bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Value of Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio as a Prognostic Marker in Cholangiocarcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Liu Dong , Czigany Zoltan , Heij Lara R. , Bouwense Stefan A. W. , van Dam Ronald , Lang Sven A. , Ulmer Tom F. , Neumann Ulf P. , Bednarsch Jan
Published: January 2022

The platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), an inflammatory parameter, has shown prognostic value in several malignancies. The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the impact of pretreatment PLR on the oncological outcome in patients with cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). A systematic literature search has been carried out in the PubMed and Google Scholar databases for pertinent papers published between January 2000 and August 2021. Within a random-effects model, the pooled hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to investigate the relationships among the PLR, overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS). Subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias were also conducted to further evaluate the relationship. A total of 20 articles comprising 5429 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, the pooled outcomes revealed that a high PLR before treatment is associated with impaired OS (HR = 1.14; 95% CI = 1.06–1.24; p < 0.01) and DFS (HR = 1.57; 95% CI = 1.19–2.07; p < 0.01). Subgroup analysis revealed that this association is not influenced by the treatment modality (surgical vs. non-surgical), PLR cut-off values, or sample size of the included studies. An elevated pretreatment PLR is prognostic for the OS and DFS of CCA patients. More high-quality studies are required to investigate the pathophysiological basis of the observation and the prognostic value of the PLR in clinical management as well as for patient selection.
A Signature of 14 Long Non-Coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as a Step towards Precision Diagnosis for NSCLC
Authors: Sulewska Anetta , Niklinski Jacek , Charkiewicz Radoslaw , Karabowicz Piotr , Biecek Przemyslaw , Baniecki Hubert , Kowalczuk Oksana , Kozlowski Miroslaw , Modzelewska Patrycja , Majewski Piotr , Tryniszewska Elzbieta , Reszec Joanna , Dzieciol-Anikiej Zofia , Piwkowski Cezary , Gryczka Robert , Ramlau Rodryg
Published: January 2022

LncRNAs have arisen as new players in the world of non-coding RNA. Disrupted expression of these molecules can be tightly linked to the onset, promotion and progression of cancer. The present study estimated the usefulness of 14 lncRNAs (HAGLR, ADAMTS9-AS2, LINC00261, MCM3AP-AS1, TP53TG1, C14orf132, LINC00968, LINC00312, TP73-AS1, LOC344887, LINC00673, SOX2-OT, AFAP1-AS1, LOC730101) for early detection of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The total RNA was isolated from paired fresh-frozen cancerous and noncancerous lung tissue from 92 NSCLC patients diagnosed with either adenocarcinoma (LUAD) or lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). The expression level of lncRNAs was evaluated by a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Based on Ct and delta Ct values, logistic regression and gradient boosting decision tree classifiers were built. The latter is a novel, advanced machine learning algorithm with great potential in medical science. The established predictive models showed that a set of 14 lncRNAs accurately discriminates cancerous from noncancerous lung tissues (AUC value of 0.98 ± 0.01) and NSCLC subtypes (AUC value of 0.84 ± 0.09), although the expression of a few molecules was statistically insignificant (SOX2-OT, AFAP1-AS1 and LOC730101 for tumor vs. normal tissue; and TP53TG1, C14orf132, LINC00968 and LOC730101 for LUAD vs. LUSC). However for subtypes discrimination, the simplified logistic regression model based on the four variables (delta Ct AFAP1-AS1, Ct SOX2-OT, Ct LINC00261, and delta Ct LINC00673) had even stronger diagnostic potential than the original one (AUC value of 0.88 ± 0.07). Our results demonstrate that the 14 lncRNA signature can be an auxiliary tool to endorse and complement the histological diagnosis of non-small-cell lung cancer.
Efficacy and Safety of Immunotherapy for Cervical Cancer—A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials
Authors: Schmidt Mona W. , Battista Marco J. , Schmidt Marcus , Garcia Monique , Siepmann Timo , Hasenburg Annette , Anic Katharina
Published: January 2022

Purpose: To systematically review the current body of evidence on the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy for cervical cancer (CC). Material and Methods: Medline, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Web of Science were searched for prospective trials assessing immunotherapy in CC patients in compliance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Full-text articles in English and German reporting outcomes of survival, response rates or safety were eligible. Results: Of 4655 screened studies, 51 were included (immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) n=20; therapeutic vaccines n = 25; adoptive cell transfer therapy n=9). Of these, one qualified as a phase III randomized controlled trial and demonstrated increased overall survival following treatment with pembrolizumab, chemotherapy and bevacizumab. A minority of studies included a control group (n = 7) or more than 50 patients (n = 15). Overall, response rates were low to moderate. No response to ICIs was seen in PD-L1 negative patients. However, few remarkable results were achieved in heavily pretreated patients. There were no safety concerns in any of the included studies. Conclusion: Strong evidence on the efficacy of strategies to treat recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer is currently limited to pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy and bevacizumab, which substantiates an urgent need for large confirmatory trials on alternative immunotherapies. Overall, there is sound evidence on the safety of immunotherapy in CC.
Clinical Significance of the Duality of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Aoki Tomoko , Nishida Naoshi , Kudo Masatoshi
Published: January 2022

Combination therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors has been approved as a first-line treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), indicating a critical role of ICIs in the treatment of HCC. However, 20% of patients do not respond effectively to ICIs; mutations in the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway are known to contribute to primary resistance to ICIs. From this point of view, non-invasive detection of Wnt/β-catenin activation should be informative for the management of advanced HCC. Wnt/β-catenin mutations in HCC have a dual aspect, which results in two distinct tumor phenotypes. HCC with minimal vascular invasion, metastasis, and good prognosis is named the “Jekyll phenotype”, while the poorly differentiated HCC subset with frequent vascular invasion and metastasis, cancer stem cell features, and high serum Alpha fetoprotein levels, is named the “Hyde phenotype”. To differentiate these two HCC phenotypes, a combination of the hepatobiliary phase of gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-PET/CT may be useful. The former is applicable for the detection of the Jekyll phenotype, as nodules present higher enhancement on the hepatobiliary phase, while the latter is likely to be informative for the detection of the Hyde phenotype by showing an increased glucose uptake.
Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT) Lymphoma in the Gastrointestinal Tract in the Modern Era
Authors: Ishikawa Eri , Nakamura Masanao , Satou Akira , Shimada Kazuyuki , Nakamura Shotaro
Published: January 2022

Extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) typically arises from sites such as the stomach, where there is no organized lymphoid tissue. Close associations between Helicobacter pylori and gastric MALT lymphoma or Campylobacter jejuni and immunoproliferative small intestinal disease (IPSID) have been established. A subset of tumors is associated with chromosomal rearrangement and/or genetic alterations. This disease often presents as localized disease, requiring diverse treatment approaches, from antibiotic therapy to radiotherapy and immunochemotherapy. Eradication therapy for H. pylori effectively cures gastric MALT lymphoma in most patients. However, treatment strategies for H. pylori-negative gastric MALT lymphoma are still challenging. In addition, the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy has been controversial in intestinal MALT lymphoma, except for IPSID. Endoscopic treatment has been noted to usually achieve complete remission in endoscopically resectable colorectal MALT lymphoma with localized disease. MALT lymphoma has been excluded from post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders with the exception of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-positive marginal zone lymphoma (MZL). We also describe the expanding spectrum of EBV-negative MZL and a close association of the disease with the gastrointestinal tract.
Novel Risk Classification Based on Pyroptosis-Related Genes Defines Immune Microenvironment and Pharmaceutical Landscape for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Wang Jianye , Wang Ying , Steffani Marcella , Stöß Christian , Ankerst Donna , Friess Helmut , Hüser Norbert , Hartmann Daniel
Published: January 2022

Growing evidence has indicated that pyroptosis functions in the development of cancer. Nonetheless, specific roles of pyroptosis-related genes in tumor progression, immune response, prognosis, and immunotherapy have not been thoroughly elucidated. After a comprehensive evaluation of pyroptosis genes, unsupervised clustering was performed to generate three distinct clusters from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) samples. Three distinct pyroptosis-related molecular subtypes comprising three gene clusters that had differential prognostic effects on patient survival were then identified. Immune characteristics analyses revealed diversified immune cell infiltration among the subtypes. Two clusters served as immune-hot phenotypes associated with significantly poorer survival compared to a remaining third immune-cold cluster. Among these, the immune-hot clusters were characterized by abundant adaptive immune cell infiltration, active CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, high total leukocyte counts and tumor growth status, and lower Th17 cell and M2 macrophage densities. Then, risk scores indicated that low-risk patients were more sensitive to anti-tumor therapy. Subsequently, we found a significant correlation between pyroptosis and prognosis in HCC and that pyroptosis genes drive the heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment. The risk scoring system, based on pyroptosis-related differentially expressed genes, was established to evaluate the individual outcomes and contribute to new insights into the molecular characterization of pyroptosis-related subtypes.
Deciphering Biomarkers for Leptomeningeal Metastasis in Malignant Hemopathies (Lymphoma/Leukemia) Patients by Comprehensive Multipronged Proteomics Characterization of Cerebrospinal Fluid
Authors: Juanes-Velasco Pablo , Galicia Norma , Pin Elisa , Jara-Acevedo Ricardo , Carabias-Sánchez Javier , García-Valiente Rodrigo , Lecrevisse Quentin , Pedreira Carlos Eduardo , Gongora Rafael , Sanchez-Santos Jose Manuel , Lorenzo-Gil Héctor , Landeira-Viñuela Alicia , Bareke Halin , Orfao Alberto , Nilsson Peter , Fuentes Manuel
Published: January 2022

In the present work, leptomeningeal disease, a very destructive form of systemic cancer, was characterized from several proteomics points of view. This pathology involves the invasion of the leptomeninges by malignant tumor cells. The tumor spreads to the central nervous system through the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and has a very grim prognosis; the average life expectancy of patients who suffer it does not exceed 3 months. The early diagnosis of leptomeningeal disease is a challenge because, in most of the cases, it is an asymptomatic pathology. When the symptoms are clear, the disease is already in the very advanced stages and life expectancy is low. Consequently, there is a pressing need to determine useful CSF proteins to help in the diagnosis and/or prognosis of this disease. For this purpose, a systematic and exhaustive proteomics characterization of CSF by multipronged proteomics approaches was performed to determine different protein profiles as potential biomarkers. Proteins such as PTPRC, SERPINC1, sCD44, sCD14, ANPEP, SPP1, FCGR1A, C9, sCD19, and sCD34, among others, and their functional analysis, reveals that most of them are linked to the pathology and are not detected on normal CSF. Finally, a panel of biomarkers was verified by a prediction model for leptomeningeal disease, showing new insights into the research for potential biomarkers that are easy to translate into the clinic for the diagnosis of this devastating disease.
Autophagy Targeting and Hematological Mobilization in FLT3-ITD Acute Myeloid Leukemia Decrease Repopulating Capacity and Relapse by Inducing Apoptosis of Committed Leukemic Cells
Authors: Dupont Marine , Huart Mathilde , Lauvinerie Claire , Bidet Audrey , Guitart Amélie Valérie , Villacreces Arnaud , Vigon Isabelle , Desplat Vanessa , El Habhab Ali , Pigneux Arnaud , Ivanovic Zoran , Brunet De la Grange Philippe , Dumas Pierre-Yves , Pasquet Jean-Max
Published: January 2022

Targeting FLT3-ITD in AML using TKI against FLT3 cannot prevent relapse even in the presence of complete remission, suggesting the resistance and/or the persistence of leukemic-initiating cells in the hematopoietic niche. By mimicking the hematopoietic niche condition with cultures at low oxygen concentrations, we demonstrate in vitro that FLT3-ITD AML cells decrease their repopulating capacity when Vps34 is inhibited. Ex vivo, AML FLT3-ITD blasts treated with Vps34 inhibitors recovered proliferation more slowly due to an increase an apoptosis. In vivo, mice engrafted with FLT3-ITD AML MV4-11 cells have the invasion of the bone marrow and blood in 2 weeks. After 4 weeks of FLT3 TKI treatment with gilteritinib, the leukemic burden had strongly decreased and deep remission was observed. When treatment was discontinued, mice relapsed rapidly. In contrast, Vps34 inhibition strongly decreased the relapse rate, and even more so in association with mobilization by G-CSF and AMD3100. These results demonstrate that remission offers the therapeutic window for a regimen using Vps34 inhibition combined with mobilization to target persistent leukemic stem cells and thus decrease the relapse rate.
CD26/DPP4 as a Therapeutic Target in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Nishina Sohji , Hino Keisuke
Published: January 2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is generally considered an “immune-cold” cancer since T cells are not observed abundantly in HCC tumor tissue. Combination therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors is currently recognized as a first-line systemic treatment for advanced-stage HCC. Immunologically, immune checkpoint inhibitors influence the recognition of cancer cells by T cells, and VEGF inhibitors influence the infiltration of T cells into tumors. However, no drugs that facilitate the trafficking of T cells toward tumors have been developed. Chemokines are promising agents that activate T cell trafficking. On the other hand, metabolic factors such as obesity and insulin resistance are considered risk factors for HCC development. CD26/dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) functions as a serine protease, selectively cleaving polypeptides with a proline or alanine at the penultimate N-terminal position, such as chemokines. Recently, CD26/DPP4 has been reported to attenuate anticancer immunity via chemokine cleavage and to promote insulin resistance and inflammation in the liver and/or adipose tissue via dysregulation of macrophage M1/M2 polarization. In this review, we discuss the promotive roles of CD26/DPP4 in HCC development and progression and the potential of DPP4 inhibitors as therapeutic agents for HCC.
Biglycan Promotes Cancer Stem Cell Properties, NFκB Signaling and Metastatic Potential in Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Manupati Kanakaraju , Paul Ritama , Hao Mingang , Haas Michael , Bian Zhaoqun Christine , Holm Tammy M. , Guan Jun-Lin , Yeo Syn Kok
Published: January 2022

It is a major challenge to treat metastasis due to the presence of heterogenous BCSCs. Therefore, it is important to identify new molecular targets and their underlying molecular mechanisms in various BCSCs to improve treatment of breast cancer metastasis. Here, we performed RNA sequencing on two distinct co-existing BCSC populations, ALDH+ and CD29hi CD61+ from PyMT mammary tumor cells and detected upregulation of biglycan (BGN) in these BCSCs. Genetic depletion of BGN reduced BCSC proportions and tumorsphere formation. Furthermore, BCSC associated aggressive traits such as migration and invasion were significantly reduced by depletion of BGN. Glycolytic and mitochondrial metabolic assays also revealed that BCSCs exhibited decreased metabolism upon loss of BGN. BCSCs showed decreased activation of the NFκB transcription factor, p65, and phospho-IκB levels upon BGN ablation, indicating regulation of NFκB pathway by BGN. To further support our data, we also characterized CD24−/CD44+ BCSCs from human luminal MCF-7 breast cancer cells. These CD24−/CD44+ BCSCs similarly exhibited reduced tumorigenic phenotypes, metabolism and attenuation of NFκB pathway after knockdown of BGN. Finally, loss of BGN in ALDH+ and CD29hi CD61+ BCSCs showed decreased metastatic potential, suggesting BGN serves as an important therapeutic target in BCSCs for treating metastasis of breast cancer.
Bimetallic Co-Rh Systems as a Prospective Base for Design of CH4 Reforming Catalysts to Produce Syngas with a Controllable Composition
Authors: Itkulova Sholpan S. , Valishevskiy Kirill A. , Boleubayev Yerzhan A.
Published: January 2022

Dry and bireforming (CO2-H2O) of methane are the most environmentally friendly routes involving two main greenhouse gases to produce syngas—an important building block for large-scale production of various commodity chemicals. The main drawback preventing their industrial application is the coke formation. Developing catalysts that do not favour or are resistant to coke formation is the only way to improve the catalyst stability. Designing an economically viable catalyst may be achieved by exploiting the synergic effects of combining noble (expensive but coke-resistant) and non-noble (cheap but prone to carbonisation) metals to form highly effective catalysts. This work deals with development of highly active and stable bimetallic Co-containing catalysts modified with small amount of Rh, 0.1–0.5 mass %. The catalysts were characterised by BET, XRD, TEM, SEM, XPS, and TPR-H2 methods and tested in dry, bi-, and for comparison in steam reforming of methane. It was revealed that the bimetallic Co-Rh systems is much more effective than monometallic ones due to Co-Rh interaction accompanied with increasing dispersion and reducibility of Co. The extents of CH4 and CO2 conversion over the 5%Co-Rh/Al2O3 are varied within 85–99%. Syngas with variable H2/CO = 0.9–3.9 was formed. No loss of activity was observed for 100 h of long-term stability test.
Changes in the Mitochondria-Related Nuclear Gene Expression Profile during Human Oocyte Maturation by the IVM Technique
Authors: Yang Zhi-Yong , Ye Min , Xing Ya-Xin , Xie Qi-Gui , Zhou Jian-Hong , Qi Xin-Rui , Kee Kehkooi , Chian Ri-Cheng
Published: January 2022

To address which mitochondria-related nuclear differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and related pathways are altered during human oocyte maturation, single-cell analysis was performed in three oocyte states: in vivo matured (M-IVO), in vitro matured (M-IVT), and failed to mature in vitro (IM-IVT). There were 691 DEGs and 16 mitochondria-related DEGs in the comparison of M-IVT vs. IM-IVT oocytes, and 2281 DEGs and 160 mitochondria-related DEGs in the comparison of M-IVT vs. M-IVO oocytes, respectively. The GO and KEGG analyses showed that most of them were involved in pathways such as oxidative phosphorylation, pyruvate metabolism, peroxisome, and amino acid metabolism, i.e., valine, leucine, isoleucine, glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism or degradation. During the progress of oocyte maturation, the metabolic pathway, which derives the main source of ATP, shifted from glucose metabolism to pyruvate and fatty acid oxidation in order to maintain a low level of damaging reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Although the immature oocytes could be cultured to a mature stage by an in vitro technique (IVM), there were still some differences in mitochondria-related regulations, which showed that the mitochondria were regulated by nuclear genes to compensate for their developmental needs. Meanwhile, the results indicated that the current IVM culture medium should be optimized to compensate for the special need for further development according to this disclosure, as it was a latent strategy to improve the effectiveness of the IVM procedure.
Sacsin Deletion Induces Aggregation of Glial Intermediate Filaments
Authors: Murtinheira Fernanda , Migueis Mafalda , Letra-Vilela Ricardo , Diallo Mickael , Quezada Andrea , Valente Cláudia A. , Oliva Abel , Rodriguez Carmen , Martin Vanesa , Herrera Federico
Published: January 2022

Autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS) is a neurodegenerative disorder commonly diagnosed in infants and characterized by progressive cerebellar ataxia, spasticity, motor sensory neuropathy and axonal demyelination. ARSACS is caused by mutations in the SACS gene that lead to truncated or defective forms of the 520 kDa multidomain protein, sacsin. Sacsin function is exclusively studied on neuronal cells, where it regulates mitochondrial network organization and facilitates the normal polymerization of neuronal intermediate filaments (i.e., neurofilaments and vimentin). Here, we show that sacsin is also highly expressed in astrocytes, C6 rat glioma cells and N9 mouse microglia. Sacsin knockout in C6 cells (C6Sacs−/−) induced the accumulation of the glial intermediate filaments glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), nestin and vimentin in the juxtanuclear area, and a concomitant depletion of mitochondria. C6Sacs−/− cells showed impaired responses to oxidative challenges (Rotenone) and inflammatory stimuli (Interleukin-6). GFAP aggregation is also associated with other neurodegenerative conditions diagnosed in infants, such as Alexander disease or Giant Axonal Neuropathy. Our results, and the similarities between these disorders, reinforce the possible connection between ARSACS and intermediate filament-associated diseases and point to a potential role of glia in ARSACS pathology.
Functions of CNKSR2 and Its Association with Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Authors: Ito Hidenori , Nagata Koh-ichi
Published: January 2022

The Connector Enhancer of Kinase Suppressor of Ras-2 (CNKSR2), also known as CNK2 or MAGUIN, is a scaffolding molecule that contains functional protein binding domains: Sterile Alpha Motif (SAM) domain, Conserved Region in CNK (CRIC) domain, PSD-95/Dlg-A/ZO-1 (PDZ) domain, Pleckstrin Homology (PH) domain, and C-terminal PDZ binding motif. CNKSR2 interacts with different molecules, including RAF1, ARHGAP39, and CYTH2, and regulates the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) cascade and small GTPase signaling. CNKSR2 has been reported to control the development of dendrite and dendritic spines in primary neurons. CNKSR2 is encoded by the CNKSR2 gene located in the X chromosome. CNKSR2 is now considered as a causative gene of the Houge type of X-linked syndromic mental retardation (MRXHG), an X-linked Intellectual Disability (XLID) that exhibits delayed development, intellectual disability, early-onset seizures, language delay, attention deficit, and hyperactivity. In this review, we summarized molecular features, neuronal function, and neurodevelopmental disorder-related variations of CNKSR2.
Emerging Links between Microbiome Composition and Skin Immunology in Diaper Dermatitis: A Narrative Review
Authors: Hertiš Petek Tjaša , Petek Maya , Petek Tadej , Marčun Varda Nataša
Published: January 2022

Diaper dermatitis is a common type of irritant contact dermatitis occurring in infants and toddlers. Its occurrence is triggered by an unfavorable environment under the diaper, damage to skin integrity by fecal enzyme degradation, overhydration and disruption of the lipid bilayer structure facilitating the entry of irritants and microorganisms. In diaper dermatitis development, the central proinflammatory cytokines are IL-1α, IL-8 and TNF-α. The initial release of IL-1α and TNF-α starts a further cascade of pro-inflammatory chemo- and cytokines, resulting in inflammation and erythema of the skin. A recently recognized factor in diaper dermatitis is the composition of the skin microbiome; common pathogenic strains Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus are associated with skin irritation. The resulting impaired microbiome composition produces a local inflammatory response and may thus worsen the initial dermatitis clinical presentation and subsequent healing. Introduction of probiotics is an attractive treatment for microbiome modulation, which has shown success in other skin conditions in adults and children. Probiotics are thought to work as a protective shield against irritants, maintain low skin pH, secrete beneficial metabolites, and block pathogen invasion. There is preliminary evidence that certain probiotics given orally or topically could be used as a gentle intervention in diaper dermatitis.
Validation of a Quantification Method for Curcumin Derivatives and Their Hepatoprotective Effects on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Lee Young-Seob , Oh Seon Min , Li Qian-Qian , Kim Kwan-Woo , Yoon Dahye , Lee Min-Ho , Kwon Dong-Yeul , Kang Ok-Hwa , Lee Dae Young
Published: January 2022

Curcumin (CM), demethoxycurcumin (DMC), and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) are major curcumin derivatives found in the rhizome of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), and have yielded impressive properties to halt various diseases. In the present study, we carried out a method validation for curcumin derivatives and analyzed the contents simultaneously using HPLC with UV detection. For validation, HPLC was used to estimate linearity, range, specificity, accuracy, precision, limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantification (LOQ). Results showed a high linearity of the calibration curve, with a coefficient of correlation (R2) for CM, DMC, and BDMC of 0.9999, 0.9999, and 0.9997, respectively. The LOD values for CM, DMC, and BDMC were 1.16, 1.03, and 2.53 ng/μL and LOQ values were 3.50, 3.11, and 7.67 ng/μL, respectively. Moreover, to evaluate the ability of curcumin derivatives to reduce liver lipogenesis and compare curcumin derivatives’ therapeutic effects, a HepG2 cell model was established to analyze their hepatoprotective properties. Regarding the in vivo study, we investigated the effect of DMC, CM, and BDMC on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) caused by a methionine choline deficient (MCD)-diet in the C57BL/6J mice model. From the in vitro and in vivo results, curcumin derivatives alleviated MCD-diet-induced lipid accumulation as well as high triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels, and the protein and gene expression of the transcription factors related to liver adipogenesis were suppressed. Furthermore, in MCD-diet mice, curcumin derivatives suppressed the upregulation of toll-like receptors (TLRs) and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, our findings indicated that all of the three curcuminoids exerted a hepatoprotective effect in the HepG2 cell model and the MCD-diet-induced NAFLD model, suggesting a potential for curcuminoids derived from turmeric as novel therapeutic agents for NAFLD.
Cumulative Impact of Micropolar Fluid and Porosity on MHD Channel Flow: A Numerical Study
Authors: Nisar Kottakkaran Sooppy , Faridi Aftab Ahmed , Ahmad Sohail , Khan Nargis , Ali Kashif , Jamshed Wasim , Abdel-Aty Abdel-Haleem , Yahia I. S.
Published: January 2022

The mass and heat transfer magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flows have a substantial use in heat exchangers, electromagnetic casting, X-rays, the cooling of nuclear reactors, mass transportation, magnetic drug treatment, energy systems, fiber coating, etc. The present work numerically explores the mass and heat transportation flow of MHD micropolar fluid with the consideration of a chemical reaction. The flow is taken between the walls of a permeable channel. The quasi-linearization technique is utilized to solve the complex dynamical coupled and nonlinear differential equations. The consequences of the preeminent parameters are portrayed via graphs and tables. A tabular and graphical comparison evidently reveals a correlation of our results with the existing ones. A strong deceleration is found in the concentration due to the effect of a chemical reaction. Furthermore, the impact of the magnetic field force is to devaluate the mass and heat transfer rates not only at the lower but at the upper channel walls, likewise.
Silica-Supported Assemblage of CuII Ions with Carbon Dots for Self-Boosting and Glutathione-Induced ROS Generation
Authors: Bochkova Olga , Dovjenko Alexey , Zairov Rustem , Kholin Kirill , Biktimirova Rinata , Fedorenko Svetlana , Nizameev Irek , Laskin Artem , Voloshina Alexandra , Lyubina Anna , Amerhanova Syumbelya , Daminova Amina , Evtugyn Vladimir , Gerasimova Tatiana , Mustafina Asiya
Published: January 2022

The present work introduces coordinative binding of CuII ions with both amino-functionalized silica nanoparticles (SNs) and green-emitting carbon dots (CDs) as the pregrequisite for the CuII-assisted self-assembly of the CDs at the surface of the SNs. The produced composite SNs exhibit stable in time stimuli-responsive green fluorescence derived from the CuII-assisted assemblage of CDs. The fluorescence response of the composite SNs is sensitive to the complex formation with glutathione (GSH), enabling them to detect it with the lower limit of detection of 0.15 μM. The spin-trap-facilitated electron spin resonance technique indicated that the composite SNs are capable of self-boosting generation of ROS due to CuII→CuI reduction by carbon in low oxidation states as a part of the CDs. The intensity of the ESR signals is enhanced under the heating to 38 °C. The intensity is suppressed at the GSH concentration of 0.35 mM but is enhanced at 1.0 mM of glutathione, while it is suppressed once more at the highest intracellular concentration level of GSH (10 mM). These tendencies reveal the concentrations optimal for the scavenger or reductive potential of GSH. Flow cytometry and fluorescence and confocal microscopy methods revealed efficient cell internalization of SNs-NH2-CuII-CDs comparable with that of “free” CDs.
Structural and Electrical Properties of Atomic Layer Deposited PtRu Bimetallic Alloy Thin Films
Authors: Woo Hyun-Jae , Lee Woo-Jae , Kim Chang-Min , Wang Qimin , Zhang Shihong , Yoon Yong-Jin , Kwon Se-Hun
Published: January 2022

The structural and electrical properties of PtRu bimetallic alloy (BA) thin films prepared via atomic layer deposition (ALD) were systemically investigated according to the film composition, which was controlled at a deposition temperature of 340 °C by changing the numbers of Pt and Ru subcycles of a supercycle. As-deposited PtRu BA thin films exhibited weaker crystallinity than Pt36Ru64 when the Ru content was high. However, crystallinity improved, and the peak shifts became clearer after Ar heat treatment at 700 °C, reflecting the formation of well-mixed solid solutions. The electrical resistivity and work function also improved. The work function of PtRu BA thin films can be controlled between the work functions of Pt and Ru, and is only weakly dependent on the film composition in the single solid solution region.
Estimation of Avocado Oil (Persea americana Mill., Greek “Zutano” Variety) Volatile Fraction over Ripening by Classical and Ultrasound Extraction Using HS-SPME–GC–MS
Authors: Xagoraris Marinos , Galani Eleni , Valasi Lydia , Kaparakou Eleftheria H. , Revelou Panagiota-Kyriaki , Tarantilis Petros A. , Pappas Christos S.
Published: January 2022

The study of flavors and fragrances is a topic of rising interest from both marketing and scientific perspectives. Over the last few years, the cultivation of avocados has accelerated in Greece, with production levels elevated by 300%. There has been increasing attention from a number of growers and consumers on avocado oil, the volatiles of which form a key part of consumers’ purchase decisions. A previously unevaluated Zutano cultivar was chosen for this study. Extraction of the pulp oil was performed during three phases of ripening using Soxhlet and ultrasound techniques. Headspace-solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) were utilized in order to analyze the isolated volatile fraction. At least 44 compounds, including mainly terpenoids (61.7%) and non-terpenoid hydrocarbons (35.9%), presented in the Zutano variety, while (1S,6S,7S,8S)-1,3-dimethyl-8-propan-2-yltricyclo[4.4.0.02,7]dec-3-ene (a-copaene) and (1R,9S,Z)-4,11,11-trimethyl-8-methylenebicyclo[7.2.0]undec-4-ene (β-caryophyllene) were in higher abundance. The composition of the volatiles was unaffected by the extraction techniques but was influenced by the ripening stage. Thus, during maturation, the volatile fraction fluctuates, with a significantly higher abundance of terpenoids during the fourth day of the ripe stage, whilst it decreases during over-ripening. These findings demonstrate that the Zutano variety can be used to produce an aromatic oil and hence could be used, among others, as an ingredient in cosmetic products.
A Systematic Selection Process of Machine Learning Cloud Services for Manufacturing SMEs
Authors: Kaymakci Can , Wenninger Simon , Pelger Philipp , Sauer Alexander
Published: January 2022

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in manufacturing are increasingly facing challenges of digital transformation and a shift towards cloud-based solutions to leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) or, more specifically, machine learning (ML) services. Although literature covers a variety of frameworks related to the adaptation of cloud solutions, cloud-based ML solutions in SMEs are not yet widespread, and an end-to-end process for ML cloud service selection is lacking. The purpose of this paper is to present a systematic selection process of ML cloud services for manufacturing SMEs. Following a design science research approach, including a literature review and qualitative expert interviews, as well as a case study of a German manufacturing SME, this paper presents a four-step process to select ML cloud services for SMEs based on an analytic hierarchy process. We identified 24 evaluation criteria for ML cloud services relevant for SMEs by merging knowledge from manufacturing, cloud computing, and ML with practical aspects. The paper provides an interdisciplinary, hands-on, and easy-to-understand decision support system that lowers the barriers to the adoption of ML cloud services and supports digital transformation in manufacturing SMEs. The application in other practical use cases to support SMEs and simultaneously further development is advocated.
Secondary Structure and X-ray Crystallographic Analysis of the Glideosome-Associated Connector (GAC) from Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: Kumar Amit , Zhang Xu , Vadas Oscar , Stylianou Fisentzos A. , Dos Santos Pacheco Nicolas , Rouse Sarah L. , Morgan Marc L. , Soldati-Favre Dominique , Matthews Steve
Published: January 2022

A model for parasitic motility has been proposed in which parasite filamentous actin (F-actin) is attached to surface adhesins by a large component of the glideosome, known as the glideosome-associated connector protein (GAC). This large 286 kDa protein interacts at the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membrane with the phosphatidic acid-enriched inner leaflet and cytosolic tails of surface adhesins to connect them to the parasite actomyosin system. GAC is observed initially to the conoid at the apical pole and re-localised with the glideosome to the basal pole in gliding parasite. GAC presumably functions in force transmission to surface adhesins in the plasma membrane and not in force generation. Proper connection between F-actin and the adhesins is as important for motility and invasion as motor operation itself. This notion highlights the need for new structural information on GAC interactions, which has eluded the field since its discovery. We have obtained crystals that diffracted to 2.6–2.9 Å for full-length GAC from Toxoplasma gondii in native and selenomethionine-labelled forms. These crystals belong to space group P212121; cell dimensions are roughly a = 119 Å, b = 123 Å, c = 221 Å, α = 90°, β = 90° and γ = 90° with 1 molecule per asymmetric unit, suggesting a more compact conformation than previously proposed
Variation of Surface Nanostructures on (100) PbS Single Crystals during Argon Plasma Treatment
Authors: Zimin Sergey P. , Kolesnikov Nikolai N. , Amirov Ildar I. , Naumov Viktor V. , Gorlachev Egor S. , Kim Sara , Kim Nam-Hoon
Published: January 2022

The nanostructuring of the (100) PbS single crystal surface was studied under varying argon plasma treatment conditions. The initial PbS single crystals were grown by high-pressure vertical zone melting, cut into wafer samples, and polished. Subsequently, the PbS single crystals were treated with inductively coupled argon plasma under varying treatment parameters such as ion energy and sputtering time. Plasma treatment with ions at a minimum energy of 25 eV resulted in the formation of nanotips with heights of 30–50 nm. When the ion energy was increased to 75–200 eV, two types of structures formed on the surface: high submicron cones and arrays of nanostructures with various shapes. In particular, the 120 s plasma treatment formed specific cruciform nanostructures with lateral orthogonal elements oriented in four <100> directions. In contrast, plasma treatment with an ion energy of 75 eV for 180 s led to the formation of submicron quasi-spherical lead structures with diameters of 250–600 nm. The nanostructuring mechanisms included a surface micromasking mechanism with lead formation and the vapor–liquid–solid mechanism, with liquid lead droplets acting as self-forming micromasks and growth catalysts depending on the plasma treatment conditions (sputtering time and rate).
π-Hole Tetrel Bonds—Lewis Acid Properties of Metallylenes
Authors: Grabowski Sławomir J.
Published: January 2022

The MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ calculations were performed on the dihalometallylenes to indicate their Lewis acid and Lewis base sites. The results of the Cambridge Structural Database search show corresponding and related crystal structures where the tetrel center often possesses the configuration of a trigonal bipyramid or octahedron. The calculations were also carried out on dimers of dichlorogermylene and dibromogermylene and on complexes of these germylenes with one and two 1,4-dioxide molecules. The Ge⋯Cl, Ge⋯Br, and Ge⋯O interactions are analyzed. The Ge⋯O interactions in the above mentioned germylene complexes may be classified as the π-hole tetrel bonds. The MP2 calculations are supported by the results of the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM) and the Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) approaches.
The Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel One-Dimensional Bismuth (III) Coordination Polymer as a Precursor for the Production of Bismuth (III) Oxide Nanorods
Authors: Hanifehpour Younes , Mirtamizdoust Babak , Dadashi Jaber , Wang Ruiyao , Rezaei Mahboube , Abdolmaleki Mehdi , Joo Sang Woo
Published: January 2022

A novel Bi (III) coordination compound, [Bi(HQ)(Cl)4]n ((Q = pyridine-4-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone), was prepared in this research using a sonochemical technique. SEM, infrared spectroscopy (IR), XRD, and single-crystal X-ray analysis were utilized to analyze the Bi(III) coordination compound. The structure determined using single-crystal X-ray crystallography indicates that the coordination compound is a 1D polymer in solid state and that the coordination number of bismuth (III) ions is six, (BiSCl5), with one S donor from the organic ligand and five Cl donors from anions. It is equipped with a hemidirectional coordination sphere. It is interesting that the ligand has been protonated in the course of the reaction with a Cl- ion balancing the charge. This compound’s supramolecular properties are directed and regulated by weak directional intermolecular interactions. Through π–π stacking interactions, the chains interact with one another, forming a 3D framework. Thermolysis of the compound at 170 °C with oleic acid resulted in the formation of pure phase nanosized Bi (III) oxide. SEM technique was used to examine the morphology and size of the bismuth (III) oxide product produced.
Nanosheet-Assembled MnO2-Integrated Electrode Based on the Low-Temperature and Green Chemical Route
Authors: Wang Xiaoli , Wang Yin , Zhao Xinyu
Published: January 2022

The development of superior electrochemical energy-storage devices designed through a facile, cost-efficient, and green synthesis technique is the key to addressing the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy. In our present work, we design a simple, surfactant-free, and low-temperature chemical strategy to prepare novel integrated, MnO2 composite electrodes with two-dimensional (2D) nanosheet film directly supported on three-dimensional (3D) conductive nickel foam. Benefiting from the specific 2D nanosheet architecture to provide a large interfacial contact area and highly conductive metal scaffolds to facilitate fast electron transfer, the novel nanosheet-assembled MnO2-integrated electrodes exhibit higher specific capacitance of 446 F g−1 at the current density of 1 A g−1 compared with nanostructured MnO2 and commercial MnO2 powder electrodes. More importantly, the as-synthesized devices are able to achieve an outstanding cycling performance of 95% retention after 3000 cycles. The present work, which is based on the low-temperature chemical route to deposit active materials on the conductive substrate, provides new insights into designing a binder-free supercapacitor system to improve the specific capacitance, cycling, and rate performance as next-generation, energy-storage devices.
Sorption of Acridine Orange on Non-Swelling and Swelling Clay Minerals
Authors: Jiang Wei-Teh , Tsai Yolin , Wang Xisen , Tangen Hannah , Baker Jessica , Allen Lori , Li Zhaohui
Published: January 2022

Acridine orange (AO) is a cationic fluorescent dye commonly used in DNA analyses. Extensive studies were conducted for its metachromasy under different solution concentrations and different amounts of AO sorbed on a solid surface. Meanwhile, for the safe disposal of wastewater, AO removal from water using different materials was also evaluated extensively. Clay minerals, due to their large specific surface area, high cation exchange capacity, and vast reserves, have been evaluated as potential sorbents for the removal of a variety of different types of contaminants, including color dyes. In this study, the sorption of AO on different types of clay minerals was contrasted. The sorption of co-presenting Zn2+ was much less than the sorption of AO, suggesting that clay minerals have higher affinities for AO in comparison to inorganic Zn2+. The desorption of exchangeable cations was linearly related to AO sorption, and the amounts of AO sorbed were close to the CEC values of the minerals, confirming that cation exchange is the dominating mechanism for AO sorption. Molecular dynamics simulation results showed that, under low and high AO loading levels, the sorbed AO formed monolayers and bilayers on the mineral surfaces of non-swelling clay minerals, except halloysite, as well as in the interlayer of swelling clay minerals, due to its relatively large dimer constant in solution. Overall, clay minerals are good candidates for the removal of cationic dyes from solution even in the presence of competing inorganic cations.
Fibroblastic Connective Tissue Nevus Mimicking Lipoma on Ultrasound: Case Report and Brief Review
Authors: Lara-Valencia Paola , Ybo Anna , Coter Anna
Published: January 2022

Fibroblastic connective tissue nevus (FCTN) is a rare, benign, and recently described dermal mesenchymal lesion characterized by CD34-positive spindle cells. We present a case of FCTN on the upper back of a 9-month-old boy who was diagnosed with a benign lipoma by ultrasound.
Feasibility of Recombinant Human TSH as a Preparation for Radioiodine Therapy in Patients with Distant Metastases from Papillary Thyroid Cancer: Comparison of Long-Term Survival Outcomes with Thyroid Hormone Withdrawal
Authors: Tsai Hsi-Chen , Ho Kung-Chu , Chen Shih-Hsin , Tseng Jing-Ren , Yang Lan-Yan , Lin Kun-Ju , Cheng Ju-Chin , Liou Miaw-Jene
Published: January 2022

Background: this study was designed to compare the long-term survival outcomes of patients prepared for radioiodine (RAI) therapy using either thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) or recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) stimulation, by specifically focusing on cases with distant metastases from papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 88 patients with distant metastases from PTC. Fifty-one and thirty-seven patients were prepared for RAI treatment by either THW or rhTSH stimulation, respectively. The primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). Results: The 10-year DSS rates of patients prepared for RAI therapy using either THW or rhTSH stimulation were 62.2% and 73.3%, respectively. Using multivariate analysis, RAI-avid metastases (p = 0.025) and preparation with rhTSH (p = 0.041) were identified as independent prognostic factors for PFS. Notably, PFS in the group of patients with RAI-avid metastases and preparation with rhTSH was significantly better than that in the other groups (p = 0.025). Conclusions: Preparation for RAI therapy using rhTSH stimulation is not inferior to THW preparation in terms of long-term survival outcomes experienced by patients with PTC and distant metastasis. Patients with RAI-avid metastases and preparation with rhTSH had the most favorable PFS.
Artificial Intelligence Application in Assessment of Panoramic Radiographs
Authors: Zadrożny Łukasz , Regulski Piotr , Brus-Sawczuk Katarzyna , Czajkowska Marta , Parkanyi Laszlo , Ganz Scott , Mijiritsky Eitan
Published: January 2022

The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of the artificial intelligence (AI) automatic evaluation of panoramic radiographs (PRs). Thirty PRs, covering at least six teeth with the possibility of assessing the marginal and apical periodontium, were uploaded to the Diagnocat (LLC Diagnocat, Moscow, Russia) account, and the radiologic report of each was generated as the basis of automatic evaluation. The same PRs were manually evaluated by three independent evaluators with 12, 15, and 28 years of experience in dentistry, respectively. The data were collected in such a way as to allow statistical analysis with SPSS Statistics software (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). A total of 90 reports were created for 30 PRs. The AI protocol showed very high specificity (above 0.9) in all assessments compared to ground truth except from periodontal bone loss. Statistical analysis showed a high interclass correlation coefficient (ICC > 0.75) for all interevaluator assessments, proving the good credibility of the ground truth and the reproducibility of the reports. Unacceptable reliability was obtained for caries assessment (ICC = 0.681) and periapical lesions assessment (ICC = 0.619). The tested AI system can be helpful as an initial evaluation of screening PRs, giving appropriate credibility reports and suggesting additional diagnostic methods for more accurate evaluation if needed.