bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oncoplastic Breast Surgery versus Conservative Mastectomy in the Management of Large Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS): Surgical, Oncological, and Patient-Reported Outcomes
Authors: Mason Elena Jane , Di Leone Alba , Franco Antonio , D’Archi Sabatino , Rianna Chiara , Sanchez Alejandro Martin , Murando Federica , Accetta Cristina , Scardina Lorenzo , Terribile Daniela Andreina , Masetti Riccardo , Franceschini Gianluca
Published: November 2022

Oncoplastic level II breast-conserving surgery (OPS2) allows for wider excisions than standard breast-conserving surgery, but the literature on this technique in the treatment of DCIS is scarce. This study compares OPS2 to conservative mastectomy (CM) in patients undergoing surgery for large DCIS. The clinical, radiological, surgical, and post-operative data of 147 patients who underwent either CM or OPS2 for large DCIS between 2007 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. The surgical, oncological, and patient-reported outcomes (PRO) were analyzed and compared between the two groups. The surgical outcomes were similar, in terms of margin involvement (p = 0.211), complication rate (p = 0.827), and re-excision rate (p = 1). The rate of additional surgery for cosmetic optimization was significantly lower in the OPS2 group: only 1 (1.8%) patient required surgical adjustments versus 24 (26.4%) patients in the CM group (p < 0.001). The mean hospital stay was lower in the OPS2 group (p < 0.001). The oncological outcomes did not differ between the two groups (p = 0.662). The PRO analysis showed better outcomes in the OPS2 group, which achieved statistical significance in the sexual well-being module (p = 0.015). Skin sensitivity loss was also significantly lower in the OPS2 group (p < 0.001). When feasible, OPS2 should be considered in the treatment of large DCIS, as it is safe and shows high levels of patient satisfaction.
From Diagnosis to Treatment of Lung Cancer: An Update in “Cancers” in 2021
Authors: Petrella Francesco
Published: November 2022

After its successful launch in January 2021 by Cancers, the topic collection “Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary and Secondary Lung Cancers” experienced a productive first full year [...]
Predictors of Early Thrombotic Events in Adult Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Real-World Experience
Authors: Paterno Giovangiacinto , Palmieri Raffaele , Forte Vittorio , Del Prete Valentina , Gurnari Carmelo , Guarnera Luca , Mallegni Flavia , Pascale Maria Rosaria , Buzzatti Elisa , Mezzanotte Valeria , Cerroni Ilaria , Savi Arianna , Buccisano Francesco , Maurillo Luca , Venditti Adriano , Del Principe Maria Ilaria
Published: November 2022

Information regarding the incidence and the prognostic impact of thrombotic events (TE) in non-promyelocytic acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is sparse. Although several risk factors associated with an increased risk of TE development have been recognized, we still lack universally approved guidelines for identification and management of these complications. We retrospectively analyzed 300 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed AML. Reporting the incidence of venous TE (VTE) and arterial TE (ATE) was the primary endpoint. Secondarily, we evaluated baseline patient- and disease-related characteristics with a possible influence of VTE-occurrence probability. Finally, we evaluated the impact of TE on survival. Overall, the VTE incidence was 12.3% and ATE incidence was 2.3%. We identified three independent predictors associated with early-VTE: comorbidities (p = 0.006), platelets count >50 × 109/L (p = 0.006), and a previous history of VTE (p = 0.003). Assigning 1 point to each variable, we observed an overall cumulative incidence of VTE of 18.4% in the high-risk group (≥2 points) versus 6.4% in the low-risk group (0–1 point), log-rank = 0.002. Overall, ATE, but not VTE, was associated with poor prognosis (p < 0.001). In conclusion, TE incidence in AML patients is not negligible. We proposed an early-VTE risk score that could be useful for a proper management of VTE prophylaxis.
Mechanistic and Clinical Evidence Supports a Key Role for Cell Division Cycle Associated 5 (CDCA5) as an Independent Predictor of Outcome in Invasive Breast Cancer
Authors: Kariri Yousif A. , Joseph Chitra , Alsaleem Mansour A. , Elsharawy Khloud A. , Alsaeed Sami , Toss Michael S. , Mongan Nigel P. , Green Andrew R. , Rakha Emad A.
Published: November 2022

Background: Cell Division Cycle Associated 5 (CDCA5) plays a role in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway involving cell division, cancer cell migration and apoptosis. This study aims to assess the prognostic and biological value of CDCA5 in breast cancer (BC). Methods: The biological and prognostic value of CDCA5 were evaluated at mRNA (n = 5109) and protein levels (n = 614) utilizing multiple well-characterized early stage BC cohorts. The effects of CDCA5 knockdown (KD) on multiple oncogenic assays were assessed in vitro using a panel of BC cell lines. Results: this study examined cohorts showed that high CDCA5 expression was correlated with features characteristic of aggressive behavior and poor prognosis, including the presence of high grade, large tumor size, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), hormone receptor negativity and HER2 positivity. High CDCA5 expression, at both mRNA and protein levels, was associated with shorter BC-specific survival independent of other variables (p = 0.034, Hazard ratio (HR) = 1.6, 95% CI; 1.1–2.3). In line with the clinical data, in vitro models indicated that CDCA5 depletion results in a marked decrease in BC cell invasion and migration abilities and a significant accumulation of the BC cells in the G2/M-phase. Conclusions: These results provide evidence that CDCA5 plays an important role in BC development and metastasis and could be used as a potential biomarker to predict disease progression in BC.
Intranasal Peptide Therapeutics: A Promising Avenue for Overcoming the Challenges of Traditional CNS Drug Development
Authors: Bose Meenakshi , Farias Quipildor Gabriela , Ehrlich Michelle E. , Salton Stephen R.
Published: November 2022

The central nervous system (CNS) has, among all organ systems in the human body, the highest failure rate of traditional small-molecule drug development, ranging from 80–100% depending on the area of disease research. This has led to widespread abandonment by the pharmaceutical industry of research and development for CNS disorders, despite increased diagnoses of neurodegenerative disorders and the continued lack of adequate treatment options for brain injuries, stroke, neurodevelopmental disorders, and neuropsychiatric illness. However, new approaches, concurrent with the development of sophisticated bioinformatic and genomic tools, are being used to explore peptide-based therapeutics to manipulate endogenous pathways and targets, including “undruggable” intracellular protein-protein interactions (PPIs). The development of peptide-based therapeutics was previously rejected due to systemic off-target effects and poor bioavailability arising from traditional oral and systemic delivery methods. However, targeted nose-to-brain, or intranasal (IN), approaches have begun to emerge that allow CNS-specific delivery of therapeutics via the trigeminal and olfactory nerve pathways, laying the foundation for improved alternatives to systemic drug delivery. Here we review a dozen promising IN peptide therapeutics in preclinical and clinical development for neurodegenerative (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s), neuropsychiatric (depression, PTSD, schizophrenia), and neurodevelopmental disorders (autism), with insulin, NAP (davunetide), IGF-1, PACAP, NPY, oxytocin, and GLP-1 agonists prominent among them.
Multiple Death Pathways of Neutrophils Regulate Alveolar Macrophage Proliferation
Authors: Gao Xiaochen , Zhang Weijia , Zhang Nan , Yu Qing , Su Jie , Wang Ke , Chen Yanru , Fu Zhen F. , Cui Min
Published: November 2022

Alveolar macrophage (AM) proliferation and self-renewal play an important role in the lung tissue microenvironment. However, the impact of immune cells, especially the neutrophils, on AM homeostasis or function is not well characterized. In this study, we induced in vivo migration of neutrophils into bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and lung using CXCL1, and then co-cultured these with AMs in vitro. Neutrophils in the BAL (BAL−neutrophils), rather than neutrophils of bone marrow (BM-neutrophils), were found to inhibit AM proliferation. Analysis of publicly available data showed high heterogeneity of lung neutrophils with distinct molecular signatures of BM− and blood−neutrophils. Unexpectedly, BAL−neutrophils from influenza virus PR8-infected mice (PR8−neutrophils) did not inhibit the proliferation of AMs. Bulk RNA sequencing further revealed that co-culture of AMs with PR8−neutrophils induced IFN-α and -γ responses and inflammatory response, and AMs co-cultured with BAL−neutrophils showed higher expression of metabolism- and ROS-associated genes; in addition, BAL−neutrophils from PR8-infected mice modulated AM polarization and phagocytosis. BAL−neutrophil-mediated suppression of AM proliferation was abrogated by a combination of inhibitors of different neutrophil death pathways. Collectively, our findings suggest that multiple cell death pathways of neutrophils regulate the proliferation of AMs. Targeting neutrophil death may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for improving AM homeostasis during respiratory diseases.
Minor Kinases with Major Roles in Cytokinesis Regulation
Authors: Sechi Stefano , Piergentili Roberto , Giansanti Maria Grazia
Published: November 2022

Cytokinesis, the conclusive act of cell division, allows cytoplasmic organelles and chromosomes to be faithfully partitioned between two daughter cells. In animal organisms, its accurate regulation is a fundamental task for normal development and for preventing aneuploidy. Cytokinesis failures produce genetically unstable tetraploid cells and ultimately result in chromosome instability, a hallmark of cancer cells. In animal cells, the assembly and constriction of an actomyosin ring drive cleavage furrow ingression, resulting in the formation of a cytoplasmic intercellular bridge, which is severed during abscission, the final event of cytokinesis. Kinase-mediated phosphorylation is a crucial process to orchestrate the spatio-temporal regulation of the different stages of cytokinesis. Several kinases have been described in the literature, such as cyclin-dependent kinase, polo-like kinase 1, and Aurora B, regulating both furrow ingression and/or abscission. However, others exist, with well-established roles in cell-cycle progression but whose specific role in cytokinesis has been poorly investigated, leading to considering these kinases as “minor” actors in this process. Yet, they deserve additional attention, as they might disclose unexpected routes of cell division regulation. Here, we summarize the role of multifunctional kinases in cytokinesis with a special focus on those with a still scarcely defined function during cell cleavage. Moreover, we discuss their implication in cancer.
The Predicted Splicing Variant c.11+5G>A in RPE65 Leads to a Reduction in mRNA Expression in a Cell-Specific Manner
Authors: Vázquez-Domínguez Irene , Duijkers Lonneke , Fadaie Zeinab , Alaerds Eef C. W. , Post Merel A. , van Oosten Edwin M. , O’Gorman Luke , Kwint Michael , Koolen Louet , Hoogendoorn Anita D. M. , Kroes Hester Y. , Gilissen Christian , Cremers Frans P. M. , Collin Rob W. J. , Roosing Susanne , Garanto Alejandro
Published: November 2022

Pathogenic variants in RPE65 lead to retinal diseases, causing a vision impairment. In this work, we investigated the pathomechanism behind the frequent RPE65 variant, c.11+5G>A. Previous in silico predictions classified this change as a splice variant. Our prediction using novel software’s suggested a 124-nt exon elongation containing a premature stop codon. This elongation was validated using midigenes-based approaches. Similar results were observed in patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and photoreceptor precursor cells. However, the splicing defect in all cases was detected at low levels and thereby does not fully explain the recessive condition of the resulting disease. Long-read sequencing discarded other rearrangements or variants that could explain the diseases. Subsequently, a more relevant model was employed: iPSC-derived retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. In patient-derived iPSC-RPE cells, the expression of RPE65 was strongly reduced even after inhibiting a nonsense-mediated decay, contradicting the predicted splicing defect. Additional experiments demonstrated a cell-specific gene expression reduction due to the presence of the c.11+5G>A variant. This decrease also leads to the lack of the RPE65 protein, and differences in size and pigmentation between the patient and control iPSC-RPE. Altogether, our data suggest that the c.11+5G>A variant causes a cell-specific defect in the expression of RPE65 rather than the anticipated splicing defect which was predicted in silico.
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor (ICI) Genes and Aging in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC): Clinical and Genomic Study
Authors: Al-Danakh Abdullah , Safi Mohammed , Alradhi Mohammed , Chen Qiwei , Baldi Salem , Zhu Xinqing , Yang Deyong
Published: November 2022

Background: It is anticipated that there will be a large rise in the number of tumor diagnoses and mortality in those aged 65 and older over the course of upcoming decades. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, often known as ICIs, boost immune system activity by selectively targeting ICI genes. On the other hand, old age may be connected with unfavorable results. Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) provided gene expression data from ccRCC tissue and key clinical variables. ICI gene databases were applied and verified using the GEO database. Results: We identified 14 ICI genes as risk gene signatures among 528 ccRCC patients using univariate and multivariable cox hazard models, and the elderly group was linked with poor survival. Then, by utilizing a new nomogram method, the TNFSF15 gene and age predicting values were estimated at one, three, and five years (85%, 81%, and 81%), respectively, and our age-related risk score was significant even after multivariable analysis (HR = 1.518, p = 0.009, CI = 1.1102.076). TNFSF15 gene expression was lower in elderly ccRCC patients (p = 0.0001). A negative connection between age and the TNFSF15 gene expression was discovered by correlation analysis (p = 0.0001). The verification of the gene by utilizing GEO (GSE167093) with 604 patients was obtained as external validation that showed significant differences in the TNFSF15 gene between young and elderly patients (p = 0.007). Additionally, the protein–protein interactions of the TNFSF15 gene with other ICI genes and aging-related genes was determined. In addition, the TNFSF15 expression was significantly correlated with pathological stages (p = 0.018). Furthermore, it was discovered that the biological processes of senescence, cellular senescence, the immune system, and many immune cell infiltration and immune function types are all closely tied. Conclusions: Along with the risk score evaluation, the ICI gene TNFSF15 was identified as a tumor suppressor gene related to inequalities in age survival and is associated with pathological stages and different immunity statuses. The aging responses of ccRCC patients and related gene expression need further investigation in order to identify potential therapeutic targets.
AIBP Regulates Metabolism of Ketone and Lipids but Not Mitochondrial Respiration
Authors: Kim Jun-dae , Zhou Teng , Zhang Aijun , Li Shumin , Gupte Anisha A. , Hamilton Dale J. , Fang Longhou
Published: November 2022

Accumulating evidence indicates that the APOA1 binding protein (AIBP)—a secreted protein—plays a profound role in lipid metabolism. Interestingly, AIBP also functions as an NAD(P)H-hydrate epimerase to catalyze the interconversion of NAD(P)H hydrate [NAD(P)HX] epimers and is renamed as NAXE. Thus, we call it NAXE hereafter. We investigated its role in NAD(P)H-involved metabolism in murine cardiomyocytes, focusing on the metabolism of hexose, lipids, and amino acids as well as mitochondrial redox function. Unbiased metabolite profiling of cardiac tissue shows that NAXE knockout markedly upregulates the ketone body 3-hydroxybutyric acid (3-HB) and increases or trends increasing lipid-associated metabolites cholesterol, α-linolenic acid and deoxycholic acid. Paralleling greater ketone levels, ChemRICH analysis of the NAXE-regulated metabolites shows reduced abundance of hexose despite similar glucose levels in control and NAXE-deficient blood. NAXE knockout reduces cardiac lactic acid but has no effect on the content of other NAD(P)H-regulated metabolites, including those associated with glucose metabolism, the pentose phosphate pathway, or Krebs cycle flux. Although NAXE is present in mitochondria, it has no apparent effect on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Instead, we detected more metabolites that can potentially improve cardiac function (3-HB, adenosine, and α-linolenic acid) in the Naxe−/− heart; these mice also perform better in aerobic exercise. Our data reveal a new role of NAXE in cardiac ketone and lipid metabolism.
Investigating the Discriminant Utility of Task-Based and Self-Based Goals in 3 × 2 Achievement Goal Model for Kindergarteners
Authors: Wu Chung-Chin
Published: November 2022

A decade ago, achievement goal theorists argued that mastery-based goals in the traditional theoretical framework can be theoretically differentiated into task-based goals and self-based goals; and they proposed the 3 × 2 achievement goal model to understand students’ achievement motivation. This new theoretical model has received increasing attention, and it has been demonstrated by several empirical studies on school-aged student samples through analyzing concurrently derived data. Recently, researcher has preliminary demonstrated the new theoretical model on kindergarten sample. It is unclear whether there was a discriminant utility of these goals for kindergartener sample through analyzing their concurrent and predictive effects on learning outcomes. The main purposes of this study were to investigate discriminant utility of task-based goals and self-based goals through examining their concurrent and predictive effects on mathematics performances. A total of 59 kindergarteners aged 5 years consented to participating in this study. Results showed: (1) The discriminant utility of task-approach goal and self-approach goal was only demonstrated on predictive arithmetic performance. (2) The discriminant utility of task-avoidance goal and self-avoidance goal was demonstrated on both concurrent and predictive counting performances. Implications for advancing achievement goal theory, future research, and practice are discussed at the end of the article.
Addition of Trans-Resveratrol-Loaded, Highly Concentrated Double Emulsion to Moisturizing Cream: Effect on Physicochemical Properties
Authors: Díaz-Ruiz Rocío , Laca Amanda , Marcet Ismael , Martínez-Rey Lemuel , Matos María , Gutiérrez Gemma
Published: November 2022

Resveratrol is a compound increasingly studied for its many beneficial properties for health. However, it is a highly unstable photosensitive compound, and therefore it is necessary to encapsulate it to protect it if you want to use it in a commercial product. Emulsions are systems that allow the encapsulation of active ingredients, protecting them and allowing their release in a controlled manner. They are highly used systems in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries. The main objectives of this work are to study the feasibility of encapsulating resveratrol in concentrated water-in-oil-in-water double emulsions and the effect produced by adding the double emulsion with optimal formulation to a commercial cream for cosmetic applications. The effect of the selected optimal double emulsion on a commercial cream was studied, analyzing droplet size distribution, morphology, stability and rheology. The main conclusion of this work is that incorporating 1/3 of concentrated double emulsion W1/O/W2 into a commercial moisturizing cream had a positive physical effect and produced cream with a resveratrol concentration of up to 0.0042 mg/g.
Preparation and Characterizations of Curcumin Protection and Delivery System Using Linear Dextrin
Authors: Xie Huifang , Ma Litao , Li Yanan , Fu Jun , Li Zhongxian , Yu Xuejun , Gao Qunyu
Published: November 2022

In this work, linear dextrins (LDs) with the fragment F-40 (DP = 31.44) were fabricated from waxy potato starch through pasteurization and enzymatic debranching by pullulanase and then separated and extracted by ethanol solutions with different concentrations. The LDs were used to encapsulate hydrophobic ligand curcumin to develop a controlled release system that would increase its flavor in food and functions in medicines. The physicochemical properties and the encapsulation mechanism of the inclusion complexes were investigated. It was found that the loading capability for curcumin, the encapsulation rate, and the yield of the complexes depended on the molecular weight of LD. The yield of the LD-Cur complex, its encapsulation rate, and loading of curcumin were 19.86%, 25.81%, and 29.52 μg/mg, respectively, while the yield of the F-40-Cur complex, its inclusion rate, and loading curcumin reached up to 75.98%, 29.97%, and 37.52 μg/mg, respectively. There were both hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions between LD and curcumin, while hydrogen bonding interactions were predominant between F-40 and curcumin. Curcumin was presented in the complex in an amorphous form. The photothermal stability of curcumin increased after being complexed with LD and further enhanced significantly with F-40. The release of curcumin in the intestine was achieved much more effectively.
Polarons in Rock-Forming Minerals: Physical Implications
Authors: Mihailova Boriana , Della Ventura Giancarlo , Waeselmann Naemi , Bernardini Simone , Xu Wei , Marcelli Augusto
Published: November 2022

The existence of thermally-activated quasiparticles in amphiboles is an important issue, as amphiboles are among the main hydrous complex silicate minerals in the Earth’s lithosphere. The amphibole structure consists of stripes of 6-membered TO4-rings sandwiching MO6 octahedral slabs. To elucidate the atomistic origin of the anomalous rock conductivity in subduction-wedge regions, we studied several Fe-containing amphiboles with diverse chemistry by using in situ, temperature-dependent, polarised Raman spectroscopy. The occurrence of resonance Raman scattering at high temperatures unambiguously reveal temperature-activated small polarons arising from the coupling between polar optical phonons and electron transitions within Fe2+O6 octahedra, independently of the amphibole chemical composition. The FeO6-related polarons coexist with delocalised H+; that is, at elevated temperatures Fe-bearing amphiboles are conductive and exhibit two types of charge carriers: electronic polarons with highly anisotropic mobility and H+ cations. The results from density-functional-theory calculations on the electron band structure for a selected amphibole compound with a relatively simple composition are in full agreement with experimental data. The polaron activation temperature, mobility, and polaron-dipole magnitude and alignment can be controlled by varying the mineral composition, which makes amphiboles attractive “geo-stripes” that can serve as mineral-inspired technology to design thermally-stable smart materials with anisotropic properties.
RETRACTED: Amin et al. Preparation and Characterization of Mesoporous Silica from Bagasse Bottom Ash from the Sugar Industry. Crystals 2021, 11, 938
Authors: Amin Noorul , Gul Saeed , Sultana Sabiha , Alam Sultan
Published: November 2022

The journal retracts the article “Preparation and Characterization of Mesoporous Silica from Bagasse Bottom Ash from the Sugar Industry” [...]
Oxygen Reduction Response of La and Ce Co-Doped SrCoO3−δ Perovskite Oxide Grown on Porous Ni-Foam Substrate
Authors: Wang Jinping , Mushtaq Naveed , Shah M. , Wu Jiaen , Li Henghui , Lu Yuzheng , Wang Peng
Published: November 2022

Lately, ceramic fuel cells (CFCs) have held exceptional promise for joint small- and large-scale applications. However, the low-oxygen reduction response of cathode materials has hindered the low operating temperature of CFCs. Herein, we have developed a semiconductor based on La and Ce co-doped SrCoO3 and embedded them in porous Ni-foam to study their electrochemical properties. The porous Ni-foam-pasted La0.2Sr0.8Co0.8Ce0.2O3‒δ cathode displays small-area-specific resistance and excellent ORR (oxygen reduction reaction) activity at low operating temperatures (LT) of 450–500 °C. The proposed device has delivered an impressive fuel cell performance of 440 mW-cm−2, using La0.2Sr0.8Co0.8Ce0.2O3−δ embedded on porous Ni-foam substrate cathode operation at 550 °C with H2 fuel and atmospheric air. It even can function well at a lower temperature of 450 °C. Moreover, La0.2Sr0.8Co0.8Ce0.2O3−δ embedded on porous Ni-foam shows very good activation energy compared to individual SrCoO3 and La0.1Sr0.9Co0.9Ce0.1O3−δ embedded on porous Ni-foam, which help to promote ORR activity. Different characterization has been deployed, likewise: X-ray diffraction, photoelectron-spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for a better understanding of improved ORR electrocatalytic activity of prepared La0.2Sr0.8Co0.8Ce0.2O3−δ embedded on porous Ni-foam substrate. These results can further help to develop functional cobalt-free electrocatalysts for LT-SOFCs.
Determination of the Elasticity Coefficients for Nematic Liquid Crystal Elastomers
Authors: Sargsyan Maksim , Gevorgyan Gevorg , Hakobyan Mariam , Hakobyan Rafik
Published: November 2022

Liquid crystal elastomers are attractive materials featuring promising applications in emerging technologies, but their structure–property relationship has yet to be thoroughly explored. Some mechanical properties of these materials are the focus of this article. Three tensile experiments of monodomain nematic liquid crystal elastomers have been theoretically analyzed using a free energy density expression describing mechanical and orientational deformations and their interaction. As a result, a theoretical relation is obtained that relates the quantities measured in experiments with the elasticity coefficients entering the expression of the free energy density. Five of these elasticity coefficients were estimated for monodomain nematic liquid crystal elastomers with different compositions using available experimental data from the literature.
Elevated Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio after First Cycle of Chemotherapy and Better Survival in Esophageal Cancer Patients Receiving Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Tseng Ruo-Han , Lai Kuan-Ming , Tsai Chien-Yu , Yan Sheng-Lei
Published: November 2022

Background: Prognostic factors for poor survival have been proposed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) patients receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). We conducted a retrospective study on hematological profile after first cycle of chemotherapy for esophageal SCC patients receiving CCRT. Methods: From January 2008 to December 2017, a total of 420 patients with esophageal SCC were enrolled. All included patients had undergone CCRT. Complete blood count, differential count, NLR, and PLR before chemotherapy (CHT) and after first cycle of CHT were obtained. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to assess the association between survival and patient, disease, and treatment characteristics. Results: On univariate analysis, significant factors for overall survival (OS) and disease specific survival (DSS) included ECOG performance status, clinical staging, operation, cisplatin dose, prechemotherapy NLR and PLR, and elevated postchemotherapy NLR. On multivariate analysis, ECOG performance status 0–I, Clinical staging I–II, Operation, cisplatin dose >150 mg/m2, prechemotherapy PLR <375, and postchemotherapy platelet count ≥150 × 109/L were independent factors for predicting better OS. Independent factors for predicting better DSS included ECOG performance status 0–I, Clinical staging I–II, Operation, cisplatin dose >150 mg/m2, and prechemotherapy PLR <375. Conclusions: Our study showed that low levels of prechemotherapy PLR and NLR were associated with better OS and DSS. Elevated platelet count and NLR after first cycle of CHT were associated with better OS. Elevated PLR and NLR after first cycle of CHT were associated with better DSS.
Ecological Distribution Patterns and Indicator Species Analysis of Climber Plants in Changa Manga Forest Plantation
Authors: Waheed Muhammad , Haq Shiekh Marifatul , Fatima Kaniz , Arshad Fahim , Bussmann Rainer W. , Masood Farhat Rass , Alataway Abed , Z. Dewidar Ahmed , F. Almutairi Khalid , Elansary Hosam O. , Kassem Hazem S. , Al-Yafrasi Mohamed , Yessoufou Kowiyou
Published: November 2022

Climbing plants have an important role in forest communities and ecosystems. Despite the significance of the climbers in ecosystems, most of the previous research work in Pakistan has been concentrated on trees, shrubs, and herbs, with little attention paid to climbing plants. The current study investigated the ecology of climbers and the influence of soil characteristics on diversity, richness, and indicator species distribution in the Changa Manga Forest Plantation, Punjab, Pakistan. Field surveys were carried out between 2020 and 2021, with the data gathered using a random sample approach for ordination and cluster analysis of each plant species and edaphic data from sample plots. We reported a total of 29 climber species belonging to 23 genera and 9 families from the area. The Convolvulaceae family was the most prevalent, followed by Apocynaceae and Cucurbitaceae. Herbaceous climbers were the typical life form (70% species) and species showed peak flowering during the months of August and September. The multivariate analysis and cluster analysis grouped the climbers into four distinct communities based on the indicator species, representing filtering of the species pool in the studied area. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) results showed that soil factors had a significant influence (p ≤ 0.002) on the climbers’ diversity and distribution pattern. Our research contributes to a deeper understanding of climbing plant ecology in response to soil variables, with immediate consequences for policy and practice in this Himalayan region, as well as research insights for neighboring Himalayan regions and elsewhere in the world.
Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing in Germany
Authors: Liehr Thomas , Harutyunyan Tigran , Williams Heather , Weise Anja
Published: November 2022

In the short 10 years following the introduction of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), it has been adapted in many countries around the world as a standard screening test. In this review, this development was analyzed with a special focus on Germany. As a result, it can be stated that all known advantages of NIPT apart from “compensating for having no access to centers offering invasive diagnostics” are valid for Germany. In addition, following a review of the international literature, all documented issues with NIPT are also observed in Germany. However, the German Gene Diagnostics Act (GenDG) addresses a number of these issues, for example, the regulations by GenDG hamper induced abortions, based exclusively on an abnormal NIPT result. At the same time, GenDG has created new problems, as a possible collusion between the “right not to know with regard to parts of the examination result” may occur, or that the sex of the fetus must not be reported to the pregnant woman before the 12th week of gestation. Main conclusions drawn are that appropriate training and the continuing education of the physicians providing NIPT-related counseling are needed, as well as the provision of balanced and comprehensive information for the pregnant woman or the couple that is imperative.
Added Value of Ultrasound-Based Multimodal Imaging to Diagnose Hepatic Sclerosed Hemangioma before Biopsy and Resection
Authors: Wang Feiqian , Numata Kazushi , Nihonmatsu Hiromi , Chuma Makoto , Ideno Naomi , Nozaki Akito , Ogushi Katsuaki , Tanab Mikiko , Okada Masahiro , Luo Wen , Nakano Masayuki , Otani Masako , Inayama Yoshiaki , Maeda Shin
Published: November 2022

Imaging methods have the overwhelming advantage of being non-invasive in the diagnosis of hepatic lesions and, thanks to technical developments in the field of ultrasound (US), radiation exposure can also be avoided in many clinical situations. In particular, contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) outperforms other radiological methods in regard to real-time images, repeatability, and prompt reporting and demonstrates relatively few contraindications and adverse reactions. In this study, we reported in detail a rare benign tumor: hepatic sclerosed hemangioma (HSH). We described US-based multimodal imaging (B-flow imaging, US elastography, and Sonazoid CEUS) features of this HSH case. Furthermore, by summarizing the recently published literature on the imaging diagnosis of HSH, we offered readers comprehensive knowledge of conventional imaging methods (CT, MRI) and CEUS in the diagnosis of HSH and preliminarily discussed their mechanism of pathology-based diagnosis. Our multimodal imaging approach may provide a diagnostic strategy for HSH, thus avoiding unnecessary biopsy or resection.
The Use of CBCT in Evaluating the Health and Pathology of the Maxillary Sinus
Authors: Yeung Andy Wai Kan , Hung Kuo Feng , Li Dion Tik Shun , Leung Yiu Yan
Published: November 2022

The use of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) has been increasing in dental practice. This narrative review summarized the relevance and utilizations of CBCT to visualize anatomical structures of the maxillary sinus and common pathologies found in the maxillary sinus. The detection/visualization rate, the location and the morphometric characteristics were described. For sinus anatomy, the reviewed features included the posterior superior alveolar artery, sinus pneumatization, sinus hypoplasia, sinus septa, and primary and accessory sinus ostia. For pathology, the following items were reviewed: membrane thickening associated with periapical lesions/periodontal lesions, mucous retention cyst, and antrolith. The visualization and assessment of the maxillary sinus is very important prior to procedures that take place in close proximity with the sinus floor, such as tooth extraction, implant insertion, and sinus floor elevation. Some sinus pathologies may be associated with odontogenic lesions, such as periapical diseases and periodontal bone loss.
Spontaneous Left External Iliac Vein Rupture
Authors: Fugărețu Cosmina , Mișarca Cătalin , Vlada Gina , Cîrnațiu Andrada , Buzea Cosmin , Marinescu Daniela
Published: November 2022

Spontaneous rupture of the Iliac Vein is very rare in practice. In over 90% of cases, the venous lesion is located on the left side. The exact etiology of this condition is unknown. Spontaneous injury of the iliac vein is thought to be favored by intense exercise, constipation, cough, labor, May-Thurner syndrome or pre-existing inflammatory changes in the venous wall are also implicated. We present the case of an 83-year-old woman who is brought to the Emergency Department for abdominal pain located in the left flank and in the left iliac fossa, which appeared after a medium physical exertion. After an emergency contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scan, the diagnosis of spontaneous rupture of the left external iliac vein is established. Surgery is performed with extreme urgency by retroperitoneal approach and due to the very precarious condition of the patient, venous ligation is done, wishing to perform a Palma-Dale venous bypass at a later time. Although a rare cause of spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma, a non-traumatic rupture of the common or external iliac vein should be considered in patients in shock with massive retroperitoneal bleeding, accompanied by a high mortality rate.
Analysis of Gene Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in COVID-19 Disease Highlighting the Susceptibility and the Severity towards the Infection
Authors: Balzanelli Mario , Distratis Pietro , Lazzaro Rita , Pham Van , Tran Toai , Dipalma Gianna , Bianco Angelica , Serlenga Emilio , Aityan Sergey , Pierangeli Valentina , Nguyen Kieu , Inchingolo Francesco , Tomassone Diego , Isacco Ciro
Published: November 2022

Many factors may influence the risk of being infected by SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Exposure to the virus cannot explain the variety of an individual’s responses to the virus and the high differences of effect that the virus may cause to some. While a person’s preexisting condition and their immune defenses have been confirmed to play a major role in the disease progression, there is still much to learn about hosts’ genetic makeup towards COVID-19 susceptibility and risk. The host genetic makeup may have direct influence on the grade of predisposition and outcomes of COVID-19. In this study, we aimed to investigate the presence of relevant genetic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), the peripheral blood level of IL6, vitamin D and arterial blood gas (ABG) markers (pH, oxygen-SpO2 and carbon dioxide-SpCO2) on two groups, COVID-19 (n = 41, study), and the healthy (n = 43, control). We analyzed cytokine and interleukin genes in charge of both pro-inflammatory and immune-modulating responses and those genes that are considered involved in the COVID-19 progression and complications. Thus, we selected major genes, such as IL1β, IL1RN (IL-1 β and α receptor) IL6, IL6R (IL-6 receptor), IL10, IFNγ (interferon gamma), TNFα (tumor necrosis factor alpha), ACE2 (angiotensin converting enzyme), SERPINA3 (Alpha-1-Antiproteinase, Antitrypsin member of Serpin 3 family), VDR (vitamin D receptor Tak1, Bsm1 and Fok1), and CRP (c-reactive protein). Though more research is needed, these findings may give a better representation of virus pleiotropic activity and its relation to the immune system.
Strategies for Enhancing the Multi-Stage Classification Performances of HER2 Breast Cancer from Hematoxylin and Eosin Images
Authors: Shovon Md. Sakib Hossain , Islam Md. Jahidul , Nabil Mohammed Nawshar Ali Khan , Molla Md. Mohimen , Jony Akinul Islam , Mridha M. F.
Published: November 2022

Breast cancer is a significant health concern among women. Prompt diagnosis can diminish the mortality rate and direct patients to take steps for cancer treatment. Recently, deep learning has been employed to diagnose breast cancer in the context of digital pathology. To help in this area, a transfer learning-based model called ‘HE-HER2Net’ has been proposed to diagnose multiple stages of HER2 breast cancer (HER2-0, HER2-1+, HER2-2+, HER2-3+) on H&E (hematoxylin & eosin) images from the BCI dataset. HE-HER2Net is the modified version of the Xception model, which is additionally comprised of global average pooling, several batch normalization layers, dropout layers, and dense layers with a swish activation function. This proposed model exceeds all existing models in terms of accuracy (0.87), precision (0.88), recall (0.86), and AUC score (0.98) immensely. In addition, our proposed model has been explained through a class-discriminative localization technique using Grad-CAM to build trust and to make the model more transparent. Finally, nuclei segmentation has been performed through the StarDist method.
The Effect of Vitamin D Level on Parathyroid Hormone and Alkaline Phosphatase
Authors: Rajab Hussein Abdullah
Published: November 2022

Over the years, we have noticed in our clinical practice that patients with 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels below 15 ng/mL are more symptomatic than those with higher levels. The aim of this research is to investigate changes in both parathyroid hormone (PTH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) at different vitamin D levels to determine if lower vitamin D levels are associated with more severe changes in PTH and ALP, which may explain the presence and severity of symptoms at those lower 25OHD levels. We looked for correlations between 25OHD level, PTH, and ALP in 1311 samples between 2015 and 2019 at our endocrine clinic to determine if vitamin D level correlates with changes in PTH and ALP. We further categorized vitamin D deficiency levels into three categories based on the severity of the reported symptoms. As expected, there were inverse but significant correlations between 25OHD, PTH, and ALP. The lower the 25OHD, the higher the PTH and ALP levels. When 25OHD was below 10 ng/mL, PTH was increased in 65% of the samples and ALP was elevated in 21% of the samples; however, PTH and ALP were normal in 70% and 87%, respectively, of patients with 25OHD levels between 15 < 20 ng/mL. The results support our clinical observations since most of the patients with 25OHD greater than 15 ng/mL had normal PTH and ALP, which may explain the lack of symptoms in these patients.
[18F]-Fludeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography with Radiomics Analysis in Patients Undergoing Aortic In-Situ Reconstruction with Cryopreserved Allografts
Authors: Berchiolli Raffaella , Torri Lorenzo , Bertagna Giulia , Canovaro Francesco , Zanca Roberta , Bartoli Francesco , Mocellin Davide Maria , Ferrari Mauro , Erba Paola Anna , Troisi Nicola
Published: November 2022

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of positron emission tomography/computed tomography with [18F]-fludeoxyglucose (FDG-PET/CT) and radiomics analysis in detecting differences between the native aorta and the abdominal aortic allograft after the total eradication of infection in patients undergoing infected graft removal and in situ reconstruction with cryopreserved allografts. Methods: Between January 2008 and December 2018, 56 vascular reconstructions with allografts have been performed at our department. The present series included 12 patients undergoing abdominal aortic in situ reconstruction with cryopreserved allografts. During the follow-up, all patients underwent a total-body [18F]FDG PET/CT with subsequent radiomics analysis. In all patients, a comparative analysis between the data extracted from native aorta and cryopreserved graft for each patient was performed. Results: All patients were male with a mean age of 72.8 years (range 63–84). Mean duration of follow-up was 51.3 months (range 3–120). During the follow-up, 2 patients (16.7%) needed a redo allograft-related surgical intervention. Overall, the rate of allograft dilatation was 33.3%. No patient had a redo infection during the follow-up. Radiomics analysis showed a different signature of implanted allograft and native aorta. Comparative analysis between the native aortas and cryopreserved allografts (dilated or not) showed several statistical differences for many texture features. Conclusions: The higher metabolic activity of allografts could indicate a state of immune-mediated degeneration. This theory should be proven with prospective, multicentric studies with larger sample sizes.
Federated Learning in Ocular Imaging: Current Progress and Future Direction
Authors: Nguyen Truong X. , Ran An Ran , Hu Xiaoyan , Yang Dawei , Jiang Meirui , Dou Qi , Cheung Carol Y.
Published: November 2022

Advances in artificial intelligence deep learning (DL) have made tremendous impacts on the field of ocular imaging over the last few years. Specifically, DL has been utilised to detect and classify various ocular diseases on retinal photographs, optical coherence tomography (OCT) images, and OCT-angiography images. In order to achieve good robustness and generalisability of model performance, DL training strategies traditionally require extensive and diverse training datasets from various sites to be transferred and pooled into a “centralised location”. However, such a data transferring process could raise practical concerns related to data security and patient privacy. Federated learning (FL) is a distributed collaborative learning paradigm which enables the coordination of multiple collaborators without the need for sharing confidential data. This distributed training approach has great potential to ensure data privacy among different institutions and reduce the potential risk of data leakage from data pooling or centralisation. This review article aims to introduce the concept of FL, provide current evidence of FL in ocular imaging, and discuss potential challenges as well as future applications.
Measles Induced Encephalitis: Recent Interventions to Overcome the Obstacles Encountered in the Management Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Diwan Mufaddal Najmuddin , Samad Saba , Mushtaq Rabeea , Aamir Alifiya , Allahuddin Zoha , Ullah Irfan , Ullah Afridi Rifayat , Ambreen Aneela , Khan Adel , Ehsan Nimra , Ehsan Khattak Zoia , Ventriglio Antonio , De Berardis Domenico
Published: November 2022

Encephalitis, a well-known complication of measles, is inflammation of the brain parenchyma which is mostly due to the viral invasion of neurons. It presents with a variety of symptoms ranging from mild to severe depending on the extent of the damaged neurons. The diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms such as fever, headache, altered level of consciousness, focal neurological deficits, etc. A detailed history and physical examination facilitate the diagnosis. Investigations include blood tests for measles-specific antibodies, CT, MRI, and analysis of the CSF. The management of measles-induced encephalitis mainly revolves around prevention against contracting the disease and providing supportive care if acquired. The administration of the measles vaccine is the major means of preventing this disease in childhood. Two doses are required to achieve sufficient immunity against measles, the first at the age of 12–15 months and the second at 4–6 years of age. Supportive care includes administering acetaminophen for fever, oral rehydrating salt (ORS) for diarrhea and vomiting, antibiotics for otitis media and pneumonia, and using anti-epileptics such as sodium valproate for seizures. Vitamin A can be given to prevent severe effects in children. The specific treatment would depend on the type of encephalitis the patient has developed.
Distance Training of Pragmatic Competence of Law Students via Legal Cases in an English for Specific Purposes Course
Authors: Almazova Nadezhda , Sheredekina Oksana
Published: November 2022

The priority of the competence approach aimed at developing professional competency of higher education students reflects the labour market need for graduates with the skills required by their speciality and relevant to the interrelated disciplines. In the case of law students, such skills include awareness of both domestic and foreign legal systems, as well as full communicative competence in the foreign language they are going to use. A key component of foreign language communicative competence is pragmatic competence—that is, knowledge about how a foreign language is used appropriately in a legal context. The research conducted contributes to the issue of pragmatic competence training by means of a practice-oriented method—that is, the case method. The significance of the case method is determined by the twofold goal of developing pragmatic competence via pseudo-real legal situations that provide students with legal knowledge, as well as stimulate them to be effective communicators in the legal sphere. The study took place at SPbPU and involved 120 s-year law students. The experiment conducted was aimed at comparing the case method and traditional methods used for teaching Legal English, particularly the first legal advice strategy—a component of pragmatic competence. A specific feature of the experiment was that it was organized in the form of distance learning. To collect and analyse the data of the study, a qualitative and a quantitative method were applied. The results of the study showed a high efficiency of the case method for fostering pragmatic competence in an ESP course for law students in comparison with traditional methods, which were not very efficient. Besides, the experiment showed that an on-line format may be an adequate methodological means of effectively achieving the goal in a foreign language training for professional needs in a course with a time limit.