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Introduction: Platelet transfusion is a standard treatment to prevent bleeding in patients with hematological malignancies. Although transfusions can improve platelet count, their impact on platelet function remains controversial. Methods: We conducted flow cytometry to assess platelet function before and after transfusion and performed subgroup analyses to examine differences based on blood type, corrected count increment (CCI), and platelet microparticles. Results: Overall, 50 patients who received prophylactic platelet transfusion were enrolled. CD42b expression increased, whereas CD41 expression decreased after transfusion. Apheresis platelets exhibited the lowest expression of PAC‐1 and P‐selectin when exposed to agonist stimulations. PAC‐1 expression increased under high adenosine diphosphate (ADP) stimulation, while P‐selectin expression increased under both high ADP and thrombin receptor‐activating peptide stimulation. In the subgroup analysis, patients with a CCI >4500 and those with the same blood types exhibited a more significant increase in PAC‐1 and P‐selectin expression under agonist stimulation. When comparing apheresis platelets collected on different days, only the percentage of platelet‐derived microparticles showed a significant increase. Conclusion: Prophylactic transfusion improved platelet function. Platelet function significantly improved in patients with a CCI >4500, those with the same blood types as that of apheresis platelets, or those with platelet‐derived microparticle levels <4.7%. No significant improvement in platelet function was noted after the transfusion of different blood types with acceptable compatibility or the transfusion of incompatible blood types. Our results suggest that transfusing platelets with the same blood type remains the optimal choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is known as an immune-mediated disease and often evolves to chronic type in adult. Corticosteroids only work in around 60% of patients. This study evaluated the roles of subgroup lymphocytes from peripheral blood in ITP adults with different treatment response. Between October 2009 and March 2017, 37 adults were newly diagnosed as ITP requiring treatment. The patients were separated into two groups: 23 patients with platelet count <50,000/μL with corticosteroid dependence or second-line treatment (Poor-responder Group), and 14 patients with platelet counts <50,000/μL with standard steroid treatment, which stopped within three months (Good-responder Group). Subgroup lymphocyte percentages of peripheral blood were determined through flow cytometry before treatment. Data analysis with Mann–Whitney test and receiver operating characteristic curves were performed using GraphPad Prism (Version 7). A p -value of <0.05 was considered significant. Lymphocyte percentage was significantly lower in Poor-responder Group than in Good-responder Group (p = 0.008). In subgroup lymphocytes, higher percentages of CD19+ B lymphocytes were found in Good-responder Group (p = 0.03). In Poor-responder Group, a higher CD2+ and CD56+ lymphocytes were observed (p = 0.02 and 0.03). By the cut-off value of percentage of CD56+ lymphocytes with 24.5% or CD2+ lymphocytes with 85.7%, the specificity showed 92.86%. This study found that newly diagnosed ITP patients with increased percentages of CD56+ or CD2+ lymphocytes in peripheral blood associated with a poorer response to steroid treatment. • Corticosteroids only work in around sixty percentages of ITP patients. • Higher CD56+ and CD2+ lymphocytes have a poorer response to steroid treatment. • High specificity prediction with CD56 > 24.5% and CD2 > 85.7% for steroid response in ITP [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Since it was discovered as the first human tumor virus in 1964, Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is now implicated in several types of malignancies. Accordingly, certain aspects of EBV pathobiology have shown promise in anti-cancer research in developing virus-targeting methods for EBV-associated cancers. The unique role of EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) in triggering episome-dependent functions has made it as the only latent gene to be expressed in most EBV+ neoplasms. Dimeric EBNA1 binds to the replication origin (oriP) to display its biological impact on EBV-driven cell transformation and maintenance. Hence, EBNA1/oriP has been made an ideal drug target site for anti-EBV protocol development. GAP31 protein was originally isolated from the seeds of an ancient medicinal plant Gelonium multiflorum. Although GAP31 has been shown to exhibit both anti-viral and anti-tumor activity, current understanding of the mechanistic picture underlying GAP31 functioning is not clear. Herein, we identify the EBNA1 DNA-binding domain as a core for GAP31 binding by performing affinity pulldown assays. Recombinant GAP31 (rGAP31) was shown to impair EBNA1-induced dimerization; consequently, it abrogated both EBNA1/oriP-mediated binding and transcription. Importantly, the therapeutic effects of GAP31 showed its capability to abrogate EBV-driven cell transformation and proliferation, and EBV-dependent tumorigenesis in xenograft animal models. Notably, the EBNA1 binding-mutant rGAP31 R166A/R169A simply exhibits defective phenotypes in the above-mentioned studies. Our data suggest rGAP31 is a potential anti-viral drug which can be applied to the development of therapeutic strategies against EBV-related malignancies. Highlights • EBNA1 C-terminal DNA Binding Domain was identified as the GAP31 binding domain. • GAP31 impairs EBNA1-mediated dimerization in vivo and in vitro. • GAP31 exhibits profound anti-EBV effects against EBV-driven B cell transformation and EBV-dependent cell proliferation. • GAP31 elicits promising anti-tumor activity to block EBV-induced tumorigenesis in a tumor xenograft mouse model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the emergence of hotel social media platforms, how to discover interesting properties and utilize these discovered characteristics in hotel-related applications become important issues. In this work, we extend a large-scale hotel information collection to include heterogeneous hotel information, in order to facilitate multimodal and cross-culture analysis. With this rich dataset, we analyze various correlations between hotel properties and unveil interesting characteristics that would benefit hotel recommendation. We found that travelers from different cultural areas (countries) have different rating behaviors. In addition, beyond the scope of conventional text-based hotel analysis, we utilize visual analysis techniques to analyze hotel's cover photo, and investigate the relationship between rating behaviors and visual information. We adopt these correlations to predict hotel ratings, and verify that by considering visual information and cultural difference, prediction performance can be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a strategy that combines supramolecular assemblyandsolvent annealing to manipulate the microdomain orientation in blockcopolymer thin films. In supramolecular thin films formed by polystyrene-b-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP) with3-pentadecylphenol (PDP) hydrogen-bonded onto P4VP blocks, where PSblocks phase-separate into cylindrical microdomains, we found thatthe orientation of PS cylinders can be controlled by using differenttypes of solvents to anneal the films. As films are annealed underthe vapors of solvents bearing no oxygen atoms, such as chloroform,PS cylinders are perpendicular to the surface, while under those ofsolvents bearing oxygen, such as THF, PS cylinders are parallel tothe surface. Furthermore, the orientation is switchable upon the alternateuse of different types of solvents. The 1H NMR measurementsshowed that the strengths of hydrogen bonds between PDP and P4VP aregreatly weakened in oxygen-bearing solvents due to the competitionof the highly electronegative oxygen atoms. We thus suggest that thebinding capability of PDP onto P4VP is the key to determine whetherthe supramolecules can be assembled in the vapors of different typesof solvents, which in turn, regulates the orientation of PS cylinders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: For 244 patients with bacteremia due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)–producing Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae treated by ertapenem (73, 29.9%) or either imipenem or meropenem (171, 70.1%), the therapeutic efficacy was evaluated. Ertapenem therapy was effective for patients with ESBL-producing E. coli or K. pneumoniae bacteremia in terms of mortality and microbiological responses, as compared with imipenem or meropenem. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Here we report a novel electrophoretic deposition technology for assembling surface-roughened inorganic nanoplatelets into ordered multilayers that mimic the brick-and-mortar nanostructure found in the nacreous layer of mollusk shells. A thin layer of sol–gel silica is coated on smooth gibbsite nanoplatelets in order to increase the surface roughness to mimic the asperity of aragonite platelets found in nacres. To avoid the severe cracking caused by the shrinkage of sol–gel silica during drying, polyelectrolyte polyethyleneimine is used to reverse the surface charge of silica-coated-gibbsite nanoplatelets and increase the adherence and strength of the electrodeposited films. Polymer nanocomposites can then be made by infiltrating the interstitials of the aligned nanoplatelet multilayers with photocurable monomer followed by photopolymerization. The resulting self-standing films are highly transparent and exhibit nearly three times higher tensile strength and one-order-of-magnitude higher toughness than those of pure polymer. The measured tensile strength agrees with that predicted by a simple shear lag model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Bio-inspired assembly of platelet particles and polyelectrolytes into ordered layered composites is of great technological importance in developing light-weight reinforced materials, separation membranes, and gas-barrier coatings. Unfortunately, the broadly applied layer-by-layer self-assembly technology is tedious in generating thick multilayered coatings. Here, we report a rapid and scalable cathodic electrophoretic co-deposition technology that enables simultaneous assembly of positively charged gibbsite nanoplatelets and cationic polyelectrolytes into ordered multilayers in a single step. The resulting nanocomposites have similar organic/inorganic weight ratio and ordered brick-and-mortar nanostructure as natural nacres. Nanoindentation tests show that the electrodeposited nanocomposites exhibit similar hardness and reduced modulus as those of pure gibbsite coatings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We report a simple and rapid electrophoretic deposition technology for assembling gibbsite (Al(OH)3) nanoplatelets/polyvinyl alcohol nanocomposites in a single step. The single-crystalline gibbsite nanoplatelets with high-aspect ratio are preferentially oriented with their crystallographic c-axis perpendicular to the electrode surface, mimicking the ordered brick-and-mortar nanostructure found in the nacreous layer of mollusk shells. The electrodeposited inorganic–organic nanocomposite films are optically transparent and flexible, even though the weight fraction of the brittle inorganic phase is higher than 80%. The current bottom-up technology enables scalable production of large-area nanocomposites with ordered layered structure that have potential applications ranging from gas-barrier films for optoelectronic devices to light-weight reinforced materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

During the development of a multicellular organism, the specification of different cell lineages originates in a small group of pluripotent cells, the epiblasts, formed in the preimplantation embryo. The pluripotent epiblast is protected from premature differentiation until exposure to inductive cues in strictly controlled spatially and temporally organized patterns guiding fetus formation. Epiblasts cultured in vitro are embryonic stem cells (ESCs), which recapitulate the self-renewal and lineage specification properties of their endogenous counterparts. The characteristics of totipotency, although less understood than pluripotency, are becoming clearer. Recent studies have shown that a minor ESC subpopulation exhibits expanded developmental potential beyond pluripotency, displaying a characteristic reminiscent of two-cell embryo blastomeres (2CLCs). In addition, reprogramming both mouse and human ESCs in defined media can produce expanded/extended pluripotent stem cells (EPSCs) similar to but different from 2CLCs. Further, the molecular roadmaps driving the transition of various potency states have been clarified. These recent key findings will allow us to understand eutherian mammalian development by comparing the underlying differences between potency network components during development. Using the mouse as a paradigm and recent progress in human PSCs, we review the epiblast's identity acquisition during embryogenesis and their ESC counterparts regarding their pluripotent fates and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Targeted therapy with Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment of patients with various B-cell malignancies. BTK inhibitors such as ibrutinib, zanubrutinib, orelabrutinib, and acalabrutinib have shown good clinical efficacy and better safety profiles than those of traditional chemotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy regimens. Multiple studies on new BTK inhibitors are ongoing, which may provide more therapeutic options for the treatment of B-cell malignancies. Considering the unmet need of evidence on BTK inhibitors in all clinical settings and to standardize the use of BTK inhibitors available in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau regions, this consensus has been formulated for the treatment of various B-cell malignancies based on the clinical practice and available evidences on the use of BTK inhibitors. The recommendations of this consensus will provide guidance to physicians and clinical researchers on the effective treatment of B-cell malignancies with BTK inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, La 0.85 Sr 0.15 Ga 0.8 Mg 0.2 O 2.825 (LSGM1520), La 0.6 Sr 0.4 Co 0.2 Fe 0.8 O 3−δ (LSCF6428), La 0.4 Ce 0.6 O 1.8 (LDC46), and Ce 0.8 Sm 0.2 O 1.9 (SDC20) powders were synthesized by the solid-state reaction. Three cell configurations were prepared: LSCF6428/LSGM1520/SDC20-Ni (Cell-A), LSCF6428/LSGM1520/porous LSGM1520/SDC20-Ni (Cell-B), and LSCF6428/LDC46/LSGM1520/LDC46/SDC20-Ni (Cell-C). An LDC46 layer and a porous LSGM1520 layer were used as the buffer and anode functional layers, respectively. The results showed that the LDC46 interlayer effectively reduced the ohmic resistance and electrode polarization resistance, and improved the adhesion between the electrolyte and the electrode, leading to enhanced power performance of the cells. The properties of the electrolyte-supported cells were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, and the performance was measured by electrochemical instrumentation and AC impedance spectroscopy. Finally, the performance, microstructures, and degradation rates of three cells were measured after 100 h of durability testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a heterogeneous hematopoietic stem cell disorder with thrombocytopenia. Flow cytometric immunophenotyping of blood cells has been instrumental in diagnosis as co-criteria, but the data regarding platelets remains lacking. This study aims to determine if there is a difference in surface antigen levels on platelets by comparing surface antigen levels in MDS patients and healthy control subjects. Concurrently, as flow cytometric gating can reveal the diameter of cells, this study will investigate differences in giant platelet percentage by comparing these percentages in high- and low-risk MDS patients. Study design: Twenty newly diagnosed MDS patients were enrolled in this study. Platelet surface antigen levels were determined by measuring the binding capacity of antibodies with flow cytometry. Results: Platelets of MDS patients were shown to have a lower level of CD61 and higher levels of CD31 and CD36 than healthy controls. Judged by forward scatter (FSC), MDS patients' platelets appeared to be larger than those of healthy control subjects, whereas the MFI adjusted by diameter (MFI/FSC ratio) of CD31, CD41a, CD42a, CD42b and CD61 on platelets were lower in MDS patients than in healthy control subjects. There was a significant quantity of giant platelets found in MDS patients, and the high-risk MDS patients tended to have a higher percentage of giant platelets than low-risk patients. Conclusions: All the results indicate that MDS patients exhibit a lower antigen presentation (MFI) adjusted by diameter on platelets than healthy controls and the giant platelets detected by flow cytometry might correlate with the condition of MDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a condition that is distinct from thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) that may also occur after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccinations. Previous reports revealed an increased ITP incidence after ChAdOx1, a vaccine for COVID-19. Our study aimed to highlight the key features of ITP after COVID-19 vaccination. From April to October 2021, we collected data on 23 patients, including nine men and 14 women, with ITP from five hospitals across Taiwan who received either the ChAdOx1 or mRNA-1273 vaccine before development or exacerbation of ITP. Our findings revealed that both ChAdOx1 and mRNA-1273 vaccines were associated with ITP. Many patients responded well to steroids and immune suppressants, which may also suggest that the nature of thrombocytopenia is more like ITP rather than TTS. Lack of thrombosis, low D-dimer level, and negative anti-PF4 result could help to exclude TTS, which is also a rare but a far more lethal condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By the current Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute breakpoint of cefepime susceptibility (minimum inhibitory concentration ≤8 μg/mL), cefepime definitive therapy is inferior to carbapenem therapy for patients with so called “cefepime-susceptible” extended-spectrum β-lactamase–producer bacteremia, and revision of the susceptible breakpoint of cefepime for Enterobacteriaceae should be considered.Background. Extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)–producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates are important clinical pathogens. In addition, the efficacy of cefepime for such infections is controversial.Methods. We performed a retrospective study of monomicrobial bacteremia caused by ESBL producers at 2 medical centers between May 2002 and August 2007. The patients definitively treated with in vitro active cefepime (cases) were compared with those treated with a carbapenem (controls) in a propensity score–matched analysis to assess therapeutic effectiveness. The 30-day crude mortality is the primary endpoint.Results. A total of 178 patients were eligible for the study. Patients who received cefepime (n = 17) as definitive therapy were more likely to have a clinical failure (odds ratio [OR] 6.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.7–22.5; P = .002), microbiological failure (OR 5.5; 95% CI, 1.3–25.6; P = .04), and 30-day mortality (OR 7.1; 95% CI, 2.5–20.3; P < .001) than those who received carbapenem therapy (n = 161). Multivariate regression revealed that a critical illness with a Pitt bacteremia score ≥4 points (OR 5.4; 95% CI, 1.4–20.9; P = .016), a rapidly fatal underlying disease (OR 4.4; 95% CI, 1.5–12.6; P = .006), and definitive cefepime therapy (OR 9.9; 95% CI, 2.8–31.9; P < .001) were independently associated with 30-day crude mortality. There were 17 case-control pairs in the propensity scores matched analysis. The survival analysis consistently found that individuals who received cefepime therapy had a lower survival rate (log-rank test, P = .016).Conclusions. Based on the current Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute susceptible breakpoint of cefepime (minimum inhibitory concentration ≤8 μg/mL), cefepime definitive therapy is inferior to carbapenem therapy in treating patients with so-called cefepime-susceptible ESBL-producer bacteremia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degradation mechanisms and phenomena of membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC under low humidity operation were investigated by means of several on-line electrochemical methods and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) of catalyst and hydrogen crossover of MEA were evaluated by cyclic voltagram (CV) and linear sweep voltagram (LSV), respectively. The decrease of catalytic active site and degradation of membrane were evident by ECSA loss and hydrogen crossover rate increase after long-term discharging test. Membrane degradation played the major role for MEAs failure under low humidity operation in this study. The Pt clusters were also observed in the membrane, formed by Pt ions migration and reduction in the membrane, which can react with the crossover gases to produce free radicals that attack membrane and ionomers in the catalyst layer.Those phenomena will drive membrane to rupture and cause a short circuit in MEA. By AST experiments and fluoride release rate results, the MEA with Pt-alloy/C catalyst can show better performance and durability due to its high selectivity on ORR to depress the free radicals formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of clinical factors on the treatment outcomes of lung cancer patients with active epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR) mutations treated by first-line tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Methods Patients of stage IIIb or IV lung adenocarcinoma harboring mutated EGFR were enrolled between March 2010 and June 2014 and followed up until December 2015. The effects of various clinical features, such as age, sex, smoking history, EGFR mutation types, TKIs used, presence of pleural effusion, metastatic sites on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), were analyzed retrospectively. Results A total of 104 patients were included in this study. Patients with pleural effusion at initial diagnosis had significantly shorter PFS and OS than those without pleural effusion (median PFS: 8.2 months vs 15.3 months, P = 0.0004; median OS: 16.3 months vs 28.2 months, P = 0.0003). Univariate analysis revealed that being male or a smoker was associated with short PFS, whereas smoking history, bony metastasis and malignant pleural effusion were associated with poor OS. Stepwise multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the presence of pleural effusion and different TKI use were independent prognostic factors for PFS [hazard ratio [HR] = 2.50 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.53-4.10), P = 0.0003 and HR = 0.55 (95% CI, 0.31-0.97), P = 0.0396, respectively], whereas the presence of pleural effusion and liver metastasis were associated with poor OS [HR = 2.79 (95% CI: 1.46-5.30), P = 0.0018 and HR = 2.12 (95% CI, 1.02-4.40), P = 0.0440, respectively]. Conclusion The presence of pleural effusion predicts poor PFS and OS in lung adenocarcinoma patients receiving TKIs as the first-line treatment. Additional studies are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and determine novel strategies for improving the outcome of these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]