bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Statin Use and Mortality among Patients Hospitalized with Sepsis: A Retrospective Cohort Study within Southern California, 2008–2018
Authors: Liang Brannen , Yang Su-jau T. , Wei Kenneth K. , Yu Albert S. , Kim Brendan J. , Gould Michael K. , Sim John J.
Published: May 2022

Background. Despite early goal-directed therapy, sepsis mortality remains high. Statins exhibit pleiotropic effects. Objective. We sought to compare mortality outcomes among statin users versus nonusers who were hospitalized with sepsis. Methods. Retrospective cohort study of patients (age ≥18 years) during 1/1/2008–9/30/2018. Mortality was compared between statin users and nonusers and within statin users (hydrophilic versus lipophilic, fungal versus synthetic derivation, and individual statins head-to-head). Multivariable Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for 30-day and 90-day mortality. Inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) analysis was performed to account for indication bias. Results. Among 128,161 sepsis patients, 34,088 (26.6%) were prescribed statin drugs prior to admission. Statin users compared to nonusers had a 30-day and 90-day mortality HR (95% CI) of 0.80 (0.77–0.83) and 0.79 (0.77–0.81), respectively. Synthetic derived statin users compared to fungal derived users had a 30- and 90-day mortality HR (95% CI) of 0.86 (0.81–0.91) and 0.85 (0.81–0.89), respectively. Hydrophilic statin users compared to lipophilic users had a 30-day and 90-day mortality HR (95% CI) of 0.90 (0.81–1.01) and 0.86 (0.78–0.94), respectively. Compared to simvastatin, 30-day mortality HRs (95% CI) were 0.85 (0.66–1.10), 0.87 (0.82–0.92), 0.87 (0.76–0.98), and 1.22 (1.10–1.36) for rosuvastatin, atorvastatin, pravastatin, and lovastatin, respectively. Conclusion. Statin use was associated with lower mortality in patients hospitalized with sepsis. Hydrophilic and synthetic statins were associated with better outcomes than lipophilic and fungal-based preparations.
Effect of Different Repair and Reconstruction Methods Combined with Psychological Intervention on Quality of Life and Negative Emotion in Patients with Oral Cancer
Authors: Wang LinHu , Dong QingShan , Ye Mingfu , Du Jiao , Zhou RongHua , Cai XianHua
Published: May 2022

Objective. To explore the effects of different repair and reconstruction methods combined with psychological intervention on the quality of life and negative emotion of patients with oral cancer. Methods. 180 patients with oral cancer treated in our hospital from January 2018 to January 2020 were randomly divided into group A, group B, and group C, with 60 cases in each group. Group A and group B were repaired with submental island flap and free flap, respectively. Group C was divided into two groups, and group C was treated with routine nursing intervention. Group A and group B received psychological intervention. Clinical symptom scores, complication rate (CR), quality of life (according to the University of Washington quality of life questionnaire, UW-QOL), and negative emotion scores were compared. Results. After intervention, the clinical symptom scores and negative emotion scores of groups A and B were lower than those of group C (

P
<
0.001

), as well as the CR (

P
<
0.05

), and the UW-QOL scores of groups A and B were higher than those of group C (

P
<
0.05

), but no significant differences in these aspects were presented between group A and group B (

P
>
0.05

). The main factors affecting quality of life were swallowing/chewing, language, and saliva in group A; swallowing/chewing, language, and taste in group B; and appearance, swallowing/chewing, emotion, and language in group C. Conclusion. Psychological intervention can improve the mental state of patients with oral cancer after operation, optimize the effect of operation, and improve the quality of life. As the effect of psychological intervention on patients undergoing different repair and reconstruction methods is similar, it should be given according to patients’ actual condition in the clinic.
Research on Logistics Distribution Vehicle Path Optimization Based on Simulated Annealing Algorithm
Authors: Yang Li
Published: May 2022

With the continuous development of Internet technology, e-commerce has gradually become a popular field. As an important part of China’s tertiary industry, the rapid development of e-commerce has played a huge role in promoting the development of the domestic economy. At the same time, e-commerce has also greatly contributed to the development of the logistics industry. Hence, with the rapid growth of the economy and the rapid development of e-commerce, the construction of logistics and distribution systems plays an essential role in the process of urban development. A perfect logistics and distribution system can promote the overall economic efficiency of the city and facilitate people’s daily lives. In addition, the development of logistics systems can meet the escalating needs of consumers and the increasingly competitive market environment, thus promoting the transformation of e-commerce retail enterprises to high-quality development. The simulated annealing algorithm is an effective approximation algorithm for solving optimization problems, and the application of this algorithm to path optimization problems can be of practical value in solving problems in urban road traffic and logistics distribution. Therefore, exploring logistics distribution vehicle route optimization is of great practical significance to optimize the allocation of resources in cities, improve the economic efficiency of enterprises, and solve the problems of urban traffic congestion and can provide reference for relevant departments in their decision-making. This paper focuses on how to optimize vehicle paths in the logistics distribution process and constructs a path optimization model that satisfies the multiobjective premise. The path problem is solved using the simulated annealing algorithm, and the results are analyzed.
Data Confidentiality in Healthcare Monitoring Systems Based on Image Steganography to Improve the Exchange of Patient Information Using the Internet of Things
Authors: AlEisa Hussah N.
Published: May 2022

Recently, with the availability of fast and reliable Internet, the distance between a patient and a doctor is becoming unimportant. Physicians will be able to request the medical images of their patients regardless of the geographical area. However, a lot of challenges face such successful implementation. To facilitate remote diagnosis, patient electronic medical record (EMR), including medical images, that originates in one system needs to be exchanged either within the same organization or across different organizations. Steganography is the practice of concealing a secret message inside a cover medium. In this paper, steganography will be used to embed the patient’s personal information securely and imperceptibly in their medical images to enhance confidentiality in case of a distant diagnosis. The security of the medical data is improved to maintain confidentiality and integrity using IoT. The least significant bit of the approximate coefficient of integer wavelet transform is proposed. The distortion between the cover image and stego-image is obtained by measuring the mean square error and PSNR, and normalized cross-correlation is utilized to estimate the degree of closeness between the cover image and stego-image.
Pharmacological Potential of Avicennia alba Leaf Extract: An Experimental Analysis Focusing on Antidiabetic, Anti‐inflammatory, Analgesic, and Antidiarrheal Activity
Authors: Mitra Saikat , Islam Fahadul , Das Rajib , Urmee Humaira , Akter Aklima , Idris Abubakr M. , Khandaker Mayeen Uddin , Almikhlafi Mohannad A. , Sharma Rohit , Emran Talha Bin
Published: May 2022

Avicennia alba is a mangrove plant that is extensively used to treat severe health issues. This focus of this study was to investigate the antidiabetic, anti‐inflammatory, analgesic, and antidiarrheal activities of methanolic extract of A. alba leaves in Swiss albino mouse model. The antidiabetic, anti‐inflammatory, analgesic, and antidiarrheal activities of the leaf extract were performed using alloxan‐monohydrate, carrageenan‐induced paw edema, acetic acid‐induced writhing test and the hot plate method, and castor oil‐induced method, respectively. The extract was used at doses ranging from 200 to 500 mg/kg to conduct the investigation. Leaf extract at 400 and 500 mg/kg showed potent antidiabetic activity in alloxan‐induced diabetic mice. Advanced research is needed to control blood glucose levels and carrageenan paw edema‐based anti‐inflammatory effects. Both tests showed statistically significant result in a dose‐dependent manner. The maximum dose (500 mg/kg) demonstrated potent analgesic activity in both writhing test and hot plate method. The plant extract also showed significant antidiarrheal activity at 400 and 500 mg/kg in experimental mice. However, more research is needed to explore the possible mechanisms and isolate the compounds associated with these bioactivities from the leaf extract of A. alba.
A Comparative Analysis of the Forecasted Mortality Rate under Normal Conditions and the COVID‐19 Excess Mortality Rate in Malaysia
Authors: Edrus Robiaatul Adawiah , Siri Zailan , Haron Mohd Azmi , Safari Muhammad Aslam Mohd , Kaabar Mohammed K. A.
Published: May 2022

SARS‐CoV‐2, known as COVID‐19, has affected the entire world, resulting in an unexpected death rate as compared to the death probability before the pandemic. Prior to the COVID‐19 pandemic, death probability has been assessed in a normal context that is different from those anticipated during the pandemic, particularly for the older population cluster. However, there is no such evidence of excess mortality in Malaysia to date. Therefore, this study determines the excess mortality rate for specific age groups during the pandemic outbreak in Malaysia. Before determining the excess mortality rate, this study aims to establish the efficiency of various parametrized mortality models in reference to the data set before the pandemic. This study employs the hold‐out, repeated hold‐out, and leave‐one‐out cross‐validation procedures to identify the optimal mortality law for fitting the mortality data. Based on the goodness‐of‐fit measures (mean absolute percentage error, mean absolute error, sum square error, and mean square error), the Heligman‐Pollard model for men and Rogers Planck model for women are considered as the optimal models. In assessing the excess mortality, both models favour the hold‐out technique. When the COVID‐19 mortality data are incorporated to forecast the mortality rate for people aged 60 and above, there is an excess mortality rate. However, the men’s mortality rate appears to be delayed and more prolonged than the women’s mortality rate. Consequently, the government is recommended to amend the existing policy to reflect the post COVID‐19 mortality forecast.
Assessment of Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Property of Polyphenol-Rich Chitosan-Pineapple Peel Film
Authors: Jatav Jyoti , Tarafdar Ayon , Saravanan Chakkaravarthi , Bhattacharya Bhaswati
Published: May 2022

This work aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial capacities of pineapple peel extract-incorporated chitosan films to establish its utility as an active food packaging film. Total phenol and total flavonoids in ethanolic pineapple peel extract (11.1 ± 0.82 mg GAE/g sample, 3.86 ± 0.4 mg Quercetin/g sample) were determined to be higher than those in methanolic pineapple peel extract (7.98 ± 0.55 mg GAE/g sample, 2.37 ± 0.13 mg quercetin/g sample) and higher antioxidant activity was observed for pineapple peel ethanolic extract (PEE). Similarly, PEE-enriched chitosan film also reported greater antioxidant activity compared to pineapple peel methanolic extract (PME)-incorporated chitosan film. The total phenols, flavonoids, and significant antioxidant activity were accounted due to the contents of ferulic acids, quercetin, and kaempferol in both PEE and PME quantified via triple quadrupole LC/MS/MS system. These alcoholic extracts exhibited significant inhibitory zones against both Gram-positive (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium) food-borne bacterial strains. PME exhibited the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration (0.625 mg/ml) against B. cereus. Pure chitosan films at ≥7 log CFU/ml after 24 h showed lower log reduction for all the bacterial organisms, whereas the chitosan-PEE (at ≤5 logs CFU/ml) and chitosan-PME (at ≤6 log CFU/ml) films expressed higher log reduction for all the four bacterial isolates. Thus, this work led to the utilization of the pineapple peel waste as well as provided an alternative to nonbiodegradable packaging films.
Camera Calibration for Long-Distance Photogrammetry Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Authors: Zhang Yang , Yang Jun , Li Guoliang , Zhao Tianqing , Song Xiaokai , Zhang Suoqi , Li Ang , Bian Hui , Li Jin , Zhang Min
Published: May 2022

The traditional target-dependent camera calibration method has been widely used in close-distance and small field of view scenes. However, in view of the field coordinate measurement in the large-scale monitoring area under the complex field environment, the standard target can hardly meet the requirements of covering most of the camera’s field of view. In view of the above problem, a stereo camera calibration method is studied, using the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) as feature points, combined with the high-precision position information measured by the real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning system it carries. The measured UAV coordinates are unified in World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS-84). Therefore, through several preset points, the measurement reference coordinate system which is the new world coordinate system we need can be established in any monitoring area, which greatly improves the flexibility of measurement. The experimental results show that the measurement accuracy of the proposed method can reach 0.5% in the monitoring area with a diameter of 100 m. The calibration method has a wide range of application and does not need the traditional standard target, and the measurement reference coordinate system can be established according to the actual needs. It is suitable for field spatial coordinate measurement in long-distance and complex terrain environment.
Dual-Channel and Two-Stage Dehazing Network for Promoting Ship Detection in Visual Perception System
Authors: Liu Ting , Zhou Baijun
Published: May 2022

Maritime video surveillance of visual perception system has become an essential method to guarantee unmanned surface vessels (USV) traffic safety and security in maritime applications. However, when visual data are collected in a foggy marine environment, the essential optical information is often hidden in the fog, potentially resulting in decreased accuracy of ship detection. Therefore, a dual-channel and two-stage dehazing network (DTDNet) is proposed to improve the clarity and quality of the image to guarantee reliable ship detection under foggy conditions. Specifically, an upper and lower sampling structure is introduced to expand the original two-stage dehazing network into a two-channel network, to further capture the image features from different scale. Meanwhile, the attention mechanism is combined to provide different weights for different feature maps to maintain more image information. Furthermore, the perceptual function is constructed with the MSE-based loss function, so that it can better reduce the gap between the dehazing image and the unhazy image. Extensive experiments show that DTDNet has a better dehazing performance on both visual effects and quantitative index than other state-of-the-art dehazing networks. Moreover, the dehazing network is combined with the problem of ship detection under a sea-fog environment, and experiment results demonstrate that our network can be effectively applied to improve the visual perception performance of USV.
Analysis of Bacterial Community Composition and Ecological Function during Soft Rot Process in Pitaya (Hylocereus spp.) Stems
Authors: Peng Zhijun , Guan Jingqiang , Mou Dan , Zou Xiao , Wang Bin , Jin Jilin , Zhang Xingwu , Luo Hui
Published: May 2022

The soft rot in pitaya (Hylocereus spp.) stems seriously affected the harvest of pitaya fruits, but the dynamic change characteristics of bacterial community in pitaya stems during soft rot stages had not been revealed. In this study, we analyzed the bacterial community composition of different soft rot stages and visualized functional annotations of the core bacterial community in five soft rot periods via the Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology, MetaCoMET online network platform, and FAPROTAX database. The results showed that the dominant bacteria in healthy and diseased pitaya stems were Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, Sphingomonas, and Sphingobacterium were the core bacteria microbiomes during the infection stages. Meanwhile, the ecological function analysis results showed that the Enterobacter and Pseudomonas bacteria may play an important role in causing soft rot of pitaya stems. Therefore, the results shown in this paper could provide a useful reference for the study on microecological mechanism of soft rot of pitaya stems.
Empirical Analysis and Suggestions on the Selection of City Leading Industries based on SSM Algorithm
Authors: Lin Junhang , Liu Yong , Tang Hua , Zeng Huipeng , Li Shiyuan
Published: May 2022

City leading industries are the pillars of urban economic development and are constantly changing as urban economic development enters different stages. The weight setting of many factors in the existing leading industry selection methods and means is mainly set by humans, which is highly subjective and lacks dynamics, integrity, and quantification, and the accuracy of prediction results is not high. Therefore, starting from respecting objective data, the SSM selection method with both dynamic and quantifiable properties is introduced. Based on the SSM mathematical model and principles, 35 manufacturing industries in Guangzhou in 2015 and 2020 are selected as initial variables and stage variables, respectively, taking 35 corresponding industrial sectors in the province as reference variables at the same time point and using the SSM algorithm as an analytical tool to conduct an empirical analysis of the share deviation component, structural deviation component, and competitiveness deviation component of the 35 manufacturing industry sectors in Guangzhou. After drawing the Shift-share analysis chart, it was found that there are 12 industrial sectors most likely to become the city leading industries in Guangzhou, and 4 suggestions for the development planning of city leading industries were put forward; they are, respectively, ➀ accelerate traditional industries technological upgrading, ➁ focus on optimizing automobile manufacturing industry, ➂ promote leading industries independent innovation, and ➃ create leading industry sharing platform.
Numerical Study of Wave Dynamics over Island Reefs Based on Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics Method
Authors: Wang Degang , Li Siheng , Sun Li , Zhang Zhenke , Huang Panyang
Published: May 2022

Coastal areas are suffering from an increasing number of hazards like storm surge or flooding. Luckily, reefs can reduce the risk because of their particular wave dynamic characteristics. In this study, a numerical wave flume is established to simulate the topography of fringing reefs around islands. The smoothed particle hydrodynamics- (SPH-) finite particle method (FPM) scheme is used to deal with Navier–Stokes equations, and the boundary repulsion method is used to deal with the solid wall boundary. The wave propagating and breaking processes over island reefs under regular wave incidence are simulated. The results are compared with the experimental results in the literature, showing that the numerical model can simulate the wave propagating process on the island reef terrain very well. The wave propagation over the island reef terrain experienced the processes of shoaling, breaking, reforming, and so on, and most waves break in the plunging form. The processes of wave-induced setup accompanied with wave breaking before and after the reef ridge were also simulated.
Semantic Modeling and Pixel Discrimination for Image Manipulation Detection
Authors: Xue Ziyu , Jiang Xiuhua , Liu Qingtong
Published: May 2022

Image manipulation methods, such as the copy-move, splicing, and removal methods, have become increasingly mature and changed the common perception of “seeing is believing.” The credibility of digital media has been seriously damaged with the development of image manipulation methods. Most image manipulation detection methods detect traces of tampering pixel by pixel. As a result, the detected manipulation areas are separated, which results in insufficient consideration of content manipulation at the object level. In this paper, the detection of image manipulation areas based on forgery object detection and pixel discrimination is proposed. Specifically, the pixel-level detection branch resamples features and uses an LSTM to detect manipulations, such as resampling, rotation, and cropping. The goal of the forgery object detection branch, which is based on Faster R-CNN, is to extract the regions of interest and analyze the regions with high contrast as well as the forgery objects of the image. Furthermore, the fused heatmaps of the two branches are integrated with the object detection results. The noise in the heatmaps is shielded based on the forgery object information of the region proposal network. Experimental results on multiple standard forgery datasets have demonstrated the superiority of our proposed method compared with the state-of-the-art methods.
Myeloma Genome Project Panel is a Comprehensive Targeted Genomics Panel for Molecular Profiling of Patients with Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Sudha Parvathi , Ahsan Aarif , Ashby Cody , Kausar Tasneem , Khera Akhil , Kazeroun Mohammad H. , Hsu Chih-Chao , Wang Lin , Fitzsimons Evelyn , Salminen Outi , Blaney Patrick , Czader Magdalena , Williams Jonathan , Abu Zaid Mohammad I. , Ansari-Pour Naser , Yong Kwee L. , van Rhee Frits , Pierceall William E. , Morgan Gareth J. , Flynt Erin , Gooding Sarah , Abonour Rafat , Ramasamy Karthik , Thakurta Anjan , Walker Brian A.
Published: May 2022

Purpose:

We designed a comprehensive multiple myeloma targeted sequencing panel to identify common genomic abnormalities in a single assay and validated it against known standards.

Experimental Design:

The panel comprised 228 genes/exons for mutations, 6 regions for translocations, and 56 regions for copy number abnormalities (CNA). Toward panel validation, targeted sequencing was conducted on 233 patient samples and further validated using clinical FISH (translocations), multiplex ligation probe analysis (MLPA; CNAs), whole-genome sequencing (WGS; CNAs, mutations, translocations), or droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) of known standards (mutations).

Results:

Canonical immunoglobulin heavy chain translocations were detected in 43.2% of patients by sequencing, and aligned with FISH except for 1 patient. CNAs determined by sequencing and MLPA for 22 regions were comparable in 103 samples and concordance between platforms was R2 = 0.969. Variant allele frequency (VAF) for 74 mutations were compared between sequencing and ddPCR with concordance of R2 = 0.9849.

Conclusions:

In summary, we have developed a targeted sequencing panel that is as robust or superior to FISH and WGS. This molecular panel is cost-effective, comprehensive, clinically actionable, and can be routinely deployed to assist risk stratification at diagnosis or posttreatment to guide sequencing of therapies.
Vitamin D Receptor/Vitamin D Response Element Directly Modulate Nestin Transcription to Ameliorate PAN-Induced Podocyte Morphological Changes
Authors: Zhang Qian , Jiang Xinxin , Wen Donghai , Zhang Yulin , Mao Jianping , Ni Li , Chen Jing
Published: May 2022

Background: The change of podocyte morphology is a pathologic feature of chronic kidney disease. Several studies have suggested that vitamin D plays a role in the protection of podocytes, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Methods: The effects of paricalcitol on podocyte injury were tested in a puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN)-induced rat model and cultured mouse podocytes. Proteinuria, podocyte foot process (FP) effacement, and the expression of nestin and vitamin D receptor (VDR) were evaluated. VDR-siRNA or plasmids containing VDR-shRNA were transfected into podocytes to silence VDR expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and luciferase reporter assays were performed to verify the connection between VDR and nestin gene expression. Results: Paricalcitol significantly alleviated proteinuria and podocyte FP effacement in PAN-induced nephrosis, which was accompanied by increased VDR expression in the glomeruli. Paricalcitol also inhibited PAN-induced nestin overexpression in the glomeruli. In an in vivo study, PAN significantly inhibited VDR protein expression, stimulated nestin protein expression, and resulted in nestin filament derangement in mouse podocytes, while paricalcitol treatment abolished these effects. In contrast, downregulation of VDR resulted in derangement and overexpression of nestin. ChIP assays demonstrated the presence of a vitamin D response element (VDRE) in the nestin promoter, and paricalcitol enhanced the binding of VDR to VDRE. Furthermore, luciferase reporter assays of the nestin promoter fragment showed that paricalcitol effectively repressed nestin reporter gene expression after PAN treatment, and mutation of VDRE abolished this effect. Conclusions: Paricalcitol directly regulates nestin transcription through the interaction of VDR/VDRE, thereby preventing morphological changes of podocytes in PAN nephropathy.
New Normal Mask-Wearing and Its Impact on Underneath Skin Microbiome: A Cross-Sectional Study in Mild Acne Vulgaris Patients
Authors: Wongtada Chanidapa , Puaratana-arunkon Thanaporn , Prombutara Pinidphon , Asawanonda Pravit , Noppakun Nopadon , Kumtornrut Chanat , Chatsuwan Tanittha
Published: May 2022

Introduction: Prolonged mask-wearing could modulate the skin microenvironment resulting in several facial dermatoses. Microbial dysbiosis is proposed to be linked with these changes; however, data regarding the association is still limited. Accordingly, we aimed to explore the impact of face masks on the skin’s bacterial microbiota. Methods: We classified participants into short (<4 h/day) and long (≥4 h/day) mask-wearing time (SMWT and LMWT) groups according to mask-wearing time per day in the previous 2 weeks. Specimens were swabbed from the cheek and forehead of 45 mild acne vulgaris patients, representing mask-covered area (MCA) and mask-uncovered area (MUA), respectively. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing and QIIME2 were used to characterize bacterial communities. Results: There were 12 (26.7%) and 33 (73.3%) participants in SMWT and LMWT, respectively. There were no significant differences in beta diversity across MCA/MUA or LMWT/SMWT groups. In alpha-diversity, the evenness on MCA was significantly lower in LMWT than in SMWT (p value = 0.049). Among all groups, the relative abundance of bacterial taxa was similar, showing Actinobacteriota and Firmicutes, and Cutibacterium and Staphylococcus as the most predominant phyla and genera, respectively. Conclusion: Our results showed no significant impact of mask-wearing on the skin microbiota in mild acne vulgaris participants.
Mode of Delivery and Incidence of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: Results from the Population-Based EPICE Cohort
Authors: Ehrhardt Harald , Desplanches Thomas , van Heijst Arno F.J. , Toome Liis , Fenton Alan , Torchin Héloïse , Nuytten Alexandra , Mazela Jan , Zeitlin Jennifer , Maier Rolf F. ,   on behalf of the EPICE/SHIPS Research Group
Published: May 2022

Introduction: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) represents a tremendous disease burden following preterm birth. The strong association between compromised gas exchange after birth and BPD demands particular focus on the perinatal period. The mode of delivery can impact on lung fluid clearance and microbial colonization, but its impact on BPD and potential trade-off effects between death and BPD are not established. Methods: A total of 7,435 live births (24+0 to 31+6 weeks postmenstrual age) in 19 regions of 11 European countries were included. Principal outcomes were death and BPD at 36 weeks. We estimated unadjusted and adjusted associations with mode of delivery using multilevel logistic regression to account for clustering within units and regions. Sensitivity analyses examined effects, taking into consideration regional variations in C-section rates. Results: Compared to vaginal delivery, delivery by C-section was not associated with the incidence of BPD (OR 0.92, 95% CI: 0.68–1.25) or the composite outcome of death or BPD (OR 0.94, 95% CI: 0.74–1.19) after adjustment for perinatal and neonatal risk factors in the total cohort and in pregnancies for whom a vaginal delivery could be considered. Sensitivity analyses among singletons, infants in cephalic presentation, and infants of ≥26+0 weeks of gestation did not alter the results for BPD, severe BPD, and death or BPD, even in regions with a high C-section rate. Conclusions: In our population-based cohort study, the mode of delivery was not associated with the incidence of BPD. The intention to reduce BPD does not justify a C-section in pregnancies where a vaginal delivery can be considered.
Computed Tomography Assessment of Gastric Band Slippage
Authors: Burt Jeremy R. , Kocher Madison R. , Snider Lauren , Waltz Jeffrey , Chamberlin Jordan Heston , Aquino Gilberto J. , Giovagnoli Vincent , Mercer Megan , Feranec Nicholas
Published: May 2022

Background: The purpose of this study was to develop and validate reliable computed tomography (CT) imaging criteria for the diagnosis of gastric band slippage. Material and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 67 patients for gastric band slippage using CT. Of these, 14 had surgically proven gastric band slippage (study group), 22 had their gastric bands removed for reasons other than slippage (control group 1), and 31 did not require removal (control group 2). All of the studies were read independently by two radiologists in a blinded fashion. The “O” sign, phi angle, amount of inferior displacement from the esophageal hiatus, and gastric pouch size were used to create CT diagnostic criteria. Standard statistical methods were used. Results: There was good overall interobserver agreement for diagnosis of gastric band slippage using CT diagnostic criteria (kappa = 0.83). Agreement was excellent for the “O” sign (kappa = 0.93) and phi angle (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.976). The “O” sign, inferior displacement from the hiatus >3.5 cm, and gastric pouch volume >55 cm3 each had 100% positive predictive value. A phi angle <20° or >60° had the highest negative predictive value (NPV) (98%). Of all CT diagnostic criteria, enlarged gastric pouch size was most correlated with band slippage with an AUC of 0.991. Conclusion: All four imaging parameters were useful in evaluating for gastric band slippage on CT, with good interobserver agreement. Of these parameters, enlarged gastric pouch size was most correlated with slippage and abnormal phi angle had the highest NPV.
Increased SERPINB10 Expression in Induced Sputum Was Associated with Airway Type 2 Inflammation in Asthma
Authors: Zong Weifeng , Liang Yuxia , Mo Yuqing
Published: May 2022

Background: Asthma is a common chronic airway inflammation in the world. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of SERPINB10 in induced sputum and its correlation with airway type 2 inflammation in asthma. Methods: We recruited 90 subjects and detected SERPINB10 levels in induced sputum by ELISA and analyzed the correlation between SERPINB10 expression levels and FeNO, eosinophils in peripheral blood, lung function, and Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13). Results: The levels of SERPINB10 in induced sputum in asthmatic patients were higher than healthy controls. SERPINB10 levels in induced sputum were positively correlated with FeNO (r = 0.4620, p < 0.0001) and eosinophils in peripheral blood (r = 0.2500, p = 0.0218) and negatively correlated with FEV1 (%predicted) (r = −0.4161, p < 0.0001) and FEV1/FVC% (r = −0.4383, p < 0.0001). SERPINB10 levels were correlated with Th2 cytokines IL-4 (r = 0.6274, p < 0.0001), IL-5 (r = 0.5166, p < 0.0001), and IL-13 (r = 0.5212, p = 0.0003) in asthma. Conclusions: SERPINB10 levels in induced sputum of asthmatic patients were significantly increased and correlated with asthmatic airway type 2 inflammation. Induced sputum SERPINB10 may be a signature protein for type 2 high asthma and may be a potential target for airway eosinophilic inflammation in asthma.
Uso de substâncias psicoativas entre estudantes de medicina em uma universidade do semiárido brasileiro
Authors: Batista Renan Sorrentino Cabral , Freitas Tereza Brenda Clementino de , Nascimento Ellany Gurgel Cosme do , Martins Remerson Russel , Miranda Francisco Arnoldo Nunes de , Pessoa Júnior João Mário
Published: May 2022

Modelo de estudo: Estudo observacional, descritivo e transversal. Objetivo: Avaliar o uso de substâncias psicoativas entre estudantes de medicina de uma universidade pública do semiárido brasileiro. Metodologia: Estudo realizado com 101 estudantes através de questionário contendo aspectos do perfil sociodemográfico e econômico dos participantes e do questionário sobre triagem do uso de álcool e outras sete substâncias psicoativas (ASSIST). Resultados: O perfil dos participantes se caracterizou pelo predomínio do sexo masculino (52,5%), etnia branca (44,6%), faixa etária entre 18 e 29 anos (88,1%), estado civil solteiro (91,1%). Observa-se prevalência para uso de bebidas alcoólicas 80,2%(81), maconha 32,67%(33) e derivados do tabaco 31,7%(32). As bebidas alcoólicas se destacam majoritariamente no desejo ou fissura 36,6%(37), dentre os demais indicadores/motivações. Obteve-se associação com o sexo masculino para uso de álcool (p=0,025), tabaco (p=0,001), maconha (p=0,016) e inalantes (p=0,018); e maiores de 30 anos para derivados do tabaco (p=0,034), maconha (p=0,005), cocaína/crack (p=0,004), inalantes (p=0,001) e alucinógenos (p=0,012). Conclusão: Evidenciou-se alta taxa de prevalência no uso de bebidas alcoólicas entre os estudantes de medicina em relação às demais substâncias psicoativas consumidas. Reconhece-se a necessidade do desenvolvimento de estratégias voltadas a saúde mental e bem-estar para os estudantes de medicina.
New species and new records of Cosmolaelaps Berlese (Acari: Laelapidae) from Russia, with a review of the Russian species of the genus
Authors: JOHARCHI OMID , DÖKER ISMAIL , KHAUSTOV VLADIMIR A.
Published: May 2022

This paper reports on six species of the genus Cosmolaelaps (Laelapidae) in Russia: Cosmolaelaps lutegiensis (Shcherbak) collected from soil-litter, C. chianensis (Gu) and C. rectangularis Sheals, 1962 from Myrmica sp. (Formicidae), and Cosmolaelaps lasiophilus Joharchi sp. nov., Cosmolaelaps latisetis Joharchi sp. nov., and Cosmolaelaps sejongi Keum et al. from Lasius spp. (Formicidae). Two new species are described and illustrated from adult females and supplementary descriptions of three other species are presented to facilitate species delimitation. In addition, an identification key to all known Russian species of the genus is presented.
Comprehensive analysis of INHBA: A biomarker for anti-TGFβ treatment in head and neck cancer
Authors: Zhang Shunhao , Jin Keyu , Li Tianle , Zhou Maolin , Yang Wenbin
Published: May 2022

Inhibin subunit βA ( INHBA) is a protein-coding gene belonging to the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) superfamily, which is associated with the development of a variety of cancers. However, the role of INHBA in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) remains unclear. The expression profile and prognostic significance of INHBA in HNSC were assessed using a variety of informatics methods. The level of INHBA expression was significantly higher in patients with HNSC, and it was correlated with sex, tumor–node–metastasis (TNM) stage, histological grade, and human papillomavirus (HPV) status. Kaplan–Meier (K–M) analysis indicated that poor overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were significantly associated with INHBA upregulation in HNSC. INHBA overexpression was validated as an independent poor prognostic factor by multivariate Cox regression, and including INHBA expression level in the prognostic model could increase prediction accuracy. In addition, copy number alterations (CNAs) of INHBA and miR-217-5p downregulation are potential mechanisms for elevated INHBA expression in HNSC. In conclusion, INHBA may represent a promising predictive biomarker and candidate target for anti-TGFβ therapy in HNSC.
Relationship of iothalamate clearance and NRM in patients receiving fludarabine and melphalan reduced-intensity conditioning
Authors: Kutzke Jade L. , Merten Julianna A. , Pawlenty Amanda G. , Barreto Erin F. , Bartoo Gabe T. , Mara Kristin C. , Litzow Mark R. , Hogan William J. , Shah Mithun V. , Mangaonkar Abhishek A. , Leung Nelson , Alkhateeb Hassan B.
Published: May 2022

The reduced-intensity conditioning regimen, fludarabine and melphalan, is frequently used in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Melphalan and the active metabolite of fludarabine, F-ara-A, are excreted via the kidneys. Existing methods to assess clearance in this setting are based on serum creatinine, which has known limitations for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimation in patients with malignancy. Measured GFR (mGFR) may better predict drug dosing to mitigate toxicity and increase the chances of successful engraftment. The primary objective of this study was to assess the association between mGFR and risk for nonrelapse mortality (NRM) in patients who have undergone allogeneic HSCT receiving conditioning with fludarabine and melphalan. In the 109 included patients, mGFR <65 mL/min/1.73 m2 predicted a significantly higher rate of overall NRM (hazard ratio [HR], 2.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-4.35; P = 04) and 1-year incidence of infection (HR, 2.63; 95% CI, 1.54-4.55; P < .001) in addition to a significantly lower 2-year survival (P = .019). Kidney function estimated via estimated GFR (eGFR) and estimated creatinine clearance did not correlate with posttransplant outcomes. These results suggest that mGFR is a promising approach for assessing clearance in patients who have undergone allogeneic HSCT and may be preferred to standard creatinine-based eGFR strategies.
Comparative analysis of novel and common reference genes in adult tissues of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis
Authors: Salatiello Federica , Gerdol Marco , Pallavicini Alberto , Locascio Annamaria , Sirakov Maria
Published: May 2022

Background

Real-time quantitative PCR is a widely used method for gene expression analyses in various organisms. Its accuracy mainly relies on the correct selection of reference genes. Any experimental plan involving real-time PCR needs to evaluate the characteristics of the samples to be examined and the relative stability of reference genes. Most studies in mollusks rely on reference genes commonly used in vertebrates.

Results

In this study, we focused on the transcriptome of the bivalve mollusk Mytilus galloprovincialis in physiological state to identify suitable reference genes in several adult tissues. Candidate genes with highly stable expression across 51 RNA-seq datasets from multiple tissues were selected through genome-wide bioinformatics analysis. This approach led to the identification of three genes (Rpl14, Rpl32 and Rpl34), whose suitability was evaluated together with 7 other reference genes commonly reported in literature (Act, Cyp-A, Ef1α, Gapdh, 18S, 28S and Rps4). The stability analyses performed with geNorm, NormFinder and Bestkeeper identified specific either single or pairs of genes suitable as references for gene expression analyses in specific tissues and revealed the Act/Cyp-A pair as the most appropriate to analyze gene expression across different tissues.

Conclusion

Mytilus galloprovincialis is a model system increasingly used in ecotoxicology and molecular studies. Our transcriptome-wide approach represents the first comprehensive investigation aimed at the identification of suitable reference genes for expression studies in this species.
Optimized Cas9:sgRNA delivery efficiently generates biallelic MSTN knockout sheep without affecting meat quality
Authors: Zhou Shiwei , Kalds Peter , Luo Qi , Sun Kexin , Zhao Xiaoe , Gao Yawei , Cai Bei , Huang Shuhong , Kou Qifang , Petersen Bjoern , Chen Yulin , Ma Baohua , Wang Xiaolong
Published: May 2022

Background

CRISPR/Cas9-based genome-editing systems have been used to efficiently engineer livestock species with precise genetic alterations intended for biomedical and agricultural applications. Previously, we have successfully generated gene-edited sheep and goats via one-cell-stage embryonic microinjection of a Cas9 mRNA and single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) mixture. However, most gene-edited animals produced using this approach were heterozygotes. Additionally, non-homozygous gene-editing outcomes may not fully generate the desired phenotype in an efficient manner.

Results

We report the optimization of a Cas9 mRNA-sgRNA delivery system to efficiently generate homozygous myostatin (MSTN) knockout sheep for improved growth and meat production. Firstly, an sgRNA selection software (sgRNAcas9) was used to preliminarily screen for highly efficient sgRNAs. Ten sgRNAs targeting the MSTN gene were selected and validated in vitro using sheep fibroblast cells. Four out of ten sgRNAs (two in exon 1 and two in exon 2) showed a targeting efficiency > 50%. To determine the optimal CRISPR/Cas9 microinjection concentration, four levels of Cas9 mRNA and three levels of sgRNAs in mixtures were injected into sheep embryos. Microinjection of 100 ng/μL Cas9 mRNA and 200 ng/μL sgRNAs resulted in the most improved targeting efficiency. Additionally, using both the highly efficient sgRNAs and the optimal microinjection concentration, MSTN-knockout sheep were generated with approximately 50% targeting efficiency, reaching a homozygous knockout efficiency of 25%. Growth rate and meat quality of MSTN-edited lambs were also investigated. MSTN-knockout lambs exhibited increased body weight and average daily gain. Moreover, pH, drip loss, intramuscular fat, crude protein, and shear force of gluteal muscles of MSTN-knockout lambs did not show changes compared to the wild-type lambs.

Conclusions

This study highlights the importance of in vitro evaluation for the optimization of sgRNAs and microinjection dosage of gene editing reagents. This approach enabled efficient engineering of homozygous knockout sheep. Additionally, this study confirms that MSTN-knockout lambs does not negatively impact meat quality, thus supporting the adoption of gene editing as tool to improve productivity of farm animals.
A patient with severe metformin-associated lactic acidosis complicated by acute coronary syndrome: a case report
Authors: Mammadova N. , Soukup J. , Shkodivskyi P. , Gudowski C. , Ahmed A. , Pliquett R. U.
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Metformin-associated lactic acidosis (MALA) is a rare but life-threatening condition. Here, we report the outcome of a patient with MALA complicated by acute coronary syndrome.

Case presentation

A 47-year-old obese woman of Caucasian ethnicity was admitted for syncope and tachypnea with Kussmaul breathing. She had a type-2 diabetes and was on oral antidiabetic therapy. Hemoglobin A1c was 6.6%. On admission, a severe acute kidney injury (serum creatinine: 1251 µmol/L) with hyperkalemia (7.5 mmol/L) and severe lactic acidosis (ph:7.042, bicarbonate: 9.9 mmol/L, partial pressure of carbon dioxide: 21.8 mmHg, lactate: 20.0 mmol/L) was found. Despite bicarbonate therapy, ph further decreased. Within 2.5 h of admission, a temporary hemodialysis catheter was placed, and one session of a high-efficiency hemodialysis was performed. 8 h after admission, a continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration was initiated and maintained for 2 days. The metformin therapy was stopped. Supplemental oxygen, intravenous catecholamines (4 days) and antibiotic therapy (7 days) were applied. During this therapy of lactic acidosis, an acute coronary syndrome evolved by day 2 after admission and resolved by day 5 in hospital. After recovery, the patient was transferred to a general ward on day 7 and left the hospital on day 11. By discharge, both the acute kidney injury and the acute coronary syndrome were reversible.

Conclusion

In the patient with MALA complicated by acute coronary syndrome, the combination of a high-efficiency hemodialysis and, consecutively, continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration led to a favorable outcome.
A propensity score-matched analysis of the impact of statin therapy on the outcomes of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer receiving anti-PD-1 monotherapy: a multicenter retrospective study
Authors: Takada Kazuki , Shimokawa Mototsugu , Takamori Shinkichi , Shimamatsu Shinichiro , Hirai Fumihiko , Tagawa Tetsuzo , Okamoto Tatsuro , Hamatake Motoharu , Tsuchiya-Kawano Yuko , Otsubo Kohei , Inoue Koji , Yoneshima Yasuto , Tanaka Kentaro , Okamoto Isamu , Nakanishi Yoichi , Mori Masaki
Published: May 2022

Background

Many studies have recently reported the association of concomitant medications with the response and survival in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with cancer immunotherapy. However, the clinical impact of statin therapy on the outcome of cancer immunotherapy in patients with NSCLC is poorly understood.

Methods

In our database, we retrospectively identified and enrolled 390 patients with advanced or recurrent NSCLC who were treated with anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) monotherapy in clinical practice between January 2016 and December 2019 at 3 medical centers in Japan to examine the clinical impact of statin therapy on the survival of patients with NSCLC receiving anti-PD-1 monotherapy. A propensity score-matched analysis was conducted to minimize the bias arising from the patients’ backgrounds.

Results

The Kaplan–Meier curves of the propensity score-matched cohort showed that the overall survival (OS), but not the progression-free survival (PFS), was significantly longer in patients receiving statin therapy. However, a Cox regression analysis in the propensity score-matched cohort revealed that statin therapy was not an independent favorable prognostic factor, although it tended to be correlated with a favorable outcome.

Conclusions

Statin therapy may be a combination tool for cancer immunotherapy in patients with NSCLC. These findings should be validated in further prospective studies with larger sample sizes.