bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Temporal transcriptome change of Oncomelania hupensis revealed by Schistosoma japonicum invasion
Authors: Feng Xinyu , Zhu Lingqian , Qin Zhiqiang , Mo Xiaojin , Hao Yuwan , Jiang Ying , Hu Wei , Li Shizhu 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background
The freshwater snail Oncomelania hupensis is the obligate intermediate host for Schistosoma japonicum in China. Transcriptomic examination of snail–schistosome interactions can provide valuable information of host response at physiological and immune levels.

Methods
To investigate S. japonicum-induced changes in O. hupensis gene expression, we utilized high-throughput sequencing to identify transcripts that were differentially expressed between infected snails and their uninfected controls at two key time-point, Day 7 and Day 30 after challenge. Time-series transcriptomic profiles were analyzed using R package DESeq 2, followed by GO, KEGG and (weighted gene correlation network analysis) WGCNA analysis to elucidate and identify important molecular mechanism, and subsequently understand host–parasite relationship. The identified unigenes was verified by bioinformatics and real-time PCR. Possible adaptation molecular mechanisms of O. hupensis to S. japonicum challenge were proposed.

Results
Transcriptomic analyses of O. hupensis by S. japonicum invasion yielded billion reads including 92,144 annotated transcripts. Over 5000 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by pairwise comparisons of infected libraries from two time points to uninfected libraries in O. hupensis. In total, 6032 gene ontology terms and 149 KEGG pathways were enriched. After the snails were infected with S. japonicum on Day 7 and Day 30, DEGs were shown to be involved in many key processes associated with biological regulation and innate immunity pathways. Gene expression patterns differed after exposure to S. japonicum. Using WGCNA, 16 modules were identified. Module-trait analysis identified that a module involved in RNA binding, ribosome, translation, mRNA processing, and structural constituent of ribosome were strongly associated with S. japonicum invasion. Many of the genes from enriched KEGG pathways were involved in lysosome, spliceosome and ribosome, indicating that S. japonicum invasion may activate the regulation of ribosomes and immune response to infection in O. hupensis.

Conclusions
Our analysis provided a temporally dynamic gene expression pattern of O. hupensis by S. japonicum invasion. The identification of gene candidates serves as a foundation for future investigations of S. japonicum infection. Additionally, major DEGs expression patterns and putative key regulatory pathways would provide useful information to construct gene regulatory networks between host-parasite crosstalk.
Estimations of fractional integral operators for convex functions and related results
Authors: Chen Zhihua , Farid Ghulam , Ur Rehman Atiq , Latif Naveed 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThis research investigates the bounds of fractional integral operators containing an extended generalized Mittag-Leffler function as a kernel via several kinds of convexity. In particular, the established bounds are studied for convex functions and further connected with known results. Furthermore, these results applied to the parabolic function and consequently recurrence relations for Mittag-Leffler functions are obtained. Moreover, some fractional differential equations containing Mittag-Leffler functions are constructed and their solutions are provided by Laplace transform technique.
Reduction of in situ force through the meniscus with phased inner resection of medial meniscus: an experimental study in a porcine model
Authors: Hirose Takehito , Mae Tatsuo , Tachibana Yuta , Ohori Tomoki , Fujie Hiromichi , Yoshikawa Hideki , Nakata Ken 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Purpose
Partial meniscectomy can cause osteoarthritic changes in knees, as inner portion as well as peripheral portion of meniscus is important. The hypothesis of this study was that the amount of the inner resection of medial meniscus affected the in situ forces through the meniscus and the tibial varus and external rotation under axial load.

Methods
Fourteen intact porcine knees were investigated with a six-degree of freedom robotic system and force/moment, and the three-dimensional path of intact knees were recorded by universal force sensor when an axial load of 300-N was applied at four different flexion angles (30°, 60°, 90°, and 120°). The same examination was performed on three phased inner resections (30%, 60%, and 90% width) of the medial meniscus. Finally, all paths were reproduced after total medial meniscectomy, and in situ forces of the medial meniscus were calculated based on the superposition principle. Changes in tibiofemoral varus/valgus and internal/external rotation alignment during an axial load were also calculated.

Results
In situ forces of the medial meniscus decreased according to the amount of meniscal resection at all flexion angles. The reduction was significant in knees with inner resections of > 60% width at all flexion angles and even of 30% width at a flexion angle of 120° (p < .05). Incremental changes in the tibiofemoral varus alignment increased depending on the inner resection width at all flexion angles (p < .05).

Conclusion
The amount of inner resection of the medial meniscus was related to reduction of its in situ forces and increment of the tibial varus rotation under axial load.
Gastric volvulus with perforation 1 year after total pancreatectomy: a case report
Authors: Takahashi Yusuke , Seki Hitoshi 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background
Because of its rare indication and relatively simple reconstruction procedure (only choledochojejunostomy and gastrojejunostomy) compared to those for pancreatoduodenectomy, the technical tips and pitfalls of total pancreatectomy are rarely discussed. Herein, we discuss a rare case of gastric volvulus 1 year after total pancreatectomy and provide advice to prevent such cases.

Case presentation
A 66-year-old woman underwent total pancreatectomy with splenectomy for mixed-type intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas. Choledochojejunostomy (retro-colic route) and gastrojejunostomy (ante-colic route, Billroth II method) were performed for reconstruction. The final diagnosis was mixed-type intraductal papillary mucinous adenoma of the pancreas without malignant neoplasm. She had no clinical symptoms, such as abdominal pain and fever, during postoperative follow-up. However, at 1 year postoperatively, she complained of abdominal pain. Contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography showed volvulus and perforation of the stomach. Emergent surgery was performed. The stomach fornix was located on the right side and was partly perforated. We resected the perforation site with a linear cutter® (New Type Linear Cutter, Ethicon, USA) and released the gastric volvulus. Moreover, we fixed the stomach to the left abdominal wall using non-absorbable thread. The cause of the perforation was clinically and pathologically unclear. Her serum albumin and cholinesterase levels temporarily decreased postoperatively, but gradually increased. A recurrence of volvulus-related symptoms has not been observed.

Conclusions
After total pancreatectomy with splenectomy, although the stomach is connected with the jejunum, it is typically fixed only by the pedicle of the left gastric artery and vein. In the present case, this anatomical change may have been a cause of the gastric volvulus. Thus, it might be better to fix the remnant stomach in total pancreatectomy with splenectomy.
Baseline serum lactate dehydrogenase levels are highly predictive of superior outcomes in patients with advanced melanoma: Results from extended follow-up from the dacarbazine/oblimersen (Bcl-2 Antisense) multinational trial
Authors: Pavlick A. C. , Eggermont A. , Haluska F. , Millward M. , Gore M. , Pehamberger H. , Hersey P. , Bedikian A. Y. 
Published: April 2020

18001 Background: Bcl-2 inhibits apoptosis, confers resistance to chemotherapy in many cancers, is often over-expressed in advanced melanoma, and is a prime candidate for pro-apoptotic targeted therapy. Recent studies by the EORTC and others show that lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a powerful prognostic determinant in advanced melanoma patients (pts). The chief treatment effect of oblimersen (Obl) + dacarbazine (DTIC) was obtained from the largest cohort of normal LDH pts studied to date; detailed efficacy and safety data are reported. Methods: Previously untreated pts (N = 771) were randomized to receive DTIC 1000 mg/m2 IV Q 3W alone or preceded by Obl (7 mg/kg/d × 5D). Pts were stratified pre-randomization by performance status, liver metastases, and visceral metastases and/or elevated LDH. Serum LDH was ≤ the cutoff of 1.1 × upper limit of normal in 508 pts. Treatment group characteristics were well matched. Results: Combining Obl and DTIC significantly increased all efficacy outcomes in pts with baseline (BL) nonelevated (NE) LDH, including overall survival (median 11.4 vs 9.7 mo; P = .018), progression-free survival (3.1 vs. 1.6 mo; P = .0007), objective response (17.2% vs 9.3%; P = .009), complete response (3.4% vs 0.8%; P = .041), and durable response ≥6 mo (9.6% vs 4.0%; P = .014). In contrast, there were no significant differences in outcomes for pts with elevated BL LDH (n = 252). BL LDH was the only stratification variable significantly associated with a treatment interaction effect. Compared with the entire study population, pts with NE LDH in both groups had a lower incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) with an outcome of death, serious TEAEs, and discontinuations due to TEAEs. Conclusions: With extended follow-up, this large trial confirms that serum LDH (prospectively stratified pre-randomization) is probably the most important prognostic factor in advanced melanoma. Given the demonstrable lack of benefit and high potential to yield misleading evidence regarding therapeutic activity, pts with elevated LDH should probably be excluded from trials of new therapies until establishing efficacy in pts with nonelevated LDH. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Phase II study of ‘hybrid‘ biochemotherapy for advanced melanoma
Authors: Papadopoulos N. E. , Eton O. , Kim K. B. , Camacho L. H. , Hwu P. , Bedikian A. Y. 
Published: April 2020

18007 Background: The clinical activity of a hybrid biochemotherapy regimen was determined. This regimen incorporated important elements of previously studied sequential and concurrent biochemotherapy regimens in order to potentially increase dose intensity of the antitumor agents while decreasing morbidity, complexity of in-patient management, and length of hospital days. Methods: The antitumor agents and starting doses in the hybrid regimen were: cisplatin (25 mg/m2) IV on days 2–5, vinblastine (1.4–1.6 mg/m2) IV on days 1–5, dacarbazine (800 mg/m2) IV day 1 only, rIL-2 (12 MIU/m2) SC on days 6–10, and interferon-a2b (10 MU/m2) SC on days 2–6. Thirty-seven patients (pts) with a median age of 49 (range 19–63) yrs and Zubrod’s PS of 0–2 were treated. Patients with prior chemotherapy, rIL-2, active brain metastases were excluded. All cycles were 21 days or longer and the median number of courses delivered per patient was 4 (range 1–6). Results: Thirty-five pts were evaluated for response. There were 3/35 (9%) complete responses (CRs) and 17/35 (49%) partial responses (PRs). One CR and one PR were confirmed pathologically. The median overall survival was 12.6 months (95% CI: 9.9, 20.3). The median time to progression for all patients was 5.7 months (95% CI: 4.3, 9.8), while the TTP of responders was 7.2 months (95% CI: 5.1, 18.9). Brain metastases developed in 13 pts, -either while receiving treatment and responding systemically (5 pts) -or post-treatment with progressive systemic disease (8 pts). There were 2/12 (17%) early deaths in pts receiving vinblastine (1.6 mg/m2), one with typhlitis and the other with sepsis. Therefore, the vinblastine dose was reduced to 1.4 mg/m2 for patients #13–35. Neutropenia, with a median lowest neutrophil count of 0.08 (range 0–3) on day 13 (range day 6–16), and fever during rIL-2 treatment, increased the median days of hospitalization of all patients to 15 (range 12–23) for the first cycle. Conclusions: Hybrid biochemotherapy produced a high response rate and an overall survival similar to previously reported schedules. Length of hospital stay was significantly increased compared to the concurrent schedule. Development of brain metastases in responding pts resulted in early withdrawal from the program. Hybrid biochemotherapy with reduced doses of vinblastine was better tolerated. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Phase II study of docetaxel and vinorelbine plus GM-CSF in malignant melanoma
Authors: Fruehauf J. P. , Kong K. M. , Jakowatz J. G. 
Published: April 2020

18017 Background: Patients having locoregional or metastatic melanoma have a poor prognosis, with 50% to 10% of patients dying from the disease within 5 years. Current chemotherapy regimens offer limited benefits to these patients and more effective and less toxic treatments are needed. Methods: We developed a phase II clinical trial to evaluate the activity of an every two week schedule of docetaxel (40mg/m2, d1), vinorelbine (30 mg/m2, d1) IV and sargramostim (GMCSF, 250 ug/m2 sq d2–11). This regimen was developed based on preclinical synergistic activity of paclitaxel plus vinorelbine (Neale et al. Melanoma Res 11:601, 2001), and evidence that the docetaxel plus vinorelbine combination can be given safely to lung cancer patients (Sanchez et al. Lung Ca 38:309, 2002). Sargramostim was included based on preliminary clinical data that it delays time to progression in stage IV melanoma patients resected for cure (Spitler, JCO 18:1614, 2000). We report here an interim analysis for the initial 21 patients with stage IV melanoma treated in first or second line. Results: The primary endpoint was time to progression. Grade III/IV toxicities included anemia (12.5%) and neutropenia (5%), with one patient requiring 25% dose reduction. To date, median time to progression (TTP) is 7 months, with 30% of cases showing greater than 8 months TTP. Conclusions: This result compares favorably with biochemotherapy, which has a median TTP of 5 months and overall survival of 8.4 months (Atkins Proc ASCO 22:708. 2003), while being significantly less toxic. Based on these favorable findings, we are continuing to accrue patients to this trial. [Table: see text]
Perspectives on psychological distress in cancer patients: Comparison between expected, perceived and actual disturbances in a clinic from Argentina
Authors: Torrente F. , Gercovich D. , Hirsch H. , Margiolakis P. , Gil Deza E. , Morgenfeld E. , Pollola J. , Rolnik B. , Gercovich F. G. 
Published: April 2020

18515 Background: Psychological distress is a widespread phenomenon in cancer patients (pts.) Notwithstanding, its recognition and the threshold criteria for referral to a specialized unit are still problematic in clinical practice. Correspondingly, the aim of this study was to explore how much psychological distress (PD) is expected by the oncologists, how much distress is actually present in these pts., and finally how many of them are detected as having significant problems and referred to the mental health unit (MHU). Methods: Three sources of data were compared for the purpose of this study. Firstly, a survey to the practicing oncologists (n =18) was carried out in order to establish the rate of PD expected by them. Secondly, a consecutive sample of 259 pts. was evaluated in the waiting room with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for establishing an estimation of the actual rate of PD in this population. Finally, 115 pts. from the MHU were studied for determining the rate and the accuracy of the referral made by the oncologists. Results: Sixty one percent of the surveyed oncologists considered that 75% or more of their pts would need psychological assistance. The waiting room sample evaluated with the HADS showed that 74.9% of patients surpassed the cutoff score (11 points) for either anxiety or depression, or both. Despite this, less than 5% of the total population of the clinic was referred to the MHU. From this sample, 38.3% of the pts. scored below the cutoff line. The proportion of pts. who exceeded the cutoff score for depression was significantly higher in the MHU sample. Conclusions: Most of the oncologists expect a high rate of PD in their patients, and even overestimate it. Actual rates of anxiety and depression were also high. On the contrary, the rate of referral to specialized mental health treatment was extremely low and the pts. referred were not necessarily highly disturbed. Depression is probably better recognized than anxiety by oncologists. In conclusion, both quantitative and qualitative problems were detected in the referral to the MHU, regardless the awareness of the oncologists about PD. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Risk assessment model for haematologic toxicity (HT) in patients with solid tumours (ST) during the first chemotherapy (CT) cycle
Authors: Casas A. M. , Rifà J. , González Larriba J. L. , Carrato A. , López Pousa A. 
Published: April 2020

18516 Background: Bone marrow supression is the main type of CT dose-limiting toxicity. Specific studies on HT impact factors are key to help establish appropriate protocols in routine patient care. Objective: to identify significant factors among demographical and clinical variables for first-cycle CT-induced HT in patients (pts) with ST. Methods: Data was obtained from the Delfos Study, a multicentre prospective-cohort non-interventional study in Spain. To obtain a predictive model of logistic regression (LR), we followed the hierarchical principle as a way to ensure replication of results. This model was implemented for global HT, defined as compliance with at least one of the following criteria: anaemia grade (G) ≥2, thrombocytopenia G ≥2, neutropenia G ≥3, febrile neutropenia (FN, neutropenia G ≥3 and body Tª ≥38 Cº). A ROC curve was used to determine the best value for sensitivity and specificity of the model. Values were chosen so that both sensitivity and specificity resulted ≥70% and among the resulting possibilities, and due to study nature, the one providing higher specificity was taken. Results: A total of 1,194 pts with ST (breast, 37.9%; lung, 17.6%; colorectal, 15%; other, 29.5%) were included in 88 Spanish medical oncology health centres. Most pts were women (56%), mean age (SD) of 58(12) yrs. The LR model obtained predicted the global HT (pChi-sq < 0.0005), and includes the following factors: gender, tumour type, treatment intention, TNM-(T), TNM-(N), baseline haemoglobin (Hb), baseline lymphocyte count (LC), AST and the interaction gender-treatment intention. From those, five were statistically significant at the 0.05 level: baseline Hb (p < 0.0005, OR = 0.555), baseline LC (p = 0.026, OR = 0.8), type of treatment intention -neoadjuvant- (p = 0.013, OR = 0.265), TNM-(N) (p = 0.008, OR = 1.261), and interaction gender-treatment intention (p = 0.014). Inherent sensitivity and specificity of the equation were, respectively, 71.9% and 75.8%. Conclusions: A risk prediction model for global first-cycle CT-induced HT in pts with ST in Spain was implemented. Five prediction factors were identified. Baseline Hb and LC, as well as neoadjuvant intention, were inversely associated with HT. Toxicity increased with the number of affected lymph nodes. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
The role of venography in the evaluation of malfunctioning central venous access ports (CVAPs)
Authors: Atallah E. , Salomon M. , Schiffer C. A. , El-Rayes B. 
Published: April 2020

18535 Background: Malfunction of CVAPs is common in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. We evaluated the role of venography as a means of assessing the cause of malfunction. Methods: We reviewed and analyzed data available from cancer patients who had a venogram for a malfunctioning CVAP between 1/03 to 3/05. All patients in our institution who have a malfunctioning CVAP receive a trial of intracatheter thrombolytics. If the malfunction persists, then a venogram is performed through the catheter. Results: Seventy-seven patients were studied. The indication for evaluation was inability to aspirate blood (54%), pain (18%), swelling at site of injection (10%), difficult aspiration and infusion (6.5%) and others (11.5%). Forty-four patients had chest ports (31% left and 26% right side), while 33 patients had the CVAP placed in the upper extremity (24% right and 18% left arm). Fibrin sheath or thrombus was the most common finding in 44% of patients, and 41% of venograms were normal. Only two patients had soft tissue extravasation of contrast. Sites of extravasation were in the chest at the catheter/port junction and in the supraclavicular area secondary to a catheter fracture. In patients with aspiration failure, 68% had either a fibrin sheath or thrombus at the catheter tip, 14% had CVAP malposition as the only abnormality, 14% were normal and one patient had extravasation. The CVAP tips were optimally positioned in 70% of patients (distal superior vena cava (SVC), venocava-atrial junction or atrium), while 30% were in a suboptimal position (proximal SVC, brachiocephalic, azygous, or internal jugular vein). Suboptimally positioned CVAPs had a higher incidence of an associated abnormality compared to optimally positioned CVAPs (58% vs. 4% P = 0.001). Only five CVAPs were removed, for extravasation (1), cellulitis (2), and malposition (2). Conclusion: Although the incidence of extravasation was low, venography evaluation could be considered in patients with malfunctioning catheters receiving a vesicant drug to help prevent a potentially significant complication. CVAPs with suboptimally positioned tips had a higher rate of associated abnormalities, emphasizing the importance of proper tip position. No significant financial relationships to disclose.