Effects of microsize on the biocompatibility of UiO67 from protein-adsorption behavior, hemocompatibility, and histological toxicity

The biocompatibility of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is necessary to humans but is far from being sufficiently addressed. This study focused on the effects of microsize on the biocompatibility of MOFs by selecting UiO67 with micron and submicron size as the MOFs models. Under the dose metric of surface area, the binding constant between UiO67 and human serum albumin (HSA) gradually increased with increased UiO67 size. Submicron UiO67 induced stronger conformational transformation and more greatly affected the protein surface hydrophobicity than micron UiO67. Micron UiO67 also inhibited the esterase-like activity of HSA through competitive inhibition mechanism, whereas submicron UiO67 inhibited it through noncompetitive inhibition mechanism. The size of UiO67 had little effect on hemocompatibility. A smaller size of UiO67, corresponded with a higher IC50 value for 293 T and LO2 cells, and the adsorption of HSA can effectively improve cytotoxicity. In vivo toxicity evaluations revealed that all UiO67 did not cause obvious distortion of organs, and they were metabolized primarily in the kidney. These results provided useful information about the toxicity of MOFs and experimental references for the development of MOFs-based engineering materials.

Study of the behavior of snails intermediate hosts of Schistosoma spp . under different maintenance conditions and their resistance to salinity in an african laboratory environment

Background

The control of snails intermediate hosts remains an effective strategy to limit schistosomiasis transmission despite the widespread mass de-worming campaign based on praziquantel. Therefore, the study of snail biology could help to improve snails control strategies. This study evaluated the development of Biomphalaria pfeifferi, Bulinus senegalensis and Bulinus truncatus in various water sources and their resistance to salinity.

Methods

Five day-old juveniles individuals issued from adult snails non-shedding Schistosoma spp cercariae were breed in distilled water, commercial mineral water, ground pump water and well water. Snail’s survival rate and size were measured over a period of 40 days. These two parameters were also measured over 30 days in increasing saline solutions (1 g/l, 3.5 g/l and 4 g/l) made of well water to which sodium chloride was added.

Results

B. truncatus growth was not hampered by any water sources with a survival rate between 68% and 84% (log rank X² = 1.86, df = 3, p = 0.60). Despite a poor survival rate (8%) in distilled water, B. pfeifferi, has adapted to other water sources with a survival fraction between 88% and 96% (log rank X² = 61.94, df = 3, p < 0.0001). B. senegalensis development was very delicate with low survival rate of 4% in distilled water, 20% in well water and 24% in commercial mineral water and ground pump water (log rank X² = 13.24, df = 3, p = 0,004). For each species, even if the difference is not significant, the size of snails is larger with well water and pump water compared to distilled and commercial mineral water.

B. pfeifferi survival rate was at 45% in both three saline solutions at day 30. B. senegalensis population collapsed at day 10 in 4 g/l saline solution and persisted until day 30 in both 1.5 g/l and 3.5 g/l solution. B. truncatus also persisted with a survival rate at 20% in 1.5 g/l but collapsed at day 5 and 15 in 4 g/l and 3.5 g/l solution, respectively.

Conclusion

The differences in adaptation between snails species show the need to take into account the water sources for snail breeding in the laboratory. Further studies could help to determine the optimal water quality for each snail species in order to standardize breeding conditions. This study could contribute to the understanding of the dynamics and distribution of snails in natural conditions.

•

The knowledge of snail breeding conditions could represent a breakthrough for schistosomiasis control

•

The survival rate of B. truncatus, B. senegalensis and B. pfeifferi depended on the origin of the water used for snails breeding

•

Only B. truncatus displayed relatively high survival rate to both distilled water, commercial mineral water, ground pump water and well water

•

The survival of B. pfeifferi is less hampered in saline water compared to B. truncatus and B. senegalensis

Effect of organic acids on the morphology and particle size of titanium dioxide (E171) in processed food

TiO₂ (E171) is widely used in processed food as a coloring agent. However, growing concerns about the potential health effects of TiO₂ nanoparticles (< 100 nm) have necessitated the need for monitoring the size distribution and cytotoxic properties of food additive TiO₂ present in commercial food. In this study, we employed magnetic separation method to extract food additive TiO₂ from 100 commercial foods. The extracted TiO₂ had a mean particle diameter of 121-143 nm along with the fraction in nanoscale (< 100 nm) ranging from 7.5% to 35.7%, where certain types of food, such as candy and jelly, were shown to contain smaller TiO₂ with higher fraction of nanoscale particles. Assuming that the low pH of the products with high content of organic acid is responsible for the smaller TiO₂, the effect of three organic acids, such as acetic acid, ascorbic acid, and citric acid, on the physicochemical property of TiO₂ was investigated. The citric acid was shown to reduce the size of TiO₂ along with the generation of fragmented nanoparticles with a size of around 20 nm, whereas the effect of acetic acid and ascorbic acid was negligible. Although TiO₂ treated with citric acid did not exhibit short-term cytotoxicity, this study suggests the importance of fully assessing the potential long-term health effect of food additive TiO₂ whose physicochemical properties were altered in processed food.

Complete hemispheric exposure vs. superior sagittal sinus sparing craniectomy: incidence of shear-bleeding and shunt-dependency

PURPOSE

Decompressive hemicraniectomy (DC) has been established as a standard therapeutical procedure for raised intracranial pressure. However, the size of the DC remains unspecified. The aim of this study was to analyze size related complications following DC.

METHODS

Between 2013 and 2019, 306 patients underwent DC for elevated intracranial pressure at author´s institution. Anteroposterior and craniocaudal DC size was measured according to the postoperative CT scans. Patients were divided into two groups with (1) exposed superior sagittal sinus (SE) and (2) without superior sagittal sinus exposure (SC). DC related complications e.g. shear-bleeding at the margins of craniectomy and secondary hydrocephalus were evaluated and compared.

RESULTS

Craniectomy size according to anteroposterior diameter and surface was larger in the SE group; 14.1 ± 1 cm vs. 13.7 ± 1.2 cm, p = 0.003, resp. 222.5 ± 40 cm2 vs. 182.7 ± 36.9 cm2, p < 0.0001. The SE group had significantly lower rates of shear-bleeding: 20/176 patients; (11%), compared to patients of the SC group; 36/130 patients (27%), p = 0.0003, OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.6-5.5. There was no significant difference in the incidence of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus; 19/130 patients (14.6%) vs. 24/176 patients (13.6%), p = 0.9.

CONCLUSIONS

Complete hemispheric exposure in terms of DC with SE was associated with significantly lower levels of iatrogenic shear-bleedings compared to a SC-surgical regime. Although we did not find significant outcome difference, our findings suggest aggressive craniectomy regimes including SE to constitute the surgical treatment strategy of choice for malignant intracranial pressure.

Morphological variation of the maxilla in modern humans and African apes

Differences in morphology among modern humans and African apes are frequently used when assessing whether hominin fossils should be attributed to a single species or represent evidence for taxic diversity. A good understanding of the degree and structure of the intergeneric, interspecific, and intraspecific variation, including aspects such as sexual dimorphism and age, are key in this context. Here we explore the variation and differences shown by the maxilla of extant hominines, as maxillary morphology is central in the diagnosis of several hominin taxa. Our sample includes adults of all currently recognized hominine species and subspecies, with a balanced species sex ratio. In addition, we compared the adults with a small sample of late juveniles. The morphology of the maxillae was captured using three-dimensional landmarks, and the size and shape were analyzed using geometric morphometric methods. Key observations are that 1) the maxillae of all extant hominine species and subspecies show statistically significant differences, but complete separation in shape is only seen at the genus level; 2) the degree of variation is not consistent between genera, with subspecies of Gorilla being more different from each other than are species of Pan; 3) the pattern of sexual shape dimorphism is different in Pan, Gorilla, and Homo, often showing opposite trends; and 4) differentiation between maxillary shapes is increased after adjustment for static intraspecific allometry. These results provide a taxonomically up-to-date comparative morphological framework to help interpret the hominin fossil record, and we discuss the practical implications in that context.

A new discovery of polystyrene microplastics toxicity: The injury difference on bladder epithelium of mice is correlated with the size of exposed particles

Microplastics (MPs), as widespread hazardous substances in the environment, can cause potential adverse effects on biological health. However, reports on the toxic effects of different diameters MPs on urinary system are limited. Here, we investigated the types and mechanisms of damage to mice bladder epithelial cells treated with diameter (1-10 μm and 50-100 μm) polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs). The results showed that exposure to PS-MPs of both diameters resulted in necroptosis and inflammation to bladder epithelium. However, 1-10 μm PS-MPs posed more severe necroptosis and 50-100 μm PS-MPs led to a higher degree of inflammatory injury at the same exposure concentration. Mechanistically, PS-MPs were found to induce necroptosis as well as p-NFκB-mediated inflammation by triggering oxidative stress and excessive release of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, N-Acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) attenuated the toxic effects of PS-MPs on bladder epithelial cells. In conclusion, our study demonstrated for the first time that PS-MPs caused necroptosis and inflammation in mice bladders tissues, and the difference of injury correlates with the size of PS-MPs particles.

How do clinical quality and patient satisfaction vary with provider size in primary care? Evidence from English general practice panel data

We examine the relationship between general practice list size and measures of clinical quality and patient satisfaction. Using data on all English practices from 2005/6 to 2016/17, we estimate practice level models with rich data on patient demographics, deprivation, and morbidity. We use lagged list size to allow for potential simultaneity bias from the effect of quality on list size. We compare results from three different estimation methods: pooled ordinary least squares, random practice effects, fixed practice effects. With all three estimation methods increased list size is associated with reductions in all four measures of patient satisfaction. Increases in list size are associated with worse performance on three clinical quality indicators and better performance on three, though the precision and size of the associations varies with the estimation method. The absolute values of the elasticities of the ten quality indicators with respect to list size are small: in all cases a 10% change in list size would change quality by less than 1%. The lack of evidence that large practices have markedly better quality suggests that encouraging practices to form larger, but looser, groupings, may not, in itself, improve their performance.

Tumor Size Differences Between Preoperative Endoscopic Ultrasound and Postoperative Pathology for Neoadjuvant-Treated Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Predict Patient Outcome

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The assessment of therapeutic response after neoadjuvant treatment and pancreatectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has been an ongoing challenge. Several limitations have been encountered when employing current grading systems for residual tumor. Considering endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) represents a sensitive imaging technique for PDAC, differences in tumor size between preoperative EUS and postoperative pathology after neoadjuvant therapy were hypothesized to represent an improved marker of treatment response.

METHODS

For 340 treatment-naïve and 365 neoadjuvant-treated PDACs, EUS and pathologic findings were analyzed and correlated with patient overall survival (OS). A separate group of 200 neoadjuvant-treated PDACs served as a validation cohort for further analysis.

RESULTS

Among treatment-naïve PDACs, there was a moderate concordance between EUS imaging and postoperative pathology for tumor size (r = 0.726, P < .001) and AJCC 8^th edition T-stage (r = 0.586, P < .001). In the setting of neoadjuvant therapy, a decrease in T-stage correlated with improved 3-year OS rates (50% vs 31%, P < .001). Through recursive partitioning, a cutoff of ≥47% tumor size reduction was also found to be associated with improved OS (67% vs 32%, P < .001). Improved OS using a ≥47% threshold was validated using a separate cohort of neoadjuvant-treated PDACs (72% vs 36%, P < .001). By multivariate analysis, a reduction in tumor size by ≥47% was an independent prognostic factor for improved OS (P = .007).

CONCLUSIONS

The difference in tumor size between preoperative EUS imaging and postoperative pathology among neoadjuvant-treated PDAC patients is an important prognostic indicator and may guide subsequent chemotherapeutic management.

Dry-deposition of inorganic and organic nitrogen aerosols in Xiamen Bay: Fluxes, sources, and biogeochemical significance

Increased dry deposition of nitrogen aerosols (aerosol-N) as a result of anthropogenic emissions has caused large negative impacts on marine ecosystems. We monitored the number concentrations and sizes of inorganic nitrogen aerosols (aerosol-IN: NH₄⁺ and NO₃^-) and organic nitrogen aerosols (aerosol-ON: methylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, ethylamine, diethylamine, and triethylamine) by single-particle aerosol mass spectrometry (SPAMS) during the warm season (WS) and cold season (CS) of 2013 and 2015 in Xiamen Bay. The mean hourly number concentration of aerosol-IN (874/h) overwhelmed that of aerosol-ON (103/h), accounting for 83.9 ± 16.1% of aerosol-N. More than 90% of aerosol-N was concentrated in the condensation mode (0.1-0.5 μm) and droplet mode (0.5-2.0 μm). Aerosol-IN was the main contributor (80.1-94.2%) to aerosol-N deposition. New production potentially supported by the ocean's external nitrogen supply provided aerosol-N input of 11.51-11.96 g C m^-2 yr^-1, which contributed 17.5-18.2% of total new production in the southern East China Sea. Four potential sources of aerosol-N were identified based on the results of positive matrix factorization analysis, including secondary formation (F1), biogenic source (F2), sea spray, soil dust, biomass burning (F3), and anthropogenic sources (F4). Aerosol-N concentrations in Xiamen Bay were mainly affected by the ocean air masses during the WS and inland air masses during the CS. The percentages of aerosol-N at each backward trajectory cluster showed that the inland air masses brought more aerosol-IN emitted from biomass burning, soil dust, and secondary formation sources, whereas the ocean air masses brought more aerosol-ON emitted from a marine biogenic source into Xiamen Bay. This study provides an example of determining the number concentrations and sizes of IN and ON in aerosols by SPAMS, and helps us further understand the dry deposition and sources of IN and ON in aerosols in Xiamen Bay.

Molecular mechanisms regulating the spatial configuration of neurites

Precise neural networks, composed of axons and dendrites, are the structural basis for information processing in the brain. Therefore, the correct formation of neurites is critical for accurate neural function. In particular, the three-dimensional structures of dendrites vary greatly among neuron types, and the unique shape of each dendrite is tightly linked to specific synaptic connections with innervating axons and is correlated with its information processing. Although many systems are involved in neurite formation, the developmental mechanisms that control the orientation, size, and arborization pattern of neurites definitively defines their three-dimensional structure in tissues. In this review, we summarize these regulatory mechanisms that establish proper spatial configurations of neurites, especially dendrites, in invertebrates and vertebrates.

Effect of the time interval between melanoma diagnosis and sentinel node biopsy on the size of metastatic tumour deposits in node-positive patients

INTRODUCTION

This study sought to assess whether the interval between diagnostic excision-biopsy of a primary melanoma and definitive wide excision with sentinel node biopsy (SNB) influenced the size of SN metastatic deposits, which might have implications for management and prognosis.

METHODS

Data were collected for (i) a Dutch population-based cohort of patients treated between 2004 and 2014 who underwent SNB within 100 days of complete excision of their primary melanoma and who were SN-positive with known SN metastasis diameter (n = 1027) and (ii) a cohort from a large Australian melanoma treatment centre (n = 541) who presented in the same time period. The effects of SNB timing on the size of SN metastatic deposits were analysed.

RESULTS

Dutch patients whose SNB was performed in the second or third months after diagnosis had significantly larger SN metastasis diameters than patients who had their SNB in the first month (median increases of 17% (95%CI -14, 60%, p = 0.211) and 71% (95%CI 15, 119%, p = 0.004), respectively). No significant difference in tumour diameter for early and late SNB was found in the Australian cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

SN metastasis diameter became progressively greater with SN biopsy in the second and third months after primary melanoma diagnosis in the larger, population-based patient cohort. An increase in metastasis diameter was not observed in the smaller, institutional cohort, possibly due to detection of larger SN metastases by routine pre-operative ultrasound, with fine-needle biopsy confirmation. These patients did not proceed to SNB and were therefore not included in the study.

Preoperative glans & penile dimensions in different hypospadias grades

PURPOSE

To report glans and penile dimensions in 1023 consecutive boys with hypospadias.

PATIENTS & METHODS

Boys admitted for hypospadias surgery between 2016 and 2018 were included in this study. Age ranged between 6 and 36 months. Boys who underwent previous surgery, received hormone therapy or older than 36 months were excluded. The hypospadias was classified according to ICD and WHO classification into glanular (Grade I), distal (Grade II), proximal (Grade III) and perineal (Grade IV). The flaccid penile length (PL), the dorsal glans length (DGL), the ventral glans length (VGL) and the glans width (GW) were measured in the operating room under anaesthesia just before operative correction. Small (GW) in this study was defined as less than 14 mm.

RESULTS

1023 boys were included. 273 had glandular, 468 distal, 194 proximal and 88 perineal hypospadias. The mean glans width was 14 mm with a range of 8 to 20 mm. The mean glans width for glanular hypospadias was 14.0 mm (range 9-19 mm), 14.0 mm (range 10-20 mm) for distal hypospadias (p > 0.05), 13.1 mm (range 9-19 mm) for proximal hypospadias (p < 0.0001) and 11.1 mm (range 8-16 mm) for perineal hypospadias (p < 0.0001). 460 (45.0%) of all patients presented with a small glans width. In glanular hypospadias it was 99 (36.3%), 167 (35.7%) in distal hypospadias, 111 (57.5%) in proximal hypospadias and 83 (94.3%) in perineal hypospadias. There was no significant difference in the glans size between the age of 6 and 24 months (p > 0.2), but there was a difference when compared to patients older than 25 months (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

A small glans is found in about a third of distal, two thirds in proximal and more than 90% of perineal hypospadias.

Effects of microplastics on the feeding rates of larvae of a coastal fish: direct consumption, trophic transfer, and effects on growth and survival

Microplastics are now found throughout the world's oceans, and although many organisms ingest microplastics, less is known about how plastics in seawater may affect key processes such as feeding rate, growth, and survival. We used a series of laboratory experiments to test whether microplastics in seawater affected the feeding rates of larvae of the California Grunion, Leuresthes tenuis. In addition, we tested whether trophic transfer of microplastics from zooplankton to larval fish can occur and affect growth and survival of fish. We measured feeding rates of grunion larvae at various concentrations of 75-90 µm and 125-250 µm polyethylene microplastics and under both still water and turbulent conditions. In these experiments, exposure to microplastics had modest effects on feeding rates, though responses may be somewhat complex. Low concentrations of microplastics increased feeding rates compared to the control, but at higher concentrations, feeding rates were indistinguishable from those in the control group, though effects were small compared to natural variation in feeding rates among individual fish. Experiments to test for trophic transfer of microplastics revealed that grunion larvae that were fed brine shrimp exposed to high concentrations of microplastics had lower growth rates and elevated mortality rates. Overall, our results suggest that the direct effects of microplastics on feeding rates of California Grunion during the early larval phase are minor, while the trophic transfer of microplastics from zooplankton to larval fish may have significant effects on their growth and survival.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00227-021-04010-x.

Deep learning-based pancreas volume assessment in individuals with type 1 diabetes

Pancreas volume is reduced in individuals with diabetes and in autoantibody positive individuals at high risk for developing type 1 diabetes (T1D). Studies investigating pancreas volume are underway to assess pancreas volume in large clinical databases and studies, but manual pancreas annotation is time-consuming and subjective, preventing extension to large studies and databases. This study develops deep learning for automated pancreas volume measurement in individuals with diabetes. A convolutional neural network was trained using manual pancreas annotation on 160 abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans from individuals with T1D, controls, or a combination thereof. Models trained using each cohort were then tested on scans of 25 individuals with T1D. Deep learning and manual segmentations of the pancreas displayed high overlap (Dice coefficient = 0.81) and excellent correlation of pancreas volume measurements (R² = 0.94). Correlation was highest when training data included individuals both with and without T1D. The pancreas of individuals with T1D can be automatically segmented to measure pancreas volume. This algorithm can be applied to large imaging datasets to quantify the spectrum of human pancreas volume.

Assessment of Microplastic Size Range and Ingestion Intensity by Gmelinoides fasciatus Stebbing, an Invasive Species of Lake Onego

To indicate the potential role of Gmelinoides fasciatus, an invasive species of Lake Onego, in the inclusion of microplastics into food webs, several indicators were evaluated: its ability to ingest microplastics, the preferred size ranges, and the ingestion intensity. For this purpose, irregularly shaped polystyrene copolymer particles (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastics, artificially crushed) of four size classes (<50, 50-100, 100-250, >250 µm) were used. Gmelinoides fasciatus actively ingested microplastic particles, and in treatment with particles of 100-250 µm in size, the consumption rate was the highest. The crustaceans that survived the experiment ingested smaller particles than the deceased ones. Based on the size-frequency distributions of the ingested particles and the same in the suspension, crustaceans preferred smaller particles than those in suspension. The mean size of the ingested particles was 100 ± 5 µm. However, considering the actual concentration of microplastic fragments in the sediments of Lake Onego, in natural conditions, a negative effect of microplastic fragments on the G. fasciatus population is unlikely. At the same time, the ability of the invasive species G. fasciatus to consume microplastics and their active integration into the food webs of Lake Onego through consumption by fish can be considered reliable factors of the entry of microplastics in the fish of Lake Onego. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:184-192. © 2021 SETAC.

Transplantation of rat frozen-thawed testicular tissues: Does fragment size matter?

Cryopreservation of testicular tissue from pre-pubertal boys before gonadotoxic treatment is an important step in fertility preservation. Yet, this approach remains experimental, and there is still few study measuring the effect of tissue size on the graft after cryopreservation and transplantation. The objective of this study is to detect the effect of varying tissue sizes on the efficacy of rat testicular tissue cryopreservation and transplantation. Varying sizes of rat testicular tissues were frozen-thawed and autografted. At the 30th day after grafting, the grafts were collected for histology assessment and immunohistochemistry assay for MAGE-A4 (germ cell marker) and CD34 (blood vessel marker). The transplant recovery, seminiferous tubule integrity, tubular diameter, spermatogonia number, and microsvessel density in testicular fragments sizing in 3 mm in length, 3 mm wide, and 3 mm in thickness were significantly lower than other groups. Whereas, the absorption rate of graft sizing in 1 mm in length, 1 mm in wide, and 1 mm in thickness was significantly higher than other groups. Testicular fragment sizing in 2-3 mm in length, 2-3 mm in wide, and 2 mm in thickness (8 mm³-18 mm³) is suitable for rat testicular tissue cryopreservation and transplantation.

Toxicokinetics and systematic responses of differently sized indium tin oxide (ITO) particles in mice via oropharyngeal aspiration exposure

Indium tin oxide (ITO) is an important semiconductor material, because of increasing commercial products consumption and potentially exposed workers worldwide. So, urgently we need to assess and manage potential health risks of ITO. Although the Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) has been established for ITO exposure, there is still a lack of distinguishing the risks of exposure to particles of different sizes. Therefore, obtaining toxicological data of small-sized particles will help to improve its risk assessment data. Important questions raised in quantitative risk assessments for ITO particles are whether biodistribution of ITO particles is affected by particle size and to what extent systematic adverse responses is subsequently initiated. In order to determine whether this toxicological paradigm for size is relevant in ITO toxic effect, we performed comparative studies on the toxicokinetics and sub-acute toxicity test of ITO in mice. The results indicate both sized-ITO resided in the lung tissue and slowly excreted from the mice, and the smaller size of ITO being cleared more slowly. Only a little ITO was transferred to other organs, especially with higher blood flow. Two type of ITO which deposit in the lung mainly impacts respiratory system and may injure liver or kidney. After sub-acute exposure to ITO, inflammation featured by neutrophils infiltration and fibrosis with both dose and size effects have been observed. Our findings revealed toxicokinetics and dose-dependent pulmonary toxicity in mice via oropharyngeal aspiration exposure, also replenish in vivo risk assessment of ITO. Collectively, these data indicate that under the current OEL, there are potential toxic effects after exposure to the ITO particles. The observed size-dependent biodistribution patterns and toxic effect might be important for approaching the hazard potential of small-sized ITO in an occupational environment.

Validation and performance of a machine-learning derived prediction guide for total knee arthroplasty component sizing

INTRODUCTION

Anticipation of patient-specific component sizes prior to total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is essential to avoid excessive cost associated with additional surgical trays and morbidity associated with imperfect sizing. Current methods of size prediction, including templating, are inconsistent and time-consuming. Machine learning (ML) algorithms may allow for accurate TKA component size prediction with the ability to make predictions in real-time.

METHODS

Consecutive patients receiving primary TKA between 2012 and 2020 from two large tertiary academic and six community hospitals were identified. The primary outcomes were the final femoral and tibial component sizes extracted from automated inventory systems. Five ML algorithms were trained with routinely corrected demographic variables (age, height, weight, body mass index, and sex) using 80% of the study population and internally validated on an independent set of the remaining 20% of patients. Algorithm performance was evaluated through accuracy, mean absolute error (MAE), and root mean-squared error (RMSE).

RESULTS

A total of 17,283 patients that received one of 9 TKA implants from independent manufacturers were included. The SGB model accuracy for predicting ± 4-mm of the true femoral anteroposterior diameter was 83.6% and for ± 1 size of the true femoral component size was 95.0%. The SGB model accuracy for predicting ± 4-mm of the true tibial medial/lateral diameter was 83.0% and for ± 1 size of the true tibial component size was 97.8%. Patient sex was the most influential feature in terms of informing the SGB model predictions for both femoral and tibial component sizing. A TKA implant sizing application was subsequently created.

CONCLUSION

Novel machine learning algorithms demonstrated good to excellent performance for predicting TKA component size. Patient sex appears to contribute an important role in predicting TKA size. A web-based real-time prediction application was created capable of integrating patient specific data to predict TKA size, which will require external validation prior to clinical use.

Stereotactic radiosurgery for melanoma brain metastases: dose-size response relationship in the era of immunotherapy

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

To determine, for intact melanoma brain metastases (MBM) treated with single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), whether planning parameter peripheral dose per lesion diameter (PDLDm, Gy/mm) and lesion control (LC) differs with versus without immunotherapy (IO).

MATERIALS/METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with intact MBM treated with SRS from 2008 to 2019. Cox-frailty models were constructed to include confounders selected by penalized Cox regression models with a LASSO selector. Interaction effect testing was used to determine whether a significant effect between IO and PDLDm could be demonstrated with respect to LC.

RESULTS

The study cohort comprised 67 patients with 244 MBMs treated with SRS (30 patients with 122 lesions treated with both SRS and IO) were included. The logarithm of PDLDm was selected as a predictor of LC (HR 0.307, 95% CI 0.098-0.441), adjusting for IO receipt (HR 0.363, 95% CI 0.108-1.224). Interaction effect testing demonstrated a differential effect of PDLDm by IO receipt, with respect to LC (p = 0.048). Twelve-month LC rates for a 7.5 mm lesion receiving SRS (18 Gy) with IO versus without IO were 87.8% (95% CI 69.0-98.3%) versus 79.8% (95% CI 55.1-93.8%) respectively.

CONCLUSION

PDLDm predicted LC in patients with small MBMs treated with single-fraction SRS. We found a differential effect of dose per lesion size and LC by immunotherapy receipt. Future studies are needed to determine whether lower doses of single-fraction SRS afford similarly effective LC for patients with small MBMs receiving immunotherapy.

The Impact of EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor on the Natural Course of Concurrent Subsolid Nodules in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Purpose

The role of epidermal growth factor receptor–tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) in the management of persistent subsolid nodules (SSNs) is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of EGFR-TKIs on concurrent SSNs in patients with stage IV non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Materials and Methods

Patients who received an EGFR-TKI for at least 1 month for stage IV NSCLC and had concurrent SSN(s) that had existed for at least 3 months on chest computed tomography were included in this retrospective study. Size change of each nodule before and after EGFR-TKI therapies were evaluated using a cutoff value of 2 mm; increase (≥ 2 mm), decrease (≤ −2 mm), and no change (−2 mm < size change < +2 mm).

Results

A total of 77 SSNs, 51 pure ground-glass (66.2%) and 26 part-solid nodules (33.8%), were identified in 59 patients who received gefitinib (n=45) and erlotinib (n=14). Among 58 EGFR mutation analysis performed for primary lung cancer, 45 (77.6%) were EGFR mutant. The proportions of decrease group were 19.5% (15/77) on per-nodule basis and 25.4% (15/59) on per-patient basis. Four SSNs (5.2%) disappeared completely. On per-patient based multivariable analysis, EGFR exon 19 deletion positivity for primary lung cancer was associated with a decrease after initial EGFR-TKI therapy (adjusted odds ratio, 4.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.21 to 15.29; p=0.025).

Conclusion

Approximately 20% of the concurrent SSNs decreased after the initial EGFR-TKI therapy. EGFR exon 19 deletion positivity for primary lung cancer was significantly associated with the size change of concurrent SSNs.

Effect of size on concentrations and cadmium inducibility of metallothionein in the shore crab Carcinus maenas

Metallothionein (MT) plays an important role in protecting organisms from the adverse effects of Cd, Hg, Zn and Cu. Investigations on mammals show variations in metallothionein concentrations and inducibility with age. This has never been investigated in invertebrates, and we determined the concentrations and inducibility of metallothionein in gills and midgut gland of different size classes of shore crabs from uncontaminated areas. Metallothionein concentrations in gills and midgut gland ranged between 30 and 40 μg g^-1 dry weight with no differences among the different size classes. Concentrations of cadmium, copper and zinc in the midgut gland increased with increasing size of the crabs when the concentrations were expressed on a dry weight basis; water content in the midgut gland increased with the size and only the cadmium concentration increased with size when concentrations were expressed on wet weight basis. There was an inverse relationship between metallothionein and both copper and cadmium concentrations. Smaller crabs exposed to 1 mg Cd L^-1 accumulated higher concentrations of cadmium in midgut gland and gills than larger ones and metallothionein concentrations in the midgut gland were higher in the smaller crabs. However, the increase in metallothionein concentration per accumulated unit of cadmium showed a linear increase with the size of the crabs. The ratio [Cd]_midgut/[Cd]_gills decreased with the size of the crabs. The overall conclusion is that baseline metallothionein concentrations do not change with age in shore crabs, but that the inducibility of metallothionein upon cadmium challenge does.

Pulmonary Hypertension in Children with Ventricular Septal Defects

BACKGROUND

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a common congenital heart disease which could be complicated with pulmonary hypertension (PH).

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to establish the relationship between severity of PH and size of VSD and age.

METHODS

This is a descriptive study where one hundred and fiftyone children aged 3 months to 18 years with echocardiographically confirmed VSD were studied. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) was determined using the tricuspid regurgitation jet velocity with a cutoff of systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP) at >25mmHg. Severity of pulmonary hypertension was classified into mild (25-50mg Hg); moderate, (51-60mm Hg) and severe ≥ 60mm Hg. Data were analysed using the SPSS version 25.

RESULTS

Majority 52.9% had mild PH while 17.6% had severe PH. Mild PH (χ2=15.513, p=0.004) was found among 66.7% of those with small-sized VSD, 42% of those with moderate-sized VSD and 57.1% of those with large-sized VSD. There was a weak positive correlation between PH and size of VSD (n=132, r=0.320, p<0.001). For one-unit increase in age (in months), PH was noted to decrease by 0.030 (B= -0.030, 95%CI: -0.090- 0.030) and for a unit increase in size (mm) of VSD, PH increased by 1.681 units (B=1.681, 95%CI: 0.798- 2.563).

CONCLUSION

There was a linear increase in pulmonary hypertension with increase in the size of ventricular-septal defect and decrease in the age of children with VSD. Age and VSD size were significant predictors of PH severity in children with VSD. All sizes of VSD are associated with pulmonary hypertension. A unit increase in age (in months), caused a decrease of PH by 0.030units and a unit increase in size (mm) of VSD resulted in an increased PH by 1.681 units.

Review of the toxic effect of microplastics on terrestrial and aquatic plants

As a new pollutant, microplastics (MPs) exhibited more and more significant influence on the organisms in the environment. Especially, the effects on the growth and development of plants by MPs attracted wide attentions in recent period. In the review article, we summarized the important influences of MPs on terrestrial and aquatic plants. The properties, including type, size and oxygen-containing group of MPs on their physical injures toward plants were critically reviewed, which were significantly correlated to the toxicity to plants. The secondary risks of MPs including the additives and MP-derived organic products and the adsorbed environmental pollutants to plants were clearly revealed. The hydrophobic organic pollutants released from MPs showed significant chemical effects on the plants. We also outlined the effects of MPs to the various regions (e.g. the seed and rhizome) of plants and compared the toxic difference of MPs on terrestrial and aquatic plants. Generally, the seed and rhizome of plants were susceptible to MPs, and the effects of MPs on terrestrial and aquatic plants were different. The review paper improves the understanding of potential toxicity of MP themselves and the released and adsorbed chemicals to plants in the environment.

Hg, As, Cr, Sn, Ni, and Se concentrations in the muscle of little tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus) from the western Algerian stock

Muscle-metal (As, Se, Hg, Sn, Cr, Ni) levels were measured in little tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus) from the western Algerian stock. Relationships between metal levels in the muscle tissues and fish fork length and total weight were examined. The accumulation of metals in muscle tissues varied in the following ascending order: Ni, Cr, Sn, Hg, Se, and As. The range of metal concentrations (mg kg^-1/wet weight) were 1.2561-3.8562 (As), 0.6897-3.4123 (Se), 0.3852-1.4235 (Hg), 0.1569-0.6512 (Sn), 0.1254-0.4002 (Cr), and 0.0719-0.3122 (Ni). Significant variations (t > 1.96, p < 0.05) between metal concentrations were observed in muscle tissues of E. alletteratus. The concentrations of all metals investigated increase as the fish increased in size and total weight. Furthermore, the results of exponential regressions showed significant positive relationships (p < 0.05) between metal levels and fish size and weight. Average levels of heavy metals in muscle tissues of E. alletteratus were lower than permissible limits for fish consumption prescribed by FAO/WHO, EC, ASTDR, and USFDA.