bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-term efficacy and safety of piggyback jejunal interposition reconstruction single-tract reconstruction after proximal gastrectomy for Siewert II/III adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction: A retrospective case series study
Authors: Zhang Wanhong , Ma Yuchao , Ren Baoqing , Lei Liqiang , Li Linjie , Dong Jianhong
Published: January 2023

Introduction
The aim of this study is to introduce the protocol of piggyback jejunal interposition reconstruction single-tract reconstruction (PJIRSTR) for Siewert II/III adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) in detail, and assess its feasibility and safety, moreover, evaluate the efficacy of preventing postoperative reflux symptoms as well as the clinical outcome of surgical treatment in long term.
Methods
Between July 2013 and October 2017, Patients with Siewert II/III AEG who underwent PJIRSTR in Shanxi Cancer Hospital were enrolled according to the inclusion and exclusion criterias. The retrospectively collected data including clinical characters, intraoperative and postoperative outcomes, and follow-up were collected. Clinical indicators were determined by the paired-samples t-test. Overall survival was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier curve.
Results
A total of 33 patients with SiewertII/III AEG were enrolled according to inclusion and exclusion, including 29 male and 4 female patients, with a mean age of 60.9 years. 23 patients were Siewert II AEG and 10 were Siewert III. All of 33 patients underwent open surgery via the abdominal approach and no intraoperative death. The mean operation and reconstruction times were 136.7 and 46.9 min, respectively. The mean estimated blood loss was 87.6 mL; the mean number of dissected lymph nodes was 14.7, and the mean duration of postoperative hospitalization was 13.9 days. The early complication rate was 9.1% (n = 3), including one case each of anastomotic bleeding, incision infection, and ileus. The late complication rate also was 9.1% (n = 3): 1 patient had gastrojejunal anastomosis stenosis, which was successfully treated under the fluoroscopic balloon dilatations. 2 had Visick grade II reflux symptoms, no manifestations of reflux esophagitis was found in all patients by postoperative gastroscopy. The mean follow-up time was 73 months, with the median follow-up of 82 months. The 3- and 5-year cumulative overall survival rates were 90.9% and 78.8%, respectively.
Conclusion
PJIRSTR is a safe and feasible, and innovative reconstruction method after proximal gastrectomy (PG) for patients with Siewert II/III AEG. Furthermore, it has excellent efficiency in terms of preventing postoperative reflux symptoms.
Bringing uncertainty quantification to the extreme-edge with memristor-based Bayesian neural networks
Authors: Bonnet Djohan , Hirtzlin Tifenn , Majumdar Atreya , Dalgaty Thomas , Esmanhotto Eduardo , Meli Valentina , Castellani Niccolò , Martin Simon , Nodin Jean-Francois , Bourgeois Guillaume , Portal Jean-Michel , Querlioz Damien , Vianello Elisa
Published: January 2023

Safety-critical sensory processing applications, like medical diagnosis, require making accurate decisions based on a small
amount of noisy input data. For these applications, using Bayesian neural networks, able to quantify the uncertainty of the predictions, is a superior approach to using conventional artificial neural networks. However, because of the probabilistic nature of Bayesian neural networks, they can be computationally intensive to use for inference stage and thus not well suited for extreme-edge applications. An emerging idea to solve this problem is to use the intrinsic probabilistic nature of memristors to efficiently implement Bayesian neural network inference: the variability in the resistance of memristors would represent the probability distribution of weights in Bayesian neural networks. However, when using memristors, statistical effects follow the laws of device physics, whereas in Bayesian neural networks, those effects can take on arbitrary shapes. In this work, we overcome this difficulty by adopting a dedicated synapse architecture based on two memristors, and by training Bayesian neural networks with a dedicated variational inference technique that includes a “technological loss” to take into account specificities of memristor physics. This technique allowed us to program a two-layer Bayesian neural network on 75 physical crossbar arrays of 1,024 memristors, incorporating CMOS periphery circuitry to do in-memory computing, to classify arrhythmia in electrocardiograms. Our experimental neural network classified heartbeats with high accuracy, and estimated the certainty of its predictions. In the case of uncertain predictions, it differentiated between ambivalent heartbeats (aleatoric uncertainty), and heartbeats with never-seen patterns (epistemic uncertainty). We show that our technique can also be used with phase change memories, by employing a different “technological loss” term. The great advantage of this approach is its low energy consumption: we estimate an 800 times improvement in energy efficiency compared to a GPU performing the same task.
Coronary artery disease classification using support vector machines tuned via randomized search cross-validation
Authors: Akyol Kemal
Published: January 2023

Coronary artery disease outstands health problem that causes high mortality in the world population. This disease brings with it fateful problems such as heart attack and heart failure in patients with cardiovascular problems. Early diagnosis of coronary artery disease is essential for the timely administration of the right treatment and reduction of mortality. Angiography is the most preferred method for CAD detection. However, the complications and costs of this method have led researchers to forage alternative methods through machine learning algorithms. By developing a machine learning model with high generalization ability, prediction errors can be minimized. Thus, these models could potentially be useful for specialist physicians in the effective detection of coronary artery disease. The main focus of this study is to perform coronary artery disease detection with improved support vector machines. k-fold cross-validation experiments were performed on the Z-Alizadeh Sani dataset to evaluate the performance of the models. According to the results obtained, support vector machines with randomized search cross-validation provided the best performance when compared to other models. 87.102% average accuracy, 91.176% average sensitivity, 90.852% average precision, 76.996% average specificity, and also 8.824% average false negative rate obtained by 5-fold cross-validation competes with the known approaches in the literature.
Research on the dynamic evolution law of fissures in shallow-buried and short-distance coal seam mining in Lijiahao Coal Mine
Authors: Wang Beifang , Zhou Duo , Zhang Jing , Liang Bing
Published: January 2023

The leftover coal in the Lijiahao Coal Mine is easy to spontaneously ignite. During the mining process of the shallow buried coal seam, the overlying fissure network in the goaf easily penetrates the goaf of the upper and lower coal seams and continues to the surface, resulting in air leakage in the mine and the hidden danger of spontaneous combustion of the leftover coal protrude. Through physical model experiments, this paper simulates the overburden structure and fracture development characteristics of Lijiahao shallow buried coal seam mining, and uses fractal dimension and image processing technology to quantitatively describe the generation and development process of overburden cracks. Combined with the classical mechanical model of "fixed beam" and "masonry beam", the causes of fracture dynamic evolution are analyzed. The results show that due to the existence of key layers between the coal seams, the stress evolution in the upper and lower seams of the key layer is not synchronised, with only small changes in stress in the upper layer before the key layer is broken, and the stress evolution in the lower layer is similar to that of a single coal seam mining. When the key layer is broken, the stress of the upper and lower rock layers will change dramatically; the fracture of the key layer also has a significant impact on the evolution of fracture fractal dimension, length, and area. The fractal dimension of the fissures rised from 1.4 to 1.5, the total area of fissures is increased from 16638 pixels to 17707 pixels, and the total length is increased from 2217 pixels to 3071 pixels; after the main key layer of the overlying rock is broken, the fractal dimension of the fissures is reduced from 1.56 to 1.5, and the total area of fissures is reduced from 31451 pixels to 29089 pixels, the total length has increased from 5657 pixels to 6619 pixels; before the key layer between the coal seams is broken, it will be suspended to form a "fixed beam". After the first break, the broken rock above it will settle synchronously until the rock blocks form a hinged structure and then collapse. After the fall stops, the key layer periodically breaks to form a "masonry beam" structure, and the overlying stratum settles synchronously. Due to the good integrity of the overlying strata, the secondary development of cracks is relatively moderate.
Human pan-cancer analysis of the predictive biomarker for the tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced protein 8-like 2 (TNFAIP8L2)
Authors: Chen Yingjun , Zhang Xuezhong , Li Dai , Sha Kaihui , Liu Tonggang
Published: January 2023

Background: TNFAIP8L2 is a member of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha-inducible protein 8 (TNFAIP8) family shown to have oncogenic effects. However, no pan-cancer analysis has shown an association between TNFAIP8L2 and various tumor types.
Methods: Using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and other bioinformatics tools, we performed a pan-cancer analysis of the TNFAIP8L2 gene. We investigated TNFAIP8L2’s function in 33 tumor types, exploring its gene expression, survival status, DNA methylation, genetic alterations, immune infiltration, and associated cellular pathways.
Results: TNFAIP8L2 was strongly expressed in most malignancies and linked with patients' overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Missense mutations are the main type of mutation in the TNFAIP8L2 gene. TNFAIP8L2’s methylation levels were significantly different between tumors and normal tissues. In addition, infiltration of CD8+ T cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and macrophages has been linked to TNFAIP8L2 expression in various malignancies, including cervical cancer, breast-infiltrating cancer, and renal clear cell carcinoma. Mechanistically, Rac2, actin filament, and Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytosis are all implicated.
Conclusion: TNFAIP8L2 may be a biomarker or treatment target for predicting the prognosis of cancer victims. In addition, it might interfere with Rac2-mediated pathways regulating macrophage M1 to M2 differentiation and metastasis. This could provide a new direction for tumor therapy.
Two secretory T2 RNases contribute to virulence of an insect fungal pathogen due to cytotoxicity and activation of host immune response
Authors: Yue Yong , Deng Juan , Wang Huifang , Lv Ting , Dou Wei , Luo Zhibing , Jiao Yufei , Peng Xinxin , Zhang Yongjun
Published: January 2023

The RNase T2 family are ubiquitously distributed in all kingdoms and involved in a variety of physical functions. RNase T2 members are secreted by several pathogens or parasites during infection, playing various roles in pathogen-host interaction. However, functions of those members in biocontrol microbes targeting their hosts are still unknown. Here, two secretory RNase T2 member, BbRNT2 and BbTrv, were found to be important virulence factors in an insect fungal pathogen, Beauveria bassiana. Although no significant effect on fungal virulence was cause by disruption of either BbRNT2 or BbTrv, significantly decreased virulence was examined in double gene disruption mutants. Overexpression of a single gene or both genes dramatically enhanced virulence, while few fungal cells proliferated in hemocoel, accompanying with dramatical reduction in hemocytes as compared to the wild type strain treatments. These results appeared to be due to cytotoxicity of the secreted proteins or excessive activation of the insect immune response. In vitro assays using yeast-expressed proteins verified the cytotoxicity of BbRNT2 and BbTrv against insect cells, including hemocytes from Galleria mellonella larvae and sf9 cells from Spodoptera frugiperda. Those effects of the two proteins depended on their RNases enzyme activities and glycosylation modification. Moreover, the two ribonucleases could also trigger humoral immune responses, with stimulation of reactive oxygen species levels, as well as phenol oxidase, lysozyme and nitric oxide synthase activities. These data demonstrate important roles of two secretory RNase T2 members in virulence of insect fungal pathogens, displaying prospects for improvement of biocontrol agents.
Exploring genetic association of allergic disease with cardiovascular disease: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Wang Shilin , Liu Hao , Yang Peiwen , Wang Zhiwen , Hu Poyi , Ye Ping , Xia Jiahong , Chen Shu
Published: January 2023

Background:In observational and experimental studies, allergic diseases have been reported to be associated with some types of cardiovascular diseases. They share a typical pathophysiological process, including inflammatory and metabolism disorders. However, the direction of the causal association between them remains unclear. This Mendelian randomization (MR) study aims to examine the bidirectional causality between allergic diseases and cardiovascular diseases.Methods:We used publicly available GWAS summary statistics data only, including European participants from UK Biobank or on the IEU Open GWAS database. We identified genetic variants associated with allergic diseases, asthma, or cardiovascular diseases as instrumental variables to investigate the genetically causal association between allergic diseases and asthma and the risk of 12 kinds of cardiovascular diseases. MR was performed using analytical methods including the inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger and, weighted median. Sensitivity tests were also performed in the MR to assess the validity of the casualty.Results:Genetically predicted allergic diseases was associated with essential hypertension [odds ratio (OR)=0.9987, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.9976-0.9998, P=0.024], and asthma was associated with atherosclerosis (OR=1.0006, 95% CI: 1.0001-1.0012, P=0.02) in the MR analysis with the IVW method. In the reverse MR analyses, we found that essential hypertension was associated with allergic diseases (OR=8.16E-03, 95% CI: 7.55E-05 - 8,82E-01, P=0.044) and asthma (OR=8.16E-03, 95% CI: 7.55E-05 - 8,82E-01, P=0.044), and stroke was associated with allergic diseases (OR=3.59E-02, 95% CI: 1.34E-03 - 9.62E-01, P=0.047). However, no causal effect has been detected bidirectionally after the Bonferroni correction.Conclusion:The MR study found that patients with AD or asthma might have a decreased risk of essential hypertension and an increased risk of atherosclerosis in European individuals. In reverse analysis, essential hypertension, AD, and asthma are negatively correlated, and stroke may decrease the risk of AD. However, after a Bonferroni correction, our evidence did not suggest a significant causal between them, which means that the evidence is weak. Whether AD exerts effects on CVD needs further investigation.
A Study on Topological Properties of Intuitionistic Fuzzy Banach Spaces
Authors: Pandit Shailendra , Ahmad Ayaz , Esi Ayhan
Published: January 2023

The article discusses a category theorem, an open mapping theorem, and aclosed graph theorem, as well as certain topological properties of intuitionisticfuzzy Banach spaces (IFBS). Furthermore, the closeness property of the sum oftwo linear operators in intuitionistic fuzzy normed spaces has been examined.
2020 MSC: 46S40, 46A40
Differences of composition operators from Zygmund-type spaces to Bloch-type spaces
Authors: Liu JinHao , Liang YuXia , Zhou Hang
Published: January 2023

Several equivalent conditions for the boundedness and compactness of the difference Cφ− Cψ : Ƶα → Bβ were presented in this paper for α > 1, β > 0. As a nontrivial extension, we creatively use Taylor series and Raabe discriminant to establish the complete characterizations for bounded or compact Cφ − Cψ : Ƶα,0 → Bβ0 , which is rarely reported in the literature.
2010 Mathematics Subject Classification. 47B33, 30H40, 30H30.
Alicyclobacillus chiapanensis PA2T, a novel species with specific adaptation in a bacterial cell wall isolated from an active volcano
Authors: Cortes Lourdes Yaret Ortiz , Carvajal Elva Teresa Arechiga , Canseco Cristina Ventura , Valera Francisco Eduardo Rodriguez , Yeves Pedro Cabello , Valdiviezo Victor Manuel Ruiz , Miceli Federico Antonio Gutierrez , Gutierrez Peggy Elizabeth Alvarez
Published: January 2023

Aliclyclobacillus is an interesting genus that has been isolated worldwide from extreme environments, such as acid soils, hot springs, volcanoes and acidic drinks. The species of this genera has phenotypic particularities such as the phospholipid in their membranes and the composition of its cell wall. Besides, the phenotypic diversity of the Alicyclobacillus species it has been reported just 30 genomes. We analyzed the genome of a polyextremophilic bacterium isolated from a crater lake in an active volcano. The identity of the strain PA2T was analyzed with standard molecular markers gyrB, ileS, lepA and 16S rRNA genes and confirmed by the average nucleotide identity ANIm (97.17%,), ANIb (96.65%,), TETRA (Z-score) (0.98) and DDH (75.5%.). These phylogenetic analyses indicated that PA2T is a new species, which we have named Alicyclobacillus chiapanensis PA2T. The genome A. chiapanensis PA2T structure consists of a circular 2.956.928 bp molecule, with an overall G + C of 62.77%. The entire genome has 3,256 genes, a total of 2,952 genes has a putative function, and 144 were considered unique. A comparative genomic analysis of the COG systems of A. chiapanensis PA2T showed "extra" genes that correspond to dormancy and sporulation (3), transport across the membrane (5), and the cell wall and capsule (6). This isolate shows changes in structure and chemical composition in the bacterial cell wall. The “extra” genes may be associated with the adaptations to polyextremophilic conditions. Particularly, we identify cell wall-associated specific genes, which participate in the D-rhamnose metabolism and can form an outer layer to protect the cell in inhospitable conditions.
The effect of high polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure on biological aging indicators
Authors: Campisi Manuela , Mastrangelo Giuseppe , Mielżyńska-Švach Danuta , Hoxha Mirjam , Bollati Valentina , Baccarelli Andrea A. , Carta Angela , Porru Stefano , Pavanello Sofia
Published: January 2023

Background
Aging represents a serious health and socioeconomic concern for our society. However, not all people age in the same way and air pollution has been shown to largely impact this process. We explored whether polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), excellent fossil and wood burning tracers, accelerate biological aging detected by lymphocytes DNA methylation age (DNAmAge) and telomere length (TL), early nuclear DNA (nDNA) hallmarks of non-mitotic and mitotic cellular aging, and mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn).
Methods
The study population consisted of 49 male noncurrent-smoking coke-oven workers and 44 matched controls. Occupational and environmental sources of PAH exposures were evaluated by structured questionnaire and internal dose (urinary 1-pyrenol). We estimated Occup_PAHs, the product of 1-pyrenol and years of employment as coke workers, and Environ_PAHs, from multiple items (diet, indoor and outdoor). Biological aging was determined by DNAmAge, via pyrosequencing, and by TL and mtDNAcn, via quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Genomic instability markers in lymphocytes as target dose [anti-benzo[a]pyrene diolepoxide (anti-BPDE)–DNA adduct], genetic instability (micronuclei), gene-specific (p53, IL6 and HIC1) and global (Alu and LINE-1 repeats) DNA methylation, and genetic polymorphisms (GSTM1) were also evaluated in the latent variable nDNA_changes. Structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis evaluated these multifaceted relationships.
Results
In univariate analysis, biological aging was higher in coke-oven workers than controls as detected by higher percentage of subjects with biological age older than chronological age (AgeAcc ≥ 0, p = 0.007) and TL (p = 0.038). mtDNAcn was instead similar. Genomic instability, i.e., genotoxic and epigenetic alterations (LINE-1, p53 and Alu) and latent variable nDNA_changes, was higher in workers (p < 0.001). In SEM analysis, DNAmAge and TL were positively correlated with Occup_PAHs (p < 0.0001). Instead, mtDNAcn is positively correlated with the latent variable nDNA_changes (p < 0.0001) which is in turn triggered by Occup_PAHs and Environ_PAHs.
Conclusions
Occupational PAHs exposure influences DNAmAge and TL, suggesting that PAHs target both non-mitotic and mitotic mechanisms and made coke-oven workers biologically older. Also, differences in mtDNAcn, which is modified through nDNA alterations, triggered by environmental and occupational PAH exposure, suggested a nuclear-mitochondrial core-axis of aging. By decreasing this risky gerontogenic exposure, biological aging and the consequent age-related diseases could be prevented.
Removal of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene by Extended Aeration Activated Sludge: Optimizing by Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Karimi Hosein , Mohammadi Farzaneh , Ghader Ghanizadeh , Mahvi Amir Hossein , Rajabi Saeed
Published: January 2023

The 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), a nitrogenous pollutant, that is released into the environment by the munitions and military industries, and TNT-contaminated wastewater can lead to serious health problems. The present study employed the artificial neural network modeling for optimizing the TNT removal by the extended aeration activated sludge (EAAS). Chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration of 500 mg/L, hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 4 and 6 hours, and TNT concentration of 1 to 30 mg/L were employed to obtain the optimal removal efficiency in this research. The kinetic coefficients were calculated to describe the kinetics of TNT removal by EAAS system.The data obtained from TNT removal were optimized by artificial neural network based on the adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) method and genetic algorithms (GA). The removal efficiency of TNT by EAAS system was reached 84.25% under optimized conditions (10 mg/L TNT concentration and 6 hours). Our findings revealed that the optimization of EAAS system based on the ANFIS could improve TNT removal efficiency. Moreover, in comparison with the previous studies, it can be concluded that the optimized EAAS system has the capacity to remove higher concentration of TNT from wastewaters.
Hemodynamic effects of noradrenaline in neonatal septic shock: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Kallimath Aditya , Garegrat Reema , Patnaik Suprabha , Singh Yogen , Soni Narharmal B , Suryawanshi Pradeep
Published: January 2023

BACKGROUND
Neonatal sepsis is the third most common cause of neonatal mortality. The incidence of neonatal septic shock in low-income countries is 26.8% with a mortality rate of 35.4%. The hemodynamic effects of noradrenaline on the pediatric population have been well documented, but studies in neonates are sparse. This research was carried out to evaluate the effects of noradrenaline on the clinical and hemodynamic parameters in neonates with septic shock.
METHODS
This was a single-center prospective cohort study in a level III Neonatal intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital. Neonates with sepsis defined by Tollners criteria and with evidence of shock and those who received noradrenaline as a first-line vasoactive agent for treatment were included. At baseline, demographic and clinical data and hemodynamic parameters were recorded and entered in a pre-designed case record form. The primary outcome measured was the response at the end of one hour of infusion of noradrenaline and the mortality rate.
RESULTS
A total of 21 babies received noradrenaline infusion for neonatal septic shock. The cohort comprised 17 preterm neonates (mean GA of 36.1 Weeks) with a median birth weight of 1.957. Resolution of shock at one hour of starting noradrenaline was achieved in 76.2% of cases. The median NICU stay was 5.5 days, and the median duration of hospital stay was 14 days. The mean blood pressure improved significantly after the initiation of noradrenaline infusion from a baseline of 30.6 mm of Hg (SD-6.1) to 37.8 mm of Hg (SD- 8.22, p < 0.001) at 1 hour after initiation of noradrenaline. Fractional shortening improved significantly after noradrenaline initiation from 29% (SD-13.5) at baseline to 45.1% (SD-21.1, p < 0.001) after 1 hour of noradrenaline. There was a mortality rate of 28.6% in our study.
CONCLUSION
Noradrenaline is a relatively safe and effective drug to use in the treatment of neonatal septic shock. Noradrenaline is effective in increasing blood pressure and improves left ventricular systolic function. Further studies with a larger sample size are needed to confirm our findings before it can be recommended as a first-line therapy in infants with neonatal shock.
Terawatt class space-time multiplexed chirped pulse amplification based Nd:glass laser system: development, performance characteristics and application
Authors: Sharma A. K.
Published: January 2023

Twin energetic sub-picosecond duration laser pulses have been generated in air using space-time multiplexed chirped pulse amplification based all Nd:phosphate glass laser system. Multiple beam-lets are generated using beam splitting prior to compression to reduce energy fluence on compressor gratings and to avoid vacuum compressor. Eight pass all reflective single grating half Martinez grating pulse stretcher and complimentary double pass mixed grating Treacy compressor has been setup to provide stretching/ compression factor of 6x103 for ~ 200 fs laser pulses at 1055 nm, to avoid excess optical nonlinearities during amplification and propagation through optical elements. Stretched laser pulse with energy of 150 pJ is amplified using regenerative and four-pass power amplifier with an output pulse energy exceeding 2 J at minimum shot to shot interval of 90 s. Amplified stretched pulses are compressed to full width in range from 450 fs to 900 fs at half maxima, with partial compensation of gain narrowing with spectral broadening owing to accumulated nonlinear phase. Various issues of pulse compression in mixed grating compressor are discussed. For demonstration purposes, laser pulses have been applied to study nonlinear properties and modification of optical materials in air.
Feasibility Study of Using Mobile Phone-Based Experience Sampling to Assess Drug Checking by Opioid Street Drug Users
Authors: Swartz James A , Mackesy-Amiti Mary Ellen , Jimenez A. David , -Taylor Lisa D. Robison , Prete Elizabeth
Published: January 2023

Background: To date, evaluations of take-home fentanyl (and/or benzodiazepine) test strip use – the most common form of drug checking services – and potential effects on overdose risk have relied on retrospective accounts for some preceding time period, usually a week to several months. Such accounts, however, are subject to recall and memory biases. This pilot study assessed the feasibility of using experiential sampling to collect daily information in situ on drug checking and associated overdose risk reduction – the primary outcomes - among a sample of street opioid users and compared the results to retrospective reports.
Methods: We recruited 12 participants from a Chicago-based syringe services program. Participants were 18 years of age or older, reported using opioids purchased on the street 3+ times per week in the past month, and had an available Android mobile phone. A phone-based app was programmed to collect daily drug checking information and provided to each participant along with a supply of fentanyl and benzodiazepine test strips and instructions for use over 21 days. Comparable retrospective data were collected via follow-up in-person surveys at the conclusion of daily report collection.
Results: We found a reasonably high rate of daily reporting (63.5%) with participants submitting reports on 160 “person-days” out of 252 possible days. Participants submitted daily reports an average of 13 of 21 days. Reports of test strip use frequency varied between the retrospective and daily reports with a relatively higher percentage of days/time using test strips obtained from the daily reports. We also found higher proportions reporting overdose risk reduction behaviors on the daily reports compared with the retrospective reviews.
Conclusions: We believe the results support using daily experience sampling to collect information on drug checking behaviors among street drug users. Although resource intensive in comparison to retrospective reports, daily reporting potentially provides more detailed information on test strip use and its association with overdose risk reduction and, ultimately, fewer overdoses. Needed are larger trials and validation studies of daily experience sampling to identify the optimum protocol for collecting accurate information on drug checking and overdose risk reduction behavior.
Oxygen-Dependent Blood Processes in Beck's Sarcoidosis
Authors: Glutkina N. V. , Zinchuk V. V.
Published: January 2023

The objective: to assess the state of oxygen-dependent blood processes in patients with Beck's sarcoidosis.

Subjects and Methods. Parameters of blood oxygen transport function and free radical lipid oxidation, as well as the content of nitrogen monoxide and hydrogen sulfide gas transmitters were assessed in the blood of 75 patients (41 women; 34 men) with Beck's sarcoidosis, stage 2 (the pulmonary mediastinal form).

Results. In the pulmonary mediastinal form of sarcoidosis versus healthy individuals, there was a decrease in the degree of blood oxygen saturation from 65.4 (60.6; 67.8) to 41.50 (36.0; 49.8), p < 0.05, %, partial oxygen pressure from 40.0 (38.0; 47.0) to 23.0 (18.3; 29.0) mmHg, p < 0.05, and blood pH increased. A decrease in the index of hemoglobin affinity to oxygen p50real (26.80 (24.70; 31.40), p < 0.05, versus healthy individuals 28.2 (27.9; 29.1) mmHg) was revealed. The level of diene conjugates increased in plasma by 86.4% (p < 0.05) and malondialdehyde increased in erythrocytes by 139.2% (p < 0.05), while the following parameters decreased: α-tocopherol (by 42.7 %, p < 0.05), retinol (by 41.9%, p < 0.05), reduced glutathione (by 30.4%, p < 0.05), and ceruloplasmin (by 22.3%, p < 0.05) in plasma. There was an increase in the concentration of nitrogen monoxide (from 15.42 (14.48; 17.71) to 17.09 (7.04; 25.09), mmol/L) and a decrease in hydrogen sulfide (from 29.01 (25.21; 37.03) to 13.08 (8.63; 20.46), mmol/L) in the blood in case of this pathology.

Conclusion. There is a deterioration in the blood oxygen-binding properties in patients with Beck's sarcoidosis, stage 2, and as a consequence, tissue needs in oxygen are not adequately provided by blood circulation. There is an increase in the concentration of nitrogen monoxide and a decrease in hydrogen sulfide, which affects the oxygen transport function of blood which may be important for ensuring the processes of oxygen transfer to tissues. In this pathology, activation of lipid peroxidation and a decrease in the level of antioxidant protection factors of blood were revealed which might be important for the genesis of this disease.
Specific Manifestations of Neurotoxicity of Some Drug Combinations for Treatment of Drug Resistant Tuberculosis from the Perspective of Experimental Studies
Authors: Mozhokina G. N. , Samoylova A. G. , Vasilyeva I. A. , Burmistrova I. A.
Published: January 2023

The objective: to evaluate comparative neurotoxicity of combinations of anti-tuberculosis and antimicrobial drugs with different and similar toxic potentials assessing behavioral changes in rats.

Subjects and Methods: non-linear female rats divided in 3 groups were used in this study. For 14 days, the rats received a daily combinations of drugs: Group 1 – Mxf + Lzd + Cs + Pto, Group 2 – Mxf + Bdq + Cs + Z , and Group 3 – Bdq + Lzd + Cfz + Z. Neurotoxicity was assessed by changes in behavioral responses using Open Field Test. The number of crossed squares and racks was recorded which characterized horizontal and vertical activity, also peeping into burrows (exploratory activity), the number of groomings (washing and scratching) and physiological functions were registered.

Results. In rats of Group 1 versus baseline parameters, we observed a significant limitation of horizontal motor activity and a sharp decrease (by 5 times) in exploratory activity, a 2.8-fold decrease in the number of groomings which indicated emotional suppression. In rats of Groups 2 and 3, the decrease in motor and exploratory activity was insignificant but there was a more pronounced emotional depression. The use of the Mxf + Lzd + Cs + Pto combination in which all drugs possessed a neurotoxic potential, led to diverse and profound changes in behavioral responses which indicated a pronounced neurotoxic effect.
Epidemic Situation Monitoring as a Basis for Improving the Quality of Medical Care for Socially Important Infectious Diseases in the Russian Federation
Authors: Kulikova I. B. , Parolina L. E. , Testov V. V. , Sterlikov S. A. , Burykhin V. S.
Published: January 2023

The objective: to determine main directions for improving the epidemiological control over socially important infectious diseases (tuberculosis, HIV infection, viral hepatitis B and C) based on the study of epidemic signs and its determinants from 2010 to 2021.

Subjects and Methods. The main Rosstat Forms no. 8, 33, 61, 4, 2, 12, C51 were studied. Epidemiological and statistical analysis and content analysis of publications were applied. Calculations and graphical data analysis were performed using Microsoft Excel 10.0 software package.

Results. Epidemiological trends of socially important infectious diseases differ: in tuberculosis, acute hepatitis B and C, there is a decrease in morbidity and mortality; in chronic viral hepatitis B and C, there is stabilization with a slight decrease in morbidity rates (both chronic viral hepatitis B and chronic viral hepatitis C) and mortality (from chronic viral hepatitis B). Mortality caused by chronic viral hepatitis C increased, while HIV morbidity and mortality stabilized. Measures for improving the system of epidemic control over socially important infections include the timely detection of the disease, early start of etiotropic therapy, increase in the coverage with preventive examinations and vaccination, improvement of detection in the families exposed to infections and infection control activities in such families, and health education of the population.
Membrane Based Point-of-Use Drinking Water Treatment Systems
Authors: Labhasetwar Pawan Kumar , Yadav Anshul
Published: January 2023

Membrane-based PoU water treatment systems have proved to be a milestone in PoU water treatment eliminating various shortcomings of other water treatment technologies. The main driver of membrane-based PoU water treatment systems is that it works without the addition of chemicals, with relatively low energy usage, and easy and well-arranged process conductions. With improved technology, there is an inevitable need to understand the basic operational parameters, design and maintenance of membrane-based PoU water treatment systems to eliminate the repercussions of lack of knowledge.

The book describes membrane-based PoU water treatment systems and is divided into eight chapters. Chapter 1 explains the sources and contaminants in drinking water and the importance of removing these contaminants. Chapter 2 describes different units, advantages and limitations of the conventional water treatment plants and various PoU water treatment technologies. Chapter 3 covers components of membrane-based PoU water treatment systems. Chapter 4 describes the effective designing of various components of the membrane-based water treatment systems to make them more economical and practical. Modelling, simulation, and process optimisation of membrane-based PoU water treatment systems are included in Chapter 5. Chapter 6 includes operation and maintenance aspects, including pre- and post-treatment units. Techno-economic aspects of membrane-based PoU water treatment systems are elucidated in Chapter 7. Chapter 8 elaborates on national and international protocols for certification and system evaluation.

ISBN: 9781789062717 (paperback)

ISBN: 9781789062724 (eBook)

ISBN: 9781789062731 (ePub)
Chemical Factors in the Action of Phosphoramidic Mustard Alkylating Anticancer Drugs: Roles for Computational Chemistry
Authors: Colvin Michael E. , Sasaki Jennifer C. , Tran Ngoc L.
Published: January 2023

The nitrogen mustard based DNA alkylating agents were the first effective anticancer agents and remain important drugs against many forms of cancer. More than fifty years of research on the nitrogen mustards has yielded a broad range of therapeutically useful compounds and a detailed knowledge of the biochemical mechanism of these drugs. Nevertheless, there is much ongoing research on the phos­
phosphoramidic and other nitrogen mustards to increase their potency and reduce their toxic and mutagenic side effects. To understand the existing nitrogen mustards, and to design the next generation of these drugs, more knowledge is needed about the effects of chemical modifications on their activation and selectivity.
Because of the existing knowledge of these drugs, atomic-level chemical modeling can play an important role in the understanding of the phosphoramidic mustard compounds; however, it has not proved straight forward to directly relate the activity of these mustards with simple chemical properties such as bond lengths or atomic charges. Instead, quantum chemical simulations will be required to simulate the activation and alkylation reactions of these compounds, which will require the newest generation of quantum chemical and solvent modeling methods. Additionally, molecular dynamics simulations of the adducted DNA can provide data on the factors favoring crosslinking and its structural consequences. This review summarizes the extensive literature on the metabolism, activation, and action of the phosphoramidic mustards, with an emphasis on the roles that chemical modeling has and will play in the development of this important class of drugs.
ACTH and its Role in Immune-neuroendocrine Functions. A Comparative Study
Authors: Ottaviani E. , Franchini A. , Genedani S.
Published: January 2023

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) belongs to the melanocortine group of related peptides which share a common precursor, the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC). Melanocortin expresses its functional effects by the stimulation of specific G-protein coupled receptors. To date, five receptor subtypes have been cloned. The POMC gene has been highly conserved during evolution, and ACTH has been found in different cells from invertebrates to vertebrates to vertebrates, including man. Witµ regards the immune system, the presence of melanocortin receptors and the production of ACTH have been reported in invertebrate and vertebrate immuno-competent cells. Among its various physiological effects, ATCH has been shown to play a central role in immmune responses, such as chemotaxis and phagocytosis, in lower and higher forms of life. Moreover, ACTH is a key actor in stress response, and the complex cascade of events observed in vertebrates is reproduced and concentrated in intvertebrate immurtocytes. On the basis of the present findings, ACTH should be considered an important immuno­ regulator, forming part of the complex mosaic of relationships between the immune and neuroendocrine system which appears to have been substantially maintained over the course of evolution.
Somatostatin	Receptor Ligands and Their Use in the Treatment of Endocrine Disorders
Authors: Janson Eva Tiensuu , Oberg Kjell
Published: January 2023

Somatostatin is a tetradeca peptide hormone produced by many different endocrine cells throughout the body. It is also present in both the central and peripheral nervous system. The peptide has many different moods of action including inhibition of hormone secretion and influence on gastrointestinal motility. Somatostatin was identified in 1973 and about 10 years later the first long­ acting analogue, octreotide, became available for use in clinical trials. Somatostatin analogues have been used to treat patients with neuroendocrine tumors, such as carcinoid tumors and endocrine pancreatic tumors, with symptoms due to excessive hormone production. It also has a well-documented effect on hormone levels and symptoms in acromegalic patients, while the use in diabetes mellitus is less well established. Several new analogues have been developed and tested for clinical use and lately non-peptide analogues have been produced. These new somatostatin receptor subtype specific analogues will soon be tested in clinical trials. In this review article the development of new analogues and new preparations of old analogues and their use in the clinic is discussed.
Role of Phosphodiesterase Isoenzymes in the Control of Renin Secretion: Effects of Selective Enzyme Inhibitors
Authors: Reid Ian A.
Published: January 2023

In most cells, the steady-state level of cAMP ultimately depends on the rate of cAMP synthesis by adenylyl cyclase and the rate of cAMP hydrolysis by cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs). PDEs exist in multiple forms that have been grouped into seven families based on their substrate specificity, mode of regulation and kinetic properties. Selective inhibitors of many PDE families are now available. Examples are milrinone and trequinsin (PDE3); rolipram and Ro 20-1724 (PDE4); and zaprinast, sildenafil and didyridamole (PDE5). These inhibitors have proven to be valuable tools to investigate the role of PDEs in cell function.

Representatives of most PDE families are present in the kidneys, and recent studies in this and other laboratories have provided evidence that some of them participate in the regulation of renin secretion. In particular, administration of selective PDE inhibitors has marked effects on renin secretion. For example, the PDE3 inhibitors milrinone and trequinsin increase resting renin in conscious rabbits and enhance the renin secretory response to beta-adrenergic stimulation. Milrinone also increases renin secretion in human subjects. The PDE4 inhibitors rolipram and Ro 20-1724 both increase renin secretion in rabbits and also enhance the renin response to beta-adrenergic stimulation. Studies in other laboratories have implicated other PDE families in the control of renin secretion. The aim of this review is to present current concepts concerning the PDEs and to discuss their role in the control of renin secretion by the kidneys.
The Role of Interferon-Alpha in the Treatment of Myeloproliferative Disorders
Authors: Sacchi Stefano , Fiorani Claudia , Tonelli Stefania , Casolari Barbara
Published: January 2023

The interferons are cytokines with a wide array of biological properties. In hematological malignancies the most used IFN class is -ex; it has been used for thirty years but the mode of action is still not absolutely clear. Nevertheless, the benefits of IFN-cx for the treatment of CMD have been described in particular for CML and less for PV, ET and MMM.

IFN-cx is presently considered the golden standard of therapy for CML patients not eligible for SCT; the antileukemic effect has been well documented by hematological and cytogenetic response. The survival . advantage for IFN treated patients is remarkable in comparison with patients treated with conventional chemotherapy. Recently, the combination IFN-cx plus Ara-C has demonstrated to increase the rate of major cytogenetic response and to prolong survival.

To date, there is not a generally accepted treatment for ET, PV and MMM, which can reduce the risk of thromboembolism and/or hemorragic events. In several subsets of ET and PV patients, IFN-cx can be considered as first line therapy.

IFN-cx is usually associated with the development of early and later side effects, that reduce the enthusiasm for its use. In the future PEG-IFN-cx would improve the quality of life of IFN-treated CMD patients.
Role of β-blockers in Preventing Heart Failure and Major Adverse
Cardiac Events Post Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Johri Nishant , Matreja Prithpal S. , Maurya Aditya , Varshney Shivani , Smritigandha
Published: January 2023

β-blockers have been widely utilized as a part of acute myocardial infarction (AMI)
treatment for the past 40 years. Patients receiving β-adrenergic blockers for an extended period following
myocardial infarction have a higher chance of surviving. Although many patients benefited
from β-blockers, many do not, including those with myocardial infarction, left ventricle dysfunction,
chronic pulmonary disease, and elderly people. In individuals with the post-acute coronary
syndrome and normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), the appropriate duration of betablocker
therapy is still unknown. There is also no time limit for those without angina and those
who do not need β-blockers for arrhythmia or hypertension. Interestingly, β-blockers have been
prescribed for more than four decades. The novel mechanism of action on cellular compartments
has been found continually, which opens a new way for their potential application in cardiac failure
and other cardiac events like post-myocardial infarction. Here, in this review, we studied β-blocker
usage in these circumstances and the current recommendations for β-blocker use from clinical
practice guidelines.
Puerarin: An Anticancer and Anti-Inflammatory Agent
Authors: Singh Harinder , Kriplani Priyanka , Kamboj Sweta , Guarve Kumar
Published: January 2023

Objective:

Puerarin is a well-known anti-inflammatory agent which has demonstrated
its potential to cure numerous ailments. Though many plants are reported in the literature, still
their mechanisms are unversed. In this review, numerous mechanisms of puerarin to cure cancer
and other inflammatory disorders, pharmacokinetics and adverse events, and boulevards of further
research are discussed.

Methods:

Organized research was done using ScienceDirect, PubMed, ResearchGate, Google
Scholar, Google Patents and ScienceDirect Medline to quest all the available data to date on
puerarin. Different keywords used were “puerarin”, “Pueraria tuberosa”, “cancer”, “antiinflammatory”,
“cardiovascular”, “IBD”, “pharmacokinetics” etc.

Results:

One hundred thirty-six articles and thirteen patents were studied. Puerarin is reported to
treat chronic problems like inflammation, sexual dysfunction, cardiovascular diseases and menaces
such as colon, stomach, lung and breast cancer by numerous mechanisms, as these ailments do
not progress via a single independent pathway.

Conclusion:

This article will definitely help budding researchers scrutinize the wealth of information
on the therapeutic chattels of puerarin and identify the gaps that have forbidden its application
as a potential molecule to cure various ailments.