Aya Miyazaki^1,2,*, Hideki Uemura², Yasuyo Takeuchi³, Junya Tomida⁴, Yasuo Ono¹, Yoshifumi Fujimoto¹, Norie Mitsushita¹, Akio Ikai¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.17, No.6, pp. 647-652, 2022, DOI:10.32604/chd.2022.021837

Abstract Appropriate heart rate in a failing pulmonary ventricle remains unknown, particularly in congenital heart disease with unique hemodynamics. A 71-year-old male with repaired tetralogy of Fallot and a pacemaker for a sinus node dysfunction suffered from heart failure symptoms with preserved left ventricular function. Simply changing the pacemaker’s lower rate from 60 to 75 bpm, New York Heart Association classification improved from III to II, and hemodynamic parameters drastically improved. We regarded this case as informative. Appropriate heart rate could be higher in congenital patients with failing right and non-failing left ventricles than in adults with malfunctioning LV. More > Graphic Abstract

JIAMING ZHAN, WEIHUA WANG, YANLEI TANG, NING ZHOU, DAOWEN JIANG^*

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.12, pp. 2601-2613, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.021300

Abstract Esophageal cancer (EC) was an aggressive malignant neoplasm characterized by high morbidity and poor prognosis. Identifying the changes in DNA damage repair genes helps to better understand the mechanisms of carcinoma progression. In this study, by comparing EC samples and normal samples, we found a total of 132 DDR expression with a significant difference. Moreover, we revealed higher expression of POLN, PALB2, ATM, PER1, TOP3B and lower expression of HMGB1, UBE2B were correlated to longer OS in EC. In addition, a prognostic risk score based on 7 DDR gene expression (POLN, HMGB1, TOP3B, PER1, UBE2B, ATM, PALB2) was constructed for… More >

Jiabin Wu^1,3, Boai Yang², Yang Liu¹, Fang Liu^3,*, Nong Xiao¹, Shuo Li⁴

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.73, No.3, pp. 5137-5150, 2022, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2022.028305

Abstract Building a new decentralized domain name system based on blockchain technology is helping to solve problems, such as load imbalance and over-dependence on the trust of the central node. However, in the existing blockchain storage system, the storage overhead is very high due to its full-replication data storage mechanism. The total storage consumption for each block is up to O(n) with n nodes. Erasure code applied to blockchains can significantly reduce the storage overhead, but also greatly lower the read performance. In this study, we propose a novel coding scheme for blockchain storage, Combination Locality based Erasure Code for Permissioned… More >

Soliman Abdalla^1,2,*, Shiref Kandil²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.10, No.11, pp. 2699-2716, 2022, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2022.022334

Abstract In order to obtain larger, clinical-scale and practical-scale bone grafts, we have designed both tailored scaffolds and tailored bio incubator with optimal bio-production characteristics. Using DIC files to Simpleware Scan-IP (Simple-ware-exeter United Kingdom), we have digitally reconstructed segmental additive bone-tissue in order to perform images processing. Both hydroxyapatite and tannin composites have been used in order to get the final bone modules combined for retexturing of segmental bone defect. We have found that sectioning of bone segment deficiency reorganizations into well disk-shaped design permits one to standardize the cell culture and seeding protocol, to get better products. The present study… More >

Hai Liu^*, Xuanxuan Wang^*, Aihua Huang^†, Huaping Gao^‡, Yikan Sun^§, Tingting Jiang^*, Liming Shi^*, Xianjie Wu^¶, Qinghua Dong^#, Xiaonan Sun^*

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.1, pp. 29-38, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504018X15179694020751

Abstract Artemis is a key protein of NHEJ (nonhomologous end joining), which is the major pathway for the repair of IR-induced DSBs in mammalian cells. However, the expression of Artemis in tumors and the influence of silencing Artemis on tumor sensitivity to radiation have not been investigated fully. In this study, we investigated how the expression levels of Artemis may affect the treatment outcome of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in colorectal cancer cells. First, we found that the expression of Artemis is strong in some human rectal cancer samples, being higher than in adjacent normal tissues using immunohistochemical staining. We then knocked… More >

Annemarie E. M. Post^*†, Johan Bussink^*, Fred C. G. J. Sweep^†, Paul N. Span^*

Oncology Research, Vol.28, No.1, pp. 33-40, 2020, DOI:10.3727/096504019X15555794826018

Abstract Tamoxifen-induced radioresistance, reported in vitro, might pose a problem for patients who receive neoadjuvant tamoxifen treatment and subsequently receive radiotherapy after surgery. Previous studies suggested that DNA damage repair or cell cycle genes are involved, and could therefore be targeted to preclude the occurrence of cross-resistance. We aimed to characterize the observed cross-resistance by investigating gene expression of DNA damage repair genes and cell cycle genes in estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 breast cancer cells that were cultured to tamoxifen resistance. RNA sequencing was performed, and expression of genes characteristic for several DNA damage repair pathways was investigated, as well as expression… More >

Nahathai Dukaew^*†, Teruaki Konishi^‡§, Kongthawat Chairatvit^¶, Narongchai Autsavapromporn^#, Noppamas Soonthornchareonnon^**, Ariyaphong Wongnoppavich^†

Oncology Research, Vol.28, No.2, pp. 161-175, 2020, DOI:10.3727/096504019X15736439848765

Abstract Radiotherapy (RT) is an important treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the major obstacles to successful RT include the low radiosensitivity of cancer cells and the restricted radiation dose, which is given without damaging normal tissues. Therefore, the sensitizer that increases RT efficacy without dose escalation will be beneficial for NSCLC treatment. Eurycomalactone (ECL), an active quassinoid isolated from Eurycoma longifolia Jack, has been demonstrated to possess anticancer activity. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of ECL on sensitizing NSCLC cells to X-radiation (X-ray) as well as the underlying mechanisms. The results showed that ECL… More >

Wei Wei^*1, Xiao-Dong Ma^†1, Guan-Min Jiang^‡, Bin Shi^§, Wen Zhong^¶, Chun-Lei Sun^§, Liang Zhao^*, Yan-Jiao Hou^*, Hao Wang^*

Oncology Research, Vol.28, No.4, pp. 423-438, 2020, DOI:10.3727/096504020X15877284857868

Abstract Although oxaliplatin serves as one of the first-line drugs prescribed for treating colorectal cancer (CRC), the therapeutic effect is disappointing due to drug resistance. So far, the molecular mechanisms mediating oxaliplatin resistance remain unclear. In this study, we found the chemoresistance in oxaliplatin-resistant HCT116 cells (HCT116/OXA) was mediated by the upregulation of ERCC1 expression. In addition, the acquisition of resistance induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) as well as the Slug overexpression. On the contrary, Slug silencing reversed the EMT phenotype, decreased ERCC1 expression, and ameliorated drug resistance. Further mechanistical studies revealed the enhanced Slug expression resulted from the activation of AKT/… More >

Jutarat Tanasansuttiporn¹, Maliwan Oofuvong^1,*, Wirat Wasinwong¹, Voravit Chittithavorn², Pongsanae Duangpakdee², Jirayut Jarutach³, Qistina Yunuswangsa¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.17, No.3, pp. 245-267, 2022, DOI:10.32604/chd.2022.021778

Abstract Background: Studies on predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in pediatric patients with cyanotic heart disease who are waiting for the next stage and those who have undergone total repair are scarce. Therefore, we aimed to identify such predictors in children who received the modified Blalock–Taussig shunt (MBTS) and those who underwent total repair. Methods: In this historical cohort and concurrent follow-up study, data of children who underwent MBTS at the age of 0–3 years between January 2005 and December 2016 at a super-tertiary care hospital in Southern Thailand were obtained. Children who were alive in December 2017 were… More > Graphic Abstract

Eloisa Sassá Carvalho^#, Maria Francilene S. Souza, Kelly Cristina O. Abud, Claudia R. P. Castro, Juliano G. Penha, Ana Maria Thomaz, Vanessa A. Guimarães, Antonio Augusto Lopes^*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.17, No.3, pp. 351-363, 2022, DOI:10.32604/chd.2022.019382

Abstract Background: Postoperative pulmonary hypertension limits the success of surgical treatment in some patients with unrestrictive congenital cardiac communications. Identifying patients at risk of developing postoperative pulmonary hypertension is important to individualize follow-up strategies. Methods: We analyzed a prospective cohort of 52 pediatric patients (age 3 to 35 months) looking for perioperative predictors of mildly elevated pulmonary arterial pressure 6 months after surgery, defined as a systolic pressure greater than 30 mmHg by transthoracic echocardiography. This corresponds to a mean pulmonary arterial pressure of >20 mmHg. Clinical, echocardiographic and hemodynamic parameters were investigated. Perioperative hemodynamics was assessed by directly measuring pulmonary and systemic… More >