include specialists in surgery, medical therapies, and radiation therapy (RT), each playing unique roles in oncology care. One significant aspect is RT, guided by radiation oncologists (ROs). This paper serves as a detailed primer for non-oncologists, medical students, or non-clinical investigators, educating them on contemporary RT practices. Methods: This report follows the process of RT planning and execution. Starting from the decision-making in multidisciplinary teams to the completion of RT and subsequent patient follow-up, it aims to offer non-oncologists an understanding of the RO’s work in a comprehensive manner. Results: The first step in RT is a planning session that includes obtaining a CT scan of the area to be treated, known as the CT simulation. The patients are imaged in the exact position in which they will receive treatment. The second step, which is the primary source of uncertainty, involves the delineation of treatment targets and organs at risk (OAR). The objective is to ensure precise irradiation of the target volume while sparing the OARs as much as possible. Various radiation modalities, such as external beam therapy with electrons, photons, or particles (including protons and carbon ions), as well as brachytherapy, are utilized. Within these modalities, several techniques, such as three-dimensional conformal RT, intensity-modulated RT, volumetric modulated arc therapy, scattering beam proton therapy, and intensity-modulated proton therapy, are employed to achieve optimal treatment outcomes. The RT plan development is an iterative process involving medical physicists, dosimetrists, and ROs. The complexity and time required vary, ranging from an hour to a week. Once approved, RT begins, with image-guided RT being standard practice for patient alignment. The RO manages acute toxicities during treatment and prepares a summary upon completion. There is a considerable variance in practices, with some ROs offering lifelong follow-up and managing potential late effects of treatment. Conclusions: Comprehension of RT clinical effects by non-oncologists providers significantly elevates long-term patient care quality. Hence, educating non-oncologists enhances care for RT patients, underlining this report’s importance.
Inducing Mitotic Catastrophe as a Therapeutic Approach to Improve Outcomes in Ewing Sarcoma
Authors: Turaga Soumya M. , Vishwakarma Vikalp , Hembruff Stacey L. , Gibbs Benjamin K. , Sabu Priya , Puri Rajni V. , Pathak Harsh B. , Samuel Glenson , Godwin Andrew K.
Published: October 2023

Ewing sarcoma (EWS) is an aggressive pediatric malignancy of the bone and soft tissues in need of novel therapeutic options. To identify potential therapeutic targets, we focused on essential biological pathways that are upregulated by EWS-FLI1, the primary oncogenic driver of EWS, including mitotic proteins such as Aurora kinase A (AURKA) and kinesin family member 15 (KIF15) and its binding partner, targeting protein for Xklp2 (TPX2). KIF15/TPX2 cooperates with KIF11, a key mitotic kinesin essential for mitotic spindle orientation. Given the lack of clinical-grade KIF15/TPX2 inhibitors, we chose to target KIF11 (using SB-743921) in combination with AURKA (using VIC-1911) given that phosphorylation of KIF15S1169 by Aurora A is required for its targeting to the spindle. In vitro, the drug combination demonstrated strong synergy (Bliss score ≥ 10) at nanomolar doses. Colony formation assay revealed significant reduction in plating efficiency (1–3%) and increased percentage accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase with the combination treatment (45–52%) upon cell cycle analysis, indicating mitotic arrest. In vivo studies in EWS xenograft mouse models showed significant tumor reduction and overall effectiveness: drug combination vs. vehicle control (p ≤ 0.01), SB-743921 (p ≤ 0.01) and VIC-1911 (p ≤ 0.05). Kaplan–Meier curves demonstrated superior overall survival with the combination compared to vehicle or monotherapy arms (p ≤ 0.0001).
The Current Evidence of Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Jang Won Il , Jo Sunmi , Moon Ji Eun , Bae Sun Hyun , Park Hee Chul
Published: October 2023

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), an advanced RT technique, is a considerable treatment option for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the distinguishing features of IMRT for HCC have not yet been clearly defined. A systematic review was performed according to the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. The PubMed/MedLine, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and KoreaMed were used to screen eligible studies focusing on treatment outcomes after IMRT for HCC until 18 April 2023. A total of 1755 HCC patients receiving IMRT among 29 studies from 2009 to 2023 were selected for the meta-analysis. The median proportion of Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C was 100% (range: 38–100%). Nineteen studies used combined treatment. Pooled rates of response and 1-year local control were 58% (95% confidence interval [CI], 50–65%) and 84% (95% CI, 70–94%), respectively. The median overall survival (OS) was 13 months (range: 5–45 months), and pooled 1- and 3-year OS rates were 59% (95% CI, 52–66%), and 23% (95% CI, 14–33%), respectively. Pooled rates of classic radiation-induced liver disease (RILD), nonclassic RILD, and hepatic toxicity ≥ grade 3 were 2%, 4%, and 4%, respectively. Although most patients had advanced-stage HCC and combined treatment was commonly used, IMRT for HCC showed similar survival to existing RT modalities and relatively low severe toxicity.
Hsa-miR-665 Is a Promising Biomarker in Cancer Prognosis
Authors: Guan Xuefeng , Pavani Krishna Chaitanya , Chunduru Jayendra , Broeckx Bart J. G. , Van Soom Ann , Peelman Luc
Published: October 2023

Biomarkers are biomolecules used to identify or predict the presence of a specific disease or condition. They play an important role in early diagnosis and may be crucial for treatment. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a group of small non-coding RNAs, are more and more regarded as promising biomarkers for several reasons. Dysregulation of miRNAs has been linked with development of several diseases, including many different types of cancer, and abnormal levels can be present in early stages of tumor development. Because miRNAs are stable molecules secreted and freely circulating in blood and urine, they can be sampled with little or no invasion. Here, we present an overview of the current literature, focusing on the types of cancers for which dysregulation of miR-665 has been associated with disease progression, recurrence, and/or prognosis. It needs to be emphasized that the role of miR-665 sometimes seems ambiguous, in the sense that it can be upregulated in one cancer type and downregulated in another and can even change during the progression of the same cancer. Caution is thus needed before using miR-665 as a biomarker, and extrapolation between different cancer types is not advisable. Moreover, more detailed understanding of the different roles of miR-665 will help in determining its potential as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker.
Development of a Single-Neurosphere Culture to Assess Radiation Toxicity and Pre-Clinical Cancer Combination Therapy Safety
Authors: Pathak Bedika , Lange Taylor E. , Lampe Kristin , Hollander Ella , Oria Marina , Murphy Kendall P. , Salomonis Nathan , Sertorio Mathieu , Oria Marc
Published: October 2023

Radiation therapy (RT) is a crucial treatment modality for central nervous system (CNS) tumors but toxicity to healthy CNS tissues remains a challenge. Additionally, environmental exposure to radiation during nuclear catastrophes or space travel presents a risk of CNS toxicity. However, the underlying mechanisms of radiation-induced CNS toxicity are not fully understood. Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) are highly radiosensitive, resulting in decreased neurogenesis in the hippocampus. This study aimed to characterize a novel platform utilizing rat NPCs cultured as 3D neurospheres (NSps) to screen the safety and efficacy of experimental drugs with and without radiation exposure. The effect of radiation on NSp growth and differentiation was assessed by measuring sphere volume and the expression of neuronal differentiation markers Nestin and GFAP and proliferation marker Ki67. Radiation exposure inhibited NSp growth, decreased proliferation, and increased GFAP expression, indicating astrocytic differentiation. RNA sequencing analysis supported these findings, showing upregulation of Notch, BMP2/4, S100b, and GFAP gene expression during astrogenesis. By recapitulating radiation-induced toxicity and astrocytic differentiation, this single-NSp culture system provides a high-throughput preclinical model for assessing the effects of various radiation modalities and evaluates the safety and efficacy of potential therapeutic interventions in combination with radiation.
Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors in MEN1 Patients: Difference in Post-Operative Complications and Tumor Progression between Major and Minimal Pancreatic Surgeries
Authors: Tonelli Francesco , Marini Francesca , Giusti Francesca , Iantomasi Teresa , Giudici Francesco , Brandi Maria Luisa
Published: October 2023

Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PNENs) affect over 80% of patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1). Surgery is usually the therapy of choice, but the real immediate and long-term therapeutic benefit of a partial extensive pancreatic resection remains controversial. We analyzed, in 43 PNEN MEN1 patients who underwent 19 pancreaticoduodenectomies (PD), 19 distal pancreatectomies (DP), and 5 minimal pancreatectomies, the prevalence of surgery-derived early complications and post-operative pancreatic sequelae, and the PNEN relapse-free survival time after surgery, comparing major (PD+DP) and minimal pancreatic surgeries. No post-operative mortality was observed. Metastatic cancers were found in 12 cases, prevalently from duodenal gastrinoma. Long-term cure of endocrine syndromes, by the 38 major pancreatic resections, was obtained in 78.9% of gastrinomas and 92.9% of insulinomas. In only one patient, hepatic metastases, due to gastrinoma, progressed to death. Out of the 38 major surgeries, only one patient was reoperated for the growth of a new PNEN in the remnant pancreas. No functioning PNEN persistence was reported in the five minimal pancreatic surgeries, PNEN relapse occurred in 60% of patients, and 40% of cases needed further pancreatic resection for tumor recurrence. No significant difference in PNEN relapse-free survival time after surgery was found between major and minimal pancreatic surgeries.
Role of Oxidative Stress in Metabolic Reprogramming of Brain Cancer
Authors: Agrawal Kirti , Asthana Shailendra , Kumar Dhruv
Published: October 2023

Brain cancer is known as one of the deadliest cancers globally. One of the causative factors is the imbalance between oxidative and antioxidant activities in the body, which is referred to as oxidative stress (OS). As part of regular metabolism, oxygen is reduced by electrons, resulting in the creation of numerous reactive oxygen species (ROS). Inflammation is intricately associated with the generation of OS, leading to the increased production and accumulation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). Glioma stands out as one of the most common malignant tumors affecting the central nervous system (CNS), characterized by changes in the redox balance. Brain cancer cells exhibit inherent resistance to most conventional treatments, primarily due to the distinctive tumor microenvironment. Oxidative stress (OS) plays a crucial role in the development of various brain-related malignancies, such as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and medulloblastoma, where OS significantly disrupts the normal homeostasis of the brain. In this review, we provide in-depth descriptions of prospective targets and therapeutics, along with an assessment of OS and its impact on brain cancer metabolism. We also discuss targeted therapies.
The Significant Impacts of Interleukin-8 Genotypes on the Risk of Colorectal Cancer in Taiwan
Authors: Tsai Chia-Wen , Chang Wen-Shin , Yueh Te-Cheng , Wang Yun-Chi , Chin Yu-Ting , Yang Mei-Due , Hung Yi-Chih , Mong Mei-Chin , Yang Ya-Chen , Gu Jian , Bau Da-Tian
Published: October 2023

Interleukin-8 (IL-8), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, is upregulated in CRC and plays an important role in its development and progression. Genetic variants in the IL-8 gene may impact the risk of CRC by modulating IL-8 levels. Our primary objective was to investigate the role of IL-8 genotypes in the development of CRC. To accomplish this, we employed the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method to analyze the genotypes of IL-8 rs4017, rs2227306, rs2227543, and rs1126647 in 362 CRC patients and 362 controls. Additionally, we evaluated the interactions between these genotypes and factors such as age, gender, smoking, alcohol consumption, and body mass index (BMI) status in relation to the risk of CRC. Furthermore, we utilized quantitative reverse transcription-PCR to measure the serum IL-8. The results demonstrated a significant difference in the distribution of rs4017 genotypes between the control and case groups (p for trend = 0.0059). Logistic regression analysis revealed that individuals with variant AA genotype had a 1.92-fold higher CRC risk (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.28–2.89, p = 0.0023). Moreover, carriers of the IL-8 rs4017 AT + AA genotypes exhibited a significant association with CRC risk (odds ratio [OR] = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.02–1.91, p = 0.0460). Additionally, individuals with IL-8 rs4017 AA genotype displayed significantly elevated serum IL-8 compared to those with TT genotype at a 1.73–fold level (p < 0.0001), indicating a correlation between genotype and phenotype. In conclusion, the genotypes of IL-8 rs4017, along with their associated expression levels, can potentially serve as predictive markers for the risk of CRC.
The Nervous System Development Regulator Neuropilin-1 as a Potential Prognostic Marker and Therapeutic Target in Brain Cancer
Authors: Rodrigues Eduardo Mello , Giovanini Allan Fernando , Ribas Carmen Australia Paredes Marcondes , Malafaia Osvaldo , Roesler Rafael , Isolan Gustavo R.
Published: October 2023

Neuropilins are transmembrane glycoproteins that regulate developmental processes in the nervous system and other tissues. Overexpression of neuropilin-1 (NRP1) occurs in many solid tumor types and, in several instances, may predict patient outcome in terms of overall survival. Experimental inhibition of NRP1 activity can display antitumor effects in different cancer models. Here, we review NRP1 expression and function in adult and pediatric brain cancers, particularly glioblastomas (GBMs) and medulloblastomas, and present analyses of NRP1 transcript levels and their association with patient survival in GBMs. The case of NRP1 highlights the potential of regulators of neurodevelopment as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in brain cancer.
Combined Biomarker System Predicts Prognosis in Patients with Metastatic Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Khromov Tatjana , Fischer Lucas , Leha Andreas , Bremmer Felix , Fischer Andreas , Schliephake Henning , Rahat Michal Amit , Brockmeyer Phillipp
Published: October 2023

Background: Metastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is associated with poor patient prognosis. Metastasis is a complex process involving various proteins, tumor cell alterations, including changes attributable to the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, and interactions with the tumor microenvironment (TME). In this study, we investigate a combined protein marker system consisting of connexin 43 (Cx43), EMMPRIN (CD147), E-cadherin, and vimentin, with a focus on their roles in the invasive metastatic progression of OSCC and their potential utility in predicting prognosis. Methods: We conducted an immunohistochemical analysis to assess the protein expression profiles of Cx43, EMMPRIN, E-cadherin, and vimentin using tissue samples obtained from 24 OSCC patients. The metastatic process was mapped through different regions of interest (ROIs), including adjacent healthy oral mucosa (OM), center of primary OSCC, invasive front (IF), and local cervical lymph node metastases (LNM). The primary clinical endpoints were disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: Substantial changes in the expression profiles of the different marker proteins were observed among the different ROIs, with all p-values < 0.05, signifying statistical significance. Multivariable Cox regression analysis results showed a significant effect of increased EMMPRIN expression toward the IF on DFS (p = 0.019) and OS (p = 0.023). Furthermore, the combined predictive analysis showed a significant predictive value of the marker system for DFS (p = 0.0017) and OS (p = 0.00044). Conclusions: The combined marker system exhibited a significant ability to predict patient prognosis. An increase in EMMPRIN expression toward the IF showed the strongest effect and could be an interesting new antimetastatic therapy approach.
The Role of Oxytocin in Alzheimer’s Disease and Its Relationship with Social Interaction
Authors: Takahashi Junpei , Yamada Daisuke , Nagano Wakana , Saitoh Akiyoshi
Published: October 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD)—the most common cause of dementia in the elderly—is characterized by progressive memory loss and β-amyloid protein (Aβ) accumulation in the brain. Recently, loneliness was found to be a high risk factor for AD, and social isolation has become a major cause of AD. AD. Oxytocin (OXT), the main hormone involved in social bonding, has been implicated in social interactions, notably in building trust and relationships. Moreover, social isolation or social enrichment modulates the activation of neurons related to OXT. Recently, we reported that OXT reverses learning and memory impairment in AD animal models. Based on the limited number of studies currently available, OXT might be a therapeutic target for AD. Further studies are necessary in order to better understand the role of oxytocin in AD. In this review, we described the relationships between OXT, AD, and social interaction.
Graph Clustering with High-Order Contrastive Learning
Authors: Li Wang , Zhu En , Wang Siwei , Guo Xifeng
Published: October 2023

Graph clustering is a fundamental and challenging task in unsupervised learning. It has achieved great progress due to contrastive learning. However, we find that there are two problems that need to be addressed: (1) The augmentations in most graph contrastive clustering methods are manual, which can result in semantic drift. (2) Contrastive learning is usually implemented on the feature level, ignoring the structure level, which can lead to sub-optimal performance. In this work, we propose a method termed Graph Clustering with High-Order Contrastive Learning (GCHCL) to solve these problems. First, we construct two views by Laplacian smoothing raw features with different normalizations and design a structure alignment loss to force these two views to be mapped into the same space. Second, we build a contrastive similarity matrix with two structure-based similarity matrices and force it to align with an identity matrix. In this way, our designed contrastive learning encompasses a larger neighborhood, enabling our model to learn clustering-friendly embeddings without the need for an extra clustering module. In addition, our model can be trained on a large dataset. Extensive experiments on five datasets validate the effectiveness of our model. For example, compared to the second-best baselines on four small and medium datasets, our model achieved an average improvement of 3% in accuracy. For the largest dataset, our model achieved an accuracy score of 81.92%, whereas the compared baselines encountered out-of-memory issues.
Combining Remote Sensing and a Geographic Information System to Map and Assess the Accessibility of Invasive Alien Species Forest Stands: Case of Acacia mearnsii on Reunion Island
Authors: Bley Dalouman Hélène , Broust François , Tran Annelise
Published: October 2023

Acacia mearnsii, an invasive alien species, is the main resource identified for the energy transition initiated on Reunion Island. It is, therefore, critical to identify the existent forest stands within the island’s large tropical forest area and to determine which of these stands are accessible for logging operations. In this study, a very high-spatial-resolution image was used to map forest (Acacia mearnsii, Acacia heterophylla, Cryptomeria japonica) and non-forest land cover. To identify the accessible forest stands, we developed a geographic information system (GIS) processing chain, accounting for barriers, the distribution of slopes, and the location of forest roads. User-defined parameters, such as the slope threshold and maximal distance to forest roads, allow different scenarios to be explored. The classification yields an overall accuracy of 88% and a Kappa index of 0.86 and highlights the areas occupied by the different types of Acacia. By applying the GIS processing chain for a standard scenario, the results show that only 19% of the initial study area of 637 ha of Acacia mearnsii patches is suitable for exploitation. In conclusion, our results demonstrate how remote sensing (RS) and GIS can be combined to provide valuable tools for forest managers to design management plans for invasive alien forest species.