bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Discoidin domain receptor 1 as a promising biomarker for high-grade gliomas
Authors: Erdem Dilek , Gunaldi Meral , Karaman Irem , Adilay Utku , Yılmaz İlhan Umit , Eseoglu Metehan , Avcıkurt Ayla , Isıksacan Nilgun , Erdogan Uzay , Gunaldi Omur 
Published: February 2022

ABSTRACT

Background:
Two fundamental challenges in the current therapeutic approach for central nervous system tumors are the tumor heterogeneity and the absence of specific treatments and biomarkers that selectively target the tumor tissue. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the potential relationship between discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) expression and the prognosis and characteristics of glioma patients.

Materials and Methods:
Tissue and serum samples from 34 brain tumor patients were evaluated for DDR1 messenger ribonucleic acid levels in comparison to 10 samples from the control group, and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis has performed.

Results:
DDR1 expression was observed in both tissue and serum samples of the patient and control groups. DDR1 expression levels in tissue and serum samples from patients were higher in comparison to the control group, although not statistically significant (P > 0.05). A significant correlation between tumor size and DDR1 serum measurements at the level of 0.370 was reported (r = 0.370; P = 0.034). The levels of DDR1 in serum showed a positive correlation with the increasing size of tumor. The results of the 5-year survival analysis depending on the DDR1 tissue levels showed a significantly higher survival rate (P = 0.041) for patients who have DDR1 tissue levels above cutoff value.

Conclusions:
DDR1 expression was significantly higher among brain tumor tissues and serum samples and its levels showed a positive correlation with the increased size of tumor. This study can be a starting point, since it investigated and indicated, for the first time, that DDR1 can be a novel therapeutic and prognostic target for aggressive high-grade gliomas.
Multi-institutional dose audit in radiotherapy facilities using in-house developed optically stimulated luminescence disc dosimeters
Authors: Kumar Pradip , Sharma Sunil Dutt , Dhabekar Bhushan , Rawat Narender Singh , Mishra Devesh Ramdhar , Chaudhari Suresh , Chandola Rakesh Mohan , Routh Tapan , Agrawal Sadhana 
Published: February 2022

ABSTRACT

Aim:
The aim of this study was to carried out the audit of radiotherapy centers practicing conformal radiotherapy techniques and demonstrate the suitability of this indigenous optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) disc dosimeters in beam quality audit and verification of patient-specific dosimetry in conventional and conformal treatments in radiotherapy.

Materials and Methods:
Dose audit in conventional and conformal (intensity-modulated radiotherapy and volumetric-modulated arc therapy) radiotherapy techniques was conducted using in-house developed Al2O3:C-based OSL disc dosimeter and commercially available Gafchromic EBT3 film in 6 MV (flat and unflat) photon and 6 and 15 MeV electron beams. OSL disc dosimeter and Gafchromic EBT3 film measured dose values were verified using the ionization chamber measurements.

Results:
Percentage variations of doses measured by OSL disc dosimeters and EBT3 Gafchromic film for conventional radiotherapy technique were in the range of 0.15%–4.6% and 0.40%–5.45%, respectively, with respect to the treatment planning system calculated dose values. For conformal radiotherapy techniques, the percentage variations of OSL disc and EBT3 film measured doses were in the range of 0.1%–4.9% and 0.3%–5.0%, respectively.

Conclusion:
The results of this study supported by statistical evidence provided the confidence that indigenously developed Al2O3:C-based OSL disc dosimeters are suitable for dose audit in conventional and advanced radiotherapy techniques.
Programmed Death Ligand 1 Expression in Lung Adenocarcinoma: An Analysis of the Histomorphological Features
Authors: Shukla Saumya , Anand Nidhi , Pandey Rahul Kumar , Hadi Rahat , Husain Nuzhat 
Published: February 2022

Abstract

Background:
Immunotherapy is now a vital target therapy in the advanced cases of lung adenocarcinoma. The outstanding result of therapies with medications that inhibit the interaction of programmed death ligand 1 with programmed death protein 1 has revolutionarized prognostic treatment regimes.

Aims:
The study was undertaken with the objectives to analyze the detailed histomorphological features of adenocarcinoma lung with programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression in tumor cells and to compare the histomorphological features with PD-L1 negative group.

Materials and Methods:
The present study is a retrospective case series with 100 cases of non-small cell lung cancer-adenocarcinoma phenotype in which testing for PD-L1 had been done using immunohistochemistry. Detailed histomorphological analysis and comparison was performed for both the PD-L1 positive and negative phenotype.

Results:
Histomorphological features of 25 cases with positive PD-L1 positivity in the tumor cells and 75 cases that were negative for PD-L1 were analyzed. The most frequent pattern in the category that was PD-L1 positive was singly scattered cells or loose clusters present in 84% cases followed by solid nests that was identified in 60% cases. The presence of solid nests in the PD-L1 positive category was statistically significant (P = 0.018). Mucin was identified in 24% cases, and tumor necrosis was documented in 60% cases with PD-L1 positivity. In the cluster that was PD-L1 positive, 92% cases had moderate-to-severe nuclear pleomorphism.

Conclusion:
The identification of histomorphological patterns and characteristics may aid in triaging cases that have the likelihood to harbor PD-L1-positive phenotype, which has predictive and prognostic outcome.
On the roots of polynomials with log-convex coefficients
Authors: Hernández Cifre María A. , Tárraga Miriam , Yepes Nicolás Jesús 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIn this paper, we consider the family of nth degree polynomials whose coefficients form a log-convex sequence (up to binomial weights), and investigate their roots. We study, among others, the structure of the set of roots of such polynomials, showing that it is a closed convex cone in the upper half-plane, which covers its interior when n tends to infinity, and giving its precise description for every
$n\in \mathbb {N}$
,
$n\geq 2$
. Dual Steiner polynomials of star bodies are a particular case of them, and so we derive, as a consequence, further properties for their roots.
Distribution spatio-saisonnière des micro-algues de la retenue d’eau d’Adzopé (Côte d’Ivoire)
Authors: Kouassi Blé Alexis Tardy , Komoe Koffi , Egnankou Wadja Mathieu 
Published: February 2022

La dynamique spatio-saisonnière des micro-algues de réservoir d’Adzopé a été analysée à partir d’échantillons collectés mensuellement de janvier à décembre 2005. Un total de 186 taxons de rang spécifique et infra spécifique a été identifié. Au niveau spatial, les densités les plus élevées sont enregistrées en aval alors que les densités les plus faibles le sont en amont. Au niveau saisonnier, en général, les densités micro-algales sont maximales lors de la grande saison sèche et de la petite saison pluvieuse en relation avec les fortes concentrations en nitrates et orthophosphates. Lors de ces périodes, des taxons comme Geitleribactron periphyticum, Microcystis aeruginosa, Microcystis wesenbergii, Trachelomonas volvocina, Trachelomonas volvocinopsis, Cosmarium granatum, Cosmarium quadratulum var. aplanatum, Cosmarium trilobulatum, Desmodesmus quadricaudata, Pseudulvella americana et Encyonema silesiacum contribuent fortement à l’élévation de densité. Les valeurs de l’indice de diversité de Shannon (H’) et l’Équitabilité (E) varient entre 0,82 à St1 à 3,3 à la station St3 pendant la grande saison sèche et entre 0,25 à la station St1 à 0,83 à la station St3 pendant la grande saison sèche, respectivement.
English title: Spatio-seasonal distribution of micro-algae in Adzopé reservoir (Côte d’Ivoire)Spatio-seasonal dynamics of micro-algae from the raw potable water reservoir of Adzopé, was investigated in this study. The samples were collected monthly from January to December 2005. One hundred eighty six taxa of micro-algae were identified in the temporal survey. At spatial level, micro-algae abundances showed high values downstream and low values in the upstream. At the seasonal level, in general, micro-algae densities showed maximum values during the long dry season and the short rainy season corresponding to high concentrations of nitrates and orthophosphates. In generally, abundance was dominated by taxa like Geitleribactron periphyticum, Microcystis aeruginosa, Trachelomonas volvocina, Trachelomonas volvocinopsis, Cosmarium granatum, Cosmarium trilobulatum, Desmodesmus quadricaudata, Pseudulvella americana and Encyonema silesiacum. Values of diversity (H’) and evenness (E) indexes varied between 0.82 at St1 to 3.3 at St3 during long dry seasons and 0.25 at St1 to 0.83 at St3 during long dry season, respectively.
Effect of dexmedetomidine pretreatment on a rat model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury
Authors: Chen Jingxia , Liu Wenyan , Wang Shuzhen , Zhang Zidong , Li Weiguo 
Published: February 2022

Purpose: To study the effect of dexmedetomidine pretreatment on a rat model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI)
Methods: Three groups of SD rats (n = 48; mean body weight = 275 ± 25 g) were used (16 rats each): sham, IRI, and dexmedetomidine groups. Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) was established via ligation of left anterior coronary artery. Rats in dexmedetomidine group were treated with single i.p. injection of dexmedetomidine (100 μg/kg) 30 min before induction of IRI. Serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Western blotting was used to determine the protein expressions of bcl-2 and bax, while histopathological changes in rat myocardial tissue were determined with H&E staining.
Results: Serum TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 levels were significantly up-regulated in IRI rats, relative to sham rats, but were decreased by dexmedetomidine (p < 0.05). Dexmedetomidine significantly reduced the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in myocardial tissues of IRI rats, but it increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (p < 0.05). It also markedly increased bcl-2 protein level, while the protein expression of bax was decreased (p < 0.05). Results of H & E staining showed that dexmedetomidine significantly mitigated IRI-induced damage.
Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine mitigates myocardial IRI in rats through suppression of inflammatory and apoptotic changes, and enhancement of physiological antioxidant potential. This finding may be useful for the management of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Anti-hypertensive effect of Morus alba L extract in rats
Authors: Pei Sheng-li , Kan Fang , Yue Chun-jiang 
Published: February 2022

Purpose: To investigate the probable antihypertensive effects of Morus alba L. extract (MALE) in renovascular hypertensive rats, and the mechanism involved in the reduction of blood pressure.
Methods: The two-kidney one-clip (2K1C) Goldblatt model of renovascular hypertension was used in Wistar rats. The 2K1C group rats were treated with captopril (30 mg/kg), and Morus alba extract (75 and 150 mg/kg) daily for 6 weeks by intragastric administration. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured by the tail-cuff method. Urine creatinine and urea of the rats were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were also evaluated using standard techniques.
Results: In the captopril- and extract-treated groups, blood pressure decreased progressively over the course of the 6-week treatment period compared with that of the control rats (p < 0.01). The extract at 150 mg/kg also significantly (p < 0.05) increased plasma SOD activity but decreased plasma MDA concentration. Renal function significantly (p < 0.01) improved following captopril and extract (150 mg/kg) treatment.
Conclusion: The results suggest that Morus alba extract exerts its antihypertensive effect in rats by inhibiting endothelin (ET)-converting enzyme and via its antioxidant activity. Thus, the plant extract has some potentials for development into a new drug in for use in humans.
Effect of oxymatrine on hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in neonatal rats
Authors: Wei Chao , Zhao Shujing , Diao Ruiqing , He Liang , Wang Weizhan , Li Aihuan 
Published: February 2022

Purpose: To study the influence of oxymatrine on hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) in neonatal rats.
Methods: Newborn SPF Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned to 3 groups (10 rats/group): control, HIBI and oxymatrine groups. Neurobehavioral latency of each rat was determined after 48 h of treatment, and pathological changes in rat cerebral cortex were evaluated using H&E staining. Hippocampal neurons prepared from rat brain tissue were grouped and treated as per the above in vivo study. Cell survival and neuronal apoptotic changes were measured with CCK-8 and flow cytometric analysis, respectively, while protein expressions of bcl-2, mcl-1, bax, caspase-3, PI3K, p- PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, GSK3β and p-GSK3β were determined with Western blotting.
Results: Treatment of HIBI rats with oxymatrine significantly reduced their neurobehavioral latencies (reflex, cliff avoidance reflex, and negative reflex (latencies), but repaired HIBI-induced histological damage in rat cerebral cortex (p < 0.05). It also significantly enhanced the survival of rat hippocampal neurons, while reducing neuronal apoptosis (p < 0.05). Moreover, oxymatrine significantly upregulated bcl-2, mcl-1, p-PI3K, AKT, p-AKT, GSK3β and p-GSK3β protein expressions, but i significantly downregulated the protein expressions of bax and caspase-3 in cerebral cortex of HIBI rat (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: These results indicate that oxymatrine reduces neuronal apoptosis and alleviates HIBI in rats via the regulation of proteins associated with PI3K/Akt/GSK3β signal pathway. This finding provides a new research direction on novel botanical monomers for treating HIBI.
Spectrodensitometric and ultra-performance liquid chromatographic quantification of dapagliflozin and saxagliptin in their dosage form and human plasma
Authors: Abdel-Gawad Sherif A. , Afzal Obaid 
Published: February 2022

Purpose: To simultaneously quantify dapagliflozin (DAPA) and saxagliptin (SAX) in a pharmaceutical product and human plasma.
Methods: Separation and quantification of DAPA and SAX were performed on pre-coated TLC plates in TLC-densitometric method using a solvent system of chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol at a volume ratio of 8:1:1 as the mobile phase. The developed spots were scanned at 225 and 210 nm in absorbance mode. Moreover, the studied drugs were concurrently determined in human plasma using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). The separation process was carried out in WatersTM Acquity C18 BEH column using a solvent system of 0.02 M KH2PO4 buffer, pH 4; MeOH and acetonitrile (2:1:1, v:v:v) isocratically at a flow speed of 0.5 mL/min. The absorbance of each eluent was read at 220 nm.
Results: Concurrent evaluation of DAPA and SAX was carried without separation using TLC-densitometric method, and it was successful in determination of DAPA and SAX in concentration ranges of 10 – 70 μg/band and 5 – 60 μg/band, respectively. In addition, retardation factor (Rf) values for SAX and DAPA were 0.17 and 0.31, respectively. Furthermore, the studied drugs were concurrently determined in human plasma using UPLC, which was sensitive enough to quantify DAPA and SAX in concentration ranges of 100 – 1000 and 20 – 200 ng/mL, respectively.
Conclusion: These methods can be utilized for sensitive monitoring of DAPA and SAX in pharmacokinetic and bioequivalence studies.
Comparative effect of propofol and sevoflurane on chronic postsurgical pain and cognitive function after cardiac surgery in Chinese elderly patients: A preliminary clinical study
Authors: Wang Shuqin , Huang Shanshan , Zhao Lianying 
Published: February 2022

Purpose: To compare the effects of propofol and sevoflurane on chronic post-surgical pain and cognitive function after cardiac surgery in Chinese elderly patients.
Methods: A total of 200 Chinese patients (aged > 65 years) with confirmed diagnosis of severe chronic artery disease who underwent cardiac surgery were given either propofol or sevoflurane. The following efficacy variables were assessed in both treatment groups: pain using an 11-point NRS after surgery; cognitive function, using Severe Impairment Battery (SIB), Clinician Interview-Based Impression of Change (CIBIC), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale; as well as psychological well-being and disability, using K10 Psychological Distress Scale K-10 and WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) scale. Incidence of complications and duration of hospital stay were also compared.
Results: Pain severity score was significantly lower in patients treated with propofol than in those who received sevoflurane (6.1 vs 8.4; p < 0.05). Psychological well-being measured using K-10 score was similar in both groups (p >0.05). Similarly, there were no meaningful differences in disability score between the two treatment groups (p > 0.05). The severity of signs and symptoms of dementia were similar at baseline visit (p >0.05). Propofol-treated patients had numerically greater relief in signs and symptoms of dementia/cognitive impairment, when compared to the Sevoflurane-treated patients (p >0.05). However, incidence of complications (including adverse events) was comparable in both groups (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: Propofol produced significantly greater improvement in post-surgical pain and cognitive functions than sevoflurane after cardiac surgery in Chinese elderly patients.
Effect of a combination of low-dose aminophylline and budesonide on lung function, serum inflammatory factors and quality of life of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Zhang Shuli , Liu Qingfeng , Chu Zhaojun , Wang Lili , Jiang Fangchao 
Published: February 2022

Purpose: To investigate the effect of a combination of low-dose aminophylline and budesonide on lung function, serum inflammatory factors and quality of life of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Methods: A total of 120 COPD patients admitted to Jiaozhou Central Hospital of Qingdao from January 2018 to January 2019 were the subjects for this study. They were divided into two groups based on the order of admission, with 60 patients in each group. The two groups of patients were treated with conventional COPD therapy. In addition, patients in group B were treated with budesonide, while those in group A were treated with a combination of low-dose aminophylline and budesonide. Lung function indices, serum levels of inflammatory factors, quality of life (QOL), 6-min walking distance (6MWD), and overall treatment effectiveness in the two groups were compared.
Results: Lung function indices were significantly higher in group A than in group B, while patients in group A had significantly lower serum levels of inflammatory factors than patients in group B (p < 0.001). There was markedly higher QOL in group A patients than in patients of group B, but patients in group A achieved longer 6MWD than group B patients (p < 0.001). More patients showed treatment effectiveness in group A than in group B (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Treatment with a combination of low-dose aminophylline and budesonide effectively improves lung function indices in COPD patients, reduces serum levels of inflammatory factors, but enhances their QOL. Thus, the combination treatment may be clinically beneficial to COPD patients.
Clinical efficacy of a combination of zoledronic acid and percutaneous vertebroplasty in spinal metastases and its influence on serum levels of bone loss markers
Authors: Yang Shaokun , Zuo Bingguang , Ding Guangning 
Published: February 2022

Purpose: To investigate the clinical efficacy of zoledronic acid plus percutaneous vertebroplasty in spinal metastasis, and its effect on serum levels of bone loss markers.
Methods: Sixty-two patients with spinal metastases were randomly divided into study group (n = 31) and control group (n = 31). The control group underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty, while study group received zoledronic acid plus. Analgesic effect, Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, improvement in movement ability, quality of life, carboxy-terminal cross-linked peptide of type I collagen (ICTP), procollagen type I N-terminal amino peptide (PINP), and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP) levels were compared between the two groups.
Results: The study group presented a higher degree of analgesic effectiveness and better performance than the control group (p < 0.05). After treatment, the Kamofsky function scores were increased in both groups, but it was higher in the study group (p < 0.05). After treatment, the JOA score of the study group was higher than the control group (p < 0.05). The post-treatment levels of ICTP, PINP and BALP decreased in both groups, but was markedly lower in the study group (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: A combination of percutaneous vertebroplasty and zoledronic acid is effective for the treatment of spinal metastasis. It enhances mobility, improves quality of life, reduces serum levels of bone loss markers, and produces good analgesic effect.
Therapeutic effects of ulinastatin on postoperative complications and cognitive function in elderly patients with esophageal cancer after thoracic laparoscopic surgery
Authors: Yuan Peng , Wang Yanli , Jin Chunlai , Wang Daling 
Published: February 2022

Purpose: To investigate the therapeutic effect of ulinastatin on postoperative complications and cognitive function in elderly patients with esophageal cancer after thoracic laparoscopic surgery.
Methods: A total of 100 elderly in-patients with esophageal cancer who had undergone thoracic laparoscopic surgery from April 2019 to December 2020 were selected and randomly assigned to control and study groups. Patients in control group received conventional treatment, while those in the study group were administered ulinastatin. The two groups were compared with respect to response, incidence of postoperative complications, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) cognitive function score, Barthel Index (BI) scores; preoperative, intraoperative, 12-h and 24-h post-surgery levels of IL-1β and IL-6; levels of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+, as well as duration of surgery and waking time.
Results: Response, MMSE score, BI index, and levels of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). Incidence of postoperative complications, and expression levels of IL-1β and IL-6 12 h and 24 h after surgery in the study group were lower than the corresponding control levels (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in duration of operation and waking time between the two groups (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: Ulinastatin significantly reduces postoperative complications, and also improves cognitive function in elderly patients with esophageal cancer after thoracic laparoscopic surgery. This finding is of great significance in the treatment of these patients.