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Zhang C, Quan Y, Bai Y, Yang L, Yang Y. The effect and apoptosis mechanism of 6-methoxyflavone in HeLa cells. Biomarkers 2022; 27:470-482. [PMID: 35400257 DOI: 10.1080/1354750x.2022.2062448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Tumor cell apoptosis is a crucial indicator for judging the antiproliferative effects of anti-cancer drugs. The detection of optical and macromolecular biomarkers is the most common method for assessing the level of apoptosis. We aimed to explore the anti-tumor mechanisms of 6-methoxyflavone. MATERIAL AND METHODS Three optical methods, including the percentage of apoptotic cells, cell morphology, and subcellular ultrastructure changes, were obtained using flow cytometry, inverted fluorescence microscopy, and transmission electron microscope imaging. The mRNA or protein expression of macromolecular biomarkers related to common apoptotic pathways was determined via polymerase chain reactions or western blot assays. The functional role of the core gene biomarker was investigated through overexpression, knockdown, and phosphorylation inhibitor (GSK2656157). RESULTS Transcriptome sequencing and the optical biomarkers assays demonstrated that 6-methoxyflavone could induce apoptosis in HeLa cells. The expression of macromolecular biomarkers indicated that 6-methoxyflavone induced apoptosis through the PERK/EIF2α/ATF4/CHOP pathway. Phosphorylated PERK was identified as the core biomarker of this pathway. Both overexpression and GSK2656157 significantly altered the expression level of phosphorylated PERK in 6-methoxyflavone-treated HeLa cells. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Macromolecular biomarkers such as phosphorylated PERK and phosphorylated EIF2α are of great significance for assessing the therapeutic effects of 6-methoxyflavone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaihong Zhang
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Gynecological Oncology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yuchong Quan
- College of Basic Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Yingying Bai
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Gynecological Oncology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
| | - Lijuan Yang
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Gynecological Oncology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yongxiu Yang
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Gynecological Oncology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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2
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Ordonez AA, Abhishek S, Singh AK, Klunk MH, Azad BB, Aboagye EO, Carroll L, Jain SK. Caspase-Based PET for Evaluating Pro-Apoptotic Treatments in a Tuberculosis Mouse Model. Mol Imaging Biol 2021; 22:1489-1494. [PMID: 32232626 DOI: 10.1007/s11307-020-01494-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Despite recent advances in antimicrobial treatments, tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health threat. Mycobacterium tuberculosis proliferates in macrophages, preventing apoptosis by inducing anti-apoptotic proteins leading to necrosis of the infected cells. Necrosis then leads to increased tissue destruction, reducing the penetration of antimicrobials and immune cells to the areas where they are needed most. Pro-apoptotic drugs could be used as host-directed therapies in TB to improve antimicrobial treatments and patient outcomes. PROCEDURE We evaluated [18F]-ICMT-11, a caspase-3/7-specific positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer, in macrophage cell cultures and in an animal model of pulmonary TB that closely resembles human disease. RESULTS Cells infected with M. tuberculosis and treated with cisplatin accumulated [18F]-ICMT-11 at significantly higher levels compared with that of controls, which correlated with levels of caspase-3/7 activity. Infected mice treated with cisplatin with increased caspase-3/7 activity also had a higher [18F]-ICMT-11 PET signal compared with that of untreated infected animals. CONCLUSIONS [18F]-ICMT-11 PET could be used as a noninvasive approach to measure intralesional pro-apoptotic responses in situ in pulmonary TB models and support the development of pro-apoptotic host-directed therapies for TB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro A Ordonez
- Center for Infection and Inflammation Imaging Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sudhanshu Abhishek
- Center for Infection and Inflammation Imaging Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alok K Singh
- Center for Infection and Inflammation Imaging Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Mariah H Klunk
- Center for Infection and Inflammation Imaging Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Babak Benham Azad
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Eric O Aboagye
- Comprehensive Cancer Imaging Centre, Department of Surgery & Cancer Hammersmith Campus, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Laurence Carroll
- Center for Infection and Inflammation Imaging Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. .,Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Sanjay K Jain
- Center for Infection and Inflammation Imaging Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. .,Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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3
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Parellada E, Gassó P. Glutamate and microglia activation as a driver of dendritic apoptosis: a core pathophysiological mechanism to understand schizophrenia. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:271. [PMID: 33958577 PMCID: PMC8102516 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01385-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia disorder remains an unsolved puzzle. However, the integration of recent findings from genetics, molecular biology, neuroimaging, animal models and translational clinical research offers evidence that the synaptic overpruning hypothesis of schizophrenia needs to be reassessed. During a critical period of neurodevelopment and owing to an imbalance of excitatory glutamatergic pyramidal neurons and inhibitory GABAergic interneurons, a regionally-located glutamate storm might occur, triggering excessive dendritic pruning with the activation of local dendritic apoptosis machinery. The apoptotic loss of dendritic spines would be aggravated by microglia activation through a recently described signaling system from complement abnormalities and proteins of the MHC, thus implicating the immune system in schizophrenia. Overpruning of dendritic spines coupled with aberrant synaptic plasticity, an essential function for learning and memory, would lead to brain misconnections and synaptic inefficiency underlying the primary negative symptoms and cognitive deficits of schizophrenia. This driving hypothesis has relevant therapeutic implications, including the importance of pharmacological interventions during the prodromal phase or the transition to psychosis, targeting apoptosis, microglia cells or the glutamate storm. Future research on apoptosis and brain integrity should combine brain imaging, CSF biomarkers, animal models and cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduard Parellada
- Barcelona Clínic Schizophrenia Unit (BCSU). Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
- The August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Patricia Gassó
- Barcelona Clínic Schizophrenia Unit (BCSU). Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- The August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Department of Basic Clinical Practice, Unit of Pharmacology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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Beroske L, Van den Wyngaert T, Stroobants S, Van der Veken P, Elvas F. Molecular Imaging of Apoptosis: The Case of Caspase-3 Radiotracers. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22083948. [PMID: 33920463 PMCID: PMC8069194 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22083948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular imaging of apoptosis remains an important method for the diagnosis and monitoring of the progression of certain diseases and the evaluation of the efficacy of anticancer apoptosis-inducing therapies. Among the multiple biomarkers involved in apoptosis, activated caspase-3 is an attractive target, as it is the most abundant of the executioner caspases. Nuclear imaging is a good candidate, as it combines a high depth of tissue penetration and high sensitivity, features necessary to detect small changes in levels of apoptosis. However, designing a caspase-3 radiotracer comes with challenges, such as selectivity, cell permeability and transient caspase-3 activation. In this review, we discuss the different caspase-3 radiotracers for the imaging of apoptosis together with the challenges of the translation of various apoptosis-imaging strategies in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Beroske
- Molecular Imaging Center Antwerp, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (L.B.); (T.V.d.W.); (S.S.)
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium;
| | - Tim Van den Wyngaert
- Molecular Imaging Center Antwerp, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (L.B.); (T.V.d.W.); (S.S.)
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Sigrid Stroobants
- Molecular Imaging Center Antwerp, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (L.B.); (T.V.d.W.); (S.S.)
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Pieter Van der Veken
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium;
| | - Filipe Elvas
- Molecular Imaging Center Antwerp, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (L.B.); (T.V.d.W.); (S.S.)
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
- Correspondence:
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Kucinska M, Plewinski A, Szczolko W, Kaczmarek M, Goslinski T, Murias M. Modeling the photodynamic effect in 2D versus 3D cell culture under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Free Radic Biol Med 2021; 162:309-326. [PMID: 33141030 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.10.304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Photodynamic therapy (PDT), mainly as a combined therapy, can still be considered a promising technology for targeted cancer treatment. Besides the several and essential benefits of PDT, there are some concerns and limitations, such as complex dosimetry, tumor hypoxia, and other mechanisms of resistance. In this study, we present how the cell culture model and cell culture conditions may affect the response to PDT treatment. It was studied by applying two different 3D cell culture, non-scaffold, and hydrogel-based models under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. In parallel, a detailed mechanism of the action of zinc phthalocyanine M2TG3 was presented. METHODS Hydrogel-based and tumor spheroids consisting of LNCaP cells, were used as 3D cell culture models in experiments performed under normoxic and hypoxic (1% of oxygen) conditions. Several analyses were performed to compare the activity of M2TG3 under different conditions, such as cytotoxicity, the level of proapoptotic and stress-related proteins, caspase activity, and antioxidant gene expression status. Additionally, we tested bioluminescence and fluorescence assays as a useful approach for a hydrogel-based 3D cell culture. RESULTS We found that M2TG3 might lead to apoptotic cancer cell death and is strongly dependent on the model and oxygen availability. Moreover, the expression of the genes modulated in the antioxidative system in 2D and 3D cell culture models were presented. The tested bioluminescence assay revealed several advantages, such as repetitive measurements on the same sample and simultaneous analysis of different parameters due to the non-lysing nature of this assay. CONCLUSIONS It was shown that M2TG3 can effectively cause cancer cell death via a different mechanism, depending on cell culture conditions such as the model and oxygen availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malgorzata Kucinska
- Department of Toxicology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Dojazd 30 Street, 60-631, Poznan, Poland.
| | - Adam Plewinski
- Centre for Advanced Technologies, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytet Poznanski 10 Street, 61-614, Poznan, Poland
| | - Wojciech Szczolko
- Department of Chemical Technology of Drugs, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Grunwaldzka 6 Street, 60-780, Poznan, Poland
| | - Mariusz Kaczmarek
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Chair of Medical Biotechnology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Garbary 15 Street, 61-866, Poznan, Poland; Department of Cancer Diagnostics and Immunology, Gene Therapy Unit, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Garbary 15 Street, 61-866, Poznan, Poland
| | - Tomasz Goslinski
- Department of Chemical Technology of Drugs, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Grunwaldzka 6 Street, 60-780, Poznan, Poland
| | - Marek Murias
- Department of Toxicology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Dojazd 30 Street, 60-631, Poznan, Poland; Centre for Advanced Technologies, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytet Poznanski 10 Street, 61-614, Poznan, Poland.
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Badmus JA, Ekpo OE, Sharma JR, Sibuyi NRS, Meyer M, Hussein AA, Hiss DC. An Insight into the Mechanism of Holamine- and Funtumine-Induced Cell Death in Cancer Cells. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25235716. [PMID: 33287388 PMCID: PMC7730674 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25235716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Holamine and funtumine, steroidal alkaloids with strong and diverse pharmacological activities are commonly found in the Apocynaceae family of Holarrhena. The selective anti-proliferative and cell cycle arrest effects of holamine and funtumine on cancer cells have been previously reported. The present study evaluated the anti-proliferative mechanism of action of these two steroidal alkaloids on cancer cell lines (HT-29, MCF-7 and HeLa) by exploring the mitochondrial depolarization effects, reactive oxygen species (ROS) induction, apoptosis, F-actin perturbation, and inhibition of topoisomerase-I. The apoptosis-inducing effects of the compounds were studied by flow cytometry using the APOPercentageTM dye and Caspase-3/7 Glo assay kit. The two compounds showed a significantly greater cytotoxicity in cancer cells compared to non-cancer (normal) fibroblasts. The observed antiproliferative effects of the two alkaloids presumably are facilitated through the stimulation of apoptosis. The apoptotic effect was elicited through the modulation of mitochondrial function, elevated ROS production, and caspase-3/7 activation. Both compounds also induced F-actin disorganization and inhibited topoisomerase-I activity. Although holamine and funtumine appear to have translational potential for the development of novel anticancer agents, further mechanistic and molecular studies are recommended to fully understand their anticancer effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelili A. Badmus
- Department of Medical Biosciences, University of the Western Cape, 7535 Bellville, Western Cape, South Africa; (J.A.B.); (O.E.E.)
| | - Okobi E. Ekpo
- Department of Medical Biosciences, University of the Western Cape, 7535 Bellville, Western Cape, South Africa; (J.A.B.); (O.E.E.)
| | - Jyoti R. Sharma
- DSI/Mintek-Nanotechnology Innovation Centre-BioLabels Node, Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, 7535 Bellville, Western Cape, South Africa; (J.R.S.); (N.R.S.S.); (M.M.)
| | - Nicole Remaliah S. Sibuyi
- DSI/Mintek-Nanotechnology Innovation Centre-BioLabels Node, Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, 7535 Bellville, Western Cape, South Africa; (J.R.S.); (N.R.S.S.); (M.M.)
| | - Mervin Meyer
- DSI/Mintek-Nanotechnology Innovation Centre-BioLabels Node, Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, 7535 Bellville, Western Cape, South Africa; (J.R.S.); (N.R.S.S.); (M.M.)
| | - Ahmed A. Hussein
- Department of Chemistry, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 7535 Bellville, Western Cape, South Africa;
| | - Donavon C. Hiss
- Department of Medical Biosciences, University of the Western Cape, 7535 Bellville, Western Cape, South Africa; (J.A.B.); (O.E.E.)
- Correspondence:
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García-Argüello SF, Lopez-Lorenzo B, Cornelissen B, Smith G. Development of [ 18F]ICMT-11 for Imaging Caspase-3/7 Activity during Therapy-Induced Apoptosis. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E2191. [PMID: 32781531 PMCID: PMC7465189 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12082191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Insufficient apoptosis is a recognised hallmark of cancer. A strategy to quantitatively measure apoptosis in vivo would be of immense value in both drug discovery and routine patient management. The first irreversible step in the apoptosis cascade is activation of the "executioner" caspase-3 enzyme to commence cleavage of key structural proteins. One strategy to measure caspase-3 activity is Positron Emission Tomography using isatin-5-sulfonamide radiotracers. One such radiotracer is [18F]ICMT-11, which has progressed to clinical application. This review summarises the design and development process for [18F]ICMT-11, suggesting potential avenues for further innovation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Segundo Francisco García-Argüello
- Centro de Investigaciones Médico-Sanitarias, Fundación General Universidad de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain;
- Grupo de Arteriosclerosis, Prevención Cardiovascular y Metabolismo, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), 29010 Málaga, Spain
| | - Beatriz Lopez-Lorenzo
- Biomedicina, Investigación Traslacional y Nuevas Tecnologías en Salud, Universidad de Málaga, 29016 Málaga, Spain;
- BIONAND-Centro Andaluz de Nanomedicina y Biotecnología (Junta de Andalucía—Universidad de Málaga), 29590 Málaga, Spain
| | - Bart Cornelissen
- Department of Oncology, CRUK/MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Off Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7LJ, UK;
| | - Graham Smith
- Department of Oncology, CRUK/MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Off Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7LJ, UK;
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Goud NS, Kanth Makani VK, Pranay J, Alvala R, Qureshi IA, Kumar P, Bharath RD, Nagaraj C, Yerramsetty S, Pal-Bhadra M, Alvala M. Synthesis, 18F-radiolabeling and apoptosis inducing studies of novel 4, 7-disubstituted coumarins. Bioorg Chem 2020; 97:103663. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2020.103663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Goud NS, Joshi RK, Bharath RD, Kumar P. Fluorine-18: A radionuclide with diverse range of radiochemistry and synthesis strategies for target based PET diagnosis. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 187:111979. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.111979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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