bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association Between Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire-7 Scores and Eustachian Tube Function Test Results in Symptomatic Patients With a Normal Drum
Authors: Moon Seojin , Lee Yujin , Jung Jinsei , Moon In Seok , Bae Seong Hoon
Published: May 2022

Background and Objectives: We investigated the clinical validity of and correlation between the Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire-7 (ETDQ-7) scores and the eustachian tube function test (ETFT) results in patients with a normal drum. Subjects and Methods: The study included 49 patients (93 ears) with unilateral or bilateral ear fullness over >3 months. All patients were administered the ETDQ-7 survey and underwent the ETFT on the same day. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the association between the results were statistically analyzed. Results: ETDQ-7 scores were not significantly correlated with the ETFT results or with middle ear pressure. ETDQ-7 scores in patients with eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) were significantly higher than those in patients with normal ETFT results (p=0.039) when ETD was defined as a pressure change <10 daPa on the ETFT. The area under the ROC curve was 0.631, with a sensitivity of 37.0% and specificity of 89.4%. Conclusions: The ETDQ-7 has limited clinical significance in patients with ETD but a normal drum. Therefore, concomitant objective tests should be performed to diagnose patients with ETD.
Genetic Algorithm with Cluster-first Route-second to Solve the Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows
Authors: Putri Karina Aginta , Rachmawati Nur Layli , Lusiani Mirna , Redi Anak Agung Ngurah Perwira
Published: May 2022

In a distribution problem, designing the right distribution route can minimize the total transportation costs. Therefore, this research aims to design a distribution route that produces a minimal distribution distance by clustering the demand points first. We generated the clustering method to cluster the demand points by considering the proximity among the demand points and the total vehicle capacity. In solving this problem, we are using p-median to determine the cluster and a genetic algorithm to determine the distribution route with the characteristics of the CVRPTW problem. CVRPTW or capacitated vehicle routing problem with time windows is a type of VRP problem where there is a limitation of the vehicle capacity and service time range of its demand point. This research concludes that clustering the demand points provides a better result in terms of total distribution costs by up to 16.26% compared to the existing delivery schedule. The performance of the genetic algorithm shows an average difference of 1.73%, compared to the exact or optimal method. The genetic algorithm is 89.68% faster than the exact method in the computational time.
Divergent effects of cholesterol on the structure and fluidity of liposome and catanionic vesicle membranes
Authors: Cheng Chia‐Yu , Lai Yu‐Fang , Hsieh Yu‐Ling , Wu Ching‐Hao , Chiu Chi‐cheng , Yang Yu‐Min
Published: May 2022

Lipid‐like ion‐pair amphiphile vesicles, or catanionic vesicles, have emerged as potential drug carriers. The effects of cholesterol on the properties of catanionic vesicles have yet been systematically studied. Here, we compared the effects of cholesterol on the structures and fluidities of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes and catanionic vesicles with similar main transition temperatures (Tm). For liposomes, fluorescence anisotropy (FA) thermograms reveal typical condensing and disordering effects of cholesterol above and below Tm respectively. In contrast, FA and molecular simulation data reveal that catanionic bilayers below Tm are more fluidic due to shorter alkyl chains. This leads to only condensing effects of cholesterol for catanionic vesicles at all temperatures. Our results provide important insights into the fabrication of catanionic vesicles as novel drug carriers.
Novel Multiferroic‐Like Nanocomposite with High Pressure‐Modulated Magnetic and Electric Properties
Authors: Song Chunrui , Xu Wei , Liedienov Nikita , Fesych Igor , Kulagin Roman , Beygelzimer Yan , Zhang Xin , Han Yonghao , Li Quanjun , Liu Bingbing , Pashchenko Aleksey , Levchenko Georgiy
Published: May 2022

In this work, a novel multiferroic‐like nanocomposite is designed and obtained using the high‐pressure torsion (HPT) method. The crystal structure, phase composition, morphology, ferromagnetic (FM), and ferroelectric (FE) properties of the initial powders and ferroelectric/ferromagnetic nanocomposites are studied comprehensively. The initial powders and their composite show the perovskite and spinel crystalline phases for the FE and FM fractions, respectively. After HPT, the particle sizes of the initial powders are decreased significantly. It is shown that the novel nanocomposite consists of exchange‐interacting FE and FM phases and demonstrates improved magnetic and electrical properties in low fields at room temperature. A giant increase in residual polarization with an increase in external high‐pressure is found in new composite. The obtained results make it possible to consider the novel nanocomposite as a new functional material for its use both in electronic devices for monitoring ultra‐high‐pressure and in integrated circuits of high‐speed computing nanosystems with low switching energy. The HPT method is a promising method for obtaining new heterophase nanosystems.
Preferential Location of Dopants in the Amorphous Phase of Oriented Regioregular Poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl) Films Helps Reach Charge Conductivities of 3000 S cm−1
Authors: Zhong Yuhan , Untilova Viktoriia , Muller Dominique , Guchait Shubhradip , Kiefer Céline , Herrmann Laurent , Zimmermann Nicolas , Brosset Marion , Heiser Thomas , Brinkmann Martin
Published: May 2022

Doping polymer semiconductors is a central topic in plastic electronics and especially in the design of novel thermoelectric (TE) materials. In this contribution, it has been demonstrated that doping of oriented semicrystalline P3HT thin films with the dopant tris(4‐bromophenyl)ammoniumyl hexachloroantimonate), known as magic blue (MB), helps reach charge conductivities of 3000 S cm−1 and TE power factors of 170 ± 30 μW mK−2 along the polymer chain direction. A combination of transmission electron microscopy, polarized optical absorption spectroscopy, Rutherford backscattering, and TE property measurements helps clarify the conditions necessary to achieve such high charge conductivities. A comparative study with different dopants demonstrates that the doping mechanism is intimately related to the semicrystalline structure of the polymer and whether crystalline, amorphous or both phases are doped. The highest charge mobilities are observed when the dopant MB is preferentially located in the amorphous phase of P3HT, leaving the structure of P3HT nanocrystals almost unaltered. In this case, the P3HT nanocrystals are doped from their interface with the surrounding amorphous phase. These results indicate that doping preferentially the amorphous phase of semicrystalline polymer semiconductors is an effective strategy to reduce polaron localization, enhance charge mobilities, and improve TE power factors.
Unveiling the Stress‐Buffering Mechanism of Deep Lithiated Ag Nanowires: A Polymer Segmental Motion Strategy toward Ultra‐Robust Li Metal Anodes
Authors: Li Shaowen , Zhao Ting , Wang Ke , Sun Changchun , Jia Wenqi , Zhang Min , Wang Helin , Shao Ahu , Ma Yue
Published: May 2022

The severe volume expansion and uncontrolled mechanical stress restrict the high‐areal‐capacity Li storage in the alloy‐type or metallic anodes. Hitherto, most of the mitigation coating strategies are still based on the “trial‐and‐error” attempts, without the quantitative elucidation of the stress‐relaxation mechanism. This article herein constructs a prototypical coating model based on the Si‐O bonding, with the virtual and experimental screening of various structural parameters (for instance, the thickness, elasticity and cross‐linking density), for the deep lithiation of the Ag nanowires (AgNWs) framework. The operando X‐ray diffraction analysis and density functional theory calculations show that γ2(Li10Ag3) exhibits the highest Li affinity to induce the piled‐up deposits till 10 mA h cm–2; while the molecular dynamics simulations depict the optimal stress‐buffering pattern of the segmental motion in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coating layer. As pairing the integrated anode of the AgNWs@PDMS slurries that casted on the AlOx modified polyethylene separator with the NMC‐811 cathode (12.5 mg cm–2), the constructed single‐layer pouch cell can balance the robust cyclability even at the mechanical deformations. This study demonstrates a tentative inverse design strategy to realize the stress‐buffering purpose upon the priori defining of the structural properties.
Achievements and Challenges of Graphene Chemical Vapor Deposition Growth
Authors: Liu Fengning , Li Pai , An Hao , Peng Peng , McLean Ben , Ding Feng
Published: May 2022

Graphene, since the first successful exfoliation of graphite, has continuously attracted attention due to its remarkable properties and applications. Recently, the research focus on graphene synthesis has been directed to the controllable synthesis of large‐area and high‐quality graphene. In the last decade, there has been great progress in the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth of graphene. Theoretical investigations have led to an enhanced understanding of puzzles on hydrocarbon species stability, key reaction pathways, the role of hydrogen gas, the morphology of graphene islands, and the alignment of graphene on substrates. Experimentally, high‐quality graphene is epitaxially grown on both insulating and metal substrates. Progress has also been reported on low‐temperature graphene growth and on controlling the thickness and stacking of graphene layers. In this review, the authors summarize the previous theoretical and experimental studies on graphene CVD growth and discuss the future challenges on the growth of graphene i) on insulating substrates, ii) at low temperature, iii) with controllable thickness, and iv) with selected stacking twist angles. The authors assert that the key to the continuous advancement of graphene growth is the synergy of experimental and theoretical investigations.
Supramolecular Detoxification of Macromolecular Biotoxin through the Complexation by a Large‐Sized Macrocycle
Authors: Zhao Liang , Chen Junyi , Tian Long , Zhang Yahan , Chen Longming , Du Xinbei , Ma Mengke , Li Jian , Meng Qingbin , Li Chunju
Published: May 2022

Biotoxins are diverse, complex, and hypertoxic, ultimately serving as grave and lasting menaces to humanity. Here, it is aimed to introduce a new detoxification methodology for macromolecular biotoxin through complexation by a very large macrocycle. A 25‐mer peptide isolated from Lycosa erythrognatha spider venom (LyeTxI) is selected as the model macromolecular biotoxin. Quaterphen[4]arene, with a side length of ≈1.6 nm, has a sufficient cavity to bind LyeTxI. Hence, the water‐soluble derivative of Quaterphen[4]arene (H) is designed and synthesized. H exhibits an overall host–guest complexation toward LyeTxI, resulting in a considerably high association constant of (7.01 ± 0.18) × 107 m−1. This encapsulation of peptide is interesting as traditional macrocycles can only engulf the amino acid residues of peptides due to their limited cavity size. In vitro assay verifies that complexation by H inhibits the interactions of LyeTxI with cell membranes, thereby reducing its cytotoxicity, suppressing hemolysis, and decreasing the release of lactate dehydrogenase. Notably, the intravenous administration of H has a significant therapeutic effect on LyeTxI‐poisoned mice, alleviating inflammation and tissue damage, and markedly improving the survival rate from 10% to 80%. An efficient and potentially versatile approach is provided to detoxify macromolecular biotoxins, with giant macrocycle serving as an antidote.
Energy Conversion Analysis of Multilayered Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Synergistic Rain and Solar Energy Harvesting
Authors: Zheng Yang , Liu Tong , Wu Junpeng , Xu Tiantian , Wang Xiandi , Han Xun , Cui Hongzhi , Xu Xiaofeng , Pan Caofeng , Li Xiaoyi
Published: May 2022

The triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is an emerging technology that offers excellent potential for the conversion of mechanical energy from rain into electricity for hybrid energy applications. However, a high‐performance TENG is yet to be achieved because a quantitative analysis method for the energy conversion process is still lacking. Herein, a quantitative analysis method, termed the "kinetic energy calculation and current integration" (KECCI) method, which significantly improves the understanding of the mechanical‐to‐electrical energy conversion process, is presented. Based on the KECCI method, a high‐performance TENG is developed by systematically optimizing a biomimetic surface structure and instant switch design, with 1.25 mA short‐circuit current (Isc), 150 V open‐circuit voltage (Voc), and a high energy‐conversion efficiency of 24.89%. Furthermore, a multilayered TENG device is proposed for continuously harvesting the kinetic energy of raindrops for further improvement in the energy‐conversion efficiency. Finally, the multilayered TENGs are integrated with organic photovoltaics, achieving all‐weather energy harvesting. This work presents a validated theoretical basis that will guide further development of TENGs toward higher performances, which will promote the commercialization of hybrid TENG systems for all‐weather applications.
Self‐Supported Gold‐Silk‐Chrysanthemum‐Like Superstructures Arrays Derived from Mn‐doped CoPS Nanowires with Superhydrophilic and Superaerophobic Surface for Enhanced Oxygen Evolution
Authors: Fan Jiayao , Chen Mingyu , Liu Bingxue , Xu Dongdong , Lin Yue , Shi Naien , Liu Ying , Dai Zhihui , Bao Jianchun , Han Min , Huang Wei
Published: May 2022

Metal phosphosulfides (layered MPS3 or pyrite‐type MPS) nanostructures have emerged as promising active materials for optoelectronics, magnetism, energy storage, and catalysis. Despite great progress that has been achieved, controllable synthesis of cationic‐doped CoPS nanostructures or related superstructures arrays remains challenging, and their electrocatalytic applications toward oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are not explored. Herein, the self‐supported Mn‐doped CoPS nanowire‐based gold‐silk‐chrysanthemum‐like superstructures arrays on carbon cloth (CC) with variable Mn‐content (Mn‐CoPS‐x%/CC) are fabricated by thermal conversion of MnCo‐layered‐double‐hydroxides‐x%/CC precursors under PxSy vapor/Ar atmosphere. Compared with pure CoPS/CC, all the Mn‐CoPS‐x%/CC show greatly enhanced electrocatalytic OER activity. Due to the suited Mn‐doping content and unique microstructure‐induced superhydrophilic and superaerophobic surface that can optimize electronic structure, offer more available active sites, and foster desorption of O2 product, the Mn‐CoPS‐5%/CC manifests the best OER activity with a low overpotential (270 mV) to reach 20 mA cm−2 current density and high turnover frequency (0.13 s−1), outperforming its counterparts, IrO2/CC and most of recently reported OER catalysts. Moreover, such Mn‐CoPS‐5%/CC exhibits good catalytic stability. This work offers an efficient avenue for optimizing MPS nanostructures toward OER by combining doping and structure engineering strategies, and may promote their applications in water‐splitting or other clean energy options.
Sandwiched Graphene/Bi2Te3/Graphene Thermoelectric Film with Exceptional Figure of Merit for Flexibility
Authors: Mao Zhendong , Wang Zhiwen , Shi Taifeng , Zong Peng‐an , Liang Jia , Liu Zhenguo , Zhang Peng , Huang Yujia , Han Yi , Ahmad Kaleem , Almutairi Zeyad , Wan Chunlei
Published: May 2022

Flexible thermoelectrics (TEs) that fit curved human skin well, could harvest energy from skin, and thus have been considered as a promising portable power source for wearable electronics. Bi2Te3, the most popular room‐temperature TE material, is still challenging to be applied in flexible devices due to its rigid nature. Although many Bi2Te3‐based films have been reported to be flexible when made thin enough, the thermal and electrical loads across them are rather small with severe limitation on the maximum power output. This work realizes a thick Bi2Te3‐based TE film with a “graphene/Bi2Te3/graphene” sandwiched structure, which demonstrates an unprecedentedly high figure of merit for flexibility among all Bi2Te3‐based films ever reported, due to the outstanding intrinsic flexibility of graphene and a small slippage barrier. Meanwhile, graphene acts as express conducting channels as well as carrier donors, resulting in an increased electrical conductivity. The numerous graphene/Bi2Te3 heterointerfaces induce energy filtering effect, leading to an enhanced Seebeck coefficient, and thus an optimized power factor is achieved. This work offers a cost‐effective avenue to make highly flexible TE films for power supply of wearable electronics by intercalating TE nanoplates into 2‐dimensional nanosheets.
Light‐Actuated Anisotropic Microactuators from CNT/Hydrogel Nanocomposites
Authors: Gregg Aoife , De Volder Michael F. L. , Baumberg Jeremy J.
Published: May 2022

Over the past decades, functional hydrogels that respond to a variety of mechanical and chemical stimuli with a volume change of more than 100% have been developed. Despite this impressive behavior, practical applications of conventional hydrogels are limited by the need to transform their isotropic swelling/contraction into useful deformations, as well as their slow response times. Here, these challenges are addressed by combining poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), a widely used temperature‐responsive polymer, with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). To ensure strong PNIPAM−CNT cohesion, the hydrogel is synthesized directly on the CNT surfaces using in situ redox polymerization. The anisotropy of vertically‐aligned CNT forests is used to transform the isotropic (de)swelling of PNIPAM into anisotropic motion. This material combination is particularly attractive because the high optical absorption and heat conductivity of carbon nanotubes converts light irradiation into PNIPAM actuation. A wide variety of CNT‐skeleton microstructures are tested to reveal a range of actuation behaviors. The authors demonstrate fast reversible movement, active switching from low to high light absorption states, lattice shape changes, and good cycling stability.
Dynamic Augmented Reality Display by Layer‐Folded Metasurface via Electrical‐Driven Liquid Crystal
Authors: Tang Jiao , Wan Shuai , Shi Yangyang , Wan Chengwei , Wang Zejing , Li Zhongyang
Published: May 2022

Heading toward the next‐generation versatile meta‐devices and meta‐systems with increasing complexity, it inevitably demands the cascading and coupling between multi‐layer metasurfaces to create new design space for meta‐optics. However, the accurate requirement for multilayer alignment at the nanoscale is significantly challenging due to the actual fabrication limitation, thus hindering the state‐of‐the‐art meta‐optics device integration and its practical application. Herein, a dynamic meta‐system for augmented reality (AR) holographic display functionality based on a layer‐folded metasurface integrated with an electrical‐driven liquid crystal (LC) platform is originally proposed and realized. By ingeniously folding the optical path between meta‐device vertical space, a beam‐steering metasurface in parallel with the other two holographic metasurfaces placed on a single surface is successfully cascaded. Such a layer‐folded scheme enjoys single‐time lithography processing for multi‐patterning with nanoscale alignment accuracy and avoids any vertical alignment issue. Furthermore, by combining with an electrical‐driven LC tuning scheme, the integrated meta‐system could actively switch independent‐encoded holographic images in real‐time floating in the actual‐world scene. Overall, it is envisioned that such a compact dynamic meta‐system suggests a feasible route for dynamic tunable wearable AR displays, intelligent dynamic displays, multi‐functional devices, etc.
Homologous MXene‐Derived Electrodes for Potassium‐Ion Full Batteries
Authors: Sun Lanju , Sun Jikai , Zhai Shengliang , Dong Tiantian , Yang Hongyan , Tan Yi , Fang Xu , Liu Chengcheng , Deng Wei‐Qiao , Wu Hao
Published: May 2022

The development of potassium‐ion battery (PIB) electrode materials is critical for promoting their use in next‐generation energy storage systems. Although metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are appealing electrode materials, their performance in PIBs remains unsatisfactory. The low K+ adsorption energy (ΔEa) on the saturated coordination of MOFs can explain the limited capacity. Herein, MXene‐derived MOF nodes (NMD‐MOF) are unlocked and used as anodes in PIB. The NMD‐MOF anode exhibits substantially increased capacity (250 mA h g−1 at 0.05 A g−1), as well as good rate‐performance and excellent capacity retention. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the ΔEa at unlocked node sites is significantly higher than at intact node sites of the pristine MOF. Furthermore, the NMD‐MOF anode and homologous MXene‐derived K+‐intercalated vanadium oxide (MD‐KVO) cathode combine to assemble a PIB, which delivers an encouraging capacity of 63 mA h g−1 at 50 mA g−1 and high energy (143 Wh kg−1) and power density (440 W kg−1). The fabrication of MXene‐derived electrode materials and the unlocking node strategy for binding site activation may spur further research into highly active electrode materials for energy storage devices.
Progress on Emerging Ferroelectric Materials for Energy Harvesting, Storage and Conversion
Authors: Wei Xian‐Kui , Domingo Neus , Sun Young , Balke Nina , Dunin‐Borkowski Rafal E. , Mayer Joachim
Published: May 2022

Since the discovery of Rochelle salt a century ago, ferroelectric materials have been investigated extensively due to their robust responses to electric, mechanical, thermal, magnetic, and optical fields. These features give rise to a series of ferroelectric‐based modern device applications such as piezoelectric transducers, memories, infrared detectors, nonlinear optical devices, etc. On the way to broaden the material systems, for example, from three to two dimensions, new phenomena of topological polarity, improper ferroelectricity, magnetoelectric effects, and domain wall nanoelectronics bear the hope for next‐generation electronic devices. In the meantime, ferroelectric research has been aggressively extended to more diverse applications such as solar cells, water splitting, and CO2 reduction. In this review, the most recent research progress on newly emerging ferroelectric states and phenomena in insulators, ionic conductors, and metals are summarized, which have been used for energy storage, energy harvesting, and electrochemical energy conversion. Along with the intricate coupling between polarization, coordination, defect, and spin state, the exploration of transient ferroelectric behavior, ionic migration, polarization switching dynamics, and topological ferroelectricity, sets up the physical foundation ferroelectric energy research. Accordingly, the progress in understanding of ferroelectric physics is expected to provide insightful guidance on the design of advanced energy materials.
Significant impact of cachexia index on the outcomes after hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastases
Authors: Tanji Yoshiaki , Furukawa Kenei , Haruki Koichiro , Taniai Tomohiko , Onda Shinji , Tsunematsu Masashi , Shirai Yoshihiro , Yanagaki Mitsuru , Igarashi Yosuke , Ikegami Toru
Published: May 2022

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between preoperative cachexia index (CXI) and long‐term outcomes in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) after hepatic resection.

Method

In all,118 patients who underwent hepatic resection for CRLM were analyzed retrospectively. The relationship between CXI and the long‐term outcomes in patients after hepatic resection was investigated. CXI was calculated based on preoperative skeletal muscle index, serum albumin level, and neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio.

Results

The multivariate analysis showed that extrahepatic lesion (hazard ratio [HR] 2.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.48–5.53, P < .01) and high CXI (HR 0.44, 95% CI 0.20–0.98, P = .04) were independent and significant predictors of disease‐free survival. Moreover, extrahepatic lesion (HR 2.32, 95% CI 1.03–5.22, P = .04), high CXI (HR 0.17, 95% CI 0.05–0.57, P < .01), and curability R 1 or 2 (HR 3.29, 95% CI 1.23–8.78, P = .02) were independent and significant predictors of overall survival.

Conclusion

CXI is a useful prognostic factor for disease‐free survival and overall survival after hepatic resection in CRLM patients.
Local nasal immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Kasemsuk Navarat , Ngaotepprutaram Premyot , Kanjanawasee Dichapong , Suwanwech Triphoom , Durham Stephen R. , Canonica Giorgio Walter , Tantilipikorn Pongsakorn
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Local nasal immunotherapy (LNIT), an alternative noninjection immunotherapy method, is theoretically an efficient method for inducing immunotolerance directly in the affected organ. LNIT is more convenient and less invasive than injection immunotherapy, with fewer systemic reactions. The development of adjuvants to overcome LNIT's limitations raises the possibility of it being an alternative allergen immunotherapy.

Objectives

To evaluate the clinical and immunological efficacy and safety of LNIT for patients with allergic rhinitis.

Methods

A systematic search for randomized controlled trials comparing LNIT and placebo was performed using OVID Medline and Embase. Outcomes were total nasal symptom score (TNSS), symptom–medication score (SMS), medication score, immunological assessment, and nasal provocation threshold. Data were pooled for meta‐analysis.

Results

A total of 20 studies with 698 participants were included. The LNIT group had greater posttreatment improvement in TNSS, SMS, and medication score than control (TNSS: standardized mean difference [SMD], –1.37 [95% confidence interval [CI], –2.04 to –0.69]; SMS: SMD, –1.55 [95% CI, –2.83 to –0.28]; and medication score: SMD, –1.09 [95% CI, –1.35 to –0.83]). Immunological assessments showed no significant differences in serum‐specific IgE (mean difference [MD], 6.35; 95% CI, –4.62 to 17.31), nasal IgE (MD, –0.59; 95% CI, –1.99 to 0.81), or nasal eosinophil cationic protein (MD, 7.63; 95% CI, –18.65 to 33.91). Only serum IgG significantly increased with LNIT (MD, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.20, 0.70). Posttreatment, nasal provocation threshold was higher with LNIT (MD, 27.30; 95% CI, 10.13–44.46). No significant adverse events were reported.

Conclusions

LNIT is a safe alternative allergen immunotherapy route without significant adverse events. It improves clinical symptoms, reduces medication usage, and increases the nasal provocation threshold.
Activities of daily living and psychiatric symptoms after intensive care unit discharge among critically ill patients with or without tracheostomy: a single center longitudinal study
Authors: Shibata Mami , Miyamoto Kyohei , Shima Nozomu , Nakashima Tsuyoshi , Kunitatsu Kosei , Yonemitsu Takafumi , Kawabata Atsumi , Kishi Yutsuki , Kato Seiya
Published: May 2022

Aim

Tracheostomy is widely performed in critically ill patients who require prolonged mechanical ventilation. Long‐term morbidity (post‐intensive care syndrome) in tracheostomized patients is not widely reported, however, so we evaluate it here.

Methods

This is a sub‐analysis of a single center prospective longitudinal study, which assessed activities of daily living (ADL) and psychiatric symptoms in adult patients emergently admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). We evaluated association between these symptoms and tracheostomy by posting questionnaires at 3 and 12 months after ICU discharge.

Results

We analyzed 107 patients (15 patients with tracheostomy) at 3 months and 74 patients (13 patients with tracheostomy) at 12 months after ICU discharge. ADL tended to be lower in patients with tracheostomy than in those without tracheostomy at 3 months after ICU discharge (65 [10–100] versus 95 [59–100];P = 0.28, 7/15 [47%] versus 30/102 [30%] Barthel Index scored ≤ 60;P = 0.23), however there were no significant differences. Psychiatric symptoms were not different between the groups at 3 months and again at 12 months.

Conclusion

Activities of daily living disability and psychiatric symptoms were not significantly worse in patients with tracheostomy at 3 and 12 months from ICU discharge compared with patients without tracheostomy. Despite the limited number in our cohort, our study may inform shared decision making concerning tracheostomy for critically ill patients and their families.
A review on emerging developments in thermal and moisture management by membrane‐based clothing systems towards personal comfort
Authors: Gorji Mohsen , Mazinani Saeedeh , Gharehaghaji Ali Akbar
Published: May 2022

Enhanced heat and moisture management has become highly urgent to clothing systems due to the global need to personalize the ventilation process. As a significant sector of apparel industries, membrane‐based clothing systems offer protection and ventilation functionalities. This review aims at providing a new viewpoint on efforts to improve heat and moisture management in membrane‐based clothing systems according to the latest advances in this field. The study terminates with presenting a perspective on current challenges and opportunities for future research directions in personal thermal and moisture management technologies. In fact, membranes with different functionalities used in clothing systems such as photonic membranes with heating and cooling performances, unidirectional liquid transport membranes, waterproof‐breathable membranes, shape‐memory membranes, thermoregulating membranes, thermal conductive membranes and finally protective membranes are investigated. The essential functions associated to different categories of the investigated membranes along with the relationships between membrane structure and properties are presented.
Abnormal functional connectivity in the right dorsal anterior insula associated with cognitive dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Wang Man , Zhang Dongsheng , Gao Jie , Qi Fei , Su Yu , Lei Yumeng , Shao Zhirong , Ai Kai , Tang Min , Zhang Xiaoling
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic disease with a high incidence worldwide. T2DM can cause cognitive impairment, but its neuropathological basis is unclear. A variety of neuropsychiatric studies have found that abnormal functional connectivity (FC) in the central executive network (CEN), default‐mode network (DMN), and salience network (SN) may be the neuropathological basis of cognitive dysfunction. The right dorsal anterior insula (dAI) is the core SN area. It plays an important role in regulating the CEN and the DMN. However, few studies have explored the relationship between cognitive impairment and FC among the right dAI, CEN, and DMN in patients with T2DM.

Methods

Resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to investigate FC between the right dAI and the CEN and DMN in 44 patients with T2DM and 41 sex‐, age‐, and education‐matched healthy controls, as well as its relationship with clinical/cognitive variables.

Results

In patients with T2DM, FC between the right dAI and multiple brain regions of the CEN and DMN was generally decreased, and FC strength between the right dAI and the inferior frontal gyrus negatively correlated with trail making test A score (r = −0.421, p = 0.004).

Conclusions

Patients with T2DM exhibit abnormal FC between the right dAI and the CEN and DMN. This may be one of the neuromechanisms of cognitive impairment in patients with T2DM. In addition, reduced FC between the right dAI and the right inferior frontal gyrus may be related to abnormal attention regulation in patients with T2DM.
Sprayable tissue adhesive with biodegradation tuned for prevention of postoperative abdominal adhesions
Authors: Erdi Metecan , Rozyyev Selim , Balabhadrapatruni Manogna , Saruwatari Michele S. , Daristotle John L. , Ayyub Omar B. , Sandler Anthony D. , Kofinas Peter
Published: May 2022

Adhesions are dense, fibrous bridges that adjoin tissue surfaces due to uncontrolled inflammation following postoperative mesothelial injury. A widely used adhesion barrier material in Seprafilm often fails to prevent transverse scar tissue deposition because of its poor mechanical properties, rapid degradation profile, and difficulty in precise application. Solution blow spinning (SBS), a polymer fiber deposition technique, allows for the placement of in situ tissue‐conforming and tissue‐adherent scaffolds with exceptional mechanical properties. While biodegradable polymers such as poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) have desirable strength, they exhibit bulk biodegradation rates and inflammatory profiles that limit their use as adhesion barriers and result in poor tissue adhesion. Here, viscoelastic poly(lactide‐co‐caprolactone) (PLCL) is used for its pertinent biodegradation mechanism. Because it degrades via surface erosion, spray deposited PLCL fibers can dissolve new connections formed by inflamed tissue, allowing them to function as an effective, durable, and easy‐to‐apply adhesion barrier. Degradation kinetics are tuned to match adhesion formation through the design of PLCL blends comprised of highly adhesive “low”‐molecular weight (LMW) constituents in a mechanically robust “high”‐molecular weight (HMW) matrix. In vitro studies demonstrate that blending LMW PLCL (30% w/v) with HMW PLCL (70% w/v) yields an anti‐fibrotic yet tissue‐adhesive polymer sealant with a 14‐day erosion rate countering adhesion formation. PLCL blends additionally exhibit improved wet tissue adhesion strength (~10 kPa) over a 14‐day period versus previously explored biodegradable polymer compositions, such as PLGA. In a mouse cecal ligation model, select PLCL blends significantly reduce abdominal adhesions severity versus no treatment and Seprafilm‐treated controls.
Dynamic monitoring serum tumor markers to predict molecular features of EGFR‐mutated lung cancer during targeted therapy
Authors: Chen Zhuxing , Liu Liping , Zhu Feng , Cai Xiuyu , Zhao Yi , Liang Peng , Ou Limin , Zhong Ran , Yu Ziwen , Li Caichen , Li Jianfu , Xiong Shan , Feng Yi , Cheng Bo , Liang Hengrui , Xie Zhanhong , Liang Wenhua , He Jianxing
Published: May 2022

To reveal the correlation of dynamic serum tumor markers (STMs) and molecular features of epidermal growth factor receptor‐mutated (EGFR‐mutated) lung cancer during targeted therapy, we retrospectively reviewed 303 lung cancer patients who underwent dynamic STM tests [neuron‐specific enolase (NSE), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), carbohydrate antigen 153 (CA153), the soluble fragment of cytokeratin 19 (CYFRA21‐1), and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC)] and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing with a panel covering 168 genes. At baseline, patients with EGFR mutation trended to have abnormal CEA, abnormal CA153, and normal SCC levels. Additionally, patients with Thr790Met (T790M) mutation were more likely to have abnormal CEA levels than patients without T790M mutation. Among patients with secondary resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), the dynamic STMs showed a descending trend in the responsive stage and a rising trend in the resistant stage. However, the changing slopes differed between T790M subgroup and the non‐T790M subgroup in individual STMs. Our study demonstrated that the combination of baseline levels and variations of STMs (including the responsive stage and resistant stage) can be suggestive of secondary EGFR‐T790M mutation [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.897] and that changing trends of STMs (within 8 weeks after initiating the TKI therapy) can be potential predictors for the clearance of EGFR ctDNA [AUC = 0.871]. In conclusion, dynamic monitoring STMs can help to predict the molecular features of EGFR‐mutated lung cancer during targeted therapy.
DIAPH3 is a prognostic biomarker and inhibit colorectal cancer progression through maintaining EGFR degradation
Authors: Huang Renli , Wu Cheng , Wen Jialing , Yu Jianyang , Zhu Huidong , Yu Jinlong , Zou Zhaowei
Published: May 2022

Background

Actin cytoskeleton is connected with the processes of cell proliferation and migration in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, it is unknown how to accomplish these adjustments in CRC by actin cytoskeleton genes (ACGs) and here we investigated the role of hub prognosis‐related ACGs‐Diaphanous‐related formin 3 (DIAPH3) in CRC, as a potential, novel target.

Methods

The ACGs gene set from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) was used to group CRC patients and select prognosis‐related ACGs by univariate and multivariate Cox regression for constructing prognostic model. Next, we tested hub prognosis‐related ACGs‐ DIAPH3 expression in CRC and clarified the role of DIAPH3 by shRNA constructs in KM12 and SW480. Activation of EGFR was analyzed by western blot and immunofluorescence.

Results

The results showed that actin cytoskeleton function is a significant prognostic factor for CRC patients and related to clinicopathological characteristics such as T stage and lymph node metastasis. A prognostic model constructed by four prognosis‐related ACGs has a moderate intensity to 1‐year Survival (AUC = 0.71). And hub prognosis‐related ACGs DIAPH3 is downregulated in CRC. Knockdown of DIAPH3 could promote the proliferation and migration capacity of CRC. In addition, DIAPH3‐silenced cells increase EGFR phosphorylation by inhibiting EGFR transportation to lysosome.

Conclusions

ACGs play a significant role in tumor invasion and have the potential to predict the prognosis of CRC. Prognosis‐related ACGs DIAPH3 might be a new prognostic biomarker and DIAPH3 could inhibit CRC progression through maintaining EGFR degradation.
A review of biologically active flavonoids as inducers of autophagy and apoptosis in neoplastic cells and as cytoprotective agents in non‐neoplastic cells
Authors: D'Arcy Mark S.
Published: May 2022

Phytochemicals are a diverse group of compounds found in various fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes. Many phytochemicals have been observed to possess health benefits. Some have been found to be chemoprotective or can act as chemotherapeutics by inducing autophagy, apoptosis, or otherwise regulating the cell cycle. Many also act as potent antioxidants. Flavonoids are a subclass of bioactive phytochemicals consisting of two phenolic benzene rings, joined together by a heterocyclic pyran or pyrone. It has been observed in multiple studies that there is a correlation between diets rich in flavonoids and a reduction in cancer levels, heart disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and other pathologies. As foods containing flavonoids are widely consumed, and their mechanisms of action are still only partially understood, this review was compiled to compare the effects and mechanisms of action of some of the most widely characterized and publicized flavonoids. The flavonoids silibinin, quercetin, isorhamnetin, luteolin, curcumin genkwanin, and acacetin, together with flavonoid extracts from papaw and Tephroseris kirilowii (Turcz) Holub, a member of the Daisy family, were found to be potent regulators of the cell cycle. The decision to overview these specific flavonoids was based on their therapeutic effects, and/or their potential effects. The sparsity of data comparing these flavonoids was also a key consideration. These flavonoids all modulated to some extent the pathways of autophagy and/or apoptosis and regulated the cell cycle, inflammation, and free radical levels. This explains why they are protective of healthy or moderately damaged cells, but toxic to neoplastic or pre‐cancerous cells.
Missing data analysis with sufficient dimension reduction
Authors: Zheng Siming , Wan Alan T. K. , Zhou Yong
Published: May 2022

This article develops a two‐step procedure for estimating the unknown parameters in a model that contains a fixed but large number of covariates, more moment conditions than unknown parameters, and responses that are missing at random. We propose a sufficient dimension reduction method to be implemented in the first step and prove that the method is asymptotically valid. In the second step, we apply three well‐known missing data handling mechanisms together with the generalized method of moments to the reduced‐dimensional subspace to obtain estimates of unknown parameters. We investigate the theoretical properties of the proposed methods, including the effects of dimension reduction on the asymptotic distributions of the estimators. Our results refute a claim in an earlier study that dimension reduction yields the same asymptotic distributions of estimators as when the reduced‐dimensional structure is the true structure. We illustrate our method by way of a simulation study and a real clinical trial data example.
Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Gu Gaoyang , Wu Jing , Gao Xiaofei , Liu Meijun , Jin Chaolun , Xu Yizhou
Published: May 2022

Background

Catheter ablation (CA) is an effective treatment for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The potential of CA to benefit AF patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is uncertain.

Hypothesis

CA may be safe and effective for patients with HFpEF.

Methods

The Medline, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for studies evaluating CA for AF patients with HFpEF.

Results

A total of seven trials with 1696 patients were included. Pooled analyses demonstrated similar procedure and fluoroscopy time regarding the use of CA for patients with HFpEF and without HF (weighted mean difference [WMD]: 0.40; 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.01–0.81, p = .05 and [WMD: 0.05; 95% CI: −0.18–0.28, p = .68]). Moreover, CA was effective in maintaining sinus rhythm (SR) in patients with HFpEF and noninferior for patients without HF [risk ratio (RR): 0.92; 95% CI: 0.76–1.10, p = .34). Additionally, CA tended to significantly maintain SR (RR: 4.73; 95% CI: 1.86–12.03, p = .001) and reduce rehospitalization for HF compared with medical therapy (RR: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.19–0.71, p = .003). However, no significant differences were found between two groups regarding the mortality rate (p = .59).

Conclusion

CA is a potential treatment strategy for patients with HFpEF and demonstrates equivalent efficacy to that of patients without HF. Moreover, the benefits of CA in maintaining SR and reducing rehospitalization of HF patients were significantly better than those of medical therapy. Additional randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm our results.
Primary chondrosarcomas of the larynx treated with proton radiotherapy: A single institutional experience
Authors: Mahase Sean S. , Singh Bhuvanesh , Wong Richard J. , Ganly Ian , Boyle Jay O. , Patel Snehal G. , Lee Nancy Y.
Published: May 2022

Background

Primary laryngeal chondrosarcomas are rare entities whose excellent survival rates following resection promote conservative surgical approaches to maintain quality of life without compromising outcomes. There are excellent outcomes in skull base chondrosarcomas treated with maximal safe resection and post‐operative proton therapy. Extrapolating from these findings, we report our institutional experience treating symptomatic or growing laryngeal chondrosarcomas using proton beam therapy.

Cases

Demographic information, clinical characteristics, treatment details, and follow‐up data were collected and summarized. Patients were monitored with serial imaging and examination. Stable disease was defined as no progression of disease on imaging. Two patients underwent subtotal resections followed by post‐operative radiotherapy, while two patients received definitive radiotherapy. All patients are currently alive with stable disease at their last follow‐up.

Conclusion

This case series provides initial evidence for excellent outcomes with maximal safe surgical resection followed by proton beam therapy for patients with symptomatic or growing laryngeal chondrosarcomas. Larger studies are warranted to determine the optimal therapeutic approach.
Molybdenum Cofactor Catabolism Unravels the Physiological Role of the Drug Metabolizing Enzyme Thiopurine S‐Methyltransferase
Authors: Pristup Julika , Schaeffeler Elke , Arjune Sita , Hofmann Ute , Angel Santamaria‐Araujo Jose , Leuthold Patrick , Friedrich Nele , Nauck Matthias , Mayr Simon , Haag Mathias , Muerdter Thomas , Marner Franz‐Josef , Relling Mary V. , Evans William E. , Schwarz Guenter , Schwab Matthias
Published: May 2022

Therapy of molybdenum cofactor (Moco) deficiency has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 2021. Whereas urothione, the urinary excreted catabolite of Moco, is used as diagnostic biomarker for Moco‐deficiency, its catabolic pathway remains unknown. Here, we identified the urothione‐synthesizing methyltransferase using mouse liver tissue by anion exchange/size exclusion chromatography and peptide mass fingerprinting. We show that the catabolic Moco S‐methylating enzyme corresponds to thiopurine S‐methyltransferase (TPMT), a highly polymorphic drug‐metabolizing enzyme associated with drug‐related hematotoxicity but unknown physiological role. Urothione synthesis was investigated in vitro using recombinantly expressed human TPMT protein, liver lysates from Tpmt wild‐type and knock‐out (Tpmt−/−) mice as well as human liver cytosol. Urothione levels were quantified by liquid‐chromatography tandem mass spectrometry in the kidneys and urine of mice. TPMT‐genotype/phenotype and excretion levels of urothione were investigated in human samples and validated in an independent population‐based study. As Moco provides a physiological substrate (thiopterin) of TPMT, thiopterin‐methylating activity was associated with TPMT activity determined with its drug substrate (6‐thioguanin) in mice and humans. Urothione concentration was extremely low in the kidneys and urine of Tpmt−/− mice. Urinary urothione concentration in TPMT‐deficient patients depends on common TPMT polymorphisms, with extremely low levels in homozygous variant carriers (TPMT*3A/*3A) but normal levels in compound heterozygous carriers (TPMT*3A/*3C) as validated in the population‐based study. Our work newly identified an endogenous substrate for TPMT and shows an unprecedented link between Moco catabolism and drug metabolism. Moreover, the TPMT example indicates that phenotypic consequences of genetic polymorphisms may differ between drug‐ and endogenous substrates.