The hindbrain and cortico-reticular pathway in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

AIM

To characterise the corticoreticular pathway (CRP) in a case-control cohort of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients using high-resolution slice-accelerated readout-segmented echo-planar diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to enhance the discrimination of small brainstem nuclei in comparison to automated whole-brain volumetry and tractography and their clinical correlates.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-four participants (16 AIS patients, 18 healthy controls) underwent clinical and orthopaedic assessments and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on a 3 T MRI machine. Automated whole-brain volume-based morphometry, tract-based spatial statistics analysis, and manual CRP tractography by two independent raters were performed. Intra-rater and inter-rater agreement of DTI metrics from CRP tractography were assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient. Normalised structural brain volumes and DTI metrics were compared between groups using Student's t-tests. Linear correlation analysis between imaging parameters and clinical scores was also performed.

RESULTS

AIS patients demonstrated a significantly larger pons volume compared to controls (p=0.006). Significant inter-side CRP differences in mean (p=0.02) and axial diffusivity (p=0.01) were found in patients only. Asymmetry in CRP fractional anisotropy significantly correlated with the Cobb angle (p=0.03).

CONCLUSION

Relative pontine hypertrophy and asymmetry in CRP DTI metrics suggest central supranuclear inter-hemispheric imbalance in AIS, and support the role of the CRP in axial muscle tone. Longitudinal evaluation of CRP DTI metrics in the prediction of AIS progression may be clinically relevant.

Accessing Medium-Sized Rings via Vinyl Carbocation Intermediates

Medium-sized rings (8-11-membered cycles) are often more challenging to synthesize than smaller rings (5-7-membered cycles) due to ring strain. Herein, we report a catalytic method for forming 8- and 9-membered rings that proceeds via the intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reactions of vinyl carbocation intermediates. These reactive species are generated catalytically through the ionization of vinyl toluenesulfonates by a Lewis acidic lithium cation-weakly coordinating anion salt.

Ultrasensitive fluorescent carbon dot sensor for quantification of soluble and insoluble Cr(VI) in particulate matter

This study investigates advanced functional materials to address the need for practical and affordable analytical techniques for monitoring large amounts of insoluble Cr(VI). N,S-doped fluorescent carbon dots (f-CDs) were fabricated through microwave synthesis, with an average diameter of 10 nm. These f-CDs were explored as potential sensors for detecting Cr(VI) in ambient particulate matter (PM). Laboratory experiments yielded positive results, showing average recoveries of 106.0%, 102.3%, 96.4%, and 101.7% for PbCrO4, BaCrO4, CaCrO4, and (NH4)2CrO4, respectively. Applying the fluorescence method to field PM samples, a method detection limit (MDL) of 0.32 ng/m3 for total Cr(VI) quantification was achieved. The fluorescence decay of carbon dots remained stable over time, suggesting that Cr(VI) quenching primarily occurred due to the internal filter effect through a static quenching mechanism. These f-CDs exhibited advantageous properties, including affordability, solubility, luminescence, and sensitivity, positioning them as a promising alternative for Cr(VI) detection in ambient air particulates. This study contributes to further developing carbon-based functional materials for detecting metallic air pollutants.

Thickness Tolerance in Large-Area Organic Photovoltaics with Fluorine-Substituted Regioregular Conjugated Polymer

Large areas and simple processing methods are necessary for the commercialization of organic photovoltaics (OPVs). However, the efficiency drop due to the variation in thickness of OPVs limits their large-scale applications. Regioregular polymers with good crystallinity and packing properties that exhibit high charge mobility and extraction ability can help overcome these limitations. In this study, a regioregular polymer named PDBD-2FBT was synthesized. The crystallinity and packing properties of PDBD-2FBT were enhanced by a simple thermal treatment. Using PDBD-2FBT material as a donor and Y6-HU as an acceptor, we fabricated binary blend OPV devices. The devices with optimized active layer thickness achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 14.14%. A PCE of 13.18% was maintained even in thick-film conditions (400 nm), and thickness tolerance was observed. Based on the thickness tolerance, a 5-line module measuring 36 cm2 was fabricated via the bar-coating method, and a PCE of approximately 10% was achieved.

Molecular Dynamics of the Norbornyl Cation in Solution and Its Generation in Winstein-Trifan Solvolysis: The Timing of Sigma Bridging

Molecular dynamics simulations were performed on the solvolyses of exo- and endo-norbornyl brosylate and for the "nonclassical" σ-bridged norbornyl cation in an acetic acid solution. This computational modeling of the original Winstein-Trifan experiment confirms that exo-solvolysis is accompanied by σ-bridging in the transition state, while endo-solvolysis is not; σ-bridging eventually occurs in a dynamically stepwise fashion. Simulations of the norbornyl cation in solution show typical vibrations due to zero-point and thermal vibrations but no tendency to sample localized "classical cation" geometries.

Can growth in dichorionic twins be monitored with individualized growth assessment?

OBJECTIVE

To characterize fetal growth in dichorionic twins using individualized growth assessment (IGA), a method based on individual growth potential estimates.

METHODS

This secondary analysis included 286 fetuses/neonates from 143 dichorionic twin pregnancies that were part of the ESPRiT (Evaluation of Sonographic Predictors of Restricted Growth in Twins) study. The sample was subcategorized according to birth weight into appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) (n = 243) and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) (n = 43) cohorts. Serial biometric scans evaluating biparietal diameter, head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference, femur diaphysis length and estimated weight at 2-week intervals were used to evaluate fetal growth, while measurements of birth weight, crown-heel length and HC determined neonatal growth outcome. Six abnormalities (hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, periventricular leukomalacia, necrotizing enterocolitis, respiratory distress, sepsis and death) constituted the evaluated adverse neonatal outcomes (ANO). IGA was used to: evaluate differences in second-trimester growth velocities between singletons (from a published dataset) and dichorionic twins (138 AGA twins with normal third-trimester growth); describe the degree to which actual third-trimester growth in twins followed expected growth (111 AGA twins, normal fetal growth and neonatal growth outcomes); determine if the fetal growth pathology score 1 (-FGPS1) could detect, quantify and classify twin growth pathology (224 AGA, 42 SGA); and assess the relationship between -FGPS1 and ANO (24 SGA twins with progressive growth restriction confirmed by abnormal neonatal growth outcome).

RESULTS

The differences in second-trimester growth velocity between singletons and twins (means and variances) were small and not statistically significant. Percent deviations from the expected third-trimester size trajectories were within the 95% reference ranges derived from singletons at 95.7% (1677/1752) of timepoints studied. Abnormal growth was detected in 37.9% of AGA twins and 85.7% of SGA twins. Growth restriction was more heterogeneous in AGA twins, while in SGA twins progressive growth restriction was the principal type (66.7%). -FGPS1 patterns previously defined in singletons classified 97.5% of pathological twin cases. In our most severe form of growth restriction (progressive), there were only three (12.5%) ANOs related to growth abnormalities, all in cases with -FGPS1 values more negative than -2.0%. Using these criteria, the frequency of ANO was 33%.

CONCLUSIONS

With respect to growth, dichorionic twins can be considered as two singletons in the same uterus. Normally growing dichorionic twins have the same growth potential as singletons with normal growth outcome. These twins also follow expected third-trimester growth trajectories with the same precision as do singletons. Third-trimester growth pathology can be detected, quantified and classified using -FGPS1 as in singletons. Limited evidence of a relationship between fetal growth abnormalities and adverse neonatal outcome was found. © 2023 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Kondo screening in a Majorana metal

Kondo impurities provide a nontrivial probe to unravel the character of the excitations of a quantum spin liquid. In the S = 1/2 Kitaev model on the honeycomb lattice, Kondo impurities embedded in the spin-liquid host can be screened by itinerant Majorana fermions via gauge-flux binding. Here, we report experimental signatures of metallic-like Kondo screening at intermediate temperatures in the Kitaev honeycomb material α-RuCl3 with dilute Cr3+ (S = 3/2) impurities. The static magnetic susceptibility, the muon Knight shift, and the muon spin-relaxation rate all feature logarithmic divergences, a hallmark of a metallic Kondo effect. Concurrently, the linear coefficient of the magnetic specific heat is large in the same temperature regime, indicating the presence of a host Majorana metal. This observation opens new avenues for exploring uncharted Kondo physics in insulating quantum magnets.

Radical and Cationic Pathways in C(sp3)-H Bond Oxygenation by Dioxiranes of Bicyclic and Spirocyclic Hydrocarbons Bearing Cyclopropane Moieties

A product and DFT computational study on the reactions of 3-ethyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)dioxirane (ETFDO) with bicyclic and spirocyclic hydrocarbons bearing cyclopropyl groups was carried out. With bicyclo[n.1.0]alkanes (n = 3-6), diastereoselective formation of the alcohol product derived from C2-H bond hydroxylation was observed, accompanied by smaller amounts of products derived from oxygenation at other sites. With 1-methylbicyclo[4.1.0]heptane, rearranged products were also observed in addition to the unrearranged products deriving from oxygenation at the most activated C2-H and C5-H bonds. With spiro[2.5]octane and 6-tert-butylspiro[2.5]octane, reaction with ETFDO occurred predominantly or exclusively at the axial C4-H to give unrearranged oxygenation products, accompanied by smaller amounts of rearranged bicyclo[4.2.0]octan-1-ols. The good to outstanding site-selectivities and diastereoselectivities are paralleled by the calculated activation free energies for the corresponding reaction pathways. Computations show that the σ* orbitals of the bicyclo[n.1.0]alkane cis or trans C2-H bonds and spiro[2.5]octanes axial C4-H bond hyperconjugatively interact with the Walsh orbitals of the cyclopropane ring, activating these bonds toward HAT to ETFDO. The detection of rearranged oxygenation products in the oxidation of 1-methylbicyclo[4.1.0]heptane, spiro[2.5]octane, and 6-tert-butylspiro[2.5]octane provides unambiguous evidence for the involvement of cationic intermediates in these reactions, representing the first examples on the operation of ET pathways in dioxirane-mediated C(sp3)-H bond oxygenations. Computations support these findings, showing that formation of cationic intermediates is associated with specific stabilizing hyperconjugative interactions between the incipient carbon radical and the cyclopropane C-C bonding orbitals that trigger ET to the incipient dioxirane derived 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-hydroxy-2-butoxyl radical.

Phase I dose escalation and expansion study of golidocitinib, a highly selective JAK1 inhibitor, in relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphomas

BACKGROUND

Relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphomas (r/r PTCLs) are a group of rare and aggressive diseases that lack effective therapies. Constitutive activation of the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway is reported to be associated with PTCLs. Golidocitinib is an oral, potent JAK1 selective inhibitor evaluated in a phase I/II multinational study in patients with r/r PTCLs.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with r/r PTCLs were eligible. The primary objectives were to assess safety and tolerability of golidocitinib and to define its recommended phase II dose (RP2D). The secondary objectives were to evaluate its antitumor activity and pharmacokinetics (PK).

RESULTS

A total of 51 patients were enrolled and received golidocitinib treatment at 150 or 250 mg once daily (QD). The median prior lines of therapies were 2 (range: 1-8). Golidocitinib was tolerated at both doses tested, while a higher incidence of serious adverse events and dose modifications at 250 mg were observed. The most common grade ≥3 drug-related treatment-emergent adverse events were neutropenia (27.5%) and thrombocytopenia (11.8%). An objective response rate of 39.2% and a complete response rate of 21.6% were observed. With median follow-up time of 14.7 and 15.9 months, the median duration of response (DoR) and progression-free survival were 8.0 and 3.3 months, respectively. Based on these data, 150 mg QD was defined as the RP2D. Golidocitinib demonstrated a favorable PK profile as an oral agent. Biomarker analysis suggested a potential correlation between JAK/STAT pathway aberrations and clinical activity of golidocitinib.

CONCLUSIONS

In this phase I study, golidocitinib demonstrated an acceptable safety profile and encouraging antitumor efficacy in heavily pretreated patients with r/r PTCLs. These results support the initiation of the multinational pivotal study in patients with r/r PTCLs.

The Effects of Glypican-3 Deficiency on Radiosensitivity in Liver Cancer Cells

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Glypican-3 (GPC-3), a heparan sulfate proteoglycan involved in cellular proliferation, modulates signaling of FGF/FGFR, IGF/IGFR, HGF/Met, Wnt/Frizzled, among others and correlates with survival. GPC-3 is overexpressed in the majority of hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatoblastoma, but not in normal hepatocytes. Accordingly, it is being investigated as a liver cancer-selective target for radiopharmaceutical imaging and therapy. However, the potential linkage between GPC-3 expression and radiosensitivity has not yet been defined. In this study, we investigated the effects of GPC-3 deficiency on radiosensitivity in liver cancer cell lines.

MATERIALS/METHODS

CRISPR/Cas9 system was used to engineer GPC-3 knockout variants of liver cancer cell lines, HepG2 & Hep3B, both of which natively express GPC-3. Confirmation of knockout of GPC-3 was evaluated by RT-PCR, western blotting, flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry, and gDNA sequencing. Cell growth and migration were evaluated by BrdU insertion and wound-healing assays, respectively. In vitro radiosensitivity was examined by radiation-induced apoptosis/necrosis (Annexin V-APC and PI staining), cell cycle modification, γH2AX foci formation, and clonogenic assays (6 Gy). Wildtype and knockout lines were engrafted into athymic mice to assess tumor growth kinetics.

RESULTS

RT-PCR, western blotting, flow cytometry, and immunocytochemistry all confirmed GPC-3 knockout in both HepG2 and Hep3B cell lines. Nucleotide deletion at exon 3 of the GPC-3 gene was confirmed by gDNA sequencing in HepG2ΔGPC3 and Hep3BΔGPC3. GPC-3 deficiency reduced liver cancer cell proliferation (HepG2ΔGPC3, p = 0.027, and Hep3BΔGPC3, p = 0.031) and migration (HepG2ΔGPC3: 1.5-fold, p<0.001, and Hep3BΔGPC3: 2.3-fold, p<0.001) significantly when compared with wild type. GPC-3 deficiency reduced cell survival and clonogenicity (HepG2ΔGPC3: DEF = 1.23, Hep3BΔGPC3: DEF = 1.23) in liver cancer cells exposed to irradiation (6 Gy). The delayed repair of double-stranded DNA damage was observed in irradiated GPC-3 deficient liver cancer cells. Tumor growth was dramatically delayed by GPC-3 deficiency. Tumor weight measured at 50 (Hep3B) and 60 (HepG2) days after liver cancer cell inoculation corroborated these effects.

CONCLUSION

Knockout lines of HepG2 and Hep3B exhibited decreased cell proliferation, migration, and in vivo tumor growth compared to wildtype. GPC-3 deficiency was associated with increased sensitivity to radiation therapy. Studies identifying the pathways through which this radiosensitivity is mediated are ongoing.

Bridged adversarial training

Adversarial robustness is considered a required property of deep neural networks. In this study, we discover that adversarially trained models might have significantly different characteristics in terms of margin and smoothness, even though they show similar robustness. Inspired by the observation, we investigate the effect of different regularizers and discover the negative effect of the smoothness regularizer on maximizing the margin. Based on the analyses, we propose a new method called bridged adversarial training that mitigates the negative effect by bridging the gap between clean and adversarial examples. We provide theoretical and empirical evidence that the proposed method provides stable and better robustness, especially for large perturbations.

Mercury concentrations in sediments and oysters in a temperate coastal zone: a comparison of farmed and wild varieties

Oyster aquaculture has progressively increased to meet growing demands for seafood worldwide; however, its effects on methylmercury (MeHg) production in sediment and accumulation in oysters are largely unknown. In this study, total Hg (THg) and MeHg in sediments collected from aquaculture and reference sites and in farmed and wild oysters were measured and compared to explore potential factors that regulate MeHg production and bioaccumulation at the aquaculture sites. The results showed that the mean concentrations of THg and MeHg in varying sediment depths at the aquaculture site were 34 ± 4.1 ng g-1 and 16 ± 12 pg g-1, respectively. In comparison, the mean concentrations of THg and MeHg in sediments at the reference site were 25 ± 2.5 ng g-1 and 63 ± 28 pg g-1, respectively. While the MeHg/THg in the aquaculture sediments increased with organic carbon content, the slope of MeHg/THg versus organic carbon content was suppressed by high concentrations of dissolved sulfide in the pore water. Multiple parameters (total sulfur, total nitrogen and acid volatile sulfide in sediment, and dissolved sulfide in pore water) showed significant negative relationships with MeHg/THg in the sediment, and the total sulfur content in the sediment showed the highest inverse correlation factor with MeHg/THg (r =  - 0.83). The mean concentrations of THg and MeHg in farmed oysters (mean weight 3.2 ± 1.5 g) were 36 ± 10 ng g-1 and 15 ± 6.7 ng g-1, respectively, while those in wild oysters (mean weight 0.92 ± 0.32 g) were 47 ± 9.9 ng g-1 and 15 ± 6.7 ng g-1, respectively. Concerning oysters of the same size range, THg and MeHg levels were higher in farmed oysters than in wild oysters despite the faster growth rate of farmed oysters, suggesting that the Hg content of food sources is more important than growth dilution rates in the control of Hg levels. The mean hazardous quotient for MeHg in farmed oyster was calculated as 0.044 ± 0.020, suggesting no expected health risk from farmed oyster consumption.

Metallosis-Induced Conversion Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Unique Experience and Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) can fail for several reasons, such as component loosening, periprosthetic fracture, instability, infection, soft tissue failure, or joint overstuffing. Severe metallosis without loose glenoid components after TSA may result in the need for revision to reverse TSA.

CASE PRESENTATION

Four years before the current presentation, an 86-year-old woman suffered from right shoulder pain and swelling. The initial diagnosis was osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint, for which she underwent TSA. Four years later, she complained of shoulder joint pain, swelling, and limited range of motion. On sonography, subscapularis and supraspinatus tendon tears were identified. Plain radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans showed metallosis around the shoulder joint. Due to the rocking horse mechanism, wear of the upper portion of the glenoid component and bearing caused a foreign-body reaction and severe metallosis around the joint. Due to a massive rotator cuff tear combined with glenoid component wear, the patient eventually underwent reverse TSA (RTSA) and was satisfied with the final results.

CONCLUSIONS

Severe metallosis due to glenoid component wear combined with a massive rotator cuff tear in TSA may cause the need for revision to RTSA.

A quantum-inspired probabilistic prime factorization based on virtually connected Boltzmann machine and probabilistic annealing

Probabilistic computing has been introduced to operate functional networks using a probabilistic bit (p-bit), broadening the computational abilities in non-deterministic polynomial searching operations. However, previous developments have focused on emulating the operation of quantum computers similarly, implementing every p-bit with large weight-sum matrix multiplication blocks and requiring tens of times more p-bits than semiprime bits. In addition, operations based on a conventional simulated annealing scheme required a large number of sampling operations, which deteriorated the performance of the Ising machines. Here we introduce a prime factorization machine with a virtually connected Boltzmann machine and probabilistic annealing method, which are designed to reduce the hardware complexity and number of sampling operations. From 10-bit to 64-bit prime factorizations were performed, and the machine offers up to 1.2 × 108 times improvement in the number of sampling operations compared with previous factorization machines, with a 22-fold smaller hardware resource.

Genetic descriptor search algorithm for predicting hydrogen adsorption free energy of 2D material

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have emerged as a promising alternative to noble metals in the field of electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction. However, previous attempts using machine learning to predict TMD properties, such as catalytic activity, have been shown to have limitations in their dependence on large amounts of training data and massive computations. Herein, we propose a genetic descriptor search that efficiently identifies a set of descriptors through a genetic algorithm, without requiring intensive calculations. We conducted both quantitative and qualitative experiments on a total of 70 TMDs to predict hydrogen adsorption free energy ([Formula: see text]) with the generated descriptors. The results demonstrate that the proposed method significantly outperformed the feature extraction methods that are currently widely used in machine learning applications.

Sulfonated graphene oxide-based pervaporation membranes inspired by a tortuous brick and mortar structure for enhanced resilience against silica scaling and organic fouling

A novel tortuous brick-and-mortar structure utilizing intercalation of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) on sulfonated graphene oxide (SGO) membranes was specifically tailored for brine treatment by pervaporation to ensure excessive resistance to silica scaling and organic fouling, as well as ultrafast water transport without compromising salt rejection. The synthesized SGO membrane showed a smoother surface morphology, improved zeta potential, and a higher hydration capacity than the graphene oxide (GO) membrane. Further intercalation of PVA through glutaraldehyde (GA) crosslinking, confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis, conferred increased cohesiveness, and the SGO-PVA-GA membrane was therefore able to withstand ultrasonication tests without any erosion of the coating layer. According to a pervaporative desalination test, the SGO-PVA-GA membrane exhibited 62 kg m^-2 h^-1 of permeate flux, with an extraordinary salt rejection of 99.99% for a 10 wt% NaCl feed solution at 65 °C. The 72 h organic fouling, silica scaling, and combined fouling and scaling tests proved that the SGO-PVA-GA membrane sustains a stable flux with less scaling and fouling than the GO-PVA-GA membrane, attributable to dense surface negative charges and great hydration capacities caused by sulfonic acid. Thus, the SGO-PVA-GA membrane offers superlative advantages for long-term brine treatment by pervaporation, related to its ability to withstand silica scaling and organic fouling.

Comparative analysis and human health risk assessment of contamination with heavy metals of Central Asian rivers

The study focuses on heavy metals contamination, drinking water quality, and associated health risks for adults and children by consuming water from Central Asian Rivers (Syr-Darya, Nura, and Ili Rivers). Water samples were collected from three rivers within the 2014-2019 period by the RMS "Kazhydromet" and analyzed for various physicochemical parameters. The study revealed that the concentrations of Fe, Cd, Cr (VI), Hg, Mn, and As significantly exceeded local and international drinking water standards in at least one water body. The lowest total water quality index (55.1%) was observed in the Nura River ("marginal water category"). Coal, soil, non-ferrous metals, and iron ore industries were found to be the major sources of heavy metals in the regions. Deterministic risk assessment revealed serious cancer risks (>1E-5) in rivers due to As and Cr (VI) exposure by oral and dermal contact for adults and children. Stochastic risk assessment confirmed high cancer risks (>1E-4) due to Cr (VI) contamination of the Syr-Darya River. The study results indicate the serious lifetime cancer risk to the residents due to the use of river water for drinking and household activities. Therefore, the study area urgently and continuously requires heavy metal removal, effective monitoring, and good quality drinking water supply.

Screening of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis using generative adversarial network (GAN) inversion method in chest radiographs

OBJECTIVE

Conventional computer-aided diagnosis using convolutional neural networks (CNN) has limitations in detecting sensitive changes and determining accurate decision boundaries in spectral and structural diseases such as scoliosis. We devised a new method to detect and diagnose adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in chest X-rays (CXRs) employing the latent space's discriminative ability in the generative adversarial network (GAN) and a simple multi-layer perceptron (MLP) to screen adolescent idiopathic scoliosis CXRs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Our model was trained and validated in a two-step manner. First, we trained a GAN using CXRs with various scoliosis severities and utilized the trained network as a feature extractor using the GAN inversion method. Second, we classified each vector from the latent space using a simple MLP.

RESULTS

The 2-layer MLP exhibited the best classification in the ablation study. With this model, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curves were 0.850 in the internal and 0.847 in the external datasets. Furthermore, when the sensitivity was fixed at 0.9, the model's specificity was 0.697 in the internal and 0.646 in the external datasets.

CONCLUSION

We developed a classifier for Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) through generative representation learning. Our model shows good AUROC under screening chest radiographs in both the internal and external datasets. Our model has learned the spectral severity of AIS, enabling it to generate normal images even when trained solely on scoliosis radiographs.

Deep learning-based image enhancement in optical coherence tomography by exploiting interference fringe

Optical coherence tomography (OCT), an interferometric imaging technique, provides non-invasive, high-speed, high-sensitive volumetric biological imaging in vivo. However, systemic features inherent in the basic operating principle of OCT limit its imaging performance such as spatial resolution and signal-to-noise ratio. Here, we propose a deep learning-based OCT image enhancement framework that exploits raw interference fringes to achieve further enhancement from currently obtainable optimized images. The proposed framework for enhancing spatial resolution and reducing speckle noise in OCT images consists of two separate models: an A-scan-based network (NetA) and a B-scan-based network (NetB). NetA utilizes spectrograms obtained via short-time Fourier transform of raw interference fringes to enhance axial resolution of A-scans. NetB was introduced to enhance lateral resolution and reduce speckle noise in B-scan images. The individually trained networks were applied sequentially. We demonstrate the versatility and capability of the proposed framework by visually and quantitatively validating its robust performance. Comparative studies suggest that deep learning utilizing interference fringes can outperform the existing methods. Furthermore, we demonstrate the advantages of the proposed method by comparing our outcomes with multi-B-scan averaged images and contrast-adjusted images. We expect that the proposed framework will be a versatile technology that can improve functionality of OCT.

Genome-wide gene expression responses to experimental manipulation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae repressor activator protein 1 (Rap1) expression level

Precise regulation of transcription in gene expression is critical for all aspects of normal organism form, fitness, and function and even minor alterations in the level, location, and timing of gene expression can result in phenotypic variation within and between species including evolutionary innovations and human disease states. Eukaryotic transcription is regulated by a complex interplay of multiple factors working both at a physical and molecular levels influencing this process. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the TF with the greatest number of putative regulatory targets is the essential gene Repressor Activator Protein 1 (RAP1). While much is known about the roles of Rap1 in gene regulation and numerous cellular processes, the response of Rap1 target genes to systematic titration of RAP1 expression level remains unknown. To fill this knowledge gap, we used a strain with a tetracycline-titratable promoter replacing wild-type regulatory sequences of RAP1 to systematically reduce the expression level of RAP1 and followed this with RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to measure genome-wide gene expression responses. Previous research indicated that Rap1 plays a significant regulatory role in particular groups of genes including telomere-proximal genes, homothallic mating (HM) loci, glycolytic genes, DNA repair genes, and ribosomal protein genes; therefore, we focused our analyses on these groups and downstream targets to determine how they respond to reductions in RAP1 expression level. Overall, despite being known as both an activator and as a repressor of its target genes, we found that Rap1 acts as an activator for more target genes than as a repressor. Additionally, we found that Rap1 functions as an activator of ribosomal protein genes and a repressor of the silent mating locus genes consistent with predictions from the literature. Unexpectedly, we found that Rap1 functions as a repressor of glycolytic enzyme genes contrary to prior reports of it having the opposite effect. We also compared the expression of RAP1 to five different genes related to DNA repair pathway and found that decreasing RAP1 downregulated four of those five genes. Finally, we found no effect of RAP1 depletion on telomere-proximal genes despite its functioning to silence telomeric repeat-containing RNAs. Together our results enrich our understanding of this important transcriptional regulator. The graphical abstract is provided as a supplementary fig. (S-Fig 1).

Computational Exploration of the Nature of Li+-Ureide Anion Catalysis on Formation of Highly Reactive Vinyl Carbocations and Subsequent C-C Bond Forming Reactions

The mechanisms of the C-H insertion reactions of vinyl carbocations formed by heterolysis of vinyl trifluoromethanesulfonates (triflates) by catalytic lithiated 1,3-bis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]urea (Li⁺-ureide) have been studied with ωB97X-D density functional theory. The ionization promoted by the Li⁺-ureide forms a metastable intimate ion pair complex of Li⁺-ureide-triflate anion and vinyl cation. The relative thermodynamic stabilities of isomeric alkyl cations are impacted by ion-pairing with the Li⁺-ureide-triflate anion. We show that the C-H insertion reaction of the vinyl cation intermediate is the rate-determining step and explain the effect of the aryl substituents on the formation of the vinyl cation and its C-H insertion reactivity as well as the regioselectivity of C-H activation by the vinyl cation.

Development and evaluation of photon-counting Cd0.875Zn0.125Te0.98Se0.02 detector for measuring bone mineral density

Cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) has been actively researched and developed by researchers in various fields. In medical applications, especially photon-counting, CZT enables improved image quality, multi-material decomposition, and improved dose efficiency. Moreover, band gap engineering and selenium addition on CZT improved electrical, spectroscopic and structural properties, thereby supporting performance of CZT as a photon-counting detector. In this study, it is shown that Cd_0.875Zn_0.125Te_0.98Se_0.02 (CZTS) shows sufficient performance without loss of detection efficiency. We carried out a study involving the application of this CZTS on calculating bone mineral density (BMD) values, because this application has a novelty of new material for BMD sensor which follows the CdTe- or CdZnTe- based BMD detector. Anatomical images from different energy bins contained different information of attenuation although the images were taken in the same region at the same time. Moreover, calculated BMD values had a proper tendency depending on the amount of bone in that region. The final BMD value was 1.1972 g/cm², which is close to the real value of 1.2 g/cm². The introduction with a bone filter and a smaller pixel size will improve the accuracy and precision of photon-counting CZTS detectors for measuring BMD values. However, in this study the CZTS showed the feasibility that a photon-counting CZTS detector can help the measurement of BMD values and the diagnosis of osteoporosis.

Massively parallel electro-optic sampling of space-encoded optical pulses for ultrafast multi-dimensional imaging

High-speed and high-resolution imaging of surface profiles is critical for the investigation of various structures and mechanical dynamics of micro- and nano-scale devices. In particular, recent emergence of various nonlinear, transient and complex mechanical dynamics, such as anharmonic vibrations in mechanical resonators, has necessitated real-time surface deformation imaging with higher axial and lateral resolutions, speed, and dynamic range. However, real-time capturing of fast and complex mechanical dynamics has been challenging, and direct time-domain imaging of displacements and mechanical motions has been a missing element in studying full-field structural and dynamic behaviours. Here, by exploiting the electro-optic sampling with a frequency comb, we demonstrate a line-scan time-of-flight (TOF) camera that can simultaneously measure the TOF changes of more than 1000 spatial coordinates with hundreds megapixels/s pixel-rate and sub-nanometre axial resolution over several millimetres field-of-view. This unique combination of performances enables fast and precise imaging of both complex structures and dynamics in three-dimensional devices and mechanical resonators.

NAPOLI-3: A randomized, open-label phase 3 study of liposomal irinotecan + 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin + oxaliplatin (NALIRIFOX) versus nab-paclitaxel + gemcitabine in treatment-naïve patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC)

LBA661

Background: Liposomal irinotecan administered with 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (5-FU/LV) is approved in the USA and Europe for mPDAC following progression with gemcitabine-based therapy. A phase 1/2 study (Wainberg et al. Eur J Cancer 2021;151:14–24; NCT02551991) demonstrated promising anti-tumor activity in patients with mPDAC who received first-line liposomal irinotecan 50 mg/m2 + 5-FU 2400 mg/m2 + LV 400 mg/m2 + oxaliplatin 60 mg/m2 (NALIRIFOX). Herein, we present results from NAPOLI-3 (NCT04083235), a randomized, open-label, phase 3 study investigating the efficacy and safety of NALIRIFOX compared with nab-paclitaxel + gemcitabine as first-line therapy in patients with mPDAC. Methods: Eligible patients with histopathologically/cytologically confirmed untreated metastatic PDAC were randomized (1:1) to receive NALIRIFOX on days 1 and 15 of a 28-day cycle or nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m2 + gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 (Gem+NabP) on days 1, 8 and 15 of a 28-day cycle. Randomization was stratified by ECOG performance status, geographic region and presence or absence of liver metastases. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS); secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate (ORR) and safety. OS was evaluated when ≥ 543 events were observed using a stratified log-rank test with an overall 1-sided significance level of 0.025. Results: Overall, 770 patients (NALIRIFOX, n = 383; Gem+NabP, n = 387) were included. Baseline characteristics were well balanced between arms. At a median follow-up of 16.1 months, 544 events had occurred. The median OS was 11.1 months in the NALIFIROX arm as compared with 9.2 months in the Gem+NabP arm (HR 0.84 [95% CI 0.71–0.99]; p = 0.04); PFS was also significantly improved (7.4 months vs 5.6 months; HR 0.70 [0.59–0.84]; p = 0.0001). Grade 3/4 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) with ≥ 10% frequency in patients receiving NALIRIFOX versus Gem+NabP included diarrhea (20.3% vs 4.5%), nausea (11.9% vs 2.6%), hypokalemia (15.1% vs 4.0%), anemia (10.5% vs 17.4%) and neutropenia (14.1% vs 24.5%). Conclusions: First-line NALIRIFOX demonstrated clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvement in OS and PFS compared with Gem+NabP in treatment-naïve patients with mPDAC. The safety profile of NALIRIFOX was manageable and consistent with the profiles of the treatment components. Funding: Funded by Ipsen. Clinical trial information: NCT04083235 .[Table: see text]

Mechanically Stable Flexible Organic Photovoltaics with Silver Nanomesh for Indoor Applications

Enhanced device performance of flexible organic solar cells (FOSCs) was achieved according to the development of organic solar cells (OSCs). OSCs are promising candidates as energy sources for low-power supply systems such as the Internet of Things (IoT) under indoor lighting environments. To apply FOSCs to flexible or wearable applications, they must be mechanically stable. In this study, we fabricated FOSCs with silver nanomesh (AgNM) as the bottom transparent conductive electrode (TCE). Instead of indium tin oxide (ITO), AgNMs were prepared using three pitches of 25, 50, and 100 μm with a square pattern, using a poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) substrate. Notably, the device using AgNMs with a pitch of 25 μm exhibited a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 14.93% under 1 sun illumination and 17.91% under 1000 lux of light-emitting diode (LED) light conditions. Flexible devices using AgNMs maintained over 92% of their initial PCE under 1 sun illumination (PCE decreased to 12.98 from 14.04%) and over 92% when tested under 1000 lux of LED light illumination (PCE decreased to 16.57 from 17.91%) after 1000 instances of bending. These results demonstrate the advantages of using AgNMs as an alternative TCE under both 1 sun and indoor lightning environments and are promising candidates for flexible applications.

Reduced radiation exposure to circulating blood cells in proton therapy compared with X-ray therapy in locally advanced lung cancer: Computational simulation based on circulating blood cells

Background

We estimated the dose of circulating blood cells (CBCs) in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer for predicting severe radiation-induced lymphopenia (SRIL) and compared pencil-beam scanning proton therapy (PBSPT) and intensity-modulated (photon) radiotherapy (IMRT).

Materials and methods

After reviewing 325 patients who received definitive chemoradiotherapy with PBSPT (n = 37) or IMRT (n = 164). SRIL was diagnosed when two or more events of an absolute lymphocyte count < 200 µL occurred during the treatment course. Dose information for the heart and lungs was utilized for the time-dependent computational dose calculation of CBCs.

Results

The dose distribution of CBCs was significantly lesser in the PBSPT group than that in the IMRT group. Overall, 75 (37.3%) patients experienced SRIL during the treatment course; 72 and 3 patients were treated with IMRT and PBSPT, respectively. SRIL was associated with poor progression-free and overall survival outcomes. Upon incorporating the dose information of CBCs for predicting SRIL, CBC D90% > 2.6 GyE was associated with the development of SRIL with the baseline lymphocyte count and target volume. Furthermore, PBSPT significantly reduced the dose of CBC D90% (odds ratio = 0.11; p = 0.004) compared with IMRT.

Conclusion

The results of this study demonstrate the significance of the dose distribution of CBCs in predicting SRIL. Furthermore, reducing the dose of CBCs after PBSPT minimized the risk of SRIL. Lymphocyte-sparing radiotherapy in PBSPT could improve outcomes, particularly in the setting of maintenance immunotherapy.

Second-trimester growth velocities in twin and singleton pregnancies

OBJECTIVE

Previous small studies used individualized growth assessment (IGA) to characterize prenatal growth velocities of singletons and twins. We aimed to compare second-trimester growth velocities of individual anatomical parameters between monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twins, dichorionic diamniotic (DCDA) twins and singleton fetuses in a larger study.

METHODS

This was a study of a novel cohort of 222 MCDA twins and previously published cohorts of 40 DCDA twins and 118 singletons with serial ultrasound data. Fetal biometric measurements of biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference and femur diaphysis length from prenatal ultrasound examinations were used to calculate second-trimester growth velocities using direct calculation or linear regression analysis. Linear fit was assessed based on the coefficient of determination (R² ). Mean growth velocities and variances were compared among the three groups.

RESULTS

The majority of cases underwent three second-trimester ultrasound examinations with fetal biometry available. All fetuses had linear growth, with R² > 99% for all parameters. Only 1-2% of all MCDA and DCDA anatomical parameters had abnormal growth velocity scores outside the 95% reference range for singletons. There were no significant differences in mean growth velocity for any parameter between MCDA twins and singletons. Femur diaphysis length growth velocity was significantly lower in DCDA twins than in both MCDA twins and singletons. There were no other significant differences among the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Expanding on prior work using IGA, we found that second-trimester growth velocity of the four major anatomical parameters overall was similar between twins and singletons and between MCDA and DCDA twins, supporting the use of singleton-derived growth standards for IGA in twins. Twin growth potential appears to be similar to that of singletons in the second trimester, suggesting that subsequent growth divergence may be due to third-trimester physiological or pathological changes in twin pregnancies. © 2022 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Diastereoselective Radical Aminoacylation of Olefins through N-Heterocyclic Carbene Catalysis

There have been significant advancements in radical-mediated reactions through covalent-based organocatalysis. Here, we present the generation of iminyl and amidyl radicals via N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysis, enabling diastereoselective aminoacylation of trisubstituted alkenes. Different from photoredox catalysis, single electron transfer from the deprotonated Breslow intermediate to O-aryl hydroxylamine generates an NHC-bound ketyl radical, which undergoes diastereocontrolled cross-coupling with the prochiral C-centered radical. This operationally simple method provides a straightforward access to a variety of pyrroline and oxazolidinone heterocycles with vicinal stereocenters (77 examples, up to >19:1 d.r.). Electrochemical studies of the acyl thiazolium salts support our reaction design and highlight the reducing ability of Breslow-type derivatives. A detailed computational analysis of this organocatalytic system suggests that radical-radical coupling is the rate-determining step, in which π-π stacking interaction between the radical intermediates subtly controls the diastereoselectivity.

Diagnosis of Scoliosis Using Chest Radiographs with a Semi-Supervised Generative Adversarial Network

Purpose

To develop and validate a deep learning-based screening tool for the early diagnosis of scoliosis using chest radiographs with a semi-supervised generative adversarial network (GAN).

Materials and Methods

Using a semi-supervised learning framework with a GAN, a screening tool for diagnosing scoliosis was developed and validated through the chest PA radiographs of patients at two different tertiary hospitals. Our proposed method used training GAN with mild to severe scoliosis only in a semi-supervised manner, as an upstream task to learn scoliosis representations and a downstream task to perform simple classification for differentiating between normal and scoliosis states sensitively.

Results

The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, negative predictive value (NPV), positive predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity were 0.856, 0.950, 0.579, 0.985, and 0.285, respectively.

Conclusion

Our deep learning-based artificial intelligence software in a semi-supervised manner achieved excellent performance in diagnosing scoliosis using the chest PA radiographs of young individuals; thus, it could be used as a screening tool with high NPV and sensitivity and reduce the burden on radiologists for diagnosing scoliosis through health screening chest radiographs.

Impact of dementia and drug compliance on patients with acute myocardial infarction

Background

There has been a worrying rise in the number of people with dementia, especially with many of them also suffering from acute myocardial infarction (AMI), a disease with a high mortality rate.

Purpose

We evaluated the impact of dementia on the mortality of patients with AMI and how drug compliance affects this relationship.

Methods

The data were derived from National Health Insurance Service-Senior. The total number of patients diagnosed with AMI for the first time between 2007 and 2013 was 16,835, among whom 2,021 had dementia. Medication possession ratio (MPR) was used to assess medication adherence.

Results

AMI patients with dementia had unfavorable baseline characteristics; they had significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality (Hazard ratio [HR]: 2.49; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.34–2.66; P&lt;0.001) and lower MPR (aspirin: 21.9% vs. 42.8%; P&lt;0.001). AMI patients were stratified by presence of dementia and medication adherence, and the survival rate was the highest among those with no dementia and good adherence. followed by those with no dementia and poor adherence, those with dementia and good adherence, and those with dementia and poor adherence. The multivariable analysis revealed that dementia (HR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.53–1.75; P&lt;0.001) and poor adherence to medication (HR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.49–1.71; P&lt;0.001) had a significant association with all-cause mortality in AMI patients.

Conclusions

AMI patients with dementia have a higher mortality rate. Patients with dementia have poorer medication adherence than those without, negatively affecting their prognosis.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Very long-term outcomes of patients undergoing catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The efficacy of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is reported to stabilise at 5-year, but most studies report up to 3-year-outcomes only.

Objective

To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of outcomes at 5-years following AF ablation.

Methods

We searched PubMed and Embase for studies reporting on ≥5-year outcomes following AF ablation, including freedom from atrial arrhythmia, all-cause death, stroke, and major bleeding. All meta-analyses were performed using the “meta” package in R with pooled incidence calculated using log transformation.

Results

Among 5,764 studies screened, 58 (n=41,344 patients) were included for analysis. The pooled mean age was 60.3y, 68.7% male, 78.4% paroxysmal AF, and radiofrequency was the most common ablation energy (72.4%). Most (51.5%) patients had hypertension, but the pooled rates of other comorbidities were low (heart failure: 9.0%, coronary artery disease: 12.8%, diabetes: 11.0%, and previous stroke: 8.5%). Pooled incidence of freedom from atrial arrhythmia at 5-years was 47.6% (95% CI 43.8%-51.6%, I2=98.4%) after a single procedure and increased to 64.3% (95% CI 59.6%-69.3%, I2=98.3%) after multiple procedures (Figure 1). The incidence was higher among patients with paroxysmal compared with non paroxysmal AF (55.9% vs. 28.7% and 82.2% vs. 47.6% after single and multiple procedures respectively). Retrospective studies reported slightly higher incidence of arrhythmia freedom (single procedure: 51.2% vs. 46.7%; multiple procedures: 66.9% vs. 61.9%) than did prospective studies. Few studies reported outcomes other than atrial arrhythmia free survival at 5-years (n=14) and incidences of these outcomes could only be pooled for multiple procedures. Pooled incidences of death, stroke, and major bleeding at 5-years were 8.0% (95% CI 4.2%-15.2%, I2=95.8%), 2.3% (95% CI 1.4%-3.6%, I2=72.9%), and 1.1% (95% CI 0.6%-1.8%, I2=32.5%), respectively (Figure 2).

Conclusion

At five-years, only up to 65% of patients undergoing AF ablations remained free from atrial arrhythmia although there was significant heterogeneity among individual studies. Encouragingly, these patients had low risk of dying, experiencing a stroke or major bleeding (all incidences&lt;10%).

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Aqueous monomethylmercury degradation using nanoscale zero-valent iron through oxidative demethylation and reductive isolation

This paper proposes a Fenton-like reaction activated by nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) for aqueous monomethylmercury (MMHg) decomposition. Reacting 10 μg L^-1 MMHg with 280 mg L^-1 nZVI removed 70% of the aqueous MMHg within 1 min, and its main product was aqueous Hg(II). Within 1 - 5 min, the aqueous Hg(II) decreased while the aqueous, solid, and gas-phase Hg(0) increased with 92% MMHg removal. Then, a secondary Hg(II) reduction to solid Hg(0) was prevalent within 30 - 60 min, with 98% MMHg removal. Diverse-shaped magnetite crystals were observed on the surface of nZVI in 2 h, suggesting that Fe(II) oxidation on magnetite can be a source of electrons for secondary Hg(II) reduction. When FeCl₂ and H₂O₂ were added to the MMHg solution without nZVI, 99% of the MMHg changed to Hg(II) within 1 min. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by the Fenton-like reaction accounted for the rapid demethylation but not for the further reduction of Hg(II) to Hg(0). The results suggest a three-step pathway of MMHg decomposition by nZVI: (1) rapid MMHg demethylation by ROS; (2) rapid Hg(II) reduction by Fe(0); and (3) slow Hg(II) reduction by magnetite on the nZVI surface.

Spatiotemporal evaluation of water quality and risk assessment of heavy metals in the northern Caspian Sea bounded by Kazakhstan

The water quality of the northern Caspian Sea has not been well-known, and its contamination can adversely affect the health of swimmers and seashore residents. The study sought to determine the contamination state of the Caspian Sea in Kazakhstan and quantify human health risks coming from the existing heavy metals concentration. The Caspian Sea was found to be "fairly to marginally" contaminated (24 < CCME-WQI < 64), with Cd influencing the index significantly. Concentrations of Cd and Pb increase over time (seasonal Kendall test, p-values = 2-4 %) in sites near oil fields and ports, suggesting the significant role of anthropogenic sources in causing diverse pollution events. Pb demonstrated the highest variability and number of outliers (4.3 % of all samples with coefficients of variation reaching up to 175 %). The principal component analysis further revealed that various discharges from oilfields and upstream transport could contribute to the contamination by heavy metals and their concentrations. Contamination is associated with up to 6 % cancer risk for adults. The long exposure duration of swimmers in water increases risks by up to 18 %, indicating the local population is at a higher risk. In conclusion, statistical tests and analysis indicate the presence of anthropogenic sources, and risk assessment reveals swimming can contribute to cancer risk.

A Mechanistic Switch from Homoallylation to Cyclopropylcarbinylation of Aldehydes

Cyclopropanated allylboration reagents participate in homoallylation reactions of aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes, generating allylic-substituted alkenes that are difficult to produce via other methods. In studying the effect of cyclopropane substituents, we discovered that an aryl substituent completely changes the outcome to cyclopropylcarbinylation, as if the cyclopropylcarbinyl fragment were transferred intact. However, density functional theory computation suggested a novel mechanism involving ring opening and reclosure, which is supported by experimental evidence.

Techno-Economic Assessment and Life Cycle Assessment of CO2-EOR

CO₂-enhanced oil recovery (EOR) can have less GHG emissions compared to conventional oil production methods. The economy of CO₂-EOR can significantly benefit from the recent rise of carbon prices in carbon markets due to its greenhouse gas (GHG) emission savings. This study conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) of CO₂-EOR in major hydrocarbon provinces of the world. Estimated net GHG emissions of CO₂-EOR were compared with GHG emissions of average produced oil in the given country. When sourcing CO₂ from coal-fired power plants, Kazakhstan and China have net GHG emissions of CO₂-EOR of 276 and 380 kg CO₂ eq/bbl, respectively, which are lower than the GHG emission factor of average oil produced in each of them. Significantly lower GHG emissions of CO₂-EOR are observed in other hydrocarbon provinces (Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, etc.), where CO₂ could be delivered from Natural Gas Combined Cycle (NGCC) power plants. However, the cost of CO₂ capture is higher at NGCC power plants than at coal-fired power plants. Further, we developed a techno-economic assessment (TEA) model of the CO₂-EOR and integrated it with LCA to thoroughly consider carbon credits in its economy. The model was built based upon previous investigations and used statistics from a large industrial data set of CO₂-EOR to produce accurate estimates of the CO₂-EOR economy. The technical model iteratively estimated the balance of three fluids (crude oil, CO₂, and water) in the CO₂-EOR system with a 25 year operational lifespan and obtained actual data for the LCA and TEA models. The model was simulated for the Kazakhstan case with its oil market conditions for a demonstration purpose. TEA results showed that, with the available low-cost CO₂ capture source or high CO₂ cost in carbon trading, CO₂-EOR can compete with current upstream projects in Kazakhstan by simultaneously increasing oil production and reducing GHG emissions.

Social status mediated variation in hypothalamic transcriptional profiles of male mice

Animals of different social status exhibit variation in aggression, territorial and reproductive behavior as well as activity patterns, feeding, drinking and status signaling. This behavioral and physiological plasticity is coordinated by underlying changes in brain gene transcription. Using Tag-based RNA sequencing (Tag-seq), we explore RNA transcriptomes from the medial preoptic area (mPOA) and ventral hypothalamus (vHYP) of male mice of different social ranks in a dominance hierarchy and detect candidate genes and cellular pathways that underlie status-related plasticity. Within the mPOA, oxytocin (Oxt) and vasopressin (Avp) are more highly expressed in subdominant mice compared to other ranks, while nitric oxide synthase (Nos1) has lower expression in subdominant mice. Within the vHYP, we find that both orexigenic and anorexigenic genes involved in feeding behavior, including agouti-related peptide (Agrp), neuropeptide-Y (Npy), galanin (Gal), proopiomelanocortin (Pomc), and Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein prepropeptide (Cartpt), are less expressed in dominant animals compared to more subordinate ranks. We suggest that this may represent a reshaping of feeding circuits in dominant compared to subdominant and subordinate animals. Furthermore, we determine several genes that are positively and negatively associated with the level of despotism (aggression) in dominant males. Ultimately, we identify hypothalamic genes controlling feeding and social behaviors that are differentially transcribed across animals of varying social status. These changes in brain transcriptomics likely support phenotypic variation that enable animals to adapt to their current social status.

POS0197 SARS-CoV-2 INFECTION CAUSED THROMBOSIS IN THE LUPUS MODEL WITH ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID ANTIBODY, WHEREAS COVID-19 ASSOCIATED THROMBOSIS WAS IRRELEVANT IN PATIENTS WITH POSITIVE ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID ANTIBODY

Background

Thrombosis is a unique complication in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We have reported that elevated ferritin and D-dimer on admission were the risk factors of thromboses by analyzing the patients sequentially admitted to our hospital due to COVID-19 (1). However, we have not analyzed thrombotic complications in the view of the antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs), which are frequently detected in the COVID-19 patients.

Objectives

To elucidate the thrombogenic effects of aPLs in COVID-19, we analyzed the development of thrombosis in three lupus models after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Additionally, we evaluated the association of thrombotic events and the serum profile of aPLs in Japanese patients with COVID-19.

Methods

Three animal models of lupus (MRL-lpr/lpr, NZBxNZW F1 and NZW×BXSB F1) were evaluated in this study. NZW×BXSB F1 was also considered as a model of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) since aPLs were detected with a high titer (2). Experimental SARS-CoV-2 infection was induced using mouse-passaged virus strain (3). The incidence of thromboses in the lungs and kidneys were identified by evaluating H&E staining and PTAH staining of paraffin-embedded sections. We have experienced 44 thrombotic events in 34 out of 594 patients admitted to our institute. As a non-thrombotic COVID-19, 68 patients were selected to make a 1 to 2 matched-pair based on the propensity score. In total 102 patients, seven types of aPLs (anti-cardiolipin (CL) IgG/IgM, anti-β2GP1 IgG/IgA/IgM, and anti-phosphatidyl serine/prothrombin complex (PS/PT) IgG/IgM) were measured using specific ELISA kits. The patients’ clinical characteristics and serological profile of aPLs were further evaluated.

Results

We identified the development of thromboses in the lungs or kidneys in 6 out of 12 (50%) NZW×BXSB F1 mice after the SARS-CoV-2 infection, whereas no thrombosis was observed in non-infected mice. Further, there was no thrombosis in the other lupus models (0%) after the infection. These findings might suggest the pathogenic role of aPLs under the SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Among our COVID-19 patients, 39 out of 102 (38%) were tested positive for one or more aPLs. The positive ratios of any aPLs were statistically indifferent between the patients with or without thrombosis; anti-CL IgG (8.8% vs 5.9%)/IgM (0% vs 5.9%), anti-β2GP1 IgG (21% vs 12%)/IgA (8.8% vs 15%)/IgM (0% vs 1.5%), and anti-PS/PT IgG (0% vs 2.9%)/IgM (12% vs 13%), respectively. In addition, their titers were relatively lower than those observed in APS patients. The patients’ characteristics and the prognosis of COVID-19 were comparable regardless of the detection of any aPLs. These findings suggested that COVID-19 associated aPLs were irrelevant to thrombotic complications.

Conclusion

Thromboses were induced after the infection of SARS-CoV-2 only in the APS model. However, aPLs detected in COVID-19 patients have little impact on the development of thrombosis. SARS-CoV-2 infection might have a high risk of thrombosis, especially in APS patients, as shown in the case report (4). The discrepancy of its thrombogenic effects of aPLs might be explained by the low titer of the antibody or the diversity of antibody epitope. Further analyses are required to clarify the mechanisms of aPLs production and the development of thrombosis in COVID-19.

References

[1]Oba S, et al. Arterial and Venous Thrombosis Complicated in COVID-19: A Retrospective Single-Center Analysis in Japan. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2021 Nov 19;8:767074.

[2]Hashimoto Y, et al. Anticardiolipin antibodies in NZW x BXSB F1 mice. A model of antiphospholipid syndrome. J Immunol. 1992 Aug 1;149(3):1063-8.

[3]Iwata-Yoshikawa N, et al. A lethal mouse model for evaluating vaccine-associated enhanced respiratory disease during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Sci Adv. 2022 Jan 7;8(1):eabh3827.

[4]Chidharla A, et al. A Case Report of COVID-Associated Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome Successfully Treated with Eculizumab. J Blood Med. 2021 Oct 30;12:929-933.

Disclosure of Interests

Seiya Oba: None declared, Tadashi Hosoya Speakers bureau: Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K.

Daiichi Sankyo Company, limited

Asahi Kasei Corporation

Ono pharmaceuticals

Eisai

Eli Lilly, Daisuke Kawata: None declared, Wenshi Lee: None declared, Mari Kamiya: None declared, Yoji Komiya: None declared, Hideyuki Iwai: None declared, Yuko Nukui: None declared, Shuji Tohda: None declared, Shinsuke Yasuda Speakers bureau: Abbvie,

Asahi Kasei Pharma,

Chugai Pharmaceutical,

Eisai, Eli Lilly,

GlaxoSmithKline,

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma,

Ono pharmaceutical,

Pfizer., Consultant of: ImmunoForge, Grant/research support from: Abbvie,

Asahi Kasei Pharma,

Chugai Pharmaceutical,

CSL Behring,

Eisai,

ImmunoForge,

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma,

Ono pharmaceutical