bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Validation of a new protocol for ultrasound-guided genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation with accurate anatomical targets: cadaveric study
Authors: Fonkoue Loïc , Stoenoiu Maria Simona , Behets Catherine Wydemans , Steyaert Arnaud , Kouassi Jean-Eric Kouame , Detrembleur Christine , Cornu Olivier 
Published: December 2020

Introduction
Ultrasound (US)-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of genicular nerves (GNs) is increasingly performed to manage chronic knee pain. The anatomical foundations supporting the choice of original targets for US-guided GN-RFA have been thoroughly improved by recent anatomical studies. Therefore, this study aimed to provide a new protocol with revised anatomical targets for US-guided GN-RFA and to assess their accuracy in a cadaveric model.

Materials and methods
Fourteen fresh-frozen cadaveric knees were used. After a pilot study with 4 knees, five consistent nerves were targeted in the other 10 knees with revised anatomical landmarks: superior medial genicular nerve (SMGN), superior lateral genicular nerve (SLGN), inferior medial genicular nerve (IMGN), recurrent fibular nerve (RFN) and the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve (IPBSN). For each nerve, the lumen of radiofrequency (RF) cannula was prefilled with non-diffusible black paint, and then the cannula was inserted at the target site under US guidance. After US verification of correct placement, the stylet was introduced in the cannula to create a limited black mark on the tissues at the top of the active tip. Anatomical dissection was performed to assess for accuracy.

Results
The proportion of nerves directly found in contact with the black mark was 7/10, 8/10, 10/10 and 9/10 for the SMGN, SLGN, IMGN and RFN, respectively. The proportions of nerve captured by the theoretical largest monopolar RF lesions were 100% for the SMGN, IMGN and RFN, and IPBSN and 95% for SLGN. The mean distances from the center of the black mark to the targeted nerve were 2.1±2.2 mm, 1.0±1.4 mm, 0.75±1.1 mm and 2.4±4.5 mm for the SMGN, SLGN, IMGN and RFN, respectively.

Conclusion
US-guided GN-RFA with revised anatomical targets resulted in accurate capture of the five targeted nerves. This protocol provides precise sensory denervation of a larger panel of nerves, targeting those whose constancy regarding anatomical location has been clearly demonstrated. It is expected to improve the clinical outcomes.
Quantification of pulmonary perfusion in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with first pass dynamic contrast-enhanced perfusion MRI
Authors: Weatherley Nicholas D , Eaden James A , Hughes Paul J C , Austin Matthew , Smith Laurie , Bray Jody , Marshall Helen , Renshaw Stephen , Bianchi Stephen M , Wild Jim M 
Published: December 2020

IntroductionIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal disease of lung scarring. Many patients later develop raised pulmonary vascular pressures, sometimes disproportionate to the interstitial disease. Previous therapeutic approaches that have targeted pulmonary vascular changes have not demonstrated clinical efficacy, and quantitative assessment of regional pulmonary vascular involvement using perfusion imaging may provide a biomarker for further therapeutic insights.MethodsWe studied 23 participants with IPF, using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) and pulmonary function tests, including forced vital capacity (FVC), transfer factor (TLCO) and coefficient (KCO) of the lungs for carbon monoxide. DCE-MRI parametric maps were generated including the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the bolus transit time through the lungs. Key metrics used were mean (FWHMmean) and heterogeneity (FWHMIQR). Nineteen participants returned at 6 months for repeat assessment.ResultsSpearman correlation coefficients were identified between TLCO and FWHMIQR (r=−0.46; p=0.026), KCO and FWHMmean (r=−0.42; p=0.047) and KCO and FWHMIQR (r=−0.51; p=0.013) at baseline. No statistically significant correlations were seen between FVC and DCE-MRI metrics. Follow-up at 6 months demonstrated statistically significant decline in FVC (p=0.040) and KCO (p=0.014), with an increase in FWHMmean (p=0.040), but no significant changes in TLCO (p=0.090) nor FWHMIQR (p=0.821).ConclusionsDCE-MRI first pass perfusion demonstrates correlations with existing physiological gas exchange metrics, suggesting that capillary perfusion deficit (as well as impaired interstitial diffusion) may contribute to gas exchange limitation in IPF. FWHMmean showed a significant increase over a 6-month period and has potential as a quantitative biomarker of pulmonary vascular disease progression in IPF.
TRENDS IN MIGRATION, UNEMPLOYMENT AND POPULATION: A POST-COVID-19 FORECAST OF CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT IN THE GAMBIA
Authors: AYENI RAPHAEL KOLADE , SHAIB EMMANUEL OLUWATOBI 
Published: December 2020

As a developing economy, three major economic problems witnessed in the Gambia are the growing unemployment rate, migration (immigration and rural–urban drift) leading to urban population growth and the growing semi-skilled working population in the face of unemployment. This study seeks to answer the question of how the Gambian economy can plan to overcome these problems, coupled with post-COVID-19 global economic shocks, through a technically planned capacity development. In this paper, the trends in variables representing capacity development indicators, migration, unemployment and working population in the Gambia are studied using the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model. To project a system of interrelationship among these variables in the Gambia, the study employs the Vector Autoregressive (VAR) forecast analysis for the period between 1990 and 2019, thereafter generates a five-year forecast. The findings confirm that investment into the educational sector in developing economies is bound to yield increasing return to scale in the next five years. Investment into education, training and skill acquisition, if done, will attract the transfer of technical and managerial skills and technology for the purpose of building up general national capacity in such a developing economy.
Surface Modification of Activated Carbon Fibers with Fe3O4 for Enhancing Their Electromagnetic Wave Absorption Property
Authors: Yan Xuefeng , Ji Tao , Ye Wei 
Published: December 2020

In this study, the porous activated carbon fiber (ACF) is prepared by viscose fiber, and Fe3O4 coating is deposited on the surface of ACF through in situ hybridization to prepare carbon/magnetic electromagnetic (EM) wave absorption materials. Compared with pure Fe3O4 and ACF, the EM wave absorption rate is improved. When the solubility of FeCl3 is 2 mol/L and the thickness of the prepared ACF–Fe3O4(3) EM wave absorption material is 3 mm, the EM wave loss at 10 GHz reaches −44.3 dB and effective EM wave absorption bandwidths (

reflection

loss

RL

<
−
10

dB and

RL
<
−
20

dB) reached 4.8 GHz (8.8–13.6 GHz) and 1.1 GHz (9.3–10.4 GHz), respectively. The prepared ACF-based composite material has a light structure and strong absorption bandwidth. Findings can provide references for the research on other EM wave-absorbing materials.
The Effects of Land Use and Landscape Position on Soil Physicochemical Properties in a Semiarid Watershed, Northern Ethiopia
Authors: Seifu Weldemariam , Elias Eyasu , Gebresamuel Girmay 
Published: December 2020

Understanding topography effects and assessing the soil properties in different land use is an essential first step for sustainable soil management. Hence, land use type and altitudinal gradient on selected soil parameters were studied in Ayiba watershed, northern Ethiopia. Thirty composite soil samples were collected from 0 to 30 cm of soil depth under four land use types across three altitudinal gradients and were analyzed for selected soil parameters following the standard procedures. A significant main effect of land use and altitudinal gradient on the content of the soil particles was noted. Results also indicated that the bulk density (BD), total porosity (TP), and Pav of the soil are significantly different (

p

< 0.05) in the watershed because of land use type and altitudinal gradient. Barren land and higher altitude landscapes have the highest BD, and the lowest TP, and grassland and lower altitude landscapes have the lowest BD and high TP. Intensive cultivation accompanied by natural land conversion and erosion due to the rugged landscape nature caused high BD and low TP. Analysis of variance results also shows the significant interaction effect of land use type and altitudinal gradient on EC, SOM, SOC (

p

< 0.001), and pH-water (1:2.5), and TN (

p

< 0.01). The Pearson correlation of SOM with TP, TN, MC, and clay content showed a strong positive relationship. But, SOC, TN, and clay content were negatively correlated with BD. Soils of the study watershed are found in low to optimum rating levels in their selected physicochemical properties. Overall, the results show that land use and topography gradient significantly affected soil physicochemical properties in the study watershed. Therefore, soil management options should focus on scenarios that could improve the soil conditions to enhance crop production on a sustainable basis.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells Successfully Deliver Oncolytic Virotherapy to Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma
Authors: Chastkofsky Michael I. , Pituch Katarzyna C. , Katagi Hiroaki , Zannikou Markella , Ilut Liliana , Xiao Ting , Han Yu , Sonabend Adam M. , Curiel David T. , Bonner Erin R. , Nazarian Javad , Horbinski Craig M. , James C. David , Saratsis Amanda M. , Hashizume Rintaro , Lesniak Maciej S. , Balyasnikova Irina V. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Purpose:
Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is among the deadliest of pediatric brain tumors. Radiotherapy is the standard-of-care treatment for DIPG, but offers only transient relief of symptoms for patients with DIPG without providing significant survival benefit. Oncolytic virotherapy is an anticancer treatment that has been investigated for treating various types of brain tumors.

Experimental Design:
Here, we have explored the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) for oncolytic virus (OV) delivery and evaluated treatment efficacy using preclinical models of DIPG. The survivin promoter drives the conditional replication of OV used in our studies. The efficiency of OV entry into the cells is mediated by fiber modification with seven lysine residues (CRAd.S.pK7). Patients' samples and cell lines were analyzed for the expression of viral entry proteins and survivin. The ability of MSCs to deliver OV to DIPG was studied in the context of a low dose of irradiation.

Results:
Our results show that DIPG cells and tumors exhibit robust expression of cell surface proteins and survivin that enable efficient OV entry and replication in DIPG cells. MSCs loaded with OV disseminate within a tumor and release OV throughout the DIPG brainstem xenografts in mice. Administration of OV-loaded MSCs with radiotherapy to mice bearing brainstem DIPG xenografts results in more prolonged survival relative to that conferred by either therapy alone (P &lt; 0.01).

Conclusions:
Our study supports OV, CRAd.S.pK7, encapsulated within MSCs as a therapeutic strategy that merits further investigation and potential translation for DIPG treatment.
A Performance Comparison of Commonly Used Assays to Detect RET Fusions
Authors: Yang Soo-Ryum , Aypar Umut , Rosen Ezra Y. , Mata Douglas A. , Benayed Ryma , Mullaney Kerry , Jayakumaran Gowtham , Zhang Yanming , Frosina Denise , Drilon Alexander , Ladanyi Marc , Jungbluth Achim A. , Rekhtman Natasha , Hechtman Jaclyn F. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Purpose:
Selpercatinib and pralsetinib induce deep and durable responses in patients with advanced RET fusion–positive lung and thyroid cancer. RET fusion testing strategies with rapid and reliable results are critical given recent FDA approval. Here, we assess various clinical assays in a large pan-cancer cohort.

Experimental Design:
Tumors underwent DNA-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) with reflex to RNA-based NGS if no mitogenic driver or if a RET structural variant of unknown significance (SVUS) were present. Canonical DNA-level RET fusions and RNA-confirmed RET fusions were considered true fusions. Break-apart FISH and IHC performance were assessed in subgroups.

Results:
A total of 171 of 41,869 patients with DNA NGS harbored RET structural variants, including 139 canonical fusions and 32 SVUS. Twelve of 32 (37.5%) SVUS were transcribed into RNA-level fusions, resulting in 151 oncogenic RET fusions. The most common RET fusion–positive tumor types were lung (65.6%) and thyroid (23.2%). The most common partners were KIF5B (45%), CCDC6 (29.1%), and NCOA4 (13.3%). DNA NGS showed 100% (46/46) sensitivity and 99.6% (4,459/4,479) specificity. FISH showed 91.7% (44/48) sensitivity, with lower sensitivity for NCOA4-RET (66.7%, 8/12). A total of 87.5% (7/8) of RET SVUS negative for RNA-level fusions demonstrated rearrangement by FISH. The sensitivity of IHC varied by fusion partner: KIF5B sensitivity was highest (100%, 31/31), followed by CCDC6 (88.9%, 16/18) and NCOA4 (50%, 6/12). Specificity of RET IHC was 82% (73/89).

Conclusions:
Although DNA sequencing has high sensitivity and specificity, RNA sequencing of RET SVUS is necessary. Both FISH and IHC demonstrated lower sensitivity for NCOA4-RET fusions.
Combining Nivolumab and Ipilimumab with Infliximab or Certolizumab in Patients with Advanced Melanoma: First Results of a Phase Ib Clinical Trial
Authors: Montfort Anne , Filleron Thomas , Virazels Mathieu , Dufau Carine , Milhès Jean , Pagès Cécile , Olivier Pascale , Ayyoub Maha , Mounier Muriel , Lusque Amélie , Brayer Stéphanie , Delord Jean-Pierre , Andrieu-Abadie Nathalie , Levade Thierry , Colacios Céline , Ségui Bruno , Meyer Nicolas 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Purpose:
TNF blockers can be used to manage gastrointestinal inflammatory side effects following nivolumab and/or ipilimumab treatment in patients with advanced melanoma. Our preclinical data showed that anti-TNF could promote the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Patients and Methods:
TICIMEL (NTC03293784) is an open-label, two-arm phase Ib clinical trial. Fourteen patients with advanced and/or metastatic melanoma (stage IIIc/IV) were enrolled. Patients were treated with nivolumab (1 mg/kg) and ipilimumab (3 mg/kg) combined to infliximab (5 mg/kg, N = 6) or certolizumab (400/200 mg, N = 8). The primary endpoint was safety and the secondary endpoint was antitumor activity. Adverse events (AEs) were graded according to the NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events and response was assessed following RECIST 1.1.

Results:
Only one dose-limiting toxicity was observed in the infliximab cohort. The two different combinations were found to be safe. We observed lower treatment-related AEs with infliximab as compared with certolizumab. In the certolizumab cohort, one patient was not evaluable for response. In this cohort, four of eight patients exhibited hepatobiliary disorders and seven of seven evaluable patients achieved objective response including four complete responses (CRs) and three partial responses (PRs). In the infliximab cohort, we observed one CR, two PRs, and three progressive diseases. Signs of activation and maturation of systemic T-cell responses were seen in patients from both cohorts.

Conclusions:
Our results show that both combinations are safe in human and provide clinical and biological activities. The high response rate in the certolizumab-treated patient cohort deserves further investigations.
Abstract A37: Restoration of oral microbiota dysbiosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma after surgery
Authors: Chan Jason Y.K. , Wong Bowie , Wong Eddy W.Y. , Chan Paul , Chen Zigui 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Introduction: Increasing reports have indicated the association between oral microbiota dysbiosis and HNSCC, while it is unclear how the oral microbiota responds to surgery. In this study, we longitudinally collected oral rinse samples from patients with HNSCC right before and after surgery at 1, 3, and 6 months, in order to elucidate the dynamic changes of oral microbiota upon treatment.
Materials and Methods: A total of 91 HNSCC patients were recruited, with 20 having been collected for a longitudinal set of samples for 6 months. Meanwhile, 93 healthy subjects were selected as controls. The microbiota from oral rinses was classified by 16S rRNA gene V3-V4 amplicon sequencing and QIIME2 algorithm.
Results: Although there was no obvious difference in the alpha- and beta-diversities of oral microbiota between HNSCC patients and healthy subjects, we observed a number of bacterial genera significantly discriminating cases from controls. Further analysis of oral microbiota in HNSCC between pre- and post-surgery found that the community diversity was dramatically depressed at 1 month after surgery (p=0.001), but this was able to restore to the normal level from 3 months with no significant difference between 3 months and preop (p&gt;0.05). The relative abundance of the commensal bacteria, including Streptococcus, Rothia, Corynebacterium, and Granulicatella, consistently increased along 1-, 3-, and 6-month recovery, while the periodontal pathogens Fusobacterium and Peptostreptococcus decreased.
Conclusions: The findings indicate that a taxonomically defined microbial consortium is associated with HNSCC and the oral microbiota is able to restore to the community, trending to healthy status after surgery.
Citation Format: Jason Y.K. Chan, Bowie Wong, Eddy W.Y. Wong, Paul Chan, Zigui Chen. Restoration of oral microbiota dysbiosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma after surgery [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on the Microbiome, Viruses, and Cancer; 2020 Feb 21-24; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(8 Suppl):Abstract nr A37.
Abstract B37: Analysis of the differential expression of human endogenous retrovirus in glioblastoma multiforme
Authors: Yuan Zihao , Zhang Ningyan , An Zhiqiang , Zheng Wenjin 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive and deadly brain tumor. It is primarily diagnosed at older ages and has 5-year survival rate less than 6% even with the most aggressive therapies; the lack of biomarkers for GBM makes the development of its immunotherapy challenging. Human endogenous retrovirus (HERVs) are a group of long terminal repeat (LTR) elements that are believed to be relics from ancient viral infections. Recent studies have found their important roles in regulating various biologic processes. However, our understanding of the LTR elements is greatly lacking. The purpose of our study was to comprehensively characterize the expression profile of LTRs in the GBM compared with normal brain. The 1,077.4 GB of sequencing data contain 111 GBM tissue studies, 30 GBM cell lines studies, and 45 normal brain tissues studies were obtained from public database; the differential expressed repetitive elements were analyzed between GBM and normal brain samples. 48 LTR elements were found differentially expressed (p-value &lt; 0.05) between GBM and normal brain, of which 46 are HERV elements. 34 out of 46 significantly changed HERVs belong to the ERV1 superfamily. Most (43/46) of the differential expressed HERV elements are upregulated in GBM compared with normal brain. Our results suggest a potentially important role of HERVs in the etiology of GBM and future application of these elements as biomarkers for GBM treatments.
Citation Format: Zihao Yuan, Ningyan Zhang, Zhiqiang An, Wenjin Zheng. Analysis of the differential expression of human endogenous retrovirus in glioblastoma multiforme [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on the Microbiome, Viruses, and Cancer; 2020 Feb 21-24; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(8 Suppl):Abstract nr B37.
Abstract PO-041: Multiplexed ion beam imaging to describe tumor-immune microenvironment and tumor heterogeneity in neuroblastoma
Authors: Kammersgaard Marte B. , Bosse Marc , Martinez Daniel , Bosse Kristopher R. , Maris John M. , Mackall Crystal L. , Angelo Robert M. , Davis Kara L. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Neuroblastoma is a tumor of the peripheral sympathetic nervous system, accounting for 10% of pediatric cancer associated deaths and the most common cancer diagnosed during infancy(1,2). This neural crest derived malignancy is characterized by clinical heterogeneity ranging from spontaneous regression in some patients to treatment resistance, metastasis and death in others(3,4). Here, we report the application of Multiplexed Ion Beam Imaging (MIBI), a single-cell, high-dimensional imaging method to determine the expression and co-expression of antigens on neuroblastoma cells and describe the local immune environment. We have optimized a 40-antibody panel to capture adrenergic or mesenchymal identity(5,6), infiltrating immune cells, tissue architecture and known neuroblastoma proteins. We optimized our antibody staining and determined tissue specificity using a unique tissue microarray which included 32 NBL cores but also additional childhood solid tumors including osteosarcoma, glioblastoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor, and Wilms tumor. Healthy pediatric tissues from various organs including kidney, liver, and tonsil were also included. We have uncovered divergent neuroblastoma cell populations differentiated by co-expression of CD57, Ki67 and GPC2 as well as mesenchymal (FN1 and SNAI2/SLUG) and adrenergic (TH, GATA3 and PHOX2B) antibodies, demonstrating promising early results of our application of MIBI. We will describe infiltrating immune populations and spatial relationships to these unique tumor cell populations. Our work demonstrates the feasibility of using MIBI to make translatable discoveries in neuroblastoma and other childhood cancers. With this we will lay the foundation for future discovery and validation of novel targets for immunotherapy in neuroblastoma.
Citation Format: Marte B. Kammersgaard, Marc Bosse, Daniel Martinez, Kristopher R. Bosse, John M. Maris, Crystal L. Mackall, Robert M. Angelo, Kara L. Davis. Multiplexed ion beam imaging to describe tumor-immune microenvironment and tumor heterogeneity in neuroblastoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Special Conference on Tumor Heterogeneity: From Single Cells to Clinical Impact; 2020 Sep 17-18. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(21 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-041.