pubassistant.ch: consolidating publication profiles of researchers

Online accounts to keep track of scientific publications, such as Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID) or Google Scholar, can be time consuming to maintain and synchronize. Furthermore, the open access status of publications is often not easily accessible, hindering potential opening of closed publications. To lessen the burden of managing personal profiles, we developed a R shiny app that allows publication lists from multiple platforms to be retrieved and consolidated, as well as interactive exploration and comparison of publication profiles. A live version can be found at pubassistant.ch

Safety and Efficacy of Mistletoe extract (Viscum album) Iscador(R) P in Equine Sarcoid

Equine Sarcoid (ES), a semi malignant skin tumour, is the most common neoplasia of horses (Marti et al.1993). There is no generally effective single treatment existing and the recurrence rate is high (Martens et al.2001). Furthermore as a treatment obstacle, Sarcoids tend to occur as multi-focal tumours or can be found in critical locations (peri-ocular) where success of surgical interventions is very limited (Carstanjen et al.1997). Due to encouraging results in human medicine and small animals practice after adjuvant cancer treatment by mistletoe extracts (Biegel et al.2007) the viscum therapy could hypothetically fill a therapy gap for equine tumour diseases as well. Hence, goal of this clinical trial was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Viscum album pini (Iscador® P) as a primary therapy of Equine Sarcoid in the context of a prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind study. Material and Methods: 53 horses with histologically confirmed diagnosis Equine Sarcoid were randomly assigned as Iscador (I; n=32) or Control group (C; n=21). There are 23 mares, 25 geldings and 5 stallions ranged in age from 3 to 17 years with an average of 7.2 years. The horses received scalating dosages of Iscador® P starting at 0.1mg up to 20 mg extract per 1 ml dose or physiological NaCl solution 3 times a week over 105 days sub-cutanously into the pectoral region. The number, localization and morphology of the ES were observed and documented over 12 months. As target variable the positive outcome rate (PO rate) was calculated representing the patients status at the end of the investigation. Results: In the Iscador Group 13 horses (41%) showed an improvement (at least 50% tumour remission). Of these cases a number of 9 patients showed complete cure (28%). In the Control Group only 3 cases (14%; all with complete cure) were classified as improved (p<0.05). Discussion & Conclusions: Iscador® P extract (viscum album pini) represents a safe and efficient therapy alternative in Equine Sarcoids, particularly in cases of multi-focal character. In tumours grown in problematic localizations a therapy attempt with viscum album extracts should be conducted to avoid the risk of damage the intact surrounding tissue, particularly in the eye area. Iscador® P shows significantly better outcomes (cure and improvement) compared to placebo control. Younger horses and horses with more than 2 tumours are responding with higher PO rates than older patients and horses with 1 to 2 ES. This fact could support the control of multiple sarcoids which can be excised only by immense surgery expense. Further investigations to understand factors of response and non-.response have to be conducted in the future. Additionally, due to the good tolerance by the patients and the acceptance of long-term protocol the practicability of Iscador ® P therapy can be assumed. Younger horses responded more often with a positive outcome (PO) than older (Fig. 2a) with PO rates of 57%, 40% and 13% for horses being less than 5 years, 5 to 9 years and more than 9 years, respectively compared to PO 25%, 10% and 0% in control. A significant better therapy course appeared in the Iscador group for horses with >2 ES (Fig. 2b): a number of 12 of 25 horses (48%) showed an improvement, 9 of these a complete remission (36%) including ES localized at the critical areas (head and around the eyes) compared to 6% in the control group. Iscador® P extract (viscum album pini) represents a safe and efficient therapy alternative in Equine Sarcoids, particularly in cases of multi-focal character. In tumours grown in problematic localizations a therapy attempt with viscum album extracts should be conducted to avoid the risk of damage the intact surrounding tissue, particularly in the eye area. Iscador® P shows significantly better outcomes (cure and improvement) compared to placebo control. Younger horses and horses with more than 2 tumours are responding with higher PO rates than older patients and horses with 1 to 2 ES. This fact could support the control of multiple sarcoids which can be excised only by immense surgery expense. Further investigations to understand factors of response and non-.response have to be conducted in the future. Additionally, due to the good tolerance by the patients and the acceptance of long-term protocol the practicability of Iscador ® P therapy can be assumed

Behandlung des equinen Sarkoids beim Pferd mit dem Mistelpräparat Iscador(r)-P.

(Prämierter Beitrag) Bisher gilt kaum eine Therapie des Equinen Sarkoids (ES) als ausreichend wirksam. Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war, im Rahmen einer randomisierten kontrollierten Doppelblindstudie, die Wirksamkeit des Mistelextraktes ISCADOR-P (Weleda) als Primärtherapie beim ES zu evaluieren. Insgesamt wurden 53 Pferde mit der Diagnose ES zufällig einer Verum- (V, n = 32) oder einer PlacebogruppeP, n = 21) zugeordnet. Die Pferde erhielten steigende Dosierungen von ISCADOR-P (0.1 mg bis 20 mg Extrakt/Dosis) oder physiol. NaCl-Lösung 3mal/Woche während 105 Tagen subkutan. Anzahl, Lokalisation und Morphologie der histologisch abgeklärten ES wurden während 12 Monaten protokolliert. In der Verum-Gruppe zeigten 13 Tiere (41%) eine Besserung (mindestens 50%ige Tumorremission), bei 9 (28%) davon war die Heilung vollständig gegenüber 3 Tieren (14%) in der Placebo-Gruppe (P <0.05). Während bei Pferden mit 1–2 ES kein klarer Unterschied zwischen V und P ersichtlich war, zeigte sich ein deutlich besserer Verlauf nach Behandlung mit Verum bei Pferden mit mehr als 2 ES: 12/25 (48%) zeigten eine Besserung, davon 9 eine komplette Remission (inkl. 5 am Kopf lokalisierte ES, von diesen 2 um die Augen); mit Placebo wurde nur 1/15 (6%) vollständig geheilt. ISCADOR-P stellt eine wirksame Alternativtherapie beim ES dar, insbesondere bei multiplem Befall und problematischer Lokalisation

Behandlung des equinen Sarkoid beim Pferd mit dem Misteltpräparat Iscador.

(Tagungsbeitrag Pferdenetzwerktagung, Avenches). Das Equine Sarkoid ist der häufigste Hauttumor des Pferdes. Bisher gilt keine konservative The-rapie als ausreichend wirksam und nach chirurgischer Entfernung sind oft Rezidive zu beobach-ten. Schon seit vielen Jahren wird die Mistel in der Human- und Kleintiermedizin als begleiten-des Krebstherapeutikum erfolgreich eingesetzt. Erste Erfahrungen zeigen auch bei Hauttumoren des Pferdes Erfolge. Im Rahmen einer placebokontrollierten Blindstudie wird daher seit März 2004, im Nationalgestüt Avenches, das Mistelpräparat IscadorR zur primären Behandlung von Sarkoiden und zur postoperativen Prophylaxe gegen Rezidive auch beim Pferd geprüft. Dabei wurden bisher 65 Pferde vier Monate lang mittels drei subkutanen Injektionen pro Woche im Brustbereich mit IscadorR oder einem Placebo behandelt. Vor Versuchsbeginn finden eine Allgemeinuntersuchung, eine Blutuntersuchung und eine histologische Untersuchung statt. Die Anzahl, das Aussehen und die Grösse der equinen Sarkoide werden einmal pro Monat während einem Jahr (primär therapierte Pferde) bzw. 16 Monaten (postchirurgische Fälle) protokolliert. Zusätzlich wurden 15 Tiere, die wegen Nichteinwilligung der Besitzer oder Nichterfüllung der Einschlusskriterien nicht an der Blindstudie teilnehmen konnten, mit IscadorR behandelt. Davon sind zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt 10 beurteilbar. Bei vier dieser Pferde zeigte sich ein Wachstums-stillstand der Sarkoide, bei weiteren vier kam es zur vollständigen Heilung über mehrere Monate nach Therapiebeginn. Bei den übrigen zwei Pferden ist im einen Fall keine Besserung aufgetre-ten, im anderen Fall konnte nach chirurgischer Entfernung des Sarkoids eine gute Wundheilung ohne Rezidiv beobachtet werden

Antibody response to Influenza booster vaccination in Franches-Montagnes stallions supplemented with Equi-Strath : a randomized trial.

Bio-Strath is a plasmolyzed yeast product enriched with herbs, malt, honey and orange juice. In this study, the effect of Equi-Strath , the adapted product for horses, on the equine immune system was evaluated. A routine influenza booster vaccination was used as a model to study the effects of Equi-Strath supplementation on the immune response. Twenty healthy Franches-Montagnes stallions with pre-existing antibody levels were randomly divided into a study group (SG, n = 10) receiving 0.06 mL/kg bodyweight of Equi-Strath , and a control group (CG, n = 10), receiving the same amount of placebo, daily. The supplement and placebo were given from week 1 until week 14 of the trial. After 10 weeks, the horses were vaccinated with a commercial vaccine containing equine influenza strains of the H3N8 subtype. Antibody titres in blood were measured at day 0 before vaccination, and 14 and 32 days after vaccination. In addition, a complete blood count (CBC) was performed on day 0 and day 32. A linear increase of haemagglutination inhibition titres in both groups was observed after vaccination, but with no difference between treatment groups. CBC components remained unaffected by treatment. In conclusion, daily Equi-Strath supplementation did not affect the adaptive immune response in stallions after a routine commercial H3N8 influenza booster vaccination

Total Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Jerantinine E

The first total synthesis of the alkaloid natural product jerantinine E is based on a selective cyclization of an aminocyclopropane. Preliminary investigations show that it inhibits the polymerization of tubulin, displaying significant cytotoxicity and antimigratory activity against both breast and lung cancer cell lines

Meta-analysis of (single-cell method) benchmarks reveals the need for extensibility and interoperability

Computational methods represent the lifeblood of modern molecular biology. Benchmarking is important for all methods, but with a focus here on computational methods, benchmarking is critical to dissect important steps of analysis pipelines, formally assess performance across common situations as well as edge cases, and ultimately guide users on what tools to use. Benchmarking can also be important for community building and advancing methods in a principled way. We conducted a meta-analysis of recent single-cell benchmarks to summarize the scope, extensibility, and neutrality, as well as technical features and whether best practices in open data and reproducible research were followed. The results highlight that while benchmarks often make code available and are in principle reproducible, they remain difficult to extend, for example, as new methods and new ways to assess methods emerge. In addition, embracing containerization and workflow systems would enhance reusability of intermediate benchmarking results, thus also driving wider adoption

Describing adverse events in Swiss hospitalized oncology patients using the Global Trigger Tool

The occurrence rate of adverse events (AEs) related to care among hospitalized oncology patients in Switzerland remains unknown. The primary objective of this study was to describe, for the first time, the occurrence rate, type, severity of harm, and preventability of AEs related to care, reported in health records of hospitalized hematological and solid-tumor cancer patients in three Swiss hospitals.; Using an adapted version of the validated Global Trigger Tool (GTT) from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, we conducted a retrospective record review of patients discharged from oncology units over a 6-week period during 2018. Our convenience sample included all records from adult patients (≥18 years of age), diagnosed with cancer, and hospitalized (>24 hours). Per the GTT method, two trained nurses independently assessed patient records to identify AEs using triggers, and physicians from the included units analyzed the consensus of the two nurses. Together, they assessed the severity and preventability of each AE.; From the sample of 224 reviewed records, we identified 661 triggers and 169 AEs in 94 of them (42%). Pain related to care was the most frequent AE (n = 29), followed by constipation (n = 17). AEs rates were 75.4 per 100 admissions and 106.6 per 1000 patient days. Most of the identified AEs (78%) caused temporary harm to the patient and required an intervention. Among AEs during hospitalization (n = 125), 76 (61%) were considered not preventable, 28 (22%) preventable, and 21 (17%) undetermined.; About half of the hospitalized oncology patients suffered from at least one AE related to care during their hospitalization. Pain, constipation, and nosocomial infections were the most frequent AEs. It is, therefore, essential to identify AEs to guide future clinical practice initiatives to ensure patient safety

Censcyt: censored covariates in differential abundance analysis in cytometry

Background Innovations in single cell technologies have lead to a flurry of datasets and computational tools to process and interpret them, including analyses of cell composition changes and transition in cell states. The diffcyt workflow for differential discovery in cytometry data consist of several steps, including preprocessing, cell population identification and differential testing for an association with a binary or continuous covariate. However, the commonly measured quantity of survival time in clinical studies often results in a censored covariate where classical differential testing is inapplicable. Results To overcome this limitation, multiple methods to directly include censored covariates in differential abundance analysis were examined with the use of simulation studies and a case study. Results show that multiple imputation based methods offer on-par performance with the Cox proportional hazards model in terms of sensitivity and error control, while offering flexibility to account for covariates. The tested methods are implemented in the package censcyt as an extension of diffcyt and are available at https://bioconductor.org/packages/censcyt. Conclusion Methods for the direct inclusion of a censored variable as a predictor in GLMMs are a valid alternative to classical survival analysis methods, such as the Cox proportional hazard model, while allowing for more flexibility in the differential analysis