bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Anticancer and apoptotic effects of theaflavin-3-gallate in non-small cell lung carcinoma
Authors: Li Da-Wei , Meng Long , Zhang Kui-Xing , Zhang Wei-Ke 
Published: September 2015

<p class="Abstract">The objective was to determine the antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of theaflavin-3-gallate in human non-small cell lung cancer cells (A-549) along with determining the effect on cell cycle phase distribution, cell migration and invasion. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay while as phase contrast and fluorescence microscopies were involved to study apoptotic morphologi-cal features in these cells. Flow cytometry investigated the effect of theaflavin-3-gallate on cell cycle phase distribution. Theaflavin-3-gallate treatment led to a substantial cytotoxic effect in A-549 cancer cells with IC<sub>50</sub> values of 42.1 µM and 27.9 µM at 24 and 48 hours respectively. Further, 80 and 160 µM dose of theaflavin-3-gallate induced apoptotic features including chromatin margina-tion and micronuclei presence. The population of cells in G2/M phase increased from 2.7% (control) to 6.8%, 17.2% and finally to 46.5% after treatment with 20, 80 and 160 µM concentration of theaflavin-3-gallate respectively indicating G2/M phase cell cycle arrest.</p><p> </p>
Comparison of cervico-vaginal colonization among sexually active women by intrauterine device use
Authors: Songur Dagli Selda , Demir Tülin 
Published: September 2015

Introduction: In this study we aimed to evaluate the effect of intrauterine devices (IUDs) on cervico-vaginal colonization. Methodology: Cervico-vaginal samples of 96 patients with vaginal discharge were included in the study. Microscopic evaluation, bacteriological and fungal culture, and antigen testing for Chlamydia trachomatis using an immunochromatographic test method were performed. Results: Trichomonas vaginalis was not detected by wet mount examination. Gram smear revealed that seven patients (7.3%) had Candida spp. and five (5.2%) had clue cell. Of the 96 swabs tested for conventional culture, pathogenic microorganisms were isolated from 24 patients. While Neisseria gonorrhoeae was not found in any of the sample, five (5.2%) were positive for Gardnerella vaginalis. Five (5.2%) were positive for C. trachomatis antigen, while three positivity only for C. trachomatis antigen, one had G. vaginalis additionally, and the other had a mixed infection. Chlamydial antigen positivity was higher among women over 30 years of age (p = 0.157). Increase in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PNL) was detected 40% and 35.2% of samples, positive and negative, for chlamydial antigen, respectively (p= 1.000). Among IUD+ cases, increase in PNL, fungal elements, E. coli and Gram-positive bacteria and decrease in Lactobacillus spp. were observed, compared to IUD-cases. No statistically significant relationship was detected between IUD and chlamydial antigen with the reported rates of 4.8% and 5.6% for IUD+ or IUD-, respectively (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Statistically significant relationship was not detected between IUD and cervico-vaginal colonization. More comprehensive studies using specific test methods should be conducted to better understand the relationship.
Externally Controlled Studies Using Real-World Data in Patients With Hematological Cancers
Authors: Hermans Sjoerd J. F. , van der Maas Niek G. , van Norden Yvette , Dinmohamed Avinash G. , Berkx Elizabeth , Huijgens Peter C. , Rivera Donna R. , de Claro R. Angelo , Pignatti Francesco , Versluis Jurjen , Cornelissen Jan J. 
Published: August 2024

ImportanceThe use of real-world data (RWD) external control arms in prospective studies is increasing. The advantages, including the immediate availability of a control population, must be balanced with the requirements of meeting evidentiary standards.ObjectiveTo address the question of whether and to what extent the methods of RWD studies compare to standard methods used in randomized clinical trials.Evidence ReviewA systematic search across 4 electronic databases and Google Scholar was conducted from January 1, 2000, to October 23, 2023. Studies were included in the systematic review if they compared an intervention arm in a clinical trial to an RWD control arm in patients with hematological cancers and if they were published between 2000 and 2023.FindingsThirty-two prospective intervention studies incorporating external control data from RWD sources of patients with hematological cancers were identified. A total of 4306 patients from intervention arms and 10 594 from RWD control arms were included across all studies. Only 2 studies (6%) included prospectively collected RWD. The complete trial inclusion criteria were applied to the RWD cohort in 7 studies (22%). Four studies (13%) published the statistical analysis plan and prespecified use of RWD. A total of 23 studies (72%) applied matching algorithms for trial and RWD cohorts, including matching for demographic, disease, and/or therapy-related characteristics. The end point criteria were the same as the trial in 8 studies (25%). In contrast, 12 studies (38%) used different end points, and 12 (38%) did not provide an end point definition for the RWD. Twelve studies (38%) had a median follow-up difference of less than a year between arms. Eight studies (25%) reported toxic effect data for the trial arm, of which 5 studies reported toxic effect data for the RWD arm.Conclusions and RelevanceIn this systematic review, limitations were observed in the application of clinical trial eligibility criteria to RWD, statistical rigor and application of matching methods, the definition of end points, follow-up, and reporting of adverse events, which may challenge the conclusions reported in studies using RWD.
Pharyngeal Manometry and Upper Airway Collapse During Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy
Authors: Harkins Tice , Tangutur Akshay , Keenan Brendan T. , Seay Everett G. , Thuler Eric , Dedhia Raj C. , Schwartz Alan R. 
Published: August 2024

ImportanceDrug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) is used to guide therapeutic management of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), depending on the levels and patterns of pharyngeal collapse. However, the collapsibility of specific pharyngeal sites remains unknown.ObjectiveTo assess collapse sites in patients with OSA undergoing DISE and whether number and location are associated with differences in airway collapsibility; and to quantify differences in collapsibility between primary and secondary sites in multilevel collapse.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cohort study assessed adult patients (≥18 years) with OSA undergoing DISE with manometry and positive airway pressure (PAP) titration at a tertiary care center from November 2021 to November 2023. Patients with an AHI score greater than 5 were included; those with less than 1 apnea event during DISE or incorrect catheter placement were excluded. Data were analyzed from September 28, 2022, to March 31, 2024.ExposureDISE with manometry and PAP titration.Main Outcomes and MeasuresActive pharyngeal critical pressure (Pcrit-A) and pharyngeal opening pressure (PhOP) were used to quantify airway collapsibility, adjusted for covariates (age, sex, race, and body mass index [BMI]).ResultsOf 94 screened, 66 patients (mean [SD] age, 57.4 [14.3] years; BMI, 29.2 [3.9]; 51 [77.3%] males) with a mean (SD) apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 31.6 (19.0) were included in the analysis. Forty-seven patients (71.2%) had multilevel collapse, 10 (15.2%) had single-level nasopalatal collapse, and 9 (13.6%) had single-level infrapalatal collapse. Groups did not differ in demographic characteristics or established measures of OSA severity. The single-level nasopalatal group had substantially elevated levels of airway collapsibility (Pcrit-A and PhOP covariate adjusted mean, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.1 to 3.8; and 8.2; 95% CI, 6.4 to 9.9 cmH2O) compared to the single-level infrapalatal group (−0.9; 95% CI, −2.4 to 0.5 cmH2O; and 4.9; 95% CI, 3.0 to 6.8 cmH2O, respectively) and similar to the level among the multilevel group (1.3; 95% CI, 0.7 to 2.0; and 8.5; 95% CI, 7.7 to 9.3 cmH2O). The multilevel group had more negative inspiratory pressure (−24.2; 95% CI, −28.1 to −20.2 cmH2O) compared to the single-level nasopalatal group (−9.8; 95% CI, −18.3 to −1.28 cmH2O). In patients with multilevel collapse, airway collapsibility was significantly higher at the primary nasopalatal compared to secondary infrapalatal site (mean difference, 13.7; 95% CI, 11.3 to 16.1 cmH2O).Conclusions and RelevanceThe findings of this cohort study suggest that intervention should target the primary site of pharyngeal collapse, and secondary sites only if they are nearly as collapsible as the primary site. Future work is needed to precisely define the difference in primary and secondary collapsibility that necessitates multilevel treatment.
Safety and Postoperative Outcomes of Transoral Surgery for Oropharyngeal Carcinoma in Older Adults
Authors: Costantino Andrea , Haughey Bruce , Alamoudi Uthman , Biskup Mathew , Magnuson Jeffery Scott 
Published: August 2024

ImportanceTransoral surgery (TOS) has become the primary surgical treatment for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). However, despite the increasing incidence of OPSCC in older patients, data regarding the safety and postoperative outcomes of TOS in this subgroup are lacking.ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the safety and postoperative outcomes of TOS in patients with OPSCC aged 70 years or older compared with younger individuals.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis retrospective cohort study included patients with microscopic diagnostic confirmation of invasive OPSCC diagnosed between 2010 and 2021. Data were obtained from the US National Cancer Database. Data were analyzed in March 2024.ExposureMinimally invasive TOS not converted to an open approach.Main Outcomes and MeasuresMultivariable logistic and linear regression models were constructed to compare postoperative outcomes, adjusting for baseline patient and tumor characteristics. The results are reported as odds ratios (ORs) or mean differences with corresponding 95% CI, as appropriate.ResultsA total of 10 430 patients (mean [SD] age, 60.7 [9.6] years; 8744 [83.8%] male) were included, with 1808 patients (17.3%) aged at least 70 years. No clinically meaningful difference was observed in terms of postoperative mortality at 30 days (adjusted OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 0.65-2.33) or 90 days (adjusted OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.65-1.87). Patients aged 70 years or older were less likely to undergo adjuvant radiotherapy (adjusted OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.57-0.83) and chemotherapy (adjusted OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.51-0.77). In addition, the adjuvant treatment was more frequently not administered in the older population due to patient refusal or comorbidities, despite being clinically indicated (radiotherapy: adjusted OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.05-1.77; chemotherapy: adjusted OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.17-2.45). No meaningful differences were observed regarding the remaining study outcomes, apart from a slightly longer hospitalization time for older patients, with an adjusted mean difference of 0.39 (95% CI, 0.05-0.74) days.Conclusions and RelevanceFindings from this study suggest that age was not independently associated with postoperative mortality in older patients undergoing TOS for OPSCC. However, older patients less frequently received adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy compared with younger patients, and future studies should be conducted to examine the impact on long-term survival.
Transparent Cellulose Aerogels from Concentrated Salt Solutions: Synthesis and Characterization
Authors: Schroeter Baldur , Holst Sven , Jung Isabella , Gibowsky Lara , Subrahmanyam Raman , Gurikov Pavel , Smirnova Irina 
Published: August 2024

AbstractIn this work, nanostructured and transparent cellulose aerogels are synthesized via a purely salt induced approach from non‐modified microcrystalline cellulose type II. The production process requires in contrast to state of the art methods no pretreatment of cellulose or use of expensive cellulose‐solvents: it consists of hydrogel formation via cross‐linking of cellulose with calcium ions, a solvent exchange and a supercritical drying step. A systematic multiparameter study reveals that a high level of structural control is achievable: ratios of macro‐ to mesoporosity and the size of mesopores can be tailored by adjustment of the calcium ion content, while keeping a high overall porosity in the range of 92% – 96 %. The build‐up of homogeneous, fine pore structures results in a significant increase of the specific surface area as compared to conventional calcium‐free aerogels (684 vs. 300 m2 g−1). Remarkably, the Ca2+‐cross‐linking renders aerogels transparent, with Rayleigh scattering being the dominant scattering mechanism. Additional ion exchange to Ca2+ in the hydrogel‐state leads to further reduction of the pore size and to products with optimized optical properties, e.g., light transmission of 91% at an incidents light wavelength of 800 nm and a substrate thickness of 1.5 mm.
2D Ruddlesden‐Popper versus 2D Dion‐Jacobson Perovskites: Of the Importance of Determining the “True” Average n‐Value of Annealed Layers
Authors: Cresp Marie , Liu Min , Rager Marie‐Noelle , Zheng Daming , Pauporté Thierry 
Published: August 2024

Abstract2D Ruddlesden‐Popper (RP) and Dion‐Jacobson (DJ) halide perovskite structures are characterized by the n parameter that represents the number of PbI6 layers in the spacer‐separated perovskite slabs. In most of the literature, n is referred to the initial composition of the precursor solution and, then, to the initial spacer content. In this approach, the fact that the spacer can be partially lost upon annealing is not considered. Here, the chemical processes occurring upon the preparation of reduced‐dimensional halide perovskite thin films of both families are investigated with a special focus on the organic cations composition and, especially, the evolution of n values. For each family, several spacers are investigated. It is shown that a large amount of monoammonium spacer cations is progressively eliminated upon annealing for the 2D‐RP perovskites, while, on the contrary, the final composition is close to the initial one in the case of the diammonium spacer cations of the 2D‐DJ perovskites. The elimination is related to the volatilization of the species after their deprotonation and the phenomenon can be regulated by halide additives. This work provides an important insight into the chemistry of the 2D perovskite layers and shows the importance of determining their “true” n value.
Selenium Nanoparticles Synergize with a KRAS Nanovaccine against Breast Cancer
Authors: Ferro Cláudio , Matos Ana I. , Serpico Luigia , Fontana Flavia , Chiaro Jacopo , D'Amico Carmine , Correia Alexandra , Koivula Risto , Kemell Marianna , Gaspar Maria Manuela , Acúrcio Rita C. , Cerullo Vincenzo , Santos Hélder A. , Florindo Helena F. 
Published: August 2024

AbstractSelenium (Se) is an element crucial for human health, known for its anticancer properties. Although selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have shown lower toxicity and higher biocompatibility than other Se compounds, bare SeNPs are unstable in aqueous solutions. In this study, several materials, including bovine serum albumin (BSA), chitosan, polymethyl vinyl ether‐alt‐maleic anhydride, and tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate, are explored to develop stable SeNPs and further evaluate their potential as candidates for cancer treatment. All optimized SeNP are spherical, <100 nm, and with a narrow size distribution. BSA‐stabilized SeNPs produced under acidic conditions present the highest stability in medium, plasma, and at physiological pH, maintaining their size ≈50–60 nm for an extended period. SeNPs demonstrate enhanced toxicity in cancer cell lines while sparing primary human dermal fibroblasts, underscoring their potential as effective anticancer agents. Moreover, the combination of BSA‐SeNPs with a nanovaccine results in a strong tumor growth reduction in an EO771 breast cancer mouse model, demonstrating a three‐fold decrease in tumor size. This synergistic anticancer effect not only highlights the role of SeNPs as effective anticancer agents but also offers valuable insights for developing innovative combinatorial approaches using SeNPs to improve the outcomes of cancer immunotherapy.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Directing‐Group‐Mediated γ‐C(sp3)−H Glycosylation for Synthesis of C‐Alkyl Glycosides
Authors: Zhong Qiuyu , Yu Changyue , Wang Jinlin , Wang Jiang , Chen Kaixian , Liu Hong , Dai Wenhao 
Published: August 2024

AbstractC‐alkyl glycosides play a crucial role in various bioactive compounds. However, the synthesis of C‐alkyl glycosides poses significant challenges, particularly through C(sp3)−H glycosylation. Here, we report a set of reactions for constructing C‐alkyl glycosides through directing‐group‐mediated functionalization of unactivated γ‐C(sp3)−H bonds under mild conditions. These reactions not only achieve high regioselectivity and stereoselectivity in glycosylation, but also exhibit a wide substrate scope. They are compatible with both arene and alkane substrates, as well as natural and unnatural amino acid substrates. Mechanistic studies have shown that the directing‐group 8‐aminoquinoline (AQ) and picolinamide (PA) may affect the chirality of the β‐carbon of L‐valine through a sterically favorable trans‐palladacycle intermediate, resulting in (R) or (S) configuration of glycosylated amino acid, respectively. These reactions are promising to provide a convenient and powerful tool for constructing C‐alkyl glycosides and carbohydrate‐based drugs in the future.
Genome‐Wide Association Analysis Identifies LILRB2 Gene for Pathological Myopia
Authors: Jiang Lingxi , Huang Lulin , Dai Chao , Zheng Rui , Miyake Masahiro , Mori Yuki , Nakao Shin‐ya , Morino Kazuya , Ymashiro Kenji , Miao Yang‐Bao , Li Qi , Ren Weiming , Ye Zimeng , Li Hongjing , Yang Zhenglin , Shi Yi 
Published: August 2024

AbstractPathological myopia (PM) is one of the leading causes of blindness, especially in Asia. To identify the genetic risk factors of PM, a two‐stage genome‐wide association study (GWAS) and replication analysis in East Asian populations is conducted. The analysis identified LILRB2 in 19q13.42 as a new candidate locus for PM. The increased protein expression of LILRB2/Pirb (mouse orthologous protein) in PM patients and myopia mouse models is validated. It is further revealed that the increase in LILRB2/Pirb promoted fatty acid synthesis and lipid accumulation, leading to the destruction of choroidal function and the development of PM. This study revealed the association between LILRB2 and PM, uncovering the molecular mechanism of lipid metabolism disorders leading to the pathogenesis of PM due to LILRB2 upregulation.
Highly‐Strong and Highly‐Tough Alginate Fibers with Photo‐Modulating Mechanical Properties
Authors: Zhang Lei , Du Qianyao , Chen Jia , Liu Yun , Chang Jiahao , Wu Zhongtao , Luo Xiliang 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe good combination of high strength and high toughness is a long‐standing challenge in the design of robust biomaterials. Meanwhile, robust biomaterials hardly perform fast and significant mechanical property changes under the trigger of light at room temperature. These limit the application of biomaterials in some specific areas. Here, photoresponsive alginate fibers are fabricated by using the designed azobenzene‐containing surfactant as flexible contact point for cross‐linking polysaccharide chains of alginate, which gain high mechanics through reinforced plastic strain and photo‐modulating mechanics through isomerization of azobenzene. By transferring molecular motion into macro‐scale mechanical property changes, such alginate fibers achieve reversible photo‐modulations on the mechanics. Their breaking strength and toughness can be photo‐modulated from 732 MPa and 112 MJ m−3 to 299 MPa and 27 MJ m−3, respectively, leading to record high mechanical changes among the developed smart biomaterials. With merits of good tolerance to pH and temperature, fast response to light, and good biocompatibility, the reported fibers will be suitable for working in various application scenarios as new smart biomaterials. This study provides a new design strategy for gaining highly‐strong and highly‐tough photoresponsive biomaterials.
Conformational Space Profiling Enhances Generic Molecular Representation for AI‐Powered Ligand‐Based Drug Discovery
Authors: Wang Lin , Wang Shihang , Yang Hao , Li Shiwei , Wang Xinyu , Zhou Yongqi , Tian Siyuan , Liu Lu , Bai Fang 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe molecular representation model is a neural network that converts molecular representations (SMILES, Graph) into feature vectors, and is an essential module applied across a wide range of artificial intelligence‐driven drug discovery scenarios. However, current molecular representation models rarely consider the three‐dimensional conformational space of molecules, losing sight of the dynamic nature of small molecules as well as the essence of molecular conformational space that covers the heterogeneity of molecule properties, such as the multi‐target mechanism of action, recognition of different biomolecules, dynamics in cytoplasm and membrane. In this study, a new model named GeminiMol is proposed to incorporate conformational space profiles into molecular representation learning, which extracts the feature of capturing the complicated interplay between the molecular structure and the conformational space. Although GeminiMol is pre‐trained on a relatively small‐scale molecular dataset (39290 molecules), it shows balanced and superior performance not only on 67 molecular properties predictions but also on 73 cellular activity predictions and 171 zero‐shot tasks (including virtual screening and target identification). By capturing the molecular conformational space profile, the strategy paves the way for rapid exploration of chemical space and facilitates changing paradigms for drug design.
Preserving the Immune‐Privileged Niche of the Nucleus Pulposus: Safeguarding Intervertebral Discs from Degeneration after Discectomy with Synthetic Mucin Hydrogel Injection
Authors: Wang Huan , Chen Song , Liu Zhao , Meng Qingchen , Sobreiro‐Almeida Rita , Liu Ling , Haugen Håvard Jostein , Li Jiaying , Mano João F. , Hong Youzhi , Crouzier Thomas , Yan Hongji , Li Bin 
Published: August 2024

AbstractIntervertebral disc (IVD) herniation is a prevalent spinal disorder, often necessitating surgical intervention such as microdiscectomy for symptomatic relief and nerve decompression. IVDs comprise a gel‐like nucleus pulposus (NP) encased by an annulus fibrosus (AF), and their avascular nature renders them immune‐privileged. Microdiscectomy exposes the residual NP to the immune system, precipitating an immune cell infiltration and attack that exacerbates IVD degeneration. While many efforts in the tissue engineering field are directed toward IVD regeneration, the inherently limited regenerative capacity due to the avascular and low‐cellularity nature of the disc and the challenging mechanical environment of the spine often impedes success. This study, aiming to prevent IVD degeneration post‐microdiscectomy, utilizes mucin‐derived gels (Muc‐gels) that form a gel at the surgical site, inspired by the natural mucin coating on living organisms to evade immune reorganization. It is shown that type I macrophages are present in severely degenerated human discs. Encapsulating IVDs within Muc‐gels prevents fibrous encapsulation and macrophage infiltration in a mouse subcutaneous model. The injection of Muc‐gels prevents IVD degeneration in a rat tail IVD degeneration model up to 24 weeks post‐operation. Mechanistic investigations indicate that Muc‐gels attenuate immune cell infiltration into NPs, offering durable protection against immune attack post‐microdiscectomy.