bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mechanical activation and expression of HSP27 in epithelial ovarian cancer
Authors: Buckley Molly , Kramer Maranda , Johnson Bronte , Huskin Gillian , Berry Joel , Sewell-Loftin Mary Kathryn 
Published: February 2024

AbstractUnderstanding the complex biomechanical tumor microenvironment (TME) is of critical importance in developing the next generation of anti-cancer treatment strategies. This is especially true in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), the deadliest of the gynecologic cancers due to recurrent disease or chemoresistance. However, current models of EOC progression provide little control or ability to monitor how changes in biomechanical parameters alter EOC cell behaviors. In this study, we present a microfluidic device designed to permit biomechanical investigations of the ovarian TME. Using this microtissue system, we describe how biomechanical stimulation in the form of tensile strains upregulate phosphorylation of HSP27, a heat shock protein implicated in ovarian cancer chemoresistance. Furthermore, EOC cells treated with strain demonstrate decreased response to paclitaxel in the in vitro vascularized TME model. The results provide a direct link to biomechanical regulation of HSP27 as a mediator of EOC chemoresistance, possibly explaining the failure of such therapies in some patients. The work presented here lays a foundation to elucidating mechanobiological regulation of EOC progression, including chemoresistance and could provide novel targets for anti-cancer therapeutics.
Alterations in colorectal cancer virome and its persistence after surgery
Authors: Ho Si Xian , Law Jia-Hao , Png Chin-Wen , Alberts Rudi , Zhang Yongliang , Chu Justin Jang Hann , Tan Ker-Kan 
Published: February 2024

AbstractViruses are a key component of the colon microbiome, but the relationship between virome and colorectal cancer (CRC) remains poorly understood. We seek to identify alterations in the viral community that is characteristic of CRC and examine if they persist after surgery. Forty-nine fecal samples from 25 non-cancer (NC) individuals and 12 CRC patients, before and 6-months after surgery, were collected for metagenomic analysis. The fecal virome of CRC patients demonstrated an increased network connectivity as compared to NC individuals. Co-exclusion of influential viruses to bacterial species associated with healthy gut status was observed in CRC, suggesting an altered virome induced a change in the healthy gut bacteriome. Network analysis revealed lower connectivity within the virome and trans-kingdom interactions in NC. After surgery, the number of strong correlations decreased for trans-kingdom and within the bacteria and virome networks, indicating lower connectivity within the microbiome. Some co-occurrence patterns between dominant viruses and bacteria were also lost after surgery, suggesting a possible return to the healthy state of gut microbiome. Microbial signatures characteristic of CRC include an altered virome besides an altered bacterial composition. Elevated viral correlations and network connectivity were observed in CRC patients relative to healthy individuals, alongside distinct changes in the cross-kingdom correlation network unique to CRC patients. Some patterns of dysbiosis persist after surgery. Future studies should seek to verify if dysbiosis truly persists after surgery in a larger sample size with microbiome data collected at various time points after surgery to explore if there is field-change in the remaining colon, as well as to examine if persistent dysbiosis correlates with patient outcomes.
Effect of using nano-particles of magnesium oxide and titanium dioxide to enhance physical and mechanical properties of hip joint bone cement
Authors: Gamal Safaa , Mikhail Mina , Salem Nancy , El-Wakad Mohamed Tarek , Abdelbaset Reda 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIn this work, the effect of adding Magnesium Oxide (MgO) and Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles to enhance the properties of the bone cement used for hip prosthesis fixation. Related to previous work on enhanced bone cement properties utilizing MgO and TiO2, samples of composite bone cement were made using three different ratios (0.5%:1%, 1.5%:1.5%, and 1%:0.5%) w/w of MgO and TiO2 to determine the optimal enhancement ratio. Hardness, compression, and bending tests were calculated to check the mechanical properties of pure and composite bone cement. The surface structure was studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Setting temperature, porosity, and degradation were calculated for each specimen ratio to check values matched with the standard range of bone cement. The results demonstrate a slight decrease in porosity up to 2.2% and degradation up to 0.17% with NP-containing composites, as well as acceptable variations in FTIR and setting temperature. The compression strength increased by 2.8% and hardness strength increased by 1.89% on adding 0.5%w/w of MgO and 1.5%w/w TiO2 NPs. Bending strength increases by 0.35% on adding 1.5% w/w of MgO and 0.5% w/w TiO2 NPs, however, SEM scan shows remarkable improvement for surface structure.
In-situ multicore fibre-based pH mapping through obstacles in integrated microfluidic devices
Authors: Chandrasekharan Harikumar K. , Wlodarczyk Krystian L. , MacPherson William N. , Maroto-Valer M. Mercedes 
Published: February 2024

AbstractMicrofluidic systems with integrated sensors are ideal platforms to study and emulate processes such as complex multiphase flow and reactive transport in porous media, numerical modeling of bulk systems in medicine, and in engineering. Existing commercial optical fibre sensing systems used in integrated microfluidic devices are based on single-core fibres, limiting the spatial resolution in parameter measurements in such application scenarios. Here, we propose a multicore fibre-based pH system for in-situ pH mapping with tens of micrometer spatial resolution in microfluidic devices. The demonstration uses custom laser-manufactured glass microfluidic devices (called further micromodels) consisting of two round ports. The micromodels comprise two lintels for the injection of various pH buffers and an outlet. The two-port system facilitates the injection of various pH solutions using independent pressure pumps. The multicore fibre imaging system provides spatial information about the pH environment from the intensity distribution of fluorescence emission from the sensor attached to the fibre end facet, making use of the cores in the fibre as independent measurement channels. As proof-of-concept, we performed pH measurements in micromodels through obstacles (glass and rock beads), showing that the particle features can be clearly distinguishable from the intensity distribution from the fibre sensor.
The impact of COVID-19 on the diagnosis and treatment of HCC: analysis of a nationwide registry for advanced liver diseases (REAL)
Authors: Okushin Kazuya , Tateishi Ryosuke , Hirakawa Shinya , Tachimori Hisateru , Uchino Koji , Nakagomi Ryo , Yamada Tomoharu , Nakatsuka Takuma , Minami Tatsuya , Sato Masaya , Fujishiro Mitsuhiro , Hasegawa Kiyoshi , Eguchi Yuichiro , Kanto Tatsuya , Yoshiji Hitoshi , Izumi Namiki , Kudo Masatoshi , Koike Kazuhiko 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe number of cancer cases diagnosed during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has decreased. This study investigated the impact of the pandemic on the clinical practice of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using a novel nationwide REgistry for Advanced Liver diseases (REAL) in Japan. We retrieved data of patients initially diagnosed with HCC between January 2018 and December 2021. We adopted tumor size as the primary outcome measure and compared it between the pre-COVID-19 (2018 and 2019) and COVID-19 eras (2020 and 2021). We analyzed 13,777 patients initially diagnosed with HCC (8074 in the pre-COVID-19 era and 5703 in the COVID-19 era). The size of the maximal intrahepatic tumor did not change between the two periods (mean [SD] = 4.3 [3.6] cm and 4.4 [3.6] cm), whereas the proportion of patients with a single tumor increased slightly from 72.0 to 74.3%. HCC was diagnosed at a similar Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage. However, the proportion of patients treated with systemic therapy has increased from 5.4 to 8.9%. The proportion of patients with a non-viral etiology significantly increased from 55.3 to 60.4%. Although the tumor size was significantly different among the etiologies, the subgroup analysis showed that the tumor size did not change after stratification by etiology. In conclusion, the characteristics of initially diagnosed HCC remained unchanged during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, regardless of differences in etiology. A robust surveillance system should be established particularly for non-B, non-C etiology to detect HCC in earlier stages.
Interactive curriculum learning increases and homogenizes motor smoothness
Authors: Sungeelee Vaynee , Loriette Antoine , Sigaud Olivier , Caramiaux Baptiste 
Published: February 2024

AbstractOne of the challenges of technology-assisted motor learning is how to adapt practice to facilitate learning. Random practice has been shown to promote long-term learning. However, it does not adapt to the learner’s specific learning requirements. Previous attempts to adapt learning considered the skill level of learners from past training sessions. This study investigates the effects of personalizing practice in real time, through a curriculum learning approach, where a curriculum of tasks is built by considering consecutive performance differences for each task. 12 participants were allocated to each of three training conditions in an experiment which required performing a steering task to drive a cursor in an arc channel. The curriculum learning approach was compared to two other conditions: random practice and another adaptive practice, which does not consider the learning evolution. The curriculum learning practice outperformed the random practice in effectively increasing movement smoothness at post-test and outperformed both the random practice and the adaptive practice on transfer tests. The adaptation of practice through the curriculum learning approach also made learners’ skills more uniform. Based on these findings, we anticipate that future research will explore the use of curriculum learning in interactive training tools to support motor skill learning, such as rehabilitation.
Digital health interventions to promote healthy lifestyle in hemodialysis patients: an interventional pilot study
Authors: Li Wen-Yi , Yeh Jiang-Chou , Cheng Cheng-Chih , Huang Su-Hua , Yeh Hui-Chin , Cheng Bor-Wen , Lin Jou-Wei , Yang Feng-Jung 
Published: February 2024

AbstractLow physical activity has been associated with poor prognosis in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Interventions to maintain healthy lifestyle in this population are important to reduce mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of digital health interventions (DHIs) for improving the physical activity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in HD patients. The 24-week prospective study enrolled 31 clinically stable HD patients. All participants were assigned home exercises and provided with wearable devices. Dietary and exercise information was uploaded to a health management platform. Suggestions about diet and exercise were provided, and a social media group was created. Physical performance testing was performed at baseline and during weeks 4, 8, 12, 16 and 24. HRQoL and nutritional status were evaluated. A total of 25 participants completed the study. After the interventions, the daily step count increased 1658 steps. The 10-time-repeated sit-to-stand test reduced by 4.4 s, the sit-to-stand transfers in 60 s increased 12 repetitions, the distance of six-minute walk test (6MWT) increased by 55.4 m. The mental health components and burden of kidney disease of the Kidney Disease Quality of Life survey, and subjective global assessment (SGA) scores improved. By Spearman correlation, the monthly step count correlated positively with 6MWT and SGA. DHIs that combined wearable devices, a health management platform, and social media could strengthen physical activity and improve the HRQoL and nutrition of maintenance HD patients. The results outline a new model to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors in HD patients.
Exploring the status and associated factors of the readiness for return-to-work in young and middle-aged stroke patients
Authors: Liu Ziwei , Li Jiaxin , Liu Fangli , Guan Ningxiao , Li Ye , Zhang Yu , Hou Linlin , Jiang Qiuhuan 
Published: February 2024

AbstractStroke increasingly affects individuals of working age. An accurate assessment of Readiness for Return-to-Work (RRTW) can help determine the optimal timing for RRTW and facilitate an early reintegration into society. This study investigates the current state of RRTW and the influencing factors among young and middle-aged stroke patients in China. A sample of young and middle-aged stroke patients hospitalized in a tertiary hospital in Henan Province between December 2021 and May 2022 were included in this study. A general information questionnaire and the Readiness for RRTW scale, the Social Support Rate Scale, the Stroke Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Fatigue Severity Scale were administered to the patients. Of the 203 patients successfully surveyed, 60 (29.6%) were in the pre-contemplation stage, 35 (17.2%) in the contemplation stage, 81 (39.9%) in the prepared for action-self-evaluative stage, and 27 (13.3%) in the prepared for action- behavior stage. Logistic regression analysis identified education level, monthly income, time to start rehabilitation therapy, social support, stroke self-efficacy, and fatigue severity as key factors affecting RRTW scale readiness in young and middle-aged stroke patients. The readiness of young and middle-aged stroke patients to Return-to-Work needs to be increased further. Healthcare professionals should consider the influencing factors of RRTW and design targeted intervention programs to facilitate a successful Return-to-Work and normal life.
Phenotypic characterization of liver tissue heterogeneity through a next-generation 3D single-cell atlas
Authors: Martínez-Torres Dilan , Maldonado Valentina , Pérez-Gallardo Cristian , Yañez Rodrigo , Candia Valeria , Kalaidzidis Yannis , Zerial Marino , Morales-Navarrete Hernán , Segovia-Miranda Fabián 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThree-dimensional (3D) geometrical models are potent tools for quantifying complex tissue features and exploring structure–function relationships. However, these models are generally incomplete due to experimental limitations in acquiring multiple (> 4) fluorescent channels in thick tissue sections simultaneously. Indeed, predictive geometrical and functional models of the liver have been restricted to few tissue and cellular components, excluding important cellular populations such as hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and Kupffer cells (KCs). Here, we combined deep-tissue immunostaining, multiphoton microscopy, deep-learning techniques, and 3D image processing to computationally expand the number of simultaneously reconstructed tissue structures. We then generated a spatial single-cell atlas of hepatic architecture (Hep3D), including all main tissue and cellular components at different stages of post-natal development in mice. We used Hep3D to quantitatively study 1) hepatic morphodynamics from early post-natal development to adulthood, and 2) the effect on the liver's overall structure when changing the hepatic environment after removing KCs. In addition to a complete description of bile canaliculi and sinusoidal network remodeling, our analysis uncovered unexpected spatiotemporal patterns of non-parenchymal cells and hepatocytes differing in size, number of nuclei, and DNA content. Surprisingly, we found that the specific depletion of KCs results in morphological changes in hepatocytes and HSCs. These findings reveal novel characteristics of liver heterogeneity and have important implications for both the structural organization of liver tissue and its function. Our next-gen 3D single-cell atlas is a powerful tool to understand liver tissue architecture, opening up avenues for in-depth investigations into tissue structure across both normal and pathological conditions.
Combined effects of naringin and doxorubicin on the JAK/STAT signaling pathway reduce the development and spread of breast cancer cells
Authors: Effat Heba , Abosharaf Hamed A. , Radwan Aliaa M. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBreast cancer therapy options are limited due to its late diagnosis and poor prognosis. Doxorubicin is the fundamental therapy approach for this disease. Because chemotherapy has numerous adverse effects, the scope of the existing research was to appraise the synergetic effect of doxorubicin and naringin and explore the underlying mechanism. The cytotoxicity of doxorubicin and naringin on MCF-7 was monitored. Furthermore, the expression of STAT3 and JAK1 as well as the apoptotic and metastatic related genes (Bax, Bcl-2, Survivin, and VEGF) were conducted by immunoblotting assay and qRT-PCR. In addition, a wound healing test was utilized to appraise the migration and metastasis of MCF-7. Our results revealed that naringin and doxorubicin had a synergetic inhibitory influence on MCF-7 cells growth and migration. The synergetic action of doxorubicin and naringin effectively hindered the expression of STAT3, JAK1, Bcl-2, Survivin, and VEGF, with a boost in the level of Bax compared to cells treated with either doxorubicin or naringin. In conclusion, our findings imply that combining doxorubicin with naringin may be a favorable strategy for inhibiting the growth of breast cancer.
Endotracheal tubes with dexamethasone eluting electrospun coating improve tissue mechanical function after upper airway injury
Authors: Gonzales Gabriela , Malka Ronit , Marinelli Lisa , Lee Christine M. , Miar Solaleh , Cook Stacy , Dion Gregory R. , Guda Teja 
Published: February 2024

AbstractCorticosteroid-eluting endotracheal tubes (ETTs) were developed and employed in a swine laryngotracheal injury model to maintain airway patency and provide localized drug delivery to inhibit fibrotic scarring. Polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers with or without dexamethasone were electrospun onto the ETT surface PCL-only coated ETTs and placed in native airways of 18 Yorkshire swine. Regular and dexamethasone-PCL coated ETTs were placed in airways of another 18 swine injured by inner laryngeal mucosal abrasion. All groups were evaluated after 3, 7 and 14 days (n = 3/treatment/time). Larynges were bisected and localized stiffness determined by normal indentation, then sequentially matched with histological assessment. In the native airway, tissue stiffness with PCL-only ETT placement increased significantly from 3 to 7 days (p = 0.0016) and 3 to 14 days (p < 0.0001) while dexamethasone-PCL ETT placement resulted in stiffness decreasing from 7 to 14 days (p = 0.031). In the injured airway, localized stiffness at 14 days was significantly greater after regular ETT placement (23.1 ± 0.725 N/m) versus dexamethasone-PCL ETTs (17.10 ± 0.930 N/m, p < 0.0001). Dexamethasone-loaded ETTs were found to reduce laryngotracheal tissue stiffening after simulated intubation injury compared to regular ETTs, supported by a trend of reduced collagen in the basement membrane in injured swine over time. Findings suggest localized corticosteroid delivery allows for tissue stiffness control and potential use as an approach for prevention and treatment of scarring caused by intubation injury.
Mental simulation of the factual and the illusory in negation processing: evidence from anticipatory eye movements on a blank screen
Authors: Vanek Norbert , Matić Škorić Ana , Košutar Sara , Matějka Štěpán , Stone Kate 
Published: February 2024

AbstractHow do comprehenders process negative statements such as The fish is not jumping out of the water? Opinions vary. Some argue for two steps, namely that processing starts off with the representation of the positive/illusory [fish jumping out of the water] and then shifts to the (f)actual. To test this idea, we measured fixations on the factual (fish not jumping) versus the illusory (fish jumping) during auditory processing of negation and affirmation. We tested speakers of English (single-cued negation) and Croatian (double-cued negation) and focused on anticipatory fixations in the absence of pictures to indicate the strength of mental simulations. Our findings contribute to negation processing research in two ways. First, dominant anticipatory fixations on the factual suggest a direct rather than a two-step process. Second, time-sensitive insights from two languages call for a finer-grained account of negation processing with negation-specific support of inferences of the factual over the illusory.
Identification of EMT-associated prognostic features among grade II/III gliomas
Authors: Yang Wenyong , Lin Liangbin , Lu Tianqi , Yu Hui , Zhang Sunfu 
Published: February 2024

AbstractGrade II/III gliomas have a highly heterogeneous clinical course. Identifying prognostic biomarkers in grade II/III gliomas is essential to guide clinical management. We explored epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes to uncover prognostic features in grade II/III gliomas. Consensus cluster analysis of 200 EMT-related genes classified 512 grade II/III glioma samples into two molecular subtypes, C1 and C2. The C1 subtype had significantly worse overall survival compared to the C2 subtype. Pathway analysis revealed C1 tumors were highly associated with tumor progression pathways and demonstrated higher immune cell infiltration scores. Differential expression analysis identified four genes (ACTN1, AQP1, LAMC3, NRM) that discriminated the two subtypes. Validation in external datasets confirmed that high expression of this four-gene signature predicted poor prognosis in grade II/III gliomas. Cellular experiments showed ACTN1, AQP1 and NRM promoted glioma cell proliferation, migration and invasion. We examined correlations of the signature genes with T cell exhaustion markers and found ACTN1 expression had the strongest association. Immunohistochemistry analysis further demonstrated that ACTN1 protein expression in grade II/III gliomas was negatively correlated with patient overall survival. In summary, our study identified a concise four-gene signature that robustly predicts grade II/III gliomas prognosis across multiple datasets. The signature provides clinical relevance in distinguishing more aggressive grade II/III glioma tumors. Targeting the ACTN1, AQP1 and NRM genes may offer new therapeutic opportunities to improve grade II/III gliomas patient outcomes.